Everyone followed Su Xingyao into Du Qingshuang's chamber. In the dim candlelight, shadows danced along the walls, stretching into elongated silhouettes.
Su Xingyao approached the dressing table, her delicate finger pointing: "Here it is. The ring was connected to the crossbow - any movement would trigger it to fire."
Jiang Yichuan stepped forward to examine it closely. Indeed, it was as she described. However, the connection to the pearl ring appeared damaged, the break fresh and recent.
"Last night when I entered my sister's room..." Du Qingdai suddenly spoke, realization dawning in her voice. "I felt dizzy and accidentally knocked something on the dressing table. I must have damaged the mechanism." Her voice began to choke: "But my sister never made enemies with anyone. Why would someone harm her?"
Jiang Yichuan's brow furrowed as he turned a cold gaze toward Su Xingyao: "Lady Su, where did you get such a mechanism?"
"When I returned to Peach Blossom House, my original room was occupied, so Madam Liu gave me another," Su Xingyao replied calmly, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. "This mechanism was already in the room when I moved in."
Madam Liu's face showed embarrassment as she lowered her head to explain: "With guests coming and going, some do enjoy such novelties..." Her words were hesitant, clearly concealing something.
"It seems Lady Su's mechanical skills could use some improvement," Jiang Yichuan remarked meaningfully.
Su Xingyao forced a smile, maintaining her composure. But something inscrutable flickered in her eyes.
"In that case..." Li Yuan suddenly slapped his thigh, exclaiming: "Lady Su even helped Du Qingshuang set up this mechanism! They must have been close! I don't think she knew that Du Qingshuang..."
Before he could finish, Madam Liu grabbed his sleeve. Li Yuan seemed to realize he'd let something slip. Changing his tone: "Uh... surely Lady Su has nothing to do with this case."
Though the moment passed quickly, it didn't escape Jiang Yichuan's notice. He thoughtfully watched Li Yuan and Madam Liu, the mystery deepening in his mind: Just how many secrets were these people hiding?
As the third watch of night approached, a bone-chilling wind swept through Peach Blossom House. The vermillion main gate creaked open without anyone touching it.
The oil lamps inside flickered violently before extinguishing, plunging everything into darkness. In the deathly silence, only rapid breathing could be heard.
An eerie wind carried the sound of bells - ding-ling, ding-ling - as if from another world, sending chills down everyone's spine.
"Who's there?" Qi Feng gripped his sword hilt, trying to maintain composure as he inched toward the door.
Madam Liu's face turned ashen as she trembled behind Qi Feng: "It's here... finally here..."
Hearing her cry, everyone rushed toward the main hall.
There stood an elderly Daoist priest in a dark green robe, his steps slow but steady. The copper bells in his hand chimed softly, their sound seemingly able to summon spirits from the underworld. An ancient sword hung at his waist, its blade covered in talismans.
The priest entered the hall and waved his hand.
Suddenly, all the candles burst into flame!
In the dancing light, his bottomless eyes reflected the flames. He drew out a vermillion sword, shaking bells with his left hand while rapidly drawing talismans on the table with his right.
Then he took out a duck egg from his robes and placed it in the center of the talismans.
Everyone held their breath as they watched the egg slowly rotate around the talismans.
One turn...
Two turns...
Three turns...
Crack!
The egg suddenly split open, a line of blood seeping out!
"The resentful energy here is extreme. This was no natural death," the priest's hoarse voice seemed to come from the underworld itself.
In the great hall, everyone had gathered.
Du Qingdai stared wide-eyed, her fingers digging into her sleeves so hard they pierced her wrists, though she felt no pain.
The priest's sword suddenly turned, its cold gleam aimed directly at her brow!
Just an inch away from piercing her skin.
Du Qingdai's legs gave way, nearly collapsing. Blood dripped from her palms down her sleeves.
Ah Qing had already fallen to her knees, repeatedly knocking her forehead against the floor, trembling uncontrollably.
"Wandering spirit unrest, shadows won't return, blood debts unpaid..." The priest's expressionless face moved before her forehead.
With a wave of his hand, the talismans burst into ethereal blue flames, casting ghostly light on everyone's pale faces.
"Spirit bound by vengeance!" The priest's thunderous shout split the air.
"It wasn't me... it wasn't me..." Li Yuan's face changed dramatically as he collapsed to his knees.
A sudden urge overtook him, and his pants became wet, though he didn't even notice.
"Who bears responsibility..." the priest muttered, suddenly thrusting his long sword into a bronze basin on the ground.
Black smoke spiraled up with the bell sounds.
His icy gaze swept toward Manager Zhang: "The spirit is restless... restless... do you know your crime?"
Zhang's Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to maintain composure, but his feet unconsciously stepped backward, cold sweat pouring down.
The priest raised his sword high, its tip pointing to the heavens.
Drawing talismans in the air, the blade flashed like silk.
He slowly walked past each person, the sword tip passing lightly over their heads, as if sensing some mystical energy.
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the priest's movements.
Terrified that the next moment, that sharp blade might point at them.
"My lord, what is this..." Hu Qi was scared stiff, leaping behind Jiang Yichuan.
His hands clutched the prince's shoulders, his whole body shaking.
"Get down!" Jiang Yichuan snapped coldly.
Hu Qi hurriedly let go, stumbling to the side, sweating profusely.
"This is the 'Fate-Turning Egg Ritual,'" Su Xingyao explained calmly in a low voice. "Using duck eggs as a medium to transfer evil spirits and seal malevolent forces."
The priest glanced at Su Xingyao upon hearing her words.
His piercing gaze passed over her but didn't linger.
His sword movements suddenly changed!
The blade cut through darkness, tracing mysterious symbols in the air.
An invisible force rippled outward like waves, somehow making the hall's candles burn even brighter.
The light pulsed with the rhythm of his sword dance, illuminating the priest's stern features.
When the ritual ended, the priest turned to Madam Liu: "Dark forces linger here, spirits hover. Take strict precautions, lest evil resurface."
As he passed by Jiang Yichuan, his steps suddenly halted.
He left a cryptic prophecy: "Woman in red, trapped in mortal coil, heart ablaze, life hangs by a thread."
Jiang Yichuan's brow furrowed in silence.
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Su Xingyao in her red robes, thoughtful.
As the priest departed, the bell sounds faded.
The hall returned to silence, everyone frozen like statues.
"Li Yuan, in such a state - did you wet yourself from fear?" Du Qingdai suddenly broke the silence with a mocking laugh.
"Nonsense!" Li Yuan exploded in embarrassed anger. "Look who's talking - there's blood under your nose. Scared out of your wits, weren't you?"
Du Qingdai froze, touching her nose.
Her fingers came away bloody, her face changing dramatically.
"You're talking nonsense!" she shouted in angry humiliation.
"Just a conjurer's tricks," Jiang Yichuan swept his gaze across the room, speaking calmly. "Trust in evidence, not ethereal illusions."
"Oh right, Your Highness!"
Li Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up. "I just remembered - Du Qingdai admitted she secretly removed Du Qingshuang's name from the courtesan selection list! She was jealous of Du Qingshuang. Now it seems highly suspicious!"
"Miss Qingshuang did confront my mistress about this..." Ah Qing timidly spoke up. "She demanded to know why her name was crossed off the list..."
All eyes turned to Du Qingdai.
"Yes, I crossed it out!"
She suddenly stood up, her hairpins swaying. "Why shouldn't I? She flaunted Lord Zhao's favor, throwing her weight around the house. She had to compete with me in everything, even for the title of Top Courtesan!"
Her words were met with dead silence.
Jiang Yichuan instinctively looked toward Su Xingyao.
He saw her body stiffen slightly, her face growing even paler.
Du Qingdai noticed everyone's changed expressions.
Some frowned, others whispered among themselves.
Her heart jumped as she realized she'd said too much.