Capture the Jade - Chapter 11-4

Suddenly, he heard someone talk in the hall. Jue Sheng hurriedly went up the stairs to take a look. There were many people inside, and in addition to An Guogong who was here last night keeping watch of his wife, there was an old man with huge eyebrows and white hair. Judging from his appearance, he was around eighty years old and above. 

Jue Sheng recognized this old man as Yu Fengyu of Shang Pharmacy in the palace. One did not expect that senior brother would actually invite Yu Fengyu here as well when he went to the palace. 

Yu Fengyu sat upright in front of the couch, stroking his bread with one hand, and lightly holding An Guogong’s wrist with the other, as if he was feeling his pulse.

“Yu Fengyu, how is Duke Cheng?” 

The person who spoke was weaning the crown and gown of a prince, and was sitting on the opposite side of Yu Fengyu, born with long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, with an appearance of being extremely elegant. 

The second prince of Chun’an? Jue Sheng respectfully bowed his head. The second prince of Chun’an turned his head, and recognized that it was a young Taoist of the temple, waving his hand to order him to come in.

Yu Fengyu said: “His leg injury is not a serious problem, but don’t try to touch it anymore. It’s just that his qi and blood is weak and unstable, and there is the potential to invade liver meridians. If it is not dispersed in time, it will severely injure his seven emotions1seven emotions = seven effects of traditional Chinese medical theory and therapy, namely: joy, anger, anxiety, thought, grief, fear, fright. I will prescribe a prescription first, and ask that An Guogong can please take it as soon as possible.” 

An Guogong was lying on the couch, and his expression was both gloomy and impatient. It’s strange that he clearly looked like he hated that he could not jump down immediately, yet instead he did not even dare to move a bit. 

The second prince of Chun’an lightly smiled: “Don’t stare at me. Chengyou is the one who dotted your acupuncture point. His methods are tricky and strange. I can’t solve them.” 

An Guogong still stared at the second prince of Chun’an, because he really wanted to move badly, and his face was already swollen purple. 

The second prince of Chun’an pondered on what he meant, and helplessly sighed: “Are you saying that Chengyou should not have sneak attacked you? This method is indeed not proper, but if it was not done like this, how can you be restrained? You have a leg injury, and also stayed by madam’s side all night, even a body made of iron can not stand this.” 

An Guogong lifted his face up and sighed, closing his eyes with a slight tremble.  

At this time, a door on the side opened, Lin Chengyou came in.  

The two Taoist priests came in. The bloodstains on his brocade robe were gone, and he changed into an azure blue rounded necked robe. 

He did not wear a crown on his head, and instead had a white jade hair pin inserted slanted into his jet-black colored hair bun.

“Senior brother.” Jue Sheng had just stolen the bugs, and was feeling a little guilty, standing on his tippy toes and walking over. 

Lin Chengyou yawned, and without consulting with anyone, he went outside, stepping down the steps. When he got outside, he put his hands behind his back, and walked around the well. Soon after, he crouched down, attentively looking at something. 

Qizhi looked at Jue Sheng, and suddenly clapped his hands together: “Jue Sheng, where did you run off to? I searched for a long time and still did not find you.” 

Jue Sheng’s face was red, and said stammeringly: “I, I, I had a bad stomach, and just now, I went to the restroom.” 

After finishing speaking, he secretly looked at his senior brother outside, and reckoned that senior brother had no time to be suspicious. He then quickly relaxed a bit. 

Lin Chengyou observed for a while, and waved towards the direction of Jue Sheng and Qizhi: “You two come out, and do some work.”

The two of them ran out, and Lin Chengyou threw a bag of something into the arms of Jue Sheng: “Sprinkle the yard with this chasing powder.”  

After saying this, he walked up the steps, returning to the scripture hall.

Jue Sheng and Qizhi took action separately, and if it seems like even the “fierce trigram” was asked, but senior brother still made up his mind to attract the soul of Mrs. An Guogong. 

The chasing powder is colorless and scentless, and if one was to step on it, it does not leave behind a trace. However, as long as the soul passes by here, it will inevitably leave behind copper red footprints.  

The two of them were sprinkling the power carefully, and returned into the scripture hall, where Lin Chengyou had already undid An Guogong’s acupuncture point, and smiled towards An Guogong: “How can this be called a sneak attack? Didn’t this junior greet Duke Cheng before taking action? Hey, don’t be so occupied staring at me. You take this and go inside to measure madam’s feet.” 

An Guogong held his breath for a long time, only feeling that the qi in his lungs was scattered everywhere. Seeing that Lin Chengyou handed him a red rope, he hurriedly asked: “Measure her feet? What is it for?” 

Lin Chengyou said blankly: “There is a way for the poison in Madam’s body to slowly clear up, but her soul has been separated from her body for too long now. Luring it back is definitely not an easy task. Just now, I asked a few of the trigrams, but unfortunately, they are all fierce trigrams. Although I set up a formation to attract her soul tonight, I am not sure that the soul that is lured back is certain to be madam’s soul.” 

An Guogong’s complexion turned ashy when he heard this. The second prince of Chun’an and Yu Fengyu also had slightly unusual expressions. 

“Because of this, we need to know in advance the size of madam’s feet. The chasing powder has already been sprinkled outside. When the soul comes, its footprints will be clearly visible. If the size does not match up with madam’s feet, this indicates that it is not madam’s soul that has been attracted here. At that time, if it needs to be driven away, then it will be driven away, saving a lot of endless trouble.” 

An Guogong understood very well, nodded firmly, and got up using the cane: “This old man will go in immediately. The prince just now, you said that my wife can maybe still be saved, and we just need a person with profound Taoist skills to join forces with the price. One does not know if that person has been found yet?”   

Lin Chengyou said: “The person is readily-available. If that person can arrive at the temple before hai shi2hai shi = 9-11pm, maybe we can give it a try, but whether we can save madam or not, I can’t say for sure.” 

An Guogong was so heartbroken when he heard this, and could not bear to ask anymore. He sighed heavily, and limped into the inner room. 

Jue Sheng and Qizhi both secretly speculated on who the person was. There are many Taoist priests in Chang’an City. However, they have never seen their senior brother put anyone in his eyes3to have looked upon someone. Whenever the Taoist priests from the other sects were often mentioned, what senior brother had said the most was “fool the world and usurp a good name”. To be worthy of the title, “a person with profound Taoist skills” from their senior brother, how many can there be in Chang’an City? 

Naturally, there is no one that can surpasses master, and after that is Princess Consort Cheng, who is also senior brother’s mother. However, Princess Consort Cheng and King Cheng are always out traveling. At present, they are in the Shu Empire, lingering around, so naturally it is impossible for them to be in Chang’an. 

As for master, senior brother had just entered the palace to ask about the whereabouts of master. Even if a flying servant were sent out to deliver a letter, it would take several days to come back, so it is also unlikely to be master. 

The Second prince of Chun’an strangely asked: “Could it be that the Taoist priest, Qing Xuzi is coming back?” 

Lin Chengyou touched his chin, and did not say yes or no. 

At this moment, the chime in the Yun hall sounded. It’s time for morning class. 

Jue Sheng seized this opportunity and said: “Senior brother, we are going to go attend morning class. Last night, senior brother asked us to go to the Teng Mansion to check up on the several injured victims. They should have woken up this morning. After we finish attending morning class, we will directly go to the Teng Mansion.” 

Lin Chengyou clearly had something to discuss with the second prince of Chun’an and Yu Fengyu, and after hearing this, he casually waved his hand. 

Jue Sheng’s sleeve was tucked in with the bugs that he brought for Teng Yuyi. For the fear that he was going to be exposed, he quietly pulled Qizhi’s sleeve, and walked out quietly. 

The two of them had just stepped over the threshold4threshold = the section of wood or stone that lies under a door, when they suddenly heard Lin Chengyou speak behind them: “Hold on.” 

Not only did Jue Sheng not stop, but his footsteps became faster instead. A smile emerged on Lin Chengyou’s face, and he snapped his fingers on his right hand. 

Jue Sheng tried to take a step forward, but instead found out that he could not move no matter what. He lowered his head, only to find that the edge of his straw shoes5straw shoes woven with the leaves or poles of plants exposed a corner of a yellow talisman paper. 

Such a vigorous talisman! He grinned and wanted to cry. It turns out that senior brother had already found out that there was something wrong with him long ago. What can he do now? If senior brother found out that he stole things that belonged to the temple and wanted to give it to Lady Teng, then it would be bad. 

Lin Chengyou raised his eyebrows: “What good things are you hiding in your sleeve? Come and show it to me.” 

The author has something to say: 1 According to the official evaluation system of the Tang Dynasty, the performance of officials in office will be divided into nine levels: upper-upper, upper-middle, upper-lower, middle-upper, middle-middle, middle-lower, lower-upper, lower-middle, and lower-lower. 

The final part, this chapter took so long! There are many more chapters like this… 

I also have a new project coming up soon in the next few days! I’m so excited!