Four Seasons Brocade – CH 160

Chapter 160 ☆、

The next morning, Ah Wu did not open her eyes as everyone had hoped. She lay unconscious in bed, and if it were not for the faint warmth still lingering on her chest, one would probably think she was dead.

Chu Mao continued to administer medicine to Ah Wu, but there was still no improvement.

By the third morning, He Nianfang was also helpless, watching Ah Wu’s breath grow weaker and weaker.

“Your Highness, this old man is truly powerless. Today I must go to the palace to examine the Emperor,” He Nianfang said apologetically as he took his leave of Chu Mao.

Chu Mao’s once clean face was now covered with a layer of stubble. Hearing He Nianfang’s words, he could only wave his hand weakly.

“Chief Physician He, you cannot leave! What will happen to our young lady if you leave? What will happen to our young lady?” Hearing that He Nianfang was about to leave, Nanny Sang rushed over and hugged his legs, preventing him from moving.

“Your Highness,” He Nianfang said, looking at Chu Mao with difficulty.

“Help Nanny Sang up,” Chu Mao said.

Nanny Sang grabbed the table leg with one hand and wrapped her other arm around He Nianfang’s leg, refusing to get up no matter what. Finally, Li Yanguang had to find Yuan-Chun to help lift Nanny Sang away.

Nanny Sang kicked and punched like a madwoman, tears streaming down her face. He Nianfang felt sorry for her but knew that staying would be futile, so he finally bid farewell to Chu Mao.

Nanny Sang’s crying made everyone in the room feel a lump in their throat. Chu Mao rested his hand on his forehead so no one could see his expression.

The seemingly calmest-looking nanny, Nanny Gong, suddenly said, “Your Highness, could the Princess be possessed?”

“Yes, the young lady is definitely possessed. She was perfectly fine that morning.” Nanny Sang, hearing Nanny Gong’s words, forgot her tears; she would not give up as long as there was a sliver of hope. “She must be haunted by a vengeful ghost, yes, she must be haunted by a vengeful ghost.”

Chu Mao straightened his back and lowered his hand. “Li Yanguang, go and fetch Master Changchun.”

Master Changchun was the abbot of Baiyun Temple, a figure of considerable influence with the Longqing Emperor. He was said to possess extremely powerful Taoist magic; he was the one who subdued the most infamous haunted house in the capital.

Li Yanguang found Master Changchun at the Duke of Wei’s residence. Braving Princess Fuhui’s murderous glare, he dragged Master Changchun from the Duke of Wei’s residence to the Prince Qi’s mansion.

Fortunately, Master Changchun was already performing rituals at the Duke of Wei’s residence, so his tools, equipment, and apprentices were readily available. Lu Ruoxing, on the other hand, had run himself ragged, quickly gathering everything needed for the altar.

Master Changchun had already heard about Princess Qi’s condition from Li Yanguang on the way. He knew he could not replace medicine and did not want to tarnish his reputation, but Li Yanguang’s persistent pleas forced him to reluctantly agree.

“Master Changchun,” Chu Mao rose to greet Master Changchun.

Master Changchun frequently visited the palace and knew perfectly well which of the palace’s masters believed in Taoism and which did not. The Fourth Prince did not believe in ghosts or spirits, nor in alchemy or metaphysics, and had never had any dealings with Master Changchun. This unexpected courtesy was truly flattering. And Prince Qi, who was always very particular about his appearance, was wearing clothes that looked like pickled vegetables and had stubble on his face.

“Your Highness,” Master Changchun greeted. With the throne still undecided and Master Changchun vying for the position of Imperial Preceptor, Chu Mao was naturally eager for this opportunity to get close to Prince Qi.

“Please, Daoist Master, examine my wife. Is there anything wrong with her…?” Chu Mao paused; though desperate, a sliver of disbelief lingered in his heart. “…See if there’s anything unclean about her.”

Master Changchun nodded, flicked his whisk, and went inside. He carefully looked around. “Please, Your Highness, ask everyone else to leave. Your Highness, please also leave temporarily. Close all the windows and cover them with dark curtains.”

Chu Mao hesitated for a moment, but Nanny Sang immediately sprang into action. “Alright, alright, we will all go out, we will all go out! Daoist Master, you must save our Princess! You must save her!” Nanny Sang practically wanted to grab Master Changchun’s hand.

Once everyone was out and the windows were closed, Chu Mao remained motionless. “I am just standing by the door, not daring to disturb the Daoist Master.”

Master Changchun shook his head helplessly. He had indeed noticed something amiss, which was why he spoke up to clear everyone out. After all the onlookers had left, nothing had changed. Master Changchun glanced at Chu Mao again; ultimately, it was the nobleman’s yang energy that was stronger.

“Your Highness, please leave.”

Chu Mao did not move, his gaze fixed on Master Changchun’s eyes, making Master Changchun’s nose break out in a cold sweat. Finally, Chu Mao gave way. “I will stand outside the door.”

Master Changchun breathed a sigh of relief after Chu Mao left.

Li Yanguang waited outside with his head bowed, his eyes involuntarily fixed on Chu Mao’s feet. Even during the long wait of the ancestral sacrifice, this master’s feet remained perfectly still, but in less than half an incense stick’s time, he had already shifted positions five times. He probably did not even realize that his feet had moved forward two inches.

Li Yanguang felt a sharp pain in his chest; he still did not dare see a physician for the kick he’d received the other day. He only hoped that Master Changchun inside would come out soon, preferably with good news.

Finally, the door to Yulan Hall creaked open, and Master Changchun, inside, said, “Your Highness, please allow me a moment to speak.”

No one knew what Master Changchun said to Chu Mao, but after they parted, Chu Mao immediately ordered Li Yanguang to prepare a carriage to go to Daci Temple.

Chu Mao carried Ah Wu directly into the meditation room of Abbot Huitong of Daci Temple.

Then, Li Yanguang, who had followed, saw Abbot Huitong and his four junior disciples, Huiming, Huizhen, Huifa, and Huineng, holding prayer beads, enter the meditation room one after another. Soon, the sound of chanting filled the room.

Li Yanguang saw that his master also held a string of prayer beads, sat down on a futon outside the meditation room, and quietly counted the beads. This string of prayer beads had quite a history; it was bestowed upon Chu Mao by the current Emperor four years ago on New Year’s Day, said to have been consecrated and chanted upon by ninety-nine eminent monks. Each bead of the prayer beads was engraved with ninety-nine Buddhist characters.

To Li Yanguang’s surprise, this string of prayer beads had been gathering dust since it was bestowed upon him, and he never expected it to suddenly appear here today. When he saw his master accept these beads, he had been quite dismissive. He had even said that if one’s heart was devoid of Buddha, no matter how many Buddhas were engraved or how many high monks consecrated them, it would be of no use.

Li Yanguang’s legs were numb from standing. He looked up at the rising moon, gently stepped forward to Chu Mao’s side, and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, would you please have some refreshments? You have not eaten a single grain of rice for a day and a night. If the Princess Consort wakes up and sees you…”

“Get out.”

Li Yanguang could only sigh and leave.

Although Chu Mao had counted the one hundred and eight beads of the prayer beads countless times in his hands, his mind remained restless. Seeking Master Changchun was a desperate measure, a last resort, when Master Changchun told him that Ah Wu’s soul was unstable, tainted by bloodshed, and in danger of being scattered.

Coming to Daci Temple was also Master Changchun’s suggestion; only by having high-ranking Buddhist monks chant sutras could Ah Wu’s soul be stabilized.

Under normal circumstances, Master Changchun’s words would have seemed utterly absurd, but today he came to Daci Temple without hesitation. When human effort failed, all hope could be placed in the ethereal realm of gods and Buddhas.

Fortunately, Zen Master Huineng happened to be at Daci Temple, not traveling.

Chu Mao looked down at the prayer beads in his hand, hoping that the beads, chanted by these high-ranking monks, could truly convey his sincerity to Buddha.

The chanting in the meditation room continued for three days and three nights. The five masters and Chu Mao each only drank a few cups of water.

On the third day, another distinguished guest arrived at Daci Temple—Princess Fuhui. Since Li Yanguang had brought Master Changchun from her residence, she became one of the few who knew that Princess Qi was critically ill.

Princess Fuhui stood atop the Ruizhen Pagoda at Daci Temple, overlooking the meditation hall of Zen Master Huitong, and sneered, “I never imagined Prince Qi would be so concerned with life and death.”

Nanny Jia, who served Princess Fuhui, responded.

“If I had not come to see for myself, I would not have believed it, no matter who told me. I thought he was as cold and heartless as his dead mother.”

Nanny Jia remained silent, knowing that the Princess did not need her to reply at this moment.

“Do you think this is some kind of play staged by the couple?” Princess Fuhui narrowed her eyes.

Nanny Jia dared not speak further. If she said no, her mistress would suspect infidelity; if she said yes, it simply did not seem like it.

Princess Fuhui arrived silently and left hastily, unnoticed by anyone.

In the courtyard, the door to the meditation room finally opened, and Zen Master Huitong was the first to emerge, saying to Chu Mao, who approached, “Your Highness, please go and see her.”

Chu Mao hurriedly slipped inside, nearly bumping into Huineng, who came out behind him. Ah Wu lay quietly inside, and Chu Mao dared not approach. Until he saw Ah Wu’s lips move, whispering something like a mosquito’s buzz.

Chu Mao’s stiff shoulders and back suddenly convulsed, and he knelt on the ground, chanting a Buddhist prayer.

Ah Wu vaguely felt a few drops of water on her lips. Her throat felt like it was on fire, and someone was buzzing in her ears, saying something she could not understand. She could not open her mouth, only managing to utter, “It hurts, it hurts…”

“Where does it hurt?”

Ah Wu wanted to tell him her throat hurt, but she could not speak. Then she felt a dense shower of hot, wet kisses on her face. Ah Wu tried to struggle, but her body felt as if it were pressed against a stone slab, unable to move. Ah Wu desperately cried out, “No, no…”

“What? What did you say?” the person continued. “Water? Do you want water?”

Ah Wu’s head throbbed with pain, and she could not speak anymore. Hearing the word “water,” she thought it was fine. Unable to speak, she tried to open her eyes, but they felt like they were glued shut.

Chu Mao watched Ah Wu’s eyelashes flutter, taking it as a nod. “Li Yanguang, Li Yanguang…”

Li Yanguang heard the call and scrambled in, “Your Highness.”

“Water, bring water.”

A moment later, Ah Wu felt herself being lifted. Someone placed a cup of water to her lips. She tried to drink, but her lips would not obey her.

Finally, Ah Wu suddenly felt a heat on her lips. She was startled to realize what it was and wanted to bite the person who dared to force-feed her water. She resolutely refused to speak, but someone forcibly pried open her lips, and a snake slithered in.

Ah Wu was so angry her chest felt like it was going to explode, and then she lost consciousness.

Author’s Note:
Ah Wu: Just let me die! Brother Si-Mao did not brush his teeth.