Huangming

Chapter 200 The Enchanted Dream of the Purple Mansion, Trouble Arises Within the Walls

Inside the Duke of Cheng's mansion, the vermilion gates were tightly closed, but the mansion was brightly lit and filled with people.

The main hall had already been meticulously arranged into a solemn Buddhist altar.

Yellow banners, embroidered with Bagua symbols, fluttered gently in the wind at the four corners; the ground was outlined with an intricate Big Dipper constellation in vermilion, each star position held an ever-burning lamp, its flickering light illuminating the entire hall. The air was thick with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and the faint sound of chanting could be heard from within the rising smoke, adding to the mystical atmosphere.

In the center of the formation, Duke Zhu Chunchen of Cheng, dressed in a crimson-purple ducal robe with a jade belt hanging down, sat upright.

His eyes were slightly closed, his face solemn, as if he had merged with the surrounding formation.

A Taoist priest with white hair and a youthful face held a bronze Bagua mirror, and walked swiftly around the star array, following the steps of Yu.

His Taoist robes billowed like clouds, and he chanted incantations. At times, he pointed his peach wood sword at the void, and golden light appeared where the sword passed.

Suddenly, a clear "ringing" sound was heard, and the Taoist Li Xuanbai stopped abruptly, took out a gilded magic bell from his sleeve and shook it.

Before the bell had even stopped ringing, he took a deep breath and sprayed the kerosene he had been holding in his mouth onto the candle array.

In an instant, flames soared into the sky, transforming into a fire dragon over ten feet long, baring its fangs and claws as it charged straight towards the dome!

The servants and guests who were watching were horrified. Some staggered backward, while others fell to the ground and exclaimed, "Truly divine magic!"

As the fire gradually died down, Li Xuanbai took out an ancient tortoise shell from his bosom, tapped it three times with his knuckles, and threw it into the ashes of the incense burner.

As the cracks in the tortoise shell became visible, he observed them intently, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "The celestial pivot reflects the Purple Palace, the earth's veins receive the dragon's energy—this is an omen of harmony between heaven and earth, and the prosperity of the nation!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the wind outside the hall suddenly stopped and the clouds parted, a beam of sunlight pierced through the window and fell on Zhu Chunchen's shoulder.

Zhu Chunchen slowly opened his tightly closed eyes, his gaze flashing with a sharp light, as if a storm was brewing within them.

He raised his head slightly, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Li Xuanbai, and asked in a deep voice, "Master, is my act of following the righteous path and purging the court of corrupt officials auspicious or inauspicious?"

Li Xuanbai flicked his whisk and replied loudly, "Great fortune!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen's tense face suddenly relaxed, and a deep smile appeared on his lips, as if the pent-up anger in his chest had finally been released.

He let out a long sigh, his ambition clearly visible in his eyes.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Taoism has been highly regarded by the imperial family and has almost become the state religion.

The Jiajing Emperor was obsessed with Taoist alchemy and cultivation, and Duke Zhu Chunchen of Cheng was also deeply influenced by him, having a firm belief in Taoist mysticism.

The man before them, Li Xuanbai, was a renowned "living immortal" in the capital region. It was said that he was proficient in alchemy and talismans, could predict good and bad fortune, and could even summon wind and rain and prolong life.

Having witnessed him breathe fire and transform into a dragon, and to divine the future with his own eyes, Zhu Chunchen became even more convinced that this man truly possessed extraordinary abilities!

With Li Xuanbai's auspicious blessing, Zhu Chunchen felt a surge of heroic spirit in his chest, as if his great cause was within reach.

He waved his hand and said to the attendant beside him, "It is truly a great effort for the master to perform divination for me. This hundred taels of gold is just a token of my respect."

Before the words were finished, two servants in brocade robes respectfully presented a vermilion plate, on which ten pure gold ingots were neatly arranged, gleaming brightly in the candlelight, dazzling the eyes.

Even though Li Xuanbai had cultivated Taoism for many years and considered himself to be detached from worldly affairs, he couldn't help but shrink his pupils and catch his breath at this moment.

But he quickly composed himself, flicked his whisk, and laughed loudly, "Your Excellency's generous gift is too much for me to accept!"

After speaking, he paused for a moment, then raised his head and recited:
"Auspicious purple clouds rise from the east, illuminating the jade hall; a dragon soars over the Big Dipper, foretelling good fortune."

"When I achieve my goal and ascend to the Purple Palace, I will drink with you in the highest heavens!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen laughed heartily, feeling even more delighted, as if the supreme power was already within his grasp.

Just as the hall was filled with cheers and everyone was still immersed in the awe of the fire dragon soaring into the sky, the steward of the Duke of Cheng's mansion stumbled into the hall, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead. He didn't even care about etiquette and rushed straight to Zhu Chunchen, saying in a trembling voice, "My lord, something terrible has happened!"

"Something terrible has happened?"

Zhu Chunchen's smile froze instantly, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "What are you panicking for! Explain yourself!"

The steward swallowed hard and lowered his voice to report urgently: "The informant from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion has just escaped back to report that the Beijing garrison has suddenly mobilized and has completely surrounded the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!"

"what?!"

Zhu Chunchen gripped the armrest of the seat tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Could it be that Xu Xigao, that good-for-nothing, had acted carelessly and leaked the plot?

He suppressed his anger and pressed on, "Has there been any movement from the Marquis of Wu'an's residence or the Marquis of Huaining's residence?"

The steward shook his head vigorously, his voice trembling: "There... there's still no news from over there..." Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on his chest, and his previous smugness turned into a raging fire.

He abruptly turned his head, his sinister gaze piercing Li Xuanbai like a knife, and squeezed out the words through gritted teeth: "This is the great fortune you spoke of?!"

Li Xuanbai's Taoist robe was already soaked with cold sweat, but he still forced himself to remain calm, flicked his whisk, and said loudly, "The secrets of heaven are mysterious, and fortune and misfortune are intertwined. This is merely the sign of a dragon swimming in shallow waters; we must wait for the clouds to part and the moon to shine."

"enough!"

Zhu Chunchen interrupted him with a loud shout, having no time to listen to such empty words.

He stood up abruptly, his duke's robes and jade belt jingling, and said in a ferocious voice, "Since things have come to this, rather than waiting to die, we should fight to the death! Issue the order: all the assassins must assemble immediately. Tonight, even if the capital is stained with blood, we will fight our way out!"

"Father, wait!"

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhu Chengzong, the heir apparent of the Duke of Cheng, stride into the hall.

He wore a black brocade robe with a jade belt tightly around his waist, which made his figure appear even more upright, but his handsome face was as gloomy as iron, with an unyielding shadow between his brows.

Zhu Chengzong walked up to his father's seat, clasped his hands and bowed deeply. Although his movements were respectful, his voice was very low: "Father, I have something important to report to you and need to discuss it with you alone."

Zhu Chunchen frowned, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes: "Now that things have come to this, what is there that can't be said in public?"

He flicked his sleeves and swept his gaze across the crowd in the hall.

"Everyone here is a trusted confidant, so please speak freely!"

Zhu Chengzong slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings like a blade before finally landing on his father's face: "The matter of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion... there's more to it than meets the eye."

He paused deliberately, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, before continuing, "Walls have ears; something might happen."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chunchen's pupils contracted sharply.

He leaned forward abruptly, his fingers gripping the armrests of the seat tightly, his voice tinged with urgency: "You mean... the conspiracy hasn't been exposed yet?"

Zhu Chengzong smiled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile, and nodded emphatically.

"it is good!"

Zhu Chunchen abruptly stood up, his crimson-purple ducal robes gleaming coldly in the candlelight, and said, "Come with me to the secret chamber for a detailed discussion!"

The father and son hurried through the corridor and headed straight for a secret room deep inside the mansion.

Zhu Chengzong lagged half a step behind, turned his head and sternly ordered the steward who was following closely behind: "Seal off the entrance. Anyone who enters without my and my son's written authorization—kill!"

The word "kill" was pronounced with extreme emphasis, like an ice blade being drawn from its sheath.

The steward trembled and hurriedly agreed, immediately ordering the guards to take up arms and stand guard.

The secret room was deep and dark, with walls made of bluestone, and only a bronze lamp flickering with a dim yellow light.

Zhu Chengzong closed the iron gate with his backhand, locking it with a click, and then turned around to take a teapot from the table.

He moved with composure, but with a subtle flick of his sleeve, a pinch of colorless powder quietly fell into the cup.

"Father has been working hard these past few days, so please have some tea to soothe his throat."

He presented the cup with both hands, his eyes lowered to conceal the turmoil within them.

Zhu Chunchen didn't even look at it, and casually put the teacup on the table.

The porcelain cup collided with the stone table, making a crisp sound, and a few drops of tea splashed out, leaving a dark stain on the surface.

"What time is it? Why are you still drinking tea!"

He grabbed his son's wrist with such force that he almost crushed the bones.

"Tell me quickly! What's going on outside?"

Zhu Chengzong winced in pain, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. He then lowered his voice, hoarse and urgent: "Father, please come closer."

Zhu Chunchen frowned, puzzled. What kind of secret was it that required whispering even in a secret room?

(End of this chapter)