Chapter 458: Building a Temple

Ruyi carried the food box and returned to the Separate Courtyard. She set the dishes out on the side table.

Duan Rong had been hiding on Wuji Mountain for a day and a night, during which he had not had a single drop of water; his stomach was already famished. At this moment, seeing the steaming dishes, his appetite was immediately whetted, and like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, he wiped clean the steamed pork with rice flour and the bowl-steamed meat before him. That pot of yellow wine was also drunk until the bottom was visible.

Duan Rong set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and let out a satisfied belch.

Ruyi immediately brought over freshly brewed tea.

Duan Rong sipped the clear tea while watching Ruyi tidying up the bowl and chopsticks, and said, "Ruyi, go and take out the paper and brush."

"Paper and brush?" Ruyi's expression flickered; since Duan Rong had moved into the Separate Courtyard, he had never touched paper or brush.

Ruyi bowed, placed the food box in the corner, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and then took the Four Treasures of the Study out from the drawer of the cabinet by the wall, and ground the ink for Duan Rong.

Duan Rong sat there resting for a while. When he rose, he saw Ruyi by the side table, one hand lifting her sleeve, the other slowly grinding the ink, possessing quite a bit of elegant charm.

Duan Rong smiled faintly: "You are quite skilled at grinding ink, aren't you?"

Ruyi lowered her head and replied in a soft, gentle voice: "Back in the courtyard, Mother taught us personally."

Duan Rong gave an "oh," then sat down before the side table with composure. In the inkstone, the ink was pitch-black and full. He picked up the hair brush from the brush rest, lightly dipped it in some ink, and began to wield the brush on the white paper.

The moment Duan Rong lifted the brush, Ruyi had already retreated to a place slightly further away, standing there quietly. She was not sure if what Duan Rong was writing was confidential or not. Even if she wanted to know more, she had to leave at this moment.

After only a few breaths, Duan Rong set aside the brush, turned his head to look at Ruyi, pulled the paper out from under the paperweight, and handed it toward Ruyi, saying: "That..."

Ruyi was slightly stunned, looking at Duan Rong with a somewhat astonished expression, and asked: "Is this written for me, my lord?"

Duan Rong smiled faintly and said: "It doesn't count as being written for you; it is a prescription, and I need to trouble you to go get the medicine."

"A prescription?" Ruyi took the paper and looked down. Before even reading the content, just the sight of that elegant and free-spirited handwriting made Ruyi's breathing hitch slightly.

Seeing Ruyi's expression, Duan Rong knew she was someone who knew her stuff. Although his attainments in the Medical Path and calligraphy had long since far exceeded the secular masters of calligraphy, what is called "high-brow music finds few listeners"—to appreciate his handwriting, one had to have some substance.

Duan Rong said: "This prescription is for Chou Luan."

"Chou Luan?"

Duan Rong nodded and said: "He drinks alcohol year-round, which has already damaged his lungs. With the way he drinks, in less than a year, he will be coughing up blood constantly. You go to the Raw Medicine Shop early tomorrow morning, get seven doses of medicine according to this prescription, one dose a day, each dose decocted twice."

In truth, Chou Luan ruining himself had nothing to do with Duan Rong. But he had encountered him after all, and this Chou Luan had been his Guard for several days and had been quite responsible. If he didn't understand the Medical Path, that would be one thing, but since he had already seen his symptoms, writing a prescription for him to take a few doses of medicine to delay his condition could be considered doing his best.

Upon hearing this, Ruyi said with a hesitant expression: "I can get the medicine and decoct it for him. But that fellow doesn't even eat, would he obediently take medicine?"

Duan Rong smiled: "That is no problem. Tomorrow, after you decoct the medicine, pour the medicinal juice directly into his wine jar. Tell him that I told him to drink it, and he will drink it."

Ruyi did not know if this method would work or not, but since Duan Rong had ordered it, she would just follow his instructions.

Seeing that Ruyi seemed to have no more questions, Duan Rong stretched his back. Having stayed on Wuji Mountain for a day and a night, he was indeed very sleepy at this moment.

He was just preparing to go to sleep when he suddenly saw Ruyi spread the paper in her hand onto the side table, pick up the brush he had just dipped in ink, and write beside Duan Rong's calligraphy.

Duan Rong was curious, so he leaned over to see what Ruyi had written.

He saw Ruyi writing a few small characters on the side: Seven doses, one dose decocted twice.

After Ruyi finished writing, she held the brush and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "My lord, please do not blame me; my memory is not very good, and I was afraid I would forget tomorrow."

Duan Rong, however, looked at the characters Ruyi had written with slightly brightening eyes and praised: "Ruyi! I didn't see it coming, you are half an expert yourself; these few characters are already quite interesting. It's just that the details are not yet rounded enough."

Hearing Duan Rong praise her, Ruyi's face flushed even more, and she replied in a low voice: "When I was in the courtyard, Mother hired a teacher to teach us zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If we didn't learn well, not only would we not be given food, but we would also be beaten."

Duan Rong's expression froze, and the smile at the corner of his mouth slowly faded. This fine handwriting, unexpectedly, was still a sorrowful story.

He looked at Ruyi and said: "Do not be saddened by the past! Everyone's life has darkness; as long as you grit your teeth and pass through this dark tunnel, you will be able to see the light."

Duan Rong knew Ruyi's background was miserable, but he was just saying a bit of "poisonous chicken soup" from his previous life to comfort her.

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he yawned and said: "Alright, let's rest."

As he spoke, he turned and walked behind the screen.

Ruyi stood there, staring blankly at Duan Rong's back, as if savoring that sentence of Duan Rong's. After a while, when Duan Rong had already turned past the screen, she murmured to herself: "My lord, but... Ruyi's dark tunnel is truly too long... I am afraid I can no longer walk out of it..."

Duan Rong had been sitting on the bed for a while before Ruyi came in carrying a basin of hot water.

She knelt there, helped Duan Rong take off his shoes and socks, and placed Duan Rong's bare feet into the hot water.

Ruyi kept her head lowered, and Duan Rong did not notice that her eyes were slightly red at this moment.

After Ruyi wiped Duan Rong's feet dry, Duan Rong lay down on the bed. He had been busy and was already exhausted; as soon as he touched the bed, he fell into a deep sleep.

After Ruyi finished pouring out the foot-washing water and saw that Duan Rong was already fast asleep, she brought over a stool, blew out the Candle Lamp, sighed softly, and lay down in the dark...

Around the Yin hour in the latter half of the night, outside the gate of the Separate Courtyard, Chou Luan was lying on that large rock and seemed to have fallen asleep, but he suddenly opened his eyes, his figure sprang up, and he flashed through the gate.

Just as he passed through the gate of the Separate Courtyard, he saw a figure under the dim light.

Chou Luan's hand pressed against the saber at his waist, and just as he was about to strike, he heard a familiar voice say coldly: "It's me!"

It was actually the voice of Zhu Zhengfu!

The hand Chou Luan held his saber with relaxed. He stepped aside, and the dim light shone on the face of the figure not far away; it was indeed Zhu Zhengfu, still wearing his official uniform.

Zhu Zhengfu looked at the pitch-black Separate Courtyard, turned his head to look at Chou Luan, and asked: "Has my lord already gone to sleep?"

Chou Luan was slightly stunned, thinking to himself: It is already the Yin hour of the night; even the dogs have gone to sleep.

Seeing that Chou Luan did not pay him any mind, Zhu Zhengfu turned his head again to look at the pitch-black Separate Courtyard. A flash of hesitation crossed his eyes. He struggled for only a moment before his eyes focused, and he muttered to himself: "No! This matter cannot wait; I must wake my lord up!"

As Zhu Zhengfu spoke, he walked quickly toward the Separate Courtyard. Chou Luan did not bother with him either, just lying back down on that large rock.

Zhu Zhengfu walked to the door of the room and began to knock forcefully. While knocking, he said in a low voice through the crack in the door: "My lord! My lord! This subordinate has a matter to request an audience!"

Inside the pitch-black room, it had originally been very quiet, with only the sound of light breathing drifting in the darkness; Duan Rong and Ruyi had both fallen into a deep sleep.

The sound of Zhu Zhengfu's knocking woke the two of them.

Duan Rong opened his sleepy eyes and turned over. He heard rustling sounds from Ruyi's side, so he asked in a hoarse voice: "Ruyi, what watch is it now?"

Ruyi answered half-asleep: "My lord, I do not know either."

Duan Rong sighed and said: "Go and open the door for Lord Zhu."

"Yes, my lord." Ruyi had already sat up and begun to put on her clothes.

She got up, felt her way to the front of the cabinet in the dark, took out a Fire Folder, lit a Candle Lamp, and then carried it as she walked toward the front, saying as she walked: "Coming, Lord Zhu!"

Hearing Ruyi's response, Zhu Zhengfu's knocking finally stopped.

Duan Rong only then rose from his seat and hurriedly put on his clothes.

As he was fastening his buttons and walking out from behind the screen, Zhu Zhengfu was already standing at the doorway; the dim, yellow light of a Candle Lamp was hitting his face, and his slightly chubby face was full of exhaustion at this moment.

As soon as Duan Rong walked out from behind the screen, Zhu Zhengfu immediately knelt down and said, "Disturbing you so late at night, this subordinate deserves to die!"

Duan Rong, however, said, "It is no matter! Official Zhu, get up quickly! I have been waiting for you."

Zhu Zhengfu had not expected Duan Rong to say this; he raised his head, slightly stunned.

Just as Zhu Zhengfu scrambled to his feet, Duan Rong asked point-blank, "Official Zhu, what watch is it now?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhengfu's face looked slightly embarrassed, and he replied, "My lord, it is the fifth watch; the Hour of the Tiger has just passed."

"Oh!" Duan Rong nodded and said, "Then in a little while, the sky will be bright."

Duan Rong suddenly stood up, took a look at the sky outside the door, then turned his head to look at Zhu Zhengfu and said, "Official Zhu, the time you arrived is a bit later than I expected!"

Hearing these words from Duan Rong, Zhu Zhengfu felt even more anxious and uneasy, secretly rejoicing that he had not turned back just now.

To be honest, having witnessed Li Shensi's bizarre and strange way of dying atop the Heavenly Altar on Wuji Mountain, although he did not know how it happened, it was clearly Duan Rong's handiwork. Originally, he had been trying to curry favor with Duan Rong, but at this moment, his heart was filled with genuine respect and fear toward him.

Zhu Zhengfu immediately bowed slightly and said, "Reporting to you, my lord, tonight's affairs were numerous and chaotic; for this subordinate to be able to come at this time is already not easy."

Duan Rong said, "Official Zhu, sit down and speak!"

At this time, Ruyi had already brewed two cups of tea.

Zhu Zhengfu immediately picked up the cup of tea and took a small sip. At this moment, Ruyi had already covered the door and retreated.

Duan Rong sat there, and only after confirming that Ruyi had walked far away outside the door did he look at Zhu Zhengfu and say, "Official Zhu, speak!"

Zhu Zhengfu said, "My lord, Li Shensi is dead."

Duan Rong was speechless for a moment, pursed his lips, and thought to himself: I killed him, how could I not know?

Seeing Duan Rong's expression, Zhu Zhengfu immediately understood and continued, "After Li Shensi died, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen Shanmeng, Advisory Grand Master Ge Hengtai, and this subordinate were temporarily put in charge of the preliminary investigation of this case."

Duan Rong's gaze flickered slightly, and he asked, "Whose idea was it?"

Zhu Zhengfu said, "It was Chen Shanmeng who proposed it to Prefecture Master Wang Maochun."

Duan Rong frowned slightly. Chen Shanmeng had clearly seen at the very first moment that Li Shensi had died in the political whirlpool of two opposing sides.

Zhu Zhengfu continued, "However, what we are responsible for is only the preliminary collection of evidence. The person who died was, after all, the Secretariat Director; the specific investigation of this case must wait for the Sect's decree. Prefecture Master Wang Maochun has already sent an official notification to the Sect."

Duan Rong nodded; this was all standard procedure. He looked at Zhu Zhengfu and said, "Continue, what else is there?"

Zhu Zhengfu said, "There is also the fact that some commoners died due to trampling and pushing at the top of Wuji Mountain. Just as the Autumn Hunt sacrificial procession returned to the Prefecture Government Office, many family members of the dead and injured commoners surrounded the Prefecture Government Office to cause trouble. Fortunately, Wang Maochun was alert and had already ordered Grand Protector Jiang Zhuoyun to bring in the Heavy Armored Cavalry to surround the Prefecture Government Office tightly, which prevented a riot from brewing."

Duan Rong said, "And now? Have the rioting commoners been dispersed?"

Zhu Zhengfu said, "They have all been persuaded to go back. Wang Maochun promised compensation, and those clerks who persuaded the commoners told them that this was the work of spirits and monsters, not the fault of the Ya Men."

"The work of spirits and monsters!?" Duan Rong's gaze was startled, and he said, "Who said that? Those clerks in the Ya Men said that?"

"Yes!" Zhu Zhengfu said, "It must have been Wang Maochun's idea, otherwise those clerks wouldn't dare to talk nonsense, and their stories wouldn't be so consistent."

Duan Rong nodded and said, "Anything else?"

"There is," Zhu Zhengfu said. "This subordinate has also operated in Shenyun Prefecture for many years and has quite a few informants planted in various places. Just after returning to the prefecture, I received some news."

Duan Rong looked at Zhu Zhengfu with an interested expression. Zhu Zhengfu paused, lowered his voice a little, and said, "Some local gentry and wealthy families are already plotting to recruit people, saying they will pool funds to build a temple for the Rhinoceros Immortal near the Mountain God Temple on Wuji Mountain!"

"Build a temple?!" Duan Rong was slightly surprised.

"Exactly!" Zhu Zhengfu replied with a firm look.

Duan Rong picked up the teacup beside him for the first time and took a small sip.

The development of events was even smoother than he had imagined.

This world, after all, was still ancient; it was not the era of enlightened knowledge and advanced technology like his previous life.

People were still quite prone to believing in strange powers, chaos, spirits, monsters, ghosts, and foxes, not to mention that the matter of the Rhinoceros Immortal had been witnessed by countless people with their own eyes on the top of Wuji Mountain.

As the saying goes, seeing is believing!

When Duan Rong was initially considering how to kill Li Shensi without letting public opinion ferment in the direction of a political whirlpool, he had been quite troubled.

Because this was truly difficult!

The more ignorant the masses, the more they like conspiracy theories. Moreover, two consecutive Secretariat Directors had died bizarrely.

Li Shensi's death would certainly become a hot topic of conversation in the streets, and it would certainly ferment in the direction of a political whirlpool.

After all, the Sect Master changes every fifty years, and this was already common knowledge in the secular world. Furthermore, in just over a year it would be the year of the transition, and yet at this very time, two consecutive Secretariat Directors had died bizarrely, and that Li Shensi had only been in office for two months. To say it had nothing to do with the Sect's transition, I'm afraid even a dog wouldn't believe it.

Duan Rong thought and thought, and finally found a line of reasoning.

Relying on suppression was impossible; such things could not be suppressed.

The only way was to give the masses a topic they were more enthusiastic about, more convinced by, and more willing to discuss, and firmly lead the death of Li Shensi into that topic.

To make the masses forget the story of the political whirlpool, one only had to give them a more explosive story.

Through several days of monitoring public opinion, Duan Rong was already very certain that what the masses of this world were most enthusiastic about was spirits, monsters, ghosts, and foxes. The storytellers in the teahouses mostly told stories of this genre; in those few days, Duan Rong had heard several versions of the story of the Yellow Immortal alone.

Therefore, when he saw the description of the scene of the Autumn Hunt Sacrificial Ceremony in the data a few days later, a story of Li Shensi dying at the hands of a spirit in full view of everyone gradually took shape.

At this moment, hearing Zhu Zhengfu's account, the development of events was clearly even smoother and more thorough than he had imagined; some local gentry and wealthy families were already planning to build a temple for the Rhinoceros Immortal.

As he expected, public opinion in the streets did not ferment toward the political whirlpool, but instead turned toward the talk of spirits, monsters, ghosts, and foxes...

(End of chapter)