In the courtyard, a middle-aged Taoist priest walked over with two young Taoists. He bowed to the old lady and said with a serious expression, "I was passing by Yangning City when I suddenly saw black smoke lingering in the east and felt that something was wrong. I rushed over to take a look and saw a black fog lingering in the sky above your residence. When I heard about your residence, I concluded that there was something suspicious, so I came uninvited."
When the old lady heard his serious words, she immediately felt respect for him. "Taoist priest, you're being too kind and I'm relieved to have you here. I hope you can get rid of that evil."
The Taoist priest bowed again. "Of course. It's my duty to subdue demons."
His unfathomable appearance made people believe in him. Only Lu Xiang knew that this was probably someone arranged by Madam Liu to come at the right time.
With that, the Taoist priest led his disciples in their preparations. Butler Du busied himself preparing everything that was requested.
Everyone gathered in the courtyard. The Taoist priest held a yellow talisman in his hand and a peach wood sword in his other hand. He walked in steps that no one could understand and muttered something.
Everyone was confused. Lu Xiang felt like she was watching a drama.
Not long after, the Taoist priest finished his ritual. He put away the wooden sword and calculated with his fingers. Then, he cupped his hands at Lu Youping and said, "Sir, there's something unclean near this courtyard. That's why this concubine is in pain but doctors can't find the cause of the illness."
Lu Youping's expression changed. He said nervously, "No wonder. Do you know where it is?"
The Taoist priest shook his head. "The heavenly secrets can't be revealed. I can only calculate roughly the three directions it may be in."
As he spoke, the Taoist priest pointed at three places.
Seeing this, Lu Youping waved his hand and said angrily, "Men, search every inch of those three courtyards."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the servants scattered to carry out his orders.
The three places that the Taoist priest pointed to were the courtyards that Concubine Lin and Qiu Huan were in, and the guest courtyard.
When Concubine Lin saw that the Master had ordered someone to search her courtyard without a word to her, she almost fainted from anger, but she did not dare to say anything.
Qiu Huan didn't care about the people searching her courtyard. Her eyes were fixed on Lu Youping, and she kept winking at him flirtatiously.
Qiu Huan knew that she had betrayed Concubine Liu. If she did not gain a foothold in the manor as soon as possible, it would be even more difficult for her in the future. After all, she was only a maid who did not even have an official status in the Lu family.
She was young and beautiful. She had to seize the opportunity when the Master liked her now. It would be best if she could get a son in one fell swoop. Otherwise, once the Master lost his patience with her, she would not have a good outcome for sure.
Old Madam also ordered Nanny Wen to bring people and help search for the so-called "unclean" thing.
Lu Xiang's expression was stunned for a moment after hearing the Taoist priest's words.
She was surprised that Madam Liu was doing this to scheme against others.
Lu Xiang quickly understood that Madam Liu was gunning for Qiu Huan.
No wonder, no wonder that Madam Liu was giving in to Qiu Huan these days. She had dug a pit for Qiu Huan to fall, a fall from the clouds to the mud today.
After all, Qiu Huan was her father's new favorite. Madam Liu couldn't punish Qiu Huan for no reason. Otherwise, everyone would think that she was vicious and couldn't tolerate anyone, and her father would be estranged from her.
But now, everyone knew how well Madam Liu had treated Qiu Huan. Therefore, when it turned out that Qiu Huan had harmed Madam Liu, everyone would only hate Qiu Huan even more. No matter if she was dead or crippled, they would only think that she deserved it.
Not long after, the maids who were searching the house returned. Luochun, who was at the front, walked up to the Old Madam and Lu Youping with a tray in her hand.
Everyone clearly saw what was on the plate.
It was a doll made of pure white satin. Its body was filled with silver needles, and on the doll's chest was someone's birth characters.
Suddenly, Lu Mingzhu's eyes widened in horror and she screamed, "Why are Concubine Liu's birth characters on it? Who, who is cursing her?"
Her face was pale and her eyes were burning with anger. At this moment, they looked bloodshot. Her mother was cursed by someone. No one could calm down at that.
In the country of the Great Wei, witchcraft and evil arts were strictly prohibited. If they were discovered, the caster would die with no exceptions. If serious, it may even lead to public execution for that person and his or her family.
In an instant, the courtyard turned deadly silent. There was only the gentle sound of the wind blowing past and a faint rustling sound.
"No wonder, no wonder there are red dots on Concubine Liu's body. Now it seems that they are the same as these needle marks on the doll?" Lu Mingzhu said with a trembling body.
The atmosphere became oppressive. Everyone was guessing whose courtyard the doll was found in.
"Who did this?" Lu Youping glared at the strange doll and roared.
"Master, it was found in Qiu Huan's house." Luochun turned to glare at Qiu Huan and said hatefully.
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's expressions changed.
As soon as Luochun finished speaking, Qiu Huan felt her mind go blank.
Lu Youping glanced sideways, his sharp gaze at Qiu Huan was murderous.
Qiu Huan was so frightened that her face turned pale. She knelt down with a thud. "Master, I'm innocent."
With such direct evidence, Lu Youping did not believe that Qiu Huan was innocent at all.
No matter who he doted on, Madam Liu was his favorite. No one could harm her.
His eyes were filled with anger as he gritted his teeth and glared at Qiu Huan.
"B*tch—"
Everyone in the courtyard looked at Qiu Huan, who was kneeling on the ground and trembling in fear.
There was pity, sympathy, anger, injustice, joy, disaster…
These people's gazes were like sharp blades, slicing into Qiu Huan's body one by one.
"Old Madam, Old Madam, I'm innocent. I didn't put a curse on Concubine Liu. I didn't!" Qiu Huan was so frightened that she didn't know what to do. Her eyes were instantly filled with tears. She looked at the murderous Lu Youping and was so frightened that she didn't dare to speak.
She crawled to Old Madam's feet, pulled her clothes, and cried, "Old Madam, I didn't harm Concubine Liu. Please save me."
The old lady's eyes were cold.
"You're crazy and you still have the cheek to cry out injustice." She did not like the Liu mother-daughter pair, but Qiu Huan had used witchcraft in the Lu family which would put them all in a precarious position. The Old Madam hated that even more.
"No, I didn't harm Concubine Liu. I don't know why that doll is in my room. Old Master, Old Madam, please investigate clearly. I'm really innocent."
Qiu Huan's face was pale. She kept kowtowing to prove her innocence, but no one felt any sympathy for her even though her forehead had bled from the force of her kowtowing.