This was bad! Ah Jiao used her handkerchief to dab away her tears. It turned out the so-called "treasure" was the red pearl Master Shen had given her. It seemed this Chu Haiguang truly possessed some modicum of ability.
"What?" Liu Che was shocked. "Look closer!"
"This humble servant has looked closely. It is indeed gone."
Liu Che turned to stare at Ah Jiao, suddenly flipping the desk over in a fit of rage.
Ah Jiao was startled, but after a moment, she feigned surprise. "Could it be because of the witchcraft?"
Only then did Liu Che remember. He pointed at the voodoo doll on the floor and said, "Look at this. This is the thing."
Chu Haiguang picked up the wooden doll. Ah Jiao tilted her head to observe his expression.
She saw a flash of surprise cross his face. He turned the doll over several times before saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, in this servant's estimation, it was not caused by this voodoo doll. This doll is actually quite useless."
"How can it not be? Aside from this thing, nothing else was out of the ordinary," Ah Jiao began to act willfully and unreasonably. "Are you just unable to find the cause, so you're intentionally lying to His Majesty?"
Chu Haiguang had not expected such words to come from a three-year-old girl. For a moment, he was speechless.
Ah Jiao huffed twice and tugged at Liu Che’s sleeve. "Look, he's gone quiet! He must be hiding something from Your Majesty on purpose!" Liu Che likely wouldn't believe her, but he would certainly start doubting others because of her words.
Furthermore, if this man could see the treasure on her person, how could he not see that Liu Che was being targeted by witchcraft? There was a problem here! A definite problem!
Chu Haiguang defended himself, "The young lady might not know, but the incantation on this voodoo doll only has the effect of movement; it cannot be used to harm people."
Ah Jiao’s expression darkened, then she suddenly laughed. "You're the only one saying that. We wouldn't know any better."
"Enough!" Liu Che snapped, irritated by the noise.
"Minister Chu, you shall work with the Minister of Justice, Du Zhou. Start with this voodoo doll and find the person behind this."
Chu Haiguang hesitated, still wanting to explain, but he could only comply helplessly.
As soon as Chu Haiguang left with the voodoo doll, Ah Jiao slumped onto her cushion.
"Jiaojiao, why are you so certain that tonight's events are related to that voodoo doll?"
"I'm not certain. I just felt angry because he acted like the witchcraft involving me wasn't worth investigating."
"..."
"Besides, a man like that—claiming I have a treasure for no reason, then saying it's gone—I don't like him!"
"Heh, you don't like him? You were certainly diligent enough when you were pestering me for things earlier today."
Ah Jiao gave a hollow "hehe" in response.
With no resolution in sight, Ah Jiao could only return to the Qingliang Hall first.
Just as her palanquin exited the doors of the Xuanshi Hall, she saw Chu Haiguang waiting outside.
Ah Jiao closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
"General Chu, what business do you have with our Lady?" Guo Dun asked.
"His Majesty has ordered me to investigate this matter alongside the Minister of Justice, so I wish to ask the Lady a few questions."
"This..." Guo Dun glanced inside the palanquin. "The Lady has already fallen asleep. Perhaps the General should return tomorrow during the day."
"Officer Guo, this matter is of great importance. I hope you can wake the Lady." A voice came from behind Chu Haiguang.
"Minister Du!" Guo Dun was startled. Du Zhou was extremely severe in his handling of cases; even though Guo Dun was one of the Emperor's close attendants, he still feared the man.
"Officer Guo, I am investigating a case for His Majesty. I hope you will not obstruct me." When the Emperor had issued the decree earlier for Chu Haiguang to investigate with him, Du Zhou had been quite dissatisfied. How could a mere mystic like Chu Haiguang understand the intricacies of a criminal investigation? However, since it was for the sake of the case, he had to maintain Chu Haiguang's dignity.
"This..." Guo Dun was in a difficult position.
"What is that noise outside?" Seeing the situation grow tense, Ah Jiao had no choice but to open her eyes.
Guo Dun lifted the curtain. "Lady, it is Minister Du from the Ministry of Justice. He is here to inquire about the witchcraft case."
Ah Jiao leaned against the side of the palanquin and looked at the Du Zhou outside—she hadn't met him before and knew nothing of him.
"I don't understand," Ah Jiao feigned ignorance. Well, she couldn't be blamed; after all, a small child was supposed to understand nothing. "I'm sleepy. Jiaojiao wants to go to sleep."
Du Zhou pondered for a moment but asked anyway, "Was the Lady asleep throughout the night? Did you wake up at any point?"
Ah Jiao shook her head. "I didn't wake up. Sister Yu Li was the one who woke me!"
Guo Dun quickly pulled Yu Li to the front. "This is Yu Li. She used to serve His Majesty with his robes, but now she and I have been assigned by His Majesty to serve the Lady."
Yu Li performed a salute. "This servant was keeping watch at the door for the Lady all night. The Lady did not wake up during the night."
"Then did anyone come by during that time?"
Ah Jiao looked at Yu Li, who replied, "No one! Only earlier in the evening, Lady Xing sent someone to the Qingliang Hall to deliver a few sets of clothes for the Lady."
"May I see them?"
"It is no trouble if the Minister wishes to see them; they are all kept in the Qingliang Hall."
"Sister Yu Li, didn't Grandpa Emperor say that thing was meant to hurt me? Why isn't this man looking for the person who wants to hurt me, but instead keeps questioning us?" Ah Jiao threw a pillow out of the palanquin, looking displeased.
Judging by this Minister Du's tone, why did he seem to suspect her? What could a three-year-old child possibly do!
Du Zhou furrowed his brows, leaned down to pick up the pillow, and handed it back to Ah Jiao.
Yu Li took it and placed it back beside Ah Jiao. Du Zhou suddenly took the opportunity to grab Ah Jiao’s hand. "Does the Lady truly not know how that voodoo doll appeared in His Majesty's bedchamber?"
"I don't know!"
Ah Jiao saw something flash behind Du Zhou’s back. The protective talisman within her body emitted a soft wave of spiritual power that enveloped her entire being.
"Minister Du?"
Du Zhou turned around and saw a figure approaching. He remained calm. "This servant greets the Great General!"
Ah Jiao noticed a leaf stuck to Du Zhou’s back. Faint, strange patterns were visible upon it, resembling some sort of sigil. Ah Jiao looked around, only to find that everyone else seemed unable to see the leaf's peculiarity.
While everyone else was bowing to Wei Qing, Ah Jiao suddenly lunged forward and grabbed the leaf.
A slight burning sensation spread through her palm.
"Jiaojiao, what's wrong?" Wei Qing was startled and hurried over.
Ah Jiao simply rubbed her face against Wei Qing’s chest, crying as she did so, while surreptitiously tucking the leaf into her sleeve.
Wei Qing assumed the child had just been frightened.
Du Zhou looked around blankly. Why was he here? Eh? And who was the child the Great General was holding?
"Great General! Why is the Great General here? And this child is...?" Du Zhou spoke first to greet him.
Yu Li frowned. "Minister Du, did you not just say you wanted our Lady to stop so you could conduct an inquiry?"
"Is that so? Did I?" Du Zhou was bewildered.
Yu Li assumed Du Zhou was simply backing off because he didn't want to trouble them further in front of the Great General, so she said nothing more.
Ah Jiao touched the leaf in her sleeve; there was definitely something wrong. She then looked at Chu Haiguang, who had remained silent the entire time.
This man was very suspicious!
***
After a few pleasantries with Du Zhou, Wei Qing had Guo Dun take Ah Jiao back to the Qingliang Hall while he went to see the Emperor.
Liu Che had just dealt with a group of imperial guards and was planning to rest for a moment. Tonight, sleep was out of the question.
"Your Majesty, the Great General has arrived!"
"Send him in." Liu Che leaned against a low table, his hands tucked into his sleeves.
Wei Qing removed his shoes and entered the hall. Just as he was about to salute, he heard the Emperor’s weary voice. "Dispense with the formalities. Come here quickly."
Wei Qing had no choice but to step forward.
"Take a look at this person for me!" Liu Che handed a bamboo slip to Wei Qing.
Wei Qing took it and sat on the floor beside Liu Che. Liu Che was so troubled that he forgot to tell him to get a mat.
"Chu Haiguang? Isn't this the Tiantong General Your Majesty just appointed yesterday? Could this matter be related to him?"
Liu Che tapped the table. "This man told me that this witchcraft incident was the idea of Chen A... Jiaojiao..."
"How is that possible? Lady Huikang is only three years old; how could she do such a thing! Minister Chu must be mistaken."
After Wei Qing finished speaking, he saw the Emperor give a strange smile. "Zhongqing, you certainly have faith in this little girl!"
Wei Qing said solemnly, "After all, this child came from my household. Moreover, she is so young and this is her first time in the palace; how could she have made enemies?"
Liu Che laughed twice. "Minister Chu says this girl carries a treasure on her. Why else would I keep her in the palace?"
"Does Your Majesty mean that someone coveted the treasure and used witchcraft to harm the child?" Wei Qing pondered for a moment. "If that is the case, then anyone who knew of this would be a suspect."
Liu Che patted Wei Qing’s shoulder, his voice almost a snarl. "And yet, today Chu Haiguang tells me the treasure is gone!"
"Gone?"
"This matter should have only been known to me, Chu Haiguang, and Chen A... Chen Jiaojiao. But who knows if others could see it? I've already sent Chu Haiguang to investigate with Du Zhou. On your end, you investigate as well."
"Understood!" Wei Qing replied gravely.
"Remember to be discreet. Don't let anyone know. Aren't you preparing for your grand wedding? Use that as a cover... Also, there's no need to let Chen A... Chen Jiaojiao know about this! Go!"
Wei Qing took his leave and prepared to withdraw.
"One more thing. Starting tomorrow, change that Chen Jiaojiao’s name. Call her Chen Ajiao. I keep saying her name wrong anyway."
"But wouldn't that violate the naming taboo of the Former Empress Chen?" Wei Qing hesitated.
"She's already gone; why worry about so many taboos! Naturally, what is most comfortable for me to say is what matters most!" Besides, he kept slipping up; wouldn't that arouse even more suspicion? It was better to just make them the same. If anyone asked, he'd just say the names were too similar and it felt awkward to call her anything else!
"Understood!" *His Majesty is far too capricious!* Wei Qing thought to himself.
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