Chapter 26: The Scapegoat Princess Sentenced to Death (26)

"What on earth is this?"

Gazing at the translucent, purplish-brown lump of flesh, Emperor Tianwu felt a mixture of revulsion and curiosity.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy, seizing the moment, stepped forward with a small silver blade and explained, "Your Majesty, this is the object that emerged from Concubine Guang's womb. The outer layer appears to be the placenta. Would you like us to peel it back and examine it?"

"Proceed."

Since things had reached this point, there was no need for further concealment. To simply burn it would only invite more chaotic rumors. It was better to see exactly what it was.

With the Emperor’s consent, the physician began his work. It was not complicated; with a single stroke of the silver blade, the thin placenta was stripped away. Within moments, the object—which had been tightly bound and spherical—unfurled to reveal a black pig’s head. Even though none of those present were accustomed to eating pork or had ever seen a pig run, it was unmistakable: it was a pig's head.

And it was a domestic pig’s head, not a wild boar’s, for it lacked tusks.

A deathly silence descended upon the hall. No one knew what to say or how to react.

Only Daoist Master Ziyun and the Director of the Imperial Observatory turned pale. With a pig's head literally pulled from a human womb, they could no longer argue that this was merely a complex medical condition rather than a supernatural curse. Conversely, the imperial physicians, though keeping their expressions neutral, felt a surge of relief—they were finally safe! No one could call this a simple medical mystery now; it was an ironclad, undeniable fact.

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy did not gloat. He simply bowed and retreated respectfully. The truth was plain; any man with a shred of pride would recognize this as a spiritual affliction. Unless the Emperor himself chose to feign ignorance to save face, there was nothing left to debate.

Emperor Tianwu, however, was in a state of deep turmoil. He suddenly realized what the growth on his own body likely was. He had managed to hide the fact that he had gained dozens of pounds, but he had told no one about the small tail that had sprouted from his lower back. Since he could only touch it and never see it, he had been uncertain of its nature. Now, seeing the pig's head born from Concubine Guang, he understood: the tail on his own body was, in all likelihood, a pig’s tail.

His primary concern now was whether the Daoist Temple and the Imperial Observatory were truly capable. If Ziyun and the Director had decisively stated it was a curse and promised a solution, the Emperor would have let them proceed. But their attempts to shift blame suggested they were either incompetent or aware that they were powerless.

This realization filled the Emperor with anxiety. If no one in his court could resolve this, his dignity, his safety, and his very life were at risk. He had not felt the sting of being coerced since he ascended the throne; those who had dared to threaten him in the past had all met gruesome ends.

"Daoist Master Ziyun, Director Xu, what is your assessment now? Do you have a solution? If you are helpless, you may request assistance from others or call upon your masters—I permit it. Find the culprit and destroy them, and I shall not be stingy with my rewards."

"Furthermore, I know the perpetrator’s core target is the Prince of Lu. The Prince may also be cursed; I do not yet know the details, but I will send an urgent dispatch to his fief immediately."

"If you truly cannot solve this, tell me now. The leadership of the Mystic Sect is not immutable. Let the capable rise and the incompetent fall. If the Mystic Sect is too decadent and useless, I am certain the abbots of Baima Temple, Ganlu Temple, and other Buddhist institutions will be more than happy to assist. Do not disappoint me."

After much deliberation, Emperor Tianwu refused to be a victim. He reasoned that if curses existed, the Mystic Sect must harbor true masters; otherwise, the world would have long been overrun by demons. If Ziyun and the Director could not solve it, perhaps their elders could. He used the threat of replacing the Mystic Sect with the Buddhists to ensure they would exert their full potential.

Given the ultimatum, Ziyun and the Director had no choice but to bow and accept the imperial decree.

The Emperor ordered them to take the pig’s head and the placenta to a side hall for study. If they could not resolve the matter, they were to summon reinforcements immediately. They were to report any needed resources to Li Zhong, who was ordered to provide full cooperation.

Concubine Guang was placed under house arrest in the side hall, guarded by special attendants. Had she been the only one affected, he would have had her executed and claimed she died of a sudden illness. But he kept her alive now because Ziyun and his peers needed a test subject; he could not allow them to perform exorcism rituals directly upon his own imperial person.

With the situation of the Prince of Lu unknown, Concubine Guang was the only other victim.

After issuing these orders, the Emperor commanded a total news blackout. He forbade anyone from leaving the palace and dispatched a rider to the Prince of Lu's fief. If the Prince were also afflicted, he would be brought back to serve as another test subject for the Daoists. If he were fine, he would still be summoned back—if only to be whipped to vent the Emperor’s fury, and then kept on standby. Should the Mystic and Buddhist sects fail to find a cure, the Prince might ultimately be sacrificed to the heavens as a desperate compromise.