Chapter 120: Borrowing a Knife to Kill

After a few brief pleasantries, Han Qing cut straight to the point, asking the official for the true purpose of his invitation. Since this was a private meeting, it was clearly meant to be kept from others.

"Master Han, I once rose from the ranks of humble scholars myself, and now I wish to provide opportunities for the many students of the land. But your talent already surpasses theirs—are you content to merely be a scholar?"

It was obvious he was fishing for information.

"My lord, I do not have any grand ambitions. I only wish to be able to manage my affairs and have enough to eat. Whatever I do hereafter, I do with a clear conscience."

His expression remained calm and frank. This, in turn, left the official feeling somewhat bewildered. Had his probing been off the mark? Why did his own words suddenly feel so wrong?

"I was thinking, if there were other opportunities for you to gain experience, would you be willing to try?"

"If it does not conflict with the imperial examinations, I am willing." Han Qing nodded.

"Factional strife is common in Luojing. Do you have a mind to join any particular side?"

The man asked with blunt directness, but Han Qing merely shook his head. He seemed entirely unconcerned with which faction might ultimately prevail.

"Since you have come, you will inevitably be drawn into this struggle. I fear you haven't realized that Master Lin, of the Jingzhao Yin Office where you reside, is a supporter of the current Prince Huai faction."

Master Lu revealed this deliberately, seemingly attempting to guide him.

"That has little to do with me, and I can leave Master Lin's residence at any time," Han Qing replied, his demeanor steady.

"But with so many officials watching, if you attain a high rank in the future, how could you possibly be content to remain under another's thumb?" Master Lu did not believe him; he believed the power of influence could make men far more ruthless. No matter how incorruptible someone may have been, they could easily be blinded by power. Did they not know this?

"My lord, you have strayed too far from the point. I am but a scholar for now. What do the shifts in the imperial court have to do with me?"

With that single sentence, he deflected the topic, forcing Master Lu to reconsider his habit of trying to lure others into his schemes.

"Hahaha, I got a bit carried away. Pray, do not take it to heart." Master Lu nodded and then hurried away. He was no true scholar; having reached his position, he was merely greedy for power. He had simply wanted to rope Han Qing in to see which faction he might rely upon for future advancement.

But Han Qing had no interest in these hollow pursuits. Furthermore, the entire imperial court was stable; why stir up trouble? Yet, since these signs had already emerged, he had to be cautious. Had this man not played a role in the rumors circulating outside? It was all for his own gain.

After returning to the residence, Han Qing immediately informed Master Lin that it was no longer safe to stay there and that he intended to find his own house.

"What?" Master Lin was instantly stunned. "What is unsafe about my residence? There are dozens of servants here; the moment there is the slightest sign of trouble, someone rushes to assist."

"It is my own preference. Besides, so many students have already left your residence; would it not be tactless for me to stay on?"

This left Master Lin with no room to insist. After all, he dared not repeat the same mistakes; if someone were to seize upon this as a pretext, the Emperor might hold him accountable. It was time to keep a low profile and make some changes.

Han Qing purchased a house in the western part of the city, a somewhat secluded area. It looked small and exquisite—suitable for a few people, but crowded if there were more. When Young Master Zhu learned he had moved, he rushed over to offer congratulations, but upon seeing the tiny courtyard, he was struck dumb.

"Why is this place so small? Don't tell me you bought such a small one on purpose," he asked, completely baffled.

"You guessed right."

"Don't you intend to receive guests?"

"I am currently just an ordinary scholar. If the house were any larger, it might invite unnecessary trouble," Han Qing said deliberately.

It made sense. If any evildoers wanted to steal valuables, there was nothing in this courtyard to attract them.

Yet, who could have foreseen that less than a hundred meters outside his house, an entire family of five would fall into a state of madness? They wandered onto the streets in a delirious frenzy—some vomiting uncontrollably, others plunging headlong into a pond.

Patrolling soldiers quickly bound them and dispersed the gathering crowd. Local physicians examined them, but all could only shake their heads in defeat. The sudden outbreak of such a terrifying and bizarre event left the entire city of Luojing in a state of panic. To have such things happening at the very feet of the Emperor meant the heads of the local officials were surely on the chopping block.

Master Gao, who governed this district, searched day and night for evidence. What could be the cause of such madness? As fear gripped the public, within three days, increasingly absurd rumors spread throughout Luojing.

"Last night, I saw Mother Wang from the gate suddenly hugging a tree branch and gnawing on it, her eyes glowing, shouting that it was delicious!"

"It's not just her; her son is the same. He was hugging the stray dogs on the street and saying things no one could understand..."

These accounts caused widespread panic. Among the commoners, rumors began to spread that these people had done something wicked and were now cursed. Some even hired exorcists to perform rituals in their homes for days, but it was to no avail. It was not just those two households; a third and a fourth began to show the same symptoms.

Master Gao was frantic. Not only had he failed to find the cause, but he had allowed the situation to spiral further out of control.

Young Master Zhu, hearing the news, looked anxious. "This house is truly unsafe. Most of your neighbors have fallen into this madness. You should move; find an inn to stay in for now."

Han Qing shook his head. "The government has yet to provide a reliable explanation. Who is to say they are not just suffering from some virulent disease?" he said calmly.

Seeing that his persuasion was useless, Young Master Zhu was about to leave when he bumped into Master Gao. The official looked hurried—far too obviously so.

"Master Gao, have there been more cases?" he asked casually.

The official's expression changed instantly.