"Anything good?"
Li Qingshu was puzzled. The Xiaoxiang Hall was neither large nor small, and all the good things were stored inside. What good things could be in the courtyard?
Li Man'er stood up, threw the small stick in her hand to the ground, and then said, "Aunt, it's best to close the courtyard gate tightly and find a couple of people to dig around. Then everything will be clear."
The sun was blazing, making it hard to open her eyes, but Li Qingshu felt a chill run from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, causing the hair on her body to stand on end.
She was no longer the naive young girl who had first entered the palace. She knew that anything could happen in this palace.
"Quick, close the gate and find someone to dig this up for this empress."
A hint of ruthlessness flashed across Li Qingshu's face. This was the first time Li Man'er had seen the word "presence" on her since entering the palace.
It was indeed quite intimidating.
Soon, two young eunuchs with tools ran over and began to dig at the spot Li Man'er had indicated. After only a few digs, there was a "clang," as if they had hit something.
Fearing they might damage the object, the two young eunuchs dropped their tools and dug with their bare hands. In a short while, they unearthed a jar.
It was a very ordinary round jar, the kind used for pickling vegetables. It had a round lid on top, and strangely, a tattered talisman was stuck to the lid, making it look odd.
The two young eunuchs placed the jar on the ground. One of them, being quick-handed, reached out to tear off the talisman and open the jar.
A small stone flew from somewhere and hit the back of the young eunuch's hand. He yelped and instinctively withdrew his hand.
"You dare to touch anything, I think you don't want to live."
The young eunuch, hearing Li Man'er's words, felt his legs go weak. "Miss, this thing is not to be touched?"
"You brought it out, and it's fine under the sun. But if you accidentally open the jar, then great disaster will befall you."
The young eunuch shivered and lowered his head, daring not to speak.
Li Qingshu also stepped forward, covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and asked from a distance, "Man'er, what exactly is this?"
"This jar is filled with a stillborn fetus," Li Man'er said, circling the jar. "Pity, it was already formed, and it was a boy."
Li Qingshu listened, both angry and frightened, and trembled, "Is this a cursed object?"
Aunt Wen Xiu held Li Qingshu's arm tightly, afraid she couldn't bear it and would faint.
How could such a filthy thing be in the Xiaoxiang Hall?
"Yes!"
The Zun Kingdom had no concept of voodoo curses. Li Man'er felt that the matter was of great importance and decided to explain it clearly to Li Qingshu. "Aunt, first ask someone to find some quicklime and glutinous rice. It's good to let this jar dry in the sun."
"Go quickly and get it."
Before Li Qingshu could speak, Aunt Wen Xiu sent someone to fetch the quicklime.
Soon, quicklime and glutinous rice were brought.
Li Man'er sprinkled the quicklime around the jar and then sprinkled the glutinous rice. She then said, "Have someone watch it, absolutely do not touch it, let it dry in the sun for now."
Li Qingshu nodded. "Man'er, come inside with me."
Aunt Wen Xiu, on the other hand, called everyone in the Xiaoxiang Hall to the courtyard to reprimand them, telling them to stick to their duties and not to have any improper thoughts.
"Also, keep your mouths shut tight. If I find out anyone is gossiping behind my back, I'll skin them alive."
Although Aunt Wen Xiu usually appeared amiable, when she truly became fierce, she was quite terrifying.
Inside the hall, Li Qingshu's heart was still pounding nervously.
"What exactly is in that jar?"
Li Man'er didn't know how to begin. She said, "It's a type of 'x' technique recorded in books, similar to witchcraft, but with some differences."
"What differences?" The word "witchcraft" made Li Qingshu's teeth chatter. This matter was of great importance, and a single mistake could lead to the extermination of one's entire clan.
"Aunt, please don't worry." Li Man'er naturally saw Li Qingshu's fear and quickly said, "This thing cannot be used to frame others, only to harm them. Burying it in your courtyard clearly indicates it was meant to harm you."
Li Qingshu's mood improved somewhat, but she still couldn't believe that the jar contained the corpse of an infant.
"It really is the corpse of a male infant inside."
"Most likely," Li Man'er said. "The baby was forcibly induced, and it was still alive when born! The method recorded in the book is quite vicious..."
She hesitated whether to continue.
Li Qingshu naturally wanted to hear the truth.
"There's no one else here, and we are close relatives. What can't be said?"
Li Man'er then said, "Aunt, it is truly too cruel. I fear you will be saddened if you hear it."
Li Qingshu took a deep breath and prepared herself mentally. "Tell me then."
"The infant was induced and was destined not to live long. While the baby was still alive, a pre-prepared poisonous broth was forced down its throat."
Li Qingshu gasped, her heart clenching.
What a cruel person! To harm someone, they would resort to any means necessary.
"As soon as the infant breathed its last, it was wrapped in pre-mixed corpse-binding mud. This mud is also very particular; it is extremely toxic. Placed in the jar and buried underground, the poison would slowly seep into the air. Prolonged inhalation would naturally be bad for the body. Furthermore, the practitioner of this technique believed that the infant's death would become an 'e spirit,' causing unrest and leading to childlessness, illness, and long-term injury."
Li Qingshu's teeth chattered, and after a long while, she managed to utter two words, "How venomous!"
It seemed there was a reason for her miscarriage back then.
And also the Fourth Princess.
Li Qingshu's eyes suddenly widened. She grabbed Li Man'er's hand and asked, "What about the Fourth Princess? Could she also have been affected by this, and that's why she..."
Li Man'er could only nod.
The child was small, and all aspects of her body were not fully developed, so the natural influence on her would be even greater.
Li Qingshu shed two streams of tears, silently sobbing, "My daughter..."
"Aunt, please grieve with dignity, and take care of your health."
The Fourth Princess had been gone for several years, but whenever Li Qingshu thought of her, her heart still bled as if it would never heal.
"Man'er, this matter requires careful investigation. Remember, absolutely do not spread it around."
"I understand. Aunt, how do you intend to deal with that jar?"
"Bury it back," Li Qingshu said, a look of resolve flashing in her eyes. "Do you have a way to prevent it from harming people any further?"
Li Man'er thought for a moment, then nodded. "We can try. However, Aunt, why don't you ask the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to help you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qingshu was momentarily unsure how to explain. She didn't believe Li Man'er truly didn't understand the implications, so she wondered if this was a test or an act of weakness.