CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 96: THE PATH TO THE UNDERWORLD

"That means you don’t understand her deeply enough." Yu Nianzhao picked up a bit of soil and brought it to her nose for a sniff, "In this soil, apart from using human internal organs as fertilizer, fresh blood is also irrigated daily to nourish the rhododendrons."

"The underworld has the Manjusaka as the flower of the other shore, a death flower that leads to hell. No one can grow it in the mortal realm, so some use rhododendrons as a substitute for the Manjusaka, irrigating with human blood and using human flesh as an auxiliary material to birth a new underworld flower!"

Yu Nianzhao picked a blooming rhododendron and said, "Look at the color of this flower, it’s no ordinary bloom. It’s nearly developed a spirit essence, and not only does it attract evil, but if a flower spirit that feeds on human blood is truly raised, none of you can escape the fate of being consumed."

Mrs. Zhao was frightened, "Why would Hua Niang do such a thing? Does she intend to harm my entire family in the Zhao Mansion? Before becoming a concubine, we had no enmity, and moreover, my husband is not obsessed with women, nor are there other concubines in the mansion! I have never troubled Hua Niang, why would she do such terrible things?"

"When did you first notice something was wrong with Hua Niang?"

"It was two months ago, Hang’er was quite fond of this rhododendron, and Hua Niang would often come to the courtyard to tend to it. At first, I didn’t think anything was wrong until I noticed... Hua Niang’s gaze on Hang’er was increasingly peculiar, always staring silently at Hang’er for long periods. That gaze was eerie, like she was looking at some commodity. I thought perhaps because she had no children, she had malicious intentions towards Hang’er, after all, Hang’er is the only male descendant of the Zhao family."

Mrs. Zhao recalled past events, speaking with trepidation.

"I’m afraid it’s not for a domestic affair." Yu Nianzhao casually dropped the rhododendron from her hand and said calmly, "But from the start, she targeted the Zhao Mansion, deliberately approached Mr. Zhao, seeking an opportunity to enter the mansion."

A wave of coldness surged in their hearts, leaving Mr. Zhao and his wife feeling a chill down their backs.

Mr. Zhao said bewilderedly, "Does our Zhao family have something so tempting?"

"Your son’s destiny is of yang nature, and his birthdate’s eight characters should also be of abundant yang. Such a soul... would indeed be coveted by an evil magician." Yu Nianzhao performed a quick calculation, roughly understanding Hua Niang’s target, "Hua Niang entering the Zhao Mansion was not merely to become Mr. Zhao’s concubine, she purely aimed at your son."

Mr. Zhao was dazed, "So she wanted to take Hang’er away?"

"Yes, she didn’t anticipate my presence disrupting her plan, so she could only abandon taking him away and hurriedly stripped his soul and fled."

"Then why didn’t she take Hang’er right from the start?"

"Timing was not right!" Yu Nianzhao said, "If she wanted to take your son’s soul, she had to wait until the rhododendron had absorbed enough human blood. Only after blooming could it be done. Once this death flower blooms for seven days, it will attract much evil, forming a path to the underworld."

"What should we do, Princess, where should I go to find Hang’er’s soul."

"No rush, there’s still time." Yu Nianzhao picked up pen and paper, drew a talisman, and after burning it, a small green insect flew out, spreading its wings and quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Xie Jiuxiao ordered, "Mu Hongxuan, follow it."

"Yes, Prince!"

They already more or less understood this little insect, which had a tracking function, and quickly followed.

"I’ve ordered the city to be sealed; Hua Niang won’t escape from Shangjing." Xie Jiuxiao’s voice was steady and powerful, easing Mr. Zhao’s worried mind.

"I’m hungry." After a while, as it was already late at night, Yu Nianzhao hadn’t had dinner.

"It’s my negligence, I’ll immediately have someone prepare dinner." Mr. Zhao, though anxious, didn’t forget to care for his guests.

"Mr. Zhao, burn all these rhododendrons, and bury those internal organs in the ground, and burn some paper money to send them on their way!"

Before turning to dine, Yu Nianzhao reminded him.

"Them?"

"Yes, there are quite a few evil spirits here, there are two right behind you. Once the path to the underworld is opened, your Zhao Mansion will be overrun by spirits."

"Alright, alright, I’ll keep the Princess’s words in mind, I’ll have someone handle it right away."

Mr. Zhao felt goosebumps rising all over, quickly arranging for people to deal with it.

"Zhaozhao, eat some more." Xie Jiuxiao picked up a piece of fried lotus root for her, the crispy lotus root and meat were fragrant and delicious, leaving a lingering taste in the mouth.

"The chef of Mr. Zhao’s mansion cooks quite well." Yu Nianzhao enjoyed the fried lotus root and quickly ate three.

"If you like it, I’ll bring this chef back to the Prince Su Mansion."

"Ah? That’s not necessary, a gentleman does not take away others’ beloved! Besides, I just like eating this fried lotus root, there’s no need to take the chef away."

"If you like it, then have their chef prepare it and send it to the mansion."

"That can be arranged!"

Once Yu Nianzhao was full, the rhododendrons outside had almost all been burned.

Mu Hongxuan returned, cupping his fists, "Princess, we tracked all the way, finding that the little insect has been circling the Zhao Mansion, not flying out at all."

Yu Nianzhao calculated again, squinting her eyes, "Indeed, having prepared thoroughly for the path to the underworld, seeing that she couldn’t take anyone out of the city, she must have returned to the Zhao Mansion. Mu Hongxuan, search thoroughly in the Zhao Mansion, Hua Niang should still be there."

"Yes, Princess!"

A moment later...

"Princess, we’ve dug three feet deep and still haven’t found Hua Niang."

"Mr. Zhao, is there any place that hasn’t been searched?"

"Our Zhao Mansion isn’t that large, it’s really strange..." Mr. Zhao thought hard, slapping his hand as if realizing something, "Right, we haven’t searched my daughter’s courtyard."

They hurriedly arrived at the entrance of the second daughter’s courtyard.

"Strange, where have all Xiao Yu’s maids gone?" Mr. Zhao felt uneasy as they entered the courtyard, discovering another patch of rhododendrons.

"Hua Niang actually planted another patch of rhododendrons here? Why didn’t I know about this?" Mrs. Zhao exclaimed, covering her mouth.

"How long has it been since you visited your daughter’s courtyard?" Mr. Zhao asked, frowning.

"Xiao Yu comes to greet me daily, but she hasn’t come in a while. Is this Hua Niang not satisfied with harming Hang’er and now wants to harm Xiao Yu too?"

Mrs. Zhao, eyes blazing, marched angrily into the courtyard.

Rumblings!

In the pitch-black sky, the sound of muffled thunder was heard, and the rhododendrons in the courtyard seemed to come alive, swaying constantly, even making a ’rustling’ sound.

Dots of red light floated in the air, forming numerous hands, grabbing hold of Mrs. Zhao, trying to pull her into the flower groves.