Chapter Nine, Fang Xiaoru

It is most likely him. Alas, Wang Yuanhua actually used the entire family of Mr. Gaocheng for a living sacrifice. According to my calculations, at that time, Master Yao should not have been by the Emperor's side, which is why his treacherous scheme was able to succeed. Perhaps his position as the Deputy Minister of the Bureau of Astronomy was also revoked because of this matter.

Grandfather, how is this matter related to Wang Yuanhua again? Is it the same issue as with Shen Wansan?

Fang Xiaoru

Liu Jian sat opposite, his eyes fixed intently on the two broken tiles placed on the table. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "If my conjecture is correct, the true culprit behind this incident should have already emerged..."

I held the talisman given to me by my virtuous younger brother... Song Li returned to the table, carefully placed the glazed tile on the desk, then took a seat on the left side, lowered his voice, and began to recount the events that occurred after he returned to the construction site

Holding the lamp in surprise: "Could it be that the one who slandered Mr. Fang to the Emperor and caused his death is that Wang Yuanhua?"

Liu Jian's flush had just subsided, and he cleared his throat: "It's not that I am unwilling to help; the truth is that even if I teach this method to Lord Song, he won't be able to implement it. Of course, if we can truly resolve this matter, it would indeed be a tremendous favor to Wang Yuanhua, sufficient to smooth over any past grievances."

This waiting is the most exhausting of patience. Liu Jian, however, was not particularly affected; he was preoccupied with thoughts, mentally circling around Beijing several times, until the distant sound of the second drumbeat was heard, at which point hurried footsteps could be heard coming from outside the door

Holding the lamp in the corner while watching the two people argue, I couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic towards Song Li. At that moment, seeing my master's expression and actions, my curiosity surged once again

Wang Yuanhua said, the glazed tiles used for this side hall can be directly sourced from those produced in the capital. I believe that the workshop outside the Gathering Treasure Gate was established to supply building materials for the capital, so there should be no issues, and I agreed. Unexpectedly, this situation has arisen, and I hope my esteemed younger brother can save my life!

Liu Jian fanned himself and pondered: "This matter is both easy and difficult to handle. I do have a method to suppress the evil spirit, but unfortunately, it cannot eradicate it completely"

There are a total of 873 people

Song Li observed that Liu Jian did not respond, so he took the tile back, tilted it to examine it, and aligned the two pieces together. At that moment, Liu Jian finally realized that it was originally a whole tile split into two, as the fracture edge was as smooth as if it had been cut with a knife. If one did not closely inspect the side, it would indeed be difficult to discern that it was a single piece that had broken into two.

Liu Jian cast a cold glance at the lantern holder, who shivered and quickly swallowed the latter half of his sentence.

Liu Jian lightly tapped his fan and said, "Indeed, as the saying goes, 'To untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it.'"

The heart holding the lamp was about to leap out from the throat, and with a loud shout, a kick sent the hunchback who was emptying the night pot tumbling over, not looking back, vanishing into the distance.

Liu Jian let out a cold snort: "Prepare the vermilion and yellow paper."

Holding the lamp, I noticed the master's tone had softened, and I hurriedly asked, "Shall I go invite Master Song back?"

Ah, by the Rain Flower Mountain in the capital city

Ten clans: four from the paternal side, three from the maternal side, and two from the wife's side, along with Mr. Goucheng's disciples, making a total of ten clans

Liu Jian nodded: "Indeed, the location is correct, and coupled with the sudden appearance of bloodstains on the glazed tiles, severed at waist height, it symbolizes that Mr. Gaocheng was executed by beheading. Back in the day, Master Yao predicted that if this person were to be executed, he would surely cause trouble, so he advised the current Emperor to endure a moment of shame and not to kill this person. However, the Emperor was swayed by sweet words and ended up exterminating the entire clan of Mr. Gaocheng. Now that things have come to this point, why is the Ministry of Works burning glazed tiles at the foot of Yuhua Mountain? Isn't this just asking for trouble?"

You are both right and wrong in what you say

You were told not to ask, yet you still do? When Lord Song returns later, I will not avoid you. If you understand, then you understand; if you do not, then you do not.

The "Biography of Fang Xiaoru" in the "History of the Ming Dynasty" records: Fang Xiaoru, styled Xizhi and also known as Xigu, was a native of Ninghai. His father, Fang Keqin, was a renowned honest official during the Hongwu period. Due to his academic achievements and prominent reputation, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned him twice; however, upon meeting, he remarked, "It is not the right time to employ him," and assigned him to teach in Hanzhong. Zhu Yuanzhang's son, the Prince of Shu, Zhu Chun, invited Fang Xiaoru to be the teacher of his son, treating him with great respect and naming the place where he lectured as "Zhengxue" (Correct Learning). Thus, Fang Xiaoru was also referred to as "Master of Zhengxue." His academic accomplishments and reputation led Zhu Yuanzhang to summon him twice, but upon meeting, he stated, "It is not the right time to employ him," and assigned him to teach in Hanzhong. Zhu Yuanzhang's son, the Prince of Shu, Zhu Chun, invited Fang Xiaoru to be the teacher of his son, treating him with great respect and naming the place where he lectured as "Zhengxue," hence Fang Xiaoru was also known as "Master of Zhengxue."

This small one is unknown

What teachings are you referring to? You blame me for not teaching you the method to address the root cause. Very well, I can tell you, but you truly will not be able to use it—first consider, how did Mr. Goucheng die?

For him, descending from the hall was yet another arduous task, and there was no need to elaborate. Leaving the construction site, he spurred his horse and hurried back to the office to meet Liu Jian

It is said that the master and servant arrived at the work office after lunch. Liu Jian glanced at the album for about half an hour, and then Gao Liang came running, shouting "Help!" After dealing with the roofing issue and going back and forth, it was already close to the end of the hour. By the time they hurried back to Bailin Temple, gathered all the necessary items, and set out again, the sky had gradually darkened.

"What is it?" Liu Jian did not even lift his head.

"Yes, I shall obey." Holding the lamp, I dared not ask further and stood by, attending to Liu Jian as he read.

Song Li took three steps and then two steps to approach Liu Jian. Although the night was deep and no other voices could be heard nearby, Liu Jian still did not dare to speak loudly. He leaned in a couple of steps and whispered in a low voice: "Lord Song..."

"Hmm, yes. Wang Yuanhua is truly detestable..." Liu Jian shook his fan, swallowed, and repressed the latter half of his sentence.

As soon as the minor official left, Liu Jian turned to the lamp bearer and said, "Hurry and bring over the bamboo box from home; it seems that matters here are far from over."

This camel was also too lazy to step out of the circle, not emptying the night pot in the morning, but waiting until just before bed to do so. He was also caught off guard, wanting to greet the young man in front, but unexpectedly met with this misfortune; the night pot shattered into pieces, and foul urine drenched half his body. He couldn't help but shout curses at the figure holding the lamp, uttering the most filthy and inhumane words.

Fang Xiaoru, styled Xizhi and known by the courtesy name Xunzhi, was referred to by contemporaries as "Mr. Goucheng." Initially, when Emperor Yongle requested him to draft the imperial edict for his ascension, he resolutely refused, provoking the emperor's wrath. As a result, Emperor Yongle captured his family members and executed them one by one before his eyes, while countless others from his clan were conscripted or exiled. Ultimately, this Mr. Goucheng was publicly executed by dismemberment. It is said that some of his surviving disciples secretly collected his remains and buried them on Yuhua Mountain outside the Jubao Gate in Nanjing.

It is still uncertain... Brother Song, where was this batch of glazed tiles fired?

Respectful greetings to the esteemed elder

This outrageous case has fallen upon me, and my foolish brother is bound to die. What else is there to fear? As long as there is a way, what does it matter whether it is feasible or not? You simply refuse to save me, and I will not come to plead with you!" After saying this, Song Li flung his sleeves and stood up, striding straight out the door

Well, regarding the matter of the tiles with Master Song today...

This was said in a lowered voice as usual, but to Song Li's ears, it sounded like a thunderclap on a clear day. He suddenly opened his mouth wide, stunned for a moment, and then stammered, "Must, must we also..."

The narrow alley he squeezed into, called Tangzi Hutong, is located south of Chengshou Temple. It has no storefronts and stretches from west to east, dark, narrow, and long. Holding the lamp, he walked while breaking into a cold sweat; the matter of Wang Yuanhua sacrificing a living person frightened him greatly. As the saying goes, "suspicion breeds dark fears," the young scholar always felt that something would suddenly jump out to take his life. Just as he was about to reach the main road, he could already see the lights of the street-side shops in the distance. He finally let out a sigh of relief, but as soon as he relaxed his grip, he saw a dark figure emerge not far away, and his heart, which had just settled, leaped back into his throat.

When Zhu Di first raised his army, Yao Guangxiao advised him, "Once you conquer the capital, Fang Xiaoru will definitely not surrender. At that time, please do not kill him; if you kill him, the seeds of learning in the world will be extinguished." Zhu Di agreed to this request and released Fang Xiaoru, asking him to draft the imperial edict for his ascension. However, Fang Xiaoru could only weep bitterly and refused to write. Zhu Di explained, "Do not be sad; I do not wish to rebel, I only want to emulate the Duke of Zhou in assisting the King Cheng." Fang Xiaoru retorted, "Then where is the current King Cheng (referring to the Jianwen Emperor)?" Zhu Di replied, "He has committed self-immolation and died." Fang Xiaoru asked, "Then why not establish the son of King Cheng?" Zhu Di said, "The country needs an elder ruler." Fang Xiaoru persisted, "Then why not establish the brother of King Cheng?"

Liu Jian silently recited the Northern Emperor's Sutra and the Soul-Soothing Spell: "Zhou Jue Biao Di Chen, Liang Shi Gou Chong A, Yan Ru Xiao Zhong Yan, Bo Ruo Jing Yao Hua. Wu Cheng Dai Shen Feng, Tian Zhao Tun Qing A, Yan Yan Lin Dan Jing, Yun Men Yu Cuo E. Qi Fei Tong Qi Gai, Yun Wan Yi Fu Mo, Liu Tian Heng Bei Dao, Ci Shi Gui Shen Jia. Urgently, urgently, as per the law!" He picked up a brush and swiftly wrote a talisman for the Northern Emperor, handing it to Song Li, saying: "You must quickly go to the top of the hall, find a tile with characters on it, place it on top and burn it, then come back and tell me the situation. I will be waiting for you here."

Song Li was still puzzled as to why the masons had not left, and he himself was reluctant to climb to the top of the hall. Although some foremen came to consult him during this time, this gentleman Song's mind was not on the matter; he merely responded perfunctorily with vague sounds. It was not until the evening glow filled the sky that he remembered he had not given any instructions, and he could not help but feel regret for having delayed for so long. He then dismissed everyone and ordered the on-duty officials and soldiers to retreat outside the walls. Only then did he take the piece of glazed tile he had shown Liu Jian, find a secluded spot, glance left and right to ensure no one was around, and then he carried the ladder to climb to the top of the hall.

"It's Wang Yuanhua again!" Deng Deng, holding a lamp in the corner, interjected resentfully. Liu Jian discreetly waved his hand, fortunately, Song Li did not pay any attention.

What is the number of people

The Buddhas expound the Dharma, which inherently lacks a fixed form. Due to the emptiness of all phenomena, the Dharma is present everywhere, not separate from sitting, standing, walking, or lying down, responding to conditions as they arise... This is from the Diamond Sutra, yet it is of no use; the dark shadow still draws closer to him. "Namo, hēluōdànā, duōluóyèyé. Namo, ālìyé, pó lú jié dì, shuòbōluóyé. Pútísāduǒpóyé..." This is from the Great Compassion Mantra. Holding the lamp, it is no surprise that he resides in the Berlin Temple; the young man has a good memory. Over the course of a month, he has memorized nearly all the scriptures recited by the monk, including these Sanskrit verses. Yet it is still of no use; the dark shadow draws ever closer, exuding a crooked and ghostly aura... Tears have already begun to well up in the lamp holder's eyes, and he sees that the dark shadow seems to have arrived before him in an instant, raising its empty hand...

Liu Jian smiled slightly: "In addition to Mr. Goucheng himself!"

Song Li placed the tiles on the roof of the hall, and in an instant, the characters reappeared, appearing strikingly conspicuous in the darkness. Song Li's calves trembled, nearly causing him to tumble down—at such a height, a fall would likely result in dire consequences. If a second-rank minister and chief supervisor were to die on the construction site, it would surely be remembered throughout history.

It is undoubtedly confirmed that it is Mr. Goucheng!" Liu Jian slapped his thigh with a fan

Song Li locked the door to the style library and called a minor official to lead Liu Jian to his own room for a brief rest, then hurriedly left the office. Upon arriving at Song Li's residence, Liu Jian noticed that the room was not large and the furnishings were simple. A bed on the west side occupied one-third of the space, while on the east side there was a writing desk and a bookshelf. A table was placed against the north wall, with a square chair on either side. The only decoration in the room was a picture of the God of Examinations on the wall and a blue-and-white porcelain vase with a lotus pond pattern from a previous dynasty on the table.

Liu Jian glared: "You still listened to m.hetushucomcom!"

After Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne, he summoned Fang Xiaoru to Nanjing and appointed him as the Hanlin Shijiang Scholar and a Doctor of Literature. During the "Jingnan Incident," most of the edicts and proclamations against Prince Yan, Zhu Di, were authored by Fang Xiaoru. When Zhu Di captured Nanjing, he had Fang Xiaoru arrested and imprisoned.

Song Li rushed in while constantly wiping the sweat from his face with a towel. He did not respond to Liu Jian's words, but dashed to the table, picked up the half cup of leftover tea Liu Jian had, and drank it in one gulp. After circling the room twice, he ran back to the door, closed it, and bolted it. In a moment, he caught sight of the lamp he was holding, and was taken aback, unsure whether to reopen the door and throw the young scholar out.

Song Li shook his head and sighed: "The glazed tiles of the Forbidden City were certainly not produced there. The grand hall currently under construction is located in the southeast of the Forbidden City, named Chongzhi Hall, and is intended for the upcoming Zhongyuan Festival's Ullambana ceremony. Wang Yuanhua said ... "

Could it be that ... ... "Song Li also seems to have some understanding.

Liu Jian forced a smile and said, "If it were merely a matter of inviting His Majesty to cast a spell for resolution, it would be much easier... To clarify further, there is an old saying: 'Blood debts must be repaid in blood.' You must have heard of it, right?"

No need, I anticipate he will return shortly. It is not feasible for him to seek out Master Yao; the construction site is crowded and chaotic. Master Yao is too far away to resolve our immediate issues. If this matter were to be exposed, it would lead to a great upheaval. Lord Song surely understands the implications involved.

Song Li shuddered: "Is it necessary for His Majesty to personally cast a spell to resolve this? That, that, that is indeed not something I would dare to speak of recklessly..."

However, before Song Li had returned, Liu Jian, by the light of the candle, was unaware as he pulled a book from the bookshelf, fanning himself while flipping through its pages. Holding the lamp, he called out, and seeing that Liu Jian did not respond, he slowly moved closer to him.

I hope for your guidance

Holding back a laugh in the dark, yet fearing that the master might become angry out of embarrassment, I quickly changed the subject: "In that case, you should help Master Song with this matter."

"The sequence of events, in this manner, dear brother, what should we do about this?" After recounting the details, Song Li looked at Liu Jian with an expectant gaze

The camel, filled with grievances, returned home to sleep without mentioning anything. Meanwhile, the one holding the lamp rushed to the office of the labor department, disregarding his wet pants, and burst through the door to find Liu Jian at Song Li's place. Fortunately, the labor department had not yet closed its doors. The constable saw that this young boy had entered with Master Liu during the day. Although Master Liu's position was not high, he seemed to have a close relationship with Minister Song, so the constable did not dare to stop him.

Liu Jian shook his head: "Even if you go before the Master, he may not have a solution. It is not that there is no cure, but it cannot be used..."

Oh... ah? Eight hundred seventy-three? Fortunately, it is not eight hundred seventy-four. The lamp holder was startled for a moment, but then seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Faced with Fang Xiaoru's relentless questioning, Zhu Di could only respond perfunctorily, saying: "This is my family matter; you need not concern yourself with it. This imperial edict for my ascension must be drafted by you, sir." However, Fang Xiaoru threw down his brush, weeping and cursing, saying: "If I must die, then I will die; I absolutely refuse to draft the edict!" Consequently, Zhu Di was infuriated and ordered Fang Xiaoru to be executed by waist-cutting in public, and he also annihilated his entire clan.

After Song Li had collected the talisman paper, he rode back to the construction site. First, he suppressed the panic in his heart and pretended to be nonchalant as he observed the craftsmen busily working. He slowly strolled to the front of the hall where the incident had occurred. Although the tile workers had been ordered to cease their work, Song Li did not command them to go home, so they dared not leave and could only gather together to chat idly, waiting for the Minister to speak. Some of the junior workers went to assist the carpenters and stonemasons.

Hearing Liu Jian call out the name "Mr. Goucheng," Song Li took a sharp breath: "I knew it was him, but... I still held onto a sliver of hope that it was just a fraction of the Wanhe Library..."

Song Li anxiously spread his hands and said, "Dear brother, as the saying goes, 'to send the Buddha all the way to the West.' If you are to save me, then save me thoroughly. What use is it to seek a solution that cannot eradicate the problem?"

Wang Yuanhua can be described as shrewd and calculating. However, I suspect that this matter was not originally intended for the construction of a palace in Beijing; it was likely meant to set up a malevolent scheme in the capital. But with the Emperor's intention to relocate the capital, this method became unusable. Therefore, he devised this plan to place the tiles on the hall for the future Ullambana Festival, using Buddhist teachings to dispel the malevolent scheme he had set up for himself. However, the characters appearing on the tiles were probably something Wang Yuanhua himself did not anticipate... Liu Jian looked at the lamp and asked, "Do you know how many people the entire family of Mr. Gaocheng has been killed?"

Song Li rushed in, drenched in sweat. Liu Jian put down the book in his hands and stood up to greet him: "So, what is the outcome?"

Indeed, nothing can be concealed from my esteemed younger brother. I kindly ask you to teach me that method which does not take root.

"Ah? Did you not say that the Qintianjian Investigation Department was abolished by Emperor Taizu?" The lantern bearer slowly approached and inquired.

Song Lixin was sharp-minded and full of energy, which earned him the favor of Emperor Yongle. However, his body was heavy and his belly quite large, making his movements less agile. Moreover, this was a place he had never climbed before. After climbing a few steps, he looked down at the ground and felt dizzy, needing to catch his breath for a moment before continuing to ascend. This process repeated itself, and by the time he finally reached the top of the hall, the sky had completely darkened.

Song Li pondered for a while, carefully choosing his words to say: "He defied the current emperor, which is why he was executed by being cut in half."

Holding the lamp, he shivered slightly: "Your Excellency, the journey is exceedingly long..." He raised his eyes to see Liu Jian's unfriendly expression, frightened and forgetting to pay his respects, and fled like the wind.

This shadow appears to be humanoid, but...! ... it has no head.! In its hand, it is holding a round object. The one holding the lamp was so frightened that he almost wet his pants, and began to mumble incoherently:

Holding the lamp, he heard the command and hurried to the table, opened the bundle, took out the vermilion to dissolve it, dipped the brush, and laid out a piece of yellow paper. Just as he was about to respond, he heard Liu Jian close the door and lower his voice to instruct: "Holding the lamp, today's matter is not like usual; it is of great importance. You should act as if you did not hear it; it is better if you did not hear it at all, and do not ask!" Holding the lamp looked up in astonishment, only to see Liu Jian's serious expression, which was markedly different from his usual demeanor. He guessed that this was the kind of expression Liu Jian had when Wang Yuanhua employed the method of live sacrifice, and could not help but secretly stick out his tongue, bowing in compliance.

Holding the lamp, I quickly pleaded for mercy: "I just heard a little, but I couldn't understand... I know this matter is extraordinary; otherwise, you wouldn't have asked me to bring the bamboo box. I wanted to ask about the character that has 'bamboo' as the head and 'foot' as the bottom..."

Liu Jian had long anticipated that Song Li had not gone far; that remark was directed at the door outside. In August, Beijing's evenings were already filled with cool breezes, and the chill was palpable. Liu Jian noticed the sheen on Song Li's plump face, unsure whether it was from hot sweat or cold sweat, and felt a twinge of compassion. Thus, he gently sighed and stood up

In a state of shock, Song Li hurriedly covered his mouth with his right hand, while his left hand still firmly grasped the edge of the tile. After the bloodline split the tile in half, it immediately spread outwards, a cold light flashing as the glazed tile was severed as if by a knife. One half slid down to the eaves with a "swish," while the other half remained clutched in Song Li's hand. He stood there, stunned by the scene, and it took him a long while to regain his senses, yet he could hardly straighten his back. After waiting for some time and seeing no further anomalies, he mustered the courage to take the other half of the tile as well, wrapping it in a handkerchief and tucking it into his bosom. He stood there, stunned by the scene, and it took him a long while to regain his senses, yet he could hardly straighten his back. After waiting for some time and seeing no further anomalies, he mustered the courage to take the other half of the tile as well, wrapping it in a handkerchief and tucking it into his bosom.

After finally calming his mind, he took out the paper talisman given to him by Liu Jian from his sleeve, placed it on the tile, and, fearing it would be blown away by the wind, had no choice but to hunch over and spread his arms to shield it. He then took out the fire starter and carefully ignited it. As the flames flickered, a sudden light breeze stirred, blowing away the remaining paper ash, and a red line gradually emerged in the center of the tile. The red line slowly moved from the left side to the right, resembling blood, until it bisected the tile in half. As the flames flickered, a sudden light breeze stirred, blowing away the remaining paper ash, and a red line gradually emerged in the center of the tile. The red line slowly moved from the left side to the right, resembling blood, until it bisected the tile in half

Liu Jian's bamboo box indeed contained several magical artifacts, which were seldom used. He understood the gravity of the situation and hurriedly came and went, yet he did not think to ask the monk for a lantern. He had long lost track of time, and due to the peculiar circumstances, he did not even feel hungry. When he left the temple, he noticed that it was still bright outside, but he did not expect that during this transition from summer to autumn, although it got dark late, it also darkened very quickly. Every household had closed their doors, and it was not yet time for the night watch to begin; they would not come out for a while, and the further he walked, the quieter it became. He had long lost track of time, and due to the peculiar circumstances, he did not even feel hungry. When he left the temple, he noticed that it was still bright outside, but he did not expect that during this transition from summer to autumn, although it got dark late, it also darkened very quickly. Every household had closed their doors, and it was not yet time for the night watch to begin; they would not come out for a while, and the further he walked, the quieter it became

Hearing voices behind me, I felt considerably more at ease holding the lamp

Upon entering the room, I saw several servants tidying up the dishes; it turned out that Liu Jian had already finished dinner. Holding the lamp, I handed over the items, and only then did I realize I was hungry. Liu Jian initially intended to scold me for arriving so late, but upon seeing my red-rimmed eyes and the large stain on my trousers, he understood much of the situation and suppressed a laugh, instructing the servants to take me to the kitchen for something to eat. I was preoccupied with the matter concerning Song Li, so I hurriedly grabbed a few bites of cold rice in the kitchen before quickly returning.

Song Li took the talisman paper with both hands and replied, "We cannot stay here for long. I have rented a room to live in north of the yamen. Why don't you wait for me there, my dear brother?" Liu Jian nodded in agreement

Song Liben was in a state of desperation, seeking help from any source. Seeing Liu Jian's composed demeanor at this moment, he felt a temporary sense of relief and stood up, repeatedly bowing and saying, "I understand, I understand!"

Song Li glanced at him, trembling as he took out a small cloth pouch from his bosom. He shook it open, revealing two bright, shiny pieces of glazed tile. Liu Jian put away his fan, took them with curiosity, and examined them carefully under the candlestick. Aside from the fact that these two tiles were smaller than the usual ones, there seemed to be nothing amiss.

Liu Jiangang was about to call out to him, but after a moment's thought, he sat back down, opened his folding fan, and leisurely fanned himself a couple of times

Liu Jian merely shook his head. Song Li raised his eyebrows in anger and said, "If you refuse to speak, I, your foolish brother, will have no choice but to risk my life and go directly to Master Yao to speak frankly!"

Liu Jian walked over to unfasten the door bolt, pulling the door open with a creak. At that moment, the lantern bearer, who had been eavesdropping outside, tumbled in. Liu Jian looked at him coldly as the lantern bearer, covered in dust and dirt, scrambled to his feet and hurriedly explained, "This door is very thick, just like... it's too thick, I didn't hear anything at all."

The shops along the main road hang several illuminated lanterns at night to facilitate pedestrians and, by the way, to enhance their own reputation. However, who among the common folk would waste a candle for no reason? They carry lanterns to take shortcuts, yet they choose only the remote alleys, and it is already quite fortunate not to get lost. The further he walked, the more anxious he became. However, as he delved deeper into the alley, he could not return to the main road quickly. In utter helplessness, he had no choice but to brace himself, take a deep breath, and pinch the second joint of his middle finger with his right thumb—this was the ghost-avoiding technique taught to him by Liu Jian—and he pressed on into the depths.

Liu Jian sat down on the right side of the table, leaving the upper seat on his left vacant. A clerk brought in tea and, with his hands hanging down, asked, "Do you have any further instructions, Chief?" Liu Jian shook his fan and replied, "You may leave now."

Song Li stated that it was inconvenient to bring Liu Jian to the construction site of the hall. Liu Jian found his reasoning sound and nodded in agreement, saying: "I will draw a talisman for you; you can quietly go to the top of the hall and burn it. Whatever you see or hear, come back and tell me immediately, and do not let anyone else know." He then added: "Rest assured, the sun is still high in the sky, and no evil spirits can harm you."

His flurry of activity left Liu Jian both amused and exasperated, so he waved his sleeves to signal the lamp bearer to move to the corner of the room. He then stepped forward to support Song Li, fanning him while gently reassuring, "It’s nothing to worry about, Lord Song. Please sit down and speak slowly."

I dare not. Esteemed younger brother, please speak; your foolish elder brother is all ears for your teachings