Chapter 125: Respecting the Old and Cherishing the Young

Jiang Lan smoothed his clothes hurriedly. "I was just lowering their guard. I also wanted to see what they were really up to and what kind of tricks they had up their sleeves."

"And what did you discover later?" Xue Mingrui asked.

"That group went from the West Mansion to the East Mansion, leaving no stone unturned, as if they were terrified of not finding a demon on my property. At first, I thought they were trying to frame me for harboring evil spirits, which is a capital offense in Great Chen. But it seems that wasn't their intention."

Many demons had escaped last night, so it wouldn't be strange for a few to be hiding in the courtyard. If the villains had caught them and tossed them here, Jiang Lan wouldn't be surprised either.

"They seemed very interested in my room. Before you, cousin, arrived, I sat there resting for a while, but I never stopped keeping an eye on them. Several waves of them came through. The one who died today was just the lucky one—or perhaps unlucky—who happened to run into Naonao while she was eating."

"Since they were engaged in such malicious deeds, they should have expected such an outcome. Why dwell on it, cousin?"

"It's nothing. Aren't you treating me to a meal, cousin? Let's go. If we hurry, we might still make it in time for the drunken chicken at Taibai Pavilion." Jiang Lan quickly changed into a fine outfit and pulled a reluctant Xue Mingrui toward the carriage.

"Ten taels of silver for a single drunken chicken! Ten taels! Taibai Pavilion is a den of thieves, and you are even worse than them!"

Unable to resist, Jiang Lan pushed Xue Mingrui along. Just as he was about to leave the courtyard, he took one last look back.

Once Jiang Lan had gone, the courtyard was once again enveloped in an invisible light. A wooden hairpin flew in through the open window and settled on the table.

A wisp of green demonic aura drifted from the hairpin, and Qingli appeared once more.

Although the bloodstains had been scrubbed away, she sniffed the air and soon located the spot where the eunuch had committed suicide by poison.

Crouching on the ground, she swept her fair right hand across the floor and pulled a wisp of a soul from it. It was the eunuch in his green robes.

"Spare me, Great Immortal! Spare me!"

Qingli brushed the dust off her clothes, stood up, sat on a nearby chair, and looked at the eunuch cowering on the ground.

"I won't make things difficult for you. Since you are newly dead, if you answer my questions honestly, I can protect you until the underworld bailiffs arrive. If your answers are satisfactory, I will ask my master to hire a Taoist priest to perform a ritual for you, helping you secure a good reincarnation. You'll be a whole person living a life of wealth—how about that? It's a fair trade."

The eunuch's ghost thought for a moment. "Deal!"

***

After eating three drunken chickens and packing up the remaining five, Jiang Lan happily dropped Xue Mingrui off at the Duke of England's mansion.

When getting out of the carriage, Xue Mingrui looked full of grievance. "Between today's meal and everything else, you've cost me nearly a hundred taels of silver. I even offended Master Kongkong for your sake. If there's any problem with the birthday gift for Grandmother on the third, just wait and see—neither I nor my eldest brother will let you off, you little rascal."

Jiang Lan quickly offered assurances. "Don't worry, cousin. The Master is compassionate; he won't hold it against you. Rest assured, Grandmother's birthday will go off without a hitch."

Xue Mingrui shook his head. "Forget it. I'd rather bring a gift and apologize in person myself. Since the invitations are going out tomorrow, I'll just send it then."

Watching this foolish boy planning to throw away more silver, Jiang Lan felt a pang of pity—he truly had more money than sense. Since he wouldn't listen, Jiang Lan decided to go back and warn that "gold-swallowing beast" to mind her manners and not squander all of his cousin's money—or he wouldn't have anything left to spend himself.

Just as Jiang Lan stepped off the carriage and reached the gate, the steward stopped him.

"Is something the matter?" Jiang Lan asked.

"It's nothing major," the steward hesitated, then said, "It's about that Daoist priest, Three-Eyes, whom you asked me to arrange for. He has a young woman with him. I asked, and he said she is his cousin from his mother's side. The priest says she makes excellent pastries. If you are inclined, Master, she could be sent to your side as a maid."

The old steward hadn't wanted to help others plant people near his young master, but the priest had been persistent. Furthermore, in his eyes, the young master and the priest seemed to have a rather close, private relationship.

"Fine. Send her to my courtyard as a first-class maid. Pay her the same monthly wage as Daoist Three-Eyes."

The old steward was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied, "Yes!" He felt a surge of excitement. *Indeed! Indeed! Our young master has finally learned to be sensible!*

Seeing the steward's beaming face, Jiang Lan didn't think much of it. After inquiring about the lunch situation for the West Mansion, he returned to his own courtyard.

Upon arriving, Qingli, now dressed in a pale lotus-colored top and a white pleated skirt, brought a bowl of freshly made butter tea to Jiang Lan. "Young Master, would you like to taste it and see if it suits your palate?"

Xichi, who had followed him, looked at this girl who had suddenly appeared in the courtyard. With her bright eyes, white teeth, and delicate skin, she looked nothing like a servant girl; she was clearly the one the steward had mentioned—the Daoist’s cousin.

Smelling the aroma in the air, Jiang Lan took the bowl and said, "This is Xichi. This is Qingli. You two should get to know each other."

With that, Jiang Lan took the bowl back into his room.

"Sister Xichi, would you like a bowl? I made plenty; there is more in the kitchen." Although she clearly sensed the hostility, Qingli said it with sincerity.

Unfortunately, Xichi just glanced at her and walked away.

***

Qingli shook her head. "What a pity. I guess it'll just have to be left for that old geezer."

Qingli turned and went to the kitchen, then carried a bowl to a side room.

Xichi, lurking in the shadows, had been watching Qingli's every move. But before she could get close to the room, her mind went blank. When she woke up, she was back in her own room, with no memory of what had happened.

Qingli looked at Xie Muyun, who was eating with gusto. "Hey, old man, who exactly is trying to go against our young master? They even went as far as using sorcery—that's truly vicious."

"Why are you so worried, girl? Didn't you go and interrogate that dead eunuch? Did you find out anything?"

Qingli shook her head. "He only said everything was ordered by Eunuch Hai, his superior. He didn't know anything else."

"How utterly stupid."

Gu Chengwu, wearing a lotus-pink robe with a straight collar, walked in from the wall and sat directly on the cushion opposite Xie Muyun. He said to Qingli, "Girl, bring me a bowl as well."

Qingli looked at this man who acted even more important than a Great Immortal. Remembering the Immortal's instructions, she sighed helplessly. "As you wish."

Xie Muyun looked at Qingli with a face full of grievance. "And mine?"

Qingli nodded, pointing to the bowl in front of Gu Chengwu. "It's all there."

Xie Muyun expressed his indignation; this brat had no respect for his elders at all.

"Brat, you called them stupid just now. Do you have a better idea?"

Qingli also widened her eyes, resting her head on the table and staring at Gu Chengwu intently. "Tell us, tell us! The young master is really worried. If you help him solve this trouble, I'll make you all sorts of different delicacies."

Gu Chengwu took a sip of tea, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Not bad." He then said to Qingli, "You only need to..."