Chapter Forty-Five: The Hidden Stories of the Xing Residence

Shen Ye, after being rebuffed, refused to say another word. He simply kept gazing at the young woman, his eyes filled with longing, looking for all the world like a living incarnation of the Waiting Stone, pining for his wife.

Beside him, the Green-winged Serpent Lord couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. “Boss, stop staring already, your eyeballs are about to fall out.”

Shen Ye shoved the unlucky fellow aside, muttering inwardly, This brat is such a nuisance!

He then stopped looking altogether, but stood rooted in place, his gaze fixed on that graceful silhouette.

Nearby, one of the little foxes serving as a Qingqiu attendant watched the scene, stifling her laughter behind her hand.

Over on Jiuli’s side, things really were in an uproar. The moment her subordinates heard that she was planning to entrust them to Qingqiu for a few months, they were terrified.

“Sister, please don’t scare us! The Lord God shuts himself away in meditation all year round—even if the sky fell, he wouldn’t come out of the Birch Cave. Now the Ten-Thousand-Demon Tower and the Bottomless Purgatory are both wide open, and monstrous beasts roam everywhere. If you leave, what will become of us lowly soldiers?”

The speaker was on the verge of tears.

Jiuli pressed a hand to her forehead. She was rather annoyed by their lack of courage, but she knew they spoke the truth. At present, there was no other choice.

“I’ll write a letter and ask my aunt to return for a few days to stand in for me. How does that sound?”

Her subordinates’ eyes lit up. “That will do, that will do! With you arranging this, we won’t have to worry.”

Jiuli sighed, but her thoughts were already drifting far away, wondering where on earth she might find the little prince.

...

Jiang Lan looked at the visiting card in her hand, then glanced surreptitiously at the attendant who had delivered it.

“Is your master not busy lately?”

“Replying to the heir apparent, my lord has been preoccupied with matters at Assistant Minister Liu’s household and is quite vexed. He wished to take a break and, as tomorrow is a day of rest, suggested accompanying you to the Spring Garden to watch the opera. Might you be available? So this humble one can take back your answer.”

What a sharp-tongued lad!

At the mention of Assistant Minister Liu, Jiang Lan’s lips couldn’t help but curl into a faint smile. Which of the six ministries’ assistant ministers bore the surname Liu? The answer was obvious. “Tell your master that I am available, very much so.”

The next day, Jiang Lan appeared in a snow-white, straight-collared robe that draped elegantly, a purple-gold coronet binding her hair, morning boots on her feet, and a signature golden fan twirling in her hand. Sleeves billowing in the spring breeze, she made her way into the bustling opera house.

The theater had three levels. The first floor, directly facing the stage, was reserved for the true opera aficionados. The second floor, with its private booths separated by screens, catered to the idle and the wealthy. The third floor...

Upon entering, Jiang Lan made straight for the staircase at the side and ascended leisurely.

From the second floor, she enjoyed an unobstructed view of the stage and the audience below.

For a while, her interest was piqued as she leaned against the railing, surveying the varied crowd.

“Heir Apparent.”

Jiang Lan turned to see Qin Shu in everyday attire. His every gesture reflected the humility and propriety of a Confucian scholar. He was somewhat older than most she encountered, exuding a steadiness quite unlike the ingratiating manner of someone like Jiang Cheng.

She had expected their conversation to be awkward and had even prepared some bits of refined gossip, but it proved unnecessary. Qin Shu, for all his scholarly airs, was well-read and full of interesting, little-known tales. Though he didn’t deliberately try to please, his wealth of knowledge made for a delightful conversation.

Jiang Lan was, at heart, someone who relished a good spectacle. Moreover, the stories told concerned her own greatest rival in the mortal world. Outwardly calm, she was inwardly delighted, nearly applauding with glee.

“…That son of Assistant Minister Liu used to seem merely unruly, but now it appears he’s truly incorrigible. He actually brawled over a courtesan in the Yilan Hall, fought so fiercely that he broke bones and drew blood. The other party is no pushover either—he hails from the Marquis of Everpeace’s household…”

At this point, Qin Shu’s expression showed a hint of regret. Jiang Lan still felt puzzled, but as he explained further, she nearly choked on her tea.

“My apologies, I spoke too hastily and forgot that Young Master Wang is your cousin.”

Jiang Lan waved it off. She was not the original Jiang Lan, after all, and had no reason to mind. If he had been someone who cared deeply for the original, there might be cause for concern, but she had no memory of this cousin from the Wang family. It seemed their relationship was far from close.

Still, she had only asked Min Zhe to quietly spread word of Liu Heng’s humiliation—everything afterward was Min Zhe’s doing. Clearly, the boy had guts. Could it be that this mess with her cousin was also his doing?

If so, why didn’t her left arm bear any injury? Surely that would count as collateral damage. Or was this cousin not as good a person as he seemed?

Min Zhe, that rascal, had mentioned Liu Heng’s imprisonment in only a few words—he really was holding things back. Well, once Liu Heng’s business was settled, she would simply send him away.

“It’s nothing.”

At that moment, the opera reached its climax, and the cheers from all three floors drowned out her words.

Since the matter involved Jiang Lan’s family, Qin Shu tactfully changed the subject.

Through their conversation, Jiang Lan learned that the quarrel between her cousin and Liu Heng wasn’t just about a courtesan; the real reason was something said in anger…

Because it was an utterly disgraceful affair, it should have been handled privately. But Liu Heng, as luck would have it, stabbed Young Master Wang in the spleen and kidney, and the imperial physician said he’d likely be unable to have children in the future.

Young Master Wang, however, was known for his fondness for men, so presumably, he wouldn’t care about heirs. But the marquis’s wife would not let it go and took the matter to the capital authorities, demanding justice regardless of the family’s reputation.

Qin Shu had been vexed by this case lately, preparing to exile Liu Heng according to the law. Yet, mysterious forces kept threatening him in secret, while Assistant Minister Liu remained silent, not saying a word in his son’s defense.

Jiang Lan mused that this must be the way Liu Heng managed people’s secrets—confident in his backing, he’d dared to attack her near the capital. Was Liu truly as upright and impartial as his reputation, or was he unflappable because his son still had powerful support?

Liu Heng’s group was indeed troublesome. Even with the Empress Dowager’s favor, it would be unwise to cross them. Still, as long as Liu Heng kept his mouth shut, they would surely choose to cut him loose rather than bring trouble upon themselves.

As expected, the fire wasn’t hot enough yet.

“Heir Apparent, have you heard the rumor that the Minister of Personnel’s third son is possessed by an evil spirit?”

Jiang Lan made no effort to hide her curiosity. “Oh? An evil spirit?”

She laughed lightly. “Could it be some trick from the inner chambers? Let’s not become someone else’s blade.”

Qin Shu shook his head. “Though I am well-versed in the classics and cautious about such matters, I truly heard it with my own ears.”

Jiang Lan frowned.

“That night, when Liu Heng caused that scene at Yilan Hall, the commotion was so great and involved so many families that I did not trust the constables and led a team there myself. On the way, just as we passed the Xing residence, a piercing scream rang out, so harrowing that our horses bolted in fright.

The scream was like a wailing ghost, unbearably painful. The memory still sends chills down my spine. Later, I sent people to investigate, but everyone in the Xing household was tight-lipped and, the next day, they sold off many servants.”

At this, Jiang Lan’s frown deepened, puzzlement written across her face.

“Were you the only one who heard it?”

Qin Shu shook his head. “All the constables with me heard it. But since the Xing family was silent, we agreed to keep it discreet and ordered our men not to talk. Only yesterday did I hear that the family had paid a large sum to hire a Taoist priest to exorcise evil spirits, which struck me as odd.”

Now, remembering that terrible scream, he couldn’t shake the sense of something ghostly lurking in the shadows.

Twisting her fingers, Jiang Lan asked, “Was it a man’s or a woman’s voice?”

“A woman’s, I’m certain.”

Jiang Lan clenched her fists, confusion clouding her expression.

She had investigated the Xing residence for half a day. Though the place felt a bit sinister, apart from a pond with nothing more than a few water ghosts, all that remained was that formless black mass. It had only been a few days; that black mass couldn’t possibly have possessed Xing San so quickly unless it had devoured something extraordinary. Even if it had, judging by the coarse aura it emanated the other day, it should have been male.

Therefore, the scream Qin Shu heard must have come from Xiangxiang.

Yet, Jiang Lan had left Xiangxiang with a jade Guanyin and a protective talisman. Ordinary Taoists would never notice her presence; even if someone powerful appeared, the talisman would give her a chance to escape. Moreover, the jade Guanyin contained her own blood—should any danger arise, she would be notified immediately.

Why, then, had she felt nothing? What had really happened in the Xing household? Was the ghost girl still alive?

Jiang Lan couldn’t say why, but from the moment she’d met that ghost, she’d felt a strange sense of familiarity, an intimacy she wanted to etch into her bones.

By nature, she was not one to act the good person, despite what others might claim.

But this time was different.

Afterward, her mind was filled with thoughts of the Xing family, and before long she took her leave of Qin Shu.

Qin Shu seemed reluctant to part and suggested they meet again soon.

Having discovered Qin Shu’s hidden talent for gossip, Jiang Lan accepted without hesitation.

Back at her residence, Jiang Lan immediately summoned Min Zhe, instructing him to begin the next phase of action against Liu Heng. Then she had him assist Xi Chi in investigating all recent events at the Xing household.

She also changed into the plain garb of a scholar, took some silver, and slipped out the side gate.

Her destination was clear: the northern part of Jiankang City—a chaotic but lively area.

Of course, not every stall was bustling. The one with the “Three-Eyed Taoist” banner had seen little business lately, having botched a job for a wealthy family.

The Three-Eyed Taoist stroked his beard as he flipped through his tawdry novel, suddenly frowning.

A quick calculation made him exclaim, “This is bad!”

He sprang up to hurriedly pack away his things, but just as he reached for his banner, a hand clamped down on his shoulder.

“Long time no see~”

The Three-Eyed Taoist looked as though he might weep.