Madam Xi immediately smiled and said, "The old lady is in good health, but she keeps mentioning the three young ladies." Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, probably not mentioning the three young ladies, but rather Rui Yuhuan. Seeing the faint, mocking curve of Ouyang Yue's lips, Madam Xi's eyes flashed, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifting to Rui Yuhuan's face, which was covered by a veil. This Miss Rui used to love to wear heavy makeup and show off her beauty, so why was she so discreetly covering her face today? However, Madam Xi didn't dare to ask.
The group chatted for a short while before arriving at Anhe Hall. Old Madam Ning sat in the seat of honor, and Ouyang Zhide also returned from court. Madam Ning, Concubine Hong, Concubine Hua, Concubine Liu, and even the disabled Concubine Ming were all present. Surprisingly, everyone was there.
Ouyang Yue and happy Mama stepped in first, but after only two steps, someone suddenly pushed her from behind. Ouyang Yue immediately steadied herself by turning to the side, only to see a yellow figure rush over and burst into tears at Old Madam Ning's feet: "Old Madam, Yu Huan is too ashamed to face anyone, Yu Huan doesn't want to live anymore, waaaah."
Old Madam Ning's smiling face suddenly darkened. She quickly helped Rui Yuhuan up and said softly, "Yuhuan, what's wrong? Did you suffer any injustice outside? Why are you crying so sadly?"
Rui Yuhuan cried, her eyes blurry with tears, but she kept shaking her head and refused to say anything. She just said with great grievance and despair, "Waaah, Madam, please don't ask anymore. It's all Yuhuan's fault. Yuhuan will never be able to face anyone again. Yuhuan came back this time to thank Madam for your kindness and care during this time. Yuhuan will not be able to stay by Madam's side to fulfill her filial duties. Please don't worry about Yuhuan. Yuhuan will always remember Madam's kindness and will never forget it in life or death. Waaah."
Rui Yuhuan's actions stunned Old Madam Ning. How could the gentle and considerate girl who used to be by her side have been driven to such a dead end? Her face immediately darkened: "What exactly happened? Yuhuan, why are you covering your face? What happened?"
Rui Yuhuan immediately covered her face in shock: "No, it's okay, my face is fine." But wasn't her way of showing a clear attempt to cover up her mistake? Old Madam Ning immediately reached out and pulled her away. Rui Yuhuan cried out in surprise, but it was too late to stop her.
But then Old Madam Ning, sitting in her chair, suddenly went limp, her finger trembling as she pointed at Rui Yuhuan's face: "Your face... how could your face be like this? Who did this? Who was so bold as to do such a vicious thing, ruining your face!" Several bloody marks on Rui Yuhuan's cheeks were so shocking that Aunt Hong and Aunt Hua, who looked over curiously, couldn't help but gasp. But Aunt Ming, who had only one eye and half her face ruined, smiled coldly, her face filled with malice.
Rui Yuhuan cried even more bitterly: "Madam, please don't ask anymore. It's Yuhuan's fault. It's all Yuhuan's business and has nothing to do with anyone else. Please don't pursue this matter, otherwise Yuhuan will feel very uneasy."
"No, you must tell me this! How could someone be so cruel as to disfigure you? I will not let this go!" Old Madam Ning slammed her hand on the low table, as if she had just noticed Ouyang Yue and Ouyang Rou walk in. She coldly shouted at them, "I told you to accompany Yu Huan to the Five Elements Temple to offer incense, and this is how you took care of Yu Huan? You let her be harmed so badly! What were you doing? Didn't you know to help her out? Explain this to me clearly!"
Ouyang Rou suddenly burst into tears, looking at Rui Yuhuan with great heartache, shaking her head repeatedly. But seeing Old Madam Ning's angry glare at her, Ouyang Rou immediately shrank back in fear and said to Ouyang Yue, "You three know the most about this matter. It all started because of you. Why don't you tell me..."
Before Ouyang Rou could finish speaking, Old Madam Ning roared angrily, "Ouyang Yue! You actually caused Yu Huan to be disfigured! You useless thing, you jinx!"
☆、091, Who is the jinx!
Old Madam Ning roared angrily, plunging the Anhe Hall into silence. Ouyang Yue's cold eyes swept over Old Madam Ning and Rui Yuhuan, her gaze devoid of any warmth, like a sword forged from millennia-old ice, capable of slaying a deadly wound. For a moment, Old Madam Ning felt her blood run cold, sitting stiffly in her chair, unable to utter a single word. Rui Yuhuan, already somewhat guilty, immediately shrank back upon seeing Ouyang Yue's expression, tightly gripping Old Madam Ning's leg, seemingly with excessive force, causing her pain, which ironically brought Old Madam Ning back to her senses.
Ouyang Yue said coldly, "Is Grandmother calling me a jinx?"
Seeing Ouyang Yue's cold demeanor, Old Madam Ning became even angrier. Since her return, when had Ouyang Yue ever shown her respect or filial piety? She had caused her trouble at every turn, turning the manor into a mess, and yet she dared to speak to her like that—it was utterly disrespectful. She seemed to have forgotten that when she first returned to the manor, Ouyang Yue's attitude towards her was already quite respectful. But Old Madam Ning's constant protection of Concubine Ming and others had worn down even the most genuine filial piety. Moreover, Ouyang Yue wasn't her own granddaughter; to repeatedly scold and try to punish her would make anyone angry and heartbroken.
Old Madam Ning looked at Ouyang Yue indifferently: "I ask you, Yu Huan's background is pitiful, and I felt sorry for her, so I took care of her more. Do you think that's right or wrong?"
Ouyang Yue nodded lightly, but her eyes narrowed slightly as she said, "Miss Rui has no parents and no one to rely on. Ordinary people would definitely pity her for being an orphan. If she is a kind person, then Grandmother should treat her however she wants."
Old Madam Ning's face darkened: "What kind of talk is this? You're questioning Yu Huan's character! Let me tell you, I've been watching her every day. If Yu Huan hadn't consistently refused, I would have taken her in as my goddaughter long ago. You all rely on having both parents alive, yet you still bully this pitiful girl. If word gets out, outsiders will only say you have no compassion and are cold-blooded. My concern for you as your grandmother is seen as a sin in your eyes. Do you think I don't know you're jealous of Yu Huan's favor? Let me tell you, it's only right that she's favored; she's more sensible and obedient than any of you." "How clever." With that, Old Madam Ning bent down to help Rui Yuhuan up, reaching out to stroke her cheek. The latter quickly turned her face away, looking heartbroken, weak, and wronged. Seeing this, Old Madam Ning felt even more distressed, embracing Rui Yuhuan and crying, "Poor child, you've suffered so much! Someone actually harmed you like this! I will never let her get away with this! I will definitely avenge you! We have many excellent ointments in the manor; we will definitely heal your face and ensure you are never scarred." Old Madam Ning's words, calling her her "darling," caused everyone in the hall to frown.
Ouyang Rou couldn't help but narrow her eyes, looking at the genuine emotion on Old Madam Ning's face. She felt extremely jealous. Rui Yuhuan was just an orphan girl who had no one to love her, yet her grandmother, that old hag, still doted on her like a treasure. If she knew that her sweet and sensible darling was actually a shameless and promiscuous woman who would strip naked and wait to be favored by the Seventh Prince with just a glance, what would her expression be? Would she still hug Rui Yuhuan and call her obedient? Ouyang Rou felt disgusted just looking at Old Madam Ning's behavior and watched her like she was watching a joke. If it weren't for her current cooperative relationship with Rui Yuhuan, she really wanted to rush up and tell Old Madam Ning the truth, to let that blind old hag see who she was so fond of. Ouyang Rou thought sarcastically. Her grandmother always thought she was superior because of her Ning family background and was very strict in educating her children. But how shameless and vicious was Ouyang Hua, whom she had raised, in private? And now that it was Rui Yuhuan, her eyes were simply blinded by lard. Having eyes was the same as being blind!
Ouyang Zhide glanced indifferently at Rui Yuhuan, who was constantly wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. His eyes darkened. He disliked this behavior intensely, and he couldn't stand Old Madam Ning repeatedly scolding Ouyang Yue for Rui Yuhuan's sake. He couldn't understand where his wise and intelligent mother had gone; had she become so ignorant? Of course, Ouyang Zhide also knew that Old Madam Ning hadn't revealed that Rui Yuhuan's father was the assassin who killed him. She believed him and thought Rui Yuhuan's father was her savior, which was why Old Madam Ning treated Rui Yuhuan so well. Even so, this still greatly displeased Ouyang Zhide. However, he had already angered Old Madam Ning to the point of vomiting blood, and as her son, he couldn't contradict her at every turn. Even though he was dissatisfied, he remained silent.
"Is she well-behaved and sensible?" Ouyang Yue glanced at Rui Yuhuan indifferently. At this moment, the latter was nestled in Old Madam Ning's arms, crying so hard she could barely breathe. She looked quite distressed. Ouyang, however, squinted at the lower half of Rui Yuhuan's face. She had only visited Rui Yuhuan a couple of days ago and seen her injuries in the side room. Was it really that serious? Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, "Miss Rui's face is indeed quite pitiful with all this."
To Old Madam Ning, Ouyang Yue's smile was nothing short of gloating. Enraged, she grabbed a teacup and threw it. Ouyang Yue deftly spun around, easily dodging the cup. "Crack! Bang!" The teacup shattered instantly, the sound making everyone's eardrums throb. Ouyang Yue's smile deepened, but her expression grew even colder: "Look how distressed Grandmother is, she accidentally dropped the teacup. Thank goodness Yue'er dodged in time, otherwise, if it had really broken, Grandmother would have been heartbroken too. What a close call!"
Old Madam Ning's face turned pale and then red with embarrassment. She felt sorry for her, but no, she didn't feel sorry for Ouyang Yue at all. She'd be happy if something really happened to her and things calmed down, not feel sorry for her. It was truly absurd. Moreover, Ouyang Yue's behavior made Old Madam Ning feel increasingly humiliated. Her chest heaved with anger as she shouted, "I told you to take good care of Yu Huan, and this is how you take care of her? You've harmed her so much, and now you're all smiles. I think this is clearly intentional! How could I have a granddaughter like you? Your heart is so vicious, it's outrageous!"
Ouyang Yue's smile deepened, her head tilted slightly, her smiling eyes curving like crescent moons, making her look quite adorable. However, in Old Madam Ning's eyes, it was an indescribable anger. Ouyang Yue said calmly, "Didn't Grandmother tell Yue'er before that Miss Rui is well-educated, sensible, and obedient, and knows how to act appropriately? She told us to keep an eye on her when we go out, and to follow Miss Rui's orders in everything, so as not to tarnish the General's Mansion's reputation? Apart from agreeing to ride horses with Miss Ru Shuang from the Li family earlier, Yue'er has always obeyed Miss Rui's orders in everything else, and has never done anything out of line. Why is Grandmother now asking me to take care of Miss Rui? This is not good. I listened to Grandmother too much at the time and didn't think of this, causing Miss Rui to get hurt. It's truly a sin."
"You...you're deliberately trying to provoke me." Old Madam Ning's face flushed red. She hadn't expected Ouyang Yue to be so bold, using her own words to shut her up. Thinking about it, it really was she who had given the orders before Ouyang Yue and the others left. Now, wasn't Ouyang Yue using her own words to slap her in the face? How could Old Madam Ning save face? Her face was extremely cold; she hated Ouyang Yue, that scoundrel, to the core. No one in this house dared to speak to her like that, this disrespectful brat.
"How could Yue'er dare to upset Grandmother? I just didn't quite understand what Grandmother was saying, so I asked again. If Grandmother is unwilling to say, Yue'er naturally won't dare to say anything more." Ouyang Yue quickly shook her head, her face full of innocence, but the more innocent she looked, the angrier Old Ning became.
"No matter what, you went out with Yu Huan. She's unfamiliar with the area. Couldn't you two have taken better care of her? Are you happy to see Yu Huan in such a sorry state? Yu Huan is from the General's Mansion. How can you be proud of her if something happens to her? You're even here smiling and talking about it. I really don't know what you're thinking all day with that blockhead of yours. You're happy only when you become one of the three most notorious figures in the capital. How could I have raised such a stupid granddaughter like you? You've completely disgraced me!" Old Madam Ning was completely enraged by Ouyang Yue. She didn't care about what she could or couldn't say anymore. The way she scolded Ouyang Yue made her wish she would die of guilt right now.
Hearing this, Ning Shi, Aunt Hong, Aunt Hua, and Aunt Ming, who already had conflicts with Ouyang Yue, were all stunned. They looked at Old Madam Ning in surprise. Was the old lady serious? Did she hate Ouyang Yue that much? Did she like Rui Yuhuan that much? Of course, they would be happy if Ouyang Yue suffered any blame because of this, but their eyes couldn't help but sweep over Rui Yuhuan. Should they try to curry favor with Rui Yuhuan, Old Madam Ning's new favorite?
Aunt Ming gave a barely perceptible cold snort. Rui Yuhuan's acting was really quite good.
Ouyang Yue's expression turned colder as she said softly, "Whatever Miss Rui does, I certainly won't be proud of it; people will only laugh at me. It's strange, really. On the very night we went to the Five Elements Temple, Miss Li Rushuang and I went for a walk in the mountains behind the temple. Miss Rui, along with Fu Meier, Mu Cuiwei, and a group of young masters and ladies from the capital, claimed they were going to catch someone in the act of adultery. But somehow, I was too angry that day, and Miss Li Rushuang was unjustly implicated and accused of adultery. Naturally, I had to try and comfort her. The next day, Miss Rui had a facial injury. I went to visit her, but she was resting, so I didn't have a chance to ask how she got the injury. Miss Rui, why don't you explain it to me in front of everyone?"
"Catching someone in the act? Yu Huan led the men there?" Ouyang Zhide squinted at Rui Yu Huan, his eyes sharp and unwavering, like a steel knife piercing Rui Yu Huan's heart. She was so frightened that she swayed, but fortunately, Old Madam Ning supported her and prevented her from collapsing.
“There were quite a few young masters and ladies there at the time. Miss Rui must have been in the crowd, right?” Ouyang Yue smiled faintly at Rui Yuhuan, who was on the verge of tears. “Third Miss, I already explained in public that I was just worried that you wouldn’t come home at night, so I went to look for you. But the Fu and Mu family ladies insisted that you were having an affair with a man. I went with them because I didn’t believe them. Third Miss, you really misunderstood me. I had no ill intentions.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Ning's brows furrowed: "Is it because you suspected her that you injured Yu Huan's face like this? If this is not handled properly, her life will be ruined. How could you do this? You are so vicious and ungrateful. Who will treat you sincerely in the future? Quickly apologize to Yu Huan."
Ouyang Yue frowned, her voice already showing some impatience. This old Ning was simply brainless, possibly an idiot. She never even used her brain to think when something happened. Did she think she wouldn't be satisfied until she killed her? She couldn't help but say coldly, "Grandmother's love for Miss Rui and her protectiveness are understandable, but she should at least let me finish what I have to say. Did I say that I did Rui Yuhuan's face? Did Rui Yuhuan say it? Did Second Sister say it? In Grandmother's heart, am I supposed to be a vicious and ruthless woman, and all the mistakes of those around me must be, and inevitably must be, my doing? Where is Grandmother's sense of justice? Yue'er really doesn't understand. What heinous things have I done to make Grandmother resent me so much? Grandmother, could you please enlighten Yue'er?"
Old Ning snorted: "If it wasn't you, then who did it?"
Ouyang Yue exclaimed, "Ah! It's said that the one who had an affair with Yue'er was His Highness the Seventh Prince. Anyway, Yue'er has always been timid and afraid of trouble, so she quickly hid away. After that, I don't know whether Miss Rui was harmed by the Seventh Prince or was retaliated against by someone with a grudge."
"Slap!" Ouyang Zhide couldn't listen anymore. He slammed his hand down and stared coldly at Rui Yuhuan. "Mother is tired too. Let's call it a day. Hei Da, have you found a place to stay outside?"
Hei Da, who had been following Ouyang Zhide, bowed his head and replied, "Reporting to the general, everything has been found and replaced with new things inside and out. It's ready for people to move in immediately."
Ouyang Zhide stared at Rui Yuhuan expressionlessly: "Starting tomorrow, Yuhuan, take your people to live in the outer courtyard. The environment there is nice, and no one will disturb you. You can rest and recuperate in peace and heal the injuries on your face as soon as possible."
"What!" Rui Yuhuan was stunned, her body went limp, and her face turned deathly pale. Ouyang Zhide was going to kick her out of the mansion. Wouldn't all her previous efforts have been in vain? No, this absolutely cannot be. Rui Yuhuan bit her lip, her face immediately filled with tears. She hugged Old Madam Ning's arm and sobbed, "Old Madam, Yuhuan will be leaving the General's Mansion tomorrow. Old Madam, please take care of yourself. Yuhuan won't be able to visit you as often as before, but Yuhuan will come to see you whenever she has time. Please don't worry."
Ouyang Zhide shouted, "Take some men to help Miss Rui pack her things. Deliver the items today, and bring her back tomorrow."
Rui Yuhuan trembled, knowing that Ouyang Zhide was serious this time. Old Madam Ning was also furious that Ouyang Zhide, knowing how much she loved Rui Yuhuan, would still try to break them up: "No, Yuhuan can't go anywhere, I won't allow it."
Ouyang Zhide said in a deep voice, "Mother likes Yu Huan, which is Yu Huan's good fortune. However, Mother cannot delay Miss Rui's marriage because of her liking for her. She is fifteen this year and will soon be of marriageable age. Does Mother want to spoil Yu Huan so much that she will prevent her from becoming an old maid and then resent you for wasting her youth?" Ouyang Zhide's expression was indifferent. "If Yu Huan lives in the General's Mansion, it will be improper no matter how you look at it. Even if a matchmaker wants to act as a matchmaker, she will probably not be able to find a good excuse. It would be better to let Yu Huan live outside for the time being. When a suitable candidate comes along, Mother can help choose one or two."
Old Madam Ning fell silent. Ouyang Zhide's words weren't without reason. If Rui Yuhuan lived in the General's Mansion, she would merely be an orphan living under someone else's roof. Even if there were a son who truly loved Rui Yuhuan, it was unlikely he would marry her unless he came from a powerless and insignificant family. Given Old Madam Ning's affection for Rui Yuhuan, she naturally didn't want to marry her down. However, this was only a possibility. Rui Yuhuan was in the General's Mansion, and Ouyang Zhide claimed to be taking care of the daughter of a former subordinate. But he had previously taken two women with him, who eventually became his concubines. Even now, with Rui Yuhuan in the mansion, some people still doubted her ultimate fate. Wouldn't others also have their own suspicions? Some even went so far as to suspect that Rui Yuhuan had already given herself to Ouyang Zhide. For an orphan with no power or influence like her, if she had lost her virginity, who would come to propose marriage? Furthermore, even if she were Ouyang Zhide's woman, it would certainly deter some people from pursuing her. Even if none of these are problems, those people went to the General's Mansion to propose marriage to Rui Yuhuan. What was Old Madam Ning's motive for helping to choose a person? She is not Rui Yuhuan's real relative after all. She just chose a person for her elders. If the choice is good, that's fine. If the choice is bad, Old Madam Ning will be in a bad situation.
But it's different for Rui Yuhuan to go out. She lives as an individual, and with Old Madam Ning's help, her chances are even greater. Old Madam Ning's eyes flickered, clearly persuaded by Ouyang Zhide: "What De'er said makes sense. Then Yuhuan should pack up and move out tomorrow."
Rui Yuhuan's face grew even uglier. Although Ouyang Zhide's actions seemed to be for her sake, she knew very well that if she left the General's Mansion, it would be difficult to climb back up to him. Outsiders would only say she was an orphan with no parents, and even the General's Mansion wouldn't be her support. With her status, forget about marrying the Seventh Prince; she wouldn't even be able to see him again. How could that be? Besides, she had promised the man in black to completely control everything in the General's Mansion. Her plan had only just begun. Leaving now would not only leave her with no benefits but might even result in punishment. Recalling the scene when the man in black knocked her unconscious, she had every reason to believe that if she left the General's Mansion now, the punishment she would receive might be her life.
Rui Yuhuan's expression changed drastically, her eyes darting around as she frantically searched for a way to refuse. She could only tug at Old Madam Ning's sleeve, shaking her head repeatedly, completely at a loss for words. Old Madam Ning, however, took this as Rui Yuhuan's reluctance to part with her, and felt greatly comforted. She reassured Rui Yuhuan, saying, "Yuhuan, don't worry about me. Come to the General's Mansion to sit with me whenever you have time. It's the same as always. This General's Mansion will always be your family home. Don't be afraid; come to me if anything happens, and I will definitely stand up for you."
Ouyang Yue sneered. They really were mother and daughter. Ouyang Zhide understood Old Madam Ning better than most. Even though Old Madam Ning's temperament was quite eccentric now, as long as one followed her line of thinking, one could still control her. Without the protection of the General's Mansion, Rui Yuhuan's dream of living peacefully in the capital was simply wishful thinking. She had just offended Mu Cuiwei and Fu Meier; she could imagine how interesting and fulfilling Rui Yuhuan's life would be from now on.
Rui Yuhuan was now at her wit's end and anxiously looked to Ouyang Rou for help. Ouyang Yue squinted at her, and Ouyang Rou also turned to look at her. She was startled when she saw Ouyang Yue deep in thought and immediately looked away. However, this action made Ouyang Yue suspicious.
Outside the General's Mansion, two Taoist priests slowly walked from the street corner. Both were wearing long blue robes with sleeves reaching the hem, Taoist headscarves, and holding whisks. One was about forty years old, and the other was only in his twenties. They also carried cloth belts on their backs. The two walked very steadily. However, when they reached the outside of the General's Mansion, the older Taoist priest suddenly stopped, looked up and looked inside. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his mouth opened and closed as if he were muttering something. He also pointed his right thumb at his other four fingers. Then his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
The two guards outside the general's mansion hadn't initially paid them any attention, but the Taoist priest stopped moving, his face grave, muttering to himself, and his fingers twitching erratically, making them uneasy. One of the more timid guards spoke first: "This... Taoist priest, what brings you to the general's mansion? Are you asking for alms?" The Taoist priest remained unmoved, not speaking to him, his fingers still pointing, making him appear even more eerie, and the guard felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
Just as he was about to speak, the young Taoist priest beside the old Taoist priest immediately raised his hand to stop him: "Please be quiet, benefactor. My master is performing divination. This is the first time I have ever seen my master with such an expression. Obviously, this divination is difficult to predict, and it concerns life and death."
"Wh...what...will our General's Mansion be alright?"
The young Taoist priest sighed, "We'll know the result once my master has done the divination."
The two guards' expressions changed drastically, and they held their breath, staring intently at the old Taoist priest...
Inside Anhe Hall, Old Madam Ning had already accepted Ouyang Zhide's explanation, believing that Rui Yuhuan's departure from the manor was for her own good. She even began enthusiastically discussing with Mama Xi what necessities to bring Rui Yuhuan. Rui Yuhuan sat limply in the hall, her heart churning with turmoil. What could she do now? If she left the General's Mansion, everything would be over. Fen Die, who had heard of Rui Yuhuan's return, was also waiting for her in Anhe Hall. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Seeing Rui Yuhuan's worried face, a cold glint flashed across Fen Die's own face.
"That damned idiot! She's about to ruin the master's plan, and she still can't think of a way out! She's truly despicable!" Pink Butterfly's face darkened, and a cold, sharp killing intent flashed in her eyes as she stared at Rui Yuhuan. At this moment, most people in the hall were discussing Rui Yuhuan's departure from the manor. Ning Shi, Aunt Hong, and Aunt Hua had suffered a lot of mistreatment recently because of Old Ning Shi's favoritism, so they were naturally happy to see Rui Yuhuan leave. Aunt Ming, on the other hand, remained silent, sitting motionless in her chair. Her left eye moved slightly as she looked at the extremely nervous Rui Yuhuan, pondering in her heart. After thinking it over, she realized that Rui Yuhuan's departure was neither good nor bad for her, and she was naturally happy to watch the show.
Each of these people had their own thoughts, but only Ouyang Yue noticed the difference in Fen Die. In the past, Ouyang Yue's impression of Fen Die was that she was just a maidservant by Rui Yuhuan's side. She was good-looking and had a temperament that was more outstanding than that of ordinary maidservants. But how could an ordinary maidservant show murderous intent towards her master? Fen Die came from the border with Rui Yuhuan. Could she have some other background? Ouyang Yue couldn't help but ponder deeply.
"Madam, Master, something terrible has happened! The manor is about to be in grave danger!" Just then, a man staggered in from outside. He was dressed as a servant of the manor and was one of the guards outside the manor that day.
Old Madam Ning immediately frowned: "Who is it that is so ignorant of the rules to let him in and say such nonsensical things? Does he want to curse my General's Mansion? Take him away and give him thirty lashes before he comes back to answer."
The gatekeeper, terrified, stammered, "No, Madam. Two Taoist priests came from outside. They said that a great calamity is about to befall the manor. I was just worried, which is why I lost my composure."
Ouyang Zhide snorted: "He's just a charlatan spouting nonsense. Go and get rid of him quickly. If he's this reckless again next time something happens, I'll send him to the countryside to tend the fields."
The gatekeeper was so frightened that he immediately nodded, but he thought to himself that the Taoist priest didn't seem to be talking nonsense. However, he didn't dare to disobey Ouyang Zhide's words, so he could only stammer in agreement and was about to step back when Old Madam Ning's eyebrows twitched: "It's better to believe in such things than not to believe in them. Go and invite that Taoist priest in."
Ouyang Zhide frowned. Although he didn't believe it, he couldn't go against Old Madam Ning's wishes any longer. Ouyang Yue sat in the chair with a heavy brow. For some reason, she suddenly had a bad feeling.
When the servant returned shortly after, he was followed by two Taoist priests. Both were dressed in standard Taoist robes, their steady, deliberate steps carrying a certain air of authority. The middle-aged priest in the lead, in particular, possessed an ordinary yet gentle appearance, but Ouyang Yue noticed a subtle glint of sharpness in his eyes. Dongxue watched the two priests enter, her gaze darkening. She lowered her head and whispered to Ouyang Yue, "Miss, these two know martial arts."
Ouyang Yue nodded slightly. She had noticed this as well. However, most Buddhist and Taoist sects had their own inherited martial arts, so she wasn't surprised that these two knew martial arts. She had originally thought that these two Taoists would be those charlatans who spouted nonsense, but upon seeing them in person, they really did seem to have some skill.
The middle-aged Taoist priest walking in front flicked his whisk and draped it under his arm, saying, "Greetings, Tan Dao."
Old Madam Ning looked at the middle-aged Taoist priest and her heart skipped a beat. She had already believed part of what he had said earlier, so she immediately asked, "Greetings, Taoist priests. May I ask your Taoist names? Just now, I heard from my servants that you said my household is about to face a great calamity. May I ask what the reason is?"
"My Buddhist name is Heyun, and beside me is my disciple Jingyun. We are Taoists from Baiyun Temple. We came out here to travel and comprehend the secrets of heaven, but when we arrived at your residence, we were blocked by a malevolent aura. That is why we stopped our divination. Please forgive my rudeness." Taoist Heyun's voice was gentle, and he lowered his eyes, but his words stirred up a wave of emotion.
Rui Yuhuan was stunned and exclaimed, "Could it be the Baiyun Taoist Temple, the number one Taoist temple in the Great Zhou Dynasty? It is said that the Taoist priests of Baiyun Taoist Temple can all do divination, and some can even predict the secrets of heaven. The incense is very effective."
Old Ning and the others were equally startled. They had all heard of Baiyun Temple. Just as Rui Yuhuan had said, Baiyun Temple had always given people a very mysterious feeling. Its incense was very prosperous, and its wishes made by believers were very effective. The Empress Dowager of the current dynasty highly praised Baiyun Temple. Although Wuhua Temple was the most respected Buddhist and Taoist temple in the Great Zhou Dynasty, Baiyun Temple should not be underestimated. Moreover, the Taoist priests of Baiyun Temple were rumored to be incredibly powerful. If Baiyun Temple were not so far from the capital, it would probably have received half of the incense offerings from Wuxing Temple. As soon as Master Heyun introduced himself, everyone in the room was shocked.
Old Madam Ning said anxiously, "Daoist Heyun, you said before that a great calamity was about to befall our mansion, but I don't know why. Please explain in detail, Daoist. If we can escape this disaster, I will reward you handsomely."
Master Heyun flicked his whisk again and said gently, "Madam, there is no need to worry. My disciple and I went out to travel to accumulate merit and do good deeds to repay the karmic retribution left by our previous peek into the secrets of heaven. If we can resolve the disaster in your household today, it will be considered a merit of this humble Taoist, and this humble Taoist will naturally not refuse."
Old Ning immediately expressed her gratitude, saying, "The Taoist priest is truly a highly accomplished person. This old woman bows in sincere respect."
Master Heyun nodded and said to his disciple, "Bring out my compass."
His disciple, Taoist Jingyun, immediately took out a yellow, round compass, about the size of a disc, from the large cloth belt on his back. It had three layers and was densely covered with characters. Taoist Heyun picked up the compass with one hand, then chanted incantations. With a flick of his other hand, he caused the compass needle to spin rapidly. No one spoke in the main hall of Anhe Hall; everyone looked at Taoist Heyun. Even Ouyang Zhide, who had initially thought him a charlatan, couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. There was something he hadn't mentioned earlier—could this Taoist priest have really seen through it?
However, after Master Heyun had been operating the compass for a long time, the compass was still spinning. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Master Heyun's forehead, clearly indicating that he had expended a great deal of energy, which further convinced everyone in the hall of Master Heyun's superb Taoist skills. Just when everyone was holding their breath, their faces flushed and they were almost out of breath, the compass needle in Master Heyun's hand stopped. His disciple Jingyun immediately wiped the sweat from Master Heyun's brows, but Master Heyun stared intently at the compass, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper, the lines on his forehead clearly visible to everyone present.
Master Heyun suddenly sighed, "What a terrible thing, what a terrible thing!"
Old Madam Ning was startled: "Daoist Heyun, what do you mean? Is there really an evil spirit haunting the General's Mansion?!"
Master Heyun sighed heavily, put one hand behind his back, and said in a heavy voice, "Not only that, this beast is also quite skilled in Taoist magic and is very good at deceiving people. I'm afraid even ordinary Taoists might not be able to tell the truth from the falsehood."
Old Ning stood up nervously: "Please, Taoist priest, lend me a helping hand!"
Master Heyun came over and helped Old Madam Ning sit up: "Please rest, Madam. I am just passing by your residence today. It is a matter of fate that brings us together. I would never leave someone in distress and just walk by."
Old Madam Ning breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good. The Taoist priest is kind and benevolent. I will never forget the Taoist priest's kindness."
Rui Yuhuan turned her eyes slightly and couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, Daoist Heyun, when I saw your solemn expression earlier, I thought that this evil spirit must be difficult to deal with, but I didn't know where it came from, that even you, Daoist, looked troubled."
Master Heyun flicked his whisk again and slowly said, "This demon's cultivation is indeed quite high. I just spent a lot of effort calculating it, and it's not easy to deal with. This demon does indeed have some background. She is a jinx from heaven, who descended to the mortal world to do evil because of her playfulness. She is good at possessing people and bringing them disaster. The manifestation of this is that the people she possesses are hard-boiled, and serious illnesses come and go quickly. However, this is not because the illness is cured, but because she transfers the illness to her close relatives. This is manifested in the fact that there have been constant troubles in the mansion recently, with people falling ill one after another, even becoming disabled, and some dying mysteriously. It is already a sign of great misfortune. I observed from the outside that a red light was shooting into the sky in the mansion. Obviously, the evil energy has been accumulating for a long time. If it is not cleared away soon, there will be endless troubles, and I am afraid that people in the mansion will die one after another."
Old Ning's body went limp, and happy Mama immediately supported her from the side: "What? It's actually a jinx descended to earth to do evil, and it even came to my general's mansion."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Yue pursed her lips tightly, her eyes dark and unfathomable.
Ning and the others also exclaimed in surprise. Ning muttered to herself, "The Taoist priest is absolutely right. I was always unwell before, and I always had medicine with me. Even after using incense, I still had a medicinal smell on my body. But none of that mattered. Even now, I am often sick. It turns out that a jinx is causing trouble. It's utterly despicable."
Concubine Hong immediately chimed in, "What Madam says is true. I've also felt that things in the manor have become increasingly unsettled lately. Something happens every few days. There have been many conflicts in the manor before, but we're a family, what knot can't be untied? How could this..." Concubine Hong's face turned pale with fright. "Just thinking about it terrifies me. The Third Miss inexplicably ran off to the back garden without anyone and fell, injuring her head. Later, her marriage was called off. But that's not all. The Second Miss then fell into the pond, the concubines in the manor were beaten, and everyone in the manor suffered undeserved misfortune at various banquets. They all offended powerful figures, and the Eldest Miss and the Second Miss were even more... even more persecuted. The Eldest Miss was perfectly fine, and then suddenly she couldn't think straight and died. All of this... all of this..." Concubine Hong trembled, unable to speak.
Aunt Hua's eyes widened, and she said in a trembling voice, "I...I was pregnant but suddenly miscarried. Could it be...could it also be a calamity brought by a jinx?"
Rui Yuhuan clenched her hands together, her face deathly pale with fear. "Naturally, it's the calamity brought by this jinx! Even Aunt Ming has probably suffered an undeserved misfortune. Heavens, this jinx is truly hateful. Thinking about it is terrifying. So many things have happened in the Yang family recently, from the oldest to the youngest. None of them have been good. The old lady and the madam are unwell and vomited blood. Aunt Hua miscarried. Aunt Ming is crippled. The eldest young lady died inexplicably. This jinx is so powerful, causing continuous disasters in the family. The eldest young lady has already died an innocent and tragic death. If this continues, won't everyone in the family be killed by her?" Rui Yuhuan's hands were clenched so tightly that they turned white, seemingly due to fear. But upon closer inspection, one could see that Rui Yuhuan's eyes were extremely bright, even flashing with an unknown joy.
Aunt Ming suddenly spoke up, trembling, "I...I'm innocent, I'm innocent..." But she didn't say what she was innocent about.
Ouyang Rou plopped back into her chair with a thud, her voice trembling as she said, "Heyun... Dao... Daoist Master... please have mercy and save our General's Mansion. The General has about a hundred men, and their fate rests entirely in your hands."
Master Heyun nodded solemnly and said, “Please rest assured, benefactor. I have come here today and will surely resolve the disaster in your household. However, you must tell me the truth about the questions I am about to ask. You must not hide anything. Otherwise, I will not only fail to save you from this beast, but I may also arouse its desire for revenge, which will cause even greater trouble.”
"Yes, yes, yes, please ask, Daoist Heyun. We will answer to the best of our knowledge." Old Madam Ning nodded immediately. Listening to Daoist Heyun's words, she felt increasingly chilled. She thought to herself, "Isn't that right? Since I returned to the manor, disasters have been constant. Even when things were in chaos before, there was never so much death, injury, and disability. It's as if a jinx has descended upon the world. It turns out that a jinx lives in our manor." A jinx... No, not just now. Old Madam Ning's expression paused, and her face immediately darkened.
Master Heyun then spoke up: "Just now, I used my Qi to calculate and found that the area with the heaviest evil Qi in the mansion is the western part. I wonder who lives there."
Old Madam Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Because she trusted Daoist Heyun so much, she was actually quite afraid that she might unknowingly be possessed by a jinx. As soon as she mentioned the western part of the mansion, she knew it couldn't be her. She immediately replied, "The western courtyard of the mansion is where the wives and concubines of the mansion live, as well as the children of the mansion, and naturally, the servants of the various courtyards who serve the master. There are dozens of people in total."