However, Qin Lulu said, “Eighth Sister, Seventh Sister was previously overwhelmed with grief and didn’t like to talk. Now that Third Uncle and Third Aunt’s mourning period has passed, with only Seventh Sister left in the third branch, she’s become stronger—what’s strange about that?”

Qin Yunyun said, “Fifth Sister’s words are quite puzzling. Are Third Uncle and Third Aunt still alive? Is Second Sister still alive? Even if Seventh Sister isn’t that malevolent star, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, and Second Sister are all gone—isn’t that true?”

As Qin Lulu was about to retort, Old Madam spoke up and asked Yuanzhen, “Master, since you are an enlightened monk, you can naturally calculate who exactly this malevolent star is and how to resolve it. Please enlighten us, Master!”

Yuanzhen solemnly observed everyone in the room, then closed his eyes to deduce for a while, saying, “Then forgive this old monk’s rudeness! This old monk just quietly observed everyone present and didn’t discover where the malevolent star is located. However, there is a dark cloud pointing directly southeast. This old monk believes the malevolent star is in that direction. As for how to resolve it, this old monk must see the malevolent star before determining the method.”

Southeast direction? That was exactly where Yilan Garden was located. At this moment, everyone forgot that the former Qin Yaoyao had also lived in that direction.

Old Madam’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as she asked, “Master, you mean there is absolutely no malevolent star in this room?”

“Exactly so!”

“Then Master, you mean the malevolent star is in the southeast direction?”

Yuanzhen patiently answered, “The benefactor speaks truly.”

At this moment, Nanny Gu sensed something and whispered a word in Old Madam’s ear.

Old Madam sighed deeply, then glanced at Xu Shi with a rather complex look that made Xu Shi’s heart skip a beat. However, she truly wasn’t afraid of Old Madam now—she had Lianpin! Even when Old Madam clearly knew she was the one scheming behind the scenes last time, hadn’t she only punished her with a month of confinement?

Yuanzhen was quite surprised. The most worrying things for noble ladies in deep residences were their wealth and lives. Shouldn’t this Old Madam Qin immediately have him go see what was in the southeast direction? However, while his earlier words contained falsehoods, there were also truths—there really was something strange about the Qin residence.

Yuanzhen’s eyebrows knitted tightly, feeling somewhat hesitant, but the strangeness in the Qin residence truly aroused his curiosity.

Yuanzhen pressed his palms together and encouraged Old Madam: “Amitabha! Benefactor need not worry too much. This old monk will naturally exhaust all efforts to ensure that malevolent star has nowhere to escape!”

Behind the gauze curtain, Qin Shuying continued earnestly copying scriptures. Such a good show, yet she couldn’t personally go watch—what a pity!

As for Yuanzhen, he was naturally someone Xu Shi had invited.

Xu Shi had been arrogant for years, and her “grand ambition” to devour Qin Yongzhou’s wealth hadn’t been realized, yet she was defeated by a yellow-haired girl—how could she possibly give up?

Xu Shi would certainly have backup plans—this was an answer that didn’t require thinking.

Qin Shuying had long ago instructed Nanny Fu, Ziteng, and Mi Luo to pay extra attention to Xu Shi and the Qin Yunyun sisters, and had specifically directed Mi Luo to spend considerable money hiring people to watch the Xu family gate daily.

Qin Shuying knew exactly when and where the Xu family women went.

Just a few days ago, on a day that wasn’t a holiday or any special occasion, Xu Shi personally went to Fayuan Temple to burn incense. While it was normal for ladies to burn incense, that person was quite clever and curious—after Xu Shi left, he inquired further and discovered that Xu Shi had also had a private conversation with Yuanzhen!

Mi Luo told Qin Shuying everything in detail.

Qin Shuying observed Xu Shi’s actions and chose to copy scriptures at Xuan Hall this morning. Actually, she didn’t know which day Xu Shi would strike, but she was prepared—today she could use the excuse of damaged scriptures to copy them, and tomorrow she could use other reasons to stay at Xuan Hall.

Hearing Yuanzhen’s words, Old Madam finally nodded in agreement.

The group proceeded grandly toward the southeast direction, stopping and starting along the way. Finally, they stopped outside Yilan Garden. Yuanzhen looked around in all directions, then lowered his head and pressed his palms together: “Amitabha! Sin! Sin!”

Xu Shi asked, “Master, why do you stop here?”

Yuanzhen said, “Madam, that malevolent star is near this area!”

“Near” rather than “here”? Xu Shi was somewhat dissatisfied.

Xu Shi frowned, “Master, is this true?”

Yuanzhen sighed, appearing very worried, “Young and harming ancestors, then harming… parents, then harming relatives and neighbors… This malevolent star causes great harm. If not eliminated, the entire household is in danger! I wonder, who lives here?”

Xu Shi glanced at Old Madam, saw that she didn’t stop her, and said, “The person living here is our residence’s third branch Seventh Miss.”

However, Yuanzhen turned his gaze toward the distance beyond Yilan Garden, his expression quite confused, and said nothing more.

Xu Shi was somewhat displeased. Hadn’t everything been agreed upon beforehand? Why was he acting so profound now? She gave Qin Fangfang a look, and Qin Fangfang asked, “Master, according to your meaning, is my Seventh Sister the malevolent star you mentioned?”

Yuanzhen came back to his senses and chanted, “Sin! Sin!”

Xu Shi said, “Master, my niece is young and as weak as a chicken—she certainly isn’t the malevolent star you mentioned. Master, might there be a misunderstanding?”

Yuanzhen said, “The benefactor’s concern is reasonable. This old monk must see her physiognomy before drawing conclusions. Where is your residence’s Seventh Miss? Might I meet her?”

Xu Shi was somewhat impatient. Where was she? Naturally here! This Yuanzhen was also odd—at first everyone had coordinated their lines well, but now that they’d arrived, his speech was always vague and unclear.

Old Madam looked at Xu Shi with disappointment, indescribably cold, saying, “Since we’ve walked this far, let’s go in and see.” With that, she stepped toward Yilan Garden’s entrance.

Xu Shi was delighted but suppressed showing it, following behind. Yuanzhen followed after, unable to help looking toward the distance again, then lowered his head and shook it.

Just as they reached the entrance, the main gate opened and a maid hurried out from inside. Xu Shi recognized her—it was Qin Shuying’s personal maid Lu Ye.

Lu Ye opened the door with her head down, just about to step out with one foot when she suddenly noticed people there. Startled, upon seeing that the person before her was Old Madam, she immediately performed a respectful bow, though her face still showed some panic, “Old, Old Madam! Madam!”

“What’s the matter?” Old Madam asked.

“Old Madam, nothing, nothing. This servant was discourteous!”

However, Xu Shi didn’t miss the surprise and unease on Lu Ye’s face. With all the commotion in the garden just now, the people at Yilan Garden would certainly know. Could this maid be going to find someone? Naturally, she couldn’t be allowed to leave, so she said, “How improper! Don’t you see Old Madam has arrived? Hurry inside to serve!”

Lu Ye became even more surprised and uneasy, but didn’t dare object. She could only turn around to lead Old Madam’s group inside. Turning past the screen, they reached the courtyard’s covered walkway and small garden, where another flustered maid ran out—it was Zhihua. She had just reached the edge of the covered walkway when she saw the visitors. She wanted to turn back, but having already been seen, she could only stop and stand respectfully to one side, though her fingers anxiously twisted together.

The strange behavior of these two maids caught both Xu Shi’s and Old Madam’s attention.