The next day.
Shen residence.
Under Consort Pu’s attendance, Shen Wei had just finished his medicine when his eldest son Shen Yande hurried into the room.
“Father, two visiting cards for you.”
Shen Wei was ill and lacked the energy for social calls. He waved his hand. “You receive them for me.”
Shen Yande looked troubled. “The messengers said their masters specifically named you. Otherwise they won’t come.”
Consort Pu quickly asked: “Who are they?”
“Young Magistrate Pei from the Buddhist Registry, and Director Zhu from the Bureau of Astronomy. The visiting time for both is tomorrow at the second quarter of the hour of chen.”
Shen Yande: “Father, if you’re feeling well enough, please see them. Young Magistrate Pei and Director Zhu will both be useful in the future.”
Last time with the coffin matter, Young Magistrate Pei’s intervention helped immensely. His official rank seemed insignificant, but he was extremely useful.
Director Zhu went without saying.
“They even specially sent visiting cards. Don’t let the younger generation down, dear husband.” Consort Pu also spoke in support of her son.
Shen Wei silently glanced at his wife. “Then let’s see them.”
Shen Yande smiled. “I’ll have the kitchen prepare a fine table. Tomorrow we’ll keep Young Master Pei and Director Shen for a meal before they leave.”
Consort Pu: “Given your father’s condition, he won’t accompany them.”
“Father doesn’t need to accompany them. Fourth Brother and I will.”
Shen Yande smiled. “The sun is good today. How about I accompany Father to the courtyard for some sun? In a while when Second, Third, and Fourth Brothers come, we five men can brew some good tea and taste it together.”
He squatted down. “If Father can’t walk, I’ll carry you.”
His son was filial. Shen Wei felt comforted. “Just support me. I’m not so old as that yet.”
…
The next day.
The second quarter of the hour of chen.
Young Magistrate Pei and Director Zhu arrived simultaneously.
Behind Magistrate Pei followed Third Master Xie. These two were always inseparable like scale and weight—nothing unusual there.
Moreover, Third Master Xie’s status was also extraordinary. Shen Yande, a smooth operator, immediately smiled like a flower.
But behind Director Zhu followed a young servant.
The servant carried items, had a fair and delicate face like a young girl.
Facing Shen Yande’s puzzled gaze, Zhu Yuanmo said: “This is my newly taken young disciple. I’m bringing him out to see the world.”
Never heard the Zhu family took disciples?
Shen Yande glanced at the young disciple again. Puzzlement turned to shock.
This was clearly a young girl.
Just then, Zhu Yuanmo suddenly spoke: “Director Shen’s complexion is poor, your brow is dark—you’ve likely encountered trouble recently.”
If someone else said this, Shen Yande would spit at them directly. But when Zhu Yuanmo said it, cold sweat instantly broke out on Old Shen’s back.
“Director Zhu, please help me examine this more carefully…”
“After I see your father, I’ll divine properly for Director Shen.”
Zhu Yuanmo clasped his fists toward Shen Yande.
“Last time with my second sister-in-law’s matter, it troubled the old physician greatly. I haven’t properly thanked him yet. This visit is specifically to express gratitude.”
“Aiya, what words are these?”
Shen Yande suppressed his alarm and forced a smile. “Director Zhu, Young Magistrate Pei, Third Master Xie, quickly, please come inside.”
“Please!”
Pei Xiao nodded to Shen Yande, took three steps as two, and walked to Zhu Yuanmo’s side, very humbly asking: “Big Brother Zhu, what does a dark brow signify?”
Zhu Yuanmo: “It depends on the degree of darkness. Slightly dark means minor disaster; obviously dark means major disaster.”
Pei Xiao raised his eyelids to look at Shen Yande, muttering quietly: “Is Director Shen’s obviously dark or not obviously?”
“This…”
Zhu Yuanmo looked at Shen Yande, troubled: “…Young Master Pei, better not ask.”
Beside them, Shen Yande stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face.
Zhu Yuanmo reached out to steady him. “Director Shen, be careful.”
“Yes, yes… careful, careful.”
As it concerned himself, Shen Yande rubbed his hands together. “Director Zhu, is the dark energy on my face obvious?”
“Mm…”
Zhu Yuanmo’s face showed great difficulty. After a long while, he forced out: “…Let’s discuss it later.”
“…”
Shen Yande’s legs began to wobble, cold sweat poured down his back. The cold wind blew, and he shivered repeatedly.
Behind them, Xie Zhifei and the “young servant” Yan Sanhe saw this scene, their lips silently curving upward.
Attack the heart, break the will—win without battle, the supreme strategy—
This was their first stratagem discussed together.
…
Before long, they reached the old physician’s courtyard.
At first glance, the courtyard seemed unremarkable. Look closer, and one could see the Shen family’s depth—every plant and tree trimmed perfectly.
Old Physician Shen sat upright in brocade robes. His complexion was poor, his hair almost completely white, eye sockets deeply sunken, cheekbones protruding sharply—he had something of a deathly appearance.
Calculating his age, he should be over seventy.
Yan Sanhe took her position in a corner.
Zhu Yuanmo, Young Master Pei, and Third Master Xie stepped forward to pay respects.
The three lined up in a row, intentionally or unintentionally blocking the old physician’s view toward Yan Sanhe.
After completing their respects.
Zhu Yuanmo and Xie Zhifei sat on the left side, leaving Young Master Pei alone standing awkwardly.
Shen Wei looked at Pei Xiao like looking at his own eldest grandson, his gaze kind. “Sit, Mingting.”
“Old Physician, Mingting can’t sit still!”
Shen Wei looked puzzled. “Why can’t you sit?”
Pei Xiao said nothing, only sighing repeatedly, his face showing a constipated expression.
“Speak up, Young Master Pei.”
Zhu Yuanmo set down his teacup. “Such a major matter can’t be hidden.”
These words made Shen Yande jump in alarm. “Young Master Pei, what exactly is the matter?”
“It’s like this. A few days ago I encountered the abbot of Qingliang Temple. He complained to me about something.”
“Complained about what?”
“Complained that I, Magistrate Pei, didn’t think of their temple when good fortune arose.”
When Pei Xiao heard this, it clearly implied something, so he asked one more question.
The result was that old monk sighed, saying that ever since Miss Shen’s coffin left, wailing sounds often came from that meditation hall at midnight.
Shen father and son looked at each other, both somewhat bewildered.
Shen Yande awkwardly said: “How could there be wailing at midnight? Whose wailing?”
“If it were a living person’s wailing…”
Young Master Pei’s courage was only pinpoint-sized. He didn’t dare continue, only sighed:
“Using the Qingliang Temple abbot’s exact words: the person in the coffin carried deep sins in life, with wronged spirits following her constantly.”
Wronged spirits following his sister?
Shen Yande felt his heart pounding so hard it seemed about to leap from his throat.
“Where would wronged spirits come from?”
“Director Shen, you ask me, but how would I know!”
Pei Xiao glanced at the silent Shen Wei and sighed. “At the time, I facilitated this matter. So the abbot came to me.”
Shen Yande wiped cold sweat from his forehead. “Then, then what?”
“Then I asked the abbot to recite more rebirth sutras to see if that could help resolve it.”
Pei Xiao slapped his thigh in frustration.
“It’s also my fault. Thinking the old physician’s health hasn’t been good these past months, I wanted to avoid troubling you if possible, so I took matters into my own hands.”
“Well done, well done.”
Shen Yande asked urgently: “Young Master Pei, did it work?”
Pei Xiao sighed and shook his head repeatedly. “If it worked, I wouldn’t have made this trip.”
“Then, then…”
“Director Shen, don’t panic. Listen as I explain slowly.”
“You, you speak quickly!”
Speak my ass!
Let you panic a bit first.
Pei Xiao’s gaze shot toward Yan Sanhe and Xie Zhifei: The climax is coming—watch closely.
Did he even need to say that?
Sanhe and Third Master’s peripheral vision had been focused on one person from start to finish—the silent Old Physician Shen Wei.