Lang Jiuchuan brought Jian Lan to Cui Shi’s courtyard. The maidservants inside were startled for a moment at the sight of her — the Ninth Young Miss had actually come to Madam’s courtyard of her own accord?

The two hurried forward to bow: “Young Miss.”

Jian Lan smiled and asked: “Is Madam in? The Young Miss has come to speak with her.”

The two nodded eagerly. Madam had been widowed for many years and rarely left her courtyard, which had made this Qichi Pavilion far more subdued than the other courtyards. But come to think of it, ever since the Ninth Young Miss had returned, the pavilion seemed to have gained a few sparks of life — for they had also begun seeing expressions on Madam’s face beyond her usual indifference.

People are born with seven emotions; when those emotions appear on one’s face, there is vitality.

Hanlan emerged from the side room and, at the sight of Lang Jiuchuan and her maid, also started slightly. She quickly lifted the curtain to the main room: “The Young Miss has arrived.”

Cui Shi was seated beside the south-facing window, staring blankly at a letter. She was still dwelling on what the Chen Family physician had said earlier — after repeated confirmation, Lang Jiuchuan’s physical condition was truly not in any way good. Her pulse could be said to be almost non-existent.

If she remained this frail indefinitely, how could she possibly live to a long age? If she could not live long, would she, like Lang Zhengfan, ultimately leave her behind?

A dull ache gripped Cui Shi’s chest.

The sudden announcement of Lang Jiuchuan’s arrival surprised her. She straightened her posture, and as she watched the girl approach, she noticed she had not even put on a thick outer robe, and could not help but furrow her brow.

“Is there not even a single outer robe?” Cui Shi looked toward Jian Lan with considerable displeasure. She had assigned Jian Lan to Lang Jiuchuan because she valued her steadiness — and this was how she cared for her mistress?

Jian Lan became flustered.

Lang Jiuchuan did not generally like to have a maid hovering at her side. She came and went independently, and would not call for anyone even when going out. Jian Lan had only noticed her heading toward the courtyard gate and had hurried after her at a trot, momentarily forgetting about the robe.

“This servant deserves to die.” Jian Lan knelt.

Lang Jiuchuan glanced at her and said: “No need to kneel. I am used to it.”

Hearing that indifferent, unconcerned tone, Cui Shi felt another surge of displeasure. Her face darkening, she said: “The physician has already said your body must be carefully nurtured, yet you abuse it like this. Are you trying to oppose me — to take revenge for me leaving you on the estate — or are you simply determined to be difficult with everyone?”

“How could Madam think such a thing? I cherish this body dearly — not only would I not abuse it, I would also exert every effort to tend and nurse it.” Lang Jiuchuan continued: “Only, Madam — there is no one who understands the state of this body better than I do. A mere outer robe for warmth will not restore it to health.”

What sort of thing was that to say?

Cui Shi’s expression blackened.

Seeing that the mother and daughter were about to start sparring again, Cheng Nanny hurried over with tea: “Young Miss, the room has a charcoal brazier burning — please first drink some tea to soothe your throat.”

Lang Jiuchuan rose and thanked her, took the tea and sipped, her gaze coming to rest on the letter on the small side table. “Is this the letter from the eldest mistress of the Xuan Clan’s Gong Family?”

Cui Shi was startled, following her gaze downward. “Why do you ask about that?”

“Madam and the Gong Family’s eldest mistress are sworn sisters from girlhood — are you familiar with the Xuan Clan?”

Cui Shi frowned. “My acquaintance with her is from our time in the inner chambers. After we each married, we have kept only to correspondence, and it has been many years since we have met. The Xuan Clan’s household is lofty and deep — they rarely entertain guests on ordinary occasions. Moreover, there is a boundary between the Xuan Clan and the common nobility: what they study and what they know are different. I have never visited them, and so I am not at all familiar with their ways.”

Lang Jiuchuan nodded, then extended a finger to tap lightly on the letter. “May I be bold enough to ask — might I have a look at this letter?”

Cui Shi’s eyes went wide. She could scarcely believe her own ears. Had this child no sense of propriety? Private correspondence was not something one simply looked at on a whim. Even between mother and daughter, one did not simply examine letters without permission.

Lang Jiuchuan, seeing her expression of shock, realized she had truly been presumptuous, and rubbed her nose. “I have no intention of prying into private matters. Only — you mentioned to Elder Uncle that day that you had written to the Gong Family’s eldest mistress asking for assistance, and I wished to know how she replied. The person behind the repeated attempts to bring harm to the Lang Family — I have investigated alongside Elder Uncle, and while we have gathered some clues, they remain incomplete.”

“You are nothing more than a young girl. The proper thing is to tend to your own body. The great affairs of the household are for your uncles and elder brothers to handle — there is no need for you to strain yourself over them—”

“Madam, the methods they have used are those of the Xuan Arts. May I ask whether the uncles and elder brothers of this household can identify and distinguish such techniques?” Lang Jiuchuan said quietly.

Cui Shi was at a loss for words. She thought for a moment, then said: “Yuchang — that is, the Gong Family’s eldest mistress — has said she will request that disciples from their clan come to provide assistance. I expect they will arrive at the latest after the New Year.”

Lang Jiuchuan fell silent. If the Gong Family was willing to help, did that allow her to rule out the possibility that they were the ones who had moved against the Lang Family?

That made sense. The Lang Family had been on a downward path, in decline — they lacked the power to do anything that would offend the Xuan Clan. Logically, they should not have drawn the Xuan Clan’s ire. Unless…

Unless it was because of her.

The expression on Lang Jiuchuan’s face stiffened almost imperceptibly. Surely not?

Could it be that those who were targeting her and those targeting the Lang Family were the same faction — and precisely because she had come to inhabit Lang Jiuchuan’s body, they were determined to destroy her, and along with her, the Lang Family? If the Lang Family fell, she too would fall with them.

The more Lang Jiuchuan thought on it, the more this conjecture seemed entirely plausible, and the more a creeping guilt rose within her. If this was truly the case, did it not mean that the Lang Family’s misfortune… had been brought upon them by her?

“What is the matter?” Cui Shi noticed the shifting expressions on her face and was genuinely puzzled.

“It is nothing. Since there is nothing more, I will take my leave.” Lang Jiuchuan rose and gave her a slight bow: “Thank you, Madam, for clearing up my confusion.”

Such an obedient and proper manner was something Cui Shi found herself unaccustomed to. Seeing her turn to leave, she hurriedly called out: “Wait!”

Lang Jiuchuan turned back.

Cui Shi’s hands, resting at the side of her knee, clenched slightly. “How do you know all those things? I mean — those arts of the divine and the ghostly, those mystical calculations?”

Lang Jiuchuan looked steadily at her and asked: “Madam asks only now — does it not feel too late?” She lowered her head with a soft laugh. “It is too late.”

Too late now to go and understand the original owner’s past. She no longer exists.

Cui Shi’s heart clenched; her complexion grew somewhat pale.

When Lang Jiuchuan lifted her head again, she said: “I merely learned a few superficial techniques from a wandering Daoist who passed through when I was on the estate. If Madam finds it disagreeable, in a few days I will leave the Marquis’ residence, and then you will be spared the sight of it.”

Cui Shi was startled: “What did you say?”

Lang Jiuchuan said: “I will leave the Marquis’ residence.”

If the disaster to the Lang Family was something she had brought upon them, then it would be better for her to leave — so as not to truly drag the entire Lang household into ruin. This was too great a karmic burden; she could not bear it.

“You are determined to—”

“Madam, if I leave, no further misfortune will befall the Marquis’ residence. You will all live your days in peace as before.”

What sort of talk was this?

Cui Shi stood dazed.

Lang Jiuchuan bowed once more and turned to leave.

Cui Shi watched her walk out the door with wide, unmoving eyes. It was not until Cheng Nanny called out in concern that she came back to herself, and felt that her cheeks had gone cold. When she raised her hand to touch them, they were wet with tears.

Cheng Nanny felt a throbbing headache mixed with helpless frustration. She had just been watching, relieved, as the two of them seemed to be talking fairly well without descending into a confrontation — and then in an instant, they had reverted to exactly what they were before.

What was to be done?