Qin Shuying left the residence.
All those following her were her trusted people: Nanny Fu, Mi Luo, Ziteng, Lu Ye, Hong Juan, and Lan Chou.
They traveled in grand procession, front and back escorts creating quite a spectacle.
Along the way, Qin Shuying wandered around two shops that specifically served female customers, then put on her veil and returned to the main road to board her carriage. After spending half the morning, she finally arrived at the shop on South Street. Jin the shopkeeper came out to greet her. Wearing her veil, Qin Shuying went around to the back courtyard and entered a room—the accounting office—where several people were already waiting.
During this period, Qin Shuying’s outings had basically followed this route and arrangement.
At first, Xu Shi thought that Qin Shuying was too young to control those people. Who would have known that the situations she had imagined didn’t occur—those shops opened in an orderly fashion and were quite bustling.
…
Whatever shops the Lu family had, Qin Shuying had the same shops, and later she added two more.
After more than a month of busy work, Mi Luo hadn’t become suspicious. After all, these were shops that many merchants would consider—they were profitable, after all.
A few days ago, what Miss had given them was the pricing list for these four shops’ goods. The pricing for brown sugar surprised her—it was actually lower than that of ordinary merchants.
Qin Shuying looked at the pricing list, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.
The Lu family did business with the middle class, which was an achievement Qin Yaoyao had gained through countless efforts. After all, breaking into the upper-class consumption circle wasn’t so easy. This brown sugar was useful to both middle-class and upper-class families.
Given this, buyers still paid close attention to product prices. If there were goods of the same quality but lower price, buyers would naturally choose the other shop without hesitation. The Lu family’s business decline was just a matter of time.
However, the prerequisite for doing this was having substantial financial backing. Otherwise, if the Lu family also lowered their prices, she naturally couldn’t withstand it. But she was now wealthy—competing with the Lu family wasn’t difficult at all. Moreover, she had backup plans.
The opening was set for the eighth day of the twelfth month, leaving some time to prepare various tasks. After Qin Shuying left, Mi Luo and the others continued their intense and orderly work.
Several days later.
After breakfast, Qin Shuying massaged Old Madam’s legs as usual. After Old Madam fell asleep, she remained at Xuan Hall to copy scriptures as usual.
She said to Nanny Gu, “Nanny, yesterday I saw that Old Ancestor’s scriptures were damaged. I’ll copy them anew—Old Ancestor will want to recite them when she wakes.”
Damaged scriptures would anger the deities. Nanny Gu was naturally happy to have someone prepare paper and ink for Qin Shuying. After washing her hands, Qin Shuying began copying scriptures nearby.
She also instructed Nanny Gu, “Copying scriptures requires sincerity and cannot tolerate disturbance, otherwise the scriptures won’t achieve their purpose of dispelling disasters and praying for blessings. Nanny, whatever the matter, wait until I finish copying before mentioning it. Is that acceptable?”
Nanny Gu naturally agreed. Qin Shuying had a calm heart—whether following Old Madam to worship Buddha or copying scriptures, she was always quiet, meticulous, and very devout.
This alone was quite remarkable. Nanny Gu therefore held some admiration for her.
Qin Shuying sat quietly in the gauze curtain alcove copying scriptures.
Lu Ye, Hong Juan, and several little maids returned first. Earlier, Lu Ye had fallen on the road and gotten her dress wet. Qin Shuying had her wear her cloak and would send another cloak over later.
Behind a cluster of pine trees, a little maid saw Seventh Miss still wearing the bright red sable cloak she had worn when entering, heading toward Yilan Garden surrounded by Hong Juan and the other little maids. The little maid waited until they were far away, then brushed snow off her clothes and hurried to Yanfei Pavilion to report.
At this time, outside the Qin residence’s main gate, a thin, wizened old monk appeared. As he passed by the main gate, he suddenly stopped.
The two gatekeepers saw him but didn’t take him seriously. Who would have known that the old monk would approach them, stare intently at the sky for a while, then at the main gate for a while, and begin introducing himself. He said he was Master Yuanzhen from Fayuan Temple, who had just returned to the capital after traveling the world. He had just happened to pass by the residence and saw evil spirits hovering above it. If not expelled promptly, they might bring disaster to the entire household!
“Great disaster and great calamity!”
The gatekeepers saw he spoke so seriously and was a master from Fayuan Temple. Moreover, this was the residence of a third-rank official with an imperial consort in the palace—ordinary people wouldn’t dare choose the Qin residence for deception even if they were swindlers. So they half-believingly reported the matter to Xu Shi.
Xu Shi didn’t dare make decisions on her own and hurriedly had someone report to Old Madam. The matter couldn’t be concealed, so Zou Shi came as well.
Old Madam quickly awakened and learned of this matter. She was devoted to Buddhism, and Fayuan Temple was indeed a renowned Buddhist holy site in the capital. Master Yuanzhen was the abbot’s junior brother, so his cultivation was naturally extraordinary. She had the man brought in.
“Amitabha! The female benefactor is entangled by evil energy!” This was Yuanzhen’s first words upon entering. The maids and servants looked at each other, fear showing on everyone’s faces.
The Great Zhou practiced both Buddhism and Taoism, with many believers in Buddhism.
Xu Shi said, “Master, we respect you as an enlightened monk, but you speak inappropriately—what is the reason for this?”
“Amitabha! Benefactor, forgive me! This monk does not speak falsely. The old madam suffered heavenly calamity while still in swaddling clothes, separated from flesh and blood, standing alone. At thirty, she lost her husband and lived in solitary shadow. In old age, she lost her son, white hair growing abundantly. Yet life’s sufferings don’t end there—initially, she painfully lost her beloved, a lifelong regret!”
Old Madam’s hand suddenly pressed on the table, her eyes showing some surprise as she stared at Yuanzhen: “Master, why do you say this?”
“This old monk was presumptuous. Please forgive me, benefactor!”
Old Madam was silent for a while before saying, “Master means that my humble residence has… disaster?”
Yuanzhen calculated with his fingers, his face full of gravity, saying, “Old Madam, your residence has offended the malevolent star in the southeast direction. This malevolent star arrived at your residence several years ago, specifically targeting those with heavy fortune, and has already caused your residence to lose precious people of great fortune. Now this malevolent star is acting again, gradually devouring Old Madam’s fortune to strengthen itself. If not expelled promptly, Old Madam’s very life may be in danger!”
Xu Shi was very puzzled: “Master, what do you mean? Though Old Madam’s health is somewhat uncomfortable now, minor aches and pains affect everyone—how does this relate to life and death?”
Yuanzhen said, “Benefactor must not underestimate this malevolent star. This malevolent star is no ordinary calamity, but one that specifically brings harm to people. Those close to it harm fathers, mothers, brothers, and siblings. Those more distant harm grandparents, maternal grandparents, even cousins and second cousins. This malevolent star has chosen to possess someone in your residence, making it impossible to identify—extremely terrifying!”
Behind the gauze curtain, Qin Shuying smiled. This malevolent star was herself, wasn’t it? Those close—Qin Yongzhou and his wife had died. Those distant—hadn’t Qin Yaoyao, this cousin, also died?
Xu Shi glanced at Old Madam, saw that she was still contemplating without speaking, and said, “Master, you have no proof or evidence—please forgive us for not being able to believe this.”
Yuanzhen said, “Benefactor, think—has anyone in your residence recently behaved completely differently from usual?”
Qin Fangfang blurted out, “Master, my Seventh Sister is indeed completely different from before! Previously, Seventh Sister was gentle and compliant, but now she’s changed so much I don’t recognize her. Every time I see her, I feel so frightened!”