The copper coin sword flew straight toward Jiang Li!

Everyone cried out in alarm, unable to react in time. Old Madam Jiang nearly fainted from shock.

However, Jiang Li stood steadily in place. The sword tip stopped at her nose. Though the copper coin sword wasn’t as sharp as a regular sword, this sudden turn of events would startle anyone, yet she showed no sign of distress. She still wore a slight smile, without a trace of panic on her face.

Daoist Master Chongxu’s gaze froze. Before coming, he had already learned much about Second Miss Jiang. At the cavalry grounds, despite the frightened horses, she had still completed the entire riding and archery competition, showing that this girl possessed a resilient character and was not an ordinary pampered young lady easily dealt with. But today’s matter was different from archery. Even if Jiang Li wasn’t scared pale, she should at least show some surprise.

But she didn’t.

The girl’s spine was ramrod straight, like a tree not yet fully grown—slender and delicate, yet with a determination that even violent storms could not shake.

She even followed Daoist Master Chongxu’s gaze and nodded at him.

In that instant, a chill crept up Daoist Master Chongxu’s spine. Though today’s purpose was to pin the reputation of being possessed by evil on Second Miss Jiang, at this moment, Daoist Master Chongxu couldn’t help but feel confused. He even truly felt that perhaps Second Miss Jiang really did have something sinister about her. Her composure was beyond that of ordinary people.

Jiang Yuanbai finally reacted, frowning as he said, “Daoist Master, what is the meaning of this?”

The copper coin sword still floated in the air, its tip pointing at Jiang Li without moving. Jiang Youyao covered her mouth and said softly, “This sword is pointing at Second Sister. Could it be… could it be that Second Sister is the evil entity?!”

“Silence!” Old Madam Jiang’s brows turned stern. “Youyao, how can you baselessly slander your sister’s reputation!”

Jiang Youyao shrank back behind Ji Shuran in grievance. Ji Shuran patted her hand soothingly. Watching this mother-daughter pair, Lu Shi felt puzzled. Ji Shuran and her daughter disliked Jiang Li and would surely want to deal with her. But today’s Daoist Master Chongxu was ordered here by the Emperor, and these disturbances in the courtyard were truly too strange. The wind chimes rang without wind, and that sword stood up on its own to point at Jiang Li. Lu Shi’s eyes held some superstitious fear.

Hearing is false, seeing is believing. If one only heard of Daoist Master Chongxu’s reputation, naturally people wouldn’t fully believe he could truly exorcise evil. But after he performed this series of actions, everyone couldn’t help but feel that Daoist Master Chongxu’s abilities weren’t entirely boastful.

Daoist Master Chongxu extended his hand, and the copper coin sword, as if it had eyes, immediately flew back into his hand with a “whoosh.” It was as if it had life, rather than being an inanimate object. The surrounding people fell silent as cicadas in winter. Daoist Master Chongxu said to Jiang Yuanbai, “Lord Jiang… this…”

Jiang Yuanbai said, “Daoist Master, speak freely.”

“Ordinarily, exorcising evil isn’t so simple. But because the evil entity lurking in your manor hasn’t yet fully formed, it’s quite easy to identify. It’s just…” He looked toward Jiang Li, his gaze containing some hesitation and uncertainty. This look, falling in the eyes of others in the courtyard, immediately made them understand what was happening.

“Daoist Master, what do you mean by these words?” Old Madam Jiang asked.

“This young lady in your household is the host for the evil entity,” Daoist Master Chongxu said, looking at Jiang Li.

At this, all the servants and attendants in the courtyard turned to look at Jiang Li. Jiang Li could distinguish in those gazes fear and disgust, as well as avoidance as if she were a plague.

Though she had already warned Tong’er in advance, hearing this old Daoist open his mouth to slander Jiang Li, Tong’er couldn’t help but defend her. “Nonsense! How could our young lady be related to evil entities? You’re clearly spouting blood!”

“Tong’er.” Jiang Li shook her head at her, then said apologetically to Old Madam Jiang, “My maid is overly protective. I hope Old Madam won’t blame her.”

“No matter.” Old Madam Jiang said.

Watching this, Ji Shuran frowned imperceptibly. At a time like this, with Jiang Li being accused to her face of being evil, she still had the presence of mind to care about her own maid. Did she really think she could escape unscathed? This was no small matter.

Jiang Jingrui ignored Lu Shi’s warning look and spoke up. “Jiang Li is an evil entity? Daoist Master, are you sure you haven’t mistaken? Our household’s Jiang Li previously lived in a nunnery at Mount Qingcheng for eight years. The nunnery is a pure place—how could evil entities be born in a pure place?”

Lu Shi quickly slapped Jiang Jingrui.

After thinking, Jiang Yuanping also said, “That’s right, Daoist Master. This niece of mine is usually quite gentle and quiet, not like some evil entity.”

Jiang Li was quite surprised that this smiling tiger of a second uncle would speak for her, but on second thought, if their household really produced some monster, it wouldn’t reflect well on the Jiang family’s reputation when word got out.

At least Jiang Yuanping spoke for her. The third branch’s Jiang Yuanxing and Yang Shi hadn’t said a word from beginning to end. Jiang Yuyan couldn’t possibly speak up voluntarily in such a situation. Jiang Li felt that ever since Jiang Yu’e’s incident, Jiang Yuanxing had become even more silent and withdrawn. And Yang Shi, looking this way, even showed some schadenfreude.

The third branch had completely separated from the first and second branches.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard Daoist Master Chongxu’s voice ring out. “This young master knows the first but not the second. In Buddhist pure lands, impurity can still be born. On the contrary, many people who enter the monastic life haven’t purified their six senses, making them more susceptible to inner demons. At such times, evil entities take advantage and make the living person their host. However, in Buddhist pure lands, even if there are evil entities, they dare not come out to do evil. They merely hide within their host’s body, waiting for the right moment. Once they leave the Buddhist realm and enter the mundane world, the evil entity can grow limitlessly. Since this young lady previously stayed at the nunnery and has now returned home, this is quite possibly the reason.”

Jiang Jingrui still didn’t believe it. “You’ve covered all the good and bad explanations. Your word is final—what does it matter whether we believe or not?”

“This humble Daoist doesn’t speak carelessly. When possessed by evil entities, the most likely manifestation is a drastic change in temperament, becoming like a completely different person. As the saying goes, a person’s character won’t change dramatically overnight. Even if their temperament changes, their past habits and essential nature will retain traces of their former self. Has this young lady experienced a drastic change in temperament, becoming very different from before?”

At these words, the people in the courtyard fell silent again.

Hadn’t Jiang Li’s temperament changed drastically after returning from Mount Qingcheng? Thinking of the former Jiang Li, before being sent to Mount Qingcheng, she had a fiery temperament, was spoiled and willful, wore all her emotions on her face, and loved to cry. Time flew by swiftly, and the Jiang Li who returned made everyone in the household who knew her unable to read her.

She was calm, gentle, always carrying a soft smile, but no one knew what she was thinking. She no longer cried. She didn’t even seem to have emotions like “fear” or “grievance.” No matter what happened to her, she would just smile.

As if she simply didn’t care.

“That’s right…” In the silence, Ji Shuran’s voice rang out. She said, “After Li’er returned home, she truly became very different from before. Her temperament became more steady than before, unlike a fifteen-year-old girl. Youyao is about the same age as her, still like a child who hasn’t grown up… She used to love eating meat, especially the lamb stew made in the kitchen. Now she feels sick smelling lamb, and prefers vegetables to meat… Everything is different…”

Was she this eager to convict her? Jiang Li coldly watched as Ji Shuran enumerated one by one, item by item, the differences between herself and the real Second Miss Jiang. With each thing she said, the suspicion on the faces of those in the courtyard increased. Indeed, she wasn’t the real Second Miss Jiang and shared nothing in common with Second Miss Jiang, whether in life experiences, temperament, or preferences. So for Ji Shuran to find their differences was effortless. By this accounting, they seemed to have no overlapping traits at all—they were completely two different people.

Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai must have these suspicions too, but they didn’t remember as clearly as Ji Shuran. Ji Shuran bringing this up now was simply to make everyone believe Daoist Master Chongxu’s words more.

In a sense, Ji Shuran had also grasped some of the truth.

Jiang Li didn’t refute or argue. After Ji Shuran finished listing everything item by item, she looked worriedly at Jiang Yuanbai. “From this perspective, Li’er truly is very different from before… Master, I’m not suspecting Li’er is really some evil entity. But all of this is for Li’er’s sake, for the Jiang family’s sake. If Li’er… if Li’er truly has become the host for some wretched evil entity, the Daoist Master surely has a way to drive the evil entity out. Then wouldn’t Li’er be fine?”

Jiang Li said, “Mother.”

Ji Shuran looked at her, even with some tears in her eyes. She truly looked like a loving mother thinking wholeheartedly of her daughter. Yet there was also some timidity, as if afraid of being touched by evil. Regarding this matter of acting, Jiang Li privately quite admired Ji Shuran. She felt that with this performance, Ji Shuran should be able to become one of the top actresses in the capital in Ji Heng’s eyes.

“Mother has always been loving. Whether Jiang Li is truly evil or not, Mother should still give Jiang Li a chance to speak, shouldn’t she?”

Old Madam Jiang looked toward Jiang Yuanbai. Jiang Yuanbai stared at this unfamiliar daughter and said, “Speak.”

“The Daoist Master is correct—a person’s temperament and preferences cannot undergo earth-shaking changes overnight. However, I didn’t leave home for the nunnery for one night, one or two days, or one or two months. It was eight years.”

“Eight years cannot be called short, can it?” She smiled at Daoist Master Chongxu.

Meeting the girl’s gentle gaze, Daoist Master Chongxu felt puzzled but still nodded. “It is indeed a long time.”

“A very long time, during which many things changed. Mother said that Third Sister and I are similar in age yet completely different in temperament. Setting aside that people are naturally different from each other, expecting me to be as innocent and carefree as Third Sister would be too harsh on me.” The smile at the corner of her lips remained as always. “When Madam Liu came to Mount Qingcheng to worship Buddha, she happened to see me. I don’t know if everyone noticed her words—when she saw me that day, I was kneeling in punishment in the ancestral hall, without a drop of water for a day and night.”

“For me, this was normal life. Not having enough to eat or warm clothing was commonplace. Under such circumstances, please forgive Jiang Li’s incompetence—I truly found it difficult to be innocent and carefree.”

At these words, both Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai’s faces showed some shame. Though they had never sent anyone to inquire about what life Jiang Li lived at the nunnery back then, they knew the days at the nunnery must have been very hard. But at that time, because Jiang Li had caused Ji Shuran’s miscarriage, they were truly angry and intentionally or unintentionally overlooked her.

Now bringing up old matters in front of the entire Jiang household, though Jiang Li didn’t use an accusatory tone, it was like a harsh slap across Old Madam Jiang’s and Jiang Yuanbai’s faces.

“Now let’s talk about habits. I did love eating meat when I was young, loved sleeping in soft beds, even my clothing fabrics had to be brightly colored with fine stitching. But during my years at the nunnery, where would lamb stew come from? The bed had only one quilt—in winter they’d sew in cotton, in summer they’d pull the cotton out. Mother might not know, but that cotton was tossed about until it was almost nothing but cotton scraps. Human environment is like this—if I had maintained my previous habits, I’m afraid I couldn’t have endured it and would have gone mad long ago. So changing habits was just to survive. Never mind bright clothing—even the nunnery’s spare monk robes were better than having clothes that barely covered the body.”

“I just wanted to struggle to stay alive. But Third Sister is different. Third Sister lacked nothing in the household, so naturally she could develop a temperament of lacking nothing. I was worn down by life. If I didn’t compromise and mature early… I truly don’t know if I would still have the life to return and see Father.”

These words she spoke steadily and calmly, yet every word was blood and tears. Even the usually sharp-tongued Lu Shi’s face showed a trace of sympathy, unable to understand what Jiang Yuanbai was thinking. Even if Jiang Li was at fault, she was still his own flesh and blood. If Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou made mistakes, she would punish them severely, but would never go as far as Jiang Yuanbai.

On Jiang Yuanbai’s face, shame, anger, and frustration mixed together as he avoided Jiang Li’s gaze.

Ji Shuran cursed silently in her heart—what a silver-tongued little wretch! Even at death’s door, she still struggled. No wonder she was difficult to deal with. No wonder back at Mount Qingcheng, even though she had ordered people to torment Jiang Li, this little hoof still managed to survive!

Daoist Master Chongxu felt vaguely uneasy. Over all these years, he had swindled everywhere, even daring to deceive the Emperor. Besides his clever tricks, it was also because he was very accurate at reading people. As long as he grasped each person’s character weaknesses and struck at them, many things became very easy.

But this Second Miss Jiang—from learning of her deeds before entering the household to observing her during this short time after entering, he couldn’t discern Jiang Li’s character weaknesses at all. Even at this moment, she wasn’t the least bit flustered and could still present logical, methodical arguments to convince others.

Whether she could convince them or not, just this presence of mind was already troublesome.

Jiang Youyao said, “What Second Sister says is true, but… Second Sister, even growing up at Mount Qingcheng, you’re no less accomplished than young ladies raised in the capital. At the competition grounds, didn’t Second Sister take first place in the six arts?”

The six arts? Ji Shuran’s heart stirred as she said hesitantly, “Indeed, Li’er didn’t love studying when she was young. I never expected that after eight years at the nunnery, she would return as a talented woman. Later I had someone inquire—that nunnery had no horses, no long zither, yet Li’er could become proficient without a teacher. Truly remarkable.”

Jiang Yuanbai looked toward Jiang Li. This was also his doubt. Though Jiang Li had explained at the time and Jiang Yuanbai had believed her, he didn’t know if it was due to some psychological reason, but he later sent people to inquire about Mount Qingcheng. The results of the inquiry were exactly the same as what Ji Shuran was saying now.

How had Jiang Li become so clever? There were geniuses in this world, but geniuses couldn’t succeed without guidance. Even a clever woman can’t cook without rice—with nothing at all, how could she achieve this?

“Also,” Ji Shuran said with concern, “Last time Li’er went to Xiangyang, she brought back Xue Huaiyuan, the county magistrate of Tongxiang. Even if Li’er has a sense of justice and acts righteously, she was extremely attentive to Xue Huaiyuan. With no previous connection to Xue Huaiyuan, why would she be so concerned about an outsider? Could it be she was truly bewitched by evil, which is why she did such incomprehensible things?”

At these words, Jiang Yuanbai’s gaze suddenly turned severe. This was also Jiang Yuanbai’s sore point, a stone lodged in his heart. Jiang Li was more filial to Xue Huaiyuan than to him, her own father, which had long filled Jiang Yuanbai with frustration. If not for Xue Huaiyuan now being a completely irrational madman, Jiang Yuanbai would truly want to get to the bottom of this matter.

But Jiang Li couldn’t speak of it. She had no way to explain.

So in everyone’s eyes, she was at her wit’s end, tacitly admitting the fact that she was possessed by evil.

“Actually, no one wants to torment the child like this,” Ji Shuran continued. “It’s just that if Li’er truly has something wrong with her and later harms the Jiang family, harms everyone in the household from top to bottom, and the younger generation… that wouldn’t be good.”

Hearing about harming the Jiang family, Old Madam Jiang was also moved. She asked Daoist Master Chongxu, “In the Daoist Master’s view, how should the exorcism proceed? If you exorcise evil for my granddaughter, will it harm her?”

Though she cared about Jiang Li, Jiang Li shook her head inwardly, feeling sympathy for the real Second Miss Jiang. Once it was acknowledged that Jiang Li had some connection to evil entities, it meant acknowledging the path Ji Shuran had designed for Jiang Li. The end of that path was naturally not a good destination. But for the sake of the Jiang family, Old Madam Jiang didn’t argue forcefully for her or trust her completely.

If it were the real Second Miss Jiang, she would surely be heartbroken.

“It won’t,” Daoist Master Chongxu said. “It’s just that after the exorcism, Second Miss must recuperate in a Buddhist pure land for some time and cannot see outsiders. Though the evil entity isn’t visible now, after the exorcism, Second Miss will develop some lingering ailments, such as physical weakness. She’ll need good care.”

Jiang Li understood. Go to a Buddhist place? Making her repeat the scene from years ago when she went to Mount Qingcheng? Physical weakness—this way, growing weaker day by day at the Buddhist place until dying quietly from severe illness would be natural? Wouldn’t that provide an excellent excuse? Jiang Li believed that the moment she left, Ji Shuran would find ways to spread this matter throughout the city. At that time, she wouldn’t need to return to the capital anymore and would die quietly at Mount Qingcheng.

And to cover up the truth, the Jiang family would make up some random reason, like dying from illness. Her life, like Ye Zhenzhen’s or her own previous life, would end in obscurity.

Because Ji Shuran knew that in the capital, it was impossible to harm her, and ordinary charges wouldn’t be enough to make Jiang Yuanbai take her life. Using the name of exorcism to drive her out of the household, with heaven and earth so far apart, would make it easiest to strike.

Very well thought out indeed.

“Second girl,” Old Madam Jiang asked, “Since there’s no great harm, you’ll let Daoist Master Chongxu perform the exorcism for you?”

Jiang Li nodded, then turned to Jiang Yuanbai and asked, “Does Father agree as well?”

Jiang Yuanbai stared at Jiang Li. He didn’t entirely trust Daoist Master Chongxu, but Jiang Li’s various oddities truly couldn’t be explained. He did feel that Jiang Li had become a stranger, and even the thin blood connection seemed to have vanished now.

He steeled his heart and said, “If it won’t harm you, then go.”

“Very well.” Jiang Li nodded, as if she had no dissatisfaction with Jiang Yuanbai’s decision. But the moment she lowered her head, Jiang Yuanbai seemed to see disappointment in her eyes. For a moment, Jiang Yuanbai’s heart filled with regret, wondering if agreeing to let Daoist Master Chongxu perform the exorcism for Jiang Li was a mistake.

Jiang Li said, “Daoist Master Chongxu, please proceed.”

She took the initiative, showing no fear of the unknown, instead appearing as composed as if attending a banquet. This made even Daoist Master Chongxu pause.

Daoist Master Chongxu said, “Second Miss, please.”

Just as Jiang Li was about to walk toward that direction, Tong’er couldn’t help but reach out and grasp the corner of her robe. Jiang Li looked back, and Tong’er reluctantly released her hand, tears pooling in her eyes.

She was so worried.

Daoist Master Chongxu led Jiang Li to stand among the four posts strung with thread, having Jiang Li hold a bell in her hand. He himself walked to the altar, and the Daoist boy presented a prepared live chicken. Daoist Master Chongxu’s sword tip sliced open the chicken’s neck, and a line of blood spurted out.

“Ah!” The young maids in the courtyard all turned away in fright, covering their eyes. Just then, the black mist grew thicker, almost like night, gloomy and sinister.

Ji Shuran couldn’t help but pull Jiang Youyao closer and step back. Though she knew this was fake, the ghostly atmosphere in the courtyard did make her feel somewhat uneasy.

Lu Shi had long since grabbed her two sons and stood at the back. Though she appeared fierce, she was actually the most timid and especially believed in ghosts and spirits. She deeply believed Daoist Master Chongxu’s words.

The third branch’s Yang Shi and Jiang Yuanxing looked doubtful, while Jiang Yuyan had long since turned away in fright, no longer looking this way.

In the crowd, Concubine Hu stood in an inconspicuous position, staring straight at Jiang Li.

From start to finish, Jiang Li had been passive. This made Concubine Hu’s heart uncertain as well. She had put all her bets on Jiang Li. Though Jiang Li had told her the plan, Concubine Hu still felt this was somewhat risky. Moreover, deceiving people right under everyone’s noses seemed too difficult.

But Jiang Li was very certain, and Concubine Hu had no other choice. She alone had no way to take revenge. To cooperate with Jiang Li and perform this act well, she had also made up her mind. She would pay the greatest price. If Jiang Li failed… if… Just then, her gaze intersected with Jiang Li’s in mid-air.

Under the black mist, the girl’s eyes were bright and gentle, containing unquestionable determination.

In that instant, Concubine Hu calmed down.

It wasn’t yet time to panic, not yet…

Daoist Master Chongxu was performing the ritual.

To others, his actions appeared profound and mysterious, the bearing of a true master. Over these years, he had long become proficient at such things. In truth, where were there ghosts and spirits in this world? There were only the ghosts in people’s hearts.

He used the ghosts in people’s hearts to swindle for so many years without being discovered. His master, the real Daoist Master Chongxu, was a true master, but what did he gain in his lifetime? Only he had truly brought out the significance of the name “Daoist Master Chongxu.”

Thinking of this, Daoist Master Chongxu felt somewhat proud. Whenever he was “performing rituals,” watching those powerful and noble people whom everyone usually had to look up to, believing deeply, looking at him with hopeful eyes, counting on him to give them that last lifeline—at those times, Daoist Master Chongxu was very pleased. He could toy with these people in the palm of his hand. This was his skill.

However, today’s girl was the one person he had encountered who required the most caution.

She seemed to have no inner demons. She stood composedly, facing his actions with even a trace of interest. This made Daoist Master Chongxu feel insulted. Perhaps Jiang Li was someone who didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, which was why she could be so composed.

Jiang Li saw the fleeting annoyance in Daoist Master Chongxu’s eyes.

This kind of person, held up too high, forgot his original position. Speaking of which, she actually did believe in ghosts and spirits. She was someone who had truly died once. After dying, she became Second Miss Jiang. Wasn’t this proof of ghosts and spirits? However, she was certain Daoist Master Chongxu absolutely hadn’t seen through to this layer.

Daoist Master Chongxu smeared the chicken blood on the peach wood sword. The yellow talismans on all four sides suddenly stood straight up during his chanting, surrounding Jiang Li!

This scene was thoroughly eerie.

And that immortal-like Daoist, pointing his peach wood sword, suddenly gave a sharp shout and thrust it toward Jiang Li!

The wooden sword didn’t pierce into her body but stopped about a finger’s width away. Yet Daoist Master Chongxu’s body shook, as if he had thrust into something in the void, producing a sound like metal striking stone.

The chicken that had already been bled suddenly began to crow.

The people in the courtyard were so frightened they collapsed to their knees. Even Jiang Yuanbai’s heart now believed somewhat.

Daoist Master Chongxu held something unknown in his hand, gave another sharp shout—”Evil creature, come out!”—and flung his hand, scattering a large handful of glutinous rice mixed with unknown substances.

Among the glutinous rice seemed to be something else. Jiang Li instinctively closed her nose and mouth tightly and stepped back.

However, immediately, her nostrils and corners of her mouth began to bleed.

She sneered inwardly. This was Daoist Master Chongxu’s trick!

To create the appearance of an evil entity, naturally she had to look like one. This glutinous rice was mixed with some unknown medicinal powder to make her appearance terrifying. Perhaps it could even make her lose her senses, but because she had closed her mouth and nose, she hadn’t inhaled it. She didn’t know what would happen.

In the gloomy darkness, Jiang Li wore plain clothes, with a pale face and black hair, blood flowing from her ears, nose, and mouth—she looked like a fierce ghost. The entire courtyard was immediately frightened into rolling and crawling away.

Jiang Youyao screamed, “A ghost!” The Jiang family members all stepped back in fear.

Daoist Master Chongxu felt pleased, wanting to see the girl’s panicked and helpless expression.

With one look, he froze.

Under the dim candlelight, Jiang Li smiled brilliantly at him.

But her current appearance couldn’t be called cute at all—rather, it was terrifying.

Jiang Li sneered coldly. Evil entity? Naturally it was an evil entity, but not the one they imagined. This evil entity could take Ji Shuran’s life!

In the courtyard, suddenly burst forth the wailing cry of a young girl child.

Enormous, as if echoing in everyone’s ears.