Ding Suqiu’s death was entangled with demonic evil — this was no longer something an ordinary person could resolve. At the very least, ordinary officials would be of no help.

Lang Jiuchuan said to Madam Ding and the others, “Ding Suqiu’s death was not so simple, and there is no possibility of resolving it anytime soon.”

Madam Ding’s face instantly went ashen.

Zhuang Quanhai, however, caught something off in her manner and said, “Is there an even deeper layer to all this?”

Lang Jiuchuan nodded. “It is not something you are able to investigate on your own, and do not attempt to look into it.” She thought for a moment and said, “Regarding the injustice done to Ding Mangu — do nothing for now. This matter has far-reaching entanglements. The more you do, the greater the danger to him, and even to the few of you yourselves. As for Ding Mangu, I will entrust someone to look after him in the prison for the time being, so that he does not suffer too greatly. Once the truth of Ding Suqiu’s death comes to light, he should be able to have his name cleared as well.”

If this was truly connected to the matter of demonic evil, then Ding Suqiu could not be the only one. Once more people were implicated, the affair could not simply be swept away — and only once it was resolved could Ding Mangu’s case be resolved along with it.

Madam Ding immediately expressed her gratitude.

“For now, just remain at home and wait. Tend to whatever injuries need tending. Do not do anything else — you risk drawing the entire family into ruin.” Lang Jiuchuan said, “As for the business — preserve what can be preserved, and let go of what cannot. Ding Mangu made an entrustment to you, and before he went after Zhuo Yu, he had already made arrangements. I expect he has set aside a foundation. Once everything comes to light and he walks free, he will have the opportunity to rise again. So — simply wait.”

Zhuang Quanhai immediately agreed.

That was precisely the right thinking. As long as the green mountains remain, there will never be a shortage of firewood. As long as Ding Mangu came out whole and unbroken, there would be a chance to turn things around.

“I will have my guards escort you back to the city. Do not go seeking out Zhuo Yu. Seeing him would only make your blood boil, and nothing would come of it. When the truth is finally revealed, you will have your day.” Lang Jiuchuan said evenly, “When your position is weaker, clashing head-on achieves nothing. It is better to lie low and await your moment.”

A gentleman may wait ten years for his revenge, and it will still not be too late.

Madam Ding pressed her lips together and nodded. “This old woman will do as the young miss says.”

Lang Jiuchuan rose to leave, but was held back by Jian Lan. She looked puzzled.

Jian Lan’s face had turned red. She stuttered and murmured, “Young miss — the divination fee.”

Lang Jiuchuan: “?”

Jian Lan looked toward Madam Ding. “Even if it is just one copper coin, the elder must give my young miss a divination fee. She cast a reading for you.”

Lang Jiuchuan’s eyes widened.

Jian Lan explained, red-faced, “Young miss, the diviners and geomancers who set up stalls in Wu Jing all charge silver for fortune-telling and readings. It is said to be because of something called the ‘five afflictions and three deficiencies’?”

Jiangche: “!”

Indeed it was no match for this maidservant — even this, it had not thought of.

Lang Jiuchuan fixed Jian Lan with a steady look, then turned to Madam Ding with a solemn nod. “Quite right. Pay up.”

Everyone: “……”

It was not that they were unwilling to pay, but had it not been slightly undignified?

Madam Ding immediately felt around at her waist, unhooked a small cloth pouch, and held it out with both hands. “It was this old woman’s oversight.”

Lang Jiuchuan accepted it and passed it to Jian Lan. “Take it, little household manager.”

Jian Lan’s face burned crimson. She opened the pouch, felt that there were copper coins and small fragments of silver inside, and took out a small handful of coins before returning the pouch, saying, “Elder, we are not greedy for your money — it is a matter of proper custom. My young miss should not have to bear this cause and consequence herself.”

“I know, I know, take it all, take it all.”

“This is quite enough.” Jian Lan felt a little sheepish and shot a glance at Lang Jiuchuan, fearing she might be displeased — but she was not. On the contrary, there was a smile in her eyes. Jian Lan could not help lowering her head in slight embarrassment.

Zhuang Quanhai accompanied Lang Jiuchuan to the door and bowed, saying, “You have troubled yourself on our behalf again. Your shop has already been fitted out and decorated — once the smell of lacquer has aired out, it will be ready to open. Earlier, young miss, you mentioned letting my family stay through the Lantern Festival before departing, and now that something has happened to Ding’s elder brother, it would not be right for me to simply leave. I must at least wait until he is safely released. In any case, I am already looking for a place to rent for a period of time.”

Lang Jiuchuan said, “That is not necessary. You may continue to stay at the residence, and the Ding family members can also be brought over for easier care. As for the shop — that sign board and its wood: when you return, have someone deliver it to the side gate of Marquis Kaiping’s estate and hand it to the gatekeeper, saying it is for the ninth young miss. Once I have carved the sign board, if I am free on the eighth day of the month, I will come over in person. If not, I will have someone deliver it and hang it up. Have someone set off a string of firecrackers at the front door — that is all the opening ceremony we need. Just keep a watch over the shop for me in the meantime. If any customers come, send someone to notify me at the Marquis estate.”

Zhuang Quanhai looked dazed. “That is all?”

“What else should there be?”

“The goods the shop will sell?”

“My skill is the merchandise. By day I read the living, by night I read the dead — I can resolve all manner of matters. Though the fees are not cheap.” Lang Jiuchuan thought for a moment and added, “Treating difficult and unusual ailments is also possible.”

Her medical knowledge — that too was something she excelled at.

Zhuang Quanhai’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. “Young miss, do you mean — in the manner of a geomancer-diviner?”

“One could say that.” A geomancer-diviner’s work is inseparable from the five arts of the occult arts — they are all fellow travelers of the Way.

The corner of Zhuang Quanhai’s mouth twitched slightly. “Young miss, might you want to put out some kind of announcement, informing the public that there is a shop of this kind in the area?”

He feared this shop would open and go a full month without anyone knowing of its existence.

“There is no need. In this line of work, everything hinges on a word called ‘affinity.’ If one is fated to encounter it, the path will lead there on its own. If there is no affinity, then there is simply no affinity. I do not force such things.” Lang Jiuchuan thought of what the shop would be doing in the future and then noticed the small jade pendant hanging at his waist. She reached over and took it.

She summoned her talismanic brush and carved a talisman onto the jade pendant. Once the golden light had sunk into the pendant, she handed it back, saying, “That thing — once the shop opens, customers who come may not all be ones you can see. If there are any that cannot be seen, this pendant of yours will grow hot. Simply notify me. Do not worry — it will not harm you. I have carved a protective inscription onto this pendant. If there is any malevolent entity nearby, the pendant will heat up, and such things will not dare approach you.”

Zhuang Quanhai gripped it tightly. His mind was buzzing. Only when Lang Jiuchuan had already walked away and his son came over and gave him a nudge did he come to his senses. He looked down at the pendant.

Just now, the ninth young miss had said — the shop would not only serve the living, but also those who cannot be seen? That meant… ghosts?

Do ghosts have needs of their own?

Zhuang Quanhai shuddered. He was about to hang the pendant back on his waist, then remembered what she had said — that a talisman had been carved on it and malevolent things would not dare approach. Fearing he might drop it, he tucked the pendant into his breast pocket, thinking he would have to find a red cord to string it on and wear it against his chest.

This was a protective jade talisman!

“Father, what were you thinking about so deeply?”

Zhuang Quanhai said, “Father was thinking — perhaps we simply will not go back to the old home after all. I could serve as a shop manager for the young miss for a few years, and we can decide what to do after Xiuniang gives birth.”

He just did not know whether the young miss would want an old fellow like him — no, wait, he was only just fifty this year. He could still work another twenty years.

Zhuang Huayi: “?”

What on earth had just happened to make his father suddenly think that way?