Shen Furen was genuinely furious. She had heard some time ago that the Qi Family had been spreading the slander that Lang Jiuchuan was a curse star to avenge their daughter — both she and Shen Qinghe had been livid, and Old Shen had even filed an official memorial against that Qi Zuyao because of it.
Later, the Qi Family had brought ruin upon themselves, and their daughter had taken herself down with them. When she heard of it, Shen Furen did not go so far as to call it gratifying — but she felt it was a case of karma arriving in its own time.
And now here came another one. This one even more determined to hammer the accusation of “jinx” into Lang Jiuchuan like a nail in a coffin.
After all, Qi Xinyu’s enmity with Lang Jiuchuan was genuine. And this Qi Minjun had done nothing more than have a minor altercation with them, and the very same day she was found dead under gruesome circumstances. No matter how you looked at it, it was strange. Once the story spread and was embellished in the retelling, even those who did not believe it would come to believe it.
How could people’s hearts be this wicked? Lang Jiuchuan had not provoked anyone. She had only been back in Wu Jing for two or three short months.
What Shen Furen was thinking, Cui Shi was thinking too. Her face had gone as white as snow. She instinctively looked to her side at Lang Jiuchuan — and then stopped, startled.
Lang Jiuchuan stood without a word, utterly unmoved, completely indifferent — as though the other party were speaking of someone who had nothing to do with her. She stood there open and steady, without a trace of shame or timidity.
What had this girl not yet of marriageable age been through, to have cultivated such an iron-strong heart?
A sharp pain twisted through Cui Shi’s chest. Her face grew even paler. She did not dare look at her again — as if every additional glance only threw her own wretchedness into sharper relief.
The Second Madam of the Qi Family said, “I only want to know whether Miss Lang Jiu saw anything last night.”
Shen Furen was about to speak again, but Lang Jiuchuan pressed her lightly on the arm, stepped forward two paces, and said, “I am not well, and I went to the Main Hall to burn incense at midnight, praying to the Buddha for good health. Is that a crime?”
Jiang Che: “Heaven watches from three feet above your head — this is sacred ground. Do not be so blatantly false. Even if people cannot see through it, the divine spirits can.”
She clearly went to siphon off offerings from the small pagoda. What does she mean ‘praying’?
Lang Jiuchuan fired back: “Whatever the small Jiu Pagoda siphoned over to me was because it chose to. If it gives to me and I give to it, and everyone benefits, how does that preclude praying for good health?”
Muyu: “What she says is not wrong!”
Jiang Che: “……”
Two against one. Utterly absurd.
“What is happening here?” The Old Madam Pei appeared in everyone’s line of sight, leaning on the arm of her maidservant.
The Pei Family was of esteemed scholarly lineage, and the Old Madam Pei held a Second-Rank noble title in her own right. But beyond that, she was the birth mother of the Gong Family’s First Madam — her daughter Pei Yuchang had married into the main branch of the Gong Family. This made the Pei Family a true in-law family of the Xuan Clan. No one dared look down upon her, let alone make a scene before her.
After all, the Gong Family ranked second among the Xuan Clan.
Even the Second Madam of the Qi Family involuntarily drew in her air of authority and offered a bow: “Old Madam Pei, I hope you are well. I came to speak with the young miss of the Lang Family regarding my niece’s unfortunate death.”
The Old Madam Pei released her maidservant’s arm and beckoned to Lang Jiuchuan: “Little Ninth Miss, come and lend an old woman your arm.”
Lang Jiuchuan hesitated for a moment, then walked over and supported the Old Madam’s hands with both of hers.
Everyone’s expressions shifted dramatically: “……”
That was about as obvious a show of support as it gets.
Old Madam Pei looked toward Cui Shi and said, “You have lived as a widow for many years and have never been willing to venture out into society. As a result, people have forgotten your origins and forgotten who your husband was. When a person fades into the background long enough, every sort of person will start to think they can impose upon you — bullying a widow and her child, taking advantage of your vulnerability. Being unable to protect your own child, letting her be treated shamefully — that is your failing. Go home and properly reflect on what it means to be a mother who stands firm for her children’s sake. Stop dwelling endlessly in the past and letting people look down on you. Otherwise, when I reach the afterlife, I will absolutely file a complaint to your mother about you.”
These words, though framed as a scolding of Cui Shi, were also a defense and a declaration of support — and a signal to everyone present about the relationship between her and Cui Shi’s mother and daughter.
With her words, the assembled crowd recalled: of course. The Old Madam Pei and Cui Shi’s own birth mother had been sworn sisters in their day, bound like close friends. So Cui Shi and the Gong Family’s First Madam were like sisters to each other.
This widow, though she had spent years in seclusion, was not without connections.
Cui Shi gave the Old Madam Pei a bow: “I will heed Maternal Aunt’s instruction.”
Only then did Old Madam Pei turn to the Second Madam of the Qi Family and say, “What was it you were saying just now? This old woman’s ears are not what they were. You were asking the Ninth Miss something?”
The Second Madam of the Qi Family’s face twitched. What was there left to say? The slap had already gone numb.
The Third Young Madam Pei said, “Grandmother, I believe it was about the matter of the Fourth Miss Qi? I heard the young woman died in a peculiar manner — something about being harmed by a malevolent spirit?”
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, pitched perfectly for everyone present to hear.
The Second Madam of the Qi Family’s expression underwent a drastic change. That rumor spreading was even more damaging than being accused of murder.
Old Madam Pei gave her a look that suggested mild disagreement, then turned back to the Second Madam of the Qi Family: “It is heartbreaking when a young person meets with such harm. I understand your grief. But the circumstances of her sudden death are strange, and the matter will certainly be thoroughly investigated. Whether this was done by a person or by some malevolent force, the child will receive justice.”
The Second Madam of the Qi Family was quick to take the offered way out. She dabbed at the corner of her eye and said, “Old Madam Pei is absolutely right. We were simply overcome with distress. The child was rather dear to the Noble Consort as well — when word reached Her, she reportedly fainted on the spot. As it happened, His Majesty was with Her at the time, which is why he dispatched palace attendants and Imperial Guards to conduct a thorough investigation.”
Old Madam Pei nodded: “Then all the more reason to rest easy. The matter will come to light in time. Placing trust in gossip and hearsay does not solve anything, nor does it allow the child to rest in peace. Would you not agree?”
This was yet another quiet warning.
The Second Madam of the Qi Family forced the corners of her mouth upward: “Indeed. We were simply anxious. Hearing that the Ninth Miss was moving about at midnight, we thought she might have seen something, and so came to ask.”
“Grandmother, you see — this is how the misunderstanding arose,” the Third Young Madam Pei said with a light laugh. “Such a large group came without explaining themselves clearly. One could easily have thought they were here to make accusations. Now that it has all been explained, everything is fine.”
Old Madam Pei gave her an exasperated look.
The Second Madam of the Qi Family had no more reason to linger and said, “Then we will not impose any further.”
She had barely turned to go when Shen Furen called out, “That talk of curse stars and jinxes — I trust that was spoken without any ill intent. We are all mothers with daughters of our own. It would be wise to watch one’s words.”
Everyone’s faces went green. They offered hasty bows and made a quick departure.
Old Madam Pei gave a faint shake of her head and gestured for Lang Jiuchuan and the others to follow her into the meditation room to talk.
The Third Young Madam Pei winked at Lang Jiuchuan and took over her role, supporting the Old Madam inside.
“Come along, don’t be afraid. The adults will stand up for you in all things.” Shen Furen patted her on the arm.
Cui Shi glanced at her, wanting to say something, but ultimately held her tongue.
Jiang Che said to Lang Jiuchuan, who was standing rooted to the spot: “Well then — how does it feel, being looked after like this? You are not alone, you know.”
Lang Jiuchuan was indeed a little surprised. She watched the figures ahead of her and said softly, “It seems my ties to this world have only grown.”
Once inside the meditation room, Old Madam Pei accepted the tea her servant handed her, took a sip, sent everyone else away, and then said to Lang Jiuchuan, “Those with a clear conscience need not fear the shadow they cast. Do not be afraid, Ninth Miss. The Qi Family has influence, but they have not reached the point of being able to cover the sky with one hand. If they truly want to pin this on you, let us see if they have the audacity.”
Lang Jiuchuan made a sound of acknowledgment: “In truth, if they truly wanted to ask me, I could have answered a thing or two.”
“Oh?”
“I was the first person to discover that the Fourth Miss Qi was dead.”
Thud. Thud.
Old Madam Pei and the others were so startled that their hands jerked — teacups dropped to the floor, and they stared at Lang Jiuchuan with wide, stunned eyes.
What — so she was not entirely uninvolved, and had been entangled in this affair after all?