Due to feng shui considerations, the Weis’ backyard featured a rock garden that extended to the side garden of the second branch. A small moon gate connected the two backyards, allowing the women of both branches to pass through easily. This gate remained unlocked at night.
Ming Shu followed the sound, hearing intermittent crying coming from the rock garden of the main branch. She raised her lantern and walked through the moon gate, slowly exploring in that direction.
The night was deep, with no barking dogs or watchmen’s drums echoing from the streets. Though late spring brought warmth and thinner clothing, the wind here chilled one’s skin and inexplicably stirred anxiety. The Weis’ masters and servants had retired, and even the night watchwoman avoided this area. No lights shone nearby; only Ming Shu’s feeble lantern lit the way. The rock garden, while not tall, bristled with strange stones. In the darkness, they resembled countless evil spirits poised to descend and devour souls, filling observers with dread.
Despite her fear, Ming Shu pressed on. Suddenly, the crying ceased. After searching the rock garden fruitlessly, she turned to leave when a shadow darted behind her. Whirling around, she glimpsed it vanishing into a low cave among the rocks. Steeling herself, she crouched and entered.
The cave was small, barely fitting two people standing hunched. Raising her lantern, Ming Shu spotted a black cat with arched back and bristling fur at the far end. She had stumbled upon its lair, and it now eyed her warily.
“So you’re the one scaring people?” Ming Shu sighed in relief.
She recalled Liu Shi and Wei Chao complaining about being frightened by a cat earlier. Surprisingly, the Wei family did indeed have one.
The cat’s wild appearance discouraged Ming Shu from approaching. It seemed to be a stray that had wandered in, likely the source of the strange sounds. Unwilling to catch it, Ming Shu carefully inched closer. However, the cat’s heightened wariness caused it to bolt past her and out of the cave as she approached.
Unable to catch it, Ming Shu decided to let the Wei family search for it at daybreak, explaining Liu Shi. As she turned to leave, hurried, panicked footsteps approached from outside. She instinctively paused, listening intently.
With a rustle, something seemed to fall near the cave entrance. Before Ming Shu could react, a person tumbled in, rolling and crawling.
Ming Shu recoiled in shock, raising her lantern to reveal a disheveled woman. Both startled, Ming Shu quickly covered the woman’s mouth to stifle her scream. “Don’t shout!”
The woman breathed heavily against Ming Shu’s hand, gradually recognizing her. As she calmed, Ming Shu slowly withdrew her hand, only for the woman to grasp her wrist tightly, whispering, “A ghost! A ghost is chasing me! Immortal… please save me!”
Realizing this person must have seen her earlier, Ming Shu was about to inquire further when the woman exclaimed, “It’s coming!”
Ming Shu frowned, hearing soft footsteps approaching outside. She swiftly extinguished her lantern and switched places with the woman, crouching near the entrance.
The footsteps drew closer, and a long hem swept past the cave opening.
“It” hadn’t noticed the low cave and glided past. Ming Shu considered following to investigate, but the woman behind her clutched her clothes tightly.
She turned back, silently questioning the woman, who whispered faintly, “Don’t… don’t go out… It might return.”
As if on cue, “it” came back.
The woman shrank back, barely daring to breathe. Ming Shu remained silent as “it” floated past the cave again, retracing its steps.
This time, Ming Shu didn’t rush out. They huddled in the cave, hiding. After what seemed like an eternity, with no sign of “it” returning, Ming Shu cautiously peeked out, looking around before reassuring the woman, “Don’t be afraid. It’s gone.”
The woman finally exhaled deeply, slumping against the wall and sitting on the ground.
Ming Shu carefully lit her lantern with a flint, saying, “Wait here. I’ll take a look and come right back.”
She emerged from the cave, crouching to examine the ground closely.
Where “it” had passed, two faint tracks marked the earth, as if from a sweeping hem. Incomplete, shallow footprints mingled with these marks.
Ming Shu followed the trail for a few steps, but it vanished under the long corridor leading from the rock garden to the backyard. She returned to the cave.
The woman inside had stood up, leaning against the wall and clutching her skirt forward. Hearing Ming Shu enter, she startled like a frightened rabbit, quickly releasing her grip on the dress.
Ming Shu rubbed her nose, sensing the danger had passed. Only now did she notice a smell, and the candlelight revealed a wet patch on the woman’s skirt. Ming Shu understood the situation.
Xu Shi, however, wished she could die of embarrassment. Never in her life as the first wife of the Marquis’s household had she been so disheveled. First terrified by a ghost, then caught in such a state by a stranger – she had lost all face and wanted to disappear into a hole.
“It’s gone now. Let me escort you back,” Ming Shu said calmly, not mentioning the woman’s predicament.
Xu Shi looked at the young girl before her. The girl’s eyes were clear, showing no contempt or mockery. Even her tone remained neutral, slightly easing Xu Shi’s shame.
“Madam…”
Before Xu Shi could respond, a distant call interrupted them.
At last, someone had come searching.
Xu Shi’s maid, discovering her mistress missing, had gathered the Wei household servants to search. They now stood with lanterns outside the small cave, waiting for Xu Shi to emerge.
“Madam?” The maid bent down at the cave entrance, ready to help.
“Step back!” Xu Shi’s angry voice rang out from inside.
As the startled maid retreated, a woman dressed as a Daoist priestess emerged first.
“Your household seems troubled. This lady has been frightened tonight,” Ming Shu spoke, understanding why Xu Shi was reluctant to appear before everyone. “Please step back and light the way. I’ll help her return.”
The strange midnight occurrence and the presence of the young priestess they’d seen earlier instilled a sense of reverence in the crowd. They followed her instructions without question. Only then did Xu Shi emerge, supported by Ming Shu, who said, “Lead the way.”
The group, including Xu Shi’s maid, moved ahead to light the path.
“Thank you,” Xu Shi gratefully glanced at Ming Shu, appreciating her discretion.
Ming Shu smiled and accompanied her back.
—
A crowd had gathered in front of the side room, including Du Wenhui, who stood anxiously in the courtyard, occasionally coughing. Xu Shi, shielded by Ming Shu, rushed past everyone, including Du Wenhui, and into the room, instructing Ming Shu, “Don’t let them in.”
Ming Shu addressed the crowd at the door: “Please don’t worry. This lady is in shock. I’ll perform a ritual to calm her spirit. There’s no need to wait outside.” She then turned to the maid, “Sister, please prepare a fragrant bath for your mistress. She needs it to calm down.”
The maid complied and left, and the crowd dispersed, leaving only two people outside to await instructions.
Ming Shu closed the door and turned to find Xu Shi standing motionless in the small hall, her eyes fixed on the bedroom.
“Madam, are you looking for fresh clothes?” Ming Shu asked.
Xu Shi, her face flushed, nodded. “They’re… on the clothes rack. But earlier, that ghost… it nearly broke through the window. I…” She was too frightened to enter.
Ming Shu understood. “I’ll get them.”
She entered the bedroom and retrieved Xu Shi’s clothes from the rack. Glancing at the window, she noticed a large hole torn in the paper covering.
“If you’re scared, why not change rooms?” Ming Shu suggested, handing over the clothes.
Xu Shi went behind the screen to change, discarding her soiled clothes on the floor. Meanwhile, Ming Shu gave instructions to those waiting outside.
Soon, the Wei household prepared a new room for Xu Shi, with a fragrant bath sent there as well. Xu Shi emerged in fresh clothes.
“These clothes…” Ming Shu looked at the discarded garments on the floor.
“Throw them away,” Xu Shi said without hesitation. “No one must find out.”
Ming Shu thought to herself, “This lady truly values her reputation.”
—
With the new room and bath ready, Xu Shi, still shaken, found comfort in Ming Shu’s presence and asked her to stay. Ming Shu agreed, curious about Xu Shi’s ghostly encounter.
In the new room, filled with steam, maids helped Xu Shi undress and enter the wooden tub. Ming Shu sat beyond a screen, sipping tea and conversing with Xu Shi.
“I heard you came to the Wei household because of the ghost?” Xu Shi asked, unable to relax despite the soothing bath.
“Yes,” Ming Shu replied. “Would you mind sharing the details of tonight’s events?”
“What’s your name?” Xu Shi inquired instead.
“I am Tian Xuanqing,” Ming Shu offered an improvised name.
Xu Shi mulled over the name silently. Earlier that day, she had dismissed the young woman as a charlatan, but now she found herself grateful for her presence.
“Daoist Xuanqing, thank you for your help tonight,” she said, without revealing her own identity.
Ming Shu, understanding Xu Shi’s desire for anonymity, focused on the ghostly incident.
Xu Shi recounted the night’s events, shuddering as she recalled the terrifying moments.
“I fled blindly, with it chasing me. Somehow, I ended up at the rock garden, stumbling upon the small cave when I fell…”
The rest aligned with Ming Shu’s experience.
After listening, Ming Shu turned to the maid and asked, “Where were you when your mistress was in danger?”
The maid immediately knelt, pleading, “I deserve death, please forgive me, Madam. I was outside emptying water when I met Lingxue from Madam Wei’s household. We chatted briefly, not knowing what was happening inside.”
Ming Shu nodded, understanding the situation. She then asked Xu Shi, “Are you close with Madam Wei?”
“How could we not be? We’ve known each other for over twenty years since we were young ladies. We were bosom friends. She wasn’t always like she is now, sigh,” Xu Shi lamented.
Ming Shu’s heart skipped a beat.
Childhood friends? Bosom friends?
She recalled someone – Song Qingzhao’s mother.
She had never properly met the first wife of the Marquis’s household, only glimpsing her twice from afar. Tonight’s encounter had been too chaotic for recognition, with Xu Shi disheveled and Ming Shu disguised as a Daoist priestess.
If she remembered correctly, Song Qingzhao had mentioned his mother going to the Wei household in anger. This must be her.
Ming Shu covered her mouth, realizing she had inadvertently helped Song Qingzhao’s mother.
She couldn’t let Xu Shi know her true identity. If Xu Shi discovered that the person she had once scorned had witnessed her in such a vulnerable state, her embarrassment would be unbearable.