Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Elopement (1)
"Please!" Nanny Fang led Master Puning towards Zhui Garden, and the closer they got to Zhui Garden, the worse Master Puning’s expression became. Nanny Fang also looked shocked and terrified. When they entered Lady’s bedroom, Master Puning stopped at the door and burned three talisman papers in the doorway before stepping over the ashes to enter the room.
Master Puning exchanged a few pleasantries upon entering, then Lady gestured to a chair opposite her for her to sit: "I heard from the maids that you came on your own. May I ask what brings you to the mansion today?"
"This morning, while I was meditating in the mountains, I suddenly saw an overwhelming presence of sinister energy covering the northern part of the city. Knowing that a demon must be causing trouble in that direction, I followed the energy all the way down the mountain. Just as I reached your mansion’s gate, the energy disappeared, which was why I knocked on your door, daring to intrude."
Lady and Nanny Fang exchanged glances, both appearing profoundly disturbed. Master Puning continued: "As soon as I heard Nanny Fang mention your matter with Sixth Miss, I understood the reason. Surely, both you and Sixth Miss are haunted by an evil ghost." She looked at Lady and asked, "Have you been suffering from recurring nightmares, night sweats, frequent urination, dizziness, and weakness in your limbs?"
Lady nodded repeatedly, and Master Puning clasped her hands together and said, "Amitabha Buddha!" Lady looked at Master Puning eagerly, "Do you have a way to resolve this?" Master Puning sighed and shook her head, "Forgive my inadequacy; this evil ghost seeks neither revenge nor grievance, and I am powerless!"
"Master!" Lady straightened her body, "If Master can rid Tong Mansion of this disaster, Tong Mansion is willing to offer five hundred taels to your temple to refashion the golden body of Buddha." Master Puning regrettably shook her head, "It’s not that I am unwilling to help; it’s merely that I am powerless. This evil ghost seeks neither revenge nor grievance, and the only way to subdue him is to trace where he came from and why he remains."
Upon hearing there was a way, Lady’s expression immediately lightened, "Please use your magic to find the origin of this demon." Master Puning nodded with difficulty.
That afternoon, Master Puning set up a Buddhist altar along the axis between Zhui Garden and Zhiqu Courtyard, chanting the Rebirth Scripture eighty-one times before finally opening her eyes and exclaimed while pointing to the northeast, "The evil ghost comes from this direction!" Nanny Fang was filled with joy, "But why did he come to Tong Mansion?"
Master Puning closed her eyes again, chanting continuously. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she stood up covered in sweat, supported by her attendant nun. Her complexion pale and feeble, she replied to Nanny Fang, "He said Tong Mansion owes him two life contracts of marriage, he is here to claim the marriage rightfully his!"
Nanny Fang listened with confusion, mostly unclear about Master Puning’s meaning, "Master, is there a solution?" Master Puning chanted, "In the world, all things that have a cause must have a result, owe him what you owe, and return it!" Finishing, she ignored Nanny Fang’s attempts to persuade her to stay and decisively departed!
Nanny Fang carefully relayed Master Puning’s words to Lady: "She mentioned the northeast!" Lady closed her eyes and leaned silently against the bed. After a long time, Lady suddenly opened her eyes and exclaimed, "Could it be Shandong? Shandong is indeed northeast of the Capital, and Master mentioned Tong Mansion owes him twice in marriage..." She paused and murmured, "...and isn’t that Young Master Hong exactly twice!?"
Now, after setting up Sixth Miss, the ghost persists in haunting them relentlessly?!
"But Master says to unravel the bell, one needs the bell-ringer, and also to repay what’s owed to him... Could it mean we need to marry off Sixth Miss quickly? Or could it mean we need to help Sixth Miss resolve this bond before it can be dissolved? Nanny Fang couldn’t understand, besides, Young Master Hong is still alive, what does a ghost have to do with this?!"
Lady, however, knew in her heart, a person like Young Master Hong who commits vices, even alive is akin to a walking corpse, so if talking about an evil ghost, she wouldn’t doubt it in the slightest... She closed her eyes and waved, "You may leave; I need some quiet!" Nanny Fang silently exited the room.
The next day, Lady instructed Nanny Fang to call in the concubine, saying she wanted to call off the match with Hong Mansion... Tong Shen Zhi returned to the mansion before the concubine and soon after, Second Madam hurried over as well, both looking displeased. Tong Shen Zhi frowned and said to Lady, "Last night, the Empress issued an edict, granting the former Crown Prince Mansion’s Princess Chengning to Marquis Xuanning Xiao Yan Yi!"
"Princess Chengning?" Lady sat upright, directly asking, "Did the son-in-law accept the edict?"
Tong Shen Zhi worriedly glanced at Lady, nodded, and Lady felt a sweetness in her chest, spat a mouthful of blood, her eyes went dark, and she fell back onto the bed.
Tong Shen Zhi and Second Madam called for the Imperial Physician, and it was not until afternoon that Lady slowly regained consciousness. One look at Tong Shen Zhi brought tears to her eyes, "Go! Go find Xiao Yan Yi for me. Your elder sister’s body isn’t cold yet, how can he marry again, how does he justify this to your elder sister’s spirit in heaven."
Tong Shen Zhi said nothing. When the Empress sent the three sacrifices to the Marquis Mansion for elder sister, he already felt unease, always having criticism towards former Empress Dowager’s family; how could she suddenly show goodwill by sending sacrifices... Turns out, she had set her sights on the vacant courtyard behind Xiao Yan Yi.
Second Madam grinned subtly while bringing tea, sitting in front of Lady, recalling the aggravation endured the other day. Her heart felt much relieved, and after a thought, she spoke, "At noon, Second Master sent a message from the government office. It was a secret report sent by colleagues from Shandong, saying the original Shandong Governor Hong Tao’s eldest legitimate son died from intoxication at home the day before yesterday."
Tong Shen Zhi listened, initially pleased, but soon grew worried... But for Lady, this news was just another blow... Lady listened, her body suddenly chilled from toes to heart, shivered as she retreated into the blankets, as though the evil ghost hiding in the corner might at any moment leap out to tear her into pieces!
In Xuanning Marquis Mansion, Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion outside Lingbo Hall, watching the candles that burned brightly in Lingbo Hall all night. The temperature on his face dropped to freezing point. Following him, servant Tianyi rubbed his hands together and cautiously urged, "Fourth Master, it’s already midnight; you should go back and rest for a bit!"
Fourth Master Xiao remained silent, his eyes deep and distant, as Tianyi tentatively said: "Is Master worried about the Marquis?" He glanced at Fourth Master Xiao, seeing no signs of anger, continued, "The Marquis is considering the big picture; he will surely figure it out..." Remembering the Marquis’s staggering silhouette upon receiving the edict, Tianyi’s heart ached tremendously!
Tianyi’s speech was followed by a prolonged silence, lasting until dawn when Fourth Master Xiao finally moved his feet. He strode out of the pavilion and asked over his shoulder, "Has any word come from Shandong?" Tianyi promptly took a letter from his chest and handed it to him, "It arrived early; seeing you’ve been busy, I didn’t dare to bring it out."
Fourth Master Xiao took the letter with a blank expression, glanced at it in the faint light, casually threw it back to Tianyi, "Burn it!" Then he strode towards the stables, mounted his horse, and rode off, leaving a trail of dust behind!