After Wu Junru fainted, the maids were terrified. They hurriedly carried her back to the main courtyard of the Marquis’s mansion, Fu’an Courtyard, and carefully tended to her all afternoon. It wasn’t until evening that Wu Junru finally regained consciousness.
“Madam, you’re awake?”
Wu Junru raised her hand, and the maid Luxiu quickly came forward to help her sit up. Wu Junru took the tea cup Luxiu handed her, moistened her throat, and her first words were: “How did I get back? Where’s Xiao Jingduo?”
“Madam, you fainted in the Buddhist hall. The Marquis brought you back. The young master also came to watch over you for a while, but he’s returned to Qingze Courtyard now.”
“Pretentious,” Wu Junru sneered. She had fainted because of Xiao Jingduo, and now he dared to come check on her. Thinking of this, Wu Junru again recalled Xiao Jingduo’s gaze. Though he stood in the bright sunlight, his eyes were unfathomably deep, like a demon from hell. And he had smiled at her from afar, like an evil spirit lurking in the crowd, waiting for her to let her guard down so he could pounce and tear her to pieces.
“He can’t be allowed to stay,” Wu Junru muttered.
Hearing Wu Junru’s words, Luxiu sighed helplessly. Luxiu was originally a maid from the Wu family, assigned to Wu Junru’s side just before her marriage, serving as one of the links between the Wu family and Wu Junru. In Lüxiu’s impression, Wu Junru was a silent and timid concubine’s daughter, unremarkable among the many girls in the Wu family. It was only after coming to the Marquis’s mansion that Luxiu discovered this Eighth Miss’s unusual side. Although Luxiu was a maid, at this moment she felt compelled to speak on behalf of the Wu family elders, advising Wu Junru not to make a mistake:
“Madam, I know you don’t like the young master and are unwilling to let him occupy the position of the eldest legitimate son. But what’s done is done. The young master has already secured his position as the eldest legitimate son with the princess’s acknowledgment. What use is there in doing these things now? Rest assured, with the Wu family’s backing, the Marquis’s household won’t dare mistreat the fourth young master. Besides, the fourth young master is still young. The Wu family will handle the struggle for the title. You needn’t worry about it. If you continue like this, it won’t matter if you make a mistake, but it would be terrible if you ruin the Wu family’s reputation.”
The fourth young master refers to Wu Junru’s son, Xiao Jingye. In the past two days, following the family’s naming custom, most people in the mansion have been calling him the fourth young master.
Wu Junru laughed self-mockingly. Was the family embarrassed by her and wanted her to stop? She shook her head and said, “It was just an accident. Even a good horse can stumble. Next time, I won’t make such a mistake. I have confidence in myself. Besides, Xiao Jingduo must die. Didn’t you see how he looked at me? I’m still shaken by it. He’s so young, yet he has such a chilling gaze. If I don’t act now, he’ll surely cause trouble for me when he grows up!”
“Madam,” Luxiu hesitated, “next time, are you really sure?”
“Hah, I just underestimated him this time, which is why he escaped. Doesn’t he know who I am? He’s no match for me.”
Wu Junru was referring to her identity as a time-traveler, but Luxiu thought she meant the Wu family. Luxiu nodded and whispered, “Alright then, we’ll try once more.”
“Did anything else happen in the mansion while I was unconscious?”
“Yes, at dusk, the young miss and the second young lady were playing and accidentally fell from the rockery. They hit their heads and are still unconscious.”
“Young miss? Do you mean Cheng Huizhen, Xiao Su’s daughter?”
“That’s right, Miss Cheng.”
“Hit their heads…” Wu Junru leaned back on her soft pillow, suddenly getting an idea. “I’ve got it! I know what to do!”
The Marquis’s mansion had been quite eventful these past few days. First, there was an unexplained death in the Buddhist hall, with the eldest young master, Xiao Jingduo, nearly implicated. Then the mistress fainted, and the young miss Cheng Huizhen hit her head. These incidents, coming one after another, gave people an ominous feeling. The old madam couldn’t help but worry. It was then that Wu Junru suggested that since the mansion had been unsettled these days, they should invite a monk to perform rituals to exorcise evil spirits. The old madam immediately agreed.
Xiao Jingduo was copying Buddhist scriptures in his side room when he vaguely heard chanting coming from outside. He put down his brush and called for Qiuju: “What’s happening outside?”
“The madam said that a death in the mansion is inauspicious. Also, the young miss hit her head and still hasn’t woken up. The madam suspects evil spirits are at work, so she invited a master from the temple to perform rituals.”
“Evil spirits at work, she really can say anything,” Xiao Jingduo scoffed. Since the death in the Buddhist hall, he obviously couldn’t stay there anymore and had to return to Qingze Courtyard to copy scriptures. But after just a few days of peace, trouble arose again outside. Xiao Jingduo was quite certain that this so-called ritual must be another one of Wu Junru’s schemes.
Sure enough, before long, the chanting grew louder and eventually stopped right in front of Qingze Courtyard’s gate.
A monk in robes stood behind the gate of Qingze Courtyard, followed by several novices, and behind them were the Xiao family members.
Old Madam Xiao, supported by Xiao’s second aunt and Xiao Su, followed closely behind the master. Seeing the master stop, she hurried forward to ask, “Master, is there a problem?”
“Amitabha, does anyone reside here?”
A fleeting smile crossed Wu Junru’s lips. She deliberately put on a hesitant expression and said, “This is the residence of the eldest young master of our household. Master, is there something amiss?”
“This humble monk dares not speak rashly. May I ask if the eldest young master of your household has shown any unusual behavior recently?”
“Unusual?” Old Madam Xiao and the women beside her exchanged glances. From the high monk’s words, it seemed the problem lay with Xiao Jingduo?
As everyone hesitated, not knowing what to say, the door creaked open.
Xiao Jingduo stood behind the door, his figure tall and slender like a straight bamboo or a sturdy pine. He looked at the people outside expressionlessly and slowly said, “Since the master asks, let me answer. After all, who knows better than myself if I have any unusual behavior?”
After speaking, Xiao Jingduo’s gaze met that of the leading monk, and he said word by word, “To be honest, I recently lost my mother. She died in this courtyard, and just a few days ago, I encountered a death in the Buddhist hall. I wonder, master, where do you find me unusual?”
The monk put his palms together and said, “Amitabha Buddha, a monk does not lie. Young benefactor, your aura of killing is too strong, and you are often accompanied by the sight of blood. If this continues, I’m afraid it will be unfavorable for your household. Lady Hou, this poor monk has some words that are not convenient to say. May I ask if the Marquis is in the mansion?”
“The Marquis is resting at home today. Master, please follow me.” Wu Junru smiled at Xiao Jingduo, then led the monk and several novices away.
“Master, do you mean that Xiao Jingduo’s fate is too unyielding and will harm the household and relatives?” Xiao Ying asked.
“That’s correct. I heard from the Marchioness that the young benefactor’s name is Xiao Jingduo. ‘Duo’ refers to a ceremonial bell, which is used as music in wartime to announce government policies and laws. This name is extremely strong, indicating great potential in his fate. However, as with all things, excess is as bad as deficiency. While the young master’s own fate is smooth, it will, in turn, suppress the fortunes of those around him, which may be unfavorable for his father and brothers.”
These words struck at Xiao Ying’s hidden worries. He had always been concerned that Xiao Jingduo’s personality was too strong and would be difficult to control in the future. But now the master was saying that after Xiao Jingduo becomes successful, he would suppress the fortunes of his father and brothers.
Wu Junru’s move hit the nail on the head. She knew her husband very well. Xiao Ying didn’t care about reputation or social norms and was indifferent to emotions, but he cared deeply about power. Now, someone was telling him that his eldest son would suppress his career prospects in the future, and signs of this were already beginning to show. Given Xiao Ying’s personality of preferring to kill a hundred innocents rather than let one guilty person escape, he would only choose to nip this in the bud rather than hope for the best.
Seeing that Xiao Ying was already wavering, Wu Junru added the final push: “My lord, the master also mentioned that Xiao Jingduo brings harm to his family and relatives, and wherever he goes, bloodshed follows. Look how soon after his arrival at the marquis’s mansion, there have already been two fatal incidents.”
Xiao Ying was still hesitating. Although he disliked Xiao Jingduo’s defiance, that was still his own flesh and blood. Unless absolutely necessary, Xiao Ying didn’t want to give up on his eldest son. He paced to the outside of the study and saw Xiao Jingduo standing in the corridor. When Xiao Jingduo saw him come out, a mocking smile appeared in his eyes.
“I thought the Marquis of Dingyong, who could escape unscathed from thousands of troops, wouldn’t be fooled by such talk of ghosts and spirits. The Marchioness has really gone to great lengths; to drive me away, she even bribed so many people.”
“How dare you! Show respect to the master!” Wu Junru scolded loudly, then turned to apologize to the monk. The monk shook his head, indicating he didn’t mind.
“It seems that failing to frame me as a murderer last time, the Marchioness still can’t swallow her pride. Your wild ambition is known to all. Do you think by bribing monks to say things unfavorable to me, you can successfully drive me away and let your son take the position of the eldest legitimate son?” Xiao Jingduo showed no courtesy, loudly exposing Wu Junru’s intentions. “You were the one who said we needed to expel evil spirits, you were the one who invited the monk, and now you’re the one saying I’m bad for the household. Why don’t you let everyone judge what your real intentions are?”
“My lord!” Wu Junru quickly turned around, shaking Xiao Ying’s arm. “You must believe me! Even if you don’t trust me, you should trust the master!”
“You invited these people; who knows if you’ve been up to something?” Xiao Jingduo sneered, deliberately provoking Xiao Ying. Surely the Marquis of Dingyong can’t be so naive as not to see through this?”
“Enough, both of you, stop talking.” Xiao Ying suddenly raised his voice, silencing Xiao Jingduo and Wu Junru’s arguing. He couldn’t easily give up on his son, but when it came to his career, he couldn’t be careless either. It’s better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn’t.
“Xiang An, I remember Anguo Temple is also holding a ceremony today. Take my official seal and go invite a master from Anguo Temple.”
“Yes, sir.”
Xiao Jingduo relaxed, looking contemptuously at Wu Junru with obvious disdain in his eyes, as if to say, “This is all you’re capable of.”
Wu Junru, on the other hand, became a bit flustered. She hadn’t expected Xiao Ying to be so stubborn. The monks at Anguo Temple hadn’t been bribed, so what should she do now?
Author’s note: On a certain day in September of the second year of Qiyuan, Xiao Jingduo posted on his social media:
“Just now, several monks said I bring harm to my family and that my fate carries a curse of bloodshed. What nonsense! I’m so angry!”
Xiao Ying: Really? Will it affect my career?
Wu Junru replied to Xiao Ying: It’s true, I can guarantee it. Although I paid money, the master told me he was speaking the truth!
Qiuju: Oh no, what should the young master do…
Old Madam: Amitabha Buddha, may Buddha bless our Xiao family!
…
Monk: Let me tell you a horror story. Although I took the money, I was telling the truth.
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