Volume One, Chapter Six: Let Him Witness Her Power

Ming Shu paused for a moment, then changed her approach: "Has anyone who lived in this courtyard passed away in the last five years?"

The Old Madam pursed her lips. "Servants' affairs—how would I remember that? San'er, are you worried that ghosts are haunting your grandmother's courtyard? Don't be silly! The feng shui formation set up by Daoist Master Qingxu prevents any spirits from entering!"

Ming Shu thought to herself: I wonder who it was that just mistook me for a ghost a moment ago?

Fu Zhixun glanced at Ming Shu. "I am not worried. It is she who fears there are ghosts here."

The Old Madam retorted angrily, "Is that any way for a granddaughter-in-law to behave? Can't you wish me some good fortune? Let me tell you, my courtyard is pristine—no demons, and certainly no ghosts!"

Ming Shu was highly experienced in dealing with old ladies like this. Without a trace of irritation, she smiled with calm composure. "You haven't been sleeping well lately, have you, Old Madam? Either having nightmares or experiencing nosebleeds. Tell me, have you seen two figures in your dreams—one dressed in black and one in white?"

The Old Madam blurted out, "How did you know—nonsense!"

Ming Shu continued, "The spirit here has turned into a vengeful wraith, feeding on the life force of the living in this courtyard. It has already attached itself to you! Believe me, moving out won't do you any good."

"The fact that you keep having nightmares and nosebleeds is a sign that your vitality is fading, and dreaming of the ghost messengers is a clear indication that your soul is loosening its grip on your physical body."

The Old Madam’s face turned pale.

Ming Shu knew she was afraid—after all, an old lady surrounded by children and grandchildren values her own life above all else. She was terrified of dying.

The Old Madam pointed at Ming Shu, stammering, "San'er, she is cursing me to an early grave..."

She no longer possessed her earlier imperious air, sounding instead like a child complaining after being wronged.

Fu Zhixun maintained an expression as if the sky could fall without him caring. "Then you should have her grant you a long life of a hundred years."

Ming Shu: "..." The Old Madam's natural lifespan was only seventy-seven; she wasn't going to make it to a hundred. Thanks, but no thanks.

"Has anyone who lived in this courtyard passed away in the last five years?" Ming Shu steered the conversation back, ignoring the old lady's nonsense.

The Old Madam, naturally, did not know.

Nurse Tang remained silent until Fu Zhixun cast a cold glance her way, at which point she reluctantly spoke up: "A few servants who didn't please the Old Madam were dismissed; I don't know if any of them died. You could ask the Eldest Young Mistress; she manages the household affairs."

Ming Shu furrowed her brows. They claimed to know nothing, distancing themselves quite cleanly.

Fu Zhixun watched Ming Shu with a look that was neither quite a smile nor quite a frown. "Shall I have the Eldest Young Mistress brought here to be questioned?"

Ming Shu felt a surge of annoyance. What was there to ask? Could the Eldest Young Mistress possibly know more about the affairs of the Old Madam's courtyard than Nurse Tang?

Suddenly, it hit her like a bolt of lightning—she finally understood Fu Zhixun's goal. He had helped her without hesitation regarding the ginseng soup and the well, but when it came to investigating the courtyard, he remained aloof. He was testing her—or more precisely, testing her capabilities.

Nurse Tang had said that useless things are meant to be discarded. If Ming Shu was useless, she was merely a discarded pawn, and he could end her life at any moment.

A surge of resolve hardened within Ming Shu: Then I shall show you the true power of a metaphysical master, the likes of which appear only once in a million!

"No need. Just bring Yunxia here."

Ming Shu sat by the stone table, took out three copper coins, and cast a divination.

*Kan* (Water) represented the hexagram—the lowest of the low. The interpretation read: *A bright moon reflects in the water; one sees the image but finds no substance. The fool tries to grasp the wealth, reaching in and out to find nothing at all.*

A bright moon in the water, nothing at all... The person’s name was "Qing" (Clear).

After a moment of contemplation, she closed her eyes, recalling every detail she had seen in the well. When she opened them again, her eyes shone like stars, her expression composed and firm.

Yunxia returned, her face swollen with tears and limping. She was cowering, clearly terrified from being beaten.

Ming Shu asked her, "How long have you been serving in the Old Madam's courtyard?"

Yunxia mumbled, "This servant entered the Marquis's estate at eleven, came to the Old Madam's courtyard at thirteen, and this is now my sixth year."

Ming Shu: "Then do you know a maid whose name contains 'Qing,' like 'Qingbai' (Innocence)? She would be around twenty, with very thick hair, and in her hair... she wore a hairpin—perhaps a hibiscus flower, or perhaps a peony."

Yunxia looked up, her face full of surprise. "Are you looking for Sister Yunqing? She left the Marquis's estate to get married a long time ago!"

Ming Shu quickly scanned the Old Madam and Nurse Tang. The Old Madam’s brow furrowed, her eyes darting to the upper left—a subconscious gesture of recollection. Nurse Tang’s expression stiffened slightly before she quickly recovered.

Ming Shu withdrew her gaze and asked Yunxia, "You were close to Yunqing?"

Yunxia nodded vigorously. "When I first came to the Old Madam's courtyard, Sister Yunqing took me under her wing. She was patient and kind, and even taught us how to read. We all loved her very much."

"Once, I accidentally dropped her favorite copper mirror into the well, and she didn't even scold me..."

Ming Shu’s heart skipped a beat. So that was it.

Once Yunxia opened the floodgates, she couldn't stop. She pointed toward the flower trellis and the well. "This used to be a grape trellis. When the grapes were ripe in the summer, Sister Yunqing would take us to pick them and draw well water to chill the fruit."

"At night, she would tell us stories under the trellis. She had so many interesting stories in her head..." Yunxia’s expression gradually turned desolate. "But a year later, Sister Yunqing left the estate. I never saw her again, and I don't know where she went. She never sent us a message..."

Ming Shu asked, "Then how did you know Yunqing got married?"

Yunxia blurted out, "Nurse Tang said..." She immediately fell silent, not daring to say more.

The Old Madam seemed to recall something. "I remember that girl Yunqing. She was careful and capable, but she didn't keep herself chaste... Why are you suddenly bringing her up?"

Ming Shu was truly impressed by the Old Madam. How could she be so dense?

"For Yunqing to leave the estate, she had to have her deed of indenture. Was it you who gave it to her?"

"Naturally! Even though she committed an act of shame, what was done was done. Was I supposed to let her die? In consideration of her diligent service to me for so many years, I let her go."

Ming Shu now understood the sequence of events. She looked at Fu Zhixun. "I am going to lay out the facts. If someone tries to jump in and refute them, can you ensure they keep their mouth shut?"

Fu Zhixun was concise. "Yes."

Ming Shu spoke with confidence: "Five years ago, Nurse Tang told the Old Madam that Yunqing was pregnant and persuaded the Old Madam to show her mercy..."

Nurse Tang shouted, "What could you possibly know—"

Ming Shu raised an eyebrow and signaled to Fu Zhixun. The latter used only a look to make Nurse Tang fall silent—though she shot a malevolent glare at Ming Shu.

Ming Shu acted as if she hadn't seen it. "The Old Madam, being kind-hearted, had Nurse Tang give her the deed of indenture, allowing her to leave. Thus, both Yunxia and the Old Madam believed she had gone to get married."

"But that is not the truth. Yunqing is dead, and her spirit is in the well beneath the grape trellis!"

As these words left her lips, everyone in the courtyard was stunned—except for Fu Zhixun.

Ming Shu continued: "A spirit becomes a vengeful wraith for two reasons: First, there must be immense resentment at the time of death; second, there must be an evil, dark object aiding the process. Therefore—"

"To purify this place of its dark energy, which means turning the wraith back into an ordinary spirit and sending her to the underworld, we must destroy the evil object, uncover the source of the resentment, and resolve the karma."

The Old Madam nearly collapsed onto the ground, saved only by the quick reflexes of the maid beside her. Though she was selfish, willful, and disliked using her brain, she was not truly senile. Since Ming Shu’s words had been so accurate, she clearly possessed some genuine ability.

"Third Daughter-in-law, can you send away Yunqing’s spirit?"

Ming Shu nodded. "I can."

The Old Madam inexplicably felt that the ghastly, pale face before her wasn't quite as repulsive as before.

Ming Shu first said to Fu Zhixun, "We must go down into the well one more time to retrieve the copper mirror from the silt. The mirror locked Yunqing's spirit within it, trapping her. Through the accumulation of time, the spirit, the resentment, and the mirror became one, which is what gave rise to such powerful dark energy."

Fu Zhixun glanced at Fu Tian. "Do as she says."

Ming Shu’s gaze fell upon Nurse Tang, cold as ice. "As for resolving Yunqing’s resentment, we must first ask Nurse Tang: how exactly did she kill Yunqing?"