Is there evil spirits in the third son's yard?

Aunt Wang dared not utter a sound.

But Tu said, "Taoist Master, how do you tell me to break this?"

The Taoist priest said, "It's very simple. Just go to the courtyard and eliminate the source of the evil energy."

Looking at the listless old lady, Tu said, "Mother, the Taoist priest said the evil spirit is in the third son's courtyard. What should we do?"

The old lady said weakly, "Forget it, forget it, stop making a fuss. There's no evil energy here. Yes, it's just that I'm old and useless..."

Xie Zhaozhao remained silent; she refused to acknowledge that there was any malevolent energy in her courtyard.

Madam Lu originally thought that the old lady had just fallen into the lake, but ever since the third son's wife came back, the whole situation has changed.

Why did she feel that the old lady, Madam Tu, and the heir's wife were all working together to set a trap for the third wife?

She was excited inside, but kept her mouth shut. It was a battle of titans; a nobody like her shouldn't get herself into trouble.

Tu Shi originally thought that if Qi Zhenzi said that Qingpu Courtyard had evil energy, Xie Zhaozhao would angrily deny it, or simply say, "Then you go and catch them in the courtyard."

However, she remained noncommittal.

The old lady said, "Never mind!"

How should she answer?

Xie Xiangxiang stood up without any politeness and said, "Elder sister, the Taoist priest said that there is evil energy in your courtyard. Grandmother is already like this, why don't you ask them to go and get rid of it?"

Madam Tu also said, "Third sister-in-law, why don't we ask the Taoist priest to catch it?"

Xie Zhaozhao said calmly, "You think there's such a thing as malevolent energy just because you say so? The Grand Secretary has been in this courtyard for so many years and has never heard of any malevolent energy."

Upon hearing the words "Grand Master," the Taoist priest glanced at Xie Zhaozhao and suddenly became uneasy, asking, "Who are you?"

"I am the wife of the Grand Secretary, a first-rank imperial consort! Why, does Grand Secretary Gu need to be present in person?"

Upon hearing Xie Zhaozhao's words, Qi Zhenzi was so frightened that he wet himself. He immediately changed his tune, saying, "This old Taoist is mistaken. This isn't malevolent energy in the East Courtyard; it's called auspicious purple energy coming from the east! That purple color is a sign of good fortune!"

That Taoist priest is really cunning!

Madam Tu was furious, and Xie Xiangxiang was even angrier. She said directly to Qi Zhenzi, "Open your eyes wide! I am the wife of the heir apparent, and my mother-in-law is the wife of the marquis. If you dare to conceal this and cause trouble for the old lady, Chongyang Palace will not be able to exist."

Xie Zhaozhao watched them perform.

Qi Zhenzi absolutely refused to say that there was evil energy in the East Courtyard.

Who dares to smear the Grand Secretary!

The Grand Secretary's wife is the legendary Miss Xie, who is a first-rank imperial consort. He must have been tired of living to take this job!

Qi Zhenzi packed his things to run away, but Xie Xiangxiang resolutely refused, saying that he was abandoning someone in distress and that she would demolish his Chongyang Palace.

Amidst the commotion, someone shouted, "The Grand Secretary has returned to his residence."

Qi Zhenzi turned and ran away. What kind of otherworldly demeanor was he? He was just putting on an act.

Xie Xiangxiang ordered the servants in the courtyard to stop Qi Zhenzi, as the matter could not be abandoned halfway.

When Gu Shaoyu entered the mansion, someone told him that his wife had returned ahead of schedule and was at Ci'en Courtyard.

He strode over, but seeing Xie Zhaozhao's pale expression, he immediately asked sternly, "What are you doing?"

Qi Zhenzi was stopped by the servant and could not escape. He finally saw the legendary Grand Secretary Gu and was so frightened that his legs went weak.

"Zhao Zhao, what's going on?" Everyone remained silent. Gu Shaoyu looked at Xie Zhao Zhao, his eyes softening.

"I was out with Miss Zhang and others to escape the summer heat. My mother was fine when I went out yesterday, but today a servant came to tell me that she had fallen into the water, so I rushed back."

Xie Zhaozhao said, "When I came back, I saw that the old lady was unwell, so my sister-in-law asked a Taoist priest to perform a ritual to exorcise evil spirits."

Qi Zhenzi didn't want her to continue, so he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, sweating profusely: "Your Excellency, I am not skilled enough, I apologize for disturbing you."

Gu Shaoyu asked Madam Tu, "Sister-in-law, did you invite these people?"

With nowhere else to retreat, Madam Tu could only shift the blame to Xie Xiangxiang: "Mother accidentally fell into the water yesterday. We called the doctor from Yuqing Hall, but he was no use. The young master's wife invited a Taoist priest to take a look, and it was this Qizhenzi."

She couldn't continue speaking.

Who isn't afraid of Gu Laosan? She is afraid too!

Gu Shaoyu adjusted his court robes and asked Nanxing to bring a chair for him to sit down.

Looking at Xie Xiangxiang, he asked calmly, "It seems the Crown Prince's wife is in the know? Please tell me the whole story!"

Xie Xiangxiang was confident and not even afraid of Gu Shaoyu. She said, "My grandmother fell into the water and there was no cure. I heard that other families had invited Taoist priests to expel evil spirits, so I invited Qizhenzi from Chongyang Palace."

"He noticed the malevolent aura emanating from Qingpu Courtyard as soon as he arrived at the manor, so could Third Uncle allow the Taoist priest to capture him?"

No one in the entire hospital dared to utter a sound, not even the old lady, who was huddled under the covers, seemingly about to faint.

Gu Shaoyu looked at Xie Xiangxiang, who did not back down at all.

Gu Shaoyu stood up and said to Nanxing, "Take the Taoist priest with you, and your sister-in-law and the young master's wife should also come along. Let's go to Qingpu Courtyard to catch the evil spirits!"

Nanxing carried the Taoist priest, with Tu Shi and Xie Xiangxiang following behind. Lu Shi, always eager for excitement, also rushed over.

Qi Zhenzi reluctantly followed into the courtyard; whether he stuck his neck out or not, he would still be killed.

The person who gave the money said there was a cassia tree in the yard, and the item was buried under the tree.

He went to Qingpu Courtyard and searched everywhere for osmanthus trees.

Sure enough, in the southeast corner of the courtyard, there was a fragrant osmanthus tree with green leaves extending from its flower stems and clusters of pale yellow flowers, which had a very strong fragrance.

He walked to the osmanthus tree and clearly saw a small pile of disguised leaves under the tree.

He pointed to the soil under the tree and said, "The evil energy comes from here."

Gu Shaoyu's face darkened, and he turned to Nanxing, saying, "Dig it open."

Nanxing's face darkened as he used a shovel to dig away the soil.

They dug not far before unearthing a wooden box.

The wooden box had a bright red background with gold patterns, and it looked old, indicating that it had been used frequently.

Xiangxing exclaimed in surprise, "Third Madam, isn't this the manuscript box you always use? Why is it buried under the tree?"

Xie Xiangxiang snorted and said indifferently, "The Taoist priest said this thing is full of evil energy. I'm afraid it contains something that might harm the mansion?"

Gu Shaoyu turned to look at Xie Zhaozhao. Xie Zhaozhao stood at a distance, meeting Gu Shaoyu's gaze with gentleness, grace, and fearlessness.

Madam Lu had already squeezed her way up, craning her neck to look inside. For some reason, she felt that someone was framing Xie Zhaozhao.

He couldn't help but say, "We're all family, can't we talk things out? What evil spirit? You're just talking nonsense because you're bored. If this box is evil spirit, throw it away as far as possible."

Xie Zhaozhao smiled faintly and said, "Now that we've dug it out, let's open it and take a look!"

This was the first time Xie Zhaozhao had spoken since everyone entered Qingpu Courtyard.

Then everyone realized that she hadn't followed along to dig for the wooden box; she was standing under the clump of green bamboo in the yard.

She was no different from usual, with her back straight, eyes slightly lowered, and lips gently curved.

Gu Shaoyu's eyes were deep and unfathomable as he said, "Open it!"