Chapter Nine
Aunt Wang and Master Zhang stared at each other for a long time. Then, she suddenly grinned and changed her words, saying, "I misspoke earlier. I replaced the silver poria flower from Li Qing's family."
Zhang Tianshi twitched the corners of his mouth, his amiable face turning cold.
"You didn't say that before you saw the golden poria flower." He straightened up expressionlessly. "Do you know something? Or are you covering for someone?"
"If I'm going to die, naturally I'll drag Li Qing's whole family down with me to accompany my beloved Yuan. Who will I cover for?"
“Who said you were going to die?” Zhang Tianshi shrewdly seized the opportunity. “The Temple of Strange People is only responsible for strange matters. Personnel matters are decided by the government. Your current crime is merely the desecration of Li Han’s body. Who is sentencing you to death?”
Aunt Wang was taken aback and looked away from Zhang Tianshi.
No matter what questions Zhang Tianshi asked, Aunt Wang kept her eyes half-closed and remained silent.
Zhang Tianshi snorted coldly, turned to look at Li Zhi, who stood as still as a statue, and said meaningfully, "Since Aunt Wang is unwilling to say, then how about we ask the one in the inner room?"
Li Zhi did not answer.
Impatiently waiting, Master Pei entered the inner room first and was surprised to meet Baozhu's eyes on the bed.
Baozhu cried out and shrank back under the covers, her voice trembling as she said, "Why did you suddenly barge into a woman's room?"
Master Pei hadn't expected that a delicate young lady was hiding in the room. His imposing aura instantly dissipated, and he stammered, "Why is Miss hiding in the room?"
"You were the ones who suddenly barged into my aunt's house. I wasn't feeling well and had been lying down," Baozhu said reproachfully.
Master Pei blushed, let out a soft "uh," and looked behind him for help.
Zhang Tianshi, unaware that there was a woman inside, was somewhat embarrassed. He coughed lightly and stood outside, calling out loudly, "Miss, did you hear what we were saying just now?"
"I heard you," Baozhu mumbled, buried in the blanket. "Your Celestial Masters have already found out the truth, so what else do you want me to say? If you ask me, I'll just say my aunt did a good job."
This lady is really...
Upon hearing this, the two Taoist priests both reached out and scratched their heads.
In the corner, Li Zhi, who had been silent all along, let out a soft chuckle.
Zhang Tianshi turned to look at Li Zhi, who looked back at him without flinching.
There seems to be a natural understanding between men. Zhang Tianshi suddenly realized, put on an understanding face, pointed into the room and said in a hushed voice, "You're following her like this because of her?"
Li Zhi blinked but did not answer.
Seeing that she had been discovered, Baozhu decided to throw caution to the wind and got up from under the covers, saying, "Isn't what happened to my sister that damn Li Han's fault? Didn't my aunt dig up his grave? I only regret that I came too late, otherwise I would have gone to get her a hoe!"
"Miss, you can't say things like that," Master Pei advised with a wry smile.
Upon hearing this, Baozhu shrank back, her previous imposing manner vanished, and said in a soft voice, "What are you going to do to my aunt?"
The two Celestial Masters exchanged a glance. Celestial Master Zhang said, "We need to take her back to the county. As for what to do with her, that's up to the higher-ups to decide. We're just running errands."
After a night of commotion, it was almost dawn, and everyone was exhausted. Seeing that Aunt Wang had confessed everything she could, Zhang Tianshi decided to stop the interrogation and first clean up the troublesome old locust tree and the corpse outside. They would set off for Qiling County as soon as it was light.
Baozhu claimed to be unwell, and the Celestial Masters had no choice but to let her stay in bed. They then locked Aunt Wang in the inner room, with Celestial Master Pei, who was also a woman, guarding her in the main room. Celestial Master Zhang and Li Zhi left Aunt Wang's house one after the other.
"When did this young lady arrive in Fuxia Village?" Zhang Tianshi asked casually as he stepped out of the courtyard.
“A few days ago,” Li Zhi tugged at his slightly wrinkled linen robe, “Master Zhang asked about this?”
"Oh, it's nothing, I was just asking." Master Zhang completely relaxed.
The entanglement three years ago shouldn't be related to this young lady. Perhaps he's overthinking it. While thinking this, Zhang Tianshi directed the strong men of Yiren Temple on how to deal with the old locust tree, instructing them to dig it up carefully and burn it thoroughly, leaving no tree roots behind.
He then casually climbed into the mule cart to take a short rest.
Li Zhi stood there, watching Zhang Tianshi get onto the mule cart, before turning around and walking towards his own home.
When he got home, he went to the kitchen first and took out a basket of vegetables that was on the floor.
The green vegetable approached the mortal and slowly emitted a trace of resentment.
Li Zhi stared at the wisp of resentment for a while, then suddenly reached out and grabbed it in his palm.
He wanted to give it a firm grip, but then stopped.
Li Zhi put the vegetables back where they were.
Meanwhile, at Aunt Wang's house, Master Pei, who was sleeping in the main room, still felt uneasy. He tossed and turned for a long time before finally sitting up, taking out his compass from his satchel, and staring intently at it.
The compass needle wobbled listlessly, pointing nowhere.
Master Pei breathed a slight sigh of relief, put down the compass, and changed his posture so that he could see into the inner room, carefully monitoring the two people inside.
She didn't intend to close her eyes and rest.
This was her first time going out on a mission, and Master Pei felt that he couldn't be too cautious.
Baozhu, who was in the inner room, was not as calm as she appeared. As a fox demon, this was her first time dealing directly with a celestial master, and her heart was in her throat. She was ready to run away at any moment.
Fortunately, the county's Taoist priest was indeed not skilled enough and did not see through her demonic form.
Baozhu looked at Aunt Wang beside her and felt a little tempted to chat.
"You're pretty good."
Aunt Wang was lost in thought, and when she heard this, she could only manage a weak smile.
Baozhu glanced outside to make sure that Master Pei hadn't heard her, then leaned close to Aunt Wang's ear and whispered, "You did it. Li Han didn't drown."
Aunt Wang remained silent, but her smile became even more genuine.
Seeing that Aunt Wang had no desire to talk, Baozhu was somewhat disappointed and wanted to retreat, but then she had a new question.
"How did your husband die?"
Aunt Wang couldn't see how curious Baozhu's eyes were in the darkness, but she could clearly see the sudden relaxation on Aunt Wang's face and her wide eyes.
She looked intently at Aunt Wang, about to praise her, when Aunt Wang opened her mouth.
“Aiyuan disagreed, but he was very happy. He accepted the money from Li Qing, one tael of silver.” The white-haired woman’s indistinct voice contained boundless hatred. “He went to the street and bought several feet of red cloth and several catties of wine for Aiyuan. At that time, I didn’t know. I was asking Li Qing for an explanation. They said that he had accepted the money and had already agreed. They beat me very badly.”
“I went back, I went to him to get the money back to them, and then I saw it.”
Aunt Wang's voice trembled.
"Ehime hanged herself with a red cloth inside the house."
Baozhu listened attentively.
“He was so heartbroken that he drank several kilograms of liquor, fell asleep, and never woke up again. He went to be with his daughter. I also returned the money he had collected to the Li family.”
The darkness outside the window gradually faded, and Aunt Wang's face was half bathed in the morning light.
She was like a poorly made wooden sculpture by an unskilled craftsman, stiffly telling lies.
Baozhu had a sudden flash of inspiration and recalled the strange feeling she had when she first saw the two memorial tablets enshrined in the main hall.
The position of Li Xin, and the position of his beloved daughter Li Aiyuan.
Baozhu blinked, feeling a throbbing in her chest.
Human emotions are like a river with undercurrents; beneath the seemingly calm surface lies a torrent of love and hate.
She looked intently at the old woman's face as if she were seeing Aunt Wang for the first time.
It was almost dawn; Aunt Wang would soon be taken to Qiling County.
"What's your name?" Baozhu suddenly asked in a low voice.
Aunt Wang was stunned.
After a while, she gave a bright smile.
Before the sun had fully risen, she leaned close to Baozhu's ear and whispered, "Wang Lanzhen."
"My name is Wang Lanzhen."
Inside the main room, Master Pei looked at the two memorial tablets enshrined on the incense table.
She couldn't hear the young lady's whispers, but the old woman's hoarse voice kept drilling into her ears.
Master Pei closed her eyes; she hadn't heard anything today.
After the sun rose, the burly men from Yiren Temple helped Wang Lanzhen onto a mule cart. Her small, thin body was sandwiched between two tall men on either side of her, making her appear even more inconspicuous.
However, she was not as weak as others thought. Wang Lanzhen smiled, and the morning light gave her white hair a golden edge.
The villagers collected Li Han's body, which was wrapped in burlap, and leveled the charred old locust tree. Out of respect for Yiren Temple, they dared not speak out, but could only glare at the mule carts as they slowly drove away.
"She won't make it," an old man said, stroking his long beard.
"Yes, even if the Temple of Strange People lets her go, how could the government let her go?"
After talking for a while, everyone's attention turned to Aunt Wang's courtyard, which had its gate tightly closed.
This courtyard has lost its owner.
People with their own ulterior motives have already begun another kind of competition in their hearts.
"By the way, where is Li Yao? Why didn't he show up for such an important event?"
The villagers discussed among themselves as they walked toward the former village chief's house.
Unexpectedly, the front door of Li Yao's house was wide open, the mourning hall was in chaos, and further inside, the main room and study had been ransacked, with nothing of value missing.
The group found Li Yao naked on the floor of the inner room and shook him vigorously for a long time before he woke up.
The long-bearded old man was heartbroken and slapped Li Yao's arm, saying, "Where are your things? Where is your wife?"
Li Yao stared blankly at him, unable to answer any of his questions.
People were heartbroken, as if their own possessions had been stolen. They beat their chests in frustration and hated Li Yao's wife with a passion that made their teeth itch.
"What's his wife's name? Where is she from? Where is her family? This is outrageous! I'm going to arrest her and take her to the authorities!" the long-bearded old man exclaimed excitedly.
There was a moment of silence in the crowd before someone hesitated and said, "I think I heard Li Qing say that he bought that woman for one tael of silver."
"One tael of silver? That's so cheap, could it be a setup?"
"Li Qing is too greedy for a bargain!"
After berating Li Qing, these people still didn't leave, seemingly developing a great interest in Li Qing's home.
At this time, Baozhu also developed a great interest in Li Zhi's home.
She gracefully knocked on Li Zhi's door and said softly, "Young Master Li, my aunt has been taken away, and I'm all alone in the house. I'm really scared. I haven't cooked a meal at home before. I wonder if I could trouble you for a meal?"
Li Zhi naturally wouldn't refuse. He stepped aside to let Baozhu into the house, poured her some tea, and said, "Miss, please sit for a while."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the kitchen.
As soon as he left, Baozhu started rummaging through Li Zhi's house.
Since that damned Li Qing and Zhang Yuniang cast a curse on Li Zhi, they must have used some kind of object. They couldn't find it last time, so they must find it and destroy it this time, otherwise there will be more trouble.
However, Li Zhi's family was extremely poor, with almost nothing in their house. The two rooms were searched in no time, and Baozhu found nothing.
Where did Li Zhi go with all the rations the government gave him? Did he go out drinking and carousing?
While lost in thought, Baozhu searched the courtyard.
In the bare courtyard, apart from some neatly stacked firewood, there was only a simple kitchen.
Li Zhi was busy inside with his sleeves rolled up, and Baozhu couldn't help but glance at him several times.
Just as she was about to force herself to look away, she noticed something was off about the vegetables in Li Zhi's hand.
"Stop!" Baozhu shouted from outside the kitchen, completely forgetting her delicate and pampered demeanor.
Li Zhi obediently stopped what he was doing.
Baozhu dashed into the kitchen like a gust of wind, reached out and squeezed, crushing the vegetables and her resentment into a pulp.
However, her hands were now covered in a bright green smear, which disgusted her.
"Oh dear!" Baozhu frowned and scolded, while trying to explain, "I... I just can't eat this vegetable, I'm sorry."
Li Zhi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Okay, then I won't eat it."
Having said that, he took the liberty of gently pulling Baozhu's delicate hand, scooping water to wash it carefully, and then finding a fine cloth to dry it before putting it down.
Baozhu's face flushed red.
Just as she was about to say something, a very unpleasant scream came from outside the courtyard.
Baozhu was taken aback.
Seemingly waiting for no response, the appalling screams grew even more shrill.
Baozhu suddenly realized that she hadn't thought about the red fox for a long time.
At this moment, the familiar yet strange cry meant that her sister was demanding that she appear immediately.
Red Fox has an extremely urgent matter at hand!
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