Yuan Qi returned to Peony Residence with the eighteen jade pendants, completely satisfied. The craftsmen at Phoenix Tower were extremely skilled and managed to cut the original jade into eighteen jade pendants of roughly the same size and uniform thickness. Some of the smaller scraps were ground into jade beads to make bracelets, and the larger scraps could be made into pendants.
In short, such expensive items should be used to their fullest potential.
In a good mood, Yuan Qi gave the craftsman who cut the raw jade a good luck charm.
Green Bamboo immediately served her a cup of hot tea and told her about what happened in the manor today: "The masters from Wuxiang Temple came to perform a ritual. They all said it was to help Du Haitang pass on to the afterlife."
Yuan Qi glanced at Green Bamboo indifferently. She was acting strangely today, being very attentive. She must be up to something.
"What did the master say?" Yuan Qi walked to the table and sat down, then took the hot tea from Green Bamboo's hand. She waited quietly for Green Bamboo's answer.
Green Bamboo seemed to hesitate for a moment and glanced at the door, as if afraid that someone might suddenly come in. Only after confirming that no one was at the door did she speak: "The master said that Du Haitang is unwilling to leave, and there are still many infant spirits in the mansion. If we want to send them all away, we need to perform a grand ritual, which will take at least three days and three nights."
This was the first time Green Bamboo had taken the initiative to tell Yuan Qi about the affairs of the Bagua Mansion. She felt guilty and afraid, as she felt she had betrayed the Madam.
Yuan Qi, unsure of her thoughts, asked again, "Did the master instruct the lady to do anything?"
Green Bamboo said, "Miss is right. The master instructed the lady to bathe and fast, recite the 'Rebirth Sutra' with sincerity, and personally and sincerely fold gold ingots for Du Haitang and those infant spirits."
Yuan Qi's lips curled into a mischievous smile: "Is Madam unhappy?"
“I was reluctant, but I agreed nonetheless. Oh, right…” She took out a good luck charm from her sleeve, which Yuan Qi had drawn himself. “Madam threw this away, so I picked it up.”
Yuan Qi felt that Lü Zhu was acting strangely, so he stared at her and asked, "What happened? Why are you being so respectful to me today? Tell me quickly."
Green Bamboo bit her lip, as if she had made a great decision: "Madam was unwilling to do as Master said, and even blamed Master for being long-winded, so she urged Master to perform a ritual to send them to the afterlife. Master had no choice but to follow along, but who knew that as soon as the ritual started, a strong wind suddenly arose and overturned the incense table. Master also spat out a mouthful of blood, probably because he was injured. Madam was also frightened and is still unconscious."
Green Bamboo still felt lingering fear when she recalled the situation. If it weren't for the lady telling her to throw away the amulet, and her selfishness leading her to keep it for herself, she would have coughed up blood like everyone else on the field.
Yuan Qi stared at the green bamboo with a sinister look: "So, you think my talisman is still very effective, which is why you're so respectful to me, right?"
Green Bamboo, her secret thoughts exposed, was terrified: "Yes, when the cold wind blew, sand and stones flew everywhere, and many people were swept into the air and fell heavily, either coughing up blood or breaking their arms and legs. I was lucky to escape because I had Miss's protective amulet on me. I think Seventh Miss is very powerful. From now on, I will never dare to tell anyone about Seventh Miss's whereabouts and daily life. I will be loyal to Miss to the death."
Yuan Qi could tell from her appearance that she was not a particularly wicked person and had no karmic debts. Keeping her by his side was not a bad idea, as she needed an assistant.
"Alright, if you go back on your word today, you know the consequences."
Green Bamboo immediately knelt down: "This servant dares not, this servant would never dare. Miss, rest assured, from now on this servant belongs to you. This servant has a question, and I hope you can enlighten me."
Yuan Qi hummed in agreement, speaking like a little adult: "Go ahead."
"When Du Haitang scared the madam the day before yesterday, he wasn't so powerful then. Why is he suddenly so powerful today? Even the master of Wuxiang Temple can't subdue him?"
"It must be that Du Haitang suffered some kind of shock, such as her child."
Green Bamboo nodded, suddenly realizing, "I remember now. Today, when I went to Madam's to report on Miss's matter, I heard He Xiang mention Du Haitang's son. Her son was taken away by Madam and given to servants to raise, and they still haven't found a wet nurse. Her son has been crying the whole time. It must be because of this."
A few magpie calls rang out outside, and Yuan Qi could clearly hear Shen Xun reminding her that Jiang Juncai had arrived.
Go open the door.
Green Bamboo was surprised for a moment, then obediently went to open the door. Just as the door opened, Jiang Juncai walked to the door and raised his hand to knock.
"Seventh Sister!" Jiang Juncai said anxiously, without a trace of shame. "What have you been doing all day? Why are you only just getting back? Come with me to save Mother."
If Yuan Qi remembered correctly, this person was plotting against her with Xiangli Mingzhu just yesterday, wishing she would die out there.
"Big brother?" Yuanqi skipped over, pretending not to notice his anxious expression. After all, it's normal for a child not to know how to read people's expressions.
She pulled Jiang Juncai inside and made him sit down: "I bought some nice things today, let me show them to you, brother."
Even though Jiang Juncai needed Yuan Qi's help, he didn't like her. He stood up irritably and said, "With such a big thing happening at home, you still have the mind to go shopping outside. That's really too much."
When Yuan Qi saw his fierce and menacing appearance, he burst into tears.
"You're yelling at me? What did I say wrong that you're yelling at me? I just wanted to show you the nice things I bought. What did I do wrong? Waaaaah..."
Jiang Juncai was at his wits' end. Just two days ago he was dealing with Du Haitang, and today he's crying and wailing.
Green Bamboo stared at Yuan Qi without moving, thinking that her face changed too quickly and must be on purpose.
Jiang Juncai had no choice but to patiently coax her: "Seventh Sister, don't cry. You just came down from the mountain, you should take a good look around and have some fun. It was my fault for not taking you out. I'll take you out to play another day and buy you delicious food and fun things, okay?"
Yuan Qi then stopped crying, pouted and nodded: "You have to keep your word."
"Come with me quickly, something has happened to Mother." Jiang Juncai pulled her straight to Xiangyue Courtyard.
The courtyard of Xiangyue was filled with maids and servants, and even Consort Li, Jiang Jiulu, and their two sons were waiting in the courtyard.
Upon entering the room, three men dressed in official robes and carrying medicine chests were discussing something in hushed tones with serious expressions. Without asking, they were all experienced imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital.
Not far away, on the ground lay Jiang Bailu and Jiang Songlu, both unconscious, with blood still on their lips.
The room was cold and filled with malevolent energy. Yuan Qi could even hear the howling of a vengeful ghost. Although she disliked Xiangli Mingzhu, she couldn't just watch her be killed by a vengeful ghost.
She strode into the bedroom and saw a thick cloud of black mist swirling around Xiangli Mingzhu.
Her limbs were bound by black energy, with the black energy around her neck being particularly dense.
Xiangli Mingzhu was unconscious, her mouth wide open as if she couldn't breathe, and her face was purplish-black.
Du Haitang absorbed malevolent energy and transformed into a vengeful ghost!
Nearby, Master Yuanjue was using his entire body's Buddhist teachings to combat another, even denser mass of black energy.
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