Old Master Bai greatly admired Yuan Qi's professional skills, praising him directly: "That Kong Qing from Wuji Palace is nothing but a name without substance. Seventh Miss is far more capable. I remember when my eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant with Fu Jun, an experienced doctor said she was carrying twins. Kong Qing, despite his reputation, couldn't see that. He said he couldn't extract the extra soul and spirit, and even said that forcibly extracting them might harm her. In the end, he just lacks ability."
Yuan Qi didn't feel embarrassed at all by being praised by his elders, and accepted it quite readily.
She tilted her head and said, "Thank you for the compliment, sir. I just know a little bit about things because I've been listening and observing a lot around my master."
Grandpa Bai didn't think Yuan Qi had done anything wrong. He was so young, yet he had such great abilities. His future was definitely limitless, so it was okay for him to be a little proud.
"Does Miss Seven have any way to change her luck?"
Yuan Qi stood in the courtyard with Old Master Bai: "Actually, the Bai family's feng shui layout is very good, which nurtures both people and fortune. As long as it is managed properly, the Bai family's fortune will not remain so low. If Old Master Bai could do more good deeds and kill fewer animals, it would also help to change the family's fortune."
The two talked in the courtyard for a long time before Yuan Qi left the Bai family.
Bai Youhui still took her back. Bai Youhui regretted it a little: "Why did I introduce you to them? If the eldest son's family is no longer suitable, wouldn't all this wealth and honor fall into the hands of our third son's family?"
Yuan Qi looked at his face with great disdain.
Bai Youhui panicked when he saw it: "What do you mean by that look? Does it mean that our third branch of the family will never be able to turn things around?"
Yuan Qi chuckled and patted his shoulder: "Then tell me, are you three families lacking food or clothing?"
Bai Youhui immediately shook his head: "No, that's not it. My father and mother both own quite a few shops, and their businesses are doing quite well, earning more than the eldest son's family. It's just that my younger brothers and I are not good at studying, but we are good at causing trouble. My father and mother hope that we will study hard, become officials in the future, bring honor to the family, and that I will become the clan leader in the future."
He sighed and mocked himself, "Do I look like the makings of a clan leader?"
Yuan Qi had an expression that said, "I knew it all along: The way out for your third branch of the family is not through studying and becoming an official. If you can do business well, you might find a different path."
Bai Youhui's eyes lit up: "You know what, my brothers and I are all good at business. Just because I introduced you to Grandpa, he gave me a thousand taels of silver as a reward, telling me to keep in touch with you and try to..."
Yuan Qi stared into his eyes: "Strive for what?"
Bai Youhui chuckled foolishly, but dared not say anything about trying to marry the Seventh Miss as his wife.
He changed his mind before he could finish speaking: "I'll try to recognize you as my sworn sister."
Jiang Jun had just returned from the palace that day and went to pay his respects to Xiangli Mingzhu. The mother and son sat and chatted.
Xiangli Mingzhu has been thinking a lot these past two days.
"How have your two days of duty in the palace gone?" Xiangli Mingzhu was not happy, as she was worried that her son would run into trouble again.
Jiang Juncai was also in a bad mood, unlike his usual cheerful and energetic self. Ever since the Li family incident, he had been feeling down and couldn't muster the energy to do anything.
"Things went relatively smoothly. No more palace servants died without cause, and no one attacked the palace's defensive array. Mother, I heard that Seventh Sister went to the Bai family again. The Bai family seems to care a lot about this. I secretly inquired with my colleagues many times, but I couldn't find out anything. Did Grandmother say what she went there for?"
Xiangli Mingzhu shook her head: "I have asked about it indirectly when I pay my respects these past two days. Your grandmother did say a few words, only that the sixth young master is much better and that Old Master Bai praised him highly. But your grandmother wouldn't say the specifics, and I was too embarrassed to keep asking."
Jiang Juncai nodded: "It's pretty much what I found out. What illness do you think Bai Fujun has? She even sees the doctor secretly and invited Seventh Sister over."
He was really puzzled and couldn't figure out what illness Bai Fujun had.
Xiangli Mingzhu snorted: "This Xiao Qi, ever since she came back, nothing has gone well in our family. One strange thing after another keeps happening to us. I think she's a jinx. No, I'll have to go see Master Kong Qing for a reading another day."
Jiang Juncai hummed in agreement, without objecting. He then asked, "Why didn't Mother go to Wuxiang Temple to see Master Huineng?"
Xiangli Mingzhu was very dissatisfied: "It makes me angry. Xiaoqi is actually an old acquaintance of this old monk. Didn't you notice last time we went? That old monk didn't even see you or me, but he talked to her in the room for so long. If I had said to the old monk that Xiaoqi was a jinx, he would have definitely told Xiaoqi right away. We have to go find Master Kongqing."
Jiang Juncai remained noncommittal, but felt that things had indeed been strange lately, and that it wouldn't hurt to have Daoist Kong Qing do some calculations.
Xiangli Mingzhu continued, "Look, the Li family used to be doing well. Although people are a bit greedy, their home was still relatively peaceful. Ever since Xiaoqi went there, the Li family has been in chaos, with one misfortune after another. Now they've all been wiped out. You've been tainted by the Li family's bad luck, and you've been plagued by misfortune ever since."
Jiang Juncai disagreed with this statement: "The Li family's affairs have nothing to do with Seventh Sister, right? The Li family is so greedy, you always said that they would get their retribution sooner or later, so why are you blaming Seventh Sister now that they have suffered their retribution? I think there is some truth to the claim that our family's affairs are related to Seventh Sister, after all, Seventh Sister was involved in some things. Mother, please don't blame Seventh Sister for the Li family's affairs."
Xiangli Mingzhu was very angry: "What do you know? Think about it, when the old lady of the Li family celebrated her birthday, Concubine Li insisted on taking Xiaoqi with her. If Xiaoqi hadn't gone, who knows..."
Jiang Juncai was actually quite grateful to Yuan Qi. He felt it was unfair for Xiangli Mingzhu to pin the blame on Yuan Qi, since no matter how capable Yuan Qi was, he couldn't control other people's lives and deaths.
He interrupted Xiangli Mingzhu: "Mother, Seventh Sister isn't a jinx, is she? Don't talk nonsense. She has cured many people, such as Ninth Master's illness and Ninth Master's nephew Xiangli Zhuoyue. Isn't that a good deed? How can she be a jinx?"
Xiangli Mingzhu was indignant, feeling that it was because of her son Yuan Qi that she was so unlucky, being possessed by the Ghost King and extorted by the Li family.
"Stop defending her. Tomorrow I'll go to Wuji Palace to have Master Kongqing do my divination. If the master says she's a jinx, let's see what you have to say then. You should stay away from her from now on."
Jiang Juncai had no choice but to ask her, "You just publicly announced Seventh Sister's identity a few days ago, and even said that she was your legitimate daughter. How come you think she's a jinx now? You've changed your mind too quickly!"
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