"Ziling, do you know any famous Taoist priests in the capital?"
"My lady, what are you doing? The Jiang court has never believed in arithmetic, and if they catch someone doing it, they will punish them severely. How are we supposed to find them?"
"Witchcraft is definitely out of the question. But if I want to perform a ritual for my deceased mother, that should be possible, right?" Ruan Yumu had a sudden inspiration. She had to find a Taoist priest to ask if there was a way to break the spell. The backyard was dark and gloomy, and she had been feeling really stifled these past few days.
"Of course, I'll arrange it for you."
"Hey! Take this hairpin. My Yunxiang Pavilion has nothing of value left, so it will be more convenient for you to take it."
“Madam, I cannot accept this. It was a gift from the General when you and he became engaged. Zi Ling has a way to help you. Please take it back quickly.” What way could Zi Ling possibly have? She would simply borrow it from Vice General Xu. Based on their shared childhood bond, and the fact that he had been supporting Ruan Yu Mu during his recent financial difficulties, Zi Ling would seek his help.
"What? Was it the token of love I gave her? How come I have no recollection of it?" Ruan Yu Mu stared blankly at the hairpin. It turned out that she had been living such a miserable life in the backyard that she had to pawn her token of love to make ends meet.
Seeing Ruan Yu Mu whispering to each other, Zi Ling thought that the concubine must be reluctant to part with him, so she quietly took her leave.
Before long, two Taoist priests came in carrying a pile of things.
"Madam, they've arrived."
"I would like to trouble you gentlemen to set up an altar outside the door first, and then we can discuss it further. My request today is something else entirely."
"Yes, Madam. We will only perform sacrificial rites and prayers. We must never engage in witchcraft. If you have such thoughts, I will take my leave immediately."
"If that's the case, then I'll be frank. I am Qi Jingxuan, the general of the Qi family, but I don't know what method that slut used to possess my body."
"What?" The Taoist priest looked at Ruan Yu Mu, who kept spouting these outrageous words, and asked Zi Ling in disbelief, "Has your young lady been injured or hit her head recently?"
"I fell into the water a few days ago, but no military doctor came to see me. After I woke up, they didn't take care of me anymore."
"That's normal then. Your concubine's problem must be due to being frightened. I'm sorry, I can't help you. I'll take my leave now." Upon hearing this, the two Taoist priests fled in panic, taking the money pouch from Zi Ling's hand as they left.
"I haven't finished speaking yet? How unreliable is this?"
"My lady, I will definitely ask a doctor to see you. What will become of you if you continue like this? The general is back, so you should dress up and please him. Then, you can gain status through your son and your life will be easier."
Ruan Yumu felt a pang of sadness; when had she ever been reduced to pleasing a man? Just then, the general sent Xu Yunchuan with a large quantity of gold and silver jewelry, as well as fine silks and satins.
"The general rewards his concubine with five bolts of silk and satin, two gold and jade hairpins, a pair of white jade earrings, a pair of antique bracelets, gold ingots, one hundred taels of silver, and some rouge and face powder. Considering Ziling's hard work in serving the concubine, he also rewards her with twenty taels of silver and one bolt of silk. Ziling, come, quickly put them away."
"Deputy General Xu, did you get these for us?"
"No, it's probably because you came to me to borrow money this afternoon and were seen. The general must have feelings for his concubine, which is why he asked me to quickly prepare some things and bring them over. Concubine, these are mostly imperial gifts, so please keep them safe."
Looking at these things, Ruan Yumu wondered what kind of bad idea Qi Jingxuan was up to, but his arrival was indeed timely. Yunxianglou didn't even have any decent decorations, and she wondered how they lived such a poor life.
She always thought about her poor maternal family, who had emptied my Qi mansion.
"Hmph! Sending me this filthy stuff at this time, is it to pity me?" Ruan Yumu muttered to himself as he looked at the gold and silver jewelry.
Little did Ruan Yu Mu know that she hadn't taken anything back to her mother's house at all. It was all because the servants thought she was easy to bully, and all the valuables in her room had been stolen by the servants.
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