Chapter 35 Seeking Death
In the courtyard, a middle-aged Taoist priest came with two younger Taoist priests. He bowed to the old lady, and then said with a serious face: "I passed by Yangning City, and suddenly saw black smoke in the east, which made me feel strange. I hurried over to check, and indeed, I saw a black fog hovering over your mansion. After hearing about your mansion, I concluded that there was something fishy going on, so I came here uninvited."
The old lady listened to his serious words and immediately felt respect for him: "Master, you are too kind. I feel relieved to have you here. I hope you will drive away the evil spirit."
The Taoist priest bowed again and said, "Of course, it is my job to exorcise demons and monsters."
That mysterious look made people believe it even more. Only Lu Xiang knew that this was probably someone arranged by Liu long ago to come at the right time.
After saying that, the Taoist priest came with his apprentice and started to get busy. Manager Du was busy preparing everything they needed.
Everyone gathered in the yard. The Taoist priest held up a yellow talisman paper in one hand and a peach wood sword in the other. He took steps that no one could understand and muttered something.
Everyone was confused by what was going on, and Lu Xiang just felt like he was watching a big show.
Soon, the Taoist priest finished his ritual, put away the wooden sword, counted with his fingers, and then bowed to Lu Youping and said, "My lord, there is something unclean near this yard, so this concubine is in great pain all over her body but we can't find the cause of the disease."
This sentence immediately made Lu Youping's face change, and he said nervously: "No wonder, Taoist priest, do you know where it is?"
The Taoist priest shook his head: "The secrets of heaven cannot be fully revealed. I can only calculate an approximate three directions."
As he spoke, the Taoist priest pointed to three places at random.
Seeing this, Lu Youping waved his hand and shouted angrily, "Come here, search every inch of the three courtyards."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the servants dispersed.
The three places pointed out by the Taoist priest were the courtyard where Aunt Lin and Qiu Huan lived, and the other one was the guest house.
When Aunt Lin saw that the master ordered people to search her yard without saying a word, she almost fainted from anger, but she dared not say anything.
Qiu Huan didn't feel anything about these people searching the courtyard. Her eyes only wanted to stick to Lu Youping, and she kept winking at him, looking very charming.
Qiuhuan knew that she had betrayed Aunt Liu. If she didn't gain a foothold in the mansion as soon as possible, it would become more difficult in the future. After all, she was now just a maid without even a name.
She is young and beautiful, so she must hold on to the master while he likes her. It would be best if she could have a boy in one go. Otherwise, once the master loses patience with her, her fate will definitely not be good.
The old lady also ordered Mother Wen to take people to help search for the so-called "unclean" things.
After hearing the Taoist's words, Lu Xiang's expression showed a moment of surprise.
It's unexpected that Liu is doing this to plot against others.
As his eyes moved, countless beauties blossomed, and Lu Xiang quickly realized that Liu went there to compete with Qiu Huan.
No wonder, no wonder, Liu has been praising Qiuhuan to the top these days. That was a trap she had dug, waiting for Qiuhuan to fall from the clouds to the ground today.
After all, Qiuhuan is her father's new favorite. Liu cannot treat Qiuhuan for no reason just for the sake of momentary pleasure, otherwise everyone will think that she is cruel and intolerant, and her father will feel alienated from her.
But now, everyone knows how good Liu was to Qiuhuan, so after Qiuhuan harmed Liu, everyone will only hate Qiuhuan even more, and no matter whether she is dead or disabled, they will just think that she deserves it.
Soon, all the maids who searched the house came back. Luo Chun, who was at the front, walked up to the old lady and Lu Youping, holding a tray in her hand.
Everyone saw clearly what was on the plate.
It was a rag doll made of white silk, with silver needles inserted all over its body, and on the doll's chest was written someone's birth date.
Suddenly, Lu Mingzhu's eyes widened in horror and she screamed, "Why is there my aunt's horoscope on it? Who, who is cursing my aunt?"
Her face was pale, and her eyes, which were burning with anger, now looked blood red. No matter who it was, no one could remain calm when their own mother was cursed.
In the Wei Dynasty, witchcraft and sorcery were strictly prohibited. If discovered, the consequence would be death without exception. In more serious cases, the entire family would be executed.
In an instant, the courtyard was eerily quiet. There was only the sound of a gentle breeze blowing past my ears, along with a slight rustling sound.
"No wonder, no wonder there are red spots on my aunt's body. Now it seems that they are the same as the needle holes on the dolls?" Lu Mingzhu said with a trembling body.
The atmosphere in the air became depressing, and everyone was guessing in whose house the doll was found.
"Who did it?" Lu Youping looked sinister as he stared at the strange puppet and roared.
"Master, they were found in Qiuhuan's house." Luo Chun turned his head and glared at Qiuhuan, saying hatefully.
After these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.
When Luochun finished speaking, Qiuhuan felt a sudden buzz in her head and became stunned.
Lu Youping suddenly glanced sideways, and his sharp eyes full of murderous intent shot towards Qiu Huan.
Qiu Huan turned pale with fear and knelt down with a plop: "Master, I am innocent."
With such direct physical evidence presented, Lu Youping didn't believe at all that Qiu Huan was wrongly accused.
No matter who he favors, Liu is the one he loves most in his heart, and no one can harm her.
There was rage in his eyes, and he glared at Qiu Huan with gritted teeth.
"Bitch—"
Everyone in the yard looked at Qiu Huan, who was kneeling on the ground and shaking with fear, with different expressions.
There is pity, sympathy, anger, injustice, satisfaction, and gloating over misfortunes...
The gazes of these people were like sharp blades, slicing Qiu Huan's body one by one.
"Madam, please check carefully. I am innocent. I did not curse Aunt Liu. I did not!" Qiu Huan was so frightened that she did not know what to do. Tears welled up in her eyes in an instant. She looked at the murderous Lu Youping and was too scared to speak.
She crawled to the old lady's feet, grabbed her skirt and cried, "Old lady, I didn't harm Aunt Liu, please save me."
There was a cold look in the old lady's eyes.
"You are so cruel and yet you have the nerve to cry out for injustice." She didn't like the Liu mother and daughter, but the old lady hated Qiuhuan even more for using witchcraft to put them in danger at the Lu family.
"No, I didn't harm Aunt Liu, and I don't know why the doll was in my room. Master, Madam, please investigate. I am truly innocent."
Qiu Huan's face turned pale and she kowtowed continuously to prove her innocence, but even though her forehead was bleeding, no one showed any sympathy for her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com