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Qingli didn’t pay any further attention to the Chu family’s affairs, but she had a rough idea of how things would turn out in her heart.
Lin and her daughter would only find their lives getting better. Lin’s marriage palace had another line, and that line was much clearer than the previous one. Combined with Lin’s facial features, it indicated that she would lead a wealthy and carefree life in her later years.
As for Lin Tianjiao’s marriage, it was also very promising; she would marry a good man and be able to establish herself, so her life would not be lacking.
On the other hand, the Chu family members would face increasingly difficult times in their later years. The old matriarch’s health was deteriorating due to neglect, and there were signs of impending paralysis. Chu Xu, after a lifetime of hard work, faced an unsuccessful career and was ultimately dragged down by Chu Zhiyan, losing his only official position.
Chu Zhiyan, who had been cunning and scheming for his own future, would find himself hitting a wall. Although he eventually passed the examinations, he would lose everything in the end, returning to square one.
The only one who fared relatively better was the youngest, Chu Zhiwei, who, mindful of the bond with Lin and her children, was constantly trying to make amends. He engaged in some small business and managed to get by.
However, Lin and her daughter were unaware of any of this. After the divorce, they returned to the Lin family and not only did they not wallow in sorrow, but they also started a business, living their lives earnestly.
…
After returning to the inn, Qingli went to bed.
The next morning, she got up early, waiting for the third day to arrive. The family of the man should be coming to find her now.
She walked to the window, pushed it open, and wanted to breathe in the fresh morning air, but her eyes fell on the handsome man in the crowd below.
Is it him?
Riding a tall horse, Nangong Yan appeared even more charismatic, dressed in a black outfit with long legs hanging down on either side of the horse. His broad shoulders and narrow waist gave him a striking figure, and his facial features were sharply defined, with deep-set dark eyes radiating a cold aura. He exuded a powerful presence, making him seem unapproachable.
Qingli couldn’t help but admire this picturesque scene, but in the next moment, those sharp black eyes suddenly shot towards her. Startled, Qingli quickly closed the window, feeling a bit flustered.
When Nangong Yan looked up, he only caught a fleeting shadow. He frowned slightly, feeling that it looked somewhat familiar.
“Your Majesty, we need to pick up the pace,” Hei Jin said, unable to hold back as he saw his master slowing down.
Nangong Yan nodded, shaking off the thought of the shadow and urging his horse to gallop forward.
After a while, Qingli opened the window again, noticing that the street below was only sparsely populated with a few commoners. Not seeing the man’s figure, she finally felt at ease.
Seeing him again reminded her of her purpose in robbing him, and she unconsciously touched her belly, uncertain if she was pregnant. It had only been a few days, and even if she were, it wouldn’t show just yet.
Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly felt the jade bracelet on her wrist heat up—it was the talisman for that man burning.
At that moment, in the eastern Wang Manor, white silk hung throughout the residence, and the family was engulfed in grief.
Yesterday, the only son of the Wang family, Wang Can, had died a tragic death, and no one knew who his enemy was. The Wang family was heartbroken as they searched for the murderer while also preparing for Wang Can’s funeral.
However, last night, Madam Wang had a dream. In her dream, Wang Can cried out to her, saying he was scared and that many ghosts wanted to eat him. He didn’t know where to go or what to do.
Madam Wang’s heart ached for him as she comforted him, saying she would burn money for him, lots of it, hoping it would help. Wang Can shook his head repeatedly, recounting his tragic situation, and then expressed his regret for not listening to Qingli’s advice that day. If he had believed her and sought a solution, perhaps he wouldn’t have died.
Madam Wang was confused, and after asking detailed questions, she learned that three days prior, a woman had told him his fate, claiming he was destined to die and would be unable to be reborn unless he invited her to perform a soul release.
Wang Can explained everything to his mother and told her that the talisman had been carelessly discarded on the desk in his study. He urged her to find it quickly and burn it so the master could come and perform the soul release for him.
Upon waking up, Madam Wang hurried to the study to look for the talisman but couldn’t find it. She then summoned all the maids and servants to inquire and finally found the discarded talisman in the waste basket under the desk.
Madam Wang was furious and immediately killed the maid who had discarded the talisman, causing everyone in the Wang mansion to feel anxious and fearful.
After burning the talisman, Madam Wang anxiously waited in the mourning hall.
Eventually, a servant came to report that a woman had arrived outside, claiming to be a sorceress here to perform a soul release for their young master.
Madam Wang was overjoyed and quickly ordered someone to invite her in.
However, upon seeing Qingli, she was momentarily surprised. But recalling her son’s plea in the dream, she respectfully said, “Master, you have finally arrived. Last night, my son came to me in a dream, saying he is suffering greatly below and pleading for your help to send him to be reborn. The Wang family will surely reward you handsomely.”
As soon as Qingli entered the residence, she frowned. The lingering resentment in the place was overwhelming.
She noticed the fierce, bloody female ghost hovering above Madam Wang’s head and couldn’t help but ask, “Madam Wang, have you committed any acts of killing today?”
Madam Wang was taken aback, then recalled the maid she had killed that morning. She hesitated to meet Qingli’s gaze and said, “I merely punished a maid for her incompetence. Who knew she would… die? I didn’t mean it; she deserved to be punished for her mistakes.”
Qingli looked at the mourning hall and said flatly, “Do you know why your young master cannot be reborn?”
Madam Wang shook her head. “I… I don’t know.”
Qingli replied coldly, “It’s because he has committed too many acts of killing and is bound by resentment, preventing him from being reborn.”
Madam Wang instinctively retorted, “No, that’s impossible! My son is a good child; he hasn’t committed any acts of killing.”
Qingli rolled her eyes internally. A doting mother often spoils her child. If a mother indulges her child like this, how can the child understand right from wrong? Moreover, Madam Wang herself had committed numerous acts of killing. Parents’ words and actions can influence their children; with a mother like this, how could the son turn out well?
“If you don’t believe me, then there’s no need to ask me for help. To send your young master to be reborn is not something I can accomplish with just a ritual; you also need to appease the spirits he harmed and reduce their resentment. Only then can he be successfully sent to be reborn.”
Seeing Qingli’s anger, Madam Wang panicked. “Master, I believe you! I believe you! I am willing to make any compensation—just please help my son be reborn. He’s all alone down there and very scared.”
Thinking of her son’s cries from last night made Madam Wang heartbroken, and she could only plead tearfully with Qingli.
Qingli replied coldly, “Madam Wang, the acts of killing you have committed today not only affect you but also your young master. You have added more sins for both him and yourself.”
Madam Wang was stunned, filled with regret. She hurriedly explained, “I was just too angry at the time and couldn’t control my emotions. I regret it; please help me resolve this.”
Qingli could only sit down and said to Madam Wang, “Have someone bring me paper and ink. I will summon your young master’s soul. You must list all the acts of killing he has committed and then make compensations to reduce the resentment. Finally, we will see if he can be reborn as a human. If the resentment cannot be appeased and reduced, then your young master will only have the option of being reborn as a beast.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang felt as if a thunderbolt had struck her. “A beast? What does that mean?”
Qingli explained in a calm tone, “There are two paths of reincarnation: one leads to being human, and the other leads to being a beast. Your young master has committed too many acts of killing and has accumulated a lot of resentment. If he wants to be reborn as a human, he must quickly make amends to reduce the resentment and appease the spirits he has harmed. Only then might there be hope for redemption.”
“If he cannot be redeemed, then he will be reborn as a beast, which means in the next life, he could be a pig, a dog, or something similar.”
Madam Wang’s eyes widened in fear, unable to recover for a long time.
“How… how can it be so serious?”
She had also killed several maids and servants. What was she to do? Would she face the same fate after death?