Chapter 18: Extending the Life of the Cao Family’s Daughter

Fang Yuean returned home with her maid in tow, calling out from a distance, “Mother, I’m back!”

Qin Xuan’s expression softened at once. By the time she carefully secured her needle, Fang Yuean had already run up to her.

Taking out a handkerchief, Qin Xuan gently wiped the sweat from the tip of Fang Yuean’s nose.

“You’ve been escorting your elder brother to and from school every day lately—you must be exhausted. Tomorrow, set aside some time. I’ll take you to visit someone. How does that sound?”

Qin Xuan took the cup of plain water handed to her by Hong Xiang and offered it to Fang Yuean.

After a few quick gulps, Fang Yuean wiped her mouth hastily and, without asking much, readily agreed.

After chatting with her for a while, Qin Xuan sent her off to play, then resumed her embroidery work.

Fang Yuean watched her mother embroider for a bit, then wandered off to sniff at various flowers in the Residence. Finally, she squatted under a tree to watch ants carrying their loads.

Before long, Huai Ze returned.

He landed at Fang Yuean’s feet and began recounting the events of the Cao family storming into the Song residence to take back their daughter.

Fang Yuean listened with bright eyes, exclaiming, “The Cao family is truly bold! But it’s such a coincidence that, after so long, this matter was discovered just the other day.”

Huai Ze continued, “Yesterday morning, during court, Cao’s father gave a heart-wrenching account and fainted twice while crying.”

“The emperor ordered a thorough investigation and, upon confirming the truth, dismissed the Song family’s denials. He granted Cao’s father’s request and decreed the couple to be divorced.”

“Additionally, Third Master Cao, accompanied by several colleagues, filed a memorial accusing the Song family. They even questioned the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Madam Yang five years ago, advocating for an exhumation and autopsy.”

“Guess what happened?” Huai Ze asked, as if he’d only just learned the news himself.

Fang Yuean glanced at him. “So, Madam Yang was beaten to death by Master Song?”

Huai Ze nodded. “Yes. The coroner discovered multiple fractures on Madam Yang’s skeletal remains, with the fatal injury being a fractured skull.”

“Madam Yang claimed to be perpetually ill and rarely left the house. In truth, she was so severely beaten by Master Song that she couldn’t show herself in public. Her father had long passed, and she had no brothers to protect her.”

After sighing, Fang Yuean’s lips curled into a smile. “Master Song committed murder—he won’t escape the death penalty. Song Guangyan is unlikely to avoid punishment either. He probably won’t have the opportunity to harm my elder brother anymore. This crisis is resolved.”

The flood of information left Qin Xuan deeply shocked.

She had heard bits of the story yesterday from Nanny Lei.

It was said that the Cao family’s daughter was now bedridden, with more than half of her hair pulled out.

Qin Xuan recalled the days before the Cao daughter was married. She often visited their residence, full of laughter and chatter, sometimes even inviting Zhiyi for horseback rides in the countryside.

Qin Xuan had even sent some nourishing supplements to the Cao family on Zhiyi’s behalf.

Thinking of her eldest daughter, married far away, Qin Xuan couldn’t help but feel worried. She wondered how her daughter was faring.

Lancang Prefecture was far from the capital. If her eldest daughter were to face grievances, what could she do?

---

That evening, after ensuring Er’er was fast asleep, Fang Yuean quietly sat up.

Huai Ze noticed her movements and immediately opened his eyes to ask,
“Are you planning to save Lady Cao’s life?”

His tone was calm, devoid of surprise or opposition.

Fang Yuean, wary of his potential nagging, patiently reasoned with him.
“Little Immortal, this is the first time a mortal has made a wish to you. How can you refuse to grant it?”

“Don’t worry. If anyone questions this in the future, just blame it on me. After all, I was the one who gave away your wooden carving,” she said with a resolute expression, taking full responsibility.

Huai Ze lowered his head slightly.
“But…”

Before he could continue, Fang Yuean cut him off.
“Don’t argue. My spiritual power has already been sealed. Even after completing the task with that tear, I’ve barely recovered a fraction. If I don’t focus, it will be nearly impossible to mobilize the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and Lady Cao won’t survive.”

She took out a celestial pill and swallowed it.

Her current spiritual power was barely sufficient for healing illnesses, let alone saving lives. The pill was necessary for extra support.

Huai Ze opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing, choosing to quiet his breathing instead.

Fang Yuean closed her eyes, concentrating deeply until her spirit seemed to merge with the world around her.

Everywhere, grass broke through the soil, flower buds blossomed anew, and new lives were born…

Under the silken embrace of moonlight, imbued with the sanctity of the heavens and the boundless vitality of the earth, a surge of energy flowed toward the Cao family.

Moments later, the maid attending Lady Cao pushed open the door, her joyous cry echoing through the otherwise silent Residence.
“The young lady is awake!”

Upon hearing the news from her nanny, Lady Cao, who had been fasting, bathing, and kneeling in front of the wooden carving while muttering prayers, burst into tears and wept uncontrollably.

She then turned toward the statue on the altar, kowtowing repeatedly and chanting, “Thank you, immortal, for your protection.”

Huai Ze, feeling a subtle change within himself, widened his eyes in surprise.
“Great King, I can sense a flow of merit coming to me. The heavens have recognized our actions!”

In his excitement, Huai Ze blurted out the title he usually avoided using, one he deemed so embarrassing that Fang Yuean would need to pummel him to make him say it.

Fang Yuean, unfazed, retorted, “Recognized by heaven? That means nothing.”

It turned out the warmth surging into her body was merit.

But she was a demon—how could she receive merit?

She kept this to herself. For a demon to gain merit was, after all, an embarrassing thing to admit.

Perhaps too exhausted, sleep overtook her, and she stopped pondering the matter, lying down and drifting off.

Huai Ze, brimming with excitement, paced the floor and muttered to himself all night long.

---

The Next Day

Qin Xuan took her three daughters to visit the Chen family.

In the carriage, Fang Miaoyi glared at Fang Yuean like a fighting cock, her gaze full of hostility.

Fang Yuean, deliberately clinging to Qin Xuan’s arm, made faces at Fang Miaoyi—shaking her head, rolling her eyes, and sticking out her tongue—whenever Qin Xuan wasn’t looking.

Fang Miaoyi clenched her teeth and pouted, her gaze darting between Fang Yuean and Qin Xuan. She barely restrained the urge to sit on her mother’s other side.

Her grandmother had told her that if she endured and ignored her mother, Qin Xuan would eventually relent and send this wild child away.

At that thought, Fang Miaoyi shot Fang Yuean a fierce glare, then turned her head away, refusing to look at her anymore.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Fang family’s carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Chen residence.

Chen Susu, already waiting at the door with her servants, stepped forward to greet them.

With Hong Xiang’s assistance, Qin Xuan stepped down from the carriage, smiling warmly.
“Sister Chen, you’re too kind. It would have been enough to send your servants. The sun is so strong today—don’t let yourself get burned.”

Chen Susu replied with delight, “It’s no trouble at all. But you must have felt stifled in that carriage in this heat.”

Her gaze shifted behind Qin Xuan, watching as the children, assisted by maids and nannies, descended one by one.

When she confirmed Fang Miaoyi was among them, Chen Susu’s smile deepened.
“Come inside quickly. I’ve prepared some iced sorbet to help the children cool off,” she said, gesturing for them to enter.

---

In the backyard pavilion by the pool, a stone table was already set with fruits, pastries, and tea.

Chen Susu enthusiastically led the group to the shaded pavilion, where a cool breeze helped dissipate the summer heat.

“Please, sit, Sister Qin.” After taking her seat, Chen Susu signaled to a maid.

In no time, bowls of iced sorbet were served.

Qin Xuan instructed the servants to assist the children as they ate, while she and Chen Susu sat opposite each other, enjoying the treat.

As she quietly ate her sorbet, Chen Susu’s thoughts churned.

After the family reunion banquet, she had received another anonymous letter. It claimed her inability to conceive was due to her husband secretly giving her medicine, not because of her own body.

Even more shocking, the letter stated they intended to kill her and that her elder brother’s death was no accident.

This time, she was no longer the naive woman who had been stunned and overwhelmed when she received the first letter.

She had already seen her husband embracing Madam Meng.

And she had also personally noticed the pregnancy marks on Madam Meng’s belly.

Now, she needed to confirm her bold suspicions—and then, she would ensure that scoundrel and harlot paid the price.