The Double-Chapter 408 - 137 Unveiling

The cries of the girl suddenly filled the courtyard, startling everyone. Some of the more timid maids even started crying.

Jiang Li, however, hung her head as if she had lost all her strength, yet she strangely maintained her upright posture.

This commotion also took Chongxu Daoist Master by surprise, for his act did not include this scene. Logically, the drug mixed with the glutinous rice was supposed to make one temporarily lose their senses. All Jiang Li needed to do was to maintain this appearance to frighten everyone. Everything she did that was beyond comprehension could then be explained as "being haunted."

This tactic had been used by Chongxu Daoist Master countless times, and it had never failed. He knew exactly what he should do next and was well-practiced. Yet Jiang Li’s subsequent actions today were not part of his plan.

Before he could react, the girl’s voice erupted even louder, almost piercingly so.

"Wu wu—wu wu," combined with the dark clouds in the sky and the altar burning with incense, it was particularly eerie.

Ji Shuran hugged Jiang Youyao tightly, as Youyao had already burrowed into her embrace. Initially somewhat afraid, Shuran no longer felt fear, thinking happily that it wouldn’t be long before Jiang Li would be accused of being evil, and scorned by all. She even marveled to herself that Chongxu Daoist Master certainly had a talent for frightening people, no wonder he dared to perform before the Emperor without stage fright. Having such an accomplished person in her sister was truly fortunate.

With this thought, she turned to look at Chongxu Daoist Master, only to find that he had not made a move, and seemed to be transfixed, staring straight at Jiang Li, even taking a step back.

Ji Shuran frowned, thinking that even though the act needed to seem real, shouldn’t a master display a commanding and upright presence and stand out at this moment? Chongxu Daoist Master was not performing well here.

Looking at Jiang Li again, she shook her head and began to stagger around. Not knowing where she meant to go, her steps were unsteady, and the people of the Jiang Family dared not come close, except for a few maids from Fangfei Garden. Qingfeng and Ming Yue were so scared they didn’t know what to do, but Tonger caught up to her, shouting urgently with Bai Xue, "Miss!"

Jiang Li had not told them the full plan, so although they had prepared as per her instructions, they did not know what would happen next. Seeing Jiang Li like this, they became panicked on the spot. Bai Xue said, "Our miss is not a ghost, definitely not! There is no one in the whole world with a kinder heart than our miss, how could she be evil?"

"Exactly! It must be this Daoist priest who has deceived us!" As Tonger had a sudden thought, "What exactly have you done to our miss to make her like this!"

Ji Shuran said to Madam Jiang the Elder, "Mother, Lili is too soft-hearted, and now the maids from Fangfei Garden are behaving outrageously. Chongxu Daoist Master is even recognized by the Emperor, not to mention us maids, we as masters shouldn’t rashly judge. If the words spoken by these maids get out, it will seem that our Jiang Family does not regard the Imperial dignity..."

Madam Jiang the Elder shook her head, "The second girl has indeed spoiled the maids too much, even daring to be presumptuous in front of their masters."

"No, old madam!" Tonger cried, kneeling down in front of Madam Jiang the Elder, "Whatever happens to this servant does not matter, but the miss is truly wronged. You must believe her!"

"This is really too unruly." Ji Shuran said with disappointment, "Wet nurse, take these two maids down. Lili can’t bear to discipline them, so I, as her mother, will have to do it."

Qingfeng and Ming Yue’s eyelids twitched violently. Their own miss had just had an incident, and Ji Shuran was already eager to deal with the miss’s people. This was too much!

Madam Jiang the Elder also glanced at Ji Shuran imperceptibly; somehow, before Jiang Li’s return to the residence, this lady of the first house usually made few mistakes and seemed virtuous and gentle. But since Jiang Li returned, she had become increasingly restless, even to the point where Madam Jiang could not stand to watch.

"Enough, the matter of disciplining maids is not urgent." Madam Jiang the Elder said, "Let’s wait until the second girl’s issue is settled first."

Lady Lu said, "Master, please, stop her from crying... quickly! Don’t cry anymore!" Her voice trembled, betraying her genuine fear.

But the girl’s voice became increasingly clear, initially just indistinct cries that gradually seemed to contain words. Then, like dust peeling away to reveal the brick wall beneath, the sounds began to echo more distinctly.