Gu Ying's words stopped short. On the surface, Jiang Ling'er appeared innocent and weak, but her methods were comparable to Gu Jia's.
Now she had lit a fire between Jiang Ling'er and Gu Jia, and was just waiting for this fire to blaze in the future, burning Jiang Yin's inner residence into unrest.
After leaving Jiang Ling'er's courtyard, Yin Lan brought a note to pick her up.
"Miss, the young master has sent a letter saying that Imperial Physician Wang has arrived in Bianjing."
Gu Ying nodded. "Um, I know. After dealing with Gu Jia, I will invite Wang Imperial Physician into the mansion to treat my brother's illness."
Only then would she have no more worries.
Seeing the joy on Gu Ying's brows, Yin Lan laughed. "Miss, tomorrow is when Master Qingfeng catches ghosts. Do we need to prepare anything else?"
Gu Ying tightened her lips. The closer it got to this critical juncture, the more nervous she became.
Even though she had rehearsed those plans countless times in her mind, she was still afraid... that something unexpected might happen.
"Hope everything goes smoothly."
After all, she had been waiting for this day of vengeance for ten years.
...
That evening, Master Qingfeng arrived late.
Gu Old Madam personally went to the street outside the front gate of the manor to welcome him in. Gu Old Madam had always treated Master Qingfeng with great respect and hospitality, listening to him obediently.
But Gu Ying knew that Master Qingfeng was nothing more than a charlatan who knew no real skills. His cultivation was not profound at all, he only knew some tricks to deceive noble ladies. With a glib tongue, he could spin those superstitious old madams in Bianjing's powerful circles round and round.
"The magic circle has been set up, Miss. Do we really not need to do anything else today?" As the time approached, Yin Lan also began to worry.
After all, the human heart was unpredictable. What if Gu Jia didn't show up? Then all their work today would have been in vain.
Gu Ying's heart was calm like a still lake. Sitting quietly reading, she said, "Gu Jia is just like her mother, not thinking too much. And because she feels guilty about Eldest Sister Min for many years, she certainly can't get past that hurdle. So tonight she will definitely go to the ancestral hall. Let's just wait and see what happens."
After speaking, she called again, "Yanzhi."
Yanzhi stood up from the embroidery stool. "Yes, Miss?"
Gu Ying lowered her eyelashes. "Go call Yin Zhu back."
Yanzhi did not hesitate and immediately left the yard.
Gu Ying placed her small hand on her heart. Her deep gaze looked out through the window. "No matter what, nothing can go wrong tonight..."
She didn't want to waste any more time with Gu Jia.
In Cangwu Pavilion.
Gu Jia was anxious as if she were an ant on a hot pot. "Dou Kou... What should I do?"
Dou Kou's wrist was tightly grabbed by her young miss, hurting so much her face turned pale. "Young Miss, don't worry. When it turns four o'clock, we'll go to the ancestral hall to burn paper money to redeem Eldest Miss Gu Min's sins, and it will be alright."
Gu Jia nodded blankly. "Good, good, that's what we'll do. Hurry up and get the paper money I want ready..."
"Yes, this slave will go now."
Just then Zhou Mama came to call her to try on her wedding dress. Gu Jia collected her flustered heart and pulled her mouth into a smile before going to Zhe Yu Residence.
The big red bridal gown and exquisite embroidery filled her with a sense of favor.
Leaning in Mrs. Liu's arms wearing that exquisitely beautiful wedding dress, the thicker her mother's love, the more uneasy she became in her heart. "Mother, I...I'm so afraid."
"Jia'er, what are you afraid of?"
"I... I'm afraid of that Master Qingfeng..." Gu Jia didn't dare say more, but just thinking that Master Qingfeng could communicate with ghosts, she became even more panicked if he really contacted Gu Min's resentful spirit.
"What are you afraid he'll do?" Mrs. Liu said impatiently. "He's setting up an altar under that wax plum tree right now to hold memorial ceremonies for your Eldest Sister Min. You are Min'er's sister by blood, Min'er won't hurt you, darling. The master said only we elders need to accompany him for the ritual tonight. You young ones just stay in your own yards, and come out after dark.
"By then, the master will have caught the murderer who killed your sister." Mrs. Liu gritted her teeth in hatred. "Your mother doesn't have much ability in this lifetime, but as long as I can avenge your sister, I absolutely won't show mercy."
The more Mrs. Liu said this, the more afraid Gu Jia became.
However, she was determined not to let her mother know the truth back then...
Bidding farewell to Mrs. Liu, Gu Jia returned to Cangwu Pavilion alone and stayed in her room, watching the daylight outside slowly darken bit by bit.
Around midnight.
The sounds of dozens of soul-summoning bells passed through the pavilions and towers, coming from Master Qingfeng's magic circle under that wax plum tree in the backyard.
Gu Jia's heart was raised to her throat, pounding loudly, her eardrums pierced with pain.
"Dou Kou, what time is it now!"
"Replying to Miss, it's now midnight."
"How many more hours until... I have to wait patiently..." Gu Jia was anxious inside, murmuring to herself, and eagerly pulled Dou Kou to ask again, "What's the situation with Master Qingfeng's side now?"
Dou Kou had just come back from the backyard over there. The whole ritual was more grandiose than any previous one, with three concentric layers. Master Qingfeng's Taoist acolytes were guarding the outside, not allowing anyone to approach.
"Old Madam and Madam are accompanying Master Qingfeng inside the magic circle, and no one has come out until now."
Gu Jia didn't know whether to be happy or worried. At least now, no one in the whole manor could watch her go to the ancestral hall, and the sky outside had completely darkened, with a thick fog rising that shrouded the entire backyard, giving it a hazy, eerie feel.
"Heaven is really helping me!" Gu Jia became excited. "How about the ancestral hall?"
Dou Kou lowered her head. "There is no one in the ancestral hall. All the servants have been called to the backyard for the ritual."
Around 1 AM.
Gu Jia thought more and more that heaven was helping her. "Dou Kou, tidy up the paper money, candles and other items. Let's go to the ancestral hall now."
Dou Kou pursed her lips and hurried to prepare. The items had long been ready.
The young miss had stuffed a large ingot to seal that maid Yin Lan's mouth. Only then did that maid report this time.
Gu Jia couldn't wait a moment longer, just wanting to get to the ancestral hall early.
After so long, Gu Min's resentful ghost had been haunting her. Now that she had such a good opportunity to drive Gu Min's spirit away, she absolutely wouldn't miss it.
The two mistress and servant changed into clothes suitable for night travel, put on cloaks, and pulled up their hoods. Braving the wind and snow, they opened the door of Cangwu Pavilion and hurried out.
Exactly 1 AM.
Jiang Yin, dressed in a light robe, rushed back breathlessly from outside, his dark brows and eyes restrained, carrying damp air.
As soon as he entered Cangwu Pavilion, he found that Gu Jia and Dou Kou were both missing from the yard.
He casually grabbed a maid. "Where is your young miss?"
The maid said, "This slave doesn't know."
Jiang Yin's brows tightened, sensing something wrong.
Now all the elders of the Gu family were inside the magic circle. The remaining young ladies and gentlemen had to stay in their own yards. What was Gu Jia doing going out now?
"Not good, something is going to happen!"
He flicked up his clothes and swiftly left Cangwu Pavilion.
...
