Marriage of Di daughter

137

The crying of the young girl suddenly echoed in the courtyard, startling everyone. Some of the more timid maidservants burst into tears directly.Jiang Li, however, hung her head as if she had lost all strength, yet she still managed to keep her body upright.This commotion also shocked Master Chongxu, as this was not part of his plan. In theory, mixing medicine into the sticky rice could temporarily make a person lose their senses. As long as Jiang Li maintained this appearance, it would be terrifying enough. All the inexplicable things she did could be explained as "encountering a ghost."Master Chongxu had used this trick countless times and succeeded every time. He was well-versed in what to do next. However, Jiang Li's actions were not in his plans for today.Before he could react, the girl's voice erupted even louder, almost piercing."Wu-wu—wu-wu," accompanied by the dark clouds in the sky and the burning incense on the altar, sounded particularly eerie.Ji Shuran hugged Jiang Youyao tightly, who was already scared and had burrowed into her arms. Just a moment ago, Ji Shuran was a bit afraid, but now she was not. Thinking that Jiang Li would soon be seen as a demon, abandoned by everyone, made her almost happy. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart that Master Chongxu's skill in scaring people was indeed quite impressive, no wonder he dared to enter the palace in front of the emperor. It was truly rare to have such a capable person as her elder sister.With this in mind, she looked at Master Chongxu, but to her surprise, he did not make any further moves. Instead, he seemed to be frozen, staring straight at Jiang Li, even taking a step back.Ji Shuran frowned. Although it was necessary to be more authentic, a master should not appear upright and heroic at this moment. Master Chongxu did not handle this well.Looking at Jiang Li again, she blew her nose and staggered forward. Not knowing where to go, she walked unsteadily, and the people from the Jiang family dared not approach, except for a few maidservants from the Fragrant Garden. Qingfeng and Mingyue were so frightened that they were at a loss, with Qingfeng chasing after her and urgently calling out, "Miss!"Jiang Li hadn't told them the complete plan after all. Although Bai Xue and the others had prepared as she instructed, they didn't know how things would develop. Seeing Jiang Li like this now, they suddenly panicked. Bai Xue said, "Our miss is not a ghost, absolutely not! There is no one in the world with a better heart than our miss. How could she be a demon?""That's right! It must be this Taoist priest who did something!" Qingfeng's heart stirred, "How did you make our miss like this!"Ji Shuran said to Madam Jiang, "Mother, Lier is gentle, even the maidservants from the Fragrant Garden have become presumptuous. Master Chongxu is a Taoist recognized by the emperor. Let alone maidservants, even us masters dare not make rash judgments. If the words of these two maidservants spread, it will be said that our Jiang family does not respect the royal authority..."Madam Jiang shook her head, "The second young lady is indeed too indulgent towards the maidservants, even daring to be presumptuous in front of the master.""No, Madam!" Qingfeng knelt down in tears in front of Madam Jiang, "It doesn't matter how a servant like me is treated, but the miss is really being wrongly accused. You must believe her!""This is truly too rude." Ji Shuran said disappointedly, "Nanny, take these two maidservants away. Lier is reluctant to discipline them, and as a mother, I have to do it for her."Qingfeng and Mingyue's eyelids twitched, their young lady had just encountered an incident, and Ji Shuran was already impatient to deal with the people around her daughter? This was too much!Madam Jiang also glanced at Ji Shuran without showing any traces. For some reason, since Jiang Li returned to the house, this first wife of the house had become more and more impatient, even she couldn't bear to watch it anymore."Enough, teaching the maidservants can wait." Madam Jiang said, "Let's deal with the second young lady's matter first."Lu Shi said, "Master, please quickly make her... stop crying!" Her voice was trembling, showing her genuine fear.The girl's voice became clearer and clearer, starting with vague cries, then gradually words seemed to be mixed in. After that, like dust falling off, revealing the brick wall inside, the voice gradually echoed."Dad!"The girl's voice was calling for her father.Jiang Yuanbo was stunned. Upon hearing this calling voice of "dad," a strange sense of familiarity arose in his heart. This familiarity made him not show a wary expression when facing Jiang Li again, but instead took a few steps towards her.Jiang Li kept her head down, and the girl's crying seemed to come from her mouth, yet it also seemed to be right by one's ear. However, it was undeniable that Jiang Li's voice was definitely not like this; whether it was the young Jiang Li or the current one, this was not her voice, clearly belonging to someone else.Master Chongxu couldn't help but step back two steps again. The self-satisfaction he had when performing the ritual had already disappeared, and he had never encountered such a situation before. At this moment, he felt inexplicable panic, forcing himself to calm down.Aunt Hu suddenly screamed, standing in the corner. This shout made several people look at her, but when they looked again, they saw Aunt Hu running towards Jiang Li stumbling, crying and smiling, saying, "Yuer, my Yuer..."Yuer? Who is Yuer?This name was too unfamiliar, and those who heard it were puzzled.Ji Shuran, however, had a sudden realization. "Why did Aunt Hu come out? Could it be that Aunt Hu is having a hysterical episode now? Quickly take her back to her room and don't let her disturb the Taoist priest."But Aunt Hu didn't give Ji Shuran a chance to call someone. She had already turned to look at Jiang Yuanbo, tears streaming down her face. "Sir, don't you remember? This is Yuer's voice, Yuer's voice! Your eldest daughter Yuer!"Jiang Yuanbo was stunned, his mind suddenly clear.Yes, he found this voice very familiar, it was his eldest daughter, Jiang Yuer, who had passed away early!Ji Shuran was at a loss for words. She didn't expect Aunt Hu to suddenly appear at this moment. She had a thorn in her side with Aunt Hu in the first few years after entering the Jiang residence. Later, when Jiang Yuer died and Aunt Hu had a hysterical episode, Madam protected her, and Ji Shuran just went along with it. After all, there was nothing to gain by getting rid of Aunt Hu, and the master would not lavish affection on Aunt Hu again.Over the years, Aunt Hu rarely left the courtyard. If it weren't for the holidays, Ji Shuran wouldn't even remember that there was such a person in the house.This person she had long forgotten suddenly appeared before her today, mentioning her short-lived daughter. Although she didn't know what madness had come over Aunt Hu, Ji Shuran thought she couldn't let Aunt Hu continue to cause trouble. Besides, this was clearly a scheme by Master Chongxu, and she didn't know what this crazy woman was getting excited about.Ji Shuran said, "Aunt Hu must have thought of Yuer. Sir, please take Aunt Hu back to her room.""Madam," Aunt Hu turned around, smiling sorrowfully, "I am not crazy. How could I not recognize my own daughter's voice? Sir," she called out foolishly, "listen, the young miss is calling for her father." Her voice when she said the last sentence was gentle, with a smile on her lips, but it carried a kind of chilling madness.Ji Shuran suddenly broke out in a fine cold sweat.The girl's voice continued to call out "dad," sometimes far away, sometimes close, as if coming from Jiang Li's mouth but not quite.Ji Shuran forced down her growing unease and said, "Sir, I think Aunt Hu is unwell...""She is not unwell..." Jiang Yuanbo interrupted her, "This is indeed Yuer's voice."Ji Shuran was speechless.Jiang Yuanbo stared blankly at Jiang Li, a small figure emerging in his mind.In fact, he had three daughters. When Ye Zhenzhen married into the Jiang family and had no children for three years, Aunt Hu became pregnant first. Ye Zhenzhen was kind-hearted and allowed Aunt Hu to give birth, and Jiang Yuanbo, who was a new father at the time, actually liked Jiang Yuer very much.It seemed that he doted on Jiang Youyao now, but before this, he was no less fond of Jiang Yuer. Jiang Yuer fulfilled his fantasy of being a father, and the young Jiang Yuer was indeed clever and adorable.Ye Zhenzhen and Aunt Hu were good friends, and he didn't think much of it. Jiang Li was indulgent when she was young, Jiang Youyao was innocent, but in terms of being clever and sweet-tongued, it was this illegitimate eldest daughter. So even though she was born to Aunt Hu, Jiang Yuanbo did not mistreat her. Even at a young age, he taught Jiang Yuer to recognize characters, intending to make her a female champion.Who would have thought that when Jiang Yuer was four years old, she fell from the artificial mountain and he lost his daughter.During those days, with Ye Zhenzhen's death, Ji Shuran's entry into the house, and the recent arrival of Jiang Youyao, these incidents happened one after another, and he was somewhat distracted, not as attentive as before. But he never expected Jiang Yuer to die like that.He was furious and punished everyone who took care of Jiang Yuer at that time. For a long time, he forbade the words "young miss" in the house.These many years later, the clever voice had long faded from his mind, leaving only a vague image. From deliberately not remembering to gradually forgetting after a long time, Jiang Yuanbo himself couldn't remember.But he never expected to hear his little girl's voice again at this moment.Aunt Hu was right; it was Jiang Yuer's voice.Jiang Yuanbo's solemn expression made Ji Shuran involuntarily take a step back.How... could this be possible...She couldn't force a smile anymore, looking at Master Chongxu, who had already distanced himself from Jiang Li, with genuine panic in his eyes.How... isn't this... just a play?Seeing Jiang Yuanbo approaching, Jiang Li, who hadn't raised her head, suddenly stopped the girl's voice in her mouth. She said, "Dad, Yuer hurts so much, Yuer was killed, Yuer hurts so much..."Ji Shuran was frightened out of her wits.Lu Shi had long since hidden behind her son in fear. Upon hearing this, she couldn't delay her thoughts. Jiang Li was clearly possessed by the deceased Miss Jiang; Jiang Li was truly unlucky to encounter something like this. But... killed? Who killed her? Wasn't Miss Jiang killed by accidentally falling from the artificial mountain?"Yuer, who hurt you?" Jiang Yuanbo's voice seemed to come from a distant place."Mother hurt me." The girl's voice was still childish but carried a hint of resentment. She said, "Mother hurt Yuer, killed Yuer, and pretended that Yuer fell to her death." She continued, "Mother hurt me!""You're talking nonsense!" Jiang Youyao was already in a panic, but she couldn't help but retort, "This is clearly a demonic method confusing people's minds! Taoist, why don't you quickly remove this evil spirit!""Master Chongxu, why are you still standing there?" Ji Shuran shouted incoherently, "Quickly expel the evil, get rid of her!"And unknowingly, Ji Shuran, who knew this was a play from the beginning and was pretending to watch, was now actually scared.Master Chongxu held the peach wood sword, but the little Taoist boy had long disappeared. He was a fake master and had no way to slay demons. Today was supposed to be a pretense, but who knew it would actually attract evil spirits, causing Master Chongxu to be in distress. Holding the peach wood sword, he didn't dare to approach no matter what, saying, "This evil spirit is too powerful, this humble one... this humble one may not be able to subdue it.""But she is spreading falsehoods here!" Ji Shuran couldn't help but scream! Her palms were wet with sweat, and she was afraid. The incidents from years ago could not possibly be known to anyone, as those who knew had already died. This couldn't be... it must be that someone found out and was using this method to harm her!The girl's voice suddenly changed, becoming that of a young woman, much older than Jiang Yuer's tender voice. She said, "Madam, you have a cruel heart. Back then, you made Miss accompany the third Miss to play, but when the third Miss cried, you vented your anger on Miss and cruelly kicked her. Miss hit her head on the door sill and lost consciousness, yet you still had someone pretend to fall off the artificial hill... Siqi wanted to rush back to report to Master, but you silenced her by killing her!""Siqi..." A maid standing beside Aunt Hu suddenly muttered in surprise, "This is Siqi's voice..."In fact, after so many years, who would remember the voices of a maid and a deceased Miss? Very few people could recognize them. But Aunt Hu and Baoqin were the ones closest to Jiang Yuer and Siqi, so when they said it was them, no one doubted it.Jiang Yuanbai turned to look at Ji Shuran."No, it's not," Ji Shuran shook her head, tears streaming down, she pulled on Jiang Yuanbai's sleeve, "Master... it's not me, I really didn't do such a thing..."Jiang Yaoyao also cried, "Father, you would rather believe the words of an evil spirit than believe Mother?""It's hard to say," Lu Shi heard Ji Shuran's misfortune and, no longer afraid, took the opportunity to speak, "A dying person's words are often good, not to mention those who are already dead. In this world, human hearts are more terrifying than ghosts. Those who appear kind and gentle on the surface, who knows what evil thoughts they harbor?"However, Madam Jiang's expression changed drastically. For her, the prosperity of the Jiang family and the growth of the descendants were her responsibilities. Therefore, when Jiang Li pushed Ji Shuran down for a miscarriage, causing her to lose her son, it made Madam Jiang particularly angry. In the Jiang family, turning a blind eye to some of Ji Shuran's actions did not mean she could tolerate certain people harming the Jiang family's descendants within the mansion!Ji Shuran saw the cold looks from Jiang Yuanbai and Madam Jiang, her heart sinking continuously. She was extremely afraid, not knowing if she feared the vengeful ghost coming for her or how she would face the consequences from Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai.She could only shake her head desperately, saying, "No, this is nonsense from the evil spirit, how can you believe it? Master, why would I harm the young lady for no reason?"Just then, Jiang Li stumbled forward again. As she walked, all the servants of the Jiang Mansion moved away from her, as Jiang Li's appearance was eerie, especially now that she seemed possessed by a ghost, which was terrifying. Jiang Li walked with a strange posture, black smoke emanating from her feet, making it seem like she was not stepping on solid ground.Jiang Li reached the acacia tree in the garden and crouched down to start digging. The buried items were shallow and were quickly unearthed by her."Oh my." Aunt Hu covered her mouth, tears streaming down, "These... these are Yuer's belongings..."Yuer's belongings had been buried deep in the ground with her coffin when she had her funeral after the incident. At that time, to prevent Jiang Yuanbai from being reminded of Yuer, nothing belonging to her was left in the mansion. Hence, over the years, she seemed like a stranger, leaving no trace in the Jiang family.However, the drum, the cloth tiger, and other items unearthed by Jiang Li were all things Yuer had played with, even a swaddling cloth. Aunt Hu knelt down, weeping uncontrollably, only saying, "Yuer, Yuer..." in a mournful tone.In this eerie and terrifying moment, the only person not showing fear was this woman, only sorrow. Thus, the dark courtyard was also tinged with a hint of eerie color. Her cries were intense, filled with tears.No one would believe that Aunt Hu was pretending.Seeing this scene, Ji Shuran became even more terrified. She knelt down, clutching Jiang Yuanbai's sleeve, and said, "Master, this evil spirit is indeed powerful, able to deceive and manipulate people's hearts. Didn't you see that even Master Chongxu couldn't subdue her? Master... Master, you can't believe what he says, Chongxu, what are you still waiting for?"Chongxu Daochang shuddered and looked at Jiang Li, not daring to use the demonic binding rope in his hand. He lamented in his heart, what was going on with the Jiang family? It was supposed to be just a play, how come Lipei didn't inform him beforehand that there were really ghosts in the mansion?What should he do now?Then, Ji Shuran saw Jiang Li lift her head.Her features became even more exquisite, but because of the blood, she looked even more ferocious, gazing sinisterly at Ji Shuran, then suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing, she lowered her head again."Yuer, how cruel you are!"This sentence stunned Ji Shuran and everyone in the courtyard.This voice was clearly that of a man!Jiang Yuanbai couldn't help but take a few steps forward to see if the words were spoken by Jiang Li, but after taking two steps forward, he stopped, unsure if it was fear in his heart."Yuer... Yuer, in all these years I've been dead, have you ever thought of me?" His gentle tone sent chills down people's spines, as if coming from the depths of hell."Who is Yuer?" Jiang Jingrui asked.Jiang Yuanbai looked coldly at Ji Shuran, who was staring blankly at Jiang Li. If Ji Shuran had doubts when she heard the voices of Jiang Yuer and Siqi earlier, she was now speechless when she heard the voice of this unfamiliar man. She felt her brain buzzing, her whole body losing strength."Yuer" was Ji Shuran's childhood nickname.The only ones who could call her that, besides her parents, were her husband. And this voice wasn't Jiang Yuanbai's. In fact, the voice sounded very much like someone else.The deceased Liu Wencai."Yuer, when your cousin came to Yanjing City to find you, we agreed to be together, but you agreed on the surface and then had me killed in the inn. You betrayed our hundred days of love. Yuer, how cruel you are!"A stone thrown stirred a thousand waves!Lu Shi widened her eyes. Although she enjoyed watching Ji Shuran's dramas and knew Ji Shuran was no saint, she didn't expect Ji Shuran to have the audacity to cuckold Jiang Yuanbai."We agreed not to marry anyone else but each other, yet you married Jiang Yuanbai... and bore children for him. Yuer, you betrayed me!"Ji Shuran stepped back, shaking her head, "No, who are you... I don't know you...""I am Liu Wencai, your cousin, your lover, the man you killed with your own hands, the father of your children!" the voice cackled."Father?" Madam Jiang covered her chest, finding it hard to accept this fact. Jiang Yaoyao, who had been standing there dumbfounded, looked at Ji Shuran with suspicion in her eyes.Feeling the piercing gaze of Jiang Yaoyao, Ji Shuran suddenly sneered, her eyes seemingly filled with growing madness. She pointed at Jiang Li—or rather, the deceased Liu Wencai—and said, "Liu Wencai, it's not me who betrayed you, you betrayed me! You promised to marry me back then, but you turned around and married someone else! You were the first to act unrighteously, don't blame me for being unjust!""Oh?" Liu Wencai said, "Then did you kill Ye Zhenzhen?"Jiang Yuanbai's lips trembled, he said, "What are you saying?"Ji Shuran first felt a pang of fear, then seemed to understand something. With nowhere to turn on this fateful day, she retaliated with, "Yes, I wanted to marry someone better than you, but my father only wanted me to marry a playboy. Ye Zhenzhen had just given birth and was in poor health, so I bribed the maid at the Jiang Mansion to tamper with Ye Zhenzhen's medicine, causing her to die quickly. I became Madam Jiang. Liu Wencai, I am far more formidable than you!""Everything I want, I will obtain. But what are you, Liu Wencai? You deceived me, abandoned me. After the fall of the Liu family, did you think I could still look up to you? When you came to me, groveling and fawning, I was accommodating, but I no longer loved you. Your existence was a reminder of my shameful past. So you must die because I loathe you!"Her eyes slowly welled up with tears, yet her expression turned more fierce, filled with sharp hatred, "Liu Wencai, if not for you, I wouldn't be what I am today! Everything I have is thanks to you! Since you're already gone, why do you have to come back? Since you're already dead, you shouldn't have returned!"She looked mad and ghostly, as if there might be some unnecessary ghosts in the courtyard. However, people standing in the courtyard felt that the most terrifying person was not Jiang Li, nor the hidden spirits, but Ji Shuran.How ruthless must one be to reach such a point? Looking gentle and kind, yet having so many lives stained on her hands. Despite harming so many people, she could still sleep soundly. When you think about it, when Ye Zhenzhen was still alive, Ji Shuran was just an unmarried girl, yet she did not hesitate to harm a woman with whom she had no grievances for her own benefit.The most venomous heart of a woman was perfectly exemplified in Ji Shuran.Suddenly, Jiang Yuanbai laughed.His laughter was mocking, whether it was directed at others or himself, it echoed in the courtyard, particularly desolate and poignant.He said, "I... have been deceived by you to this extent, Ji Shuran!"The last three words were gritted through his teeth, each word spoken with all the strength in his body, as if he wished to drink Ji Shuran's blood and eat her flesh.From closest kin to complete estrangement.