Chang Ming unfurled her blood-red Soul-Summoning Umbrella, walking through the rain with unsteady steps, somewhat weary.
Yun Ruosheng followed behind her.
As they trod across the bluestone slabs and passed a garden, they overheard the whispered conversation of several servant girls.
Maid A: "I heard the First Madam has fallen gravely ill. Is that true?"
Maid B: "It's true."
"And I also heard she was beaten by the Eldest Master."
Maid A's expression grew worried. "How pitiful."
"Back when I was tired from work, the First Madam once gave me a pastry."
"Do you think now is the time for me to repay her kindness?"
Maid B hurriedly covered her mouth, looking left and right, afraid others might overhear.
"The First Madam's kindness—let's speak of repaying it when the time is convenient."
"Now that the Second Madam manages the household, we must be extremely careful in everything we do."
Maid B whispered furtively to Maid A, "I heard that the First Madam's maid went to beg the Second Madam to send for a physician, but the Second Madam beat her out."
Maid A covered her mouth, her face full of shock. "Refusing to let her get treatment—isn't that sending the First Madam to her death?"
"Only a few days ago, the First Madam saved her. How could she kick her when she's down like this?"
Maid B also sympathized with Chun Lu. "There's nothing to be done. Who told her belly to be so disappointing? If she had so much as one son or daughter, how could she be bullied into such a state?"
At that moment, a lavishly dressed servant girl carrying bird's nest soup walked over.
"What are you two muttering about?"
"Don't delay the Second Madam's prenatal care. Hurry up and get back to work."
Hearing these words, the two servant girls immediately dispersed.
Chang Ming asked Yun Ruosheng curiously, "Who is that?"
Yun Ruosheng watched for a moment. "It should be Lan Fang's personal maid."
Chang Ming curved her lips in a smile. As they passed each other, a pebble suddenly appeared beneath the maid's feet.
The maid couldn't dodge in time and tumbled to the ground, bird's nest soup and all.
Chang Ming paid it no mind and walked straight past.
Yun Ruosheng looked at Chang Ming. "Didn't Miss say you cannot interfere in mortal realm affairs?"
"What of it?"
Chang Ming cast him a disdainful look. "Old man, a pebble just happened to appear on the road. How does that become my doing again?"
"The younger generation loves to create verbal karma; heaven merely doled out a small punishment, that's all."
Yun Ruosheng hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes." Instead, he amused Chang Ming into laughter.
When they entered the courtyard where Chun Lu resided, Yun Ruosheng gave Chang Ming a deep bow.
"I entrust Chun Lu to you, Miss."
"I know Miss does not do business at a loss. In the days to come, Yun Ruosheng will surely repay you generously."
Chang Ming nodded and replied, "Elder, you exaggerate."
Pushing open the door, she saw the personal maid guarding Chun Lu's side.
Chang Ming beckoned her over. "Go guard outside. Don't let anyone approach."
"No matter what sounds you hear, do not look."
The maid nodded, tucked the blanket around Chun Lu, and then left.
Chun Lu lay on the bed, her complexion pale, her lips utterly bloodless.
Her consciousness was hazy, her mouth muttering something unintelligible.
Chang Ming placed the Soul-Summoning Umbrella at Chun Lu's bedside, shining it upon her body to gather her soul.
She then took a Bone-Regenerating Pill from her sleeve and fed it to her.
In an instant, clusters of red spider lilies seeped out from her bed.
And gradually bloomed.
At the broken bone in her leg, strands of red silk thread emerged, intertwining to generate new flesh.
White bone fragments slowly realigned and fused under the pulling force.
The pain woke Chun Lu.
Chang Ming channeled some spiritual energy to relieve her pain.
"Miss Chang Ming, why have you come?"
Chang Ming withdrew her hand. "Because a fool made a deal with me to come save you."
Chun Lu smiled bitterly upon hearing this. "May I ask who it is?"
Chang Ming pulled the blanket over her. "I cannot tell you."
"Then may I ask what she traded with you?"
Chang Ming pondered a moment, then told her anyway, "One year of lifespan."
"She used one year of lifespan as the price to have me save you."
After seeing color return to Chun Lu's face, Chang Ming put away the Soul-Summoning Umbrella.
Tears flowed from the corners of Chun Lu's eyes. She remained silent for a long time.
"Why did she save me?"
Chang Ming looked at the dust motes in the air. "She said you are her elder sister."
Chun Lu bit her lip, roughly guessing who it was.
"What about Yun Rong?"
"You've fallen so gravely ill—doesn't he come to see you?"
Chun Lu smiled bitterly. "Probably went to the opium den."
A spirit contract faintly appeared in Chang Ming's hand. The client's wish had been fulfilled.
The spirit contract gradually dissipated as well.
"Do you not hate him?"
Chun Lu smiled. "He is my husband. How could I hate him?"
After finishing the matter, Chang Ming walked out of the room.
The servant girl hurried inside to attend to Chun Lu.
Looking back through the door crack, she saw only a dilapidated wooden bed and a few pieces of furniture.
Chang Ming had just emerged when Yun Ruosheng pressed her with questions.
"How is Chun Lu's illness? Is it serious?"
Chang Ming glanced at Yun Ruosheng. "What if it is serious?"
"Can you send for a physician for her?"
A single sentence sealed Yun Ruosheng's mouth. He silently lowered his head.
"It is this old man's incompetence. I could not protect the family."
Chang Ming laughed upon hearing this. "You're already dead. Stop worrying about the mortal world."
"However, I have a question."
"When a woman marries, she has her natal family as a backer."
"She is so gravely ill. How is it that no one from her natal family has come to see her?"
Yun Ruosheng felt deeply ashamed upon hearing this. "Back then, when the two of them were betrothed, the bride's family looked down on my eldest son and was unwilling to send their daughter over. In the end, it was Chun Lu who married over of her own accord. On the wedding day, the bride's family did not come either. They only sent a rooster to place in the hall."
Chang Ming more or less understood. "So she cut ties with her family?"
Yun Ruosheng nodded. "More or less."
"You never asked about this matter?"
Yun Ruosheng was taken aback. "It was my negligence. At the time, I only thought that since my daughter-in-law had married into the family, I never asked again."
Chang Ming tapped his head. "You truly had it coming."
The rain gradually stopped, and the moon leaped out from the clouds.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Someone knocked on the great gate of Yun Manor.
"Who is it?"
Lai Fu was on night duty and hurried to open the door.
Raising his lantern to look, he saw that the person was wearing underclothes, reeking of alcohol, his hair disheveled.
Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Yun Rong.
"Recognize me?"
Lai Fu immediately bent at the waist. "This lowly one just dozed off, so I was slow in opening the door. Eldest Master, please don't be angry. Don't harm your own health with anger."
Yun Rong ignored these pleasantries and went straight to Chun Lu's room.
He even drove the servant girl out.
In the latter half of the night, there was another bout of commotion and fighting.
The next day, Chang Ming had just finished meditating and was collecting her thoughts when she overheard some idle gossip.
"Last night, the Eldest Master returned dead drunk."
"It seems he beat the First Madam again."
"This morning when I went to deliver breakfast, I saw the First Madam crying."
Another servant girl chimed in, "What you said is probably not wrong. Last night, I was on night duty in the First Madam's courtyard. I saw with my own eyes the Eldest Master drive out the First Madam's personal maid."
She deliberately lowered her voice. "I faintly heard the Eldest Master shouting that he wanted to divorce his wife."
Chang Ming raised her brows and coughed lightly a few times, scaring the servant girls into immediately running out.
She rubbed her chin, feeling that there must be something suspicious about this matter.
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