Bai Lixin glanced at Yi Niang Qian who was sitting across from him. She ate very little, showing extreme caution in her actions, as if afraid of triggering the old madam’s displeasure.
The atmosphere in the room was delicate, even a newcomer like him could sense the old madam’s rejection and aversion toward Yi Niang Qian.
Why?
Is it because of Yi Niang Qian’s background?
Or is it because Yi Niang Qian came from nowhere?
Maybe it’s because of something Yi Niang Qian did?
This meal seemed like a performance to Bai Lixin—a face-changing act.
The old madam’s ability to change expressions was truly remarkable.
She smiled warmly at him, but when her gaze swept over Yi Niang Qian, it immediately turned cold.
Bai Lixin found this meal quite baffling. Normally, the old madam didn’t dine outside her room due to her vegetarian diet and old age. Meals were usually delivered to her room.
Why did she specially come out to eat today?
Soon, Bai Lixin understood the old madam’s intentions.
“Xin’er, are you full?”
Bai Lixin nodded.
“You don’t have anything to do this afternoon, right? Come, join me, and sit for a while in my room.” The old madam stood up, smiling at Bai Lixin.
He always wanted to visit the old madam’s room, so he didn’t refuse.
It’s been awhile, but the old madam’s room hadn’t changed much. Lotus flowers in the yard were in full bloom, and the room remained serene. The maid who called him for the meal stood respectfully at the door, awaiting their arrival. The old madam told the maid to rest and brought Bai Lixin into the room.
As soon as they entered, the old madam’s eyes scrutinized Bai Lixin, “Xin’er, have you truly not considered entering the Buddhist path? You know, the radiance around you is even more dazzling than a few days ago. I’m not deceiving you, you must believe me.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘I know you haven’t deceived me.
But if you knew how this radiance came about, it might startle you.’
“I’ll consider it again,” Bai Lixin chuckled, “Old Madam, as the wife of the master, I am destined to receive and entertain guests for the Lin family in the future. If I enter the Buddhist path, do you not wish to have grandchildren?”
“Hehe,” the old madam suddenly sneered, “Our Lin family gave up on descendants long ago. What children can we have?”
Bai Lixin’s eyes dimmed.
Coincidentally, the abandoned house on Qingcheng Mountain had the “Lin.” Although the plaque was long gone, he found a tablet with the surname Lin in one place.
—“Our Lin family gave up on descendants long ago.”
He wondered if this “Lin family” she spoke of referred to the current one or the Lin family on the mountain.
“Old Madam, why say such things?” Bai Lixin asked, “Master is in the prime of his life, strong and healthy. Having children shouldn’t be an issue, right?”
“It won’t happen. Even if it does, they won’t live past five. You’re unaware; my son had children before, two of them. But both children died, one after the other.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Another case of children dying.’
“The county magistrate should serve the people, but my son helped tyrants do evil, and this is retribution!”
“The heavens saw his wrongdoing, so they sent punishment, making our Lin family unworthy of having children.”
“That’s why I want you to enter the Buddhist path,” the old madam suddenly grasped Bai Lixin’s hand excitedly, “Child, if you enter the Buddhist path, your future children will be Buddhist disciples. Protected by Buddha, they won’t be cursed or face retribution. They will surely grow up healthy.”
Bai Lixin paused: “If I enter the Buddhist path, can I still have children?”
‘So, this Old Madam has had this intention from the beginning. I was right to have my suspicions.’
“We practice lay Buddhism, which belongs to the category of ‘lay practitioners.’ Lay practitioners don’t need to adhere strictly to vows; abstaining from meat and refraining from killing are the basics. Just look at me.”
The old madam pointed to her hair, “I am a lay practitioner.”
“But,” Bai Lixin hesitated, “I enjoy meat. If I enter the Buddhist path and have to stop eating meat, I won’t be able to do it. How about we just forget about it?”
“How can you give up?!” The old madam suddenly tightened her grip on Bai Lixin’s wrist, “You must enter the Buddhist path. This is the only way to safeguard your child. I tell you, seeing the radiant light around you is not a lie. It’s because of that light that I know you are destined for Buddhism. Those with a connection to Buddhism receive Buddha’s favor, ensuring the safety of their children.”
“I see how affectionate you are with my rebellious son. On the first day you came, you couldn’t think of anything else but food for him and even fainted. I haven’t seen my son so fond of someone in a long time.”
“You two have a bond created by fate. Fate arranged it all, and I calculated it for you. You are destined to enter the Buddhist path, and you are destined to have a child.”
Bai Lixin listened to the old madam’s persuasion, and suddenly interrupted her, “Master had three wives before me. Earlier, you mentioned he had two children who died. Which wife bore those children?”
The old madam recalled for a while, “It seems… one from the second wife and one from the third wife?”
“What about the first wife?”
“The first wife never had any children.”
“Old Madam, although I admire Master, I am also afraid. There are rumors outside, and I don’t know how much you’re aware of. It is said that those wives were actually killed by Master. But because he is the county magistrate, no one dares to touch him. So those wives just vanished, and there was no one to seek justice for them.”
“Old Madam, I am really afraid. I’m afraid that I might also die.”
“Child, don’t be afraid!” The old madam firmly held Bai Lixin’s hand, “Don’t listen to their nonsense. Although my rebellious son has done many wrong things, he wouldn’t commit murder.”
“What happened was…,” she paused, “Forget it, it doesn’t hurt to tell you, so you might as well be cautious. It’s the Yi Niang.”
Bai Lixin echoed, “The Yi Niang? How is that possible? She seems gentle and kind.”
“You’ve been deceived by her hypocrisy! What is she? She came from a brothel and rose to prominence by seducing my son. I don’t know where she learned some evil magic, it’s extremely sinister. She doesn’t need to use her hands, she can take someone’s life just like that.”
“On your first day…” the old madam coughed lightly, “did you encounter any strange things in the garden?”
Bai Lixin remembered the red-clothed female ghost and the illusion. “Yes, I did.”
“See, what did I say.” The old madam continued, “She is arrogant and domineering. She can’t bear my son having multiple wives and concubines. She wants my son to be exclusively hers, so she secretly killed all the other women. That’s also why I want you to enter the Buddhist path. Look at me, despite how I treat her, I’m still fine because that demon fears the Buddha’s light. She can’t do anything to me, and I can even suppress her.”
“But I am still my son’s mother, and I must consider my son’s thoughts. I also fear gossip, so I haven’t driven her away.”
“I’m telling you all this to let you know that everything I’ve done is for your good. Wouldn’t it be great to join the Buddhist path and have a Buddhist child?”
Bai Lixin looked at the old madam.
He couldn’t quite discern whether, in this old madam’s eyes, life or reputation was more important.
If the real culprit is the Yi Niang Qian, and the old madam, out of fear of gossip, silently acquiesces with her actions, isn’t that neglect?
If it’s about entering the Buddhist path, one should purify the six senses and not be influenced by external factors.
Yet, she still values her reputation so much. Her Buddhist practice is superficial and insincere.
Rather than saying she’s cultivating Buddhism, it’s more accurate to say she’s putting on a show for others or using Buddhism to alleviate her inner unrest rather than out of true faith.
“Okay, let me go back and think about it.”
Wearing a gentle smile, Bai Lixin stood up and walked out of the room, disregarding the old madam’s attempt to keep him.
As he was about to exit, he turned to the old madam, “Old Madam, have you been outside recently?”
The old madam paused for a moment, “I haven’t been out. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, nothing much. It’s just that the weather is so nice, it would be a pity not to go out for a walk.”
The old madam chuckled, “There’s nothing to regret. Buddhist scriptures mention countless treasures in paradise. After entering paradise, there will be gold and silver jewels everywhere, trees made of gold, and pearls and crystals adorning the surroundings. Earthly realms can’t compare.”
Bai Lixin looked at the old madam and nodded, “Old Madam, you’re absolutely right. I’ll remember that.”
Seems like this old madam only remembers the beautiful things from her Buddhist studies
But if she hasn’t been outside, why was her sachet left there?
Either she’s lying, someone framed her, or the sachet grew legs and walked away.
Lost in these thoughts, Bai Lixin was suddenly intercepted by two people as he passed the garden.
Seeing Yi Niang Qian and Xiaodie blocking the road, Bai Lixin raised an eyebrow: “Oh, Big Sister, were you waiting specifically for me?”
Without the usual banter, Yi Niang Qian looked serious, “The old madam called you over. Did she tell you about the three wives?”
Bai Lixin: “How did you know?”
“Did she also tell you that I killed them with evil magic?” she continued.
Bai Lixin admitted, “You guessed it right again.”
“It’s not a guess,” Yi Niang Qian lowered her voice and looked around, “Come closer, I have something to tell you.”
Bai Lixin: “What is it? Just tell me here.”
Looking around cautiously, Yi Niang Qian insisted, “Don’t you want to know the real cause of death for those three wives? If you don’t listen today, you might never know and carry this doubt to your grave.”
After a brief pause, Bai Lixin walked up to her, “Tell me, where are we going?”
“Follow me.”
Under Yi Niang Qian’s guidance, they gradually left the garden and reached a secluded area behind the courtyard.
“I’ve been targeting you, and you didn’t misunderstand,” Yi Niang Qian said cautiously, making sure there were no witnesses before continuing, “But I’m not trying to harm you, I want to save you. If you insist on marrying into the Lin family, all that awaits you is death. You’re so young, around eighteen or nineteen, right? You’re at the age of blooming, you’ll wither before blossoming.”
“I’ve seen many girls like you. I’ve seen three girls suddenly wither in this Lin residence.”
She took a deep breath, “I didn’t kill them, it was that demon, the old madam!”
A look of surprise flashed across Bai Lixin’s face.
“Did that demon tell you that I killed them out of jealousy? Ridiculous! Think about what I used to do—I sold my charm in a brothel.”
“I’ve seen plenty of love affairs and casual encounters, it’s all commonplace. Why would I kill for a man? Why would I follow Master out here if not for his capability? We live on fleeting youth in the brothel, so I had to find someone to rely on during my prime. If I didn’t secure my future in the best years, who would want me when I’m old and faded?”
“That’s the reason why I cling onto Master. He treats me well, and more importantly, I can live a stable life with him. I just need to stay at home without worries.”
“I started in a brothel, and came into this family as a concubine. If I’m a concubine, it’s destined that there’s a wife. Why wouldn’t I understand this reasoning? I know my own worth. Even if I kill his wife, I still won’t become his wife. So why go through all this trouble?”
“In fact, I have no motive to kill, but that demon has a strong motive.”
“She talks about Master facing retribution all day long, and how the children all die because of it. Do you know how those wives died? The first wife never conceived since the day she got married. One day, the old madam called her alone, no one knows what they discussed. The next day, the first wife committed suicide by jumping into the water.”
“The second wife gave birth to a son but he suddenly died when he was a little over a year. No one knows why he died. Shortly after, the second wife was summoned by the old madam. In less than two days, she was found hanging.”
She paused, pointing to a secluded room in a nearby corridor, adding mysteriously, “In that room, right there.”
“The third wife gave birth to a girl, who died at the age of one as well. The cause of death was mysterious—she was bitten to death by wild dogs. Not long after, the third wife was called by the old madam. A few days later, we found her lying in a pile of wild dogs. She was bitten by the dogs so much that her whole body was covered in wounds, and she was almost unrecognizable.”
“Now it’s your turn…” Yi Niang Qian blinked, “How do you want to die?”
“I advise you, take the opportunity and leave here quickly.”
“You keep saying the old madam killed them, but why are you unharmed?” Bai Lixin raised his own question, “If she’s really a demon, shouldn’t you be her first target?”
“If that’s the case, who will take the blame for that hypocritical woman? I am a villain, people would believe her over me. Look, during meals, I can only stand there obediently, not daring to speak.”
Bai Lixin chuckled. These two are quite amusing.
She claims the other is the culprit, and the other claims she’s the culprit.
Bai Lixin glanced at Yi Niang Qian who was sitting across from him. She ate very little, showing extreme caution in her actions, as if afraid of triggering the old madam’s displeasure.
The atmosphere in the room was delicate, even a newcomer like him could sense the old madam’s rejection and aversion toward Yi Niang Qian.
Why?
Is it because of Yi Niang Qian’s background?
Or is it because Yi Niang Qian came from nowhere?
Maybe it’s because of something Yi Niang Qian did?
This meal seemed like a performance to Bai Lixin—a face-changing act.
The old madam’s ability to change expressions was truly remarkable.
She smiled warmly at him, but when her gaze swept over Yi Niang Qian, it immediately turned cold.
Bai Lixin found this meal quite baffling. Normally, the old madam didn’t dine outside her room due to her vegetarian diet and old age. Meals were usually delivered to her room.
Why did she specially come out to eat today?
Soon, Bai Lixin understood the old madam’s intentions.
“Xin’er, are you full?”
Bai Lixin nodded.
“You don’t have anything to do this afternoon, right? Come, join me, and sit for a while in my room.” The old madam stood up, smiling at Bai Lixin.
He always wanted to visit the old madam’s room, so he didn’t refuse.
It’s been awhile, but the old madam’s room hadn’t changed much. Lotus flowers in the yard were in full bloom, and the room remained serene. The maid who called him for the meal stood respectfully at the door, awaiting their arrival. The old madam told the maid to rest and brought Bai Lixin into the room.
As soon as they entered, the old madam’s eyes scrutinized Bai Lixin, “Xin’er, have you truly not considered entering the Buddhist path? You know, the radiance around you is even more dazzling than a few days ago. I’m not deceiving you, you must believe me.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘I know you haven’t deceived me.
But if you knew how this radiance came about, it might startle you.’
“I’ll consider it again,” Bai Lixin chuckled, “Old Madam, as the wife of the master, I am destined to receive and entertain guests for the Lin family in the future. If I enter the Buddhist path, do you not wish to have grandchildren?”
“Hehe,” the old madam suddenly sneered, “Our Lin family gave up on descendants long ago. What children can we have?”
Bai Lixin’s eyes dimmed.
Coincidentally, the abandoned house on Qingcheng Mountain had the “Lin.” Although the plaque was long gone, he found a tablet with the surname Lin in one place.
—“Our Lin family gave up on descendants long ago.”
He wondered if this “Lin family” she spoke of referred to the current one or the Lin family on the mountain.
“Old Madam, why say such things?” Bai Lixin asked, “Master is in the prime of his life, strong and healthy. Having children shouldn’t be an issue, right?”
“It won’t happen. Even if it does, they won’t live past five. You’re unaware; my son had children before, two of them. But both children died, one after the other.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Another case of children dying.’
“The county magistrate should serve the people, but my son helped tyrants do evil, and this is retribution!”
“The heavens saw his wrongdoing, so they sent punishment, making our Lin family unworthy of having children.”
“That’s why I want you to enter the Buddhist path,” the old madam suddenly grasped Bai Lixin’s hand excitedly, “Child, if you enter the Buddhist path, your future children will be Buddhist disciples. Protected by Buddha, they won’t be cursed or face retribution. They will surely grow up healthy.”
Bai Lixin paused: “If I enter the Buddhist path, can I still have children?”
‘So, this Old Madam has had this intention from the beginning. I was right to have my suspicions.’
“We practice lay Buddhism, which belongs to the category of ‘lay practitioners.’ Lay practitioners don’t need to adhere strictly to vows; abstaining from meat and refraining from killing are the basics. Just look at me.”
The old madam pointed to her hair, “I am a lay practitioner.”
“But,” Bai Lixin hesitated, “I enjoy meat. If I enter the Buddhist path and have to stop eating meat, I won’t be able to do it. How about we just forget about it?”
“How can you give up?!” The old madam suddenly tightened her grip on Bai Lixin’s wrist, “You must enter the Buddhist path. This is the only way to safeguard your child. I tell you, seeing the radiant light around you is not a lie. It’s because of that light that I know you are destined for Buddhism. Those with a connection to Buddhism receive Buddha’s favor, ensuring the safety of their children.”
“I see how affectionate you are with my rebellious son. On the first day you came, you couldn’t think of anything else but food for him and even fainted. I haven’t seen my son so fond of someone in a long time.”
“You two have a bond created by fate. Fate arranged it all, and I calculated it for you. You are destined to enter the Buddhist path, and you are destined to have a child.”
Bai Lixin listened to the old madam’s persuasion, and suddenly interrupted her, “Master had three wives before me. Earlier, you mentioned he had two children who died. Which wife bore those children?”
The old madam recalled for a while, “It seems… one from the second wife and one from the third wife?”
“What about the first wife?”
“The first wife never had any children.”
“Old Madam, although I admire Master, I am also afraid. There are rumors outside, and I don’t know how much you’re aware of. It is said that those wives were actually killed by Master. But because he is the county magistrate, no one dares to touch him. So those wives just vanished, and there was no one to seek justice for them.”
“Old Madam, I am really afraid. I’m afraid that I might also die.”
“Child, don’t be afraid!” The old madam firmly held Bai Lixin’s hand, “Don’t listen to their nonsense. Although my rebellious son has done many wrong things, he wouldn’t commit murder.”
“What happened was…,” she paused, “Forget it, it doesn’t hurt to tell you, so you might as well be cautious. It’s the Yi Niang.”
Bai Lixin echoed, “The Yi Niang? How is that possible? She seems gentle and kind.”
“You’ve been deceived by her hypocrisy! What is she? She came from a brothel and rose to prominence by seducing my son. I don’t know where she learned some evil magic, it’s extremely sinister. She doesn’t need to use her hands, she can take someone’s life just like that.”
“On your first day…” the old madam coughed lightly, “did you encounter any strange things in the garden?”
Bai Lixin remembered the red-clothed female ghost and the illusion. “Yes, I did.”
“See, what did I say.” The old madam continued, “She is arrogant and domineering. She can’t bear my son having multiple wives and concubines. She wants my son to be exclusively hers, so she secretly killed all the other women. That’s also why I want you to enter the Buddhist path. Look at me, despite how I treat her, I’m still fine because that demon fears the Buddha’s light. She can’t do anything to me, and I can even suppress her.”
“But I am still my son’s mother, and I must consider my son’s thoughts. I also fear gossip, so I haven’t driven her away.”
“I’m telling you all this to let you know that everything I’ve done is for your good. Wouldn’t it be great to join the Buddhist path and have a Buddhist child?”
Bai Lixin looked at the old madam.
He couldn’t quite discern whether, in this old madam’s eyes, life or reputation was more important.
If the real culprit is the Yi Niang Qian, and the old madam, out of fear of gossip, silently acquiesces with her actions, isn’t that neglect?
If it’s about entering the Buddhist path, one should purify the six senses and not be influenced by external factors.
Yet, she still values her reputation so much. Her Buddhist practice is superficial and insincere.
Rather than saying she’s cultivating Buddhism, it’s more accurate to say she’s putting on a show for others or using Buddhism to alleviate her inner unrest rather than out of true faith.
“Okay, let me go back and think about it.”
Wearing a gentle smile, Bai Lixin stood up and walked out of the room, disregarding the old madam’s attempt to keep him.
As he was about to exit, he turned to the old madam, “Old Madam, have you been outside recently?”
The old madam paused for a moment, “I haven’t been out. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, nothing much. It’s just that the weather is so nice, it would be a pity not to go out for a walk.”
The old madam chuckled, “There’s nothing to regret. Buddhist scriptures mention countless treasures in paradise. After entering paradise, there will be gold and silver jewels everywhere, trees made of gold, and pearls and crystals adorning the surroundings. Earthly realms can’t compare.”
Bai Lixin looked at the old madam and nodded, “Old Madam, you’re absolutely right. I’ll remember that.”
Seems like this old madam only remembers the beautiful things from her Buddhist studies
But if she hasn’t been outside, why was her sachet left there?
Either she’s lying, someone framed her, or the sachet grew legs and walked away.
Lost in these thoughts, Bai Lixin was suddenly intercepted by two people as he passed the garden.
Seeing Yi Niang Qian and Xiaodie blocking the road, Bai Lixin raised an eyebrow: “Oh, Big Sister, were you waiting specifically for me?”
Without the usual banter, Yi Niang Qian looked serious, “The old madam called you over. Did she tell you about the three wives?”
Bai Lixin: “How did you know?”
“Did she also tell you that I killed them with evil magic?” she continued.
Bai Lixin admitted, “You guessed it right again.”
“It’s not a guess,” Yi Niang Qian lowered her voice and looked around, “Come closer, I have something to tell you.”
Bai Lixin: “What is it? Just tell me here.”
Looking around cautiously, Yi Niang Qian insisted, “Don’t you want to know the real cause of death for those three wives? If you don’t listen today, you might never know and carry this doubt to your grave.”
After a brief pause, Bai Lixin walked up to her, “Tell me, where are we going?”
“Follow me.”
Under Yi Niang Qian’s guidance, they gradually left the garden and reached a secluded area behind the courtyard.
“I’ve been targeting you, and you didn’t misunderstand,” Yi Niang Qian said cautiously, making sure there were no witnesses before continuing, “But I’m not trying to harm you, I want to save you. If you insist on marrying into the Lin family, all that awaits you is death. You’re so young, around eighteen or nineteen, right? You’re at the age of blooming, you’ll wither before blossoming.”
“I’ve seen many girls like you. I’ve seen three girls suddenly wither in this Lin residence.”
She took a deep breath, “I didn’t kill them, it was that demon, the old madam!”
A look of surprise flashed across Bai Lixin’s face.
“Did that demon tell you that I killed them out of jealousy? Ridiculous! Think about what I used to do—I sold my charm in a brothel.”
“I’ve seen plenty of love affairs and casual encounters, it’s all commonplace. Why would I kill for a man? Why would I follow Master out here if not for his capability? We live on fleeting youth in the brothel, so I had to find someone to rely on during my prime. If I didn’t secure my future in the best years, who would want me when I’m old and faded?”
“That’s the reason why I cling onto Master. He treats me well, and more importantly, I can live a stable life with him. I just need to stay at home without worries.”
“I started in a brothel, and came into this family as a concubine. If I’m a concubine, it’s destined that there’s a wife. Why wouldn’t I understand this reasoning? I know my own worth. Even if I kill his wife, I still won’t become his wife. So why go through all this trouble?”
“In fact, I have no motive to kill, but that demon has a strong motive.”
“She talks about Master facing retribution all day long, and how the children all die because of it. Do you know how those wives died? The first wife never conceived since the day she got married. One day, the old madam called her alone, no one knows what they discussed. The next day, the first wife committed suicide by jumping into the water.”
“The second wife gave birth to a son but he suddenly died when he was a little over a year. No one knows why he died. Shortly after, the second wife was summoned by the old madam. In less than two days, she was found hanging.”
She paused, pointing to a secluded room in a nearby corridor, adding mysteriously, “In that room, right there.”
“The third wife gave birth to a girl, who died at the age of one as well. The cause of death was mysterious—she was bitten to death by wild dogs. Not long after, the third wife was called by the old madam. A few days later, we found her lying in a pile of wild dogs. She was bitten by the dogs so much that her whole body was covered in wounds, and she was almost unrecognizable.”
“Now it’s your turn…” Yi Niang Qian blinked, “How do you want to die?”
“I advise you, take the opportunity and leave here quickly.”
“You keep saying the old madam killed them, but why are you unharmed?” Bai Lixin raised his own question, “If she’s really a demon, shouldn’t you be her first target?”
“If that’s the case, who will take the blame for that hypocritical woman? I am a villain, people would believe her over me. Look, during meals, I can only stand there obediently, not daring to speak.”
Bai Lixin chuckled. These two are quite amusing.
She claims the other is the culprit, and the other claims she’s the culprit.
