Chapter 69 Breaking the Vow of Silence

Qingdai nodded lightly, but then recalled another matter. “I heard that Chen Yueru somehow acquired a large black dog and had her trusted servant keep it in the residence, saying it was for guarding the house. Moreover…”

“I heard from Zisu that today, among the clothes sent to the laundry, one of your garments was missing. Considering how keen a dog’s sense of smell is, if we connect these incidents, I can’t help but feel there’s something suspicious about it.”

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes, quickly piecing together the three events in her mind.

“In common folk beliefs, black dogs are said to ward off evil and repel ghosts. Wherever there are ghosts, people often think to sprinkle a bowl of black dog’s blood. I suspect Chen Yueru isn’t keeping that black dog just for security, but rather as preparation for tomorrow’s ritual.”

“If my clothing is missing, it’s almost certain Chen Yueru had someone take it. She likely intends to use the black dog in the ritual tomorrow, targeting me in some way.”

Qingdai’s eyes widened slightly. “Miss, what should we do about this? How should we respond?”

Tan Qingjiu paced back and forth in the room, an idea forming in her mind. “Come, I’ll give you some medicinal powder. Have someone put it in the black dog’s food bowl later.”

“Tomorrow morning, have someone else…”

Her voice lowered further, and only after she had carefully instructed Qingdai on every detail did she allow her to withdraw and rest.

Once Qingdai had left, Tan Qingjiu moved to the window, lifting her gaze to the bright moon hanging high in the sky.

She still remembered the day she had first traversed into this world—the moon had been just as luminous.

Six years had passed in the blink of an eye. Now, her power was well established; if she wished, taking the lives of Chen Yueru and Tan Yunge would be all too easy.

Yet, the pain she had endured six years ago remained etched in her heart, unforgettable and deep.

Therefore, she didn’t merely want Tan Yunge and Chen Yueru dead. She wanted them to lose everything they now possessed, little by little, to die in agony and despair.

She, Tan Qingjiu, was not someone to be bullied without consequence.

With a cold laugh, Tan Qingjiu closed the window and lay down on her bed.

By the hour of Chen, she was awakened by a clamor outside.

Because of what happened with Madam Li the previous night, she’d slept late, and now, roused early by the noise, Tan Qingjiu was radiating a faint but unmistakable hostility.

“Qingjiu, you look a little haggard—did you not sleep well?”

Chen Yueru’s gaze fell on Tan Qingjiu, her face full of feigned concern. “You must take better care of your health.”

Suddenly, there were low whispers from behind.

“I heard yesterday that Tan Qingjiu was embracing Lord Duan in public. My, oh my.”

“She didn’t sleep well last night, perhaps because she was thinking of men after her daytime frolics. After all, she just came of age and couldn’t wait to roll into bed with a man. No wonder even Lord Duan couldn’t resist her.”

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes and turned toward the speaker.

It was, once again, the Seventh Concubine.

“Why is Second Miss looking at me? Do you find me beautiful?” the Seventh Concubine taunted.

Tan Qingjiu sneered. “Even a clown dares to show off before me.”

The Seventh Concubine’s expression changed abruptly. She opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Panicked, she gestured desperately at her own lips, nearly stomping her feet in frustration.

Chen Yueru’s face also shifted. “Qingjiu, you…”

“I haven’t done anything at all, not even lifted a finger, Madam. Please don’t wrong me. I suppose, since a great master is visiting today and the Seventh Concubine’s tongue was unseemly, the Buddha must have decided to give her a little warning.”

“If I had acted, the result would not be so minor.” Tan Qingjiu raised her hand; a silver needle shot out and embedded itself in the Seventh Concubine.

“Qingjiu, what are you doing?” Chen Yueru demanded.

Tan Qingjiu’s gaze grew even colder. “No matter what, I am the legitimate daughter of the Tan family, permitted by my father himself to return to this house. You dare speak such filth before me—you think I’ll just swallow it in silence?”

“Since your mouth is always full of men, I’ll punish you so that from now on, whenever a man touches you, your whole body will feel as though pricked by needles. That way, your noble virtue won’t be sullied. Madam, tell me, am I wrong?”

Chen Yueru’s eyes widened in shock. A man’s touch would bring pain like being stabbed by needles? Was such a thing possible?

Her face shifted through several shades, and she glanced at the Seventh Concubine, shivering involuntarily. Women of the inner court lived to serve men; even if it was only Tan Yun, if she suffered from such a curse, she would be utterly ruined.

With this thought, Chen Yueru gritted her teeth and edged farther away from Tan Qingjiu.

The other concubines, seeing her reaction, also quietly stepped back, each realizing that this Second Miss was nothing like the rumors—she was not to be trifled with.

Chen Yueru cleared her throat. “The master has arrived, and everyone is present. Go invite the master in.”

The servants hurried to bring in the legendary master.

The master appeared to be about sixty or seventy years old, his beard streaked with gray, and he held a tin staff as he made his way over.

“Is that Master Hedé?”

“Madam has actually invited Master Hedé?”

Tan Qingjiu raised her brows. Clearly, this master was quite renowned.

“Amitabha, Madam Tan,” the master intoned.

“Amitabha, Master, thank you for coming. Please, see for yourself—I encountered a ghost in this courtyard the other day. I beg you to see if there truly is something unclean here.”

The master nodded. “Has the incense burner been prepared?”

“It has.”

The master walked to the incense burner and tossed his staff into the air. The staff spun rapidly, while he twirled his prayer beads, eyes half closed, forming mudras with his free hand.

Soon, the faint smoke from the incense began to shift direction, drifting toward one side. The staff hovered in the air, perfectly aligned with the drifting smoke.

Master Hedé opened his eyes. “There is a heavy yin energy in that direction.”

“It is quite strong—most likely the spirit of one long dead. The resentment has condensed into form and lingers here, unwilling to leave.”

Chen Yueru’s face turned ashen. “There really is a ghost? Master, do you have any means to dispel it?”

Master Hedé narrowed his eyes. “Was the black dog I told you to prepare raised as instructed?”

“Yes, it’s ready,” Chen Yueru replied quickly.

“Bring the black dog here.”

Tan Qingjiu watched the unfolding scene with a bright smile. The main event was about to begin.