Reborn: Revenge of the Concubine's Daughter

He Danggui knew that in the atrium of the Front Palace, there was a quiet bamboo forest. When the wind blew the leaves, it was like the scene in a poem. However, some Taoist nuns in the temple liked to break off those bamboo canes and cut them into bamboo slices to whip others.

After a person was whipped by these slices with saline water dozens of times, she would feel extremely painful and her body would be full of lathy stretches of extravasated blood without bleeding. What was more, she didn’t need to bind up the wound and could still work. In the previous life, little He Danggui was whipped by the slices with saline water at least once a day. She was impressed by the pain.

“Tai Chen. It’s Tai Chen.” He Danggui held Zhen Jing’s hands and said firmly.

Zhen Jing couldn’t help crying without a word.

He Danggui looked serious and angry. It seemed that there were two bright silver needles in her eyes. She asked, “Tell me. Why did she beat you? Was it because of me?”

Zhen Jing shook her head and said with sobs, “No. It’s none of your business. It was me who accidentally said that she had velvet antler cream the night before yesterday… She asked Huai Xin to take me there and forced me to tell her why did I know it. I didn’t dare to tell her that I heard it from my Master… Otherwise, even if she didn’t punish me, my Master would punish me more seriously…”

He Danggui sighed and took her to sit on the bed. She took out an embroidery needle under the pillow and said, “Come here. Close your eyes. Be obedient. It will be ready soon. It won’t hurt at all.”

Zhen Jing stared at the needle in He Danggui’s hands and cried more intensely. She shouted, “That hurts! That hurts! I don’t want to be pricked. That hurts!”

He Danggui frowned and threatened her, “Shut up. If you shout again, I will prick your mute acupoint. Then, you will become a mute.” Zhen Jing was startled and stopped talking immediately. He Danggui asked her to close her eyes again. Then Zhen Jing closed her eyes tightly and shrank her neck. It seemed that she was about to die right now.

The glittering needle rotated around He Danggui’s white fingers quickly. It flew up and down…

He Danggui sneered, “Tai Chen, you are good! You are really good! I didn’t have time to deal with you, but you court death in a hurry. You really think your life was long and want to die.”

He Danggui had died before. In her eyes, Tai Chen even didn’t qualify as an obstacle for her. She was just a grain of sand in her shoes; while the powerful people who lived in the West Wing-rooms could help her clear the sand in her shoes… Then, He Danggui decided to fight against Tai Chen secretly.

※※※

In the prosperous Yangzhou City, there were eight rivers and numerous businessmen.

Two waterways passing through the affluent Yangzhou City, together with four roads which concatenated the east, west, south and north, had divided Yangzhou City into 48 areas. The Wu’s Family in the south, the Luo’s Family in the north, the Guan’s Family in the east and the Sun’s Family in the west were called “Four Families in Yangzhou City”. All people in Yangzhou City knew that the four families were rich and noble.

In the morning, it started to drizzle. In a courtyard of a magnificent mansion which was not far from the Hongpei Avenue, a group of women walked quickly. They passed through the big courtyard and walked toward a side door of the front courtyard quickly.

A well-dressed young woman was walking out of the side door. When she saw these women, she asked in surprise, “Mrs. Liu, why are you back? It’s not the date to carry the coffin to the cemetery!”

Liu Gui’s wife didn’t answer her question but asked happily, “Miss Ji, I mean to find you. Where is the Madam Luo?”

Miss Ji frowned and said, “Madam Luo was so sad yesterday that she didn’t eat anything. Today she is a little better but just ate a little Zimi Yanggeng (a kind of soup with honey and ewe’s milk) in the morning. She was listening to First Younger Mistress Luo’s jokes in the wing-room. Why do you come back from the temple? Don’t talk with Madam Luo about trifles and the matters about Third Miss.”

Liu Gui’s wife said with a smile, “Lead me to find Madam Luo. I am sure that after I have a chat with her, she will eat three bowls of rice!”

Miss Ji said with puzzlement, “What good things you will tell her since you came back from that place?” Liu Gui’s wife smiled mysteriously. Other women who came back together also smiled without a word.

Originally, these women were not interested in this task. On the one hand, it was not a secret that Second Mistress Luo disliked her niece He Danggui. On the other hand, they took charge of 180 liang silver at least in He Danggui’s funeral. Even though Second Mistress Luo was shrewd, they could still take seven or eight liang silver secretly.

However, when they returned to Luo’s Mansion last night, they heard that the eighth young master of the natal family of Second Mistress Luo died. Second Mistress Luo cried hysterically and asked for leave to Madam Luo. She went to her natal home in a hurry. In Luo’s Family, First Mistress Luo didn’t know about the accounts and Third Mistress Luo was pregnant. Therefore, Madam Luo managed the family matters.

Madam Luo always took care of Third Miss He Danggui and her mother Luo Chuanxiong. If she knew Third Miss not only didn’t die but also had a wonderful experience, she would be extremely happy. It was honorable to do this task and everyone wanted to do it. What was more, Third Miss had given them some money. Therefore, they had to say something nice for Third Miss.

After Miss Ji led these women to the door of the wing-room, she entered to notify Madam Luo and then asked them to come in. When they entered the room, they saw Madam Luo lying on the bed weakly. She narrowed her eyes and didn’t see anyone. Three little maids were sitting on the footrest and kneading her legs. First Mistress Luo and First Younger Mistress Luo were sitting on the chairs with brocade and seeing them simultaneously.

Huang Han’s wife stepped forward and said with a smile, “Madam Luo, there is a happy event! Our Luo’s Family encountered a great happy event related to the immortals!”

Her words drew attention from all people in the room. She told them that Third Miss came back to life with embellishment. Then, she said that several honoured guests from the capital lived in the temple now. These guests heard from Third Miss about her dream of “an elder giving her solidified elixir of life”. According to their analysis, the elder was Nanji Xianweng. And the solidified elixir of life he gave Third Miss was the dregs in Taishang Laojun’s pill furnace. For humans, it was a treasure that could bring people back to life. After taking the solidified elixir, Third Miss immediately became healthy and energetic!

Madam Luo was so excited that she slid down from the bed and asked, “Did you coax me? Where is Yi? Why didn’t you bring her back?”

Liu Gui’s wife replied, “Although Third Miss took the solidified elixir, she lost her breath for two days. It was toilsome for her to come back now. She is resting in the temple. Third Miss misses you very much and wants to see you. How about picking up her by our sedan now?”

Madam Luo nodded and was ready to arrange it. At this moment, First Mistress Luo, the Ms. Zhao who was silent before suddenly said, “Wait a moment. It is weird. We can’t take an action with undue haste!”

Madam Luo frowned and looked at her. She said, “Zhao, what are you talking about? If you offend the immortals and Bodhisattva, what should we do?”

Ms. Zhao said, “I didn’t talk nonsense. Madam Luo, do you heard that what you dream is opposite to the reality? Although Yi’s dream is sweet, the reality might be bad. Second Mistress Luo once invited a geomancer to observe our house last year. The geomancer pointed at the west and said ‘peach blossoms drive the water away, which means that it offends Kuimulang Constellation and it is harmful to the elders in the family’. At that time, Yi lived in the West Lateral court. Now she returned to life after death. How indomitable she is! Does it prove that what geomancer said was true?”

Madam Luo’s attitude changed, but she just scolded slightly, “As her aunt, how could you say that about her!”

Seeing Madam Luo’s change, First Younger Mistress Luo, the Ms. Dong added, “Madam Luo, we all hope that Yi is fine. After all, she is the only daughter of the aunt. But this matter is weird. My son Zhu has got a low fever and eaten less since the day before yesterday. Eighth young master of the natal family of Second Mistress Luo died also in the day before yesterday. At the same time, we heard the news that Yi returned to life after death. Why were these matters so coincident? I have a guess, but I don’t know whether I can speak out…” She stopped and hesitated, showing an embarrassed expression.

Madam Luo said nervously, “Speak out quickly. There are no outsiders!”

Ms. Dong stammered, “Was… was she possessed by a monster? Did she want to kill us? Therefore, the children in our family couldn’t fight with it. They were sick or died first before she comes back… When my son Wei was one mouth old, he had a low fever and didn’t eat and drink. All the doctors were at a loss. Feng Rui’s wife was experienced and knowledgeable. She said that Wei was scared by a monster. I didn’t believe her at first. Later, I didn’t have any method. Seeing Wei suffering, I was extremely sad. Then, I invited some old monks to resort to magic arts. Wei was better after that. Now Zhu’s symptom is the same as Wei!”

Ms. Zhao covered her mouth and said with surprise, “Madam Luo, you love your great-grandsons most. You should protect them! Once the monster enters our house, we all will die!”

Madam Luo frowned and her expression kept changing.

Ms. Zhao said with an expression of regret on her round face, as if she suddenly thought of something, “In fact, we are also afraid that we are wrong and treated Yi unjustly. Qi Xuanyu lived in the guest room of the South Yard. Usually, nobody could invite him. Why not take this opportunity to let him divine for Yi?”

Madam Luo was superstitious. When she heard Third Miss was saved by an immortal, she was very happy. But after hearing what Ms. Zhao and Ms. Dong said, she was sad. What was more, she thought what they said were credible. So, she somewhat believed them. Then, she nodded and said, “Well, I also want to see this younger generation of the Qi’s Family. Why does our Grandpa Luo like him so much?” Then, she said to Miss Ji, “Go to the South Yard to invite Mr. Qi.”

First Mistress Luo was secretly pleased and said to those women who came back from the temple, “Don’t stand here. Drink some tea and have a rest.” Then all the women got out.

Ms. Dong hesitated and then said, “I have to go back to look after Zhu, so I am leaving.” Madam Luo nodded to agree with her. Then Ms. Dong stood up and went out with jingle. Then, only Madam Luo, First Mistress Luo and three maids stayed in the room.

Qi Xuanyu was the only son of the Royal Prophet Qi Jing. He was taught by his father since he was a child. He was an able man with the Taoist name “Master Prophet”. Now he was the Fifth-Grade Imperial Astronomer of Qintianjian Celestial Prefecture. It was said that he was no more than 24 years old and was handsome. But he was a friend of Grandpa Luo who was 81 years old. So, when he came to Yangzhou City, he didn’t live in the house prepared by the government but lived in Luo’s Mansion.

Although Ms. Dong had got married, she was young and the guest was handsome. It was inconvenient for her to meet him. Madam Luo and First Mistress Luo also thought of this matter. So, they let her go.

After a while, Miss Ji and a young man came in. The man approached and made a bow with hands folded in front. He asked, “What’s the matter, Madam Luo?” Madam Luo and Ms. Zhao looked at each other and felt puzzled. Was he the Imperial Astronomer of Qintianjian Celestial Prefecture? He seemed…

The man was a handsome boy who wore a little green shirt and a little hat. There was a green bristle grass in his mouth.

Madam Luo smiled and said, “Lord Qi and my husband are friend. Even me is a generation younger than you. I don’t dare to ask you to do anything. But now I really need your help.” Then, she asked a maid to give the man a piece of paper. Madam Luo continued, “I heard that you know physiognomy and divination. What you said were accurate. What’s more, I also heard that some rich businessmen invited you to divine for them with lots of silver and gold. But you didn’t spare a glance for them and just said ‘although I’m good at divination but I don’t abuse it’. Now, there is a weird thing in our Luo’s Family. I am at a loss. Relying on the friendship of you and my husband, I can only invite you to divine for a person with the date of birth and the eight characters of a horoscope in this paper.”

With beautiful eyes, Qi Xuanyu smiled, “You are so polite, Madam Luo. I lived and ate in your family for free for half a mouth. I should practice divination for you.” Then, he took the paper and glanced at it. He said while thinking, “The year of Guihai, the moon of Jiwei, and the day of Dinghai... This person offends the west and the constellation is Bi (The last constellation among seven northern constellations). This person’s five elements belong to the ‘Wu Shang Tu (soil on the house)’. He or she must be noble. What do you want to know about that person?”

Madam Luo sighed and said, “My granddaughter died unexpectedly ten days ago. It was inconvenient to hold the funeral for her in our house. So, we sent her to the Shui Shang Temple outside the city. But today, the women who sent her to the temple said that she came back to life. She clearly remembered that an old celestial being gave her a pill. After she took it, she woke up. At the same time, another child in my family was sick and has not recovered. It is weird. So, I invite you to divine… Do the granddaughter’s date of birth and her eight characters of a horoscope have the ominous meaning?”

Qi Xuanyu couldn’t help laughing, “Ominous meaning? You’re wrong. All is at peace. Even if there is a monster, it can’t enter your house. Since this miss lived in the house before, she is a normal person not a monster. As for the sick child… what’s the relationship between the child and the miss? Are they born from the same mother?”

Madam Luo shook her head and replied, “Zhu is the son of Yi’s elder brother. He is her nephew.”

“Are the miss’s parents and brothers healthy now?”

“Her mother is in good health. She is faithful to Taoism.”

Qi Xuanyu squinted his eyes and curled up his lips. He said with an irreverent smile, “If she is a monster, she only brings bad luck to her parents. I never heard that an aunty could bring bad luck to her nephews. Since the miss’s mother is fine, she will not bring bad luck to her nephew. Ha-ha, who did come up with this ridiculous idea?”

Ms. Zhao was embarrassed. She scolded, “It was said by Zhu’s mother. She is green and inexperienced. What’s more, she loved Zhu very much. Therefore, she doubted Yi.”

Qi Xuanyu didn’t say anything but smiled. Madam Luo asked, “Can you see anything else from Yi’s date of birth and eight characters of a horoscope? How is her fate? Will she encounter some misfortune in the future?”

“Well, the Land of Peach Blossoms is only in the mirror lake, and the shadows of red peach blossoms reflect in the water of ten miles.” Then, Qi Xuanyu looked at the paper in his hand again and said with a smile, “If what you asked is her marriage, don’t worry. Her marriage is wonderful. Her husband must be someone. They are a good match for each other.”