Volume One, Chapter 11: She Did Look a Bit Pitiful

After a moment’s thought, Ming Shu said firmly, “I am certain the source of the corpse energy is here, emanating from one or several antiques. The corpse energy is extremely potent and malevolent; if the elderly, weak, sick, or children are exposed to it, they might fall ill or even lose their lives. It is very dangerous.”

She lifted her head slightly, her expression sincere as she looked at Fu Zhixun. “If you help me, I can find it faster.”

Fu Zhixun’s lips curled into a faint smile. “What if I don’t help?”

“I can still find it, but unnecessary complications will waste a lot of time.”

“Fine.”

Ming Shu was about to thank him when Fu Zhixun added, “Then you find it yourself.”

Ming Shu: “...???”

This is your home, and your relatives are in trouble. Aren’t you worried?!

Taking a deep breath, she suppressed the frustration in her chest and forced out one word: “Fine.”

“Muxi, bring the realgar!”

Ming Shu pushed the door open. Little Shu had just finished eating, burping and drowsy.

She looked around, took down a brand-new bronze mirror, and sat beside Little Shu.

Using the realgar as ink, she quickly drew a talisman on the mirror, then grabbed Little Shu’s hand and pressed it onto the mirror.

Grandma Nai, who was baffled by Ming Shu’s sudden actions, finally reacted and shouted, trying to pull Ming Shu’s hand away, “What are you doing? Let go of the young master—”

“Muxi, take her away!”

Strong Muxi easily threw the woman aside. Grandma Nai screamed, “Help! Save the young master! Someone—”

Fu Yanshan and Mrs. Cheng rushed over from next door. Mrs. Cheng was about to speak but was stunned by the scene before her eyes.

A layer of white mist surrounded Ming Shu, while damp black smoke seeped from Little Shu’s right hand, rapidly being swallowed by the bronze mirror.

The once gleaming mirror, bought just yesterday, had now turned dark and dull.

At the same time, Little Shu’s face quickly regained a rosy glow.

His once lifeless eyes began to sparkle with vitality.

Even Fu Yanshan and Mrs. Cheng, not the sharpest, understood what Ming Shu was doing.

Driving out the corpse energy... so she really could.

After a quarter of an hour, when no more black smoke seeped from Little Shu’s palm, Ming Shu stopped.

The mirror surface was now pitch black.

Ming Shu’s face was as pale as snow. She turned to Fu Yanshan and Mrs. Cheng and said, “The corpse energy has been completely cleared from Little Shu’s body. Second Aunt, should I clear it from you or Dashan next?”

“Dashan!” Mrs. Cheng replied without hesitation, unaware that she had fully trusted Ming Shu.

“Very well, bring me two more bronze mirrors.”

Ming Shu used the same method to clear the corpse energy from Dashan and Mrs. Cheng.

Dashan, whose fever had subsided, fell into a quiet sleep, while Mrs. Cheng felt her head clear and body light as a swallow, even her mood inexplicably uplifted.

Seeing his wife and children seemingly reborn, Fu Yanshan quickly found a mirror, looking at Ming Shu with great anticipation: “I’m unwell too, I must have corpse energy inside. Please clear it for me!”

But Ming Shu’s strength had reached its limit.

Her face was deathly pale, lips colorless, and cold sweat dripped down her forehead.

Muxi hurried to support Ming Shu. The moment she touched her hand, it felt as cold as ice. Unable to hold back, she exclaimed, “The princess isn’t a goddess! She hasn’t eaten for days! Can’t you let her have a bite first?!”

Fu Yanshan held the mirror, glancing at Fu Zhixun. “Why don’t you even let her eat? You don’t want to marry her, fine, but mistreating her is wrong.”

Fu Zhixun said nothing.

“Uncle Zhao, go make ginseng soup!”

Uncle Zhao weakly replied, “The ginseng is all used up. I need to buy more...”

Under Fu Zhixun’s cold gaze, he shuddered. “I’ll go buy it right now!”

Fu Yanshan quickly interrupted, “Wait, wait, I have some!” He rushed to the storeroom and handed a box to Uncle Zhao. “This is hundred-year-old ginseng, very nourishing!”

Uncle Zhao opened it, frowned. “This is Isatis root, not ginseng.”

“Impossible! I spent five hundred taels on it...” Fu Yanshan hesitated upon seeing Uncle Zhao’s disappointed look.

“Fu Yanshan! You spent five hundred taels on Isatis root?! Does money grow on trees in this house?” Mrs. Cheng’s good mood evaporated instantly. “How many times has this happened? At this rate, the kids and I will be starving for sure!”

...

Ming Shu sat on a stool, silently munching on a leftover steamed bun from Little Shu.

Fu Zhixun watched her trembling hands biting the bun, his expression a mix of emotions: well, it did look a bit pitiful.

But what did it matter to him? She had used Uncle Zhao’s precious medicine; he wasn’t mistreating her.

Gradually, Mrs. Cheng’s voice grew faint, and all eyes in the room turned to Ming Shu.

Ming Shu swallowed the bun and said, “Enough arguing. Now, the important matter.”

“I need two days’ rest before I can clear the corpse energy from Second Uncle.”

“Why two days? What if something happens to the master during that time?”

Ming Shu lowered her head and continued eating the bun, signaling, “You finish speaking, then I will.”

Mrs. Cheng muttered reluctantly, “Can’t you just hold on?”

Ming Shu: “No. As Muxi said, I’m not a goddess.”

Her gaze briefly swept over Fu Zhixun. “If I could directly find the source of the corpse energy, I could send the energy inside your bodies back to where it came from, sparing myself the great effort and finishing the job in one go.”

“But since none of you believe me, I can only clear the corpse energy inside your bodies for now, to keep you safe temporarily.”

“As long as the source isn’t found, this courtyard will remain unsafe. So Second Aunt, Dashan, and Little Shu should move out first.”

“As for Second Uncle, your life will not be at risk these two days, but I can’t guarantee you won’t fall ill. Don’t go out for now, and get plenty of sunlight during the day to dispel some corpse energy.”

“In two days, I will search for the source of the corpse energy again. Second Uncle, Second Aunt, what do you say?”

Fu Yanshan answered immediately, “Fine! Third niece-in-law, you must rest well.”

Ming Shu nodded and said to Muxi, “I can’t walk anymore, carry me back.”

Just as she stepped out of the room, her sleeve was grabbed.

“Here.” Little Shu held out a steamed bun.

Ming Shu was slightly taken aback, then reached out to take it. “Thank you.”

She gave him a faint smile. Little Shu’s eyes widened.

Wow, a fairy!

Can a fairy be a bad person?

Mother and brother were wrong!

*

Perhaps purifying Yunqing’s resentment had boosted her own cultivation. Ming Shu slept for a full day and night before waking up.

She had just finished washing when Muxi entered with a strange expression. “The sun is rising from the west...”

“Huh?”

“Uncle Zhao heard you were awake and, along with Fu Tian, brought several boxes of food, all warm and full... Princess, can you eat it? If not, I also made millet porridge—”

“No point refusing if it’s offered.”

Ming Shu had the best meal since she entered this book world.

One thought filled her mind: from now on, she must eat this well every day with Muxi!

“Let’s go to Weirui Pavilion to ask Yunxia about some things,” she said, hoping to walk off the meal.

Weirui Pavilion was in the southwest direction of the central courtyard, in the second courtyard.

After visiting the old madam, Ming Shu knew the way to the central courtyard.

However, she did not know anyone in the main branch living there.

When a voluptuous pregnant woman blocked her way, she was helpless: “Could you please go first?”

Politely stepping aside to let the pregnant woman pass.

But the woman smiled warmly, “You must be the third sister-in-law, right? It’s so cold today. Why not come inside for some hot tea?”

No, I don’t know you.

Ming Shu replied with a polite smile, “I’m busy today. Maybe next time.”

The woman still smiled, “Looking for someone? I can take you. I don’t mind.”

She kept touching her belly again and again. “The doctor said I should walk more in late pregnancy. Only if I’m healthy can I safely give birth.”

Ming Shu found it odd. That sounded like bragging. But what was there to brag about to her? She didn’t even know her.

Still, seeing the woman keep touching her belly, she couldn’t help but say a little more, “Touching your belly like that might make the baby think you’re playing with him. If the baby moves a lot, there’s a risk of the umbilical cord wrapping around the neck, so it’s best to touch less.”

The woman’s hand froze on her abdomen.

Just then, a young man hurried over. “Ajin, it’s so cold, come back quickly—”

His steps faltered. His eyes fell on Ming Shu’s face and couldn’t look away.