Volume 1, Chapter 20: It Was Fu Zhixun Who Saved Her

Knowing that the two had experienced the incident with the bronze vessel, Ming Shu realized they were now fully convinced of the principles of feng shui and yin-yang. She decided to be frank about her suspicions:

"There was so much cadaverous energy and shattered spirit fragments inside that vessel; it shows just how vast that sacrificial ritual must have been. Even the high priest was willing to sacrifice their own body, merging it into the vessel—that alone speaks to the ritual's immense importance."

"For a ritual of such scale and significance, how could that vessel be the only sacrificial object?"

"Ancient sacrifices were bloody, cruel, and bizarre. The cadaverous energy isn't what's truly terrifying; it’s the resentment of the trapped souls. If they have been confined within a formation for a thousand years without hope of reincarnation, they would surely have turned into demons."

"Once a person comes into contact with them, they might lose their life, suffer a fate worse than death, or have their lineage cut off... all are possible."

"That is why we must find that old farmer and ask where he obtained the vessel. Perhaps we can locate the site of the sacrifice and destroy or seal those remaining ritual objects."

Fu Yanshan felt a chill run down his spine, and he dared not refuse: "I will entrust someone to investigate this at once!"

Lady Cheng could not help but admonish him: "Control your hands, and don't you dare bring any more junk back!"

"I won't, I won't! Even if you killed me, I wouldn't dare bring anything back," Fu Yanshan waved his hands and hurried out of the courtyard.

Ming Shu also intended to take her leave, but Lady Cheng stopped her: "Since you are already here, you might as well pick out a few sets of clothes to take with you."

"You are about the same build as Xiang'er. I have made a few new winter outfits for her; take whichever ones you find pleasing. You are, after all, a mistress of the Marquis's estate; it wouldn't do to look too shabby."

Ming Shu smiled and gladly followed Lady Cheng to the second daughter's living quarters.

However, the moment she saw Fu Xiang, Ming Shu froze in her tracks. The young girl before her looked almost exactly like her junior sister. The only difference was their eyes; her junior sister’s were lively and mischievous, while Fu Xiang's were clear, innocent, and childlike.

"Xiang'er, this is your Third Sister-in-law."

"Third Sister-in-law." Fu Xiang looked at Ming Shu with a sweet, obedient expression, tilting her head.

It was exactly how her junior sister looked when their master first brought her home. Ming Shu’s heart softened instantly, and she smiled at Fu Xiang: "Second Sister."

Fu Xiang smiled back, tugged on Lady Cheng’s sleeve, and whispered loud enough for Ming Shu to hear: "Mother, Third Sister-in-law looks like a fairy. Can I go feed the little bunnies with her?"

Lady Cheng laughed: "Then why don't you ask the fairy yourself?"

Fu Xiang, however, became shy and didn't dare to speak up.

"Second Aunt, please help me choose the clothes. I'm going to feed the bunnies with Second Sister!" Ming Shu generously took Fu Xiang’s hand and laughed, "Where are the bunnies?"

Fu Xiang’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed: "In the next room! They are such big eaters, and they’ve made so much poop..."

*

Hanlin Academy, Library of Classics.

Fu Zhixun had presented Elder Yin, the keeper of the registry, with two jars of pear blossom wine, and he came here every afternoon to read. The library contained six hundred and seventy-eight rooms, housing a vast sea of books, making it the largest collection in the Dong Sheng Empire.

Over the past few days, Fu Zhixun had pored over almost all the ancient scrolls. Yet, regarding the sacrificial rituals, he had found only fragmented mentions, none providing the answers he sought.

Elder Yin happened to pass by and, seeing him frowning over an ancient scroll, couldn't help but ask: "Master Fu, are you interested in the affairs of the Shang and Zhou dynasties?"

Fu Zhixun smiled: "I have been working on the history records recently, and some allusions seem inaccurate. I wish to find the original sources to make corrections."

Elder Yin, a true scholar, grew interested: "I have long said that there are many errors in the history books, but those people are too lazy to verify them. They just dismiss it by saying, 'History has always been this way.' But is 'this way' actually correct?"

"Come with me. Regarding the Shang and Zhou dynasties, reading these is useless; it’s all hearsay. What I have collected is the true history!"

Without waiting for a reply, he dragged Fu Zhixun to a secluded courtyard. Opening the door, they revealed piles of turtle shells, animal bones, stone slabs, and bronzes. Elder Yin sighed: "What is recorded on these are the earliest ancient scripts discovered to date. These turtle shells and bones are the real history! Yet no one cares..."

He rambled on, not noticing the shock and darkness in Fu Zhixun’s eyes.

"I have spent decades and can only decipher less than thirty percent of the characters. My learning is still too shallow... However, I have traced all the inscriptions from these shells and bones. If you are interested, you may take a look. There are indeed many records that contradict the history books."

Elder Yin handed a thick stack of scrolls to Fu Zhixun: "I have included my annotations in small seal script for your reference."

Fu Zhixun smiled gratefully: "Thank you, Elder Yin, for your generous guidance!"

Elder Yin waved his hand: "It’s nothing; let us discuss this together. If you decipher any new characters, you must tell me!"

Fu Zhixun: "Naturally."

He thought to himself that he would likely be able to recognize all the characters on those shells and bones.

Elder Yin patted him on the back: "I look forward to your good news!"

Fu Zhixun muttered an acknowledgement, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. The wound on his back from the lightning strike had not yet fully healed.

*

Dingyuan Marquis Estate, East Courtyard.

Ming Shu stared at a pile of winter clothes that were either bright pink or goose-yellow, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She hadn't worn these colors since she was seven—at least, the version of her before she entered the book. She should have gone to pick them out herself at Lady Cheng’s.

Muxi teased with a smile: "The Second Miss only has clothes in these colors. How could you expect to find black, white, or gray here? I think they look quite lovely, and with your fair skin and elegant temperament, you can carry off any color."

She urged Ming Shu to change into a cherry-blossom-colored outfit.

Muxi’s eyes lit up, then she became slightly dazed, as if she were seeing the carefree Princess Fanyin of the Nanning Kingdom once again. Ming Shu also remembered that on the day the Nanning Kingdom fell, when Empress Huizhao took her own life to protect the people, Princess Fanyin had been wearing pink.

That bright little princess, like Fu Xiang, had loved vibrant colors.

The country was gone, and the deceased were lost to time; dwelling on the past only brought sorrow. Ming Shu changed the subject: "Was it you who carried me down from the mountain that day? What happened to the clothes I was wearing?"

Muxi’s expression suddenly turned strange.

Ming Shu looked at her suspiciously.

Muxi stammered: "That day, the Second Madam and I were waiting at the mountainside when the Third Young Master arrived..."

Later, she and the Second Madam returned to the mountaintop. They saw Fu Zhixun, wearing only his inner robes, carrying Ming Shu horizontally out of the formation.

His outer robe was wrapped around Ming Shu, but a glimpse of her snow-white lower legs and delicate, jade-like feet were exposed. Muxi had tried to take off her own jacket to cover Ming Shu, but she was terrified by Fu Zhixun.

His face was expressionless, but his usually cold eyes were so intense, as if they had been soaked in blood; it was a heart-stopping sight. His aura was as sharp as a blade, and she dared not approach him.

Only after he walked past her did she notice his back, which was a mass of raw, mangled flesh.

Ming Shu was also stunned into silence. She remembered that at the final moment, Fu Zhixun had appeared. If not for his help, she might have had to sacrifice her own life to seal the bronze vessel. She didn't know why he had appeared—wasn't he the type who couldn't be bothered with others' affairs?

That bolt of heavenly lightning would have struck her, yet he had protected her, sustaining severe injuries himself. And he had even carried her out of the formation...

"Princess, I think the Third Young Master is somewhat terrifying..." Muxi’s voice was barely a whisper.

"Since he saved my life once, he will not take it for now. There is no need to be afraid," Ming Shu replied calmly. "I suppose he thinks I am useful to him. It is a good thing that he finds me of value."