"I’m afraid there’s nothing this Heavenly Master can do." After saying this, Celestial Master Zhang turned to leave. However, his steps did not head towards the main gate but moved deeper into the mansion. He pretended to be lost, using the opportunity to scout around the General’s Mansion for evidence of the Thousand Year Striped Tiger’s presence. After all, his divination had indicated that the location of the Thousand Year Striped Tiger pointed to this direction.
"Hey, Heavenly Master! Heavenly Master, wait a mont, wait a mont." The Old Madam chased after him.
"What’s the matter? Did the Old Madam think it over?"
The Old Madam’s face showed a mont of hesitation before she seed to make a decision and spoke earnestly to the Heavenly Master, "Heavenly Master, our Jiejie and you are both officials serving the Emperor; you must lend him your aid!"
"We are colleagues, so naturally." Celestial Master Zhang replied absent-mindedly.
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam seed to have made a significant decision: "Actually, that woman Auntie Tang... even if she died, she deserved it."
The Old Madam’s abrupt comnt finally grabbed Celestial Master Zhang’s attention: "Oh! The deceased should be respected. Why would the Old Madam say such a thing?"
"Ah! Every family has its own difficult story to tell."
"Feel free to share it."
"It’s a family scandal, all of it." The Old Madam’s face clouded over as she spoke about the matter: "This is a long story. Why don’t we sit in the parlor and talk slowly?"
They were currently standing in the middle of the garden, not the best place for conversation.
"Hmm, alright."
The Parlor.
The Old Madam and Celestial Master Zhang sat down. The maids and servants served tea and stood by to attend to them.
"Heavenly Master, the matter of Auntie Tang is a long story."
"Then make a long story short."
"Hmm."
The Old Madam lowered her head in thought, coming to the conclusion that this matter needed resolution. If ghostly revenge really ca to their doorstep, the longer it dragged on, the worse it would be for the General’s Mansion. Thus, she recounted how Auntie Tang had died, though she was careful not to ntion the affair with Doctor Wang.
After listening to the Old Madam’s account.
Celestial Master Zhang frowned: "To speak fairly, in this matter, what you did at the General’s Mansion was quite unjust. Although Prince Pu did not persist in seeking redress, it’s odd that he hasn’t appealed to the Emperor these past days."
Prince Pu knew that his daughter had been caught in the act with Doctor Wang by Situ Yongjie, and naturally did not dare to make any noise. He feared that even if his daughter’s death beca known, she would have the reputation of a loose woman.
Before the Old Madam could say more, Celestial Master Zhang continued: "No matter Auntie Tang’s faults, she managed your mansion affairs for over a decade and bore four children. As the saying goes, even without standing rit, there’s hard-earned rit. She did not deserve such an end; no wonder her resentnt is so deep."
The Old Madam, anxious, blurted out: "That wretched woman was immoral, engaging in disgraceful acts, deserved to die, and wronged my Jiejie. How could she hold any grievances?"
"Oh!"
This piqued Celestial Master Zhang’s interest; it seed there were hidden depths to this story that the Old Madam hadn’t candidly revealed.
"Did Auntie Tang commit actions that compromised her virtue?"
"This... this..."
The Old Madam, realizing she had inadvertently exposed the truth, looked troubled and said, "Heavenly Master, please don’t ask anymore; these are family scandals."
Heavenly Master: "Old Madam, I’ve been very clear. If you truly wish to resolve this matter, you must tell it completely, word for word."
User Comments
0 comments from readers