Chapter 293 Apparition
Miss Ji said, “Dozens of families set their tombs in the suburbs, most of which are from large local wealthy and influential families. Among them, ours cover the largest area. A few hours after the earthquake last night, Mommy and I went to inspect the damage. Unexpectedly, our tombs were intact, but all of the others were collapsed.”
He Danggui blinked her eyes and asked, “How strong the earthquake was? We didn’t feel anything here last night.”
“No. We all felt it.” Miss Ji told her, “You didn’t feel anything because you were locked in the Depositary of Buddhist Texts. Everyone in Luo’s Mansion is talking about it now.” Seeing He Danggui’s confused look, Miss Ji took her hand and sat down at the table. She explained in a low voice, “In fact, the whole Yangzhou City has gone through the earthquake last night. We haven’t heard any casualties, only a bunch of collapsed tombs. But two places survived. One is our ancestral tombs in the suburbs, and the other is the ancestral temple in the Mansion. Most incredibly, people who were in the ancestral temple didn’t feel the slightest vibration. Therefore, Madam Luo viewed it as a miracle and asked me to come to you.”
He Danggui tried her best to make a surprised face and then cried, “What a miracle! I know you are an honest person, so I believe you. If other people said it to me, I would not trust even a single word. In my opinion, it was because our ancestors showed their power to protect Luo’s Family from the earthquake. Why did grandma let you ask me?”
Miss Ji took out a stack of white silk from her sleeve and then handed it to He Danggui. She told He Danggui to open it and explained, “This is the copy of the handwriting from the first stele of the ancestral tombs. Check it.”
Now, He Danggui was really curious because she didn’t let Xiaoyou write any words. When she unfolded the white silk, the familiar fonts came into her eyes. The handwriting was not clear and complete, and she could only read an ambiguous sentence, “My descendant, a young girl, has saved Luo’s Family from disasters. Therefore, as your ancestor, I hereby commend her achievements...”
He Danggui almost laughed out when she saw the words “as your ancestor”. Bai Yangbai! When did he play tricks on people in ancestral tombs? He Danggui thought he had already left Yangzhou City.
“My descendant, a young girl.” Miss Ji explained it to her in case she didn’t get the point, “In both the East and West Yard of Luo’s Family in Yangzhou City, except for Ma Baoqian, the daughter of Mistress Luo Chuanjiao from the West Yard, you are the only one who matches the description. But, Ma Baoqian’s marriage was canceled because of her bad fortunetelling results. Therefore, Madam Luo said she was definitely not the right one. Since she is not the one, then it must be you!”
He Danggui smiled, “I am flattered. How would a 14-year-old girl be able to save Luo’s Family? Our family is blessed by the grace of the emperor. I don’t see any signs of disasters. Besides, are the words really from the ancestor? Maybe it was just a prank?” Even if she didn’t raise this question, people like Sun Meiniang would also bring it up when this news went public. It was better for her to be the first to say that out.
Miss Ji answered with a mysterious look, “This is even more magical. Those words were not written on the tombstone. Instead, it just showed up. Many people were on-site, including me.”
“Showed up?” He Danggui was surprised, “The ancestor showed his apparition?”
“That’s right.” Miss Ji nodded.
He Danggui opened his eyes wide and asked, “What did he look like?”
“We servants are not worthy of being met the ancestor.” Miss Ji said in a gloomy voice, “However, we saw it in the flesh that he wrote these words on the tombstone with an invisible hand.” She was afraid that He Danggui would not believe her, so she added, “Trust me. Dozens of people witnessed that scene. What’s more, Mommy found that the words were written by gold powders! And then we all knelt down to worship.”
He Danggui folded the white silk and returned it to Miss Ji. She complimented, “It is lucky enough that our ancestral tombs and ancestral temple are safe and sound after the earthquake. Moreover, once this information is delivered to the emperor by Senior Governor Han, we may have more good news. Now that we are so lucky in the opening of the year, Madam Luo must be overjoyed.”
“Oh?” Miss Ji didn’t know much about politics. Therefore, she hurriedly asked, “Why do you say that?”
He Danggui answered conservatively, “Actually, I can’t say it for sure. But my uncles are all well-educated people. If they hear the news, maybe they will have some conclusions.” Then, she sighed, “Poor me! I was wrongly accused of hurting people with witchcraft! There was a lady who dressed as a beggar saying that I was longing for the He’s Family in the capital so that I didn’t like Luo’s Family. Therefore, Madam Luo turned mad at me, and I am still worried now. Miss Ji, you are a busy person, and I have no reason to keep you here. They may hold a celebrating banquet in the Mansion at any time. I am going to continue my confession now.” She stood up and was about to leave.
“Please don’t go.” Miss Ji grabbed her, “You haven’t explained what happened. How could I report to Madam Luo?”
“Alas, I’m a youth. I heard that message from grandpa.” He Danggui was holding her forehead. “I met him several times in my dreams. He told me something about the family’s future. However, after being frightened by my aunt Sun Meiniang last night, I can’t remember anything because of the condition aggravation. I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
He Danggui’s complexion was pale with sweat. So, Miss Ji immediately believed her words and asked worriedly, “What kind of illness do you have? What does the doctor say?”
He Danggui walked into the inner hall and then sat in a chair, “In fact, it is an illness in my heart, not on my body. Time is the only cure for me… I am sorry, but I really need to take some rest now. You can leave… So hungry… Alas, I can’t sleep on the bed. So sleepy…” Then, she closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
Miss Ji had no other choice but to leave. Seeing that the gatekeeper locked the door, she wondered why He Danggui was treated so harshly. So, she asked the gatekeeper. It turned out that he was selected by the Second Branch. Of course, he favored them, and he told Miss Ji all about last night. He also said that since He Danggui was found guilty, even Madam Luo couldn’t continue to indulge her, and she had ordered to detain He Danggui until her mother came back from the Taoist Temple. By then, every one of the Fourth Branch would be punished.
Miss Ji had an answer in her heart. He Danggui and her mother were never vicious people to hurt someone, and they must be wronged. Madam Luo asked her to know the meanings of the golden mink hanging in the woods next to the ancestral tombs, the Broom Woman for Fine Days under the corridor, and the words from He Danggui’s grandfather. But she hadn’t done her tasks at all. She thought for a while and then went to Fu Shou Yard to report to Madam Luo.
In Fu Shou Yard, Madam Luo was talking to Fortune-teller Li. She wanted to know what the light anomalies last night represented.
Although Fortune-teller Li was also a swindler, he still had a bit of knowledge because he had been in this industry for many years. He introduced Madam Luo the star movements, good omens, and evil omens. Usually, the brighter stars were in the hosting palace, indicating a stronger fortune of the world. In this case, the world was likely to remain in peace. The color of the stars also explained the fortune. Brightly colored stars, such as red, purple, and blue, usually were signs of something bad.
Madam Luo asked, “The star of last night was brighter than the noon sun, and the color was white. Was it a sign of prosperity?”
Fortune-teller Li shook his head, “No. On the contrary, that represents something evil.”
“What?” Madam Luo was trembling, “A bad omen?”
“Indeed.” Fortune-teller Li nodded, “According to my observation, although this star was bright, it only illuminated Yangzhou City. Technically, there are only two kinds of stars that fit this phenomenon. One is the thorn star, and the other is the comet. I cannot confirm its name, but both kinds are signs of bad luck. The earthquake last night just proved what I said.”
Madam Luo frowned and murmured, “Yangzhou City is the only place infected? Why did that star show in New Year?”
Fortune-teller Li explained, “This morning, I heard that not only the light but also the earthquake only affected Yangzhou City. Over the boundary of Yangzhou City, nothing happened.”
“Is something bad going to happen?” Madam Luo sighed with anxiety, “Bad luck this year.”
“You are right.” Fortune-teller Li also sighed, “The emperor values the natural phenomenon very much. Since that star has shown up here, his majesty will call all great fortune-tellers to find a solution. Maybe people in Yangzhou City will be blamed as well.”
“For what?” Madam Luo was anxious and exclaimed, “We are the victims!”
Fortune-teller Li sighed, “It is a strange disaster that only showed in Yangzhou City. Maybe his majesty will think that we are not behaved so that the nature is mad at us.”
Madam Luo lowered her head. Would his majesty punish all people in Yangzhou City because of a natural disaster? No. Who would be the scapegoat?
At this moment, Miss Ji hurriedly walked in and said to Madam Luo, “Madam, please forgive me. I didn’t finish the tasks. Third Miss is sick, and she couldn’t answer my question. The Depositary of Buddhist Texts is cold and damp. How could a young lady live there? Now she has no water and food. She may die at any time!”
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