Moments after Mu Anxiao left the room, Feng Qishi turned to Lou Yi and Jia, who had just spoken with Mu Anxiao, and asked, "What's wrong with her?"
"What do you think is wrong with her?" Jia retorted.
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi immediately shifted his gaze to Jia's face. "If I knew, would I need to ask you?" he said, glancing at Lou Yi as well.
Fearing Feng Qishi might misunderstand him, Lou Yi quickly stated, "This has nothing to do with me. I didn't say anything." He then lowered his head.
Jia's expression stiffened, and he suddenly felt as if a heavy burden had been placed upon him.
After Lou Yi spoke, Feng Qishi fixed his gaze on Jia's face. "What did you say to her?"
Lou Yi knew that Feng Qishi would understand the implication of his words. To prevent Jia from attacking him, he deliberately buried his head even deeper.
Jia chuckled. "I didn't say anything," he replied, glancing at Lou Yi.
"I don't believe you didn't say anything," Feng Qishi said. Looking at Jia's bewildered expression, he hesitated before continuing, "Never mind what you said. What did Mu Shazi say to you? Can you tell me?"
"Mu Anxiao," Jia repeated, then recalled what he had just explained to Mu Anxiao and her reaction afterward. He realized his words had indeed been rather direct. However, he also knew how important Mu Anxiao was to Feng Qishi, so he didn't know where to begin. He was afraid that a single wrong word might offend Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi said calmly, "Don't just repeat her name. Tell me what she said to you."
"She..." Jia began, shifting his gaze toward the carpet.
Following Jia's line of sight, Feng Qishi turned his head to glance at Xiaoyue and asked, "What is it?" He realized that whatever Mu Anxiao had told Jia must have been related to Xiaoyue, but he didn't want to point it out directly, giving Jia space to respond.
"She mentioned that dead girl," Jia said, then looked back at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi observed this and said gently, "She told you about this girl and that dead girl." He assumed Mu Anxiao must have said a lot.
As expected, guided by Feng Qishi, Jia repeated, "Yes, she mentioned them." He didn't know how to approach the issue, so he could only cooperate with Feng Qishi at every turn.
Feng Qishi looked at the suddenly constrained Jia with a helpless expression. "If you have something to say, say it all at once. Can you stop being so cryptic? Like this," he said, feigning seriousness, "you're just wearing down my patience." His gaze was sharp.
Seeing Feng Qishi's sudden change in attitude, Jia became uneasy and blurted out, "Mu Anxiao said she wanted to find out about the deceased girl's life from that girl's mouth, and then I said, 'No.'"
"Why not?" Feng Qishi's heart leaped, as this was the outcome he had hoped for.
"Since the deceased girl's memory could be lost, it proves that it's something she didn't want, perhaps her inner secrets. So, even if that girl says a lot, the deceased girl's memories can't be pieced together. In the end," he shrugged, "it will only be like drawing water with a bamboo basket – a futile effort."
Feng Qishi, however, had not considered this depth. Upon hearing Jia's explanation, he suddenly realized, "That's true. Everyone has secrets they want to hide, and secrets are a form of memory. As far as I know, the relationship between this girl and that girl doesn't seem too close, so even if I hear her talk, it won't be useful."
"That's exactly what I mean," Jia exclaimed excitedly.
Feng Qishi looked at Jia and nodded, "What you said makes a lot of sense."
"However, Mu Anxiao doesn't seem to like what I said," Jia said softly.
"You don't need to think about her too much," Feng Qishi said, turning and walking to Xiaoyue's side, his brow furrowed.
Lou Yi then walked up behind Feng Qishi and asked, "Why were you looking for a silver needle?"
Hearing this, Feng Qishi sighed softly, turned to Lou Yi, and said, "I detected demonic energy in her body. I suspect it might be from the silver needle."
"Can Mu Anxiao find it?"
"Yes," Feng Qishi confirmed.
Lou Yi nodded and added, "If the silver needle isn't found, you can't treat her, is that it?"
"Healing techniques also vary. If the demonic energy in her body was brought by the silver needle, it will be easier to handle. But if it's her own demonic energy, then things will be troublesome."
"You're afraid the demonic energy will clash with your spiritual energy and seriously injure her," Jia interjected.
Feng Qishi turned his head to look at Jia and nodded.
Seeing Feng Qishi nod, Jia couldn't help but sigh and say, "There are really too many things going on in this residence of yours. First Bing'er, then the carriage driver disappearing, then these two girls, and Gu Qin. Sigh, I feel tired just thinking about it."
"I'm fine. Mu Shazi is probably more tired," Feng Qishi said in a low voice, walking to the table and sitting down.
Jia replied, "Yes."
Lou Yi, seeing this, also returned to the table and sat down.
At the same time.
Mu Anxiao, carrying Feng Qishi's instructions, walked along the road. To avoid encountering Ouyang Ye, she deliberately took a detour through the rock garden path.
She cautiously observed her surroundings along the way. Just as she thought she was safe and about to leave the area, Zhao Xiang appeared in her field of vision. Startled, she was about to turn and flee when Zhao Xiang called out, "Kid, are you hiding from me?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao was startled and slowly turned around, lowering her head in response. "No."
"No?" Zhao Xiang said, glancing at a maidservant holding a tray nearby, then turning back to Mu Anxiao. "Come here."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's nerves tightened. "I have other things to attend to," she said.
"What other things do you have to attend to?"
"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed," Mu Anxiao said mysteriously.
Zhao Xiang frowned. "Heaven's secrets now? You brat, come here. If you dare disobey my orders, I'll report you to your master and get you kicked out."
"Young Master, everyone has their difficulties. Be lenient where you can. Why do you have to make things difficult for a subordinate?" Mu Anxiao refused to look up.
Zhao Xiang detested being refused by a subordinate. Seeing Mu Anxiao now, he became enraged. "You brat, you're not listening to me, are you?"
"I..."
Before Mu Anxiao could finish refusing, a familiar voice reached her ears. "Young Master, why make things difficult for a servant?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao slowly looked up and saw Ouyang Ye, disguised as the carriage driver. Her heart sank, and she quickly lowered her head again.
Zhao Xiang frowned. "What are you doing here?" He dared not be too arrogant, speaking in a very gentle tone.
However, Mu Anxiao's earlier actions were caught by Ouyang Ye. Ouyang Ye completely ignored Zhao Xiang, his gaze fixed on Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao sensed that something was wrong and was too frightened to move.