"These two young ladies, one has the destiny of a peacock, meant for wealth and prosperity, a smooth life. Alas, the other has the destiny of a phoenix. Their fates clash, generating malevolent energy, which is why the general's mansion has faced so many misfortunes."
"Daoist Master Tianyi, are you implying that the third young lady has offended the eldest young lady?" the third concubine asked excitedly.
Madam Yan glared fiercely at the third concubine, "The Daoist Master hasn't spoken yet, what nonsense are you spouting!"
"As everyone knows, peacocks resemble phoenixes the most. However, a peacock is still a peacock. No matter how similar, it cannot be compared to a celestial phoenix. Even if it suppresses the phoenix fire for a time, it will ultimately be incinerated by the fire of nirvana. The only way to resolve this is to separate the two."
"Who has the peacock's destiny?" Madam Yan felt confident. Daoist Master Tianyi had long been bribed by her. The peacock destiny must belong to Xiao Man. As soon as Daoist Master Tianyi spoke Xiao Man's name, she would find a way to have the Old Madam send Xiao Man to the family temple!
"She who was born on the ninth day of the fifth month has the peacock's destiny, and she who is reborn with the number nine possesses the celestial phoenix destiny. If the two are not separated, it will surely bring about the doom of the general's mansion. I have said all that needs to be said. Farewell." Daoist Master Tianyi, riding the wind, departed. In the blink of an eye, he vanished. The entire rear garden was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard. Su Dan Novel Network.
*Crack.* Suddenly, the sound of cracking melon seeds was heard. Everyone turned towards the sound and saw Xiao Man cracking melon seeds. Noticing everyone looking at her, she finally put down the seeds.
"Grandmother, Daoist Master Tianyi's words cannot be trusted. He might be a liar."
The Old Madam took a deep breath. Daoist Master Tianyi was a reclusive master. Could his words not be believed?
Zen Master Wuyou said Xiao Man was a destined daughter, and Daoist Master Tianyi said Xiao Man was a destined phoenix. If only one person said this, she might dismiss it as nonsense. But Daoist Master Tianyi and Zen Master Wuyou were sworn enemies. If both of them said her destiny was noble beyond words, then it must be true.
But her third granddaughter had the peacock's destiny, a destined fate of wealth and auspiciousness, yet she clashed with Xiao Man. The Old Madam thought carefully. It seemed that whenever Xiao Man encountered trouble, it was somehow related to Xiao Ling. At the丞相府's small banquet, Xiao Ling was present, and Xiao Man fell ill. Xiao Ling was present. Perhaps it was Xiao Ling who clashed with Xiao Man.
"Mother, we don't have to believe Daoist Master Tianyi's words entirely." Madam Yan did not know where things had gone wrong. Shouldn't her daughter be the target of everyone's criticism? Why had it become her daughter?
The Old Madam already believed in ghosts and spirits, and she also heard that if these two were not separated, the general's mansion would face utter ruin. Even if it were false, she dared not take the risk!
"How about this, let third sister go to the old residence in Cangzhou for a period of time. We can discuss further once eldest sister has fully recovered." The Old Madam made a decisive decision to send the third young lady back to the old residence in Cangzhou, and other matters could be dealt with later.
Madam Yan had invited Daoist Master Tianyi to perform rituals at the mansion. Originally, she intended to deliver a fatal blow to Xiao Man, to have Xiao Man expelled from the mansion first, and then have Xiao Man die of illness outside. Who would have thought that in the end, it would be Xiao Ling who was sent back to her ancestral home in Cangzhou.
Madam Yan wept and wailed, unwilling to let Xiao Ling leave. However, the Old Madam was resolute in sending the third young lady back to their ancestral home in Cangzhou.
Xiao Ling, however, remained calm. Her gaze fell upon the composed Xiao Man. Although she did not know how Xiao Man had bribed Daoist Master Tianyi to work for her, this incident made it clear to her that she had underestimated Xiao Man.
Madam Yan packed Xiao Ling's luggage and saw her off at the mansion. The Old Madam, perhaps fearing she would be reluctant to part, did not come out to see her off. Instead, Xiao Man came out to see her off.
"Third sister, the scenery in Cangzhou is exceptionally beautiful. It's a wonderful place to visit. You can treat it as a visit to your ancestral home. When this matter settles down, grandmother and mother will bring you back," Xiao Man said softly, without schadenfreude or happiness, just plainspoken.
Xiao Ling looked at Xiao Man's composed demeanor, inwardly resentful but outwardly showing no emotion. "Sister hasn't returned to our ancestral home in Cangzhou for a long time. It's a good opportunity to go back and see. Grandmother and mother will have to trouble eldest sister to look after them more."
"Rest assured, I will take good care of things in the mansion," Xiao Man's voice remained gentle.
"Cousin Ling'er." The Tenth Prince galloped over on his horse and stopped steadily at the gate of the general's mansion. "Aunt."
"Your Highness, Tenth Prince."
The Tenth Prince, in his princely attire, had a handsome face. It had to be said that the royal family's genes were excellent. At least, the princes Xiao Man knew were all first-class in appearance.
"Cousin Ling'er, where are you going?" the Tenth Prince, Nangong Cheng, asked with confusion.
Xiao Ling glanced at Xiao Man, then withdrew her gaze. "I haven't been back to my ancestral home in Cangzhou for a long time. I want to go back and stay for a while."
"Why have you suddenly decided to return to your ancestral home in Cangzhou?" the Tenth Prince asked, puzzled. "Aunt, Ling'er cousin has already come of age. Why is she still returning to her ancestral home? Isn't this ruining Sister Ling'er's future?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yan's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She wiped her eyes. "Tenth Prince, please don't say any more. It's just that our Ling'er has bad luck."
Saying this, she shot a glare at Xiao Man, who acted as if she saw nothing. "This trip to Cangzhou is a long journey. Third sister should set off early. If you delay, you might miss a place to lodge and have to sleep outdoors in the wilderness."
"Xiao Man, Ling'er is also your sister. Are you so eager to drive her away?" the Tenth Prince said, displeased. "Ling'er has always respected you as her elder sister."
Xiao Man sighed upon hearing this and looked at the Tenth Prince. "Speaking of which, this matter started because of me. If third sister hadn't worried about me, fearing I might offend something unclean, she wouldn't have asked grandmother and mother to invite Daoist Master Tianyi to perform rituals at the mansion. Grandmother wouldn't have sent third sister to Cangzhou because she thought third sister was clashing with me. It's really putting third sister at a disadvantage."
Xiao Ling felt a surge of blood rise to her throat. What did she mean, "she clashed with Xiao Man"? It was clearly Xiao Man who clashed with her!
"Ling'er clashes with you?"
"This is common knowledge in the mansion. The rituals were something third sister insisted on. Mother invited the person. It was grandmother who decided third sister should go to Cangzhou to live for a while. Originally, I didn't believe in such superstitious matters, but since mother and grandmother both believe in them, I can't help it. Your Highness is of noble status. Perhaps you could speak to grandmother on third sister's behalf?"
The Tenth Prince was about to enter the mansion upon hearing this, but Xiao Ling stopped him. "Cousin, please don't make things difficult for grandmother. Grandmother has no choice. I'm only going to Cangzhou to stay for a while and will return soon."
Nangong Cheng still felt indignant. They were both daughters of the primary wife, yet Xiao Man was arrogant and rude, while Xiao Ling was gentle and obedient. But precisely because Xiao Ling was gentle and obedient, she was repeatedly bullied by Xiao Man.
Xiao Ling reluctantly boarded the carriage. Even after entering the carriage, she couldn't resist lifting the curtain and looking back. Her pitiable appearance moved even Xiao Man, let alone the Tenth Prince.