Wang Qingyao returned home at dark.
Yinzhu and Zhizi were stunned when they saw her. Yinzhu asked, "Why is your lip so swollen, miss?"
Here we go again.
Wang Qingyao's face flushed, and she explained with feigned seriousness, "I fell and bumped it."
Yinzhu said with concern, "How hard must you have fallen to get such an injury! How did Prince Ding'an take care of you?"
Prince Ding'an had, through his charm and meticulous care for Wang Qingyao and her servants, successfully improved his image in Yinzhu's eyes. However, due to the injury on Wang Qingyao's lip, he was back to square one.
Wang Qingyao coughed lightly, "It's not his fault; I was just careless."
She had played too wildly during the day and couldn't sleep at night. Wang Qingyao touched her lips and tossed and turned in bed.
How much had that little rascal Xiao Yun pried out of her?
Judging by his behavior during the day, he seemed only a bit shy, with no other unusual signs.
Had she really not said anything she shouldn't have?
She had never been so drunk before and couldn't find a comparison.
She finally fell asleep in the latter half of the night. In the morning, no matter how much Yinzhu shook her, she slept like a log, successfully missing the time to pay respects to Old Madam Wang.
Old Madam Wang didn't particularly care for Wang Qingyao's greetings. However, when she grudgingly granted her the opportunity to pay her respects, and Wang Qingyao didn't cherish it, Old Madam Wang became somewhat annoyed.
Old Madam Wang really wanted to send a wet nurse to discipline her. But now that her most beloved granddaughter was ruined, and Wang Qingyao was the only remaining legitimate granddaughter, who was about to become the Princess of Ding'an, she couldn't let her harbor resentment.
Yet, not scolding her left Old Madam Wang feeling uneasy.
So, she summoned Wang Qingyao to Rongtang Courtyard and kindly asked if she was feeling unwell or suffering from the summer heat, which was why she hadn't come to pay her respects that day.
Wang Qingyao replied truthfully, "Thank you for your concern, Old Madam. Your granddaughter is in good health, but I'm not used to waking up early."
A hint of shame and dejection appeared on her face. The Old Madam looked down on her, thinking she was indeed wild since childhood and understood no rules.
"Second daughter," the Old Madam straightened her back, adopting the demeanor of a grandmother, "you are to marry into Prince Ding'an's mansion in July. The rules of the Prince's mansion are far stricter than those of our Wang family. You will not only have to wake up early to greet your mother-in-law but also your paternal grandmother. If you remain as lazy as you were when you were a young lady, how can you establish authority in the Prince's mansion?"
Old Madam Wang's words were quite reasonable; Nian Mama had also mentioned this to her.
Her thoughts on this were: as long as the salary was right, she could get up at midnight. Let alone being a princess, even being an empress was just a job. As long as the money was right, dedication to the job was not a problem.
She lowered her head obediently, "Your words are instructive, Old Madam," appearing very receptive.
Old Madam Wang was pleased with her response and changed the subject, "After you become a princess, you cannot be as casual as you were when you were a young lady. You must be filial to the Consort Dowager and the Grand Consort Dowager, and manage the servants in the mansion. You must quickly take charge of the household affairs of the Prince's mansion."
She also subtly reminded her not to forget to seek benefits for her maternal family. A woman's well-being in her husband's family largely depended on the strength of her maternal family, and so on.
Whatever the Old Madam said, Wang Qingyao obediently agreed.
"Your words are wise, Old Madam."
"I will strictly follow your teachings, Old Madam."
"I will listen to everything you say, Old Madam."
The Old Madam was more than satisfied with her obedience, thinking that those who hadn't been meticulously educated by their parents since childhood were indeed easy to manipulate.
The Old Madam let out a comfortable sigh and gave Wang Qingyao a final "grace": "You don't need to come to pay your respects every day. Your grandmother knows you have the intention."
Wang Qingyao knew the Old Madam was wary of her, yet she pretended to be considerate of her junior.
She acted "overwhelmed with gratitude" and accepted without refusal, "Thank you, Old Madam."
Although the Old Madam said she didn't need to come every day, she couldn't possibly not come at all. If she didn't come for a whole day, the Old Madam would summon her for a lecture again. Therefore, she came to pay her respects every three to five days, spoke little, and agreed with whatever the Old Madam said.
Bai Shi was infuriated by her submissive demeanor. Seeing her win the Old Madam's favor day by day, while her own biological daughter could only hide in dark corners, Bai Shi felt as if a hundred claws were scratching her heart, cursing Wang Qingyao in her dreams.
The weather grew hotter day by day, and for some reason, the Old Madam couldn't sleep at night.
Not only could she not sleep at night, but she also wasn't sleepy during the day.
For several consecutive days, she was so tormented that she lost weight.
Several doctors were consulted, and they all prescribed medicines for clearing heat and detoxifying, but they had no effect.
Rongtang Courtyard was filled with the scent of traditional Chinese medicine and calming incense. Old Madam Wang lay in bed, feeling physically exhausted and without any strength, yet she had no sleepiness at all. Her eyes were closed, but her thoughts were racing wildly.
Bai Shi led a Taoist nun in her forties into the room quietly. A maid drew back the gauze curtain, and Bai Shi nodded slightly at the nun before entering the inner chamber herself.
"Mother," Bai Shi said respectfully, "Sister Yang has arrived and is waiting outside."
As her name suggested, Sister Yang was a Taoist nun, eloquent and skilled at presenting herself as somewhat divine. She frequented large, secluded mansions, and most women with unsolvable problems in their inner chambers would seek her help.
The Old Madam had lost the strength to speak and nodded weakly. Bai Shi then called Sister Yang in.
Sister Yang, dressed in a grey Taoist robe and holding a white whisk, entered the inner chamber. Without rushing to examine the Old Madam, she first walked around the room before stopping by the Old Madam's bed. With a solemn expression, she said, "The Old Madam is not ill. She has been troubled by something unclean."
Bai Shi exclaimed and covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
The Old Madam showed an expression of "I knew it."
"What can be done about this?" Bai Shi asked worriedly, "Does Sister have a way to drive that thing away?"
Sister Yang flicked her whisk, closed her eyes, and counted on her fingers, "This thing starved to death in its previous life and is still hungry as a ghost, holding onto a persistent obsession."
"Then, if we offer it a hearty meal, will it be willing to leave?"
Sister Yang shook her head, "Not at all. A hungry ghost can never be satisfied, no matter what it eats, unless..."
She drew out her words, feigning mystery.
Bai Shi stepped forward nervously, "Unless what? As long as we can do it, we will certainly do it."
"Unless it is a human flesh sacrifice."
"Ah?" Bai Shi covered her mouth in horror again, looking at Sister Yang in disbelief.
After a long while, she seemed to have made a decision, and with a look of facing death bravely, she said, "Sister, use my flesh. As long as Mother can recover, what is a piece of my flesh? I would even give my life."
The Old Madam cast a touched look at Bai Shi.
Sister Yang shook her head, "Madam, you are kind. However, this hungry ghost does not accept offerings from just anyone. Firstly, the person must be of the Old Madam's bloodline. Secondly, they must be a virgin. Thirdly, they must have a noble fate, otherwise, they cannot suppress the hungry ghost. Fourthly, and most importantly, this person must be born in October."
Sister Yang sighed, "The hungry ghost is very picky. How easy is it to find someone who meets all four conditions simultaneously..."
A glimmer of hope shone in the Old Madam's eyes. She trembled and reached out her hand. Bai Shi grasped it, tears welling up as she comforted her, "Mother, you will be saved."