Chapter 132

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Shaowei's gaze swept past the respectfully bowing crowd, settling on the Divine Hall standing tall behind them.

The next day, the newly appointed Tai Puzhe, clad in fifth-rank spring attire — a deep blue wide-sleeved long robe — entered this imposing Divine Hall accompanied by the God Shrine's subordinate officials.

Accepting the three sticks of sandalwood incense handed over by Yu Si Wu, Shaowei held the incense and bowed, using this to pay respects and inform the gods and spirits.

The crowd behind her bowed in worship along with her.

After the incense was placed in the censer, Shaowei turned to face the crowd. Yu Si Wu was the first to bow deeply, saluting respectfully: "This lowly official Yu Zhi, bringing the God Shrine's official shamans, respectfully awaits the Tai Puzhe's instruction!"

The crowd all bowed in unison, shouting: "Respectfully awaiting the Tai Puzhe's instruction!"

Shaowei felt a sudden pang of apprehension in her heart. As a fraud, she had no idea what instruction to give, but seeing the crowd remain bowed with no intention of rising, it was clear they insisted she speak. She could only feign composure, scrounging and piecing together passages from the classics she had read in the past, forcing a solemn expression as she said:

"Today, by the Sage's grace, I am entrusted to lead the shrine officials. Together with you all, I serve the gods. Though what we oversee are matters of ghosts and spirits, what we truly bear is the weight of the altars of soil and grain, the mountains and rivers, and the trust of the common people. I earnestly hope you will be of one heart, looking out for one another, devoutly performing your duties, so that above it reaches Heaven, and below it brings peace to the people."

Amidst the drifting incense smoke, the young girl's clear and solemn voice filled the great hall. The crowd responded in unison: "We obey."

Several older seventh-rank officials exchanged glances. They had originally assumed this newly appointed Great Shaman God relied solely on the ability to summon gods, but these words were unexpectedly proper and substantive, as if she had read quite a number of books.

Yu Si Wu was also quite surprised. He had thought she would at most say "Everyone please rise, disperse to your duties" and be done with it. Who would have thought Hua Li would be so impressive — her first words seemed like divine enlightenment.

Now even thinking to himself, calling her Hua Li again seemed somewhat disrespectful. Yu Si Wu mused that he ought to change it to Shen Li — for what else could this be but a Shen Li bestowed by Heaven?

As the Great Shaman God assumes office, she ought to first enter the palace to thank the Son of Heaven, but when Guo Shi conveyed the decree yesterday, he specifically admonished: His Majesty has spoken, let Hua Li recuperate from her injuries first. Once everything is properly arranged, entering the palace in seven days will not be late.

These two words "arranged" were because among the many rewards bestowed by the Emperor, there was also a mansion.

This mansion is not far from the God Shrine — a two-quarter-hour carriage ride away. It was formerly the residence of a fifth-rank official.

Over the next two days, Hua Li remained confined in the God Shrine to recuperate. Yu Si Wu took charge of all affairs, first meticulously inventorying all the bestowed gifts and personally delivering them to "Jiang Zhai," then personally admonishing the servants in the residence.

These bestowed servants totaled sixteen people: six female slaves, ten strong male servants, all official slaves.

Yu Si Wu carefully inquired into each person's origins and background.

The Tai Puzhe's daily duty is to assist the Great Shaman God, hence also bearing the title Attendant Shaman. This is so within the God Shrine, and outside the God Shrine Yu Si Wu likewise dared not be careless.

This Shen Li is the lifeline of the God Shrine, yet also a young, unattached foreign raccoon dog. Now just establishing a nest, who knows how many pairs of eyes are watching. Among these servants, there's no guarantee someone hasn't taken the opportunity to plant a spy.

But whether inquiring or admonishing, it can only serve as a warning or two. Ultimately, one still needs a few trusted insiders to employ.

Yu Si Wu returned to the God Shrine and privately explained the matter. Shaowei nodded with confidence: "Rest assured, I already have an arrangement for this matter."

Shaowei's arrangement was on the road to the new residence the next day, conveniently buying back three manservants, bringing them into the residence, randomly selecting a female servant from the residence to lead the three to the government office to register the contracts, and separately naming them Jiang Qian, Jiang Mo, and Jiang Yu.

The female servant who took the three to register contracts was named Yong Er. After the contracts were established, she led the three back and secretly observed for two more days. The more she looked, the more she felt the young Head of Household had suffered a loss and been swindled.

That Jiang Qian was taciturn, not worth mentioning. Whatever matters were entrusted to him, he would only perfunctorily respond, but then be nowhere to be seen for half a day, hiding who knows where to slack off — clearly a lazybones.

Jiang Mo was youthful and lively, and quite handsome, but he was a fool, only knowing to burrow into the Stove House, impossible to drag out.

Jiang Yu was even more out of the question. Such a small little one, yet still needing to be raised to grow up. Historically, besides house-born slaves, buying female slaves one should buy those close to adulthood to be worthwhile!

In short, the lazy are lazy, the foolish are foolish, the small are small — either gluttonous, or lazy, or combining both only eating and not working — the Head of Household must have been possessed by kindness, that's why she got cheated by people!

Yet the Head of Household spoke yesterday, permitting only these three to enter and exit the Ju Yuan and attend closely.

Yong Er thought left and right but couldn't accept it, so she simply ran to request an audience with the Head of Household, urging her to quickly resell these three. Even if she lost some money, it would be more worthwhile than having them sit in her hands consuming rice and grain.

Jiang Qian and Jiang Mo were nowhere to be found. Only that Jiang Xiao Yu was in the Hall. This Xiao Yu currently stood with hands on hips beside the Head of Household who was sitting cross-legged behind the desk drinking medicine. Not caring that she came to lodge a complaint, she corrected her first: "Cannot call Head of Household, must call Young Master!"

Yong Er immediately wanted to scold her for not knowing the rules, but seeing the Head of Household set down the medicine bowl and not speak, she could only suppress her anger and counter-question: "Where does this 'Young Master' address come from? A mere lowly maid speaking nonsense."

Xiao Yu obligingly held up the empty bowl, raised her head and recited the pre-arranged lines: "The Young Master reverently serves the gods and spirits to have today's achievement. To commemorate the gods' and spirits' grace, the Young Master takes revering the gods and spirits as primary in the residence, therefore the Young Master is only called Young Master."

Shamans' belief in ghosts and spirits has always been deep. Yong Er's face color changed for a moment, and naturally she didn't dare talk back, but she was still dissatisfied with these three's existence. Just as she was about to speak again, she heard the Head of Household open her mouth, words direct and simple: "I look at them and they please my eye, my heart likes them, I want to use them so I used them."

Yong Er was instantly at a loss for words. Looking at the girl sitting cross-legged behind the desk, she saw her wearing deep blue witchcraft attire embroidered with flower and bird totems, hair braids jet black, a colorful stone pendant on her forehead, a pair of black eyes extremely bright. When speaking she made eye contact with people, carrying a natural autonomy, looking very much like she disliked being bound by rules and reason.

Being looked at by this pair of eyes, Yong Er could no longer speak dissatisfied words. Say however much she might, the other party wouldn't listen to persuasion, only bringing shame on herself.

She was also a few years older, and at this moment couldn't help feeling a wave of embarrassment. She immediately lowered her head to take her leave, but suddenly heard that voice say: "I look at you and you also please my eye, I can't help but like you a bit. Afterwards you can also come to my Ju Yuan. They say the front courtyard lacks a steward, then you shall do it."

Yong Er raised her head in surprise. Because of surprise and joy and shyness, her cheeks quickly reddened.

Faced with this nearly willful favor, she did not decline, but happily bowed: "Please rest assured, Head of... Young Master. Yong Er will certainly not disappoint Young Master's deep affection!"

Shaowei nodded: "Go do your work."

"Yes!" Yong Er rose, bowed and withdrew.

Xiao Yu, holding the empty bowl, also followed her out.

At this moment Yong Er's mood was excellent. Looking again at this child who had become "one of us," she inexplicably found her much more pleasing to the eye. Though small, she was also clever and diligent. One thought that as long as she was properly trained, she could more or less do some work.

In the Tang Wu, Shaowei sat cross-legged propping her chin, thinking: If this Yong Er is a spy, showing her deep affection and trust, giving her the opportunity to make moves, would accelerate her exposure.

If she is not a spy, yet proactively came to warn her, afraid she would be swindled, it shows a straightforward and bold character, and a sense of responsibility. She will certainly be able to help her manage this residence properly.

Thinking it over like this, Shaowei couldn't help but muse inwardly: This is clearly the art of employing people, isn't it? Such a profound skill, never expected she would just casually use it like this, as naturally as water finding its channel. Perhaps there is some talent in it.

Just then a house slave returned from outside. Shaowei then spoke her train of thought aloud and asked him: "What do you think of me employing people like this?"

The house slave pondered a moment, then said: "Although you came empty-handed, but advancing day and night without rest like this, what worry is there that great matters won't succeed."

Sitting in this residence belonging to her, hearing such praise, Shaowei couldn't help but gain more upward confidence. She sat straight, already initially showing the bearing of a Head of Household, and asked seriously about household matters: "Has the green ox been brought over?"

Today Zhao Qie'an and Mo Li went out to the Small Courtyard early in the morning. The former was responsible for leading the green ox over, the latter for bringing people to forge iron in the Di Shi.

Shaowei this time obtained many rewards, all handed to Zhao Qie'an, letting him secretly raise people and acquire goods. That concealed Small Courtyard can serve as a long-term base.

At this moment, Zhao Qie'an sat down on his own, poured water and drank, while answering: "Brought it over. Already led to the stables. Those stables are very spacious, can raise a few more healthy horses."

Shaowei nodded, and further instructed: "Then remember to raise them separately, or have someone build another Ox Shed. Otherwise I fear day and night they'll collide, oxen rearing and horses overturning."

The green ox lost a hoof, yet not only did it not become inferior, its temper grew increasingly fierce. It already had quite the air of fearing neither heaven nor earth. If kept with healthy horses, one fears it will rely on its iron hooves and act the bully.

However, these past days it had been kept confined in the cramped back courtyard, which inevitably made it restless; now that Zhu Zhi was dead, it could finally be led out openly to walk about.

From the small one can see the large — it shows Zhu Zhi could not have died more opportunely; his single death brought convenience to far more than just one green ox.

The day after the Jiang Residence formally hung its door plaque, the Spider Woman and A Yan also came to offer congratulations.

If Zhu Zhi were still alive, the Spider Woman would absolutely not dare visit the Flower Raccoon's residence in broad daylight.

Now that the Flower Raccoon has been promoted to Grand Wu Shen, many officials have also sent congratulatory gifts; the Spider Woman and A Yan, as fellow Wu practitioners, calling to show goodwill is nothing out of the ordinary.

Inside the mule cart heading to the Jiang Residence, A Yan asked the Spider Woman in a low voice: "A Zhu, that morning early on, the Flower Raccoon chased you back... what exactly did she say to you?"

It seems it was from that time on that A Zhu became somewhat different, even daring to directly draw her hairpin and kill someone on the night the mountain villa caught fire... although Zhu Zhi's men were all executed afterward, this matter remains a secret.

Facing her companion's inquiry, the Spider Woman answered softly: "I originally wanted to throw myself into the well, but the Flower Raccoon said... evildoers meet their own evil retribution, gods and spirits will themselves mete out divine retribution."

A Yan: "Only that?"

"Yes, I believe the Flower Raccoon." The Spider Woman counter-questioned her companion: "The subsequent facts we both saw, the Flower Raccoon is the most credible, is she not?"

This is undeniable; A Yan nodded.

The Spider Woman spoke no further; those secretly experienced schemes and perils were secrets that could not be leaked, and there were also things she could not figure out — such as why the Flower Raccoon fell into Zhu Zhi's hands, and why the Flower Raccoon trapped in the mountain villa, though she did not descend with a deity, was still extraordinary in every way... she could not understand these, but she would not ask; she only needed to know that even mired in myriad difficulties, the Flower Raccoon could still do what ordinary people could not, fulfilling her promise and helping her take revenge.

Whether it was the Flower Raccoon with a deity descended upon her, or the original Flower Raccoon, both were extraordinary, both worthy of trust and gratitude.

The two were invited into the Jiang Mansion; A Yan looked around all the way, feeling ever more keenly the disparity between herself and the Flower Raccoon now.

Recalling a few months ago when they entered the capital together, that good-for-nothing little Wu in their eyes was now a Grand Wu Shen known to everyone in the capital.

And having the Grand Wu Shen help continue raising snakes and spiders... would that not be too lawless?

A Yan's heart beat like a drum; fortunately, learning the black snake had merit catching rats these past two days, it was now also being driven by Zhan Zhan to go kill insects, becoming a proper snake servant with actual duties, which ultimately made her feel less guilty.

Hearing the Flower Raccoon say the black snake was in the garden, A Yan happily took her leave to go seek it.

In the courtyard, the Spider Woman once again paid respects to the Flower Raccoon alone; though wordless, no more words were needed.

Shaowei looked at the Spider Woman straightening up and opened her mouth to ask: "May I ask you to help me with a matter?"

She spoke always directly and decisively, never bothering to pad things out, and the Spider Woman also had not the slightest hesitation, immediately nodding in agreement: "Tai Puzhe, please just command."

"The Lu Hou Mansion sent word yesterday, wanting to invite me to call and diagnose the old ailment of the young lady of the Lu Hou household." Shaowei said: "I recall the needle technique you excel at can calm and awaken the mind, and treat the disorder of the heart-pulse spirit."

The heart governs the spirit; in the Emperor Neijing, mental derangement is called disorder of the spirit.

Previously the Spider Woman used acupuncture to make Zhu Zhi's mind overexcited, which also originated from this doctrine.

Therefore, Shaowei said: "I want to ask you to go in my place, to call on the Feng family young lady for diagnosis."

This is no difficult matter; the Spider Woman agreed outright.

"Right, I have a thing to give you, wait while I fetch it!" Shaowei finished speaking, suddenly turned and hurried into the house.

The Spider Woman watched that back figure, only feeling that looking at it this way, the current Shrine Master Tai Zhu and the little Wu Flower Raccoon who entered the capital that day had not much difference, still possessing a natural, pure side.

Yet this natural purity soon made her feel a touch of dread.

The Flower Raccoon ran out, handing her a clay bottle; she received it, and could not help asking: "This is..."

"One or two liang of Zhu Zhi's bone ash."

That clay bottle was precisely a human-head bottle; this made it all the more horrifying; the Spider Woman started, her hand shook, the clay bottle shattered at her feet, fine bone ash scattering.

Though shocked, the Spider Woman even more did not want to ruin the Flower Raccoon's good intentions, immediately bending to gather up that bone ash, but a gust of wind came, blowing it into complete disarray.

At this she knew not what to do; the Spider Woman apologized guiltily: "I, I didn't do it on purpose..."

Shaowei did not care at all: "Since I gave it to you, even if you intentionally scattered it, what could it matter."

Then she spoke seriously: "The reason I give you this is because I promised you, to let you see him dead with your own eyes, but that day the plan was disrupted, you couldn't go along. So I had someone collect this bone ash and give it to you as compensation."

The Spider Woman was stunned.

Looking at the girl before her who seemed to have brought prey remains to present for her viewing — at first glance somewhat naive and bloody, in truth earnestly fulfilling a promise — the Spider Woman suddenly felt a choke in her throat; looking down again at the scattered bone ash, she no longer found it frightening, only still apologetic:

"But... this is a new residence, scattering it here is bound to be inauspicious."

"What of it, I'm not afraid. It died by my hand, now its bone ash is also confined here; the one who should be afraid is it." Shaowei said, lifting her foot and stepping on a pile of shards, grinding hard: "It should be made to have no peace."

Shaowei said, lifting her chin at the Spider Woman, signaling her to also step on it.

The Spider Woman steeled her courage and stepped up.

The bone shards underfoot were crushed; her shattered dignity and personality, however, were returning to their place, whole.

Not only inner change, the external environment was also changing for the better along with it.

Originally when Zhu Zhi chopped off her fingers, everyone in the Taiyi Shu urged her to endure; now Zhu Zhi was dead, she had become a survivor under an evil spirit's wrongdoing, the Taiyi Ling even personally came forward to appease her, and asked if she was willing to work in the pharmacy, able to arrange a leisurely good post for her.

She refused on the spot, stating the lack of one finger did not affect her needling. She accepted the examination on the spot, completed it excellently, and was thus promoted to formal Needle Master.

The day after leaving the Jiang Residence, the Spider Woman, as a Needle Master of the Taiyi Shu, bringing along a pharmacy apprentice, presented herself at the Lu Hou Mansion's gate.

?? Here it comes~

? (Thank you everyone for understanding! Some babies asked what Chinese medicine works so well, unified answer: I got the prescription from a TCM clinic pulse-taking, it may need to be tailored to each person's constitution so I can't recommend specifically, plus it's pre-decocted to take home, the specific prescription is with the doctor, only know it has Suan Zao Ren, Long Gu, etc., heard Suan Zao Ren helps sleep, everyone can also find a reliable TCM nearby to check.)