Chapter 3: The Eldest Miss Has Gone Mad

After Cheng Fenglan sent out the Talisman paper, she said with a hint of disdain, "Cheng Xi only has a bit of brute strength. She thinks that by severing Brother Weiran's arm she can make us enemies, but she doesn't know how formidable the world of a Talisman Master is; reattaching a severed limb is not impossible."

"Feng Lan is right. You are going to be a Talisman Master in the future, and a Talisman Master is naturally not someone an ordinary person can compare to." Li Shi looked at her daughter with a beaming smile, "Then you and your father go quickly. If you can truly reattach Jiang's arm, your marriage will be set."

For Cheng Xi to want to see them make a fool of themselves was simply a pipe dream.

"A Message-Transmitting Talisman?"

Cheng Xi looked at the object in her hand, recalling the Talisman Master that Jiang Weiran had mentioned to her before, and that Cheng Fenglan had previously said she was valued by some Yuan Dashi, who wished to take her as a disciple.

Every Talisman created by a Talisman Master would have an emblem.

She scanned the corner of the Talisman, and sure enough, there was a pictographic emblem on it.

"Peace with Elephants" (Taiping Youxiang)...

This was actually somewhat interesting.

Looking at the content on the Message-Transmitting Talisman again, it wanted to reattach Jiang Weiran's severed arm.

Reattaching a severed limb is indeed hard for an ordinary person to imagine, but for a cultivator, it is truly not difficult.

However...

The Message-Transmitting Talisman in Cheng Xi's palm ignited without fire, turning into a pile of ashes in an instant.

With a light flick of her hand, the ashes drifted away with the wind.

Trying to bring in reinforcements right under her nose could only be described as walking into a trap.

Following her memories, she found the courtyard where the original owner had once lived. The characters for Zhaohui Courtyard were still shining brightly, but the scene inside the courtyard had long since changed.

"Eldest Miss?"

Cheng Xi turned her head.

Mulan rushed over and knelt down instantly, her tears falling in excitement, "It really is the Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss, you've returned? Mulan pays respects to the Eldest Miss."

Mulan?

Memories of the original owner flashed through Cheng Xi's mind. Mulan was the original owner's personal maid. Three years ago, when she left Cheng Fu, Cheng Fu did not allow her to take anything, and the several maids were all left behind; she had gone to the manor alone.

"Are you the only one left?" Cheng Xi asked, looking at Mulan.

Mulan choked with sobs, "As soon as the Eldest Miss left, the Madam had the courtyard cleared out for the Second Miss to live in. We couldn't stop them, and we were even beaten by the Madam and thrown out to do menial labor. As for the others, over these years, some left, some scattered, and some got married. Only I, Jinxiang, and Zhao Mama remain."

Mulan was wearing coarse cloth garments, her finger joints were thick, and there was a thick layer of calluses between her fingertips. Cheng Xi felt a tightness in her heart.

This must be the original owner's emotions. She was grieving, grieving for these loyal servants who had suffered so much because of her.

"Go and call everyone here," Cheng Xi said, holding her head slightly high.

Upon hearing this, Mulan was stunned for a moment, then filled with joy, "I will go right now. Everyone has been hoping for the Eldest Miss to return."

Many of the servants in this residence were left behind by the original owner's mother. Although Li Shi had suppressed them for so many years, she could not dispose of everyone.

Soon, Mulan brought over a dozen people. Seeing Cheng Xi, the crowd knelt down in excitement to pay their respects, "We pay respects to the Eldest Miss!"

The Eldest Miss had really returned!

They had finally made it through!

Cheng Xi looked at the crowd, her heart pounding violently, which made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. She bent down slightly and personally helped Zhao Mama up.

Zhao Mama was the original owner's wet nurse and had suffered the most suppression. Her temples were already frosted with white, and seeing Cheng Xi, she cried until she could barely catch her breath.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." Zhao Mama's tears would not stop.

"I am back, and no one will ever bully you again," Cheng Xi said in a deep voice while looking at everyone.

Joyful smiles burst out on everyone's faces. The Eldest Miss was different; the Eldest Miss from three years ago had been submissive in every way, but the current Eldest Miss had truly straightened her back.

"Eldest Miss, what would you like us to do?" Zhao Mama scanned the crowd; everyone's eyes were burning with a fierce flame.

Cheng Xi looked at the courtyard where the original owner had once lived. It was a place her mother had carefully chosen for her, yet now it was occupied by Cheng Fenglan.

"Throw everything that does not belong to me out of this courtyard."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Led by Zhao Mama, the dozen or so people stormed in aggressively. Soon, screams and angry curses could be heard from the courtyard.

Cheng Xi walked in slowly.

As soon as Cheng Fenglan's wet nurse, Yang Mama, saw Cheng Xi, her brows locked in a frown. With a look of disdain, she raised her voice and said, "Eldest Miss, what are you doing? The Madam has already given this courtyard to the Second Miss to live in. The Eldest Miss should go live in another courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mama was filled with fury. In the past, when the Eldest Miss was not here, they had to endure it, but now that the Eldest Miss was back, what was there to endure?

"You blind dog! This residence is our Madam's dowry. Some people have occupied the magpie's nest for so long that they really think they are the bird! Bah!"

Yang Mama's face turned ugly instantly upon hearing this, "Whether it belongs to the former Madam, this old servant does not know. This old servant only knows that the Madam gave this courtyard to the Second Miss, so it belongs to the Second Miss!"

"Throw her out for me!"

"You dare! The Madam will not spare you..."

Before she could finish, Zhao Mama and two menial servants from the Outer Court lifted Yang Mama up and threw her out.

The entire courtyard fell silent instantly. The maids beside Cheng Fenglan did not even dare to breathe, looking at Cheng Xi as if she were a monster.

The Eldest Miss had gone mad!

Zhao Mama only felt a sense of satisfaction, "What are you standing there for? Get to work!"

No one dared to stop them now, fearing they would become the next Yang Mama; Yang Mama was still sprawled outside, unable to get up.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Daimao slipped out of the gate and headed straight for the Madam's courtyard.

"Madam, it's bad! The Eldest Miss has gone mad and thrown everything in the Second Miss's room out. You must go and take a look!"

Cheng Zhouxing had taken Cheng Fenglan to the Zhenguo Duke Mansion. Li Shi, who had been angered by Cheng Xi until her chest ached, still had to endure the discomfort to send off the Lady Tai before returning to her own courtyard.

Just as she wanted to catch her breath, such a scene was happening now. Li Shi felt the world go black before her eyes. She stood up abruptly, intending to go find Cheng Xi to settle the score.

Suddenly, she remembered Cheng Xi's words: this house was her mother's dowry...

If she went there, in front of everyone, she would surely be made to lose all face and be unable to step down.

Li Shi gritted her teeth, looked at Daimao, and ordered: "Send the Second Miss's things to Qiyun Pavilion first."

Once Feng Lan's marriage to Jiang is settled, I will make Cheng Xi roll out exactly how she rolled in!

Daimao felt a jolt of shock and trembling; seeing the Madam's poor complexion, she dared not say anything, fearing she would vent her anger on her, and hurriedly bowed and backed out.

The Madam actually yielded to the Eldest Miss; is the sky about to change in this mansion?

Feeling uneasy, Daimao hurriedly led people to carefully move the Second Miss's things to Qiyun Pavilion.

How could Qiyun Ge compare to Zhaohui Courtyard? It is remote and cramped; the Second Miss will likely throw a tantrum when she returns.

Zhao Mama led people in busily decorating the new room for the Eldest Miss, specially opening the late Madam's storeroom to pick out many precious items.

She shed tears while arranging them; when the late Madam first married into the family, there were three full storerooms of dowry, and now only one remains.

They were all stolen by that bunch of old thieves and young thieves next door!

Just then, the main gate of Cheng Fu was pounded with a loud clatter.

"Dali Temple is handling a case; the Zhenguo Duke Mansion accuses the Eldest Miss Cheng of intentional injury. Summon Cheng Xi for questioning!"