This Patron1 has been Possessed by a Demon2
Upon hearing this, everyone looked towards the housekeeper.
“What are they here for?” Madam Yu3 seemed a little puzzled to hear that the two young masters of the Qu family had arrived.
“I was the one who asked my two elder brothers to come over,” Lin Xizhao explained, then said to the housekeeper, “I’ll have to trouble Chang Bo4 to lead my two elder brothers to the reception hall. I will be there shortly.”
Hearing this, the housekeeper nodded and glanced at Madam Yu. Madam Yu looked at him but did not say anything. After the housekeeper left, Lin Xizhao made to get up.
“Jiejie.”
Lin Xizhao had been kneeling for far too long. Her legs were sore and numb, and she swayed for a moment before Qu Sheng reached out a hand to steady her.
“It’s nothing, I’ll be fine after a little rest.” Seeing Qu Sheng’s nervous expression, Lin Xizhao reached out and patted her head, then sat down on the meditation cushion5.
“Auntie Yu, there’s not much going on here. Let Xikuan and Xirui go back first.” Lin Xirui was rather bold, but Lin Xikuan was a bit timid. As the eldest son, he was disciplined more strictly, but unfortunately, he had been raised to have a somewhat soft personality.
Upon hearing this, Madam Yu smiled and said, “It’s no trouble. It just so happens that you’re heading out, so let Xikuan and Xirui offer a stick of incense for your mother.”
As Madam Yu’s words fell, she slightly lifted her chin to signal her two sons to go into the hall and burn incense for Lin Xizhao’s birth mother, Madam Liang.
Lin Xizhao watched her two younger brothers enter, her gaze slightly lowered. There was certainly nothing wrong with it. However, they hadn’t come in the past few days, so for them to come today of all days was a bit strange.
Lin Xizhao watched her two brothers light the incense, bow together, and kowtow6, recalling the time two years ago when she held a vigil for her mother. Qu Sheng had been even smaller back then; whenever she couldn’t stay awake, she would lean against her, a soft and tiny little thing.
She had felt a pang of pity for her back then and later told her to wait in her room. Now, she was a few years older, but just as lovable as ever.
After the two young masters of the Lin family finished their respects, they turned to the side to look at their elder sister. When Lin Xizhao nodded and looked up again, Lin Xikuan’s7 and Lin Xirui’s faces were filled with panic, and their gazes had both fallen upon Qu Sheng at the same time.
“She…” Lin Xirui was the first to speak, raising his hand to point at Qu Sheng.
By the time Lin Xizhao turned her head in confusion, white foam was already starting to come out of Qu Sheng’s mouth.
“Sheng’er, what’s wrong?” Lin Xizhao’s heart leaped into her throat. In all these years, she had only ever seen this kind of situation once in the Empress’s palace.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Qu Sheng’s epilepsy had acted up again.
Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng sitting to the side, her body trembling. In a panic, she said to her younger brothers, “Go get a doctor, quickly, go get a doctor!”
Lin Xirui was always quicker to react than Lin Xikuan. Without waiting for his sister to say another word, he hurriedly ran out to have someone find a doctor.
Seeing how much Qu Sheng seemed to be suffering and worried that she might bite her own tongue, Lin Xizhao bent her index finger, placed it in her mouth, and pried her teeth apart.
Fortunately, Qu Sheng’s body was only twitching, and she didn’t bite her. But Lin Xizhao was truly worried, her tone becoming urgent, “Xikuan, go ask someone to bring the two elder brothers from the Qu family here.” She didn’t know if this situation had ever occurred when Qu Sheng was at her own residence before, but if Qu Ting and Qu Yu came over, they would likely know what to do better than her.
Lin Xikuan was still in a state of panic. Hearing his sister’s words, he nodded and ran out as well.
When the two young masters of the Qu family learned that their younger sister’s epilepsy had flared up, they cast aside all etiquette. Wind generated under their feet8, they left the Lin family’s people behind and rushed towards the courtyard of Lin Xizhao’s birth mother.
“Wicked creature9, surrender at once!” The old monk who had come to perform the ritual10, prayer beads11 in hand, warily stared at Qu Sheng, who had flown onto the eaves of the roof.
Qu Sheng’s eyes were vacant, but when she heard the voice, she looked down. The old monk, meeting her gaze and noticing her unfocused eyes, subconsciously took a step back. Lin Xizhao, however, stood below, so worried she was about to cry.
“Sheng’er, I’m begging you, please come down, okay? Don’t fall and hurt yourself.” Lin Xizhao stood at the very front, terrified that Qu Sheng would fall from the roof tiles and injure herself.
After Qu Ting and Qu Yu arrived and saw their sister had climbed onto the roof, they quickly asked, “What happened?”
The old monk heard the voice and looked back, explaining, “This patron has been possessed by a demon.”
When Lin Xizhao heard the monk performing the ritual say Qu Sheng was possessed by a demon, and saw the nearby servants approaching with clubs, she quickly said, “No! Sheng’er was just frightened, she’s not a demon!”
Qu Sheng was already rumored to be crazy and foolish outside. If the label of being possessed by a demon was added to that, even if she found a good family in the future, who would dare to marry her?
A girl’s reputation was of the utmost importance. At this moment, Lin Xizhao deeply regretted holding this ritual; otherwise, Qu Sheng would not have been frightened into having an episode.
Qu Ting and Qu Yu heard this and scanned their surroundings. The area was in a state of chaos; spirit banners12 had fallen to the ground, and only the spirit tablet13 inside the hall remained intact. Furthermore, the successor wife14 of the Lin household seemed to have been frightened and was cowering behind the master monk.
“Let’s get Sister Sheng down first,” Qu Ting said. Qu Yu nodded, and the two of them flew up to the roof together.
At first, Qu Sheng resisted, running along the rooftop. Helpless, Qu Ting knocked her out directly after catching her.
After Qu Ting landed with Qu Sheng in his arms, Lin Xizhao rushed over. Her hands hovered, not knowing where to put them, afraid to touch Qu Sheng, and she didn’t know if she had any injuries. She could only whisper her name, “Sheng’er.”
While Qu Ting and Qu Yu were checking Qu Sheng for any other injuries, Lin Xirui entered the courtyard with a doctor.
“The doctor is here!” Lin Xirui pulled the doctor into the courtyard. Although he was sometimes jealous of how much his elder sister doted on Qu Sheng, he wasn’t a heartless person. He had personally gone to fetch the doctor and was now pulling him so hard he was out of breath, terrified that something might happen to Qu Sheng.
“I must trouble younger sister Xizhao to find a room to lay Sister Sheng down first.” Seeing that the doctor had arrived, Qu Ting knew they could only settle her here for now. Tending to her illness was the priority.
Lin Xizhao heard this and nodded quickly, saying, “Okay, please follow me, elder brother.”
Lin Xizhao led Qu Ting and the others towards her own courtyard. The doctor followed closely behind and entered the room. Qu Ting placed Qu Sheng on the couch and stepped back a few paces, and the doctor came forward to begin his diagnosis.
Lin Xizhao looked at Qu Sheng’s small, disheveled face, her heart still pounding with lingering fear as she recalled what had just happened.
Originally, Qu Sheng had fainted and was lying on the ground, but she suddenly woke up and started biting people like a mad person, muttering that she had been murdered.
The few masters performing the ritual were no match for her at all; Qu Sheng was strong enough to shove people away directly. The most miserable was Madam Yu, who was grabbed by the skirt, spun around, and thrown to the ground, rolling a long way away…
“How is Xiao Sheng’er?” Lin Jianhai had been found and brought back by a servant from outside. He headed straight here the moment he entered the residence. Now, seeing the doctor still diagnosing Qu Sheng, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down from his temples.
Qu Ting and Qu Yu turned their heads at the sound. Both of them bowed in greeting. Lin Xizhao also looked towards her father, her voice trembling slightly as she called out, “Father.”
The last time Lin Xizhao had been this flustered was when she learned of her mother’s death.
Lin Jianhai had already been briefed by the servants on his way. Although others had some injuries, they were minor. Only Qu Sheng’s condition was serious; she had gone mad. How could she have gone mad?
Lin Jianhai looked at his daughter, his heart aching for a moment. He did not blame her, and asked in a gentle voice, “Are you hurt?” He had heard that Qu Sheng was biting anyone she saw. His own daughter was usually the closest to her, so his worry was not unfounded.
Lin Xizhao shook her head and said, “No, I’m fine. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have held this ritual for mother, otherwise Sheng’er wouldn’t have…” As Lin Xizhao spoke, tears began to fall.
She wasn’t afraid of taking responsibility, but she was terrified of something happening to Qu Sheng.
“Younger sister Xizhao, it has nothing to do with you. Perhaps Sister Sheng was fated to face this tribulation.” Qu Ting paused for a moment, glanced at the doctor who was still examining the patient, and added, “She will be fine.”
Hearing this, the self-blame in Lin Xizhao’s heart did not diminish. She followed Qu Ting’s gaze towards Qu Sheng.
A moment later, the doctor stood up, took out a silver needle pouch from his medicine box, and after applying a few needles to Qu Sheng, he finally said to everyone, “Miss Qu was merely frightened. However, her body is a bit weak right now and needs recuperation. I will prescribe her a calming medicine. I guarantee that after drinking it, she will be perfectly fine by the next day.”
Upon hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on everyone’s faces. The moment the doctor moved away from the bed, Lin Xizhao walked over, took Qu Sheng’s hand, and held it to her cheek, her eyes filled with softness.
She had really been scared to death.
Qu Ting followed the doctor to get the medicine, while Qu Yu returned to their residence to inform Qu Jinian and Jin Yunfei. After the Qu family learned what had happened, they all came to the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Lin Jianhai had initially thought the Qu family was coming to mobilize an army to ask about the crime15, but not a single one of them blamed Lin Xizhao. Not only that, but Jin Yunfei even insisted on checking if she was injured, holding her hand and pulling her into a pained embrace.
“Sheng’er was frightened today. The doctor said it’s not advisable to move her, so let’s have her stay here for today,” Lin Xizhao discussed with Jin Yunfei.
Jin Yunfei nodded, “Fine, that’s fine. As long as you are both okay, everything is fine.”
Lin Jianhai sat to the side, watching the deep affection between them as if they were mother and daughter, and thought of his own deceased wife. He lowered his eyes. Wasn’t his own daughter raised in the same way, doted on by her mother?
The Qu family truly treated his daughter impeccably.
“Worthy Brother16 Lin, could I borrow you for a word?” Qu Jinian glanced sideways at Lin Jianhai.
As Lin Jianhai heard this and was pondering what Qu Jinian wanted to say to him, Qu Jinian had already stood up first.
“Alright.” Seeing this, Lin Jianhai could only stand up as well and make a gesture of invitation.
After leaving the room, Lin Jianhai led Qu Jinian towards his main courtyard. Once they were inside, Qu Jinian turned around and opened the door to see the mountain17, saying, “This Qu18 may be speaking bluntly, but there are some things for which it is not pleasant if not spat out19.”
Lin Jianhai was first taken aback, then asked in confusion, “Qu-xiong20, what is the meaning of this?”
Qu Jinian took a deep breath and said, “Some time ago, Xizhao went to Yunci Temple. I heard it was because her birth mother was frequently appearing in her dreams, leaving her spirit unsettled. And recently, after hearing the rumors in the city, she has been growing thinner by the day. I imagine Worthy Brother allowed Xizhao to perform this ritual for her mother to set her mind at ease, correct?”
Lin Jianhai neither confirmed nor denied it, waiting in silence for Qu Jinian’s next words.
“I, Qu Jinian, do not believe in ghosts and gods. But today’s incident happened to my daughter, and it concerns my goddaughter’s birth mother. Even if I don’t believe, I must find evidence of the unbelievable.” Qu Jinian was referring to what Qu Sheng had said when she went mad. ‘Murdered.’ How could a living person speaking right here be murdered? If she wasn’t possessed by something, how could it be explained?
“What does Qu-xiong intend to do?” Lin Jianhai raised his eyes to look at Qu Jinian. At this moment, he seemed to have already guessed what Qu Jinian wanted to do.
“Do?” Qu Jinian knew Lin Jianhai was carrying understanding while pretending to be confused21. Regarding today’s matter, Lin Jianhai had to agree whether he wanted to or not, otherwise wouldn’t the efforts of his two daughters have been in vain? “I want Worthy Brother to agree to reinvestigate the matter of Xizhao’s birth mother falling from her horse.”
The rumors in the Capital had been bubbling and gushing22 for so long, yet Lin Jianhai had to place them as if unheard23. If he came straight out and asked him to investigate, he would surely refuse. If the husband himself didn’t agree, and there was no evidence to prove that Madam Liang was harmed by others, then even if the Qu family stepped in, as long as Lin Jianhai insisted on not investigating, no one could bring the matter up again.
Lin Jianhai’s brow furrowed slightly at these words. It wasn’t that the Jingzhao Prefecture hadn’t investigated this matter. At the time, all the evidence and witnesses indicated that his wife had died from a sudden fall from her horse. How could it be investigated further?
“Qu-xiong, someone has been spreading rumors in the Capital recently, perhaps they have another purpose in mind—” Lin Jianhai’s words were cut short by Qu Jinian.
“Worthy Brother, I will not cover up what happened today for the sake of my daughter’s reputation. Since Xizhao has become the goddaughter of my Qu family, I will not allow her to live with doubts in her heart, passing her days in melancholy. I have two daughters, and I view all as one24. If her birth mother truly died from a fall, what’s the harm in investigating to set her mind at ease?” What did it matter if the things outside were rumors? What happened today certainly couldn’t be counted as a rumor.
Lin Jianhai and Qu Jinian were two completely different types of people.
Lin Jianhai was an upright official at court. He had climbed up from a declining noble family to the seemingly glorious position of Prime Minister of the Tiansheng Kingdom. He cherished it greatly and dared not make any mistakes. He did not participate in any factional struggles at court, serving only the Son of Heaven. But Qu Jinian was different. The Qu family had the Shoulin fiefdom behind them, held the rank of Marquis, which was hereditary, and commanded a large portion of the Tiansheng Kingdom’s army. He was not afraid of stirring things up.
“If Worthy Brother is worried about other matters, as long as you trust me, Qu Jinian, you can leave this matter entirely to my Qu family to handle. If anything happens, my Qu family will bear the responsibility.” Except for the crime of treason, there was nothing the Qu family couldn’t handle.
Hearing this, although Lin Jianhai was reluctant in his heart, Qu Jinian was making an issue of Qu Sheng’s madness. The incident had happened in his residence, so he was indeed at fault and couldn’t silence the Qu family for the time being. And Qu Jinian’s visit today was not on a whim; it seemed he had been considering this for a long time.
“Could Qu-xiong allow me some time to think?” Lin Jianhai wanted to find a roundabout way, hoping that perhaps in a few days, this matter would blow over.
Qu Jinian heard him and looked up at Lin Jianhai, his expression allowing no room for refusal, and asked, “Is one shichen25 enough?”
In the room, Lin Xizhao washed a towel and began to wipe Qu Sheng’s body. This was the first time she had ever seen Qu Sheng climb so high. Just thinking about it made her heart pound.
Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng take off her outer robe, undid the sash26 at her waist, and slipped the perfectly warm towel inside to wipe the sweat from Qu Sheng’s body.
Qu Sheng was the type to get embarrassed easily, but if her body wasn’t wiped down, she wouldn’t be able to sleep well, so Lin Xizhao had to clean her up this way. But halfway through wiping, Qu Sheng opened her eyes.
Seeing Qu Sheng’s eyes slightly open, Lin Xizhao stopped the wiping motion of her hand and called out happily in a low voice, “Sheng’er?”
Qu Sheng heard Lin Xizhao’s voice and turned to look, her gaze dazed. But very quickly, she lowered her head again as if searching for something.
When Qu Sheng saw that Lin Xizhao’s hand was still under her clothes, her face suddenly turned visibly red.
“I… I was just helping you wipe off some sweat,” Lin Xizhao explained as she pulled her hand and the towel out together.
Qu Sheng didn’t speak. She lay on the couch, lost in thought. A long while later, Qu Sheng sat up. With a soft and slightly hoarse voice, she looked at Lin Xizhao, who seemed as if she had done something wrong, and said, “Jiejie, bathe.”
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Wifey, what’s the rush? I’m still little.”
Lin Xizhao: “Where are you little?”
Qu Sheng: “My age is little!”
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