The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 323 I see you are destined for a tragic end.
Even though Professor Ou was already halfway to his death, he still staggered and flew into a rage upon hearing Lang Jiuchuan's words.

Anyone would turn pale and angry upon hearing someone say they would not have a peaceful death, especially an elderly person who is most sensitive to the word "death," let alone "not a peaceful death."

Ou Yuan glared at Lang Jiuchuan, his mustache bristling with anger, and roared, "What are you saying?"

Lang Jiuchuan doesn't understand the meaning of tact or subtlety, nor does she like beating around the bush. It's too much of a waste of breath, and if she encounters someone who isn't very bright, she'll have to waste even more breath.

Rather than wasting words, Lang Jiuchuan preferred to strike with a straight punch. As for whether his words were pleasant to hear... well, they were indeed a bit unpleasant.

"I may not be kind, but judging from your appearance, this is indeed the outcome," Lang Jiuchuan said. "You have been cautious and timid all your life, climbing to this position with great care and trepidation. It was as if you were walking on thin ice. The closer you got to retirement, the more timid you became. You know how many of your colleagues or predecessors who were imperial physicians have failed in the Imperial Hospital."

Ou Yuanzheng's heart surged, and his expression softened slightly. What she said was indeed true. Being an imperial physician sounded impressive and prestigious, but who among those working in the Imperial Hospital didn't feel like they were walking on thin ice? After all, they served noble people, moving in and out of the palace and the inner quarters. They knew the secrets of the people but not the common folk. If they weren't careful, they might fall into a ditch and die "accidentally" one day.

If one can retire smoothly, that would be truly auspicious.

But she said he would not die peacefully, which means that he would not be able to enjoy his old age and would have to face a fatal event.

Ou Yuanzheng was unwilling to believe it. Reason told him that he should leave immediately and not listen to this little liar's nonsense, but his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, and he could not move an inch.

Such an ending, where one does not die peacefully, might be unlikely for others, but for him, the head of the academy, the chances were only one in a million. He had experienced far too many shady dealings.

"You're barely of marriageable age, yet you've only learned some physiognomy from the Taoist school, and you dare to spout such nonsense. You're truly audacious. You're the one who's going to treat Zeng Jichuan's eyes with acupuncture. I won't hold it against you today, but I'd also like to warn you that not everyone is as forgiving as I am. Young lady, you'd better watch your words."

Lang Jiuchuan smiled faintly: "Does the Grand Master already have children or grandchildren who have entered the Imperial Hospital?"

Ou Yuanzheng frowned. Why did the topic of children and grandchildren come up again?

His family has been practicing medicine for generations, and his ancestors have always had members in the Imperial Medical Academy. The same is true for his branch. Now he wants to retire because his most talented grandson has been in the Imperial Medical Academy for several years. It is not uncommon for grandfather and grandson to be in the same hospital, or for father and son to serve in the same place, but it is also taboo. Someone always has to retire.

He was getting old, and for the sake of his family and his grandson's future, he naturally had to retire. Moreover, being able to retire alive was a blessing for him.

Why did Lang Jiuchuan bring this up?

"Your Excellency, your untimely death in your later years is not due to your own fault, but rather to the misfortunes that befell you because of your descendants." Lang Jiuchuan looked at his face and said, "You have a vertical line on your forehead that runs straight through your glabella, which, according to physiognomy, indicates misfortune in your later years. Furthermore, the horizontal lines on the bridge of your nose are broken, and the corners of your nose are dark and bluish, which is an omen of the decline of your family fortune. As for why I say that you are affected by your descendants, it is because your descendants' palace is sunken, dark, and dull, with malevolent energy swirling within it, which will surely bring misfortune upon your descendants, either death or injury. The consequences you suffer will be at best exile for thousands of miles, and at worst, the destruction of your family, death, and being beheaded in a foreign land."

Professor Ou's face turned pale, his body trembled slightly, and his breathing became heavier.

He looked into Lang Jiuchuan's eyes, trying to discern whether she was spouting nonsense, harboring ulterior motives, or genuinely understanding something. But what he saw in those dark, shining eyes was only earnestness, regret, and a hint of sympathy.

Yes, if one has lived a life of constant fear and finally reached the age of enjoying one's old age, only to be implicated and convicted because of one's descendants, how could one not feel sympathy for such a death?
Lang Jiuchuan's eyes were clear as water. He didn't say anything more. The three Yin positions under his eyes were red veins like hooks, directly touching the tear trough. This was a sign of losing a child and harming his parents. However, his own official position was not gloomy or dark. So the disasters that appeared on his face were all in the offspring palace. Naturally, it was because his offspring had committed crimes and implicated the whole family.

"I am young and my words may be harsh, but they are not baseless. If your family declines in the future, it will not be due to your own actions or natural disasters, but rather to the misfortune of your family." Lang Jiuchuan bowed to him with her hands clasped: "I have said all I need to say. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me. If you do not believe me, I have heard that the Special Surveillance Bureau has been established, and I imagine the Xuan Clan has sent many people there. You may go and have someone read your face."

She paused, then said, "Just by looking at faces, you may not be able to see much more. If you're willing, you can ask them to calculate your destiny chart, glimpse the secrets of heaven, and then clean up your family. That should be able to prevent your family from being destroyed."

After she finished speaking, she said no more.

Ou Yuanzheng's chest heaved, whether from anger or excitement, it was hard to tell. He stared at her for a long time with his somewhat cloudy eyes before turning away and leaving.

But only he knew that his hands were trembling under his sleeves.

As he stepped out of the private room, a gust of wind blew by, and he shivered. He was shocked to realize that his back was already soaked through, and his undershirt clung to his skin, feeling icy cold. But that was nothing compared to the chill in his heart.

He was separated from his body, died far from home, and did not have a peaceful end.

Each word struck him like a heavy hammer, making a buzzing sound.

Master Ou stumbled and nearly fell to the side, but the old servant caught him and asked, "Master, are you alright?"

"Return to the manor!" Ou Yuanzheng said, his eyes closed, gripping the old servant's forearm tightly.

The old servant noticed the tremor in his voice and was somewhat surprised. He glanced back and saw that the thin little girl had come out at some point and was standing at the door looking at them.

"Sir, there's no need to get angry with the young lady. Getting worked up is bad for your health," the old servant said softly, supporting him.

Ou Yuanzheng didn't say anything. He was helped out of the general store and into his own carriage. Only then did he have the old servant give him a nitroglycerin pill and put it under his tongue. He pressed his hand against his pounding heart, trying to calm his restless heart.

For a long time, he leaned against the carriage wall, repeatedly recalling Lang Jiuchuan's comments: "The descendants are involved. Now, apart from his grandson who is a physician in the Imperial Hospital and his second son who is in the Ministry of Works, there is no one else in the court. Who could it be? Who would cause the Ou family to fall into ruin?"
The Ou family's carriage returned to the front of the mansion. An old servant called out "Third Young Master" from outside. Immediately afterward, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Ou Yuanzheng saw his proud grandson Ou Sixing, who was worthy of inheriting his mantle. Only then did he smile. When his gaze fell on the purse at Ou Sixing's waist, he paused slightly.

(End of this chapter)