The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 327 Ninth Sister's Eyes Are Terrifying

Xie Zejin walked out of the Marquis of Kaiping's residence with a strange and doubtful expression on his face. He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that he had been disliked by some people when he came to the Marquis of Kaiping's residence. The two families had been friends for generations, but suddenly it seemed that something had gone wrong and the friendship was about to be broken.

But the strangest one was the only daughter of Uncle Lang, whom I had never met. She gave me a feeling of unease.

"Young Master?" The servant had already placed the footstool in place, and seeing that Xie Zejin was still not coming, he couldn't help but call out.

Xie Zejin shook his head, got into the carriage, and thought it must be his imagination. The two families had been on good terms for more than ten years, so how could there be a rift between them without any warning?
Meanwhile, at the Marquis of Kaiping's residence, Lang Jiuchuan and his uncle Lang Caimeng discussed the arrangements for taking over the sacrificial ceremony, and then walked towards Qichi Pavilion with Cui Shi.

Cui glanced at Lang Jiuchuan, who was a step behind, and said, "Why do you suddenly want to take over the water and land rituals that your father was supposed to run?"

Lang Jiuchuan's voice was cold: "As Madam said, isn't this what I should do as my father? In fact, whether in the future or in the past, it should be what I, as a 'daughter,' should do. It's just that Madam didn't give me the opportunity and preferred to leave it to outsiders."

Cui felt a stab to her heart: "Me!"

"Let's not talk about the past, it's all in the past. But from now on, the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion doesn't need to do this anymore." They couldn't do it either, because she wouldn't allow it.

Madam Cui noticed the coldness in her tone and said, "Are you dissatisfied with the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion?"

She was perceptive, but Lang Jiuchuan didn't intend to say anything, so he said, "Only when there is no one behind you will your personal guards help with this memorial service. My father has a daughter and a nephew, so it's really not the Zhenbei Marquis's place to do this. For more than ten years, they have had enough of this reputation for being benevolent and righteous and remembering the past."

Cui froze, stopping in her tracks.

Does she mean that the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion is using this to enhance its own reputation?

Madam Cui frowned. In recent years, she had hardly been involved in worldly affairs, but she paid great attention to organizing sacrificial ceremonies for Lang Zhengfan every year. Starting from the first year after his death, Xie Zhenming helped with the organization as his sworn brother. This continued year after year, and even after Xie Zhenming was granted the title of Marquis, he did not change his ways, so she got used to it.

Although it was organized by the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion, it wasn't just outsiders who came to perform the sacrifices, as Lang Jiuchuan said. All the men of the Kaiping Marquis's Mansion appeared at the ceremony as nephews and nieces, playing the roles that were required in the ritual.

But the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion did not receive this good reputation?
no.

Although she was a widow who devoted herself to Buddhism and didn't go out much, she wasn't completely secluded. Naturally, she would hear other ladies praising the Marquis of Zhenbei for his benevolence and kindness. She hadn't thought much of it before, but now, after hearing Lang Jiuchuan's words, she felt that the meaning had changed.
Madam Cui didn't know what to say, and could only stammer, "The Marquis of Zhenbei hasn't forgotten you. Every year during the festivals, he sends some gifts for young ladies, which are stored in the storeroom as dowry..."

She suddenly stopped talking and stared at Lang Jiuchuan in a daze. She was frail and thin. She had said that she didn't know how long this body could last, and that she wouldn't be a burden to anyone, which meant she wasn't considering marriage.

The so-called dowry was not for her.

Cui's face turned pale, and she looked away in a somewhat embarrassed manner, her body swaying precariously.

It was her fault!
Cui practically fled; she couldn't bear to face Lang Jiuchuan's gaze.

Granny Cheng told Mo Lan to follow, and then said, "Every year as the sacrificial ceremony approaches, Madam tends to have light sleep or sleepless nights, and spends more time in the Buddhist hall. Miss, please don't take it to heart; she doesn't mean to criticize you or have any dissatisfaction with you."

Lang Jiuchuan hummed in agreement. She also noticed that Cui's expression was not very good, so she said, "Granny is her close confidante. You should advise her more. Deep affection is short-lived. Dwelling on the past will not help her lifespan."

Granny Cheng smiled bitterly. How many times had she tried to persuade her over the years? But the lady wouldn't listen, and there was nothing she could do.

Lang Jiuchuan, as if remembering something, handed over a talisman to ward off illness: "This talisman can ward off illness and prevent disease from invading. Please have Madam wear it with her."

Granny Cheng said, "Why don't you give it to me yourself, Miss?" "Granny, some kinship ties are destined to be shallow, there's no point in forcing it."

After she finished speaking, she nodded slightly to her and then turned to go to Shou Kang Hall, where she also needed to tie a talisman on the old lady.

Granny Cheng looked down at the yellow talisman in her hand and sighed, "Who says they aren't mother and daughter? Their stubborn personalities are exactly the same."

When Cui received the talisman that Lang Jiuchuan handed to Granny Cheng, she felt her face burning. The talisman was like a ruler, whipping her heart again and again, questioning where her conscience was.

"I truly only deserve the title of 'Madam'," Cui said self-deprecatingly, clutching the yellow talisman.

She doesn't deserve it!

Lang Jiuchuan encountered Madam Pan, who had come to pay her respects, at Shou Kang Hall. She looked a bit plumper, which showed that her pregnancy was progressing well. When Madam Pan saw her, she smiled and gently called out, "Ninth Sister."

Lang Jiuchuan took the opportunity to check her pulse, and then placed his hand on her protruding belly to feel it. He said, "You're doing well. You can move around more often, and the delivery will be smoother. Here's a talisman for you to wear; it will keep illness away."

She sent out another talisman to ward off evil and illness, because she had just felt a slight resonance with the fetus.

Madam Pan accepted the gift and thanked her, then put it in her purse. However, her maid, Rouge, hesitated to speak.

Lang Jiuchuan's gaze swept over the maid, his eyes darkening.

When Yan Zhi was looked at by Lang Jiuchuan, she gasped, took a few steps back in fear, lowered her head, and her hands trembled slightly.

Ninth Sister's eyes are terrifying!
Lang Jiuchuan said, "Aren't all the maids around Fourth Sister-in-law of marriageable age?"

Madam Pan was taken aback, wondering why she had brought this up. She looked at Lang Jiuchuan with suspicion in her almond-shaped eyes.

Lang Jiuchuan glanced coldly at Yanzhi and said, "When you reach the right age, ask your aunt or sister-in-law to get a list of eligible young servants to match you with. I think the people around you will be grateful to you."

Following Lang Jiuchuan's gaze, Madam Pan glanced at him thoughtfully and then smiled, "You've reminded me. I'll have to ask the maids around me later, lest we waste their prime years."

Rouge suddenly looked up, her bright, watery eyes staring at Lang Jiuchuan, her body trembling even more violently.

Lang Jiuchuan's eyes held a warning, and she quickly lowered her head again, her fingers clenched into fists.

After leaving Shou Kang Hall, Rouge subtly mentioned the talisman Lang Jiuchuan had given her: "You're pregnant with the young master, so don't carry those talismans. I don't know where you got them."

Madam Pan stopped and looked at her, saying, "This is Ninth Sister's kind intention; how could I possibly let her down? If it weren't for her reminder, it's uncertain whether this pregnancy could have been saved."

She touched her protruding belly with both hands, stared at Rouge, and said, "Rouge, you're twenty this year, aren't you? Do you have any plans?"

Rouge turned pale.

……

(End of this chapter)