The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 529 Crossing the Nine Rivers for You...

When Madam Cui woke up again, she seemed like a different person. The light in her eyes was dimmer than before, but she had a calm and almost ascetic determination. She no longer tried to kill herself and took her medicine on time, but she could never return to the pampered life of a noblewoman she used to live.

She had most of the luxurious items removed from the room, leaving only the simple necessities for daily life. From then on, she observed a strict vegetarian diet and recited Buddhist scriptures every day without fail.

In her small Buddhist shrine, there was another meticulously crafted yet incredibly heavy sandalwood memorial tablet, carved by Lang Jiuchuan himself, inscribed with the words "Memorial Tablet of Ren Xizhi."

Xi means sunshine. It was the name that Wuyouzi gave her before he died. Even though father and daughter could not meet after death, he hoped that a miracle would happen and that one day, the poor child would be like the morning sun, like the dawn breaking.

Every morning, Cui would sit quietly before the memorial tablet, burning incense for several hours at a time, chanting scriptures and praying for blessings. She poured all her past debts and longing for Lang Jiuchuan, as well as her endless guilt towards the innocent girl who had taken her place as her daughter but had also never received a shred of maternal love and ultimately died tragically, into these daily prayers and repentance, seeking atonement for her sins.

Is she pitiful? Of course she is.

She was not yet forty, but she had been deceived for half her life. When she learned the truth, she was devastated and could not forgive herself for the rest of her life. She would spend those long years in pain and self-blame.

But is she hateful? Yes, she is. Hateful because she took her anger out on an innocent baby due to her own inner turmoil; hateful because of her indifference and inaction over the years. It was because of her neglect and disgust that the child who had lived for more than ten years under the name "Lang Jiuchuan" never experienced even a day or a moment of maternal love, never felt the warmth of a family, and was left to grow and die like a weed on the estate, ultimately withering away quickly in fear and helplessness, dying tragically.

Her inaction was an invisible force that contributed to this tragedy.

Perhaps Lang Jiuchuan is right. It was a calamity that belonged to that child. Even if she grew up in the Marquis's mansion, it would eventually come. But how could it be the same? If she had grown up being pampered in the Marquis's mansion, she wouldn't have felt so desperate and regretful when she faced this calamity.
Cui had no intention of defending herself. Perhaps others would think she was doing this to ease her conscience, but she knew that she could rest in peace once the villain was brought to justice.

Lang Jiuchuan did not try to persuade her. If this was Cui's only belief that allowed her to survive, then let her be. Everyone has their own karma, and she had already done enough.

As for affection and intimacy, she couldn't do it, nor had she ever experienced it. She couldn't pretend to be close to him either. A light and detached relationship was probably the most natural way to get along.

……

Little year.

Lang Jiuchuan then took Cui to the Ren residence. After Fu Qi changed the land deed, he hired craftsmen to tidy it up. There was no major reconstruction of the houses, just simple repairs. There was not much life there, only an old pair of servants and a mute girl taking care of it. But the whole place was not like before, and it was eerily quiet.

The Ren residence still bears the original plaque, but the land deed is now registered under Lang Jiuchuan's name. Fu Qi even found a place with good feng shui and specially developed it into a cemetery to serve as a cenotaph for Wuyouzi and the others.

Although it is called a cenotaph, the three members of the family, especially Ren Yao, did not leave behind any clothes. However, Cui made a set for her as if she were a sister from their youth.

Fate is truly laughable. They were close friends in their youth and even looked somewhat alike. Yet, they were both framed by villains, causing their daughters to die young. Heaven is truly unfair!

Dressed in plain clothes, Lang Jiuchuan arrived at the cemetery. Fu Qi had already ordered people to dig three very deep pits there. She took the clothes of Wuyouzi and the other two, wrapped them in oiled paper, placed them in a red box to prevent insects and moths, sealed them with a soul-soothing talisman, and buried them in the pits.

Fu Qi then placed some incense and candles as offerings in front of the earthen ditch and lit them as a sacrifice. Cui Shi also stepped forward and silently offered her prayers.

After filling in the ditch and piling it into a small mound, Lang Jiuchuan took the three inscribed tablets, wrote only his name on them, and planted them deeply in front of the mound. Then he took a pot of clear wine, a chrysanthemum wine brewed with chrysanthemums and morning dew, with a special soul-soothing talisman added. It was clear, sweet, and fragrant, and he slowly poured it in front of the mound, letting it seep into the soil. "Though late, you have arrived. Jiuchuan will ferry you across." Lang Jiuchuan took down the imperial bell, sat cross-legged, and shook the bell while chanting the Great Compassion Mantra.

The chanting, mingled with the sound of bells, traveled in all directions, seemingly carrying some strange power, drawing the surrounding air currents to circle the small cemetery. The newly planted pine tree in the cemetery swayed slightly, as if lamenting the passing of the deceased.

Cui burst into tears, pressed her hands to her forehead, and knelt before the mound.

I only pray that you may enter the cycle of reincarnation and enjoy peace.

Outside the mansion, some people, upon hearing the resounding bells and the compassionate chanting, stopped to listen.

Is someone performing a ritual to appease the wronged souls inside this haunted house?
Lang Jiuchuan recited the Great Compassion Mantra three times. With her words of comfort, the faint resentment in the air, which belonged to the lingering vengeful spirit, seemed to be washed away by the scriptures, gradually becoming peaceful and dissipating into the world.

From this point on, the cause and effect were completely settled.

Lang Jiuchuan bowed down, looked at the three mounds, and silently prayed, "If you are truly watching over me from heaven, you must protect me. When I finally kill that old fox Tantai Qing and avenge my great grudge, I will come to your grave and drink a pot of wine in celebration."

The wind howled, like a silent encouragement.

After returning home, Cui Shi collapsed. Lang Jiuchuan gave her acupuncture and said, "It's very cold. You are weak and have little energy. You shouldn't go out. If you catch a cold, you won't recover easily."

"You, you're leaving again?" Cui was startled.

Lang Jiuchuan said, "The great revenge has not yet been avenged, and there are still many mysteries to be solved. I need to keep moving forward."

Madam Cui frowned and said in a hoarse voice, "I have no right to advise you. I'll just say one thing: be careful."

Lang Jiuchuan nodded.

"Madam, Third Aunt has returned to her parents' home and is coming to Qixia Pavilion to visit you," said Granny Cheng as she entered.

Madam Cui was taken aback and politely declined, saying, "I am seriously ill, and she has just given birth and still needs to breastfeed, so she shouldn't come over, lest she pass on her illness." Seeing the doubt in Lang Jiuchuan's eyes, she explained, "She is your third sister, her given name is Cai Ning, the eldest daughter of the eldest branch of the family. When your grandfather passed away, she was pregnant. Her husband's family has strict rules, so to avoid bringing bad luck, she didn't come back."

As they were talking, a maid came to tell them that Lang Caining had arrived. Helpless, Madam Cui had no choice but to invite her in.

Lang Jiuchuan turned his head and saw a young woman dressed in a light purple brocade jacket and skirt, with a slightly plump figure and a worried look in her eyes, being accompanied by Madam Wu. As soon as the woman saw her, her eyes lit up and a look of eagerness flashed in them!
Lang Jiuchuan narrowed his eyes. His real intention was not what he was looking for. This woman he had never met before was mainly there for him. There was work to be done.

　That's enough of this dull and sentimental writing. (Actually, I don't like writing, but I have to fill this hole.)

　　Is this feeling of being bored because I've been reading traditional literature lately and it's making me feel assimilated?
　　Get out of the way, we're about to cause trouble!
　　(End of this chapter)