In the small hall, there was a deathly silence.
Ming Sheng looked around, feeling that the atmosphere was off, and didn’t dare to speak.
Only Ming Wei seemed unaffected, pouring tea for herself and sipping it slowly.
When she finished, she put down her teacup, “Fourth Uncle, do you still claim that you don’t believe in ghosts and gods?”
Old Master Ming Si’s expression was dark and unreadable.
After a long while, he turned and said, “Sheng’er, leave.”
Ming Sheng hesitated and didn’t move.
Old Master Ming Si said irritably, “What, are you worried I’ll hit her?”
Ming Sheng actually considered it seriously. His father had a history of cursing people, but he hadn’t hit anyone. Given the situation just now, Little Seven might not lose in a verbal fight… but just in case he got too angry, it would be safer to stay outside.
So he stood up cheerfully, “I’ll be right outside, Father. Just call if you need anything.”
Old Master Ming Si: “…”
Was this son really his, or was he Old Master Ming San’s?
Now only two people were left in the room.
Ming Wei smiled, “Fourth Uncle, please take a seat.”
Old Master Ming Si snorted and sat back down.
Ming Wei refilled his tea, “I’ve been ill for many years and have only just regained clarity in the past few days. Many things are still confusing to me. If I have offended you, I hope Fourth Uncle will not take it to heart.”
Old Master Ming Si’s mouth twitched.
Before coming here, he hadn’t taken Ming Wei seriously, thinking she was just a child causing trouble, and now he had ended up at a disadvantage. Seeing her act methodically and with a clear mind, he knew that this niece, who had been foolish for fifteen years, could no longer be treated as a child.
“It’s good that you know you were out of line,” he said. “You were ill before and young, so it’s understandable that you didn’t know the affairs of the family. But arguing with your elders like this, not only will it make people laugh if it gets out, but it also breaks the rules of the family.”
Ming Wei nodded, looking very teachable, “Fourth Uncle’s lesson is well taken. I’ve been without a father’s guidance since I was young, and you are just like my father. My mother and I will always remember your kindness.”
Saying this made Old Master Ming Si feel a bit uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and explained to her, “I don’t know if your mother has told you about the family rules, but the Ming family prohibits discussing mysticism and witchcraft. This is an ancestral instruction, and regardless of what you think in your heart, you must adhere to it outwardly.”
Ming Wei smiled and lowered her head, “Yes.”
“As for that thing in the garden…” he paused, “your Second Uncle has already sent a letter to the capital. You should stop causing trouble.”
Ming Wei shook her head with a smile.
Old Master Ming Si couldn’t help but frown, “I’ve already explained the reasons to you, why won’t you listen?”
Ming Wei said, “Fourth Uncle misunderstands me. It’s not that I’m not listening, it’s just that I’m not causing trouble.”
Old Master Ming Si’s expression darkened, “Are you still going to push down the wall?”
Ming Wei didn’t answer directly but picked up the package of cinnabar and asked seemingly casually, “Fourth Uncle, who taught you to use cinnabar to burn souls in the formation?”
“It was…” Old Master Ming Si paused, looking at her warily.
Ming Wei didn’t wait for his answer and continued, “This formation is too crude. If the evil spirit isn’t too fierce, it might work, but if it’s too fierce, it will only provoke it. In that case, it will backfire. Fourth Uncle, by setting up this soul-burning formation, the evil spirit might break free sooner.”
These words didn’t sound like they were coming from someone who didn’t understand.
Old Master Ming Si finally looked at his niece seriously, and he began to believe some of what she said.
Maybe the Goddess Xuan Nu really did manifest and sent her back? Otherwise, how could she know the name of the soul-burning formation?
After pondering for a long time, Old Master Ming Si finally asked, “Then what do you want to do?”
Ming Wei seemed indifferent, “I’ve just regained my soul, and my physical body has no magical power, so I can’t subdue it. However, it’s not difficult to trap it. Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry? It would be strange if he could!
Then he heard Ming Wei continue, “Speaking of which,
this evil spirit is quite strange. It seems to have something on it…”
Old Master Ming Si was listening intently, and when she stopped, he asked, “What does it have?”
Ming Wei smiled, “I can’t tell right now. I just feel something is off.”
Old Master Ming Si was annoyed, feeling like she was playing with him.
“You can still use that soul-burning formation,” Ming Wei circled back, “You just need to add some things to it, so it can both restrain the evil spirit and prevent it from breaking the formation.”
Old Master Ming Si knew the conversation had been steered by her, but he was too curious and couldn’t help asking, “What do you want to add?”
“It’s hard to explain at the moment,” Ming Wei looked at him, “In the next few days, I will modify the soul-burning formation. If Fourth Uncle is worried, why not come and watch?”
Old Master Ming Si looked back at her.
Both uncle and niece had probing looks in their eyes.
“Alright,” Old Master Ming Si finally picked up the cup of tea and drank it in one gulp, “If you continue to cause trouble, I, as your uncle, will not indulge you.”
After saying that, he stood up and walked out.
Ming Wei stood up to see him off, “Take care, Fourth Uncle.”
Outside, Duo Fu was peeking through the door crack, listening to the movement inside.
She had been with her mistress since she was eight, and in all these years, she had never left her side. Although her mistress was now well, she still felt uneasy.
Later, when Ming Sheng came out, he also leaned against the door to listen.
The two people inside were sitting far apart, and their voices were low, so it was hard to hear clearly. They didn’t know when Old Master Ming Si was going to leave.
As soon as Old Master Ming Si opened the door, the two of them lost their balance and stumbled into the room.
They bumped right into him.
Seeing Ming Sheng like this, Old Master Ming Si’s anger flared up, pointing at him, “How old are you? What kind of behavior is this?”
Ming Sheng knew he had made a mistake and shrank like a quail.
Old Master Ming Si, furious, shook his sleeve and strode out the door.
Madam Ming hadn’t gone far and was waiting nearby. She smiled and greeted him, “Fourth Uncle.”
Old Master Ming Si said grudgingly, “It’s getting late. I’m leaving now, Third Sister-in-law, as you wish.”
Madam Ming was surprised. He was leaving just like that?
On the other side, Duo Fu couldn’t wait to rush into the room.
“Mistress! Are you alright?”
Ming Wei hummed, taking a sip of tea.
Duo Fu looked her over and finally relaxed, “It’s good that you’re fine.”
Seeing her like this, Ming Wei smiled.
Then, her smile faded, and she muttered to herself, “It’s not him.”
Duo Fu didn’t understand, “Mistress, who’s not him?”
Ming Wei didn’t explain and said, “I’m hungry.”
“Oh.” Duo Fu’s attention was immediately diverted, “Lunch is ready, Mistress. Shall we go and eat?”
“Mm.”
Ming Wei walked out, thinking to herself.
The person causing trouble is not this Old Master Ming Si.
If it were him, he wouldn’t have been so easily caught by her few words.
Truly vicious people don’t show it on their faces.
They wouldn’t even give her a chance to speak.
After all, in the end, she’s just a fatherless woman.
In this mundane world, a family without a man loses the right to speak on equal terms with others. Men are the pillars, the heads of the household, only they have the complete rights as human beings.
Also, she was certain she hadn’t made a mistake.
The aura of this Old Master Ming Si was the same as the first time she saw him, but different from the second time.
