Chapter 164: Chapter 83: Playing Dead_3
"Youcai, I know you’re not willing to let go, but what’s done is done, and you can’t dwell on the past... Those who harmed you have already descended to the gloomy prison, so just reincarnate peacefully. In your next life, become an official or a young master, and after the hardship, sweetness will come. Don’t yearn for the mortal world..."
The scratching sounds grew louder.
Old Master Xun braced himself and continued speaking, "If you really can’t get over it and insist on turning into a fierce ghost, at least don’t target the wrong people... Every grievance has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor. We’re here to help you. I even contributed to your coffin’s expenses..."
His rambling voice awakened Official Hu, who lay beside him. Official Hu turned over and sat up, looking groggily at Old Master Xun.
"Old Xun, who are you talking to yourself?"
Old Master Xun ignored him, his eyes staring straight ahead, and his legs trembling incessantly.
Official Hu was suspicious and followed his gaze, causing his scalp to tingle.
The pitch-black coffin lay heavily in the center of the memorial hall, its lid half-opened at some point, and a hand was resting on the edge of the coffin, as if about to rise from within.
As if sensing the fear of the two men in the hall, the next moment, a face appeared in front of them.
Scholar Wu was wearing a brand-new silk turban and a newly tailored green round-collar robe embroidered with silver coins and symbols of longevity. His face was painted red and white, and looking at the two men, he faintly spoke.
"Hu..."
A scream echoed through the skies above the Wu Family.
"A ghost, there’s a ghost!"
"Youcai’s corpse has come back to life—"
...
By the time the news of Wu Youcai’s apparent resurrection reached Renxin Medical Hall, Du Changqing was sweeping the courtyard. Last night, the Pawn Shop Soldiers had made a mess of the medical hall, and now they had to clean up after themselves.
Ah Cheng stood in front of him, excitement shining in his eyes, gesticulating frantically to Du Changqing.
"...They say that the ox-headed and horse-faced envoys took away Brother Wu’s soul, that the ghastly ghost soldiers, with their green faces and long teeth, looped a noose around his neck and dragged him to the underworld. Yama of the Ten Directions ordered the judges to bring his case file, and upon opening the court session drum, they found that Brother Wu had been loyal and studious all his life, putting filial piety first, never having done a single bad deed. It turned out that his life was not meant to end, and he had entered Yama’s hall by mistake, so the little demons were ordered to send him back."
Du Changqing frowned as he listened, "Is this what Scholar Wu himself said?"
Ah Cheng nodded vigorously: "Isn’t it? It just goes to show that Yama truly distinguishes between good and evil, and doesn’t wrong a good person! Now, because of this incident, the temple of the City God is receiving a lot more offerings. Master, shall we also go burn some incense sticks?"
The story sounded both true and made-up. Du Changqing turned his head and called for Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu—"
Ah Cheng grabbed him, "Master, did you forget? Doctor Lu went out early this morning to buy things, didn’t he?"
Du Changqing was at a loss for words.
Indeed, Lu Tong had left early in the morning. Last night, those Pawn Shop Soldiers had gone into Lu Tong’s room, tossing papers and brushes everywhere and breaking quite a few items.
Lu Tong needed paper for writing prescriptions, and she had left with Yin Zheng in the morning saying they were going to the stationery shop.
Of course, she had left that early to avoid witnessing Du Changqing sending Xia Rongrong out of the house.
Du Changqing had sent Xia Rongrong away that morning.
As she was leaving, Xia Rongrong, crying and sniveling, clung to his arm, admitting her mistakes and insisting on apologizing to Lu Tong personally, which Du Changqing refused.
Du Changqing had known Xia Rongrong since childhood, and over the years, he had turned a blind eye to her harmless self-interests. In this world, everyone has their own bias, and it’s not wrong to look out for oneself a bit more.
However, Xia Rongrong’s mistake was in secretly colluding with Bai Shouyi. That crossed a line with Du Changqing.
Xia Rongrong, having known him since they were children, should clearly remember the cruel means Bai Shouyi used against Renxin Medical Hall. By secretly interacting with Bai Shouyi behind his back, she was essentially conspiring with outsiders against her own family. If Xia Rongrong had even the slightest bit of consideration for him, her cousin, she wouldn’t have done such a thing.
With tears in her eyes, Xia Rongrong stood in front of the carriage, looking at him pitifully, trying to evoke some past affection.
"Cousin, we used to get along so well... Have you forgotten when you were sick at seven, and no one in the Du Family noticed? My mother went to fetch the doctor for you at night, took care of you all through the night, and by next day, her eyes were all red from lack of sleep..."
He gave a bitter smile, "But cousin, we have grown up now."
They were no longer children. Back then he was the young master of the Du Family, and he could provide Xia Rongrong with toys, cosmetics, and silver coins, but that was all. Now, he was just the owner of a small medical hall, and whatever Xia Rongrong desired, he couldn’t provide.
Xiang Cao helped Xia Rongrong into the carriage, and he gave Xia Rongrong a sum of money, enough for her to stay in Shengjing for a while longer. Whether Xia Rongrong chose to continue staying in Shengjing or to return home after that, he did not know, nor did he want to know anymore.