Li Man’er, though unaware of Xiao Qiniang's true intentions, remained vigilant. Upon hearing Xiao Qiniang inquire about affairs within the palace, Li Man’er's senses immediately went on high alert.
"How to put it? The palace is not a place where one can act as they please. Miss Xiao Qi, you know my character. I've always been rather uninhibited. If I were to go to the palace, I’d likely offend someone important and perhaps lose my life. So, when I visited my aunt's palace, she kept me confined to her chambers. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere else."
Xiao Qiniang noticed the wariness in every word Li Man’er spoke, and her brow furrowed slightly. "Elder Miss Li needn't be so guarded. I was merely asking casually. I grew up in Mobei and have never left. All I've seen are desolate Gobi landscapes, so I wished to inquire about the prosperity of the capital from you."
Li Man’er widened her apricot eyes, appearing unconvinced.
Xiao Qiniang felt a touch of awkwardness and continued, "Perhaps my ignorance is showing, making a spectacle of myself. Elder Miss, why don't you tell me what the capital is like!"
To glean information from her, she was resorting to self-deprecation?
Li Man’er retorted, "If you wish to broaden your horizons, the interesting tales of the capital would suffice. Why would you foolishly inquire about palace matters?"
Li Man’er's bluntness left Xiao Qiniang momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
Li Man’er relaxed her posture and began to describe the capital's splendor. She spoke of various amusing anecdotes, lively enough content, yet not a single word related to the major noble families. Consequently, none of it was what Xiao Qiniang wished to hear.
Observing Xiao Qiniang's darkening expression, Li Man’er inwardly chuckled, though she outwardly feigned annoyance.
"You are a peculiar person. Didn't you just say you wanted to hear about the capital's prosperity? Now that I'm telling you, you seem a hundred percent displeased. I've told you all about the good food and fun things in the capital. My lips are nearly worn thin, and you're still not satisfied."
"No, Miss has misunderstood," Xiao Qiniang replied. "I'm merely experiencing a headache."
"A headache? No wonder you look so unwell."
Perhaps it was because Li Man’er finally uttered a semblance of human decency, but a faint smile appeared on Xiao Qiniang's face.
Before the smile could linger, Li Man’er added, "What about Miss Xing’er's funeral? Are you not planning to prepare for it, Miss Xiao Qi?"
Xiao Qiniang's face immediately darkened. It was like hitting a sore spot. Xing'er was merely a servant girl. Although she had accidentally caused Xing’er's death, providing a simple coffin and a burial place should suffice. To speak of a funeral – how could Li Man’er have the audacity to utter those words?
If a funeral were held, the Xiao family's reputation would be completely ruined.
"Elder Miss Li, I ask you to choose your words carefully." When Xing'er was mentioned, Xiao Qiniang wasn't without grief or sadness, but compared to her reputation, both seemed less important.
"Oh~" Li Man’er gave a knowing smile. "Indeed, a servant's life is not valuable. She could be rolled up in a straw mat and discarded. Digging a shallow pit to bury her would be considered benevolent. For those with unkind hearts, throwing her directly into a mass grave would not be unusual."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Li Man’er said mournfully, "I am reminding Miss Qi that those who commit wrongful deeds will face retribution." She subtly glanced behind Miss Xiao Qi, quickly retracting her gaze.
Yet, that fleeting glance sent a chill through Xiao Qiniang, causing every hair on her body to stand on end.
Her maid, Zhu Yu, stood to her left. In the room, besides the two of them and Li Man’er and her maid, there was no one else. Why was Li Man’er looking behind her?
Was there someone behind her?
Xiao Qiniang's heart skipped a beat, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
Ancient people were superstitious and believed in ghosts and spirits. Xiao Qiniang, burdened by guilt, suspected Li Man’er might have seen something. Her thoughts began to race.
Once the mind starts to wander down such paths, it becomes impossible to stop. Xiao Qiniang felt a pain in her neck and a heaviness on her shoulders, as if something were clinging to her.
Could it be Xing’er's ghost?
Xiao Qiniang's heart tightened, and her vision blurred. She nearly fainted on the spot.
"My lady," Zhu Yu quickly reached out to support her. "Are you alright, my lady?"
Xiao Qiniang collapsed into Zhu Yu's arms, taking a few deep breaths before saying, "Zhu Yu, help me back."
"Yes!" Zhu Yu shot Li Man’er a furious glare before supporting Xiao Qiniang as they walked out. Outside the door, several matrons who had accompanied them were startled by Xiao Qiniang's condition and quickly helped carry her back.
Upon returning, Xiao Qiniang fell ill, developing a high fever. She took medicine, but it had little effect and the fever refused to subside.
Zhu Yu was furious and immediately led her people to Li Man’er's courtyard to confront her, demanding to know what she had given Xiao Qiniang to cause such a sudden and severe illness.
"Are you out of your mind? After your lady entered my room, did she drink a single drop of my water or eat a single grain of my rice? How could she be poisoned without eating or drinking? Besides, if I had lit any illicit incense, why are you and I and my maid unaffected, while only your lady is ill?"
Zhu Yu was enraged. "Who knows what methods you used on our lady."
Liu Ya immediately defended her mistress. "Miss Qi is clearly guilty. She was fine earlier, but the moment Xing’er was mentioned, she became unwell, her face turned pale, she broke out in a sweat, and nearly fainted. Everyone knows how Miss Xing’er met her end. Your lady broke out in a sweat, and then went out into the wind. It’s no wonder she fell ill."
"You…" Zhu Yu also knew that Liu Ya's words were the truth. She recalled her mistress's strange behavior that day and felt a pang of uncertainty.
Li Man’er said, "Instead of arguing with me here, you'd be better off going to the temple to pray for a protective amulet for your mistress and donate some incense money to help Miss Xing’er transcend. Perhaps then Miss Qi will recover. A heart ailment requires a heart cure. Once Miss Xing’er embarks on the path of reincarnation, your lady’s illness will likely be cured."
Zhu Yu, already somewhat convinced, became even more so after hearing Li Man’er's words. Forgetting about confronting Li Man’er, she quickly left with her people, eager to seek a protective amulet for her mistress and to invite a revered monk to perform a ritual for Xing’er’s swift reincarnation.
As Zhu Yu departed, Liu Ya couldn't help but ask, "My lady, what else do you know?" Though Liu Ya didn't specify, Li Man’er understood what she meant.
"I know a little!" As Xuan Yi practitioners, besides treating illnesses and saving lives, and researching herbs and poisons, they also delved into metaphysical matters.
Some were proficient, while others merely dabbled, each with their own strengths.
As for Li Man’er's proficiency in metaphysics, how should one put it? It was a bit more than half-baked, but more than enough to deceive people like them.