The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 141

Chapter 141: Taken Home by the Princess Part 29

Tao Ning tapped the hollow chest of the mechanical puppet: “So, Miss Qi, you want to sue the Qian family for murdering Zhou Yan. Your complaint… Forget it, I’ll write it for you later.”

These words stunned the father and daughter, who looked up in disbelief. Weren’t they supposed to arrest her?

A parrot flew in, flapping its wings, and suddenly squawked in a hoarse, unpleasant voice, “Are… are you looking for me?”

Tao Ning and Li Ji both looked at the parrot, its voice strangely familiar.

Qi Jing instinctively raised a finger: “Shh, Mao Mao, don’t talk.”

The parrot walked around on the table, then flew to the puppet, pecking at its hollow chest, seemingly confused that it couldn’t get inside: “Mao Mao no talk… Waaah…”

This crying sound was very familiar, the same ghostly wails that had plagued Guang’an County. No one would have guessed it came from a parrot with its tongue cut out.

Tao Ning’s scalp tingled, and she pointed at the parrot: “Where did you get this little singer?”

The parrot, Mao Mao, landed on Qi Jing’s head, and she had to lift her head to let it perch: “I found it, it was very thin when I found it, it doesn’t sing often, just occasionally.”

Li Ji said dryly, “Just occasionally crying all night long.”

Indeed, occasionally.

Qi Jing wanted to hide her face, but with the parrot on her head, she could only look up, her expression not one of guilt, but rather defiance.

Tao Ning didn’t bother with her, standing up: “I understand the situation now. You want justice, and as the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, I won’t disappoint the people, the culprit will be brought to justice.”

Qi Jing, surprised by this turn of events, quickly asked, “How do you plan to make them confess, Your Excellency?”

Tao Ning pointed at the mechanical puppet: “It.”

Qi Jing turned around, looking at the puppet, puzzled: “It?”

At the Qian residence, a grand house belonging to a wealthy family in Guang’an County, Squire Qian, terrified of the ghost, had hired more guards.

While the Qian residence could handle a flightless mechanical puppet, they were no match for the highly skilled Li Ji, who could move around freely undetected.

That night, under the crescent moon, in the quiet darkness, Li Ji, avoiding the patrolling guards, landed on the wall, hiding in the shadows.

She glanced at the red-clad puppet in her hand, activated the mechanism as instructed by Qi Jing, and placed it on the ground.

Qi Jing had said she used good materials, it wouldn’t break easily.

The parrot, Mao Mao, woke up inside the puppet’s hollow chest, flapping its wings and squawking.

The mournful wails, identical to the ones heard before, quickly attracted a patrolling guard.

“Who’s crying again in the middle of the night? If the master…” The guard’s voice trailed off, his eyes widening in terror as he saw the figure with its back to him.

Dressed in a red wedding dress, long hair, a slender figure, disheveled hair, like a female ghost.

As if hearing him, the figure slowly turned around, accompanied by a creepy, cracking sound, and the guard seemed to see skeletal hands beneath the wide sleeves.

A chill ran down his spine, his mind went blank, and he screamed.

“Ahhh!!!”

“Ghost! Ghost!!!”

Hearing the screams, Li Ji wondered when she had become like this.

Seeing torches being lit, the guards about to swarm the area, she quickly grabbed the puppet and leaped away.

The panicked guard, seeing the “ghost” float away, his heart almost stopping, let out a long groan.

Then he fainted.

The other guards who arrived also saw this, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads, their torches and weapons clutched tightly, no one daring to give chase.

The steward, rushing over, panting, shouted, “What are you waiting for?! Chase after it! If you disturb the master, you’ll suffer the consequences!”

The guards, as if awakened from a dream, gave chase.

“Stop!”

“Hurry, it’s going that way!”

Li Ji, a seasoned Jianghu wanderer, relied on her exceptional saber skills and lightness techniques, a master of concealment.

If it weren’t for that opponent who, unable to defeat her, resorted to poison and called for reinforcements, she wouldn’t be Guard Li, serving the princess, but the infamous “Slashing Wave Saber” on the imperial most-wanted list.

To the Qian residence guards, the red-clad ghost was elusive, suddenly floating towards the inner courtyard, then disappearing.

Squire Qian was awakened by the commotion.

Old and no longer sharing his bed with his wife or concubines, he got up, preparing to reprimand his unruly servants.

“Someone! Where’s Steward Qian?!” Opening the door, he saw a red figure float past, his hair standing on end.

To his horror, the red figure reappeared, slowly landing on the ground.

It stood in the middle of the courtyard, dressed in red, its head lowered.

“Crack.” The ghost moved.

“Woooo… are… are you looking for me?”

It took a step towards Squire Qian, another crack echoing, then another step, followed by a series of rapid cracks.

This isn’t human! This isn’t human! Run!!!

It’s her! She’s back!!!

Squire Qian’s mind went blank, his body frozen in terror, unable to move, as the ghost approached.

He wasn’t just standing still, he was paralyzed with fear, as if immobilized by the ghost’s presence.

When the guards arrived, they found him lying on the ground.

The guards were horrified: “Master!”

“Master!” The steward, rushing over, pushed through the guards and shouted even louder, “Master!!!”

“What’s that smell?”

“Ah! Master, he wet himself!”

The next day, Squire Qian, unable to bear it any longer, with dark circles under his eyes and carrying lavish gifts, went to the magistrate’s office, wanting to know when this “Woman in Red” incident would end.

Magistrate Zhao was startled, not by the dark circles, but by the extravagant gifts.

He glanced nervously towards the office: “There was no need to bring these, we don’t lack for tea at the magistrate’s office.”

Are you trying to kill me? The Junior Minister is right there, don’t drag me down with you!

After last night’s fright, Squire Qian, seemingly losing his mind, no longer understood social cues.

Unable to drink the tea, his eyes unfocused, he asked, “Magistrate Zhao, I only want to ask one thing, this ‘Woman in Red’ is causing panic in Guang’an, businesses are suffering, does the Junior Minister have any solution?”

He just wanted this to end, the ghost was becoming more powerful, even ignoring the talismans he had a specialist place around his residence.

But he didn’t dare tell Magistrate Zhao, who was notoriously timid, easily scared, and always avoiding trouble.

If he told him, this cowardly magistrate would definitely report it to the Junior Minister.

Magistrate Zhao gave him a vague answer and sent him away, even the lavish gifts, which he couldn’t bear to look at now.

Squire Qian left empty-handed, more anxious than before.

He didn’t think it was his fault, but the specialist’s, so he decided to find another one, determined to destroy that restless Zhou Yan’s spirit.

He had even considered exhuming and discarding her body. If she didn’t want to be his daughter-in-law, she could be a lonely ghost, she wouldn’t be allowed to enter the Zhou family’s ancestral grave.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, smashing his teacup: “That bitch, even in death, she won’t rest!”

The shattering of the teacup made the servant outside flinch. After a while, he entered and announced, “Master, the specialist has arrived.”

Squire Qian: “Bring him in… No, wait, take him to the side hall, I’ll be there shortly.”

The floor was wet, and there were broken pieces of porcelain, it wasn’t presentable.

As soon as Squire Qian left, a young man arrived, seeing the empty hall, and asked, “Where’s my father?”

The maid cleaning the floor replied, “Second Young Master, Master invited a specialist, he’s in the side hall.”

The second young master nodded, then looked down, his eyes lighting up: “Mei Xiang, your demure posture is quite charming.”

The maid, Mei Xiang, her hands trembling, discreetly moved away: “I’m unworthy, Second Young Master, I was cleaning the corridor this morning and I’m covered in sweat, you’re a man of refined tastes, don’t let me dirty your hands.”

The second young master teased, “A beauty is never dirty, even your sweat must be fragrant.”

But he didn’t have time to continue, a passing maid calling him away, whispering something in his ear, his face changing drastically.

He hurriedly said, “She actually got in? I have to find Father,” and turned to leave.

Mei Xiang continued cleaning, silently breathing a sigh of relief.

Li Ji, observing from a distance, wasn’t worried about the specialist, who was sent by the princess.

She was here to observe the Qian family, having heard that the second young master, although healthy, was a notorious playboy, the townspeople saying he would squander the family fortune.

Soon, Li Ji left.

“He was invited in so quickly, it seems to be working.” Tao Ning wasn’t surprised by Squire Qian’s eagerness. She had also sent someone to Zhou Yan’s sister-in-law’s family.

She estimated it would take about three days for them to return.

Meanwhile, the specialist sent by the princess was saying to Squire Qian, “I’ve observed the celestial signs, this vengeful spirit is a red sha(evil spirit), very dangerous. Three days from now is an auspicious day, perfect for an exorcism.”

Squire Qian, overjoyed, showered the specialist with praise and money, begging him to eliminate the ghost.

During these three days, the specialist stayed at the Qian residence, walking around, claiming to be setting up a net and a mystical formation to capture and destroy the ghost.

Hearing the words “destroy the ghost,” Squire Qian was relieved, granting the specialist unrestricted access to his residence.

On the appointed day, the specialist put on his Daoist robes, and, steeling himself, rang his bell and waved his peachwood sword dramatically.

Actually, he didn’t know what he was doing, but since the princess instructed him to do so, he did, performing a ritual before the altar.

The people of Guang’an County had learned that Squire Qian had once again hired a specialist, but this time, the ritual wasn’t held at the crossroads, but in his own residence.

They were all excited, hoping the ghost would finally be gone.

The bell’s ringing echoed far and wide, and if one listened carefully, they could even hear the Daoist priest chanting, the atmosphere tense.

Before the climax of the ritual, at the magistrate’s residence, Tao Ning said to Qin Yang, “Changyi, stop watching, let’s go to the Qian residence and watch the show.”

Qin Yang put down what she was doing and let Tao Ning pull her up: “You haven’t told me why you had my people perform a ritual at the Qian residence, and now you’re taking me there, what if I don’t understand?”

“My fault, I forgot to tell you.” Tao Ning leaned in and kissed Qin Yang, then whispered the plan in her ear.

Qin Yang, after listening, looked at her in surprise: “That works?”

Then, after a moment of thought, she nodded: “It’s a thorough plan.”

They left, giving a few instructions, ignoring Magistrate Zhao’s confusion, and went out.

Magistrate Zhao scratched his head: “Wasn’t she investigating the ‘Woman in Red’ case? Where did she go?”

He didn’t understand, but he would obey his superiors’ orders.

“Knock, knock, knock.” A knock came on the door, and Qi Jing, after a while, finally realized someone was knocking.

She had been in a daze these past few days, everything feeling unreal, and whenever she was alone, she couldn’t help but think of Zhou Yan.

Wiping the tears from her chin, she opened the door: “Miss Li, what is it?”

Li Ji, her face expressionless, pointed towards the Qian residence: “The exorcism is about to begin, Miss Qi, do you want to watch?”

Qi Jing didn’t want to see that disgusting place, but before she could refuse, she was lifted and carried away.

Qi Jing exclaimed, “Miss Li, what are you doing?!”

Li Ji said quickly, “It’s almost time, I’ll explain later, it was the Junior Minister’s order, she said it would be best if you saw this.”

Qi Jing: “?”

Placed on the wall by Li Ji, she watched as Li Ji pulled the red-clad puppet from the shadows of the roof beams.

Qi Jing: “???” She hid it here these past few days?

Li Ji felt she had suffered enough, running around and hiding this thing, finally finding a suitable spot in the Qian residence.

A renowned Jianghu hero, reduced to hiding on rooftops, what a tragedy.

Below, the Daoist priest in his robes was still performing the ritual, chanting the scriptures he had memorized, his voice loud and clear, although no one understood what he was saying, and it didn’t matter if he made a mistake, as long as he looked the part.

Qi Jing stood in the shadows, watching the lights in the Qian residence and the anxious expressions of the Qian family in the main hall.

She remembered the last time at the crossroads, the Qian family, hosting the exorcism ritual, probably out of guilt, hiding in a corner, then scattering in terror at the puppet’s sudden appearance.

Like rats fleeing a sinking ship, utterly ridiculous.

“Heh.”

Li Ji, holding the puppet, felt a chill, she didn’t understand why Qi Jing, watching calmly, suddenly sneered.

It was a bit scary.

That slender figure, that chilling sneer, made her hair stand on end.