On the carriage behind, Abbess Mingfa and Nanny Zhao both looked extremely grim. Nanny Zhao whispered, "What did Miss Four do after she arrived at the Changyue Nunnery?"
Abbess Mingfa replied, "Apart from asking this poor nun to exorcise evil spirits at the Marquis Mansion, she only inquired about two birth dates. She didn't say much else. However, those two birth dates..."
Nanny Zhao had just let out a sigh of relief, but her heart immediately tightened again. "Whose birth dates?"
"The owners of those birth dates are blessed with the Star of Literature and are destined for great wealth and honor. I should have realized it earlier..." Abbess Mingfa murmured in a low voice.
Nanny Zhao served Song Nanxin and didn't know much about the affairs of the Meng family. However, she secretly memorized Abbess Mingfa's words and planned to report them to Song Nanxin in detail when she got back.
As evening fell, the two carriages successively arrived at the Ding'an Marquis Mansion.
After getting off the carriage, Nanny Zhao immediately said to Song Yihuan, "Miss Four, it's getting dark soon. How about letting the abbess stay overnight at the mansion? We can make further plans after the eldest miss returns to the mansion tomorrow."
Song Yihuan thought for a moment and replied, "That's a good idea. With elder sister around, I'm sure mother will feel more at ease."
After settling Abbess Mingfa and the young nun, Nanny Zhao left in a hurry. She was going back to the suburban villa to report this matter to Song Nanxin.
At the suburban villa on the outskirts of the capital, Song Nanxin was sitting in the Lilac Pavilion, looking at the thick stack of account books on the table. She felt dizzy and her vision was blurry.
Now she somewhat regretted having killed Song Yixuan. Without Song Yixuan to control that little bitch, who else could help her manage these account books?
She always felt that ever since her trip to Xingzhou, things had been going less and less smoothly for her. She always had the feeling of being restricted everywhere.
Song Nanxin rubbed her throbbing head. It was at this moment that Nanny Zhao returned.
Seeing Nanny Zhao's figure, Song Nanxin immediately stood up. "Nanny, how was it? Did you see Abbess Mingfa?"
Nanny Zhao looked rather grim and replied, "This old servant did see the abbess. However, this old servant also saw an unexpected person at the Changyue Nunnery."
"This old servant actually saw Miss Four at the Changyue Nunnery!"
Song Nanxin clenched her hands tightly and her face changed. "Miss Four, Song Yihuan? What was she doing at the Changyue Nunnery? Did she say anything to Abbess Mingfa?"
Nanny Zhao relayed what Abbess Mingfa had told her to Song Nanxin. When she learned that Song Yihuan had inquired about two birth dates from Abbess Mingfa, Song Nanxin staggered and her lips lost all color.
"Miss, are you alright?" Nanny Zhao asked in a low voice when she saw Song Nanxin's pale face.
Song Nanxin steadied herself and replied, "I'm fine. I'm just a bit worried about father and mother."
Nanny Zhao didn't think much of it. Just as she was about to serve Song Nanxin to go and rest, the sound of servants bowing outside suddenly came. "Greetings, Young Master."
Song Nanxin's face turned even paler.
Why did Ji Lingchuan come to the villa at this time? Didn't he get angry with her for deceiving him and refused to even look at her?
She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and turned to look at the figure walking into the Lilac Pavilion.
"This concubine greets the young master. Why is the young master free to visit this concubine today?"
Ji Lingchuan was still wearing his official robe, looking as if he had just come from outside.
"I heard that you're going back to the Marquis Mansion to visit your parents tomorrow?" Ji Lingchuan asked bluntly when he saw Song Nanxin.
Song Nanxin was taken aback for a moment and replied, "That's right. How did the young master know?"
"We're still husband and wife. I'll go back with you tomorrow." Ji Lingchuan said coldly.
Song Nanxin was currently troubled by the matter of Abbess Mingfa. When she heard him say this, she subconsciously wanted to refuse his company. However, he didn't give her a chance to refuse at all. After saying that, he turned around and left the villa.
He came and went in a hurry, staying for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Because Ji Lingchuan was going to go back to the Ding'an Marquis Mansion with her the next day, Song Nanxin didn't sleep well all night.
Nanny Zhao felt very sorry for her when she saw her tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep. She came up with an idea for her. "How about the miss find an excuse tomorrow and say that she's sick? The young master will surely let the miss stay in the villa to recuperate when he knows."
Song Nanxin said angrily, "It's easy for you to say. If I say I'm sick, with his strict and meticulous nature, he'll definitely invite a doctor to feel my pulse. Won't I be exposed then?"
"Moreover, if I pretend to be sick at this time, how can I see Abbess Mingfa tomorrow?"
Nanny Zhao thought it made sense and could only tuck the quilt in for Song Nanxin to let her sleep a little longer.
Meanwhile, at the Ding'an Marquis Mansion.
Abbess Mingfa had settled into a guest room in the mansion. She was twirling the Buddhist beads in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed. The young nun saw her solemn expression and remembered the rumor about ghosts haunting the Ding'an Marquis Mansion. She couldn't help but feel scared. Looking around, she asked, "Master, is there really a ghost in this mansion?"
Abbess Mingfa came back to her senses and replied, "As long as you keep the Buddha in your heart, you'll be invulnerable to all ghosts. If you're scared, just chant the Diamond Sutra a few more times."
The young nun replied and helped Abbess Mingfa tidy up the bedding. Then she sat down beside her and began to chant the sutra.
Abbess Mingfa sat on the bed and meditated, closing her eyes as if she was resting. In fact, she was extremely nervous inside.
The room suddenly became very quiet. No one noticed a wisp of green smoke floating in through the crack of the door. After a while, Abbess Mingfa and the young nun who was silently chanting the Diamond Sutra slumped over.
After confirming that the two people in the room were both unconscious, the door of the guest room was gently pushed open. Song Yihuan walked into the room with Feixue.
Looking down at Abbess Mingfa with a cold expression on her face, Song Yihuan said, "Tie these two up."
Abbess Mingfa was awakened by a splash of icy cold water. When she woke up, she found that her limbs were tightly bound. She shivered all over.
Looking up ahead, she saw Song Yihuan sitting on a chair, sipping warm water. Her pupils constricted and she exclaimed, "What does the benefactor mean by this?"
Song Yihuan didn't even look at her and said, "Doesn't the abbess understand what I mean?"
Abbess Mingfa's face tightened. She struggled against the ropes on her body. "The benefactor is a noble young lady of the Marquis Mansion. Why would you do such a rude thing? Is this how the benefactor treats guests?"
Song Yihuan let out a soft laugh and finally looked up at Abbess Mingfa.
"Abbess, you've made a mistake. Today, the abbess is not a guest in the Ding'an Marquis Mansion, but a sinner."
Abbess Mingfa felt guilty and subconsciously defended herself. "Amitabha. The benefactor mustn't slander this poor nun. This poor nun has neither killed anyone nor set fire to anything. How can I be a sinner?"
Song Yihuan slapped the table hard. Her face and gaze became sharp. "Abbess, you lured my elder sister to the Changyue Nunnery to pray for blessings under the pretext of holding a Dharma assembly. Yet you allowed the bandits to humiliate my elder sister in the nunnery, causing her to lose her innocence and become pregnant. Isn't this a great sin?"