"Nightfall, after the night, the old gong can come out, he may be able to explain more clearly, I also intend to do something, as much as possible let you know everything. " I hand caressed his hair fluttering and whispered.
"Good." Only then did Mangying leave my arms.
She went into the room to get the tea set and brewed tea on the stone table in the courtyard.
I sat quietly beside, tasting tea.
This leisurely comfort contrasts sharply with the time I spent at Black City Temple.
Mangying and I talked about many things, including the recent visit of Chang Xin last week. She was truly patient and persevering like a snake-skin ointment, which made Liang Yu, a somewhat prejudiced girl, let down her guard and they went on an outing together.
"I chuckled in response, "Chang Xin is indeed tenacious. He did not hesitate to pass down the tradition, which could alter the landscape of Liang's family. Liang Yu was previously indifferent but once she tried it, it would be difficult for her to refuse."
"Yes, but that's not just the lure of tradition; it's also because Chang Xin is sincerely in love. The heavens will not forsake any true lover, just like us." Mangying refilled my cup with tea and said softly, "It's because the fates are against us, and you stood up against the fates, that we can sit here quietly together."
"Xianshen, what's wrong?" Mangying's eyes revealed a hint of confusion.
"No... nothing is wrong." I picked up the tea cup and drank it all at once.
"The tea is very good," I said.
Mangying remained silent and continued to brew tea silently.
It was noon and some servants from Mangying's family came to invite us for lunch.
Mang Chang and Mang Qiong have been smiling from ear to ear, never able to stop laughing. They are genuinely happy that I've returned.
Even they asked me if I wouldn't have to return to Four Rules Mountain.
This can be seen as Mang family no longer cares about my identity, but cares about the person I am.
Of course, this is also related to my strength; in their eyes, I may no longer need the protection of the mountain gate.
I will answer your questions one by one. As for the mountain gate, of course I will go back. As for how long I will stay at Mang's home, I haven't decided yet. I will wait and see what happens with Mang Qiyu first, to see if we can get some answers as soon as possible.
Of course, I did not mention more precise things. Mang Chang and Mang Qiong did not ask.
After the lunch, I and Mangying went back to the courtyard to rest.
She let me take a nap for a while, saying that it would make me feel better physically.
I shook my head and refused to sleep, saying that it would be better not to disrupt the natural rhythm of my body. I asked her to brew more cups of tea so that I could stay calm and focused.
Mangying did not say much or ask any further questions; she just kept brewing tea.
The afternoon passed quickly, and another dinner was served just before the sky turned dark.
The regular meals have made me a bit uncomfortable.
As I was halfway through eating, the darkness completely swallowed up the light of the sky, and Lao Gong appeared by my side, humming and saying, "Well, well, it's a family eating alone while leaving me, the old man who deserves all the credit, out in the cold. I'll be knocking on your door in the middle of the night."
"Ha ha ha! Come on, Old Gongy, I'll pour you a full glass!" Mang Qiong got up and picked up the bottle of wine, walking towards Old Gong.
"No no no, I've come back to the Mang family; do I need you, an unrefined old man, to pour wine for me? My little wife..."
"Oh, my little wife has been assigned to work outside."
Lao Gong seemed somewhat melancholy, muttering, "Then let the mother of my little wife serve me wine."
Mang Qiong looked thoroughly embarrassed.
"This... there are no parents of Mang Qiyu here, or perhaps you could go?"
Mang Qiong's gaze fell on his mother-in-law beside him, Mang Ying's mom.
"Let's not mention in-laws, I'll pour the wine for Old Gong." My mother picked up the bottle, and gu-dudududuing, she poured a full bowl for Old Gong.
Lao Gong muttered for a long time, but it was unclear what he was saying.
Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, buried his head in the bowl, and drank a large half of it.
In critical moments, Lao Gong can save our lives, and at such times, he is also the perfect addition to the dinner party.
Mang Chang really treated Lao Gong very well, even calling for an appropriate young woman from the family to help Old Gong pick up vegetables. At last, Lao Gong finally smiled.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, everyone was happy.
Only when we returned to the small courtyard where I lived with Mang Ying did the smile on my face slowly calm down.
I spread a talisman paper, bit my index finger, and pointed it on the paper, drawing a charm to call Qiyoyo's soul.
Mangying slightly pursed her lips, as if she understood something.
In fact, Mangying knows everything about my affairs.
At that time, she was trapped in Qiyoyo's nightmare for months.
"It's nothing. It's nothing. As a concubine in the primary wife's position, she is also a concubine in the primary wife's position. My father will ensure fairness."
My intention was to have Lao Gong help explain things together, but I didn't expect him to be more interested in the commotion than in settling the matter. His words directly made Mangying's eyes reddened and filled with tears.
"I rebuke Lao Gong with a scolding voice."
However, the summoning talisman did not bring Qiyoyo back.
I swept around the courtyard and breathed heavily, muttering, "Don't you want to come out?"
She was right beside me, always not far away.
Just, I still haven't managed to summon Qiyoyo.
Mangying sat by the stone table, silently brewing tea and pouring me another cup.
I had no interest in drinking it.
Because the sorrow on her face made me feel even more distressed and sore.
"This matter started when she kept following me..."
I didn't summon Qiyoyo's soul again, so I opened up and detailed to Mangying the whole story of Qiyoyo following me and my plans.
Actually, Mangying is somewhat aware of these details.
In the past, like me, she pitied Qiyoyo and we both believed that it was because Lao Qintou's scheme and some of his actions that had caused her to be in such a state.
The matters of the Black City Temple were briefly mentioned by me, and it was only when I talked about Qiyoyo bringing the corpse of Mao Zhanshan, a ghost practitioner, that I described it in more detail.
Lao Gong was beside me, fuming and muttering to himself, "You're so partial. This is too much! You don't say how dangerous it was back then, you nearly died, and you don't mention how much effort Qiyoyo's little miss did, or how brave she was. You're just nitpicking here."
"..."
I ignored Lao Gong and tried to explain everything as clearly as possible to Mang Ying.
And I also told her about the areas where I hesitated and wandered, not knowing what to do.
Sentencing Qiyoyo to leave seems right, but in reality, it may not be. If I leave her, I cannot offer her anything else. She is trapped in the previous life, and I am in this life. No matter what I do, it cannot be fair.
"If I hadn't noticed something was off, you probably wouldn't have intended to tell me and would have been hesitating and wavering, right?" Mang Ying wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Lao Gong, if Xianshen lies to me, you must tell me." Before I could respond, Mang Ying continued to stare at Lao Gong.
"Eh... this..." Lao Gong's eyeballs twitched around, but he didn't give a definite answer.
"Dad said that he thought I would be reasonable, but you didn't agree. Therefore, you wanted to come up with a good solution on your own before telling me, but you couldn't deceive me, which is why I had to force you to say it out loud." Mang Ying looked deeply into my eyes, although she was crying, the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile. It was a forced smile through tears.
"Not lying makes me very happy that you can differentiate. Perhaps it's because our connections from this life and the previous life are truly clean-cut. But to me, Qiyoyo seems so suffering, and I can't even share you with her."
"I want to meet her alone. Perhaps, we can find a good solution."
"If possible, you won't have to worry about this matter. If not, then worry about it again. This matter seems to be about the three of us, but in reality, it is still your one person's concern." Mang Ying said seriously.
"Okay." I nodded.
Mang Ying's answer did not match what my dad had said.
However, she is still reasonable.
In itself, making such a decision for Mang Ying is also unfair. She knows my thoughts and knows that I have no intention of shirking my responsibilities.
Just her solution is confusing to me.
"Qiyoyo, you come out. Xianshen and Lao Gong will leave. I want to talk to you!"
Mang Ying tilted her head to look at the talisman I had drawn on the table, and she whispered the words.
"Alright, old man. Qiyoyo may see you when she goes home to the Qili family. Her heart is not at peace either. Women's battles have no gunpowder!" Lao Gong gave me a mischievous wink on my shoulder.
