Chapter 25: She Is a Mystery from Head to Toe

Night descended amidst a heavy snowfall. Exhausted from a day of chaos, the members of the Lang family sat gathered around a brazier, whispering about the events that had unfolded in the mourning hall earlier that day. Recalling the eerie black mist they had been trapped in, they all felt lingering fear and uncertainty.

"So, was that black mist a hallucination, or was it some trick conjured up by that Taoist priest, Huang? What exactly is he trying to do?" Lang Cai-ling asked her siblings, her brows furrowed.

Lang Cai-yao lowered her eyes, fidgeting with her fingertips, and replied, "That is not for us to concern ourselves with."

Once she said this, the group looked around. Indeed, aside from themselves, no one of any real standing was present; all the decision-makers from the three branches of the Lang family were elsewhere.

"Father, Mother, Second Aunt, and Third Uncle, that's one thing, but why was Lang Jiu called to the study to discuss matters? Even Eldest Brother wasn't allowed to go," Lang Cai-ling grumbled discontentedly, casting a sideways glance at Madam Wu.

Madam Wu saw through her attempt to sow discord immediately and felt a surge of annoyance. At a time like this, all she could think about was competing for attention.

This younger sister-in-law, born of a concubine, was spoiled because her mother was favored. Now that her two older sisters were married off, she was the only one left to dote on and please her elders. She had become even more favored by the patriarch, and now she likely harbored the belief that as a future daughter of a Marquis, her status was superior, leading her to put on increasingly arrogant airs.

How foolish. The Lang family had already begun to decline after backing the wrong side during the former Emperor's succession struggle. They were no longer at the center of power. The current Emperor emphasized filial piety and benevolence, so he dared not risk the reputation of being unfilial by going against his predecessor's wishes to employ the Lang family. Thus, they remained on the fringes. Now that the old patriarch had passed away, it was uncertain whether her father—the current heir—would even successfully inherit the title. How could she possibly think of herself as a high-born lady?

In the capital, there were noble families far more decadent and ruined than the Langs. Take the Duke of Shun, for instance. His title was hereditary, but it was nothing more than an empty shell. Yet, the Zheng family was prolific and their household was crowded; two or three young ladies lived in a single courtyard, wearing outdated clothes and jewelry. The life of a legitimate daughter there was not even as wealthy or comfortable as that of a concubine’s daughter in the home of a low-ranking official with real power.

The Lang family had not yet reached the point of the Duke of Shun’s household, where they had to pawn ancestral belongings to survive. However, if no promising descendants emerged, within three generations, they would inevitably fall to the status of commoners.

Despite this, Lang Cai-ling still dared to dream of grandeur. She was truly spoiled. Still, she was of age; once the mourning period ended and she found a good marriage, perhaps her dowry would sustain her for a few years. But for a woman, if her natal family was weak, how could she ever hold her head high in her husband’s house?

Madam Wu’s expression was devoid of warmth as she said, "The elders are away discussing matters, and the mourning hall cannot be left unattended. Your eldest brother is the eldest grandson; the burden on his shoulders is heavier than anyone else’s. Since the elders are away, naturally he must look after things. How can you act like a child and compete for attention in everything?"

As the eldest daughter-in-law, she would one day be the matriarch of the clan. Her own natal family held important positions in the court, so her status in the Lang family was highly respected. After being subtly reprimanded, Lang Cai-ling dared not argue, offering only a forced smile. "Of course, no one can surpass Eldest Brother."

Inside, however, she seethed. Was her sister-in-law still on her side? Instead of supporting her own sister-in-law, she took the side of a girl from another branch. She had no sense of loyalty.

"Come to think of it, don't you all find that girl, Lang Jiu, very strange?" Lang Cai-ze said. "Forget about the paper dolls acting like ghosts the night before last; just look at today. How could that Taoist priest suddenly turn into that monster? Doesn't it all have something to do with Lang Jiu? How could she have known about those things?"

"And she cursed the old master of the Zhao family to death, too," Lang Cai-ling added.

Madam Wu’s face darkened. "Seventh Sister, there is no basis for the talk of curses. We are all sisters of the same family; don't say such things again. If word gets out, it will do you no good."

Lang Cai-ling felt aggrieved; why was she always the one being scolded?

Lang Cai-yao sneered. *What a fool.*

However, their ninth sister was indeed a mystery, and it made one intensely curious.

...

Lang Jiu-chuan rubbed her itchy nose and glanced at the people opposite her, who looked as if they were conducting a trial and wanted to see right through her.

*Keep looking,* she thought. *If you can see through me, I'll count it as my loss.*

Seeing she had no intention of speaking, Lang Zheng-ping said, "What do you have to say about today's events? How did you see through that Taoist priest Huang’s trickery?"

What had this child learned while living on the estate? How could a young girl possess such uncanny knowledge? Just how old was she?

Madam Cui kept her eyes on Lang Jiu-chuan. The more she looked, the more she felt she couldn't grasp the girl. There was a constant sense that while the person was right in front of her, she felt miles away. This made her uneasy, even fearful.

"Rather than asking me that, shouldn't we be investigating who directed him? After all, the person behind this wants to destroy the Lang family!" Lang Jiu-chuan retorted.

Lang Zheng-ping’s face was grim. "People have already been sent out, but I worry: if this plot fails, will the person hiding in the shadows have another? These dark, supernatural schemes are harder to guard against than open arrows. What do you think?"

This was clearly a probe.

Lang Jiu-chuan wore a self-mocking expression. "I am just a little village girl raised in the countryside. I haven't received any proper upbringing, and naturally, I have no special skills. So, you're asking the wrong person."

Lang Zheng-ping fell silent. He glanced at Madam Cui, who was staring at Lang Jiu-chuan without blinking. He sighed, picked up his teacup, and gently scraped the foam with the lid.

*Whoever sowed these seeds of disaster must bear the consequences!*

Madam Cui looked steadily at Lang Jiu-chuan, studying her features and her expression. She felt a sense of vertigo. This rebellious, arrogant, and provocative expression—she had seen it on someone else’s face before: the father of her child.

When they first met, he had teased her with that exact same infuriating look.

Memories flooded back, leaving Madam Cui with a cold sweat on her back. She dug her fingernails into her palms, the sharp pain bringing her back to reality.

*Impossible.*

Madam Cui regained her cold, widowed mask and turned to Lang Zheng-ping. "She is right. She is just a little girl with limited experience. Brother, don't waste your time."

*Cough.*

Lang Zheng-ping choked on his tea.

Madam Fan gave him a look of annoyance and handed him a handkerchief.

Lang Zheng-ping wiped his mouth, looking at Madam Cui with a helpless expression. Her face was stern; she wasn't joking, nor was she protecting anyone—she was stating a fact.

*Could a mother and daughter really be this estranged?*

As if oblivious to the meaning in Lang Zheng-ping’s eyes, Madam Cui continued, "First, find out who is behind this priest. I will also write to the Grand Lady of the Gong family and ask for her help."

Lang Zheng-ping was startled. He sat up straight and asked, "The Gong family? Do you mean the Gong family that possesses the 'Dao Root'?"

Madam Cui nodded. "The Grand Lady of the Gong family and I were close friends in our youth."

"That is wonderful!" Lang Zheng-ping slapped his hands together, his face full of joy. "If we can get the Gong family to intervene, the Lang family won't have to fear these filthy, supernatural schemes."

Madam Cui said nothing, only glancing at Lang Jiu-chuan. Her fingers, tucked into her sleeves, curled tightly.

Lang Jiu-chuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. *The Gong family... a Dao Root?*