Chapter Nineteen: The Turning of the Tide

The cold wind howled, the candle flames flickered, as if an invisible hand were stirring the nerves of everyone present. Wanqing Qu’s palms were slick with cold sweat, yet her gaze remained resolute, showing no hint of retreat. Still, when Steward Feng attempted to weave his excuses, a fleeting moment of doubt crossed her mind, worried that the evidence might be insufficient. But she quickly steeled her resolve and pressed on with her questioning. Behind her, Yu Jiang stood like a towering mountain, shielding her from all storms.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows—it was Steward Feng, the old master He’s butler. A hypocritical smile played on his lips, but his tone carried a warning: “Madam, it’s late and the atmosphere here is heavy with dark energy. You’d better return and rest.”

“Rest?” Wanqing sneered coldly. “Feng, how lightly you speak. The hall is haunted, yet you urge me to leave. Are you not afraid something might actually happen to me?”

Feng’s expression flickered, but he quickly regained his composure. “Madam, you jest. There are no such things as ghosts—merely tricks conjured by charlatans.”

“Tricks?” Wanqing pressed on relentlessly. “Then explain why Taoist Liu was playing tricks in the hall. And why was he so terrified?”

Feng’s eyes darted before he responded, “Perhaps Taoist Liu’s conscience haunts him, and he’s scaring himself.”

“Haunted conscience?” Wanqing drew a note from her sleeve, trembling slightly in the chilling wind. The writing seemed to gleam with a piercing coldness. “Feng, what do you make of this?”

Feng took the note as if it had burned him, his hand instantly paling. The note read boldly: “Taoist Liu, first day of every month, hour of the pig, west wing room.”

“This… this is…” Feng stammered, unable to speak.

“I found this on Taoist Liu,” Wanqing’s voice turned icy. “It details your secret meetings with him. Still want to deny it, Feng?”

Feng’s face turned leaden, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He hadn’t expected Wanqing to uncover such damning proof.

The atmosphere stiffened, taut as a string ready to snap. Master Qin watched with furrowed brows, deep in thought.

Feng clenched his teeth, glaring viciously at Wanqing. “You…”

“Enough!” Master Qin cut him off sharply, stroking his beard as his gaze locked onto Feng’s. “I had my doubts, but now it’s clear—this haunting is linked to you!” His sudden shift stunned the crowd; Feng looked as if he’d swallowed a fly.

What had seemed a sure victory now turned on its head as the crowd murmured in suspicion, their eyes filled with doubt. Sweat dripped from Feng’s forehead as he opened his mouth, but no words came.

Wanqing’s lips curved slightly, giving Yu Jiang a look that said, “Everything’s under control.” Jiang nodded subtly, admiration shining in his eyes—no wonder she was the woman he chose; this counterattack was brilliant.

“If Steward Feng refuses to explain, then I will find the answers myself.” Wanqing scanned the room, her gaze settling on a mural in the corner of the hall.

She approached, tracing the carved lines gently. A strange sensation rose within her.

“This… is not right,” she murmured, eyes closed, focusing on the spiritual energy around her.

Suddenly, she snapped her eyes open and pointed at the mural. “There’s a secret chamber here!”

The crowd’s reactions varied—surprise, skepticism, curiosity.

Excitement spread among the onlookers; they craned their necks to see.

Ignoring them, Wanqing carefully searched the mural, following the clues in her mind until she pressed a hidden mechanism. With a soft click and a faint tremor, the mural slowly slid aside, revealing a dark entrance.

“Wanqing, be careful!” Yu Jiang called out, concern evident.

Wanqing gave him a reassuring glance and stepped into the secret chamber without hesitation.

Darkness swallowed her instantly, leaving only the tense breaths and eager gazes of those outside.

“Wait for me!” unexpectedly, Ma Pozi, from nowhere, mustered courage and followed into the chamber.

Moments later, a scream pierced the air from within: “Ahhh—!”

Inside, Wanqing gripped her candle tightly, its faint glow illuminating her surroundings. Strange talismans hung on the walls; odd bottles and paper charms lay scattered across the floor.

Her eyes fixed on an old wooden box in the corner. Approaching it, she gently opened the lid to reveal sealed letters and a yellowed notebook.

“These…” Wanqing quickly flipped through the letters, each exposing the conspiracy between Master He and Taoist Liu, revealing how Master He manipulated supernatural rumors to control minds.

Her heart pounded, fury rising. She clenched the notebook—Master He’s own handwriting chronicling how he orchestrated the hauntings and their connection to her impending second marriage crisis.

“Wanqing, found anything?” Yu Jiang’s voice echoed from the chamber’s mouth, tinged with urgency.

“Found it!” Wanqing took a deep breath, slipping the evidence into her sleeve and turning toward the exit.

Ma Pozi followed closely, her face still shaken but her eyes now shining with determination.

When they emerged, the crowd buzzed in an uproar.

Master He stood amidst them, his fake smile faltering as he caught sight of Wanqing’s evidence. His face drained of color.

“Master He, what do you have to say for yourself?” Wanqing demanded loudly. She first addressed the crowd: “Do you still believe Master He is innocent?” Then, holding up the letters and notes, she revealed, “These prove Master He colluded with Taoist Liu to fabricate hauntings, manipulate people, ruin my reputation, and sabotage my second marriage.” With each piece of evidence unveiled, she challenged him: “Master He, how do you explain your monthly meetings with Taoist Liu in the west wing at the hour of the pig?”

Master He’s eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly masked it with a cold sneer. “These are slanders! You villains dare to wrong me!”

“Is that so?” Wanqing sneered, handing the letters to Master Qin. “Master Qin, look closely—this records everything.”

Master Qin took the letters, reading intently. His expression darkened, and he sighed deeply. “Master He, the evidence is undeniable. What do you say now?”

Master He’s face grew more ghastly. He roared bitterly, “You lowly scum, how dare you frame me!”

“Frame?” Wanqing’s voice dripped with scorn. “Master He, you alone bear the guilt.”

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the hall, causing the candles to flicker wildly. The eerie energy seemed to stir, threatening to erupt.

The crowd recoiled in fear, but Yu Jiang stood firm before Wanqing. Though inwardly worried about his limits, he gritted his teeth and unleashed his spiritual power to resist the supernatural assault.

“Wanqing, step back!” he urged, shielding her with a surge of energy that pushed back the dark force.

Though fierce, the attack was ultimately dissipated by Yu Jiang’s unwavering defense.

He looked back at Wanqing with steadfast tenderness. “I won’t let anything harm you.”

Tears shimmered in Wanqing’s eyes as she whispered, “Thank you, Jiang.”

The crowd, moved by Yu Jiang’s courage and determination, grew more accepting of their bond.

Master He paled further, realizing the situation was beyond salvage, consumed by regret and bitterness over his defeat.

Wanqing drew a deep breath and declared loudly, “There is only one truth. Today, I will expose the true culprit for all to see!”

Master He trembled, despair filling his gaze.

Slowly, Wanqing advanced, evidence in hand like a sharp blade piercing his heart.

She revealed the contents of the letters and notes to all, each word striking like thunder in the ears of the assembly.

The conspiracy between Master He and Taoist Liu to fabricate hauntings, manipulate minds, ruin Wanqing’s reputation, and obstruct her second marriage was laid bare for all to witness.

The crowd erupted in outrage, denouncing Master He’s despicable deeds.

“How dare you, Master He, stooping to such treachery!”

“I respected you all this time, never thought you were capable of this!”

“You never truly reveal your heart!”

Taoist Liu and Steward Feng became pariahs, reviled by everyone.

Master Qin stroked his beard, lamenting bitterly, “You’ve lost your way! Such deeds bring shame upon your ancestors!”

Master He stood defeated and pale, like a beaten rooster, unable to utter another word.

His schemes had backfired spectacularly.

With the truth revealed, Wanqing’s stature soared, and all former misunderstandings of her vanished.

She was no longer the “jinx” they accused her of, but a brave, intelligent woman daring to confront evil.

Yu Jiang looked at her with pride and love, gently taking her hand. “Wanqing, you did very well.”

Wanqing returned a tender smile, their bond strengthened by the ordeal.

The haunting incident was now closed; justice had been served and evil punished.

Yet Wanqing knew this was merely the first step in her comeback.

Though her second marriage crisis had been temporarily averted, were there other forces behind Master He?

What would become of her long-standing feud with the He family?

Late at night, Wanqing stood by the window, gazing at the distant stars, a complex light flickering in her eyes.