Bai Xifeng was mid-sip when the words left Xiao Li's mouth, causing her to choke on her water. She sputtered and coughed as Xiao Li rushed to her side, frantically patting her back to help her recover.
"Are you alright, Young Miss? Please, take it slow!" Xiao Li cried out, her face pale with worry.
"I'm... I'm fine." Bai Xifeng managed to say, catching her breath and wiping her mouth. She leaned back, a dry, cynical smile forming on her lips. "Possessed by something unclean? Is that really the best they could come up with?"
"Yes, Young Miss. It's spreading like wildfire. It seems everyone in the mansion is whispering about it behind your back." Xiao Li nodded solemnly.
Bai Xifeng let out a weary sigh. Inwardly, she found the irony amusing. If she actually had the ability to simply leave this body and depart from this troublesome world, she would have packed her bags long ago.
"So, what else are the gossips saying?" Bai Xifeng asked, her tone indifferent.
"I don't know all the specifics yet." Xiao Li admitted, lowering her voice. "But the servants mentioned that the Old Madam and the Second Madam are planning to 'handle' the situation themselves."
"That old hag must have finally noticed that I'm not the same pushover I used to be." Bai Xifeng mused, her eyes narrowing. "Well, let them plot. We'll just wait and see what kind of performance they put on next."
Meanwhile, in the elegantly decorated dining hall of the main estate, a far more sinister conversation was unfolding.
"Mother, the monk I've commissioned will be arriving at the estate late tonight." Han Yunru said smoothly, her voice dripping with artificial grace.
She was currently sharing a lavish lunch with her mother-in-law, the Old Madam. She knew the timing was perfect to discuss their plan to eliminate the "nuisance" in the third courtyard.
"Good. It is about time." Old Madam Bai replied, her expression hardening. "I heard that the girl actually had the audacity to slap one of Chunhua's high-ranking maids yesterday. Such insolence cannot go unpunished."
"It's true, Mother. Poor Chunhua only wanted to offer her sister some guidance and goodwill, but Xifeng rejected her kindness with violence," Han Yunru reported, successfully twisting the narrative to favor her own daughter.
"That little wretch has become increasingly unbearable these past few days." The Old Madam grumbled. She was still nursing a grudge over the large sum of money she had been forced to hand over as back-allowance. "She is a thorn in my side."
"Which is why I am positive that her sudden change in temperament is the work of an evil spirit..." Han Yunru whispered, leaning in closer.
"Where exactly did you find this monk? Is he reputable?" The Old Madam questioned, wanting to ensure their scheme was foolproof.
"He hails from the Monshuki Temple at the summit of Tensei Mountain. He is renowned throughout the province for his prowess in exorcising even the most stubborn demonic entities." Han Yunru explained, a cold glint in her eyes.
"Excellent." The Old Madam nodded, a satisfied smirk touching her lips. "Make sure the rumors spread even further. We need to ensure the royal family hears every sordid detail. The Emperor will never allow someone tainted by an evil spirit to marry into the golden bloodline. This will force them to reconsider the engagement entirely."
"Rest assured, Mother, I am already seeing to it." Han Yunru smiled.
She had already dispatched her most trusted maids into the capital to sow the seeds of the scandal. By now, the commoners and nobles alike were likely dissecting the "madness" of Bai Xifeng over their tea.
It would not be long before the palace caught wind of the disgrace. Once the Crown Prince's engagement was annulled, the path would be clear for her own daughter to take her rightful place. Her ultimate dream was to see Chunhua crowned as the future Empress, and she would destroy anyone who stood in the way of that ambition.
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