The Jin Shanyao its Spiritual Power, which shot straight into Master Ji's study. With a loud bang, a hidden door was blasted open in the otherwise intact wall.
Several oil lamps cast a dim yellow light on the dark room, and the plaques commemorating the descendants of the Ji Household on the altar were shaken and collapsed in a row.
The birth date and time of birth, along with the life-saving period, were prominently displayed beneath the plaque, clearly visible to everyone.
The Jin Shanyao its powerful and domineering Spiritual Power, shattering the Life-Borrowing Incantation into pieces.
Master Ji was struck by the backlash of the curse and coughed up a mouthful of blood. His once full cheeks instantly became shriveled, and deep lines appeared around his eyes and lips. His hair turned from black to white.
Everyone gasped in shock. The Old Madam Ji had just been shouting for a fight, suddenly fainted. The Ji Household stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.
They always thought their father looked young because he took good care of himself, never imagining that he would borrow the lifespan of his descendants.
First Madam Ji was the first to react. She rushed into the dark room like a madwoman, scrambling up the altar, picked up the memorial tablets of her three sons, and began to wail. But the next moment, behind the altar, she saw the memorial tablet of her deceased husband.
Her eyes were bloodshot, half her body squeezed into the narrow gap, and she wailed "husband"... but her hands kept reaching for the memorial tablet.
Second Madam Ji stood in the middle of the dark room, pacing back and forth in a daze, until she saw the memorial tablets of her daughter and husband. Only then did the words "borrowed life" break through the barrier and invade her entire mind.
She grabbed the memorial tablet and ran towards Ji Xianbai, "Husband... husband, look! Your life has been taken!"
Ji Xianbai staggered from the impact, coughing violently while covering his mouth. He felt his palm get wet, and when he opened it, he saw that he had coughed up blood.
Second Madam Ji screamed in fright, "Husband... have you used up all your lifespan? Are you going to die? Don't scare me like that..."
The Ji Household was in chaos. Ji Xiansong suddenly realized what was happening. He looked at Qiao Qingran and saw her holding her memorial tablet and walking step by step toward Jin Shanyao.
His eyes flashed with malice... "Fifteen thousand taels, and I'll make him vanish from the face of his soul."
Jin Shanyao's heart trembled violently. Fifteen thousand taels of silver—a mountain floated past her eyes. Jin Shanyao at the loss of her beloved, was filled with sorrow in her eyes.
She shook her head bitterly; some money was simply not meant for her.
Ji Xiansong walked step by step to Master Ji's side, his eyes filled with sorrow, "Father... why is this happening? We are your own sons."
Knowing that the situation was hopeless, Master Ji stopped pretending and looked at Qiao Qingran with venomous eyes, "If I had known that Ji Xiansong would marry a wicked woman like you, I should have taken his life first."
"Father..." Ji Xiansong's voice was shrill and desperate.
Master Ji snarled, "What are you shouting for? As children, we should prioritize filial piety! I gave you life, raised you, provided you with fine clothes and food, and helped you study and enter officialdom. Your life was given to you by me."
I only lent you a few years of my lifespan, and you're yelling at me like that. I'm your father, you ungrateful wretch, always siding with outsiders."
Clutching the First Madam Ji lunged at Master Ji like a madwoman, crying, "Give me back my husband's life! Give me back my child's life!"
"Get out... you shrew! You can live a life of vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures without me!" he said, looking at the Ji Household members and roaring like a madman. "Without me, you can wear gold and silver, have no worries about food and drink, have servants at home, and ride in carriages when you go out."
Do you really think that the Aristocratic Clan families are on good terms with you because of your personal charm? It's because of me... because of me, a third-rank official. Everything you have is thanks to me.
My longevity is the foundation of the Ji Household's longevity. Can't we have another son? It's not like we don't have women... Look at your expressions, you all look like your fathers have died.
A bunch of good-for-nothings. If even one of you had any backbone, I wouldn't be stuck in this old age, still dealing with court intrigues.
Master Ji spread his hands, looked around, and said, "I originally wanted to climb to the position of a first-rank official and give you all a hand, but now look what's happened, everything's ruined... You've ruined the entire Ji Household, how can you face the ancestors of the Ji Household?"
Master Ji was still going on and on... Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci felt a chill run down their spines.
Meng Anzhi murmured to herself, "What exactly is filial piety?"
"Respect your parents, please your parents, establish yourself morally, offer advice and remonstrance..." Meng Anci recited dryly.
He felt that everything he saw was completely different from what was written in the book, and he was utterly confused.
Jin Shanyao explained, " Master Ji treats his children as his slaves and possessions, calculating every penny he invests and every return."
If children dare to rebel in the slightest, they are considered unfilial descendants, ungrateful wretches.
Such a selfish and cold-hearted father will never love his children; he will only endlessly plunder them.
This is an isolated case, and it differs from what is written in the book. You only need to know that not all parents in this world love their children.
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci blankly, meaning that nothing is absolute.
When Old General Fu arrived, Lu Chi had already escorted Master Ji to the palace.
He slapped his thigh in anger. Fu Congzhao was so stubborn; he didn't know to inform his family first before going to the Prefect of the Capital.
He moved closer to Jin Shanyao, nearly blinded by the brilliance of her yellow robe. "Miss Jin, things haven't been peaceful in my family lately. Could you come and take a look?"
Jin Shanyao at him sideways. "That old rascal is wicked. The Fu Household are military men, with a heavy history of killings. Even vengeful ghosts dare not approach them. And now he's telling her that his house is unclean."
She can't see through people's hearts, humph... Jin Shanyao her head to the side. No wonder he's Old Madam Su's brother, his mind is as full of tricks as a hornet's nest.
Seeing that Jin Shanyao ignoring him, Old General Fu grabbed his grandson and pushed him over. Fu Congzhao coughed twice, leaned in front of Jin Shanyao, and shouted loudly.
"I think your talismans are incredibly powerful, unmatched by anyone. Your Daoist magic is superb; you destroyed the Ji Household's stronghold in a single strike. You're definitely not a fraud."
Jin Shanyao her eyes, which lit up, and said excitedly, "You really think so?"
Fu Congzhao nodded, took out a handful of silver notes without even looking at the amount, and stuffed them directly into Jin Shanyao's hand, "Miss Jin, I like you."
Jin Shanyao grasped Fu Congzhao's hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears, " Congzhao... I cherish you too."
As Fu Congheng watched his grandfather's eyes fill with tears, and then looked at Jin Shanyao and his cousin, he felt he should do something.
So he stepped forward and mustered his courage, saying, "Miss Jin, your talismans are incredibly powerful, unmatched by anyone. I admire you greatly."
Jin Shanyao looked at Fu Congheng eagerly... but there was no response for a long time... What's wrong with that??? Just curious???? Never mind, Jin Shanyao immediately turned her head and continued to stare at Fu Congzhao.
" Zhao'er... true friends are hard to find, we will never be apart."
Fu Congzhao nodded, blushing, "Never apart."
Old General Fu and Fu Congxi pulled out handkerchiefs to wipe their tears, "It's so touching..."
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci stared at Fu Congzhao with pity in their eyes. Sigh... another confidant.
With the matter settled, Jin Shanyao prepared to settle the bill and leave. " Madam Qiao, five thousand taels to eliminate any future trouble."
Despite the significant changes in the Ji Household, Qiao Qingran remained clear-headed. "Miss Jin, how did the agreed-upon ten thousand taels become five thousand taels?"
" Madam Qiao, Ji Chengye has been imprisoned by the imperial court." She used a borrowed knife to kill him, so it can't be considered that she did it herself.
Qiao Qingran smiled brightly, "Miss Jin, the price of ten thousand taels that we agreed on beforehand... not a penny less."
After saying this, he told Nanny Qi to take out the ten thousand taels he had prepared and handed them to her, saying, "In business, you must uphold the spirit of contracts. Although you didn't kill Ji Chengye with your own hands, you sent him to his death."
She wasn't sure if he would live or die if he fell into someone else's hands, but Lu Chi was different; he was the Crown Prince's man.