Chapter 18: The Peach Blossom Immortal

After the four entered the room, they noticed an overwhelming sense of tranquility. The atmosphere was serene and peaceful, with the scent of medicinal herbs wafting through the air, invigorating their senses.

By the window, Taoyu sat sideways in a wheelchair, her hands folded on her lap. Her face was deeply wrinkled, her eyelids drooping heavily over her eyes so much that they were almost invisible. However, the blood-red mole at the corner of her eye stood out vividly against her dry, aged skin.

Di Jiang could feel her gaze slowly sweeping over them. After a moment, she shifted her eyes away, turning her head to look at the rain falling outside the window.

Clearly, apart from Wen Yao, no one in the room wanted conflict. Di Jiang shot her a warning glance, and Wen Yao dared not make any rash moves. For now, all four of them appeared humble and respectful.

"Grand Madam, is that you, Taoyu?" Wu Rui’an asked uncertainly. He had only seen her unconscious before, and now here she was, sitting properly in the chair. Though she looked frail and old, her spirit seemed lively. This astonished him greatly.

"Yes," the Grand Madam nodded. Though her tone carried the weight of countless vicissitudes, it was full of strength—quite unlike that of an ordinary elder.

"Did you kill everyone in Yangchun Manor?" Wu Rui’an asked urgently.

Taoyu did not answer but continued to gaze at the falling rain outside the window. After a long while, she slowly spoke: "Once spring arrives, the rain never seems to end, continuous and unbroken, gathering at the foot of the mountain to create a misty, lingering haze. My legs are not what they used to be, and my clothes and bedding remain damp year-round, rather uncomfortable. In earlier years, servants took care of me, and life was tolerable. But as the number of servants dwindled, the bedding wasn't changed as frequently. Others complained, but... I still love this weather the most. Do you know why?"

Di Jiang shook her head and said, "Please enlighten us, Grand Madam."

"The reason is quite laughable. It's because only in such weather does Master return early." A faint smile graced the Grand Madam’s face. She paused for a moment before continuing, "When Master was alive, he was almost always away on business, sometimes gone for half a month, other times for half a year without returning even once. Even when he came back to Taiping Prefecture, he wouldn't stay home to keep me company. He had endless social obligations. I knew he made friends widely to search for my sister. Practically everyone who knew him was aware that he had a beloved first wife, whom he searched for over fifty years."

The four listened quietly, none interrupting.

The Grand Madam then continued: "His marriage to me was not his intention. Those days, perhaps he mistook me for my sister and consummated our union… He had no choice but to marry me. But in the subsequent years, he regretted it every moment. Once a devoted man, within three years of marrying me, he took six concubines and one secondary wife. Every day, he devised ways to retaliate against me, humiliate me."

The rain outside grew heavier, and the fragrance of Su Xiang pervaded the room. Yet, the more Di Jiang listened, the colder her heart became. Her heart trembled, suddenly feeling that the person before her shared the same desolation as Old Lord Meng.

"But no matter how he treated me, I still loved him. Just seeing him would make me happy. Every day, I sat in the highest pavilion of Yangchun Manor, watching over the courtyard. Whenever Master returned, I was always the first to see him. I guarded my love until he passed away, and then I guarded this house for him. But in the end, what was I guarding? I guarded this house but couldn’t hold onto his heart. I am so tired…”

"…"

The room fell into silence after these words.

After a long while, Di Jiang finally asked: "Was it you who sealed his soul?"

"Yes," Taoyu nodded. "He refused to pass away, so I had no choice but to do this."

"Why?"

"Yangchun Manor was the fruit of their lifelong efforts. I couldn’t let it fall into ruin. At that time, rumors had already spread throughout the capital, saying that Old Lord Meng was haunted by evil spirits, disturbing his descendants’ peace. Some even claimed he was a man-eating demon. That was something I didn’t want to see."

"So you invited a high-ranking monk to imprison him in the porcelain vase in the Buddha Hall?"

"Yes, if I hadn’t done so, he would have suffered daily torment from thousands of biting insects for fifty years."

"What exactly did he do?"

"He sought the elixir of immortality from a sorcerer in the southern tribes. The elixir required a blood curse, which stated he must see his sister again; otherwise, he would never die. But is that called immortality? If tormented daily by thousands of biting insects, I doubt I’d want to live even a moment. But he never complained, never cried out in pain. With sheer willpower, he endured for three years. During those three years, unwilling to see him suffer, I tried countless methods to end his life, but none worked. His willpower was too strong, even beyond my ability to undo."

"So you forcefully sealed his three souls and seven spirits, freeing him from physical suffering," Di Jiang said indifferently.

"That’s correct." The Grand Madam nodded.

Di Jiang sighed softly and said mournfully, "You must have loved Old Lord Meng very much. Lady Taoyuan loved him so deeply, and being by his side every day, how could you not love him? Your heart must have been deeply rooted in affection."

"It’s such a simple truth that even an outsider like you understands, but he doesn’t." The Grand Madam caressed the back of her hand, her face bitter.

At this point, a light chuckle was heard from Wen Yao beside her. The Grand Madam glanced at her and ceased speaking. Wen Yao laughed for a while, unable to contain herself, and burst into loud laughter.

“What are you laughing at?” Di Jiang asked.

“I’m laughing at her.” Wen Yao pointed at the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam’s face turned cold, and she asked icily, “What do you mean?”

“I don’t mean anything. I just find your hypocrisy shameful.” Wen Yao laughed loudly. “You portray yourself as a lovesick person. Isn’t that amusing? You just want him to stay with you. You found this method of eternal life, yet you’re crying wolf.”

After Wen Yao finished, the Grand Madam unfolded her hands from her lap. She ignored Wen Yao, finding no need to engage with her.

She wheeled her chair around to face Di Jiang and asked, “Who exactly are you?”

“A doctor.”

“A doctor? How could a mere doctor know so much?” The Grand Madam sneered and raised her hand. Instantly, all the doors and windows closed tightly, plunging the room into darkness despite it not yet being evening. The atmosphere became even eerier and colder than before.

“What do you intend to do, Grand Madam?” Di Jiang remained motionless in the darkness, still smiling calmly, appearing unfazed.

The Grand Madam Taoyu was the same, speaking lightly, “You know too much. I can’t let you live.”

“I advise the Grand Madam to stop creating more killings,” Di Jiang shook her head and said thoughtfully, “Lay down your weapon and repent.”

“Hmph, repent? How could I turn back? The grave mistake has already been made, and I can only walk this path to the end. Perhaps… there might still be a glimmer of hope.”

“What have you done to Lady Taoyuan?” Wen Yao exclaimed anxiously.

“If you go down to join her, you’ll know,” the Grand Madam said. Suddenly, a ball of green ghost fire erupted from her hand, rushing straight toward Di Jiang’s face.

Wu Rui’an was instantly petrified. Having always lived in the imperial palace protected by royal aura, he had never witnessed such a scene. He stood frozen as if time had stopped, unmoving.

Di Jiang also stood still, showing no intention of dodging.

Just as Taoyu smirked, thinking Di Jiang was surely doomed, a loud clang rang out. A blood-red sword landed firmly before her, its tip embedded in the ground, forming a wall of sword qi in front of Di Jiang.

Upon contact with the sword qi, the green fire dispersed, smashing the decorations inside the room to pieces. Even the places touched by the ghost fire began to melt slowly.

“Such strong resentment,” Di Jiang murmured, her mouth slightly agape, looking incredulous.

“Such intense hatred means the murderer must be her. Her hands are stained with so much blood that her death is justified!” After Wen Yao spoke, Zhong Xu, as if receiving an order, lifted his longsword and thrust it directly into Taoyu’s heart.

Black blood seeped along the sword’s tip from Taoyu’s heart. When Zhong Xu pulled out the longsword, it gushed forth, flooding the floor with black liquid, emitting a nauseating stench.

“Hmph, Meng Zichang will never see her again,” Taoyu’s mouth also overflowed with black liquid, dripping like ink. The air was filled with a foul odor. Di Jiang glimpsed Zhong Xu’s sword being withdrawn, and even her heart had turned pitch black.

“Whether they meet or not is not up to you,” Di Jiang said.

Summoning her last ounce of strength, Taoyu sneered, “Even in death, I won’t tell you where she is.”

“I don’t need you to tell me. I already know where she is.”

“What!” Upon hearing this, Taoyu’s veins bulged immediately, her eyes protruded, and her face revealed a shocked expression for the first time.

Seeing this, Wen Yao laughed loudly, “You’re not afraid of death or loneliness. The only thing you fear is Meng Zichang and Lady Taoyuan meeting again, right? You wicked woman, committing countless heinous acts, this is your retribution!”

Taoyu smiled bitterly, her eyes filled with desolation.

If Meng Zichang and Taoyuan met again, it would mean her eternal curse had been broken.

She coughed up black blood and muttered hatefully, “The one thing I shouldn’t have done was spare your life!”

“Spare my life?” Di Jiang asked in confusion.

“Heh, you don’t need to think too much about it. At this point, I can’t turn back. No regrets, no grievances!”

“You were wrong from the start,” Di Jiang sighed. “True love is mutual. You were merely indulging in unrequited love, driven by greed, anger, ignorance, attachment, and hatred, clinging to life even in death.”

“Hmph… so what? In this lifetime, having them as companions in death brings me great peace of mind!” After Taoyu finished speaking, her eyes widened, and she stopped breathing. A wisp of green smoke rose from her body and dissipated into the air, leaving no trace behind.

Wu Rui’an and Zhong Xu immediately went to inspect her body, but before they could touch her, several clattering sounds were heard. Di Jiang had pushed open the door and walked out.

“What did she mean by sparing your life?” Wen Yao asked, puzzled.

“That feather might be a clue she left behind,” Di Jiang said and walked out.

The rain outside had stopped without notice. The setting sun cast a ray of light on the Grand Madam, and she instantly dissolved into a pool of black water. In the center of the black water lay a bundle of withered peach branches.

The peach branches floated in the black water. As the wind blew, they drifted away like smoke into the air, leaving no trace behind…