Jiang Tingjun fell asleep after taking his medicine, but they feared he wasn’t well. Aunt Jinlan had the physician prepare another dose and instructed Ye Yunniang to drink it.
"I’m not sick," Ye Yunniang resisted.
"The young master is too small—medicine would harm him. You drink it, and he’ll receive it through your milk," Jinlan said, placing the bowl in front of her.
All medicine carries some poison, and Ye Yunniang didn’t want to drink it.
But under Aunt Jinlan’s watchful gaze, she had no choice but to lift the bowl and swallow the bitter concoction.
She took the teacup handed by Hong Cai to rinse her mouth.
"I’ll go watch over the young master," Ye Yunniang said, unwilling to stay longer with Aunt Jinlan. She turned and entered the inner chamber, ignoring the older woman’s displeased stare.
After all, she wouldn’t be staying much longer anyway.
Ye Yunniang sat by the bed and reached out to check Jiang Tingjun’s diaper.
It was slightly damp.
She poured warm water from the kettle and set it aside.
Covering Jiang Tingjun’s upper body with a small blanket, she lifted the covers and changed his diaper.
After wiping him clean, she wrapped him in a fresh one and tucked him back in.
Wah—
Jiang Tingjun began crying again.
Ye Yunniang picked him up to soothe him, but his cries only grew louder, his little body trembling as if terrified.
Hearing the noise, Aunt Jinlan entered and reached out to touch Jiang Tingjun.
His trembling stopped, but his cries continued.
Aunt Jinlan took hold of Jiang Tingjun’s hand.
Standing close, Ye Yunniang caught the scent of sandalwood on her again.
She had smelled it often during temple visits with Cai Damei.
Suddenly, Ye Yunniang remembered what the midwife back in her hometown had said:
"A child’s eyes are the purest—they can see things adults cannot." Recalling yesterday’s incident in the garden, she shuddered involuntarily.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Gh—ghosts… ghosts!" Ye Yunniang’s teeth chattered.
Clang!
Hong Cai’s teacup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
A drop of water splashed onto Ye Yunniang’s hand.
Startled, she nearly dropped Jiang Tingjun.
Giggle—
The baby suddenly laughed.
Ye Yunniang froze, slowly turning her head to look at the laughing child in her arms.
Jiang Tingjun blinked his large eyes at her. Normally, it would have been endearing, but now, it sent chills down her spine.
She glanced back at Aunt Jinlan.
The woman’s expression remained calm, utterly unreadable.
"If you’ve done nothing wrong, why fear ghosts?"
The words instantly eased Ye Yunniang’s panic.
"Ah, ah, again!" Jiang Tingjun reached for her, wanting her to repeat whatever had amused him.
Ye Yunniang didn’t dare.
The baby’s lips quivered, on the verge of another wail.
"Young master, let me hold you," Aunt Jinlan offered, but Jiang Tingjun refused, clinging to Ye Yunniang and crying louder.
Ye Yunniang thought desperately, Young master, please, just let Aunt Jinlan take you.
But no one heard her silent plea. She could only stiffly rock him up and down, trying to soothe him.
By dawn, her arms felt like they no longer belonged to her.
Ye Yunniang was half-carried back to Zhiyu Pavilion by Hong Cai and another maid.
Once in bed, the two left. Li’er moved to close the door behind them.
"Don’t shut it," Ye Yunniang rasped. Please, don’t close it.
"Rest, sister. I’ll guard the door," Li’er said, sensing her unease. She remained outside, keeping watch.
Ye Yunniang watched her, then the sunlight filtering into the room, before finally closing her eyes.
In her dream, she wandered the garden searching for the young master. Step by step, she reached the pond.
A faceless woman emerged from the water, floating toward her.
"You saw it, didn’t you?"
"Why didn’t you save me?"
"Give me your life—"
"It wasn’t me! I knew nothing! Ah—!" Ye Yunniang jolted awake with a scream, gasping for air.
Li’er rushed to her bedside.
Drenched in sweat, Ye Yunniang panted, her face deathly pale.
"Sister, what’s wrong?"
"I—" She took two deep breaths. "A nightmare."
"Dreams aren’t real," Li’er reassured, handing her a cup of water.
Ye Yunniang drank it, steadying herself.
It was just a dream. That woman—I didn’t kill her. I told Dongqing everything I knew.
Her death was for the masters of the household to handle. It had nothing to do with Ye Yunniang.
Comforted, she let Li’er help her change into fresh clothes. After lunch, she headed to Fanghua Courtyard.
There, Jiang Tingjun was wailing.
Chunyao tried to soothe him, exhaustion plain in her eyes.
The moment Ye Yunniang entered, the child was thrust into her arms.
But no matter how she tried, he wouldn’t stop crying.
When her arms grew tired, she passed him back to Chunyao.
They took turns, but nothing worked.
Finally, Aunt Jinlan shared her suspicion with Fourth Madam Jiang—the child might be haunted.
Fourth Madam Jiang immediately sent for Blind Zhang, the most renowned mystic in Jiangcheng.
Blind Zhang wasn’t completely sightless; he could still see somewhat.
Unaided, he entered Fanghua Courtyard and first examined Jiang Tingjun in Ye Yunniang’s arms.
The baby continued to cry.
After observing him, Blind Zhang lifted his head, scanning the surroundings.
"Has someone in this household recently suffered a miscarriage?"
Fourth Madam Jiang and Jiang Mingrui exchanged glances. "Yes," Jiang Mingrui admitted.
"A six-month-old, fully formed male child," Blind Zhang stated with certainty.
"How did you know, master?" Fourth Madam Jiang had seen the tiny body in Qushui Courtyard.
"He resents being denied life. His spirit lingers here. When the young master passed Qushui Courtyard in the garden, the child…"
Blind Zhang left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear.
"Master Zhang, please save my son," Fourth Madam Jiang pleaded.
The mystic remained silent.
Realizing, she swiftly had a tray of silver ingots brought out. "A humble token of gratitude. More will follow once my son recovers."
Blind Zhang glanced at the tray, satisfied. From his robe, he produced a triangular yellow paper sachet.
"Cut a lock of the young master’s hair and place it inside. At midnight, burn it at the garden path where he played. Also burn a set of his unwashed, worn clothing."
"I’ll do it myself," Fourth Madam Jiang said, accepting the sachet.
"You cannot. She must be the one." Blind Zhang pointed at Ye Yunniang, still holding Jiang Tingjun.
"Why her, master?"
"As the wet nurse, she carries the child’s essence most strongly. Only she can lure the spirit away."
"I’ll go." Though terrified, Ye Yunniang looked at Jiang Tingjun’s thin, exhausted face and found her courage.
Blind Zhang then calculated two birthdates compatible with hers and assigned them as her companions for the task.
With others by her side, her fear lessened.
