Shen Mingshu entered the room, first inspecting the teapot before rummaging through the bed.
She checked the corners of the room as well but found nothing amiss.
Since Shen Xiyan had come in, it was impossible she hadn’t left something behind.
Crossing her arms, Shen Mingshu surveyed the entire room when she suddenly thought of Yue Ying.
She looked up and spotted a yellow corner of paper peeking out from the roof beam. Though only a small part was visible, she was certain it was a talisman.
It was too high for her to reach, so she called Yue Ying over.
With a light tap of her toes, Yue Ying leaped up and peeled off the talisman.
Shen Mingshu held it in her hand, examining it. The spiritual patterns were drawn haphazardly, clearly the work of an amateur.
But that didn’t stop this puppet talisman from being effective.
Clutching the talisman, Shen Mingshu hatched a plan.
Yun Niang asked with concern, “What is this?”
“Nothing, just a talisman, and it happens to be useful to me.” Shen Mingshu smiled and tucked the talisman into the small pouch at her waist.
Talismans were certainly more convenient, pre-drawn and ready to carry. Later, she’d have to buy some yellow paper and cinnabar.
After packing up, she headed downstairs and asked, “Aunt Fan, where in town can I buy cinnabar and brushes?”
Fan Fangfang, knowing she was a mystic, quickly pointed in a direction. “There’s a shop over there that sells them.”
Shen Mingshu jogged over and bought a stack of yellow paper, a jar of cinnabar, and the cheapest brush available.
The Fan residence wasn’t far. The group crossed the bustling street, turned a corner, and arrived.
Pei Jingheng had ultimately put on a veil hat, after all, with so many people around, it was best to avoid being recognized by those secretly tracking him, lest he bring trouble to the Fan family.
The Fan family’s courtyard wasn’t particularly lavish, but it was still considered well-off in this town.
Fan Fangfang arranged for them to stay in a small courtyard with two rooms, enough for the men and women to separate.
Servants brought over bedding, and Fan Fangfang helped Yun Niang tidy up the bed. “Rest for a while. I’ll go inform my father, and we’ll have lunch together later.”
Yun Niang nodded. “Alright, thank you for your trouble.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all!” Fan Fangfang turned with a smile, her plump face still bearing traces of her youthful beauty.
Shen Mingshu closed the door and immediately took out the yellow paper and cinnabar to start drawing talismans.
First, she drew a few protection talismans, these were what Yun Niang and Pei Jingheng needed most.
A knock came at the door. Yun Niang opened it to find Pei Jingheng. “Young Master Pei, Shenshen is busy right now.”
Pei Jingheng gave a slight nod. “I’ll wait inside for her.”
The room was small, without even a screen divider. As soon as he entered, he saw Shen Mingshu sitting at the table, brush in hand, drawing something.
Pei Jingheng walked over and noticed several completed talismans on the table.
The spiritual patterns on them were familiar, they matched the protection talisman Master Qing Xuan had once given him.
Without looking up, Shen Mingshu said, “These protection talismans are for you.”
Her brush never paused as she spoke, the cinnabar lines flowing smoothly in a single stroke.
Pei Jingheng was surprised. In the short time he’d been standing there, she had already drawn two talismans, each completed in one unbroken motion.
When she paused again, he asked softly, “Don’t you get tired drawing talismans?”
He remembered Master Qing Xuan saying that mystics expended their spiritual energy when drawing talismans, making it exhausting work. Moreover, they had to focus completely, free of any distractions, otherwise, the talismans might end up useless.
Shen Mingshu tilted her head to glance at him, her exquisite phoenix eyes sparkling: “Not tired at all! These beginner spirit talismans are as easy as breathing for me.”
She then drew some commonly used talismans. This way, she wouldn’t need to use her profound energy and the Crimson Sun Golden Flame to draw them in the air each time, which would be far more draining.
After storing the finished talismans in the small cloth pouch at her waist, she carefully folded the protective charms and handed three talisman pouches to Pei Jingheng: “One for you, and the others for Leng Feng and Yue Ying.”
Pei Jingheng frowned slightly, his tone a mix of confusion and displeasure: “Why do they get them too?”
Shen Mingshu widened her beautiful eyes: “Of course they should! If something happens to them, who will protect you?”
Pei Jingheng chuckled softly, tightening his grip on the three pouches: “Alright.”
Shen Mingshu lowered her voice and said, “You should be careful around Fan Fangfang’s sister. It’s best not to talk to her too much.”
Pei Jingheng leaned in closer to her, his cold, husky voice whispering: “What, afraid I’ll attract bees and butterflies?”
His sudden proximity made his handsome face loom large in Shen Mingshu’s vision, his narrow eyes smiling, his thin lips parting slightly.
His devastatingly beautiful, almost demonic features sent a tremor through Shen Mingshu’s pupils, and she completely missed what he said.
“Or is it that, as my destined one, you won’t allow me to speak to other women now?” He knew she didn’t mean it that way, but he couldn’t resist teasing her.
Seeing her dazed, slightly parted lips, he found her utterly adorable.
“Ahem.” Yun Niang, noticing how close the two were, couldn’t help but cough twice.
Shen Mingshu snapped back to reality and quickly stepped back to put distance between them. “Anyway, just be careful around her. She’s no good.”
With that, she hurried over to Yun Niang: “Mother, this is a protective talisman I made for you. Keep it close to your body at all times.”
Yun Niang was overjoyed, tucking the talisman pouch into the inner pocket of her robe. “If my Shen’er gave it to me, I’ll never let it leave my side.”
Shen Mingshu wrapped her arms around Yun Niang’s, speaking sweetly: “Mother, once we get to Shengjing, I’ll buy a big house so you can live a good life!”
Yun Niang squeezed her hand, moved: “My dear child, as long as I’m with you and you’re safe and sound, every day is a good day for me.”
At the door, Leng Feng knocked and announced: “Master, Miss Shen, Fan Fangfang is here.”
Shen Mingshu quickly went to the door to greet her, pulling her inside. She turned to Leng Feng at the doorway: “Keep watch. Don’t let anyone eavesdrop.”
Leng Feng nodded promptly: “Got it!”
Fan Fangfang, dragged inside by Shen Mingshu, noticed her cautious expression and lowered her voice: “What’s wrong, Mingshu?”
Shen Mingshu pressed a talisman pouch into her hand: “This is a protective charm. Wear it close to your body, even when bathing, keep it within reach.”
Fan Fangfang immediately secured the pouch, her face lighting up with joy: “If it’s from you, it must be something good.”
Shen Mingshu sighed softly, looking at her plump face: “Tonight, something you won’t be able to accept will happen. It’ll hit you hard, I don’t know if you can handle it.”
Fan Fangfang patted her chest, her voice booming: “I watched my husband die right in front of me without batting an eye. What could possibly be too much for me?”
“Then let me ask you, did your appearance and figure only start changing after you came of age?”
Fan Fangfang froze, trying to recall what she used to look like, but eventually shook her head: “I do have some vague memories, but I can’t really remember anymore. Actually, I’m quite content with how things are now.”
“Are you really sure you’re content now? If you hadn’t suddenly become fat and ugly, would you ever have stooped to marrying someone like Liu Xingde, that greedy, lecherous man?”