Eleven Sins

Steward Xu pressed his forehead, his brows furrowed with worry. "I've had a terrible headache since last night, perhaps I caught a chill from the wind."

Luokui followed him out, habitually dissatisfied. "Uncle Xu, how can Madam receive strangers?"

Steward Xu replied, "The official is here on business. Madam will have to overlook these breaches of etiquette."

Since Steward Xu had spoken, Luokui could not object further. She simply said, "Madam probably hasn't risen yet. Please wait a moment, I'll inform her," and went ahead to give notice.

Zhisha was already awake, not bothering with her hair, sitting at her dressing table and inviting everyone in. The room was filled with fragrance. She turned her head slowly; though she wore no makeup, her beauty remained striking. The large tail, visible only to Qingyin, swept a graceful arc.

Steward Xu inquired after her health and said, "The official is conducting a routine investigation regarding Wang Fifth's case. Everyone in the household must be questioned. We ask Madam's understanding."

Zhisha leisurely combed her hair with an ivory comb. "Please proceed," she said.

The two officials exchanged glances, evidently surprised to find their subject a charming young lady, feeling somewhat awkward. One stepped forward and asked, "Madam, are you aware of the recent homicide in the household?"

Zhisha nodded. "The maids have been talking about it. I have heard something."

The official continued, "On the night before the incident, did you go near Wang Fifth's quarters?"

Zhisha frowned. "How would I know where a servant lives? That night, I was restless and wandered about to clear my head, returning only at midnight."

Qingyin's heart stirred. She remembered clearly that on that night, she and Luokui had worked late into the night arranging Lin Yiran's belongings, then sat on the steps and fell asleep. Zhisha had returned after midnight, when the moon was already sinking.

The official pressed on. "Did you encounter Wang Fifth or speak with him?"

Zhisha answered calmly, "Perhaps I met a servant or two and gave some instructions. I don't recall the details. I can't recognize all the servants—I'm not sure if one was Wang Fifth."

The officials asked a few more questions, but gained no valuable information, and took their leave. Zhisha suddenly called Steward Xu back. "What's wrong with your head?"

He touched the medicated patch on his temple. "Probably caught a chill, the pain is severe."

Zhisha said, "There is an imperial physician in the house. Why not ask the master to examine you?"

"Yes, I was about to request a prescription." As he was about to leave, he paused, looking at Zhisha. "Madam, are you certain you did not encounter Wang Fifth that night?"

Zhisha looked at him coldly, without replying, her lips curling into a sinister smile. Steward Xu felt a chill, hurriedly apologized, "I spoke out of turn," and withdrew with his head bowed.

Zhisha sat unmoving, her cold smile growing more menacing. Qingyin, standing nearby, saw a green haze rise in her eyes.

That night, Steward Xu sought Lin Zifeng for a remedy. Lin Zifeng examined him for some time but found no cause, guessing it was due to overexertion, and prescribed a calming potion. Steward Xu accepted the prescription but hesitated to leave, uncertain. "Master, there's something I just recalled. I don't know if I should mention it."

Lin Zifeng was unconcerned. "Speak."

Steward Xu glanced around, stepped closer, and whispered, "When the officials questioned Madam today, she lied."

Lin Zifeng led Steward Xu to Zizhu Garden late at night. Zhisha, attended by Qingyin, was preparing for bed. She was not surprised to see them enter, sitting at the edge of the bed with an indifferent face. "Husband, you haven't visited at night in a long time."

Lin Zifeng, hands behind his back, regarded her scrutinizingly. "Zhisha, are you certain you did not see Wang Fifth on the night before his death?"

Zhisha replied, "I don't recall."

Lin Zifeng turned to Steward Xu. "You speak."

Steward Xu coughed. "Madam truly does not remember. But that night, you did see Wang Fifth, and called his name." He revealed the truth nervously, glancing at Lin Zifeng, who nodded for him to continue.

Zhisha neither admitted nor denied, staring at Steward Xu, her lips curling into a cold smile. Qingyin noticed the green haze in her eyes, felt a chill down her spine, and involuntarily stepped back. Steward Xu also found her gaze chilling, his heart cold, sweat breaking on his forehead. Emboldened by Lin Zifeng's support, he spoke louder, "That night, as I patrolled, I happened to see Madam and Wang Fifth talking on the road. I heard the conversation clearly."

Tension made Steward Xu's voice shrill, perhaps unconsciously imitating Zhisha's tone that night. "Madam said: 'Wang Fifth, do you remember after Miss died, her body was stiff and curled? When you moved her corpse, you forcibly straightened it, breaking her waist bone!'"

The horrifying account and sharp words made everyone present shudder. Zhisha said nothing, staring at Steward Xu with a sinister smile. The room was silent for a moment, everyone shaken. Lin Zifeng's face turned pale, his body trembling.

Steward Xu felt the silence pressing on him, his headache worsening, as if a needle bored into his brain.

It was Zhisha who broke the silence, her voice calm. "Was what I said the truth?"

Steward Xu answered, "That did happen... But what we are investigating is whether you met Wang Fifth the night before his death."

Zhisha nodded. "I did encounter Wang Fifth. I questioned him out of grief for Miss's suffering. Speaking of suffering, you, Steward Xu, played no small part. When Miss was gravely ill, wasn't it you who instructed the servants to deny her food and water? You were once the Lin family's accountant, and they treated you well, yet you colluded with others, falsified accounts, embezzled the assets, and ultimately caused Miss to die of hunger and thirst—being skilled in accounts, have you ever calculated how many layers of hell await you?"

Steward Xu's face changed dramatically, wanting to shout "You're lying," but his lips trembled, words failing him. His hand pressed to his forehead—his pain grew worse, his ears buzzed, and he could barely hear others.

Lin Zifeng pressed, "Since you saw Wang Fifth, why didn't you admit it?"

Zhisha said, "I truly do not wish to acknowledge such filth."

Lin Zifeng said, "Isn't that rather far-fetched?"

Zhisha smiled. "Are you saying I killed Wang Fifth?"

Lin Zifeng said harshly, "Who knows what sorcery you've used! I've long suspected your odd behavior!"

Zhisha laughed, the sound tinged with sorrow. "Sorcery? Perhaps it is Miss's vengeful spirit coming for justice!"

Lin Zifeng's face turned bluish, he gritted his teeth. "I don't believe in vengeful spirits! If there were any, my parents' spirits would have appeared to me already! You helped cause Lin Yiran's death. Now that I've neglected you, you bear a grudge, feigning spirits to ruin my estate. Do you think I can't see through you?"

Zhisha sneered. "Ruin your estate? Was it ever truly yours? An accomplice dies so miserably—what fate awaits the true culprit?"

"You—" Lin Zifeng, stung, was speechless with rage.

Suddenly, Steward Xu clutched his head and cried out in agony. Soon he collapsed to the floor, rolling and convulsing, and then lay still. Lin Zifeng stared in shock, stepped forward to check him, touched his nose—he was dead. His gaze fell on the medicated patch on Steward Xu's temple; a thought struck him, and he tapped Steward Xu's skull.

Hollow, hollow.

The sound of an empty shell.

Lin Zifeng sank to the ground. Qingyin, witnessing the horror, had already shrunk into a corner, too frightened to move. Zhisha remained on the edge of the bed, never rising, her voice drifting out in mockery, "He died before your eyes—did you see me use any sorcery?"

Lin Zifeng was terrified, drenched in cold sweat, unable to speak.

The beauty in the painting on the wall gazed down silently, her lips seemingly curled into a cold smile.

End of Chapter 11: Mortal Seal—All sins updated.