The Double-Chapter 404 - 136 Girl_2

Jiang Yuanping at least spoke for her, but Jiang Yuanxing from the third branch and Lady Yang didn’t say a word from beginning to end. It was even less likely that Jiang Yuyan would take the initiative to speak under such circumstances. It always seemed that Jiang Yuanxing had become even more silent and taciturn since the incident with Jiang Yue. Lady Yang, looking over here, even had a schadenfreude gleam in her eyes.

The third branch and the first and second branches were completely alienated from each other.

Just as I was thinking this, I heard Chongxu Daoist Master’s voice begin, "This young master only knows one side of the story, not the other. In the pure lands of the Buddhist Place, it is not that impurities cannot arise. On the contrary, many who retreat into the monastic life, with their senses not yet purified, are prone to provoke inner demons. At this moment, Evil Spirits take advantage of the void and make the living their host. However, in the pure lands of the Buddhist Place, even if there are Evil Spirits, they dare not come out to do evil—they merely hide within the host, waiting for an opportunity. Once they leave the Buddhist Place and come to the marketplace, the Evil Spirits can grow without limit. Since the Miss has previously stayed at the temple, her return to the residence now may very well be due to this reason."

Jiang Jingrui still didn’t believe it, "The good and the bad, everything is said by you. Whether we believe it or not by your mere words, what does it matter?"

"I am not speaking without basis. The most likely manifestation of being affected by Evil Spirits is a drastic change in temperament, becoming a completely different person. As the common saying goes, a person’s nature doesn’t change overnight. Even if the temperament changes, the past habits and essence will still retain the appearance of old times. Has this Miss undergone such a drastic change in character, very different from before?"

At these words, the people in the courtyard fell into silence once more.

Wasn’t Jiang Li exactly someone who had drastically changed after returning from Green City Mountain? Thinking back to the former Jiang Li, before she was sent to Green City Mountain, she was hot-tempered, proud and unrestrained, and someone whose emotions were always written on her face, prone to crying. Time quickly passed, and upon her return, Jiang Li became inscrutable to all in the residence who knew her.

She was calm, gentle, always with a soft smile, but what she thought inside, no one knew. She no longer cried, she didn’t even seem to have emotions such as "fear" or "grievance." No matter what happened, she would just smile.

It was as if she didn’t care at all.

"That’s right..." In the midst of the silence, Ji Shuran’s voice rose, "Lili has indeed become very different after returning to the residence. Her temperament has become more stable than before, not like a fifteen-year-old girl should be. Youyao is about her age and is like a child who never grows up... Lili used to love eating meaty foods, especially the mutton soup made in the kitchen, but now she feels nauseated at the smell of mutton. She prefers vegetables over meaty dishes now... Everything is different..."

Are they so eager to indict her? Jiang Li watched coldly as Ji Shuran listed one by one the differences between herself and Miss Jiang the Second. She didn’t say a word, yet with each point Ji Shuran made, the suspicion on the faces of those in the courtyard deepened. Indeed, she was not the real Miss Jiang the Second; she had nothing in common with Miss Jiang the Second, whether in terms of upbringing or personal preferences. Thus, it was easy for Ji Shuran to point out their differences; it appeared they had nothing in common at all, as if they were two different people.

Madam Jiang the Elder and Jiang Yuanbai must have held these suspicions too, but unlike Ji Shuran, they didn’t remember as clearly. By speaking up at this moment, Ji Shuran simply made everyone more inclined to believe Chongxu Daoist Master’s words.

In a way, Ji Shuran also came to know some of the truth.

Jiang Li didn’t retort or argue. After Ji Shuran finished speaking, she anxiously looked at Jiang Yuanbai, "So it seems, Lili is indeed very different from before... My lord, I’m not suspecting Lili to be an Evil Spirit. But all this is for Lili’s sake, for the sake of the Jiang Family. If Lili... If Lili has really become a host to some evil creature, the Daoist Master must have a way to drive out the Evil Spirits. Then, won’t Lili be all right?"

Jiang Li said, "Mother."

Ji Shuran looked at her, eyes even shimmering with tears; she seemed to truly be a caring mother concerned for her. But she also appeared cautious, as if afraid of getting tainted by evil entities. Privately, Jiang Li admired Ji Shuran’s acting; she always felt that with that demeanor, Ji Shuran ought to become one of the leading actors in Yanjing City.

"Mother has always been loving. Regardless of whether Jiang Li is truly an Evil Spirit, you always have a way to speak up for Jiang Li, don’t you?"