The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 140: Senior Sister, No Need for Demonstration

Chapter 140: Senior Sister, No Need for Demonstration

This put Nanli in a difficult position.

She took the brush from Zhi Mi’s hand, dipped it in cinnabar, and began to sketch.

"Watch closely, like this, and like this..."

In the midst of her explanation, she had already completed half of the talisman.

The brush in Nanli’s hand was particularly obedient, never pausing or hesitating. "Look, it’s done like this!" Nanli finished drawing a talisman in just a moment.

Zhi Mi’s mouth twitched; compared to Senior Sister, she always felt discouraged and understood that people were indeed different from one another.

The brush didn’t cooperate as well when it was in his hands.

Zhi Mi sighed, "Senior Sister, there’s no need for a demonstration. It only further discourages me."

Nanli felt a bit helpless.

Whether in her past life or present, she had always been assisted by a divine force when drawing talismans, learning them in a moment and effortlessly producing them.

At this moment, Yuanchun approached, "Miss, someone from Madam’s family has arrived. They request your presence."

Nanli nodded, "Alright."

She instructed Zhi Mi to practice diligently and then made her way to the main hall.

The Shen family originated from the prominent Shen clan in Huainan.

This influential family had many branches, and today, someone from Shen’s collateral branch had come.

Her name was Shen Xiang, and she had also married into the capital.

Her husband was an official in the Ministry of Justice, holding the rank of fifth-grade official.

Upon arriving at the main hall, Nanli noticed that Shen Xiang had brought her own son, Yan Ling.

Nanli greeted her with a polite bow, her expression calm.

Shen Xiang smiled, "It’s been quite some time since I last saw the Sixth Miss. You’ve become even more lively. But why do you still dress so plainly?"

She beckoned, and her personal maidservant presented a box.

Inside were various hairpins and jewelry, not particularly valuable but the best that Shen Xiang could offer.

"I carefully selected these. Sixth Miss, please don’t disdain them," Shen Xiang said.

"Aunt, there’s no need to be so polite," Nanli quickly declined.

"Auntie, thank you for your kind intentions, but I have never been fond of extravagance. I won’t accept this gift," Nanli said.

Shen Xiang insisted, "Sixth Miss, you are already engaged to the Ninth Prince. How can you still dress so plainly? Please, accept it. It’s my heartfelt gesture."

Yan Ling’s eyes flashed with a hint of disdain as he spoke, "Sister Nanli, do you disdain the jewelry my mother gave not luxurious enough?"

Nanli smiled gently, "Perhaps if Auntie had sent bamboo hairpins or wooden hairpins, I might have accepted them. Although Auntie didn’t inquire about my preferences before giving this gift, considering our family ties, you could have directly stated the purpose of your visit today."

This aunt from the collateral branch had not visited before, but during their first meeting, she hadn’t brought any gifts.

Now, she had specially prepared them.

Nanli understood the ways of social etiquette, and immediately guessed that they had come for her.

She had other matters to attend to and didn’t have time to beat around the bush here.

Hearing Yan Ling’s impolite words, Madam Shen’s expression also darkened as she said, "My Cousin, just say what you want to say."

Shen Xiang and Yan Ling exchanged a glance.

Yan Ling’s face turned awkward as he said, "I would like to ask Miss Nanli to draw a few talismans. We can discuss the matter of payment; I wonder if it’s possible?" Nanli asked, "What kind of talismans do you need?"

"Talismans for exorcism, warding off evil spirits, and attracting wealth," Yan Ling hurriedly replied.

Nanli’s gaze swept over their faces, and she coldly chuckled, "Neither of you possesses any demonic or malevolent energy, so you don’t need these talismans. As for attracting wealth, that falls under the category of unorthodox talismans, which I won’t draw."

Shen Xiang grew anxious, "It’s for your uncle. You know, he frequents the Ministry of Justice and may come into contact with impure things."

"Yes, yes, whether or not you draw the talisman for attracting wealth doesn’t matter, but we must have the talismans for exorcism and warding off evil spirits," Yan Ling interjected.

Nanli smiled, "Then please have your uncle come in person, and I will personally assess what talismans he needs."

Yan Ling grew angry and slammed the table, "Chu Nanli ! We’re all relatives, do you really need so many excuses?!"

"I won’t draw them," Nanli’s voice turned cold, her sharp gaze piercing through both of them.

"If I’m not mistaken, you’re here to request talismans for the Crown Prince of Jin, aren’t you?"

Both of their faces froze.

Seeing this, Nanli couldn’t be bothered to look at them any longer.

The heir to the Lord of Jin, adorned with countless favors, possessed a cruel and domineering nature.

When he first visited her shop to purchase talismans, she refused to cater to his desires.

Her reason was simple: the young heir of the Lord Lord of Jin had bloodstained hands, tainted by the lives he had taken.

Thus, he was plagued by malevolent and sinister energies.

However, the lives he had taken were merely those of his own servants, bound by death contracts.

It was common for masters to dispose of such servants, and even reporting to the authorities would be futile.

Therefore, Ye Siheng, though responsible, turned a blind eye to these matters.

Yet, while Ye Siheng could ignore them, she could not, and thus she profited from the bloodstained money without a guilty conscience.

Unexpectedly, the people from the Lord of Jin’s residence sought out this mother and daughter duo.

Yan Ling, aware of her principles, softened her voice and said, "Sister Nanli, it would not take much of your time to draw a few talismans. Why not lend a helping hand?"

"Yes," Shen Xiang interjected, hoping to gain favor with the Lord of Jin’s residence and assist her husband’s promotion.

"By aiding the young heir of the Lord of Jin, it would also benefit you and the Marquis of Anyang’s residence."

The Lord of Jin was a veteran of two dynasties and still held some influence in front of Emperor Muwu.

"I won’t help," regardless of how much they pleaded, Nanli only uttered two words.

Their faces immediately darkened.

Shen Xiang angrily retorted, "Cousin, I previously came to you, asking for your assistance in speaking on behalf of my husband. Since you refused to help, I am now only asking your daughter to draw a few talismans. We will even pay her. Yet, she refuses. It seems that you and your daughter no longer consider us as relatives."

Shen Shi’s face turned cold.

"If my cousin wishes to have a cup of tea or enjoy a pastry with me, I would certainly welcome it. However, every time you come, you impose unreasonable demands, which spoils the mood. My daughter’s principles remain steadfast, regardless of who it may be. No one can make her change her rules! Cousin, it is getting late. I won’t detain you for a meal."

Shen Xiang’s face flushed with anger.

She never expected that Shen would not persuade Nanli but instead support that wretched girl!

Since the host had asked them to leave, they couldn’t stubbornly stay.

Shen Xiang, fuming, left the Marquis of Anyang’s residence with her son.

As soon as they boarded the carriage, she grumbled, "That wretched girl! Allowing her to draw the talismans was a kind of respect, yet she is so ungrateful!"

Yan Ling vented her frustration on her own mother. "Mother, you said you would personally intervene and guarantee success. Now, they no longer recognize you as a relative! Do you know that I have already promised the young heir?"

Shen Xiang was filled with anger. "There is not only Chu Nanli who can draw talismans in this world. We can find a Daoist from the Sanqing Temple to draw ten or more talismans, which will undoubtedly surpass Chu Nanli’s."

"Mother, that’s a great idea!" Yan Ling brightened. "If they are all yellow talismans, how could they be inferior to Chu Nanli’s?"

He had finally gained the favor of the young heir of the Lord of Jin after much effort and did not want to let this opportunity slip away.

The talismans were all the same.

If he claimed that Chu Nanli had drawn them, the young heir of the Lord of Jin would certainly not be able to tell the difference.

Immediately, the mother and son instructed the coachman to hasten to the Sanqing Temple.