The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 373: Why Didn’t It Burn You to Death?

Chapter 373: Why Didn’t It Burn You to Death?

His mother, who had been to the battlefield in her youth, valued military discipline the most. Even if her closest deputy made a mistake, she would punish them without mercy and even instruct the executioner to be harsher. If she found out about what he had done, would Chu Hanming live to see dawn?

Nanli smiled, "Uncle, Aunt said that there’s nothing we can’t talk about as a family. Rest assured, we’ll all gather and come up with a solution for you."

Chu Hanming broke into a cold sweat. How had he never realized that Nanli was a black sesame glutinous rice ball, with such a black heart?

Seeing that it was his own servants, he shouted, "Who dares to go?! If anyone goes, I’ll throw them out!"

The servants’ eyes lit up. Such a good opportunity? The second branch was the most incompetent and stingiest in the marquis’s residence. They never got any rewards or benefits. Who wouldn’t want to leave? And since when did the second branch call the shots in this residence?

Sure enough, everyone quickly scattered, fearing they’d be too slow.

Chu Hanming felt faint. As a child, he had been punished by the Grand Lady several times, and those memories were still vivid. Seeing the servants actually go to wake her, he didn’t catch his breath and fainted.

Nanli was speechless. How could someone so cowardly dare to steal a talisman?

Lady Tian, both anxious and panicked, supported Chu Hanming and tried to plead, "A’Li, your uncle has fainted. Can we drop this matter?"

She regretted informing Nanli. This was bringing no good to the second branch.

Nanli waved, summoning a servant, "Carry my uncle."

Lady Tian turned pale. Nanli then looked at her, "Aunt, you probably can’t walk properly. You should also be carried."

Lady Tian realized there was no escape. Her face turned ashen.

In less than the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, except for the pregnant Xiao Wanyi, everyone in the marquis’s residence was gathered in the main hall. Even Xie Beihan, who was far away in the Marquis of Zhenbei’s residence, was awakened and brought over by Nanli.

Xie Beihan, still groggy, couldn’t help but complain, but seeing the Chu family gathered with Chu Hanming kneeling as if on trial, he perked up. Family scandals were usually handled quietly, but now he got to witness one firsthand. Sixth Sister treated him like family indeed!

Grand Lady asked, "Tongtong, you even called Lord Xie. What is going on?"

"Grandmother, don’t worry." Nanli turned to Xie Beihan, "Uncle sought you out earlier and asked you to draw a True Word Talisman, correct?"

"Yes!" Xie Beihan, puzzled by the question, nodded.

Nanli handed him paper and pen, "Draw it again."

Though confused, Xie Beihan quickly drew the True Word Talisman design and stood ready for praise.

Nanli’s mouth twitched, "Is this what you call good memory, having memorized the entire talisman book?"

"Isn’t it right?" Xie Beihan asked, uncertain.

Zhi Mi, looking over, sighed, "No, Lord Xie, you drew it wrong. This isn’t the True Word Talisman."

He frowned, "The difference in talismans can lead to disaster. This looks like the Soul-Burning Talisman."

He’d just received the Soul-Burning Talisman from his senior sister and wasn’t entirely sure.

Xie Beihan, embarrassed, stammered, "Is... is that so?"

He had wanted to show off but ended up drawing it wrong.

Chu Hanming, now awake, shouted, "A’Li, you heard him! I didn’t mean to steal the Soul-Burning Talisman to harm anyone. Xie Beihan drew it wrong, so I took the wrong one!"

Trembling with anger, he glared at Xie Beihan, "Lord Xie, you shouldn’t have drawn it if you didn’t know how. You almost got me killed!"

The Grand Lady, her wrinkled face stern and filled with an inexplicable authority, thumped her tiger-head cane on the ground, "What’s going on?"

Nanli turned to Chu Hanming, "A few days ago, Uncle asked me for the True Word Talisman. After I refused, he sought out Lord Xie to learn the design, then stole a talisman from Zhi Mi."

"Who knew, Lord Xie drew it wrong, and Uncle ended up with a Soul-Burning Talisman."

Zhi Mi, his face darkening, exclaimed, "What? Uncle, when did you steal it?"

Chu Hanming, hesitant and stammering, couldn’t speak.

Zhi Mi recalled the maid distracting him that night. He was angry but also worried, "Uncle, you should know that without my bag’s suppression, the Ghost Fire in the Soul-Burning Talisman can easily ignite. That was very dangerous."

Chu Hanming hung his head lower.

The Grand Lady, trembling with anger, demanded, "You unfilial son, return the Soul-Burning Talisman to Master Zhi Mi!"

Chu Hanming shrank and finally squeezed out, "Mother, the talisman... it already burned. I nearly lost my life, and I’m still in pain."

He hoped his mother would pity him and go easy.

Unexpectedly, the Grand Lady retorted, "Why didn’t it burn you to death?! Our residence was once attacked by Ghost Fire. Do you remember that? Are you trying to kill everyone here?"

Chu Hanming, deeply hurt, whimpered, "Mother, how can you be so heartless? I was innocent. It was Lord Xie who drew it wrong. Why don’t you scold him?"

Chu Shuo, unable to hold back, burst into laughter, "Beihan, you’re amazing!"

Xie Beihan wanted to hide but couldn’t. Retorting to his teasing friend, he said, "I only made one mistake! You wouldn’t even know where to start."

Chu Shuo replied, "I don’t need to worry about drawing. I can handle accounts just fine. You should focus on your duties with the Royal Heir and stop drawing talismans."

Xie Beihan countered, "Stop complaining. One day, I’ll make you respect me!"

Now possessing Divine Wood, he could see evil spirits. Drawing talismans was only a matter of time.

After their banter, Xie Beihan bowed to the Grand Lady, feeling ashamed, "Grand Lady, it’s my fault. My poor skills almost harmed Uncle and everyone here."

The Grand Lady quickly said, "Lord Xie, don’t blame yourself. It’s my unfilial son who caused trouble."

Chu Ye, catching the key point, asked, "Uncle, why did you need the True Word Talisman so badly?"

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