Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 12

The golden sun slanted westward, filling the sky with evening glow.

Qi Zhenshu kept her brows furrowed as she spoke, watching Lu Sheng intently, not wanting to miss any subtle changes in her expression.

Temples are sanctuaries dedicated to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and their boundless Dharma can dispel all evil.

If Lu Sheng was truly possessed by a fox spirit, she should be avoiding Baiyun Temple like the plague, trying to find an excuse not to go.

Lu Sheng didn’t understand why Qi Zhenshu had to specifically ask for her opinion regarding the matter of lighting the Everlasting Lamp for Lu Huacheng.

Moreover, she could clearly sense the tension in Qi Zhenshu’s voice, and the deep scrutiny in her gaze as she looked at her now.

Did the original owner dislike going to Baiyun Temple? Or did lighting the Everlasting Lamp have some special significance? Or was it because lighting the Everlasting Lamp cost a lot of money?

During the wait for Lu Sheng’s response, Qi Zhenshu felt every second pass agonizingly slowly.

Why hadn’t Lu Sheng answered yet? Was she afraid to go? Was she really possessed by a fox spirit then?

She watched Lu Sheng’s face unblinkingly, noticing her lips slightly move.

Was she going to refuse?

Qi Zhenshu couldn’t help but hold her breath.

At that moment, Qi Zhenshu felt the world quiet down, so quiet that she could clearly feel the sound of her own heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

If she refused, what should she do next? Should she hire a Taoist priest? Where could she find one? Should she take Tangtang away from home first?

“Sure, why not.”

Lu Sheng carefully searched her memories but couldn’t find any useful answers.

The clear voice instantly pulled back Qi Zhenshu’s scattered thoughts. The three words “Sure, why not” echoed in her mind for a long time before she seemed to truly hear them and understand their meaning.

She agreed? She actually agreed?!

Why? Is she not afraid?

Or is it because her magic power is profound enough that she is not afraid of temples?

Seeing the look of disappointment on Qi Zhenshu’s face, Lu Sheng asked with confusion and concern, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem with going to Baiyun Temple to light the Everlasting Lamp?”

“N-nothing, then we will go to Baiyun Temple the day after tomorrow!”

After speaking, without waiting for Lu Sheng to reply, Qi Zhenshu abruptly returned to the study.

Lu Sheng was completely bewildered. How did her agreement to go together end up making her unhappy?

Could it be that the Everlasting Lamp was truly very expensive? But wasn’t she the one who suggested lighting it?

‘Oh dear~ Oh dear~ Sister, help! Little Yu is dying.’

Yu Ling’s wail dragged Lu Sheng’s attention away, preventing her from delving deeper into Qi Zhenshu’s strange reaction.

“I don’t really feel like saving you,” Lu Sheng heartlessly refused, making a move to toss it back into the grass, “You’ve only lost a few feathers; they’ll grow back in a few days and you’ll be able to fly.”

‘Saving a bird’s life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. If Sister saves me, I will definitely repay Sister by serving as an ox or a horse.’ The thin bird claws gripped Lu Sheng’s finger tightly.

“You said that yesterday, but then you flew away after eating your fill, showing no consciousness of being an ox or a horse.” Lu Sheng said with disdain.

‘I didn’t fly away, I didn’t fly away! I just went to settle some private avian scores. Sister is so good to me, how could I run off!’

Yu Ling tilted its round, plump bird head, rubbing against the back of Lu Sheng’s finger. ‘Little Yu will always be Sister’s Little Yu. Little Yu is Sister’s bird alive, and Sister’s dead bird when it dies. Little Yu will follow Sister through life and death.’

‘Sister, you must believe me, my feelings for you are true.’ A pair of little beady eyes watched her without blinking.

Lu Sheng highly suspected that this bird had escaped from some opera house, its mouth full of overly sentimental theatrical lines.

“Don’t say such disgusting words. Who wants to follow a parrot through life and death?” Lu Sheng poked its bird head with her finger. “You don’t need to be so dramatic about life and death. I’ll take you back to heal your injuries, you just need to help me with one thing.”

‘Why is Sister being so polite? Little Yu is willing to climb mountains of knives and descend into seas of fire for Sister, not flinching from any danger.’ Yu Ling raised its bird head and nodded continuously, saying with a bobbing head.

“A smooth talker.”

Bringing Yu Ling into the kitchen, Lu Sheng examined it. Its left wing wasn’t serious, just a few pulled-out feathers. The injury on its bird butt was a bit worse, a small patch of feathers had been lost, and it was still slightly bleeding.

Lu Sheng ground some herbs and applied them to its pink little bird butt.

‘Hiss~ Hiss~ Oh dear! It hurts me to death! Sister, Sister, be gentle! Gentle!’ Yu Ling chirped and cried in pain. ‘That smelly cat, when I recover, I’m going to pluck out all its cat fur!’

Yu Ling raised its injured wing and shook its little pink butt, which was smeared with green herbal juice, looking particularly comical.

Lu Sheng suppressed a laugh and asked, “Did you go fight with a cat? And lost?”

‘I didn’t lose! I pecked out one of its eyes, I won!’ Yu Ling puffed out its chest, unconvinced.

Lu Sheng tutted twice, “You, a bird, fighting with a cat. You’ve got guts.”

‘Sister, you don’t know, that fat, stinky cat is so despicable, it specializes in hunting us poor little birds. Several of my little sisters have been bitten to death by it!’

Yu Ling, regardless of the pain in its butt, jumped onto Lu Sheng’s wrist and started complaining to her.

“Little sisters? Are they also Cockatiels?” Lu Sheng lifted one of its wings and saw a row of small yellow spots underneath.

She really hadn’t expected this smooth-talking parrot to be female; she truly hadn’t been able to tell.

‘No, no, they are the sparrow sisters I know in the village.’

“You know the sparrows in the village?”

That was quite a coincidence. Lu Sheng originally wanted Yu Ling to help her find the sparrow she saw with Ding Laizi yesterday.

‘Of course, I know them. They are all my little sisters.’ Yu Ling shook its head proudly.

“That’s perfect. You can help me call them over. I have something to ask them.”

‘Got it!’ Yu Ling agreed readily. It hopped over to the window ledge, raised its head, and chirped a few times.

In less than two minutes, a dozen small sparrows landed sporadically on the kitchen window ledge.

‘Little Yu, why did you call us?’

‘What’s the big deal?’

‘I was just eating.’

‘Why are you hurt?’

‘Everyone is here.’

‘Why is your butt bald?’

‘Was it that smelly cat?’

‘That smelly cat is awful!’

‘I’m here, I’m here. What are you all doing here?’

‘Hey? There’s a person inside?’

‘Ah, a person!’

…

The little sparrows first chirped non-stop, but upon seeing Lu Sheng, they nervously huddled together. Some timid ones had already flapped their wings and flown away, leaving seven or eight who were closest to Yu Ling.

‘Don’t be afraid. Sister is a good person; she’s saved me several times,’ Yu Ling walked up to them and chirped an explanation. ‘Don’t worry, she won’t hurt you.’

“Yes, I just want to ask you a few questions. I won’t hurt you,” Lu Sheng said softly, trying not to scare them.

She grabbed a handful of mixed grains from the ones she bought today, sprinkled them on the table by the window, and then moved her stool farther away.

‘She can understand our chirps?!’

…

‘Such a strange human.’

…

After another burst of chaotic chirping, the little sparrows looked at one another, then all turned their heads towards Yu Ling.

‘Hmm, Sister is very capable; she can understand our chirps. Don’t be afraid, come and eat quickly.’

Yu Ling was the first to hop onto the table, pecked at the millet a couple of times, and then looked at Lu Sheng with a bit of resentment.

Sensing the accusation in its eyes, Lu Sheng explained, “I just bought this today in the county town.”

Yu Ling turned its head away haughtily, stuck out its bald bottom, and ate two more mouthfuls of millet, signaling to its sparrow sisters, ‘Come and eat quickly. Sister just wants to ask us a few things. This millet is truly delicious!’

Initially, the little sparrows were still somewhat fearful, but seeing Yu Ling eat so enthusiastically, two of the greedy ones couldn’t resist and flew over.

The remaining sparrows saw their companions eat for a long time while Lu Sheng just sat there without moving, so they, too, landed on the table one after another and feasted.

After a while, one of the sparrows that had flown away also flew back.

However, unlike Yu Ling’s complete lack of apprehension, they all faced Lu Sheng, constantly looking up at her while eating the millet.

When the little creatures were all full and round, Lu Sheng lightly cleared her throat, softening her voice as she asked, “Do you know Ding Laizi?”

‘Know him.’

…

“Did anyone see Ding Laizi enter the brewery yesterday?” Lu Sheng nodded and asked again.

‘No.’

…

‘I saw him.’ A sparrow with a small white spot on its head chirped. The remaining sparrows all tilted their heads to look at it.

‘Yesterday, just as the sun was setting, he climbed in from the cassia tree on the west side. I was right there on the tree.’

“Then did you see what he went in to do?”

The little sparrow tilted its head, thought for a moment, ‘He went into the house opposite, and then I don’t know, I flew away.’

The room directly opposite the cassia tree on the west side was the storeroom. Ding Laizi was undoubtedly the person who ruined the sour wine.

Lu Sheng thought for a moment, then asked the little sparrows, “Is there a cat in the village that bullies you?”

‘Smelly cat.’

…

Upon mentioning the cat, the little sparrows were no longer timid, each one filled with indignation, their chirps rising several octaves, making her ears ache.

“Shh.” Lu Sheng shushed them, rubbing her ears. “Lower your voices. I’ll help you get rid of that cat if you help me with a favor.”

‘Really?’

…

Lu Sheng nodded, “Really. You help me keep an eye on Ding Laizi. If he goes to the brewery again, or goes somewhere else to do something bad, you tell me.”

“Not only will I help you deal with that cat, but after we take care of Ding Laizi, I will also treat you to more millet. And you can come to me if you have any difficulties in the future. How about that?”

Her words were quite long, and it took the little sparrows a while to process them before they chirped happily again.

‘I’ll help.’

…

Lu Sheng gave them a few instructions on what actions of Ding Laizi to watch out for, and then gave them some roasted melon seeds. The little creatures finally left contentedly.

Looking at the color of the sky outside, Lu Sheng began to prepare dinner.

But what she didn’t know was that from the moment she walked into the kitchen with Yu Ling, a pair of dark eyes in the room opposite had been watching her until all the sparrows flew away.

Foxes and birds should be natural enemies, yet why were they not only unafraid of Lu Sheng but becoming more intimate with her?

Even timid sparrows can be beguiled by the power of a fox spirit, going against their very nature.

It seems the fox spirit possessing Lu Sheng is indeed highly cultivated!

Is that why she isn’t afraid to go to the temple?

Qi Zhenshu’s thoughts were complicated. She could only open the Diamond Sutra she had borrowed from the bookstore today. After silently reciting it once, she buried her head and diligently began to transcribe it.

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