CHAPTER 746: CHAPTER 728: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES_3

"This person is too ruthless and too skilled at pretending," Mrs. Cheng and the others were in a cold sweat.

What if they had not matched their horoscopes before rushing into an engagement, or even into marriage? How would they know a wolf was lying beside them?

It is known that the longer one plays a role, the less likely there are to be slip-ups.

"Even if he’s replacing the son for the peach, wouldn’t someone from the Prefecture School notice something amiss after returning? Even if you know all about him, you still wouldn’t recognize who his classmates are, right?" Qin Liuxi asked once more.

Qiu Zibai bitterly smiled: "That’s where he was clever. When he returned to the Prefecture School, he didn’t recognize who was who, but it didn’t prevent him from using medicine to ruin his throat, which temporarily took away his ability to speak and avoided him giving himself away in conversation. It also made it easier for him to observe who was who. Once his throat healed, he could explain the change in his voice."

Qin Liuxi remarked, "A true talent. His mind is indeed nimble. Why would he not do something legitimate instead of assuming someone else’s identity and living under their name, tsk?"

With such intellect and resolve, one should be able to carve out some sort of reputation, but he chose a crooked path instead.

"Mr. Qiu, after all, is a scholar and a noble son. Such status is definitely far better than that of children from poor families," Mrs. Yu sighed.

Yet Cheng Ruolian said, "But no matter what achievements or glory he attains, they all belong to Qiu Zibai; they have nothing to do with Li Kui. Can he really be content with that?"

Mrs. Cheng patted her daughter’s head, "Silly child, even if he has a bit of male pride that makes him a tad discontent, the real benefit still falls on him. What’s there not to accept? To have such schemes and calculations shows his cold detachment is not to be compared with ordinary folk. Perhaps he even takes pride in himself for making Qiu Zibai’s persona perfect."

Cheng Ruolian fell silent, suddenly feeling that choosing a husband by just looking at him might not be wise after all. It’s easy to know a face, but not a heart. Who knows what fangs hide beneath that warm and amiable smile?

"Alright, now that we know what’s going on, you can go report to the authorities," Qin Liuxi clapped her hands.

Mrs. Yu said, "How should we explain this, though? We can’t just say we met the real Qiu Zibai, right? He’s been pretending for so long, who would believe us so suddenly?"

"Just dig up the corpse, that will serve as evidence."

"What if he quibbles?"

Qin Liuxi frowned, saying, "Then you should go to the authorities with someone who knows him best, like your teacher."

Remembering his teacher, Qiu Zibai’s eyes dimmed, "I’m afraid my teacher will find it difficult to believe as well."

"Then let him see you with his own eyes." Qin Liuxi went out and quickly came back with fresh talismans, handing them to Mrs. Cheng and the others, "These are Yin Eye Opening Talismans. The talismans have Cow Tears on them; just burn them in front of his teacher, and he will be able to see him."

Mrs. Cheng took them, stammering, "After opening our yin eyes, will we be able to see those things?"

"It will only last two to three days, then just bask in the Taiyang a bit and you’ll be fine. If you’re afraid, I can seal them for you now." Qin Liuxi handed over a few more talismans, "Wear them on you, and evil spirits and yin souls wouldn’t dare to come close."

They hurriedly took the talismans, placing them inside their wallets.

The conversation was over, and Mrs. Cheng and the others didn’t stay in the Daoist Temple any longer; after all, they had to find Qiu Zibai’s teacher. As for the temporary ability to see with yin eyes, except for Cheng Ruolian, they didn’t seal them, preferring to wait until the matter was settled.

Ten days later, Qin Liuxi saw Mrs. Cheng and her daughter again, as well as Qiu Zibai, who was following them. He had returned to his appearance before death, looking much brighter with his wish fulfilled.

Indeed, as she imagined, with Qiu Zibai’s teacher providing identification and the discovery of Qiu Zibai’s body, Li Kui was inescapably imprisoned. The incident sparked much discussion in the Prefecture School, where everyone felt Qiu Zibai had been acting oddly in recent times, now realizing that his core had been switched.

With his grievances redressed, Qiu Zibai’s resentful energy completely dissipated, and he sincerely thanked Qin Liuxi before leaving to be reborn.

Besides coming to thank Qin Liuxi, Mrs. Cheng also informed her of the outcome and requested a fortune-telling for her daughter. Learning that it would be best for her to marry later, or else face hardships in the first half of her life, she was troubled. Could participating in the imperial selection be the only option?

"Junior Temple Master, please guide me through this confusion," Cheng Ruolian stepped forward, her gaze resolute, as she eventually had to fight for her own destiny.

Qin Liuxi looked at her, her eyes curving into a smile: "I see you as someone with fate on your side. Why not join us at Qingping Temple as a lay disciple and cultivate?"

Wuwei, with a broom in hand sweeping away fallen leaves, glanced inside the temple. The Junior Temple Master was attracting followers again.