These Familiars Are Strange - Chapter 172: Much different

Pain, Pain, Go Away is a novel by Sugaru Miaki, also known as Fafoo, author of Starting Over and Three Days of Happiness. Unlike Miaki’s previous two books, Pain, Pain, Go Away is not a rewrite of any story posted to 2ch, but an entirely original one.

The plot involves a young man who becomes a killer (by accident) – but his victim has the power of “postponement,” temporarily delaying her death.

The journey of a generation’s male empress started because of four words.

“Send a dowry escort.”

During the 19th year of Yuanqing, Qi Yunruo boarded a carriage and entered through a corner door of the second prince’s estate. Then, across the watery corridor, he gazed at the prince from afar.

Notes:

For aristocratic women in imperial China to marry into a family part of the upper nobility, they must be of the legitimate line and must also have an escort/dowry maid that married into that family. That escort would be a “ying” (媵) and could be considered a concubine.

- Description from Novelupdates

So-called Taisu pulse is a form of physiognomy, which can discern nobility and lowliness, foresee auspicious and ominous events, predict misfortune and fortune. Good sir, do you dare to let me feel your pulse? One pulse reading is worth a thousand gold!Look, making money is so easy, isn't it?Ah, phooey!Living two lives, Qin Liuxi's ideal is always to get by without striving for advancement, because in the world, there are always those who are willing to be lazy and not seek progress, and she is fit for such worthless tasks!But when a whole family shows up miserably and pitifully in front of her, Qin Liuxi's days as a slacker are over.Faced with the precarious Qin family in a state of distress, a maid beggar with an empty money box asking for business, Qin Liuxi has no choice but to shoulder the duties of the eldest lady, managing the household, supporting elders, and child-rearing!Qin Liuxi: I clearly got the script as a slacker, who switched it up?A cousin who questions her existence after being scolded by the eldest lady: I feel like the big sister looks at us like we're trouble!Qin Fourth Young Master, who was beaten and taught a lesson by the eldest lady: Be bolder, remove the feeling!Qin Fifth Young Master, who was lectured into a state of introversion by the eldest lady, solemnly counts on his fingers to answer questions about what the big sister is useless at: She can exorcise demons and ghosts, read faces and draw charms, heal and save people. Oh, which one did you ask about?Later, someone asked Qin Liuxi, if life could start over, what would her dream be?Qin Liuxi remained silent for a long time: To not strive for progress and to live for a hundred years!

Five years ago, Violet Don was framed and accused of causing the death of Noah Bates's child. This led to Noah's sending her to prison and the downfall of her family. What he didn't know was that Violet was also carrying his child.Five years later, upon Violet's release, Noah corners her, demanding, “If you want your child, come and atone for your sins!”Violet smiles, “You can let him call anyone mom.”Noah, filled with hatred, says, “After five years in prison, how can you still be so cruel!”“Yes,” Violet's eyes redden as she smiles, “In your eyes, I'm a murderer.”Later, he finds out that he has owed her an apology all along. But by then, she no longer cares...