Chapter 5: Don't You Think Something's Fishy?

Madam He couldn't help but pull the quilt over herself.

It was August, and the summer heat had yet to fully recede, yet she clutched the edge of the quilt, her face ashen.

"Are you cold, Madam? I suppose so; it’s only August, yet this room is already chilly. By midnight, the wind howls outside like ghosts seeking revenge. I just wonder what kind of ghost it is, to hold such deep resentment."

Yuetang picked up the medicine bowl, gazing at the reflection of the daylight on the surface of the brew, then scooped up a spoonful and held it to her lips. "Drink your medicine quickly. Once you drink it, you’ll fall asleep. If you’re asleep, you won’t hear the ghosts wailing anymore."

"Get out! Get away from me!"

The word "ghost," repeated over and over, pierced Madam He to the core!

She shoved Yuetang away and, in a fit of agitation, scrambled from the bed to the floor.

The bowl hit the ground with a jarring crash.

The maidservants and matrons rushed in, only to see Madam He pointing at Yuetang with a look of sheer terror. "Beat this bitch out of here! Quickly, beat her out!"

Yuetang looked bewildered. "Madam, just a moment ago you said my medical skills were excellent and my care was attentive. What has come over you?"

Madam He’s eyes were bloodshot; how could she listen to reason? She pointed at the matrons again. "Beat her out! Didn't you hear me? Quickly, beat her out!"

Hua Lin hurried in at that moment. He took the pulse of Madam He, who was being supported by the maids, and his expression changed instantly. "Madam was already ill, and now she has suffered repeated shocks. It seems her spirit is on the verge of collapse, and her qi and blood can no longer return to their proper state!" He pulled out silver needles and pricked several points on her head and neck. Then he called out, "Go and brew the calming decoction immediately!"

On the verge of mental collapse—in other words, she was going mad.

That was a disaster.

Since she was mad, if they really drove this physician away, who would take over her care?

And who would be willing to?

No one paid any attention to Madam He’s demands.

In the chaos, Yuetang placed the medicine bowl she had brought out onto a side table and stepped into the small courtyard behind the main house.

This was the temporary lodging the He family had provided for the house physician.

She pushed open the door, stepped steadily into the room, and closed it behind her.

A hand reached out, holding a gold lock. "Master, I found it!"

Yuetang took the lock to examine it closely, walking to the window to catch the daylight, her gaze scanning the name engraved on the lock millimeter by millimeter.

Her fingers turned pale and blue from the force of her grip.

She pressed the gold lock against her chest, her fist crushing her heaving bosom. Beneath her tightly knit brows, a massive surge of emotion welled up in her eyes.

"Xiao Huo, A-Li would have been three years, four months, and ten days old." Her voice was hoarse.

The figure stepped forward, whispering timidly, "Master, please grieve with restraint. Your own health has not yet fully recovered."

Yuetang looked at the gold lock in her palm again and again.

Standing by the window, she was like a rock, even her breathing falling silent.

The fists hanging at Huo Yun’s sides also silently bulged with veins.

"Princess, we will definitely make everyone pay the price! We will take revenge for the Little Prince, for the Prince, and for you! Xiao Huo and Master will surely grind the bones and scatter the ashes of everyone whose hands were stained with the blood of the Duan Prince’s Mansion!"

Yuetang opened her hand, and the daylight climbed onto the window frame, tracing her brows and eyes inch by inch. "Is there any news of Wei Zhang?"

Huo Yun nodded, holding a cup of tea in both hands and offering it to her. "Master says he will arrive in the capital in three days at the latest."

Yuetang tucked the lock into her bosom and asked in a slow voice, "How are the He and Zhang families faring?"

"Everything is proceeding according to your arrangements. After the He family reported it to the authorities, Zhang Shaode immediately took the corpse of the Zhang woman to the Shuntian Prefecture and struck the drum of grievances. The He father and son arrived shortly after. Both sides accused the other of murder, arguing incessantly in the courtroom.

"The Prefect had no choice but to open separate cases and is investigating the cause of He Xu’s death overnight."

Yuetang looked at the sky outside, which had already brightened. "They’ve been interrogating for half the night. According to procedure, the officials should be arriving at the He residence to investigate the scene soon. I must go and meet Lady Liu."

As she said this, she suddenly frowned and looked outside through the window.

A maidservant crossed the courtyard gate, draped in the morning light. After looking left and right, she raised her voice: "Where has that little widow gone? — Mistress Lin! Mistress Lin?"

Yuetang paused, the corners of her lips curling up. "Speak of the devil."

She walked to the window and showed her face. "I am here."

The maidservant’s voice rose another three notches. "You certainly know how to slack off! The Second Mistress is so busy she can’t even touch the ground, and here you are. Hurry up, the Mistress is calling for you!"

"Understood," Yuetang replied calmly.

Huo Yun was furious. "What kind of mongrel is she to dare step on your head, Master! I told you, we should have been the ones to deal with trash like the He family!"

Yuetang raised her lips. "Since you know she is an unimportant person, why do you care about her?"

After saying this, she noticed the bundle he was still carrying. "What is that?"

"These are the other items found in the Zhang woman’s room. They are all yours, Master!" Huo Yun opened the bundle to show her; it was filled with a brilliant golden glow.

Yuetang took a look and covered it back up. "Take it back and give it to Qin Niang."

Huo Yun agreed and obediently picked up the bundle to leave.

Yuetang stood silently for a moment facing the dark sky outside the window, then walked out the door.

The maidservant was still waiting for Yuetang outside the courtyard gate.

Huo Yun saw this from the top of the wall. After a moment of thought, he turned back two steps, crouched on the wall behind her, picked up a pebble, and threw it precisely at the back of her knee.

The maidservant cried out in pain and fell to her knees!

Yuetang, who was following behind, stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Why such a grand gesture?"

The maidservant gritted her teeth and glared at her. "Someone ambushed me from behind!"

Yuetang turned her head to look at the wall, then said "Oh" with a calm expression. "I don't see anyone on any side. If there really was an ambush, it could only be a ghost.

"That’s right, the Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Mistress died such tragic deaths; perhaps they couldn't bear to leave—after all, who would be willing to let go of such good fortune just like that?

"They must be looking for a few people to serve as scapegoats!

"The Eldest Young Mistress was accused by the He family of being a murderer before she died. No wonder the Madam was so strange earlier; I suppose it was the vengeful spirit of the Eldest Young Mistress at work."

Before she could finish speaking, the maidservant had already scrambled up, screaming, and ran away.

...

When Yuetang arrived at the Second Branch, Lady Liu, who had just taken power, was sitting upright on the bed, issuing orders to the servants reporting to her.

Madam He’s health had been poor for the past few years, and the management of the household had long been in the hands of the Zhang woman.

Lady Liu’s current position was a case of being entrusted with a task in a time of crisis.

Once Lady Liu dismissed the others, Yuetang offered her congratulations: "Congratulations to the Second Mistress for getting what you wished for and seizing the power."

Lady Liu looked left and right, her expression darkening. "Who taught you to say that?!"

Yuetang raised her lips. "This servant just feels that this position should have belonged to you, Mistress, all along."

Lady Liu paused, her expression obscure. "I just came back from the Madam’s side. I ask you, in the one day you have been in the mansion, have you been meddling in things?"

"Naturally not," Yuetang said. "I was only able to enter the mansion to serve because of your patronage, Mistress. If I were to act recklessly, wouldn't I be failing you?"

Lady Liu’s expression softened upon hearing this. "It is good that you know."

Three days ago, Hua Lin had requested Madam He’s permission to add an assistant to help with the medicine.

The task of serving medicine should have been filled by someone from within the household.

The household management was in the hands of the Zhang woman, and Lady Liu had originally not wanted to interfere.

But that day, when Hua Lin came to take her pulse, he had brought this Mistress Lin with him to plead for her help. Seeing this face, Lady Liu, who had originally intended to ignore the request, changed her mind.

(Chasing the new book rankings, please vote for me~)