Chapter 3: Who Should We Choose to Be Our Daddy and Mommy?

Duke Zhong's gaze swept over Yan Luo unhurriedly, lingering for a moment.

He nodded in acknowledgment. "Daoist Ziyang has considered this thoroughly. Since Yan Luo knows where the ghosts are, she can warn us to avoid them, whereas normally we have to rely entirely on Chu Yue. It is clear that Daoist Ziyang has sent his best disciple to our manor."

The implication was that Chu Yue was the key to neutralizing the ill fortune for this family.

As for Yan Luo, she was merely someone sent along for good measure.

A full, bright smile graced Chu Yue's cheeks.

"Grandfather flatters me. To be able to share the worries of my family is the destiny Chu Yue shares with all of you in this life."

And so, everyone's attention shifted away from Yan Luo once again.

The little one didn't want to stand out, so she stood quietly to the side.

She listened as Duke Zhong's family peppered Chu Yue with questions.

"Since you are fellow disciples, why are your names different?" the Second Madam asked curiously.

The Second Master added, "I heard that because the founder of your Taizhen Temple was surnamed Chu, every generation of disciples since then has taken the surname Chu. Why is this little girl, Yan Luo, not among them?"

Chu Yue glanced at Yan Luo.

She put on an expression of feigned heartache. "My senior brothers and junior brothers were all either sent to the temple by their families or personally brought back by Master. Only my junior sister was left at the temple gates to be picked up by Master."

"The night he found her, Master dreamed that the Founder bestowed a name upon her, calling her Yan Luo. Therefore, Master did not have her take the surname Chu with us."

Yan Luo said nothing.

Because Chu Yue wasn't lying. The Founder of Taizhen Temple had appeared in a dream, addressing her with the respectful title of "Lord Yanluo," and instructed Daoist Ziyang to treat her well.

It was just that Daoist Ziyang's cultivation was insufficient; when the immortal appeared in his dream, he could only hear two words, and he forgot the rest upon waking.

The Eldest Master looked thoughtful. "I see. In that case, it seems Yan Luo possesses a certain amount of spiritual aura."

He proactively looked toward the Second Master. "Brother, since we have two such wonderful children, how about we each take care of one?"

The Second Master had a round face that looked somewhat arrogant when he smiled.

"Why are you even consulting me, Brother? It's never not you who picks first; I can only choose what's left over."

"That's not fair. As your elder brother, how could I not yield to you?" The Eldest Master laughed. "This time, you pick first. Between the two little girls, which one do you want to claim as your daughter?"

Yan Luo watched the tug-of-war between the First and Second branches; they both treated the Third branch beside them as if they were invisible.

Only the Third Madam had come today; the Third Master had a reclusive temperament and had not attended at all.

Duke Zhong sat in the seat of honor, remaining silent, showing no intention of speaking for the Third branch.

The Second Master's gaze lingered on Chu Yue and Yan Luo.

Chu Yue was intent on joining the First branch, so she avoided his gaze.

Chu Yue knew clearly that in her past life, after Yan Luo went to the First branch, she was raised as a precious eldest daughter of the main house.

Everything she ate and used was the finest. The Eldest Madam would often take her to palace banquets, allowing her to meet the Crown Prince.

The Eldest Master was the legitimate son of the main house; once Duke Zhong passed away, he would inherit the title.

Furthermore, the Eldest Madam came from a prestigious clan; her elder sister was the Consort Shu in the palace, making her word law in this inner household.

Chu Yue only wanted to be adopted by the First branch.

The Second Master spoke very bluntly and showed no politeness toward the Eldest Master.

"Then I will take Chu Yue."

The Second Madam smiled so widely she couldn't close her mouth. "The two of us have always wanted a daughter. Thank you, Brother, for fulfilling our wish."

The Eldest Master frowned almost imperceptibly.

Sensing the situation was turning unfavorable, Chu Yue hurriedly said, "Before descending the mountain, Master said I could only follow the Head of the House, otherwise my Koi Luck could not be utilized to its fullest potential."

The expressions of the Second branch members soured.

Fearing they would get angry, Chu Yue suddenly looked toward the quiet Yan Luo beside her.

"Second Father, Second Mother, please adopt my junior sister. Although her talent is mediocre, she is very well-behaved and quiet."

The Second Madam was seething with anger.

One Chu Yue, with her eyes set too high, only looking toward the First branch; and another, Yan Luo, who was useless with nothing but the ability to see ghosts—she was nothing but bad luck!

But she couldn't refuse to choose, as the State Preceptor had calculated that two spiritual girls were needed, and she also feared the Second branch would attract calamity.

"Yan Luo is not bad either," the Second Madam finally spoke. "At least she's easy to manage."

The Second Master said with some regret, "It's just... her capability is a bit lacking."

Hearing this, Yan Luo took the initiative to step forward.

"I just said I can see ghosts."

"We know."

"There is one right there." She extended a small finger and pointed toward a certain spot.

Everyone followed the direction of her finger, and their gazes fell simultaneously upon the Second Madam.

The Second Madam froze, pointing at herself. "Me??"

"Behind you." Yan Luo's tone was calm, which, paired with her natural childish voice, sounded eerie.

The Second Madam's face turned deathly pale.

She looked behind her repeatedly, but there was nothing there except for a four-panel screen painted with flowers and birds.

Could it be that due to her misfortune, she was the first to be haunted by a ghost?

"That ghost says her name is Xing'er, and that she died a wrongful death."

"Xing'er... she was the maidservant who held the keys by my side. She died a year ago!" the Second Madam trembled.

Yan Luo's voice was soft and sweet. "She is still here. She hasn't left at all."

The others fell silent, their expressions varied.

Only Yan Luo stared into the gap of the screen, locking eyes with a pair of eyes.

That wasn't a ghost; it was a person.

The words she had just spoken were not meant to scare the Second Madam, but to scare the person behind the screen.

Instantly, a figure suddenly lunged out from behind the screen.

"Mother, once you adopt a daughter, you'll never love me and Brother again! I won't allow you to adopt her!"

The newcomer was dressed in fine silks, wearing a gold Ruyi pendant with a hundred blessings around his neck, and he threw himself directly into the Second Madam's arms.

He was the youngest young master of the Second branch, Lin Shiying, and the apple of the Second branch's eye.

In her past life, at this very time, he had also been hiding behind the screen to eavesdrop.

Back then, Yan Luo possessed the Koi Luck and was fought over by the First and Second branches. Because the Second Madam failed to win against the First branch, she had fallen ill from anger for three days upon returning home.

Lin Shiying had held this grudge against Yan Luo and had always targeted her.

The Second Madam pulled him into a hug. "You little rascal, when did you hide behind the screen? Besides, wouldn't it be good to find a sister for you?"

Lin Shiying was nine years old this year, and he clung to the Second Madam without letting go.

"I don't want one!"

He threw a direct tantrum, rolling on the floor and kicking over a nearby tea table, sending teacups shattering across the ground.

Duke Zhong rebuked, "No manners! Get up!"

Seeing this, Chu Yue stepped forward, assuming the posture of a sister, attempting to soothe Lin Shiying.

"Fourth Brother, although my junior sister is raised by the Second branch, she won't compete with you."

"Who is your Fourth Brother? If you hadn't opened your mouth, how would my mother have thought about adopting a daughter?"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Shiying jumped up like a monkey, grabbed a piece of broken porcelain from the floor, and threw it at Chu Yue.

Chu Yue let out a cry of alarm and was about to dodge, but unexpectedly, her Koi Luck took effect. The broken porcelain actually bounced back, directly cutting Lin Shiying's cheek.

He let out a howl and began to wail loudly.

The Second Madam was heartbroken, and combined with Chu Yue's previous refusal to come to the Second branch, she began to scold.

"What kind of 'Koi Luck' brings blessings? The moment she enters the door, she harms my son! Is she a lucky star or a calamity star?"

The Eldest Madam stopped her sternly, "Sister-in-law, watch your words!"

Chu Yue's face was pale; she hadn't expected things to turn out this way either.

Only Yan Luo moved her small feet to stand a bit to the side. Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she pulled out the recently refined evil ghost jerky and began to chew it with loud *munch-munch* sounds.

*Good, let them fight.*

Duke Zhong was also angry. Being a military official, he let out a thunderous shout: "Enough!"

Everyone fell silent, except for Lin Shiying, who was still sobbing while clutching his face.

Duke Zhong glanced at Chu Yue. "I will decide this matter. Chu Yue will follow the Eldest's house. As for Yan Luo..."

Yan Luo licked the corner of her mouth to ensure she wouldn't be caught having eaten something unclean.

Duke Zhong looked toward the Third Madam of the Third branch, who had remained silent the entire time.

"Qingyu, from now on, this child will follow you and the Third Master."

A faint, pleasant light flickered in the depths of Yan Luo's eyes.