On stage, the storyteller was passionately narrating, “Old Master Li, scared out of his wits, turned and fled. But after taking a couple of steps, he realized something was amiss. The ghost with the long tongue and a pale face, wasn’t she wearing the red shoes belonging to the wicked second auntie?”
The audience below was captivated. Two servants dressed in livery sitting in the corner remarked in amazement, “This story has been circulating everywhere. How did this storyteller manage to weave it together so differently? It sounds completely unique.”
Another person added, “Why bother about this? The Li family’s sudden demise overnight, it’s either someone hired an assassin, or there’s some demonic activity going on. Sigh, the things that happen in these wealthy households, you see them but pretend you haven’t!”
He spoke with a deep sense of emotion, prompting the curious person who asked earlier to inquire, “Aren’t you working at Madam Wang’s residence in the Zhou Mansion? How about it, does the Zhou Mansion also have such filthy affairs?”
“Can’t say, can’t say,” the worker from the Zhou Mansion hastily waved his hand, stood up, and prepared to return to the mansion. “If I casually make up stories about upper-class affairs, I’m afraid no one will hire me again in the future! Nothing happened; I’ll be on my way!”
By now, the sky had darkened, and the round of idle chatter was coming to an end. The laborer hurriedly made his way back to the Zhou Mansion. From a distance, he could see the Zhou Mansion bustling and bright as day. Squeezing through a side entrance into the courtyard, he noticed a Taoist priest performing a ritual!
Zhou Taixing, the head of the Zhou family, sat in the living room with an angry expression, accompanied by his two sons.
“This shallow-minded woman!” Mr. Zhou couldn’t bear it any longer, slapped the table, and was so infuriated that he trembled, breathing heavily. “A Taoist priest? Was she the one supposed to invite him?! Where does she want to put the Zhou Mansion?!”
This statement was too severe.
The eldest son of the Zhou family, Zhou You, wanted to defend his mother with a couple of words, “Mom did it to prevent any harm to us.”
“What harm could there be?” Mr. Zhou retorted, “With such a big scene, in Xinan County, the entire Zhou Mansion is probably becoming a big joke!”
The two sons dared not speak any further and could only keep silent.
The second son, Zhou Fang, who had recently returned from studying in the capital, suddenly remembered something and said to Zhou Taixing, “Dad, where’s Zhou Ning?”
Mr. Zhou’s face darkened, and he snorted, “What does it matter!”
The Zhou Mansion, a prominent family that had relocated from Jinyang, usually kept a low profile. However, ever since the third young master of the Zhou family died a few days ago, the atmosphere in the entire Zhou Mansion seemed to have fallen ill.
Candles lit mysteriously at night, red marks appearing on the dressing mirror, casually placed red shoes… The most terrifying experience belonged to Madam Wang. In the shallow pond, barely a meter deep, she was nearly drowned!
Madam Wang was in the courtyard, closely watching the Taoist priest’s ritual. Her face was pale, her eyes lifeless, portraying the appearance of someone who had not yet recovered from a serious illness.
“Sister,” her second elder sister picked up a handkerchief and carefully wiped the water stains from the corners of her red lips, “look at this Taoist, jumping around. Doesn’t look like he’s here to ward off evil, more like he’s here to perform.”
Her remark, more mocking than directed at the Taoist, seemed reminiscent of their third sister who passed away two months ago.
The third sister, previously purchased by Old Master Zhou from the largest brothel in Jinyang, wasn’t she also a performer?
Madam Wang continued to stare at the Taoist, seemingly oblivious to her sister’s words.
“Humph.” The second sister stood up, swaying her hips as she walked away, not letting Madam Wang off easily. “People who don’t do unscrupulous things won’t face retribution. Sister has been scared into this state. It would be a disgrace if this were known to others.”
Madam Wang only spat after she left, her murky eyes filled with disgust. “Even a performer has died. Why hasn’t this disgusting thing died yet!”
After a while, the Taoist, sweating profusely, descended from the altar.
A maid by Madam Wang’s side quickly handed him a handkerchief, and the Taoist, pleasantly surprised, took it with both hands, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Madam Wang, seeing him nearly done wiping, hurriedly asked, “How is it? Is it almost dispelled?”
“It’s strange,” the Taoist pondered, having some genuine skills. “I’ve looked around the entire mansion, but I can’t see any dirty things that could harm people. Madam, are you sure it’s the work of ghosts and monsters?”
In fact, there was another possibility: the evil entity causing trouble in the Zhou Mansion was produced by the Zhou family itself. It had powers surpassing those of the Taoist, and it was retaliating against its own people. This was karma, and others couldn’t interfere, nor did they have the capability to do so.
Madam Wang, of course, was unaware of this possibility. She considered the incident of falling into the water as a conspiracy and manipulation by others, and while she breathed a sigh of relief, she couldn’t help but harbor resentment. “Since it’s intentional, this matter must be thoroughly investigated! If I find out who the despicable person is, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
A gust of wind blew, and the Taoist, glancing up inadvertently, was immediately startled and took a few steps back.
Madam Wang, why, why was there suddenly a blood-red cloud looming over her head?
“Ah,” Madam Wang asked with kindness in her eyes, “Taoist, what’s wrong with you?”
What kindness in her eyes? This is clearly a blood-red cloud! How many people has this harmed? How much resentment must it bear?!
The Taoist, unsettled, bid farewell on the spot, and Madam Wang didn’t detain him. She instructed a maid to give him some silver coins and let him go.
People in the main hall were each absorbed in their thoughts.
Second Young Master Zhou Fang kept looking at the Western-style clock hanging on the wall and occasionally glanced at the door.
Old Master Zhou and Zhou You both sensed that he had something on his mind. Old Master Zhou couldn’t be bothered to speak, and Zhou You asked with a smiling face, “Second Brother, what’s the matter? Do you have urgent business?”
Zhou Fang smiled, “It’s not an urgent matter. A classmate I met in school is coming to visit me today. It’s just that something urgent happened on the way. It seems that he could only arrive at night.”
“A classmate?” Old Master Zhou interjected, lifting his teacup and asking, “Which family’s classmate?”
In this era, families who could afford to send their children to study in the capital were either powerful or wealthy. The Zhou family fell short on both of these conditions. However, owing to a favor from a higher-up in their earlier years, they had thought of sending several young masters from the Zhou family to study in the capital. However, the eldest son felt more at ease at home, the third son was frail, and the fourth son was too young. In the end, only the second son went.
When Zhou Fang heard his father’s question, an unconsciously proud expression appeared on his face. It was clear he had been eagerly waiting for this question. “Dad, he is the eldest son of the Zong family in the capital!”
Zhou Taixing’s hand holding the teacup trembled, and he spilled most of the tea. He asked with a trembling voice, “Is it… Is it the one surnamed Zong?”
Zhou Fang nodded confidently.
Old Master Zhou burst into laughter, his face full of joy. “Good, good, good! You, this child, why didn’t you mention such a significant matter earlier? Haha, quickly, quickly, have someone prepare a room in the guest quarters! And inform Madam!”
“Prepare the feast, prepare the feast!”
When Madam Wang and Second Aunt1concubine received the news, they were equally astonished.
“Are you saying that the second son invited the eldest son of the Zong family from the capital?” Second Aunt, holding a flushed handkerchief, asked the maid again, unable to believe it.
The maid blushed, her eyes shining with spring. “Yes, I heard that the eldest son of the Zong family is genuinely handsome and talented. Now, we have the honor of meeting him. Our Second Young Master has truly done a good thing.”
Second Aunt was stunned for a moment, and when she came to her senses, she saw the maid’s charming expression. She laughed and scolded, “Look at you, with that spring-like gaze. What about you? Do you also want to be a phoenix perched on a high branch?”
The maid wasn’t afraid of her, smiling as she replied, “All of us sisters want to gather around the Zong family’s eldest son. I’m afraid Madam’s three daughters are even more eager than us!”
Second Aunt sneered, “Those three insignificant ones, dreaming of going there.”
The maid hit the mark. The three young ladies were truly excited, immediately starting to dress up and gathering in Madam Wang’s room to inquire about the preferences of the Zong family’s eldest son.
Madam Wang lay on the bed, resting with closed eyes, advising her three daughters, “I heard that young masters from these big families like gentle and considerate young ladies. Remember to pay attention to that.”
Feeling a bit unwell, she waved her hand, and the three daughters left chattering.
After they left, Madam Wang suddenly shivered. “Ah-mei, why is it so cold in the room? Quickly add more fire!”
“Alright.” Ah-mei trembled, sweating profusely as she added another piece of firewood.
…
In the hall, Zhou Fang thought the time was almost right and asked Zhou Taixing again, “Dad, where’s Zhou Ning?”
Zhou Taixing’s face turned cold, but he didn’t show the same displeasure as before. “You ask him. Tell me.”
“Dad, you don’t know,” Zhou Fang said with a bitter expression, “The eldest son of the Zong family is willing to come to me because of my fourth brother!”
“For the fourth brother?!” Zhou You exclaimed.
“That’s right!” Zhou Fang recalled, “He originally had a younger brother at home, similar in age and appearance to my fourth brother. The eldest son of the Zong family loved his younger brother dearly, almost treating him like his own. Unfortunately, the younger brother fell seriously ill… Since he heard about the passing of my fourth brother’s mother, he has been silent, lost in thought. He especially wanted to meet my fourth brother. The eldest son of the Zong family is such a prominent figure, and I can’t afford to refuse such a request!”
“…” Zhou You shook his head regretfully and sighed, “It’s a pity for the young master of the Zong family. No wonder he came to visit for the sake of the fourth brother.”
“And the fourth brother?” Zhou Fang observed Zhou Taixing’s expression.
Zhou Taixing had no grievances at all. With the sole focus of climbing the social ladder, he eagerly wanted to establish connections with the Zong family. He wished he could say to them, “Consider my fourth son as your own!” How could he not cooperate? He instructed the people around him, “Go find Zhou Ning.”
Zhou You thought, anyway, this fourth son can’t even speak. He’s as dull as a log. What harm could he do? If this could establish a relationship with the Zong family, who wouldn’t do it? Moreover, this son, although a hidden trouble, is not visible!
Zhou Fang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Dad is reasonable. If it weren’t for the fourth brother, he would have wasted so much effort enthusiastically welcoming the young master of the Zong family, becoming a laughingstock!
Author’s note:
The background is fictional, fictional, fictional!
Zong Yuan: I’m lonely. I didn’t even make an appearance in this chapter.
Zhou Jin: …My name wasn’t even mentioned. Did I say anything at all?
