The weather grew increasingly hot, and the days lengthened.

As summer approached, the peonies in the courtyard wilted under the prolonged sunlight, their fading red blooms hidden among emerald leaves, no longer as vibrant as before.

In the Ke mansion’s courtyard, early in the morning, Madam Qin was already berating the servants.

“How do the servants in this mansion work? Such a large puddle and no one noticed? The new velvet carpet I changed yesterday now has water stains. I’ve been too lenient with you all, and now you’ve all learned to be lazy!”

Ke Chengxing had just changed clothes when he heard Madam Qin scolding people, and couldn’t help but frown.

He walked outside, gave a light cough, and said in a gentler tone, “Why are you angry again? It’s just a stained carpet, probably from last night’s rain, some maid must have accidentally tracked it in.”

“What do you mean accidentally? How could anyone accidentally leave such a large puddle?” Madam Qin’s eyebrows shot up, “Come look carefully, these footprints are so clear as if someone deliberately stepped on them. No, Ping’er, go call all the maids in the courtyard to come in, we’ll check their shoes one by one. I must find this wretched person today!”

Ke Chengxing found it headache-inducing and quickly found an excuse to leave.

After leaving the room, Wan Fu brought him a cup of tea to rinse his mouth. After using it, Ke Chengxing casually asked, “How come I haven’t seen Wan Quan for some days?”

Wan Fu’s gaze flickered several times before he smiled and said, “Thank you for your concern, master. A few days ago his cousin from the estate came, and the two brothers decided to go play in the mountains. I didn’t stop him, just let him go. He’ll be back in a few days.”

Ke Chengxing nodded, “He’s young, it’s good for him to move around more.”

Wan Fu quickly agreed with a smile and walked a few steps. Ke Chengxing sighed, “I don’t know why, but I haven’t been sleeping well these past few days, waking up four or five times a night. Sometimes after falling asleep, I suddenly wake up startled, only to find it’s still the fourth watch.”

Wan Fu suggested, “Why not find a doctor to take a look?”

Ke Chengxing thought for a moment and agreed. He then sent a card to invite a familiar doctor, who checked his pulse and examined him but found nothing wrong, prescribed some calming medicine, and left.

After the doctor left, seeing Ke Chengxing still somewhat dejected, Wan Fu consoled him, “Master, don’t worry. Perhaps it’s just the hot weather making you uncomfortable. Let’s see how you feel after taking these doses of medicine.”

Ke Chengxing nodded and went outside for a walk. When he returned to the room, he found Madam Qin sitting there sulking.

Ke Chengxing smiled and approached, gripping her shoulders: “Did you find out whose muddy footprints they were?”

“No!” Madam Qin irritably pushed his hands away, “Isn’t it strange? We checked all the maids in the courtyard, but couldn’t find the owner of those footprints. It’s like seeing a ghost!”

Ke Chengxing just laughed: “If you can’t find them, let it be. It’s just a carpet, we can buy another one tomorrow.”

Madam Qin sneered: “You make it sound so easy. You don’t manage the household so you don’t know the cost of daily necessities, that’s why you speak so grandly.” She rattled on, her tongue sharp, with maids and old women serving nearby, making Ke Chengxing red-faced and embarrassed. After enduring for a long while, he finally escaped to his study.

Only after entering his study did Ke Chengxing finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He was truly afraid of this wife.

Truth be told, Madam Qin was quite pretty and the daughter of a minor official. By all accounts, it was the Ke family marrying up. But perhaps due to being spoiled at home, Madam Qin’s temperament was somewhat domineering. As soon as she came to the Ke family, she seized control of household management and had a fiery disposition. Ke Chengxing didn’t dare freely use the income from the Ke family shops.

Old Madam Ke always advised him to endure for now, saying that after giving birth to a legitimate son, Madam Qin’s temperament would naturally soften. But whenever Ke Chengxing faced his newly wedded wife, he always felt a suffocating sense of oppression.

At such times, Ke Chengxing would always think of Lady Lu.

Lady Lu’s temperament was completely different from Madam Qin’s. She was always gentle and graceful, putting him first in everything, and considerate in every way. She was also beautiful, with bright eyes and a kind gaze, an orchid heart, and a smart nature. When she turned and walked, she was like a willow swaying, flowers smiling in early spring beauty.

Such a Lady Lu, no man could resist being attracted to her, so at Fengle Tower, she would…

Ke Chengxing suddenly shuddered and didn’t continue the thought.

Wan Fu came in from outside, bringing him some fresh fruit and brewing a pot of strong tea. Madam Qin was not only sharp-tongued but also controlled him strictly. After entering the household, she first disciplined all the serving maids in the courtyard. Even if some had thoughts of climbing up, they wouldn’t dare act after seeing Madam Qin.

As time passed, Ke Chengxing inevitably felt restless.

He asked Wan Fu, “Have you collected all the rent I asked you to gather?”

Wan Fu’s heart skipped a beat, but he smiled without showing it: “Almost, just a little more left.”

Ke Chengxing made a sound of acknowledgment and said quietly, “In a few days, when she’s lazy after her birthday, take that rent money and accompany me to Fengle Tower for some leisure.”

Wan Fu smiled and agreed, answered a few more of Ke Chengxing’s questions, and then withdrew.

As it neared noon, the sun grew fiercer, shining through the window into the room, making people feel lazy and drowsy all over.

Ke Chengxing had intended to hide in his study for a while to avoid Madam Qin’s nagging and casually picked up a book to read, but before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.

He hadn’t slept well for several days, and this time he fell into a deep sleep and had a dream.

In the dream, he was lying on a couch, and a young woman with a casual bun was bending down to tuck in his blanket. This woman wore a light moon-white jacket with gold embroidered flowers, her figure graceful and delicate. Her head was lowered so he couldn’t see her face, but he could see a small crimson birthmark on the back of her neck.

With such a beauty close by, Ke Chengxing couldn’t help but feel stirred, wanting to get closer. He tried to sit up and embrace her but found he couldn’t move at all. He only heard the woman’s voice floating into his ears from far to near, calling him “Master” again and again.

He vaguely felt this voice was familiar but couldn’t recall where he had heard it before. As he was struggling to remember, he suddenly felt an icy coldness on his body. Instinctively looking up, he saw the woman with her head still lowered, ice-cold water drops dripping from her black hair, soaking his bedding cold.

“You—”

The woman raised her head, revealing a deathly pale yet beautiful face: “Master—”

Ke Chengxing screamed in horror.

He suddenly opened his eyes. Outside, the sunlight was warm, and the fragrance of peonies from the courtyard was pleasant. Ke Chengxing wiped his face, only to find his forehead covered in cold sweat.

He breathed a sigh of relief, then cursed quietly, “Bad luck!”

On such a fine day, to dream of Lady Lu for no reason. The crimson birthmark on his late wife’s neck no longer held its former charm and loveliness, instead filling him with dread, reminding him of the day she died when her recovered body lay in the sunlight, the red birthmark as eye-catching as blood.

Ke Chengxing rubbed his brow, then suddenly felt hot. Looking down, he found someone had covered him with a thin blanket.

No wonder he was sweating, being covered with a blanket in such hot weather. Ke Chengxing said irritably, “Wan Fu, Wan Fu—”

He called twice, but Wan Fu didn’t answer. He stood up, intending to go to the door to call someone. After taking two steps, Ke Chengxing suddenly stopped.

The study door was tightly closed, but from his window-side desk to the study door, a line of wet footprints had appeared at some unknown time.

These footprints were soaked with water, as if the person had just climbed out of the water and walked there, leaving a trail of dark water stains dripping everywhere.

They were small and delicate, about the length of a palm.

They were a woman’s footprints.