At the marquis’s residence, the crow that had been sprinkled with luminescent powder kept circling overhead, calling out continuously.

“Caw!”

The green glow flashed rapidly.

Everyone followed the crow’s direction, chasing back and forth, continuously circling around the rear courtyard.

More and more onlookers gathered, forming an almost endless long line.

Ji Yinshu chased the crow, and those people followed Ji Yinshu.

Quite spectacular!

The crow seemed to be deliberately toying with people, flying low one moment, high the next, but never landing.

Marquis Kang was originally portly and physically weak. On normal days, walking a few steps would leave him gasping for breath, let alone now running several circles following that crow—he was already exhausted.

He stopped his heavy steps, gasping heavily, drenched in sweat.

Not chasing anymore!

No matter what, not chasing anymore!

Continuing like this would surely kill someone.

He supported his stout waist with both hands, lifting his sleeves to frantically wipe away sweat.

“Master, how… much longer? If this continues, I really… really can’t run anymore.”

Ji Yinshu also stopped, withdrawing her gaze from the crow to glance at him. “Marquis, if you want to find your treasures and catch the ghost that’s been causing trouble in the residence recently, then have a bit of patience.”

Compared to the completely exhausted Marquis Kang, she was clearly much more relaxed.

“I… I really… can’t run anymore.”

He waved his hand.

Not chasing!

Really can’t do it anymore!

“The Marquis should exercise that body full of flesh. Too much fat easily leads to illness.”

Uh!

Marquis Kang was left speechless.

But—

He pointed at the crow in the sky and asked, “How much longer will this go on?”

Ji Yinshu glanced at the fuzzy moon. “Probably… the moonlight hasn’t reached a certain place yet.”

“The moon? What does this have to do with the moon?”

“Because crows like shiny things.”

Hmm?

“Shiny things?” Marquis Kang muttered. “What would that be?”

Puzzled in his heart.

The surrounding maids and servants also heard this and pondered it among themselves.

“Caw!”

The crow called out.

Ji Yinshu looked up, gripped her lantern tighter, and said, “Marquis, we should still continue.”

Having said this, she lifted the lantern in one hand and her robe in the other, chasing after the crow’s direction.

The maids and servants didn’t think much and also chased after her.

After all, this was the marquis’s residence business. Marquis Kang had no reason to wait idly in place. So after catching his breath for a while, he also took large steps to follow.

The group, in the vast rear courtyard, went through corridors and alleys.

Back and forth…

On the other side.

Jingrong’s expression was grave. He slightly raised his gaze, watching that distant cluster of green light flashing and circling in the pitch-black sky.

Nearly half an incense stick’s worth of time had passed.

Lang Bo held a sword, leaning against an outer pillar.

“Your Highness, won’t you go take a look?”

“Follow a crow running all over the courtyard?” Jingrong asked him back.

“Didn’t Master Ji say that crow is a master?”

Hehe!

You believe that?

Jingrong smiled, finding that woman utterly adorable. “A master? I’m afraid in this world only she could come up with such a novel term.”

Lang Bo was puzzled. “Your Highness, why did Master Ji have people watch those guards outside the marquis’s residence? Aren’t we catching ghosts in the residence? Could there be… some trick to this?”

After returning from the courtyard where Marquis Kang kept his treasures this morning, Ji Yinshu had Jingrong secretly send people to watch those guards outside the marquis’s residence.

Report immediately if there was any movement.

Clearly there was a trick to this, and not a small one!

But what exactly was Ji Yinshu’s plan?

No one knew.

Jingrong shook his head. “This prince doesn’t know either. Let’s wait quietly.”

Wait to watch a good show!

In the distance, that crow was still constantly circling in the air.

At this moment, Muruo and Tang Si both came over.

The former’s face was grave, the latter’s expression leisurely.

Upon entering the courtyard, Muruo stepped up the stairs and walked to Jingrong’s side, following his line of sight.

In the ink-colored darkness, a cluster of green light flashed back and forth!

Like a person, yet also like a firefly.

Muruo asked, “I heard the residence is catching ghosts?”

“Mm, currently catching them.”

“It seems this ghost-catching won’t be just one ghost!”

His words carried implications, meaningful and profound.

Jingrong looked at him sideways. “What do you mean by that?”

Muruo paused briefly. “Those dozen or so people aren’t sick at all.”

“Pretending?”

“Mm.”

Jingrong found this extremely interesting. “Tsk tsk,” he narrowed his eyes slightly. “So the ghosts in this residence are truly countless. That crow master will probably be quite busy.”

“Master? Did Master Ji invite one?” Muruo was curious.

“Didn’t invite one—it flew here on its own.”

Just as he finished speaking, Tang Si in the courtyard suddenly pointed at the sky and shouted loudly, “Look quickly, that crow is flying down.”

Indeed, the crow descended from the pitch-black night sky.

“I’m going to look too, to catch the ghost that knocked on my door that night—definitely can’t let him go.”

After Tang Si finished speaking, she took off running.

And as soon as she left—

Jingrong’s guard hurriedly entered.

He reported, “Your Highness, we just discovered several guards carrying some things, sneaking in through the back door.”

“Carrying what?”

“Not clear.”

“Go watch them closely.”

“Yes.”

The guard withdrew.

Jingrong’s expression was grave.

Seeing this, Muruo asked, “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “It was Yunshu who had this prince send people to carefully watch those guards. I didn’t expect those guards would actually make a move.”

Having said this, he fell into thought!

Muruo: “What did you think of?”

“Without receiving special orders from the Marquis, the guards aren’t allowed to enter the residence. Why would they sneak in carrying things?” Pondering this, he suddenly understood, the corner of his mouth curving into a smile. “So that’s it—she wants to lure the snake out of its hole.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you say the ghosts in the residence aren’t just one? Come, let’s go catch the big ghost.”

Hmm?

Before Muruo could react, Jingrong swept his sleeves and strode out of the courtyard.

“Wait for me.”

…

The crow landed on a rooftop, its sharp beak continuously pecking at the tiles.

Making crisp sounds.

Seeing this scene, everyone felt strange.

The rooftop where the crow landed was precisely the room where those dozen or so sick people in the residence were staying.

“Why did the crow come here?” Marquis Kang was puzzled.

Ji Yinshu’s lips curved upward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke, “The treasures the Marquis lost are on the rafters in this room.”

“The… the rafters?”

“That’s right.” She was certain.

Marquis Kang was stunned, looking at her, then at that room.

Curious in his heart.

Right at this moment—

A sheet of flames suddenly burst out from inside the room.

“Ah!”

Screams came out.

Immediately after, thick smoke poured out from the cracks in the door.

Eh?

The people outside instinctively retreated backward, looking at each other, no one daring to speak.

Inside the room, figures moved in panic.

Shouts, screams…

A scene of misery.