Ji Household.

Flower hall.

Ji Lingchuan sat dazedly in his chair, head hanging, not saying a word.

What he was thinking, no one knew.

“Old Master Ji has been questioned thoroughly enough.”

Yan Sanhe said to Pei Xiao, “Go summon your Third Aunt!”

If it were someone else daring to speak to Master Pei this way, they’d be cursed to death. But the other party was Yan Sanhe. Master Pei’s gaze at her now held just two words:

You’re ruthless!

“Wait, I’ll personally go summon her!”

Pei Xiao pushed open the door and left. Yan Sanhe also took the opportunity to get some air in the courtyard, pacing while slowly digesting the old lady’s matters in her mind.

Li Buyan stood under the tree shade, arms crossed, not daring to disturb her.

Though they knew the old lady’s past, this past had no connection whatsoever to the dog. In other words, they were still eighty thousand li away from the old lady’s heart demon.

Next, it depended on whether Sanhe could find something useful for dispelling obsessions from this pile of chaotic past events.

“Third Aunt is here.”

This shout made Yan Sanhe stop her steps, Li Buyan raise her head.

Pei Xiao entered the courtyard first, followed by a nobly dressed woman.

“Let me introduce—this is Miss Yan, an expert in solving cases invited by the North City Military Commissioner. Miss Yan, this is my Third Aunt.”

Yan Sanhe observed the woman before her.

Around forty years old, pearls and jade adorning her hair, her face and figure showing she’d been a beauty when young. But a mole the size of a soybean at the head of her left brow made her look somewhat fierce.

As Yan Sanhe observed, the woman also observed her, secretly raising suspicions in her heart.

This young?

And a woman?

It can’t be!

“What is Third Madam’s maiden name?”

“Ning.”

“The flower hall awaits.”

“Wait!”

Pei Xiao suddenly called out coldly, “Third Aunt, though Miss Yan is young and a woman, she was invited with great difficulty by Third Master Xie. In a moment, whatever she asks you, answer truthfully without concealment.”

Who was Third Master Xie? Ning-shi’s heart was crystal clear. She quickly smiled. “Eldest Nephew, rest assured. I’ll naturally speak one as one, two as two.”

Yan Sanhe: “Third Madam, then please.”

Ning-shi stepped across the threshold. Seeing the eldest master sitting in a chair, she first exhaled a soundless breath of cold air through her nose, then reluctantly stepped forward to pay respects.

Ji Lingchuan came back to himself and waved his hand, indicating she should sit.

Pei Xiao entered last. After entering, he slammed the door shut with a “bang”—so heavy and loud that even Yan Sanhe’s heart trembled slightly.

Ning-shi sipped her tea, set down the cup, and slowly wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.

“Making such a grand display, even inviting an expert—what kind of enormous case has occurred in this household? Quickly tell me so I can hear!”

At these words, Yan Sanhe instantly understood why Master Pei personally went to invite her, why he added that extra comment, and why the door closing was so loud!

This Third Madam…

Was not an easy lamp to light!

Since she wasn’t an easy lamp, Yan Sanhe’s mind stirred and she changed her form of address.

“Ning-shi, how did you marry into the Ji household? Who arranged it? Who made the decision?”

Ning-shi was asked in bewilderment. “What, this is related to that whatever case?”

Yan Sanhe said sternly, “You just answer my questions. Whether it’s related to the case isn’t for you to ask.”

Ning-shi was startled. Only then did she seriously examine Yan Sanhe again.

With this examination, she was quite astonished.

This young lady might be young, but her spine was ramrod straight, her eyes darkly somber, her entire body emanating an icy chill.

Definitely not an ordinary person!

Only then did Ning-shi honestly answer, “I was personally selected by the old lady, carried through the gates upright and proper in an eight-bearer wedding sedan.”

This time, it was Yan Sanhe’s turn to be shocked.

By rights, someone personally selected by the old lady should be closest to her in this household. How did it turn into the most bitter feud instead?

Yan Sanhe looked toward Pei Xiao. “What kind of family background is the Ning family?”

Pei Xiao said, “My Third Aunt’s natal family are wealthy merchants from Zhending Prefecture.”

Ning-shi wasn’t satisfied with Eldest Nephew’s light description, saying proudly, “All the jujube orchards in Zhending Prefecture belong to my Ning family.”

No wonder pearls and jade adorned her head—turns out her natal family was wealthy. Otherwise, one official, one merchant, one in the capital, one in Zhending Prefecture—they could never intermarry.

Yan Sanhe asked again, “In the Ning family, what is your birth order?”

Ning-shi raised her head with a smile. “Eldest daughter, legitimate birth. When I married into the Ji family, I brought one hundred twenty sets of dowry, filling three entire boats. When spread out, they stretched for over ten li.”

With this answer, even Li Buyan’s expression changed slightly.

Third Madam, we know your family is wealthy—no need to mention it in every sentence. Haven’t you heard the saying “wealth should not be flaunted”?

Yan Sanhe frowned. “In your eyes, what kind of person was your mother-in-law?”

This question came suddenly. Ning-shi looked left and right. Seeing everyone’s gaze on her, she muttered, “What kind of person could she be? An elder.”

“Elders can be good or bad, kind or tricky, soft-hearted or ruthless, magnanimous and tolerant, or petty and intolerant.”

Yan Sanhe asked, “Which kind was she?”

Ning-shi froze, her face slowly turning livid. For a long time, she couldn’t speak.

Master Pei had no such patience. Just as he was about to open his mouth to urge her, he saw Yan Sanhe’s blade-like gaze turn toward him. He could only honestly close his mouth.

“Hard to answer? Then let me change the question.”

Yan Sanhe: “Do you have any children?”

Ning-shi smiled self-mockingly. “My fate is poor—I bore three money-losing goods.”

The legitimate wife has no sons?

Yan Sanhe then asked, “How many concubines does Third Master have?”

This couldn’t be concealed either. Ning-shi said openly, “Three concubines.”

Yan Sanhe: “Do they all have children?”

Ning-shi seemed annoyed by the questioning, her tone very harsh. “How could they not? With handles and without—they have both!”

Yan Sanhe: “Since there are sons, did you register them under your name?”

“Why should I raise someone else’s sons?”

Ning-shi glanced at Ji Lingchuan sitting to the side, sneering repeatedly.

“Who knows if they’ll prove loyal once raised. Besides, what concubines bear are from concubines. Can they deceive others or deceive themselves? I don’t want to be anyone’s stepping stone for nothing.”

These words were truly something.

Loaded with barbs, insinuating, pointing at mulberry to curse locust trees—not missing a single one!

Ji Lingchuan already had a big fire in his heart. Being stabbed like this again, he slapped the table and shouted sternly, “Ning-shi, who are you saying used others as a stepping stone?”

“Aiyo, my great master!”

Ning-shi covered her heart, looking shocked.

“I didn’t name names saying it was you. Why so sensitive?”

“You…”

“Our Ning family isn’t like those Zhang families or Li families with power and influence—at most, we have a few extra stinking copper coins at home.”

Ning-shi sneered. “Even if this stepping stone is set up, it’s useless!”

Ji Lingchuan was so angry he grabbed a teacup and smashed it violently on the floor.

“How did Mother ever take a liking to you, this shrew? Truly a household misfortune.”