Xie Erli’s instinct told him something was very wrong. He quickly turned back to the mourning hall entrance.

Before he could even step across the threshold, he heard the maid sobbing, “Second Master, Second Madam… she… she miscarried.”

The mourning hall instantly went silent.

Second Brother Zhu: “What did you say?”

The maid wiped her tears while saying, “She miscarried. It was a male fetus, already formed.”

How could this be?

Second Brother Zhu swayed, standing there completely dazed. Just days ago when Imperial Physician Pei had examined her pulse, he’d said mother and child were both well.

Second Brother Zhu quickly pulled three copper coins from his chest and tossed them to the ground.

All three coins landed reverse side up.

This meant great misfortune!

Second Brother Zhu staggered back several steps and collapsed into a chair, unable to speak for a long time.

Xie Erli’s heart pounded wildly, his anxiety transforming into terror that gripped his heart like a vice.

Could his father-in-law really… truly have a heart demon?

…

Xie Zhifei rushed through the rain to the Zhu residence, meeting his anxious eldest brother at the side gate.

Xie Erli lifted his umbrella to indicate he should duck under.

Xie Zhifei ducked inside.

On the way here, he’d heard Wei Lin briefly explain, but still hadn’t grasped the full picture.

“Brother, what exactly happened?”

“Three coffins—every time the person is placed inside, they shatter into pieces, as if exploding.”

“Coffin explosion?”

Xie Zhifei felt like he was listening to fantasy, finding it all unbelievable.

“Half an hour ago, Second Madam of Zhu Manor inexplicably miscarried. Ten days ago Uncle Pei examined her pulse and said all was well.”

Seeing Third Brother remain silent, Xie Erli nudged him with his elbow, lowering his voice cautiously. “Third Brother, is this… a heart demon?”

Xie Zhifei’s expression froze. “It looks very much like one, only…”

“Only what?”

Xie Zhifei didn’t know how to explain. After hesitating quite a while, he finally answered, “The misfortune to descendants came too quickly.”

Yan Xing was two months later.

Old Lady Ji also had some time pass.

Jingchen had nothing at all.

Xie Erli looked at his brother. “Then do you think… it could be coincidence?”

“Hard to say. This matter still requires asking Yan Sanhe.”

“Third Brother.”

Xie Erli: “Can you quickly find Miss Yan and have her come determine this?”

Xie Zhifei could only smile bitterly. “Brother, she returned to Yunnan Prefecture. She won’t be back in the capital for two months.”

Yunnan Prefecture?

Two months?

Well then!

The flowers would all be wilted by then.

Xie Erli’s heart went completely cold.

Xie Zhifei thought for a moment. “Brother, why don’t you first speak with the Zhu family and see what they think?”

Say what?

How to say it?

Xie Erli sighed. “Third Brother, this manor is surnamed Zhu, not Xie.”

What kind of family was the Zhu clan?

Generations of divination experts, reading celestial phenomena, determining people’s fates—what supernatural occurrences hadn’t they seen? To say the Zhu family was the most mysterious great clan in the capital wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Moreover, this profession required people of exceptional intelligence and spiritual sensitivity.

So the Zhu family were all clever people. Clever people had their own methods of doing things. To rashly bring up heart demons—they simply wouldn’t believe it.

Not only wouldn’t they believe, his three brothers-in-law would spray him in the face and roar: “What the hell do you know?”

“Fifty, Brother, I’ve been looking for you two everywhere—turns out you’re hiding here.”

Just then, Young Master Pei came hurrying over with an umbrella. Standing still, he spoke rapidly:

“I’ve arranged for three monks and three Daoist priests—they’re already chanting scriptures and performing rituals in the mourning hall. But I think this matter is eight or nine out of ten a heart de—mmph…”

His mouth was already covered by Xie Fifty.

Young Master Pei blinked a few times: Why won’t you let me speak?

Xie Fifty pressed his brows down: Take a look where we are!

Young Master Pei made a sound of disdain in his throat.

So what if it’s Zhu Manor?

What’s so special about it?

“Brother.”

Xie Zhifei released his hand. “If it really doesn’t work, let’s wait and see.”

“That’s all we can do.”

Xie Erli tilted his head. “Mingting, you just came from the mourning hall—how is it there?”

Pei Mingting wiped his tender lips that had been defiled by Xie Fifty’s five fingers with his handkerchief.

“The three Zhu brothers—one is deducing and calculating, one is using six-line divination, one is using a compass to find the inauspicious position… I don’t understand any of it and didn’t dare ask too much. Once I delivered them to the courtyard, I was asked to leave.”

Asked to leave?

Xie Erli quickly said, “How many people are still in the mourning hall?”

Pei Mingting: “They cleared the place. Just the three brothers remain, plus Liu the Half-Immortal who’s already gone stupid.”

Xie Erli thought to himself that he’d guessed exactly right—the Zhu family had their own methods of doing things and wouldn’t easily believe others.

Just then, a commotion came from the second gate.

What now?

The three exchanged glances and hurried over.

Having walked only a short distance, they saw a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth come running through the rain—it was Chenxiang, the medicine apprentice never far from Pei Yu’s side.

“Chenxiang, where are you going?”

Pei Mingting immediately called out to him. “Why aren’t you even holding an umbrella in this heavy rain?”

Seeing his young master, Chenxiang said urgently, “Second Madam’s fetus didn’t come out cleanly—she’s bleeding. The master sent me back to fetch medicine. It’s a matter of life and death, Young Master. I must go first.”

Pei Mingting watched the young fellow’s retreating figure with admiration. “This kid is both clever and diligent. No wonder my father keeps him by his side.”

Having spoken, he turned his head to see beneath one umbrella four eyes staring straight at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Xie Erli: “She just miscarried, and now she’s bleeding?”

Xie Zhifei: “To the point of life and death.”

Young Master Pei: “You mean…”

“Third Brother, I have an idea.”

Xie Erli shifted his gaze to Xie Zhifei. Xie Zhifei looked back at him. “I also have an idea.”

Xie Erli: “Then shall we try?”

“Let’s try!”

Xie Zhifei pulled Young Master Pei along. “What are you standing there for? Keep up!”

Young Master Pei hurried to catch up. “What idea? Tell me quickly.”

“…”

“The mourning hall is this way. Where are we going?”

“…”

“…Hey… hey… Xie Fifty, will it kill you to answer me!”

…

The Zhu family’s second household courtyard was truly a winding path through secluded beauty.

The courtyard had a “fertility promotion array” set up, yet from the side rooms came Second Madam’s increasingly anguished wails.

Madam Zhu stood under the eaves, anxious and worried.

Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law had been married so many years with only two daughters. Finally this pregnancy was a son, yet inexplicably it had been lost.

At the mourning hall, three coffins had suddenly split open.

Though Madam Zhu hadn’t learned the Zhu family’s specialized skills, growing up with constant exposure had made her understand—the Zhu family had encountered a great calamity this time, extremely dangerous.

“First Sister-in-law.”

Madam Zhu looked up. “Third Brother, Mingting, why did you come?”

“Brother, I’ll shelter from the rain at Mingting’s place. You go bring First Sister-in-law over to talk.”

Xie Zhifei’s body shifted lightly, ducking under Young Master Pei’s umbrella.

Xie Erli walked under the eaves and brought his umbrella close. “Come with me. I have something to say.”

Madam Zhu was slightly stunned.