Main hall.

Madam Mao sat upright in the seat of honor, wearing a gray straight-collared robe. Though her eye sockets were sunken and her complexion dark, the bearing of the household’s mistress remained undiminished.

“Miss Yan, you…”

Yan Sanhe waved her hand, indicating she shouldn’t speak yet, then sat openly and directly at her right hand.

The women were shocked.

This position, besides the deceased master, only the household-managing eldest son could sit—how could a mere young girl…

Before they could finish thinking, Yan Sanhe had already spoken coldly.

“Are there any unrelated people in this room?”

“Miss Yan, they’re all related.”

Lady Zhu quickly introduced, “This one is my…”

“Sister-in-law, stop. No need for detailed introductions.”

Yan Sanhe stood up, her gaze sweeping in a circle. “I’m called Yan Sanhe. I’m the person Eldest Master of your residence invited to transform thoughts and resolve demons for your master.”

Transform thoughts and resolve demons?

That didn’t sound like good words.

But the Zhu household was unlike other families—the masters all had some knowledge of supernatural matters and didn’t find it particularly strange.

Everyone looked toward Yan Sanhe, thinking this girl is so young—she doesn’t look like someone with unusual abilities!

“The dead have thoughts in their hearts. Over time, thoughts become heart demons. If heart demons aren’t resolved for even one day, the coffin can’t be closed for that day, and descendants will suffer misfortune accordingly.”

Yan Sanhe had said these words many times, but each time she spoke them solemnly.

“Your Second Madam’s death along with her unborn child was the power of the heart demon. Second Madam, pregnant and vulnerable, became the first target when evil demons found her.”

The expressions of the Zhu household members instantly froze.

So Second Madam’s death—the culprit was actually, actually Master’s heart demon?

Now those Zhu household masters still kept in the dark were so frightened their faces turned green.

“I’m not scaremongering. Old Master Zhu’s heart demon is the most dangerous one I’ve encountered since I began transforming thoughts and resolving demons.

Some days ago, Eldest Master set up a formation to keep the Zhu residence safe, but this isn’t a long-term solution. The more powerful the formation, the greater the backlash later. Heart demons can’t be suppressed—they can only be resolved.”

Yan Sanhe’s voice was neither high nor low, neither slow nor rushed—not at all like discussing something shocking.

“Last night, I had him remove the formation. After one night, the flowers and plants in the residence have already withered. This means the Zhu residence won’t be peaceful for a while.”

“What kind of unpeaceful?” A fair and refined woman suddenly interjected.

Lady Zhu quickly whispered, “That’s my third sister-in-law. She’s always been straightforward.”

Yan Sanhe withdrew her gaze indifferently. “Mysterious illnesses, mysterious misfortunes, even… continued deaths.”

“Ah—”

The women let out a collective gasp.

Lady Zhu’s third sister-in-law turned deathly pale. “Who, who will it be?”

“Each and every one of you.”

“…”

At these words, the timid and death-fearing burst into tears.

“I say all this not to frighten you, but to say…”

Yan Sanhe tapped her finger on the table, indicating everyone should listen carefully to her next words.

“What should come can’t be avoided. Whoever it finds is their fate—don’t blame, don’t resent. But one thing—the person with the most resolute and optimistic nature will definitely survive to the end.”

“I’m resolute, I’m optimistic.”

Third Madam Zhu shot up, patting her ample bosom.

“I’m not afraid of anything. I’ll definitely survive to the end.”

“That’s right.”

Yan Sanhe: “Believe in yourself—you’ll definitely survive to the end, definitely persevere to the end. I won’t die. No heart demon can make me die. I’m innocent. I’ll definitely live to a hundred years!”

Each word struck everyone’s eardrums like an iron hammer.

As if by agreement, tears streamed down the women’s faces.

Especially Zhu Weixi.

Zhu Weixi was the eldest daughter, pampered by both parents from childhood. The reason she could hold her spine straight in the Xie household was because her natal family was capable.

So even mother-in-law Lady Wu didn’t dare truly do anything to her.

Who’d have thought that with Father’s death, the Zhu household would immediately turn upside down.

Though she was a married daughter and misfortune might not ultimately fall on her, those suffering were all her relatives!

Who would be next?

Unknown!

The terror of the unknown was most frightening. These two months the Zhu residence had been in constant panic, everyone like frightened birds, not knowing what was happening in the household.

These two months Zhu Weixi had been soaking in tears. She’d never felt days could be so difficult to endure.

Yan Sanhe’s few words instantly ignited everyone’s hope.

Zhu Weixi looked at her through tear-filled eyes, thinking—I didn’t misjudge her. Time reveals a person’s heart. This girl is good.

“The key to this matter is finding Old Master Zhu’s heart demon. And the key to finding the heart demon is each and every person seated here.”

Yan Sanhe still had more to say.

“The more matters you speak of, the faster I’ll find the heart demon. If you still want to hide and conceal…”

She suddenly sneered coldly. “Then I might as well leave these words here—in the end, each and every person here will die because of the heart demon.”

No one wanted to die.

Everyone wanted to live.

Third Madam Zhu rushed before Yan Sanhe. “Miss Yan, I have nothing to hide. Quickly ask me!”

The usually steady First Madam Ling also stood up. “Ask me first. I’ve been in this household the longest.”

“Miss Yan, ask me.”

Zhu Weixi: “Though I’ve married out, I’ve been close to Father since childhood.”

Madam Mao wiped away tears, unwilling to lag behind. “No one understands Master better than I do. Miss Yan, let me!”

“Don’t fight—everyone will get their turn eventually.”

Yan Sanhe’s gaze shifted. “First Madam and Third Madam’s questioning—Young Master Pei, you handle it.”

Why make me, a handsome young fellow, deal with two married women? What do you take me for?

Though Young Master Pei grumbled internally, he understood Yan Sanhe’s tactical deployment.

These two were married in from outside. Daughters-in-law and fathers-in-law must maintain propriety—not much could be asked. So she assigned him.

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

Yan Sanhe looked at the sunlight in the courtyard. “Today the winter sun is favorable. You and the two madams should go walk outside.”

Why go walk outside?

Finding an empty room and closing the door wouldn’t that work?

“Supplement yang energy.”

These words were like a lifeline. Third Madam Zhu without another word grabbed Young Master Pei and left.

What was transforming thoughts and resolving demons if not a stream of evil yin energy?

Right—they should sunbathe more, supplement more yang energy.

Young Master Pei looked at the hand on his sleeve. He didn’t even have time to put on an expression of “What kind of woman are you, so forward,” before being dragged out of the main hall.

Actually supplementing yang energy was false—having Young Master Pei accompany the two madams of the household for a walk was true.

After the coffin split, Second Madam bore the first brunt.

Of the household’s three madams, one died, leaving two most terrified.

Predictably, these two definitely couldn’t provide much information, but both had sons and daughters under their knees.

Children who lost their mothers were most pitiful, so these two couldn’t have accidents!

With Third Master Xie absent, only now did Yan Sanhe deploy Young Master Pei.

What was Young Master Pei’s wonderful quality?