Zhou Qin cast a warning glance at Qin Kaiyu, who was startled. Was he displeased that he spoke too casually to Qin Shuying?

“That… Seventh Sister, I was too angry just now. I was angry at them, not at you. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Of course not. I’m just anxious for Second Brother and Third Sister.”

Qin Kaiyu couldn’t help his curiosity. “What does this have to do with Third Sister?”

Qin Shuying said: “Second Brother, don’t you think it’s too strange? Third Sister claims to have seen Second Sister’s ghost.”

Qin Kaiyu was stunned.

How could he not understand his Third Sister? With their mother’s help, Third Sister had stolen Second Sister’s husband and caused the deaths of Third Sister and her child…

But could he say this?

“That’s because Third Sister misses Second Sister too much. Don’t overthink it.”

“Second Brother, I’m not overthinking it – it’s the people in the manor who are overthinking. You might not know, but shortly after Caiying went to the estate, she developed some hysteria. She keeps saying that Second Sister has latched onto Sixth Sister, which is why Sixth Sister often does unexpected things. Now everyone in the manor is spreading rumors that Second Sister’s death was too suspicious, and she’s haunting Third Sister and Sixth Sister.”

“……”

Qin Kaiyu: How did Sixth Sister get involved again?

“And also…” Qin Shuying cast a meaningful glance at Zhou Qin but didn’t continue.

Zhou Qin’s heart was already racing from her words. Of course he didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, but he had heard about the deeds his maternal grandmother Xu Shi had committed.

His Mother Consort’s success in the palace all these years was partly due to Second Aunt Qin Yaoyao’s considerable efforts.

Qin Feifei and Qin Yunyun had both gained many benefits from this.

Now that Qin Feifei and Qin Yunyun were both living so miserably, could it really be because of Qin Yaoyao’s vengeful ghost?

Qin Kaiyu urged her: “What else? Tell me.”

“Also, Your Highness, please pardon this subject for speaking freely, then this subject dares to speak.”

Zhou Qin had a bad premonition. Whatever Qin Shuying was about to say would certainly not be pleasant, but he still watched her intently, urgently wanting to know.

“Speak. This prince pardons you.”

Qin Shuying thought for a moment before speaking: “Your Highness, everyone in the manor says that Second Sister probably died with unresolved grievances and will return to seek revenge on everyone one by one, including Eldest Sister.”

Zhou Qin rebuked: “Absurd!”

“They say, why was Eighth Sister so eager to leave? Because she had already seen it!”

“Truly absurd!”

Qin Shuying stood there and said no more.

Zhou Qin paced back and forth in the room. After walking for quite a while, he finally said: “Seventh Aunt, you may go. I’ll have a word with Second Uncle. Also, don’t believe in these baseless things.”

“This subject understands.”

“Go.”

Qin Shuying withdrew.

Qin Kaiyu felt his forehead throbbing even more. Why was that dead Cai Luan haunting him? He was beginning to believe it now.

“Your Highness, I want to invite an eminent monk to perform a ritual. There have indeed been too many strange occurrences lately.”

For instance, himself – how had he been persuaded by Qin Fangfang to climb onto the roof?

He was no longer a seven or eight-year-old child.

Zhou Qin raised his hand, signaling him not to mention this anymore. Qin Kaiyu fell silent.

He knew His Highness was thinking.

After a while, Zhou Qin asked: “Third Aunt saw Second Aunt’s ghost?”

Qin Kaiyu recounted the incident of Qin Feifei seeing the ghost. Upon hearing about the shoes, Zhou Qin frowned thoughtfully for a moment and said: “It seems someone in the manor is playing tricks.”

“It’s not a ghost?”

“Where are there any ghosts in this world? Women are timid and believe in such things, but how can Second Uncle believe it too?”

Qin Kaiyu quickly smiled apologetically: “Your Highness is right.”

As the two were talking, Xu Zhiyang arrived.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Zhiyang said: “Your Highness, Cousin, I’ve come because there’s something I want to say. On the day at the traveling palace camp, Seventh Cousin disappeared for an entire day. Mother accidentally let this slip, and I tricked it out of Peiwei.”

Xu Zhiyang was not Madam Mao’s legitimate son, merely a concubine-born son.

Madam Mao had never liked him, but he was good at networking, constantly flattering the young masters of the Qin Manor, hoping his uncle-in-law Qin Yongtao would support him.

Zhou Qin thought for a moment and said: “She must have been with Liang Zhe.”

Liang Zhe had also disappeared for an entire day. He only saw Liang Zhe when they reached the traveling palace. At the time, he thought Liang Zhe had received secret orders from Father Emperor to handle some business and didn’t dare ask too much. Now, connecting it with Qin Shuying’s disappearance, it wasn’t difficult to deduce his whereabouts.

Recalling a conversation he had inadvertently overheard between several eunuchs around Father Emperor, Zhou Qin’s lips curved slightly upward.

“Second Uncle, remember, treat Seventh Aunt better in the future.”

Qin Kaiyu nodded, and Xu Zhiyang also nodded along inexplicably.

Xu Zhiyang couldn’t understand what was so good about this Qin Shuying that His Highness valued her so highly.

This Qin Shuying was like a lioness – not only had she ruined Peiwei’s excellent marriage prospect, but she had also frightened his always arrogant legitimate mother into submission.

Although he, Xu Zhiyang, also disliked reading his legitimate mother’s expressions and only maintained surface courtesy toward Xu Peiwei, he would never marry someone as deeply scheming as Qin Shuying, even if beaten to death.

Young ladies should be like the top courtesan at Cuihong House – not only beautiful but accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, yet gentle and elegant in manner.

Such women were truly lovable.

At this moment, at Cuihong House.

Liang Yuan sat in a room, standing by the window, continuously watching the door of a private room across the way.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open and a servant entered, quickly approaching Liang Yuan and whispering: “Second Young Master, both neighboring rooms have people in them.”

Liang Yuan frowned. “Just drive them away.”

The servant said: “Second Young Master, I’m afraid that won’t work today – it would alert our target.”

Liang Yuan thought for a moment and waved his hand. “I understand.”

He knew his elder brother’s character all too well. So when he accidentally saw him enter Cuihong House, Liang Yuan’s eyes nearly popped out.

Therefore, he had followed him in.

Liang Zhe coming here certainly wasn’t to find girls, but for business.

What business could he have as merely a guard captain?

Meeting friends?

Liang Zhe’s only friend was Mo Yiting, or perhaps some current colleagues now.

But meeting friends didn’t require coming here, did it?

Liang Yuan simply couldn’t suppress his curiosity, so after entering, he requested a private room directly opposite.

After Liang Zhe went in, only Liang Yanjun followed him inside – no third person.

After waiting for a long time without seeing any movement from across the way, Liang Yuan became even more puzzled.

Even if Liang Zhe didn’t come out, surely the shop attendants would go in?

After finishing lunch and yawning repeatedly, Liang Yuan still hadn’t seen the opposite door open, which was extremely strange.

What the hell!

Liang Yuan called over a servant. “Go over there, pretend you entered the wrong room, and go in to look!”

The servant looked troubled. “The Eldest Young Master knows me…”

“Just go when I tell you to! Why so much nonsense?!”

The servant, frightened, hurried toward the opposite room.