Wan Fu felt somewhat cold.

The incense burner in the elegant room burned with clear sandalwood, its fragrance rich and refined. Though the person behind the curtain spoke calmly, their voice was strangely rough and coarse, sending shivers across one’s skin and immediately raising tiny goosebumps.

Wan Fu steadied himself and continued: “The day the physician confirmed that the eldest daughter-in-law was with child, both the master and the old madam panicked.”

“That very night, a carriage came to the mansion. The visitor met with the master and spoke with him for a while. It wasn’t long—about one incense stick’s duration.”

The person behind the curtain asked: “Was it someone from the Grand Tutor’s mansion?”

“This servant didn’t enter the room, so I don’t know the other party’s identity.” Wan Fu paused, then fearing the person behind the curtain would be dissatisfied, quickly added: “However, when the visitor left, the master escorted him to the door, so I estimate his status must have been quite high.”

“The next day, the master quarreled with the eldest daughter-in-law again. This servant heard from outside the door as the master scolded the eldest daughter-in-law, saying she had previously bribed servants in the mansion to send messages outside. They quarreled very fiercely. I originally wanted to go mediate, but the master cursed me out along with everyone else, so I had no choice but to fetch the old madam. But who knew…”

A flash of terror appeared in Wan Fu’s eyes.

He recalled the scene of that day when he hurriedly brought Old Madam Ke to the courtyard. It was nearly summer, with brilliant red lotus flowers blooming magnificently throughout the garden. In the midst of that expanse of emerald green ripples, someone’s snow-white sleeves rose and fell, floating like a plain white silk banner—both tragically beautiful and horrifying.

Lu Shi had thrown herself into the pond.

When they pulled her out, she was already dead. Master Ke collapsed beside the pond, his expression pale as paper, muttering something incomprehensible.

Old Madam Ke found it inauspicious and feared outsiders would gossip, so she quickly had Lu Rou prepared for burial. After this, no one in the mansion dared mention Lu Rou’s name again.

The person behind the curtain said: “Ke Chengxing killed Lu Shi.”

“No, no!” Wan Fu cried out in panic: “The master loved the eldest daughter-in-law dearly!”

The other party laughed sarcastically and reminded him: “But the Ke family immediately established connections with the Grand Tutor’s mansion after Lu Shi’s death.”

Wan Fu couldn’t find words to respond.

This was the truth.

Shortly after Lu Rou’s death, it was the old madam of the Grand Tutor’s mansion’s birthday. For some unknown reason, that year the Grand Tutor’s mansion specifically ordered porcelain cups, bowls, and dishes from the Ke family kiln. The Ke family’s porcelain wasn’t unique in the capital—by no means should the Grand Tutor’s mansion have taken notice of the Ke family.

Overnight, the Ke family was honored as distinguished guests by merchant associations, and business at their shops flourished even more than when the old master was alive.

All of this happened after Lu Shi’s death…

Wan Fu had never thought in this direction—not because he couldn’t think of it, but because he didn’t dare to think about it.

If Lu Shi had truly been killed by Ke Chengxing…

The person behind the curtain asked again: “What about Lu Shi’s brother?”

Wan Fu’s mind was already in turmoil. Upon hearing this, he was stunned—the other party even knew about Lu Qian’s affairs?

He instinctively felt uneasy and didn’t want to continue speaking, but saw the shadow behind the curtain sway, with some rustling sounds.

“Master Wan, the debt contract is here. Our transaction has half an incense stick’s time remaining.”

Wan Fu instinctively looked toward the incense burner. The clear sandalwood had burned halfway, with only half remaining. Though it was clearly a calming fragrance, it made him increasingly anxious.

But Wan Quan was still in the other party’s hands…

Wan Fu steeled his heart and said through gritted teeth: “Regarding Second Master Lu’s affairs, this servant doesn’t know much either. Only that shortly after the eldest daughter-in-law’s burial, Second Young Master Lu came to the Lu family. This servant heard he went to make trouble with the master and madam, and afterwards they parted on bad terms.”

“…After that, this servant heard that Second Young Master Lu got into trouble, and Presiding Judge Fan from the Court of Judicial Review sentenced him to death. Later, I didn’t hear much news about him.”

The person behind the curtain fell silent.

Wan Fu looked toward the curtain, his tone pleading: “Miss, this servant only knows this much. I beg you to spare Quan’er!”

He stood up and walked behind the curtain. Not daring to rashly lift the bamboo curtain to see the other party’s face, he just kowtowed several times toward the shadow with loud “thump thump” sounds.

The other party sighed: “Though Master Wan’s words aren’t entirely accurate, they do carry some weight. In that case, I’ll return this debt contract to you.”

With a “rip” sound, the bamboo curtain was lifted from one side, and a snow-white hand extended from within. Before Wan Fu could see clearly, two pieces of paper fluttered down to his feet from behind the curtain.

Wan Fu picked them up and saw it was actually the three thousand tael debt contract Wan Quan had written, torn in half.

His heart filled with joy. He quickly tore the contract into even smaller pieces, stuffed the fragments into his sleeve, and pleaded: “Miss, what about Quan’er…”

The shadowy figure behind the curtain picked up tea and slowly took a sip before saying: “Master Wan, I just said that if you spoke well, I would tear up the debt contract. But I never said that if you spoke well, I would release the person.”

Wan Fu’s expression changed: “Since there’s no debt, what reason would Kuaihuo Tower have not to release him? Even by gambling house rules, if the debt is cleared, surely they can’t keep holding someone indefinitely?”

The person behind the curtain laughed lightly: “Master Wan needn’t be angry. Setting aside everything else, do you really think having your son return home now would be a good thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Master Wan seems to have forgotten—while the three thousand tael debt contract is voided, the fact that your son actually misappropriated Master Ke’s private assets is real. With Master Wan’s family resources, gathering two thousand taels seems rather difficult. A servant who steals his master’s property, once discovered, would be lucky if only beaten to death. Or perhaps,” she smiled, “Master Wan has such a deep master-servant bond with Master Ke that you’re certain even if Master Ke discovers his silver is missing, he won’t blame your son and will spare his life?”

Wan Fu’s palms immediately broke out in a fine sweat.

Would Ke Chengxing spare Wan Quan’s life?

No, perhaps he would have before. But now with Qin Shi managing the household, Ke Chengxing was very tight on funds. These two thousand taels had been hidden from Qin Shi with great difficulty. If Ke Chengxing discovered it was missing, never mind Wan Quan—even he himself wouldn’t escape unscathed.

The person behind the curtain continued: “Perhaps Master Wan is thinking of revealing today’s meeting with me completely to Master Ke. Maybe Master Ke will sympathize with your difficulties and stand united with you against outsiders, lightly overlooking your son’s mistakes.”

Wan Fu’s heart jumped—he had indeed thought this way. Since the other party had come targeting the Ke family and set a trap for Wan Quan, telling Ke Chengxing about this might make Ke Chengxing give them a chance to survive.

He looked toward the shadowy figure behind the curtain, feeling somewhat horrified in his heart. How could this person read his thoughts so accurately?

The other party smiled lightly: “Master Wan is truly loyal. Perhaps it’s precisely because of this that Master Ke values you so highly. However, the reason Master Ke could keep you by his side after Lu Shi’s death was because you never asked much about Lu Shi-related matters and kept your mouth shut tight—you never revealed even half a word to your wife and children.”

“Today Master Wan told me about this matter. Perhaps Master Ke will think: if you told me about this, couldn’t you have told others as well? Maybe your wife and son have also heard about this matter.”

“Even if they truly haven’t, it doesn’t matter—as long as Master Ke thinks so, that’s enough.”

She said: “Master Wan has already witnessed firsthand the fate of those maids who used to serve Lu Shi in the Ke household, haven’t you?”

These words made Wan Fu’s bones chill and his soul scatter in terror.

If Ke Chengxing suspected that Wan Quan also knew about this matter, no matter what, Wan Quan couldn’t escape death.

This person had him in a stranglehold from the very beginning.

Wan Fu collapsed to the ground.

All actions must be motivated by self-interest. The other party knew the Ke family’s affairs like the back of their hand and pressed forward step by step—clearly intending to use him against the entire Ke family. Speaking of which, ever since the Ke family had attached themselves to the Grand Tutor’s mansion, their porcelain business had flourished, arousing the envy of many competitors. Perhaps they had offended someone.

The other party wanted to use Lu Shi’s death to target the Ke family, and he, as a mere servant, could only let himself be manipulated. Even this woman behind the bamboo curtain today might just be a subordinate—the real master behind her might not have even shown their face.

Wan Fu’s face was ashen as he asked in a daze: “What does Miss want to do?”

“I want to ask Master Wan to work for me.”

“If Master Wan agrees, I’ll have people take good care of your son until this matter is completely resolved.”

“If you don’t agree, that’s fine too. I’ll have your son sent back tonight while simultaneously informing the Ke mansion about your son’s misappropriation of private assets for gambling, and incidentally mention Lu Shi in front of your son.”

Wan Fu suddenly looked up.

The person behind the curtain spoke unhurriedly: “Master Wan can rest assured—I won’t harm your son, nor will I pressure you aggressively. Master Wan can go back and think it over carefully. When you’ve decided, write a letter and send it to Kuaihuo Tower.”

She stood up, her shadow outlining a hazy dark trace behind the blue bamboo curtain.

“But I’m not very patient and can’t wait too long.”

“So,” she said flatly, “give me your answer before the hour of the rooster tomorrow.”