The weather was growing increasingly hot, and the days were becoming longer.

Summer was approaching, and the peonies in the courtyard had been wilting under the prolonged sunshine. Their faded red petals hid among the emerald leaves, no longer displaying their former radiant beauty.

Early in the morning at the Ke residence courtyard, Wang Shi was already scolding the servants.

“How do the servants in this household do their work? How could they not notice such a large puddle of water? I had someone replace the carpet with new velvet yesterday, and today it’s already stained with water marks. It’s because you’ve all been spoiled in your daily routine, and each of you has learned to be lazy!”

Ke Chengxing had just finished changing his clothes when he heard Wang Shi berating someone, causing him to frown involuntarily.

He walked outside, cleared his throat lightly, and said in a softer tone, “Why are you getting angry again? It’s just a dirty carpet. Perhaps it rained last night, and some maid accidentally tracked it in.”

“What do you mean accidentally? What kind of accident could create such a large puddle?” Wang Shi’s willow-like eyebrows stood on end. “Come and look clearly—these footprints are so distinct, they look like someone deliberately stepped on it. No, Ping’er, go call all the maids in the courtyard to come in. I want to compare their shoes one by one. I absolutely must find this damned culprit today!”

Ke Chengxing felt a headache coming on and quickly found an excuse to avoid the situation.

After leaving the room, Wan Fu brought him a cup of tea to rinse his mouth. After Ke Chengxing used it, he casually asked, “How come I haven’t seen Wan Quan for several days?”

Wan Fu’s eyes flickered a few times before he smiled and said, “How thoughtful of you to remember him, Master. A few days ago, his cousin from the estate came to visit, and the two brothers decided to go up the mountain for some fun. I didn’t bother managing him and let him go. He should be back in a few days.”

Ke Chengxing nodded, “He’s young, it’s good for him to get around more.”

Wan Fu quickly smiled and agreed. After walking a few more steps, Ke Chengxing sighed, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I haven’t been sleeping well these past few days. I wake up four or five times each night. Sometimes when I do fall asleep, I suddenly jolt awake, and when I check the time, it’s only the fourth watch.”

Wan Fu suggested, “Why don’t we find a physician to take a look?”

Ke Chengxing thought it over and agreed. He then took out an invitation card to request a familiar physician to come. The doctor took his pulse and examined his condition but found nothing wrong, prescribing some calming medicine before leaving.

After the physician left, Wan Fu saw that Ke Chengxing still seemed somewhat melancholy and comforted him, “Master, please don’t worry. Perhaps it’s because the weather is hot and you’re feeling uncomfortable. Let’s see how you feel after taking these few doses of medicine.”

Ke Chengxing nodded and went outside for another walk. When he returned to the room, he found Wang Shi sitting inside, sulking in silence.

Ke Chengxing smiled and stepped forward to grasp her shoulder, “Did you find out whose muddy footprints those were?”

“No!” Wang Shi irritably brushed his hand away. “Tell me, isn’t it strange? I had all the maids in the courtyard compared, but couldn’t find who made those footprints. It’s really like seeing a ghost!”

Ke Chengxing just laughed, “If you can’t find out, then forget it. It’s just a carpet. We can buy another one tomorrow.”

Wang Shi sneered coldly, “Easy for you to say. You’re not managing the household, so you don’t know the cost of daily necessities. That’s why you can speak so carelessly…” She went on chattering for a while, her tongue quick and sharp. With maids and old women serving around them, her words made Ke Chengxing’s face turn red with embarrassment. After enduring for a long time, he finally escaped into his study.

Once in the study, Ke Chengxing finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was truly afraid of this wife of his.

Speaking of it, Wang Shi was quite pretty and was also the daughter of a minor official. In terms of conditions, it was actually the Ke family who had married above their station. But perhaps because she had been pampered at home, Wang Shi’s temperament was rather domineering. As soon as she arrived at the Ke household, she first seized the housekeeping authority in her hands, and her nature was quite fierce. Ke Chengxing didn’t dare freely use the income and accounts from the Ke family shops.

Old Madam Ke always advised him to be patient for now, saying that once Wang Shi bore a legitimate son, her temperament would naturally become more restrained. But whenever Ke Chengxing faced his newly married wife, he always felt a suffocating sense of breathlessness.

Whenever this happened, Ke Chengxing would think of Lu Shi.

Lu Shi’s temperament was completely different from Wang Shi’s. She was always gentle and graceful, putting him first in everything, and was considerate in every way. She was also beautiful, with bright, expressive eyes and an orchid-like heart and nature. When she turned and walked, she was exactly like willows swaying and flowers laughing in their first bloom.

Such a Lu Shi—no man wouldn’t be attracted to her, which was why at Fengle House, she would…

Ke Chengxing suddenly shivered and didn’t continue thinking further.

Wan Fu came in from outside, bringing him some fresh fruits and brewing a pot of strong tea. Wang Shi was not only fierce but also kept him under strict control. After entering the household, she first gave all the serving maids in the courtyard a warning. Even those who had thoughts of climbing up the social ladder didn’t dare make any moves after seeing Wang Shi.

As time passed, Ke Chengxing inevitably felt restless inside.

He asked Wan Fu, “Are all the rents I asked you to help me collect ready?”

Wan Fu’s heart jumped, but he smiled without showing any emotion, “Almost, just a little bit left.”

Ke Chengxing grunted and said in a low voice, “In a few more days, when she’s tired and lazy after her birthday passes, take that rent money and accompany me to Fengle House for some leisure.”

Wan Fu smiled and agreed, answered a few more of Ke Chengxing’s questions, and then withdrew.

It was nearly noon, and the sun was getting fiercer, shining through the window into the room, making everyone feel drowsy and lazy all over.

Ke Chengxing had originally wanted to hide in the study to avoid Wang Shi’s nagging for a while, so he casually picked up a book to read. Who knew that as he read, he unknowingly fell asleep.

He hadn’t slept well for several consecutive days, so this nap was quite deep, and he even had a dream.

In the dream, he was sleeping on a couch, and beside the bed was a young woman with a drooping horse-tail hairstyle who was lowering her head to tuck in his blanket. This woman wore a moon-white silk jacket with gold-traced flower patterns, her figure graceful and exquisite. With her head lowered, her face couldn’t be seen clearly, only a small vermillion mole on the back of her neck was visible.

With a beauty in his arms, Ke Chengxing inevitably felt restless and wanted to get closer. He intended to sit up and embrace her, but no matter what, he couldn’t move. He could only hear the woman’s voice drifting from far to near into his ears, calling him again and again: “Master.”

He vaguely felt this voice was somewhat familiar, but couldn’t remember exactly where he had heard it. Just as he was pondering hard, he suddenly felt his body becoming ice-cold. Instinctively looking up, he saw the woman with her head lowered, and drops of ice-cold water were dripping down along her black hair, soaking the bedding on his body until it was freezing cold.

“You…”

The woman lifted her head, revealing a pale and beautiful face: “Master…”

Ke Chengxing screamed in terror.

He suddenly opened his eyes. Outside, the sunlight was warm and gentle, and the fragrance of peonies in the courtyard was refreshing. Ke Chengxing wiped his face and discovered that his forehead was covered with cold sweat.

He breathed a sigh of relief and then cursed in a low voice: “Unlucky!”

On such a fine day, he had inexplicably dreamed of Lu Shi. The small vermillion mole on his late wife’s neck, which once seemed so charming and lovely, now appeared frightening instead, reminding him of the day she died, when her retrieved corpse lay in the sunlight with that red mole glaring like blood.

Ke Chengxing rubbed his temples and suddenly felt somewhat hot. Looking down, he discovered that someone had covered him with a thin blanket.

Covering himself with a blanket on such a hot day—no wonder he was sweating all over. Ke Chengxing said with displeasure, “Wan Fu, Wan Fu—”

He called twice, but Wan Fu didn’t respond, so he stood up, intending to go outside and call for someone. After taking just two steps, Ke Chengxing suddenly stopped.

The study door was tightly closed, and from his desk by the window to the study door, a line of wet footprints had somehow appeared.

These footprints were soaked with water marks, as if the person had just climbed out of water and walked here, dripping out a line of dark water stains.

The shape was small and delicate, about the length of a palm.

Those were a woman’s footprints.