The young girl child’s wailing suddenly erupted in the courtyard, startling everyone. Some of the more timid maids began crying outright.

Jiang Li hung her head as if she had lost all strength, yet somehow maintained an upright posture.

This commotion startled even Daoist Master Chongxu. This scene wasn’t part of his performance. Logically, the glutinous rice was mixed with medicine that would temporarily make someone lose their reason. As long as Jiang Li maintained this appearance, it would be frightening enough. Everything incomprehensible she did could be explained as “being possessed.”

Daoist Master Chongxu had used this trick countless times and succeeded countless times without a single failure. He had long since mastered what to do next. But today’s developments with Jiang Li were not in his plans.

Before he could react, the girl child’s voice exploded even louder, becoming almost piercing.

“Wu wu—wu wu,” combined with the black clouds above and the altar burning with incense and candles, it was especially eerie.

Ji Shuran hugged Jiang Youyao tightly. Jiang Youyao had already burrowed into her embrace in fright. Though somewhat afraid earlier, Ji Shuran wasn’t afraid now. Thinking that Jiang Li would soon be treated as an evil entity, abandoned by everyone like worn shoes, she was too delighted to care. She also silently admired that Daoist Master Chongxu’s ability to frighten people was indeed considerable. No wonder he dared enter the palace and face the Emperor without stage fright. Her eldest sister truly had such a capable person—quite rare indeed.

With this thought, she looked toward Daoist Master Chongxu. Who would have known that upon looking, she saw he made no further moves. Instead, he seemed frozen, staring fixedly at Jiang Li, even stepping back.

Ji Shuran frowned. Though it should be realistic, shouldn’t a true master appear righteous and step forward boldly to display proper bearing at this moment? Daoist Master Chongxu’s performance here was lacking.

Looking at Jiang Li again, she hung her head and began stumbling about. No one knew where she was trying to go. Her steps were unsteady. The Jiang family members didn’t dare approach. Only the maids from Fangfei Courtyard—Qingfeng and Mingyue were frightened and at a loss, but Tong’er rushed forward. Together with Bai Xue, they urgently called out, “Young Lady!”

Jiang Li hadn’t told them the complete plan after all. Though Bai Xue and the others had prepared according to Jiang Li’s instructions, they didn’t know how things would develop. Seeing Jiang Li like this, they panicked. Bai Xue said, “Our young lady is not a ghost, absolutely not! You couldn’t find a second person in the world with a kinder heart than our young lady. How could she be an evil entity?”

“Exactly! This Daoist must have done something underhanded!” Tong’er’s heart stirred. “What did you do to make our young lady look like this!”

Ji Shuran said to Old Madam Jiang, “Mother, Li’er has such a soft temperament that she’s spoiled the maids of Fangfei Courtyard until they no longer know their place. Daoist Master Chongxu was acknowledged even by the Emperor. Never mind maids—even we as masters wouldn’t dare make rash judgments. If what these two maids said spreads, it would make our Jiang family appear to disregard imperial authority…”

Old Madam Jiang shook her head. “Second girl has indeed been too indulgent with her maids. They dare to be presumptuous before their mistress.”

“No, Old Madam!” Tong’er knelt crying before Old Madam Jiang. “This servant doesn’t matter, but Young Lady is truly being wronged. You must believe her!”

“This is truly too improper.” Ji Shuran said disappointedly, “Nannies, take these two maids away. Since Li’er can’t bear to discipline them, I as her mother must do it in her stead.”

Qingfeng and Mingyue’s eyelids twitched violently. Their young lady had just had an incident, and Ji Shuran was already eager to punish people close to her? This was too excessive!

Old Madam Jiang also gave Ji Shuran an imperceptible glance. She didn’t know why, but before Jiang Li returned home, this first branch’s wife rarely made mistakes and seemed virtuous and gentle. But since Jiang Li’s return, she had become increasingly unable to restrain herself. Even she found it unbearable to watch.

“Enough, disciplining maids isn’t urgent.” Old Madam Jiang said, “Let’s first settle Second girl’s matter.”

Lu Shi said, “Daoist Master, please quickly make her… stop crying!” Her voice trembled—she was truly afraid.

The girl child’s voice became increasingly clear. At first it was just indistinct crying, but gradually, words seemed mixed into the weeping. Then, like dust falling away to reveal the brick wall beneath, the voice gradually echoed forth.

“Father!”

The girl child’s voice was calling for father.

Jiang Yuanbai froze. Hearing this cry of “father,” a strange sense of familiarity rose in his heart. This familiarity made him stop showing wariness toward Jiang Li. Instead, he walked two steps toward her.

Jiang Li kept her head lowered. The girl child’s crying seemed to come from her mouth, yet also seemed close to everyone’s ears. But one thing was beyond doubt—this voice was definitely not Jiang Li’s. Whether the young Jiang Li or the current Jiang Li, this wasn’t Jiang Li’s voice at all. It was clearly someone else.

Daoist Master Chongxu couldn’t help but step back two more paces. The smugness he felt while performing the ritual had long since vanished. He had never encountered such a situation. His heart was filled with indescribable panic, yet he had to force himself to remain calm.

In the crowd, Concubine Hu suddenly cried out. She stood in a corner, and this outcry drew several people’s eyes. When they looked again, they saw Concubine Hu stumbling toward Jiang Li. Running to stand before Jiang Li, she seemed afraid to get close, yet was both crying and laughing, saying, “Yue’er, my Yue’er…”

Yue’er? Who was Yue’er?

This name was too unfamiliar. Those who heard it were all confused.

Ji Shuran’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She couldn’t help but say, “Why did someone call out Concubine Hu? Could Concubine Hu be having a hysteric episode at this time? Quickly take her back to her room. Don’t let her disturb the Daoist Master’s exorcism.”

But Concubine Hu gave Ji Shuran no chance to summon anyone. She had already turned to look at Jiang Yuanbai, tears streaming down. “Master, don’t you remember? This is Yue’er’s voice, Yue’er’s voice! Your eldest daughter Yue’er!”

Jiang Yuanbai froze, his mind suddenly clearing.

Yes, he had felt this voice was very familiar. It was his eldest daughter, Jiang Yue’er who had died so early!

Ji Shuran was stunned. What she hadn’t expected was that at this critical juncture, Concubine Hu would suddenly rush out. Regarding Concubine Hu, in the first few years after entering the Jiang household, she had viewed her as a thorn from every angle, wanting to send Concubine Hu away. Later, after Jiang Yue’er died and Concubine Hu developed hysteria, with Old Madam protecting her, Ji Shuran let her be. After all, she couldn’t cause any waves, and the master could no longer favor Concubine Hu.

All these years, Concubine Hu rarely left her courtyard. Except during festivals, Ji Shuran wouldn’t even remember such a person existed in the household.

Yet this person she had long forgotten now suddenly appeared before her, repeatedly mentioning her short-lived daughter. Though she didn’t know what madness this was, Ji Shuran felt she couldn’t let Concubine Hu continue making such a scene. Moreover, this was clearly a setup arranged by Daoist Master Chongxu. She didn’t know what this mad woman was getting excited about.

Ji Shuran said, “Concubine Hu must be thinking of Yue’er. Master, please send Concubine Hu back to her room.”

“Madam,” Concubine Hu turned her head and smiled bleakly. “This concubine is not mad. How could this concubine not recognize her own daughter’s voice? Master,” she called out obsessively, “listen, First Miss is calling for father.” The tone of her last sentence was gentle, with a smile at the corners of her lips, yet containing a chilling madness.

Ji Shuran suddenly broke out in a fine cold sweat.

The girl child’s voice still called “Father,” sometimes distant, sometimes near, as if coming from Jiang Li’s mouth, yet also not.

Ji Shuran forced down the unease in her heart and said, “Master, I think Concubine Hu must be having an episode…”

“She’s not having an episode…” Jiang Yuanbai interrupted her. “This is Yue’er’s voice.”

Ji Shuran was speechless.

Jiang Yuanbai stared blankly at Jiang Li, a small figure surfacing in his mind.

He actually had three daughters. Back when Ye Zhenzhen married into the Jiang family and remained childless for three years, Concubine Hu became pregnant first. Ye Zhenzhen was soft-hearted and let Concubine Hu give birth. Jiang Yuanbai, becoming a father for the first time, was actually very fond of Jiang Yue’er.

On the surface, he doted on Jiang Youyao, but in fact, before that, he treated Jiang Yue’er just as well. Jiang Yue’er fulfilled his fantasy of being a father, and young Jiang Yue’er was indeed clever and adorable.

Ye Zhenzhen was on good terms with Concubine Hu and didn’t think anything of it. Young Jiang Li was spoiled, Jiang Youyao was innocent, but when it came to being clever and sweet-tongued, it was this eldest concubine-born daughter. So although born of a concubine, Jiang Yuanbai didn’t shortchange her. At a young age, he even taught Jiang Yue’er to read, wanting to raise her to be a female scholar of the highest rank.

Who knew that when Jiang Yue’er was four years old, she fell from a decorative rock and he lost this daughter.

During those days, because Ye Zhenzhen had passed away, Ji Shuran entered the household, and he had just gained Jiang Youyao, with so many things happening in succession, he was somewhat distracted and didn’t care for her as thoroughly as before. But he never expected Jiang Yue’er would die like that.

He had flown into a great rage and severely punished everyone who had been caring for Jiang Yue’er at the time. For a long time, the household was forbidden from mentioning the three words “First Miss.”

So many years had passed, and that clever voice had long faded from his mind, leaving only a blurry shadow. From deliberately not remembering to forgetting over time, Jiang Yuanbai himself couldn’t recall clearly anymore.

But unexpectedly, at this moment, he would hear the little girl’s voice again.

Concubine Hu was right. That was Jiang Yue’er’s voice.

Jiang Yuanbai’s expression was too solemn, making even Ji Shuran step back involuntarily.

Fine, she forced a smile. “How is this possible…”

She couldn’t smile anymore. She saw that Daoist Master Chongxu had already retreated far from Jiang Li, the panic in his expression not seeming false.

How… wasn’t this… just a performance?

Seeing Jiang Yuanbai approach, from Jiang Li’s mouth, which still hadn’t raised, the girl child’s voice suddenly stopped. She said, “Father, Yue’er hurts so much. Yue’er was murdered. Yue’er hurts so much…”

Ji Shuran’s soul flew away in terror.

Lu Shi had long since hidden behind her own sons in fright, but this didn’t delay her mental calculations. Jiang Li was clearly possessed by the ghost of the deceased First Miss Jiang. Speaking of which, Jiang Li was truly unlucky to encounter such a ghostly possession. However… murdered? What murder? Hadn’t First Miss Jiang carelessly fallen from the decorative rocks back then?

“Yue’er, who harmed you?” Jiang Yuanbai’s voice seemed to come from far away.

“Mother harmed me.” The girl child’s voice was still young, yet carried some resentment. She said, “Mother harmed me, killed Yue’er, then pretended Yue’er fell to her death.” She said, “Mother harmed me!”

“You’re lying!” Jiang Youyao was already frightened and panicked, but couldn’t help retorting, “This is clearly the evil entity’s method of confusing hearts! Daoist Master, quickly eliminate this evil entity!”

“Daoist Master Chongxu, what are you standing there for?” Ji Shuran said incoherently, “Quickly exorcise it, make her go away!” Unconsciously, Ji Shuran, who had known this was a performance and was just pretending to watch the show, had actually become truly afraid.

Daoist Master Chongxu steeled himself and held the peach wood sword. The little Daoist boy had long since slipped away somewhere without a trace. He was originally a fake master—how could he slay demons and eliminate evil? Today was supposed to be fake, but who knew it would actually summon evil entities? This made Daoist Master Chongxu endlessly regretful. He held the peach wood sword but couldn’t dare approach no matter what, only saying, “This evil entity is truly too powerful. This humble Daoist… this humble Daoist may not be able to subdue it.”

“But she’s here spreading lies and confusing people!” Ji Shuran couldn’t help but shriek! Her palms were full of clammy sweat. She was afraid. The events of that year were impossible for anyone to know. Those who knew were already dead. This couldn’t be… someone must have found out and was using this method to harm her!

The girl child’s voice suddenly changed, becoming a young woman’s voice. Compared to Jiang Yue’er’s childishness, it sounded much older. She said, “Madam has such a cruel heart. Back then, you had First Miss accompany Third Miss to play. Just because Third Miss cried once, you blamed First Miss and viciously kicked her. First Miss hit her head on the threshold and died, yet you still had people stage it as accidentally falling from the decorative rocks… Siqi wanted to rush back and report to the master, but you silenced her by murder!”

“Siqi…” A maid standing beside Concubine Hu suddenly said blankly, “This is Siqi’s voice…”

In fact, after so many years, who would remember exactly what voice a maid and a deceased young lady had? Those who could recognize them were few and far between. But Concubine Hu and Baoqin were the people closest to Jiang Yue’er and Siqi, so when they said it was them, no one doubted it wasn’t.

Jiang Yuanbai turned to look at Ji Shuran.

“No,” Ji Shuran shook her head, tears suddenly falling. She grasped Jiang Yuanbai’s sleeve corner. “Master… it wasn’t me, truly wasn’t me. I never did such things…”

Jiang Youyao also cried, “Father, would you rather believe an evil entity’s lies than believe Mother?”

“That’s hard to say.” Hearing of Ji Shuran’s misfortune, Lu Shi couldn’t care about being afraid anymore. Of course she had to kick her while she was down. She said, “A dying person’s words are good, let alone someone already dead. In this world, human hearts are more frightening than ghosts. Those who appear kind and benevolent on the surface—who knows what vicious hearts they harbor?”

Old Madam Jiang’s expression changed drastically. For her, making the Jiang family prosper and the descendants grow was her responsibility. Therefore, when Jiang Li had pushed Ji Shuran down causing a miscarriage and making Ji Shuran lose her son, it made Old Madam Jiang extraordinarily furious. In the Jiang family, she turned a blind eye and tacitly allowed some of Ji Shuran’s behaviors, but that didn’t mean she could tolerate someone murdering Jiang family descendants within the estate!

Ji Shuran saw the cold gazes of Jiang Yuanbai and Old Madam Jiang. Her heart kept sinking. She was terribly afraid, but didn’t know whether she feared the vengeful ghost coming to take her life or feared how to face Old Madam Jiang’s and Jiang Yuanbai’s judgment next.

She could only shake her head desperately, saying, “It’s not true. These are the evil entity’s lies. How can you believe them? Master, for no reason at all, why would this concubine harm First Miss?”

Just then, Jiang Li stumbled forward two more steps. As she walked forward, all the Jiang household servants turned aside and avoided her from afar. After all, Jiang Li’s appearance was like a fierce ghost, and now possessed by a ghost—truly too terrifying. As Jiang Li walked forward, her walking posture was very strange. Black smoke rose from the soles of her feet, making her appear as if not touching solid ground.

Jiang Li walked to the locust tree in the garden, squatted down, and began digging. The buried items were shallow and quickly dug out by her.

“Heavens.” Concubine Hu covered her mouth, tears streaming like rain. “These… these are Yue’er’s things…”

Jiang Yue’er’s belongings had been buried deep in the ground along with her burial coffin after the incident. Fearing Jiang Yuanbai would be grief-stricken at the sight of them, the household hadn’t kept any of Jiang Yue’er’s things. Thus over all these years, she was like a stranger, leaving no trace in the Jiang family.

However, the rattle drum, cloth tiger, and such that Jiang Li dug up were all things Jiang Yue’er had once played with, even including swaddling clothes. Concubine Hu collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably, only saying, “Yue’er, Yue’er…” Each cry was mournful.

In this eerie and terrifying moment, only this woman showed no fear, only sorrow. Thus the pitch-black courtyard was also tinged with a mournful color. Her wailing was extremely loud, making listeners weep.

No one would believe Concubine Hu was faking.

Seeing this scene, Ji Shuran became even more afraid. She knelt down and grasped Jiang Yuanbai’s sleeve corner, saying, “Master, this evil entity is indeed formidable, skilled at confusing hearts. Didn’t you see, even Daoist Master Chongxu can’t subdue her? Master… Master, you can’t believe what she says. Daoist Master, what are you still doing!”

Daoist Master Chongxu gave a start and looked toward Jiang Li. He couldn’t dare use the demon-binding rope in his hand no matter what. He lamented inwardly—what was wrong with this Jiang family? It was supposed to just be a performance. Why hadn’t Consort Li told him beforehand that this household really had ghosts?

What should he do now?

Immediately after, Ji Shuran saw Jiang Li raise her head.

Her features were increasingly delicate, but because of the blood, they appeared even more grotesque. She looked at Ji Shuran with a sinister gaze and suddenly laughed strangely. After laughing, she lowered her head again.

“Yueru, your heart is so cruel!”

This sentence stunned Ji Shuran and everyone in the courtyard.

This voice was clearly a man’s!

Jiang Yuanbai couldn’t help but walk forward two steps to see if these words came from Jiang Li’s mouth. But after taking two steps forward, he stopped again, perhaps because of the wariness in his heart after all.

“Yueru… Yueru, during these years I’ve been dead, have you thought of me?” His tone was so tender it raised goosebumps, as if coming from the depths of hell.

“Who is Yueru?” Jiang Jingrui asked.

Jiang Yuanbai looked coldly at Ji Shuran. Ji Shuran stared blankly at Jiang Li. If the voices of Jiang Yue’er and Siqi earlier still made Ji Shuran doubtful, when this unfamiliar man’s voice emerged, Ji Shuran couldn’t say anything anymore. She only felt her head buzzing, losing all strength throughout her body.

“Yueru” was Ji Shuran’s childhood name.

Those who could call her by her childhood name, besides parents and relatives, could only be her husband. And this voice wasn’t Jiang Yuanbai’s. In fact, this voice very much resembled one person.

The already deceased Liu Wencai.

“Yueru, when your cousin came to the capital to find you, we agreed to stay together always. You agreed with your mouth, then turned around and had me killed at an inn. One day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection. Yueru, your heart is so cruel!”

This one stone stirred up a thousand waves!

Lu Shi’s eyes widened. Though she liked watching Ji Shuran’s misfortune and knew Ji Shuran was no saint, she hadn’t expected Ji Shuran to be so bold as to cuckold Jiang Yuanbai.

“You said you would marry no one but me, yet you married Jiang Yuanbai… and bore him children. Yueru, you betrayed me!”

Ji Shuran stepped back. She shook her head. “No, who are you… I don’t know you…”

“I am Liu Wencai, your cousin, your lover, the person you personally killed, your child’s father!” That voice cackled with laughter.

“Father?” Old Madam Jiang covered her chest as if unable to accept this fact. Jiang Youyao, who had been standing dazed, suddenly released her hand and stared blankly at Ji Shuran, her gaze full of doubt.

Ji Shuran seemed pained by Jiang Youyao’s gaze. “Youyao!” She reached to grasp Jiang Youyao’s hand, but Jiang Youyao avoided her, evading her gaze.

She feared she was the child of adultery. If so, she wouldn’t be the legitimate young lady of the Jiang family.

Jiang Yuanbai looked toward Jiang Bingji.

“It’s not true,” Ji Shuran’s heart ached. “Master, Bingji is your own flesh and blood. Don’t listen to his lies.”

“Hehehehe,” that strange man’s voice also rang out. He said, “Yueru, do you still remember our flesh and blood was killed by your own hand? You suspected Jiang Li witnessed your tryst with me, so you provoked Jiang Li and rolled down the stairs yourself. You sent Jiang Li away and also eliminated the child of adultery. You rested easy, killing two birds with one stone. Did you ever consider my feelings?”

“That was your own flesh and blood, Yueru!”

Everyone in the courtyard looked toward Jiang Li.

Back then, Jiang Li bore the reputation of killing her mother and brother and was sent to Mount Qingcheng. How could it be that Ji Shuran had planned it all along? Ji Shuran feared being discovered carrying a bastard child, so to eliminate evidence, she staged such a plot? This meant Jiang Li had done nothing wrong back then, yet was sent to Mount Qingcheng for nothing, ignored for eight years!

Jiang Yuanbai stepped back two paces. A servant supported him to help him stand steady. His face was dark as water. For a moment, he didn’t know what expression to make. He only felt that everyone in the courtyard was mocking his ignorance and stupidity!

“It’s not true,” Ji Shuran struggled a few times. “It’s not…”

“Yueru, do you dare swear on your pair of children that you haven’t done these things? Otherwise, may your pair of children die suddenly within three days, and after death descend to hell never to be reborn!”

This vow was truly vicious. If not for today’s scene, Ji Shuran might dare make it. But vows concerning children shouldn’t be made casually, especially having witnessed with her own eyes that ghosts and spirits existed in the world. How could she dare take such a risk with Jiang Youyao and Jiang Bingji?

Ji Shuran said nothing.

The people in the courtyard, seeing Ji Shuran’s expression, already understood.

Being looked at with such gazes, Ji Shuran suddenly laughed coldly. Madness seemed to grow in her eyes. She said to Jiang Li—or rather to the deceased Liu Wencai, “Liu Wencai, it wasn’t me who betrayed you. You betrayed me! Back then you said you would marry me, yet you turned around and married someone else! You were unrighteous first, don’t blame me for being unjust!”

“Oh?” Liu Wencai said, “So you killed Ye Zhenzhen?”

Jiang Yuanbai’s lips trembled. He said, “What did you say?”

Ji Shuran’s heart first tightened, then she seemed to understand something. Today’s events meant heaven wanted her to perish. She had no way out. She simply said vengefully, “Yes, I wanted to marry someone better than you, but my father only wanted me to marry some wastrel. Ye Zhenzhen’s health was poor after giving birth to Jiang Li. I bribed a maid in the Jiang household to leave out a few ingredients from Ye Zhenzhen’s medicine. Ye Zhenzhen died quickly. I became Madam Jiang. Liu Wencai, I’m ultimately far more capable than you!”

“Whatever I want to obtain, I will obtain. But what are you, Liu Wencai? You deceived me, abandoned me. After the Liu family fell, did you think I could still look up to you? When you came to find me, groveling and fawning, I was very pleased. But I no longer loved you. Your existence only reminded me of my disgraceful past, so you had to die, because I hated you!”

Tears slowly flowed from her eyes, yet her expression became increasingly vicious, carrying sharp hatred. “Liu Wencai, if not for you, I wouldn’t have become what I am now! Everything I have is thanks to you! Since you’ve already left, why must you appear? Since you’re already dead, you shouldn’t have returned!”

Her appearance was mad like a fierce ghost. Clearly in this courtyard there were perhaps nonexistent ghosts, and Jiang Li was bleeding with the most terrifying appearance. Yet people standing in the courtyard felt the most terrifying person wasn’t Jiang Li, nor the ghost hidden in darkness, but Ji Shuran.

How vicious must a person be to reach such a state? Appearing gentle and kind, yet with so many lives staining her hands. Having harmed so many people, she could still act as if nothing happened and sleep peacefully. Counting carefully, when Ye Zhenzhen was still alive, Ji Shuran was merely an unmarried young woman. Even then, for her own benefit, she could unhesitatingly harm a woman who had no grievance or enmity with her.

The most poisonous is a woman’s heart. At least in Ji Shuran’s case, this was perfectly verified.

Jiang Yuanbai suddenly began to laugh.

His laugh was mocking, unclear whether mocking others or himself. That laughter echoed in the courtyard, especially desolate and bitter.

He said, “I was actually… deceived by you to this extent, Ji Shuran!”

These last three words he spoke through gritted teeth, each word using all his strength, as if wishing to drink Ji Shuran’s blood and eat her flesh.

Those closest become the most distant.

—Author’s Note—

Zhao Ke: Cinematographer in position, sound engineer prepare to record, lighting team go all out! Extras in position, props team check the microphone, come, pass the microphone to this comrade, please begin your performance!