Marquis Kang’s Manor.

Inside the ancestral hall, everyone was shocked to hear the young maid say that Old Lady Lin had died.

The young maid who came to report was even more pale-faced. Just now when she went to Old Lady Lin’s room to find her, as soon as she pushed the door open, she saw the person lying face-down on the ground. She went forward to check her breathing and only then realized she was already dead. The marquis’s manor had already been in a state of panic recently due to the ghost haunting incident. Now with another death, it naturally made people’s hearts fearful and anxious, afraid that the ghostly matters would fall upon themselves.

Hearing this, Ji Yinshu was startled, though not frightened.

Last night, she had just met that Old Lady Lin. Although she looked gaunt and hunched, her steps were steady and she seemed fairly robust. How could she have died so suddenly?

She asked the thoroughly frightened maid, “How did Old Lady Lin die? Where did she die?”

“In… she died in her room. I just went over to call her and saw her lying face-down on the ground, motionless. When I went closer to look, I realized she was already dead. At that moment, I was so frightened.” Her voice trembled, her eyes containing tears of fear.

Ji Yinshu simply said, “Take me there.”

“Ah?”

“Ah what? The person is dead—I’ll go take a look.” Her tone wasn’t harsh.

The maid thought to herself, wasn’t this Master Ji supposed to be investigating the matter of ghosts claiming lives? What business did she have going to join the commotion now?

But she still agreed and tremblingly led her and Jingrong to Old Lady Lin’s room.

At this time, Marquis Kang also arrived, entering the door a few steps ahead of her.

Both inside the room and outside, people gathered around, discussing in whispers.

“Could she have encountered something evil?”

“Possibly. Old Lady Lin always guarded the ancestral hall alone late at night. Perhaps she really attracted something unclean.”

“If you ask me, it must be the young master’s ghost that came.”

“Don’t frighten me.” That person hugged their arms, rubbing them vigorously several times, teeth chattering.

The burly man beside them frowned, his face resolute. “Look, ever since the young master’s shoes went missing, has our manor had a single peaceful day? Last night, I heard the young master’s laughter again. I was so scared I didn’t even dare go out to the privy.”

He swallowed hard, and even the burly man trembled!

The crowd huddled together discussing in low voices, while Ji Yinshu’s expression remained calm as she stepped into the room.

The room was neither small nor large. The furnishings were pitifully sparse—a bed, a cabinet, one table and chair, and two pear-wood chairs with worn lacquer. There weren’t many items either, but everything was kept neat and clean.

An ordinary servant’s room.

Marquis Kang stood inside the room, shaking his head and sighing at the emaciated corpse lying face-down on the ground, muttering, “Sister Lin has served this marquis for decades since I came from the capital to Jingzhou. Now she’s just gone like this… Alas!”

He lowered his head, wiping away tears!

Old Lady Lin’s body was lying face-down on the ground, feet toward the door, head toward the bed!

Beside her was an overturned tray and several broken cups.

It appeared she had accidentally fallen, her forehead hitting the ground, dying on the spot.

After all, at her advanced age, bumps and falls could easily result in tragedy.

Just as Ji Yinshu was about to approach for a closer look, someone suddenly rushed into the courtyard, pushing through the onlookers and causing a commotion.

Looking back, she saw a burly man in his forties standing at the door, stunned, his eyes full of shock as he stared at Old Lady Lin’s corpse on the ground. The surrounding people’s gazes all fell upon him, carrying sympathy and regret.

That person stood frozen for a long time. His legs, originally strong and sturdy, now trembled weakly and powerlessly. With difficulty, he walked to Old Lady Lin’s corpse.

Then, with a “thud” he knelt down, crying out “Mother” in a heart-wrenching voice.

He held the corpse and wailed!

A man’s toughness would ultimately crumble and become fragile when parted from family.

“Mother, what happened to you? Your son just went out for a bit, how could you…”

He began crying bitterly!

Marquis Kang consoled him, “Cai Da, don’t be too sorrowful. Your mother must have accidentally fallen. Accept the sorrow and move on—this marquis will arrange a proper funeral for her.”

Cai Da didn’t listen, crying inconsolably.

“Your mother was also advanced in years—this was unavoidable.”

He didn’t listen!

“Sister Lin worked in the manor for so many years. This marquis naturally won’t mistreat her. Moreover, if her spirit exists in heaven, she wouldn’t want to see you like this either.”

He wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t listen, just wouldn’t listen!

Inside the room, wailing echoed miserably.

Jingrong, not liking such scenes, stood at the doorway several meters away. The surrounding maids and servants dared not approach, as if they saw him as a porcupine to be respectfully avoided.

As for Ji Yinshu, when Cai Da turned Old Lady Lin’s corpse over and held it in his arms, her gaze lingered for a long time on the wound on Old Lady Lin’s forehead.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she sensed something was wrong. She took small steps forward and crouched down to examine it.

But Cai Da held on and wouldn’t let go.

“May I take a look?” Her tone was gentle.

Cai Da looked at her with bloodshot eyes full of red threads. “My mother is already dead—what more is there to look at?”

“I’m thinking there may be other causes, so I’d like to examine it more carefully.”

Uh!

At these words, both inside and outside the room, there was an uproar!

Old Lady Lin had a wound on her forehead, and all around were scattered trays and broken cups. It was obviously a case of slipping and hitting her head to death.

How was it that coming from Master Ji’s mouth, it seemed there was something more to it?

Marquis Kang became puzzled and stepped forward to ask, “Master Ji, what do you mean by this?”

Ji Yinshu’s heart was actually quite conflicted. She had only said one sentence—did everyone need to stare at her like this? She had also said it was “possibly” another cause—possibly! But these people’s ears heard it as certainty.

This was really killing her!

Her expression tightened slightly. “I just want to examine the wound on Old Lady Lin’s forehead. I have no other meaning.”

“What about the wound?”

“Your Lordship, haven’t I not examined it yet? After I look, I’ll know whether she died from falling or… from some other cause.”

Marquis Kang didn’t waste words and immediately told Cai Da, “Cai Da, let go of your mother and let Master Ji take a look.”

But—

Cai Da refused to let go, still holding that somewhat stiffened body and crying with tears streaming down his face.

After all, having lost his mother, being grief-stricken and unwilling to let go was a natural response.

Until—

Marquis Kang ordered three or four young servants to pull the person away.

“Mother…”

Cai Da was dragged up and pulled to the side.

Only then did Ji Yinshu slightly lift her loose, grayish-white sleeve and reach out to turn Old Lady Lin’s head toward herself. She carefully examined the wound on the forehead.

The flesh had been torn open from the impact, with some areas of flesh bunched together. There were even pieces of shredded flesh hanging, and one could faintly see the bone inside. Blood had spread from the wound on her forehead, flowing to her hair, ears, and eyes…

There was also a pool of blood on the ground!

It seemed she had indeed died from falling.

However—