No one was able to coax Lang Jiuchuan out. Were it not for Jian Lan reporting that there was some movement coming from the study, and that the meals had all been eaten, everyone would have assumed she had simply fainted dead away.

But what none of them knew was that what remained in the study was merely a paper effigy Lang Jiuchuan had prepared in advance, specifically to deal with them. As for the meals — those had naturally been sent elsewhere.

Since Lang Jiuchuan would not come out, Gong Qi and the others said nothing in particular, though they were somewhat skeptical of the Lang Family’s explanations. What sort of convenient excuse was “still not recovered” — could it really be that perfectly timed?

Gong Qi’s curiosity was thoroughly roused. The harder it was to catch a glimpse, the more he wanted to see — just what sort of three-headed, six-armed creature was this young lady the Lang Family had hidden away?

Could the remarkable encounter Old Uncle Nine spoke of actually be referring to this? How fitting — they were both ranked ninth.

Even if Lang Jiuchuan refused to show herself, that did not stop Lang Zhengping from pressing Gong Qi and the others: could they determine the source of the Lang Family’s misfortune?

Lang Zhengping even went so far as to lay bare his own vulnerabilities: “To be entirely frank, our Lang Family is already a fringe noble house, far removed from the center of power and on a downward trajectory. Even if we had political enemies, a family in our state would hardly pose much of a threat. I cannot fathom who could regard us as such a grave menace as to want our entire lineage wiped out!”

Gong Qi looked at Lang Zhengping and studied his features carefully. “I observe that the young lord’s face is full of a healthy, vigorous flush. The bridge of his nose is well-formed, and the lines framing the nostrils — the areas governing one’s standing and authority — are clearly defined. This all speaks to a rising fortune. Though there are minor ailments in the body, there is no malevolent mark of a petty enemy. You are the head of the household, and when the head’s fortune rises, the family’s fortune rises — one cannot speak of drawing enemies.”

Lang Zhengping was overjoyed — but his expression shifted almost immediately. His gaze instinctively moved to Cui Shi. Finished, then?

If Gong Qi was saying the misfortune had nothing to do with him, did that not confirm what Lang Jiuchuan had said?

Could it truly have been her who drew it?

Cui Shi’s expression also changed. She curled her fingers into her palm. Could it really be as she had said? But why would this be so? She was just a child not yet of age — how could she have attracted such a catastrophic enemy, one bold enough to employ such methods against the Lang Family? And if they targeted her alone…

Thinking of that frail, sickly body — had even that been caused by someone deliberately harming her?

Cui Shi’s heart clenched with a stabbing pain, and a soft sound escaped her lips. Her face went pale as frost.

Gong Qi had been watching Lang Zhengping, and when he saw how rapidly the man’s emotions shifted, he knew there was more to the matter than met the eye. But then, unexpectedly, Cui Shi let out a low moan.

“Elder Brother.”

Gong Qi saw Cui Shi clutching her chest and quickly stepped forward. “Madam, allow me to feel your pulse.”

He took Cui Shi’s wrist, pressed his fingers to it, and his brow furrowed slightly. “Madam, is this a heart spasm condition?”

“It is.” Nanny Cheng had already retrieved a small porcelain vial from the pouch at her waist, tapped out a pill, placed it in Cui Shi’s mouth, then fetched warm water to help her swallow it.

Gong Qi caught the scent of the medicine, his nose twitching. “This medicine…”

“Our young lady made it,” Nanny Cheng answered without a moment’s hesitation.

The depth of Gong Qi’s gaze shifted.

Gong Qi walked over. “Oh? This medicine was made by little ninth martial brother? My elder martial brother has quite accomplished skill in medicine — shall we let him examine whether this medicine is properly suited to the condition?”

Nanny Cheng was bewildered. Was… was he trying to steal the medicine?

Lang Zhengping rushed over. “A heart spasm attack — quickly call the household physician! Nanny Cheng, hurry and help your mistress back to her room to lie down. I will send the eldest young master personally to summon the imperial physician.”

“Ah — oh.” Nanny Cheng helped Cui Shi to her feet. In truth, after taking the medicine, Cui Shi was already feeling much better — but seeing that Gong Qi was angling for the medicine, she dared not reveal any more, and leaned on Nanny Cheng as they left.

Gong Qi stroked his chin and exchanged a glance with Gong Qi.

Interesting, was it not?

Gong Qi had also caught on. Someone was being hidden from them — and who that someone was could only be that frail ninth young lady of the Lang Family.

“That medicine was an excellent formulation — precisely the right medicinal herbs for a heart spasm condition. I caught the scent of salvia root and notoginseng at the very least, among other varieties. I have no idea who prepared it.” Gong Qi had a fondness for studying medicine, particularly its combination with Daoist arts and talismanic treatment — practices such as shamanic healing and the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles. Those were his particular obsession.

“Fascinating — I am simply not leaving this Lang Family!” declared Gong Qi, eyes gleaming with cunning resolve.

Lang Zhengping returned and bowed with clasped hands. “Truly what terrible timing — my sister-in-law has always suffered from this heart spasm condition. A dreadful thing when it strikes.”

Gong Qi said: “The elixir Madam regularly takes should have quite good medicinal properties — it ought to relieve the pain.”

“Is that so? A child’s filial offering — someone gave it to her, and she passed it on to honor the elders. She even sent a vial of nourishing pills over to the old matriarch’s side.” Lang Zhengping smiled warmly, then sighed. “A pity the child herself is so frail.”

“My elder martial brother’s medical skills are excellent — perhaps he could look over little martial brother’s pulse condition and think of a suitable restorative prescription,” said Gong Qi with a pleasant smile.

Lang Zhengping bowed his thanks. “Once the child can get out of bed, I will certainly trouble the Daoist gentlemen to have a look. You said earlier that I bear no mark of a petty enemy’s malice — yet at my late father’s funeral, we nearly fell victim to those dark arts. I wonder whether our household might still harbor such an inauspicious shadow?”

“My martial brother and I can tell with a brief walk through your esteemed residence. If the young lord is occupied, simply have one of the younger generation accompany us,” said Gong Qi.

“Then let my son be your guide.” Lang Zhengping sent for Lang Caimeng.

When Lang Caimeng arrived and was accompanying them through the estate, Gong Qi asked his martial brother quietly: “Whatever you are planning, tell me sooner rather than later. Don’t cause a scene — that is still your mother’s old friend from childhood.”

“What plan could I possibly have? I simply want to catch a glimpse of that ninth young lady who is so completely hidden away.” Gong Qi said. “There are only three young ladies of suitable age in this Lang household. Look at those two — sneaking glances at us. Now that is normal behavior. The one who is hiding, on the other hand, only makes me all the more intrigued.”

Gong Qi followed his gaze. He saw two young ladies over in the distance, tugging at each other in a whispered fuss, then quickly looked away when he noticed. The two of them, startled like birds, scurried off.

Gong Qi continued: “Moreover — when the Lang Family’s young lord learned the misfortune bore no connection to himself, he was clearly overjoyed, but before he could even exhale in relief, he was already sunken in worry again. And yet he said nothing explicit.”

He surveyed the layout of the Lang estate and continued: “Their household nearly fell victim to such viciously malicious dark arts — they even called upon my mother through an old childhood friendship to help. Yet look at how he has conducted himself since we arrived.”

Gong Qi fell silent.

Warm and welcoming, yes. Considerate and attentive, certainly. But the matter that ought to concern him most urgently — he showed no urgency about it at all, and was clearly concealing something, having spoken nothing plain.

Gong Qi continued: “I suspect he has already guessed at the true nature of this misfortune, but is uncertain whether he ought to say so openly. And the answer to that uncertainty will likely only emerge once that hidden ninth young lady of the Lang Family comes out.”

Gong Qi gave him a sideways look, with poorly concealed exasperation. “If you applied this sharp mind to cultivation, your level of attainment would by now be second only to the Young Master.”

Clearly possessed of a clever mind, and yet so full of other schemes, never focusing on what mattered — a sheer waste of talent.

Gong Qi laughed. “Being out here in the mortal world is cultivation too — it is all about what one manages to comprehend from it.”