Wei Chao and his wife stopped with their guest not far from the pavilion, not directly approaching Du Wen Hui and her companions.
“That must be your residence’s lady?” Ming Shu gazed at one of the slender women and asked, “May I meet her?”
Two people sat in the pavilion, their silhouettes barely visible. Ming Shu was guessing based on intuition.
“That’s right,” Liu Shi confirmed.
Ming Shu nodded. The haunting that Liu Shi had asked her to investigate started in Madam Wei’s quarters.
The events began at the end of last year. Initially, Madam Wei had several consecutive days of nightmares, becoming mentally distracted. The dreams always contained the same content. The Wei family called doctors who prescribed calming medicines, but these proved ineffective. By spring, Madam Wei developed sleepwalking symptoms, wandering in her sleep to the well in the back courtyard, mumbling incomprehensible words that greatly frightened her attendants.
The Wei household initially treated this as an illness. But soon after, Madam Wei started claiming she saw ghosts – white figures flitting past her window, hanging bodies under the eaves, and even pale-faced women smiling sinisterly at her by the pond or behind rockeries during daylight hours. Madam Wei was so frightened she became bedridden. Wei Xian didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, so he invited imperial physicians to treat her condition as delirium, with daily doses of medicine.
But by February this year, the ghost became more aggressive. Beyond Madam Wei, others began seeing apparitions too – from servants and maids to masters like Second Madam Wei, all encountered shadowy ghost figures, and strange events frequently occurred. Chickens raised in the kitchen were found brutally killed one morning, their blood forming the character for “death.” The birds kept by Wei Xian’s concubine also died mysteriously. A maid passing by the well was nearly pushed in, and people would wake from sleep to find themselves lying at the edge of rockeries instead of in their beds… Even Second Madam Wei had several encounters – either seeing a child in red in the garden or hearing crying from behind her quarters, leaving her unable to sleep at night.
These events left the Wei household in constant fear. Last month, Wei Xian finally relented and invited a Daoist master to perform exorcism rites, but these proved ineffective as the strange phenomena continued. Second Madam Wei Liu secretly consulted a local fortune teller, who said there must be a reason for these occurrences – they needed to discover the cause before any ritual would work. That’s why Liu Shi had invited Ming Shu.
Not to investigate people, but to investigate ghosts.
Since everything started with Du Wen Hui, Ming Shu wanted to meet this First Madam. After explaining her intentions to the Second Master and his wife, Wei Chao had a servant to make the request.
————
The servant stood at the stone steps of the pavilion, bowed, and then reported to Du Wen Hui: “Madam, today a cultivated Daoist master requested to visit. The second Master and Second Madam found she had some real ability, so they invited her in to examine the residence. They’re currently by the lotus pond, and Second Master asked me to inquire if you would like to meet her?”
Du Wen Hui and Madam Xu had both stood up, peering outside the pavilion to see a woman dressed as a female Daoist.
“Wen Hui, why don’t we have her come over? I’m curious to hear what these wandering charlatans can come up with,” said Madam Xu, who didn’t believe in these fraudulent spiritualists.
Du Wen Hui thought for a moment and was about to agree when the old nanny who had been standing silently beside her suddenly spoke up.
“Madam, the Master instructed that since your health has only recently improved slightly, you shouldn’t strain yourself with such matters. Since she’s just a wandering fraud, there’s no need to see her.”
The old nanny was nearly fifty, wearing a deep gray robe that made her wrinkled face appear bloodless against it. Only her eyes remained cold as they stared at Du Wen Hui.
Du Wen Hui shrank slightly under her gaze and said, “In that case, let’s forget it.”
Madam Xu immediately frowned, glancing at the old nanny several times before saying, “This nanny has quite the authority, making decisions for your master now?”
The old nanny immediately lowered her head and said, “This servant is only following the Master’s instructions to take good care of Madam.”
“Take care? This is more like monitoring—”
“Ruoyi, stop!”
Just as Madam Xu was about to speak, Du Wen Hui cut her off. Du Wen Hui held her hand and said, “Let’s do as Nanny Lu suggests.” She gave Madam Xu a pleading look, and Madam Xu had no choice but to drop it.
Actually, during this visit to the Wei residence, Madam Xu had many questions. She hadn’t seen Du Wen Hui for a long time, and their previous meetings were mostly outside. She didn’t know Du Wen Hui’s situation in the Wei household, but these past two days she discovered that all the people around Du Wen Hui had been replaced with unfamiliar faces.
She remembered that when Du Wen Hui married into the family, the Du family had sent many maids and servants with her, but now none of them could be seen – even her former trusted maids had vanished.
Naturally, Madam Xu was puzzled, but such questions couldn’t be asked in front of Wei household servants. She also couldn’t find a chance to speak privately with Du Wen Hui, as this Nanny Lu would always stay close by, claiming she was following Wei Xian’s orders to personally attend to Du Wen Hui.
Now that Du Wen Hui had spoken, Madam Xu, as a guest, couldn’t say more. She could only silently fume at Du Wen Hui’s submissive nature that allowed others to push her around. But there was nothing she could do except watch the servant return to reject the Second Branch’s request.
————
Ming Shu wasn’t able to meet the Wei family’s First Madam as hoped.
The Second Branch couple only walked with her around the pond before leading her away from the East Garden. Ming Shu suggested visiting the locations where the haunting incidents were reported to have occurred. Just then, someone came looking for Wei Chao, so he asked Liu Shi to show Ming Shu around while he attended to other matters.
This suited Liu Shi perfectly – without Wei Chao present, she could speak more freely with Ming Shu.
Liu Shi first took Ming Shu to see the chicken coops in the kitchen. The kitchen is connected to the East Garden, with a fenced area in the eastern corner for raising chickens, ducks, and geese. When Ming Shu arrived, the kitchen maid was mixing feed for the chickens. Liu Shi brought Ming Shu forward to inquire.
The kitchen maid described the scene from that time, though after more than a month, the area around the chicken coop had been cleaned and no traces remained. Ming Shu only asked her: “Is the chicken coop usually locked? Can anyone besides the kitchen staff enter?”
“Why would we lock the chicken coop? Who would bother coming here to step in chicken droppings?” the kitchen maid replied.
The implication was that anyone could enter the chicken coop. Ming Shu nodded without asking more and asked Liu Shi to take her to the next location.
On the way, Ming Shu only asked Liu Shi: “Second Madam, does the First Madam manage the household affairs?”
“No. My sister-in-law is delicate and frail – she gets exhausted from just walking a few steps. How could she have the energy to manage? Besides, my brother-in-law dotes on her and doesn’t let her handle household matters,” Liu Shi replied.
“I see the household rules are strict and everything in the inner quarters is well-ordered. Whoever manages the household must be very capable. If not the First Madam, perhaps it’s you?” Ming Shu complimented.
“Don’t even mention it. All household expenses are covered by my brother-in-law – how could I manage the household? To be honest, all matters big and small are decided by him. We have no say in anything,” Liu Shi sighed as they walked.
“Oh? Commander Wei manages the household himself?” Ming Shu was very surprised. In this world where men managed external affairs and women’s internal affairs, it was very rare for men to manage the household.
“More or less. My brother-in-law is very capable, of setting rules as strict as a military camp. Anyone who makes even a small mistake won’t get off easily, including my husband. So everyone in the family fears him and no one dares to act out of line,” Liu Shi replied.
“By what you’re saying, the servants in the household were all personally selected by Commander Wei?”
“Yes, they’re all my brother-in-law’s people.”
This was precisely why the haunting was so frightening. Since they were all Wei Xian’s people, the possibility of someone inside the household secretly causing trouble was very low.
While chatting about the household situation, Liu Shi took Ming Shu to several places where hauntings had been reported, and Ming Shu examined each one. Finally, Liu Shi took her to the west wing rooms.
The west wing was where Wei Xian’s concubine lived. This concubine had previously kept several bird cages in the corridor for entertainment, but like the kitchen maid’s chickens, they had died tragically one rainy night.
“Speaking of the devil,” Liu Shi cursed under her breath as they turned the corner into the long corridor.
Ming Shu followed her gaze to see a graceful woman standing ahead. The woman appeared to be twenty-five or twenty-six, with her hair loosely pinned to one side, long seductive eyebrows, wearing a peach-red bodice with a pale yellow outer robe that revealed a patch of snow-white skin. Her waist was serpentine, her movements full of allure, extremely eye-catching. Currently, she stood with her arms crossed, eyes half-open, watching servants put newly bought birds into empty cages.
“Reeks of the fox spirit,” Liu Shi spat, disgusted by her manner.
The woman was giggling, seemingly teasing the servant. When she turned and saw Liu Shi, she said with an ambiguous smile: “Oh, if it isn’t my sister-in-law.”
“Pah! My proper sister-in-law is in the garden. You have no right to call me sister-in-law,” Liu Shi extremely disliked her and showed no courtesy.
This concubine was named Yan Shao. She came from the pleasure quarters – Wei Xian had met her when drinking with colleagues at a brothel. She caught his eye and he bought out her contract to bring her home.
Yan Shao was used to Liu Shi’s cold treatment and mockery. She continued smiling: “I’ve served your brother-in-law, so I count as half a sister-in-law. It’s not wrong for me to call you sister-in-law.” Seeing Liu Shi about to curse again, she quickly turned to Ming Shu and said, “What a pretty young lady. Who might this be? Could sister-in-law be finding a chambermaid for my young brother-in-law?”
“How dare you! Say one more word and I’ll tear that mouth of yours!” Liu Shi was furious.
Yan Shao raised an eyebrow and reached to pull Ming Shu’s sleeve: “This Daoist robe is quite nice. Dear sister, tell your big sister where you got it. I should get one too – it would create quite an effect in the bedchamber, making my lord lose his soul and melt his bones…”
Her words grew increasingly inappropriate, making even Ming Shu blush upon hearing them. Ming Shu stepped back to avoid her advances but accidentally bumped into a servant standing behind her.
The servant quickly steadied her. Ming Shu turned to thank him: “Thank you.”
The servant quickly released her and stepped back. His gait was strange as if he were lame. Ming Shu looked twice and realized only half his face was intact – the other half was covered in burn scars as if branded by a hot iron. Noticing her gaze, the servant hurriedly lowered his head, seemingly afraid of others seeing his disfigurement, and quickly excused himself.
Yan Shao also lost interest, swaying her hips as she returned to her room and slammed the door shut.
Seeing Liu Shi about to curse again, Ming Shu quickly asked: “Second Madam, are these bird cages always hung in the corridor like this?”
“Yes, that vixen always keeps the bird cages hanging here, never taking them down,” Liu Shi replied.
Ming Shu watched the limping servant leave and asked: “Who was that man? I notice your household rules are strict – servants aren’t allowed in the inner quarters without being summoned. How can he enter?”
“Ah. He was brought back by my brother-in-law three years ago. His name is Ding Xuan. He’s…” Liu Shi paused awkwardly before whispering in Ming Shu’s ear, “He’s a eunuch who was expelled from the palace. His foot and face were injured by someone in the palace, which is why my brother-in-law trusts him to enter the inner quarters.”
“He’s also my brother-in-law’s eyes and ears in the inner quarters.” Ming Shu finally understood.
Having toured most of the garden, Liu Shi took Ming Shu back to the Second Branch’s side garden, where Wei Chao had also returned from his business.
“Elder Brother just sent word that he’s been invited to a colleagues’ banquet and likely won’t return tonight. In that case, let’s have the Immortal stay in our side room tonight. When my brother returns tomorrow, we can explain the situation and make further decisions,” Wei Chao said.
Ming Shu bowed, thinking this was quite fortunate.
Liu Shi said, “Tonight you’ll have to make do with the side room, and see if you can hear anything strange. My maids and I often hear odd sounds, though they come and go. My husband always says we women are just scaring ourselves – how would he know when he sleeps so deeply he hears nothing? It’s hard on me, unable to sleep night after night.”
The side room was next to the main room – if Liu Shi could hear things, Ming Shu would surely hear them too from the side room.
“Very well,” Ming Shu readily agreed.
————
Night gradually fell, and street lamps lit up one by one.
The Lu family gate was closed. Madam Zeng had prepared several dishes as usual and sat with Lu Chang at the table for dinner. Lu Chang wasn’t talkative – usually, it was Ming Shu’s cheerful chatter that brought laughter. Without her today, mother and son found the meal rather bland.
Strangely enough, though mother and son had lived this way for over ten years, Ming Shu had completely changed the household atmosphere in less than half a year of living with them.
Lu Chang put down his chopsticks after only half a bowl of rice.
Previously when he left home for the academy, Ming Shu would be at home – he could always see her when he returned. But this time was different – he was home while Ming Shu was away.
He became distracted.
Everywhere he looked, he saw traces of her.
“Where are you going?” Madam Zeng had finished eating and was about to clear the dishes when she saw Lu Chang running toward the door.
“Mother, I’ll be back soon,” Lu Chang hurriedly said before disappearing into the night.
Madam Zeng watched for a long while, shaking her head.
She could only sigh – her son had grown up.
No longer under his mother’s control.
————
As night fell, the small side room usually used for storage had been hastily furnished with a frame bed and simple table. The room had only a dim oil lamp, under which Ming Shu was bent over, methodically recording and analyzing the information she had gathered during the day.
Though Second Madam Wei Liu had asked her to investigate supernatural matters, she didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits. So-called ghost troubles were mostly human-caused. She planned to start by investigating the people in the Wei household, but these people had all been carefully selected by Wei Xian and were very tight-lipped. Besides information related to the hauntings, it was difficult to learn anything else.
The Wei family’s situation was rather thorny.
After bending over the lamp for so long, her eyes grew tired. With no immediate insights, Ming Shu frowned while chewing on her brush handle. The side room was stuffy, and as her thoughts grew chaotic, she stepped out and walked to the deserted western wall, staring blankly at the pitch-dark garden.
Suddenly, a clear flute sound came over the wall.
Ming Shu’s eyes immediately widened.
It was the sound of a grass leaf whistle, clear though simple, pleasantly playing a children’s tune.
The whistle notes floated over the high wall to her ears.
Ming Shu recognized the children’s song almost instantly.
On the journey to the capital, when Lu Chang was driving the cart, he played it on a grass leaf and taught it to her.
Lu Chang was outside the Wei residence wall.
“Brother,” Ming Shu murmured, quickly picking a suitable blade of grass from the bushes and putting it to her lips.
She blew hard twice, but only discordant sounds came out. Though Lu Chang had taught her, she hadn’t mastered it and could only produce broken notes. But even this was enough. The melodious whistling outside suddenly stopped, then resumed moments later.
Note by note, as if soothing her heart.
Ming Shu knew her brother had recognized her response. Her chaotic thoughts gradually calmed. She tucked the grass blade into her clothes and sat on a stone by the wall, smiling as she listened to Lu Chang playing for her outside. Suddenly she felt incredibly envious of the girl her brother loved so deeply.
For a usually quiet and reserved man like Lu Chang, when he fell in love, his tenderness must know no bounds…
If only she could meet someone like her brother, how wonderful that would be!
————
The night grew deeper, and the melodious whistling from the street outside gradually fell silent. In the absolute quiet of the night, lights went out one by one.
Madam Xu finished washing up and changed clothes to prepare for bed.
Her maid helped her lie down, blew out the bedroom candles, and quietly took the used water outside to dispose of it. Madam Xu watched the maid leave but felt no sleepiness.
A gust of wind made the tree shadows on the window shake violently. For some reason, she recalled the rumors about the Wei house being haunted.
Although Du Wen Hui had told her these were just baseless rumors, Madam Xu couldn’t help thinking about them now, making her miss her own home.
Everything was extraordinarily quiet. Madam Xu lay there a while longer and suddenly realized her maid had only gone to dump water but hadn’t returned after all this time. Having left home in anger, she had only brought one trusted maid with her, so with the maid gone, no one else was in the room.
Feeling uneasy alone, she got up and put on her clothes, wanting to relight the candles and wait for her maid’s return before extinguishing them again.
Just as she found the flint, Madam Xu saw a human shadow pass across the carved window covered with gauze.
Thinking it was her maid returning, she called out.
But the shadow didn’t respond or stop – it continued floating to the side… yes, floating!
Madam Xu had already noticed this shadow moved differently from normal people. Her heart suddenly suspended, and she dared not make another sound, only staring at the shadow. The shadow “floated” outside the door, and before Madam Xu could see how “it” moved, she first heard a knocking sound.
She nearly fainted from fright, standing frozen in place, afraid of startling the shadow.
The knocking continued for a while, then suddenly the lantern under the eaves seemed to be extinguished by something. The shadow disappeared along with it, the knocking stopped, and the room returned to silence.
The maid still hadn’t returned, and this silence was extremely eerie.
Madam Xu moved her feet with difficulty, thinking to just dive under the covers and pretend she saw nothing. She didn’t even want to light the candles anymore. But after just half a step, something suddenly crashed violently against the window facing the long corridor. Madam Xu turned to see the window screen torn open and a deathly pale face push through it.
This fright was no small matter – Madam Xu screamed instantly, no longer caring about anything else, quickly threw open the door and fled.
————
Meanwhile, Ming Shu had listened to several of Lu Chang’s grass whistle tunes outside and was in high spirits. She had returned to the side room, blown out the candles, and was lying on the bed fully clothed with her eyes closed to rest.
Suddenly, a whimpering, plaintive sound came through – like a baby crying at night, or cats in heat, intermittent.
She recalled Liu Shi’s words and quickly got up from bed. Leaving the room, she ran into Liu Shi who had also come out in her nightclothes.
“Did you hear that? That’s the sound!” Liu Shi said, looking unwell.
Ming Shu listened again, but the sound seemed to have stopped. After thinking for a moment, she said: “I’ll go take a look.” With that, she borrowed a lantern from Liu Shi and walked toward where the sound had come from.