Liu Xianggu walked to the doorway but was blocked by Aman.

“What do you mean, Miss?” Liu Xianggu turned around, her face gloomy as she looked at Jiang Si.

Upon hearing Jiang Si mention Duke Dongping’s mansion, Liu Xianggu felt more at ease.

Since the other party was related to Duke Dongping’s household, their background was likely not much higher than that of the Duke’s family.

Although she lived in a poor district, years of dealing with wealthy families had allowed her to accumulate some connections and reputation. Even if the girl before her was from a noble family, she was still too green to manipulate her.

Jiang Si’s face still wore a faint smile. “Xianggu has come all this way, wouldn’t you like to have a cup of tea?”

“I’m not used to the tea here,” Liu Xianggu replied calmly.

Jiang Si’s smile faded her deep gaze meeting Liu Xianggu’s. “Then does Xianggu insist on helping Second Madam of Duke Dongping’s household do something unconscionable?”

“Who exactly are you, Miss? Why are you telling me all this out of the blue?”

“Me? I’m the Fourth Miss of Duke Dongping’s household. Second Madam is my second aunt, and the person she asked you to scheme against is my full-blooded elder brother,” Jiang Si revealed her identity without any concealment.

As she spoke, Liu Xianggu’s expression changed from initial surprise to looking at Jiang Si as if she were an idiot.

This Fourth Miss of Duke Dongping’s household must have something wrong with her head, coming to confront her without any proof.

Forget about offending her – with her current reputation, she could easily ruin this Fourth Miss’s life with just a few words. Even if she ignored it and told the Second Madam of Duke Dongping’s household about this, the young lady’s future days would not be pleasant.

“Where did you hear such rumors, Miss? Though I’m no true immortal, I’ve helped many families solve their troubles. I dare not accept such accusations from you,” Liu Xianggu said, her gaze toward Jiang Si tinged with contempt.

She had seen many such young ladies, without guile and prone to making a fuss over nothing when faced with trouble, yet truly incapable of anything.

“You should head home soon, Miss, lest your family worry,” Liu Xianggu said, sidestepping Aman and reaching for the door.

Aman blocked the doorway, her voice crisp: “Our Miss hasn’t said you can leave yet.”

Liu Xianggu calmly turned around, her voice slightly raised: “Are you planning to keep me here by force, Miss?”

A young girl’s voice came from outside: “Xianggu, are you alright?”

Just as Liu Xianggu was about to reply, Jiang Si spoke first: “Xianggu, why don’t you sit down? If you’re not interested in discussing Duke Dongping’s household affairs, shall we talk about the Yan family on the outskirts of the capital instead?”

Liu Xianggu’s face changed drastically, her eyes filled with undisguisable panic.

“Xianggu, are you alright?” The young girl’s voice came from outside again.

Liu Xianggu felt as if a heavy hammer had struck her, knocking her soul out of her body, and leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

How could anyone know about the Yan family’s affairs?

Seeing Liu Xianggu’s loss of composure, Jiang Si wasn’t surprised.

In Bailu Town on the outskirts of the capital, there was a wealthy gentry surnamed Yan. Steward Yan had an only daughter who was as beautiful as a flower, gentle and graceful. Even before she came of age, suitors were lining up at their door.

But misfortune struck unexpectedly. The year Miss Yan came of age, she fell ill with a strange disease. It started with drowsiness and developed to the point where she was barely conscious throughout the day.

Steward Yan had only this beloved daughter. He was so worried that his hair turned white. He sent for famous physicians from the capital but to no avail. Then someone suggested that Miss Yan might have lost her soul, which was why she couldn’t wake up.

This led to a parade of Taoist priests and fortune tellers, among them was Liu Xianggu, who had only recently arrived in Bailu Town.

At that time, Liu Xianggu wasn’t called Xianggu but referred to herself as Old Woman Liu.

She told others that her husband had passed away years ago, leaving her with a son and a daughter. Later, her son also died, so she made a living by exorcising evil spirits and reclaiming lost souls with her daughter.

Liu Xianggu told Steward Yan that his daughter had lost her soul while on a spring outing. She needed a young girl with unspoiled spirit to accompany Miss Yan at night, to help find her soul in the dream realm.

And her daughter was just such an unsullied maiden.

At that time, Steward Yan was desperate enough to try anything, so he agreed without hesitation.

And so, Liu Xianggu’s daughter accompanied Miss Yan for seven days and seven nights, and miraculously, Miss Yan began to recover.

Steward Yan was overjoyed and rewarded Liu Xianggu generously. Liu Xianggu’s reputation in Bailu Town soared, and people seeking her help for strange illnesses came in droves.

With Miss Yan recovered, Steward Yan began to arrange a marriage for his daughter. But then something unexpected happened.

Miss Yan adamantly refused to consider any marriage proposals. When pushed to her limit, she revealed that in her dreams, she had already pledged herself to a man named Qian Lang, and she would marry no one else in this life.

Steward Yan was terrified, believing that his daughter’s lost soul had been ensnared by a wandering spirit. He hurriedly summoned Liu Xianggu again.

Liu Xianggu made some calculations and smiled, saying that the Qian Lang in Miss Yan’s dreams was not a wandering spirit, but a real person. She claimed that Miss Yan and this man were destined to be together by heaven’s will, and if they couldn’t marry, Miss Yan would face even stranger twists of fate.

At this point, Miss Yan also revealed where Qian Lang lived. Steward Yan quickly sent people to find him, and indeed, such a person existed.

However, Qian Lang was a young man whose parents had died, leaving him to seek refuge with distant relatives. He had no property or skills to speak of. Steward Yan couldn’t possibly approve of him, and his first reaction was absolute refusal.

Miss Yan cried and made a fuss for over a month, and then another strange thing happened: Miss Yan was found to be with child!

This left Steward Yan completely at a loss. After confirming that Qian Lang was willing to marry Miss Yan, he hastily arranged their marriage.

“Xianggu—” The young girl outside started knocking on the door.

“It’s nothing!” Liu Xianggu snapped back to reality, staring intently at the young lady sitting by the window.

The young lady sat upright, sunlight streaming through the carved window lattice onto her, creating a soft and serene picture.

But this serenity made Liu Xianggu shiver.

The Yan family affair had happened over ten years ago, far away on the outskirts of the capital. Given this young lady’s background and age, it should have been impossible for her to know about that secret.

Liu Xianggu raised her hand to smooth her hair, feigning composure: “What Yan family? What Wang family? I’ve been to so many households over the years, I can’t remember which one you’re talking about.”

Jiang Si stared at Liu Xianggu for a moment, then suddenly smiled: “Xianggu must be joking. You might forget other families, but how could you forget your in-laws?”

Liu Xianggu’s pupils suddenly contracted, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at Jiang Si.

Aman, guarding the door, looked on with curiosity.

“Aman, go wait outside. It’ll reassure the young girl out there,” Jiang Si said.

Despite her burning curiosity, Aman silently withdrew from Jiang Si’s instruction, leaving only Jiang Si and Liu Xianggu in the room.

Liu Xianggu stared directly at Jiang Si, maintaining an eerie silence.

Jiang Si, however, wore a serene smile: “That Qian Lang was your daughter, wasn’t he, Xianggu?”

Liu Xianggu involuntarily took two steps back, her back hitting the door panel.

The door made a dull thud.

Across from her, the extraordinarily beautiful young lady smiled brightly: “Or should I say, your son!”