The osmanthus at Jietai Temple was arranged like this—

First, osmanthus trees connected one after another, forming an osmanthus path. At the end of the osmanthus path was an osmanthus grove.

Around Zhu Weixi’s courtyard were osmanthus trees one by one. Walking to the rear of the courtyard, there was an osmanthus grove.

“This layout could be called identical. So…”

Yan Sanhe: “What did this section of osmanthus path and this osmanthus grove mean to Zhu Xuanjiu?”

Li Bu Yan didn’t want to think. “Sanhe, just tell us.”

“In Zhu Xuanjiu’s childhood, everything had to rank behind Fifth Uncle. And with Concubine Fu confined to the inner quarters with poor health, for such a woman, opportunities to go out weren’t many. When Old Madam went to Jietai Temple to offer incense, Concubine Fu took advantage of feeling well enough to follow, bringing Zhu Xuanjiu along. When the carriage arrived at Jietai Temple, Zhu Xuanjiu helped Concubine Fu down from the carriage. Fearing her son would run off, Concubine Fu tightly held her son’s hand. Just like that, mother and son walked from outside the temple gates to inside, walked through a long section of osmanthus path. In the eighth month, the osmanthus was full of deep fragrance, refreshing the heart and mind. Concubine Fu certainly couldn’t walk fast. Her steps were very small.

‘Son, it smells so good!’

‘Son, this temple is peaceful. Mother likes it.’

‘Son, if only our estate also had such an osmanthus path, that would be wonderful.’

Zhu Xuanjiu followed her closely. Besides the osmanthus fragrance, his nose also caught the familiar scent from Concubine Fu’s body. He looked up and saw the smile on Concubine Fu’s face. That was a genuine smile from the heart, different from her false smiles at the Zhu estate. Concubine Fu’s smile made her eyes and brows curve downward. Zhu Xuanjiu had never seen Concubine Fu like this. And in Concubine Fu’s eyes, besides the osmanthus before her, there was nothing else—only her son.

This scene was deeply engraved in his mind like a seal.

Unforgettable until death.

Yan Sanhe: “Old Steward, who planted the osmanthus trees outside the Eldest Miss’s courtyard?”

Old Steward: “It was the master who planted them after taking charge of the household, during the renovation.”

“See.”

Yan Sanhe smiled coldly.

“Zhu Weixi is Concubine Fu’s substitute. Things Concubine Fu liked, Zhu Xuanjiu would certainly satisfy her. That’s why there’s an osmanthus grove almost identical to Jietai Temple’s.”

Li Bu Yan exhaled. “No wonder when he was gravely ill, he still asked the Young Madam to go to Jietai Temple to look for him.”

“When a person is about to die, they recall people and events from the past. To Zhu Xuanjiu, Concubine Fu was the person he lived and died with his entire life.”

Yan Sanhe: “And what caused Zhu Xuanjiu’s extreme dependence on Concubine Fu was that in childhood, he didn’t enjoy Concubine Fu’s wholehearted maternal love. His mother was seized by Fifth Uncle, seized by others. People are always like this—whatever they lack, they obsess over, and obsess over for a lifetime.”

It made sense!

Everything made sense!

Everyone’s faces showed a bit of joyful smile.

Zhu Yuanmo looked at Yan Sanhe and asked impatiently, “Miss Yan, is his heart demon actually related to Concubine Fu, or related to Eldest Uncle and Fifth Uncle?”

This question left Yan Sanhe speechless.

It seemed unrelated to all, yet related to all.

Saying unrelated was because the heart demon was a blood moon.

A blood moon signified great calamity. Eldest Master, Fifth Uncle, and Madam Mao were merely three lives—compared to a blood moon, still somewhat weak.

Saying related was because every action a person takes has its fundamental cause and motivation.

Zhu Xuanjiu set formations against Eldest Master and Fifth Uncle, borrowed Madam Mao’s fortune, seized the Zhu family head position—ultimately it was all because of Concubine Fu.

Then what about the blood moon?

Was it also because of Concubine Fu?

“I think…”

Yan Sanhe met Zhu Yuanmo’s gaze. “So far, we’ve only uncovered the tip of the iceberg. There’s still much more to dig deeper.”

With these words, Zhu Yuanmo felt his heartbeat quicken and his pulse race.

If he weren’t the family head who needed to stabilize everyone in the Zhu family, he too would want to go outside and howl like a wolf to vent the oppression in his chest.

After going through such great trouble, making a round trip to Mount Wutai, it was still only the tip of the iceberg?

“Miss Yan.”

He asked through gritted teeth, “What’s your basis?”

“Intuition.”

Yan Sanhe pointed at her head.

“Since we’ve already proven that Zhu Xuanjiu was a thorough and complete vicious villain, then my intuition tells me that the evil deeds Zhu Xuanjiu committed using his divination and feng shui skills are far more than just these few cases, and those he harmed to death are far more than just these few people.”

All breathing stopped.

Everyone looked at each other, and the joy they’d just felt when things came together was blasted to smithereens by this statement.

My heavens above!

The methods and formations used on these few people already left them in awe—and there was still far more?

“Old Master!”

In the dead silence that suffocated them all, the old steward suddenly fell to his knees and began sobbing prostrate on the ground.

He was born into the Zhu household. His parents were both respected servants of the Zhu family.

He had followed Old Master from childhood, step by step from personal attendant to head steward.

Except for matters of divination and feng shui which Old Master wouldn’t discuss with him, Old Master consulted with him on everything else.

He remembered very clearly.

After Old Master finally decided to make the master family head, the burden on his shoulders was finally lifted. He pulled him into the study to drink a few cups of wine.

When half-drunk, Old Master suddenly let out a long sigh.

“Ah Jing, I’ve thought it over and still entrusted the family business to Fourth Son. He was raised personally by Lady Fu. Lady Fu was such a kind-hearted person—her son certainly won’t be bad. With Fourth Son supporting it, the Zhu family can prosper. I can also close my eyes in peace.”

At that moment, Zhu Jing clearly saw the comfort and pride on Old Master’s face.

That was an aging father’s earnest hope for his son, hoping he could make the Zhu family prosper for generations, could benefit descendants.

Who would have known!

Who would have known!

“Old Master, Old Master, please open your eyes and look, look…”

Zhu Jing wept bitterly, calling out over and over to his old master.

Zhu Yuanmo listened to the old steward’s crying and gradually calmed down instead.

All beginnings are difficult. Of the six months, over five months remained—plenty of time.

He couldn’t rush, couldn’t afford to rush. As long as Miss Yan was here, this heart demon could definitely be resolved.

Definitely!

“Second Brother, Third Brother, help the old steward down.”

“No need to help. This old servant can endure.”

Zhu Jing raised his head and wiped his face with his hand, his face showing desperate resolve.

“This old servant doesn’t believe the master could be so depraved. This old servant must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears.”

Besides Yan Sanhe and the Zhu family, Xie Zhifei, Young Master Pei, and the others simultaneously had the same thought—

Hmph, then just wait and see!

Zhu Yuanmo steadied his emotions. “Miss Yan, then our next step…”

“There is no next step for now.”

“…”

Zhu Yuanmo’s expression changed. How could there be no next step?