The next morning, Nan Yujin bought dried fruits from the prince’s garden and took the earliest boat back to the capital.
Upon entering the mansion, he went straight to Lady Wang.
“How was it?” Lady Wang asked anxiously.
Nan Yujin, with a rather grim expression, replied, “My sister’s coffin did indeed have worms. It turns out that Liu Shi had used a cypress coffin for my sister back then.”
“What did you say?”
Lady Wang’s face changed drastically, the hatred in her eyes suddenly awakening like a ferocious beast. That vixen had treated Qing’er in such a manner! How could she, how dared she!
“Mother, please do not get overly angered, lest your heart meridians be damaged again!” Seeing Lady Wang’s fury, Nan Yujin quickly tried to comfort her. He hadn’t intended to tell Lady Wang such details, but if the truth were to come out later, various issues would pile up. Rather than having all the news converge and overwhelm his mother, it was better for him to speak, revealing things bit by bit.
The study.
Nan Chaoyin nodded upon hearing the report from his hidden guards.
So, the so-called ghost causing a stir in the mansion was Qing’er?
If Lady Wang hadn’t also seen it and triggered her old illness, he would have truly believed that the person manipulating events from behind the scenes was Lady Wang, or Yujin himself.
However, thinking of Qing’er’s death, a dark glint flashed across Nan Chaoyin’s face. He knew the truth of what happened back then. If someone was indeed faking supernatural occurrences, it would be those who knew the secrets of that time.
But due to that incident back then, the servants who knew the inside story were either dead or sold off. Apart from Liu Shi’s wet nurse and a few stewards, there should be no other witnesses in the mansion.
Could it be Yu Chengxuan again?
The thought that the other party could plant one spy in the Nan mansion, they could plant a hundred. The mere idea that his mansion might have hidden operatives bought by others made Nan Chaoyin feel as if a fishbone were stuck in his throat, robbing him of peace and sleep!
“Father!”
Nan Yuan’er’s voice came from outside the door. Nan Chaoyin dismissed the hidden guards and said, “Enter.”
Nan Yuan’er pushed the door open and walked to the desk, standing obediently. “Father, this daughter wishes to visit Qingshan Temple tomorrow!”
Nan Chaoyin looked at Nan Yuan’er. Her face showed a hint of weariness, and dark circles were visible under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept well for several days. Nan Chaoyin naturally understood why she wanted to go to Qingshan Temple. Although he didn’t believe in ghosts or gods, for the sake of appeasing the servants in the mansion, a visit was acceptable. In two days, it would be the imperial banquet scheduled by His Majesty. While it was said to be a banquet with no good intentions, the servants of his Nan mansion could not neglect their duties due to fatigue, lest they become a laughingstock!
“Alright, take a squad of guards with you. Go early and return early!” Nan Chaoyin’s voice was gentle. He didn’t ask for too many details, merely instructing Nan Yuan’er to be sure to stay safe.
Nan Yuan’er curtsied. “This daughter understands!”
“Father…” She actually wanted to ask Nan Chaoyin for his thoughts on the haunting in the mansion, but on second thought, it seemed futile. Her father would never believe in ghosts or gods!
“What is it? Is there anything else?” Nan Chaoyin asked.
Nan Yuan’er smiled and shook her head. “It’s just that I’ve noticed Father has been staying in the study these past few days, and with the end of the year approaching, I was worried you were overworking yourself. I wanted to nag you a bit and beg you to take care of your health. But then I thought, what can make Father so busy must be important state affairs, so the words of comfort are difficult to utter!”
Nan Chaoyin knew that Nan Yuan’er wasn’t truly saying what was on her mind. However, even so, hearing her softly reminding him to take care of himself brought him a sense of relief, making him feel both warm and touched!
He smiled. “It’s rare for Yuan’er to show concern. Let’s forget about it for today. Come, accompany your father to Li Wan Pavilion to see your mother. She probably hasn’t rested well these past few days either!”
A flicker of joy appeared in Nan Yuan’er’s eyes. Ever since her father had reprimanded her mother that day, he hadn’t been to Li Wan Pavilion. Her mother’s management authority had been given to Lady Wang by her father, and now she was being neglected. The servants in the Nan mansion had discussed more than once whether the authority in the Nan mansion’s inner courtyard had truly been transferred, and if they would have to live under Lady Wang’s thumb in the future.
If Father is willing to see Mother, that would be the best thing, she thought. But then she frowned and playfully chided, “Father, what you said is unreasonable. Why do you say it’s rare concern, as if Yuan’er doesn’t care about you usually.”
Seeing Yuan’er’s rare display of girlish charm, Nan Chaoyin was happy to play along. He lowered his voice and pleaded, “Alright, alright, your father misspoke!”
“I hope Yuan’er will not blame me!”
Nan Yuan’er covered her mouth with a laugh, walked to the desk, linked her arm with Nan Chaoyin’s, and her gaze subconsciously fell upon the letters spread open on the desk.
The smile on Nan Chaoyin’s face instantly faded slightly. Nan Yuan’er’s heart tightened, and she quickly withdrew her gaze, flashing Nan Chaoyin a bright smile and linking his arm as they walked out the door.
Hearing that the master had gone to Li Wan Pavilion, those servants whose thoughts had been stirring to join Lady Wang’s faction withdrew their intentions, contemplating that it was better to wait a while longer.
…
The Nan mansion was in chaos, and Nan Shiying’s heart was filled with joy.
The Xuan Guard had made a trip to Linxiang before Nan Yujin. As soon as they dug up the soil on Nan Yuqing’s grave, they saw the coffin Nan Yuqing was using, then refilled the soil and restored the grave to its unexcavated appearance.
When Nan Shiying heard about it, she felt that Liu Shi was truly vicious to the extreme, not even letting a dead person rest.
Hearing that Lady Wang had suffered a relapse due to hallucinations, Nan Shiying couldn’t help but curl her lips. If she had been stronger back then, why would Nan Yuqing have to suffer Liu Shi’s humiliation even after death?
However… she heard that Nan Chaoyin went to Li Wan Pavilion today.
“Master!” She turned to look at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo placed a peeled orange in her hand and said, “Don’t worry, there will be no incidents at Li Wan Pavilion tonight!”
“That’s good!”
Hallucinations could only induce illusions, but the so-called ghosts everyone saw were not the same. Liu Shi had a guilty conscience, and because Ci Sha had intentionally said those words at the time, she was convinced that she saw Nan Yuqing. Nan Yuan’er, influenced by Liu Shi, subconsciously took the ghost appearing in her hallucination as Nan Yuqing. And Lady Wang, of course.
But Nan Chaoyin, what would Nan Chaoyin see? Nan Shiying didn’t know and couldn’t imagine, but she feared that this ghost would be different from what Liu Shi saw.
That old scoundrel was inherently suspicious and extremely cautious. If the ghost he saw was different, he would naturally know that the haunting was man-made.
If he were to truly go all out and search the entire Nan mansion, the spies Master had planted in the Nan mansion might not be able to remain hidden.
Therefore, tonight, Li Wan Pavilion will be calm and undisturbed!