Chapter 66: The Jiang Family's Private Villa

“I am Jiang Lingjie. Pleased to meet you, Brother Li,” Jiang Qianqian said, withholding her real name.

“Brother Li, your name sounds familiar. I feel as though I’ve heard it somewhere before,” she continued.

“Brother Li, where are you headed?” Tao Wangsan abruptly interrupted Li Xintian before he could answer.

“Haha, I’m on my way to pay my respects to Minister Jiang,” Li Xintian replied, easily perceiving that Tao Wangsan had seen through Jiang Qianqian’s disguise—perhaps even harbored some feelings for her—but chose not to expose her.

“Hello, I’m Hu Qiuyan,” Hu Qiuyan introduced herself at that moment.

“H-hi,” Tao Wangsan stammered, his gaze fixed on her in a daze.

“Hello,” Jiang Qianqian said, drawing close to Tao Wangsan and pinching his waist. Tao Wangsan snapped back to his senses from the pain, surprised to find Hu Qiuyan even more beautiful than herself.

“Why don’t we go together? We’re headed the same way,” Jiang Qianqian offered with an awkward smile.

“That works. It’s always better to have someone familiar lead the way,” Li Xintian nodded.

With Jiang Qianqian and Tao Wangsan guiding them, they soon arrived at Jiang City.

Upon entering, they were greeted by a bustling scene—crowds jostling through the streets, vendors calling out to peddle their wares.

“Brother Li, you must not be full from earlier. Why not stop at the inn up ahead?” Jiang Qianqian suggested.

“That would be nice,” Li Xintian agreed, realizing the steamed buns earlier had hardly satisfied his hunger.

“Gentlemen, what would you like to order?” The server, spotting the four of them, quickly led them to an empty table.

“Just bring us whatever you recommend,” Tao Wangsan said offhandedly.

“No way, Brother Tao! Didn’t you say you’d treat me well?” Jiang Qianqian interjected.

“Bring us your most famous dishes—the braised pork knuckle, four-color vegetables, and sweet rice wine dumplings. It’s been so long since I last tasted them,” she instructed the server.

“We’re doomed. If I were treating two beauties, it’d be fine, but there’s still another man...” Tao Wangsan discreetly checked his sleeve for coins—just three coppers—and felt a pang of bitterness.

“Brother Jiang, that’s quite a lot. Are you sure you can eat it all?” Li Xintian remarked, glancing around at the spread.

“Of course not, but I want to try a bit of everything,” Jiang Qianqian replied with a bright smile.

“How is this any different from home?” Tao Wangsan asked, exasperated.

“It’s nothing alike! My family’s banquets are far grander. You’ll see when you visit,” Jiang Qianqian boasted, beaming with pride.

Tao Wangsan could only force a smile in response.

“Server, just do as she said,” Li Xintian instructed.

“Very well! Thank you, esteemed guests,” the server replied, delighted as he hurried off.

“Did you hear about the Jiang family? Not only is the place haunted, but someone died there too,” someone at a nearby table murmured.

“Who was it?”

“Master Zhang, the son of Merchant Zhang.”

“Is it true?”

“It’s true. This morning, they carried his body out from near the Jiang family’s villa.”

“How terrifying. Is it really ghosts?”

At another table, three young men discussed the rumors about the Jiang family, drawing Li Xintian and his companions’ attention.

“Of course there’s a ghost!” a young man declared loudly, striding into the inn brandishing a peachwood sword.

“Master Tian, you’re here!” the three youths called, hurrying to invite him to their table.

“Come, come, have some tea,” one said, pouring him a cup.

“Master Tian, we heard you’ve been to the Jiang villa. Is it really haunted?” one of them asked.

“A few days ago, I passed by the villa. The place was thick with ghostly wails. I’ve been meaning to find an auspicious day to exorcise the wandering spirits and uphold justice,” Master Tian replied. “But who could have foreseen what happened to Young Master Zhang?” He shook his head and sighed.

“Have you really seen ghosts, Master Tian?” one of the youths asked.

“You must be new here! Of course I have!” Master Tian declared. “Do you not know who I am? In these parts, there’s no one who hasn’t heard of me. My grandfather once—”

He drew his peachwood sword, but his story was cut short by a burst of laughter.

“And what, pray tell, is so funny?” Master Tian strode over to Tao Wangsan, his face darkening.

Others in the inn gathered around, anticipating a spectacle.

“I just heard a fool spouting nonsense. That’s all,” Tao Wangsan said, ceasing his laughter.

“You—you dare insult me?” Master Tian pointed at him in fury.

“Don’t misunderstand. I said nothing about you. Though, it’s telling how quickly you take offense. The wise do not speak of the supernatural. Some folk simply see ghosts everywhere,” Tao Wangsan retorted, unflinching.

“My family has been exorcists for three generations. Of course there are ghosts!” Master Tian insisted, his voice booming.

“Then your whole family must be frauds. A true priest devotes himself to cultivation, not deceiving people,” Tao Wangsan stood, challenging him.

“I’ll teach you a lesson, you blasphemous brat!” Master Tian swung his sword at Tao Wangsan.

Li Xintian, ready for trouble, flicked a chopstick at the sword, forcing Master Tian to stumble back a few steps.

“Resorting to blows when words fail? If you believe in ghosts, let others believe as they will. There’s no need for anger or violence,” Li Xintian said calmly.

Tao Wangsan had already dodged aside, surprised by Li Xintian’s intervention.

Master Tian glared at Li Xintian, then stormed out, still shaken by the force of that single blow—too wary to utter another threat.

“It’s over. Let’s disperse,” Li Xintian said, and the crowd quickly broke up.

“Thank you, Brother Li,” Tao Wangsan said with a grateful bow.

“It was nothing. In the future, it’s wise to mind your own business,” Li Xintian waved it off.

Soon, the server brought their food.

After their meal, they arrived at the Jiang residence.

Ancestral Hall of the Jiang Family.

“Before the honored ancestors, I, Ziyun, swear that I shall not allow any disgrace to befall our family. The Jiang name will not be sullied in my generation,” a middle-aged man vowed, kneeling before the ancestral altar. He bowed three times and placed the incense in the burner.

“Master, the young mistress has returned, and she’s brought three guests,” the steward announced, entering the hall.

Jiang Qianqian soon followed.

“Father!” she called out, running to him, her face alight with joy.

“Qianqian, you’re back!” Jiang Ziyun’s expression brightened.

“Uncle,” Tao Wangsan greeted him with a bow.

“Greetings, Minister Jiang,” Li Xintian and Hu Qiuyan said in unison.

“Father, this is Tao Wangsan—the friend I mentioned in my letter who looked after me at the academy. The other two I met on the road: Li Xintian and Hu Qiuyan. They wished to pay their respects to you,” Jiang Qianqian introduced them, clinging affectionately to her father’s arm.

“Welcome,” Jiang Ziyun said, appraising Tao Wangsan from head to toe, paying little heed to Li Xintian and Hu Qiuyan—he had long forgotten Li Xintian’s existence.

Suddenly, frantic cries echoed through the corridors.

“There’s a ghost! A ghost!” came the shouts.

Jiang Ziyun hurried out of the ancestral hall.

In a side room, two maids struggled to restrain a woman in the throes of madness, her hands flailing, her voice hoarse.

“There! There’s a ghost!” the deranged woman shrieked, pointing in terror.

“What’s happened?” Jiang Ziyun demanded as he entered.

“Father,” Jiang Qianqian called, clutching his arm.

“Daughter, you and Young Master Tao, Young Master Li, and Miss Hu wait outside for a moment,” Jiang Ziyun said, gently freeing himself from her grasp.

“She seems deeply traumatized, her mind unsettled,” Tao Wangsan remarked, making a circling gesture by his temple.

Li Xintian took Hu Qiuyan’s arm and led her out.

“Father,” Jiang Qianqian protested, unwilling to leave.

“Did you hear me?” Jiang Ziyun replied sharply, his tone brooking no argument.

“But, Father, Brother Tao is skilled in medicine. Why not let him prescribe something to calm Chunhua?” Jiang Qianqian pleaded, realizing her father was growing angry.

“No problem,” Tao Wangsan said, grabbing a sheet of paper and quickly writing a prescription.

“There’s a ghost! A ghost!” Chunhua, the distraught maid, began howling again.

“Uncle,” Tao Wangsan said, handing the prescription to Jiang Ziyun.

“Steward, follow Young Master Tao’s prescription and fetch the herbs from the pharmacy,” Jiang Ziyun ordered after glancing at the paper.

“Yes, Master,” the steward replied, taking the prescription and hurrying out.

“Father, what exactly happened?” Jiang Qianqian asked once the steward had gone.

“Well...” Jiang Ziyun looked at Tao Wangsan, hesitating.

“I’ll go admire the flowers in the garden,” Tao Wangsan announced, leaving the room.

“Brother Tao, you’re out already? Is everything all right?” Li Xintian asked as he saw him.

“Let’s talk as we walk. She seemed badly shaken, so I prescribed a calming remedy,” Tao Wangsan replied.

“They were talking about the Jiang family villa back at the inn,” Hu Qiuyan remarked.

“Are you looking to get us killed?” Li Xintian hastily clapped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t speak of the villa here in the Jiang residence. If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you.”

He suddenly felt something odd in his palm and quickly let go. Hu Qiuyan grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.