chapter 26
Chapter 26
Early the next morning.
A servant hurriedly reported to Ye Liaozhai, “Master, Aunt Liu has been found. She’s at the Second Miss’s place!”
“What?”
Ye Liaozhai frowned.
The servant said, “Previously, Aunt Liu was possessed by evil spirits and spoke nonsense. The Second Miss was very worried after learning about it. Not long ago, she heard of a Daoist ritual that required three days of seclusion and incense burning to completely expel the evil and pray for blessings for Master and the unborn young master. But this ritual had to be conducted in secret-if word got out, it would all be for nothing.”
“So the Second Miss secretly took Aunt Liu to her own study, hiding it from everyone. The cook, Tu San, was also brought over by the Second Miss to prepare meals for Aunt Liu… It wasn’t until the ritual was completed this morning that everyone was informed.”
After hearing this, Ye Liaozhai was half convinced, half doubtful.
He immediately headed to the study.
Indeed, Ye Xiangxiang’s courtyard had a sizable study, which was usually deserted.
Upon entering, he saw ashes and talisman papers scattered all over the floor.
Aunt Liu was still kneeling before the incense burner. When she saw Ye Liaozhai arrive, she quickly turned and saluted, “Master.”
Ye Xiangxiang stood to the side, looking haggard, and whispered, “Father.”
Ye Liaozhai glared at Ye Xiangxiang and questioned, “Aunt Liu has been here these past days?”
Ye Xiangxiang nodded.
“Nonsense!!”
Ye Liaozhai was furious and scolded, “Why didn’t you tell me? Do you know how much of a laughingstock the Prime Minister’s Mansion has become?”
Ye Xiangxiang hurriedly knelt down, crying, “Aunt Liu was praying for Father, so we had to keep it from you, otherwise it wouldn’t work…”
Aunt Liu also said, “Master, please calm your anger. The Second Miss did all this for your sake!”
Ye Liaozhai glared at them, feeling both angry and relieved.
He was relieved because it was all a misunderstanding.
Ye Liaozhai felt as if the green hat on his head had finally been removed.
But he was angry because Ye Xiangxiang’s actions had made him the talk of the entire Capital City…
“From now on, you are not allowed to make decisions on your own!” Ye Liaozhai pointed at Ye Xiangxiang and reprimanded, “You are to reflect on your actions behind closed doors!”
He then turned to Aunt Liu and said, “And you, go back and focus on your pregnancy. Don’t trouble yourself with these matters anymore!”
Thus, the mystery of Aunt Liu’s disappearance was resolved.
With the Second Miss as a witness, no one doubted the truth of the matter, including Ye Liaozhai himself.
After all, everyone knew the Second Miss was timid and avoided trouble, and she had no particular relationship with Aunt Liu, so she couldn’t possibly lie to cover for her…
As for Tu San, thinking everything was fine, he tried to leave as usual to gamble.
But as soon as he stepped out of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, he was immediately arrested by the constables searching for him and thrown into jail…
The yamen that caught Tu San quickly reported to Ye Liaozhai, asking how to deal with the criminal.
Ye Liaozhai replied with a dark expression, “A thief should be dealt with as the law requires!”
The rumors about Aunt Liu and Tu San had been circulating for days. Even if Tu San was innocent, he could not remain in the Prime Minister’s Mansion-it would be a living joke.
Let him rot in jail forever, Ye Liaozhai thought.
He closed his eyes, and Tu San’s image appeared in his mind. For some reason, he felt Tu San and Aunt Liu were oddly well-matched…
Ye Liaozhai, deep in thought, suddenly stood up and went to the palace to fetch Bian Imperial Physician.
He wanted Bian Imperial Physician to check once more-was Aunt Liu’s pregnancy real or not?
After a careful pulse diagnosis, Bian Imperial Physician concluded-the fetus was stable and progressing well!
Stable and progressing well.
These four words finally put Ye Liaozhai’s mind at ease.
He patted Aunt Liu and smiled, “The cook in your courtyard was dishonest, so I’ve dismissed him. I’ve already sent someone to your hometown to find another cook for you!”
Aunt Liu replied with a look of gratitude, “Thank you, Master!”
After Ye Liaozhai left, her expression immediately turned venomous.
Though she had survived by luck, she had lost Tu San.
The most hateful thing was, that night at the bottom of the well was her first date with Tu San, and just as things were getting good, the rope broke and nothing happened.
The following two days, they were consumed by despair and didn’t get a chance to do anything.
Aunt Liu deeply regretted it. If she had known, she would have seized the opportunity for more intimacy-maybe she could have actually gotten pregnant…
But now, she knew she had no chance of pregnancy at all.
The method of faking pregnancy could only alter the pulse, and only until her next period. Soon, she would be exposed.
Aunt Liu clenched her fists.
No, she absolutely could not just sit and wait for doom!
Her eyes grew vicious, and a bold idea formed in her mind…
…
Falling Petals Courtyard.
Ye Piaoling was a bit surprised when she heard the news.
She hadn’t expected Aunt Liu to be rescued by Ye Xiangxiang and escape death.
Fox Shadow said, “I heard that after the Second Miss was scolded by Master, she fell ill and has been running a high fever.”
Ye Piaoling sighed.
This Ye Xiangxiang-risking so much for Aunt Liu-must have some leverage held over her.
Fox Shadow added, “By the way, Master is coming tonight to dine with Eldest Miss and discuss your enrollment at Tianwen Sect.”
Tianwen Sect was the equivalent of a noble academy in Dali Kingdom.
The sons and daughters of royalty, nobility, and high officials could enter Tianwen Sect for cultivation after coming of age.
Fox Shadow said worriedly, “Master believes your Immortal Vein is about to recover, so he must have high hopes for you, expecting you to win top honors in future competitions.”
Ye Piaoling asked, “Did Father ever win top honors at Tianwen Sect?”
“Master came from humble origins and never had the chance to enter Tianwen Sect. But even if he had, with his martial talent…”
Fox Shadow thought for a moment and then said confidently, “He’d probably have won bottom honors.”
In the end, Ye Liaozhai was just a civil official, with a cultivation score of zero.
That night.
Ye Liaozhai arrived in high spirits. He rarely dined with Ye Piaoling, but this time he had specially instructed the kitchen to prepare several good dishes.
Seeing the koi in the fish tank, Ye Liaozhai was a bit surprised:
“Ling’er, why are you keeping a dead fish?”