Chapter 143

Chapter 143

Qin Shu walked to the gates of the villa and recognized at a glance that the people before him were the guests who had stayed at the residence the previous night.

Without another word, he instructed Steward Chen to invite them back into the villa.

It was clear that, as the Shen Family’s future son-in-law, Young Master Qin had yet to formally marry into the family, but his standing in the household was already quite high.

Even the steward obeyed his every word, which showed just how highly Old Master Shen valued him.

After Young Master Qin had everyone brought into the villa, he immediately dismissed the servants.

Xia Ximo quietly sized up Young Master Qin from the side, but she did not notice anything unusual about him.

“I heard just now that you lost something inside the villa. May I ask what it was?”

Yu Lang was just about to speak when Ren Fengjue beat him to it. “It wasn’t anything important…”

Yu Lang: “…”

“We merely wanted to ask whether anything strange has happened in the villa recently.”

At that, a flicker of hesitation seemed to cross Young Master Qin’s face, but he quickly returned to normal.

“Strange?”

He put on a look of surprise. “You jest, sir. Recently, there has only been joyous news. How could anything strange have happened?”

Ren Fengjue smiled back. “Here’s the thing…”

He brought up the reputation of Mount Yunhe outright, then pointed at Yan Zhengchu and said, “This is the eldest disciple of the current sect leader of Mount Yunhe-Daoist Yan Zhengchu. He is especially skilled at catching ghosts and warding off evil…”

“If anything of that sort has happened in the villa, you may as well tell us now. Daoist Yan will surely have a way to resolve it.”

When Young Master Qin heard this, he immediately glanced at Yan Zhengchu, looking thoughtful.

Seizing the chance, Daoist Yan also wanted to win some renown for Mount Yunhe, so he promptly began calculating on his fingers.

But after that calculation, his brows drew together, and he suddenly asked Young Master Qin, “Was Qin truly your original surname?”

The moment those words came out, Young Master Qin’s expression shifted.

It was as if some secret of his had been exposed…

Anger flashed across his face, and he gave a cold snort. “I do not understand what this Daoist Master is saying.”

Yan Zhengchu calculated once more. Knowing the other party had a guilty conscience, he deliberately said, “What is there not to understand?”

“I calculated that Young Master Qin did not grow up in his original family, which is why I made that deduction.”

“Utter nonsense.”

Young Master Qin grew even angrier. “My father is a well-known schoolteacher in and around Kaiming County. I grew up in Kaiming Academy since childhood. Everyone in the county knows it.”

Yan Zhengchu put on an expression of sudden realization. “Oh, so that is how it is…”

But immediately after, he added, “However, this Daoist Master has never been wrong when it comes to reading fate. I would advise Young Master Qin to go home and ask about it.”

At those words, Young Master Qin’s face shifted between green and red.

Yu Lang and Axia, watching from the side, nearly burst out laughing.

But Young Master Qin was truly a peculiar man. Just as it seemed he was about to lose his temper, his expression returned to normal in the very next instant.

He even gave Yan Zhengchu a courteous bow. “Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master. There is no need for you to trouble yourself over this matter.”

Then, with a firm attitude, he said to Ren Fengjue, “Sir, in two days, it will be Qin’s wedding day.”

“If you have come sincerely to offer your congratulations, Qin will naturally welcome you warmly, and Yuelai Villa will treat you with all due hospitality.”

“But if you are using ‘congratulations’ as an excuse to deliberately cause trouble…”

“Then do not blame Yuelai Villa for forgetting its manners!”

After saying this, Young Master Qin did not wait for Ren Fengjue to reply. Instead, he called toward the door, “Steward Chen.”

Hearing him, the old steward immediately pushed the door open and entered. Behind him stood a row of guards.
Judging by the formation, they were clearly trying to use “force” to warn everyone not to stir up trouble.

Yu Lang narrowed his eyes and glanced outside, thinking, These few guards aren’t even enough for me to beat up.

Ren Fengjue, however, remained perfectly calm. “Young Master Qin, please don’t misunderstand. Since we’ve come here, we naturally came with the utmost sincerity to offer our congratulations.”

“Since nothing has happened in the villa, we will take our leave for now.”

As he spoke, he grabbed Yu Lang, who was still itching for a fight, and headed out.

Xia Ximo paused where she stood, but she quickly understood Ren Fengjue’s intentions. She swept a glance at Yan Zhengchu, then followed them out.

After they left Yuelai Villa, Yu Lang looked deeply aggrieved. He pointed at his feet and said pitifully, “Surely you aren’t really going to ignore my ‘shadow brother,’ are you, my lord?”

Ren Fengjue glanced at the sky instead. “It’s still early.”

Yu Lang said nothing. He only thought, If it’s too late, can I still be saved?

“Since we already know this matter is inextricably linked to Yuelai Villa, then we naturally have to start our investigation with Yuelai Villa.”

“While it isn’t dark yet, we’ll first ask around the county.”

“Once night falls, it won’t be too late to come back.”

After hearing Ren Fengjue’s words, Yu Lang was baffled. “Come back at night to drink wedding wine? Even if they paid me to drink it now, I wouldn’t!”

Yan Zhengchu couldn’t help laughing. “Your shadow was most likely lost at night, so of course we have to come look for it at night.”

Ren Fengjue turned to Xia Ximo and asked, “Miss Xia, did you notice anything unusual inside the villa last night?”

At that, Yu Lang immediately cast Xia Ximo a pleading look.

She nodded. “I saw an extra shadow beneath that Qin fellow’s feet.”

“What?!”

Sure enough, Yu Lang was instantly worked up. “Don’t tell me my shadow ran over to him!”

“That man definitely has a problem!”

Xia Ximo glanced at him, then said, “He may not even know about it himself.”

Yan Zhengchu said, “In any case, no matter what, that Qin fellow is definitely suspicious. We might as well start by investigating him!”

Yu Lang immediately looked toward Lord Ren, as if he did not want to waste even a single moment.

Only then did Ren Fengjue give his instructions. “Daylight is limited. We may need to split up.”

First, he said to Yu Lang, “Vice Minister Yu, your main task is to investigate Young Master Qin’s background, including questioning the teachers at Kaiming Academy thoroughly.”

Yu Lang immediately cupped his hands. “Leave this matter to me. This Young Master will investigate him inside and out!”

Ren Fengjue nodded, then turned to Yan Zhengchu. “Daoist Yan, I’ll have to trouble you to find a way to ask whether those who have attended wedding banquets at the villa in recent days have experienced any strange incidents like this.”

Yan Zhengchu immediately agreed as well.

“As for Miss Xia…”

Ren Fengjue knew she had always been independent and unconventional, and might not be willing to work together with them, so he probed gently, “If Miss Xia is willing, you may come with me.”

“Together, we can… investigate Yuelai Villa.”

At that, everyone’s gaze involuntarily turned to Xia Ximo.

A moment later, she gave a faint response.

“Mm.”

Axia, standing off to the side, instinctively felt as though he had been forgotten. Just as he was about to speak, Ren Fengjue immediately turned to look at him. “You don’t need to follow us.”

“…”

“You’re still injured. Rest in the carriage.”

“…Yes.”