Chapter 147

Chapter 147

At dusk.

A spacious four-horse carriage once again stopped before the gates of Yuelai Villa.

Steward Chen, who was standing at the villa entrance to welcome guests, recognized this band of “uninvited visitors” at a glance, and his head immediately began to ache.

“Congratulations, congratulations.”

Yu Lang was still the first to hop down from the carriage.

But compared to the warm scene yesterday, when Steward Chen had taken the initiative to come forward and welcome them, today his face could only be described as frosty.

He gave a cold snort and said, “Why have you all come again? Was taking advantage of us once not enough? Are you planning to cling to my villa and refuse to leave?”

“Exactly!”

Hearing such cutting words, Yu Lang not only did not get angry, he even grinned as he argued back, “In any case, your Old Master promised to host a banquet for ten days and turn no one away. He never said people couldn’t eat one extra meal or stay one extra night, did he?”

“Your esteemed household is one of the great families of Kaiming County. Why be so petty?”

As he dealt with him, Vice Minister Yu picked up the brush and wrote four characters on the lacquered tray.

Steward Chen’s expression shifted between green and white, leaving him speechless for a moment. The remaining three took up the brush one after another as well, each writing a few characters before swaggering into the villa.

By then, the banquet seats had gradually filled with people. Although Steward Chen was displeased, he did not want to cause another incident in front of so many guests.

He immediately called over a servant and instructed him, “Keep a close eye on them. Don’t let them run around the villa.”

“Yes.”

After the group entered the villa gates, by sheer coincidence, they chose the same table as yesterday and sat down.

But this time, faced with a table full of delicacies, none of them picked up their chopsticks.

Only Xia Ximo calmly picked up the wine on the table, poured herself a cup, and drank it on her own.

Yu Lang secretly swallowed. Though he wanted to drink, the thought of what had happened last night still sent a chill down his spine.

He only asked Yan Zhengchu in a low voice, “Daoist Master, you said there is no Vengeful Ghost in this villa. Then did my shadow run off on its own?”

As for this question, Yan Zhengchu truly could not be certain.

Based on what Zhan Family’s daughter Xiaoduo had experienced, he could only infer that the “shadow” should be connected to the late Madam Shen.

But Madam Shen had passed away more than ten years ago. Even if her soul had remained in the mortal world, she would have long since become a wandering spirit, posing essentially no threat or harm to the living.

Yet if she had died with grievances and become a Vengeful Spirit, then this place should be overflowing with resentment.

“There is indeed something strange about this villa, but I cannot be sure whether the shadow seen by Zhan Wulang’s daughter is connected to what happened to you.”

Yu Lang scratched his head in confusion, then lowered his eyes to glance at the ground. In the end, he could only sigh.

Yan Zhengchu comforted him, “Don’t worry. Since there is no Vengeful Ghost here, everything will be much easier to handle. Getting your shadow back is only a matter of time.”

After hearing Daoist Yan’s words, Yu Lang barely managed to squeeze out a smile.

Just then, they saw Old Master Shen leading his son-in-law Qin Shu out to offer toasts again.

Yu Lang narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped the tabletop with his finger.

“He’s here. Time to get down to business.”

Old Master Shen still wore a genial expression, but when he reached their table, he very obviously froze.

“Everyone…”

Ren Fengjue slowly rose to his feet and gave Old Master Shen a courteous, respectful bow. “Old Master.”

Old Master Shen had a deep impression of him and recognized him at once. “I was just wondering why you looked so familiar. So we met last night…”

Ren Fengjue smiled faintly. “We imposed on you last night. I had originally intended to take my leave of Old Master in person this morning, but the steward informed us that Old Master was busy keeping Miss Shen company, so it would have been improper to disturb you.”

Old Master Shen smiled with perfect amiability. “This daughter of mine is extremely spoiled. I even have to accompany her for breakfast. I had no choice, and simply could not get away.”
“However, if you are willing to stay at the villa for a short while, this old man would be most delighted to have you.”

Normally, once the host had exchanged pleasantries to this point, the guests ought to raise their cups and drink with him.

Yet of the four people seated at the table, not a single one lifted a cup. The atmosphere abruptly turned rather strange.

Qin Shu, who was standing behind Old Master Shen, suddenly gave a soft cough and took the initiative to step forward with his cup. “Thank you all for being willing to attend Qin’s wedding banquet again tonight. Please…”

Ren Fengjue, however, seemed not to see him at all. He continued asking the Old Master, “I heard Miss Shen has fallen ill.”

The moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of both the Old Master and Qin Shu changed.

Old Master Shen first glanced back at Qin Shu, a questioning look seeming to flash through his eyes. Then, with a faint smile still lingering on his face, he said to Ren Fengjue, “Young Master, where did you hear that?”

Ren Fengjue replied with two words. “On the street.”

“My daughter has indeed always been in poor health, and she caught a chill two days ago. But she has seen a doctor and taken medicine. She is already better.”

He fixed his gaze on Ren Fengjue again, his words carrying a deeper implication. “From the way you speak, Young Master, I can tell you are a man who has seen much of the world. You should know that rumors among the common folk are difficult to tell true from false. They truly cannot be trusted wholesale.”

The smile on Ren Fengjue’s face did not fade. He went on, “The main issue is, the rumors are not only about Miss Shen…”

“They also concern Madam Shen, as well as this Young Master Qin.”

When the words Madam Shen were spoken, the hand with which Old Master Shen held his wine cup visibly trembled.

Qin Shu instinctively reached out to steady him. Knowing he could not allow this group to keep stirring up trouble unchecked, he immediately called for the guards. “Men!”

His voice was quite loud, and the guests at the other tables all involuntarily looked over.

Seven or eight guards entered and surrounded Ren Fengjue’s entire table at once.

Yu Lang knew the moment had arrived and deliberately shouted, “What? Such a big reaction? Are you afraid we’ll expose your dirty business in front of everyone?”

Qin Shu’s face turned ashen, but he still found a suitable excuse.

“Madam Shen passed away more than ten years ago. She has always been a source of pain in the Old Master’s heart, and he does not wish for others to mention her.”

“You have only just arrived in Kaiming County, and we treated you as guests, giving you good food, good wine, and good lodgings. It is one thing for you to be ungrateful, but now you are deliberately causing trouble!”

“Since that is the case, why should we be polite to you?”

“Men, seize them and throw them out!”

The guards immediately swarmed forward.

Yu Lang had been holding back his frustration for half the night, all for this very moment. He kicked the table over with one foot and shouted, “You haven’t even married Miss Shen yet, and you’re already acting like you’re the master of Yuelai Villa!”

Outside the crowd, Qin Shu was so furious he gnashed his teeth. “Catch him!”

Taking advantage of the chaos, the guests, afraid of being caught in the crossfire, began retreating one after another.

Yan Zhengchu and Xia Ximo exchanged a glance. While Yu Lang was fighting the guards, they quietly slipped out of the crowd and headed toward the inner courtyard.

“I’ll look for Madam Shen’s soul. You go find Miss Shen.”

“Mm.”

The two parted ways at a side gate. Yan Zhengchu picked up a copper coin and tossed it onto his compass, chanting an incantation under his breath. The copper coin trembled, then landed in a particular position on the disk.

Based on the orientation of the villa, he identified the actual direction and immediately hurried over.

Xia Ximo, however, did not have to go to such trouble. She stopped a servant coming toward her and said coldly, “Take me to Miss Shen’s courtyard.”

The servant was slightly startled and had not yet had time to refuse when a strange force seized his entire body. Terrified, he could only nod mutely.