Chapter 28: Someone Just Died in This Courtyard

“Rebellious, rebellious! It seems you haven’t learned anything good during these three years away, daring to talk back to your elders like this. Someone, enforce the family rules on her!”

Chu Zhonghe was furious, rolling up his sleeves as he prepared to slap Chu Li’s face himself.

Madam Sun and her two daughters sensed the danger and quickly rushed forward to intervene.

“Master, please don’t lose your temper. Meng’er has been away for three years; perhaps she endured hardships outside and has developed a bit of a temper.”

“Father, please don’t hit eldest sister. What if you hurt her?”

“Second sister is right. Eldest sister has just returned home and may have spoken rashly. Why don’t we let her rest in her room first?”

Madam Sun and the second and third Miss Chu managed to stop Chu Zhonghe, preventing his anger from fully erupting. However, they shot a sharp glare at Chu Li.

“Someone, escort the eldest young lady back to her room to rest. Watch her carefully—she must not step outside that door!”

Chu Zhonghe’s eyes briefly swept over Jiao Yan, his expression suddenly hardening.

“Young sir, please take a rest in the west wing. Everyone else, you may disperse.”

One by one, the Chu family members left, leaving only the head of the family’s chamber.

Chu Li’s expression flickered slightly, clearly sensing something amiss with Madam Sun and her two daughters.

From her understanding of the family, Chu Zhonghe was an extreme male chauvinist who ruled the household like a local tyrant. There was no way he would so easily yield to the women’s words.

Yet just now, with a casual blockade by Madam Sun and the two daughters, they had truly managed to restrain the enraged Chu Zhonghe. Something was wrong.

Second Miss Chu, Chu Jiao Jiao, noticing the still-tense atmosphere, smiled brightly and linked arms with Chu Li, speaking gently,

“Sister, since you’ve been away so long, the home may feel a little unfamiliar. I’ll accompany you back to your room.”

Chu Li coldly glanced past Chu Jiao Jiao’s face, dark waves stirring in her eyes.

So that was it. No wonder they all acted so strangely—there was definitely some trickery at play.

She did not pull away from Chu Jiao Jiao’s hold but followed her toward the hall’s exit. Passing by Jiao Yan, Chu Li gave him a slight nod. Worry etched on his face, he watched her leave before being escorted by the Chu family servants to the west wing as well.

***

Once everyone had left, Madam Sun glared angrily at Chu Zhonghe.

“Master, you must be out of your mind with anger. Isn’t it better that that wretched girl has come back? If you beat her to injury or death, how will we ever marry her off?”

Chu Yan’er muttered, “Father, just put up with her a few more days. It’s more important to coax her onto the bridal sedan chair. That way, we satisfy their demands and spare my sister from jumping into that fire pit. Once she’s married off, plenty of people will deal with that shameless woman—no need for you to get your hands dirty.”

Only then did Chu Zhonghe’s anger dissipate, a trace of satisfaction appearing on his face.

“I suppose I haven’t given up the title of eldest young lady of her family for nothing. It’s time to do our part for the Chu family. Yan’er, you and Jiao Jiao must keep her company these days and watch her carefully. Whether the Chu family can link itself to the royal line depends entirely on this.”

“……”

Chu Li followed Chu Jiao Jiao to their residence. The scenery along the way was pleasant, though the layout of the mansion seemed unfamiliar, somewhat changed from her memories.

Chu Jiao Jiao, cunning as ever, observed Chu Li’s wandering gaze and took the initiative to explain.

“Eldest sister, the mansion has changed a lot over the three years you’ve been away. Father had it renovated. Your courtyard is the most beautiful—neither I nor our youngest sister are even qualified to live there.”

Chu Li sneered silently, having roughly guessed the family’s scheme. She felt no warmth toward Chu Jiao Jiao’s excessive attentions.

This second Miss Chu had been calculating since childhood, already adept at scheming even before birth.

As for the third Miss Chu, Chu Yan’er, she was no less cunning—one sister wore the mask of a pure white lotus, graceful and praised by all; the other, charming, lively, and well-loved. Yet both were scheming, two-faced women.

Upon reaching the separate courtyard and pushing open its gate, Chu Li was momentarily stunned. The entire yard was bursting with blooming crabapple trees and countless flowers, exquisitely arranged. Even she was taken aback—could Chu Zhonghe and his wife be so kind as to provide such a fine courtyard for her?

But just as she stepped inside, a wave of resentment hit her face like a slap, sinking her heart.

Someone had recently died here, and that death was steeped in bitter hatred. The lingering resentment had transformed into a malevolent aura.

Recalling the funeral cloth she had seen upon entering and sensing the thread of fatal causality in the lingering deathly energy, Chu Li immediately concluded that the Old Madam Chu had died in this very courtyard.

After entering the Huichun Courtyard, Chu Jiao Jiao’s expression visibly changed, her footsteps heavy and hesitant as if weighed down by lead, unable to move.

Standing in the center of the courtyard, she muttered sulkily,

“Eldest sister, I won’t disturb you any longer. Rest early. If you need anything, just summon the household servants. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything you want.”

As she spoke, Chu Jiao Jiao edged toward the courtyard gate, then suddenly turned and fled as if escaping for her life.

Qiu Yi was puzzled. “Miss, what’s wrong with Second Miss Chu? She was just eager to escort you to rest, but now she’s running off so fast?”

Chu Li let out a light laugh. What else could it be but fear? She knew someone had died here recently.

However, Chu Li wouldn’t tell Qiu Yi this. Qiu Yi was timid; if she learned that the Old Madam Chu had just died here, she would surely become frightened.

“Qiu Yi, go tidy up inside. We’ll be staying in this courtyard.”

At her words, Qiu Yi busied herself swiftly with preparations. Chu Li stood in the courtyard, studying its feng shui.

Aside from the resentment, the Huichun Courtyard’s feng shui was excellent. The crabapples and hibiscus flowers were arranged to form a basic spirit-gathering formation, nourishing anyone’s body and mind who rested here.

Whether the gardeners arranged this by accident or if the Chu family had employed a feng shui master was unknown.

Such a treasure of a place, yet the family seemed to avoid it as if it were cursed. For them to give it to Chu Li, the Old Madam’s death must have been suspicious.

But how that disrespectful old thing died was none of Chu Li’s concern. She had no intention of dwelling on it.

As for the lingering resentment, Chu Li could disperse it with a wave of her hand but chose not to.

That slight grievance was harmless to her, and Qiu Yi wore the protective talisman Chu Li had given her, so the resentment could not harm her.

After some thought, Chu Li entered the house and placed a protective talisman inside the front door. This charm suppressed evil and barred all malevolent entities from crossing the threshold, serving as a second layer of defense.

The other areas of the Chu mansion tainted by deathly energy and resentment were not her concern.

The Old Madam Chu’s suspicious death was undoubtedly connected to the family; let them bear their own karmic retribution. Chu Li had no need to interfere.