BVAHEDLA[W Chapter 48

Chapter 48 Ancient Times 22 “I don’t know where she’s gallivanting off to.”…

Chu Li-fei followed Feng Rao’s footsteps, bypassing the courtyard and passing through an arched doorway, soon arriving at Lü Ying’s residence.

Or rather, the residence of Lü Ying and Qi Fu, but now only Lü Ying lived there.

There was no one guarding the entrance to the courtyard. But thinking about it, the Qi residence was already in such a half-dead state. Moreover, now that even Old Madam Qi was gone, if it weren’t for the heavily armed guards at the entrance of the Qi residence, those who could run would have run long ago. No one wanted to throw their lives away.

The houses in the Qi residence all faced south, and it was currently winter, so in theory, sunlight should easily shine into the houses.

But Qi Fu and Lü Ying’s residence was precisely not like that.

Although Qi Fu had not separated from the family, in order to avoid suspicion, the courtyard where he and Lü Ying lived was separated from the rest of the Qi family’s property by a low wall.

Moreover, Qi Fu claimed to prefer tranquility, so he specifically found someone to plant a row of cypress trees around his courtyard. Now, several years had passed. Each tree had grown to be over ten meters tall, its leaves a deep green, casting a shadow that unexpectedly made people feel somewhat eerie.

The courtyard gate was wide open. Feng Rao called Lü Ying’s name several times outside the gate, but no one responded.

Chu Li-fei and Lu Mo-chen glanced into the courtyard and found that its structure was similar to that of Old Madam Qi’s courtyard. However, this was understandable, since they were both within the same family compound, although they had thought Old Madam Qi’s courtyard would be larger.

The courtyard was covered with a thick layer of white snow, and a line of slightly panicked footprints appeared abruptly on it, presumably left by Lü Ying.

Following the footprints, Chu Li-fei and his party’s gazes eventually landed on a door.

The footprints disappeared in front of the door, presumably because Lü Ying had entered the house.

“Huh?” Feng Rao made a sound of doubt. “Why didn’t Sister-in-law go to the main hall, but went in the direction of the side hall?”

Hearing Feng Rao’s words, Chu Li-fei turned his gaze to the other side. He saw that the house over there was significantly larger than the one Lü Ying had entered. It was not only wider, but also looked brighter.

He was somewhat puzzled and cast an inquiring gaze at Feng Rao. But Feng Rao didn’t know the reason either, and with confusion in her heart, she led Chu Li-fei and the others forward, following Lü Ying’s footsteps.

Soon, they stopped in front of the door.

Feng Rao first gently knocked on the door, and the wooden door made a dull sound accompanied by a “creak”.

Seeing that there was no response, a trace of doubt welled up in Feng Rao’s heart. She knocked on the door again, using even more force: “Sister-in-law, are you there?”

There was still no response, not even a single footstep.

The four of them exchanged strange glances. Feng Rao shook her head, indicating that she didn’t know what was going on either.

A gust of cold wind blew past, causing Feng Rao to shiver involuntarily, and goosebumps rose on her exposed neck.

Seeing everyone’s gazes on her, Feng Rao, although she felt a little strange in her heart, still mustered her courage and placed her hand on the door, trying to push it open directly: “Sister-in-law, we’re coming in.”

Just then, they suddenly heard a rustling sound. The four of them turned their heads and found that there seemed to be a figure trembling in the small bushes not far away, causing the already sparse branches and leaves of the small bushes to fall off together, making them look even more bare.

Qian Ming, who was trailing behind the four, voluntarily took a few steps forward. Just as he approached the small bushes, a figure suddenly darted out, almost knocking him to the ground.

Feng Rao was not very courageous, and was so frightened that she took a step back, crashing straight into the door.

“Meow~”

A coal-gray figure flashed past, darted away from Qian Ming, and quickly disappeared into the small woods outside the courtyard.

Feng Rao was still maintaining the action of touching her heart just now: “Scared me to death, why is it Tang Yuan? Why is it here?”

Feng Rao seemed very puzzled.

“Tang Yuan?” Chu Li-fei’s gaze was still fixed on the shadows of the cypress forest outside the door. He looked thoughtfully at the direction where Tang Yuan disappeared. “Is that the cat’s name?”

“Ah, that’s right.” Feng Rao introduced: “This cat is raised by Sister-in-law, and was brought from her parents’ home. I heard that she has been raising it since she was a child, and Sister-in-law likes it very much. It’s just very shy.”

“Why is it called Tang Yuan?” Lu Mo-chen seemed very interested in Tang Yuan. “It’s all gray and doesn’t look like a ‘mao tuan (fur ball)’.”

“Hey.” Feng Rao smiled embarrassedly. “This is a white cat. I remember Sister-in-law said before that it seemed to be some kind of Persian breed. Why is it so dirty now and no one cares?”

“I don’t know where Sister-in-law has gone, and why she can’t be found…”

Feng Rao muttered to herself.

After a few jokes, the group remembered the purpose of their visit here. Chu Li-fei’s eyes narrowed slightly, knowing that he saw a touch of gray between the snow-white and verdant green outside the courtyard, and then he retracted his gaze.

He lowered his eyes slightly, and had a few guesses in his heart.

Feng Rao refocused her gaze on the wooden door in front of her. She put her hand on it and instantly felt a cold touch.

Even the air seemed to be faintly emitting a damp, musty smell.

She took a deep breath, and just as she was about to exert force, the door suddenly opened from the inside, revealing a small crack.

If Chu Li-fei hadn’t pulled Feng Rao in time, she would have fallen badly.

Feng Rao barely stood firm, and when she looked up, she met an eye that was revealed from the crack in the door.

The owner of the eye was staring at Feng Rao quietly, without blinking. The pupil was black and bright, and the eye socket was covered with bloodshot.

Feng Rao’s whole body suddenly froze. Her tone was a little trembling and astringent, and a little uncertain: “…Sister-in-law…?”

The black eyes rolled around in the eye socket, seemingly counting how many people were following behind Feng Rao.

Then, the wooden door was finally opened, making a “creaking” sound, and Lü Ying’s body was revealed in front of the four.

She still wrapped herself tightly, even in the house she didn’t relax.

As soon as the group entered the door, they felt a chill in the room, which seemed to be no different from the temperature outside.

Feng Rao looked around the room and found that Lü Ying hadn’t even lit a charcoal basin.

At this time, Lü Ying spoke, asking coldly, her voice a little hoarse: “What’s the matter?”

Feng Rao: “Sister-in-law, where did you go just now? Why couldn’t we hear you knocking on the door or calling you?”

Lü Ying’s tone was indifferent, and even sounded a little perfunctory: “I just fell asleep, I didn’t hear it.”

Chu Li-fei frowned slightly, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Even if Lü Ying fell asleep, she didn’t take off her outer robe? Or did she hear them knocking on the door a long time ago, but deliberately pretended not to hear and didn’t open the door, in order to buy time to change her clothes again?

How interesting.

Feng Rao on the side didn’t seem to feel anything was wrong, and brought the topic back to the main topic: “Sister-in-law, this is the thing. In the past few months, didn’t mother give elder brother a lot of money? These three adults don’t believe it, saying that elder brother misappropriated your parents’ property. So, I brought them here to confront you face to face.”

Hearing this, Lü Ying nodded, her gaze scanning back and forth warily between the few people.

What… what’s wrong? Feng Rao looked at Lü Ying’s movements and felt a little strange. Is this question so difficult to answer?

Or is it… what Chu Li-fei and the others said is true?

In other words… mother lied to her? Qi Fu really did that kind of shameful thing?

Feng Rao’s expression sank, and she ordered Xiao Chun, who was following behind her, to go out.

“Xiao Chun, help me watch these things in the mourning hall, so that no one will be careless.”

Naturally, the fewer people who know about such a shameful thing, the better.

Xiao Chun lowered her eyes and responded with a “yes.” Then she went out, and didn’t forget to carefully close the door.

After Feng Rao repeatedly confirmed that there was no one eavesdropping around, she solemnly asked again: “Sister-in-law, just tell the truth.”

At this time, Chu Li-fei carefully noticed that Lü Ying seemed to have obviously relaxed after Xiao Chun went out. Even her right hand, which had been hidden behind her and clenched into a fist, trembling slightly, had calmed down.

He blinked, and shifted his gaze away as if nothing had happened.

Lu Mo-chen, who was standing beside him, had been secretly paying attention to Chu Li-fei’s movements, so he also noticed Lü Ying’s strangeness. He secretly noted this down.

Lü Ying shook her head: “Mother mentioned it to me at the end of spring. Once, she called me to her courtyard and transferred a lot of shops to me.”

Hearing this, Feng Rao glared at her reproachfully, as if blaming Lü Ying for making her worry for nothing: “Then why are you still acting so mysteriously, I really thought…”

Lü Ying didn’t listen carefully to the rest of the words.

She glanced in the direction of Chu Li-fei with an ambiguous look, and a strange wave appeared in her eyes.

Since there was nothing else, the group naturally didn’t want to disturb her too much.

Before leaving, Feng Rao mentioned: “Sister-in-law, when I came just now, Tang Yuan was still outside, all dirty, I don’t know where he went to hang out.”

“The weather is cold now, Sister-in-law, you should quickly catch him back. So as not to freeze.”

“Yes. Thank you.” There seemed to be some gentleness in Lü Ying’s cold tone.

The sky gradually darkened, and Chu Li-fei and Lu Mo-chen said goodbye to Qian Ming at the entrance of the Qi residence.

As soon as the two got into the carriage, Lu Mo-chen couldn’t wait to pick up the small hand warmer to warm his hands.

After their bodies warmed up, the two of them were in the mood to recall what happened in the Qi residence today.

Chu Li-fei looked at Lu Mo-chen’s lively appearance and asked amusingly, “What do you think?”

Lu Mo-chen: “I think there’s something wrong with Lü Ying.”

The two looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

The most obvious thing was Lü Ying’s strange behavior, she seemed to be guarding against something, or rather, fearing something.

And also the cat Tang Yuan. Logically speaking, if it is a domestic cat that has been raised for many years and is used to being close to people, it will generally not be shy. Why did it react so strongly when it saw Qian Ming. As wary as those stray cats.

Moreover, Feng Rao said that Lü Ying cares about this cat very much, so how could she let it become dirty?

Also, Chu Li-fei always felt that the way Tang Yuan was hiding in the small bushes didn’t look like he was playing, but rather like he was on guard.

It could also be said to be on sentry duty.

As for who it was going to notify, it was already self-evident.

Moreover, why would Lü Ying choose to live in the darker side hall instead of the good main hall? This is also a suspicious point.

“Royal Uncle, I think Old Madam Qi also seems to be hiding some secret.”

As soon as Lu Mo-chen finished speaking, the carriage made a turn, and the lively shouts of vendors came to the ears of the two.

The carriage gradually stopped.

Just as the two were puzzled, the coachman lifted the curtain: “Your Highness, there are too many people in front, the carriage can’t pass.”

Chu Li-fei lifted the curtain on his side, and saw a sea of people on the street.

Bright red lanterns and satin were hung on the sides of the stalls, looking extremely lively. In the distance, the orange Kongming lanterns carrying wishes slowly ascended into the sky.

Chu Li-fei and Lu Mo-chen got out of the carriage.

“What day is it today?”

Lu Mo-chen hesitated: “It seems to be… the Lantern Festival.”

Chu Li-fei looked around, and streams of river lanterns floated on the winding river, like fireflies. Gorgeous fireworks bloomed in the sky, and the clear laughter of young men and women came to his ears.

Lu Mo-chen carefully looked at Chu Li-fei’s expression: “Royal Uncle, I want to go shopping, will you accompany me? Anyway, the carriage can’t pass, let’s just walk back to the palace like this.”

Chu Li-fei came back to his senses and looked at Lu Mo-chen. Just as a firework exploded, reflecting a warm yellow light on Lu Mo-chen’s face. It made his smile even brighter, and his eyes even clearer, making it unbearable to refuse.

Just as Chu Li-fei nodded, the hawker next to him shouted loudly: “Guess the lantern riddles—guess the lantern riddles—”

Chu Li-fei and Lu Mo-chen’s gazes were attracted, and a flash of light flashed through their minds—

“Spring has doubts!”

The two spoke in unison.