Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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The day after the governor’s daughter returned home, she angered her birth mother to the point of fainting in bed. This was quickly spread by someone with ulterior motives, and almost everyone in the mansion knew about it.
If Governor Yu hadn’t been furious and issued a gag order, the matter might have become a huge scandal.
The culprit, Yu Linlang, felt no remorse whatsoever. She ate, drank, and slept as usual, occasionally flipping through Yu Pianpian’s collection of treasured books.
These were mostly the *Analects*, *Classic of Filial Piety*, or *Admonitions for Women* and *Inner Rules*, which were rather uninteresting.
Yu Linlang found a decent travelogue on the bookshelf and idly flipped through it, soon becoming sleepy.
Jiu Jin, carrying clean clothes, quietly entered the house. Seeing her young mistress lying on the chaise longue by the window, she quickly brought a blanket to cover her.
Just as she tucked her in, she heard Mama Hu’s hurried footsteps outside the courtyard.
“Are Miss Qiuping and Miss Linlang inside? Madam wants you two to go to the main hall quickly; she has something to ask you.”
Yu Linlang groggily opened her eyes. “Why are they asking questions again?”
Yu Qiuping’s soft voice came from outside the door. “Mama, don’t panic. What happened this time?”
“Eldest Miss, please go ahead. This old servant will go and call Miss Linlang.”
Yu Linlang came out of the east wing, raising an eyebrow at her. “Seeing you all sweaty and flustered, has someone in the manor died again?”
Mama Hu’s mouth dropped open in shock, unable to speak.
Indeed, someone in the manor had died again, and it was none other than Niu Erji, who had been repeatedly questioned yesterday.
When Yu Linlang arrived at the main hall with Jiu Jin, not only was the white-haired old lady sitting in the center, but all the concubines and young ladies were also present.
As soon as she entered, all eyes turned to her.
This was the legitimate daughter of the governor’s manor; everyone knew that.
But now, the position beside the madam had been taken by a fake heiress.
This fake heiress not only usurped her place but also brazenly stole everything from her.
Favor, status, prestige— everything a legitimate daughter should have was completely taken away by this fake heiress.
It was truly heartbreaking to think about; anyone of this age experiencing something like this wouldn’t be as calm as the woman before her.
Yet, this legitimate heiress remained completely unmoved, as if she were always an outsider, coldly observing the madness of others.
Yu Linlang stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the old lady and the madam. When Madam Huo saw this girl, she remembered how she had been angered to the point of fainting on the spot, and she didn’t want to look at her at all!
She put down her teacup in annoyance and turned her head to the side.
The old lady, on the other hand, had a very kind face. She exchanged a few casual pleasantries with Yu Linlang and then gestured for her to sit down as well.
“Two murders have occurred in the manor these past two days, and Master is quite troubled by them.”
“Although it was just a servant couple who died, the fact that it happened within our governor’s manor has caused quite a bit of controversy.”
“Yes, Mother, I wonder what people outside will say about our manor. I’ve also felt uneasy in the manor these past two days; sometimes I feel a chill and it’s quite frightening to walk in the corridors.” The beautiful concubine who spoke was in her early twenties, with a delicate face and a voice as sweet and melodious as a nightingale’s song.
As soon as the concubine spoke, Madam Huo turned her head and glared at her. “Cui, what’s so scary about staying in your room and not going out? Stop stirring up trouble and talking nonsense.”
“Alright,” the old lady said with a frown, “You all need to behave yourselves in your rooms these next two days and not go out and wander around.”
“Oh dear, Mother, if this case goes on and on, won’t it interfere with your birthday banquet in half a month?” Concubine Cui said in a coquettish voice, “I wonder how the master and the others are doing with the investigation in the servants’ quarters.”
“Could it really be like what those people outside are saying, that a demon that disappeared for many years has resurfaced?”
The old lady frowned and slammed her hand heavily on the table. “Such baseless rumors are forbidden from ever spreading again.”
As she spoke, a servant rushed into the hall, anxiously saying, “Old lady, the master and Lord Lu have gone to the main gate, saying… the people from the Demon Suppression Bureau have arrived.”
“Ah?” Everyone in the main hall exchanged bewildered glances.
This case had actually alarmed the legendary Demon Suppression Bureau?
Aunt Cui covered her mouth with her handkerchief. “Could it really be the work of demons? What should we do?”
Madam Huo glared at her coldly, then turned to the old lady and said, “Mother, what should we do next? If this gets out of hand, it won’t be good for the reputation of our governor’s mansion.”
The old lady stood up with the help of a maid. “Let’s go out and see.”
The women were all curious about the Demon Suppression Bureau’s methods of subduing demons, and upon hearing this, they hurriedly followed the old lady out.
Yu Linlang and Jiu Jin exchanged a glance.
“Linlang, let’s go, go out and see what’s going on with the old lady and the others.” Yu Pianpian smiled slightly at her. “You’ve always lived in the small village of Fucun, so you’ve probably never seen anything like this before. A lot has happened in the manor these past two days, but don’t be afraid, Father will do everything he can to protect us.”
Yu Linlang glanced at her, nodded slightly, and walked out without saying a word.
Yu Pianpian frowned.
Her personal maid, Qingju, followed and whispered, “Miss, why are you talking to her like that? She won’t appreciate it. She has such a deadpan face, like someone owes her a fortune.”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Yu Pianpian scolded, glancing at her maid. “How dare you talk about Miss Linlang like that? You have no manners! How have I taught you?”
Qingju pouted, glancing at Yu Linlang’s back, and whispered, “This servant knows her mistake.”
Yu Linlang seemed completely oblivious to the charade between mistress and servant behind her, following the old lady and her entourage towards the main gate.
The two groups met face-to-face in the U-shaped corridor.
The women cautiously glanced at the unfamiliar man and woman beside the master.
Both were around twenty years old, dressed in short, belted blue brocade robes, wearing tall hats, and with cold, stern faces.
The woman, carrying a wicker trunk, said expressionlessly, “Governor Yu, please have all bystanders leave. Where is the body?”
The old lady and the others exchanged glances.
Were all the women in their household just bystanders watching the spectacle?
Governor Yu’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. He bowed to the old lady and explained, “Mother, these are Lord Chen Buyu and Lord Wei Ling from the Demon Suppression Division.”
Madam Huo frowned. “Wasn’t this case handled by Lord Lu of the Criminal Justice Division?”
“Now, these three disembowelment cases are entirely under the jurisdiction of our Demon Suppression Division. The rest of us only need to cooperate.”
Wei Ling spoke bluntly, her expression brooking no argument, making everyone present feel uncomfortable.
Governor Yu smiled and tried to smooth things over, “The two lords have come with official documents issued by the Cabinet to take over the cases. Alright, no more talk. You can all return to the main hall now; they’ll question you one by one later.”
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