After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Jiang Dusheng had already taken a look at his face and had some idea of ​​what to do. She said calmly, "Okay, get to the point."

The young man cleared his throat and said in a slightly melancholy tone, "To be honest, my family arranged a marriage for me when I was still a child. The woman was the eldest daughter of a family with which we have a long-standing friendship."

"Unfortunately, she was sickly from a young age, and before we could even meet, she was sent to the countryside to recuperate, and we haven't heard from her for many years."

He sighed, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he were truly troubled by this: "My elders at home, pitying my advancing age and the fact that my marriage has been delayed, and seeing that my uncle's second daughter has grown into a gentle and virtuous woman, took it upon themselves to... transfer the marriage to this second daughter."

"I have spent a long time with this younger sister. She is gentle and considerate towards me, and I have gradually accepted this arrangement of fate. I am just waiting to choose an auspicious day to get married."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming strained, "Who would have thought, who would have thought that at the beginning of this year, my first wife's fiancée miraculously recovered from her illness and returned home."

He paused, secretly observing Jiang Dusheng's expression. Seeing that she remained expressionless and her eyes were calm, he had no choice but to continue.

"Upon seeing her, I was shocked to realize that the woman I truly loved was my first fiancée. She possessed a refined demeanor and noble character, far surpassing ordinary women."

"But she has a deep misunderstanding about me because of the fact that our engagement was transferred back then."

He then feigned anguish and looked at Jiang Dusheng with pleading eyes, "Miss, please tell me, what should I do? How can I win back her heart and clear up these misunderstandings?"

He spoke with such sincerity that he seemed like a truly lovesick man tormented by unrequited love.

Jiang Dusheng listened silently, then a kind smile suddenly bloomed on his face. His clear eyes looked directly at the young man, and he spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Young master, this divination..." She held up two slender, pale fingers, "...will cost two thousand taels. Are you sure you want it done?"

"Two thousand taels?!"

The young man's melancholy expression instantly crumbled, and he gasped in shock. Realizing his lapse, he exclaimed, "Miss Jiang, you...you're asking for an exorbitant price! How can you charge two thousand gold for a fortune telling?"

Jiang Dusheng still smiled, but his eyes were like ice. "Too expensive?"

She softly uttered three words, "If that doesn't count, please leave. The gate is over there."

"You!" The young master's face turned from white to red with anger. Pointing at Jiang Dusheng, he completely lost his composure. "You—what kind of master are you?!"

Jiang Dusheng didn't bother to look at him again.

The young master had no choice but to stomp his foot angrily, turn around, and stride towards the gate.

Just as he was about to step out the door, Jiang Dusheng's cool voice came from behind him, not loud, but clearly penetrating everyone's ears:

"Go back and tell your master that if he tries to test you again next time, he should find someone with a clear head. Also..."

She paused, her tone filled with undisguised contempt, "Tell him that a man like him, who thinks he's charming but is actually filthy, wouldn't even warrant a glance from me, even if I offered him money at the Nanfeng Pavilion. He's an eyesore."

The young man's back stiffened abruptly, and then, as if his backside was on fire, he scurried out the door in a disheveled state without looking back.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

The remaining old woman and the other man were stunned and dared not utter a sound.

Jiang Dusheng then slowly turned his gaze to them, raising an eyebrow slightly: "What? Aren't you two leaving yet? Are you waiting for me to personally escort you back to Prince Chun's residence?"

The two men shuddered, not daring to ask another question. They exchanged a glance and saw fear in each other's eyes.

How could she have known...?

They hastily bowed to Jiang Dusheng, then slunk out of the courtyard, carefully closing the door behind them.

Jiang Dusheng watched the two flee in a disheveled state before slowly taking out a bone flute from his sleeve, gently stroking it with his fingertips, and murmuring a phrase.

A wisp of smoke curled out and quickly coalesced into the graceful figure of Ruan Guyan.

She seemed to have just been awakened from a deep sleep, her eyes still somewhat dazed.

Jiang Dusheng looked at her and suddenly asked out of the blue, "Do you want to beat up Chu Yanzhao?"

Ruan Guyan was suddenly called out, her thoughts not yet fully processed. Her lips parted slightly, and she instinctively uttered, "Ah?"

Upon hearing Jiang Dusheng's words, his previously bewildered eyes widened instantly, filled with astonishment and a long-lost emotion.

Jiang Dusheng raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her surprise, his tone remaining as calm as if he were discussing the nice weather:

"I'll take you to see some excitement tonight. After that, I'll take you to Prince Chun's Mansion."

She paused, then uttered, "That Chu Yanzhao deserves a beating."

Ruan Guyan had never seen a woman with such a way of doing things before.

Without questioning the causes and consequences or being concerned with status, etiquette, or worldly perspectives, they are simply straightforward and frank, even with a touch of... well, a tendency towards simple and brutal violence.

For some reason, these words, spoken by the seemingly aloof and detached Miss Jiang, whose actions were always unpredictable, stirred a strange sense of pleasure within her.

Being able to vent one's anger, even if it's just watching the other person suffer, is good.

She nodded quickly, a glint of expectation in her eyes: "Yes! I...I want to! Thank you so much, Master!"

Just then, a figure darted over from the side, its paper joints making a slight rustling sound from the excitement.

Wang Dazhuang's handsome face was filled with "I want to play too!" He rubbed his hands together and looked at Jiang Dusheng expectantly.

"Master! Master! Take me with you! I want to go too! I'm an expert at watching the excitement and beating people up!"

He was a lively character in life, but after being a quiet ghost for so long, he's finally got his chance.

Jiang Dusheng glanced at him but didn't refuse. "Okay, you go too, but don't cause me any trouble."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dazhuang immediately thumped his chest loudly, though the sound was somewhat hollow.

"Rest assured, Master! I am the most disciplined of all!"

Jiang Dusheng then remembered something, turned his gaze to Wang Dazhuang, and asked, "By the way, where's my breakfast?"

She remembered that she had just asked Wang Dazhuang to put away the food box that Xie Jinchen had sent.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Dazhuang's excited expression froze instantly. His eyes darted around guiltily, his previously smooth movements became somewhat awkward, and his voice lowered.

"Ah... well, I... I thought you were busy telling fortunes and wouldn't eat for a while, so it would be a waste to leave it there. Well... I... I ate it..."

Jiang Dusheng: "..."

Her smile grew even brighter, but her eyes swept coldly over Wang Dazhuang's body, as if weighing where it would be easier to tear him apart, or... simply burn him to the ground.

Upon seeing this, alarm bells rang in Wang Dazhuang's mind, and a chill emanating from the depths of his soul almost made him jump up.

He turned around hastily, his paper-thin legs moving so fast they created a gust of wind as he ran out of the courtyard, shouting as he ran:

"Master, please calm down! It was my fault! I'll go out and buy it for you right away! I'll buy the best! Crab roe buns from Wang Po's shop on West Street, and almond milk from Li Ji's shop in East Market. I'll be right back! I guarantee they'll be piping hot!"

However, Wang Dazhuang had only run out for a short while when he suddenly darted back.

With a strange look on his face, he lowered his voice and said, "Master, there's a ghost outside looking for you."