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

Jiang Dusheng ignored the resentful paper beauty in the corner and lazily gave the order:

"Go out and find the maids on night watch. Tell them you are my new personal maid and have them prepare hot water immediately. I want to take a bath."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dazhuang felt even more grief welling up inside him.

Not only do you have to be a woman, you also have to be a maid!

He let out a mournful "Oh," his voice trembling with a hint of resentment, and reluctantly moved out of the room.

At the same time, the town government.

The candlelight illuminated Xie Jinchen's jade-like profile.

He leaned back in his armchair, his fingertips still twirling the jade prayer beads, listening to the guards' low reports.

"We were ordered to secretly investigate the girl's whereabouts, but as we followed her, we felt something was obstructing our view, and in the end... we lost her. Please punish us, Your Highness."

The guard knelt on one knee, his tone solemn.

Xie Jinchen didn't stop fiddling with the beads; instead, he chuckled softly.

"Oh? Someone even you guys could lose track of?" A hint of interest flashed in his eyes. "It seems she really does have some extraordinary abilities."

After a moment's thought, he ordered, "Have someone keep watch in secret for young women in Changling City who have a cinnabar mole between their eyebrows."

"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order and quietly withdrew.

The guards had just left when a servant announced from outside the study: "Your Highness, Young Master Yiche has arrived and says he has urgent business to discuss."

"Let him in."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the study door was pushed open with a bang.

A handsome young man, with a somewhat impatient air, barged in.

It was Yi Che, the young master of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion, who had recently been exposed to the water calamity by Jiang Dusheng.

"Ah Chen! Ah Chen! I have something to tell you!"

Yi Che rushed to the desk, placed his hands on the table, his eyes shining, and was so excited that he was almost incoherent, "I met a woman tonight, a girl who reads faces."

"Her calculations are incredibly accurate; I think she might actually be able to help you!"

Xie Jinchen poured him a cup of tea, gesturing for him to calm down, then looked at him and said, "Tell me slowly. What happened?"

Yi Che quickly took a deep breath and recounted what had just happened in detail.

"You didn't see her demeanor! She was aloof and reserved, speaking as if reciting a verse, yet every word struck right to the heart. That fortune teller Xu was like a mouse in front of her."

Yi Che spoke with great enthusiasm, but at the end he slapped his thigh, his face full of regret:

"Oh no! I was so shocked and scared at the time, and then I rushed to tell you, that I forgot to ask her name and address! I only remember that she said she would go to that stall again tomorrow."

Xie Jinchen listened quietly, his face remaining calm, but he slightly increased the frequency of his fingertips twirling the beads.

The study fell silent for a moment.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, only staring thoughtfully at the flickering candlelight, Yi Che couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Achen? What's wrong? Could it be... you don't believe me?"

Xie Jinchen slowly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Yi Che's face, and deep within his eyes, it seemed as if dark starlight flowed.

"Yi Che, the girl you mentioned, does she have a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows?"

"!!!"

Yi Che's eyes widened suddenly, staring at Xie Jinchen as if he had seen a ghost, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.

It took him a long time to find his voice, which was filled with disbelief:

"You...you...you...Xie Jinchen! When did you secretly learn fortune telling and face reading?! How do you even know this?!"

Xie Jinchen did not answer directly, but the smile on his lips deepened.

Sure enough it was her.

With a cinnabar mark between her brows, she was as cold and aloof as snow, yet possessed extraordinary abilities.

It seems he has to go to the fortune-telling stall tomorrow, no matter what.

The next morning, the spring sunlight streamed into the room through the window.

Just as Jiang Dusheng finished washing up, a cautious knock came from outside the door.

It was Xiao Huan, the maid who was possessed by Li Shuanzi that day.

She came in carrying a bowl of warm congee and side dishes. Her face was still a little pale, but her eyes were much brighter.

"Young Miss".

Xiao Huan gently placed the tray on the table, took a step back, and bowed respectfully. "This servant, Xiao Huan, thanks you for saving my life yesterday, Miss."

After she woke up, she had already heard the gist of the story from the other old women and knew that it was the young lady who had saved her.

Jiang Dusheng was tidying up the last strand of hair in front of the mirror when he heard this. He simply gave a faint "hmm," his gaze sweeping over Xiao Huan's tense face in the mirror, his tone calm:

"I don't like being waited on hand and foot. You only need to sweep and clean the yard. I'll call you if I need anything. You don't need to come inside unless necessary."

Xiao Huan was taken aback when she heard this.

When she woke up, she vaguely heard servants whispering in the outer room, saying that this young lady was eccentric and had a strange temper, and that she might not be easy to get along with.

She was constantly filled with anxiety.

But hearing this instruction now, it was clear that it gave her a great deal of leisure and space.

"Yes, I understand," Xiao Huan replied quickly.

After Jiang Dusheng finished his simple breakfast, Xiao Huan had just finished clearing away the dishes and left when she came in again to report:

"Young Miss, the Young Master has arrived."

Jiang Zhiyuan?

Jiang Dusheng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Let him in."

Jiang Zhiyuan was dressed in a moon-white casual outfit today, which made him look gentle and refined.

He walked up to Jiang Dusheng, said nothing, and took out a stack of brand-new silver notes from his sleeve, gently placed them on the table, and pushed them to Jiang Dusheng's side.

"Dusheng," he said gently, with the concern of an elder brother, "take these. If you need anything in the future, or if you want to buy anything, don't hesitate to tell your older brother."

Jiang Dusheng glanced down at the stack of sizable silver notes, but didn't reach out to take them. Instead, he raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Zhiyuan with a clear, piercing gaze:

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Zhiyuan felt somewhat uncomfortable under her direct gaze. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he whispered:

"It doesn't mean anything special. Just consider it... a small token of my appreciation from your older brother. You've just returned, and I know you've had a lot of trouble at home."

They both knew exactly what he meant.

Jiang Dusheng slowly shook his head and pushed the stack of silver notes back towards him: "No need. I have my own money."

Although it was only ten taels.

She did not want to accept the banknote that was meant to be compensation.

Accepting it is as if one tacitly condones some kind of unfair arrangement.

Jiang Zhiyuan looked at her profile, which was calm to the point of being indifferent. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, shutting out all her emotions.

He knew her rejection was unequivocal, and a bitter feeling spread through his chest, making even breathing feel slightly painful.

Silence spread between the two.

Finally, he sighed softly, his slender fingers slowly retracting the stack of silver notes, his movements as if he were trying to save face.

He then asked, "Are you going out? You've just arrived in Changling and aren't familiar with many places. I'll have a few reliable servants accompany you..."

"No need."

Jiang Dusheng interrupted him, stood up and walked to the door. As if suddenly remembering something, she turned her head back, a mocking smile playing on her lips:

"By the way, I heard... your future brother-in-law is coming to your residence today to propose marriage?"

"On such a big day, shouldn't you, as the eldest brother, go up to the front and help with the arrangements, and see what's going on?"

Jiang Zhiyuan's body trembled slightly, and his throat tightened.

He took a deep breath and met her gaze with a calm and firm look:

"Dusheng, you are also my sister."

He said this very slowly and very seriously.

Jiang Dusheng stared at him quietly for two breaths, the mockery in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a complex expression.

She said nothing in the end, turned around, and her plain skirt swept across the threshold and disappeared into the morning light.

Faint sounds of celebration could be heard from the front yard outside, along with the faint strains of string and wind instruments, which only served to accentuate the quiet and desolate atmosphere of the Tranquil Garden.