He'd rather run than be turned into a cannon fodder for the broken engagement.

Because of the approaching celebration, Dongdu was bustling with activity. People were coming and going on the streets, and the shouts and calls of vendors were very noisy. The streets were decorated with festive colorful ribbons, flower balls, lanterns, and other decorations. It was said that the evening party would be even more lively, with various folk performances and a fireworks display jointly held by the City Lord's Mansion and the Prince's Mansion.

The four major cities of Dongchen are each guarded by a royal prince, with the city lord's mansion and the prince's mansion serving as a combination of civil and military affairs.

Leng Huan walked around looking at things, and when he finished, he walked back, feeling somewhat disheartened.

"Hey, do you think it's really the ghost of the young mistress who's returned?" Leng Huan asked casually, carrying a plump carp lantern.

"I don't know. If it's true, she must be at least at the Foundation Establishment stage. Logically, it's impossible..." Fu Xun didn't understand either.

"But I think she was wronged too, ending up with the death of both herself and her unborn child. I don't know what happened to her... what did the Wu family do to her... I always felt that the old lady of the Wu family was not someone to be trifled with."

“It’s not easy for an ordinary girl to marry into a wealthy family. Huan-ge, go back quickly. You didn’t sleep well last night. You can go back and catch up on your sleep.”

That's true. He felt a little sleepy when he mentioned it, so Leng Huan quickened his pace, but in the end he still didn't have a chance to catch up on sleep.

The main hall of the Wu residence.

Upon returning, I learned that a distinguished guest had arrived at the Wu residence.

"Madam, it was the mistress of the family who sent us to present the betrothal gifts. The marriage between Miss Wu and my second young master was arranged a year ago, which is enough time. My mistress said that Miss Wu is ready to enter the family now, and it is not appropriate to delay any longer."

The speaker was a middle-aged man who looked like a head steward and was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His words were actually an offer of betrothal gifts to establish a marriage agreement with the Wu family.

Leng Huan and Fu Xun went to the side hall and listened to what was being said next door, wondering who would dare to marry Wu Xinrou, this spoiled Miss Wu.

The old lady snorted, "This marriage was arranged by my late husband, and I do not agree to it. Besides, Xinrou is still in mourning. Your Qian family has gone too far!"

The Qian family? Isn't that a prominent family in the west of the city? I heard that the second young master is a playboy who indulges in drinking, gambling, and whoring, and his talents are mediocre. Why is he suddenly asking for a betrothal?

Wu Shaoping's face seemed very ugly. He held back for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Outrageous! Does any of your second young master know that last time he caused trouble and angered the young lady of the city lord's mansion? He was beaten, his cultivation was crippled, and he became a cripple!"

At this moment, Wu Xinrou finally couldn't bear it any longer. She stood up and rushed to the red silk boxes containing the betrothal gifts, kicking and stomping them like a madwoman, making loud thuds. She shouted, "You're only bullying my family because my father is dead! Get out! I'd rather die than marry you, get out now!"

The Qian family's head steward also looked grim. He tilted his head to the side and shouted, "Since that's the case, don't blame us for being impolite!" A Qian family guest cultivator who had received the signal stepped forward.

"Shh!"

In the blink of an eye, the Foundation Establishment Elder drew his sword and instantly severed the arm of a Wu family servant. The severed hand fell to the ground, dripping with blood, and the servant clutched his hand, screaming in agony, "Ahhh!"

This was a show of force. The Wu family matriarch was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but she relied on resources to advance and was no match for the Qian family. The guest elder was about to draw his knife again when Wu Shao-ping quickly stopped him: "Wait!!"

He gritted his teeth and said, "Please, give us one more day to consider. We'll give you an answer tomorrow! Please go back..."

Wu Xinrou broke down: "Brother, how could you... I won't marry him, I won't!" She stomped her foot and screamed as she ran out.

Madam Wu hurriedly instructed the maid, "Go and check on Miss!"

The bright red, festive betrothal gift chest in the hall was quite jarring. A gust of cold wind blew by, causing the red silk ribbons to sway, contrasting with the bloodstains and severed arm of the servant on the ground, creating an ominous atmosphere.

Leng Huan and Fu Xun looked at each other in silence, without disturbing the Wu family, and returned to their guest rooms.

—I wonder how Wu Shaoping will respond to the Qian family tomorrow…

-

Before it got dark, Leng Huan went to the outhouse, still holding the talisman in his hand, but nothing happened.

She went to bed early, as usual, with Fu Xun keeping watch over her. She thought she would sleep soundly until dawn, but unexpectedly, a deafening scream shattered her peaceful slumber just as day broke.

The voice came from the inner courtyard!

Leng Huan and Fu Xun hurried over, stepping over tree branches and artificial hills in the dim light of dawn, and soon landed in Bilian Courtyard.

"Ah—Xinrou!!!"

On the ground, a white sheet covered a human figure, with a slender, pale hand peeking out from the edge of the sheet. It was bluish-white and bloodless; Miss Wu was now a corpse. Through the wide-open doorway, the rope hanging from the rafters swayed slightly in the wind.

The old lady screamed in anguish, and the next moment, she closed her eyes and fainted.

With a pale face, Wu Shaoping instructed his servants to help the old lady down. He knelt before the corpse, his expression sorrowful.

He murmured, "Xinrou, she didn't want to marry into the Qian family, knowing they came today for an answer. She... she hanged herself last night, and by the time the maid found her this morning, it was too late..."

Wu Shaoping's voice was filled with sorrow, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Miss Wu had only just reached the Qi Refining stage of cultivation, and Wu Shaoping and Madam Wu were no match for the powerful Qian family's forced marriage.

However, Leng Huan sensed something was wrong. The corpse's hands were curled up, clearly indicating that it was struggling in pain before death.

If it was hanging, and the person was determined to commit suicide, Leng Huan tried the angle of his hands gripping the object. When hanging, the hands should hang naturally with the fingers naturally extended.

She felt a strange sense of excitement, like in a horror story—the more frightened she was, the more she wanted to see… she wanted to lift the white sheet and examine the corpse more closely…

Suddenly, one of the maids serving Miss Wu cried out, "Yes, it was the young mistress who came. Miss saw... a ghost again last night... She was too scared to sleep. Later, the young mistress appeared again, and Xiaoju and I both fainted from fright... When we woke up, it was... it was... Miss was killed by the young mistress..."

Hearing this, it sounded mysterious and strange, but Leng Huan felt even more uneasy. Wu Shaoping ordered the maid who was talking nonsense to be taken away. Leng Huan walked to the body and struggled with her thoughts for a long time. Just as she was about to squat down to take a look and confirm, Fu Xun suddenly pulled her back.

He said to Wu Shaoping, "Please accept my condolences..."

Before he could finish speaking, the head butler rushed over in a panic: "It's terrible, young master! People from the Qian family have arrived!"

So everyone prepared to go to the front hall, but unexpectedly, the Qian family had already arrived at the entrance of Bilian Courtyard. The Qian family's head steward pushed aside the servants and shouted, "I heard that Miss Wu hanged herself. I've come to see if it's true!"

The group rushed to the corpse. Just as Steward Qian was about to lift the white sheet, Wu Shaoping drew his sword and blocked his way. With a cold face, he said sternly, "Don't push your luck! You forced Xinrou to her death, and now you want to desecrate her corpse! Do you really want a big fight today?!"

Butler Qian straightened up, squinted at the corpse, and asked, "Where is the old lady?"

Wu Shaoping gritted his teeth: "My mother is overwhelmed with grief and has fainted from the shock. What else do you want?!"

Having seemingly confirmed Miss Wu's death, the Qian family butler looked around and suddenly cupped his hands towards Wu Shaoping, saying, "Since that's the case, it seems Miss Wu and the Second Young Master were not meant to be... Please accept my condolences!" With that, he led his men away quickly.

The Wu family quickly set up a mourning hall, with a pitch-black coffin placed in the center. Leng Huan never expected that the person who was alive just yesterday would be lying in there. She looked at the old lady with red and swollen eyes and a dazed expression. She was dressed in black, with plain-colored accessories on her head, burning paper money and not knowing what she was thinking.

The fact that an elderly person had to outlive their child made Leng Huan sense the prelude to the Wu family's downfall.

Rumble... Thunder.

Crack... Lightning flash.

—It's raining.

. . .