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"Has Brother Chang sent someone to investigate the matters of the Xie family again? The rumors about the Xie family's old residence being haunted have been around for a long time, even dating back to when the house was built. If it's not due to the Xie family's issues, then it must be related to the original owner of this land. However, after a hundred years, I wonder how easy it will be to find out."
"That's not difficult! Although dynasties have changed and things have evolved, there are county records from every era. While they may not be very detailed, strange and unusual events are usually recorded."
"In that case, Brother Chang, have you seen the relevant county records?"
Chang Tai nodded. "I have seen them, but I don't know if the events recorded above are related to the Xie family's old residence."
"Quite bizarre?" Xing Ruyi asked curiously.
"It’s not particularly bizarre; it’s just that this case caused quite a stir at the time," Chang Tai glanced around.
The perpetrator of the murder of her husband has already been escorted back to jail by the constables, and Niu Fugui's body has been taken back to the charity house, waiting for Xie Xuan to take office tomorrow for sentencing. Once sentenced, the Government Office will handle the burial. As for where they will be buried, it is mostly in a remote graveyard outside the city. The one-eyed elder from the charity house will lead people to find a spot that looks decent enough, dig a hole, bury them, and put up a sign with their name. How long that sign lasts is no longer a concern for the authorities.
When Chang Tai first became a Constable, he felt that such arrangements were somewhat inappropriate. However, after seeing it many times over the years, he gradually understood. For the Government Office, finding a place to bury someone is already considered a good arrangement. For those deceased, being buried properly without leaving their bodies exposed in the wilderness is also a form of kindness. Seeing that everything had been arranged properly, he felt it was somewhat inappropriate to talk with Xing Ruyi in the main hall and thus took her to the back hall.
The Yamen serves both as an office and residence; the front is where the magistrate holds court, while the back is where he and his family live. In the backyard, there is also a side courtyard for constables to rest temporarily. At this moment, Chang Tai brought Xing Ruyi into this courtyard.
It was Xing Ruyi's first time in the Yamen's backyard. Habitually looking around, she found it to be an ordinary courtyard—square-shaped with furnishings suitable for men, simple to an extreme. There was some odor inside the house, so she found a place in the courtyard to sit down and rested her chin on her hand while waiting for Chang Tai regarding the case.
Chang Tai turned around and instinctively shook his head.
Xing Ruyi patted the spot next to her and said, "Brother Chang, sit down; I've checked it out; it's not that dirty."
"This is Yamen; there are people responsible for cleaning," Chang Tai replied as he lifted his garment's hem and sat down.
Xing Ruyi turned her face and looked into Chang Tai's eyes. "What was so sensational about that case? Was it more unbelievable than Niu Family's murder of her husband?"
Xing Ruyi referred to Niu Family's dreams and Niu Fugui's obsession with portraits. Chang Tai shook his head and smiled slightly. "No, it was just an ordinary case without any demons or monsters. The reason it caused a stir at that time was due to many underlying circumstances that common people could not fathom."
"When Brother Chang mentioned this case, you didn't mention the Xie family. I happened to hear from Si Niang before that the former residence of Xie family was also a wealthy household's courtyard. So your case must have occurred before Xie family purchased this kind of residence, right?"
"That's correct! But can you speak a bit slower when you talk? The way you speak can be quite convoluted." Chang Tai pointed at his head. "You know I'm a martial man; my mind isn't as quick as those scholars', so convoluted words can confuse me."
"Is that so?" Xing Ruyi blinked her eyes. "I didn't even notice; no wonder sometimes when I talk with Fox Demon, he always seems impatient. But fortunately, he still manages to understand my meaning."
"Does Young Master Yin treat you well?" Chang Tai asked and then explained himself: "I asked because from your appearance, I can tell he dotes on you."
"Brother Chang is also very good to Fox Demon. I'm not just comforting you; I mean it, really, he is very good." Xing Ruyi sat up straight and said seriously, "If—I'm saying if—Fox Demon hadn't met the fox earlier, she would definitely have fallen for Brother Chang. But Fox Demon knows that there are no 'ifs' in this world, so all she can do is care for Brother Chang like a sister would. Fox Demon understands that saying this might seem a bit pretentious, but it's all heartfelt."
"What Fox Demon thinks, Brother Chang understands." Chang Tai took a deep breath and looked at the houses not far away. "That one is where I lived when I first became a Constable. At that time, I thought I must work hard to become the best Constable in Luoyang City and earn more silver to buy a courtyard and live an ordinary life with someone I love.
If possible, I would bring her to see the Yamen, to see the place where I lived when I first arrived in the capital. I hope to share all my experiences with her. Unfortunately, the person I met was not the one destined for me, so I can only bring her here to see but cannot stay with her."
Xing Ruyi opened her mouth, wanting to explain something further, but Chang Tai's next words made her swallow those words back.
Chang Tai said, "If this life is destined to be without fate, then perhaps my past lives were not enough. I won't deliberately cling on, but I also can't swear that I can let go completely. Brother Chang understands your feelings. Don't worry; in this life, I'll just be your Brother Chang. But if there is a next life, I hope to meet you even before Young Master Yin does. If that's not possible, please wait for me; at least wait until you've seen me before making a decision."
Xing Ruyi felt a lump in her throat and her eyes turned red, but in the end, she could only utter one sentence: "Actually, Fox Demon is not as good as you think, Brother Chang, and doesn't deserve your waiting."
"Whether it's worth it or not is my business and my decision." Chang Tai reached out his hand to help Xing Ruyi wipe away her tears. However, when his hand reached out, he hesitated and slowly withdrew it instead, taking out a handkerchief for her. "Don't cry! If Young Master Yin sees this, he'll think I'm bullying you."
Xing Ruyi managed a smile through her tears as she wiped her face vigorously with the handkerchief.
Chang Tai sighed in relief and changed the subject to the County Chronicle: "The ancestral home of the Xie Family was originally the Lu Mansion. As for the owner's name, it is scarcely recorded in the County Chronicle; let's just refer to him as Mr. Lu.
Mr. Lu had an only son whose name was quite special—Lu Jia. It seems he was greatly hoped for by his family at birth. However, according to the County Chronicle, Lu Jia lived an unremarkable life; aside from being Mr. Lu's son, there was nothing else noteworthy about him. Nevertheless, as the son of a wealthy family, even if he had average talent, he wouldn't have to worry about food and drink.
When Lu Jia was sixteen years old, he met a fisherman's daughter and fell in love at first sight. Although Mr. Lu disapproved of it, he eventually agreed due to his son's infatuation. Mr. Lu was from a prominent family well-known within a hundred miles; thus when the matchmaker sent by the Lu Family approached the fisherman's parents, they readily agreed without hesitation. The two families arranged for their marriage on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month that year. Unexpectedly, just days before the wedding, a Taoist priest from Zhongnan Mountain suddenly appeared at the Lu Family's doorstep."
"The Taoist from Zhongnan Mountain wouldn't also call himself Moxuyou, would he?" Xing Ruyi thought of that elusive Moxuyou who seemed involved in many recent events.
Chang Tai glanced at Xing Ruyi suspiciously; clearly he had recalled what happened previously with Arsenal. Although he wasn't present that night, he had heard Xing Ruyi mention that a Zhongnan Mountain Daoist who called himself Moxuyou performed a ritual there to settle matters regarding Arsenal. He intended to investigate but received an imperial edict forbidding public officials from probing into it while also requiring them to help cover it up. Of course, this edict was also secretive and meant to be kept hidden from public view. Since Holy Empress took power, such edicts had become commonplace; Chang Tai and others had grown accustomed to them.
However, Moxuyou might not be unique; some Taoists might use this name to avoid involvement in matters. Furthermore, since the County Chronicle only recorded specific events without delving into individuals' names involved in those events, this Moxuyou could simply be a name written down by whoever documented it for convenience's sake. Without detailed descriptions of appearance included in the records, it was difficult to ascertain this Taoist's identity.
Chang Tai pondered for a moment and replied: "It shouldn't be; this event occurred nearly a hundred years ago. If that Taoist were still alive now, wouldn't he be an old immortal?"
Xing Ruyi mused internally: "An old immortal isn't certain; he might still be an old monster. Chang Tai doesn't know Moxuyou's true identity; however, Fox Demon does know him well. His real surname is Yuan and his name is Gang—a legendary figure in later generations' eyes. Of course, even now he remains quite legendary; based on his age calculation alone, he should be over a hundred years old—almost two hundred—but he still looks like he's in his forties and even seems to be getting younger as time goes on. However, if Fox Demon knows he's a monster rather than just an immortal being proves that Yuan Gang's background is even more mysterious. Still, it's better not to scare Chang Tai with such truths."
Thinking this way while keeping her mouth tightly shut felt as if that question hadn't come from her at all.
Chang Tai didn't suspect anything further and continued with his story: "This wandering Taoist arrived at the Lu Family without asking for lodging or food and certainly not for wealth; he merely wandered around the Lu Family's courtyard back and forth before giving his conclusion."
"What did Moxuyou say?" Xing Ruyi asked curiously as her eyes widened significantly.
"The Taoist said, 'The Lu Family has recently experienced both fortune and misfortune in equal measure!'"
"What does that mean?"
"Good question! At that time, Mr. Lu asked Moxuyou the same thing." Chang Tai paused for a moment, looking at Xing Ruyi with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Xing Ruyi was taken aback and playfully pushed Chang Tai, pouting, "Brother Chang, why can't you be serious? There's no need to exaggerate."
Chang Tai leaned slightly to one side but then straightened up again, not responding to Xing Ruyi. Instead, he continued, "After Moxuyou calculated the birth dates of the Lu family and that fisherwoman, he told Mr. Lu that his future daughter-in-law is a reincarnation of the White Tiger Star. If she is brought into the family, there will surely be bloodshed! That's why the Lu Family has recently been experiencing both fortune and misfortune."
The White Tiger Star is considered a malevolent deity in folklore, believed to bring disaster to those around it. In popular belief, women with alopecia are often referred to as "White Tigers," thought to bring bad luck if married. However, during the Golden Tang Dynasty, people were still inclined to believe what the Taoists said.
Mr. Lu was no exception; he was simply infatuated with that girl. The betrothal gifts had already been sent, and the auspicious date agreed upon by both families was approaching. It seemed too late to change anything now.
Mr. Lu secretly instructed his servants to give Moxuyou some silver coins, hoping to seek a way to resolve the situation. Moxuyou not only refused any payment but also advised Mr. Lu to quickly cancel the engagement to avoid bringing continuous disasters upon the Lu Family because of one daughter-in-law.
"What happened next? Did the Lu Family heed Moxuyou's advice?" As soon as Xing Ruyi finished asking, she slapped her forehead: "Oh dear, how foolish of me! If the Lu Family had listened and canceled the engagement, it wouldn't have been recorded in the County Chronicle, and there wouldn't be a future Xie Family Ancestral Home."
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