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You Lai Courtyard, belonging to the Su Family, is specifically designed to host esteemed guests and provide them with accommodations, named after the phrase "Friends come from afar!"
Despite having such a courtyard, very few have actually stayed here. The reason is simple: the Su Family is engaged in business, falling into a category that is neither at the top nor at the bottom. Those merchants who hold a prominent status during the Golden Tang Dynasty disdain any association with the Su Family, while ordinary merchants cannot afford to stay in this courtyard. It is only during festivals that it is used to receive some Officials and relatives of the Su Family.
The courtyard has six guest rooms, three on each side, with men on the left and women on the right. The large building in the center is used for dining. Li Siniang and Bell occupy the room on the right closest to the main building. In winter, the morning sun lasts longer here, making it feel warmer compared to other rooms.
Outside, there is a brazier filled with freshly placed charcoal, and even the brazier looks new. It seems that Su Jingliang has taken great care in these details. However, as soon as Bell entered this guest room, she felt something strange, as if a pair of eyes were watching her from somewhere. Initially, Bell thought it was just her imagination since this large courtyard was unfamiliar to her; she had never even had the chance to step inside before. Especially after nightfall, that feeling not only persisted but grew stronger. Lying in bed, unsettling thoughts would uncontrollably surge in her mind, as if someone were standing right in front of her, staring intently.
Hearing Bell tossing and turning, Li Siniang looked up from under the candlelight and gently asked, "What's wrong? Can't you sleep?"
Bell nodded, got out of bed, and walked over to Li Siniang, tugging at her sleeve: "Sister-in-law, I have this strange feeling that there might be someone else hiding in this room."
"Don't be silly! This is just an ordinary room; we've seen it in daylight too. How could anyone hide here?" Li Siniang replied, biting off a thread from an embroidered pouch. This pouch was made for Xing Ruyi, with mandarin ducks embroidered on one side and a pair of Fox Demons on the other.
"Really, Sister-in-law, Bell isn't lying. It feels like someone is watching us. It's making me feel cold all over; even my hair is standing on end."
"Isn't it because you've been pestering Aunt Ruyi for ghost stories again? You're such a child—so timid yet you love those tales." Li Siniang smiled wryly: "Go to sleep now; stop overthinking. Once I finish tidying up these things, I'll go to bed too."
Bell responded with an "oh," turning back to her bed. Her brother passed away early, so she had always been by Sister-in-law's side. The two of them relied on each other for support, making life somewhat difficult; thus, Bell matured quickly and became a helper for her sister-in-law rather than being dependent like other children.
As she lay back down, Bell couldn't shake off her sister-in-law's words from her mind. When Aunt Ruyi and Fox Uncle visited them before, she indeed had insisted on hearing a few stories from Aunt Ruyi. Specifically, one about how Aunt Ruyi solved a case with Uncle Chang, along with a ghost story. Could it be that those captivating tales were why she felt scared and couldn't sleep?
Sitting on her bed with her legs hugged close to her chest, she watched as Li Siniang continued organizing their belongings. Turning back with a smile, Li Siniang reassured her: "It's okay; when I was your age and arrived at a strange place, I felt scared too. Just give yourself some time to adapt.
Also, try not to pester Aunt Ruyi for those case stories or ghost tales anymore. I know you admire her and think she's incredibly capable; you want to be like her one day. But right now, it's too early for you to hear such things—it can lead to unnecessary fear.
Think about it: during the day you were so interested in those stories, but now at night you're overthinking everything and refusing to sleep."
"Bell understands," she replied softly. "But back when I was at the Rouge Shop, I also asked my aunt for stories—why wasn't I scared then? Why didn't I feel this strange sensation?"
"Because this is our own home!" Li Siniang laughed. "In Aunt Ruyi's words, this is a form of psychological suggestion. The reason you weren't afraid at the Rouge Shop is that it was our home; every scene and object was familiar to you. You also knew that there were neighbors on both sides who watched you grow up, so you felt at ease. Even if something unexpected happened, you knew which neighbors would help you.
Now it's different. We've arrived in an unfamiliar place, entered a strange courtyard, and there are only the two of us living here. Everything is unfamiliar to you. It's like those vacant guest rooms, right? During the day, you found it amusing and went to look at each one, but at night, you feel scared, don't you?"
"Not at all!" Bell replied sullenly to Si Niang. "Bell is not a child; how could I be afraid of those empty guest rooms? Besides, I've heard from Aunt Ruyi that wealthy families have servants and maids on duty. And this is a guest room for distinguished guests; even though it's just us two here, there are still maids living in the courtyard just a wall away. At the Rouge Shop, Bell dared to walk alone at night; how could I be afraid here?"
"Then why can't you sleep and are lost in thought?"
"I don't know! It's just a feeling, a feeling that makes Bell feel scared." Bell said, her gaze involuntarily shifting to the walls. "I always feel like someone is watching us!"
"Alright, stop overthinking it. If you still feel this strange sensation when you wake up tomorrow, we'll have Aunt Ruyi and Fox Uncle come take a look."
"Okay!" Bell nodded, pulled back the covers, and lay down. Finding the candlelight a bit glaring, she turned over to face the wall.
She wasn't sure if it was because of the light, but she vaguely saw a person's outline on the wall. However, the figure looked strange, as if it had been carelessly crumpled together.
Bell sighed and muttered softly, "It seems I really should ask Aunt Ruyi for help; I can even see a person on the wall."
"What did you say?" Li Siniang was blowing out the candle when she heard Bell's mumble and turned to ask.
"Nothing much; I just thought I saw a shadow of a person on the wall."
"But isn't there a shadow of a person?" Li Siniang smiled as she extinguished the candle. "It's nighttime; with the candlelight inside reflecting your sister-in-law's shadow on the wall, there's nothing strange about it. Now sleep; rest well so that tomorrow your sister-in-law can take you to see other places. According to Aunt Ruyi, there's another courtyard here filled with flowers and plants. Although it's winter now, the plum blossoms should be blooming."
"Can we go? The maid who came to deliver coal earlier said we shouldn't wander around freely."
"If it's just the two of us, then of course we can't go. The Su Family is quite large and has many rules. We are guests here and don't understand many customs yet; if we accidentally offend someone, it wouldn't be good for Aunt Ruyi either. Plus, there are many courtyards and paths here; what if we get lost? That would be quite embarrassing."
Li Siniang took off her outer garment and shoes, lying down beside Bell while gently patting her a couple of times.
"Aunt Ruyi knows your temperament and understands that you must want to see other courtyards. So she agreed to let Young Master Su find someone from the manor to take us there. As long as we follow the rules and don't recklessly wander around, it should be fine."
"Really?" Bell sat up, leaning in to look at Li Siniang.
"Of course it's true!" Li Siniang pulled Bell back down. "When has Sister-in-law ever lied to you? When has Aunt Ruyi ever deceived you?"
"That's true!" Bell replied, satisfied as she lay back down and gradually closed her eyes, falling asleep.
Listening to Bell's even breathing, Li Siniang quietly got out of bed and relit the candle. The night was still young, and she planned to personally sew a pair of embroidered shoes for Xing Ruyi. Although Young Master Yin's family would surely prepare something, and Xing Ruyi had already arranged for the Embroidered Workshop to make a complete set in advance, Li Siniang felt that some things should still be made by hand. If these were lacking and Young Master Yin's family found out, they might look down on the Fox Demon.
After placing the sewing kit back on the table, Li Siniang chose some silk thread and began to think about the design in her mind. Perhaps influenced by Bell's earlier words, Li Siniang glanced at the wall.
There was indeed a shape resembling a person on it, but the figure looked somewhat strange; its arms were fixed in an odd position, the body slightly bent, and although the head was somewhat blurred, the shape of the mouth could be discerned. The mouth was open as if it were crying for help!
"Just now it was Bell talking, but now my imagination is even richer than hers. It seems that it's destined for us sisters-in-law to think too much after hearing so many stories!"
Li Siniang shook her head, self-deprecatingly muttering to herself before starting to thread the needle. However, just as she pushed the thread through the needle's eye, a gust of wind blew out the candle. The pale moonlight streamed through the window, casting a dark shadow on the ground.
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