Chapter 7: Are the Two Little Ghosts Brothers?

Qingli casually took out a talisman and cast it on the woman, ensuring that whatever she asked, the woman would answer truthfully.

After asking for the address of the little ghosts’ home, Qingli picked up the woman and, accompanied by the two little ghosts, headed south toward the city.

She didn’t even notice that the address the woman provided was the same.

By now, it was nighttime, and the Chu family in the southern part of the city was formerly the residence of the county magistrate of Shiya County. However, the magistrate had since been promoted to the nearby Jinyang City, where he now served as the governor.

Qingli arrived at the entrance of the Chu residence and began to knock on the door.

After several knocks, a voice quickly came from inside. A servant stood at the door and asked, “Who is it?”

Qingli thought for a moment and replied, “I’m returning your young master. Quickly open the door and let your master and mistress come out.”

The servant was puzzled. “Our young master is in Jinyang City. How could he possibly return at this hour?”

As the servant opened the door, he was met with the sight of a young girl and a bound woman.

Startled, the servant almost screamed, thinking they were intruders, and shouted, “Help!”

Suddenly, four or five guards rushed out, gripping their weapons and ready to defend against any threat.

The servant questioned, “Who are you? Do you know whose residence this is? How dare you intrude at night?”

Qingli frowned, feeling displeased. “I didn’t intrude. I knocked politely. You opened the door, so how can this be called an intrusion?”

The servant paused to consider her words. It was true; it was late at night, and she was dragging someone who was tied up. She didn’t look like a good person at all.

Regaining his composure, the servant asked, “Who are you? Why are you knocking at this hour?”

Qingli replied, “I’m returning your young master and need to discuss something with your master and mistress. Hurry up and announce my arrival.”

The servant was speechless and frowned. “You say you’re returning our young master, but where is he? It’s just you and the bound woman here. Miss, are you a robber? This is the residence of the governor of Jinyang City; you cannot act recklessly.”

Qingli didn’t want to waste time with him and said directly, “Just go announce my arrival! If I’m lying, given your Chu family’s status, you can punish me however you like. Arguing with me at the door won’t do any good.”

One of the guards walked over and said, “Our master and mistress aren’t people that just anyone can see. Leave now, or we will take action.”

Seeing they wouldn’t go announce her arrival, Qingli said, “Fine, go ahead and try to move me! I’ll just push my way in.”

At her words, the servant and guards became furious. The guards advanced, ready to force Qingli out.

Seeing this, Qingli decided to fight back.

These few guards were no match for her. She didn’t harm anyone but simply pushed through, dragging the bound woman with her into the main hall of the Chu residence.

Soon, the entire Chu household was in chaos, and the already-sleeping Madam Chu got up, dressed herself, and hurried to the hall.

Qingli had not harmed anyone; she simply insisted on seeing Madam Chu, and the guards could not subdue her, so they remained stationed outside.

Madam Chu arrived in the hall, surprised to find a young girl causing a ruckus.

“Why are you intruding into my Chu residence at night?”

Madam Chu, over forty years old, was dignified and beautiful. Her skin was delicate, showing the traces of time, yet still hinting at her youthful appearance.

Qingli kicked the bound woman at her feet and asked, “Madam Chu, do you recognize her?”

The woman, feeling guilty, lowered her head. She could not control her words at this point; whatever others asked, she would answer. It was terrifying.

She just hoped that Madam Chu wouldn’t ask, or everything would be ruined.

Startled by Qingli’s rudeness, Madam Chu’s maid quickly supported her and admonished Qingli, “Who are you? How rude! You’ve frightened my mistress.”

Madam Chu thought the woman on the ground looked somewhat familiar, but the woman kept her head down, preventing her from seeing her face.

Qingli suggested, “Madam Chu, why not have someone lift her face to see if you recognize her?”

Madam Chu signaled to a maid behind her, who immediately understood and stepped forward to lift the bound woman’s head.

The woman winced in pain as her chin was forced upward.

Upon seeing her face, Madam Chu exclaimed in surprise, “Zhao, the midwife? What is happening here?”

The woman, who had initially wanted to remain silent, found herself unable to do so. Her face twisted in anger as she shouted, “This woman brought me here! Madam Chu, you must drive her away!”

Madam Chu turned her gaze toward Qingli, who calmly spoke, “Madam Chu, this woman was a midwife sixteen years ago, right? She delivered your child, didn’t she?”

Madam Chu nodded. “Yes, how do you know?”

Qingli responded, “The inn where I’m staying has a well in the courtyard that contains two little ghosts. Out of curiosity, I wanted to help them reincarnate, but I discovered they couldn’t remember who they were and were bound by a curse. After some investigation, I learned that one of the little ghosts is a child of the Chu family, swapped by this woman and cruelly discarded into the well. I used a truth spell on her, so she cannot lie now. You can ask her about what she did when she delivered your child sixteen years ago.”

Madam Chu felt as if struck by lightning, her pupils dilating in disbelief.

The maid shouted angrily, “What nonsense are you spouting? Our young master is perfectly fine studying in Jinyang City. Who do you think you are, daring to deceive the Chu family?”

Seeing Madam Chu’s stunned expression, Qingli couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. “You’ll know the truth, Madam Chu, if you verify it. I have no reason to come to the Chu residence at this hour to tell lies.”

Madam Chu crouched down and looked at the woman, her voice trembling as she asked, “Zhao, is what she said true?”

Zhao, the midwife, struggled to deny it, but no matter how strong her will, she couldn’t control her words.

With a twisted face, she gritted her teeth and admitted, “Yes.”

Madam Chu felt as if her heart had shattered, the weight of her dread crashing down on her.

She continued to stare at Zhao, her eyes filled with disbelief. “Why? Why did you swap my child?”

Zhao, despite her attempts to justify her actions, could only speak the truth. “It’s because you have money and power. The son of the Chu family is different from a child from an ordinary family. If my child became the Chu family’s young master, he would enjoy endless wealth and glory for his lifetime, and Lord Chu would plan a bright future for him. I wouldn’t have to do anything or worry about anything, and my son would be someone important. How could I pass up such a good opportunity?”

Her words left everyone in the hall stunned, mouths agape.

Madam Chu felt a sharp pain in her heart, nearly fainting from the shock.

The maid rushed to support her, worriedly saying, “Madam!”

Madam Chu flung the maid’s hand away, furiously grasping Zhao’s collar. “Sixteen years ago, you swapped my eldest son? What about thirteen years ago? You delivered both my sons; did you swap the second one as well?”

As the thought of her eldest son being false crossed her mind, she couldn’t help but dread the implications for her youngest son as well, having been delivered by the same woman.

She fixed her gaze on Zhao, desperately hoping for a denial.

But Zhao nodded. Madam Chu’s expression twisted in anguish as she struggled to deny the truth. “Yes, I swapped him too.”

Madam Chu completely collapsed, her eyes filled with a crazed hatred. “Why? Why did you swap my children? Why! Ah!”

In a frenzy, Madam Chu began to strike at Zhao, but in the next moment, she softened, her furious voice cutting off as she fainted.

The two little ghosts looked at each other, bewildered.

Qingli was equally astonished. This cruel woman had actually swapped both children!

What kind of grudge could lead to such an act?

Moreover, it turned out that these two little ghosts were actually brothers, probably unaware of it themselves.