---

Chapter 17: Doubts – Pei Yuzhu, is she a person or a ghost?!

By mid-morning, the grand Pei Manor—home to dozens—was already bustling. The maids and older women in every courtyard were hard at work, having been up and about for hours.

Only the southwestern courtyard remained unusually quiet. The main doors were open, a sign that its mistress was already awake, but no other movement could be seen.

Sunlight streamed into the rooms, lighting everything up brightly.

Yu Mingyao leaned on her hand, staring lazily out the window at Yanyue, who was watering the flowers in the courtyard with a bronze kettle.

We’re leaving tomorrow, so what’s the point of putting in all that effort now?

She couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

As Yanyue straightened up a few steps away, she caught Yu Mingyao’s expression and shook her head. Rolling up her sleeves, she strode back into the room.

“Miss, we’re leaving soon. I could tolerate your plain style on ordinary days, but today, at least dress up properly! Otherwise, people will really think the Yu family is just some poor relative coming to scrounge off the Peis, and that the legitimate daughter can’t even afford a single gold hairpin.”

“And your clothes! We packed so much fine silk and brocade, yet you refuse to pick even one piece. It’s infuriating!”

“You don’t know how many idle remarks I’ve had to endure these past few days, both in front of me and behind my back.”

Yanyue’s face wrinkled like a steamed bun, and she slammed the kettle on the table with a thud.

Yu Mingyao was still confused when she saw Yanyue suddenly pick up a three-tiered dressing box and place it in front of her.

“Pick one, Miss. Today I will make you the most dazzling beauty here! People need to know the Yu family is a household of wealth and status too.”

With that, she opened the top layer, displaying glittering gold and jade, ornate hairpins, bracelets, and other precious accessories for her to choose from.

“Yanyue, are you mad or something?”

Perhaps after so many spats with Pei Shang, Yu Mingyao’s tone had become more biting. In the past, she might have phrased it more delicately.

Yanyue glared at her and was about to retort when the beaded curtain behind them clinked softly.

The two turned to see Madam Shi Luo lifting the curtain and entering the room.

“Yanyue is right,” Shi Luo stated her stance at once, looking at Yu Mingyao with earnest eyes.

“Dear child, you really should tidy yourself up. My granddaughter—so beautiful and elegant—not one bit inferior to any noble lady in the capital. You used to love dressing up in Suzhou. Why is it that now, in this splendid capital, you’ve lost all interest in adornment?”

“Tell Grandma, who made you so disheartened? Or is it something else?”

The wisdom of the elders ran deep—Yu Mingyao immediately realized: the reason her grandmother hadn’t asked about her late return three days ago was because she was waiting for the right moment—this moment.

“Fine, I’ll dress up properly today, alright? You all just love ganging up on me.”

Yu Mingyao sat in front of the window like a puppet as Yanyue fussed over her appearance, while Shi Luo offered detailed guidance.

“This hairpin needs to be ruby inlaid gold, jade is too plain. As for the dress, it should be the latest double-sided embroidery from Suzhou, with fabric from Sichuan—only that looks truly noble.”

Yu Mingyao, who had been the heir’s wife in a ducal household for seven years in her past life, felt her head throb from their bickering.

Noticing her boredom, Shi Luo tried to keep her entertained.

“Mingyao, since you haven’t been visiting Rongjing Hall lately, you must not have heard the latest gossip.”

“What gossip?”

“Yesterday I was visiting Madam Pei and happened to see her grandson, Pei Shang, pleading with her. That rascal—lazy and unwilling to study—came up with some poor excuse to skip his lessons. Now he’s being punished by his father to reflect in solitude.”

“That brat keeps sneaking off to Rongjing Hall instead of kneeling properly. My old friend caught him and scolded him thoroughly!”

Yu Mingyao’s hand clenched slightly on her lap.

“He didn’t say anything else?”

“No,” Shi Luo responded quickly. “My friend thought he came to complain, but instead, he just took the scolding day after day without saying a word in his own defense. Who knows what he’s being so stubborn about.”

“Oh, and by the way,” she added after a pause, “the eldest daughter of the Pei family, Pei Yuzhu, just returned recently.”

“Yuzhu… Pei Yuzhu?”

“Yes, that’s her name.”

Shi Luo sighed before continuing. “Poor child. Maybe her fortune lies in the future. She’s only three years older than you, but already widowed before a year of marriage. My friend felt sorry for her and brought her back under the pretense of preparing for her upcoming birthday.”

Yu Mingyao fell into deep thought.

Sister Yuzhu—she remembered her. In her past life, had she not returned early this time, their relationship—hers with Bizhu and Yuzhu—had deepened significantly during the old madam’s birthday celebration.

Pei Yuzhu, as the eldest granddaughter, had a graceful appearance and elegant manners—truly the model of a capital noblewoman. Despite her misfortune, she was always kind and warm.

Back then, Yu Mingyao had just arrived in the capital. Thanks to Pei Yuzhu’s initiative, they became close quickly.

Yuzhu’s gentle and steady nature, being older than both her and Bizhu, had made her easy to trust. When disaster struck the Pei family and only Yuzhu and Pei Shang survived, Yu Mingyao couldn’t bring herself to doubt her sincerity.

She had almost considered Pei Yuzhu family—a confidante. When she needed to sneak out to see a doctor under the pretense of choosing jewelry, it was Yuzhu who helped cover for her.

After the poisoned tea incident, Yu Mingyao had suspected many, but Pei Yuzhu didn’t seem to have a motive. The Pei family had a strict household—no unmarried girl would risk ruining her reputation with such a scandal.

Even so, with so many members of the Pei family dead later, it seemed pointless to dig further.

Yet the doubt had always lingered deep in her heart.

If given another chance, she wanted to see for herself—was this woman truly what she seemed?

Was she human—or a ghost?

At this thought, Yu Mingyao felt a spark ignite in her bones.

“Yanyue, add another flower ornament. Today, I want to be as beautiful as I possibly can!”

She raised her voice.

“Got it!” Yanyue responded with a grin.

For a moment, the air was filled with laughter and ease.

---

At Rongjing Hall

Yu Mingyao, well-acquainted with the path, followed Shi Luo closely, with Yanyue trailing beside them. As soon as they entered the main hall, Nanny Gui greeted them with a broad smile.

“The old madam has been waiting every day to show Miss Yuzhu what a fairy-like girl you are. Finally, Miss Mingyao has arrived! If only you could stay longer—how joyful it would be to have all the siblings together.”

Guiding them in, Yu Mingyao smiled softly with her eyes lowered.

Through the curtains, laughter and soft chatter of women could be heard. Her heart stirred—it was like meeting an old friend again.

“Mingyao, come here,” called the old madam.

As she entered, Yu Mingyao saw a slender woman standing beside the old lady. The woman turned upon hearing the voice.

She wore mourning white, had an oval face, and a pale blue silk flower pinned in her hair. But something about her… Yu Mingyao felt she was a far cry from the warm, gentle sister Yuzhu of her past life.

“You’re Mingyao? Just as Grandmother said—like a fairy. I’m Yuzhu. Call me Sister Yuzhu.”

Yu Mingyao nodded and did as asked.

Shi Luo also stepped forward, chatting with the old madam as the room buzzed with cheerful conversation.

Soon, talk turned to their plans to return home. It had been discussed before, but with the decision made so quickly, many details had yet to be finalized.

Now, after a few days to settle in, there was more to say.

Amid the discussion, Pei Yuzhu spoke in her soft voice.

“Mingyao, are you really leaving? Grandmother’s birthday is in just a few days—why not stay a little longer?”

She still wore a gentle smile, but her eyes—once filled with warmth—now held… suspicion?

Yu Mingyao remained composed. “Just bad timing—we really have to go. Why? Surprised, Sister Yuzhu?”

Yuzhu’s smile froze momentarily before she recovered, brushing it off casually. But Yu Mingyao, ever watchful, didn’t miss that fleeting change in expression.

Old Madam Pei, however, noticed nothing—she just kept urging them to stay.

Surrounded by voices, Yu Mingyao smiled on the surface, but the veins on her temple throbbed.

Something’s wrong.
Some instinct screamed at her: Something is very wrong.

As they left Rongjing Hall, Yu Mingyao was still turning it over in her mind.

Unconsciously, she slowed her steps, falling far behind Shi Luo and Yanyue.

“Look at her…” Shi Luo smiled at Yanyue and shook her head. “Mingyao, if you don’t hurry, your grandmother’s going to leave you behind!”

That snapped her out of it. They had already passed through the flowering arch and winding path to the cold pond—the very place where her tragedy began in her past life.

“You two go ahead—I’ll take a walk,” she called.

She still had things to sort out.

As the footsteps faded, Yu Mingyao stood alone by the pondside pavilion. Every blade of grass, every leaf felt hauntingly familiar.

This was the only water feature in the Pei estate. The pond was ice-cold year-round. Children were always warned to stay away.

The day she fell in had been when Pei Bizhu sent her to collect dew from a plum tree in the center of the pond to brew tea.

Bizhu had been trying to imitate Pei Lianzhu’s elegance.

But what about Pei Lianzhu? Was that truly a moment of artistic whim, or something else?

Later investigation said the stone she stepped on had simply loosened and was mossy.

First the fall, then the drugged tea. Within two years, disaster struck the Pei family, and they were accused of treasonous ambition.

Too many coincidences. Yu Mingyao no longer believed in coincidence.

As she stood lost in thought, suddenly—
A pair of hands reached from behind and patted her on the shoulder.

---