When Nanny Wang returned, she closed the door and said to her mistress, “Madam, this is truly great news!”

Lin Wanru sneered. “I’ve endured enough grievances these past days. Now that I have this little one in my belly, I can finally hold my head high!”

Nanny Wang smirked, leaned in close to her mistress’s ear, and whispered, “The eldest miss always relied on being the full sister of the eldest young master and constantly opposed you. Now that you will have a son of your own, the eldest young master won’t be so precious in the old madam’s eyes anymore. In the future, Madam can think of ways to get rid of him. Won’t the entire Ouyang family be yours then?”

Lin Wanru pondered for a moment and said, “Don’t underestimate that girl. She may be young, but she’s full of cunning tricks. Every time the old madam or Concubine Li went against me, it was because she stirred things up behind the scenes, pretending to be the peacemaker. Now, not only does the old madam favor her, but even the master has told me multiple times how filial Ouyang Nuan is. If only Ke’er were half as clever as she is, I’d feel much more at ease.”

Nanny Wang chuckled. “That girl is blind to her own limits. Sooner or later, she’ll suffer for going against you. We just need to find an excuse to marry her off far away. By the way, if Concubine Li finds out you’re pregnant, her expression will be something to see!”

Thinking about it, Lin Wanru became even happier. “That little wretch must be panicking now! As long as this child is a son, from now on, I can finally stand tall before the old madam!”

Nanny Wang tucked her in and said with a smile, “Madam, don’t worry. You will surely give birth to a son!”

Lin Wanru nodded. “If that really happens, even the old madam won’t be able to control me anymore.” Thinking of Li Yue’e, she subconsciously caressed her belly and smiled.

────ρя


When Li Yue’e heard that Lin Wanru’s illness was actually a pregnancy, she was stunned. She had spent so much effort making Ouyang Zhi distance himself from Lin Wanru and favor her exclusively, yet now, with just a pregnancy, Lin Wanru had effortlessly regained the upper hand. How could she not be furious?

When the news arrived, Ouyang Nuan was playing chess with Ouyang Jue.

“She’s pregnant?” The chess piece in Ouyang Jue’s hand slipped from his fingers and landed on the board with a sharp clack. “How is that possible?”

Nanny Fang lowered her head and said, “Young Master, the physician has already confirmed it. It seems to be true.”

“Ridiculous!” Ouyang Jue roared in fury. “The heavens must be blind! I’m going to tell Grandmother!”

“Stop right there.” Ouyang Nuan said calmly.

“Sister……” Ouyang Jue was taken aback. Hongyu quickly stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve, persuading him, “Young Master, you’re acting recklessly. This news came from the old madam herself. She already knows.”

Since Lin Wanru had been unable to bear a son, she had never won the old madam’s favor. But if this time she gave birth to a son, wouldn’t she be able to walk sideways^[1]to behave in an overbearing or lawless manner in Ouyang Manor from then on?

Ouyang Jue could no longer hold back his emotions. His delicate face scrunched up and his dark, shiny eyes carried a hint of anger.

“Sister?” Ouyang Jue turned to Ouyang Nuan, his voice laced with panic, “What should we do?”

Seeing a pair of clear and pure eyes like a mountain spring fixed on her, Ouyang Nuan smiled and said, “Come over and finish the game first.”

“Sister, what exactly are you thinking?” Ouyang Jue had long been accustomed to listening to her. He had no choice but to sit back down at the table, fiddling with two chess pieces in his hands. The white piece clattered between his fingers as he thought for a long time before reluctantly placing a move.

Ouyang Nuan glanced at the spot where he had placed his piece and couldn’t help but smile and shake her head. Ouyang Jue was a clever child, but when it came to chess, he was always too reckless. He was constantly trying to take risks, launching one unexpected move after another and advancing boldly without regard for the consequences. As long as he found an opening, he wanted to use just a few moves to force his opponent into a dead end. He never followed a chess manual, relying purely on improvisation and impulse.

“If you challenged me to a game of chess, you should focus. We can talk about other things later.” Ouyang Nuan said calmly.

Nanny Fang glanced at the board, where the black pieces had already occupied half the territory, and couldn’t help but smile. The young miss’s chess style seemed disciplined and by the book, yet her strategy flowed seamlessly like drifting clouds and flowing water. Every move balanced offense and defense, moving swiftly like a rabbit when attacking and remaining still like an elegant lady when waiting. No matter how cunning the opponent’s tricks were, she always saw through them in advance and countered them with ease. Against her, the young master was like facing an iron wall, and gaining an advantage was nearly impossible.

As expected, when Ouyang Nuan placed her final piece, she had secured a complete victory.

Ouyang Jue’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible! You even gave me a three-piece advantage!”

She smiled faintly and said, “First, you weren’t focused. Second, you were too reckless. Third, you made moves without understanding your opponent. Now that the overall situation is lost, what’s the point of struggling?”

Ouyang Jue was momentarily stunned by her words, but deep down, he found them convincing. He couldn’t think of a rebuttal for a while and could only argue stubbornly, “I was just momentarily distracted. If we play again, I’ll definitely win! This time, you have to give me a five-piece advantage!”

Ouyang Nuan said indifferently, “Chess is ultimately a game with boundaries and rules that both sides must follow. No matter how strange a strategy may be, it becomes powerless and laughable against a solid structure. Even if I give you five pieces— no, even ten— you still won’t win.”

“Sister, every time I play with you, I never win. You won’t even let me win once.” Ouyang Jue said in frustration.

“Jue’er, remember this— when playing chess, you can yield pieces, but you must not yield the game. Yielding pieces is an act of kindness, but yielding the game is an insult. Giving you three pieces is because we are siblings. If I let you win the whole game, that would be deceiving you. Life is like chess, and chess is like life. I can let you win, but will others do the same? Instead of hoping for others to yield, why not think about how to win on your own strength?”

Ouyang Jue, being intelligent, blinked and said, “Sister, why do I feel like there’s another meaning behind your words?”

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly. “You are the eldest di son of the Ouyang family, the rightful young master. In Grandmother’s and Father’s hearts, you are irreplaceable. Whether someone else gives birth to a dragon or a rat, it has nothing to do with you. Instead of wallowing in frustration and resentment, think about how to establish your own standing. Do you understand?”

With that, she stood up, looked at Ouyang Jue, and said with a teasing smile, “I’m going to congratulate Father and Mother. Are you coming with me?”

Ouyang Jue instinctively wanted to refuse but saw Ouyang Nuan’s smiling gaze. Her eyes held a hint of indulgence, as if she were looking at a young child. Feeling somewhat unwilling, he stood up and said, “Sister, I understand what you mean. I’ll go with you to Furui Courtyard.”

“No, we’re going to Shou’an Hall.”

Ouyang Nuan smiled, and in that smile, there was a trace of satisfaction. What she truly cared about was whether Ouyang Jue could learn to hide his emotions rather than reveal them so easily.

────ρя


When they arrived at Shou’an Hall, sure enough, they saw Ouyang Zhi, Lin Wanru, and Ouyang Ke all present.

Ouyang Nuan lifted the curtain, her face full of smiles. “Grandmother, we’ve come to congratulate Father and Mother.”

Old Madam Li was half-closing her eyes as she listened to Ouyang Zhi speak. At that moment, she saw Ouyang Nuan and Ouyang Jue enter the room one after the other. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she said, “Come quickly and sit by my side!”

Ouyang Nuan and Ouyang Jue obeyed, walking over and respectfully greeting the elders before sitting closely beside Old Madam Li. Seeing Ouyang Jue filled Old Madam Li with joy. She took his hand and asked him all sorts of questions, to which Ouyang Jue responded with a smile, answering each one.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Nuan turned to Lin Wanru and said, “Mother, I was overjoyed when I heard the news! Your pregnancy is a grand blessing for our family. How do you plan to celebrate?”

Lin Wanru smiled gently, like a loving mother, and said, “It has only been a little over a month. It won’t be too late to celebrate once the child is born safe and healthy. But your thoughtfulness is truly rare.”

Ouyang Ke, upon seeing the bright smile on Ouyang Nuan’s face, scoffed disdainfully before quickly putting on a cheerful expression when she noticed Ouyang Nuan looking at her. She grinned and said, “Sister, can you guess whether Mother is carrying a boy or a girl?”

Ouyang Nuan laughed and said, “I bet Mother will give me a little brother. Then Jue’er will have a companion!”

Old Madam Li chuckled and said, “That is hard to predict. When I was pregnant with your father, everyone thought he was going to be a girl. But I refused to believe it. They say if the baby is a boy, he faces outward, and he only moves in one place. No matter what others said, I was convinced it was a boy. And sure enough, when he was born, I was right! I wonder if your mother will have the same fortune as I did……”

Ouyang Nuan noticed that although Lin Wanru’s smile remained as usual, a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes. She couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. By now, Old Madam Li had already developed a strong distaste for Lin Wanru. Even if she did give birth to a son, the old madam wouldn’t be particularly pleased. Of course, if this child had been in Li Yue’e’s belly, it would be a different story……

Ouyang Ke laughed and said, “Grandmother, don’t worry! This time, Mother will definitely give you a grandson. Father has even chosen a name for the baby already— Ouyang Hao!”

“Nonsense! How can you name a child before it’s even born? That’s inviting misfortune!” Old Madam Li’s face darkened.

Ouyang Zhi’s face flushed red as he hurriedly apologized, “It was just my excitement getting ahead of me. I ask for Mother’s forgiveness.”

Old Madam Li let out a cold snort and ignored Lin Wanru completely. Instead, she turned to Ouyang Jue, taking his hand and asking about his studies. Lin Wanru’s face grew uglier by the moment, and even Ouyang Zhi, sitting there, felt somewhat awkward.

Ouyang Zhi leaned in and softly advised Lin Wanru, “You’re with child. You should go rest early.”

Lin Wanru nodded and got up as instructed. However, just as she reached the doorway, she suddenly let out a sharp cry, her body swaying before collapsing onto the nearby Nanny Wang.

The sudden incident caused an uproar. Ouyang Zhi leaped to his feet in alarm, while Ouyang Ke rushed over in a flash. Ouyang Jue also tried to go forward, but Ouyang Nuan grabbed his arm and stopped him. She said, “Don’t go causing trouble. Stay with Grandmother and make sure she doesn’t get frightened.”

After saying that, she took a few steps forward as if she intended to check on Lin Wanru, but she merely stood at the edge of the gathered crowd, making no move to get closer.

“Wanru, what’s wrong with you?” Ouyang Zhi asked anxiously, holding Lin Wanru tightly, afraid something serious had happened.

Lin Wanru’s face was twisted in pain as she sobbed. “I don’t know! My head hurts, my back hurts, my stomach hurts— everything hurts! It feels like my whole body is on fire! Husband, save me, please save me!”

Ouyang Zhi, panicked by her cries, turned to Nanny Wang and demanded, “What’s wrong with the madam? There are so many of you looking after her, so how did this happen? Hurry and take her back to her room!”

Nanny Wang’s face was stricken with fear. She stammered, “Master, this old servant has never seen Madam like this before! What is going on? Madam, oh dear Madam, don’t scare this old servant!”

“Hurry! Take her back at once!” Old Madam Li also stood up and ordered in a loud voice.

Fearing for his child, Ouyang Zhi quickly apologized to his mother before half-supporting and half-carrying Lin Wanru away. Old Madam Li stood in the room, looking somewhat bewildered. She turned to Nanny Zhang beside her and asked, “What do you think is wrong with her? She was fine just a moment ago……”

Nanny Zhang forced a smile and said, “Perhaps Madam is feeling unwell.”

Old Madam Li shook her head and said, “I don’t think so. It looks more like she’s been possessed by something.”

Ouyang Jue also found it incredibly strange. He instinctively tugged at Ouyang Nuan’s sleeve and asked, “Sister, what do you think happened to her? Why would she suddenly be in so much pain? Sister?”

Ouyang Nuan did not answer. She simply gazed coldly in the direction where Lin Wanru had left, her mind echoing with the words that Old Madam Li had just uttered— ‘possessed.’ She seemed deep in thought……

Returning to her own courtyard, Ouyang Nuan repeatedly recalled Lin Wanru’s actions and felt more and more that something was amiss. Lin Wanru had just become pregnant, a time when she should have been basking in her success. Ouyang Zhi wholeheartedly supported her, so it was not unusual for her to feign illness to gain favor. However, she was experiencing pain all over…… Possessed…… A cold glint flashed in Ouyang Nuan’s eyes as she asked, “Nanny Fang, tell me, among all the deities Grandmother worships, which one does she revere the most?”

Nanny Fang replied, “The old madam is most devoted to the Bodhisattva. Whenever she faces difficulties or the family encounters joyous occasions, she always goes to the temple to seek guidance and donate incense money. Why does Young Miss suddenly ask about this?”

Ouyang Nuan closed her eyes in contemplation for a moment before suddenly opening them and saying, “Nanny Fang, go to Marquis Zhengou Manor immediately and tell Nanny Du that I have a matter in which I need Grandmother’s help.”

Ouyang Jue found this strange and hurriedly asked, “Sister, what’s the matter? Do you need my help?”

Ouyang Nuan smiled slightly and said, “I do need your help. Come closer, and I’ll tell you.”

────ρя


That night, it was said that Lin Wanru cried and caused a commotion all night long, complaining of headaches, back pain, and stomach pain— her whole body felt unwell. Even Physician Qian was tormented the entire night yet could not determine the cause. Not only did Ouyang Zhi stay by her side without leaving, but even Old Madam Li, out of courtesy, sent Nanny Zhang to check on her twice throughout the night.

Early the next morning, Ouyang Nuan took Ouyang Jue with her to pay respects. When Old Madam Li saw her grandson, she was pleased, but she still found it odd and asked, “Jue’er, why didn’t you go to the academy early today?”

Ouyang Nuan teased with a smile, “Grandmother, he was being naughty and didn’t want to go to class. He even asked the teacher for leave today.”

“That’s not true!” Ouyang Jue’s fair little face was adorned with dark circles under his eyes as he protested, “Grandmother, don’t listen to Sister. She’s teasing me again! Last night, I told her that I had a strange dream and couldn’t sleep the whole night, but she refused to believe me and insisted that I was just making excuses to be lazy and skip school. Grandmother, you be the judge— how could a diligent child like me be lazy? I truly couldn’t sleep well and only took a day off to rest!”

Old Madam Li noticed his dark circles. Although she felt sorry for him, she still found it strange and asked, “How could you have trouble sleeping? Did you drink strong tea before bed? I’ve told you many times, the servants may not dare to restrain you, but you should be mindful yourself.”

“Grandmother! That’s not it! I had a very strange dream last night. I dreamed that there was a flood, and our house was submerged in water. I searched everywhere for you and Sister but couldn’t find you, and then I saw—”

“Jue’er! Dreams aren’t real! Stop talking nonsense. Grandmother, please don’t listen to him. He’s just being playful.” Ouyang Nuan suddenly raised her voice, rare sternness flashing in her eyes as she looked at Ouyang Jue. Startled, he stopped talking and hesitated, wanting to continue but not daring to.

Old Madam Li and Nanny Zhang exchanged a glance. Nanny Zhang smiled and said, “Since Eldest Miss says not to speak of it, Young Master, you should drop the subject. Besides, this old servant has something to ask Eldest Miss for help with.”

“What is it, Nanny Zhang?” Ouyang Nuan asked gently.

“The old madam wants a silver-gilt headdress adorned with nine phoenixes and inlaid with jade. She’s been selecting the design for a long time but can’t decide on one. This old servant hoped that Eldest Miss could help make the choice.”

“Oh, Nanny Zhang, you don’t need to be so formal. Just tell me directly if you need something.” Ouyang Nuan said with an even warmer smile.

“In that case, would Eldest Miss be willing to come to the warm room with this old servant? I’ll bring out the designs for you to choose from.”

Ouyang Nuan nodded and stood up, instructing Ouyang Jue, “Stay here and keep Grandmother company. Don’t speak nonsense.”

Ouyang Jue stuck out his tongue at her retreating figure before turning back and snuggling into Old Madam Li’s embrace, saying, “Grandmother is the best. Sister is so fierce!”

Old Madam Li gently patted his back and said, “Don’t say that. Aside from me, the one who cares for you the most in this household is Nuan’er. An elder sister is like a mother, and she protects you in every way. How could I not know that?”

Ouyang Jue lifted his head and looked at Old Madam Li. No matter how she treated others, she was truly kind to him— perhaps even more sincerely than his own father. Thinking that, his eyes reddened involuntarily. Old Madam Li quickly pulled him into her arms, calling him her precious child. She coaxed him softly, “Tell me exactly what you dreamed about last night.”

Ouyang Jue thought for a moment and said, “Last night, I dreamed of a great flood. The water was vast and fierce. I was on a small boat, searching everywhere for Grandmother and Sister, but I couldn’t find both of you. In the end, I saw all the houses being swept away by the flood. Sister was crushed under a fallen beam, motionless and covered in blood. No matter how much I called out to her, she wouldn’t respond…… I was terrified, and then I saw…… I saw Grandmother…… Grandmother, you too…… Then, a huge wave came and swept me into the water.”

Ouyang Jue couldn’t continue. His eyes were filled with fear.

Hearing that, Old Madam Li felt a shudder in her heart and her eyelids twitched uncontrollably. However, she forced herself to remain calm and gently patted Ouyang Jue’s hand. “Silly child, isn’t your sister and grandmother safe and sound right here? It was just a dream, and dreams are often the opposite of reality.”

Ouyang Jue seemed to find the dream absurd and chuckled awkwardly. “Grandmother is right. It was just a dream. But I kept dreaming about it over and over all night. I was so scared that I couldn’t sleep at all, so I simply stayed awake until dawn.”

“Silly child, there has never been a flood in the capital.” Old Madam Li said with a laugh. But as she spoke, her laughter suddenly stopped. Something flickered in her eyes as she suddenly grabbed Ouyang Jue’s hand. “Jue’er, are you certain it was a flood?”

“Yes, a massive flood. I was terrified.” Ouyang Jue replied, still shaken as he gripped the old madam’s hand in return. “Luckily, when I woke up, Grandmother and Sister were fine.”

Old Madam Li smiled and comforted him a bit more. When Ouyang Nuan returned, the grandmother and grandson quickly changed the subject. Seeing this, Ouyang Nuan merely smiled slightly and didn’t expose them.

After the siblings left, Old Madam Li relayed everything to Nanny Zhang.

Nanny Zhang chuckled and said, “Madam, the young master is just a child. He actually took a dream seriously! The capital has never had a flood since ancient times.”

“Who says otherwise? At first, I thought the same, but the more I think about it, the more uneasy I feel. People often say dreams are the heavens’ way of giving warnings. Do you think this could be a divine sign?”

“Old Madam, you mean……”

Old Madam Li did not respond. Instead, she lowered her head and murmured repeatedly, “The Book of Yu says, ‘The flood is vast, the flood is vast…… Vast^[2]Hao……'”

Nanny Zhang knew that her mistress had always been deeply superstitious. She must have suspected something, but it wasn’t her place to point it out. Nanny Zhang could only try to console her, but Old Madam Li’s face remained somber.

────ρя


In Furui Courtyard, Lin Wanru had wailed all night, and Ouyang Zhi had suffered a headache just as long. Seeing the situation, Nanny Wang whispered, “Master, I think Madam might have been affected by some malevolent force. Why not invite a spirit medium to take a look?”

“Nonsense!” Ouyang Zhi roared, his face filled with anger. “I am the assistant minister of personnel. My wife is unwell, and instead of calling a physician, you suggest bringing in some so-called spirit medium? If word got out, we would become a laughingstock!”

Just then, Lin Wanru let out another sharp scream from the bed, clutching her head and crying in agony. Ouyang Zhi’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly stepped forward to check on her, but Ouyang Ke stopped him, pleading, “Father, I beg you, please invite a spirit medium to take a look. If Mother continues like this, what if it harms my little brother?”

Ouyang Zhi was momentarily stunned, unable to speak for a long while. Finally, he reluctantly decided and said, “Fine, go ahead. Go quietly and don’t alarm anyone.”

“Yes!” Nanny Wang lowered her head, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving into a smile.

Nanny Wang left for about half an hour and then returned, introducing a Daoist nun to Ouyang Zhi. “Master, this is Daoist Nun Ma, a well-known figure in the capital. Many families invite her to perform rituals to ward off evil. With her here, Madam will surely turn misfortune into blessings, and both mother and child will be safe!”

Ouyang Zhi nodded and turned to the solemn-looking Daoist Nun Ma. “Then I must trouble you. If my wife truly recovers, I will reward you handsomely.”

Daoist Nun Ma appeared to be around forty years old, with a round face and narrow eyes. She wore a Daoist robe and maintained a stern expression as she nodded. “Rest assured, my lord.”

She entered the room to examine Lin Wanru and came out a moment later, her face dark. “Madam has been affected by a disturbance and it requires a ritual to resolve it.”

Hearing that, Ouyang Zhi immediately ordered, “Did you not hear what the Daoist Nun said? Go and prepare the altar at once!”

“No, this place is unsuitable.” Daoist Nun Ma interrupted. “I inspected your residence upon entering and found that only the courtyard in the northeast direction is appropriate. Please clear out everyone from that courtyard so I can set up the altar and perform the ritual.”

The courtyard in the northeast? Wasn’t that where Ouyang Nuan lived?

Ouyang Zhi nodded at once. “Send someone to inform the eldest miss to prepare. The Daoist nun will be conducting the ritual in her courtyard to pray for Madam’s safety.”

“Yes.” Nanny Wang replied. She exchanged a glance with Ouyang Ke before turning to leave. In the distance, Lin Wanru’s cries of agony continued, making Ouyang Zhi restless as he paced back and forth in the room.

When they arrived at Tingnuan Pavilion, Nanny Wang led a group of servants, storming in as they banged on the door. Upon seeing Ouyang Nuan, Nanny Wang put on a fake smile and greeted her, “This servant greets Eldest Miss.”

Ouyang Nuan had been sitting under the porch reading. Seeing them now, she smiled and asked, “May I ask why Nanny Wang has come?”

Nanny Wang chuckled. “It’s nothing major. The madam is unwell, and the master has invited a skilled Daoist nun to perform a ritual. The location chosen is this very Tingnuan Pavilion, so we ask for your cooperation.”

Before Ouyang Nuan could respond, Nanny Fang’s face darkened, and she said coldly, “What nonsense is this? Our young miss has not yet married, and this courtyard is not a place where just anyone can enter! If something were to happen during the ritual, would Nanny Wang be able to take responsibility?”

The smile on Nanny Wang’s face fell instantly. “The eldest miss has not even spoken, so why are you in such a hurry, Nanny Fang? This is not my decision but the master’s orders. If the eldest miss truly objects, I will simply go back and report to the master. Why take your anger out on me?” She then turned to Ouyang Nuan and said, “Eldest Miss, please judge for yourself— doesn’t this make sense?”

Ouyang Nuan spoke slowly, “No need to be upset, Nanny Wang. Nanny Fang is only looking out for me. However, what you said is true as well. Since it is for Mother’s well-being, what harm is there in yielding the courtyard?”

Hearing that, Nanny Wang’s face lit up with joy. “I knew Eldest Miss was reasonable!”

Ouyang Nuan smiled slightly. “Hongyu, tidy up the courtyard. Ensure that all irrelevant people leave so that the ritual can proceed undisturbed.”

Nanny Wang left beaming with satisfaction, but as Ouyang Nuan watched her retreating figure, her lips curled into an icy smile.

────ρя


Daoist Nun Ma entered from outside, and Ouyang Nuan smiled at the other party in greeting. However, Daoist Nun Ma merely gave her a cold glance and ignored her. Instead, she turned to instruct the two young Daoist nuns accompanying her to carry in a large bundle. Nanny Fang took a glance and saw that it contained yellow talismans, glutinous rice, soybeans, incense, and candles. Her brows furrowed at the sight.

The two young Daoist nuns busied themselves for a while, and soon, a small ritual altar was set up. The altar was surrounded by strips of yellow talismans, with grains placed on the offering table, and incense and candles lit. The two nuns stood on either side of the altar, resembling a pair of guardians. Half an hour later, Daoist Nun Ma clasped her hands behind her back and said coldly, “The appointed time has arrived. I will now perform the ritual. Everyone must leave.”

“You—” Nanny Fang found Daoist Nun Ma’s attitude disrespectful. How dare she speak to the young miss that way? However, Ouyang Nuan raised her hand to stop Nanny Fang and instead smiled kindly. “Nanny, tell everyone to leave. We must not delay the Daoist nun’s ritual.”

Although the servants were all curious, they obediently withdrew.

Inside the courtyard, Daoist Nun Ma had already begun the ceremony. She took out three sticks of incense, held them in her left hand, and lit them with the candle on the table. Then, she suddenly stomped her foot and shouted, “Five Thunder Generals! Fire Chariot General! Soar to the heavens, overturn the earth! Drive the thunder, summon the clouds! Lead ten thousand troops, command divine soldiers! Unfurl the banners, summon them urgently! Do not delay! Protect this disciple, grant me divine powers! Urgent as the law commands!”

Ouyang Nuan turned her head slightly and glanced over. At that moment, she locked eyes with Daoist Nun Ma. Initially, the Daoist nun had not taken the twelve-year-old girl seriously, but now, seeing her gentle smile and the chilling aura hidden within her gaze, she couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down her spine.

The main doors were tightly shut. Hongyu leaned close to Ouyang Nuan and whispered, “Young Miss, what if she’s up to something inside……”

“I’m waiting for her to do just that.” Ouyang Nuan said, curling her lips into a smile.

Less than half a stick of incense later, the courtyard gate swung open again. Daoist Nun Ma, looking upright and solemn, loudly proclaimed to Nanny Wang and the group of waiting servants, “This courtyard is unclean. Something here has offended the madam!”

“You dare!” Nanny Fang’s face was filled with anger as she scolded, “This is our eldest miss’s courtyard! How dare you spout such nonsense here?!”

Nanny Wang shot a cold glance at Nanny Fang before turning to Daoist Nun Ma. “Immortal Nun, are you certain?”

A hint of displeasure appeared on Daoist Nun Ma’s face. “Whether you believe me or not is your business. If you want the madam to recover, you must drive out the little ghost in this courtyard! If you refuse, then I will take my leave now. You can find another expert for the madam’s illness!”

Nanny Wang immediately stepped forward to stop her, smiling apologetically. “Immortal Nun, please wait. Allow this old servant to speak with the eldest miss first.”

Daoist Nun Ma snorted coldly, turned her back, and stood proudly.

Nanny Wang walked up to Ouyang Nuan with a beaming smile. “Eldest Miss, this old servant knows you are filial. Could you please grant us some convenience……”

Ouyang Nuan smiled and turned to Daoist Nun Ma. “May I ask, Daoist Nun, how do you plan to expel this unclean entity?”

“Since it is filth, of course, it must be cleansed completely. I need to search every corner of this courtyard.” Daoist Nun Ma replied coldly.

“You—” Hongyu’s face flushed red with anger. This was the young miss’s courtyard! How could they let someone like this barge in and turn everything upside down?!

“Hongyu, do not be rude.” Ouyang Nuan raised a hand to stop Hongyu, her voice gentle. “According to the Daoist nun, the courtyard must be searched?”

Nanny Wang smiled apologetically. “Eldest Miss, this is a serious matter. For the madam and the child’s safety, the master has given strict orders for a thorough investigation. Forgive me for any offense.”

Ouyang Nuan’s lips curved slightly. “Nanny, you are too polite. For Mother’s recovery, what does it matter?” Then she turned and instructed all the servants, “Everyone, go wait in your rooms. If the Daoist Nun needs anything, be sure to assist her.”

The servants withdrew. Only Changpu remained standing still. Ouyang Nuan smiled at her. “Changpu, yesterday, Jue’er said he was bringing me a little gift. He should be arriving soon. Go greet him at the front gate and tell him I am busy today, so he need not come in. Just bring the gift back for me.”

Changpu nodded firmly. Though others found her solemn expression amusing, she took the order as seriously as a soldier receiving a general’s command and quickly left.

A flash of satisfaction passed through Nanny Wang’s eyes. She smiled and said, “Eldest Miss is truly thoughtful. The young master has a fiery temper. If he were to misunderstand something, it could be troublesome. It’s best if he doesn’t come. Then, with your permission, we shall start searching from the courtyard.”

Ouyang Nuan’s expression remained indifferent. “No, start with my room.”

“This…… How could we dare?” Nanny Wang feigned difficulty and embarrassment.

Ouyang Nuan said, “Why not? Start with my room, then search the others thoroughly. Search carefully, Nanny Wang. Let me make this clear— I am only allowing outsiders into my courtyard today because of Mother. If you find something, so be it. But if you don’t, I will report to Grandmother that you have invited a fraud instead of a Daoist nun. You’ll have to bear that responsibility yourself!”

Nanny Wang caught a brief but chilling glimpse of ruthlessness on Ouyang Nuan’s face. Instinctively, she answered, “Yes.”

Nanny Wang led a group of people to search every room, pretending to inspect every corner. Meanwhile, Ouyang Nuan sat calmly in the courtyard, ignoring their actions.

Nanny Fang followed closely behind them, making sure they didn’t play any tricks. She coldly remarked, “Make sure you search thoroughly. If you find nothing, you’d better watch out for your own hides!”

In the courtyard, Ouyang Nuan closed her eyes slightly, waiting patiently.

After searching all the rooms, they found nothing. Nanny Fang sneered. This was no surprise. Since an outsider like Daoist Nun Ma was entering, the rooms had naturally been locked beforehand, so nothing could possibly be found.

Daoist Nun Ma’s eyes darted around before she suddenly pointed to the base of the courtyard wall and said with a pretense of mystery, “By my calculations, the strongest demonic aura gathers right here! Dig!”

Nanny Wang clapped her hands, and a female servant immediately stepped forward with a small hoe, digging several spots but finding nothing.

Daoist Nun Ma waved her hand and said, “This thing is filled with malice— I must do it myself!”

She took the hoe from the servant and strode to the wall base, then swung it down forcefully without hesitation. Within moments, she suddenly shouted, “Found it!” She raised a cloth doll in her hand triumphantly, while Nanny Wang’s face broke into a smile.

At that exact moment, Daoist Nun Ma noticed that everyone in front of her had frozen in place.

Then, the sound of rapid, heavy footsteps echoed loudly.

Confused, Daoist Nun Ma instinctively turned her head. The next instant, her eyes widened in terror.

A massive wolfdog with a gleaming coat of fur was charging straight at her with terrifying force!

It was absolutely horrifying!

Daoist Nun Ma was petrified. Her usual skills in deceiving people vanished entirely. It wasn’t her fault, as she had simply never seen such a giant dog before. Nearly half the height of a grown person, it charged with its tongue lolling and eyes burning red. The sheer momentum of its attack was enough to make anyone’s blood run cold!

There is an old saying that says, ‘When facing a dog, do not run. Stand firm and confront it.’

But Daoist Nun Ma had long forgotten that wisdom. She had even forgotten her so-called mission. Without thinking, she turned and ran for her life!

She bolted toward Nanny Wang, who was startled and reached out to grab her while also trying to snatch the cloth doll. However, in her panic, Nanny Wang tripped over something and landed face-first on the ground in a humiliating fall.

Everyone else had already scrambled away to the sides, including the two young Daoist nuns, who were now cowering in fear, unwilling to help their master.

Nanny Wang struggled to get up, but Nanny Fang stepped forward, seemingly to assist her, only to stomp hard on her lower back. Feigning surprise, Nanny Fang exclaimed, “Oh my, Nanny Wang, are you alright?”

Several onlookers considered stepping in, but the senior servants in Ouyang Nuan’s courtyard shot them cold, warning glances, their eyes filled with quiet menace. No one dared move, fearing the wolfdog might turn on them instead.

With no one left to turn to for help, Daoist Nun Ma lost all sense of direction, running blindly toward the exit.

In the end, she tripped over the threshold with a loud smack, and the massive dog lunged forward, sinking its teeth fiercely into her nose!

Daoist Nun Ma let out an ear-piercing scream, wailing like a ghost in agony. Her shriek was so sharp it seemed to tear through the sky, chilling everyone to the bone!

Ouyang Nuan tilted her head slightly, listening, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

By the door, Changpu grinned widely, chuckling to herself.

Daoist Nun Ma covered her nose, rolling on the ground in agony. At this moment, she had no time to care about the cloth doll, which had long been flung somewhere unknown.

“What kind of beast is this?! Quick…… Quickly catch it!” Nanny Wang was furious to the point of madness. She finally broke free from Nanny Fang, jumped up, and shouted loudly. However, she hadn’t realized that when she fell earlier, she had broken her front teeth. Her mouth was now full of blood, and her speech was slurred, making her look utterly ridiculous.

Changpu placed two fingers in her mouth and whistled. The wolfdog, as if responding to a command, obediently returned to her side. It panted with its tongue out, as though waiting for its master’s reward. Changpu patted its head in approval.

Ouyang Nuan reprimanded loudly, “Changpu, what kind of dog did you bring? It has turned my courtyard into a complete mess! Kneel down at once!”

With a loud thud, Changpu knelt on the ground, crying out, “Eldest Miss, I have been wronged! This dog was bought by the young master at the market. He said it was rare, large, and fierce, and he wanted to bring it over for you to see. Who knew it was starving and ended up biting the Daoist nun’s nose……”

Somewhere in the courtyard, someone let out a muffled laugh. Soon after, many others covered their mouths, stifling their amusement.

Nanny Wang was livid. Ignoring her own bleeding mouth, she shouted loudly, “Quick! Quickly help the Immortal Nun up!” She paid no heed to her own injuries and rushed forward, helping Daoist Nun Ma to her feet. The Daoist nun wailed in pain, but Nanny Wang frantically searched the other party’s body, even turning over her sleeves repeatedly. Yet, no matter how Nanny Wang searched, she could not find the cloth doll. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead in desperation.

Ouyang Nuan’s expression was severe as she said coldly, “Nanny Wang, what are you still looking for? Are you planning to watch the Daoist nun bleed to death?”

Nanny Wang froze, suddenly realizing something. She turned her head in shock to look at Ouyang Nuan, her face filled with terror.

Ouyang Nuan walked forward unhurriedly and extended a hand to help Nanny Wang up, but the other party instinctively stepped back. “What’s wrong, Nanny? Have you broken your teeth so badly that you can no longer speak?”

“Eldest Miss, you are too kindhearted. They barged into your courtyard and searched it recklessly, yet you still show them mercy!” Nanny Fang stepped forward, staring at Nanny Wang. “Well then, Nanny Wang, did you find anything?”

Nanny Wang glanced around at everyone in Ouyang Nuan’s courtyard, and in that instant, cold sweat drenched her back. She suddenly realized that she, the one who had been digging a pit for others, had unwittingly become the one lying on the chopping block. And to think she had been feeling so pleased with herself just moments ago!

This Ouyang Nuan— she was practically a demon in human form! Absolutely terrifying! Heavens above!

“Please forgive me, Eldest Miss. I will take Daoist Nun Ma back to apply medicine first, and then…… then I will return to beg for your punishment!” Nanny Wang, breathing heavily, supported Daoist Nun Ma, her voice trembling.

Ouyang Nuan smiled apologetically and said, “It was all Jue’er being too mischievous. I will make sure to discipline him properly.”

Nanny Wang only felt that this courtyard was too sinister, and this young lady was even more terrifying. She had no desire to stay a moment longer. Hastily, she ordered the servants standing by, “Hurry! Let’s go!”

The servants who had followed Nanny Wang all slunk away dejectedly. Even after they had walked far off, Daoist Nun Ma’s painful groans could still be faintly heard.

Once the doors were shut, Ouyang Nuan extended her hand. Hongyu placed the cloth doll she had secretly picked up amidst the chaos into her mistress’s palm. Ouyang Nuan glanced at it and let out a cold laugh. “Just as I thought.”