Ying Tianjiao sneered viciously as he advanced toward Su Linlang, like a starving wolf stalking its prey.
His narrow, triangular eyes gleamed with greed, as though he wanted nothing more than to strip Su Linlang naked on the spot and vent the resentment burning inside him.
His thick fingers, filled with malicious intent, reached toward the front of her pale robe.
To search the body of a young widow in broad daylight, before so many witnesses, was not merely an insult to Su Linlang—it was a deliberate humiliation of the entire Duke Dingguo’s Estate.
Chu Xiangyue rushed forward and shielded Su Linlang behind her.
“Ying Tianjiao! Don’t you dare!”
Xun Ruoqiu also stepped protectively in front of Su Linlang, glaring furiously.
“If you lay a finger on her, I won’t let you go even if I become a ghost!”
But their resistance was pitifully weak before overwhelming authority.
With a wave of Ying Tianjiao’s hand, several constables immediately stepped forward and forcibly dragged the sisters-in-law away.
“No need to rush. One at a time! Every woman of the Xiao family will be searched! We’ll start with Su Linlang!”
“Y-You…”
Old Madam Xiao trembled with rage. Her lips quivered, but not a single word came out.
With a loud thud, the elderly matriarch finally collapsed to the ground, unable to hold herself up any longer.
“Grandmother!”
The frightened children burst into tears as they clung to the unconscious Old Madam Xiao.
The surrounding soldiers laughed as though they were enjoying a performance, their eyes flashing with undisguised lechery.
Standing nearby, Yan Lexian curled his lips into a cold smile, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle.
Amid the chaos, Ying Tianjiao’s hand finally brushed against Su Linlang’s sleeve.
His heart leaped with excitement.
But at that very instant—
Whoosh!
A powerful gust struck the back of his hand.
Smack!
A crisp slap echoed through the courtyard.
The back of Ying Tianjiao’s hand immediately swelled bright red.
He jerked his hand back and stared around in disbelief.
“Who?! Who hit me?!”
The only sound in the empty courtyard was the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Refusing to believe it, Ying Tianjiao reached out again, intending to yank open Su Linlang’s sleeve.
Smack!
Another sharp crack rang out.
This time the blow landed even harder, sending a sharper pain through the back of his hand.
Clutching it, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.
His fury boiled over.
“Who is it?! Get out here!”
Like a madman, he searched in every direction, but found nothing.
Yan Lexian walked over impatiently.
“Deputy General Ying, what exactly are you doing? Who are you talking to?”
Ying Tianjiao pointed at his swollen hand and shouted angrily,
“Lord Yan! Something’s hitting me! There’s… there’s something secretly attacking my hand!”
Yan Lexian glanced at it and snorted disdainfully.
“The entire Xiao family is Standing right here. Where would some hidden attacker come from? I think you’ve lost your mind. Hurry up and conduct the search!”
Though furious, Ying Tianjiao dared not argue with Yan Lexian.
He glared viciously at Su Linlang, the lustful fire inside him only growing stronger.
He refused to embarrass himself before everyone, and even less was he willing to miss this chance to humiliate her.
He simply didn’t believe anyone could stop him.
Once again, he extended his hand.
This time he was far more cautious, his eyes fixed firmly on Su Linlang, afraid another unseen force would strike him.
Yet just as his fingertips were about to touch her—
An agonizing pain exploded through his knee.
“AHH!”
Ying Tianjiao let out a miserable scream and involuntarily dropped to his knees before Su Linlang.
It felt as though a massive boulder had smashed directly into his kneecap.
The excruciating pain nearly caused him to faint.
His eyes widened in utter disbelief, unable to comprehend what had happened.
The surrounding constables froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Even Yan Lexian looked bewildered.
He strode over and yanked Ying Tianjiao to his feet.
“Ying Tianjiao! What kind of nonsense are you pulling now?!”
“G-Ghost…!”
Ying Tianjiao’s face turned deathly pale.
His lips trembled as he scrambled to his feet, frantically looking around.
He staggered backward like a frightened rabbit, terror filling his eyes.
Under the dim morning light, the dilapidated Duke Dingguo’s Estate looked especially eerie.
Dead leaves drifted through the air.
Withered branches swayed in the wind, producing chilling creaks.
The weathered crimson walls seemed stained with blood beneath the gloomy light, giving the entire courtyard a sinister atmosphere.
“L-Lord Yan…” Ying Tianjiao stammered, pointing at his swollen hand and aching knee.
“T-This courtyard is haunted! A ghost is hitting me!”
The constables, who had been laughing moments earlier, gradually fell silent.
They exchanged uneasy glances and nervously looked around at the crumbling walls, the dead trees, and the grief-stricken members of the Xiao family.
An inexplicable chill crept up from the soles of their feet, spreading throughout their bodies.
“C-Could it be… General Xiao Ye has returned?” one constable whispered.
Though his voice was barely audible, it echoed clearly through the silent courtyard.
Xiao Ye.
The second young master of Duke Dingguo’s Estate.
A legendary young general whose military achievements were renowned throughout the realm.
He had died on the battlefield three years ago.
Now, among the men of the Xiao family, only Xiao Jinghe remained alive.
All the others had laid down their lives for the country.
“Could it be… the heroic spirits of the Xiao men?” another constable said fearfully.
“They saw us humiliating their wives… so they… they came back to protect them…”
His face was pale with terror.
People of this era were deeply superstitious.
That was especially true for soldiers who lived with death every day.
They had witnessed countless lives lost on the battlefield and heard endless tales of ghosts and spirits.
Now, Standing inside the eerie Duke Dingguo’s Estate, their fear multiplied without limit.
Their guilty consciences only made them more afraid.
Listening to their whispers, tears streamed down Su Linlang’s face.
She looked toward the empty sky, choking back sobs.
“Xiao Ye… is that you?”
“Have you come back?”
She raised her voice toward the heavens.
“Tell me… in this bright and just world, is there no law left?”
Her vision blurred with tears.
For a moment, she seemed to see that tall, familiar figure Standing before her once more, silently protecting her.
“Is this the nation you gave your life to defend?”
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
“Xiao Ye… if your spirit truly watches from above, then punish these villains!”
Yan Lexian let out a cold snort.
“Enough with this ridiculous act! There are no ghosts or spirits in this world. Su Linlang, stop spreading such nonsense!”
The moment he finished speaking—
A sharp pain shot through his knee.
His legs gave way.
Thump!
He crashed to his knees.
Before he could recover, another violent pain struck his forehead.
Instinctively lowering his head, he reached up in disbelief.
Bright red blood trickled through his fingers and dripped onto the ground below.
Every constable was stunned.
They stood rooted to the spot, mouths hanging open.
The entire courtyard fell deathly silent.
Seeing Yan Lexian brought to his knees as well, Ying Tianjiao’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Pointing at him, he shouted loudly,
“See?! See?! I wasn’t lying!”
“There really is a ghost in this courtyard!”
“There really is a ghost!”