The residence remained largely unchanged, still maintaining the appearance from when she had left home.
In the central courtyard, the osmanthus tree her mother loved most remained lush and thriving, standing proudly in the cold night.
Lin Ruochu hid in the shadows of the courtyard wall, carefully avoiding the patrolling guards as she moved through the residence, feeling her way toward her parents' quarters.
Her mother enjoyed reading stories and would always light an oil lamp by the bedside before sleep, leaning against the bed to read illustrated books.
As a child, Lin Ruochu would often sneak out of her room and slip into her mother's bed, pestering her to read stories aloud.
Her nursemaid could do nothing about it, and her father would simply yield the bed to her, listening together as her mother recounted the strange tales and legends from the books.
When the stories touched on supernatural or fantastical elements, her father would puff out his cheeks and sigh, muttering, "Nonsense!"
Now, seeing the faint orange glow emanating from her mother's window, Lin Ruochu felt as if a lifetime had passed. Her heart clenched, and a dense, piercing pain spread through her.
Suppressing her sorrow, she leaned against the wall and slowly made her way to the window.
She knew her current identity made her unworthy of appearing here, but she only wanted to see if her mother was safe—just one glance would suffice…
As she approached the window, before she could even peek inside, she heard a light laugh from within the room.
"Auntie, the steamed cakes you made tonight were absolutely delicious! Xin'er's stomach is completely stuffed!"
"You're already of marriageable age, yet you're still so greedy for food!"
"Auntie, your cooking is just too good! You can't blame Xin'er for being tempted. Even Brother Jingxing and Brother Siqi ate a lot, and even Uncle, who doesn't usually like sweets, had quite a few!"
"You, with your sweet tongue—always so good at coaxing people."
"Hehe, if it can make Auntie smile, Xin'er would gladly smear ten pounds of honey on her lips every day!"
The playful banter between an older and a younger voice reached Lin Ruochu's ears. Peering through the window paper, she saw two figures nestled intimately together.
It was her mother, Jiang Lizhu, and her cousin, Jiang Ningxin!
Lin Ruochu clenched her fists. For two years, she had received no news from the Lin family, constantly worrying that something might have happened to her mother.
Thank goodness, her mother was safe and healthy!
But immediately after, a dull, needle-like pain spread densely across her chest.
Jiang Ningxin—her dear cousin!
Even though the Female Ghost had taken control of her body, the ease with which she had obtained Shao Mu's whereabouts and even managed to deceive everyone to engage in a secret affair with him was inextricably linked to Jiang Ningxin's collusion from within!
Moreover, when the Female Ghost had hesitated, it was Jiang Ningxin who fueled the flames, talking with her night after night, strengthening the Female Ghost's resolve to "throw caution to the wind and pursue a man."
Jiang Ningxin was from the second branch of the Jiang family, not directly related to Jiang Lizhu. Because her uncle from the second branch had a gambling addiction and caused trouble, leading to the family's decline, Jiang Lizhu took pity on her and brought her into the General Residence to grow up alongside Lin Ruochu.
Thus, when Jiang Ningxin facilitated the Female Ghost's schemes and encouraged her to defy conventions, Lin Ruochu had believed it was out of their childhood bond and a genuine desire to help, albeit with misguided advice that ultimately pushed her into an irreparable abyss.
Until two years ago, on the eve of Shao Mu's wedding to Zhang Jingwan, after returning to her room from dinner, the Female Ghost's control over her body suddenly loosened for a moment.
Just like when she had pushed Shao Mu off the bed a few days prior, she abruptly regained control of her body.
At that moment, Lin Ruochu wept with overwhelming joy. Without even bothering to throw on an outer garment, she dashed outside, desperate to find her father and mother. She wanted to explain the circumstances of her possession through Body Snatching and have them restrain her within the estate.
This way, even if the Female Ghost went mad, she wouldn’t be able to commit any more outrageous acts!
As she rushed out of her room, the first person to support her was Tao Yuan, who had grown up by her side.
Tao Yuan had originally been her personal maid, but the Female Ghost, fearing Tao Yuan might detect signs of the Body Snatching, had found an excuse to demote her to a lowly servant girl in the outer courtyard.
Even so, when Tao Yuan saw Lin Ruochu rushing out disheveled and terrified, she immediately ran to her side, holding her up and anxiously asking what had happened.
At that moment, Lin Ruochu clutched her hand tightly, apologizing while explaining:
"Tao Yuan, I’ve been possessed by a Female Ghost! None of my actions were my own doing. Please take me to explain to Father and Mother—we must not let me cause a catastrophe!"
Upon hearing this, Tao Yuan was first shocked, then understanding dawned on her face, as if all her doubts had been instantly resolved. She wept with joy:
"I knew the young lady hadn’t truly grown to dislike me! I believe you, young lady! I’ll take you to the General and Madam right now!"
The two hurried along the corridor toward the main courtyard, only to encounter Jiang Ningxin.
Or rather, Jiang Ningxin blocked their path.
Still thinking of her as an ally, Lin Ruochu repeated what she had told Tao Yuan, hoping to save time.
To her surprise, Jiang Ningxin’s expression hardened, and she slapped Tao Yuan, angrily scolding:
"Audacious slave! How dare you disturb our mistress with talk of ghosts and gods? Your crime is unforgivable! Guards, rescue the young lady and drag this wretched servant away for punishment!"
Lin Ruochu never expected such a reaction. Thinking Jiang Ningxin hadn’t understood or that there was some misunderstanding, she urgently explained again:
"Cousin, Tao Yuan isn’t lying! I truly am controlled by a Female Ghost! Once I explain to Father and Mother, they will discern the truth!"
Jiang Ningxin looked at her, her usually gentle face suddenly curling into a cold smile.
Gazing at her with pity and mockery, she spoke slowly and deliberately before the servants arrived:
"What’s wrong with you? If this lowly creature finds your uncle and aunt, you’ll be exorcised by the high monk."
A chill crawled over Lin Ruochu’s entire body.
Wide-eyed with disbelief, she finally realized Jiang Ningxin was speaking through her to the Female Ghost!
She had known about the Body Snatching all along!
Everything before had been intentional!
But Lin Ruochu had realized too late!
As soon as Jiang Ningxin finished speaking, the Female Ghost awakened, regaining control. Cursing the "unreliable System," she shuddered with lingering fear and moved to Jiang Ningxin’s side.
The household servants arrived and bound Tao Yuan tightly.
Poor Tao Yuan, even in her final moments, kowtowed and wept, begging them to "release the young lady! Don’t harm the young lady!"
Jiang Ningxin brushed her sleeves and ordered Tao Yuan dragged to the backyard to be beaten to death.
The Female Ghost interrupted: "Beating her to death seems too harsh. Why not just sell her off?"
And so, Lin Ruochu watched helplessly as Tao Yuan—who had been like a sister to her—was blindfolded, gagged, and dragged away, disappearing at the end of the corridor.
All that remained was a shocking pool of blood from where Tao Yuan had kowtowed until her head split open.
With the memory, bone-deep hatred surged endlessly in her heart.
Jiang Ningxin had even bewitched her mother and taken her place!
Such despicable means, all for this?
Their Lin family had never treated her unfairly!
Lin Ruochu desperately wanted to charge into the room, grab Jiang Ningxin, and demand whether she had colluded with the Female Ghost and personally orchestrated all of this!
Unfortunately, she couldn’t.
Two years ago, a single word from Jiang Ningxin had restored the Female Ghost’s control.
Until she understood her methods, she must not act rashly again and trap herself in a passive position, like a caged bird!
The Female Ghost muttered in her ear, Tsk tsk, this vicious supporting female character is ruthless enough—sowing discord among family members and then shamelessly playing the innocent while usurping their place.
Lin Ruochu pulled out a hairpin and expressionlessly stabbed it through her palm.
The Female Ghost immediately let out a pig-slaughtering screech:
Are you insane, you sadist? Stabbing yourself—it hurts so much, aaaaaah!
The Female Ghost’s screams and the sharp pain in her palm pulled Lin Ruochu out of her grief and fury. She regained her composure.
Tearing a strip of cloth from her clothes, she wrapped her palm and slipped away silently from the shadows.
…
Steward Qian was off duty that night. He had snagged two taels of braised pork head from the kitchen and washed it down with wine in his room.
His cheeks flushed red, his body limp and sluggish, he floated dreamily toward his bed to rest.
Just as he had tugged off one boot, a dark shadow suddenly flitted past the window. But when he rubbed his eyes and looked again, it was gone.
He laughed at himself for being paranoid—with the master and young master both home, even the dumbest thief wouldn’t dare cause trouble at the General Residence.
As he bent down to pull off his boot, two legs suddenly appeared before him. Before he could see who it was, a black cloth bag was thrown over his head.
Lin Ruochu used a grappling technique to twist his arms, flipping him into the corner, then pressed the tip of her foot against his throat. With just a third of her strength, she left him gasping for breath, unable to move.
“Spare me, great warrior! All my money is hidden in a secret compartment on the second layer of the wardrobe! I’ll give it all to you—just spare my life!”
Lin Ruochu’s eyes were icy as she coldly demanded:
“Two years ago, where did you sell Tao Yuan?”