Just as the passerby was about to answer, the mansion’s gate slowly creaked open, revealing a gaunt man emerging from within. Seeing this, the passerby shook his head and quickly walked away.
Jiang Suihuan glanced curiously at the retreating figure, puzzled by what had just happened.
She approached the man and asked, “Are you the owner of this residence?”
“Cough, cough… indeed I am,” the man replied, covering his mouth as he coughed violently, as if trying to expel his lungs. His voice sounded like that of an octogenarian—hoarse and frail.
Jiang Suihuan observed him carefully. The man appeared to be only around twenty years old, with handsome features, but his complexion was pale, his eyes bloodshot, and his lips tinged with a faint bluish hue—signs of a severe, possibly terminal illness.
“Don’t be alarmed; my illness isn’t contagious,” the man said, turning to lead them inside. “Let me show you around the house first.”
Jiang Suihuan and Ying Tao followed him. The deeper they went, the more pleased Jiang Suihuan became. The mansion had eighteen rooms, a spacious backyard, exquisitely crafted pavilions and towers, serene and tranquil corridors, along with a pond and artificial rockery—clear evidence that its builder had impeccable taste.
However, she noticed one thing: although the decorations were elegant, every item was covered in a thick layer of dust, clearly neglected for a long time.
Jiang Suihuan knew well that such a fine residence couldn’t possibly be sold so cheaply. Combined with the passerby’s reaction, she was certain there must be something wrong with this house.
After the tour, Jiang Suihuan cut straight to the point: “Would you mind telling us why this house is priced so low?”
The man seemed to have exhausted all his energy, hunched over weakly as he sighed deeply. “Ah, it’s a long story.”
“My name is Li Xueming. I was formerly a teacher at Fuqing Academy. This house has been passed down through my family. After my grandfather inherited it, he renovated it extensively. Ever since then, everyone who lived here contracted strange illnesses of various kinds and never lived past fifty.”
“My parents were no exception. Now, I’m the only one left in this house. People around here say it’s a haunted house, but I never believed them. If it weren’t for my medical expenses, I would never consider selling this place.”
After speaking, Li Xueming erupted into another fit of violent coughing. “I’ve said all I need to. If you’re not interested in buying, please leave. I don’t have the strength to see you out.”
Ying Tao muttered under her breath, “This is clearly a haunted house. Who would ever buy it?”
“Miss, let’s go back.”
But Jiang Suihuan stood her ground, looking at Li Xueming and asking, “If you don’t mind, may I check your pulse?”
Li Xueming looked up at her. “Are you a physician?”
“No, but I have some medical knowledge.”
She placed her hand on his wrist, and after a moment, frowned. “You have a lung disease.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Li Xueming’s eyes as he nodded. “That’s correct.”
“Fortunately, the illness hasn’t penetrated your bones yet,” she said, releasing his hand. “Did your deceased family members have the same symptoms?”
“No, they didn’t. Some had headaches, others abdominal pain—their symptoms varied. The only thing they had in common was how much they suffered in the end.” Li Xueming’s eyes filled with sorrow at the memory.
A hypothesis flashed through Jiang Suihuan’s mind.
With a serious expression, she said, “There’s definitely something wrong with this house. You should move out and stop living here for now. Give me one month—I’ll cure your illness and uncover the truth.”
Li Xueming thought she was joking and let out a bitter laugh. “Miss, even the best doctors in Jingcheng couldn’t cure my illness. How could you possibly heal me?”
“Moreover, three generations of my family haven’t been able to figure out what’s wrong with this house. Claiming you’ll solve it in just one month sounds rather boastful.”
Jiang Suihuan crossed her arms, her brow filled with confidence. “Whether I can do it or not, we’ll know in a month.”
Only then did Li Xueming realize she was serious. He straightened up and asked solemnly, “Who are you, miss?”
“My name is Jiang Suihuan. You just need to know I’m not a fraud.” Jiang Suihuan curled her lips slightly. “But I have one condition.”
“What condition?”
“If I accomplish both tasks, you’ll sell me this house at a 20% discount.”
“…”
Three hundred thousand taels with a 20% discount would be two hundred forty thousand taels—a full sixty thousand taels cheaper. Jiang Suihuan had already done the math.
Li Xueming hesitated for a moment before agreeing. “Fine. If you can cure my illness and uncover why this house became haunted, I’ll sell it to you at a 20% discount.”
“Deal.”
They signed a contract. Before leaving, Li Xueming gave Jiang Suihuan the keys to the house, while she retrieved some medication for lung disease from her laboratory and handed it to him.
“Take two pills three times a day, after meals. Come back to see me after you’ve finished them.”
“Thank you.” Li Xueming carefully stored the medicine, shouldered his belongings, and slowly departed.
Ying Tao watched his hunched figure and pouted. “Miss, that man looks like he won’t live much longer. Why did you take on this trouble? And this house sounds so terrifying—why would you want to buy it?”
Jiang Suihuan clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze profound. “Ying Tao, do you like eating Osmanthus Cake?”
“I do, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“Do you know how many pieces of Osmanthus Cake sixty thousand taels can buy?” Jiang Suihuan patted Ying Tao’s head. “Saving sixty thousand taels in just one month—we’re making a huge profit.”
“Besides, I can’t handle this house alone, but I can find help.”
“Who?” Ying Tao looked puzzled.
Jiang Suihuan smiled without answering, thinking of her unfinished business with Gu Jin. She felt rather prescient.
Without delay, Jiang Suihuan went to Bei Mo Prince Manor that very evening. She said to the guards at the gate, “Please inform Beimo Wang that the Marquis Family’s Daughter, Jiang Suihuan, is here to see him.”
The guard stood ramrod straight. “Do you have a visiting card?”
“Um, no.” Jiang Suihuan pointed at the main gate. “The Prince said before that I could come see him directly. If you’re too lazy to announce me, I can just go in myself.”
“No one is allowed entry without a visiting card.”
Jiang Suihuan stamped her foot in frustration, muttering under her breath, “Why are even the Prince Manor’s guards as cold as Gu Jin?”
“What did you say?”
A chilly voice came from behind her. Jiang Suihuan froze, then turned around with a smile. “Your Highness, what are you doing here? I was just praising you, saying the manor’s guards are as principled as you.”
Gu Jin walked inside expressionlessly. “Has no one ever told you the smile on your face looks fake?”
“No, they haven’t.”
Jiang Suihuan followed Gu Jin inside, and this time she wasn’t stopped.
Gu Jin walked very quickly, forcing Jiang Suihuan to take quick, small steps to keep up. “Prince, do you remember the unfinished transaction we had last time? I’ve come to ask for your help.”
“Speak, Miss Jiang. What do you need my help with?”
Gu Jin suddenly stopped, and Jiang Suihuan, unable to react in time, stepped squarely on his gold-threaded boots.
“Yikes!” Jiang Suihuan gasped sharply and offered an apologetic smile. “Prince, I didn’t mean to.”
A vein twitched on Gu Jin’s forehead as he gritted his teeth. “It’s fine.”
Jiang Suihuan shifted slightly to the side and recounted the matter of the haunted house, concluding, “I’d like to ask the Prince for a small favor—to send someone to investigate what’s really going on with that house.”
“I can agree to that, but Miss Jiang, don’t you think such matters should be handled by Taoist priests?” Gu Jin leaned closer to Jiang Suihuan. “Isn’t it a bit of a waste to involve me?”
Seeing his handsome face so close to hers, Jiang Suihuan’s cheeks flushed uncontrollably.