"What? You mean it?"

Qi Xiao suddenly stood up, causing the teacups and pen holders on the desk to wobble and make quite a noise due to his sudden movement.

"Yes!" The subordinates, who were already somewhat trembling with fear, became even more terrified. They thought about it eighteen times in their minds before cautiously replying, "The people guarding the Lin family reported that it is indeed true... The mourning hall has been set up at the Lin family of Ning'an today because the eldest son of the Lin family, Lin Zhongyuan, has passed away."

Qi Xiao frowned deeply, took two steps, muttering "No, no," then suddenly turned back and stared intently at the subordinate who had answered, asking, "Tell me the whole story in detail!"

"At midnight last night, a loud noise suddenly came from the Lin family home, a very shrill crying. Later, we saw the Lin family's servants run out to buy white cloth and return, and by this morning, a mourning hall had been set up..."

"It's said that even His Majesty went to pay his respects after the morning court session. Our people saw His Majesty's eyes were red when he came out from the back gate, so we figured it must be true, right?" The person who answered was still very careful, afraid that if he said something wrong, he would anger the eldest prince, Qi Xiao.

They'll be in big trouble then.

While others might not know, the people in the First Prince's residence had vaguely heard some unpleasant rumors. For example, the First Prince appeared gentle and refined, but was extremely violent at heart, and every month, seven or eight corpses were secretly carried out of the backyard of his residence. And the affairs of the suburban houses were even more complicated.

Hearing this made them all panic, but there was no definite information about these things, and they dared not actually become runaway slaves, as that would truly be courting death for their entire families.

Now all I can do is be on edge and act cautiously, hoping that if I do my job well, I can live a little longer.

After listening to them finish speaking, Qi Xiao's brows remained furrowed. He kept calculating something before finally saying, "No matter how I calculate the time, it's still wrong, but the hour is correct."

One of the more respectable men below, completely bewildered, couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what exactly is wrong? Now that the Lin family is dead, isn't that a good thing for our Crown Prince's residence?"

Qi Xiao sneered: "What do you know! If my method had worked, that brat surnamed Lin would have been dead long ago, not yesterday."

But the time is correct.

It's because his Netherworld Gu has taken effect, attracting ghosts from the surrounding area to entangle Lin Zhongyuan. The excessive Yin energy will cause an imbalance of Yin and Yang in his body, leading to a serious illness.

Generally speaking, it is a cold, after all, who can feel hot all over when their body is suppressed by ghosts?

This is when the most ghosts appear, which naturally attracts more ghosts to absorb Lin Zhongyuan's yang energy, eventually causing him to die from the exhaustion of his yang energy.

But the timing was wrong, and Qi Xiao vaguely sensed something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

I just felt like something was fishy.

In the end, he didn't place all his hopes on his subordinates and decided to go and see for himself the next day.

For him, seeing is believing; he can't fully believe something unless he sees it with his own eyes.

...

The next day, Qi Xiao had someone prepare funeral gifts and took them to the Lin family.

Upon arriving at the Lin family's residence, one indeed saw white lanterns and coarse cloth that made the entire mansion incredibly sorrowful and solemn. There were also bursts of mournful music playing, accompanied by the cries of either monks or Taoist priests, which made one feel sad just listening to it.

Qi Xiao's lips curled up slightly as he stepped through the door, but he quickly withdrew them.

Upon entering, they were surprised to see Lin Weiming leaning against the wall with bloodshot eyes, dressed in white, looking as if he were observing mourning for his son.

According to custom, elders are not required to observe mourning for younger generations.

If Lin Weiming's family had come from the countryside, they wouldn't have had so many rules. It wouldn't be unreasonable for them to wear white clothes because they were heartbroken that their son had died young.

Qi Xiao walked over and said with a sorrowful expression, "Lord Lin, there is no need to be so sad. Please accept my condolences."

Lin Weiming ignored him and turned his head to the side.

Lin Zheyun then came over with her younger brother and sister, their eyes also red, and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to pay respects to my elder brother. My father was truly heartbroken, so please do not blame him."

Qi Xiao glanced down at Lin Wanyue.

Lin Wanyue was fair-skinned, but now her eyes were red and swollen from crying, like peaches. Her beautiful and clear eyes were even covered with blood vessels, as if she had suddenly become a reincarnated rabbit spirit.

Lin Wanyue also said in a muffled voice, "Thank you, big brother, for coming to see my older brother."

"You don't need to worry. Lord Lin is a truly sincere and compassionate person, that's why he did this. You children should see your elder brother off properly, but don't overwork yourselves." Qi Xiao said politely, but in his heart he was genuinely convinced.

After all, this family all come from the countryside. Could it be that they all have such good acting skills?

Even with his careful observation, he couldn't spot a single flaw.

However, he still wanted to see Lin Zhongyuan's body.

Qi Xiao suggested sending off Lin Zhongyuan, this promising young man, on his final journey, and to see his face one last time. Surprisingly, the Lin family did not refuse.

In any case, the coffin lid will not be closed during the period of mourning, just in case the person in the coffin is not really dead and can be brought back to life during this time.

Lin Zhongyuan lay inside a large, pitch-black coffin, his face as pale as paper, his lips blue and bloodless, his body ice-cold, and his chest not rising or falling at all.

As soon as Qi Xiao approached, he could feel the chilling aura emanating from him. It wasn't the kind of cold caused by the temperature; it was the kind of oppressive, bone-chilling cold that only comes from a ghost nearby.

Qi Xiao was now certain: Lin Zhongyuan was really dead!

It's true!

Having confirmed this good news himself, Qi Xiao almost burst into laughter inside, but on the surface he managed to suppress it, only managing a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.

Still feigning grief, he said a few polite words before bidding farewell to the Lin family and leaving.

He remained cautious and silent throughout the carriage, seemingly deeply saddened by the passing of a promising scholar from the Great Yan Kingdom.

But it wasn't until he returned to his study in the palace that Qi Xiao truly felt relieved. After laughing for a while, he became increasingly smug.

It seems that Lin Wanyue is not as powerful as I imagined!

He couldn't even save his own elder brother's life; he was just putting on an act all along.

It's a wonder he endured it for so long because of that brat.

It seems that being overly cautious isn't always a good thing.