The gold coins danced between his fingers, as if they were alive, imbued with a spirit.
When the mountain of gold coins was displayed before everyone, the fake ghost doctor suddenly burst into laughter, saying unrestrainedly, "Money is just an external thing. Being able to make everyone laugh is enough."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and gold coins rained down, instantly causing the crowd to erupt in cheers and exclamations.
"Thank you, sir!"
Wow! We're going to strike it rich tonight!
"Your Honorable and Upright Official!"
"What is this...?" Xu Yuehuai was also dumbfounded, looking at the fake ghost doctor in confusion.
The fake doctor casually said, "True power lies not in how much you possess, but in how much you can control. Tonight, I hope you understand that I can give you everything you can't even imagine."
After saying that, he led Xu Yuehuai through the hustle and bustle of the crowd and into the night, leaving behind a series of thoughtful footprints.
After passing through several dark alleys, they arrived at a secluded cave, where an elderly man with white hair sat.
The old man handed the fake doctor an antique jade box containing unknown herbs.
"This medicine can greatly enhance your skills, but it must be cooked by someone who treats you with sincerity in order to achieve its effect."
Back at the mansion, the fake ghost doctor handed the jade box to Xu Yuehuai and ordered her to make soup.
Although Xu Yuehuai was unwilling, she had no choice but to do as she was told.
The medicine was brewed and had a strange, unpleasant smell. She almost covered her nose and ran away, but in the end, she forced herself to endure the nausea and served the medicine to the fake doctor.
The fake doctor took the soup bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and looked satisfied.
"The taste is strange, but it's the taste of sincerity." He chuckled, then changed the subject, "Do you know that I've already seen through your true identity as a woman?"
Xu Yuehuai was startled, but remained silent, though her eyes held a hint of wariness and helplessness.
“Don’t be nervous, I mean no harm,” the fake doctor gently patted the spot next to him. “Come, give me a massage, consider it a reward for this journey.”
Xu Yuehuai sat down as instructed, her fingers lightly touching the fake ghost doctor's shoulder and back. For a moment, only this subtle touch and silent communication remained between the two.
In this quiet night, even the air seems to be telling a secret that no one knows.
At night, Xu Yuehuai returned to her room and quietly pushed open the door. An unusual scent quietly entered her nose. It was a strange fragrance that mixed bitterness and mystery, which made her feel alert.
Her eyes were sharp as she stepped into the room without making a sound, secretly thinking, "This smell, could it be..."
The interior furnishings remained the same, but the eerie atmosphere in the air forced her to be on high alert.
Xu Yuehuai slowly walked to the table, her fingertips gliding over the rim of the teacup, the cold tea seeming particularly suspicious at this moment.
She casually picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and her expression changed slightly before returning to normal.
She knew there was something fishy about the tea, so she deliberately fell down, pretending to be poisoned and unconscious.
Soon, a series of faint footsteps approached. Xu Yuehuai's tightly closed eyes were slightly open, revealing a glint of light as she observed the movements of the approaching person.
A figure crept closer, rummaging around as if searching for something important. The person moved quickly and cautiously, as if afraid of disturbing their sleeping master.
"Hmph, I'd like to see who's so bold as to tamper with things on my turf." Xu Yuehuai sneered inwardly, but made no sound, simply waiting quietly for the other party to slip up.
After searching unsuccessfully, the man seemed a little impatient. He muttered a few curses under his breath and was about to leave when he suddenly stopped, as if hesitating whether he should search more carefully.
At this critical moment, Xu Yuehuai had already made up her mind, and she decided to take this opportunity to reveal the truth.
As the man turned to leave, Xu Yuehuai suddenly opened her eyes. "Stop! Who gave you the audacity to act so presumptuously in my house?"
The man was startled and turned around abruptly. He saw that Xu Yuehuai had actually woken up and was clear-headed. He couldn't help but show a look of panic.
Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating his slightly immature face. He was none other than Afu, the servant in charge of daily chores in Xu Yuehuai's courtyard.
"You... how did you wake up?" Afu hadn't expected Xu Yuehuai to see through his plan so quickly.
"Afu, I consider you a trusted confidant, how can you bear to put me in such an unjust position?" After saying this, Xu Yuehuai pressed closer step by step, each step like a heavy hammer, striking Afu's crumbling loyalty.
Afu's face turned ashen, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
“I…I was also desperate!” He buried his head in his hands. “How could a lowly servant like me possibly contend with that man’s power? He made it clear that if I didn’t comply, my family would have no way to survive.”
Xu Yuehuai slowly squatted down, meeting Afu's gaze. "Speak, who is it? Though I am not heartless, I cannot tolerate such treacherous villains running rampant in this mansion!"
After struggling for a moment, Afu said, "It's Steward Li. He promised that as long as I can become his eyes and ears, he can protect my family."
Xu Yuehuai's eyes flashed, a complex mix of emotions swirling within them. She sighed softly, reaching out to gently stroke Afu's back, as if comforting a wounded child: "Afu, remember, the most precious things in this world are inner peace and justice. Get up. I will deal with your mistakes, but you must understand that true loyalty is to remain true to your original aspirations even in the face of storms."
The following day, Xu Yuehuai took a series of swift and decisive measures, not only quickly exposing the true colors of Steward Li, but also using this opportunity to launch an unprecedented reform storm in the mansion.
Those who had harbored ill intentions towards her all bowed down in submission before her majesty and wisdom.
"You are truly our savior!" the servants exclaimed.
As for Afu, he was completely devoted to Xu Yuehuai and swore to be loyal to her to the death.
As night fell, the moonlight gently covered the capital of Wuling Kingdom like a fine veil. Xu Yuehuai quietly arrived at the backyard of the mansion.
"Something feels off tonight," she thought to herself, her feet unconsciously moving toward a corner of the yard where there was a patch of bushes that few people usually went to.
Xu Yuehuai held her breath and focused her attention. She heard the night wind rustling and the leaves whispering. Suddenly, a furtive figure flashed past the edge of her vision and headed straight out of the mansion.
"That's... a fake ghost doctor?" Xu Yuehuai was startled and immediately decided to follow. She closely followed the figure, passing through streets and alleys, until she arrived at the majestic city wall of the Wuling Kingdom's royal palace.
Inside the palace, the lights were dim, and the patrolling soldiers marched in orderly steps, yet they failed to notice the intrusion of this uninvited guest. The fake ghost doctor skillfully bypassed the guards and headed straight for a hidden palace.
"What could he possibly want here so late at night?" Xu Yuehuai pondered.
A patrol of soldiers suddenly appeared ahead. Xu Yuehuai quickly hid in the shadows, but in doing so, she lost track of the fake ghost doctor.
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