Chapter 192: Believe It or Not
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Yu Zhi Yi was utterly confident that her ploy would leave the Young Duke caught in a predicament he couldn’t escape from. To protect her dignity, secure her position, and avoid Chancellor Du’s wrath, she would surely grit her teeth and endure, swallowing her pride along with her grievances.
Ji Yi Fei frowned slightly. He had deduced the Young Duke’s intentions and had initially wanted to say something. However, when he thought of his own mother and their precarious situation, he ultimately held his tongue.
Forget it. At this moment, he couldn’t afford to offend these people. No, even in his former glory, he couldn’t afford to offend them. Back then, his father’s influence had reached the imperial court, which only gave them a modicum of deterrence. But now, without his father’s protection, he had no cards left to play. He turned his head away, choosing not to involve himself further in the matter.
Yu Zhi Yi, seemingly oblivious to Ji Yi Fei’s subtle shift in demeanor, cast a calm gaze at the Young Duke in front of her. “Are you sure there’s nothing suspicious about this?”
The Young Duke chuckled lightly. “There are no such things as ghosts in this world, are there?”
“Then why did you buy this property and not live in it?”
The Young Duke, having anticipated this question, replied smoothly, “This is just a secondary residence. I only come here occasionally. Later on, family matters kept me busy, so the estate was left idle.”
Yu Zhi Yi shrugged, choosing not to expose his obvious lie. Instead, she said nonchalantly, “It’s been nearly a year since you purchased this estate, hasn’t it?”
The Young Duke froze for a moment, about to ask how she knew this, when his gaze flicked to the broker standing nearby. Realizing the source of her information, he dropped his suspicions and nodded. “Yes, less than seven days remain until a full year.”
“But my decision to sell has nothing to do with that. I just think that if I won’t be living here in the future, it’s better to let someone else enjoy this fine property rather than let it go to waste.”
Yu Zhi Yi’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Such magnanimity from the Young Duke.”
The Young Duke’s chest puffed with pride. But before his moment of satisfaction could stretch any further, Yu Zhi Yi’s tone shifted.
“Young Duke, are you aware that the rumors about misfortune in this estate after a year’s residence aren’t entirely accurate?”
The Young Duke furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”
Yu Zhi Yi’s smile grew wider. “To be precise, the misfortune doesn’t occur after a year of living here. The actual legend is that the owner of the estate will face disaster on the 349th day of ownership. The first owner of this estate encountered her misfortune exactly on that day after moving in.”
The Young Duke blinked in confusion. “What?”
Yu Zhi Yi’s smile became dazzling. “And today just so happens to be the 349th day.”
“On this day, the curse within the estate reaches its peak, targeting not only the owner but also anyone closely associated with them on this day.”
The Young Duke’s face turned ashen. Behind him, his companions exchanged frightened glances, clearly shaken by Yu Zhi Yi’s ominous declaration. Her reputation for knowledge in such matters was well-known, and though they doubted her words, fear gnawed at them after hearing her chilling statement.
Miss Su, however, snorted derisively. “Madam Du, what is the purpose of such theatrics?”
The group froze. “Theatrics?”
Miss Su glanced at Yu Zhi Yi’s startled expression, assuming she’d hit the mark. Her tone sharpened. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“How convenient that the estate has remained fine all this time, only to suddenly become a source of calamity after Madam Du’s arrival. Isn’t this just a ploy to scare the Young Duke into lowering the price? Then she can swoop in as the hero claiming to resolve the curse.”
Hearing this, the group began nodding in agreement. Even Ji Yi Fei, initially skeptical, found himself persuaded. Yet, as he recalled the inexplicable falling of the plaque earlier, uncertainty gnawed at his mind once more.
Yu Zhi Yi shrugged. “If you don’t believe me, suit yourselves.”
Hard words couldn’t save someone courting death, and Yu Zhi Yi wasn’t interested in wasting her breath on them. She turned and left.
The Young Duke and his companions were baffled by her decisiveness. The Young Duke, in particular, felt a tinge of dissatisfaction. He had hoped to coax her into buying the manor.
Unfortunately, Yu Zhi Yi didn’t give him the chance. She disappeared from their sight in moments.
The Young Duke cast a cold glance at Miss Su but said nothing. Instead, he looked toward Ji Yi Fei. “Well? Aren’t you going to try it out?”
Ji Yi Fei hesitated, his face unreadable. He didn’t believe Yu Zhi Yi’s words, but as he stepped back into the manor, a peculiar chill seeped into his bones.
The weather was indeed cold, yet it hadn’t been enough to make him shiver like this. It felt as if an unnatural coldness was targeting him, piercing straight into his heart. His teeth began to chatter uncontrollably.
The Young Duke and the others, watching Ji Yi Fei enter, decided not to idle around and went to explore the nearby area. Though the season was turning harsh, even desolation had its charm.
The Young Duke’s outing today was all about capturing the barren beauty of early winter for his paintings.
Nearby was a grove, its leaves mostly shriveled and fallen. The branches bore only a few stubborn remnants. The early winter wind was bleak, plucking a fragile leaf from its perch and casting it before the Young Duke. He kicked it aside nonchalantly.
A crow’s harsh caw broke the quiet, grating on the ears. Miss Su hugged herself, shivering. “It’s too cold.”
“Indeed,” someone else muttered. “The temperature in this grove feels much lower than outside.”
The Young Duke nodded; he had the same impression. Just as they were about to return, Young Master Zhang dismissed their concerns. “It’s natural. Even though most of the leaves are gone, the dense trees block sunlight, making it colder.”
The reasoning seemed plausible, so the group pressed on.
They knew the Young Duke sought inspiration, particularly in the barren landscape, so no one dared complain.
The grove wasn’t small. By the time they had combed through its entirety, two hours had passed. The sun had already begun its descent.
The Young Duke, catching sight of the blood-red sunset, brightened with excitement. “Let’s go! Time to head back!”
He had found his inspiration and couldn’t wait to get back and start painting.
The group collectively sighed in relief. Finally, the Young Duke had what he needed. After a day of wandering, their legs were about to give out.
But their hopes of a straightforward return were dashed.
“Haven’t we passed this spot already?”
The sun remained in the western sky, its glow deepening into an unnerving crimson, like blood ready to drip.
They kept walking. No matter which direction they took, they found themselves looping back to the same starting point.
Moreover, the same tree appeared repeatedly. The Young Duke was sure he had seen it six times.
A sudden chill of realization struck him. Yu Zhi Yi’s warning echoed in his mind.
Day 349.
For the first time, clarity pierced his thoughts. He had miscalculated. Two months of illness had left him muddled, causing him to lose track of time. Including those two months, the manor had been in his possession for almost a year.
And now, only seven days remained.