Chapter 702 - Candy And A Slap
The crowd heard that Ji Yunshu was going to hunt down the ghost at night, and all of them exchanged confused looks with each other.
A discussion started among the onlookers. “Did you hear that? Teacher Ji is going to hunt down the ghost tonight.”
“Yes, I heard it.”
“Didn’t he say that there was no such thing known as a ghost in this world? Why did he change his stance and say that he’s going to hunt down the ghost now?”
“Regardless, I’m feeling very disturbed right now. Recently, so many strange incidents have happened in the estate. I keep feeling a ghostly presence here. Even if we don’t include what happened in the past few days, over a dozen people in the mansion have already fallen ill, wailing in pain all day long. Yet none of the many physicians consulted were able to provide a definitive diagnosis. I think it has to be the work of a ghost. Otherwise, why would they fall sick for no reason?” The man pursed his lips, as if he was agreeing with himself.
The others who were listening to him nodded and agreed with his theory. However, they also reminded him, “Keep your voice low, in case someone’s listening.” Then, all of them fell into silence.
In the room, Marquis Kang pondered Ji Yunshu’s words. He asked anxiously, “Teacher Ji, since you said that my treasures were still in this residence, perhaps I should send my men to carry out a search. If I find my treasure in any of the rooms, the room’s owner must be the ghost we are after.”
Although Marquis Kang’s suggestion sounded like a good idea, for Ji Yunshu, it was a mindless one.
She smiled, “Marquis, since your treasures are still in this estate, you should be in no hurry to find them. Moreover, the person who stole your treasures is not stupid. He wouldn’t keep the haul in his own room, and be waiting for Marquis to catch him red-handed, right? Give it a thought, Marquis. You have such a huge collection of treasures, each and every one of them precious and unique.
“However, they were all replaced by counterfeits overnight. Obviously, the thief must have planned everything out, since the theft was certainly not something designed within a day or two. Naturally, after he replaced all your treasures, he wouldn’t keep it in just any room in the estate. He must have also decided where to keep his haul, and I’m sure that the treasures are now kept in a well-hidden place. I reckon that Marquis will not be able to find them so easily.”
“You’re saying that my treasures are hidden in this estate, but I won’t be able to find them?”
“That’s right.”
“Then…”
“Just like what this humble one said earlier, once the sun sets, not only can we find out who the thief is, we can also hunt down the ghost who has been haunting the estate. Marquis, please be patient. The truth will reveal itself once the night falls.” Ji Yunshu’s tone was calm but final.
Marquis Kang was forced to banish his idea and patiently wait for the night to come before he could capture the ghost with Ji Yunshu. He turned around, only to see the roomful of counterfeits greeting him. It really made his blood boil.
Why do you have to replace my treasures with these counterfeits? Do you think of me as an idiot? Do they intend to slap him savagely in the face with this humiliation?? Marquis Kang was infuriated.
“Come here.” The enraged Marquis Kang ordered, “Throw all of these out and destroy them. Everything.”
Uh! The steward contemplated before he approached Marquis Kang and asked, “Marquis, do you really want to burn all of them?”
“Just burn them, all of them. Their very presence is offensive.”
Marquis Kang flung his sleeves behind him and left the room.
The steward heaved a sigh as he stared at all the items, thinking that it would be a waste to throw these away. Although they were counterfeits, laymen would not be able to tell them apart from the authentic ones. If he could sell this, he might be able to earn some money. It was such a waste to just destroy them all. Perhaps I should sell them secretly.
However, before he had the chance to plot it out, he was awakened by Jing Rong. “The Marquis has already given the order to destroy all of them. Why are you still standing here? Are you still not going to work?”
“Yes, I’ll destroy them all now.”
The steward quickly gathered the servants and the maids around, instructing them to move all the items out of the room. They threw the counterfeits on the floor, filling the courtyard with continuous loud thuds. They put together all the counterfeits they failed to break, and lit them up. The fire burned wildly, fuelled by the counterfeits.
The onlookers sighed in lamentation. “It’s such a waste. They are all good items.”
“I know. Although they are counterfeits, we can still exchange them for quite a bit of money.”
The steward clearly was not alone in having such thoughts.
However, some also said, “These items have been haunted. It’s better to burn them into ashes before they bring any trouble.” After all, no one could confirm whether it was a ghost or human behind this.
Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu watched as the items were burnt into ashes.
On their way back to their room, Jing Rong asked curiously, “Do you already know who the thief is?”
She shook her head, “No, I don’t.”
“You don’t know yet?”
“Yes.”
“How dare you make such a bold promise. If you fail to capture the ‘ghost’ tonight, Marquis Kang will turn you into a ghost instead.”
Pfft.Ji Yunshu chuckled, and turned to look at him. “I fear nothing as long as you’re with me.”
Her words could easily move Jing Rong. Heart fluttering, Jing Rong lifted his chin and replied, “That’s for sure. As long as this prince is around, no one would dare to lay a single finger on you. But…” He narrowed his eyes and looked seriously at the woman before him. “Even so, you shouldn’t have made such a bold promise. You should be honest about not knowing who the thief is, and shouldn’t have lied to Marquis Kang. It’s as though you handed him candy, only to turn around to give him a slap in the face.”
“But, I didn’t say that I wouldn’t retrieve his treasures.” Ji Yunshu gave an innocent expression.
“You said that you didn’t know who the thief was.”
“I really don’t know who the thief is, but we will find out his identity after night falls.”
Hmm? What kind of logic is this?
Ji Yunshu hurried towards the courtyard, as if she intended to stay ambiguous. Since he was unable to figure out what she meant, Jing Rong gave up trying to guess. After all, he would believe whatever this woman said.
On the other hand, Marquis Kang grumpily returned to his room. He plopped his fat body down into the chair, and immediately heard a cracking sound. It seemed he had broken the chair.
He jumped up and kicked the chair.
Crack! The chair fell apart, and collapsed into a useless pile onto the ground .
“Even you have something against me!” He was infuriated.
Two servants barged into the room right after they heard Marquis Kang’s cry. They saw the broken chair and looked at each other awkwardly. “Marquis, what happened?”
“Get out!” Marquis Kang yelled at them.
Knowing that Marquis Kang was in a foul mood, and that approaching him now was as dangerous as plucking the hair from a tiger, the two servants left the room.
Right after the two servants left, a man entered the room. The man seemed to be around the same age as Marquis Kang, but looked more energetic than the latter. Despite his solemn expression, his face still looked rather gentle.
This was the same man who fetched Ji Yunshu from the forest. Without his armour, he seemed way more amiable than before.
“Zhou Wen?” Marquis Kang gazed at him.
Zhou Wen bowed. “Your Highness.”
“How can I help you?”
“I just heard that a thief has replaced Your Highness’ treasures with counterfeits.”
Eh?