Can't Think of a Name Anymore

Senior Sister Yuan Xi had already heard the commotion. As she stepped out of the main door, Lin Qi ran headfirst into her arms.

Yuan Xi thought Lin Qi was truly terrified and held her close, stroking the back of her head.

A hint of coldness touched her jade-like face as she questioned the maidservant, "What exactly happened?"

The shouting had gone on for so long that everyone nearby had been awakened.

The young maidservant's composure had also slightly returned.

Her voice trembled as she said, "This morning, I was drawing water from the well in the next courtyard to prepare a meal, and I suddenly found a bloated corpse in the well... it looked like Wei Chongfu."

"Wei Chongfu?" Yuan Xi subconsciously asked.

Lin Qi wearily pressed her forehead.

The next second, she heard the maidservant say, "He's the Family Head's favorite husband-in-waiting recently... H-his face was all black, like he was poisoned."

The maidservant was recalling the events very seriously. After Yuan Xi listened, she realized that this matter might involve the Luo Family's secrets, and it truly wasn't something an outsider like her should hear.

Since she had already heard what she shouldn't have, there was no way to pretend to be deaf and mute anymore.

"Let's go take a look next door."

Yuan Xi lowered her head and exchanged a look with Lin Qi. Lin Qi grunted twice and continued to wail, "Senior Sister, can we not go? It sounds so scary."

Yuan Xi, with her hand on her forehead, truly had no resistance to Lin Qi's acting cute and coquettish.

She and Lin Qi were kindred spirits, and she patted Lin Qi meaningfully.

"I'm afraid we can't avoid it. The Luo Family Head will likely send someone to invite us soon."

Just as Yuan Xi predicted, as soon as she finished speaking, Luo Zhou arrived with a polite invitation, and incidentally took the young maidservant away.

Lin Qi and Yuan Xi sipped tea in the reception room, enjoying the aroma. They felt relaxed yet somewhat resigned.

A quarter of an hour earlier, someone from the Luo Family had politely inquired about the morning's events, essentially recording Lin Qi and Yuan Xi's testimonies.

After they finished asking, they left, leaving the two of them to rest there.

Not long after, the Luo Family Head arrived with her entourage.

The smile on her face was as warm and kind as ever. She apologized immediately, "I apologize for startling you two young friends. What happened today was truly an accident."

Senior Sister Yuan Xi stood up and returned the courtesy, saying with a hint of shyness, "We weren't exactly startled, but we had intended to bid farewell to Aunt Luo. Now, it's difficult for us to bring it up."

Bringing up their departure at a time like this seemed deliberate.

However, if they continued to stay, Yuan Xi feared she would truly get entangled in their family affairs. Therefore, she used a strategic retreat to advance, stating her intention.

The Luo Family Head looked surprised. "Why are you leaving so soon? Could it be that you were truly frightened by today's events?"

As she spoke, a look of sadness and helplessness appeared on the Luo Family Head's face. "I have a favored husband-in-waiting in my back courtyard who is arrogant and proud. I reprimanded him a couple of words yesterday, and he couldn't take it and jumped into the well. I didn't expect it to startle you two young friends."

The truth of the matter wasn't important; as long as Lin Qi and Yuan Xi believed it, that was enough.

Yuan Xi replied, "It's not because of this matter."

"We came to Ming City to take on a mission. We need to get a stamp from the Ming City Affairs Hall within a specified time, otherwise, we will be punished. Yesterday, my junior sister and I had agreed to bid farewell today, but we happened to encounter this incident."

Lin Qi tugged at Yuan Xi's clothes and asked 'timidly,' "Aunt Luo, if Junior Brother wishes to stay home for a couple more days, my Senior Sister and I can leave first. He can follow us a couple of days later."

The Luo Family Head did not insist on keeping them. She laughed heartily and waved her hand.

"The mission is important, and I shouldn't keep you any longer. Since Luo Ci is on the mission with you, he naturally has to go together. I will have them prepare a carriage today to escort you safely to Ming City."

The Luo Family Head was very efficient. She agreed in the morning and arranged everything by noon.

Luo Ci was still dazed when he was stuffed into the carriage.

After a while, he finally asked, "Are we leaving so soon?"

Lin Qi said grimly, "What else? Do you plan to stay at your house for another year or half a year?"

"Third Junior Brother, did you forget about Senior Sister and me as soon as you got home? Are you having too much fun?!"

Luo Ci's hair stood on end from Lin Qi's sarcastic tone, and he completely lost his usual imposing manner. "Second, Second Senior Sister, why are you like this?"

As he spoke, he edged closer to Senior Sister Yuan Xi.

"What am I like?" Lin Qi asked softly.

Just as she was about to retort to Luo Ci, there was a knock on the carriage door.

The door opened, and a young man with a clear, gentle face appeared, looking about thirty years old, exuding an scholarly aura.

Luo Ci's eyes lit up, and he excitedly lunged forward, "Father! You're finally back!"

Feng Jun gently stroked Luo Ci's head, a loving smile on his face. "I heard you were back, so Father had people travel overnight. I managed to catch up."

Luo Ci initially gave a silly laugh, but after a moment, the smile on his face gradually faded.

"Father, I'm leaving for Ming City right away. Mother insisted I go now, but I could have stayed longer!"

He drooped his face. "With my cultivation level, I might just drag Senior Sister down. Why is Mother rushing me away so urgently! Does she not like me anymore?!"

"How could that be?!" Feng Jun chuckled. "Your mother loves you so much that she wants you to leave now, she doesn't want you to waste time at home."

Feng Jun coaxed for a long time before finally pacifying Luo Ci.

He smiled and greeted Lin Qi and Yuan Xi, speaking in a refined and elegant manner with a gentle and approachable attitude.

Before leaving, he quietly handed Luo Ci two bundles. They smelled faintly fragrant.

"Don't let your mother see these, or she'll definitely punish you again. Eat them after you leave Luo City, and remember to share them with your two senior sisters."

Luo Ci nodded obediently, then suddenly spoke, "Dad, Uncle Wei is dead. He was found this morning. Mother said she said a couple of things to him, and in a fit of rage, he threw himself into the well and committed suicide. What will happen to Third Brother?"

Feng Jun didn't even flinch. He looked at Luo Ci with doting eyes. "Your Third Brother is your mother's biological child. Of course, he'll be fine."

Luo Ci was about to ask more, but Feng Jun spoke first.

"Don't get involved in family matters. Focus on your cultivation. Dad is waiting for you to become strong and return to inherit the Luo Family."

Luo Ci seemed to listen to Feng Jun particularly well, immediately closing his mouth and ceasing his inquiries.

When the carriage flew into the air, Luo Ci opened the bundles. Inside were packages of exquisite and sweet pastries.

He pinched a piece for Senior Sister Yuan Xi, then pinched another for Lin Qi, and held one for himself. After taking two bites, tears the size of beans began to fall.

Yuan Xi held the pastry and gently stroked his head.

Lin Qi took a small bite of the pastry. The sweet and soft texture spread in her mouth, but her mind involuntarily drifted to the Luo Family's affairs.

Threw himself into the well and committed suicide?

She clearly remembered the little maid saying that Wei Chongfu's face was dark, looking as if he had been poisoned.

Moreover, the row where Lin Qi and the others were staying was the guest rooms.

For a member of the Luo Family's inner circle to go to the guest rooms in the middle of the night and commit suicide by jumping into a well seemed too deliberate.

This chapter is two thousand characters. I'll work harder later and try to update another thousand to pay off all my debts.