Chapter 533 Are You Saying the Wrongdoer Is Me?

Chapter 533: Are You Saying the Evildoer Is Me?

At that time, he and Jiao Shi had not yet been engaged. She had accompanied her elders to visit the Duke of Xinguo's estate as a guest, and he had also accompanied his elders to receive them.

That sweet, charming little girl blushed upon seeing him, lowered her head, and called him "Brother Lian," just as her elders had taught her.

In response, he stammered several times, drawing laughter from the elders.

Before he knew it, more than twenty years had passed.

The memory of that delicate little girl surfaced from the depths of time, standing before him now, just as sweet and lovely.

Yu Shanglian suddenly recalled that when his Zhu Zhu was born, he had dearly hoped that his daughter would grow up to look exactly like the young girl before him.

For a moment, Yu Shanglian was speechless.

Meanwhile, the old Duke of Xin, having seen much of life, politely addressed Grandma Da Xi: "Are you the miraculous doctor who woke the young girl from the Jiping Commandery Prince's household yesterday?"

Grandma Da Xi glanced at the old Duke of Xin and gave a curt reply.

Yu Chongjie's frown deepened.

How could this old woman be so disrespectful to his grandfather!

In truth, while Yu Chongjie felt Grandma Da Xi was being disrespectful, Xingxing actually felt she was being polite enough!

Still, Xingxing could guess the reason.

Back in the countryside, Grandma Da Xi had often treated retired soldiers—some missing limbs—hardly charging them anything. When Xingxing had once asked why, Grandma Da Xi had simply replied that every soldier who had shed blood for the nation and its people deserved her respect.

The old Duke of Xin had once been a renowned and fierce warrior on the battlefield in his youth.

"Miraculous Doctor, have you determined why my wife remains unconscious?" the old Duke of Xin asked.

Grandma Da Xi replied coolly, "It's simple. Someone in your household has committed evil deeds, bringing misfortune back with them. Although this elderly lady is destined for wealth and longevity, her vitality has been drained for some reason. When misfortune was brought into the residence, she was the first to suffer."

Her words left the room dead silent.

Yu Chongjie grew even more convinced that this woman was talking nonsense: "What exactly do you mean by that?!"

However, Imperial Physician Liu, upon hearing Grandma Da Xi's words, did his own calculations and nodded gravely. "After recalculating, I must agree—the household's luck is indeed off."

Yu Chongjie's remaining objections stuck in his throat.

Yu Shanglian asked, "Then, according to your esteemed diagnosis, who in our household is responsible for this evil?"

Grandma Da Xi, having far less patience for Yu Shanglian than for the old Duke of Xin, scoffed. "If I could calculate even that, I might as well join the Ministry of Justice! In any case, the wrongdoing was committed by someone in your household—sort it out yourselves!"

This was Yu Shanglian's first encounter with Grandma Da Xi's temper, and he was left speechless.

His eldest son, Yu Chongjie, however, was not at all pleased.

How could this old woman be so rude to both his grandfather and father!

But since she had been invited by his mother, Yu Chongjie held back his anger and said curtly, "Since you're so certain about this misfortune, surely you have a solution?"

Grandma Da Xi replied bluntly, "No."

Yu Chongjie hardly held back his rage!

Who does this old woman think she is?

Yu Mingzhu stepped forward in time, tugging at Yu Chongjie's sleeve and whispering placatingly: "Elder Brother, don't be angry. This miracle doctor is the teacher of the Lady of Blessed Peace..."

Yu Chongjie's brows furrowed even deeper.

At this moment, he shared the same thought as Jiao Shi had the day before—how could a proper Lady of Blessed Peace associate with such people?

The Duke of Xin could probably tell that his eldest grandson had somehow offended this master with his words.

He bowed to Daxisipo: "Please excuse him, master. My eldest grandson has become too bookish."

Daxisipo sidestepped, unwilling to accept the Duke's bow, and said stiffly, "Old Duke, you've fought half your life for the country. No need to bow to this old crone—I can't bear it."

Frowning at the unconscious Dowager Duchess of Xin on the bed, she added grimly, "To wake this Dowager Duchess, we must first find the culprit."

Imperial Physician Liu also nodded in agreement: "If someone truly brought bad energy into the residence, harming the Dowager Duchess, then we must indeed locate the wrongdoer first."

Hearing Imperial Physician Liu say this, Yu Chongjie had nothing to say.

Jiao Shi whispered a reminder: "Be polite to Miracle Doctor Da Xi. She has real skills. They say she's the one who revived Second Miss Wei!"

Yu Chongjie pressed his lips together and murmured in agreement.

Yet the situation had reached another impasse—where was the culprit?

Xingxing suddenly spoke softly: "Grandma Da Xi, when we came to this courtyard earlier, we passed a small bamboo grove. The bamboo leaves were rustling oddly. Today's wind is from the southwest, but the leaves were faintly swaying eastward..."

Daxisipo slammed her fist into her palm: "That's evil energy at play!"

All eyes turned to Yu Chongjie!

Everyone knew Yu Chongjie's wife loves her bamboo—their courtyard was surrounded by it.

Did this mean the wrongdoer was in Yu Chongjie's courtyard?!

Yu Chongjie's face darkened instantly: "She's clearly making this up! Grandfather, Father, Mother, this woman is spouting lies! Only my wife is in our courtyard now—you all know her gentle nature. How could she be the wrongdoer?"

Xingxing shook her head: "Elder Brother, don't misunderstand. The bamboo leaves' odd movement shows evil energy's influence, but it doesn't necessarily mean the wrongdoer is in that courtyard—it could be nearby."

The room went quiet again.

Near Yu Chongjie's courtyard, apart from a few unoccupied guest quarters, there was only one other residence—

Jiao Shi instinctively looked at Yu Mingzhu.

Even Yu Mingzhu couldn't suppress her pale face now.

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead beneath her hair, but she forced herself to stay composed, clenching her palms to put on an act of being wronged: "—What does the Lady of Blessed Peace mean by this? The only inhabited courtyard near Elder Brother's is mine. Are you implying *I* am the wrongdoer?"

Xingxing shook her head again: "I didn't say that. I only noticed something strange."

Xingxing's eyes fluttered as tears streamed down. She burst into pitiful tears, turning to Jiao Shi: "Mother, I can't imagine what I've done to offend the Lady of Blessed Peace and her teacher. If I truly harmed Grandmother, why would I have publicly begged on my knees today, she sobbed, begging Miracle Doctor Da Xi to treat her?!"