The concern was real, and so was the lust for a taste of tofu.

At dawn, Ji Linxi’s biological clock woke him from that beautiful dream. Even though he realized he was about to wake up and desperately tried to hypnotize himself into not waking, the beautiful young gentleman in his arms still vanished in the blink of an eye.

Ji Linxi was so angry that he sat bolt upright in bed and slapped himself hard across the face.

“Useless thing! I told you not to wake up!”

Just a moment ago, the beautiful young gentleman had been in his arms, feeding him a peeled grape with a smiling “Langjun,” and he hadn’t even had time to grab the man’s hand, open his mouth to eat it, and maybe lick his fingers a little…

And then he woke up!

And then he woke up!

He wore a dark expression, looking rather frightening all at once.

What a wonderful dream it had been. In the dream, he had wealth and power, and was deeply in love with the beautiful young gentleman. The two of them were affectionate and happy beyond measure.

Why had he woken up?

Life meant facing reality. He sighed, got out of bed, and even the cold he usually resisted couldn’t compare to the cold feeling of waking from that dream. He didn’t bother sleeping in again. After getting dressed, he left the room in the dim pre-dawn light.

The servants outside were surprised he had risen so early and marveled that he truly was a Daoist capable of exorcising ghosts and driving away evil. Seeing his pained expression, they guessed he must be worrying over that fierce ghost, and hurried over to greet him.

“Daoist Chu, would you like some hot water to wash your face?”

“Bring some,” Ji Linxi said gloomily, half in a daze.

The servant brought hot water. Ji Linxi returned to the room, washed his face, and walked to the mirror.

The mirror reflected a very handsome face — high nose bridge, clear and upright features, with a kind of half-righteous, half-roguish, spirited handsomeness.

It was just a little dark.

He stroked his chin and admired himself from both sides, thinking that if he made a good effort, this face could probably match the beautiful young gentleman.

But for now, he needed to make money. So, with a trace of regret, he rummaged through his bamboo basket for some things, fussed over his face a bit, and once again became that ordinary but slightly handsome young Daoist.

Ji Linxi left the room. Because he had gotten up too early, the servants, wanting to help him pass the time, took him on a tour of the Wang estate.

When they passed by one courtyard, Ji Linxi faintly heard crying coming from inside. Though soft, it was still audible if he listened carefully — and there wasn’t just one voice.

“Is someone crying in there?”

he asked.

The servant’s expression changed slightly, but quickly recovered. “The women living there are servants who made mistakes and were confined here. Daoist, please rest assured — they’ll only be kept there for two or three days before being released.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Ji Linxi nodded.

Of course he didn’t believe a word of that explanation. But what did it have to do with him? He was a swindler, not some saint doing good deeds.

After walking around the Wang estate, Ji Linxi confirmed that the family was indeed unimaginably wealthy. Listening to the servants boast, he learned that their master was the Prime Minister’s uncle. With the Prime Minister backing them, no one in Yong City could do anything to them. Even the county magistrate had to nod and bow before them, and even the prefect in charge of all Jingzhou had to yield a little.

So this was what power and status brought.

Ji Linxi yearned for it.

After the tour, Mr. Wang and the others were awake as well. The doctor had been called in time the previous day and had managed to save Young Master Wang from excessive blood loss, though his face had already lost much of its color, and even when he sat in a chair, he had to be carried over by others.

Mr. Wang ordered a full table of excellent dishes, even better than the previous day’s. But Ji Linxi was in a bad mood and had little appetite, so after only a few bites he set his chopsticks aside.

“Is the food not to your liking, Daoist Chu? I’ll have the servants make something else—”

Ji Linxi sighed. “I’m worried about that fierce ghost. I have no appetite.”

When he was unhappy, he liked to torment people.

“Today and tomorrow, Young Master Wang still needs to give one bowl of blood to the formation each day.”

At these words, Young Master Wang’s face filled with terror, but he no longer dared vent his anger on Ji Linxi. The previous night, he had dreamed of nothing but that ghost holding a severed head and demanding his life. He had been tormented until he felt as if he had died and come back again, in unbearable pain.

At this point, Young Master Wang naturally regretted everything.

What he regretted was not listening to Daoist Chu yesterday, and instead insulting and killing that girl.

After the meal, Mr. Wang had people prepare sacrificial roasted chicken and roast suckling pig. Aside from drawing more blood from his son, he also wanted to ask Ji Linxi whether there was anything else he needed to do. But then a servant hurried in from outside.

“Master, the magistrate has come to visit.”

Mr. Wang frowned. “What is he here for?”

The servant said, “The magistrate says that a noble guest from the capital has arrived. He isn’t used to staying at the yamen, and since he carries the Prime Minister’s token, he wants to stay at our Wang estate for two or three days.”

Mr. Wang’s expression changed several times, then he gave his orders. “For the honored guests coming to my Wang house, make sure the Junzi Pavilion is guarded well. For these next few days, no one is to reveal anything about what happened in the Wang estate. Anyone who does so — kill them.”

“Yes, Master.” Everyone lowered their heads in agreement.

Then Mr. Wang looked at Ji Linxi again and forced a smile. “Daoist Chu, these two days, would you mind pretending to be a relative of our household? As for the ghost-exorcising matter, could we wait until after the guests have left?”

Ji Linxi was more than happy to agree.

Mr. Wang led a group of people out to welcome the noble guest the magistrate had brought, and Ji Linxi followed at the very back.

A noble guest from the capital, connected to the Wang family — clearly not someone decent.

With this thought in mind, Ji Linxi looked up when he saw the beautiful young gentleman step into the estate, and his eyes widened at once. His face nearly broke into wild delight.

Today, unlike yesterday, the sky was filled with snow instead of sunlight. The beautiful young gentleman, with his chin lightly tucked into the fur collar of his cloak, seemed to have lost some of his imposing majesty. He was not as cold-faced as he had been yesterday, and there was a touch of pampered arrogance in his expression, yet his figure also looked a little weak and sickly.

Ji Linxi was not the only one staring dumbly — even Young Master Wang was utterly stunned.

Where in the world could one find such a beauty?

Beside him, the steward disguised by Eunuch Chen was all eagerness. “Second Young Master, what do you think of the Wang household? This is already the wealthiest family in Yong City.”

“It’s passable. Good enough for now,” the beautiful young gentleman said indifferently, raising a hand to his lips and coughing a little.

That frail, sickly posture made Ji Linxi want nothing more than to step forward and support him, asking anxiously what illness he had caught, and then maybe take a little advantage by holding his hand.

His concern was real.

And so was his lust for a taste of tofu.

“Where is Young Master Yan?”

The handsome youth with the sword on his back also nodded. “Though it’s a bit inferior to the capital, it’s still barely acceptable.”

Eunuch Chen then said haughtily to the magistrate beside him, “Then we’ll stay here.”

“This is the Prime Minister’s token,” he said, taking out a token. “Who is Mr. Wang? Come up and take a look — don’t go thinking we’re frauds.”

Mr. Wang stepped forward, took it, and quickly returned it. Then he turned to the steward and ordered, “Hurry and prepare the Sun-Rise Courtyard for these two gentlemen.”

The Sun-Rise Courtyard was specifically for receiving honored guests, located in the inner estate and usually kept spotless.

After giving the order, Mr. Wang asked carefully, “I’ve heard the two gentlemen are from the capital. May I ask which household in the capital…”

Eunuch Chen lifted his chin. “This is our Second Young Master Shen, the son of the Grand Tutor.”

“And this is the Marquis of Yan.”

“We heard Yong City was interesting, so our Second Young Master Shen and the Marquis of Yan came to look around. We didn’t expect the living conditions here to be so poor, and the weather to be so cold that it gave our Second Young Master a chill and made him sick.”

Upon hearing their identities, Mr. Wang realized he would have to serve two little ancestors these next few days. His heart sank in misery, but he had no choice but to agree, flattering them anxiously. “So it’s the Second Young Master and the Marquis of Yan. Please come in. I’m afraid the snow will get heavier shortly.”

The servants immediately parted to make way.

Even Ji Linxi, who had been pulled aside by the servant who had taken him shopping the other day, was moved out of the way.

He lowered his head, staring at the hem of the clothes walking toward him, his heart pounding like a drum.

The noble figure that passed before him paused — then continued walking forward.