Ye Qiu’s eyes narrowed. The cursed object was in the house?
Could it be that the one cursing Grandpa was a family member?
Who could it be?
Ye Qiu glanced around, noting the inner courtyard had over a dozen rooms.
“Uncle, who’s living in these rooms?” Ye Qiu asked casually.
“For now, just me, your aunt, and Rong’er are here. Your second uncle bought a place outside, so he doesn’t stay in the old house,” Qian Bowen said with a smile. “There are plenty of rooms, I’ll tidy up a couple for you and Jinglan later.”
“Thanks, Uncle.”
Just as Ye Qiu finished speaking, he saw that wisp of black qi pause at a room’s door.
Counting from the left, it was the third room.
Ye Qiu memorized it silently, turning to head back to the rear courtyard, but then the black qi moved again, drifting to another door and stopping.
Counting from the left, the fifth room.
Ye Qiu’s brow twitched.
Cursed objects in two rooms?
Did that mean there were two culprits?
Qian Bowen had just said only he, Cao Chunmei, and Qian Rong lived in the inner courtyard. Ruling out Qian Bowen left Cao Chunmei and Qian Rong.
But why would they harm the old man?
What was their motive?
Suddenly, a word flashed in Ye Qiu’s mind—inheritance!
Cao Chunmei and Qian Rong had traveled all the way to Jiangzhou to get Qian Jinglan to sign a pledge, their sole aim: securing Old Man Qian’s inheritance.
Clearly, they cared a lot about it.
Ye Qiu thought, if that’s true, murdering the old man for the inheritance was beyond ruthless!
After all, he was their kin.
“Ye Qiu, did you find something?” Qian Bowen asked, seeing him stand still, lost in thought.
“Not yet,” Ye Qiu replied, feigning exhaustion. “Uncle, I’m a bit tired, I’d like to rest.”
Qian Bowen looked worried. “But my father…”
“Don’t worry, Uncle, Grandpa’s condition is stable for now, he’ll be fine for a while,” Ye Qiu assured.
Zhang Jiuling chimed in, “Little Ye used up a lot of energy treating Old Qian earlier, he needs a break.”
“Alright, then rest first. I’ll prepare a room for you,” Qian Bowen said, starting to leave.
“Uncle, no need to trouble yourself, I’ll just sit in Grandpa’s room for a bit, staying near him puts me at ease,” Ye Qiu said, then added, “Uncle, you’re not busy, right? If not, chat with me, I’m new here and everything’s unfamiliar.”
“Sure.” Qian Bowen turned to Qian Weidong. “Look after Governor Han and the others, don’t neglect our guests.”
“Got it,” Qian Weidong nodded.
Then Ye Qiu, Qian Bowen, Qian Jinglan, and the three medical sages returned to the main room.
Before entering, Ye Qiu said to Zhang Jiuling, “Elder Zhang, you and the other seniors came from afar for Grandpa, enduring a long journey, it’s been tough on you.”
“With me here now, Grandpa’s condition is under control, no need to worry.”
“So, seniors, take a rest too!”
Li Chunfeng said, “I’m not tired…”
Before he finished, Ye Qiu cut in, “Elder Li, rest up, when I find the cursed object and wake Grandpa, we’ll need your help.”
“Little Ye’s right, I’m a bit worn out, Old Li, let’s rest,” Zhang Jiuling said, winking at Li Chunfeng.
Li Chunfeng caught on, nodding, “Fine, call us if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
Once the three sages left, Ye Qiu, Qian Jinglan, and Qian Bowen entered the main room.
Ye Qiu locked the door behind them.
Qian Bowen sensed something, asking, “Ye Qiu, you sent them away, do you have something to tell me?”
“Uncle, don’t rush, let’s sit and talk.”
After they sat, Ye Qiu asked, “Uncle, was Grandpa on bad terms with the family?”
“Why do you say that?”
Qian Bowen looked puzzled.
Ye Qiu pressed, “Uncle, who lives in the third and fifth rooms from the left in the inner courtyard?”
“The third is Rong’er’s, the fifth is your aunt’s,” Qian Bowen paused, adding, “In recent years, your aunt and I haven’t gotten along, so we don’t share a room.”
It was them!
Ye Qiu’s eyes flickered.
“Ye Qiu, why ask this?” Qian Bowen grew more confused.
Ye Qiu said gravely, “The cursed objects are in Cousin’s and Aunt’s rooms.”
“What?” Qian Bowen shot up, incredulous. “How’s that possible?”
“Qiu’er, could you be mistaken?” Qian Jinglan couldn’t believe it either.
“I’m not mistaken, the cursed objects are there,” Ye Qiu sighed. “Too many people were around earlier, I sent them off to tell you privately, Uncle.”
“I… I can’t believe it,” Qian Bowen struggled, “Why would Chunmei and Rong’er harm Father? He’s been good to them, they’ve no reason!”
“Ye Qiu, maybe check again, what if you got it wrong?”
“Suppose you’re mistaken?”
Qian Bowen’s reaction was as Ye Qiu expected.
Anyone would balk at their wife and daughter plotting against their father.
“Uncle, I’m certain, the cursed objects are in Aunt’s and Cousin’s rooms.”
Ye Qiu hesitated, then said, “Uncle, when Aunt and Cousin came to Jiangzhou, they didn’t ask Mom to come back, they brought a pledge to forfeit inheritance rights for her to sign, and she did.”
Qian Bowen looked at Qian Jinglan.
She knew hiding it was pointless now, nodding, “Big Sister-in-law and Rong’er never asked me to return, just to sign away my inheritance rights.”
Instantly, Qian Bowen’s face paled, aging a decade in a heartbeat.
Ye Qiu said, “I still have one question, why would Aunt and Cousin do this? Just for Grandpa’s inheritance?”
“If it’s them, their goal must be Father’s estate,” Qian Bowen said. “Chunmei and Rong’er owe a lot outside, I don’t know the exact amount, but it’s at least ten million.”
Ye Qiu and Qian Jinglan were stunned.
What had Cao Chunmei and Qian Rong done to rack up such debt?
