Chapter 617 - 228: "Haunted
Chapter 617: Chapter 228: "Haunted
Turning off the official road and traveling northeast for about seven or eight miles, a sprawling cluster of villas came into view.
Surrounding these villas were endless expanses of fertile farmland crisscrossed by footpaths. Since ancient times, this land had belonged to prominent aristocratic families. Even some imperial estates were located here. Although Court Chengyi Mansion held a noble title, they couldn’t break into the first- or second-tier social circles of the Capital City. Naturally, their manor wasn’t in this prime area, though it wasn’t too far away, either.
Going further northeast past the vast fields, the plots of land grew smaller. Some ten-acre plots were enclosed into courtyards, while other twenty-acre sections were fenced off for residences. This was what the ordinary nobles of the Capital City referred to as a "suburban manor." Court Chengyi Mansion’s manor was located right in this area.
It was late at night. Because the manor was situated in the rural outskirts where few people visited, most of the villas and estates along the way were pitch black. The occupants had clearly gone to bed early. Only one place stood out. Perhaps due to the arrival of a VIP, two red lanterns still hung at its main gate. This was the destination for Xu Su Ying and her group today.
The moon was large and bright tonight, and the wind was fierce.
The wind in the wilderness was especially eerie, whistling through the open fields and mingling with the distant roars of bears and howls of wolves. In a daze, the old gatekeeper heard the sound of a roof tile being crushed underfoot. He shivered in fright. He wanted to go out and take a look but was stopped by his nephew.
"Uncle, don’t go out. It’s probably just a cat or a rabbit running wild."
At this time of year, the wilderness was full of animals. However, since this area was close to the Capital City, the truly dangerous beasts had already been cleared out by soldiers, making it relatively safe.
The nephew reeked of alcohol, having returned from some unknown revelry. He was completely drunk, though still somewhat conscious. He had to hold his uncle back. This old man was his only blood relative and, more importantly, his money bag. If anything happened to his uncle, how would he survive?
With this in mind, the nephew propped himself up, walked over, and shut the main gate. While he was at it, he used a bamboo pole to take down the two large lanterns by the door, blew out the candles inside, and hung them back up.
"Hey, you little rascal! Why are you putting out the lights so early?"
"Mister came over and won’t be leaving tonight, so why are you still guarding the gate? Just rest and go to sleep. You living a long life is my greatest blessing." As he spoke, he ushered the old man toward the inner room.
The old man thought his nephew was being ridiculous, but the boy made a valid point. Over the years, Mister was the only one who ever visited this place. Every time he came, he would stay for the night and head back the next morning before the city gates opened. Mister usually wouldn’t go out again during the night, which meant no one would know even if the gatekeeper retired early.
After all, the old man was getting on in years and wasn’t as fit as he used to be. Exhausted from a long day’s work and feeling very drowsy, he undressed in the warm, cozy room. He lay down on the bed and fell asleep in no time. Snores soon filled the room as the uncle and nephew slept soundly in the porter’s lodge. They didn’t notice a hole being poked through the paper window by an incense stick, nor the plumes of smoke that began billowing into the room.
The exact same scene was playing out in every single room of this villa.
Over at the maids’ quarters, some were still preparing for their night shifts. Before they could even finish their sentences, they were suddenly overcome with an extreme drowsiness. They yawned and immediately fell asleep.
The villa fell into complete darkness, save for the main room of the central courtyard, which remained brightly lit. However, no one except Third Lady’s personal maids would go anywhere near it. Especially on the nights when Mister stayed over at the villa, all the servants were sent far away. Only two Dayas were left behind to attend to them.
Everyone in the villa was resting. The surroundings were so eerily quiet—disturbed only by the sound of the wind—that any noise from inside the room could be heard crystal clear by anyone standing outside.
The crack of a leather whip. The sharp smacks of beatings. The CRASH of objects smashing against the floor. A woman’s muffled whimpers, followed by her miserable, mournful pleas for mercy.
Inside the brightly lit room, Third Ms. Bai knelt on the floor, her clothes disheveled. She scrambled desperately to dodge the whip lashing at her back, throwing herself in every direction to avoid the blows.
"Please spare me! At the very least, I gave birth to two of your children!" she cried out. "If only for the sake of Shu’er and Hua’er, please spare my life! AHH!"
Her sharp scream of agony pierced the night sky and echoed far into the distance. The sound was so heartbreakingly pitiful that, combined with the woman’s delicate expression, even an immortal would have been moved.
Looking at her, the white nightgown she wore had been torn to shreds by the relentless whipping, exposing the bare skin of her back.