Chapter 15: The Demon King Returns, Dark Currents Surge

“I’m back.” Returning to her dilapidated courtyard, Ye Qingyan placed the hundred thousand silver notes and the shimmering phoenix hairpin on the table. “It feels safer to keep these in my own hands. Hand them over to that worthless father? Dream on!”

The gleam of the silver cast a glow on her face, but it failed to bring the anticipated joy. Her gaze drifted through the drafty window, settling on the more remote, long-abandoned courtyard deep within the compound.

That was where her mother had lived in her final days.

“Mother, rest assured, I will seek justice for you.”

The gentle smile of her mother appeared in her mind, always accompanied by a faint herbal fragrance.

The maid Xiaocui had secretly confided, “Madam grew increasingly haggard in her last days, thin as a skeleton, her complexion ashen, her breathing painful.”

At the time, she had thought only that her mother was gravely ill. But now, aided by the system—a mysterious ‘golden finger’—and piecing together scattered memories, a terrifying thought took root: her mother’s death was no simple illness.

“System, was my mother... murdered?”

The system’s voice was as cold as ever, yet with a strange pause. “Rebel, this system only assists you with task completion, not personal grievances.”

That pause only confirmed Ye Qingyan’s suspicion.

Taking a deep breath, her sorrow hardened into steely resolve. She walked to the window, looking out at the desolate courtyard, and spoke with deliberate clarity, “No matter who dares harm my mother, they will pay blood for blood!”

A prompt sounded: “Side Quest Activated: Clear the False Charge.” The system’s description followed: “Investigate and uncover the truth behind Lady Ye’s death. Punish the perpetrator. Rewards: Points based on completion and special item unlocks.”

A warning came after, “Rebel, investigations belong to the Court of Justice. If you stray, do not blame me for cleansing the ranks!”

Ye Qingyan rolled her eyes inwardly. “Alright, alright, I get it, Your Majesty. You’re just a tsundere system—harsh words but a straight shooter.”

She urgently needed a proper tool.

“System, for the sake of the realm and eradicating traitors, I require some sharp instruments,” she coaxed. “Look, I’m alone and unarmed. How can I root out rebels without any weapons? You wouldn’t want me to investigate empty-handed, would you? That would be a joke.”

“Hmph, smooth talker!” The system snorted but softened slightly. “Very well. For your loyalty, I grant you a treasure.”

“The treasury exchange interface is now open. Enjoy a 10% discount on this redemption.”

A shimmering screen appeared, listing several items. Her gaze landed on one: “Universal Detector: changes color according to toxin strength. Original price 100 points, now 90 points.”

She scoffed internally. It was just a dull, color-changing stone—‘universal detector,’ really? Still, it was better than nothing.

“That’ll do.” She exchanged without hesitation.

A thumb-sized, unremarkable gray stone materialized in her palm.

Early the next morning, under the pretense of “missing her mother,” Ye Qingyan went alone to the old residence. Weeds towered over a person, and a rusty copper lock hung on the door. She produced a key and opened it, a musty smell wafting out.

Inside, the furnishings were sparse—a wooden bed, a table, a few chairs—all thick with dust. She didn’t rush to clean but quickly took out the ‘universal detector’ and began sweeping the room.

She first approached the tea set her mother used regularly—a set of celadon porcelain, now coated in dust. “Alas, when one’s gone, the tea cools.”

Just as she reached for a teacup to test it with the detector, footsteps sounded outside.

“Miss, what are you doing here? This old courtyard is desolate; be careful not to touch anything.”

Ye Qingyan paused and looked up. Li Momo, Wang Feifei’s trusted maid, stood at the door, wearing a concerned smile but furtively glancing at the stone in Ye Qingyan’s hand.

“Why is Li Momo here? I just came to see my mother,” Ye Qingyan said calmly, slipping the detector back into her sleeve, her face bearing a suitably mournful expression.

“Oh, Miss, you’re so filial. But this place isn’t auspicious. Madam has been gone so long; you should come less often,” Li Momo said, stepping inside and pausing briefly at the tea set Ye Qingyan had just swept over.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. Though ostensibly concerned, Li Momo was clearly watching her closely.

Ye Qingyan’s mind raced. Playing along, she feigned clumsiness and let the cold tea in the teapot spill across the table.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed.

Li Momo instinctively looked down, frowning. “Miss, you’re still so careless.”

Seizing the momentary distraction, Ye Qingyan quickly pulled the detector from her sleeve and swept it over the tea set. The stone emitted a faint red glow—subtle but enough to confirm her suspicion: her mother had been slowly poisoned over time.

“Old eyes fail you, Li Momo. Let me help you wipe your eyes so you don’t stumble and break the mistress’s heart,” Ye Qingyan said sweetly, then flicked the wet cloth onto Li Momo’s face.

The cloth, soaked with cold tea, hit Li Momo unprepared. Coughing, she staggered back, her face flushing with anger but unable to retaliate.

“Miss... you!”

“What? Don’t like my cloth? Next time, I’ll use a brand new one,” Ye Qingyan smiled innocently.

Li Momo could only choke back her anger and retreat in disgrace.

Once Li Momo returned, she immediately reported Ye Qingyan’s strange behavior in the old room to Wang Feifei.

“She went to the old room? And clumsily spilled tea?” Wang Feifei’s eyes narrowed sharply. She knew Ye Qingyan’s nature—though a fool, she had never lost control like this before. Li Momo’s account hinted at something unusual.

This foolish legitimate daughter... might not be so simple after all.

Wang Feifei sneered, deciding to take the initiative. Rather than merely defending, she’d lure Ye Qingyan under her watchful eye.

“Invite the Miss here, say I’m unwell and want her to dine with me,” she ordered, her eyes glinting with malice.

When Ye Qingyan received the invitation, she sneered. “A banquet of treachery? Perfect—I was just hoping for a chance to get close to Wang Feifei.”

She immediately confided everything she discovered in her mother’s old room to Chen Huai’an.

“In the Ye household, you’re the only one I can trust,” Ye Qingyan said, her eyes soft and pleading.

Chen Huai’an remained outwardly calm, but a faint chill flickered in his gaze. He took a small paper packet from his pocket and handed it to her. “This is licorice powder. If anything goes wrong, it can delay the poison’s effect.”

“Thank you,” Ye Qingyan accepted it and tucked it away.

“Be careful,” Chen Huai’an warned with concern.

“This is a feast of treachery, but who the hunter is and who the prey is remains to be seen. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” Ye Qingyan replied.

Alone, she made her way to Wang Feifei’s estate.