I become a god in another world

Chapter 664 The Chang Family Haunted
Chapter 664

It's clear that this ancestral hall wasn't built long ago; the paint on the wood is still very new, and it looks incredibly grand.

This is not the actual entrance to the main gate of the Fiery Palace.

Behind the gate is a wide avenue paved with white jade of the same size, and at the far end of the road, a magnificent group of buildings can be seen.

The red walls and yellow tiles have already exceeded the bounds of etiquette.

Upon seeing the Chang family's house, Wu Ciping immediately fell silent, like a chicken with its neck choked.

As early as when they entered the city, after the Chang family made their name known, the Chang family seemed to have already received the news. At this moment, a large group of people stood in a grand procession at the entrance of the ancestral hall archway, waiting for everyone's arrival.

Yu Lingzhu originally intended to have the carriage cross the long road directly into the mansion, but seeing that someone had come to pick her up, she had no choice but to have Miao Yougong proceed slowly and guide the convoy to stop in front of the ancestral hall.

She looked at the houses in the distance, her expression showing a moment of shock.

Zhao Fusheng looked at her calmly and asked:
"What's wrong? Did you find anything?"

"Do not--"

Yu Lingzhu instinctively shook her head at first, then, after regaining her senses and hearing what she said clearly, she leaned closer to Zhao Fusheng and explained in a low voice:
"Something's wrong with this house."

Miao Yougong and the others who were at the front had already arrived, while the vehicles behind them hadn't even caught up yet. She pointed to the houses in the distance and said to Zhao Fusheng:

“Fusheng, look at this house. Back then, the Chang family received a donation from the Demon Suppression Division—”

At this point, Yu Lingzhu paused, realizing the problem.

The Demon Suppression Division is like a mythical creature that only takes in money and never gives it out. It is only others who donate money to the Demon Suppression Division, but there is rarely any reason for the Demon Suppression Division to donate money to others.

Back then, she had only recently begun to control ghosts and was riding high on her success. She was also eager to repay the Chang family's kindness and didn't see anything wrong with it at all.

Now that I've come to my senses, it's like waking from a long dream.

Yu Lingzhu composed herself and then continued:

"A total of 6.7 million yuan was raised to build this house. Initially, it was planned to have red walls and green tiles, but later on, it was felt that green tiles were not suitable, so it was eventually changed to yellow tiles."

Yellow tiles were originally a color reserved for the Han imperial family, but the Han dynasty was nearing its end and its etiquette was collapsing. Nowadays, some wealthy families across the country were also gradually abandoning the rules of etiquette, and the court was powerless to control them, so it could only let them be.

Yu Lingzhu said:

"It took seven or eight years to complete the renovation of this eastern residence. Not long after it was finished, the old lady moved in. I remember it was at the end of the 207th year of the Han Dynasty," she paused, glancing at Zhao Fusheng:
"That is, when Dong Fugui committed the crime, but in the middle of the following year, a month before the old lady's incident, the East Mansion was destroyed by fire."

After the fire, the Chang family consulted a feng shui master. The master advised that they couldn't suppress the yellow tiles for the time being and suggested changing them to black tiles.

"According to the Five Elements theory, black represents water, which generates wealth and can extinguish fire. Therefore, it took another two years to replace the yellow tiles with black tiles. It took quite a while before the matter was settled."

Meng Po sighed:

"It's such a waste of manpower and resources. A mere local tyrant has spent nearly ten years building such a grand mansion because of feng shui."

Yu Lingzhu was silent for a moment, then continued:

"In short, this house was renovated more than 30 years ago, but it clearly looks like it was before the renovation, and there are no signs of a fire—" She paused here, then added with some difficulty:

"But perhaps it was too far away, so I couldn't see it clearly."

"The fire damage is barely visible, but the yellow tiles are clearly distinguishable. There's something strange about this house," Zhao Fusheng said.
"It's as if time has reversed, returning to before the old lady you mentioned had her accident."

Her words startled Yu Lingzhu, who involuntarily looked up at her—only to see Zhao Fusheng's deep gaze, seemingly implying something. She wondered if Zhao Fusheng's words were unintentional or if she had already guessed something and was speaking with hidden meaning.

Yu Lingzhu met her gaze, then hurriedly turned her head away, giving a mumbled reply.

Zhao Fusheng said:

"We've arrived. Let's get out of the car first and talk." As soon as he finished speaking, the Chang family swarmed around him like a beehive.

Leading the group were two portly men, around fifty years old, dressed in light green brocade robes, with ashen faces.

The two strode forward, followed by a large group of people, clearly divided into social classes.

Some people remained where they were, not daring to go forward. Judging from their attire and demeanor, they seemed to be managers of higher rank.

"Lingzhu, is Lingzhu back?"

The two men stepped forward and exclaimed joyfully.

"Ai--"

Yu Lingzhu instinctively agreed at first, but as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly shivered.

She recalled the village ritual at Baili Temple. Back then, when the ghost ritual began, whoever was called upon would respond, and then their skin would be peeled off by the ghost.

For some reason, when Yu Lingzhu looked at her familiar 'relatives' again, she felt an indescribable chill running through her body.

In her fear, her mind became unusually clear. Looking at the two obese men outside the car, she forced herself to remain calm.

"I've only been in the city for a short time, how come my brothers got the news so early?"

The two then laughed and said:
"We're family, we understand each other perfectly." After saying that, they looked at the convoy and said in unison:
"You brought so many guards back this time, are you planning to stay for a while?"

Yu Lingzhu hesitated for a long time, then nodded:

"I have something important to do when I get back."

"Important business? Is it related to official duties?" one man asked, while another pulled at him.
"Alright, second brother, why are you asking so many questions when Lingzhu is handling things?"

The man chuckled awkwardly.

"So many people have returned to Lingzhu, they should have a proper residence built for them. It's a pity that the South Garden hasn't started construction yet, otherwise it would be quiet to live alone." Chang Da said.

When Yu Lingzhu looked at the two of them again, her mind was in turmoil, filled with fear, dread, and defensiveness. She forced a smile:
"We're all family, so we can stay anywhere. The only thing is, we shouldn't separate. These are all people I'm used to working with, so they have to stay with me—"

Chang Da nodded:

"Yes, yes, then we'll stay in a garden for the time being. I'll have your sister-in-law send someone to tidy up right now."

Yu Lingzhu said:

"Sister-in-law, you can have someone clean up, but please don't leave. Stay with your second sister-in-law and talk to me later."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chang Da and Chang Er couldn't help but show expressions of concern:
"Lingzhu, you came back so suddenly, and you seem distracted. You look pale and something's wrong. Did something happen?"

Yu Lingzhu was startled by his keen perception and instinctively turned to look at Zhao Fusheng. She saw that Zhao Fusheng was calm and focused on the Chang family members with interest, seemingly unafraid.

She composed herself before saying:
"Something did happen, but I'll talk about it later. I'm tired from the journey, so I'd like to wash up first and then talk to my two brothers."

Upon hearing this, Chang Da breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile:

"Alright, go wash up and rest first, change your clothes. Your mother has missed you terribly since she hasn't seen you in so long."

Yu Lingzhu had already learned from Wu Ciping that Old Madam Chang was not dead—but when she heard Chang Da mention this sentence with a normal expression, a chill suddenly rose in her heart, making her tremble with fear.

"……it is good."

After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and agreed.

Chang Da was delighted to hear her reply and quickly gestured for her to get into the carriage. He even stepped forward to personally lead the horses for the carriage.

After becoming wealthy, he grew large and stout. After walking a few steps, he was covered in sweat and hurriedly took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his forehead.

Seeing his unsteady steps and labored breathing, Yu Lingzhu, though wary of him, couldn't help but feel sorry for him at this sight, and tried to get off the bus.
“I’m not going anywhere else when I return to the Chang family home, so why do you two brothers have to go to all this trouble to pick me up every time? It’s such a long way—” “It’s not easy for us to see you these days. If it weren’t for the old lady not feeling well, she would have come with us much earlier.” Chang Da said with a simple and honest smile.

Chang Er also said:

"The old lady doesn't know you're back yet, otherwise she would definitely scold us for being impolite and not going to the city gate to greet you."

……

Zhao Fusheng watched coldly as Yu Lingzhu chatted and laughed with the two Chang brothers.

Behind the Chang brothers was a group of women. She roughly counted about seven or eight of them, two of whom were older and five or six were younger. To the left of these women stood several middle-aged men, most of whom resembled Chang Da and Chang Er, perhaps their offspring.

Following these people was an even younger generation, the older ones being fifteen or sixteen, and the younger ones being two or three years old, some carried or led by servants as they followed behind.

When Zhao Fusheng looked over, he saw that others were also staring at the carriage team.

Wu Ciping shrank his neck.

Zhao Fusheng noticed his movement and turned to look at the person staring at him. He saw a young man wearing a blue robe.

The man met her gaze, paused for a moment, and then lowered his head.

Wu Ciping's lips moved slightly, but seeing that Yu Lingzhu was talking to Chang Da and Chang Er, he remained silent.

Just then, Zhao Fusheng suddenly said:
Is Grandma Chang sick?

She suddenly interrupted, and Chang Da and Chang Er's faces darkened.

The moment the two men's expressions turned grim, all the members of the Chang family were visibly terrified and uneasy.

The sky suddenly darkened, as if a cloud had drifted over from the horizon and blocked the sun. The area in front of the Chang Clan Ancestral Hall became deserted in an instant.

Seeing that things were going badly, Yu Lingzhu immediately tried to smooth things over:
"This is my good friend, and also a member of the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Division. He accompanied me back here on business."

Upon hearing this, Chang Da immediately smiled:
"I see, it was my rudeness."

His smile brought a sigh of relief to everyone.

"The old lady isn't actually sick; she's in great health. It's just that kid Chang Hao... he seems to be possessed—"

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingzhu became somewhat anxious:

What happened to Chang Hao?

A woman behind Chang Da couldn't hold back any longer. She took two quick steps forward and was about to speak when another woman suddenly reached out and pulled her back. She immediately snapped out of her daze and returned to her original position.

Zhao Fusheng observed all of this and deduced that the Chang family had a clear hierarchy, and if anyone overstepped the bounds of propriety, it could lead to serious consequences.

As she was pondering, Chang Da replied:

"I don't know. A few days ago, he suddenly had convulsions in the middle of the night and shouted that there were ghosts. After shouting, he stopped making a sound, like a mute. No matter how his family tried to coax him, he wouldn't make a sound. They've already found someone to find a doctor, but after several treatments, there's been no effect. The old lady felt sorry for her great-grandson, so she took him to her room and stayed with him personally for several days."

Yu Lingzhu knew about Chang Hao's sudden muteness and told Zhao Fusheng and others about it, but she did not know that Chang Hao would encounter a ghost before he became mute.

She wanted to turn her head to look at Zhao Fusheng, but she was afraid that Chang Da and Chang Er would become suspicious, so she suppressed her thoughts and asked a few more questions.

Chang Da and Chang Er couldn't explain it either, they just said:
"I don't know where he went or what he did, but before the incident he said he saw a ghost. But he was in the Chang family's house and didn't go out. Where would there be a ghost in the Chang family's house?"

The Chang family dared not answer this question, and the people in the convoy were horrified but dared not speak out, so they could only remain silent.

"I'll go back to my room to wash up and change my clothes first. Then I'll go and pay my respects to the old lady and check on Chang Hao's condition," Yu Lingzhu said.

Chang Da breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and smiled.

"That's wonderful! Lingzhu, you're a ghost tamer. With your help, we'll definitely be able to find the cause of Changhao's illness."

After saying that, Chang Da pulled on the reins and shook them twice to make the horse walk faster.

They walked and talked, chatting about everyday things, and soon entered the Chang family's East Mansion.

During the conversation, Zhao Fusheng also sensed something amiss.

The Chang family was divided into two prefectures, East and South.

The East Mansion was a newly built residence, covering a large area and taking nearly ten years to complete.

The South Mansion is the former site of the Chang family mentioned by Yu Lingzhu. After the land was fenced off, it was assigned to the Chang family. Currently, the Chang family is planning to build it into a villa similar to a palace for distinguished guests to stay when they return.

The South Mansion is the burial place of Old Lady Chang, as Yu Lingzhu said.

However, from the conversation of the Chang family members, it seemed that Old Madam Chang was still alive.

This timing is very strange.

Before entering the mansion, Zhao Fusheng suddenly asked:
"Master Chang, what year and month is it now?"

She didn't specifically call out either "Chang Da Yi" or "Chang Er," but both gentlemen spoke up at the same time:

"Now, on the second day of the second month of the 208th year of the Great Han Dynasty, it is the day the dragon raises its head—"

"It is now the second day of the second month in the 247th year of the Great Han Dynasty, the day when the dragon raises its head—"

After they finished speaking, they both stood there stunned.

"Second brother, are you crazy? It's only 208 years now, why are you bringing up 247 years—"

Master Chang was stunned for a moment:
Am I mistaken?

“Wrong, wrong!” Master Chang said firmly.

Master Chang then awkwardly forced a smile:
"I'm getting old and useless. My memory has been a bit confused lately. I was wrong after all."

Yu Lingzhu could no longer hold back. She turned around and exchanged a glance with Zhao Fusheng, feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart.

As they were talking, the group entered the Chang residence. Some of the servants following behind dared not step in, and only the high-ranking servants were allowed to enter the main house.

The further they went, the fewer people followed them, until they entered the courtyard where Yu Lingzhu was resting, when there were hardly any people left.

As soon as the group entered the courtyard, they suddenly heard footsteps in the distance.

The sound was very clear, but when Zhao Fusheng peeked out, he couldn't see anyone.

Instead, it was the woman following behind Master Chang who stepped forward and said:

"Master, Butler Cheng has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Master Chang quickly said:
"Perhaps you need to see me. I'll go out for a bit. Lingzhu, after you've washed up and changed your clothes, we can talk again."

Yu Lingzhu nodded.

Master Chang and Master Chang the Second then left in a grand procession with their entourage and Sun Hao, while several women were left behind.

This was exactly what Yu Lingzhu wanted.

The Chang family's current situation is strange, and the Chang family members look ashen and lifeless. Although the two older brothers' tempers and personalities have not changed, Yu Lingzhu always feels a chill when she is with them.

Now that everyone has left, leaving only her sister-in-law, she actually feels more relaxed.

However, she immediately thought that if the Chang family was haunted, her sisters-in-law might not be unharmed. This thought made her uneasy, so she had to force herself to stay alert.

(End of this chapter)