Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

’What should I do?’

Right now, this looked like a straightforward case of a wife murdering her husband. It didn’t seem to involve any Demon Fiends, so it should have fallen under the jurisdiction of the county office.

But Jiang Mu had no solid evidence, only his suspicions. The county office would be hesitant to investigate a respected member of the gentry like Han Chenghu.

’Looks like I’ll have to make a trip myself.’

Jiang Mu made up his mind.

Since the woman had dealings with his predecessor, there were bound to be other secrets involved. Sooner or later, that trouble would find its way to him.

"By the way, do you have anything to eat here? None of the stuff you’ve stepped on."

Jiang Mu had been watching the girl stomp on the flower-petal dough for so long that he was starting to get hungry.

Chu Lingzhu pointed to the stove behind her:

"There are some freshly made pancakes on the table. In the left plate are the regular scallion pancakes I kneaded by hand. In the right plate are the fragrant pancakes with Jade Spirit Flower juice—the ones I was just stomping on."

Jiang Mu walked into the kitchen.

Sure enough, there were two plates of pancakes on the table.

He picked up a scallion pancake and took a bite, but his gaze couldn’t help but drift to the plate on the right, which held the fragrant, pink-hued, and aromatic pancakes.

He hesitated for three seconds.

’Just one bite.’

He picked up a fragrant pancake and took a bite.

Hm?

It was soft yet chewy, with a rich floral aroma and a sweet aftertaste.

Delicious!

By the time Chu Lingzhu finished cleaning up and came inside, she found that the plate of more than twenty fragrant pancakes had all ended up in a certain "animal’s" stomach.

The man was even licking his fingers, looking as if he hadn’t had enough.

"Not bad. Pretty chewy."

Jiang Mu rubbed his slightly full stomach and commented, "Next time, stomp out some more. I’ll take them to go for a midnight snack."

"You..."

Chu Lingzhu was so angry her little canine teeth showed. She pointed at him, "Didn’t you say it was disgusting?"

Jiang Mu said matter-of-factly, "As long as it’s tasty, I’m not a picky eater."

’Heh, a demoness once tried to shove her foot in my mouth. Compared to that, what’s this?’

"Glutton!"

Chu Lingzhu muttered under her breath.

Seeing Jiang Mu was about to leave, her eyes darted, and she suddenly leaned in, blinking her sparkling eyes:

"Boss, are you going to investigate the case? Let me help you, okay?"

"What case? This is none of your business."

Jiang Mu irritably pushed her head aside and started walking out.

But Chu Lingzhu relentlessly trotted after him and said mysteriously:

"You’re definitely going to investigate Madam Han, right? C’mon, let me help. You even called me smart last time."

Jiang Mu glanced down at her bare feet under the hem of her skirt:

"Look at you, standing on the floor barefoot right now. And you have the nerve to talk about being clean? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have eaten them."

"I was going to wash them, of course."

Chu Lingzhu curled her delicate pink toes and pressed, "So, do you want my help or not?"

Jiang Mu pondered for a moment.

’The crude plan forming in his mind actually seemed to require this girl’s help.’

"Fine, then. Come with me."

"Alright!"

Chu Lingzhu’s face lit up. "Wait for me, I’ll change my clothes and get ready."

The girl trotted back into the house, quickly changed into that familiar light green silk dress, and then ran to the edge of the bamboo forest to pack her medicine basket.

Jiang Mu watched the girl bustling about the courtyard, lost in thought for a moment.

A gentle breeze blew silently through the forest, making the bamboo shadows sway.

The girl’s skirt fluttered, and a few strands of her black hair danced playfully in the wind, creating a fresh and lively silhouette amid the spots of light in the forest.

He suddenly noticed that while the girl had a slender and graceful figure, as she ran, the bottom wrapped in her dress was quite full and round.

’Mm. She looks like she’d bear children well.’

...

The two arrived at the alley entrance outside the Han Mansion.

Jiang Mu glanced left and right before whispering his instructions:

"Just follow the plan we discussed. Remember, stall the couple for as long as you can. Keep your expression natural, and don’t give anything away."

"Don’t worry, Boss."

Chu Lingzhu patted her chest in assurance. "I’ll be ruthless with Rou’Er!"

Jiang Mu patted her shoulder. "Go on, and be careful."

"Mhm."

Chu Lingzhu adjusted her expression and walked toward the Han Mansion’s main gate, her medicine box on her back.

Meanwhile, Jiang Mu’s figure flickered. He slipped around to the outer wall of the Han Mansion’s rear courtyard, flattened himself against it, and quietly waited for the right moment.

Because she was Lan Rou’Er’s best friend and also the goddess their own young master was desperately pursuing, the servants of the Han Mansion were already very familiar with Chu Lingzhu. They respectfully invited her in without even needing to announce her.

Chu Lingzhu had just entered the front courtyard when she ran right into Han Yushu.

Seeing his goddess arrive, Han Yushu’s gloomy expression instantly brightened, like a dead tree sprouting in spring. He hurried to greet her:

"Miss Lingzhu, what brings you here?"

Chu Lingzhu felt a chill of disgust, but she forced a gentle smile onto her face:

"Young Master Han, I heard you’ve been feeling unwell these past few days. Are you feeling any better?"

Han Yushu’s expression stiffened slightly.

He’d had such bad diarrhea lately that his legs felt weak, and he had secretly suspected that Chu Lingzhu was the one who had drugged him.

But now, seeing his goddess actively show concern, his suspicion immediately vanished into thin air. He suddenly felt that he had been judging a noble heart by his own petty standards.

He quickly straightened his back and said, trying to act suave:

"Much better, thank you for your concern, Miss. It was just a small cold, nothing serious."

"Oh, the weather has been turning colder these few days. You should indeed take care of yourself, Young Master."

Chu Lingzhu gave a perfunctory reply and started toward the rear courtyard. "Well then, I’ll go find Rou’Er."

How could Han Yushu let go of this chance to curry favor? He shamelessly followed after her:

"Miss Lingzhu, there’s a temple fair in the city in a few days. I heard an eminent monk from Tianchi Temple will be presiding over a blessing ceremony. It’ll be very lively. I pulled some strings and got two VIP tickets..."

"Not interested. What’s so great about a bunch of bald heads?"

Chu Lingzhu waved her hand impatiently.

When she saw that this pest was still following, she stopped in her tracks and pointed at the moon gate. "Young Master Han, that’s the women’s private courtyard. It isn’t appropriate for you to follow me inside, is it?"

Han Yushu paused, stopping in his tracks with an awkward expression.

Chu Lingzhu huffed softly and quickly walked into the small courtyard where Lan Rou’Er lived.

Inside, Lan Rou’Er was sitting by the window, embroidering a small pouch.

It had to be said that although the girl had a soft and gentle personality, she had a pair of skilled hands. Her embroidery was always vivid and lifelike.

"Sister Lingzhu."

Seeing her best friend arrive, Lan Rou’Er put down her needlework and stood up in pleasant surprise.

Before she could even offer a greeting, Chu Lingzhu leaned in with a solemn expression and gripped her by the shoulders:

"Rou’Er, now is the time I need your help."

"Huh?"

Lan Rou’Er was completely bewildered, blinking her big eyes blankly. "Help with what..."

Before her voice could fade, Chu Lingzhu pulled a small porcelain vial from her sleeve, uncorked it, and waved it under Lan Rou’Er’s nose.

A slightly pungent, fragrant scent entered her nostrils.

Lan Rou’Er felt the world spin. Her body went limp, and everything went black.

THUD.

She collapsed to the floor.

The next second, Chu Lingzhu let out a high-decibel, piercing scream.

"AHHH!!!"

Hearing the commotion, Han Yushu rushed in and saw his cousin lying unconscious on the ground, with a pale-faced Chu Lingzhu standing beside her.

"Wh-what happened?" He panicked.

"I don’t know! I came in and found her passed out on the floor."

Chu Lingzhu looked utterly panicked. "What are you standing there gaping for? Hurry and get your parents!"

"Oh, oh! I’ll go right now!"

Han Yushu was in a complete daze. Yelled at by his goddess, he turned and ran toward the main courtyard to get help.

...

Outside the courtyard wall.

Jiang Mu’s ears twitched as he heard the commotion inside.

’This girl’s got some lungs on her.’

When the courtyard erupted into a noisy clamor, a thought crossed his mind, and he tossed Demon Shadow No. 1 over to the other side of the wall.

SWISH!

Jiang Mu passed through the wall.

The next moment, he appeared behind a rockery in the Han Mansion’s rear garden.

Relying on his memory from his previous visit, he avoided the panicked, scurrying servants, passing through walls and doors as if there were no one there.

Soon, he had snuck into Madam Han’s master bedroom.