Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Guiding a Living Soul back was not difficult, but it was an extremely tedious task.

Yan Zhengchu patiently questioned them one by one, writing each Living Soul’s name and destination onto paper cranes to guide the way.

It took over an hour before he finally sent the souls off one after another.

At last, only the final wisp remained.

Yan Zhengchu was too tired to even lift his eyelids. “Name? Where is your home?”

The Living Soul answered, “I… don’t remember.”

“Hm?”

Yan Zhengchu looked up, only to discover that this Living Soul could not even form a clear human shape.

From the look of it, the soul had been separated from the body for quite some time…

Daoist Yan could not help making a bold guess-this was very likely the soul of Crown Prince Zhao Li.

The problem was, if he could not even remember who he was, then even if his soul returned to his body, he would remain unconscious.

So…

“Young Marquis…”

Yan Zhengchu called out to Ren Fengjue, who was not far away. “The Crown Prince’s Living Soul has been found. However, we need someone who is either his closest kin or the person he loves most to awaken his memories from before. Only then can he successfully Return to Yang World.”

At once, Ren Fengjue thought of the Emperor and Empress.

But the two of them were deep within the palace. Alerting them was no small matter.

So the only choice was…

“I’ll go invite the Crown Princess.”

Ren Fengjue was about to leave when Yu Lang immediately followed after him and muttered under his breath, “Didn’t they say the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince don’t get along? Will bringing her here even work?”

Lord Ren’s expression turned solemn at once. “If you don’t know the truth of the matter, don’t comment on it.”

At that, Yu Lang felt terribly wronged.

Did he not want to know the truth too?

Ren Fengjue left the secret chamber. Outside Yongqing Study, it was rather lively; Steward Wang was in the middle of reprimanding people.

The moment Steward Wang saw him come out, he hurried over and asked anxiously, “Young Marquis, how is the Crown Prince?”

Ren Fengjue hesitated for a moment before saying, “He is in no great danger.”

Steward Wang trusted him and immediately let out a sigh of relief.

Then he pulled Ren Fengjue aside and said in a low voice, “This old servant already knows about His Highness the Crown Prince…”

“The young lady who came with you asked everything clearly.”

Hearing this, Ren Fengjue was rather surprised.

He looked around but did not see Xia Ximo anywhere.

When Yan Zhengchu had been busy below earlier, she had quietly left again without a word.

“Do you know where she went after coming out of the secret chamber?” Ren Fengjue asked.

“She asked about Her Highness the Crown Princess just now. She probably went to Chenghua Hall.”

As Steward Wang spoke, he asked again, “Would you like this old servant to lead the way for you?”

Ren Fengjue immediately replied, “Thank you for the trouble.”

–

Inside Chenghua Hall.

Between waking and sleep, Tang Yuelang had a long, lingering dream.

In the dream, she had returned to the Commandery Duke’s Mansion, once again a little girl.

In the garden, flowers and trees grew lush and dense. Sunlight poured down freely, and everyone was carefree.

She sat on a swing, swaying back and forth, her dress embroidered all over with her favorite flowers and butterflies.

Little Linglong pushed her hard from behind.

Delighted, she shouted, “Linglong, push me higher! Higher! If I go high enough, I’ll be able to see outside the courtyard!”

“Miss, I’m already doing my best. My arms are so sore.”

“Just a little longer. Once I’ve played enough, it’ll be your turn.”

“Miss always says that to coax me. When have you ever really let me have a turn?”

“This time I really will. I’ll count once, and you push me ten more times, all right?”

“…”

“Five times is fine too!”

She began counting down loudly. “Five, four, three, two…”

When she reached “one,” the swing came to a stop.

She was just about to wheedle a little more when a choked voice came from behind her. “Miss, from now on, even without me, you must still be this happy and free.”

Tang Yuelang turned back in astonishment, only to find that there was no one behind her anymore.
She couldn’t help shouting, “Linglong, where did you go?”

No one answered her.

Panic seized her. She hurriedly jumped down from the swing and searched the garden for Linglong’s figure.

But among the shadows of the flowers, beneath the trees, inside the pavilion, behind the rockery-every place Linglong usually went-there was no trace of her.

She shouted again, “Linglong, stop hiding. I really won’t trick you this time. This time, how about I push you?”

Still, no one answered.

The sky suddenly darkened. Black clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder roared.

Tang Yuelang was terrified, but she could neither find Linglong nor escape the garden.

It was as if something had trapped her there.

“Linglong, don’t leave me! Don’t leave me here all alone!”

Tang Yuelang woke with a sobbing cry, only to find herself inside Chenghua Hall. Someone was standing beside her, but for a moment, she could not make out the person’s face.

“Linglong?”

She called the name instinctively.

The other person slowly turned around and said calmly, “Linglong has already gone.”

“Gone?”

Tang Yuelang seemed not to understand what she meant.

Xia Ximo handed her the Sapphire-blue Kingfisher-feather Pearl Hairpin. “The Vengeful Ghost who used Body Snatching to take over Zhao Li’s body has been destroyed. Her resentment has dispersed as well. It is time for her to enter the cycle of reincarnation.”

Tang Yuelang took it. Her fingertips trembled as she stared at the pearl hairpin, tears streaming down her face in silence.

Just then, a report came from outside the door.

“Your Highness, Young Marquis Ren requests an audience.”

Tang Yuelang wiped away her tears and said, “I do not wish to see him.”

No sooner had she spoken than Ren Fengjue’s voice sounded from outside. “Her Highness the Crown Princess may not wish to see the Crown Prince, but surely she wishes to see ‘Shuyu’?”

“Shuyu” was Zhao Li’s courtesy name.

Back when they were in the palace school, the letters he exchanged with her had always been signed with those two words.

Tang Yuelang froze. Tears once again slipped from her eyes against her will.

“As I said, the Vengeful Ghost has been destroyed. Whether you wish to see him or not is up to you.”

After leaving those words, Xia Ximo walked out of Chenghua Hall.

She glanced at Ren Fengjue, then asked Steward Wang, “Where is the corpse that ran out of the garden now?”

Steward Wang did not know what she intended, but he trusted her words completely.

“It is about to be transported out of the Eastern Palace so we can find a place to bury it. Miss, please come with me.”

Xia Ximo nodded and was just about to leave.

Behind her, Ren Fengjue suddenly spoke. “When you are finished, you may return to the carriage and rest first.”

The words were clearly meant for her.

Xia Ximo’s steps paused slightly, and she answered with a faint sound of acknowledgment.

Only after watching her figure disappear into the distance did Ren Fengjue slowly withdraw his gaze. Then he saw that Tang Yuelang had, at some point, come out of the bedchamber.

Her expression was calm as she said, “Please lead the way, Young Marquis.”

In front of Yongqing Study, many eunuchs and palace maids were still gathered.

They did not know what was happening inside, nor did they dare enter without permission. They could only wait by the door for orders.

When Crown Princess Tang Yuelang arrived, shock appeared on all their faces.

Tang Yuelang looked at the three words on the plaque-“Yongqing Study”-and paused slightly. On the surface, she seemed utterly composed, but the fingers hidden inside her sleeves were trembling without stop.

It had been a very long time since she had last come here.

Once she entered and saw the hidden door behind the bookcase, she was even more startled.

“This is…?”

Ren Fengjue made an inviting gesture. “His Highness the Crown Prince is inside.”

The secret passage was deep and dim, with the faint sound of wind coming from within. Tang Yuelang was somewhat afraid.

But thinking of “Shuyu,” she still mustered her courage and walked inside.

In truth, the passage was not very long. Before long, they arrived at the door of the secret chamber.

Tang Yuelang hesitated again, but then she heard Ren Fengjue beside her say, “I believe Shuyu’s feelings for you have remained the same from the very beginning. And now, only you can save him.”