Chapter 263
Chapter 263
“A conspiracy?” Lady Du was stunned.
“Yes.”
Ren Fengjue continued his speculation. “I suspect that Princess Consort Wu did not collude with the ghosts. Rather, a ghost has been controlling and using her.”
If he remembered correctly, Prince Wu’s Mansion had once belonged to a renowned general of the previous dynasty.
But after that dynasty fell, the general disappeared.
Later, when Great Qi was founded and Prince Wu was stationed in Liangzhou, the emperor bestowed this residence on him. From then on, it was known as Prince Wu’s Mansion.
Considering the events in the mansion alongside these underground chambers, it was not difficult to guess that the general had left them behind.
Could the ghost hiding behind everything be connected to him as well?
Unaware of these connections, Lady Du sounded bewildered. “You mean… that faceless monster is controlling the princess consort?”
Ren Fengjue explained, “You may not know this, but Prince Wu’s Mansion was originally the residence of a general from the previous dynasty…”
“Even Prince Wu probably knew nothing of these underground chambers. How would the princess consort have learned of them?”
“When you disappeared, Prince Wu sent people to search inside and out for a long time. Yet until today, no one knew this place existed.”
Lady Du choked up at his words.
“I know… His Highness treated me well.”
Seeing her moved, Ren Fengjue said, “His Highness passed away three years ago. Princess Fenghua became his only surviving descendant in this world. If you truly cherish what you shared with him, you should not harm her.”
Upon hearing of Prince Wu’s death, Lady Du could no longer keep herself from weeping.
Over ten years, even after becoming a Vengeful Spirit filled with hatred, she had never been able to hate the man who once treasured her so dearly.
Ren Fengjue comforted her. “Do not grieve, Concubine Du. So long as someone is not thoroughly wicked, they have a chance to be reborn after death. You may yet meet again someday.”
“Your soul has lingered here too long. It’s time to find a way forward.”
“If you can help me escape this chamber, I will see justice done for you, so that you can move on in peace.”
In the darkness, Lady Du gave him a long look, then shook her head. “Something inside you may protect you, but you are still only mortal flesh and blood. How can you fight that Vengeful Ghost alone?”
“Of course I’m not alone. A Daoist Master from Mount Yunhe and a vice minister of Dali Temple came to the mansion with me. Whether it’s catching criminals or catching ghosts, both can help.”
“And with their abilities, I’m sure they’ll find their way here soon!”
Ren Fengjue said this without a trace of embarrassment. Who knew what Daoist Yan and Vice Minister Yu would think if they heard such praise…?
Lady Du had, after all, been trapped in this chamber for ten years. Now that he mentioned it, she did faintly sense unfamiliar presences in the underground chambers.
But she would not trust him blindly. She merely said, “If they really have the ability to find this place, I’ll tell them where you are!”
With those words, a chilling wind passed, followed by the sound of Zhao Wan falling to the floor.
Clearly, Lady Du had left.
*
In the passage, a group of Vengeful Spirits had blocked Xia Ximo’s path.
Their familiar Yin-Sha Qi immediately stirred the hatred within her. All she wanted was to slaughter them.
Sensing her murderous intent, Wuyou hurriedly appeared to dissuade her, frightened.
“Mogu, these Vengeful Spirits are all innocent people. Please show mercy!”
But Mogu, already showing signs of falling into madness, could scarcely hear their words.
Before the Vengeful Spirits could approach, she attacked first.
Feeling the immense increase in her soul power, Wuyou watched in terror. Her Bone Art immobilized every limb and bone of the Vengeful Spirits. Just as the Red Lotus Karmic Fire was about to consume them, Wuyou remembered the zither string the Earth Lord had given them.
To prevent Mogu from making a terrible mistake, they closed their eyes and summoned the zither string with the incantation the Earth Lord had taught them.
Once it wound around Xia Ximo, it did indeed seal her soul power.
At the sight, the Vengeful Spirits fled at once.
Bound by the string, Xia Ximo’s red forehead mark slowly faded, but her eyes remained cold.
Wuyou hastily explained, “I haven’t betrayed you. This zither string is…”
They quickly withdrew the string and went on, “The Faceless Ghost is especially good at reading hearts and using your weaknesses against you. Just now…”
Xia Ximo had gradually regained her senses. “I know you were helping me. I don’t blame you.”
Wuyou froze at her words.
Only after seeing that she was not angry did they breathe a little easier. “I’m so glad you don’t blame me!”
Xia Ximo immediately asked, “So, the zither string?”
Wuyou hastily covered their mouth.
Xia Ximo glanced at them. “I know even if you don’t tell me. The Earth Lord of the Underworld Administration must have given it to you.”
“…”
How could Wuyou dare answer?
With the Lord of the Netherworld on one side and the Nine Abyss Soul Prisoner on the other, they could afford to offend neither!
After a brief silence, however, Xia Ximo stopped questioning them.
Just then, Yu Lang’s voice rang through the passage.
“Miss Xia, we’ve finally found you!”
Xia Ximo turned to see Yu Lang and Yan Zhengchu hurrying toward her.
The maid and the Golden Plume Guards, however, had not come with them.
“Stop.”
Remembering her lesson, Xia Ximo intended to identify them carefully this time. After stopping them, she asked, “When did we first meet? Answer one at a time.”
Both men were taken aback.
Yu Lang obligingly thought about it. “The first time… was on the merchant ship from Xiling County to the capital!”
Though Yan Zhengchu did not understand her meaning, he too reluctantly gave it some thought. “I believe it was… at Hongxiu Pavilion in the capital!”
Beside her, Wuyou suppressed a laugh and whispered, “They’re real. You wouldn’t be thinking about them for no reason…”
A strange look flashed in Xia Ximo’s eyes. She shot them a cold glance.
“Too much talk.”
That curt remark also made Yu Lang swallow what he was about to say.
Suddenly, a chilling gust swept through, and another figure appeared against the wall.
Wuyou immediately stopped smiling. Just as they were about to demand which foolish Vengeful Spirit had come to seek death now, the figure spoke coldly. “I know where the person you’re looking for is. If you trust me, follow.”
Without waiting for an answer, the Vengeful Spirit turned away.
Xia Ximo hesitated only briefly before following. Seeing this, Yu Lang and Yan Zhengchu hurried after her.
Wuyou had meant to urge caution, but then caught a familiar ghostly scent from the spirit.
“She seems to be…”
“The missing Lady Du,” Xia Ximo said.
Wuyou nodded. “Her resentment is stronger than those others’ too!”
Though many concubines had died in the mansion’s inner household, only Lady Du had died in these underground chambers, and hers had been the most wretched and hopeless death.
She had been here longer, so her resentment was stronger than that of the other Vengeful Spirits.
Following Lady Du’s directions, they reached an even larger chamber. Inside stood a stone statue of a man.
It depicted an imposing general in armor, with a long saber at his waist.
Pointing to the statue, Lady Du said, “The person you seek is beneath that statue.”