Chapter 270
Chapter 270
The black and white soul envoys had appeared under orders to take away these Yin Souls lingering in the human world.
Seeing Xia Ximo standing before them, they were taken aback.
Knowing that she was not someone to provoke, they stepped forward and cupped their hands politely.
“We act on the Earth Lord’s orders. We ask your understanding, Miss Mogu.”
Xia Ximo merely answered, “Oh. Here to reap the benefits again?”
The remark embarrassed both envoys. They could only invoke the Earth Lord once more.
“We hurried here the moment we received his command. We would never dare delay deliberately.”
Looking wholly unconvinced, Xia Ximo said only, “The soul in my lantern is mine to handle. You may take the others.”
The envoys did not consider the demand excessive. They immediately gave an order, and the souls were seized at once.
Apart from Yan Zhengchu, Yu Lang and the others could see only a layer of dark mist, nothing else.
Hearing Xia Ximo speak, Yu Lang could not help asking Daoist Yan, “Who is Miss Xia talking to?”
Yan Zhengchu lowered his voice and answered carefully, “Soul envoys from the Underworld Administration, known as Black Impermanence and White Impermanence.”
“…”
Seeing Xia Ximo stand straight-backed in the dark mist, still cold and haughty, Yu Lang asked, “Miss Xia talks to Black Impermanence and White Impermanence… like that?”
“Indeed she does,” Daoist Yan said.
In moments, the underworld soldiers had captured the Yin Souls one after another.
The black and white envoys were about to leave when Xia Ximo stopped them. “Wait.”
She said, “There’s still a ghost infant in this tomb. Aren’t you going to deal with him?”
The Soul-Reaping Envoy explained, “A ghost infant’s soul is incomplete. Having never entered the world, he does not count as a person. His resentment cannot be resolved, nor can he enter the path of rebirth.”
“Nonsense.”
The rebuke startled both envoys.
Xia Ximo said, “How do the ten months he spent in his mother’s womb not count? Besides, ghosts killed him. He died unjustly. Shouldn’t the Underworld Administration give him another chance?”
Her words left both envoys looking troubled.
The Soul-Locking Envoy could not help saying, “These are the rules of the Underworld Administration. We are only following them!”
“The Earth Lord made those rules.”
“…”
The Soul-Reaping Envoy was more tactful. Neither agreeing nor refusing, the envoy said, “How about this? We will first take the ghost infant back to the Underworld Administration and convey your words to the Earth Lord. We will leave the decision entirely to him. Would that do?”
Only then did Xia Ximo give a quiet acknowledgment.
Once the dark mist dispersed, silence returned to the burial chamber.
Apart from rubble and dust, only the body of Princess Consort Wu, Lady Yang, remained on the ground.
Zhao Wan lay unconscious nearby.
Yan Zhengchu went to check on the princess. “Sinister energy entered her body and made her faint temporarily. There’s nothing seriously wrong.”
Xia Ximo approached Lady Yang and told Yan Zhengchu, “The princess consort’s soul hasn’t left her body yet. Preserve it with a talisman first. There are things we still need to ask her.”
Yan Zhengchu nodded and collected her soul with a Soul-Gathering Talisman. Then he said, “The yin qi is too dense here. The princess has suffered repeated frights. We must leave as soon as possible.”
Ren Fengjue suddenly glanced at Yu Lang. Though he said nothing, the latter understood immediately.
Rather unwillingly, Yu Lang stepped forward and hoisted the unconscious princess onto his back.
By the time they left the tomb, daylight had broken outside.
The Golden Plume Guards stationed there had dutifully remained at their posts. Xiaoxizi and the other guards, who had been sent out earlier after falling under the spell, had all regained consciousness.
Zhao Wan was taken back to Zhaoyang Courtyard. Steward Sun was about to fetch the Household Physician when Yan Zhengchu stopped him.
“The princess fainted because she was frightened and struck by ghostly energy. Calling the Household Physician won’t help.”
Had Steward Sun heard such words in the past, he would certainly have denounced the speaker for spreading superstitious nonsense.
But a few hours earlier, when he reached Ning’an Courtyard, he had happened to see Yan Zhengchu and Yu Lang bringing the afflicted maid and guards out of the underground chambers.
He had spent more than twenty years in the mansion without knowing that such a seemingly bottomless place lay beneath it.
On the spot, Yan Zhengchu had drawn talismans in cinnabar on yellow paper, made talisman water from them, and had the victims drink it. Before long, the black vapor shrouding their heads slowly dispersed.
Steward Sun had witnessed it himself. It would have been difficult not to believe.
Now, hearing Daoist Yan’s words, he voiced no doubt at all.
“Please save the princess, Daoist Master!”
Yan Zhengchu responded courteously. “Rest assured, Steward Sun. Leave her to me.”
He dismissed all the maids and older serving women, then took a copper coin in one hand and held a talisman in the other…
Knowing that her own yin qi was heavy, Xia Ximo left Zhaoyang Courtyard of her own accord.
Before long, Zhao Wan’s cries came from inside.
“Mother? Where is my mother? I want to see her!”
“Someone come!”
Upon waking, Zhao Wan thought she had merely suffered a nightmare and tearfully demanded to see the princess consort.
The maids returned to comfort her, but none dared tell her the truth.
From their expressions, Zhao Wan could already guess that what she had experienced was no dream.
She really had been imprisoned in that chamber with Ren Fengjue and seen countless Yin Souls, including the ghost of Lady Du, who had been missing for ten years…
And her mother had been killed by that skeleton while trying to save her!
“Mother… I don’t have a mother anymore…”
Zhao Wan sat on the edge of the bed, weeping bitterly. The maids could not console her.
While they were at a loss, the princess, always so proud, suddenly got off the bed, rushed to Yan Zhengchu’s feet, and knelt straight down.
“Daoist Master, you must have a way to save my mother, don’t you? Please help me. I’ll give you as much money as you want!”
Startled by her action, Yan Zhengchu hurried forward to support her. “Your Highness, the princess consort… has passed away. The dead cannot be brought back.”
But Zhao Wan would not listen. “I want to see Mother. Let me see her!”
Daoist Yan frowned, looking deeply troubled.
Then Xia Ximo entered and stood by the door. “If she wants to see her, let her. I’m sure Princess Consort Wu has much to tell her as well.”
Yan Zhengchu immediately understood. He told Zhao Wan, “Your yang qi is too weak at present for direct contact with a ghost. If you wish to see the princess consort, the only way is to sleep first.”
Believing him without question, Zhao Wan obediently lay back down.
A maid lit calming incense in the room. Breathing in its scent, the princess slowly drifted into sleep.
Once she was asleep, Yan Zhengchu used a protective charm to shield her yang soul from interference by Yin Souls, lest she become trapped in the dream and fail to wake.
Then he released Lady Yang’s soul.
“Your Highness, you have only the time it takes an incense stick to burn to see your daughter. If there is anything you wish to tell her, go quickly.”
Lady Yang nodded and walked to her daughter’s side. Her figure soon faded.
Yan Zhengchu then took out the Mystic Light Mirror and softly recited an incantation. The figures of Zhao Wan and Lady Yang gradually appeared on its surface.
After falling into a deep sleep, Zhao Wan found herself walking through the mansion. No one else was anywhere in sight.
Without realizing it, she reached Ning’an Courtyard.
Suddenly, her mother, Lady Yang, came out.
To Zhao Wan’s amazement, her mother’s legs had recovered. She was not in her wheelchair but wore clothes from earlier days. With a tranquil smile, she called softly to her.
“Wan’er.”