hink I'm right!"The lunar month pillar is Ding Mao. I clenched my fist, believing it was simply a matter of time and opportunity not yet arriving.The two characters "緣" (fate/destiny) are too magical....The green parasol hangs low, its gauze veil fluttering lightly.
That steaming wooden tub made me feel so awkward. I'm not used to showering in front of other people! I've never been to a public bathhouse in my life.
"Could you please step aside for a moment" I whispered.
The maidservant smiled faintly and said in a soft voice, "In a while, we'll come and attend to the young lady's hair." Then she bowed her head and respectfully left the pavilion.
It must be nice to be served by such obedient and gentle women, Jiang Qiyun must be very comfortable, right That's why he treats me so harshly, like he wants to beat me up.
I think I've been very submissive, but compared to these maids who willingly prostrate themselves in the dust, I'm still far from it.
Anyway... If he cheats on me in the future, and I can't handle it, then I'll just stay far away from him. Out of sight, out of mind.
Jiang Qiyun's power in the Underworld is much stronger than it was in the mortal realm. The wounds he "treated" for me have already begun to heal. The shallower ones have disappeared, and the deeper ones, visible to the bone, are still healing. But the blood curse mark on my chest remains clearly visible.
I washed away the bloodstains and saw many tiny wounds, twisting and turning, covering the entire lower edge of my collarbone, extending to my chest.
A woman's voice called from outside: "Little Empress, it's me, Meng Shu. The Emperor sent me to find you."
Well, but I'm taking a bath...
She didn't wait for my answer and walked in, lifting the sheer curtain aside.
"Taking a bath and changing clothes" She walked over without any shyness: "I need to freshen up, otherwise I'd be laughed out of the room if I went in looking like this."
Meng Shu looks young and beautiful; she should have two other sisters, right Some ancient texts say Meng Po created three beauties who dispense the Meng Po Soup at the Bridge of Forgetfulness for ghosts. After drinking the soup, all past grievances are wiped clean, love, hate, and sorrow vanish without a trace. Then, after being judged in the underworld, they go to the Wheel of Rebirth to be reborn.
"Is there anything wrong" I awkwardly covered my chest underwater.
Did ancient people take it for granted to be served by others They've been seen through.
"My Lord, the Emperor is afraid you might be worried about matters at home, so I've come to take a look for you..." She said as she raised her hand and gently brushed across the surface of the water in my tub.
This is the first time I've ever seen the Light Art with my own eyes.
Previously, the Shen family used a technique called Yuanguangshu to obtain information from the deceased. This involved going into the deceased's room and using a bronze mirror, a magical formation, and two young boys to verify the results before revealing the desired information.
It is said that people with great magical powers can draw a circle on their palms, water surfaces, mirror surfaces, walls, or even in mid-air to track information.
Meng Shu is one of the incarnations of Meng Po, the Goddess of Forgetfulness. Her Taoist cultivation surpasses that of humans by a great deal, and her appearance to me was very clear.
I saw Jiang Qiyun's huge hand clamp onto Shen Qingrui's soul, while Qingluan knelt and prostrated herself beside them. Finally, Jiang Qiyun let go of her and disappeared into the space within the black coffin.
Afterward, the wooden houses on the hillside were bathed in silver light. A dozen firefly-like lights flew into the house.
The earth shook violently. The centuries-old adobe houses in Huangdao Village collapsed instantly. Across the street, a landslide roared down, sending rocks and sand cascading, burying the entire village.
The fake monk, Hui Qing, was actually able to transcend the souls of the villagers with a single Buddhist chant. As he held his beggar's bowl, there was an air of mastery about him.
When Jiang Qiyun walked out of the wooden house, my brother rushed up to... punch him No way... My brother actually dared to yell at him.
Qingluan followed Jiang Qiyun all the way. He turned to Qingluan and instructed him about something. Qingluan knelt down to accept the order, and then Jiang Qiyun's figure disappeared. He should be back at Huangquan Riverbank waiting for me.
“Little Empress, you’re amazing. Our Emperor has been in charge of the Underworld for so many years, and this is the first time he's welcomed back an empress like this. Hmph, he even gave you an immortal blood oath, this is simply—" Meng Shu tsked in admiration, her eyes fixed on the unsightly scars on my chest.
"What's that" I asked curiously.
“It’s like you have to be with him forever… You were a mortal before, and a lifetime for an emperor is just a blink of an eye. With this blood curse, no matter how many times you reincarnate, you'll still be you, nothing will change.” Meng Shu pouted and said, “How envious…”
I lowered my head to look at the wound on my chest, like a stream converging. It was so ugly, what kind of curse would draw like this… And it didn't tell me, or ask for my opinion.
Two maids came in carrying a cosmetic box filled with fragrant ointments. I really wanted to chase them away, but I just couldn't bring myself to wear those clothes.
Like Jiang Qiyun's, she wore three layers of clothing. The first layer was snow white, the second layer was red like blazing fire, and the third layer was a magnificent dragon and phoenix cloak. Her sleeves were embroidered with countless Manjusaka flowers—the only flower on the banks of the Huangquan River. They were blood-red in color, with petals that never met their leaves, symbolizing endless love, sorrow, and devout faith.
The maids helped me dress, and then they began to fuss over my hair. They pinned up half of it in a cloud bun, adorning it with jeweled hairpins that swayed with every move. A necklace rested upon my chest, and a pendant hung from my waist...
"Hey, little Empress, you don't have ear holes"
I shook my head. I don't understand makeup and dressing up, so I've never thought about getting my ears pierced.
"Here, take these earrings. They were bestowed upon you by the Celestial Emperor; please don't lose them..." She placed a pair of earrings in a small pouch and handed it to me.
Getting your ears pierced must hurt, right I'll put this little pouch in my belt for later.
》》》
Before the palace of the Underworld Emperor, there were six bridges. I was flanked by twelve maidservants holding fragrant flower umbrellas as we slowly walked forward. Ahead, little demons had laid red silk on the ground.
I gazed at the towering Mount Luofeng, its peak disappearing into the clouds. It stretched endlessly in every direction. In such a vast place, where could the Yinjing Tiangong possibly be
After crossing the Six Bridges, I was exhausted. These structures were incredibly grand, far larger than anything in the scenic area. Standing before the Temple of King Yama, my breathing quickened involuntarily. The grandeur and solemnity of it all left me breathless.
All around me were ghost attendants and underlings. Although each one bowed to me, ... this feeling is terrifying. The dead are vastly different from the living. Even the adorable little ghost attendants have a pale, gloomy look about them.
A ghastly figure suddenly emerged from the giant door, stopping just three feet in front of me.
"Little Miss!~"
"Ah!!" I was so startled that my brain went numb, and I cried out in surprise, taking a step back.
Bai Wuchang paused for a moment, then curved his blood-red thin lips into a smile: “How scared are you This is the underworld. It’s strange to see me here, isn’t it”
"N-no... I'm just a little nervous. There are so many... ghosts here..." I swallowed nervously.
And these ghosts each stared at me, making me feel uneasy, and Jiang Qiyun had disappeared somewhere.
"Well, then I'll keep you company for a while," Bai Wu Chang chuckled. different from ordinary villages,” he whispered.He poured us two cups of tea, shut the door, and said in a low voice: "This place was a drug dealer's transit point and hideout many years ago. The sta...