18

At the fifth watch, before dawn, the sky was still dim. The drums atop Reaching Heaven Tower echoed throughout Shangjing, signaling the end of curfew.

Only when the final drumbeat faded did A Chan reluctantly open her bleary eyes.

Today was Lady Xiao Lin's funeral. It was better to be early than late, so she needed to get to Zhao Manor as soon as possible.

After dressing, A Chan pushed the window open a crack. Cold wind immediately rushed in, making her shiver. She quickly shut it again.

The weather wasn't very good today, but it was well suited for sending off the dead.

A Chan walked along the streets of Changping Quarter. The shops lining the road were still closed, but she could faintly hear voices from up ahead. It was a wonton stall; she'd heard that the meat wontons there were delicious.

A Chan had gotten up early for once and had finally caught it open, but she'd eaten a steamed flatbread with hot water before leaving. Her mouth was still bland, but her stomach was too full, so she could only save her regret for next time.

When A Chan arrived at Zhao Manor, it was not yet fully light, but quite a few people seemed to have gathered inside. From the sounds of it, the place was bustling.

She entered the courtyard and saw the Zhao family gathered there, their faces grave as they looked toward the Mourning Hall. Before long, several burly men carried a coffin out of the hall. Others brought out the offering table, which still held Lady Xiao Lin's spirit tablet.

A Chan couldn't help feeling puzzled. Hadn't they said they couldn't raise the coffin until the appointed hour? What were they doing?

Soon, several more Daoist priests emerged from the Mourning Hall.

The priest leading them had a full head of white hair and beard, yet a youthful face. He wore a red Ritual robe and held a Ritual bell. The seven Daoists behind him each carried a black wooden box. They seemed to be preparing to perform a ritual.

When the Daoists came out, Zhao Ming stepped forward to greet them, his manner respectful. "I must trouble Daoist Master Jingyun with this matter."

Jingyun smiled. "Lord Zhao, you can rest assured."

After greeting Zhao Ming, Jingyun turned to the offering table. The seven Daoists came forward one by one and placed their black wooden boxes on it.

Jingyun shook the Ritual bell. The wind around them suddenly died, but the trees in the courtyard rustled and swayed. The coffin in the courtyard gave a sudden jolt, its lid jumping upward.

It was as if something inside were trying to burst out.

The Zhao family members present were terrified. Young Zhao Wenqi hid behind Old Madam Zhao, while Zhao Wenyue screamed and stumbled several steps backward.

Only Zhao Ming managed to remain somewhat composed, though his face had turned pale.

The bell fell silent. Daoist Master Jingyun looked at Zhao Ming with a troubled expression and said, "Lord Zhao, your wife died unjustly, and the resentment around her has not dispersed. Her soul is showing signs of turning into a Vengeful ghost. A decision must be made soon."

"This... Is there anything you can do, Daoist Master?"

Daoist Master Jingyun stroked his beard. "There are two options. First, when Madam Zhao turns into a Vengeful ghost, I can disperse her soul. But then her soul will be unable to enter the netherworld."

"What is the second option?"

"Seal her soul inside the coffin with a Rebirth Talisman that my temple has enshrined for many years. It will slowly wear down her resentment. But it may take a hundred years or more for the resentment in her soul to dissipate. The Zhao family will then have to open the coffin again and release Madam Zhao's soul to enter the netherworld and be reborn."

Zhao Ming hesitated, as if neither choice seemed acceptable.

But before he could decide, Zhao Wenyue shrieked, "Choose the second one, Father. We'll choose the second one."

"But then your mother's soul will be sealed in the coffin for a hundred years." Zhao Ming looked reluctant.

"That's still better than her becoming a Vengeful ghost and coming after our whole family."

"Wenyue is right. My daughter-in-law wouldn't want to become a Vengeful ghost and harm people either." Old Madam Zhao hurriedly chimed in.

Just as Zhao Ming was about to agree, someone suddenly flung herself onto the coffin, clinging to it and crying, "You can't do this to Madam!"

It was Mama Sun.

Mama Sun looked as if she hadn't slept all night. Her eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles shadowed them.

"Someone, pull her away! Don't disturb the Daoist Master's ritual." When Zhao Wenyue saw Mama Sun, her expression immediately darkened. She called for the servants and ordered them to drag Mama Sun away.

Mama Sun's strength was no match for two burly servants. They quickly pulled her away from the coffin.

As she passed A Chan, Mama Sun cried, "Miss, please, say something for Madam!"

Only after Mama Sun's voice had faded away did A Chan turn to the Zhao family. She walked toward Zhao Ming. "Uncle, both of these methods sound terrifying. Perhaps there's another way. Surely you don't want Aunt, who worked tirelessly for the Zhao family all her life, to meet such a miserable end?"

Zhao Ming pondered without replying, but Zhao Wenyue snapped, "Ji Chan, this is our family's business. It's not your place to interfere."

A Chan looked at Zhao Wenyue calmly and said, word by word, "The person lying in that coffin is my aunt. She's your own mother."

Zhao Wenyue seemed startled by the look A Chan gave her. For a moment, she couldn't speak.

Then Zhao Wenqi, who had been hiding behind Old Madam Zhao, spoke up. "I believe Madam was kind when she was alive and wouldn't want to hurt anyone after her death. But what if she really turns into a Vengeful ghost? Cousin, when you blame Father and Sister, please think of Grandfather and Grandmother, Father and Sister, and all the servants in the manor. The living are what matter most."

What a fine rebuke, delivered from the lofty heights of human nature.

He was so young, yet already so quick-tongued. No wonder the Zhao family treasured him like a jewel.

After he finished speaking, even those in the courtyard who had wavered began nodding in agreement.

It was only Lady Xiao Lin, who had died and might turn into a Vengeful ghost and harm them, that they would have to sacrifice. She was already dead; why fret over so much? Of course the living mattered more.

Zhao Wenqi's words settled the matter once and for all. Zhao Ming patted his head and gave A Chan an apologetic smile. "The boy speaks without thinking, but..."

He sighed and turned to Daoist Master Jingyun. "Let's do as Wenyue said."

Daoist Master Jingyun nodded and continued the unfinished ritual.

A Chan watched coldly as Daoist Master Jingyun dabbed Three sacrificial animal blood onto each of the seven black wooden boxes. When they opened, each contained a Coffin nail engraved with intricate, profound runes.

All seven Coffin nails were eventually hammered into the coffin lid. With each nail, a piercing, shrill scream came from inside the coffin. By the time the final nail went in, not a sound remained.

When Daoist Master Jingyun lowered the Ritual bell, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had just survived a calamity.

Yet no one wondered why Daoist Master Jingyun had come prepared with seven Coffin nails.

"The hour has come. Raise the coffin."

At some point, the sky had grown bright. The ritual was done, and it was time for the funeral procession.

Lady Xiao Lin's coffin was carried out. The Zhao family walked in front, followed by several Daoist priests, then the servants of Zhao Manor. They all said they wanted to see Madam off one last time.

In the blink of an eye, the courtyard was empty.

The Zhao family's funeral procession left Zhao Manor and headed toward the city gates in a long, winding line. A Chan did not follow.

She walked out of the Zhao family's gate. A crowd had gathered outside to watch, and she heard them chattering.

Someone said, "Madam Zhao wasn't exactly pleasant. I heard her own son killed her. She died a horrible death."

Someone replied, "It's Lord Zhao I feel sorry for. I heard he and his wife were deeply in love."

"Exactly. You used to see Lord Zhao buying little treats for his wife all the time. Now she's just gone."

Listening to the crowd's idle chatter, A Chan left and headed home.

She hadn't gone far when someone behind her called, "Miss."

A Chan turned around. It was Mama Sun.

Mama Sun, who had been in such a wretched state earlier, seemed to have tidied herself up a little. She still had a cloth bundle on her back.

"Mama Sun, you..."

Mama Sun lowered her eyes. "Madam gave me my Deed of sale long ago. Now that she's gone, I can't stay at the manor any longer."

The steward had come to find her just now and told her to leave Zhao Manor immediately.

That suited her. She had no intention of staying, either.

Every last one of them in that manor had black hearts.

"If that's the case, why don't you come rest at my place for a while, Mama Sun?"

Mama Sun nodded. "All right. There are some things I'd like to tell you."

The two of them returned to A Chan's home and entered the somewhat empty shop. Mama Sun did not go upstairs to rest, but sat at the table with A Chan.

A Chan had boiled some water to drink before leaving. Now all she could offer Mama Sun was water.

Mama Sun cradled the steaming cup. Her tense expression seemed to ease a little.

She took a sip of the hot water to moisten her throat before speaking. "Miss, after today, I'll be leaving Shangjing."

A Chan wasn't surprised. After everything that had happened at Zhao Manor, the Zhao family—especially Zhao Wenyue—would hardly tolerate Mama Sun staying.

"Where are you planning to go?"

"I should have gone back to my hometown years ago, but I couldn't bear to leave Madam, so I kept putting it off. Madam even once said I could stay with her in my old age. Who could have known something like this would happen?" As Mama Sun spoke, tears began to fall.

A Chan didn't try to comfort her. She quietly waited for Mama Sun's sobs to subside, then asked, "Do you have enough money for the journey? If you don't, I can..."

Mama Sun shook her head, stopping A Chan from continuing.

"Madam rewarded me with quite a bit of money. I have more than enough for the journey home, and I won't have to worry about the days ahead. I came to see you because there's something I wanted to tell you.

"I'm useless. Even though I know what happened, I can't do anything for Madam. But I have to tell you, at least. You're the only family Madam had."

Mama Sun's expression was solemn, and A Chan grew serious, too. "Please, Mama Sun. Tell me."

"Master... Zhao Ming had an affair with Madam Su, and that's how Zhao Wenqi was born. I suspect the Old Master and Old Madam both knew about it."

Seeing that A Chan's expression hadn't changed at all, Mama Sun gave a bitter smile. "When did you find out, Miss?"

"I already suspected it yesterday." A Chan asked, "What about you, Mama Sun?"

Mama Sun thought of what had happened the previous night, and her eyes reddened again. "Last night, I went to the Mourning Hall and happened to see Old... Zhao Ming there. He was talking to Madam's coffin. A little while later, that woman came, too. They had no shame at all. They even embraced in front of Madam's coffin."

A Chan frowned. "What did you hear?"

Mama Sun's face paled, and a hint of alarm crept into her eyes. "I heard him say that Eldest Young Master was useless and that he couldn't let a useless person inherit the family estate. For Zhao Wenqi to remain at the manor legitimately, someone had to be sacrificed."

"What else?" A Chan's voice grew colder.

Who had been sacrificed? Zhao Wensheng, Lady Xiao Lin, or both?

"That woman said she wanted to offer incense to Madam, but Zhao Ming said Madam wasn't worthy. He also said Madam had caused them to lose a child." Mama Sun's eyes burned with indignation. "Our Madam knew nothing about any child. If she had known, she would have divorced Zhao Ming long ago. How could things have come to this?"

"There's actually one more thing..." Mama Sun hesitated, unsure whether she should say it.

"Go on."

A Chan's calm demeanor seemed to soothe Mama Sun. She steadied herself before continuing. "I made quite a bit of noise when I left yesterday and almost got caught. But the door of the Mourning Hall suddenly closed, stopping him. I wondered if perhaps Madam... hadn't left yet. Did Zhao Ming realize it, and that's why he summoned that evil Daoist to perform the ritual?"

"It's possible." A Chan was an ordinary person now and couldn't see ghosts under normal circumstances, but the old Daoist's methods today hadn't seemed fake.

Lady Xiao Lin's soul was probably still here. Whether she would turn into a Vengeful ghost was another matter.

Mama Sun choked out, "Miss, Madam had such a hard life. She was deceived while she was alive, and even after death she couldn't rest in peace. I shouldn't have come to you, but I was afraid that if I didn't tell you, one day I'd grow old and die, and no one would remember the suffering Madam endured."

A Chan replied earnestly, "I'll remember everything you told me today, Mama Sun."

Mama Sun's eyes filled with tears. "This old servant failed Madam. I knew the truth, yet I couldn't do anything."

"Mama Sun, evil people will get what's coming to them."

"But when will that retribution come?" she murmured.

She had heard the truth, but she had no proof, and no one would believe her.

Zhao Ming was too good at keeping up appearances. In a few years, when no one remembered Madam anymore, he could marry that woman and let her take Madam's place.

Their son could even inherit the Zhao family.

Would she live long enough to see the Zhao family get what they deserved? No one could give her an answer.

Mama Sun left. After seeing her off, A Chan shut the door. In the dim room, she sat by the table, gazing at the cup of water that had gone cold.

She wasn't Ji Chan, and Lady Xiao Lin wasn't her family.

But at that moment, a nameless flame stirred in A Chan's heart.

The Zhao family had gone too far.