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The tower had fallen into disrepair over the years, with open windows on every floor offering no shelter. As the two climbed to the sixth floor in the dark, Huang Ziwen resolutely pointed to a window near the city wall and said to Azure Lotus, "Wife, it's here. You go down first; I'll hold you steady."
Azure Lotus timidly approached the window and peered out. "Husband, it's so dark and high. I'm scared," she said, turning her head nervously. But what she saw was Huang Ziwen's twisted face approaching her. "Husband, you!"
Suddenly, Azure Lotus felt a powerful shove from behind her, and before she could react, she stumbled forward and fell. "Ah!" she cried as she plummeted down the tower.
A dull thud echoed, like a heavy hammer striking Huang Ziwen's heart.
He collapsed onto the ground and murmured after a while, "Wife, I’m sorry. I had no choice; you must forgive me. Wife, go in peace. I will burn many valuable offerings for you every year."
After some time, he seemed to remember something and frantically searched through his belongings. Nothing! It wasn't here; where could it be? It must be with her!
Huang Ziwen forced himself to descend the tower. Gritting his teeth, he steeled his resolve and slowly moved toward the space between the city wall and the tower. The moonlight illuminated the area, revealing the last thing he wanted to see: Azure Lotus had fallen headfirst to the ground, her eyes tightly closed, her skull shattered, limbs broken—likely from bouncing between the tower and the wall. The sight was horrific. Huang Ziwen's heart raced as he approached, murmuring, "Azure Lotus, I have wronged you in this life; in the next life, I will repay you by being your servant!"
He closed his eyes and began to search her body. After a moment, he found something. He quickly grabbed it and turned to run away, unaware that behind him, Azure Lotus's eyes suddenly opened wide!
Huang Ziwen ran far before pulling out the object to examine it closely. It was a sachet embroidered with "Ziwen." Inside were strands of hair—he recognized them as theirs—a token from when they had agreed to take an exam together. Now that evidence was gone; he should be safe now. Huang Ziwen let out a sigh of relief and turned back toward the residence.
In the distance, two family members tracking Huang Ziwen exchanged glances.
The next day, news spread through the capital of a woman in red who had fallen from a high tower. Onlookers were filled with dread as officials searched for her relatives but found none. She was buried in a simple coffin outside the city. No one noticed an old Taoist priest who had been observing for a long time; after calculating with his fingers, he shook his head and left muttering, "Inauspicious land during an inauspicious year and month on an inauspicious day at an inauspicious hour—another woman! The malevolent energy is too strong; she will surely become a vengeful ghost."
The most flustered was Prime Minister Wang. He had planned to drive Huang Ziwen away and then eliminate him to solve his problems. However, the assassins he sent returned with news that Huang Ziwen had killed his wife to silence her. Yet the show must go on; on the following day at the Inspection Court in the capital, many waited for hours but did not see Azure Lotus herself. Prime Minister Wang’s appointed officials grew anxious about making mistakes without being able to explain themselves openly.
Huang Ziwen was unafraid; with righteous indignation, he insisted they continue waiting. "I am innocent! Today we must uncover the truth of this matter and clear Lord Taishan’s name!"
With no sign of Azure Lotus and seeing no results forthcoming, the chief clerk of the Inspection Court finally announced that it seemed someone was stirring up trouble with rumors. The crowd dispersed reluctantly.
That night in a secret room of the Prime Minister's study.
"Father! Today the Crown Prince secretly sent a physician to check on me!" Prime Minister Wang was astonished. "What? How did I not know about this?"
"Hmph, when have you ever cared about me!"
"What about the Imperial Physician?"
"Father! The Imperial Physician is very likely carrying a male fetus! By now, the Crown Prince must already know."
"Really?!" Prime Minister Wang was suddenly filled with both joy and worry.
"Yes! Father, why hasn't Huang Ziwen been sent away yet?!"
"Ah, there have been some complications, Siyao. Don't be anxious; I have my ways."
"Father! We can't delay any longer! The Imperial Physician's visit actually means something else."
"What do you mean?"
"I feel that the Imperial Physician might be here to check if I've been intimate with anyone." Wang Siyao's face turned red.
"Father, we can't postpone this! I'm afraid the Crown Prince will lose trust in me! I must express my feelings to him!" Wang Siyao suddenly threw a tantrum, smashing things around the room, leaving Prime Minister Wang, seated in his armchair, in distress. Finally, after Prime Minister Wang assured her, Wang Siyao left in anger.
Prime Minister Wang sat for a long time before ringing the bell for the secret chamber. Moments later, Zhao Butler appeared. "Prepare the carriage; we are going to the National Master’s residence."
Two days later.
On this day, Huang Ziwen was in a slightly better mood. Prime Minister Wang's health had improved, and within a few days they could hold a celebration for their union. Haha, finally, the clouds had parted and the sun was shining through! It was time to celebrate with a feast. He set out alone for the renowned Taoran Restaurant in the city.
Even though he was by himself, Huang Ziwen had a hearty appetite and devoured an entire banquet. After eating and drinking his fill, he strolled leisurely down the street. The warm sunlight bathed him as he looked up at the clear blue sky. How wonderful everything was, Huang Ziwen thought.
"A young master has a dark cloud over his brow; there must be great misfortune ahead." A voice suddenly rang out before him.
Huang Ziwen looked over and thought, isn't that the old Taoist? Unlike the last time he appeared in disarray, this time the old man had his white hair tied up, his beard flowing gracefully, and an air of a transcendent being about him.
"Go away, stop trying to fool me, take this!" Huang Ziwen tossed a silver coin at him.
The old Taoist did not catch it, letting the coin fall to the ground. Instead, he asked, "Does the young master have a wife at home?" Huang Ziwen felt a chill in his heart and scrutinized the old man closely. The old man smiled slightly and said, "A calamity of love is approaching; you should take care." With that, he turned to leave.
Feeling uneasy, Huang Ziwen hurriedly stopped the old man and said, "Please wait, esteemed Taoist. You are a wise one; may I ask if there is a way to break this curse?"
The old Taoist smiled and replied, "The cycle of cause and effect—how can it be broken? If you do not sow the seeds of karma, how can you expect to reap its consequences?"
Huang Ziwen grew even more anxious. "Esteemed immortal, your words are mistaken. I merely pushed my wife down the tower by accident; she fell and died from hitting her head. It was truly not my intention! Buddhism teaches that saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Surely Taoism would not ignore someone in need!"
The old Taoist observed Huang Ziwen's pitiful expression and pondered for a moment before saying, "We are fated to meet. You know what you have done. I will help you as a way to resolve this connection. In truth, breaking it is not difficult, but you must perform more good deeds from now on."
Huang Ziwen quickly agreed. The old man continued, "Your wife died tragically; her resentment cannot be appeased. She will transform into Six Fiendish Yin Ghosts and will seek revenge on you at midnight three days from now! Do not go anywhere; place your usual clothes on the bed along with your hair and birth date inside them. Hide under the bed; ghosts cannot bend down. When she cannot find you, she will leave. Remember not to open your eyes!"
Huang Ziwen was alarmed and hesitated before asking, "Esteemed Taoist, can I go outside to avoid her?"
"Useless! No matter where you are, she will find you!"
Huang Ziwen's scalp tingled with fear as he stubbornly asked, "Why not come to my house to exorcise her?"
The old Taoist sighed. "This is your fate. At midnight three days from now, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month when the gates of hell open wide, I must meet an old friend. I came to the capital for this friend, and your matter seems connected to him as well. If I go to your home and help you through this crisis, you will surely die next time."
Listening to this made Huang Ziwen tremble with fear; he was drenched in cold sweat and could barely stand. The old man smiled and took out an ancient mirror from his robe. "This is the Soul Sealing Mirror. Hold it against your chest while hiding under the bed; it will protect you. This mirror seals any ghost it sees; it is a precious item that I lend to you."
Huang Ziwen took the mirror and examined it closely; it looked like an ordinary bronze mirror but was somewhat antiquated. The surface was so foggy that it could no longer reflect a human figure, and there were two unidentifiable creatures carved on its back. "Esteemed Taoist? With this mirror, why not just seal her away directly?"
"That won't do. This mirror is too cruel; any soul sealed within cannot be reborn. Your wife was innocent; my intention was merely to dissipate her anger and resentment. Unless absolutely necessary, do not use this mirror for sealing souls. Moreover, ask yourself if you can stand before your wife."
Absolutely not! Huang Ziwen had long sworn never to think about the tragic circumstances of Azure Lotus's death again. As he lowered his head to fiddle with the strange mirror once more, the old Taoist had already vanished without a trace.
With the old Taoist's assurance, Huang Ziwen felt somewhat reassured. He had followed the old man's instructions early on and made preparations. Just in case, he had been sleeping under the bed for several nights, never letting go of the mirror, and today marked the third night.
Strangely enough, after noon on the third day, the servants of the villa were almost nowhere to be seen. By the time it was Lamp Lighting hour, the villa was shrouded in darkness, and no one responded to Huang Ziwen's calls. Unable to leave, he had no choice but to give up; dinner was of no use. After it got dark, Huang Ziwen sat alone in the room, growing increasingly fearful.
He didn't know how much time had passed; outside was completely dark, with no moon in sight. Huang Ziwen was restless and dared not step outside. Clutching the mirror tightly, he settled into a corner and relieved himself early, hiding under the bed before the night watch could announce the time.
He lost track of how many hours went by; everything around him was eerily silent. Huang Ziwen felt anxious as time dragged on painfully. Just then, he suddenly heard a loud bang from downstairs—the door had been flung open!
Huang Ziwen held his breath, covering his mouth and straining to listen. After a moment, he heard something climbing up the stairs, making a sound like heavy objects hitting the ground with a muffled thud.
Bang—bang—bang! It sounded like something that couldn't walk was bouncing around.
The noise grew louder and closer! Huang Ziwen tightly shut his eyes, cold sweat pouring down his face. He had already recited the names of Ninety Earth Deities and Buddhas countless times in his mind. He silently vowed that if he could get through this ordeal, he would worship at every temple and light incense at every Taoist shrine he encountered.
At that moment, suddenly, the door was violently slammed open. A gust of cold wind rushed into the room, and Huang Ziwen instantly felt a chill sweep over him! Terrified, he quickly turned around to face inward, clutching the mirror tightly against his chest. His teeth chattered uncontrollably as he trembled all over.
The muffled thudding sound drew closer to the side of his bed until it finally stopped.
Strangely enough, for a long while, Huang Ziwen heard no other sounds but dared not open his eyes. Fear gripped him tightly. After some time had passed and unable to endure any longer, he mustered his courage and slightly opened one eye as he turned around. "Ah!" He let out a terrified scream!
The next morning, worried about Huang Ziwen's condition, the old Taoist rushed from the National Master's residence to Minister's Villa without even tending to his wounds. Upon reaching the second floor and seeing the door wide open, he shouted in alarm.
The old Taoist hurried inside and looked under the bed only to be shocked—Huang Ziwen was dead, his face contorted in terror with wide-open eyes; it was clear he had died from fright while clutching the Soul Sealing Mirror tightly.
The old Taoist collapsed onto the floor in shock and muttered to himself, "How could this happen? It’s impossible; it shouldn’t be like this!"
Suddenly, he snatched the mirror from Huang Ziwen's hands and examined it closely. "There’s an extra line in the pattern on the back of this mirror; it must have sealed away a vengeful spirit! How could Huang Ziwen still be dead?"
After a long while, the old Taoist slapped his forehead as he suddenly remembered that according to Huang Ziwen, Azure Lotus had died from a headfirst fall!
Just as the old Taoist sat on the ground in frustration, a large group of soldiers rushed in, their weapons pointed at him. "I knew you would come here," a voice said.
The soldiers parted to the sides, and two figures slowly walked forward from the crowd. The first was another Taoist, middle-aged with a pale face and no beard, exuding an air of arrogance. His body bore numerous scars, and although his robe was luxurious, it was tattered and in disarray. Lord Wang followed closely behind him.
"Cough, cough, cough!" The newcomer clearly bore serious injuries; before speaking, he began to cough. "Shixiong! It’s broad daylight now; what spells do you still have left? It seems our duel is coming to an end."
Prime Minister Wang shouted from behind, "Seize that old Taoist! He attempted to assassinate my beloved son!"
The old Taoist sat dejectedly on the ground. "It was a moment of folly; if it weren't for my greed for wine, if I hadn't encountered Huang Ziwen... Alas, Master, I’m sorry."
The soldiers surged forward and bound the old Taoist. With a clang, a copper mirror fell to the ground.
"Hahaha!" The middle-aged Taoist stepped forward eagerly, picked up the copper mirror, and laughed heartily.
"The Soul Sealing Mirror! Finally in my hands! Hahaha! This is the real Soul Sealing Mirror! Shixiong! You were lucky not to have brought the Soul Sealing Mirror last night; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to hold on. So it was hidden here; you were afraid I would get it, right? Hahaha! What a twist of fate! I helped Lord Xiang with his revenge against the Six Fiendish Yin Ghosts and ended up helping myself immensely! I’ll never have to use a fake again!" The middle-aged Taoist's hair fell wildly as he laughed uncontrollably, looking like a madman.
"Shidi! Huang Sheng has met an untimely death! The Soul Sealing Mirror binds the soul so it cannot leave the body; after seven days, he will turn into a corpse!" The old Taoist shouted loudly as he was taken away by the soldiers.
"National Master! What shall we do now?" Prime Minister Wang's face turned pale.
"Hmph, just a minor issue, hehe!" The National Master greedily caressed the Soul Sealing Mirror, completely ignoring what the two had said.
Moments later, news spread from the Xiang residence that Lord Xiang's son-in-law had been assassinated.
Seven days later, on the Night of Returning Souls, in the main hall of the Xiang residence.
"Father! I'm a bit scared." After sending off the guests who came to pay their respects, Wang Siyao stood before Huang Ziwen's coffin. Despite wearing mourning attire, Wang Siyao remained stunningly beautiful; she just looked much more pregnant than before.
Prime Minister Wang felt a mix of amusement and frustration. He had lived his life with pride, never imagining he would receive bribes through the Red and White Celebrations. Yet here he was, inundated with gifts from guests paying their respects, all thanks to this deceased fake son-in-law, receiving enough cash to make his eyes bulge. "What’s there to be afraid of? The National Master sent a Soul Sealing Mirror he crafted himself, which I’ve already placed inside. I’ve treated him fairly; I even arranged for a grand burial for him. Hmph! After all that effort, I still owe the National Master a huge favor!"
“Father! Don’t mention him again! Father! Will you really let the Crown Prince marry me?” Wang Siyao asked shyly, her face glowing with happiness as she envisioned herself as the Crown Princess, or even the Empress, completely forgetting her status as a widow.
Prime Minister Wang took a deep breath and smiled bitterly. This was a question he found difficult to answer. The Crown Prince was known for his unpredictable temper; who could tell if he genuinely liked Siyao or if he simply wanted to use her to secretly bear a child? If it were the latter, then Siyao would have to continue mourning until the Crown Prince ascended the throne.
“Poor child!” Prime Minister Wang gazed at his beloved daughter, unsure whether he felt pity for Siyao or for the child she carried.
“Father! I’m scared!” Wang Siyao said as she noticed her father’s silence. She glanced nervously at the coffin. Prime Minister Wang sighed and decided to support his daughter as they slowly walked into the inner courtyard.
“Uncle Chen, keep an eye on things here,” Prime Minister Wang instructed a servant as he left.
“Yes,” Uncle Chen replied, picking up a broom and starting to clean. There were too many guests, and the floor was covered in dust and debris. As he swept near the coffin, Uncle Chen accidentally bumped into it, causing it to sway slightly. He quickly steadied it with his hand. No one noticed that inside the coffin lay the replica of the Soul Sealing Mirror, positioned directly beneath Huang Ziwen's feet, which had just been knocked over by the movement.
The hall was brightly lit when suddenly a voice announced, “It’s midnight!” Just then, a chilling gust of wind swept through the hall, extinguishing all the candles in an instant.
At that moment, Huang Ziwen in the coffin suddenly opened his eyes!
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