Sleeping with the Soul

Wang Yinsheng looked around warily, leaned over and whispered, "Auntie, don't tell anyone about what I said. The Wang and Peng families are also familiar with each other."

Yuanli nodded, imitating his expression and said, "I understand the rules of the underworld. You tell me."

"The Xu and Peng families were old friends. They had an engagement planned. They wanted to marry the younger sister to Peng Junru, but she didn't survive, so the bride was given to the older sister, Xu Zhouruo. On the day of the wedding, the Peng family was also wrong. Old Man Peng killed the bride... well, that young lady had a fierce temper and hanged herself from the willow tree at the gate of the Peng Mansion."

"Lin Jian, let him go."

After hearing this, Yuanli felt cold all over and the dream from last night emerged in her mind.

"Oh, thank you, auntie. I'll get out of here right away." After saying that, the man didn't care about the numbness in his legs, and slipped back to his table and ran away with his brothers.

"My lady, when did you start asking about these things?"

"Husband...I always feel that this story has something to do with the nightmare I had last night."

It was broad daylight, so Yuanli was not so scared anymore. Not long after she fell asleep, the woman in white entered her dream again.

However, this time, Yuanli saw the jade hairpin in her memory. The jade hairpin was very similar to Sanniang's, but she couldn't be sure after a vague glance.

Yuanli was frightened awake again and hurriedly found Wen Yici and told him the connection between Xu Zhouruo and Yuzhan, but he always felt it was just a dream. It was not until Yuanli persuaded him again and again that Wen Yici agreed to stay temporarily and take her away immediately if there was any danger.

After comforting Yuanli, Wen Yici fiddled around in the room for a while. At night, Yuanli no longer dreamed of her and slept very soundly.

In the early morning, Yuanli, who had a good sleep, was in a good mood. She sat in front of the window to enjoy the scenery. Suddenly, she saw Lin Jian and Wu Jiu standing in front of a porridge shop, talking and laughing.

A gossipy expression appeared on her face. Since Sanniang left, only Lin Jian could make Wujiu so happy.

"Why are you grinning like an idiot here, ma'am?"

"My dear husband, it would be wonderful if Wujiu were a woman. She would definitely be able to play the harem with Lin Jian."

Hearing this, Wen Yici choked on the tea and started coughing violently. Yuanli hurriedly patted his back.

"What are you thinking about, my lady? Lin Jian likes women."

"How can you be so sure that Lin Jian only likes women? Love in this world knows no distinctions, and has nothing to do with status, gender, or race."

Yuanli's words left him speechless. According to Lin Jian's age, he should have a bunch of children, but he still hasn't gotten married.

"Lin Jian told me that there is someone in his heart that he cannot have."

"What we're saying is, is there a possibility?" Yuanli raised the corner of her mouth and raised her eyebrows to Wen Yici in a crazy hint.

"Madam, you don't think Lin Jian likes Wu Jiu, do you?"

Hearing this, Yuanli's smile became even brighter. Wen Yici shook his head helplessly, tapped Yuanli's forehead lightly and said, "Don't think about that kind of thing."

Yuanli pursed her lips, but her eyes drifted towards the porridge shop.

After breakfast, Wen Yici took Lin Jian to find out the news. She sat by the window, and Wu Jiu played his precious paulownia zither for her.

"Wujiu, how old do you think the general is?"

"In three years, the general will be thirty years old."

"He's thirty years old, so it's time for him to get married. Wujiu, do you think it would be okay for me to find him a few wives and concubines?"

"Very good."

Wujiu appeared calm on the surface, but Yuanli was already familiar with his music and could naturally tell that he had played a few notes wrong.

"Would a woman like a mighty man like the general? Wu Jiu...if you were a woman, would you like Lin Jian?"

Wu Jiu raised his head and smiled slightly, then said without hesitation, "Yes."

Yuanli was excited, but also a little regretful, as she felt that the answer in her mind was almost certain.

She was in a good mood and took Wujiu out to the street. Wujiu was delicate and looked like a scholar preparing for an imperial examination, and many women looked at him. As they were strolling, a distraught man knocked her off her candied haws. He took out a heavy ingot of silver and handed it to her.

"Sorry, I'll compensate you."

Yuanli stared at the candied haws on the ground. When she looked up and saw the man's face clearly, she exclaimed, "Peng Junru?"

"Do you know me, young lady?"

Yuanli was a little anxious and didn't know what to say. If she told him that she saw Xu Zhouruo in her dream, he would think she was a charlatan.

"Xu Zhouruo mentioned you to me."

Peng Junru looked up at Yuanli and said sarcastically, "Miss, you want to cheat me out of money? I'll give you whatever you want directly. There's no need to waste your time lying to me. I know you're not from Huisheng Bay."

After saying that, Peng Junru stuffed another ingot of silver into her hand. Yuanli was not polite and took the silver and put it into her purse.

Seeing this, Peng Junru left immediately. Yuanli chased after him and whispered, "I'm not lying to you. Do you know Xu Xirong?"

Hearing this, Peng Junru stopped in his tracks, turned around with his eyes wide open and a look of shock on his face, and asked in a low voice, "How do you know Xu Xirong? Tell me!"

"Don't get excited. If it's what Xu Zhouruo said, do you believe it?"

Peng Junru sneered and said disdainfully, "Xu Zhouru wouldn't even mention her, not to mention you, a foreigner. Who are you and what is your purpose?"

During the conversation, Peng Junru spoke excitedly, his eyes full of resentment, and he approached her step by step. Xiaobai crawled from her sleeve to her shoulder, spitting out tongue to guard against him.

"Don't bite me, Xiaobai. He won't hurt me. Don't be afraid, sir. This snake is very docile."

Yuanli had no choice but to take Peng Junru to a quiet and secluded place and told him about her dream.

But after hearing this, tears welled up in Peng Junru's eyes. He asked her the name of the inn and ran away rashly. Yuanli had not yet obtained any useful information.

"Why is he like this? I didn't even ask."

"Princess, please don't be angry. It's not worth it to get yourself hurt. I think that person is a bit extreme. It's better to be careful when interacting with him."

"A little bit. If Xiaobai hadn't scared him, he might have strangled me to death. Give Xiaobai a snack."

Speaking of snacks, Xiaobai rubbed his head against her face. The two little horns were a bit prickly. If she hadn't thought about riding it back and looking handsome, she really wanted to ask Tianshu to cast a spell to hide it temporarily.

As soon as the thought came to her mind, she cursed herself in her heart for being selfish. How could she have such a thought?

Yuanli carried Xiaobai to the market and bought a piece of raw meat that was several times larger than Xiaobai's. However, she stroked her chin and said thoughtfully, "Wujiu, do you think this is enough for Xiaobai?"

"That's enough. This piece of meat can kill Xiaobai."

After paying the bill and carrying the meat, Yuanli just stepped into the inn and saw the waiter leading Peng Junru to the guest room.

The fact was just as she guessed, Peng Junru really stayed in the inn, but after staying there for a day or two, Peng Junru's complexion became worse and worse.

Just as Yuanli was secretly observing Peng Junru in a puzzled manner, a voice floated from behind her: "Are you looking for me~"

"Xingjun! You're so scary."

"Sorry, sorry."

Yuanli cast a resentful look at Tianshu. After this incident, the noise she had just made made Peng Junru a little defensive.

"Xingjun, you have a bit of the underworld style in you."

"Oh, really? In the past, I did have a friend in the underworld."

"What kind of person is she?"

"She is very beautiful and a very kind woman, much better than those hypocritical people in heaven. She is a mischievous demon king, just like the fairy."

"The Star Lord speaks so highly of her, but are you attracted to her?" Yuanli blinked and looked at Tianshu expectantly, waiting for his answer.

However, Tianshu Xingjun only smiled faintly, holding the Liuguang fan and staring at Peng Junru's house, and said: "That man is haunted by a female ghost."

She thought about it and felt that it was most likely Xu Zhouruo. He was really infatuated, but it was her own father who made her a cuckold.

Yuanli told Tianshu everything that had happened in the past few days, and accidentally revealed the jade hairpin. After listening, Tianshu Star Lord looked solemn and said seriously, "Emperor... is he looking for the jade hairpin?"

"Yes." Yuanli looked around warily and gossiped softly, "The Emperor must be doing this for his old lover. He also said that he must find her for her sake."

Tianshu Xingjun sneered and said, "Irony! The person least worthy of being called the one looking for the jade hairpin for her is him."

Seeing Yuanli's puzzled expression, Tianshu realized that he had said something he shouldn't have said. He then changed the subject and said, "That woman, today is her seventh day after death. She died unjustly. A'li, be careful."

"Then how can I find the hosta?"

"Ari, do you really want to help the Emperor get what he wants?" Tianshu said, with a barely perceptible bitterness hidden in his eyes.

Yuanli nodded, and Tianshu took out a jade pendant and hung it around her neck, saying softly, "This jade is a magic weapon from my house. It can keep you safe. A'li, please don't lose my precious child."

"Since it is so valuable, Immortal Lord, please keep it for yourself."

Tianshu smiled and shook his head, saying, "The jade hairpin you want is with the female ghost that is haunting that man."

After saying this, Tianshu Star Lord disappeared, leaving Yuanli sitting alone in the corner with resentment. After finally finding a supporter, he left again.

When Wen Yici returned with the good news, Yuanli told him everything. After listening, he asked Lin Jian to kidnap Peng Junru halfway.

Peng Junru knelt on the ground, looked up, and recognized Yuanli, "You again?"

Wen Yici frowned and asked, "Do you know my wife?"

"We only met once. Why did you tie me up in broad daylight? Is there any law?"

"The law of the country?" Wen Yici snorted coldly, and Yuanli quickly poured him a cup of tea to comfort him.

"Mr. Peng, we meet again. Don't be afraid. I invited you here to discuss with you the matter of the woman in your room." Yuanli spoke very tactfully, fearing that if she mentioned the female ghost directly, she would scare him to death.

"I know."

"Do you really know? The woman I'm talking about is the woman named Xu."

"Um."

"If you know that, why do you still live in that house? Aren't you afraid that she will hurt you?"

Peng Junru said weakly with red eyes: "It was the Peng family who hurt her. She won't hurt me. Even if I know she is a ghost, I still want to be with her."

"You...will die."

"So what? Without her, what's the point of me staying in this world?" After saying that, the light in Peng Junru's eyes dimmed again.

Yuanli untied him, discussed what to do tonight, and prepared to take action.

At night, the usually quiet Huisheng Bay began to become restless. There was a strong wind outside the house, and fallen leaves were blown everywhere by the wind.