Chapter 18 The Zhao family has gone too far in bullying us.
At dawn, before sunrise and still in the darkness, the drumbeats from the Tower of Babel echoed throughout the capital, signaling the end of the curfew.
Only when the last drumbeat fell did Achan reluctantly open her sleepy eyes.
Today is the day of Madam Lin's funeral, so it's better to go early than late. She needs to get to the Zhao residence as soon as possible.
After getting dressed, Achan opened the window a crack, and a gust of cold wind immediately rushed in. She shivered and then closed the window.
The weather isn't great today, but it's perfect for sending off the deceased.
Achan walked along the streets of Changpingfang. The shops on both sides of the road were not yet open, but she could vaguely hear voices on the street. It was a wonton stall. She had heard that their meat wontons were very delicious.
Today, Ah Chan got up early, which was rare for her, and we finally managed to catch her. Unfortunately, she ate a steamed bun with hot water before leaving the house. It didn't taste very good, but it was very filling. We can only leave it for next time.
When Achan arrived at the Zhao residence, it was still dark, but there seemed to be quite a few people gathered inside, and it was very lively.
She walked into the courtyard and saw that the Zhao family members were all there, their expressions solemn as they looked towards the mourning hall. Before long, several strong men carried the coffin out of the mourning hall, and someone else brought out an offering table, on which was placed Xiao Lin's memorial tablet.
Achan couldn't help but feel a little confused. Wasn't it said that the spirit could only be activated when the time came? What were they doing?
Soon, several more Taoist priests emerged from the mourning hall.
The leading Taoist priest had white hair and beard but a youthful face. He wore a red robe and held a ritual bell. Behind him, seven other Taoist priests each held a black wooden box, and they seemed to be preparing to perform a ritual.
Upon seeing the Taoist priest emerge, Zhao Ming stepped forward with great respect, saying, "I will have to trouble Master Jingyun again this time."
Jingyun smiled and said, "Lord Zhao, please rest assured."
After greeting Zhao Ming, Jingyun turned and went to the offering table. Seven Taoist priests stepped forward one by one and placed the black wooden boxes they were carrying on the offering table.
Jingyun rang the Dharma bell, and the surrounding wind suddenly stopped, but the trees in the courtyard rustled. The coffin lid in the courtyard suddenly jumped up.
It seemed as if something was trying to burst out of the coffin.
Among the Zhao family members present, the youngest, Zhao Wenqi, hid behind the old lady of the Zhao family, while Zhao Wenyue screamed in fright and took several steps back.
Only Zhao Ming remained relatively calm, but his expression was somewhat unpleasant.
The bell stopped ringing, and the old Taoist priest Jingyun looked at Zhao Ming with a troubled expression, and said, "Lord Zhao, your wife died unjustly, and her resentment is still lingering. Her soul is already showing signs of transforming into a vengeful ghost. We need to make a decision as soon as possible."
"This...does the Taoist priest have any solutions?"
Master Jingyun stroked his beard and said, "There are two ways. First, when Madam Zhao transforms into a vengeful ghost, I, this old Taoist, will scatter her soul. However, in this way, your wife's soul will not be able to enter the underworld."
"What's the second method?"
"We will seal her soul in the coffin along with the rebirth talisman that our Taoist temple has been enshrining for many years, and slowly wear down her resentment. However, it will probably take hundreds of years for the resentment in your wife's soul to dissipate. It will require the Zhao family to reopen the coffin and release your wife's soul to the underworld for rebirth."
Zhao Ming hesitated, seemingly feeling that neither of the two options was a good one.
Before he could make a decision, Zhao Wenyue shrieked, "Choose the second one, Dad, let's choose the second one."
“But that means your mother’s soul will be sealed in the coffin for a hundred years.” Zhao Ming’s expression seemed reluctant.
"That's still better than her turning into a vengeful ghost and harming our whole family."
“Wen Yue is right, my daughter-in-law wouldn’t want to become a vengeful ghost and harm people,” Old Mrs. Zhao quickly agreed.
Just as Zhao Ming was about to agree, a figure suddenly threw herself onto the coffin, hugging it and crying out, "You can't treat Madam like this!"
It turned out to be Mama Sun.
It seemed that Mrs. Sun hadn't slept all night; her eyes were bloodshot and dark circles were under them.
"Quickly, someone pull her away! Don't disturb the Taoist priest's ritual!" Zhao Wenyue's face darkened upon seeing Granny Sun, and she ordered her servants to drag Granny Sun away.
How could Sun's mother possibly be stronger than two strong servants? She was quickly dragged away from the coffin.
As they passed Ah Chan, Madam Sun cried out, "Girl, please say something for Madam!"
Only when Sun Mama's voice could no longer be heard did Achan turn to the Zhao family. She walked up to Zhao Ming and said, "Uncle, these two methods sound too horrifying. Perhaps there are other ways. You wouldn't want Aunt to have worked so hard for the Zhao family all her life, only to end up in such a miserable state, would you?"
Zhao Ming hesitated and remained silent, but Zhao Wenyue spoke aggressively: "Ji Chan, it's none of your business to interfere in our family affairs."
Achan's expression was indifferent. She looked at Zhao Wenyue and said, word by word, "The person lying in the coffin is my aunt, your own mother."
Zhao Wenyue seemed startled by the look in A Chan's eyes and was speechless for a moment.
At this moment, Zhao Wenqi, who had been hiding behind Old Madam Zhao, spoke up. He said, "I believe that Madam was kind-hearted when she was alive and did not want to harm anyone after her death. But what if she really became a vengeful ghost? When you criticize Father and Sister, please think about Grandfather and Grandmother, Father and Sister, and all the servants in the mansion. The living are the most important."
What a condemnation that stands above humanity!
At such a young age, he is already so eloquent; no wonder the Zhao family cherishes him dearly.
After he finished speaking, those in the courtyard who had been wavering actually showed expressions of agreement.
It was just the sacrifice of a young woman named Lin, who could have turned into a vengeful ghost and harmed people at any time. She's dead, so why care so much? Of course, it's the living who are important.
Zhao Wenqi's words sealed the deal. Zhao Ming patted Zhao Wenqi's head and smiled apologetically at A Chan: "This child speaks without thinking, but..."
He sighed again and turned to Master Jingyun, saying, "Let's do as Wenyue says."
Master Jingyun nodded in agreement and continued the unfinished ritual.
Achan coldly watched as Master Jingyun used the blood of three sacrificial animals to touch each of the seven black wooden boxes. The boxes opened, revealing seven coffin nails engraved with complex and profound runes.
The seven coffin nails were finally driven into the coffin lid. With each nail driven in, a piercing, sharp cry came from inside the coffin, until the last nail fell silent.
When Master Jingyun put down the magic bell, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had just gone through a life-or-death ordeal.
But no one thought about why this Taoist priest Jingyun would prepare seven coffin nails in advance.
"The time has come, raise the spirit."
It was already dawn, and after the funeral rites were completed, it was time for the funeral procession.
Xiao Lin's coffin was carried out, with the Zhao family members leading the way, followed by several Taoist priests and then the servants of the Zhao household, all saying they were going to see the lady off.
In the blink of an eye, the courtyard became empty.
The Zhao family's funeral procession left the Zhao residence and headed towards the city gate in a grand procession. Achan did not follow.
She walked out of the Zhao family's gate, where a large crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle, and she could hear them talking amongst themselves.
Some people said, "That Madam Zhao wasn't a good person. I heard she was killed by her own son, and her death was horribly tragic."
Someone replied, "It's a pity about Lord Zhao. I heard he and his wife had a very close relationship."
"That's right. We used to often see Lord Zhao buying snacks for his wife. Now he's just gone."
Listening to the chatter of the crowd, Achan withdrew from the group and headed home.
She hadn't gone far when she suddenly heard someone call out to her from behind: "Girl."
Achan turned around and saw it was Mother Sun.
The disheveled Mrs. Sun seemed to have tidied herself up a bit, and she was carrying a cloth bag on her back.
"What's wrong, Aunt Sun...?"
Madam Sun lowered her eyes: "The madam gave me the indenture long ago. Now that she's gone, I can no longer stay in the manor."
Just now, the steward found her and told her to leave the Zhao residence immediately.
That's perfect, she wasn't planning on staying any longer anyway.
The people in that prefecture are all black-hearted.
"In that case, why don't you come and rest at my place, Madam Sun?"
Mrs. Sun nodded: "Alright, I did have something I wanted to say to the young lady."
The two walked back to Achan's house and entered the somewhat empty shop. Sun's mother did not go upstairs to rest, but sat down at the table with Achan.
Achan had boiled some hot water to drink before leaving home, but now she can only give it to Grandma Sun.
Holding the steaming teacup, Mrs. Sun's tense expression seemed to relax slightly.
She took a sip of hot water to moisten her throat before speaking, "Miss, after today, I will be leaving the capital."
Achan wasn't surprised. Given what had happened in the Zhao family, especially Zhao Wenyue, the Zhao family probably wouldn't tolerate Granny Sun.
Where are you planning to go?
“I should have gone back to my hometown years ago, but I couldn’t bear to leave my wife, so I kept putting it off. My wife used to tell me to stay and take care of her in my old age, but who knew that such a sudden change would happen.” As she spoke, tears streamed down Sun’s face.
Achan didn't offer any words of comfort, but quietly waited for the girl's crying to subside before asking, "Do you have enough money? If not, I can give you some..."
Grandma Sun shook her head, not letting Achan continue.
"The lady has given me a lot of money, enough for my journey home, and I don't need to worry about the future. I came to see you, young lady, because I have something to say."
"I'm useless; even if I knew, I couldn't do anything for Madam. But at least I must tell the young lady about this; you are Madam's only remaining family."
Mother Sun looked solemn, and Achan also said seriously, "Mother Sun, please speak."
"Master... Zhao Ming had an affair with Madam Su and had a son named Zhao Wenqi. I suspect that the old master and madam are aware of this."
Seeing that Ah Chan's expression remained unchanged, Madam Sun gave a wry smile: "When did you find out, young lady?"
"I already had a guess in my mind yesterday," Achan asked in return, "Where is Mother Sun?"
As Mrs. Sun recalled yesterday, her eyes reddened again: "Last night I went to the mourning hall and happened to see old... Zhao Ming was there too. He was talking to the madam's coffin, and after a while, that woman also came. They were shameless, even embracing each other in front of the madam's coffin."
Achan frowned: "What did you hear?"
Madam Sun's face paled, and her eyes unconsciously showed a hint of panic: "I heard him say that the eldest young master is a good-for-nothing, and he cannot let a good-for-nothing inherit the family business. In order for Zhao Wenqi to stay in the manor legitimately, someone has to make a sacrifice."
"Anything else?" Achan's voice grew colder.
Who was sacrificed? Zhao Wensheng, or Xiao Linshi, or perhaps both?
"That woman said she was offering incense to the madam, but Zhao Ming said the madam wasn't worthy, and even said the madam had killed their child." As Sun Mama spoke, her eyes grew even more indignant. "Don't tell me our madam didn't even know about any child. If she really did know, she probably would have divorced Zhao Ming long ago, and there wouldn't be a situation like this today!"
"Besides these, there's actually one more thing..." Mrs. Sun hesitated, unsure whether she should say it.
"you say."
Ah Chan's calm demeanor seemed to soothe Madam Sun. She composed herself before continuing, "Yesterday, I made quite a commotion when I left, and I was almost discovered. The door to the mourning hall suddenly closed, stopping him. I wondered if Madam... hadn't left yet? Did Zhao Ming discover me and then bring in a sorcerer to perform a ritual?"
"It's not impossible." Ah Chan is just an ordinary person now, and she doesn't usually see ghosts, but the old Taoist's methods today didn't seem fake.
It's likely that Kobayashi's spirit is still alive, but whether it will become a vengeful ghost is hard to say.
Mother Sun choked up and said, “Young lady, our lady’s life was so bitter. She was deceived in life and even in death she cannot find peace. I shouldn’t have come to find you, but I’m afraid that if I don’t tell you, one day when I’m old and die, no one will remember the suffering our lady endured.”
Achan said earnestly, "I've remembered everything that Mother Sun said today."
With tears in her eyes, Madam Sun said, "It is this old servant who has failed Madam. Knowing the truth, I was powerless to do anything."
“Aunt Sun, evil people will be punished.”
"But when will the retribution come?" she murmured to herself.
She heard the truth, but there was no evidence, and no one would believe her.
Zhao Ming is too good at pretending. After a few years, when no one remembers his wife, he can marry that woman and take her place.
Their son can also inherit the Zhao family fortune.
Will she live out the rest of her life to face retribution from the Zhao family? No one can give her that answer.
After seeing the person off, Achan closed the door tightly. In the dimly lit room, she sat at the table, looking at the cold water in her glass.
She is not Ji Chan, and Xiao Linshi is not her relative.
But at this moment, a nameless fire ignited in Achan's heart.
The Zhao family has gone too far in bullying us.
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