Chapter 001 Evil Ghost

In the spring of the twenty-second year of the Shengyuan era, the capital city was more lively than in previous years.

Last autumn, the long-standing border wars finally declared a great victory. Pei Zhan, the second son of the National Guardian General, succeeded the Great Zhou commander Liang Chen, who had retired due to injury, chased the enemy three hundred li, reclaimed nine cities of Great Zhou, and captured the enemy's monarch and leaders alive, escorting them back to the capital city for execution.

The Great Zhou, having founded the nation for over twenty years, thus experienced peace and prosperity, ushering in an era of greatness.

In March, the peach blossoms on the hillside behind Baihe Temple bloomed fiercely, coinciding with the abbot's grand prayer ceremony. The temple was filled with dignitaries, and the families of officials came to enjoy the flowers.

The most beautiful and flourishing peach blossoms were those on a few old peach trees in the northwest corner of the temple.

It is said that these trees are over a hundred years old, and every year they bloom with the most flowers, reddest petals, and the largest blossoms.

Yet no matter how beautiful the flowers were, this place remained rarely visited.

It was because next to the old peach trees was a burnt ruin, originally a chapel for pilgrims to stay and worship, but six years ago on an autumn night, it was accidentally burned down, and a lady praying for her family's deceased was also burned to death here.

"...They say she became an evil ghost, who even killed on the battlefield when alive, and was exceedingly ugly!" Across the turtle pond, one could still see the blooming trees and the charred remnants beside them, prompting some to discuss the old event.

Of course, some feared the people involved behind the story, hastily lowering their voices to stop: "The one who died was a lady of the Liang Family. How strong is your backer to dare say such things?"

The gossipers quickly dispersed.

At this time, a young girl standing a little further away raised her head to ask a woman beside her, "Mother, will the lady of the Liang Family really become an evil ghost after death?"

"Don't listen to their nonsense," the woman gently stroked her hair. "I had met the lady from the Liang Family once. She was not scary or ugly. On the contrary, she was very brave and upright. I believe even after such misfortune, she would never harm good people."

Thinking about that night which still instilled fear, the woman couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.

"If mother says she is not scary, then she is definitely not scary. If you want to talk about scary, who can be scarier than those people from the Fu Family?"

The girl's voice was somewhat dejected.

Her face was extremely beautiful, her features as if thoughtfully painted, her brows dark as pitch, and her skin flawless, but her skin and lips seemed as if cut from drawing paper, too pale.

Such a face, with her slender frame, exuded a hint of sickness.

The woman sighed, pulling her forward: "Let's go, Zhen Er. We've already arranged to meet Master Cheng Kong, let's not be late. If we return late, your father will scold us again."

Her Zhen Er had been seen by a miraculous doctor at birth, who said she wouldn't live past sixteen. Coincidentally, in ten days, it would be her sixteenth birthday. After fifteen years of fear, as the day approached, the mother's anxiety was now at its peak, fearing misfortune might strike at any time.

Cheng Kong was a renowned monk, and today, using this opportunity, she wished to have him see her again.

Unfortunately, her husband, a senior official at the Ministry of Rites, came today with aspirations for promotion and would not let them stay long.

A little boy in white, about six or seven years old, watched them from a winding path in the distance, then quickly ran over after seeing the mother and daughter walk away.

Reaching behind the trees, he looked around, seeing no one, and knelt in front of the ruin with a thump.

"Granny, your beloved Xuanxuan has come to see you again. Don't listen to those gossipers, what the lady said was true, you are kind and brave and are Xuan Er's role model and the pride of the Liang Family!"

He kowtowed twice respectfully, then pulled out some snacks wrapped in silk handkerchiefs from his pocket.

"Mother said you loved her date paste cakes the most, and she made some today, so I specially kept some for you. Be sure to eat them."

The handkerchief was neatly laid on the dirt ground.

Three pieces of snacks were properly placed on top.

"Ah, Brother Xuan is really here!"

At this time, three small heads popped out from behind a willow tree, peering at the little chubby boy kneeling on the ground.

The little chubby boy waved at them, then signaled them to kneel: "Quickly kowtow to Granny, Granny loves me the most, she will definitely help us pass our lessons..."

Everyone pouted their little butts, kneeling and kowtowing properly.

"Oh my! What are you all doing here?"

Just then, a string of hurried footsteps arrived behind them. A house servant gripped their faces, winking at them nervously, "The ceremony in the main hall is starting. Why are you still here? Hurry back or else your fathers will find out!"

The boy in white, following the servant's guidance, turned around and immediately became scared, his eyes twitching.

By the previously empty turtle pond, stood a statuesque and stern man, looking at them with a cold gaze.

His build was imposing, his demeanor fierce even in robes of gold and brocade. His waist, bound by a jade belt, revealed firm muscles supporting the fabric, leaving no doubt he could easily lift and spank the boys.

He simply stood there, majestic like a god.

Liang Xuan quickly hid behind the signaling servant, looking at the man with pleading puppy eyes, "Uncle Fifth Uncle! Please don't tell father, we're not slacking off, we're here to deliver treats to Granny!"

"Yes, yes, we're also asking little lady of the Liang Family to bless our exams!"

His companions chimed in, one by one, eager to speak up for him.

But the "god" said nothing.

He only gazed at the burnt ruins behind them.

A gentle breeze caressed his face, etched like sharp rocks, lifting a light within his eyes.

He walked to the front of the ruin, crouched down, and as his eyelids drooped, the gleam in his eyes disappeared.

Falling flower petals rained down in mid-air.

He took a blossom from his sleeve with rough fingers and placed it on the date paste cake.

…

A breeze lifted more blossoms, quickly covering the ruins in a thick layer.

Beneath the ruins, Liang Ning was engulfed in fury, lost in endless darkness.

The more intense the burning pain around her, the deeper her anger and hatred grew.

She wanted to break this intangible cage, to shatter the chaos that had trapped her for so long!

But she could never gather the strength to break free!

"...Everything in the Fu Family belongs to me! The identity of Miss Fu should also be mine, everything in the Fu Family should belong to me and my mother! And the marriage alliance with the Du Family, it should have been me! Fu Zhen, you should have died long ago!"

The sudden, venomous words were so jarring, and they were so close!

Someone was speaking!

Who could it be?

In her long solitude, such a surprise made Liang Ning momentarily ignore her pain.

She stopped struggling, listening intently for any sound she could capture, smelling the scent of grass and trees, feeling the coolness of the mountain breeze.

Suddenly her body felt light, weightless!

A strong white light flashed before her eyes, causing her to quickly shut them!

When she opened her eyes again, a glaringly fierce face was staring down at her, and the person was on the edge of a steep cliff!

…

Did she fall off a cliff?

Seeing the rocks and vegetation speeding past, her heart tightened!

— Damn it!

She hadn't figured out her first death properly, is she going to die a second time?!