Madam Huang was stopped from hitting Ye Yunniang, so she turned and struck the young woman who had blocked her instead.

One slap wasn’t enough to satisfy her.

Slap, slap, slap—a relentless barrage of blows followed.

The young woman’s face soon swelled like a steamed bun.

When her hand grew tired, Madam Huang switched to kicking, each strike heavier than the last, until the young woman collapsed to the ground.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the young woman neither resisted nor shielded herself, enduring the abuse without protest.

Exhausted, Madam Huang sat down to catch her breath.

"Drag her to the woodshed. Tonight, she’ll accompany my son in burial," Madam Huang ordered. Two servants entered and hauled the young woman out like a lifeless dog.

Ye Yunniang witnessed everything and silently signaled to Tong Mo, pleading for him to take her away.

The people here were too terrifying.

Tong Mo raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet and not jeopardize their plan.

Ye Yunniang grew frantic, wanting to move, but her body refused to obey. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Madam Huang approaching.

Having already vented her anger once, Madam Huang had no desire to strike again. "Clean her up. Don’t delay my son’s journey to the underworld," she commanded.

"Yes," the servants replied.

Ye Yunniang was dragged to a dressing table by two women.

A gaunt, intimidating old woman dressed as a matchmaker entered the room.

"Matchmaker Xu, I leave her to you," Madam Huang said, slipping a gemstone ring into the woman’s hand.

Matchmaker Xu accepted it with both hands, bowing respectfully. "Rest assured, Madam. I’ll handle everything."

Once Madam Huang left, Matchmaker Xu turned to Ye Yunniang, her gaze as chilling as a serpent’s stare, sending shivers down the spine.

She yanked the hairpin from Ye Yunniang’s hair and seized her locks in a tight grip.

Ye Yunniang winced in pain, tears streaming uncontrollably.

"Such theatrics," Matchmaker Xu sneered, twisting Ye Yunniang’s hair even tighter as she styled it into a "unity bun," then crowned it with a bridal headdress.

Her face was caked with thick white powder, like a freshly painted wall.

Two bright red circles were smeared onto her cheeks, and her lips were stained with crimson dye.

"Done," Matchmaker Xu declared, dusting off her hands with satisfaction.

Ye Yunniang stared at her reflection—a ghostly paper effigy—and wept silently.

Tears mixed with the powder, carving tiny rivulets down her cheeks.

Thwack!

A sharp blow struck her back.

"Why are you crying on such a joyous occasion?" Matchmaker Xu scolded, reapplying the makeup while pinching Ye Yunniang’s skin viciously.

"Master Huang has chosen you—this is your fortune. Cry again, and you’ll lose it. I have plenty of ways to deal with you," she threatened, digging her nails into Ye Yunniang’s sensitive spots.

Terrified, Ye Yunniang stifled her sobs.

Pleased, Matchmaker Xu gestured for the attendants to dress her.

Clad in a scarlet bridal gown and veiled beneath a red hood, Ye Yunniang was escorted to the hall.

Through the veil’s gap, she glimpsed white funeral objects. Combined with what Tong Mo had uncovered, a horrifying realization struck her—she was being prepared for a ghost marriage.

The thought sent chills down her spine. This was far worse than the night she’d been offered in the garden.

As if sensing her fear, the baby in her womb kicked, then squirmed again.

Normally, Ye Yunniang would hush the movement, but now, it felt like a lifeline—a tiny, defiant pulse of hope.

"Hang on, little one," she whispered inwardly. "Mama will find a way to survive this."

"Master Huang, Yunniang is here. Will you release my son now?" a fawning voice rang out.

Ye Yunniang would recognize this voice even if she were reduced to ashes. It was her stepmother, Tian Fangmei.

Remembering all the things Tian Fangmei and her own father had done to her over the years, old grudges and new hatred surged within her. Ye Yunniang wished she could tear them apart with her teeth.

Seated at the head of the room, Landlord Huang pulled out a marriage contract. "Press your fingerprint on this document."

"Yes, yes, I’ll do it right away." Without a moment’s hesitation, Tian Fangmei grabbed Ye Yunniang’s hand and forced it into red ink, then pressed it onto the marriage contract.

No!

Ye Yunniang struggled with all her might, trying to pull her hand back.

At the same time, she screamed inwardly—she was the wife of the Li family and would never enter the Huang household.

With a sudden jerk, she managed to wrench her hand free.

Now that her body could move, Ye Yunniang shoved Tian Fangmei aside, tore off the red bridal veil, and turned to flee. She had to escape this place.

But at the door, she was blocked by servants standing guard.

"You refuse the easy way and choose the hard way," Madam Huang snarled, stepping forward and slapping Ye Yunniang across the face.

Slap! Slap!

Two sharp blows landed on Ye Yunniang’s cheeks.

Madam Huang seized Ye Yunniang by the collar, ready to strike again.

"Madam," Landlord Huang called out, stopping her. "Our Baobei likes pretty faces. Don’t delay the auspicious hour."

His words made Madam Huang pause, but her fury remained. She kicked Ye Yunniang hard.

"You wretched thing! Only for Baobei’s sake do I spare you this time."

"Tie her up," Landlord Huang ordered. Servants swiftly brought ropes and bound Ye Yunniang tightly.

Tian Fangmei picked up the marriage contract from the ground.

The fingerprint was already pressed. She handed it to Landlord Huang with both hands. "Master Huang, the fingerprint is done."

Landlord Huang took it and confirmed the mark.

"Master Huang, what about my son?" Tian Fangmei asked again.

"Release Ye Daqiang."

"Thank you, Master Huang! Thank you!" Tian Fangmei dropped to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly.

She left without a single glance at Ye Yunniang, her gratitude overflowing.

Steward Huang entered and bowed. "Master, the auspicious hour has arrived."

"Good, let’s go." At Landlord Huang’s command, Ye Yunniang was carried out on a wooden plank.

Lying on the plank, Ye Yunniang stared at the scattered stars above, listening to the footsteps around her. Her heart sank deeper with every passing moment.

She thought of Li Pan—she wouldn’t be there to watch him grow up.

She ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‍thought of Cai Damei—she would be joining her father and Junge before her.

She thought of Li An—she hoped he would live well, not betraying his mother’s hopes.

And finally, she thought of Jiang Mingzhe…

The gradually brightening surroundings drew her attention to the white lanterns lining the path.

Eerie and terrifying, they made her heartbeat quicken again.

Her stomach twisted once more.

When they reached their destination, the plank was set upright.

Ye Yunniang saw it clearly now—a massive tomb stood before her, with an ornate coffin placed beside it.

A foul stench emanated from the coffin, making Ye Yunniang gag.

A crowd had gathered, and at the forefront stood a middle-aged man with an imposing presence.

Landlord Huang approached him and bowed his head. "Elder Brother."

"Second Brother." Huang Guangyou patted Landlord Huang’s shoulder. "Proceed."

Landlord Huang gave a nod and turned to the Taoist priest nearby.

The priest, receiving his cue, began chanting and waving his arms in ritualistic motions. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows, heightening the terror.

Once the rites concluded, Ye Yunniang was carried toward the coffin.

With each step closer, the stench grew more unbearable.

Ye Yunniang pressed her lips tightly together, afraid to open her mouth lest she vomit.

Her mind screamed silently for Tong Mo—why was he waiting? He needed to come save her now.

As she was carried to the edge of the coffin and saw the rotting corpse inside, she could no longer hold back. She turned her head and retched violently.

"No... let me go... let me leave. I'm a married woman of the Li family—I have a husband and children. You can't do this. I don't deserve a ghost marriage. This is murder..." Ye Yunniang finally lost control, her cries tearing through the air.