CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 52: THE INFANT SPIRIT NURTURED BY BLOOD TIES

"Let me take a closer look!"

Yu Nianzhao stood up and walked towards the Grand Princess Dowager.

The Grand Princess Dowager trembled, "You, what do you want to do?"

"So it’s an infant that sucks human energy, dying at birth, hence there’s no aura of death on it!"

Yu Nianzhao saw clearly the tiny ghost shivering amid the Grand Princess Dowager’s hair. He was indeed small, always hidden within her hair strands, "He is the one causing her figure to go out of shape, constantly feeding on her vitality, making her complexion haggard, hungry quickly, unable to stop herself from binge eating, thus the culprit behind her figure distortion."

The Grand Princess Dowager listened in bewilderment and asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Yu Nianzhao reached out to pull the little ghost out from the hair, and the heavy body of the Grand Princess Dowager suddenly relaxed, never feeling so light before.

"Could it be true?" This feeling was only perceptible to herself, and the Grand Princess Dowager began to believe.

Staring at the ghost in her hand, Yu Nianzhao’s brows furrowed tightly. She calculated with her fingers and her eyes sharpened, "I see... No wonder he could cling to you all this time and move freely within the temple."

Emperor Anqing, caught in the excitement, couldn’t resist asking, "Why is this?"

Yu Nianzhao raised her eyes to look at him, "This matter is a royal family affair. Are you sure you want me to reveal it in front of everyone?"

Xie Jiuxiao waved his hand, and Mu Hongxuan escorted others away to stroll elsewhere in the Imperial Garden.

They could only watch from afar across the pond.

Pei Yuanzheng was anxious, "Zhaozhao this girl better not speak recklessly again."

Pei Yuncheng said, "Father, don’t worry. The Emperor and the Grand Princess Dowager know we’ve severed ties with her. Even if she speaks recklessly, it won’t affect us."

Pei Yuanzheng blew his beard and glared, "It’s hard to gauge the Emperor’s mind; anything could happen."

Yet, despite this, they could only watch with their eyes wide open.

Emperor Anqing urgently asked, "Now that everyone has been dismissed, can you speak?"

"This little ghost is related to the Grand Princess Dowager, which is why it stayed peacefully on her for so long."

Yu Nianzhao shook the ghost in her hand, laughing as she saw tears in its eyes, "What’s this, you’re feeling wronged? I’m helping you here, to quickly reincarnate. While you still have a hint of Buddha blessing on you, you can reincarnate as a human in your next life, otherwise, you will end up on the animal path."

The ghost sobbed, releasing a bitter cry that raised the hair on end.

"This, this, this..."

Emperor Anqing indeed heard the ghost’s cry, the cry of a baby ghost, and asked with a pale face, "You said this ghost is related to the Grand Princess Dowager, but where did this ghost come from?"

Yu Nianzhao suddenly looked at the ever gentle and dignified Queen who remained silent, "The year the Grand Princess Dowager’s figure changed, the Queen’s fetus died shortly after birth, right?"

The typically graceful Queen was stunned, her warm smile gradually freezing, her entire body trembling uncontrollably, her eyes growing sharp, "Are you saying this ghost is my child who died? Yu Nianzhao, I bear no grudge against you; why must you uncover my pain?"

At the thought of the deceased child, the Queen couldn’t hold back tears.

Emperor Anqing was furious, "Ziyin, what kind of Princess Consort have you chosen? She came right in and pressed on the Grand Princess Dowager and Queen’s wounds? Is this intentional?"

Xie Jiuxiao calmly said, "Elder brother, you can trust Zhaozhao. Listen to her calmly, and you will thank her later."

In the shadows, Mu Hongxuan nodded frantically. He once underestimated the Princess Consort, and later... can only say, how satisfying!

Emperor Anqing raged, "Ziyin, you’ve been blinded by this woman, haven’t you? Calm? You still want me to calm down now? That was our eagerly awaited Prince, who died at birth, also our inner sorrow. How can we stay calm?"

Even across the pond, Pei Yuanzheng and others could feel Emperor Anqing’s anger.

He only felt dizzy, muttering, "Luckily we’ve severed ties; otherwise, this anger would surely affect me."

Pei Yunzhi’s eyes couldn’t hide her smile; she hoped Yu Nianzhao would offend the Emperor, the title of Princess Consort Su revoked, and even better if sentenced to death.

Yu Nianzhao said with a trace of confusion, "Why angry? I am helping you to resolve the chasm trapped between you."

She raised the ghost before the Queen, and under her wary gaze, lifted two fingers to pull out a wisp of black aura from the Queen’s forehead.

"What is this?"

Though the Queen couldn’t see the ghost, she saw the black aura, so frightened her soul nearly flew away.

"It’s the bond between you and the ghost!" Yu Nianzhao said with indifference, "Ever since this child died, you haven’t had another pregnancy. That’s because the ghost not only constrained the Grand Princess Dowager but also you."

The Queen was shocked, "You’re saying I have no children because of this black aura and the ghost?"

"This is a baby spirit bred using your closest bloodline, naturally to restrain you both," Yu Nianzhao said, "But it’s not a big issue. Once I perform a ritual for him, everything can be restored. Of course, if you don’t believe, you can check his tomb to see if the corpse is still there."

Emperor Anqing believed three parts and had his personal guard go to check.

This was their first child, and after its unfortunate death, the Queen, to always remember, had the child buried within her palace.

Soon, the personal guard returned, whispering in Emperor Anqing’s ear.

Emperor Anqing erupted in anger, "Which damn thing stole my Prince’s corpse? I must get to the bottom of it."

With these words, the Queen’s body softened, and she looked tearfully at Yu Nianzhao, "So, this really is my child? Before performing the ritual, can I see him once more?"

Upon hearing the news of the corpse being stolen, the remaining seven parts of belief naturally came through. Emperor Anqing, with reddened eyes, said, "Right, let me see the child too."

"Certainly!"

Yu Nianzhao readily agreed, giving them a fleeting glimpse.

Emperor Anqing and the Queen saw the infant spirit held in Yu Nianzhao’s hand, its clear eyes staring at them, and with just one glance, the blood bond feeling, they knew Yu Nianzhao spoke the truth. This little ghost was indeed their deceased child, wearing the custom-made golden swaddle given to him at burial.

The ghost sensed their sorrow and actually made a gesture of extending its arms towards them. This scene made their noses sting, and the Queen couldn’t hold back her tears.

"My child..."

"Your Children Palace is glowing; you will have children in the future." Yu Nianzhao comforted her.

"Really? The Imperial Physicians checked countless times; I could never conceive my own child. I was about to give up," the Queen sniffled, speaking with heartache.