CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 84: THE TRUE IDENTITY OF THE FEMALE GHOST

"This Soul-locking Array really targets you." Yu Nianzhao formed a seal with one hand, causing the talismans buried in the yard to burn away.

A scent of smoke wafted in, and the female ghost felt somewhat relieved from her distress.

"Who are you? Why did you harm my mother and our prince’s mansion?" Xie Yunzhe stared coldly at the female ghost, daringly questioning her.

The moment the female ghost saw Xie Yunzhe, her expression was even more agitated than his. She desperately tried to rush to his side, but every time she neared him, his dragon命格 repelled her, even scorching her soul.

The female ghost helplessly gazed at Xie Yunzhe, sobbing in desperation.

"Sob sob sob..." She cried bitterly, unable to make a sound without a tongue, yet the fragmented sobbing noises still reached his ears.

"Can’t she speak?" Xie Jiarou’s eyes flickered, looking at her with fear and sympathy.

"Her tongue was pulled out."

"Ah? Wasn’t she quite pitiful when she was alive?"

"Her resentment is deep; she was killed by someone."

"Killed by someone?" Xie Yunzhe pursed his lips, displeased, "Are you implying that the female ghost was killed by my mother?"

"Why not?" Yu Nianzhao pointed at the deranged Princess An Nan, saying, "She reeks of death, tainted with the ghost’s evil qi, and has suppressed her in her own residence. Saying Princess An Nan killed the ghost wouldn’t be an exaggeration, would it? Otherwise, tell me, why would Princess An Nan do this?"

"I..." Xie Yunzhe opened his mouth, realizing he couldn’t refute at all.

"Impossible, the princess has been gentle and kind since childhood; she wouldn’t do such a thing." Prince An Nan couldn’t believe Princess An Nan would commit such acts.

"First, locate their spirits, return them to their bodies, and then properly investigate the truth."

Yu Nianzhao picked up a talisman, lighting it at the original spot, and a small green bug flew out, making its way to the small Buddhist hall next door, stopping at a perfectly intact Guanyin Statue.

"This Guanyin Statue exudes dense ghost qi, indeed the container suppressing the female ghost." Yu Nianzhao saw the fine cracks on the Guanyin Statue, "The ghost is continuously expanding her power, trying to break free, hence why so many strange occurrences have recently cropped up at the prince’s mansion."

Yu Nianzhao unhesitatingly shattered the Guanyin Statue in his hand.

Another red jade earring fell to the ground from the statue, chipping with fine cracks, from which the ghost’s remaining soul flew out.

The female ghost was covered in thick resentment and evil qi, her eyes filled with intense hatred, rushing towards Prince An Nan.

"Ah!" Prince An Nan was startled, watching helplessly as the female ghost was about to pounce, when a swift talisman affixed to her forehead successfully stopped her actions.

"Your remaining spirit is completely the malevolent aspect of a vengeful spirit!" Yu Nianzhao stared into her reddened eyes, sighing helplessly, "I understand your hatred, but man and ghost tread different paths. If you truly harm someone, there’s no going back; do you really wish to fulfill her desires?"

Yu Nianzhao’s voice gradually calmed the female ghost’s mood. Seeing her settle down, he uncovered the talisman from her forehead.

The female ghost’s soul fully merged, crying silently on the spot.

"Why are you crying? You have thrown our prince’s mansion into chaos; we should be the ones crying." Xie Jiarou, for some reason, found herself saddened by the ghost’s cries, yearning to offer a few words of comfort.

"Sob sob sob..." The female ghost gazed at Xie Jiarou with a hint of affection.

"Hand it over." Yu Nianzhao extended his hand to the ghost, "I know the princess’s remaining spirit is with you; give it to me, and I will bring justice for you. Rest assured, I promise to be fair and impartial."

The ghost trusted Yu Nianzhao, hesitating before handing Princess An Nan’s spirit to him.

Yu Nianzhao’s hand flickered, sending the stray spirit back into Princess An Nan’s body.

Princess An Nan closed her eyes, reopening them to return to her original state.

She rubbed her forehead and asked, "What exactly did I do just now?"

Suddenly opening her eyes, she pointed angrily at the female ghost, "Did you hurt me? I should have stopped you earlier; you’ve committed such evil acts frequently, causing unrest in the mansion!"

"Princess, who exactly is she?" Prince An Nan hurriedly inquired.

Resentment flashed in Princess An Nan’s eyes, as she said through gritted teeth, "Have you forgotten her, Prince? She was my younger half-sister from my maternal family. After I gave birth to Jiarou, she died within the mansion due to illness. Since it was a joyful occasion to have a daughter, the Yongning Marquis Mansion held no funeral, hastily burying her."

"Now that you mention it, I recall it — I have seen her from afar, but have no impression, just that she died young from illness, which was indeed regrettable." Prince An Nan had an epiphany, his words of regret making Princess An Nan’s expression much better.

"But since she was your half-sister, why suppress her in the prince’s mansion?"

"You are unaware, Prince. My half-sister envied and resented me since childhood. Initially, I was just a concubine of the Prince, but after giving birth to Yunzhe, the Prince elevated me to the position of primary consort. Upon hearing this, my sister grew jealous of my better life and secretly used evil arts against me. However, I discovered her plot, resulting in her suffering backlash, leading to poor health and a miserable death; this is the real truth of her demise, a disgrace Yongning Marquis Mansion sought to suppress."

Princess An Nan sighed, "Even after death, she turned into an evil spirit, following me into the mansion, intending harm towards my children. In desperation, I summoned a Taoist priest to capture and suppress her soul. Prince, I didn’t intend to hide this from you; the fault lies with Yongning Marquis Mansion, as my maternal family failed in their duty, and hence my actions."

"Then why did you say it was an exorcism formation? And suppress this ghost where you reside?"

"To prevent her from harming others in the mansion, I had to personally suppress her. Being her sister linked our blood, allowing me to suppress her. Thus, I established a Buddhist hall beside, reciting sutras daily to transcend her, hoping she quickly reincarnates, not realizing her deep resentment and hatred towards me..."

Princess An Nan sobbed in grievance and pain, prompting Prince An Nan to console her in his arms.

"It’s not your fault; if such major events occur, you shouldn’t keep them from me. We’re married; we can discuss anything together."

"Sob sob sob... I understand, Prince. I was wrong."

Clap clap clap!

Yu Nianzhao couldn’t help but applaud her, interrupting their warm exchange.