Yun He led Ah Jiao toward the gates of the Netherworld.
"Little girl, why have you gone quiet? Weren't you just chatting quite happily with your little... er... your lover?" Yun He trotted along in front of her, his tone teasing.
*Which of your eyes saw me looking happy?* Ah Jiao roared inwardly. *I’m already being strong just by not bursting into tears!*
"Tsk, tsk. Don't just stay silent. It’s so dull! Since you didn't finish your conversation back there, why don't you talk to me instead?"
"My private matters are trivial; I would not dare trouble your lordship with them," Ah Jiao replied, her expression turning cold. She truly did not wish to speak of those days again; it only brought heartache.
"Then..." Yun He’s mind whirred. "Why don't you tell me how you know Shen Zhi? When did you meet? Where? How did you two become acquainted?"
"Master Shen?" Ah Jiao asked, puzzled. "I can hardly say I know him. We have only met once..."
"No way. Only once? If he didn't know you, why would he go out of his way to the mortal realm to reap your soul? You don't have that kind of status!" Yun He said with certainty.
"Oh! You mean that? My uncle currently holds a post in the Soul Induction Department. Master Shen came to guide me only because my uncle requested it."
"Uncle? Which one?"
"Surnamed Liu, his honored name is..."
"Liu Qi, right?"
"Precisely."
"Oh, I know that one. Tsk, tsk. And here I thought... Hmph, how boring." Yun He swung his arms and walked ahead, losing interest.
***
Changning Palace.
Liu Che sat upright in the main hall, anxiously awaiting the "Divine Emissary" Ruan Songhe and Luan Da, the Marquis of Letong.
The Emperor had clearly been favoring only her lately, yet today, while in her chambers, he had called out someone else's name. Lady Yang was both aggrieved and anxious, unable to stop herself from weeping.
She had enjoyed his favor for less than half a year. If she fell from grace now, what would become of her? *Sob...*
Luan Da had already retired for the night when a steward suddenly reported the Emperor’s summons. He was so startled that he nearly forgot to put on his shoes before rushing out.
"Officer Guo, His Majesty has summoned us so urgently tonight—what is the matter?" Luan Da noted that the eunuch delivering the decree was Guo Dun, the apprentice of Yang De’yi.
Guo Dun looked left and right before whispering, "For some reason, His Majesty had a nightmare today. Upon waking, he demanded to see the General and Master Ruan immediately!"
"A nightmare? What kind of nightmare? Did His Majesty say anything when he woke?" Luan Da pondered. He guessed the Emperor must have dreamed of something extraordinary and wanted them to interpret it.
"I don't know. My master and I were standing outside when we heard His Majesty shouting. He was calling 'Ah Jiao, Ah Jiao.' As soon as we went in, we saw him searching for someone. Oh, and he even said he wanted to go to the Jiaofang Palace!"
"Ah Jiao?" It sounded like a woman's name.
"General, we have arrived." At the palace gates, Guo Dun hurried off the carriage. "Please, be quick. His Majesty is anxious!"
Just as Luan Da was about to enter the palace gates, he saw Ruan Songhe’s carriage approaching.
"Officer Guo, let us wait for Master Ruan," Luan Da said, catching Guo Dun’s arm.
"General of Five Benefits!" Ruan Songhe saw Luan Da standing at the gate as soon as he stepped down. It seemed the Emperor had summoned him as well.
"Master Ruan, I saw your carriage just now and thought I’d wait. Come, let us go face His Majesty together."
The two entered the palace gates side by side.
"I heard His Majesty suffered a nightmare tonight. Does the Master have any thoughts on this?"
Ruan Songhe coughed twice. "My health has been fair lately, but I have received no word from the immortals. As for this matter... what is the General’s brilliant opinion?"
Luan Da sneered inwardly, but his face remained cordial. "I came in such a rush that I haven't had time to perform any divinations yet."
The two smiled at each other, saying no more.
Liu Che set down his teacup, his finger tapping rhythmically on the table.
Yang De’yi’s heart throbbed with every tap. "Your Majesty, please do not be anxious. By my reckoning, the two masters should have reached the palace gates by now!"
Liu Che said nothing.
Ah Jiao had come to find him today; she must have been unable to bear their separation. Otherwise, why would she have embraced him the moment she saw him? It was just a pity he hadn't been able to catch up with her properly. To think that her past disturbances in the palace were due to a "trance-like illness"—and not a single person had told him.
It was a shame he hadn't been able to properly appreciate Ah Jiao’s deep affection back then. *Sigh.*
Liu Che felt a pang of regret, but the memory of Ah Jiao vanishing made his heart race with fear.
What had happened? It was as if Ah Jiao had been snatched away by someone. Was it an immortal, a demon, a ghost, or a spirit?
Liu Che felt his situation was unsafe. He had to find someone to ask the immortals and get to the bottom of this.
Suddenly, an announcement came from outside.
"Your Majesty, the two masters have arrived!" Yang De’yi helped Liu Che to his feet.
"To the Jiaofang Palace!" Liu Che walked straight out.
Yang De’yi was bewildered. *Why go to the Jiaofang Palace now?*
Wei Zifu had been sleeping soundly when she was suddenly woken by her personal lady-in-waiting, who told her the Emperor had suffered a nightmare and summoned Master Ruan and the General of Five Benefits. She had just finished dressing and was preparing to go to Changning Palace to pay her respects when another report arrived: His Majesty, along with the General and Master Ruan, was heading toward the Jiaofang Palace!
What was the Emperor doing coming here? Wei Zifu grew uneasy. A sudden nightmare, two occultists summoned, and a midnight visit to the Empress's quarters...
*Witchcraft!*
Perhaps because she had just finished organizing the funeral rites for Empress Chen, those two words suddenly leapt into Wei Zifu’s mind.
"Jinyu, quick! Help me check this place!" Wei Zifu called out to her lady-in-waiting.
"Mother, what is happening?" Princess Weichang, Liu Qing, walked in and took Wei Zifu’s hand. "Mother, why are your hands so sweaty? What’s wrong?"
Since becoming a widow, Liu Qing often stayed in the palace. During this period, while Wei Zifu was busy with the affairs of Changmen Palace, she had invited Liu Qing to stay and keep her company.
"Sigh, I heard your father had a nightmare tonight, and for some reason, he is coming to the Jiaofang Palace. I am truly worried. I fear it might be... like that business with Empress Chen years ago!" Wei Zifu squeezed her daughter’s hand back.
Liu Qing broke into a smile. "Mother, you worry too much. The Jiaofang Palace is well-managed by you now. You aren't a haughty and jealous person like that Chen woman; how could such a disaster occur? I think Father just wants to come and discuss something with you."
"I hope so."
***
Luan Da followed the Emperor into the Jiaofang Palace. The building was currently ablaze with candlelight.
"Your servant and daughter pay our respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal joy without end!"
"Rise." Liu Che raised a hand and walked straight inside.
Luan Da stole a glance and saw a woman in plain clothes standing beside the Empress. Her long hair was pinned up simply with a green jade hairpin. Her eyes were like bright stars, her face like a rosy cloud—she was exceptionally beautiful.
Luan Da was dazed for a moment before quickly averting his gaze. It seemed this was the Emperor’s eldest daughter, Princess Weichang.
He had heard the Princess had been a widow for two years and frequently visited the palace. It was a pity he hadn't met her sooner! Luan Da lamented inwardly.
Seeing Liu Che take a seat, Wei Zifu personally offered a cup of tea. "Your Majesty has come in such haste; please have a sip of tea first."
Liu Che took it but set it on the table without drinking. He only asked Luan and Ruan, "Since you two are here, do you sense anything unusual?"
*Wait, wasn't this about interpreting a dream?*
Liu Qing saw her father set aside the tea her mother had offered. Thinking there was some grievance in his heart, she hurried to Liu Che’s side. "Father, I heard you suffered a nightmare tonight. Are you feeling better?"
Liu Che looked at his eldest daughter. Seeing her eyes full of concern, his heart settled slightly. "It is nothing major. Have you been well while staying in the palace lately?"
Liu Qing smiled brightly. "With the care of Father and Mother, I am naturally very well. A few days ago, I accompanied Mother to handle the affairs of Chen Ah Jiao from Changmen Palace. Mother even praised me for having matured!"
Wei Zifu’s heart skipped a beat. *This girl! Why bring that up for no reason?*
*Ah Jiao!*
Luan Da saw the Emperor’s face darken instantly! Suddenly, he knew how to play his cards.
Seeing Liu Che’s poor expression, Liu Qing suddenly snapped to her senses. Her mother had just mentioned Changmen Palace earlier—why had she been so quick-tongued as to bring it up now?
"Go sit to the side," Liu Che said to Liu Qing. As a junior, how could Weichang refer to Ah Jiao by her name? It was clear she had been spoiled. "How can you call Empress Chen by her given name? Where is your filial piety?"
Wei Zifu was stunned. *Why is His Majesty suddenly protecting the Chen woman? It’s not like Qing’er hasn't called her by name in front of him before, and he never seemed angry then!*
In truth, Liu Che had just recalled Ah Jiao’s tenderness and heard her speak of her various sufferings in his dream. Thinking of how she had died alone in Changmen Palace, he was currently filled with moved affection and regret. He could not bear to hear anyone show her disrespect.
Liu Qing could only retreat to the side, sullen and unwilling.
Luan Da turned and made a show of surveying the surroundings. After a moment, he returned and said, "The Jiaofang Palace is the Empress's residence; it is entirely filled with an aura of majesty and peace. There is nothing unusual... except..." Luan Da praised it twice but did not finish his sentence.
"Except what?" Liu Che leaned forward slightly.
"I heard Your Majesty had a nightmare, but... it was not a nightmare..." Luan Da saw the Emperor’s eyes narrow slightly and gambled that he had hit the mark. "Rather... you saw a celestial being!"
Liu Che leaned back. "What makes you say that?" *Is Luan Da actually capable or not?*
Luan Da observed the Emperor’s expression, his own face remaining unreadable. He had almost said the wrong thing! "However, this celestial being is actually an old acquaintance of Your Majesty."
Seeing the Emperor’s expression turn solemn, Luan Da felt a surge of wild joy. It seemed he had guessed correctly! Princess Weichang had truly given him a helping hand!
"I am so bold as to say that I just inspected the Jiaofang Palace and found a faint trace of somber energy. At first, I thought it was a haunting by a malevolent ghost, but upon closer inspection, I found this aura holds no hostility. Instead, it is gentle and lingering. Therefore, I suspect an old friend has returned to visit!"
Wei Zifu: *??? An old friend visiting??? The Jiaofang Palace???*
Wasn't he saying the Jiaofang Palace was haunted? Wei Zifu felt goosebumps break out all over her body. Yet with the Emperor present, she did not dare move.
"Exactly! Precisely!" Liu Che nodded repeatedly. "Where is she now?"
"..." *How should I know!* Luan Da’s mind raced. He looked toward Ruan Songhe, who had been quiet for a long time, only to find Ruan looking back at him with a fake smile. "Master Ruan has the power of mediumship. Can the Master see her?"
Ruan Songhe’s beard twitched. He quickly smiled and said, "The immortals descend upon my body, but they have not spoken of ghosts or demons. However, the General of Five Benefits has mastered various arts for summoning gods and calling spirits. Why not let the General set up an altar and perform a ritual to see if he can discern anything?"
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 阴界地府 | Netherworld | The realm of the dead. |
| 勾魂司 | Soul Induction Department | The department in the underworld responsible for reaping souls. |
| 常宁殿 | Changning Palace | A palace building in the Han imperial complex. |
| 阮松鹤 | Ruan Songhe | An occultist/fangshi serving Liu Che. |
| 乐通侯 | Marquis of Letong | A title given to Luan Da. |
| 栾大 | Luan Da | A historical figure, a religious practitioner/occultist. |
| 杨长使 | Lady Yang | A lower-ranking imperial consort (Changshi). |
| 杨得意 | Yang De’yi | A historical eunuch who served Emperor Wu. |
| 郭旽 | Guo Dun | An apprentice eunuch. |
| 椒房殿 | Jiaofang Palace | "The Pepper Chamber," the traditional residence of the Empress. |
| 五利将军 | General of Five Benefits | A title bestowed upon Luan Da. |
| 卫子夫 | Wei Zifu | The second Empress of Emperor Wu of Han. |
| 巫蛊 | Witchcraft | Specifically refers to the "Wugu" sorcery involving wooden dolls. |
| 卫长公主 | Princess Weichang | The eldest daughter of Emperor Wu and Wei Zifu. |
| 刘清 | Liu Qing | The personal name of Princess Weichang. |
| 长门宫 | Changmen Palace | The palace where Chen Ah Jiao was exiled. |
