The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 118 | Entrusting the Mortal Shell | Novela.app

A’jiao blinked, her face clouded with confusion. "Why should I go see him?" Shen Zhi cleared his throat into a clenched fist. "Your mother said so." A’jiao was speechless. *Wow, so it turns out I’m the only one who’s actually single now!* "Won't it be too much trouble? If it's too much trouble, let's just forget it." Seeing the young girl’s indifferent expression, Shen Zhi explained, "It’s best to go. The translocation spells we use are difficult to cast when carrying a mortal body of flesh and blood. Go see your Emperor, leave this physical shell in his care, and then we shall head to Baling." A’jiao realized why her translocation attempt earlier had not only been ineffective but had also drained her spiritual power so quickly. She couldn't help but ask, "Are mortal bodies really that much of a burden?" Shen Zhi replied, "When casting translocation spells, a mortal body is as heavy as a mountain to us. For someone of your level, it is indeed much more difficult." "I see." With the explanation clear, the three of them headed toward Liu Che’s location. Upon entering the courtyard, A’jiao discovered that all the masters of the Chen household, high and low, were standing quietly in the main hall. The two brothers, Chen Yang and Chen Chuo, were attending to the Emperor because they had served in the imperial presence before. However, they were merely standing outside the folding screen. In the inner chamber, several maidservants were attending to the Emperor as he bathed. Seeing the maidservants with their almond eyes and peach-blossom cheeks scrubbing the Emperor’s body, Shen Zhi’s brow furrowed instantly. In the Underworld, different ghost-immortals had their own duties and ranks, but the practice of slavery did not exist. If one found a task too troublesome, they could simply cast a spell to create a straw construct to do it. There were even those like the Goddess Nüyi, who, upon entering the Yin Realm, was too lazy to tend to the flora. She simply cast a spell that made the flowers and trees pull up their own roots to go fetch water from the banks of the Yellow Springs. It had been a sensational sight in the Underworld back then. The result was that the earliest batch of plants, having absorbed enough spiritual energy, developed sapience; the cleverest among them eventually became the Director of the Nüyi Department. It was only when the Underworld began to take in mortal ghosts that a sense of indolence gradually crept in, but even then, no one had others serve them while they bathed! Shen Zhi felt this was unacceptable. Unsure why Lord Shen Zhi had suddenly become displeased, A’jiao whispered, "Lord Shen, how can we reveal ourselves with so many people around?" "Make him send them out." "Alright." A’jiao nodded and marched forward with high spirits, then suddenly paused. "Um... Lord Shen, I don't know the spell for manifesting my voice and form." Shen Zhi: "..." He waved his hand, showering a clump of spiritual power onto A’jiao. Liu Che was exhausted, resting in the bath. To him, the Chen family’s bathtub was far too cramped, but he couldn't be bothered by such things now. "Liu Che, Liu Che, wake up!" A voice suddenly sounded in his ear. *A hallucination? Who in the Chen family would dare call me by name?* "Liu Che!" The voice grew louder. The weary Emperor reluctantly opened his eyes a crack, only to see A’jiao standing right in front of him. His fatigue vanished instantly. He wanted to ask about what had happened before, but A’jiao spoke first: "Don't speak. They can't see me." He looked up and saw that the maidservants indeed didn't spare A’jiao a single glance. He wanted to speak but didn't dare open his mouth. A’jiao continued, "Tell them all to leave. I have something to say to you." Liu Che, who had been leaning forward slightly, sank back into the water. "All of you, withdraw." The maidservants were startled. they exchanged hesitant glances but bowed and retreated. Liu Che added, "Tell everyone outside to leave as well." "As you command!" Though confused, no one dared to defy the Emperor’s will. The sound of the door closing came from outside. Liu Che stood up abruptly and pulled A’jiao toward him. "A’jiao, are you alright? Where is that immortal from before?" A’jiao huffed inwardly. Remembering that Shen Zhi and Lord Chen Wei were still in the room, she blushed and pushed Liu Che back into the water. "Ah Che, I have urgent business and can't talk much. I’m leaving this body with you for now. Look after it for me until I return!" With that, she turned and nodded to Shen Zhi. Shen Zhi stepped forward and pressed his finger against the space between A’jiao’s brows. Unlike her previous reincarnations, A’jiao was not in her own physical body this time. If she were forced out haphazardly, it would likely damage both A’jiao’s soul and Chen Wan’s body. One slip-up, and A’jiao would probably have to find a new shell again. A wisp of silver light flew out from Chen Wan’s forehead. Liu Che watched blankly as that silver light landed on the floor and slowly transformed into A’jiao’s true form. That was A’jiao’s real appearance: her hair swept up in a Flying Fairy bun adorned with various jade flower pins, a slender and graceful waist, skin like translucent jade and snow. Her face was like a delicate blossom of March, her brows like the willow buds of early spring—shy, smiling, and ethereal in stature. Looking at her, a sense of melancholy rose in Liu Che’s heart. It turned out that when A’jiao left, she was still so young and beautiful. A’jiao saw Chen Wan’s body falling straight toward the floor and rushed to catch it. She frowned and grumbled at Liu Che, "Didn't I tell you to watch it? Couldn't you at least catch her?" "Oh." *As expected, once she opens her mouth, that terrible temper is still the same,* Liu Che thought with a huff, but then he looked at A’jiao with secret delight. However, a flash of rosy light shimmered around her, and she vanished. !!! "A’jiao!" Liu Che called out. But there was no sign of the beauty left in the room. Instead, Chen Yang’s voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, is something wrong?" Liu Che held the limp body of Chen Wan, thinking to himself that this wasn't A’jiao anyway. He called out, "Come in." The brothers Chen Yang and Chen Chuo entered. They stopped outside the screen and asked, "What are Your Majesty’s orders?" "Take her away. Find a place to put her!" Chen Yang was bewildered. He walked around the screen. ??? Why was his sixth younger sister in here? *** A’jiao was being pulled through the air by Shen Zhi. She couldn't help but wonder when she would be able to learn the art of flight. As if reading her thoughts, Shen Zhi suddenly spoke, "I’ll take this opportunity to teach you a few other spells, lest you have no way to defend yourself if you encounter an opponent." "Thank you, Lord Shen!" A’jiao was instantly overjoyed. Shen Zhi gave a modest smile. "It’s nothing. Come to think of it... you don't really need to keep calling me 'Lord' so formally. You could call me 'Father' instead." Chen Wei turned his head, his eyes wide with shock. A’jiao froze, an awkward smile spreading across her face. "Hehe... I’ve just... gotten used to calling you 'Lord'." Shen Zhi continued to look ahead. "It’s fine. Call me whatever you are used to." "Okay," A’jiao replied softly, her voice barely a whisper. It wasn't that she didn't like Lord Shen. On the contrary, she liked him very much. Who wouldn't like such a kind and powerful elder? Her mother marrying him was the best thing that could have happened. But she did have a biological father, after all—one she had called "Father" for decades. No matter how distant they were, it was hard to change her way of address on short notice. Perhaps it was also because Lord Shen looked so young. A’jiao pursed her lips. She wondered if Lord Shen would mind. She decided she should try to change her way of speaking sooner rather than later, lest... well, it would be bad if there was any friction between Lord Shen and her mother because of her. She looked up and smiled. "No, it’s just that I wasn't used to it before. I think calling you 'Father' is quite good. Father!" Shen Zhi’s eyes flickered slightly, and he gave a soft reply. "Mm." Chen Wei sighed inwardly and turned his head back. *Tsk, tsk, tsk. That looked incredibly awkward.*