The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 12 | The Yanyue Tower | Novela.app

After resting briefly in Suiyi City, Princess Guantao prepared to set out for the next ghost city. Dong Yan supported her as they walked toward the city gates. "Princess, searching like this on your own is not a sustainable solution. Why don't you return first? I will go and inquire if there are any more convenient methods to find the Wengzhu." "But..." Guantao remained uneasy. "Think of it this way, Princess—if the Wengzhu knew you were exhausting yourself like this, she would be overcome with self-reproach when you finally meet. Let me escort you back first." Guantao sighed. "Very well. But if you find any lead, you must come for me immediately." Dong Yan patted her hand. "I understand. Please wait here for a moment, Princess. I shall go and rent a carriage for you." "Rent a carriage?" Guantao was slightly surprised. "One can rent carriages here?" "Indeed. I heard it has only been permitted in recent years. After all, the Underworld is vast—even larger than the mortal realm—and our pace is slow. Though they aren't exactly horse-drawn carriages, they are far more convenient." "Is that so? Is this service run by the Underworld authorities or a private entity?" Guantao’s mind began to race. "It is managed by the Magistrate’s Office." "In that case... take me to see it." "As you wish." Dong Yan did not understand her intent, but he obediently led the way. They followed the city’s main thoroughfare to its end, where a towering structure stood. Guantao looked up; it was eighteen stories high, with flickering lights and the faint murmur of voices drifting down from above. Upon entering the lobby, they found it crowded. Dong Yan carefully shielded Guantao, fearing someone might jostle her. Guantao scanned the first floor. Four desks were arranged in the hall, each manned by someone processing affairs. Dong Yan hurried to explain, "These four counters on the first floor are all for renting carriages." Seeing Guantao look toward the second floor, he continued, "The second floor is for the sale of property, and the third is for currency exchange. As you know, the items buried with us must be converted into Underworld currency before they can be used. I have never been above the fourth floor, but I hear it is a place for high-end trade." "Then we shall go to the fourth floor." Guantao headed straight for the stairs. How could she have forgotten? Shen Zhi had mentioned that every ghost city possessed a Yanyue Tower, and the master of these towers was one of the twelve Civil Records Officials of the Court of Judgment. Wasn't Ajiao’s destination determined by that very court? If she could meet this official, she might discover her daughter's whereabouts. Dong Yan scrambled to follow. He didn't know why the Princess wanted to go upstairs, but seeing her renewed spirits, he assumed she had thought of a plan. Guantao climbed to the fourth floor in one breath. Suddenly, an arm extended from a pillar by the stairwell. An eye and a mouth were embedded in the flesh of the arm. The mouth opened and said, "Official Letter. Present it." Guantao recoiled in shock. Fortunately, Dong Yan was behind her to steady her, preventing a fall. Forcing herself to remain calm, Guantao pulled out her Official Letter. Dong Yan quickly produced his as well. The arm took the letters, inspected them, and returned them. "Official Letters verified. Entry requires a fee of two thousand Square Talismans. Will you pay?" "Yes." She glanced back and saw Dong Yan’s embarrassed expression. "Pay for his as well." Underworld currency had been established in recent years, consisting of only two types: Square Talismans and Round Talismans. In terms of mortal wealth, a single Square Talisman was worth a million coins. Living alone in the Underworld, Dong Yan likely hadn't saved such a sum. The arm lightly flicked Guantao’s Official Letter. With a soft *ding*, she saw the balance displayed on the letter decrease by four thousand Square Talismans. "Please." The arm made a beckoning gesture before slowly receding back into the pillar. Unlike the lower floors, the fourth floor was not a single open hall but was divided into small, private cubicles. A sheet of white paper drifted through the air and stopped before them. "What business do you wish to conduct?" "I am looking for someone," Guantao said tentatively. "I do not know if we can handle that. I must ask the Master. Please wait here for a moment; follow me." The white paper flew toward a cubicle that was not yet lit. Guantao followed, observing her surroundings. Although the cubicles were close together, not a single sound leaked out. She couldn't fathom what material they were made of. As the paper drifted into a cubicle, the lights inside flickered on. "Wait here for a while," the paper said before floating away. *** Ajiao stood at the entrance of Chaoxu Pavilion, intending to go back inside to ask for directions. The previously deserted entrance was now guarded by two ghost soldiers. One of them blocked her path. "Official Letter." Ajiao reached for it, then suddenly remembered: she didn't have it. Her Official Letter had been taken by Yun He. "Sirs, I do not have my letter on me. However, may I ask for directions? Do you know the way to the Reincarnation Platform?" Ajiao decided to simply ask them. "Official Letter," the guard repeated. "...I don't have it." "Official Letter." "..." Ajiao fell silent. Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure emerging from within. "Lord Shen!" Ajiao hurried toward him. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be serving your sentence?" Shen Zhi’s eyes narrowed, his hand moving to the weapon at his waist. "Reporting to My Lord, Lord Yun He escorted me back to the mortal realm for my seventh-day rites, but then he left me here. I... I do not know the way back." "..." Could Yun He be any more unreliable? Shen Zhi supposed he should be grateful Yun He hadn't just abandoned Chen Ajiao in the mortal realm. "Follow me, then." "Thank you, My Lord!" Ajiao followed him quickly. Shen Zhi glanced back at the girl walking obediently behind him. He found it difficult to reconcile this well-behaved girl with the woman described in the records—the one driven mad by tragic love, harming both herself and others. "Thank you for your help today, Lord Shen. Oh, by the way... have you seen my mother recently? If you do, could you tell her I am safe?" Ajiao saw the silhouette of the Reincarnation Platform appearing ahead and knew she was almost there. "Mhm. Your mother has been looking for you as well." Shen Zhi looked at Chen Ajiao and suddenly reached out to pat her shoulder. "Reform yourself well here. When your sentence is served, your mother and I will come to fetch you." "Thank you, Lord Shen," Ajiao replied earnestly. She felt his words and actions were a bit strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why. "Wait!" Ajiao was about to leave when Shen Zhi called out again. Shen Zhi lowered his head, rubbed his nose, and walked a few steps closer. "Your mother... did she truly say before she died that she wished to be buried with that Dong Yan?" Ajiao was utterly bewildered. "Uh... yes, she did." "I see. Until next time." Shen Zhi turned and walked away without looking back. A breeze blew past. Ajiao stood there, stunned and confused. A few rather unsettling thoughts began to sprout in her mind. *No... surely not?!* *** After seeing Shen Zhi off, Hongsang transformed into a book and lay on a shelf to take a nap. Before long, a voice began buzzing in her ear. "Master, Master, wake up. Master!" She irritably opened one eye to see a sheet of white paper fluttering above her head. "If you keep making noise, I’ll burn you." The paper *whooshed* against the bookshelf and went silent. Hongsang reverted to her true form, peeled the paper off, and asked, "What is it?" The paper used a corner to nuzzle Hongsang’s hand and said in a childish voice, "Someone wants us to help find the whereabouts of a person. I didn't know if we could do that, so I came to ask." "Finding someone? Tell her the price is one million and ten thousand Square Talismans, and no third-party payments allowed. If she pays, I’ll look." Hongsang gave a lazy yawn. "Alright, little one, off you go. I’m going to sleep. Do not disturb me again today. If you’re unsure about anything else, just refuse them directly." "Understood!" the paper chirped and flew away. In the Yanyue Tower, Guantao was growing impatient. Just as she was about to lose her temper, she heard Dong Yan’s surprised voice, "Princess, it’s back!" The white paper zipped into the room and announced loudly, "Our Master says: one million and ten thousand Square Talismans, paid in full by the individual. Only then will we search." "One million and ten thousand... One million and ten thousand?! Are you mocking me?" Guantao was furious. According to Underworld regulations, a ghost’s Official Letter could hold a maximum of one million Square Talismans. How could any ghost possibly produce one million and ten thousand? Guantao had been running around for days, her heart full of suppressed frustration. This demand caused her temper to explode. "If you won't search, then don't, but don't play tricks with a figure like one million and ten thousand!" Her violent streak surfaced, and she smashed the teapot beside her. Dong Yan rushed to stop her. "Princess! Princess, stay calm! This is the Civil Records Official’s domain, you cannot destroy things here!" "Think of the Wengzhu! You cannot implicate her!" Seeing that Guantao’s anger wasn't subsiding as she knocked over a lampstand, Dong Yan shouted desperately. "..." Guantao froze. Seizing the opening, the white paper flew out of the cubicle and screamed, "Guards! Guards!" Dong Yan peered out from the cubicle. Armored soldiers were stepping out from the pillars throughout the hall, surrounding them on all sides.