The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 14 | The Reincarnation Mirror | Novela.app

At the thought of her recent wild imaginings, Ajiao’s face flushed a deep crimson. *Pah, pah, pah! Chen Ajiao, what are you thinking? That is your mother; such thoughts are unfilial! Unfilial! Unfilial!* After spitting at her own thoughts in her mind several times, Ajiao finally walked toward the pavilion where the ghost wardens were stationed. A ghost warden resting in the pavilion flicked his eyelids open to glance at her, then simply waved a hand toward the Reincarnation Platform, which was already beginning to take shape. Ajiao did not dare make a sound. She merely offered a respectful bow and headed toward the platform. The Reincarnation Platform did not seem particularly large. The foundation had already been laid, measuring roughly ten feet square. Railings rose on three sides, while the fourth side was connected to a set of steps. She wondered how those massive boulders from before had been used to build such a small platform. Ajiao took the opportunity to steal a few glances but did not dare look for long. As she approached the pool where the stones were hauled from, she noticed a new monument erected nearby, carved with the words "Hutan." It seemed that was the name of the pool. Ajiao stepped inside and handed the rope to the ghost warden by the water’s edge. The warden took it. She watched as the warden tied the rope into a loop and tossed it into the pool. With a gentle flick, he pulled a stone out of the water. This stone was much smaller than the previous ones—only about a foot square—yet its weight seemed undiminished. Ajiao took a deep breath and pulled the rope. Having not worked for a full day, she found the task somewhat taxing. She took the rope and continued her labor. She had only walked a few paces when the ground suddenly began to tremble. A cluster of red light descended from the heavens, landing right near the foundation of the Reincarnation Platform. The ghost wardens fixed their gazes on the light and hurried forward to prostrate themselves. "We respectfully welcome the two Divine Sovereigns! We welcome the Ghost Emperor!" The ghosts performing hard labor nearby were also suppressed by a powerful aura, falling to their knees in unison. Ajiao forced herself to look up. Standing upon the platform were five figures—presumably the Divine Sovereigns and the Ghost Emperor the wardens had just greeted. One wore a robe of brilliant crimson, two were clad in suits of armor, and another... was currently pinching Yun He’s ear. From a distance, Ajiao could see Yun He waving his hands wildly, one foot straining to stomp on the foot of the man holding his ear. Ajiao surmised that this must be Yun He’s father, the Ghost Emperor who presided over the Court of Judgment. ... Lord Yama circled the completed foundation, tapping it lightly with his hand. Wherever his fingers passed, a grayish-white light shimmered. Lord Yama nodded and spoke to the head ghost wardens nearby. "Chang Qu, Wen Shu, you two have done well. This platform should be finished in another three days, shouldn't it?" Chang Qu and Wen Shu were overjoyed and hurriedly replied, "We thank the Divine Sovereign for his praise. We have exerted our utmost efforts recently and dared not make any mistakes." "Good. Very well." Lord Yama formed a hand seal. A mirror-like object slowly manifested in his palm. He tossed it gently into the air. "This is the Reincarnation Mirror, a divine artifact forged by my senior brother and me over the past seven days. Once the foundation is complete, install it. Only then will the Reincarnation Platform be truly finished." The Reincarnation Mirror floated above the foundation, moving continuously but never quite settling. Lord Yama quickly beckoned Chang Qu and Wen Shu forward. "The Reincarnation Mirror shall remain here today. Observe it yourselves and correct every part of the foundation that does not harmonize with the mirror. We shall return in three days. The Ghost Emperor will explain the remaining matters to you." With that, the two Divine Sovereigns vanished. Chang Qu and Wen Shu stood in stunned silence. "Can't you show me some consideration? I'm already this old, yet you still pull my ear in public!" Yun He finally dared to speak, wrenching himself free from his father’s clutches. Ghost Emperor Fu Kang gave a cold snort. "Stop causing trouble. This matter of the Reincarnation Platform is the most significant event in the Underworld in a thousand years. Do not interfere." "I wasn't! I clearly went to find Lord Yama to ask for an assignment. How is that interfering? Lord Yama and the Yama Sovereign both agreed!" *If it weren't for the fact that both Lords agreed, I wouldn't be this angry!* Ghost Emperor Fu Kang thought silently. The two Lords were far too indulgent with Yun He. How could they entrust such a massive undertaking to him? It wasn't as if they didn't know what Yun He was like... *Sigh! Forget it! I'd better find a way to delegate the tasks properly.* "Chang Qu, the construction of the foundation for the next three days is temporarily entrusted to you. Wen Shu, go to the Hall of Departure later and retrieve the registers of all ghosts currently serving sentences. The Reincarnation Platform is newly built, and the two Lords are concerned about potential flaws in its construction. They have decided to select two thousand ghosts from those serving sentences to conduct a trial run... Remember, when selecting, do not choose those with sins too profound, or they might be blasted into non-existence by the Reincarnation Mirror. Once the list is finalized, submit it! This must be done quickly." Having finished his instructions, Ghost Emperor Fu Kang dragged Yun He away. Once the dignitaries had dispersed, the ghosts prostrated on the ground slowly began to crawl back up. Looking at the Reincarnation Mirror floating above the platform, the ghosts began to whisper among themselves. These ghosts did not know the true nature of their labor. They only felt that the massive mirror exerted a pressure that made them want to bow down. The stones that had been easy to pull moments ago now seemed several degrees heavier. "What are you noisy about? Get back to work!" The ghost wardens on either side brandished their whips, dispersing the huddling ghosts. Everyone had no choice but to return to their work honestly. Before long, Ajiao heard a commotion coming from the pavilion. One voice sounded incredibly familiar. "Jiaojiao!" Ajiao was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. "Mother!" Just as Ajiao and Guantao were about to speak, they were pulled aside by a ghost warden. "You two, don't block the way! Move aside!" "Waaaah, my Jiaojiao, how did you end up dressed like this? How can you be doing this kind of work? Waaaah! You’ve worried your mother to death!" Shen Zhi walked over and said helplessly, "She committed a fault and must be punished. These are the rules of the Underworld." Shen Zhi felt truly exhausted today. First, he had been busy with work, then he had to go to the Hall of Departure to find Chen Ajiao’s whereabouts, then to the Hall of Arrival to check the life records of Guantao and Chen Ajiao. He had just finished delivering Chen Ajiao here, and before he could even return, he was found by Liu Qi to bail out Guantao—he had heard she smashed the Crescent Moon Pavilion. Where did she get the nerve? Furthermore, seeing that the Reincarnation Mirror had already been placed here, the two Divine Sovereigns must have already visited. This Reincarnation Platform was nearing completion. Just now, Chang Qu and the others mentioned that the Ghost Emperor ordered the selection of two thousand ghosts to test the Reincarnation Platform. *Tsk, tsk. Should I put Chen Ajiao’s name on the list? Surely that would be more comfortable than doing hard labor all day.*