Shen Zhi escorted Princess Guantao to her door. Summoning the last of her strength, she offered him a brief greeting before stepping inside.
The moment the door closed, the strength seemed to drain from her body, and she collapsed onto the floor. She needed to think—how could she possibly tell the Emperor and Empress about Ajiao’s situation?
Furthermore, she was plagued by uncertainty. She didn't know if Shen Zhi was right. If Ajiao could remain safe and sound, that would be for the best, but what if something went wrong?
After a long while, Guantao used the door for support to pull herself up and began walking further into the residence. There, she saw a woman approaching from the opposite direction.
"Sister-in-law!" Guantao gasped, stepping forward with a forced smile.
Bo Si started, only then realizing that the woman with the disheveled hair before her was Guantao.
"So it is the Grand Princess," Bo Si said. "I have already divorced your brother. You need not call me sister-in-law anymore; just call me Ah Si."
Guantao smiled repeatedly. "And you shouldn't call me Grand Princess. I am no longer such a person. Just call me Ah Piao, as you did in the past."
"...Very well. Ah Piao, what has happened? You look quite haggard." Bo Si observed Guantao’s bitter smile and the desperate look in her eyes. This was a far cry from the woman she used to know.
"Sigh, I won't hide it from you. I’ve been worried sick over Ajiao lately," Guantao said with a long sigh.
"When Ajiao was alive, she committed some errors. Now that she is in the Underworld, she must inevitably suffer. Yet, I cannot bear it. Currently, the Underworld has built a new Reincarnation Platform and needs to select two thousand ghosts for a trial run. I don't know whether I should let Ajiao go. Seeing you now, and knowing you are by Empress Xiaohui’s... by Zhang Yuanzhi’s side, I wanted to ask if you know anything about this. I would appreciate your advice," Guantao said earnestly.
Bo Si pondered for a moment. "I have heard Ah Yan mention this, but I don't understand the intricacies of it. How about this: I will go back and ask. If it is a good opportunity, then it would be a blessing."
Guantao was overjoyed. "Then I thank you truly!"
"Do not worry, Ah Piao. I will seek clarity today and return to you by evening."
"Thank you, thank you!" Tears nearly fell from Guantao’s eyes.
She and Bo Si had shared some friendship in their youth, but after her brother became Emperor, she had sent many beauties to his side. Even Bo Si’s deposition from the position of Empress was undoubtedly linked to her actions. She hadn't expected Bo Si to be willing to help her now. Guantao felt a burning sting of shame upon her face.
After a few more pleasantries, Bo Si took her leave. Guantao tidied her hair before heading deeper into the house.
***
After parting with Guantao, Bo Si took a carriage at the city gate and returned to the Bureau of Nu Yi.
Before she even reached Zhang Yan’s courtyard, she saw a brilliant, flowing radiance hovering above it. It was a sign that Lady Nu Yi had arrived.
Bo Si had been in the Underworld for decades. While she had never seen the two supreme deities, Yan Jun and Yan Luo, she had encountered Lady Nu Yi several times.
Rumor had it that Yan Jun and Yan Luo were innate members of the Ghost Race, having inherited the divine power of Empress Houtu. During the Primordial Era, these two deities cultivated diligently to unify the various ghost tribes, creating the current Shadow Realm. The Ghost Race was formed from the concentrated Yin energy of heaven and earth; it often took tens of millions of years for the world to gestate a single member of their kind.
In contrast, those like Bo Si—humans who became spirits after death—were known as "Mortal Ghosts." Mortal Ghosts were born fragile. During the Primordial Era, a mere gust of wind could scatter their souls. Back then, they were not recognized by the true Ghost Race.
However, while the Ghost Race was immortal, they found it difficult to produce offspring. The Primordial Era was rife with war, and every member of the Ghost Race who died was gone forever. After nearly facing extinction during several great wars, the two great deities, Yan Jun and Yan Luo, made a decision: they would take in Mortal Ghosts and help them cultivate, thereby expanding the strength of the Ghost Race.
As far as Bo Si knew, the number of Mortal Ghosts currently holding the rank of Magistrate, Scribe, or higher could be counted on one hand. Magistrate Shen Zhi, who was on good terms with Liu Qi and Guantao, was said to be among the very first batch of Mortal Ghosts to cultivate.
Bo Si straightened her appearance before slowly entering the gate.
Two rows of women stood by the entrance, dressed in vibrant colors with fresh flowers pinned in their hair. After her waist token was verified, Bo Si decided to avoid Lady Nu Yi for the moment.
She had heard that Lady Nu Yi was the only deity in the Underworld who had not attained godhood through ghost cultivation.
Just as Bo Si was about to slip away through the side path, she suddenly heard someone call her name from above. The voice was lazy and melodic. "Ah Si, did you go out to find food again?"
Bo Si quickly turned around, walked into the garden, and bowed. "Reporting to My Lady, Ah Si only spoke a few words with my grand-aunt today and brought back a few rice cakes." As she spoke, she carefully produced a small box and opened it, revealing several plump, white rice cakes.
With a gentle wave of Nu Yi’s hand, the box flew into her grasp. She picked up a piece, took a bite, and nodded. "No matter. I like this flavor." She suddenly looked up at Bo Si. "Little girl, do you have something on your mind?"
Bo Si was startled but quickly regained her composure. "It is nothing major. I simply heard that the newly built Reincarnation Platform is selecting two thousand ghosts for an early trial. I was wondering if this is a good thing."
Nu Yi smiled and turned to look at Zhang Yan, who sat opposite her. "Yan’er, what do you think?"
"It is not necessarily a good thing," Zhang Yan replied, keeping her head down as she focused on the flowers in her stone mortar.
"This..."
"Indeed," Nu Yi added. "The Reincarnation Platform has just been completed. Who knows if those who step onto it will have their souls scattered? You need not be in a hurry."
"My Lady, you misunderstand. It is not that I wish to go. An old acquaintance asked me to inquire, and I was indeed a bit curious."
Nu Yi popped the last piece of rice cake into her mouth and mumbled, "If they go and return, they will certainly be credited with great merit. If they don't return... regardless, I do not recommend going now. Tell your acquaintance that the trials for the Reincarnation Platform will certainly not happen only once. Tell her not to rush. Wait for a few more rounds. Don't lose your life before you've even earned the merit."
"Thank you for the guidance, My Lady!"
***
Ever since the two Sovereigns visited the Reincarnation Platform two days ago, Ajiao had not seen any other unfamiliar faces there. She had no idea what instructions those two deities had left behind.
Chang Qu stood beside the platform, observing that the structure was basically complete. The Mirror of Reincarnation had already been embedded into the base.
"Hey, you're back!" Chang Qu suddenly saw Wen Shu approaching. "Is your register finished?"
"Yes, it has been submitted. The Ghost Emperor has reviewed and approved it. The roll call should begin shortly. How are things on your end? I see the workers are resting."
"My work is done as well. Lord Fei Kang said the two Sovereigns would come to inspect it personally in a moment. Let us wait."
Before long, Ajiao saw several shadows suddenly appear on the Reincarnation Platform—there was Shen Zhi, another great deity she had seen before, and Yun He.
"Shen Zhi, these are the ghosts handpicked for the Reincarnation Platform trial. I have already reviewed them. Take them first and mark them accordingly." Fei Kang handed the register to Shen Zhi.
Chang Qu and Wen Shu exchanged looks but said nothing. Recently, rumors had been circulating that Yan Jun and Yan Luo intended to promote Shen Zhi. It was said that Shen Zhi was an Earth Immortal who had cultivated from a Mortal Ghost. He had joined the Sovereigns' service at the same time as Ghost Emperor Fei Kang and Ghost Emperor Dong Fu. Yet, while the two Ghost Emperors now governed their own departments, Shen Zhi remained a mere Magistrate.
Perhaps this Reincarnation Department would be where Shen Zhi’s luck finally turned.
Shen Zhi took the register and scanned it casually, only to freeze.
Why was Chen Ajiao’s name on it?
Hadn't he specifically gone to see Wen Shu about this?
Shen Zhi looked toward Wen Shu, but Wen Shu’s expression remained unchanged. He had heard the register was compiled at the Bureau of Records... Shen Zhi’s heart sank.
"Lord Fei Kang, have the two Sovereigns seen this register? Have the Soul-Guiding Tokens been granted?" Shen Zhi closed the book.
"What is it? Is there a problem with the register?" Yun He asked repeatedly.
"The Sovereigns have seen it and the Soul-Guiding Tokens have been issued." Seeing Shen Zhi’s poor complexion, Fei Kang didn't say much more. "It cannot be changed now."
"..." Shen Zhi fell silent.
Yun He snatched the register and flipped through it. "What’s wrong? Let me see! Is there a problem? I don't see any!"
Shen Zhi remained silent. Although he had hoped Chen Ajiao would use this chance to wash away her sins, Guantao had specifically asked him not to let Ajiao be chosen for the first batch. Though he personally felt it was worth the risk, it was ultimately Guantao’s business, and he should have deferred to her.
But now that the Soul-Guiding Tokens were out, there was no turning back. Perhaps it was better to let Chen Ajiao undergo the trial; at worst, he would have to protect her in secret.
Shen Zhi took back the register and began to announce the names. "...Qin Sang... Wei Hua... Chen Ajiao..."
With every name he called, the corresponding ghost was pulled toward the Reincarnation Platform by an unseen force.
Ajiao looked at the platform before her in a daze, having no idea what was happening.
***
