The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 24 | Lady Liu Piao | Novela.app

Guantao was talking with Dou Yifang and Bo Ji when a sudden knock sounded at the door. "I’ll go see who it is," Guantao said, rising to her feet. Liu Heng, Liu Qi, and Liu Wu had all gone to their respective departments to take up their posts. Since the completion of the Reincarnation Platform, the entire Underworld seemed to have become busier. To make matters worse, Shen Zhi had informed her that someone had secretly interfered to place Ah Jiao’s name on the list for the first round of reincarnation trials, leaving her deeply worried. "Who is it?" "I was sent by Lord Shen!" "Coming, coming!" Guantao hurried over. For Shen Zhi to suddenly send someone to find her—could something have happened to Ah Jiao? She opened the door to find a familiar ghost guard. "Lady Liu Piao, Lord Shen has sent me. Something has happened to Chen Ah Jiao." Guantao stumbled, ignoring the strange address of "Lady Liu Piao." It took her a long moment to force herself into a state of calm. "What happened to Ah Jiao?" "She sustained some injuries, but she is out of danger now. Lord Shen said you may visit her when you have the time." "Ah Piao, what is it? What happened? I thought I heard someone mention Ah Jiao. Is something wrong with Jiao Jiao?" Dou Yifang walked out, having overheard their conversation, and hurried over to ask. "Mother, it’s nothing. Lord Shen said Jiao Jiao is resting today and that I may go see her." "That’s good, then. Go and see her. Take some pastries with you; the poor child surely hasn't eaten or slept well these past few days." Bo Ji also stepped out. "Quite right. That reincarnation trial you mentioned doesn't sound like easy work. Ah Jiao has never suffered a day in her life. Take plenty of things with you—some for Ah Jiao, and some to properly thank Lord Shen for looking after her." "Yes, yes, of course," Guantao agreed repeatedly. She turned back to the ghost guard. "Sir, would you allow me a moment to pack some things?" The ghost guard waved his hand dismissively. "Go ahead and pack. I am in no hurry." "Thank you, Sir!" The three women hurried inside and packed the pastries they had made over the last two days into several boxes before Guantao followed the guard out the door. "Nine-Tier Pavilion." Guantao followed the guard to the entrance. Inside, Qi Wuyi heard the commotion and hurried out. He was curious to see exactly what kind of woman had managed to stir his boss's heart. Seeing Qi Wuyi, Guantao stepped forward to offer a polite greeting. "Greetings, My Lord. I have come at the behest of Lord Shen..." Qi Wuyi stepped aside slightly to avoid the full formality and smiled. "I know. Lord Shen gave instructions. Chen Ah Jiao is in the first room of the row on the left. You may go in." Guantao thanked him and, disregarding everything else, hurried toward Ah Jiao’s room. Qi Wuyi shook his head inwardly. He didn't see anything particularly special about her. Guantao entered the room. It was small, containing only a bed, a low table, and a small cabinet by the bedside. Ah Jiao was lying on the bed, buried entirely under the covers with only her eyes showing. Guantao felt a pang of heartache. She placed the items on the low table and sat by the bed, tucking the covers in and pulling them down to expose Ah Jiao’s nose and mouth. "How many times have I told you? Don't bury your face in the blankets when you sleep. You never listen. Such a worrisome child." Ah Jiao was deep in sleep; she simply rolled over and continued her slumber. Lord Shen had said that ghosts did not easily feel fatigue, which meant Ah Jiao’s injuries must have been severe. Guantao gently stroked Ah Jiao’s face. For some reason, it was covered in fine, red tracery. When she accidentally brushed against them, Ah Jiao knit her brows in her sleep. Guantao slowly lifted a corner of the blanket and discovered that Ah Jiao’s entire body was covered in these same patterns. "Lady Liu, you needn't worry. Her injuries are no longer an issue, but she needs quiet rest, which is why she is so lethargic. We... ahem... Lord Shen has already given her medicine. It was a top-grade elixir bestowed by King Yama himself, specifically meant to nourish the soul." "Thank you, Sir. Please thank Lord Shen on my behalf as well... Um, you don't need to call me 'Lady Liu.' Just call me Guantao." She was a woman in her seventies or eighties; being called "Lady" made her feel quite flustered. "Very well, Lady Guantao." "..." "And you don't need me to thank him for you. Once Lord Shen finishes his duties at the Reincarnation Platform, he will come over immediately. You can thank him in person." "Right, Sir. These are some pastries I made at home. If you have an appetite, please try some." Guantao opened several boxes, revealing various cakes. "These are rice cakes made from different types of rice. These are red bean cakes, mung bean cakes, and these are lotus root starch cakes..." "Then I shall try one." Qi Wuyi looked at the full boxes and picked out a glutinous rice cake, a lotus root starch cake, and a green one that was supposedly a green plum cake. "Lady Guantao, please wait here for a moment. I shall go brew her medicine!" "Brewing medicine? Let me do it. You must be tired, Sir; you should rest. Where is the pharmacy?" Guantao stood up as she spoke. Qi Wuyi took a bite of the green plum cake. It was slightly astringent and tart at first, turning sweet as he chewed. Not bad. "Go ahead, then. It's the room directly facing the main gate. Behind the screen, there is a single stove. You'll see it." "Very well. Please rest, Sir." Guantao rolled up her sleeves and headed out. Brewing medicine was nothing new to her. She remembered when Ah Jiao first moved to Longmen Palace; though there were many servants, she had personally supervised the brewing of every dose. Back then, she had lived in constant fear that any small mishap would cost her her only daughter. Fortunately, Ah Jiao had slowly recovered. Though she was sometimes listless, she was no longer perpetually despondent. *** Ah Jiao slowly opened her eyes, feeling momentarily dazed. As her senses returned, she remembered she was likely still at the Judgment Department. "You're awake! Want something to eat?" Qi Wuyi leisurely pulled a handkerchief from his robe, wiped the corners of his mouth, then his hands, before tossing the cloth aside, where it vanished into thin air. "Lord Qi?" "Yes, it's me. Since you're awake, don't go back to sleep. Your mother is outside brewing medicine for you. Drink it before you sleep again." "My mother?" Ah Jiao bolted upright, only to be hit by a wave of dizziness that sent her falling back. "Stay lying down. Don't move. I'll go check on your medicine." Ah Jiao nodded. As Qi Wuyi left, she noticed four food boxes on the low table, two of which were already empty. Ah Jiao shifted on the bed. Aside from feeling weak, her entire body throbbed with a faint, lingering pain. It seemed she was lucky to be alive and in one piece. The sound of footsteps approached. "Mother!" Ah Jiao looked at the figure in the doorway, and a sudden wave of grievance washed over her. Guantao hurried over and pulled Ah Jiao into a tight embrace. "What is it, Jiao Jiao? Does it hurt? Are you uncomfortable?" "It hurts!" Ah Jiao pouted. "Don't be afraid, Jiao Jiao. Just bear with it a little longer. Lord Qi said your injuries will heal very quickly; it won't hurt in a few days. Be good, Mother is here holding you." Guantao gently stroked Ah Jiao’s face. "Mother, I was scared to death. Luckily I had the protective talisman you gave me. You truly had the foresight." Ah Jiao nuzzled her head against Guantao’s chest. "As long as it was useful. We'll carry several more from now on!" Guantao mentally calculated that she would make Ah Jiao carry seven or eight talismans in the future to prevent any more accidents. *Knock, knock, knock!* "Lord Shen!" Ah Jiao called out with pleasant surprise, looking excitedly at her mother. Guantao gently helped Ah Jiao lie back down before standing up. She performed a solemn, formal bow toward Shen Zhi. "My deepest thanks to Lord Shen for bestowing the spirit medicine that saved my daughter's life! I, Liu Piao, have no way to repay such a debt. Should you have any commands in the future, I shall not dare to refuse!" Shen Zhi, carrying the medicine, was startled by Guantao’s intense formality, nearly spilling the liquid. "It was nothing, I just happened to..." Shen Zhi brought the medicine over. "This is Ah Jiao’s medicine. Drink it while it's hot." Guantao took it, carefully blowing on it before feeding it to Ah Jiao spoonful by spoonful. Ah Jiao noted the slightly awkward atmosphere between the two and simply lowered her head to drink. Fortunately, being a ghost meant she had no sense of taste; if it were as bitter as the medicine in the mortal realm, she wouldn't have been able to stomach it. Shen Zhi paced the room twice before sitting by the low table. "I have investigated the matter. King Yama has already ordered the punishment of those who harmed Ah Jiao; you may rest easy. Furthermore, Ah Jiao does not need to go to the Reincarnation Platform for the time being. I have moved her to a later batch. Liu Piao... you may take Ah Jiao back to Yidu to stay for a while. Once she has recovered, she can return." Guantao was overjoyed. "Thank you, Lord Shen! I will take her back to look after her myself; I'll feel much more at ease that way." Shen Zhi nodded. "I will help you. I doubt you can move her on your own. Also, I have a few treasures at home for nourishing the soul; I will send them over to you later. Don't worry, Ah Jiao is fine now; she just needs to recuperate." "Thank you! Oh, these are the pastries I brought. Please try some, My Lord. I made these plum cakes today; do have a taste." Guantao smiled warmly. Ah Jiao sipped the medicine in her bowl, feeling that the situation was... rather peculiar.