Who knew whether he was willing to marry her?
Whatever. The outcome was already decided. Even if he was unwilling, it was impossible for him to leap up and object now.
However, if she truly wanted to establish herself in the Xie family, she still needed a child…
Shang Lingjun’s gaze lowered, coming to rest on a certain place below Xie Yan’an’s waist.
Because they shared a body, Shang Lingjun’s field of vision was also Huo Chuan’s.
【What are you looking at?】
Huo Chuan’s voice drifted out faintly.
Why did he feel that Shang Lingjun’s gaze was somewhat peculiar?
Shang Lingjun came back to herself and asked gently:
【Chuanchuan, did you have any unfulfilled wishes when you were alive? Is there anything you want? Or perhaps you could point me in the right direction, and I’ll do everything I can to help your descendants.】
Huo Chuan grew suspicious. Why had Shang Lingjun suddenly become so courteous?
She wanted to help him return to his own body. Could she really do that?
【Thank you for your kindness, but I had neither a wife nor any descendants when I was alive.】
Shang Lingjun was somewhat disappointed, but she still refused to give up and asked:
【Then you must have had brothers or sisters, right? I can help their descendants as well.】
Huo Chuan faintly sensed that she was implying something.
【Ati, just say what you want to say.】
Shang Lingjun bit her lip, embarrassed. She was extremely, extremely tactful as she said:
【My life is truly miserable. If I could have a child to depend on, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Don’t you think?】
If she really had to do that shameful thing, and Huo Chuan could take over for her, that would be even better.
Shang Lingjun was startled by the outrageous thought that had suddenly popped into her head.
This was far too outrageous…
Would he agree?
Not cursing her ancestors for eighteen generations would already be generous of him.
【There’s nothing I can do about that.】
Huo Chuan did not think much of it.
Shang Lingjun said no more. Forget it—she would stop trying to curry favor with him for now.
She would bring it up again after some time.
If she could have a child, she would be able to sleep peacefully in the Xie family.
It was just that the existence of this male ghost was truly troublesome…
Couldn’t just any Daoist priest drive him away?
【It’s fine, it’s fine.】
She rose and was about to leave.
Huo Chuan’s curiosity was immediately piqued.
【Why did you stop just before saying something? Go on and say it.】
【It’s nothing. I’m tired. I’m going to sleep.】
Shang Lingjun left Lingfeng Courtyard directly and returned to Qixia Pavilion. Everything inside had already been prepared, even the bathwater.
Qingzhi was efficient, but Shang Lingjun found herself in another quandary. If she bathed, Huo Chuan would inevitably see things he shouldn’t.
But if she did not bathe, she really had worked up a sweat—and she could not possibly go without bathing forever, could she?
And then there were private matters such as using the privy…
Just thinking about it made Shang Lingjun’s face grow hot, her ears turning completely red.
Why did it have to be a male ghost? If he had been a female ghost, she would not have had to endure so much awkwardness.
Huo Chuan seemed to notice Shang Lingjun’s embarrassment and tactfully kept quiet.
When he briefly used Shang Lingjun’s body, he could more or less sense the differences between a woman’s body and a man’s. The heavy sensation on her chest was particularly unfamiliar.
Of course, there was no way he could tell Shang Lingjun any of this. What if she became embarrassed and angry, turned against him, and never let him use her body again?
After struggling for quite some time, Shang Lingjun finally shut her eyes and hurriedly finished bathing.
She tossed and turned in bed. In the end, unable to withstand her drowsiness any longer, she sank into a deep sleep.
It was already the second watch of the night. After Xiao Jing had been beaten soundly by General Xiao, he was escorted back to the general’s residence.
The candles in Rongfu Pavilion, Old Madam Wei’s residence, still burned brightly. Xie Zhaoqing’s future would be decided tonight…
Would she be willing to accept it?
…
Madam Qu dropped to her knees and said anxiously:
“Mother-in-law, we cannot go through with the exchange marriage! No one saw anything. It was all Shang Lingjun’s one-sided account. If Qing Ge’er simply refuses to admit it, what can they do?
“As for the rumors spreading throughout the capital, let Shang Lingjun explain them away as nothing more than a misunderstanding. Have her and Qing Ge’er put on an affectionate display. After enough time passes, everyone will forget about it!”
Her eyes darted about rapidly.
“Just say… just say that Qing Ge’er suffers from a cold illness, and Xiao Jing was giving him acupuncture!”
Old Madam Wei closed her eyes briefly.
“It is too late. When the Fourth Branch went to catch them in the act, they did not have enough people and even borrowed attendants from Third Madam Sheng of the Marquis of Yong’an’s Residence.
“She and that Third Madam Sheng are birds of a feather. They love gossiping and discussing rumors. Outsiders have already witnessed it with their own eyes. How could we possibly silence the multitude?”
Otherwise, she would not have gone to see Shang Lingjun herself.
Madam Qu was both shocked and furious. Gritting her back teeth, she hissed:
“Madam Li! She did it on purpose!”
Madam Li was forcing the family to punish Xie Zhaoqing severely.
The veins on Third Master Xie’s forehead bulged as he shouted:
“This is the fine son you raised! A filthy pervert who makes people sick! And you still have the nerve to ask Mother to cover for him? On his wedding night, he dared to bring a man into the bridal chamber and fool around with him right in front of his new bride. How despicable! Even beating him to death would not be excessive!”
When he had learned of everything, he had felt as if the sky itself had collapsed.
At his words, Madam Qu felt the world spin around her. She bit the tip of her tongue until it bled, only barely managing not to faint.
Only now did she realize that Xie Zhaoqing’s future and reputation had been completely destroyed. Even the gods could not save him!
Her son had been clever and bright since childhood. At three, he could compose poetry; at seven, he could speak in polished phrases. He was in no way inferior to a man.
She had always expected Xie Zhaoqing to succeed in the imperial examinations, pass the civil service selection, and display his ambitions in officialdom. Could it be that all of it had now turned into a mere illusion?
All the hopes she had placed in the second half of her life were gone…
The dim candlelight made Old Madam Wei’s face appear even more imposing. In a tone that brooked no argument, she said:
“In my opinion, remove him from the family register and have him leave for Yizhou at once. First, Yizhou is far away. In a new place, he can begin again and become a new person.
“Second, there are distant relatives in Yizhou who can look after him to some degree. Qing Ge’er need not seek wealth or honor there. So long as he can eat his fill, stay warm, and live out the rest of his life in peace, that will be enough.
“Open the ancestral hall first thing tomorrow morning. Read the expulsion document aloud before everyone, and settle Shang Lingjun’s matter at the same time!”
When she finished speaking, Madam Qu felt as though five thunderbolts had struck her at once.
Being removed from the family register meant severing all ties with the clan. His clan registration, surname, lands, and property would all be stripped from him. From that moment onward, the Xie family would no longer have anyone named Xie Zhaoqing.
Whether he lived or died, prospered or suffered, would have nothing to do with the family.
How ruthless!
She was making his mother and elder brother bear the consequences for him.
Madam Qu closed her eyes in despair. Contrary to her usual behavior, she did not cry or wail. When she opened her eyes again, she calmly wiped away her tears and said:
“Mother-in-law, I accept whatever punishment you impose on Qing Ge’er. However, this entire matter began because of Shang Lingjun. I cannot accept your marrying her to Seventh Younger Brother. Once she becomes our sister-in-law, where will that leave the dignity of our Third Branch?”
Old Madam Wei’s expression was dark and solemn. She did not answer.
Third Master Xie was also utterly opposed to the idea, but when he saw Old Madam Wei’s reaction, he quickly discerned the intentions of his adoptive mother…
He hurriedly said:
“Do not speak nonsense. Whatever decision Mother makes, she surely has her reasons. You and I failed to teach our son properly, resulting in our new daughter-in-law suffering such unbearable humiliation. We should indeed compensate her. From now on, we must cherish Seventh Younger Brother’s wife all the more.”
After saying this, Third Master Xie swiftly glanced at Old Madam Wei from the corner of his eye, feeling somewhat uneasy.
Old Madam Wei merely raised a hand and waved it lightly. Her expression weary, she said:
“Go back, all of you. I am truly exhausted.”
Third Master Xie let out a sigh of relief.
Madam Qu still wanted to say something, but Third Master Xie shot her a glare. She suppressed the deep resentment in her eyes and said:
“Your daughter-in-law takes her leave!”
How much hatred was contained in that one sentence…