"You vicious woman, you made me hit that pillar for you! You're not human!"
"I actually felt sorry for you!"
"…"
The male ghost kept cursing without pause, but Shang Mijun had no time to pay him any attention.
She had only wanted to test something, and she had indeed gotten her answer.
She could give up control of her body whenever she wanted, and take it back whenever she pleased. The control was entirely in her hands. The male ghost was in a passive position—he couldn't seize her body unless she willingly gave it up.
This realization put Shang Mijun's worries to rest.
She had been afraid this strange male ghost might take over her body.
Then, she wanted to try slamming herself against something with force to knock the male ghost's soul out.
The result was obvious.
It failed.
"Don't be angry. I just wanted to see if I could knock you out. My head hurts so much… ugh…"
Shang Mijun had no choice but to soothe him. Now that control of her body was back in her hands, her head was splitting with pain, and she didn't want to listen to this male ghost chatter on.
"Oh…"
The male ghost thought about it—true enough. He only felt the pain for a moment; the lingering agony was all hers to bear.
After she had struck the pillar, Shang Mijun had been carried to this side chamber. She wondered if anyone had called a physician for her.
The male ghost snorted twice, quite unconvinced.
"You're too hasty. They haven't even been caught in the act yet. Words without proof mean nothing—it won't be hard for them to turn the situation around."
But Shang Mijun was perfectly calm, speaking in a light tone:
"After the show I put on in front of everyone, someone will naturally be eager to catch them in the act for me."
Xie Zhaoqing's father, Third Master Xie, was the third son by a concubine. He and Fourth Master Xie, the fourth son by a different concubine, had an extremely poor relationship.
And Xie Zhaoqing was the only "male heir" of the third branch. The fourth branch would be more than happy to destroy the third branch's future.
Shang Mijun had seen it clearly just now—before Fourth Madam Li had even finished listening, she had rushed off in a hurry to catch them in the act.
If Shang Mijun had led everyone there herself, it would have been too deliberate. Then her identity as the victim would be called into question—how could she demand compensation from the Xie family?
Moreover, her collision was like splashing hot oil onto a fire, causing the whole scene to explode. It would surely become the talk of the town.
And besides, lying still after her injury kept her away from the chaos outside, and also let her temporarily avoid anyone who might come looking for trouble.
So this collision killed three birds with one stone.
The male ghost clicked his tongue, thinking to himself that the Xie family had married off such a shrewd girl. Well, in the previous life, the Xie family must have owed her a great deal. Meeting this calamity now was just their retribution.
"So what compensation do you want?"
Shang Mijun raised an eyebrow. She didn't mind letting this male ghost know.
"Why, to have them find me a new husband, of course. Tell me, wouldn't it be satisfying if Xie Zhaoqing had to address me as 'Auntie' from now on?"
Old Master Xie had seven children. The eldest son, the second and third daughters, and the seventh son were all legitimate-born of Old Madame Wei. The rest were born of concubines.
The seventh son, Xie Yan'an, was a notorious wastrel in the capital. Old Madame Wei had given birth to him late in life and spoiled him terribly. Unfortunately, he had been gravely injured last year and had fallen into a coma. He still hadn't woken up.
Even the imperial physicians said there was no cure.
If Seventh Master Xie weren't a useless man lying in a coma, Shang Mijun wouldn't have this confidence.
If she could have her wish fulfilled, she truly wanted to see the looks on Xie Zhaoqing's and Xiao Jing's faces!
The male ghost was stunned speechless. When he finally reacted, his voice cracked completely.
"Who did you say you want to marry?!"
She wanted to marry… him?
Him!
That's right—the male ghost was none other than the paralyzed, comatose Xie Yan'an!
Xie Yan'an was utterly bewildered. It was already strange enough that his soul had inexplicably ended up inside his nephew's wife's body. Now this nephew's wife was declaring she wanted to marry him?
He was paralyzed—how was he still being coveted by someone?
Shang Mijun furrowed her delicate brows. "What are you getting excited about now? All this fussing."
"Nothing… I just think… isn't this a bit improper?"
Xie Yan'an's voice sounded awkward.
After some hesitation, Xie Yan'an decided he wouldn't reveal his identity to Shang Mijun for now. He'd observe the situation first.
Shang Mijun grew annoyed and snorted. "What business is it of yours?"
"…"
Xie Yan'an wisely shut his mouth.
…
Inside the bridal chamber…
"Oh my~!"
Fourth Madam Li had indeed lived up to expectations, catching the two of them in the very act, tangled in bed!
"Fourth Aunt? Why are you here? This is all a misunderstanding!"
Xie Zhaoqing and Xiao Jing were both frantic with panic.
"Nephew, even if you are Xiao-huan, you shouldn't be carrying on with a man on your wedding night! Do you have any idea—your newlywed wife just slammed her head into a pillar in the front courtyard! Now everything's out in the open, and where is the Xie family supposed to put its face?!"
"What?!"
Xie Zhaoqing's face turned the color of pig's liver in an instant. Consumed by rage, he roared through reddened eyes:
"Bitch!"
Xiao Jing's state of mind was even more shattered, his face uglier than if he'd swallowed a dead fly.
The situation had happened so suddenly that they were completely thrown into disarray. When had Shang Mijun woken up, and when had she slipped out!
Xiao-huan?
Shang Mijun actually dared to claim they were in a "sodomite" relationship?!
Disgusting!
And why the hell had she gone and slammed her head into a pillar? That idiot!
It was over… everything was over now!
…
The Xie family had been struck by a tremendous scandal, and it had nearly cost someone their life. The guests had long since taken their leave one after another.
Surely by tonight, the news that Xiao Jing and Xie Zhaoqing are a pair of "Huan-ren" would spread like wildfire through the city.
And Shang Mijun, the bride who had dashed herself against a pillar, would be the pitied one in everyone's mouths.
Shang Mijun had eaten all the fruit on the table, starving as she was. The physician still hadn't arrived, and she figured it was because things were too chaotic—no one was paying her any mind.
So she bandaged herself up as best she could. Fortunately, the bleeding wasn't too heavy.
[You've got the nerve to eat at a time like this. Pretty calm, aren't you?] Xie Yan'an's tone was sour.
Shang Mijun hadn't eaten all day, her stomach was already growling, and she'd suffered a head injury on top of that. Of course she needed to replenish her strength and keep her spirits up.
This wasn't over yet.
[Just wait. The Xie family will be thanking their lucky stars I'm still alive, and they'll find a way to make it up to me. Someone will be here soon—let me build up my energy first.]
[Eat slower. No one's fighting you for it.] Xie Yan'an couldn't help but remind her.
Her words rang true, though.
Because if she died, the Xie family's crime of marrying off a Xiao-huan and then driving the bride to her death on their wedding night would be set in stone.
At that point, the futures of the younger generation of the Xie family would be ruined, and even the official reputations of the elder masters would be dragged through the mud.
Shang Mijun didn't want to eat too fast either—it pulled at her wound and hurt—but she had no strength left, she was injured, and someone was bound to come looking for trouble with her soon.
If she didn't eat her fill, how was she supposed to spar with these people?
Creak~
Just as she was thinking, someone pushed the door open.
Shang Mijun looked toward the sound. Here they come!
She quickly wiped her mouth and sat up straight.
But when she saw who it was, Shang Mijun's pupils contracted slightly. It was her?
Why was it her, of all people?
Shang Mijun had assumed it would be Madam Qu and the elders of the main branch, but she never expected it to be Old Madame Wei!
In her youth, Old Madame Wei had earned the nickname "Iron-Wrist Lady," and her strict household management was famous throughout all of Shengjing.
Even in her old age now, the concubine-born children still treated her like mice before a cat, not daring to breathe too loudly.
She wouldn't be easy to deal with.
Old Madame Wei was helped in by an elderly maidservant, and after taking her seat with deliberate calm, she fixed Shang Mijun with a piercing gaze, as if she could see straight through her.
"You've made quite the scene, stirring the Xie family into this mess. Feeling satisfied with your revenge?"