Unfortunately, no matter how much Gao Zhi struggled, the golden chains held it firmly in place with a binding seal, preventing it from moving even an inch.
It could only rage helplessly, and as it struggled, its soul body gradually grew fainter.
Ting Yin had initially been somewhat frightened by Gao Zhi’s ferocious appearance, but upon hearing its words, she stomped her feet in anger.
No longer afraid, she stepped in front of Wen Ling and angrily retorted, “Nonsense! What are you spouting? When has the mistress ever harmed you!”
“How dare you try to harm someone and still act as if you’re in the right!”
Gao Zhi’s voice was shrill: “It’s true! She clearly ate the poisoned bun I gave her, so why isn’t she dead?!”
“Because she didn’t die, I was blamed for failing my task and hanged in the side room!”
“If you struggle any more, you’ll be reduced to ashes.”
Wen Ling, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up calmly.
Her voice and expression were both composed, without the slightest fluctuation.
Yet, in the next moment, Gao Zhi, who had been struggling incessantly, stopped.
Gao Zhi fell still, leaving only its eyes glaring venomously at Wen Ling.
Wen Ling spread her hands: “What’s the use of glaring at me? Every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor. If you want revenge, you should go after the one who killed you. Why come after me?”
“I can’t find the one who killed me!” Gao Zhi gritted its teeth in hatred.
“Well, that’s easy to solve,” Wen Ling said, ever eager to help. “Tell me who killed you, and I’ll take you to find them. That way, you can get your revenge!”
Gao Zhi gritted its teeth: “Would you really be so kind?! And just as that old Taoist said back then, you’ve returned to normal and aren’t foolish anymore after getting married!”
Wen Ling corrected the key point: “Never mind whether I’m kind or not. The one who killed you is also the one who ordered you to kill me, so they’re my enemy too. I want to find them and get revenge as well.”
That seemed to make sense. Gao Zhi wavered.
Just as it was about to speak, a sharp pain shot through its head, and it couldn’t remember who had killed it. It couldn’t even recall who had ordered it to poison Wen Ling.
Clutching its head in agony, it moaned, “What do I do? I can’t remember anything. My head hurts so much, so much…”
Wen Ling understood: “As expected, you’ve been placed under a binding seal. The ones who ordered you are utterly ruthless. They used you to do their dirty work, and regardless of whether you succeeded or not, they would kill you in the end. Even after you died and became a ghost, they made sure you couldn’t seek revenge.”
Gao Zhi’s expression shifted repeatedly: “That can’t be. They promised me back then that if I succeeded, I could become the honored concubine of the eldest young master of the Wen family…”
“Well, it’s clear you were tricked,” Wen Ling said earnestly. “If you hadn’t met someone as capable as me, you’d have remained a confused ghost even after death!”
Gao Zhi: “…” There’s no need to say that in such a cheerful tone.
Still, it knew it had been deceived, and its malevolent aura surged once more.
It likely wanted to seek vengeance against those who had caused its death right then and there.
Ever helpful, Wen Ling added, “Fortunately, you met a good person like me. I can help you break the binding seal and send you off to get your revenge. No need to thank me—I’m just righting wrongs and lending a hand!”
Gao Zhi: “…You just want to use me to get your own revenge, don’t you?!”
Wen Ling spread her hands: “Well, who told you you can’t beat me? Just tell me, do you want revenge or not?”
After a moment of silence, Gao Zhi finally nodded.
Wen Ling formed a Binding Seal with one hand and tapped it lightly on Gao Zhi’s forehead.
Gao Zhi felt as if something shattered inside her mind, and then she remembered everything.
She exclaimed excitedly, “I remember now! It was First Madam and Second Young Miss. They ordered me to poison you, and they were the ones who gave me the poison!”
“First Madam and Second Young Miss didn’t want you to become the Princess Consort, and they feared that after your marriage, you would recover and fulfill the legend of bloody nirvana. That’s why they wanted to eliminate you on your wedding day!”
Wen Ling stroked her chin. It was indeed as she had suspected.
Ting Yin was furious. “They’ve gone too far, truly gone too far! Everyone in the capital knows that Prince Chen is disabled and suffers from madness. For our young miss, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue’s household, to marry into such a situation is already like being pushed into a pit of fire. Yet First Madam and Second Young Miss aren’t even willing to let her become such a Princess Consort!”
“Our young miss has been bullied by them since childhood. Why do they hate her so much? Why won’t they let her go?”
Gao Zhi had already submitted to Wen Ling and dared not say anything harsh. She merely snorted coldly. “As the legitimate daughter, the young miss is already enough of an eyesore to them. On top of that, she’s more beautiful than Second Young Miss. What more reason do they need?”
Ting Yin gritted her teeth. “Young Miss, let’s go to the master right now and expose them. Then we’ll report them to the authorities and demand justice!”
Wen Ling remained calm. “Exposing them and reporting them to the authorities both require evidence. Gao Zhi is a ghost. Outside the specific confines of the prince’s residence, ordinary people won’t be able to see her.”
“Since ancient times, people have avoided discussing supernatural anomalies. If you try to use Gao Zhi as evidence in a lawsuit, be careful you aren’t first labeled a madwoman and arrested.”
Ting Yin fell silent, her eyes red and teeth clenched, filled with resentment. “So we just have to let it go?”
“Of course not,” Wen Ling smiled. “If people can’t deal with them, then a vengeful spirit seeking revenge is perfectly acceptable.”
Ting Yin’s mind quickly caught on. “Oh, right! Tomorrow is the day for the young miss’s return visit. We can take Gao Zhi back with us and let her seek revenge on them.”
Wen Ling shook her head helplessly. “Ah, I’m just too kind-hearted. I prefer to repay evil with good. Look, Gao Zhi wanted to kill me, yet I’m helping her get revenge without asking for anything in return. Today’s Karmic Merit has increased a little more!”
Gao Zhi: “…” I truly believe your nonsense!
Wen Ling glanced around, casually split a piece of wood, and prepared to place Gao Zhi inside it.
Gao Zhi exploded. Pointing at the wood, she shouted, “If I’m not mistaken, this is wood from a chamber pot, right?!”
Wen Ling urged her on. “Hurry up. Yes, it’s from a chamber pot, but it hasn’t been used. If you dislike it, don’t go in. Wait outside and be reduced to ashes.”
Watching from the side, Ting Yin swore this was the first time she had ever seen a constipated expression on the face of a Malevolent Spirit.
Unwilling to be reduced to ashes, Gao Zhi pinched her nose and entered the wooden plaque made from the chamber pot.
Wen Ling kicked the plaque far away. “After doing evil deeds, you still expect a nice place to stay? Dream on. Just make do and don’t dissipate.”
Ting Yin watched with delight in her heart.
It was truly wonderful that the young miss, after recovering, was no longer a pushover!
After handling matters in their room, they walked outside.
Just as Wen Ling had predicted earlier, everyone in the prince’s residence had collapsed, all of them unconscious.
On every path in the residence, guards lay scattered in disarray, creating an eerie and unsettling scene.
Relying on her memory, Wen Ling walked toward the backyard she had visited the night before last. Judging by the direction, Gu Chenran should be living in that area.
Sure enough, after a short while, she arrived at an even larger courtyard.
The architectural style of the buildings within the courtyard was colder and more rigid. The entire courtyard felt lifeless—despite its size, complete with artificial mountains and covered corridors, there was not a trace of greenery, not a single plant in sight.
As Wen Ling approached the main house of the courtyard, she was surprised to find movement inside.
There was still someone in the prince’s mansion who hadn’t fainted!
Wen Ling was taken aback. Just as she pushed the door open, a dagger shot toward her heart with lightning speed, carrying immense force.