Chapter 2: I Am a Rakshasa Ghost, Great-Auntie

In the first month of the thirty-fifth year of the Jiayong era, three major events occurred in the imperial court that became the talk of the entire capital.

The first was the seventieth birthday celebration of Yan Song, the Senior Grand Secretary and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, for which the Emperor had personally ordered the Ministry of Rites to make arrangements.

The birthday banquet featured a continuous flow of guests for three days. From the monarch’s kin and high-ranking nobles to officials from both the capital and the provinces, the stream of visitors was endless, further elevating the prestige of the Yan family.

The second event was the triumphant return of Shen Bo, the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince and Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. Having spent years stationed at the borders defending against enemy incursions and repeatedly turning the tide against invaders, he had finally pacified the northern and southern frontiers.

On the very day the news of victory reached the capital, the Emperor issued an edict promoting Shen Bo to Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Minister of the Ministry of War, granting him the title of Duke of Ying, and dispatched an express courier to the border to deliver the decree.

The third event followed immediately thereafter.

On the eve of Grand Tutor Shen’s arrival in the capital, his eldest son, who had been ordered to leave the city to welcome his father home, encountered a sudden rainstorm by the Cao River in Tongzhou. His horse lost its footing and fell into the water. Had he not managed to grab onto the rocks along the bank in his moment of peril, the Grand Tutor would have been met with the grief of losing his son the moment he arrived in the capital.

Even after being rescued, the young Master Shen had suffered a head injury and fallen into a coma.

Shen Bo had only one son with his late wife. Having spent years campaigning abroad, he had never remarried or taken concubines. With him returning laden with honors, countless people were eagerly awaiting his entry into the court to take charge of affairs, yet before he could even reach home, his line was nearly extinguished!

Was this not a blow to the heart of a meritorious official?

Was this not clearly inviting suspicion toward the Emperor himself?

The Emperor was furious, nearly dismissing and holding accountable every official in Tongzhou Prefecture and the northern section of the Grand Canal.

Subsequently, Yan Song led the Cabinet in proposing a series of new policies under the pretext of strengthening north-south water transport, including the construction of river embankments, the dredging of waterways, and the further proposal to open up north-south grain transport and adjust the national rice market.

The reform of river transport involved the fates of countless merchants and commoners.

When a speck of dust falls from the heavens, it lands on the human world as a boulder.

As the dry northern wind of the second month blew southward, Shawan County on the west bank of the Xiang River was enduring a damp chill wrapped in fine rain.

Before the sky had fully brightened, Xie Yi had already finished brewing the medicinal decoction. He carefully carried it through the eaves, where the fine rain slanted down, and headed toward the backyard.

Dahuang, soaked through by the rain, barked incessantly at the door.

Annoyed by the noise, Xie Yi scolded the dog and continued through the corridor to the west wing.

The rainy day was already gloomy, and with the windows closed, the room was even darker.

Xie Yi placed the medicine on the bedside table, pushed open half of the window, and returned to the bedside. He leaned in to look at the person on the bed, whose eyes were tightly shut, and couldn't help but sigh as he gave her a nudge. "Hey, wake up already. It’s been three days. Even an iron man couldn't hold out without food or drink. You never let yourself suffer the slightest loss in the past; aren't you upset about being harmed by Li Er this time? How do you still have the heart to sleep?"

But the person on the bed remained with her eyes tightly shut, showing no reaction.

Xie Yi looked at her, his voice turning tearful. "Even though you always love to pull my ears and lecture me whenever you get the chance, I can't bear for you to die. I know you've been eyeing my little stash of private money for a long time. Don't worry, as long as you wake up, I'll give you all my savings! If it's not enough, I'll go to the docks to carry rice and earn money for you to spend!"

"I beg you, don't die. Wake up quickly, and we’ll go together—the two of us—to beat those bastards who bullied you to death!—"

Midway through his crying, his wrist was suddenly gripped tightly!

"Who’s dying? I’m not dying!"

Xie Yi froze. He looked up to see Lu Jia on the bed, gritting her teeth and blurting out, "As long as I have a single breath left, even if I have to risk everything once more, I will surely inflict a thousand, ten thousand times the pain upon that woman, the Jiangs!"

Xie Yi’s mouth fell open. "Sister?..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Jia clenched her right fist and punched out, slamming it into the bed frame, which gave him such a start that his tears were still hanging on his face!

"Are you possessed?!"

Xie Yi jumped up.

Lu Jia’s heart was burning with rage.

The moment she saw the Jiangs, the hatred that had accumulated for over a decade surged forth.

It was the Jiangs who had abandoned her in the wilderness when she was five; it was she who had tricked her into coming to the capital to act as a substitute bride for Lu Ying. Once she entered the deep, treacherous waters of the Marquis’s household, it was the Jiangs who secretly instigated the Yan family to bully her and provoked Yan Qu to beat her—it was all the Jiangs!

And the deaths of her mother and younger brother also had the Jiangs' hand in them!

How could she control herself from seeking revenge?

Even if it meant being pierced by ten thousand swords, she would never allow the Jiangs to continue living!

"Are you awake or not?"

Xie Yi stared wide-eyed at the snarling Lu Jia, but Lu Jia only wore a face full of hatred, her eyes not opening even a sliver.

Xie Yi hurriedly reached out with both hands, tentatively shaking her arm. "My dear sister, are you possessed by a ghost?... Wake up! If you don't wake up, I'm going to go get a peach-wood sword from Li Chang’s father!"

"If I don't kill you today, I won't be surnamed Lu!"

Sensing the strength on her arm, Lu Jia felt as if the Jiangs were still struggling in their death throes. Without a word, she swung a palm out, and with that exertion, she suddenly sat bolt upright!

...

Lu Jia gazed at the room, whose outlines were gradually revealing themselves in the dim light.

Standing by the bed was a boy of about twelve or thirteen, his clothes covered in patches. Standing against the light, his features were not clear, but his eyes were large and bright, like the shimmering light of the Xiang River under the sun.

If those eyes weren't currently opened so wide, this face could truly be called handsome.

Her throat tightened. "Yi-ge'er?!"

Xie Yi panicked even more. "You can't be serious? You don't even recognize me? What on earth is wrong with you?"

Lu Jia jumped off the bed, shivering violently in the cold air of the room!

She then walked quickly to the door, looking around the courtyard she was in, her expression shifting constantly!

Xie Yi, losing his composure, chased after her with her shoes. "My big sister, no, my dear sister! Put your shoes on quickly. You’ve just woken up; if something else goes wrong, Mother will surely skin me alive!"

Lu Jia looked down at his head, reached out to stroke it lightly, and then, with a slide of her palm, she expertly pinched his ear. "It really is you! You’re actually alive!"

Xie Yi, who was busy helping her put on her shoes, nearly fell over backward upon hearing this!

"I’ve been guarding you day and night for three days and three nights, and the moment you wake up, you pull my ear—that’s fine—but you won't let me live? You black-hearted woman!"

Lu Jia giggled!

She turned around amidst his incessant cursing, strode back into the room, saw the bowl of medicine by the bed, and without a word, picked it up and gulped it down!

Xie Yi was stunned!

With trembling hands, he handed her a cloth to wipe her mouth, his teeth chattering. "Why are you so happy? What, what kind of ghost are you?"

"A Rakshasa ghost!" Lu Jia patted his shoulder and said loudly, "Your sister here has climbed mountains of blades and rolled through cauldrons of oil in hell, and I’ve come back to stir up trouble!"

After saying this, she grinned. "Don't worry, you’ve served me well; I won't mess with you!"

Xie Yi:!...

"By the way," Lu Jia remembered, "where is Mother?"

The boy shuddered twice, then came to his senses. "She went to the Zhang family."

At this, he jumped up again. "The Zhang family wanted to sell you to the Li family, lured that animal Li Er to go see you, capsized your boat, and caused you to fall into the water!

"Mother has been busy taking care of you these past few days and didn't have time to argue with them. This morning, seeing that you still hadn't woken up, she couldn't hold it in anymore. She went to the Zhang family as soon as the sky turned light. By now, they’ve probably already started fighting!"