Time: 2013-04-11 09:27 Source: Internet Author: Zhi Ming\ 1. Blood Dripping from the Sedan's Curtain Red wedding cannons, red sedan chairs, red brides, red bridges.
The Zhuang family's wedding was so spectacular it almost shocked the entire city. Drums and music roared all the way, red paper and gold powder fluttered from the east side of the city to the street in the west. The Zhuang family was a wealthy merchant family in the city, and the only young master of the Zhuang family married off, so naturally, the in-laws were not easy.
Weng Jia retired from the capital as a high official, but no one among the common people knew how high this official was. The marriage arranged by the Zhuang family's young master was none other than the Weng family's only young lady, Chen Xiang.
The grandeur of this powerful alliance marriage is imaginable.
The small town is boiling; every unrelated person is so excited it's as if they've drunk ten gu liquors.
Life is always dull and tasteless; if you can find something exciting to be excited about, even for unrelated people, it's naturally very interesting. The handsome young master of the Zhuang family, Kaiyuan, sat on a snow-white red silk horse. The bridal sedan chair behind him was adorned with gold-painted tassels, exuding an indescribable charm and joy. The young briderate boys on either side of the sedan chair carried jade baskets, helping him step by step, grabbing a handful of golden powder from the basket and sprinkling it with a handful of red powder. The air instantly filled with a sweet fragrance. Curious women immediately recognized it as the finest powder from the capital's largest cosmetics shop, 'Xiangliu Fang.' Naturally, their eyes turned red with envy at the Zhuang family's grand display.
Wherever the wedding sedan passed, people eagerly craned their necks, chattering to praise Zhuang Kaiyuan's striking looks and guess the bride's delicate beauty. Just then, a gust of wind suddenly rolled up from the ground. The two wedding attendants supporting the sedan suddenly let out a sharp scream. The jade basket suddenly crashed to the ground, but the golden powder thread inside was thrown high into the air, instantly turning into a sand storm and a chaotic sound. This small town in Jiangnan usually has little sunshine, but only gentle breezes and drizzle. Suddenly, a fierce wind blows from the clear sky—who could resist? When Zhuang Kaiyuan heard the bride's sharp scream inside the sedan chair, a fine cold sweat broke out on his back for no apparent reason. Ignoring the dazzling wind and sand, he struggled to dismount and charged straight toward the bridal sedan.It was strange, in just that instant, the fierce wind actually stopped with a whoosh. If it weren't for the ground covered in scattered gold powder and the expressions of panic on people's faces, one could hardly believe the wondrous scene that had just occurred.
The wind seemed almost alive, rolling all the way from the end of the street to the head.
Zhuang Kaiyuan, not caring about all the formalities, called out the bride's name while urgently reaching to lift the sedan chair curtain.
Suddenly, his hand touched another cold hand.
Inside the sedan, a soft and jade-like voice murmured: "Don't......"
A snow-white small hand stretched out from within the chair, holding the edge of the curtain to prevent him from lifting it.
Zhuang Kaiyuan's heart skipped a beat. That gentle and sweet voice, that frail, boneless small hand, made his own voice instantly soften like a wave.
"Are you... alright?"
"Hmm." The bride gave a boundlessly tender and shy low response, making the young man's heart bloom like spring flowers. The displeasure caused by the earlier fierce wind was swiftly cast far away.
The wedding procession set off again, people became lively once more. The two young attendants were still shaken but had already quickly received new jade baskets from the servants, and the children smiled broadly.
No one was happier than Zhuang Kaiyuan. Born with a jade in his mouth, and as the sole heir of the Zhuang family, he naturally possessed the charm and habits of elite young masters. The girls from Taohong Courtyard, the ones from Dongbixiang Courtyard, Miss Zhou, Miss Huang... which of them wasn't delicately hoping to become his wife? But in the end, he had no choice, and marrying Miss Weng, whom he had never met, was truly an unsettling matter for him.
Would she be beautiful? Would she be gentle? Could she be that rare beauty that would make him change his heart?
He had no certainty in his mind.
Yet, just now, that gust of wind, the instant flash of red under the curtain, that frail, boneless milky-white hand, and that soft, murmuring voice had already given this flirtatious young man, who had wooed countless beauties, a reassuring certainty—the owner of such a beautiful hand and voice must indeed be a charming person, right?
A smile curled at his lips, and he even hummed a tune.
Amidst the sky-high sounds of the suona, the fiery red firecrackers competed to ignite themselves, and amidst the swirling dense white smoke, bursts of broken beauty danced in every direction.No one saw that on the bride's fiery red sedan roof, amidst the hanging golden tassels, a drop of dark blood slowly trickled down along the threads, and in the blink of an eye, silently disappeared into the dust and wind...
2. The Secret of the Grand Mansion
The candle flickered lightly, and the soft light swayed gently.
Beneath the illusory red veil was the bride's face, as delicate as jade, cast downward.
Ah, that slight lift, the peach-colored lips, the glistening earlobes, the blue butterfly hairpin, the silky black hair.
And under those long lashes that brushed lightly like smoke, two eyes brighter than stars stole a quick glance at him, like the most charming little rabbit, imbued with a mix of anger and shyness.
At that instant, Kai Yuan's heart felt as if it had caught fire; a primitive wildness and joy filled his eyes, almost ready to burst out.
Calling out "bride," calling out "bride."
Softer, more beautiful, more charming than any woman he had ever seen.
Ah, from now on, this perfect beauty would be his wife.
He whispered softly: "Ah, you..."
He was drunk, he was frenzied.
With just a low growl, the sixteen-year-old Chen Xiang was gently yet roughly drawn into his burning chest. Under the orchid canopy, on the red embroidered bed, the clouds and rain of Mount Wu rolled like smoke, like a wild desert sandstorm, like raging waves, and in an instant, all the red bridal attire was scattered across the floor.
He held her, sweat-dampened body pressed to his chest, his hoarse voice carrying the remnants of fiery passion as he murmured: "Chen Xiang... Chen Xiang..."
After the storm, she resembled a snow-colored little fox, soft as though boneless, embraced by him, and every faint, trembling breath revealed an endless, irresistible charm.
Driving him to explosive frenzy.
Such a seductive youth.
In the morning, a thin mist.
Zhuang Kai Yuan tenderly held the bride Chen Xiang's small hand, standing in the ancestral hall to pay respects to the forefathers.
He was utterly self-satisfied, and this satisfaction extended beyond her beauty; after last night, only he truly knew her worth.
Thinking of this, a mischievous smile lifted the handsome corner of his mouth, and he gently tightened his hold on her delicate hand.
A cold, piercing gaze suddenly arrested his frivolity.
That gaze was colder than ice, sharper than a knife.
Chen Xiang shivered for no reason, lifting her head to meet the sight of the elder lady in black on the main chair, her face as corpse-like and cold as frost.“Ren is someone else's precious daughter, but now that you've entered the Zhuang family, you are a Zhuang family woman. From now on, your task is to quickly continue the Zhuang ancestral line. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ancestor.” She lowered her head in fear, yet felt his palm trembling slightly.
In the afternoon, he fell asleep.
Chen Xiang lifted her skirt and quietly slipped out of the room. The sunlight was just right, and the large garden was so quiet that she could hear the birds flying overhead.
After wandering around the garden for a few rounds, she suddenly heard faint voices, as if two maids were talking.
“Do you think she'll get pregnant soon?”
“Hehe, with me around, of course she will.”
“Then wouldn't that be very cruel for her?”
“Yes, that's the price she must pay.”
What maids? How dare they speak such treacherous words in the garden? Who are they talking about?!
Suddenly, cold sweat broke out all over Chen Xiang's back, as if countless eyes were staring at her from behind.
She suddenly stepped out of the flowers and walked toward the source of the voices.
She had to see who it really was.
The sunlight shone brightly on the ground.
No one was speaking. Not a single shadow in sight.
The jade ornaments on her head jingled. For no reason, Chen Xiang was trembling.
---
Three: Who is Autumn's Autumn
Night had become the moment Zhuang Kaiyuan looked forward to the most.
Not just at night, even during the day, he hated being apart from his gentle little bride; he wanted to be with her at every moment, reaching the heights of passion, a match made in heaven.
When they first met, she was like a pure white rabbit, gentle and lovely. Yet after spending some time together, he realized she was like a bewitching fox, her allure reaching into his bones. Her eyes, her words, her body, and the slight quiver and sway that was so fox-like—it made him want to be madly obsessed with her every night, every day, every minute, every second.
He had never felt this way before. To be so infatuated with an enchanting woman, he could almost sacrifice his life for her.
He was fortunate that this enchantress was his wife.
The little Western clock struck seven. She sat at the table, pursed her fragrant lips, and swallowed a piece of delicate candied fruit. So sweet.
She knew he was returning. There was no way to avoid the matters at the business exhibition. He finally left, reluctant, for a full day. This was the longest they had been apart since their wedding, and she didn't yet know how much he would miss her.She smiled, and in that smile, there was an indescribable, faint charm. She picked up a blue hairpin, coiled her cloud-like hair, pursed her fragrant little mouth, and applied a touch of orange eye makeup. With a gentle twirl, that sultry grace mesmerized anyone. She let out a soft laugh. Kaiyuan almost barged into the room; after not seeing her for a day, he was about to go mad with longing. Oh, that adorable little fox, dressed in such alluring charm, was waiting for him? Almost before he could express the pain of missing her, she had already been thrown into the soft, fragrant red silk canopy. In a blur, it was impossible to tell what night it was. The person in his arms shifted, snow-white arms winding around his neck, smooth like a snake, calling to him with all sorts of charm: 'Young master, oh, young master.' She called him young master; this title truly made him dizzy and infatuated. He held her, lost in murmurs: 'Ha, what's your name?' 'Young master, my name is Xiaoqiu, Autumn's Qiu.' Under slightly raised delicate brows, a pair of bright eyes blinked at him, truly mischievous. 'Xiaoqiu, hehe, after following the young master through the winter, you won't have to suffer anymore.' 'Mm, young master...' Her adorable little face. 'Xiaoqiu... Xiaoqiu...' The night grew cooler, gradually creeping over him. When he awoke in shock, he still involuntarily called 'Xiaoqiu,' but the cold night breeze instantly chilled his whole body. Startled, he let out a loud shout. The person beside him also woke in surprise, drowsily looking at him with beautiful eyes, just having stretched a hand out from under the covers, but feeling the cold, she quickly withdrew back with a whimper. He shouted again, almost springing away from the person beside him. 'Xiaoqiu! You... you weren't already...' 'Who? Who is Xiaoqiu?' she complained, pouting her pink lips and looking at him resentfully. Ah, it was his Chenxiang. His heart gradually calmed, and he leaned over, hugging her, letting her curl up against him in grievance. 'Young master, my name is Xiaoqiu, Autumn's Qiu.' Under slightly raised delicate brows, a pair of bright eyes blinked at him, truly mischievous. No, it couldn't be her; she was already dead, her bones had already been ground to ash.He believed that it was surely just a dream that was too real.
4. Whose daughter is Chen Xiang?
"The young madam is expecting!" The news spread through the manor as if it had grown wings.
"Indeed." The ancient-looking old lady placed her icy hand on her abdomen, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. But that hand and that smile gave her a fear close to death.
"So quick." Walking in the garden, she heard the servants whispering.
She looked at him resentfully; how could she not feel happy when he clung to her day and night with such intimacy?
He just looked at her with a mischievous smile, yet a trace of subtle sadness flashed in his eyes.
At night, she gently got up and nudged him, who was sound asleep, but there was no response. She quietly walked out of the room.
She wanted to uncover a secret.
The night seemed to be filled with thick black mist, enveloping everything around. Passing through the archway and walking along the corridor bridge, ahead was the temple gate adorned with blood-red lanterns.
She had seen it during the day; the family record of the Kaiyuan household was placed on the stand behind the old lady's chair.
The heavy wooden door creaked as it slowly opened just a crack; inside there were no lights, and it was pitch black.
She shivered, brought the lantern closer, clenched her teeth, and stepped forward.
Raising the lantern, the dim red light could not reach the depths; instead, it made the large temple hall even darker, heavy with shadows.
The heavy door creaked shut behind her.
A chill ran through her all at once.
There was no turning back now.
She saw it — in the center of the chair, there was a figure, faintly discernible.
"What are you doing here?" The icy voice gradually pulled her back from her collapsed state, restoring a bit of her wits.
Chen Xiang realized it was the old lady.
She seemed to have been sitting there the whole time, from day to night, without moving.
Could she really be alive?
Chen Xiang straightened up, steeling herself, and answered in a trembling voice, "I... I want to check who Xiao Qiu is."
"Xiao Qiu? How do you know Xiao Qiu?"
"Kaiyuan called her name at night."
"I see..." The old lady suddenly chuckled ominously, "That person, he still remembers."Pausing for a moment, her voice came again softly: "You want to check the family register! Hehehe... Xiao Qiu, there's nothing about her in the family register. Because she's just a maid, the Zhuang family's maid, and doesn't count as part of the Zhuang family." Chen Xiang dared not respond, but her ears constantly caught every word, every single character.
"She's a maid who joined the household two years ago, somewhat attractive, and actually foolishly tried to seduce the young master. Kaiyuan, young and naive, let her deceive him, and ended up with a bastard child. Hahaha, luckily, heaven has eyes, and all of them were taken away, their bones crushed, leaving Hui Dong all wiped out." The cold, sinister laughter floated through the hall.
Chen Xiang trembled and asked, "She, she... how did she die?"
The voice suddenly stopped. Chen Xiang held her breath, waiting patiently.
"Remember, don't ask the questions you shouldn't. For instance, I never asked who you are. As long as you obediently give birth to the child, I won't pursue it." The cold voice suddenly sounded again, this time right beside Chen Xiang's ear.
The blood-red lantern fell with a bang to the ground.
Before losing consciousness, she saw that face of the old woman, grinning maliciously, one she would never forget, KB.
5. Pick a Wild Chrysanthemum for You
The Zhuang family has a long-standing tradition: whenever a male member of the family marries and has children, he must go abroad to manage the family's assets.
The Zhuang family's vast wealth truly lies in that distant foreign land, crossing seas and oceans, with a continuous stream of gold and silver returning home, though very few men ever come back.
All the Zhuang family's new brides, waiting endlessly far away, turned their hair white and their faces faded; the happiest time would at most be the few months after their marriage.
For this reason, in this generation, the only heir, Kaiyuan, cannot escape such a fate.
His youthful flamboyance and reckless mischief were ultimately full of fear and sorrow of the unknown destiny.Therefore, by the age of eighteen, even though his notorious fame had spread throughout the city, and he was unknown to how many lords and ladies on the outside, within the Zhuang family estate, he always adhered to propriety without a single slip, never letting the pain fall into the hands of the old lady. This was because the tragedies of his father's generation had long made him understand that any delay was precious—once there was offspring, his endless overseas journey would be inevitable.
No matter how careful he was, he ultimately could not escape the sharp, sparkling eyes of the new maid, Xiao Qiu.
The coquettish way she turned while lifting her skirt, her laugh as fine and clear as tiny bells, the gentle lift of her brows—all of it, and her bright eyes full of mischief, calling out "Young Master" in a sweet, soft voice, instantly penetrated him to the bone.
She was a lively, beautiful life he had never seen in this dead and gloomy estate.
Under the autumn sunlight, in white clothes, extraordinarily handsome, he held her hand passionately. The clouds draped the earth like a veil, and she just smiled like that, igniting his fire, instantly crushing a field of wild chrysanthemums.
There had been oaths as vast as the sea and mountains, there had been moments of intimacy by the red-sleeved desk, and even he had once felt a motive stirring in him to tame those flowers outside the walls.
The most gratifying thing was that, unlike the stories in plays, no one prevented their love; even the old lady's eyes were like water in a mirror, showing no trace of joy or anger.
So he let himself go.
Until Xiao Qiu, half-pouting, half-smiling, told him that she was carrying his child.
A child—his child.
The old lady expressionlessly said, "Give birth to it. As long as you want it, it's your child; she is the Zhuang family's daughter-in-law."
Shi Puguai was stunned.
He finally understood why no one had stopped him—that cunning, ghost-like ancestor had predicted it: he wouldn't dare take the child, he wouldn't dare take her!
Hiding, always hiding, until eighteen, yet he still could not avoid this hurdle.
How could he? How could it be?
Under that same stretch of clouds, he said to her, "Xiao Qiu, be obedient, get rid of him, we don't want him."
He did not expect that, though just a maid by birth, she had a heart higher than the sky. Those small brows that had once fascinated him remained locked, she did not cry or panic, only repeatedly said, "I want him, if you don't want him, I want him."
How could there be any choice for her?She wanted whatever he wanted. He understood this principle. Once the child was born, it would mark the beginning of his journey.\ She even said to him: 'Young Master, I am not afraid of those family rules. I will give birth to our child. Wherever you go in that foreign land, I will follow you. Wherever you go, I will bring the child along!'\ He was extremely shocked and, in an instant, felt her fearsome nature.\ She actually dared to speak such a rebellious statement. Could the family rules passed down through the generations be changed?\ Of course not, of course not!\ In the gloomy ancestral hall, the cold grandmother embraced him lightly, and for the first time, he felt her closeness.\ He murmured, seeking her help.\ She expressionlessly instructed the servants: 'Mix the medicine into her bowl and make her eat it.'\ Once the words were spoken, he did not dare to take a step out of the gate. In his heart, waves of icy coldness spread.\ Such a strong-willed young woman—she would struggle, right? She would resent, right? Would she call his name?\ Three hours later, the servants reported that Xiao Qiuning stubbornly refused to take the medicine, shouting the Young Master's name, and dashed her head against a corridor pillar until she died.\ The expected outcome still carried an unbearable grief. He struggled and cried, 'I want to see her one more time.'\ The grandmother meaningfully held him down and instructed the servants to bring in the corpse for the Young Master to see.\ He could never forgive himself for the impulse to see her one last time. He painfully looked at her corpse.\ The large hole on her head, the blood covering her from head to toe, the eyes that once fascinated him but now stared with a ghostly rage—this was not his beloved Xiao Qiu. Clearly, it was a vengeful spirit seeking death!\ He screamed: 'I can't look! I can't look! I will never look again!'\ He felt the old woman's hand, like a withered tree, land on his head. She slowly and distinctly said: 'The Young Master says he will never look again. Take her down, burn her, grind the bones clean, scatter them in the fields as fertilizer, and never let the Young Master see them again.'\ ......\ Six, Just to Be Able to Glimpse You\ Chen Xiang was about to give birth.\ The entire Zhuang family was busy. In this death-like estate, perhaps for many, in the course of their entire lives, only the birth of the Young Master and the Young Master's wedding were matters of joy and activity. At other times, they lived as walking corpses.\ Kaiyuan disregarded prohibitions and insisted on entering the delivery room to accompany Chen Xiang.But he regretted it once again. The piercing, death-like screams, the gushing blood, everything made his legs go weak and his head spin. Chen Xiang struggled in half-conscious agony, her eyes still fixed on Kaiyuan, only he could give her the courage to continue. In her heart, there was an indescribable fear, as if something was about to happen at the moment of her childbirth. But through her tear-blurred vision, she saw the man who treasured her step back. Blood... vomit... enough... enough... Kaiyuan could barely stand. He had to leave this room immediately. But just as he was about to exit, suddenly, he heard a strange sound. Giggling... giggling... Woo-hoo... woo-hoo... Suddenly, the world went silent, no shouts of the midwife, no running of the maid, no Chen Xiang's screams. Giggling... giggling... Woo-hoo... woo-hoo... Kaiyuan couldn't move, he slowly turned around like a puppet. All the midwives and maids had fainted, and Chen Xiang seemed to have passed out too. The floor was covered with blood, a shocking sight. From between Chen Xiang's legs, a trail of blood wound out... and in the middle... there was... that thing. That moving thing. She slowly lifted her head, dark blood trickled along her long hair onto her pale face, she smiled at him, she finally saw him again. Once, wearing the most beautiful clothes, with the sweetest and most delicate appearance, just to catch a glimpse of you. Just to catch a glimpse of you. That young man in white, charmingly flirtatious, with affectionate eyes, his smile, his care, his frown, his waving sleeves, everything, everything had once been her life. She loved him so deeply, she would love him even unto death.\ "Young Master......" A hoarse voice called out through the blood-stained mouth of the long-haired woman. That thing, the blood-covered woman's head, was just a head; below the neck, it was a writhing mass of clotted blood. And yet, she called him, called him Young Master......\ In that instant, he thought of Xiao Qiu.\ No, not Xiao Qiu. That was not Xiao Qiu's face. That face was completely unfamiliar to him.\ She smiled at him, giggling, rustling, inching closer bit by bit......\ That was something born from Chen Xiang......\ His throat felt as if it were being strangled tightly, only able to produce bursts of choking, clicking sounds, which seemed to correspond terrifyingly with the sounds made by that thing. Something warm trickled down his legs, towards his X L, towards his X L.\ "Young Master...... I am Xiao Qiu......" That thing chuckled and said to him.\ She crawled over, crawled over.\ "Young Master, we will never be apart again. From now on, the children your woman gives birth to will all be Wo Dong, all be Wo Dong, giggle...... How wonderful, you will never have to go overseas again......" That thing kept speaking.\ No, no, no.\ He hated himself for not being able to faint and end this nightmare.\ That thing suddenly stopped. The woman's head, her clotted blood body wriggling, turned and crawled toward the unconscious Chen Xiang on the bed!\ He wanted to shout, but could only let out the barely audible clicking sounds.\ "Shixiang, I'm coming, we will never be apart again, giggle, are you satisfied now......" That thing's face gradually moved closer to Chen Xiang's, dark blood dripping onto her face drop by drop.\ Chen Xiang's eyes opened. That thing was right in front of her eyes......\ Seven, Two Flowers Blooming, Each with Its Own Fragrance\ Chen Xiang, the only young lady of the Weng family, was an extraordinarily ugly woman, a secret the entire Weng household kept tightly under wraps.\ But her personal maid Shixiang had the looks of a heavenly beauty.\ Most remarkably, the relationship between Chen Xiang and Shixiang was not like that of a mistress and maid, but more like sisters.\ This was not because Chen Xiang was unjealous, but because she was raised in seclusion. No man had come to evaluate her beauty, so she naturally lacked any needle-like jealousy. Additionally, while Shixiang was certainly beautiful and obedient, she was completely uninterested and inexperienced in literature, whereas Chen Xiang was a renowned talented woman.The two of them grew up together like sisters, each carrying her own unique charm, which was also a rare sight in the Weng family. Sometimes when they went out together, onlookers who happened to catch a glimpse from afar, even if they saw clearly, would only think Shixiang was the young lady and Chenxiang was the maid. As a result, rumors began to spread in the city that the Weng family's young lady was both beautiful and talented. Eventually, even wealthy merchants and prominent families in the city came to propose marriage for the only young master.
Zhuang Kaiyuan, a young and handsome heir from the Zhuang family, came from a wealthy household and was the dream prince of countless young girls. That year, during the incense offering ceremony, even a brief glance inside the sedan chair had already captured the high-spirited Chenxiang's heart, and ever since, all her thoughts, poems, and paintings revolved around him.
Who would have thought that the fame Shixiang earned for her would actually lead her to a favorable marriage. She was, of course, ecstatic and immensely happy. The Weng family was also secretly pleased because it would showcase their daughter's true beauty through the match.
However, on the eve of her wedding, her sworn sister Shixiang cried as if her tears were like pear blossoms in the rain.
"Why must you marry? That man can't possibly appreciate your goodness," Shixiang's tearful eyes were enough to stir anyone's heart.
"Wouldn't it be better if we were always together?" she pleaded.
But Chenxiang's mind had long flown to that young man in white.
Annoyed, she finally assumed the demeanor of a young lady and drove her away.
The fireworks for the wedding had already been set off, and Chenxiang sat at the dressing table, her cheeks flushed with excitement. She had almost forgotten Shixiang's existence, but Shixiang appeared behind her like a ghost.
"Miss, are you really going? Do you really want to leave me?" Shixiang's soft voice sounded behind her, startling her. She lifted the bridal veil and held her hand. Chenxiang sighed lightly: "Next year, I'll help you find a good family to marry."
"What's so good about marrying? None of those men are worthy of us," she continued to cry.
Chenxiang was annoyed again. On such a joyous day, this girl was really a spoil-sport.
"Miss, take me with you, please?" Shixiang pleaded for the last time.
"Go out!" Chenxiang scolded.
Even without being perceptive, she could tell that a plain-looking girl like herself, bringing along such a beautiful maid to marry, would only bring disaster.
Shixiang's last hope was crushed. She slowly took off the golden hairpin given to her earlier by Chenxiang, and suddenly, in a decisive move, she plunged it into the back of Chenxiang's neck.Agarwood didn't even have time to make a sound before collapsing just like that, losing the golden hairpin on her neck.\ Step by step, she took off the phoenix skirt and festive jacket from Agarwood's body, dabbed a bit of soft rouge on her pale face, pursed her honey-colored little lips, smiled at her reflection in the mirror, and then, properly and carefully, lowered the red bridal veil that originally belonged to Agarwood.\ Soon, someone came in, helped her, and with all the commotion, escorted her into the bridal sedan.\ She heard the master asking: “Where's that servant girl, Shixiang?”\ The lady responded: “Maybe she's hiding somewhere crying; this girl has a close relationship with Agarwood.”\ Under the red veil, she smiled quietly. No matter how good a relationship was, it could not withstand a man. She wanted to see what kind of man he really was.\ However, she didn't expect that the moment the veil was lifted, looking at the man she had once hated intensely, she felt a jolt as if struck by electricity.\ She clung to him, enchanted by his smile, his eyes, his caress, his whispers.\ He sweetly called her, Agarwood, Agarwood… my little fox, my little Agarwood…\ That intoxicating, blissful feeling was something she had never experienced even when she was with Agarwood.\ No wonder Agarwood insisted on getting married — so this is what a man really is.\ She made up her mind: from now on, she would be Miss Weng of the Weng family, Weng Agarwood.\ VIII. Who Stays Together Forever\ “Shixiang, you never imagined it, right? The moment you stabbed me, my soul actually flew out of my body. I watched you throw my corpse into the dry well and then ride in the sedan in my place. Do you know how much I hated this…” The real Weng Agarwood laughed giddily, pressing against Shixiang's face, blood smearing her own face, but Shixiang couldn't make a sound.\ “I thought about killing you on the way, but as a ghost, my strength was too weak, I could do nothing to you.” At this moment, Zhuang Kaiyuan vaguely recalled the strange wind during the wedding procession.\ “But who knew that following you all the way to Zhuang Jiadong, I would meet Xiao Qiu, who also died unjustly and refused to reincarnate, giggle giggle giggle…” Weng Agarwood continued crawling on Agarwood's body.\ "One ghost cannot take revenge, but we are two wronged ghosts unwilling to reincarnate... hee hee hee, so Xiao Qiu and I have decided to give the Zhuang family a permanent gift together. From now on, we will always be with the Zhuang family. The child born to the Zhuang family's woman will forever be the combination of Xiao Qiu and me... hee hee hee, how about it? Do I look good?" Chen Xiang laughed madly, suddenly pressing his face close to Shi Xiang's face, "Do I look good? Do I look good?!..."\ There was no sound in response. Shi Xiang's pupils had already become unfocused.\ At the same time, Zhuang Kaiyuan saw that thing turn its head again, and it began crawling toward him...\ "Young master, I am here with you. We will never be apart..."\ Hee hee hee...\ Rustle rustle...\ Three months later, a Taoist priest passed by outside the Zhuang family's high wall and saw a surge of ominous blood energy.\ He sighed softly to himself, "So much injustice..."\ A curious passerby next to him immediately pulled him mysteriously and said, "The Zhuang family is really cursed. Just a year ago, they proudly held a wedding, and now, the young master and the bride have gone mad together... tsk tsk tsk, even the old lady suddenly died. Such a large fortune, look at this..."\ The Taoist priest walked to the gate, about to push it open, but withdrew his hand and sighed slightly: "Their own grievances, let them resolve it themselves..."\ He turned and drifted away.\ From the large gate behind him, a faint feminine giggle could be heard.\ "Xiao Qiu, today it's my turn to be the bride..."\ "No! Let me be the bride! Young master, do you think I look good with the red veil over my head?"\ Hee hee hee...\ Rustle rustle...