Yun Niang

Part 7

11

To test Song Xu, I shouted and yelled beside him all night.
He slept soundly.

I concluded that last night's incident, when he spoke to me, was purely coincidental—he couldn't actually see me.

I also discovered that I was different from the other ghosts.

Other ghosts couldn't get close to Princess or Song Xu, but I could approach them without any trouble. I could even pass through their bodies.

Moreover, the other ghosts could roam beyond the Princess's residence, but I was forcefully pulled back if I ventured too far from Song Xu.

Could it be that my soul had also been tampered with?
When daylight came, the ghosts' spiritual energy weakened, and they all retreated to rest in dark corners.

Only I was forced to linger within a few dozen feet of Song Xu, like a dog tied to a post.

Since I couldn't wander freely, I went straight to Princess's room instead.

I wanted to see what kind of attitude Song Xu had toward Princess.

It would have been better if I hadn't looked—what I saw almost made me die of anger.

Song Xu woke up early and went straight to Princess's bedside, staring intently at her.

What a lecher.

By midmorning, Princess finally woke up.

When she saw Song Xu, she was stunned for a moment, then beamed at him with a face full of joy.

"Did you keep watch over me all night?"

Song Xu smiled back, "Yes. Fortunately, there was nothing filthy disturbing Your Highness last night."

I rolled my eyes.

This man had barely sat for a moment before falling asleep, yet he had the nerve to claim he kept watch all night.

How did I not notice before how glib he was?

But Princess didn't know that.

She was deeply moved, gazing at Song Xu with such affection that her beautiful eyes seemed ready to overflow with clear spring water.
Had she not killed me, I might have thought she was a beautiful and kind person.

Everyone knows it's unwise to judge by appearances, yet no one can escape it.

Just as I couldn't escape Song Xu, and Song Xu couldn't escape Princess.

The two exchanged glances for a while, then Princess suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Song Xu, I don't know why, but I feel so exhausted. I have no strength at all."

Song Xu furrowed his brows in concern. "If Your Highness is unwell, perhaps we should summon an imperial physician from the palace?"

Princess nodded. "That sounds good. Father will surely be very distressed when he hears I'm not feeling well."

It was well-known that the Emperor doted on his daughter, but I never imagined that his love extended to indulging her in the wanton killing of innocents.

In the afternoon, the physician arrived. After examining her for a while, he could find no ailment and merely said Princess had been frightened. He prescribed some calming medicine and advised bed rest.

After the physician left, Princess got up to have lunch with Song Xu, then went back to lie down.
Song Xu personally brewed the medicine for her and fed it to her, coaxing her to sleep.

Watching Song Xu behave so attentively, I sighed.

"Oh, gods, if there truly is a next life, let me be a princess too."

I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but I saw Song Xu's figure pause for a moment.

Before long, Princess fell asleep, and Song Xu got up and went over to the writing desk.

He plopped right down on my head.

"Hey! Can't you see someone sitting here!"

I muttered angrily, moving aside to sit beside him.

Song Xu pulled a book from his sleeve and began to flip through it.

I leaned over to look. Huh, it was the storybook I'd been reading recently!

When I was alive, my favorite pastime was reading storybooks.

After we got married, Song Xu often accompanied me to the streets to buy new ones.

When he went off to war, I read storybooks whenever I missed him.

The day he returned, I had told him about the new storybook I had just bought.

Unfortunately, I only got halfway through before I died.

I never expected Song Xu would bring this storybook to the Princess's residence.

Unbelievable. I died, and not only did he not burn the book for me, but he also kept it for himself!

I angrily punched Song Xu three times.

He opened the book, and inside was the leaf bookmark I had made.

Song Xu gazed at the bookmark for a moment, then pulled it out.

I thought he would turn to the first page, but instead, he started reading right from the bookmarked page.

I was delighted and cozied up to him, resting my head on his shoulder as we read together.

He turned the pages slowly, and the light of dusk fell across his slender fingers.

Just like when I was alive.