Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 2 Haunted
Daming Prefecture, Yong'an Ward.

Zhang, the eldest daughter-in-law of the third branch of the Yang family, stared blankly at the two white lanterns with the character "囍" (double happiness) pasted on them under the eaves.

Today is the day her eldest son is getting married, but unlike her other son, her sixth brother has already died in battle on the frontier.

The elders of the clan couldn't bear to see Yang Liuge'er alone in the afterlife, so they arranged for a recently deceased woman to match their birth dates and horoscopes, thus arranging a ghost marriage between them.

The Yang family was a prominent household that had lived in Yong'anfang for many years, but their third branch had long since declined and was never paid attention to in the clan. This liveliness was bought with the life of her son.

"The clan leader even used his own house to entertain guests for Sixth Brother."

"This kind of pomp and circumstance has not been seen in the family for a long time."

"Even if you lose Sixth Brother, you still have Ninth Brother..."

These words echoed in Zhang's mind, as if she shouldn't show even a hint of sadness.

Some clansmen even had resentment in their eyes, clearly feeling that the clan should not elevate the third branch in this way.

During the war in the north, the Yang family had to leave their homeland. Zhang's husband, Yang Mingsheng, risked traveling by sea to trade goods in order to earn money for the family. However, they encountered a storm on the way, and Yang Mingsheng and ten ships of goods were lost at sea, almost destroying the entire family's livelihood.

The old master and his wife lost their only son and felt guilty towards the clan. They voluntarily donated their wealth and fertile land to the clan and also gave up the position of clan leader to the second branch of the old master.

The old man thought that by making amends, he could gain the understanding of the clan for the third branch. In fact, the third branch lost its power and money, and the clan's dissatisfaction became even more undisguised. Back then, they were the ones begging the third branch to find a way out, but now it was Yang Mingsheng who acted willfully and almost drove the Yang clan to the brink of ruin.

The old man and woman were filled with resentment and anger, and both died of depression a few years later.

From then on, the mother and her two children became the target of public criticism, and whenever there was any disturbance, people would bring up the old story again.

Looking back now, could it be that someone deliberately set a trap, leading the third wife's family into it?
Realizing her mistake too late, she had no choice but to endure it with her two children.

To give her mother and younger brother a better life, her sixth brother joined the army at the age of sixteen and was promoted to rank of yazheng after only six months of military merit.

She longed for her sixth brother to return home safely, but instead received news that he had died in battle. He left home a seven-foot-tall man, but returned with no remains.

What hurt her most was that even though her sixth brother was gone, the clan still wanted to exploit him.

"Third sister-in-law".

Zhang immediately turned her head and saw Zou, the fourth wife of the second son, walking over with her people.

Without saying much, Zhang led Zou into the main room.

The main room was decorated like a wedding hall, except that the memorial tablet of Yang Liuge was particularly glaring.

Zhang pointed to the bride's memorial tablet above: "Fourth sister-in-law, let me ask you, was the woman who married my son really a daughter of the Xie family?"

Looking at the angry Zhang, Zou's eyes flashed slightly, and she said almost without hesitation, "Of course, this Tenth Sister of the Xie family is well-educated and reasonable, and is a good match for Sixth Brother."

Zhang clutched her handkerchief tightly: "I've asked around, and Xie's tenth daughter clearly died at the age of seven. Where did this girl who just passed away come from?"

The Xie family were also merchants who frequently traveled north to transport rice and grain and dealt with the border guards. Their willingness to arrange a posthumous marriage was naturally for the sake of their sixth son's reputation for serving his country.

The clan sold Sixth Brother for a good price.

Unlike Zhang, Zou was not surprised. Instead, she showed a nonchalant expression: "The Xie family has admitted that it is Xie Shiniang. How could it be fake?"

"The Xie family has been doing well in the rice business in recent years, and many people want to form a marriage alliance with them. A few days ago, a deputy military commander even came to visit, but the Xie family did not agree."

The implication is that if Yang Liulang hadn't died, how could he have become Xie's son-in-law?
"With the Xie family as a family by marriage, it will be easier for Ninth Brother to find a wife in the future. Sister-in-law, don't make a mistake and ruin your own good fortune."

Zhang felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. She forced herself to take a deep breath and asked, "Do you know... that woman clearly didn't die of illness?"

Before Zou arrived, she had heard from the servants that Zhang was questioning these things. She found it laughable that someone who couldn't even manage her own life had the heart to think about others.

The reason the third wife has ended up in this situation is because she can't think straight.

It's just a body buried together; who cares how she died?

Could it be that after figuring it out, "Xie Shiniang" can come back to life and be grateful to the third branch of the family? To repay the third branch?
To put it bluntly, that woman was bought by the Xie family. How many people of unknown origin do these slave traders have? It's common for them to kill someone beforehand just to sell a corpse. Investigating further will only embarrass the Yang and Xie families.

"How could I possibly know?" Madam Zou's voice turned colder. "Since you're so capable, why don't you let that woman speak up and plead her case herself?"

On such a wonderful day, why did they have to create unnecessary trouble?

No wonder the third branch couldn't even become the clan leader.

When Zou heard that Zhang questioned the cause of Xie Shiniang's death, she was startled, but she quickly came to her senses.

What is she afraid of?

Could Zhang really take this to the authorities? She didn't know anything else, but she knew that she and her son would have no place in the clan anymore.

"The old master is going to great lengths for Sixth Brother's marriage, so I had the kitchen prepare some medicinal cuisine," said Madam Zou calmly. "I won't linger here with you, sister-in-law."

Zhang wanted to say something more, but when she raised her head and her gaze fell on a certain spot, she suddenly froze.

When Zou saw Zhang's blank stare followed by a look of terror on her face, she wondered what trick Zhang was up to now.

"Sister-in-law, don't scare me," Zou snorted coldly. "I..." Zou's voice stopped abruptly as she caught a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of her eye.

A woman dressed in a bright red wedding gown is slowly crawling out of the coffin, her head bowed.

Ms. Zou's eyes widened, and for a moment she even stopped breathing.

Since Yang Liuge'er's body was gone, the hired Lai Gong allowed the woman's coffin to enter the house and be buried in the ancestral graveyard.

Zou was certain that what was carried over from the Xie family was a corpse.

The corpse has moved...

It's haunted.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Zou's whole body went limp. Overwhelmed by fear, she couldn't look away.

The "female ghost" stood stiffly on the ground, the shadow cast by her crown obscuring her face, leaving only her bright red lips visible.

She first shook her head, then stood still facing Zou Shi.

At that moment, Ms. Zou had a feeling that she was being watched.

Sure enough, the female ghost slowly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a mocking smile, and then walked straight towards her step by step.

The bright red dress hung loosely on the ground. The "female ghost" walked unsteadily on tiptoe, her arms slowly emerging from her sleeves with each movement, her pale fingers half-bent, heading straight for Zou's neck.

A chill ran up Zou's spine and down to her scalp... Then she could no longer hold on, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed to the ground.

Witnessing this, Zhang felt the same terror and was trying to escape from the house.

But just as Zou fell, the "female ghost" deftly kicked the earthenware pot containing the burning paper over.

Zou's head struck the earthenware basin squarely.

This time, it was impossible for Ms. Zou not to faint.

Even more strangely, after doing all this, the "female ghost" actually stood up straight, raised her lowered face, turned around and walked to the offering table, and picked up Yang Liuge's memorial tablet.

When Zhang came to her senses, she realized that the "female ghost" was standing in front of her, handing her the cold memorial tablet.

Although Zhang was terrified, her maternal instincts made her disregard everything else and snatch the memorial tablet from her hands, holding it close to her chest.

Is your son loyal and brave?

The "female ghost's" voice, carrying a hint of menace, came from above.

Tears welled up in Zhang's eyes, and she said in a trembling voice, "My son has the heart of a child, fearless and willing to die, fighting to the death without retreating. How loyal and valiant he is!"

The "female ghost" tore open her collar, revealing bluish-purple marks on her neck, clearly indicating that she had been injured.

The "female ghost" opened her lips: "His blood is still hot even in death. What you must protect is his reputation for loyalty and righteousness. How can you let his coffin become a place to hide injustices and disregard human life?"

Zhang's lips trembled as she silently repeated the sentence, and soon her fearful gaze hardened.

The voice came again: "Brother Yang Liu served his country with fervor and lived a life worthy of respect."

Zhang felt a little comforted by these words; her son should be like this.

But then her tone changed: "But in this house, apart from you and your son, no one else will care."

Zhang forgot her fear and stared blankly at the "female ghost".

"so……"

Xie Yuyan looked at Zhang Shi and said, "Don't tell them these things."

"You need to tell this to the people who care about these things. When they come, you need to explain everything clearly, without missing a single word."

Zhang wanted to ask who those people were and when they would arrive, but suddenly she smelled a burning smell. She instinctively looked out the window and saw flames shooting into the sky.

Then came the sounds of people shouting to put out the fire.

A small figure burst out from the billowing smoke and darted straight into the main room.

Yang Qin's hands were charred black, and he was panting heavily. He looked at Zhang Shi in the room, but quickly shifted his gaze to Xie Yuyan: "I...I set the side room on fire."

Xie Yuyan slightly raised her head. She had woken up the unconscious Yang Qin and asked him if it was the seventh year of Zhiping, only to find out that she had returned to sixty-four years ago. She had been the Sage of the Great Liang Dynasty and held the power of the Great Liang in her hands. She was very familiar with the affairs of the government and could recall the records of important affairs of the past years in the court's archives with just a little thought.

Therefore, she knew very well who would be attracted by the fire in Yong'an Ward of Daming Prefecture at this moment.

"They're coming soon."

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(End of this chapter)