Chapter 051: The Hanged Ghost

The princess Yi Wang didn’t sleep well yesterday, but now she feels at ease and has fallen asleep in bed.
Liuhuxi sat down beside Qingping and watched her embroidering. There were quite a few things in the embroidery basket, suggesting that she thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep much tonight either. Having something to do would be good, so she went to the back courtyard and brought her own basket over.
Liu Hanxi saw a light blue handkerchief, which was just the right size for a man, and asked Qingping who it was for. Qingping replied that it was just a nice piece of fabric with no particular use. So she took it, and fetched some golden thread to embroider it.
“What are you embroidering?” Qingping leaned in to take a closer look as she saw Liu Hanzhi focusing intently on her work.
“Can't you tell?” Liu Hanzhi raised the embroidery frame to show Qingping.
“Uh... it looks like... a pig?”
“That's right! Pig head! Hahaha!” Liu Hanxi laughed as she poked at the asymmetrical pig nostrils with a needle.
“Madam Xi is truly amusing; no wonder our princess praises you endlessly,” Qingping said, more surprised that a young lady from a prestigious family couldn't even embroidery. Perhaps she was too pampered, fearing to hurt her hands, she thought to herself.
Liu Hanxi was seriously embroidering flowers when Ji Ya, who had just gone out to inspect the Wangfu, returned.
“Originally, the Yiwangfu had summoned divine beasts to protect the home, but someone must have sealed them with magic, which allowed evil spirits to roam freely in the residence,” Ji Ya said.
```html“Is it the big lion paper at the door?” Liu Huanxi asked.
Ji Ya nodded.
“Can you unlock it?”
“I can't use the Daoist spells, but I can kill them all.” Ji Ya said confidently.```
Liuhangxi had a face full of disbelief. The Prince Yi must have spent a fortune to hire that divine beast, and you just killed it for no reason?!
“Well, um... there's no need, if we can't open the lock, let's wait until we meet Daoist Hua next time to have him open it. You just focus on catching ghosts,” Liuhangxi quickly replied.
“Let's wait until midnight!” Ji Ya nodded.
When Liu Hanxi heard this, realizing there was still time, she had someone prepare food for Ji Ya and set up a bed for her to take a nap, so she would have the energy to catch ghosts later.
Listening to her talk while eating, she mentioned that she had already set up a ghost-catching formation in the backyard, and that ghosts couldn't escape from it, which was quite reassuring to hear.
Ji Ya had just gone to rest when Ran Xingtu came again to seek an audience. He was unwilling to enter the royal mansion and requested that Liu Hanxi go out to meet him instead.
Liu Hanxi still found it strange; logically, he should be the one worrying about himself. Thus, he went outside the Wang residence, filled with doubts.
Seeing his expression, one could tell something was amiss. Approaching him and hearing what he had to say, his face darkened.
It turns out that the Prince of Yi did not leave home because he was heartbroken! Through the small soldiers and officers on Moqi Thunder Street, it’s known that the Prince of Yi is currently residing in a small courtyard in Tian Sheng City. This courtyard is home to a beautiful widow. It is unclear when she struck up a relationship with the Prince, who also knows he can’t bring her into his household, not even as a concubine. So, taking advantage of the death of the Wang family, he left home, moving in with the widow, living happily and freely.
When Ran Xingtuz found him, he threw a handful of silver bills at her, saying, "Since things at home are decided by her, let her solve it herself. I'm going back; a ghost is still a ghost."
It was only then that Liu Hanxi understood why Ran Xingtong had to talk to her outside; if the princess consort of Yi Wang knew about this, she would probably spit blood. It seems there would be more vengeful spirits in the king's residence.
She told Ran Xingtou to go back, and Ran Xingtou knew he couldn't persuade her and was unwilling to leave, so he could only come in to keep her company. Inside, the princess was sleeping, and since it was all women, he sat down by the stone table in the courtyard.
She went back inside to continue embroidering the pig's head.
After an unknown amount of time, Liu Hanxi heard Ji Ya's voice outside, as she was giving instructions to Ran Xingtu.
“I’ll go too,” Liu Hanxi said.
“You stay here, I'll go alone.” Ji Ya insisted.
“You stay here, I'll go.” Bai Lie said as he transformed into his original form, a creature the size of half a room.
Ji Ya did not object.
“Be careful. If you can't win, retreat first and think of another way. Don't hurt yourself,” Liu Huanxi instructed.
The two entered the middle courtyard and then arrived at the back courtyard.
In the back courtyard, the lamps were lit, but as they stepped inside, all the lights went out in an instant.
“Wang, since you have grievances, I won't kill you. I'll personally send you down to the underworld, so come out quickly.” Ji Ya's voice was cold and sharp, no longer that innocent girl.
Bai Lie couldn't help but glance over, seeing her determined gaze which resembled Hua Qingkong's sense of righteousness.
“Little girl... wuwuwu... still dare to come catch ghosts...” Only a voice was heard, but no ghost was seen. “I have grievances that can't be resolved; the Princess Wei is not dead, and the Prince does not come to see me. I won't leave... I won't leave...”
“Since you are already dead, you should follow the path of the dead, rather than staying in the world, which is of no benefit to you!” Ji Ya continued.
Suddenly, the ghost transformed into a stream of white smoke and lunged at the two. Ji Ya threw a handful of herbs, and as soon as the ghost touched them, it let out a wailing sound and retreated.
“My child, what a bitter fate, what a bitter fate…” the hanging ghost cried again.
At this moment, Ji Ya and Bai Lie saw that a strip of white silk had appeared on the tree in the courtyard, hanging from it was a woman in a red dress, her face as pale as death, and her gray-white tongue protruding from her mouth over a foot long. This was not the most terrifying part; the most horrifying thing was that she was holding a bundle of white cloth in her arms, which emitted the cries of a baby, swaying without wind, causing the tree to rustle as well.
"Two!" Ji Ya was also taken aback.
"This... I haven't heard of any children dying!" Bai Lie said.
"It should be that she was pregnant without realizing it, which is why there is such great resentment." Ji Ya's face showed more sadness.
“Pay with your life! Pay with your life! Return my child's life...” The hanging ghost cried sorrowfully, and while crying, she threw the baby in her hand into the air. The baby opened its mouth mid-air, filled with sharp teeth, and rushed towards Ji Ya.
White Liez rushed in front of Ji Ya and knocked the baby to the ground with a palm. The baby quickly crawled back to its mother.
The Yigui, seeing its child being hit, let out a series of agonizing wails. The red garment on its body spread out, becoming like a piece of cloth, enclosing the entire courtyard and surrounding Bai Lie and Ji Ya.
Ji Ya ignited a small pile of herbs on the ground and began to recite the witch's purification spell. The herbs emitted wisps of purple smoke to guide the soul.
The baby moved first, but his mother held him tightly, not letting go.
“We... must be together... together...” The hanging ghost cried even more tragically, rushing towards the two.
“The resentment is too strong to be transcended. If we don't kill it, there will be endless future troubles,” Ji Ya said to Bai Lie.
Bai Lie then nodded to her.
Ji Ya took out a magical artifact from her bag, resembling a small zither with several strings exuding cold air. When she lightly touched the strings, ice needles shot out, forcing the hanging ghost to retreat.
“If you seek revenge, you will be eliminated, turning to ashes! What about the child in your hands? He could have walked the path of reincarnation today and been born into another family.” Liu Hanxi's voice echoed outside the red tent.
Before the two could come back, they saw her already lifting the curtain and entering.
The hanging ghost stopped and put away the red drape.
“My fate is so bitter... and my child’s fate is bitter too…” the hanging ghost cried.
“This life is already like this, and it cannot be changed. If you kill the Princess Yiwang, it will only add to your and the child's sins. Originally, they could be reborn as humans, but if this continues, it will be difficult.” Liu Huanxi advised again.
“我想见……见王爷……”缢鬼似乎被说动了。
“他因爱你之极，你死了，他也伤心之极，现在已经离家多日再也不愿回来。他心里有你，你见他只会损了他的阳寿，还是安去吧。你的孩子没有皇家之命也并非坏事，我会让巫女去给他开路，送去个富有、安定、有爱的家庭，你尽可放心。”柳寒兮肯定地说。
The strangled ghost tightly hugged the baby, crying heartbrokenly.
Everyone silently waited for her to finish crying. After she bowed, Ji Ya finally rekindled the soul incense.
Ji Ya's voice was low and warm, and to Liu Hanxi's surprise, she felt a stirring in her heart. This language seemed familiar to her, and she couldn't help but softly recite along.
```htmlThe voices of the two intertwined, bringing a sense of calm.
The child in the noose ghost's hand faintly glowed, and then a wind arose, scattering it away.
But the noose ghost still knelt there without leaving.```