Chapter 20: Relocating the Grave (8)

“Where did this red string come from?”

Freshly washed, Jiang Shengsheng paused her motion of drying her damp hair and sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward to gaze at the exquisite red string on the bedside table.

The burgundy cord was threaded with a warm-colored jade bead, cool to the touch.

Since the room hadn’t been tidied by Jiang Shengsheng herself, she didn’t give it much thought and decided to wait for Xia Junyao to finish his bath so he could explain.

But one kiss from him left her dizzy and completely forgot about the red string.

The bamboo whistle was strung on a cord wrapped around Xia Junyao’s wrist as he held Jiang Shengsheng, both lying down on the soft tatami mat with their eyes closed.

Outside the window, the crescent moon visibly swelled into a bright full disk, partially veiled by drifting dark clouds.

In the front courtyard, the village chief’s murky eyes flickered with a sharp gleam.

He stood in the yard, gazing up at the round moon hanging on the horizon, murmuring, “…Bless Stone Village with good weather next year… If I’m to look for anyone, it will be them.”

Tomorrow, the village chief planned to take them to the hillside graveyard; perhaps a fierce battle awaited. The players all rested early that night.

Thus, when the corridor echoed with a steady knocking in the dead of night, they quickly awoke, stiffly lying on the tatami.

Jiang Shengsheng’s sleep was restless.

She seemed to dream of a man in a red wedding robe chasing her, declaring he would take her back to the bridal chamber.

Suddenly opening her eyes, Jiang Shengsheng realized she was drenched in cold sweat, tightly locked in Xia Junyao’s embrace, her palm sticky with moisture.

Before she could calm her tense nerves, the footsteps from the corridor made her heart leap to her throat once more.

Her eardrums nearly numbed by her racing heartbeat, she clutched her chest, just about to wake Xia Junyao when the footsteps abruptly stopped.

Instinctively holding her breath, she dared not move, fearing any rustle would draw its attention.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The heavy knocking sounded again, and her face paled as her eyes widened.

There it was—right outside their guest room door, crouching low, pressing against the peephole, chuckling mischievously as it peered inside.

“Shadow spirits, make way!”

“Sun spirits, stand back!”

“Midnight hour strikes!”

“Celebrating the bride’s marriage!”

Sharp laughter rang suddenly in her ears. Jiang Shengsheng flustered, trying to rouse Xia Junyao beside her.

But the moment she touched his arm, she abruptly sensed something was wrong.

The touch beneath her hand had changed—icy cold, colder than ice in a cellar.

Jiang Shengsheng’s body stiffened completely; she dared neither lift her head nor open her eyes, fearful of facing a decayed, maggot-infested ghastly face.

“Hah,” a melodious voice, magnetic and chilling, breathed out a cold exhalation that made Jiang Shengsheng shiver. “My little bride, I’ve finally found you.”

Her back pressed against an icy embrace; the visitor forcefully lifted her chin, fingertips teasing the corners of her lips with varying pressure.

A sweet, cloying fragrance filled her nostrils—that unmistakably belonged to Qi Man.

“Why won’t you open your eyes to look at me? In your world, I should call you… wife?”

“Don’t be afraid, wife. We met as children and promised to marry when grown. Then you were sent away… but luckily, I’ve found you again.”

Qi Man propped his chin with one hand, releasing the act of feigned deafness before Jiang Shengsheng.

As long as she didn’t acknowledge it, it wasn’t true—this ostrich-like self-deception brought Jiang Shengsheng some small comfort.

See? That unknown, possibly ghostly fellow had even let go of her.

But just as Jiang Shengsheng felt a flicker of pride, tragedy struck the next moment.

“Hmm?!” Her cheek was pinched, and an icy kiss brushed the corner of her lips. Startled, Jiang Shengsheng opened her eyes, immediately meeting Qi Man’s beaming, enchanting gaze.

So adorable, so utterly charming!

The man before her lifted the golden-flecked corner of his eyes; his long black hair tied back. The elaborate crimson wedding robe overlapped with the figure from her dream. The dark red headband brushed her cheek with his movement.

The red mole between his brows added a bewitching allure.

Seeing that red mole, Jiang Shengsheng’s expression grew even grimmer.

She could not forget the scene at the shrine—the statue… had come to life?

“Even your startled, fearful look is cute, wife.”

Qi Man, without leaving room for protest, pried open her clenched fists and forcibly intertwined their fingers.

His voice trembled, harboring an eerie, secret longing: “Today is our wedding day; finally, my wife is mine.”

“What wedding?”

Jiang Shengsheng tried to pull her fingers free, shaking her head as she stepped back. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know you at all.”

Just as she was about to fall off the bed, the man stretched out long arms, encircling her waist and steadying her upright.

The world spun; Jiang Shengsheng’s vision blurred into a soft red haze. She shook her head, the jade beads of the dangling golden hairpin tapping her ear.

Sensing something amiss, Jiang Shengsheng lowered her gaze. Embroidered on her skirt hem was an exquisite pair of lotus flowers.

In her hands, she clutched a red silk ribbon, one end tied to her wrist—no matter how she tugged, it would not come loose.

Following the red flower along the ribbon, Jiang Shengsheng lifted her head and, through the translucent red bridal veil, met Qi Man’s face.

The other end was in Qi Man’s hand.

“Wife, it’s time to perform the wedding ceremony.”

Cold, strong hands cupped the woman’s rouge-painted cheeks. The handsome man, radiant on this auspicious day, spoke in a low voice laced with subtle enchantment.

His grip caught the back of her neck; the woman in phoenix coronet and bridal robe grew dazed. She tried to stay awake, unwilling to fall into the trap set by her hunter.

Sensing her struggle, Qi Man chuckled softly, bending to look directly into Jiang Shengsheng’s eyes. “Shengsheng, you’re the one forcing me, right? Forcing me to marry you?”

No…

Isn’t it?

His scarlet tongue flicked like a snake’s venomous fork, and Jiang Shengsheng’s mind whirled into chaos, her eyes gradually losing focus.

“Hmm, yes, I’m the one forcing—” Before she finished, the man hurriedly sealed her lips with a kiss.

The innocent, foolish cat was held tightly by the fierce big cat, who meticulously groomed her, reveling in it.

“Please, wife, keep forcing me,” Qi Man’s eyes reddened.

They drank the nuptial wine together.

Qi Man slowly lifted the translucent red veil; the half-hidden, hazy beauty was torn away, his eyes shimmering with a sultry crimson glow, his Adam’s apple bobbing softly.

Though he had drunk wine earlier, Qi Man still felt parched and dry-mouthed.

The delicately made-up young bride bit her lip shyly, her unfocused eyes pitiful to behold.

Thus enchanted by him, she would never say no.

“Wife, how about getting a dog that barks?” Qi Man brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, half coaxing, half compelling. “Remember, husband doesn’t want to hear the word ‘no,’ so… wife, do you want a dog? Hmm?”

Jiang Shengsheng felt as if she were drunk, with someone constantly chattering in her ear.

Very sleepy, she furrowed her brows, puffed her cheeks in a pitiful pout, hoping to coax the man into giving in.

Alas, she had met Qi Man.

Even though he longed to kiss his adorable wife, for the sake of a legitimate bond, Qi Man restrained himself.

“Don’t cry, wife. I’m just asking if you want a little dog.”

Seeing tears were useless, Jiang Shengsheng, too tired to listen clearly, hurriedly nodded repeatedly, mumbling, “…Yes.”

“What do you want? Speak clearly, wife.”

“…I don’t like you… um, I want a little dog.”

“Good girl, good girl, but never dislike your husband. Your husband will always love you.”