Chapter 46 : The Eerie Wedding Gown
46: The Eerie Wedding Gown
Qin Wan had always heeded her father's teachings. She knew that death was like a lamp extinguished; there were absolutely no ghosts or deities in this world. Yet, even with a temperament as resolute as hers, for a moment, her scalp prickled, and every hair on her body stood on end.
"Miss, that's... wu wu wu..."
Fuling stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, crawling toward Qin Wan in panic. She hadn't crawled more than a few steps before she couldn't help but start crying. Qin Wan instinctively leaned over to pull her up. When she looked up again, the crimson figure outside the window had vanished!
Qin Wan frowned deeply, instinctively wanting to step forward. But Fuling grabbed her arm tightly. "Miss! Don't! Don't go!"
Tears streamed down Fuling's face. She trembled uncontrollably. Right now, she only wanted to take Qin Wan and leave this Anyang Marquis's estate. Song Rou had died tragically right at the estate gates. Now her ghost had returned. She had to take her young mistress away!
Her skirt was gripped fiercely by Fuling. Qin Wan stared fixedly at the rear window. Outside, there was only a blanket of darkness. That eerie, terrifying figure never reappeared. She almost suspected that glimpse moments ago had been an illusion. Yet the cold sweat in her palm and her wildly thumping, uneasy heart made her absolutely certain. Outside the window just now had indeed been Song Rou, clad in fiery red wedding robes.
No, that wasn't quite right. It should be said, it was a headless female corpse identical to Song Rou.
"Miss, let's leave quickly. Miss Song... Miss Song has come back..."
Though Fuling had followed Qin Wan through hardships, she had rarely even seen a dead person. That day, she had only glimpsed Song Rou's silhouette from afar. But this time, she had seen it clearly, vividly. She even seemed to have seen the bloody, mangled stump of Song Rou's neck.
She clutched her own head, as if her own head might be severed the next moment.
"Miss, Miss, let's return to the Qin manor. Let's go."
Even knowing that tales of ghosts and spirits were mostly mistaken rumors, the most direct visual stimulation could still trigger a primal panic. Coupled with Fuling's hysterical crying after the fright, Qin Wan's own heart was unsettled. Yet on the surface, she remained perfectly composed. Gritting her teeth, Qin Wan first crouched down to soothe Fuling. "Fuling, don't be afraid. I'm here. Calm down first."
Fuling shook her head violently, shrinking closer to Qin Wan while casting terrified, haunted glances around the room, as if Song Rou might appear behind her at any moment. "Miss, let's leave this place. We can see the patient... we can see the patient tomorrow in daylight..."
"Miss, this servant is scared... wu wu..."
Seeing that Fuling was truly frightened out of her wits, Qin Wan glanced at the needle case in her hand. She drew out a long needle, lifted Fuling's arm. Fuling's mind was in chaotic panic and didn't even realize what Qin Wan was doing, until a sharp pain pierced her Jiquan acupoint!
First, she trembled slightly. Then the numbing ache from the Jiquan point spread throughout her body. Miraculously, the terror that had filled her limbs and bones was soothed. Quickly, clarity returned to her eyes, though she still cried with hiccuping sobs.
"Ninth Young Miss, what happened?"
Just as Fuling calmed a fraction, a young maidservant attending outside, hearing the commotion, arrived at the doorway.
Qin Wan's expression turned grave. "Go and request the Marquis and the Mistress to come. There is some troublesome matter."
Qin Wan was a distinguished guest of the estate. The little maid dared not neglect. She hurriedly assented and left.
Qin Wan withdrew the long needle, helping Fuling to her feet. "Don't be afraid. Get up and sit first."
Fuling was drenched in cold sweat, her face deathly pale, her body shivering, her legs and feet somewhat weak. She clutched Qin Wan's hand tightly, tears falling silently. "Miss, once the Mistress arrives, let's return to the Qin manor."
Qin Wan gripped her hand firmly but didn't answer, her gaze still fixed on the rear window. Another moment passed. Outside the rear window, all was peaceful, only the cool breeze of early autumn emitting faint, mournful sighs. Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. She placed a nearby teacup into Fuling's hands. Fuling, trembling, held the cup, taking small, hiccuping sips.
"Fuling, what exactly did you see just now?"
Fuling's eyes flickered. "It was Miss Song... Miss Song's ghost..."
"No."
Qin Wan swiftly negated Fuling's words. Fuling looked up at Qin Wan in slight surprise. "Then what was it?"
The corners of Qin Wan's lips tightened. "It was a person with malicious intent."
Fuling's lips moved, about to protest. But Qin Wan lowered her head, her gaze profound and stern, as if wanting to imprint her words forcefully into Fuling's mind. "Remember this. There are no ghosts in this world. Only people with ghosts in their hearts."
Fuling was awed by Qin Wan's piercing gaze, and her heart steadied instead. She was silently repeating these words when a long series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the room. Qin Wan straightened. Jiang‑shi and Yue Qiong had arrived!
"Wan'er?" Jiang‑shi called out even before entering. She pushed the door open with quick steps. Only when she saw Qin Wan and her maid standing there unharmed did she heave a great sigh of relief. Yet seeing Fuling's reddened eyes and terrified appearance, her brows knitted together as she approached. "What happened? What's the matter? What's wrong with this girl?"
Jiang‑shi entered first. Immediately after, Yue Qiong arrived with the Yue siblings following. Qin Wan had thought that was all, but then a final figure clad in somber black flashed in. Yan Chi had also come!
Qin Wan felt the needle case in her hand grow heavy. Passing over the Yue family members, she gave Yan Chi a swift, light glance, subtly stowing the needle case away. Then she spoke with a serious expression. "Mistress, a quarter of an hour ago, Fuling and I saw someone standing outside our window."
Qin Wan looked toward the direction of the rear window. Jiang‑shi followed her gaze, her frown immediately deepening. She ran this marquis's estate with airtight discipline. How could someone be lurking outside Qin Wan's room in the middle of the night?
Jiang‑shi grew anxious, quickly grasping Qin Wan's hand. "Who is so bold? Did you see their face, Wan'er?"
Knowing Jiang‑shi had misunderstood, Qin Wan hurriedly clarified. "It wasn't someone from the estate."
Everyone frowned. Fuling let out a wailing sob. "Mistress, it was the Song family's young lady..."
The door was wide open. The cool night breeze of autumn slithered into the room, creeping up the spines of the Yue family like a snake. Jiang‑shi's face paled. "What? The Song... Song family's young lady..."
Qin Wan's eyes sharpened. "To be precise, it was someone impersonating the Song family's young lady, standing outside the rear window."
Jiang‑shi's lips trembled. When she looked back at the rear window, she too felt tense and fearful. Realizing this wasn't a simple matter of the inner household, Yue Qiong stepped forward. "Did you see clearly, Ninth Young Miss?"
Qin Wan nodded. "There are no ghosts or deities in this world. Therefore, I am certain someone did this deliberately."
She swept a glance over the others. "I should have gone to check behind the house immediately. However, given the circumstances just now, Fuling and I dared not act on our own. Now that the Marquis and Mistress are here, may I ask you to accompany me to the back to investigate?"
Firstly, both she and her maid had been frightened, Fuling especially. Secondly, not knowing the other party's intent, Qin Wan, a young woman of delicate constitution, shouldn't venture out alone. Yue Qiong's expression turned serious. "Of course!"
After speaking, Yue Qiong looked at Yue Jia. Yue Jia immediately turned and went out.
Jiang‑shi, her face still somewhat pale, said, "Wan'er, how... how could this..."
Jiang‑shi and the others hadn't witnessed it personally. Hearing Qin Wan's account, though they weren't as terrified as Fuling, thinking about it still sent chills down their spines, and it was even more puzzling. "The Song family's young lady... If it truly was someone impersonating her as you say, then what was their purpose? This case has nothing to do with you. Even if there was some intent, it should be directed at me or the Marquis..."
Qin Wan frowned slightly. "That, I do not know."
As she spoke, Yue Jia stood at the doorway holding a bright lantern. "Ninth Young Miss, we can go to the back now."
Qin Wan nodded and was about to walk out when Fuling grabbed her again. Qin Wan clasped Fuling's hand in return. "If you think it's a ghost, then come with me to see. If it was someone acting deliberately, then you need not fear."
Inspired by Qin Wan's resolute gaze, Fuling hesitated for a few moments, then wiped her tears with her hand and stood up, mustering a touch of heroic, sacrificial courage. "Alright. I'll listen to you, Miss!"
Holding Fuling's hand, Qin Wan stepped out. Outside, three household servants already waited with lanterns. The group, led by Yue Jia and Yue Qing, followed the covered walkway outside the house toward the rear.
Plum Garden was a single-courtyard residence. The three main rooms were spacious and expansive. Behind the house was a flower bed about ten feet wide. Planted within were several plum trees and a garden full of monthly roses. It was the end of their blooming season. The garden full of monthly roses blazed fiery red, reflecting the lantern light, radiating a bizarre, ghostly hue like fresh blood...
Having heard Qin Wan's words, Yue Qing was both angered that Qin Wan had been frightened and also filled with curiosity and a desire to investigate. As a military man trained in martial arts since childhood, he naturally harbored no fear of ghosts or vengeful spirits. Upon reaching the small corridor behind the house, he strode ahead boldly. After only a few steps, his gaze suddenly fixed. "Look, what's that?"
Everyone looked in the direction he indicated. Right at the base of the rear window of Qin Wan's main room, a vividly crimson object lay fallen on the ground. Yue Qing quickened his pace, walked over, and picked the object up in one motion.
Instantly, everyone present couldn't help but suck in a sharp, cold breath.
What Yue Qing held in his hand was a grand, red wedding gown, embroidered with patterns of pomegranates bursting with seeds and blooming flowers symbolizing wealth and honor.
And the Yue family members who had stood closest to the bridal sedan that day remembered clearly. The gown Song Rou had worn was exactly the same, an identical piece.
A sinister chill enveloped the hearts of the Yue family. Could it truly be that Song Rou had returned?