Fleurs de pêcher

Chapitre 2

Meng Po thought for a moment and shook her head: "Reporting to King Chujiang, this old woman has never seen him. Could it be that King Zhuanlun has not yet sent a ghost messenger to deliver him?"

"Hmm, you're right. I was just testing you, and it seems you did well without missing anything. I'll report back to King Zhuanlun and reward you handsomely." King Chujiang nodded in satisfaction, tugged at my sleeve, and gestured for me to leave quickly.

This King Chujiang seemed to be a master of deception and fraud, and I was almost stunned, wondering how he could have become one of the Ten Kings. He tugged at my sleeve, and I suddenly realized what was happening, quickly following him away from the Forgetful Terrace.

Are all the mansions of the Ten Kings of the Ghost Realm similar? The mansion of King Yama was also decorated with a black plaque and white characters, with ghost guards at the entrance. King Chujiang stopped some distance from the mansion, his face filled with worry. "Others are fine, but King Yama has always been stern-faced, and I usually hate dealing with him. If it doesn't work out, you should go back yourself. Your sister has her own destiny. Otherwise, once the time is up, whether you like it or not, you'll have to stay in this Ghost Realm."

Although we were complete strangers, King Chujiang had helped me so much without asking for anything in return, for which I was already deeply grateful. How could I bear to refuse his kindness? So I agreed: "I will obey King Chujiang's words and return on time."

King Chujiang stared at me blankly, his expression devoid of any amusement. Suddenly, he gently stroked my cheek, his touch tender yet tinged with sorrow. I was speechless with surprise, his movements devoid of any hint of playfulness, leaving me stunned and bewildered. He lowered his hand dejectedly, sighing silently, "Stay here and wait for me. Don't cause me any more trouble." As if instructing a child, he then walked towards the Palace of King Zhuanlun.

That silhouette made me feel helpless and sad. What's wrong with King Chujiang? Why did he do that just now?

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [6]: I was afraid of being seen by other ghosts like before and getting into trouble, so I found a corner and squatted down, keeping my eyes fixed on the Wheel King's mansion. I hope King Chujiang will have good news to tell me, and I hope that Wheel King will not make things too difficult for him. Sister, I just hope that you can get out smoothly.

I still remember when I was little, I would rest my head on my sister Ruo'an's lap, and she would gently pat me to sleep while saying, "Little sister, we depend on each other for survival. In this world, we are the only ones who can rely on each other. As long as others don't kick you when you're down, that's good enough. How can you expect them to help you?"

As she spoke these words, her expression was serene, as if she had seen through the ways of the world. Sister Ruo'an had once been a young lady from a wealthy family, but her father offended officials and was executed on trumped-up charges. Not long after, Ruo'an's mother died of illness due to excessive grief. Before her body was even cold, relatives and friends rushed to her door to seize the orphaned girl's inheritance, but not a single one was willing to raise her or care for her. Ruo'an had always been alone and destitute. She often said, "We were both abandoned; we share the same fate, so we should pity each other even more."

Sister, don't worry, I will definitely bring you back. If you can't come back, what's the point of the world if I'm all alone? Lost in thought in the corner, a small red sedan chair passed by. I flinched and let it go. Looking up unintentionally, I realized the woman accompanying the chair looked somewhat like Sister Ruo'an. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, both surprised and delighted. I jumped up and ran after it.

"Sister, Sister Ruo'an."

The woman turned around, and sure enough, it was Sister Ruo'an. She looked surprised. The sedan chair paused and stopped. The ghost bearers carefully lowered the chair, as if a very important person was sitting inside. Sister Ruo'an looked somewhat uneasy, glancing at the sedan chair and then at me, hesitant.

I finally caught up, my eyes reddening, and I held my sister's hand tightly, refusing to let go. "Sister, I've finally found you."

The ghost guard scolded, "Where did this wild ghost come from, daring to shout in front of Miss? Do you think you can bear the consequences of startling her?"

"Don't be rude." A gentle voice came from inside the sedan chair. The ghost guards dared not be presumptuous and stood respectfully to the side, awaiting orders. They were all idiots who took a chicken feather as an arrow. The master didn't say anything, but these watchdogs barked indiscriminately, ruining the master's reputation for no reason. I couldn't help but snort coldly.

The sedan curtain slowly parted, revealing a beautiful and gentle woman. She wore a light blue silk dress, her hair was as black as clouds, and her eyes were as captivating as autumn water. My sister quickly knelt down to plead for me: "Miss, my sister is impulsive and was overjoyed to see me. She meant no harm in disturbing you."

The woman smiled slightly, not taking it to heart. "It's only natural to be overjoyed to see sisters reunited. How could I possibly mind? Please get up." Seeing her gentle demeanor and considerate nature, I immediately felt a sense of goodwill towards her.

"Thank you, Miss." I clearly saw my sister breathe a sigh of relief and subtly nod at me, signaling me to hurry up and leave.

Having finally found my sister, how could I leave so easily? The brocade pouch in my bosom is still there; if I could find a moment, I could bring her back to life. I held onto my sister's hand, refusing to let go.

The woman glanced over and a knowing look flashed across her face. She immediately smiled and said, "It's rare to see such a deep sisterly bond between you. Adding another one to the household won't be a problem. Ruo'an, why don't you let your sister come back to the manor with us?"

"Miss, this..." Sister Ruo'an looked at me, clearly puzzled by my sudden appearance, so she didn't dare to answer easily.

Who exactly is this young lady? Why is she taking in a maidservant as if she's bestowing upon me a tremendous favor? I wondered to myself. Meanwhile, King Chujiang hurriedly emerged from the mansion of King Zhuanlun. Seeing me standing by the sedan chair talking to the young lady, he quickly approached me, a wry smile creeping onto his face. I could almost guess what he was thinking; I'd gotten him into trouble again.

When King Chujiang walked up to me, his expression had changed again, now filled with a hearty smile, as if what I had just seen was an illusion. I had never seen such a rapid change of expression before.

“Miss Zhong, it’s rare to see you out and about. I just ran into your brother, what a coincidence.”

Miss Zhong? Ah, I suddenly realized that the gentle and beautiful young lady before me was Zhong Kui's sister, Zhong Jiao. I never imagined that Zhong Kui was so ugly, yet his sister was so beautiful. Were they born of the same mother? Oh dear, what time is it now? Why am I still thinking such nonsense? I immediately snapped out of my reverie and silently scolded myself.

For a fleeting moment, Zhong Jiao's eyes held a complex, indescribable emotion, but she quickly regained her composure and gracefully curtsied: "I rarely see my elder brother these days. How has Prince Chujiang been?" These were merely polite formalities, but the fleeting look in Zhong Jiao's eyes was unmistakable. Could it be that she had feelings for Prince Chujiang...? I only had a fleeting thought before I immediately blamed myself for meddling.

“Very good. Miss Zhong, you’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you. Brother Zhong is so lucky to have such a kind and beautiful sister.” He spoke with a regretful expression and a sincere tone. If I hadn’t just witnessed the change in his expression, I would almost have believed that his words came from the heart. But now, hearing them, I just wanted to laugh out loud, and I barely managed to bite my lip tightly.

Zhong Jiao felt no joy upon hearing these words; instead, she felt somewhat melancholy, saying, "King Chu Jiang flatters me. Zhong Jiao is merely an ordinary woman."

"By the way, I just heard from King Yama that you went to another place to ask for a maid. Could you please ask Miss Zhong to part with her?" After talking for a while, King Chujiang finally said what I wanted to hear.

Zhong Jiao's gaze swept over her sister, then over herself, lingering for a moment before she spoke with a hint of doubt: "Since King Chujiang asked Zhong Jiao for this maid, there's no reason for Zhong Jiao to refuse. But the fact that King Chujiang has to come in person makes me very curious about the maid's background."

My heart tightened, and I involuntarily looked at him, waiting to see how he would respond. King Chujiang simply chuckled, "She's the daughter of an old friend. It's rare that Miss Zhong would part with her. I'll personally visit to express my gratitude another day, and we can discuss this in detail." What a clever delaying tactic! He could drag it out until the end of time, until everyone had forgotten about it, until no one remembered this old story anymore. At that moment, I secretly admired his quick wit and resourcefulness; he was truly opportunistic!

Zhong Jiao smiled knowingly, about to say something, when a deep voice interrupted: "Well done, King Chujiang! The maid I had my eye on earlier, you said you had important business to attend to, fine. But now you're competing with my sister for a maid? Are there no other ghosts in the Ghost Realm, or does King Chujiang dislike me and thus oppose me at every turn?" I was shocked. It was Zhong Kui! At this crucial moment, he had to come and disrupt things. Could it all be fate?

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [7]: This time even King Chujiang's smile was hard to maintain. "Brother Zhong, what are you saying? How could I possibly oppose you? She's just a maid. Is she worth getting so angry with you?"

Zhong Kui's eyes were wide open in anger, and his ugly face made him look terrifying. The ghost guards carrying the sedan chair were trembling, afraid that they would be swallowed by Zhong Kui if they were not careful.

"Brother." Zhong Jiao called softly, like a gentle breeze, miraculously calming his anger, though his face still showed resentment. Zhong Jiao smiled apologetically, "King Chujiang, please don't mind. Brother has always been straightforward, please forgive him."

"Little sister." Zhong Kui was getting a little anxious, but he restrained his anger and spoke to Zhong Jiao gently: "You don't have a maid to take care of you, how can your elder brother feel at ease? It's rare to find someone you like, why do you have to worry about others? You have to take care of yourself too."

Although Zhong Kui has a fierce appearance, he is genuinely considerate and caring towards his sister. Even as an observer, I can understand his feelings and have some understanding of his behavior.

Zhong Jiao patted Zhong Kui's arm to indicate that she understood, and stepped forward to say to King Chujiang, "Please take this maid with you, King Chujiang. Please don't take offense."

“Of course, I have always known Brother Zhong’s temperament, how could I mind? I owe you a favor today, and I will certainly repay you another day. Brother Zhong, then I will take my leave.” King Chujiang was in a hurry to leave, and I knew that the time was approaching. My sister and I bowed gratefully to Zhong Jiao and followed King Chujiang.

When we reached a secluded spot, King Chujiang breathed a sigh of relief and urged me anxiously, "Hurry up, the time is almost up." I was filled with gratitude and knelt down to kowtow to him, but he helped me up with one hand.

"We sisters are deeply grateful for everything King Chujiang has done today, and we will repay him even if it means working like cattle or horses in the future."

He gave a wry smile: "Let's go, let's go. Lest we be late."

I took out a red brocade pouch from my bosom, on which were written my name and my sister's name respectively. I handed the pouch with my sister's name on it to Sister Ruo'an: "Sister, just open it and your soul will return. Sister, go first, and I will follow shortly."

Sister Ruo'an bowed gratefully to King Chujiang, then opened her brocade pouch. A white light shone from it, enveloping her before vanishing instantly. Relieved, I was about to open the pouch bearing my name when King Chujiang sadly bid me farewell: "Take care."

I paused, nodded slightly, and opened the brocade pouch. To my surprise, nothing happened—no white light, no return of my soul; I was still in the same spot. I looked at him anxiously: "Could it be that I missed the appointed time?"

King Chujiang looked surprised: "There was no mistake. It will be a little while before the twelve hours are up." Why did my sister go back, but I stayed in the Ghost Realm? What went wrong? Are we sisters destined never to be reunited? I felt so bitter. My hand loosened, and the brocade pouch fell to the ground. A piece of paper floated out from inside.

I bent down and picked it up. On the note was Ziao's handsome handwriting: "I'm sorry, Yixi, my magic power is only enough to pull back one soul." Have I been abandoned again? My parents abandoned me before, and now Ziao has abandoned me in the ghost realm. Am I destined to be superfluous, a sacrifice?

No wonder Zi'ao repeatedly warned me not to mix up the brocade pouch; the secret lay there. Sister Ruo'an once said, "Don't easily trust others; no one in this world will be kind to you for no reason." I just didn't believe it, but now she's proven me right. It's a pity I realized it too late. I'm not afraid of death or staying in the ghost realm; I'm afraid of being deceived and abandoned. For Sister Ruo'an, I risked my life. If Zi'ao had told me from the beginning, I would still have come to the ghost realm without hesitation, but I wouldn't have harbored any illusion of returning. But Zi'ao's deception left me with a lingering, empty hope. I felt I could go back with Sister Ruo'an, that I could live with her. Now, that dream has been ruthlessly shattered. I'm powerless to control myself; my hands tremble uncontrollably. The note flutters down, and I collapse to the ground, covering my face with my hands.

“You have been deceived,” King Chujiang said quietly.

I sighed heavily, lowered my hand, and looked at myself with unspeakable pain. In that instant, I understood many things. "Yes, I was deceived." I felt so tired and exhausted.

"Will you still say you won't go back on your word?"

I looked up at King Chujiang and added, word by word, "But I will never go back on my word." He stared at me for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [8]: Three

"Get up. Are you planning to sit here forever?" King Chujiang offered me a helping hand. I hesitated for a moment, then reached out and used the hand to help me stand up.

As usual, she lightly patted her skirt, trying to brush away the dust, but as soon as she moved her hand, she realized that things were different now. Her outstretched hand froze in mid-air, finally falling limply to its side. This is the realm of ghosts, and I am now nothing more than a lonely, wandering spirit!

I sighed and looked at King Chujiang: "So, where should I go now? Should I go to King Qin Guang's place?"

There was something indescribable in King Chujiang's eyes, something that seemed to be pity, something that seemed to be sadness, and something that seemed to be a hint of joy. I couldn't tell, so I could only lower my eyes.

"Do you still want to be a human? I can grant your wish and take you to be reincarnated with the Wheel-Turning King." He remained silent for a long time before making the suggestion.

I gave a bitter smile: "No, being human is too tiring, too bitter. I hate being abandoned time and time again. The ghost realm might not be worse than the human realm." After hesitating for a long time, I finally asked the question that had been on my mind: "Why are you helping me so much? My sister once said that no one in this world would be kind to someone for no reason. You've saved me and helped me so many times, what is it for?"

This question had been lingering in my mind for a long time, but I was afraid that if I asked it, I would anger him and he would no longer be willing to help. Now that I have no worries, I still want to know the answer.

"Why?" King Chujiang stared at me intently for a moment before replying calmly, "You'll know later. I think you should go to Zhong Jiao's place. Firstly, you'll have company, and secondly, with Zhong Kui's protection, no other ghost will dare to bully you."

He was indeed very thoughtful, having considered everything. But he didn't tell me the answer. I didn't press him for an answer because in this unfamiliar ghost realm, I might need his help again in the future, so why ruin the relationship?

Upon arriving at Zhong Kui's residence, Zhong Kui still looked furious and couldn't hide his anger when he saw King Chujiang and me. He only calmed down a bit when he heard that I had come to keep Zhong Jiao company. Zhong Jiao, on the other hand, was very amiable and busy explaining on Zhong Kui's behalf. She also personally served tea to King Chujiang and mediated between King Chujiang and Zhong Kui, trying to soothe both sides' emotions.

What a clever and intelligent woman she is; I am truly inferior to her. If Zhong Jiao is a finely crafted piece of Hetian jade, then I am a stubborn rock, used as a stepping stone to cross the river, yet still finding it uncomfortable. I suddenly felt a pang of longing for my sister. Was she alright after her soul returned? Without seeing me, would she have fallen out with Zi'ao and come to the ghost realm like me? A thousand thoughts swirled in my mind, a tangled mess.

"Yixi? Yixi?" Zhong Jiao called my name twice. When I didn't answer, she gently tugged at my sleeve. I then realized what was wrong and quickly smiled apologetically, "What is it, Miss?"

Zhong Jiao smiled gently: "Don't call me Miss anymore. If you don't mind, just call me Sister. Let's be good sisters, and you can talk to me and chat with me." Her lonely expression caught my eye, and I realized that I wasn't the only lonely person in the Ghost Realm.

"Sister, you're too kind. Of course, I'd be delighted." These words weren't just polite formalities; they came from the bottom of his heart, reflecting a deeper understanding of Zhong Jiao.

Zhong Jiao took my hand and said, "Then come with me to the back for a walk, so I can instruct the ghost messengers to prepare a room for you." She smiled apologetically at King Chujiang and said, "King Chujiang, I must accompany you. Please forgive me."

King Chujiang had already made peace with Zhong Kui. Seeing how much Zhong Jiao valued me, a hint of relief flashed across his face. "Alright, Miss Zhong, please go ahead. Yixi, you stay here and keep Miss Zhong company."

I nodded in agreement and thanked him, then followed Zhong Jiao to the backyard. There were no flowers or plants in the ghost realm; the backyard was full of strangely shaped stones. Zhong Jiao pulled me along, explaining what the stones resembled, but to me, they were just stones, even if they looked strange.

"Sister, why are there stones here?" I asked, somewhat curious.

Zhong Jiao touched the oddly shaped stones with affection: "Because I like them, my older brother specially brought these stones back from the human world."

"Brother Zhong is so good to my sister, it's enviable."

Zhong Jiao said calmly, "Every brother is this good to his sister." She paused, glanced at me, and asked tentatively, "Since the King of Chujiang takes such good care of his sister, I wonder if you are related to him by marriage or kinship?"

I understand that Zhong Jiao's reason for recognizing me as her sister is largely due to King Chujiang, his power, or perhaps she has other plans for him. I don't know, and I don't want to know. I'm already struggling to take care of myself; how can I have time to meddle in other people's business?

"I have some of everything," I mumbled, trying to dodge the question by changing the subject to stones. Zhong Jiao, being clever and quick-witted, immediately picked up where I left off, enthusiastically introducing her collection.

Life at the Zhong residence was quite worry-free, unlike in the mortal realm where I had to worry about food, clothing, and shelter—all of that was taken care of by the ghost messengers. I only needed to chat with Zhong Jiao, drink tea, and do some embroidery. However, Zhong Jiao was too clever and often tested me with her words. I didn't know her true intentions and mostly just glossed over them. I was still somewhat afraid of Zhong Kui, but fortunately, he spent very little time at the residence.

Days passed, and King Chujiang visited me several times. He was pleased to see that I had quickly adapted to life here. For some reason, I always felt that he was the only person I could trust in this ghost realm. Perhaps he had saved me and helped me, but he didn't ask for anything in return. Several times he looked at me with strange eyes, but I pretended not to notice, secretly cursing myself for being despicable, only caring about taking all the benefits he had brought me, and completely disregarding his character.

That day, I accompanied Zhong Jiao as she embroidered. Zhong Jiao was skillful, and the pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water that she embroidered on the handkerchief were so lifelike that I couldn't help but lean over and admire them. Zhong Jiao bit off the last thread, smoothed out the handkerchief, and then stroked the loving birds playing in the water, feeling inexplicably sad.

"Yixi, don't you think it would be wonderful to be a pair of birds?"

I looked at the embroidery, somewhat casually: "But how could it be a bird? Unless you ask the Wheel-Turning King."

"Yes, how could it be a bird? That's why I'm always all alone and can't get what I want." Zhong Jiao lost her usual composure, her eyes brimming with tears. I panicked and rushed forward to comfort her, "Sister, you still have Big Brother, and you still have me. How can you be all alone?"

Zhong Jiao gave me a resentful look: "If you like someone, but they deliberately avoid you, even if you're close at hand, your hearts feel like they're worlds apart. How can you understand that kind of pain?"

Yes, Zhong Jiao was talking about King Chujiang. King Chujiang came over today, exchanged a few perfunctory words with her, but spent quite a bit of time talking to me. I suppose this caused Zhong Jiao to misunderstand. I was just about to say a few words to comfort her when Zhong Jiao wiped away her tears and gave a self-deprecating smile: "A moment of emotion, and I've made you laugh at me, little sister."

In an instant, she regained her usual calm expression. Even someone as intelligent as her could suffer for love. I wondered how long she had suppressed her feelings, and how much she had endured. Suddenly, I felt sorry for Zhong Jiao. "Sister, have you ever spoken to him openly?"

Zhong Jiao paused for a moment, looked up at me, and seeing the sincerity in my eyes, finally said, "Some things are better left unsaid; saying them only makes things awkward for both of us, and then we'll be left wondering how we'll get along in the future." Zhong Jiao is always too self-controlled and overly thoughtful, and her current predicament is partly her own doing.

"Sister, don't be too hard on yourself."

A hint of emotion flashed in Zhong Jiao's eyes. She took my hand and nodded, "Thank you, little sister." Only at this moment did I know that I had truly been accepted by Zhong Jiao, and I couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.