Chapter 4

Shao Jiyan revealed a smile, secretly thinking that the woman, who was a seductress, must have been annoyed by my teasing and banter. Out of resentment, she deliberately came to say something about being haunted by evil spirits, seeking to play tricks on me again tonight. He sighed in relief, disregarding the sounds from outside, and continued to read his book

Shao Jiyan gazed at the enchanting demeanor of the beautiful woman, fully aware that she was far from a gentle and demure lady. The pitiful expressions she had just displayed might have been intentional, and her tragic background could very well be fabricated. Yet, even as he gradually understood this in his mind, he found himself unable to control the distracting thoughts that arose in his heart

Shao Jiyan understood and said: "I am only afraid that I, like your husband, would abandon my original partner in pursuit of climbing the social ladder and seeking a wealthy match"

As Yuqi stomped her foot in anger, she turned her back and shouted, "Pah pah pah! You are the lecher! Who would want to waste time with you here? I kindly warned you of the danger, and you come here to tease and bully me! If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come. It would be better for you to be tormented to death by the evil spirits!"

Upon unexpectedly encountering Shao Jiyan while he was bathing, Ru Yu felt a deep sense of embarrassment and awkwardness. Hearing Shao Jiyan's words, she was momentarily filled with anger and retorted, "Pah! You are the one who is eager and lustful; only a lewd and debauched scholar like you would engage in such despicable acts."

Furthermore, how could he not have seen the evil spirits? Could it be true that, as she said, they went out?

Shao Jiyan could not help but chuckle, while Ruyu felt as if someone had seized upon a sensitive topic that was hard to mention, feeling extremely embarrassed and humiliated, and began to cry in anger: "I didn't touch... Wuwu... You wicked scholar, you lewd rascal... Wuwu..."

Upon hearing these words, the beautiful woman unexpectedly began to weep softly, saying: "Is this what you mean by sending me away, my lord? How have I offended you to provoke such disdain? Are you afraid that I might bring harm to you? Although I am but a ghost, I would never harbor any malicious intent to harm others. Even if I possessed such a wicked heart, as a mere weak woman, what could I possibly do to you, my lord?"

The stunning beauty is in my embrace, though I know that a beautiful face will eventually wither into bones, yet with youthful vigor still strong, it remains difficult to resist temptation

Shao Jiyan was taken aback, and the beautiful woman seemed equally startled as she withdrew her hand, gazing at Shao Jiyan with a look of astonishment and confusion. After a moment, as if testing the waters, she tentatively reached out to touch the back of Shao Jiyan's hand.

Shao Jiyan then took notice, only to see that she indeed wore the adornments of an unmarried woman of this dynasty. He couldn't help but murmur to himself, "No wonder she looks at me and touches me so much; she is just an old maid without a man."

As soon as the words fell, a fleeting shadow passed through the door. Shao Jiyan turned his head with a smile, only to be stunned; the figure before him was nothing like the silly, plump womanizer he had imagined. Instead, the ghost was indeed a ghost, but a graceful and exquisite beauty of unparalleled charm.

Shao Jiyan recited "Amitabha" and then said: "I have not encountered any evil spirits, but I have seen a lustful ghost. As long as my elder sister does not come to entangle me again, there will be no more evil spirits."

Shao Jiyan thought to himself: She is indeed a simpleton, no wonder she cannot find a husband. Thus, he was even less inclined to entangle himself with her, and simply said: "Elder sister is a proper woman, I dare not be rude or neglectful. I am about to take off my trousers, could you please turn away?"

Shao Jiyan increasingly felt a sense of pity and helplessness, casually took out a handkerchief and handed it over. The beautiful woman reached out to take it, accidentally brushing against his hand.

The beautiful woman recounted her past, inevitably shedding tears once more, while Shao Jiyan quickly offered comforting words.

Shao Jiyan shook his head and sighed, hoping that this female ghost would not return again. He tidied up a bit and was about to take the basin outside to pour out the water when he heard a light cough at the door; it was the female ghost returning once more.

Shao Jiyan shook his head and smiled, then turned and went back into the house

Shao Jiyan helplessly rolled his eyes and simply disregarded everything as he took off his pants

Shao Jiyan stood at the door with a furrowed brow, lost in thought for a moment, only to reassure himself that although she did not seem to deceive him, she might not be without exaggeration. Where in this world could there be so many evil spirits? Since childhood, he had encountered countless wronged souls and spirits, yet he had never seen one that committed evil deeds, which suggests that the notion of evil spirits haunting people is mostly an exaggeration.

The beautiful woman, wiping her tears, said: "Young master, do you have plans to marry?"

Shao Jiyan let out a deep sigh, his face filled with bitterness as he helplessly said: "Ghost sister, even if you are truly an impatient person, please do not cling to me alone, alright? Nowadays, there are many candidates rushing to take the exam, and there are plenty who are more handsome than I am."

Shao Jiyan suddenly realized that the evil spirit spoken of by this beautiful woman was likely the same as the one mentioned by the seductress. It seemed that the seductress had not deceived him. Raising his head again, he saw the pitiful appearance of the beautiful woman and thought to himself that he had misunderstood her earlier. Feeling somewhat guilty, he hurriedly offered her a few words of comfort

The beautiful woman glanced at Shao Jiyan, gracefully curtsied, and softly said, "Young master is quite reasonable." Her demeanor and speech conveyed an indescribable elegance and delicacy.

Shao Jiyan came to his senses and hurriedly said: "I beg your pardon, I mistakenly thought that the young lady outside was an old acquaintance when I heard her sighing softly. If my words have caused any offense, I hope the young lady will forgive me"

Shao Jiyan's heart trembled slightly; he was twenty-four this year. Regardless of the grace and dignity of the refined young ladies, the charm and passion of the courtesans, or the boldness and vigor of the village girls, he had encountered them all to some extent. Yet, few could compare in beauty and temperament to the one before him.

Shao Jiyan saw the beautiful woman with pear blossoms and rain, and could not help but feel somewhat at a loss. He had always feared women shedding tears; once, he had teased Yu and made her cry, which left him unable to cope. At this moment, the beauty before him was even more charming and lovable than Yu, and while he felt flustered, he also developed a deeper sense of cherishing her. He hurriedly said: "Miss, please do not cry. It is my inappropriate words that have offended you, and I deserve to die a thousand deaths for it. I certainly do not dislike you, nor do I harbor any fear. Although we are of different paths, a human and a ghost, there is still a distinction between men and women. At this late hour, it is indeed inappropriate for a solitary man and woman to be in the same room, for I fear I may lightly insult you and tarnish your reputation."

On this night, he was reading at his desk as usual. Outside the window, the moon was bright and the stars sparse, with the sound of insects chirping softly. The evening breeze flowed in through the slightly open window, adding to the sense of comfort.

The beautiful woman, wiping away her tears, slowly recounted her background to Shao Jiyan. She mentioned that she was born into a scholarly family and later married a scholar. When her husband went to the capital to take the imperial examination, he unexpectedly disappeared for two years without a trace. Neighbors from the capital reported that her husband, after passing the examination, had remarried the daughter of a high official. Overcome with grief and anger, she fell ill and soon passed away. However, even after death, her spirit could not let go and she sought her husband in the capital, refusing to believe that a loving couple could be so heartless. She was determined to see him with her own eyes before she could find peace. Unfortunately, her lingering spirit traveled through countless mountains and rivers to reach the capital, only to be entangled by malevolent spirits, leaving her with no choice but to take the actions of tonight.

Shao Jiyan fell silent and sighed, saying: "Sister Ghost, you must be reasonable. This house originally belongs to me, yet it is you who have intruded uninvited time and again. How has it come to the point where I am the one being rude and disrespectful?"

Shao Jiyan closed his eyes, unable to restrain himself as he embraced the waist of the beautiful woman. At the moment when desire burned within him, a single thought surged through his mind: it's over, it's over, Shao Jiyan, you are finished

A small voice in his heart gradually eroded his reason

Stop!

Only this once ... ... perhaps ... ... ... it doesn't matter ... ... just this time ... ...

Shao Jiyan hurriedly comforted her, saying: "Do not cry, young lady. Since it is thus, it would be better to be reborn sooner and meet a good person in the next life."

As Yu heard the commotion behind her, she turned and murmured shyly, "It is not an exaggeration to say you are a lewd fellow; you actually took off your pants in front of a woman..."

After a while, the noise outside the house had not diminished. Shao Jiyan felt helpless and thought to himself that if he did not spend some time with her today, she might not be able to leave at ease. Without looking up, he continued to read while jokingly saying, "It has been a few days since we last met; have you been thinking about me, elder sister? Since you are here, why hide shyly at the door?"

The beautiful woman raised her eyes and said, "So, the acquaintance of yours is a lady?" Before Shao Jiyan could respond, she smiled lightly and continued, "Since your friend has not arrived, may I, as a young lady, accompany you for a while to pass the time?"

The young master... the beauty displayed her charm completely, leaning entirely against Shao Jiyan, one hand still holding Shao Jiyan's hand, while the other hand began to caress his leg, slowly and teasingly moving towards his groin.

The beautiful woman lamented: "Young master is truly a man of deep feelings and integrity, it is only to blame that this little woman, with her unfortunate fate, has not encountered a person as good as you, thus wasting an entire life..." As she spoke, her tears fell incessantly like pearls that had broken from their string.

At that moment, Shao Jiyan was only wearing a pair of shorts while wiping himself in the room. Before he could react to the soft cough of Ruyu, he saw her awkwardly barging in with a shy expression on her face

Shao Jiyan raised his head and immediately thought of Xiangyu's words, wondering if she had truly hit the mark, and whether the malevolent spirit that had been out visiting had returned. This thought made his hair stand on end. He set down the book and placed one hand on the inkstone. Holding his breath, he listened intently, and faintly heard the sound of a woman sighing and softly chanting at the door.

Shao Jiyan casually wiped himself a couple of times, while putting on his clothes, he sarcastically remarked: "If this lady were truly a well-mannered young woman, she would have long been too embarrassed to stay here, yet she claims she is not a seductress?"

Shao Jiyan repeatedly told himself that he felt as if he were immobilized, yet it was not that he could not move; rather, it was the desire that gradually ignited deep within him that held him in place.

An unusual chill suddenly emanated from outside the house, accompanied by faint sounds lingering at the door.

His chest rose and fell, and he trembled slightly as he raised his hand to grasp the lady's hand in return

Shao Jiyan also briefly showed a hint of embarrassment, but soon responded in a relaxed manner: "Desire for food and sex is part of human nature; matters of love and desire are as natural as eating, drinking, sitting, and lying down. I see you are not a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl anymore; before you die, you will surely become a wife. Why put on such an affected demeanor? Is it possible that your husband is somehow different from others in this regard?"

Shao Jiyan originally intended to use this to dismiss the thin-skinned seductress, but unexpectedly, Ruyue merely blushed and turned away, showing no intention of leaving

Although Shao Jiyan was astonished by the beauty of the enchanting woman, he was not so entranced as to lose his wits. He secretly wondered if this beautiful lady before him could possibly be the malevolent spirit spoken of by the seducers. He had read various miscellaneous books and heard many alluring tales, many of which depicted evil spirits transforming into beautiful women to ensnare scholars. Yet, seeing the lady's gentle and delicate demeanor, he was ultimately unwilling to believe she harbored any malicious intent. Regardless of her extraordinary beauty, she was still a ghost, not a human. Shao Jiyan steadied his thoughts and politely replied, "I am but a crude person and would not dare to trouble the young lady."

Although Shao Jiyan did not heed the warning from Ru Yu, it nonetheless heightened his vigilance. In the following three to five days, as he remained safe and sound without seeing even a shadow of a malevolent spirit, he gradually began to relax and no longer considered the matter of moving away.

Shao Jiyan, sensing that the situation was not favorable, could only resign himself to his misfortune. He bowed and said, "Sister Ghost, please do not cry. It was I who spoke incorrectly and insulted you. It is entirely my shamelessness that has sullied your eyes and dirtied your hands with such lewd acts. I am guilty beyond redemption and beg for your forgiveness, Sister Ghost."

Shao Jiyan could not help but feel overwhelmed, yet the other party did not enter the house. Instead, they stood outside, irritated, and said: "I did not deceive you; this house is inhabited by a malevolent spirit, the most vicious of its kind, specifically targeting scholars like you. It has been away for a few days but will return soon. I have said my piece; whether you choose to move or not is up to you. If you end up being tormented to death by the malevolent spirit in the future, do not blame me for not warning you in advance."

Without allowing Shao Jiyan to react, the beautiful woman gently leaned closer and said, with a hint of charm and a touch of fragility: "Young master, this little girl has never encountered a worthy person before, but after death, she is fortunate to meet you. This is both a mercy bestowed by heaven upon this little girl and also the fate between this little girl and you."

The beautiful woman, sobbing as she wiped the corners of her eyes, softly said: "Young master is a good person, a gentleman, which truly makes this little girl feel ashamed and regretful. To be honest with you, young master, I was coerced by a wicked spirit to harm you. Just now, I was wandering outside, hesitating, as I truly did not wish to engage in such harmful deeds. Your words just now have made this little girl feel even more ashamed; at this moment, I certainly do not dare to harbor any thoughts of harm. I hope young master will not hold it against me."

The beautiful woman said: "Young master, do not blame me. In truth, I am also aware that the person may indeed be marrying a new love as the villagers say, yet my heart has never been able to accept it... I am merely deceiving myself..." After speaking, she once again shed tears sorrowfully

The beautiful woman smiled slightly and kissed him.

Shao Jiyan asked in confusion, "What does the young lady mean?"

Like jade, she was both shy and angry, and her chubby little face turned a rosy pink. She scolded, "You black-hearted, lewd scoundrel, you foul-mouthed bad scholar, you are the old maid. Who would care to look at you? I didn't look at you, I didn't touch you..."

As if Yu had lingered outside for a long time, she finally mustered the courage to float to the door, fearing that she might encounter something she should not see, so she cleared her throat twice before floating inside

As if made of jade, she felt guilty, lowering her head and tugging at the corner of her clothing without saying a word

"You shameless scoundrel! You deserve to be tormented to death by evil spirits!" With that, she rushed out, her face flushed with anger.

The beautiful woman paused for a moment and explained with a hint of apology: "To be honest, my lord, your appearance bears some resemblance to that of my husband. Just now, I could not bring myself to harm you, and that is part of the reason. Since you are also a candidate for the imperial examination, just by looking at your dignified demeanor, you are sure to succeed. I, for a moment, had a petty thought, fearing that..."

Does this ghost also go out to visit relatives?

Shao Jiyan stared blankly at the beauty, feeling parched and finding it difficult to breathe

The beautiful woman nodded slightly, as if relieved, and murmured: "This is good..."

Shao Jiyan could not help but feel a sense of sympathy upon hearing this. He listened to the beautiful woman's heartfelt words, unable to believe that her husband would abandon her. Yet, he thought to himself that this was truly not a rare occurrence. After ten years of hard study, even if one achieves success in the imperial examination, how many more years of painstaking effort would be required to attain high official status and wealth? Marrying the daughter of a high official would indeed be akin to riding the favorable winds to enter the palace.

Shao Jiyan said: "I come and go alone."

Shao Jiyan stood in silence for a moment after receiving no response, then pushed the door open, only to find that there was already no one in sight. He felt a sense of unease in his heart, thinking that she must have been quite serious when she said those words, and it was unlikely to be false. However, it was difficult to find a new place to stay at this moment. Moreover, he had already informed Feng and Chen that if he were to move away now to avoid the ghost, it would truly be a loss of face.

The beautiful woman, seemingly shy as if observed by Shao Jiyan, lowered her eyes. Without appearing overly delicate or affected, she softly inquired, "I hope I am not being presumptuous; are you waiting for someone, young master?"

Stop, push her away, push her away! Do not be deceived by her!

As innocent as jade, she was completely oblivious to the subtle sarcasm in Shao Jiyan's words, and she simply rubbed her eyes and sniffed, stopping her tears.

Just when Shao Jiyan was on the verge of complete collapse, a sudden loud shout struck him like a blow to the head, waking him up. He trembled all over and immediately pushed the beautiful woman in his arms away. After gasping for breath as if he had narrowly escaped a great disaster, he steadied himself and turned to look, only to see the womanizer standing at the door, glaring angrily at the two of them.

Peh peh peh! "You just got married, you blind and shameless wretch!"

Although the cold touch of the ghostly hand sent chills down his spine, the delicate hand of such a stunning beauty resting on the back of Shao Jiyan's hand inevitably stirred his heart. Especially as her beautiful eyes sparkled with warmth, subtly revealing a hint of allure amidst her gentle demeanor. Her slender hand caressed the back of his hand tenderly, and though her icy fingertips bore no warmth, they ignited a heat within his heart.