That day, Xin Mei still couldn’t manage to bathe. Lu Qianqiao locked her in Guihua Hall, and the two stared at each other all afternoon.

“What exactly are you going to do?” Xin Mei supported her chin, feeling somewhat powerless. “Keep me tied up until I die?”

Lu Qianqiao caressed a piece of inferior mixed-color jade, remaining silent for a long while before saying: “Three more months. During these three months, I must ensure the Imperial Tomb remains safe. When the time comes, if… I’m still here, I’ll naturally let you go.”

Xin Mei was shocked: “What if you’re not here anymore?” Would she be tied to the Imperial Tomb until she starved to death?

He didn’t answer, only looked at the mixed-color jade in his hand with heavy thoughts, his gaze profound.

She suddenly remembered that day in the restaurant when Fu Jiuyun said half the war-ghost clan died at the twenty-five-year threshold. She didn’t know exactly what that meant. Lord Meishan said he was a war-ghost, so… in three more months he’d turn twenty-five and die?

Xin Mei scratched her head, racking her brains: “That… that thing about heaven never sealing off all paths… don’t be too sad. You must know that deaths are different—some die light as dust, others heavy as mountains. You should try to make yourself heavier…”

Lu Qianqiao’s fingers stiffened. He looked up at her and asked: “…Are you comforting me?”

“Yes, yes!” Being able to see her good intentions wasn’t simple at all. “Maybe when you turn twenty-five, you’ll just sleep it off and everything will be fine! Don’t overthink it!”

These two sentences sounded more reasonable.

He stood and walked to the window, pushing it open. The lively sounds of gongs, drums, and silk instruments poured in. A stage had been set up over the water pool, and it looked like Manager Zhao’s new opera would be performed tonight. The demons sat around the pool chattering excitedly—some cracking melon seeds, others pointing and commenting, happy as could be.

“Puppet theater?” Xin Mei came over to look, her eyes immediately lighting up. “I’ve never seen this kind!”

Manager Zhao’s operas were always melodramatic. Before the play was half over, the audience below was already crying en masse.

Tao Guoguo hid under the Guihua Hall windowsill, betting with Si Lan: “Melodramatic Zhao is using the same old formula again—dead protagonist, dead parents, dead best friends. If I win, Brother Si Lan, you owe me money.”

Si Lan darkly paid out a string of coins. Manager Zhao had previously beaten his chest guaranteeing this new play would be absolutely different from before, but who knew he’d still use the same old tricks. Next time, he definitely wouldn’t listen to his nonsense again.

Oh right, this time he used the twelve puppets the General had made when he was bored. Would this thunderously clichéd plot make the General furious?

Si Lan secretly turned around, only to see the General standing at the window with a calm expression tinged with helplessness, and within that helplessness, a bit of bewilderment, looking down at Xin Mei who was crying her heart out beside him.

“Oh… so moving… so classic…”

Xin Mei covered her face with a handkerchief that was already soaked through and still dripping water. Lu Qianqiao looked around, hesitated for a long time, then took out a cloth from his sleeve and handed it to her.

“…Is it really that good?” he asked uncertainly.

She took it and blew her nose: “Wonderful! I’ve never seen such a moving play! Especially those puppets—they’re made so well, just like living people.”

Supposedly, those twelve puppets were made by the General… This girl had good taste.

“Is that so,” Lu Qianqiao’s expression instantly softened as he said, “Tomorrow night there’s another puppet show, using these same puppets.”

Si Lan stiffly shrank back, slapping himself hard. That must have been a hallucination just now, right? Yes, definitely a hallucination…

Xin Mei’s eyes were red from crying like a rabbit’s, looking earnestly at Lu Qianqiao: “Can I get Manager Zhao’s autograph? And the master craftsman who made the puppets?”

Lu Qianqiao felt her rabbit eyes had never been so cute and endearing. He coughed quietly, unconsciously loosening the demon-binding rope a few inches, leading her outside to find Manager Zhao for an autograph.

Tao Guoguo flew into a rage under the windowsill: “That bad woman is actually seducing Brother Qianqiao! Brother Si Lan, why don’t you drive her away?”

Si Lan could only remain speechlessly choked up.

At that time, Manager Zhao was directing little demons to organize props, busy and sweating profusely, with an old mouse tail sticking out from under his clothes for air. The Imperial Tomb had countless burial treasures, and the props used in his plays were all authentic. If anything got accidentally broken, the General would definitely pull out his tail and stuff it in his nostrils.

“Be careful! That mutual love mirror is very fragile!”

Seeing a certain little demon stumble over stones, Manager Zhao couldn’t help but shout anxiously. The little demon was startled by the shout and trembled, causing the mutual love mirror to roll onto the ground, rolling all the way to Xin Mei’s feet and hitting her ankle painfully.

“…A bronze mirror?”

Xin Mei bent down to pick up this foot-square bronze mirror. The mirror surface was actually rough and dull, reflecting not even half a person’s image.

“Is it broken from the fall?” She handed it back to Lu Qianqiao.

Before he could take it, the dull mirror surface suddenly flashed with white light, instantly transforming into scattered fireflies. The previously rough mirror surface now became black as deep night, reflecting a pair of lovers embracing affectionately.

Fireflies glittered like dewdrops on the couple’s hair, their radiance flowing like water… The scene looked infinitely tender and moving no matter how you looked at it.

But… but the two people embracing seemed to be her and Lu Qianqiao!

Xin Mei was stunned.

Manager Zhao was shouting frantically: “The mutual love mirror! The mutual love mirror! After all these years, it’s finally shown its power! Heaven has opened its eyes! The General’s destined true love is right here!”

The demons exploded with a “buzz.” Si Lan couldn’t handle the shock and fainted.

The embracing couple in the mirror quickly disappeared. Xin Mei held the mutual love mirror, hesitating whether to look again. Manager Zhao had already rushed over tearfully, grabbing her sleeve and shaking: “Miss, you must treat our General well…”

The mutual love mirror was thrown at his face as Lu Qianqiao dragged the bewildered Xin Mei away.

“What’s going on?” she asked carefully.

He said expressionlessly: “Go back to sleep!”

His mood seemed to have soured again… Xin Mei tightly closed her mouth, being very sensible this time and staying quiet.

From that night on, Lu Qianqiao’s mood never seemed to improve. Previously he’d at least say a few words to her, but now he treated her like air. Whether he had business or not, he’d call several people to Guihua Hall for mysterious discussions, tying her to a tree outside.

This day the sun was lovely. Xin Mei sat in the courtyard sunbathing, grabbing small stones to throw at Guihua Hall’s windows for fun.

The window was suddenly opened by someone. Lu Qianqiao looked at her from afar, from above, with restraint—one glance.

Xin Mei quickly waved: “Are you done talking?”

She needed to eat, drink, relieve herself, bathe…

“…Quiet.” He slammed the window shut.

She threw another stone that hit the window with a “thunk.” No more sounds came from inside.

“Hehe, Brother Lu seems to be angry with Miss Xin these past few days?”

Light laughter came from behind. Xin Mei turned around to see a beautiful girl in a pink silk dress standing under the tree, covering her mouth as she looked at her.

“Tied to a tree like this, you look just like a dog.” Her laugh was perfectly timed.

Xin Mei thought hard for a while before finally remembering her name: “Sister Honglian, standing under the tree in that outfit, you really look like my great aunt—so familiar and dear.”

“It’s Yinglian!”

Yinglian took a deep breath, gritting her teeth as she forced a smile, while touching her face. She… should still be young, right? How could she look like her great aunt?

It might be that the little girl before her was too fresh and tender—snow-white, full cheeks, pure and intelligent eyes and brows, with that unique innocent charm that only teenage mortal girls possessed. Female demons could never have such innocence again. Yinglian couldn’t help but feel dejected.

Moreover, the mutual love mirror could actually reflect her image with Lu Qianqiao…

Yinglian sighed, feeling envious, angry, and somewhat pitying.

“Seeing you tied up like this is quite pitiful. Want to leave?” she asked with a smile.

Yes! Xin Mei nodded vigorously.

“Then, sister will secretly set you free… okay?”

Great! Xin Mei was moved to tears.

Yinglian lowered her long sleeves to cover the tree trunk, looking up at her with a slight smile that contained both smugness and schadenfreude.

“Follow the phantom red lotuses I’ve created and keep walking. In the northwest of the Imperial Tomb lives my friend, a bear demon. You can stay with him temporarily. When everything settles down, sister will secretly help you leave.”

Xin Mei clutched the lotus petals in her hand, walking far away while still turning back to look. Kind Sister Yinglian was still in the same spot, waving goodbye to her.

The truth was, supposedly a quite famous bear demon lived northwest of the Imperial Tomb. Female demons in the area, from age one to one hundred, would pale at the mention of him.

—Of course, Xin Mei knew none of this. She was currently crouched by the roadside, picking a wild flower and plucking its petals.

“Go back… don’t go back… go back… don’t go back…”

After plucking the last petal, heaven’s decree to her was: don’t go back.

Xin Mei rubbed her eyes and got up to continue walking.

Qiuyue, I’m sorry. I’m really not a good master… You must hold on. Before I find someone to rescue you, don’t get roasted into dried pelican!

Xin Mei was feeling very sad now, wiping her tears as she followed the phantom red lotuses forward.

A tall, fat man in black clothes suddenly appeared ahead, floating over like he was riding clouds. As they passed each other, he looked down at her and suddenly stopped.

“Little miss, are you lost?” The tall, fat strange uncle showed a kindly smile.

Xin Mei didn’t even look up: “Go away! This lady is in a bad mood!”

“So fierce!” The strange uncle was stunned, then continued smiling kindly. “Uncle likes spirited little girls. Want to come play at uncle’s house? Uncle will buy you candied hawthorns.”

Xin Mei looked up tearfully: “Really?”

The strange uncle nodded vigorously: “Genuine gold real!”

“…I want roasted meat and rice noodles too.”

“Got them all!” The strange uncle happily supported the little girl and led her home…

—It was said that bear demon loved beautiful women most, often using low tricks like delicious food and candied hawthorns to lure innocent young girls.

That little girl had probably been lured away by now, right?

Having dealt with both her rival and annoying suitor at once, Yinglian felt dozens of pounds lighter all over. Humming a little tune, she returned to the pond for an afternoon nap. Unexpectedly, Tao Guoguo suddenly jumped down from the treetop, frowning as he looked at her.

“Sister Yinglian, how could you send a mortal to the bear demon’s place to die?”

He’d been eavesdropping for a long time and completely disagreed with such behavior. That bear demon guy was both lustful and crude, with frightening strength, yet liked to pretend elegance. Female demons near the Imperial Tomb all avoided him like the plague, yet she actually sent Xin Mei his way.

Yinglian wasn’t flustered, just smiled: “Have you forgotten how she knocked you unconscious?”

Tao Guoguo’s face reddened: “That’s a different matter. When she hit me, it was… it was because I was wrong first, trying to steal her soul to increase my power. But pushing her toward the bear demon is different—that’s harming her!”

Yinglian laughed carelessly: “Being deceived only shows the deceived person is too stupid. She can actually make the mutual love mirror show its power… Ridiculous, would I lose to her?”

“Sister Yinglian!” Tao Guoguo was anxious.

She patted his still somewhat tender cheek and jumped into the pool, transforming into a blooming red lotus.

“Guoguo is still too green. When women encounter rivals, they can think of any vicious methods. When you grow up, never look for women—just live your whole life with your brother.”

Ah, sleep time… The feeling of lifting a heavy burden from her heart was truly wonderful.