People had drowned in this river before. To prevent her from playing in the water, Madam Xu told her many stories about water ghosts who took on the appearance of loved ones to trick people into the water to take their place. Princess Changle had taken these warnings to heart, so now she timidly asked, “Mother, are you a ghost?”

This time, the figure stood still for a longer period before nodding again.

Princess Changle screamed in terror and turned to flee, not daring to look back as she ran back to the estate.

That night, she couldn’t sleep.

Meanwhile, Feng Miaojun pondered why this scene wasn’t in her memories.

For the next two days, Princess Changle didn’t dare go near the riverbank again, and wouldn’t even step outside the estate gate.

Water ghosts—who wouldn’t fear them?

But by the third day, Princess Changle found her courage and returned to the riverbank, bending over to look at the same spot as before.

After all, it was her mother, or at least someone who greatly resembled her mother.

Sure enough, the woman’s reflection appeared in the water again.

Princess Changle summoned her courage and asked softly, “Have you come to find me?”

The figure nodded.

“Does Mother want to take me away?” This was the question she had pondered for two nights.

The figure shook her head without hesitation.

Feng Miaojun unconsciously sighed in relief. Just by looking at the reflection in the water, it was impossible to determine whether this figure had any connection to the Queen of An Xia. If that truly was the departed soul of the Queen, why would she seek out her daughter after a two-year absence?

It shouldn’t be forgotten that at this time, the power of reincarnation was intact and strong. For over a thousand years, no ghost had been known to escape from the underworld. How could the Queen of An Xia have slipped away to meet her daughter?

Of course, Princess Changle was only eleven years old at this time, and her longing for her mother easily overcame her fear of the unknown. She was quite delighted.

That day, she stayed by the river until sunset, leaving only when the water’s surface darkened.

The same occurred every day thereafter.

Having heard the legends of water ghosts, Princess Changle dared not touch the water’s surface, but she poured out her heart to the reflection. The shadow’s responses were prompt; though it couldn’t speak, its nods and shakes of the head provided great comfort to the little girl who had lost her mother two years ago.

Feng Miaojun observed coldly. She neither trusted the kindness displayed by the shadow nor could she fathom its purpose for appearing. If it were up to her to handle the situation, the best course would be to stay far away from this river.

Unfortunately, Princess Changle didn’t think this way.

Feng Miaojun had already faintly detected an ominous undercurrent.

That day, rain fell on Juping Township.

Then a scene familiar to Feng Miaojun unfolded:

Old Woman Wang, a servant at the Feng family estate, insulted the Queen of An Xia in conversation. Princess Changle, unable to bear it, kicked her down and ran out of the manor in tears.

Old Woman Wang had said she had no mother, but Princess Changle had been meeting with the reflection every day and had already come to regard it as her mother. Now, having suffered this insult, she naturally ran straight to the riverbank.

The shadow waited for her in the water.

Princess Changle sobbed, her delicate eyes and nose swollen and red. Between sobs, she complained, “Mother, that old witch cursed you! They all bully me!”

The reflection in the water made a gesture, seemingly neither a nod nor a shake of the head. But on this day of continuous rain, ripples spread across the river’s surface in waves. Not only Princess Changle but even Feng Miaojun couldn’t see clearly.

A chill wind blew across the river for no apparent reason, and the rain suddenly intensified. The shadow on the water’s surface seemed to be struck by a heavy hammer, its form nearly scattering. But at that moment, it finally made a gesture that both Feng Miaojun and Princess Changle could see:

It extended its palm toward the water’s surface.

Or rather, it extended its hand toward Princess Changle, as if gesturing for her to grasp it.

Princess Changle froze momentarily, while Feng Miaojun drew in a sharp breath. After patiently accompanying Princess Changle for several days, was this entity of unknown origin finally revealing its true intention?

“Don’t go!” she murmured.

But Princess Changle couldn’t hear Feng Miaojun’s voice. She stared blankly at the water’s surface as if that hand held an infinite attraction for her.

In fact, after several days of meetings and companionship, her fear of the shadow had greatly diminished, replaced by attachment and hope. Otherwise, why would she have run to the riverbank seeking comfort when Old Woman Wang insulted her parents today?

For these six-plus days and nights, there hadn’t been a single day when she didn’t miss the warmth of her birth mother’s embrace.

The figure beckoned again.

Feng Miaojun’s heart stirred. When Princess Changle was young, the Queen of An Xia had beckoned her to come over in exactly this manner, with identical movements and amplitude. If it were a water ghost in disguise, it might fool Princess Changle, but not Feng Miaojun.

Could a water ghost imitate such details so perfectly?

Indeed, when this gesture was made, Princess Changle immediately recalled childhood feelings, and as if summoned, murmured, “Mother,” and bent down to reach toward the water.

Feng Miaojun sighed silently, helpless. These events had already occurred in the past; now she was merely watching a replay, unable to alter anything.

Sure enough, as soon as Princess Changle’s hand entered the water, it was immediately grasped. An icy sensation traveled up her wrist bone, which Feng Miaojun felt as if it were her own.

Then, an irresistible force pulled Princess Changle directly under the water.

“Splash.”

Feng Miaojun plunged in headfirst along with her.

There was no painful choking of water entering the lungs, no suffocating inability to breathe, and not even… water.

Feng Miaojun opened her eyes along with Princess Changle and found herself standing in a strange space. The ground was neither quite black nor gray, the sky was dim, and objects beyond three zhang away couldn’t be seen.

But Feng Miaojun could hear the sound of water, and she could see the person standing before her.

The Queen of An Xia.

She stood before Princess Changle, as clear and beautiful as in memory, not as blurred as the reflection in the water.

Princess Changle wept with joy and threw herself into her embrace. “Mother!”

“An’an.” The Queen of An Xia bent down and held her tightly. “My An’an, Mother has missed you too.”

This mother and daughter, separated by life and death, embraced and wept bitterly.

Feng Miaojun watched as the Queen of An Xia cradled her daughter’s small face and kissed it again and again, questioning in her heart:

Her emotions seemed too genuine, unlike a female ghost seeking to capture someone. Moreover, now that Princess Changle had entered this space, if she wanted to take her life, she could reveal her true form. Why maintain the disguise?

Could this truly be the Queen of An Xia herself?

After leaning in her mother’s embrace for who knows how long, Princess Changle looked up at her, full of hope: “Mother, take me with you.” She wasn’t a five or six-year-old child anymore and vaguely understood what this place was. Her mother couldn’t return to her side, but perhaps she could go with her mother.

The Queen of An Xia gently stroked her cheek, smiling and shaking her head: “You cannot come with Mother; you still have important matters to attend to.”

Princess Changle grew anxious: “I’m foolish and can’t handle anything well. I need Mother with me!” What kind of talent did she possess? Didn’t she know?