With the talisman array supporting him, Marquis Zhenbei had a sliver of strength left. He took a deep breath and said, "I’ve kept this hidden because I feared you’d have such thoughts."
The Empress, learning of her brother’s long-hidden burden, felt her heart wrench with pain. "Brother, at this point, what is there to hide? What happened that caused your soul to be so damaged?"
Marquis Zhenbei sighed, surveying the people in the room before beckoning Ye Siheng and Nanli closer. His face was gaunt, and his voice weak. "The Prince commands respect in the court, and the Princess Consort is highly skilled in Taoism. This matter should be disclosed to you."
Everyone remained silent, not wanting to disturb the Marquis.
He continued, "Over twenty years ago, an evil spirit appeared in the palace, causing the deaths of many palace servants overnight. The National Master was still alive then and used a talisman array to trap it when it was at its weakest."
Nanli’s interest piqued. Although the National Master was no longer alive, his legendary skills in setting up flawless feng shui arrays in the palace and capital were still admired.
Xie Beihan asked, "Father, were you injured by that evil spirit?"
Marquis Zhenbei shook his head gently. "No, the evil spirit was too powerful to be destroyed. The National Master decided to seal it away, which required a complex ritual involving two people whose birth charts were both complementary and conflicting."
Ye Siheng realized, "Marquis, you were one of those people?"
"Indeed," Marquis Zhenbei nodded. "The Emperor summoned me. The evil spirit tore at our souls to break the sealing array, but the National Master’s profound skills saved the day. However, our souls were damaged, and the National Master could only repair them partially with talismans and elixirs."
Nanli couldn’t help but admire, "The National Master’s talismans were truly remarkable, to keep you alive and hide your soul’s damage for so long. I’ve seen you many times and never noticed."
Marquis Zhenbei hummed weakly. "Indeed. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years later."
The Empress, recalling her brother’s extended bedridden period after returning from the palace, felt tears welling up. "Why didn’t you tell us about such a grave matter?"
"The National Master said I could live another ten to twenty years. What was there to say?" Marquis Zhenbei smiled feebly at his sister. "To live this long is more than I expected. Beihan, don’t blame me for rushing your marriage. I couldn’t wait any longer..."
Xie Beihan was too heartbroken to speak. No wonder his aunt was chosen as the Crown Princess, and no wonder he was never severely punished despite his misdeeds. His father had sacrificed so much.
Marquis Zhenbei, sensing his end, turned to Fan Yunxi. "Xi’er, they say Beihan is simple-minded, but really, he’s just foolish. Now that you’re married, you must understand and support each other."
Fan Yunxi, meeting the Marquis’s cloudy eyes, felt a wave of turmoil inside, unsure whether to speak the truth.
Xie Beihan, grasping her hand tightly, said, "Father, don’t worry. We will live well together."
Marquis Zhenbei seemed to relax a bit at these words. He then looked at Nanli, pleading, "I don’t ask to be saved, only for a small favor. Tonight is Beihan’s wedding night. If I..."
Nanli understood, "I cannot extend your life, but I can keep your soul within your body to prevent decay."
Marquis Zhenbei had his reasons. If news of his death spread tonight, people would say Fan Yunxi brought misfortune, causing her father-in-law’s death as soon as she entered the house. He had hurried the marriage, knowing his time was short, to see his son wed. Though others might see it as Fan Yunxi’s elevation, she was marrying into a family with its own dangers.
The Marquis now felt at peace. The talisman’s effect waned, and his breath grew weaker.
Nanli, struck by a thought, asked, "Marquis, who was the other person in the ritual with you?"
The odd nature of the event meant there were no records of it.
"It was the Prince of Rongyang," the Marquis replied.
His eyelids drooped, and his body slumped sideways.
Xie Beihan rushed to support him, feeling his father’s life ebb away.
Nanli quickly threw out several copper coins, forming a sigil to keep the Marquis’s soul anchored.
A chill wind gusted through, making the lamps flicker.
Ye Siheng glanced around, murmuring, "Are those ghost messengers?"
Nanli saw ghost messengers lurking in the shadows, familiar ones she had once assisted.
"How can you see me?" One ghost messenger, curious, tried to approach Ye Siheng but stopped short, feeling an oppressive force.
He swallowed hard, eager to complete his task and leave. Approaching the bed, he saw the copper coins holding the Marquis’s soul. He looked at Nanli. "Ancestor, this man’s life is over, and his soul is severely damaged. He must be taken to the Underworld immediately. Keeping his soul here is harmful."
Nanli said, "It’s his wish. I’m merely helping him. I will personally escort him to the Underworld in half a month. Please allow this."
The ghost messenger shook his head. "Failing to retrieve a soul is dereliction of duty, punishable in the Underworld. Ancestor, please don’t make this difficult for me."
Nanli didn’t intervene, merely smirking, "You can try."
Irritated at being underestimated, the ghost messenger retorted, "Try, I shall!"
He produced a soul-retrieving rope and threw it towards the Marquis.
Xie Beihan, feeling only a sudden chill, shivered.
The rope, designed to pull souls from bodies, missed its mark.
The ghost messenger, shocked, tried again, but the talisman and copper coins held the soul too firmly. The rope had no effect.