The Ghost Insists on Giving Me a Beautiful and Powerful Wife! - Chapter 13

Lu Qingzhen!

That underworld officer who had insisted on shoving Jiang Huaining into her arms as a wife!

She looked quite different from that sticky, terrifying figure of that night. Without the messy hair covering her face, she looked much better.

Lu Qingzhen groaned twice as she crawled up from the ground.

She pulled out a black-patterned cloth and wiped her face, gradually revealing her pale complexion and the blue flames painted on her left cheek.

“Even though your spiritual power’s source is fire, you could still learn from Qiu Luo. Every time before summoning me, at least ask if I’m free first. Let me be mentally prepared before I show up. What if I was busy, huh?”

“Heh, you’re the one sent by the Underworld to keep an eye on our Four Seasons Shop. If we call you, how could you not be available?”

“What keeping an eye? You make it sound so ugly. I am the important bridge of cooperation between the Underworld and the Four Seasons Shop. Show me some respect.”

Xia Yu sat back down, crossed her legs, and sipped her wine. “I’m not Qiu Luo. I don’t waste time on pointless things.”

“How is it pointless?” Lu Qingzhen wasn’t satisfied, puffing herself up and plopping down right across from Xia Yu.
“Look at Qiu Luo—not only the strongest of the four of you, but also the gentlest. Don’t you have anything to say about that?”

Xia Yu visibly blanked out for a long while before answering: “She’s lucky.”

“What kind of answer is that? Don’t you Four Spirits all share the same fate?”

Lu Qingzhen clearly wasn’t pleased, but Xia Yu had no desire to continue the conversation. She simply pointed at Yu Ruoyin, who was trying her best to shrink her presence: “Our boss’s wife has questions for you.”

“Boss’s wife?” Lu Qingzhen’s curiosity was instantly piqued. She turned her gaze onto Yu Ruoyin. “So it really is you!”

Lu Qingzhen’s expression gradually lit up. She rubbed her hands together excitedly. “Well? Isn’t Boss Jiang as a wife just perfect?”

Xia Yu gave her a sharp kick on the ankle. “I called you here to answer questions, not gossip.”

“You!” Lu Qingzhen hissed through clenched teeth at the pain, glaring several times at Xia Yu. “If you want to question me, then by the rules of business, shouldn’t you also do me a little favor?”

“In your dreams.”

Xia Yu’s firm tone made Lu Qingzhen’s face collapse. But the moment her eyes drifted back to Yu Ruoyin, she brightened again.
“Little sister, what do you say?”

“Me?” Yu Ruoyin shook her head. “I don’t think I can help.”

Lu Qingzhen only grew more excited. “That’s fine! As long as you’re willing to try, your wife would never ignore you.”

She was clearly targeting Jiang Huaining.

Xia Yu gave her another swift kick, utterly exasperated. “The Four Spirits’ duty is to oversee the four seasons, not to clean up the Underworld’s messes.”

“What are you talking about? Our Underworld doesn’t make messes.” Growing more familiar with Xia Yu, Lu Qingzhen scooted over and sat right beside her.
“If it were a matter of souls, I wouldn’t even be asking you. It’s zombies.”

At the word zombies, even Xia Yu’s interest stirred. “What level?”

“Jade corpses!” Lu Qingzhen leaned in and continued: “Strange, isn’t it? Ever since the Grave-robbing Sect declined, powerful zombies have rarely been seen. But these past two days, two jade corpses suddenly appeared in Chong City, and both the Yin and Yang realms are in an uproar. Maoshan’s Pinghu Mountain has elders out of seclusion, the Corpse-driving Sect and the Zhuang family have moved too. But you know—the last time a jade corpse appeared was over four thousand years ago. None of today’s descendants have any experience with them. I thought if you all lent a hand, it could reduce casualties. After all, you do have experience fighting jade corpses.”

“Shut up.”

Just a moment ago Xia Yu had been listening with perked ears, but once Lu Qingzhen mentioned events from four thousand years ago, her expression darkened.

She tried to silence her, but from the staircase came the faint sound of a cough.

Jiang Huaining had come down at some point. She asked Lu Qingzhen, “Are you certain it’s jade corpses?”

Her condition looked much better than yesterday’s, though her mood clearly wasn’t—her face clouded as she glanced at Xia Yu and the table full of wine.

Xia Yu shot up at lightning speed, swept every wine bottle off the table, and rushed into the kitchen. Soon retching sounds echoed inside.

Not only Yu Ruoyin, even Lu Qingzhen was left dumbfounded. “What on earth is she doing?”

Yu Ruoyin blinked back to herself. “Aunt Ning said last night she doesn’t want to see her drinking anymore.”

“No wonder.” Lu Qingzhen laughed gleefully, thoroughly enjoying Xia Yu’s misery. “If she doesn’t vomit on her own, Boss Jiang has plenty of ways to make her.”

“Right, Boss Jiang…”

She turned, eager for Jiang Huaining’s confirmation—but froze mid-sentence.

Jiang Huaining had put on lipstick, which brightened her complexion considerably.

But Lu Qingzhen was an underworld officer. Her eyes didn’t see the same way Yu Ruoyin’s did.

Suddenly she stood, walked over to the staircase, and looked up at Jiang Huaining in disbelief. “Boss Jiang, your aura…”

Something felt off. She immediately pulled out a black jade token.

Its texture was similar to Jiang Huaining’s and Xia Yu’s black jade tokens, but with one clear difference—the back was engraved with the character  (Yin).

The token released thick black mist from her palm, which rushed toward Yu Ruoyin.

As the black mist approached, Yu Ruoyin was struck by icy cold, her limbs stiffening.

But then a warm current surged out from the crimson jade fruit at her neck, driving the chill away.

Not only that—the fruit glowed with dazzling red light that instantly dispelled the black mist.

Lu Qingzhen’s gaze locked onto her, now sharp and unfriendly. “How could this be?”

She turned to Jiang Huaining in disbelief. “Boss Jiang, your wife has stolen your spiritual power.”

Jiang Huaining’s eyes were calm as she answered, “You said it yourself—she’s my wife. How could it be stealing?”

“This isn’t right! A marriage that drains your power is no good fate at all!” Lu Qingzhen’s agitation grew. “If word gets out that the Four Seasons Shop’s master has lost her power, things might spiral into chaos—just like four thousand years ago. Something this serious, Boss Jiang, how could you not discuss it with Lord Yama?”

“Enough.” Jiang Huaining cut her off, unwilling to let her continue.

But Lu Qingzhen had already lost control. “No, I must report this to Lord Yama right away. The Four Seasons Shop mustn’t reopen for now—the regulars mustn’t notice anything wrong. The news must be contained. And Boss Jiang, you need to reclaim your power quickly.”

“Ah Zhen, calm down.” Jiang Huaining restrained the urge to cover her mouth. “It’s only half my spiritual power. And besides, I can still use the power in her body.”

This time Yu Ruoyin understood. Her hand instinctively reached for the crimson jade fruit.

It wasn’t merely some badge of identity—it was half of Jiang Huaining’s spiritual power, condensed.

Jiang Huaining’s indifferent tone only drove Lu Qingzhen further into hysteria. “Boss Jiang, you remember how chaotic it was back then! The great demons are hardly pushovers. Half your power isn’t enough. Yes, you can draw on her power, but what if she refuses? If you force it, it’ll harm her body. You’re being reckless!”

So this fruit was that important.

No wonder Jiang Huaining had said she didn’t need to study spells to fight ghosts—she had already given her the best tool possible.

Half the power of a ten-thousand-year spirit—Yu Ruoyin didn’t need expertise to understand just how heavy this gift was.

And she had even complained yesterday that Jiang Huaining was brushing her off…

Guilt welled up. Jiang Huaining noticed her shift in mood and quickly grabbed Lu Qingzhen. “Ah Zhen, quiet.”

Her tone carried a sharper edge.

Lu Qingzhen instantly tucked the token away and nodded.

She treated Jiang Huaining far more reverently than Xia Yu did.

Yu Ruoyin thought of Xia Yu.

Right then, Xia Yu emerged from the kitchen, finished with her retching. The smell of alcohol had faded; she looked more sober and even her attitude had softened.

For once, she even spoke up in Jiang Huaining’s defense: “Lu Qingzhen, even if our boss turned into a cripple, I’m not dead yet. With me here, you think any demon would dare act up?”

“You?” Lu Qingzhen gave her a disdainful side-eye. “You spend every day wishing Boss Jiang would die. If you don’t take a swing at her during the chaos, that’s already good enough.”

Xia Yu laughed bitterly. “Ha. And your Lord Yama, is she dead then?”

“The Lord Yama…” The mention steadied Lu Qingzhen, her eyes darting as an idea formed. “Fine. I’ll report this to Lord Yama. And I hope she allows me to move into the Four Seasons Shop.”

Even Jiang Huaining was surprised by this shift. “You want to move in?”

“Yes.” Lu Qingzhen puffed up her chest and pointed at Xia Yu. “I need to protect your safety—and keep an eye on her.”

“Idiot.” Xia Yu sneered. “If I truly wanted to act, you couldn’t stop me.”

“Of course I know. But all I need to do is hold on until summer ends.”

Xia Yu’s eyes turned icy. “I’ll kill you before autumn comes.”

Lu Qingzhen stretched her neck defiantly. “Go ahead! As the bridge between the Underworld and the Four Seasons Shop, if I die at a Spirit’s hands, then so be it—that’s my fate!”

She looked ready to martyr herself. Jiang Huaining could only smile helplessly at the scene.

Not bothering with their squabble, she walked over to Yu Ruoyin. “Ah Yin.”

Ever since learning the truth of the crimson jade fruit, Yu Ruoyin had been silent. She wasn’t stupid—she could piece together plenty from their conversation.

Jiang Huaining’s role demanded immense power—not only to suppress great demons but also to keep employees like Xia Yu in line.

She was just an ordinary human, unworthy of half Jiang Huaining’s power.

Perhaps this was exactly why Xia Yu had called Lu Qingzhen here before Jiang Huaining woke—because Jiang Huaining could control Xia Yu’s tongue, but not Lu Qingzhen’s. She wanted the truth exposed, wanted Yu Ruoyin to feel unworthy and return the power herself.

If her guess was right, then Xia Yu had succeeded. At the same time, it proved that Xia Yu’s attitude toward Jiang Huaining wasn’t as hostile as it seemed.

Yu Ruoyin lifted her head and spoke earnestly: “Aunt Ning, please take your power back.”

Jiang Huaining’s face darkened instantly, but Yu Ruoyin pressed on: “Didn’t you say you’d teach me to use talisman paper? Once I learn that, I’ll be able to protect myself. There’s no need for me to keep what belongs to you.”

“So obedient!” Lu Qingzhen was overjoyed at her plea.

But Jiang Huaining’s expression soured. She coldly shoved Lu Qingzhen aside and gently patted her head. “Good girl, she was spouting nonsense. Don’t believe a word.”

The color drained further from her lips.

The liar wasn’t Lu Qingzhen. It was her.

Yu Ruoyin instinctively supported her, whispering cautiously in her ear: “Pretty wife, I really don’t need this power.”

She meant to coax her, but Jiang Huaining didn’t buy it. Her face remained expressionless as she turned away. “Ah Zhen, are you certain it’s a jade corpse?”

She ignored Yu Ruoyin and steered the conversation back to business.

Lu Qingzhen wanted to push the point again, but Jiang Huaining’s sickly complexion warned her off.

“Actually, not entirely certain,” she admitted. “Everyone who saw it up close died—their souls devoured. We could only extract fragments from the leftover bodies to judge. The power feels the same, and the killing method too, but…”

Jiang Huaining paused, then said quietly:

“Perhaps it’s a Jade Puppet.”

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