Chapter 34 Chapter Thirty-Four — Past Events

Even as the female ghost was bound by Chen Ziyu, Li Daoxuan within the mirror seemed to take out something, and the mirror surface began violently to undulate, as if melting.

Drop by drop of copper fell, then a jet of scorching flame burst forth, burning through the mirror face.

Li Daoxuan, gripping the Three-Realms Gourd, leapt out from the mirror.

A trace of dread remained in his eyes; the mirror-space was most strange, as if a sealed chamber, all around dark, able to see out through the glass yet unable to leave.

Blessedly he still had the Three-Realms Gourd; with flame he burned through the mirror face, breaking the other's power.

"Sister Yu, well done!"

Li Daoxuan gave Chen Ziyu a thumbs-up; worthy of Sister Yu — one move and she had the other in hand.

Chen Ziyu gave no answer, but closed her eyes, brows slightly knit.

This puzzled Li Daoxuan; Sister Yu was like a glacier, eternal and unmelting, her face stunning but never any expression — why suddenly knit her brows?

Worried the female ghost had some further trick, Li Daoxuan gripped the Fish-Intestine, about to stab.

Yet strands of black hair blocked before him, like swimming black snakes.

Li Daoxuan froze. "Sister Yu, what is it?"

It was Chen Ziyu's hair.

Chen Ziyu opened her eyes; whether illusion, Li Daoxuan thought he saw in her eyes some flicker of feeling.

Chen Ziyu's red lips parted slightly, uttering no word.

After a long while she withdrew her hair and extended a hand toward Li Daoxuan.

Li Daoxuan looked at that snow-white, slender little hand, somewhat puzzled, not knowing her meaning.

"Sister Yu, you… wish me to hold it?"

Chen Ziyu's expression unchanged; her pale chin nodded slightly.

Li Daoxuan sucked in a sharp breath; Sister Yu, what are you about? We are of different paths, man and ghost — truly not allowed!

Even if you are beautiful, not allowed!

Li Daoxuan was about to decline, when he saw Sister Yu's hair lengthen again, and her wedding dress grow yet redder.

He decisively grasped Sister Yu's hand; the touch was very cold, like a piece of chill jade.

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Sister Yu, to think you are such a domineering woman…

Li Daoxuan, who had never held a girl's hand, felt a flutter in his heart — but the instant he grasped Sister Yu's small hand, he knew he had thought too much.

Scene after scene began to surface in Li Daoxuan's mind…

A gentle, soft-tempered woman lay upon a bed, her looks somewhat like the cursed effigy.

Her face was pale, sickly; Squire Huang and the now-principal wife stood beside, and in the corner crouched a thin little girl.

The woman held Squire Huang's hand. "My lord, I have few days left; after I die, hold no grand funeral — keep it simple; the silver saved, my lord, hold more congee charities, and help the pitiful."

Squire Huang's eyes held tears; he held her hand. "Yulan, I… I will find you the finest physician…"

The woman shook her head, entreating, "My lord, my time is short; my last wish only — will you grant it?"

"What is it? Speak; I shall surely grant it!"

The woman beckoned to the corner; the thin girl at once laughed and leapt to her; her gaze was vacant, and only leaning in mother's arms did she show a sweet smile.

"My lord, Hui'er is our own daughter; though she… has an ailment, she is yet your flesh. I beg you henceforth to care the more for Hui'er!"

Squire Huang looked at the thin girl, his gaze somewhat awkward.

Hui'er was his first child, but born with an illness of the mind, foolish and simple, which shamed him abroad; thus he had never much liked her.

"Good — I promise you."

The woman relaxed, then looked to the gold-and-silver, heavy-painted woman beside.

"Sister, after I die you are the principal wife of the house. Your sister these years pinched and saved a dowry for Hui'er; I have had the maids send it all to your room."

"Sister, do not refuse; that coin is but your sister's heart. When Hui'er grows, I beg you trouble yourself to pick her an auspicious husband — not a dragon among men, only honest, kind, one who will cherish Hui'er."

The heavy-painted woman stepped forward and smiled. "Sister, rest easy; I shall care for Hui'er as my own."

So saying she reached to touch the little girl's face, and was near bitten on the finger.

The thin Hui'er curled in mother's arms, letting none touch her, like a wounded young beast.

"My lord, sister — you both rest; I would speak with Hui'er alone a while."

When Squire Huang and that woman left, the woman held her daughter, gently stroked her hair, her eyes full of reluctance.

"Hui'er, mother is dying."

The little girl looked up, a flicker of doubt in her eyes, as if she could not grasp the word death.

"Die means mother must leave; after, mother will never see you again."

The little girl's pupils shook; deep dread showed.

The woman ached; she cupped that face so like her own, and a thought flashed; she pointed at the bronze mirror in the room.

"Hui'er, when you miss mother, go look in the mirror; mother is there."

…

A few days later the woman died.

The thin Hui'er, in white mourning, stared foolishly at the great box holding mother, fading bit by bit into the wind and snow…

After the funeral, Squire Huang held congee charities and won a good name; the second wife ascended, smiling; all forgot the little girl huddled in the corner.

But soon the principal wife remembered Hui'er.

For the principal wife found Squire Huang still at times pined for the dead woman; in jealousy she began to abuse the little girl who all day huddled in the corner staring at the mirror.

At first but scolding, later she laid hands readily, from wooden rod to leather whip, her means ever more ruthless.

She even connived for servants to bully Hui'er, then had them spread Hui'er's humiliations, so Squire Huang, ashamed, no longer shielded her, even loath to mention his foolish daughter.

As Hui'er grew day by day, the principal wife found Hui'er more and more the dead woman's twin, as if carved from one mold.

Fearing Squire Huang would see and remember that woman, on a snow-flying winter day she had the steward forcibly drive Hui'er from the house.

Hui'er in only thin cloth, shivering, wandered like a homeless ghost about the Huang residence.

The principal wife had servants beat and abuse her; after many painful beatings, Hui'er at last limped away.

At last one winter morning she wandered to a lake, faced the dawn, stared foolishly at her reflection in the water, then smiling leapt in.