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“Wang Can, you deceived me, saying you would marry me and take me back to your home. But once we returned, you said I could only be a concubine. You treated me well, coaxed and pampered me until I lost my innocence, leaving me with no choice but to unwillingly remain as a concubine. I thought you had feelings for me, so I accepted my fate.”
“But what about you? Less than a month after returning, you grew tired of me and left me behind, allowing the women in your household to bully me. I lost my child, and I hated you. I wanted to leave, to go home, but you wouldn’t allow it. You didn’t want me, and you forbade me from leaving, even breaking my leg to prevent my escape.”
Wang Can’s gaze fell on Xiao Panpan’s helpless legs, floating in the air, swaying gently as though they were fragile and boneless. He knew that her knees were broken, which explained her current state.
As those memories flooded back, Wang Can was filled with regret, continuously bowing his head in apology.
“I’m sorry! Panpan, I… I liked you! At that time, I truly liked you. I was just afraid you’d run away with someone else. In a fit of madness, I acted violently towards you. I didn’t mean it.”
Xiao Panpan looked at him with a sneer, her eyes filled with hatred. “Wang Can, don’t think I will forgive you. I want to see you suffer in hell. My resentment will not dissipate. You and your mother can stop dreaming.”
Madam Wang hurriedly said, “Miss Xiao, you may be dead and it doesn’t matter to you, but what about your family? I can compensate your family. Just don’t hate my son. I will do anything to make it right; do you still have a father and mother? I’ll pay them whatever they need.”
Xiao Panpan thought of her family and smiled sadly. “We don’t need anything. If you truly want to compensate me, let me consume Wang Can’s soul. Perhaps that way, my resentment will fade.”
Madam Wang was startled and shook her head repeatedly. “No, no, Miss Xiao, please don’t say that!”
Now the ones filled with fear were the mother and son duo. Xiao Panpan felt the tides had truly turned. She had never imagined that one day, they would kneel before her, begging for mercy in such a pitiful manner.
Xiao Panpan felt a sense of satisfaction but had no intention of forgiving them.
“My love, hatred, and grievances are mine to manage, right? You two can stop wasting your efforts; I will not forgive.”
With that, Xiao Panpan floated away.
Madam Wang was instantly filled with despair. If she refused to forgive, what would happen to her son?
Qingli silently thought to herself that it served them right.
Madam Wang called forth the second spirit, this time a man, the only male among the spirits, accompanied by a woman. They approached hand in hand. Their appearances were not particularly terrifying, but their resentment was the strongest.
Madam Wang bowed repeatedly, worried that this couple would not forgive her. Both had been killed by her son, and while it was unintentional, the damage was done, making any further explanation unnecessary.
“I beg you both to forgive my son. I am willing to make amends. Just tell me what you need; I will do anything.”
Fearing they would refuse to forgive, she banged her head on the ground, producing loud thuds, looking utterly pitiful.
The couple exchanged glances, and the man spoke, “We have a son who is now five years old. After our deaths, he was taken in by my brother’s family, but they do not treat him well. I want my son to live comfortably for the rest of his life, to be educated, and to live a stable life. If you can do this, then we can forgive.”
The spirits were straightforward, directly stating their needs.
Upon hearing this, Madam Wang was overjoyed. “I can do that! I can provide for him. I’ll arrange for a teacher to educate him and give him a substantial sum of money to ensure he can live comfortably for the rest of his life.”
Hearing this, the couple felt relieved. Each time their souls returned to that home, witnessing their son’s hardships was painful, and their resentment towards Wang Can only grew stronger. It was because of him that they could not accompany and nurture their son, leaving him to suffer at such a young age.
If the Wang family could alleviate their concerns, they would be willing to let go of their hatred.
Madam Wang quickly instructed someone to take notes and said to the couple, “Mr. Chen from Ronghua Academy is a reputable and reliable person. I will ask him to teach your son and enroll him in Ronghua Academy. I will pay the tuition in full and provide additional support for your son’s living expenses. Just tell me how much you think is appropriate; I will provide whatever I can.”
For Madam Wang, money was no longer a concern; her son’s well-being was what mattered most.
The couple exchanged glances, and the man spoke, “In addition to the education expenses, we would like an additional 1,000 taels.”
Madam Wang felt this was manageable, but considering the other matters still to be addressed, she worried about whether she would have enough left.
However, she didn’t hesitate and nodded in agreement. “Alright, I will provide it! But who should I give the money to? Your child is still young and cannot safeguard it by himself. You two need to decide who will receive this money, and I will give it immediately.”
Hearing this, the couple became troubled. Yes, who should they give the money to? None of their relatives were willing to care for their child. Their elder brother had been forced to take him in, but he treated the boy poorly, providing nothing but leftovers and assigning him countless chores in return. The rest of their relatives only looked on coldly, never offering a helping hand.
If they hadn’t died and turned into wandering souls, they wouldn’t have seen how their family members behaved—so ungrateful and selfish.
Seeing the couple in distress, Qingli interjected, “You could give the money to the village chief, allowing everyone to witness and supervise. That way, no one would dare to embezzle it.”
The man shook his head. “Master, you don’t understand. The village chief is unscrupulous; if we give it to him, our son will never see a single tael.”
The couple became anxious again, unable to think of a good solution.
The woman’s gaze fell on Qingli, and she quickly floated over to kneel before her. “Master, you are a powerful sorceress. I beg you to help me. If you could hold onto the money for us, giving our child a small amount each month, and then when he turns sixteen, give him the rest, would you agree? We cannot find anyone we trust.”
Qingli was momentarily taken aback; she hadn’t expected to be asked for such a favor. However, she had too many things to deal with and no time to manage a child.
Qingli quickly refused, “No, I can’t do that, madam. I am a wanderer, constantly on the move. My whereabouts are unpredictable, and I fear I will not be able to fulfill your request.”
Upon hearing this, the spirit’s expression dimmed, and the atmosphere turned silent as no one spoke in the hall.
Qingli sighed helplessly, her heart softening. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Every place has a pawnshop. How about this: you can deposit the money in a trustworthy pawnshop, and if you trust me, I can hold onto the receipt. When your son turns sixteen, he can come to me to collect it. Until then, before he turns ten, I can send him money every three months, and after he turns ten, I can send it once a year. After all, my time is limited, and I can’t visit frequently.”
The husband and wife exchanged glances and then nodded. “Alright, Master, we trust you. You are different from other sorcerers; you wouldn’t recklessly take our souls. Your presence is reassuring, unlike those who instill fear in us. We trust you and hope that in our next lives, we can repay your kindness.”
The couple knelt down to thank Qingli. She didn’t avoid them, as she still had to help them with their reincarnation. She could endure this gesture of gratitude.
Madam Wang suggested, “How about buying a young servant? One around your son’s age, so he will have someone to accompany him. By having a contract for the servant, you won’t need to worry about any ulterior motives. This way, you two can feel more at ease.”
Madam Wang was genuinely remorseful and eager to resolve the situation. Qingli recognized her sincerity and agreed to the suggestion.
The ghostly couple hadn’t considered this. They were ordinary people and wouldn’t think of buying a servant. However, after hearing the proposal, they felt it was a good idea. Having a peer accompany their son would ensure he wouldn’t feel so lonely.
Once they reached an agreement, Qingli instructed the couple to visit their son in his dreams that night and give him a proper briefing. This way, the child would be prepared and more readily accept his new life.