Chapter 270: A Moment of Clarity

“No, no, Master. What you’re saying can’t be right.”

The tyrant shot him a glare. “If you lack the ability, don’t be greedy for wealth. As a prince, do you not have items to accompany you in the afterlife? Do you think I would let you die as a wandering soul? Fool!”

The First Prince slapped his thigh. His father’s words were indeed correct.

He was greedy for wealth, but in the capital, under his father’s watchful eye, he had been too timid to indulge.

He thought, if he couldn’t do what he wanted in life, he should enjoy it in death.

Father managed everything, but surely not paper money.

[Tsk, the First Prince is truly dumb. How did he think to ask Taoist Baiyun about this?]

The First Prince: Huh?

Who else would he ask but Taoist Baiyun?

[Of course, he asked whoever gave him the idea. The First Prince is not only cowardly and greedy but also has a romantic brain. He used to seem quite smart, but after getting caught up in romance, his intelligence dropped to zero. Romance really is dangerous.]

Ah Bao turned and noticed the First Prince looking at her with a puzzled expression. She smiled. “Big pot…”

The First Prince swallowed and patted the little girl’s head. “Good~”

The idea of burning silver money was something Lian’er had told him.

Should he have asked Lian’er?

This lonely woman who had accompanied him for over half a year.

Subconsciously, he had already thought of Lian’er as his future princess…

But he couldn’t understand why Lian’er would deceive him about burning silver money.

“First Prince, I have a question. How did you know about burning silver money during your lifetime to secure wealth in the afterlife?”

The First Prince hesitated, as there were many people present. He didn’t want to ask Lian’er, fearing she would be harmed.

Taoist Baiyun seemed to read his thoughts and smiled gently. “First Prince, His Majesty is also here. I believe that with a little investigation, the truth will be revealed.”

The First Prince looked at the Tiansheng Emperor. He knew his father’s temperament. If he confessed, it would be fine, but if his father investigated, Lian’er’s life would be at risk.

“Lian’er, who told you about this?”

“I…”

The First Prince said, “Lian’er, we are going to marry after we return. We’ve been living together for half a year now. You’re already mine. Don’t be afraid. Whatever happens, I will face it with you.”

Lian’er quickly shook her head. “No, no, no.”

“No what?”

“I can’t be your princess. Love talk is impossible. Money is far more reliable than men.”

“Lian’er, don’t think we’re incompatible. My father isn’t the kind of person who values wealth over people. I believe with your intelligence, you will pass my father’s scrutiny. Look, my father is here. Once we promise our sincerity, my father will definitely agree to my marrying you.”

[Tsk, look at how much this sounds like something a love-struck fool would say.]

The First Prince: I’m not love-struck! I’m not!

Ah Bao dropped a bombshell, “My eldest brother probably doesn’t know that Lian’er isn’t actually a woman.”

Not a woman?

The First Prince frowned. No one knew better than him that Lian’er was definitely a woman. They had lived together for six months, and it wasn’t in vain; they had been intimate.

He knew better than anyone that Lian’er was a woman.

[She is a ghostly beauty.]

The First Prince took a deep breath. What the heck?

The tyrant sneered coldly. He had long suspected something was off about Lian’er. She looked unnaturally pale, and there was a chill whenever you got close to her.

Di Zian: Damn! My eldest brother is incredible—while others play with women, he’s playing with a ghost…

The First Prince slumped to the ground, completely stunned.

Just thinking about spending the past six months with a ghost made him…

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“Lian’er, tell me the truth. If one day I die, would you be willing to be a ghostly couple with me in the underworld?”

[Pfft!]

Ah Bao couldn’t help but laugh in shock.

[Ahhhh, my eldest brother wants to be a ghostly couple with Lian’er. He’s truly a love-struck fool; there’s no saving him!]

The tyrant was furious, “It seems this Lian’er has led my eldest son astray with these foolish ideas. How daring of you!”

“Your Majesty, spare me. I also have my own difficulties.”

Lian’er wasn’t afraid of the First Prince but was terrified of the tyrant.

The tyrant’s imperial aura made it hard for evil spirits to approach.

“Difficulties?”

“I—I didn’t want the First Prince to die. I just wanted to get some silver through him.”

“You? Making the First Prince burn silver for you?” The tyrant frowned.

Lian’er nodded and quickly took the First Prince’s spirit tablet,

Banging it twice, she broke it open, revealing a small plaque inside.

On the small plaque were the words ‘Lian’er’.

The First Prince was dumbfounded, “Wait, how could your spirit tablet be in my tablet’s inner layer?”

Lian’er lowered her head, “I put it in.”

The First Prince then remembered that Lian’er had prepared his spirit tablet.

At that time, Lian’er had hidden her own plaque inside his.

So, all his efforts—burning paper money and gold ingots over the past six months—had been in vain?

Ah Bao chuckled shamelessly.

[My eldest brother is a love-struck fool; what a pity!]

[Lian’er was right to an extent. Burning silver money in life for wealth in death, but Lian’er left out two crucial words: ‘Living person burning silver money, ghostly wealth in the afterlife.’]

[The First Prince was a living person; burning money for a ghost meant it was for Lian’er.]

Hearing Ah Bao’s thoughts, everyone quickly realized.

The First Prince had been used.

However, the First Prince made a surprising statement that left everyone stunned, “Lian’er, I’ll burn a lot more paper money for you. Will you wait for me in the underworld for a hundred years, so we can rekindle our romance?”

[The power of being love-struck is truly remarkable.]

The First Prince wanted to cry. He admitted he was love-struck, but he accepted it. As long as Lian’er was by his side, even if she was a ghost, it was fine with him.

Life is but a hundred years, and who can achieve immortality besides deities?

Since death is inevitable, if he couldn’t be with Lian’er in life, he could be with her in death.

As long as he genuinely loved her, what did it matter if she was a ghost?

The tyrant glared, “Di Xuanlang, you’re so useless.”

“Father, I— I really like Lian’er. Besides, Lian’er and I have been like a couple for some time. I must make her my concubine.”

[Oh, poor eldest brother’s love-struck brain. Lian’er might not be as she seems—she’s the one with a clear mind.]

The First Prince trembled, “Lian’er, I know you also like me. Otherwise, why would you have stayed with me for so long, right?”

Lian’er frowned, “First Prince, do you want to hear the truth?”