Wife is hell

Chapter 93 The Coffin Woman! (6800)
assassin?

Jiang Mu?

Jiang Mu was slightly taken aback upon hearing Su Meixin's words.

Tang Jinxian didn't understand why her best friend suddenly brought this up. Seeing Jiang Mu's blank expression, she patiently explained:
"Ten years ago, an assassin broke into the Forbidden City at night with the intention of assassinating the emperor. When he left after the assassination failed, he deliberately carved his name on the palace wall. The name was 'Jiang Mu'."

When His Majesty learned of this, he was furious. He secretly ordered the patrol department to investigate the murderer. In order to eliminate the root of the problem, he did not hesitate to implicate many people with the same name as 'Jiang Mu' and kill them.

This turmoil lasted for nearly two years before gradually subsiding.

As Tang Jinxian said these words, another inside secret came to mind.

Three months before the assassination attempt, the Imperial Advisor had cast a divination for the then fourteen-year-old Consort Yue.

It is asserted that only her "true soulmate" can be close to Consort Yue in this lifetime.

Although the Imperial Advisor did not reveal the name of Consort Yue's true husband, it is consistent with the assassination case.

Many people privately speculated that the "true love" who could get close to Consort Yue was named "Jiang Mu".

The emperor appeared indifferent, but inwardly he believed the imperial advisor's divination.

So they used the pretext of assassination to suppress the enemy.

After all, if the emperor's concubines were to be touched by other men, it would be a great loss of face for the royal family.

Why would an assassin deliberately leave their name? That would be far too arrogant.

Jiang Mu's expression was rather strange.

Su Meixin didn't answer, but instead raised her hand to smooth out the wrinkles at the hem of her skirt and said:
"Within two years, a total of 320 people named 'Jiang Mu' were killed, including many children as young as ten. After the news spread, many people secretly changed their names, fearing that they would get into trouble."

Secretly changed the name?

Around ten years old?

Jiang Mu's eyes narrowed, and he finally understood why Su Meixin had suddenly brought this up.

Could it be that this Taoist nun suspects that the name "Mu Jiang" has been changed?

Sister, my real name is Jiang Mu.

Tang Jinxian, having also considered the implications, said bluntly, "You don't actually think Mu Jiang changed his name, do you?"

Su Meixin smiled faintly:
"I just thought the name was interesting and mentioned it casually. If I really wanted to avoid trouble by changing my name, I wouldn't be foolish enough to just reverse two characters."

Tang Jinxian seemed to be deep in thought.

She knows this best friend too well.

On the surface, they seem to lead a leisurely life of sightseeing and playing around, changing their identities to dabble in the world, but in reality, they have deep thoughts.

The new emperor's smooth ascension to the throne was not only due to the strong support of the imperial advisor, but also to the considerable efforts made behind the scenes by this princess. Her political acumen was quite remarkable.

Her casual remark at that moment probably meant she was secretly investigating Mu Jiang's background.

Tang Jinxian felt inexplicably worried.

Although she didn't believe that Mu Jiang had ever changed his name, if there was any connection, the consequences would certainly be severe.

I hope I'm just overthinking it.

The sunlight outside the carriage was warm, and the sound of horses' hooves was deafening.

Each of the three had their own thoughts and remained silent as they traveled, soon arriving at Chongtian Temple.

The person who came forward to receive them was Master Xu Youdao, the head of Chongtian Temple.

Xu Youdao was very troubled when he heard Tang Jinxian say that she wanted to enter the forbidden area to investigate.

He glanced at Princess Su Meixin, who was sitting aside, and racked his brains but couldn't find a suitable reason to refuse, so he had no choice but to personally lead the three of them to the forbidden area.

The forbidden area is located below the small lake.

The array platform was supported by the array, suspended like an inverted stone platform.

As the stone gate opened, a blast of cold air rushed out, and the lake water automatically parted to reveal winding stone steps.

Xu Youdao opened the gate to the forbidden area and said:

"Master... uh, fellow Daoist Hongchen, Lord Tang, since this case may be related to that painting, I will only take you to see the coffin that is related to it."

As for the other spiritual objects and ancient books stored within the forbidden area, many of them involve the secrets of the temple's and even the Taoist lineage, and the nature of some of these spiritual objects is unclear, causing them to become restless.

To avoid any unforeseen complications and to ensure everyone's safety, I apologize that I cannot allow you to view each item individually.

Tang Jinxian nodded in understanding:
"Rest assured, Master, we will only look at that stone coffin."

"That's good."

Xu Youdao felt somewhat relieved.

He led the three through a long underground corridor, opened several heavy stone doors, and finally entered a cave.

The coffin was placed in the very center of the cave.

Around the coffin, bright red spider lilies grew in abundance.

Like fire and blood.

The coffin blended seamlessly into the ground.

Around the coffin, there was a protective barrier, a thin, membrane-like protective barrier surrounding it.

Xu Youdao began to speak:
"This restriction is inherent to the stone coffin and no one can break it. Even when the Spirit Sect broke into the forbidden area some time ago, they were unable to open it."

As for the painting, it was stolen during the chaos because it was stored outside at the time.

Jiang Mu stepped forward and paused to gaze at the barrier.

The coffin was open.

As Master Wenhe had said before, the lying corpse and the woman in the painting were almost identical.

A face burned just like the others.

The same blue skirt.

Same body shape.

Jiang Mu felt completely unfamiliar with the corpse.

He felt none of the deep-seated excitement and familiarity he felt when facing his wife, Luo Xianyu.

"This person is definitely not Xianyu; at most, she only resembles her somewhat. In fact, she might not even be from the Xuanming Realm. But this coffin... should be a spiritual object."

Jiang Mu thought to himself.

Although I had some guesses in my mind beforehand, I was still very disappointed when I saw the result.

Su Meixin gazed intently at the woman in the coffin, her eyes flickering slightly.

She remembered an old story.

When Chongtian Temple acquired this coffin, the imperial court intended to request it for research.

Chongtian Temple was also willing to give it up.

For some reason, the imperial court gave up again.

Why give up?
Looking at the spider lilies taking root in the ground around her, she seemed to understand.

Because we can't take it away.

Some spiritual beings, once they take root, can never be moved.

Tang Jinxian didn't see anything amiss. She glanced at Jiang Mu, who was deep in thought, and asked Xu Youdao, "Besides that painting, what else have you lost?"

"Nothing."

Xu Youdao quickly shook his head.

"Really not?"

Tang Jinxian's full lips curled into a cold smile. "I don't believe that the apple spirit that committed the crime recently wasn't stolen from your Chongtian Temple."

Xu Youdao said solemnly:

"Master Tang, this so-called apple really wasn't lost by my Chongtian Temple. Of course, my Chongtian Temple did lose something, but I guarantee that it will be found in time and won't cause any disaster for the people of the city."

Tang Jinxian pursed her pink lips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Just listen to what they say.

When many sects are secretly researching spiritual objects, incidents often get out of control and cause disasters.

Afterwards, they had to pretend to be innocent.

Seeing that they couldn't find anything out, Jiang Mu and the other two left the cave.

Shortly after they left, the woman in the green dress lying in the coffin suddenly twitched her fingers slightly.

"Ugh……"

A faint sigh echoed within the cave.

-

After leaving the forbidden area, Xu Youdao was visibly relieved.

He reactivated the protective array and said to Tang Jinxian:

"Master Tang, since this case involves the painting that our temple lost, our Chongtian Temple will do its utmost to cooperate with the investigation. Please feel free to give any instructions if needed."

"Just hurry up and find your lost spiritual items. Don't cause any more trouble, and I'm not asking for any more help."

Tang Jinxian snorted coldly, her jade-like face showing some dissatisfaction.

Xu Youdao smiled awkwardly.

His gaze shifted to Jiang Mu, a glint of shrewdness flashing within it, and he smiled:

“The other day, Senior Brother Hongyuan has been praising you, young friend. I have also studied those talismans these past few days, and they are indeed powerful. If you have some free time, Young Master Mu, you might as well come to the temple more often to sit and exchange ideas.”

Jiang Mu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely come when I have time."

Tang Jinxian was completely confused.

What kind of talisman?
After the three of them descended the mountain and returned to the carriage, Tang Jinxian couldn't wait to ask, "What did Xu Youdao mean by what he just said?"

Su Meixin's expression was strange.

Good heavens, it turns out my best friend had no idea about this kid's true abilities?
I thought she was hiding it on purpose.

I never imagined that I had really been kept in the dark.

Su Meixin shook her head secretly.

A fine horse is by my side, but my best friend is blind.

Jiang Mu laughed and said, "A master once gave me some pointers on talismans, which I then showed off to Master Hongyuan."

"What kind of expert?"

"secret."

"fine."

Tang Jinxian felt inexplicably annoyed, her cheeks puffed out slightly, and her eyes held a hint of reproach, like a sullen little raccoon, yet her beauty was also vibrant and full of life.

She thought she knew the man in front of her well enough, and even had a vague sense of control over him, as if she had "completely figured him out".

But little did they know that the other party was hiding so many secrets.

This feeling of being out of control made her somewhat irritable.

Perhaps it was the humiliation she felt in her dream that made her really, really want to get her hands on this kid in real life.

Tang Jinxian turned to Su Meixin and asked:
"And you? You said you needed to see me, what is it?"

Su Meixin smiled sweetly and parted her lips slightly:

"Actually, it's not a big deal. The other day, someone gave me a couplet, and I've been racking my brains for a long time, but I can't come up with a single line to match it. Knowing that you, Lord Tang, were once a renowned scholar, I thought I'd ask you for your help in finding a solution."

"You want to discuss poetry with me?"

Tang Jinxian gave a self-deprecating laugh, "You know perfectly well that the little bit of knowledge I have is long since been worn out by the drudgery of paperwork."

"Lord Tang, why belittle yourself?"

Su Meixin's eyes flickered. "Back in the capital, you were hailed as a woman of exceptional talent and intelligence. Even the Grand Tutor praised you as 'witty and intelligent, not inferior to any man.' You even earned the nickname 'Tang the Analyzer.' Why are you being so humble now?"

Jiang Mu was quite surprised to hear this.

His gaze toward Tang Jinxian held a hint of surprise.

Who would have thought that this seemingly capable but uncultured "softie" would have such an elegant past?

Tang Jinxian noticed his gaze, slightly raised her fair chin, a hint of girlish smugness flashing in her eyes, but she pretended to be indifferent: "Tell me, what is the first line of the couplet?"

Su Meixin lightly touched her lips with her fingertips and said:

"The moon reflected in the water is the same moon in the sky."

Tang Jinxian frowned and fell into deep thought.

This couplet appears to be a description of scenery, but it actually contains a Zen-like message, using the interplay of reality and illusion to metaphorically represent the vicissitudes of the human heart. Ordinary couplets rarely capture its meaning.

A moment later, her eyes lit up.

"Have it!"

"The sorrow between your brows is the sorrow before your eyes, so what?"

"Excellent!"

Su Meixin clapped her hands in admiration, "As expected of 'Tang Jieyu,' she is indeed quick-witted."

At this moment, Jiang Mu couldn't help but interject:
"Perhaps... 'The person you see is the person in front of you' is more appropriate?"

Upon hearing this, the carriage fell silent.

Tang Jinxian and Su Meixin were both stunned, their eyes showing obvious surprise.

How did you come up with that idea?

Tang Jinxian's gaze toward Jiang Mu became strange, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

Jiang Mu chuckled: "It was just something I made up on the spot. Please excuse me."

Su Meixin looked at him with sparkling eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

This old man, Mu Cha, is truly becoming more and more unfathomable.

Midway through the journey, Jiang Mu disembarked from the carriage, saying goodbye to the two women, under the pretext of needing to buy cinnabar talisman paper.

Once Jiang Mu's figure had completely disappeared from the street, Su Meixin slowly took off her plain white Taoist robe inside the carriage.

As soon as she had a thought, her body seemed to subtly change. Her originally slender figure became a little fuller, and she regained her usual languid and charming nature.

She leaned back on the soft brocade cushion, slowly and deliberately putting on a pair of silk stockings. Tang Jinxian was still savoring the couplet.

He was both amazed by Jiang Mu's quick wit and somewhat resentful.

She would rather the second line be someone else's work than admit that the guy made it up on the spot.

This conflicting feeling frustrated her greatly.

Su Meixin slowly pulled the silk stockings up to her ankles, flicked them lightly with her fingertips, and the tops of the stockings neatly covered her plump thighs. She smiled and said:

"Such a talented person is a waste to leave in Yancheng. Why don't I take him to the capital so he can show off his skills?"

"Don't even think about it!"

Tang Jinxian immediately refused.

Su Meixin tied her garter belt, a playful smile on her face: "You're not his wife, why are you meddling?"

“I am his boss.”

"I am your boss."

"I……"

Seeing Tang Jinxian's discomfiture, Su Meixin covered her mouth and chuckled, "Look how anxious you are. I was just saying it casually."

But in his heart he thought to himself:
Such talent was truly wasted if left in Yancheng.

I need to think of a way to pry it away from my best friend.

She straightened her clothes and said seriously, "Actually, I came to see you today because of something else. I'd like to ask you for a favor."

"What kind of help?" Tang Jinxian asked.

Su Mei thought to herself, "I hope you can help me with the discussion of the Dao at the Dao Inquiry Conference three days from now."

"No way. With my mediocre skills, wouldn't I just embarrass myself?"

Tang Jinxian refused without hesitation.

"Again, you're being self-deprecating?"

Su Meixin's eyes flickered, "Three years ago, at the Daoist Inquiry Conference in the capital, you discussed the Daoist Scripture with the scholars of Qingfeng Academy, and your witty remarks were truly admirable."

"If Lingmiaozhu hadn't suddenly appeared and stolen your thunder, you might have been the champion of that Dao Assembly."

Upon hearing the words "Lingmiaozhu," Tang Jinxian unconsciously clenched her fists, a surge of frustration welling up inside her.

My best friend was exaggerating.

She did stand out at the Daoist gathering three years ago, but that was far from enough to win the championship.

After all, there were quite a few big shots around at the time.

What annoyed her was that Ling Miaozhu not only refuted her argument, but also mocked her, saying something like, "She is merely adorned with finery, and her literary talent is shallow."

I almost made her faint with anger.

But when facing a hexagonal war god like Lingmiaozhu, it is indeed impossible to defeat it.

All I can do is sulk.

From that day on, she stopped participating in the elegant poetry gatherings that she used to pass the time.

It's fair to say that if there's one person in this world she absolutely hates, it's Ling Miaozhu.

Su Meixin leaned closer, gently pressing her arm against Tang Jinxian's fragrant shoulder, her breath sweet as orchids:

"Little Sugar, please help me. You know that this Wenyan Conference is hosted by Consort Yue. We've always been enemies and can't stand each other. This time she wanted to show off, so I'll eliminate her."

Tang Jinxian still shook her head:
"Forget it, my level is just so-so. I got a little carried away by your praise before, and I really thought I was some kind of talented woman."

Su Meixin continued to persuade:
"Don't worry, we don't have Lingmiaozhu this time, so it doesn't matter whether we win or lose. As long as we can annoy that woman Yuefei, that's fine."

Tang Jinxian hesitated.

-

After getting off the carriage, Jiang Mu went to the shop and bought some cinnabar and talisman paper, as well as some candles. He also picked up a large Taoist robe.

These items were not for drawing talismans, but were needed for Qingyi to build a simple array for refining ghost pills.

As for the Taoist robe, it's to enhance the sense of ceremony.

As Jiang Mu passed by Yuxianglou, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"what?"

A woman in green floated out, looking at the brothel in front of her with surprise, "Such a heavy aura of yin and evil."

Jiang Mu then recalled that when he went to Chongtian Temple yesterday, he happened to meet the madam of Yuxianglou and asked Daoist Xiaohai for help in exorcising evil spirits.

It is said that a woman died in Yuxianglou before, and it has been haunted lately.

"There's definitely something wrong with this Yuxianglou."

Just as I was pondering this, raindrops suddenly began to fall from the originally gloomy sky.

Jiang Mu hesitated for a moment, then draped his wide robe over his shoulders and headed towards Yuxiang Tower.

He bypassed the noise at the main gate and quietly made his way to the side courtyard.

The environment here is serene and tranquil, with lush flowers and trees.

Such an elegant place is naturally reserved for the top courtesans.

Jiang Mu had just stepped into a small courtyard when a clear voice called out to him, "Hey, where did this wild Taoist come from? This courtyard is valuable; you'll have to pay for trespassing!"

Jiang Mu turned his head and saw a pretty young maid standing by the window inside the room, watching him warily.

Jiang Mu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "I am a Taoist priest from Chongtian Temple."

"Chongtian Temple?"

The maid's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in realization, "Could it be that the immortal master that Madam Chen specially invited from Chongtian Temple?"

“It’s me.” Jiang Mu nodded.

"You've finally arrived! Please come in, please come in. This place has been haunted lately, and it's really frightened our young lady."

The young maid excitedly opened the door and turned to call out, "Miss, Mother Chen has invited the immortal master from Chongtian Temple!"

Inside the room, a beautiful woman with exquisite makeup was leaning against the headboard reading a book. Upon hearing this, she first frowned slightly, but when she saw the handsome young man standing at the door, her eyes suddenly brightened.

She quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, and then greeted him with a beaming smile, her voice soft and alluring:

"Immortal Master, your youth and handsome appearance are quite a surprise to me. I am Wen Xiuniang. May I ask how you are addressed, Immortal Master?"

Jiang Mu smiled and bowed, then went straight to the point:
“My surname is Mu. I heard from your Mother Chen that there are evil spirits causing trouble in this place, so I came here to exorcise them.”

The young maid, clearly not as infatuated as her mistress, still looked at Jiang Mu with some suspicion: "Is the Taoist priest really capable of exorcising evil spirits and catching ghosts, given his young age?"

Jiang Mu chuckled:

"Rest assured, I am born with the ability to see ghosts and spirits, which allows me to see what ordinary people cannot. No matter how ghostly or demonic a thing may be, it cannot escape my divine eyes."

"What do you know, little girl?"

Wenxiuniang affectionately took Jiang Mu's arm and said with a smile,
"Although Master Mu looks young, he is actually full of yang energy, far surpassing ordinary Taoists. The fact that Chongtian Temple is willing to send Master Mu here shows that Master Mu's Taoist skills are profound."

She nuzzled Jiang Mu's arm intentionally or unintentionally, her eyes sparkling with charm.

Jiang Mu smiled, took out three white candles, and lit them on the mahogany round table.

Wisps of smoke rose.

It added a touch of solemnity to this beautiful and elegant boudoir.

He then took out a few copper coins and some talismans, and casually placed the incense burner that was enshrined in the corner of the room onto the table.

Seeing this, the maidservant was about 70-80% convinced.

However, the overly large Taoist robe Jiang Mu wore always seemed a bit out of place, lacking the air of a celestial being.

The rain intensified, with large raindrops pattering against the flowers and leaves.

Wenxiuniang hurriedly closed the window, afraid that the cold rain would extinguish the candles used to exorcise the spirit. She turned her head and asked in a sweet voice, "Immortal Master, this rain... won't interfere with your ritual, will it?"

When closing the window, the woman intentionally twisted her waist slightly.

Her hips were taut, forming a full, rounded curve.

As a former top courtesan at Xingchun Courtyard, she knew all too well how to seduce men.

Even as the years pass, her inherent charm can still entice men to spend money.

"It doesn't matter."

Jiang Mu smiled faintly, sat down in his chair, and picked up a handful of sunflower seeds from the table to crack open.

While eating, he crossed his legs and said...

"The ritual will take some time, so let's chat for a bit first. When did this ghostly affair begin?"

Wenxiuniang's eyes flickered as she gracefully sat down beside Jiang Mu and sighed.
"Speaking of this ghost story, it's been going on for a while now, especially lately. When Xiaotao and I sleep at night, we always feel like someone is watching us. It's even more eerie when we take a shower..."

As she spoke, her little feet peeked out from under her skirt and gently rubbed against Jiang Mu's legs.

It was full of flirtatious intent.

Jiang Mu was speechless.

You've eaten so much sausage, aren't you afraid of getting too full?

However, it felt gloomy while I was showering. I'm not sure if someone was spying on me.

Wenxiuniang teased and chattered on, and the topic gradually became ambiguous.

Jiang Mu simply became curious and asked about all sorts of interesting stories and anecdotes from the brothel.

After all, brothels are also special intelligence agencies.

Perhaps with a bit of luck, we might find some clues about the apple spirit.

The maid, Xiao Tao, glanced at the burning white candle, looked around the room, a hint of unease in her eyes, and couldn't help but interrupt:
"Immortal Master, you are an immortal master of Chongtian Temple, so exorcising evil spirits and catching ghosts is certainly no problem for you. This place is really unclean. You must save our young lady. If this continues, my young lady and I are afraid that we will really be haunted by this ghost and never have peace."

"Don't panic, don't rush..."

Jiang Mu waved his hand and spat out the sunflower seed shells.
"Let's chat a bit more first. I don't really know much about brothels, and I'd like to hear your young lady tell me about it so I can broaden my horizons. Exorcising evil spirits is just a small matter."

"But……"

“Little Peach, it’s our good fortune that the immortal is willing to chat with us. Besides…”

Wenxiuniang's eyes sparkled with spring-like light, revealing an undisguised flirtation. "I also enjoy chatting with the immortal master and discussing some 'Taoist arts'."

She never expected that the Taoist priest invited by Chen's mother would be so handsome.

If I had known this would happen, I should have visited Chongtian Temple more often to offer incense.

Why go to the bald-headed temple?

Although she had been feeling uneasy these past few days.

But at this moment, she was truly grateful that this place was haunted, for it had attracted such a handsome young man.

No matter what ghosts or demons, nothing compares to the joy of a night of passion with an immortal.

Xiao Tao was speechless.

My young lady has this infatuation problem every time she sees a handsome man; she just can't seem to shake it.

But a hint of doubt had crept into her heart.

Is this guy really the immortal master of Chongtian Temple?

Is he some kind of scammer trying to freeload off a prostitute?

Wenxiuniang's soft, alluring eyes kept lingering on the man's handsome face, her voice as gentle as water:
“Immortal Master, shall we continue our conversation? Or perhaps we could move to a more private place? We can discuss whatever position you prefer.”

As she spoke, she leaned slightly forward.

Her feet were placed unabashedly on the other person's legs, rubbing against them.

Jiang Mu sighed softly, swept the shells of the sunflower seeds he had just cracked aside, and looked dejected.

"Alright, let's talk about your story first."

"I?"

Wenxiuniang blinked.

"boom!"

The door was suddenly pushed open.

A cold wind swept in, causing the candlelight to flicker wildly.

The person who entered the room was a middle-aged Taoist priest, wearing a turban, with a thin face, and carrying a peach wood sword on his back.

He exuded an air of otherworldly elegance.

Upon seeing Jiang Mu, he paused, his brows furrowing: "Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

Jiang Mu countered with a question.

"I am Zhao Aqiu, a disciple of Hongyuan Peak of Chongtian Temple. I was invited by someone to come here to exorcise evil spirits and cleanse the house, having heard that there are unclean things causing trouble here."

The middle-aged Taoist priest coldly sized up Jiang Mu. "I see that the Taoist robe you are wearing seems to be the style of my Chongtian Temple, but I have never seen anyone like you in the entire temple."

Jiang Mu answered honestly, "I bought the clothes."

The two women, mistress and servant, looked at each other, momentarily bewildered.

Upon hearing Jiang Mu say that "the Taoist robe was bought," Xiao Tao immediately realized what was going on, flew into a rage, and pointed angrily at Jiang Mu: "So, you really are a liar!"

Wenxiuniang's face also turned cold.

She doesn't mind if a man is incompetent, but she is very bothered if he is a liar.

"I'm really capable," Jiang Mu said innocently.

"You're so capable, what a load of crap!"

Feeling fooled, the little girl couldn't help but swear.

"I think you're just a liar who's after my young lady's beauty. How could my young lady and I have believed your lies!"
And you say you can see ghosts? If you can see ghosts, I'll blow on them while standing upside down—"

"Master A-Qiu..."

At this moment, the madam, Chen Mama, came to the door, her eyes red-rimmed, and said to the middle-aged Taoist priest, "My 'daughter' Xiuniang and her maid Xiaotao hanged themselves in this room..."

The two women in the room said: "?!"

Jiang Mu sighed and spread his hands, saying, "See? I told you I could see ghosts."

(End of this chapter)