With her deceased husband as her dowry, would Your Highness dare to marry her?

Lin Ci was a widow.

In the prime of her life, she was born beautiful and charming.

She got into the bridal sedan chair again just after her husband's seven-day mourning period.

The snow fell heavily that day, a vast expanse of white blanketing the entire Zhangjia Village, stretching as far as the eye could see.

The festive red wind meanders through the snow-white landscape, like a snake slowly extending towards the east end of the village.

The wind swirled snowflakes into the bridal sedan chair, and they felt a little cold on the back of my hand.

Lin Ciqing couldn't help but reach out, but as soon as she bent her elbow, she couldn't lift it anymore. A thick hemp rope bound her arm tightly, making it impossible for her to move or escape.

The sedan chair finally stopped. Outside, there was a lively commotion with music and singing.

Suddenly, several hands reached into the bridal sedan chair, pulled her out without a word, carried her over the brazier, and then dragged her to the altar to pay respects to heaven and earth.

The people of Zhangjia Village packed the wedding hall to the brim, exclaiming "A perfect match" and "A match made in heaven."

The village chief and his wife sat in the main hall, and seeing their mentally challenged son happy made them happy too.

Lin Ci was the only one who was unhappy.

After the three bows, Lin Ci was led into the bridal chamber.

The village chief's wife followed, and while fiddling with her prayer beads, she said sarcastically, "If it weren't for Yaozu liking you, I would never have let you in. From now on, remember this: forget about that mute, sickly devil of yours, serve your in-laws well, and give birth to a big, healthy boy next year. We won't treat you badly."

Lin Ci sat quietly on the wedding couch, motionless.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, the village chief's wife poked her hard on the forehead, "Did you hear me?!"

The red veil fell off, revealing a face that looked pitiful to behold.

Lin Ci lowered her eyes, like a goddess statue, showing no joy or anger, but her eyes were slightly red.

The village chief's simple-minded son was overjoyed when he saw it. He grinned and drool dripped from his mouth. He hurriedly hugged it like a starving wolf.

Lin Ci kicked him in the stomach, making him scream in pain.

The village chief's wife's eyes widened at the sight. She helped her mentally challenged son up and yelled, "You ungrateful slut! If our village hadn't taken you and the mute in, you two would have starved to death long ago!"

"His name is Song Xuan," Lin Ci said, enunciating each word clearly. She raised her slightly reddened eyes and stared at the mother and child before her. "He is my husband..."

The village chief's wife curled her lips into a sneer.

"What husband? He sold you to the Zhang family a long time ago. See...?"

The village chief's wife pulled a thin contract from her sleeve and waved it in front of Lin Ci. "It's in black and white, with a fingerprint on it!"

Lin Ci suddenly got up and pounced on her, the rope binding her hands tightened abruptly, pulling her back onto the wedding bed.

The hairpin fell to the ground, scattering her jet-black hair.

She spat viciously at the village chief's wife, her voice trembling as she accused her: "You...you took advantage of my husband and me being outsiders, drove my husband to his death, and even fabricated a fake contract! I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

"Oh, you've just had your wedding ceremony, so even if you die, you'll still be a ghost of the Zhang family!"

"Mother~~ Bridal chamber~~ Bridal chamber~~" The silly son couldn't wait any longer, grabbing the village chief's wife's hand and whining and stomping his feet.

The village chief's wife patted her son's hand to comfort him, then looked at Lin Ci with a snort and pointed at him, yelling, "Let me tell you, you'd better serve my son well, or you won't have a good life!"

"You dare?"

"You'll see if I dare!" With that, the village chief's wife grabbed Lin Ci's hands and pressed her down onto the wedding bed.

Lin Ci refused and, in the struggle, untied the rope binding her hands.

The village chief's wife held Lin Ci's hands down tightly, like a fish on a chopping board. She turned to her son and yelled, "Just do what I taught you before! Wait until it's too late, then let's see if she's still so arrogant!"

Suddenly, the simple-minded son became clever and quickly took off his clothes and climbed onto Lin Ci.

Lin Ci glared with bloodshot eyes, wishing he could tear a piece of flesh from their bodies, but unfortunately, one fist couldn't fight against four hands...

Bah!

The door was kicked open.

The visitor was the village chief's steward. His face was ashen, and after trembling for a while, he stammered, "He's alive... the widow's husband has come back to life!!!"

Outside, the snow was falling heavily.

The deerskin boots crunched on the snow.

A dozen or so people poured into the huge courtyard, turning the snow-white gate into muddy black.

The once lively wedding hall was now completely silent.

Everyone in Zhangjia Village knelt on the ground.

The one leading the kneeling was the village chief, Master Zhang. He kept glancing at the man sitting on the high platform, his thick eyebrows furrowed, looking confused and uneasy.

Lin Ci's husband died, didn't he? Back then, out of consideration for Zhangjia Village's reputation, he even sent a straw mat to wrap him up. How did this person come back to life? Could it be that he's come to claim her life?

Soft, rustling footsteps came from the inner hall. Lin Ci arrived like a glamorous ghost in a red wedding dress, her hair disheveled. She rushed to the front of the hall, but upon seeing the man on the high platform, she froze, completely stunned.

"Ah... Xuan?!"

Pei Jinxuan turned his head, his effeminate gaze tinged with a hint of coldness.

He glanced at Lin Ci sideways and asked softly, "You're Lin Ci? Isn't the 'Ghost Hand of Medicine' your master?"

This person can actually talk?!

The village chief realized with a start that it wasn't a ghost seeking revenge. Seeing that the person was dressed in fine clothes and was of extraordinary status, he quickly put on a smile and said, "She is a beggar we took in out of kindness. She doesn't have any master. Sir, today is my son's wedding day. Please be lenient and help her."

As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers echoed his sentiments.

Pei Jinxuan smiled slightly, stood up and walked to Lin Ci.

When their eyes met, Lin Ci shuddered, as if she had come back to her senses.

The man before him wore a dark, shimmering brocade robe and a silver fox fur shawl. He was tall and robust, with slightly upturned peach blossom eyes that were captivating even without a smile.

This wasn't her Song Xuan. Song Xuan didn't have such rosy cheeks, nor such a handsome figure. Song Xuan had been bedridden for over half a month and had recently coughed himself to death.

They just look alike, that's all.

"Who are you?" Lin Ci's voice trembled involuntarily.

Pei Jinxuan didn't reply. His gaze swept over Lin Ci. She was a woman of about twenty years old, with willow-leaf eyebrows, single phoenix eyes, and a porcelain-like figure, aloof and cold.

Is the apprentice of the "Ghostly Healer" such a frail woman?

After pondering for a while, Pei Jinxuan withdrew his gaze and nodded to Amo, the dark-faced guard beside him.

Amo bowed and accepted the order, just as he was about to step forward to capture Lin Ci, when the village chief's foolish son rushed out and punched Pei Jinxuan.

Pei Jinxuan slightly dodged to the side, and her silly son's fist missed its mark.

"This is my wife, my wife!"

The foolish son wouldn't let it go.

Everyone was shocked.

The village chief stumbled to his feet, and before he could stop his fool, his wife arrived.

The village chief's wife, unaware of what had happened, stood with her hands on her hips, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, shouting and cursing all the way here:

"Who dares touch my daughter-in-law? Even if a dead ghost returned from the underworld, even if the Emperor himself came today, she's still my daughter-in-law!" With that, the village chief's wife grabbed Lin Ci's hair and dragged her into the bridal chamber. "You slut, where do you think you're going to run, you little vixen!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a flash of cold light appeared.

Warm liquid splashed onto Lin Ci's face, and something fell off his head, landing with a "plop" at Lin Ci's feet.

Lin Ci looked down and saw a plump hand with a gold bracelet on its wrist, which jingled as it rolled on the ground.

Outside, the wind howled, and the red banners fluttered wildly amidst the swirling snowflakes. The banners slammed open the window, and the cold wind rushed in, instantly extinguishing the warmth on Lin Ci's face, leaving her feeling dazed.

The village chief's wife came to her senses and realized that her wrist was gone. She had barely opened her mouth when a sword slit her throat.

The village chief's wife fell to the ground.

Amo wiped the blood off the sword and bowed to Pei Jin.

Pei Jinxuan slightly raised his right hand and made a swift gesture: 【Leave no survivors except her.】

Everyone looked at each other, not understanding the meaning, but they all had a bad feeling. Their faces were as white as snow. Only Lin Ci actually laughed.

Amo raised his sword again and beheaded his foolish son.

A massacre ensued.

The wedding hall was even more crimson, and the clamor of music and singing turned into wailing. The wind carried not only the smell of alcohol but also the stench of blood.

Pei Jinxuan pulled up a chair and sat down, calmly picked up the wine pot on the table, lifted the lid and took a light sniff.

It has a rich aroma and is a rare and excellent wine.

Pei Jinxuan tilted his head back and took a sip.

"Wait a minute," Lin Ci said softly, "I've poisoned the wine... I've poisoned every single jar."