nce, he uses a magic called drawing skins - the smell on him that day should be formaldehyde."I swallowed hard, uncomfortably. “Don’t say it…”His Adam's apple was striking, like a ping pong ball slidi...The air was icy cold, and the damp chill sent shivers down my spine.

Small bumps appeared on the skin, nerves became increasingly tense, and a hint of fear began to creep in.

My body trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down my face and finally resting at the corner of my eyes.

"...Why are you crying so much" His clear voice carried a hint of displeasure. "You cry when you're in pain, you cry when you're comfortable, now you can even cry"

The voice held a dangerous undertone, I couldn't quite figure him out.

You can't ask, you can't refuse.

Sometimes caring, sometimes cold.

His eyes, sometimes cold and distant, yet again profound and compassionate.

What on earth does he want

A jolt of electricity-like pain shot through my head, and suddenly I understood.

He repeatedly stressed: Mu Xia Qiao, you are my wife by marriage contract. Remember your duties as a wife.

To fulfill all of his demands, and also to conceive a child.

He said many times that I was his, that I was his, that I was his... He also said that I could call him "husband," and he permitted me to do so.

But he never once said, that he was mine.

I belong to him.

But he doesn't belong to me.

Why didn't I think of this before

I suddenly chuckled silently — what kind of identity was he How could there possibly be a shortage of women serving him.

I don't take the word "wife" too seriously.

Remember your identity as the offering.

Of course, I can be the sacrifice. Why can't others

He watched the white clouds drift by, dogs barking, birds flying, rabbits hopping. Across millennia, across countless lives, mine was but a blink of an eye.

Human beings are born and die, they atone for their sins in the underworld and reincarnate. Whether they achieve enlightenment and ascend to heaven or their souls scatter, it's all like smoke and clouds to him.

My identity as a sacrificial offering doesn't matter to him, it's just that my stomach is still somewhat useful.

"Husband... heh heh..." A stifled sneer, mocking myself for being so foolish these past few weeks.

His eyes darkened: "Call again."

I obediently opened my mouth slightly and mumbled: Husband...

In a daze, I saw eyes surging like stormy waves.

The wind howled, wreaking havoc and tranquility, as if determined to tear me apart.

I heard the sound of ripping, Bai Wu Chang said, our Emperor isn't very patient, little empress, don't be ungrateful.

I don't know if he had put a ward on the car. By the time my head was about to become a bowl of mush, I vaguely saw a woman’s face contorted with jealousy.

Is that Shen Qingrui

I wanted to steal a glance, but only a single drop of sour tears streamed from the corner of my eye.

This feeling is strange, he's icy, yet he ignites the flames within me. And then I use myself to warm every inch of his skin, bone, and blood.

When it was over, I collapsed on his shoulder, and suddenly I thought of the hunchbacked old woman from the Yin Mountain Ghost Market.

She told me that whether it's a ghost husband or a ghost wife, the living person's side has to accept Yin Xie entering their body. Lightly, they will get a fever, and severely, they will damage their yang energy.

He tried his best to avoid touching me, was he afraid of really killing me

I let out a chuckle, causing him to tilt his head slightly.

"How" he asked in a low voice, reaching over to grab the air conditioner blanket from inside the car and wrap it around me. He then placed his hand on my still flat stomach.

"It's nothing... I was thinking... there are vendors selling things at the Ghost Market, an old woman recommended something strongly, but I felt embarrassed to buy it... Maybe I'll try it next time" I said absentmindedly.

He arched an eyebrow slightly, his voice returning to its frigid chill: "It's unnecessary."

"Of course you don't think it's necessary, you have a child now. But what if you didn't" I lazily closed my eyes.

Can you sleep now It'd be best to sleep through it all, never to wake up again.

His fingers clenched my jaw: "It's not necessary."

"... That would get you pregnant."

He smiled, his tone nonchalant, even with a hint of amusement. "Then get pregnant. Give birth and then get pregnant again. I'd love to see how many children you can bear for me."

I smirked, saying nothing.

What needs to be done to achieve that goal, and let me quietly retire Now you want me to be a competent machine again.

A man's words can never be trusted, let alone ghost stories.

The next day I woke up with a splitting headache, my throat felt like it was on fire and even my breath came out in hot waves.

"Bro... Bro..." I choked out two voices.

Now, the only person I can rely on is probably my brother.

My brother sat by my bed with water and a fever patch, and I was about to cry.

He reached out and tousled my hair, which was already messy from sleep, making it even more frizzy.

"Jiang Qiyun kept watch over you all night, but the formation at Huang Dao Village almost collapsed. He rushed over to command the Shen family's people." My brother told me in a hushed voice.

I merely responded with a faint "hmm". He never tells me what he's going to do, and I can't ask him either.

Just position myself properly, conscientiously become a baby-making machine. Once this child is born, I'll be done for, that way he has no reason to seek revenge on my dad and brother, right

"Huh Why are you reacting so coldly You're not angry, are you" My brother leaned in, pinching a strand of my long hair and scratching my cheek: "Don't be mad. Last night in the car, he carried you back all the way. I saw his eyes... Well, how should I say it, I think he's not that scary."

I pulled my head deeper into the covers. There were some things, even with my brother, I couldn't bring myself to tell him.

This feeling is too complex, I don't know how to express it at all.

"Xiao Qiao, there's a call from home. They said that September 9th is the birthday of Emperor Xuanqing, and the Qingyu Guan temple will be having a grand sacrificial ceremony. Almost all the yin-yang families will be going back. Grandfather asked us to return home for a while - we need to choose a proxy head of the family."

I furrowed my brow, September 9th is Jiang Qiyun's birthday I have to go back to my dreaded hometown for thisuldn't wait for the car."Let's just go out for some fresh air. Things have been chaotic lately, even the Lantern Festival was wasted... why don't we pack our things and head back home" My brother sigh...