The Butcher Girl and Her Hapless Crown Prince - Chapter 3

“Come out yourself. Don’t make me do it.”

I spoke without turning around.

A deathly white head slowly squeezed through the gap in the wardrobe, its tongue dangling far out of its mouth.

“Give me back my life!”

Nothing annoyed me more than being interrupted when I was busy.

I spun around, grabbed it by the hair, and flung it out the window.

A distant yelp was followed by the heavy splash of something hitting the water.

“Next.”

The room went dead silent. Even the ghosts on the beam huddled closer together.

I went back to packing.

Suddenly, I heard a bubbling gurgle from a vase.

I leaned closer. An empty-looking mouth appeared at its opening, working soundlessly around some words.

“Shut up.”

I reached in and felt around. All I got was a few rotten teeth. Sticky, too.

I rummaged some more and touched something hard.

I pulled it out. A solid-gold hairpin set with eight treasures!

“What a find!”

To think Shen Linglong hid things away too.

Comments exploded before my eyes.

[Why isn’t this girl scared? Does she realize she just stuck her hand in a hungry ghost’s mouth?]

[That’s a hundred-year-old hungry ghost! Last time it tried to eat the sickly young lady, her talisman nearly blasted its soul apart!]

[Forget waiting for the Daoist. Her sister’s going to eat them all first.]

[Wait! If she eats them all, where does the heroine get her merit? No merit means no luck.]

[I’m supposed to be watching Linglong the Lucky Carp!]

…

According to them, Shen Linglong was born with a constitution that drew ghosts to her. She’d lived in Drifting Cloud Pavilion for fourteen years, and it was almost too crowded to hold any more.

In a fortnight, that Daoist would help her subdue them.

He was also the second male lead in this novel.

Later, Shen Linglong would attract ghosts, the Daoist would capture them, and she’d send them on to their next lives, earning merit in return.

This whole production line would nurture her luck until it grew better and better.

Then she’d marry the crown prince and reach the pinnacle of life!

As for this brother I’d acquired, he hadn’t even managed to land a supporting male role.

He was just a lovesick fool, giving everything for her behind the scenes.

The entire marquis’s household would gradually be eaten away by the yin energy of the ghosts Shen Linglong attracted.

Eventually, the family would fall into ruin.

The marquis and marchioness would also drop dead one day.

Shen Linglong could attract ghosts?

I was suddenly tempted. If I locked her up, wouldn’t I have an endless supply of ghosts to eat?

Still, a thought was only a thought. Shen Linglong wasn’t a pig.

I sighed regretfully.

I slept wonderfully that night. My belly was full of ghosts, and I didn’t have a single dream.

At dawn, Xiaotao peered through the doorway and called me to breakfast in the main hall.

Seeing me calm and perfectly normal, she stared in astonishment.

Shen Linglong was already seated in the hall.

As soon as I entered, she instinctively covered her neck.

There was a red bump there, like a mosquito bite.

“Shen Ling, how could you let Linglong suffer like this?”

Shen Lang slapped the table and began accusing me.

“Green Bamboo Pavilion is full of insects. Linglong was bitten so badly she couldn’t sleep last night.”

I blinked.

“Shall I give her Drifting Cloud Pavilion back, then?”

Clang. Shen Linglong’s spoon fell into her bowl.

Her face turned deathly pale, and she waved both hands.

“No, no! You should keep it, Sister! I… I don’t deserve that courtyard.”

“Father and Mother have already shown me such kindness by letting me stay. I can’t take what isn’t mine.”

What a fine way to advance by retreating.

Sure enough, the marquis and marchioness were overcome with pity. On the spot, they rewarded her with several bolts of fine silk and a set of ruby hair ornaments.

I gazed enviously at the glittering jewels.

One mosquito bite got you all that?

Now that was a good deal!