The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 196: The Inefficacy of Heaven’s Will

Chapter 196: The Inefficacy of Heaven’s Will

The commoners, fearing the Black Armored Guards, immediately retreated.

Nanli consoled the people, saying, "If anyone wishes to purchase talismans, they can go to the shop. And if there are powerful malevolent spirits causing trouble, you can send a message to my junior brother."

Having said that, she entered the premises.

The Court of Dali had long since sealed off the streets.

Qin Zheng had been waiting for a long time and hurriedly approached Nanli when he saw her. "Apologies for troubling the Ninth Princess."

"It’s alright, Minister Qin. What exactly has happened?" Nanli asked directly.

Qin Zheng led the way into a pastry shop, where they saw a little girl lying on the ground, her clothes dirty and tattered, lifeless.

He explained, "This girl came to buy some pastries here. She took a bite and died. The people reported that the pastries in this shop were poisoned, causing her death. However, the coroner has examined the pastries she ate and found no poison."

Nanli asked, "But did she choke?"

"No," Qin Zheng shook his head.

Nanli looked at the girl’s face, furrowing her brows slightly.

She called Zhi Mi over to take a look as well.

At a glance, Zhi Mi could tell that the girl had a face of premature death.

"This child’s life span was not long," he remarked.

Nanli nodded. "Indeed, but judging from her appearance, she should have had a few more years to live. Why did she die suddenly today?"

No wonder Qin Zheng sought her out; this matter was indeed somewhat suspicious.

"We could find out by asking her soul, but she has been dead for a couple of hours now, so the ghost escort should have already taken her soul," Zhi Mi said.

"It’s hard to say," Nanli stood up and scanned the area, quickly noticing a heavy presence of ghostly energy.

She walked over and saw the girl’s soul squatting in a corner, trying to grab a pastry to eat.

However, as a ghost, she couldn’t grasp anything tangible, and she was becoming desperate.

"You won’t be able to eat like this," Nanli reminded her.

"What is your name?" The girl was somewhat surprised.

She had just realized that she had become a ghost because she could pass through people’s bodies.

No one else could see her, so how could this beautiful lady see her?

"I am called Zhao... Zhaodi," she replied.

Nanli’s gentle gaze reassured her, so she spoke without reservation.

Nanli then picked up a plate of pastries and placed it in front of Zhaodi.

"Zhaodi," Confused, Zhaodi hesitated.

"Now you can eat the pastries, give it a try," Nanli urged in a warm voice.

With some skepticism, Zhaodi reached out and, to her surprise, managed to grab a piece of pastry.

She was overjoyed and quickly brought the pastry to her mouth.

To others’ eyes, however, the pastries remained intact.

Because ghosts consumed ethereal substances, not physical ones.

Qin Zheng, seeing Nanli talking to thin air, felt a chill down his spine and asked, "Ninth Princess, did you see this child’s ghost?"

Nanli nodded. "Yes."

Qin Zheng couldn’t help but admire her.

If the Ninth Princess were to work at the Court of Dali, would there be any unsolvable cases left?

After Zhaodi had eaten her fill, Nanli asked, "Do you know how you died?"

Zhaodi was young, and it was already remarkable that she knew she had died.

How could she know the cause of her death?

She shook her head gently, her eyes full of confusion.

Zhi Mi used a talisman, allowing not only herself but also Qin Zheng and the others to see Zhaodi.

Qin Zheng anxiously said, "You must think carefully. You suddenly died in this pastry shop, which not only affects the business but also implicates the shop owner."

But Zhaodi continued to shake her head. "I don’t know, I don’t know..."

Nanli quickly thought of another method.

She took out a talisman and performed a ritual, opening the path to the underworld.

A cold aura emanated from the underworld.

Nanli turned to Zhaodi and uttered, "Go inside and take a look."

Trusting Nanli, Zhaodi obediently drifted towards the realm of the afterlife.

However, a barrier suddenly emerged, blocking her path and preventing her from entering.

Perplexed, Zhi Mi asked, "Senior sister, why can’t she enter the realm of the afterlife to be reincarnated?"

"Because her allotted lifespan has not yet expired, the realm of the afterlife naturally refuses to receive her," Nanli explained, waving her hand to seal off the passage.

Zhi Mi exclaimed in astonishment, "Her soul has already departed her body, she is undoubtedly dead, and now she cannot enter the realm of the afterlife. Does this mean she will wander as a lonely ghost in the mortal realm?"

"Indeed," Nanli nodded, her gaze fixed upon Zhaodi.

"It seems someone has stolen your lifespan. Since your lifespan is insufficient, you died directly. The pastry incident was merely a coincidence and unrelated to this shop."

Qin Zheng was taken aback, "Is it truly so?"

However, Zhaodi shook her head and replied, "It wasn’t stolen, it was sold."

"What?" Nanli furrowed her brow slightly.

"You sold your own lifespan?"

Zhaodi answered, "Yes, I sold one year of my lifespan for five hundred coins. I sold five years, so my father had enough money to let me buy some delicious food."

Nanli had never expected someone to be so shameless!

Stealing a lifespan violated the natural order and would surely face karmic retribution.

However, buying and selling was a different matter, as it involved mutual consent. The laws of nature could not intervene in such matters.

Zhi Mi finally understood, "No wonder you met an untimely death. You were destined to die young, but you had five more years to live. By selling your lifespan, you ended up shortening your own life. How could you sell your lifespan, child?"

Zhaodi, however, saw nothing wrong with her actions.

"I would rather die like this than starve to death. You people have never experienced hunger, so you wouldn’t understand my pain!"

She felt no regrets in being able to taste a delicious pastry before her death.

Nanli’s face darkened as she said, "But you died prematurely, and no reaper came to collect you. You will remain as a lonely ghost in the mortal realm, and if you make one wrong motion, you may cease to exist, with no chance of reincarnation."

Zhaodi couldn’t comprehend everything, but she understood that she couldn’t be reincarnated.

Finally, fear crept into her heart, and she tried to grab Nanli’s hand, only to find herself grasping at thin air.

Being a newly-turned ghost, she was still unfamiliar with her surroundings.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but cry out in fear, "Sister, what should I do? I want to be reincarnated... I want to be reincarnated..."

Nanli’s voice was heavy as she replied, "This is something I cannot help you with. The underworld has its own rules."

Zhaodi’s tears fell to the ground, quickly dissipating.

Zhi Mi couldn’t bear to see her like this and pleaded, "Senior sister, please think of a solution. She is still young and knows nothing. Even if she becomes a lonely ghost, she will be bullied by the older ghosts."

Nanli sighed softly, "Alright, I will temporarily take you in and later try to find a way for you to stay in the underworld."

Zhaodi’s emotions shifted rapidly, and she grinned, "Thank you, sister!"

Nanli then inquired about other details, only to discover that Zhaodi’s entire family had sold their lifespans.

Furthermore, the person who bought their lifespans wore a mask, so Zhaodi had no knowledge of their appearance.

At that moment, Zhaodi’s father finally arrived.

Having obtained the money, he filled his stomach and drank a jug of wine, emanating a strong alcoholic scent.