Chapter 9: The Origins of Third Lady

Before his father could finish speaking, Shang Lu noticed the oil-paper umbrella trembling ever so slightly. Clearly, San Niang was nervous—and also aggrieved. She had never harmed Shang Lu, nor had she ever thought of hurting her own husband. Shang Lu understood this perfectly; that was why he felt compelled to protect his wife. He immediately interrupted Shang Mingqiu’s words:

“Father, you’re overthinking it. San Niang is my lawfully wedded wife—she would only ever cherish and love me. How could she possibly wish me harm?”

As he spoke, Shang Lu deliberately freed one hand and gently placed it on the oil-paper umbrella, as if holding San Niang’s hand, silently reassuring her not to be anxious or sad, letting her know he understood her goodness.

He could also appreciate his father’s concerns. After all, San Niang was a ghost, not a living person, and his marriage with her was indeed peculiar and uncanny.

Previously, after Shang Lu had died in the line of duty, Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi, grieving deeply, worried that since their son had passed unmarried, he might be lonely in the afterlife. So they considered arranging a ghost marriage for him—a bride for their departed son.

However, at that time, whether in Shuanggui Village or in the neighboring villages, they couldn’t find a suitable match. Even though it was a marriage for the dead, it couldn’t be handled carelessly. Besides matching the age at death and ensuring both were single, it was necessary to compare the birth dates and hours, as well as the dates of death, to see if they were compatible or if there would be any conflict.

When the birth charts of living people clash, it usually affects their fortune, health, or household harmony. But if the birth charts of the dead conflict, it can breed resentment, giving rise to vengeful spirits or zombies.

So, arranging a ghost marriage was even more meticulous than a marriage among the living.

Eventually, through an introduction, Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi traveled to Baichuan Town at the foot of Yunhua Mountain. In the witch temple there, they finally found a suitable candidate—San Niang.

San Niang had died several years before Shang Lu. By birth year, she was a few years older than him, but at the time of her death, she was actually younger. According to the witch temple, San Niang was from King Temple Village on Yunhua Mountain. She had been gentle and diligent in life, and her death was not from illness but an accident.

After accepting incense money, the temple shaman calculated the birth and death dates for Shang Lu and San Niang and declared them a perfect match.

Shang Lu’s family then went to King Temple Village to propose to San Niang’s relatives. But upon inquiring, they learned that her family had moved away shortly after her passing, and no one knew where they had gone.

With no other option, Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi returned to the witch temple and, with the shaman’s help, communicated with San Niang by shadowy means. With her consent, they performed the rites to announce the marriage to heaven and earth, thus sealing the bond.

In this world, ghost marriages were nothing unusual. Due to poor medical care and living conditions, many young people died before their time.

Many families who had buried their children before they married would arrange such unions so their loved ones wouldn’t be lonely below. That’s why many temples kept the birth and death charts of unmarried deceased young men and women for this purpose.

Had Shang Lu and San Niang’s story ended there, it would have been an ordinary ghost marriage. But who would have thought that Shang Lu would actually come back to life?

In the first few days after his “revival,” Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi were simply overjoyed and didn’t think much of it. But later, strange events began to occur around the house. Though no one was hurt, these incidents frightened the elderly couple terribly.

After discussing it, they invited a well-known village shaman from the surrounding area. After performing his rites, the shaman told them that a ghost had come into their home—and that ghost was none other than Shang Lu’s wife, San Niang.

Because Shang Lu had returned to life right after marrying San Niang, she had pursued her husband all the way from the underworld to the mortal realm.

The couple was terrified by this news. In their eyes, their son, newly revived and still weak, would surely be drained of his vital energy by this ghostly bride and die once more.

Desperate, they begged the shaman to exorcise the spirit, but he replied that Shang Lu and San Niang’s marriage was legitimate, having followed all proper rituals and been blessed by heaven and earth. He had neither the authority nor the power to separate the newlyweds or drive San Niang away.

With no other recourse, they brought Shang Lu to the witch temple in Baichuan Town. The temple priest was equally astonished—resurrections were rare enough, but a ghost bride pursuing her husband to the world of the living was utterly unheard of.

In the end, the priest gave the same answer as the village shaman: Shang Lu and San Niang’s union was heaven-made; to break it by force would bring divine retribution, which his own spiritual strength could not withstand.

At last, Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi could only return home with Shang Lu, light incense, and sincerely beg San Niang not to harm him.

Fortunately, what followed brought them quiet relief. Shang Lu’s health improved day by day; he showed no ill effects from his ghostly bride. San Niang did not drain his vital energy like the vengeful spirits of legend.

Yet, the divide between the living and the dead remained, so Shang Mingqiu still worried. Coupled with not having seen Shang Lu for several days, he could not help but ask.

He hadn’t expected San Niang to overhear and become upset.

Unaware of these underlying emotions, Shang Mingqiu, upon hearing Shang Lu’s reassurance, relaxed a little.

“So long as she hasn’t hurt you…”

He wanted to advise his son further, to urge him to be vigilant, but Shang Lu was quicker, patting the oil-paper umbrella on his shoulder with a smile:

“San Niang came home with me today—she’s right here in this umbrella. She asked me to send her greetings to you both.”

“What?” Shang Mingqiu was left speechless.

He had only meant to caution his son in private, not realizing San Niang was present. Had he just spoken ill of her to her face?

This left him awkward and a bit fearful.

Wu Guizhi quickly pinched her husband, then smiled awkwardly at the oil-paper umbrella on Shang Lu’s shoulder, saying, “San Niang, your father doesn’t mean any harm. He’s just not good with words. Please don’t take it to heart, and certainly don’t blame him…”

At the same time, she felt an odd sense of discomfort. Other mothers-in-law interacted with daughters-in-law face to face, but here she was, speaking to an umbrella. All her hard-learned skills as a mother-in-law—how could she use them on an umbrella?

The oil-paper umbrella gently swayed, as if someone were shaking their head.

Seeing this, Shang Lu smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Father, Mother—San Niang doesn’t blame you.”

Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi forced a smile, mumbling, “That’s good,” but they still couldn’t relax.

Noticing this, Shang Lu spoke up for his wife:

“I know what you’re worried about, but San Niang is different. She only wants what’s best for me. Without her, I wouldn’t have recovered so quickly, nor regained my strength. Being able to marry San Niang is a blessing earned over two lifetimes. I hope you won’t hold any prejudice against her and can treat her as you would me.”

Shang Mingqiu and Wu Guizhi thought it over and realized he was right. When Shang Lu was newly “resurrected,” everyone had said that even if he survived, he would be an invalid, bedridden for years. Yet, after just over a month, his terrifying wounds had nearly healed and he was able to walk again. He had even regained his spiritual strength. Surely, San Niang had played a significant part in this.

Reflecting on all this, Shang Mingqiu began to feel a pang of guilt. He released his grip on the plow handle, bowed toward the oil-paper umbrella, and, with some embarrassment, stammered, “San Niang, I… ahem, your father owes you an apology. I hope you two can always be well, support one another, and share both joy and hardship.”

Shang Lu couldn’t help but laugh and teased, “Father, are you giving a wedding speech? This isn’t exactly the right venue, you know.”

The oil-paper umbrella gave him a gentle tap.

It was San Niang, admonishing him not to be disrespectful to his parents.