[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner":3,"chapter-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm Not Crazy—This Is the Emperor's Banner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291345,4480,"Chapter 5","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>“Squeak…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Jiang Wenxin’s fourth sudden brake today; Dou Dou, sitting in the passenger seat, slammed headfirst into the glove compartment, and her seatbelt did absolutely nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wriggled her short legs, pulled her little head out of the glove compartment, and blinked stupidly: “Mommy, I’m still fine—I’m so strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her daughter’s adorable face, Jiang Wenxin’s eyes grew slightly damp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time she braked, she’d been terrified—until Dou Dou comforted her and she realized: Dou Dou wasn’t alive; hitting the center console didn’t affect her at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She braked suddenly because someone had suddenly rushed out from the roadside—her reflex demanded an emergency stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time, she hadn’t realized the figure wasn’t human; she’d wanted to argue with it—but then she remembered Dou Dou, and decided not to waste time on such trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she hadn’t expected the figure to notice her gaze—it simply shoved half its body through the windshield, sending a cold sweat over Jiang Wenxin, who finally realized: this thing, like Dou Dou, wasn’t human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Dou Dou, fierce in her tiny way, let out a loud “growl” at the figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my mommy’s car—you’re not getting on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure was startled by her tiny demeanor, then seemed to grow angry, glaring at Dou Dou—making Dou Dou flinch and shrink back involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Jiang Wenxin no longer felt fear—anger flared up instantly, and she roared at the figure: “Get out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ghost, as if terrified, scrambled out of the car in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin didn’t know that in the instant she’d shouted, three flames had erupted from her body, burning a full chi high—scaring the ghost away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several such incidents, she realized: if she avoided making eye contact with them, the ghosts would simply ignore her existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So after her latest sudden brake, once she recovered, she immediately shifted her gaze to the passenger seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, the ghost that had crossed the road glanced at her car once, then turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fucking driver… how the hell are you driving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a car behind her overtook and rolled down its window, shouting insults at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when it saw Jiang Wenxin’s face, the voice automatically softened a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin knew she was at fault and quickly apologized, then restarted the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mommy, he was yelling at you,” Dou Dou said, sounding angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yelling is wrong, but it’s my fault—I shouldn’t have braked suddenly; it risks causing an accident,” Jiang Wenxin patiently explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why did you brake suddenly?” Dou Dou asked, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I was afraid of hitting someone,” Jiang Wenxin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She no longer knew who was human and who was a ghost, so she had to brake—otherwise, if she got it wrong and actually hit someone, it would be disastrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the rest of the drive, Jiang Wenxin proceeded with extreme caution, finally arriving at her residential complex, stopping the car, and letting out a long breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She unfastened her seatbelt and instinctively glanced at the passenger seat—only to find Dou Dou had already gotten out and was waiting for her by the roadside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hurried out, wanting to warn her not to wander off—but the words died on her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out her hand: “Come on, let’s go home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou happily placed her small hand in her mother’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she bounced and skipped along beside her mother toward home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Dou Dou’s lively, skipping form, Jiang Wenxin felt momentarily dazed—as if Dou Dao had never left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only she could keep Dou Dou by her side forever, Jiang Wenxin thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—Dou Dou had always been here; she just couldn’t see or touch her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as she could keep seeing and touching Dou Dou like this, Dou Dou would still be her Dou Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, she unconsciously reached the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the journey, Dou Dou had mostly pulled her along—this little one knew their home well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two years of “alone” life—no one holding her, no one hugging her…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had cried, she had felt wronged—but in the end, she’d had to learn everything herself…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment the elevator doors opened, Jiang Wenxin was startled again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because inside stood an old man leaning on a cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was covered in thumb-sized growths, grotesquely repulsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The growths had crushed his eyes into slits, emitting a chilling glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He first glanced at Jiang Wenxin, then his gaze fell on their clasped hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can see ghosts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s voice was hoarse, deeply unpleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added, “How did you suddenly start seeing us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa Lu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou spoke respectfully—clearly she knew him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin pulled Dou Dou behind her; as the elevator doors began closing, she made no move to enter—the old man simply stepped out, leaning on his cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin pulled Dou Dou back a few steps, watching him warily; he looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she’d seen him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dou Dou’s mom, I mean no harm—I’m just curious: how did you suddenly start seeing us?” the old man asked, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze, however, fixed on Jiang Wenxin’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin said nothing—but Dou Dou quietly peeked out from behind her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, several others approached to wait for the elevator; Jiang Wenxin exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other elevator arrived; she quickly joined the crowd and stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man did not follow—he merely squinted, smiling at Jiang Wenxin—but his face, covered in growths, looked terrifyingly grotesque; only when the doors closed and his view was blocked did Jiang Wenxin finally exhale—though her heart remained unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked down at the tiny figure clinging to her leg, hiding behind her, and gently stroked her little head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opening the door, Jiang Wenxin instinctively glanced behind her—seeing the old man hadn’t followed, she quickly pulled her daughter inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside, Dou Dou immediately began searching around, then asked, puzzled: “Daddy hasn’t come back yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your daddy has something tonight—he’ll be back a little later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou looked disappointed; she’d thought she’d see Daddy as soon as they got home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Wenxin couldn’t wait to ask: “Dou Dou, do you know that old man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou nodded, then asked, puzzled: “He’s Zi Xu’s grandpa—don’t you know him, Mommy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zi Xu?” Jiang Wenxin suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zi Xu Dou Dou mentioned was a little boy living upstairs—they shared the same complex, often played together, and was two years older than Dou Dou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Xu had always been raised by his grandparents—but his grandfather had died long ago, even before Dou Dou’s accident, by a full year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in Jiang Wenxin’s memory, Zi Xu’s grandfather had been a kind, gentle old man who always greeted her with a cheerful smile—he’d never looked like this monstrous figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I remember he didn’t look like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa Lu says he’s sick,” Dou Dou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dou Dou was too innocent—she believed anything people told her. This was clearly a lie—he was dead, turned into a ghost—what illness could a ghost have? Ghost sickness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This matter wasn’t simple. Thinking this, she stepped to the door, peered through the peephole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she staggered backward, nearly falling onto the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>",1205,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d92c2f20dc9d788409da560f1040288af6e562d126c24df6ba48a99751d56813","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-6","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-4",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]