Chapter 260: The Truth About Nan Jia's Soul Possessing Pan Li!

Li Qingluo received Pan Li's family with dignified courtesy and generous grace.

Though called a family, Pan Li actually had several brothers, but they did not come today out of consideration for the all-female Xiuli Jiangjun Fu.

Pan Li's father was a fifth-rank palace attendant.

Although this post was arranged for him by the Senior Prince Consort, Pan Zhongcheng is diligent and conscientious in his daily duties, performs his work conscientiously, and though he obtained the position through connections, his work is so flawless that colleagues can find no fault in it.

This position has grown more secure for him over time.

Though Pan Zhongcheng and his wife are both mild-tempered, and their four sons are all modest, polite, sensible, filial, honest and hardworking, they somehow produced Pan Li, a daughter of flamboyant character.

Perhaps because she was their only daughter, they have spoiled her since childhood.

Moreover, Pan Li used to be somewhat sycophantic, liking to leverage the princess's mansion to network with the powerful, acting flamboyantly and arrogantly, often causing trouble.

In the past, Pan Zhongcheng and his wife often worried themselves sick over Pan Li.

However, Pan Zhongcheng and his wife could not rein in Pan Li at all—they hated to scold or punish her, and their lectures fell on deaf ears.

Moreover, the Senior Prince Consort doted on this niece without limits, so they could only advise Pan Li while keeping an eye on her to prevent trouble.

Who would have thought that last time in the palace, Pan Li nearly caused a loss of life?

Only then did Pan Zhongcheng and his wife keep a tighter watch on Pan Li.

But after that palace incident, Pan Li returned home not only gravely ill, but also with a drastic change in temperament.

The Pan family initially thought Pan Li had been possessed by an evil spirit.

They therefore invited Master Lingfeng Zi of the Green Pine Temple to perform an exorcism ritual at the Pan residence.

Who would have expected the daughter to become ever more sensible?

She not only did more good deeds, but also abruptly cut ties with those noble ladies she used to befriend.

This terrified the entire Pan family.

They believed Pan Li was possessed by a demon, that she was no longer their daughter, so they hid talismans everywhere in her room, sought holy-man talisman water, and begged the temple for various ritual implements to exorcise evil.

Yet all this had no effect on Pan Li; she had completely changed her former conduct, suddenly becoming a sensible, thoughtful daughter, a gentle and understanding sister, and a noble lady of kindness and righteousness.

Although the Pan family had been anxiously observing Pan Li's recent behavior, she suddenly went missing amidst the chaos in the western part of the city.

Her life or death unknown, her whereabouts a mystery.

Only then did the Pan family regret bitterly, feeling that their recent neglect and insufficient care had led to Pan Li's disappearance.

These days the Pan family have searched for Pan Li to the point of near madness, and they have even come to realize that even if she became crazier or more outrageous, they would no longer doubt her identity.

As long as she can live out her remaining years in health and bring joy to their knees, they would ask for nothing more.

Let her be as she is; even if she suddenly becomes willful and headstrong again, she remains their Pan family daughter.

Therefore, this time Pan Zhongcheng and his wife came bearing generous gifts, sincerely grateful.

Especially when the Senior Prince Consort heard that it was Li Qingluo who had rescued Pan Li, he was greatly surprised.

He said at home: "It seems this Miss Li is a benefactor to our Pan family's daughter. Elder brother and sister-in-law really ought to go thank her properly; since that's the case, help this Prince Consort also bring a token of thanks."

The Nanping Princess also heard of this and very much wanted to come along to see Li Qingluo.

However, at the thought of traveling together with Pan Li, she still held back her disgust.

"Ah, the Nanping Princess seems to dislike me; how can I win her favor?"

Pan Li rested her chin on her hand, gazing out at the spring scenery beyond Li Qingluo's window, deeply troubled.

After finishing tea, Pan Zhongcheng had originally intended to take his leave.

It was Li Qingluo who proactively spoke up, asking Pan Li to stay.

Pan Zhongcheng and his wife were delighted that their daughter could play together with Li Qingluo.

Although both are daughters of the Li family, this one is infinitely more precious in character than the former Li Qingzhu.

Moreover, Pan Li was rescued by Li Qingluo, so they are very happy for the two girls to get along well.

The couple also paid no heed to the recent rumors outside about the Liu family's crippled legitimate heir, since Miss Li has likewise moved out of the Jiangjun Fu together with General Pei.

This is, after all, the Xiuli Jiangjun Fu; anyone who knows a little of General Pei's former prestige would consider it an supreme honor to be associated with this place.

Who would dare to look down on it?

After seeing off Pan Zhongcheng and his wife, Li Qingluo immediately brought Pan Li to her own room, shut the door, had Que'er send all the servants far away, and left only the two of them to talk.

The weather today is fine.

Fresh fruit and tea snacks filled the bench by the window.

Pan Li dared not speak first, so Li Qingluo bluntly asked: "Nan Jia, since you've come to see me today, do you still intend to brush it off?"

Li Qingluo gave a faint smile as she looked at Pan Li, who trembled all over: "Luo'er, how exactly did you guess that I am Pei Nan Jia's?"

"Although this matter is utterly unbelievable, you seem to have long been certain that I am not Pan Li but Pei Shi'er Niang."

"Don't you find this a supernatural oddity?"

Pan Li—no, Nan Jia—looked at Li Qingluo with a mournful yet somewhat excited expression, never imagining that in this world she would ever have a chance to speak of this.

But if this person is Li Qingluo, she feels only relief and joy, plus a sense of lightness from letting go.

Li Qingluo reached out and tucked the stray strands of hair falling from Pan Li's ear behind her ear.

"Nan Jia, if I say I too once had a dream resembling a past life, as if reborn in this existence, could you believe it?"

Nan Jia was utterly stunned.

Li Qingluo: "In that dream, my previous life ended miserably; I even died before ever meeting you."

"So, when I noticed Pan Li's abnormality, my mind began wildly guessing: could you too have been reborn?"

"But you and I are quite different. I dreamed of a past-life rebirth, whereas your soul entered the already-dead body of Pan Li."

"This rebirth is not that rebirth."

"But if my rebirth could happen, why couldn't yours?"

"In this world there are already plenty of unbelievable things; even if I guessed wrong, what harm is there? Perhaps you really are the one."

"Until that day in the dungeon, I heard you call me Luo'er, and only then did I fully confirm that you are Nan Jia!"

Li Qingluo likewise never imagined that one day she would confess to Nan Jia the secret hidden deep in her heart.

If the world were to find out, they would likely both be arrested as demons.

Therefore, besides the two of them, there should be no third person in the world who knows these words today.

Nan Jia blinked, and tears fell with a pitter-patter.

The two clung tightly to each other, a joy of surviving the calamity and of mutual rebirth.

Nan Jia: "Although I don't fully understand how this happened, Luo'er, I am truly and indeed Nan Jia."

I think, too, that I have indeed been reborn into Pan Li's body, just as you said.

After wiping her tears, Nan Jia then choked out: "That day, after being beaten to death by the masked person in the dungeon, I felt light as air."

But before I had fully accepted the fact that I was dead, a sudden great suction pulled me into Pan Li's body.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the palace that night.

I am grateful that heaven spared me from death, but I likewise cannot bear to part from my parents.

Luo'er, Pan Li's parents and brothers have treated me very well. During these days at the Pan manor, I have also received much familial affection.

I also feel sympathy for Pan Li and them; they don't even realize that the real Pan Li... their daughter and sister indeed died outside the Zhao Hua Hall that night.

But my own birth parents, too, have been devastated by my tragic death and cannot bear this grief. Watching them waste away day by day, what do you think I should do?

Luo'er, teach me? How can I act so as not to harm the Pan family while still being able to kneel in service and continue to support and honor my birth parents?

Li Qingluo quickly thought of a solution for her.

Now your parents, because of your tragic death, have completely severed ties with the Pei manor and have moved out of the Pei State Duke manor.

It's actually very easy for you to make contact with them.

Rather, you should ruthlessly set a trap, then in public bind yourself and your aunt together; after you both undergo some ordeal, your aunt might notice that this Pan Li behaves just like her Jia'er.

You don't need to be too explicit with her; the point is to entangle yourself and your aunt, so that whether it's your favor or your aunt's favor, you will bind yourself tightly to your parents.

Then, using this favor as a pretext, you can casually become godchildren to each other's families. When the time is ripe, perhaps you may even tell your mother the truth of your rebirth.

Nan Jia, who had never imagined things could develop like this, stood speechless as she listened to Li Qingluo finish.

She used to follow the rules; when had she ever schemed like this?

But after hearing it, her heart couldn't help but be stirred.

Li Qingluo didn't wait for her to think further, settled the matter and then threw out a question: "By the way, since you have possessed Pan Li's body, do you know what exactly happened outside the Zhao Hua Hall that night?"

Why did Pan Li die?

Nan Jia shook her head: "To be frank with you, I have no memory of Pan Li at all. That's why the Pan parents have suspected me for a long time, even asking Daoists to exorcise me and bringing back many magical implements."

I was originally scared half to death, fearing I would really be driven out of Pan Li's body.

However, I also used the excuse of drowning and losing breath, which allowed me to bluff my way through the amnesia. Whether they believe it or not, I really have no way to respond.

Pan Li is truly dead beyond revival.

Therefore, if Nan Jia's soul were to leave the body again, Pan Li's original corpse would still be dead.

Fortunately, those exorcism methods did not harm the present Nan Jia.

Nan Jia recalled something: "By the way, I asked Pan Li's personal maid, and they said... they said Pan Li... Pan Li has actually been secretly admiring Prince Su Your Highness for many years."