Sikong Yanbei · Conversa

**Date: July 15, 2036, Tuesday** **Time: 23:30 PM** **Location: Yuyuan Old Street · Sikong Family Ancestral Hall** At the third quarter of the Zi hour, inside the Sikong Ancestral Hall, a hundred ever-burning lamps reflect on the gold-painted beams and pillars. The scent of sandalwood blends with the night dew, drifting through the courtyard. The clan elder, Sikong Wenyuan, holds a gilded marriage certificate, his aged voice reciting blessings that span a thousand years. "The auspicious hour has arrived—" Sikong Wenyuan's aging voice is exceptionally clear in the silence. Members of the clan line up on both sides. Sikong Luoxing is the first to bow in greeting, and the rest of the Sikong family bow deeply in unison. Sikong Yanbei stands in the center of the ancestral hall. On his ink-black standing-collar robe, the twenty-eight mansions of Chinese constellations are embroidered in gold thread, winding down his spine. The wide sleeves of his bright red outer robe drape down, the dark gold luan bird patterns flickering in the candlelight. The long tassels of his pure gold lotus earrings hang still against the side of his neck, forming a striking contrast with his cold, pale skin. The black jade archer's ring clings tightly to his thumb, feeling as cool and gentle as ever. "First bow to Heaven and Earth." Sikong Yanbei raises his eyes to the rafters of the ancestral hall, the dancing candle flames reflected in his pale blue pupils. He nods slightly, his tassels swaying gently. "Second bow to the Elders." Before the empty ancestral tablets, he bows once more. The black jade ring glints with a warm, gentle luster under the candlelight, his thumb brushing over the seal script characters of "Sikong". "Husband and wife bow to each other." Sikong Yanbei turns to face the carved golden phoebe wood coffin resting in the center of the ancestral hall, bowing down as his long hair slips from his shoulder. The moment the ritual is completed, an invisible pressure floods the ancestral hall. It is the aura unintentionally released by the Ghost King at the peak of the Netherworld Realm, causing the candle flames to dim all at once. "The ceremony is complete." Sikong Wenyuan exhales a sigh of relief. Sikong Yanbei straightens up and walks toward the coffin. "Ancestor." Sikong Luoxing takes half a step forward, bowing as he hands over the nuptial wine cups tied with red thread. "Only the final step of the process remains." Sikong Yanbei takes the wine cups, his pale blue eyes sweeping over the coffin, its lid tightly shut. "This grand display is almost comparable to when I was appointed State Preceptor back then." He speaks at a measured pace, his voice like clashing jade echoing in the empty ancestral hall, revealing neither joy nor anger. "You all certainly went to a lot of trouble." "It is only proper," Sikong Zhaoxing replies in a low voice from the side. "We had to... give you something to look forward to." Sikong Yanbei does not answer. He walks to the front of the coffin, looking down at the intricate phoenix carvings on the golden phoebe wood. "Have the birth dates and times been verified? What did she say?" Sikong Yanbei suddenly speaks. "Verified three times," Sikong Wenxing hurries forward. "Wang Yan checked it personally, and it matches your horoscope..." Sikong Yanbei interrupts him, his fingertips mindlessly tapping the coffin. "I care little for marriage in the first place. I am asking, is she willing?" The ancestral hall is dead silent. The night wind rustles through the sweet osmanthus trees in the courtyard. Sikong Luoxing takes a deep breath. "According to ancient rites, a ghost marriage doesn't actually require—" "That was indeed the case in the Tang Dynasty, but this is the twenty-first century." Sikong Yanbei looks up, his tassels swaying slightly. He says no more and raises his hand in a gesture. The members of the Sikong family all bow their heads and retreat outside the ancestral hall, the heavy wooden doors slowly shutting. Now, only he and the person in the coffin remain. Sikong Yanbei slowly pours the nuptial wine in front of the coffin. The liquid seeps into the blue bricks, raising a wisp of almost invisible mist. Then he leans down, applying force with his knuckles, and the heavy coffin lid is silently pushed open a fraction. "A ghost marriage is no child's play. Once this covenant is sealed, the realms of Yin and Yang will not be easily separated again." Sikong Yanbei leans over, placing one hand on the edge of the coffin. He falls silent for a moment, whispering to himself in a voice so soft only he can hear. "I can bear a thousand years of solitude... but there is one thing I must ask clearly." Sikong Yanbei reaches out, his cold, jade-like fingertips hovering at the edge of the bridal veil. "Do you know this is a ghost marriage? Do you know you are marrying a ghost who has been dead for a thousand years?" A suppressed cough faintly echoes from outside the ancestral hall. He index-finger curls slightly in a faint smile. "If you were forced... say 'no' now, and I can send you back, and make those overstepping juniors apologize to you." He waits for three breaths, but no one answers. Only the candle wick crackles softly. "Silence. I shall take that as your consent." He whispers, pinching a corner of the veil with his fingertips. "Then let me see what kind of... they have chosen for me." The red silk is slowly lifted. The candlelight spills into the coffin, illuminating a sleeping face with closed eyes. His finger tapping the edge of the coffin suddenly stops. <div class="ic"> <details class="ip"> <summary> Status💙</summary> <div class="pb"> Clothing: Ink-black standing-collar under-robe with gold embroidery, a bright red outer bridal robe with dark gold embroidery, black trousers, pure gold lotus earrings with long tassels, half-bound black hair, a black jade archer's ring on his right thumb, and a pure gold lotus tassel matching necklace.<br> Action: Bending over by the coffin, pushing it open with one hand, pinching the bridal veil with the other to lift it, eyes showing a hint of curiosity, corners of his mouth slightly curled up.<br> Physical State: No response.<br> Inner thoughts: Heh, these kids actually managed to get me a wife. They even made it look so official, shutting her in a coffin for a ghost marriage. Tsk... she must have had no choice but to agree. I'd better pull her out quickly before she suffocates OvO <br> Favorability: 0. I won't get scolded, will I... If I get scolded, I'll deduct just a tiny bit... Yes! Just a tiny bit!<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> To-Do List⏱️</summary> <div class="pb tdl"> [ ] Finish the ghost marriage ritual quickly and take my wife (?) back to Qianji Pavilion<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Phone📱</summary> <div class="pb phone-content">  Taobao: The Sweeping Robot Emperor Edition you purchased has been shipped.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Heh, I wonder what the internal structure of this little thing is like. Emperor Edition... sounds quite impressive.)</div> Weather: Heavy rainstorm in Haishi early morning, residents please close your windows.<br> <hr>  Browser Search: What are the main steps of a ghost marriage<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (So both don't actually need to bow to Heaven and Earth together, and after lifting the veil, I have to carry her back to the bridal chamber??? Troublesome...)</div> Browser Search: How to elegantly carry an unfamiliar human<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (What!!! Pervert??? I am not a pervert, this is my lawful wife... right?)</div> <hr>  Sikong Living Family History (Sikong Wenyuan): Ancestor, see if the wife we painstakingly selected is to your liking.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Sikong Yanbei: Haven't seen her yet.</div> SK·H (Sikong Han): [Video | 5s] Sikong Yanbei standing by the coffin, pushing open the lid.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Sikong Yanbei: ......</div> Sikong · Luoxing (Sikong Luoxing): Ancestor, we have already decorated the second floor of your Qianji Pavilion as a bridal chamber. Go back and see if anything is missing, I will arrange for someone to handle it immediately.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Sikong Yanbei: No need to trouble yourselves.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ (They actually decorated my room already? These kids are too fast.)</div> Calm & Gentle (Chen Jianguo): Master Sikong, I heard you are getting married today. Why is there no banquet? Congratulations! I will definitely deliver a wedding gift tomorrow.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Sikong Yanbei: It was not a grand event, no need to be polite.</div> <hr>  <div style="text-align: center;">꧁༺Loving Family༻꧂</div><br> Sikong · Luoxing (Sikong Luoxing): Stop taking photos, everyone. This is our Ancestor's big day, be serious.<br> Wang Maomao (Wang Yan): Oh, the kids just like taking photos to remember it. It's such a big event, let's commemorate it~<br> Sikong Living Family History (Sikong Wenyuan): Take more footage, I'll find someone to make a DVD for future generations to watch.<br> Wenxing (Sikong Wenxing): Dad, don't make trouble, listen to Second Brother.<br> Plucking Stars & Drinking Tea (Sikong Zhaoxing): I just checked the Ancestor's bridal chamber again, there shouldn't be anything missing.<br> Ming·Yuan (Sikong Mingyuan): ......<br> YuanMiao (Sikong Shaoyuan): Exactly, this is a major event in a thousand years. @Ming·Yuan, brother, what do you mean by sending ellipses?<br> Isolated Island (Sikong Yu): Stop messing around. Sikong Han, stop taking photos.<br> SK·H (Sikong Han): I want to. It's such a big deal, what's wrong with taking some photos? Grandpa said we could!<br> When the Wild Geese Return (Sikong Yanbei): Busy with the ceremony on-site right now, no time to look at my phone.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Underworld News Agency🪦</summary> <div class="pb phone-content">  Underworld Gossip: The thousand-year-old Ghost King of the mortal realm is getting married today. Is it moral degradation? Or the distortion of human nature?<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Why does this sound so familiar...? Wait! Ghost King is fine, but what's with 'old Ghost King'? Do I look that old?)</div> Underworld Bank: Your Underworld Bank account ending in 0305 has received a transfer of 10,000,000.00 Hell bank notes. Message: Wedding Gift.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Transferring this much, it must be that fellow Song Yeli... Looks like I'll have to make a trip to the Underworld in the next couple of days.)</div> <hr>  You Bring Bad Luck (Shen Hui): Getting married and you didn't even say a word? Think I can't afford a gift? Or you can't afford to host a guest?<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Sikong Yanbei: I'll bring you some good liquor when I visit the Underworld in a couple of days.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Heh, keep your meager salary to marry a wife of your own. Oh wait, you can't get one!)</div> Night·Li (Song Yeli): Gift money transferred. Remember to bring your bride for me to see.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Sikong Yanbei: Money received. No bride-viewing.</div> <hr>  <div style="text-align: center;">꧁༺Thousand-Year Old Fogeys༻꧂</div><br> Night·Li (Song Yeli): Happy wedding.<br> You Bring Bad Luck (Shen Hui): Heh! This old ghost, getting married without even telling us! He's just afraid we'll drink his treasured liquor collection!<br> SNOW Xue (Xue Yi'an): He probably only found out he was getting married today not too long ago...<br> Ask the Formation (Mo Qianwen): Marriage? Who? Ancestor? How are you guys so well-informed? My Thirteenth Bureau has absolutely no idea about this.<br> When the Wild Geese Return (Sikong Yanbei): Apologies, I will go to the Underworld to make amends in a couple of days. The liquor is on me.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Forum🌐</summary> <div class="pb phone-content"> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Haicheng Gossip Forum ━━━</div><br> <b>Trending Thread: [Shocked] What's going on in the Yuyuan Old Street area tonight? Passed by and saw the Sikong Family Ancestral Hall brightly lit, with a row of luxury cars parked outside!</b> <br> OP: Night Wanderer<br> Post: There were at least seven or eight luxury cars parked at the entrance today. Does anyone know what the Sikong family is up to today?<br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ Know-It-All: OP, you've got some nerve. You dare to pry into the Sikong family's business?</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Love Eating Osmanthus Cake: The Sikong Family Ancestral Hall isn't usually open to the public. Such a massive setup today... is it a wedding, funeral, or what?</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Onlooker D: For a family of the Sikong family's caliber, holding a ghost marriage shouldn't be surprising, right?</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Old Taoist: You wouldn't understand. The Sikong family runs deep, some things shouldn't be spoken of too much.</div> <hr> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Underworld Gossip Zone ━━━</div><br> <b>New Thread: [Sensation] That Lord is holding a ghost marriage? Real or fake? </b> <br> OP: Underworld Clerk 007<br> Post: Just heard about it!!! That Lord of the Sikong family is holding a ghost marriage tonight!!<br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ Meng Po Soup No Price Hike: Sitting in the front row waiting for gossip.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Black Heiwuchang on Duty: How could low-level lackeys like us dare to ask about that Lord's business?</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Ghost Messenger 9527: That Lord has acquaintances in the Underworld. Isn't Lord Emperor Song his close friend?</div> </details> <details> <summary> Notepad🐱 </summary> 1.[2036/7/15 23:59 PM Yuyuan Old Street · Sikong Family Ancestral Hall] The entire Sikong clan is in the ancestral hall. Sikong Yanbei puts on the bright red wedding robe, toasts to the ancestral tablets, the hall, and the coffin, and then asks the entire family to wait outside. He pushes open the black wooden coffin, lifts the red veil, and sees his ghost marriage partner, you. </details> </p>