Do you believe in predestined relationships in past lives? The story of the unending love between a human and a ghost? There’s a Chinese legend about a pair of lovers whose past life had unfinished business.

In this life, Fang Sheng, who had been murdered, still had memories of his past life and had yet to be reincarnated, and so he sought out his former lover to continue their relationship. Did they ultimately end up together?

The Fall of a Family

Once upon a time, a wealthy family named Chen fell into decline due to a sudden disaster. The husband of the family fell seriously ill and passed away, leaving only mother and daughter to depend on each other.

At the time, idlers in the village frequently visited their home to cause trouble. Seeking peace and quiet, mother and daughter moved to another place.

Chen’s youngest daughter was named Yuniang. Sixteen years old, with fair complexion and a graceful figure, Yuniang spent her days secluded in the back room. In her spare time, she practiced music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, demonstrating a certain talent.

One night, Yuniang felt restless and unable to sleep. She opened her zither case and began to play a gentle, melancholic tune.

A Late-Night Encounter

When the song ended, Yuniang looked up to see a young scholar standing beside her. Startled, he sternly rebuked, “You audacious scholar, how dare you enter my chamber so late at night? Go away!”

The scholar hurriedly saluted,

“Miss, I happened to see you strolling in the garden this morning. I was captivated by your beauty. Just now, I heard your wonderful piano playing.

I simply couldn’t control myself, so I dared to come in. Miss, a night of springtime is worth a thousand gold. How could we waste this beautiful moment?”

With these words, the scholar reached out to grab Yu Niang’s sleeve. Yu Niang quickly dodged, her face flushed with shame from his words. He scolded the scholar,

“How can you be so frivolous, scholar? Please respect yourself and leave immediately. Don’t ruin my reputation.”

The scholar shamelessly said, “If you don’t comply, I will stay in your room tonight. If anyone finds out, how can you maintain your innocence?”

Yu Niang’s heart was pounding with anger:

“You vicious scholar, why are you doing me this? If you don’t leave, I will fight to the death. I would rather hang myself in the garden than obey you!” With that, Yu Niang lifted her skirt and scurried out. The scholar hurried forward and grabbed her.

Seeing the scholar trying to stop her, Yu Niang clenched her fist and was about to strike him in the face. In the candlelight, she saw the scholar was fair and handsome.

Unable to bring herself to strike, she stretched out her arm and pinched him hard.

The scholar didn’t cry out in pain, nor did he let go. He looked at Yu Niang affectionately, “Miss, I truly love you!”

Yu Niang suppressed her inner urge. She took the scholar’s hand and sat on the edge of the bed, shyly saying that if he truly loved her, he should go home and discuss it with his parents.

He could ask a matchmaker to propose marriage. Then, they could become a loving couple in a dignified and respectful manner. The scholar was overjoyed and vowed to marry her.

After this, he bowed and said goodbye to Yu Niang. Yu Niang shyly and lovingly took his hand and escorted him to the door. After seeing the scholar off, Yu Niang was overwhelmed with emotion and fell asleep as her head hit the pillow.

A Ghost Story

Dreaming of a Past Life

After Yu Niang fell asleep, she had a strange dream: an old man in her dream told her that the scholar was actually a male ghost named Fang. He and Yu Niang were connected in a past life.

The old man told Yu Niang that in her previous life, her name was Yue Xian. She and Fang Sheng had been childhood sweethearts and had secretly pledged their lives to each other.

Unexpectedly, when the two reached adulthood, Yuexian’s wealthy father disapproved of the marriage and secretly murdered Fangsheng on his way to Beijing for the imperial examination.

Yuexian never saw Fangsheng again, and her father pressured her to marry someone else. Unwavering in her devotion, Yuexian committed suicide by jumping into a well. Later, she was reincarnated into a wealthy family, becoming the present-day Yu Niang.

Mutual Love

Yu Niang awoke, half-believing and half-doubting her dream. She spent the entire day in a trance. Then, night fell. Yu Niang sat alone in her boudoir, lost in thought. Suddenly, the door creaked open, revealing the scholar from last night. Undeterred, Yu Niang asked if he was Fang Sheng.

The scholar was startled, then replied solemnly, “Yes, it’s because we were destined to be together in a previous life. We happened to meet the day before yesterday while passing by. Seeing your deep affection, I hurried to see you last night.

But after so long, I’m afraid your temperament may no longer be as pure and innocent as before. I was being frivolous and trying to be frivolous. Please forgive me, young lady.”

Yu Niang sighed, realizing she had been married to him in her previous life! She was filled with joy, completely oblivious to Fang Sheng’s ghostly form.

At the same time, Yu Niang sympathized with Fang Sheng’s plight and was deeply moved by Yue Xian and Fang Sheng’s steadfast love. “Mr. Fang, I was actually attracted to you at first sight, too.

I was very attracted to you the moment I saw you last night. Now that we have this predestined relationship, we must cherish it!”

From then on, Fang Sheng met Yu Niang every night, filled with endless joy. Yu Niang, who had been pursuing pleasure for days, gradually lost her energy and became haggard. Mrs. Chen thought her daughter was unwell and bought some medicine to make for her.

Reincarnation

That evening, Fang Sheng came to see Yu Niang again. After they sat down, Yu Niang said that this wasn’t a long-term solution. Separated by the worlds of Yin and Yang, how could they be together forever? She wanted to be a real couple with Fang Sheng.

Seeing Yu Niang’s increasing haggardness, Fang Sheng embraced her lovingly and said,

“I’ve been unable to reincarnate in the underworld for so long because the wicked man who harmed me buried me in the wilderness and placed a large rock on top of me.

As long as no one comes to rescue me, I won’t be able to reincarnate. Furthermore, even if I could reincarnate into the living world, the age difference between you and me would be enormous. You’d have to wait until I came of age before we could marry. Could you endure that torment?”

Yu Niang said firmly, “As long as you can reincarnate, I’ll wait, no matter how hard it is. If you reincarnate now, I’ll only be sixteen years older than you. Just don’t think I’m old then. Tell me, how can I save you?”

Fang Sheng was deeply moved and told her: At the foot of the West Mountain, there’s a thousand-year-old pine tree. Twenty steps north of the pine tree, there’s a large rock. His body is buried beneath it. All we have to do is have the rock removed. Then, his remains can be reburied in a sunny spot on the hillside.

As dawn approached, Fang Sheng hurried away. After breakfasting with her mother, Yu Niang excused herself to go to the street to buy some silk thread. Chen Shi didn’t suspect anything.

Rescuing Fang Sheng

Yu Niang left home, paid some money, and summoned two honest farmers to head directly to West Hill. At the foot of the hill, she indeed saw an ancient, weathered pine tree. She determined the location and walked twenty steps north from the pine tree until she found the large rock.

Yu Niang simply explained to the farmers that her ancestors had appeared in her dreams and instructed her to choose a new burial site. The two farmers, unsuspecting, simply followed their instructions.

After that, Fang Sheng stopped visiting Yu Niang, and she waited anxiously. A month later, a pregnant elderly woman nearby gave birth to a plump son. The elderly couple, overjoyed at the prospect, named him Jingui.

Yu Niang heard about this and made an excuse to go see him. The boy truly bore a striking resemblance to Fang Sheng. And when he saw Yu Niang, he giggled. His family was delighted, saying it was the first time the child had smiled since birth.

Naturally close

Yu Niang knew this must be the reincarnation of Fang Sheng, and with a throbbing heart, she brought the child to her. The child smiled sweetly and scratched Yu Niang’s face with his chubby little hands. Yu Niang felt itchy inside, and couldn’t help but kiss the child.

From then on, the child only recognized Yu Niang, crying when anyone else held him. After a long while, Yu Niang finally coaxed the child to sleep and gently placed him in his mother’s arms. From then on, Yu Niang lived in seclusion, patiently waiting.

The child, Jingui, grew up quickly. He ran around the streets, attracting everyone. Showed indifference to others, but he was deeply attached to Chen and her daughter. Often went to Chen’s house to play alone. When he was hungry, Yu Niang would find him something to eat, and when he was tired, he would sleep in her bed.

Sixteen-Year Promise

Later, Jingui grew up. As expected, he had a special affection for Yu Niang, sixteen years his senior, and fell deeply in love with her.

Yun Niang had remained unmarried until she saw the adult Jingui courting her, and she agreed. Both families were delighted, and an auspicious date was chosen for Yu Niang and Jingui to marry.

Yun Niang wondered whether Jingui knew about his past life. Since he had never mentioned it, she kept it to herself. The two of them loved each other and lived a blissful life.

Later, with Yu Niang’s support, Jingui passed the imperial examination and became a prefect. His affection for Yu Niang grew stronger with each passing day.