They arrived at the Zhou family residence, where two servants stood guard outside.
"Who goes there!" they challenged as the group attempted to enter.
"We are the bride's maternal family, we wish to see her and meet our in-laws," the middle-aged woman explained with a smile.
At this moment, the matchmaker emerged, casting a scornful glance at the family. "Follow me."
The three of them followed the matchmaker inside. The Zhou family residence was indeed as magnificent as rumored, a series of grand courtyards. The floral arrangements and plants alone were enough to dazzme them.
From the entrance, red and white silk banners were hung, and lanterns were alternately red and white.
Though murmuring amongst themselves, the three could only console themselves: Young Master Zhou had only passed away a couple of days ago, so white banners and lanterns were understandable.
Yet, the house did not resemble a wedding celebration. There was no liveliness, not even the sound of gongs and drums.
Upon reaching the main hall, they saw two large coffins. One was already sealed, adorned with a large red flower.
The lid of the other coffin lay on the ground, as two women were placing the unconscious Yin Yin inside.
The Yin family became agitated. "Why would a wedding ceremony involve entering a coffin?"
The matchmaker found it amusing. "Since it is a ghost marriage, naturally both parties must enter the coffin. Soon, you will be buried together."
"What!" the Yin family was shocked.
"You never said this before!" the middle-aged woman accused the matchmaker.
"Didn't I tell you Yin Yin was to marry Young Master Zhou? You can't be unaware that Young Master Zhou is dead, can you? Marrying a dead man is still marrying. A wife follows her husband, whether he's alive or dead. Marrying a dead man means becoming one too!"
"You knew all along!" The middle-aged woman, enraged, lunged at the matchmaker, and they began to fight.
"Enough!" Old Master Zhou emerged, and everyone stopped.
"If you disagree with this marriage, feel free to take your daughter back. However, the betrothal gifts must be returned, and you will also compensate for the expenses of this wedding."
"What if we don't compensate?"
Old Master Zhou sneered. "Do you think the Zhou family is a place you can just come and go as you please?"
The Yin family hesitated. They had no money to compensate, and they were unwilling to return the betrothal gifts inside. Coupled with their son's meaningful glances and thoughts of their unborn grandchild, the Yin couple wavered.
Just then, a hand emerged from the coffin.
It was Yin Yin!
She had woken up!
"The bride is awake," the matchmaker, her hair disheveled and fuming, spoke rudely.
Yin Yin slowly came to, finding herself lying in a coffin. She immediately realized what was happening and tried to climb out.
Old Master Zhou stood before the hall and asked the Yin family, "Have you made your decision?"
The Yin couple felt their hearts burning.
They had thought their daughter was marrying into a life of comfort, only to discover her grave had already been prepared.
This was truly a choice between their daughter and their son.
While the Yin couple hesitated, Yin Yin nimbly crawled out. However, having not eaten for days, her legs gave way as soon as she emerged from the coffin, and she fell to the ground.
Old Master Zhou continued to urge them, "Well? Have you decided?"
The Yin family remained silent, having implicitly made a choice.
"Alright," Old Master Zhou waved his hand grandly. "Hurry and carry your young madam inside! If you delay the auspicious time for the young master, I'll skin you alive!"
"Father! Mother! Brother!" Yin Yin, unable to break free, pinned her hopes on her family.
The Yin family turned a blind eye and slowly walked away.
Yin Yin's piercing screams echoed from the hall. Everyone present, except for Old Master Zhou and the Yin family of three, was moved.
She was thrown heavily back into the coffin, her head hitting the porcelain pillow with a thud, and she lapsed into a brief coma again.
"Close the coffin!" Old Master Zhou commanded again.
The coffin lid was slowly pushed shut, the light gradually being blocked until it vanished completely.
To prevent Yin Yin from waking up midway, they cruelly hammered nails into all four sides.
With all this done, the ghost marriage entered its main event.
Servants carried the two coffins and slowly departed the Zhou residence.
The Yin family, after a moment's thought, also followed at a distance.
However, the Zhou family no longer deigned to speak to them, viewing them as mere beasts who sold their daughters for glory.
They walked out of the village and into a clearing in the woods.
"My son said this is a geomantically auspicious location that will ensure the prosperity of my Zhou family. Lower the coffin!"
Young Master Zhou's coffin was the first to be placed into the grave pit. Yin Yin's resting place was beside it, and it was lowered as well.
The two coffins lay side by side in the grave pit, a small distance separating them. The red flower on the coffin was particularly conspicuous.
Servants began to push the soil from the sides, and soon, both coffins were completely buried.
"My son, I can finally rest easy. If you need anything in the afterlife, just send me dreams, and I will fulfill them!"
After the two graves were prepared, Yin Yin had no tombstone, but who cared?
The matchmaker offered more auspicious words. When Old Master Zhou grew tired of standing, they finally left the burial ground.
After the Zhou family had gone far away, the Yin family could bear it no longer.
Yin Yin's mother, in particular, rushed to the graveside, calling out Yin Yin's name, her tears falling like rain onto the loose soil.
Yin Yin's father and brother stood by, watching in sorrow.
Suddenly, a sound began to emanate from beneath the soil. It was faint at first, then grew louder.
It was Yin Yin's fingers scratching at the coffin lid, her legs and feet kicking at the coffin.
"Hubby!" Yin Yin's mother was so terrified that she stopped crying immediately.
"It must be that our sister has suddenly woken up!"
This was something none of the three had anticipated. She should have been unconscious for a while, so why was she awake so soon?
Yin Yin heard the voices outside and shouted, "Father! Mother! Brother! Let me out! Let me out!"
Yin Yin's mother was flustered, and her brother was indecisive. They both looked to Yin Yin's father.
Yin Yin's father glanced into the distance and saw a Zhou family servant standing beneath a tree, watching them.
He hardened his heart and said to his son and wife, "Let's go! It's as if we never had this daughter!"
Trapped in the coffin, Yin Yin heard the footsteps receding. She knew her last hope was gone. Tears streamed down her face inside the coffin, and she tore at her wedding dress.
Yin Yin refused to believe it. Even if her parents wouldn't save her, she would save herself!
Ning Wei crouched beside the coffin, watching Yin Yin desperately kick at it. But the coffin was nailed shut, and she couldn't possibly open it.
As the oxygen dwindled, Yin Yin slowly lost consciousness.
She flickered between consciousness and unconsciousness, and eventually, the coffin lid was covered in bloody handprints.