"Please," says Liu Mingyan, with some relief. It's not that she doesn't value Luo Binghe's advice, but she doesn't know how much he truly might like to hear that his wives find pleasure in her; she will not mention, for example, that some of them call her husband in hushed tones, or admit they prefer the company of women. None of them regret their marriages, of course, but there is a sense of relief, in his absence, living alongside the sorrow of it, sometimes within the same heart. "I am eager to see this beautiful ghost who has so enchanted you."

This is mostly true. She does not relish looking upon Shen Qingqiu, whole; but she would like to see for herself how a physical form can be changed by a new soul alone.