Visitors from Moon Province

The County Office's clerks were collecting their pay that day, and Yi Shuyuan arrived early. After all, he had not slept anyway.

Yi Shuyuan was visibly happier when he emerged from the County Office's accounts room. They had clearly looked after him: he had received four taels and two hundred copper coins in wages.

Had he only just arrived in this world, Yi Shuyuan might not have understood what that amount meant. Now, however, he exclaimed inwardly, That's a downright fortune!

There was no upper limit to what one could spend on luxuries, but if it was only a matter of meeting basic living needs, saying this money could buy an ordinary family a year's worth of grain was no exaggeration.

Of course, in terms of actual purchasing power, it might only have equaled an average salary in his previous life, but compared with what other people here earned, it was certainly quite good.

It was another day off, so Yi Shuyuan naturally headed straight for Tongxin Pavilion. Satisfying his appetite came first.

But a bailiff running hurriedly toward him disrupted Yi Shuyuan's plans. Before the man even reached the accounts room, his shouts rang out.

"Mr. Yi, Mr. Yi! The County Magistrate wants you at his official residence at once!"

The bailiff had clearly come in a hurry; he was slightly breathless by the time he reached Yi Shuyuan. Yi Shuyuan's first thought was that Lin Xiu wanted to see the County Gazetteer he was compiling, and he felt a little helpless.

Why do bosses here also insist on checking work progress during holidays?

But the bailiff's next words told Yi Shuyuan he had gotten the wrong idea.

"Mr. Yi, people have arrived from Moon City about Jia Yuntong's case. The County Magistrate wants you there right away!"

Yi Shuyuan frowned slightly, recognizing that this took priority. With a single "Let's go," he strode toward the magistrate's official residence. The bailiff naturally hurried after him to lead the way.

While they were still on the way, Yi Shuyuan asked for details. He learned that Moon Province's prefect had sent quite a few people, who were currently questioning Lin Xiu in person about the full course of the case. As the key figure connecting its earlier and later developments, Yi Shuyuan naturally could not be absent.

The magistrate's official residence was within the County Office grounds, after all. With Yi Shuyuan and the bailiff walking briskly, they arrived in moments.

It was a separate courtyard. As soon as the two reached the entrance, they saw at least a dozen officers in unfamiliar attire: dark green fitted outfits and knotted headcloths. Most carried standard government-issued sabers, though some had chains wound around their waists or specially made staffs on their backs.

Seemingly alerted by their footsteps, many turned toward the entrance. Yi Shuyuan ignored them and went straight toward the reception hall. Inside, besides several County Office officials, he could see a few others. The man at their head wore a long-winged official hat and was presumably an official from Moon Province.

As soon as Yi Shuyuan reached the doorway, he saluted Lin Xiu.

"County Magistrate, Yi Shuyuan reporting!"

Seeing Yi Shuyuan arrive, Lin Xiu instinctively rose from his seat.

"Come in, Mr. Yi. Come, let me introduce everyone. This is Mr. Yi. Mr. Yi, this is Lord Li, the assistant prefect of Moon Province, and these gentlemen are government officers from Moon City!"

Every gaze turned toward Yi Shuyuan as he entered, while the bailiff following close behind might as well have become invisible. He stood cautiously to one side, not daring to say a word.

By contrast, Yi Shuyuan carried himself with easy composure and cupped his hands in greeting to the senior officials from Moon Province.

"Yi Shuyuan, clerk of Yuanjiang County, pays his respects to you, my lords!"

The assistant prefect and the officers all looked Yi Shuyuan up and down. The former gave a soft, cold snort and asked,

"Hmph. So you're the Mr. Yi who can see ghosts?"

Yi Shuyuan frowned and raised his head. That tone was hardly polite. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at a nearby table. The case files from that day lay open upon it and had evidently been reviewed several times already.

Still, Yi Shuyuan remained calm and unruffled. After replying with the proper respect, he turned back toward Lin Xiu.

"That is indeed I. Lord Lin, may I ask why you summoned me?"

Yi Shuyuan was asking a question he already knew the answer to, but appearances had to be maintained. It also gave Lin Xiu, the county's presiding official, a chance to regain the initiative.

Before Lin Xiu could speak, however, Lord Li from Moon Province cut in.

"According to the case files, you spoke on behalf of the female ghost He Xin during this case. Is that true?"

What an imposing display of official authority, Yi Shuyuan grumbled inwardly, while outwardly he nodded.

"It is."

"Then let that female ghost possess you again and speak."

This was clearly an unreasonable demand. Wu Minggao, standing nearby, steeled himself and spoke up to ease the situation.

"My lord, ghosts find it difficult to enter the County Office. Besides, it is daytime, so a wandering spirit would surely struggle to appear. And ghosts do not simply come whenever summoned..."

Yi Shuyuan also spoke.

"Lord Wu is quite right. But even if Miss He is not here, Jia Yuntong's written confession is right before us and cannot be denied. Some matters can be verified with a simple investigation."

"Hmph. The files clearly state that Jia Yuntong was tortured before confessing. Who's to say his confession wasn't beaten out of him?"

"My lord, aren't you being far too rash in your judgment? This man resisted arrest and injured people, costing our County Office quite a few capable men. It was perfectly normal to subject him to punishment after bringing him in!"

The speaker was Yuanjiang County's commandant. His shoulder injury had yet to heal, and one arm hung in a cloth sling, lending considerable weight to his words.

But someone beside the assistant prefect gave a quiet, derisive chuckle. "Capable men?"

The words carried a double sting. Anger flared in the county commandant's heart, and he glared fiercely at the speaker. Just as he was about to reply, Yuanjiang County's deputy, whom Yi Shuyuan barely knew, immediately intervened.

"Ah, now, now. We all serve the court. Let's not spoil the harmony between us!"

The private secretary hurried to echo him.

"Indeed, indeed. We're discussing the case. Let's not spoil the harmony!"

Lin Xiu drew a deep breath.

"The Ministry of Justice will deliver its judgment on this case. There is no need for you to trouble yourself unduly, my lord."

The assistant prefect frowned and swept his gaze over the people from Yuanjiang County.

"Lin Xiu, you may not know who Wu Prefecture's assistant prefect is, but surely you know that its former administrative officer is now the vice minister of personnel. How will you convince your superiors? With these files about a ghost seeking justice?"

Had it been some other capital official, Lin Xiu might indeed not have known. But the Ministry of Personnel oversaw evaluations of officials everywhere. Although its minister was the chief official, he only supervised the overall picture; the vice ministers were the ones who did the actual work and had a real say. Lin Xiu naturally could not be unaware of this.

And what sort of trouble might arise? The assistant prefect did not spell it out, but even Yi Shuyuan could imagine a thing or two.

Indeed, those from the Yuanjiang County Office had experienced this case firsthand and naturally believed it without reservation. But to others, especially higher officials, such an account would sound rather absurd.

Seeing the magistrate fall silent, Yi Shuyuan spoke.

"If you do not believe it, my lord, you can question the bailiffs who were present that night, or go to the dungeon and ask Jia Yuntong yourself. I believe he will not retract his confession."

"Hmph. I would do that without you telling me!"

As he spoke, the assistant prefect sighed and looked toward the magistrate, whose expression had soured.

"Lin Xiu, political struggles at court and beyond are perilous affairs. I merely fear you may be drawn into them unwittingly and used as someone else's blade because of this matter. I have reviewed your evaluations over the years. You have achieved little of note, but committed no great mistakes either. Don't say I failed to warn you: whatever the outcome of this case, you will find it difficult to remain unscathed."

As though those words had struck a nerve, anger rose in Lin Xiu's heart. The spiritual resonance around him stirred faintly, making him seem slightly brighter to Yi Shuyuan. Yet the words he spoke were not particularly heated.

"I understand my position. Everything I have done falls within my duties. Thank you for your concern, my lord!"

The assistant prefect shook his head and said no more on the matter.

"Come. Take me to the dungeon!"

The party soon reached the dungeon, but almost simultaneously, the people from Moon City took over its security, each occupying a key guard post. The original bailiffs and guards neither dared abandon their posts nor rebuke these newcomers, leaving them standing awkwardly nearby.

Walking beside the assistant prefect, Lin Xiu frowned and demanded,

"My lord, what is the meaning of this?"

The assistant prefect glanced at him.

"What security can you speak of with the few bailiffs Yuanjiang County has left? I am assuming temporary control."

One rank higher could crush a man to death. If his tone earlier had merely been harsh, he now seemed to have come with ill intent. The Yuanjiang County officials could hardly erupt to his face. Maintaining outward composure, they could only accept it for the moment.

Inside the dungeon, Sixth Master, the head jailer, had lost every trace of his usual air of reigning supreme over the cells. Like an eager foot soldier, he walked ahead to clear the way for these important figures.

"My lords, we're almost there. Jia Yuntong is right at the far end!"

The officers accompanying the assistant prefect all had their attention drawn to a man huddled in another cell. One could not help exclaiming,

"Long-Armed Ape, Sun Shiwan?" "Yes!"

"Are you sure?" "There's no mistake. This bastard has several lives on his hands. Who would have thought he'd be caught and locked up here!"

"He was actually protecting Jia Yuntong?" "Hmph. We can settle old grudges and new this time. Let him have a taste of our methods!"

They walked past as they talked, while the martial expert in the cell remained silent, his face deeply gloomy.

Soon, everyone reached the end of the dungeon. Jia Yuntong was still huddled in that corner. Hearing the commotion, He Xin had already turned toward the door. At the sight of so many people, especially these martial men with their heavy killing intent, she instinctively retreated a little.

But when she saw Yi Shuyuan and Lin Xiu among the crowd, delight immediately appeared on He Xin's face, and she bowed to them.

"He Xin pays her respects to Lord Lin and Mr. Yi. Mr. Yi, Lord Lin can't hear me. Tell him I've paid my respects!"

Yi Shuyuan nodded slightly but showed no intention of speaking. He Xin did not dare press him and could only watch from the side.

"Jia Yuntong, the lords from Moon Province and the County Magistrate have come to see you. Come out!"

"Don't come for me, don't come for me. I was only carrying out orders..."

Jia Yuntong replied, trembling all over.

"Jia Yuntong, get out here!"

"Don't come for me, don't come for me..."

The head jailer called several times, receiving the same reply each time. The people from Moon Province frowned repeatedly, and one said quietly,

"If this man is mad, his testimony can hardly count for much."

The County Office officials immediately grew anxious as well, hoping Jia Yuntong had not truly gone mad. Lin Xiu promptly ordered,

"Open the cell and drag him out!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The head jailer immediately opened the iron door. After hesitating and scanning the cell, he murmured a few words of "Please take no offense," then joined another bailiff in hauling Jia Yuntong out of the dry straw where he had been hiding.

"No, don't come for me..."

Jia Yuntong struggled violently, thinking the vengeful ghost had appeared. But when he was forcibly turned toward the entrance, the first person he saw was Yi Shuyuan. At once, it was as though he had spotted his savior.

Whether from some unknown surge of strength or simply the enormous advantage of his weight, Jia Yuntong actually broke free of the head jailer and bailiff. He fell to the floor at the doorway and repeatedly knocked his head toward Yi Shuyuan.

Thud, thud, thud.

"Mr. Yi, please save me, save me! Make that ghost stop haunting me. I can't take it anymore! I've already confessed everything!"

Thud, thud, thud.

An officer from Moon Province reached out and firmly caught Jia Yuntong's forehead, then looked toward Yi Shuyuan. He was not the only one; the others were looking at Yi Shuyuan too.

A thought stirred in Lin Xiu's mind, and he suddenly asked,

"Mr. Yi, could Miss He Xin be right here?"

Everyone's heart skipped a beat. However little they had believed before, Jia Yuntong's madness combined with their surroundings could not help affecting them somewhat.

Yi Shuyuan's expression remained calm, and he made no attempt to conceal anything. The spiritual resonance within him moved with his thoughts, sending a wisp drifting toward the ghost. Then he nodded and said,

"Miss He Xin is standing behind Jia Yuntong!"

Yi Shuyuan had only intended to help He Xin solidify her ghostly form enough to make a sound and let everyone sense her presence. Yet unexpectedly, as he acted, an eerie, chilling wind rose within the cell, stirring everyone's hems.

Whoosh... whoosh...

A hazy white figure actually began to appear faintly before everyone's eyes.

"Hiss..."

For a moment, everyone felt a chill shoot straight to the crowns of their heads. Even the martial men broke out in goosebumps.

There really was a ghost!

"Aah-!"

Jia Yuntong screamed and desperately crawled toward the doorway, only to be pinned down at once by several people outside. The head jailer and the bailiff also fled out of the cell.