Jin Shanyao, huddled in the study awaiting the outcome. As night passed the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), the male ghost, clutching the intestines, and the female ghost, trembling, floated outside the study.
"Master... Su Wenqian has talismans on him; we can't get close."
The female ghost nodded in agreement, "That talisman was incredibly powerful; we almost lost our souls."
They were blasted away by a powerful Spiritual Power as soon as they approached the Su Household. Fortunately, they ran fast.
The two ghosts failed in their mission and dared not flee back to the mass grave. They hesitated for nearly half an hour before finally daring to report.
The female ghost clung tightly to the male ghost, thinking that she probably wouldn't survive today.
Jin Shanyao cursed herself inwardly, "You greedy bastard, selling so many talismans to Old Madam Su! Now look what's happened, you can't even get into the Su Household!"
She waved weakly, indicating that they could leave.
The male and female ghosts, as if granted a pardon, didn't dare linger for a moment and ran off towards the mass grave.
He slipped into the grave mound like a puff of smoke, lay down in the coffin, and shook so hard that the coffin lid clattered.
The two graves were surrounded by nosy ghosts. "How was it? Did Lord Su recite ' Women's Virtue ' and ' Admonitions for Women '? I heard there are stone lions at the yamen gate, how did you get in?"
"Hey... stop shaking, the coffin lid's crumbling..."
The next day, Meng Anzhi pushed open the study door to find the room in complete disarray, with books scattered everywhere. Her aunt sat behind the desk, her face grim, writing furiously. Had she not slept all night?
"Auntie, what's going on?"
Jin Shanyao raised her eyes and said fiercely, "I wrote four books for Lord Su, and told him to study them carefully."
Meng Anzhi stepped forward in confusion. On the table were " The Men's Three Obediences and Four Virtues," " Men's Assisting Their Wives and Raising Their Children," and " Records of Men's Discipline."
"Auntie, when did you start writing storybooks?"
Jin Shanyao and hummed softly, "This isn't a storybook; it's Lord Su's life motto."
Meng Anzhi shook her head and sighed. Yesterday, Lord Su confiscated her aunt's storybooks and sent over a bunch of books. Things were going quite well, so why did they have another conflict?
She bent down to tidy up the books on the floor, but was interrupted by Jin Shanyao, "Don't move, you'll dirty your hands. These are all forbidden books. Auntie will take them back to Lord Su in a bit."
Meng Anzhi was still somewhat skeptical. "Auntie, breakfast is ready."
After writing the last character, Jin Shanyao threw the pen on the table and said, "You all eat, I'm going to go chat with Lord Su."
After saying this, he gathered up all the books on the ground, loaded them onto an oxcart, and headed towards the government office.
Outside the government office, the gatekeeper saw Jin Shanyao return the book and asked in surprise, "You've finished reading it all?"
Hmph... After reading this, you naive girl, do you think this is a book? This is Su Wenqian's challenge to her.
She glanced sideways at the gatekeeper, "Go tell your Lord Su that I have a batch of banned books to hand over."
Seeing that her expression was not right, the gatekeeper did not dare to linger and hurriedly ran to report. A moment later, Su Wenqian, dressed in official robes, walked out with square steps. He glanced at the oxcart.
Nodding in satisfaction, "It's good that you have this awareness... there's still hope."
Oh dear... this is no longer a subtle provocation, it's a blatant demonstration! Jin Shanyao shoved " Women's Virtue " and "Women's Admonitions for Women " into Su Wenqian's arms.
"Read..."
"What?" Su Wenqian asked, holding the book in confusion.
With a forced smile, Jin Shanyao, "Scared now? Didn't expect me to give up so easily."
They said my storybooks were banned, but then they turned around and gave me the banned books you were reading.
Is this a demonstration, provocation, or a chase to beat someone up???
Su Wenqian was completely confused. "What nonsense are you spouting? Come in with me."
"Heh... Trying to trap me like this? Want to gang up on me? Let me tell you, I'm not afraid."
"Summon everyone from the entire government office out here, I'll deal with them all at once..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Madam Su helping Old Madam Su rush over.
"Miss Jin, what happened..."
When Jin Shanyao saw Old Madam Su coming over, she calmed herself down and recounted the whole story.
Old Madam Su took the book, she was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.
Jin Shanyao Bei laughed inexplicably. Old Madam Su took a breath and said, "You've misunderstood Wenqian. These books are all for advising women. Every household in the Sheng Dynasty has a copy."
It wasn't a banned book, and he meant well; he wasn't mocking you or provoking you.
Jin Shanyao shocked. Could the Sheng Dynasty have such a terrifying book? Or did all of humanity possess such a book?
Old Madam Su took her hand and acted as a peacemaker.
After a short while, Jin Shanyao realized she had misunderstood Su Wenqian. Her anger subsided, and she even felt a little annoyed. Why did she always embarrass herself in front of Lord Su? Then she thought about it again.
She had no idea that humans would read such books that contradicted the Heavenly Gang. Jin Shanyao chatted with Old Madam Su for a few moments, then handed the book she had written the night before to Su Wenqian.
"Nephew... Your aunt has misunderstood you. These books were written by your aunt herself; every sentence is sincere and every word is precious. You should take them out and read them more often."
Su Wenqian glanced at the cover, his face flushed red, and he trembled with anger.
Jin Shanyao wasn't home early in the morning; she ran to the government office and made a scene, and even wrote him some nonsensical books.
Damn it... But then he remembered that Jin Shanyao had once saved his life and even helped him find evidence of the magistrate's crimes, allowing him to dig out the venomous fangs of Qingzhou Prefecture.
He forcefully suppressed his anger! Sometimes you just can't owe people favors, otherwise you'll feel guilty even when you're angry.
The misunderstanding was cleared up, and Jin Shanyao was once again a happy tree. She wandered around the street twice but found it boring, so she sent the oxcart home and went to Hat Mountain alone.
At the foot of Hat Mountain, the vegetation is lush, no different from ordinary mountain forests. But the further you go in, the fewer people you visit, the thick moss and tangled vines give it the feel of a primeval forest.
Jin Shanyao a deep breath, the fragrance of grass and earth filling her heart and soul... Ah... the scent of nature, it was the scent she loved.
She followed her instincts and walked deeper into the mountains, until she encountered the crooked tree for the second time, at which point Jin Shanyao smiled.
She stepped forward and grabbed a branch of the crooked tree.
In an instant, the surrounding white mist surged, and a sharp gust of wind attacked from behind! Jin Shanyao dodged to the side, and at the same time, she quickly tied a knot in mid-air.
The moment it formed, the mist dissipated.
On the crooked tree from before, a man leaned lazily. His black hair was disheveled, and he held a vermilion wine pot, looking utterly lifeless.
A look of surprise flashed across Xie Chao's eyes. "It's a ginkgo tree. Why aren't you doing your job properly in the Nine Heavens? What are you doing in this desolate wilderness?"
Jin Shanyao saw that he was radiating golden light, and her heart skipped a beat. Oh no, this is a true immortal.
A moment of panic gripped her heart. That Taishang Laojun! So unreliable, he didn't even tell her that there were colleagues in this other world.
Isn't this just damaging a tree?!
Jin Shanyao instinctively wanted to Hand Seals a message to the old man and get some answers, but the man in front of her was staring straight at her.
No, we need to hold things steady.
The more insecure you feel, the less you should show your weakness.
Jin Shanyao's expression was serious as she coldly asked, "Do you know who I am?"
Xie Chao paused in his toying with the wine pot, then lazily glanced at Jin Shanyao. "I don't care who you are, get out of my Hat Mountain."
Jin Shanyao in relief, realizing she was out of luck, and slipped away...