The main hall of the government office.
Su Wenqian, dressed in official robes and wearing a black gauze hat, sat upright behind the desk.
On either side of the table, four bailiffs stood with their hands at their sides, while the yamen runners below held fire and water sticks, striking the blue bricks with a thud.
"Mighty..."
Su Wenqian's face was serious. "Who is kneeling below the hall?"
"This humble Madam Yang, Yang, begs Your Excellency to grant me justice..." Madam Yang pointed to the Jin Shanyao. "Yesterday, my husband suffered from typhoid fever and went to the Anzhi Hall for treatment, but who knew that this morning..."
Unable to continue, she collapsed to the ground, wailing, "This humble woman accuses Anzhi Hall of poisoning my husband! I beg Your Honor to deliver justice!"
Su Wenqian knew Jin Shanyao's abilities; the possibility of someone dying from her healing was impossible. However, the law cannot override anyone's authority.
He said in a deep voice, " Jin Shanyao, is what Madam Yang said true?"
The man on Jin Shanyao ground did indeed come to my shop for treatment yesterday, but he didn't die from taking our medicine.
"Bullshit! My man died because he drank your medicine..."
Su Wenqian's ears rang, but he endured the discomfort and waved to the constable, "Go and fetch the coroner."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang panicked completely. "What are you doing? I'm telling you, if anyone dares to touch my husband's corpse, I'll smash my head against Zhuzi in the government office and die!"
"Stop making trouble and disrupting the courtroom order," Su Wenqian's words exploded like oil in a pan.
Madam Yang cried out, "I heard people say that Anzhi Hall has connections with the government, but I didn't believe it. The rumors are indeed true..."
Su Wenqian's face turned ashen with anger. "Nonsense..." He was an upright official who had never shown leniency to anyone, let alone protected Anzhi Hall.
Madam Yang threw herself onto the corpse, refusing to let the coroner see it. A crowd had gathered outside the yamen, all waiting for the outcome.
Qing He and Qing Yang protected Meng Anci, anxiously peering inside.
Seeing that the two sides were deadlocked, Jin Shanyao, "My lord, I can make the dead speak."
"Bullshit..." Madam Yang cursed angrily.
The Jin Shanyao could actually be dealt with using Truth Incantation, but Anzhi Hall's business was too bad.
She planned to use this opportunity to promote herself, at the very least to make the name 'Master' resound throughout the city.
Divination has no cost and brings in money quickly, but unfortunately, no one in the prefectural city recognizes her abilities.
Su Wenqian became interested; he also wanted to hear the dead speak. " Jin Shanyao, don't play tricks."
"Please wait a while, sir," before Jin Shanyao could finish speaking, Madam Yang began to shout.
"You're just stalling for time. Once my husband's body has rotted, you can say whatever you want."
Su Wenqian frowned, thinking to himself, "Isn't Jin Shanyao being ridiculous? Who takes a half-day break halfway through a trial?"
"My lord, I only need half a day. If I cannot prove my innocence by nightfall, I am willing to go to jail."
Madam Yang's eyes darted around; she didn't believe that Jin Shanyao could make a dead person talk.
"Sir, if Jin Shanyao tricks, you must give me justice and compensate me with five hundred taels of silver."
Jin Shanyao said calmly, "No problem..."
Su Wenqian thought to himself that the two of them were just playing along, treating him like a decoration. Just as he was about to adjourn the court and wait for nightfall, Jin Shanyao spoke up again.
"My lord, I would like to hold the trial at the entrance of the yamen (government office), so that the people of the prefecture can bear witness for me."
"Yes..." Although Su Wenqian didn't know what Jin Shanyao doing, he unconditionally believed her. "Guards, take all those involved into jail and wait until nightfall to continue the trial."
Meng Anzhi, her face pale, followed closely behind the constable, pulling on the Jin Shanyao as she walked step by step toward the dungeon.
The dungeon was pitch black, and a damp, rotten smell filled the air. The two were locked in a cell with a ventilation opening.
Seeing that no one was around, the jailer whispered, "Miss Jin, you really make the dead talk?"
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "You'll find out when the case is heard tonight."
The jailer cried out, "Oh dear!" He couldn't possibly speak to a dead man while on duty. "Never mind..." he thought, locking himself in and turning to leave the dungeon.
Meng Anzhi looked up, tears she had been holding back all the way streaming down her face. "Auntie, I didn't really kill someone, did I?"
Jin Shanyao touched her cold little hand and comforted her, "When something happens, don't doubt yourself first; think about whether the other person is at fault."
If you doubt yourself even for a minor ailment like a cold, how will you ever be able to shoulder the Anzhi Hall in the future?
Meng Anzhi nestled in Jin Shanyao's arms and mumbled, "Auntie."
With Jin Shanyao, she said, "Don't worry... we have Auntie here. No one can frame us."
Dong dong dong... The gong rang out, and a hoarse child's voice echoed through the prison, "At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the court will hear the case. Anzhi Hall requests the deceased to speak."
Knock knock knock... "At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), the court is holding a trial. Anzhi Hall requests the deceased to speak."
Meng Anzhi suddenly looked up, "Auntie, it's Anci's voice."
Jin Shanyao proudly said, "Yes, it's Anci's voice." Her little one is so clever; he knows what she's going to do just by hearing her voice.
Before 7 PM, a crowd of curious people had already gathered outside the government office. When Jin Shanyao was led out of the dungeon, it was already dark.
Madam Yang stood beside the corpse, weeping uncontrollably. When she saw Jin Shanyao, she roared that he should pay with his life.
No one cared how the person died; they just wanted to know how Jin Shanyao would make the dead speak. She simply waved to the crowd, "Silence..."
After speaking, he looked at Su Wenqian, who was carrying talismans that kept evil spirits away. Jin Shanyao and used Spiritual Power to cover the government office to prevent any unforeseen complications.
Su Wenqian, " Jin Shanyao, how will you prove your innocence? Begin."
"My lord, please lend me your brush and ink," Jin Shan said, Jin Shanyao to prevent any unfounded accusations. She planned to draw a talisman as a token of her power.
Jin Shanyao took the brush without expression, quickly drew several circles and hooks, then threw the brush aside, held the talisman in the air, and began to spin around in place.
"Om Mani Padme Hum..."
Uh... Jin Shanyao paused, realizing this seemed to be Buddhist, but no, it wouldn't do. She was studying Daoism and couldn't forget her roots, so she changed her words.
"Five ghosts, five ghosts, rushing about busily, stealing things from those they delude, moving things without warning..."
Jin Shanyao halfway through reciting when she opened one eye and peeked around. Seeing that everyone was stunned by her fierceness, she smiled with satisfaction.
"I am ordered to expel the evil spirits and flee the wilderness. If anyone dares to disobey, may their bones be turned to dust and scattered to the winds..." Boom... The talisman burst into flames, startling the onlookers who all leaned back in fright.
A smile appeared in Jin Shanyao a talisman into the air, its Spiritual Power instantly enveloping the crowd. Everyone felt a slight itch in their eyes, and when they opened them, they saw a ghostly aura surrounding them.
Yang Kui's spirit floated above the corpse in astonishment.
"Ah... a ghost..." Someone shouted the first thing, followed by a chorus of screams.
Yang Kui floated in mid-air, bewildered, looking around blankly. When he saw Madam Yang, his expression suddenly changed. " Madam Yang, I'll kill you."
A surge of resentment rushed towards Madam Yang, Madam Yang turned deathly pale with fright, choked on her breath, and fainted.
" Yang Kui," Su Wenqian said coldly, "You died after drinking Anzhi Hall's medicine."
Yang Kui was focused on revenge and didn't hear Su Wenqian's question. He tried desperately to strangle Madam Yang, but each time he just passed right through her neck.
Jin Shanyao couldn't stand it any longer, so she stepped forward, grabbed Yang Kui by the neck, and shoved the ghost face directly in front of Su Wenqian's eyes.
Su Wenqian's pupils contracted slightly, but his body remained motionless.
Jin Shanyao felt a surge of admiration. He truly lived up to his reputation as the prefect; he was far superior to those terrified commoners.