Jin Shanyao chuckled, "I've watched you grow up, and I can barely manage that. You want me to be your granddaughter? That's just being unreasonable."
Old Madam Su was slightly taken aback, wanting to laugh, but her voice was noticeably weaker. "You child, you've been spouting nonsense ever since we met. If you ever go to the capital, you'd better watch your mouth."
Jin Shanyao's pulse was weak, and her chest felt a little tight. "I'm currently compiling ' The Record of Admonishing Evil—Prefectural City Section,' and I have many questions I'd like to ask you."
Old Madam Su smiled, "It's a pity I can't help you anymore." She looked at Madam Su, " Zhiwei, come here."
Madam Su quickly wiped away her tears. "Oh, Mother, what's wrong?"
Old Madam Su glared at her, "What are you crying for... you're so spineless," then glanced at Jin Shanyao, "This daughter-in-law of mine is the legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister of Ministry of War. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask her."
Jin Shanyao a deep breath, "Sister... at a time like this, please stop plotting against me."
Old Madam Su knew Jin Shanyao's nature well; as long as one became her person, one would receive her protection.
Old Madam Su hoped that the good relationship between the Su Household and Jin Shanyao could be maintained and not broken off midway.
Seeing that Jin Shanyao was not responding, she waved towards the door, and the old nanny came in carrying a wooden box.
Old Madam Su handed the wooden box to Jin Shanyao.
"I know my own body. If it weren't for your talisman hanging me up, I would have been bedridden long ago. You gave me my final dignity. This yellow and white stuff is useless to the dead. You take it..."
Jin Shanyao suspiciously, "Given to me for free?"
Old Madam Su glared at her, "You're thinking of such good things. You help me choose a good burial plot that can protect my descendants." Since Jin Shanyao n't budge, she had no choice but to find a solution herself.
With a knowing look that said, "I knew you weren't a good person," Jin Shanyao handed the wooden box to Meng Anzhi, muttering, "Your kinship ties are severed in this life, why bother thinking about descendants?"
As she said this, the old nanny handed her a pen and paper. Jin Shanyao gave her a deep look, then glanced at Old Madam Su. "If something seems too good to be true, it's either a trap or a pitfall."
Old Madam Su chuckled softly, her gaze falling on the paper. She was relieved to see that Su Wenqian had written down the exact location. Jin Shanyao handed the paper to Madam Su and stood up to make room for Su Wenqian.
Holding Old Madam Su's hand, Su Wenqian, with tears streaming down his face, said, "Mother... your son is here. Is there anything you want to say?"
"Hold the Jin Shanyao..." Old Madam Su's voice gradually weakened, the talisman around her neck instantly turned to ashes, and she closed her eyes as if she were asleep.
"Mother... Mother..." Su Wenqian placed his finger under Old Madam Su's nose, his arm stiffening for a long time before letting out a piercing wail, "Mother..."
The sounds of weeping rose and fell within the house.
Old Madam Su's spirit floated out of the room and stood awkwardly beside Jin Shanyao.
Jin Shanyao said irritably, "Your dying wish was to hold me tight, wasn't it?"
Couldn't you have said goodbye to your son properly, and said something heartfelt?
"Old people are cunning, old horses are slippery, and old rabbits are hard to catch. I misjudged you."
Old Madam Su blushed, "That phrase, 'Holding you tight,' was a heartfelt remark."
"So you've really opened my heart," Jin Shanyao, leading the two children outside.
Old Madam Su floated behind her, "Sister... my son is so stubborn, always spouting morals and justice. I'm afraid he'll die young."
"Alright, alright, stop following me..." In Jin Shanyao's view, Old Madam Su had only changed her body and had not truly died.
She took a few steps and noticed that Old Madam Su was still floating behind her. "What does this mean? Aren't you going to be reincarnated in the Underworld?"
Old Madam Su pursed her lips, "Sister, could you be my guide..."
"Dream on," Jin Shanyao, turning and taking a few steps, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it. "If the Underworld doesn't open its gates in 49 days, come find me."
Old Madam Su smiled happily.
She laughed happily, but then her Jin Shanyao, and she became unhappy. She glared at the Old Madam Su in mid-air and said fiercely, "I haven't finished compiling my ' Record of Admonishing Evil—Prefectural City Section ' yet! You're not allowed to go anywhere for the next 49 days; you'll stay by my side."
Old Madam Su's smile vanished instantly, and she could no longer smile.
Meng Anzhi, carrying the wooden box, followed Jin Shanyao towards the academy. "Auntie, are you talking to Old Madam Su?"
Jin Shanyao her head and hummed in agreement.
Meng Anci puzzled, "She seemed to be in good spirits, how could she just die like that?"
Meng Anzhi: "Are you stupid? That talisman is just a substitute for the pain, making her feel no discomfort. It doesn't mean her organs aren't failing."
Meng Anci, "My sister is so smart, she figured it out without any explanation. So how exactly did she die?"
Uh... Meng Anzhi couldn't answer. She looked at Jin Shanyao.
"A blood vessel in her brain ruptured; this was her fate."
The time of a person's birth and death is predetermined by the Underworld; no one can defy or change it. Everything is decided at the moment of reincarnation.
The three of them arrived at the Green Mountain Academy and saw Zhao Cheng and others waiting outside the gate in the distance.
Jin Shanyao in confusion, " Old Zhao, what are you doing standing here?"
"I'll wait for you... Didn't I say I'd wait for you...?" Zhao Cheng was getting on in years, and his legs ached from standing for so long. He was worried about going back to wait for him, so he could only stand at the door, looking on longingly.
The Jin Shanyao...
Because it was during a plague, Old Madam Su's funeral was exceptionally simple, with no other than a funeral procession, which was considered meager for someone of her status.
Su Wenqian had no time to grieve and immediately drafted a memorial to the court. Since the Old Madam Su had passed away during the plague, local government affairs were numerous and indispensable. His superiors petitioned on his behalf, and the court granted him special permission to resume his post despite the mourning period and remain in charge of affairs.
He is without fault in terms of loyalty and filial piety.
Thanks to Su Wenqian's tireless efforts in overseeing and controlling the situation day and night, the plague in Qingzhou Prefecture was finally brought under control.
However, the city gates still dared not be opened easily. News came from outside that there was a shortage of medicinal herbs in Jing'an Prefecture, causing prices to skyrocket. The plague had not been contained in time, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among the people.
The emperor was furious and fined the prefect of Jing'an Prefecture a year's salary and executed dozens of medicine merchants.
Old Medicine Zhou secretly rejoiced that although he was after money, he still had a bottom line.
However, with the Anzhi Hall's outburst, other medicine merchants are likely to hate her. After all, they have stockpiled a lot of medicinal herbs, and now they have lost money for nothing, with the herbs stuck in their hands. This debt will probably be blamed on the Anzhi Hall.
When Green Mountain Academy was unsealed, a group of teenagers rushed out in a swarm. Shiyan rushed to the front and jumped into Shi Chang'an's arms with a shout.
"Dad... have you missed me?"
Shi Chang'an's nose stung, and he almost cried. He held Shiyan, refusing to let go. "You've lost weight. You feel so light in my arms."
Shiyan chuckled, "She hasn't lost much weight. My Aunt Yao always shares the good food with us. Dad... you don't know, my Aunt Yao has two cats and dogs, they're incredibly intelligent..."
"Alright, stop Aunt Yao like that. Can't you see me standing right here?" Madam Shi grabbed her son and pulled him down, looking him up and down by the shoulders. "You little brat, you scared me to death!"
Shiyan grabbed Madam Shi, "Mother, I heard from Aunt Yao that you almost risked your life for me, and it was she who persuaded you to come back."
The Madam Shi rubbed the back of her neck expressionlessly, gritting her teeth as she said, "That's what she told you?"
"Hmm, and you even said you were extremely grateful to her and were determined to repay her."
Shiyan patted his chest and said, "I'll pay back my mother's debts. To thank my Aunt Yao, I'll take on all the work at the affiliated hospital—sweeping, administering medicine, opening windows for ventilation..."
He counted off items one by one on his fingers, until Madam Shi's face turned ashen. "You, you Jin Shanyao..."
"What does the Madam Shi want with me?"
A voice suddenly came from behind her, startling the Madam Shi, who turned around abruptly to see Jin Shanyao looking at her with a grin.
Her gaze swept over the Shi Household, then she suddenly realized, "Are they talking bad about me?"
Madam Shi clenched her fists silently, wanting to curse Jin Shanyao for being shameless, but she didn't dare. She wanted to tear up all of the Anzhi Hall's orders and never speak to them again, but she didn't dare.
She could only glare angrily at the Jin Shanyao, her little expression just like a pufferfish.
Jin Shanyao chuckled and stepped forward to poke the Madam Shi's cheek. "I must say, you're always especially endearing when you're angry."
" Jin Shanyao... I'll never let you get away with this!" the Madam Shi yelled, startling Jin Shanyao so much that her heart skipped a beat. How could she just explode like that?
She took the two children's hands and said, "Well, Shopkeeper Shi, I'll be going now."
Shiyan eagerly followed, only to be grabbed by the collar and dragged back by Madam Shi. "Where are you going? How could I have given birth to such a good-for-nothing?"
Shiyan clutched his bottom and cried out twice, "Mom, why did you kick me again?"