Jin Shanyao the silver notes into her bosom, slapped the talisman into Fu Congzhao's arms, and began to dismiss him, "Is there anything else?"
Everyone was taken aback by her question; her change of attitude was faster than flipping through a book. Fu Congzhao, was unsure of himself, wondering if she was getting angry because she wasn't getting a response to Jin Shanyao.
Grandfather repeatedly instructed them to get along well with Miss Jin, but he only said one sentence since entering the house and offended her? Grandfather will skin him alive when we get back.
Fu Congzhao was filled with anxiety, wondering whether he should sacrifice himself for righteousness.
Fu Congheng took out a letter. "Miss Jin, this is from Lord Lu." He was a sergeant under Lu Chi, in charge of local military affairs and conscription.
When he asked for leave to attend the funeral, Lord Lu heard that he was coming to Qingzhou Prefecture, so he asked him to deliver a letter to the Anzhi Hall's Jin Shanyao.
"Lord Lu?"
" Lu Chi, the Prefect of Jingzhao, don't you know him?" Fu Congheng asked in confusion. When the official asked him to deliver the letter, the two seemed to know each other very well.
Jin Shanyao in surprise, "Isn't he the Capital Physician of the Capital?"
"We've been promoted... Miss Jin, we'll be staying at the government office for three days. If you wish to reply, you can come to the government office to find us."
Jin Shanyao woodenly, and even after seeing the person off, she kept thinking that Lu Chi was indeed the Empress's nephew, and he handled his official duties as casually as if he were her own manager.
She even had a fleeting moment of doubt about whether her path of repaying the debt of gratitude was correct. If she had become emperor directly, could she have passed the throne to Meng Anci? How many detours could she have avoided that way?
Jin Shanyao heartbroken. Her benefactor was foolish! He insisted on raising the child to adulthood—what was there to raise? He'd be better off working hard himself.
By the time your child finally passes the imperial examination with flying colors, all the good positions will be taken by relatives of the emperor. Even if you manage to get in, you'll only be doing menial and tiring jobs.
As Jin Shanyao thought this, she had already stood in front of the house.
Inside, two children were squealing and shouting, along with loud banging and cracking sounds. The door opened, and a little ball of flesh bumped right into my arms.
Meng Anci, with a small blanket on his head, looked at her innocently, "Auntie?"
Bang! Another loud explosion. Looking in the direction of the sound, one could see that the chestnuts on the stove lid had been blown to pieces and were scattered everywhere. Meng Anzhi was using a stove hook to sweep the chestnuts off the ground.
With a final thud, Meng Anzhi put down the stove hook, turned around, and angrily rushed towards Meng Anci, grabbing his ear and yelling, "Run! Let's see where you can run to!"
Meng Anci in pain, "Sister, I didn't run away, I went to find someone to help me!"
"Even a ghost wouldn't believe you," Meng Anzhi dragged Meng Anci into the house, grabbed a broom and spanked his bottom, making Meng Anci's face turn bright red with shame.
"Sister, I'm seven years old, you can't hit me."
"I can still beat you even when I'm seventy," Meng Anzhi said without another word, delivering two slaps. "Do you still dare to abandon me and run away for your life?"
Meng Anci reached out to grab the Jin Shanyao, "Auntie, Auntie, help! My sister is going to betray us!"
Jin Shanyao smiled as she watched them playfully bicker. She casually tossed the letter onto the kang table, rummaged through her sewing basket for scissors, picked up chestnuts from the bowl, cut a small slit in each shell, and placed them one by one on the stove lid to roast.
"Raw chestnuts contain moisture, which turns into gas when it comes into contact with hot water. This causes the chestnut to expand and potentially burst. Cut a small opening in the chestnut to release the gas, and it won't burst."
Meng Anzhi released Meng Anci and observed the chestnuts. They didn't crack even after being roasted. "So cutting a hole in them really doesn't make them explode."
Meng Anci seemed to be deep in thought. In other words, he had to vent his anger; keeping it inside would only hurt him. No wonder his sister always beat him.
So that's what he was afraid of—exploding himself! He realized...
Meng Anci her shoes and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), picking up the letter and asking curiously, "Auntie, who sent this letter?"
"Your master."
Upon hearing this, Meng Anci opened the letter, Meng Anzhi curiously leaned closer, asking, "What does it say?"
"They said he's already the Prefect of the Capital, and if anyone bullies us, we should just mention his name, and he'll back us up."
Meng Anzhi glanced at the contents and laughed, "I actually know a high-ranking official of the third rank. I used to be timid even when I met the village chief."
Meng Anci looked at her with displeasure, "What are you afraid of? When I become a high-ranking official, you can walk around like a madman. Let's see who dares to mess with you..."
Meng Anzhi chuckled and said, "Alright, if anyone dares to bully you, just tell me, and I'll poison them..." The two exchanged a glance and couldn't help but giggle.
Listening to the two children's unrealistic fantasies, Jin Shanyao couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.
As night fell, Old Madam Su arrived at the Anzhi Hall as promised. "Sister, may I come in?"
Jin Shanyao her hand to open the barrier, and Old Madam Su floated into the room. She sat down opposite Jin Shanyao Jin Shanyao, placing it in front of Old Madam Su.
Your grand-nephew came to visit you today.
Old Madam Su smiled faintly, "I know. A few days ago, some money appeared on my grave, so I knew it was someone from our family. How are they?"
"That's good, I also bought six talisman papers."
With that, Old Madam Su's last lingering concern vanished. She had witnessed Jin Shanyao's extraordinary abilities, and before her death, she staked everything on connecting her family with Jin Shanyao —it was all worth it.
"Let's begin."
Jin Shanyao took out " The Record of Admonishing Evil—Prefectural City Section " and listened attentively like a student.
Old Madam Su said sternly, "If you attend the flower banquet and an unfamiliar maid bumps into you, and then a lady exclaims that she has lost her imperial bracelet and demands a body search, what will you do?"
Jin Shanyao angrily, "What right does she have to touch me? I'll kill her!"
"A body search... not touching," Old Madam Su said, her head aching. These past few days, being a ghost had been more tiring than being a human.
Jin Shanyao thought for a moment, "A search won't do, it's not like I stole it."
Old Madam Su trembled, pointing to the " Record of Admonishing Evil," which stated, "When wronged and unable to defend oneself, one should immediately and loudly request that the authorities be notified, or that the person of the highest rank present uphold justice."
Jin Shanyao disagreed with what Old Madam Su said, "The truth comes out with force. As long as your fist is strong enough, no one can resist you."
But knowing that city people prefer to win without bloodshed, he obediently wrote down the old lady's words.
"If someone invites you into an inner room to change clothes, or leads you into a secluded courtyard, what would you do?" Old Madam Su.
After that question, Jin Shanyao knew that hitting someone was definitely wrong, so she tentatively said, "I'm not going to change or go, do whatever you want."
Old Madam Su remained silent, her Jin Shanyao she spoke, her eyes sparkling. "You guessed right, didn't you? I knew it... With my comprehension, it's impossible that I haven't made any progress after more than a month."
Old Madam Su pointed to the booklet, "Write it down..."
Another note?
Old Madam Su, "If a talented woman were to set up a gathering to critique a painting and calligraphy, and during the gathering she were to deliberately make a mistake and deface a priceless antique painting, then frame you for it, what would you do?"
"I know the answer to this question," Jin Shanyao, "Report to the authorities and find someone of high status to make the decision!"
"Write this down..."
She added... Jin Shanyao, unconvinced, quickly rolled up her sleeves to her elbows. She refused to believe that, having read so many books, she could still answer a single question incorrectly.
If someone gives you an expensive gift and you refuse it, she will be heartbroken and say that you look down on her. What would you do?
"Accept?" Jin Shanyao noticed the change in Old Madam Su's expression and quickly changed her mind, "Don't accept?"
"Make a note of this..."
Jin Shanyao glared at Old Madam Su through gritted teeth, thinking that the old lady was just making trouble for no reason. Why couldn't a problem be solved with a slap? Why did she have to go through all this trouble? She really had nothing better to do.
She took a deep breath, picked up her pen, and carefully wrote down each of the points that Old Madam Su had mentioned. They were all unexpected methods; you should learn them.
When she had memorized 341 entries, the time for Old Madam Su to remain in the mortal world had come to an end. She floated in front of the Jin Shanyao, filled with reluctance, saying, "I've heard that to be reincarnated, one must drink Meng Po's Soup."
I fear that after this departure, I will never remember you again... May you have many good years to come, and may your heart remain untainted by the filth of the world.
Jin Shanyao blinked her eyes, "You have to wait in line to be reincarnated... You won't forget me anytime soon."
Old Madam Su...