The Fu Household gathered around Jin Shanyao, watching the runes come to life on the paper.
Jin Shanyao tossed the drawn talisman to General Fu, exuding an air of magnanimity, and said, "Take it. As leaders, we must take care of ourselves first before we can protect our subordinates."
General Fu took the ink, carefully blew it dry, and stared at the runes for a long time, but couldn't understand them...
Madam Fu stood to the side, pondering for a long time, before finally speaking up, "Miss Jin, I see you are of marriageable age. Have you arranged a husband yet?"
Jin Shanyao her brush, handing the newly drawn talisman to Madam Fu, and casually replied, "I have no intention of getting married."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Fu Household turned to look at Fu Congzhao.
Fu Congzhao helplessly shrugged...
I've said it before, Jin Shanyao doesn't like him. Who truly cares about someone but is eyeing their money?
You didn't believe me and insisted on asking me directly. Now you should finally give up.
The second wife glared at her son, thinking he was nothing. The first wife secretly curled her lips, put away the talisman, and said nothing more.
Jin Shanyao only got up to leave after the Fu Household family had finished buying the talismans.
Before leaving, Old General Fu handed over two thousand-tael silver notes, saying, "Miss Jin, the medicinal herbs you sent are too valuable; we cannot accept them."
Jin Shanyao was taken aback. Did the Fu Household think she was there to sell goods? "Brother, these medicinal herbs are really a gift for you, no money needed."
Old General Fu was both amused and exasperated. "I know you meant well, but for officials to accept large gifts is bribery. If you give it, it's offering bribes, and we'll both be punished."
"What? I broke the law by giving a gift?" Jin Shanyao so shocked she couldn't close her mouth.
No, the book doesn't say giving gifts is illegal... Why are social etiquette so difficult?
"Then shall I take the medicinal herbs back to the headquarters?"
"Never mind, your medicinal herbs are excellent, you can't buy them in the market... It just so happens to be the Empress Dowager's birthday, I'll take them to offer as a birthday gift."
"Alright... whatever you say!" She took the silver note, leaned close to Old General Fu, and whispered, "Would sending walnuts be considered bribery?"
Old General Fu lowered his voice, mimicking her, and glanced warily around, "Only one basket can be sent to each household; more than that is not allowed."
Jin Shanyao quickly waved her hand, "I understand, I'll bring you a basket of walnuts next time." After saying that, she got on the oxcart, patted the ox's rump, and went straight back to the Lu Residence.
Lu Residence Lu Chi not return home all night, only appearing at noon the next day.
Jin Shanyao noticed the dark circles under his eyes, "Didn't you sleep all night?"
"Don't even mention it. That Xuanjizi is too cunning. We interrogated him all night, but he wouldn't say a word... I came back to give you the reward money and to ask how your stay was."
Lu Chi took the handkerchief handed to him by the maid and wiped his face. "If I'm not home, go to the steward if there's a problem. I've already told him."
Jin Shanyao casually handed the silver note to Meng Anzhi. The little girl glanced at the amount and stuffed it into her handbag.
"I have Truth Talisman here... one hundred taels each, do you want them?"
Lu Chi thought for a moment, "Give me three... one for the interrogation, and the other two for other purposes... It's a good idea, but unfortunately, plans don't always go as expected."
He had just finished lunch with Jin Shanyao and the other two, and before the dishes and chopsticks had even been cleared away, Fu Congheng swept in like a gust of wind.
His face turned deathly pale. "My lord, something terrible has happened! Xuanjizi... has died in prison."
"What?"
Lu Chi suddenly stood up, causing the chopsticks on the table to fall to the ground. He ignored them and strode out.
As he walked, he said, "Didn't I tell you to keep a close watch on me for twelve hours straight, without leaving my side for even a moment?"
"We've been watching them closely, without missing a beat," Fu Congheng followed closely behind. "The delivery guy knocked for a long time, but there was no response from inside."
We felt something was wrong, so we opened the door to check... and there he was... just sitting there, his back to the cell door, dead."
The two rushed into the Heavenly Prison. Xuanjizi was still sitting inside, motionless. Lu Chi put his finger under Xuanjizi's nose.
No breath left... completely dead...
Lu Chi withdrew his hand, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably. "How did he die?"
"The coroner's initial examination... no external injuries, no signs of poisoning." Fu Congheng's voice was very low. "It's like... it's like... he just suddenly disappeared."
Lu Chi's gaze was fixed on Xuanjizi. This man was a key witness in overthrowing the Third Prince, yet he had died at his hands?
"Investigate... who contacted him today, what he ate and drank, find out everything..."
After giving the instructions, he said to Fu Congheng, "Keep an eye on the body."
After saying this, he turned and left the prison, hurrying back to his residence.
He rushed towards the side courtyard as soon as he entered, knocked on the door and lowered his voice, "Boss... I need your help?"
Jin Shanyao lying face down on the kang (a heated brick bed), letting the two children massage her back and legs. Hearing the noise, she sat up and said, "Come in."
Lu Chi pushed aside the door and strode in. "Boss, Xuanjizi died in his cell? The coroner can't find the cause of death. I'd like to ask you to take a look."
Meng Anzhi's head buzzed, and she instantly turned to look at her aunt, screaming in her heart... I don't want to see dead people, I don't want to see dead people.
Jin Shanyao felt her intense gaze, turned to look at her, and said calmly, "One must learn to refuse."
Meng Anzhi nodded emphatically and said to Lu Chi in a righteous tone, "Master, you should leave. Dead people don't need medical treatment."
"Boss... Xuanjizi's matter concerns the lives of all people. Do you think it's suspicious that such Evil Cultivator, who could sacrifice people to the heavens, seize their fortune, and shorten their lifespan, would die like this?"
So, this person is indeed utterly wicked and deserves to die. " Anzhi, take the tools, let's go to the imperial prison."
Does that mean you agree? Aren't people supposed to learn to say no?
Meng Anzhi swallowed hard. "Auntie... I refuse to see dead people."
"Refusal is ineffective... Doctors must handle both the dead and the living," he said, then looked at Meng Anci, "You should go along and broaden your horizons too."
The siblings exchanged a glance, both seeing despair in each other's eyes.
Lu Chi led the three to the Heavenly Prison, where he saw Fu Congheng sitting opposite Xuanjizi, staring at him intently. Lu Chi coughed lightly twice.
Fu Congheng hurriedly stood up, "My lord..."
Jin Shanyao close to Fu Congheng and whispered, "Want some hickory nuts? Twenty taels of silver a basket, I'll bring them to you next time."
Fu Congheng glanced at Jin Shanyao, then at Lu Chi, "I appreciate Miss Jin's kindness, but I don't like walnuts."
Jin Shanyao her head with regret, "Then you can only remain a fool forever. The plants of Fengmaosheng and Hat Mountain have been irrigated with Spiritual Power, and the walnuts are not ordinary walnuts."
Lu Chi, "Boss... this is Xuanjizi."
Jin Shanyao down and pressed her face against Xuanjizi's. A familiar smell of urine hit her face, and she frowned and moved away a few steps.
He affirmed, "He's not dead..."
"Not dead..." Everyone in the cell was shocked. He was clearly dead, so why were they saying he wasn't?
"Boss... what do you mean?"
Jin Shanyao two steps back, her gaze falling on the spirit on the roof. "Soul leaving the body is a sign of suspended animation... If the soul doesn't return to its original body in three days, it's truly dead."
Lu Chi's gaze deepened, " Xuanjizi is trying to fake his death to escape. Men, tie up his body..."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "Binding a fleshly body is too much trouble. Let's find some wood, put Xuanjizi on it, and burn him to ashes, making him die a complete death."
Upon hearing this, the spirit Xuanjizi instantly flew into a rage, "Girl, I have never offended you, why are you trying to kill me?"
Jin Shanyao smirked sarcastically. "The murderer and the constable have no grudge, so what... I'll let you go!" She pretended not to hear or see, ignoring Xuanjizi.
Lu Chi pondered for only a moment, "Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. I'll make sure he doesn't even have a complete corpse after he dies. Men... pile up wood in the backyard, put Xuanjizi on a fire pit, and burn him to death..."
Upon hearing Xuanjizi's murderous aura surged instantly. He lunged towards Lu Chi's heart, but halfway there, Jin Shanyao grabbed his neck with one hand and forcefully stuffed his soul into his body.
Uh... Xuanjizi gasped for breath and actually came back to life. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, Lu Chi stuffed the Truth Incantation into Xuanjizi's clothes and ordered his men.
"Go and inform the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate that Xuanjizi has been captured and will be handed over to them immediately."
Fu Congheng withdrew as ordered, and Lu Chi picked up Xuanjizi and Jin Shanyao, saying, "Boss, I can't take you back yet; I still need to wait for the interrogation results."
Logically, the trial should have ended at this point in the Capital Prefecture, and Lu Chi should not have been able to participate in the joint trial by the three judicial departments. However, fearing that Xuanjizi might play tricks, he had no choice but to stand outside the door and listen to the trial.
Jin Shanyao her hand, "You go ahead and do your work... I'll take the kids for a walk..."