After Zhou Yan left, Zhu Huaizhang led Li Xiao to the Anzhi Hall.
As soon as he entered, he heard Jin Shanyao and speaking eloquently to a young man, "Child, listen to me: it's not that fate favored you, it's that you raised your hand first, and that's why fate saw you."
I only saved your physical body, but you saved your soul.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Huaizhang's lips twitched, and he stood there watching Jin Shanyao make her solemn promise.
"Don't worry... With a life-or-death bond like ours, let alone marriage, even in death... I'll dig up your grave, burn your body to ashes, and scatter your bones to the winds."
Wu Shaoyang chuckled softly, "Soul scattered..."
"Yes... I'll die with you, I won't let you go. Trust me..." Jin Shanyao patted his chest and promised.
Wu Shaoyang looked at her with a smile in his eyes and said earnestly, "I'm sorry, Shopkeeper Jin, I'm going to break my promise... I promised Shuihua that I would be buried with her after I die, and I can't let her bones be ground to ashes and her soul scattered."
Jin Shanyao with great regret, "I lost a thousand taels, and I still have to give money as a wedding gift... I've lost money."
Wu Shaoyang smiled, stood up, and bowed solemnly to her, "May everything go smoothly for Shopkeeper Jin, and may your future be bright... You must come to my wedding for a drink."
After speaking, he turned around and came face to face with Zhu Huaizhang. He subconsciously looked at Jin Shanyao, his eyes filled with worry.
Jin Shanyao reassured her, "Don't worry... I will definitely attend your wedding."
Wu Shaoyang hesitated for a moment, then nodded to her and walked past Zhu Huaizhang out of the Anzhi Hall.
Zhu Huaizhang glanced at the two of them, "Is this how you usually chat with patients? It's like digging up graves, grinding bones to dust..."
Jin Shanyao and said, "It varies from person to person. What brings Lord Zhu here today?"
"A murder has occurred in Jing'an Prefecture, and it's related to the Anzhi Hall's medicinal herbs. We need you to go to Jing'an Prefecture to assist in the investigation..."
Zhu Huaizhang, worried that she, a young woman, might not be able to handle such a situation, added, "Don't be afraid... Li Xiao and I will go with you. As long as it has nothing to do with you, we'll bring you back the way we brought you."
Jin Shanyao hadn't expected Zhu Huaizhang to protect her, and looked at him with eyes full of gratitude, " Lord Zhu, you're such a good person... Would you like to take this opportunity to bring down Zhou Yan? I can lend you a hand... or even two hands..."
If Zhou Yan dares to scheme against her like this, and Zhu Huaizhang doesn't live up to expectations, she'll only be able to contribute to Lu Chi's political achievements.
Zhu Huaizhang glanced at her indifferently, said, "I'll pick you up at dawn tomorrow, and we'll set off together," and then turned and left Anzhi Hall.
Jin Shanyao gazed at Zhu Huaizhang and said in a sinister tone, "Man, you've successfully caught my attention."
After saying that, he picked up the book " The Prince Dotes Fiercely " on the table and continued reading.
Nothing was said that night. The next day, at dawn...
As soon as the back gate of the Anzhi Hall opened, Zhu Huaizhang's dilapidated carriage was seen parked outside.
Li Xiao, holding a riding whip, saw Jin Shanyao emerge and said, " Shopkeeper Jin, let's get in the carriage."
"No need... I'll just ride in the oxcart," Jin Shanyao said, and then Qing He led the oxcart out, with cats and dogs lying on it.
Li Xiao said with a stern face, " Shopkeeper Jin... we're going to assist in an investigation, not to go sightseeing. Let alone whether your oxcart can keep up with the horse-drawn carriage."
"Just to say..." He was halfway through his sentence when he saw Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci straddle the oxcart. "Wait... why are you bringing two children with you?"
"They've never been to Jing'an Prefecture before, and this is the first time they've been falsely accused. I want to take them there to broaden their horizons; how can one grow without experiencing hardship?"
"Don't worry, I'll have them watch quietly from the sidelines and not cause any trouble," Jin Shanyao said, plopping down on the oxcart.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Zhu Huaizhang's serious face. He first glanced at Meng Anzhi and then looked at Meng Anci.
" The Jin Shanyao... The provincial examination is next February. Why are you taking your child to run around instead of letting him go to the academy?"
Jin Shanyao over and sat cross-legged on the oxcart. "What do you mean by running around aimlessly? Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. If he fails the imperial examination because of these few days..."
That means he doesn't have a good foundation and needs to keep learning... And you," she glanced at the carriage, "Your old horse isn't up to par, why don't you ride in my oxcart?"
Li Xiao chuckled, "Ignorant... Last year at the village entrance, I wasn't chasing you. Did you really think a horse-drawn carriage couldn't catch an oxcart?"
"Alright... let's set off," Zhu Huaizhang interrupted the two, thinking that he could at least take care of the two children a little longer.
When the group arrived at the city gate, Zhou Yan, the prefect of Jing'an Prefecture, was already waiting there. He looked into Zhu Huaizhang's carriage and saw that he was alone. His expression instantly turned cold.
" Lord Zhu... where is Shopkeeper Jin?"
Zhu Huaizhang pinched his brow and said weakly, " Lord Zhou... wasn't it just Jin Shanyao who just passed by?"
Zhou Yan suddenly turned around and saw an oxcart parked outside the city gate, with an adult and two children sitting on it, eating steamed buns.
Seeing him looking over, Jin Shanyao held up a steamed bun and said, "I got up too early and didn't have time to eat... Do you want some?"
Zhou Yan was taken aback. He never expected that a wealthy merchant who owned six mountains, three shops, two estates, and whose medicinal herb business was spread Sheng Dynasty would be riding in an oxcart.
In his mind, a person of such wealth should be surrounded by servants and driven by four horses.
Zhou Yan whispered to Fang Rui beside him, "Is she Jin Shanyao?"
Fang Rui nodded, "That's right, it's her. The young lady beside her is well-versed in the law, sharp-tongued, and not someone to be trifled with."
Zhou Yan's gaze fell on Meng Anzhi's face, and he suddenly stopped... then a soft smile appeared on his face.
"Let's go..." he said, then stepped onto the carriage.
Meng Anci stared coldly at Zhou Yan, then took a big bite of the steamed bun and gulped down a mouthful of porridge.
On the way to Jing'an Prefecture.
Li Xiao, driving his carriage behind Zhou Yan's, turned to Zhu Huaizhang and said, "Sir, look, a fight has broken out."
Zhu Huaizhang lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. He saw that the oxcart was moving slowly, but it was still suppressing Zhou Yan's carriage, and almost pushed it into the ridge of the field.
Zhou Yan urged the coachman to hurry up, but there was no chance to overtake, and the oxcart kept pushing him all the way.
Upon returning to Jing'an Prefecture, Zhou Yan immediately began court proceedings without pause.
Zhou Yan, dressed in a splendid official robe, sat in the main hall.
Zhu Huaizhang, dressed in a faded official robe, sat on the left side of the hall, without even a cup of tea beside him, looking all alone like a doormat.
Bang! The gavel slammed down heavily. "Is the person before you the owner of the Anzhi Hall?" the man with the Jin Shanyao.
Jin Shanyao taken aback. " Lord Zhou, you've changed your clothes, how come you don't recognize me? Didn't you personally go to Qingzhou Prefecture to invite me here?"
Zhou Yan said sternly, "Answer what I ask you. If you give an irrelevant answer again, don't blame me for finding a place to beat you with a stick."
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci stood outside the hall, their hearts pounding with fear...
Zhu Huaizhang remained silent with a sullen face, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yan before settling on Jin Shanyao.
"Cooperate well..."
"It's an adult..."
Seeing the two of them singing in unison and completely disregarding him, Zhou Yan smirked, " Jin Shanyao, a few days ago, Bai Yunjin, the owner of Cloud Brocade Workshop, died at home."
The last thing Bai Yunjin ate before she died was jujube seeds. An investigation revealed that Yongtaihe's jujube seeds came from your Anzhi Hall. Therefore, Bai Yunjin's death is inextricably linked to you. Do you admit it or not?
Jin Shanyao her head. "I don't acknowledge it."
"Heh... I knew you'd never learn. Men... bring Yongtaihe and the manager up here," Zhou Yan said, and someone brought in an old man as soon as he finished speaking.