At first, Qiuju and the others were a little scared, but when they saw that Chunju and Xiaju were like living people, they were no longer afraid. They surrounded the two of them and chatted with tears in their eyes.
Qiuju, "We bought a lot of paper money to burn. The elders said that the underworld is just like the world of the living; money is needed everywhere. Even if you don't reincarnate for now, this money can buy a house in the underworld. If it's not enough, it will appear in our dreams."
Xiaju, however, gave an irrelevant answer, timidly asking, "You... didn't you kill someone? How come you're here to see us?"
Qiuju forced a smile. "The authorities have found us innocent. All the men of the Bai Household have been beheaded, and the women have been exiled... The sisters in the embroidery workshop are all freed, and the addiction has an antidote."
Upon hearing this, Xiaju burst into laughter through her tears, "That's so good... you're all doing well, that's so good."
Jin Shanyao stood in the corner with her two children, lighting the yellow paper they had brought. Seeing that it was almost time, she stood up and said to the crowd, "It's almost Hai hour (9-11 PM)."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yao hugged her daughter tightly, saying in a daze, "No one can take my daughter away. She is my own flesh and blood; none of you can take her away."
Jin Shanyao silent for a long while, then said, " Yao Yuniang, Xiaju, and Chunju, the three of you died violent deaths and will not be accepted by the Underworld. If you want to be reincarnated, there are two options: one is for your family to build a grave in your name and do good deeds, and the accumulated Merit will be recorded in your names."
Another way is to accumulate Merit by doing good deeds; when you have enough Merit, you will naturally be reincarnated.
The Yao couple, holding their daughter's hand, quickly said to Jin Shanyao, "We'll build a grave, we'll do good deeds... I'll do anything to keep my daughter by my side."
Tears streamed down Yao Yuniang. "Mother..."
Chunju, "Master... can I appear in my family's dreams?"
"Of course..." Jin Shanyao took out a talisman and pretended to light it in the air, but the Spiritual Power had already hit Chunju.
Chunju disappeared from everyone's sight in an instant, and now everyone's attention was on Xiaju.
Xiaju had no relatives, Qiuju spoke up first, "I'll build you a grave, and I'll put all my good deeds in your name."
"Yes... we'll put all our good deeds in your name," a dozen embroiderers stepped forward in unison, and Xiaju's tears welled up again. "Thank you everyone."
Not long after the matter was settled, Chunju appeared before everyone, her eyes red from crying, tears still clinging to her face.
He said in a trembling voice, "Master... I saw my mother. She's lost so much weight, and she cried when she saw me... She said she'll come to take me home tomorrow."
Jin Shanyao her head and said, "You should focus on accumulating Merit, don't have any bad intentions, and don't keep hanging around the living. The yin energy on you won't do them any good."
Yao Yuniang was taken aback, "Then... what if I miss my parents?"
Jin Shanyao added a piece of paper to the fire, saying, "Send a message in a dream. Or just look at it from afar, don't get too close."
The three ghosts looked at each other, then nodded obediently.
After finishing her business at Cloud Brocade Workshop, Jin Shanyao brought Jiang Wancheng's grandson to the prison.
He secretly slipped five taels of silver to the jailer, who was initially delighted, but then his expression turned sour. "You can go now. Lord Lu instructed that no one is allowed to see Zhou Yan before the Ministry of Justice arrives."
Jin Shanyao her tongue. "Whose side am I? Can I save him?"
Upon hearing this, the jailer immediately shoved the silver back into his hands, covered his ears, and shouted, "I won't listen! I won't listen! Get out of here!"
Jin Shanyao, too lazy to say anything more, grabbed Jiang Wancheng's grandson and rushed inside. The jailer, seeing her come in, assumed it was with the approval of his superiors and didn't stop her.
"The Crown Prince? Is the Crown Prince here?" Zhou Yan heard footsteps, rushed to the fence, and kept looking outside.
To his surprise, his collar was grabbed and he was forced to his knees. Without a word, Jiang Wancheng's grandson clenched his fist and punched Zhou Yan in the eye.
"Ah..." With a scream, Zhou Yan's eyes were instantly blinded by the blow.
Clang, clang, clang... Each punch landed squarely, fast and ruthless.
When the jailer caught up with him, Zhou Yan was lying on the ground with half his face swollen, and the child was punching him in the other eye.
The jailer was so frightened he almost fainted. "Grandma! Let go!"
He rushed forward and tried to pull the Jin Shanyao, but couldn't budge it. Frustrated, he shouted at the jailer, "What are you standing there for! Take the child away!"
When Jiang Wancheng's grandson was picked up, he didn't forget to kick Zhou Yan's face twice.
Jin Shanyao shoved Zhou Yan aside, spitting disdainfully, "Pah, disgraceful..."
He then took out his money bag, gave ten taels to each of the jailers present, and stuffed the other five taels back into the jailer's hand.
Then he took Jiang Wancheng's grandson by the hand and walked away.
The jailer, clutching the silver, stood frozen in place, unable to react for a long time.
A nearby jailer whispered, "Boss, what... what's going on here?"
The jailer looked in the direction where Jin Shanyao disappeared, then suddenly laughed, "What's going on? They gave us hush money." He weighed the silver in his hand.
"Keep it all. What happened tonight is best left unsaid."
The Ministry of Justice arrived three days later.
After Zhu Huaizhang finished the handover, Jin Shanyao along on the return journey. Just before leaving the city, Lu Chi, who had arrived, stopped them. "Boss... why didn't you say goodbye before you left?"
Jin Shanyao noticed he was still wearing the same clothes as a few days ago and said disdainfully, "And here you are, I can't even find a trace of you."
Lu Chi looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. He gently rubbed Meng Anci's head. "There's nothing I can do. There are just too many officials whose homes are being raided. I'll definitely come see you once I'm done with this..."
His gaze fell on Meng Anzhi, and he paused slightly, a smile appearing in his tired eyes. " Anzhi, you've grown so tall! Last time I saw you, you were wearing your hair in double buns."
Meng Anzhi smiled and called out "Master." Lu Chi sighed, then looked at Meng Anci and said solemnly, "You rascal, study hard... Come find me in the capital after you pass the provincial examination."
Meng Anci vigorously, "I understand, Master..."
They exchanged a few hurried words and then parted ways.
On the way, Zhu Huaizhang lifted the carriage curtain, looked at Jin Shanyao curiously, and asked, "Do you know Lu Chi?"
Jin Shanyao a soft "hmm," and Zhu Huaizhang shrank back into the carriage, asking no further questions.
The two rushed back to Qingzhou Prefecture overnight. The familiar streets and houses made Jin Shanyao feel relaxed.
After bidding farewell to Zhu Huaizhang, she drove the oxcart to the back gate of the Anzhi Hall. Meng Anci the cart and knocked on the gate, " Qing He... Qing He, open the gate." He called for a long time, but no one answered.
Meng Anzhi walked to his side and took a deep breath, " Qing He... open the door."
There was still no movement in the courtyard. Meng Anzhi looked helplessly at Jin Shanyao, "Auntie, it's not dawn yet... they haven't gotten up yet."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "You're calling it wrong, watch this..." She coughed twice and called towards the door, "Tofu... freshly cooked tofu."
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening echoed in the courtyard, followed by Qing He's voice, "Tofu seller... wait a minute."
A moment later, the courtyard gate opened... Qing He, holding a small wooden basin, muttered, "How did you get out in this pitch-black sky..." Her voice suddenly stopped.
She rubbed her eyes, moved closer to Jin Shanyao, and exclaimed excitedly, "Master, you're back..."
Jin Shanyao and said, "Hmm... Open the door."
Qing He called out "Hey, hey!" twice, opening the door and shouting into the yard, "Master is back..." Her loud voice caused the dogs in the surrounding houses to bark.
Woof woof woof... barking incessantly.
The lights in each room came on one after another, Qing Yang, wearing a robe, hurried out. "Master, you're finally back! If you hadn't come back, I would have sent Fan Er to look for you."
Zhou Xiaosi unloaded the things from the oxcart. "Master... is the case closed?"
Jin Shanyao, "Hmm... all done. Those who framed us are all in jail. I bet they'll all be beheaded in half a month."
"They should be made to do bad things," Zhou Xiaosi said after unloading the cart. He led the old ox to the stable, added some hay and water, and then left.