Jin Shanyao, her hair disheveled, walked down the street. She paused, squinting as she looked towards the Fu family's Fu Household... She saw a hazy gray shadow drifting out from over the wall.
That shouldn't be the case. She sold quite a few talismans to the Fu Household; there's no way any ghost would dare to go there.
Jin Shanyao changed direction and chased after the ghostly figure, "Hey... young man, what were you doing at the Fu Household's place?"
Hearing this, the little devil turned around, cried out in fright, and clutched his chest, complaining, "Hey auntie, did you suffocate in the stove pit? You've ruined this head of yours..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jin Shanyao him on the back of the head.
The little devil's head was buzzing, and he felt dizzy...
Jin Shanyao held his head in her hands, "Are you awake now? Answer me?"
The little devil shuddered in fright, staring at the Jin Shanyao for a long while before saying, "I... I'm going to go chat with Old General Fu."
"Liar... Old General Fu has my talisman on him; you can't get close to him at all."
Upon hearing this, the little devil turned and ran, but Jin Shanyao grabbed his hair and pulled him back. "Why are you running? I haven't finished my question yet."
The little devil clasped his hands together and begged for forgiveness, "Grandma, I was wrong. I'll never chat with Old General Fu again."
Jin Shanyao and down. "Are you a descendant of the Fu Household?"
The kid quickly waved his hands, "No, no... I'm from the Fu Household Army. When I first joined the army, I was Old General Fu's personal bodyguard."
After Old General Fu retired, I became a centurion. Three years ago, Japanese pirates launched a surprise attack, and I unfortunately died on the battlefield.
The boy's mood somber, his voice muffled, "I'm an orphan, raised on the charity of many families. When I was twelve, I lied about my age to join the army, and Old General Fu recognized me at a glance. From then on, I followed him..."
He puffed out his chest as he said this, "In my lifetime, I protected my country and its people. The King of Hell granted me permission to become a ghost Old General Fu, I switched shifts with him... I thought everyone is afraid of death, and with an acquaintance leading the way Old General Fu wouldn't be afraid, would he?"
With Jin Shanyao, she asked, "Are you dressed as a ghost messenger?"
"I arrived early, not wanting to frighten Old General Fu, that's why I wasn't dressed... Grandma, I've heard of your name in the Underworld, please, please spare me, I'm a new ghost messenger and don't know the rules."
Jin Shanyao him, frowned, and asked, "That's not right. My talismans... even ghost messengers can't get close, how did you get close?"
"I knew I couldn't get close; I only wanted to catch a glimpse of him from afar, but I never expected to be spotted by him. He immediately tried to throw the talisman into the lake."
The boy's eyes gradually welled up with tears. "I know, he recognized me... From that day on, I came to see him every night, telling him about the past, about things in the army, and about the various changes in the Fu Household Army."
Jin Shanyao knew that the dying could see ghosts. She was silent for a moment, then asked, "What's your name?"
" Fu Shiyi, because I am the eleventh child the general picked up," the little devil proudly introduced himself. Jin Shanyao his head and then turned to leave.
As Fu Shiyi watched her walk away, he patted his chest in lingering fear. That woman was terrifying. When he first arrived in the Underworld, the ghost messengers told him that she would open the gates of the Underworld all the time.
The King of Hell had no complaints whatsoever, and accepted all the wandering ghosts and spirits that were sent in.
He had secretly wondered then, how powerful could a woman be? Could she possibly defeat the King of Hell? Now he finally understood: this person was clearly not mentally sound...
Fu Shiyi didn't dare linger and left in a hurry!
The next day, Jin Shanyao, carrying a satchel, sauntered to the Lu Residence to find Fu Congxi. "Come on... let's go home and see your grandfather?"
"Ah... Eldest brother, you came all this morning just to invite me back to my parents' house??" Fu Congxi handed his son to the wet nurse, and although puzzled, he had already started changing his clothes.
"Pick up the child," Jin Shanyao said calmly.
Fu Congxi in his dressing. His eldest son had been in the capital for so long, yet he had never set foot in the Fu Household home on his own initiative. This unusual behavior today was certainly not a good omen. Fu Congxi hurriedly finished dressing, picked up the child, and rushed to the Fu Household.
Meanwhile, just after the morning court session Meng Anci quickly caught up with Su Wenqian, "Teacher..."
Su Wenqian smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Teacher... my aunt said she wants you to go back and see Old General Fu."
Su Wenqian's smile froze instantly. Unlike Fu Congxi, he had truly witnessed the skill of the Jin Shanyao.
She had told herself to spend more time with her mother, but he hadn't taken it to heart. Then the epidemic broke out, and he couldn't get away, ultimately missing the last moments he could spend with his mother.
Without uttering a word, he left Meng Anci behind and strode towards the Ministry of Revenue.
When Su Wenqian arrived at the Fu Household after taking leave, he saw Old General Fu, beaming with joy.
Upon seeing him enter, the old general was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Why are you here? Don't you have duty?"
"Uncle..." Su Wenqian choked up as soon as he spoke, forcing a smile as he suppressed the bitterness in his heart, "I missed you."
Old General Fu glared at him, "Your son's already engaged, and you come here saying you miss me, you're useless..." He then teased his great-grandson, "Little one, am I right?"
Fu Congxi stood to the side, feeling a pang of sadness. Apart from those in the military camp, almost the entire Fu Household was present.
Old General Fu's gaze swept across everyone's faces, his heart filled with reluctance. He forced himself to stay awake and asked, "Where is Master Jin? I think I just saw her."
The Fu Household searched frantically and finally found her under a tree in the courtyard.
Fu Congxi walked over and said softly, "Eldest son... Grandfather wants to talk to you."
Jin Shanyao gave an "oh" and stood up, straightening her wrinkled clothes as she stepped into the main hall. The people inside automatically moved to either side, making way for Jin Shanyao.
She walked up to Old General Fu and said with a smile, "Want to buy some talismans? One hundred taels each, guaranteed to make you feel completely comfortable without any pain."
The Fu Household exchanged bewildered glances. Was the old general feeling unwell? Why did he need to buy talismans?
Old General Fu chuckled, "I won't buy it. I've suffered all kinds of pain in my life, I'm used to it..." He sighed and looked at Jin Shanyao, "You've run into Fu Shiyi."
These words caused an uproar in the room. Wasn't Fu Shiyi already dead in battle? How could he appear in the capital?
The Jin Shanyao, "What I saw last night..."
Old General Fu nodded. Ever since Fu Shiyi came, he knew his days were numbered. Jin Shanyao then called Fu Congxi and Su Wenqian over.
He guessed his time was almost up, and he would die if he died, but he had one wish left unfulfilled.
" Master Jin... Several years ago, my son asked you if you would be willing to go to the Fu Household Army camp to pray for the souls of the dead. Today, I ask you again, are you willing to go?"
Jin Shanyao her head; she wouldn't go back on her promise. Old General Fu smiled and turned to Old Madam Fu, "Go and fetch the money box."
Old Madam Fu responded, and as soon as she turned around, tears began to fall.
She was old enough to have seen it all, but lately Old General Fu had been muttering to himself into thin air, and she had a bad feeling about it.