Chapter 16: The Trial

That night, Zhong Xu did not return. It was only at sunrise that Di Jiang heard the sound of his door opening and closing, suggesting he had been busy all night. Meanwhile, Wen Yao had kept vigil for Old Pan in the ancestral hall throughout the night. Though Di Jiang and Shu Xiang remained at the inn, they were far from at ease—firstly for Old Pan, and secondly for Pan Yuelang. Di Jiang simply couldn’t imagine what it would be like when Pan Yuelang found out everything.

The next day, the county magistrate from the neighboring county arrived in Zhuangyuan Township with coroners and bailiffs a full day earlier than expected, as if he had foreseen the urgency. The magistrate set up a temporary court inside the ancestral hall. Upon hearing that the honorable official had personally come to oversee Old Pan’s case, nearly the entire village gathered outside the hall.

When Di Jiang received the news, she knocked on Zhong Xu’s door and said: “Daoist Zhong, the magistrate is personally presiding over Pan Xingui’s case. Would you like to join us?”

“No need.” In those two terse words, Di Jiang detected a deep exhaustion. She was curious—yesterday, Zhong Xu had seemed so concerned, but today he appeared completely indifferent.

Di Jiang shook her head and sighed: “Men and women are truly different. Wen Yao and I have been anxiously racking our brains to uncover the truth, yet he couldn’t care less.”

“Yes…” Shu Xiang nodded absently, momentarily forgetting that he too was male. After exchanging a few more sighs, the two rose and headed toward the ancestral hall.

In truth, Zhong Xu didn’t want to go—he simply couldn’t. Having performed rituals all night, his cultivation was severely depleted, injuring his core essence. For the next three days, he might not even be able to get out of bed. He had gone through such great lengths to project his spirit into the underworld to seek out Old Pan, hoping to ask him directly what had happened.

But in the underworld, Old Pan wasn’t hard to find. He stood by the Bridge of Helplessness, and Zhong Xu spotted him at once.

“Who exactly killed you?” Zhong Xu urgently asked.

Yet Old Pan remained silent, always smiling faintly. Until Zhong Xu’s essence was entirely drained, not a single word escaped Old Pan’s lips. Helpless, Zhong Xu withdrew his consciousness and returned to the inn to rest.

From this, Zhong Xu already guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. The reason was simple—the one who harmed him must be someone closest to him. He willingly died by her hand, harboring no resentment.

The murderer was Sister Li.

As Zhong Xu reflected on this, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Unable to support himself any longer, he collapsed backward into unconsciousness. Fortunately, he was lying in bed at the inn. Had he fallen in the wilderness, he might have been devoured alive by mountain spirits.

Meanwhile, Di Jiang and Shu Xiang arrived at the ancestral hall. Upon arrival, they discovered Pan Yuelang among the crowd. Wen Yao stood beside him, letting him lean on her shoulder.

“When did he return?” Di Jiang slowly approached Wen Yao and whispered, careful not to startle Pan Yuelang with her voice.

Wen Yao, her eyes red, whispered back: “He came with the magistrate—he knows everything.”

Di Jiang nodded and glanced at Pan Yuelang. He stared blankly, his expression vacant and heart-wrenching.

“The court is now in session!” the magistrate’s clerk shouted.

“Respect the court!” the bailiffs echoed in unison.

At noon, the magistrate sat atop the high platform. Before him lay a wooden desk, upon which rested the gavel and an order arrow. On either side of the hall stood four bailiffs, while the coroner sat with the clerk. Having already examined Old Pan’s body, the coroner wore an expression of confidence.

The clerk then announced: “Bring the accused to the court!”

The waiting bailiffs immediately dragged Sister Li inside. Once inside, they threw her to the ground.

With a bang of the gavel, the magistrate glared furiously and bellowed: “Who kneels before this court?”

“I am… the criminal Li Xingzhi,” Sister Li replied, propping herself up on her hands before correcting herself.

“What crime have you committed?”

“Murdering my husband.” Sister Li’s tone was calm, showing no sign that this was a grave matter. Her voice carried the same casual indifference as if she were saying, “I killed a fish.”

The magistrate trembled with rage, pointing at Li Xingzhi and shouting: “I’ve seen all sorts of people, but never a venomous woman like you! And I’ve never seen anyone treat their husband as you have—utterly heartless, shameless, and devoid of virtue! Who is your accomplice? Speak the truth! This court will imprison him alongside you to set the record straight!”

“Heh, every man within ten miles of Zhuangyuan Village could be considered my lover—who doesn’t desire me?” Li Xingzhi lifted her head, her clear voice ringing through the courtroom. Despite kneeling, her demeanor remained unchanged.

Her composure was like that of a skylark soaring above the heavens, her gaze captivating and enchanting. When she glanced at the bailiffs, each one immediately lowered their eyes, unable to meet her stare.

“She’s nothing but a vixen!”

“So shameless!”

“Old Pan marrying her was bad luck for eight generations…”

The crowd erupted in fury. By Di Jiang’s side, Wen Yao’s cheeks flushed with anger, while Pan Yuelang’s tears flowed ceaselessly. Anyone who saw him couldn’t help but feel immense pity.

At his age, witnessing his mother confess to killing his father—and doing so brazenly before the entire county—who could endure such a thing?

Pan Yuelang nearly fainted, but he clung to consciousness, leaning heavily on Wen Yao’s waist, refusing to leave. It seemed he wanted to etch his mother’s words into his memory. His hatred for her had grown higher than the sky and deeper than the sea.

However, Di Jiang’s thoughts were entirely different from those around her. She even felt a certain admiration for Sister Li, inwardly remarking: “Sister Li’s presence is truly remarkable. Her flirtatious charm bears a striking resemblance to Prince Rui’an. Both are unforgettable beauties, possessing striking appearances. But Sister Li’s beauty surpasses even Rui’an’s…”

She even began to wonder if Li Xingzhi was deliberately seeking death. She suddenly found herself believing Zhang Quande’s words—that day in the bamboo grove, she had clearly been attempting suicide. Otherwise, with her stunning appearance alone, the magistrate might have shown mercy, taking her as a concubine.

“Silence!” The magistrate struck the gavel again and addressed Sister Li: “You… do you have nothing else to say?”

Li Xingzhi shook her head.

“You venomous woman! Without punishment, I cannot quell my anger! Bring forth severe punishment!” The magistrate threw down an order arrow. Two bailiffs immediately seized Li Xingzhi’s arms, while another stepped forward with a pre-prepared bucket of chili water. He took out a whip soaked in the solution and began lashing her.

A sharp crack echoed through the hall, followed by splashes of red—whether from the chili oil or Li Xingzhi’s blood, it was unclear.

“Hiss—” Di Jiang let out a sharp intake of breath, as if the whip had struck her own body, sending a chilling sensation from head to toe. Everyone watching knew how excruciating the pain must be. Yet Li Xingzhi only bit down hard on her lower lip, enduring each lash without crying out. Her cold sweat poured like rain, mingling with her blood and quickly soaking her clothes. The sight weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts, yet it also brought a twisted sense of satisfaction.

“The criminal has already confessed—why continue the beating?” Di Jiang’s voice rang out clearly.

To the crowd, she seemed like a monster. No one else was defending Sister Li, making Di Jiang appear as an oddity.

“Boss, she deserves it!” Wen Yao tugged at Di Jiang’s sleeve, urging her to stop speaking.

But Di Jiang ignored Wen Yao’s restraint and continued: “According to the law, once a criminal confesses, their execution is scheduled for autumn. Why must she endure such torment?”

After so much whipping, even the magistrate couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He waved his hand: “Stop.”

The bailiffs retreated to either side of the hall. Without their support, Sister Li collapsed limply to the ground like a corpse, only exhaling and no longer inhaling.

“I’ll give you one night to think it over. If you remain unrepentant tomorrow, the day after will be your execution,” the magistrate declared gravely. “According to the old customs of this region, this is a capital offense punishable by drowning in a pig cage. Think carefully tonight! Court is adjourned!”

The magistrate struck the gavel, and the bailiffs dragged Sister Li away. He then promptly exited the ancestral hall.

Seeing this, Yan Sanqing and others immediately surrounded him with flattering smiles, praising him as an exemplary official beloved by the people.

However, the magistrate didn’t seem pleased. His brows furrowed with irritation.

“This magistrate is truly strange,” Di Jiang murmured as she watched them walk away, her lips curling into a deeper smile. She thought to herself: “Others would rejoice if the criminal confessed, but he seems desperate for Sister Li to retract her confession… Truly, strange things happen every year, but lately they’ve been especially frequent.”

“Boss…” Wen Yao tugged at Di Jiang’s sleeve and asked: “What does ‘drowning in a pig cage’ mean?”

“Drowning in a pig cage…” Di Jiang searched her distant memories before explaining: “It means placing the person inside a pig cage, weighing it down with stones, and sinking it to the bottom of the river until they die, never to leave that filthy place…”

Wen Yao shivered and sneered: “That would indeed be satisfying.”

Beside them, Pan Yuelang sniffled, turned around, and said: “Sister Di, Sister Wen Yao, I’m not feeling well—I’ll head home first.”

“I’ll accompany you,” Wen Yao reached out to hold Pan Yuelang.

But Pan Yuelang gently shook his head and declined: “Thank you, Sister Wen Yao, but I’d like to be alone for a while.”

“…” Wen Yao stared at him for a long moment before nodding: “Alright, but don’t do anything reckless. There’s nothing in life that can’t be overcome.”

“I won’t, Sister Wen Yao. Don’t worry.” With that, Pan Yuelang bowed and turned to leave.

Di Jiang watched his frail figure retreat, her heart aching deeply. For a moment, she almost considered taking him in as the fifth member of Jian Su Clinic—but she managed to restrain herself.

“Shopkeeper Di, let’s take in Yuelang,” Wen Yao suggested.

Di Jiang shook her head.

“Why? He’s so pitiful…”

“He may be pitiful, but he’s still just a mortal,” Di Jiang replied calmly. “His life, to you and me, is but the blink of an eye. I don’t want to endure the pain of separation and loss again in the future.”

“You have ways to make him live forever!” Wen Yao’s eyes sparkled with hope.

Di Jiang chuckled and shook her head: “I’m not a deity.”

“But…”

“Enough. Go keep an eye on Pan Yuelang,” Di Jiang interrupted. “Though his mind is more mature than others, he’s still just a young man. Losing his father overnight and having his mother commit such acts… Experiencing such a great tragedy, anyone would struggle to cope. At a time like this, we can’t leave him alone. If he wants to be by himself, stay far enough away so he doesn’t notice you, but ensure his safety.”

“I’ll go right away!” Wen Yao immediately chased after Pan Yuelang in the direction he had left.

“Shu Xiang, follow Wen Yao. I’m afraid she might cause trouble in her excitement.”

“Yes.” Shu Xiang obeyed and quickly followed.

As the crowd dispersed, Di Jiang stood alone, suddenly unsure of what to do. Eventually, she returned to the inn.

At the inn, Shopkeeper Meng was sitting in the courtyard sunbathing, wrapped in a blanket. Though she appeared serene at first glance, upon closer inspection, her nose and eyes were red and swollen—clearly, she had been crying.

“Shopkeeper Meng, what’s wrong?”

Di Jiang’s sudden words startled Shopkeeper Meng, who hadn’t had time to conceal her sorrow. She opened up to Di Jiang: “I feel sorry for Xing Ge and Old Zhang…”

“Oh?” Shopkeeper Meng’s words intrigued Di Jiang. Zhang Quande had become universally reviled in Zhuangyuan Township, yet someone still spoke up for him. Di Jiang pressed further: “Xing Ge was indeed pitiable, but Old Zhang…”

Shopkeeper Meng blushed and stammered: “Though he speaks without restraint, his heart isn’t bad.”

Seeing her expression, Di Jiang understood the situation. It seemed Shopkeeper Meng harbored secret feelings for him.

“Xing Ge was an orphan from another town. When he arrived, his body was covered in wounds. Someone had tortured him so cruelly that his back was infected and festering. No one dared to take him in—not even me. I only gave him a few bowls of food.” After finishing, Shopkeeper Meng’s words tightened Di Jiang’s chest.

“Was it because Xing Ge looked delicate and didn’t seem like a vagrant child?” Shopkeeper Meng smiled bitterly.

Di Jiang nodded: “When I saw him, I thought he was a carefree child.”

“After being taken in by Zhang Quande, he truly lived a carefree life,” Shopkeeper Meng paused before continuing: “At that time, Zhang Quande had just opened his shop and needed someone to help manage it. He adopted Xing Ge as his son and raised him at home. Over the years, they relied on each other, and their business thrived. We thought they could finally enjoy life, but then this happened! Zhang Quande may habitually joke around, but he’s all talk and no action. If he were truly that kind of person, he would have already… already…” Shopkeeper Meng choked up, tears streaming down her face.

Seeing this, Di Jiang felt conflicted. She asked: “Why didn’t you say these things in court?”

“Would my words have mattered?” Shopkeeper Meng’s expression dimmed. “They’ve already decided it’s Old Zhang’s fault. Since I’ve always been close to him, how could they believe me?”

“…” Di Jiang sighed, unsure of what to say.

Shopkeeper Meng wiped her tears, sat up, folded the blanket, and said: “The sun is setting. I’ll rest now and skip cooking tonight.”

Di Jiang nodded: “Shopkeeper Meng, don’t trouble yourself. The events of the past few days have left everyone with no appetite.”

“Mm.” Shopkeeper Meng nodded weakly and returned to her room.