I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality

The uproar came and went in an instant, leaving an eerie silence.

It was as if all the people watching the trial outside had suddenly disappeared.

After a moment of silence, a constable rushed through the hallway, announcing, "Sir, the newly appointed County Magistrate of Pingqiu County, and the scholar from the Hanlin Academy have arrived and are waiting outside the Government Office. Please advise, sir."

The Imperial Censor Wei raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion.

Pingqiu County in Quyang; why has the County Magistrate traveled such a long distance to Jin Sect? And what business does the scholar have here instead of studying at the Hanlin Academy?

Chen Guangrui and the co-judge Liao Jinzhong were equally puzzled.

This small County Government Office in Linjiang County already had enough officials gathered for the day, and yet more were visiting.

Wei Xiangshu temporarily set aside the Official Seal and his writing tools, responding, "If there are no urgent matters, have them proceed to the back hall to wait. After the current business is settled, I will see them."

Upon hearing this, the Government Official said with a strange tone, "Sir, both officials outside are connected to the case being judged in the hall..."

The Government Official didn't know how to explain further, as once the visitors donned official attire, he couldn't address them by name and could only refer to them as sir.

"Connected to this case?"

Wei Xiangshu frowned, thinking the case wasn't over yet, was it?

As he ordered the Government Official to invite them in, Wei Xiangshu remained perplexed.

No matter what those present thought, none could connect this matter to the poor young man from earlier.

Not until the Wu Family brothers, dressed in official uniforms, walked in with a stately gait alongside each other did everyone suddenly awaken as if from a dream.

Seeing his son-in-law in official attire of the same rank as his own, Zhang Yong's face was darker than ever.

"How did you get official attire?"

Ignoring his father-in-law's inquiry, Wu Zhiyuan walked straight to the front of the hall, apologizing, "Official Wu Zhiyuan. Earlier, in pursuit of justice, I had to conceal my identity and reported only my former Scholar title. I hope the Imperial Censor will forgive me."

Beside him, Wu Wencai wore a similarly ashamed expression.

As soon as they finished speaking, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Even someone as experienced as Wei Xiangshu couldn't help but be stunned.

Chen Guangrui was also dazed but soon recovered.

If they hailed from other provincial exams, he might still be surprised. But now recalling their birth as Scholars from the Xuji Division, Chen Guangrui inexplicably found it reasonable.

Nowadays, whoever admits to being from the Xuji Division, no matter the unexpected actions they take, Chen Guangrui would not be shocked.

Liao Jinzhong, who had planned to find an excuse to leave early, now had to sit back down.

Interesting, truly interesting. Jin Sect is far more fascinating than he had imagined.

It's indeed a place hidden with talents and secrets.

Wu Yaohua was shaking in excitement upon seeing his sons in official attire.

To have two officials from one family, the Wu Family's ancestral grave isn't merely producing good smoke; it's practically ablaze!

While some rejoiced, others despaired; Yang Hong could no longer hear the voice of Wei Xiangshu drafting the charges. All he felt was a buzzing in his ears, darkness before his eyes, and a rustiness at the tip of his tongue—as if he might spit blood any moment.

Zhang Yong, meanwhile, looked ashen-faced. When today's events ended, his tenure as County Magistrate might well be over.

Yet he felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Yang Hong's collusion with the Celestial Heart Sect in an attempt to murder a pair from one family meant he wouldn't survive, but his youngest daughter, Zhang Wan, was still alive. Wu Zhiyuan, it seemed, still loved her...

Not discussing everyone's complex emotions, after Wei Xiangshu clarified the context, he not only refrained from blaming the Wu brothers for hiding their identities but greatly admired them.

Their willingness to act impartially without using their official status indicated the commendable official character of these two brothers.

Once the case concluded, to redon official attire and then use their official status to plea for forgiveness was indeed proper conduct!

The more Wei Xiangshu observed the brothers, the more he appreciated them. In contrast, figures like Zhang Yong and Yang Hong felt like festering sores and malignant tumors; even a glance at them was nauseating.

Liao Jinzhong, watching the Wu brothers, sighed softly.

It's a pity; such children, who understand etiquette and know how to advance and retreat, if made into eunuchs and adopted as sons, would surely satisfy him greatly.

Ultimately, Wei Xiangshu ordered the flogging of Zhou Heng, Yuan Hu, and others with fifty strokes each, adding thirty more to Yang Hong for a total of sixty.

According to Dayong law, Zhou Heng and Yuan Hu faced execution as dictated by law, while Yang Hong was temporarily marked for execution, awaiting approval.

The two Celestial Heart Sect accomplices were sentenced to hanging, with execution on a selected date.

Once the sentences were drafted, Wei Xiangshu spoke: "Each injustice has its leader, each debt its owner. Given that you brothers are now officials in the same court, I have specially informed the upper court that among the convicted criminals like Yang Hong, you two will choose one to oversee the execution. If all goes well, the execution should conclude this case by autumn."

Upon hearing this, the brothers cupped their hands and bowed once more in gratitude.

When the case was concluded and the Government Office was preparing to strike the drum to dismiss, the Wu Family brothers looked towards the two rows of constables under the hall, but where could they see the shadow of Xu Qing!

...

In the Government Office's funeral room, Xu Qing was discussing business with someone.

The case of Chen Feng from Qu Shui Village was also concluded today, and the corpse of the Chen Family's young lady was still parked in the funeral room.

The Chen Family would inevitably come to claim the corpse, and the forensic doctor in the funeral room had long cooperated with Xu Qing and immediately recommended the Funeral Shop to Chen Feng.

The Shopkeeper of the cloth shop was not short of money, and upon hearing that the Funeral Shop could arrange the funeral, he directly entrusted the matter to Xu Qing.

The Shopkeeper Chen stated that the corpse could be buried anywhere, and he wouldn't care about the quality of the coffin, as long as it wasn't brought back to the Chen Family!

Xu Qing had no objection to this, and the two signed a waiver contract on the spot, with Wang Lingyuan witnessing to prevent any future change of heart from Chen Feng, who might come back wanting the corpse.

"Burying the body in the Chaotic Burial Mound might inevitably get dragged away by dogs or washed away by water; these are uncertain matters, Shopkeeper Chen better take a good look, once the contract is signed, you can't come looking for me later."

Xu Qing didn't introduce the funeral shop's additional post-sale funeral package, seeing Chen Feng's attitude towards the Chen Family's young lady, even if he knew, he probably wouldn't bother to buy it.

Once Chen Feng pressed the handprint, Xu Qing instantly revealed a smile: "I, Xu, love dealing with straightforward people. In the future, if the Shopkeeper's family has any matters, feel free to come to Underground Street to find me, the price will surely satisfy Shopkeeper Chen!"

Xu Qing didn't have a good impression of Chen Feng, so he also spoke without much regard.

Hearing this, Chen Feng immediately pulled a long face.

"No way next time! My Chen Family will not trouble Shopkeeper Xu again." With a cold snort, Chen Feng turned and stormed off.

"This mouth of yours, junior brother!" Wang Lingyuan shook his head helplessly.

Xu Qing clicked his tongue and said: "My words are already pleasant; this Chen Feng, on the hall, for the sake of saving face, deliberately wanted to drive to death the benefactor who saved his child..."

After a pause, Xu Qing continued: "In the courtroom, the Chen Family's nanny said that the young lady was driven by jealousy to spread rumors privately, claiming the concubine's child of the Chen Family was a bastard born from secret indulgence, and said Chen Feng was a useless man."

Seeing Wang Lingyuan sighing and shaking his head, Xu Qing raised his eyebrow and said: "Senior brother, did you not notice that Chen Feng does not care for his child?"

"Apparently this person also believes in slander, a reed blown whichever way the wind blows."

"Whichever child is born into his family, they'd be considered unlucky."

The two brothers were chatting idly for a while, before parting Wang Lingyuan asked again: "Junior brother, how is your arm doing now?"

Xu Qing raised his left arm, which had stiffened due to bone ossification, unable to move easily, and smiled: "It has gotten much lighter, senior brother, no need to worry."

Seeing Xu Qing's arm straightened, stiff like a Zombie, Wang Lingyuan couldn't help but laugh.

"Junior brother, you look like those Walking Corpses that Master Liu used to drive."

Wang Lingyuan hit the nail on the head, but after all, it was just a casual remark; if Xu Qing really said he was a Zombie, he wouldn't believe it.

In this world, where would you find a Zombie as talkative and gossiping as Xu Qing?

As Xu Qing left the Government Office, he happened upon County Magistrate Chen Guangrui discussing with Chen Feng at the entrance.

Passing by the two, the latter gave another cold snort.

Fine, still a petty, vengeful person!

"My Lord jested, it is my Chen Family who is fortunate to climb high..."

After Chen Feng left briskly, Xu Qing, who hadn't walked far, retraced his steps.

Standing at the entrance of the Government Office, he pretended not to have noticed anything, greeting the constables guarding the door.

"That Shopkeeper Chen seemed to have picked up silver, why is he so happy?"

The gatekeeping constable laughed heartily and said: "Picking up silver is nothing; the Lord is planning to formally recognize his son, isn't that better than picking up silver?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing seemed thoughtful.

This County Magistrate Chen was indeed interesting.

It's just unclear whether he had the thought upon hearing Lady Baosheng rescued Chen Feng's child or if he noticed Chen Feng's cold attitude towards the concubine and child, and intentionally did so...

Maybe both.

Xu Qing's gaze passed through the entrance of the Government Office and rested on the brightly written courthouse.

He suddenly smiled.

County Magistrate Chen's actions had given him a reminder; if there was anyone with a compassionate heart to care for children, besides County Magistrate Chen, perhaps there was another, Lady Jin...

Chen Guangrui was destined not to be the temple priest of Baosheng Temple, but Lady Jin suited just fine.