I am a wandering immortal in the mortal realm.

Meanwhile, two major events have recently occurred at the foot of Linquan Mountain.

The first incident involved a woman from the Zhuang family in Linquan Town who, in order to hold a funeral for her cousin, invited Master Wang to perform a ritual to summon the soul. However, the ritual resulted in the summoning of a female ghost, which nearly scared the entire family to death.

The news spread like wildfire, and even many businessmen from other places came to inquire about it.

According to some daring eyewitnesses, on the day the female ghost arrived, a ghostly mist covered the sky, and an eerie atmosphere filled the air. Children were being devoured, and adults were having their hearts and livers ripped out...

But when asked how many people had died, everyone felt awkward.

Actually, they were just bragging. The moment the ghost appeared, they ran away.

They didn't even dare to leave the house after that, and they didn't even know when the ghost was destroyed.

Some busybodies did try to sound out the dealer, but when the Zheng brothers, Jin and Yin, stood at the door, they immediately shut up.

However, the dealer became quite famous in the town.

Just imagine how unlucky this family must be to see ghosts one after another at funerals?

In the past thirty years, nothing so outrageous has ever happened in Linquan Town!

The town is filled with a supernatural atmosphere, and the most obvious sign is that the incense at the Jade Emperor Palace has become much more abundant.

People used to think the incense money at the Jade Emperor Palace was expensive, but now that ghosts have really come, do you still think it's expensive?

Wang Duangong personally confirmed that the female ghost was killed by the old abbot of the Jade Emperor Palace.

The old man had spent his life swindling people, and now his life had come to a tragic end. It was impossible for him not to hate Shen Yuan, but after witnessing the other man's abilities, he didn't have the guts to take revenge in secret.

So they could only make changes in these small areas.

He didn't slander the Taoist, but deliberately exaggerated Xuan Qingzi's contributions. With this back-and-forth, the Taoist's merits became insignificant, didn't they?

You can't just shut him up and tell him he's not allowed to praise others, can you?

There is no such logic in the world!

Besides, Xuanqingzi is a highly accomplished Taoist master; his reputation sounds much more reliable than that of a young Taoist like Shen Yuan.

The young man is handsome, but handsomeness can't put food on the table!

You need experienced people to catch ghosts; they have to be able to suppress them!

Although later, a Taoist priest from the Jade Emperor Palace came out to refute the rumors, saying that it was Shen Yuan's achievement to kill the female ghost.

But no one believed me!

They thought Xuan Qingzi was just being modest and showing humility, which left the people in the Jade Emperor's Palace speechless. Eventually, they simply stopped paying attention to these rumors.

If they ignore it, wouldn't that be seen by others as tacit consent?

So everyone got excited, and besides offering incense, they all came to pay their respects to the old abbot's immortal countenance.

The Jade Emperor's Palace would naturally not grant such an unreasonable request.

Do you think the master of this temple, who has been bestowed with golden books and jade scrolls, can be seen whenever you want?

Not to mention that Xuan Qingzi was not in the temple at the moment. On the second day after the evil spirit was exorcised, he rushed to Yujing despite his injuries.

The group couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at not seeing Xuan Qingzi. However, after returning home, they added more to their words to save face.

As time went on, rumors began to spread like wildfire.

One account says that Master Xuanqingzi was seriously injured while exorcising a ghost and that he might not live much longer.

The second theory is that the female ghost was not actually killed, but rather that Daoist Xuanqingzi used his body as a barrier to trap her.

It can only be said that David has enjoyed peace for too long, and the common people are severely lacking in spiritual nourishment.

These things were also sporadically relayed to Shen Yuan's ears by some of the worshippers.

He simply smiled at this, showing little emotion.

It is not said that one should respect clothing before respecting people; this has always been the case from ancient times to the present.

Even with the current state of Yiyuan Temple, it can't accommodate too many visitors.

Moreover, judging from the old Taoist's previous behavior, he seemed to be an honest and kind person. Since they would see each other all the time and had a bond of fighting against the evil spirit together, Shen Yuan believed that the other party would definitely not let him down.

However, compared to worrying about these things, Shen Yuan was more heartbroken about the ten taels of silver he had lost.

During this time, Hu Xiaomei always felt that the Taoist priest looked at her with some resentment, so she took the takin out to roam in the wild every day until dark before returning.

As the head steward of the Taoist temple, Sister Hu naturally knew why the Taoist was grieving.

She didn't say much about it, and even felt a little embarrassed.

After all, she had wholeheartedly supported the Taoist priest's descent from the mountain that day, precisely because she believed in the miraculous powers of the Gengjin Fox.

Now it seems highly likely that it was just a random sentence made up by his sister to trick the Taoist into eating the chicken.

So, Sister Hu, who already felt guilty, became even more diligent in her work, thanks to the grace of being transformed.

In just a few days, the Taoist temple was completely transformed, no longer dilapidated.

……

Leaving aside the changes at the Taoist temple, the second major event that occurred at the foot of Linquan Mountain was far more shocking than the ghost story in the town.

It turned out to be a few yamen runners who suddenly went berserk in broad daylight, stormed the county yamen, and almost beheaded the county magistrate on the spot.

In the end, it was the high monks of Jin Guang Temple who intervened and subdued the crazed constables, preventing the situation from becoming irreversible.

Otherwise, this could very well become the first case of a citizen killing an official since the founding of the Kingdom of David.

Although the county government quickly explained that the officials had been bewitched by a cursed silver-related magic, rumors still circulated among the people that the imperial court was pressuring its officials too much, leading to a popular uprising.

It should be understood that David's reforms to the official system, which eliminated the rank of clerks and revoked their various privileges, were intended to prevent them from becoming too powerful and resisting the imperial decrees.

At the same time, it elevated the status of clerks and officials among the common people, allowing them to enter the lives of ordinary citizens, and restored their rights in the imperial examinations and as examiners, attempting to win people's hearts and express gratitude to the court.

But these petty officials have been entrenched in the local area for many years, aren't they just after the privileges they hold and the tangible benefits they can gain?

Now the imperial court has offered them a seemingly attractive incentive—the imperial examinations—but they are required to pay taxes just like ordinary people.

How much is their monthly allowance?

If you can't make any money, going back and forth like this will only drive people to their deaths.

In the past, when people had power, they didn't have to worry about the future, and there were still limits to how much money they could make. Now that power has been severely restricted and their future is uncertain, they naturally let loose and only think about making money.

Although Shen Yuan had only been in this world for a short time, he had already discerned the contradictory nature of the current emperor from some of his political measures.

On the one hand, he tried his best to delegate power and remove various restrictions, fearing that it would delay people's livelihood and affect his civil and military achievements.

On the other hand, they were extremely wary of power and imposed restrictions on it in various other ways, fearing that excessive indulgence would endanger their rule.

Therefore, apart from some major policy innovations, David's implementation of certain details was extremely awkward.

Take this recent rebellion of petty officials, for example. Those who know the inside story will not say much.

However, most people are ignorant, and the combination of various factors, such as clerks, government officials, and the imperial court, always provides opportunities for some unscrupulous people to stir up trouble and take advantage of the chaos.

How many years has David founded his kingdom? There are plenty of people who hope it will descend into chaos!

For example, right now, Magistrate Zhou of the county government is so anxious that bubbles are coming out of his mouth, and he is slamming his fist on the table in the government office.

"Give me dog intestines! Give me dog intestines! If I find out who's slandering the court behind my back, I'll make them pay!"

The lower-ranking officials all lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound, letting their superior vent his anger.

They all knew that the yamen runners had gone mad that day, and the county magistrate was so frightened that he wet his pants in court, causing his prestige to plummet. He was seething with anger and eager to regain his dignity elsewhere.

However, Inspector Lu was unyielding and did not approve of Magistrate Zhou's revenge against the family members of the yamen runners, which made the atmosphere in the county government office very tense.

Now that such rumors are circulating in the county, if they reach the prefectural government, Magistrate Zhou will definitely be charged with "slandering the imperial court and failing to govern effectively."

This was clearly aimed at killing Magistrate Zhou, so it's no wonder he lost his composure like this.

The most suspicious person is Inspector Lu.

After all, the two of them had a very ugly falling out recently.

When gods fight, little devils suffer. These petty officials are the best at protecting themselves. When they see their superiors fighting, they can't even hide in time, so how dare they say a word?

After venting his frustrations, Magistrate Zhou, finding no one paying him any attention, grew rather bored. He pursed his lips and slowly said, "Captain Jiang, have you brought those families I ordered you to arrest?"

A tall, thin man below trembled at the sound, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead. He bowed shakily, forcing a smile, and said, "Master...Master, not yet..."

"Bang!"

Magistrate Zhou slammed his hand on the table. His already pointed face and monkey-like features meant he lacked any real authority even in anger; now, with his eyes bulging, he resembled a large rat. He said in a sharp tone, "What? Does my word no longer carry weight?"

Upon hearing this, everyone involuntarily cast a sympathetic glance at Constable Jiang.

Jiang, the constable, felt bitter inside, but he still had to put on a show, so he quickly knelt down and explained, "Your Honor, it's not that I'm being negligent, but rather that Inspector Lu..."

"Snapped!"

Magistrate Zhou slammed his hand on the table again, already exasperated: "I am a seventh-rank magistrate, and he is just a lowly eighth-rank inspector. Does he dare to defy me?"

Officer Jiang: "..."

If you're so capable, then say it to his face. What kind of skill is it to bully me?

Jiang, the head constable, lowered his head, looking somewhat worried.

Magistrate Zhou snorted lightly, ignoring him, and said coldly, "I'll give you one more day. If you're still so incompetent, hmph, if you can't do this job well, someone else will!" With that, he turned and left, leaving Jiang, the constable, kneeling on the spot with a pale and uncertain face.

"Old Jiang!"

As soon as Magistrate Zhou left, the other minor officials rushed over to help him.

We are all in the same boat, and we all know how difficult it is for Chief Constable Jiang, who is caught in the middle.

Personally, they actually tend to support Inspector Lu.

It is true that several yamen runners stormed the county government office, but there was a reason for it. If they were to take their anger out on their family members, who would dare to work diligently in the future?

After all, who can guarantee that someone else's today won't be your tomorrow?

Jiang, the constable, stood up with a livid face, suddenly ripped off his black hat, slammed it to the ground, and cursed, "Whoever wants to be this damn constable can be, I'm going home to farm!" With that, he stormed off.

The group looked at each other, watching his retreating figure, and all sighed silently.

……

Meanwhile, Magistrate Zhou left the government office and went straight to the backyard.

Several maids stopped and bowed when they saw him, but he waved them away casually. He then pushed open the door and entered, a lecherous smile on his face, calling out, "Jiang Niang!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a beautiful woman in white slowly walked out of the room. She had almond-shaped eyes, delicate eyebrows, and skin as white as jade. Every smile and frown of hers was full of charm.

"Shouldn't you be at the yamen during the day, sir? Why are you here?"

Magistrate Zhou glanced at her, and his anger vanished instantly. This was a beautiful concubine he had taken in half a month ago, and he cherished her dearly!

He took the woman's hand, led her into the room, and sat down. He sighed, "Don't even mention it. With petty men in power and tyrannical officials everywhere, I'm quite troubled myself, so I thought I'd come and talk to you!"

A barely perceptible flicker of disgust crossed Jiang Niang's eyes, but she still gently massaged his shoulders and asked softly, "Is it about Inspector Lu?"

"Who else could it be but him?" Magistrate Zhou then recounted the rumors circulating in the county, saying viciously, "That illicit silver affair was started by his men. Now they dare to plot against me behind my back! He'd better pray he never gets caught, or I'll make him pay!"

"Master is a county magistrate, how could he be afraid of a mere patrol inspector?" Jiang Niang asked casually.

Magistrate Zhou's face stiffened, and after a long while, he said, "Actually, it's not that I'm afraid, it's just that the person behind Inspector Lu is a bit troublesome. I finally managed to get in touch with the Empress Dowager, so it's really not good to confront him directly..."

"Moreover, the most important thing now is to stop the rumors. Otherwise, if they are allowed to spread, even if the Empress Dowager protects me, the Emperor will still punish me."

Jiang Niang's eyes darted around, and she suddenly chuckled, "What's so difficult about that?"

"Oh? Does the beauty have any good ideas?" Magistrate Zhou asked, somewhat surprised.

Jiang Niang covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "Master, do you know what the best thing to do is to quickly forget something?"

"What is it?"

"Naturally, one should distract oneself with something else, something much bigger."

Magistrate Zhou was puzzled, so Jiang Niang explained in a low voice, "Rumors are flying everywhere in the county right now. Instead of sitting here in despair, why don't you take the initiative and strike?"

"How do we take the initiative?"

Jiang Niang poured him a cup of tea and said with a smile, "Those ignorant and foolish people don't believe in the power of evil money, do they? Then let's do the opposite and make a big fuss about this evil money!"

Magistrate Zhou seemed to understand something. He saw Jiang Niang take out a piece of paper with several names circled on it. He glanced at it and realized that they were all wealthy families in his jurisdiction who did not submit to him.

"This is……"

Jiang Niang smiled meaningfully: "Master, what do you think would happen if these families were to hoard ill-gotten gains and the matter came to light? Would it be a big deal?"

Magistrate Zhou was startled and jumped to his feet, then slowly sat down again, and began to think seriously.

"But... weren't all the ill-gotten gains taken by the masters of Jin Guang Temple?"

Jiang Niang's eyes darted around: "How could a mere twenty taels cause such a big mess? I think there must be other silver that hasn't been found!"

"hiss……"

Magistrate Zhou's heart pounded, but he forced himself to remain calm, stroking his beard as he said, "...We have no legitimate reason to attack them, so why would they let themselves be manipulated?"

"Master is the magistrate of a county, so this position... isn't it up to you to decide?" Jiang Niang said evasively. "I remember that back then, Jinshan Temple was built and overseen by Master himself, wasn't it?"

Magistrate Zhou remained silent, but his eyes shone with an alarming intensity.

Jiang Niang continued to entice, "Isn't Inspector Lu known for his integrity and uprightness? Let him handle this good deed."

"Oh dear!" Magistrate Zhou clapped his hands, then added somewhat nervously, "What if someone finds out?"

"It was all Inspector Lu who did it. The master only raised reasonable suspicions. Even if someone investigates, they won't be able to trace it back to the master..." Jiang Niang paused slightly, then smiled. "Besides, we can easily leak some information out. As long as they're not stupid and obediently submit to the master, then the matter of the illicit silver will naturally be considered false."

"By then, the magistrate will have won over the hearts of all the local gentry and established his power base. On the other hand, Inspector Lu will have offended them all. With the balance of power shifting, why worry about not being able to control him?"

"Wonderful!" Magistrate Zhou clapped his hands and laughed. "I never imagined that Jiang Niang would possess both the beauty of Xi Shi and the wisdom of Shao Bo. She truly is a good and virtuous wife for me."

"My lord, I am but a concubine," Jiang Niang said coquettishly.

Magistrate Zhou said with disdain, "That old hag, I'll divorce her sooner or later. The only one I truly desire is Jiang Niang..."

"Master~"

"Jiang Niang~"

The two lingered affectionately for a while before Magistrate Zhou reluctantly departed.

But as soon as he left, Jiang Niang's smile faded, and she turned to the bronze mirror behind her.

In a fleeting glance, she noticed a barely perceptible blue spot at her temple, and tremblingly touched it. Taking another sniff, she indeed detected a faint, strange odor beneath the rich fragrance, and her face instantly darkened…

(I revised it four or five times, but it still wouldn't upload, so I rewrote it after work. It's pretty frustrating. I didn't write anything explicit, not even sex, it's just a fictional ancient setting, yet so many things are happening. Some people say it triggered certain keywords, but the problem is I don't know which keywords they are, I can only guess. It's so nerve-wracking, now I'm even nervous typing this, afraid that some word might trigger the rules again...)