Rong Zhi and Chu Qing returned the禮, and as they entered, they deliberately observed their surroundings. They found that although the courtyard was large, the furnishings were not as complete as in an ordinary wealthy household. It was likely because of the funeral arrangements, some furnishings had been removed, making the courtyard appear somewhat desolate and lonely.
When they had arrived the previous night, there had been some maids and servants keeping vigil and lighting lamps in the courtyard. Now there were none, which indicated that Master Shi was quite cautious.
The two followed Master Shi into the main hall. Master Shi dismissed the servant who had been with them earlier and then took a serious look at both of them. Seeing that they were both young, he felt a bit uncertain. Did these two young people truly possess the ability to exorcise evil spirits and retrieve souls?
Since they had invited people to do a job, Master Shi didn't hold back and asked directly.
Rong Zhi smiled and said, "Sir, you may not know this, but we have been cultivating in the mountains for many years and have learned some techniques for maintaining youthfulness. You may see that I am young, but I am actually fifty years old this year."
Thirty-five in her previous life, plus eighteen in this one, stating fifty years old was not an exaggeration.
"Fifty years old?" Master Shi was startled and couldn't help but scrutinize Rong Zhi closely, but she didn't look like it at all.
"Does Master Shi not believe me?" Rong Zhi appeared to have anticipated this and continued, "To be frank, more than twenty years ago, I once visited the Imperial City. At that time, the Grand Tutor held a high position, and the entire nation revered Taoism. I recall the Grand Tutor once sought the elixir of immortality for the Emperor, claiming that consuming the gall of a five-paced viper as medicine could prolong life. Consequently, there was a trend of snake hunting at that time."
As soon as she said this, Master Shi's expression changed. This matter was widely known back then, but after the Grand Tutor retired, the Emperor issued an order prohibiting any mention of topics related to the Grand Tutor, and the matter of snake hunting was naturally not brought up. The fact that this person even knew about this made him feel a few more points of respect for Rong Zhi.
"So, Master Shi, can you believe us now?"
Master Shi politely smiled. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but rather that in such sensitive times, caution was necessary.
"Master Shi, what exactly has happened in your esteemed residence?" Chu Qing asked from the side.
Master Shi's face showed a hint of terror as he thought of something: "To be truthful, my young son met with an accident and passed away not long ago. The coffin had only been in the mourning hall for three days when strange occurrences began. Late at night, peculiar noises were often heard near the coffin, and servants claimed to occasionally see figures. However, when someone went to investigate, they saw nothing. Just yesterday, the coffin suddenly emitted a loud noise. I suspect... my son died with grievances, hence I invited the two of you to resolve this matter."
Rong Zhi nodded, somewhat surprised. What had happened yesterday was their own doing, and they hadn't expected there to be an earlier connection.
So much the better. She asked, "Sir, please explain the whole story in detail. How did the young master pass away? Did he have any enemies? Did he have any unfulfilled wishes in life?"
"Speaking of this matter, it's all thanks to his group of dissolute friends," Master Shi recounted the entire sequence of events. The content was largely the same as what Rong Zhi had heard on the street, with the only additional detail being that the incident occurred at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Young Master Shi was still alive when he entered, but unconscious when he came out. Therefore, this matter was undeniably related to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.
After finishing, Master Shi sighed heavily, "If I had known he would face this calamity, I would have broken his legs rather than let him associate with those dissolute friends."
Having understood the truth of the matter, Rong Zhi got straight to the point: "Sir, for this matter, we must exhume the body and conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of these anomalies."
"This..." Master Shi hesitated, appearing somewhat reluctant. However, there was no other way given the circumstances. He rose and made an inviting gesture, leading the two to the mourning hall.
In the mourning hall, two servants lifted the coffin lid. As the lid was opened, Rong Zhi and Chu Qing simultaneously smelled a strong medicinal odor. At the same time, they both noticed the abnormality of the corpse.
Three days had passed, yet the skin of the corpse was still smooth and elastic, no different from that of a living person. If they hadn't known beforehand that this was a deceased person, they might have thought he was merely sleeping.
"Please, examine it," Master Shi's face showed grief as he looked at his son's remains. He couldn't bear to look closely and turned his head away.
Rong Zhi and Chu Qing exchanged a glance. Rong Zhi reached out and felt for a pulse at the other's neck, finding no pulse or heartbeat. However, the body did not seem lifeless like a typical corpse; it contained some vitality. In essence, apart from the absence of a pulse, the body looked like that of a living person.
Rong Zhi then carefully felt over the body through the clothing, finding that the body was not stiff.
This made it even stranger.
Rong Zhi turned and gave Chu Qing a knowing look. Whether there was a ghost or not, Rong Zhi was certain of one thing: the person before them could be saved.
Seeing that Rong Zhi and Chu Qing had been quiet for a long time, Master Shi couldn't help but look back curiously, "Have the two of you discerned anything unusual?"
Rong Zhi withdrew her hand and said enigmatically, "Sir, your son's body and appearance are like those of a living person. I suspect that he had some unfulfilled matters in his heart before his death, which led to a phenomenon of reanimation."
"Reanimation?" Hearing these two words, Master Shi felt a chill run down his spine.
"The noises heard these past two days were likely your son crawling out of the coffin in the dead of night, seeking to accomplish what he left unfinished in life."
Master Shi's face turned pale, "In that case, how should it be handled?"
"A ritual is needed. Please, sir, have everyone else withdraw for a moment and hide in their rooms. Regardless of any noises they hear, they must not make a sound, otherwise, they might invite disaster upon themselves."
"Alright." Seeing how serious Rong Zhi's words were, Master Shi dared not be negligent. He quickly instructed the servant by his side to relay the order.
After a while, Master Shi, along with the servants, returned to the room, leaving the mourning hall empty.
Chu Qing felt that things were going too smoothly and couldn't help but sigh, "Master Shi trusts us so much, he's not afraid we're swindlers."
Rong Zhi said, "He already mentioned earlier that strange things had been happening frequently. He's likely desperate for help."
"How should this person be dealt with?" Chu Qing asked.
"I suspect he is not dead at all. To wake him up, all that is needed is to insert golden needles into his pressure points. However, if he were to wake up too easily, he might turn against us, and things would become difficult later. The ritual still needs to be performed. You do as I told you before."
"Understood." Chu Qing took out talismans from his怀, tossed them into the air, and shook his bell while chanting. Of course, he recited a string of meaningless nonsense, at a volume just loud enough to be heard in Master Shi's room, but not so loud as to be heard by the patrols outside.
Master Shi, along with his servants, had followed Rong Zhi's instructions earlier. Despite their curiosity, no one ran out to peek, so the ritual proceeded smoothly.
Rong Zhi approached the coffin and, from her sleeve, produced several silver needles. She aimed them at several pressure points on Young Master Shi's body, suspending the needles in the air, but hesitated to let them fall. She remembered the constables on the street and suddenly had an idea.
She waited like this. Chu Qing had already recited his incantation eight times, and Rong Zhi had shown no sign of progress. He had no choice but to continue chanting.
Suddenly, Rong Zhi heard the sound of approaching footsteps and the clinking of armor. It was likely the patrolling soldiers returning.
"Speak louder," Rong Zhi instructed Chu Qing.
Chu Qing was taken aback. There had been no such plan. At this moment, speaking louder, was she perhaps trying to attract the attention of the guards outside?
Despite his confusion, Chu Qing complied, raising his voice and shaking his bell more vigorously.
As expected, after a short while, there was a furious knocking at the door, and the force with which it was struck suggested they intended to break it down.
Master Shi, hearing the commotion, sensed ill intent. However, remembering Rong Zhi's instructions, he didn't open the door.
"Open the door quickly! Imperial City Security!"
A stern voice from outside shouted. Master Shi's hair stood on end. He couldn't afford to be cautious any longer and immediately pushed the door open, blocking Chu Qing and Rong Zhi, who were still performing the ritual.
"The two of you, stop for a moment. The Imperial City Security is here. Hurry and hide!"
Rong Zhi calmly inserted a silver needle into Young Master Shi's acupoint, then feigned panic and said, "Sir, why have you come out? Didn't I tell you not to come out?"
Master Shi could no longer concern himself with such matters. He immediately called out to the back, "Help me!" The servants in the room rushed out and, under Master Shi's direction, picked up the talismans scattered on the floor.
"Sir, what are you doing?"
"Quick, hide! Hide!"
Master Shi said as he ordered someone to open the door. But it was too late. The guards outside, seeing that no one was opening the door, kicked it down and barged in.
The one at the forefront, with a fierce expression, walked in, "What are you doing?"
After knocking for a long time with no response, he had also heard the sound of bells ringing from inside, concluding that this family was up to no good.
Master Shi's face turned ashen. He instinctively glanced at the floor, only to find that the talismans that had been scattered there moments ago had vanished. Chu Qing's expression remained as usual, as if he hadn't been the one shaking the bell and chanting just now.
"This..."
The event happened too suddenly, and Master Shi hadn't had time to formulate a response. Rong Zhi stepped forward and explained to the leader, "Officer, we are physicians invited by Master Shi. As there were some peculiar circumstances surrounding the young master's death, Master Shi invited us to investigate. You were suddenly knocking at the door outside, and Master Shi feared that you might find the coffin inauspicious, which is why he delayed opening the door."
Her words were neither humble nor arrogant, which lent them more credibility.
However... the leader took a closer look at Rong Zhi and recognized her instantly.
"You're the one from the street earlier, weren't you? Weren't you said to be a poor relative of his family? How did you become a physician?"
His face showed suspicion, and he waved his hand. The men behind him simultaneously drew their swords, "You'd best tell me the truth, or we won't let you off."
Master Shi's face turned deathly pale with fear, and he looked at Rong Zhi pleadingly, hoping desperately that she wouldn't reveal the truth, otherwise his entire family would be in danger.
Facing the threat of so many people with swords, Rong Zhi was unfazed. She explained, "It's late at night, and we are conducting an autopsy. I was afraid that gentlemen like yourselves might misunderstand if you heard about it, so I used the excuse of being a relative. We beg for your forgiveness, officers."
The leader looked somewhat puzzled, "What is there to misunderstand?"
Rong Zhi said, "The Imperial City is currently vigorously investigating witchcraft. Our presence here late at night is easily misunderstood. We thought it would be better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Furthermore, you gentlemen are working hard on your patrols late at night. How could we possibly cause any further misunderstandings and trouble you with another trip?"