When someone died, the situation became serious.
Wu Yuanwai quickly sent people to report to the authorities. Seeing that it was Wu Yuanwai who reported, the officials did not delay and immediately dispatched yamen runners and coroners to the old guard's house for investigation.
The coroner examined the body and said that the person had been dead for at least a month.
However, from the time the old guard left Wu Yuanwai's house until his body was discovered, only five or six days had passed.
The coroner initially didn't believe it, saying he absolutely couldn't be wrong.
Normally, a corpse first undergoes rigor mortis, gradually turning black.
After five or six days, it begins to swell, becoming what is commonly known as a "giant cadaver."
Around twenty days, the flesh gradually collapses.
Given the state of the old guard's body, where the flesh was already decayed, it must have been in that state for at least a month or more.
But countless people had seen the old guard at the time, and they all swore they had just seen him a few days ago, and he was still full of life then.
The more the coroner listened, the uglier his expression became. He quickly pulled a steward from Wu Yuanwai's household aside and whispered, "This matter might involve something unclean; the authorities can't handle it."
"You should go back quickly and tell your Wu Yuanwai to find monks or Taoists to perform a ritual. It might work."
The steward reported back to Wu Yuanwai, who also became frightened. So he invited a famous local master to set up an altar and perform a ritual at home.
Who knew, it would have been better not to invite anyone. As soon as the master came to perform the ritual, things took a sharp turn for the worse.
After performing the ritual, the master confidently assured Wu Yuanwai that the unclean thing had been dispelled.
However, as soon as the master returned home, he began to vomit blood, then fell ill and died within three days.
Wu Yuanwai had no choice and sent people to report to the authorities again. However, the yamen runners avoided anyone from his family. Upon asking, they learned that the coroner had also inexplicably vomited blood after returning home and died within a few days.
As the news spread, everyone in the Wu family was in a state of panic, and many hired servants fled.
A once orderly household was suddenly in chaos.
As they talked, time passed until it reached the present, picking up the conversation Li Miao had initially overheard.
"My brother-in-law is brave. Wu Yuanwai's family has been short-handed these past few days and pays generously, so he went."
"And he really did encounter a ghost!"
The man lowered his voice, leaning in mysteriously.
"Just the night before last, he was walking in the courtyard and felt the wind getting colder and colder, so cold he couldn't stand it."
"He figured no one was watching anyway, so he might as well go back to his room to sleep."
"But on his way back, he saw that ghost."
"A female ghost, disheveled hair, dressed in white, with a face covered in blood."
"Beneath her eye sockets were two dark, hollow holes, and blood flowed from those holes, dripping onto the ground."
"Plop, plop, plop…"
The man was speaking excitedly, even adding sound effects to mimic the sound of blood dripping onto the ground.
Li Miao was amused and chimed in supportively, "What happened next?"
"Next? Next, he fainted, of course."
The man reached out to pour wine from the flask, but only a few drops came out. He looked at Li Miao ingratiatingly.
"Later, while he was recovering, he had a dream, and it was also terrifying. Sir, about this wine…"
"Oh, it's finished."
Li Miao stood up and cupped his hands to the others, "Then I won't bother you any longer. Please enjoy your drinks."
The men watched Li Miao leave with disappointment. They poured their own inferior wine into the flask Li Miao had brought, vigorously swished it around, shared it among themselves, and continued their casual chat.
Li Miao walked back to the table; the dishes had already been served.
No one had touched their chopsticks while he was away. Xiaosi and Wang Hai were still being affectionate, but Mei Qinghe had already opened her eyes and was staring intently at a sweet and sour fish, not saying a word.
Li Miao walked to the table and said with a smile, "Eat, what are you waiting for?"
Only then did they all start eating.
While eating, Wang Hai asked Li Miao, "Brother, are you planning to stay here for a few days this time?"
"Play what?" Li Miao glanced at Wang Hai.
"Just now, when I saw your eyes light up, I knew we wouldn't be leaving," Wang Hai said with a smile.
"Anyway, this trip is just to gain experience with you. Whatever you say, we'll do."
"You make it sound like following me is a disadvantage."
Li Miao said, "Your emolument won't be cut short."
Wang Hai nodded in agreement.
After finishing the meal, they were all well-fed and satisfied.
Li Miao stood up and said to the three of them, "You wait for me here. I'll go find us some money and a place to stay."
With that, he walked out the door with leisurely steps.
This Pingshan Garrison is not an ordinary prefectural or state city, but a military garrison.
The Great Shuo inherited the Fubing system from previous dynasties, establishing garrisons in various places responsible for stationing, recruiting, and training soldiers. As soldiers needed food, entertainment, and leisure, villages and towns gradually formed around these garrisons, slowly prospering.
Unlike the Great Ming of Li Miao's previous life, because martial arts feuds were prevalent and the ordinary government was powerless to manage them, the garrisons, due to their patrolling soldiers, had better public order than ordinary prefectures. People from surrounding areas migrated there, so it was actually more prosperous than an average prefectural city.
Li Miao was going to the residence of the chief official of this Pingshan Garrison, the Pingshan Garrison Commander, to seek assistance.
He walked to the Pingshan Garrison Commander's yamen and said to the soldiers guarding the gate, "Is your Commander in?"
The soldier lazily raised his head and scanned Li Miao up and down.
Seeing that although Li Miao was in plain clothes and travel-worn, his complexion was ruddy and his voice was clear, not like a simple person, the soldier did not dare to be negligent.
He stepped forward and cupped his hands, "Does Your Excellency have a visiting card or a name card? So I can announce your arrival."
Li Miao said nothing, pulled out his Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) waist token, and flashed it in front of the soldier.
The soldier immediately changed color in horror and bowed to the ground, "Sir!"
"Please, accompany me to the guest room first. My Commander is currently handling official business in the residence. I will inform him immediately!"
Li Miao nodded and followed him into the yamen. Servants naturally brought tea. The soldier hurried off to deliver the message.
Soon, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and a man walked in quickly.
This man looked over forty, burly and robust, and was precisely Xu Siyuan, the Pingshan Garrison Commander.
He looked imposing, but at this moment, his face was flustered, and his clothes were loose, faintly emitting the scent of cosmetics.
It seemed his "official business" was still open to debate whether it was public affairs or private matters.
Xu Siyuan walked quickly closer and immediately bowed to Li Miao, who was still seated, "I did not know of your arrival, I am sorry for not welcoming you sooner!"
According to the official ranks of the Great Shuo, the Pingshan Garrison was actually on the same level as the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards). This Xu Siyuan was also a third-rank high official, and his servile attitude towards Li Miao, a Chiliarch, showed how low he was willing to stoop.
This was not surprising; as the Great Shuo had been passed down to the present, the garrison system had long been rotten. Embezzling emoluments and exploiting soldiers had become an unspoken understanding. Every emperor basically had to behead a few people to make an example.
The one who did the beheading was often the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards).
So Xu Siyuan's demeanor was not strange.
Li Miao quickly stood up, "Sir, there's no need to be so polite."
"I am here on other official business. My visit today is to ask for your convenience, with no other intentions."
"Ah? Ah hahahaha—" Xu Siyuan was startled when he heard Li Miao speak so directly, then he laughed with relief.
"I will grant anything, anything!"