TGCFNM -Chapter 246 The Conclusion of This Case

How should it be judged?

It wasn’t heaven watching—it was Ghost Cheng Dian.

Ghost Cheng Dian looked at Chu Ling, unsure of her meaning. Did she want him to pass the judgment?

The Ghost Scholar looked at him and spoke loudly, “You once told me that if you were the magistrate of Yuchuan County, you would surely not act any worse than he did.”

“So at this moment, you are Cheng Dian, the magistrate of Yuchuan County. This case arose because of your misguided thoughts, yet it did not end with your death. On the contrary, it dragged on seventeen years later and claimed two more lives.”

Ghost Cheng Dian turned to look at the sorrowful and pained Sister Song Yu, then back at the people outside the yamen, and finally let his gaze settle on Xu Wangshui’s face.

“I understand.”

Ghost Cheng Dian spoke softly, then raised his hand one last time, wanting to lightly brush Sister Yu’s temple. That black hair—now streaked with white at the sides—could no longer hide the passage of time.

All these years, his Sister Yu had truly suffered.

Chu Ling did not interrupt; she quietly looked up at the sky outside the yamen. The weather was clear, a gentle breeze blowing—it was a good day.

Ghost Cheng Dian slowly lowered his hand and gave Sister Yu a faint smile, full of apology. “Sister Yu, what I owe you in this life will probably have to be repaid in the next. In the next life, I will serve you faithfully, to repay your kindness and friendship in this life.”

With that, Ghost Cheng Dian slowly floated back to Chu Ling’s side and bowed to her.

“Madam Chu, I understand now. I know how to pass the judgment.”

Chu Ling tapped the table lightly with the back of her hand, inviting him to speak.

Ghost Cheng Dian looked down at Xu Wangshui and shouted, “I hereby announce the verdict!”

Chu Ling drew a deep breath: “I hereby announce the verdict!”

The gathered citizens were stunned and looked up at Chu Ling. Why was Madam Chu suddenly delivering a verdict again?

“Cheng Dian, during the imperial examinations, for his own selfish reasons, deliberately used a piece of scrap paper to trap Xu Wangshan and prevent him from taking the exams, resulting in Xu Wangshan hanging himself. According to the laws of the Great Zhou, Cheng Dian is stripped of his jinshi status, receives thirty lashes, and is forever barred from participating in imperial examinations again.”

Ghost Cheng Dian finished speaking, and Chu Ling repeated the verdict word for word.

Xu Wangshui looked up at Chu Ling and then bowed deeply. “Thank you, Sir, for avenging my elder brother.”

Ghost Cheng Dian continued, “Ling Shao’s actions to avenge her brother are understandable, and she has always shown restraint, never harming anyone. Moreover, after coming to Yuchuan County, she secretly protected Sister Song Yu and Madam Cheng Dian. In Cheng Dian’s heart, this balances the merits and demerits, so Ling Shao is innocent.”

After Chu Ling repeated it, she added, “Ling Shao is innocent. When you offer incense, remember to tell her, so her soul may rest in peace.”

Xu Wangshui bowed deeply again. “Thank you, Master Chu.”

Ghost Cheng Dian gazed intently at Xu Wangshui and spoke again: “The offender, Xu Wangshui, though not intentional, was ignorant. But he first poisoned Cheng Dian, then severed his arm and leg. According to the laws of Great Zhou, one who tortures and kills another must be executed.”

Chu Ling did not intervene but repeated the verdict, her eyes firmly fixed on Xu Wangshui.

Xu Wangshui smiled through his tears, even with some relief, saying, “It’s deserved… it is deserved.”

Ghost Cheng Dian then looked at the people outside and continued: “Because Cheng Dian’s spirit in heaven sees the grief of Yuchuan’s people, he cannot bear it. After much struggle and immense pain, in the end, he resolved to let go of his hatred and protect this peaceful place. Therefore, Xu Wangshui shall not be killed.”

Chu Ling’s heart trembled, and when she repeated the words, she paused several times, her voice heavy with emotion.

Xu Wangshui looked at Chu Ling in astonishment. He opened his mouth, but aside from his tears streaming down, not a single word could come out.

“But I have conditions, I have conditions, Lord Chu,” Ghost Cheng Dian choked out. “Xu Wangshui must live the rest of his life under the name Cheng Dian, protect the people of Yuchuan, and take care of my Sister Yu.”

This time, Chu Ling did not repeat the conditions. Instead, she turned to Xu Wangshui, speaking seriously and solemnly:

“In this world, Xu Wangshui no longer exists. There is only Cheng Dian. Cheng Dian must safeguard the people of Yuchuan, diligently and without negligence. If one day Xu Wangshui dares to harm or oppress the people, I, Chu Ling, will, in the name of Cheng Dian, rejudge the case and take your life!”

“Do you understand clearly?”

Xu Wangshui nodded heavily, his voice hoarse: “Xu Wangshui has memorized it. I will never forget it in this life!”

Chu Ling then looked at Sister Yu Song and said earnestly:

“You have suffered enough in the first half of your life. The second half should be for yourself. You don’t need anyone’s care, nor do you need to live shackled. You should live freely. This is what Cheng Dian would have wanted.”

Sister Yu Song was in tears, choked up and unable to speak for a long moment. Finally, trembling, she said: “Th-thank you, Lord Chu.”

After speaking, Chu Ling took a broken hairpin from her pouch at her waist, slowly descended, and handed it to Sister Yu.

Sister Yu Song stared at the jade hairpin in disbelief. Her hands shook as she took it, clutching it tightly in her palm.

“Lord Chu, Cheng Dian… he…” She hesitated, unsure how to speak to someone who was dead.

Yet during the trial, every word Chu Ling had spoken had been so resolute and natural, as if it were truly Cheng Dian’s spirit guiding the judgment.

Ghost Cheng Dian had already followed Chu Ling down. Now, seeing Sister Yu with reddened eyes, he felt a sudden ease in his heart:

“The master said that because I had lingering attachments, I could not enter the cycle of reincarnation. I thought many times that my attachment must have been being killed, losing the position of county magistrate, losing my wife…”

“But in truth, my attachment was to see her one last time, to tell her I did not betray her. To tell my mother that her son would finally spare her from washing clothes. To tell my deceased father that I had not disappointed his hopes.”

Chu Ling looked gently at Sister Yu and said:

“I found this jade hairpin next to the severed arm bone. It was hidden in a tattered cloth pouch, so it was clearly carried close to the body. It must have been very important to him.”

Sister Yu Song nodded heavily, crying: “This jade hairpin was my mother’s dowry left for me. I let him take it for emergencies; if there was no money, he could sell it.”

“He never sold the hairpin, even in such hardship. He must have cherished it. It seems that in his heart, you were extremely important,” Chu Ling said.

Sister Yu clutched the hairpin tightly to her chest: “He was also very important to me.”

Chu Ling chuckled softly:

“Sister Yu, you know, reincarnation is quite interesting. No matter what Cheng Dian experienced in this life, he failed you. So in the next life, he must find you first, serve you like a beast of burden, at your command.”

Sister Yu laughed through her tears: “I understand. I will remember that.”

“Then, Sister Yu, you cannot forgive him easily. You must thoroughly test him—make him run west to buy red cord, east to buy red cloth, and if he is not satisfied, make him buy again,” Chu Ling said with a smile.

Sister Yu laughed through her sobs and nodded vigorously: “I will not let him off easily.”

Chu Ling spoke gently: “Take his remains and give him a proper reburial, so that his bones are intact.”

Sister Yu bowed deeply, slowly squatted down, caressed the severed bone, and then carefully wrapped it in cloth. She carried it on her back, resolutely walking out.

Cheng Dian watched Sister Yu’s back, his form gradually fading. Then he slowly turned to Chu Ling, smiling faintly and nodding: “Lord, I’m fortunate to have met you.”

Chu Ling pretended to organize her things and bowed slightly.

Cheng Dian’s figure gradually disappeared. The case was concluded.

(This case was judged by Cheng Dian, to resolve his attachment and allow him to enter reincarnation. Xu Wangshui had little time left, as the signs of death were already showing.)

Supplementary Epilogue:

Xu Wangshui, aware of the depth of his guilt, gradually handed over county affairs to Sister Yu Song after Chu Ling departed, letting her manage in his stead. After the handover of official matters was completed, he ended his own life in the mountains. To outsiders, it was said he was ill and could not receive visitors. When the new county magistrate arrived, the case was carefully reconstructed and recorded anew.