The Grievance Petition Officer of the Palace of Yama (Part 4)
Continued from “Yu’s Reincarnation Story: The Grievance Petition Officer of the Palace of Yama (Part 3)"
The Mystery in the Family Letter
Two months later, the results of the provincial examination were announced. Jing Kai achieved outstanding results and was ranked as Yayuan (second place).
The news quickly reached the Jing household. His father shifted from grief to joy, but his biological mother, Lady Zhen, showed no expression.
When others asked why she did not appear happy, she replied that the household was still in mourning. It was inappropriate to display joy, as it might deepen the sorrow of Lady Cen, who had lost her son and was already bedridden from grief.
Beyond that, Lady Zhen had already begun to suspect something unusual.
The “Jing Kai” who had returned after the provincial examination did not feel entirely right. It was very likely that Jing Yue had assumed his identity. As his mother, she knew her own son too well.
Although he remained polite and respectful outwardly, a habitual arrogance and contempt could still be seen in his eyes.
Silently, Lady Zhen began collecting evidence.
At the same time, Jing Kai’s two older brothers, Jing Huo and Jing Mao, also sensed that the third brother’s attitude toward them had changed.
A few days later, servants delivered urgent news to the inner residence:
The body of the eldest son, Jing Yue, had been found and brought home.
In ancient times, strict rules of legitimacy determined family hierarchy. The first son born of the principal wife was recognized as the legitimate heir and called the “eldest son.”
Even though Jing Huo was the first-born son in the household, his status as a concubine-born child placed him behind the legitimate heir in rank.
Upon hearing the news, Lady Cen fainted once again. Lady Zhen, along with Jing Huo and Jing Mao, led the servants to open the coffin and confirm the identity of the body.
When the coffin was opened, something extraordinary occurred.
More than three months had passed, yet Jing Yue’s body showed no signs of decay and emitted no odor.
This was the result of Bu Ying’s intervention. Acting on the request of the grievance officer, he had located Jing Kai’s remains at a mass burial site and used Daoist methods to preserve the body from decay.
Suddenly, a letter fell from the sleeve of the corpse.
Jing Huo, careful and observant, picked it up and handed it to their mother.
Lady Zhen opened it and discovered a blood-stained family letter. At the end of the letter, the signature read: Jing Kai.
She searched the collar and sleeves of the clothing again, then confirmed the identity of the body before collapsing into grief and weeping over it.
All three children’s garments had been personally sewn by Lady Zhen. Their names were embroidered at the collars and cuffs for identification.
On this body, however, the cuffs and collar were clearly marked with the character “Kai.”
At last, the truth was revealed:
The one who had been murdered in the capital was the fourth son of the Jing family—Jing Kai.
The Manifestation of Heavenly Justice
The day Jing Yue was executed coincided with the birth of Jing Huo’s eldest son.
Earlier, after Jing Yue was imprisoned for his crimes, the clan elders discussed the matter and decided to elevate the steady and kind Jing Huo to the position of eldest son.
Not long after, Lady Cen, who had suffered repeated emotional shocks, passed away from illness. The virtuous Lady Zhen was then formally raised to the position of principal wife.
Holding her newborn grandson, Jing Tuo, she was filled with joy.
Yet none of them knew that the newborn heir of the Jing household was the reincarnation of Jing Kai, who had already let go of hatred and entered a new life.
“This time, are you satisfied?”
The Daoist Bu Ying suddenly changed form—revealing himself as none other than the King of Qin Guang in the Grand Hall of the Underworld, returning to his throne.
It turned out that all of this began when the grievance officer reported the case through the judge of the underworld to the King of Hell.
Having seen Jing Kai’s unjust death in the River of Souls, he decided to intervene.
As for Jing Kai, after letting go of hatred, he drank the River of Forgetfulness soup. His mind was completely cleansed, and he forgot all memories of his past life.
Unaware of anything, he had already returned to the Jing household—reborn as the son of his former brother.