Chapter Four: Striking a Deal

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“We heard everything you just said to the old man. Conveniently, that coroner works under me, so you must explain yourself clearly.”
Lu Chenzhou hadn’t intended to reveal his identity so soon, but Shen Hua was stubborn, leaving him no choice but to be straightforward.
Shen Hua furrowed her brows. “A Si, you’re lucky today—you’ve run into two government officers.”
“I mean, you need to come with us to the magistrate’s office,” Lu Chenzhou reiterated.
“Why should I go? Even if you’re government officials, you can’t just say ‘go’ and I have to obey.”
Wei Shiqi hurried forward to explain, “This is standard government procedure. If you want to reexamine a case, you must attend a hearing. Besides, what could an illiterate old man possibly say? Since you’ve found evidence, just bring the evidence and witnesses to court. The magistrate will judge swiftly—it won’t take much time.”
Shen Hua remained silent for a moment, then stopped resisting.
The next day, the case of Jiang Guanghe was reheard. The butler was the poisoner, and Lady Jiang was an accomplice. One was sentenced to death, the other to exile. The coroner involved couldn’t escape either. When he first examined the body, he knew Jiang Guanghe had been poisoned. The butler secretly slipped him three hundred taels of silver—enough for ten years of living expenses—so he agreed to stay silent. He was planning to resign anyway and thought he might as well make some money before leaving.
Shen Hua lifted her eyes to Lu Chenzhou in the courtroom, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“Miss Shen, please wait.”
A Si bowed with a trembling voice. “Miss, how should I return this?”
Shen Hua looked at the oiled paper A Si was holding. “Take it to the graveyard and wait for me. Then gather some laborers to open the grave; I’ll come find you afterward.”
A Si nodded and hurried away. After he left, Wei Shiqi stepped forward. “I didn’t expect Doctor Shen Hua not only to heal but to perform autopsies as well.”
“Mr. Wei, this is a fundamental skill for any doctor. To a physician, patients have no gender or age, living or dead—it makes no difference.” Shen Hua glanced meaningfully at Lu Chenzhou and added, “Sometimes the dead are more useful than the living—they don’t lie, nor do they harm others.”
Lu Chenzhou clapped his hands repeatedly. “Well said. The living are indeed harder to deal with than the dead.”
Shen Hua’s deep, ocean-like gaze met Lu Chenzhou’s eyes.
Lu Chenzhou was momentarily stunned, then quickly straightened up. “Actually, shouldn’t you be thanking me?”
“Thank you, but this is something I...”
Shen Hua’s eyes fell on the pillar behind Lu Chenzhou.
“Jiang Guanghe.”
Wei Shiqi, standing by the pillar, felt uneasy under Shen Hua’s gaze and quickly stepped aside.
Clearing his throat, Lu Chenzhou tentatively said, “Since you have such skills, have you considered working at the magistrate’s office?”
“I don’t associate with government officials.”
Shen Hua left without looking back, leaving the two men helpless.
“See? I told you no one wants to work for the government, let alone someone from the Ghost Market.”
Wei Shiqi appeared calm, patting Lu Chenzhou on the shoulder. “If soft methods don’t work, then we’ll try force.”
“I forgot you’re with the Imperial Secret Police.”
Lu Chenzhou smiled thoughtfully.
By the time Shen Hua returned from Jiang Guanghe’s grave to the Ghost Market, it was evening. The streets were bustling again after more than ten days of continuous rain, the market returning to its usual lively state. Approaching her clinic, she spotted a familiar figure standing at the door.
“It’s not dark yet; I’m not taking any patients.”
Shen Hua glanced at the visitor.

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“Miss Shen, a few days ago I drank too much and said things I shouldn’t have. Please don’t blame me. I’m here to apologize and to ask you for a favor.”
The visitor was none other than Ji Liu, the lisping man from the Misty Pavilion a few days prior.
Shen Hua said nothing, opened the clinic door, and hung the sign outside.
“What’s your name?”
Hearing the question, Ji Liu assumed he was allowed inside.
“My surname is Ji, I’m the sixth son in my family, and in the martial world, they call me Ji Liu.”
Shen Hua put down her belongings, scooped a basin of water to wash her hands, and then placed a pot of water on the stove to boil. Ji Liu stood silently by the door, saying nothing.
“Come back after dark. For now, go stroll through the Ghost Market and get something to eat.”
“All right.” Ji Liu seemed surprised by her quick agreement.
“Wait.”
Ji Liu thought she might be backing out. He swallowed, tightened his grip on his knife, and timidly said, “Once a deal’s made, it can’t be broken.”
Shen Hua tapped her fingers on the table. “Put the money down.”
Only then did Ji Liu realize Shen Hua’s rule: payment first, service later. He quickly placed five taels of silver on the table, greeted her, and left the clinic.
Shen Hua flipped the silver between her hands, a satisfied smile on her lips.
Before long, the clinic’s calm was broken by several knocks. A few men dressed in black uniforms and boots swaggered in, each wearing official badges and carrying swords.
“Imperial Secret Police on official duty.”
One showed Shen Hua his badge.
Shen Hua rose slowly. “I’m the only one here. May I ask what case you’re investigating?”
“Recently, the Ministry of Revenue lost a shipment of official silver. We traced it to the Ghost Market, so we’re here to retrieve the stolen goods.”
“Oh? There’s nothing like that in my clinic.”
The agents exchanged glances and didn’t give Shen Hua a chance to protest. They immediately began searching the room.
Shen Hua showed no displeasure, only a cold sneer.
“Found it.”
One agent pulled a bag from a drawer in the medicine cabinet and opened it, revealing five hundred taels of official silver.
Shen Hua frowned but quickly relaxed.
“Miss, what’s this?”
The agent proudly presented the recovered items to Shen Hua. “The goods are found. Come with us.”
“Where to?”
The agents laughed before announcing loudly, “The Northern Command’s Imperial Prison.”
A crowd had gathered outside the clinic, watching quietly. People seemed calm and not particularly wary of the Secret Police.
Shen Hua’s voice was cold. “The methods of the Imperial Secret Police are truly filthy.”
“Oh? The clinic is lively tonight.”
Ji Liu emerged from the crowd, a man and a woman following him. All three wielded weapons and wore eyes filled with menace, blocking the clinic’s entrance.

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“Officers, if you want me to go to the prison, I’m afraid I can’t help you with this matter.”
As she spoke, Shen Hua handed Ji Liu the five taels of silver she had just received. “They’re accusing me of stealing official silver.”
“How much?”
“Five hundred taels.”
The agents raised the bag of ‘stolen goods’ for all to see.
Ji Liu and his companions couldn’t help but laugh, and the onlookers joined in.
“Five hundred taels isn’t enough to push the Ghost Doctor Shen Hua to act. Your framing is far too obvious.”
Seeing the situation worsening, an agent shouted, “The Imperial Secret Police don’t tolerate insolence. Step aside.”
“What’s so great about the Secret Police? Do you think you can just take people? This is the Ghost Market, not the Imperial City! Besides, who knows if you planted this silver yourselves?”
Night had fully fallen. Even with the Secret Police investigating, the Ghost Market had its precautions. The agents exchanged wary glances and whispered, “Captain Wei was careless; he didn’t tell us Shen Hua has contacts in the underworld. If they insist on not releasing her, we’ll be the ones to suffer.”
Though their voices were low, Shen Hua overheard everything clearly. She gestured to the lead agent and whispered in his ear, “Today’s trouble was stirred up by Captain Wei. If he doesn’t come out, this won’t end peacefully.”
The lead agent looked embarrassed and surprised, then said, “Let them disperse first. I’ll go find Captain Wei.”
Shen Hua raised her voice deliberately as she addressed the crowd, “Gentlemen, you must be mistaken. This isn’t official silver; it’s clearly my own money, isn’t it?”
The lead agent nodded quickly, and the others followed suit. Shen Hua signaled to Ji Liu to clear the way.
The crowd dispersed quickly once the excitement died down, leaving Ji Liu and his two companions, along with a few agents inside the clinic.
When the area was nearly empty, Shen Hua said to Ji Liu, “Thank you for your help earlier. I never owe anyone favors. I’m afraid your matter can’t be handled today. Come back at this time tomorrow; I won’t charge you then.”
Ji Liu cupped his hands in thanks. “Very well. If you need anything, look for me at the Misty Pavilion.”
Shen Hua nodded.
Shortly after, two familiar figures entered the clinic.
Shen Hua was restoring the disordered items and didn’t look up, simply saying, “Close the door.”
Wei Shiqi had two agents step outside to close the door, looking somewhat guilty as he leaned against the wall, unwilling to approach.
“I’ve heard the Imperial Secret Police use dirty methods, but I didn’t know they were so crude. Framing someone here in the Ghost Market—no one can easily turn the tables here.”
Shen Hua wasn’t truly angry; she just thought they wouldn’t stoop to such tactics.
“Exactly. I told you it wouldn’t work. Miss Shen is the famous Ghost Doctor, the only female shopkeeper in the Ghost Market.”
Lu Chenzhou lightly tapped Wei Shiqi’s shoulder, as if to shield himself from Shen Hua’s scrutiny.
Shen Hua rolled her eyes. “Lord Lu, there are many female shopkeepers in the Ghost Market, and you were part of this plan—otherwise, why would you come along?”
“I apologize. We just want your help with a case recently in Nanjing. We’ve been investigating for three days with no leads. Hearing of your skills, we thought you could assist. When you refused at the Ministry of Justice today, we had no choice but to resort to this. We never truly intended to send you to the prison.”
Lu Chenzhou’s explanation sounded sincere but had flaws. Shen Hua was highly sensitive, always solitary, and disliked dealing with others.
She deliberately replied, “First, I don’t investigate cases; second, I don’t associate with government officials; third, I never work without pay; and fourth, I’ve heard of this case. It’s too dangerous and far-reaching—too risky. I can’t take it.”