The old residence was in chaos, with farmers who had come to buy seeds gathering around to watch.

Seeing the other party making such a commotion, someone tried to mediate: “Teacher Di Sanmeng isn’t that kind of person, this elderly lady…”

But as soon as these words left his mouth, several of the other party’s people immediately cursed: “How do you know what kind of person he is? Bastard, you’re accomplices, aren’t you?”

Several burly men stepped forward, grabbed the speaker by the collar, and angrily shouted in harsh tones: “Speak! What’s your relationship to Di Sanmeng?”

That person was just an ordinary farmer and immediately panicked, explaining repeatedly: “I don’t even know him…”

The burly men refused to let it go easily, cursing continuously. It was only when people nearby scrambled to rescue him that someone whispered quietly: “These people are so unreasonable.”

But at the end of the day, no one dared to take the lead in arguing with them.

—These people clearly didn’t look like good people.

At this time, at the Cultivation Institute.

Since last night, Huang Rang had been carefully simmering a pot of soup. When daylight broke, she sent it to Di Yiqiu.

Of course, she couldn’t enter Di Yiqiu’s study at all. She could only have Li Lu deliver it on her behalf.

Li Lu was sharp as a tack—the fact that He Xijin’s niece had feelings for their Jianzheng was something everyone in the Si Tianjian with eyes could see.

It was just that Jianzheng had no interest in her—this was equally something everyone with eyes could see.

He accepted the soup container and said with a smile: “Miss Arang is truly thoughtful. However, Jianzheng is young, with all his heart and mind devoted to official duties. I’m afraid he’ll disappoint the young lady’s kind intentions.”

Huang Rang didn’t mind, only saying: “Vice-Monitor Li need only deliver it inside for me, nothing else matters.”

She was indeed an infatuated woman.

Li Lu accepted the soup container and entered the study.

Huang Rang naturally had her own matters to attend to.

She hardly listened to the Cultivation Institute’s classes—for her, those lessons were truly too simple. That plot of experimental field hadn’t been wasted, though. It was full of clusters upon clusters of small grass.

This grass had been planted for over ten years, and no one knew what use it had. Only occasionally would someone sigh—our Cultivation Institute hasn’t seen mosquitoes in quite a few years now, which is truly wonderful.

Inside the study.

Di Yiqiu held a charcoal pencil, drawing a sketch. Li Lu presented the soup container and said with a smile: “Jianzheng, Miss Arang has made soup for you again. Would you like to try it first?”

Di Yiqiu glanced at it and said indifferently: “Give it to Baowu.”

Hearing this, Li Lu could only say: “Yes.”

Just then, someone outside came to report: “Jianzheng, at Teacher Di Sanmeng’s place, someone is causing trouble.”

Di Yiqiu’s charcoal pencil paused slightly, then he set the pencil down. He didn’t even ask what had happened but immediately stood up and strode out the door with large steps.

—His reverence for Teacher Di Sanmeng was truly heartfelt. Li Lu hurriedly followed.

Today’s old residence was truly quite lively.

Inside, quite a few more “victims” had been added. Among the several waves of victims were burly men with fierce expressions, an eighty-year-old woman, and even a five or six-year-old child with hanging tufts of hair.

Thus the old woman cursed, the small child cried, and several burly men grabbed and interrogated the questioning farmers.

Di Yiqiu didn’t enter. After listening from the side for a while, he already understood the situation.

Li Lu also frowned and said: “Jianzheng, someone is accusing Teacher of selling fake seeds. This is a serious crime.”

Di Yiqiu acknowledged with a sound. Li Lu secretly watched his expression and asked: “This matter requires time to verify. Should we send people to take them back to Baihu Si for detailed interrogation?”

“No need.” Jianzheng pondered for a moment and said: “You go summon the Prefect of the Capital to come conduct the trial.”

“The Prefect of the Capital?” Li Lu frowned. Was their Jianzheng not going to help Teacher Di Sanmeng? But he still said: “Yes.”

A moment later, the Prefect of the Capital arrived.

The Capital Prefect, Lord Yu Fenggong, lived up to his name—upholding public duty and enforcing the law with an iron face and impartiality.

He walked before the several victims with a serious expression.

“Good, good, this is Prefect Yu Fenggong! He’s a clean and upright parent official who will definitely help clear Teacher Di Sanmeng’s name.” Someone in the crowd of farmers said in a low voice.

However, as soon as these words were spoken, someone else questioned: “These official lords are all snakes and rats in the same nest. Will he help our Teacher?”

Thus for a time, some were wary while others anticipated.

Lord Yu stared at the several victims. Because Jianzheng wanted him to conduct the trial on the spot, he didn’t set up a separate court but simply asked: “What has occurred?”

Upon hearing this, the victims immediately broke down in tears, crawling forward on their knees one after another to recount the “human tragedy” of being deceived when buying seeds and losing their entire harvest.

Lord Yu understood in just a few sentences—someone was accusing Di Sanmeng of privately selling fake seeds.

At this time, Jianzheng outside the residence suddenly said: “Never mind, let’s have Minister Li from the Ministry of Justice come to try the case instead.”

Uh… so Lord Yu was notified that he could return.

Minister Li from the Ministry of Justice entered. He was also skilled at criminal interrogation. He walked before the several victims, also with a serious expression, and asked: “What has occurred?”

“Minister Li is also not bad, not a confused official.” Someone said in a low voice.

Thus, the victims once again broke down in tears, crawling forward on their knees to recount the “human tragedy” of being deceived when buying seeds and losing their entire harvest.

Only this time there were far fewer tears.

After Minister Li finished asking about the situation, the Si Tianjian sent Minister Zhong to come try this case.

He walked before the victims, stared for a long while, and asked: “What has occurred?”

“…” The victims rubbed their faces and continued wailing as they recounted the “human tragedy” of being deceived when buying seeds and losing their entire harvest.

In one morning, the court changed officials eight times.

The old farmers watching nearby had serious faces at first, but later began covering their mouths to secretly laugh.

The victims truly couldn’t cry anymore.

When the ninth official came to preside over the trial, their expressions became extremely twisted and pained, and their throats began going hoarse and burning.

Not half a drop of tears could be squeezed out anymore. Each of them wore a mournful expression as they recounted the circumstances of the matter once more, as if suffering cruel torture.

But this wasn’t over yet. There were roughly a hundred officials of various ranks in the capital who could try cases. They could take their time rotating. Jianzheng simply had someone bring a chair and sat in a shady spot outside the residence, drinking tea while listening to the various officials “interrogate the case.”

Though they weren’t human, Jianzheng, you truly are a dog… Li Lu was speechless.

All the way until the afternoon, the victims had all been interrogated to tears.

This time they were truly crying.

But several other important figures also appeared one by one.

First was the Ruyi Sword Sect’s He Xijin family. They rushed over using transmission talismans, their expressions very serious.

As soon as he arrived, the crowd boiled over like hot oil meeting water.

“Good, good, this is Ruyi Sword Sect’s Sect Master He, a remarkable great personage!” A farmer said in a low voice. “He will uphold justice for Teacher Di Sanmeng!”

The couple He Xijin and Qu Manying stood before the “victims.” Qu Manying asked: “What has occurred?”

The several victims immediately saw them as saviors and tearfully begged the He Xijin couple to uphold justice…

They had just finished explaining the circumstances with great difficulty when another flash of light from a transmission talisman appeared, and another couple materialized.

The crowd was startled and immediately began discussing: “Good, good, this is Wenxin Pavilion’s Pavilion Master Zhang Shujiu! Now that he’s here, things will be fine.”

Indeed, Zhang Shujiu appeared together with his wife Feng Zheng’er. He likewise came before the victims, gave a slight bow with cupped hands toward the He Xijin couple, then asked: “What has occurred?”

Uh… the victims’ expressions were already beginning to change. But when Pavilion Master Zhang asked, they didn’t dare not answer.

Just as they finished answering, someone else arrived—Ancient Fist Gate’s Gate Master Wu Zichou and his wife Dai Wushuang!

The two of them walked before the victims, stared for a long while, and asked: “What has occurred?”

“…Please just kill us—” The victims broke down. Damn it, these great personages truly were all snakes and rats in the same nest! They cried and shouted: “This is too much bullying! Utterly unconscionable…”

The He, Zhang, and Wu couples watched with amusement. They had heard about what was happening here earlier and had only been observing, but now they had come purely to enjoy the spectacle.

Seeing the victims hoarse-voiced and wishing for death, still daring to argue, Qu Manying blazed with fury. She suddenly darkened her face and roared in anger: “Kneel down!”

Immediately after, several thuds were heard as knees hit the ground.

All the victims knelt down.

But this angry roar subdued more than just them—the three great immortal sect powers He Xijin, Zhang Shujiu, and Wu Zichou also bent both knees and knelt in response!

“…” Every spectator gaped in amazement.

“Ahem.” The three great powers He Xijin, Zhang Shujiu, and Wu Zichou looked at each other, quite feeling they had met kindred spirits.

The three of them stood up as if nothing had happened and together dusted off their knees.

Qu Manying, Feng Zheng’er, and Dai Wushuang also looked at each other.

“Ahem.” The three wives covered up their embarrassment.

Jianzheng looked at He Xijin, then at Zhang Shujiu, and finally at Wu Zichou—you three are something else, quite well-trained at home. Jianzheng leisurely walked before the “victims,” his face serious, and said: “What has occurred?”

The “victims” went mad. Several people on the spot tried to bash their heads against pillars to commit suicide!

But how could Jianzheng tolerate such a thing happening?

Immediately, bailiffs blocked the victims and dragged them one by one back to Jianzheng’s side.

Jianzheng inquired about the circumstances, and finally, amidst the “victims'” crying and shouting, he took them back to Baihu Si.

Long after, these victims’ miserable screams still floated above the old residence, lingering for a long time—”Just kill me, I beg you, my lord!”

Whether this case was ultimately resolved and how it was resolved, everyone didn’t really know.

In truth, no matter what the outcome of these matters, they could never satisfy everyone. If the trial determined the case was true, without question—the common people supporting Teacher Di Sanmeng would curse. If the trial determined the case was false, there would still always be people who believed and spread rumors.

At the end of the day, it was nothing more than a tactic to ruin someone’s reputation.

It was just that Jianzheng’s method of trying cases was too unique.

From then on, no more “victims” came to the door to cause such a scene.

—No matter how much money the seed cultivation families behind the scenes offered, no one was willing to do it.

Only along with this matter, another matter also spread and became known throughout the realm.

—This was the good home training of the three great immortal sect powers: Sect Master He, Zhang Shujiu, and Wu Zichou.

This matter spread wider and wider. The common people couldn’t remain idle either, so they simply bestowed an elegant honorific title upon the three great powers—the Three Immortals Who Fear Their Wives.