During Zetian’s rule (690-705 CE), Di Renjie[1] was serving as Governor of Ningzhou. His residence repeatedly suffered inauspicious events, as more than ten people had been killed by a previous governor. When Jie first arrived, his clerk told him that the official mansion had long been ominous, nobody had dared to live there. Moreover, weeds and thornbushes had turned it into a ruin, so it was no longer habitable, so he asked that the official lodge elsewhere. Jie said: “If a governor is not to live in his residence, where else should he lodge?” He ordered that the seals be removed and the house repaired, residing there without concern. Over several nights, there were strange and grotesque events that could not be explained or controlled. Jie spoke angrily: “I am governor, and this is my residence. You may be crooked but I am straight. Why, instead of resolving this logically, do you injure the orthodox? If you are a deity, I will heed your teaching. If you are a demon, how dare you act against me? I have no fear of you in my heart, as you merely change shape. We should face one another and resolve this; why not show yourself politely?” After a short while, a man appeared wearing cap and gown, advancing to say: “Your servant was a minister at such-and-such a court, and was buried below a tree, west of the steps to your hall. A tree root has pierced through my body, and the pain I suffer is beyond endurance. Recently there have been several noble gentlemen, and I have wished to lay out my case, but all later died. Walking nether world paths, I have not yet reached my destination due to this, and if the gentleman can truly change my burial, I dare not delay this any longer.” On finishing speaking, he vanished. The next day, Jie ordered it be dug up, and indeed all was as had been described. He thus had the man reburied, and the events ceased.
[Origin omitted – the Chenchaoben states that it comes from the Guangyiji.]
Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 329.2614:
狄仁傑
則天時。狄仁傑為寧州刺史。其宅素凶。先時刺史死者十餘輩。傑初至。吏白官舍久凶。先後無敢居者。且榛荒棘毀。已不可居。請舍他所。傑曰。刺史不舍本宅。何別舍乎。命去封鎖葺治。居之不疑。數夕。詭怪奇異。不可勝紀。傑怒謂曰。吾是刺史。此即吾宅。汝曲吾直。何為不識分理。反乃以邪忤正。汝若是神。速聽明教。若是鬼魅。何敢相干。吾無懼汝之心。徒為千變萬化耳。必理要相見。何不以禮出耶。斯須。有一人具衣冠而前曰。某是某朝官。葬堂階西樹下。體魄為樹根所穿。楚痛不堪忍。頃前數公。多欲自陳。其人輒死。幽途不達。以至于今。使君誠能改葬。何敢遷延於此。言訖不見。明日。傑令發之。果如其言。乃為改葬。自此絕也。〈原闕出處。陳校本作出廣異記。〉
[1] This is Di Renjie 狄仁傑 (630-700 CE), a highly regarded Tang-era minister, later finding fame through a fictional detective career.