the story of a scholar named 胡登舉, who arrives at the magistrate's court to report the brutal murder of his parents, whose heads are mysteriously missing.施公, the magistrate, is presented with the puzzling case and begins to contemplate the details surrounding it, suspecting it is a revenge-driven crime rather than a simple robbery. As he navigates the case,施公 experiences a strange dream involving yellow sparrows and pigs, which he interprets as a potential clue. This leads to a series of inquiries and a hunt for suspects, showcasing施公's dedication to seeking justice amid the various trials of the case. The narrative sets a compelling stage for the unfolding mystery, hinting at the intersection of power, crime, and morality in ancient China. (This is an automatically generated summary.)