《The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua》 CH extra 16 - 18 The Crown Prince Everyone knew that the Crown Prince was a troublemaking lordling. Even the Emperor had to admit that much. Conceivably stemming from the rocky experience of his own childhood, the Emperor cherished his son like a treasure, not wanting him to suffer the slightest bit of wrong. On top of that, the Crown Prince was not only his eldest wife-born son, but his only child. With increasing hopes placed onto him, the Prince received increasingly higher expectations, causing him to practically grow up beneath the attention of a crowd. Due to the sparseness in royal descendants, the officials had been very anxious at the start, urging the Emperor to sprout more branches for the sake of the Great Mings face. The Emperor generally wouldnt argue with his officials, yet he never gave in one cun over this matter. The Cabinet had no stance on it, either. Only a few censors shouted the most viciously about it, but over time, everyone quieted down, no longer held the expectation for the Emperor to have more sons, and focused their attention on raising up the Crown Prince. However, this Princes personality completely differed from his father and grandfathers. In other words, he matched more with the personality of a normal childs: lively, active, filled with curiosity about everything, and wanting to try it all. To an ordinary family, that personality would be nothing of note, but the issue here was that he was the Crown Prince, the futures heir apparent. At the same time that he enjoyed the pinnacle of glory and wealth, he was placed under all sorts of restrictions. Ever since the Tumu Stronghold Crisis, all the officials had been mentally exhausted by Yingzong faffing about, hoping that all Emperors could be like the present Emperor: sitting quietly on the throne ever since they took it, doing what they ought to be doing, and not adding to their subjects stress. But this Crown Prince was destined to be an exception. With them being different people of different childhood experiences and different personalities, how could the requests used on the Emperor limit the Prince? When things reached the peak, they could only go back downhill. If he was viciously forced, that would likely only make the Crown Prince grow rebellious and fight against his subjects in everything. While all the Court officials were still immersed in the pretty dream of how the Crown Prince was to be educated, Tang Fan had already seen this tidbit. Because he was the Head Vizier, he held the title of an East Palace Teacher, but in reality, he was confined by his work, which really didnt give him much time to tutor the Crown Prince. For someone that loved to be active and found it very hard to calm down and learn from scriptures, making him sit there and recite the Four Books and Five Classics or teach him about sages of ancient times was clearly not going to work. Alas, the East Palaces education methods were in sets methods and norms. Although Confucius had said that lessons should conform to the student, if someone actually brought the Crown Prince out of the palace to play, they would probably get denounced and resign the very next day. Even if as the Head Vizier, Tang Fan would find blame hard to escape from. One good Emperor was enough to influence the atmosphere of an era. Tang Fan knew that well, so, in spite of his busyness, he still found the time to do what he could to guide the Crown Prince. In turn, the Prince seemed to find him to be a very different teacher from the rest. For that reason, every time he attended Tang Fans lessons, ge could concentrate a little better than with others, and was willing to listen to him a bit more in earnest. Later on, to his gradual surprise, the Crown Prince learned that Teacher Tang was very accepting of pretty much anything. For example, after he had learned of the Emperor sneaking the Crown Prince out of the palace, he didnt painstakingly admonished them like the others, nor did he say anything about it. In fact, he had perhaps intentionally mentioned the locations of sideshows and slums in the capital. The Prince had been confused, at the start, and later questioned his father about it. Only then did he learn of the particular difficulties Tang Fan had. As the Head Vizier, he could not publicly agree to the Emperor and Crown Prince leaving the palace. That would be tantamount to him going against every civil official there was, as well as not conformity to a civils style. In his head, however, he felt that the future Emperor shouldnt be stuck deep inside the palace. Only by seeing and experiencing more could his nature be further tempered. On account of his own difficult childhood, the current Emperor was not ignorant despite growing up deep in the palace, while the Crown Princes life had gone smoothly since birth, had parents that were unusually affectionate with each other, and he was much less likely to experience any palace intrigue. Hence, he needed to be exposed to the outside world. It would be bad for Tang Fan to say that, though, so he could only suggest things in a roundabout way. The Emperor, ever good at reading people, had thankfully heard the notes the Head Vizier was playing. Your Teacher Tang is different from typical people. He will never use the viewpoint of a pedant to demand anything of you, he said to the Prince with a smile. Not only should you not be of the mind to defy him, but you should also learn a lot from him. When he was in his teens, he traveled all across the land, and has seen more bridges than grains of salt youve ever eaten. The Crown Prince always loved to play. If he werent the Crown Prince, he really would have loved to run around and have fun all across the realm. Thus, when he heard his dad say that, his eyes lit up. Really? The Premier traveled the Great Ming? The Emperor nodded. Of course. If you do well in your classes from now on, we will have the Premier tell you some good stories in the classs spare time. Itll surely broaden your horizons. Having a son like this, the relationship between them was closer and more casual than general civilians would be. The Crown Prince listened, then tried to haggle with his dad. How about half a shichen of lessons gets me one shichen of stories? The Emperor was both annoyed and amused, giving him a bop on the head. Half a shichen of lessons, half a shichen of stories. The Premier takes time out of his busy schedule to give you those lessons! Do you think that everyone is specially assigned to the East Palace to revolve around you every period of the day? The ten-year-old Prince pouted. Father Emperor, you can appoint him to teach me, then have someone else run the government. That wont do. We may be valued as the highest power, but we cant just do anything we want, the Emperor answered casually. The Crown Prince huffed. I see. Youre scared of him. This little man knowing how to use instigating mental tactics made the Emperor unsure of how to react, but he didnt fall for it, nodding instead. Youre right, we do have a lot of respect for the Premier. If a person is virtuous and honorable, they are worthy of others admiration. Recalling earlier days, we almost werent able to keep our position of Crown Prince. Were it not for the protection and care of people like the Premier, we would have long been gone from this world, with your existence out of the question. Thats why you need to remember that genuinely capable subjects must be treated with respect, and are never to be treated irreverently. These people are the support beams of our nation. The Great Mings capability for stability relies not only on the Emperor, but also on such officials. The boy nodded in half comprehension, a bit distressed at heart. They had clearly been talking about fun things, right? Why had Father Emperor suddenly taken a turn into serious things? Education The little Crown Prince was unusually inquisitive. Whenever he felt something to be novel, he would want to go take a look, and if he could try it out for himself, that was even better. Were anyone to tell him that it wasnt fun, not only would he not believe them, but he would want to go test it out even more. For example, in the wintertime, he had insisted upon skating and jumping on a lake coated over with ice. His attendants had been terrified, each of them telling him that he would fall into the water and catch a cold, but that only made him want to do it more. In the end, he had stepped on a thin portion of ice that had then collapsed, bringing his lower half in with it. His pants, shoes, and socks had all been soaked, scaring everyones souls out of their bodies. Fortunately, he had been found in time, and the tiny child hadnt completed dunked into the water. Had he caught a cold, whether or not he could recover at his age would be hard to say. Following that incident, the Emperor had come to an understanding of how much trouble his son was. He had a severe headache. Reprimanding him would be useless. Putting the fact that he didnt like to have heavy words with his son aside, even if he did scold him harshly, the child was lively by nature what came in his left ear would go out his right, never to be taken to heart. He was young at the present time, putting a limit on his misdeeds, but when he grew up, no one would be able to control him. Since he would go to play in water during the winter now, would he go into the sea to hunt dragons when he grew up? Having the teachers educate him would be useless, too. He knew his son better than anyone else; even though the boy was quite bright, had a near-infallible memory, and could cleanly recite his teachers lessons in benevolence, righteousness, and history but if whether he took them seriously was to be discussed, there would be nothing to say. In the young Princes eyes, this world was filled with curios, with far too many things he could have fun with. Every spot of land was amusing, all the fauna was amusing, and the people were even more amusing. Despite his extreme intelligence, he didnt work industriously, and yet his appraisal and thoughts on human nature caused the Emperor, as a father, endless surprise every time. However, as the Crown Prince saw it, playing around with human nature only had the word play in it, involving no actual playtime. With that personality, would he really be able to bear commanding the country in the future? Thinking about how reliable his own father had been, then about how unreliable his son was being now, the beyond-reliable Emperor felt trepidation. With no other choice, he had to ask the people at his side, intending to correct the Crown Princes personality. Huai En was long dead; with that personality of his, he could have followed the Prince every day to supplement his education, otherwise. That would have been more than trustworthy, purely because Huai En had not been as pedantic as officials, and after being in the palace for so many years, serving a Crown Prince would have been a cinch. What a shame it was that the world had only had one Huai En, and Wang Zhi had already gone off to Ningbo, more or less disappeared into the ocean at this point. The rest of palace people were very loyal, but their wisdom was not exactly high, giving the Emperor misgivings about trusting them with this. After pondering things, he could only find Tang Fan to ask for advice. Tang Fan was quite busy. Liu Jian had since retired at this point, he had been promoted to Head Vizier, and now he was so awfully hard-pressed, he barely had the spare time to return home. He was an East Palace Teacher for the Crown Prince on top of that, too. It was for that reason that Sui Zhou had entered the palace several times to back him up in both the open and secret, his implication being to have the Emperor not give Tang Fan too heavy of a burden. The Emperor himself wasnt sure how to react to that. If at all possible, he didnt want to trouble Tang Fan with things such as this, but the Emperor found that educating his son was even more trying than running a country. One persons plans would fall short, while a pairs would grow long; in the end, after all the twists and turns, he still had to discuss things with Tang Fan. The latter was a bit vexed after hearing of all this. The Crown Princes personality was indeed worrying. If he was an ordinary person, his fun-loving nature would be just that, and even if he played himself to death, that would be his own business. He was the future ruler of the country, however if he kept playing around, it would be the nation that was getting played to death. Not only the nation, but playing with fate would be costly, too. The current Emperor had only one son right now, so if the Crown Prince didnt have time enough to leave a son behind in the future Stop. Stop it. Those thoughts flashed through Tang Fans mind, terrifying to think of. Even though the possibility was tiny, there was no guarantee that this wouldnt happen. As a normal person, one could only pay attention to the present moment, but as the Great Mings Head Vizier, Tang Fan had to plan for the future, for a hundred years from now. He had to do all he could to eradicate all unexpected circumstances. However, leading the crown Prince down the proper path was indeed a very headache-inducing issue. He shared a look with the Emperor. They unwittingly sighed in unison. Pitiful were the hearts of this worlds parents. Blindly admonishing and obstructing him definitely wouldnt do anything. Many officials might do such things, perhaps, but Tang Fan knew well that that wouldnt work at all. Who had never been young before? Everyone had experienced the Princes same psychological process (though they might not have had his particular degree of activeness, of course). At this age where ones personality had not yet completely settled, if one wanted to do something, there would be someone nearby nagging them about what they could and couldnt do. With the Crown Prince, not only would he not stop, but he would instead have the mentality of, You wont let me do it, so now I have o do it. Tang Fan thought carefully, then said, Letting things flow is better than damming it up. Since His Highness has an innate love for play, forcibly suppressing it would only produce the opposite result. You may as well let him go and play until hes happy. The Emperor blinked. Your meaning is? Thinking to himself that even kind Emperors had times of cunning, Tang Fan didnt answer that, simply smiling. What idea Your Majesty has is what idea this subject has. The Emperor coughed, forced to say, Isnt Wang Zhi in Ningbo? We want to have him bring the Crown Prince around for a tour. Perhaps, after seeing it, the boy will curb back his nature. The rest of his words went unsaid. Tang Fan appropriately understood. The Crown Prince going out of the palace is a major event, to say nothing of going out to sea. The officials will definitely oppose this to the end. Please think it through, Your Majesty. The Emperor knew this, of course. When he had gone out of the palace for nothing more than praying, not even leaving the capital, all of society had opposed it. Officials all wished that they could confine the Emperor into the palace, that it was best for him to never go a step out of it all of his life, yet they also demanded that he be adept in accepting advice, have respect for virutous folks, and be hardworking in governance. That was much too difficult. The Emperor was a human, not a puppet. An Emperor that had never seen the world before would either be meek and incompetent, or spectacularly rebellious, or negligent in governance. A fourth option would be difficult how many lifetimes of incense had they needed to burn to get the current Emperor, who perfectly met all needs? Were this another Emperor, he would never have allowed subjects to make arrangements like this. The present Crown Prince went without saying. Due to his childhood experiences, the Emperor had never been hale. He was quite worried that he would abruptly leave this mortal coil, leaving the not-yet-settled Crown Prince behind, turning a good situation into a possible total mess. For that reason, he always held an intense sense of crisis. If the other were anyone else, if they heard that the Emperor wanted to let the Crown Prince play outside of the palace, they would probably leap three chi into the air and tearfully object to it. Seeing that Tang Fan was not strongly dissenting to his idea, only pointing out the consequences of it, the Emperor calmed down somewhat. It is not that we arent aware of what you speak of, Premier. With how unruly the Crown Prince is by nature, if it isnt muted, I fear that a huge disaster will come in the future. You speak the truth, but this should be considered at length. When the Prince leaves the palace, will the realm be informed? Of course not, the Emperor said automatically. Will the Court officials be informed? It would be best not to do that, else he will never be able to leave. In that case, he should go incognito. Right. We dont wish to make him reveal his identity; he should change his name to follow Wang Zhi out. Wang Zhis loyalty is unquestionable, but his capabilities as one man are limited, and the dangers of the outside world are beyond prediction. Have you ever thought about the incidents the Crown Prince might be met with, Your Majesty? We have. If possible, we would never want our beloved son to go far away. However, thinking far back to the old day, the Great Ancestor beat down a country with one fist, Yongle ousted the Tartars, and Jianwen grew up in the deep palace, isolated in his knowledge and strategy-less, where he ended up burned to death. That ancient saying, Be born in hard times, and you will die in peace, was clearly born of wisdom. The Prince is our son, the heir apparent, and we dare not hope that he can compare to Yongle, but if he could at least not be like Jianwen, I would be fully satisfied. Tang Fan was thrilled. The Prince was an only son; it was reasonable to say that the Emperor cherished him like a gem, yet he was willing to look off into the distance. Saying something like that displayed the structure of his mind. You are wise, Your Majesty. The Emperor sighed. Still, he is young. If he is rashly allowed out, the Empress will not let it go, nor be reassured. In your opinion, Premier, should we send some bodyguards with him, just in case? Tang Fan nodded. That goes without saying. His Highness is precious, so even if he needed to go out to temper himself, his safety needs to be assured. Apart from that, do you have any other suggestions? I do. The Emperors eyes shone. Come, say them. You should have more heirs. Seeing that he was speechless, Tang Fan held in his smile. This subject will not mince words. If the Crown Prince has a little brother, he will understand the principle behind setting an example as an older brother. This would also ensure purity of the imperial lineage. It does more than one thing in one go, so to speak. This subject knows that you and the Empress share deep feelings, and I have no desire to be an unromantic villain, but you are in the prime of your life. You will definitely be able to have children and grandchildren running about your knees in the future, so please put more effort into it. The Emperors face went dark and twitchy. He glared at Tang Fan, speechless for a time. The advantage to having a Head Vizier that way beyond conventional norms was that he wouldnt have to listen to purist words in his ears, and he could easily trust him when it came to major things. Like right now, for instance; likely no one in the entire Court would agree to let the Crown Prince go abroad, yet Tang Fan did, being someone the Emepror could consult with. The disadvantage, though, was that the Head Vizier would occasionally say shocking statements right to his face, and he couldnt actually find fault in them. Put more effort into it? Was this something that could be done with just effort? Forget it, he could bear with a mix of good and bad. Who made him be the Emperor? To be an Emperor, one needed to be able to stomach more than a Prime Minister could. If the Prime Minister could swallow down a boat, then the Emperor would at least have to have Mount Tai sitting steady in his gut. Sui Zhou The character Zhou came from Chuan A place to live in the middle of water, known as an islet. His courtesy name had come from the Late Emperor: Guangchuan, Many Rivers, the meaning of it being that all rivers merged back into the ocean. He had given him it in the hopes that he would have an open mind when he looked at the world. Disregarding the Late Emperors mediocre governance, he had been regarded as the paragon of a generation in terms of artistic attainments. Sui Zhou was not that great at that stuff, but he had still come to know of A Circle of Harmony, which the Late Emperor had painted himself. In the opinions of many, the Late Emperor might not have accomplished anything. He had inherited a not-so-great structure from his father, and as time had gone on, he had grown impatient with the extra constraints placed on Emperors, thereafter slacking off. And yet, Ironically, the only father-like care that Sui Zhou had ever experienced had come from the Late Emperor. His bond with his parents had been shallow since childhood. He had two siblings; his older brother, Sui An, was his parents favorite, and even though his little sister was a woman, as the youngest, she had received some extra attention. Sui Zhou alone, in the middle, was disposable and because his mother had nearly died birthing him, she didnt have any particular fondness for him. He didnt care much, though. He had been independent ever since he was little. Even if no one cared for him, he could live a good life by himself. Whether his parents cherished him or not would be flowers upon brocade. At eight years old, when his older brother had been in the middle of being huffy about his parents giving Sui Zhou extra spending money, Sui Zhou had already left home to go study the arts at Wudang. After Yongles time, Wudangs popularity had boomed, its mountain thereby turning into a national martial arts site. Sui Zhou had studied under the sect for twelve full years, training in winters coldest nine days of winter and three coldest periods of summer. That was the only way he had been able to get such high martial arts. He had a collected nature and wasnt fond of talking, but he would fulfill what he did claim. The Late Emperor and then-Dowager Zhou had both been rather fond of him. That was to say, apart from his own parents, there were no elders that disliked Sui Zhou. The Late Emperor had treated him like his own nephew. Once he had seen that he wanted to join the army, he had given him a long talk, then finally set him up in the Brocade Guard, making it easy to look out for him nearby. In contrast, his elder brother had been obsessed with earning scholarly honors. Seeing that he had become a Brocade Guard, he worried that Sui Zhous status would ruin his own reputation and cause him setbacks in his career, to the point where he had urged Sui Zhou through his parents int he hopes that he would not gain the vicious title of a Brocade Guard. Sui Zhou hadnt listened to him, of course. For some things, he wouldnt bicker about them because he didnt care. For things he genuinely cared about, he would never let them go. Seeing that he refused to obey, his older brother had grown furious. The brothers had gone through a row though it had mostly been Sui An shouting, and Sui Zhou occasionally answering with a sentence or two. It wasnt that Sui Zhou was bad at fights. He would have only needed to draw out his sabre and put it to his brothers neck to assure that Sui An would never make another sound. If the brothers got to that step, however, there would be no meaning to it. Later on, even their parents had noticed the commotion and rushed over to assuage them. Sui Zhou had heard them used the label of persuasion, but in reality, their words inside and out were saying that being a Brocade Guard was a bad job, and he should resign. He hadnt refuted them to their faces. A few days later, he had simply said farewell to his parents, moved out of the Sui home, and gone to live by himself. He had always been reserved, more do than talk. Others had only believed that he embraced the title of consort-kin and slandered him behind his back a lot, but they had never before though that he would quietly establish a few of his own achievements. Relying on his actual skills, he had quickly gained a steady foothold in the Brocade Guard. By the time those that held jealousy in their hearts and had been waiting viciously for a good show came back to their senses, they had found that he was already pressing down on top of their heads, and they had never realized it. The Brocade Guard seemed impressive, yet in reality, it had to deal with all sorts of meaningless trash. As the Emperors personal guards, it was naturally inseparable from trifles and dark secrets, and as long as a case was odd or dangerous, it would always be on it. Sui Zhou had once devised a plan for himself. At around age twenty-seven, he would take a wife and have kids, and then at age thirty, he would assume the position of Commanding Envoy. The Envoy at the time had been Wan Tong Consort Wans little brother of full blood but he would have to retire eventually. When that time came, in terms of seniority and skills, it ought to be his turn for the spot. With all those calculations, he had overlooked just one mishap. He hadnt known that he would come across Tang Fan. When he had first seen the man, he felt that meeting him was definitely inferior to just hearing about him, and he didnt look like anything special: a civil official that couldnt bear any heavy lifting, relied solely on lip service, and was no different than any of those Court officials. Sui Zhous expression towards him had inevitably not been any sort of good. He hadnt expected that the other would be very disciplined, not batting an eye at having things repeatedly made difficult for him, still talking to him like an old friend when he met him. Regardless of whether he had genuinely not minded or had only pretended to be magnanimous, that display of what he could stomach had been enough to prove that he was an unusual person, and might be a figure capable of ascending to Vizier in the future. Whats got you so distracted? A voice suddenly hit his ears, interrupting his recollections. He turned his head to see that Tang Fan had returned from the palace at some unknown point in time, having switched into regular clothes. He still held a book in hand. Its a rest day, but His Majesty suddenly called you into the palace. What was it? Sui Zhou asked. Nothing much. It was only something to do with the Crown Prince. Yesterday, he was up to his tricks again, and went into the Palace of Manifest Virtue to pretend to be a ghost and scare everyone. It was this event that casued His Majesty to make up his mind in secretly sending him off to Wang Zhi. Tang Fan shook his head, smiling painfully. I thought I was pretty mischievous as a child, but I never reached the Princes level. The new really does surpass the old. The Palace of Manifest Virtue had been Consort Wans quarters when she lived, and after her death, it had been sealed up for the time being, no one living in it. The Crown Prince running over there must have been because he had heard some rumors, so he had gotten the idea to go be a ghost. In the end, before he had had his fun, his father had instead bristled up. Speaking up to there, Tang Fan curiously brought the previous topic back up. Guangchuan, you rarely get distracted. What problem were you thinking of just now? The corner of Sui Zhous mouth ticked up slightly. Its nothing. I was just remembering the past, and the scene of when I first met you. Tang Fan smiled at that, too. Yes, I remember that. You were making things a lot harder for me at the time. If I had been someone with a little less self-control, I would have gotten angry and run off. Tell me, where else would you have ever gotten a partner as wise and courageous as me? Sui Zhou took his hand, and said in earnest, In this life, even though Ive missed many people and many things, Im extremely blessed that I didnt end up missing you. The translator says: And thats all she wrote online. Theres one more that was a Taiwan-released book exclusive that I have, but Id like to catch up on proofreading/The Snake and the Crane updates and get started on my next project before tackling something in traditional Chinese. (It isnt hard, just time-consuming.) Ive been translating this thing for over a year, with some bumps in the middle, and to be completely honest, I dont know what to do with myself. Even though I have a plan for exactly what Im going to do. What a weird feeling?? Hm. This was such a rollercoaster of a novel, that words fail me on what I should say at more-or-less goodbye. If I could think of them, they would be good things if I disliked this novel in any capacity, I wouldnt have finished it. I do want to reiterate that I was translating this without having read it before, much like I had with Lord Seventh and The Beautys Blade. This did not result in any major translation hiccups, which speaks volumes for MXSs ability to write well in such a massive text. As for my blind translation, there was one thing I regretted: titling the chapters. Chichi, whats so bad about that?, you might ask. Well they were all untitled to begin with. I modified the jjwxc chapter descriptors, which were typically just quotes from the chapter itself, to give them some differentiation, but in retrospect, I wish I hadnt. At about the 90 chapter mark, I considered going back and deleting the titles, but it was far too late at that point. If I had to go back in time, I would chose to not do that alone. Otherwise, no regrets! While I digest the ending of this chapter in my life, Im going to shamelessly plug my other incoming works. The Snake and the Crane that I mentioned earlier is an in-progress (as of this writing) wuxia mystery novel that Im writing myself, if that interests you; its also on this blog, available for free. A full Faraway Wanderers translation is also incoming, as has been the plan for months and months. Both works can be discussed on the Discord, linked and the very, very top of every post. All in all, thanks for reading, sugarpies. See you next novel. CH extra 1-2 Transition Many big events had gone on in the twenty-third year of Chenghua, nearly overwhelming everyones eyes. Commoners of the streets that scrambled daily for their livelihoods wouldnt know of the thrilling turn of events that had happened in the palace, nor that they had nearly triggered the unrest of a throne change. All they did know was that Consort Wan was dead, the Emperor had fought with the officials to get her titled Empress, and then had suddenly stopped for some reason, making not the slightest peep anymore. Who was Consort Wan? As long as the citizens of the capital didnt live too far under a rock, they would know that she had been the Emperors favorite consort. Dont believe that it was bad for the commonfolk to inquire about what was going on in the heavily family; the farther away they were, the more they would just spread word around with gusto. Recalling the tale of the civet replacing the Crown Prince in the former Song, was it not precisely due to circulating through the citizenry that it eventually came to be written as an opera? How lamentable it was that Empress Mingsu had been the heroine of a generation, yet was a black-hearted woman jealous of others virtues, conspiring against a consort and switching out her baby. However, why would average folk care enough to be interested in seeking out the actual, historical truth, overturning Empress Dowager Lius case? As long as the plot was pretty entertaining, they would relish in it. The civet-Prince was just an opera tale, after all, while the love between the Emperor and Consort Wan was a story of the times. Rage would go to his head over her, and the storm he had kicked up over stubbornly wanting to make her Empress when he had just ascended was remembered by many older folks. Upon hearing that he had fallen out with major officials over posthumously titling her again, they brought that old story out. Had this been the Hongwu or Yongle periods, no one would ever have dared to take these inner-palace secrets outside to gossip and amuse others with, but these days were different. Who was going to stop the citizens from talking in private? A few decades earlier, the Brocade Guard or Eastern Depot might have arrested people over something like this, but no one had the spare time to care about stuff like this anymore. Unless there was undeniable evidence of an intention to rebel, it was impossible to omnipotently control what people said. Although most commoners didnt read much, their imagination was not any lesser than those of scholar-officials. It didnt take long for someone to associate the famous demon fox night-sightings case from the thirteenth year of Chenghua with Consort Wan, saying that she had been the transformed demon fox, bewitching the Emperor into being captivated by her and obeying her every word. They described it so vividly and true to life, like they had seen it with their own eyes, that it made one unsure of how to react. There were other busybodies that privately speculated as to whether the Emperor would make her Empress or not, even starting up a betting pool. Supposedly, the pool was a few hundred taels strong, some apparent nobles and officials that didnt want to reveal their identities laying bets amongst them. It was quite a lively time. However, inside the palace, there was a different scene that no commoner would be able to imagine. Following the debacle in the Great Court assembly, the Emperor finally stopped bringing up the Crown Princes deposition, as well as titling Lady Wan. He appeared to have suddenly become a completely different person: charitable, open-minded, much more decisive, the spitting image of a wise ruler. This was a doubtlessly odd sight, as many people had never seen him go to General Court for five successive days in a row; starting from some unknown point in time, he would typically be absent every few days, which everyone had long gotten used to. However, older officials ought to still remember that when the Emperor had just ascended, this situation had actually been the norm. Twenty-three years ago, before the Emperor had buried his late father, Huguang and Sichuan and other areas had been successively hit with bandits, causing great harm. Local authorities, weary of the fight, had been forced to ask the Court for help. The Emperor had appointed Zhao Fu, Zhu Yong, and some others to quell the trouble in the various regions. A full three years had been spent pacifying the bandit calamity one by one, after which the citizens had settled down without further need to be afraid. This was what he had been most praised for, at the time. Not only that, but he had shown a magnanimity different from the Late Emperor. Not only had he returned his uncles Emperor title to him, but when a subject of his had stood up to admit to his sin of not standing up to speak out against the Jingtai Emperor deposing him back in the day, the Emperor had only comforted him, saying, That is all in the past. That was not something you should have been speaking about as a subject, so it was normal for you to not say anything. There is no need to be preoccupied with that. Unfortunately, in the middle and later periods of Chenghua, those that had previously held high hopes for this Emperor stopped seeing that energetic, self-improving presence out of him. He had been replaced by a deeply languid Son of Heaven that grew more moronic and poorly behaved by the day, thus doing many stupid things, even thinking to repeat the same mistake of deposing the Crown Prince. His current transformation was something many found difficult to believe. Was suddenly repenting and reaching enlightenment actually a thing? How could someone that had been spending a bland life suddenly seem to gain back his former shrewd competence? Officials that didnt know the inside story bowed to express adoration, eager for the Emperors abnormal state to hold up for even longer, but those that did know understood that he might have already reached the end of his life. As the saying went, people on the verge of death grew nicer; he was making a very last-second effort to make up for the mistakes he had made. But the Emperor himself understood well that it was too late. He hadnt wanted to work before. Now that he finally wanted to work hard and bolster the country, it was too late. His body was getting frailer by the day. Cultivation was not going to save his life. People were always like this, regretting nothing until they were at the end of their road. The Emperor was not someone who lacked self-awareness. He knew that what had happened with Wan Tong, when all was said and done, had sprung from him. Had Wan Tong not known the position his sister had in the Emperors heart, he never would have done such a thing. There was no need to bother with all of that stuff anymore, though. Lady Wan was dead. Wan Tong was also dead. Wan An had gone turncoat on the eve. The leftover Peng Hua, Li Zisheng, and everyone else were nothing more than grass blades that went wherever the wind was blowing, not enough to influence the situation at large. All the dust had settled. The obstacles blocking the Crown Prince ahead had been cleared away at last, piece by piece, and no longer posed a threat to him. On this year, the Emperor came to be forty-one years old, just past the age of full confidence. He was always dreaming, lately. He would see saw himself during his childhood, where the Emperor of those times was not the Emperor, and he was merely a deposed Crown Prince in house arrest deep within the palace, a square cun of the world all he could see each day. Instead of feeling stifled in these dreams, however, he would feel a little warm. That was because someone was by his side: Wan Zhenr. She in her late teens, early twenties was in her most beautiful prime. He still remembered now how her white, soft skin looked to have had the luster of milk, her slightly round face sweet when she smiled. In his dreams, he had never forgotten that, either. And now he would never forget. The reality was that Wan Zhenr was dead, no longer of this world, so the Emperor knew that these were not good omens. He might die soon. Do you resent us? he called out his question to the Crown Prince. This son has never, Father Emperor. Why? the Emperor asked. He could tell that the Crown Prince had spoken sincerely, as opposed to deliberately putting on an act before him. That interested him a bit, because he himself knew that what he had done to the Prince could truly be called excessive. The Crown Prince thought some, then said, Resentment will not change anything, other than make me unhappier. When she was alive, Mother hoped that I could live happily, not resenting anyone. She said that the reason I survived was by relying on many peoples kindness and aid. If I ignored all of these people that risk their lives to help me and instead only ever thought horrible things, I would be someone that only saw and thought of the world above my head, and nothing more. The Emperor was slightly moved. Your mother Consort Ji said that to you? Yes. Mother only said to not be attached to the material and not feel sorry for myself; the rest is my own guess. If there is something amiss there, please forgive me, Father Emperor. Following a short silence, the Emperor sighed. There is not. Consort Ji, she taught you well. That beautiful, gentle lady-in-waiting from the deep palace seemed to gradually become more defined in the depths of his memories. The outline of the Crown Princes features followed hers a bit, but her thick black hair was something he didnt have. When the Emperor acknowledged him, the others hair was thinner than typical peoples. He had heard that this had been due to Consort Ji being given an abortifacient while carrying him. At the time, he had felt nothing, but now that he was seeing the Crown Princes calm expression, his heart inexplicably ached. We have let you down as well as her. He sighed heavily once more. But what she said is right. What type of things one can do depends on their mind and scope of vision. If we are not around, you will be the Emperor, and must remember to be close to virtuous subjects, while keeping your distance from lowly people. Never repeat our follies: believing in crazy statements, listening to the ramblings of those demonic monks Li Zisheng and Ji Xiao, and going to great lengths to construct a Daoist monastery. Those are all my shortcomings, which you should draw lessons from. He was speaking like he was handing future affairs over to him. The Crown Prince was not a saint, in the end. His feelings for his father were equally complicated. He didnt hate him, but he still held some blame for him. However, that blame, once he heard him say things like this, bubbled with many indescribable emotions. Father Emperor The current Court is full of toxic fumes. Wan Tong may be dead, yet there are many other remnant party members that are waiting for an opportunity to snatch so they can make a comeback. You need to distinguish between right and wrong. Do not be hoodwinked by their sweet-talking. This son will remember. In the Cabinet, Liu Ji is actually very strong in skills, though he does not put his heart into proper business. If you feel that he has use, use him, and if not, switch him out. Liu Jian is surly in nature, does not remember personal grudges, and carries the air of a Vizier. Xu Pu, too. Those two can be reused. And Tang Fan The Emperor panted a bit. Tang Runqing is talented in his work. It was thanks to him that a huge catastrophe was avoided. He is meticulous in thought, good at plans and judgements, and has great use. And your teacher, Li Dongyang Teacher Li is still mourning his fathers death, the Crown Prince picked up. Right. The Emperor nodded. When his mourning period is over, he can be used. Still, he is a cunning one, so you will had to keep more of an eye on him. You can first have him go compile some historical anecdotes, then decide on whether you want to or not. How odd. Before taking leave for his fathers funeral, Li Dongyang had been nothing more than an East Palace lecturer, yet the Emperor had clearly remembered his name, history, good points, and weak points. Clearly, he knew well on the inside who was good and bad, and could make his own determinations; he simply hadnt wanted to do it before, as opposed to not knowing how to. And it was precisely that that was causing the Crown Prince to further understand what path he was going to end up taking. After saying so many words on end, the Emperor became a bit weak. He slowly shut his eyes, looking like he needed to rest. Seeing so, the Prince prepared to quietly withdraw. All of a sudden, the Emperor opened his eyes again. Prince, do not blame the Noble Consort. The Crown Prince was startled. The Consort the Emperor spoke of was the recently-passed Consort Wan, of course. Before the Prince could respond, he heard his father say, We will not title her as Empress, but we hope that she can be at peace in death. Can you agree to that? Sighing on the inside, the Prince respectfully cupped his hands. This son will fulfill your sacred decree. If he didnt agree, then what? She was already dead. Would he go dig up her grave and flog her corpse? Many people of power were fond of doing things like that, and would even have executed her entire family to feel that they had quelled enough of the hatred in their heart. But would that bring back his mother? Hearing his guarantee, the Emperor appeared to be relieved. Exhaling slightly, he sank into unconsciousness again. In his dreams, perhaps there would be a girl whose smile was like a flower, who was gently stroking his hair and gently saying to him, Dont run too far off, else I wont be able to find you. None of that was for the Crown Prince to be concerned about, though. He also quietly puffed out air, turned, and walked out of his fathers bedroom. The darkness of that room seemed to instantly be cast behind him. Sunlight sprinkled upon his shoulders, as warm as the words his mother once said into his ear. Outsides knew nothing of this conversation between father and son, but the Emperors steadily worsening weakness was known clearly to all. He was mourning himself to death over Consort Wans death; many had heard of this, too. Civil officials were not following him to sentimentally praise the twos love as laudable and admirable, with everyone only feeling that he had stopped messing around at last, a real cause for celebration. The Cabinet members, fearing that the Emperor would be too broken-hearted to do anything reliably, quickly used the opportunity of his bedrest to petition for the Crown Prince to enter the Cabinet, observe the process, and participate in deciding major things, which the Emperor agreed to. Despite being but a teen, the young and energetic Crown Prince was evidently much more welcomed than the Emperor. Before the Cabinet came to a decision, he would never make rash comments, and it was only when it had a dispute and couldnt come to a resolution would he voice his opinion. What was even more commendable was that no matter what time it was or what he was doing, every time something big happened that he needed to part in or make a decision on, the Cabinet would always witness him arrived in the quickest possible time. There was no official that wouldnt be happy with such a gentle and compassionate Crown Prince. While everyone was busy with sorting out the Wan partys messy operations, the twenty-third year of Chenghuas Sheep of Labor palace exam branch was held right on schedule, and Lu Lingxi took part in it. In spite of coming from a big, influential family with many generations of high officials, he hadnt wanted to take the imperial exam road himself. In his heart, he yearned more for an indulgent, unbridled, itinerant life of Han and Tangs wandering warriors, which was why he had gone to the Shaolin Monastery for learning martial arts, then begun to travel the land after becoming a County Honorate. But all of those ideas had changed after meeting Tang Fan. He had discovered someone that hadnt changed due to absorbing fame and fortune after becoming an official, instead having self-restraint, therefore never becoming wanton. Tang Fans mind was as elevated as an immortals, so no matter whether it was the Court or the streets, and no matter whether he had gotten an idea or was hinting at one, he never made anyone feel dejected or embarrassed. If Lu Lingxi had to described him, he would think of one portion of words: A capable man resembling jade, stepping on elevated shoes to find a quiet place, both gazing at and stopping for blue-green sky gone on forever. He expressed a different charm that could inarguably not be contained, resembling dawns moon, resembling autumns air.[1] That had all originally been used for poet commentary, but it fit most on him. Back when they had collaborated in cracking the Suzhou case, Tang Fan had made battle plans in his tent and broken through the doubled siege, while Lu Lingxis perception of Tang Fan had already risen from typical goodwill to a mix of worship, adoration, and so on. That hadnt been enough, though, as he had only been a County Honorate, given no chance to contact Tang Fan more. He thought to himself that even if he went to visit the Tang household, wouldnt he just be a hanger-on? Besides, when liking someone, one needed to work hard to think of ways to help them and become an irreplaceable asset to them, as in that way, they would come to value you. He had decided to do all he could to catch up to Tang Fans pace. Him being on an equal plane aside, he should at least make the other realize his importance someday, and distinguish himself from the others average friends. If he could Although he hadnt kept on that line of thought, such a secretive, vague notion made him feel a sweetness in his thought. Embracing that idea, he had flipped his former vagrant life, set his mind upon prepping for the exams, and finally became a Palace Honorate, placing sixteenth in the second bracket. That rank wasnt as eye-catching as Prime Scorer, but it was still exceptional; he had smoothly gotten into Hanlin Academy, become a name amongst it, and thereby settled down into the capital. This made him feel excited, but also disappointed. He was excited because he was finally getting to see Tang Fan every day. The other had never forgotten about him, of course, and was very warm to him, having even invited him over to eat several times. They seemed to have gone back to those days where they had solved a case together in Suzhou. He was disappointed, however, because every time he managed to get alone time with Tang Fan, irrelevant jokers would always show up to disturb them. The most frequent joker was none other than Commanding Envoy Sui Zhou of the Brocade Guard, who neighbored the Tang home. This guys really annoying, Lu Lingxi thought to himself, although he wouldnt rashly express his dissatisfaction. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou did indeed have a deep friendship. If he excluded Sui Zhou, Tang Fan might not like it. He didnt want to do anything that would make his Brother Tang unhappy. As it happened, the Cabinet was much too busy as of late. Wan An, Peng Hua, and Yin Zhi were all staying at home because of what had happened with Wan Tong. Even though Tang Fan had returned, there were only four people working, and they couldnt possibly be more busy. For that reason, they conscripted a group of Hanlins from the Academy to help out in the Cabinet. Of course, these people couldnt enter the Cabinet with Great Scholar statuses, nor as Cabinet members; at most, they could be viewed as Cabinet Deputies. They were to help the Cabinet members handle documents, divvy them up into different categories, assist from the sidelines, and reduce the workload of the Viziers. Getting the chance to observe the Cabinets operations and processes close-up and interacting closely with Cabinet Viziers was a great task, no matter how laborious it was. Therefore, one wouldnt get to go even if they wanted to, without passing the exams. Lu Lingxi wanted to go, too, but he didnt use his relationship with Tang Fan for it. If it did, then Tang Fans help would make him feel himself to be a failure. With his own decent know-how, he ended up winning himself a spot. Im coming, Brother Tang! The night before he was to take post in the Cabinet, Lu Lingxi thought pretty thoughts, turned over, and sunk into dreamland. He planned to give Tang Fan a big, pleasant surprise tomorrow morning. Lone Pining A scholars dream was to place as a Palace Honorate, and an acting officials dream was to enter the Cabinet. This group of new Hanlins was doubtlessly lucky, getting to go report to the Cabinet before they had gotten fully acquainted with the Academys foliage. Being able to interact with the legendary Viziers, observe their day-to-day work procedures, and personally witness them strategize in major national events, thus saving citizens from calamity just thinking about it could get one excited. By nature, people always admired the strong. Perhaps some scholars admired Tao Yuanming, the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, and other such hermits, but for those wanted to have careers as officials, the most readily imitable examples would be the Viziers currently residing in the Cabinet. Imitating had to be a choice, though. Wan Ans sort was nothing; anyone with any sort of integrity wouldnt want to copy him. Even so, the gent had changed sides at the last second to leak information to Liu Jian, and the latter had thankfully been careful enough to run off and tell Tang Fan. Being incomparably prudent, Tang Fan had refused to let go of any hints, else they wouldnt have been able to find the fake Crown Prince and expose Wan Tong on the scene. Two theories were abound about what the situation was now. Thus, after the matter had concluded, Wan An had been sent home by the Emperor. It was unclear what the Emperor was thinking. Wan Ans position as Head Vizier was not stripped of him, making him Head Vizier in name, while the actual position was being represented by Liu Ji. That Liu Cottonflower was unparalleled ever since he had entered the Cabinet in the eleventh year of Chenghua, which was full twelve years at this point, he had been denounced basically every other day, yet was as stable as Mount Tai, stubbornly never taking the initiative to ask for resignation. In fact, Wan An was at home, yet he was conversely making steps towards the peak of enlightenment. The muddying of officialdom reaching this extent was just something people would have to accept. And yet, that didnt mean that Liu Ji was a model of conduct to look up to. In the eyes of the Lu Lingxi and the new Hanlins, the most ideal Vizier was naturally as righteous and worried for the public as Liu Jian and as easy-going as Xu Pu, thus combining both their good points, while also not being as liable to be as impulsive as Liu Jiang, or as occasionally too soft as Xu Pu: Tang Fan. Those three were the idols that the Hanlins wanted to get into contact with and closer to. Lu Lingxi included amongst them, of course. The Cabinet had lost three people at once, then Tang Fan had re-entered it. The remaining four Viziers could finally receive the treatment of getting their own workspaces, an undoubted extra benefit from overturning the Wan party. The Hanlins allocated to the Cabinet totaled four, each getting assigned to one Vizier to help them out. Lu Lingxi had been assigned to Xu Pu, but secretly swapped with someone else to be with Tang Fan. However, when he hurried over bright and early in the morning, wanting to surprise Tang Fan, a big basin of cold water was instead dumped on his head. Tang Fan wasnt there. He waited for a long time, then had to go ask the people-pleasing Xu Pu in the neighboring room. Youre talking about Runqing? Xu Pu asked, having an epiphany. He took leave today. Lu Lingxi was taken aback. Xu Pu thought that he was worried he would have nothing to do, considerately saying, How about you work alongside Liu Meng here, and sort out those official dossiers? Runqing should be here tomorrow for duty. Were he to refuse, it would look like he couldnt tell right from wrong. Lu Lingxi couldnt brush off Xu Pus goodwill, but he had to worry. Do you know why Sir Tang requested leave, Sir Xu? It must be illness. His health has always been good, and he rarely takes time off. Hearing that just made Lu Lingxi more worried. It was good that he was pretty skilled, so even if he was absent-minded, he got a good amount of work done in one day, both he and Liu Meng praised for it by Xu Pu. Of course, given Lu Lingxis understanding, Xu Pu likely just didnt want to knock them down, because everyone knew that Sir People-Pleaser Xu never said anything bad about anyone. Upon leaving the palace at night, Lu Lingxi went to a pastry shop to buy half a catty each of rose cakes and osmanthus cakes, then went to the Tang home. A maid was naturally the one to open the door for him. The Tang home had three maids total, all responsible for cooking meals and cleaning the residence, not the type to be personal attendants. He also noticed that they all had one very remarkable trait: they had extremely average looks, without the least bit of distinguishing features at all. One was even big and tall, nearly able to be mistaken for a man when seen from the back. This was really too injurious to the eyes. Back when he had been at home, the serving maids, if not as beautiful as immortals, had at least been fine-featured. Looking at these Tang ones every time he looked at them, he quietly choked down a mouthful of blood. He had heard that the Tangs were a generational family of scholars, though the family later declined. Reasonably speaking, Brother Tangs tastes shouldnt be so weird. Lu Lingxi thought and thought, yet couldnt figure it out. It wasnt his place to criticize someone elses business, though. He also didnt wish for any bit of his actions to draw Tang Fans unhappiness; he prudently protected this newborn feeling, fearing that any inadvertent action would destroy it. Today was a little different. Once the Tang homes door opened, Lu Lingxi instantly felt like light was pouring into his eyes. A national beauty, in the more, intoxicates; A divine fragrance, at night, dyes. If not seen on the peak of Many Jades Mountain, she would only be met in a jade tower beneath the moonlight. Every single poetry verse that could be used to describe the beauty in front of him crashed into his mind like a wave, but even the most talented of poets fell somewhat short. A beauty like this ought to be difficult to depict or draw. Regardless of whether it was written word or a portrait, it was not as startling as seeing the real live person. Unfortunately, though, he recognized this beauty. Not only did he do that, but he was very familiar with her. Xiao Wu? Lu Lingxi suffered a great shock, nearly jumped. Why are you here?! She gave a skin-deep smile. Why cant I be here? I helped you all with that big Suzhou case, too. Dont you feel a bit of joy at seeing your old friend? Had this been some time before, seeing a beauty like this really might have made his heart race; in other words, few would be unmoved by people as gorgeous as Xiao Wu. But, his mind instead immediately went on the alert. When did Brother Tang and you get this close? Xiao Wu turned to allow him inside, saying, I was passing by the capital, and came to visit Sir Tang while I was at it. Why? You can come here, but I cant? The beauty was beautiful, but she had thorns. He had also learned of her backstory back in Suzhou already; aside from involuntarily getting charmed by suddenly catching sight of that face, he had not a single fanciful daydream. He was even unconsciously comparing her to Tang Fan, abruptly feeling that comparing them would be to desecrate Tang Fan Without realizing it, he had contracted a one-sided lovesickness. In his eyes, there was nothing bad about Tang Fan. Lu Lingxi had no clue that Xiao Wu had been absorbed into the Brocade Guard. She had been garrisoned in the South before this, but due to a recent mission, shed had to return to the capital to report to the Northern Bastion Office, which was why she showed up here. She wasnt staying here, either, she was only visiting out of courtesy and about to say her goodbyes. Still, she was happy to see Lu Lingxis sullen, I-want-to-ask-but-wont look, and wasnt going to explain too much to him, of course. She brought him to the door of Tang Fans bedroom. You can go in by yourself. With that, she didnt wait for him to ask anything, turning right around and leaving, her figure swaying, giving off all sorts of flirty overtones. Lu Lingxi watched her leave, not appreciating her carefreeness. He took in a deep breath. He had wanted to knock, but feared disturbing Tang Fans sleep. After thinking a bit, he just quietly pushed the door open, lightened his steps, and walked into the room. Against expectations, Tang Fan wasnt sleeping, nor did he detect Lu Lingxis arrival. He was still laying on his stomach in bed, a stack of papers below him, as if he was writing something. Seeing him write furiously, not forgetting to handle work even while sick in bed, Lu Lingxi immediately felt a deep respect for him. Out of fear of ruining Tang Fans line of thought, he dared not even breathe loudly, merely standing there and watching for a long time. This went until his feet sort of ached, where he had to move. By coincidence, Tang Fan set down his brush, intending to rub his neck, and that lift of the head made his notice Lu Lingxi. However, his first reaction was not to greet him, but to seem to subconsciously want to cover up what he had been writing. As soon as he reached out his hand, he felt that that made things too obvious, and was forced to awkwardly retract his hand, smiling uncomfortably at Lu Lingxi. You came? Sit, sit! Seeing his movements, Lu Lingxi became rather curious. Brother Tang, what are you doing? Tang Fan coughed lightly. Nothing. Im just casually writing. He propped himself up on his elbows in a desire to turn over. Apparently, he didnt control his own strength properly, as his brows swiftly knit into a ball. Lu Lingxi quickly stepped up to help him. Whats wrong? What did the doctor say? The doctor said Tang Fan coughed emptily. that my waist is sprained. The other was astonished. Its serious enough that you cant even get out of bed? Tang Fan chuckled. It actually isnt, its just that the Cabinet has been hectic recently. Every night, I was getting home at almost midnight, which exhausted me a bit. I took this chance to rest for a day. Remembering the surprise he had prepared to give him, Lu Lingxi said with a smile, You wont be exhausted anymore! Tang Fan raised a brow. Hm? Why do you say that? Hanlin Academy recently chose four people to help the Solons, Im one of them, and I happened to be assigned to you, Brother Tang. Ill have to bother you with giving me more pointers, but if your wish is my command! Tang Fan was a little surprised, immediately smiling in praise and saying, Thats good. He looked to be pretty happy. He had known that Lu Lingxi would make something of himself sooner or later. It was merely that, when he had first met him, the others youthful spirit had not yet dispersed, he had an unconcealed edge to his actions, and hed been careless by nature, none of which was suitable for a posted career. After testing into being a Palace Honorate, he had indeed dialed himself in a lot. Lu Lingxi somewhat obsessively stared at the others smile. A short moment later, he heard Tang Fan say What did you bring?, then realized that he was behaving rudely, quickly setting his paper bag on the table. These are rose and osmanthus cakes. I heard that you like sweets huh? While he was talking, he spotting the draft that Tang Fan had set to the side out of the corner of his eye. With just a few words taken in, his attention was immediately drawn to it. This is the last script of Records of the Warring States? Seeing a few familiar names, Lu Lingxi was kind of in disbelief. Are are you the author?! Tang Fan touched his nose, a little embarrassed-looking as he neither confirmed nor denied this. There was no need for him to admit it, as just from looking at his expression alone, Lu Lingxi already knew the answer. It was a much too shocking answer, though. Record of the Warring States was a popular new release in bookstores, and a best-seller novel. The plot had twists and turns, drawing one in, with romance and story alike, making it very popular. All of those pedantic scholars would always turn up their noses, but that did nothing to prevent many people from buying it and bringing it home for a read. Even the stories told in teahouses lately were majorly from the Record. Because it was being published in volumes, many that had read the first volume were eagerly wishing to read the latter half of the story. There were therefore many follow-ups cropping up, imitating the writing style of the Records author, Mr. San Qing. A lot of people were curious about the author. In general, those that wrote books were scholars in dire straits, forced to rely on literary remuneration for living expenses due to financial hardship. Lu Lingxi has already heard before that some scholar-officials secretly wrote under pen names, but the identities of those people would never come to light, so no one knew if that was true or false. And yet, a living example was now in front of him. A Cabinet Solon, Vizier for the Court, was writing novels during his time off and his writing was very successful. To tell the truth, even Lu Lingxi hadnt been able to put the book down in his spare time. The connection between the two entities was really hard to imagine. The author of the story I like / the legendary scholar in dire straits / Mr. San Qing = Great Scholar of the East Pavilion and Minister of Justice, Tang Fan? Lu Lingxi felt himself to be a bit bewildered. The translator says: Guess whos back, back again. [1] This is a quote from Sikong Tu, a Tang poet-critic. Hes very obscure, unfortunately. CH extra 3-4 Insta-kill Lu Lingxi didnt really feel that writing novels was a waste, not to mention that he liked reading this one. Furthermore, it had been written by Tang Fan, so there was nothing bad about it. The news had simply been much too shocking, which was why he didnt react for such a long time, getting the overall feeling that this couldnt be true. He couldnt resist looking at the top page of the script over and over again, after which he said, in a voice slightly trembling in excitement, Brother Tang, I bought this novel, too, and first heard of it in a teahouse! I didnt expect that Mr. San Qing would be you, and you him! Saying that, he then realized that he was being a bit disjointed, flushing as he quickly covered up his mistake. Ahem, I just wanted to say that you write really well! Tang Fan started laughing. Lu Lingxis high praise was sincere (anyone could tell that much), but In the eyes of many, things like this can never make it into any halls of high repute. A Court official writing novels is an easy handle for others to grab; I hope you can help me keep this a secret. Lu Lingxi nodded. I understand, dont worry. After this script is finished, youre going to send it to print, right? How long are you going to go with it? After coming back to himself, he still had a sort of dreamlike sense of unreality. If it really had to be described, it would be around the same as suddenly discovering that the person one liked for a really long time lived just next door the joy came on much too fast, the facts unable to be accepted for a moment. After I write about the decline of the Chu State, Ill stop, Tang Fan said with a smile. Lu Lingxi was great shocked. Why there?! Tang Fans smile went pained. What free time do I have? If I dont go to my Cabinet office for one day, the files would pile up into a mountain, right? Right I used to write novels to supplement my income. Now that my salary is enough to live off of and Im in the position I am, where I manage the government, I should be the utmost of loyal to doing my duties well, since Ive entered the Cabinet. When you were in my workroom today, did you read the stack of dossiers in the corner? No, Lu Lingxi said, a little ashamed. The second he had gone in and found out that Tang Fan wasnt there, he had immediately gone absent-minded, sitting there all day without the will to work. He hadnt taken a careful read of the files on Tang Fans desk. Ever since the Great Ming Code was put into practice, many oversights have shown up in it. From it, I gathered up a lot of supplements, which Ive prepared to bring to the Cabinet for a discuss. When we go to the workroom tomorrow, you can take the first look at it tomorrow. If you have any ideas, you can tell me. Lu Lingxi agreed. Seeing that Tang Fan wanted to flip over and get out yet had to grit his teeth to do so, he stepped up to stop him. What do you want to go get? Ill help you! Tang Fan side-eyed him. Im going to the latrine. How could you help with that? Who knew what Lu Lingxi was thinking of, as he blushed and found that hard to answer. Ignoring him, Tang Fan got up and left, then came back after a little while. He walked a little sluggishly; his waist sprain was clearly serious. Lu Lingxi came up to help him. Let me massage that for you, Brother Tang! Tang Fan said there was no need, of course, but Lu Lingxi said cheerfully, Someone learning martial arts needs to grasp some tuina skills, just in case. Dont be so polite to me! A massage will relax you, and I guarantee that youll be just fine tomorrow! While he spoke, he had already placed his hands on Tang Fans waist. Before Tang Fan had time to say anything, he heard a voice from the door. Whats going on here? Lu Lingxi turned around, saw the newcomer, and called out to greet him. Envoy Sui? Sui Zhou nodded at him, his line of sight sweeping over the others hands on Tang Fans middle. He quietly walked over, helped Tang Fan to sit on the beds edge, and massaged him while saying to Lu Lingxi, Since youre here, why not stay to eat? Right! Tang Fan said. Yiqing, you live by yourself in the capital anyways, right? You should join us for dinner hey! Are you trying to strangle a pig?! Youre squeezing too hard! Sui Zhou acted like nothing was wrong. I used too much force on accident. Tang Fans mouth twitched out of anger, but he didnt speak. Lu Lingxi got the overall feeling that the ambience seemed to be a little off, as if he had unintentionally disturbed them. However, out of some sort of original intent that he couldnt describe, he decided to defer to his own wants. Then Ill have to trouble you. Sui Zhou lived next door to the Tang residence; this, Lu Lingxi knew. He just hadnt expected that the two households would have such a good relationship, that they even ate dinner together. But that was not what shocked him the worst the most surprising thing was that dinner had not been cooked by the Tang maids, but by Sui Zhous own hands. Dongpo pork, dry-broiled pig kidney, stir-fried prawns with eggs, shredded seitan, moo shu vegetables, pure chicken stock, stuffed shiitake, mandarin fish even for three, these dishes were plenty. And it was really hard to imagine that the impressively-decorated, cold-faced, merciless Brocade Guard boss of the rumors would ever wash his hands to fix up soup. Looking at the dishes before him, then thinking back to the snacks he had brought, Lu Lingxi simply felt inferior. Maybe it all just looked and smelled good, but tasted average? That idea in his head, he sampled a bite of mandarin fish. The meat was tender, a slight sweetness within the salty flavor; one had to have the perfect talent of heat control in order to retain the texture. Maybe it was just this dish that was exceptional. Unable to keep from inwardly cursing, he picked up some Dongpo pork. After chewing on it for a bit, then seeing how Tang Fan was wolfing it down, he had to admit that Sui Zhous cooking skills could indeed be called top-grade. Even a picky eater like Lu Lingxi had to say that it was admirable. Had this all been made by the cooks and maids, it would be taken for granted, at best, with no one ever thinking much of it, but it had been created by Sui Zhous hand. Everyone knew that the Brocade Guard was not any more relaxed than any given bureau. Even though little of their life could be made public, Commanding Envoy was a third-rank position. Him having this much culinary talent was pretty shocking. Lu Lingxi had to compared himself to him. After thinking over it for a long time, the only apparent thing that he could possible excel at over him was literary arts, right? Being a Hanlin Palace Honorate was something the other could only ever dream of. Despite making himself feel a bit better, he was not in a happy mood. The food tasted goo, and Tang Fan kept telling him to eat without cease, but his appetite was going down. That was because You helped Runqing a lot in Suzhou, and he sees you as a little brother. Theres no harm in you coming here more often when youre free, Sui Zhou said prior to his departure, after seeing him to the door. Hearing that, Lu Lingxi got depressed, thinking, Isnt this the Tang home? Why are you, a Sui, talking like youre the dignified host? However, Sui Zhous aura was much too potent. While he spoke politely with a stern face, Lu Lingxi couldnt choke out a single word of defiance, no matter how unhappy he was. On the way home, he was melancholic upon melancholic, then abruptly startled that Sui guy didnt like Brother Tang too, did he?! That guess made him jump in fright, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized it was probable. An outstanding man like Brother Tang was inevitably susceptible to being admired by both men and women, to say nothing of how he had heard the Sui Zhou and Tang Fan had been through life and death together. The friendship between the two was naturally beyond the pale. And, thinking of how the Sui had not yet taken a wife Recalling that, Lu Lingxi felt a sense of crisis, but there was no way that he could run to Tang Fan and ask for an answer. As a consequence of holding in his thoughts, he had a full sleepless night, causing him to have two dark bags under his eyes when he went on0duty the day after, which drew Tang Fans concerned inquiry. After getting off work that day, Lu Lingxi went to the Tang home again. This time, he wised up by ordering a table-filling banquet from Immortal Guest and having it delivered to the Tang home, all in the beautified name of feeling bad about eating free food yesterday, hence why he had invited Tang Fan to dinner today. The grade Immortal Guests food was at did not need to be described. To this day, Tang Fan had retained a habit of going to Immortal Guest for a meal whenever he had both the free time and the mood. In others eyes, eating was just eating, and even if the food was a bit more tasty, it was an occasional treat, at best. Tang Fan was different; delicious delicacies allowed him to relax more, and could also calm his mind so that he could think a bit further towards things. Oftentimes, after eating, he could figure things out that he hadnt been able to before. However, Lu Lingxi had no clue that Tang Fan was frequenter of Immortal Guest. Seeing that Tang Fan appeared to really like the feast, he didnt neglect to curry favor and take credit. If you like it, Brother Tang, I can get you another feast for tomorrow! Tang Fan shook his head. No need. Youre just starting your path to officialdom, and your salary isnt much. You have your family to back you, but you should still save up instead of squandering your money at will. Lu Lingxi was about to say it was no problem, only for Sui Zhou to say, You went too many times this last month, and thatll hurt your diet. You should restrain yourself a bit more. Tang Fan smiled awkwardly, touching his nose. Lu Lingxi was hit with internal injury. He was still in Hanlin Academy last month! He was now entirely positive that Sui Zhou had the same idea as him, else he wouldnt be making things hard for him all the time. Thus, his fighting spirit was instantly roused. Now that he thought about it, apart from cooking skills, what was he inferior to compared to Sui Guangchuan? At the very least, they were both martial artists; while the outcome and relative strength were unknown, if Lu Lingxi looked inside himself about his own training and apprenticeship, he definitely wouldnt lose. That was saying nothing about how he was also a Hanlin, and if he had to rely solely on literary fighting, he would fling that guy out onto the street. Lu Lingxi further put himself at Tang Fans perspective. A civil official a Cabinet Vizier in particular having a close relationship with the Brocade Guards boss was not a good thing to see at all. If the Emperors suspicion was rouse, it would surely bring harm to Tang Fan. Maybe he could see his thoughts or something, because after the dinner was over, Sui Zhou suddenly said, I heard that you once entered Shaolin to study the arts? Lu Lingxi nodded, suspicious and on alert .Yes. Sui Zhou gave him a shallow smile. I once exchanged blows with Grandmaster Muyin, and benefitted a lot from it. Which master did you study under? For some reason, the others smile was incomparably eye-stabbing to Lu Lingxi, and he went with the flow to say, Grandmaster Muyin is my sect-uncle. He has very formidable martial arts, and I also received his pointers before. Since you have a tie to my sect from also exchanging moves with my uncle, Envoy Sui, how about I ask you for a little consultation tonight? Sui Zhou nodded. Sure. Lu Lingxi was maximally disgusted by the official airs this guy was putting on, and how he was pretending to be as breezy as a fine day. He felt beyond annoyed, as well as powerless. Compared to Sui Zhou, he was not lacking whatsoever, the only difference being their age. It was precisely due to him lacking those few years that he hadnt been able to go through life-and-death crises with Tang Fan, sharing joys and hardships with him. That was what caused him to feel stifled. But since someone was a step ahead of him, what could he even do? Tang Fan was a model civil official that was not much interested in brawls. Seeing that they were going to compare techniques, he had no will to immediately get up and go spectate. It was only when Lu Lingxi requested that he be the judge that he languidly got up and walked to the door, not forgetting to say, Be careful. Dont ruin the flowers and trees. Lu Lingxi was even more determined to win this consultation, make Tang Fan know that he was talented in both civil and martial affairs, and much more suitable to be at his side than Sui Zhou. The two moved very quickly. Neither of them were armed, having only bare hands, but their actions were speedy. To a layman, there were nothing more than two figures jumping up and down and flying all around. In the blink of an eye, dozens of moves were made. Despite Lu Lingxis youth, it was because of his sect that every style and motion of his was as steady as Mount Tai. In comparison, Sui Zhous flowed even better, not adhering to one set; resembling an antelope hanging by its horn to avoid disaster on the ground, his movements were automatic, and he counterattacked everything, giving one to way to guard against him. Soon, Lu Lingxi realized that the gap between them was not in the style of their movesets or how much experience they had facing enemies hei himself had a lot of actual combat experience while he had been traveling but that their differences lied within him not having the courage to kill, and therefore lacking the will and mind to kill. Meanwhile, Sui Zhou had been forged from iron and blood, from fields of death, so every move of his had a harsh edge to it that the former did not possess. In the end, when it was nearly the two-hundredth move, Lu Lingxi became distracted, and his opponent quickly took the gap to kick him right in the middle. Lu Lingxis momentum didnt slow until he hit the base of the wall, knocking over a pot of flowers. He lost. That fact made him beyond disheartened, with even Tang Fans comfort not easing it. When departing the Tang home, Sui Zhou said on his own initiative that he would see the guest out on the hosts behalf. Tang Fan didnt decline, and neither did Lu Lingxi refuse. Because he had something to say to Sui Zhou. Envoy Sui, are you thinking things about Brother Tang that you shouldnt be? he interrogated. It was clear from the way he called the other that they were close. Sui Zhou stood with his arms folded across his chest. Whatever things youre thinking of are also what Im thinking of. Lu Lingxi choked, but pulled through. Forgive my bluntness, but your position is difficult. If you get too close to him, then youll be likely to arouse the Emperors suspicion, and end up bringing harm to Brother Tang! The others expression was mild. You dont need to bother worrying about that. I have my ways. Youre a strong-armer! Lu Lingxi said angrily. Sui Zhou raised a brow. Whether Im a strong-armer or not, you are definitely lacking in one point compared to me. What point? Lu Lingxi asked, disbelieving. Im willing to give up everything for him, including having children. Are you? Lu Lingxi was dumbfounded. He didnt snap out of it for a long time due to that statement. He didnt even realize it when Sui Zhou shut the door and left him outside. It was said that on that very night, frequent sounds of moans and begs for mercy came from the Tang bedroom, the contents of which were somewhere along the lines of: He wanted to stop by, I couldnt just refuse him. Youre taking your anger out on the wrong person dont be so rough, I have to go into the palace tomorrow ah. The author says: The husband has a maxed out insta-kill skill Comprehension By the time he arrived in the Cabinet the next day, Lu Lingxi was still a bit slow to respond. Because of what Sui Zhou had said, he had tossed and turned for a full night, inevitably losing sleep again. It could not be denied that those words had shocked him to the utmost. Being able to give up everything for someone else, even having children what sort of feeling was that? To be honest, even though Lu Lingxi understood that he held admiration for Tang Fan, he had never thought of the problem of having children before. That was to say, in his oblivious thoughts, having kids was not contradictory to getting close to Tang Fan. But Sui Zhou had viciously woken him up. His brain has successfully turned into a lump of paste. His formerly clever and witty road of thought now looked to be a dead end, no exit in sight no matter how he turned. What if he and Brother Tang actually did share feelings one day? Would he give up taking a wife and having children for him? Give up continuing his family line? He didnt want to think of the answer, but he knew, deep down in his heart, that he might not be able to do that much for Tang Fan. There were many reasons for this. His family was influential and had many ties; his elders would never allow him to do something like that. When it came to typical boytoys, it would be nothing more than playing around, and with how public norms were, no one would meddle much in it, instead coming to believe it was something in-vogue. However, Tang Fan was different, and not someone he could simply mess around with; instead, the other would be messing around with him, pretty much. Taking a couple thousands steps back, he had to say that he saw Tang Fan as someone as clean as the wind and bright as the moon, and could not tolerate the slightest bit of blasphemy towards him. Using a boytoy analogy was not going to do. Those reasons were not reasons to Sui Zhou, though. Aside from not being a civil official, the other was not inferior to him in the slightest, and even had a higher rank than him. That was saying nothing of him being the Empress Dowagers consort-kin, making him be viewed highly in the divine family. The most important part, too, was that the Brocade Guard was the Emperors eyes and ears, arresting and investigating. Ordinary people would be terrified hearing of them, while officials would dare to openly provoke them even less. And a man like that was actually willing to give up having a wife and children. For that reason, Lu Lingxi didnt want to admit it, but he was inferior to Sui Zhou. Tang Fan knew nothing of Lu Lingxis tangled-up and winding inner process; he was busy handling the accumulated work from yesterday. Some work that needed to be handed off to others, he tossed right over to Lu Lingxi to handle, told him that he could ask if he didnt understand something, and ended it with burying his head into his work completely work-minded, disciplined, and earnest. It was completely different from how he typically was in private. And yet it was those two completely different aspects of him that made his personality all the more rich with charm. In front of his friends, he was just the lazy, gluttonous, humorous, and witty Tang Runqing, but in front of his coworkers, he was the gentle-and-amiable-in-free-time, neglecting-to-even-eat-in-work-time Sir Tang. Looking at Tang Fans profile as he expressionlessly lowered his head to read files, Lu Lingxi found that just seeing him like this was enough to muddle his senses, as if captivated. A little while later, Tang Fans neck seemed to be a little sore, as he couldnt help but put his hand on he back of his neck and squeeze. Upon raising his head, he noticed Lu Lingxi still standing there like a stick, and looked surprised. Why are you still here? Sir Tang, you just told me to wait here, saying that you were going to show me the manuscript of revised laws. In the Cabinet, he had always took care to protect Tang Fans reputation, never using the title of Brother, but instead Sir. Tang Fan slapped his forehead, smiling apologetically at him. Right, right! I was so busy, I forgot! He quickly looked around, identified what he wanted from the various piles of files, picked one of them out, and passed it to Lu Lingxi. Here it is. When you have free time, take it out and look at it. When the afternoon comes, the Cabinet will start discussing it, and you all should be allowed to listen in. You may want to pay more attention, then, as it will help you later on. Cabinet discussions generally forbade unrelated persons from entering and listening in, not even allowing for Lu Lingxis group that was posted in the Cabinet. For some not-too-important discussions, however, no one would drive them out with they decided to stay nearby. Those intending to listen and learn could use serving tea as an excuse to hang around. Lu Lingxi took the file, wanting to speak, but stopping. Sir Tang Tang Fan lowered his head once more, giving only a faint hum upon hearing him, the raised lilt of it expressing inquiry, and not looking back up. The words that had brewed for a such a long time were on the tip of Lu Lingxis tongue, but he said nothing in the end. N nothing. You can work. He returned to his own table, sat down, and flipped open the file. Tang Fans handwriting was not the same sort of gentle that he acted towards people, instead looking strong and vigorous, his proper regular script written with distinct boldness. Clearly, he was soft on the outside yet tough on the inside, concealing a hard-boned character deep within. Lu Lingxi was still a bit absent-minded, but once he got to reading, he gradually put his full attention into it. When noon came and Tang Fan called out for him to go eat and take a break, he then reluctantly set the file down, rubbing his eyes. Ive just discovered that my scholarly honors were all for nothing. Tang Fan chuckled. Why do you feel that? In ten years of strenuous study, I read all of the Four Books and Five Classics and listened to all of the Great Daos truths, yet I have no idea how to govern the country, or what laws for governance and peace there must be. Reading your clauses now, even though I went through each and every word, I still had to use a lot of brainpower thinking about it. Obviously, I regard myself highly, when Im just a coarse man in reality, all empty talk, no real work. The other grinned. Dont put yourself down. Your starting point is already much higher than that of average people, and not comparable to those that only know how to study themselves to death. What you lack is none other than built-up experience. The Great Ancestor had his own purpose for establishing the imperial exams. Those that get to be Palace Honorates might not necessarily have the talent to govern, but all that do are learned scholars that have intensively studied poems and tomes. You need to keep that in mind. Lu Lingxi acknowledged his lesson, serious. The difference in age between them wasnt too high, but eminence took priority. Whether it was in officialdom or in academia, and with how things went in the world, Tang Fan was more than enough to be his teacher. Lu Lingxi even felt that being able to follow Tang Fan every day and get his advice was a blessing. However, remembering his desire that had been extinguished in its infancy before it could take shape, a burst of inexplicable heartsickness was felt within him. Before he could completely sort out his emotions, the afternoon Cabinet meeting began. The Emperors health was getting more serious, each day worse than the last. Everyone knew what was going on, and didnt lay it bare, quietly working on what they should be working on in preparation for the Crown Princes imminent ascension. The world was not going to stop spinning just because the Emperor was ill. What was going to happen was still happening. In the sixth month, Hubei flooded. In the seventh month, Lintong and Xianyang had earthquakes. According to news from Datongs garrison, there were signs that the Tartars were getting restless. Ever since Zhengtong/Tianshuns era, coastal defenses had been virtually nonexistent, and traces of Japanese pirates were frequently appearing. At this time, there was a signed commercial treaty between the Central Plains and Japan, so the pirates would use the guise of paying tribute to get in. Upon meeting soldiers, they would first cover up their origins, fake paying tribute, then use the time when the others were unprepared to kill and loot. Even Great Ming merchant and civilian ships were repeatedly attacked by them, many of the commoners lining the shorts unable to bear with these criminals. These stacks upon stacks of problems had been passed through local governments up to the Office of Transmissions, all of them important matters that urgently needed to be dealt with by the Great Mings Viziers. Lu Lingxi and his fellow Hanlins read through them. Only now did they deeply understand the significance of the Cabinet as the Great Mings supreme authority. An Emperor that was wise and strategic, able to determine the universe in one word, would naturally be a good thing. However, if the Emperor was ever anything like the present one, the role of the Cabinet would become very important. These Viziers had gone through layers of selection, many of them having rich experience in local governments or treading within the Six Ministries, and were also talents that had passed the imperial exams. They were able to deal with troubles that would leave the Hanlins flabbergasted and flailing. And several of those Hanlins, Lu Lingxi included, thereby witnessed the shrewd and capable aspect of the Solons. Take Liu Ji, for example. Despite censors having crowned him with the nickname of Liu Cottonflower, if he actually was completely useless, he would never have remained in the Cabinet for so long there was a difference between not wanting to work and not being able to. After Wan An and the others fell off their horses, Liu Ji was worried that he would be next. In contrast to his previous ways of being laissez-faire, he had roused his energy overnight, and dared to offend the Emperors face by admonishing him several times. He had warned the Emperor to stay far away from alchemy, not to wallow in the sorrow of losing Consort Wan, and so on. His painting style had changed much too quickly, dumbfounding everyone. Within the Cabinet, no one was the same in personality, and did many things differently. Even though Tang Fan was at the bottom rung, because he was the youngest amongst them, he had the most energy, and his efficiency was at its pinnacle. Nowadays, he was not only in charge of managing the Ministry of Justice, but also the Ministry of War. It was little wonder why Lu Lingxi could never find the chance to say anything to him even being in the same room, as Tang Fan was really too busy. The Cabinet meetings topic was related to the earthquake. Due to the need to allocate funds, Li Min, the Minister of Revenue, also took part. At this moment, following the fall of the Wan party, the nicknamed Clay Figurine Ministers were almost totally gone. Li Min had previously requested departure due to illness, and then was reinstated two years ago, changing positions to Governor of Water Convoys, then later came to control the Ministry of Revenue, which displayed his capabilities. The meeting process was little more than Liu Ji suggesting an amount for the Ministry of Revenue to allocate, Li Min beginning to haggle because the Ministry didnt have that much money right now since it was responsible for the northern areas provisions and the expenditure would eclipse its income and the two wrangling for a long time. In that time, Liu Jian, Tang Fan, and Xu Pu interjected to participate and discuss several times. Everyone spoke until their mouths were dried out. At last, an amount was set, Li Mins end would allocate money and provisions, and Liu Jian would have the responsibility of the Cabinets end. If anything came up, he should be contacted, and so on. The new Hanlins had just witnessed that Cabinety discussions were fundamentally no different than haggling in a marketplace. Each of them looked astonished. Immediately following this, Tang Fan put forth his own clauses outline that pertained to the revision of the law and patched holes in the Great Ming Code. However, this topic went even less smoothly than the one before. Liu Ji was, at his core, someone who sought stability; having the Wan party as a lesson, he refused to stick out of the basket any further, because once these clauses passed, the Head Vizier would inevitably bear direct responsibility. Therefore, even though Liu Jian supported it, Tang Fans proposal was still repressed by Liu Ji. He didnt reject it outright, merely saying that it should be discussed later. Tang Fans hands were tied; he couldnt exactly grab him by the collar and compel him to give a definite answer immediately. This entire meeting had nothing to do with the Hanlins, but they still learned a lot from silently observing. As for what they had come to comprehend, that depended on their individual perceptions. Near the end of the discussion, a guard outside came in to pass word on that Commanding Envoy Sui Zhou had come on the Empress Dowagers orders, bearing a decree to convey. Liu Ji quickly invited the other inside. After entering, Sui Zhou first cupped his hands towards everyone in a show of respect, then said, This humble official just went to pay a visit to the Dowager. She had a message she entrusted me with passing on. Everyone knew that he and the Dowager were consort-kin, so they werent surprised to hear this. Please speak, Envoy Sui, Liu Ji said. Have you all drafted a posthumous title and imperial rank for Noble Consort Wan yet? Liu Ji gave a fake cough. Dowager Zhou disliked Consort Wan; that was something known to all. Answering the Dowager, yes. The title is Imperial Noble Consort of Compassion, Filialness, Grace, Austerity, Uprightness, Prudence, Glory, and Tranquility. Lady Wan was nothing more than a concubine. What virtues and talents did she have to receive eight words in her posthumous title? Where was her compassion? Where was her filialness? His cold face that spoke on the Dowagers behalf was really kind of terrifying. Even Liu Ji was scared, saying cautiously, That was His Majestys will The Dowager gave her order. You all should talk it over again. In fights between gods, mortals suffered, really. Liu Ji was a little helpless, thinking to himself, This is an issue between mother and son! What has it got to do with us?! However, he couldnt respond like that, forced to agreed. Having passed on the message, Sui Zhou didnt stay long, turning to go. But, when he passed by Tang Fan, his fingers imperceptibly bumped his, gently sweeping across the back of the others hand. The act was lightning-quick, yet rather ambiguous. No one noticed it, aside from Lu Lingxi. He eyes widened. That was way too bold! CH extra 5 6 Out with the Old, In with the New That blatant display of might-like action made Lu Lingxi sour. Regardless of who had come first or after, he believed himself to be a bold person, yet he couldnt have done something like Sui Zhou had. Just like how Sui Zhou had asked him whether he could give everything up for Tang Fan. At the end of it all, this stemmed from his family restraining him. Previously, he had believed to have Sui Zhou outranked in terms of background. He had been born into a big, influential family similar to Tang Fan. The Ming Dynastys consort-kin were basically commoners, so whether in came to self-disciple or knowledge, he was more about to find commonality with Tang Fan than Sui Zhou was. What was called a linking of minds at the bare minimum, wouldnt they have to first think alike before they could link? But that background had now become a shortcoming of his. He always held some vague apprehensions at heart and couldnt let loose, making him less fearless than Sui Zhou. Recalling that scene from just now, despite Sui Zhou having been so bold, Tang Fan hadnt shown any revulsion, a faint trace of red suffusing the back of his neck could his feelings be any more obvious? That was what really made Lu Lingxi feel sour. After the Cabinet discussion was over, everyone returned to their respective workrooms. Lu Lingxis eyes were fixed onto the files in front of him, yet his heart had gone into tumult. Tang Fan had a lot to do and not spare time to worry about him, so he didnt notice his strangeness. Work did not end until a long time afterwards. The files on the table had been reduced by over half. Only when Tang Fan felt his stomach grumbling did he straighten out his back, look up, and discover that Lu Lingxi was sitting there. Why havent you left yet? The other looked up blankly. Huh? He had managed to calm down enough to start reading through the documents Tang Fan had trained him in, not expecting that it would get dark in the blink of an eye. Tang Fan laughed. Ah, whatever. Work is all done, so lets go on home! He stood up to stretch, then said to him, You live by yourself in the capital, yes? It would be a hassle to go back and have your maids rekindle the cooking fire at this time of day, so why not go out to eat with me? Lu Lingxi had no objections, of course. The other brought him to that wonton stall he most frequented. Over the many years since he had entered the capital, the stall had remained the same as it always was, as did the taste, and portion sizes had not ever gone down. Tang Fan was a sentimental man in his bones, so he was fond of coming here not only because of the delicious wontons, but because of the nostalgia factor. In these few years, the couple that owned the stall had long become familiar with him. Seeing him bring a young man with him, the stall owner joked, Sir Tang, why did you switch beaus today? What are you talking about? All Ive ever brought with me are coworkers and friends! Tang Fan scolded with a laugh. Right now, he was just like any average person on the street, not putting on his airs of a Court official. The proprietor wasnt scared of him, teasing back, Okay, okay, this lowly one was wrong. Its a friend this time, not a beau! Having no way to handle him, Tang Fan waved him off. Hurry up with your wontons, eh? Ill have the usual, two bowls with a lot of diced scallions wait, what do you want, Yiqing? I dont like cilantro. Anything else is fine. Dont put cilantro in that one bowl, and the other is the usual, Tang Fan said to the owner. Got it! the other replied, smoothly flipping his cleaning rag onto his shoulder and striding over to the stall to get the food. Brother Tang, do you and Envoy Sui often come here to eat wontons? Lu Lingxi wondered. Tang Fan shook his head. Not him alone. Ive also brought Wang Zhi, Mr. Huian, and others here. Whenever Tang Fan wanted them to be, his answers would always be flawless. Lu Lingxi was a bit disappointed. He held it back for a long time, then finally couldnt hold back anymore. Brother Tang, I want to ask you something Tang Fan showed no ripples of surprise. Go ahead. Do you know that Envoy Sui treats you like? He didnt finish, but Tang Fan appeared to know what he was asking, humming. I do. Lu Lingxi was startled, as if not having expected that he would admit to it so breezily. Then, you also?! Yes. My heart goes with his. The other was completely without words. Turning to look at him, Tang Fan started laughing. Whats with that face? Lu Lingxi was tongue-tied. But but thats He wanted to say something, and also felt that saying anything at all would be inappropriate. In the end, he asked what he had always wanted to ask. What if he were me? If I could give everything up for you, would you be willing for it? Tang Fan shook his head. I only see you as a little brother and a friend. Im not any worse than him! Lu Lingxi said, suddenly refusing to accept this. Tang Fan smiled lightly. Whos worse and whos not is irrelevant. If its not him, then its not right. Lu Lingxi had nothing to say. He had finally drummed up the courage to clarify things, only for Tang Fan to hold him back with a single sentence. His faint hope was put out at last, dismay and disappointment all over his face. Right then, the proprietor came over with the two bowls of piping-hot wontons in chicken broth. The usual, Sir Tang! Your bowl here is full of scallions. Our scallion youbing are not yet sold out, and I set aside a portion for you. Do you want some? he asked. Of course I do! You didnt put it on the tab when you saw me coming over here what were you thinking?! Tang Fan answered cheerfully. The wontons were indeed delicious, having thin skins stuffed full with fresh and tender meat. When biting into them, juices would flow out that had a mild chicken-stock flavor, with some moderate saltiness. However, Lu Lingxi tasted nothing, merely scooping up spoonfuls, then dumping them out. He looked at Tang Fan again. The other was not affected in the least, most of his wontons quickly vanishing. Lu Lingxi felt even worse at that. After he was done eating, Tang Fan took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth off, fully content. Upon turning his head, he noticed that Lu Lingxi hadnt touched most of his food, and sighed inwardly. Yiqing. The other raised his head, giving a confused expression. Your performance in the Cabinet these days has been mediocre. You cant even compare to Liu Meng and the rest of them. Lu Lingxi thought to defend himself. I After thinking about it, he couldnt say anything in self-defense. He had known as well that he had been distracted these past few days, and really hadnt gotten much proper business done. Even if had done things, his mind hadnt been on it, in a muddle that could not be described. He hadnt even read the book of revised laws that Tang Fan had asked him to. That in mind, he said dejectedly, I really did fail in my duties. Brother Tang, I have a request. Tang Fan motioned for him to continue. Lu Lingxi hesitated for a bit, then said, These past two days were not only because of this. I was thinking about it, and I feel that Im really not suitable to be in the Cabinet at all do you think that I dont know whats good for me, Brother? Why do you say that? Tang Fan asked back, not expressing an opinion. The Cabinet was a place that many dreamed of, unable to get in even if they wanted to. Now that Lu Lingxi had the chance to work in it and had gotten in after a lot of hark work, he was starting to think of leaving after only a few days. Were anyone else to hear of this, they would gnash their teeth in anger. Lu Lingxi smiled painfully. Im not sure. If I say it, dont scold me too much. Go on. Lu Lingxi sighed. When I wasnt yet an official, I always felt that being one was restrictive, and I only wanted to be happy, avenge and be indebted, and wanter the world. Then, when I followed by your side, I realized that my ideas were way too naive, which is why I tested into being a Palace Honorate. Now that Im in the Cabinet, though, for some reason, Im a little perplexed. I thought and thought about it, and maybe its me thats too lacking, or maybe Im not capable enough to do the job. Hence why I boldly want to request one thing from you. Hm? I want to transfer out of here. Even if Im a seventh-rank County Magistrate, thatll be fine. Tang Fan creased his brow. Is that because of me? Lu Lingxi laughed. It was because you were around, actually, that I kept hesitating up until this point. Tang Fan looked at him for a moment. If youve really made up your mind, thats fine. Many people think transferring abroad to be a dangerous road, and believe that in all of their lives, there is nothing better for rising to the top than staying in the capital, calling it a smooth ride. I dont agree at all, though. If you can experience the hard toil of being a guardian official, it can be of great benefit to the scope of your future career path. Since youre saying that, you agree? I do, but will you regret it? I hope you arent saying this out of momentary anger. I wont regret it, and Im not having a fit of anger. Tang Fan smiled, patting his shoulder. Since you wont have regrets, Ill help you. Feeling the warmth on his shoulder, Lu Lingxis heart first jumped, then felt slightly bitter. He wasnt his. He was destined to not be his, in the end. Rather than bitterly beg to stay, it would be better to simply give up. The disappearance of one minor Hanlin did not stir up any waves. Aside from those who knew Lu Lingxi, no one even asked. Even the other Cabinet members had not become familiar with him due to him only having been posted for a few days; at most, they had seen an unfamiliar face at Tang Fans side. It would have been weird for them to ask. With Tang Fans workings, Lu Lingxi left the capital and headed for a post in a small county on the border. Stemming from its poverty and lag in progress, the area had always been viewed as a perilous path by many. Someone like Lu Lingxi, who originally had a brilliant path forward yet had asked to go here of his own volition, was a definite oddity. It soon came close to the seventh month. At a time when no one could say so clearly, yet had long known it was going to happen, the Emperor finally passed on. Many knew well that to do so was disrespectful, yet they couldnt help but silently let out sighs of relief. One era finished, and a new one begun. From the next year onwards, the lands era name would no longer be Chenghua. It would be Hongzhi. Ah-Dongs Betrothal In the blink of an eye, Ah-Dong had gone through a multitude of changes, going from a chubby little girl to a graceful young lady. Calculating things meticulously, starting from the time she had been in the Tang home and acknowledged as a little sister by Tang Fan, it had only been about eight years,* but way too many things had happened in those years. Tang Fan felt that before he had the time to process it fully, his little sister had already reached marriageable age. Thats right. Marriage. She had hit hairpin age last year, and sixteen this year. She didnt have Xiao Wus nation-toppling charms, but she was still a fine-featured lady. Although this young ladys strength level was a bit too high (she could take dozens of Sui Zhous moves, break someones main gate open with one kick, hoist Tang Cheng into the air, and so on), in Tang Fans mind, no one surpassed his little sis. She had also been influenced by being in the Tang household, having developed a candid, open-minded, and easygoing personality, which made others think highly of her as soon as they met her. In light of both the Tang family and her reputations, ever since she had been a year shy of hairpin age, there had been an endless stream of people coming to the door to propose marriage. However, the majority of them were military officials or from military households, which Tang Fan was not too satisfied with in the eyes of all big brothers of the world, their little sisters always deserved the best. It was to the point where he felt that even if she married off to the Emperor, she would still be done an injustice. (Of course, the Emperor himself was already married, and he had no intention of that at all.) Some might have a decent character, but a rotten family, and some would have even-tempered potential mothers-in-law, but they themselves would be unambitious. In short, Tang Fan and Tang Yu were being picky, and never could find the perfect suitor. As Tang Fan saw it, the most ideal one did not need to have an affluent family or enjoy the pinnacle of splendor, and even less needed to have a high familial ranking, else here would inevitably be a lot of fighting in the inner residence. As long as he had a fine personality and character, and had been brought up well, then even if he was presently poor, it would not be an issue. No matter what, the dividends she had earned these years from helping out in the shop were enough for her to live a good life after she married, to say nothing of her having a wealthy proprietor for a sister and a Vizier for a big brother. Given that the grooms side had working eyes, they wouldnt dare to bully her. And yet, plans forever failed to account for incidents. Before Tang Fan could pick out a brother-in-law to his liking, Ah-Dong herself took a fancy to someone. He was a worker in a sweets shop. By coincidence, it was the same sweets shop of old repute that Tang Fan frequently visited. The worker was named Yang Rui. He had worked there for three years, and Tang Fan had met him before; he was honest, never telling any lies. Once before, Tang Fan had gone to buy some cakes, and his eyes had caught a mung bean cake. Yang Rui, the generous sort, had straight-up informed him that those cakes had been reused from last night, and if he wanted one freshly-made, he would have to wait until the next batch was baked. He didnt say that to only Tang Fan, either he had said the same thing to every customer that wanted to buy the mung bean cakes. If the customer didnt mind, there was no issue, but if they were like Tang Fan, they would prefer to choose some other cake. Afterwards, the shopkeeper had found out about this, and nearly fired Yang Rui out of anger. It was only with Tang Fans beseeching that he had been allowed to stay. Someone like that was good as a friend. As a brother-in-law, Tang Fan would definitely not be happy. With a too-honest husband, what if Ah-Dong was bullied, and he was too afraid to help her? With a too-honest husband, what if he was harassed outside? Was Ah-Dong, as the wife, supposed to go stick her neck out for him? With a too-honest husband, if he later could no longer support the family, would he use Ah-Dongs dowry to supplement his livelihood? In brief, Tang Fan could think up about ten reasons why marrying Yang Rui was unsuitable for Ah-Dong. All his thinking was useless, though. A grown woman stopped listening to her older brother, and in her eyes, those negatives all thoroughly transformed into positives. Faced with her obstinance, Tang Fans head hurt. How did you two even meet? Why did you promise each other for life so soon? Whats so good about that little punk? I promise that I can find you an even better one! Ah-Dong looked guileless. If it werent for you always making me go buy pastries for you, I would never have gotten to know him, Brother Tang. He shut up for a long time with that. She grabbed his arm, softening her voice to say sweetly, Are you looking down on his origins? Im not, he readily denied. Im just worried that youll face hardship after you get married. She beamed at him. But I was born a toiling maid to begin with! He bopped her on the head. Dont say that! Youre my little sister! They were walking arm-in-arm through the read courtyard of Tang Yus home. On account of her business growing bigger and bigger, Tang Yu was no longer the same as she had been before, no longer the meek daughter-in-law that had suffered cold treatment in her husbands home but was too afraid to speak out. Her cosmetics business had even spread to Jiangnan, which had been handed over to Qian Sanr to run while she concentrated on doing business in the North. And, it was ridiculous to say, but the capable Xue Ling, a subordinate of Sui Zhous, had somehow caught sight of Tang Yu, and the two had unknowingly paired up, then married at the end of last year. This current residence had been bought by Tang Yu; the previous resident had been an Assistant Minister who had sold the home when he retired and left the capital. It was located not too far from Tang Fans place, too, letting them catch up with each other. To the outside world, Xue Ling was an iron-blooded, merciless man, but at home, what his wife said was what he did, and he didnt feel at all like her competences were magnifying his own shortcoming. If he was like that, Tang Yu would have never been whittled down by him, nor promise to marry him. Tang Cheng had improved, as well. He tested into being a County Honorate at a very young age, but wanted to imitate his uncle in leaving home to travel far away. At the age of fifteen, he had already traveled to all of the areas outside of the capital, and now he was still abroad, preparing to participate in the second year of Hongzhis autumnal exams. I know that you cherish me, and that big sis does, too! Ah-Dong smiled happily, her arm in the crook of Tang Fans. Im not putting myself down. Truthfully, if it werent for you, I wouldnt be able to have my current life. How could I ever wreck my own future? That would only make all of you more distressed! The reason I took a liking to Yang Rui is because of his generosity. Whether a man is rich or has honors is irrelevant. What matters most is that he has an open heart. The husband of my dreams would be like you, big brother; soft and pliable on the outside, but strong and disciplined on the inside. Yang Rui is less than ten percent of you, but his only good point is that he has a generous, tolerant heart similar to yours. Thats what I value the most about him. Was there any brother in the world that disliked getting praised by his sister? In spite of the former multitudes of discontent Tang Fan had for Yang Rui, he couldnt help but feel that those words were a little sweet to hear. I thought that because you had a beloved, you would forget about your brother. Ah-Dong happily stuck out her tongue. How could I? If you really dont like him, I wont insist. The most important one in my heart is you! Even though he knew that this damned girl was only taking a step back for the sake of advancement, Tang Fan still felt a lot more relieved. He pet Ah-Dongs head; the tendrils were thick and glossy, no longer as thin and brittle as they had been when she had first come to the Tang home. I remember back when you first came here, you were but yea high, he lamented, measuring at his waist. You became a grown woman in the blink of an eye. Why did time pass by so quickly? Right! she answered with a grin. Ever since that one Lantern Festival where I was abducted, then went through danger with you, I really started to want to learn martial arts, so that even if I do come into peril again, I wont be dragging you down. I never expected that I would have more of a natural talent for learning martial arts than studying literature! Tang Fan feigned anger. You have to cheek to say that? If it hadnt been for you rashly agreeing to be Wang Zhis decoy, how could you have ever been abducted? In Tang Fans eyes, Ah-Dong had always been a very sensible girl, with a tender heart concealed beneath her carefree outer appearance. She had always hoped to be able to help him, first voluntarily going to play bait, then learning martial arts for the part. Still, since they were both family, there was no need to bother and bicker so much. Just like how Ah-Dong silently invested in Tang Fan, he and Tang Yu also silently looked after their little sister. Ah-Dong put her smile away, and said seriously, Big brother, Ive really been grateful to you this entire time. If it werent for you, I have no idea what kind of life Id be living right now. Maybe I would be another Sister Ah-Qiu. Dont be silly. There are no ifs in this world. Whats done is done you are a Tang, and my little sister. There is no need to doubt that. She smiled warmly. Mn! Thats why Ive always envied you and Brother Sui! And what does he have to do with this? Dont you mind him, Im talking about Yang Rui! She blinked. Its because I envy you two being a pair for life that I want to have someone like that, too. Do you not think that Yang Rui can do that? Tang Fan coldly huffed. If he has the guts not to, Ill castrate him! Ah-Dong grew happy. So youre saying that you approve? I still want to meet and test him myself, he answered, sullen. In order to verify whether his future brother-in-law met his standards, Tang Fan sent someone to tell Yang Rui that he wanted to see him, and also told Sui Zhou to stand to a side while he met with him. Bring our your valor as Commanding Envoy of the Brocade Guard to intimate him hard! It you can scare him so his knees go weak, thatd be best! Sui Zhou thought to himself, Do you think Im those guardian lions at the main gate? Since the Great Lord himself had given an order, Envoy Sui would never disobey. While Yang Rui was stopping by, he remained there. Acting in line with Tang Fans instructions, he kept on a cold face from beginning to end, giving off an ice-cold aura of strangers may not come near. It was unclear if Yang Ruis heart was too open or what, but he wasnt scared by Sui Zhou at all. Just like how he was whenever Tang Fan graced the sweets shop with his presence, he smiled bashfully and honestly at the two of the, then cupped his hands in courtesy as per usual, if slightly more solemn than those times. In the course of their conversation, Tang Fan learned that Yang Ruis hometown was in the capitals outskirts. His parents had passed early ob, leaving his family as his older brother and sister-in-law. Because that sister-in-law didnt tolerate him, he had left home alone to find his way in life. After three years of working in the sweets shop, he had saved up a sun of money; not much, around a hundred taels. Those funds werent enough if he wanted to buy a home in the capital, but Yang Rui said, Please give me some time, Sir Tang. Last time, I cooked a new pasty for the owner, and a lot of people bought it. He promised to give me an extra dividend. If I can get that money, I can buy a smaller home for Ah-Dong to live in. What are your plans for the future? Dont tell me that you plan to be a worker in a sweets shop all your life? The other scratched his head. I used to, but now that I want to marry Ah-Dong, I definitely cant do that. Thats why I want to go and open my own shop. With what money? Yang Rui smiled honestly. The dividend I was promised is ample enough for me to rent one, first. Are you intending to have Ah-Dong share that hardship with you? Tang Fan asked, cold-faced. The other was confused for a minute. Um? No, the shop wouldnt need her help. I could do it alone. Tang Fan was purely using his future brother-in-law status to make things difficult for him. What about washing clothes and cooking? My Ah-Dong doesnt do any of that rough work! Yang Rui gave this a real hard and long thought. After renting the shop with that bonus, I wouldnt be able to hire a maid, so wont I just do it when I get home? Tang Fan put his hand on his forehead. Someone honest to this extent was really hard to come by! If he were a bit more suave of a person, he would have long made up some honey-coated words to answer him and get him out of here. However, it was probably because of this that Ah-Dong took a liking to him, right? Ah-Dong looked like she couldnt bear to watch, scolding him in a quiet voice, Idiot! Hearing that, Yang Rui turned his head to smile at her. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, witnessing this scene, were somewhat speechless. One was willing to fight, one was willing to endure. A bickering, but loving couple. What could they possible say? Like so, the betrothal was settled. However, there was a tiny interlude during this period. After hearing that Yang Rui was going to strike it out alone, the shopkeeper recanted on the dividend. Ah-Dong then informed Tang Fan, who had Sui Zhou go help resolve the matter. Later on, Tang Fan asked Yang Rui why he hadnt told them, or gone to the shopkeeper to settle the debt. The other just said that when he had just arrived in the capital, he had no one by his side, while the shop owner had taken him in. Even though he treated him only okay, that had still been a favor to him. As the other had done such a thing, he had planned to keep the peace in order to repay that favor. Due to that statement, Tang Fans opinion of him changed a bit, and he no longer scrutinized every detail of him. Reality would prove that Ah-Dong had good eyesight. After they married, Yang Rui would rent a shop, many customers would remember him due to his previous generosity and run off to support his business, and his shop would get increasingly popular due to the unique and delicious sweets he made. In less that a years time, he would make enough money to buy the shop, then open up branch locations in quick successions, until he became a rich merchant and, on account his behavior, he would receive a fine reputation as a benevolent merchant. Ah-Dong would go from the wife of a sweets shop worker to the mistress of a very wealthy family. Above all, his attitude towards her would remain the same as before, not ever changing in the slightest due to either wealth or poverty. However, that was all a story for later. Ah-Dongs betrothal was done, and the new year came in the blink of an eye. Sui Zhou rarely interacted with his family, but for New Year holidays, he would always have to go pay respects to his parents and gift them presents. In this gifting, he would inevitably have to deal with his older brother and sister-in-law. CH extra 7 9 The Sui Family Sui Zhous arrival made his parents very watchful. Over these years, he had sent no lack of people bearing gifts to their home, but because he was very busy with work, the number of times he was able to return was ultimately limited. The Sui parents preferring their eldest son was a fact that couldnt be disputed, too; now that he had children, they were too occupied with coddling their grandchildren to pay attention to their second son. However, Sui Zhou was not a child that needed the attention of others. At the age of eighteen, he had moved out to live alone, devote himself to the Brocade Guard, go from the bottom to where he was now, step-by-step, and become head of the Brocade Guard via his own efforts. His status as consort-kin did not add flowers to brocade for him, but instead was more often a hindrance to his officials career. In he process of his promotion, the voice he had heard most often was That guy has the support of the Empress Dowager, so of course he rose up quickly, but he was not someone who liked to grumble about everything. Instead of wasting energy arguing about so many things, it would be better for him to rely on his own actual strength to prove himself. That was why he sat upon the top crossed chair of the Brocade Guard, and the people that had talked behind his back were long gone. In truth, someone like him didnt care about what others said. Even if the gossipers were his own family, he was unmoved all the same. The Sui familys situation was decent, really. It wasnt much to look at compared to noble capital families, but it didnt worry for food and clothing, which could be called a type of affluence. Father Sui and Sui Zhous older brother were both in empty positions, so they could collect their salaries without doing anything. On top of that, the family owned shops and fields that earned them extra annual income, leaving them with plenty for wearing high-quality silks. Of course, when it came to actual power, they were nothing, because apart from Sui Zhou, none of them were real officials. Father Sui did not need to be mentioned. Sui An, the older brother, used to forever look down upon a Brocade Guard military post, feeling that he would be the Emperors lackey, have a poor reputation, and get fingers pointed at him. He had thought to walk the path of imperial exams, but he wasnt the martial for it, resulting in him squandering half of his life only to end up achieving nothing. In spite of his familys wealth, he was always giving both long and short sighs, hating that he had been born at the wrong time, having talent yet no opportunities to use it. Seeing how his younger brother had entered the Brocade Guard he always looked down upon, then been promoted until he was already a Commanding Envoy, even receiving a noble title, he felt quite displeased. In the quiet of the night, he had inevitably grumbled quite a lot to Lady Jiao. Had she been a gentle and virtuous person, it would be fine, as she would have definitely urged her husband to calm himself and be content with what he already had. Instead, she was a prideful woman, feeling that her husband held the advantage of being the eldest son and was much better than Sui Zhou, who hadnt had even one child, and yet he had had difficulty advancing in his career. Sharing the same breath as her husband, she also believed that Sui Zhou had grabbed too many advantages. Since he alone was a Brocade Guard in the family, the Late Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager must have given him quite a lot of care, as in an inversion of yin and yang, Sui Ans career had been rocky, while his little brother had grown all the more contrastingly successful. The Sui parents were honest people of ineloquent speech. Even if their eldest son and his wife were full of complaints, they could say nothing about it, only able to console them in private. In addition to that, they were slightly biased towards their eldest, and when Sui Zhou occasionally did visit, they would ask him to give his brother a hand and pull him up. But how could he do so? Sui An was over thirty and didnt know any martial arts. At most, he could only hold a post as a secretary, which he would certain not be happy about was he supposed to be an official without going through the imperial exams? The current Emperor didnt have that capability, to say nothing of Sui Zhou. That would earn him a fatal scolding by civil officials, and a very probable name in the history books as a treacherous subject, which would not land him a good end. For what ending it would be, one only needed to look at Li Zisheng, favored official of the Late Emperor. From how Sui Zhou saw it, the best option for Sui An was to be a merchant, but he guessed that the other wouldnt be able to let go of his dignity for that, and bringing it up would be useless. He wasnt close to his brother, nor would he take it upon himself to say something so hard to hear. If it came out his mouth and went into Sui Ans ears, he would definitely think that his little brother was mocking him. Therefore, every time Sui Zhou returned home and happened to run into his brother and his sister-in-law, it would be a rather uninteresting affair. Clearly, they were brothers that could not possibly be more related by blood, but the gap between them now resembled a chasm, leaving them unable to communicate any which way. The older brother found his younger brother displeasing to the eye, and the younger brother had nothing to say to his older brother. The Sui parents were stuck between a rock and a hard place, unsure of how to resolve this, the atmosphere only turning more awkward. Things would be better if Tang Fan were around. His current status was valuable, after all, and Sui An wouldnt dare to be discourteous in front of him. Also, even if the two families were close as could be, Lady Jiao would not so easily pop out whenever she wanted. If he wasnt around and only Sui Zhou was, though, she would have no need to avoid taboo. Like now, for example. Sui Zhou came to gift things, but it was never easy to just leave after they were. Mother Sui ordered for tea to be poured, so he sat down, ready to drink it and then get out when he was done. They couldnt exactly remain unspeaking when sitting face-to-face. Mother Sui was always concerned about her son, so she asked him about progress on his big day, and slightly complained about how Dowager Zhou now Grand Empress Dowager had never sought out a woman for him, leaving him single in the New Year. I must inform you that that has nothing to do with the Dowager, Mother, he answered mildly. I have no desire to marry. She was shocked. Why is that? Not waiting for him to answer, Lady Jiao asked from nearby, Is it that the rumors outside really are true? Mother Sui was confused. What rumors? Lady Jiao glanced at Sui Zhou, then said purposefully, Everyone in the world is saying that he prefers men over women, so Guangchuan, uh um is what she said the truth? Mother Sui quickly asked her son. Sui Zhou was not surprised int he least. Where did those rumors that everyone knows about come from, sister-in-law? The Brocade Guards eyes and ears are all over the country, yet Ive never heard of rumors like that. Instead, Ive heard that youve been giving the Suis money to supplement your natal family; does my brother know about that? Feeling all of the Sui familys eyes suddenly land upon her, Lady Jiao flushed, anxious. Wh-what are you saying?! Dont you slander me! When have I ever done that?! Theres records at the Northern Bastion Office, of course, stating time and location. Your denial wont stand up against them. Oh, good! Youve become a major official now! How amazing for you! she raged. You dont want to find a position for your brother, and even keep tallies on your own family ah! What are you trying to do?! She swallowed back the rest of her speech, looking on in terror as Sui Zhou drew his sabre, it sharp blade shining with icy light. Without the sheaths cover, the spring-gilt sabre, which had drunk immeasurable amounts of blood, immediately gave off a dense killing aura, forcing Lady Jiao back a few steps. Recalling that her husband was next to her, she quickly hid behind him, fearing that Sui Zhou would angrily cut down his own sister-in-law. Sui Zhou glanced askew at her, gaze frosty, without a trace of emotion. That frigidness caused her to jolt, and she couldnt help but tightly grip her husbands sleeve. I wasnt going to ask after my brothers family business, but since you lack propriety, sister-in-law, and want to be in my business as well as recklessly criticize how the Brocade Guard conducts investigations, are you thinking of spending some time in the Bastille? The corner of his mouth had hooked into a mocking arc, but to Lady Jiao, he looked no different from an evil spirit demanding her life. She wanted to answer back, but felt apprehensive, forced to shut her mouth out of fear of encroaching on some taboo again. Sui An was slightly fearful of his little brother, too, but he had to have some face in front of his parents and wife. Guangchuan, theres a saying that goes, The eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. How can you talk about yours like that? he said, frowning. Our mother is still alive. How can a sister-in-law be like her? Are you not afraid of disappointing Mother by saying something like that? Being exposed to literature and hanging out Tang Fan for so long these years had given Sui Zhou some speaking skills. Sui An had nothing to answer with, of course. Even if he could win arguing with these people, Sui Zhou would not get a single sense of achievement. Seeing them like this, he felt a bit fed up. One touch on his cup told him that it had gone cold, so he simply rose to bid farewell to his parents, prepared to leave this place. Guangchuan! Sui An shouted, catching up to him from behind when he arrived at the main gate. What you just said about your sister-in-law giving money to her natal family was it true? Whether it is or isnt, you would know if you ask her. Why the need to come ask me? Sui Zhou threw down that answer, then left without turning back. After leaving the Sui home, he was not in a rush to return home, taking a detour to his maternal grandmothers neighboring home. Over the years, Old Madam Zhou had gone up in age and didnt want to be abroad with her son, so she had returned to the capital. She had maids serving all around her, and her grandchildren came to see her often, giving her an enjoyable life. It was absolutely unlike her daughters household, where trouble was always made when there was no reason for it. Sui Zhou was taken to meet his grandmother by an older Zhou maid, then saw that Tang Fan was already sitting in the hall. It was unknown what he said, but it made the Madam laugh without cease, rocking back and forth, nearly crying from laughter. As soon as he saw this, the cold indifference he had from the Sui household entirely melted and softened, with even his hand that gripped his sabre loosening up by a lot. Drinking Vinegar Madam Zhou was not too blind yet, seeing Sui Zhou come in from afar. Ah, my dear grandson is here! I hope you are doing well, Grandmother, and wish that your fortune be as vast as the East Sea, and that you live as long as Mount Nan, Sui Zhou said, cupping his hands in respect. She was happy to see that spry energy, quickly gesturing for him to come forward. She pulled him over to take a look at him, then had him sit, grinning wide. Come here, come here! You havent been around for almost a month; Grandma thought that you were so busy, you forgot about me!* Madam Zhou was not too blind yet, seeing Sui Zhou come in from afar. Ah, my dear grandson is here! I hope you are doing well, Grandmother, and wish that your fortune be as vast as the East Sea, and that you live as long as Mount Nan, Sui Zhou said, cupping his hands in respect. She was happy to see that spry energy, quickly gesturing for him to come forward. She pulled him over to take a look at him, then had him sit, grinning wide. Come here, come here! You havent been around for almost a month; Grandma thought that you were so busy, you forgot about me!* When facing his grandmother that had cherished him ever since he was a child, Sui Zhou couldnt keep his cold face on. No matter how busy this grandson is with work, I will still come by to see you. Madam Zhou had the maids bring out candied fruits for the two to eat. Unable to withstand his elders enthusiasm, Sui Zhou picked up a piece of candied mandarine and put it in his mouth. Unexpectedly, the Madam smiled and said, Are you two of one mind or something? Runqing just picked out a candied fruit when I told him to eat, too. Of course were of one mind, Sui Zhou thought, but the Madam didnt know the details, and it wouldnt be a good idea to excite an elder about something like this. He only gave a vague hum. Observing his words and actions, the Madam immediately asked, Were you wronged in that house? Sui Zhou was caught off guard, shaking his head to deny it. No. She was not too happy. You dont need to keep it from me. Cant you tell your own grandma if youre upset? Just tell me that your parents treated you unfairly, and Ill go scold them later! Just Like how the Sui parents preferred their eldest son, Madam Zhou cherished Sui Zhou the most, and she was displeased to hear him get pushed around. Sui Zhou was a bit amused. He was no longer a child that could be wronged, but her goodwill still moved him. Its nothing, Grandmother. No can push me around, dont you worry. Truthfully, there was no need for Sui Zhou to speak. The Madam knew as well that there was nothing more than kitchen scrap-tier things going on in that home. Sui Ans mind was high up in the sky. Unfortunately, both his talent and luck were not that great, and he had not been able to get any scholarly honors after spending half of his life at it. It was good that his familial situation left him with no worries about food or clothing. If he could be at peace with his situation, it would be a good life for him, as the poor commonfolk nearby probably wouldnt be able to live his rich man life even if they struggled for most of theirs. However, poor people had poor people hardships, and rich people had rich people unhappinesses Sui An didnt need to scramble for food and clothing, but concentrate on the imperial exams that he might not be able to attain in all his life. No one could persuade him otherwise, which undoubtedly made them feel pretty powerless. Madam Zhou had harped on him for this plenty of times before. Sadly, Sui Ans mind was so set, he wouldnt listen to anyone else. If she said too much, he would instead think that she was biased towards Sui Zhou. With no way to handle him, she had to let him go his own way. If even his own parents didnt think the same, why would she, an old woman, waste thoughts on it? Still, as that was so, Sui An had married a wife that shared his same idea. Lady Jiao was also of the mindset to make her husband stand out from the crowd. Sui An had only been at about fifty-percent, and then she had egged him into eight-percent, only for him to be repeatedly disappointed on his exam path. In contrast, Sui Zhou had had a swift rise on his rose, even holding a noble title on top of being the Brocade Guard boss, which gave him real authority, increasingly clashing against his older brothers downtrodden state. That was the source of the familys lack of peace. You moving out a long time ago was a good thing, as you wont be bothered by what you cant see. No mater what, going home a few times a year is enough to comfort your parents. Theyre being fools, but Grandma isnt. Who is right and wrong, I understand very well. She pat Sui Zhous hand consolingly. Sui Zhou was kind of unsure how to react. Grandma, I dont mind so much. That was the truth. Sui An had seen a tiny fraction of the world all throughout his life, so he was brooding. Why would Sui Zhou place any importance upon that smidgen of rottenness at home? Ones scope of vision and mind were different, so what they saw and what they did were different, too. Sui Zhou had to deal with more than ten different things every single day, all of them involving major cases (now that he was the head honcho, there was no need to ask the Commanding Envoy to personally take care of anything that wasnt major), so where would he have the spare thought to bother with whether his brothers attitude towards him was good or bad, or whether his parents were a little biased towards that brother? Only if he had nothing to do every day would he focus his energy on stuff like that. Madam Zhou was very gratified. Out of the Suis, Sui Zhou alone was enough. You being able to not makes Grandma very happy. You have a friend like Runqing that can make up for the lack. A thousand gold is easy to get, while one friend is hard to find; you have to really treasure him, and if you have things to say to him, say them clearly. You mustnt cause any misunderstandings, else youll regret them afterwards! The older I get, the more things I can see. Human lives last only a few short decades, so living life happily is the most important thing. As long as you dont hurt anyone else, you dont need to overly restrict yourself. She was speaking with deep meaning, appearing to refer to something else, and also seeming to be passing on her dying words. Sui Zhou didnt love to hear it. Why say such things for the New Year, Grandmother? Runqing and I will always be fine. You dont need to worry about us at all. Thats good, thats good. The Madam laughed, not saying anything else. Out of the Zhou home, light snow steadily fell. Sui Zhou had brought an umbrella, but only one. Tang Fan wanted to turn around and ask for another from the Zhou maid, only for Sui Zhou to stop him and say that one was enough. Tang Fan didnt insist. The New Year holiday was a rare time off for them, and they didnt need to be in a rush. The capital streets were usually bustling and way too busy, making it hard for one to experience the tranquility of a small Jiangnan town, but now that it had suddenly started snowing, many people that had wanted to come out refused to. It caused a lot let people to be on the streets, making it seem a lot quieter. They were shoulder-to-shoulder, walking forward slowly, not speaking while they enjoyed their free time and comfort that werent easy to come by. The snow was getting heavier and heavier. Sui Zhou seamlessly shifted the umbrella over to Tang Fan, a lot of snow building up on his own shoulders. Seeing that, Tang Fan said, Theres a teashack on the road. How about we go there for a rest first? Okay. There were not many customers around, only a scant few people seated at the tables. Noticing the two of them enter, a maiden quickly greeted them. Please sit, guests. What would you like to drink? Whenever the two of them went around, Tang Fan would always put in the effort of talking, this time being no exception. Hearing this, he laughed. Dont you drink tea at a teashack? What else would we drink? The maidens pretty eyes shone. That may be so at other teashacks, but ours is different. Loquat flower tea, osmanthus flower tea, average wild tea, and plum juice; you may choose what you like from those. Tang Fan was a little surprised. Theres loquat flower tea at this time of year? The North doesnt have any, does it? She smiled. Ours was planted in Anhui, dried during the summer, and brought with the family that grew it when they came to the capital. Loquat flowers wet the throat, which is good to drink in wintertime. Would you like two cups to taste? Since she had said that, Tang Fan couldnt help but approve, nodding. Two cups, then. Thanks. She smiled fully at him, going to leave. Her figure was not really seductive, yet it had a grace to it. As soon as she was gone, Sui Zhou said coldly, She likes you. * I remember saying something about how not-strict self-appellations (this humble official, this servant, etc.) vs. plain I () are, and how both terms can and often do appear in the same sentence. Heres proof of that, from the original text itself: 㶼һûˣĸΪæأ Miscellaneous Stuff Tang Fans mouth twitched. I didnt think so. Why do you? Sui Zhou coldly huffed. Corners of the mouth. Eyebrows. I can tell at a glance. The other laughed in disbelief. Are you really treating me as a piece of treasure? Envoy Sui, Im not silver. Not everyones going to want me once they see me! Sui Zhou looked at him expressionlessly. Youre my treasure. While this man typically didnt give romantic overtures, if he got serious, what he said would make those experienced in love feel themselves to be inferior. Mister Tang didnt say anything at that, simply bowing his head to drink his tea, as if he hadnt heard. Scarlet slowly creeped up from his neck to faintly dye his cheeks red, though. The snow still fell, getting bigger and bigger. Fewer and fewer people were on the street, and some of the customers that had thought to leave after finishing their drinks were forced to sit back down again, allowing the proprietor to replenish their cups with hot tea. In Tang Fan and Sui Zhous opinion, though, this quiet time of floating through life was exceptionally valuable. They had no intent to get on the road, still sitting at the table and watching the snow outside coat the roofs and streets. The world was a white stretch, immediately giving a sense of peace and beauty. The tea-making maiden quickly came over with two cups of loquat flower tea. The tea was hot, but in such cold whether, it soon became a suitable temperature for drinking. Tang Fan took a sip. It had the unique taste of loquat flowers, some slight sourness within the sweetness, both refreshing and pleasant. Its good, he appraised. She was quite happy. Both of you are officials of status, so being able to receive your praises is great! How do you know that were officials? he asked, very interested. You need to ask? she said with a smile. Even though youre both wearing ordinary clothes, this gentleman has a sabre at his side. If Im not wrong, it should be a spring-gilt sabre? Tang Fan raised a brow. Good eyes. Do you really sell tea? The maiden was faintly pleased. Of course. This lowly girl has been in the capital for about six years. A few years back, I helped my family sell cloth at Dengshikou, and my cousin and I branched out into a teashack to do business here; I see a lot of nobles, and my eyes work pretty well. Talking about you, compared to this other gent, your status must be higher than his. While she spoke, she didnt forget to send Tang Fan a flirty glance. Her looks might pale compared to Xiao Wu, but when it came to her charms and grace, she was not any sort of lacking. From how her hai was done up, she had to be a widow, so her words and actions were a lot bolder than the average womans. Unfortunately, that flirty glance was wasted on a blind man. Tang Fan was unmoved, and she instead made the other one unhappy. Why are you not leaving? Sui Zhou asked coldly. She jumped in fright. Feeling a bit wronged and displeased, she knew that since the other had a spring-gilt sabre, she couldnt afford to provoke him. Thus, she didnt say answered that, beamed at him, and switched targets to focus on him. Why so fierce, Sir? I was only making a wild guess. If I said something wrong, you can just tell me, she said with a coquettish smile. Tang Fan was refined, handsome, and, on account of the power he held, some eminence was added to his modest gentleman demeanor. A man like him was always the favorite of most women, hence why this maiden had the courage to strike up a conversation with him first. Unfortunately, he didnt take the opportunity, and the other man was too insensitive, forcing her to give up on that and turn her attention towards the man with the spring-gilt sabre. With one look, she discovered that despite him not being the type of man she typically liked, he had a different sort of manly attractiveness. The cut of his high-bridged nose and eyes were deeper than the average Central Plainsman, having a bit of a foreign tinge to them. Are you a Semu, Sir? she wondered. Sui Zhou remained silent, even completely ignoring her, drinking his tea. Instead, Tang Fan took it upon himself to clear up her awkward position. Hes a born and raised native of the Great Ming, with no Semu blood. Can I trouble you with refilling our hot water, Miss? The woman realized that she was being tactfully driven away. While reluctant to leave, Sui Zhous gaze and expression were too murderous, so she agreed and left, occasionally looking back as she walked. Tang Fan used that opportunity to poke fun. See? She isnt just looking at me, but you, too. Clearly, as long as a man is good-looking, she likes them. Are you afraid that Ill bully you extra hard tonight? Sui Zhou countered. That unexpected question almost put the tea in Tang Fans mouth through his nose, causing him to start violently coughing. Sui Zhou casually pat his back. Drink normally. Are you distracted by something? And who was the one that caused that distraction? Tang Fan lifted his head to glare viciously at him. Whenever a new Emperor ascended the throne, he would always carry out new policies. Even if it was simple posturing, he had to put on a show of revitalization, as if not doing so would make him lack proof that he was wise. The current Emperor was no exception, but his new policies were chiefly focused on cleaning up his fathers mess. He banished the demonic monks, and those guilty of terrible crimes, like Ji Xiao, were sentenced to beheadings in order to set an example. At the Cabinets suggestion, those monasteries that cost an extravagant amount of money to build were all put a stop to. If construction had begun with yet to finish, their materials were to be removed, then either used in the repairs of various capital bureaus or put away for use in repairing palace halls someday, so as not to waste even more money later. Those that had been finished would have the monks within ousted, the Court no longer funding it, and all the land bestowed to them taken back. As for the Wan party and the people that had relied on it, they were all regarded separately, in accordance with their circumstances. Wan An, who had switched sides at the last second and had both blame and merits, was allowed to retire on his own initiative, whereupon the Emperor granted him gold and allowed him to return to his hometown for retirement, which preserved all of his titles and integrity. When it came to Yin Zhi, Peng Hua, and the rest of them, however, there was no such politeness; the Emperor straight-up stripped them of their officials hats and drove them out of the capital, with those like Li Zisheng straight-up expelled from the city. As for Liang Fang, the Great Eunuch that had colluded with both the Wan party and the White Lotus Society, he was dragged to Caishikou to be interrogated and executed. With all of that properly handled, everybody finally sighed in relief. Compared to previous Emperor of this Dynasty, Hongzhi was already being very generous. His birth mothers death was a mystery, with the Wan siblings having a lot of involvement in it, but after his ascension, he didnt imitate the style of Emperors past by executing the entire family, merely letting it go in a light way. Throughout time, where there was struggle, there would be conflicts of interest. Once one party fell, the other party could reap benefits from it. At no point in time had there ever been an exception to this. No matter how noble ones original justifications and root origins were, once their own interests got into the mix, no one would be any sort of pure and clean. For that reason, the Wan partys fall was much of the same. When many urged for the new Emperor to counterattack, he took over, did not continue to pursue them, and even followed the Late Emperors last wish: he didnt touch Consort Wans coffin, preserved her posthumous title, and left her family alone. The Cabinet supported his decision, of course. Regardless of how great their former enmity of the Wan party was, competent officials and upright officials were different, in the end. The former had things they would and would not do, retaining their principles while also doing what was appropriate in certain situations, and the latter would do anything to defend righteousness, snuffing out all darkness. But darkness could never go completely snuffed out. Only went the light had the advantage would darkness hide in a corner, too afraid to come out. The ultimate aim of Tang Fan and the rests actions was simply to make the country be all the better a place, rather than have parties fighting each other. An Emperor that was snared in hatred and only only wanted revenge was bound to not bring many benefits to the country or its people. A generous, compassionate Emperor was a needed condition for a flourishing and well-governed era. The Hongzhi Emperors ascension undoubtedly foretold of a finally-imminent era where light had the upper hand. Come the second year of Hongzhi, those that ought to be out of the Cabinet had left, and Liu Ji remained. On account of his sudden change in style, instead of doing mediocre, useless things like he had in the Chenghua period, he became diligent, bold, and boldly stating his mind. Hongzhi had originally wanted to have him go Wan Ans same path by requesting that he go home in retirement, but now that he had gone from a mediocre official to a loyal official, there was no excuse for him to drive him out with. He had no choice but to let him continue to occupy the Head Vizier position. The one advantage to Liu Ji staying in his spot was that, in order to curry favor with the Emperor, he demonstrated that he was truly different from before. As he couldnt keep going down his route of mediocrity, he had to at least show some valor as the Head Vizier. The new laws Tang Fan brought up and the use of force against the Tartars that Liu Jian advocated for were passed along during this period, one-by-one. The Hongzhi Court truly did gradually come to make a new ambience, but a genuinely huge incident occurred on the third year of Hongzhi. In its spring, a small gang of Japanese pirates came ashore in Zhejiang, then burned, killed, and raised the citizens all along the coast, even invading Shaoxing City. It wasnt until the Zhejiang Metropolitan Commanding Envoy led troops in a rescue that the pirates calmly left by sea, sweeping a vast quantity of wealth and women out with them right before. In the span of that brief day, Shaoxing City had been plundered. Taking advantage of when everyone had been caught off guard and too slow to organize a counterattack, the pirates had struck first, slaughtered most of the soldiers, and raided nearly all of the citys wealthy households clean. On top of that, the Shaoxing City Prefectural Magistrate had been abducted, and chose to kill himself in order to keep full integrity. Word of this incident reached the capital, immediately shocking every level of society. Everyone found it hard to imagine that the vicious pirates, who had numbered a thousand at most, could invade Shaoxing Prefecture. However, after investigations, everyone learned that the pirates had used the false identities of Japanese tribute-bringers to hijack a Great Ming government vessel that had been going to trade with Japan, then pretended to be Ming peoples to turn the ship around and return to Ming. Upon colluding with Great Ming people, they had learned that Shaoxing Citys defenses were virtually nothing, and used that to attack it with ease. Worried that the government army would soon come knocking, the pirates hadnt stayed for long, merely sweeping the valuables clean, abducting a bunch of women, patting their clothes off, and slipping away. After Xuande, the Court had gradually implemented a seafaring ban. Those almighty Great Ming warships were now nowhere to be seen, with even many of the shipyards abandoned. The only government vessels around today had limited fighting power, their soldiers rarely prepared effectively for battles at sea. How could they ever catch up to the pirates, who had seafared for years and had ample experience? That wasnt even mentioning how they had insiders passing them information; long before the Ming army had arrived, they had already boarded and sailed swiftly away, causing the army to helplessly watch them exit the scene. This trade under treatise was the sole official method of trade between the Ming Dynasty and the rest of the world, after the maritime ban. It was common for Japanese pirates to rub government trade vessels, but it was practically unheard of for them to openly go looting the Great Ming like this! At the end of things, were the pirate too arrogant, or was the army too incompetent? Were they going to harshly crack down on the pirates, or were they going to stop even the trade treaty, completely severing the Great Mings passage to the world beyond, as well as severing the outside worlds desire to covet the Great Ming? The Court was arguing non-stop about these very things. CH extra 10 12 The Sea Characteristics of the Central Plains ethnicity bound it as one that didnt favor wanton expansion. This Dynasty was no exception; after its territory stabilized, national policies went from offensive to defensive, and there was no more dauntless courage to brave forwards from the nations founding. In its place were rulers of experience and staidness that watched over their ancestors works. Over time, the tendency of the government to emphasize the civil and de-emphasize the military had grown more and more obvious, with even border generals needing to be Palace Honorates before they could convince anyone. The Shaoxing turmoil caused a great shock, but subsequent discussions on reactive policies did not go smoothly. The mainstream voice of the Court at large believed that the trade treaty was really not necessary, and since it couldnt bring the Court much profit yet attracted pirates to harangue and invade, it would be better to just abolish trade and completely shut off the link between the Celestial Empire and the outside world. Only that policy would put everything at peace, done once and for all. Despite those voices occupying the majority, they were not without dissenting opinions. One amongst them was a chief faction headed by Tang Fan and company. Tang Fan believed that the grand Celestial Empire, though not war-thirsty, should not be war-shy, as there was no room for someone elses snores on ones own side of the bed. To be frank, now that someone had dropped by to harass them, what justification was there to be a turtle shrinking in its head? On top of that, there were various vassals like Annam and dependents like Joseon if the Great Ming drew back upon encountering difficulties, how would these subsidiaries view them? Where would be the Great Mings national might? The Great Ancestor had regained the Han lands, Yongle had moved the capital so that Emperors would watch the nations gates. How much time had passed since the Great Ming annihilated armies, having the valor to drive the Mongol Yuan out back to the prairies? Closing off the countrys borders now could provide temporary consolation, but if the pirate epidemic later worsened, would they just shrink into their shell and never come out? Even if they werent going to bother right now, shouldnt they be thinking of future generations? Sea trade in Songs time had spread to all countries and brought immense profits to its government; why was our Great Ming now so much stronger than Song, yet its courage and ambition so much lesser? Had the hundred-ish-year Mongol Yuan rule weakened the courage of our Central Plainsmen? Even though those remarks were emotive, they had no lack of detractors. Many were used to living comfortable lives and felt that adding another event to it was inferior to not doing so. Snorting at the ambition Tang Fan mention, they also believed that the Celestial Empire had expanded plenty; why take the dangerous ocean method to fight with tiny nations over crumbs? On top of that, shipbuilding expenses were huge. The Eunuch of Three Treasuress seven voyages West were proof enough of everything; they had brought no sort of benefit to the Great Ming, instead costing it a lot of money, to the point that some believed that the steadily-shrinking national treasury following the Yongle period had greatly been due to the Emperors insistence upon heading out West. Also, if they spent manpower and resources on fighting the pirates, they wouldnt get that much face if they one, while losing would be an immense loss of face. The best method was none other than to close the borders without any second thought, just as the Great Ancestor had ruled: No planks were allowed to hit the sea. This was the only surefire policy; the laws their predecessors had made were always the correct ones. Some even had no fear in speculating, with maximum malevolence, that Tang Fans warmongering was greatly connected to him currently heading the Ministry of War, because once fighting broke out, his Ministry could fish profits from it. It netting more funding aside, its status could thereby be greatly increased. Tang Fan disputed each and every one of those points. Firstly, fights needed to be paid for. Without payment, there would be no gains one couldnt expect meat bing to just fall out of the sky. Big countries that loved to wage war would perish, but if the land was at peace, forgetting how to fight would lead to peril. The Great Ming was not taking the initiative to go out and fight a brutal war. On the contrary, someone else had come knocking on its door, kidnapped its citizens, and stolen its money. If it didnt fight back, it would be seen only as a persimmon soft enough to squish, such things coming to happen more frequently in the future. Once the borders shut, everyone would believe this to peace and forget what danger was, inevitably forgetting how to even fight as time went on. When the time came, they would still get pushed around. Furthermore, many citizens had been abducted by the pirates out at sea; were they all to be ignored? Secondly, instead of completely shutting off the trade agreement, it ought to be broadened. In light of the enormous money Song sea trading had brought, the much more mighty Great Ming was absolutely able to do the same. Although the Great Ancestor had a law that planks were not to hit the sea, that only aimed at civilian vessels. It was after that that the Eunuch of Three Treasures had gone on his voyages, and government trading hadnt ceased at all. The ancestral law had a lot of wiggle room, and, strictly speaking, there was no total ban about it. Also, even with government currently banning trade amongst civilians, there were still many civilian vessels secretly going out to sea and nabbing profits themselves. It was precisely due to the maritime ban that the government did not get a mite of that civilian income, making it an immense loss. Damming this was inferior to letting it flow; rather than allowing these illegal trades to continue, it would be better for the government to set up a system, streamline them, and get them taxed. That would solve two things in one, in the long term. Tang Fan was not fighting alone. Many opposed him, and many also supported him. Those people included Presider Yang Yiqing of Nanjings Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Presider Li Dongyang of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Xie Qian, a graduated scholar and imperial tutor, and so on. If it was said that Xie Qian was purely supporting a friend, then Yang Yiqing, Li Dongyang, and the others were doing it out of practical, strategic importance. Their viewpoints were generally the same as Tang Fans. They believed that guarding was worse than attacking, and even though the shipbuilding and navy-establishment costs would be big, the later stages of earnings would earn it back fully. Were the scope of Songs sea trade to reappear, the Court would not need to worry about annual allocations from the national treasury from then on, nor would the Emperor need to worry about his funds in the inner treasury not being enough. While their posts were not powerful and they didnt have a Cabinet member amongst them, but, without exception, they were young and strong officials that had the current Emperors confidence. With no incident, after a few years when this batch of old subjects in the Cabinet retired, the Great Mings Pivot would be ruled by them. The arguing between the two factions was exceptionally intense, lasting from the third year to the fourth year of Hongzhi. The beginning was about whether to send troops to suppress the pirates and whether to cease the trade agreements, and later became debates on how the troops should be dispatched, how they should fight, and to what degree the seafaring ban should be opened the situation was gradually unfolding. That was, until the end of the Hongzhis fourth year, the pirates, having sampled sweetness, saw that Ming was doing nothing, and swept in for a second round, coming ashore and looting. That compelled the Emperor to finally come to a decision: Wang Zhi would be appointed as Governor of Ningbo, and set up a navy. Generally speaking, Hongzhi was a relatively cautious and reserved person. His childhood experiences caused him to never make rash decisions, especially not major ones. If the people beside him were as cautious and reserved as he was, then this would be a cautious Court; it would complete the task of defense beautifully, but could never be as dauntless in forging ahead as the founding Court. That was normal. Any Dynasty that developed to a certain stage, given that there were no external forces, would only go down a path of reservation until its end. But here, history was taking a turn. Tang Fans group naturally had no idea that in the third year of Hongzhi, at a different end more than ten-thousand li away from the Great Ming, a Portuguese mariner named Dias had discovered Africas Cape of Good Hope; nor that a whole continent collectively called Europe, an area that Genghis Khan had once led the Mongolian cavalry over to, was currently engulfed in a wave that later generations would call the Renaissance; nor that a tiny country across from that continent, partitioned by sea, was on the verge of preparing for its Reformation. The Great Ming knew not a thing of these events. Even Tang Fan didnt know that what he was fighting for was going to bring about some sort of change for the nation. The day Wang Zhi had been dreaming of finally came. After returning from Datong, he had believed that his political career was already done for. For any other eunuch, his achievements might be glowing, but he himself was none too happy. He innately loved the feeling of commanding armies to head onto the battlefield, and the Heavens seemed to have bestowed him that talent the several-year garrison of Datong and the victory of the Tartar army had been enough to explain that. Yet that good life had not lasted long. The Court at the time, seeing that things were good, had retracted, unwilling to annihilate the Tartars. For the sake of not having others say that he was being a despot and thus disregarding the merits he held, with Tang Fans added persuasion, Wang Zhi had been obliged to withdraw his troops and return to the Court. He had never been back to the frontlines since. Tang Fan had urged him to set his gaze a bit further away, not just stare at the prairies. The Great Ming laso had the vast ocean, and its equally unsteady Southwest. When he had said so, maybe even he himself hadnt anticipated that those purely-comforting words would later turn into reality. The person Wang Zhi most admired was the Eunuch of Three Treasures. Now that he could do something similar to what he had done, how could he not be stoked? As for the Court, he was indeed a great candidate. There were still many voices of opposition in Court. The Emperors had the support of Tang Fans group, yet it also encountered opposition, including the Cabinets Head Vizier Liu Ji. Even so, no matter how loud the voices were, under Tang Fans methods and efforts, the Cabinets opposing voice was not very firm. The Court finally agreed to organize a navy for a small-scale attack against the pirates, under the precondition that funds were tightly restricted, and could not go over budget. In circumstances like these, whether civil officials or military generals were sent out, it would be easy for them to be denounced. Wang Zhi had no such concern, though. First of all, he was a eunuch, making what once was a shortcoming instead turn into an advantage. There was a long precedent of eunuchs taking command of armies. Second of all, he had military merits on him. No one could ignore the achievements he had gained in Datong. When the current Emperor had been the Crown Prince, Wang Zhi had secretly thrown his lot in with him, and put in a lot of effort for him to ascend. Now was the time for him to reap his rewards, at last. Someone like Hongzhi would repay any kindness shown to him twofold; therefore, when Wang Zhi had asked to take the lead, he had agreed without hesitation, even setting aside some extra money from the internal treasury to show his supportive stance and attitude. Wang Zhi truly was the most suited candidate. He felt smug, fully enthusiastic about what great deeds he was about to accomplish. However, there were yet more layers of difficulties up ahead of him. Hoist the Sails If there are any sort of problems for your expedition, theres no harm in telling me of them. If my abilities allow, I can help resolve them together with you, and save you the time waste of having to go through a Cabinet discussion. Tang Fan had the confidence to say that now not only because he overlooked the Ministry of Justice, but also the Ministry of War. While areas that needed extra funds would need to go through the Ministry of Revenue, and large-scale transfers of troops would need to first go through the Cabinet, but small-scope troops transfers were thing she could still make executive decisions on. Wang Zhi had no politeness with him, holding up two fingers. Problem one: No ships I can use. Problem two: No money. Im not sure if the funds your Cabinet allocated are even enough to build two ships! Am I going to take only two of them out to fight the pirates? All theyll do is die of laughter! Adding things up carefully, it had been more than ten years since the two had met in the fourteenth year of Chenghua. Tang Fan was now in his thirties, and Wang Zhi was no longer that baby-faced Depot Director, yet the years had not left too many marks on them. Sober, they wielded worldly power; drunk, they laid on the laps of beauties when power was added on, a mans charms would only increase, and these two were no exception. However, Tang Fans prestige mixed with finesse, giving him an increasingly moderate gentility and apparently weightlessness. Wang Zhi, meanwhile, had curbed his formerly-exposed impulsiveness, replacing it with a staidness that looked identical to Tang Fans, but that staidness really was just a look. As his status ebbed and flowed with the tide, and that was added with the growth that came with age, it was an overall bad idea to consider everyone beneath him like he had before, else he would be welcomed with a huge pile of denouncements. Only those close to him knew that Eunuch Wangs arrogance was no different from before. Hence was why people like him were doomed to be ill-fitted for muddling about the capital. He could compromise with others to achieve some goals, but that still did nothing to change the reality that he was a sharp-edged blade. Blades always had the biggest use turning their talents outside, why was the cause of Tang Fan strongly supporting him going out to pacify the pirates. When it came to impudent enemies, only letting someone even more vicious go would they be constrained. Hearing that, Tang Fan could only smile bitterly. Youre a real greedy lion those two problems couldnt be fixed even if the entire Cabinet approves of it, let alone me. After the Court carried out the maritime ban, those warships from before have long gone into disrepair. Thats not even mentioning the loss of that skillset, since those artisans are long passed. Even if you had the money, you wouldnt be able to find any craftsmen or handymen that can make those huge ships. If it was so easy to resolve, why would I ask you to do it? Wang Zhi asked, unperturbed. It would have to be hard to do, wouldn it? If you could do it, wouldnt that be enough to prove that youre the most capable Cabinet member in the Great Ming? What are you going on about? Why would I want to prove that Im the most competent whatever? Sir Tang couldnt help but roll his eyes. Stop doing that crap. I cant fix those two issues of yours, but I do have some ideas. You may as well listen to them, and if they make sense to you, you can go from there. Wang Zhi crossed one leg over the other, his face a tiny bit punchable. I want to hear the details. It was thanks to Mister Tangs good self-cultivation and him having become familiar with the others personality after knowing him for so many years that he didnt feel like bothering with him. After you get to Ningbo, dont be preoccupied with shipbuilding and recruitment. The most important thing will be getting money. Are you talking just to talk? Are you going to listen to all of it, or what? Seeing that he was right about to throw everything down and stop caring, Wang Zhi quickly said, Go on, go on. Tang Fan sent him another big eyeroll. First, you need to get a feel for the layout of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang military forces, as well as the power of each individual area. he Commanding Envoy of the Zhejiang Metropolitan Office, Zhuo Haosi, is slippery old fox. The Court would have him give you invalids, as he would definitely never hand any strong troops over to you. Tricks, like making diversions as a cover, are a part of his toolset. You will need to fight him in a battle of wits and courage, but hes someone of high moral character that is capable in his acts. It would be best for you to not completely fall out with him. You must have a bottom line in all things, because only then will you be able to act more easily in the future. If he gets replaced, his successor might not be any better. Every individual having their own calculations is inevitable; as long as he has some use, you can strive for cooperation. After listening to all that, Wang Zhi figured that the other was afraid that he would go and be hostile with local officials. Is this Wang that I am someone who lacks all tolerance, in your mind? The other knew what he was thinking with one look. Dont take it the wrong way, its not you Im worried about. Think about it; the pirates are not the same race as us, so why did they know our terrain like the back of their hands, and could invade Shaoxing City? Clearly, someone familiar with the terrain had led the way, and theres definitely more than one. I heard that because of the ban, pirates and merchants have a long history of colluding in the Southeast for mutual profits. You going to oust the pirates will certainly affect their interests, so you need to be very cautious. Before the circumstances become known, people that can be won over, like Zhuo Haosi, should not be rashly impinged upon. Wang Zhi nodded lightly. He was not someone who wouldnt listen to others opinions. Even though he said nothing to Tang Fan, he was convinced on the inside. So, I need to attack those people first? Yes, the traitors within need to be rooted out first. Just keep one thing in mind; the Southeast is affluent and has a bunch of traveling merchants, among which are no lack of wealthy ones that are entrenched deep into the government. About ninety-percent of those big families have seafaring businesses, and of those that do, about ninety-percent have connections to the Japanese pirates, though each have their differences some are forced to put on an act, some are stuck too deep into the muck. If you can gain their support, you should, without beating them all to death. Youll find it difficult to make headway in the Southeast, otherwise. Wang Zhi raised a brow. Split them up, then rope them in? Tang Fan smiled. Thats the idea. You can also sow dissent between them, but you dont need me to say that, because you, Eunuch Wang, know how to do that much better than I do. Piss off! Are you done explaining things? This guys saying goodbye! Who the heck called themselves this guy as a guest in the house? Solon Tang was a bit exasperated. Under this sky, no one would be able to find someone more wild than Eunuch Wang. Still, wild people also had wild capital. Even if he didnt go to Ningbo, Wang Zhi could be described as he prime figure amongst the Twelve Supervisories. The current Emperor was one to remember grace and forget grudges, especially when it came to those that had given him great assistance while he had still been humble. He hadnt forgotten a single one, including Empress Wu (the Late Emperors first Empress, later deposed due to clashing with Consort Wan), who had helped with hiding his location; following his ascension, he had brought her out of the palace of exile, and cared for her according to how an Empress Dowager should be. There was also Huai En, who had protected him, that he had recalled from Nanjing and treated as an elder. Sadly, Huai En had been up there in age and passed from the world soon afterwards, so the Emperor had a shrine erected for him, a rare honor amongst eunuchs. In contrast, Wang Zhi was quite young, and still had enough time to enjoy his good luck from having helped the Crown Prince back then. The Emperor trusted him enough to not only hand being the Sealwielder of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management, which had belonged to Huai En, over to him, but also ask for his opinion on many things that went on within the palace. Given that no major incident popped up, as long as Hongzhi still lived, Wang Zhi would doubtlessly be able to enjoy the fullest extent of glory, a generous salary, a high position, and riches. And yet, he had elected to volunteer himself for military service and go eradicate the pirates, not having a second thought about it a hard, thankless job. When the Court had decided to send troops, few in it, civil or martial, were willing to head out. In that situation, Wang Zhi going of his own choice moved the Emperor all the more, to the point where he private urged him not to. However, Wang Zhis mind was set, and the Emperor had no choice but to agree with him at last. With that premise, as well as Tang Fan helping from the rear. Wang Zhi only needed to concentrate on dealing with things related to the pirates, having no need to worry about someone tripping him up behind his back. Guangchuan introduced me to someone named Cheng Zhou, Commanding Conductor of the Zhejiang Metropolitan Office. Long ago, Guangchuan had done him a huge favor, and hes a decent person, so you can find him to ask about anything related to recruitment. Those you recruit will not only play a crucial role in the battle against the pirates, but will also turn into elite troops defending the Southeast after the maritime ban is opened up. They will also represent your own reputation, so you need to be prudent, and be strict with your military discipline. Wang Zhi hummed. I know the drill. Relax about all that; Im not stupid when it comes to important stuff. Tang Fan smiled, picking his tea cup off of the table. With my status, Im afraid that I wont be able to see you off, when the time comes. Ill use this tea in place of wine to toast you. For this farewell meal, I pray that you take care of yourself. There will be a time when the wind is long and the waves break, and you will sail swiftly across the blue sea with dropped sails! Wang Zhi also picked up his cup. Thanks. Keep your temper more in-check. Dont be so impulsive, either, Tang Fan said with a teasing wink. Someone might just push you around you, and then youll lose a lot of face. Wang Zhi chuckled. Then I hope, too, that when I come back, you havent been used and left in the dust. Tang Fan choked hard. Shameless! Cheeky! Is that what you should be saying to me?! he said, fake-angry. Wang Zhis smile was skin-deep. How about I pray for you to be able to get out of bed everyday? Stomach aching with anger because of him, Tang Fan waved him off like he was swatting a fly. Get out! If you have time to annoy me, you have time to annoy those pirates to death! The other laughed, stepped past the threshold, and strode off. Contrasted with the light, the others entire body appeared to be bathed in sunlight, its brilliance much too dazzling. Tang Fan was forced to squint as he watching Wang Zhis figure leave, a trace of uncertainty in his mind: Would Wang Zhi actually be able to accomplish this? As for all that he himself had done, was it right? Following the Yongle period, many had believed that each Western voyage had not only failed to bring the Dynasty any benefits, but instead caused it to lose a lot of money in the name of rewards, due to quickly-arriving tributes coming from every nation. The Emperor would certainly gain prestige, but if things had gone on like that, the national treasury would inevitably be unable to hold up the immense cost. Many people were therefore opposed to lifting the sea prohibition, even opposing the attack against the pirates. All of them had their own reasonings; once the countrys borders were closed, nothing else would happen. Why bother with the annoyance of some small fry? If they won, they wouldnt see too many benefits, yet would have put a lot of money into it. Tang Fan was not clairvoyant. He acted according to his own experiences and judgements, but he couldnt decide on the way things went. He wasnt even absolutely sure on what results Wang Zhis trips would bring, whether good or bad. Historys tides rolled forth. Only after a few decades, or even a century, passed would later generations look back and maybe make an unbiased assessment of this. I hope that in later history books, I wont show up as a neer-do-well, he thus lamented. The Stars Following the sound of New Years firecrackers, it was officially the eleventh year of Hongzhi Those living them might not notice, but the days passed by very quickly. Winter went to spring, after New Years came the Lantern Festival, after the Lantern Festival came the Dragonhead Festival, and then, before anyone could realize it, branches would bud, tufted around with tender sprouts, spring would pass, and Qingming would come around again. While the Norths cold might not yet have receded, the South would have long been a scene of flowers and leaves sprouting, grass growing, and birds flying. Everything was beautiful along the road. The spring scenery, numerous flowers entering the eyes, could make one happy to see it, their three energies seeming to fly on upwards along with it. Bian Wendong was no exception. Seeing the fresh greens on either shore, he let out a slow breath, as if he was spilling out all of his grudges accumulated over the years. He had been taking exams for several years to be a Provincial Honorate, but he hadnt passed due to poor luck, so he had simply given that idea up and switched to another plan. The imperial exams were like a single-plank bridge, on the other side of which was a passage to the heavenly Great Dao. Every scholar in the world wanted to cross it, yet only very few could squeeze through, in the end. Even though he was one of those unfortunate souls, he didnt wallow in self-pity like many scholars that had flunked out of the exams. After trying three times and discovering that he likely wasnt cut out for it, he had thereby decided to no longer waste his life on the exams. Scholars that didnt study in this day and age had fewer options than ever; they could either go back home and farm (his family was doing well, so there was no need for him to be a farmer), or wander the world, which he felt was too lollygag-y. Thus, after thinking about it, he had prepared to go to the South, look around, and be a merchant. A cousin that he was close with happened to be doing business there. Upon hearing that Jiangnan was prosperous and wealthy, having riches everywhere, Bian Wendong had come South, ready to go to Ningbo, meet up with his cousin, then make plans. He had been born and raised in the North, having never been here before. This trip had gradually brought him down South, and what he was witnessing and hearing had indeed shocked him. The closer he got to Hangzhou and Ningbo, the more bustling the towns would be. Everything else aside, their manner of dress alone was prettier and more fashionable than the North, and the atmosphere was more lax. Intellectuals that never left their homes could not know the ways of the world. He believed himself to not be the sort of egghead that understood nothing real. Reading books aside, at the bare minimum, he would still pay attention to major world events. He thus knew that in the third year of Hongzhi, the Court had sent Wang Zhi, Governor of Ningbo, to oust Japanese pirates, and then had heard that, in the sixth year of Hongzhi, Wang Zhi had built the Great Mings navy, and completely expelled the pirates. He had also heard that in the seventh year of Hongzhi, the Court had agree to Wang Zhis memorial requesting to expand the scope of the trade agreement, slowly opening up the civilian marine prohibition and collecting merchant taxes. However, with this trip out of his home, he had discovered that he didnt understand much at all, and there were many things that he had never even heard of before. When he had been resting at some inn not far from Hangzhou, for example, he had heard someone claiming to have come back from overseas say that to the West of the Great Ming was not just the Great Ming, but many other countries. At the time, Bian Wendong had said, I know that. Arent those just Jiaozhi, Tianzhu, and Siam? But the other had just laughed at him. What year is your Yellow Calendar on? Who doesnt know about those? Im talking about even farther out west. He was not too convinced. Isnt further West just Arabia? The other still shook his head, having an expression that said, You really cant teach a pedant. Its even more West than that! Then, Bian Wendong had decided that this guy was bullshitting him, stopped feeling like talking to him, pat his butt off, and left. He had come from a good family. Although he was planning to get into the merchant business, he wasnt too short on coin. Upon arriving in Hangzhou, this paradise of the human world, he had prepared to wander around and have fun. How could he have known that after spending a few days loitering about teahouses and bookstores, he would discover that the ignorant one had been him the whole time?! What was Europe? What was Italia? What were the Americas? What was the Far West? Red-hairs? Holland? Falconets? Those were all like fantastical stories, spinning him until dizzy. He nearly believed that he had arrived at a foreign land! Hangzhou City was indeed flourishing. In addition to his fellows that had black hair and golden skin, there were quite a few foreigners with high nose bridges, deep-set eyes, yellow hair, and blue eyes, just like the Semu people of legend. It wasnt that Bian Wendong had never read of the different races converging from all over during the former Yuan, but when he saw it with his own eyes, he still suffered a huge hit. He heard that these people were not called Semu. They instead hailed from a place called Europe, and the locals called them Westerners. They all had come indirectly from Arabia; some had taken a sea route, but those were much too long and had wind and waves that were much too strong, often capsizing them partway through the journey. He heard that the Far West had had a multitude of countries, and that the Great Mings territory was equal to that of Europes entire landmass. He also heard that there were two very formidable countries on the European side. Their navies were extremely powerful, often taking to the sea. Because they had been poor, they were forced to plunder treasures from all over the place to bring back, as only then had their country gradually turned rich Tch. That thieving behavior goes against all of what the saints taught us! No wonder those practically uncivilized barbarians cant compare to our Celestial Empire! Regardless of how Bian Wendong slandered them in his heart, all of what he was seeing and hearing caused him the greatest amount of shock. Similar to everyone who had just come from the North to the South, he went from mocking, questioning, and disdaining, to gradually wavering and doubting himself, to seeing things with his own eyes, getting shaken up beyond compare, softening up on the inside, then finally half-believing it all. How he differed from others was that his mind was more open, and his field of view more vast. It made it easier for him to accept these new, preposterous and unbridled things. After coming to Hangzhou, he had wanted to travel to Ningbo by land, but someone told him that he could go from here on a boat there, which was much quicker. Now that both the government and commonfolk had opened up such waterways, the toll was cheaper than taking a carriage. Many Northerners had never tested out sea routes before, their knees going weak the second they saw the wide-open ocean worrying about wind and waves, worrying about boats capsizing, worrying about going and not coming back. Bian Wendong, on the other hand, enthusiastically found a local merchant vessel that specialized in sea transport. Despite throwing up on the journey and his legs being weak the entire time, he did get to see the immense, extensive sea that others had described. Expelling the pirates and lifting the sea prohibition had that been right, or wrong? Ever since the fourth year of Hongzhi, every level of society had argued about that issue without rest. Some had even cursed Wang Zhi as being a traitor and Tang Fan as being a eunuchs supporter, while others had rued that merchants had a debased business. If everyone saw profitable ventures in the prohibitions lift, even farmers would relinquish their tillable land to switch to trade, and then the realm would be in great chaos! As time had gone on, however, those voices got even quieter and quieter, because the benefits that the lift had given the Court were clear. If nothing else, the silver taels flowing into the national treasury every year were the real deal, not a contribution that could be erased by the vilification of the many. Bian Wendong was only a minor County Honorate. He didnt know what was going on behind the scenes with all of this and how deep its significance was, nor how big of a role Tang Fan had played in it. What he could see was that Jiangnan was more tolerant and affluent in comparison to the North. He heard that there were a lot of businesspeople in Ningbo City, and its citizens consequently received many tangible advantages to that. It was difficult for him to describe it more specifically, but as he saw it, this citys prosperity was approximate to the capitals. Ten years ago, this place had only been a slightly more bustling Jiangnan city that couldnt even go up against Hangzhou. His friend-cousin that came to pick him up, Gao Chang, upon hearing Bian Wendongs ideas, smiled in quite some surprise. You adapted really well, Brother Liangcai. As far as I know, a lot of Northerners that come here find all of this hard to accept for a time. I once saw an old man yelling about how the Great Ming was about to be taken over by barbarians, and ran off to the authorities to demand that they expel all the foreigners. Bian Wendong objected to that. If foreigners enter the Central Glory and are willing to be enlightened in it, why not tolerate them? Think back to the Great Tangs prosperity, and how Changan City had all sorts of foreigners in it. Are we today inferior to the ancients then? Thats much too absurd! Not everyone thinks like you do. I heard that Guangzhou grew red-eyed with jealously seeing what was going on in Ningbo, so they sent a memorial to the Court. They wanted to expand the scope of the Office of Merchant Vessels for a cooperative trade agreement with Nanyang, so that Nanyangs various cities wouldnt come to our Ningbo. Bian Wendong saw that his tone was light and elegant and his clothes were tidy and comfortable; he must be living a good life. It wasnt odd that he had taken root here, formed a family, and had never gone back to the North. Ive only just arrived here, so there are many things I dont understand. Ill have to have your guidance, Brother Xinyue. Gao Chang smiled. Youre a good friend just as learned as I, as well as my cousin. Theres no need to be so polite. If theres anything I can help with, all you need to do is ask! Then I dare to ask, Brother; how does one make a living in Ningbo City? The two were walking from the port to the busiest part of city, as Gao Chang was bringing him to eat. The two talked while they walked, not going at a quick pace. Youve asked the right person. As I see, every place in Ningbo has ah? Gao Chang stopped before he finished. Bian Wendong waited a long time for the next half that didnt come, so he followed the others line of sight, wanting to see what had suddenly drawn his attention. What he saw was an entourage not too far ahead that was surrounding two men, one in dark clothes and wearing a belt of carved jade, and the other in a sapphire blue zhiduo. Even though they were both dressed normally, judging from their demeanor and outstanding looks, one could tell from a glance that they werent ordinary commoners and that was saying nothing of all the followers around them. Are they? Bian Wendong believed that Gao Chang had seen an acquaintance. The other had been in Ningbo City for so long, agter all; he supposedly had a lot of contacts in the government. Thats the Governor of Ningbo, Eunuch Wang! Gao Chang was a bit excied, staring without distraction. What?! Bian Wendong quickly opened his eyes wide, fearing that he would get less of a view. This was a celebrity! Wang Zhi driving out the pirates had already turned into a legend. With him stationed in Ningbo City, everybody felt at ease, even seeing him as its guardian deity. Apparently, some had even wanted to erect a shrine for him; he himself had been happy for it, but a letter from Tang Fan had dissuaded him. The current Emperor had a lot of faith in this eunuch of decorated military merits, just like how the Yongle Emperor had trusted the Eunuch of Three Treasures. Mutual trust between monarch and subject was a fine tale. As the early happenings of the Western Depot faded away, what the people of now remembered was Eunuch Wang beating back the Tartars and Japanese pirates. It wasnt that no censors were denouncing him, but because the Emperor trusted him and Wang Zhi had worked hard to improve himself, there was nothing they could defame him with. All the denouncers could repeatedly grab onto was nothing more than his bossy nature, the bygone establishment of the Western Depot, and so forth. None of it could shake up Eunuch Wang at all. Who is that next to Eunuch Wang, then? Bian Wendong wondered. The other one was clearly not a eunuch, but his air was no lesser. He gave off elegance and glamor, yet didnt appear to be purely a scholar. An arrogant man like Wang Zhi having a vaguely courteous manner next to him was really quite astonishing. Gao Chang gave several looks, then answered, I heard that Head Vizier Tang of the Cabinet recently returned to his hometown to tend his family graves and pay respects to his ancestors. That hometown is in Zhenjiang, which is not too far from Ningbo. Youre saying that?! Bian Wendong mulled that over for a minute, and couldnt help but be greatly startled. Upon taking a closer look, the mans presence and behavior were so above the norm, which was exactly right Im only guessing. Ive seen a lot of officials, from Ningbo to Zhejiang, but Ive never seen him. Plus, with Eunuch Wangs status, what official in Zhejiang would he do the hard work of meeting them in person for? Gao Chang laughed, pulling at him. Cmon, cmon. We shouldnt care about what celebrities like that are doing. Lets go to Immortal Gathering, first. I already booked a table for you to freshen up with! Immortal Gathering is unequaled in Ningbo City Bian Wendong couldnt help but glance back a few more times, only after which he followed Gao Changs steps, getting farther and farther away. CH extra 13 - 15 Wang Zhi You are one that refuses to go unnoticed. The year he entered the palace, Wang Zhi was no older than nine. He was not like those children of impoverished families, forced into this to live and voluntarily entering the palace to seek riches. His father and grandfather were Yao of Guangxi, and because their rebel army had been defeated and captured, their descendants suffered involvement as prisoners of war. Wang Zhi and the children of other ethnicities had all been sent into the palace to become attendants. However, when he and the rest of the children that went in were standing together, waiting for a Great Eunuch said to be the most powerful and mentionable within the palace would come to choose an apprentice, he other had walked over to them with attendants at his sides, sharp gaze sweeping over their faces until it ultimately landed on Wang Zhi, whereupon he said the prior sentence. You are one that refuses to go unnoticed. Wang Zhi was caught off guard for a good minute. He was still too young; before coming to the capital, he hadnt even known any Mandarin. Had it not been for the burst of cram study he had done after entering the palace, he might not have understood what the other was saying. Even if he did understand it, he couldnt exactly comprehend it, looking at his counterpart with a confused expression. I see ambition in your eyes, the man said further. Wang Zhi still looked blank. Or, it should be said that he did understand what was said, but was pretending not to. His family had encountered misfortune, his kin had encountered adversity. The long journey from Guangxi to the capital had been enough to teach him how to do a lot. Like hiding his thoughts. Like faking stupidity. Like acting subdued. The other smiled and didnt say anything else, merely pointing at Wang Zhi and a few others, then saying to the attendant hat was responsible for arranging the children, Thatll be them. The attendant nodded, bowed, then led the children away. In the months following that, they didnt see the person that had spoken to Wang Zhi again. Later on, Wang Zhi came to learn that the man was Liang Fang, Sealwielder Eunuch of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management. Sealwielders did not wield official seals, but were draped in red. In other words, they had the power to help the Emperor evaluate memorials. There was no need for a deeper understanding. Even if one heard about it only once, they could imagine how much authority this Sealwielder Eunuch had. Wang Zhi recalled the scene of the others servants surrounding him like clouds, more majestic than the greater officials he had seen before. Can I be someone like that in the future? Now that he had become a eunuch, he had to become the most powerful one of all. Great men were born stupendously gifted, where even if they died, they would be a mighty ghost. His life in the Inner Education Hall passed swiftly. He was innately sharp, making his learning progress quicker than mosts, yet he noticed the darkness and filth in the palace, coming to be deeply versed in the truth that the forests most beautiful trees would be broken by the wind. Although he was pompous by nature, he could forcefully restrain himself into an obedient, low-key appearance. He had been praised by the Halls teacher several times, yet it wasnt enough to incite peoples jealousy. The Education Hall had been specially set up as a study hall for eunuchs in the palace. They not only learned how to read and write here, but also familiarized themselves with the Four Books and Five Classics, and came to thoroughly understand ancient moral texts. Wang Zhi heard that ever since the Halls construction, all eunuchs able to earn themselves a name in the Dynasty had invariably done well in the Hall. The Courts original intent for them learning all of this was not to have eunuchs go get scholarly honors, of course, but to use Confucian principles to educate them, so that they could turn into loyal and reliable people. In addition to learning literature and disciplines, some carefully-chosen children would also learn martial arts in the Hall. Wang Zhi was one of them. They were taught by either palace bodyguards, or senior eunuchs with decent skills. Every once in a while, Eunuch Liang would come over and give pointers to anyone that had good roots and grasp. Of those, Wang Zhi had been instructed by him the most the other seemed to believe that Wang Zhi was a good sprout, wanting to make him his half-apprentice, but unexpectedly, Wang Zhis learning progress wasnt too fast. Liang Fang then quickly lost interest in hime, no longer giving him any further thought. And it was during this period of learning that Wang Zhi heard about someone: Zheng He. Zheng Hes family name hadnt been Zheng to begin with, but Ma, and he hadnt been a Han, but a Hui. He had been abducted to Nanjing due to war, and then, by chance coincidence, entered the residence of the Yongle Emperor, who was the Prince of Yan at the time. When following Yongle into a siege, he had established illustrious merits, gained the Emperors trust, received the name Zheng He, and ordered to voyage West seven times, whereupon he sailed wisely on blue waves and attracted many nations to join the Dynasty, his appraisal still debated to this day. What a similar origin! What a similar experience! He had also been a foreigner, and also entered the deep palace against his will. The difference between them was that the Eunuch of Three Treasures was of famed name and high status, the twists of his lifes tale incomparable to those of typical people, or even a lot of scholars. A faint longing was in Wang Zhis heart. Maybe, one day, I can be like him, too? Was it hard to be a eunuch? Of course it was. The physical incompleteness, the need to read others expressions to get by, the intrigue of the deep palace, the ease with which life could be lost no matter how precociously intelligent and tough Wang Zhi was, he was not without fear deep inside his heart. He often startled awake in the middle of the night, as if he was still en route to the capital, caught. Sometimes, the officials that came to the palace for discussion would pass by him, and he would get a clear view of the unconcealed disdain these gentlemen had, as if they were so very clean, while Wang Zhi and them were so very dirty. The eunuchs and palace maids were all slaves. Slaves, slaves a lifetime of being slaves. This path was one he hadnt chosen to begin with, but was his fortune never going to turn around again? No. He refused to accept this, as was natural. Even if he couldnt choose which path he walked, he wanted to take that path up to his own divine destiny. For the sake of this obsession, Wang Zhi studied strenuously. Where others put in fifty-percent effort, he would frequently put in seventy, eighty, ninety-percent. One year later, due to his good performance in the Inner Education Hall, Wang Zhi was assigned to the Palace of Manifest Virtue; in other words, he was going to serve Consort Wan. He had a saccharine mouth, was diligent and efficient in his work, and quickly won her favor and trust. In her eyes, the young eunuch was proficient at speaking, very strong at handling things, and could be trained up as her confidante. During his days at the Palace, Wang Zhi also witnessed and learned a lot. Not only that, but he gained the attention of the Chenghua Emperor; because the latter loved what his woman loved, he had a deep-cut impression of Wang Zhi. But Wang Zhi didnt care for that. Many would have felt quite pleased after received Consort Wans favor and sitting steady in an attendant seat at her Palace, yet he wasnt. His goal, from beginning to end, had not been Consort Wan, nor even the Emperor. Great Eunuch of the Palace of Manifest Virtue? Sealwielder of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management? Are those anything at all? I want to stand in an even higher position and grasp even more power, like the Eunuch of Three Treasures legendary, wondrous, and beyond comparison to anyone else. Thats the only life I want to live. Soon, that opportunity came. Owing to the demonic fox case, everyone was in a panic. The Emperor was ill-rested all night, always dreaming up that someone was spying on him at night. Due to failing to catch the alleged mastermind behind the scenes, the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard had been reprimanded by the Emperor several times already. At that point, Wang Zhi stood out, then asked the Emperor for directions on his own accord, saying that he could resolve this matter. The Emperor was half-skeptical, but ultimately gave him the ability to come and go from the palace as he saw fit. Wang Zhi did not disappoint him, handling everything flawlessly, and even caught the demon monk, Li Zilong. A group of people were also swept away, both inside and outside of the palace. He used the Emperors bad impression of the Eastern Depot to build the Western Depot becoming its momentarily-famous Director. The taste of holding power in his youth and rising up so fast came too quickly, too beautifully, resulting in someone as tremendously shrewd as him being overly caught up in it for a minute, losing his sense of propriety, and his itch to expand the Western Depot soon attracted a lot of criticism. Not only were the civil officials highly on-alert and vigilant against the Western Depot, but the Eastern Depots Shang Ming and company were also unhappy with their authority being split up, and secretly made stumbling blocks for him. Even the Emperor and Consort Wan, who had formerly supported him, were gradually changing stance. Wang Zhi was keenly aware that he was sinking into territory where he would be alone, and without help. It looked like his power was still great and his moment was still going strong, as whenever he went outside, once the name Western Depot was heard, everyone would get more frightened than they would upon hearing the Eastern Depots. That was the fruit of his strenuous labor, but that fruit had ripened too quickly, soon about to fall to the ground and rot. I was too hasty. My strides were too quick, he thought, having a bit of a headache. Even though he was bright, in this game he was playing, he had no expert guiding him. Haphazardly charging around would only end with his total defeat. This was the fate of nearly all power-wielding eunuchs, but he refused it and the Heavens didnt let him down. When he was at a loss, someone appeared. He was Tang Fan, a sixth-rank Judge from Shuntian Prefecture. That officials post was too minor to make even the slightest wave in a place like the capital, but it was because of Pan Bins words that Wang Zhi became interested in the small-time character. For the sake of dispelling Pan Bins predicament, the other had used his mouth to give Wang Zhi two different ideas: one, leave Consort Wans camp to switch to the Crown Princes, and two, abandon all that he had now for abroad exploits, such as military credits. At first, Wang Zhi hadnt taken those two ideas to heart at all, but then many things happened, every single one of which seemed to corroborate the trueness of what Tang Fan had said. After considering it, Wang Zhi then realized that this Tang Runqing, in spite of his low position, was truly a surprising and capable man. That was saying nothing of the cases he cracked, which were enough by themselves to make one slap their table in shock. He knew that he might have underestimated Tang Fan, so he maybe-intentionally, maybe-not got near him to make friends with him. Before this, he had never thought that he would need a friend. He also had to admit that his initial friend-making time with Tang Fan had other motives. He had surmised that, with Tang Runqings smarts, he was very likely aware of what he was thinking. Yet Tang Fan said nothing, even giving Wang Zhi a lot of ideas to help him get through troubles, from the capitals child abduction case to them advancing and retreating together at the Weining Sealet. Plant a willow on accident, and it would grow big enough for shade; the two became closer and closer, their relationship subtle. They werent friends, but they could trust each other unconditionally. A true noble interacting with a true villain appeared to always be a slight to the noble. For that reason, even though Tang Fan knew that Wang Zhi was not on the same road as him, since he saw that the other did have principles and a bottom line unlike Shang Mings type that loved to commit atrocities he didnt hesitate to give him pointers. Unwittingly, the two remained friends for many years. Once Wang Zhis roaring power was above the waves and he was as famous as the Eunuch of Three Treasures that he had always admired, he then realized that he seemed to have completely deviated from the original direction he had been walking in. At the beginning, he had only wanted to make those that had looked down on him before crawl and kneel before him. Now, what he had achieved far exceeded his initial hopes. A hundred years from now, when other mentioned the name Wang Zhi, they might find him better than Liang Fang and Shang Mings sort, who had only fought amongst themselves and fought for power, instead saying that he was a great man of his generation. I hope it was enough. My Lord, Sir Tang is returning to Jiangnan in a few days. Should we get ready? a young eunuch asked after running over to him, out of breath, Get ready for what? Is he retiring already, and needs every official there is to welcome him? Wang Zhi rolled his eyes. B-but he has societal reputation. I heard that Count Dingan came with him this time, too the eunuch muttered. That fooltot must be coming to mooch food again. You can report to me when theyre about to arrive, theres no need for so much false courtesy. Believe it or not, you wont be able to curry any favor with that, but instead suffer one big scolding! Wang Zhi lightly snorted in derision. Though snow dotted the hair at his temples, his striking features were still visible. That prideful tinge of his had long sedated over the years, only his eyes, sharp as electricity, hadnt diminished from before. His young apprentice wanted to say something, but Wang Zhi impatiently waved his hand, forced him to leave grumpily. Despite having displaying the peak of impatience, when he had heard who was about to arrive, a slight smile automatically showed up on his lips. Under the western window, wind stirred jade-green bamboo, foretelling an old friends arrival. Year after year, the trees came to be in full bloom. The Emperor It was unclear whether it was a fortune or a misfortune to be born during this Dynasty. Many believed that they were lucky, especially those major officials that had experienced Yingzong and Xianzongs eras. Whenever they paid respects, they were eager to kowtow three hundred times to the Heavens, thanking this Dynastys ancestors out of gratitude that they had sent such a good Emperor that didnt muck around. Yep. Muck around. After Xianzongs titling, everyones current expectations for Emperors had become very low. As long as they didnt muck around, that would be great. From certain viewpoints, the current Emperor, Hongzhi, did not only not muck around, but even gave everyone pleasant surprises. In one example, he was hardworking. Not only was he never absent from Court meetings of any size, but he had even re-opened the long-abandoned Royal Seminar. At first, all the officials were overjoyed at his diligence, but later on, they noticed that he was too diligent. Since his health was poor to start with and he had been born sickly, he would occasionally go into bedrest. Out of fear that he would work too hard and die young, the normal Emperor they had long been hoping for thus passing in a blink, they quickly urged him to pay more attention to his health and take it easier. It didnt matter if the Royal Seminar wasnt open, and he could be absent from Court meeting every once in a while; his hard work was something his subjects could already see, so, for the sake of the realms citizens, he should take care of himself. This was a really odd phenomenon that no one knew how to react to. In the Chenghua Court, the officials had not been able to make the Emperor work hard no matter what they had done, and now, they were crying and begging for this Emperor to not work so hard. Other people aside, Tang Fan and the others interacted with the Emperor day and night. Having personally watched him go from a frail teen to a leading Emperor, their feelings were different than the average persons, and they understood his health better than them, too.They definitely didnt want to see the fair, peaceable, charitable, and gentle Emperor that the Great Ming had finally managed to get go out like a shooting star. With great fortune, the Emperor heeded their urging, and gradually changed his way of life. At Tang Fans insistence, he would request for imperial doctors to take his pulse every three days. His health remained not too great, but he stopped falling ill due to overwork. In another example, due to his childhood experiences, this Emperor ought to have developed an indecisive, people-pleasing personality, or gone down the road of being a terrible, bloodthirsty, dictatorial ruler. However, thanks to him being born gentle, as well as all the later-acquired teachings of his tutors and the good people by his side that kept springing up, Hongzhi was a rare Emperor that didnt go crooked. In the eyes of officials, he might be a little weak, too. That was primarily seen in how he only had one Empress, and because she was vivacious and jealous, she had a tight hold on him. He couldnt even have trysts with palace maids, let alone take concubines the commonfolk called that being henpecked. However, those commonfolk being henpecked only involved one family, while the Emperor being henpecked and only having one Empress was truly unheard of, a spectacle for the ages. It wasnt only that. Despite this Emperor having wantonly swept out the monks and eunuchs the Late Emperor had left behind, he started believing in Daoist arts himself not long afterwards. He didnt develop the tendency to neglect the government like his father had, but it was enough to make officials break into full-body cold sweats. Apart from those minor defects, the Emperor had nothing else to nitpick. He might not be as brilliant and decisive as the Great Ancestor, always deliberating on major military and government matters multiple times before he would come to a decision, but he also didnt have the Great Ancestors brutality. His attitude towards his subjects, especially trusted officials, was practically gentle and considerate. Before this, even Cabinet members had needed to go home alone whenever they got off duty, sometimes too late, whenever they had work delays. Major officials that could would, at the maximum, have their family outside waiting for them, but poorer officials could only return alone. After hearing of this, the Emperor had specially allocated a portion of the imperial guards to be responsible for escorting officials that were getting home late. In yet another example of his difference, at the Dynastys founding, the Great Ancestor had felt that all officials were milling mules that didnt need rest, thereafter shortening their vacation time to a low that went contrary to Tang and Songs precedent, making everyone miserable, and shafting them on all sorts of benefits that he could have. During Hongzhis period, due to the seafaring ban being relaxed, the national treasurys income increased, so the Emperor ordered for extra gifts to be given to officials during the holidays third-ranks and higher could receive fruits and meats. Officials of other localities also received handouts, but the number of them was much smaller than capital officials. (This was actually why they all stopped opposing the bans lift later on; in the face of life quality assurance, upholding ancestral law was another generations problem.) An Emperor such as his was hardworking in governance, even-tempered, and able to heed advice. Above all, he wouldnt pretend to understand things when he didnt, nor insist upon arbitrarily running things. For anything the Cabinet unanimously passed through, he would generally honor the opinions of the Viziers. Everyone was hoping that his reign would be a little on the long side, of course. This Dynastys rules gave only three legal holidays: New Years Day, the Winter Solstice, and the Lantern Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival, Double Ninth, and so on typically werent included, unless the Emperor bestowed extraneous vacation days. The current Emperor, however, empathized with how hard the official worked every day, particularly the Cabinet members, who might not be able to get off work in time each day and would even eat dinner at the Pavilion of Literary Profundity. For that, he added a few more vacation periods, giving three days total for the Mid-Autumn Festival so that all officials could be at home and reunite with their families, chatting and bonding. Relying on that benefits protection, Tang Fan no longer needed to remain in the Cabinet and look at everyone elses expressions of suffering for the Mid-Autumn Festival, instead able to go home, moon-view, and eat mooncakes. At this juncture, Ah-Dong had been married for about a year. Sister Tang Yu also had her own life to live; because she had just birthed a daughter, she was still in her rest month, and Tang Fan wasnt going to go add to the chaos. All he did was put out some mooncakes and candied fruits in the courtyard of his own residence, then drink wine and moon-view with Sui Zhou, speaking from the heart with him, truly free. The mooncakes came in four different colors with four types of filling: mung bean, red bean, fresh meat, and five-nut mix. All of them had been bestowed by the Emperor, which set a new precedent. No Emperor had ever given imperially-granted cakes to his subjects before; everyone in the Cabinet, Tang Fan included, had received a batch this year, giving them a similar novel taste. Truthfully, palace mooncakes might not be the most delicious, but the Emperors kind regards more or less gave everyone peace of mind. For an Emperor, something like this was no more effort than the wave of a hand, yet the Late Emperor had not even wanted to attend Court meeting, let alone do anything like this to make the ruler and his subjects feel closer. Human hearts were made of flesh, and no one was born loving to defy the Emperor. If he was cooperative, then whenever there was something that he needed advice on, his subjects would take his face into consideration and leave him some wiggle room. These benefits were therefore mutual. From that point of view, the current Emperor could be said to be very clever. Sui Zhou only took one bite of mooncake, then set it down, refusing to pick it up again. Tang Fan laughed at that. The technique is definitely inferior to yours, but no mooncakes were ever granted before this. This year marks a new precedent. The cakes are secondary. I just hope that I can have a quiet Mid-Autumn with you, like it is now. Tang Fan smiled lightly, not saying a word. Their minds might be linked, but there were some things that didnt need to be said for the other to know them automatically. The moon on this night was particularly big, and particularly round. It was impartial; no matter whether someone was as rich as a monarch or poor enough to live in thatched cottages, the moon they saw would not be any different. Seeing the moon was like seeing a loved one; two different spots, the same exact yearning. How many people were partitioned by a thousand li, never to meet all their lives? The world had far too many separations and meetings. Even if people met face-to-face, they might not be able to become acquainted. Even if they became acquainted, they might not be able to become friends. Even if they became friends, they might not become lifelong companions. Separated in both life and death, differing viewpoints there were too many variables in the middle to change enough. What fortune he had, then. He must have done a lot of good in his past life, to have been able to meet Sui Zhou. Thinking of that, his smile deepened a little. Catching sight of that, Sui Zhou reached out to pinch his face. What are you smiling for? Tang Fan wanted to avoid it, but couldnt, one cheek of his getting pulled outwards. Oi! The other released him. You didnt look so good when you got back just now. Did something go wrong in the Cabinet? At his reminder, Tang Fans smile went away, and he was quiet for a moment. He Lin died. The Truth Sui Zhou was taken aback for a short moment. He hadnt heard that name in a long time. How did he die? Tang Fan sighed. Its a long story. Way back when, with Tang Fans aid, He Lin had gone to Miyun County as an Official Tutor. He hadnt done so well, at the beginning. Even though hed been of the mind to begin anew, his stubborn personality and lack of sophistication made it easy for him to offend his superiors. As a result, in only a few short months, he had been isolated from all of his colleagues in Miyun. With no one to help or support him then, he finally realized that if he went down this path into darkness again, he would only be cast out by everyone. Were he to bungle even this assignment, not only would he not have any face to go back to the Hes with, but even Tang Fan wouldnt be able to give him any further help. Realitys cruelness forced him to sober up. He put away his airs, humbled himself, and began to make up for his past mistakes, piece by piece. Everyone disliked him still, at first. The Miyun Official Tutor post had no real authority to begin with, but it had somehow become even more completely without substance. He couldnt move a single cun in Miyun, and no one took him seriously he no longer had his previous pride, finally calming down to devote himself to his work, simultaneously changing his personality and working hard to make friends with his colleagues. On the inside, he was missing the benefits of having Tang Yu every day. How laughable. Tang Yu had once been wholly obedient towards him, yet he had not only not cherished her, but instead had nitpicked her in everything. He regretted this, he regretted that, and he regretted itching to draw a clear boundary with her. Now, with no one indulging him, he had woken up on his own. Clearly, it was human nature to take things for granted, especially in the opinion of someone like He Lin. After about two years like this, the post of Miyun Registrar opened up at last. The County Magistrate, seeing that his performance had been good over the years and having the idea to cultivate him, recommended him to be Registrar. As such, He Lin had a rank; even though he was considered the lowest tier of Great Ming official, taking this step meant that it would be much easier for him to be promoted in the future. The Great Ming had over two-thousand counties and infinite li of territory. Tang Fan was dreadfully busy at work, having countless things he needed to do arranged right in front of him, so it stood to reason that he wouldnt have paid attention to some County Registrar. The reason he did occasionally check in on news from Miyun, though, was because He Lin was there. Despite the spousal pair having since separated, a shattered mirror coming back together had happened a lot in the past. Tang Yu and Xue Ling were not yet together at this time period, either. Perhaps, after He Lin came ashore later, the married couple could be together; something that Tang Fan, as a good little brother, took care to fully consider for his sister. For that reason, he watched He Lin in secret, always vigilant for anything going on with him. The news of He Lin being recommended for Registrar reached Tang Fans him. He was slightly surprised that his former brother-in-law unchangingly stubborn, aloof, and boastful had finally changed nature to learn how to integrate with the secular world, as well as slightly gratified. He didnt holler at the Ministry of Revenue to take special care of him, merely watching quietly from the sidelines, wanting to see exactly how much He Lin had changed. Ever since, He Lin appeared to have truly changed a lot; worldly affairs were an excellent whetting stone. When his Miyun Registrar posit-on expired, he received a good evaluation due to his marvelous performance, and was transferred to be the Zuoyun County Deputy in Datong Prefecture. Registrar was ninth-rank, while County Deputy was eighth-rank. Even though it was a promotion, Zuoyun County wasnt a great place, because it was affiliated with Datong and therefore too up-close to the Tartars. Every time the Tartars invaded, they loved to scramble to a select few Datong counties, and Zuoyun was always one of the most-afflicted areas. It would be a hard task to be an official there. Tang Fan suspected that with He Lins personality and abilities, it would be hard for him to do well in that position. However, after thinking about it, he didnt intervene. Once the Ministry of Revenues transfer order went to Miyun, he heard that He Lin accepted it, then went to Zuoyun to take up his post. In spite of being in a high position where he had the power to decide peoples fates, and how perhaps just one sentence of his could completely change He Lins life, Tang Fan did no such thing. No matter what He Lin had done to Tang Yu before, that grudge had since ended, a debt written entirely off. If the two of them could continue their old relationship, then that would be their destiny. If they couldnt, then that would be their own business. Tang Fan would pay some more attention to He Lin, but he wasnt going to do anything because of all that. Later on, Tang Yu and Xue Ling married and had children, and all that had happened in the past further dissipated like smoke. Tang Fans attention to He Lin subsequently decreased, as he was unceasingly busy every single day, and He Lin was thrown to the back of his mind in time. Several years had passed since. When he heard news of him again, it was related to the Tartars attacking Zuoyun County. After Wang Zhi and Wang Yue had been greatly victorious in Datong and captured the eldest son of the Tartar leader, the Tartars quieted down a lot. However, after Wang Yue was transferred elsewhere and Wang Zhi returned to the capital, Datongs defense loosened up, and the Tartars swept back in. At that time, the Great Ming was in the middle of lifting the seafaring ban and fighting the Japanese pirates in the Southeast, while there was also a rebellion in Jiaozhi in the Southwest. The entire countrys attention was being attracted to those two areas, which had given the Tartars the chance to start pillaging from Zuoyun County, nearly invading Datong City. Even though the Tartars had ended up defeated, fleeing without getting their way, Zuoyun had still born most of the attack, having undergone no lack of devastation, half of the population killed and countless belongings looted. The County Magistrate had led troops to resist the enemy; the Tartars had wanted to capture him to humiliate the Ming Dynasty, but ever since Mings founding, the topic of surrender had been very sensitive. All scholar-officials took care to have the integrity of preferring to die than submit. The Magistrate had known that even if he didnt die, his name would be ruined, so he had simply killed himself on the line of duty. A group of Zuoyun officials had followed his same path. He Lin included. When he had heard of this, Tang Fan hadnt been able to come back to himself for a long time. No matter how He Lin had been in the past, him ending up like this was not something Tang Fan had ever wanted to see. Sui Zhou was quiet for a bit after the explanation, then spat out one sentence: It was a worthy death. Right. Compared to being trapped within his house, living a mediocre life, or going mad due to repeated test failures, this ending would actually be the best, from He Lins point of view. No matter how unexceptional his life before was, with this final stroke of ornamentation, his entire lifetime seemed to be bathed in light. Was that light not exactly what he had wanted? He was already dead through-and-though. There was no way that Tang Fan could go and ask him what he was thinking. In his situation, if He Lin hadnt died, it would have been the equivalent of cowardly running away, and his end after he returned would not have been too much better. His death had instead won him a good reputation, and a posthumous title in the Court. During his time in Miyun, he had actually taken another wife and sired two children, a son and daughter, that were just learning how to speak. His wife had a pedestrian background, inevitably not giving him a Cabinet Solon for a brother-in-law. Her coming from a civilian family made her plenty happy with marrying He Lin, who had come from a famous family and had an officials post, and the twos relationship had been good. However, he when he had gone to Zuoyun to take up his post, he hadnt brought her or the children with him, worried about their young age and the long journey. His family had thereby dodged calamity. Tang Fan sighed a bit at Sui Zhous comment. Yes, it was. The Court plans to issue a degree for monetary compensation and a posthumous title, all according to regulations. Still, I dont intend to tell my sister any of this. Sui Zhou thought about that, then nodded. Okay. Why would she need to know? Tang Yu already had a life of her own. There had been no possibility for them to have ever reconciled. Apart from that one moment of intersection, the name He Lin, to Tang Yu and Tang Fan, was nothing more a half-acquainted strangers. Rather than add misery in for no reason, it was better to say nothing about it. When I went into the palace to pay respects to the Grand Dowager today, the old lady asked about my marriage prospects, and urged me to marry soon, Sui Zhou changed subjects. Tang Fans heart thumped as he grinned. And how did you answer? Sui Zhou covered the back of his hand, slowly rubbing it, openly eating tofu while expressionlessly pretending to be someone decent. I refused, of course, saying that Ive long since had someone in mind. The Sui family already has descendants, in any case, while Im bound to be alone in this life. Tang Fan gave him a look. Even if you dont marry, you can adopt a son, cant you? There has to be someone to light incense for you later, or else in the future When one dies, they become nothing more than a skeleton, the other answered mildly. Cherishing the present is whats most important. Whatll happen in a hundred years, no one can say for certain, and if something happens them, no amount of incense will be of any use. Whether its incense or the family name, theyre all things of the physical body. Thats very Zen of you and all, but I happen to be obsessed with physical appearances, Tang Fan said, amused. Sui Zhou gripped his hand, saying heedlessly, As you should. No need to think more on it. Tang Fan had only said that casually. Seeing that he didnt really have any intent, he brought it up no more, but Sui Zhou talking about the Grand Dowager made him remember something else To be honest, I think that His Majesty has noticed our relationship. Hm? Sui Zhou paused, though his attention was genuinely drawn. What did he say to you? Tang Fan lightly coughed. He didnt say anything, Im just getting the feeling. If anything happens, Ill go talk to him. No need, Tang Fan said with a smile. Well wait until he brings it up. The Emperor had indeed noticed. He wasnt deaf or blind. Regardless of how secretive Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were, some faint clues would always be revealed. Furthermore, the Emperor oversaw his subjects from a different angel, their each and every move something the wise and holy Son of Heaven would know of down to the finest detail To brief the words and word the briefs, he just knew. However, contrary to Tang Fan and Sui Zhous expectations, after he learned of it, he didnt seek them out to have a heart-to-heart or admonish them, but instead sought Wang Zhi out, heart filled with worry. We heard that you and Vizier Tang have a good friendship, Insubject Wang? Wang Zhi was taken aback by that out-of-nowhere question. His brain instantly imagined up innumerable conspiracies and ploys, which were none other than a major official and eunuch being friends making the Emperor suspicious, the Emperor speaking out to test him, and so on. He thus answered, Your Majesty, this subject and Vizier Tang have cooperated several times before out of necessity for handling cases. We are old acquaintances, and typically dont communicate much. There is no need to be apprehensive. We have no other intent, just a want to ask if you know After hemming and hawing for half the day, no words followed. Bewildered from watching the Emperor struggle on repeat, Wang Zhi couldnt help but ask, You wish to ask if this subject knows what? The Emperor coughed lightly. Well, um about the relationship between Vizier Tang and Count Dingan Wang Zhi knew of that, of course, but it would not be good to openly tell the Emperor. All other things aside, this was generally not an illustrious thing. While dabbling in men was common nowadays, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had precarious positions. If the Emperor held suspicions towards them, or if this got to the censors ears, there would be storms of all sizes. From how Wang Zhi saw it, the best method would simply be for each of them to take wives, have children, and play around however they wanted in private, neither holding the other up. Since neither of them were willing to do that, though, he wasnt going to interfere. The abuses and praises of others were nothing more than scratches blocked by boots, to Wang Zhi. Back in his Western Depot glory days, he had been damned daily by people behind his back, stuck with pins like a doll. These days, the landscape was exactly the same. Were opportunistic sorts that had everything go right for them, like Liu Cottonflower, not ending up perfectly fine after getting denounced non-stop by every censor there was? Obviously, what gossipy things gossipers said was unimportant and didnt need to be worried about. What did matter was what the Emperor thought. Still, the Emperors current reaction was a little weird. It didnt look like suspicion, nor opposition, nor even happy approval. Wang Zhi thought for a bit, deliberating on his wording. As far as this subject knows, they are indeed very close friends, with a very close relationship. The Emperor faltered some. We heard some rumors that they are more than just friends? Forgive me for my stupidity, but I am unclear on what you are referring to, Your Majesty, Wang Zhi answered, playing dumb. The Emperor wanted to say something, but didnt, looking at him several more times, only to end up saying, Nevermind. Act like we never asked you that. Wang Zhi couldnt figure out what the Emperor was actually thinking. Wanting to ask a bit after it, he feigned surprise. Could you mean to say that, between them, theres? We are saying no such thing, the Emperor said quickly. We were only asking. If you do not believe there is something, then there is nothing. Truthfully, when he had first heard of this, he had been tremendously shocked, as well as too afraid to believe it. Later on, he had secretly kept watch for some time, then discovered that it seemed to be true. Still, that was someone elses business. He wasnt stupid enough to supect that Tang Fan would collude with Sui Zhou, and they were so cautious in front of others, that they didnt leave anything behind to be gossiped about. Those rumors were only some baseless guesses going around the palace, as well as the Emperors conclusion after his own observations. Wang Zhi still didnt have enough of an understanding of this Emperor. He believed that he would be suspicious, when in reality, the Emperor was thinking something else entirely. Subject Wang. Present. Do not tell anyone else what we have just discussed with you. It would not be good for the reputations of Vizier Tang and Count Dingan. This subject understands. Wang Zhis face was dark as he thought, Im worried that youll say something! Thinking further and still not at ease, the Emperor said, We have no thoughts about this matter, but while we think so, that is no guarantee that others will think the same. Do you see a way to cover this up? Wang Zhi was now surprised for real. This subject believed that you would think it a violation of normal conventions. The Emperor smiled. When it comes to normal conventions, would the Late Emperor and Late Consort not have also violated them? Wang Zhi didnt follow that up. Answered that question would not be great for him. Although we grew up deep in the palace, we have seen many things before. Furthermore, their case is not too shocking. Vizier Tang and Count Dingan have gone through life and death together, sharing tribulations. It is not too incomprehensible that their relationship would be deeper than their relationship with others. Are we and the Empress not the same? We have her, and do not wish for anyone else to be involved. Single-pair married couples are not common in this world, but they also are not uncommon. Your mind is very open, Your Majesty. This subject is far inferior to you. Actually, what Wang Zhi wanted to say was: You sure can take things easy, to use yourself as a point of comparison! Your heart is way too big! CH 1 The capital. At near noon, two people walked out of Jubilance. The leading one was a coxcomb, his face white with a sparse beard. An everyday set of clothes covered his body similar to how it would have covered a bamboo pole, and beneath his eyes were a pair of blue-black circles. He yawned for every two steps he took. Following behind him was a boyservant that matched his pace. Not daring to slight him, the boy held an umbrella up for him in one hand, and carried a lantern whose flame had already gone out in the other. Upon seeing this, passersby sidestepped them, one after the other. The reason was none other than that Jubilance was a brothel, and brothel rules were that they should only open their doors and welcome guests in the evening. Right now, the other party had come out of the building in broad daylight; that had to mean that this Don had not only fooled around the whole night, but had also fooled around all morning, and his backing was so profound, Jubilance had no choice but to break the rules for him. It would be great if someone like that had a good temper. In the case that he possibly had a bad temper and something happened, the ones who would suffer would be the powerless commoners. For that reason, everyone naturally had to duck out of the way when they saw him. He couldnt be provoked, so he needed to be avoided. The coxcombs eyes suddenly brightened, and he gazed dead ahead. The boyservant didnt understand why. Upon following his line of sight, it suddenly became clear. Their counterpart was in a set of everyday clothes as well, yet the similar style was worn with a dissimilar result. If the coxcomb was stated to be a bamboo pole with clothes on, then this man was an elegant and graceful jadeite tree. If someone that had a bit of literary grace was here, they might recite a few lines like floating like a roaming cloud, darting like a startled dragon[1] and such. However, the coxcomb clearly wasnt able to say such words that were rich with content. He was preoccupied with staring at the other man, eyes giving off light, after which he stepped airily forward to strike up a chat. I dont know this Dons distinguished name. Where are you wanting to go? The boyservant grumbled inwardly. Their Young Lords addiction to intimacy-fishing, where he shied from neither man nor woman, was really annoying. Anyone that caught his eye in passing could be obstructed and harassed. The capital had nobles and officials all over the place; even though his family was hugely influential, if he happened to bump into an imperial censor, he would inevitably get accused of misconduct and it wouldnt be the first time. Against expectations, the young man getting harassed merely raised his brows, then spoke his identity aloud. Marquis Wuans eldest son, Zheng Cheng? The boyservant suffered a shock at first, but he trailed by his Young Lords side year-round, so he had quite a bit of a discerning eye. Immediately recognizing that this man wasnt a junior of the Marquis Estate, he thus rebuked him. How bold of you, to state the taboo name[2] of our Heir! The youth casually cupped his hands in greeting. Forgive my rudeness, but, to the best of my knowledge, the Dynasty seems to have not yet issued a decree appointing your Don as the Heir. Since hes not the Heir, you addressing him as such is already a violation, were it to be looked into. If somebody submits a report before His Majesty, then your Marquis will suffer via implication with you. The boyservants head filled with big sweatdrops whilst the other spoke, increasingly afraid of being rash. This lowly one has spoken insolently! Please forgive me, Don! Zheng Cheng, however, was one-of-a-kind. The conversation had gotten to this point, yet he still wasnt aware of his own life and death, smiling as crudely as ever. Since you recognize me, beauty, that makes things easier. Wouldnt it better for us to find a spot, drink a few cups, and have a nice chat? His lecherous eyes swept back and forth over the others body, only just short of using them to peel all his clothes off. The young man smiled. Very well. How about Censor Xians home in the citys east for that chat? The boyservant jolted. No longer daring to look down upon the man, he stepped forward at once, barred the paw his Young Lord was about to reach out, and cupped his hands. My Lord drank last night, and now the intoxication has gotten to him. His speech and actions have gotten quite a bit ruder, so may you please excuse him, Don. Im not sure what your illustrious name is? The other smiled. This question of yours is interesting. Why would I tell my name to you? If you go back and file an accusation to your Marquis, wouldnt I never finish suffering the carriage of that blame? His intentions having been seen through, the boyservant had no choice but to powerlessly watch him leave. Only then did he wipe his sweat off, sigh in relief, and mentally narrate that that had been a close call. The people of the grand Marquis Wuan Estate heard the two words Censor Xian the same way mice would see a cat, and that was simply because heredity titles of the Great Ming Dynasty were aplenty, from the descendants of the Zhu family to nobility of different surnames. Starting at the Hongwu era and coming to the present time, one could grab a big handful of them, the majority being of little value. On top of that, the imperial censors were overly aggressive, and would even dare to admonish the Emperor to his face. If they learned that Marquis Wuans eldest son, under the full light of day, had harassed a good citizen in the middle of the street, they would likely urge the Emperor to nix his title straightaway, to say further nothing of the fact that the man from just then hadnt appeared to be an ordinary person. How could a normal commoner clearly know that he was Marquis Wuans son, yet still use that tone to speak to him with? Are you seeking death? How dare you obstruct me, your Lord! Zheng Cheng was greatly displeased with having a good time ruined. Milord, that was me rescuing you! the boyservant thought while he smiled apologetically. The Old Master might be waiting at home this very moment. If you return late, youll definitely suffer the rod again, so you have to take some caution! As soon as he heard his old dads title, the still-not-yet-sober Eldest Don Zheng couldnt help but shudder and quiet down. The boyservant followed him as he returned, turning to look back at the same time. The other had long since gone far away, his figure nowhere to be seen, but the servant still couldnt resist musing: who was that, really? *** Tang Fan was shouted awake from his sleep in the middle of the night. The one that had come looking for him was a messenger surnamed Wang from Shuntian Prefecture, his banging on the door at midnight a sound that shook the sky. Thankfully, Tang Fan lived alone in this courtyard, as anyone else might have taken him as a bandit dropping by. Old Wang had a face of anxiety as soon as the door was opened. Sir Tang, something major has happened! Quickly, come with me! Tang Fan blinked. He was draped only in an outer garment, remnant tiredness on his face. What major something? Old Wang lowered his voice. A murder case! An ordinary murder case definitely wouldnt be able to make him come visit in the dead of night, heart burning with anxiety. Of who? Marquis Wuans eldest son, Zheng Cheng! Tang Fan was startled, immediately waking most of the way up. Back when Zhu Yuanzhang obtained the realm, the entire batch of meritorious officials that had fought alongside him for it were granted titles. Later on, he killed pretty much all of them, and then some of them stood on the wrong team in Jingnan, getting killed by the Yongle Emperor. Of the current remaining hereditary titles, the majority were descendants of meritorious Jingnan officials appointed by Yongle, which were then passed down through generations, and a couple others were granted following the Tumu Stronghold Crisis. Ones that were a bit better still had some real authority, with the ability to lead troops and stand guard at locales. Ones a bit less fortunate were just like this Marquis Wuan and his present murder case all he could do was stay in the capital for his retirement, to the extent that if he carelessly got dragged into anything, his title would be gone in the blink of an eye. He appeared well-off, but in reality, the one drinking the water was the one that knew whether it was hot or cold. Even the Heirs of these families had to pass through the Emperor before the granting of a title would go into effect. It wasnt that they could casually have an eldest wife-born[3] son, then have him be the Heir as a matter of logical course; if the Emperor didnt find him pleasing to the eye, he could drag it out for a decade or two, and might find an excuse to expunge the title. For that reason, these dandies from rich families might not be any more highly regarded than an active seventh-rank capital official as they walked the city. The first generation Marquis Wuan was that exemplary Jingnan official, and the hereditary title had since been passed down to the fourth generation. Zheng Ying had inherited it just last year, and he was serious and cautious by nature, never daring to cause trouble outside whilst wielding it. Even so, he had produced a son that made no progress in life. Marquis Wuans heart nearly broke apart with worry for him; beatings and scoldings were even commonplace in their household. Despite the beatings, Zheng Ying merely hated that his son was a disappointment. He never wanted him dead. At this time, his eyes were thoroughly red, complexion ashen. He stood outside of Zheng Chengs room with his hands behind his back, not saying a word. The small, brightly-lit courtyard was filled with people all around. Neither the men nor the women were giving consideration to avoiding peoples suspicions.[4] There were those that were terrified and those that were weeping, clamoring into a muddled mess. By the time Tang Fan hurried to the Marquis Estate, Shuntian Prefect Pan Bin had already arrived, and was in the middle of speaking with Zheng Ying. A crowd of bailiffs came to surround Zheng Chengs room, driving out all those runners and servants that were going to and fro. Due to Old Wangs urging, Tang Fan hadnt had time to put on his officials uniform, and only wore typical clothes. Even with that, Pan Bin still waved him over as soon as he saw him. Runqing, come here, quick! Marquis, Mister Prefect. The atmosphere was quite tense, yet Tang Fan didnt appear to be any sort of nervous, having that same relaxed presence as ever. In contrast with those in the environs, he was somewhat unusual. Boyservant Zheng Fu, who was standing amongst the crowd, couldnt help but let out an ah, pointing at Tang Fan. Arent you that guy from today? At thar sound, everyone looked over. Afraid that this would give rise to some kind of misunderstanding, Pan Bin quickly replied, I havent made introductions yet. This is Shuntian Prefectures Judge, Tang Fan, Runqing. He is bright, of quick wit, and excels in solving cases. I had him come here this time precisely because of that. Zheng Yings eyes flashed. In spite of him not being someone that participated in court politics, he, too, had heard of the name Tang Fan before. It had been no more than gossips of various sorts, which were ultimately inferior to what he saw in front of him. What a pity that his son had now died a violent death, and he was in no mood to exchange pleasantries. What is this actually about? he questioned directly. With Marquis Wuan sweeping his cold gaze over him, Zheng Fu hurriedly explained the cause. Tang Fan cupped his hands. My words were not in harmony with the good Don this morning. I hope that you can forgive me, Marquis. Zheng Ying sighed. What an insolent dog of a son. He impinged on you, Sir, what did that have to with you? If wasnt for him being hah, Id certainly give him a harsh lesson! Saying so, he revealed an expression of anger, hatred, and sorrow. In spite of Tang Fan being only a minor official of the sixth rank, his reputation and history were not minor, so Zheng Ying was naturally going to be polite. Restrain your grief, Marquis. Please detail what happened with the good Don. Zheng Cheng had been a foppish young man; there was no doubt about that point in the slightest. His foppishness was primarily reflected in his sexuality, with both men and women being fine, given that they looked pretty. Still not thinking the pretty wives and concubines in his home were enough, he also kept sidepieces outside it, which yet resulted in him running off to flower lanes[5] all day long. It was also precisely due to his pleasure-seeking and poor notoriety that the Dynasty was thus dragging its feet, and hadnt yet passed down a decree that would dub him the Heir, causing Marquis Wuan to feel both resentful and helpless. During daylight today, Zheng Cheng had just gotten back from Jubilance when his old dad, who happened to be home, caught him red-handed. Don Zheng got scolded like dogs blood was getting dumped on his head, then was ordered to stay in his room on house arrest. Zheng Ying had believed that he would be able to live in peace for a few days, but, unexpectedly, as soon as he turned his head, his son was again fooling around with a servant girl. At two shichens ago, when Zheng Ying received the report and scurried over, Zheng Cheng was already naked, lying bare-bodied and silent on the bed. To the side knelt a servant girl in unkempt clothes, who was weeping shrilly. Based on the boyservant Zheng Fus account, the incident occurred about near the time of the Boar.(9-11p) Zheng Cheng happened to inadvertently see the maid Ah-Lin passing by outside. Noticing that she had some charms, he got the mind for sex, and wanted to pull her into his room. Ah-Lin was half-willing, half-not, and both sides were in a snag for a minute until they finally went in. Zheng Fu followed until the doorway, not entering. Following around an incense sticks worth of time, he heard Ah-Lins shrieks coming from inside. He quickly pushed the door open, came in, and saw Zheng Chengs state of being unconscious on the bed. He swiftly ran out to call for someone. What happened after didnt need to be explained. To speak according to reason, Zheng Cheng hollowing out his health from being so promiscuous seemed to be a matter of when. Yet, with his son dead, Zheng Ying had no way to see to chiding him, so the maid became the trigger that would bear the brunt of it. Zheng Yings pain at losing his son, and rage at the Estate losing a lot of prestige due to scandal, were both wholly issued upon her. However, a problem arose there. If the maid was a slave, thatd be the end of it, and he could handle it how he wanted to; secretly beating her to death, filling a well with her body, and then finding a pretext to dupe the outside world. Household scandals were ill-suited for propagating out of said house, and further still wouldnt require him to bother Shuntian Prefecture with setting to task. Bad news was, the maid was a proper citizen, and hadnt signed a contract selling herself into slavery for the Estate. Since she wasnt a slave, she couldnt be beaten to death as pleased. Had the Estate otherwise taken care of things rashly today, it would inevitably become a handgrip on it, and its behavior would be denounced someone as cautious as Zheng Ying wouldnt dare to do this. For that reason, getting the authorities was the first thing he chose. The translator says, after actively choosing to translate a historical novel: OH NO HISTORY LESSONS Instead of the term Young Master that lots of people complain about, Im using Don. Nice n succinct. [1] A quote from A New Account of the Tales of the World, a compilation by Liu Yiqing, section Appearance and Manner. These lines in particular are meant to describe calligraphy, more so than a person. [2] In most of Chinas history, people (mostly men) would have courtesy names when they came of age. Their usage depends on the era (and writer, tbh, Ive seen it go all over the place). In this case, the taboo name would be the birth name, which youre not supposed to use if youre not familiar with the person in question. [3] Concubinage was a legal thing in ancient China, and concubines were always lesser in formal rank than officially-married wives, of which a man could only have one at a time. Wife-born children automatically eclipsed the rank of concubine-born children, even beyond chronological seniority. [4] In ye olde times, having any sort of contact with the opposite sex when youre a) not married to them, b) not related to them, and/or c) not a eunuch was taboo, because it roused peoples suspicions about you banging and whatnot just because you were in the same room. The severity of this depended on the era, the familys rank, and the family itself. [5] Like a red-light district, but instead of red lights, theres flowers. Both literal and metaphorical, sometimes. CH 2 The maid was bound with her hands behind her back. Many bruises were on her body, and two palmprints were on her cheeks. She had presumably been taught a hard lesson by the whole Estate after the incident, her clothes and hair both similarly in disarray, and then had been pushed into a kneel. That she was delicately-featured was dimly recognizable. Whats your name and surname? Tang Fan asked. This maids name is Ah-Lin. Explain tonights situation in detail. She voiced the whole story whilst sobbing in bursts. What she said had gone on truthfully differed very little from what Zheng Fu had said. The only difference lied in her repeatedly claiming that she hadnt done anything at all with Zheng Cheng in his room. Zheng Ying laughed coldly. Youve spared no bit of effort for the sake of shedding yourself of blame. Ill ask you this; why did you, a servant of the front courtyard, run off to the back courtyard for no reason, then pass by the complex of the Eldest Don? That was a clearly-arranged plan to aim for a higher branch and turn into a fenghuang! Who couldve known that now that hes dead, youd be in a hurry to want to say that you had no sort of relationship with him?! When I rushed in, the both of your clothes were disheveled, and even Zheng Fu said that he had stood outside for a stick of incenses time, at the minimum you still dare to claim that nothing had happened yet? Do I have to make someone come here to give you an inspection before youll be willing to tell the truth?! You are as brilliant as a mirror, Marquis the Young Lord and I were truly innocent! Ah-Lin sobbed out. After going in the room, he first said that he was hot, and started to take off his clothes, then through that, he said he was dizzy, so I helped him to sit down. We said some things, and after all the talk, he suddenly collapsed onto me, and after after that Zheng Fu broke down the door to get in! Zheng Ying was disinclined to vie with a young maidservant, so he looked at Pan Bin. Take a look, Sir Pan. This bitch of a maid wont acknowledge her crime even unto death. It seems that Ill have to bother you with stepping forward! Rest assured, Marquis, Pan Bin quickly answered. If the good Dons death actually does have something to do with her, this humble official will enforce the law impartially. Zheng Ying was obviously somewhat dissatisfied with that perfunctory-esque answer. Pan Bin sent a meaningful look to Tang Fan. Are there any discrepancies in what Ah-Lin just said? Tang Fan asked Zheng Fu. This lowly one isnt clear on what happened after the Young Lord and her went into the room, but everything else fits. How long was the interval of when you went out to call for help and then came back? Around a quarter of an hour. Did anyone ever come during this time period? Tang Fan then asked Ah-Lin. No. Marquis, where is Don Zhengs body? Its right in the room. Id like to go in and examine it. Please do, Sir Tang. At this moment, the coroner had also finished hurrying over, so Tang Fan went in with him. They pushed the door open and entered. The interior was still in complete disorder. Zheng Cheng was reclined on the bed, his clothes in a right mess. His body still held some remnant warmth, but he had a pale complexion, having long since gone breathless. The coroner crouched beside the corpse, pried open Zheng Chengs mouth and eyelids, then went and felt about his limbs and body for a spell. Tang Fan was looking over and searching everywhere. Seeing that the coroner was still over there, he asked, What have you found? The other briefly hesitated. No distinct markings of wounds were found, but it seems like he didnt die from a sudden flare-up of acute shed-yang disease[3] Tang Fan nodded, brows slightly scrunched, then checked out the corpse immediately after. What have you discovered, Sir? Lets leave first, and talk later. The two stood up and went out. Zheng Ying and Pan Bin were currently waiting outside. Seeing them come out, they asked, How is it? The coroner was someone of little weight. How could he dare to speak first? Thus, he looked at Tang Fan. Right then, however, Tang Fan passed a white porcelain bottle that he had just picked up from the bedside in front of Ah-Lins eyes. Can you tell me what this is? The maid repeatedly shook her head, readily denying it. He then questioned the boyservant, Zheng Fu. The latter hemmed and hawed for half the day, then finally conceded. In the bottle is a drug called yang-rich spring. It has the effect of boosting yang sex drive and supplementing the kidneys.[1] The prescription was one the Young Lord collected himself, and an outside pharmacy makes it. Zheng Ying was angry and hateful upon hearing this. All day long, the guy had sought out pleasures, shallow in age yet using this grade of pharmaceuticals to add to the fun. If he hadnt been dead already, Zheng Ying would have the mind to string up and harshly beat his unfilial son. Right now, he was all the more certain that when his son lusted after the maid and went to bed with her, shed-yang disease made him spontaneously perish. He wished that he could take up his sword at once to behead this master-tempting slut and be done with it. Tang Fan poured out a pill that was in the bottle and sniffed it. After mumbling to himself for a while, he asked, Marquis, where are the Dons spouses? Please bring over anyone he had been in contact with before tonight. Everyone else may withdraw. Zheng Ying wasnt sure what he wanted to do, but he was still rather cooperative. In not even a minute, every person got summoned there. Zheng Cheng had one wife and three concubines. That didnt seem like a lot, but this was because he liked looking for wild flowers outside. No matter how beautiful a woman he took into his threshold was, he would get tired of her in no more than three days. Therefore, starting from when he began to eat meat at fifteen, there were altogether only four women that could stay by his side for very long. The first wife, Lady Sun of Zheng, was the niece of Count Yingcheng. She came from an equivalent noble family, its background on par with the Marquis Estates, making this a beautiful event of families being matched in status back in the day. Now, Lady Sun was no further than her twenty-fourth year of blossoming, yet she had already become a widow. In accordance with Zheng Chengs fickle heart, it stood to reason that, even when he was alive, there wasnt anything good in their feelings of husband and wife. Yet, she was a virtuous person whose name was known far and wide, so even Tang Fan had heard of her before. Of the four women now standing there, three each had their heads hung, wiping their tears. Lady Sun alone was pale, speechless, and still had tear stains on her face. It was likely that she was already so excessively heart-broken, she couldnt weep anymore. Even Zheng Ying softly consoled her. Daughter-in-law, youve been married into the Estate for five years now, being extraordinary filial in waiting upon your in-laws like we were your own parents. In contrast, it is our family that has considerably turned its back on you. Now, my unfilial son has passed on early, but didnt leave any blood offspring behind. I will choose a day to talk this over with your family and have you accepted back into your maternal home, so as to avoid disappointing the prime of your life! You do not have to say so much, father-in-law, she replied, voice hoarse. In conduct, wives should do the utmost of their duty. Now, I only hope that my husband will be able to be buried at rest someday soon. Zheng Ying sighed and said no more. In addition to Lady Sun, the damsel-names[2] of the three concubines were Miss Wan, Miss Hui, and Miss Yu. Miss Wan was the oldest, already a half-aged, but still graceful woman. She was the earliest one to follow Zheng Cheng, even earlier than Lady Suns entrance, and her personality was relatively honest and subdued, so she typically had a very quiet sense of existence in the Estate. Miss Hui was the best-looking, and had previously been favored for a time. Miss Yu was young, and more delicate. Before Zheng Chengs death, she was the most favored of them all. The threes behaviors were also all different at this moment. Miss Wan was hiding behind Lady Sun and silently crying, Miss Hui was loudly bawling, and Miss Yus wailing was even louder than Miss Huis, but it didnt have that charming sound to it that could discreetly move someones heart, making it obvious that there was literally no reason for her to be favored. Even if no one said anything, people that were adept at observation like Tang Fan could tell that things were surely not too peaceful between the two favored concubines, and fighting over attention definitely had to have been a commonplace event. He took out the bottle and inquired as to whether they had seen it before. All of the women denied it. Then, he questioned them on where they had been when the incident happened. The four all openly explained themselves, and with the testimonies of the servants in the house, they didnt appear to have made any of it up. Having watched Tang Fan mess around for a long time, Zheng Ying couldnt help but ask, What else are you wanting to ask, Sir Tang? He believed that the evidence for this crime was conclusive, so there was simply no need to interrogate and then interrogate some more. Just take that stiff-lipped maid right back and enact punishment on her; the confession would be quick and effortless. Why maneuver irrelevant people in to question them? Was it possible that he still wanted to make her out to be guiltless? Ive asked all that should be asked, Tang Fan replied. Ill ask Mister Prefect and the Marquis to take a step to the side for a talk. Zheng Ying had the others go into their respective rooms, then invited the two of them into his own study. If you have anything to say, Sir Tang, say it in its entirety. I dare ask, Marquis; had the good Don been frail-bodied since childhood? Why was he asking an irrelevant question? Yes, Zheng Ying answered, curbing his displeasure. Was a doctor ever hired? What did he say? He said it was a defect brought about in the womb, something of an innate deficiency. It wasnt a big hindrance, though. He was abnormally thin. That was presumably the cause of his difficulty in having heirs? Correct. What do you really want to say, Sir Tang? If I havent guessed incorrectly, there might be something fishy about his death. Zheng Ying startled. Why do you say that? Shed-yang disease is also known as the prompt breeze. If rescue isnt made in time, one will die a sudden death. Doctors believe this is caused by an exhaustion of ones qi and yang. Those that contract the disease will develop a red circle on the palms, and on those circles must be red tendons. This accumulates over a number of days, and doesnt simply come to be without any prior warning. However, when I checked his palms just now, I didnt find that symptom. Zheng Ying wasnt quick to answer, jolting. You mean that my sons death was from another cause? Tang Fan didnt respond to that, continuing on. If one dies of shed-yang, then their fully bloodshot eyes would be seen when their lids were lifted. A manifestation like that wasnt found on him, so thats why I just asked you the question of whether he was naturally frail, Marquis. While it can be assumed that he was lacking in some kidney qi, it wasnt yet to the extent that it would consequently be fatal. Its merely that, as a result of his everyday fondness of feminine charms, some people have misunderstood some things. It wasnt merely one or two people that misunderstood things, actually. Didnt even Zheng Ying himself think that his son had over-indulged himself to death? Zheng Ying was alarmed into terror, breaking out into a furious look. Who dared have the guts to murder the son of I, Marquis Wuan?! Right when the coroner and I went in to investigate, we discovered that his body was quite clean, with no stains at all. That demonstrates that what the maid Ah-Lin had said was not untrue; nothing indeed had occurred between them. Since he didnt die from shed-yang, there had to be another cause. Furthermore, she had stated that he had felt dizzy after taking yang-rich spring. Maybe the issue is with this bottle of medicine I hold, but thats only my one-sided conjecture. This matter needs to wait until after the investigation for a final conclusion to be made. After saying that, he asked, What enemies did he normally have? Anger gradually placating, Zheng Ying went quiet. Zheng Cheng had been a foppish coxcomb. How could he have any enemies that wouldnt rest until he was dead? Even so, to say that there were none couldnt be done. Beyond that, Zheng Yings own progeny didnt stop at Zheng Cheng. Such a huge Estate had numerous concubines with even more children, as well as a lot of shameful secrets of the house that had to be kept inside it. The Great Mings law did not stipulate that only the eldest wife-born son could inherit titles; if there was no wife-born son, then the other sons could still accordingly inherit after undergoing the Dynastys investment. This caused Zheng Cheng to be the target of multiple arrows within the Estate. If he could be labelled as determined and mature, thatd be good, but he instead loitered in flower lanes all day long. How could that convince his other brothers? Furthermore, with how Zheng Cheng was, even Tang Fan got harassed by him on the road with no rhyme or reason; that spoke nothing of those with no power that he took a fancy to. One of them harboring resentment and wanting revenge wasnt an impossibility, either. Even further still, there was no lack of fighting for affections amongst the other degenerate dandies. The second they got angry, a big fight would break out, thus making the starts of feuds even more run-of-the-mill. Thinking about it like that, there were actually too many possibilities. It was frankly beyond his means to guess. Seeing that he was dejected and not talking, Pan Bin said, Marquis, this incidents happening is surely going to disturb His Majesty. Before he has time to issue a decree, Shuntian Prefecture will do its utmost to investigate this thoroughly, arrest the real killer, and let the Dons spirit in Heaven know. Zheng Ying nodded. I will trouble you, then, Sir Pan. Marquis Wuan, too, had grown up inside of the tall gates and deep courtyards of nobility. He had always known that inside the home, in order to fight for favor and seize the title, the actions taken were not any softer than those of the gentlemen in Court, and many of their vicious tricks were all the more sensational to hear. If it was discovered that the murderer actually was of the Zheng family, that would truly be an enormous joke. When his thoughts reached that point, his heart chilled. The rage he just had upon hearing that the killer was someone else had long since died. The translator says: Take a shot of vodka every time Mister Marquis is annoying! (Dont, actually. Youll die.) [1] In Traditional Chinese Medicine, yang is related to men(s sexual health), and the kidneys are believed to supply life-giving qi/energy to the rest of the body. TCM is bogus, by the way. Listen to actual doctors. [2] Essentially petnames given to concubines in a harem, typically based off of pretty/delicate things and not their actual names the three in this scenario roughly translate to grace, lily, and jade, respectively. It was considered rude to call married women by their first or actual names, if you werent her husband or family. [3] Named so due to the formerly-stated belief that men were primarily made of yang, so sexual overexertion, AKA shedding yang via ejaculation, was seen as extremely poor for a mans health. This was also known as horseback/prompt wind, for obvious reasons. CH 3 After some more exchanges of pleasantries, Pan Bin got up to take his leave. Right before their departure, Tang Fan said to Zheng Ying, Marquis, this matter is beyond the norm. For the sake of convenient examination, we hope to be able to take away the body of the good Don. Zheng Yings brow furrowed tight. He was evidently not too pleased. Is there no other way? To discover the cause of his death, this is where we need to start. Hes the eldest son of I, Marquis Wuan. How could he be treated the same as an ordinary man? His body will be kept at the Estate, and his displayed coffin will immediately be buried on the seventh day. The implication being: if you cant find out the truth within seven days, my son wont be able to wait that long, and will have to be buried. Before Tang Fan could answer, Pan Bin said, Of course, of course. The dead take priority, and its good for him to be buried and at rest. Restrain your grief and go along with fate, Marquis. Well take our leaves first, then. Marquis, Tang Fan said, that maid named Ah-Lin, according to regulations, will also need to be taken to Shuntian Prefecture. Zheng Ying said nothing this time, bluntly waving his hand to have someone bring her and hand her over to a bailiff. As soon as they left the Estate, Pan Bin scowled and scolded Tang Fan. Runqing, youve really been too impulsive about things today! Tang Fan had a look of innocence. Where did that come from, Sir? You shouldnt have said the latter of those words to him right then. Is there ultimately another reason for Zheng Chengs death? Well, thats ultimately, too, nothing more than your speculation. What happens when you figure something out? Tell me, why did your attitude change so badly when he saw us off? Hes merely afraid that the killer is wading in his residence; at the time of his sons death, he might have even been in contact with them. Tang Fan sighed. Sir, if we sit back and observe without a care, I fear that will lead to a miscarriage of justice. Pan Bin was quite annoyed, thinking to himself, I gave you all these pointers, how do you still not get it? Zheng Yings own son died, and even he hopes to downplay this big event into something minor, so why would we work so hard for no reason? Furthermore, the Emperor will certainly have the thought to look after Zheng Yings feelings out of sensitivity for a meritorious official. If the Prefecture actually does uncover something at that time, itll only offend people. Tang Fan was a bit exasperated, as well. Shuntian Prefects were truethird-rank[6] officials, no matter what one said, but Pan Bin was very timid, even being overcautious when investigating a murder case. It was little wonder that this gentleman had worked for so many years, yet hadnt been able to rise further up from start to finish. The two had dilly-dallied in the Estate for more than half the night, and when they came out, the morning drums had recently been struck outside, the number of early-rising pedestrians gradually rising. The air was still pervaded with the crisp chill of frost and dew that hadnt yet withdrawn. Noticing that somebody had already set up a breakfast stall at the side of the road, Tang Fan smiled at Pan Bin. Brother, working hard through the night should have made you hungry, too. How about I treat you to breakfast? Hearing him switch out the way he called him, Pan Bins originally cloudy mien nevertheless eased up some, and he felt his stomach rumble a bit. Both of them were in plainclothes, so they werent eye-catching at all. When the stall owner saw them find a place to sit, he didnt come over, shouting from where he stood. You two customers, what will you be eating? Two bowls of mincepork noodles! Tang Fan answered. Got it! the owner shouted back. Not long after, two bowls of mincepork noodles with steam coming off of them were arranged in front of them. The hot broth, its aroma pouncing at the nose, had green and plump scallion tips scattered on its surface, which really made ones appetite grow immensely. Pan Bin and Tang Fan were truly hungry, wordlessly picking up their chopsticks and lowering their heads to eat. Tang Fans manner of eating was refined, yet not the slightest bit slower in speed than Pan Bins. It was even a smidgen faster. By the time Sir Pan had finished drinking the noodle broth, Tang Fan had already put down his chopsticks. Before Pan Bin could think to open his mouth and scold him, Tang Fan said, Brother, the truth of this matter is; even if the Marquis wants to suppress it, he might not be able to. Why do you say that? Can you still remember that huge incident that happened last year? Pan Bin thought about it, and then his face twisted up. Youre saying? He picked up a chopstick, dampened it in the broth, then wrote the word west on the table. Tang Fan nodded. The word wasnt in reference to the cardinal direction west, nor the Western Paradises west. Rather, it was the Western Depots west. When the Great Ming Dynasty was passed on to the present Chenghua Emperor, he became its eighth monarch. When his father, the Late Yingzong Emperor, reigned, a major event occurred that was enough to get recorded in the annals of history the Tumu Stronghold Crisis. To say it plainly and truthfully, an imperial eunuch called Wang Zhen wouldnt have died if he hadnt courted disaster by instigating Yingzong into a personal campaign against the Oirats; said Emperor actually listened to him, too, bringing a group of major officials with him on it. The end result was that the damned eunuch was killed, the Emperor was captured, and all the officials died until none were left. When the Oirats were about to invade Beijing, Yu Qian stood up on the precipice of danger, and only then could the national capital be preserved, preventing the Great Ancestor and Adept Ancestor[1] from getting angered into jumping out of their coffins and cussing out their unworthy descendants. During Chenghuas fathers abduction, because the former was still young at the time and the nation could not be left without a monarch for one day, Yu Qian and a group of officials established Yingzongs little brother that was, Chenghuas uncle as Emperor, in order to avoid suffering the Oirats threats and extortion. Consequently, the immoral Oirats surprisingly set Yingzong free to come back. One mountain couldnt tolerate two tigers; how could Chenghuas uncle give his older brother the seat once more? For that, he placed him under house arrest. On a certain night several years later, Yingzong ascended in a palace rebellion with the backing of several major officials. Feng shui changed the direction it flowed, now rotating so that it was Chenghuas uncle who was demoted and imprisoned. In no more than a few years time, Yingzong perished, it circulated again, and then the title of Emperor ultimately fell upon his son, the Chenghua Emperor. When Chenghua, who nearly didnt get the throne, had just ascended, the administration was still described as well-managed, but good things didnt last forever. He wasnt diligent in politics to begin with, and once a lazy person got used to being chronically lazy, it was difficult for them to become hardworking. It was said both inside and outside of Court that Consort Wan was currently the source of the calamity, but Tang Fan didnt see it like that. No matter how much of a scourge one woman could be, her ability was still finite. If it wasnt for the Emperor taking all advice at its word, what use would even dozens of treacherous Consorts be? For that matter, Consort Wans arrogant domineering was only in the harem, and had no great influence in the Courts presence. Lastly, Chenghua himself didnt want to work, pushed off all Court matters to its officials due to his fondness for alchemy, and was extremely doting and trusting towards eunuchs, which then caused the Dynasty, inside and out, to be in disorder day after day. In comparison with Court officials, eunuchs were the closest people to the Emperor. In order to handle affairs conveniently (on top of all sorts of other incidental benefits), officials would naturally approach the eunuchs. Coming from this, there was a joke circulating the Court: the Three Solons are made of paper paste, and the Six Ministers are clay figurines.[2] It conveyed that those Solons grasped nationwide power, yet watched all day long as the eunuchs next to the Emperor handled things; yes-men, incapable of proper business. Under these circumstances, it was, of course, impossible to have the extravagant hope that the government could be well-managed in any aspect. Those knowledgeable moaned and groaned, every single one of them saying that the Emperors environs were hemmed in with villains; inside, eunuchs caused calamity, and outside, ordinary officials blocked the road. The golden ages of national power from the Great and Adept Emperors eras werent to even be brought to mind, as it was really hard to say that the decent management from the Renzong and Xuanzong eras would even get reinstated. In February of last year, the imperial eunuch Wang Zhi ordained the founding of the Western Depot. For the purpose of establishing his might, he arrested many people when it was just barely founded; included among those were not only commoners that had rashly commented on Court government, but also earnest Dynasty officials. The example of the Executive of the Imperial Hospital, Jiang Zongwu,[3] didnt need to be said, as not even agents of the Six Ministries and local provincial commissioners had the luck of escaping Wang Zhi straight-up arrested them all as he pleased, not even going through memorials. Due to people in the palace speaking for him adding into his considerable ability to ingratiate himself by being overly submissive, Chenghua hardly looked into it at all. Many people had hopelessly indicted Wang Zhi, only to receive his retaliation. In a single moment, the Western Depots power flourished like a flame, pressing in close to the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard, and putting every last person on every level of society in danger. It was to the point that Pan Bin didnt even dare to directly call out its name, only daring to use the word west as an ambassador. Seeing Tang Fan nod, he questioned, What connection is there between that place and the Marquis Estate? Dont you go and recklessly get involved! Do you still remember the case of the demon fox night-sightings[4] two years back, Brother? Pan Bins expression changed again. Tang Fan smiled. You need not be nervous, Brother. The city hides us in its masses. We can speak here, and no one will notice. Two years ago, the tale of a golden-eyed, long-tailed demon beast that was causing misfortune everywhere suddenly began to spread around the capital for some reason. Rumor was that if a human simply ran into the demon, they would fall into a coma. Later on, someone had purportedly died as a result of that coma, and then the beast had stripped their body of its skin to wear, transforming into that persons appearance; with the perpetuation of these lies, the hearts of the people grew alarmed. Then, at that time, a Daoist name Li Zilong appeared, and used sorcery to make friends with inner-palace officials for the purpose of awaiting a chance to kill the monarch. Someone else made a connection between the demon beast and Li Zilong, also claiming that Daoist Li was actually a transmogrified demon fox that the Great Ancestor had slain, and now that the Ancestor was gone, he had come looking for his descendants for revenge instead. Even though Li Zilong was later beheaded, and the gossip gradually settled down, Chenghua was frightened by this incident after he heard of it. He even believed that the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard were both unreliable, and he needed to set up a new spy organization customized to serve him that was how the Western Depot was born for the special occasion. Following the case of the demon fox, the Western Depot was founded, and just so happened to be treated as an excuse to arrest a bunch of people. On top of wanting to show an impressive reputation in the presence of His Majesty, and expressing that the Depot is indeed more competent at things than the Eastern and the Guard, he still wants to establish his prestige, making every official scared when they see him. Now that this incident with Zheng Cheng has happened, even if the Marquis himself likes to downplay things, Wang Zhi will inevitably take the subject and make a hubbub over it. Then, hell beg His Majesty for a thorough investigation, and might even stick his hand in it so that he can display the might of the Depot. Pan Bin shook his head. Thats not possible. Even though the Depot is presently akin to the sun in the sky, why would Wang Zhi go offend the Marquis Estate for no real reason? For the sake of building might within the royalty and aristocracy, and to let the people of the realm know that not only does he dare to arrest officials, he doesnt even stint on making a faux-pas against those influential families of estimable subjects. That way, everyone in the world will fear him, and itll be even more convenient for him to do whatever he wants to in the future. Lets just wait until the Western Depot meddles to talk more of this, then. If its willing when the time comes, the Prefecture can properly push the boat along the current, and thus push this troublesome affair over to them. Tang Fan shook his head, a bit exasperated. Their teacher had once previously commented to him about his study-brother, saying that Pan Zibin doesnt finish things sufficiently, plans for things mediocrely, and retreats before the battle is even fought when he encounters anything. Now that he brought that to mind, it was, indeed, extraordinarily fitting. On Pan Bins end, he feared that Tang Fan would make trouble on his own initiative, so he urged him to go in the opposite direction. This matter with the Estate will definitely be presented as a memorial, so wait for His Majesty to pass any edicts down before you say anything else about it! You absolutely must not run off to the Estate and go asking for Zheng Chengs corpse! Tang Fan bust out laughing. Do you view me as someone as impulsive as that, Brother? Pan Bin wasnt happy. I do. Our teacher even said that you were docile and refined, having the flair of a gentleman of old, which, mixed in with that astonishing set of words you just said at the Estate, instead makes you seem all the more brash! How did a truethird-rank Shuntian Prefect and a minor sixth-rank official come to call each other fellow students? This was quite normal, actually, as they both had the same teacher, Qiu Jun. Qiu Jun could be considered a jack of all trades. Not only was he good at serving as an official, but he had also dabbled in history, science, economy, and even medicine, his knowledge far-reaching. With a hefty abundance of writings, he became widely-known to all at once, and received quite the amount of respect from intellectuals. If people of the time could have worshipped him as their teacher, that would truly be three lifetimes worth of luck. Pan Bin was a disciple that Qiu Jun had accepted in his early years. It was ridiculous to say aloud; the disciples political career had gone smoothly and he was now a truethird-rank Shuntian Prefect, while the teacher was still a fourth-rank Chancellor at the Imperial Academy. Yet, the status of a teacher and his student was still present, so even if his officials rank was higher than his teachers, Pan Bin still had to grasp the respectful etiquette of a disciple as usual before him. Three years prior, during the eleventh year of Chenghua, Qiu Jun was appointed to preside over the Sheep of Twists[5] edition of the provincial exam. Tang Fan had participated in that very exam; first, he placed fifth in the provincial, then soon scored first of the second bracket with flying colors in the palace exam. In spite of the imperial exams[7] being held once every three years, there was an untold amount of talents that would step up to replace those that had fallen, also wasting their time on it. Tang Fan getting fourth place while being just shy of crown age was already enough to make the scholars of the world envious. Rumor had it that Chenghua had wanted to venerate Tang Fan as the Prime Scorer, but didnt, because Chief of Cabinet Wan An said that he was way too young, and it would be better to shift his ranking back so as to avoid having the young man get overly joyous and fail in life due to being over-praised; it had to be kept in mind that the vulgar wind would inevitably break the beautiful trees of the forest. Feeling that that made sense, the Emperor changed the ranking, shifted Tang Fan to fourth place, and joked with regret, Tang Runqings literary grace and academic knowledge are both of the highest quality. It is hard to come by one both so young and so intelligent. If he was placed as Prime Scorer, it would be very likely that all Prime Scorers from now on, when they came to stand beside him, would cover their faces in shame! Thus, three years ago, despite Tang Fan not receiving Prime Scorer in true, his name spread around the realm due to the Emperors statement. The translator says: *screeches in extreme pain at all the links I had to find and research I had to do* Also: Ah, yes, another Emperor thats Dumb As Fuck. [1] Temple names, as they were called, are one type of many titles of reverence for monarchs. Often used posthumously, but not always. [2] An actual quote from Ming times, though theres no exact source. The Three Solons refer to Chief of Cabinet Wan An, High Scholar Liu Xu, and High Scholar Liu Ji. [3] A real person. Refused to give Wang Zhi medicine while Chenghuas father was in the hospital (the meds were not for Chenghua), and thus got arrested for the false charges of stealing ink and incense from the palace. [4] The version in this novel is leagues different, but theres an actual account called this in the History of Ming. According to google (which admits that its only briefly explained), a man named Zhao Lingan supposedly took a beautiful woman back home with him, and then every living thing in the Estate died overnight. After, a beautiful woman was seen wandering the streets at night, and even more people died. The hysteria led to the Western Depot being formed. [5] This is in reference to old calendrical yearkeeping; the sexagenary cycle. The Twelve Heavenly Branches (the zodiac animals) and Ten Heavenly Stems (the attributes) are crossed with each other to label 60 different years (even though 10 x 12 = 120, they only use half of the combos), after which the cycle resets, kind of like how theres multiple zodiac years of the Horse and whatever. On top of that, they label months and days the same way, though with different formulas honestly, its a big goddamn mess, and they calculate auspicious days with it, somehow. (Heres a table that illustrates it better than I can C yi wei is the Sheep of Twists year, the 32nd.) The West is typically a euphemism for death, hence why cutting it off is a good thing, though hell if I know why a date would do that. [6] Ranks are separated into two categories per rank; True and regular versions. True ranks are a half-step higher in position than regulars, i.e. Truethird-rank is higher than third-rank, but lower than regular second rank, and third-rank is better than truefourth-rank. [7] Adding onto the previous link to clarify; of the famed imperial exams, in the Ming Dynasty, there were county-specific exams, after which came exams in the capital of said countys province, after which came the palace exams, introduced in Ming. County Honorates have passed the County, and so forth. Of the Honorates in the palace exams, theres a first bracket of examinees with the Prime Scorer, Second Scorer, and Third Scorer. The second bracket doesnt get official titles like so, but they do have individual ranks. Of course, their literal translations are much more flowery than these boring ones, but sometimes you have to take practicality over flair. CH 4 As Qiu Jun had been one of the head authenticators of the provincial exam, he naturally became the respected teacher of that very batch of examinees. Among the crowd of students, Tang Fan had gained the most of his good graces. Qiu Jun believed that if he industriously forged ahead in his studies, then his future accomplishments would be in no way inferior to his own. Thus, Tang Fan was accepted into his branch as a disciple, and this moment also became a tale that spread in Shilin. After Tang Fan got into the roll of qualifiers, he stayed in Hanlin Academy for three years, then was allocated to Shuntian Prefecture by the Ministry of Appointments. This study-brother Pan of his had definitely contributed to that, as unless there was a vacancy in Court, he would have proceeded to be kept waiting in the Academy, or undergone the also-common event of getting assigned to some remote little county to serve as an official there. Head of Politics of a Region sounded more impressive than Judge, but the Heavens would be high up, and the Emperor far away who knew how many months or years it would take to get ones talent remembered by the latter? Once three years passed, there would once again be new candidates to appoint to posts. Who could still remember one name in a vast sea of people? From having this layer of a connection, the relationship between Tang Fan and Pan Bin couldnt be described as distant. Tang Fan was also aware that the man was indeed not any sort of traitor; his talent was simply a bit mediocre, and he was a bit scared of getting into trouble. Because of that, he still did everything he could to calculate on the others behalf. Hearing Pan Bins grumbling, he didnt get angry, but instead smiled a bit. How about you and I make a bet, Brother? Pan Bin was somewhat displeased, thinking to himself, even though theres no harm in calling me Brother in private, Im still your superior. How can a senior-junior pair be like so? However, due to his teacher Qiu Juns reputation, it wouldnt be good for him to bicker too much about it, so he lightly coughed. Youre feeling lucky? Tang Fan pointed at the empty bowl in front of him. If I win, youll have to treat me to a bowl of mincepork noodles. Very well. Seems you want to treat me to another one, then, Pan Bin answered with a grin. It was on account of his generous teacher that Pan Bin looked after his younger schoolmate more, but he really didnt take Tang Fans words too seriously. From how he saw it, Tang Fan was young in age when he had first entered officialdom, so how could he comprehend what was at stake in this? Itd be great if he didnt invite calamity for him. As for said teachers words of praise towards Tang Fan, Pan Bin took those even less to heart. He thought that although the former was an expert in the field of knowledge, he was severely average at being an official. So many years wouldnt have passed like this where his rank would still be lower than his students, otherwise. The abrupt death of the Marquis Estates eldest son was swiftly reported to the higher-ups. On Shuntians side, Pan Bin didnt adopt Tang Fans suggestion of proceeding with investigation; rather, a private communication with the Marquis directly resulted in Zheng Chengs determination as death by a sudden development of acute shed-yang illness. In this way, the maid Ah-Lin, who had been on-scene at the time, couldnt shake free of blame. Yet, how the judgement would ultimately go was not Shuntians say at all. Due to the involvement of the Estate, Marquis Wuan himself would definitely have to go seek out the Emperor, and he would definitely be the one that would ultimately come to a decision. It stood to reason that Ah-Lin hadnt killed him directly. Even if she really had seduced him and indirectly caused him to die, that wouldnt reach the level of a crime punishable by death, being banishment at most. However, were a lone woman to get sentenced to exile, how many atrocities would she then be subjected to? Come to think of it, she might not be even able to reach her destination on the road there. That was all saying nothing of the fact that it was the Estate that she had offended; the Marquis wanted to strangle a weak, powerless woman to death, and he wouldnt even need to think to make it happen. It would practically be as easy as a flip of the hand. Regardless of how this would happen, Pan Bin would be seen as cleared of responsibility. However, the Heavens did not follow the wishes of humans. The more he wanted to make a big event a small one, the more the development of things instead ran counter to his desire. Mysterious forces were at play, dooming this year to be an eventful one. The cause of the incident was actually two months back. In March, Chen Yue, the Right Deputy Capital Censor, submitted a letter to Emperor requesting that Liaodongs horse market be reopened. Old grudges between the Three Guards of Duoyan and the Ming Dynasty were involved regarding this matter, and to speak of them, one would need to first trace their origins back to Adept Ancestor Yongles time. Like an old womans foot-binding[1] wrap, it was smelly and long, and would best go unmentioned. Only, there was considerable controversy over this in Court. Some people believed that the Three Guards threw away the reputation they had been afforded, so their throats should be clutched, not let go, and reopening the horse market was equivalent to actively backing down the Dynastys prestige would be non-existent afterwards, while allowing those people to want a li when given a cun. However, on account of this having Wang Zhis backing, the Emperor still ended up not only approving Chen Yues proposal, but also permitting him to go ahead and act as Liaodongs Grand Coordinator. Consequently, in not even two months time, Chen Yue falsely claimed that the Jianzhou Jurchens were rebelling, then passed off the headcount of those murdered by surprise as a contribution when he sent the report up, triggering a riot in Liaodong. Following someone bringing all this to the light, the Emperor was naturally going to send people to investigate and find the truth, placating those of the border division that Chen Yue had harassed. Then, Western Depot Director Wang Zhi volunteered for the assignment, saying that he was willing to work for the Emperor. That he was doing this to snatch some merits was a given, but many people had done things of this sort before. It was a common sight in the Great Mings political circle that could be found all over the place. Yet, Yu Zijun, the Minister of War, stood up in opposition, believing that the current top priority should be to send someone that was well-versed in army matters to go, as only they could resolve the tangled issue efficiently the implication being that an amateur like Wang Zhi wasnt to go join in on the excitement and be an inconvenience. Wang Zhi, of course, was enraged. He discovered that, in spite of both receiving the Emperors favor and establishing the Western Depot, he still didnt cover the sky with one hand, and there were yet people everywhere in Court that fought against him. Right at that time, Guanxis Taiping Prefecture and Sichuans Yanjing vassal were hit by successive earthquakes. On the pretext that the Heavens were issuing a warning that there were scoundrels haunting the Emperors surroundings, Wang Zhi fought to be the first to lodge a complaint before the man. First, he got Yu Zijuns diehard follower, Right Assistant Minister of War Ma Wensheng, booted off to Liaozheng, thus breaking Yu Zijuns arm, then also called for Imperial Censors to supervise the areas disaster relief, in the name of avoiding someone pocketing the funds. Every one of the couple of Censors that spoke on Yu Zijuns behalf got kicked over to the place, thoroughly isolating him. The wrestling of these Dynasty Pivot bigwigs hadnt had anything to do with Pan Bin in the least, but, by either good or bad luck, the murder case of the Marquis Estate happened to be at exactly the right time. Wang Zhi thereby presented a memorial to the Emperor requesting a complete investigation of it to the last, and expressed that, if needed, the Western Depot could also join in to provide assistance with it, as the truth had to be given to Marquis Wuan. On top of that, Shuntian Prefectures hasty conclusion of the case had a further air of half-assedness, and ought to be punished. When this news came in, Pan Bin couldnt remain sitting still. The way things went was exactly how his younger schoolmate had said it would! Just imagine; the other was no more than a bit over twenty, and although he was brimming with talent, commanded their teachers endless appreciation, and got accepted as a disciple, he was merely a novice that had just entered officialdom, when all was said and done. Pan Bin hadnt taken his words to heart before, and it was precisely because of this that he thought Tang Fan was nothing more than an overly arrogant youngster that didnt know harms from benefits and randomly passed judgement on everything from where he was standing. Unexpectedly, after a short interim, everything his junior had said had come true, one after the other, without the least bit of error. In contrast, he, as the Shuntian Prefect, was a major truethird-rank official, and could be considered being half a step inside the Pivot, but he was as oblivious as ever. Things didnt come as clearly into view to him as they did to a sixth-rank official. Since things had come to this point, he called for Tang Fan at once, trying to find a doctor to fix his critical condition. In the past, he had affected the airs of never calling for his junior, but now, he had no mental blockade in the least. After explaining the entire sequence of events, he ended it with, Brother, in your view, is there still any margin for redeeming this situation? In accordance with Pan Bins status and position, the rate at which he received news was inevitably much faster than Tang Fans. The latter wasnt surprised, either, with even less of a flaunting look. Lets start with seeing what you want to do, he said, after a short moment of silence. Pan Bin thought to himself, what I want to do? Im wanting to keep my rank as an official and not get looked into, of course! He coughed lightly. Marquis Wuan had told me in private that he wished for this case to be de-emphasized, but Wang Zhi then came in with vicious momentum. His Majesty usually trusts him, too, so Im afraid that itll be very difficult to settle this in a good way. Me being accused of misdoings is a small matter, but it goes without saying that the Prefecture will suffer implication from it, as well. If you have a means, theres no harm in stating it. Neither you nor the Marquis have any enmity with Wang Zhi, nor does Zheng Chengs murder have anything to do with him. He wouldnt make life hard for you without rhyme or reason. A disturbance like this is simply him wanting to build his might up with this as an excuse, thus intimidating the Court officials. Pan Bin looked pained. What does him building his might have to do with me? Im not Yu Zijun, nor have I ever offended him! Minister Yu is an old subject of the former Court, and has always had prominence. Theres nothing Wang Zhi can do for the time being, so hes forced to find a bystander to vent his anger on. Its just as the saying goes: The city gate catching fire brings calamity to the fish of a pond. Not in a good mood, Pan Bin arbitrarily took it out on him. You still have the mind to think up jokes? Your Brother here is about to be dismissed from his post and condemned, yet youre glad? Tamg Fan wasnt scared, cupping his hands. Forgive me, Sir. Did you ever ask your couple of aides? What did they say? Pan Bin had two aides, one named Lu Feng, and one named Jiang Dongyuan. Tang Fan had met them both once before. Pan Bin sighed. One of them said to go to Wang Zhi, apologize, and give him gifts, while the other said to send a memorial begging for forgiveness! The memorial was a necessity. Now that Wang Zhi was criticizing Shuntian Prefectures incompetence in the presence of the Emperor, Pan Bin definitely needed the memorial, but the way of writing one was an art form. Even more importantly was that everything depended on the Emperors mood, as well as whether or not the one that wrote the memorial was allowed to speak before the Emperor. Pan Bin worried that once his was submitted, Wang Zhi would then give the Emperor a few provoking words that would make him think Pan Bin incapable, bringing him, the Shuntian Prefect, to an end. As for going to Wang Zhi to apologize and give gifts, Pan Bin was still a bit hesitant. At present, the Court was divided into three main groups; those that adhered themselves to Wang Zhi, those that Wang Zhi went against, and additional neutrally-standing ones, such as Pan Bin and Tang Fans teacher, Qiu Jun. He was an old man that merely served as an Imperial College Chancellor, so his neutrality was fine, and no one would bother about roping him in. Pan Bin also wanted to be a neutral party, inoffensive to both, but that was a bit difficult when it came to his position. See, this had been a small case even if the deceaseds identity was complicated, giving it an attentive investigation and handling would be enough. Yet, because it was now getting involved in the various factional disputes of mutual deception in Court, it became complex all of a sudden as a result. Brother, how do you view Wang Zhi? Pan Bin was startled, then thought about it. Hes complicated. Really complicated. An interior eunuch that was even younger than Tang Fan had abruptly sprung up in the span of a brief year, obtained the confidence of the Emperor and Consort Wan, organized the Western Depot, and became overwhelmingly powerful. Pan Bin heard that there had been an official that once came into the capital to relate his duties, then had bumped into Wang Zhi, who had no sense of personal proportion; unlike all those others that flattered and curried favor with him, he instead scolded him in public. After the event, Wang Zhi not only didnt bicker with him, but instead praised that official for his strength of character to anyone he came across. Pan Bin didnt know whether the rumors were true or false, but they claimed that he was an immensely tolerant person, while he contrarily arrested and killed many officials using the Western Depot, constructed a lot of enemies, behaved unreasonably, and was additionally fond of recklessly conducting trouble for others. In short, he was a man very capable of seizing opportunities. Were the world to go into chaos, he might be a formidable sort of hero then, but were one to treat him with that same sort of disdainful attitude that civil officials looked upon eunuchs with, they would ultimately be the only one suffering. Generally, theres no eunuch that doesnt lust for money, but Wang Zhi is an exception. He doesnt covet wealth, but fame and power. You know of that event he helped His Majesty deal with two years ago. Taking advantage of the demon fox case, he was able to go with the momentum and raise a big flag, found the Depot, and pull together his own influence. Prior to those two years, how many people had ever heard of the name Wang Zhi? If you go ask that same thing again now, how many wont know of Wang Zhi? For this reason, giving gifts or bribes would work on attending eunuchs, but not on Eunuch Wang. The way he talked was not fast, and he spoke garrulously, but it gave one a sense of steadiness and reliability. This logical analysis made Pan Bin even more wholly convinced by this schoolmate of his, and he nodded over and over again. Right. That waste of space Old Jiang has been my aide for some years, too, but he doesnt understand Wang Zhi as much as you do. Whats your thoughts, then, on what I should do? A memorial must be sent, but you can do something like Once he was done listening, Pan Bins eyes shined, and he laughed happily. Thats a great way! On the morrow, Pan Bin presented a memorial. He wasnt that great at judging cases, but he had skill at being an official, and a memorial, which underwent some finishing touches once it passed through his aides, had unexpectedly been compiled into a document that listed out how he had been wronged. First, he sincerely expressed his humble apologies and recounted all sorts of difficulties hed had where he didnt have options, striving for the Emperors sympathy. After, he turned the topic around, saying that since Director Wang had denounced Shuntian Prefecture, it was surely their group of subjects that had indeed not done things satisfactorily it would be better for the Western Depot, Eastern Depot, Brocade Guard, Ministry of Justice, and Court of Judicial Review to come together and get involved in the investigation of this case, so that the truth could properly be paid back to the Marquis Estate. The pond hadnt been clean to start with, and Pan Bins move simply muddied it into further chaos. This was the plan Tang Fan had made for him. Wang Zhis conduct was much too tyrannical, and there werent just a few that found him displeasing to the eye. This suggestion happened to coincide with the ideas of certain people in Court, and Tang Fan had taken their mindsets into his calculations. Pan Bin presented the memorial on this side, some outsiders then gave a few instigating words on that side, and it speedily received the Emperors approval. So many departments participated in this that it didnt matter what outcome was finally sussed out, as Shuntian Prefectures responsibility for it would inevitably be a lot lighter. As the saying went, when a club came down, the fish would all scatter in a panic in different directions, and then none of them would get beaten to death. Like this, Pan Bin didnt need to worry about having to throw out his black silk officials hat. As such, things wound around in a big circle. The Estates murder case, which had been on the cusp of being concluded, returned to its point of origin once more and started anew, which really made one want to both laugh and cry. No one could have thought that in the billowing waves behind the scenes, there would be a minor, sixth-rank official. The translator says: Welcome to ancient patriarchal China, where 9 out of 10 men in power are DICKS [1] I cant, in good conscience, directly link to the wiki page on this without a severe body horror warning. Now that Ive given it, take caution. CH 5 Once the name Rejuvenation Hall was heard, it was bound to be an apothecary. The overwhelming majority of apothecaries in the capital werent called Rejuvenation Hall, though, but something like Kindness Hall. All that identicalness made people think that they were all owned by the same person. The Rejuvenation Hall located at Tangxibai Street was a household-name store. Among the ten or so Rejuvenation Halls in the capital, this was the one with the most flourishing public reputation. However, in this particular age, there was no such thing as intellectual property rights, so after this Rejuvenation Halls name came into success, other apothecaries successively followed suit, taking on the same name, while the one on Tangxibai could do nothing about it. Business at the Hall wasnt bad, with all the people coming and going that were getting prescriptions written and drugs made up. Not only was the medicine here widely known, but even the physicians seated in it were famed, typically getting a line of people out the door just for a visit to them. However, it was raining today, and the patients were quite a bit lacking. Not a lot of people were coming for medicine, even. His work finished for a spell, the young fellow Gao Yazi was right in the middle of being bored when he saw someone outside put away his umbrella, leave it at the entrance, wipe the rain off his clothes, then walk inside. Despite his back being to the light, a crow-black color could faintly be seen suffusing the rainwater-damp hair hanging beside his face. His jade everyday clothes drifted to and fro with the wind, making him unfettered and stylish. Gao Yazi had been an apprentice at this apothecary for three years and had seen an uncountable amount of people, but he had never seen such a good-looking one before. He couldnt resist staring fixedly at him for half the day until the other walked over and knocked on the counter in front of him. Only then did he snap out of it, face flushing thoroughly red. What can I help you with, customer? The other man was nice to look at, and even his smile was gentle and elegant. Gao Yazi could read, but he hadnt read many classic books, so he couldnt think of any nice-sounding adjectives. He only thought that this person was akin to the drizzle outside a coolness that brushed past the face, sweeping away the stuffy heat of early summer to make one quite comfortable. Im looking for Shopkeep Liu. Is he here? the other asked. Thats unfortunate. He just left, Gao Yazi answered. The one that was standing in Rejuvenation Hall and talking with Gao Yazi right now was, of course, Tang Fan. Hearing that the shopkeeper was out, the space between his brows couldnt help but scrunch, and he immediately questioned, Before he went, did he ever say when he would come back? The young man thought back for a time. Right before he did, he said he would only return by noon. What is your respected name? If you have something you need and it isnt critical, itd be better to talk to me about it. Ill convey it later on for you so you wont need to make a trip again! He was an eloquent speaker, talented in stepping forth for social interactions. It was no wonder that he was so young, yet could work by himself at the Hall. Tang Fan smiled. My surname is Tang. I have nothing to do right now, so Ill just wait for him here. Would that be okay, or no? Nice-looking people always had an unfair advantage; if he was swapped out for someone with a crooked nose and bulging eyes, Gao Yazi might not be so cordial, but Tang Fan saying so made him answer in haste. Of course it is! Have a bit of a sit for now, Mister Tang! After that, he poured him tea himself and brought it over. He could be described as excessively kissing up to him. The tea wasnt great, but Tang Fan nevertheless accepted his enthusiasm, slightly nodding at him with a smile. Gao Yazi suddenly felt like he was about to float to ascension. It was still early in the day, and Shopkeep Liu wouldnt return that quickly. Tang Fan simply sat to the side, drinking tea while he watched the resident physician admit patients, which actually wasnt that boring. Around half a shichen later, another three people came in from outside. Donning yisan with decorated pleats, mala-colored clouds that went from the shoulders all the way to the sleeves, and spring-gilt sabres at their waists, they were majestic, and had an intrepid grandeur. The one leading them in particular had an abstruse and grave look, his gaze as sharp as a sword. From just a light sweep around, it made onlookers subconsciously move away from his line of sight one after the other, not daring to meet it. As soon as the people in the apothecary saw those uniforms that had been described so many times they were almost personally familiar, they showed all types of expressions of amazement, dread, and admiration, promptly moving closer to the side of their own accord to make them a path. In the Great Ming Dynasty, only the Brocade Guard or the Eastern Depots arrival could receive such treatment. Of course, there was the addition of the Western Depot now, too. The three Brocade Guards stopping at the apothecary instantly turned into a spectacle with thousands of people watching. Not a peep was heard in the surroundings. Everyone was watching them, too afraid to even whisper in each others ears. The Guards esteem had started at the Great Mings founding, gone through eight Courts, and long been transmitted throughout the realm, able to stop children from crying at night. Tracing back to those years, at the initial establishment of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Ancestor had a killer addiction to killing people. He felt that those of the Ministry of Justice were entirely inefficient, since, whenever they killed a person, they had to first arrest them and then put them on trial, which wasted who-knew-how-much time for no reason. In consequence, he set up the Regional Commissionary Department of his personal Brocade Army, then took the Guard as a blade in his hand, using it to exterminate corrupt officials and dissidents. Later on, he maybe thought that he had killed too much and could stay his hand, so the Guard was abolished. Unexpectedly, as soon as Yongle took the stage, it was reinstated once again, and in a buy-one-get-one-free deal was supplemented by the innovative Eastern Depot. The Guard and Depot each managed their own duties, but they also had mutual overlap, causing their business competition to be very fierce and conflicting views long extant. In the Emperors view, the Eastern Depot was a eunuch principality, and those had all accompanied him since childhood while he was growing up in the palace, causing them to naturally be closer to him than the Guard. In some circumstances, however, the former could not replace the latter. No matter how one spoke of them, the Guards were menfolk that had their equipment, while the Depot was the domain of eunuchs, and civil officials were innately hostile and vigilant towards eunuchs. Yet, regardless what conflicts and struggles there were on the inside, on the outside, once the Guard came out, no one from the high nobles down to the ordinary citizens was not terrified of and extremely respectful to them, afraid that one bit of inattention would offend these gentlemen and senselessly incite misfortune. And that was the reason why Tang Fan had given that idea to Pan Bin. The Guard and Eastern Depot didnt like to see each other, and the Eastern Depot hated that the Western Depot had cropped up to fill up space in the sky, as it diluted their own publicity and power. The Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review had absolutely no favorable opinions of these three intelligence agencies, but they were also quite fearful of them, and didnt dare to impinge upon them. Under the impediment of several parties, Shuntian Prefecture was the least eye-catching in contrast. Gao Yazi speedily welcomed them, forcing out a smile as he trembled in trepidation. Gentlemen, you honor this little store with your presence. How can I help you all? Their leader did not speak, but a Guard behind him did. Where is the shopkeeper? Another person came looking for Shopkeep Liu? Surprised, Gao Yazi quickly answered, I must inform you all that he left early today, and Im afraid he wont return until noon! Where did he go? the man asked again. At the time, relatives of his came to find him. It seemed someone in his family was sick, so he went in a rush. In regards to where those relatives live, this humble one has no idea. When it came to Tang Fan, he enthusiastically urged the other to stay a while, but in the face of these fiends, he looked forward to them leaving as soon as possible. Who couldve know that the Guard would instead coldly say, Then well just wait here. Gao Yazi grumbled on the inside, but didnt dare to say anything, promptly inviting them to sit as he simultaneously made them tea in a rush. By either good or bad fortune, it was only him and the sitting physician in the apothecary today. One saw patients, and one made up meds; even if they wanted to go notify their boss, they couldnt do two things at once. Gao Yazi brought the hot tea over, smiling politely. Gentlemen, this is top-notch cloud & mist tea. Please drink it slowly. None of the three ever spoke gruffly, but, somehow, as soon as they said anything with their stern faces, they exuded an air from head to toe that said that strangers were not to come forward. Gao Yazi thus felt his calves spasm, and he nearly collapsed limply to the ground. Only after a good long while did he conquer his mental barrier, mustering up the courage to ask, This humble one talks too much, but I would like to ask if Shopkeep Liu has committed something. If its a major crime, I can go try to ask the boss to come over The leading Guard shot him a look, and Gao Yazi was immediately unable to say the second half of his words. No need, the other said after a decent minute. The man resembled an ice sculpture, the words he spoke straight-up giving off an icy air. Gao Yazi, as a young apprentice-slash-assistant of an apothecary, had never witnessed a scene like this before, and was nearly scared into pissing himself. Watching the three Guards seemingly unintentionally make things hard for someone, the physician and in-patients started to tremble in apprehension. They all got back to their positions those that came to see the doctor got seen, and those that came to get their pulses taken got them taken. Gao Yazi got patted on the shoulder a few times. He turned his head, only to see that Mister Tang, who had just been sitting at the side, was hitting him with a comforting smile, after which he asked the three Guards, You gentlemen came because of the Marquis Wuan Estate case? The leader narrowed his eyes, measuring him up for a short moment. Who are you? he shot back without answering. Tang Fan cupped his hands. Tang Fan, Runqing. A Judge of Shuntian Prefecture. You really are him? The other appeared to know of him. Tang Fan had to laugh. This Tang Runqing is no honored official, nor aristocrat. Theres presumably no worth in anyone pretending to be me, yes? Only then did the other cup his hands. Gonfalon of the Northern Bastion Office in the Brocade Guard, Sui Zhou. Tang Fan was a sixth-ranked official, while the other was trueseventh-rank. To speak of posts, he was lower than Tang Fan, but the position of the Brocade Guard itself could not be discussed according to conventional principles. Thus, even though the man had only cupped his hands without rise, Tang Fan said nothing about it, still maintaining his markedly graceful smile. Are you looking for the shopkeeper because of the Estate case, Gonfalon Sui? Sui Zhou still answered with a question, instead. What have you found out, Sir Tang? My discoveries must be approximately what yours are. If youre interested, it would be better for my Prefecture and your Office to join hands and collaborate, so that we can find the real killer earlier and get His Majesty a confession. He noticed that this Gonfalon Sui treasured his own words like gold, so he assuredly disliked talking rubbish, and disliked others talking rubbish, too. For that reason, he didnt make much small talk, and openly got to the point. Sui Zhou stared at him for a time. I heard that on the same day Zheng Cheng died, he previously bumped into you on the street, and spoke impolitely to you at the time. Did this event actually happen? he asked without expression. Taken aback slightly, Tang Fan nodded. It did indeed. As thats the case, then you also have a motive for killing him, Sir Tang. If you have the free time, you may as well come back with me to the Office, and then you can talk more about arrangements for collaboration. The translator says: Mr. Guard theres title literally translates to chief flag, so he gets to be named after a type of banner Ive literally never heard of before until now. CH 6 In spite of Tang Fan having a brilliant tongue that could say words as beautiful as lotuses, he got choked into speechlessness by that phrase. He had obviously proposed collaboration with full-on sincerity, yet, in the blink of an eye, he was turned into a homicide suspect. Could it be that he had forgotten to look at his Yellow Calendar today? Everyone claimed that the Brocade Guard had terrorizing might and gave nobody any face sure enough, its reputation was not in vain! Tang Fan wasnt sure how to react to this. Right when he thought to speak, he heard Gao Yazi cry out in surprise, Shopkeep Liu, youve come back! Shopkeep Liu came in in a rush, then couldnt help but be gobsmacked as soon as he caught sight of the three Brocade Guards in the room. Gao Yazi stepped forward, introducing him to Sui Zhou, Tang Fan, and the rest. Shopkeep Liu bowed to them one after the other. I have troubled all you gentlemen with waiting here! he admitted anxiously. This little old man is unsure of what crime he has committed; please state it clearly! Noticing that he was panicked, Tang Fan gave him warm words of comfort. Shopkeep Liu, theres no need to worry Is there somewhere quiet here? Sui Zhou asked coldly, cutting him off. There is! There is! Shopkeep Liu quickly replied, leading them into an inner room. The room wasnt big, but it was quieter, unlike the ruckus outside. Shopkeep Liu invited Tang Fan and the others to take their respective seats, had Gao Yazi fetch tea again, then promptly asked, You gentlemen have come here for what purpose? He was, in the end, not as inexperienced as Gao Yazi, and could tell from one glance that out of these people, Tang Fan was the best to talk to. For that reason, though his words were directed at everyone, his eyes were looking at him. Shopkeep Liu, did someone from the Marquis Wuan Estate come previously for a prescription here? Tang Fan thus said. The homicide case, after undergoing these days of fermentation, had long since been stirred into a buzz, and there was no one in the capital that didnt know about it. Once Shopkeep Liu heard this, he suffered a fright, shaking his head over and over again. No such thing, no such thing! Tang Fan stared at him. There was truly no one? Although Sui Zhou and his group said nothing, they were also glaring like tigers from the side. Shopkeep Liu smiled painfully. Sirs, why would I dare to lie? Rejuvenation Hall does have some fame, but its ultimately not as much as Kindness Halls long-standing corporate reputation. With the sort of people in that Estate, how could they ever come running to this place, seeking out our medicine? Think carefully about this, Shopkeep Liu. Dont neglect anything major. If youre covering something up, you will inevitably pay dearly for it! I may as well tell you that Zheng Chengs boyservant informed us that he used yang-rich spring, and it was made up here, by you all. The one that helped him make it up was a tall and thin fellow of a little more than twenty, with a mole under his lip. The other let out an ah. Is it that punk Lin Chaodong that hes talking about?! Lin Chaodong? Correct. The worker originally in charge of making up prescriptions here was him. He acted as Doctor Shangs apprentice for a few years, who is the same doctor thats now taking pulses outside. He had been skilled at his job, too, but last month, he said that a relative had passed away in his home region, and he wanted to hurry back for the funeral so he could lend a hand in taking care of its arrangements. I didnt expect for him to still not be back yet, so now Ive promoted Gao Yazi here after he left. Where did he come from? How long has he been at this Hall? Shopkeep Liu told all he knew. Purportedly, hes of Weihui Prefecture in Henan. Hes been employed here for three years. At the time, he had come to the capital to seek shelter with relatives, but I later noticed that he was both diligent in his actions and capable of recognizing a couple of characters, so I had Doctor Shang teach him how to differentiate materials and make up prescriptions. There was no need for Tang Fan, Sui Zhou, and the rest to explain themselves, as Shopkeep Liu called Doctor Shang and Gao Yazi in of his own accord. What they stated was no different than he; neither had given the Marquis Estate any sort of yang-enhancement meds, nor had they even seen anyone from there come over. There were lots of people that came and went from the Hall every day, so even if someone of the Estate was within them, they wouldnt know, because they hadnt made their identity known. Tang Fan could tell that they didnt appear to be putting on an act, and judging from Shopkeep Lius behavior, he genuinely didnt know anything about this. That then left one possibility: Zheng Cheng had gotten the medicine made here, but that Lin Chaodong was the only one he had had contact with. That seemed right, too. Having to use yang-boosting meds at a young age was something Zheng Cheng had naturally wanted to keep hidden, out of fear that others would know about it. When these few people finished taking their turns disclosing what they knew, they watched Tang Fan and them with apprehension, and pitiful looks of waiting to be dealt with; of course, they were looking at the three Brocade Guards more. Do you have anything else you want to ask, Gonfalon Sui? Tang Fan asked. Take them all back and interrogate them thoroughly! said Gonfalons thin lips coldly stirred to say. The two behind him affirmed, stepping forth to detain them. Shopkeep Liu and crew begged for mercy at once, yet also didnt dare to resist. Watching the three be taken away, Tang Fan said, Sir Sui, the most urgent matter as of now is merely to find Lin Chaodong and bring him back for questioning. Leaving people behind to keep watch in this Hall would have been fine; what need was there to arrest them? Such a small-scale operation isnt likely. The Guard was imperially ordered to handle this case, and is not obliged to explain anything to Shuntian Prefecture. If youd also like to take a trip to the Office, Sir Tang, youre naturally more than welcome to. Confronting someone as insensitive as this made Tang Fan somewhat exasperated. Sir Sui, I dont have any malice. Theres no need to be aggressive. For this case, if the Guard is willing to work with the Prefecture, both parties would benefit. If the Prefecture wasnt incompetent, why else would it hastily conclude the case, allowing the Western Depot to grab that handle and get it pored over it once more? Sui Zhou asked, frosty. That was nothing other than your Sir Pan not wanting to offend the Marquis Estate, and also fearing that His Majesty would assign him the blame, so he thought up this terrible idea to get everything going his way. Hes calculated his optimistic ideals on his abacus well, but he needs to not end up smashing his own foot with a boulder, instead! As the evil progenitor of that terrible idea, Tang Fan didnt feel his face flush. If he had to do this like that again, he would. However, he hadnt expected that the other party would be able to make out the crux of the situation from a glance. No wonder this Gonfalon had been chilly and poorly-toned towards him from the start he had apparently long been assigned to the class of incompetent. He had exceptional self-restraint, able to keep his expression and intonation as mild as ever after the other mocked him. Things have already gotten to this point, Gonfalon Sui. You getting angry about it still isnt going to change the facts. Presently, the Western Depot is glaring like a predator at the side, the Eastern Depot cant stand your Guard, and the Ministry of Justice along with the Court of Judicial Review are watching the excitement, and cant wait to blow the matter up bigger. Only the Guard and the Prefecture are actually hoping that the rocky shore of this case will be visible when the tide recedes. For that reason, cooperation would have all sorts of advantages, with not one loss. Even without the Prefecture, the Guard will discover the truth the same, Sui Zhou answered icily. Seeing that he had turned and was about to leave, Tang Fan promptly said, Can you let me take a look at Zheng Chengs body, then, Gonfalon Sui? Pan Bin, the Shuntian Prefect, was really unreliable as one. Tang Fan had asked the Estate for the corpse, but it didnt hand it over, and Pan Bin didnt dare to ask, resulting in the body getting straight-up carried away by the Guard now that the Emperor had made a decree. The Prefecture had been a step too late, not even getting to touch a single strand of its hair. Sui Zhou stopped in his tracks, then threw out two ice-cold words: No way! Would you take a look at that. Those men of the Guard were just so pompous! Again, in comparison to his schoolmate-slash-superior, Tang Fan was stifled and speechless. They had both come out to mingle. Why was the disparity in treatment so huge? Beijing was the capital of the realm. Everyone, given that they had a bit of knowledge and a bit of qualifications, would sharpen their minds in thought of cramming into the capital. Even if they were to act as an official, a lot of people would rather be a seventh-rank capital official, and refuse to be a sixth-rank local one. Residence of the Son of Heaven, location of the Imperial City those words alone possessed boundless glamor. However, its assets were not merely that. In the opinions of epicures, living in the capital meant that one could eat fine food from all across the land; from the southern Jiangnans exquisiteness to the norths boldness, a multitude of distinct flavors could be taken in all at once. Just like right now, where in Immortal Guest, a diner was looking at the crystalline tripe grasped in his chopsticks and sighing in dejection. I fear that after I leave the capital, itll be hard to get such delicacies to eat again! Youre right in the prime of your life, Brother Ziming. Why the need to give a sigh of lament? the one sitting opposite him asked. The Heavens will drop huge responsibility upon us humans, but our will must first be stressed, and our bodies troubled.[1] After three years, youll see the capital again, and will definitely get high-grade marks. Ji Min shook his head. Three years, then another three years. A human lifespan is only a brief couple of decades, how many threes of years can it have? Ah, Runqing, Ill be honest, I really admire you; proud as a teen, and now youre a little over twenty, yet already a sixth-rank capital official. No need to even compare yourself to me, someone thats flunked the exams and lost hope; even when compared to those of the same division as you, youre excellent! Whether an official post was good, or its position high, was, in Tang Fans opinion, solely determined by whether it could do more things for the sake of the country and its people. However, saying words like that in front of Ji Mins face wouldnt free him from doubt and sarcasm, so he didnt follow up on that, simply pouring wine for him. Brother Ziming, on this trip back, the mountains will be tall and the waters far. We will likely have to wait three years to meet up, so take this meal as my send-off to you. I hope you dont dislike it! Three years ago, Tang Fan and Ji Min entered the capital together to take the imperial exam, and became close friends due to their complimentary natures. Ji Min just had a unique situation; at the time, he had been a popular candidate for the top division, but, unexpectedly, he had fallen behind Sun Shan,[2] surprising everyone. His heart was not resigned to this. Three years after, he caught up with this years exam again to inevitably make a booming comeback, yet, against expectations, when the roll of candidates was released two months prior, the name Ji Min was yet again not in the new division of Palace Honorates. Due to that big blow, he came to forget himself like this in Immortal Guest. Being seventy-percent intoxicated, Ji Min raised his head, only to witness that, under the lanterns shadow, candlelight flickered, shining upon Tang Fans features that seemed to be covered in the splendor of jewels a sort that would be difficult to depict with a brush and ink. He couldnt resist reaching out to tightly grip his hand. Runqing, ever since I dropped off the roll, of those that had both made friends with me beforehand and then made the roll, not a one hasnt steered a three days march clear of me. Only you are still willing to warmly comfort me. Adding flowers on already-pretty brocade is easy, sending charcoal in the midst of snow is hard this friendship is something I, Ji Ziming, will never forget all my life! Brother Ziming, youre accusing Yuqiao and Jizhi unfairly. They had once invited you to a banquet, but you didnt go. They dont call on you anymore because they were afraid of you misunderstanding. Ji Min waved him off. Runqing, you dont need to speak up for them. I understand. I understand it all on the inside. Im already over thirty, and Ive come to the capital three times, though I missed the mark the first time. I was famous in my hometown when I was a young study, but I didnt expect that I would now end up in such a plight. My old mother at home is ardently awaiting me how could I go back with the face I have, how Before he got to finish, he faceplanted onto the table. Tang Fan called a restaurant waiter over to help Ji Min into a room on the second floor for sleep. Tomorrow, the latter would set out for home. They had said at the start that they would stay together in wake and sleep tonight, talking through it by bright candlelight, but now that Ji Min had collapsed drunk, chatting was naturally no longer doable. Ji Min settled into bed, yet Tang Fan was bright-eyed and awake. Thus, he went out the restaurant, and slowly, leisurely, walked along the street. The time was now late. Even though it wasnt curfew yet, the road was already quite sparse of pedestrians. The capital city, woven with passersby in the daytime, now appeared to have some nighttime loneliness. A couple of brothels and bars down alleys wouldnt close throughout the night, which was convenient for pleasure-seeking dandies like Zheng Cheng, but the majority of ordinary citizens had already put out their lights and gone to bed. Several nearby lanes had lanterns gently swaying in their depths, the sound of dainty talking and laughing faintly coming from them to enter the ears. Tang Fan didnt give any charmed or ambiguous expressions, but instead brought the Marquis Estates case to mind. The case had been somewhat complicated to start with, but in his view, it wouldnt be too difficult if one wanted to solve it. Surprisingly, Sir Pan had been overly afraid of trouble, wasting a lot of time and effort for no reason, and now the corpse had been taken away by the Guard without room for discussion. It might have even started to rot. On the matter of the pills, Lin Chaodong couldnt be found, either. Tang Fan had already dispatched Shuntian bailiffs for Weihui Prefecture, but he had a vague premonition that they would find no one, with near-total certainty. He pursed his lips, got rid of his turbid state of mind, and returned to his senses. Only then did he discover that he had unwittingly taken a shortcut this was the road he typically took during the day, but at this moment, there was silence all around. There were no lanterns at all, with even the moonlight concealed by heavy layers of clouds, making it pitch-black whilst uneven crag was underfoot. Luckily, there were several tiny lights faintly showing from the distance. He supposed that there were still people who slept late, and they hadnt yet put out their lanterns so that they wouldnt feel like they couldnt see their hands in front of their face, feeling that they had fallen into a world of endless darkness. Despite the faraway, feeble illumination, it was still difficult to recognize the path surrounding him, especially since the environs were so desolate, without even a single drop of sound. The distant echo of a dogs barking gave a sort of contrasting unrealness. Tang Fan kicked a rock unawares, stumbled a bit, then quickly grabbed onto a low wall nearby to steady himself. He subconsciously lowered his head to look at what was under his feet, but, all of a sudden, he felt an indistinct chill against his neck, as if someone was blowing air onto him. Dots of goosebumps arose on his skin in a second. He jolted, turned his head to look, and caught sight of a white figure pouncing at him! Tang Fan had absolutely no time to react, his entire body getting pressed against the brick wall by the one in white. The next instant, his neck was gripped tight! The translator says: And then he DIED* [1] From Menciuss Gaozi II. [2] Sun Shan is someone who famously came in last in the imperial exams, and when a neighbor asked if their son had passed, he said I came in last, and your son was after me. What a jerk. * no CH 7 The premonitions of humans were mysteries within mysteries, and written word would find them difficult to describe. Right before, he had felt uneasy from head to toe, and the outcome of that validated his premonition at once danger instantly approached, and, judging from the force at his neck, the other was about to make this the place he died! Eyes widening, he saw that before him was a silhouette covered in white. Although they were within reach, he couldnt even tell what they looked like, because they donned a white mask on their face. Along with the sharp pain coursing through his neck, there was a sob-like, resentful voice resonating in his ears; intermittent, as if someone was calling for their soul, yet indistinct. Only words such as wronged spirits and divine fox could be vaguely heard. He had read the books of sages since he was a child, and showed respect from a distance towards discussions of the supernatural. In this scenario, one phrase had to surface in his mind: a ghost in gods clothing! Regardless of whether the other was a real or a fake ghost, they had come prepared, and were massively strong. Tang Fan, though, had been caught off guard with the sudden ambush, and was rapidly cut off from his breathing. In the span of a few brief breaths, his struggle bore no fruit, and he was instead trending towards rolling his eyes up into his head and passing out. Then, at that very moment, the sound of a sword unsheathing cleaved through the empty air. The pressure on his neck subsequently lightened. With one hand against the wall and one hand caressing the injured area that had just been strangled onto him, he couldnt keep from violently coughing. The white figure floated and swayed, beginning to fight head-on with a black figure. Someone grabbed Tang Fans arm and hauled him up. You have quite an agile trap, Sir Tang, but why is your physical skill so terrible? Tang Fan lifted his eyes to take a closer look hey, a familiar person! It was none other than the Gonfalon of the Northern Bastion Office that he had met a few days ago in Rejuvenation Hall: Sui Zhou. The mans tone was exactly like his being, ice-cold and with no emotion, but Tang Fan could also catch a thread of ridicule in his frosty words. He had no choice but to force a smile. The reason why Sui Zhou wouldnt work with him wasnt wholly because of this issue with the Marquis Estate. The Brocade Guard had never regarded Shuntian Prefecture as very pleasing to the eye, and that segment of history had to be traced back to the Guards role. To be brief, the grudges origin was a long time ago, and it was a really long story that was better not discussed. At present, Tang Fan coughed a good couple of times, not having the leisure to dispute with him. Who is he? he asked, voice hoarse. Why did he attack me? And what did you show up here for, Sir Sui? Just a leftover from the demon fox case. A group pretending to be spirits, Sui Zhou answered coldly. While they were talking, the white-clothed person had since been captured by a Guard under Sui Zhous command. Even their white mask had been seized, revealing the ordinary and frazzled face beneath it. Now having the illumination of lanterns, Tang Fan noticed that on the mask was a pale lotus flower drawn between the brows. The White Lotus Society? Taken aback, he combined that with what Sui Zhou had just said, and quickly came to a conclusion. Was the demon fox case from two years ago actually connected to them? Youve seen the emblem of the Society before, as well? Yes. I once passed through Qinzhou when I went to study abroad as a teen, and happened to run across authorities there arresting a White Lotus follower. The emblem on his body was exactly the same as the one on this mask. But why would this one attack me? Sui Zhou said nothing, but the Guard that was next to him holding the lantern did. Ever since that case, the dregs of the sorcerer Li Zilong have haunted all over. Recently, theyve been looking for intellectuals to act against in an attempt to spread rumors of rebellion via prophecy, following in Li Zilongs footsteps. Last month, there was an exam-taker that fell off the roll and was in the middle of walking the streets at night after getting drunk, and these guys almost took his life. Perhaps it was you not wearing your officials robes, Sir Tang, that thus turned you into their target of action. From now on, itd be better for you not to come out this late. Tang Fan smiled at him. Many thanks for telling cough, cough, cough! Even if the period of his throat-wringing had been brief, his neck was currently scorching with pain on account of the excessive force the other used, making talking rather challenging. Seeing that he was fine, Sui Zhou ordered his subordinates to carry the White Lotus follower, turned around, and made to leave. Disregarding the ache of his throat, Tang Fan quickly called out for him to stop. Hold on, Gonfalon Sui! Sui Zhou looked back indifferently. What else is there, if youre not going back to rest and recover, Sir Tang? The homicide case of the Marquis Estate collaboration will be a mutual benefit! Please think it over again, Gonfalon Sui! The other was still unmoved. Wheres the benefit? Tang Fan coughed. Your Office has Zheng Chengs body, and I know whats ultimately going on with those pills he took before his death! Sui Zhou finally turned all the way around. The substances mixed inside the pills indeed have some inconsistencies with the prescription of yang-rich spring, he went on, hoarse. I found someone skilled to reconstruct the materials the pills were made of, and theres something mighty off with that aspect. If youre interested in cooperation, Id be willing to tell you the facts of it. Sui Zhou stared at him for a short bit, then eventually said, Ill go look for you tomorrow. Now that there was hope for working together, Tang Fan finally let out a sigh of relief. Im on break tomorrow, you can just come to my house. Its the first one in the northern sector, Dingfu Street, Liuye Lane. Sui Zhou nodded lightly, turned, and left. He really did cherish his words like gold, refusing to say even half a sentence of drivel. Watching the few peoples retreating backs that were hidden within the dark, Tang Fan shook his head and felt his throat, smiling painfully as he thought, Im not really sure that Ill be able to talk tomorrow. As if to confirm his worry, when he got up the next day, his throat was even more terribly sore than yesterday. Looking at his reflection in a bronze mirror, purple bruises from the grip could apparently be seen on his neck, and they hurt badly when pressed. Due to his appointment with Sui Zhou, Tang Fan didnt go out to buy ointment, merely cooking a bit of rice congee and eating it with some pickled vegetables his older sister had sent from his hometown. They were actually quite crisp, fresh, and tasty. Back after he had become an official in the capital, he had leased this lone, small courtyard off of Dingfu Street. The residence had originally been owned by the neighboring Li family, which had a eunuch for one of its forebears, and he purchased the big house on Liuye Lane. Later on, though, there was reportedly one courtyard that a concubine of the Li household had previously hung herself in. Feeling it inauspicious, the owner had a wall built to cut off that courtyard and convert it into a small living space to be rented by itself. On account of it being a murder house, and not very spacious, the price was pretty cheap, hence why he rented it. People said that getting residence in the capital was pretty hard. Dingfu Street was a good locale; most of those living there were high-ranking officials, so, naturally, its houses were more expensive. If it werent for those prior reasons, he likely wouldnt have been able to afford rent. In spite of them, he had been living here for over two years, and hadnt ever come across anything bizarre. There was nothing beyond the interior lighting during the day not permeating through enough, giving it a somewhat sinister appearance. It became a murder house through the propagation of lies, which ended up being to his advantage. The current patriarch of the Lis was presently doing trade in other parts of the country, but his family hadnt gone with, and everyone from all age groups was still there. After two years, their relationship with Tang Fan was pretty good, too, and they had contact on occasion. At the moment, Tang Fan was halfway done with eating when someone outside knocked. Thinking it was Sui Zhou, he got up to open the door, only to see a young maid standing outside. Ah-Xia? Once he started speaking, that hoarse, unpleasant-sounding voice that was no longer its everyday smoothness made the maid jump in fright. She then caught sight of the dark bruises on his neck, and couldnt help but cry out in alarm. Sir Tang, whats happened to you?! Could it could it be that something evil happened last night? Her imagination was truly plentiful, going in the direction of the murder house in short order. Tang Fan shook his head, waved it off, and asked her what was the matter. Ah-Xias panic not yet settled, she shyly lifted up the basket she held. The Mistress had me come bring you a couple fruits. This is a cultivar of our household, freshly picked. Tang Fan nodded and gave a smile, whispering in his raspy voice, Thank your Mistress on my behalf Because the talking pulled at his vocal chords, he had to knit his brows. Ah-Xia, having the tender emotions of a young maiden, typically held secret good feelings towards this handsome, neighboring Sir Tang, so she was acutely distressed upon seeing this. If it is inconvenient for you to speak, then you dont need to. You should rest, she quickly said. Sir Tang, if living in this house is uncomfortable, it would be best for me to report back to my Mistress. You can then withdraw your rent so that you can avoid being on edge all day, or becoming like like this The more she saw, the more she thought that the finger marks on his neck were truly dreadful. Youve misunderstood. My injury has nothing to do with this place, I just ran into a mugger last night Ah-Xia covered her mouth. What sort of mugger would be so savage as to dare lay a hand on even an appointed official?! He shook his head, not wanting to discuss this more to her. To sum, you shouldnt say much about it after you go back, lest your Mistress and the rest misunderstand and panic for no reason. It isnt cough, cough a big deal at all. At last, Ah-Xia gave him a bit of a look. Seeing as he had difficulty speaking, she didnt disturb him anymore. Following her inquiry on whether he wanted dinner delivered and getting a negative answer, she then reluctantly took her leave. However, as soon as she turned around, she saw that someone was standing behind her. Terrified, she almost let out a shout. How the Brocade Guard dressed themselves was known to everyone, particularly when the arrival was staring at her coldly. Ah-Xia, a little lady that had nearly been scared into having her knees go soft, lowered her head and hurriedly left without further objection. Tang Fan smiled lightly, making an inviting gesture. Sui Zhou stepped inside. If you actually do have any clues at hand, Sir Tang, you may as well say them straight. If theyre valuable, arrangements for collaboration could naturally be considered. Sui Zhou sat down on the stone bench in the yard, getting straight to the point without exchanging any pleasantries. Tang Fan carried in the basket of fresh fruit Ah-Xia had left behind and placed it to the side. Its interior was filled with gleaming yellow pears. If they were put together with crystal sugar and slowly stewed, they could assuage heat and lubricate the throat, which happened to be suitable for his present condition. Im unsure of what explanation those three from Rejuvenation Hall had given, after they were brought to your Office? Tang Fans voice was rough, and he spoke with a pause between each word, making his rate of speech slow. Sui Zhou hid nothing, either. Following the examination process, they were discovered to authentically have nothing to do with this. Theyve already been released now. Tang Fan took out a piece of paper from his lapels and set it on the stone table. Over these days, Ive flipped through ancient texts in search of the yang-rich spring Zheng Cheng took prior to death, and finally found the source of the prescription. Sui Zhou picked up the paper, then saw that there were two rows of medical materials dictated on its surface, with a lot of repetition. Not understanding what it meant, he looked up at Tang Fan. The row on top is the prescription for it, the other explained. Its exactly the same as Zheng Chengs boyservant said it was. As for the row below, I got someone to analyze the materials inside the pill one by one. Can you tell what the difference is between both sides, Sir Gonfalon? Sui Zhou recalled what Tang Fan had previously said. Even though there was no written prescription, there were many brilliant medics in the world that could rely solely on the smell, taste, and other such indicators of the pill itself to trace its source substances and reconstruct what their original forms were. He took a closer look, then found that there was one more ingredient in the row below than the one above. Thorowax root? The translator says: A society full of white lotuses. Terrible. CH 8 Tang Fan nodded. Yang-rich spring is a yang-booster recorded alongside ancient prescriptions. It isnt at all rare, in and of itself, and can be made up with ingredients like brown stinkbug, weevilwort, rehmannia, and barrenwort. While eating a lot of it is maybe not advisable, Zheng Fu claimed that Zheng Cheng took the drug approximately two or three times a month, so that wouldnt be enough to take a life. If thorowax is added to it, though, its different. Thorowax is for dispelling internal heat, but it cant be used indiscriminately. Those with low innate qi must avoid it, as taking it over a long period of time will damage the liver and kidneys even further. Adding it into the yang-rich spring turned it from a yang-boosting drug to a death-prompting drug. The people I dispatched to Weihui sent news, stating that Lin Chaodong, the Rejuvenation Hall worker that helped Zheng Cheng get his medicine in secret, hadnt gone back to his hometown at all, and has since disappeared without a trace, nowhere to be found, Sui Zhou said. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. If thats the case, the trail has once again been cut off. Sui Zhou was quiet for a short time. Not necessarily, actually. Come with me. He got up and went out. Tang Fan locked the courtyard door, then followed him. Under the blue sky and white sun, the strangle-mark on his neck was really too awful, and his collar wasnt able to cover it. With a Brocade Guard also being beside him, this led to passersby constantly turning their heads to look at him with weird gazes, like they were watching a prisoner on death row about to go to his execution ground. Sui Zhou first went back to the Bastion Office to bring Zheng Fu out from inside, then led him to Rejuvenation Hall. Although Shopkeep Liu and the rest had been released, their every move and word were still being monitored. Two Guards had been ordered to keep watch at the entrance of the Hall like some door guardians, which entailed that business these days had slumped by a lot. Shopkeep Lius group of three was sitting inside, faces anxious, and promptly stood up upon seeing the pair. Sir Sui, you can see that were just businesspeople doing our part. That guy Lin Chaodongs affairs have nothing to do with the Hall, either, so could you Shopkeep Liu had wanted to complain, but a sweep of Sui Zhous cold eyes made him straight-up swallow the latter half of his words down. Sui Zhou handed the prescription Tang Fan had given him over to Zheng Fu. Do you recognize the list on top? Zheng Fu took a look at it, then nodded repeatedly. This is the exact prescription for yang-rich spring. This lowly one frequently saw it back when I went to get it made for the Young Lord huh. There had never been any thorowax in it before! When was the last time you came to get it made? Just around two or three months ago? I want an exact date. Think back carefully! Sui Zhou said, frosty. Human potential was unlimited; from Sui Zhous one roar, Zheng Fu actually did end up remembering. It was the eighteenth of March, I remember! The eighteenth! Thats because those pills had to finish simmering each and every time, which was more troublesome, so I would always come two days in advance to give Lin Chaodong the order, then wait until the twentieth to go back and pick the pills up! Sui Zhou looked at Shopkeep Liu. You heard. After youve looked up the backup records for the Halls prescriptions dating from the eighteenth to the twentieth of March, come back and report them. Yes, yes, yes! This lowly one will do that! He swiftly called for Gao Yazi and the present physician to go shut the Halls door, then began to sift through the records. So long as doctors were visited and prescriptions made, human lives were at stake. Were one of those to go poorly, a situation where someone died would then appear, and people of the same profession fighting each other with sinister folks in the background would be unavoidable. For that reason, in order to prevent disputes, all apothecaries with the slightest bit of fame on any given year, like Rejuvenation Hall, would keep records like this. It just so happened to get put to good use now. With the exact date had, the records were speedily rummaged out. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou took a them for a look. On them were the plainly-written multitudes of allocated ingredients from those two days, with even what prescriptions they had been used for clearly recorded. Right when they looked at the third row, they saw the name yang-rich spring, after which was a series of named substances. Thorowax root alone wasnt there. Looking through the two-day drug record again, there was actually no thorowax at all. In other words, when Lin Chaodong made the drug up for Zheng Cheng, the root used in it had certainly not been taken from the Hall. Lin Chaodong was genuinely a very cautious person, as it was. For the sake of avoiding the Halls discovery, he simply bought the additive root on his own somewhere else. Now, however, that had actually become a clue to crack the case. Sui Zhou immediately gave orders to the two Guards under his command. Take people with you both to go seek out every apothecary in the city at once. See which one had previously gotten a purchase of a large quantity of thorowax on the eighteenth! They accepted their orders and went. Gonfalon Sui, could you allow me to take a look at Zheng Chengs corpse? Tang Fan asked him. The Offices coroner already looked it over. Theres nothing out of the ordinary about it. In truth, when Zheng Cheng had only just died, Tang Fan had already examined his body, and he indeed hadnt discovered anything abnormal at that time, but he always felt that a bit more prudence didnt hurt. Currently, it had been many days since Zheng Chengs demise, and if he didnt get a look before the carcass completely rotted through, that would be a shame. Therefore, he kept insisting. Even still, please accommodate me this bit. Sui Zhou didnt view the people of Shuntian Prefecture very highly to begin with, not having a good tone of voice even in the face of Tang Fan. Now, upon witnessing him still persevering with running this way and that with him to investigate the case while his voice was damaged and he felt unwell, his attitude eased, just a bit. Theres an ice room underneath the Office. The body was placed there, and doesnt need to be worried about for the time being, Sui Zhou gave, in a very rare explanation. His Majesty gave the Office a deadline of one month to solve the case. After that, even if it hasnt been solved yet, the corpse has to be handed back to the Marquis Estate. You can come tomorrow to find me. Everybody in the world knew that the Brocade Guard had been created first-hand by the Great Ancestor. Its initial function was to take the reins of the Imperial Guard, along with all matters of royal rites, which meant that they were to act as Imperial Guards in the presence of royalty, and were in charge of the Emperors safety and ceremonial tools and such when going on tour, offering sacrifices, and so forth. Later on, it also aided the Great Ancestor in eradicating many officials both meritorious and corrupt, so, in addition to its royal-safety bodyguarding as well as its responsibility for ceremonial arms, it mixed into the duties of the National Security and Anti-Corruption Offices. In the Adept Ancestors years, the Guard was reinstated, and the ominous name of the Bastille was known to all in the land. In reality, though, the Guards role was far and away not limited to that. It assigned staff to lend a hand in making the rounds during imperial and Court exams. Due to the triennial exam itself, managed by Shuntian Prefecture, encompassing the capital region and its environs, if a major fraud instance occurred, the Guard would also have to be requested to participate. There were a further lot of other fragmentary matters, too, such as repairing roads, capturing thieves, and so on. Very many things that originally ought to have been the Prefectures responsibility would frequently end up becoming the Guards job. When all was said and done, because the latter was more essential, the Emperor attached value to it, and it received more in funds every year. Well-trained soldier were, of course, able to do anything by force, which was much more efficient than an ordinary administrative branch like the Prefecture. Stuff like the arrests of the White Lotus dregs in order to bring the demon fox case to its tail end were originally the content of the Prefectures work, but, resulting from the latters bailiffs being unimpressive, the Guards had to go take care of that themselves. It was exactly due to this that the Guards evaluation of the Prefecture had never been above anything but average. In spite of Tang Fans sizable reputation, he was still just a civil official that didnt even have the strength to truss a chicken, and generally had no association with the Guard. Once one entered the Good-for-Nothing Headquarters that was Shuntian Prefecture, they would inevitably become a good-for-nothing employee in the eyes of others. That was the reasoning inside Sui Zhous opinion of Tang Fan, as a matter of fact, and the latter was well aware of it. This historically-bequeathed element was relevant to the Prefectures position itself. It could be considered the primary genre of local officials that were right before the Emperors eyes. Even if its executive grade was half a rank higher than other locals, there were officials everywhere, and any one of them could point fingers and gesture wildly, making its Prefect highly sulky. Pan Bin and his couple of predecessors were not any sort of powerful. This post of a peace-keeping official was done not to seek esteem, but to seek having no faults. The instant a case got hairy, all sorts of excuses would be made no wonder Sui Zhou didnt view them as anything. Tang Fan understood that point, but he hadnt been in the Prefecture for long, and was yet only a Judge. Faced with a situation like this and helpless, he could only rely on his own meager power to perform a few things. He sighed in relief, cupping his hands. Many thanks to you, then. The nearby Shopkeep Liu, interested in currying favor with Tang Fan, came up before him and smiled. Sir Tang, this is autumn-pear cream, and the apothecary-exclusive formula of bloodflow ointment. The former is taken orally for moistening the throat and relieving heat, while the latter is applied externally for dispelling blood stasis and improving circulation. The bruises on your neck will assuredly be no big hindrance the day after their use! Owing to having gotten interrupted after eating only half his breakfast, after which he followed Sui Zhou out to find people for questioning, Tang Fan hadnt even had the time to apply medicine. After talking for the greater half of a day, his voice had already become a deathly crow. As soon as Shopkeep Liu mentioned it, he realized that the flesh of his neck was being painfully pulled, and his brows furrowed automatically. Tang Fan accepted the medicine from the shopkeeper, thanked him, and then insisted on giving him payment in spite of his refusal, after which he went with Sui Zhou out of the apothecary. The sun outside was resplendent, no longer the continuous drizzle of a couple days earlier. Incidentally, Sui Zhou caught out of the corner of his eye that, on the black-haired, dark-clothed man beside him, those ten finger marks on his neck were all the more astonishing when contrasted with his elegant fairness. He took a small bottle out of his sleeve, then handed it over. Use this externally three times a day, he said, aloof. Tang Fan accepted it with a smile. Items the Bastion Office produces are certain to be extraordinary. Ill have to try it out. Sui Zhou gave a slight nod. Without another word, he put his hand on his spring-gilt sabre, then proceeded onwards. Despite thorowaxs comparatively vicious medicinal properties, it wasnt considered a rarity, given that it was used appropriately. In such a huge capital city, it was unknown how much of it was used inside the however-many medicinal prescriptions made everyday at apothecaries. Even so, if one desired to decoct this many pills, plus attain the effect of causing harm to someone, the necessary dosage had to be relatively large, incomparable to normal doctors visits and prescriptions. In conjunction with the two-day timeframe, the scope of the search immediately shrank by a lot. The Brocade Guards work efficiency was, as expected, out of the ordinary. In only half a days time, the ranks that Sui Zhou had dispatched brought news. Three-Era Hall in the citys north, and Kindness Hall in the citys east those two apothecaries previously had someone come in and buy thorowax in bulk on the very day of March eighteenth. Sui Zhou sent people to investigate at once, and they discovered that the same individual had purchased both. Furthermore, according to the other apothecarys description, the buyer was not that mysteriously-missing Lin Chaodong. The Guard held the power to patrol and apprehend, so coming across something like this was an easy ride on a familiar path. Sui Zhou called a limner at once, having him portray the characteristics of the man based on the two shop assistants descriptions. Not long after, a visage of high cheekbones and a slightly collapsed nose bridge appeared vividly on the paper. How unfamiliar. Sui Zhou frowned. To be honest, he already vaguely had an orientation to follow in mind. This case was labelled as complex when it, in reality, was not. The sensitivity concerned the fact that the one involved was Marquis Wuans eldest son, and his Estate was not a place that just anyone could come and go from willy-nilly. The capitals population was in the millions, and people came and went on the daily. Wanting to find someone like this was no different than fishing a needle off of the seafloor. At that moment, Tang Fan, who had been silent beside him, suddenly exclaimed, Ive seen him before! Sui Zhou turned to look at him. I have an impression of him, but as for where I saw him, I cant remember right now. If I do, I will let you know at once. Sui Zhou nodded, and looked at the sky. Its getting late. I came here today, so you can go find me in the Office tomorrow. Tang Fan smiled and stood. Very well. Ive reaped a lot this day, so Ill need to go report back to Mister Prefect. Ill be taking my leave. As a person, Sui Zhou looked hard to get close to, but his ability to work was top quality. Moreover, that Tang Fan was able to be bestowed a bottle of medicine by him illustrated that their relationship had improved to some extent. If the Prefecture could establish good connections with the Office, that would naturally be beneficial to later assignments. Against expectations, Sui Zhou said, Sir Pan is cowardly at his post. If you want something done, Sir Tang, and youre in Shuntian Prefecture, it would end up being too bad. Tang Fan grinned. Gonfalon Sui, are you perhaps wanting to mine Pan Bins corner by inviting me to a post at the Office? If youre willing to, you certainly can. CH 9 Tang Fan felt a chill in his heart. His counterpart was merely a trueseventh-rank Gonfalon, but the way he spoke was so grand, there had to be some backing behind him. He quit joking and spoke frankly. Many thanks for your kind thoughts, Gonfalon Sui, but Sir Pan has shown me the grace of knowing my worth. I can never show ingratitude to that. Suit yourself. Facing his detached demeanor, Tang Fan was unconcerned, cupping his hands. If you have free time some other day, Ill invite you for a drink. Ill be going first, then. Sui Zhou stood up. Take care, Sir Tang. Forgive me for not seeing you off farther down the road. Yet, at that moment, a Brocade Guard came rushing in. Brother! Tang Fan recognized him as one of the ones that had been following Sui Zhou that day in the apothecary. His name was Xue Ling, and he had a tanned complexion with intrepid features. What is it? Sui Zhou asked. Xue Ling shot a look at Tang Fan. Right as Tang Fan was thinking to keep away, Sui Zhou instead said, If its related to the homicide case of the Marquis Estate, theres no harm in saying it. Someone came from the Eastern Depot and took Zheng Chengs body away! Xue Ling exclaimed. Tang Fan gave a look of surprise. Sui Zhous expression darkened. What happened? Xue Ling smiled bitterly. Just now, a Depot person came, saying that he had orders from his Director, and that in order to crack the case as soon as possible, they had to borrow Zheng Chengs body for the investigation. The Eastern Depots Director was its boss. The one now occupying that seat was Shang Ming, who had never gotten along with the Western Depots Wang Zhi. Once a eunuch had power, three-chi-tall waves would arise even without wind blowing, to say nothing of having the homicide case to now possibly use as a pretext. Since Wang Zhi had meddled in this, Shang Ming naturally refused to be outdone; for the sake of fighting for the Emperors favor, they were both going all-out. Sui Zhou laughed frostily after hearing this. Hes just holding a chicken feather like its a token of command! It wasnt clear whether he was cursing the one that had come from the Eastern Depot, or cursing his Director, Shang Ming. Tang Fan gently sighed. As Zheng Chengs body wasnt there, there was no need for him to go visit Sui Zhou tomorrow. The case would likely need a breakthrough via the person that bought the thorowax. Gonfalon Sui, Im stepping out. Ill later have Shuntian Prefecture send folks to go research the buyer. If you find him on your end first, do pardon my request to inform me. Sui Zhou gave a faint nod. Take care. Tang Fan returned home, then realized that he had been on the go for most the day today. Apart from that half-bowl of white congee in the morning, practically not even a drop of water had gone into him since. Now that he wasnt busy, his stomach immediately grumbled, though he didnt feel like cooking. After foraging in the kitchen for a long time to find nothing edible, he had to wash a pear from the basket Ah-Xia had delivered that morning out of a lack of choice, then held it up to nibble on. Cool and sweet pear juice entered his formerly parched and aching throat, promptly making it a lot more comfortable. After he was done eating, he took out the bottle of ointment Sui Zhou had given him and delicately smeared it on the bruises on his neck. When it had just been applied, a knock sounded from outside the door. As soon as he walked over and opened it, he first smelled an enticing aroma, closely after which he saw a girl carrying a food box. Ah-Xia? Ive come to bother you again, Sir Tang. Our household made some noodles to eat today. My Mistress heard that you had just gotten back, so she figured that you were busy with government work and didnt have time to eat. For that, she had me bring a bowl of wontons over. Eat them while theyre hot, Sir! The two homes were separated by only one wall, so any sounds of movement that were a bit on the louder side could all be heard clearly. The Lis predecessors used to be officials, but this generation only had ordinary merchants; all the more unremarkable in the capital, where officials were all over the place. Usually, the Li patriarch was away from home; a family of the old, the weak, the women, and the children meeting with authorities and bailiffs was inevitably lacking in power. Due to Tang Fan having aided them several times previously, appreciation was kept in their hearts. They knew that he wasnt yet married (and thus definitely negligent towards cooking), so, from time to time, the maid Ah-Xia would be sent to bring him a bite to eat. Little by little, the two homes relations grew to be pretty good. He accepted the box. Old Wangs cooking skills have never been anything to talk about, but its really no good to be a bother to all of you all the time. Please go tell Madam Li that she doesnt have to inconvenience herself like this from now on. Ah-Xia pursed her lips in a smile. What are you saying, Sir Tang? Youve helped our family so much. Were only bringing a bit of food over, how does that even expend any effort? You dont need to be polite. Eat it while its hot! Just have Xiao Huzi come take the container back later! The two exchanged a couple more pleasantries, then she said goodbye and left. He carried the box into the house, opened the lid, brought out the bowl of savory shallot-pork wontons inside it, then took a copy of Bodhisattva Barbarians off his shelf. This book was not a compilation of Song Dynasty poetry, but a vernacular novel written by an unknown author of this Dynasty. Written in the story was a County Honorate who was staying as a guest at a County Princes Estate, then was slandered by an affair with a maid, getting unjustly killed by the Prince. Following his death, he transformed into a ghost, and thought up a way to allay his grievances; exposing the Princes plans for rebellion before royalty. In the end, the Prince suffered for his evil by getting beheaded by the Court, and the Honorate went on to the underworld to take up an officials post in it. No one could have ever imagined that Sir Tang, who had entered Hanlin from his fourth-place rank in the exams and received praise from the Emperor himself, was fond of reading these all-in-one melodramatic novels of romance, suspense, the supernatural, and immortality. Fair, slender fingers turning to the page he was at last time, he lowered his head to take a small sip of the warm soup, and sighed in happiness. With a life like this, what else could one want? Early the next morning, Pan Bin called Tang Fan over and inquired about how the case was going. Tang Fan spoke succinctly about the progress and discoveries, and also about the event of the Eastern Depot taking Zheng Chengs corpse away. Pan Bin, surprisingly, appeared to be ecstatic. The Eastern Depot interfering makes the case even more complicated! The man also seemed to realize that his excessive joy was somewhat inappropriate. He promptly gave a light cough to gloss it over. Shuntian Prefecture doesnt need to wade too deep into this. The Eastern Depot sticking its hand in is something the Western one certainly wont let go. To simply look at it from another perspective, he was like this precisely because he considered Tang Fan to be someone on his side. It undoubtedly wouldnt have been this easy for him to lose his manners with his many years of experience in officialdom, otherwise. Tang Fan nodded, sighing. This humble official thinks so, as well. The Eastern and Western Depots can never work together, and on top of that, the former snatched him from the Brocade Guard, so theyre surely unhappy. Theres a horde of talented people in the Dynasty, but everyone refuses to give way to each other, instead making it impossible to do anything. Even investigating one case is challenging! Theres nothing bad about that. Thanks to that idea of yours, all Shuntian Prefecture needs to do now is watch the flames burn from across the river. If a conclusion ultimately cant be found, then punishment wont apply to a crowd, and it wouldnt be good for His Majesty to look into Shuntians blame alone for that. Its best like this. Tang Fan supposed that his senior had probably reached some sort of agreement with Marquis Wuan in private, and couldnt resist tactfully warning him. Sir, that maid Ah-Lin even if she tempted Zheng Cheng in deliberate bad conscience, its not a crime worthy of death. Ah-Lin was currently still locked in the Prefectures jail. Marquis Wuan was fixated on his sons death; he didnt want to face the possibility of assassination, but stubbornly believed that she was the one that caused him harm. Tang Fan feared that the matter would end being left up in the air, and she would then be directly handed over by Pan Bin for the Marquis to vent his anger on. Even though many factions were currently meddling in the case, it was just a power struggle, in the end. Who would be concerned with the fate of an insignificant maid? Pan Bin grew stern, annoyed. Why are you this inflexible, Runqing? Dont forget what your status is, and what her status is. Is it worth it, to risk your future prospects for one maid? Brother, Im not purposefully trying to make things hard for you. This is honestly an issue of the sanctity of human life. If I cant discover the truth, my conscience will be difficult to appease! Tang Fan replied in earnest. Pan Bin sighed. Runqing, ah, Runqing do you think Im hard-hearted? I remember that back when I first entered officialdom, I was full of zest just like you, thinking that I would make reports to superiors, and then the Dynasty would defend the commonfolk. But the ways of this world are unfair! The Eastern Depot, Western Depot, Brocade Guard, and all those above our heads which one of them can we afford to provoke? Whether that maid ultimately dies or not is up to what His Majesty sees as fit. Its not like were carrying the killing blade, so you mustnt care so much. To be able to look after your own skin nowadays is already pretty good. He paused, then lowered his voice. I may as well give you some words that come from the heart. Disregard the villains in Court currently causing a disorderly mess, the Cabinet accomplishing and doing nothing, and the Western Depots tyrannical rule. In truth, theyve all analyzed His Majestys thoughts, and he is content to see a situation like this. If Court officials, from top to bottom, are of one mind, and they act against him, how would that, in his view, do him any good? Youre still young, and dont understand these stakes. Being an official is being an official, but were still the Son of Heavens officials, and we have to figure out his mind before we act in all we do. For this case, the Eastern Depot is good, the Western Depot is fine, and even the Guard is more deserving of mention than us. Just let them all go get their own headaches. You can take part, but dont scramble to go do everything; when the time comes, your credit will be taken by others, while the mistakes will all be yours, and who could you go to to right that wrong? I, your Brother, am low in status, powerless in words, and weak in mind, so Im afraid I wouldnt be able to help you! There was no expression on Tang Fans face. He simply nodded, voice tranquil. This Runqing has memorized your heartfelt words entirely. Having spoken a huge heap of stuff in his earnest advising, Pan Bin paused, feeling that his mouth was dry. He grabbed a lidded tea cup, took a big gulp, then smiled. This isnt without any sort of gain, really. Since that Gonfalon Guard called Sui Zhou has a decent impression of you, you should hold onto that. Do a lot of stunts to get close to him, and you might get a powerful position in the future. Are you aware of where he comes from? Seeing Tang Fan shake his head to say he didnt, he went on. Hes Empress Dowager Zhous grandnephew. His mother is a niece from outside the Dowagers maternal family. There was also once a paternal grand-uncle in his clan that had been appointed as Minister of War, then entered the Cabinet during Zhengtongs reign. Unfortunately, he later died in the Tumu Stronghold Crisis. Tang Fan had a realization. Sui Anlan? Pan Bin nodded. Due to that layer of connection, hes someone who can get a word in both inside and outside of Court, unlike ordinary Guards. I heard that even Wan Tong has to have some degree of friendliness when in his presence. Wan Tong was the presently-posted Conducting Envoy of the Guard. In other words, the groups boss. He was the younger brother of Consort Wan, who now ruled the imperial harem like a hegemon. She was a full seventeen years older than the Emperor, but he was outrageously doting on her, practically listening to her every word. Even Crown Prince Zhu Youchengs position teetered on the verge of collapse, almost not guaranteed. With this fantastical romance serving as his supporter, Wan Tong was naturally made to feel like a fish in water, immersed two-fold. However, the wife would never be the same as the mother. Since Sui Zhou had a connection to the Dowager, if he had a bit of skill and the want to get ahead, he would just need to point at the date he wanted it and wait. Tang Fan had noticed that despite Sui Zhous aloof bearing, he was rather capable at his work. He hadnt thought that he would also have such a strong matron. Clearly, there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers everywhere in this city, and one had to have more caution in their behavior and actions. Had Tang Fan ever wielded his half-a-rank-higher position to try ordering Sui Zhou around, he might have been beset right now. Yet, in regards to his seniors words, Tang Fan was genuinely a bit speechless. He really wanted to say, Sir, are you aware that everyone looks down on our Prefecture? This road of trying to build connections and climb higher wont lead anywhere. However, he ended up not saying anything, merely standing with his hands tucked in his sleeves, smiling as he listened attentively, and nodding to express his agreement from time to time. His attitude of being eager to learn made Pan Bin very pleased. The man loquaciously explained stuff to him another round. Tang Fan heard a continuous droning sound in his ears, and when he stood up, even his footsteps were a little on-air. Right when he was about to take his leave, he saw the Shuntian bailiff Old Wang dash in from outside. Sir, its bad! Something happened! Pan Bin loathed hearing words like that the most, and his brows scrunched up tight. Whats bad? What happened? Cant you say anything nice to hear?! Old Wang betrayed a bit of hidden excitement, but he still didnt dare to display it too plainly, which resulted in his whole face looking warped and very grotesque. No, Sir, we didnt have anything happen at our Prefecture. Its the Eastern Depot! The Depot caught fire! What! Whats going on?! Explain, quickly! Just before the sky got bright today, the Depot reportedly caught fire. The intensity of the flames was quite strong, and burned more than half the place down. I dont know how it happened. Theyre all still fighting the fire right now! Tang Fans heart jumped. Do you know where corpses are placed in the Depot? Old Wang shook his head mutely, unsure of why he suddenly asked something like that. Pan Bin asked him a few more questions. Upon seeing that Old Wang knew no other details, he waved his hand for him to leave. Runqing, how do you see this? Just yesterday, Zheng Chengs body had been taken away by the Eastern Depot. Today, its on fire. Thats really too big of a coincidence. Theres definitely an issue somewhere, but the particulars need to be thoroughly scoped out before a final argument can be made. Pan Bin knocked on the table, nodding. The water in this is very deep. Seems like the Depot isnt a sound iron plate, either. When one walks the road too much at night, wont they encounter ghosts? The way he spoke with schadenfreude, as well as the desire to make the commotion he was watching even worse, made Tang Fan quite a bit flabbergasted. I know you dont want this case to be cracked, Brother, but you dont need to be so obvious about it! CH 10 Ever since the establishment of the Eastern Depot, it had been met with quite a few fires. The one from this time wasnt as extreme as Old Wang had described; there was only one blaze, which hadnt spread, in the western area, and that got speedily put out. The cause was purported to be some citizens burning something nearby, and the sparks had drifted into landing over there, causing the wood to ignite. If the continuous rain from a few days prior had been happening right now instead, it might not have caught. Asking around, Tang Fan found out that the burned part was indeed a holding area the Depot used to keep prisoners, and also happened to be where Zheng Chengs body was stored. Two prisoners died in the flames, with even the corpse getting turned to ash. As things had come to this, any further supposition would be of no use the one with the unfathomable motives was shooting for exactly that idea, in all likelihood. Tang Fan sighed inwardly, thinking to himself that this had gone round and round, yet had unexpectedly ended up just returning to square one. That maid, Ah-Lin, probably wouldnt be able to escape calamity this time around. He had his heart set on this case, and wanted to discover the truth. It wasnt for the thought to stand in the limelight, nor to work against Pan Bin, but for a simple desire to console the deceased in the Nine Springs, and to save the innocent from blame. He had studied painstakingly by cold windows; was that not to be able to defend the common folk one day? Now that the Court was corrupt in discipline, many people would rather place their energy into fighting and scheming, refusing to do anything practical for the sake of the citizenry. Just like Pan Bins type of being neither good nor evil, even more officials that would look after themselves before principles could be found all over the place. Yet, even at that state, there would always be someone that wanted to act. Since everyone else refused to do so, Tang Fan thus didnt take any offense to taking over. Being capable of giving Pan Bin the plan to pull the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard entirely down into their water fully demonstrated that Tang Fans methods werent lacking in slyness. Even so, a nobleman was flexible on the outside, but rigid on the inside; he only wished to use that cleverness for proper business. However, he wholly hadnt anticipated that this incident would be so difficult to advance. The originally very uncomplicated case had quickly met with obstruction after obstruction, and now even the body was gone, which explicit cut off all ways back. Only now did he learn why that despite his teacher Qiu Jun having entered his post many years earlier than Pan Bin, and also being a great scholar of the present age, he was merely an Imperial College Chancellor. With the way the world worked, stubbornly benevolent sorts that refused to compromise like his teacher were bound to not be put into positions of power. As for himself did he have to walk down his teachers old path, too? He shook his head. His cool-headed, meticulous disposition causing him to rapidly disengage his emotions from the loss of the Marquis Estates case, he pulled out the bottommost one in a pile of dossiers and flipped through it. That homicide case had admittedly been major, but with how big Shuntian Prefecture was, there was never a shortage of cases, and the controversial, unresolved ones in particular had accumulated over the years into a heap even bigger than a mountain. As a Judge of the Prefecture, the substance of his job was not any more breezy than anyone elses; this was not his non-essential civil post in Hanlin, where documents would be arranged and compiled just to kill time. Even though a Judges position was minor, he was still someone in charge of judging cases and lawsuits in the Prefecture a duty that could not be rashly neglected. He read slowly, pausing between each word as he finely mulled and pondered things. At times, he would take his brush and jot notes at the side, or occasionally flip through files from last year. Once he finished the meal a bailiff had brought at noon, he threw himself back into work, unwittingly passing most of the day like so. The sun had already begun to slant to the West before Tang Fan finally felt some soreness in his eyes. He raised his head, glanced at the sky outside, then looked at the dossiers he had finished reading on the other side of the table, happily discovering that he had accomplished a lot today. Thus, he stood up, stretched his muscles, and packed up his stuff in preparation to go home. He had been at the Prefecture for a little over half a year. Given that there were no mishaps, this was his typical days work. Now that his job had come to an end, it would fit most for him to go eat a bowl of shallot wontons, or mincepork noodles. From only one slight thought of the proprietors craftsmanship in that north-district wonton-noodle stall, Mister Tang felt his stomach rumble in hunger. However, before he had time to implement that notion, a Brocade Guard came in from the outside. Brother Xue? Tang Fan was astonished. This was Xue Ling, the one that had been at Sui Zhous side. Xue Ling cupped his hands. Mister Tang, Gonfalon Sui ordered me to come invite you over. Im not sure whats going on? The sharp-faced man gave a rare grin. Something good is. Since he said it was so, Tang Fan agreed to, put his things away, then followed Xue Ling out the door. Brother Xue, if he isnt in a hurry, how about you come grab wontons to eat with me, first? If I go to meet him as hungry as I am, Im afraid that Ill be weak-legged and chatter-teethed, unable to speak when the time comes. The wontons of a stall in the citys north all have fresh pork mincemeat from the day of, and the inside is also covered in chopped shiitakes and shallots. The skin is very thin, and once cooked, you can faintly see the filling. The flavor is delicious, tender, soft, and smooth taking one bite can make you feel like you havent been born in the capital in vain! After talking for a very long time, he was still starving. Xue Ling laughed, finding this Sir Tang to be truly interesting. Thanks to the Brocade Guards unusual role, the majority of ordinary officials, upon seeing them, would be apprehensive or on-guard in their dread, or toughen up their faces to curry favor. Tang Fan, though, was an outlier, chatting and laughing when he should, then being serious when he should, neither unduly fawning nor appearing disgusted and scared. Having been campaigned by that eloquent tongue of his, Xue Ling also felt like gluttonous worms had invaded his stomach. In that case, Ill be taking advantage of you this time around, Sir Tang. Cmon, cmon, cmon, Im so hungry that my stomach is sticking to my back! Tang Fan answered, giddy. The two fled to the stall and ate their food with delight. Xue Ling discovered that Tang Fan hadnt lied to him; in spite of the kiosks simpleness, there were a lot of customers, and the taste was beyond good. He had come and gone from the northern district before himself, but he had never tried this. Now that Xue Ling knew the taste, he couldnt get enough, and ordered another bowl of meat-and-bone broth noodles. Being a martial artist, his appetite was double the size of Tang Fans. Following the meal, Tang Fan paid, and then they walked to the Northern Bastion Office, their crammed stomachs giving them strength and vigor. Pedestrians rushed about at the period of nightfall, scrambling to reunite with their families and eat the food their wives made, for the most part. Although the inner city had every single officials institute and governmental office there was stationed within it (along with no lack of aristocratic residences), it also had equal amounts of average citizens dwelling inside it. Some of them had been settled here since the Adept Ancestor shifted the capital to Beijing, and they moved along with it; many years had passed and the Ancestor had since died like a snuffed candle, but the common people had multiplied in their habitation over several generations, while Beijing grew increasingly prosperous. Relative to the distant Nanjing, it had become a true-to-the-name capital. With this many people, it was hard to avoid getting held up and bumped into on foot. However, since Xue Ling was present, the apparel of the Brocade Guard was enough to make people give a wide berth, which worked better than Tang Fans own officials uniform. All along their journey, bystanders swiftly made them a path of their own volition, causing them to advance at a much faster rate. Even so, at times, this standard still had no such use at all. Not far away, someone was scurrying down the road with his head down, and not looking very closely at what Tang Fan and Xue Ling were wearing. They came to a collision where he suddenly knocked against Tang Fans shoulder, causing both sides to take quite a few steps sideways. The other party didnt even raise his head to glance at Tang Fan before he was quickly running forth. Tang Fan looked back, but could only see the mans hurriedly-retreating figure, which was soon submerged into the crowd. What is it? Xue Ling asked from beside him, noticing that he had stopped. Its nothing. Lets go. The Brocade Guard was divided into the Southern and Northern Bastion Offices. In addition to the Registrar Division and Fourteen Institutions, the core of the Guard resided in the Offices. The Southern ruled internal affairs, the Northern handled outside ones; beneath the latters banner was a further five Guard Centers, each with a role. The leader of a Guard Center was called the Millarch. The ones below him went Deputy Millarch, Centarch, Assistant Centarch, and only after that was it Gonfalons turn. Generally speaking, a Gonfalons position was not high, but all the work one did was practical; like the homicide case of the Marquis Estate, for example. On account of the decedent having a special status, the Emperor ordered the Guard to get involved in the investigation, and the matter fell upon Sui Zhous head, becoming his responsibility. Tang Fan followed after Xue Ling into the Brocade Guard locale, walking all the way to the Northern Office. A plaque in commonplace clerical script hung on the pillar to the right side of the main gate, and there was an imperceptible force of intimidation present. To the left and right of the entrance stood two expressionless Guards, their bearings cold and contemptuous. In this situation, were one slight of courage, they would likely have already started to spin on their heels. Most of the Guards fearsome reputation fell upon the head of the Northern Bastion Office, while most of the Offices fearsome reputation fell upon the head of the Bastille. This was an operative organization founded by the Great Ancestor, then developed and strengthened by the Adept Ancestor. In particular, the Bastille where neither fire nor water could enter, torture was rampant, and people who entered standing up would leave lying down truly made one feel a sense of foreboding, one thought of it giving them a full-body chill. When it came to officials of the Great Ming Dynasty, for every one that feared the Eastern Depot, two feared the Bastille. Hence, given that somebody was a normal human (especially one that was an official), as soon as they came to the Office, it didnt matter how high their position was or whether they arrived willingly or not; their smile would immediately vanish, and their face would immediately get serious, looking exactly like someone owed them hundreds of strings of coins and wouldnt pay it back. Tang Fan alone, however, emoted how he always did, still having the leisure to survey the place. When this fell upon Xue Lings eyes, he mentally called him a weirdo. Brother Runqing, you seem to be quite interested in the Office. How about, once youre done seeing Gonfalon Sui, I take you to tour the Bastille? he deliberately threatened. After experiencing the camaraderie of a bowl of wontons, the two had now become familiar, and his address naturally changed. Some people innately had a certain approachability; they would only need a few words to make others develop a good impression of them, and thereafter form a good connection with them, just like how some people innately had the demeanor of a leader and were suitable for being the one heading the sheep. These were both aptitudes that couldnt be reproduced or imitated. For all individuals equipped with this ability, what was important was, firstly, that their appearance wasnt too unsightly, and, secondly, that their temperament was both whimsical yet vital. There were some that, even if they said nothing, could cause others to feel like they had been cleansed by a spring wind. There were some that didnt speak, yet only made people feel like they were detached and antisocial. That was the difference in temperament. Lastly, their communication and speaking skills were also important. Since ancient times, not one of those that had put on a beautiful dance in officialdom, ultimately ascending to the apex of power, were people unskilled at divining the hearts of humans and unsmooth in garnering connections. Take the current Chief of Cabinet, Wan An, for instance; despite everyone calling him the long-lived Solon[1] in private, and being agreeable to him, kowtowing, and calling for his long life all only with sneers, they couldnt deny that he could conduct himself with dignity. Tang Fans approachability was evidently pretty good. Even Xue Ling, who typically didnt think much of all these civil officials, thought that Tang Runqing was truly a friend over the span of a brief couple of meetings. Hearing his words, Tang Fan laughed. Alright, then. Ive never walked the Bastille before, so Ill just ask you to help lead my way to get familiar with it, Old Xue. If I commit some kind of crime in the future and get thrown in, Ill avoid going in blind, and then getting unfamiliar with life itself! The corners of Xue Lings mouth drew up. When others heard the word Bastille, their faces underwent great changes, but Tang Fan was unlike the crowd. As an employee of the Bastille, Xue Ling gave him a sincere recommendation. The Bastille is easy to enter, but not exit, so once you do, wanting to leave will be difficult. Throw away the hype blowing around outside; the real Bastille is several times more terrible than you imagine it to be. When you actually see it, youll never want to go in it again in your life. While they talked, they entered a building. However, when Xue Ling strode in, he stopped dead in his tracks. B Brother! he stammered. Inside the main lobby, Gonfalon Sui sat imperially on a chair, watching them as they walked in while bantering cheerfully. Seems you two really hit it off, he stated, face blank. Xue Ling: Tang Fan: The translator says: [1] Untranslatable pun; Wan An () shares a character with long life (). CH 11 Xue Ling grumbled inwardly. When he had left, Sui Zhou had just been found by Mister Millarch for a talk, and thus nonchalantly ordered him to go invite Tang Fan over. The time he had been following Sui Zhou wasnt short, so he naturally understood that a command like that wasnt urgent in the least. Who couldve known that Boss Sui would be sitting here in wait, though? Brother, Sir Tang has arrived, he quickly said. Ill withdraw beforehand, if theres nothing else? Sui Zhou gave an mn. Xue Ling, as if he had caught amnesty, skedaddled with haste, not neglecting to toss Tang Fan a look that said good luck prior to his departure. Tang Fan coughed lightly. I havent yet thanked you for the ointment you granted me, Gonfalon Sui. After I applied it thrice, the marks completely vanished. It worked very well. Sui Zhous gaze swept over the restored patch of fairness just above the others collar. With a Follow me, he stood up and walked out. Tang Fan trailed behind him. Passing through a courtyard, they came before another building, and after going in, they went all the way down a flight of stairs. The further they went, the lower the surrounding temperature got compared to ground level. Due to never seeing daylight year round, the environs were extremely dark, but not damp. The candles on both sides flickered, as if there was a possibility that they could go out at any time. It was quiet, here. No one stood guard. As they tread on the steps, their footsteps resonated far in the empty space, automatically making one tense in their wake. This area had been used to store some of the Offices torture implements and weapons, but now, there was an extra corpse in it. In order to preserve it, Sui Zhou had ordered a lot of ice chunks moved over and heaped up around it. Saltpetre-made ice originated from the late Tang period, and by the Ming era, ice-making technology had become quite developed. Every summer day, peddlers would sell cold drinks and food on the streets, while rich families would use ice cubes to enjoy cooling off. As for the wealthy and imposing Bastion Office well, that didnt need to be said. Zheng Cheng?! Tang Fan didnt conceal his astonishment when he saw the corpse, nor his slight pleasant surprise at the unexpected. This wasnt him having some sort of abnormal psychology where he had a special interest in the corpse of a hedonist, but rather because he had believed the corpse had been burned to nothing when the Eastern Depot caught fire. He hadnt foreseen that Sui Zhou had long taken precautions to relocate the real body. This Tang admires your foresight very much, Gonfalon Sui. Lots of people were able to think that maneuver up, but the ones that dared to do it were truly few. If the Eastern Depot learned that it had initially carried away a fake Zheng Cheng, quite a lot of them would definitely come over to heckle Sui Zhou. Though, with his background, he probably wouldnt need to worry about that, anyway. Despite hearing his praise, Sui Zhou had no special look of pride on his face. We didnt find anything on his body at all. Tang Fans line of sight fell upon Zheng Cheng. The coxcomb that had been lascivious and dissolute by nature whilst alive had now turned into a silent corpse. All of his clothes had been completely shucked, and he laid there peacefully. Due to the cool temperature preserving his carcass, a strange blue-white color imbued him, but he was overall in good condition, with no putrefaction. In truth, on the night the man had just died, Tang Fan had already done a thorough examination of him, and the coroner at the time also said that he hadnt found anything. Sui Zhou and the rest not figuring anything out afterwards was normal, too. If it werent for the doubts being too many, fixing his cause of death as shedding of yang due to excessive debauchery would have certainly conformed to reason. His gaze carefully gave a look over the corpse, his inspection procedure even more exhaustive than that previous night. Witnessing him personally set to task without being repulsed by the foulness, Sui Zhous expression uncontrollably shifted a bit. Subsequent to this Dynastys foundation stabilizing more by the day, the importance of military officials took a step down, and the giant country was thereupon governed by a conglomerate of civil officials. That then led to the overwhelming majority of officials who had used the imperial exams to advance in life, like Tang Fan, having an inherent feeling of superiority in their bones. They studied hard and strenuously for decades; once they assumed a leader position, theyd be called a good official so long as they were capable of not exploiting the common folk, let alone concentrating on business, loving their jobs, and considering their positions as specialized fields of research. The reason for Sui Zhous surprise was that he had seen far too many officials that were more or less Tang Fans position who wouldnt ever go investigate a dead body with their own hands, as they would frown and keep far away so as to not even look at it. All the work would solely depend on the subordinates below them, but due to the higher officials not being familiar with such things, anything the subordinates said consequently wouldnt generate doubt, causing everything to ultimately be left in the dark in an especially severe case of multi-level deception. In contrast to this, Tang Runqing could be labelled as an industrious type of official. Even if he wouldnt have any understanding towards the autopsy, his spirit of being willing to do it himself was alone enough to make someone view him in a new light. Tang Fan had since examined the body once more, not even letting the palms and soles slip past him. His eyes slowly moved cun by cun over Zheng Chengs body, going up from his navel to flit past his chest, neck, chin, nose, and forehead, and then to ultimately land on his crown. Zheng Cheng had his hair down when he died, but now, it was bound into a bun as usual. His face held no obvious wounds. Coupled with the previously-guessed cause of death, one was made to focus their attention more at the neck or lower, overlooking the top of the head. Who put his hair up? Tang Fan asked. He was like this when he was brought back from the Estate. Not saying anything else, Tang Fan went and undid Zheng Chengs bun, stuck his fingers into the others hair, then slowly felt around. All of a sudden, his hand paused, and his expression became a bit odd. Sui Zhou spotted that immediately. What is it? Come and feel right here. Top of the head, at the baihui acupoint. Sui Zhou reached out and did as he was told. Following a short moment of feeling around, his brows furrowed deep. The acupoints area is slightly sunken in. Tang Fan had some comprehension of medical principles, muttering to himself, As I recall if the baihui acupoint is punctured, it has a soothing, mind-cleansing effect. As someone learned in martial arts, Sui Zhou knew more about this field than him. Its the point where the extraordinary meridians, three yang groups, and hundred channels[1] meet, thus getting the name baihui, Hundred Meetings. Striking it hard could cause a coma with serious injury, or death. But only the maid Ah-Lin had been present on the night of the incident. Shes a weak woman, and he was sober and awake, so it would be impossible for him to just let her strike him down. Moreover, Ah-Lin herself intended to seduce him, indicating that their relationship was genuinely mutually consensual, and I cant claim that there was an iota of reluctance. She wouldnt have had the need to desperately resist. Sui Zhou nodded. There is another situation that could happen where a heavy blow isnt needed, given that you know the acupoint well. When its rapped with moderate strength on the daily, the one thats getting rapped wont lose consciousness and die straightaway, but after a long stretch of days, their channels will go into disarray, then fatally rupture. In that theory, a pillowmate of Zheng Chengs that interacted with him all the time was the most probable murderer. Tang Fan shook his head. No wonder this hadnt been easy to discover, since his hair was obstructing the top of his head, and the manner of his death didnt immediately make people think in this direction. Youve met his harem before? Yes. On the way here, I discovered something else, too, which Ill share with you. ? I just bumped into the thorowax buyer from the portrait, and then remembered where I had seen him before. Sui Zhous gaze sharpened. Hes someone from Marquis Wuans Estate. Youre sure? Tang Fan nodded. I didnt see wrongly. The night of the event, the Estate was in chaos. There were so many people at the time that it merely made me think that he seemed familiar beforehand, but after I just saw him again, I remembered that I had seen him in with the Estates servants. This was an extremely important discovery. They left the ice cellar, and Sui Zhou ordered someone to bring Zheng Fu over while Tang Fan went to wash his hands. Touching the corpse just then had been a necessary task forced by circumstance. The cleanly Mister Tang nearly scrubbed a layer of skin off his hands before he was done. Zheng Chengs boyservant, Zheng Fu, had been detained in the Office this whole time, so he was found rather quickly. Despite the Brocade Guard being famed for its Bastille, one would need to be a certain level to receive its treatment; there was no need for them to use any of their various methods to get by with such a nobody, and he had merely been locked up since Zheng Chengs death, the extreme mental stress of this making him wan. His quick-witted appearance from when Tang Fan had first seen him practically seemed like a different persons. Zheng Fu knew nothing upon initially looking at the portrait. Upon hearing Tang Fan say that he was someone of the Marquis Estate, though, he let out an ah. This lowly one remembers! He really is from the Estate! Sui Zhous expression darkened. How come you didnt say that before? Zheng Fu kowtowed repeatedly. There are a lot of people in the Estate! Even though I was at the Young Lords side, I still might not recognize all of them. Furthermore, this man isnt technically of the Estate. Hes a distant relation of Aunt Huis maternal family that came seeking shelter, and has always stayed in the outer courtyard. Ive only seen his face once or twice How long has he lived there? About half a year. I heard the Young Lord say that he genuinely was an authentic relative. At the time, Aunt Hui came to beseech him, saying that everyone from her natal family had died except for one such cousin, and she hoped that he could get some job at the Estate so he could have a bite to eat. The Young Lord agreed, and sent him to the stables to lend a hand there. The Young Lord rarely rode horses and always sat in sedan chairs to go out, so I rarely saw this man before, but I heard that he was an honest person that didnt stir up any trouble. If it werent for your prompting, Sir Tang, I really wouldnt have remembered! Sui Zhou didnt say much more, quickly having Zheng Fu be taken back by someone else, then ordering Xue Ling and crew to prepare to leave for the Marquis Estate. However, Tang Fan, who had been quietly sitting to the side and watching him interrogate Zheng Fu all this time, suddenly spoke up. Wait! With that sound, not only did Xue Ling stop in his tracks, but even Sui Zhou looked over. Have you thought through the aftermath of this outing, Gonfalon Sui? Tang Fan asked. No matter how fast his response time was, Sui Zhou still wouldnt be able to comprehend that out-of-nowhere sentence. What do you mean? From what Zheng Fu said, we all know that Miss Huis relative is the one that bought the thorowax that killed Zheng Cheng. She definitely isnt free of connection to this, but shes a married woman that stays deep in residence, and cant even read. How could she know that adding thorowax to yang-rich spring would take a life? Someone else must have planned and instigated this behind the scenes, and that implication might draw secret information out from within the Estate. Marquis Zheng Ying doesnt possess any real power, but hes still the descendant of a merited official that had once quelled disaster. This will be a huge disturbance of no gain to you. Sui Zhous face went cold. If youre scared, Sir Tang, then do as you please. Im not going to force you. Weve found out this much, and were about to go catch the murderer why would we give up halfway?! Xue Ling also hollered. Ill say this, Sir Tang: if youre really going to be this cowardly, youll have no choice but to drift along in life like Sir Pan! Tang Fan shook his head. Youve all misunderstood. Im not scared, I was just advising you to think clearly about this before anything else. This issue was ultimately incited by Shuntian Prefecture not doing its best to handle this case at the onset. If theres any credit after the fact, I will absolutely never snatch it from the Northern Bastion Office, but if blame needs to be shouldered, please consider me a part of that. From those words, Xue Ling was first dumbstruck, then started to laugh, giving a thumbs-up. Alright! Youre a respectable man, Sir Tang! I like it! That previous bowl of wontons had been the preliminary foundation of their friendship, but it wasnt a secure type of friendship at all. Now, after hearing Tang Fans words of some self-responsibility, Xue Ling had a trace of respect for the erudite official. These day, lots of people fought to snatch credit, but very few were willing to bear blame. Sui Zhous expression eased, as well. I have a plan for this. Dont worry. With Sui Zhous background (as previously explained by Pan Bin), if he said such a thing, then it likely would not be an issue. The Brocade Guard ruled dictatorially, truly having no need to look upon the faces of those powerless nobles. Thinking of this, Tang Fan nodded and said no more. Those were the words he had needed to say. If others didnt appreciate them, then that was their problem. However, this attitude of his had actually won Sui Zhou and Xue Lings good regard. Sui Zhou stood up. Come. Lets go to the Estate. The translator says: Some people are objecting (and rudely! wheres your manners!) to the way I translate. I regret to inform them that I simply dont care at all what they think. I go with my gut when translating, and have fun with terms as I see fit. This is how Ive always done it. Nothing I do isnt without valid reason behind it. If youre trying to be persnickety n pompous with terms in a foreign novel youre reading for free, by a translator whos doing this voluntarily, from a language you probably arent even proficient in since youre here instead of just reading said novel in its original dialect rethink your whole self, its ugly. [1] Im not great at conceptualizing TCM, myself, but Ill try: there are purportedly three acupoints of yang and yin each in every one of ones limbs, which is the three yang groups. Channels are like invisible, spiritual veins circulating qi through ones body, and are where acupuncture points are supposedly located on. Where and which meridians are where, and how many there are, largely depend on which quack youre talking to. CH 12 The Estate of Marquis Wuan had a fog of misery over it as of late. Zheng Cheng had been the eldest authentic wife-born son. Due to word on the wind about him being bad, the Dynasty had dragged its feet in dubbing him, but this was, in actuality, a certain trick it used to manage those under it. Although he ultimately still might not get the noble title, in a situation like that, it could put a stranglehold on its subject, making Marquis Wuan cautious and fearful of taking a wrong step. This attitude of the Dynastys was not solely for the influential families of meritorious officials; the same treatment went towards its own old Zhu family, as well. Subsequent to the countrys long-time establishment, the Zhu surname branched out to cover the entire country, making the imperial clan worthless. In the opinions of the Emperor and the Court, they were all a bunch of vermin that just wasted the Dynastys supplies and did nothing useful. The only obstruction here was that there was no way to abolish his forebears rules. That was the Dynastys stance, however. To Zheng Ying, even if Zheng Cheng had always given him a headache, he was still his oldest son, and no one could be in high spirits with a son dead. Zheng Chengs mother, Marchioness Wuan, had cried herself into a tearful mess, overly heartbroken and bedridden. When Sui Zhou and Tang Fan arrived at the Estate, everyone that entered their eyes was wretchedly pale. Zheng Chengs body was still being kept in the Northern Bastion Office, but he was dead, regardless. Plain white cloth was hung up all over the place, and even the servants were all wearing mourning clothes. Upon catching sight of them, Zheng Ying naturally didnt have a great complexion. It was only because of the Brocade Guards reputation that he had no choice but to mentally force himself to deal with them. What has brought you gentlemen to my humble abode? Sui Zhou didnt exchange pleasantries with him. We want to see Miss Hui, Marquis, he said, straightforward. Marquis Wuan was startled, reacting quickly. Is she related to my sons death? This is just necessary for handling the case. That conclusion cant be made yet. Marquis Wuan spoke no more drivel, swiftly having someone bring Miss Hui over. Tang Fan had already met Zheng Chengs one wife and three concubines the night of the incident, when he had followed Pan Bin to the Estate. Lady Sun of Zheng was virtuous, but because of her average looks, she didnt incur Zheng Chengs fondness, and the married couple were seldom in the same bedroom. The eldest concubine Miss Wan had entered the earliest. Honest in personality, the love nevertheless loosened as her beauty waned, and he seldom ever set foot in her courtyard prior to his death. Miss Yu was the most recently taken concubine, having a beautiful, jade-like countenance, and being right at the age where she was most delicate. At the Estate, she was Zheng Chengs favorite, but domestic flowers didnt smell as good as wild ones; he still wanted to reach outwards from time to time. Even though she was favored, she wasnt the only one that was. Miss Hui alone had previously been getting more favor than Miss Yu. It was said that Zheng Cheng had given her a lot of jewels and clothes to make her happy, but after a new person crossed the threshold, her status gradually became uninsured. Tang Fan recalled that in the different reactions the four women had upon Zheng Chengs demise, Miss Hui had wailed the loudest. At first glance, she had been the most grieved, but now that he carefully thought back to it, it was really a bit lacking in realness due to how excessively grand the reaction was. She was led over quickly. As the saying went; to be beautiful was to be mournful. Miss Hui was awfully affecting in her plain white mourning apparel. Too bad that neither Tang Fan nor Sui Zhou had the mind to appreciate it. The latter just had Xue Ling exhibit the portrait. Do you recognize this man? She looked at it. I do. Hes this lowly wifes cousin. Where is he? Xue Ling asked. Miss Hui, her lashes filled with tears, looked heartbroken. To answer you, Sir, when he went out three days ago, he accidentally got hit by a carriage. He passed on the spot, and has now been buried! Xue Ling sneered. What a coincidence that is. We come looking for him on our end, and he happens to have an accident on yours? Its absolutely the truth. My distant cousin was a servant of the Estate, but I dared not disturb the Marquis, so only the steward knows about this. If you dont believe me, Sir, you can ask him to come testify! It doesnt matter. We arent looking for him right now, but rather you. The shopkeepers of the Three-Era and Kindness Halls have already identified him; he once went to their apothecaries to buy large quantities of thorowax, right? This question youre asking has no grounds, Sir. If he did go out to buy medicine, why would he inform me of it beforehand? And what would it have to do with me? Yang-rich spring comes from an old recipe. It isnt beneficial for health, but it also isnt so severe that it would put someone in the ground after a brief few months. However, it just so happens that you incited your cousin to add the extra substance of thorowax into the pills, which caused Zheng Chengs sudden death that masqueraded as shed-yang disease! Thats a false accusation She had just finished shouting of her injustice when she was cut off by a sharp sound and a furious roar next to her Marchioness Wuan had automatically charged forward and viciously slapped her! You still dare to argue, you whore?! Your cousin and Chengr had no animosity, and he had no chance to get near him at all why would he go plot his death?! The proof is undeniable! If its not you, then who?! Ive long been seeing you all restless in your room, but I didnt expect that you would dare to kill Chengr, bitch! The Marchioness, Lady Liu, came from a family of scholarly repute. When Tang Fan had last seen her, she had, at the very least, maintained her composure and self-restraint in spite of being grief-stricken by her sons death. Now, though, when she saw that the murderer might be close at hand, she inevitably couldnt hold back. Miss Hui cried out, covering her cheek and side-stepping. Save me, Marquis, save me! Ive been accused wrongly! Seeing that she dared to dodge her, the fire of Lady Lius rage burned all the higher, and she threw herself at her with the intention to fight. The scene suddenly became a huge mess. Watching this anarchy, Sui Zhou coldly asked, Are you wanting us to observe this theatre of monkeys, Marquis? Even though Miss Hui was the most suspicious, she was still a woman of the Estate, as was the Marchioness. Men and women were to be separate; it wouldnt be good for the Brocade Guard to intervene. Marquis Wuan took a deep breath, then shouted, Youre still not stopping this?! Are all of you dead?! Help the Madam away and seize Miss Hui! With that order, the maids and wet nurses swarmed around, finally separating the two. The Marchioness was panting roughly. Despite being supported by someone, the eyes she glared at Miss Hui with were brimming with hate and resentment, causing the latter to shudder. Even her sobbing lessened. Sui Zhou saw her weeping appearance that made her look like a dewed pear blossom, and wasnt moved a single bit. Do you want to confess on your own, or do you want to go to the Northern Bastion Office and confess then? Before she could respond, Tang Fan said, You are a married woman held deep within the house. Illiterate, and beyond that, not proficient in medical know-how. How would you have the courage to conspire against Zheng Cheng? There had to be someone behind you kindling it. If youre willing to confess the truth, you might be spared the death penalty. If you blindly cover for them, when the time comes, theyll be fine, but you will suffer. Great Mings law has long stated clearly that murderers are to be beheaded. If you insist upon not admitting guilt even unto death, then going to the Office is inevitable. Water, fire, swords, spears, lashings, getting your fingers cut off; there are so many things there, that life wont be given to you if you seek it, nor will you be able to die if you want it. So, when the time comes that you do want to die, Im afraid that wont be so easy. His words were light and airy, without a single puff of smoke from the fires of anger, but Miss Hui could hear her own teeth chattering. Everyone had heard of the Brocade Guards methods before; she seemed to be able to see herself in the Bastille, covered in blood. In reality, the Bastille was not somewhere she could get into just because she thought she could. Those able to do so were all serious criminals decreed as such, and dying in there might allow their names to remain throughout the ages. For someone of her status, she would be going to Shuntian Prefectures prison, at best. The Bastille wouldnt care to shelter her. Sui Zhou shot a glance at Tang Fan, expressing no opinion on the latters method of using the Bastille to scare her. Gonfalon Sui, the other said, I heard that theres a certain punishment in the Office called Rain Watering the Plum Blossoms. The prisoners hands and feet are bound, and then thin, dampened paper is used to cover their face, layer added onto layer, until they pile up. At the start, the convict wouldnt feel anything, but, gradually, theyll feel that its difficult to breathe. The drenched paper sticks tight to their face, blocking up both their mouth and nose, giving them no way to breathe, and making them slowly suffocate to death in torment isnt that right? Expressionless, Sui Zhou slowly nodded. Mn. Correct. Xue Ling skewed them a glance out of the corner of his eye. When did our Office ever have such a pansy torture method? Isnt that an invention of those damned eunuchs at the Eastern Depot? Miss Hui felt it happening to her; in the wake of Tang Fans vivid description, she felt like her face was getting coated by layer after layer of invisible, damp paper, with even her breathing turning into a challenge. What Rain Watering Plum Blossoms? Clearly, that was just slowly torturing someone to death! Ill confess! Ill confess! I didnt kill him! It was Zheng Zhi! Zheng Zhi made me do such a thing! she finally shouted, falling apart. Stop talking! Marquis Wuan hollered. Do you even know what youre talking about, you bitch?! I didnt do it! I didnt! Zheng Cheng wasnt killed by me! My cousin didnt do it, either! It was all Zheng Zhi! He had me give Zheng Cheng the prescription, then had my cousin go buy and give thorowax to the apothecary worker so he could mix it in! Right that worker! Zheng Zhi was the one that had someone silence him, but it wasnt me! I dont know anything! Shut up! What do you mean, shut up?! Lady Liu called, frosty. Let her keep going! Would she say anything good?! he raged. This slut is just randomly biting at and implicating people! Will she only be satisfied after dragging everyone in the Estate down into the water?! Lady Liu sneered at him. Obviously, youre afraid that shell point out someone that shouldnt be spoken of, so you really want her to shut up, right? The Marquis was flustered. Have I ever had such thoughts before? You just hate that theres not enough chaos already! Sui Zhou turned a blind eye to the married couple beginning to argue. Ill have to bother you with inviting Second Don Zheng over, Marquis, he stated. Marquis Wuan was forced to halt his quarrel with Lady Liu. Glaring fiercely at Miss Hui, his mouth opened and closed until he finally got out a couple words. Are you all still not bringing Zheng Zhi over for me?! The servants quickly left with their order. Zheng Zhi soon came, a beautiful, middle-aged woman arriving with him. Tang Fan had seen her before; the night of the incident, all of the women of the Estate had been present, and he vaguely remembered her being Marquis Wuans concubine. Zheng Zhi bowed. This child greets father and mother. I dont know who these two are? His sights set on Sui Zhou and Tang Fan. He hadnt been on-scene that night, so he naturally wouldnt recognize them. His looks greatly resembled that of the woman beside him, increasing his femininity a bit, but his actions and bearing were refined. Looking at that point alone, Zheng Cheng couldnt compare to him at all. The Heir had not yet been dubbed, its name up in the air, yet his second son was more outstanding than his eldest that certainly put a struggle within the Marquis. From that struggle, there would inevitably be a tilt in his heart. A bowl of water was difficult to hold level. Disputes arose from such. Marquis Wuan was straight-faced. They are Shuntian Prefectures Sir Tang and the Northern Bastion Offices Sir Sui, who have come for questions in regards to your older brothers case. Ill ask you this; did his death have anything to do with you? Zheng Zhi was greatly shocked. Father, wont these words kill me wrongly? How could I plot against his life in fratricide?! He put on a good show, but Tang Fan didnt miss the glance he just subconsciously shot Miss Hui. Second Don Zheng, Sui Zhou said, Miss Hui is now claiming that you incited her to poison Zheng Cheng, then killed her cousin in order to silence him. Is that how it happened? Absolutely not! Zheng Zhi resolutely declined. Miss Hui sobbed bitterly. Youre the one that should die by a thousand cuts! It was obviously you that made me do it! You even said that when that damn devil died, it was going to all go right past me! Have you lost your mind, woman?! You were my elder brothers concubine! How would I be able to collude with you?! he raged. The middle-aged woman shrieked. Ill teach you to randomly slander people, you cheap hussy! Then, she rushed forward to slap Miss Hui on the face. When Lady Liu had recently done the same, it wouldve been bad for Xue Ling to interfere. Now that a concubine did it, he directly stepped forward and pushed her away. The Brocade Guard is present! How dare you be so impudent! The woman got shoved down onto the ground, face green and pale. She wanted to get mad, yet didnt dare to, simply twisting her waist to throw herself at Marquis Wuan and hug his thigh as she sobbed. Marquis, you must give justice to us! His head swelling to twice its size, the Marquis hurriedly grabbed her. Get up, get up! What decorum is this?! Even though he had said that, his tone was much more tender than the one he used with Lady Liu just now. Lady Liu looked on coldly, not saying a word. In the face of such a disorderly spectacle, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou both thankfully looked as they always did. Miss Hui, you accused Zheng Zhi. Do you have any evidence of that? Tang Fan asked. She was wide-eyed, tongue-tied, and speechless. Oh, good! You cant say anything, is that it?! the woman began accusing randomly. Ah-Zhi is undoubtedly innocent! Why would he murder his brother? Noticing that the Eldest Don had died, did someone prompt you to frame Ah-Zhi because they were unhappy that he was going to be the Heir? Say it! In the middle of her string of curses, though, Miss Hui suddenly shouted. I have proof! I have proof! She had genuinely been scared stiff by Tang Fans depiction; regardless of whether it was the Offices Bastille or that Plum Blossom pestilence, she wanted to try out none of it. Speak, Sui Zhou said. She grit her teeth. Second Don Zheng has a red birthmark on his posterior! Its half the size of a palm and in the shape of a plum blossom! With that remark, the womans yelling came to a screeching halt. Men and women were to be separated. A birthmark on the hand or face would have been fine to speak of, but one on the butt if they werent exceedingly intimate, how else could she have known that? Miss Hui was Zheng Chengs concubine, while Zheng Zhi was Zheng Chengs little brother. The two should have been poles apart, but she knew he had a birthmark there. What did that illustrate? Sui Zhou looked at Zheng Zhi and his greatly-morphing face. Is that true? Zheng Zhi didnt answer, but Sui Zhou didnt need him to, straight-up waving his hand. Detain him and bring him back to the Office! Then, he pointed at Miss Hui. Youre coming with, too. Since you were forthcoming just now, a maid can accompany you. The middle-aged woman wailed loudly and threw herself tight around her son, not allowing anyone to get close. As she cried, others pulled at and soothed her. The scene, again, started to become chaotic. Wait! Marquis Wuan yelled, angry. Sir Sui, this is my Estate, and Zheng Zhi is someone from it! How can you just carry him away at your say-so?! Marquis, if the good Don is discovered to be innocent, he will certainly end up being released. Sui Zhou, you cant assume authority you dont have! His Majesty ordered you to investigate the case, not to take even the cooking pots out of my Estate! What are you trying to do?! Ill be presenting a memorial denouncing you! Sui Zhou was unmoved. This is within this humble officials obligations. Do as you please, Marquis. Marquis Wuans nose flared in anger, but right when he wanted to say something, he heard Lady Liu speak. Just handle the case fairly, Sir Sui. I will take care of all this! You! You dare?! The Marquis pointed at her, too mad to say a complete sentence. Why wouldnt I dare to? Do I have no share in this Estate? She looked at him, gaze icy, as if she was looking at her enemy. Dont forget that I am the wife you officially married, that similarly underwent the Dynastys canonization, that has the rank and status for it! In this Estate, I have the same right of management as you do! Chengr is already dead, the departed are no more do you want the entirety of the Estate to have no peace? What good does that do you?! She smiled coldly. Zheng Cheng was my son by blood, and also your son by blood, but in your eyes, Marquis, he wasnt comparable to that slut-born Zheng Zhi. Since his dad is a disappointment, his mom is the only one he can ask to bring him justice! The middle-aged woman wept sorrowfully, kneeling down before her. Sister, big sister, everything is my fault! Spare Ah-Zhi, hes a good child! Anything and everything you want me to do in the future, I will! Im begging you, sister! Women forced to their extremes were frequently dauntless. Lady Liu straight-up snatched her by the lapels, then swung her quite a few slaps, pow pow pow, instantly slicing several very long scratches onto the womans fair and tender cheeks with her very long nails. After that, she nabbed her roughly by the neck. Ive tolerated you for long enough, bitch! Now youll pay my sons life back! The woman screamed. Zheng Zhi also shouted, Father! Dad! Dad! Save me! I dont want to go with them! His struggle, as far as the Brocade Guards were concerned, was useless. With one look from Sui Zhou, he was taken outside. Because of her recent confession, Miss Huis treatment was a bit better, and she had a maid helping her. Even so, the Guards were watching her like tigers all the same, intolerant of any escape attempt. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou left the Estate together. The situation behind them was in a wreck and ceaselessly noisy, but that had nothing to do with them. You whore! You wont have a good death! Zheng Zhi swore loudly. Despite being detained, he itched to throw himself at Miss Hui and bite her to death. At this moment, he had none of the poise he previously did when he showed up on stage. Sui Zhou scowled. Shaobing. Do excuse me, Don Zheng! Xue Ling, implicitly understanding the man, directly stuffed a handkerchief into Zheng Zhis mouth. The world went quiet. Things went smoother than expected. As soon as he entered the Northern Bastion Office, Zheng Zhi confessed to everything without waiting for any sort of torture to be used. His confession wasnt too inconsistent with Miss Huis explanation. Despite Marquis Wuan not having real power, the lure of a heredity Marquis title was as irresistibly big as ever. The incumbent Marquis didnt have feelings for his primary wife Lady Liu, instead favoring his pretty concubine and the pretty-concubine-born Zheng Zhi. More than once, in the presence of that pretty concubine, he had displayed his anger towards his eldests lack of drive, but with one time too many, Zheng Zhi inevitably got an idea. Added in with Zheng Cheng having been a useless dandy, he had a natural thought: the Great Ming has never imposed that concubine-born sons cant inherit noble titles. Why should I bow out and give it up, just because I was born two years later than him? Zheng Cheng was a disgraceful man, and because he sang songs on the nightly, he hollowed himself out and made having offspring difficult for himself. Up to the present, he hadnt been able to produce a son; for that reason, Zheng Zhi had Miss Hui pass Zheng Cheng the yang-rich spring prescription via fooling around with her, and then added a touch of thorowax into the drug via her cousin. Miss Hui had once been favored, but after Zheng Cheng became fond of the new and disdainful of the old, she felt resentment and discontent. Under those circumstances, Zheng Zhi easily persuaded her. According to his words, he originally had no intention of killing his older brother, he just wanted to ruin his body so that he could never have a son. Due to thorowax making yang-rich springs medicinal properties greater, it was liable to make one lose their natal yang, and with that, the title would naturally get bucked onto Zheng Zhis head. Against expectations, he hadnt grasped the proper drug amount, resulting in Zheng Chengs death being an outright surprise. Nonetheless, the evidence of the crime was conclusive. Zheng Zhi pled guilty, slated for execution. Marquis Wuan wanting to defend his son no longer had any efficacy, while Marchioness Wuans maiden familys influence was present, and she, of course, wouldnt let the matter be. The two quarreled about the lawsuit in royal presence, and Sui Zhous side presented the evidence and confession statement one after the other. The Cabinet initially commented for Zheng Zhi to get the death penalty, but the Emperor couldnt withstand the Marquiss pained entreaty, so he ultimately changed the death penalty into a life penalty Zheng Zhi was sent to the outside world to be a normal citizen, ordered to never return to the capital throughout his life. Since the case had come to this point, it was finally at its end. When Sui Zhou sent up the memorial, he also incidentally mentioned Shuntian Prefecture in writing, stating that he had received no small contribution from their assistance in dealing with the case. That statement was not to be underestimated. After Yongle, the Cabinets status had gradually risen. In this Court, the Emperor wasnt too fond of doing work, so the Cabinet Viziers nearly equaled the Prime Ministers, divvying up power with the Emperor. Because Sui Zhou had a paternal great-uncle that not only once occupied the position of Minister of War, but also had disciples and old friends all throughout every level of society, the Cabinets impression of him was generally good. Beyond that, due to his relation to Empress Dowager Zhou, he also had the capability to speak in the Emperors presence. Having those two sides of connection, one sentence of his was more effective than ten from someone else, and Shuntian Prefectures liability ended up a permanent loose end. People would be invigorated upon coming across happy occasions. Pan Bin wouldnt be losing his position, nor would he be getting a wage reduction, nor dispatched to elsewhere, merely getting a featherlight scolding that was like a crisp breeze passing his ears; it was nothing much at all. He was, of course, elated a contrast to his apprehension from a few days prior. He came looking for Tang Fan. Its only thanks to you, Runqing, that this case could be cracked, and the investigation into our Prefectures blame for it wont proceed! This was all His Majestys benevolence, as well as Gonfalon Suis emphasis on loyalty. It had nothing to do with this Runqing. I dont dare to take credit! Very pleased with his modest and prudent attitude, Pan Bin nodded, stroking his beard with a grin across his face. You dont need to be overly modest. You participated in it, after all, and I heard that Sui Zhou mentioned you in the memorial he presented you deserve the credit! This Prefect can distinguish between public and private affairs; have merit, get rewarded, have sins, get punished. Since you have merit, thats that! What do you want? Prefecture Magistrate Wei Yu, seated to the side, also chimed in with a smile. Youve been running about all over the place to solve this case, Runqing. How exhausting that must have been! Tang Fan remained humble. This humble official wants nothing. Youve praised in error, Sir! Pan Bin slapped his thigh. Since thats so, didnt we make a bet last time? I still owe you a bowl of mincepork noodles. A fixed date isnt as good as a random one; when the bureau is done for the day, this Prefect will treat you to noodles! Tang Fan knew his Brother Pan was a bit stingy, but him being this stingy was really eye-opening. Tang Fan, shooting a helpless look at the wanting-to-laugh-but-afraid-to Wei Yu, gave a joyful smile. Thank you much, then, Sir! Wei Yu made a fist and coughed into it twice. Sir, Im not sure if this humble official has the same fortune to try the noodles youre talking about? Pan Bin glanced at him. Xuanzhang, this will be your mistake. Speaking of, you came to the Prefecture later than Runqing, and neither of us have gotten to taste your promotion wine yet! Wei Yu was now depressed, having gotten attacked simply for being present. He had only been casually asking for a bowl of noodles; why did the outcome turn into him owing the drinks for a banquet? Mister Prefect was too good at taking advantage of people! Of course, of course! If you two are willing to do the honors, well go out today! Are we not going to the noodle vendor Runqing mentioned, then? Pan Bin asked. No, no. Well go to Immortal Guest for promotion drinks, of course! Ill have someone go make a reservation! Seeing Wei Yu looking like he had eaten a fly, Tang Fan laughed until he nearly gave himself a hernia. The translator says: case closed everybody, lets pack up. wait what. what do you mean the arc has 6 chapters left in it CH 13 All three of them prepped their everyday clothes at the bureau, and when it was dismissed for the day, they changed into them, then left for Immortal Guest. Pan Bin, Wei Yu, and Tang Fan were all officials promoted via imperial exams. Pan Bin was Tang Fans senior schoolmate, while Wei Yu was a Place Honorate from the eighth year of Chenghua when they started deeply discussing about things, everyone had quite a bit of common ground. Despite Pan Bin typically liking to put on airs, as well as being a bit stingy and fond of bickering as a person, he was not only Wei Yu and Tang Fans superior, but also an older generation of official. He had a lot more experience than the other two, and plenty of advice and guidance to spare, thus making the meal one where everyone talked and laughed leisurely, both the host and the guests the utmost of pleased. At the time they left Immortal Guest, it was still early, no later than a little over halfway through the time of the Rooster.(6pm) Curfew wasnt yet in effect. Pan Bin and Wei Yu long had people from their households waiting outside their private room, and they escorted the two back. Tang Fan lived alone, having neither a hired guard nor a need for a boyservant. Noticing that it wasnt too late, he walked back home by himself after seeing the other two off. House prices were not cheap in ancient times, especially for those in the capital, where one cun of land was pure gold. The Emperor was miserly, too; ever since the Great Ancestors time, several salaries wouldnt be sent out each year. Many officials that came from outside lands to the capital for office couldnt afford housing, nor would their rank be enough to attain a Dynasty-granted residence, so their only option was to become an unofficial resident like Tang Fan by renting a house to live in. Some officials were even a bit more tragic, with no choice but to lodge at a colleagues home, and speaking of it always made them cry bitter tears. The place Tang Fan rented had convenient transportation, and wasnt far from the bureau. Were it not for that little section of courtyard that the Lis had partitioned out of fear of hauntings, where there wasnt enough room for a whole family to live in, a bachelor like him wouldnt have gotten this little advantage. Sunsets glow filled the sky in the evenings capital. People hawked snacks and pastries, called their children back home to eat, and greeted and gossiped with those they were acquainted with. Lively and noisy, it had the certain life-like atmosphere of a hangout area. When he walked into Liuye Lane, he happened to catch sight of the maid Ah-Xia coming out from the Li home and preparing to knock on his door. Ah-Xia? She turned her head, pleasantly surprised. Youve just gotten back, Sir Tang? He smiled. Yeah, I did. Whats this? Today is the Great Heat. Our Madam ordered some pastries made, then had me bring them to you. Why be so formal? Ive just finished eating, so you can take it back, Miss Ah-Xia. Thank your Mistress for me. If you refuse to accept them, how would I be able to explain that when I go back? she asked, anxious. If you want to decline them, you should personally say so to the Mistress! She used this trick every time, and he really didnt have a good way to refuse it. Being a grown man, it would be bad for him to readily go visit another familys Mistress even if he had a bit of a friendship with the Lis since the patriarch ultimately wasnt present. Aside from a twelve-ish-year-old youth now in the house, they were all weak or old women and children, so they tried to avoid as much suspicion as possible. Ah-Xia was a servant, so there was no taboo. He opened the door to invite her in. Noticing the cheerlessness amidst her features, he asked, Are you okay, Miss Ah-Xia? Whenever Madam Li had something that needed delivering, she would pretty much always send Ah-Xia over for it. After a couple times of this, they had gotten quite familiar with each other. Since her mood was poor and she currently needed to distract herself, upon his inquiry, she lowered her voice to say, These days the Madam received a letter sent from the Master outside. It stated that while he was on this business trip, not only did he take a concubine, but the woman was already pregnant. Shes now very upset about this. We the servants are also solemn, of course, and can only hope that shes able to not take it to heart! Tang Fan didnt have much interest in private affairs like this, but he still consoled her. Speaking many words of comfort to your Mistress is good enough. Life will go on as usual. Her expression got a bit better. She looked at the basket she brought, her cheeks now flushing with bashfulness. Its hot out, and the pastries wont keep for long, so I ask that you eat them soon. This Ah-Xia will take my leave. Miss Ah-Xia! he called out to her. She turned back. What else do you need, Sir Tang? This basket your Mistress had you bring it over, right? Why do you ask this, Sir? If she didnt, would I dare to act on my own initiative? I appreciate your good intentions, Miss, but please take the basket back with you! About to cry from nerves, she had no choice but to tell the truth. Dont misunderstand, Sir Tang! She really did have me bring the pastries over! I just I just put an extra pouch in it! He went and searched about in the basket with his hand for a minute. Sure enough, he found a pink pouch under the pastries, with decently-crafted-looking embroidered peonies on it. He was a bit unsure of whether to laugh or cry. The connotation of a maiden gifting a pouch was self-evident. It was merely that Ah-Xia had been careless; what kind of person was he? A Judge of Shuntian Prefecture, that was what. His eyesight was a bit keener than others, so her evasive glance just then definitely hadnt slipped past him. She lowered her head. I put that in without permission. If you dont hate the idea, Sir, I w-want to be your maid that will sweep snow and present tea to you, serving your side day by day. She finally drummed up the courage to express her true motive. At the end of it, her cheeks were fully red, and her head was about to drop to her chest. She didnt dare to look at him. He was quiet for a moment. Many thanks for your regard, Miss Ah-Xia. Ill accept the pastries, but I ask you to take the pouch back, and not come again in the future. She looked up, eyes red around the rims. Do you think me too shameless, for offering myself to your pillow? You cant look upon this lowly body of mine? Tang Fan shook his head. Im only an impoverished official with nothing to my name, no permanent properties, and only enough salary to support myself. I genuinely dont deserve to be treated with such sincerity by you, Miss Ah-Xia. With your personality and looks, youll definitely find a better ending later. You dont need to cajole me. With an origin like this, how could I ever find a good ending at all? If youd be willing to take me in, then Id be willing to be a maid that cleans and cooks for you! M-My admiration for you can be testified by the sun and the moon! To speak according to reason, Ah-Xias looks werent lacking, and she even came to the door of her own accord; there would be no sense in an ordinary man decidedly shutting it in her face. Beyond that, so long as he said something to the Lis Madam, then in accordance to his status and friendship with the Lis, it would be unlikely for her to hold on tight to one maid. Their ancestors had formerly been officials, but for a few generations now, the Lis were merchants, long becoming an ordinary family. If they could build a connection with the promising Tang Fan by means of one maid, the Mistress would definitely be happy to fulfill his wish. However, he really had no interest in stuff like accepting concubines or pretty maids. Since he wasnt interested, a blunt rejection was best; why would he lead the other on, adding countless troubles to them both? For that reason, in the face of Ah-Xias pitiful appeal and sweet-sounding confession, he still said, Miss Ah-Xia, I wont tell anyone else about what happened today. Please take the pouch back. Ill be resting. Seeing that he was unmoved and didnt even come to help her up, she knew that there would be no use in staying. She wiped her tears and stood. This was entirely my lack of manners, to impinge upon you like this. Please forgive me, Sir. Its no bother. You dont need to be so courteous, Miss Ah-Xia. She bowed, pouch clutched in her hands. On the inside, she felt disappointed and humiliated, and, without any further polite conventions, lowered her head, turned, and left. Ever since Yingzhongs time, the status of the Imperial College had been on a gradual decline, and the Dynasty had formed the unwritten rule of those not of Hanlin will not be of the Cabinet. Tang Fan was handsome, refined, and of Hanlin, making his status superior. Even if he was currently only a minor capital official, no one could say for certain whether he might reach the highest of officials positions in the future, or the heights of the Cabinet. How could admiration for a talent like this stop at Ah-Xia alone? He was practically a piping-hot cake that matchmakers wore out his doorsill for. Ah-Xia understood that well, too. She knew that as a servant girl, she was absolutely unworthy of him, but even though she couldnt be a primary wife, being an attending maid was always a possibility. She wasnt asking him to take her as a proper concubine, either; as long as she could have just a few bits of tenderness, she would be fully satisfied. Yet, even with the requirements so low, he still didnt want her. Infinitely heartbroken, she felt like she had no face left, hurriedly opening the door and going out. Unexpectedly, someone was actually standing there, and were it not for her speedily ducking out of the way, she narrowly would have headplanted into him. She raised her head, spooked, to fix her eyes on him, then found that he was extremely familiar; it was the Brocade Guard that had come looking for Tang Fan before. She didnt react for a moment, only focused on staring blankly at him. He didnt even look at her, though, lifting his hand to knock. Suspecting that the man had heard what she had said to Tang Fan in the courtyard just now, she couldnt help but be ashamed and angered, speeding up her steps to return to the neighboring Li home slightly like she was fleeing from defeat. On Tang Fans end, having sent her away, he looked at the basket again. When Ah-Xia had been here, he thought to maintain his composure. Now that she was gone, he, of course, no longer cared. He had sampled the Li cooks handiwork before. Upon spotting the fu-ling cakes and chilled yam bits dressed in pickled plum juice, he took out the plate of yams, picked up a piece, then put it in his mouth. The yam had been sliced into strips, then put on ice, after which the plum juice was poured onto it. Sweet, sour, and crisp, it was both delicious and beneficial for digestion. After eating one piece, he didnt hold back, taking another. Pleased, he picked the basket up in preparation to bring it to his room and enjoy it there. A knock came from the door outside. Thinking it was Ah-Xia that had left yet then returned, he furrowed his brow. He really didnt want to give the girl any fanciful ideas that would lead to a misunderstanding, so he had to put the basket down, walk over to the door, and get ready to straight-up bolt it. The result of that was the person outside apparently getting a little impatient with waiting, so they flat-out pushed the door open right then. Tang Fan still had a piece of yam held in his mouth. Sui Zhou was standing outside. Tang Fan sighed in relief. Its you, Gonfalon Sui! Please, come in, quick! He glanced behind Sui Zhou. Great, no one was there. Have you had dinner yet? Do you want some? Mister Tang was generous enough to be generous with someone elses generosity. The evening was cool, the fragrance of the yam still faintly discernible. Sui Zhou glanced at him, then picked up a piece. He nodded once he took a bite. Not bad. Tang Fan laughed. The neighboring cook has somewhat better skill at desserts than the one at Immortal Guest. I invite you inside, Gonfalon Sui this goes best with tea! The last time Sui Zhou came to visit Tang Fan, he hadnt come in the house, merely sitting in the courtyard. Seeing that there was no one else inside or outside the place, he asked, You live alone, Sir Tang? Tang Fan, while heating water and making tea, put himself down. Ah, yes. When I eat by myself, the whole household is fed its a bit economical here, and I cant provide a first-rate tea set, because I ordinarily drink by myself. I ask you not to disdain it, because the tea itself is pretty good. It has no name, but it was picked from wild tea trees in the mountains. Come, try it! Sui Zhou picked up a cup of hot tea, smelling its aroma before he took a shallow sip. He gave a slight nod. Bitter, yet not tart. Its good tea. Tang Fan grinned. Thanks to your memorial, the Cabinet gently let up on Shuntians blame. I havent thanked you yet, so when you have free time another day, please allow me the honor of treating you to a meal! Guangchuan. Tang Fan stared a bit. Hm? My courtesy is Guangchuan. The other understood implicitly. Since thats so, you dont need to keep calling me Sir Tang, either. You can call me Runqing. Sui Zhou nodded. Even though Im half a grade higher than you right now, with your capability, your meteoric rise is only a matter of when. The Prefecture being exempt from responsibility this time around mostly came from your power. Sir Pan also asked me to express his thanks to you. Sui Zhou declined to comment. Without you, Pan Bin would just be an ordinary official, inevitably getting demoted and banished from Court. Tang Fan smiled. Sir Pan is actually alright in skill, hes just been in officialdom for a long time, so he inevitably has some more misgivings when thinking things over. Maybe Ill be the same as him, in a few years. He then changed the subject. But, now that were back on that I get the general sense that this case is yet to be finished. The baihui acupoint. Talking with smart people gave one peace of mind. Tang Fan nodded. Right. Zheng Zhi and Miss Hui confessed, but theres one area of doubt; theres still no reasonable explanation for the indent on Zheng Chengs baihui. I interrogated Miss Hui previously. She doesnt know anything about the wound. According to her defense, Zheng Cheng hadnt entered her room for quite some time, and other people in the Estate can attest to that. Weve already discussed before that its impossible for someone to be tapped on the acupoint and be unaware of it while in a conscious state. For that reason, the relationship between Zheng Cheng and this individual is certain to be close, or, at the very least, they need to have shared a bed with him for a time. Going along with that condition, Miss Hui doesnt satisfy it, and Zheng Zhi even less so. Do you have a candidate in mind? There arent many who fit it, yet theres also a lot. In the Estate, Zheng Chengs concubine Miss Yu is one of them. I heard Zheng Fu say that he had outside concubines, too, and hes been to brothels lately. Those are thus all candidates for suspicion. Sui Zhou frowned. However, none of them have suitable motives. That Miss Yu is the most suspicious, in the end. Unfortunately, the Brocade Guards manpower has already been withdrawn from the Marquis Estate. If need be, I can have someone tail her. The other smiled. Thats not necessary for now. Shuntian Prefecture cant do as much as your Office can, but it still has times where it comes in handy. I already set up hands for it back when the case was being re-investigated. Wait for a bit of time, there might be information soon. Seeing that he spoke with confidence, Sui Zhou asked nothing else, continuing to drink the tea and eat the snacks. In spite of being taciturn, Sui Zhou wasnt completely unconversational. The time he had been in the Northern Bastion Office was longer compared to the time Tang Fan had been a Judge, and had taken part in even more cases prior to this, making his bit of experience in this field worthy of Tang Fan learning from him as a source. Hence, questions were met with answers, and time passed at flying speed. In the midst of their chat, the plate of fu-ling cakes and dish of dressed yams visibly and unconsciously got to their bottoms. They both reached for the final cake at the same exact time. As a host, it was never good to snatch things from guests. Tang Fan reluctantly shrank his hand back, glancing at the lovely little cake. The affectionate look in his eyes was the exact same as the one Miss Ah-Xia had just peered at him with. Sui Zhou: CH 14 Meanwhile, Ah-Xia returned to the courtyard Mistress Li resided in, a heavy load on her mind. By coincidence, Ah-Chun was lifting the curtain to leave, catching sight of her. Why did it take you this long to deliver snacks? she admonished. The Madams waiting for your report! Madam Lis surname was Zhang. She was a full fifty years of age and had taken good care of herself at the very least, she wasnt as bad in comparison to the widespread early aging of her peers. Even so, there were still many hard-to-prevent wrinkles climbing out the corners of her eyes, and she stooped slightly, despite her kindly face. Noticing Ah-Xia walk in, she smiled and asked, You delivered it? Ah-Xia gave a blessing-bow.[1] Yes. Sir Tang is pleased, and had me thank you for your trouble, Madam. Hes helped us out a lot, as well. All we do is just send some food everyday, how could that be any trouble? Come here, Ah-Xia, I have something to say to you. Ah-Xia quickly stepped over. Seeing that Lady Zhang was watching her the whole time, she became somewhat uneasy. What is your command, Madam? Lady Zhang kept her smile. Dont be nervous. Ill ask you this; do you have feelings of admiration for him? Ah-Xias heart jumped. M-Madam? she stammered. Go on and be honest, Ill never hurt you. Do you or dont you? Her voice was mosquito-like. I do Thats good, then. He acts alone as a capital official, and theres no one considerate by his side looking out for him. Youre seventeen, now, and should have been married long ago. I know youre interested in him, but with your status, wanting to marry him as his primary wife is undoable. As a concubine, though, there shouldnt be any issue still, youre well-born, and have learned a lot from following me these years. Youd be entitled to have your slave contract returned to you so you can go marry off into a small family as its matriarch, too. Im not sure what you think about this, which is why I called you to ask do you want to serve him, or marry out? Recalling the fact that she had just been rejected, Ah-Xia flushed red. This this maid had no shame just now, and already took it upon myself to express my feelings to him! Lady Zhang suffered a fright. Ah, girl, whats there to be ashamed of? Men grow up and take wives, women grow up and get married off. Ive been watching you grow up since you were young. Not only you, but also Ah-Chun, Ah-Qiu, and the rest. Im always happy to see you all find a good home. Quick, now, what did he say? Ah-Xia knelt down, trying to resist the tears flowing down, and hugged Lady Zhangs legs as she sobbed. Madam, he doesnt fancy me, I I want to die! Lady Zhang helped her up. Is there not even a little margin for turning that around? What exactly did he say? Weeping and choking up, Ah-Xia spoke of everything she had just experienced. Hearing to the end, Lady Zhang sighed. Seems that he truly doesnt have that notion. With your looks and temperament, he shouldnt have refused, but not all men in the world are lustful. Theres always outliers. Its no matter, Ill find you another marriage. All you need to do is pick anyone that you take a liking to in this Estate! This maid will be brazen, and boldly beseech that you step forth, Madam, to help me with saying a few things before Sir Tang Ah-Xia said quietly. Lady Zhang shook her head. This really is just bad karma from a previous life, and nothing more. I heard that hes been leaving early and returning late these couple of days, so he must be busy. Wait for this spell to pass, and Ill have someone invite him over. Ah-Xias tears turned into a smile. This maid thanks you much, Madam! I will remember your great kindness all my life! *** A pair of dainty feet lightly tread through the brothel corridor. Exquisite, beautiful skirts had been densely covering them, and because of her walking, their hem swayed, occasionally revealing the embroidered shoes beneath them that lured ones mind into wild thoughts. It appeared like what she stepped upon was not stairs, but clouds. She stopped before a door, raised her hand, and knocked. Who is it? came a voice from inside. Its me, Mama Lu, she answered, voice gentle and soft with all the silkiness of a woman from Jiangnans. Even in anger, it would sound like she was being coquettish. Any ordinary man that heard it would have half his bones go limp. The one inside did not immediately come open the door like usual, grinning from ear-to-ear thereafter, but rather mumbled to herself for a good minute before she called, Wait a second, Im coming! Past the paper pasted onto the window frames, she could faintly make out the silhouette as she approached, after which she opened the door with a creak. So its you, Qingzi. Come in, quick! Have you fallen ill, Mama? You dont look too good, Qingzi inquired. The bawd forced a smile. Its nothing. Come, come in and sit! She stuck her head out again to yell towards the outside. Little Six, get tea! Qingzi stopped her. No need to bother, Mama Lu. I have something I want to discuss with you now. The bawd gave a hey. Just say it. Why are you being so serious? Do I normally never promise you what you ask? Speak, speak! Qingzi deliberated for a short moment, then seemed to finally make a firm decision. I want to redeem myself. The others chrysanthemum-like smile disappeared. What did you say? Qingzi sighed, but her voice became even more resolute. I want to redeem myself. No longer having her previous calmness, the bawd leapt three chi in the air. No! I wont agree to it! The other gazed at her fixedly. Mama Lu, we once discussed that if I could scrape together five thousand taels, you would let me redeem myself. She took a bank voucher out from her lapels. This is an authentic five thousand tael banknote, written out by Huitong Bank. Mama Lu eased her tone. Ah, Qingzi, its not that Mama doesnt believe you, I just dont know what dandy you got that money from. Its not a small amount. This coin is all undeniably for you, so take it all. Even if youre redeemed from now on, what kind of livelihood will you be able to rely on? You may as well stay here for a few more years. Moreover, Ive seen many girls before that would quickly spend their money up after leaving Jubilance. They had no choice but to return to their old profession, but when that time came, their value had dropped by a lot, and even if they hung up their sign for business, they couldnt price as high as they used to. Ah, Qingzi, Mama Lu wont lie to you; rather than redeem yourself, itd be better for you to marry off as a concubine to whichever Don is so interested in you. A life like that would be decent! Mama Lu, Qingzi answered, how many of the men coming to brothels are any good? Why do you try to coax me with these words? Im already nineteen now, since Ive been doing this for several years. Weve associated for so long, having a predestined affinity without the friendship why must you refuse to relinquish your hold on me, Mama Lu? Cant you just let me go have a few days of a quiet life? Seeing how determined she was, the bawds expression got unsightly. Her lips opened and closed a few times as if she wanted to let loose some vicious words, but, after her eyes shifted about, she ultimately swapped it for a smiling face. Alright, alright. Since the conversations come to this, I dont have anything I can say. Youve followed me since you were young, though, and Im just afraid that youll suffer hardships outside, so Ill only take four thousand out of the five. The other thousand is for you to keep, in case you have a time of need. Qingzi felt great surprise, having never expected that Mama Lu, who normally loved money as much as she did life, would speak like this. Not only was she readily willing to set her free, but she was also willing to refund some of her money, making her somewhat touched. She gave a blessing-bow to the bawd. I have depended upon your guidance for so many years, Mama. This Qingzi cant thank you enough, but I have no means to pay it back with. Please accept the full five thousand taels. I still have some private savings and wont starve to death too soon. Qingzi. The bawd took her hand to pull her into a seat, lowering her voice. Tell Mama honestly. Was this banknote given to you by Don Zheng earlier? Now that he has died, the whole matters apparently blown up. Wont this coin stir up trouble? Whered that come from, Mama Lu? He wasnt the one to give it to me. He was a reprobate. Even if he had some spending money in hand, theres no way he would give me that much in one breath to help me redeem myself. It all came from a proper source. You dont need to worry. If you dont allow me to understand, my heart will always be in a state of ups and downs. You have to be aware that he rested at our Jubilance the day before his death, which is an ambiguous situation to speak of. If those aristocrats want to write something up, itd be easy for them to single us out. Isnt that case closed? Its said that the murderer was the Second Don of the Marquis Wuan Estate, who colluded with the Eldest Dons concubine to kill him. What does that have to do with us? The bawd forced a smile. Despite that, I heard that people from the Northern Bastion Office are still investigating, claiming that there was still something suspicious about the case, but I dont know what that suspicious something is. Im in charge of your everyday expenses. How were you able to get five thousand taels in one go? Im not going to force you to stay, but you need to give me a thorough explanation on this, lest none of us are able to escape when this money invites trouble! Qingzi was quiet for a short time. I cant share the origin of the money. To be brief, it was given by a certain gracious customer whos interested in me and wanted to take me in. Its merely that he has a tigress keeping watch at home, so it cant be done. Mama Lus eyes narrowed. Since youve said that, I can be at ease. I still dont understand one thing, however, and am waiting for you to dispel my doubts. There is no harm in saying what you want to say frankly, Mama. The bawd gave a smile. I heard that you set up an outer residence, Qingzi. Whats that about? Qingzis face changed. What is the meaning of this, Mama?! You sent people to investigate me?! The others face darkened. Youre my girl. Do you have something to hide from me? What harm is there in me asking, anyway? Be honest! Where did that house come from? Qingzi got up at once, sneering. Looks like theres no point in further talk with this atmosphere. Since you refuse to straight-up say youll let me go, Ill just come again another day. I hope you wont be upset then! However, before she had time to fling her sleeves out, an unfamiliar mans voice resonated within the room. If you dont give a clear explanation for the money and the residence, Miss Qingzi, Im afraid you wont be leaving today. Two men were seen to step out from behind the folding screen. One was tall, stern, and grasping a blade, while the other was in bamboo-green everyday robes, looking gentle and refined. Qingzis expression warped drastically. When she went to flee through the door, two armymen were already blocking it, for an unknown amount of time prior. Who are all of you?! she asked. Tang Fan caught sight of her tightly-clenched fists that were half-hidden in her sleeves, which was one type of manifestation of ones considerable inner nervousness. Tang Fan, of Shuntian Prefecture. There are still some questions in regards to the Marquis Estate case, and Id like to request you to answer them. Isnt that already closed? Tang Fan shook his head. It hasnt yet been concluded, because we discovered that theres another murderer in it. Perhaps you know of them? What does this have to do with me?! Zheng Cheng once had an ephemeral bond with you, and one night of being together gives a hundred nights of grace. In view of your relationship with him, why are you so unfeeling to this extent when you hear of this? Her expression was tense, but her back was exceptionally straight. Listening to your undertones, Sir Tang, are you implying that I had part in his death? He died due to two things: one was the thorowax illicitly added into the yang-boosting medication he took, which made him lose his natal qi until he died of shed-yang disease, and the second was the baihui acupoint on top of his head being hit several times by someone to the extent that the meridian channels on his skull were ruptured. The ones that switched out the prescription have already been caught, and Im sure youve heard before that theyre Second Don Zheng Zhi and Zheng Chengs concubine Miss Hui. However, when we interrogated them, we discovered that they didnt know a thing about the acupoint. Beyond that, regardless of whether it was him or her, neither met the condition of being under circumstances to repeatedly strike the point while Zheng Cheng was unconscious, because the person in question needed to have shared the bed with him for a period of time. There are three people that conform to this condition: you, Zheng Chengs concubine Miss Yu, and his outside concubine Lady Zhao. Why didnt you go find them then, Sir, instead of coming to find me? Ever since the discovery of this point of suspicion, Ive been dispatching people to lie low outside of Jubilance, the Marquis Estate, and Zheng Chengs external residence to keep watch on you three. Every time theres a murder, there has to be a motive, and an objective. For this half month, Miss Yu and Lady Zhao have been at peace in their spots, having no dealings with any suspicious persons, nor having large discrepancies in money. Theres only you. Youre the lead role of Jubilance, but the silver given by your gracious customers has always been taken in the bawds hands. All of a sudden, you have the money for secretly getting a maidservant to purchase a residence, as well as the coin to redeem yourself. Right as he finished speaking, two bailiffs came in from outside. Sir, we found something in her room! Tang Fan nodded. Let me see. Where did you find it? Under the mattress. She hid it in the corner between it and the frame. Seeing the sachet that the other held, Qingzis gradually-calmed expression got panicked again. Tang Fan untied the sachet, smelled it, then passed it to Sui Zhou, after which he spoke to Qingzi. Im guessing that whats in here is the key ingredient that could knock Zheng Cheng out, allowing you to act? Theres very little powder in it. You must have dumped it out long ago, but didnt clean it, because theres still some residue left. Why didnt you just throw the whole sachet away, or even burn it? That would leave even fewer clues. Youre an unromantic person at first glance, Sir Tang, she replied coldly. Sachets that a woman embroiders herself are either for the one in her heart, or left for her own closest relatives. How could it simply be thrown away? He recalled that pouch of Ah-Xias that he had rejected, and touched his nose. Since you say that, are you admitting to being the murderer, Miss Qingzi? Yes. I did indeed strike his acupoint after knocking him out. About a month or so of that, and anyone would die without leaving any evidence behind. Ive long known that someone else wanted him dead, so I wouldnt need to do it myself. Why did you want to do such a thing? What do you mean, why? Arent you nabbing the murderer so that you can get credit for it, Sir Tang? Do you really have to get to the very roots? Zheng Cheng was a loathsome man, always fond of thinking up new kinks in bed. Id been unbearably tortured by him for a long time. If I could both scam money out of him as well as make him completely go away, why wouldnt I do so? She turned her gaze around to look at the bawd. This cruel wench has never acknowledged how much shes harmed me, from my youth to my adulthood, she said, hateful. I had wanted to kill her before I left, but I didnt expect that you all would soil such a great event! The bawd had been scared stupid by her confession a while ago. Seeing her stare at her, she couldnt help but dodge behind Tang Fan. The outcome of that, however, was Sui Zhous sleeve swinging out from the side right as she grabbed Tang Fans own, and she was automatically pushed away, knocking into and overturning a chair as she tumbled to the ground while yelping out ows. Sui Zhou was not interested in listening to her go on, naturally. Bring her back for further interrogation, he ordered coldly. Those at his left and right immediately stepped forth and detained her. He conveyed ample disgust at the dense stench of cosmetics that flooded his nose, but still followed Tang Fan himself into Qingzis room for a search around. After seizing a couple dubious items, they left Jubilance. Tang Fan sighed. When Miss Hui was discovered at the beginning, I believed that we had already found the real killer. I hadnt anticipated that there would actually be two groups of people that coincidentally wanted Zheng Cheng dead. He really had no chance! Apart from the maid that went out to buy a house for her, is there anyone else that woman had contact with? Tang Fan shook her head. No, she wait! He halted in his tracks all of a sudden. Sui Zhou also stopped, looking at him with some uncertainty as to why he did so. Tang Fan didnt care to say more to him. We need to hurry and bring Qingzi back here. Weve just let one question slip by! Sui Zhou asked no more, either. His silhouette shot forwards, figure rapidly becoming unseen. By the time Tang Fan dashed to the Prefectures jail, out of breath, he saw Qingzi lying on the ground, already no longer breathing, with Sui Zhou standing to the side and questioning several bailiffs. The bailiffs said that when they were escorting her, on account of her being both cooperative and a frail woman (as they saw it), they hadnt searched her. Unexpectedly, at that moment, she suddenly took out a small dagger from somewhere on her, directly stabbed herself in the chest, and was dying in the blink of an eye. Carrying a sliver of hope, Tang Fan crouched down to press against her pulse, only to find that there was no coming back from this. CH 15 Faced with Qingzis corpse, Tang Fan had to smile bitterly. We were too careless! he said to Sui Zhou. The other frowned. She took the blame for someone else, concealing the true murderer. Tang Fan nodded. She admitted to it too readily just now. I thought that was fishy, so I wanted to interrogate her in detail after she was brought back. I just didnt expect that she would be so determined as to instantly kill herself! What did you remember just then? The Eastern Depot! Even if she had devised the plan to kill Zheng Cheng herself, then nevermind how she managed to pilfer the money off of Zheng Cheng, or how she came to be well-versed in acupuncture how was she, a brothel woman, able to get the Depot to intervene by snatching the corpse from your Office? Thats highly suspicious! Sui Zhou nodded, having obviously just thought of that as well. The two were synchronized in many ways of thinking, making them have a very rare tacit understanding when investigating cases, different from others. I will go check out the Eastern Depot, Sui Zhou said. Tang Fan understood. Ill continue to check her here. Sui Zhou nodded slightly. With nothing else said, he immediately left. Tang Fan looked at Qingzi as she lay on the ground. She was as beautiful as ever now, but that peony-esque bearing from when she was a famed beauty was gone. A dagger stuck deep in her chest, her blood had already slowly congealed, with her body beginning to go stiff. People died like candles extinguished. With one step into the river of yin and yang, everything was no more. How much money one had, peerless looks those were all in vain. Her committing suicide was plainly because she had been afraid of being questioned after entering the prison, thus getting the real killer behind this drawn out of her. Still, lone deaths had been challenging since time immemorial; for her to be able to make such a decisive act in such a short period of time, there clearly had to be someone or something that drove her to shield the murderer. Yet, with her death, Tang Fan and them were truly cut off from the trail of clues. Could the investigation continue? Yes, obviously. No matter how daring she had been, she had merely been a brothel woman, in the end. With her limited range of view, there was no way she could have thought too far ahead, only believing that everything would be resolved once she died. He started to hypothesize from a different angle. She had purchased a residence outside and wanted fiscal redemption; that wasnt for herself, but for someone else. If it had been for herself, then she wouldnt have committed suicide, because those that coveted life and feared death would not let it go, given that there was a thread of an opportunity to struggle free on deaths door. For that, she had to have done it for another. It had been precisely because she knew that she had been found out, and no matter what conclusion shed get from this, it wouldnt be anything good. Considering that she might be unable to endure the torture and would reveal the truth, it would have been better for her to simply kill herself so that she could save the one behind the scenes. The one behind the scenes Tang Fan stood up. Old Wang. Sir Tang? You previously stated that Qingzi had a maid help her buy the house. Where is that maid now? She wasnt at Jubilance today, Sir. She must have been veered elsewhere. We had followed her for many days, though, and know where Miss Qingzi bought the house. I had Old Gao keep watch outside it, too! Tang Fan nodded appreciatively. Go over there now and swap places with him for the watch. I have some things I want to ask him. Also, have people come prepare Miss Qingzis body for a coffin and bury her. Old Wang affirmed, leaving in a rush. Old Gao soon arrived, then individually reported the gains from his days of tailing to Tang Fan. Sir, the house is on Xiaobi Street, outside the citys east. I asked the neighbors; the houses there arent expensive, but theres one odd thing. After someone purchased that house, no one has ever moved into it. Did anyone enter or exit? Apart from the maid, who hired someone to go clean it inside and out, no one was seen to do so. Tang Fan pondered this for a short moment. Thats fine. Come with me for a trip there, I want to see it for myself. Thats both a filthy and chaotic place, Sir, Old Gao quickly said. I fear that itll sully someone as noble as you! Tang Fan burst out laughing. How am I noble? There are some things to be asked that wont be crystal clear if I have you do it. I need to go there to be able to understand the situation, too. Not able to obstruct him now, Old Gao had no choice but to follow behind to leave with him. After reaching the site, Tang Fan came to understand why old Gao had said what he said. Xiaobi Street was actually in the slums. Due to it being close to the mass burial mound outside the city, anyone with a teeny tiny bit of adequacy would positively refuse to live here. Over time, this had turned into a converging spot for people from all sorts of walks of life; not far away, a decrepit monastery was set up. Sewage overflowed nearby, flies buzzing about all around. Many of the peoples clothes were worn and patched. Compared to the dignity of the many-standing, major government bureaus inside the city, this place was like a different world. In contrast, the clean, fair, and handsome, yet officials-uniform-less Tang Fan looked weird standing there. In an instant, he attracted many different gazes. There was no lack of those with malice mixed within them, too. However, Old Gao was following behind him, armed and in his bailiffs outfit, so no one dared to mess around. The two came before an old house. Sir, this is the house Qingzi had someone else buy. Placed within such an environment, Tang Fan knew that she had definitely not bought it for herself to live in. She was able to acquire five thousand silver in redemption money, so why would she do wrong by herself here? Furthermore, with her looks, if she really did want to stay here, she probably wouldve been about as safe as in Jubilance. The courtyard was locked, but Old Gao was efficient in skill, having his own method of effortlessly getting the lock open. Tang Fan pushed the gate aside and entered. Even though the inside had already been redecorated and tidied up, the scent of old rot still came through, as if it had formerly been coated in dust for many years. Following behind him, Old Gao felt a chill in his heart. This house is eerie, Sir. Its likely no one lives here! Old Gao, didnt you run off to the burial mound and spend the night there once? How are you this spooked? Tang Fan teased. Old Gao chortled. About all that I was young and ignorant at the time, still peeing on peoples grave. Now, I wouldnt dare to, even if I was given ten more notches of courage! The inside of the courtyard was vacuously bleak. Several old trees were lacking in spirit, standing withered, and more dead than alive. A wooden barrel was placed beside the well, but it looked just as decrepit as the yard, its bottom leaking water and cords all rotten. Tang Fan stepped inside, pushing the door of the main building open, but had to pause. Within the small building was no chairs or tea tables of any sort set up, but a single table in the center, some fresh fruits arranged atop it. Behind it were four neat memorial tablets the center two raised up, the other two a little lower. Approaching for a closer look, he saw that the fruits had been sitting there for some time, as they were a little soft when pressed. In regards to the timeframe, it could match up with the time Qingzi had hired someone to come and clean. Four tablets naturally meant four people. One for the passed father, Feng Maijian. One for the passed mother, Lady Qin of Feng. One for the second little sister, Feng Qingan. One for the fourth little brother, Feng Qingning. It wasnt hard to guess from the names on the tablet that Qingzis surname was likely Feng before she entered the brothel, and these people were her actual family. The parents met an untimely death, the home broken with its people dead. Truly, it caused one to sigh. However, in this world, there was no love or hate without reason. She had been in the brothel for so many years, the amount of customers she had received as unknowable. He didnt believe that she would kill Zheng Cheng purely because she couldnt stand him, thereby shouldering a human life. Father, mother, second sister, fourth brother. What had Qingzis seniority ranking in the family been? If she was the eldest daughter, where had the third Feng child gone, then? He mumbled to himself for a bit. Old Gao! Hey. Whats your command, Sir? Didnt you previously ask around the neighborhood about the family here? Did you ask about the homes former owners? I did, but this area was completely burnt down by a huge fire several years ago. Many of the original residents either died in it, or moved away. Only one elder had a slight memory of there once being a family here a decade or so ago, with the surname Feng. Later on, they had committed some unknown crime, and authorities came by one night. The men of the family were forcefully enlisted and banished, while the women took ill and died. Quite the tragedy the house was then sealed up, and he didnt dare to ask more about it. Afterwards, everyone said that it was haunted, so no one dared to live there! Tang Fan frowned. Was it for sure over ten years ago? He couldnt remember entirely, Old Gao quickly answered, but he reckoned that it should have been thirteen or fourteen years back. On account of them saying that Qingzi had been sold to the brothel at age six, and her presently being nineteen, wouldnt that just happen to correspond? Tang Fan mulled it over for a long time. Come on, he abruptly said, were going back to the Prefecture! Ah? You dont want to look around? No need for that. Ive got a gist. While he talked, he swiftly walked out. Old Gao turned to look back at the tablets, and that shadowy room, then couldnt help but shudder, busily quickening his pace to leave. The moment Tang Fan returned to the Prefecture, he went straight for the files from thirteen years back. Being located at Shuntian Prefecture had an advantage; as the supreme administrative organization in charge of the capital region, no matter the size of any incident, all would be filed into separate categories. He concentrated on major or important cases that were compiled from thirteen years ago. Unfortunately, he researched the night through, but found no information about the Fengs offense. Noticing that the sky had the glimmers of dawn in it, he then became aware that his eyes were incomparably aching, and his head was heavy. Could it be that he was looking in the wrong direction? Thirteen years ago was the first year of Chenghua, where the current Emperor ascended to the throne. He held his head and tried to think back. What had happened that year? Following the deaths of his parents, he set out alone to wander in his studies; he had some knowledge in regards to all the world events, not at all like those eggheads that would only read books unto death. The Feng family got into a situation where all their men were banished to the army, so it must have committed an extremely serious crime; and if they didnt do the crime themselves, they were involved in it. Involved implicated? He wrote a couple words down, stroke by stroke, onto a white paper. First year of Chenghua, Feng. Sir, Verifier Du Jiang stood outside the door to report, Gonfalon Sui of the Northern Bastion Office has arrived, and is waiting to see you outside. Tang Fan couldnt help but smile, sitting up straight. Invite him in, quick! CH 16 The instant Sui Zhou stepped into the suite, he saw Tang Fan giving him a honeyed smile. Sui Zhou: Tang Fan got up to welcome him. Guangchuan, I have something Id like to trouble you to help me with. I heard that the Bastion Office holds files of records from over the years, is that correct? It is. Could you let me peruse them? Sui Zhou nodded, adding on, The happenings of the Eastern Depots fire are starting to take shape. Tang Fans energy picked up. How do you say that? The task force leader on duty that day was Meng Qishan, a staff member transferred from the Brocade Guard. His family has been military for generations. Both his father and grandfather were once assigned to work under Count Yingcheng. Eunuchs were in charge of the Eastern Depot, but not everyone below them was necessarily a eunuch. A lot of them were even borrowed from the Brocade Guard, which was why Sui Zhou had relative ease when he wanted to find something out. Count Yingcheng? Tang Fan mumbled to himself. Count Yingcheng of the Sun family? His eyes suddenly brightened. Sui Zhou nodded. Unable to wait even a bit, Tang Fan grabbed his sleeve and pulled him outside. Take me to the dossiers your Office has from the first year of Chenghua. I have a little idea! These dossiers were indeed more complete than the Prefectures; such was the advantage of a special-ops division. Many of Shuntians archives had been brought over here, and even some intact development processes, as well as some insider secrets, could be read. At this moment, Tang Fan obviously didnt have the inclination to go scouting for hidden divinations not related to this case. He directly sought out the files from the first year of Chenghua, then pulled them out and looked through them, explaining what he had found at the Feng home to Sui Zhou all the while. You suspect that the Feng family also had a connection to Count Yingcheng? Tang Fan nodded. I have that notion, but I still need to find concrete evidence. Otherwise, itll be difficult for us to convict someone going off of the Eastern Depots fire alone! Sui Zhou spoke no drivel, merely lowering his head, pickup up a file, and starting to pore over it. Tang Fan had originally been fatigued from staying up all night, but because Sui Zhou had come along with an additional important clue, he was now brimming with vigor. He looked through them at a rapid velocity, nearly reading ten lines with one glance as he speedily flipped pages. In truth, the Emperor had actually ascended the year before the first year of Chenghua, but the Late Emperors reign title was still being used at the time, since the New Year needed to pass before it could be officially changed. Many things had still happened in that year, however. Following the Tumu Stronghold Revolt, the Dynastys vital energy had been greatly injured, the capital army had been almost completely wiped out, and there had been no lack of natural disasters. Many long-established ills finally broke out; in that year alone, at least four local rebellions started up, and despite all of their ultimate annihilations, the Dynasty still had to waste manpower and resources on them. Not only had there been that, but the White Lotus Society also took the opportunity to incite revolts, confuse the commonfolk, and oppose the Dynasty while waving the banner of this being gods will For this reason, the files from that year were doomed to be in a thick stack, enough to have them looking through them for more than half a day. On the first month of the first year of Chenghua, a Yao in Dateng Gorge, Hou Dagou, led the people to rebel in quick succession No, not this one. He proceeded to look down. In March of the first year, Sichuans Duzhangs[1] and Miaos joined up for a rebellion, invading Jiangan, Hejiang, and various other counties. Count Xiangcheng Li Jin was imperially ordered to campaign against the barbarians, with imperial eunuch Liu Heng supervising the army, which lasted until mid-June Not this either. In that May, rebels falsely named Zhao Duo as King Zhao Not this either. In that March, the JingCXiang refugees Liu Tong, Shi Long, and Feng Zilong gathered together into a mob. They falsely claimed to be founding a country, swarmed with hundreds of thousands of people to invade Hanzhong, obtained total victory, and soon after Tang Fans pupils shrunk, his finger that was pressed against the dossier suddenly stopping. Guangchuan, come take a look at this! Sui Zhou took it, gaze sweeping onto the area Tang Fan indicated. Feng Zilong? Thats right. Is it possible that your Office has already researched the connection between Feng Zilong and the Feng family? Sui Zhou nodded. It is. Rebels like him generally have records for family-connected punishment. He found a file very quickly. Here. He came from the Jing-Xiang area. During the first year of Chenghua, he had been accompanying the rebellion, but hadnt yet been caught by the Dynasty. In order to set an example, the Court had decreed that all of the men in Liu Tongs, Shi Longs, and Feng Zilongs families were to be arrested and banished to the army, thus compelling the rebels to surrender. The Fengs in the capitals south were his relatives within five degrees. They were originally supposed to be banished to the border, but that coincided with the Yellow River flooding Henan. Local officials presented a memorial requesting the Dynasty to dispatch people to build river dikes, and the Fengs happened to be in that group. Whats the specific location of that? Sui Zhou answered, emphatically: Weihui Prefecture. Tang Fan was shocked. Thats the birthplace of that missing apothecary worker from Rejuvenation Hall! Its not just that. The locale Count Yingcheng had previously been stationed in was Henan, too. Tang Fan sucked in a light breath. Everything can be connected to this. We guessed right earlier that there were two groups that killed Zheng Cheng one was Miss Hui and Zheng Zhi, and the other is presumably Lady Sun of Zheng corresponding orders with Feng Qingzi. Miss Hui and him might not have known what Lady Sun was doing, but she knew what they were doing, so she didnt neglect to use that apothecary worker to add fuel to the fire. There were two people missing from the Feng family tablets, Sui Zhou answered. One was Feng Qingzi, and the other ought to be a third-ranked male. Judging by Feng Qingzis actions, the man is probably still alive, and due to him having received Count Yingchengs asylum, Feng Qingzi consequently aided Lady Sun in homicide. Not only that, but she didnt hesitate to kill herself after her plan failed for the sake of protecting Lady Sun, because she knew that her little brother would have someone taking care of him. If she had instead sacrificed Lady Sun, she would face the same difficulty of escaping death, and Lady Sun would retaliate against her brother. He seldom spoke so many words in one breath, yet the expression on his face held no variation from the norm. Tang Fan kind of wanted to laugh, but held it back, nodding in earnest. Right. Looking at the timeframe, Miss Hui and him ought to have set to poisoning him first, but Lady Sun might have felt that the effect was too slow, so she gave it a push on the sly. Thats all just speculation right now, though. If we can find Feng Qingzis little brother, or that worker, itll be proof of our theory. Sui Zhou frowned. The worker wont be found. An insignificant figure like him has likely long been silenced by the Sun family. As for the brother, he can be searched out. In order to coerce her, Lady Sun had to have placed him where she could see him so that she could be at ease. The news of Feng Qingzi already being dead needs to be concealed now, Tang Fan said. Only let the outside world know that shes kept here in the Office, and then keep an eye on the people in Marquis Wuans Estate. With her absent, a certain someone will certainly worry that shell say some things that shouldnt be said, thus revealing her true nature. Sui Zhou hummed. Without any nonsense, he got up, went out, and ordered his subordinates to go do that. There was no opening the Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot couldnt get into. They had staff secretly set up everywhere in the capital to surveil all its officials, so that whenever the Emperor needed it, activities could be reported to him at any time. This was also an old rule passed down from the Adept Ancestor. By the time he got back, he saw that Tang Fan had since fallen asleep face-first on the table. The other hadnt slept for a whole day now, and had barely managed to boost his spirits for looking up files previously. As soon as things had relaxed, he conked out. Sui Zhou had been wanting to ask him about things related to the case, but upon seeing how he was, it wouldnt be good for him to go over and pat him awake. Therefore, he sat down at the side, and then reorganized the dossiers that they had recently rummaged through into a mess. He took them and walked over to the cabinet, line of sight inadvertently flitting across Tang Fans face. Light from outside shone in, slowly spreading over the mans form. It even revealed the fine subtleties about him, further highlighting his jade-like features to be without a single flaw. He didnt think so normally, but now, with an offhand look at him via this illumination and angle, it wasnt difficult for him to discover that Tang Fans lashes were long, thick, and slightly curled. Yet, one look at the faint indigo beneath his eyes told that he hadnt had enough sleep last night. Observing for a short moment, Sui Zhou then shifted his gaze away, put the files back in their original spot, and locked them up. The translator says: Admiring someone while he sleeps hm thats pretty Gay, pal [1] An extinct ethnic group, also called duzhangman (), known for making bronze drums. The man part means barbarians, a generic, non-PC term ancient China used to describe people that werent Han. CH 17 The old woman was already more than sixty, her head full of gray hairs. Her age and physical strength were evidently not enough to allow her to move very fast, but she still used the entirety of her effort to do so, feet going at flying speed. Passing through the dense courtyard, she was very soon gasping for breath, her forehead giving off sweat. Oh, Nanny Cui! Where did you come from? Here, wipe your sweat off! Shan Cha had lifted the curtain to come out from inside only to catch sight of Nanny Cuis sorry state, promptly taking a handkerchief out of her lapels and passing it to her. This woman was a first-rate celebrity at the Missuss side, having been sent over along with her dowry. Even the Head Maid couldnt offend her. However, Nanny Cui seemed to have not noticed Shan Chas goodwill, directly asking her, Is the Missus up yet? Shan Cha looked a bit put-off, but smiled anyway. She is, just did. If you have something to say, allow me to go in and report it for you! The other had an anxious expression. No need. Since shes already awake, Ill just go right in! With that, she didnt wait for Shan Cha to speak, lifting the curtain and going in. Behind her, Shan Cha stomped once in resentment, then followed. Entering the room, Nanny Cui saw a young woman seated before a dressing table, holding a mirror as she looked at her own reflection. Behind her was a young maid that was in the middle of slowly combing through her hair. Missus! Nanny Cui hurried over, not stopping for a breather. Lady Sun turned her head. Seeing how Nanny Cui was, she was somewhat surprised. Shan Cha, Shao Yao, both of you go on and retire, she ordered quickly after. Both maids simultaneously affirmed, then withdrew. It wasnt like Nanny Cui didnt see the displeased look in Shan Chas eyes before her departure, but she wasnt in the mood to bicker with a little maid over trivial affection rivalry. Seeing the two leave, she deliberately went over, shut the door, and then completely stopped concealing her own fretful appearance. Missus, they arrested Feng Qingzi! Lady Suns combing hand paused. Who are they? The Northern Bastion Office! Lady Sun mumbled to herself unintelligibly. You know as well as I that the Brocade Guards methods are the most abominable! Nanny Cui said, worried. Im not sure that theyll be able to pry something out of her mouth, but if that time comes, itll be terrible! Yet, Lady Sun was a lot calmer than she. When did she get arrested? Just yesterday. Missus! Missus! Shan Chas voice came in from outside. Nanny Cui swiftly wiped her tears and stood, turning her head to call, What is it?! The Marquis sent someone to invite the Missus over, saying that there was something that needed to be asked! Nanny Cuis expression completely changed. Missus, did he find out? In contrast, Lady Sun had the sort of calmness born from planning to make a bad situation worse. She turned around and stroked the hair beside her face in the mirror. Currently, mourning apparel had to be worn for Zheng Cheng, so everyone in the room was wearing it. This manner of dress was plain, yet she took a jeweled hairpin off the dressing table, put it in her hair, and asked Nanny Cui, Is it on straight? Nanny Cui stared at her, confused. Lady Sun lightly smiled. As if she didnt care about the others answer, she stood up. Open the door, she ordered. Coming back to her senses, Nanny Cui threw herself down to hug her thigh. You cant! Dont go, dont! Listen to me; let me bear this alone. Ill tell them that Im the one that did it! Dont you say anything! Lady Sun helped her up. Stop talking. Just stay here in the room and dont go anywhere. Ill handle this. Several people were sitting in the reception hall. Lady Sun pondered for a spell. This wont matter. Lady Feng doesnt know where her brother lives, so interrogating her wont be of use. Even if she admits to our connection, theres no proof of it, and as women of this Estate, they cant just casually come in to question us. Pale-faced, Nanny Cui said nothing. Lady Sun noticed that something wasnt right with her expression. Whats wrong? Missus, a-after I heard the news, I got worried about changes on Feng Qingwens end, so I took the deliberate long way around to glance at the house from nearby. But dont worry, I didnt approach it, let alone go inside Lady Suns lips pursed tight, her face getting unsightly. With the Guards capabilities, if they had followed you, it wouldnt be difficult for them to find the place. Nanny Cui knelt down with a thud. Its all my fault, Missus! I shouldnt have acted on my own! Ive endangered you! Lady Sun sighed, helping her up again. Get up, now. You were only wholeheartedly thinking of me, so how do you have any fault? This should have been flawless, but it actually ended up reaching this plight this must be my retribution! Nanny Cui became enraged. What retribution?! That Zheng Cheng bloke is the one who really got retribution! Youre a treasured woman of the Marquis Estate, how dare he treat you like that! Its good that he died! Even without you, Miss Hui and Zheng Zhi wouldnt have wanted him alive! In middle of the twos talking inside, they suddenly heard the entrance being knocked upon urgently. Marchioness Wuan had taken ill due to excessive grief from her sons death and hadnt been able to get up to date, so she wasnt able to show. This time around, not only was Zheng Cheng dead, but the place had even lost the Marquiss favorite son, the Estates reputation plummeting a thousand zhang in his wake. Zheng Ying hadnt collapsed yet, but he did look more than a dozen years older than before, his visage one that had undergone great changes from the stress. In regards to Tang Fan and Sui Zhous arrival, his face was awfully ugly. With two sons dead in a row, he only wished that the matter would end here and not have any further developments, but things again went contrary to his wishes. Them coming to his door, and moreover asking so see Lady Sun by name if he had any difficulty inferring what that signified, hed really be an idiot. Ill only ask this, and I hope that you two will answer truthfully; did my sons wife have something to do with his death? As things had come to this point, Tang Fan didnt hide it from him. We do indeed have that suspicion. Marquis Wuans eyes suddenly flashed. And what of Zhir? If thats so, then hasnt he been wrongly accused? Tang Fan shook his head. The proof for Second Don Zhengs crime of murdering his brother is conclusive. How was he wrongly accused? Its simply that the murderers didnt stop at just one. Marquis Wuan refused to believe that his son killed his own brother even now, smiling wretchedly when he heard this. It looks like youve come determined today to request that I allow the Zheng familys ruin! Tang Fan cupped his hands. Your words are too heavy, Marquis. All things have causes and effects. Were just fulfilling our duties with the utmost of loyalty. Surely, you dont wish for your son to be dead in uncertainty, Marquis? At the mention of Zheng Cheng, the Marquis finally said no more. His gaze merely drifted away, expression dismal, as if the two were now invisible in his eyes. It wasnt clear what he was thinking. Ever since their group had entered the Estate, there was no part of it that didnt have a grim atmosphere. That was normal, though; one son was dead, and one was banished to the army, the year and month hed be able to be pardoned unknown. Anyone else experiencing this situation wouldnt withstand the hit, so it wasnt surprising that the Marquis had continuously opposed further investigation from the start. In all likelihood, he had long anticipated all this on the inside. Even having said that, were it not for him initially attempting to keep the matter a secret, and hinting for Pan Bin to conclude the case rashly, then Wang Zhi wouldnt have been enticed to intervene, contrarily getting the forces of all parties involved and causing the truth to float to the surface during their contest. Thus, many matters of the world inexorably seemed to be led along by an incorporeal thread, twisting around and around until they ultimately returned to their starting points. When Lady Sun came in and noticed them, she looked utterly calm, and did not have panic in her mannerisms. She bowed to the Marquis as properly as ever; docile, and resembling the virtuosity that others construed. The Marquis sighed. Go ahead and ask whatever you all have. Many thanks for your accommodation, Marquis. Tang Fan first cupped his hands towards him, then said to Lady Sun, Did you kill Zheng Cheng? Where did this come from, Sir Tang? she replied. Could it be that you, a Shuntian Prefecture Judge, havent succeeded in your work of splashing dirty water on the head of someone else? Her tone was gentle, light, and lacking in sarcasm, as if she was only asking an ordinary question. When Miss Hui and Zheng Zhi thought to kill Zheng Cheng, Tang Fan answered, you sensed it, and secretly fanned the flames. By means of that apothecary worker, you helped them make up the drug, supplying it conveniently for them. However, it was slow-acting, and might not have necessarily ended up killing Zheng Cheng it was possible that it would only make him sterile. You waited for a long time, but never got the result you wanted, so you couldnt resist contacting Feng Qingzi to get her to do it herself. Following that, you also used her only little brother to coerce her, making it so she wouldnt betray you. You wanted to kill him, but you didnt want anyone to know about it. Thats why you had her take advantage of when he was sleeping to strike his baihui acupoint with a hammer. That was a decent method, indeed. Those that can accomplish it while not being detected are few, and she was included among them. That acupoint is located on the crown, and has hair covering it. A typical person wouldnt take notice of the area that easily, but back when I saw Zheng Chengs body in the Estate, his hair was undone. By the time it arrived at the Northern Bastion Office, it was suddenly combed back. You had been wanting to conceal the evidence better, yet hadnt foreseen that that would just give you away. When we pursued Jubilance, the top name there, Miss Qingzi, admitted to killing him herself. We followed the trail until we tracked down the home she had previously purchased, inadvertently discovering a couple of memorial tablets. From the contents of those, we learned that her surname had originally been Feng. As early as thirteen years prior, her family suffered implication due to a Jing-Xiang relative, Feng Zilong, starting trouble, and all her close kin died out, with only two survivors; one is herself, and the other is her little brother, Feng Qingwen. Somehow, she got to a brothel to be a prostitute, while her little brother, being male, was appropriately banished to the army. The Yellow River flooded at the time, and Henan needed to repair dikes; thus, by happenstance, Feng Qingwen was included in the group of people Count Yingcheng had ordered to help with that. Tang Fan watched Lady Sun. After your attendant, Nanny Cui, learned of Feng Qingzis arrest, she feared that we would get information out of the latters mouth, and impatiently ran off to a place she normally never went to take a peek. The counter-result of that was that it allowed us to find Feng Qingwen, which confirmed that all of our previous conjectures were correct. Lady Sun shook her head. Sir Tang, it was in vain for you to have once received the Emperors personal praise! All that youve explained is completely your own guesswork. Its true that I actually have heard of Feng Qingzi before, and thats because her brother works for my uncle, which isnt strange. However, shes a brothel woman, while Im the daughter of a rich family; how would I be able to get into contact with her? As for your claim that Im coercing her brother, thats even more absurd. Im guessing none of you questioned Feng Qingwen about anything, on account of him not knowing anything about it in the least. In spite of the guesswork, all the clues are ultimately related to you, Tang Fan replied. How do you explain that? After the Bastion Office took Zheng Chengs body, the Eastern Depot immediately snatched it, resulting in a coincidence where the area his body was held caught on fire that very night, and the people on watch duty then also happened to be your uncles subordinates. Beyond that, Feng Qingzi was able to redeem herself with five thousand taels all of a sudden. Doesnt the source of that money arouse ones curiosity? In accordance with what I know, these years, your dowrys taels in silver went to the Marquis Estate. Outside of brothels, Eldest Don Zheng also frequented gambling dens. Even if the Estate is rich, it didnt have him alone as a son in it, so he would of course be prevented from squandering funds like that. So, where did he get the money for gambling from? He didnt request it from you, so he had to have asked his mother, the Marchioness. For that reason, you could never scrounge together five thousand taels all at once, nor were you willing to borrow from your birth family for this. You thus pawned your own jewelry , which summed up to four-thousand, five-hundred and seventy-eight silver taels. I ask you, where are those banknotes now? She remained silent. You gave the banknotes to Feng Qingzi, and she took them to the bawd in a request for self-redemption. Weve found them all now, together with those precious ornaments you had someone pawn for you. Would you like to take a look? The Marquis had been sitting in his chair this whole time, wordless. Listening up to here, he couldnt resist pointing at her, teeth gritted in fury. Was it you? Is he telling the truth?! With things having come to this, what would be the use of her still not admitting to it? Complexion wan, she lifted her head, looking at everyone without the slightest trace of fear. Even without me, Zheng Cheng would die. Im not the only one that wanted him dead! With unprecedented agility, Marquis Wuan jumped up and viciously swung a slap at her. She was slender and weak-statured; how could she withstand that? She promptly stumbled back several successive steps before running into a nearby pillar. He seethed in anger. What an unfortunate family this is! Why did my son marry a woman as venomous as you?! To think, that I had believed you to be wronged! She sneered. Youre wrong, father-in-law! My malice is due to this house not having a single good person in it! When I had just been married, how could I not have wished to wait upon my husband, show respect to my in-laws, and pass my days nicely? What kind of man did I marry, though? A profligate that does nothing all day but go to brothels and play with the women! Not only does he play with them, but he brings them back home, one after the other! Im the daughter of an influential family, too where do you lot want me to put my dignity? People all across the capital claim that Im virtuous, but on the inside? Theyre all mocking my incompetence! The Marquis was pained and infuriated. Why didnt you tell me, or go tell your mother-in-law?! All of us could have helped you with getting justice! Why did it get to this extent?! Mother-in-law? she answered coldly. All she would do is devise every possible method to take my wealth from me! You heard what Sir Tang said just now; all my dowry money was taken clean away by her excuses! I wanted to protect this familys security, I wanted to keep the peace but who was coming to protect me?! Who was coming to pay me that security back?! The first year, the second, the third I endured year after year, but who ended up taking my patience seriously? Was I going to have to endure this pit of hell my entire life?! She was in no rush to get back up, looking the Marquis dead-on. The contempt in her eyes wasnt masked well. Oh-so-stately Marquis Wuan, you completely losing your great-grandfathers post is a given, but you also entertain your favorite concubine in running amok, ignoring her behavior towards your first wife, and have no standards in educating your sons; whether its the first or the second, you either teach them to become wealthy pricks, or have them turn into haughty, fratricidal morons! What qualifications do you have to talk about anyone else?! You! You! He was so furious that he couldnt speak, a hand over his chest as he drew a couple steps back, collapsing into a sit on his chair. The translator says: Theres no way this is ending well for her, but fucking roast em, sis. CH 18 Tang Fan sighed. Lady Sun, no matter the reason, a murderer must pay with their life. Karma being a cycle is a principle you should always be aware of. Youll be coming back with us to the bureau! She smiled distantly. Pay with my life? Why is it that wicked people never get any retribution for their wickedness, but instead force good people to set to task in killing them, resulting in that good person being punished for the crime? Sir Tang, you do actually enforce the law impartially, but if you arrest me, wont your conscience be ill at ease? However Zheng Chengs moral character was is no justification for your murder. If you didnt like him, you could get an annulment. Why the need to commit such an evil act? It was like she had heard some kind of joke. Annulment? Count Yingchengs and Marquis Wuans Estates were joined in marriage; if he wasnt dead, how would I ever be allowed to get an annulment? Count Yingcheng is my uncle, but if I hadnt taken it upon myself to kill Zheng Cheng, the Sun family wouldnt have quickly helped me deal with the aftermath out of fear that I would implicate them! Even all the money used for Feng Qingzis house purchase and self-redemption had to be scraped out of my dowry! Dont you understand that I could only be free if he died?! Her face turned ferocious. I know that I had never done evil deeds, from my youth to my adulthood. I had wanted to be in perfect harmony after I got married, imitating the mutual respect of ancient peoples. But after all that, the Heavens set me up with Zheng Cheng; how could I not resent that?! I fully put up with a man like that for five years! Even one look at him made me sick! If you want me to plead guilty, forget it! Death cant wipe out his sins! Its good that hes dead, hahaha! Her laughter hadnt yet stopped when her figure suddenly moved, and she threw herself straight at the nearest pillar! No! Catch her, now! Tang Fan shouted. Sui Zhou reacted quickly, immediately stepping forth to grab her. Unfortunately, it was too late. When Lady Sun had come in, the men and women had to be kept separate; even though they were in the same lobby, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were both relatively far away, while her present movements were the utmost of determined. In the opinion of someone that held the resolution to die, there was nothing that could stop them. Sui Zhou could only clutch a corner of her sleeve, but because her charging speed was too great, the sleeve instead tore off, not curbing her momentum in the slightest. With a muffled bang, her body fell limply to the ground alongside the pillar. Her skull had split open, brains flowing out together with her blood, red and white. The ferocity of the force used was self-evident. She passed away on the spot. Marquis Wuan was stunned by this scene, unable to move from his chair. All of the servants stationed outside were in uproar. Screams and shouts flooded the whole courtyard. Nanny Cui rushed over, only to catch sight of Lady Suns corpse. She threw herself forward, wailing and howling. All of you all of you forced the Missus to her death! Ever since she married into the Zheng family, she made visits to her in-laws on the daily, trembling in fear; when had she ever done wrong? Yet how did all of you treat her?! Zheng Ying, youre an old bastard, and Lady Liu is an old hag! Neither of you taught your son properly! You wont have good deaths! You wont! In her inconsolable grief, she paid no attention to inferior and superior statuses, pointing at Marquis Wuan and soundly cursing him. Presumably from having suffered an exorbitant blow, Marquis Wuan sat there blankly, permitting her to scorn him hatefully without a word. Sui Zhou had been wanting to bring Lady Sun back for in-depth interrogation, but didnt expect that she would die here. Her status was ultimately higher, and she had admitted to the crime; as that was so, her body could not be forcibly taken away, else Count Yingchengs Estate would likely refuse to let the matter lie. Sui Zhou and Tang Fan respectively instructed people of the Northern Bastion Office and Shuntian Prefecture to survey and record, then took their leaves. The Marquis naturally didnt have the energy to urge them to stay, these series of incidents having attacked him until he couldnt even stand up, nor even look at Tang Fan and the rest. He seemed dumbstruck as he sat there dully, permitting the sky-shaking cries in the lobby as more and more people congregated. No one had foreseen that things could end like this. Thinking about Lady Suns recent scene of suicide, Tang Fan couldnt help but sigh. Marquis Wuan now has one dead son and one banished son, accompanied by a dead daughter-in-law. Hes over half a century old, an elder having to see off the young; how tragic! Their whole family made its own sin, thats all. Its no one elses fault. Gonfalon Sui wasnt fond of talking, but the other man was Tang Fan, who didnt fall within his scope of counterparts that he didnt feel like talking to. In the past, he looked down upon helplessly-sighing civil officials, always thinking them to be extraordinarily hypocritical. Loyalty comes up every time in lowborn classes, while the majority of ingrates are those learned[1] this was about those insincere, two-faced literatis. However, Tang Fan differed from them in every way, his usage of practical actions causing Sui Zhou to change. Compared to that old fuddy-duddy Shuntian Prefect, Pan Bin, having contact with someone like Tang Fan was undoubtedly much more satisfactory. Even more importantly was that they had handled this case together, founding a tentative friendship. He had quite the appreciation for Tang Fans brand of pragmatic, non-extravagant work ethic and skills. Being well-read was one thing, while being able to set to task and conduct oneself well were others; a talent with those would have boundless future prospects, while Tang Fan was someone of all three. Working in tandem with such a man would not be torture, of course. Upon hearing Sui Zhous comment, Tang Fan sighed again, and said no more. Was Lady Sun pitiful? She was. A delicately beautiful woman from a rich family, well-born and well-educated if she could have married a good gentleman, then everything certainly would have gone smoothly for her, and she would want for nothing. Instead, she was a bright pearl cast into darkness, and got married to a bastard that didnt value treasures like Zheng Cheng, who performed varying, copious feats of dining, drinking, wenching, and gambling. Men feared entering the wrong profession, and women feared marrying the wrong gent, leading to the total ruination of the rest of their lives. Even if she hadnt killed herself just then, her end wouldnt have been a good one. The Marquis Estate would never let a woman go that had conspired to kill her own husband, and would surely see it to its end, while the Count Estate would surely abandon its niece in order to save its own integrity. For that reason, her suicide was truthfully a choice made due to no better options. As for Zheng Cheng, was he loathsome? Of course he was. Marrying a man like that was a definite portent to having a lifetime of frustration. Had she been a bit weaker, she would continue to hold her breath, but she was someone soft on the outside, tough on the inside. Her husband was dissolute and lustful, her mother-in-law loved to make things difficult for her by laying down a set of rules, her father-in-law forever ignored the affairs of the house she endured it until she couldnt anymore. She did not die in silence, but inevitably blew up in silence. But could that really be the reason she became a murderer? Feng Qingzi; for the sake of obtaining her freedom and reuniting with her little brother, the woman had been perfectly happy to act as Lady Suns blade, and ended up choosing suicide to protect him. With no freedom to act on her own all her life, she was the most pitiful. There was also Lin Chaodong, that apothecary worker. His whereabouts were a mystery, but he had likely long met with harm, and nobody was concerned about the safety of a nobody. Were Tang Fan and Sui Zhou to go inquire Count Yingchengs Estate about this, they were bound to shirk all responsibility, then shove the totality of it onto the already-dead Lady Suns head. Hence, his location was destined to remain unfound. Further still was the nearly-forgotten maid, Ah-Lin. If it werent for these two peeling the cocoon open and investigating it layer by layer, she would probably be stuck with the crime of assassinating her Master. If Tang Fan wasnt an appointed Dynasty official right now, he would have certainly sighed to his hearts content and sympathized with the weak. But he was. In his position, and seeking his law, even direct killers like Zheng Zhi and Miss Hui faced the death penalty; Lady Sun, as the mastermind behind the scenes, naturally would have had no basis on which she could escape. That atmosphere of the Marquis Estates had been very heavy. Once they had gone far away from it, they gradually gained post-solving relaxation. Tang Fan stretched his back, the slightly inelegant motion contrarily pleasing to the eye when he did it. The most gratifying thing about this case is that Ah-Lin can finally be cleared of responsibility! he said languidly. Her original intent was to seduce Zheng Cheng, so shes clearly not the daughter of any sort of good and decent family, Sui Zhou answered. Tang Fan smiled. Her moral character being good or bad has not a thing to do with whether she should suffer an unjust accusation. Making friends with someone and convicting someone are similar; both require their actions to be considered, and not their cores. Just like you, Gonfalon Sui. You must have looked down on a feeble, scholarly official like me at the beginning, but if I made a final decision based on that and didnt collaborate with you, wouldnt I be missing out on a good friend today? The present Emperor of the Great Ming had gradually placed more importance on civil officials and less on martial posts, meaning that military officials had to bow their heads to literary ones of the same rank. In spite of the Brocade Guards might, where typical civil officials were all apprehensive and irreverent towards them, Tang Fan was the opposite, and ultimately held Sui Zhou up to the position of friend. What a wondrous person. Would anyone feel upset at words like that? It was little wonder as to why others said that among the Palace Honorates of the eleventh year of Chenghua even though he didnt get Prime Scorer Tang Runqing still had pals all over the realm. Popularity this good could not be faked. Pan Bin had some defects in morality, but he still fought for Tang Fan to come be a Judge at the Prefecture, and that definitely wasnt merely because he was his junior. Sui Zhou gave him a profound look. Where is that wonton stall you mentioned? That out-of-the-blue question caused Tang Fan to be at a loss for a short time. Huh? Its where you and Xue Ling went to eat last time. Tang Fan had an epiphany. You like eating wontons, too? Cmon, cmon, cmon, then, better now than later! Ill take you there! That stall not only has wontons, but noodles in broth, and the owner knows me. His broth base is different from other places; its especially authentic, because he uses pork bones that he boils for seven or eight shichens. If you go there a lot and get your face known, hell even ladle you a little bit more The epicurean Mister Tang was beyond ecstatic to find a comrade, brainwashing the other man as he walked. The two headed to the citys north, the sound of their footsteps gradually getting further away. [End Arc 1: The Case of the Marquis Wuan Estate] The translator says: The lesson learned from this case is; if your son is a fuckboy, maybe actually do something about it, stupid. [1] A two-stanza poem by Cao Xuequan. CH 19 [Arc 2: Days Living with the Brocade Guard] The homicide case of the Marquis Wuan Estate was considered to have come to its complete conclusion. Because of the thing with Lady Sun, the Marquis Estate and Count Yingcheng Estate changed from close kin to foes. Both sides wrangled over lawsuits before His Majesty, giving the passive, slacker Emperor a huge headache. He directly threw them to the Cabinet to deal with, but since a factor of the case was untidy inner-boudoir matters, the Cabinet didnt want to deal with this business that was akin to a dog farting onto a stove, either, pinching their noses and running far away from it. For the sake of his sons exile, Marquis Wuan was obliged to seek out Wang Zhi, hoping that he could say some good words in the Emperors presence and get Zheng Zhi to come back a bit sooner. Upon seeing the Marquis willing to bow his head to him, Wang Zhi was perfectly happy to go beg the Emperor, and with his mediation, Zheng Zhis unlimited banishment was ultimately changed into one he could return from in three years. Yet, no one would expect that on the final year, right on the eve he was to obtain pardon, he suddenly contracted a violent illness and died. There were going to be rumors in the capital that claimed Marchioness Wuan held hard feelings about Zheng Chengs death and dispatched someone to do him in, but that was a story for another time. This entire affair going around in circles actually gave the Western Depot the biggest profit. At the very start of this, Wang Zhi had only been wanting to use the topic as a pretext for his own performance, which was why he opposed Marquis Wuan in resolutely requesting for a thorough investigation. Now, his aim had finally been reached, with his prestige naturally getting established amidst his honors. Getting that set up via an event he didnt need to put any personal effort into the whole time meant Eunuch Wang was quite pleased. With all that said, for a very long period of time henceforth, it would be an absolute given for Marquis Wuan to never want to catch sight of Tang Fan and Sui Zhou again. Even though they had only acted under orders, it was because of them that his Estate got stirred into pandemonium. In all likelihood, he would feel heartache whenever he remembered those two names in the future. The event wasnt completely devoid of profits, however. At the bare minimum, Sui Zhou obtained the commendations of his superiors due to his competent handling and remarkable performance in the case. Supposedly, his direct superior, Millarch Zhou, intended to promote him very soon. Compared to that, Tang Fan was a bit obscured and unknown. In general, the promotion of civil officials was a bit slower compared to military ones. That was because military merits were tangible while political achievements had many tricks to them, with every turnip to its own suitable hole. Being only in his early twenties and holding a sixth-rank officials position was already a turn of fate that many were jealous hadnt come to them. Dealing with cases was within his duty; if he got promoted once for every well-handled case, his current position in the capital would clearly not be enough. With his history as a fourth-place exam-taker, he should have still been simmering his qualifications in Hanlin Academy right now. Albeit dull and dry, it would have been a noble post in the eyes of others, and when the time came, he could go straight from the Academy and into the Six Ministries, then right into the Cabinet; that was the path a future Cabinet minister ought to walk. Going from the Academy to Shuntian Prefecture for work instead, like Tang Fan did, looked foolish and self-effacing of character to some, because only Palace Honorates that couldnt get into the Academy needed to be transferred elsewhere to get experience from being a local official. If he had cared about that, though, he wouldnt have agreed to Pan Bins request for him to be a Judge back in the day. Some things would always need someone to do them. Without getting hands-on practice, how could one understand this country? How could one even talk about governing it in the future? At the initial founding of the Great Ming, the greater half of important Court officials had come from the Imperial College, as opposed to the imperial exams. Each individual had been a true talent that acted practically, but in the wake of the exam system gradually maturing, the College gradually declined, and there was an unspoken rule that those not of Hanlin were not to enter the Cabinet thereafter. Therefore, no matter what pity others had on his behalf, Tang Fan merely put on a smile, then went to and from work and home every day, as per usual. Mister Tang had a problem, however. Lots of people had tried to matchmake for him ever since forever, especially recently. He came right out of being a Palace Honorate to enter Hanlin; young, promising, and with endless prospects for the future. So long as he didnt make the mistake of taking his brain out of his head, then even if he couldnt become a Vizier later on, he could still climb step by step like so, and ending up as a third-rank Assistant Minister would never be an issue. To speak of his personal life, despite not having a carriage nor house, his outside appearance was outstanding, and with his parents dead, marrying him meant that one wouldnt need to worry about mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflict leading to a household at odds later. Even with a lantern, a better husband and son-in-law simply couldnt be found. In spite of it being out-of-style to snatch a husband off the Honorate roll in the Ming Dynasty, with such excellent composite factors, he had gotten innumerable matchmakers coming to his door acting as go-betweens following the very day he had become a Palace Honorate three years back. Among them was no lack of major Dynasty officials, Hanlin gentlemen, and the rich families of meritorious officials. Succeeding that, when he had formally become Qiu Juns latest disciple, the latter wished to betroth his youngest daughter to him. In the creation of a grand tale, Tang Fan agreed, and even specially invited his already-married older sister over from elsewhere to lend a hand managing things. Sadly, Qiu Juns daughter had poor luck, as she passed from illness a few days after coming of age, right when the twos engagement hadnt been settled for long. Matchmakers of course knew that it would be bad to display over-eagerness, so while they did immediately go looking for a new family for him, the matter ended up getting delayed to date. However, as of late, the number of daughters reaching appropriate marrying age might have been increasing by the day, or the homicide case might have given him some more fame, which caused everyone to be reminded of this in-demand son-in-law candidate Liuye Lane was frequently getting icebreakers dropping by to make arrangements for him. Fed up with the disturbances, Mister Tang had no choice but to escape to the outside world as much as he possibly could. Thankfully, he had to go to the bureau every day for morning roll-call, giving him not much time to remain at home during daylight, and thus averting the possibility of getting harassed by a crowd. Yet, while strangers could be avoided, neighbors couldnt. On this day, he was returning home from the bureau, then noticed somebody from the next door Lis waiting by his gate. That person wasnt the usually-seen Ah-Xia, though, but the familys steward, Old Li. Upon seeing him, Old Li laughed in greeting, giving him a bow with his hands held before him. Youre back, Sir Tang! Youve kept me waiting! Oh? Is something wrong? No, no, the other quickly answered. Our Mistress wants to fix a date to come pay a visit to you. When do you have free time, Sir? Tang Fan smiled. Were all neighbors, theres no superiority here. Why be so serious about this? If the Madam really has something on the mind, I can just go over. Old Li smiled apologetically. If youre willing to, then it would be very welcome, of course. Please follow this lowly one. He welcomed him into the Lis lobby, had someone fetch tea, then asked him to wait a short moment, running off to report to his superior. Soon after, Lady Zhang walked in, tailed by two maids. It stood to reason that, with him being an official and them commoners, she should have to bow to him. However, he was renting the Lis courtyard, which gave them the relationship of a tenant and landlady. On top of them normally being quite amiable, there was no need to pay too much attention to things, so they each took a seat after a few pleasantries. I should have paid you a visit during the daytime, Sir, but I ended up inviting you over at such a late time, she said with a smile. This old one is truly apologetic! He silently sweat; he was constantly taking care to avoid those matchmakers all day long. When would he ever stay at home? You dont have to be so polite, Madam Li. You called me here, but Im not sure what I can do for you? She was a bit awkward. Its something a little sudden. Truthfully speaking, this old one is being impetuous, so before I speak, I ask that you dont take offense, Sir. Does it have to do with rent? he pondered. She had to laugh. No, youve misunderstood. The price of rent is fair as it is. Wouldnt it be unkind of me to just raise it willy-nilly? In truth, its a happy event. My Ah-Xia, who hasnt yet made something of herself, has been raised by my side since she was young, and shes like a daughter to me. Im aware that with her status, its absolutely impossible for her to be married to you as a wife, but she really admires your elegance. Thats why Im not stinting on strengthening up this old face to ask; would you be willing to receive her, allowing her to wait upon you at your side? Ah-Xia was then seen to be standing near Lady Zhang, her cheeks dyed pink in both shyness and embarrassment. Tang Fan: What kind of luck did he have, lately? How could he have done all that dodging, yet still couldnt dodge this situation? Seeing that he was thinking quietly to himself, Lady Zhang asked, Is there an area of difficulty about this for you, Sir? Men could have multiple wives and concubines; that had been the case since time immemorial. To be given to him as a concubine now without having him take a wife would be no shame on him. In any case, with Ah-Xia, he could proceed with embracing other women as usual; how many men would reject a maid-concubine from a clean family, who came to their door of her own accord? For Tang Fan, this would entirely be flowers added to already-beautiful embroidery, and for very little effort. Yet, beyond Lady Zhangs expectations, he still refused. Regardless of whether its a taking a wife or accepting a concubine, I dont have any intention of it for the time being. Im still young now, and should pay most of my attention to learning and my career. I dont want to be distracted by other responsibilities, so may you forgive me, Madam Li. Lady Zhang was stumped. Youre truly unwilling, Sir Tang? He shook his head. Im sorry. His refusal was explicit, so what else could be done? Strong-arming him? Lady Zhang looked at Ah-Xia, and saw that the latters former bashfulness was gone; she was quiet, her face pale and eyes glistening with tears. Sighing mentally, she smiled. Something like this requires mutual consent. Since youre not happy to do it, this old one will not further insist. How about you have a meal at our humble home before you go, Sir Tang? Little Lin hasnt seen you for a long while, and misses you dearly. Tang Fan stood up with a smile. No, Ive already eaten elsewhere. Its getting late, so I should head back. Ill be taking my leave. After his departure, Lady Zhang said helplessly to Ah-Xia, You see? It isnt that I refuse to help you, but that Sir Tangs mind is genuinely set. Theres nothing that I can do. Ah-Xia wiped off her tears. Its this maid that has bad luck, and cannot bear the Madams cherishment. However, if things need to be delivered next door in the future, I ask that you find someone else to do it. I am humble in status, but after getting rejected by him today, how could I ever have the nerve to drop by his door again? Lady Zhang sighed, patting her hand. This is due to you two having no fated affinity. Dont brood over it. If theres an opportunity, I will help you take note of it. I need to find good husbands for you all and you need to lower your sights just a bit. The Li familys status is more than enough for you to be released and act as the wife-in-charge for a smaller household someday. This maid only wishes to serve the Madam now, Ah-Xia said softly. Knowing that it was inevitable that she wouldnt be alright so soon, Lady Zhang consoled her no more, allowing her to slowly come around to it on her own. Even so, tonights conversation with Tang Fan made Lady Zhangs mood low, herself. After dinner, she urged her son to make an effort in his studies, then had him return to his own courtyard. Ah-Chun and the rest noticed that she was unhappy, so she asked, For what reason are you unwell, Madam? Does it have something to do with Sir Tang? Lady Zhang nodded, then shook her head, then sighed. There are men in this world that are fond of having one woman on each arm, so its only natural that there would also be men that sit still and dont mess around. One like him is rare to see! He probably looks down on my low birth, is all, Ah-Xia couldnt help but grumble. The woman smiled. I dont see him as someone like that. Maybe his true intended just isnt here. I heard he had been betrothed to the daughter of an Imperial College Chancellor a few years ago, but before they were married, she perished of sudden illness. Maybe hes still thinking of her. You dont need to avoid eating because youre afraid of choking, you know. Ah-Chun was some years older than Ah-Xia, and she knew that the Mistresss sigh and melancholia just then was very likely because she happened to be reminded of her own affairs. Just as expected, after a short moment, she was heard to say, I remember that when I married into the Li family, that man once told me that having one wife in this life was enough. Yet, now, he has someone on the outside She shook her head again. My barrenness is to blame for this. And who could blame him? As it was, she had been married into this house for decades, yet couldnt help it with an increase in offspring. Over time, her countenance aged, so he inevitably went to seek out other women to bear him children. Even Li Lin, who was currently being raised in house and was her son in name, was not actually her biological son; he was born from a concubine of Li Mans. It wasnt surprising that she would give off such lament, with this scene that made her reminisce. Ah-Chun hurriedly consoled her. Ah-Xia stowed away her own worries for the time being and comforted the Mistress together with Ah-Chun. After a good minute of consoling, they then consoled her into going to rest. Ever since the day he turned down Lady Zhangs kind intentions, Tang Fan would avoid walking near Ah-Xia to the greatest extent that he could whenever he caught sight of her. She apparently had the same exact idea, as the one who came to deliver snacks to the Tang house had been replaced by Ah-Dong. Ah-Dong was an eight-ish-year-old little lady with a plump face that hadnt yet shed its childishness. She was very cheerful, and very interested in talking and he was happy to chat with her. He was no expert on love, so he really had no interest in socializing with someone that had a crush on him, anyway. Following the delivery of a few snacks, he and Ah-Dong became familiar. She was another epicurean, and whenever a basket was brought over, he would regularly take the stuff out to share with her. With no politeness at all, she would subsequently, and effortlessly, munch up more than half of it. Today, however, when he got back, he saw the little girl sitting with her chin on her hand right by his courtyard gate. She stared at the snacks in front of her, but she didnt have that typical gluttonous look about her, instead looking miserable. The translator says: Tang I dont got time for no hooha, but I do have time to make friends with an eight-year-old Fan Peach blossom luck is the literal translation for luck with the ladies, hohoho CH 20 Tang Fan walked over. What is it, Ah-Dong? How about you come in and talk about it. The entirety of her little face wrinkled up. These are water chestnut cakes and tofu rolls the madam had me bring over, Sir Tang. The cake had been sliced into small square chunks, their translucent bodies embedded with pieces of chestnuts inside. The tofu rolls were thin egg wrappings stuffed with steamed shiitake rice and diced tofu, then fried in pork fat. The outside was browned, and the inside was soft and aromatic, making one ravenous seeing them. He took a look; the basket was still packed full. How come you didnt sneak any to eat today? he couldnt help but tease. She sighed deeply, righteously demonstrating that she wouldnt just steal food. I might not be able to come bring you anymore snacks in a couple of days. In truth, despite Mister Tang being a foodie, he was flexible by nature, and not too demanding over his quality of life to have was best, to not was no big thing. Hence, upon hearing her words, he just smiled. Why? Did you make a mistake and get put on house arrest? Ah-Dong shook her head. No, no. I heard the Old Lord is bringing back his newly-taken concubine, and the Madam isnt happy. Plus, Sister Ah-Chun said that when he returns, the Madam wont be able to make decisions in the house, so it wont be easy for us to go out. Tang Fan was confused. Even if he does return, isnt she still the Mistress of the family? How could she not even be able to make the trifling decision of sending snacks? She propped her chin up. I heard Sister Ah-Chun say something else. She told me not to say it to anyone random. You cant tell it to anybody after you hear it! He picked up a cake piece and put it in his mouth, thinking to himself that the Li cook really had first-class skill whilst he poked fun at her. Well, if you dont tell me now, Im afraid I wont be able to resist saying something. Ancient peoples matured early, and the little girl was right at the age of gossip and excitability where she was eager to have someone to share stuff with; how could she not say anything? At his refusal, her tiny face scrunched up tight. Then then dont say it to anyone I know! They cant know that I was the one that said anything! He pffted out a laugh. Alright, alright. Say what you want to say, now. I heard Sister Ah-Chun say that the Madams been married into the Li family for a lot of years and hasnt had any babies the whole time. Even Young Lord Lin was born from the Old Lords concubine. Because of that, the Old Lord has always threatened that he was going to divorce the Madam, but because her maiden family has distant relatives that are officials, hes constantly had apprehensions about doing that. This time, hes bringing back a concubine, and shes said to already be pregnant, so the Madam is displeased all of right now. Even everything we do will need to be done a bit low-key. Ah-Chun wont let me bring things over after today so that the Old Lord wont accidentally see, misunderstand something, and offend you then. Tang Fan was bewildered. Even if thats the case, your Mistress has been managing the household for many years. Your Master goes on long, faraway business trips, while she takes care of the Li home; how can he treat her like shes a maid he can rid of, or divorce her just because he says so? Furthermore, the Madam Li he knew wasnt anyone that had none of her own opinions and would allow someone to bully and humiliate her. Ah-Dong, still ultimately being a little girl, was a bit confused upon hearing that. After thinking for a good minute, she said, Sister Ah-Chun said that something happened to the Madams maiden family long ago, and they needed a lot of money. No one else could help in time but our Master, who took out his savings to assist them. Because of that, our family became poor later on, and the Old Lord couldnt continue to study to be an official, so the Madams always felt like she owes him. Logically, servants couldnt chew tongue about their Masters family, lest these private affairs get out everywhere. However, for one, Ah-Dong was still young, and regarded Tang Fan as someone on her side; for two, since shed been feeling that the atmosphere in the house was stifling lately, she couldnt help but secretly vent to him. In a flash, Tang Fan had something that used to be inside information. Before, from just looking at Li Man both taking in a concubine and planning to abandon his wife, it was inevitable that he would think of the event between Zheng Cheng and Lady Sun. Looking at it now, though, Li Man had been able to completely shed his own wealth to aid his wifes family, which was extremely loyal. If there was a precedent, then there had to be a consequence. Given that what Ah-Dong said was true, it wasnt hard for Tang Fan to understand Li Mans psyche as a fellow man: the imperial exams were more important than life itself for a scholar. Back when there were deep conjugal feelings, he was able to spend a large amount of capital on his wifes family, resulting in him having no choice but to renounce scholardom and switch jobs to commerce, all due to the issue of money. Yet, with the passage of time, the affections between husband and wife gradually faded, and he began to realize how much of a mistake it was to decide not to continue with studying for participation in the exams. No matter how much money a businessman had, he would ultimately be inferior in social status to the aloofness of intellectuals, which was why he had regrets on the inside. It was also common human nature to be unwilling to just blindly give things away without seeking compensation. When all was said and done, though, these were family matters of the Lis, and had nothing to do with him. Having just lent an ear to gossip and filled in the blanks about Li Mans mental process as it went, Mister Tang was obviously not going to make any comments on it to a wee girl like Ah-Dong. You telling me is fine, Ah-Dong, but you cant talk about this at random in the outside world, he instead answered. Otherwise, when your Master and Mistress find out, youll be in real trouble. She nodded her head like a chick pecking rice. I wont say it to anyone other than you! He took another piece of cake and popped it in his mouth, nodding. Good. He typically didnt put on airs, able to be so casual in private. He was even capable of getting along with a little girl like her after a few days. Ah-Dong then realized that his mouth had never stopped going all this while. She pulled the basket over to take a look, and was flabbergasted. The entirety of the cakes inside had already been swept clean! But she had clearly watched him eat them really slowly! Noticing her dumbstruck look, he grinned, with refinement. I came back from the bureau late today. I havent yet had time to eat dinner. The young Ah-Dong chided him like a grown-up. You cant do that, Sir! Pastries arent proper food that can fill your stomach! You should eat some congee and rice and stuff! But fires are rarely lit in my house, and I can only cook rice congee, Tang Fan answered innocently. If I only eat that every day, I might faint from hunger in the bureau. Expressing her sympathy, Ah-Dong rolled up her sleeves and took responsibility onto herself. Dont you still have stuff to eat in your kitchen, then? Ill go make something for you! Saying so, she darted into the kitchen with loud steps before he had time to stop her. Despite being a child, she had been sold into the Li family as a slave when she was even younger. The Madam never treated the servants harshly, but Ah-Dong still needed to do the work she ought to be doing. Besides that, impoverished children learned to manage the house early, and cooking by fire was a basic skill. In less than half a shichen, a bowl of savory fried rice with chopped onions and egg came hot off the stove. The rice was freshly steamed and fried. The two eggs, she had rooted out from the Tang kitchen. The onions had been bought out on the streets by Tang Fan previously on something of a whim, but they managed to come in useful. Judging from this, Ah-Dong was definitely a qualified little chef mama. Being a man, the bits of cakes he had just eaten were undoubtedly not enough for a meal. Upon seeing the bowl of egg fried rice set in front of him, he blinked, then commended her without the least bit of reserve. Ah-Dong, you truly are Yi Ya reborn! She was confused. Whats a Yi Ya? Is it something you eat? Nevermind. Youve been dallying around here for too long, though, and ought to get back, else your Mistress will come looking for you. He actually really liked getting along with little Ah-Dong; at the very least, it was more effortless to than with Ah-Xia. In the bureau and on the daily, he faced a mountainous pile of dossiers. His eyes would either encounter cases of theft, or cases of homicide and injury, and it was easy to get in a gloomy mindset from reading too many of them. Idly chit-chatting like this as soon as he got home was actually a way to relax his mind. However, Ah-Dong wasnt his servant, in the end; she couldnt stay here all the time. Ah-Dong stuck out her tongue. Its fine. Im a kid, anyways, therell be nothing to do when I go back. Sister Ah-Chun and them all love me a lot. But it would still be better for me to go back, so she doesnt scold me! The bouncing Ah-Dong departed. Tang Fan tried the rice, finding out that the taste truly wasnt bad. It was a lot tastier than what he could make himself, at least. Following the Tang familys decline, he had sent the last two servants he had to his sisters husbands home so that she could be well-off when she got married. For that reason, there was no one working by his side, and his everyday life was relatively simple due to the fact that he lived alone. He had forever been hiring temp workers to come over and clean the house every once in a while (or did it himself if he had the free time), and whenever he ate, he would dispose of the majority of the trash outside. Despite loving to eat, the only thing he himself could make was plain and tasteless white congee, which really made one unable to choke back their tears of sympathy. Now, though, for the sake of getting warm meals to eat when he came home, he was starting to seriously consider buying a servant able to cook that would come back to serve as his home chef. Im not looking for someone of the Li cooks skill, but they should reach Ah-Dongs level at the bare minimum, eh? On the other end, Ah-Dong returned to the Li household, carrying the basket and humming a little tune. Right when she stepped into the small courtyard, she came face-to-face with Ah-Chun, who was coming out of the Mistresss room. The latter glared at her. Sticking out her tongue with a guilty conscience, Ah-Dong smiled to incite affection in Ah-Chun. Sister Ah-Chun, have you eaten yet? I can go to the kitchen, take a look, and bring you some back? Ah-Chun jabbed her on the forehead. You ran off to Sir Tangs place to laze around again, didnt you? Hes a high-ranking man thats busy with his own stuff, and he doesnt have the spare time to say hi to you, little girl. Dont go thinking that I dont know that you always secretly eat the snacks you bring. Hes too good a person to bicker with you, dont take advantage of his kindness! The Madam isnt in a good mood these days, so we servants need to be a bit on the alert! Yes, yes, I know! Ah-Dong knew the other to typically have a harsh mouth, but a soft heart, so she attentively voiced her agreement over and over. Then, she saw that the food she held hadnt even been touched by any chopsticks. The Madam refused to eat again? Isnt Sister Ah-Xia on duty today, though? How come you brought the food? Ah-Chun sighed, pulling her to the side. Ever since she got rejected by Sir Tang, Ah-Xia hasnt been feeling well, she whispered. Shes been working so absent-mindedly, Im afraid that shell offend the Madam. Thats why Im helping her shoulder it a bit. As for the Madam, theres not much that we can do about that as servants. Dont go to Sir Tangs place for a while. The Master will be coming back with someone soon, and a new courtyard definitely needs to be vacated. You work quickly, so go help tidy it up quicker! Ah-Dong affirmed, of course, then said, You go on and eat before that, then, Sister Ah-Chun. Ill stand watch here. What about the dishes inside that still need to be taken care of?! Ah-Dong pushed her out. Ill do it, I will! Left with no choice, Ah-Chun had to bring the stuff she was carrying to the kitchen. The instant she exited, Ah-Xia returned. Ah-Dong gave an oh. Sister Ah-Xia, you dont look so good. Do you not feel well? Ever since Tang Fan had rejected her proposal for concubinage, she had continuously been weak and depressed, but the complexion she had today was even paler than the one she had yesterday. She forced a smile. Its nothing. My monthly just came and my stomach hurts a bit. Ah-Dong blinked. She wasnt old enough to experience such a thing herself, but was affected by it normally, so she understood. You go on and rest, then. Ill be okay here. This is no big deal. Ah-Xia pat her on the head. Wheres Ah-Chun? Shed been so busy up til now that she hadnt eaten yet, so I made her go do that first. Whats the Madams command, then? Sister Ah-Chun said that she didnt even eat a couple bites, and theres some dishes that still need to be put away inside. Im in the middle of going to get them! Ill do that, then. Can you help me bring it all to the kitchen in a moment? Yeah! She watched Ah-Xia go in, thinking to herself that it was truly terrible whenever a womans monthlies came. Sister Ah-Xia was even having difficulty walking, so it had to hurt a lot. Remembering that she would be experiencing such a horrible thing herself in a few years time, Ah-Dong couldnt help but shudder. The translator says: Do periods really make it hard to walk? Doesnt seem quite right, but I wouldnt know, so maybe I should shut up. Edit: People who have periods have told me that that can totally be a thing, so Ill shut up LOL CH 21 After a good minute, Ah-Xia came out carrying some dishes and passed them to Ah-Dong, who took them and nimbly walked off in the direction of the kitchen. Meanwhile, Ah-Chun had just finished eating, and came out to catch sight of Ah-Dong heading over. Why did you come here, too? You can set those dishes to the side there, first. Theres no one at the Madams side! Whatll be done if she needs something? Ah-Dong giggled. Dont worry, Sister Ah-Xia already came back. Shes standing watch by the Madam! Ah-Chun wrinkled her brow. Didnt she say she didnt feel well? I even had her go see a doctor and get medication these couple of days. Right, she said that her monthly came. She seemed to be really uncomfortable walking! Ah-Chun was astonished. Her monthly came? How come I didnt see her thong? Maybe it came just today As soon as she said that, she apparently realized that it wasnt appropriate to talk like this to an eight-year-old girl, and quickly shut up. Okay, Ah-Dong, go ahead and rest. Ah-Xia and I will be fine by the Madam. When Ah-Chun had just returned to Lady Zhangs courtyard, she happened to see Ah-Xia coming out from inside. Following a second of close observation, she discovered that her complexion was indeed a bit pale, so she went up to greet her. Ah-Xia, did you go to the doctors today? Ah-Xia smiled. I did, but there were too many people there. I feared that the Madam would have some commands to go about here and you wouldnt be able to do them by yourself, so I stopped waiting and came back. Youre still not at ease about how I do things? Ah-Chun rebuked her. I told you to rest, yet you run off to come work again! Its fine, go back and lay down! Ill be okay here with the Madam! Ah-Xia made a gesture to keep quiet. She just went to rest. Ah-Chun nodded, a concerned tinge to her face. Is she still in a poor mood? The other sighed. Yes. I comforted her some and had her go to sleep early. She had a bit of a headache. Lets not go in and disturb her unless somethings wrong. Shes sleeping inside the room, and Ill be resting outside it. What harms in that? Theres only one door separating the inside and outside. The Madam had us leave, so she obviously doesnt want us to wake her up with the noise from tossing around in the middle of the night, right? You know as well as I that she sleeps lightly whenever she has a headache. Youre right. Ill stay out for the night, then. Ill go with you. Ah-Chun gave her a push. That wont do. Go rest now, your face is hard to look at like this. Im the one that should have been on duty today, how could I just dump it on you to go rest? Im going with you and thats that. Didnt Ah-Dong just say that youre on your monthly? I am. It just came today, but its much better now. If Im sitting down, I feel fine. Ah-Chun couldnt do anything, so they sat down beside a stone table in the courtyard. Thankfully, even though it was midsummer season and the weather was stuffy, it was pleasantly cool in the yard when one raised their head to look at the starry sky. The two chatted idly. Once midnight came, they both got a little tired, and with their chins rested on their arms, they dozed off right there. Ah-Chun yawned, standing up. Ill go in to check on how the Madam is sleeping, and if the windows are shut tight enough so that it doesnt get cold. Ax-Xia stood up along with her. Ill go too! Its fine, theres no need. Are two people needed to go close windows? Just sit! At that very moment, a muffled noise came from within the room. Ah-Chun and Ah-Xia gave each other a look, and both stepped forward. The former knocked on the door of the room, lightly asking, Madam? Hearing no answer from inside, she directly pushed the gate open and came in. The inner-room door was still shut, but the screen in the back of the outer room had a shadow on it, like something was moving. Her heart jumped. She slowly walked over, tentatively asking, Madam? Once she wound around behind the screen, she discovered that a window turned out to not be closed, and the branches outside were dancing under the caress of the breeze, the trees shadow casting onto the screen. In tandem with the clothes hanging behind said screen, it was easy for one to get a misconception. Breathing a sigh of relief, she took a particularly probing look outside. There was a small garden connected. The bright moon was now above, illuminating each plant and tree distinctly. Twigs lightly swayed and rubbed against each other, and a couple of faint meows came from the undergrowth. She shook her head, then shut the doors and windows. As she walked back around the screen, she caught sight of Ah-Xia lightly walking out from the inner room. Hows she sleeping? she whispered to her. Ah-Xia shook her head. She seems to be in a deep sleep. Im not sure what that sound was just then, but it didnt wake her up. Lets leave, then. Its rare for her to have a bit of a better sleep these days, so dont wake her. They left the area. What was that noise? Ah-Xia asked. Maybe it was a feral cat being naughty, and it bumped against the frame of the window when it scrambled up. Thats happened before. After getting disturbed by the activity, they were contrarily energetic, simply sitting there and chatting until the break of dawn. The Madam should usually get up at this time, Ah-Chun said. You go fetch water, Ill go in and see if shes awake. Ah-Xia affirmed, while Ah-Chun went to Lady Zhangs room. This was something they were accustomed to doing every day, and there was nothing novel to define about it. Ah-Chun entered, then knocked of the door of the interior room. Madam, its the time of the Rabbit.(5-7a) Do you want to get up? The inside was silent. No one answered. Lady Zhang was a light sleeper to begin with, and even a tiny bit of outside noise could wake her. Even if she had slept well last night, it was impossible for her to be called out to like this and still not stir. Could it be that she had taken ill? Astonished and unable to wait for Lady Zhangs response, she went ahead and pushed open the door. Yet, that push resulted in the most terrifying scene she had ever seen in her life. A looped rope was suspended from the roof beam, and Lady Zhang hung from it, her body dangling. From Ah-Chuns point of view, she happened to see the womans eyes staring wide open, and directly at her. Aaaaaaaaa! Something like this happening to the Li family was no different than the sky actually falling down. On account of the Li patriarch being outside on business for a long time, their ancestral home of the capital had Lady Zhang keeping watch on it. As Mistress of the house, she not only had to manage household affairs, but also attend to the everyday life of all ages in the family. Because she couldnt bear children, Li Man later took two concubines, among which was the mother of the Lis lone son, Li Lin. Having a son in middle age meant that Li Man was naturally very doting on Li Lin. It wasnt him alone; Lady Zhang also regarded him the same as she would a biological son, and he had grown up at her side, respecting her utterly. She didnt just not hide his background, but treated his birth mother with the same care, too. Li Mans two concubines were well-behaved people that wouldnt stir up any major storms. Therefore, in spite of the patriarch not being in the home year-round, the Li family had uneventful peace and stability for very many years due to Lady Zhangs presence. With her current death, the Li family had no supporting pillar, as Li Man wasnt yet back. The entire house, from top to bottom, howled and wailed, in complete disarray. She had been continuously in low spirits and cheerless for the last few days because of the news that Li Man was about to bring a concubine home; shortly taking it hard and killing herself appeared to be quite reasonable. However, what forces made Tang Fan live neighboring the Lis? Upon this event happening with Li Man absent, the first person the Lis thought of was Tang Fan. The steward, Old Li, was quickly dispatched to Shuntian Prefecture to seek him out and request that he take charge of this. According to reason, he shouldnt be the one supervising, as there were several counties that Shuntian Prefecture had jurisdiction over. The Lis area should be looked after by Wanping County. If, from this, the Lis people suspected that this was murder as opposed to suicide and wanted to report it, they would first need to go find the County Magistrate. Were Tang Fan to manage it, then he would be accused of exceeding his station, a huge taboo of officialdom that was sure to upset Wanping County. So, despite his shock, Tang Fan could only comfort Old Li for a spell, then promise that he would go to the Lis to take a look beforehand. If it was a suicide, there was no need to alert the authorities. If a murder was suspected, then they were to go to Wanping County to make a report. When he followed Old Li back to the home, he saw an unfamiliar man sitting in the lobby, dejected, and beside him stood a beautiful woman. Li Lin stood there weeping, while Ah-Chun and Ah-Xia were kneeling in the hall. Old Li gave an ah. Overcome with joy, he swiftly stepped forth. Master! Master, youve returned! Where have you been, Old Li?! Li Mans face was full of grief, tears glistening in his eyes. He had taken in a concubine, but still had feelings for his unfortunate wife, in the end. His line of sight landed on Tang Fan, who was next to Old Li. Who is this? Master, this is Sir Tang of Shuntian Prefecture, the other busily answered. Because our family suffered this adversity all of a sudden, and you still werent here, this lowly one simply took it upon myself to beg that he come over and take a look! Li Man stood up and attended to courtesy. This villein was lacking in manners, then, Sir Tang! Im not sure what you and my family? At the time Tang Fan had started renting the neighboring courtyard, Li Man had already gone abroad. He had simply never seen him before, so it was no surprise that he would have such doubts. He rents the next-door courtyard, Old Li explained, and hes helped our family out several times before, being very gracious to us. You werent here, Master, and this lowly one was at the end of my rope, so the first thing I thought to do was go seek him out when this happened! Li Man nodded, cupping his hands. As thats so, I thank you on behalf of the Li family, Sir Tang! Theres no need to be polite. However, Madam Li was perfectly fine; why would she hang herself? With those words said, not only Old Li, but even Ah-Chun and the rest didnt make a sound. The atmosphere froze somewhat for a second. After a good minute, Li Man flatly said, Old Li, Sir Tang is asking you something. Why wont you answer? Old Li sighed balefully. To answer you, Master, for this I was in the outer yards all of yesterday, and didnt see the Madam at all. Speaking without grounds is bad, so Ill have to let Ah-Chun and the rest explain it. Ah-Chun, Ah-Xia, Li Man then said, both of you explain this! Ah-Chun looked endlessly terrified. She had been the first to discover Lady Zhangs corpse, and the impacting force of it swinging as it hung from the roof beams had been too great, to the extent that she still hadnt yet come back to her senses. Li Man had no choice but to ask Ah-Xia to speak. She glanced at him and the woman beside him, then timidly began. A few days ago, she heard that the Master was going to bring someone back from the outside. Added in with the reason of her having not been anywhere for many years, her mood was a bit low, and we consoled her about it. Afterwards, just last night, she said she wanted to rest, and disallowed us from going in. Ah-Chun and I both stood watch outside, not going inside to call for her until daybreak. Unexpectedly, as soon as Ah-Chun did, she saw her Hearing this, Li Man stamped his foot in sorrow. She and I are husband and wife, our affections were deep; when did I ever begrudge her?! Why did she take it so hard?! The pretty woman wailed. I followed the Master back and wanted to pay respects to the Madam. Why did she mistrust me to this extent? She didnt even let me meet her! Tang Fan shook his head. Private inner-house affairs like this and this womans train of thought were really not for outsiders to know about, and would be inappropriate for him to intervene on. Based on the sentiments of neighbors, however, he still said, If its no trouble, you may as well take me for a look at your Madam so that I can determine whether she actually did kill herself. Li Man cupped his hands. Many thanks for your kind intentions, Sir Tang, but my wife is ultimately a woman of the house. Men and women are not to touch hands when exchanging gifts,[1] to say nothing of the greater fact that she is now the venerable dead. It would be disgraceful to go inspect her all over. Now that my home has met with a calamity, it truly isnt convenient for us to entertain you. It would be better for you to wait for me to finish handling funereal matters for her first, and then I will drop by your door to give my thanks. Is that alright for you? Tang Fan gave him a profound look. And what if I must take a look? Li Man was confounded. As a Dynasty official, how could you neglect the law, and our familys wishes? The dead are to be respected, and this villein does not want her to be disturbed, having no peace after her death. Cant that be done? It can, but just as theres a possibility that she committed suicide, theres also a possibility that she was murdered. I naturally have the authority to examine the body. Li Mans face darkened. To the best of my knowledge, even if theres authorities investigating, they should be sent to do so by Wanping County. You belong to Shuntian Prefecture, but are on the wrong layer for this, when all is said and done. Is this not in disharmony with the law? The Lis ancestors were officials, and Li Man had once been a scholar. Now, he traveled everywhere for business and had a vast circle of friends, so he was inevitably not as gullible as the average citizen. In addition to that, what he had said was indeed correct. With no other option, Tang Fan could only say, I can always have a walk around the room she lived in previously, then, cant I? The translator says: Props to the husband for being sus and the new woman making this all about her. Cant roll my eyes hard enough. Trivia time! In the title, the word for shocking change () got censored, leading to an appropriate authors note next to it that said why in the heck did those words get censored or, to be more fun with all the slang, why in the Horse Gods name did these two characters get crabbed? [1] A quote from Mencius. The full passage is here. Li Man takes the quote out of context, because Mencius pretty explicitly states that proper male-female etiquette doesnt apply during extenuating circumstances. CH 22 The conversation coming to that point, Li Man, of course, could not offend Tang Fan too greatly, so he had to personally bring him to Lady Zhangs living space and let him go in for an inspection. Her corpse had already been moved to a side room. This area was the equivalent of a crime scene, but because the body had been shifted, said scene was thus equivalently destroyed. At first look, it was difficult to find any clues of use. Ah-Chun followed after, repeating to him what she had seen and heard after she had come in here. When he heard her say that she shut the window, he went behind that screen, opened said window, carefully looked it over, then walked back to the inner room. The rope Lady Zhang had hung from the beam was still there, likely because after her body was carried away, no one had the mind to go untie it. The stool next to her hanging site had also been overturned onto the floor. Ah-Chun tailed him, on edge, and looked on as he rummaged through the disheveled bed for a spell, then as he lifted the sheets hanging off of the bed, examined them for a time, and went to feel about past them. When he straightened back up, he had a jade earring in hand. The jade was quite exquisite, carved into a lotus shape with silver tassels hanging below it. Do you recognize this? he asked. She nodded. Its something of the Madams. I found it under the pillow. Ah-Chun gave an ah. Im guessing that she forgot to take it off before she went to sleep, and then it accidentally fell onto the bed? Why is there only one, then? Wheres the other? She was unsure. Maybe its on the bed, too? He nodded, handing the earring to her. You go on and put it away, then. Li Man saw Tang Fan exit from where he stood outside the door. Have you gained anything, Sir? he questioned. Tang Fan shook his head. No gains at all. Perhaps your good wife really did hang herself. Li Man sighed, the disappointment on his face plain to see. Honestly speaking, I was actually hoping that someone had brought harm to her. If that was the case, the true killer could be found, and her spirit would be comforted in the Heavens. You can think of it this way, Tang Fan replied, her heart will definitely be at peace, because she wont have to bother with the concubine you brought back from outside. Li Man was shamed from his words, immediately after which he got a bit angry. Even if Tang Fan was a Dynasty official, taking a concubine was a family matter. How was it this guys place to criticize him? Tang Fan was disinclined to care about how Li Man felt. After leaving the house, he went straight to Wanping County, sought out its Magistrate, and then discussed the matter with them, asking that they send people to go investigate Lady Zhangs body. The Lis didnt want to report to the authorities, but he still wanted Wanping County to take a round over there. It was, if nothing else, in regards to Madam Li having constantly treated him well; if she really had died unjustly, then he wanted to get justice for her, no matter what. Officials of higher rank crushed those lower than them to death. Tang Fan was only from the sixth rank, but he was a member of Shuntian Prefecture regardless, which was in direct control of Wanping County. After hearing him out, the Magistrate didnt dare to slight him, and sent a Deputy and Registrar over at once. Following his departure from the Countys bureau, he returned to the Prefecture. As soon as he stepped into the main gate of its bureau, he saw Du Jiang hurriedly come to greet him. Youre back, Sir! Mister Prefect is looking everywhere for you! Do you know whats going on? Tang Fan asked. This subordinate does not, but he appears to be very anxious. Tang Fan smiled. I see. Many thanks, you can go on ahead. Pan Bin was currently pacing back and forth in the side lobby with his hands behind his back. Once he saw that Tang Fan had come in and was about to cup his hands in courtesy to him, he impatiently waved him off. Its fine, nevermind those empty courtesies! Take a look at this invitation! The card he passed him was red-papered and black-lettered, gold pieces sprinkled upon it. It looked rather expensive. Taking it for a peek, Tang Fans expression grew strange. Chief Eunuch Wang invited you to dinner? Yes! Pan Bin looked vexed. Ive never provoked him, and everything is fine. Why would he want to do that? Seeing that he was jittery from head to toe, Tang Fan consoled him. Dont be worried, Sir. Do you know what it is that he invited you over for? Or how many other people he also did? Pan Bin was glum. How would I know? Ever since the Marquis Estate case, hes been getting more and more tyrannical. He says one thing, and other people wont dare to say a second. No one visits a temple without ulterior motives! This banquet is definitely not going be a good one! What troubles been arranged for the Prefecture again?! Wang Zhi was a eunuch. Firstly, eunuchs and civil officials were innately opposing classes, and their interests would eternally never match up unless they schemed with each other. In that case, however, the civil officials themselves would have to make mental preparations for them to lose their reputation and have their names go down in infamy. Pan Bin was no clean official, but he also definitely didnt want to be a treacher; he only wanted to be a peaceful official that rose above. Yet, no such beautiful thing existed in the world, and as someone of the bureaucracy, it was inevitable that he was going to have to contend with all sorts of people. When it came to contending with civil officials, they would all be in the same profession, and he could play by their rules. When contending with eunuchs, though, the standards used for those officials wouldnt work. Pan Bin couldnt get a grasp on Wang Zhis goal here; he didnt want to get involved with him, nor did he want to offend him, so he was in a real pickle. Tang Fan understood his feelings, and expressed his deepest sympathies thereafter. But Pan Bin didnt need sympathies, though, saying to him, Arent you familiar with the Brocade Guards? Maybe they know the situation over there! Itd be best to ask them! Tang Fan was a bit dumbstruck. Sir, the Western Depot is an intelligence agency, too. The guard on their information isnt necessarily any laxer than the Guards. Its probably useless to ask, isnt it? Its usefulness doesnt matter for right now, just go and ask! Maybe theyll have some kind of info! Aware that no matter what he said right now, the other wouldnt hear any of it, Tang Fan could only say, Im humbled by your misplaced regard, Sir. This humble official will go make an inquiry, but I might not be able to glean anything. I ask that you forgive me! Only then was Pan Bin pleased. Youre my good little brother, what are you calling me Sir for? Youre being so unfamiliar! Tang Fan just smiled painfully, at his wits end about Mister Upperclassman Pan. Following the Marquis Estate case, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou indeed had a bit of a friendship. However, the Northern Bastion Office could only be busier, not more relaxed, when compared to Shuntian Prefecture. That was due to the Brocade Guard not only being responsible for the inspection of Court officials on imperial orders, but also having to simultaneously investigate major and/or important cases, as well as take responsibility for formations in imperial ceremonies. They even had to arrest regular citizens that castrated themselves in private out of want to enter the palace and win wealth and prestige, then send them off to their birthplaces in penalty one by one. In truth, the Guard was actually doing a lot of the same work that Shuntian Prefecture ought to have been doing, while still having to do the work that the Prefecture ought not be doing. In result, as a minor boss of the Office, Gonfalon Suis level of busyness was not any lower than Tang Fans. Even so, when he went to the Office, he obtained the same spot of special treatment as ever. Sui Zhous deputy, Xue Ling, greeted him in person. The man that normally rarely spoke or smiled was instead quite cordial towards Tang Fan, but the news he gave was a bit disappointing. Youve come at a bad time, Brother Runqing. Sir Centarch is currently on an abroad assignment, and will probably only come back after a few days. Brother Guangchuans been promoted? Thats worthy of celebration! Above Gonfalon was still Assistant Centarch (which was tantamount to Deputy Centarch), and Centarch came only after that. However, Sui Zhou had skipped over the position of Assistant Centarch to go straight to Centarch. On one hand, it had to be because of his remarkable performance in the Marquis Estate case, and on the other, he was ultimately different from typical Brocade Guards. For someone of his background and capabilities, promotion was certain to come a lot easier to him no matter where he was. Therefore, while Sui Zhous promotion was somewhat unexpected, when one thought about it carefully, they would discover that this was within reason. As a friend, Tang Fan was of course happy for him, to say nothing of the aside that having a Centarch pal in the Office would make work a bit easier for him from now on. Xue Ling chuckled. Nah, big bro thinks its nothing. Before we could even have a party to help him celebrate, he got sent on an outside mission. When we can, were going to set up a banquet at Immortal Guest. Will you be coming? Tang Fan smiled. Of course Ill go to such a happy occasion. How about you let me be the host? Speaking of that case, Im really thankful for yours and Brother Guangchuans help. I havent thanked you two properly yet! Youre a forthright man, Brother Runqing, but theres no need. A couple of Office brothers are paying for his banquet, youll be fine if you just show up! Tang Fan agreed, as was natural. Old Xue, I have something I need to ask you about. Go ahead. Do you know if anything has happened recently on Chief Eunuch Wangs end? Xue Ling had a think. Dont think so. Why do you ask? Tang Fan smiled bitterly. He suddenly invited our Prefect for a meal; we dont know what his intentions are, and Mister Prefect is uneasy about it. Thats why I came over to bug you in the hopes that I could get a bit of the gist of it, and to keep Mister Prefect from offending Wang Zhi when he goes in and doesnt know the situation. Wang Zhis notoriety was known to all in the capital. It wasnt just Shuntian Prefecture that was wary of him, but the Brocade Guard, too. Xue Ling had a look of empathy. I havent heard of anything happening, but I can help you with asking around. When is Sir Pan going? In two days. Xue Ling nodded. Theres still time, then. If I have news, Ill let you know. Thank you so much, really! Tang Fan answered gratefully. You dont need to be so polite, its nothing but a hand waves worth of effort! If big bro was here instead, hed definitely help you with this, too. Ive never heard him compliment anybody before, at least. Youre the first one. In view of just that, Id help with whatever you need! What did he compliment me on? Tang Fan wondered. Xue Ling laughed. He said that you dont talk drivel and can get things done. Tang Fan smiled sardonically. That really did seem like how Sui Zhou would compliment someone! After a few more pleasantries, Tang Fan said his goodbyes to Xue Ling, left the Office, and returned to the Prefecture. Once Pan Bin heard that the Guard was willing to help him investigate, he was pleased, not looking as worried as he did before. With the resolution of the other mans business, Tang Fan had just returned to his on-duty room on his toes when he heard a bailiff come in with a report on his heels, saying that Wanping Countys investigation at the Lis had born fruit: Lady Zhangs cause of death was suspicious. She had likely not killed herself, but been strangled to death. The translator says: Tang Fans my spirit animal. your wife probably killed herself because youre an enormous asshole CH 23 Hanged corpses and strangled corpses were not identical, as intersecting strangulation marks would appear on the back of the necks of the latter. In addition to that, anyone getting strangled was certain to put up a violent fight prior to their death; even if there were no scratch marks from fingernails on the neck, there had to be other bumps and bruises from the struggle on the body. This fact had long been detailed in the Northern Songs Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified. For a coroner at average level, it still wasnt difficult to distinguish between suicide and strangulation, doable just by re-reading the Collected Cases until they were familiar with it. In regards to this outcome, Tang Fan wasnt surprised at all, because from how he saw it, Lady Zhang had been a kind person that was harmless by nature. People of said nature were always patient, obedient, and observant of worldly Confucian etiquette as normality, abiding by them subconsciously. Before he brought that pretty woman back, Li Man already had two concubines; while he hadnt seen how Lady Zhang had been towards them, even if she was angry and heartbroken, her running off to hang herself over this was an impossibility. Were her personality to turn a bit fierce or extreme, that would be a possibility. Or, she would gun straight for the husband, like Lady Suns type. That was why the probability that she had killed herself was not very great. Since it hadnt been a suicide, the murderer needed to be found, and those in the Li family were no longer in charge of this matter. As he lived next door, it was according to both emotion and logic that Tang Fan would be the one going to take a look. This time, however, he didnt go alone like how he had in the morn, but rather ordered Old Wang, Verifier Du Jiang, and several bureau bailiffs to proceed forward with him. Lady Zhangs corpse had been placed in the middle of the Lis lobby. The Deputy and Registrar of Wanping were present together, with the Countys own coroner also nearby. The County served directly under Shuntian Prefecture, so they knew of Tang Fan. Upon seeing him arrive, they both uniformly greeted him with bows. You two dont have to be so polite. What progress have you made? The Lis have all said that they didnt see any suspicious people entering their Mistresss room for that night, the Deputy replied. Only those two maids were on night watch, and weve already arrested them. Will you question them, Sir? Where are they? The Deputy had the two escorted over. Since Ah-Chun and Ah-Xia were frail women, there was no need to bind them, and someone kept watch on them from behind. They simply looked downcast, and worse than they had been in the morning. The Deputy succinctly stated the details from his own interrogation. Truthfully, it was the same content that Tang Fan had long since known, and there was nothing new to hear. Li Man observed with a cool eye for a long while, until he finally couldnt resist stepping forward. You showing off your governmental authority like this has made my home into a mess, Sir Tang. Are you quite satisfied with this? he asked, furious. Since you couldnt find anything, why not let us complete my wifes funeral arrangements so that she can enter the earth and be at peace soon?! Cease being rude, civilian! the Deputy shouted. Now that this is a homicide case, its no longer a familial matter of yours! The authorities will be assuming control over Lady Zhangs body until the truth is out! Li Man sneered. She died horribly, and Im grieving immensely, too! How can you just block the funeral?! All of you are mistreating everyone in my Li family! My grandfather had once been a third-rank, and a couple of his old senior friends are still in Court; if I file a complaint because of this, none of you will ever stop suffering responsibility for it! Both the Deputy and Registrar were displeased that a merchant dared to menace them, but they were also uncertain about how true the others words were. Therefore, they both looked at Tang Fan because among the three of them, he was the highest rank, so it was only natural that he would be the leader. Tang Fan chuckled. Im not sure who those old friends you speak of are. Why dont you tell us? Maybe this official knows them, too. Li Man paused, then softened his tone into a pleading one. Sir, this commoner isnt purposefully trying to make a scene. Its simply that the weather is hot right now, so storing the body wont be easy. She has helped me manage the household for decades with no credit for her hard work your investigation is your business and has nothing to do with me, but I just hope that shell be able to be at rest as soon as possible so that she wont be deceased with open eyes under the Nine Springs. The dead are to be respected; thats proper justice. Surely, you can empathize with that, Sirs? Before Tang Fan could answer, he kept going. This commoner has inside information to make clear. Please, Sir Tang, take a step to the side with me for a talk. Li Man stared at Tang Fan with ardent hope, and the latter nodded. Alright. Lead the way. Li Man brought him into a neighboring room. Without another word, he knelt down with a thud. I actually dont have any secret information pertaining to my wifes death. This here is a written plea Im presenting; please look it over! He offered the folded paper up with both hands. Tang Fan took it, but it felt heavy in his hand, and he opened it up to take a look. Pressed between the layers of white paper were dozens of Huitong-issued silver banknotes; some were for a hundred taels, some for fifty. They overall totaled to at least somewhere around two-thousand taels. It had to be known that in this era, one tael of silver could buy two or more dan(100kg) of rice. Two-thousand taels was therefore equivalent to being able to buy over four-thousand dan(200,000kg) of rice, while truesecond-rank officials, like Ministers of the Six Ministries, only got sixty-one dan(3,050kg) each month. Given that there were poor people, there would thus be rich people. For a successful merchant such as Li Man, two-thousand taels was not a figure he couldnt withstand. When Feng Qingzi wanted to redeem herself before, she needed to get five-thousand taels, which hadnt been a very high condition from the bawd at all; in the opinions of those truly rich, five-thousand taels was a trifle. However, to low-salaried Dynasty officials, two-thousand taels was really a massive amount. Tang Fan held the banknotes, smiling fakely. What? Is this a bribe of yours? How could I dare do that?! Li Man quickly cupped his hands. I heard Old Li say that my family has received your care for many years, Sir Tang. This humble one is moved to tears yet incapable of compensating you, so this is a minor token of my appreciation that doesnt sufficiently convey my respect. I hope that you accept it. Tang Fan weighed the notes in his hand. Are you hoping that this case wont be looked into, then? Li Man smiled painfully. My wifes death pains me terribly all the same. You want to investigate, Sir, so I naturally dont dare to obstruct you. I merely hope that our family can pass a couple of days in peace. If you gents keep stopping by nearly every day, not only will the funeral never get done, but all of the servants will likely get anxious, and not be of the mind to work! Tang Fan nodded, putting the notes into his lapels. I understand your intent. With that, he turned and left. Seeing that he accepted them, Li Man knew that the matter was over with. He couldnt help but be overjoyed, hurriedly following after him. As it went, the two returned to the hall. The Deputy and Registrar both greeted Tang Fan and asked for his opinion. Sir, should the case still be investigated, or no? Of course it should. Why wouldnt it be? Tang Fan oddly countered. The murderer is present, even. Are you two planning on letting the real killer get away with it? They were hugely shocked. Where? Tang Fan pointed at Li Man. Is this not him? Before Li Man could speak, he then shouted, Come! Bind him! He had brought his own people from Shuntian, and thus didnt need to trouble Wanping Countys people with doing this. Once they heard Tang Fans command, Old Wang and his crew immediately affirmed, strode forward, pulled Li Mans arms behind him, then tied him up securely with a rope. You! How dare you falsely accuse a good person?! You treat human lives like common grass! Ill report you! Ill go report you! It was entirely unexpected to him that Tang Fan would go turncoat so readily. Both alarmed and furious, he struggled like his life depended on it. Tang Fan raised a brow. Ive falsely accused a good person? Not necessarily. You had the gall to kill your primary wife, so how good of a person can you really be? If you refuse to comply, thats fine. Keep calm, dont get impatient, and allow me to explain this piece by piece to you. He turned to question Ah-Chun. Is the jade earring I handed you that day still around? Yes. I placed it back into the Madams dressing box, she answered. Go bring it out. She affirmed, stood up, left, then brought the box back over. Its in the last compartment, Sir Tang. He opened the drawer, discovering the lotus-jade earring inside. Indicating for her to set the box down, he then took out an identical earring out from his lapels. Ah-Chun cried out in surprise. You found the other one? Tang Fan nodded, raising the earring up high. I found it under the bed of your Madams room. When you all were in her room on typical days, did you ever joke around by chasing each other? Of course not. She was kind-hearted, but theres distinctions between master and servant. Rules are in place there. We couldnt be impudent. Then, did she normally have a habit of dancing around or getting up to wander around at night when she went to bed? Thats even less possible. Her sleeping posture couldnt have been better. Sometimes, she wouldnt even turn in her sleep the whole night. Ill ask you again; from what you said earlier, in the middle of the night, you had gone into the outer room to shut the window, didnt you? I did. Did you enter the inner room then? No, I only shut the outer window. Ah-Xia was the one that went to check the inner room. He then asked Ah-Xia, When you went in, did you notice anything unusual? N-No. Her back had been turned to me at the time, and there was a blanket covering her body. It seemed like she was in a deep sleep, so I didnt get in close for a look because I was afraid of disturbing her. Did you ever take a look under the bed? She shook her head. Its covered by bedsheets, and is generally only pushed open when cleaning to get under there. A woman is sleeping by herself in her boudoir, and doing so extremely deeply. Then, she accidentally drops her earring onto her pillow. How could one also fall into the depths of the underbed for no reason? Theres only two explanations for this: your Madam didnt accidentally drop the earring at all it got flung off of her ear due to the fierce struggle she gave while someone was strangling her, fell to the floor, and then was accidentally kicked under the bed by the killer! Ah-Chun turned pale. Could it be that the murderer had been under the bed? No. When you went in and shut the window, the murderer happened to have jumped out and escaped. If I havent guessed incorrectly, you only had the mind to look out the window, and neglected to examine the bushes below it? Y-Yes, I had peeked out the window into the garden at the time. I heard cats meowing, so I thought that the window had been left open earlier, causing a stray to run inside My wife and I were married for decades! Li Man started shouting. We were harmonious as could be, and deeply affectionate! She was virtuous and kind! Why would I want to kill her?! You subpar official! Youre relying on these made-up conjectures to randomly decide that Im the murderer! Im definitely going to report this to the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review so they can right this wrong! You wont be terrorizing anyone from our Li family! Youve indeed been married for decades and had once been in harmony together, but because things change with times those feelings went from strong to weak, Tang Fan answered mildly. Then, you started to regret that your capital had been vanished and career for the imperial exams relinquished for her sake. You had taken a wife that couldnt bear children, so, egged on by a young and pretty concubine, you had the thought to divorce her and take someone new as a wife. However, because someone in Lady Zhangs natal family is an official, you feared that you couldnt divorce her, lest they all became enemies with you. For that reason, since you might as well go all the way with it, an evil thought sprang to your mind, and you promptly struck first and killed her. Isnt that right? Li Man laughed coldly. Its not! Of course its not! You slanderer! When she died, I was obviously somewhere else, and only hurried back today! Since I wasnt here, how could I kill her?! Tang Fan looked coldly at him. You had the guts to do it, but not the guts to now admit it. Are you still not aware? The sole on your right foot has already exposed you. That statement caused everyone to automatically look at Li Mans shoes. Even he couldnt resist lowering his head to look. Old Li stooped over, plainly removed Li Mans right shoe, then passed it to Tang Fan. Tang Fan flipped it over. What you said was correct; you genuinely did come from elsewhere. However, you didnt get back only today. You must have done so a couple of days in advance in order to fabricate proof that you werent here, for the sake of avoiding suspicion that you had killed her. However, your shoes have sold you out. Not waiting for Li Man to talk, he continued. You were scared that you would leave evidence or footprints behind when you snuck back to kill her, so you deliberately wiped your shoes clean ahead of time. Too bad that that was the wrong thing to do! Traversing thousands of li should make ones soles extremely dirty, so why are yours so clean? Dont tell me that you finally managed to return after traveling for endless days, yet werent in a hurry to get home, instead finding a place to get your shoes cleaned first?! Tang Fan lightly sneered here. For that matter, right before you jumped out the window, you accidentally made a noise. You got worried that Ah-Chun and Ah-Xia would find you out when they went to inspect, so you jumped in a panic, resulting in the heel of your shoe rubbing harshly against the sill on the wall. I already found that imprint it matches this area of abrasion on your shoe exactly! He threw the shoe onto the floor, went to sit in a chair, then pointed at Lady Zhangs coffin. Say it! In the presence of your wife, explain why you would want to do such a thing! She had been married to you for decades, and even if she couldnt have children, she had still been virtuous to the utmost of her abilities. Not only did she manage the household for you, but she didnt even restrict you from taking concubines and having children with them, and treated your concubine-born son like her own. This profane world restricts women terribly, but there are very few that could achieve her level! His face darkened, voice going harsh. What dissatisfied you so much, that you went and killed your own wife?! Are you still human?! Denial was useless at this point. Li Mans face went blank. He only began to answer after a long time had passed. You think I wanted to? When she married me, she was eighteen, and I was twenty. Our personalities agreed, we were mutually respectful, and other people were endlessly envious of our good fate. When I was thirty, her maiden family met with hardships and needed a lot of money. She had three siblings, but not one of them could be counted on. At the time, I was still studying hard. All of my household savings were ancestral properties, and in order to help her family get through the crisis, I grit my teeth, sold them off, and gave her the money. Meanwhile, I had to give up on the imperial exams, use my remaining savings as capital, then switch over to business. Only then could our financial situation gradually improve. At that time, we had been married for ten years, but there were still no children at our knees. After I repeatedly asked for it, she finally relented and agreed to a concubine being taken in that was how Li Lin now came to be. Whenever I go out on business, I frequently need to communicate and socialize, but Lady Zhang was completely illiterate, and there would be no use in her going with me. She looked virtuous, but in reality, the two concubines she got for me were either lacking in looks, or just as unread as her. Only my new concubine, Lady Chen, knows how to navigate such things well, and is tender and virtuous on top of that. When Im working, she can also help me by socializing with the women of officials and businessmen. Ive had several huge purchases lately, and her contribution towards them all had been indispensable. The translator says: All of the husbands in this story so far have been shit, but this guy is particularly shit. CH 24 Once he mentioned Lady Chen, everybody looked at the pretty woman that had arrived with Li Man. Tang Fan had noticed that she had a shrewdness about her, and had heard Li Man say that she had been a huge benefit to him, so he knew that she wasnt someone that was easy to deal with. Yet, after Li Man had been exposed as the murderer, she had then either intentionally or unintentionally maintained a low profile, as if she wanted to blend herself into the background. Upon hearing Li Man say this, she knelt daintily, using her sleeve to wipe her tears. How could this concubine have the goodness and ability to do so? I am truly unworthy of receiving Husbands generous favor! If youre no longer here, what use is there for me to go on living alone?! Her tones were wondrous and prompted one to cry, but Tang Fan was expressionless, not giving her one look. Li Man seemed not to hear Lady Chens words, his mind fully immersed in his memories. After a pause, he continued on. I hadnt ever thought of killing her, at first a very long time ago, I proposed divorce to Lady Zhang, and was willing to subsidize her with properties, but she refused. Later on, I proposed it again, and to give her half the family capital so that she could have her later years be free of worries, but she refused the divorce all the same, saying that I needed to not forget our original vows. This went on so many times! I really had no other way! His expression turned malevolent. She clearly couldnt do anything, nor could she help me! Theres a lot of women that are more beautiful and competent than her! Me using up all of my wealth back then was already an extreme benevolence to her! Since she couldnt have kids, why did she bother with occupying the position of my primary wife? Of course I couldnt take it anymore! It wasnt that I owed her, it was that she owed me! She owed me! Silence stretched out in the hall. Everyone stared at him in astonishment, especially the people of the Li family. Li Man had rarely returned home, but in front of others, he had always been respectful with his wife, and not exacting towards his servants. The whole household respected him. However, not one of them had known that underneath his peaceful and benevolent exterior, there had lurked such a beast! Li Lin, the Young Lord, was even more positively astounded, staring at his father. Father, why would you do such a thing? he mumbled. You dont actually think that she couldnt help you, Tang Fan answered coldly, nor was this because she couldnt have children. Rather, in your mind, youve constantly been brooding over that thirty-year-old past, so you blamed her family for dragging you down and hurting you by investing so much! Thirty years ago, when you were still young and in love, you thought that said investment was acceptable, but you grew older by the day, and upon going through laborious work in the sea of commerce, you saw the hearts of all sorts of people. You learned that of the four occupations, it was still scholars alone that were noble, and you gradually came to regret the choice you had made. That regret accumulated with each passing day until it became a demon in your heart, and as long as there was some slight outside trigger for it, that demon would be in a hurry to come out and cause harm! All of the reasons youve just stated are nothing more than you looking for excuses for the crime you committed! You indeed paid a great amount in your early years, but since then, she had managed your household for you, and helped you take care of your son. Even if she did owe you, she had long paid it all back! You wanted to divorce her; what was so wrong about her refusal? Which one of the Seven Ousts[1] did she commit? Do you believe that with an annulment, a woman wont get met with judging stares? As for financing her with capital, how could money measure her deep, decades-long affection for you? Li Man sneered. You dont get it, you dont! My predecessor had been a third-rank Assistant Minister! How impressive he was! Because I renounced the exams and switched profession to business, Ive been met with judging looks everywhere! The Li family as it is today was only able to earn itself back after I spent the entirety of my hearts blood! She didnt need to do anything other than peacefully enjoy that wealth at home! I dont accept it, I dont! If I had been able to participate in the exams back then, Id probably have long had a jade belt wrapped around my middle, and you little sesame-seed officials would have to bend your backs in my presence! No matter how good Sir Tangs self-cultivation was, even he couldnt help but roll his eyes at that set of words. Youre wanting too much. If I recall correctly, you just said that you were recently thirty in the year her maiden family met with misfortune. Your instruction started at age six, meaning that you had a full twenty-four years to study, yet you didnt even pass as a Fine Scholar even if you were given another twenty-four years, you probably still wouldnt have the knack to pass. Wake up! You really think that with how you behave, you could have become a high official? Im afraid that if becoming any sort of official was your fate, it wouldnt be a post youd have the fortune of living it up in! Li Man laughed icily. I know well that you Dynasty officials will forever put on such high-and-mighty appearances. You all plainly reached out and took the money, but still insist upon wearing faces of righteousness! Youre so out-and-out hypocritical, its nauseating! Tang Fan was in no hurry to make them take him away. You came back in advance to kill your wife and didnt want anyone to know about it, so you had to have someone on the inside that was collaborating with you in order to divert the servants. According to reason, the Li home is divided into inner and outer residences; if you were going in through the front entrance, youd have to pass through both residences, which would be extremely troublesome with all those eyes and ears. If you came in through the back entrance, though, it would save you a lot of trouble since its connected to the garden, and in front of that garden is Lady Zhangs room. Your counterpart only needed to help you with keeping watch, and preventing people from wandering the back garden in the name of not disturbing the Madam in her rest. Who are they? Li Man didnt answer, and Tang Fan didnt intend to allow him to. His gaze swept across the varying expressions of the Li crowd, ultimately landing on a certain someone. Ah-Xia. She raised her head in alarm. He stared at her profoundly. Madam Li had never belittled you. She could have practically been described as utterly benevolent to you, even. Why would you treat her like this? She shook her head over and over. No, I didnt You still dare to say that?! His voice was harsh. You had been unwell that night. Ah-Chun had already said that she would keep night watch for you, but you stubbornly refused, insisting on staying with her all night in illness! Thats the first thing! The second is that there had been a strange sound in your Madams room. You and Ah-Chun went in to check it out. Ah-Chun didnt go into the inner room, only you. However, after you went in, you didnt step forward to investigate at all, instead merely glancing at the door and stopping Ah-Chun from coming in Madam Li was already dead at that point, and you were afraid that Ah-Chun would discover something abnormal after she entered. Is that not you plainly having some kind of ulterior motive? Explain! Even Li Man couldnt argue in the face of conclusive evidence, let alone a woman like Ah-Xia that hadnt experienced much of the outside world. As soon as he said explain, she immediately crumbled. I didnt! I didnt! The Master threatened me! I was forced! I didnt kill her! What did he threaten you with? She covered her face and wept. I didnt feel well that day and went out to visit the doctor, but bumped into the Master. He tricked me into going somewhere, and then then, to me he told me that I was his now, and if I didnt obey him, he would tell the Madam that I had seduced him so that she would sell me! He wanted to make me kill her, but I refused, so he made me help him by being on the lookout and keeping the Li servants away, saying that hed do it himself! I-I really didnt do it why didnt you agree to the Madam wanting to give me to you? If I had left with you then, nothing that came later would have happened! The corners of Tang Fans mouth were typically slightly raised in a warm smile, making onlookers feel like they had been washed over by a spring breeze. However, whenever he wore no expression, he had a certain presence that one didnt dare to look directly at. People always love to make up all kinds of excuses about how they were forced when theyve done wrong. How did she typically treat you? Do you still not understand what kind of person she was? You helped him commit murder solely because he sullied your purity; do you dare to still claim that you have a clear conscience before your Madam?! Ah-Xia wept bitterly. Madam, I let you down! I let you down! Not paying her any further attention, he turned to the Deputy and crew. This case originally should have been handled by Wanping County, but now Ive overstepped my bounds. Do you resent me, Deputy Qian? No, no! the Deputy quickly answered. You have a god-like ability for cracking cases, Sir! This humble official really admires it! Then I will now trouble you two with taking over. That is our duty! Old Wang, hand Li Man and Ah-Xia over to them. Old Wang affirmed, detained Ah-Xia, then passed them over to the bailiffs Deputy Qian had brought. Deputy Qian, Tang Fan spoke again, even though Ah-Xia was an accomplice, she didnt personally take part in the murder, and has also already explained her crime. All interrogations should follow according to national law. I ask that you dont conduct torture in private. Worldly views were especially severe towards women. Once a woman was thrown into prison, everyone would believe that she had lost her purity, and the jailing bailiffs might take the opportunity to harass and molest her more in prison. In light of this, Ming law took special considerations towards female prisoners, sometimes even passing over the hall to interrogate them in their homes. However, with Ah-Xia now having been threatened into complying with murder, the evidence of her crime was undeniable, and she couldnt not be imprisoned. Tang Fan didnt wish for her to suffer dishonor outside of the penalty of law, hence why he pointed this out in particular. From this, his attentiveness could be seen. Ah-Xia stopped crying, staring at him dazedly, with grief throughout her features. It was unclear what she was thinking. Maybe she was lamenting her own bitter fate, and that she didnt have the fortune to follow him. Or, perhaps she was regretting having a moment of befuddlement from suffering Li Mans blackmail, thus helping him do something awful. However, if she had known this would happen beforehand, how could it have ever come to be? Tang Fan turned to look at the Lis steward. Come here, Old Li. Sir Tang. Old Li looked wretched. He was utterly loyal to the Lis, but couldnt have known that his Master would murder his Madam. That sudden blow had truly been too great, as his waist was even bent by a good degree. Tang Fan took out a stack of white papers from his lapels. Theres two-thousand taels of silver banknotes here. Just previously, your Old Lord had called me into an inside room and gave me this pile, wanting to make me not investigate further. You take the money, and take care of your Young Lord from now on. Old Li accepted them, shedding tears. Thank you, Sir Tang. This lowly one will never forget the great kindness youve showed towards our Li family, for all my life! Youre using my money to do a favor, Li Man said coldly. You calculate things well, Sir Tang! Tang Fan beamed. Are you angry that your bribe didnt work? Hurry up and shut up. Murderers get the death penalty, so the Lis money is not yours anymore. Its all your sons. Li Man turned bright red with anger, his two resentful eyes nearly about to burn holes into Tang Fan. I wont die! Dont celebrate too soon! he answered darkly. A suspect with such a nasty attitude is snarling at a Court official, here, Tang Fan said to the Deputy. Doesnt seem too appropriate, hm? The Deputy seemed to wake up, promptly waving his hand to make the others escort Li Man and Ah-Xia out. Right when Tang Fan and the rest were on the cusp of leaving, Old Li called out to him. Sir Tang, this family is unlucky. Now that the Master has become this and the Madam has passed, there is only the Young Lord left in the house. The two concubines have never managed matters before, either. We are a group of dragons with no leader. This lowly one is impudent, but Id like to ask that you help us obtain a charter. Tang Fan glanced at Li Lin, who was as mute as a wooden chicken. If theres any reliable distant relatives alive in either your Master or Madams families, you can request that they head over to lend a hand in management. Your Young Lord is currently considered a half-grown teen, but he will nevertheless have to shoulder this home in the future. You can discuss everything that needs to be managed with him. Old Li nodded repeatedly. Youre right, Sir Tang! Exiting the Li Estate, Tang Fan called out to the Deputy with a skin-deep smile. This hadnt been a complex case. According to your intelligence, youd probably crack it yourself. Why did you have to call me over? Was there some other reason? The Deputy smiled awkwardly and apologetically. Youre surely joking, Sir. If it wasnt for you revealing it, this humble official couldnt know so much inside information. I would have likely just accused a good person wrongly! In reality, Li Man had bribed Tang Fan, so he had obviously also bribed the Deputy and Registrar. It was just that they had wanted to accept it, but, on account of Tang Fan being the foremost acceptor of this case, feared that he would expose them. For that, they invited him over beforehand to see whether he accepted it or not. If he did, and decided to change the murder into a suicide, they would then inevitably have peace of mind with him at the helm. Tang Fan understood this point, but he didnt expose them. Water too clear had no fish, and people too critical had no followers; exposing Deputy Qians motives would only make him mad, and had no other use apart from that. Most people wouldnt suddenly repent just because of your own righteous teachings; on the contrary, they were liable to despise you because of it. Being an upright official wasnt challenging, but being one that wanted to accomplish things was. Therefore, he simply stopped at that, allowing them to stay vigilant all on their own. Early the following morning, Xue Ling sent someone over to report to Tang Fan, saying that he hadnt heard of any news from Chief Eunuch Wangs side. In other words, the Brocade Guard couldnt find out why the heck Wang Zhi had invited Pan Bin out to dinner. He passed this news on to Pan Bin, and the latter expectedly looked anxious upon hearing it. Theres no need to worry, Brother, Tang Fan consoled him. The Marquis Estate case had indirectly benefited him, and Shuntian Prefecture doesnt have the mind for planting willows. Maybe hes wanting to express his gratitude? You think thats a possibility? Wang Zhi doesnt even attach importance to any of the Cabinet Solons. Why would he need to invite a measly figure like me to dinner? How about this; youll come with me tomorrow night to give me warnings when something happens. That wont work, will it? His invite was only for you. Wouldnt me showing up without one make him unhappy? Pan Bin waved his hand. Its fine. You wont be acting in the capacity of a Shuntian Judge then, but as my junior! And thats settled! The translator says: Wow. Fuck that guy. With sharp, particularly rusty implements, and the most amount of pain possible. As for Ah-Xia shes not free from punishment at all, but I can only blame a sad, manipulated, assaulted, and technically-enslaved woman so much. [1] The Seven Ousts were the possible grounds for a man to divorce his wife in ye olde times, some being more reasonable than others: disobedience to parents, lack of sons, adultery, envy, being beset with plague, talking too much, and theft. CH 25 Immortal Guests known name was not simply blown air. The restaurants fame in the capital had been cawed ever since Yingzongs time, and that was primarily due to its owner being quite business-minded. He spent a huge amount of money to specially hire two chefs separately learned in northern and Jiangnan cuisine to come and cook, and also bought a private residence behind the restaurant in order to open up another area called Immortal Cloud. If customers wanted to entertain guests or eat food and if they didnt care too much about all the people around there was Immortal Guest in front at a much more reasonable price. If one was a high official that liked peace and quiet, they would go to Immortal Cloud at the back, as the decor was of superior quality compared to the front. Even though the two places were right next to each other, each had its respective doors open without mutual interference. Wang Zhi happened to invite Pan Bin to eat at that Immortal Cloud. Their meeting was set for a certain shichen, so Pan Bin intentionally came a quarter-hour in advance. However, when the guiding worker brought him and Tang Fan into a private room, he discovered that Chief Eunuch Wang was already seated. The others dark clothes and cap were presently no different than those of the ordinary customers outside, but the face below said hat was soft, pretty, and surprisingly young, even carrying the arrogance of looking down on everyone out of his peripheral. Pan Bin didnt dare to slight him the least bit, promptly stepping forth with a smile. You came so early, Eunuch Wang! Sorry for my rudeness! Wang Zhi remained sitting where he was, merely raising his hand to beckon to them. So I did. Please take a seat, Sir Pan. His eyes swept over to land on Tang Fan. This is presumably Sir Qius other brilliant disciple, Sir Tang Fan? Tang Fan cupped his hands. This humble one was born in the countryside and has never witnessed such a grand spectacle before. Upon hearing that you invited my senior for a feast, I wanted to follow him to broaden my horizons, which is why Ive shown up uninvited. I ask that you forgive me, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi waved his hand. Its no problem. Sit. Truthfully speaking, Wang Zhi was younger than both of them not even twenty yet but he held a high position. All of his gestures were a bit condescending, yet Pan Bin didnt dare to give any dissent. Since everyones arrived, Ill have them serve the dishes, Wang Zhi said. With that, he pulled on the callrope hanging next to the dining table. Not long after, someone pushed the door open from the outside and came in with a tray held in hand, serving them dishes one after the other. I didnt know if you all preferred northern or southern cuisine, so I ordered half of each direction tonight, just enough for one of each. Youve taken much trouble, Eunuch Wang, Pan Bin answered. Im not sure what He had been wanting to inquire after his intentions here, but, frustratingly, he got cut off by the other waving his hand as soon as he opened his mouth. Wang Zhi lifted his chopsticks. Lets eat, then talk. Pan Bin had no choice but to shut his mouth. For a dinner party at Immortal Cloud, one couldnt get a meal without having a hundred or more taels. As the Director of the Western Depot, Wang Zhi did not lag behind anyone else. Almonds with Buddhas hand, Longjing prawns, feng-tailed shark fins, small birds fried to a golden crisp,[1] silk-ball fried scallops, fish fillets with cream sauce, dragons-playing-with-a-pearl,[2] jadeite lotus-leaf soup The dishes were served all at once like running water, making it a bit much for the eye to take in. As a high official of the third rank, Pan Bin had seen many aspects of the world in everyday social niceties and communications, but even he couldnt help but be endlessly dumbstruck by such a large tabletop getting instantly packed to the brim. Since he couldnt say anything, he had to muffle himself with food. All three of them thus silently lowered their heads to taste the food. The atmosphere was somewhat odd for a moment. Pan Bin was restless, which inevitably caused the delicacies to lose their taste in his mouth. He still mulled over Wang Zhis intent while he ate, resulting in a much slower eating rate than the other two. Right as he reached out his chopsticks for the third time, Wang Zhi was putting down his own and wiping his mouth, hinting that this was now over. Pan Bin was compelled to put his chopsticks down in suit. Out of the corner of his eyes, Tang Fan was nonetheless continuing to eat. Despite his movements being unhurried and looking not a bit crass, they felt brusque no matter how one looked at them right now. The corner of Sir Pans mouth drew back, and he quickly gave his junior a look. However, either Tang Fan didnt see it, or was just pretending that he didnt, because he kept reaching his chopsticks out for food. In contrast, Wang Zhi laughed, revealing an expression of high appreciation. He even called out to commend him. Good! Eat as you please, Sir Tang! You must be someone that acts with their feelings. Compared to him, Old Pan, youre way too restrained! Goodness he was clearly more than twenty years older than Wang Zhi, but he shouldnt actually be getting called Old Pan by him. The man felt indescribably awkward, but also too afraid to correct Wang Zhi, so he had to contort his face into a smile. Young people are always a bit more lively! Im just too old! On the inside, he felt that this way-too-young Chief Eunuch was just as the rumors outside claimed: high in military merits, decent in name, and different from the crowd in personality. That alleged difference, to speak definitively, was that he was distinct from other eunuchs. Were a regular man to slap his thigh and say that it was good that Tang Fan wasnt so restrained, Pan Bin wouldnt be astonished at all. Instead, a eunuch still wet behind the ears said it to feign maturity and cloud-reaching heroism, which was bizarre no matter what. After drinking down the broth in his bowl, Tang Fan finally set his chopsticks down, then admitted his guilt to Wang Zhi. Do forgive me, Chief Eunuch. I can only blame the dishes here for being exceptionally delicious, as I couldnt resist taking a couple more bites for a second. In spite of both his expression and bearing not embodying the trait of has never seen the world before at all, Wang Zhi was still glad to hear this. If you like it, Sir Tang, I can invite you next time! Tang Fan smiled. Good dishes need to be eaten once within a long stretch of time; thats the only way they remain memorable. If theyre eaten too rashly, their preciousness is instead lost. That was both a tactful rejection, and a seamless praise for Wang Zhi. The other indeed did not get angry, contrarily showing a very at-ease look. Looking at this aspect, Tang Fan was more open in front of Wang Zhi than Pan Bin, being completely unlike his limb-tied sort that feared Wang Zhis rank and power. Wang Zhi knocked on the table, finally no longer leaving Pan Bins stomach hanging. I had invited you here because I have something to beseech, Sir Pan. Your words are so heavy, Eunuch Wang! Why the word beseech? Pan Bin quickly replied. Ive lost something, and would like to ask Shuntian Prefecture to help me find it. Pan Bin suffered a start. What is it that youve lost? he asked, cautious. A horse carved out of white jade, about half a chi tall. What does it look like? How was it lost? Wang Zhi grabbed a scroll that had been placed on a high sidetable, then passed it to him. It looks like this. I set it up as an ornament in my home, but it was lost all of a sudden one day. Maybe a thief stole it and sold it, and now its wandered off to parts unknown, still unfound. Pan Bin opened the scroll. On it, a jade horse was painted; the craftsmanship was average, but it was good enough for one remember what it looked like. Do you have any clues, Eunuch Wang? Wang Zhi smiled fakely. If I did, would I need to seek you out? Pan Bin, realizing that he had misspoken, swiftly answered, This humble one will strive to solve this as quickly as possible, as well as help you to retrieve your jade horse. Wang Zhi nodded in content. Ill be troubling you, then, Sir Pan. His purpose proclaimed, Wang Zhi would inevitably not squander any further time sitting there with two nobodies, so he immediately made an excuse for himself to step out. At the position he was seated in, he had many connections to the Emperor, and Pan Bin couldnt ask him for any info. Upon Wang Zhis departure, Tang Fan and him both went to see him off at the door. Wang Zhi waved them off. You two can continue to order things. Ive already had the proprietor jot the money down on my tab. Eunuchs of high position in the palace, like him and Shang Ming, were bestowed flying-fish or python robes.[3] This was more or less the same as the Brocade Guard, but it was easy to differentiate the two with one glance; the most prominent components were that eunuchs didnt have spring-gilt sabres, and also couldnt grow beards. Wang Zhi traveled in casual clothes tonight, his outfit inconspicuous. He might have gotten used to wearing those flamboyant flying-fish robes, though, because when he turned to leave, he flicked his sleeve out as if he was still in the Western Depot, having some of the grandeur of a major imperial eunuch. Tang Fan found this laughable as he saw it, but pressed that down. Once Wang Zhi was far away, he asked Pan Bin, Brother, are we going to keep eating, or go back? As soon as Wang Zhi had gone, Pan Bin got a long face, flicking his own sleeve as he seethed. Were going back! With the private room having been set up by Wang Zhi, Pan Bin had some misgivings about it. He started grumbling when the two were quite a bit away. A eunuch that got his start from relying on the favor of a Consort has the guts to act like hes bigger than the Chief of Cabinet the world really gets worse as the days go on! People have no heart for antiquity! He lost some bauble in his house, then had the cheek to specifically make us come over here! Hes regarding Shuntian as his own backyard! Are we his personal servants that he can just order about?! There had been many decent eunuchs throughout the Ming Dynasty, truthfully speaking. There was Zheng He and Nguyen An from the Yongle era, for instance, as well as Huai En of the current era. These folk had all been in the palace since their childhoods, and grew up reading tales of Yue Wumus utmost of loyalty to the country in its library; their fealty and honesty had sometimes even been incomparable to that of the countrys high officials, while their relationships with said officials had been great. However, they were ultimately a minority. The position of eunuchs innately opposed that of civil officials, because there were always some eunuchs that relied on good fortune to rise up, possessing powers that exceeded that of the officials that studied tirelessly. (The Emperor listened to them more, too but what was most important was that they lacked a certain component, and simply werent men at all.) The civil conglomerate was strictly on guard against them unto death even if they didnt dare to offend them to their faces, they looked down upon them in their private thoughts. That was the best description of Pan Bins current mood. Tang Fan waited until the other had vented enough to speak. Have you ever met Wang Zhi before this, Sir? Pan Bin still fumed. Despite not being classified as a huge figure in the capital bureaucracy, he was still third-rank, yet Wang Zhis attitude towards him was the same as he was towards his subordinates, making him disgruntled. I have, but Ive never had contact with him at this close a range! How do you view him, then? With no thought at all, Pan Bin blurted out: Bossy! Arrogant! Thinks everyone is beneath him! As he recalled the recent set of circumstances, Tang Fan nodded. He has youthful ambitions, and certainly has the means to be a proud despot. However, Im thinking that he wouldnt have called you over just for the sake of a trifling ornament. Maybe theres some kind of reason for it. Pan Bin was not happy. What reason could there be? Looking for such a thing in this giant capital is no different than fishing a pin off the ocean floor. If someone had pawned it, then itd be no trouble, as thered be no way the Western Depot wouldnt be able to find it with its capabilities. Its likely that thing has been broken into pieces and hes asked us to find something impossible to find, or its somewhere he himself cant get to! It might have gotten into some powerful household! He had a lot of shortcomings, but in order to be able to sit in the position of Shuntian Prefect today, he was required to have some skill. Hence why he described Wang Zhis aim in so few words. Have you ever offended him, Sir? Pan Bin shook his head. How could I? Ive had hardly any dealings with him at all, and they were all from the Marquis Estate case He paused, a bit boundlessly bewildered. Could it be that thing with the case had offended him? But when the truth came to light afterwards, didnt he reach his goal of thereby establishing his might? Why would he come looking to bother us? Whats his connection with us? If he was looking for anyone, shouldnt it be the Brocade Guard? That cant be it. Perhaps theres some other reason. Pan Bin thought hard about it, but got no result whatsoever after doing that for a while. Well do this, then you go to the Northern Bastion Office tomorrow and ask for that Gonfalon Sui. Hey, Sir? Can you wake up? The majestic Office is not our Prefectures backyard! Hes gone on an errand abroad and isnt yet back, he replied helplessly. When I asked them to help us inquire about Wang Zhis invitation, they couldnt find anything out, either. Im afraid they wouldnt be able to help us even if they wanted to. Pan Bin sighed. If the Great Ancestor was still here, wouldnt he be thunderously mad to see a eunuch bullying the Brocade Guard into uselessness? The corners of Tang Fans mouth drew back on account of his seniors abundant imagination. If the Great Ancestor was still here, and he learned that two officials just had lunch with a eunuch, the three of them would probably be going to see each other at Caishikou[4] tomorrow. He had to make a proposal. From how this humble official sees it, itd be best for you to send people to look for it tomorrow, while Ill go scout out information. Most of the minor employees of the two Depots were allocated by the Brocade Guard, so maybe theyve heard something on the wind. Is that okay? Pan Bin stroked his beard happily. Thats very okay, Runqing. Ill be troubling you, then. In reality, Tang Fan felt genuinely embarrassed every time he sought out Xue Ling and them for something. For one, it made Shuntian Prefecture look incompetent. For two, debts of money were easy to pay back, but debts of favors werent; once someone was troubled over and over again, when there came a day that they wanted you to do something difficult, it would be hard to avoid it. For that reason, he didnt go to Xue Ling straightaway, instead waiting for information from Old Wang and company first. It was a real shame that after a good couple of days, Old Wangs party had searched out every pawn shop in the capital, but still couldnt find the jade horse. All the shopkeepers said that they had never seen anything like it, either. With no other option, Tang Fan had to seek out Xue Ling again. The man was rather forthright, though, patting his chest and promising that he would help him ask around. Then, Tang Fan ran into another vexing matter. It was none other than the fact that he was soon not going to have a place to live. Where he did now was a separated courtyard he had been renting next to the Lis on its lonesome; tiny, but fully-equipped, allowing one to live well alone. However, due to the Lis incident, out of both the owners, one was dead, and the other was locked in prison. The proof for Li Mans murder of his wife was indisputable; following Wanping Countys verification, it went up layer by layer, and now his dossier was under the management of the Ministry of Justice. Antiquated laws were easy on men and harsh on women; a wife killing her husband would suffer death by a thousand cuts, while a husband killing his wife was a different situation. Even so, the circumstances of Li Mans senseless murder could not be refuted. As long as there were no outside mishaps, his beheading would be natural, though it wasnt quite as simple as that. His case would have to go through the Three Divisions for a joint hearing, and only then would the Ministry finally determine what the sentence should be. The Lis masters, both male and female, were gone, but life still went on. Its Young Lord, Li Lin, became its new master. He was fifteen years old this year. Due to immersing himself in studies all day long, he couldnt make sense of these numerous affairs, and had no idea what to do upon suddenly taking over the household. The steward, Old Li, was helpless in this, too; in spite of being qualified in age, he was a servant and an outsider. He had no choice but to ask a paternal-line cousin of Li Mans to help them with managing Lady Zhangs funeral for the time being. That cousins family was in Nanjing. Traveling over from distant parts to the capital, he was unavoidably out of his element. He didnt covet the Lis capital, but he noticed that Li Lin was a half-grown teen who had been raised to do nothing other than know how to study, and that felt a bit inappropriate to him. Thus, he suggested that Li Lin, Old Li, and the rest of them all relocate to Nanjing with him; they were all relatives, so they would look after each other. His primary mother had been killed by his birth father here, which caused Li Lin himself to suffer much upset. He didnt want to stay in this house that was permeated with psychological shadows one bit, so, after consulting Old Li, he firmly agreed to the cousins recommendation. The whole family was to move to Nanjing and leave this sorrowful place. However, Li Man was currently still in prison. Since a son couldnt abandon his father, he needed to wait at least until his case reached a sentencing, but a couple of things could be sold off in the meantime, the house included; it could be appraised and put on the market by someone else. When the time came, the tiny courtyard that Tang Fan stayed in would be sold together with it. Housing prices in the capital were high, while Sir Tangs family had fallen on hard times. He was a sixth-rank official without the money to buy a house, leaving him with no choice but to move and find some other place to live. Luckily, Li Lin and the others werent leaving immediately, so that gave him an adjustment period to seek room and board. However, said room was really hard to find. If the location was good, rent was costly. If the location wasnt good, it was too far from the bureau. An elder middleman brought him to all sort of locations, but he wasnt satisfied with any of them. At the same time, he still had to both do his assignments in the bureau, and also find the whereabouts of the jade horse for Chief Eunuch Wang. He was completely overwrought. At exactly this moment, the little lady Ah-Dong came sobbing to his door and knelt before him without any shyness. Sir Tang, can you take me?! Wuh?! Tang Fan gave a huge jump in fright, thinking that another Ah-Xia had come, but Ah-Dongs next sentence let him know that he was overthinking it. Can you go tell the steward that Ill come over here with you? Ill cook egg fried rice for you to eat! Ill help you clean your house! I dont want to go to Nanjing! She raised her head to implore him, crying with snot coming out of her nose. Tang Fan helped her up. Whats happened? Youre a slave of the Lis that has signed a mortal contract, yes? Could you even part from them? She sniffed. I am, but Sister Ah-Chun said that as long as you go ask the Young Lord for it, he should give it to you. Tang Fan was confused. You grew up in that house. Dont you know the family well? Why do you suddenly want to come with me? The Madam is dead, so the Li family isnt that Li family, she answered sadly. The Young Lord said to Sister Ah-Chun that when the funeral was over, he was going to take her as a concubine. She isnt willing, but theres nothing she can do about it. Its beyond her authority. She also said to me that even though he isnt too horrible, hes naive, and a bit bookdumb. If hes allowed to be the master, the family will likely not be any better off than it was before. What about the others? Aside from you and Ah-Chun, how are the others going to be dealt with? Steward Li is going with the Young Lord to the South. The servants that didnt sign mortal contracts will all be let go ahead of time. A part of those that did sign will be sold. Sister Ah-Chun said that if I dont want to go to Nanjing, I can take this chance to look for a way out. She bit her finger, looking at him pitifully. Can you take me in, Sir Tang? Ill be really hardworking, and not give you any trouble. I dont want to go to Nanjing, I dont know the Young Lord that well! Tang Fan didnt know how to react. You being willing to come cook is fine by me, but the question is: will Young Lord Li be willing to let you go? Hearing that his tone had relaxed, she suddenly got excited. He will, he will! I heard the steward say that the house has too many people in it right now, and they wont need so many later on. Isnt that them being eager to lose a few? I eat a lot and dont work that much, so they would definitely be willing to let me go and wreck someone elses house! Is it really good for you to be that frank? Ah-Dong stuck out her tongue. I misspoke, I misspoke! Me being too happy is all to blame. Dont take it to heart at all, Im actually great! Just pretend that you didnt hear what I said right then! Seeing her so enthused, he smiled as well. Alright, alright, Ill go ask for right now, but lets come to an agreement first youre certain youll take charge of my meals if youre in my house? Ah-Dong nodded like she was pounding garlic with her head. She had been raised in the Li family, but Lady Zhang was no longer there. On top of that, there were her three closest sisters Chun, Xia, and Qiu. Ah-Chun was urging her to leave, Ah-Xia had been threatened into murder, and Ah-Qiu was likely going to go South. In the span of a night, that family-like ambience had been shattered. Ah-Dong defied the event of going to the South from the bottom of her heart; in comparison, she was more at ease and got along better with Tang Fan. Dont you worry, Sir Tang! Ill definitely feed you until youre big and fat, like a pig! she promised with complete confidence. He was starting to suspect that Ah-Chun might be afraid that her unrestrained mouth was likely to offend someone, so she was in a rush to send her away. Yet, when Tang Fan went to the Lis to request her, things didnt go smoothly. Upon hearing his intentions, Steward Li didnt readily reject him, but his face held awkwardness. Sir Tang, Ah-Dong has signed a life contract. Family matters arent for me to dictate right now how about I go and ask the Young Lord? Tang Fan nodded, of course. Hes the one managing the household, so thats how it should be. Old Li invited him to sit for a bit in the lobby, then went to ask Li Lin for instruction. A short moment later, the latter came out. Youre wanting to redeem Ah-Dong, Sir Tang? he asked. He actually looked very similar to Li Man. Even his stature was about the same, though he looked a lot younger. The family incident caused Li Lins face to fade out of its former puerileness and change to be a bit overcast, resembling his father even more. Tang Fan nodded. I heard that you had bought her for five taels of silver back in the day. Now that youre going to go South, it probably wont be too convenient to bring her along since shes not very old. Im willing to pay ten taels of silver for her, if youll transfer her contract to me? Li Lins view of Tang Fan was somewhat complicated. The other party was both the man that helped to find his mothers real murderer, and the man that personally sent his father to prison. He should be grateful to him, but he also loathed him a bit. He had even thought, not only once, that if it wasnt for Tang Fan, he wouldnt be missing both parents right now. Ah-Dong is a slave of my Li family. Forgive me for how difficult it is to do as youve requested, he answered, unfeeling. Also, I heard Old Li say that the original agreement for the rents time period is almost up. As our house is about to be sold, theres no plans to renew that agreement. For that, I ask that you move out of our next-door area as soon as possible! [1] This is too depressing for me to link to pictures to, but imagine a ring of roasted sparrows circling a cut-up fruit or dont, really. [2] I have no idea what this is specifically supposed to be, because theres apparently a bunch of completely different dishes with the name. Generally, theres one or more ingredients in ball shapes, and then two things in dragon shapes, whether literally carved into the shape, or just arranged in vaguely serpentine form. [3] In spite of the names, these flying fish and pythons were basically dragons embroidered on the clothes, and were very similar to each other in terms of looks. However, they both had four toes instead of five, symbolizing aristocracy and not royalty, the pythons had less fancy tails, and the flying fish had wings as well as fin-like tails. [4] The location of the Caishikou Execution Grounds. Dont google that unless you want to see pics of real decapitated bodies. CH 26 Steward Li became worried upon hearing this, promptly saying, Young Lord, Sir Tang has been greatly kind to us Old Li, whos actually in charge of this family right now? Li Lin cut him off with. You, or me? How loyal Old Li was, to get thoroughly anxious at that. Its you, of course! he said on repeat. Li Lin had no patience. Since its me, you dont have a say! Even though hes an official and were commoners, is an official allowed to have no regard for law or the Heavens? This is the capital, not some remote area. If it wasnt for him, how could Father have become a murder convict? Tang Fan sneered slightly. Maybe this Young Lord of the Lis had read himself stupid. Li Lin, even though Lady Zhang hadnt been your birth mother, she had nurtured you since you were a child, never using anothers hands to do what she wanted to do. That warm, motherly heart could move anyone allowed to see it. Between the favors of being born and being raised, how can they be weighed separately? Li Man is your father, but hes also the very murderer that killed your mother. You being in a conflicting mood and finding everything around you difficult I can understand, but if you cant distinguish between right and wrong as a result, then what use were all those years of strenuous studying? Li Lin stiffened his neck. Who doesnt know by now that she was only good to me because she couldnt have her own son?! Tang Fans gaze turned cold, and he shook his head. Seems all those books youve read have gone into the belly of a dog. Ive really let down your mother in the Nine Springs. Since thats so, please go ahead and leave, Sir Tang! the other raged. I know that youre a Shuntian Judge, but the capital is filled with officials, and your sixth rank really isnt much. Ah-Dong is a slave of the Lis, so how shes getting placed is for me to decide! I said I wont sell her, so I wont! This Li Lin was a bizarre person. It could be said that he had gone stupid from studying and had no grasp of everyday matters, but sometimes, he was extremely spot-on and correctly-spoken in his remarks. An official of Tang Fans rank was indeed not much in the capital, and as a Judge, he wasnt to manage something like another familys selling of its slaves. If he forcibly took Ah-Dong away right now and then Li Lin made a fuss to his superiors, he would inevitably be denounced by a censor as someone that fought with a citizen over a maid, even if he had done no such a thing. It would influence his reputation. To say that Li Lin was intelligent, however from his current statement that his primary mother being good to him had other motives, Tang Fans opinion of him had immediately dropped a thousand zhang. No matter what feelings were between Li Min and Lady Zhang, that was something for the older generations. As a junior, Li Lin having conflicting and bitter emotions was normal, but he would rather overlook Lady Zhangs investment in him to blindly shield his father. That, of course, could be described as a type of filial piety. A stupid one, if it were. One didnt need to conduct themself selflessly and honestly, but they at least had to distinguish between kindness and resentment. If they couldnt tell the difference between good and evil, then they wouldnt have much of a future. Tang Fan nodded. Ah-Dong is part of your household, so you placing her is only fit. Thats correct. With that, he was disinclined to give Li Lin one more look, straight-up turning around and leaving. By the time he came out the Lis front gate, Old Li quickly caught up to him from behind, panting hard. Sir Tang, the Young Lord is still young. Please be magnanimous, and dont lower yourself to his level; this lowly one apologizes to you! Tang Fan had to laugh. Hes not young. I remember that when I was fifteen, I had already passed the provincial exams, and had also sent my eldest sister off when she got married. I could have supported a whole family. Noticing Old Lis panic, he went on to say, You can relax, though. In light of your Madams dignity, I wont do anything to him but if he continues going on like this, he will only bring harm to himself. Tang Fan departed the Li home and went right back to Shuntian Prefecture. Seeing Du Jiang sitting up straight in his office, he smiled. You have free time today, Xiaohu? Xiaohu was Du Jiangs courtesy. As a Shuntian Verifier, he specially aided Tang Fan in handling a few documents, and could be described as his assistant. The position of Verifier was unranked and not regarded as an officials, but there were still a lot of people that bust their heads open fighting for the post. Because the Great Ming in Chenghuas present reign required already extraordinarily high academic qualifications, it was difficult to pass the exam and be an official; even the lowest-ranking Palace Honorate would have people bowing their heads, because only by being one could someone be qualified enough to obtain even half a post in the government. Du Jiang was now more than thirty. He had passed the provincial exams in his twenties, but after that, he dropped off the Palace Honorate roll twice. With no other choice, he had to find a way into Shuntian Prefecture, seek out a job to provide for his family before anything else, and then make other plans. There were a lot of people like him in the Great Ming. Before Tang Fan had entered the Prefecture, Du Jiang was already employed there. He was straight-laced by nature and worked seriously. He had no ambitions for the Prefecture to begin with, belonging to a category of people that suffered getting pushed aside, but Tang Fan appreciated him; after he joined, he requested that he come over and act as his right-hand man. Sure enough, Du Jiang didnt let him down, and had helped him greatly, sometimes even giving him ideas. He was no different from a personal aide. Upon hearing his teasing, Du Jiang didnt laugh along with him, his face solemn instead. Sir, Lady Chen has vanished. Tang Fans hand that held the lidded cup paused. What happened? After Li Man went to jail, the Lis drove her out, after which she found an inn to lodge in. I obeyed your instructions to have people keep watch outside, but, somehow, they didnt see her leave it for all of yesterday. The bureaus people went and questioned the inns proprietor, but they said that she had checked out yesterday, and didnt say where she was going. Li Mans uxoricide had proof, motive, precedent, and consequences. It all appeared to be unrelated to Lady Chen from head to tail, but Tang Fan got the general sense that the pretty woman certainly had no lack of impact in fanning the flames therein. He also noticed that she had been abnormally low-key this entire time, both unafraid on account of Li Mans imprisonment and unconcerned on account of the Lis kicking her out. She was excessively calm in her behavior, the abnormality causing them to keep watch on her, yet she surprisingly still managed to slip away. Did you get someone to investigate the room she had been staying in? Du Jiang nodded. He was meticulous and diligent in his work, so Tang Fan didnt need to specifically order for these things. Yes. There was nothing strange, as the luggage she carried on her hadnt been much to start with. Later, I went there myself for a look, then discovered a small symbol in the corner of the room, on the wall. The marks looked to be freshly carved, and it was about the height of two knuckles. Im not sure if its related to her or not. Tang Fans curiosity was piqued. What did it look like? Du Jiang took out a piece of paper and drew out the rough appearance of the mark from memory. Once Tang Fan saw it, he blurted out: The White Lotus Society?! Du Jiang was alarmed as well. What? Dont tell me that shes related to that demonic cult? Is this still just a regular uxoricide case? Tang Fans face gradually turned grave. Id been thinking that she was a little suspicious, which is why I had you keep an eye on her. I didnt know that this would get dragged into it. This is certainly a bit hard to handle. Shes related to the Society, yet stayed by Li Mans side, willing to be his concubine. Presumably, she incited him to kill his wife,for some unknown goal. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. How great this was; one wave hadnt yet settled when another came rising up. There was still no location for Wang Zhis white jade horse, and the event with the Lis had something to do with the White Lotus Society. Troubles were coming to knock at the same time. He pondered this. In any case, keep having people search for her whereabouts. Since the inn room has been entered, the enemy is alerted now, and even if there is a relation to the Society, they likely wont be showing up again. Still, you should have people keep watch so as not to miss anything, and then make a report to Sir Pan. Ill go to the Northern Bastion Office and let them know. The Brocade Guard has tracked down a Society happening once before, so maybe theyll have an idea of this. Speaking of, Tang Fan recalled that former time he was strangled in the middle of the night. The other had intentionally feigned being the supernatural in front of him, then was confirmed to be of the Society after the fact. It seemed that ever since the thing with Li Zilong, the dregs of the Society had never left the capital, merely going from being conspicuous to being inconspicuous, hiding beneath the surface. Three or so years ago, the sorcerer Li Zilong secretly made friends with eunuchs in the palace, then nearly flipped the place on its head, even almost overthrowing the Emperor. It was because of this event that he felt the Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot useless, so Wang Zhi then took advantage of his mental state to rise into a high position in a very short period of time. Only after that did the Guard go on the alert, overturning the capital completely. In that interval, there was no lack of conflicts breaking out with the White Lotus followers, and the latter lost many of its members, thus suppressing the Societys fire. Unpredictably, after these years, it hadnt actually been rooted out this whole time, its spring wind blowing again at the slightest bit of opportunity. However, it should be remembered that the Society had been able to last since the Song Dynasty, after which it experienced the chaos of Songs end, the darkness of the Yuan Dynasty, and the disorder of Yuans end before it came to this present era. A long-standing cult organization that had existed for hundreds of years must have its own set of survival means. The Guard wanting to throughly eliminate them in a short couple of years was practically impossible. After Tang Fan gave his explanation to Du Jiang, he went for the Northern Bastion Office. Unfortunately, Xue Ling wasnt there, and the ones on duty werent faces Tang Fan recognized. He asked some things, but upon seeing that they refused to disclose anything, he didnt force it, turning around in a desire to leave. However, he heard a familiar, and placid, voice come from behind him. Why are you looking for Old Xue? Tang Fan turned his head, joyful. Brother Guangchuan, youve returned. Sui Zhou retained his unmoving ice-cube face, but a bit of a smile appeared in his eyes when he saw the others unpretentious happiness. He nodded. Mn. Youre looking for Old Xue? Tang Fan grinned. I had been wanting to find you when I came here a few days ago, but he said that you were out on a job then. I didnt expect that you would come back so soon. If you have the time, I happen to have something to share with you. Ive heard about what you entrusted Old Xue with already. He paused, turned his face slightly to the side, then indicated to the person next to him. In the future, if he isnt here, you can look for Pang Qi. Pang Qi was also in the Brocade Guards uniform, but his officials position looked to be slightly lower than that of Old Xues, and he looked younger, too. He smiled at everyone with his babyface, seeming gentle and harmless. However, Tang Fan didnt dare to underestimate him because of that. Being able to have a position in the Bastion Office, and see its varying punishments without a change in expression, meant that he could not be measured based on the criterion of ordinary people. When he walked outside, others would know him and his face, but not his mind; oftentimes, the more harmless someone looked, the more vicious their persona might be. Tang Fan nodded in greeting to him and introduced himself. Tang Fan, Runqing, a Judge of Shuntian Prefecture. Ive already seen you before, when you went with Brother Guangchuan to Rejuvenation Hall that day. On the basis of the man directly calling Sui Zhou by his courtesy, plus hearing the latter tell him to look for Pang Qi for anything he needed, Pang Qi would know that this was someone that had a good relationship with his boss and thus could not be offended even if he was an idiot. For that, he quickly cupped his hands in courtesy. Youre too polite, Sir Tang. If you need something later, just give the command! Sui Zhou had no sort of patience to listen to this scene of them saying nothing of sustenance, so he flat-out interrupted them. Jianxian, you go on ahead. Pang Qi affirmed and left, while Sui Zhou and Tang Fan departed the Office for a stroll outside. Last time, you asked Old Xue to find where that jade horse was, Sui Zhou said. Its since been found. Where is it? Tang Fan quickly asked. Its in the home of the Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, Shang Ming. Tang Fan looked bewildered. He had spent a lot of money to buy it from the Duke of Ying. Wang Zhi had wanted it at the time too, but couldnt snatch it from Shang Ming, so that object has not a thing to do with him. Tang Fan smiled in pain. Sir Pan is going to be annoyed, now. Its just why would Wang Zhi want to play a trick on him like this, for no rhyme or reason? Knowing the location of the jade horse was useless. What was Shuntian going to do, run to find Shang Ming? No need to speak of the fact that the object was Shang Mings to begin with; even if it wasnt, with Pan Bins face, would Shang Ming just give it to him if he asked? From another perspective, wouldnt Wang Zhi already know that Shang Ming had it? Yet, he still asked the Prefecture to look for it was that not him making it clear that he wanted to embarrass Pan Bin with his prank? Was Wang Zhi truly like the outside rumors claimed: domineering, headstrong, and doing whatever he pleased? Sui Zhou mulled over this. Wang Zhi has always been at odds with Shang Ming. Maybe he just wanted to humiliate him. Tang Fan spread out his hands. But he dragged the completely irrelevant Sir Pan into the water because of this. How will you all respond to it, then? Tang Fan shook his head. Ill go back to report this information to Sir Pan, and well go from there. On that matter, I have something to tell you. He explained the circumstances of Li Man killing his wife and Lady Chens disappearance in simple terms, then brought up the mark of the White Lotus Society. Sui Zhou nodded. The scum of the White Lotus are returning from the ashes. They can only cause trouble in the dark. Ill have my people keep an eye out. He wasnt sure why, but since Sui Zhou had said this, Tang Fan knew he was certain to do it attentively. It gave him the relief of entrusting a heavy burden to someone else. Some people that were reliable in their work could then intrinsically make others feel at ease. Sui Zhou was such a man. Tang Fan smiled. Ill leave it to you, then. I should be sitting down with you for a free chat after youve come back from abroad, but Sir Pan has been uneasy about this matter with the jade horse all this while. I have to go back and tell him, first. Why dont we make an appointment for another day? Sui Zhou hummed. After a bout of awkward silence, he suddenly asked, When are you returning home today? If all goes well, Ill get back at the usual time. Why? Then Ill go find you tonight. Tang Fan subconsciously answered okay, but when he thought back to it later on, he felt like something was off with that, somewhere. What was it? The highly intelligent Mister Tang racked his brains over it on the road back, but couldnt work out the reason why. There was presently no need to bring up how confounded Pan Bin was upon hearing the news about the jade horse. Without Ah-Dong coming over to deliver snacks, Tang Fan solved the problem of his dinner outside before he got off of work, after which he went home. When he remembered that Sui Zhou said he would be coming over, though, he turned to a grocer stall on the street to buy some lou mei, then purchased a small jar of yellow wine at a winery to bring back. He took a long detour, and when he leisurely got back home, he discovered that someone was already standing at his gate wasnt that Centarch Sui? If I had known before that you would be here so early, I would have come back first thing so that you wouldnt be standing in wait at the entrance! Tang Fan promptly sped up towards him, an apologetic smile on his face. Its no problem, Sui Zhou answered. Tang Fan found that he was also carrying some food. My home is far from yours, so Ill just stay with you for tonight. Do you mind? Ah? I dont mind, I dont mind! My break is tomorrow, so we can talk through the night by candlelight! Mister Tang lived the legendary bachelor life to its entirety. Upon becoming an official, one would have a couple boyservants accompanying them, to say nothing of those that were married and had children. Tang Fan alone lived by himself, eating snacks and reading books by nighttime moonlight in considerable delight. With just one more person present, there was more excitement, and the desolation following nightfall was avoided. Even though the man was expressionless year-round and rarely spoke, he was nonetheless better than nothing. (Generally.) They put their stuff down. Tang Fan went to get cups to pour the wine into, while Sui Zhou individually untied the paper bundles that held the food. Tang Fan had bought braised pig ears and tongues; fresh, fragrant, tasty, and most suited for drinking with wine. Sui Zhou had bought sausages in Sichuan peppers, crispy-fried tofu, salted peanuts, and dressed cucumbers. Youre the guest, why would you need to bring things? Were familiar with each other, dont spend any money next time! Mister Tang pretended to scold him about this scenario while simultaneously picking up a piece of fried tofu and eating it. Its skin had been fried to a crisp, but after biting down on it, its interior was as white as soybean pudding, so soft that it was about to flow outwards. The aroma of the beancurd permeated about. Where did you buy this crispy tofu? And why is it so delicious? he wondered. I had some ingredients at home, Sui Zhou answered concisely. You can cook? Sir Tang was wholly shocked. Sui Zhou gave a rare hook of the lips, saying nothing. A few breaths later, Tang Fan was still soaking in his shocked emotions. Brother Guangchuan, you can actually cook? Thats really, really, really He reallyed for half the day, but didnt get out what the really was about. Then, a rapid knock echoed in from outside the door. Thats really too amazing! Tang Fan took in a deep breath. After he had replenished his air, he got up to open the door. Ah-Dong was standing outside. Before he could say anything, she anxiously said, Sir Tang, save me! The little girl was about to kneel, but he stopped her. Whats happened? She had a mournful face. Sister Ah-Chun told me that the Master is having someone go find a broker tomorrow, and theyre going to come sell me! Tang Fan was alarmed. Only you? She nodded. A group already got sold a few days ago. Mister Steward knew that I wanted to come over here. He didnt have any objections to it at first, but now they changed their minds all of a sudden, and are saying theyre going to sell me! In order to be able to enunciate clearly, she grit her teeth to hold back her tears, yet after saying all that, she couldnt help but choke up. Sir Tang, what can be done about this? Can you go and talk to Mister Steward? I dont want to be sold! Tang Fan knew that this was definitely not the doing of the steward, Old Li. That was the idea of their Young Lord, Li Lin, at a ninety-nine percent chance. In all likelihood, what happened in the morning led to Li Lins resentment, and since he couldnt directly confront Tang Fan, he simply made preparations to strike first by selling Ah-Dong, thus making his plan fail. A slave of the Lis wasnt anyone elses business, anyway. Thinking up to here, Tang Fan was momentarily speechless. When Lady Zhang was there, he had met Li Lin a couple times before. Back then, he was bashful in personality and spoke little, but as a fellow scholar, he had some reverence towards Tang Fan for passing the exams at such a young age. The latter gave him a few pointers, too. Unexpectedly, things changed with times passage. Due to the incident in his family, Li Lins character drastically transformed, becoming its current unreasonableness. What did Lady Zhang feel about that, in the Nine Springs down under? To speak with finality, Li Lin selling Ah-Dong was a matter of course, and Tang Fan truly had no control over it. He had been wanting to think of a solution these couple of days, but hadnt foreseen that the other would just sell her straightaway. If she got sold to a bad family, she would suffer bitterly from then on. Looking at the adorable little girl, he almost couldnt bear it. Is that so dont worry. Go on back, Ill think of something. She naturally had a sense of trust towards him, so she nodded obediently, and returned whilst wiping her tears. She had sneaked out, because she obviously couldnt go out through the front entrance. Therefore, when she went back, she had to make another big loop around to the back entrance. As he watched her retreating figure disappear from his line of sight, he tried to think of a solution. However, someone behind him said, You want her? Tang Fan nodded, then felt like that sentence seemed a bit ambiguous, so he briefly explained about her. It just so happens that I lack someone to cook and clean here. Ah-Dong is hardworking, so shes competent enough for it. Sui Zhou nodded. This isnt a difficult task, really. You dont need to worry. Ill help you solve it. Where could such a righteous friend ever be found? Mister Tang was so touched, he promptly cupped his hands. Many thanks to you, then, Brother Guangchuan! Since youre in such contradiction with the Lis, what are you going to do about housing? Tang Fan hadnt told him the thing about him currently looking for board everywhere, but he still took note of it. His meticulous mind was apparent. The capital is big, and theres a lot of rooms. Ill likely be able to find some. Sui Zhou thought about this for a moment. If you want, you can come live with me. Tang Fan was taken aback. Is that alright? Wouldnt your wife be upset? I havent yet taken a wife, Sui Zhou replied coldly. There has to be someone like a wife, right? Sui Zhou was not pleased. I havent accepted any concubines, nor slipshod maidservants. Before Tang Fan could ask anything else, he proceeded to say, My parents live with my eldest brother. I moved out on my own. Dont worry about that. With all that said, since the other was inviting him there in good faith, it would be poor of Tang Fan to decline again. He ended up clasping his hands together, saying with sincerity, Ill bother you for now, then, Brother Guangchuan! In truth, despite Sui Zhous coldness, he wasnt hard to get along with at all. They had things in common, too, but what was most important was that not only could the man cook, his craftsmanship was more than a hundred times better than Tang Fans own. Thinking about it that way, Mister Tang was genuinely a tad excited. Sui Zhous indifferent lips finally hooked up a bit. Were familiar with each other. Theres no need to be polite. The translator says: Bro Suis got that game. He might not know hes got that game yet cause its slowburn But He Got It Also, Li Lin needs one (1) or fifty (50) slaps in the face. CH 27 Sui Zhous residence was a small, three-area home.[1] If one lived with a large family, it would be a bit crowded, but if one lived alone like Sui Zhou did now, it would be unduly spacious, so the addition of Tang Fan wasnt excessive. There were three main rooms and three side rooms; apart from the main room Sui Zhou stayed in and a side room used for storing junk, the other two main rooms and side rooms were all free for Tang Fans selection. Of note: no rent was collected. Tang Fan had never thought to eat or stay for free, but Sui Zhou wasnt in need of that bit of rent cash. In any case, if Tang Fan wasnt here, he would be living alone as ever in such a big house. Since Centarch Sui said he wouldnt accept coin with a cold face, Tang Fan didnt insist. However, given that he had the free time, he would put some rice, noodles, and other foodstuffs into the home, which was tantamount to undertaking food expenses. Sui Zhou had no comment whatsoever on this. Tang Fan chose a side room as his own. That wasnt because he was being coyly polite and too afraid to live in a main room, but rather because this one faced east, and its door opened to the courtyard, the illumination of its field of view decent. Whenever he had the spare time, he could also plant all sorts of vegetation under the pillared terrace in the courtyard. After finding a day off work, he moved his stuff over. Li Lin was surprised that he wouldnt have anything to hold over Tang Fan, since the other had found a new dwelling so quickly. Ah-Dongs issue was settled with the same speed. It wasnt good for Tang Fan to step in himself, but Sui Zhou completely lacked that worry. He didnt even need to show his face. People from the Northern Bastion Office only had to stand there at the Li household, saying that Li Mans case wasnt yet concluded and that they were going to take a group of people for questioning. Ah-Chun, Ah-Qiu, Ah-Dong, and the other servants would all be pulled away, then released, then carried off again, then released, then carried off again. After a few rounds of this, the Lis couldnt take it anymore. Steward Li pulled the Brocade Guards aside and begged them to give the family a break, secretly stuffing silver taels to them, but it didnt work. At last, the Lis had no choice but to offer up the slave contracts with both hands not only Ah-Dongs, but Ah-Chuns, too. With Lady Zhang gone, Ah-Chun didnt want to remain in the house anymore. Her biggest wish was to be able to regain her autonomy and go off to marry, but Li Lin had been wanting to make her a concubine, which she was unwilling for, but unable to do anything about. Tang Fan, as a good man, saw things to their end; he had resolved to rescue Ah-Dong, and incidentally brought Ah-Chun over alongside her. Ah-Qiu was willing to stay with the Lis, so she was left to herself. In the span of three days, it was done and dealt with, making Tang Fan sigh with how wonderfully efficient the Bastion Office truly was, able to accomplish what ordinary people could not. No wonder everyones expressions changed when they heard the words Brocade Guard. Ah-Dong had been sold into the family as a child. After leaving it, she had nowhere to go aside from seeking out Tang Fan. Even so, he didnt accept Ah-Dongs slave contract, and instead burned it right in front of her, telling her that it was fine; he would just accept her as a sworn sister. Prior to her being fifteen, he would shelter her, and after she was fifteen, he wouldnt force her to stay if she wanted to get married. When the time came, he would naturally sort out a dowry for her and find her a good family. Ah-Dong was enthusiastic about this, of course, immediately switching to calling him big brother. She originally had no family name, but from then on, she would have one before her given: Tang Dong. In the home had been merely two grown men that left in the morning and came back at night, so the work of the house could usually only be done by employing a temp worker to come do it. Plus, even if Sui Zhou could cook, it was impossible for him to have the time to do it every single day. After Ah-Dongs arrival, there was no need to hire anymore temp workers, and the cooking was done by her, too, since she assumed housework on her own initiative. Though young, somewhat gluttonous, and playful, she worked with agility; in not a few days time, both the inside and outside of the place looked brand new, and she had planted a lot of flowers and shrubs. Sui Zhou and Tang Fan expressed how pleased they were with it. Mister Tang henceforth lived a blessed life of not having to worry about cleaning, sanitation, or cooking. Tracing the location of the woman Lady Chen, who was likely to have a connection to the White Lotus Society, was still underway, but Pan Bin was all sorts of fretful. Well although the whereabouts of the white jade horse were known, Wang Zhi had still given Pan Bin a difficult problem. The horse was clearly with Shang Ming, but Wang Zhi had insisted that it was his lost object was Pan Bin going to tell him the truth? What if Wang Zhi said Shang Mings jade horse isnt the one thats mine, but mines exactly like his? Was that going to morph into making Pan Bin get another one from somewhere to give him? He had been suspecting that Wang Zhi was deliberately trying to mess with him, but when he went to inquire about it afterwards, he discovered that that wasnt the truth at all. For this while, the Eastern Depot had snatched two ideas from the Western Depot, ruthlessly changing the way the wind blew before the Emperor. In addition to that, after Wang Zhi left to operate the Western Depot, his relationship with Consort Wan gradually became alienated, and she no longer helped him by saying pretty words to the Emperor. Without the effect of that pillowtalk, Wang Zhi was rapidly suppressed by Shang Ming. The news about Pan Bin helping Wang Zhi find the jade horse would get back to Shang Ming, which was bound to make his nose go askew in anger: Whats the meaning of this?! Its plainly mine! You had to say that you lost it, so that it seems like I stole it?! Wang Zhi wasnt even twenty yet. He had the impetuousness of youth, not the maturity of eunuchs who simmered for decades in the palace. Him cooking up such an idea to embarrass Shang Ming wasnt that weird. Two eunuchs fighting over favor was not formerly something related to Shuntian Prefecture, but Wang Zhi had caused such a fuss, he even dragged Pan Bin down into the water. Shang Ming would hate Wang Zhi, but he was definitely going to hold a grudge against Pan Bin, too. With that thought, Pan Bin was the same sort of pained as he would have been eating canker root, and his mood was rather like bok choy in the wintry December freezing cold. He felt himself to have especially poor luck. Who did I even provoke, here? I managed to get a third-rank post where not a one of the peak-like seats on that giant mountain above my head was offended, but now, I was just sitting in my house when disaster came down from the Heavens! If I had known this earlier, then it really would have been better for me to just be a fourth-rank Prefectural Magistrate somewhere else from the get-go! At least then the Emperor and the Heavens would be far away, and I could be comfortable without all these stupid things going on! It was too late to issue these complaints now. The best way forward would be to offend nobody, take the lid off this matter, then let those two blasted eunuchs duke it out however they liked. It would be best for the Prefecture to not get drawn into it. How could a method that went both ways be as easy to find as that, though? He ruminated for half the day, but still couldnt come up with one. Could he tell Wang Zhi, we couldnt find the jade horse? That wouldnt do. Wang Zhi would submit a memorial stating that he was incapable of completing assignments, which would be more than enough to denounce him. Could he tell Wang Zhi, your jade horse is in Shang Mings house? That wouldnt do, either. That would pretty much be an offense to Shang Ming. Could he tell Wang Zhi, how about you dont mess with me? If you dont find Shang Ming pleasing to the eye, just go and find him so that you two can fight to the death. Why are you making things hard for me, the Shuntian Prefect? That would do even less. There was no such thing as bluntness in officialdom. When the time came, Wang Zhi would pass blame onto him, and it would be impossible for him to get away from it. His hair practically turned gray from worry. Then, he remembered his junior brother. When he had brought him with to the meal last time, Wang Zhis impression of him seemed to have been pretty good. Maybe there was something there. He went and found Tang Fan, then implored him in earnest, Runqing, a day you have your senior in Shuntian is a day I can look out for you a little more whenever something comes up. If I get banished to a foreign post and your superior is then someone else, youll have to be more careful, and look after yourself well! Tang Fan smiled bitterly. He knew that Pan Bin was going back and forth like this to win sympathy, so he didnt add to his nonsense. Please state your command, Brother! Its nothing major, just that search for the jade horse. Wang Zhi made it clear he was deliberately giving me a hard time. No matter how I respond, itll be inappropriate, and offending him is practically a done deal. Tang Fan mulled this over for a short moment. Its not completely without a way out, actually. It just depends on whether or not you have the courage to say it. Pan Bin was over the moon. What a good Brother you are! I knew you were full of ideas! What is it? Quick, tell me! *** One day later, it was the same Immortal Cloud, as well as the same private room. Wang Zhi was seated at the table, watching Pan Bin with a fake smile. For you to come seeking me out, Sir Pan, youve presumably already found the location of the jade horse? Pan Bin cussed out this damned eunuch-slash-motherfucking conspirator several hundred times over in his head, but there was still an earnest smile on his face. I wont keep it from you, Eunuch Wang the jade horse has not yet been found. Wang Zhis brow raised. Then what did you call me over for? Are you purposefully toying with me? Dont be hasty, Eunuch Wang. Listen to what this humble official has to say for right now. When I asked about it, there is actually a white jade horse that looks very similar to the one youre looking for in the home of Chief Eunuch Shang, but I know that hes very fond of it, and will probably refuse to part from it. To you, though, the horse is secondary. Your top priority is an even bigger crisis. Wang Zhi sneered. Such alarmist talk, Sir Pan. Is this you trying to escape responsibility? Pan Bin shook his head. Not at all. You have His Majestys confidence nowadays, and are in control of the Western Depot; this seems like fresh flowers added to brocade, but its actually oil added to an inferno. I heard that for you to be able to get into His Majestys good graces, you relied on Consort Wans spoken recommendation, on top of your own ability and efficiency. However, youre now managing the outside Depot and are involved in outside politics, while she is someone of the imperial harem. It would be no good for her to show too much interest in those things, thus making it difficult for her to put in a good word for you. On His Majestys side, Shang Ming is ultimately someone thats followed him for many years; in comparison to you, the former is a bit closer to the latter. If Shang Ming makes up some false charges before royalty, you wont escape suffering losses. The others heart jolted. Pan Bins words matched what was in his head. Why was he impatient to monopolize power? Why did he still want to expand his influence after getting the Western Depot so that he could compete with Shang Ming? It was all because he knew that that his favor with the Emperor was inferior to Shang Mings, and for that, he had to use the means of establishing more contributions in order to strengthen his position in His Majestys mind. This was something Consort Wan couldnt help him with since she was in the harem, so he could only strive for it by himself. But how could he strive for it? He couldnt think of any other method than this. The capitals territory was more or less divided up between the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard, so he was forced to snatch food out of both their mouths to fight over favor with Shang Ming. No matter what, though, the Western Depot had only been established for two years. It simply had no way to compare to the other two, which were long-established intelligence agencies rich with lengthy histories and elements. The Emperor building the Western Depot was on a moment of impulse, which meant that Wang Zhi had to display more proactivity and establish more merits. Only then could he thoroughly consolidate his position, win the Emperors trust, and climb to the apex of life from there on out, standing tall with no chance of collapse. Under the steadily increasing competitive pressure, everyone was making all sorts of bizarre maneuvers for favor. The pressure on him grew each day, as well. He gazed at Pan Bin. In your view, Sir Pan, what should I do? The other was in no rush to speak. He dipped one finger into his wine, then wrote four words on the round, mahogany table: Military merit, East Palace. Wang Zhi, among the many hands of eunuchs that grasped great authority, had an unusual personality. He didnt act on a ready whim, understood clearly who he could offend and who he couldnt, and was also able to win the Emperors approval. However, on account of his youthful arrogance, he loved to be in the limelight of everything, hence why he came up with the idea of getting Pan Bin to help him look for the white jade horse something that mocked someone else, yet did no favors for him personally just to embarrass Shang Ming. That also made it easy for him to make enemies, like right now, where Pan Bin had scolded him a couple hundred times on the inside while not daring to do anything else. On top of that, Wang Zhi still liked to stick his fingers in military matters. He might not necessarily be proficient in them, but as long he had the thought of being able to be like those famed generals whose names were left behind in history, galloping across the borderlands while laying down merits unworldly, Eunuch Wang would feel hot-blooded from head to toe, as if he wasnt lacking a certain component. For that reason, Pan Bins military merit was quite understandable, and fit right in with his desires. Wang Zhi, at last, became interested in this topic. Although those last two words were a bit odd. What do you mean by East Palace? he thus asked. We subjects dont dare to rashly comment on inner-palace matters, Pan Bin answered, but its been said that the present Crown Prince of the East Palace is studious and diligent. All high officials praise him as having the looks of a wise ruler. In this day and age, it was fashionable to say half and hide half of ones speech, not providing clarity in order to deliberately make the other person do guesswork. No matter what happened after that, one could evade it, putting on an air of pretentiousness in passing as they showed off the art of words. Wang Zhi pondered what Pan Bin meant. It seemed like he wanted him to back the Crown Prince. Everyone in the world knew that Consort Wan was on bad terms with the Prince, found nothing about him pleasing to the eye, and was even planning to convince Emperor to abolishing him. However, Wang Zhi himself had been promoted by her. Asking him to support the Prince would make her angry, and wouldnt his spot as the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot come to an end? For that reason, he shook his head. Feeling that Pan Bins idea was stupid, he mocked him. Youre the Shuntian Prefect, and all you care about is the square area of the capital and its outskirts. If you dont know the details of important things in the Dynasty, dont go commenting wildly on them! Pan Bin sighed. Youve misunderstood, Eunuch Wang. I insist that you stand on a team. The world has a Long-Lived Emperor, but how could there be a Long-Lived Consort? You dont need to give thought to the present, but you should give thought to the future. If theres an opportunity for it, you can gain a connection, and then may have an extra escape route later on. Advancing and retreating needs to be done suitably; only then can ones tactics be foolproof! Wang Zhi hadnt been taking him seriously at the start, but upon hearing the latter half, he began to look thoughtful. Pan Bin hadnt spoken incorrectly. In spite of it being said that the Crown Prince might not be able to become Emperor in the future, he was still currently liked by the people, and word in the Court about him was quite good. Some people even stated that he was bound to be better than his old man. Wang Zhi was still young, himself, and needed to make some kind of plan for the future. If he could find an opportunity to flaunt for the Prince, maybe that bunch of civil officials would jointly not try to make trouble for him in all aspects, or find him unsightly. Coming to understand that layer of this, Wang Zhi eventually said, Youre considerate, Sir Pan. Lets drop the jade horse for now. I lost it, so its lost, and I dont care to find it. Having awaited those words, Pan Bin couldnt help but sigh in respite. Wang Zhi watched him with a skin-deep smile. With your personality, you dont seem too much like someone who would give me an idea like this. Could these words be your good juniors? The cursed eunuch got it right! Pan Bin smiled awkwardly. No such thing, no such thing! Wang Zhi sighed ruefully. Hes a real talent. Despite his post not being high, he has a good and rare insight. What a shame that theres no precedent for civil officials entering the Depots, else Id definitely draw him over to be one of my closest assistants! Pan Bin: On behalf of my junior, I thank your entire damn family! Truly! *** Sir Pan had at last resolved the headache that was the white jade horse incident, exhaling in relief. Over on Mister Tangs end, the man was extraordinarily pleased with his life of co-habitation. He brought a lot of seeds for flowers and trees in to plant in the courtyard, then left them for Ah-Dong to take care of. Some of the flowers were already fairly bloomed when he bought them. In a split second, the vacant courtyard was crammed with a multitude of colors, turning vibrant and diverse. It gave a sense that the whole yard had come to life in quick order. Even though his own cooking level was nothing to boast about, he gathered a lot of recipes from outside, all in the glorified name of teaching Ah-Dong how to improve her cooking skills. During a downtime, he took advantage of when she was cooking (and when he had nothing to do) to start reading a recipe to her out loud. Sweep felled plum florals, bathe clear. Using snow water, cook white congee. Wait for the finish. Florals go in to cook with it She couldnt help but cover her ears and howl in anguish from his reading. Big brother, I dont recognize those characters! I dont understand anything that youre reading! Mister Tang played innocent. It isnt hard to understand, is it? Come, Ill teach you what these mean. Sweep felled plum florals, bathe clear means that when theres plum flowers in winter, wait for their petals to fall, collect them, then clean them in a wash. Take snow water and add it into the white congee so they boil together But its not winter right now. Where will the plum blossoms come from? One thing can be a hundred different things. Its not just plum blossoms that can be put into congee, but things like scholar and pear flowers, too, and each has its own respective properties. She blinked. What does plum blossom congee taste like, though? Is it like eating a mouthful of petals? Youre really no fun. Fine, lets switch it out for something else, then. Hm okay! This dish is called cold scholar-leaf noodles. You need to specifically pick leaves from high up on a scholar tree, then beat the juice out of them, put it in flour, and roll the dough into thin noodles. After those are cooked, place them in cold water to steep, turning them into cold noodles. After that, chop up garlic, mix it with vinegar and sesame oil, then sprinkle the combination over them. Say, isnt there a scholar tree behind our house? Its summer right now, so how about you try this one next time? Ah-Dong drooled in the wake of that. This sounds tasty! The tree isnt that tall, either! Ill go try it tomorrow! That wont do, Tang Fan said, righteously. Whatll be done if you fall? Im better suited for such labor. Ill go pick them. Huh? You can still climb trees, big brother? Of course. I leapt all over the place as a child, up trees and down rivers. Why? You dont believe me? Ah-Dong sized him up, then shook her head. Tang Fan rolled up his sleeves, ecstatic. You dont believe me, so Ill climb to show you now. Its still early, too, so when I pick the leaves off, we can have this for dinner! But I already cooked the rice, she said, feeling awkward, and you shouldnt do that. What if you fall and Brother Sui scolds you? No worries. Hes still reading files in his study, so he wont mind us for a little while. With that, he turned around, just in time to see someone standing behind him. He hahad. Brother Guangchuan, you finished work so quickly? Sui Zhou nodded. I heard that Sir Tang was going to climb a tree. I came to see it myself. Tang Fan sweated profusely. Whats so great to watch about climbing trees? Im doing this so we can all eat something better. Do you not want to eat it? Sui Zhous face was placid. Who was it that said he was going to make boxia gong,[2] insisting that I get a rabbit? You fiddled with it using a so-called ancient recipe, but the result was so sour and tart, it was practically inedible. Tang Fan quietly wiped his sweat off. That was an accident. I forgot to marinate it in wine beforehand. Then who was the one who volunteered to make bamboo shoot stew last time, but ended up with a pot of boiled paste? Ah-Dongs head poked out from behind him so that she could betray him unfeelingly. It was him! Mister Tang could not lift his head up from getting scolded. The other man enumerated his previous crimes, then straight-up led him away. For all those reasons, you being responsible for just eating is enough. A space like the kitchen is unsuitable for you to enter. With that final blow, Mister Tangs title of useless was crowned upon him henceforth. The expressionless Sui Zhou walked as he lectured him. From now on, whenever Ah-Dong is cooking, dont go in and bother her. Knowing that he was in the wrong, Tang Fan accepted his chiding at once. Got it! What she cooks is what we eat. Dont always be giving her a hard time with weird recipes that make her go randomly experimenting. If you want to eat fancily, you can go do that in a restaurant outside. Got it! The other nodded like he was smashing garlic with his head. Also, you need to eat less at night. Occasionally eating snacks is self-indulgent, you cant do it every day. There was one time where Ah-Dong said that she found pastry crumbs under your desk when she swept your room. She thought there were rats roaming about at first. Got it! Mister Tang was quite exasperated. I lived like this when I was alone before. How come I acknowledged one little sister and gained one friend, yet it seems like Ive suddenly found two moms for myself, instead? Over a long period of living under the same roof as Sui Zhou, he discovered that the life the other man led was simple to the point of dryness. For their typical working days, they both left at about the same time, then came back at different ones, but they were still able to eat dinner together for the most part. Following dinner, they would chat for a time, then return to their respective rooms to read. Sometimes, theyd also play go and other such games, but Sui Zhous go-playing power wasnt up to par, so he lost basically every round, Tang Fan tyrannically wiping the floor with him. A lot of the time, the Northern Bastion Office constantly had things that werent finished being done, dossiers that werent finished being read, criminals that werent finished getting apprehended, and secrets that werent finished being sussed out. He was several times busier than Tang Fan; they had to manage things inside the palace, as well as things outside it. At Sui Zhous position, him not coming home the whole night was a common occurrence. Contrary to reason, he was rigid and serious by nature, unlike others who would go dining, wining, wenching, and gambling every once in a while. His lifes trajectory was more simple than Tang Fans, not resembling that of a high-tier younger gen at all. Mister Tang was consciously aware that as a friend, him transforming Sui Zhous bland life was mandatory. Therefore, in his spare time, he would think up some ideas in the hopeful pursuit of enriching the others life outside of work. Like right now, for example. Cmon, cmon, cmon, Brother, these are all folk stories that Ive hoarded over the years. Take a look at them when youre free. You shouldnt be burying your head in official business all the time, itll make you age faster. Ones duty is important, but you need to live life, dont you? Tang Fan said with a grin, heaping a huge stack of books onto the mans writing desk. After getting along with Sir Tang for a good while, Sui Zhou had personally experienced the random eccentricities beneath the others refined exterior. Hearing this, he had no choice but to put his brush down, then look through the books he had brought somewhat helplessly. Collected Treasures, A Flowers Tale, Yingyings Biography, The Western Journey, A Story Told of King Wu of Zhou, Precious Karmic Blessings, A Record of Passions[3] Ive read all these before. Youve read them all? Tang Fan was greatly shocked. One truly couldnt be judged by their appearance! He couldnt tell at all! A time before, White Lotus followers were using books to push their words, disseminating rumors and disturbing the public mind with lies. Because of that, the Office needed to check through stories on the market, lest those with intent use the fame of those books to make a rebellion true. He rifled through to the bottom-most book, then pulled it out. What is this book, Pear Blossom Fate? Sir Tang gave an oh, having a rare bit of embarrassment. I wrote that one. [1] Small, my ass. Any small Chinese courtyard China puts most modern-built houses to shame in terms of size. Take a look at Sui Zhous possible house here. [2] ϼ, literally translated as offering for parting red clouds. Essentially rabbit hot-pot. Thinly-sliced meat is placed into a hotpot until it cooks and forms a cloud, after which spicy red pepper is added to the final pot. [3] Collected Treasures: A very generic name for anthologies, likely fabricated. A Flowers Tale: A Tang Dynasty story that has since been lost. Precious Karmic Blessings: Generic love story title. A section of Dream of the Red Chamber is titled this, but I doubt its meant to be that. Fabricated. A Record of Passions: Again, a generic title. Fabricated. CH 28 Sui Zhou really didnt know what expression to use when facing Mister Tang, here. It was said that he possessed the talent of a Prime Scorer even if he ultimately didnt get the position, he had still been fourth in the whole country, receiving a commendation from the Sacred One himself. Were he to write something like Interpreting the Analects or A New Understanding of Master Zhu, it would be seen as applying his knowledge and returning to his roots. So what was he even doing right now, running off to write these romantic stories? Tang Fan beamed, not ashamed at all. He was actually rather proud. My salary is low, so Ive earned a bit of money from literary works. You dont need to be so surprised, Guangchuan. No one even knows that I wrote it, anyway. Its gotten a thousand copies printed and sold, though, which is superb in terms of sales. With his interest thoroughly piqued, Sui Zhou pulled out that book alone. Ill peruse it. Thats really great! Youve accepted my book, and I just so happen to have something to bother you about. Sui Zhou raised a brow to express his suspicion. Tang Fan felt that since the other had taken his book, he could trouble him with doing a minor little thing. How about you come help me go pick those scholar leaves outside? Sui Zhou: Is he thinking that this is an exchange of favors? Weve already been through this, yet he still hasnt given up on eating those cold noodles? He really is the number one foodie in the world! Mister Tang wasnt thinking thataway, of course; he believed that someone with such a rich life and interests like himself was destined to rescue this piece of wood, Sui Zhou. See? After getting him in his mix, the other mans life swiftly brimmed with sunshine. However, he didnt get to eat the scholar-leaf noodles he was hung up on to the very end. Because Sui Zhou straight-up brought the two of them to a restaurant to pick up food. There were none of those noodles, but there were crab-stuffed oranges and steamed shrimp. The latter was freshly fished from the river. They werent as tasty and sweet as sea prawns, but it was fine. The soy sauce was dotted on top with sesame oil and chopped garlic; peeling a shrimp, then dipping it in, was a pleasure of the human world. Eating with satisfaction, Tang Fan got the spontaneous feeling of being blessed. Guangchuan, you see this hustle and bustle? Being able to pilfer an ephemeral moment of relaxation in life, watching the various manifestations of the mortal plane as you eat thats a leisure that cant be sought, and a type of enjoyment, too. Its something you should sit down and slowly appreciate. The man was well-bred, both unlike those honest officials that were quite uptight and hard to associate with, and also not at all resembling most of the people of the world that wanted homes of gold, an abundance of wealth, and to wake up grasping power over the realm in the palm of their hands, lying down drunk with beautiful women nearby. There was a wisp of a smile within Sui Zhous cold eyes. He shook his head. Even for days off, I typically stay at the Office to look up dossiers, and rarely go out. With getting promoted to Centarch at my age, if I dont try a little hard, people will otherwise believe that my promotion solely relied on the matron Im related to. Tang Fan gave an interjection of shock. Other people can think how they like, thats their business. We are singular people with one pair of hands; no one can shut up that enormous crowd of mouths. As long as you have a clear conscience, all is good, and you may as well enjoy what should normally be enjoyed. That was rather reasonable. Right as Sui Zhou wanted to say something, he heard Mister Tangs words do a one-eighty. Well, then. In a minute, lets go to the store and get us a couple packs of cold dishes to take back. Itll be just in time to eat for tonight. Sui Zhou stared at him flatly. Tang Fan blinked. That is fine, right? Ah-Dong couldnt keep herself from laughing, covering her mouth. With the addition of one Sui Zhou and one Ah-Dong, Tang Fan had been thinking that he would be heading for a happy life where he wouldnt need to lift a finger from there on out. He didnt expect that the end result would be that he had recruited two old mums for himself, nor for them to take control of everything all day long, especially in regards to food. That control meant that he was forced to merely gaze at the morsels and begin to sigh. Though, generally speaking, a life like this was still pretty great. A couple people would always be waiting for you when you came home every day, and you could eat a piping-hot meal, see smiling faces, and hear words of conversation. His big sister had married off to somewhere far away, but the feeling was entirely different now that it was like he had two extra family members. In Ah-Dongs view, she was a previous member of the Li family; despite Lady Zhang being nice to her and Ah-Chun being willing to take care of her, she had still been just a servant, where a comfortable life wasnt meant for her. Superiors and inferiors were to be treated differently, so no matter how active she was, she couldnt be too unbridled. That was why she had forever liked to run off and find Tang Fan. Having now acknowledged him as her elder brother, her sensation of having family was similarly hard to describe. When she had just moved into the Sui home, the little lady had been so excited, she didnt sleep well for several days on end. It wasnt just them, truthfully. Sui Zhou didnt say anything on the surface, but he was coming back home a greater and greater number of times nowadays, and doing so earlier and earlier, not even steeping in the Bastion Office for all of his rest days. His train of thought was likely about the same as Tang Fans. Even so, tracking the location of Lady Chen wasnt going smoothly. If she was by herself right now, she certainly wouldnt be able to get far, due to the rigorous questioning at gates and documents of travel needed for coming in and out of the city. If she was in cahoots with the White Lotus Society like Tang Fan had guessed, however, then it wouldnt be difficult for her to drift out of the capital if she wanted to, under the organizations shelter. Once she left the city, it would be like a fish entering the big ocean the whole wide world was there, really. By means of the Brocade Guards remarkable powers, she was searched for for many days on end, but no trace of her was found in the city. The woman appeared to have completely vanished into the sea of people. On the day of the cases outbreak, Tang Fan could have had her detained as well, but he had already sensed at the time that something was slightly off about her, then thought to use a long line to catch a big fish, seeing if she possibly had any accomplices or subsequent tricks. Unexpectedly, she was actually sly enough to avail herself of the opportunity where everyone thought that she wasnt of much importance, and where the dispatched bailiffs were only watching at a distance, to flee without a trace in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, the day before Li Man was to be transferred from his detainment in Wanping Countys jail to the Ministry of Justices prison, something even more baffling occurred: Li Man had died. It was suicide. After he had smashed the bowl used for serving convicts food, he purposefully concealed a fragment, then, in the dead of night, stabbed it right into his own chest. He perished from excessive blood loss on top of the mortal wound, and was already without breath by the time he was found. Upon the wall next to his corpse were two characters. He had written them, stroke by stroke, with the blood of his own heart. Tang Fan. Those blood-red characters were truly frightening, reflected in the staring, blank, wide eyes of his corpse. It scared the jailer that discovered the scene so much, he screamed. There were always a lot of prisoners that couldnt stand the torture in prison and killed themselves, but, throughout the ages, death was still the hardest thing to do. Even when sentenced to an autumn beheading, many people would rather pull through until the final moment where the blade chopped off their heads, not having the courage to end their own lives. Furthermore, for prisoners like Li Man who the Ministry of Justice hadnt yet finalized a verdict for, there might be a chance to end up overturning it, or possibly get exiled instead of simply beheaded. By the time Tang Fan had received the news and went to check it out, Li Mans corpse was no longer there. The cell he had been kept in was dismal and damp, a candles flame still needed to see clearly inside even in broad daylight. The two blood-written words on the wall had since congealed and changed color, but what was there was as visible as ever. Li Man had deserved punishment for his crime. Tang Fan had directly laid his murderous motives and thoughts bare, so it wasnt strange that he had hated him however, could that resentment really have been great enough for him to be obsessed with it prior to his death, to the extent that he would draw Tang Fans name onto the wall? He had to have known that even without Tang Fan, the uxoricide case would likely be exposed by someone else that came along. There was no suspense about it at all. Also at Li Mans point of death, he wasnt concerned about his only son, nor his wealth, nor his wish to survive, but of his hatred towards Tang Fan? Looking at those two words of blood, he got the feeling that there were still a bunch of enigmas lingering about, as well as a bunch of puzzles waiting to be solved. He rushed to the Lis again. Following a coroner confirming that Li Mans body was, in fact, dead, the Lis took it back and were preparing it for a coffin burial. The deceased were to be respected; even a rebellion was allowed to collect its peoples bodies, to say nothing of Li Man, who had merely killed his wife. They did not happily welcome Tang Fan at all, Li Lin especially. As soon as he saw him, his face turned extremely unsightly, and he immediately went to chase him out. This official is simply taking a look, and will leave once Im done, Tang Fan said. Li Lin laughed coldly. Whats so great to look at? Could it be that now that my father is dead, you refuse to let even his corpse go? Ive already heard that right before he died, he wrote your name on the wall, so I havent yet asked you, Sir Tang; what part did you ultimately play in his death? I have no enmity with your family. Why would I play a part? he countered. Thats certainly difficult to explain. Does anyone not know that Ah-Xia had admired you before? And then she ended up like that. You wanting to take revenge for her of your own volition isnt an impossibility. My father was already in prison, too; you really could have done whatever you wanted. Tang Fan didnt feel like defending himself to him. Li Mans crime had its punishment taken from national law. As a Dynasty official, I have to come and investigate the circumstances, since hes now dead. Li Lin refused to budge one bit. Hes already in his coffin and is getting buried in a few days! No one is allowed to disturb him! National law doesnt state that the dead will also receive punishment! Tang Fan simply raised his hand. The bailiffs to his right and left stepped forward, pushing Li Lin and the rest away. Tang Fan moved past the crowd and had Old Wang open the coffins lid. A pallid, bloodless face appeared. The clothes on the body had been switched to a new set. It genuinely was Li Min, though. There was no doubt. Right at the time Tang Fan was pondering silently, Li Lin charged forward to push Old Wang and them away, then guarded the front of the coffin, looking vehemently at Tang Fan. Havent you looked enough? He doesnt want to see any of you! Get lost! He was but a commoner, yet dared be so rude to officials. Old Wang and them were pissed, stepping forth to rebuke him, but they were all stopped by Tang Fan reaching out his hand. The Lis had been planning to move the whole family down south, so now that Li Man was dead, the hall was decorated simply in order to turn it into a funeral hall, with incense sticks given to family members and guests that came to offer condolences. However, with the crime Li Man had committed, there was no way that Lady Zhangs maiden family would be coming, thus making the place deserted. Li Lin, in his mourning clothes, appeared all the more bitterly lonesome, with no one to depend upon. If outsiders were present and saw this scene of confrontation between the two sides, they would absolutely think that Tang Fan was using his status to bully Li Lin. Tang Fan said nothing, merely winding around the coffin to light a stick of incense himself for Li Man. The dead are to be venerated, he then said to Li Lin, so I wont bother you any longer. I just hope that you will take your deceased mothers dignity into consideration. Study well, behave properly, and dont repeat your fathers destructive methods. Presumably, he wants you to go up in life, under the Nine Springs. Li Lin stared at him coldly. Dont trouble yourself with concern about that, Sir. Ever since his primary mothers death, his voice had become deep and hoarse. In all likelihood, he had had his fair share of crying in private, to the point that he was on the brink of losing his voice. Tang Fan frowned, mostly feeling that the teens personality had undergone an immense change after his parents death. He hadnt seen Li Lin many times before then, but the other definitely hadnt been as completely illogical and unreasonable as he was now. Maybe the deaths of Li Man and Lady Zhang really had hit him hard? Since Li Lin wasnt too welcoming towards him, Tang Fan remained no more, soon departing the household. However, the matter was not yet over. The same night he had visited the Lis, the home caught fire. Li Lin and the servants all escaped, while the steward, Old Li, missed the opportunity for that because he wanted to protect Li Mans body. He alone burned to death inside. Paired with the words of blood Li Man had written prior to his death, the whole thing was veiled in mystery. A few days after, Tang Fan was denounced. The one that did so was the Right High Executive of the Board of Justice, Zhuo Xing. The Board of Justice was not the Ministry of Justice. In the Great Ming, apart from the Six Ministries was another division called the Six Boards. The officials in it were trueseventh-rank, if not seventh-rank, all in quite low positions that had no way to compare to the Six Ministries. Even so, they had a collective name; the Board Censors. The Six Boards had been founded by the Great Ancestor long ago. For the sake of allowing the group to specially supervise Court officials and be able to denounce all that they saw as some abuse of the law, he bestowed them with enormous privileges, where even the Cabinet couldnt keep their memorials away. However, in order to prevent them from going rogue, they were set in the lowest possible ranks. That was considered a counterbalance. Li Man had previously threatened Tang Fan by saying that a forebear of his had been a third-rank Assistant Minister, and that he had old senior friends in Court. Those words hadnt been an empty threat, because Zhou Xings father once had an old friendship with Li Mans grandfather. That had purely been the affections of a prior generation, though, and upon coming to Li Mans, they were shallow; he wouldnt have had not a single soul come to speak up in his defense when he went to prison, elsewise. Even so, the dead still left a tad of residual feelings. With Li Mans evidence having been conclusive, Zhuo Xing couldnt defend him when the Ministry of Justice hadnt yet made a final determination. Now that Li Man was dead and had written Tang Fans name pre-mortem, everything seemed mighty suspicious. For that reason, Zhuo Jing presented a memorial accusing Tang Fan of making a mistake when investigating the case, as he believed that the man couldnt shed skepticism from Li Man suddenly dying before the verdict. In the Great Ming, anyone that wasnt carrying a couple of denouncement memorials on their backs would be embarrassed to call themselves officials whenever they went outside. Since Li Mans incident was indeed a bit suspicious, Tang Fan just temporarily stepped down from his post so as to avoid scrutiny, facing the wall in standby as he awaited punishment. He didnt think anything of it, but Pan Bin was infuriated. Although Mister Pan normally had nothing good to say about his junior, he still considered him his groupie, and now he was being bullied by someone for no real reason. Pan Bin had no choice but to give in a little bit when facing Wang Zhi, Marquis Wuan, and other such people due to their domains and different authorities, playing the part of a younger grandson. Facing off with colleagues that were fellow civil officials, he wasnt so polite. Everyone has a couple of old connections these years. If you have them, would I not? He unleashed his connections in a rage. Soon after, another censor denounced Zhuo Xing as being unjust in his role he knew well that evidence against Li Man was concrete and irrefutable, yet intended to get the verdict overturned for him. How many bribes had he accepted from the Li family, for him to slander an official in a merchants name? Little by little, both sides came to fight hardily with their words. Tang Fan, the one actually implicated, was instead sitting by himself and reflecting. Why had Li Man senselessly killed himself in prison? Why would he write his name before death? Why did the Li home suddenly catch fire, for yet another body to coincidentally be burned? In the same vein, wasnt the death of Old Li suspicious? Setting writing implements up on the tabletop, he used them to write several different names. Li Man, Li Lin, Lady Zhang, Lady Chen, Ah-Xia. The day was getting later, and Sui Zhou hadnt yet come back. He was probably caught up in Office stuff again. Ah-Dong had already made up all the food, and had placed it in a pot to keep it warm. She and Tang Fan sat in the courtyard to bask in the chill, while also waiting for Sui Zhou to return for dinner. Propping her chin up, she peered inquisitively at the characters Tang Fan had written down. Because she was still small, her legs didnt touch the ground, so she swung them in the air. Big brother, how do you pronounce those? He pointed out each one, taught her how to say them, and told her what they meant. Giving her a piece of paper and a brush, he had the wee girl scrawl them out herself, then started to sort out his clues. Lady Zhang was dead. She was the initiative victim in this case. The reason Li Man wanted her dead was quite simple: over a very long time, hatred was borne from love, and he came to find her an eyesore. With her refusing to divorce, he didnt hesitate to bring her harm thereafter. Ah-Xia was currently still in prison. Tang Fan had already gone to question her; she didnt know anything at all. From start to finish, she had merely been an unfortunate and exploited person that had no choice but to yield to Li Man due to her lost purity, helping him commit evil. There were three people left no, four people. Tang Fan realized that he had overlooked the steward, Old Li. Li Man killed himself in prison, writing his name before he died. The Li home caught fire with Li Mans body inside, and Old Li wasnt able to escape, either. After the Lis buried both Old Li and Li Man, they left the capital in haste, heading South as was previously mentioned. Li Man had just died, and then his house caught fire. That was rather too much of a coincidence. Or, perhaps one could audaciously suppose that Li Man hadnt died at all. Rather, someone else did in his stead, and he had consequently destroyed the corpse and evidence completely, in order to avoid someone finding something off later on? The possibility of that actually did exist, on account of Li Man being locked in the Wanping County jail. Despite the cases importance, there were still many opportunities for doing some tricks amongst this. It was hard to safeguard against jailers that coveted profits and were willing to help him with hoodwinking others. Tang Fan couldnt figure it out, though. When he had gone to the Lis that day, he had clearly seen Li Mans corpse. Him faking death as he lied there would have been absolutely impossible. He had to know that the corpse would get inspected by the coroner before it got released from the jail. Could he have bought him off, too? No wait. Wait. He felt like he was still missing some major link. What was Young Lord Li usually like? he asked Ah-Dong. She tilted her head. He didnt like talking much, and was really shy. He was good to us, but I didnt see him often because he was always shut up in his room to study. He had his own maid, too. How was he towards your Madam? Very filial. He had been raised by her since he was little. On the contrary, towards the Old Lord, who didnt come back much throughout the year, he was respectful and fearful. Tang Fan stood up, then paced around the courtyard with his hands behind his back. Filial, shy, didnt like to talk. Right. That was the impression he himself had towards Li Lin before this. He still recalled that following Li Mans arrest, he had gone to Li Lin to discuss Ah-Dongs redemption, and the teen had a guarded and hateful attitude towards him. Plus, there were those extreme words he had said to him. At the time, he still believed that Li Lins personality had greatly changed due to suffering upset, but that now seemed to not be the truth. Swiftly turning his head, he asked her, Do you think that Li Lin was similar-looking to Li Man? She nodded. They were. The Madam always said that the Young Lord and the Old Lord seemed to have come from the same mold. Even though she had left the Li family, she still hadnt altered the language of her habitual addresses. He didnt question her anymore, but accelerated the beat of his soles. Thats right! Thats right! They should have been thinking about this from another angle to begin with. He hypothesized that, in the interim following Li Mans arrest and proceeding Tang Fans meeting with Li Lin, Li Man had already swapped identities with his son. When Li Lin went to visit the prisoner, the other likely convinced him to swap places with him in jail, fibbing that he himself would go out and find a way to suppress the case. With Li Lins timid and bashful nature, it wouldve been impossible for him to oppose his fathers idea. At that juncture, were he to stuff a bit of coin to the jailer, then find some pretext to have him open the cell door to allow father and son to reunite for a short time, the jailer would inevitably agree to it. Therefore, when Li Lin was done visiting, that Li Lin was actually Li Man. Since the father-son duo had similar statures and approximate looks, as long as Li Man tweaked his disguise a little and deliberately imitated his sons voice, the servants wouldnt dare to say anything even if they had doubts. The only one entitled to put forth a question in Li Mans presence was likely the devoted steward, Old Li. The man might have found out about their identities being swapped. According to his faithful character, he assuredly would have urged Li Man not to do such a thing. Afraid that he would disclose something, Li Man simply threw caution to the wind, burning Old Li and Li Lin up into ash together in order to eliminate the evidence. As for Li Lins cause of death, some uncertainties were still around that. When he thought about it now, though, suicide composed the majority of probabilities. With filial piety pressing down on his crown, his weak self had no other option but to comply with his fathers request to switch identities. However, on account of his mothers death, as well as his fathers cold-blooded lack of feeling, Li Lins heart had to have been full of painful struggles; everything that had happened was in complete conflict with the books of wise men he had read before. That contradicting state of mind caused the teen boy incomparable confusion, and he ultimately chose suicide to escape it all. Yet, as he was dying, he still worried after his mothers death and his fathers cruelty, so he wrote Tang Fans name on the wall it wasnt to blame him, but rather to hint at him, hoping that he would be able to solve all these riddles! Just like that, it all made sense! Thinking up to there, Tang Fan automatically began to breathe quicker. He wasnt excited because he had everything figured out, but rather because he felt that Li Man was really too awful a man. What had started as an entirely uncomplicated wife-murder case ended up having a conclusion like this. Starting from the very instant he had committed the murder, Li Man had to have made two plans. If he could bribe officials into downplaying the case, that would have been best, of course. If he couldnt, then everything would advance according to his other plan: he would use underhanded means to get his way, replace himself with his son, then ultimately make his getaway. The Lis had already moved Southwards two days back. Tang Fan was certain that even if he sent people to give chase right this second, they would likely only be able to hunt down the scattered Li servants. As for the son-feigning Li Man, he had definitely long since carted the Li assets away to parts unknown. Combining that with the previous disappearance of Lady Chen, a shadow of the White Lotus Society really might be inside these events. Brother! Brother! His sleeve got shaken a couple of times. Snapping out of it, he noticed Ah-Dong was watching him with an inscrutable look. What is it? What were you thinking about, big brother? Ive been shouting all this time, but you didnt answer! You almost scared me to death! The little girl patted her chest, then pointed at the day-worn Sui Zhou that had just returned. Brother Sui is back! Lets get ready to eat! Tang Fan creased his brow. Guangchuan, I thought up a little something regarding the Li case. I was just about to tell you that Im afraid Ill need to trouble your Office again. Sui Zhou nodded. Lets eat first. Ah-Dong skipped out from inside with the dishes, echoing what she had heard. Yes, yes, lets eat first! Im about to die of hunger! Sui Zhou patted Tang Fans arm. Well talk more after. His language was simple and speech dull, but from that dullness came a feeling that made one place ample trust in him. Tang Fan didnt notice that his own expression immediately relaxed. He nodded, smiling towards him. Thanks to Ah-Dong today, I finally got to eat scholar-leaf noodles. Id been craving them for a long time! Youve got some nerve to say that, big brother! she shouted. You ran off to climb that tree and narrowly fell off it! I almost broke all my bones trying to catch you! Sui Zhou: He had thought that after taking him out to eat that one day, the other would have since abandoned this notion. Who could have foreseen that Sir Tang would take advantage of his denouncement-induced downtime to persist with climbing the tree and picking the leaves himself? Sui Zhou, at last, learned what an epicurean obsession was. The translator says: Pan Bin can diss his shidi all day long, but when anyone else starts doing it, the Mortal Kombat theme starts playing in the background. Ive done some translation touch-ups, so if you see things that are different, youre not going crazy. Everything is fine. CH 29 Ah-Dong was as much of a glutton as Tang Fan. Back at the Lis, she would go to the cook to nab things to eat. Whenever they made pastries for the Madam and Young Lord, they would put an extra piece or two in after packing the dish, which were frequently pilfered by Ah-Dong. It was to the point that, as an eight-year-old, her shape didnt have much of the slenderness of a young girl, but instead gradually trended towards plumpness. Her days in the kitchen had not been in vain, at least. She had snuck a trick or two out of the cooks lessons, and could thus fully satisfy the various demands of her big, chowhound brother. Take these scholar-leaf noodles, for example; after hearing Tang Fans description, she also got a bit a craving for them. Of the brother-sister duo, one climbed the tree, the other squeezed the juice into the noodles, and together, they actually managed to cobble the noodles together. The white jade-like bowl was loaded with thin, delicate, rolled-out noodles made with scholar-leaf juice, then sprinkled with chopped garlic, sesame oil, and vinegar. In an instant, the aroma of the vinegar flowed out in every direction. Tang Fan and Ah-Dong both closed their eyes in simultaneous pseudo-intoxication were someone to state that they were only sworn siblings, no one would believe them. Cmon, cmon, hurry and eat! Tang Fan personally made up a bowl for Sui Zhou, smiling as he pushed the seasonings and spoon over to him. Sui Zhou said nothing, lowering his head to try it. The taste genuinely was good. The freshly-picked leaves had an earthly fragrance, so once their juice had permeated the noodles, those subsequently tasted of the leaves as well; fresh, delicious, and best for the summer. No wonder Tang Fan had been preoccupied with them. Seeing him nod, Tang Fans eyes shone. Next time, lets try out golden chicken! Before Sui Zhou could answer, Ah-Dong had already started calling out from beside him. Big brother, dont forget that you scratched your arm when you climbed that tree this morning. If you go to catch a chicken, are you going to get pecked? He gave her a glare. I hadnt climbed a tree in a long time, so my memory was foggy is all. Ill get good at it after a couple more times. Youre still going to do it?! she howled. I had to stand under the tree and look after you! My heart was going up and down! I was scared that youd fall! If you actually do next time, then there wont be a time after that! I might actually die of fright! Tang Fan reached out to go tug her on the ear. All you need to do is eat, little girl, yet you nag all day long. Be careful, or you wont be able to marry later! In spite of Ah-Dongs roundness, her movements were surprisingly quick. She sprung up and hid behind Sui Zhou in a flash, giggling as she made weird faces at Tang Fan. Are you hurt? Sui Zhou asked. Tang Fan shook his head. Dont listen to her nonsense. I just got cut by a branch. Sui Zhou nodded, and said nothing. Scholar-leaf noodles, cold dressed cucumber, spiced beef one meat and two vegetarian, all of them cool, crisp, tasty, and appetizing dishes. One that had been hot from head to toe would feel refreshed after eating them. Sui Zhou had formerly lived by himself. He was able to cook, but because he was always busy, he would concentrate on handling things or solving whatever in the bureau a lot of the time, meaning that he would often have his meals while flipping through files, not tasting a thing of them. Seldom was he able to be like this; sitting around with a couple other people, chatting as he ate, and tasting the carefully prepared flavors of the food. At the start of this, he still felt that coming back home to eat after working late was a bit pointless. It was only via Tang Fans insistence that even did so. Now that he had gotten used to doing it, though, he would always rush back no matter how late it had gotten. It was an undetectable, subconscious influence. After eating, Ah-Dong cleaned up the dishware, while Sui Zhou said to Tang Fan, Follow me. He brought him into his study. Sleeve, he ordered. He forever spoke succinctly, wouldnt talk where he didnt need to, and insisted upon reducing the language he used when he did have to. Sir Tang thought to himself, Its good that Im smart, because otherwise, grasping the meaning of his random gibberish would be an absolute challenge. Once he rolled up his sleeve, a long gash could be seen on the outer side of his right arm. It wasnt deep, but had likely bled quite a lot before, and presently had a bloody scab following its stoppage that looked a bit dreadful. Sui Zhou glanced at it, then took a bottle of ointment out from the collection on the table, dipped his fingers in to get a bit of it, and applied it evenly to Tang Fans wound. The cut scorched painfully, but it was an ache that could be ignored. Tang Fan didnt grimace, but after the ointment was smeared on, a comfortable sensation of coolness swiftly came through to his wound. Even the pain seemed to have dulled by a lot. This medicine of yours is really effective. I wont have anything to worry about if I fall again! He was joking, but got a cold look from Sui Zhou that made him shut up immediately. You want there to be a next time? Mister Tang tried to bear with it, yet couldnt. But those scholar-leaf noodles were really great, dont you think? He sounded like hed been wronged. Centarch Sui couldnt help but tick the corner of his mouth up slightly, though he just so happened to turn away to prevent the other from seeing it. If you still want to eat those later on, tell me, Sui Zhou was heard to answer, but only after a long while. Tang Fan smiled wide. You truly are a good brother! Centarch Sui, who had been crowned with the title of good brother just because he was willing to climb a tree and pick leaves, felt exasperated. Werent you going to talk about the Li family? The other went oh a few times. Remembering his proper business, he promptly switched from foodie mode into a serious one. He relayed all of his conjecture from start to finish, ending it with, I once heard Old Li explain that back when Li Man had relinquished the imperial exams and switched professions to business, he suffered many losses due to insufficient experience. He had lost his assets, as well. The family owed a pile of debts, being close to desperation, but because of some business he made from an unknown source, they improved in the span of a night. Old Li was just a steward, so he hadnt known the specifics, but now that I think about it, maybe the reason Li Man was able to make a sudden recovery was due to the assistance of the White Lotus Society, and the two sides have long been affiliated. With his circumstances of having a virtuous wife, filial son, properties, and high wealth, why else would he be bewitched to the point that he would kill his wife and son? Sui Zhou nodded. Ill report about this to the higher ups and proceed to track the whereabouts of Li Man and Lady Chen. The Society has gotten increasingly prevalent in recent years. The influence of their collusion with the Oirats was indispensable in the Tumu Stronghold Crisis more than ten years back, too. As soon as he mentioned the great Crisis, Tang Fan sighed. The year that major, world-shocking event occurred, he hadnt yet been born, but that didnt keep him from understanding it. It wasnt just him; everyone in the world would likely sigh the same whenever the matter was brought up. Stemming from the Emperors ignorance and willfulness, hundreds of thousands of people died from it, and there was no lack of merited officials of all kinds among them. On top of that, the capitals Three Legions were nearly wiped out. Later, his previous imperial names became taboo, and the benevolent governing of his subsequent title as Yingzong was what was brought out to be spoken of. However, Tang Fan believed that if one persons maturation required hundreds of thousands of human lives to accumulate, that was really too bleak. What was done was done, and no matter how much Yingzong had dressed himself up, he could never hide the mistake he had made. He had been taken hostage, turning into the disgrace of the nation, and then the Oirats barged right in while the capital was completely defenseless had Yu Qian not boldly stepped up, stood fast again public opinion, persisted with not shifting the capital, established a new Emperor, and also put himself in the lead of the defensive wars launch, how the capital would be right now, and how the Great Ming would be right now, were both difficult to say. Looking at how the Tumu event went, the Societys plans are quite grand, he warned. In all likelihood, the thing with Li Man is only the tip of the iceberg. Once the White Lotus Society got involved, it became something that Tang Fan couldnt resolve by himself. The Northern Bastion Office had much more abundant experience in this field, so handing this over for them to investigate was clearly much more suitable. Sui Zhou nodded, then said icily, With how Li Mans character is, even without that Lady Chen or the Societys instigation and enchantment, he probably would have done the same thing anyway. He plainly laid out that he had no good feelings towards this man that had killed his own family. The amount of people like him in the world isnt few, Tang Fan answered, thus giving the Society these opportunities to seize. Noticing Sui Zhous look of tiredness, he asked, Have you run into some kind of touchy issue? Sui Zhou shook his head. Its as I told you last time. The Societys followers use romantic stories to mix rumors therein, wanting to rampantly bewitch the commonfolk. Theres been nothing but the seizure of books these days. Sir Tang went ah, smiling a bit ingratiatingly. Guangchuan, cant we talk about this? If you all see a book called Pear Blossom Fate and dont have a problem with it after you thumb through it, can you not seize it? Theres also this book called Flying Swords His voice got quieter and quieter under the other mans expressionless stare, until he eventually just looked guilty. Orders from the top say that every single romance book is to be seized, Sui Zhou replied. Those that check through them only flip through casually, making it hard to discover whether theres anything wrong inside or not. Thats why its preferable to be harsh as opposed to lenient. Furthermore, he paused to look at Tang Fan, icy expression finally suffused with a trace of helplessness, youre a Dynasty-ordained official thats run off to write an anonymous book like that. If that gets out, your reputation likely wont be kept. Tang Fan chuckled. Whats wrong with doing it? Its not just me, but a lot of people in Court that do this, too. No one can tell whos who with pen names, anyways. How could somebody support their family otherwise? Relying on salary alone? If they dont want to be corrupt, they can only take a different approach. Hm I may as well tell you you know Assistant Minister He of the Ministry of Justice, right? He anonymously wrote that book Moon-Viewing to the Sound of Tides the same year he had been a Hanlin editor as me, though hes since been posted elsewhere. Hes written a couple of books for his livelihood before. Because his writing style is more free than mine, and the content more erotic, theyve received no small amount of welcome from booksellers. His sales are higher than mine. Theres also people from the Ministry of Rites that will sell the papers of the high-rankers to bookmills every time a provincial exam is finished, because they want to make profits off of the wave of senior students that buy them to analyze and reference off of. That makes even more money than our story-writing! Sui Zhou listened to him recount this all like he was very familiar with it, dumbstruck. He was thinking about what he had said about Assistant Minister He, of course. He was an honest and serious old man of fame; it was really hard for him to imagine that that old guy would write romance novels like this in secret. Even with the Brocade Guards interrogation methods, he still didnt know about this, to boot. Seemed like he needed to do a smidgen of self-reflection. Then, he heard Tang Fan moan and groan, trying to win sympathy. Ah, seriously just look at us civil officials. Look at that all-around prestige! The truth of it is that we study laboriously for decades, then must return courtesies with courtesies once we become officials, but without money, we cant take a single, tiny step forward. Our superiors will throw parties, and if we dont send gifts, thats equivalent to offending them, making advancement tough forevermore. If we think to give gifts yet have no money, we then have no choice but to pilfer those below us, making the citizens suffer in turn. When alls said and done, those that do cant be entirely to blame Im really not advocating for them, though. There arent many that can be bright and resourceful like me, after all, able to get money from simply writing books I have a salary. Tang Fan just kept going. Wouldnt you say so, Guangchuan eh? Whatd you say? I have a salary. No need to worry. Brocade Guards were not much like civil officials. They had both monthly and travel provisions. Monthly provisions were the same as civil officials, being a monthly salary, while travel provisions were allowances for outside assignments. For those that frequently went on abroad assignments like the Northern Bastion Office, their travel expenses werent meager, to say nothing of the fact that when they arrived somewhere, they would get all sorts of gifts and off-the-books income. The Guards original responsibility had been imperial ceremony, too, and they were to maintain flashiness at all times, on top of posturing as a fiendish group of gentlemen that scared everyone that saw them. Hence, even if there came a time that the Dynasty was short of supplies and the Ministry of Revenue couldnt give salaries for a while, they would absolutely never dare to deduct the Brocade Guards pay. Everyone knew that the persimmons one had to pick needed to be soft. Tang Fan had lived alone, so he hadnt needed to support a whole family. Adding on Ah-Dong wouldnt have cost much, either. However, he was an eater of fine food, so he would sometimes (always) run off to places, resulting in him not having much saved. In contrast, Sui Zhou was a great paragon of thriftiness, because he had also lived alone, yet had no vices, dissimilar to Tang Fans unreasonable adoration of good food. Outside of returning home from the bureau every day, his life was simpler than an ascetic monks. He would send New Years gifts to his family and superiors as according to standards, but after the year was done, he would still have a lot of savings, completely blowing Tang Fans out of the water. Hearing what he said, Tang Fan was stunned for a while, after which he started to laugh wildly. He ended up having to support himself on Sui Zhous shoulder in order to keep steady, rubbing his own stomach in pain. Ouch well, then, us siblings will depend on you from now on, Centarch Sui. Once I use up all my salary, youll have to help me out! Mn. Tang Fan still couldnt resist wanting to laugh, but he was a bit touched, as well. He knew that not everyone was capable of making the man say stuff like this. To be honest, Guangchuan, I used to have a so-so opinion of the Brocade Guard. It was only after I met you that I learned that there was a real gent among the Guards like you, worthy of friendship and being viewed as a close confidante! There was a trace of warmth in Sui Zhous cold eyes, though he gave the same concise mn as ever. My maternal grandmothers day of longevity is in two days. Do you want to come with? he asked. His grandmothers surname was Zhou, and she had an unusual status her older sister happened to be Empress Dowager Zhou. Dowager Zhou had formerly been of common background. The Ming era had a rule that all the women in the imperial harem had to be selected from good families amongst the common folk, not from high officials, so as to prevent their relatives joining forces and overthrowing the government. She received the title of Noble Consort as a harem woman, then eventually became the Empress Dowager through her status as the Emperors mother. The Zhou family enjoyed an abrupt rise to the top, riding on her success. In addition to her father being granted a posthumous title, her brothers were each given nobility, and, on account of his connection to Lady Zhou, Sui Zhous maternal grandfather was granted the tile of Commanding Envoy of the Brocade Guard. Commanding Envoy was the highest post in the Guard, but not an exclusive one. Consort Wans little brother Wan Tong, for example, was also currently a Commanding Envoy, but he actually held solid authoritative power. There was another Envoy named Yuan Bin, who had once saved the Late Emperors life; his influence was great in the Guard, and he had equivalent power. Aside from those two, there were many other Commanding Envoys. The majority of them were empty posts granted by the Emperor, where they hung their name up, took in money, and didnt have to work for anything. They, of course, had no real authority. This type of consort-kin nobility belonged to the ranks of the parvenu, and was incomparable to that of Marquis Wuans sort, where the title was gained through merit, then succession. They hadnt a bit of power, simply needing to say a few things that were nice to hear to get yearly coin and food. The Sui family was held aloft by the Empress Dowagers blessing. Sui Zhous father and brother occupied empty posts in the Guard, as well; the types that did nothing, got cash, and were eye-drawing all the same. They werent direct consort-kin with Empress Dowager Zhou, though, nor was their surname Zhou, which gave them an even greater layer of separation from each other. For that reason, after Sui Zhou entered the Guard, he had to start from Pennon and slowly work his way up. Since it was impotent and consort-kin, civil officials generally refused to associate with the Sui family. One reason was to avoid suspicions, and the other was that they didnt want to lower their own statuses. Tang Fan, however, wasnt thinking that at all when he heard the others request. Were brothers, so your grandma is my grandma. Call for me when its time, Ill go with you. Sui Zhou gave an mn, heart slightly warm. Because of the Li affair being related to the White Lotus Society, the Northern Bastion Office attached extreme importance to it after getting Sui Zhous report. Yet, just as Tang Fan had foreseen, Li Man and Lady Chen had both made prior plans, already fully prepared for this. Once the Offices people chased down the plausible Li caravan in the confines of Baoding Prefecture, they discovered that the only ones remaining inside were Ah-Qiu and couple other servants. As stated by her and the rest, after departing the capital, the one acting as Li Lin did not actually move the family to Nanjing as he had originally agreed to, but instead immediately divvied a bit of silver up to each of the servants, dismissed them all on the spot, and told them to go off in separate directions. As for himself, he sat in the carriage alone, then made for the North, leaving no traces behind. The servants still had no idea that the Young Lord Li they had seen up until that point had likely long been switched out on the inside for someone else. With things coming to this, finding Li Lin and Lady Chen was not going to be a days worth of effort, nor was it within the scope of Shuntian Prefectures authority. After Sui Zhou handed this over to his colleagues, Tang Fan could just wash his hands of this and quit caring, but every time he looked at Ah-Dong, he would still occasionally think of Lady Zhang, Ah-Xia, and the others. In his heart, he had to sigh for how Mother Nature toyed with people. From Sui Zhous personal statement, as well as all the doubtful aspects of the matter, the case became unresolved. Tang Fans denouncement was also left unpursued, so Pan Bin specially dispatched Old Wang and some others to go find Tang Fan and take him back to resume his post. Even though his Prefect of a senior frequently made all sorts of inconveniences for him, his heart wasnt poor at all, and they further had the kinship of shared tutelage. If he hadnt been that way, Tang Fan never would have abandoned his cushy and noble post as a Hanlin editor to go towards his seniors smoke signals. Those two days passed. On Old Madam Zhous birthday, Tang Fan brought Ah-Dong along as he went with Sui Zhou to the Sui home for celebration. Old Madam Zhou had birthed one son and one daughter, the latter of which happened to be Sui Zhous mother. After Mama Sui married Papa Sui, they had three children. Sui Zhou was second in seniority, with an elder brother Sui An above him, and a little sister Sui Bi below him. In spite of counting as consort-kin with the Empress Dowager, the Sui family was ultimately just an average one. It didnt contain multiple wives and concubines like Marquis Wuans Estate and the Li family, thus making the atmosphere murky; Sui Zhous father had just the one wife. His paternal grandparents had already passed, too. Old Madam Zhous son worked as an outbound minor official, with only her daughters family remaining in the capital. The siblings had both thought things over; in order to prevent their old mom from toiling in travel just to spend her later years somewhere else, they decided to let her stay in the capital. After that, the Suis bought a neighboring residence to move her into so that they could look after her without other people gossiping about it. After he heard about the seniority of the Sui kin, Tang Fan was a bit confused. That means your family setup is actually pretty uncomplicated. Why did you want to move out and live alone? My elder brother was sealed as a Centarch based on connections, but its an empty post, Sui Zhou answered lightly. Hes not accustomed to the Guards work and still wants to rely on his studies to stand out from his peers, but he still hasnt had success in passing the provincial exams. On top of that, were now of the same position even though I started out a bit lower than him, so that sister-in-law of mine is a bit cross with me. Rather than be at constant loggerheads at home all day long, I simply moved out for some peace and quiet. This time, Tang Fan understood. Every family really did have its own inscrutable scriptures. Sui An, as the eldest son, was going to inherit the family business in the future, so his parents were bound to have a bit of bias in regards to his importance. With how Sui Zhou was, he certainly wouldnt have the patience for these pesky, inconsequential household matters, so he simply moved out, avoiding conflict and preventing fights amongst brothers. Old Madam Zhous son couldnt come off the field for her longevity day, so it was arranged by her daughter. Previously, due to the Old Madams relation to the Empress Dowager, the Sui family didnt dare to slight her, but she herself didnt want it to be a big thing. She said that she had come from an ordinary family, her present wealth gained only from basking in the light of the Dowager. Fortune should be all the more cherished, so, instead of wantonly setting things up, wasting money, and inviting a heap of people she didnt know to come celebrate her birthday, she would rather just invite her children and grandchildren over in one sum to have a lively dinner. The birthday banquet was in her house. The Sui family only needed to go next door to congratulate her, which was quite convenient. As soon as Tang Fan arrived at the Zhou home, he realized that apart from Ah-Dong and him, everyone else was from the Sui family. Old Madam Zhou was more than sixty years old, with a head of white hair and a kindly look about her. Upon seeing Sui Zhou, she beamed, reaching out to pull him over. My dear grandson came to visit me! Quick, quick, come over! Despite Sui Zhous habitual, year-round face of seriousness, he couldnt help but soften up to her. He first paid birthday respects, then presented his gift, respectfully calling out her title of grandmother. Good, good, good! She said thrice in a row. Seeing Tang Fan and Ah-Dong standing beside him, she smiled and asked, Ah-Zhou, is this your friend? Before Sui Zhou could answered, someone else spoke up. Today is a family banquet, second brother. The Old Madam said not to bring outsiders, so why did you bring someone we dont know? Theres women here, too! Hes not even someone close enough to be considered family! Youre really being too careless! The speaker was the wife of Sui Zhous older brother, Lady Jiao. Married brothers at odds were most likely that way due to conflicts between their wives. Sui Zhou wasnt married yet, but since she found him displeasing to the eye, she talked into her husbands ear throughout the day. Over time, the bond between brothers suffered adversely. Plus, Sui Zhou had grown up before the Old Madams eyes. While the parents were biased in favor towards their eldest, she was biased in favor towards Sui Zhou. Being a Brocade Guard was a big, popular, lucrative post; as a second son not surnamed Zhou, the hereditary title hadnt extended to him, but the Old Madam said something to the Empress Dowager to immediately get him a solid position that was more enviable than a vapid one. It was little wonder that Lady Jiao would be furious at that disparity in treatment. However, she had forgotten that Sui Zhou was not someone she could badger as she pleased. As soon as she was done, he gave her an indifferent answer: From now on, hes to be considered family. The translator says: WTF, hes so smooth and theyre not even close to a thing yet. (Also, I typed out Consulting Envoy of the Brocade Guard and got Golden Stage flashbacks.) MXS would like to note that Sui Zhous consider him family isnt him coming out of the closet. Slowburn for thee, and also me CH 30 Those words were so authoritarian, no one could say anything for a moment. They all stared at Sui Zhou. This wasnt Tang Fans main venue, so he had no right to speak at the start. That didnt at all hinder him from habitually utilizing his innate case-viewing vision to analyze the hearts of these people, though. With a sweeping look, he could glean a lot of clues off of the words, actions, and airs of each individual. For one example, Sui Zhous parents were docile people. When Lady Jiao started talking, the mother should have shouted to put a stop to it, otherwise. For another example, Sui Zhous elder brother was a similarly reticent, stuffy man. He was a bit similar to Sui Zhou in that regard, though the latter was quiet when he had no need to speak, yet didnt stint on words when it came to needing to speak on a cases analyzed details. His brother, meanwhile, seemed more like his nature and habits made it so that he was slow to talk. As Tang Fan watched, he inwardly shook his head. He had heard Sui Zhou say that Sui An wanted to take the imperial exams, but with a personality like this even if he passed them by sheer luck someday, it would likely be hard for him to go forth with officialdom for long. The question had to be begged; what high-ranking official would like a subordinate that was so uptight, he couldnt make more than three sounds per sentence? In contrast to her husband, Lady Jiao appeared to be eloquent, and overly impatient to get ahead. The docile elders werent suppressing her, so she likely did whatever she wanted in the household on typical days. It wasnt surprising that Sui Zhou had ended up wanting to move out. After Sui Zhou said his part, Tang Fan could no longer be silent. He stepped up, cupping his hands and bowing towards Old Madam Zhou. This humble one is Tang Fan, courtesy Runqing. You may call me the latter, Madam. I am an appointed Judge of Shuntian Prefecture, and a friend of Guangchuan. Ive brought my little sister Ah-Dong today to come congratulate you on your birthday. I pray that your fortune is as vast as the East Sea, and that you live as long as the South Mountain. Ah-Dong obediently bowed in suit, called out Many blessings to you, Old Madam Zhou, and presented her gift as she did so. Madam Zhou grinned from ear to ear. Good, good! Since youre a close family friend, you dont need to take so many pains. Its rare for our Ah-Zhou to bring friends home, yet youre still giving me birthday wishes. You clearly must be a good child, and this little lady is pretty, too very good, very good! In this day and age, it was fashionable to give presents and have them be opened in front of the hosts family. It didnt matter how expensive they were; so long as the meaning behind them was good, the host would be happy. Lady Jiao took the gift box, reached out to untie the cord wrapped around it, then opened it up. What was taken out from inside was a longevity peach carved from white jade. The color was warm, and it was well-made and cute, its palm-size extremely suitable for playing around with in the hand. Old Madam Zhou had also received birthday gifts in the palace before, but she had been frugal all her life and didnt want wanton extravagance. For the banquet, she had consequently only invited her daughters family over for food. Upon seeing this present, she was both ecstatic and startled. Its fine if you just bring yourself here! What need was there to spend money on something so expensive?! Tang Fan smiled. I didnt spend anything at all. You must know, Madam, that my salary is scant, so if I really did want to buy it, I wouldnt be able to afford it. This peach had been passed down in my family, and now that my elders are no longer here, Im re-gifting their things. I hope that you dont look down on it! Despite his modest speech, Sui Zhou only needed to look at the quality of the jade to know that the peach definitely had high value, and was also quite old. For him to be able to have something like this, the Tang family had surely not been lacking in them in the past. The ability to give such an object also displayed the kind regards of the gift-giver. As Old Madam Zhou was sisters with the Empress Dowager, the Sui family had thus seen a lot of officials and nobles prior to this. Furthermore, in the Great Ming, respect for the elderly was a typical convention, where some old women could scold officials in the middle of the street and make their palanquin take a detour. For that reason, when Sui Zhou first introduced Tang Fan as a Shuntian Judge, they really didnt feel any shock, considering Sui Zhous father and brother had inherited posts in the Brocade Guard. But once the jade peach came out, even Lady Jiao tactfully shut her trap. The Old Madam still shook her head. You absolutely mustnt spend so much in the future! Only you being here is fine! Seeing you all makes me so happy! Tang Fan held his smile. Youve misspoken, Madam. When you have a later birthday where youre venerably aged, not only will I spend money, but Im going to spend a lot of it. Ill assuredly look for an even bigger peach to give you, then! She just laughed from his teasing. That mouth of yours is a hundred times sweeter than Ah-Zhous, Ah-Ans, and all the rests, Runqing. Im sure its a hard job for you to get along with the stopped-up gourd that is Ah-Zhou. If he bullies you, you must tell me! Ill right that wrong for you! Tang Fan felt like that somehow sounded like he was about to get married to Sui Zhou. However, he remembered that she was up there in age, and her speech must sometimes not pass through her brain, so he smiled perfunctorily. It was just a family banquet, but the dishes on the table had clearly been cooked with the utmost of care. Although the Suis were poor at words, they had Tang Fan there, and he was amusing the Old Madam. Sui Zhous little sister, Sui Bi, was several years older than Ah-Dong, but the two little girls got on well, and drew in close to start whispering to each other in no time at all. In comparison, Sui Zhous parents and brother seemed to just be sitting by, rarely speaking from start to finish while they lowered their heads to the food. Lady Jiao wanted to interject, but the Old Madam didnt seem to like talking to her much, as she kept holding Tang Fans hand and asking him things. Upon hearing him say that his parents were long dead, his elder sister had married off to somewhere far away, and he wasnt yet married himself, she sighed on repeat. Thats so sad to see a lone man acting as an official in the capital, with no one loving by his side. For someone of your quality, matchmakers must have already tread your threshold worn, yes? What kind of woman do you like? Come, tell me! Ill help you find one, too! As soon as he heard that, Tang Fans scalp went numb. He swiftly moved Sui Zhou out as a shield. As I recall, Madam, Guangchuan seems to be a few years older than me. Hes surely in more of a hurry than I am! Once that was said, he detected the person next to him shooting him an unenthusiastic look, evidently quite displeased with his methodology of drawing in calamity for him. Runqing has high standards. Dont randomly try to tie red threads for him, Sui Zhou said, finally diverting the Old Madams attention. She was none too happy with his statement. Nonsense! Is there no need to marry if you have high standards? Worst comes to worst, Ill go look for the Empress Dowager and have her help find someone. If youre saying that ordinary women dont catch your eye, then a Princess or Dame surely will, eh? Tang Fan wasnt sure how to react. Right as he thought to stop her, he heard Lady Jiao make a sour half-joke nearby. You really are biased, Madam. You and Runqing havent known each other for even half a day, yet youre not neglecting to help him get introduced and be matchmade. Im not sure why youre acting like you have a freshly-acknowledged grandson! The Old Madam giggled. Ive hit it off with the lad, so whats wrong with being a go-between for him? Could it be that you want it, too? Id be happy to ensure a Dame for Ah-An, but wouldnt that mean that you would have to stand aside? Lady Jiao promptly piped down. Tang Fan tried everything he could to make the Old Madam perish the thought. After the meal, since Ah-Dong had clicked with Sui Bi, they stayed for a good long while. He and Sui Zhou said their goodbyes to the Old Madam, only getting released after they had promised to visit her often. After they left, Sir Tang couldnt help but wipe his sweat off. Guangchuan, your Old Madam is really hard to handle. Thank goodness that I didnt have a moment of soft-heartedness, else she might have actually gone to the palace right then and there to get the Dowager to find me a Princess. Are Princesses bad? It sounded like he was poking fun at him, but his expression was as stern as ever, and his tone was frigid. However, Tang Fan had long gotten accustomed to his rigor-mortis face and didnt mind it, merely shaking his head with a laugh. Was taking a Princess as a wife good? No woman in the realm could surpass a respected, proud daughter of Heaven. Of course it would be good. Yet, becoming the Consort of a Princess or a Dame meant that one could not participate in the government. Even if they were an official, they would have to resign from their post and go home though, that was only aimed at civil officials. In regards to military ones, this was a lot less stringent. During the Tumu Stronghold Crisis, for example, a Princesss Consort named Jing Yuan had been a military official that followed the Later Emperor on expedition, then died in battle because he had been protecting him. In the opinion of civil officials, though, it was tragic. Marrying a daughter of the imperial clan was tantamount to never going anywhere in their careers from then on out. Due to that, any man that had a tad of ambition would forever view those marriages as dangerous paths. Tang Fan wasnt exactly crazy about officialdom, but he had studied strenuously for over a decade, and that was for nothing other than to be able to expand his goals in life, as well as do a little something for the citizens of the land. To aid their digestion after a meal, they went on foot, walking towards home with slow gaits and relaxed attitudes. The Madam did say something that wasnt wrong, though, Tang Fan teased with a smile. You arent that young, and ought to get married. Dont wait until a few years from now, or no one will want you. Sui Zhou gave him a glance. You want me to get married? Before Tang Fan could respond, Sui Zhou said, If I do, youll have to move out. Tang Fan nodded. Thats reasonable. Faux-pas must be avoided, after all. Youll have to find housing yourself. Ah thats really hard to find in the capital. In several more years, Ah-Dong will be old enough to marry, and then youll have to cook for yourself again. That makes sense After thinking about it, though, Tang Fan felt like something was off. I can be married by then too, you know. After she finds out that you write romantic novels, will you still be selling them? Maybe you could research with her and also make her write them, so that you can supplement domestic expenses. Tang Fan wasnt sure whether to laugh or cry. It wouldnt get that bad, right? With your current salary, you still have to contend with the expenses of frequently going out to eat. When Ah-Dong marries off, youll have to have a dowry saved up for her. After you get married, therell be one more person to support, and then when children are born, therell be further mouths to feed. The more Tang Fan heard, the greener his face got. Even so, Centarch Sui continued to dissect the practical facts. With parents orders and a matchmakers words, you might even marry a woman like my sister-in-law. If your wife isnt virtuous, your family will be miserable, and misfortune will extend to your offspring. Stop talking Sir Tang was a bit lacking in strength. Getting a wife is terrible. Im not doing it. The other gave a hum, expression serious. He obviously felt similar. Just when the two were about to get home, they saw Xue Ling stationed by the entrance and pacing back and forth, accompanied by several Brocade Guards. One of them caught sight of the duo, then quickly stepped forward and said something to Xue Ling. He abruptly raised his head, eyes shining, and strode forth to greet him he had obviously been waiting for him. Youre finally back, Brother! He didnt cover up the worries he had, voice anxious. What is it? Sui Zhou asked. Xue Ling glanced at Tang Fan, but didnt hide his intentions, merely taking a half-step forward to whisper to Sui Zhou, Something big happened! Sui Zhou frowned. Ill go in and get my uniform, he quickly answered. As an operative of a special department, Xue Ling would undoubtedly not exaggerate on purpose. Tang Fan was of Shuntian, and thus completely unrelated to their duties. At the same time, his rank was too minor for him to be able to inquire after information from them, so he wisely didnt ask much about this. Saying hello to Xue Ling, he then prepared to return home. Xue Ling was a little embarrassed, though, and said to him. Im in a real rush right now, Brother Runqing. Ill invite you out for a drink some other day! Tang Fan waved him off. Youre still being so humble, with our friendship how it is? You have your own official business, so you naturally cant delay on He didnt get to finish, as Xue Ling lowered his head and said with a bitter smile, Im afraid things are in quite a snag this time around! Tang Fan was taken aback. He wanted to mull over the deeper meaning of his words, but Xue Ling said no more on it. Sui Zhous actions were swift, and he came out of the inner room in the blink of an eye. Before he could say a thing to Tang Fan, the group scuttled away. They were in such a haste, that he couldnt help but think further on it. Something that could make Xue Ling so vexed had to not be a small event. Maybe the palace was involved. As that was the case, he was thus even less able to make baseless inquiries about it. In this age, the less one knew, the safer they were, while self-styled geniuses died quicker. Being open-minded, he acknowledged himself to be low-ranking, and thus didnt need to worry. He just reclined leisurely in the courtyard and read books. Around a shichen later, a servant from the Sui family came to the door, saying that Ah-Dong had a really good kinship with their Third Miss, Sui Bi, who kept urging for her to stay. Ah-Dong was going to spend the night there, have a sleepover with the Third Miss, then return on the morrow. The little girl had gotten familiar fast, and had a good friendship. Tang Fan could understand that, but because she wasnt coming back, he had a worry; what was he going to do for dinner? Whenever Mister Tang who had since become food-spoiled gave one thought to the plain congee he used to cook himself when alone, he would feel no taste in his mouth. Ultimately, he resolved to go out to eat. When it came to the wonton stall he once went to often, he rarely went there in recent times because he had moved in with Sui Zhou, and he and Ah-Dong fed him regularly. The stalls owner still recognized him, smiling wide and calling out when he saw him. Is there no one providing you food at home today, Sir Tang? Tang Fan smiled painfully. Yeah, I had to come to you for a meal here! Still the usual? The usual! Not long after, steamy wontons were placed in front of him. The proprietor knew that he liked cilantro, so he specially sprinkled a little more in. The bowl was filled with mouth-watering, verdant greens, which Tang Fan was delighted to see, grabbing his chopsticks. Right as he went to eat, he heard someones voice beside his ear. Good on you, Tang Runqing, for drifting so casually through life! Tang Fan raised his head for a look, then laughed. I was wondering why the magpies were chattering on the branches so early in the morning today, but they turned out to just be you, Brother Yuqiao. Come, sit! Ill treat you to wontons! The new arrival was Xie Qian, Prime Scorer from the eleventh year of Chenghua, same year as Tang Fan. He had just passed thirty years of age, and also had a bright, confident air that was not inferior to Tang Fans. It was only due to Tang Fan being too young back when the places of the palace exams were being calculated that the title of Prime Scorer wrongly passed over him, Xie Qian plucking that very crown. The rumors about this went rampant, causing many people to think that there was certainly some issues between the two of them, but in reality, their secret friendship was quite good. Neither of them were petty-minded people. Xie Qian smiled. Not bothering to be polite, he swept his robes to the side, then sat directly across from him. Is it your day off? Why arent you hanging around your study, but willingly running off to stroll down the street? Tang Fan teased. He turned his head for the owner to serve up an extra bowl of wontons. Xie Qian rolled his eyes. It should have been my turn on duty today. How could I be as carefree as you? Tang Fan smacked himself on the forehead. Right, right. Its been less than a year since I left Hanlin, yet Ive even forgotten the rules! The wontons were served speedily, and Tang Fan pushed the bowl in front of Xie Qian. Try this. The wontons here are pretty good! Without another word, Xie Qian spooned up a bite of broth and sipped it, attitude casual. From this, it was clear that they were kind to each other, wholly unlike how outsiders guessed they were. It is good, and delicious! Xie Qian praised, then shook his head. In my opinion, you really shouldnt have left Hanlin. Its a bit boring there, but its also the best way to enter the Cabinet and get into the government! Tang Fan grinned. Im someone that cant just do nothing. If I had been made to sit still in Hanlin like you, Id probably have gotten bored to death. Xie Qian rolled his eyes at him again. Fine. Im much more anxious than you by nature, so Im not hating it there. That said, though, you being willing to work at Shuntian is enough eagerness alone to convince people of that. Pausing, he sighed. If I hadnt stolen your Prime Scorer spot three years back Nope, stop right there! Tang Fan raised his hand to block him, sounding sincere as he spoke. Youre a confident character, Xie Yuqiao, so why are you affecting these oversensitive mannerisms? When we had gone into that hall, the rankings had long been decided. It was little more than just going through formalities. Those rumors of alleged secrets are all just blind hearsay. When did you start believing in those hyperboles? You won Prime Scorer, Brother Yuqiao. It was what everyone expected and readily believed. I was much the same. Dont ever say things like that from now on. Xie Qian pfft out a laugh. Okay, okay, okay, I wont say them. All I did was make one statement, yet it made you go on a big lecture. He gathered in closer to Tang Fan, then lowered his voice. I fear that something has happened in the palace. First it was Sui Zhou and Xue Ling, and now it was Xie Qian that was saying something. Tang Fan felt a chill in his heart, also lowering his voice to ask, Why do you say that? Undergrad Zhong had received orders to go into the the palace and put on a show of seasonal verses, but he returned early after not having been at it for very long. I also heard that many Cabinet Solons rushed in for an audience. Today ended up being a day off, too, which is different from the norm. There has to be something up. He was straightforward in personality, as well as decently close to Tang Fan. Knowing that he wasnt someone that would open his mouth and go blab, he freely shared his doubts with him. Tang Fan pondered for a bit. Our posts are humble, so too much speculation wont be of use. If something truly big happened, go home a bit early and dont stay outside too much, lest the censors latch onto that to denounce you. Xie Qian nodded. Youre right. After these wontons of yours, Id best go back as soon as possible so that this wont lead to some kind of ruckus. The other smiled. Right, right. Go on home quick to keep your lovely lady company! Xie Qian had been newly wedded last year and it was classified as a late one, in this era. He was right in the period where passions were strong. The man laughed. Jealous? Let your sister-in-law choose one for you later, then. With your looks and qualities, youre probably going to get overwhelmed with all the choices. Tang Fan shook his head. Dont do that. Im afraid that I wont be getting overwhelmed by choices; each and every one of the girls will just insist that if theyre not marrying me, theyre not marrying at all! Xie Qian huffed a laugh. You really dont have any shame! They chatted for a bit, finished their wonton broths, then each said their goodbyes and went home. When Sir Tang got back, he unhurriedly flipped through a book, the conclusion of which he hadnt gotten to finish last time. At the end, he gave a series of sighs at the fate of the heroine, then freshened up, dressed down, and prepared to go to bed. It was totally silent outside. The voices of night watchmen floated over from far away. Seeing as Sui Zhou still wasnt back yet, things had to be rather sticky in the palace. Right at this moment, the sky-shaking echo of a door being beaten on came from outside the courtyard, bang bang bang. It disturbed ones eardrums with an extremely painful droning, and seemed abnormally piercing in the quiet night. Frowning, he put on the outer robe he had just taken off. He knew that the comer was absolutely not Sui Zhou, but he wasnt sure what divinity had arrived at his door in the middle of the night. As he turned this around in his head, he walked towards the courtyard gate. He raised the latch and opened the door, only to see several tall-hatted, gray-clothed Depot wardens standing outside. They held lanterns in hand and blades on their waists. Each of them had cold, indifferent expressions, not reacting at all to seeing him come out. Are you Tang Fan? their leader asked, icy. Tang Fans line of sight flitted past the character for west embroidered on their cuffs. He nodded. Who are you gents? The Western Depot has been royally decreed to handle a case! Follow us into the palace immediately! Dare I ask what for? The other party was harshly toned, didnt tolerate him asking for details, and wasnt interested in chatting with him. With a wave of his hand, the two next to him promptly stepped forth, one to the left and one to right, hemming Tang Fan in with the postures of escorting a criminal. Tang Fan smiled bitterly to himself on the inside, unsure of what pitfall Wang Zhi had dug for him this time. Then I must go back and change into my officials uniform, right? How could I forget my manners in royal presence? The mans dead-fish-esque eyes looked all about him. Go quickly, then! Dont waste time! he shouted frostily. The Eastern and Western Depots were really too unbridled. Forget about a minor, sixth-rank official like Tang Fan; were Pan Bin here, they wouldnt look at him too well, either. Despite working for the two Depots, wardens werent eunuchs themselves, but rather manpower transferred over from the Brocade Guard to help out they were all normal menfolk. However, after being in the Depots for too long, they had been tainted, becoming a bit more arrogant than typical Guards. People like this spoke no reason at all. Tang Fan was disinclined to talk drivel with them, so he turned, went back in, changed into his uniform, then came out in no more than a quarter of an hour. Im ready. Lets go. Seeing that he was plenty cooperative, the Depot men didnt adopt that half-coercing posture that they had before. Can you ride a horse? Tang Fan gave a slight nod. A warden quickly led a brown-coated horse over, which Tang Fan mounted. The sound of clopping hooves echoed as the group swiftly vanished into the borderless night. Only their few lanterns distantly swayed, shining one moment and extinguishing the next. From the second the wardens arrived, Tang Fan had started to deliberate their purpose in coming. Sui Zhou had so far not returned from the time he left for the palace in the afternoon. Xie Qian had also stated that something peculiar might have happened in the palace. Now, it appeared that things perhaps far and away exceeded all their imaginations; but what was the point in calling someone so completely irrelevant like him into the palace? [End of Arc 2: Days Living with the Brocade Guard] CH 31 [Arc 3: The Case of the East Palace] Their group cantered in. The night wind cut across the face, making robes flap noisily. The palace gate had long been locked up at this shichen, but with the Western Depots imperial orders, no one dared to obstruct them. A soldier looked over the wardens identification tokens, then immediately let them through. As for Tang Fan, he interrogated him a bit, only for the warden who had brought him here to mouth the words Eunuch Wangs orders. The faces of those several imperial guards morphed drastically. They eventually waved their hands, hurriedly letting them in. Upon entering the palace, one had to dismount that was iron-clad law that no one could violate. Cabinet Solons and Guardian Officials[1] would, at most, be ferried on a small palanquin, as would Wang Zhi, Shang Ming, and other such powerful eunuchs. There was no special treatment here; everyone had to get off their horses and walk, so Tang Fan and rest were obviously even less likely to be exceptions. The wardens bringing him in were in a rush, taking lightning-fast strides as martial artists. Tang Fan followed them for a burst, but was somewhat unable to keep up, panting hard. In his haste, the leader had to have his subordinates take Tang Fan by the shoulders and arms, half-lift him up, and force him to walk forward quickly. That was fine with him, since he didnt need to use any extra effort. He stepped upon the bluestone slabs with only the tips of his toes, as if he had learned lightness arts in a split second. Being pleased at the breeziness, nice-sounding words came out of his mouth. This humble one is lacking in strength, and has burdened you gents with the trouble! There was a stretch of darkness within the Forbidden City. Distantly, only a few, feebly-shining candle flames were in the palace ahead, aside from the lanterns held by the occasionally-passing soldier on duty as well as the ones their own group relied on for illumination. Even though the Emperor was as abundantly rich as the four seas, if he made this huge palace well-lit all over, it would be a massive expense that even he wouldnt be able to undertake. Tang Fan had never seen the City at night before; not needing to look at the road himself anyways, he used that distracting comment to remotely observe the imposing and vast palace complex for a second. What emerged in his heart was not worship, nor admiration, but rather the thought that under the cover of blackness, in each and every room of each and every hall in the palace, an unknown amount of gratitudes, grudges, passions, hatreds, sorrows, and pleasures of the human world had once played out. Were it not for the concern of violating taboo, this would all be great book-writing material! Beneath the lighting of flickering flames, Tang Fans profile appeared to be abnormally tranquil. He had neither the panic of getting summoned into the palace late at night, nor the dread of dealing with the Western Depot. The leader of the wardens wasnt sure why Eunuch Wang had suddenly made him go fetch this minor official, but Tang Fans display made him look at him a little differently. Thankfully, he had no idea what Mister Tang was thinking about right now, else he would absolutely fall apart. Counting this time, Tang Fan had been here twice. The first was over three years ago, when the rankings for the palace exams were being announced and he had come in with many people of his same year. The ambience had been dignified and solemn as they followed officials to pay respects to the Son of Heaven. Thinking back, that Sons elegant bearing had really been ahem, too far away. He hadnt seen it clearly. As he was not a person from several centuries in the future, it wasnt possible for him to know the layout of the Forbidden City. This was the Emperors home, so that sort of imperial schematic obviously had to be kept strictly confidential in order to prevent spies. If, some day in the future, he could become one of the high-ranking officials of the Six Ministries, he would then frequently enter the palace to participate in politics, and naturally becoming familiar with it as time went on. Thus, he had no clue where they were bringing him right now, and had no choice but to just go with them. They walked for about two quarters of an hour, passing through one palace gate after another, seeing one palace wall after another. Eventually, their footsteps slowed. Not too far away, there was a hall with dancing human shadows, shining lights, wide open doors, and even a good deal of people making patrols around the halls gates, defending it strictly. Tang Fan knew that this was the goal destination of their trip. The wardens finally put him down. His heels touching the slightly rough slabs, he abruptly got the eased feeling of having ones feet solidly planted on the ground. Being a human sedan chair had been quite speedy, but not enjoyable. His arms faintly ached now. Go. At this point, that had been the only word the lead warden had said the whole time. I dare ask, sire, whats inside? he had to whisper. Go in and youll know. The other refused to explain a word. Tang Fan had simply been wanting to mentally prep himself some. Seeing that the other was taking this so seriously, an idea bloomed at the bottom of his heart, and he asked no more. He went up the steps, accepted a body search and interrogation from guards at the doorway, and got in only after a very long while. The one who was bringing him in, however, was not the Depot warden that had just brought him the whole way, but a young eunuch of unfamiliar features. Presumably, the other was often on duty here. The first thing he said to Tang Fan was Wait here, and then entered. After another good long while, he came out, said Follow me, turned, and went back in. Tang Fan came inside, then noticed all the various decorations in the hall. He showed nothing on his surface, but had an inkling on the inside. Once he was led into the main hall, he caught sight of people sitting and standing in the middle of it. In the center of them was a middle-aged man in round-collared robes of yellow silk. Tang Fan didnt stare blankly and lose himself, directly kneeling down to prostrate himself. This subject, Tang Fan, pays respects to His Majesty. You are exempt from ceremony, the Chenghua Emperor said. His voice had a laziness that hadnt changed for an eternity, but it wasnt because he was feigning laziness; he genuinely was. Tang Fan got up from the bow, standing up tall. He didnt raise his head to look all about, expression as stable as ever. Chenghua cared not about the arrival of this minor figure, and would have never remembered that he had once praised the other as stylish and graceful. He was tired, but what had happened today was really too serious. Even the three Cabinet Solons were all still here, not yet leaving the palace; the Emperor hence had no choice but to muster up his energy. He looked towards Wang Zhi. Insubject Wang, he was recommended here by you, so go on and do what you please. Yes, Wang Zhi answered respectfully, completely missing that bossy flamboyance Tang Fan had seen outside the palace. Tang Fan, he said. Subject present. Tang Fan yet maintained his posture of a slightly-bowed head. Generally speaking, if a subject didnt have permission, they could not casually look straight at the Emperors sacred countenance, as that looked disrespectful. Even so, back when he had just entered, he had already rapidly taken in everyone on-scene. The Emperor and Crown Prince were both here. Wan An, Liu Xu, Liu Ji the three outstandingly famous, papier-mach Solons were here as well. These bigwigs were apex-level figures that equivalently grasped imperial power. There were also some other servants, maids, bodyguards, and soldiers, who were self-explanatory. Despite all the people, they were passive, not making a sound. Only the candle flames in the hall would momentarily make crackling sounds outside of that. In the reach of Tang Fans sights, he found that behind the Emperor was a screen, and someones silhouette was faintly hidden seen behind that. Who they were seemed to be on the verge of reveal. On the other end, Wang Zhi began to explain why he had been summoned here. Nowadays, the Crown Prince of the East Palace was Zhu Youcheng. He had grown up in the palace, but it wasnt until three years ago that he had been established as the Crown Prince. His life experiences could be labelled as rough. Now that his status had been set, though, all of the books he read and characters he wrote needed to be fostered in accordance with the specifications of an heir apparent. The Crown Princes troupe of teachers was large, but he needed study partners in addition to those. Typically, those would be chosen out of inner-palace eunuchs for him, but sometimes they would be selected from the sons and nephews of major officials. In recent times, one of his study partners was Han Zao. His father, Han Fang, had been one of Chenghuas teachers when he was the Crown Prince. Due to his poor health, Han Fang had intended to resign two years prior. However, due to the Emperor caring about his camaraderie with his teacher, he bestowed Han Fang with the empty title of Youth Minister of the Crown Prince, and had Han Zao go into the palace to be his study partner. He was not to be some kind of servant that would take punishments on the Crown Princes behalf when the latter didnt do his work well, but an actual classmate-slash-playmate. Han Zao was about the same age as the Prince, and they studied together all day long, making their friendship quite close. Yet, it was just today that when the Crown Prince and his group were in the middle of lessons, Han Zao had suddenly cried out that his stomach hurt, and before the imperial physician could come over, he soon dropped to the floor, dead. How was that okay?! The East Palace promptly erupted. Imperial doctors rushed in at top speed to look Han Zao all over, yet still couldnt tell how he had died. By good or bad luck, shortly before Han Zao shouted about his stomach, Consort Wan had sent someone over with two bowls of mung bean-lily soup. The Crown Prince hadnt eaten it. Han Zao had. A series of events unfolded as a result. Everyone knew that Consort Wan once had a son. He had been the Emperors eldest, but passed soon after he was born. Later on, the Noble Consort Lady Bai had one, and he was established as the Crown Prince, resulting in not even two years passing before he died. Ever since then, no successor had been born in the imperial harem. Everyone claimed that it was because Consort Wan forbade any woman aside from her from having sons. With Lady Wans feminine power, she put the Crown Prince through all sorts of twists and turns now that he was able to see the light of day again. Those who heard of what they were were heartbroken, those who saw what they were were moved to tears. Honestly when as much was said, the cause of Han Zaos death seemed to be extraordinarily obvious, with no need for an investigation. As the Emperors most favored woman, even if the Crown Prince had died, she likely wouldnt have gotten in trouble for it, to say nothing of the fact that he hadnt. The smartest way to handle this would be to quickly downplay the matter, casually find an excuse to gloss it over, and then have everyone maintain an exterior of calm. Yet, a problem came. After Consort Wan learned of this, she was extremely shocked, crying to the high heavens, and immediately ran to the Emperor. She swore on the sun itself that she hadnt anything to do with the matter, then persistently begged him to get to the bottom of it and find out truth so that her innocence would be returned. It was precisely because this involved the Crown Prince, Consort Wan, and the son of Chenghuas teacher that Chenghua got an excessive headache, having no choice but to summon the Viziers into the palace to discuss how to deal with this. A Viziers job was to help govern the country. The three Solons currently heading the Cabinet all muddled through their days and the country wasnt being governed properly, which didnt at all indicate that they were competent enough to crack a case. Chief of Cabinet Wan An, considering things from the angle of politics and the situation at large, proposed that the Emperor just gently take the lid off the affair. His Highness the Crown Prince was thankfully fine regardless, and as for Han Zao, the Dynasty ought to generously compensate the Han family. Everyone would be happy with that. Consort Wan wouldnt let it go, though. Disregarding whether anyone believed her, she always repeatedly insisted that she was totally innocent in this. She understood that everyone knew she loathed the Crown Prince and wanted to eliminate him as soon as possible, which was why she was the most suspicious in this. If the Emperor really was going to be vague about it, then even a jump in the Yellow River wouldnt wash her clean. Under the insistence of his cherished woman, Chenghua had to have someone bring the Solons into the palace, and another to bring word to the Han family. Two bowls of mung-lily soup. The Crown Prince hadnt eaten; his bowl had been given to Han Zao, while the remaining bowl had been given to a young chamberlain to drink. The chamberlain was fine, but Han Zao died. Prior to Tang Fan entering the palace, someone had already checked this out; the pot with the sweet soup had nothing left in it, making it impossible to see if anything had been put in it, but the bowl and spoon themselves werent smeared with poison. If there had been a problem with the soup, how could the attendant have eaten it, yet be fine? Was it only in the bowl Han Zao had eaten? The one that brought the soup over was a maid from Consort Wans palace, who wouldnt admit that she had poisoned it no matter what. Besides that, Han Zao was nothing more than a young child. How could he have any enemies? Given that his death was wanted, the Crown Prince also would have been killed and who was it that found him displeasing to the eye? All across the palace, there was only one person that fit that. That would be bad to say aloud, however, and could not be done so plainly. For that reason, after Wan Ans suggestion was rejected by Consort Wan, he flat-out spoke no more so that he wouldnt offend her. Though the two shared the surname of Wan, they didnt have a single thread of relation. Simply put, he knew that she received no small amount of Chenghuas doting, so, utilizing the sizable Wan name, he took every method he could to claim connection to her, sitting quite stably as the Chief of Cabinet thereafter. In the opinions of others, this was shameless, and everyone privately started to give him the nickname the long-lived Solon. In addition to that, there were all sorts of ridiculing nicknames aimed at the other Viziers, like the third, Liu Ji; he was Liu Cottonflower. Because he was thick-faced and was afraid of getting fluffed, everyone just straight-up called him Liu Cottonflower whenever they talked about him behind his back. Getting back to the topic at hand, there was no issue with the soup, nor the bowl. The imperial doctor couldnt take a dead persons pulse, nor could he testify whether Han Zao had been sick to begin with. According to the eunuchs and the Crown Prince, though, he had been perfectly fine, with no ailments occurring in the past. If there really was a poisoner, then no one was likely to believe that they were only going for a mere study partner. Everyone was more willing to believe that this was a deliberate homicide-by-poison case, and that the target had been the current Crown Prince. Were this to be thoroughly investigated, who knew how much bad weather would get set off in the palace, or how many people would die unjustly? Chenghua loved the Prince, but it was a finite type of love, as the latter hadnt grown up by his side since infancy. Now that he had been dubbed for the sake of the countrys foundation, Chenghua wasnt stingy with what ought to be given to him, but he also didnt want to let a storm brew because of this; to say nothing of the fact that, on the inside, he felt that this had something to do with his precious Consort Wan. The Prince himself was sensible. Although grieved from the death of his study partner, he didnt cry and shout to get revenge for him. When the Emperor questioned him, he simply said that he would comply with Father Emperors will. All were hoping that this would get swept under the rug, but Consort Wan refused. His Majesty was both very vexed and unwilling oppose his favorites wishes, which put the matter at a stalemate. Before Tang Fan got there, he had already called his two most trusted eunuchs over, Shang Ming of the Eastern Depot and Wang Zhi of the Western Depot. For the sake of monopolizing the merit, Shang Ming actively petitioned for the Eastern Depot to investigate at once, while Wang Zhi understood the Emperors intent. They wanted to know to truth, but also didnt want this randomly blabbed about. In the Emperors view, this should be investigated stealthily, so that in the event it was discovered to be related to Consort Wan, covering it up would be easy. That was why he recommended one person to His Majesty Tang Fan. He had done so for the following reasons: he was smart, presently appointed as a Judge of Shuntian Prefecture, extraordinarily suited for his occupation, and had done an outstanding job in the Marquis Wuan Estate case prior. They could have him come investigate. The Emperor approved, and Tang Fan subsequently entered the palace. Bystanders were curious as to when Tang Fan had built a line with Eunuch Wang. Tang Fan, after hearing the full sequence of events, only wanted to smile bitterly; wasnt this just Wang Zhi pushing him into a pit of fire? Whod want to get stained by such a sticky situation?! This imperial eunuch was indeed young, brash, and the utmost of headstrong, doing whatever with just one thought about it. This wasnt pressing, yet he had still towed Tang Fan down into its water. Tang Fan, now that youve learned whats happened, what opinion do you have regarding the case? Wang Zhi asked. Towards Wang Zhis behavior of being high-and-mighty, fond of acting on his own accord, and not taking him seriously, Tang Fan was equivalently revolted. However, he was not one to harbor grudges. Now that he had already been placed upon the bonfire, and was in the presence of the Emperor and the Cabinet, he had no right to decline. His fury simply passed in a flash, getting repressed to the bottom of his heart soon after. Then, he began to ponder how to settle this. This humble officials skills are limited, and I dare not speak random drivel before His Majesty and all the Viziers, he said after a think. I have currently only heard a general idea; since I have neither seen Han Zaos body, nor interrogated all the personnel concerned in this case, there is thus nothing I can comment on for the time being. Chenghua was a bit disappointed hearing this. He hadnt been banking on Tang Fan being able to immediately unmask the truth if he really did have that kind of ability, he would be more powerful than the gods but he still couldnt resist grumbling to Wang Zhi at those words. Insubject Wang, you were just saying how formidable this man is. In our opinion, hes just like those imperial censors outside, whose gift of glib is unrivaled in the land! Tang Fans eyes observed his own nose, and his nose observed his own chest, in pseudo-death, as if the Emperor wasnt talking about him at all. Wang Zhi inwardly thought that Tang Fan didnt know how to appreciate a favor, wasnt rushing to show off his good faith, and was now just standing there at the side like he was made of wood. Do tolerate my advice, Your Majesty, he quickly replied. Many things are currently in a tangled knot, so discovering anything straightaway is a genuine challenge. It would be best to request that you extend the waiting period just a bit and allow him to take his time investigating. In fact, during the nominations of Gold Hall in the eleventh year of Chenghua, he ranked first of the second bracket, and had even been praised by you yourself at the time! For the sake of confirming that he actually did have good eyesight, he shifted out an old event of the past. Chenghua lifted his eyelids, dimly recalling that such a thing had indeed happened before. His impression of Tang Fan slightly improved. As thats so, this case will be handed over to you to take care of, Tang Fan. However The Emperor glanced at Wang Zhi. Understanding tacitly, Wang Zhi promptly picked up, This case is of immense importance. You absolutely cannot speak casually about it to the outside world, or else you will be heavily punished. Beneath the crowds watching eyes, Tang Fan finally spoke, but they were words that startled the Heavens. This subject doesnt dare to accept this order. What?! Was this guy nuts?! Did he even know what he was saying?! How could he get all huffy in a setting like this?! Everybody, including the servants and guards serving as backdrops, couldnt help but stare wide-eyed at him. Chief of Cabinet Wan An scrambled to shout in front of everyone, You are impetuous, Tang Fan! How dare you not respect his sacred will! Is there respect for no one in your eyes?! Wang Zhi was even more furious. He knew that Tang Fan was likely grumbling about this assignment on the inside, but he had his own calculations. Even if the other wasnt happy about this, he had no choice but to obediently go along with his orders now; how could the guests voice overpower that of the hosts? Who did this minuscule Judge of the sixth-rank think he was? The Emperors words were precious, yet he said he didnt dare to accept his order? Wasnt that basically punching His Majesty in the face? Tang Fan, have you gone mad? Where do you think this is? Are you allowed to be impudent here?! If you dare to object, may Xiang Zhong and Shang Lu be lessons to you! Xiang Zhong and Shang Lu; one was the former Minister of War, one was the former Chief of Cabinet. Both had fallen from their positions because they had opposed Eunuch Wang; one was sacked and returned to civilian life, one resigned and ran off. Wang Zhi bringing them up was clearly to menace him if you still dare to object further, then their end will be yours. Wan An mentally shook his head, thinking to himself that anger was truly attacking Eunuch Wangs heart for him to speak irresponsibly like so. It was obvious that Tang Fan was only a sixth-rank Judge right now, yet he took out those two as examples; wasnt that instead elevating Tang Fan up? Chenghua then frowned, glaring at Tang Fan with an annoyed expression. He wasnt an Emperor fond of killing (which was his one good aspect), but if he didnt much like someone, he would either get them dismissed from their post with a small wave of the hand, or demote them off to a penal sentence, which would be terrible enough as it was for the one in question. Crown Prince Zhu Youcheng similarly didnt say a word, but he looked at Tang Fan inquisitively. It had been a very long time since the incident had occurred. It was supposed to be his bedtime hour now, but because this was related to him, he couldnt go to sleep yet. Even so, he didnt exude any sort of impatient expression despite his tiredness, standing beside his father as ever, as respectful and solemn as before. When the tempest of rebukes came to an end, Tang Fan simply cupped his hands and started to speak at ease. Your Majesty, excuse this subjects words. As a Judge, I can judge the hearts of the dead, but not those of the living. With a rough look at this case, I fear that the degree of complication in it far exceeds imagination. For that reason, if you hand this great responsibility over to me, I wont dare to decline it, but there are some things that I cannot help but ask to understand this clearly. Please absolve this subject of blame. Feel free to ask. Youre absolved, Chenghua replied. Tang Fan nodded. This minister will be so bold as to ask, then; can you guarantee that this truly had nothing to do with Consort Wan, Your Majesty? That statement was even more startling than the one just before. Everyone there thought that Tang Fan was not only insane, but brainless. That topic was fine placed in ones head, but was it something to be said straight-out?! Even Wan An was stunned, after which he couldnt help but mentally shake his head. He thought differently from the others, though this was marvelous, truly marvelous. Tang Fan was well aware that a certain someone was present, so he had purposefully asked this in order to come out on top, get the full-spread explanation of the case, and avoid plots against himself in the future. Wan An recalled that three years back, it was his own words that had caused this young man, who originally should have been picked as the Prime Scorer, to instantly become a thoroughly cooked duck, only for him to apparently fly off anyways. Exactly as expected, while Wan An was thinking it, the one behind the screen was quickly no longer able to contain themselves, and stepped out in a biting rage. If it was my doing, then may the Heavens strike me down with lightning for a horrid death! If it wasnt, then may the Heavens strike down and wipe out your entire family! [1] Specific officials appointed to take charge of the country if the Emperor dies and the Crown Prince is still underaged. Theyre in other positions of power in the meantime. CH 32 As expected of Lady Wans pampered-concubine affectation, her notes were out-of-the-norm as soon as she opened her mouth. However, Tang Fan was still heard to use that moderate tone of his. I must inform you, Consort, that my parents have long passed and my older sister has married off to elsewhere, thus not being of the Tang family. Strictly speaking, my entire family is indeed wiped out. The corners of everyones mouths twitched, all floored by that set of words. Even Lady Wan was taken aback, instantly forgetting what she was about to curse at him. Tang Fan changed the subject. I stated that as a Judge, I can judge the minds of the dead, but not the living. Since youve said as such, Consort, I can pursue investigation with peace in heart. He had already gotten roped into this, and it was hard to get off when riding a tiger. He had no option but to accept. Consort Wan had denied before everyone that this had anything to do with her, which was tantamount to pledging an oath under public eye. With that statement, Tang Fan would suffer relatively few impediments when sleuthing. However, he didnt believe that this genuinely had no relation to her just because she said so. A direct poisoning method might seem dumb, but if it worked, it wasnt an impossibility. Lady Wan held the topmost of favor in the imperial harem, so even if the Crown Prince died, the Emperor still might not hold it against her, and would have many excuses to help her shirk the blame. With all that, why wouldnt she take the gamble? The case was likely not complex overall, but due to the detail of all the figures involved being heavyweights, it was particularly headache-inducing. Originally, a case like this wouldnt have ever been Tang Fans responsibility to bear, and should have at least gone to the Ministry of Justice or Court of Judicial Review. Because the one who had recommended him was Wang Zhi, though, and he was someone of Consort Wans, the present Cabinet Viziers pretty much refused to stand off with the Emperor. A bizarre silence was thus maintained on the scene for a moment, no one uttering an objection. But, when one carefully thought through it some more, there had always been a lot of oddities happening in the Ming Dynasty. Considering that it had an Empress Dowager that had adopted a son and treated him like she had birthed him, every official in it playing deaf and dumb, an Emperor that had been taken hostage by foreigners, a Consort that was sixteen years older than the Emperor yet could still be favored, and an imperial eunuch of no more than twenty that every official dreaded, allowing a minor Judge of the sixth-rank to come investigate this case didnt seem so hard to accept. Chenghua yawned, truly tired from over half a day of tumult. Since thats so, then it shall be so. Its late now, so the Crown Prince will first return to rest. All Solons may also return. Your Majesty, the case? Wang Zhi inquired. Chenghua waved him off. Lets speak more of it tomorrow. Tang Fan may also return and enter the palace again tomorrow. When he has anything he needs to ask or investigate, you should cooperate with him as much as possible, Insubject Wang. Wang Zhi had to affirm. Consort Wan walked over to latch onto Chenghuas arm, looking coldly at Tang Fan meanwhile. I am clean of implication, she said pointedly. I ask that you be sure to get to the bottom of this, Sir Tang, so that I dont have to suffer needless notoriety! Tang Fan appeared to have not heard her warning, cupping his hands. This subject will do all that I can. Once the Emperor and Crown Prince had gone, the three Solons naturally didnt want to hang around much, either, and instantly left in full. Shang Ming, having allowed Wang Zhi to snatch the limelight, vented the sum of his anger onto Tang Fan with an unreadable smile. This case will burn your hand, Sir Tang. Youll have to shape up. If you dont find things out, your little life will be strung up. Tang Fan gave an oh. Many thanks for your pointers, Eunuch Shang. Wang Zhi smiled fakely. Shang Ming, you cant say I didnt warn you. You shouldnt always be thinking to fight for power in inner strife, but thinking more about how to share worries with and solve the problems of nobles. If you have the ability to go find the murderer, the Consort will be bound to remember that great favor of yours! The Eastern and Western Depots were always at odds. Shang Ming and Wang Zhi practically had a substantive amount of fire coming out of their eyes as they watched each other. In the end, the former rolled his eyes and huffed. Dont be proud of yourself too soon. If this Tang guy cant put forward a pleasing result, youre going to be out of luck alongside him! With that, he swiveled around by the waist, and left with a fling of his sleeves. Looking at his retreating back, Wang Zhi laughed coldly, then turned to Tang Fan. Ill send you off from the palace, Sir Tang. Tang Fan knew that he had something he wanted to say, so he didnt decline. They left the Palace of Celebrating Humanity, then walked down the road towards the palace gate. Wang Zhi only permitted anyone unrelated to follow from far away, while he himself walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Tang Fan, one lantern per person. Eunuch Wang, you and I have never had any grudges, nor enmity, yet youve caused me disastrous trouble, Tang Fan said bluntly. Wang Zhi snickered. Riches and honor are sought in danger. Youre such an intelligent man; isnt it a pity that youre subordinate to an average one like Pan Bin? If you can help scrub Consort Wans unjust accusation away, this will be an enormous boon, plus a lucky turn of events. Isnt the time for you to get promoted, gain glory, and rise up in the world just a matter of when? Tang Fan had no expression. You look upon me too highly. At that time, I would likely not get promoted, but be unable to ensure my own life. This was an outright incident that no one wanted to happen. Youre aware of why I sit equally to Shang Ming, right? Way back when the Western Depot had been established, there had also been an incident. Since what had happened had already happened, we went and turned that incident into an opportunity. You dont need to go around in circles, Eunuch Wang. If you have something to say, say it straight. Wang Zhi didnt mind the others tone. I may as well explain the whole of it to you, first. This hadnt been the Consorts doing, as she would have never intensely demanded for His Majesty to launch a thorough investigation otherwise. Furthermore, in private, she actually has her mind faintly set on the murderer. Do you know who it is? Tang Fan lightly quirked a brow. Wang Zhi didnt keep him in suspense, drawing out his words. She thinks this was the Crown Princes doing. Tang Fans brows shot up, then proceeded to furrow deeply. Actually, with your smarts, its not too difficult to comprehend why, is it? Youve presumably heard of the death of the Crown Princes birth mother three years back. Consort Wan believes that despite his youth, he still remembers that, so hes harboring a grudge and wants to frame her via this. The other frowned. But hes still young Right. Theres some devoted people around him, though, Wang Zhi cut him off with. Dont you civil officials have a lot of thoughts towards him? Consort Wan had dominated the imperial harem for many years. Whenever an heir was born in the palace, he would never escape the fate of an early death. The survival of Zhu Youcheng could be called a miracle; with the help of the eunuch Zhang Min by Consort Wans side, the deposed Empress Lady Wu, Empress Dowager Zhou, the Sealwielder eunuch Huai En, and an unknowable amount of maids and servants, Zhu Youcheng managed to cover Consort Wans eyes and ears until he could live to the point that he was donned the Crown Prince. From a different point of view, it could be imagined how furious she was when she heard the news. At that time, there were no heirs at the Emperors knees apart from Zhu Youcheng, who was the foremost and oldest son in both reality and name. Meanwhile, there was no way for Consort Wan to stuff him back into his mothers womb, nor any way to prevent him from being established as the Crown Prince. Three years prior, at the end of the very same year Zhu Youcheng had been dubbed, his birth mother, Lady Ji, died of sudden illness. Although there was no evidence for it, a lot of factors indicated that it had been Consort Wans craftsmanship. Seeing as the Crown Prince title had been set, she wanted to recognize him under her own name. Lady Ji had been a hindering existence to that, so she had to die. Yet, following that, he appeared to hold a grudge in his heart. He treated Consort Wan with estranged courtesy, never approaching her easily of his own accord. With her plan to raise the Crown Prince to maturity foiled, she began to loathe him again, always feeling that it was hard for him to forget the death of his birth mother, and that there would come a day that he would take revenge on her. Those past events were no sort of secret. Even Tang Fan knew a thing or two about them. That idea Pan Bin gave me last time, to accrue more good karma with the East Palace that had actually been yours, right? Wang Zhi asked, tone unhurried. After hearing your words, I felt they made exceptional sense. Who couldve known that a ready-made opportunity would now bring itself to our door? If you can prove that this has case had nothing to with Consort Wan, and also wasnt the Crown Princes doing, not only will she view you favorably, but hell be thankful to you, too. Do you still need me to explain more about the benefits you could get from this? Ever since Wang Zhi had referred to the Crown Prince, Tang Fan knew what he was about to say. He smiled indifferently. Eunuch Wang, that plan was for you, not me. Since the case has now come into my hands, how I will investigate it will naturally go according to my own standards. In contrast, since you recommended me, if the time comes that I cant crack the case, you will definitely be implicated. Tang Runqing, dont mess around! Im warning you! the other raged. Did I not say it clearly enough?! With your intelligence and methods, isnt the direction this goes entirely within your control?! When this is all done, well both benefit! Do you not know how to appreciate a favor?! Tang Fan retained his calm. You didnt consult with me beforehand. Now, when the matter has come to a head, youve forced it onto my head. Isnt that too spiteful? Yes, we would both benefit were things to go like you say, but I wouldnt be able to hide from my conscience. Even if one acting as an official cannot do good for the citizens, they, at the very least, cannot distort the truth. Now, were all on the same boat. I can only promise you that I will do my utmost with the investigation how the ultimate truth goes isnt up to what you say, nor what I say, but what the facts say. At this point in the conversation, they had already gotten near to the palace gates. Tang Fan responded to him no more, stuffing his nearly-dead lantern into the hands of the young eunuch that had been guiding in front. Then, in contrast to his snails pace from just before, he took big strides out of the gate. The night wind brushed the flaps of his robes to the side. When one stared into the distance, Tang Fan looked so puny contrasted with the vast Imperial City, as well as so aloofly independent. Tiny and indistinct, it seemed like he would leave on the breeze. Wang Zhi didnt go to catch up with him, merely standing in place with his eyes narrowed, watching his retreating figure gradually get further away. Eunuch Wang, the wind gets strong in the deep of night! Try not to catch a chill! The young eunuch gathered in from behind, showing some care to being eager to please. Wang Zhi said nothing, his expression deep and unfathomable. After a long time, he let out a mocking laugh. I thought that hed be another Liu Cottonflower, but I hadnt expected to run into a Shang Hongzai civil officials! Hmph! The young eunuch understood nothing, his face full of confusion. Tang Fan hadnt bumped into Sui Zhou when he entered the palace, nor did he see him after he got home. It wasnt until the shine of daybreak was in the sky, and when he had a recent bit of sleep, that he heard the faint sound of a courtyard door getting pushed open. He draped clothes over himself to go see; Sui Zhou had indeed returned. The latter didnt conceal the drain and exhaustion all across his face, though his appearance and expression were as stern and sharp as ever. He looked up to see Tang Fan coming out from inside, and his brows promptly knitted together. I heard you also went last night? Tang Fan nodded. Yes. Those brows knit even tighter. You shouldnt have. Tang Fan spread out his hands. As someone in officialdom, my self is not my own. Seeing as Sui Zhou was still looking imposing, he couldnt help but let out a pff. Its fine, the boat will find a straight current. You havent eaten breakfast yet, right? Go, go, go, lets go out and find a breakfast stall. Get something to warm your stomach before anything else so that you get a bit of energy. At this hour, those who ought to be at Court had long gone to Court, and those that ought to have gone to the bureau had long been sitting in the bureau. Tang Fan had been in the palace for most of last night, and hed also been shouldered with the East Palace case, so his mind was a bit shot. He straight-up prepared to take sick leave, then fill out the forms for it when he went to the bureau tomorrow. This area was a residential district, and there were a lot of breakfast-selling stalls on the street. The two of them randomly picked out one that had youtiao and youbing, then sat down, ordering a plate of youtiao and two cups of soymilk. Tang Fan concisely explained what had happened last night. Sui Zhou already knew the rough circumstances, really. Following Han Zaos death, the Brocade Guard had received the news and entered the palace soon after. Because the situation hadnt yet been understood, on top of the event two years ago where the sorcerer Li Zilong had schemed to seize the palace still being fresh in the mind, the personnel of the Northern Bastion Office had been divided into several groups, then separately assigned for security duty all over the palace. Due to his rank being comparatively high and his connection with Empress Dowager Zhou, Sui Zhou knew a bit more about it, but still didnt get the amount of detail that Tang Fan had. After the others recounting, his understanding consequently became clearer. The two sat in a corner and whispered quietly to each other within the bustling market. One among them being a terrifying Brocade Guard meant that no one came near, which made it easy to speak and not worry about someone overhearing. Listening to the end of it, Sui Zhou had a chill in his eyes. Wang Zhi doesnt have good intentions, he stated outright. Tang Fan nodded, smiling bitterly. Yeah. All that has cause must have effect; I didnt expect that me giving Pan Bin an idea would have wound around to come right back at me! What do you plan on doing now, then? Sui Zhou asked with mild concern. Tang Fan smiled. With things as they are now, what else can be done than the very word investigate? Its merely how Ill investigate, and where, that will need careful consideration. However, when I was in the palace last night, all I heard was Wang Zhis one-sided account. His Majesty and Consort Wan had both been present, so there definitely had to be a lot of things that were poor to speak of then. Did your Office pry out any information? Ill investigate with you, Sui Zhou answered, no hesitation. Tang Fan shook his head. Just me alone is enough. How could I drag you into this? If I dont handle this well, Ill be losing my black hat. Ill be fine. I still cant treat a friend like this, though! Tang Fan said, resolutely. The other gave him a profound look. Since were friends, theres no need to decline. My mind is set. Tang Fan was a bit touched. After being buds for so long, he knew that Sui Zhou was someone cold on the outside, but warm on the inside. That warmth wasnt directed towards everyone, either, but for those he cared about. Take Ah-Dong, for example; Tang Fan was well aware that if she wasnt his sworn sister, the man would have never attached any importance to her. Even so, there was really no deep friendship of many years between Sui Zhou and he. Theirs had only been built up via the Marquis Estate case. White hairs like new, a first meeting like old friends.[1] Some people just innately shared such rapport. The word friend didnt need a long period of time for it, and as for whether theyd be compatible with each other, the ancients yet relied on fate for an affinity at first meet. What great fortune Tang Fan had, to come across a friend like this. With those words said, rejecting him would just be a slap in the face. Tang Fan grinned easily. Then it would be rude of me to refuse! Sui Zhou looked placid. It would be. He paused, then said, I didnt really receive any other information than you did, but I can confirm one thing; Han Zao definitely didnt pass of sudden illness. Tang Fan mustered his energy. That sentence was so important, it could directly determine what direction their investigation went. How do you say that? he hurriedly asked. Han Zao was born to Han Fang in old age, the latter being forty. His family spoiled him, making him exceptionally mischievous. He had been strong-bodied since childhood, frequently climbing up trees and going into water. Three days ago, he and the Crown Prince dined at the Dowagers place, which coincided with an imperial doctor coming in for a checkup pulse. She then asked him to examine Han Zao. At the time, he concluded that Han Zao was healthy, while the Crown Prince seemed a bit inherently feebler. Tang Fan mulled that over. Since you say that, Han Zaos cause of death truly does involve poison applied to the soup bowl? Sui Zhou shook his head. Im not sure. After the incident, the body got moved to the Western Depot. If were going to investigate, it needs to be done as soon as possible. Otherwise, well be waiting until the corpse rots or the Han family comes asking for it, which will be even more tricky. Tang Fan nodded. You didnt sleep at all last night over this, so go home and take a rest. Ill go to the Depot. Sui Zhou gave him a look. He said nothing, but his message was obvious: Youre a weak scholar that hasnt cried out that hes tired, so would I be more tired than you? They finished their breakfast, then headed straight for the Depot. Sui Zhous Brocade Guard uniform was rather glaring there, but Tang Fan had been imperially ordered to handle the case, so the wardens had presumably been informed prior to this. As soon as Tang Fan announced his identity, they were led in. The team leader that admitted them used to be a Brocade Guard called Bian Yu. Judging by the way he acted, he still recognized Sui Zhou, and his attitude was very cordial. Eunuch Wang said we were to do our utmost to comply with you if you wanted to check anything out, Sir Tang. Han Zaos body is indeed stored here. The Hans had come once in the early morning, but we didnt hand it over. Tang Fan nodded. First, Id like to meet the palace maid Consort Wan had sent to deliver the soup. I heard shes here, as well? Yes, she was brought over last night. Ill take you to her. He gave Sui Zhou another glance, grinning with a hint of awkwardness. Centarch Sui, you know that the Western Depot and Brocade Guard have never gotten along very much. If Eunuch Wang knew that I let you in here, hed definitely put me on the hook for it I wont put you on the hook. Wang Zhis voice resonated outwards, and the threes eyes followed the sound. The founder-slash-administrator of the Western Depot walked over, a smile on his face. Ah, Brother Runqing. Did you sleep well last night? He and Tang Fan had clearly had a disagreement yesterday evening that could be described as a near-falling out, where Wang Zhi had pointed at Tang Fans nose and told him to not turn his back on a favor. The latter wasnt afraid of him, but he definitely didnt believe that the other would be magnanimous enough to not hold a grudge, either. However, after a separation of only half a night, Eunuch Wang acted like he had totally forgotten the previous nights unpleasantness. Haughty and tyrannical before the masses, careful and prudent before the Emperor and the Consort. The very first time he had met Tang Fan, he was condescending, but now, he was approachable all of that illustrated the multiple faces of this imperial celebrity. As the saying went, those floating through jianghu would not survive without learning a couple extraordinary skills, and this Chief Eunuch was young, yet fully adept in the art of face-changing. Tang Fan wasnt to be outdone in this, smiling slightly. Ive troubled you with concern, Eunuch Wang. Having received a meeting with royalty last night, I was severely excited yet nervous, tossing and turning as I slept. How did you sleep? When had Bian Yu ever seen the majestic Chief Eunuch give someone a kindly look before? His jaw almost dropped to the floor in shock. Even if the Chief of Cabinet arrived, Eunuch Wang would probably love to put on an air of ignoring him, but now he was putting on a rarely-seen smile and in the presence of a minor, sixth-rank official! The sun really was rising in the West today! The translator says: MXS wants to say that that Shang Hongzai refers to Shang Lu, a popular official who had resigned from his post because he didnt like the Emperor, nor Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi was commenting that the other wasnt Mr. Cottonflower, who was flexible, but Shen Hongzai, who is hard as a rock. [1] Quote from Records of the Grand Historian, section Biography of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang. CH 33 Eunuch Wang couldnt not put on a good face right now. After recommending Tang Fan last night, he had already tied him to his own boat. If the other caused any sort of situation that gave him a hard time, then he, as the endorser, would inevitably bear the blame alongside him. It was a no-brainer that Shang Ming was waiting nearby to look and laugh at him. The Western Depot had only recently been established, and not for very long. It couldnt compare to the Eastern Depots detailed history, but it was still in one-hundred-percent high demand. Who didnt want a life of standing on equal ground with the Eastern Depot, having countless underlings under them, getting their presence announced wherever they went, and grasping immense power? Even middling officials like Liang Fang longingly eyed and drooled over the Western Depot. Despite having Consort Wan as a backing supporter, Wang Zhi still had to have some caution. At this cases onset, Consort Wan had summoned him into the palace for a face-to-face meeting, then asked him how this should be handled. He had immediately brought Tang Fan to mind. Eunuch Wang was acquainted with a lot of officials, and also had many people at his command that would be willing to follow him around in service. However, when it came to judging cases and issuing verdicts, Tang Fan seemed to be the most reliable out of the people he knew. Based on the idea the man had given him through Pan Bin, he decided that he was quite clever, capable, slick, and adaptable; he ought to have been a Liu Ji-esque figure. The situation had been pressing, so in his haste, Wang Zhi didnt have time to consult with Tang Fan before he recommended him. He thought to himself that the latter was smart, and would presumably be able to grasp the abstract of this case with speed, making no sort of mistake. Unexpectedly, the bloke looked smooth and slick, but he was actually rough and rigid. First, he got a preemptive strike before the Emperor and Consort, scaring Wang Zhi into a full-body cold sweat. Then, he had said that set of words to him, causing Wang Zhi to sleep poorly the whole night after he returned. With regret in his heart, Eunuch Wang felt like he had completely misunderstood the man. Yet, what was done was done; there was no way that he could run back to the Emperor, say that he had suggested the wrong person, then swap him out for a new one. All he could do was suck it up, come over to greet Tang Fan, and scout out talk on the wind, so that he could avoid Tang Fan making a mistake at some point, thus dragging him down into the water with him. Wang Zhi ignored Bian Yus nearly bug-eyed look, simply clapping Tang Fan on the shoulder and beaming at him. I slept fine, of course! As he talked, he seized that shoulder and walked forward. Tang Fan thought to himself that Eunuch Wangs strength was considerable, nearly on par with Sui Zhous. With a tug and a pull, he couldnt resist at all. Once Wang Zhi had their backs turned to the rest of them, his expression sank. Tang Runqing, this Eunuch will warn you kindly; this matter is one of great importance, and if you find anything out, you have to keep me up-to-date at all times. By no means should you make an assertion without permission, else your cause of death will be unknown when the time comes. His Majesty is soft-hearted and doesnt like killing people, but it isnt like there arent exceptions. Tang Fan smiled. You think rather too highly of me. Im an insignificant Judge. How could I influence the overall situation? Furthermore, nothing has taken shape yet. Even what the true facts are is difficult to speak of. Since youve already stated that this isnt the Consorts doing, why are you so tense? Wang Zhi made his voice even lower. Quit playing dumb! If it werent for your suggestion of getting in good with the East Palace, why would I have made you come over? Ill be brief by throwing this statement out for you here the murderer mustnt be the Consort, nor the one in the East Palace! Tang Fan shook his head. Theres no need for baseless fears, Eunuch Wang. As I see it, the East Palace has no relation to this. Wang Zhi looked at him skeptically. Really? When I was in Hanlin, I had once seen an essay written by the Crown Prince, Tang Fan patiently explained. He had only just entered schooling, so his writing style was immature and not worth a sneer, but, as the saying goes, how one writes reflects the writer. Hes young. Bad at masking himself. If he harbored malice, it would certainly come out between his words, but from what I saw, whether it was the essay or copied characters, each and every stroke revealed his self; honest, stable, and somewhat gentle. I was clear on him being a similarly soft-hearted, open-natured individual that doesnt blame the gods and others for the roughness of his childhood, nor conceal an unfathomable mind. Someone like that is quite unlikely to use the life of his companion to frame Consort Wan. Shes truly overthinking this. The other had to breathe out a sigh of relief. If your words are true, that would be for the best. Tang Fan laughed. What good would it do me to lie to you? The country having a wise ruler thus means the land has great fortune; if that were not the case, why would I have suggested that you get close to the East Palace? In the Great Ming, the majority of civil officials truthfully didnt think too much of eunuchs on the inside, even if they had to deal with them. Even a famed one might not get any more space in the history books than a mediocre civil official, who would demand higher standards from eunuchs than themselves; if they had a tad of power and took some rash actions, they would be crowned with the title of corrupt eunuch. Tang Fan held a slightly different opinion, however. For one in officialdom, being a greedy or corrupt official wasnt hard: get an opportunity and seize it (but not too much of it), stand on the correct spot at critical moments, and dont oppose the Emperor. Stick to that route. Keep with going down that path, and one would drift into a retirement of full glory. Being a clean or straightforward official wasnt hard, either: no matter how righteous someone was, put them in no regard, and when learning that someone had a handle to grasp, scold them for it, not even letting the Emperor slip past. Berating until you got banished or sent to prison was best, so that your name would get passed down through the ages. Being an official that wanted to get real things done was beyond hard, though. The greater part of your colleagues above, below, and around you did absolutely nothing; what could you even do? Nothing, other than uniting those that could be united, and not making very defined dividing lines between good and bad people so long as someone was capable of work, or capable of helping you in work, they could be made a friend. In light of that criteria, Wang Zhi actually wasnt too bad. He also wanted to accomplish things that werent too bad. It was simply that a eunuchs status was quite confined, and because of his bossy nature, he had pulled a good amount of officials off of their steeds during his control of the Western Depot, thus creating his poor reputation. For that reason, Tang Fan had given him that plan in the hopes that it could cause him to use his power for more productive matters, and not set the entirety of his mind on eliminating dissidents or scheming against the likes of Shang Ming all day long. Eunuchs ought to have eunuchly goals. What brought joy was that Wang Zhi had listened to him. What was unfortunate was that the plan for Wang Zhi had hit Tang Fan on his own head. One that did evil could not escape from it. Tang Fan was beyond helpless; with no way to deal with Eunuch Wangs nagging, he had no choice but to tell him his foremost analysis of the Crown Prince. Wang Zhi was finally appeased. After realizing that Tang Fan didnt have the mind to fight against him, his expression turned from mostly-cloudy to clear weather. Who do you think the killer is, then? The investigation hasnt yet started, and Im not a god. How should I know? Tang Fan answered, vexed. Even what I said just now had only been my own personal judgement. It could only be used as a supplement to the cases details, at most. All things need to have evidence. Wang Zhi hehed. If you can find out the truth swimmingly, I guarantee that Ill put in a good word for you before His Majesty and the Consort! Your rank will definitely get brought up then! Tang Fan sighed. Whether my rank gets mentioned or not is secondary. I only request that you show mercy to me, Eunuch Wang, and not distribute things onto my head with no discussion next time around. The other nodded. Okay. Ill just inform you ahead of time, then. Feeling at great ease, Wang Zhis feminine and pretty face consequently appeared more like a maidens. Tang Fan, who had just experienced his strength, would absolutely never regard him the same as the other wimpy eunuchs. Not too much of this case should be disclosed according to its special nature, but when Eunuch Wang now looked at Sui Zhou, he wasnt hard on his identity as a Brocade Guard, instead giving him a meaningful smile. I heard you and Centarch Sui had a good friendship, even staying in the same room. The rumors were truly not wrong now youre even going on assignments together! Wait a minute. What did he mean, staying in the same room? The more Tang Fan heard, the more he felt something was off. Rent is expensive in the capital. It just so happened that Brother Sui lived alone in his home, so he invited me and my little sister to come live with him, he promptly clarified. This present case is tricky and Shuntian bailiffs cant be counted on, which is why I shamelessly asked that he lend a hand. Fortunately, hes a loyal friend, and didnt reject me. I really cant thank him enough for his kindness! Wang Zhi made an oh, dragging the sound out for a very long time with a face of ambiguity. Unsure of what the other was being ambiguous about, Tang Fan heard him answer, I also have a vacant house in the capital. If you dont hate the idea, Runqing, you could move there, and not need to inconvenience Centarch Sui like so. Tang Fan, of course, rejected this without even thinking about it. Many thanks for your generosity, Eunuch Wang. I am lazy by nature and dont feel like moving, so I wont trouble you. What a joke. Making friends with an imperial eunuch was one thing; staying in said eunuchs house was of a completely different nature. Smiling wide, Wang Zhi said that that was a shame and didnt insist, turning to Bian Yu. For this juncture, you, and the people under you, will obey Sir Tangs orders. When he needs something, do all that you can to meet it. If the scope of your power falls short, come let me know. Bian Yu was not an average bailiff. The Eastern and Western Depots had identical posts; under the Chief Eunuch were twelve squad leaders arranged on the basis of the twelve shichens of the day: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, and so on. Bian Yu was the leader of the Hare squad, able to directly report his situations to Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi had already given this order previously, but now that he was repeating it in Tang Fans presence, its significance was even more out of the ordinary. Bian Yu had no idea what Wang Zhi and Tang Fan had spoken of in private, solely witnessing Wang Zhi, who never respected anyone, have a nice and amiable attitude towards Tang Fan, the two being in pretty good kinship; his mind, unsurprisingly, underwent a storm. Once Wang Zhi was gone, the degree of Bian Yus cordiality towards Tang Fan immediately reached a new height, manifesting in an overpowering attitude of allowing him to do whatever it was he wanted to do. Tang Fan wasnt overly polite about it, either, soon asking him to bring them for a visit to the palace maid that had delivered the soup. On account of her being someone of Consort Wans, the maid didnt suffer any sort of torture, merely being imprisoned in a small room where her food and living was taken care of. The mental torment of all this was plenty enough for her, however. After learning that Han Zao had died after drinking the sweet soup she had delivered, she had constantly been in a state of disturbed anxiety. As soon as she saw Tang Fans group, she immediately knelt down, wailing bitterly as she shouted about how she had been accused unjustly. No crying! the nearby warden shouted to cut her off. Like her throat had been grabbed, she promptly lost her voice, only looking at them pitifully with her big eyes. Dont be nervous, Tang Fan said. Ive been royally decreed to investigate this case. If youre free of blame, then youll be considered innocent. Im going to ask you a few things, so you must answer them truthfully, understand? She nodded over and over. Whats your name? Fu Ru. This maid is Fu Ru. I must ask you, Fu Ru; did you deliver those two bowls of soup to the Crown Prince under orders of Consort Wan? Yes. Had she ever sent food to him prior to that? No. Since it hadnt happened before, why would she suddenly do so? Lay out the details of the situation and the entire process. If you cover anything up, I wont be able to help you. Fu Ru collected herself, then organized her words. It went like this; the Consort heard that the Dowager gave the Prince food daily, and also heard that he liked to drink mung-lily soup, so she sent me to imitate that. I had urged her not to, but she kept insisting it be sent. What did you say to her at the time? I said to her, The Crown Prince already remembers, likely hasnt forgotten his birth mother, and isnt close to you at all, so why should you incur peoples suspicions like this? If anything happens to him, everyone will probably blame you. But she said, Hes the established Crown Prince. All the others scramble to fawn on him, while only I ignore him. His Majesty told me yesterday, even, that I shouldnt be estranged from him. Hmph! Im only doing this for His Majestys sake, lest it be said that Im an intolerant Consort! And then? Then, she had the kitchen make the soup, and sent me to deliver the bowls. The soup was cooked in the kitchen in her palace, not the communal one used by everyone in the main one. Her own food all comes from there. The soup had also been picked up by me, never switching hands the whole way, so theres certainly no issue there. He asked nothing else, consoled her a bit, then left with the others. Han Zaos body is here, as well. Would you like to take a look, Sir Tang? Bian Yu asked of his own accord. Tang Fan looked at Sui Zhou, first. Guangchuan, Ill trouble you to go with Brother Bian to look at it. Ill go into the palace and get the physician that had taken Han Zaos pulse and examined him. Sui Zhou nodded. Go on. With Tang Fans rank and status, it would be a total impossibility for him to enter the prohibited palace at will in ordinary times. Yet, after being summoned by Chenghua last night, Wang Zhi had given him a token of command[1] to be used for his convenience in investigation, otherwise too much time would get wasted from the layers of reports getting made every time he went in. By coincidence, when Tang Fan got to the imperial hospital and asked, the very Doctor Sun that had taken the checkup pulses of the Dowager, Crown Prince, and Han Zao in passing also happened to be the same doctor that had rushed to the scene for inspection when Han Zao died. Added onto that, he was even on duty that day, which saved Tang Fan the effort of running back and forth. Hearing Tang Fans idea, Doctor Sun sighed. It was truly unexpected. When I first took Don Hans pulse, he was clearly healthy without a hint of ailment. Who could have thought that he would die like this? Then, when I came over that day, he was still faintly breathing, but it was unfortunately too late. It would have simply been impossible to prescribe the right medication in such a short amount of time. Also, Im no coroner, nor can I take the pulse of the dead, so I couldnt make out anything strange. Even so, I still have to trouble you to take a trip with me. You were the earliest to arrive, after all. There may yet be some particulars that we havent discovered and will need your help deducing. Doctor Sun was actually energetic. Then I shall. Although I couldnt save little Don Han, if I can contribute all of my humble efforts, my conscience will be somewhat reassured. Tang Fan led him out of the palace. The man was up in age and couldnt last long walking on the road, so they hired a sedan and hurried straight out of the palace gates to the Western Depot. On Sui Zhous end, he was in the middle of inspecting the body alongside the Depots coroner. Noticing their arrival, he only slightly looked up and said one thing: Didnt find anything. Tang Fan was slightly disappointed, but still asked, You already checked all over? Don Han has neither wounds nor bruises on his body, so it wasnt death by blunt force trauma, the coroner explained. What if he was poisoned? May I be so bold as to ask whether youre asking after a sudden-onset poison, or one applied over the years? If its poison, it should be highly toxic and fast-affecting, Doctor Sun supplied. Back when Han Zao had fallen to the ground crying of his stomach hurting, an East Palace attendant had run off to call for a doctor, but even when Doctor Sun had hurried there, Han Zao died shortly after. The time between his collapse and the doctors arrival had been no more than the smaller half of a shichen, which was why the latter judged it like so. The coroner shook his head. That makes even less sense. If he had died suddenly of poisoning in life, there would still be marks of it left behind even if there are no injuries the whole body being black and blue, for example, or bruises under the nails, puffiness around the eyes, and so on. Looking at the body, though, theres really no evidence of this. Going along with the coroners words, Tang Fan carefully examined the corpse. Indeed, he couldnt see any indication of that. The profession of coroner was passed down through particular experience and apprenticeship, and the quality of the Depots coroner was assuredly a good chunk higher than Shuntians. Tang Fan didnt doubt the authenticity of his verdict. If he said it couldnt be validated, then it couldnt be validated. Since it hadnt been a sudden illness, nor were there traces of a poisoning, that only further demonstrated the killers cunning and exceedingly brilliant imagination. Cases like this were always the most headache-inducing to officials, and were liable to end up placed as a pending case, or cause a random person to get arrested so that they could complete it for the sake of their career review. However, because all persons involved in this one were of extraordinary identity, even if there was no outline to be had, a trail still needed to be found, and even if there was no path, it still needed to be stepped upon. Shave his hair away and take a look, Sui Zhou suddenly said. If theres nothing, dissect him. Tang Fan understood him. Sui Zhou must have remembered his experience in the Marquis Estate case when they had found a dent at the top of Zheng Chengs head, since most average people wouldnt pay attention to an area covered by hair. Autopsies were trifles, and the Depot had forever used many methods to do them, but in consideration of the identity of the one in question, Bian Yu hesitated. That wouldnt be great, yeah? What if the Han family refuses to Tang Fan thought a bit. Shaving the head beforehand is fine. Things as they are now, theres only one goal, and everything else is discussable. Ill handle the Hans end. With those words, Bian Yu didnt say anything further, directly ordering someone to bring a razor. The coroner brandished it himself. Its edge was seriously sharp, and in a quick few turns, strand by strand came off until Han Zao had a bald head. Ones body came of the flesh of ones parents.[2] Even if the one in question was dead, this was still awful. As Doctor Sun watched Sui Zhou and Tang Fan set to task feeling about Han Zaos head, the corners of his lips pulled down, and he turned away, unable to bear with looking. At this instant, he heard Tang Fan gasp, and couldnt help but turn back to look. He then saw him stooping in close, pointing at the spot of the anterior fontanelle. There looks to be a little red here. Did the razor accidentally nick him just then? No, this lowly one shaved it very carefully, the coroner answered. Moreover, hes already dead He, too, got in closer for a look, and was somewhat bewildered. Why does it look like theres a slight contusion there? After that, he reached out and felt it. But theres no injury at all! Wait! No one move! Doctor Sun suddenly called out. His voice was so loud, it made everyone turn and look at him at the same time. A little embarrassed, he quickly walked over. Without paying attention to cleanliness, he felt the area for a spell, then narrowed his old eyes in scrutiny. A contusion, a contusion He mumbled on and on. Tang Fan couldnt help but ask, Have you realized something, Old Sun? Doctor Sun nodded, then shook his head. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Seeing him be like so, the others all paused in their movements, watching him feeling about and deliberating. They saw his hand descend from Han Zaos fontanelle, then go down his forehead, jaw, neck, and sternum to ultimately stop a cun above his navel. After that, everyone observed as he leaned over and took a careful look. As he slowly pressed on it, his expression went from calm and serious to shocked and enraged, fluctuating without cease while he mumbled, That really is it! It really is! What did you find, Old Sun? Tang Fan asked. The doctor beckoned him over. Come take a look, Sir Tang. Tang Fan walked over, and Doctor Sun pointed out with a hand to have him use his own and feel at the previous spot, copying him mechanically. Tang Fan didnt understand his reasoning, but still went along with it. Han Zao had been dead for a day and a night, so his body had since gone stiff and lost elasticity. Even like that, though, once Tang Fan pressed down, he felt something off. Something was underneath! He looked at Doctor Sun, who nodded. It feels like a half-needle, but it needs to be extracted to know for sure. The coroner took over, touching the spot Doctor Sun had told of. Soon after, he took out a small, sharp knife, then carefully made an incision. The skin split apart, but no blood flowed out. The coroner swiftly pulled out the strange object using tweezers. Taking a closer look, they all couldnt help but be surprised. It was a silver needle not even half a cun long, and could be described as the width of a mere hair. It was as thin as down, so small that it would be very hard to see if dropped onto the floor. Yet, such a needle had shown up in Han Zaos abdomen, which was way too odd. Doctor Sun sighed. Cruel. Truly cruel. Doctors have the hearts of parents, so how could one be cruel enough to think up such a way to kill someone?! Old Sun, can you explain what you mean? Tang Fan quickly asked. Generally speaking, when a needle of this thinness and shortness got stuck into someones body, they might not feel a thing, a bit of faint pain at most. How could it have been used for a murder plot? Furthermore, what relationship did the needle have with the contusion at Han Zaos anterior fontanelle? And how could Doctor Sun notice the abnormality with that contusion, then follow the melon vine down to find the needle? The translator says: Wang Zhi aint fooled for one minute. [1] Its like an olde-timey police badge. It was typically a big charm on a string with a name/words on it, put to hang on the waist or kept hidden. [2] This is why ancient Chinese people often had really long hair, sometimes nails, and disliked tattoos; bodies were believed to be gifts from ones parents, and to do purposeful damage to it was to disrespect them, which is A Big No-No. CH 34 Doctor Sun pointed at the spot the needle had just been drawn out of. Theres an acupoint here called shuifen. As Northern Songs Bronze Figures have long stated, If theres edema, moxibustion is very effective. Use seven to a hundred moxa, no more. Do not stick with a needle, as hitting the fluid inside will prompt death. For that reason, its claimed that it can only have moxibustion on it, not acupuncture, but the truth is that it can be needled; its simply that some are unskilled at the craft, and its easy for them to stick it in too deep, leading to tragedy. Tang Fan and the rest understood in an instant. Every single acupoint on the human body had a use, like shuifen; massage it with the fingers or perform moxibustion, and it could treat symptoms of edema, diarrhea, and so on. However, on the flipside, it was also a major acupoint like baihui and taiyang, so if the treatment was inadequate, damage could be caused to the body. Shuifen belongs to the ren meridian,[1] and happens to share a channel with the anterior fontanelle, Doctor Sun provided. When a needle punctures it, a contusion appears on the fontanelle. Previously, I had only heard my teacher speak of it, so if I hadnt seen it myself today, I would have never believed that someone could actually come up with such a way to cause suffering! This individual is certain to be familiar with medical scriptures, and might even be a physician, but their skill wasnt used to save someone, but to kill them! Infuriating! Doctor Sun remained enraged about the murderers crime, while everyone else became grave. They had believed that Han Zao had died of poison, not at all expecting that a needle would be in a key acupoint of his. With how covert the method of killing was, if it werent for Doctor Sun being present today and able to recognize the fine connection between shuifen and the anterior fontanelle, they likely wouldnt have found the problem even if they had gotten to a dissection, let alone from shaving just the head. Due to the needles small size, plus their previous concentration on poison, they would have only gone for the larynx and chest when the time came for the dissection, not taking note of the shuifen spot. If Han Zao had a broken needle piece in his body, would checking his pulse reveal that? Tang Fan asked. Understanding what he was getting at, Doctor Sun shook his head. It wouldve been impossible to maintain it that long. When I checked on him a few days back, he was confirmed healthy, which is to say that the onset time would have been very fast. The needle is small and short, but in that particular acupoint, the time period for the incident definitely couldnt exceed half of a day. Tang Fan was mystified. What youre saying is that Han Zaos needle had been stuck in him that very day but if thats the case, he wasnt a baby that couldnt speak. How could he not feel it at all when it happened? Firstly, the needle is thinner than an acupuncture one. When an ox-hair-thin object like this pierces the body, one may not get a very prominent sensation of it. Secondly, its broken, so if its completely concealed in the body and Han Zao couldnt have discovered the problem, others would only take it as unusual abdominal pain. The way he died was so out of the norm, few would put two and two together. Sui Zhou picked up where Doctor Sun left off. Using me as an example, I could easily stick that needle through clothes and into someone elses body without them noticing. If the one in question is a naive child on low alert, it would be even easier. Hearing all that, Tang Fans brow creased. In that case, the issue now pertains to who came into close contact with him on the day of his death. Theyre most likely someone he knew, else it would otherwise be impossible for them to get close enough to stick the needle in. This wasnt Doctor Suns sphere of expertise, entailed a broad variety of fields, and possibly involved a public figure in the palace beyond that. Not wanting to give him a hard time, Tang Fan had Bian Yu get someone to send Doctor Sun back. As I recall, Tang Fan said to Sui Zhou, Han Zao had entered the palace at daybreak, the time of the Rabbit.(5-7am) At around ten minutes into the time of the Dragon,(7-9am) the Empress Dowager sent bamboo-shoot pastries over. At twenty minutes in, Consort Wan sent the mung-lily soup over. At forty minutes, Han Zao said his stomach hurt, then died suddenly. In other words, taking the start of the time of the Rabbit as the beginning point, the time period is altogether that whole shichen, plus about forty minutes. Wrong. Theres also the time before he got up in the morning and left. Tang Fan thought about this. You mean that the Han family is also suspect? Ive done a lot of cases before. It often ends up being someone thats the least eye-catching. This is just to ensure we get everything, and add another possibility. The other nodded. Typically, getting up, freshening up, and getting ready to go into the palace happens at the time of the Tiger.(3-5am) Old Sun also said that with the shuifen acupoint punctured, it would get deeper into the body in the wake of motion, making the onset period quick. It cant be any longer than those two shichens plus forty minutes. At this moment, someone from the East Palace came in from the outside, saying that His Highness the Crown Prince wanted to see Sir Tang. Tang Fan wasnt surprised. Even if the Prince hadnt gone looking for him, he would have gone looking for the Prince. On account of last nights experience, he didnt feel much upon going into the palace again. Also, his brain was currently full of clues on the East Palace case, so he didnt care to look much at the palace scenery, either. He had seen the Crown Prince last night, as well, but it was naturally a lot easier to observe him in the daytime. He had just turned eight this year, but in order to hide from Consort Wans view when he was younger, he had to hide all over the place in the palace, and all the food he ate was economized from the maids and eunuchs rations, resulting in his body developing frail. He only looked about five or six, the East Palace robes he wore being somewhat distressing in their emptiness. Despite his birth not being one of extravagance, it could be seen that he was extremely diligent and worked hard, his etiquette and mannerisms both up to standards, not a nit to be picked. After Tang Fans bow, the Crown Prince immediately ordered, Come, move a chair over for Judge Tang. Grant him a seat and serve him tea. Many thanks to Your Highness for your empathy. This subject is fine with standing, Tang Fan rejected. You are handling a case for Father Emperor, and thus bear an imperial mission. Theres no need to be polite. Tang Fan was no longer courteous, thanking him as he sat. Have you discovered anything about the case, Judge Tang? He had only been casually asking this, since it had been no more than a day; what could he have found, really? Yet, he didnt expect to hear: I indeed have. Tang Fan explained Han Zaos cause of death. The Princes eyes went wide, and he couldnt help but stand up from his seat. How could that be? How?! This is too inhumane to Xiao Zao! Regardless of how restrained and hardworking he was, he was still just an eight-year-old kid. He had experienced all sorts of hardships since childhood, but upon hearing that his young, previously day-long companion had died tragically, he couldnt hold back his tears. Judge Tang, have you found out who is responsible for killing him? While he spoke, Tang Fan was attentively observing him. Ones words and mannerisms couldnt be used as solid proof, but they could be used for supplement and consultation. The amount of suffering the Prince had endured in his childhood was more than the average persons. He had faced death threats at all times, so he was forced to follow his devoted maids and attendants in relocating all over the place to avoid Consort Wans persecution. That all might have been an overly-contrived plot when placed in fantasy stories, but in the Chenghua Court, they had been real events. His birth mother, Lady Ji, had died suddenly three years back, the same year he was made Crown Prince. At that time, no one had jumped out to call for a thorough investigation of it as they all tacitly understood the truth, and believed that he wouldnt take it to mind since he was so young. But how could an early-maturing child not know what his own mother had undergone? How could a palaceful of gossip not reach his ears? Even with enduring so much bumpiness in life, he still didnt turn gloomy because of it, contrarily giving off a peaceful, gentle vitality. His eyes were so clear, one could see their bottoms, not contaminated at all by the dangerous complexities of the world. Tang Fan had also experienced many vicissitudes of life and peoples hearts for himself. From his observation, what the Crown Prince had expressed upon learning of Han Zaos true fate ought to lend him to having nothing to do with this case. At the bare minimum, it wasnt like how Consort Wan suspected, where he was deliberately framing her for revenge. Whenever a villain saw a noble, they would forever judge the nobles mind based on their own villainous heart. They wouldnt understand what the noble was thinking, nor could they understand how nobles thought. He shook his head. Only the cause of death has been sussed out at this time. Even if you hadnt come looking for this subject, Prince, I was getting ready to come over and request a meeting with you. I would like to know; during the period of time starting from his entry into the palace to his death, what all had Han Zao done, and who had he met? The Prince blinked, dumbstruck for a good minute, then just shook his head. No one. He had been studying with me the whole time and never went anywhere else. Tang Fan was both annoyed and amused. At a glance, His Highness was not great at lying. Are you telling the truth, Your Highness? This is a highly important matter. If the culprit wasnt merely aiming at Han Zao, but rather had some other intentions, Im afraid that youll also be in danger. The Prince went quiet. Tang Fan resolved to compel him. If you refuse to speak truthfully, this subject will have no choice but to go ask for His Majestys presence. That said, he got up, cupped his hands, and made to leave. The Prince swiftly called out to stop him, even forgetting himself in order to chase after him. Dont go, dont go! Wait! Tang Fan turned around. The boy bit his lower lip. I can tell you, but that person would never harm me, and Xiao Zao even less so. You have to promise me that you will never let Father Emperor know. Tang Fan nodded. Given that they have nothing to do with this case, nor the murderer, I of course wont look deeply into them. The Prince didnt make a sound, standing there in hesitation. Tang Fan waited with his sleeves gathered, not rushing him. A good minute later, the Prince dismissed his attending palace-goers, then said to Tang Fan, After Xiao Zao entered the palace at the time of the Rabbit, we were studying in one place, and then I had him go somewhere to see someone partway through. A round trip there is only less than half a shichen, and that person would never hurt him, or me! Who are they? Lady Wu. Tang Fan didnt realize for a second. Which Lady Wu? The one thats Father Emperors first Empress. Oh, that Empress Wu. Tang Fan remembered that she had been deposed by the current Son of Heaven because she had reproached Consort Wan, thereupon entering the West Palace. Following that, her name was seldom heard either inside or outside the palace. The woman seemed to have been completely forgotten in the minds of all. Lady Wu lives in the West Palace. Theres often a lack of food and clothes there. Its difficult for me to go there myself, but Xiao Zao was young and had a special identity, so he wouldnt get anyone interrogating him. Thats why I would sometimes ask him to go deliver things. With how clever Tang Fan was, he understood with that bit of guidance. Has she helped you before? The Prince said nothing, dark eyes peering at him accusatorily. Be at ease, Your Highness. This subject will not spit out one word about things unrelated to the case, Tang Fan said warmly. Ill treat it as if Ive never heard it. However, I will still need to take a trip to the West Palace. The boy grew anxious. You cant! When Father Emperor learns about where you went, the Consort will definitely know, too! If they ask you why you went asking for her, what happened in the past will get brought up again, and then the Consort wont let Lady Wu go free! Then Ill say that Han Zao loved to fool around and had taken advantage of an opportunity midway through studying to slip out to play, so I need to investigate all the routes he might have taken. At that point, not only will I visit the West Palace, but everything nearby. If Empress Wu is unrelated to this, Consort Wan will naturally not suspect that she had fostered and helped you before. How about that? The Princes mouth was slightly agape as he looked at him in disbelief, like he couldnt believe that a subject would discuss deceiving the monarch right to his face. Tang Fan smiled some. This isnt the deception of a monarch, its just a bit of accommodation for the circumstances. Im taking you into consideration, Your Highness, so I ask that you keep this quiet for me. Arent you afraid of offending the Consort? Nowadays, no one in the whole Court dares to offend her. Why arent you afraid? It isnt that this subject isnt afraid, but that a noble is defined by what they do and dont do. Empress Wus benevolent act in aiding you has nothing to do with this case, and should be kept a secret. Theres no one in this world that deserves retribution because they committed a good deed. Im investigating for the sake of finding the killer, not to cause good people to suffer in the name of righteousness. Of course, if she actually is related to it, then please forgive me for not keeping that private when the time comes. The Prince nodded repeatedly. Shes a good person, she would never do anything like that. However, shes lived in the West Palace for a long time, and her mind is in a bit of a haze. She does deranged things at times. Please dont mind her, Judge Tang. Tang Fan cupped his hands. Dont worry, Your Highness. I will take my leave. He withdrew a few steps, then turned to go. Wait! The Crown Prince shouted, chasing after him with quick steps. Tang Fan turned, not sure what he wanted. Judge Tang, you just said that in this world, no one should get retribution for good deeds. I like that phrase, and think that you make a lot of sense. Will there be another chance for you to enter the palace later on? I want to chat with you some more. The man smiled. That isnt something this humble subject can do of my own accord. However, His Majesty has talents gathered at his side, and theyre all men of knowledge and talent greater than I. My negligible self really shouldnt be anything to your eyes. The Prince gave a tiny smile, too. His delicate face didnt resemble Chenghuas much; Tang Fan guessed that he probably looked more like his deceased mother. You are too modest, Judge Tang. Ive heard of you before. The roll call in the eleventh year of Chenghua, yes? I read your essay, too. It was written quite well! Thank you for the praise, Your Highness. If I have a chance later on, Ill be sure to come pay my respects to you. The Prince nodded. Okay, Ill be waiting. I also request that you discover the murderer, so that Xiao Zaos soul in the Heavens can be assured. Tang Fan cupped his hands. This subject will do all that I can. He wasted no more time, coming out of the Palace of Celebrating Humanity and busily going for an audience with Chenghua. His Majesty was typically fine with just muddling through major events in Court politics, but this case was of major concern. The goal of the true killer behind the scenes was unknown, and the manner of Han Zaos death was bizarre, which incited a lot of his interest. Once he heard that there was progress made, he quickly agreed to an audience with Tang Fan. In spite of that, Tang Fan still had to wait outside for an age before he was allowed in. Upon seeing him, Tang Fan did not have the appearance of a minor official graced by royal countenance, so excited that he had the mind to try currying favor, but instead got straight to the subject at hand. The cause of Han Zaos death had certainly already been reported to Chenghua by the Western Depot folks while he was visiting the Crown Prince, so Tang Fan only briefly mentioned it, after which he jumped into explaining his own analysis, as well as requesting that some areas in the palace be opened to him so that he could investigate them. In reality, this was only for the sake of going to question the deposed Empress, but that was hindered by Consort Wans hatred of her. If she knew that Empress Wu had once helped the Crown Prince and he had been sending someone to sneakily visit her, she would definitely take retaliatory measures against her. Since Tang Fan had promised the Prince that he wouldnt expose Lady Wu, he had to take a detour. Chenghua had an acquired fear due to Daoist Lis spying on the inner palace and attempt on his life way back when. When hearing of Han Zaos death, his first reaction was to infer that the assassin was going for the Crown Prince, or possibly even himself. It was without much hesitation that he agreed to Tang Fans request, but, in light of the other being an outside official, Chenghua stipulated that he must have an accompanying eunuch when walking the palace, and couldnt leave a fixed area as he wished to run off to another without prior notice. Tang Fan obviously agreed to all that, and individually. By the time he got out of the palace after that set of complications, the sky was already near-dark. Pitiful Mister Tang had been completely busy running about all day, not even getting to eat any meals. With his low officials post, even if he was on a royal assignment, he didnt receive the treatment of getting food there. If he were a major scholar of the Cabinet or employed by one of the Six Ministers, he definitely wouldnt have been treated like this. Yet, despite him foaming at the mouth, he didnt go slip away to find food, but instead first went to the Western Depot. That was because when he left in the morning, Han Zaos corpse had still been lying there. Bian Yu quickly came over after hearing that he had returned. When did Centarch Sui leave? Tang Fan asked him. Soon after you did. Later, he sent someone over to tell me to inform you that there was a last-minute errand at the Bastion Office, and hes going on a faraway trip. Itll probably take several days to half a month, so you dont need to wait for him. Tang Fan sighed. This was really not a good time for him to leave where am I supposed to find a cooperative, understanding old chap to help me out on such short notice? Dont I still exist? Companion to that voice was the Great Mings own Director of the Western Detainment and Investigation Depot, the Eunuch Wang Zhi, pushing the door open and coming inside. Tang Fan was pretty much speechless. This guy really liked hanging around. You must be swamped with official business, Eunuch Wang. Why would you specially come accompany me? Oi. Am I seeing that youre not too happy about this? Arent you wanting to go into the palace for investigations? His Majesty is having me keep an eye on you so you dont go where you shouldnt be going! Do you think Sui Guangchuan could follow you all around the palace? What kind of place is it? He may be a relative of the Dowager, but his face isnt that big! Wang Zhi laughed at him. In contrast to his caution and respect before the Emperor, he had no use for politeness when he spoke to Tang Fan. What is it? Is having me as company displeasing to you? Youve received a blessing that everyone asks for but doesnt get! Do you know how many people want to see me, and cant?! Unlike the dark clothes and plain cap from last time at Immortal Cloud, Wang Zhi was currently donning an imperially-granted, qilin-decorated yesa. Its style was similar to the Brocade Guards flying fish uniform, but the patterning differed, and the degree of importance plus represented rank also differed. These robes were incomparably gorgeous; Eunuch Wang stood in front of Tang Fan with his hands behind his back, swaying like a fancy peacock. Starting from now and going until the case is concluded, Im going with you. If theres anything that needs done, Ill send the order down. The efficiency of the Western Depot is much higher than that nuisance of a Brocade Guard, Sui Guangchuan hes a mere Centarch, for that matter. Dont you worry, I wont get in your way. Since you were handed this case to make decisions on, you have the full power to make those decisions. With all that stuff done coming from Wang Zhi, what else could Tang Fan even say? The palace gates are now shut. Im not anxious to go investigate for the time being, so Im obliged to leave it for tomorrow, he had to helplessly answer. Wang Zhi mned. Noticing that he still wasnt leaving, Tang Fan inquired, Have you eaten already, Eunuch Wang? Yes. What the heck. Do you want me to treat you to something? Thats not happening. Ive skipped two meals. If you dont hate the idea, you can come with me for more food. Tang Fan had been thinking that Wang Zhi would inevitably fling his sleeves out and leave because of that, but the Chief Eunuch actually just changed his clothes, even giving him a set of casual robes and allowing him to change as well. After that, he followed him all the way from the Western Depot to the wonton stall in the citys north. By the time Wang Zhi had sat down on a stool next to him, Tang fan was still feeling a bit of disbelief. He wasnt afraid of him, but also wasnt sure why the magnificent Western Depot Director, an arrogant figure that normally opposed the Six Ministries and Cabinet, now somehow had the free time to eat wontons with him here, resisting all attempts to drive him away. Did Eunuch Wang take the wrong meds today? Whats more was that Mister Tang, who was expressing that he wasnt at all familiar with Wang Zhi, felt awkward being tailed by an imperial eunuch like this. He had been wanting to turn into a bookshop along the way to see if there were any new books, but how could he go do that now? Being hand in hand with an imperial eunuch while going to look at romance stories wouldnt a world like that be a bit too fantastical?[2] What are you looking at me for? Do you not want to treat me to dinner? Dont forget that I had treated you two to Immortal Cloud last time! The price of one dish alone there is enough for you to buy a hundred rounds of wontons here! Tang Fan felt powerless. Please, go ahead and order what youd like to eat, Eunuch Wang. This humble official will be beyond happy to treat you. This isnt that bad, but couldnt you have done any better than this? Its just wontons! Wang Zhi grumbled. Youve really got it wrong, then, Eunuch Wang. The owner here is famed for making wontons, but his noodles in broth are also good. The long-simmered bone broth in particular really cant be beat. Immortal Guest might not even have his sort of attentiveness. They opened this as a mom-and-pop shop; the bosss wife is in charge of rolling and pulling noodles and the boss is in charge of wrapping wontons, but now that its gotten so late, theyre probably sold out of noodles. There might be leftover wontons, still. If you can try bone-broth wontons with sprinklings of cilantro and sesame, you have to do it! When speaking of food, Mister Tang was bound to list them off like he was listing off family heirlooms. The stalls business was indeed booming; they had only just sat down, and the proprietress came over and cleaned off the dishes left behind by the customers before them. This was in regards to Mister Tang being a frequenter of theirs. Do you want the usual, Sir Tang? And what will this other customer have? the proprietress greeted with a smile. Tang Fan smiled back. Youre so unkind to me, Miss Yu. Its obvious that only wontons are left, so why ask us what we want? She gave a hey. Youre accusing me unfairly! We made too many noodles today, and theres still some left, plus newly-fried youbing. Why, do you want some of them? I do, I do! Four youbing! he answered in a rush. He turned to ask Wang Zhi, Do you want wontons or noodles? Wang Zhi was slightly caught off guard. Wontons, then! Tang Fan went back to the proprietress. One bowl of wontons, one bowl of wonton-noodles, and extra cilantro! Got it! She smiled again, casually poking fun at him. Sir Tang, youve really got a lot of friends from the Bastion Office. That one time, it was Sir Xue, and after that was Sir Sui. Whyve you got another new person this time? He lightly coughed. Im not giving you oldies canvasses for business, but this isnt a Brocade Guard. Hes Sir Wang of the Western Depot. When doing business rooted in the Imperial City, information about everyone was a bit rampant. In the whole of the Western Depot, there was only one person surnamed Wang. Upon hearing the title, the woman went blank, after which her face immediately morphed. Shivering out a Sir Wang, the soles of her feet seemed to instantly get smeared with grease, and she vanished along with her cleaning rag. Before they had even fully settled in, two bowls of wontons in broth and four large youbing were carried over to them. The portion sizes looked to be twenty-percent bigger than usual. Tang Fan had to smile. Seems like Sir Wangs reputation is a might that quakes the four seas. Even a wonton stall gives you more to eat! Wang Zhi snorted. Seems like when Im with you, I have to watch out for you using my name to show off and scam people! Whenever other civil officials saw him, they all trembled in fear, or were on ample guard. Tang Fan was the sole exception to that. He spoke with wit and eccentric words, teasing when he should. It was never disrespectful, instead making one feel extraordinarily amicable and happy. People like Wang Zhi that had stayed in high positions for a long time had some snobbery at their cores; when others treated him reverently, he didnt regard them as much, but if they were like Tang Fan, he felt it novel. Tang Fan pushed the plate of youbing in front of him, grinning. Right when he thought to say something, other people came up on the other side. Seeing as all the tables were filled up yet these two alone still had two seats remaining, they thus stepped forward and sat down without asking. Wang Zhi glared. Are you blind? Theres still people sitting here! The other chortled. Youre pretty arrogant. Is your name written on this table so that we cant sit on it? Do you not know who we are? Theyre done for. Sir Tang lowered his head and sipped the broth, silently observing a moment of silence for the other party. The translator says: Wang Zhi is most extra creature Ive ever seen. [1] This one goes straight down from right below the lips to the perineum, which 24 points rest on. I would normally just link to a diagram, but all of them include naughty bits [2] Specific term for this is /xuanhuan, a catch-all term for anything involving specifically Chinese fantastical elements. Its like the lowkey fantasy to xianxias hardcore fantasy. CH 35 As fully expected, Eunuch Wang responded to this with a cold laugh. Do I care who you are? In my presence, dragons need to make room and tigers need to lay down! This isnt somewhere you can sit! Scram! Tang Fan lifted his head. He observed that the other two were wearing ordinary clothes, but that couldnt cover up their fierce and aggressive auras, nor plenty robust builds. They looked like they could be the match of a couple of expert hands. In an area like the capital, being able to come across characters of note at any place and any time wasnt outlandish in the least. In the officials scene, there were those that didnt want to be seen in the light of day, while in the underworld, there were all sorts of divine creatures and monsters, all running the gamut. On top of that, there was to be no belief that those underworld folk werent in the capital, as they existed in the same exact manner and not only did they exist, but they had contact with authorities at times, even colluding with them. Even though they were inferior in power to the Canal Gang in Jiangnan that could cover the sky with one hand, they were still figures that could walk with confidence in the capital. This was still ultimately the capital, of course. They didnt dare to be too impetuous when faced with real high-rankers, but for ordinary officials, they didnt place much importance on them. The two before them had airs of cockiness all across their faces. It was entirely impossible to tell whether they were of the overworld or the underworld at first glance. After coming out of the palace, Tang Fan had followed Eunuch Wangs suit in changing into normal clothes so as to not be eye-catching. However, for him, a minor sixth-rank in the capital really wasnt seen as anything much, had little power for scaring the poor commonfolk, wouldnt have any use against genuine nobles, and would likely just bring some unnecessary troubles. Still, the result of the clothes swap was that Eunuch Wang hadnt yet shed his role, which was bringing trouble. The other men didnt take Wang Zhis words seriously at all, still sitting and bellylaughing as ever as they heard them. Were only taking a seat. Whats wrong? Wang Zhi was about to get mad. Tang Fan hurriedly held him back. Okay, okay. I havent eaten all day, just let me do that in peace first! He quickly tried to put out the fire on his end, but the other two still didnt realize what fate they were tempting. Seeing Wang Zhi and Tang Fan together one as feminine and pretty as a woman, one clearly a refined egghead one opened his mouth and mocked, A scholar and a little lady dressing up as a man came out for a walk down the streets, eh? Which family do you come from? This little miss has such a big temper, how will she ever get married in the future? Wont she have to become a lioness and tame her husband into obedience? His partner grinned along with him. You might be wrong, there. Maybe its different behind closed doors. If that spicy energy gets used in bed hehe, thatd be a real joy. This bookish guy probably isnt able to handle such a forceful little lady! Tang Fan: He didnt know how eunuchs thoughts worked, but from the perspective of typical men, they would never like to be mistaken for women especially someone of high power like Eunuch Wang, where he didnt even respect the Six Ministries. Those that legitimately dared to insult him to his face probably hadnt been born yet. As if to verify his conjecture, Wang Zhi subsequently slapped the table. Sons of bitches! Youre sick of being alive, huh?! As was said, power was the most effective aphrodisiac. Even if he was a eunuch and his looks were inviting ridicule from the two men, in reality, his words and acts were superior to mens. His strength was something Tang Fan had personally learned of through experience, and he was a lot stronger than him. The table didnt immediately break into four pieces like how it would in fantasy stories, but all the bowls and chopsticks jumped up, sending broth spraying everywhere. Even Mister Tangs lapels and sleeves got splashed in places. Tang Fan: Who in the world had he angered today?! Under these circumstances, wontons were no longer desired. Before the other two could get mad, Eunuch Wang directly smashed a bowl of them over their heads. They were pissed, shouting You goddamn bastard, and charged out with their fists, not even pulling back their sleeves. Wang Zhi laughed mockingly. He had grown up in the Inner Study Hall of the palace since childhood. In addition to teaching the eunuchs how to read and write, their teachers would instruct them in martial arts, so that they could protect the Emperor if there came to be an unexpected situation. The teachers requested by the royal family were naturally not the inferior grade of being all show, no substance, so Wang Zhi truly wasnt afraid of these guys. Even if he had no big group of underlings with him, he definitely would not be beaten. Thus, he fought two enemies head-on, overturning the entire table to smash them with it. Liquid went all over the place, with the dishes, bowls, and chopsticks all noisily breaking into pieces. They couldnt dodge it in time, getting splashed a bit. One went around one edge to outflank him from two sides, one went around the other to nab him. Wang Zhi didnt step away. One hand caught the fist one threw at him, at exactly the right position to wring the others wrist. With only a crack heard, that wrists joints were easily twisted; whether it was broken to pieces or dislocated was unknown. The man howled, and Wang Zhi bent a knee to slam it ruthlessly into his crotch. His entire body went limp. Even Tang Fan, watching from the side, felt his pain. At that instant, the second mans figure threw itself over. Wang Zhi just nabbed the guy he had taken care of and pushed him forward, making him stumble uncontrollably towards his companion and fall over. The friend was still nimble, directly avoiding him, flipping around, then throwing a punch towards Wang Zhis face all the same. All of this happened in the span of no more than a sparks life. Both parties were martial artists of keen talent and swift fists; onlookers only saw a bunch of blurs, yet the event was already mostly over. Wang Zhi gave a sinister Youre a bit better, then twisted to the side. Taking advantage of the moment the other was charging over, he snatched the mans belt while his other hand borrowed the ending momentum of his fist, acting along with it to push, turn, and twist, thus flipping the whole person over onto the ground a true marvel of using gentleness to overcome strength, and taking anothers power for their own. Before the man had time to get up, Eunuch Wang stepped on his chest, preventing him from moving. Are you still going to fight? It was currently the best hour of business for the wonton stall, else the two men wouldnt have not had anywhere to sit, then thought to come up and share a table with Tang Fan and him. However, the mens mouths were a bit too loose, and they couldnt recognize the giant before them, resulting in them offending a major demon king. After the proprietress had learned of Wang Zhis identity, she presumably also informed the proprietor. As they now witnessed the tables and chairs getting banged around,plus dishes and ware smashing onto the ground, the pair was too afraid to come over and plead with them, only capable of shrinking back and looking on helplessly. The bystanders knew nothing, merely watching the three go at it. This burst of battle was big and exciting, and they witnessed Wang Zhi taking two on by himself, the force of his two fists suppressing four palms it was truly a performance more wondrous than one on a stage. Every bloke watching couldnt wait to add fuel to the fire, giving Wang Zhi a big round of applause. There was even someone that shouted, Go again! Mister Tang stood to the side with his hands in his sleeves, face blank as he mentally snarled, By the Heavens, by the Earth I still didnt get to eat dinner! To recount, he had come and gone from this wonton stall dozens of times before to eat, yet had never gone through anything like this before. With todays addition of Wang Zhi, troubles were falling right out of the sky Nay. Eunuch Wang had incited all of this to begin with. The two men couldnt get up from the ground. One had gotten kicked in the groin, and one had gotten stomped on the chest. At a time like this, though, they couldnt admit defeat on principle. Dont you know who we are?! one of them bellowed. You dared pick a fight with people of the Eastern Depot! You better run, if you can! Bang! As soon as they heard that, the greater part of the watchers promptly scattered. Only a handful of folks remained standing there stubbornly, wanting to watch the excitement get carried on to its conclusion. So, they were from the Eastern Depot no wonder they were so overbearing. Eunuch Wang would definitely be taking that excuse to kick up a fuss. Tang Fan massaged his forehead. Not only was he hungry, but he had a headache now, too. The name Eastern Depot was, in this capital brimming with officials, supernaturally terrifying. The two men had believed that with the announcement of their origins, their counterpart would presently be throwing himself down into a kneel to beg for forgiveness, yet the womanly-looking prettyboy wasnt fearful at all. On the contrary, he smiled. Oh, the Eastern Depot. Which squad leader do you belong to? Some people wouldnt check their Yellow Calendars before they went out. These two were truly unlucky. Relying on the Eastern Depots prestige, they sauntered about the capital in normal times, but had run into someone who didnt fear the Depot today. This was, quite simply, an unheard of situation. The one continued cursing, wanting Wang Zhi to announce his own name, while the other one finally seemed to get some brains. What post is your esteemed self in? Please state it clearly! They really couldnt be blamed for not thinking towards him being a eunuch. For one, Eunuch Wang looked feminine, but his behavior wasnt at all; as could be told from the recent scuffle, he was more vicious than those of the Eastern Depot, entirely honing in on others weakpoints. For two, lots of capital eunuchs held high authority, just like their boss Eunuch Shang; they had harkers announcing their arrival, and stars of followers circling them like they were the moon. Why would any of them sit here and eat a couple coins worth of wontons? Wang Zhi huffed derisively. Before he could respond, a peal of hard-hitting and quick footsteps was heard coming closer. Make way! The Five Districts Military Office will take care of this! Idlers, stand by! Goodness. Another gang of officials! Crowd-goers moved aside in succession. A Five Districts official wearing a headcloth and a zhaojia came into view. There were many bureaus in the capital. When foreigners came in for business and thought to get in good with the locals, they wouldnt know which one to head to first. Additionally, the functions of many departments overlapped. Take keeping public law and order, for example; Shuntian Prefecture took care of it, all the Counties managed by the Prefecture took care of it, the Brocade Guard took care of it, both Depots took care of it, and this Five Districts Office that belonged to the Ministry of War very similarly took care of it. That led to chaos, of course. Sometimes, something would happen and theyd all scramble to take care of it. Sometimes, theyd all shirk it off on each other. Thankfully, though, since they were under the Emperors feet, this couldnt get too excessive. As could be seen, the Five Districts man had arrived late, and only after the fighting was already done. The head official gave an approximate glance around, brows starting to furrow. Whats going on here?! Everyone state your names! Youll be coming back to the Office! The guy that was covering his crotch with a twisted-up face pointed at Wang Zhi and shouted, Were from the Eastern Depot, subordinate to squad leader Zou! He dared to batter us! Arrest him! The scholar next to him, too! Theyre accomplices! When the Districtman heard Eastern Depot, he mentally cursed his poor luck, feeling that he had arrived too soon and should have just acted completely deaf and dumb. It wouldnt be good for him to turn around and leave now, though, so his expression sunk, and he put on a show of asking Wang Zhi, You two sure have guts, to dare to beat officials up! Do you have no regard for state law?! Eunuch Wang straightened out his sleeves, brushed off the dirt on his clothes, and laughed mockingly at the others words. It would be my right to hit even Shang Ming if he showed up, let alone these two goons! If you lot want to handle this, just take them away and have Shang Ming pick them up himself. If you dont have the nerve to do that, then get lost right now, and quit playing sheep! Once the Districtman heard that, he knew that the other had a bit of backing to him, if he was unafraid of offending even the Eastern Depot. With his speech inevitably holding some respect, he cupped his hands and didnt dare to shout his next question. What is your distinguished name? Eunuch Wang put his hands behind his back and answered coldly, Western Depot, Wang. Xi Changwang? Xi Changwang when had any notable figures in the capital ever had the surname Xi? And with such an odd given name, too?[1] While the Districtman hadnt yet grasped the point and kept mulling it over, the two laying on the ground seemed to have already had their epiphanies. Their faces were pale, and even their teeth chattered nonstop. Eunuch Wang continued to strike his pose. Tang Fan, seeing that his fight had been fought, people had been scolded, and anger had more or less gone, came over to say to him, This is just about done, right? You ate and drank enough, so youre fine, but Im still hungry! Noticing his weak aura, Wang Zhi curled his lip. All scholars are useless! The Districtman finally realized on his end, face morphing greatly. Regret was in his heart. Had he known who they were earlier, he never would have come to mind other peoples business. The Eastern Depot versus the Western Depot was nothing other than dogs biting each other ahem, gods duking it out. What did it have to do with their Military Office? He quickly gathered before him and pulled out a smile. This lowly one didnt recognize your might, nor did I know you would grace us with your presence. However, these two are from the Eastern Depot, and we cant afford to offend them. Wouldnt it be better to Wang Zhi huffed coldly, then spoke to the two Depot men. If you two wont accept this and want to find a time and place, just go tell Shang Ming to call on me himself! With that, he flung his sleeves out and left abruptly. Exasperated, Tang Fan had to go pick up the pieces Eunuch Wang had left behind. He gave a bit of coin to compensate the wonton stall couple so they wouldnt need to fear and such. After comforting them and getting out of the crowd, he discovered that Eunuch Wang was standing not far away in front of a roasted lamb skewer stall, holding a skewer in one hand and eating happily away. Seeing that Tang Fan had found him, he handed over the lamb skewer he held in the other hand, and also mocked him. You civil officials constantly open your mouths to puff air and scold people sneakier than anyone else, but cant be counted on when something actually happens! Tang Fan accepted the skewer, then sprinkled fennel and sesame on it, their fragrances assailing the nose. Not caring enough to bicker with Eunuch Wang, he speedily ate the meat clean, then held up a hand to the stall owner. Two more skewers! Got it! The owner nimbly dabbed oil on the lamb kebabs, flipped them, and added spices evenly to them. When they were golden-roasted and dripping with fat, tender on the inside and fragrant on the outside, he passed them over to Tang Fan. After the two skewers were in his stomach, Mister Tang finally had the strength to say something. Eunuch Wang, you are a highly capable person that I cant compare to, but if youre going to hang out with me, Im going to have to inconvenience you with being magnanimous, slightly empathetic, and subdued in your actions, lest the memorials denouncing me pile up into a mountain tomorrow! His words were soft, but there was a rigidness within them. He was not at all scared to say something on account of Wang Zhis high status. That actually happened to be why Wang Zhi got along fairly well with him; even though the latter was a tyrant with the skills to match, he was willing to concede a bit to people that caught his eye, else hed get lonely at the top. If there was seriously never even one person he could socialize with, what fun was there in existing? Hearing him say that, Eunuch Wang objected. What are you scared of? Id only need to say some pretty words before His Majesty. Those censors could berate you until the Heavens broke, and it still wouldnt do anything to you! Tang Fan shook his head. Civil officials had need for a particular reputation and face, so it wouldnt go like how Wang Zhi said it would. Still, he didnt quarrel more with him about the issue, merely saying, Its gotten late. I should go home. Ill enter the palace again tomorrow, so Ill trouble you to travel with me then! What? Youre just going home now? Wang Zhi asked doubtfully. Tang Fan understood nothing. What else would I do other than that? Wang Zhis face said dont keep acting. Brothels. Dont you lot like going there the most when the lanterns start getting lit? Tang Fan felt annoyed again. The Dynasty has decreed that officials are not to go wenching. Wang Zhi sneered. Still acting, are you? Tell me, how many of you actually follow that? The last time someone in the Cabinet invited me for drinks, he got a songgirl to accompany him. Could it be that you dont like songgirls, but rentboys? Confronted with the annoying and dictatorial Eunuch Wang, Tang Fan had a mouthful of words he couldnt say aloud. No matter how good his self-cultivation was, in this guys presence, it could all turn into nothing. Tang Fan had no idea how to react to him. If you have the mood for that, Eunuch Wang, I wont be keeping your company for it. Im shouldering an imperial order; how could I dare to be unbridled? I truly am exhausted today. From both investigating the case and running all over the place, then accompanying your brawl, anything further would best be discussed tomorrow. What do you mean, accompanying? You just stood there and watched! Sure, sure, sure. I was watching your brawl. Seeing that the other looked so tired that he craved death, Wang Zhi had to berate him for his uselessness as he set him free. Upon parting ways with Wang Zhi, Tang Fan finally let out a sigh of relief. Once he returned home, he found that a figure was bounding over to come open the door. Youre back, big brother? Did you eat? I made cassia-stewed meat and stuffed bitter melon, are you having any? Ah-Dong started to nag, making a fuss over nothing. Jeez, how come I was gone for only one day, but you got so haggard? Did you miss me a lot? Only then did he remember that she had had a sleepover at the Suis. She probably came back during the day, but because he himself had gone into the palace very early for the case, he had forgotten that tidbit. Following his departure from the palace, the wonton-noodle broth and youbing he had been about to eat were all ruined by Eunuch Wang, and the three kebabs he had were only enough to stuff the spaces between his teeth. As soon as he heard that there was still food, he was practically moved to full-on tears, and couldnt help but rub Ah-Dongs head. Having a sister like you is like having a treasure! She giggled happily. Go and clean your hands now, then come eat! Hey, isnt Brother Sui coming back to eat? Tang Fan cleaned his hands, then sat at the dining table. No, he went on another abroad assignment. By the way a few people came over today. They said their surname was Han, and they needed to see you. I said you werent here and they left, leaving a card behind. Tang Fan raised a brow. Han? Yeah. One said his name was Han Hui, someone of Young Tutor Hans family. He had come on his fathers orders. Tang Fan nodded. I see. He asked nothing else, nor did he go to read the card. After eating, he washed up, then put out the lights and went to sleep. At dawn the next morn, he went straight to the palace gates. He arrived early, but hadnt expected that Wang Zhi would arrive even earlier. The other was stern-faced, which was to be preserved inside the palace; he had none of the lack of scruples from yesterday. Tang Fan didnt have the mind to joke around, either. In accordance with what he had said to Wang Zhi, he first went to the Palace of Celebrating Humanity to start inquiring, then headed along westwards. Any and every place Han Zao might have gone to, he had to individually check. With a beforenoon of such work, he naturally reaped very little. It was because he was following his agreement with the Crown Prince that he didnt simply go straight to the West Palace, thus avoiding anyone seeing something off. Now, he was doing his best. However, Wang Zhis judgement was some kind of incredible, as he still discovered the issue even with things like this. Why do I get the feeling that youre beating around the bush to go look for someone in particular? Tang Fan remained calm. Han Zao was young and mischievous. Even though the palace is strictly guarded and it wouldve been impossible for him to run all around, hed still been here for a long time, and was a playmate of the Princes, as well. Kids are playful at heart and love to fool around, and others concerned about his status alongside the Prince might not have questioned him. Everyone that had come into contact with him is suspect, so I must interrogate them one by one. Youre saying things I already know, Wang Zhi answered impatiently, but open people dont speak in hidden words. Were on the same boat now. Itd be best if you didnt keep anything from me, or else I wont be able to help you with the fall if something happens! Tang Fan knew that Wang Zhi wanted to get in good with the Prince, because he wouldnt have made him come over to investigate the case, otherwise. However, they were still not familiar with each other to the extent that he would tell him everything. He was also still unsure of where the others bottom line lied, and was even less sure of whether he would take this matter for his own gain after the fact, by possibly taking the information about Empress Wu and giving it to Consort Wan for credit. If Consort Wan retaliated against her because of this, that would then be tantamount to him violating the promise between him and the Prince. Therefore, after pondering things, he still deigned to tell the truth, but only as a: Be at ease, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi looked at him coldly for a short moment. It was impossible to say if he saw something or nothing, but he didnt say anything else. Tang Fan couldnt give him a clear explanation, but could still release a bit of good faith to him so as not to actually anger him. If they got split apart from one hit, that wouldnt be good for either of them. Actually, judging by the timeframe, Han Zaos death might not have had anything to do with the palace. Im just adhering to investigation standards here, then Ill go to the Han household. Wang Zhis eyes shone. Are you saying someone from the Hans could also be the killer? Tang Fan knew what he was thinking from one glance at the look in his eyes. Its only a possibility, he stressed. From before Han Zao left home to the time of his sudden death, everyone that had been present in that over-two-shichen period is possible. Wang Zhi didnt take it to heart. Since youve said it, Ill be remembering that this possibility exists. Tang Fan had been wanting to understand the Hans circumstances, so he went with the flow to ask. Han Fang took no concubines, and only has one wife, Lady Lin, Wang Zhi answered. The couple has a decent relationship, but never had any sons, so they adopted one and named him Han Hui. Unexpectedly, after some years, Lady Lin became an old oyster making a pearl, and birthed a son. In other words, Han Zao. How great was that for them? Wang Zhi smiled oddly. The Han family has been made of officials for generations. Han Fangs father and brother are high officials in Court. Their ancestors were natives of Jiangxi, but starting from the generation of Han Fangs father, Han Qi, they relocated to the capital and settled down. Han Qi had three sons; the eldest branch Han Yu, the second branch Han Fang, and the third died young, so Im not talking about him. All three branches came from Han Qis wife, Lady Zhou. However, theres always been a private theory of the household that said Han Fangs birth mother was not actually her, but rather a maid-concubine that met an untimely death, whereupon Lady Zhou adopted him. Han Qi and Lady Zhou preferred their eldest and werent as great towards their second, being just as harsh to their second daughter-in-law, Lady Lin. That further encouraged the rumors to spread, to the point that Han Fang himself believed them. Because Lady Lin couldnt have children when young, she suffered much torment. The adoption of Han Hui was due to her not being able to give birth on top of Han Fang refusing to take concubines, so Lady Zhou forced them to adopt him. Han Fang actually isnt Lady Zhous, then? Tang Fan asked, like a gossip. Wang Zhi side-eyed him. This has nothing to do with the case, but after His Majesty ascended the throne, Han Fang became his teacher, and his status went rising with the high tide. Lady Lin then birthed Han Zao, meaning she didnt need to be mistreated any longer, and could stand up tall when speaking with her mother-in-law. For all these years, her relationship with her sister-in-law, Lady Wang, hasnt been great. Likewise, Lady Zhou had once wanted to make Han Fang divorce Lady Lin on the grounds of childlessness, then marry her niece, Junior Lady Zhou. Han Fang refused to divorce his wife, and Junior Lady Zhou refused to be a concubine, so the matter was left up in the air. Nowadays, though, the Junior Lady is a widow, and has been staying at the Hans as a guest this whole time. Tang Fan simply listened to the tale. That must mean that Lady Lin has made enemies of a good lot of people. In the midst of their talk, they had already arrived at the West Palace. This was an out-and-out palace of exile:[2] bleak, desolate, and chilling in broad daylight. Weeds overgrew through the cracks in the stone underfoot, no one keeping them in check. The sun shining elsewhere in the palace complex would look golden and splendrous, its magnificence unmatched, but it was only here that it instead had a hint of coldness. Some imperial concubines of the Late Emperors lived in the vicinity of the Dowagers palace. Lady Wu was the only one that had been spurned and deposed in decades, so they found her easily, heading straight to the room where she lived. Two attendants stood watch at the West Palace gate. When Tang Fan and Wang Zhi came up, the young eunuch beside the latter stepped forth to announce their identities and purpose. The servants scrambled up right away, stammered out flatteries to Wang Zhi, then enthusiastically led the way for them themselves. Wang Zhi was quite impatient, waving his hand to have the young eunuch reward the two, then oust them. As it was still midday, Lady Wu had shifted a chair outside to bask in the sunlight outside her room. There was only a single maid at her side, who was in the midst of padding the others back with a soft cushion. Even though Lady Wu had been deposed, it was impossible for her to be unattended in her everyday life. In accompaniment with her loss of power, some of the maids and eunuchs from her previous Empresss palace followed her here to continue to serve her. Inevitably, her day-to-day funds were never to conform to their former state again, and imperial concubines dressed to the nines would no longer come pay respects to her in this place. Those originally appointed to serve Lady Wu had believed themselves to have climbed onto a high branch, but in the unexpected blink of an eye, the Empress became a demoted prisoner, and they suffered much of the same. Hardships manifested peoples hearts. Over these many years, some people had pushed open the door and left, while some yet remained by her side. Personnel changed, came, and went, which was normal. Outsiders had suddenly appeared in the palace of exile, where no strangers had ever come in a long time. The maid paused her hands movement, somewhat shocked, and looked at them. Tang Fan came over and cupped his hands towards Lady Wu. This humble official is Tang Fan. I have been ordered to investigate Han Zaos case, and there are some things Id like to ask Lady Wu about. Lady Wu continued to completely ignore him, still looking ahead into the distance. The Crown Prince had said that, because she had been deposed for a good period of time, shed been mentally abnormal for quite a while. Neither Tang Fan nor Wang Zhi knew whether it was real insanity or fake madness, but grandeur wouldnt work against a woman like this. Tang Fan wasnt discouraged, proceeding to give a brief explanation of what had happened. Once she heard the part about Han Zaos death, Lady Wus expression minorly changed, and she finally looked at him. Han Zao is dead?! the maid couldnt help but cry out in shock. Tang Fan nodded. Right when he brought up that Consort Wans reputation had taken a hit because of this, Lady Wu started to laugh, hehehe. Good and evil end with payback, she said out of nowhere, good and evil end with payback! Its not that it wasnt paid back, the time just hadnt come yet! It was said that prior to his death, he had previously come to the West Palace to play, Tang Fan said. I ask that you explain this event so that I can find the real killer out as soon as possible. Lady Wu went back to paying him no mind, continuously chanting good and evil end with payback on repeat. Tang Fan subconsciously sensed that she wasnt insane at all, she just didnt want to talk to him. Still, he knew that this was just her way of protecting herself out of a lack of options. Were she to not have spread talk outwards that she had gone mad, Consort Wan likely wouldnt let her off. Right then, the maid came forth. Gentlemen, I serve by Lady Wus side, and I never leave it for a second all day long. Her mind is currently fuzzy, making her difficult to communicate with. Can I answer on her behalf? Of course you may. She looked upset. Some days ago, there was indeed a child that lost his way while playing around, and entered this place by mistake. He was led away quickly, though. I had asked him his full name at the time, and he said he was Han Zao. I didnt expect that Tang Fan knew that if the Crown Prince had occasionally entrusted Han Zao with visiting Lady Wu under the pretext of losing his way whilst playing, then the maid had surely long been familiar with him. In order to not reveal the relationship between Lady Wu and the Crown Prince, she spoke lies here and now with open eyes, making Tang Fan unable to see through them. But the grief on her face didnt seem to be deliberately faked. The Prince had a special status, and couldnt drop by in person. Those attending him were also continuously under surveillance by Consort Wan, so he could only trust an outsider like Han Zao with coming here once in a while. This cold palace was lonesome; for this maid and Lady Wu, he had to have been one of their very few consolations. Allow me to ask you this; when Han Zao was here, did he come into contact with anyone other than you and Lady Wu? The maid shook her head. He didnt. His cause of death was bizarre. He died from getting pierced by a broken chunk of needle in his shuifen acupoint by someone else. While he said this, his eyes constantly went back and forth between the maid and Lady Wu in observation, only to see that they voluntarily gave expressions of shock that didnt look at all put on. He had already done his research; Lady Wu herself had not an iota of medical knowledge, while the maid had entered the palace in the seventh year of Tianshun, having come from a poor family. Just one year later, she was allocated to serve Lady Wu. Prior to that, she had never been to the imperial hospital, nor had she had any sort of contact with its doctors. Think carefully. When Han Zao was here with you, did he ever show any signs of having something wrong with him? he asked. She did indeed think back carefully on it. He did appear to constantly have a hand scratching his stomach, then, she answered with a bit of guilt. I had asked him, and he said it felt a bit itchy and painful. I merely thought he had been bitten by a mosquito, and never considered other possibilities. If I had found out earlier, his life might have been saved! When he left, who brought him out? An attendant from the Crown Princes side, named Yuan Liang. [1] This was never going to translate well; Zhis curt and atypical way of speaking was (western depot/xichang, wang), structured like a typical name would be. Xi is a used surname, while the character for depot goes pretty much unused in names, as does all characters that share its pronunciation. Hence the guys confusion. [2] Also known as a cold palace. Theres no record of any palace ever actually being literally called that, but there have been palaces with that function, which is to store away imperial harem women or exiled royal men that have displeased or fallen out of the Emperors favor. CH 36 Yuan Liang was someone known to Tang Fan. When he was at the Crown Princes, he had already asked about the people that might have been around Han Zao from when he entered the palace to his death. Upon coming in, he was seen off to the palace gates by the Hans, after which the attendant named Yuan Liang led him to the East Palace. During the course of walking there, Yuan Liang wasnt too likely to have had an opportunity to specifically carry out murder via Han Zaos acupoint. Whats more was that, according to the Princes words, Yuan Liang had been following him since before he was even dubbed the Prince, his degree of loyalty high. It would be impossible for him to have murdered Han Zao for no reason. In the process of Han Zao departing the East Palace midway through with his secret task of going to the West Palace and checking up on Lady Wu, only Yuan Liang had been with him the whole time. The probability of someone else being there was not much. At the West Palace, Yuan Liang had been outside helping keep lookout, whilst Han Zao alone went to stay with Lady Wu and them for a short period of time, relaying the Crown Princes respects plus current situation. On the basis of Lady Wus circumstances, she would have had ample motive and conditions to prep for this case, placing the blame upon Consort Wan this, Tang Fan had been taking into consideration when he had insisted upon coming to the West Palace for investigation. Sometimes, there were things that couldnt be asked outright, because the attitude and expression of ones counterpart would change when confronted personally, which would be great supplementary evidence. However, it now seemed that Lady Wus suspicion in this could be ruled out. In other words, since that was so, Han Zaos murderer very likely wasnt of the palace. As they exited the West Palace, Tang Fan continuously sorted out his thoughts, mentally re-organized Han Zaos experience in the palace, then confirmed the murderers locale, all of which made it easier to execute the next step. Wang Zhi had been uncharacteristically taciturn in the West Palace. While Tang Fan, Lady Wu, and the maid were conversing, he had merely stood to the side and surveyed with a cool eye. At the present, however, he suddenly started laughing darkly. Tang Runqing, your rapport with the deposed Empress was seamless. What a good show you put on! Im not quite sure I understand what youre talking about, Tang Fan answered. The other sneered. Still playing dumb with me? Theres clearly always been a connection between Lady Wu and the Crown Prince! Let me guess, Han Zao was the mediator between them? People in the East Palace really are loyal at heart, to have kept this so airtight, even I was completely in the dark about it. Tell me; if the Consort were to know this tidbit, what would happen? Tang Fan sighed. Eunuch Wang, one should always leave lines behind so that future meetings will be pleasant. Wang Zhi ignored him, continuing to talk on his own. Because shes been deposed, Lady Wu has resentment in her heart. Shes a deposed Empress, after all, and it wouldnt be unusual for there to still be people at her side that would do errands for her. Thats why she had planned to take advantage of when the Consort sent the soup to draw Han Zao into her Palace after he left the East one to play, then killed him to frame the Consort. That way, the case is solved; His Majestys difficult problem is fixed, the Consorts suspicion is cleared, and the Crown Prince isnt implicated. Everybodys happy. It can just be reported like that, cant it? Genuinely afraid that he would actually do that, Tang Fan quickly replied, If that happens, the Consort definitely wont be fully satisfied with killing just the deposed Empress; shell also take the chance to begin another purge, completely rooting out everyone in the harem that she finds unpleasant to look at. The Crown Prince would certainly be affected by that, so why would you do such a thing that ruins the peace? Furthermore, Lady Wan obviously has nothing to do with this. Wang Zhi huffed coldly. Since you know what fear is, dont keep thinking to hide things from me. Tell me about the connection between her and the Prince, in complete detail! To be capable of occupying a high post, one couldnt be a moron. Even the Cabinet Solons that appeared to be forever doing nothing were all tremendously shrewd characters. Tang Fan wouldnt not take them seriously just because they refused to do anything practical. Even so, he found that he had still underestimated this Western Depot Director; his acumen was indeed the topmost of keen. Tang Fan had self-admittedly been as careful as he possibly could when speaking with Lady Wu and the maid, revealing no flaws at all, and hadnt expected that Wang Zhi would still be able to see the signs. With things at this point, he had no way to keep concealing this from Wang Zhi. He explained that when the Crown Prince had been in dire straits long ago, Lady Wu had taken care to conceal him. The Prince has praiseworthy filial piety, he said afterwards. She isnt his birth mother, but he hasnt forgotten her on account of her grace, even if hes since assumed the position of Crown Prince. To remember grudges is easy. To remember kindness, hard; someone that doesnt forget the kindness of others is someone that assuredly wont be an evil and treacherous person in the future. If hes guided well, he will most likely become a wise ruler. Youve received the patronage of His Majesty and the Consort, but you must think towards the future nonetheless. In the views of those below, a charitable Crown Prince is much better than a miserly Crown Prince with dark thoughts, yes? Wang Zhi snorted. No need to be afraid. Since Ive already consciously decided to tie this string of fate, I wont go back on my word! If I didnt intimidate you, would you ever get scared and tell the truth to me? Tang Fan thought to himself, You really were going to scare me to death. If you went to Consort Wan with this, Lady Wu would be finished, and the Crown Prince would also suffer implication, to say nothing of this little pawn of his. On the surface, though, he kept smiling bitterly. Do forgive me, Eunuch Wang. The Crown Prince made me keep this a secret. After all, the fewer people that know, the less risk there is of it circulating outwards. Wang Zhi narrowed his eyes, glaring at him. Since were going to work together, you need to have good faith. Ill tell you that Im not going to sell out the Prince. As for Lady Wu, I can let her slide; but if theres any interactions between you and him from now on, I have to be in the know! Tang fan smiled. Thats a matter of course. If youll be open-minded and fair, Ill be willing to be candid with you. Wang Zhi looked at him for a long while before asking, So, Lady Wu really is unrelated? Tang Fan explained his own recent deduction about her, then said, Right. We might need to switch direction and go investigate the Han family. Pertaining to Han Zaos cause of death, its for certain that the cause was the shuifen acupoint? It is. After the Hans heard the news, they came to His Majesty to petition for Han Zaos body to be returned so that they could bury him. As you know, Han Fang had once been His Majestys teacher, and the latter is softhearted so, their request has already been approved. If Han Zaos death was related to someone in the family, we can push the boat along that water; the murderer might not be able to resist doing something to Han Zaos body, and when that time comes, well come to catch the turtle in a jar. How about it? Tang Fan mentally said How about no?, but he and Eunuch Wang had only just entered a ceasefire agreement of cooperation. The other party absolutely could not be upset again, or his humiliation might turn to anger, and he might actually go run to complain to Consort Wan in his hot-headedness, which would be less than stellar. Thus, Sir Tang speedily gave him a thumbs-up, petting him along his fur as he portrayed his endorsement. Great! Thats a really great move! Youre worthy of being you! Wang Zhi laughed icily. Fake! Too fake! The other side-eyed him. When people want to lick my boots, do you know how they lick them? Id like to hear details, Mister Tang answered modestly and studiously. Wang Zhi, hands behind his back, explained it proudly to him. Last year, I had been ordered to go on a mission outside the capital. When I got to the place, a crowd was led to welcome me. A local official noticed that I had arrived covered in dust from travel, my boots covered in dirt. Because they only had wine ready for my greeting with nothing else, he first had me sit down, then personally took my boots off for me, personally lowered his head to lick them clean, then personally helped me put them back on. Cant you learn a real lesson from that, Tang Runqing? In accordance with Wang Zhis authority and care from the Emperor, that official had taken a humble stance that spared no degrading act in order to curry favor with him. Even though it sounded disgusting to hear, if he could hug Eunuch Wangs thigh via that, it would be considered worth it. Mister Tangs rebound arc took a bit long. After a short time passed, he let out an ah. Saliva! Those boots got drenched with saliva. Did you wear them the whole time, then, Eunuch Wang? Leather is quite thick, but if the other party had a bit of tuberculosis or some other disease, the saliva would leave yellow phlegm hanging on the boots in its wake. Also, on account of them being black, it wouldnt be too obvious He analyzed this with deadly seriousness, the main point of his focus having long skewed off into somewhere above the clouds. What is actually going on in your head?! Wang Zhi shouted angrily. Tang Fan looked back at him with pure and innocently-blinking eyes. Wang Zhi had originally wanted to flaunt how others fawned on him, beating on Tang Fan while he was at it, but the end result was that he got nauseated for no good reason by the mans gab. Talking to you is truly the worst! Eunuch Wang, completely livid, brushed his sleeves to the side and left, straight-up casting Tang Fan behind him with no care as to whether he could follow him or not. Hey, dont walk so fast, Tang Fan called from behind him, in no hurry. My limbs are old, I cant keep up! The case had happened at the East Palace, the responsibility for it heavy. Every move and action was being watched by all; even the Son of Heaven was interested in this anomaly. Despite Tang Fan shouldering an imperial order, his actual rank was still where it was, and he couldnt simply have an audience with royalty whenever he wanted. Wang Zhi had thus gained a particularly important use. He wasnt the primary investigator, but he could speak to the Emperor and Consort Wan, as well as have audience with them at any time, which was equal to him serving as a messenger between Tang Fan and His Majesty. Each time the case progressed a stage or had some headway, he was required to go and make a thoroughly detailed report. Now that preliminary findings stated that this might not have too much to do with the palace itself, everyone sighed in relief. The Emperor was also content with this outcome; his beloved woman wasnt implicated, nor was there a need to raise a tempest in the palace. He felt slightly sorry for his teacher, but this was indeed the best result. He delightedly agreed to the Hans request, having Wang Zhi send Han Zaos body back to them. Meanwhile, on the Crown Princes side, Tang Fan was giving his own report of the result. After hearing that this had nothing to do with Lady Wu, the Crown Prince was also happy, and thanked Tang Fan in person. Tang Fan smiled painfully. You mustnt rush to thank me, Your Highness. To this day, the murderer has revealed no clues, theres still many bits of doubt, and the entirety of the truth isnt clear. I can only claim that theres a possibility that the palace is unrelated, not that its unrelated for certain. The Prince smiled bashfully. I know. You must be under no small amount of pressure over this, Judge Tang. If you really can find Xiao Zaos killer, I will thank you too, of course! Despite his youth, he had an insight that exceeded his age when looking into people and events. It was said that children of the poor had to be independent early. The Prince was obviously not the child of a poor family, but he had encountered a vast many trials, his survival over the danger of death more difficult than for children of the average poor. Back when the son of Consort Bai had been dubbed the Crown Prince, not even two years had passed before he inexplicably died everybody knew who the killer was, but nobody dared to say it. Hence, in spite of Zhu Youcheng now being the Crown Prince,he was terrified with every step he took in the palace, as if he was walking on thin ice. To be specific, Imperial Eunuch Wang was also ordered to assist with the investigation, and his all-out effort in rushing about has been no lesser than this humble subjects. The Consort had some suspicions about the East Palace because of Han Zaos incident; it was thanks to Eunuch Wangs endeavor that things were cleared up to her and His Majesty! What was Wang Zhi putting all his effort in for? It was to make a good impression on the Crown Prince, wasnt it? Thus, Tang Fan was happy to go with the flow and do a little favor for him in the Princes presence. Having not expected that Tang Fan would use such a means, Wang Zhi was pretty ecstatic on the inside, promptly bowing to the Crown Prince. This subject doesnt dare to falsely claim that Ive toiled hard, Your Highness. This is all for the sake of comforting the deceased, finding out the truth, and allowing both you and His Majesty set your minds to rest! In general, eunuchs and maids would self-appellate as this slave, but for Wang Zhi, Shang Ming, and others in their positions, they were no longer of inferior status, comparable to palace maids appointed into management positions. Even the Emperor would address them as Insubject, which meant that they could call themselves this subject like the major Dynasty officials elsewhere. The Crown Prince knew that Wang Zhi was one of Consort Wans people. He also knew that she hated him, the Prince. Most people believed that Consort Wan had done Han Zao in, while she suspected that the Crown Prince had purposefully framed her. Wang Zhi explaining things to her so that she quelled her suspicions about the Prince was an immense favor. The latter was beyond surprised. Youre too modest, Insubject Wang, he quickly answered. You have done your duty with the utmost of loyalty. Ive often heard Father Emperor mention you, as well. This case will rely heavily on your hard work! I will never dare to neglect your trust, Your Highness, Wang Zhi answered, serious. I will do all that I can! Once they left the palace, a smile was on Wang Zhis face. Alright, Runqing, I really hadnt read you wrong! Youre pretty loyal! See? When he was mad before, he called him by both his name and surname, but now he called him by his courtesy all friendly-like. Eunuch Wang could turn face faster than he could turn pages. Look up at the sky, Eunuch Wang werent there a bunch of thick black clouds there just now? Why are they clearing up? This really is a June day; just tell the weather to change, and it will! Tang Fan meaningfully teased. Wang Zhi laughed, pointing a finger at him. This eunuch is generous, so I wont be bickering with you. Try saying all that to Shang Ming! Hed definitely hold a grudge and mess with you until youre crying for you parents! Are you saying that since I can get along with you, I can get close to Shang Ming, too? Talk about birds of a feather flocking together! Wang Zhi simply had no way to handle him at all. Was there anyone else that could twist things around into self-praise like he could? It wasnt to be claimed that Tang Fans words didnt pass through his brain first. Everything he said had profound meaning as well as jocular wit, and it seemed offensive, but actually wasnt. Even Wang Zhi was sometimes annoyed and angered and unable to keep from provoking him back; he didnt like any other people much, but he was willing to squabble with Tang Fan. All day long, when dealing with people, he had to be cautious in his words and actions, or had to constantly be on guard against others plots, or had to plot against others. For that reason, sparring verbally with Tang Fan was actually relaxing to him, and could even be called a type of fun. The two wasted no time, heading directly to the Han Estate after leaving the royal palace. Having received the Emperors permission, the Hans had just gotten Han Zaos body back from the Western Depot, and were currently making funeral preparations for him. With both Wang Zhis established status and his taking of royal orders, no one would dare to slight him. Han Qi led the entire family in opening the center gate to greet him, but Han Zaos parents, Han Fang and Lady Lin, were not present. Representing the second branch was Han Hui, Han Fangs adopted son. Han Hui was just shy of crown age. Ten or so years ago, Lady Lin had been married to Han Fang for not even a few years. On account of her having no children and Han Fang refusing both divorce and concubinage, Lady Zhou made them acknowledge the same-clan Han Hui as their son. Han Qi smiled bitterly as he expressed his apologies to Wang Zhi and them. After hearing about what happened to their son, Ah-Zao, the married couple suffered a huge shock, and have both become bedridden. When the body came back yesterday, Lady Lin forced herself up again, then insisted on keeping watch for him all night despite urging, resulting in her taking ill again this morning. I invite Eunuch Wang and Judge Tang to sit for a short time while I go to have them come greet you. The eldest branch, Han Yu, was currently acting as a foreign official. Han Qi was now over sixty, and his luck in officialdom had been inferior to his two sons, as he had only reached the rank of a minor Recordkeeper in the Six Ministries. Seeing as he was getting older with no promotion in sight, he had simply resigned to be in idle retirement at home. Although both sons were officials, his second was also a former teacher of the Emperor. Even if it was a thing of the past, it didnt matter if he was the Emperors teacher or a current Minister of real power; Han Qi would absolutely never dare to offend Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi waved him off. No need, the investigation is urgent. If need be, we will go ask them questions ourselves and request that they quell their grief. We have come before you to offer condolences, so we will tour the Estate in passing. I request that you find someone to guide our way; that alone will be fine. Please also inform the women of the house ahead of time so that they wont be alarmed by the uncertainty. He was young in age, yet rather majestic. Donned in his gorgeous qilin robes, his every action was inarguable, and his soft femininity suddenly turned into harshness. In the presence of Chief Eunuch Wang, who grasped immense authority, even the Hans breaths had to slow down some. Contrastingly, Tang Fan was purely an extra head, sitting there as a prop. But, he didnt really care about that, of course. He was content to do nothing, actually. He would give a few confirmations on occasion, but for the most part, he just watched Eunuch Wang interact with the Hans. As for Wang Zhis speech, the Hans quickly agreed to it. Immediately after that, they sent Han Hui off to instruct every level of the family to cooperate with the investigation and not impinge upon the two of them. Eunuch Wang impatiently exchanged a lot of pleasantries with Han Qi, and the latter started feeling ill at ease about the former. When Han Hui came back, he used him as a pretext to shirk all this, making them both a lot more comfortable. Han Zao had died young. Somewhat unlike Zheng Cheng, it was inappropriate for his funereal matters to be arranged too hastily. Aside from Han Hui and the servants of the second branch having faces full of sorrow, no sort of disturbance was present on Han Qi, Lady Zhou, nor the rest of them. It was thus plain to see that the relationship between the second branch and his parents, plus his elder brothers branch, was mediocre. I can take you two gentlemen anywhere youd like to start looking, Han Hui said to them. Han Hui was a cultured youth not tall in stature, with speech and mannerisms both gentle and polite. After he had heard of his little brothers early death, he requested leave, and then rushed back from the Imperial College. Han Fang and Lady Lin were unable to care about anything right now, so all the ins and outs of all the funerary arrangements were basically handled by him, with assistance from servants. Over a single day, his face had gotten haggard, and his eyes were shot red. Han Zao was the youngest grandson of the Hans and should have been irreplaceably precious. Why does it look to me like his grandparents arent heartbroken in the least, though? Tang Fan asked. Han Hui smiled, pained. Descendants arent to speak of the lives of their elders. I shouldnt say this, but since youve asked, I have no choice but to state the truth. My grandparents dont like my mother, so they were subsequently quite cold to Xiao Zao. In contrast, the one they dearly love is a cousin from my uncles side. How is the relationship between them and your father? The other hesitated. From my observations, it seems to be quite plain. Tang Fan changed the subject of questioning. When Han Zao set off for the palace that day, who was in charge of the escort? Im studying in the Imperial College. I saw him off most days, but I happened to have a tenth-day exam then, so I didnt go home the night before and stayed overnight at the College, Han Hui answered, remorseful. Xiao Zaos boyservant sent him instead. This is all my fault if I had been the one to see him off like usual, maybe this wouldnt have happened. He and you had a good relationship, yes? He sounded sad. Yes. Im ten years older than him. I had watched him grow up, really. Normally, because no one else in the Estate liked him much, he would always come to bug me alone Who doesnt like him? Tang Fan interrupted. My grandparents, all the people in the eldest branch. My mother spoiled him a lot, but she He didnt say anything after that, merely shaking his head. Is Han Zaos boyservant here? Han Hui nodded. Yes, but after what happened to Xiao Zao, he was locked into the firewood shed by my mother and not allowed to eat. I still snuck him a little something, else he would have long starved to death. Hes being watched by her people right now, however. If you two would like to see him, can you go see her first? Otherwise, if she starts assigning blame, Im afraid I wont be able to assume it upon myself. When had Eunuch Wang ever needed to ask permission from an irrelevant person to do something? If they were talking about Han Fang, he would still give him some face for having formerly served as Chenghuas teacher, but he didnt have any such kindness in regards to Lady Lin. A woman that knows nothing? How could we allow her to make biased remarks when weve accepted orders to investigate? Theres no need to see her. Just go and bring the boy right over to us! Be calm, Eunuch Wang, Tang Fan then said. Lady Lin is Han Zaos mother and Young Tutor Hans wife, so we should go pay a short visit. Wang Zhi rolled his eyes at him, not giving any objection. Han Hui could tell that out of the two gentlemen before him, Eunuch Wang was of higher status, but when it came to investigating the case, Tang Fan was the one in charge. He smiled in appreciation at Tang Fan. Please follow me, then. Through his guidance, the two came to the main room where the second branch lived. Hearing that they had arrived, Han Fang got out of his sickbed to receive them. He was indeed pale-faced and ill-looking. For the Sacred One to have ordered an investigation on my sons tragic death is an immense grace. You two have toiled hard, and I really cant be thankful enough! Following some polite phrases, Tang Fan asked about the boyservant locked up on Lady Lins orders. Han Fang smiled bitterly. Im ashamed to say it, but my wife suffered a lot of hardships after marrying me. Back then, I had been non-stop busy all day long, and hadnt paid attention to what went on in the residence. By the time I had realized that she was depressed to the extent that her personality had changed drastically, it was already somewhat too late. Fortunately, we later got Junji, and then she had Ah-Zao, after which she gradually got a lot better. Ive let her down! Junji was Han Huis courtesy. Like so, it appears that the relationship between your wife and the other women of the house isnt good? Han Fang sighed. Yes. Because of the resentments of previous years, my wife has been at loggerheads with my mother and sister-in-law. Apparently, what Wang Zhi had said before about the Han family was entirely correct. From Han Fang and Han Huis words, it wasnt hard for Tang Fan to outline the visage of a petty-natured woman. Even a clean-living official would find family matters hard to settle. Since there were so many people that had grudges with Lady Lin, one of them acting against Han Zao in order to retaliate against her wouldnt be that shocking. We want to see the boyservant first. My wife is now resting in the back hall. I will go talk to her. Please wait a bit. He could have decided on such a trivial matter himself, yet still said that he needed to ask his wife. Deep love gave no fear; even though Lady Lin had a poor relationship with the rest of the family, she had Han Fang treating her sincerely, and willingly not taking concubines in. Since were already here, let us visit her with you. Thats fine. Their group came to the back room. Where is the Madam? Han Fang asked the maid outside. She is now resting inside, she answered. As soon as she said that, an inquiry came from within. Whos there? The maid quickly lifted the curtain and spoke. Nanny, the Master has come. Theres also a couple gentlemen that say they want to ask about Young Lord Zao. Following a short minute, the interior replied, Please enter. Tang Fan and them walked in behind Han Fang, wound around the screen, then caught sight of a middle-aged woman half-reclined on the bed, and on the cusp of getting out of it. An old woman attended to her nearby. Han Fang quickly stepped forth to stop her. Your health isnt good, just lay down. These gents are Eunuch Wang of the Western Depot and Judge Tang of Shuntian Prefecture. They were ordered by His Majesty to come investigate Ah-Zaos death, so they wish to see his boyservant. If the Madam is unwell, theres no need to get up, Tang Fan added. We will come over there to greet you. Lady Lin was in her thirties, but she was still attractive, her charms and features all of the topmost quality. There was little surprise as to why Han Fang was wholeheartedly devoted to her all these years. Even so, her complexion was slightly sallow, and gloom lingered about her face. Youve both worked hard on my sons behalf. Im really sorry She spoke warmly and fittingly now, but once she caught sight of Han Hui standing behind Han Fang, her expression suddenly changed. Who let you in?! she shouted harshly at him. Miss Xuan Han Fang pleaded. She ignored him, glaring dead at Han Hui. Get out! I dont want to hear or see you! she said hatefully. Is it not enough for you to kill your little brother? Do you want to come kill me, too?! Han Hui didnt know what to do. Mom I dont have a son like you! she shrieked. You could have sent Xiao Zao to the palace that day! Why didnt you?! Did you do it on purpose?! Did you think that if he died, youd be the only true son of the second branch?! Ill tell you this dont get such high hopes! I didnt birth you! Go find that old harpy! Shes the one that had you come into the Han family, so you can go be her son! Noticing that she was speaking more and more improperly, Han Fang had to shout, Miss Xuan! She panted, her psyche collapsing in an instant. She pounded on her chest, wailing and yelling. Xiao Zao! Xiao Zao! Ah, your mothers heart! You died so awfully! Who was so cruel as to hurt you?! Was it Lady Zhou? Lady Wang? Give your mother a sign in her dreams! When I take revenge for you, Ill join you! My boy! Her sharp wails pierced right into the eardrums, making Tang Fan frown. Eunuch Wang could bear with it even less so, straight-up throwing out a I dont know what to say, then turning and leaving with a fling of his sleeves. Han Hui quickly followed after him in avoidance. Helpless, Tang Fan watched as Han Fang softly consoled his wife and slowly coaxed her to stop. Asking nothing else, he also turned and left. Exiting the room, he saw Wang Zhi and them standing in the courtyard. Han Hui was bowing and apologizing to him. Upon seeing Tang Fan come out, Han Hui gave him a pained smile. Please forgive us, Sirs. My mothers mind has been a bit off since a few years back. Things like this happen with sudden stimulants sometimes, where she cant recognize her own family. It could be told from his smile that Han Hui must endure a lot of wrongs usually, and Lady Lins words had been really heart-stabbing, too. Though he said she had lost her decorous speech from the stimulation, that speech held an overall glimpse of the subconscious truth, hadnt it? That was how his adoptive mother viewed him, and Han Hui really didnt know how to feel about it. Even Tang Fan couldnt help but feel indignant on his behalf. They naturally had no idea that later generations would have a vivid description of Lady Lins symptoms: persecutory delusions. In other words, she imagined up that people were going to hurt her, feeling that she had enemies in all directions; Lady Zhou, Lady Wang, and Han Hui were all on her list of imaginary foes. Due to the cautious expressions of the maids and nannies from Lady Lins room just then, the latter likely had these episodes often, was poorly-tempered, and would throw things onto the ground. If Tang Fan wasnt guessing incorrectly, this ailment ought to have been caused by the day-and-night repression she had faced after marrying into the Han family. Han Fang felt guilt, so he allowed her to go on like this for many years. How long has she been like this? he asked Han Hui. I dont remember much, but since I was a child, the other answered, as expected. Mother felt that I was forced onto her by my grandmother, so she didnt like me. It wasnt until Xiao Zao was born that this got better, but a few years ago, because of the thing with my aunt He hesitated, looked at them, and didnt continue. Why arent you speaking? Tang Fan questioned. Han Hui smiled bitterly again. This is actually just my mothers baseless hearsay my grandmothers niece my fathers matrilineal cousin, that is to say came to seek shelter with us after being widowed. My grandmother had wanted to make Father divorce Mother and then marry the cousin, but he refused. Tang Fan nodded, having already heard Wang Zhi explain this. And after that? Father didnt want to take concubines, and Aunt Zhou didnt want to be wronged in concubinage, so no one brought it up anymore. However, Mother somehow learned of it, which resulted in her going to Aunt Zhou and making a fuss, fussing until the latter was so ashamed and angry that she nearly attempted suicide. Because of that, Mothers personality got more intolerant, and she put a lot of restrictions on Xiao Zao. Since Aunt Zhou had treated him very well, he was willing to play with her, but after Mother found out, she strictly prohibited him from going to see her, as well as forbade him from going to his uncles courtyard Bringing up all these messy household affairs made Han Hui more embarrassed the more he spoke of them, especially since the targets of his discussion were all his seniors. Thats the rough idea of it. In short, as you all have seen, my mother is now increasingly unable to suffer even the slightest bit of irritant. She always feels that other people have evil intents towards her. Now that Xiao Zao is dead, shes gotten even more He had a sorrowful expression. Tang Fan patted him on the shoulder. It must be hard for you. Han Hui shook his head. Its not. Dont you gentlemen want to see Xiao Zaos boyservant? Ill bring you over there. The translator says: Fun fact: one of the words for flattery in Chinese is ƨ, lit. horse butt. I translated it as bootlicking because, surprise surprise, thats how it goes in English, but I just want everyone to know that when Wang Zhi said when other people want to lick my boots, he literally said when other people want to slap my horses ass even though bootlicking happened to coincide with his little story about literal bootlicking. How weird the world is. CH 37 Han Zaos boyservant was called Xiao Gao, Little Cake. That out-of-place name had come from Han Zao himself. He was a few years older than him, and was already so thin after getting locked up for a few days, his bones showed. Upon seeing Han Hui, his eyes brimmed with tears of excitement. Eldest Lord, you managed to come! This lowly one has been accused wrongly! I didnt kill the Second Lord! Please, help me by beseeching the Madam! Han Hui consoled him. I know, dont worry. Shes been in poor health these days, so were all afraid to irritate her. Youll have to be further wronged with staying here for a few more days, but Ill tell them to bring you some more food. When she calms down a bit, all will be fine. These two gents were sent by the Court to investigate Xiao Zaos case. Cooperate with them, and answer anything they ask you with the truth. If youre innocent, they will certainly bring you justice. Xiao Gao nodded on end. Yes, yes, yes! Ill tell everything I know! Explain the whole story, in detail and its entirety, of the day you accompanied Han Zao out, Tang Fan said to him. Xiao Gao calmed his emotions a bit, thinking back. That day we left as usual. Xiao Chan called for the Second Lord to get up, then helped him freshen up and eat. I just waited outside. We left at about thirty minutes into the time of the Tiger.(3-5a) He looked to have been in high spirits, then, and didnt appear to be unwell. After we were out the door, he got on a sedan chair, and I followed at the side Did you two come across anyone else before going out? Tang Fan interrupted. Yes. We met Aunt Zhou. Junior Lady Zhou? Your Masters cousin? Explain, carefully. Yes, thats her. She talked to him for a minute. He ate quickly, and then his sleeves were a little wrinkled, so she helped him straighten them out. How was her relationship with your Second Lord, normally? Pretty good. He liked her, but the Madam didnt, so she forbade him from going to see her. She ordered us to always be looking out for him, too. That was in line with what Han Hui had said. But, when meeting Aunt Zhou, he would still greet her. She knew that the Madam has a mind illness, so she never intentionally sought him out, but she would at times slip him some trinkets when she found the chance. What kind of trinkets? Anything he could eat or play with. Sometimes it was a cloud cake she had bought outside, sometimes it was a little fish she had sewn herself. He had liked it all, so he asked us to help keep it a secret from the Madam. Did you run into anyone else after you two left? Did the chair stop at any point? Xiao Gao shook his head. No. After we left, we went straight to the palace gates. I watched him get taken in by the palaces people, and then I went back. I was supposed to have gone back to pick him up in the evening, but who could have known Tang Fan felt that there was no need to ask anything else. He looked at Han Hui. We want to see Junior Lady Zhou. Han Hui nodded. Please follow me. Junior Lady Zhou had also evidently already received the news. When she greeted them, her eyes were red, lovely and pitiful. Looking at her age, she was indeed a bit younger than Lady Lin, making it little wonder as to why the latter was deeply wary of her. Upon hearing Han Hui announce their identities, she bowed to them. Widowed women are unlucky to begin with. If I hadnt always been visiting Xiao Zao, maybe this wouldnt have happened to him. Tang Fan had no duty nor inclination to comfort her. I heard from Xiao Gao that on the day of Han Zaos incident, you had met with him before he left for the palace? he questioned directly. She nodded. Yes. I was going to pay respects to my Aunt at the front courtyard, then happened to run into him. I knew my cousins wife didnt like for me to have much contact with Xiao Zao, so I never played with him much, but he was a lovable child. Once I saw him, I couldnt resist joking around with him, and we chatted for a short bit that day, around the time a cup of tea would brew. At the time, his boyservant Xiao Gao was there, and my maid La Mei was, too. The La Mei she spoke of was precisely the young maid standing behind her now. She was around the same age as Han Hui, her head lowered with her hands clasped over her abdomen. Hearing Lady Zhou talk about her, she bowed to Tang Fan and them. Tang Fan glanced at her, then looked at Lady Zhou again. You had also gotten in close to help Han Zao tidy up his clothes, correct? She was taken aback. Yes. Does does that matter? He didnt really answer. Id like to take a look around your room, alright? She looked at him, both shocked and terrified. S-Sir, do you suspect me? Whether I do or dont is something to be said after looking around, he said indifferently. She bit her lip. A woman getting her room searched by someone was the greatest of humiliations, and conveyed a message to the outside world by itself. And if I were to decline? Tang Fan looked at Wang Zhi. Eunuch Wang, who had been playing the part of a signboard next to him this entire time, now appeared on stage, immediately grinning nastily in close cooperation with Sir Tang. We can either search now, or wait until I bring you back to the Western Depot to search. Your choice. Tang Fan mentally gave him a big thumbs up. When spoken by the Director of the Western Depot, the effect of those words increased tenfold. If Tang Fan were to bring Shuntian Prefecture up, there would be no such menacing force. He thought to himself about how His Majesty having Chief Eunuch Wang himself come out and monitor-plus-aid him had actually turned out to not be worthless. The Western Depots mighty name struck even the ears of sheltered women like thunder. Her face quickly lost all of its color. She took two steps back, La Mei promptly coming to help her. Lady Zhou bowed low. I beg you, Sirs, this truly has nothing to do with me. I loved Xiao Zao as a nephew! How could I ever hurt him? Im a woman, so if my room is searched, how will I have any dignity left after word gets out? Please understand this, Sirs! Tang Fans voice was gentle, but his tone wasnt moved in the least. We have imperial orders to handle this case. Please understand that. With that said, he no longer paid her any mind, going straight into her room. The people Wang Zhi had brought with him now came in useful. With them added onto Wang Zhi and Tang Fan, a search of the room began. Western Depot folk couldnt do anything with any sort of gentleness, of course, so it wasnt long before the bedding, dressers, and other such things were all overturned into a mess. When it came to womens bedrooms that Chief Eunuch Wang had set to searching himself, Lady Zhous could be considered the very first. Yet, he was all the rougher when doing it, digging up those nooks that few people paid attention to, and even tearing down the beds canopy. The most generous was Tang Fan. He looked at spots like the corners of the bed, which rarely brought about devastating destruction. For Han Hui to come in would be improper, so he waited outside. Having no way to prevent this, Lady Zhou could only follow them in. Upon seeing the disarray, her legs immediately went weak, and she nearly fainted. La Mei supported her frantically. Milady! Milady! she shouted. Chief Eunuch! One of the few men Wang Zhi had brought suddenly called out. He was standing by the windowsill. The magnet held in his hand had sucked out a thin needle from a crack between the sill and the windows edge. Wang Zhi and Tang Fan immediately went over to examine it. Upon closer inspection, it was seen that the needle was little longer than two cun, and had a width similar to a hairs. Had it not been for this Western Depot scout listening to Tang Fan and specifically bringing a magnet along, they might never have discovered the objects existence. This is a broken needle! Wang Zhi exclaimed, then turned to Lady Zhou with a frigid gaze where she was collapsed weakly on the ground. Han Zao happened to have died from a broken needle immersed in his shuifen acupoint. Do you still dare to claim that you didnt do it? Her eyes went wide, and she shook her head viciously. I didnt! I didnt! I dont know whose needle that is! Wang Zhi didnt hear her excuse out, speaking straight to his sidekicks. Arrest her before anything else! No! Sir, Im being wronged! she wailed. La Mei also grabbed her sleeve and started crying. Thinking that he was hearing a commotion inside, Han Hui swiftly came in. Seeing this scene and getting struck dumb, he just as swiftly spoke to Wang Zhi. Eunuch Wang, what happened? Has there been some misunderstanding? Wang Zhi huffed coldly. Well only know if theres been a misunderstanding when we bring her back! Had Tang Fan brought people from Shuntian Prefecture here, it definitely wouldnt have been easy for them to take someone away like this, since no matter what was said, the Hans were a clan of officials, and Han Fang further had a connection with Chenghua. Eunuch Wang, however, had no such apprehensions, simply waving his hand to have them take Junior Lady Zhou. Han Hui couldnt stop them; he couldnt speak for the Han family, nor did he have an officials post, which was why Wang Zhi apparently didnt feel like explaining much to him. La Mei, a maidservant, was even more flustered. Her face full of panic, she looked at the pair that was still in the room, then ran out to follow. Wang Zhi turned his head to see Tang Fan still standing by the window. At a glance, he looked to be viewing the scenery, but a closer look told that he was staring blankly out the window. You dont want to leave, or something? Wang Zhi frowned, giving him a slap on the back. Tang Fan nearly caught something from his smack, coughing on repeat all of a sudden. He tried to talk as he coughed. This is too much of a coincidence. We came, said we were going to search, and then happened to find that broken chunk of needle. Wouldnt it be way more strenuous to find such a thin thing if it were randomly thrown into shrubbery or stuck in the ground? Lady Zhou isnt addled. Why would she stuff it into the window frame and wait for us to find it? What knowledge can a sheltered woman be said to have? Lady Lin hated her, found trouble for her repeatedly, and nearly shamed her into hanging herself. Junior Lady Zhou harboring a grudge and wanting to kill Han Zao in revenge against Lady Lin, causing her so much pain that she wouldnt want to live anymore, wouldnt be a bit surprising. After killing him, she inevitably got panicky and didnt think too straight, hiding needles all over the place, never expecting that we would find that particular spot what are you always staring at me for?! With how astute you are, dont you notice that your own words have a lot of holes in them? Tang Fan asked him, voice flat. Wang Zhi sneered. What do you mean? I can understand your hopes to conclude this case as quickly as possible, but when the circumstances are unclear and the murderer hasnt truly been found, isnt it too early to make decisions? Wang Zhi put his hands behind his back and narrowed his eyes, his softness suddenly turning sharp. Tang Fan was unafraid of the faint murderousness the other showed, meeting his gaze as calmly as ever. They looked at each other for a short moment, then Wang Zhi spoke, the way he did so slightly slow. This eunuch understands your desire for wanting to establish merit. Once this case is finished, I will report your contributions to the Emperor. Even if the killer hasnt yet been identified in full, Junior Lady Zhous suspicion is considerable, and theres no need to doubt that anymore. I will be having people rigorously interrogate her, so if youre interested, you can also join in. In officialdom, there were no genuine enemies, as well as no genuine friends. In their cooperative relationship, they shared the same goal also known as the East Palace case but in the details, they each had somewhat different key agendas. Tang Fans was to find out the murderer. Wang Zhis was to resolve this affair without inciting too grave of consequences. At present, Junior Lady Zhou had sufficient motive and a possible sequence of events for the crime someone else had just planted evidence on their own initiative. The best thing about this was that it implicated no one in the palace, nor anyone in the Han family, and preserved the Emperors desire to appease his teacher. With those conditions, there was no need for anything extra. Wang Zhi felt that this was simply the best candidate for a murderer that the Heavens could have given him. If Tang Fan was allowed to dig even deeper, it would be hard to prevent some scandal from getting drawn out, which would lead to a not-so-perfect, nor immensely satisfying result. Therefore, Eunuch Wang wasnt being unastute, but too astute, taking all sorts of political aspects and factoring them into a homicide case. That was where he and Tang Fan differed. Intelligent people did not need to say too much to understand each others thought processes. However, in spite of understanding him, Tang Fan had no intention of doing things how Wang Zhi wanted. He smiled lightly. You seem to have forgotten, Eunuch Wang. His Majesty said that I would be the one taking charge of this case, while you would only be providing help with the investigation. Tang Runqing, youre shameless and unbridled! Wang Zhi raged. I understand better than you on how this case should be handled! This would be the best result! But it wouldnt be the one thats most true, Tang Fan replied placidly. If shes not the murderer, wouldnt she bear senseless injustice? In my generation of scholars, we must act and behave in ways that do not dishonor the conscience of the Heavens and Earth. The majority of officials filling the Court do naught, but that doesnt mean that everyone has forgotten those words. What Duke Yu has said, I will never dare to forget for even one day. Saying so, he cupped his hands towards Wang Zhi, turned, and left. Wang Zhi furrowed his brow. After thinking for a good while, he remembered what the phrase what Duke Yu has said was referring to. Duke Yu meant Yu Qian, the Prime Minister that had saved the nation, then been unjustly killed in Yingzongs era, subsequently getting posthumously pardoned in Chenghuas early years. How he acted in life was corresponded to with his own written poems. Do not fear your body being crushed to pieces. You must maintain your innocence in the human world. Tang Fans personality was not as stalwart as Yu Qians, but the latter was an idol for all civil officials in the realm. Many still yearned to have that lofty demeanor. However, only some had the courage to accomplish things, while others could only blow hot air out their lips. Ever since Eunuch Wang had forced Shang Lu to resign and swept away opposing powers in the Court, when had he ever come across anyone differently-opinioned that had the guts to veto his suggestions to his face? Bah! He really was the same kind of bloke as Shang Hongzai soft-looking, but actually immune to both persuasion and force! Wang Zhi cursed several times, his temper rising. He didnt even feel like dealing with Han Fang, straight-up flinging out his sleeves and leaving. Later on, though, he sent someone over to explain the course of events to Han Fang in consideration of his face. Tang Fan was also a bit angered at heart, actually: Youre not letting me handle this case even though we agreed that I would be the one in charge, and now theres a lot of meddling going on! Still, he understood how difficult it was to do anything with the current general atmosphere being how it was. It was to the point that even Shang Lu, once venerated as the Chief of Cabinet, couldnt take it anymore, forthrightly quit his job, then ran away. But he didnt plan on giving up. After quarreling with Wang Zhi, he went straight to the Northern Bastion Office. Xue Ling had gone with Sui Zhou on his assignment, but his other assistant, Pang Qi, was still there. Tang Fan asked him to research Junior Lady Zhous background. Since he had disagreed with Wang Zhi, he didnt intend on asking the Western Depot for help on this. In the case that the Depot fabricated some evidence at Wang Zhis instruction, this wouldnt be made any easier for him. However, the results of Pang Qis inquiry surprised him by a lot. After her husband died, she had left her ancestral home to shack up with the Hans; that bit, he had long known about. However, it turned out that her late husband had been a practicing doctor that had run a small apothecary. She knew a bit of the medical sciences herself and had helped him operate the store, but he died young later on. Not good at running the place as a lone woman, she had to then close up shop and relocate to the North with the Hans. During the investigation of Han Zaos cause of death, Doctor Sun had said that shuifen was a precarious acupoint where improper treatment of it could easily cause death, but the average person definitely wouldnt know such a thing. Only someone familiar with medical scriptures and comprehending of medical sciences would be able to think up such a murder method. And now, Junior Lady Zhou just-so-happened to match that condition. Hostility with Han Zaos mother, close contact with him prior to his death, personal slight knowledge of medical theory, and a vitally important silver needle found in her room but with all that said, was she really the one that had killed Han Zao? Tang Fans brows knitted tight. He felt too weird about this, as if someone had deliberately led them all in one direction, sent the murderer straight to them, and provided flawless evidence. However, because it was too flawless, it became even more questionable. A result like that would undoubtedly be the best one in Wang Zhis eyes, though. If he wanted to prevent Wang Zhi from labeling Junior Lady Zhou as the murderer, he needed to find even stronger evidence that would certify her innocence. The next day, he went to Shuntian Prefecture for roll call before anything else. The case he was currently undertaking wasnt under the Prefectures jurisdiction, but he was still its Judge no matter what. Pan Bin was his immediate superior, too, so he had to take emotion, reason, and Pan Bins feelings all into account. He couldnt make him think that he had forgotten his old friends just because he had climbed up a big tree. Pan Bin was more or less happy with Tang Fans know-how. He held no complaints towards Tang Fans investigation of the East Palace case. Tang Fan belonged to the Prefecture, but still had to call him his senior brother in private regardless of what fortunes came in the future, that gratitude would not falter. Rather than be envious of Tang Fans great luck in suddenly building a connection with the palace, he was better off taking advantage of the present opportunity to foster their relationship for a future day of payback. Faced with his seniors enthusiasm, Tang Fan only wanted to laugh bitterly. Others regarded him, a minor Shuntian Judge, suddenly getting appointed to a case by the Emperor as something terrific, but the reality of it was that he might be shit out of luck at any time and place if he found results that werent presentable. Fortune actually being disaster in disguise was a real thing. He didnt speak much with Pan Bin, only giving him a couple random words to deal with him, then went straight for the Western Depot under the pretext of investigating the case. Once there, he met with Junior Lady Zhou. The latter howled about how wronged she was over and over again. She hadnt suffered any horrible beatings, but it wasnt due to Eunuch Wang suddenly knowing how to cherish the fairer sex; there was simply adequate enough proof to report the case back to higher authorities. It would end with the Emperor making his own decision, whilst Wang Zhi would have no need to do any further thankless and tedious things. Upon seeing Tang Fans arrival, Wang Zhi took out a featherlight dossier and flung it onto the table. Take a look. Dont go saying that Ive intentionally made up her guilt; her late husband had been a doctor, and she had some knowledge of medical theory. She wouldnt have known where to use the needle, otherwise. Tang Fan smiled unhappily. I already know about this. Wang Zhi slightly raised his chin, awaiting his admittance of defeat. Thats good. Due to her resenting her cousins wife for ruining her name, she went after Han Zao. The evidence is conclusive, even though she still refuses to admit it. The entire process of events is crystal clear. When we go to see His Majesty, youll know what you ought to be saying, yes? The other shook his head. My apologies, Eunuch Wang. I have no intention of going with you to the palace. Wang Zhi hadnt expected that he would not only not admit defeat, but still be so obstinate. Dont think that Im too afraid to do anything to you, Tang Runqing! he raged. If it werent for the bit about you being entrusted with this heavy case by the Emperor himself, I wouldve long kicked you to the side to get nice and cold! Tang Fan looked as composed as ever. You dont need to get so angry. As I see it, the case is not yet concluded, so investigation must proceed. If you want to go into the palace to make a report, you can do so by yourself, while Ill go check things out. Well have nothing to do with each other. Nothing to do with each other, my ass! Wang Zhi near about exploded into foul language. Youll keep on investigating on your end, while I go have a grand old time ending the case and getting the merits for it? If something goes wrong then, wont this old man be getting buried alongside you?! He was currently regretting the instance he had recommended Tang Fan to His Majesty. If this had just been handed straight to the Western Depot, he would have been able to investigate it however he wanted. Why did it have to be such an annoyance now? Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the fire of fury filling his chest. What do you actually want? Seeing that he had forced Eunuch Wang into such a sorry state, Tang Fan stopped being so invariably unyielding, else the case wouldnt get investigated and nobody would get any sort of benefit from it. He cupped his hands. Please dont be impatient, Eunuch Wang. I believe that theres still an area to investigate in the Han family, and Id like to go back. If youre willing to walk with me, Ill explain things to you on the way there; how about it? The man was unmoved by anything, giving Wang Zhi no way to get a handle on him. Just because there was no way now didnt mean that there would be no way in the future, however. It was only because he had recommended Tang Fan that he was weighing him down right now. Imperial eunuchs took revenge, and even ten years later wouldnt be too late for it; he secretly wrote this debt down in his heart, thinking to himself, If I dont make you want to cry out for your parents when this case is done, then my surname isnt Wang! That notion harbored within him, Wang Zhis tone and expression became slightly better. Tang Fan, His Majesty called for us to bear joint responsibility in this case, so we must be honest with each other. I dont want this kind of situation to keep happening! Clearly, it was Eunuch Wang that had been the one itching to catch a murderer, but the evil one was the first to file a complaint, thus inverting black and white. Tang Fan had no choice but to pinch his nose and nod in acknowledgement. Witnessing him assume a humble, apologetic posture finally put Wang Zhi at some ease. Say it. What did you find out? Im only guessing, and Im not sure if its accurate. I need to go to the Hans to know. Seeing Wang Zhi glare at him again, he smiled painfully. Alright, alright, alright. Ill talk, Ill talk. I think Junior Lady Zhous maid is a bit suspicious. Oh, that one. What was she called again? La Mei. Right, La Mei. Why do you think shes suspicious? Ive already read the dossier you gave me, because I previously had a friend from the Northern Bastion Office help me with background checking Lady Zhou Wang Zhi wrinkled his nose. I shouldve been the one you sought out! How could that trash bureau compare to the Western Depot?! That was completely beside the point. Moreover, there were several prosecution departments in the Great Ming aside from the Brocade Guard and two Depots. If the Guard was trash, would any of them not be trash? Tang Fan was annoyed. Im not going to talk about that. Before Junior Lady Zhou had gone up north, this La Mei had already been serving her. The latter is now about eighteen, which means that shes been at her side for many years. Reasonably speaking, someone like that should be interdependent on Lady Zhou, the affections between mistress and servant deep, but her performance yesterday had been a bit suspicious. When people panic, they always have some impulsive behaviors, but when her mistress was arrested, La Mei merely gripped her sleeve without conviction and called out louder than before, as if she was afraid of bumping into the wardens. Further still, when Lady Zhou was taken away, she only chased after while wailing, which made it seem like she was a bit too calm. Whats so shocking about that? Wang Zhi mocked. The woman was cowardly to begin with, to say nothing of the fact that her type wouldnt have seen much of the world. Something happened to her mistress, and she started to look after her own self, worrying about getting implicated. Everyone is selfish. This is just normal. Tang Fan shook his head. Think about it, Eunuch Wang. La Mei had accompanied her travel northwards to seek shelter. Two frail women would surely have no lack of hardships from the trek, even if some guards were escorting them, yes? They traveled for thousands of li, so how could she be described as having never seen the world? Even if shes timid and reserved, she should have tempered her courage long ago. There was one other point of suspicion that he didnt declare yet. He was going to wait until he saw La Mei, where everything would become clear. People really cant be judged on appearances, huh, Tang Runqing? I really couldnt see it. You go on and on about scholars and venerated writings, but you also understand so much about women! Wang Zhi ragged on him. Tang Fan was speechless. Where did that come from? Eunuch Wangs moods were really inconsistent. One minute, hed be open to freely chatting, laughing, and joking around, and the next, hed switch out to his serious business face, that tremendous sharpness making one apprehensive. No wonder his subordinates held expressions of suffering all day long. How could they not have vexation all across their brows when dealing with such a hard-nosed boss? Once the people of the Han Estate saw them coming, they didnt dare to obstruct them. While a servant hurriedly went to notify Han Qi and the rest, the two were allowed to go straight for Junior Lady Zhous courtyard. However, as soon as they came to the outside of it, they ran right into Lady Lin, who had scrambled over. Why is it this crazy lady again? What rotten luck! Tang Fan heard Wang Zhi grumble next to him. The next development satisfied Wang Zhis discontent, because as soon as she caught sight of them, she threw herself right on over. The action was super fast, like thunder that the ear couldnt flee from. With his feats of skill, Eunuch Wang agilely dodged to the side, promptly avoiding her. In consequence, Tang Fan was the one she jumped. Wang Zhi gave him a sly smile that said, Every man for himself. Tang Fan: As expected, Lady Lin looked crazed, snatching his clothes without any leeway for letting go. She stared at him. I heard you caught the murderer! Did you or didnt you?! Madam, you need to let go first She played deaf to his words. I knew it was her. I knew it was her! Shes such a shameless slut! Seeing that I had a son and she didnt, she got jealous! She wanted that old harpy to get me divorced so that she could marry the Old Lord, but that plan didnt work, so she made another one! I always thought that shed inevitably do something like this Her force grew and grew. He was getting strangled painfully by his collar, unable to take any steps back. She still did not let go, while Eunuch Wang stood by to watch the excitement. Without his command, the Western Depot folks wouldnt step forth to resolve this. Tang Fan had no choice but to shove her away with brute force, shouting thereafter, She wasnt the murderer! With that said, everyone was stunned. Lady Lin staggered from the push, nearly falling into a sit on the ground, but she didnt care to cry out in pain. She simply struggled up with the help of a maid, then bowed apologetically towards Tang Fan. This woman had just been preoccupied with the death of my son, and thus lost my mind for a moment, my words and actions lacking in tact. Please have magnanimity, Sir. If Junior Lady Zhou wasnt the one that killed my son, who actually was it? Please, gentlemen, tell us. She had put herself into order at once, her speech rearranged into reasonable parameters. Compared to the deranged woman from moments prior, she was like a completely different person. He wasnt able to adapt to her syndrome of being bad one minute, fine the next; once she normalized, her behavior became above-ground, and she performed with propriety, her poise completely captivating. No wonder Han Fang would cherish her so. Tang Fan tidied up his clothes, not answering her question. Where is La Mei? The steward of the Han Estate, who had just been leading them, quickly answered, She still resides in this courtyard. Wang Zhi had already given an order for one of his people to preemptively barge in and search the place. After searching it inside and out, he quickly came out to report to him. Chief Eunuch, no one was found. Needlework beside the bed was left half-done, and the rear door of the courtyard was wide open! Im thinking she hasnt left for very long! Right when the reporter said this, another warden had already gone out that door in pursuit. The small back gate of the courtyard Junior Lady Zhou lived in led to a flower garden outside, which allowed servants to come and go. Even though La Mei knew her way around the Estate better, she was a feeble woman, so there was no way she would be outpacing the warden. It wasnt long before she was caught and brought back. She looked panicked, the hair beside her face in a mess. Presumably, she had put up quite a fight in the process of being chased and captured. La Mei, why were you running? Tang Fan asked. I-I didnt she stammered. His eyes swept across her face. Youre the one that put the needle in the windowsill, arent you? N-No! He stared coldly at her. Youre still lying right now? Tell me; whose blood are you carrying in your belly? Whose child is it? CH 38 La Mei was aghast, looking at Tang Fan like she was looking at a ghost. It wasnt just her; everyone else was completely shocked by those words. With how observant Wang Zhi was, he knew that Tang Fan was right via one look at La Meis expression. He looked at her stomach in disbelief. Is that true? How did you know? he asked. Tang Fan didnt care to answer him, continuing to pay attention to the changes in La Meis expression. Youve been Junior Lady Zhous servant for many years. It would have been impossible for you to betray and frame her, if you didnt have some cause. Was it to protect someone behind you? Who is he? The father of your child? La Mei had seen spectacles like this several times before, where one would be forced into an impasse from being interrogated with successive questions. All she could do was continuously shake her head, wanting to refute, yet not knowing how to start doing that. She hadnt been a well-spoken person to begin with, habitually reticent and putting on just enough of an affect to be inconspicuous. Now that Tang Fan had broken that, when others thought carefully about her, they felt that there truly was something off. Seeing her lower her head and say nothing as if she had steeled her heart to hiding it until the very end, Wang Zhi slightly lifted his chin. A warden immediately understood him, assuming a posture like he was going to draw his blade and stab La Mei in the stomach. Were this strike to go down, you wont be able to keep the child inside you. If theres no treatment in time, there might even be one corpse with two lives. The Western Depot could handle someone like this with ease, of course. As expected, her entire face turned deathly pale at that statement. Entire body beginning to tremble, she bit her lip, tears falling down like rain. Tang Fan and Wang Zhi patiently awaited her mental collapse, but Lady Lin wasnt able to hold back for long. She threw herself over, then raised her hands to slap the other several times in succession with both hands, hitting until blood flowed out of the corners of her mouth and her cheeks both swelled, cursing as she did so. Dont you already have an engagement with the son of a front courtyard manager? Is this wild seed his? Did Lady Zhou make you do it? Speak! Speak! Her sons tragic death had made her heartbroken and hysterical. Just for the sake of questioning the murderer, she firmly restrained her breathing, unlikely to go as mad as she had before. Tang Fan and Wang Zhi both frowned slightly. Before they could say anything, Han Fang had already come forward to lead her away. Miss Xuan, Miss Xuan! Calm down, wait for her to speak! Lord, my heart aches! Ah-Zao was so cute and thoughtful, how can they bear it?! How?! she wailed, falling into his arms. I know, I know! He also looked pained, patting her back and quietly placating her while he passed her off to her maid to lead away. Tang Fan looked at the stunned-speechless La Mei. Is it Han Hui? She jolted a bit. He decided further on his own conjecture. The father of your child is Han Hui. Wang Zhi had a faster reaction, giving a direct command as soon as he heard Tang Fans words and saw La Meis expression. Go and bring Han Hui over at once! Understood! The Depot workers took their command and hurried off. How did you deduce that La Mei and Han Hui had an illicit relationship? he asked Tang Fan. When we came to the home last time and met with Han Zaos boyservant, do you remember the very first thing he said? Wang Zhi didnt understand him. Why would I remember that? What did he say? Tang Fan sighed. When the boyservant saw us with Han Hui back then, he said, Eldest Lord, you finally came! What does that show? It shows that before then, Han Hui had never gone to see the servant, and that was his most glaring giveaway! As you know, Han Hui said himself that he and Han Zao were close as brothers, and he had watched him grow up. His brother is now dead, the reason for it unknown, but on the day the servant saw Han Zao off to the palace, Han Hui never went to interrogate him about how his little brother died after Lady Lin locked him up. Doesnt that not make sense? Theres only one possibility for that; Han Hui knew well why Han Zao died, but didnt want to meddle too much and expose his own flaws, so when she locked him up, he acted like he knew nothing. Furthermore, when he was talking to us, he intentionally drew the topic towards Lady Lin, then took advantage of when we went to meet her to make us see her unstable personality with our own eyes. That would provide credence to her having a poor temper as well as many enemies in the Han family, which made it quite plausible that someone had moved against Han Zao because they were unhappy with her. Thus, from the very beginning, we would inevitably believe that his death had pertained to conflicts between inner-residence women, especially with the existence of one like Junior Lady Zhou. Lady Lin and her have no shortage of enmity, and her late husband had been a doctor; she fulfilled every condition. However, I said long before this that there are many causes in this world with trails to follow. Do nothing, and no mistakes are made. Do too much, and too many mistakes are made, revealing all the more clues; if you want people to know nothing, theres nothing better you can do than nothing at all. Han Hui had prepped all the evidence to convict Junior Lady Zhou in a tidy fashion, even taking it upon himself to place the needle right under our noses for us to find. How could there ever be something so perfect beneath these skies? Following that, the last time we came here, I noticed that La Mei frequently did this little movement where she would touch her lower abdomen from time to time. When does anyone do that? If your stomach is upset, youll constantly be rubbing it. If your head hurts, youll constantly be feeling it. What about the lower abdomen? Could it be that she had a stomachache? Her face had looked as fine as ever then, though. Plus, when she saw Junior Lady Zhou being taken away, she didnt dare to go block it, as if she was afraid of getting pushed and bumped. Its not difficult to make the association with careful observation. What did he mean, not difficult? Wang Zhi inwardly curled his lips at Tang Fans seemingly self-effacing remark. He believed his own observation power to be absolutely terrific, but even he hadnt taken notice of those details. In other words, some people were divinely preordained for occupations like this. (Wang Zhi would never admit that he had some admiration for Tang Fan.) With all of that said, Tang Fan looked towards La Mei again. Isnt that right? Someone find a female doctor so that we can know for sure. And have her get rid of the child while shes at it, Wang Zhi coldly added from the side. Only now did La Mei genuinely get frightened, tears flowing without cease. She seemed to want to throw herself forward, but was being firmly held back by the Depot wardens, so she could only look at Tang Fan and implore him. No! Sir, Im begging you, spare me! Spare my child, its innocent! He stared at her. Is it Han Huis? he asked. Yes. She seemed to lose all her strength with that one word, going weak. If you want lenient treatment, you need to explain everything in its entirety. Since the first step had already been taken, the next ones were nothing to be embarrassed about. Wiping away her tears, she began to recount the events of her getting familiar with Han Hui. Following her widowdom, La Mei had gone with Junior Lady Zhou up north. She had been nothing more than a little maid from a little family that knew nothing at the time. Lodging under the Han roof with her Lady, there was no longer any need to be worried that the young widow would be harassed by others, but large families had large influence the conflicts inside it were many. The Young Lord of the second branch, Han Hui, was educated and of gentle nature, yet he suffered from having an adoptive mother like Lady Lin. She always nitpicked him greatly, even believing that he had been sent by his grandmother to monitor her, which made their mother-son relationship terrible. La Mei had seen too many instances where he was trembling in fear before his mother, softly trying to calm her, and couldnt help but pity him. Every once in a while, they would meet by fate, exchanging a couple words. She got her very first love, and he got feelings for the pretty maid. Over time, their relationship developed, but then Junior Lady Zhou obeyed her aunt, thusly engaging La Mei to someone in the front courtyard. The former believed that she had gotten a good marriage for La Mei, but, unbeknownst to her, the latters heart had long been given to someone else. After La Mei learned of this, she was thunderstruck, then went to find Han Hui. He wasnt merely messing around with her, either; he wanted to take her as a proper concubine. With her status, she obviously couldnt be a primary wife, which she was also well aware of. Being his concubine wouldnt be a letdown. Against expectations, a higher-up suddenly promised her to someone else, immediately putting the two of them in a bind. He couldnt go seek out Lady Lin for something like this, because he knew that not only would she not help him get out of this, she might also loathe La Mei on account of her status as Junior Lady Zhous maid. While Han Fang did genuinely cherish him, he was a man, and it wouldnt be good for him to meddle in household affairs. He thus went straight to the familys matriarch, who was also Han Qis wife and Junior Lady Zhous aunt: Lady Zhou. Lady Zhou didnt like those of the second branch, so she didnt agree to his request to take La Mei as a concubine. Because of concerns he had, he never once mentioned that they already had hidden relations Alright, no more gossip. No matter what twists and turns were in the hearts of these young lovers, nor whatever they thought up to rectify this, the bottom line was that they had a significant relationship. When she came to secretly liaison with him during this period, she noticed that something was a bit off about his behavior. He refused to explain after repeated questioning, so she merely believed that he had been senselessly scolded by his mother again, comforting him for a time. Then, he asked her a few things about the acupoints of the human body. She suspected nothing, both teaching him how to recognize some points and finely explaining some of their taboos. Being clever, he retained things pretty much as soon as he learned them, and he learned them very meticulously, even getting clarification on how many cun the needle needed to go in. She had asked him what he was learning this stuff for, and he answered that his mothers health was poor, so he wanted to learn some acupuncture. Then, he might curry favor with her, getting rebuked less. Some days later, she had been shocked at the realization that her monthly hadnt come for two months. Junior Lady Zhous late husband had been a doctor, and she knew medical theory herself, which La Mei had absorbed from following her around all the time, to the extent that she could prescribe for common ailments. She, of course, knew that she was not ill, but pregnant. At that moment, Han Hui had suddenly come looking for her, asking her to hide a needle in Junior Lady Zhous room. La Mei hadnt experienced much, but she wasnt at all stupid. She had to question why he would do that. He refused to tell her at first, so she had to share with him that she was with child. After the initial amazement, Han Hui finally explained a bit of the issue to her, but not everything. All he said was that this was Han Zaos cause of death, and that the palace was sending someone to investigate, possibly coming to search the Han family in short order. That was why he needed her help with this. One party was her Mistress, and the other was her childs father. In quite a difficult position, she ultimately decided to go along with Han Hui. Hence, they had found the needle in Junior Lady Zhous room. Her courtyard was for women only. Even children like Han Zao couldnt come and go from it frequently, to say nothing of Han Hui. Only people like La Mei that lived there could rush in whenever they pleased, and place the needle there before Tang Fans group dropped by. All these events strung together due to her explanation, the truth finally getting revealed. At this moment, one of the people previously dispatched by Wang Zhi to arrest Han Hui returned. Chief Eunuch, when we subordinates went to arrest him at the Imperial College, the punk had heard the word on the wind ahead of time and fled! Several of us are already chasing him, while I came to report this to you! Wang Zhis face sank. Youre all trash! You cant catch one weak scholar that doesnt even have the strength to wrangle a chicken?! If you dont chase him down, theres no need for any of you to come back! The other was so browbeaten by him, he didnt dare to say anything. Lady Lin suddenly broke free of Han Fangs supporting arm, shoving him roughly. You see? You see?! she bellowed. Back when your mother said that we had to adopt Han Hui, I disagreed! Now look! We raised a white-eyed wolf that took Ah-Zaos life with it! Why dont you go and ask her if shes satisfied with seeing how broken our family is now?! Miss Xuan She cried as she sneered. How innocent my Ah-Zao was! He treated Han Hui like his own big brother, but had no idea that that brother wanted him dead! As for my madness, it wouldnt have happened if I hadnt endured torment from your mother and sister-in-law! Your family is no place for humans to live! It killed my Ah-Zao! That said, she charged forward again in want to strike La Mei, but was obstructed by the Western Depot. The other party didnt dare to use much force, so they could only get tangled up with her where they were, making a momentarily chaotic scene. Havent you made enough of a mess?! Tang Fan shouted, his voice overwhelming the spectacles noise. Lady Lin had to stop her actions, looking over at the sounds source. Madam Han, he said to her, even if the murderer has now been found, my duty here has come to its end. The rest of the work is all for the Han family to do. I shouldnt be sticking my nose in this, but you keep saying Han Zao saw Han Hui as his big brother. What about you, then? Did you ever see Han Hui as your own son?! He took a deep breath. Everything that happens in this world has a cause, and a result. When he was adopted by you, he was a toddler who was just barely able to walk. Was he already learned in how to distinguish between good and bad, benevolence and evil back then? If it werent for your prejudice against him because of your mother-in-law, your refusal to teach him properly, your blind blame heaped on him when anything happened, and even your abusive words, how could Han Huis heart ever be at peace once Han Zao was born, and he compared how you invariably pampered him as opposed to himself? How could he not think of that? The dissatisfaction within him accumulated over the years, turning into resentment, even hatred, which culminated in a moment of hysteria where he plotted against his younger brother. This was his mistake alone, of course. Murder is a crime, and national law dictates that it be punished by beheading but can you really absolve yourself of this? The reason why this all came to be today is something you need to ask yourself; would it still have happened, if you had treated them the same from the beginning? She stared at him blankly. Her hands were held up in midair, maintaining their recent posture of being about to slap La Mei, but were slow to land. Her expression fluctuated. Confusion, abhorrence, remorse all sort of emotions appeared on it, one after the other, intertwining into an even more complex expression. Human hearts were concealed with skin. There was no way for him to know whether she actually did feel a tad of regret towards her past conduct, but he did see her slowly lower her arms, cover her face with both her hands, and let out a quiet sob. Han Fang sighed, pulling her into his arms. What happened today is also my fault, he said, grief-stricken. Of course he was at fault. As the Emperors teacher, however, it wasnt suitable for Tang Fan to assign too much blame to him. At this point, Wang Zhi gave him a look, and then they walked out. Once outside, Wang Zhi grinned. Since Junior Lady Zhou has been proven innocent, Ill release her later, but La Mei needs to be brought in for questioning. As for Han Hui, once hes found, things will have come full circle. You really didnt let anyone down on this, solving it so quickly and neatly! As soon as I get Han Huis confession, Ill send a memorial up reporting your merits. Promotion to the next level will be no problem then, to say nothing of anything else! Tang Fan wasnt smiling, though. Do you really think this has come full circle? he countered. Wang Zhi put away his smile, glaring at him coldly. Yes. The murderer is found, the case is closed. Its done, he said pointedly. The other sighed. Why should you lie to yourself? No matter how competent Han Hui is, theres no way that he would happen to know that on the day of Han Zaos murder, Consort Wan would coincidentally be sending soup over. Furthermore, hes not someone from the palace, so its impossible for him to have ever gotten inside it. He must have had a correspondent on the inside. Who might that palacegoer be? Dont you think that theres a lot of strange parts to this, and that the investigation should continue? Wang Zhi nodded. Ill do a followup, but its going to be the Western Depots business after this. You dont need to worry about it anymore. Just wait for your promotion to be decreed with peace of mind. Tang Fan understood. The other clearly wanted to shelf him for easy coverup, should something be found that no one should know about. Seeing that he didnt answer, Wang Zhi continued. Tang Runqing, dont learn too much about things you shouldnt. As an official thats been doing this for a long time, I think youre agreeable as a person. Dont imitate those repulsive civil officials! Tang Fan spread his arms. You shouldnt have made me investigate this in the first place, then. If I havent guessed incorrectly, the attendant Yuan Liang at the Crown Princes side and the maidservant Fu Ru at Consort Wans side are both suspicious. If youre determined to investigate them yourself, will you be able to ensure that the final result is within your control? Were Consort Wan to learn of this, she would infer from Yuan Liangs connection to the Prince that the latter wanted to use Han Zaos death to frame her, then go cry to His Majesty. Have you thought about these things? How could I not have?! Dont say it like youre the only one thinking about the Prince! Wang Zhi raged. Were you, an outside official, to interfere with this, theres no way she wouldnt know. The best method would be for me to secretly check out the palace beforehand! I never said that I was going to interfere, Tang Fan answered innocently. Why are you so riled up? Wang Zhi was not happy. Youre the worst! This shouldnt have anything to do with the Prince, but its hard to say that certain people wont painstakingly try to implicate him after they learn of this. Please be careful, Eunuch Wang. I know! I know! Wang Zhi said impatiently. Youre a minor Judge, its not your place to worry about this stuff! If I wanted to disadvantage the Prince, why would I have recommended you to start with?! Since the other knew the score, Tang Fan said no more. The reason why Wang Zhi had previously wanted to downplay this was because he was afraid of some implication to the Consort or Prince happening behind the scenes. Of the two sides, one was his former master, and the other was the Prince; he didnt want to offend either of them. Since this was proven to be unrelated to both, though, Tang Fan trusted that he would be able to process it impartially. The Depot wardens that had gone to chase Han Hui quickly captured him. The man, anxious from the pursuit, had planned to jump into the river, only to get kicked right into it from behind by his pursuers. He was no swimmer, thrashing about for a long time in the water before he let the wardens fish him up, putting this to its end. Since La Meis corroboration was had, he couldnt refute anything. His testimony was very similar to Tang Fans guesswork. At the very beginning, he had been contacted by Yuan Liang. Han Hui couldnt enter the palace, but he did see Han Zao off to it, and certainly could have had a chance to run into Yuan Liang when coming before its gates. The latter had learned from Han Zao that Lady Lin was horrible to Han Hui, so he enticed him to get rid of Han Zao, saying that he could cover for him due to his connection with the palace. Han Hui was completely taken aback at first, and resolutely refused. Yuan Liang hadnt pressured him, but the other was still on edge for several days after he returned. When Yuan Liang never brought the matter up again, his heart was not only not at peace, but growing all the more restless. Han Hui never dared to go talk to Lady Lin about La Mei, but she had seen him talking to her multiple times anyways, so she berated and insulted him several times over. His many years of gathered indignation finally exploded, and he sought Yuan Liang out of his own volition to consent to his plan. What happened after went completely as expected. Yuan Liang and Han Hui communicated in advance to come to an agreement on the date it would happen. Han Hui went to Han Zaos room the night before, wanting to sleep together with him. They werent brothers of the same mother, but Han Zao had highly respected him; if he hadnt, then he wouldnt have complained in front of Yuan Liang about his mothers poor treatment of his brother, causing him to know about the Hans troubles. Back on topic, after Han Zao heard that Han Hui wanted a sleepover with him, he agreed enthusiastically to it. The difference in age between the brothers was fairly big, but they normally had a good relationship, where Han Hui would occasionally come chat and nap with him. No one thought much of it, nor expected that he would take this opportunity to calculate the time Han Zao would get up, then stick the needle in his shuifen acupoint. The needle was extremely thin and short, so even if it entered the point, it would be stopped over in the surface skin for a time. Then, in the wake of Han Zao getting up, putting on his clothes, and moving around, it was bound to gradually move deeper into the body, eventually causing tragedy. However, Han Hui had only initiated the action at Yuan Liangs say-so. Regarding what happened after Han Zao entered the palace, or what chance Yuan Liang had exploited to cover up for him, Han Hui had no idea in the least. He had committed the crime of fratricide due to momentary delirium, grudges attacking his heart. The Great Mings law had very many clauses, so there would inevitably be one tailor-made for him but as Tang Fan had said, this matter was far from over. Why had Yuan Liang colluded with Han Hui? Was it his own idea, or inspired by someone behind him? And how did he coincidentally know that Consort Wan was going to deliver mung-lily soup that day? Was there another meddler in the form of the maid, Fu Ru? What had she done it for? Many riddles still had yet to be solved, but he was now intentionally powerless. Due to what had been said previously, Wang Zhi would not be giving him any chances to stick his hand in this. When the murderer hadnt yet surfaced, he could still go in and out of the palace in the name of investigation, but Wang Zhi would now refuse to accompany him in doing so again. Unless the Emperor ordered it, it would otherwise be fully impossible for him to enter a restricted area at will with his status as a trifling Shuntian Judge. If anyone else had gotten to this stage, they would regard this as a perfectly completed assignment, but Tang Fan felt like it was half-finished. Even so, he wasnt the one in control, here. After exiting the Western Depot, he went straight home. During his running all over the place these days, he couldnt take any consideration for eating a few bites of rice. Once wound down, anyone would feel particularly exhausted; he was no exception. The sense of disappointment he felt was especially heavier when he returned to find that Ah-Dong was gone and Sui Zhou still wasnt back yet. The latter not being back was expected, because he had purportedly gone to Jiangxi to specially oversee some case. He had left in such a hurry, that Tang Fan hadnt asked for details. Ah-Dong, that little girl, had gotten used to living here. After she made friends with the neighbors, her heart went wild, since there were a couple girls her age next door that she played well with. Their elders would invite her over to eat at their house. Sui Bi was pretty close to her, too, making the wee girl seem like she was innately good at connecting with people, an aspect that was extraordinarily similar to her big brother, Tang Fans. (That last part was one that Mister Tang had shamelessly tacked on himself, of course.) Tang Fan had regularly been missing from home lately, his three meals not at set times. Ah-Dong was lonely in the vacant, three-courtyard complex, so it was inevitable that she wouldnt be able to resist running off to call on her little playmates. As a result, he happened to come back early today, yet there was no one around to cook him food. Seeing that the kitchen had no smoke rising off of it, he was disappointed to an even greater degree. He had lived alone before, but hadnt thought anything of it then. Now that he was used to the sensation of being part of a family, he felt disheartened upon suddenly returning to his bachelor life. Lamenting that it was easy to go from thriftiness to extravagance, but hard the other way around, he went behind the kitchen to see what food Ah-Dong had left behind. After rummaging around, he luckily managed to rummage out a dish of delicate nuomici with mung-sesame filling. They had already gone cold, but that didnt ever matter for pastries. He was too lazy to start up the stove himself (and even if he really had to cook, he wouldnt be able to), so he just ate the nuomici while drinking plain water. His stomach having been empty to begin with, eating something hard-to-digest like glutinous rice along with fluid caused the rice to inflate in his stomach, which made it start to hurt in no time at all. Choking wordlessly in pain, he sat there, debating on if he should go see a doctor, or just bear with it until the real ache had passed. Then, the outer door of the courtyard got knocked on. He was forced to stand, clutching his stomach as he went to the door. He had thought it would be Ah-Dong, but as soon as he pushed it open, he saw two unfamiliar young women. The one in front that knocked was a young maid, and the one behind her ought to be from a well-to-do family. She wore a pink, straight-collared beizi with narrow sleeves on her upper body, and a pink, pleated horseface skirt on her lower body, charming as she stood there. He was somewhat surprised, but they were even more so. The maid took a few steps back, looked up at the signboard, then muttered to herself. Its not the wrong place Who are you two looking for? he asked. Centarch Sui. He doesnt live here anymore? He gave an oh. He does, but hes been on an abroad mission lately. Im a friend that lives with him. If you want to find him, you should come back in a few days. The maid was quite lively, her eyes scanning all around. What friend of his are you? Why havent we heard of you before? He was donned in a light, sky-blue cotton shenyi with a silk belt tied around his waist, but he had been lazy; after changing his clothes when he got home, he didnt use a jade pendant to weigh down his clothes and whatnot like was popular these days. Added onto his pained face due to his stomach, he looked like a down-and-out scholar that had repeatedly tried and failed the exams. It was pretty difficult for someone to link him together with a Dynasty official. Evidently, the maid was suspicious towards his self-claim as Sui Zhous friend. The lady behind her furrowed her brow slightly, seeming to take Tang Fan as a thief that had broken in while the owner was away. May I ask your name, good sir? My cousin* loves solitude by nature. Why would he invite you to live with him? Mister Tang was a bit exasperated. He wasnt universally loved or anything, but he had never previously come across a situation where he was disdained. Besides, was anyone ever born liking solitude? Were it not for circumstances in the Sui home, Sui Zhou likely would have never moved. From that sentence alone, he could tell that this cousin of his didnt understand the man at all. My name is Tang Fan. Im assigned at Shuntian Prefecture. Because I couldnt find housing, I had to rely on your cousins help, which is why Im living as a guest in his house for the time being. Since he had stated his identity, the maidens suspicious expression loosened a little. Well return, then, and wait a few days for him to come back. Ill trouble you with informing him that I came looking. Is your surname Zhou, Miss? She nodded. He knew that Sui Zhous maternal grandmother had a son in addition to his mother, and because he was appointed elsewhere, his family had moved with him. Now, they were here maybe they had come back to the capital to visit their elders, or were preparing to settle down. It was clearly unsuitable for him to ask more after it, though. Rest assured, Miss. Ill pass the message on to Guangchuan when he gets back. The maiden mned at first, then was a bit shocked. You call him by his courtesy? He lets you? Arent courtesies just what you let your peers call you? Why is that so surprising? he wondered. She blinked. Hes naturally isolated. Ive rarely seen him interact with any friends. Looks like you have a great relationship with him! He smiled, not wanting to talk anymore. Alright, then. From what he had seen, Sui Zhous circle of friends definitely wasnt broad, but he was in no way reclusive or anything. Plus, he had that batch of subordinates in the Bastion Office that he needed to tame into obedience, so if he really was naturally isolated, he would never be able to handle them. At most, he was reserved with his words, did things cleanly and tersely, and appeared to be a bit cold. The girl seemed to be brimming with curiosity, asking him a lot of questions pertaining to Sui Zhou. With his smarting stomach, he had no energy to deal with her, his typical smile and speech that were like cleansing spring breezes gone. Noticing his half-assedness, she eventually got a bit displeased, glared at him, then turned and left. The maid quickly chased after her, not neglecting to turn her head and glare at him, too. He felt that a bit ridiculous, but couldnt care right now, as his stomach came to ache more and more during that interval of gab. He was in so much pain, that he had to hold the doorframe as he bent down to sit right on the sill. Swift footsteps sounded in front of him. He raised his head to see some people from the Western Depot. No matter what urgent task you all have, I cant walk right now, he said weakly. He pledged to never eat nuomici on an empty stomach again. The translator says: Bad brother, 0/10, you deserve the beheading youre getting. * The specific term is biaoge, an older male cousin from the matrilineal line. That was why Tang Fan thought to ask if her surname was Zhou. CH 39 The Western Depot folk looked at each other awkwardly. One amongst them cupped his hands. Sir Tang, the Chief Eunuch ordered us to invite you into the palace. Hes currently waiting for you at its gate! His tone was polite. That wasnt because the fiendish Depot wardens had suddenly switched natures into becoming docile and pure, but because they had witnessed Tang Fans assignment to a palace case. Even Wang Zhi had never ordered him around during it. They thus went with the direction of the wind, showing him some degree of courtesy. Of course, if Tang Fan refused to go with them while they still had Wang Zhis orders, they would be exactly like they had been on the night Tang Fan was called into the palace, carrying him away without another word. That was called being soft first, then rough; using etiquette first, then force. Tang Fan understood that much, and had no choice but to stand up. Rubbing his stomach, he felt like it wasnt as bloated as it had just been. Lets go. Many thanks for your consideration. Do you want to ride a horse, or sit in a litter? Were prepared for either! the other smiled, asking after his opinion. If there was a litter, he certainly wasnt going to affect politeness. He immediately climbed onto the empty one that had two porters in the front and back of it. Perhaps they had been pressured by a volatile boss like Wang Zhi for too long, as the Depots work efficiency was really not lagging in least. As soon as Tang Fan was settled in, he felt the chair suddenly lift up into the air like it was ascending, then start advancing at lightning speed. Uniquely, the vehicle swayed only slightly, even less prominently bumpy than level ground itself. He raised the curtain to peek outside; the surrounding scenery seemed to fly backwards, swooshing by in a flash. It was too much for the eye to see. After watching it for a good minute, he felt dizzy, so he quickly put the curtain down and availed himself of this time to shut his eyes in rest. Once he did, he fell right to sleep. He was later woken up by getting pat on the shoulder a few times, then saw that a Depot warden was leaning into the litter. Weve arrived at the palace gates, Sir. Upon opening his eyes, he felt a lot better, and the ache in his stomach had disappeared with his short nap. He couldnt help but stretch out his back, stooping over to disembark the chair. Wang Zhi was waiting there, face full of impatience. Seeing that he had finally arrived, he turned and walked inside without room for argument. Come quick! If youre late, youre not getting seen! What? Tang Fan was flabbergasted at that out-of-nowhere sentence. Yuan Liang killed himself by swallowing gold. Wang Zhi shot him a glance. Huh? He was actually quite shocked at this. What did you do? What did I do? I didnt do anything! Wang Zhi raged. What went on, then? How come I was only gone for half a day, but he does the Crown Prince know? he quickly asked. Wang Zhi had called him in, so he surely wanted him to understand all that had happened. He used the journeying time to the Palace of Celebrating Humanity to sum things up. Tang Fan then learned that after he and Wang Zhi had parted ways, the latter went right to find Yuan Liang and ask him about Han Zaos cause of death. The man gave three I dont knows to every question, of course, shoving the blame entirely elsewhere. As he refused to confess, Wang Zhi had said to himself, Im worried about the Crown Prince and intend to cover for you all. Since you still refuse to admit it, you cant blame me for this. He menaced Yuan Liang, saying that he already knew about his scheming with Fu Ru. If he refused to tell the truth, he would go report this to Consort Wan, and then his death would be even more terrible, with the Prince, deposed Empress, and the rest likely getting implicated alongside him. Despite the threat, he wasnt thinking to actually go and do that. Han Hui had killed Han Zao, but he still had to choose the exact time that Consort Wan would be sending soup. There was bound to have been cooperation on both sides for this. One was Yuan Liang, who had sent Han Zao into the palace, and was also the only one that could have interacted with Han Hui. The other had to have been someone on Consort Wans side that had prompted her to send the soup, having discussed with him ahead of time and decided on this period to execute it. The entire sequence was precisely what Tang Fan had predicted to Wang Zhi. Consort Wan was an expert at envy and could really hold a grudge. When she hated someone, she would hate them to the bone, never to change her mind. Take the Crown Prince, for example; before Zhu Youchengs appearance, harem women that had heirs would only get wiped out by Consort Wan. Because the Emperor favored and approved of her, none of the major officials in Court dared to say anything. It got to the point that the Emperor didnt have a single son as his age advanced, his family line about to be cut off right before his very eyes. Then, a Crown Prince had shown up, surprisingly already six years old. In other words, Consort Wan had been kept totally in the dark by a bunch of palacegoers, while he had grown up right under her nose. A feeling of betrayal of that magnitude was unbearable to she who had always tyrannized the harem, so even if she knew that the Prince was sensible, she would hold a grudge afterwards, to the extent that she put his birth mother, Lady Ji, to death. Zhang Min, the eunuch that had helped conceal the Princes existence, even killed himself by swallowing gold out of fear of her retaliation. Inferring from her conduct and personality, she would definitely prefer to help another concubines son be the Crown Prince than allow Zhu Youcheng to be it. Since she didnt want him to be it, why would she ever send him soup to buddy up to him? Obviously, that hadnt been her own original idea. Someone close to her side must have repeatedly urged her to do it in order for her to change her mind. The candidates able to attend her side and advise her into action were quite few in number. Fu Ru, an elder maid that she relied upon in no small measure, was certainly one of them. Tang Fan and Wang Zhi hence deduced that if Yuan Liang had plotted with someone from Consort Wans side, Fu Ru was definitely the most likely. Wang Zhi couldnt directly go to Consort Wan and explain the situation, however. If he did, their collusion would come to light, and since Yuan Liang was the Princes attendant, Consort Wan would inevitably think that this was him trying to frame her, then would inevitably try to settle the debt with him, after which Wang Zhi would not be able to attain his goal of smoothly getting in good with both parties. Furthermore, Fu Ru was her maid. Why would she collude with Yuan Liang for no reason to do something like this? As that was so, Wang Zhi had to think up a way to pick the murderer out from behind the scenes, while also not giving Consort Wan an excuse to purge the imperial harem again. This wasnt because he had a compassionate heart, of course. He wanted political congeniality. Well it didnt matter what kind of heart he had, really. In short terms, he put in the work. He wanted to take Yuan Liang straight back to the Depot for interrogation, but if he did that, the disturbance would be even greater, alerting Consort Wan to it. He had to take the opportunity of the prior investigation to have people secretly check out Fu Ru, while he himself simultaneously sought out Yuan Liang in private, then told him that Fu Ru and Han Hui had already confessed. That would thus give Yuan Liang the sense that he should have a bit of tact by confessing as well, so as to avoid dragging even more people into this, or shouldering all sorts of torture where he couldnt die even if he wanted to. Wang Zhi had dumped everything out. Yuan Liang could dispute nothing, yet looked quite calm, merely telling Wang Zhi that he had acted completely on his own, and was hoping that no one else would be implicated. Lady Ji had entrusted him with watching the Crown Prince grow up, so he couldnt pull him into the muck over this. Wang Zhi had said disdainfully, Did you need to justify yourself that much? If I had wanted to blow this up, I would have long gone to Consort Wan and taken the credit there. Receiving his guarantee, Yuan Liang said that he wished to be able to see the Prince one more time, as he still had something to say to him. Wang Zhi had agreed. After that, he rushed out of the palace and made Tang Fan come over. Done listening, Tang Fan was quiet for a short moment. He killed himself after meeting with the Prince? The other nodded. Swallowing gold isnt an immediate death. Theres still some time. Only us two understand the story behind this from its start to its finish. I had you enter the palace because I want you go ask for clarification on what he did this all for, and see whether it stemmed from a personal reason or some other scheme behind him. Also, we need to discuss how to handle Fu Ru while keeping it from the Consort. Ever since Yuan Liang had requested the meetup with the Prince, Wang Zhi had anticipated that he would do this, because if he wanted to safeguard the boy, he alone needed to die to clean everything up. After that, Fu Ru would be encased with the crime, Han Hui would get punished, and dead men simply could not tell any tales. During their exchange, they had arrived at the Palace. The Prince quickly came out to see them. His eyes were a bit red around the edges, expression as calm as ever. It was unclear if he knew anything, as he simply said to them, Insubject Wang, Judge Tang. Attendant Yuan is seriously ill. H-He wants to see you Putting on the whole production, Wang Zhi nodded with histrionic earnestness. Please lead the way, Your Highness. Follow me. It had to be said that the group serving the Prince in the East Palace had a high degree of loyalty, since they had pretty much risked their lives back in the day. Keeping Consort Wan in the dark, secretly helping Lady Ji raise the Prince, then watching him grow up at the time, no one knew if he could be the Crown Prince, nor did they know if the child might die prematurely, but they were well aware that if Consort Wan found out, complete catastrophe awaited them. They had still done it, even so. There was no reason for it. All that could be said was that no matter how dark a place was, there would still be kindness within it. It was precisely owed to them that the Prince did not go astray, still looking towards the light with a pure and good heart. Tang Fan had made out his innermost character from just his essay and calligraphic style, and similarly believed with conviction that the boy hadnt a thing to do with this. The East Palace became its own little world, disregarding the wind and rain outside. Many used their own lives to shield the young Prince, and that wasnt something that money and treasures could shift. Even Wang Zhis forces had never pierced it. Truthfully speaking, with such a place and such a group, Tang Fan was confused as to why Yuan Liang would do this. The Prince brought them to a small, unremarkable room in the East Palace. Yuan Liang was currently laid back on a bed, his complexion waxy and yellow. He looked like a completely different person from before. Breaths coming like spider silk, it seemed like he didnt have much time left. Suicide by swallowing gold was a more horrible and painful death than either hanging or poisoning. However, in the palace, hanging oneself was not a very easy task, as one needed the tools, and to also not get discovered. Poison was even harder to find. Swallowing gold was much easier in comparison. With a position like Yuan Liangs, he was bound to have accumulated a lot of private funds over the years; as long as he had some gold pieces cut up into small bits and then mixed into wine, he could accomplish his aim of suicide by drinking it. It was a common method used by palacegoers, in fact; Zhang Min had used it himself back in the day. Bringing the subject back, Consort Wans temper was awful, and she often beat and scolded the maids serving her. Were it claimed that Fu Ru got the mind for revenge because she couldnt stand the womans behavior, Tang Fan could believe it, but why wouldnt she just poison her, as opposed to this roundabout path? That was another point of doubt yet to be resolved. Even if Yuan Liang was stepping into death, he was consistently tranquil. Seeing them arrive, he first asked the Prince to leave, then spoke of his own accord before they could ask anything. I know what you want to ask. Ill explain it all, but I beseech you for one thing. His Highness never had a single thing to do with this. After I die, please dont get him involved, okay? Wang Zhi was expressionless. Dont talk nonsense, and explain quickly. Why did you do this? Yuan Liang sighed, miserable-looking. When I had first entered the palace, I was assigned to the library to help and clean. I was young, then; insensible, often offending people, and then getting beaten. With fortune, Sister Ji of the library constantly defended me, and even taught me how to read. When I was punished with no food, she would split her daily portion with me. I will never forget her kindness for all my life. One day, I noticed that she was a bit off. She couldnt eat, and vomited often. I worried that she was ill, but after asking her over and over again, she told me that she might be pregnant. After learning that the child was the Emperors, I was both happy and concerned for her. Happy, because there were no heirs in the harem at that time, and if she had a male, she was certain to become a concubine, and the boy might be granted the title of Crown Prince. Concerned, because Consort Wan ruled the imperial harem, even deposing the Empress because she offended her. The Consort had no offspring then, so how could she tolerate her having any? Indeed, not long passed before Consort Wan heard the news that Sister Ji was pregnant. She sent a maid over to compel her into an abortion. Sister Ji was nice, and those that had received her kindness, like me, were many. After the maid forced her to take the bowl of abortion pills, we pled with her no more, but reported directly to the Consort, saying that she had already taken it, yet had no reaction she must have taken ill, and not been pregnant. Infinite blessings made the pills not do much, and His Highness was born. You can now see that the hair on top of his head is sparse. Thats a leftover effect from the attack of the abortifacient. As he recalled the past, the look in his eyes became distant, moist. Once he was born, Sister Ji hid him every day. Her health was poor, and she received no rations. His food wholly relied on us to search for, while we also hid him from the Consorts eyes and ears; every day, we were scared out of our minds. This went until he grew to six years of age. Zhang Min announced his existence to His Majesty, and then he was dubbed the Crown Prince. We were all elated, happy for her, because we thought that her good life had finally come. Unexpectedly, a few months after he was established, she died. His tears dripped down, every word seeping blood. Everyone says that good people get good karma, but I dont understand. She was such a good person. Why didnt she get a good end? That question, he couldnt answer. Even Tang Fan couldnt. There were always a good deal of people in this world that would maim others interests, even their lives, for their own personal gains. Consort Wan couldnt birth a son, then the Crown Prince was established. Was there any benefit in killing Lady Ji, to her? Standing at her position, she would surely say that there was, because she hated Lady Ji for having a son while she couldnt; because she hated her for hiding that sons presence from her for so many years, and hated being taken as an idiot; because she feared that when the Crown Prince ascended, Lady Ji would then be the Empress Dowager, while she would only be a Consort Even with all of the above, she could still come up with a further basketful of reasons if need be. In her heart, the words forgiveness, lenience, and concession did not exist. All the current officials in Court, including the high-up Viziers of the Cabinet, did nothing the whole day long. They could get by in life, but could their full halls of descendants enjoy the utmost of splendor? When Consort Wan eradicated the harem women and imperial heirs, their positions as pillars of the nation were in vain. They made not a peep, afraid that Consort Wan would say something on the pillow and cost them their officials hats, which allowed her to do as she pleased. In contrast, it was the eunuchs and maids of the palace that civil officials typically looked down upon who staked their lives to protect the Crown Prince, yet they had no good endings. Was it a truth that since the beginning of time, loyalists would be met with persecution, while traitors would get all the luck? The translator says: HOW IS KILLING AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD RELEVANT TO THAT, THOUGH CH 40 Tang Fan was quiet for a long while. You wanted to avenge Lady Ji, but why did you kill Han Zao? Yuan Liang sighed. Beside the Prince as I was, no matter what I did, I would end up implicating him as well, so I couldnt act. Even if I loathed Consort Wan to the core, I had to bear with it. Then, one day, her elder maid, Fu Ru, came looking for me, and asked if I wanted to take revenge for Lady Ji. I said yes, and then she said that she would persuade Consort Wan to send some soup over to the Prince. Whatever song and dance I made up when the time came would be entirely up to me. Wait! Tang Fan interrupted. Why did Fu Ru betray her? And if she was angry at her, why didnt she just poison her? She served at her side, it would have been simple. The other shook his head. I dont know. Shes a strange person. Before the birth, she was the one the Consort had ordered to give Sister Ji the abortifacient. She was supposed to have made someone beat her with a club, because if she was beaten to death, His Highness naturally wouldnt survive, either. Yet she only made Sister Ji take the drug, and the bowl was only half-full, which allowed him to survive by luck. Speaking of she had been kind to him, which is why I believed her. The Consort often hits and berates her people. Fu Ru couldnt escape that even by being an elder maid the frequency of it was just less. Maybe she held a grudge, but was too afraid to do it herself for the sake of her own life, so she needed my help to use such a roundabout technique. Tang Fan gave a hm. Go on, then. I thought that this was a good opportunity, but the Prince couldnt be involved. The one dying would best be someone around him, and they needed to be of status, else it wouldnt be enough to attract His Majestys attention. As that was so, the only candidates remaining were the Princes teachers, and Han Zao. There are a lot of teachers that give him lessons. Theyre headed by a Great Scholar of the Hall of Literary Brilliance, followed by the educators, junior educators, and other men of the Court of Education. Every day, they alternated in teaching him, and he would usually gift them food as a form of respect. However, that food was all prepped and sent from the kitchens, which were irrelevant to Consort Wan. If I wanted to pick an exact date, Han Zao alone stuck with the Prince on the daily, and because of their good relationship, they shared food a lot; when the Empress Dowager gave them any, she typically made two portions. Thats why I ended up picking Han Zao. Poison is too crude, though, and easy to detect. My death is unimportant, but His Highness couldnt be dragged down. Whenever I took Han Zao into the palace, he would usually bring up the bad things his mother had done to his adopted brother. Han Zao was kindhearted and respected him, feeling that his mother was behaving poorly, yet having no power to dissuade her. He was quite distressed, and once I got familiar with him, he told me everything. After hearing enough, I knew that unless Han Hui was a saint, there was no way he wouldnt hold resentment against his mother, so I came up to him and told him that if Han Zao died, the second branch would be cut off. He would then be the sole successor, and break his mothers heart, satiating his hatred that way. He was horribly frightened at first, not seeing Han Zao off for a few days after, but I wasnt worried, since he hadnt directly rebuked me at the time. That meant that he had the idea deep in his heart. I took a step back, since even if he refused, I still had another way. As expected, after some time, he sought me out to agree to my previous proposal. What happened after, you already know. With that huge chunk of words said, his face got even harder to look at. The sound of the breaths coming out of his throat was very hard on the ears, like broken bellows that were doing all they could to suck in air. You had to kill someone completely blameless in order to avenge Lady Ji? Tang Fan couldnt help but rage. Han Zao had nothing to do with whats happened in the past, so what was the use of killing him?! Isnt that just benefiting the enemy, and not your kin?! Yuan Liang smiled miserably, with tears. I know he was innocent, but this was forced from a lack of other choice! I had been born a crippled and purposeless man, then was poisoned twice when I tested for it on behalf of Sister Ji. By a miracle, I didnt die, but my health was ruined. The imperial physician said that even if I took meticulous care of myself, I would only last a few years! If I couldnt witness Lady Wan falling on hard times before my death, what face would I have to see Sister Ji when I got to the Nine Springs?! I cant kill that woman myself, so I had to choose this indirect method! As soon as Han Zao died, she was certain to be suspected for it, and everyone would think that she was going for the Prince. Conspiring to kill the heir apparent is a huge crime, and her deposition would be inevitable! Shes made uncountable enemies in the palace! Theres so many people that want her dead! If shes no longer in the position of Consort, or the Emperors favorite, I wont even need to do anything! Wang Zhi, who hadnt said anything this whole time, couldnt help but speak up in a cold voice now. Thats indeed a serious crime. If you had tried your plan out in the Great Ancestors era, or even the Late Emperors Court, she really might have been deposed like you said, but your error is in underestimating the weight she has in His Majestys mind! He deposed his Empress for her sake, and even his own mother cant speak out against her. Im afraid that the weight the Prince has in his mind isnt as heavy as you imagine it to be. But its not that light, either, is it? Yuan Liang looked deeply weary. I heard that after Han Zaos death, His Majesty had a big row with her. Is that not right? Wang Zhi said nothing. The man laughed a bit. If you wont say, then its true. Many things are gambled for, really. When we helped hide the Crown Prince, that was a gamble. When his identity was revealed later, we didnt know how His Majesty would treat him, so that was also a gamble. Now, Im simply using my life to take a gamble. If I really can pull Lady Wan off her horse, then the Princes future will be smooth-sailing from now on, and hell never need to worry about assassination again. What a shame that I gambled on the wrong thing. Ah, nevermind. As long as you dont implicate him, I was the one who staked my life, so Ill be the one that dies. Han Zao was guiltless, so my death can be considered an equal exchange of life. His Highness is a good person, and will be a wise ruler too bad I will never see that day. Wang Zhi sneered. Are you not afraid that Ill unveil everything youve said before Consort Wan?! Yuan Liang shook his head. I know you wont, else you wouldnt have come to question me ahead of time. Thank you, Eunuch Wang. I had always looked down on you because you were one of hers, but now I can see that you still have virtue in your heart. Bah! You murdered Han Zao, so dont you lecture me about virtue! Besides, Im not doing this for you, Im doing it for the Prince! The mans expression was murky. Yes thats why Ill repay him with my life now. Your protection of His Highness is something I cant pay back, though Noticing that his voice was getting fainter and fainter, blood spilling out of the corners of his mouth, Tang Fan stepped forward, grabbed him, and hefted him up. What about Fu Ru? Do you know what her history is?! Did she want to trip Consort Wan up solely because she was unhappy with her? Yuan Liang shook his head, looking increasingly dazed. His eyes also gradually lost focus. Due to the pain, his face twisted up horrifically, and then he breathed no more in a final groan. Tang Fan let him go, setting him back down on the bed. The man had been beyond heinous. To avenge Lady Ji and frame Consort Wan, he didnt hesitate to drag the innocent Han Zao down into the fray, then ultimately testified that all he had done was a complete waste. Consort Wan was foreordained to shirk all responsibility, and Han Zao had died for no reason. Yet, he had also been quite piteous. Everything he had done was not for himself, nor for the pursuit of fame, wealth, or lust, but to repay the kindness Lady Ji had given him. How many people had received the grace of others in their lives, and how many of them would remember it? Yuan Liang had not only remembered his, but securely engraved it into his heart, not sparing to wager his own life for it. Yuan Liang died of sudden-onset illness, where it was too late to even call for a doctor, Wang Zhi said. What a shame. Tang Fans heart jumped, immediately understanding what he meant. What about Fu Ru? Wang Zhi was expressionless. She was upset because the Consort had insulted her, so she urged her to send soup to the Crown Prince, then used Han Zaos death to frame her. That basically eradicated Yuan Liangs role in this. Tang Fan shook his head. That wont do. Theres too many holes in it. Dont forget about Han Hui; Fu Ru is in the palace with the Consort, so how would she ever be able to contact him? Yuan Liangs part has to be put in the middle. Wang Zhi thought for a bit, then clapped his hands together. Lets do it like this, then! After Fu Ru got berated by the Consort on the regular, she held a grudge, but didnt dare to retaliate. Yuan Liang was Fu Rus lover, and after hearing her grumble, he happened to know that Han Hui had the mind to kill his brother, so he came up with this plan. First, he would have Fu Ru urge the Consort to send soup, then he would have Han Hui put Han Zaos death into motion ahead of time. The three conspiratorially staged such a play for the purpose of framing the Consort. He had taken great pains to excise suspicion from the Crown Prince. Tang Fan was quiet for a bit. If you explain it like that, will His Majesty and the Consort believe you? Why wouldnt they? Wang Zhi countered. Now that Yuan Liang is dead, he cant give a testimony. The truth that Fu Ru and Han Hui were linked is concrete, and they wont raise any waves with that no matter how they deny it. I may as well be honest with you; His Majesty had never wanted this to burgeon into any huge punishment. In his mind, now that the Prince is older, hes the son he finally managed to get. Even if hes not as important to him as Consort Wan, he still has his niche. He doesnt want blame for this on the Princes head. The key component is the Consort, but as long as theres no proof, she cant use this as an excuse despite any grudges she has towards the Prince. He paused, then said with regret, If only I had just arrested Junior Lady Zhou and been done with it! Why is this so endlessly troublesome?! I shouldnt have listened to your random ravings, Tang Fan. I wanted to get in good with the Prince, but the end result of that is that I cant get off the boat Ive gotten on, and can only forge ahead to parts unknown I had been one of the Consorts people, yet now Im helping you lot deceive her. If she learns of it, my end wont be any better than Yuan Liangs! Tang Fan was similarly disquieted by Yuan Liangs incident, and had to sourly console him. Not necessarily. Ive been getting the general sense that Fu Rus aim in all this isnt so simple. Someone harboring a grudge against the Consort would be well aware that since both sides were going to die, they could just get in close to her and stab her with a knife. Why wind around in a big circle to set her up? If you can dig up anything on Fu Ru, you might be able to fully get rid of the Princes suspicion. Wang Zhi huffed coldly. Youre thinking too simply. Yuan Liang having been the Crown Princes man is enough; no matter what other causes or motives there are, the Consorts suspicions towards him will never be erased. You need a reason to like someone, so dont you also need a reason to hate someone? Tang Fan couldnt comprehend her strong fear of the Prince, but Wang Zhi had clearly grasped the idea better than him. They really didnt say much more than that. Not long after Yuan Liangs death, Wang Zhi left the East Palace to head for the Depot and interrogate Fu Ru. Tang Fan looked at the corpse quietly for a good minute, then went out, saying his goodbyes to the Prince. As it happened, the boy didnt need to study today. He sat by himself inside the hall, dazed. After seeing Tang Fan come in, he dismissed the nearby attendants. Judge Tang, Attendant Yuan is? Tang Fan cupped his hands. His heavy illness couldnt be treated, and he just now passed. This was his acquiescence to Wang Zhis proposal. The Princes eyes quickly turned red. Please quell your grief, Your Highness. He looked calm on the surface, but his mind was also in a tangle. According to his own work principles, everything should be dealt with impartially. Why Yuan Liang had died, and how everything had gone from start to finish, should have been reported in its entirety to his superiors, then handled according to national law. How could the innocent Han Zao, senselessly killed, be at rest with all this coverup? But, he also knew that if Consort Wan learned of Yuan Liangs motive of avenging Lady Ji, she would definitely think that the Prince was entirely surrounded by such people, and also that he had always held a grudge against her for the death of his birth mother. Did anyone have a good enough heart to keep someone around that forever hated them, let alone Consort Wan? Her simply not prompting the Emperor to depose the Prince would be fine by itself. That was why Tang Fans mental principle of impartial handling would instead be equivalent to giving Consort Wan an excuse to purge the harem. Pursuing fairness for certain things would only kill even more people. Under these circumstances, what should he elect to do? That he was aware of this concept was exactly why he was so conflicted. In a world such as this, wanting to be an incorruptible, selfless official that enforced the law impartially was very difficult. He heard the Prince speak. I know that everything he had done was for my mom. How much do you know, Your Highness? I know that Xiao Zaos death was wrongful, and that it had nothing to do with Consort Wan. Attendant Yuan refused to tell me anything, but I guessed it anyway. He also thought that I had already forgotten my moms death, but I havent. I know that Consort Wan had something to do with it. I just dont want revenge. He sniffed, choking up. I know that if I take revenge, someone will die, and I dont want them to. Why do I have to take revenge? What good would it do anyone? My mother in Heaven definitely would have wanted Attendant Yuan to live well! She wouldnt have wanted him to kill Xiao Zao for her! Tang Fan sighed. From the moment you were born, you were destined to have an extraordinary future. Everyone has placed great expectations onto you, and also hopes that you will become a wise ruler later on, so they want to use their own lives to pave the way before you. That way, when you walk it, it wont be too difficult for you. But human lives shouldnt be exchanged for that, right? the Prince asked, tearful. Tang Fan was silent for a moment, then nodded. Youre right. The ways of the world had never been complex; only human hearts were. However, since Attendant Yuan has already given his life for you not to be implicated, please dont disappoint his wishes. This matter ends here. No matter whos asking you, you have to say that he died of sudden illness. Upon coming out of the East Palace, Tang Fan felt physically and mentally exhausted, as if he had gone in and on and out and around the palace literally the entire day. Processing Yuan Liangs corpse was easy. The East Palace had always been tight-lipped and loyal, so his cause of death was known only to the Crown Prince, Tang Fan, and Wang Zhi. Provided that the Prince didnt divulge anything, only a sudden-onset illness would get reported to the outside world, and then the body would be sent out of the palace for burial. However, Tang Fan hadnt foreseen that on the very next day, he would be getting the news that Fu Ru was dead. The translator says: sister ji, i killed an eight-year-old to avenge you. it failed but i had a good reason, right. why are you floating away CH 41 Both Han Hui and Fu Ru had been detained in the Western Depot; one a direct murderer, one a co-conspirator. Once Wang Zhis words from yesterday were added onto the present days outcome, Tang Fan was immediately forced to make a connection: Wang Zhi had killed her. Among those involved in this case, Han Hui was the murderer, La Mei was an accessory, and Yuan Liang plus Fu Ru were co-conspirators. La Mei had helped Han Hui with hiding the needle, but she had only willingly done so because she was carrying his child. She didnt know any other details. Han Hui had gotten Yuan Liangs help, but he had no idea why the man had wanted to help him. Only Fu Ru knew that Yuan Liang was resentful and wanted to aid Lady Ji in getting revenge. She was the one that sought him out in the first place, and might have even thought up the idea for the whole affair. The part she played was huge. Apart from Tang Fan, Wang Zhi, and the Prince, she alone had a clear understanding of Yuan Liangs motive and actions. If she had confessed that Yuan Liang wanted revenge, Consort Wan was certain to place blame on the Princes head. Now that Fu Ru was dead, she could tell nothing. In Wang Zhis view, this was the safest way. However, Tang Fan could never find Wang Zhi any of the several times he went to the Depot, and whether he had killed the maid was something he couldnt ask just anyone. He suspected that Wang Zhi was deliberately avoiding him, but there was nothing he could do about that. Without Wang Zhi, he couldnt even go past the palace gates, so he naturally had no idea what actually went down on the Emperor and Consort Wans end, nor whether the Prince would get drawn in, nor how the case ultimately concluded. It wasnt until half a month later that Wang Zhi had someone invite him to the Depot, after which he told him that the case had been finalized. How was it finalized, then? he asked. Fu Ru was resentful towards getting rebuked by the Consort on the daily, but was also too afraid to retaliate, Wang Zhi answered. Yuan Liang was her lover, and after hearing her complain plus Han Huis coincidental desire to kill his brother, he came up with this plan. Fu Ru made the Consort deliver soup, then Han Hui set to task beforehand. All three of them conspired to frame Consort Wan. As a result, after Han Huis confession, she got scared and killed herself in prison. That was pretty much identical to what he had said to him before. Tang Fan didnt beat around the bush, asking him head-on: Was her death because of you? Do you think it was? Wang Zhi countered. Tang Fan was silent. Silence equaled silent agreement. There was no one else attending in their room. They said nothing, the atmosphere momentarily stagnating. A short while passed before Wang Zhi spoke mildly. Youre the only other person thats ever known the entirety of this case, so I may as well tell you that it had nothing to do with me. He laughed coldly. I did have the thought to silence her, but I didnt expect that she would be a step quicker at it than me. She really was kind of suspicious; during her interrogation, she was very stiff-lipped. At first, she was dead set on claiming that she had acted alone, but also claimed that Yuan Liang had sought her out because of Lady Jis death, and she couldnt resist helping him. Prior to Yuan Liangs death, though, he had made it clear that she was the one who approached him first. Plus, shes been at the Consorts side for over ten years; if she wanted to help Yuan Liang, why right now, when Lady Jis already been dead for years? Thats why I dont think he had been lying to us. Tang Fan nodded. He had a will to die then. There would have been no need for him to. Seeing that he believed him, Wang Zhi looked a bit better. When she got tortured, she started babbling again, saying that she was acting under the Son of Heavens instruction! Simply absurd! I had wanted to pick at every spot of oddity about her and then silence her so that the Consort wouldnt be given a poor explanation, but the woman somehow ended up getting a copper piece off of the oil lamp on the wall, then cut her own neck open and died. Having believed that he had killed her, Tang Fan was surprised that this was the truth. He couldnt help but furrow his brows. She had been detained in jail, and the Depot is heavily guarded how did she find the tool, and chance, to kill herself? Wang Zhi sneered. That illustrates that theres a problem area in the Depot itself. She must have had other people behind her! Whats their purpose in doing this, then? Tang Fan pondered. To incite conflict between the Prince and Consort? That was a possibility. The Prince was young right now, but he was gradually turning into a semblance of a wise ruler: diligent in studies, never speaking caustically, respectful towards his teachers, and benevolent towards his underlings. All those various high-quality characteristics seemed to make people see hope for the future, a group of fanatics assembling around him. Subpar officials were everywhere in Court, but no matter how dark and dangerous the world was, there would always be people who yearned for the light, and strove hard to make it appear again. Like Tang Fan, for instance. Even though he wasnt definitively in the Crown Princes party, did his heart not vaguely trend towards defending the boy? It was for precisely that reason that Consort Wan was stirred into secret worry and resentment: If youre winning over peoples hearts like this now, will I still have anywhere to stand when you become Emperor? If someone had the mind to provoke conflict, starting from there would thus be quite practical. Wang Zhi fumed with grit teeth. I had to go humbly apologize to Consort Wan over this, suffer a real bout of scolding, then go wash the Depot clean again. Despite that, I only caught some small fry! I couldnt ferret out that backstage traitor at all! That just goes to show how deeply hidden he is! He better not let me catch him, or Ill use every sort of torture the Depot has on him! His words steamed with murderousness. Even sitting opposite him, Tang Fan could feel his desire to kill hitting him in the face it was practically turning tangible. Wang Zhi had previously planned for this very well, but now things were different. For Fu Ru to be able to kill herself in a place like the Depot clearly meant that there was an issue somewhere in its departments, but the other partys scheming was so airtight, no one could find him out. How could Wang Zhi not be furious? It was fortunate that he had the Emperor and Consorts trust and favor right now, meaning he only got scolded over this. This event alone would have been enough to bring his political life to an end, otherwise. What about Han Hui, then? Tang Fan asked. What about him?! Wang Zhi was displeased. He doesnt know anything about any of this! All he heard was Yuan Liangs prompt for murder, and then he did what he was supposed to do! He already confessed, so the date where hell be handed over to the Ministry of Justice is fixed! He wont be the Depots problem after that! Tang Fan nodded. Han Huis execution would be able to console Han Zaos spirit in the Heavens. Recalling that, he couldnt help but sigh for the boy. Han Fang and Lady Lin had a son in their middle ages, so Han Zao had been spoiled. He didnt become a hedonist like Zheng Cheng because of his upbringing, but instead filially loved his parents and respected his older brother, even becoming sullen at witnessing Lady Lins treatment of said brother. He also gave his boyservant a silly name, which showed what a lovable kid he had been. Tang Fan had never personally met him, but from Han Fang and Lady Lins grief, as well as the Crown Princes regretful sorrow, he could see that Han Zao had been loved. It was such a shame that a good child like that had ended up getting killed by his beloved brother, who was overtaken by a demon of the heart. On top of that, if Lady Lin hadnt treated Han Hui harshly, thus causing Han Zao to be melancholic, the latter wouldnt have wanted to complain to Yuan Liang, who would then not have learned of the Hans situation, finding no opportunity nor circumstances to set to task thereupon. As was said, everything in existence inexorably had causes, as well as consequences. Wang Zhi was frustrated from trying to find the Depot crook, which was a quite deeply involved matter with massive implications. Tang Fan didnt ask more on it, but his counterpart questioned him of his own volition. Do you think that this might have something to do with the Jingtai Emperor? Tang Fan suffered a bad start. This matter is of dire importance! You cant make random guesses! he answered immediately. Were the only two people here. Why cant I guess a couple things in private? Wang Zhi said, annoyed. That Jingtai was the present Son of Heavens uncle. This was a bit of controversy known to all in the land. During Yingzongs reign, because he trusted in his favored eunuch Wang Zhen* about a personal campaign on the Oirats, the Tumu Stronghold Crisis thus came to be. Half of the major officials in Court had followed him, never to return, the capitals regiments were entirely wiped out, and the Oirats were about to come strike the capital. At that point in time, the Crown Prince-cum-Emperor of present times was only two years old, so he obviously couldnt have presided over the government, especially not at such a time of crisis. Yu Qian and the rest were commanded forward in the face of death, ordered so by Yingzongs little brother, Jingtai, who had taken over. The Oirats were resisted, hence putting the citizenrys minds at ease and sparing the Great Ming from total calamity. In that juncture, Yingzong had been released by the Oirats. Jingtai was already Emperor, so he was naturally unwilling to concede his position; even if he was willing, their brotherly relationship would never be the same as it was before, because his big brother would definitely have apprehensions towards him. For that reason, Jingtai simply placed his brother under house arrest, then ruled on for seven years. However, when he became gravely ill, another palace rebellion broke out. Some officials rescued Yingzong out of his palace of exile, throned him anew, then placed Jingtai under house arrest. The resentment between the brothers ended here, as within no more than a month, Jingtai was dead. The Late Emperor loathed him for seizing his throne, even stripping him of his imperial name and giving him a shameful posthumous title.[1] It was only after the current Emperors ascent that his uncle regained his reputation. Judging from that, the current Emperor really wasnt that bad of a person, with that magnanimous heart of his. It was just that he didnt care about governance, which led to the Court currently being a wreck. With that said, Wang Zhi bringing up this bit of the past was clearly not to make Tang Fan chase after it to supplement the present, but rather because he wanted to point out the enmity between the Late Emperor and Jingtai. Jingtai had been enthroned for seven years, so there was bound to be a couple people loyal to him in that time. They got beheaded by Yingzong one by one after his reinstatement, and of those that were fortunate enough not to die, they tucked their tails between their legs and behaved in a low-key way, having hardly any sense of existence. Yet, it was hard to ensure that among these people that had quietly endured all this time, none of them had used Fu Ru to intentionally provoke disquiet. This could not only have instigated strife between Consort Wan and the Crown Prince, but could have also made the Emperor have doubts towards her, causing chaos in the Dynasty. Wang Zhis conjecture was quite within reason. Was there anything suspicious in Fu Rus residence? Tang Fan asked. What did the Consort have to say? Weve already turned the place upside down along with the Consorts palace, but didnt find anything at all. Fu Rus possessions were so clean, there was nothing dubious about them whatsoever. They were just various goods and commodities that the Consort had bestowed to her over the years Wait, Tang Fan interrupted. She didnt have any relatives outside of the palace, then? She didnt entrust anyone with bringing all that wealth out to her family? Thats a good point youve raised. Talking to smart people is always a delight. Wang Zhi huffed happily. No, there was nothing like that in the least. Everything rewarded to her over the years is still there. As for the wealth, thats impossible to calculate exactly, but it seems to be overwhelmingly unchanged. I checked, and she has no family outside the palace; her parents died when she was young, after which she was raised to adulthood in her uncles family. Some years after she entered the palace, her uncles home burned away to nothing because of a fire in the capital, and the whole family moved away. Their location after that is unknown. Listening to there, Tang Fan had nothing to say. The event with her uncles family seemed concerning at first hear, but in reality, such things were common in this era. It couldnt be used as evidence. Feng Qingzi of the Marquis Wuan case, for example, had her family banished and scattered due to implication in a crime, and the people that had lived in the vicinity of their house almost all moved away because of a subsequent neighboring fire, causing Tang Fan a bit of difficulty when investigating. Fu Ru had no one outside the palace, and therefore had no place to send her capital, meaning it all stayed inside. Maybe she had thought that when she came of age, she might be let out to marry, but the Consort came to rely heavily on her, making her unable to leave for even a moment. If this case hadnt happened, she might have become a lady-in-waiting later due to her continuous stay in the palace. The Consort was livid after learning about this, Wang Zhi said. She really hadnt known that Fu Ru would do such a thing, so she told me I had to get to the bottom of it. Even if she had said that, how was he supposed to investigate? No matter how all-encompassing the Depot was, the one in question was already dead, and the one pulling the strings wasnt yet found. He couldnt just make up some proof out of thin air, right? But when Tang Fan heard Wang Zhis guess about Jingtai, he got genuinely scared that the man would randomly suss out some testimonies and physical evidence so that Consort Wan wouldnt look into him. Wang Zhi really wasnt a vile, treacherous person, else he wouldnt have listened to Tang Fans proposal, nor been willing to forge a good relationship with the Prince, nor helped to cover up Yuan Liangs motives. That didnt at all indicate that he was a good person that wholeheartedly thought of others. As the Director of the Western Depot, his every action was out of thought for his own future political career. The amount of major figures he had felled beneath his hands was known to be uncountable. Also, he had been planning to silence Fu Ru, only for her to beat him to the punch. Fu Ru is dead, and the deceased give no testimony, Tang Fan said. This matter should be kept between us, though her uncles family can be kept in mind. Meaning that since the evidence was destroyed, this matter could simply be turned over, but it wasnt too late for them to make progress towards confirmation in the future. Alright, alright! Wang Zhi said impatiently. Dont always be using your civil-official set of standards to try and read me! I do things differently than you, theres no need for you to lecture me. Nothing good has come ever since I bumped into you! If it werent for the Consorts confidence in me, it would have been really hard for me to get through this! Mister Tang quietly listened to his roasting, thinking to himself, Youre the one that sought me out in the first place, but now youre saying that Im the bad omen. A short moment later, Wang Zhi saw that Tang Fan wasnt answering, and felt a bit bored. His Highness asked me to pass on a message to you, he then said. Tang Fan was startled. Id like to hear it. People pursue springs orchids and jeer at falls chrysanthemums, but the Heavens taught the bright moon to accompany the evening star. He suddenly smiled. Wang Zhi was suspicious. What riddles are you two spouting? The last time Tang Fan and the Prince had met, the former worried that Yuan Liangs death would leave a psychological shadow on the latter, and also that the heir apparent so many people had placed high hopes on would go down a wrong path out of rancor over this. That was why he had found an excuse to bring up a few anecdotes from the ancients, hoping to tell the Prince not to lose heart. Even though the world had a lot of injustice and darkness in it, there were even more people that held goodness in their hearts, doing all they could to guide the realm onto the right track. He wanted the Prince to not think that everything in the world was unfair because of what had happened with Yuan Liang, nor that he would need to resort to unscrupulous means to achieve his goals. It was only because villains liked to gang up, retaliate against people, and take advantage of others while nobles remained strictly upright, refusing to behave as the villains did that it seemed like villains outnumbered nobles. The Prince had been broken-hearted over Yuan Liangs death, so he had not given him much of a response. As Tang Fan wasnt his teacher, he didnt have the qualifications to instruct him, so he could only take that one opportunity to do what was within his negligible power. Surprisingly, the Prince had remembered. People pursue springs orchids was a verse by Su Dongpo. Was that not the Prince declaring his aspirations with poetry, an answer to Tang Fans advice from that day? The most wondrous thing about it was that the honest gentleness and broad aspirations contained in the second half of the verse happened to be a perfect elucidation of the first half. It wasnt a reply where his heart was filled with impassioned discontent, nor a perfunctory affectation towards Tang Fan. In all likelihood, the young Prince had not deliberated on this answer too much. How disappointed so many people were towards the current mediocre, do-nothing Court. How great the expectations they had placed on the future Emperor. There was no way for Tang Fan to describe the consolation he had within himself when he heard this response. In that instant, he felt that running the risk of offending the Consort by helping Wang Zhi cover up Yuan Liang, thus preventing the Prince from getting implicated, was entirely worth it. Average people filled with hatred were not afraid to go down a warped path, ending up like Han Hui at most. But if a sovereign were to have that hatred, every living thing in the land would be out of luck. In contrast, a sovereign that was eternally charitable in mind and magnanimous in heart would be a blessing to the Great Ming, and to the world. Tang Fan was not someone moody in personality and fond of going woe-is-me, but that didnt mean that he liked watching people die. Every time a case was concluded, the real killer getting caught was gratifying enough, but it was impossible to reverse the death of the decedent. This time, he sighed for Han Zaos tragic death, yet also finally felt a trace of solace. He explained the significance of the Princes verse to Wang Zhi. Having an heir apparent like this is a real boon to the country! he exclaimed. Wang Zhi expressed no opinion. He was a eunuch, so he had a completely different angle of consideration compared to Tang Fans. In his view, the Princes succession was a still-faraway matter, and he needed to do some more important things right now, like put other contributions into order to offset this case with haste. If he didnt, then even if the Emperor and Consort didnt assign blame to him for winding this up poorly, Shang Ming would use it to press his head down, which would be hard for him to tolerate. Theres been a lot of trouble in Jiangnan these days, he said to Tang Fan. North of the desert is also in considerable unrest. In your opinion, do you think I should head South, or North? The East Palace case was now reported as closed. With the twos present frenemy relationship, as long as there was no major conflict of interest between them, they wouldnt completely fall out with each other. Wang Zhi asking Tang Fan for ideas was thus not surprising to him, because when all was said and done, this signified that the other was assured of his skill and insight. Besides, Wang Zhi innately differed from other eunuchs. Ordinary men had nothing beyond two types of pursuits: waking up holding worldwide power, and having beauties kneeling by them. The latter pursuit was irrelevant to eunuchs, so, ever since the dawn of time, many of them preferred to go for power, their pursuit being the thrill of a high position. However, their monopoly of power was typically only inside the palace, such as in the Great Mings Twelve Supervisories. Between the Supervisory of Ceremony Management and Supervisory of Royal Steeds, one had the power to act on the Emperors behalf, specially serving as his ghostwriters and as intermediaries between him and major officials, while the other was related to military power. These things were what people coveted the most, busting their own heads open to squeeze into the two divisions. In each division, there was a particular emphasis: Sealwielder first, Brushholder second. Currently, the Sealwielder Eunuch of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management was Huai En, while Liang Feng oversaw the Supervisory of Royal Steeds. Shang Ming and Wang Zhi were Directors of the Eastern and Western Depots, respectively, but because their seniority wasnt as high as the previous twos, they could only be Brushholder eunuchs, not Sealwielders. Shang Mings main task at present was to expand his Depots business, simultaneously fighting with Wang Zhi and proactively advancing in the hopes that he could one day take the position of either Huai En or Liang Fang. However, Wang Zhi felt that this range was too small. He wanted to be something, and he wanted it to be grand; wouldnt he feel aggrieved nestling in the tiny domain of the palace all day long? Thus, he set his sights upon the vast world outside. When the Great Mings army fought, there was a general convention that an Army Supervisor Envoy from inside the palace was to go with to serve as the Emperors eyes and ears, lest the generals act in cahoots and play him as a fool. Ever since the Tumu Stronghold Crisis, the Oirats, once an enormous threat to the Great Ming, gradually weakened. The power over their prairies was constantly getting divided up and switching rulers. The Central Plains Dynasty didnt know the details of this stuff, but in brief, the Oirats were on the verge of extinction. Another tribe called the Tartars had arisen, but their internals proceeded to go into disarray in a case of you wont comply with me, so I wont comply with you. Everyone fought everyone else, each having their own monarchs. That didnt at all hinder them from bothering the Mings border garrisons, though. All their social standpoints were different; Ming people thought the Tartars were barbarians that came to burn, murder, and loot all the time, while the Tartars thought that the Great Ming was a fat sheep that had to be snatched. On the southern embankment of the Yellow River, and in-between the regions of Ningxia and Shanxi, was a vast expanse called the Great Bend. The water and vegetation there was abundant, and it was rich in natural resources, but it was also easy to attack and hard to defend. If the Great Ming wanted to defend this area, a huge amount of energy expenditure was required, but the Oirats and Tartars could invade it at any time with ease. That was why Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor, had moved the Dongsheng army inwards, effectively forced to relinquish defense of the area. Yet, there came a problem. Without that cushioning zone, the Tartars were able to barge in, occupy the Great Bend, and then directly attack strategic towns on the Great Mings border. Exploiting this pit, they frequently looted said towns. Had this happened during the Great Ancestors or Yongles eras, taking care of it would have been easy. His Majesty, dictatorial in his bind to the Heavens, could have just waved his hand to send the army up North. The Tartars would have gotten beaten until they went crying for their parents, never daring to come again. But it was now the Chenghua era. The army that had pulled through the Tumu Crisis had learned what fear was, and the ranks morale wasnt as strong as it had been at the countrys founding, where it was undefeated in battle. Plus, there were those high officials in Court Right. Just as those officials didnt want to work, they couldnt be counted on to have the ambition for attacking the Tartars and wresting back the Great Bend. Apart from that was the South side. It had no sort of border wars right now, but in the affluent area of Jiangnan, bandits ran amok, officials and merchants colluded, and there was no shortage of corruption. Subordinates followed their leaders, so if those leaders did no work, their lackeys would casually drift through life. Salaries for officials in the Great Ming were famously low, so there was no need to even think about counting on anyone to work as hard as they had at the countrys founding. Furthermore, in the Southwest over a year ago, the Songpan Hmongs had revolted because they couldnt stand the local officials pushing them around. Although later suppressed, many of them getting beheaded, the region still was never very peaceful. People of Wang Zhis sort feared a world not in chaos, restless and wishing that another rebellion would happen so that they could get merits once it passed. Wang Zhi wanted said credits. Disdaining to vie with Shang Ming over trivial garbage like they were mortal enemies, he looked towards these two areas. Through Pan Bins mouth, Tang Fan had previously suggested military merit, East Palace to him, making him turn his eyes outward and develop a good relationship with the Prince in passing. That was because he had seen through to Wang Zhis restless nature. Now that he had been questioned, Tang Fan wouldnt keep Wang Zhi in suspense. The North. How come? Theres no major disorder in the South right now. If no big case shows up regarding the corrupt officials, the Court wont place too much importance on it. Even if you, a Chief Eunuch, arrest a few to establish your might and punish them in example, His Majesty wont think that youve made much of a contribution. What Tang Fan didnt mention was that a powerful eunuch like Wang Zhi going there would be a huge mess; every bloke in the area would scramble to curry favor with him. He should just devastate some foreigners instead. If he could bring in more land for the Great Ming, that would be even better. Wang Zhi loosened up some. Right, I thought so too. If you want to play, then you have to play hard; if Im only going to catch a bunch of shrimp, I may as well just not. Nowadays, the Tartars are frequently causing disturbances, so if I can recover the Great Bend, that would definitely be a shiny merit for me. Recovering it wont be one days work, so please think this over carefully, Eunuch Wang, Tang Fan quickly replied. If you can teach the Tartars a bit of a lesson and make them afraid to attack the borders rashly, it would be a great contribution to our Great Ming! Wang Zhi got impatient with his nagging. Alright, youre not a general. You know hardly anything about this stuff, so theres no need to say more. Then why the heck did you ask me? Were you just looking for a sense of approval? Ill go present a memorial on an auspicious day to request it. Tang Fan couldnt help himself. How about we make a bet? his cheap mouth blurted. On what? On your request definitely not getting passed. Wang Zhi disbelieved him. That group in Court is cowardly and afraid to send troops, but I can speak in His Majestys presence. If I ask for soldiers myself, he should agree to it. Tang Fan was unbothered. Then Ill make the bet with you. Since he was younger than him, Wang Zhis competitiveness was roused. Okay. Whats the wager? If I win, youll treat me to a meal at Immortal Cloud. That crab roe-tofu soup from last time was delicious! You cant go there yourself? Why the need for a bet? My salary isnt enough for it, Tang Fan answered innocently. To himself, Wang Zhi thought: This is a bonafide glutton! [End Arc 3: The Case of the East Palace] The translator says: eunuchs dont pursue beauties wym? dicks arent everything. get creative. If youre reading this, that means that Im on a temporary hiatus for Chenghua, and have been for over a week now, but my buffer is now used up. Long story short, I have some things to work on, and Chenghua is too time-intensive to not put it on temporary hold. It will probably last one to three weeks, and will simply pick back up on the next available Sunday. Once the big project is done (soon, as of this writing) and Im caught up a bit more on TBB (very easy), the hiatus will be done. Sorry for the inconvenience, see you in a tick~ [1] Posthumous Emperor titles are exceptionally long. Jingtais, however, was only seven characters (ʿʵ). In comparison, when Yingzong died, his posthumous title was nineteen characters long (\đVТʵ). What an asshole. *Despite identical pinyin, his surname is a different character from Wang Zhis. Theyre unrelated. CH 42 Leaving aside however they had ended up betting, Tang Fan left Wang Zhis place, noticed that the shichen was about right, then headed right for home. Due to the recent East Palace case, he had been running between the palace and the Western Depot, or even sometimes the Han household. He couldnt go to work as normal in Shuntian, but Sir Pan was happy to put him on temporary leave so that he didnt need to go report to the bureau every day, and could wait until the cases closure to come back. Both entailed investigation, but having to go to the bureau on time every day versus being free to go to work whenever were two totally different concepts. Even though he wasnt the type of official to just muddle through life, he was quite happy to sneak some laziness in every once in a while. Since the case had come to an end, his free life was also about to come to an end. It was hard for him not to feel a bit depressed. He didnt make a special detour for that familiar stall to eat wontons, instead going straight home. It would undoubtedly be best if Ah-Dong was at home cooking today. He definitely didnt want a repeat of last time, where he ate nuomici on an empty stomach that then started to hurt. The sky gradually darkened. When he was still some distance away from home, he could vaguely see billowing stove smoke coming off in the direction of their kitchen. All of a sudden, it was like he could even smell the aroma of food, which made his mood a lot better. He hummed a little tune as his gait got brisker. No matter where you go, home is still best! The courtyard door wasnt locked, only half-closed. Right as he came in, he heard a burst of talking and laughter come from inside. There seemed to be a familiar male voice vaguely mixed in with it. Sui Zhou was back? Tang Fan was startled at first, a smile emerging on his face afterwards. Before he had time to take a few steps inward, however, he noticed that the door connecting the main hall to the dining hall was open wide, a feast of piping hot food arranged inside. Little Ah-Dong was currently walking out of the kitchen with a plate she had just made up, calling out as she went. Brother Sui, Sister Zhou, the foods all ready! Big brothers definitely not going to be back to eat again, so lets just eat now! A man and a woman stood beside the table in the hall. The man was, of course, Sui Zhou, who had not been seen for many days. He appeared to be a bit thinner, but also even more honed, presumably only having been back for a short time. He wasnt wearing that intimidating Brocade Guard uniform, but casual wear, which made him more resemble a prized sword yet to be unsheathed, a blood-satiated swordlight bundled beneath those ordinary garments. Someone like this simply didnt need to dress themselves in fancy robes, nor protect themselves with a sharp blade. Just by standing there, he was somebody unable to be ignored. The woman was that Zhou cousin Tang Fan had met the other day, who had come looking for Sui Zhou to no avail. She happened to run into him today, though. He wasnt sure what she said, but Sui Zhous stern face noticeably smiled a bit. Her laughter spread far and wide, like silver bells. The distance between them was not too near, nor too far, being just proper. Their arms looked like they were close, but also like they werent touching at all. In Tang Fans eyes, it was an ambiguity both substantial, yet not. Ah-Dong bounced into the hall with the food, then said something to the woman. They laughed together, seeming close. How long have you two known each other, huh? Youve stuck together like glue immediately! Youre more affectionate to her than me, your own big brother! he thought to himself. He would never admit that he was a little sour. The angle where he stood happened to be blocked by a tree, and the day was dark. No one would be able to discover him there for a minute. Seeing the three of them take their individual seats, as if they really were about to eat without waiting for him, he didnt advance further. Instead, unconsciously, he turned, quietly drawing back. Whenever the blanket of night descended, infinite households would light their lanterns in time for reunions. He was normally never a moseying, overly-sensitive sort, but for some reason today, when he saw the scene of those three talking and laughing over a meal he had felt himself to be a bit superfluous, like they were a family, and him bursting in right then would have disturbed them. The most loathsome one was Ah-Dong. Girls that grew up wouldnt stay inside, eh? This one wasnt yet grown, but she was already itching to go cozy up to strangers! Tang Fan mumbled to himself, unaware of the wrong wording in his thought process.[1] He took a stroll around the Sui home, hands behind his back like an old man, and it wasnt long before he wound around to the inner gate of the rear courtyard. Smelling the wafts of food coming from inside, he rubbed his stomach, feeling even hungrier. He pondered on whether he should go out to find food before coming back, but he had been scrambling all over the place too much lately. Even if he had taken litters at times, he inevitably couldnt keep up with those that needed to travel on the daily; his legs went tremendously sore and weak the second he relaxed, making him too lazy to move. He simply sat on the sill of the back door, blankly gazing at the stars that filled the sky. Early autumn now approached, making it chilly after nightfall. Not long after, he sneezed, fatigue overcoming him. He leaned his head against the doorframe, then unwittingly fell asleep like that. Some unknown amount of time later, he opened his eyes, feeling like he was bit heavier. It was completely dark out, but illumination coming from inside the building allowed him to see the one before him. Guangchuan? he said groggily, catching sight of who was next to him after. Ah-Dong why are you two here? Only then did he realize that his heavier feeling had come from Sui Zhou covering him with a cloak. Ah-Dong put her hands on her hips, chirping at him. Care to explain, big brother? We waited and waited, yet you didnt come back. We were worried to death! Brother Sui was even going to go out and look for you, but you were just hiding away here! Why didnt you come inside?! Since he had just woken up, Tang Fans eyes were empty and face blank, still in a state of half-consciousness. Seeing that Ah-Dong wanted to say something more, Sui Zhou stopped her, then helped Tang Fan up. The latters legs had gone numb from sitting for so long. His expression twisting up, he nearly fell forward but, thankfully, Sui Zhou had sharp eyes and quick hands, holding him up by the waist. Can you walk? His brows were creased, heavily hinting that if he couldnt walk, he was going to carry him. For the sake of his manly dignity, Sir Tang quickly answered, Im fine, Ive just been sitting for too long. Ill be okay once Ive stood for a while. Why didnt you go inside? the other asked, repeating what Ah-Dong had just asked. Tang Fan inexplicably felt a bit guilty, touching his nose. I was kind of tired when I had just gotten back, so I thought to sit here for a second. I didnt expect to accidentally fall asleep. As soon as he said it, he felt his own justification to be pretty poor. Who was Sui Zhou? A Northern Bastion Officer proficient in interrogation, that was who. Couldnt he tell when Tang Fan was lying, and when he was telling the truth? Beneath the others silent stare, Tang Fan felt even guiltier. Sui Zhou watched him for a good while. Lets go back, he eventually said. Go cook some ginger soup, Ah-Dong. She agreed, then turned and sped away. Nobody would ever reject the warmth of being looked after, and Tang Fan was no exception. The minor bit of complaints he just had dissipated, and he beamed as he watched Ah-Dong jog all the way to the kitchen. He felt that ever since he had acknowledged this little sister of his, his quality of life had risen. Sighing over his own good fortune, he turned his head to see that Sui Zhous line of sight was on him. What are you looking at me for? he had to wonder. Youre thin, the other concluded, after peering at him for a long time. No Im not? Tang Fan felt at his cheek, but detected nothing wrong. Hm. You are. Sui Zhou appeared to have both asked himself and answered himself, drawing his own conclusion into a footnote. When I wasnt at home, how did you and Ah-Dong eat? Tang Fan smiled. What do you mean, how did I eat? I havent fallen behind on three square meals a day. Its just that Ive been busy investigating all this time, so occasionally having to skip one was unavoidable. And Ah-Dong? The little girl was just walking in with a bowl of steaming ginger soup. Tang Fan half-lamented, half-teased her. Shes passed her days by more comfortably than I have. Sometimes, she would go to your family to play with your sister, staying for both dinner and the night. Other times, shed even go to the neighbors to eat. A life like that sure has saved food for this house! Ah-Dong stuck out her tongue, pouting as she retorted. Who told you to never be home, big brother? I leave food for you, but you dont eat it. It just goes to waste Cutting off her complaint, Sui Zhou asked him, You havent eaten dinner yet, right? Tang Fan coughed awkwardly, not answering. Seeing as he was admitting nothing and saying nothing, Sui Zhou simply got up and left. The second he did, Tang Fan pulled at Ah-Dong. Who offended him? Why does he look like someone owes him eight hundred strings of coins? She curled her lip. What do you mean, who? Youre the one that owes him! He rolled his eyes. Try and lie to me less. What does that have to do with me? Why would it not have anything to do with you? We had made the food and were all waiting for you, but you didnt come back. Brother Sui just told me and Sister Zhou to start eating, even though he never moved his own chopsticks! You tell me; should he look happy when he hasnt eaten? Tang Fan was caught off guard. He didnt eat, either? He had clearly seen them already seated and about to eat Ah-Dong giggled. How could he? Hes pretty loyal. Since he was waiting for you, he stubbornly looked at a table full of food, not moving a bit! There was even honey-roasted leg of lamb and egg fu rong that he made himself! When he told us to go ahead and eat, Sister Zhou was being polite, but I couldnt hold back because I was drooling. I just used my chopsticks Poor Mister Tangs belly was empty, his expression going gaga[2] upon hearing this. He, too, started drooling from her vivid and realistic descriptors. Oi he would have gone in if he had known this earlier! What use was dignity? Tang Runqing, ah, Tang Runqing you cant eat dignity! He went and pinched her on the cheek. You really dont adhere to sibling code, little girl. Dont tell me you didnt leave me any? The leg of lamb wont taste good cold! she cried out in injustice. Hey, you werent kidding, too. Brother Suis skill is pretty great! The lamb had been roasted golden, and was still dripping with oil on top. When it was almost done, he brushed a layer of honey glaze onto it, then baked it further until it smelled of char. When I ate it, it was still steaming, and I dont even need to bring up how tender it was. I was thinking to myself, Its too bad that big brother cant eat any of this tasty food, oh well! I had to help you by eating more of it, so I ate four whole slices in a row! I got a full belly! The fu rong was also really delicious, but I couldnt eat anymore. Ai The sorrow in his heart had long been overflowing. Stop talking Plus, Sister Zhou cooked a couple dishes, but I thought they were so-so. I only took a bite of them and then didnt touch them again. I noticed that she didnt eat much of them, either. Big brother, Im going to tell you a secret: I think she likes Brother Sui, just like how Sister Ah-Xia liked you before. When we were eating, she kept sneaking glances at him, but he acted like he saw nothing. It was so funny She was like a little mother hen, talking as she grinned, clucking, and even striking out gestures. One wave of her little arm nearly gave him a black eye. Unamused, he poked her, indicating that she should stop while she was ahead. The wee girl was sadly unable to grasp what he was thinking, continuing to gossip about Sui Zhou and his cousin. Also, also I heard her ask him, Cousin, do you still remember the agreement between our families when we were young? She imitated the expression Miss Zhou had had, skewing her eyes in her best impression of a bashful look. Narrowly, he didnt laugh at her. He continued to watch her put on a show, but, following the doctrine of sibling compassion, he kindly warned her. Ah-Dong. What is it?! she answered impatiently. Youre not listening carefully at all! Someone here is in the middle of explaining important stuff! Tang Fan took her chin and turned her head around, motioning for her to look behind herself. She saw Sui Zhou standing there and staring at her expressionlessly. It was unclear how much he had heard. Ah-Dong: Sui Zhou: Ah-Dong, proceeding to feign dementia: He shot her a placid look. Go see to the firewood. Theres congee cooking on the stove. As if she had been granted amnesty, she slipped away from him like she was in flight, scrambling towards the kitchen. His gaze fell upon Tang Fan again. The other blinked, showing a pure and innocent expression of I have absolutely no idea what she was talking about just now. The ginger soup is cold, Sui Zhou casually said. Tang Fan ohd, quickly lowering his head to drink it. The room descended into some kind of subtly awkward atmosphere. Luckily, Sir Tang was quick-witted and bright, immediately thinking up a subject that could divert the others attention. How did the case you were sent to handle go? Sui Zhou pulled a chair over and sat. We went to Jiangxi to investigate Huang Jinglong, Magistrate of Jian Prefecture. Tang Fan sat up straight, paying close attention. What did he do? The supervising censors of Jiangxi presented a memorial, claiming that in the three years since the eleventh year of Chenghua, more than three hundred total prisoners have been tortured to death in Jian by him, but he was falsely claiming that they had died of illness, thereby covering it up. Tang Fan was horrified. The gall of him! Sui Zhou nodded. Indeed. There was an order from the top for the Ministry of Justice and supervising censors to collaborate with the Bastion Office in going locally to get the truth, as well as arresting Huang Jinglong and taking him into the capital. Thats why I left in a hurry. How did it go? Well? It had been going well. The evidence was solid, and he couldnt refute it. The people he had tortured to death numbered four-hundred and seventeen. Apart from the three hundred or so prisoners, there were a couple tens of others among them that were arrested when guilty of no crime, imprisoned, then secretly tortured to death. When we made inventory of the bodies, though, we found that around a dozen of them were missing. We asked him again, but he couldnt tell us why that was. Why not? Not sure. He just said that there werent that many people, but the four-hundred-seventeen number is one we counted up after backchecking the inmates, plus reports made by the deads family members. Reasonably speaking, it isnt wrong, and might not even stop at that much. Ever since Yingzongs time, Court officials had to be Palace Honorates, as per entry criterion in other words, one had to pass the palace exams to be qualified to serve as an official. Of course, that wasnt an absolute thing, as Provincial Honorates also had paths to take, and lucky individuals could even take a post that happened to be vacant. No matter how big that position was, however, it was going to be about the level of Provincial Coordinator, and would enter neither the Pivot nor Cabinet. That was why, in the Great Ming, everyone scrambled to pass the palace exams and be one of its Honorates. Anyhow, upon becoming an official after studying strenuously for years or even decades everyone had different aspirations. Some were after serving the nation, some were after aiding the commonfolk, and just as some were after getting more coinage, some were thus covetous of power for climbing up even higher in the world. These were all understandable. But, it was unheard of for a truefourth-rank Prefectural Magistrate, who had taken great pains to get to his position, to mistreat convicts until he got reported, whereupon he would completely lose his standing. Really, what picture did that ultimately paint? Had Huang Jinglong read himself stupid? Been driven mad? Develop a perversion that made him abuse prisoners to get a psychological high? Tang Fan felt it a bit unbelievable, comprehending why the case would disturb the Brocade Guard so. He didnt try to justify his motivation and aim? Sui Zhou shook his head. After he was arrested, he didnt say a word, refusing to disclose anything. After Huang Jinglong got brought back to the capital, the assignment was considered finished. Other people from other departments would come follow up on the leftovers, and there was no need for Sui Zhou to show his face for any of it anymore. While they talked, Ah-Dong came in carrying a bowl. The aroma of it followed the light breeze made by the door opening to waft beneath Tang Fans nose. His stomach, warmed by the ginger soup, immediately rumbled. Smells good! he couldnt resist exclaiming. This is congee stewed by Brother Sui himself, of course it smells good! she toadied, setting the bowl down. Its got mince, shiitakes, celery, and chopped peanuts in it! He can be a real great person, big brother! A real great person! After getting discovered by Sui Zhou during her accurate imitation of his Cousin Zhou, the girl was quick to want to make up for it. What a shame it was that she was too young to think up many fresh verses; all she could do was repeat a real great person a couple times over. Tang Fan skewed her a look. Without exposing her, he lowered his head, scooped up a spoonful of the scalding congee, then ate it after blowing on it. The rice had been boiled soft by the fire, the scent of meat suffusing his mouth. The attendance of the shiitakes and peanuts thus enhanced the flavor of the congee to another level. There was no need to chew much when eating, as it was already a mouthful of silky goodness; in the opinion of Mister Tang, who had been starving for ages, this was the best to digest. He said nothing else, diving his head straight in to meticulously eat it. Seeing him like so, Sui Zhou also picked up his spoon. Once they had eaten pretty much all of it, their speed slowed. Did a lot of things happen at Shuntian in the meantime? Sui Zhou asked. Recalling what the other had just said about him losing weight, Tang Fan shook his head. Not at Shuntian. He first sent Ah-Dong to bed, then recounted to Sui Zhou. When it came to things that involved the palace, there was a lot that couldnt be mentioned. Despite his closeness to Sui Zhou, it would be bad to say too much. Knowing too much could be disastrous, too. He picked out a couple main points to speak of, a considerable amount of words amongst them left unfinished. There wasnt a need for him explain in much detail, either, as with how smart Sui Zhou was, he could guess at things. Listening to the end, Sui Zhou was silent for a good while, as if in thought. Theres a lot of secrets not yet revealed in this, he said at last. Wang Zhi might not be hindered as a eunuch, but with your status, its best for you to not get too deeply involved. His meaning was very clear. Wang Zhi was a eunuch that the Emperor and Consort considered as one of their own, but Tang Fan was an outside official, and a low-ranking one, at that. If he knew too much, thus making those above unhappy and wanting to tidy him up, that would be solved with a casual wave of the hand. Tang Fan grinned. Dont you worry. The killers already getting executed, so I wont have to care about anything else that happens. From here on out, I wont be getting caught up in Eunuch Wangs affairs. Despite him being an intelligent man with far-reaching calculations, he would never have foreseen that he would have countless occasions of interaction with Eunuch Wang following this, nor that he would transform his political career that should have been as fleeting as a shooting star. He finished the congee, and set the bowl aside. Ah-Dong is already pretty good at cooking, but your work is even better than hers, he commended. Im like a moron that cant tell right from left in comparison! A faint smile appeared in Sui Zhous eyes. Since were here, why would you need to do it? Thats right if Ah-Dong marries off later, and you also take a wife then whatll I do? The gourmand Mister Tang wasnt at all happy about his good friends words, instead getting depressed. It was now late in the day. The two chatted for a minute more, then went back to their respective rooms to rest. Even with the ginger soup, Mister Tang still caught windchill the next day. The illness rushed up acutely, soundly knocking him down. He laid upon the bed, coughing and coughing, and also had a bit of a temperature, burning him thoroughly red with misty eyes. Giving something up had to be accompanied by receiving something else; that was a truth. There was no need to go to the bureau, nor to work. He could finally request sick leave, with complete righteousness, so that he could malinger at home. The illness itself was uncomfortable, but the treatment sick people got was obviously special. Someone would cook him food, then bring it straight to his mouth; he didnt even need to wash his own face, because someone would wring out a rag and help him with that, too. Mister Tang still didnt feel lucky, though. As he now looked at the white congee and pickled vegetables in front him, he felt his tastebuds quickly fading from his mouth. Can you put something a little stronger in here? Even spiced beef or crystal meat would be fine, he entreated the one before him. Seeing Sir Tangs miserable expression, Sui Zhou felt a bit like laughing, but his face was as cold and indifferent as ever. No. Tang Fan sneezed, almost squeezing out tears. His eyes became hazy, and his nose itched, making him look all the more pitiful. Centarch Suis heart really was made of iron. He remained unmoved at this, merely passing the congee over to him. Will you eat it yourself, or do I have to feed you? Ill eat it, Ill eat it! Mister Tang raised his white flag in surrender. What a joke. If word got out that he had been spoonfed, his image of being wise and canny would be gone. However, as soon as he looked at that bland, tasteless congee alongside those abominably salty, pickled veggies, he lost his appetite. Right then, his savior star descended from the Heavens. Ah-Dong opened the door and came in. Big brother, theres someone looking for you outside. Hes really grand-looking, and says hes from the Western Depot. It was like Tang Fan had received reprieve from punishment. When he was about to put the bowl he held down, he got a cold glare from Sui Zhou, so he ashamedly lifted it back up. Sui Zhou had Ah-Dong keep an eye on Tang Fan to make sure he ate the congee, then got up and left himself. Right as he went out the door, he saw two people heading right on over. The one in front, despite being in regular clothes, walked with his hands behind his back. One glance at that arrogant look on his face told that he was someone of great influence, where even Sui Zhou could recognize him. Their visitor was the recently-famous Director of the Western Depot, the one that inherited the majority of his predecessor Wang Zhens[3] reputation of being a powerful, yet treacherous eunuch: Wang Zhi. Even though he had dropped by for a visit, Eunuch Wang hadnt waited for the host to come greet him, coming straight in. As if he had entered a no-mans-land, he indeed looked quite imposing. While he went along, he had to comment on stuff. Theres too many flowers in this courtyard, and theyre planted messily, like someone didnt know how arrangements work. Its really garish to look at! So tacky! Sui Zhou cupped his hands. I didnt know you would be coming, Eunuch Wang. Please forgive me for not coming to greet you. This was just how he was, speaking to even the Empress Dowager with a plain, dead-looking face. Even so, he was highly capable in his work, and, since he was from Dowager Zhous natal family, Chenghua and her were quite fond of him. They saw him as someone efficient that didnt use his status as consort-kin to misbehave, being far and above better than those other consort-kins of idle contributions. The Dowager thus loved to tell everyone she came across, Look at how good our Ah-Zhou is! Chenghua had even compared him to the elder brother of the Yingzong Courts Dowager Sun, Sun Jizong. Who was Sun Jizong? He was the number one consort-kin of this Court and and the previous one, successively gaining the Emperors trust in both. He had gotten on a horse, presided over the army, helped Yingzong back to his position, then helped him take charge of the embellishment of history books. To what degree was this Emperor confident in him? He had handed military power over to him, not allowing him to retire even if he wanted to, and whenever a major discussion happened in Court, it had to be headed by him. A few years back, when the Grand Tutor title had just been added to him and civil officials had denounced him, saying that consort-kin shouldnt hold military power, the Emperor had ignored them. A consort-kin being in the position he was really made people envious, and hateful. Regardless of whether Sui Zhou actually did have Sun Jizongs style, this was nothing more than the Son of Heaven noticing that there was an apple of his old mums eye, who he intentionally complimented to make her happy. Still, with an evaluation like that, Sui Zhous status had stood out from the crowd thereafter. He himself was unwilling to use his connections to get ahead, presently being a mediocre Centarch of the Brocade Guard. However, supposing that he had the time, he might be able to go up in the world quickly. Finding people with status was easy, and finding people with skill was easy, but finding someone with both was hard. Therefore, even though Wang Zhi was powerful and had the favor of both the Emperor and Consort, he had to reluctantly moderate his full-body pride in the face of such a man, cupping his hands towards Sui Zhou in return. Who do I think I am? Turns out the host is already here. Please dont take offense to those rash comments of mine! His tone was casual, as if he wasnt actually asking for forgiveness at all. Sui Zhou wasnt going to bother with him. Youre too polite, Eunuch Wang. After that, they suddenly said nothing else, sizing each other up. One was wondering why the other had come. One was pondering the others relationship with Tang Fan. At first glance, they resembled two martial arts experts that had met face-to-face on a narrow path, and were preparing to cross swords. The translator says: Mister Wang, now is not the time for shipping, So, the hiatus I had taken was because I wanted to finish the Golden Stage PDF. On top of re-translating the foremost chapters, I decided to proofread the entire thing (a good call, it needed it). What I had thought would take me only a couple of days ended up taking a little more than two weeks, between wanting to catch up a bit on my side project and other IRL stuff. I dont like how long it took, honestly, but it is what it is. Anyways, my main point is this; I can translate pretty quick, but I overestimated my own abilities. I will continue to upload daily as I can. If there comes a time that I run out of buffer again and cant crank them out on the daily, Ill revise the schedule to release them bi-daily. I figure thats a lot preferable to me taking another hiatus for weeks on end again. Because I had already spaced the posts out to the normal schedule, if a schedule slip does happen, note that the pattern is 2-unsponsored, 5-sponsored, as that was how I said things would be on post #1. Itll get weird to look at, then. (Dont worry about the chapter amount, by the way. I have very many to go. I didnt expect this much support! I really appreciate it! But I kinda put my foot in my mouth on the time thing.) [1] Girls that grow up wont stay inside is an idiom referring to immediately marrying a girl off when shes of age, not one running around on her own initiative. Literally, hes not wrong, but figuratively, hes missed the mark. [2] Specifically, it went (o). [3] Quick note: The Wang of Wang Zhi is . The Wang of Wang Zhen is . Very similar-looking, but not related, nor even inflected the same way. CH 43 Yet, against all odds, the atmosphere that had appeared to be going in that direction was quickly broken. The subordinate following Eunuch Wang didnt dare to disturb his bosss staring match, but little Ah-Dong had no such qualms. She came out of Tang Fans room, bowl and chopsticks in hand. Why are you standing there and not going in? she called out in bewilderment upon witnessing this scenario. Only then did Eunuch Wang wipe off the nonexistent dust on his clothes, curve his lips into a smile of unknown meaning at Sui Zhou, then pass him to head inside. Seeing that Sui Zhou wasnt following him, Ah-Dong was slightly confused. Arent you going to go in, Brother Sui? Whos that guy? Whys he so imperial? Sui Zhou shook his head and said nothing. Giving the Depot warden standing outside a look, he turned and left. They would talk more in the room. Any man that was typically stylish and affectingly pretty would not really maintain that same look when sick. Mister Tang was, of course, no exception. He was currently using a handkerchief to cover his nose while he sneezed, blowing it clean as he was at it. Noticing that Eunuch Wang was standing three chi away from him with a look of disgust, he had to say, Youve graced us with your presence, Eunuch Wang. Why have you come? His voice had a thick nasally sound to it, and his eyes were slightly red. His fair, jade-like skin contrasted with the disheveled hair near his face, but one such look at him seemed to give off a sense of frail beauty. Which would have been the case, if Wang Zhi hadnt just seen him sneeze and blow his nose. Eunuch Wang suddenly bolted to where Tang Fan was, then mysteriously shut the door like he was the host and not the guest, thus driving said hosts family away. He hadnt come to merely pay him a visit, naturally. Have you not heard the word in Court? he answered after Tang Fans question. Ive been sick these couple of days, and have rested at home. One day is twelve shichens, but Im sleeping for eight or nine of them, at the bare minimum. Where would I find the free time to go ask about news? Whats happened? Wang Zhi curled his lip. I petitioned for reclaiming the Bend to the Emperor. Like you predicted, it was rejected. Tang Fan nodded, no surprise on his face. The other was a bit put off. He was young and had been in charge of the Western Depot these two years, having much more tremendous insight from his experiences outside the palace. When it came to having an observant mind in Court, he didnt fall short of Tang Fan, but even if he had the thought to get military merit and head off troops, his knowledge of army stuff was nothing beyond than average. He dragged a chair over to the side of the door, then sat. Whats the trick to this? Tell me. How were you so certain that His Majesty wouldnt approve of the reclamation? Could you not sit so far away? I only caught a cold, not the plague Tang Fan looked at him, a bit dumbfounded. Everyone knows that the Great Bend is an important location, but its also one thats easy to attack, difficult to defend. Even if the Dynasty snatches it, its foreordained to be hard to keep. The Court wont be willing to expend that much effort in nabbing a piece of land that could be snatched away by anyone at any time. Once they figure the costs, theyll feel that the gains arent worth the losses. Thats one reason. Another is that even though we have the forces, we dont have the morale. The country as it is now is not the country as it was before the Tumu Crisis. Take a look at society at large; who would bring up reclamation of their own accord? Even the Emperor himself is likely thinking that the less complications there are, the better. Its only natural that your act has hit a wall, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi frowned. But you suggested beforehand that I go North. Now that reclamation cant happen, what merits could it hold? It isnt that the Bend shouldnt be taken back, but that it cant be rushed for a short while, Tang Fan answered, voice low. It would be a massive battle. It needs the right time, right place, and right people in order for victory to be assured. Now that not even one out of every three people are in cooperation, how can discussion over the Bend be had? Your appetite for recovering territory on behalf of the nation is admirable, but this is a dish that needs to be eaten bite by bite. War is the same. The Norths situation is ever changing as the Oirats and Tartars flop between strong and weak, but what never changes is that the Great Mings North is always getting menaced. Yongle had shifted the capital to Beijing so that Emperors of subsequent generations could go on alert instantly as they faced the Northern barbarians, thus keeping the Northern border safe. What he didnt say was that it was a boon that the capital was now Beijing, not Nanjing. If it werent, then according to the current Emperors habits, he would have been happily faffing about in the South whilst the North got its doors opened wide and land invaded countless times by the Oirats and Tartars. Now, there would always be a sense of crisis when it came to Beijings safety, because it absolutely couldnt be lost. Therefore, even if reclaiming the Bend is important, its not the only thing that must be done, he continued. You must know that ever since the Tumu Crisis, our side has lost more and won less, weakening our morale. Following the Oirats wane of power, the Tartars had sprung up. Many think that if we cant win no matter what, we may as well hole up and not go out, and then when things get bad, well bribe the Tartars with treasures and money, or just let them go into cities and plunder them for a spell, because once theyve stolen enough and their hearts are content, theyll naturally leave. Given that youd be able to beat the Tartars scared so that theyre too afraid to come harass us constantly, thatll be a stake of merit. The Ming Dynasty was big, but it was precisely because of that that it couldnt mobilize casually, and was a conspicuous target. The nomadic race of Tartars, despite their small-scale attacks, would simply leave after they were done pillaging; they didnt dare to come when the strong were around, so they stepped up when only the weak were around, never remaining stationed in any border city. The enemy was in the dark, but Ming was in the light, making this quite difficult to manage. That was why the country never had a way to deal with those people. They were a bunch of black flies buzzing all about that would scatter with one swat, but after time passed, you would still be standing there, a giant target, while the flies could come and find you at any time. How was that to be dealt with? The only way it could be was to be so completely formidable, the flies would never dare to approach when they saw you. But, if the Great Ming wanted to get strong those good-for-nothing major officials in Court needed to be switched out first, and then, if possible, the Emperor also needed his brain washed so that he wouldnt waste so much of his life away. Therefore, if Wang Zhi wanted to regain the Bend, it would be practically impossible for him to do so without wrangling those guys. Wang Zhi had been excitedly wanting to get the watermelon and eat it, too, only for Tang Fan to inform him that it wasnt ripe yet, so he could only eat grapes. His interest immediately vanished. Seeing that he wasnt fond of little fights, Tang Fan was a bit helpless. Eunuch Wang, forgive my bluntness, but if the Great Bend was so easy to recover, Yongle would have long taken it back with how wise and strategic he was. Why would it be our turn for it now? Would victory against the Tartars not be a major credit? Moreover, doesnt the Dynasty not have the money to support you in reclaiming the Bend in the first place? Wang Zhi stood up. Forget it! I dont want to stay in the capital, fighting with Shang Ming all day long over this tiny piece of land. How droll! I want to do something big. Thats the only way I wont have walked this world in vain. People who walk away when the tea gets cold dread slander the most, Tang Fan warned. Before you have the time to return, His Majesty and the Consort will have already forgotten you. In his view, Wang Zhi had many shortcomings, but still had relative superiority when comparisons got made. He ultimately had a view of the big picture, unlike Shang Mings sort of eunuch that only knew how to eradicate dissidents and fawn on the Emperor. No matter what his motives were, in light of him helping keep Yuan Liang a secret, and thus sparing the Crown Prince scrutiny from Consort Wan, he was much better than several officials in Court. This was the reason Tang Fan was willing to associate with and suggest things to him, as well. Wang Zhi waved him off. I understand that. Then, he got skeptical. That said, though, youre young, and your post is minor. How do you know the state of the Northern border so well? Scholars can learn of the world without ever leaving their homes, but theres not many people like you in Court. I think Pan Bin wouldnt even be able to say what you did, despite being an official for so many years. Tang Fan smiled. How can scholars that never leave their homes learn of the world? Back when my parents died early, I took my recently-gained County Honorate achievement to travel as I studied, going from Yunnan in the South to the Gobi in the North. I read a great number of books and traveled a great number of li, a footprint for my every step as I went. Wang Zhi was slightly moved as he listened, genuinely looking at him in a new light. In this time period, transportation was extremely arduous. Tang Fan was no frail woman, but he had still been alone. Regardless of how peaceful a golden age was, there would forever be robbing bandits and obstructing troops on the road. Unfathomable disasters of all sorts would happen, and if he got a fever from chill, treatment and medicine would be lacking, while finding any kind of doctor out in the middle of nowhere wouldnt be happening. Also, ever since Zhengtongs time, riots had cropped up time and time again. If a scholar with no martial arts like Tang Fan got accidentally swept up in something, the rioters would probably just kill him, ignoring what side he was on. Yet, he had not died. He was alive and well, even passing the exams to become a Palace Graduate, then an official. With all the hazards and risks he had encountered through it, he had somehow turned that danger around into security. All it needed to do was be written out, and it would become a marvelous tale. An official like this, and an official that only knew how to be dead-set on reading unto actual death, becoming an official only to whittle his days away in his post, could not be spoken of in the same breath. In this world, those that withstood hardships might not all be destined for greatness, but all those that were going to become great had to have experienced hardships, without exception. Eunuch Wang had already been feeling that Tang Fan wasnt much like the rest. Now, he was even more certain that he was going to accrue further investment in the latter. Whether said investment was political or emotional, having a good relationship with this man would definitely be an advantage to him in the future. Their talk about official business done, Wang Zhi prepared to get up and take his leave. In a joking mood, he smiled ambiguously towards Tang Fan. Ive noticed that you normally present yourself as being free-spirited, but not to the point that youre idling life by. How did you get sick? Since youve got a grown man and little girl attending to you, do you want me to send you a few pretty maidservants? No thanks. Wine is a poison to the viscera, lust is a blade to the bones.[1] Im afraid that my bones will get slashed to pieces before Ive recovered from the cold. If youre willing to, though, you can do something for me. What something? Tang Fan was kind of embarrassed. Well you see, Ive been sick at home these past couple of days, and cant even go out the door. I heard that a bunch of new books are coming out in bookstores recently. I really cant trouble Sui Zhou or a little girl with going out and buying these trifles for me, so Id like to ask you to buy a couple books and send them my way. Being ill is boring, so theyd be good for killing time. Wang Zhi was suspicious. What kind of books? Theyre not erotic ones, right? Tang Fan nearly choked. Do I look like somebody that would be so indecent?! Wang Zhi didnt even need to think about his answer. No. The other seemed relieved. But looks can be deceiving. He was not happy. Not erotic books, romantic stories! Written with supernatural stuff and weird anecdotes! Will you bring those or not?! Wang Zhi smirked. I will. Since youve helped me so much, how could I not lend you a hand for such a little thing? At some unknown point in time, he had stepped forward, and now used a hand to raise Tang Fans chin, looking him left and right. Speaking of, youre a bit of a looker. If you stop being an official someday and go sell romance novels in town, I reckon that your business would boom with all the women giving you their matronage. Mister Tang finally couldnt help but roll his eyes gracelessly. If that day actually comes, Ill go and sell them at the Western Depots gate. As soon as he said that, the door was heard to push open with a creak. Sui Zhou walked in with medicine, just in time to see Wang Zhi leaning over with his hand on Tang Fans chin. The latter had to tilt his head slightly back, but his body was still reclined on the bed and wrapped in a blanket. Due to his coughing, two rosy blushes suffused the cool white of his complexion, his hair messy and clothes disheveled. The distance between them was so close, it caused ones mind to go to weird places upon seeing them. What was also worth mentioning was that Ming eunuchs werent as effeminate as many people liked to imagine they were; there was no lack of tall, powerful, man-molded characters amongst them, and if it werent for their inability to grow beards, no one would ever find them out. Chief Eunuch Wang didnt look powerful, skewing towards softness, but his physique had not a thing to do with the words weak, frail, and thin. Think about it; would someone who had practiced martial arts since childhood, just like Sui Zhou had, be in any way slim? In contrast, because Mister Tang was both a civil official and ill, once glance told how strong he was. No matter how one looked at this, they would think that Eunuch Wangs lustful heart had emerged, and he was now teasing Tang Fan. Under Sui Zhous cold, wordless gaze, Wang Zhi graciously let go of Tang Fans chin, then lightly pat him on the cheek. Ill come see you another day. Get well soon, he said, as if he was being affectionate. Tang Fan: Why did he feel like those words could cause a misunderstanding?! In the face of Sui Zhous frigid and imposing aura, Wang Zhi acted like he didnt see it. Centarch Sui is highly virtuous, to both bring him medicine and care for him. If things keep going down like this, Sir Tang wont even need to take a wife in the future, hm? Not waiting for Tang Fans reaction, Wang Zhi laughed and strolled right out of his own accord. What he had said was super blatant, a hundred percent brash, and extremely arbitrary. If anyone else today had been teased like a woman, or been a big, magnificent man getting compared to a little wife, some grudges would be held. Thankfully, Tang Fan didnt take it seriously, and Sui Zhou was disinclined to bicker with him, thus allowing the Director of the Western Depot to freely leave. The unlucky guy was now Mister Tang, because as soon as Wang Zhi left, he got scolded. Wang Zhis moods fluctuate, and its hard for him to distinguish between good and evil, Sui Zhou said to him, cold-faced. Making friends with him isnt worth it. Tang Fan agreed with his evaluation of Wang Zhi, but still had to say something. His Majesty favors eunuchs right now, and that situation is difficult to change. Ones that conduct themselves rigorously like Huai En are ultimately a minority, as the Emperor prefers ones like Liang Feng, Wang Zhi, and Shang Ming, who will pander to his desires. Even if it wasnt Wang Zhi doing it, it would be a Li Zhi or a Zhang Zhi.[2] As long as I can somewhat guide him into walking a proper path or doing something that benefits the country and its people, its a gain. Seeing that he knew what was up, Sui Zhou said no more, putting medicine in front of him. Tang Fan: He smiled beseechingly. Look, can we talk this over? Im just about better. We can skimp on the medicine, right? He said that he was just about better, but in reality, he was still sniffling. Unperturbed, Sui Zhou said only one thing: Will you drink it yourself, or will I feed it to you? Giving no more objection, Tang Fan took the bowl, pinched his nose, then glugged the stuff down. His face scrunched up into a ball. He even weakly waved away the osmanthus candy[3] that Sui Zhou had brought to him, completely uninterested. Foodies loved to eat, but that definitely didnt extend to bitter medicine. Right as they were chatting idly, someone was heard to be calling at the gate outside. Sui Zhou got up and headed out. It had to be said that Sui Zhous three-yard residence really wasnt that small, but its total permanent population amounted to him, Tang Fan, Ah-Dong, and no one else. Day workers would get hired to clean the house, and they had their own dwellings in the capital that they would return to after they were done, not dilly-dallying around the hosts place. Not even a doorman or steward was now present, the entrance needing to be opened by the hosts themselves, but that gave a freeing feeling. People like Sui Zhou and Tang Fan didnt like to be constrained, so it was logical that they also wouldnt like seeing people they werent close to moving about right under their noses all day long. After Sui Zhou left, he didnt come back. While Tang Fan was wondering why, he saw Ah-Dong sneakily feel her way in. He wasnt sure whether to laugh or cry. Would I not let you in here, or something? Why are you acting like that? She giggled. Brother Suis cousin dropped by again. Mister Tang was a grown man of typically laid-back and casual personality. He had no grudge with Young Miss Zhou, so he thus didnt find her unpleasant. The cause of his little temper that one day was simply that he had just experienced the East Place case, where he had seen someone die that shouldnt have, and then after coming back, he witnessed Ah-Dong and Sui Zhou having an affectionate talk and a laugh with Cousin Zhou (when there was, in fact, no affectionate talking and laughing at all; that had purely been Mister Tangs one-sided, subjective opinion). It had been hard to avoid having a feeling of loneliness, like he was going through life in solitude. Things had long since changed with time. He was, of course, not actually going to be like a tiny, jealous child throwing a tantrum, to the point that he would block his pal from getting close to the Zhou lady and whatnot. Upon hearing what Ah-Dong said, he smiled lazily. Ah-Dong, are you jealous that someone else is getting close to your Brother Sui? Typically speaking, since youre so young, your big brother should make decisions for you. If you like Sui Zhou, wait a few years for when youve grown up a bit, and then Ill bring it up to him, see if hes willing to take you as a concubine. Youre such a little bean sprout right now, though, that its no use just mumbling to me about it here. Ah-Dong was always naive and lively, but she had still been the maid of a rich family. It was impossible for her to be completely ignorant of inner-household affairs. As soon as she heard him say that, she pounced forward to beat him up, loudly and verbally abusing him as she did so. What are you even talking about?! Im not jealous of Sister Zhou! Im worried about you! What are you worrying about me for? he asked, mystified. Think about it! If Brother Sui actually does marry her, whatll you do? Tang Fan, a usually very smart man, was totally dumbstruck. What do you mean, whatll I do? The more you talk, the less sense you make. She side-eyed him. Did you get dumb in your illness?! If they get married, wont she inevitably come live here? How would we be able to stay, then? Wed have to move, right? Of course Im concerned! You dont earn big, either, which is why I hope that we can live here for as long as we can, so that youll save up more money! In spite of her youth, she was able to add up the bills, as well as explain things clearly and methodically. Am I so useless, in your eyes? he asked sullenly. Are we going to get battered by wind and rain if we move? Wont we be? she answered sadly. Your salary is so low, and you like eating so much. You eat so many things every single day, youve eaten yourself poor. Whatll you do from now on? I measure out the rice and noodles you buy for me each month carefully, we grow our own fruit in the garden, and a small bit of meat is bought after all that, giving you a couple monthly silvers that you can save for when you get a wife. If we move out, Im afraid that you wont be able to save even that up. What can you do, then? Hearing that emotional tinge, he really wanted to roll his eyes, both angry and touched. All that pomp, yet the girl had actually been invested in the other two because of this? He patted her on the head. Take your heart out of your stomach, okay? he said, voice rough. Well never end up wandering the streets. Besides, even if I do, are you going to stop seeing me as your big brother? She shook her head fiercely. Then thats that, isnt it? If I get a bite of food, youll get a bite of food. In any case, you shouldnt underestimate our old Tang family. Before my parents died, we were prestigious in Shaoxing, and they left lots of good stuff behind even after the decline. Should there come a time that we take ten thousand steps back and cant go on anymore, I still have my older sisters family in Xianghe County that we can go seek refuge with. He was just randomly comforting her, though. His big sister marrying off meant that she was a part of her husbands family, while Tang Fan was in the capital being an official; why would he ever run off to go stay with her? The girl grinned widely anyways. Okay then, big brother. I wont scold you for eating a lot anymore. Itd be better if you ate some more, actually. Once this illness is over, you wont have any meat on your bones! Anyone who didnt know would think you were a refugee! He went to pinch her on the face. If you keep talking crap, there wont be a need to wait for your Brother Sui to get a wife Ill just straight-up kick you out! While they mucked around, a voice unexpectedly came from the door. Whos getting a wife? Looking towards the sound, they saw that Sui Zhou had come just in time to hear the latter half of that sentence. He was followed by Miss Zhou and her maid. My cousin heard that you were sick, he said. Recalling that day that she had run into you, she specifically asked me to bring her over to see you and apologize. There were huge blockades between men and women nowadays, but that wasnt to say that they were so harsh, no leeway was to be had. Tang Fan, for instance, was Sui Zhous friend, had already shown his face before Sui Zhous family, and was keeping Sui Zhou company right now, so there was nothing stopping Miss Zhou from meeting him. Comparatively speaking, were this the South, Confucian morals would be a bit stricter, but the North was a little more lenient with them. Miss Zhous sharpness from before was unseen, and she looked rather bashful before her cousin. Anyone not blind could see what intentions she had for him. Only the one in question remained placid-faced, the degree to which he was aware of them unknown. Tang Fan smiled. Youre too polite, Miss Zhou. That had just been a misunderstanding brought about by not knowing each others identities, so now that its been resolved, everything is fine. However, Ive come down with a cold right now; out of fear that it will get passed to you, please dont stay for long. Zhou Xiuyue nodded, then said a few more pleasantries. She was evidently not too comfortable with the medicinal smell in the room since she never took a seat, merely standing at the doorway as she also said a greeting to Ah-Dong, after which she took her leave As the host, Sui Zhou naturally had to be the one that saw guests off. While they walked towards the gate, Zhou Xiuyue spoke up with a slight bit of coquettishness. Winter is about to come, Cousin. On a day when the weather is a bit better, how about you come with me to Yunju Temple to burn incense? Sui Zhou was a bit cold, but irresistibly tall and soldierly. Both exceptional-looking and remarkably talented, his prospects for the future were bright, and the Suis got a lot of matchmakers coming by their door with marriage proposals. However, the Sui parents had never been the masters of their youngest son, and there had also been a verbal engagement made between the Sui and Zhou families, so this had gotten shelved. His maternal uncle from the Zhou side had brought his family for a little trip to the capital. One reason for this was to care for his elderly mother, and another was to get marriages for his children. In truth, Feng Xiuyues father had already picked out another candidate for her. The others own father had a post in Hanlin, while he himself studied in the Imperial College. They could be described as a family of literary repute, which was way different from Sui Zhous Brocade Guard sort. Ever since the Zhous debuted because of the Empress Dowagers fame, they had consciously been wanting to get closer to literary and official families so that their people could rise higher. That his uncle would choose based on that was normal. Of course, in Sui Zhou himselfs opinion, this might get his cousin to not insist. The friendship between them had stopped at their childhoods, and after being separated for many years, there had been way less melodramatic events of undying love declarations, or oaths to not marry anyone else. Still, Zhou Xiuyue seemed to have an unclearly-stated sentiment for him. These repeated visits had only been to probe out how he was feeling about it. What a shame that their thoughts were not on the same line. With difficulty, she invited him over, but he shook his head. No. Tang Fan has been sick, and Ah-Dong cant work alone. I need to be at home to watch over things. She bit her lip. How about I find a maid or servant to come and help, then? Let it be. Dont trouble yourself so much, he answered mildly. Just go with Uncle and them. I heard that he intends to seek out a marriage for you, so the grooms qualities are bound to be high. We may be cousins, but men and women are different. Youd best visit less so that people wont gossip. Her face quickly came to be embarrassed. She gave him a fierce glare, then threw out one sentence: Youre really awful! Turning, she walked out in a fury. The Zhou maidservant had been following after them, then had tacitly moved a distance away when they seemed to be having a private conversation. Upon seeing her master inexplicably get angry, brush her sleeves out, and leave, she hastily caught up in bafflement. Watching them go far off, Sui Zhous expression didnt change much. He went back to Tang Fans room. The medicine having since taken effect on his end, Tang Fan was deeply asleep. Big brother hasnt been sleeping for long, Ah-Dong whispered. What do you want to eat for dinner, Brother Sui? Ill go cook it. Do as you like, just heat up some leftover congee for later. These several days had been busy with caring for the sick one, and the sick one couldnt eat too much fancy stuff. Ah-Dong didnt feel like messing around, either, so she headed out with the confirmation. Once she left, only two remained in the room. One asleep, one awake. One laying, one standing. Tang Fan had been asleep longer than he had been awake recently. Illnesses came like collapsing mountains, then went like spun silk. The inside of the room was very quiet, with only the sound of Tang Fans elongated breaths linking together around. Sui Zhou covered him up with the blanket properly, then stood there silently for a minute. It wasnt until Ah-Dongs knock on the door and call for him to eat that he turned to leave. [1] Quote from Song of the Four Vices, a poetic admonishment from the Song Dynasty, author unknown. Refers to wine, lust, greed, and wrath. [2] Li () and Zhang () are some of the most common Chinese surnames ever along with Wang (), typically used for placeholder names or to signify the everyman. (Take a gander at Chinese John Doe equivalents here, theyre quite interesting.) [3] I honestly get mixed signals whenever I google what this stuff is. Its either another name for osmanthus cakes, which are actually jellies, or blocks of crumbly pastries. Youd think itd be obvious, but its not CH 44 Tang Fan was bedridden for a full half-month, where Sui Zhou thereby came to learn of his popularity. Those that had been admitted as Palace Honorates of the same year as Tang Fan didnt need to be explained. The majority of them had since been assigned to abroad posts, while the scant best-of-the-bests were presently simmering their qualifications as they stayed in Hanlin. To be able to simmer in that division was an honor; not everyone was a dumbo like Tang Fan, who transferred out of it. Within this half a month, about five people of Tang Fans year had come to see him in succession, some amongst them consisting of Prime Scorer Xie Qian and his crew. That was already quite a large number of people, since Tang Fan did not have celebrity status; it would be impossible for him to be universally loved. Capital officials were impoverished, too, and those that werent too familiar with him would have had to bring gifts upon visiting him. If they couldnt afford those, they simply wouldnt come, instead sending a card of respects to fulfill their kind regards. There was also Shuntian Prefecture, his area of work. Magistrate Wei Yu and Verifier Du Jiang had come to see him, and after having a bit of a sit for a minute, they also brought out well wishes from Mister Prefect, the bailiff Old Wang, and several other such people. From the Northern Bastion Office, Xue Ling, who Tang Fan was familiar with, had also visited, bringing Pang Qi along. Those two should have done it more on the basis of noticing the friendship between Tang Fan and Sui Zhou. Getting in good with their bosss friend was tantamount to indirectly currying favor with said boss, so that connection amongst them was very understandable. However, Old Xue was an extremely humorous man that talked a lot, completely unalike his immediate superior; he had sat there for a very long time, and the sound of laughter in Tang Fans room hadnt ever stopped. Mister Tangs voice had become hoarse from illness, though, and he coughed whenever he laughed, which made him sound like a quacking duck, wholly injurious to the citys ambience. On top of that, Sui Zhou had been staring coldly at them from the side the entire time, as if they were hindering Tang Fans recovery. In the end, Xue Ling became unable to sit still, and had fled carrying Pang Qi the second he tossed his gift over. Notably, after them came the inevitable Eunuch Wang of the Western Depot. Wang Zhi was likely up to his ears in work right now, busy wrangling with major Dynasty officials over his northern expedition, as well as busy investigating the possible secret backer that had colluded with Fu Ru, but that didnt at all prevent him from occasionally sending his subordinates over. Had Tang Fan been one of the Six Ministers, or a Cabinet Solon, or even a major figure at the Emperors side, it wouldnt have been strange for an unending string of people to come visit him in sickness all his life. The problem here was that he was currently nothing more than a trifling Judge of the sixth rank; everyone coming to visit him was wanting to forge a good relationship by getting into contact with him (at most), or doing their utmost in the capacity as a friend, rather than thinking to get something out of him. From all that, it was obvious how popular he was. The Western Depot people had come to visit in the name of their Chief Eunuchs orders, and were always bearing gifts. Judging by Sui Zhous awfully icy complexion, Tang Fan always got the feeling that Eunuch Wang was deliberately ruffling the man up, though the two didnt seem to have any grudges, when he thought about it. Was it just because the Western Depot and Brocade Guard mutually hated to see each other? Taking everything in, Tang Fan found an opportunity to bring something up to Sui Zhou. Before Im fully well, how about I find a house and move out? Sui Zhou, having not anticipated that he would propose that, creased his brows. Why? Were friends, and you let Ah-Dong and I stay for free, but this is still your place, after all. My friends and coworkers have constantly been coming and going, which isnt great. It disturbs your rest It doesnt. Whatever else Tang Fan had wanted to say was stopped by Sui Zhou, who then asked a completely unrelated question: In your view, is Wang Zhi a friend, or a coworker? The other was slightly taken aback. Neither? Sui Zhou was a bit surprised. Why do you say that? Friends will act candidly with each other, treat each other with sincerity, and take blades for each other. Were Wang Zhi and I actually friends, there would be less times where trouble is ignited. As you can see, me living in your house right now is practically a dove taking up a magpies nest. If you asked me go live at Wang Zhis house to test it out, I definitely wouldnt. Relations between major officials and eunuchs in this Dynasty was not a novel thing, but one had to worry about their effects. For those like Huai En, it would be fine. For one like Wang Zhi, both upright and heinous, the reputation of those he had contact with could easily be influenced, and whenever a reputation went rotten, there would be no future for ones official voice. Sui Zhou had asked his question precisely due to witnessing how very close they were last time. Seeing that Tang Fans mind was currently sober, clear on all the abstruse therein, he nodded in satisfaction. Dont bring up moving out anymore, then. You dont have to bring it up later, either. Mister Tang hesitated. But If you want, this can be your home from now on. Tang Fan was a little touched. Sui Zhou patted him on the shoulder. We havent known each other long, but the depths of friendships have never been calculated based on their durations. Once you know of each others regards, youre friends. You were born to do great things, not care too much about trifles. If you move out, you might get vexed over rent or some other issues someday, so you may as well just live here in peace. I wont be getting married for a few years, no need to worry about that. Moreover, with my status, there wont be any night thieves bold enough to break into my empty home. You staying here will put me at ease some. Centarch Sui was not clumsy-tongued at all he just typically didnt like to talk much. Once he really started going, his effect was a hundred times stronger than those who were ordinarily of lustrous glib. Mister Tang was indeed moved to shambles, his ever-finely-eloquent self suddenly a bit unknowing of what to say. Seizing this time, Sui Zhou handed over the medicine he held. Mister Tang, brimming with cloud-reaching heroism and brotherly affection, took it without thinking, then tilted his head back and downed it like it was regular water. His face completely twisted up. What in the hell you really take advantage of peoples perils, Sui Guangchuan! Catching sight of his accusatory expression, a faint smile appeared in Sui Zhous eyes. He took back the empty bowl, then went to feed him an osmanthus candy, as if he were placating a tiny animal. Livid, Mister Tang cast his face away, expressing that he was not appreciative of this. Sui Zhou didnt mind, taking his hand back to put the candy straight into his own mouth. Tang Fan: Right as Sui Zhou left, Ah-Dong came in on his heels. Big brother, another persons come to visit you. Tang Fan had been busy dealing with visitors lately, feeling more tired than he would getting off of work normally. Go on out and say that Ive already gone to sleep from taking my medicine, then have him leave his name. Ill go drop by to thank him some other day. Ah-Dong agreed, but right as she went to leave, the visitor had eagerly let himself in, an impatient voice sounding out in his wake. Youre so unkind, Runqing! Youre obviously not sleeping! Tang Fan: Sir, why are you breaking the rules?! How can you barge into someone elses room without asking?! Pan Bin was still in his officials uniform. Noticing the others contorted and bizarre look, he waved his hand. Alright, alright. I came today because I have something to discuss with you! Brother, Ill be able to go back to the bureau in a couple days. Theres nothing that cant wait until then to be spoken of, Tang Fan answered helplessly. You already sent Wei Yu and them to visit, so why did you make a trip yourself? Ah-Dong, quickly get tea for him. This is Sir Pan Bin, Prefect of Shuntian, as well as our benefactor. Ah-Dong had the archetypal mentality of a layperson. In the face of the all-powerful Eunuch Wang, she had no sort of special reaction, but when she heard benefactor, she was copiously speechless. After sizing up Pan Bin for a good minute like he was a rare creature, she noisily bounded off to brew tea. Pan Bin didnt bother with minding her at all. He sat down on a chair besides the bed, speaking anxiously. Runqing, our teacher might be suffering calamity! Tang Fan was caught off guard. How do you figure that? he quickly questioned. Wang Zhi had sent a memorial up a few days ago for requesting recovery of the Great Bend. You know about that, right? He nodded. Not only did he know about it, but he knew that Wang Zhi had sought him out to discuss it beforehand. I heard that the entire Court was very opposed to it. Even the Emperor, who wholly favors him, rejected it, yet he still wasnt willing to give up on it. Two days back, there happened to be news of Tartars invading the Northern border, and he presented a memorial of war again, requesting that he himself go forth. At exactly this moment, someone came in with tea and handed it to him. Without looking at them, Pan Bin accepted it, then took a sip but via one inadvertent glance, he nearly spat it back out. The one who had brought him the tea wasnt that little girl he had just seen, but Sui Zhou, who was in his Guard uniform! Centarch Sui was in an autumn-colored, fully-embroidered flying fish yesa, a spring-gilt sabre at his waist as he stood in the room. Pan Bin was fine when he hadnt seen him, but as soon as he had, his scalp promptly went numb, and he couldnt sit still. Despite his own officials position plainly being a lot higher than Sui Zhous, he quickly stood, smiling dryly. Youre Sui, yes, old chap? Ive heard Runqing talk about you many times! Now that Ive seen you today, you really do look talented! Sui Zhou nodded, setting the tea set down. You two can talk. I have to go the Bastion Office. According to how he was speaking, he didnt see Pan Bin as too important, but beneath his aura, the latter found that to be reasonable, not detecting anything amiss. Yes, yes. Go on ahead! However, Sui Zhou took only a few steps before he paused to speak to him again. Sir, Runqing just took medicine. He will likely go to sleep soon. His implicit meaning being: You cant chat for too late in the day. What could Pan Bin still say, other than okay, okay, okay with a stiff face? Once Sui Zhou was gone, Pan Bin finally let out a sigh of relief. He then snapped out of it, feeling that his recent display was a bit humiliating. There were more important matters before him, though. What were we just talking about? Wang Zhi petitioning for war, Tang Fan reminded. Right, right. The majority of those in Court dont advocate for war, yet there are still some that support Wang Zhi, which resulted in the two sides starting to fight. This hadnt been any of our business, but upon watching His Majestys stance somewhat slacken like he was about to approve of Wang Zhis campaign, a group has now sent denouncements of Wang Zhi upwards. They stated that he was striving for grandiose merits, wanting to engage in war for a selfish desire, and was certain to wipe the Great Mings treasury clean. Theyve also said that as a eunuch intending to dip his finger into military power, hes repeating Wang Zhens prior disastrous idea He talked on and on for a good while, yet Tang Fan didnt interrupt him before he got to the main point, since he could see a bit of the political situation out of the contents of his words. Wang Zhi directed the Western Depot, and also had the Emperor and Consorts favor. Like a crab, any path he scuttled across would have every official in it pushed to the side by him. By means of the Marquis Wuan case he had stuck his hands into, he had stirred up the circle of nobility, seeming practically unrivaled. However, he actually wasnt so, still suffering many restrictions headed by the Emperor. Ever since Mings founding, the Chenghua Court had been a comparatively odd reign. Why? Well, the Emperor didnt want to work, and the Cabinet Viziers beneath him were not powerful enough to think of throwing him away in order to assume charge and prop the nation up. Everyone merely thought to tightly hug the thighs of the Emperor and Consort, then be satisfied with muddling through life. This was how Chenghua was ultimately still in control of the government, and since Emperors were Emperors, he had a regents designs. Fostering people like Wang Zhi, Shang Ming, and Wan Tong to stand-off against civil officials thus set up a balancing tactic that some past monarchs had been fond of. However, Chenghua wasnt a very stalwart person, so his decisions would always sway from side to side, like right now; he had been unwilling to go to war at first, hence why he had rejected Wang Zhis suggestion in taking back the Great Bend. The major officials under him had all observed the way the wind was blowing, then stepped up to defy Wang Zhi. But, as the latter had said many times before, the Emperor would begin to daydream about what would happen with the war won. What monarch didnt like to expand their own territory? Such was why Chenghuas decision had started to waver. A portion of the officials that closely followed his footsteps got to it, now agreeing with Wang Zhi. Another portion did not, continuing to oppose him. On top of that, ever since Yingzongs capture, the Dynasty did not have the confidence it had in its earlier years; the concept of keeping watch for danger preoccupied the updraft in Court, and many would prefer peace negotiations over engaging in battle. To sum, all were accustomed to lives of ease, and feared that after the Tartars were enraged, there would be a repeat tragedy of the Tumu Crisis. Of course, there was also a section of upstanding men that refused to see eunuchs like Wang Zhi hold power, or just opposed war in and of itself, and they accordingly presented memorials of objection. Among them was Tang Fan and Pan Bins teacher, Qiu Jun. In spite of not being an official, he still had the authority to present memorials. He had opposed the expedition, especially in regards to Wang Zhi stepping forth, as he believed that he was continuously inciting the Emperor into war purely to fish for military merits. (That was exactly what Wang Zhi was doing.) Chenghua had agreed to Wang Zhis proposal at last, two days ago. He appointed the Left Capital Censor of the Inspectorate as Governor of Military Affairs by means of the Minister of Wars title, the Duke of Bao, Zhu Yong, as Deputy Commander, and Wang Zhi as Military Supervisor. They were to lead troops for the Great Bends area, oversee the enemys positions, and, if border invaders were come across, strike at their discretion. Oversee enemy positions was really too gentle a phrase, considering that it was consent for Wang Zhi to go fight. In any case, the Emperor would be far away in that place, and Wang Yue would be the main faction sharpening his blade. He would never collude with Wang Zhi, so they were allowed to do whatever they wanted to. Thus came the problem. As the Emperor had already changed his mind, the objectors knew that their dissuasion had no effect, and gradually came to set down their banners. Qiu Jun alone persisted with memorials, his words getting all the more intense, to the extent that he even made quite insulting remarks towards Wang Zhi. This ended up angering the Emperor, who waved his hand to have the old man pack his bags and take up office in Nanjing. Explaining up to this point, Pan Bin sighed. This teacher of ours really doesnt give it a rest. He isnt even an official, so what was he doing, getting involved? Was peacefully acting as a College Chancellor no good? Its going to be real great for him now, acting as an official in Nanjing. It sounds nice to talk about, since being the Right Assistant Minister of Revenue would be a full grade of promotion, but who doesnt know that Nanjing is an area for retirement? If he goes there, how could he ever expect to return to the capital one day? The Yongle Emperor had shifted the capital to Beijing, thus moving the Dynastys troupe there as well, but Nanjing had kept its full set of Six Ministries, being regarded as a provisional capital. Its issue was that, from that point on, it had no authority over finances, nor over appointing officials seventh-rank or higher, its bulk arranged into a nice-looking flower shelf. For that reason, officials that got dispatched to Nanjing were generally either ones up there in both age and virtue where the Emperor was reluctant to make them retire, but also found it bad to make them overtired, thus letting them live out old age in Nanjing or like old Mr. Qiu, who had offended the Emperor, and was getting sent there to feed the mosquitoes. If one received a wage yet didnt work, they had no power. Sitting within an unfrequented bureau was akin to an early retirement. Going there was essentially saying bye-bye to your own political career, with your odds of getting reinstated by the Emperor being next to none. Why else would Pan Bin have dashed over to seek Tang Fan out? Nevertheless, the latter had a bit of a guilty conscience. He himself had been the one to encourage Wang Zhi to suggest this to the Emperor; even if he wasnt the main culprit, nor even an accomplice, he had somehow ended up pushing his own teacher into a pit. How about you convince him to write a new memorial admitting his errors to His Majesty? The Emperor has always been soft-hearted, so hell surely forgive him. He holds you in the highest of regards your words would have the most effect! Pan Bin pleaded. Tang Fan shook his head. You must know how his personality is. If he was a people-pleaser, how could he still only be a Chancellor with his knowledge? Hearing that, Pan Bin looked even more troubled. In officialdom, teachers and students were like fathers and sons. The teacher should have been looking after his students, yet that situation had been turned around on them. He had to mentally grumble that Old Man Qiu was way too troublesome, but they were still teacher and student, no matter what. If he could help out, he would certainly do so. Tang Fan was also remorseful, having wholly not expected that this would wind back around to him. How about this; tomorrow, Ill go to his place and urge him to. See if I can change his mind, he said, with no hope. Okay, Ill go with you. I cant just watch him get phonily promoted like this. Qiu Jun had quite some academic accomplishments, along with many students. Some had been from when he was authenticating provincial exams, such as Pan Bin. Some had visited him to ask to be his student because they admired his knowledge. There were others still that had reminded him of himself, and thus he had proposed taking them in on his own initiative, like Tang Fan. Amongst all of them, the ones most accomplished nowadays were Pan Bin and Tang Fan. The personalities of the teacher and his two students all sharply differed from each other, however. Qiu Jun was unyielding and narrow-minded, liable to break from being too rigid. Pan Bin was sly and world-wise, but often overdid the second bit, liable to be compromising to the ways of the world. Only Tang Fan kept fixed principles in his heart, but was still willing to appear a bit go-with-the-flow in front of people. This matched up with a nobles honestly and mildness; affecting squareness on the outside, yet roundness on the inside. Although Qiu Juns disposition was not-too-perfect, he was at least aware of his own shortcomings. He admired the temperament of his youngest disciple very much. Him accepting him as a student back in the day had stemmed from the conduct and motive he could make out from his essays and penmanship the reason Tang Fan had been able to discern the Crown Princes personality from his writings was precisely because he had learned this trick from his teacher. Tang Fans rank was too low, so no one would care if he submitted a memorial begging for leniency for his teacher. If Pan Bin did it as a high truethird-rank, his memorial would still get submerged within a vast swathe of memorials, completely disappearing under subsequent texts. It might even get taken out to pad the leg of a Cabinet persons desk. Yet, when all was said and done, this was down to Old Man Qiu himself. His students pleading on his behalf, no matter how emotionally, would have no use if he himself spasmed, then ran off to oppose it again. After agreeing upon this, they made an appointment to leave at dawn of the next day, proceeding for Qiu Juns Estate. The Qiu family was in the middle of packing up their luggage for the trip to Nanjing. Though they had said they were going to persuade him, Pan Bin and Tang Fan knew on the inside how stubborn Old Qiu was. It would be difficult to change his mind. Winter was coming soon. The Northlands were cold and dry, while the South side was warm and humid. Pan Bin had brought a few bottles of medicinal wine that could dispel rheumatism for his teacher, while Tang Fan had brought some pastries for the Qiu children to gorge on. They had also bought some commonly-used, ready-made pills, just in case they ever needed them on the road. Qiu Jun was happy to see them, hurriedly getting someone to make tea as he invited them to sit. However, after hearing of their intentions, he barely had any interest, waving them off. Theres no need to speak more on this, I wont be changing my mind. A eunuch that knows nothing of military matters to begin with will be bringing troops up North to fight at random for a stretch, and when the times right, hell just randomly chop off some heads to fabricate merits for himself. This is nothing new. The Tumu Crisis is still vivid in the eye, yet His Majesty has forgotten the lesson the Late Emperor had taught! Hmph! Must Beijing be reconciled to a defensive fight yet again? Ones academic success had nothing to do with their character, just as it had nothing to do with their personality Qiu Jun was learned, but that didnt stop him from being short-tempered. Once he had set his mind on something, no one could persuade him otherwise. Pan Bin gave Tang Fan a look. Teacher, we students have something to say, but arent sure if its appropriate to, Tang Fan meandered. Qiu Jun glared at him, scolding him with a smile. Why are you acting well-behaved in front of me? Say what you have to say! Tang Fan smiled, then got serious. Eunuchs have been placed into important positions since the Great Ancestors time. Leaving aside those like Zheng He and Hou Xian, theres currently Huai En, who can be considered a loyal minister. The Emperors assignment of eunuchs is a custom, and that fact wont be changed even when a Wang Zhen shows up. His Majestys trust in eunuchs is greater than his trust in outer officials. Thats one thing. Take the Crown Prince, for example. Him being able to wander the palace and survive by a fluke had solely been due to palace-goers shielding him. After he takes the throne, he will assuredly have more confidence in eunuchs. Thats just human nature. Since eunuchs grasping power is an inevitability that neither you nor I can alter, if it wasnt Wang Zhi that was doing this, it would be someone else. Despite arresting and imprisoning many officials after he took control of the Western Depot, none of those people had been commoners in the details of it, which is already much better than the Eastern Depot. With the Western balancing it out, the Eastern doesnt dare to be too savage. This can be seen as an advantage to having Wang Zhi. Furthermore, ever since the Crisis, the Great Mings national power has been declining by the day. In previous eras, it wasnt afraid to strike first, but now its too afraid to act even when someone beats on its door. If it goes on being like a tortoise that shrinks into its shell and refuses to fight, it will inevitably encourage foes to get overconfident, and give surrounding foreigners the impression that were weak. Therefore, I believe that Wang Zhis northern expedition is actually something necessary. You shouldnt have anger spoil your health over this, teacher. He had believed these remarks to have reason and precedence. Qiu Jun still wouldnt agree, but he wouldnt be as riled up as before, at the bare minimum. Unexpectedly, Qiu Juns face increasingly sank, and once he finished speaking, he shook his head. Runqing, youve really let me down, he replied coldly. I had thought that even if you wouldnt petition to contend against this, you at least wouldnt oppose my viewpoint, yet youre actually standing on Wang Zhis side! Do you even still have the strength of character to be a civil official? Yes, it is indeed commonplace for eunuchs of this Dynasty to wield power, and the Great Ancestor had set a bad example. Look at recent years, though what good end comes from being close with a eunuch? Yu Zijun has a good relationship with Huai En, but even he doesnt dare to so openly talk him up! You really are superior to your teacher! You just get more and more promising! The more he spoke, the angrier he got. You know that our nations power is now lacking, and it cant fight even if it wants to. Provisions must march before the troops can move, and all this will cost piles of money; does the treasury have that much right now? You speak so casually of war, but its easy to invite a spirit in, and hard to send it away! Once Wang Zhi is set free, him not killing several civilians to fake contributions would be great by itself! Pan Bin hadnt expected that calling on his junior would not only not soothe their teachers temper, but actually just fuel his fire. Calm down, calm down! he quickly said. But, Qiu Jun was not yet done. Runqing, with your personality, if you had just calmed your heart and studied well, you could have become a famed scholar of a generation. Instead, you had to leave the quiet place of Hanlin to toil in the outside world. I heard that something happened in the palace, and you got roped into it? Are you mixing in with Wang Zhi now? Pan Bin did all he could to shoot Tang Fan a look, so that he wouldnt say anything else that would enrage the old fellow. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. No. Its merely that while investigating my last case, I happened to get acquainted with him through a series of coincidences. He knew that I was a Shuntian Judge, so he had me go lend a hand, is all. Owing to it involving the imperial harem, all of what everyone knew about what had happened at the East Palace was that Han Fangs youngest son had died, and the murderer was his eldest son, which was worthy of a spell of laments. Consort Wans suspicion had been cleared, so that mung-lily soup went unmentioned by everybody. In regards to any other rumors, even if they had faintly circulated elsewhere, they ultimately went unverified, all being hearsay. Tang Fans merit in cracking the case had left an impression on both the Emperor and Consort, but his contribution wasnt prominent to the outside world. Consort Wan was a special case. She had been infuriated at Tang Fan for questioning whether she was the killer in front of everybody, after which she had furiously complained to the Emperor that the man was careless and wouldnt be able to withstand the heavy responsibility. But then, Tang Fan had solved the case, and scrubbed away her suspicion in it. That seemed to prove that he was an official of courage and capability. She had been domineering for so long, that it wasnt easy for her to place importance on others fawning. This time, however, she owed him a huge favor. If she kept it in mind, his promotion would simply be a matter of when. Luckily, Qiu Jun didnt know this inside information. If he ever learned that one of his own students had inexplicably received the recognition of Consort Wan and Wang Zhi, he would probably vomit out three sheng of blood. Tang Fan, of course, did not dare to mention that it was he who had suggested the northern expedition to Wang Zhi, because their teacher-student relationship would then likely be over. And, just like that, their meeting ended on bad terms. Qiu Jun was disappointed in the both of them, feeling that they had been in the bureaucracy for so long, that they had even lost the fundamental principles of their behavior, transforming into yes-men like everyone else that only knew how to follow the crowd. When they came out of the Qiu Estate, Pan Bin started grumbling. You shouldnt have argued with him. He could have just said whatever he wanted, and you could have bore with it and not engaged with him! I didnt want this, either, Tang Fan answered powerlessly. I couldnt have known that he wouldnt hear a word of it. Thats true. Why is he so outdated and obstinate? Given that he was slightly accommodating, he wouldnt be a mere College Chancellor right now, with his knowhow and qualifications. Tang Fan said nothing. In all honesty, this meeting with Qiu Jun had been an immense blow to him. There were many officials like him that insisted on believing that they couldnt go to war, and it wasnt just to echo the Emperor. They had all been terrified by the Tumu Crisis, losing the drive from the Great Mings establishment. If this went on, and the Court was nothing but a bunch of such officials, what would the future of the nation be? He had thought that with his teachers knowledge, he ought to have been able to understand his opinion. However, Qiu Jun had not only disagreed with it, but couldnt even comprehend it. They parted ways upon coming to the mouth of the street, where Pan Bin didnt neglect to urge him to come to the bureau for work tomorrow. Tang Fan then walked silently and alone down the street, none of the bustle before him entering his eyes. He was thinking, Should I just focus on handling cases? Would interfering less with major Dynasty events be better? He was just a minor, sixth-rank official, after all. That stuff was all so far away from him. There was simply no need to make things difficult for his teacher over this; he cared too much. Still, another voice was telling him that his viewpoint wasnt wrong. One had to persist with their own opinions, not easily draw back because an elder dissented. The ancients stated that those of low positions had never forgotten to worry over the country. He walked along absent-mindedly, but at some unknown point in time, a burst of noise and dispute came from behind him. Upon blankly turning his head, he was suddenly face-to-face with a fist swinging at him! CH 45 Tang Fan had just been minding his own business, his body walking down the street, but his mind in a state of wandering elsewhere. The fist right in front of him brought him back, and he subconsciously withdrew two steps. His heel bumped against the edge of some tangerine-sellers little basket, quickly unsteadying his center of gravity and near about sending him down to the ground. Right then, someone reached out to grab him by the belt and haul him to the side, thus averting it. You okay? Upon hearing this voice, he turned his head to find Sui Zhou. The other was dressed in officials robes, probably either having just gotten back from the Bastion Office, or on the eve of going there. Yeah. Tang Fan waved his hand. He wasnt as bold and strong as Sui Zhou or Wang Zhi, but he was still a grown man. How could he have been scared by this little thing? He had merely had no defenses up, causing him to get caught off guard. After coming back to his senses, he realized that that punch really hadnt had too much power. The other party hadnt deliberately gone for him; because he hadnt been paying attention to where he was going whilst two passersby brawled, he accidentally got caught up in it. Their simultaneous scuffling and quarreling was quite lively, and many encompassed it to observe from the side. Tang Fan understood the sequence of events after hearing a bit of them. It was currently nearing the years end. The fifteenth happened to be suitable for burning incense in ancestral worship, so the capitals streets were even more exceptionally congested, where people were stepping on each others heels and rubbing shoulders. Of the two fighting, one had been walking in front, and the other in the back. The one in front had suddenly felt that his middle seemed to have been swiped at, and his heart had jolted. Quickly feeling about for a spell, he then discovered that the bag he had put his money in was missing. Once he had looked behind him, he saw that there was someone following him, who shot him a grin. The first guy had stopped at once, grabbed the guy behind him, and insisted that he was a thief. The other, not to be outdone, had insisted that he was innocent. They had then started to fight. The one in front said that he was going to bring him to see the authorities, but the one behind refused to go, making the other think all the more that he was guilty. The guy who got stolen from was now heard to curse. You look like a poor scholar! You said you didnt steal it, but now youre too afraid to go to the authorities with me! How is that not a guilty conscience?! The one he fought with berated him back. Did that mouth of yours just get fished out of a cesspit? How can you insult someone like this?! I didnt steal anything, so why would I go with you? Of course I wont! Nearby folks encircled them, lining along the streets; most were watching the excitement, while some tried to soothe them. Tang Fan hadnt been cautious, so he had gotten trapped in the loop. Looking at how the two parties were, they hadnt noticed that they had nearly hurt Tang Fan, keeping on with having a row. While they contended vigorously, someone was heard to say, You two, you two do you hear what Im saying? No one did, of course, but when the two saw cold light glint in front of them, and also each involuntarily got pushed backwards into stumbling a few steps, they took a better look. Upon realizing that the one standing in front of them was a Brocade Guard, they quickly stopped. Sir, you came just in time! Please get justice for this lowly one! one hurriedly shouted of his wrongs. This man stole something of mine, and still wont admit to it! Sir, dont listen to his nonsense! the other stated. I was walking down the street, perfectly fine, and then he grabbed my clothes for no reason, insisting that Im a thief! Does a more unjust accusation exist?! Sui Zhou said nothing, but Tang Fan did. What did you say that he stole from you? he asked the one. A pouch for silver. All my money is in it. I was going to use it to buy New Years stuff, but now its gone! The other guy patted himself off angrily. What does your money being missing have to do with me? I dont have what youre looking for! Number one laughed coldly. Wont the answer become clear when youre under arrest in a bureau? Even if youre not the thief, you must be his accomplice! Why else would you grin at me as soon as I turned my head?! Dont flap your trap! All you do is recklessly accuse people! number two reproached. Seeing that they were about to start quibbling again, Tang Fan cut them off. Hes not lying to you, he said to One. He really isnt a thief. One had a face of unhappiness. Tang Fan didnt care, simply turning to cup his hands towards Two. Dare I ask for your good name, old chap? Since he was polite while conversing, unlike the rabble, and also had a Brocade Guard at his side, his counterpart swiftly cupped his hands to return the greeting. You flatter me. My lowly surname is Yu, single first Hao. Fellow Yu, then, Tang Fan smiled. Then, he asked One, And how are you called, old chap? Youre too kind. Those that know me all call me Landlord Luo. He was plump, and ostentatiously dressed all over; he really deserved the appellation of Landlord. Smiling, Tang Fan asked him, Landlord Luo, look at the jade tablet hanging on his chest, and the jade pendant hanging from his middle. What is engraved on each? Not only did Landlord Luo focus his eyes on those things, but everyone else did, too. Not many knew how to read in this day and age, but some could still recognize these characters. Yu Haos jade plaque was carved with Yuanxiang, while the pendant was the lone character Yu. Even though Landlord Luo was called a Landlord, he was illiterate. His face showed some embarrassment. Noticing this, Tang Fan read the words aloud to him, then explained. Songs of Chu has a verse that says the vast Yuanxiang. His character sizes conform with each other, which illustrates that both jade ornaments are unmistakably his. Why would a thief have these things on him? He also didnt hesitate at all when reporting his name. Its clear that he wasnt lying, so he wasnt the one that had stolen your purse. Landlord Luo was upset upon hearing that. Because Sui Zhou was nearby, he didnt dare to be rash, only verbally refusing to accept this. Who even is your esteemed self? We still need to all go to the authorities to see whether hes a robber or not! Your word doesnt mean anything! Tang Fans expression immediately sank. Im a Judge of Shuntian Prefecture. I can help to nip a trifle like this in the bud so that you dont go and add troubles to my benefactors. If I havent guessed incorrectly, you should also know in your heart that Yu Hao didnt steal your stuff. Youre simply angry about your missing item, so when you saw him smile at you, you were wanting to find someone to blame, right? D dont be ridiculous! Landlord Luo answered, guilty. Since you want to see the authorities so much, we can go see them, the other replied indifferently. When that time comes, youll falsely accuse Yu Hao, and then your stuff wont be found, after which youll get hit with the paddle. Have you considered that? Landlord Luo waved his hands on repeat. I dont want him to compensate for it! Im not going to bother with this! With that, he drew back a couple of steps, turned his head, pushed the crowd aside, and fled, not caring about the one he had just grabbed at. This had been something trivial to begin with, so now that it was resolved, Sui Zhou was disinclined to chase after and capture Landlord Luo. The unjustly-accused Yu Hao quickly gave his thanks, and the onlookers all applauded Tang Fans quick wits and attention to detail. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou squeezed out of the group. After a good time of walking, peace finally returned to their ears. Are you going to the Office? Tang Fan asked. Sui Zhou mned. Theres nothing to do today, Im just going for morning roll call. Youre unhappy? The other raised a brow. How do you see that? The profession of a Brocade Guard is a bit like you Judges, and requires observing things carefully. When it comes to quick thinking, though, Im not as good as you. You were born for the role of passing judgements. Walking with his hands behind his back, Tang Fan sighed. Right. I went with Mister Prefect to see our teacher today, and we had a bit of an argument where he couldnt understand my side. Im even kind of doubting that I might have done something wrong. Guangchuan, theres some things that Im not sure would be appropriate to ask. The Brocade Guard is responsible for arrests, able to act on its own without needing to go through the Court in advance. Theres many cruelties unfit to ever be seen within the Bastille, as well. Youve experienced a lot has your heart never wavered? Sui Zhou nodded a bit. It has. Noting Tang Fans curiosity, he continued on. You know that even though my elder brother has inherited the title of a Brocade Guard, hes always been wanting to study for the imperial exams so that he can stand out? Tang Fan gave an mn. Yes. Youve told me before. When I was young, I also had that way of thinking, and could understand his desire. He didnt want to be looked down upon in his status as consort-kin and a military official, so he thought to stand out via his own skill. The difference between us lies in me acknowledging reality early on, while he still hasnt. Tang Fan was a little rueful. The exams happened once every three years; that didnt sound like much of a cost, but how many threes of years were there in a lifetime? Every generation of the country had talents, yet, the exams being what they were, they not only required an innate gift and perseverance, but luck, too. Relying on hard work alone would not grant success. How many talents of the nation participated in the exams every three years, really? To be able to kill ones way out of that massive army, they needed the ability to, first Tang Fan had met Sui Zhous brother before, and he could tell from a glance that he was no such person. If he could be content with how things were and know of himself, obediently passing his days, or even imitate his little brother by going out on assignments, he wouldnt be wasting years of his life. That he still couldnt see his situation clearly was a tragedy. When I had just entered the Office, I handled a case, he heard Sui Zhou go on. A censor had denounced Consort Wan and her brother, Wan Tong, over controlling the imperial harem and Brocade Guard, loudly scolding them. Wan Tong became enraged, arrested him, locked him in the Bastille, then framed the entirety of his family for some crime, getting them exiled. Since I was new and connected to the Dowager, it was improper for me to be ordered to the chore of escorting them. I knew that the family was innocent, and also admired the censor for being strong-boned, daring to say what others didnt; so, I asked for the task on my own, personally escorted them to their location, then paid for the local officials that were keeping watch on them family to look after them a little better. I prepared to wait for these waves to pass, after which I would plead His Majesty for leniency and get them pardoned. Tang Fan had long known that Sui Zhou was cold on the outside, yet warm on the inside, and took good care of his subordinate brothers, but he didnt think that he would also do something like draw his blade and come to someones aid when witnessing injustice on the road. He admired him, heart warmed. If you went to plead for mercy right then, it would have just been slapping Wan Tong in the face. Once it was over, he might not even remember who these people were. Pleading His Majesty should have worked after that. However, Sui Zhou had no smile at all, tone heavy. When I returned to the capital, it was only to discover that the censor had already been tortured to death in the Bastille. As for his family two months later, I received news that they had all died of sudden illness. The others smile also disappeared. Wan Tong had sent someone to do it? I dont know, but ever since that incident, Wan Tong has strictly kept to his word. No one else dared to risk compensating with their entire family, were they to denounce Consort Wan and him. Only then did I realize how naive, and absolutely useless, my previous behavior had been. It wasnt your fault. Sui Zhou nodded. From then on, Ive curbed all impractical thoughts that Ive had, and never got the notion to leave the Office again. I knew that if I could have a voice in the Brocade Guard, and even balance Wan Tong out, that family might not have had to end up like that. Thats why youve stayed there all this time? The Guard itself is a double-edged sword. Used well, it can serve the Great Ming. Used poorly, it becomes as it is now. Many things arent right or wrong to begin with; they depend upon how the one regarding them thinks and acts. Despite them being friends, they were usually separately busy. It was rare for them to be able to chat side-by-side like today. Even with the surrounding noise and liveliness, Tang Fan gradually settled down. He sighed with a smile. Guangchuan, others say that youre cold-faced and cold-hearted, believing that a military post like you will only act under orders, inherently a grade below civil officials. They have no idea that you see things more clearly than anyone else. Im inferior to you in that. Sui Zhou shook his head, gaze softening. No, youre not. You just had a moment of confusion is all. If you think that you arent wrong, press on. What your teacher, or anyone else says isnt important as long as you have the path in your heart, nothing is unfeasible. Tang Fan laughed, achieving quick enlightenment. As you say, then! What about you? Do you agree with my stance? The country has been at peace for a while, Sui Zhou replied calmly. I think that it long should have been wanting wars and being on the alert, but Wang Zhis dramatic conduct is not a long-term solution. Big trees attract more wind, and all the more people are seeing him as displeasing to the eye. Once he loses imperial favor, hell fall from the top, never to get up again. Interacting with him is harmless, but be careful not to get towed into the muck by him. I dont want you to get implicated. He was typically of few words, but Tang Fan had never looked down upon his political wisdom. Now that the other had bared his heart, he truly understood that beneath Sui Zhous reserved exterior was foresight and aspiration. No wonder the Emperor had compared him to Sun Jizong. Supposing that he had the time to, his achievements would likely get to be even greater than Sun Jizongs, in Tang Fans view. Thinking like so, Mister Tangs improper enthusiasm relapsed. Its as they say: learn the Dao in the morning, and you can die at peace in the evening, he joked. Your remarks, Guangchuan, have caused my heart to be much more cheerful and open. Should I give a bow to you and call you my teacher? If you want to. I wont mind, Centarch Sui casually answered. Tang Fan was still on sick leave these days, so there was no need to go to the bureau, while Sui Zhou was merely heading over to his for appearances, so he wasnt in a hurry. They talked and laughed, going slow the whole road. The weather had already changed from autumn to winter, gradually treading into the frigid season. Beijings winters came fast, and the people on the street that had just been seen wearing thin robes a minute ago were now all heavily bundled up. Having just recovered from illness, Tang Fan was wearing more, but the warmth in his heart did not come from his clothes; it came from the attention and commentary of his pal. Seeing that someone was peddling tanghulu on the street, Sui Zhou reached out and bought two sticks, then passed them to Tang Fan. Little Ah-Dong shouldnt eat so much. Ill help her by getting rid of one of these, the latter said with a grin, taking them and beginning to chow down. Sui Zhou was silent, thinking to himself, I already know youre a glutton, just eat it. You still make so many excuses. He stopped paying attention for just one second, and when he turned his head again, he noticed that Tang Fans hands were empty. Mister Tang was a little embarrassed, tugging at him to walk back around. Cmon, cmon, lets go buy another stick. The one I had just now had bugs on it, so I threw it out. Dont think that I didnt see those two bamboo sticks in your hand. Counting on Sui Zhou not to expose him, Mister Tang stressed his face in order to beam as he said some nonsense. When the tanghulu was purchased again, he let out a cry of surprise. I forgot something! Sui Zhou shot him a side glance, looking confused. They had said way too much already; what couldnt be said now just shouldnt be said. Tang Fan explained the bet he had made with Wang Zhi. He owes me a feast at Immortal Cloud, but he didnt bring it up when he visited last time. Could it be that hes planning to renege on it? Is this what you think about all day long? Did you already forget what I just said to you? Sui Zhou asked, sullen. Tang Fan smiled ingratiatingly. I havent, I havent. Ill keep my distance with him, I know, but cant that wait until the meal is honored? No matter what, its worth a lot of taels His voice got quieter and quieter, while his expression got guiltier and guiltier, until he decided to just beat it. Ill take the tanghulu back to her ahead of time so that the coating doesnt melt off! Youre busy, so bye-bye! With that, he vanished like a puff of smoke. Sui Zhou shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless. Since Tang Fan was more or less better, he couldnt stew on sick leave anymore; his senior might have been the Shuntian Prefect, but he still had to do the work he should be doing. Thus, he resumed his one-line, everyday life between the two points of Shuntian and home. On the day the Qius left the capital, he went to see them off. Despite quarrels and differences the status and affections of a teacher and student were still there. That would never go away simply due to fear of a dirty look. Qiu Jun hadnt expected that a student he had parted poorly with a few days ago would come to say goodbye. The disciples and friends he had in the capital werent many, and even fewer would do this. This was what was called the ease of adding flowers to brocade, and the difficulty of sending charcoal during snow. It wasnt that Qiu Juns popularity was awful, but because everyone was adapting to the circumstances. Pan Bin himself had used an excuse to avoid suspicions; he had said it was because he was busy in the bureau that he couldnt come, but the truth was that he was afraid of offending the Emperor. Qiu Jun didnt blame him at all. There were always lots of helpless situations in officialdom, and Pan Bin had already dropped by, anyway. That counted as fulfilling his disciple-ly regards. Even so, Tang Fan, Xie Qian, and some others still came. They were Palace Honorates from the same year, but unlike Tang Fan, who got additionally accepted as a disciple afterwards, Qiu Jun could only be regarded as their examiner. This made the man a bit touched. The face he held towards Tang Fan wasnt as ugly as it had been that other day, and he patted his shoulder in encouragement. Ive thought carefully about what you said, he started. Even though you disagree with me, its plain to see that youve deliberated on this. I myself cannot take an officials post, nor will I force my students to be an unadaptable as I. So long as you have the country and its people in your heart, not thinking about only yourself when you do things, you will not disappoint my hopes. Tang Fan hadnt thought that his habitually-stubborn teacher could be so open-minded. Perhaps getting demoted from the capital had made him get over this; the old fellow wasnt so stubborn today, instead being reasonable. He didnt have just this one honorable teacher, but he really did respect Qiu Jun. He naturally didnt want to ruin their teacher-student bond over a difference in political views, so he clasped his hands towards him upon hearing this. This student will carefully observe your instruction, teacher. Their group said a few things more. Seeing that it wasnt early in the day anymore, Qiu Jun then mounted the carriage at the urging of his family. With his academic studies over the years, his home couldnt be stated as being wealthy; his carriages were packed with books, when not packed with people. The horses back was whipped, the driver shouted, and the carriages rolled forwards, gradually distancing from their line of sight. Though Pan Bin was the Shuntian Prefect, that post wasnt much in the capital, and he couldnt really look after Tang Fan, just like last time; when Wang Zhi had stretched his finger out, he had been scared half to death, and had to push Tang Fan out to contend with him. Meanwhile, Qiu Jun wasnt obviously in an officials position, but he had a celebrated literary voice, as well as a consistently clean name in the bureaucracy. The mans reputation, and the shade from his tree, could act as their backdrop for every day he was in Beijing. Now that he was gone, they were truly without anyone to rely on. While others mentors and examiners would either enter the Cabinet or work as a Minister, their branch had met with many difficulties. Once the carriages had completely banished from their sight, Tang Fan and them began to leave. Xie Qian patted him on the shoulder. How about, after the capital inspection, you find a channel for getting yourself transferred back to Hanlin? Ever since our Academy lost you well, I really dont need to explain how uncannily lonely it is there every day. Yeah, Wang Hua chimed in with a grin. I had been pretty happy, at first, since we would at least be missing a criminal glutton whenever we went out to eat. I thought that Id be able to eat a little more, but who couldve known that without your balancing seasoning, eating and drinking would be tasteless! Tang Fan side-eyed these blokes. You just want to drain my coffers. Dont use a heavy word like drain, said Xie Qian. That really is how it is right now, especially for that one guy, Liu Jian. All day long, hes full of complaints, saying that we have no idea how long were going to steep in Hanlin for. Hes even a little envious of you, someone whos left. As soon as the weather cooled, days would get darker. It was rare to see brilliant sunlight anymore. His teacher had been sent away, and he was listening to the others grumble about how depressing and sterile Hanlin was, but Tang Fan wasnt as glum as he had imagined he would be. That solely stemmed from his previous talk with Sui Zhou, which had benefited him enormously. Once ones conviction was steady, they would no longer waver, nor hesitate. The corners of his mouth slightly raised. Day after day passed, the step of the New Year getting ever closer. A good amount of time had elapsed since the East Palace case, and Wang Zhi had long since departed the capital for the North. No news had ever come regarding what he had promised beforehand, where Tang Fans rank would get brought up it was like everyone had already forgotten about it. Tang Fan, however, didnt mind; he was as terribly busy with his official duties in the Prefecture as ever. During such a busy interim, the bureau got sealed up. In other words, starting from today, Tang Fan and them were formally welcomed into their New Yearly vacation time. The translator says: MXS wrote a mini-theatre for this chapter. Unfortunately, it involves a joke that doesnt translate at all without excessive explanation that kind of ruins it. Basically, Sui Zhous response to getting called a Brocade Weed is to dub Wang Zhi Top Wang, in order to remind him of what he can never be because hes missing something. Cue airhorns. The original pun was that the characters for eunuch () and gay top () are homophonous. Its like 2AM and the only equivalent joke I can think of is haha wang is slang for DICK but you DONT HAVE ONE, which isnt really funny, so Ill just shut up. CH 46 Tang Fan couldnt recall how long it had been since he had properly enjoyed a full New Years. After his parents died and sister married away, the degree of importance he attached to this day was less than it had been before. As a lone official in the capital, his holidays got increasingly lonelier by the year. He was also accustomed to staying alone in his room, being at leisure as he read book while warming himself by the fire. Despite his habits, when Ah-Dong cheerfully attended to pasting spring couplets up and serving fruit, those long-unseen recollections, once hidden deep within the depths of his memories, were rummaged out. She was young, but she was still a lady of the family, more skillful with decorations and more mindful when remembering things. She alone took care of things inside and outside of the house. Grown men like Tang Fan and Sui Zhou wouldnt think to also hang a couple of red lanterns under the veranda in addition to the couplets, thus adding to the joyful atmosphere. At the approach of the years end, Shuntian Prefecture had fewer and fewer things to do, but the Northern Bastion Office was getting busier and busier. Every day, Sui Zhou left early and returned late, while Tang Fan could come home a bit earlier to lend a hand. However, he wasnt housework material in the least, and couldnt even call upon himself to wipe things down with a rag. Ah-Dong straight-up pushed him outside in disgust. Dont add to my chores, big brother! Go write some couplets, and dont forget to cut out some red characters, write a couple fortune-bringing phrases on them, then paste one in each room. Ive already written and posted those all up. My big sister isnt even as much of a nag as you! he said with a grin. Simply leaning against a pillar, he watched her rush all about, and his heart warmed. I can help you with boiling water? Or wiping down the pillars? You cant reach high enough to clean them, so wont I have to do it anyways? In the middle of wiping down a chair, she rolled her eyes in annoyance at him. If you could not take forever to wipe things down and also not lose track of where you throw your rags, I would thank the Heavens and the Earth! He was cheerful, not angry. Wont I just find them later? Speaking of, Ah-Dong, why do I get the sense that youve been a lot more diligent these days? You arent even eating so vigorously anymore. Were you thinking to save food for me? She stuck out her tongue. Its not that. Brother Sui gave me a scolding that one day. What did he say? he asked, startled. How come I had no idea? It wasnt anything. She giggled. He just said that you work hard in the bureau, so I shouldnt concentrate on having fun while ignoring you. He hadnt expected that Sui Zhou would remember that incident. Obviously, it was because he had gotten ill from sitting in the blowing wind that the other had remembered, then gone to talk to Ah-Dong in private. Tang Fan knew that Ah-Dong hadnt actually been forgetting to cook for him because she was playing around, but because he had been so busy all that time that he would go home, then straight to sleep. She would cook, but he would have eaten elsewhere, meaning he wouldnt need to when he returned, and that the food would just go to waste. After several instances of this, she hadnt been sure on whether he would come home to eat on any given day, so she stopped cooking. Now that those irregular days had passed, everything had resumed normalcy. He was a little guilty now, feeling that he had made little Ah-Dong into a scapegoat. Ill find some day to explain that to him. Theres no need! Ah-Dong still looked to be smiling. I know that since hes speaking to me, hes treating me like a little sister. If I was irrelevant to him, he wouldnt even bother to talk to me. Im young, but I know whos good to me, like Madam Li, Sister Ah-Chun, and all the rest from before. I care about everyone thats good to me! Whos bad to you, then? he teased. She shook her head. I forgot! I was sold to the Lis as a slave, and the people selling me werent nice, but I dont remember what they look like anymore. Didnt you tell me before, big brother? You have to recall kindness, not hatred, so that you can be happy on the daily! Right! He laughed. Ah, its really gratifying to be a big brother, since you remember every word I say. Judging from how careless you are, I had thought that you would only think to eat all day long. She rolled her eyes again. Eating is the very most important thing, and everything else is secondary. You taught me that, too. When did I ever teach you that? He choked, side-eying her. Isnt that just incompetence? Yep. You sure are incompetent! Okay, then. Youre getting more and more unruly, he said, looking monstrous. Them bickering was normal, so she wasnt scared of him at all. Upon hearing that, she made a silly face, then continued to clean the chairs. Nonetheless, in the middle of this period of bustling frenzy, the New Year unwittingly arrived. It began on the first day of the first month; officials vacations started from that very day and went until the fifth, for a total of five days. (Someones about to ask: Dear God, such a short vacation for the years end? No, no.) Starting from the eleventh of January, there would also come a ten-day Lantern Festival vacation, the biggest holiday of the year. If there had been a nationwide disaster previously, the Festival would have gotten cancelled. The Emperors pretext would have been very dignified: The citizens below us are destitute and wandering, so how could all of us have the mind to celebrate? Then, not only would the vacation be cancelled, but the lantern market would get cancelled, too. Thankfully, the year had passed tranquilly. There had been some calamities, but they had ended up gradually subsiding instead of getting prolonged into the new year. No ones holiday needed to be called off. The biggest event right now was the Northern border. It was heard that when Wang Zhis group had just departed the capital, they happened to run into a bunch of Tartars plundering the Datong area. The government army had rushed to combat the front lines, their situation unclear to this day. Though the vacation only really started on New Years Day, the bureau had pretty much been closed up since the day before the Eve. They still needed to work that day as per usual, but the bureau was nearly half-empty. Those able to request leave had all requested it and left, leaving the few that couldnt behind. They meandered around the bureau doing not a thing, and before the shichen to even came, they closed its doors. It wasnt yet dark, and few were on the streets since everyone was rushing back for Eves dinner, making it an unknowable amount of times bleaker than it normally was. However, this stillness was unlike the typical cheerless desolation from after nightfall, as the rich aroma of food was drifting out of every home alongside the intermittent laughter of children, sounding much livelier than usual. There were even sporadic bangs of firecrackers in the distance. Without any being aware of it, another early spring had come. Citizens worked year-round, hustling and bustling, for none other than the purpose of being able to reunite with their entire family, peacefully sitting down for Eves dinner. If they could have a couple more dishes of fish and meat on the table, too, it would be the biggest feast of the year. Inside this three-courtyard residence situated in the citys north, Tang Fan now had Ah-Dong. He didnt need to spend this New Years alone. In spite of Sui Zhou having moved out, his parents still loomed above him, so he had to return to them for a reunion dinner. He had invited Tang Fan and Ah-Dong to come eat with him, but the former had declined, saying that this would be the first New Years Ah-Dong and he would be spending together. Their sibling pair ought to have a good time. Since he had said as much, Sui Zhou wouldnt force him. He went to the Suis by himself, while the other two stayed behind. Tang Fans initial acknowledgement of her as a sister had stemmed from her plea; he hadnt had the heart to watch her get passed around other families, a little girl senselessly sent to be a slave yet again. He had thusly destroyed her contract of self-sale, restored her freedom, and recognized her as a sister, allowing her to have some future support. Had her personality been bad, or if she hadnt gotten along with him, he would have returned the contract to her and/or have helped her find a family to settle in at best, never placing her at his side. This was simply their good fate. Ever since her addition, he pretty much never had to sully his hands for anything, even Eves dinner. Because he had tried to help with cutting vegetables only to chop them uglily, he got kicked out of the kitchen by the wee girl, who mocked him for being pampered. He had no choice but to awkwardly stand to the side and fetch tableware. Judge Tang, who could speak frankly to the Western Depots Director without backing down, was now getting ordered around by a little girl, but his heart was warm and delighted about it. By the time the sky had gone completely dark, the square table was fully arranged with food. Since Sui Zhou wasnt coming back and it was only the two of them, the amount of dishes was finite, being nothing more than four mains, one thing of congee, and one thing of dessert. Due to the Tang siblings both being epicureans, Ah-Dongs culinary skills had made a lot of progress under Mister Tangs influential pickiness, and she was beginning to master utilizing all sorts of tricks during cooking. Therefore, the four mains, two meat and two vegetarian, were much more meticulous than a normal commoners. One of the meat dishes was pearls made from chicken breast, which could be dipped in sesame paste and eaten. It was the most delectable, and sweetest. There was also that honey-roasted leg of lamb that Tang Fan had hungered after for a long time. Ah-Dong had learned the way to make it from Sui Zhou, fiddling with it until it was exact. She herself stated that her heat management was inferior to his, but Tang Fan had never eaten his version, only Ah-Dongs, so he had nothing but praise. One of the vegetarian ones was mock goose: tofu skins stuffed with boiled yams, glutinous rice, bamboo shoots, shiitake, and other such things, then wrapped, after which the whole thing would get pan-fried. Once cooked well, it would be taken out, sliced into chunks, and arranged into an overlapping stack pattern on the plate. Overlapping them was a simple task Ah-Dong had been too busy to do it, so she had passed it to Tang Fan. Other folks would neatly overlap three, place them tidily, then be done with it, but Sir Tang just had to be creative in wanting to arrange them in the character for year. () The end result was that his craftsmanship was poor, the arrangement was messy, Ah-Dong berated him, and the dish became the most chaotic-looking one for the dinner. The other vegetarian dish was chow mein, but it hadnt been stir-fried like the average person would have done, instead getting fried with chicken stock, then supplied with bamboo shoots and mushrooms. When those three flavors permeated the noodles, the dish was greatly changed. The staple dish was chicken-stock congee boiled with ham. A whole chicken had been bought; the breast meat had been used to make the pearls, while the rest of it had been put to boil into a broth for a full two shichen. Though it was all liquid, no meat, it was essentially full-on chicken stock. The white and soft congee slightly smelled of it throughout, fragments of ground ham vaguely seen within it. In the mouth, it was fresh and sweet, its aftertaste savory. There was an additional fruit dessert for the after-meal; candied tangerines that Ah-Dong had made ahead of time. For a two-person setup, it was exceptionally sumptuous. Viewing this table of delicacies, Tang Fan sighed. I havent eaten a full Eves dinner in many years. How many? Ah-Dong asked curiously. He thought about it. Seven or eight years, at least. My parents died when I was thirteen, I became a County Honorate at fourteen, my elder sister married away at fifteen. After that, I left home to travel, went and took the imperial exams, became a Palace Honorate, then a capital official. Thats around eight years. As I recall, the last time I went to see my sister, my nephew was still stumbling over his words, so he ought to be starting his studies now. Who knows if he even remembers me. Doesnt that make me an aunt, then? she asked, excited. He pffted in laughter. Sure, sure. My sister had him after three years of marriage, so hes five. Hes only three years younger than you, yet is a generation below you; he probably wont much like that when he grows up. She was happy for a minute, then got a bit worried shortly after. I have a bad family background, though. Will making him call me Aunt disgrace him? Youre so young. Do you even know what disgrace is? Dont just use words all willy-nilly! He patted her on the head. Now that your surname is Tang, youre part of our family. Ill add your name to our family record when I have the time to return to Jiangnan for ancestral worship. Someones nobility doesnt lie in their background, but rather depends on their personality; the founding Emperor of this Dynasty had come from a poor Buddhist household, no higher than you are, and he didnt feel himself inferior because of that. Does the realm not kneel and worship him, every citizen looking up to him? You may be female, but dont take on those rotten defects of self-injury and self-pity. She nodded, half-understanding. Big brother, you teach me how to read, but Im dumb and cant learn a thing. Wont I lose the Tangs face? Is big sister really great at studying? She is. When she was studying in the inner chambers, she was one talented woman. However, Im not making you learn to read because I want you to be like her, reciting poetry and painting, but to have you understand the principles of human integrity. That doesnt demand very deep knowledge. Once youre able to comprehend fantasies and vernacular stories, you can be considered graduated. It had to be said that Mister Tangs tutelage of his little sister really stood out from the crowd. Everyone else used the works of distinguished sages as teaching materials, being of the Four Books for Womens class at the very worst. He, on the other hand, used fiction stories as objects of reference, unworried about the girl learning from bad examples. The principle lesson of casting away evil and looking towards goodness is pretty much everywhere, he continued. Sages works having them doesnt mean that common works wont have them. Ill pick out a couple of them later that are fun to read, and once youre able to go through them once plus explain them, I wont have to stare at you while you study anymore. Okay! If I still have time then, can I learn martial arts from Brother Sui? she asked happily. He was shocked. You want to learn that? She nodded. Ive been a little stronger than others ever since I was little. He said that I have a good foundation, so Id be suitable for the arts. He also said that Im at a good molding age, where itll be too late if I wait a few more years. When I learn them and go climb trees for scholar leaves to make those noodles from now on, you wont be able to fight over them with me! Others claimed that when finished learning martial arts, those with high aspirations would inevitably report to the imperial family, place as a martial Prime Scorer, then kill enemies on the battlefield from then on. Even if Ah-Dong was female, her being in shape, having self-protection, and still being a foodie were not three incompatible qualities. Tang Fan was, surprisingly, happy to hear this. Alright, then. Well plant a couple fruit trees in the yard, and Ill leave everything to you when its time to harvest. How about we plant pear and jujube ones? A lot of desserts can be made with those. I can make snow pear-stewed rice and jujube-paste cakes! Auntie Zhang from next door taught me how! She started drooling. Sounds good! he beamed. They spoke in high spirits. Indeed, those who were not family would not step through a familys door. As they talked and laughed, the siblings finished their dinner, then cleaned up the dishes, about to start the custom of staying up until the new year. Normal people would sleep earlier in the night, but there was one exception of the whole family keeping watch on the Eve, a tradition passed down from ancient times that had never been altered to the current day. Still, the night was endlessly long. Children could set off fireworks, but adults had to think up a bunch of tricks to whittle away their time. Right now, it was just them two at home. Tang Fan was unwilling to pass the whole night reading storybooks, so he found a couple games for them to play. Games like qi wouldve been fine if Ah-Dong hadnt been too young to understand any of them, merely getting her first glimpse into their doorways. The disparity in power between them was really too great, making it unfun to play, so he found a vase and some bamboo sticks for the two to play pitch-pot with. They made a bet on who could get the most in; five turns for one round, winner two out of three. The loser would have to stand at the door and bark like a puppy three times. Tang Fans childish heart having not yet died, he played with enthusiasm. However, after one round, he noticed that something was amiss. How is your accuracy so good? An intrinsic knack? Whats an intrin snack? Ive never eaten one of those.[1] Hehe, I think your daily reading dosage needs to be a little heavier. What I meant is: were you born being accurate at pitch-pot, or something? No. After I bugged Brother Sui about teaching me martial arts, he gave me a small bow, then made me shoot at tree leaves every day. He said that once I could hit them, I would barely be meeting standards. Have you shot any? I did, but it would only be one or two times out of ten tries. They were all blind luck, she said, embarrassed. Im starting to think that suggesting to play this with you was a mistake. She blinked. Are you going back on your bet, big brother? Im not, but can we have a discussion to null the stakes? he weakly asked. Ah-Dong was typically muddled-seeming, yet quite devious at critical junctures. No way. You said before that people need to keep to their words, and that a promise is worth a thousand gold! He angrily bopped her on the head. Ive never, ever seen you be lively while studying, but now youre spouting allusions? The rounds arent over yet, so its hard to say wholl win and wholl lose! He was pumped up for a victory. However, physical talent was an innate gift, and Mister Tang couldnt get strong with effort even if he had the will to, making his death throes useless. On the very next turn, he still lost. Two out of three; he rule he had set himself was now causing him suffering. Ah-Dong just laughed evilly. You put the bet, you accept the loss! Tang Fan didnt want a little girl to have a low opinion of him, of course. He believed that since it was Eves night, no one would be out on the street anyways. What was wrong with opening up the gate and making a couple sounds? Anyone that heard it would just think it was someone elses puppy barking. Of course Ill accept it, he said calmly. Your big brother is as good as his word. When have I ever reneged? Youll have to watch my excellent moral character and learn! His conduct of a former king peddling melons made her make a weird face. The girl followed after his steps for the purpose of watching him make a fool out of himself. Upon opening the courtyard door, two red lanterns were hung above the entrance that cast off some more swaying light, which made things look more joyous. Hardening his heart, Mister Tang shouted out: Woof! Woof! Woof! Before the final bark was made, someone suddenly appeared before his eyes, nearly scaring him to death. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that it was Sui Zhou. Tang Fan: Sui Zhou: Sir Tang immediately felt like he had thrown his face all the way to his grandmothers house. He, as the villain, was the first to complain. Why are you here? I didnt even hear your footsteps! I never make noise when I walk, Sui Zhou answered in exasperation. Why are you standing out here and barking like a dog? With Ah-Dongs snigger coming behind him, Tang Fans face turned red. He lost a bet! Sui Zhou nodded with an oh. What were you playing? Pitch-pot, Tang Fan blurted, abruptly coming back to his senses. Why are you back this early? Youre not staying there to keep watch all night? No, the other said as they walked in together. He didnt explain much, but with how smart Tang Fan was, he knew that he must have met with something exhausting at the home, for him to simply come back after he was finished eating. Thus, he asked no more, only smiling. Youve come back at just the right time! Playing board and cards is fun with three people. I cant play if its just Ah-Dong, because it would be too easy to win. She pulled a sly face at him. Sure. Thats why you chose the very difficult pitch-pot, which you still lost! Damn girl! He put on a malevolent expression in response, raising a hand to fake that he was going to hit her. The little lady immediately giggled and bounded far away. Were going to keep watch at night, so Ill go and boil tea for you two! Watching them squabble, a slight smile involuntarily showed up on Sui Zhous face. He thought to himself that it was good to come back; without saying a thing, he could simply watch and feel happy. If Tang Fan could claim to feel that the first New Years he had celebrated since the breakage of his family was enjoyable, so could Sui Zhou, as could Ah-Dong. All three of them had different experiences in life, yet they were able to come together by fated chance. It was said that ten years of cultivated karma in the previous life would let people share the same boat. To be able to live under the same roof? That was at least fifty years. The three played games. With the addition of Sui Zhou, things swiftly became a little more interesting, influenced into a relaxed pastime. Tang Fan didnt insist upon exerting all of his power to make a full-frontal assault, either; everyone won and lost against each other, chatting and laughing, time passing without them knowing it. As midnight approached, the sounds of firecrackers both near and far became increasingly frequent. Setting those off was not only to greet the new, but to do away with the old. Many people hence lit a cluster of them up prior to midnight in addition to those lit afterwards, demonstrating the out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new newness of the world. Their own group had also bought firecrackers, naturally. Sui Zhou went out to light them, while Ah-Dong brought and placed them in the courtyard after him. The slight clamor of fireworks livened up the alleyway, bang-bang-bangs popping off in the ears, and the entire little yard was fittingly illuminated for a split second via the dazzling light. Ah-Dong clapped her hands, yelling and laughing. There was a prosperous ambience, despite there only being three of them, With everything set off, Ah-Dong ran to the kitchen to get the dumplings. They had been wrapped up long ago, and there was no special distinction between which were mincepork with cabbage, or which were three-veggie stuffed. The white, tender dumplings bobbed in the boiling water, but once they were fished up and put onto a plate, Sui Zhou went dumb with one look at them. He could see that there were finely-crafted, nice-looking, top-notch dumplings, and also funkily-wrapped, low-quality ones. As soon as the bad ones had been boiled, some of their skins broke open to expose their fillings, which was now a real ghastly sight. The thick-skinned Mister Tang just grinned. Ha! Looks like that filling wanted to see who was going to eat it, and came running out! Sui Zhou and Ah-Dong looked at him at the exact same time. Though they did not speak, their thought was: You really have no shame! Tang Fan acted like he didnt see that, reaching out to pick one up, dip it in vinegar, eat it, then not neglect to praise himself. Theyre really good, which shows that the craftsmanship of the one that wrapped them was really good. Eat, you two! Watch what I do! Come, come! This degree of thick-skinnedness could be stated as having reached a new level. The other two, having nothing to say, could only duck their heads to eat. A short time later, Ah-Dong cried out in shock, then spit a copper coin out of her mouth. Youve eaten yourself to fortune! Tang Fan said with a smile. Youll have great luck in the coming year! Extraordinarily pleased, Ah-Dong happily wiped the coin clean, then put it on the table. Not long after, Sui Zhou also got one. Tang Fan and Ah-Dong said their congratulations, as per standard. Not long after again, Tang Fan got one, too. This repeated several times. At the end of it, Ah-Dong was no longer happy. Big brother, how many coins did you actually put in these? she sulked. Thirty dumplings had been put on the plate. Excluding those inferior products that had started out broken, the three had altogether found thirteen coins. Putting those in dumplings had been for the sake of seeking well-wishes, but now, they were showing up nearly every time to press painfully against their teeth. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were more careful, but that was it. Ah-Dong nearly had a mouth full of broken teeth, howling in anguish again and again. Upon seeing her like this, the conscienceless Mister Tang laughed in schadenfreude. I never got to bite on copper coins as a kid, yeah? I put some more in this time so that I wouldnt miss out. Whos the one making you bite so hard when you eat? She wasnt to be outdone, and they started fighting again. By the time Sui Zhou had cleaned up the tableware and turned back around, the little lady was finally a bit tired. She rubbed her eyes, but her face had a full contentment that it never did before. Big brother, do you think that we can spend every year like this from now on? She pulled through with sitting beside Tang Fan, doggedly waiting for midnights arrival. What do you say to that, Guangchuan? Tang Fan asked Sui Zhou, who had just walked in, as he rubbed her head. Sure, was all Centarch Sui answered with, brief, yet powerful. The translator says: You fools! Youve probably just jinxed it!!! Tang Fan brings up a good point, though. Just because something is easier to access in terms of writing doesnt mean its inferior in morals to books lauded as timeless classics. There are a lot of classic English books Ive personally read that avid readers have listed as super good, only for them to be the most boring, outdated, pedantic pieces of shit Ive ever laid my eyes on. Books can be good and powerful without being labelled so by people obsessed with things from decades or centuries ago. [1] Original pun is: natural talent is 츳/tinfybng. She mistakes the bing for same pronunciation, but it means bread. Im pretty proud of my replacement pun, hohoho. CH 47 Paying New Years respects during celebrations was a given. At dawn of the first day of the year, Tang Fan went with Sui Zhou to the Suis to pay respects to the latters parents, ending it with a trip to the neighboring Zhous to pay respects to Madam Zhou. Her son had returned to the capital, making her house lively. Elderly folks like her most loved to watch the excitement of their descendants filling the halls. She also had repeated praises for Tang Fan, a junior she had met already, and introduced him to Sui Zhous uncles family. Once out of the Zhous, Ah-Dong was giddy from having collected a good many packets of New Years money. Which house are we going to pay respects to next? she asked Tang Fan, greedily rubbing her hands. He side-eyed her. Which one do you want to get your money from, hm? Her thoughts had been pierced right through, but she wasnt ashamed, sticking out her tongue. Right?! Itd be best to gather them up until my hands go soft. Tang Fan bopped her without mercy. Dont even think about it. I only have one sister in Xianghe, whose family would be bad to disturb for New Years, and no other relatives in the capital, so youll be going home and obediently eating dumplings! Besides, how much did you get? Is it any different from what I havent yet given?! It is, she giggled. What you give is yours, and what I collect is mine! Okay, you little brat. My cherishment of you has been in vain. He knew that she wasnt actually thinking like that, he was just accustomed to excitedly and happily warring with words. Ah-Dong was in charge of money normally, and after she had learned character writing and bookkeeping, her each and every brushstroke was aboveboard. Just as she had claimed, after she became steward, she had saved a bit from Tang Fans pitifully meagre salary every month, preparing for when he took a wife in the future. He was also intending to set aside a bit of a dowry for her, of course. Everyone was giving the same kind regards to each other, so there was no need to divide things up so decisively, else they wouldnt be family. Following that, he took Ah-Dong with him to visit the Pan Estate. He had been about to pay respects to Pan Bin, but the servants at there informed him that the man was out paying respects to his own superiors, so he just skipped this step and went home. These days, apart from ones majorly important superiors that required a personal New Years visit, it was popular amongst all to just send New Years cards between friends and colleagues. There were just too many people around; at times, one could go to this house, but not that house, making it hard to avoid favoritism. If every single home was to be gone to, then respects probably wouldnt get finished being paid by day fifteen. Simply dispatching servants with cards to those houses, your name and a few words of blessings written within, would therefore be considered the utmost of courtesy. There were also many that didnt send anything at all, like Tang Fan. He had no servants at home, meaning that he would have to run around himself, but if that running was going to break his legs, he might as well just not. After the Lantern Festival, everyone would be set up for an appointment for a meal at a restaurant anyways, and then it would be fine. For that reason, people like him loved celebrating New Years the most. His current officials position was low, so he didnt have as many convoluted social niceties. He also didnt hold a lucrative job in any sort of important bureau, so no one would take the time of the celebrations to send him gifts. That all saved him a lot of trouble. From the second day to the fifth, he lazed around all day, every day, until after the noon, where Ah-Dong would stand by his bed and tug his ear to get him out of it. Yet, after those six days, his life wasnt so great. From the sixth to the tenth of January, he had to confront a heap of complex official duties in the bureau. The way this vacation was set up wasnt very rational. Just imagine: it ended on the fifth, after which it would start back up on eleventh, having five days of work in the middle. Nobody had yet recovered from the comfort of the New Year, and everyone had started to look forward to the Festival vacation time, so they obviously didnt have much of an idea to do work. There generally was never anything new and big that would happen these past couple of days, mostly just old stuff amassed with dust in Shuntian that couldnt be fully handled in one second, nor be hurriedly dealt with properly in just a few days. Tang Fan had always worked in a methodically arranged manner; he had Du Jiang arrange a lot of things according to order of importance in order to clearly understand what should be done first or later. Like so, the Festival break on the eleventh soon came. Ah-Dong was the utmost of happy, because the most ceremonious Festival of the year was the Winter Solstice, and the most unifying Festival was New Years, but the Festival regarded as most exciting was the Lantern one. The lantern market that showed up each time was famed. The whole street would be hung with multicolored lanterns, layers and layers of them, all with different looks. Trees of fire, flowers of silver, bridges of stars, and locks of iron it was an extremely spectacular sight. Only on this day of the year would everyone go out to sightsee, regardless of whether they were an unmarried daughter that never left their homes gates, or a married woman that strictly abode by wifely virtues. This was tantamount to the entire city setting into motion, infinite people vacating its alleyways. It was little wonder that she was so excited. It began exactly at the start of the officials vacation. The market was actually autonomously launched by the capitals chamber of commerce, since they could take advantage of the Festival period to do a bit more business. Once people got really numerous, however, public security would inevitably get chaotic, and the authorities would have to be dispatched to take responsibility for patrols. But who would want to go do work while other people played, and on such a big holiday? When the market had just started up in the Great Ming, Shuntian Prefecture, the Five Districts Military Office, and even departments like the Brocade Guard had all shirked that responsibility, unwilling to take the job. Later on, a fatal trampling incident occurred during, and only then did the Cabinet order that each bureau was to have some people patrolling this time of year, with the chiefly responsible division rotated annually, thus forming a routine of lasting effect. This year, the Five Districts Office was in charge of the patrol. Shuntian Prefecture and the Brocade Guard only had to dispatch a small amount of manpower to assist Sui Zhou happened to bear that charge for the Guard. He had been promoted again not too long ago for his handling of Huang Jinglongs case, and was now a Deputy Millarch. Upon one mans achievement of the Dao, the animals around him would also ascend to the Heavens; he didnt feel much about it, but his subordinates were ecstatic, believing that they were following a boss of bright future prospects. Sui Zhou wasnt fond of talking, but that didnt mean that he was ignorant to the ways of the world. Prior to the holiday, he treated his group of underlings to eating and drinking promotional wine. However, because he had to help patrol and keep the peace this day, he couldnt go with Tang Fan and Ah-Dong for a stroll. Tang Fan brought her out to view the lights, the bustling crowd nearly wedging them apart. She, being young, hadnt seen much of the world and was quite delighted to see the excitement, but he firmly led her along by the hand, afraid that they would get separated. From time immemorial til now, many human traffickers had been amongst the populace, and they particularly liked to go for beautiful, cute, and decorated women and children. No matter how celebrated ones origins were, once they fell into traffickers hands, they could only be resigned to their fates. Before Song, there had been tragic cases of imperial kin and nobility getting kidnapped. Ming had had none of those, but many still went missing every year, some sold into brothels, some as slaves. Their perfectly good lives would be ruined, fates utterly miserable. A plump little girl like Ah-Dong was one of the focal targets of traffickers. They toured the market for a minute, and also guessed at lantern riddles. Tang Fan guessed so many of them right in a row, the prize vendors face got dark, after which the former realized that the situation wasnt good and quickly scrammed. Ah-Dong had since been covered in the spoils received: she was holding a flower lantern, had a bracelet on one hand, a silk flower on her head, and knickknacks stuffed into her arms. It was no surprise that the vendors face had gotten so unsightly; if Tang Fan had been allowed to keep winning, he probably would have had to give him all his family property. Tired from their walk, they prepared to find a place to sit for a rest, and get a bite to eat while they were at it. By coincidence, the wonton stall that Tang Fan often went to was still open today. The owners looked to be giving their all in want to earn a sum of profit via the holiday, terribly busy. Still, as a regular, an extra table could always be made up for him. The proprietress complimented Ah-Dong a bit, then served them up two bowls of wontons and two youbing. Big brother, lets go back and guess more riddles later! Ah-Dong, having just witnessed other people rack their brains while Tang Fan had guessed correctly one after the other, was self-assured and honored, her face full of pride. Go back? He smiled bitterly. Did you not see that vendor looking like he was about to swallow me whole? How about you leave a path of survival for people not yourself? Well find another stall, then. Its not just him doing them. I heard that theres lantern-appreciating activities in Immortal Guest, too! Really. Lets take a look later Right after he had lowered his head to drink some broth, he casually lifted it, then unexpectedly caught sight of someone walking past in front of him not too far away. The half-mouthful he still had nearly sprayed all out only to overflow into his nose, making him cough until his insides ruptured. Ah-Dong quickly pat him on the back, admonishing him like he was an old decrepit. How old are you, to choke after you eat something? There was no time for him to laugh, mind still immersed in the recent shock. Gods above! Did he just see a ghost?! Following that sudden event, he absent-mindedly ate a wonton. Because Ah-Dong was with him, he couldnt cast her aside to go give chase for a clearer look. Besides, the other had quickly disappeared into the crowd after just one hurried glance. If he hadnt been certain that his own eyesight wasnt fuzzy, he would have believed that he had hallucinated. Once Ah-Dong had finished her wontons, they walked in the direction of Immortal Guest. There were lots of people on the main road, so Tang Fan just took a smaller alley to avoid the congestion. The route was a bit longer, but with how unclogged it was, it was actually a little faster, after calculations. Perhaps everyone that lived down the alleys had gone out to see the lanterns, or no one else liked to take the long road like he did, because when they turned into the alley, it was very quiet, a completely different world from the outside excitement. Ah-Dong, typically carefree, now got a bit apprehensive. Before Tang Fan could tell her to, she firmly held his hand on her ownx. Big brother Huh? The little lady was hesitant to speak. Its so dark here. Are there any ghosts? He bust out laughing. How is it dark? Theres a main road at the end of the alley. Is the way ahead not lit Before he could say the word up, he suddenly got slapped on the shoulder from behind. Despite his mind knowing that it couldnt be a ghost, he couldnt help but make a huge jump in fright. As if sensing his full-body jolt, Ah-Dong subconsciously looked behind them in turn. YEEK! A GHOST! she shrieked in terror. Tang Fan quickly turned to look, as well. All he saw was someone standing very close behind him, their eyes staring sullenly at them. At first glance, this genuinely could make the hairs all over someones body stand on end. However, Sir Tang was a Confucian scholar, and believed in not speaking about the supernatural. His scare had purely been due to this suddenly-arriving happenstance, which he very quickly got over. Gripping Ah-Dongs hand, he drew back a couple of steps with quick speed, then peered at their counterpart that wasnt having the inclination to step forward and attack again. Focusing his eyes, his heart then gradually settled into its original spot. I say, Eunuch Wang, what play are you putting on? Even if you dont find me pleasing to look at, theres no need to set to task yourself, you know, he said angrily. Anybody else that had gotten smacked on the shoulder in a small alley late at night likely wouldnt be happy, either. Come with me. Wang Zhis voice was muffled and a bit hushed, different from usual. It was like he was deliberately lowering his voice to conceal his identity. Saying as much, he turned around and walked forward. Tang Fan didnt have time to think more on this, obliged to hurriedly keep up with Ah-Dong. As the boss of an operative spy agency, Wang Zhi had long known the internal and external capital roads of every size like the back of his hand, more familiar with them than Tang Fan was. He took them for a lot of loops, going from a small road to a main road, then turning from a main road to a small road, deliberately choosing the farthest route. Tang Fan very nearly fainted from all the spinning around before they finally reached their destination which happened to be the back of Immortal Guest, where Tang Fan had just said he was going to bring Ah-Dong to. However, Wang Zhi did not go into Immortal Guest, but Immortal Cloud right behind it, and to a single private room that was familiar. He didnt even need anyone to guide him to it. Tang Fan surmised that the room was one that Wang Zhi had reserved year-round, so that he could conveniently conduct some private business like he was now. Of course, he wasnt sure at all what Wang Zhi was wanting to conduct. Once inside the room, Eunuch Wang pulled off the hood of his cloak, undid the tie around his neck, then cast it to the side, showing a look of being relieved from a burden. He let out a very long sigh. That things really fucking stuffy! Tang Fan silently watched him. What are you staring at me for?! If Im recalling correctly, shouldnt you be in Datong right now? Yes, but I came back on secret orders from His Majesty. In addition to my confidantes, you two know about it now, as well. If my whereabouts get leaked, itll definitely have something to do with you. Tang Fan rolled his eyes. Im really being more wronged than Dou E. With how youve wandered about a large street, under public view, it would be no surprise if someones recognized you. Wang Zhi heyd. You act, I think. Im on for Tang Fan quickly stopped him. Since youve come back under orders, I wont hear of them. The more secrets one knows, the quicker theyll die. Too late, you have to. Wang Zhi just did not care at all. There recently came a royal report claiming that suspicious figures had apparently been spotted on Longevity Mountain. After they investigated for a long time and found nothing, His Majesty summoned me, so I hurried back in order to arrange staff for the investigation these past few days. But then, another big thing happened! When it rains, it really pours! Such bad luck! He then waited for a long time, but didnt hear Tang Fan respond. Why arent you asking me what happened? I dont want to know anything, but from what youve said, even if I dont ask, youll say it anyways, Tang Fan answered helplessly. Zhu Yongs youngest daughter and Assistant Minister Gengs grandson went missing together. The other let out an ah. When? Tonight. I just now learned of it. Ive yet to have time to report to His Majesty, but even if he knew, we would probably just get told to find them, and fast. Zhu Yong is now Deputy Commander of the northern expedition, and is fighting on the frontlines. Since he had a daughter in middle ages, he cherishes her like a treasure Im afraid that if he learned of this, his mind would stray from fighting, and he would hurry back to look for her. Tang Fan nodded, indicating that he understood. At every festival, the time when all the families of the capital poured out of everywhere was also often the time when the count of missing persons cases increased dramatically. Traffickers frequently surveyed these opportune times to set to task, as the more people around there were, the more difficult the issue of retrieving them would be. Because the nightly curfew was rescinded these days, once the traffickers were out of the city, it would be even further like fishing a needle off of the seafloor. Having said that, even if they didnt leave the city, the entirety of Beijing was a huge area; the whole of the Brocade Guard and the Western Depot getting immediately dispatched would still not guarantee that every nook would get searched. Many children had been eternally separated from their relatives like so. Now, though, the traffickers hands had placed themselves upon the children of officials. How could that be tolerated? If they couldnt be found, and then word of that spread out, wouldnt departments like the Depots and Brocade Guard get muddied? They would then become nothing more than pretty arrangements of flowers; they might as well have gone back home to suckle their mamas teats instead of working for those salaries every year. The Emperor would also become doubtful from this, of course: You lot cant even find one person, so how could you do anything bigger for me? For that reason, regardless of whether it was publicly or privately, Wang Zhi had to keep an eye on this. He had just been wandering the streets for the sake of personally finding traces of the traffickers, and had also long seamlessly planted wardens about. Mixing in with the crowd and pretending to be ordinary citizens, as soon as they were to discover the indicators of child abduction, they would immediately chase after, follow the vine back to its source, and catch everything in one net. That had been a fine plan. What a shame that Chief Eunuch Wang and his subordinates had wandered for half a shichen, yet no sort of commotion had occurred. It was obvious that these traffickers were very vigilant. If they werent certain that they could snatch someone, they wouldnt rashly go for it. If you need Shuntian Prefectures aid, do give the command, Eunuch Wang, Tang Fan said. Wang Zhi curled his lip. No need. The Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot have also been dispatched. Is your Prefecture the one thats going to come out on top? Tang Fan had asked merely as a gesture of goodwill to begin with. Since he didnt need them, he wouldnt court disdain, instead asking after something else he was more concerned about. Whats happened with the war on the frontlines? The others expression loosened up some. Wang Yue and Zhu Yong are both learned in military matters. Theres no need to worry too much with them over there. After half a month more, theyll definitely have victory. Tang Fan relaxed as well. Thats good. With the victory reported, the Tartars wont dare to invade lightly for a short amount of time. The border should finally get a little bit of peace. Wang Zhi scoffed. How boring. The mountain wont come to me, so cant I come to the mountain? This is a hard-to-come-by opportunity. We ought to press in with the win, striking for an even bigger victory! The Tartars are experts at guerrilla warfare, and have a fierce cavalry. Please be careful, Eunuch Wang, Tang Fan reminded. Also, the Court might dissent. I have my ways. Having touched upon the subject, Tang Fan said no more, letting it be. Wang Zhi pulled on the bell, and dishes came in succession. The workers at Immortal Cloud had seen many occasions that could never be spoken of aloud. Upon seeing Wang Zhi, who should have currently been on the frontlines, here, they averted their eyes, played mute, took him for transparent, set the dishes down, then left. They never stayed for long, and acted like Tang Fan and Ah-Dong didnt exist. You should be careful, Tang Fan had to say. Since you dont wish for your whereabouts to be exposed, it would be best for you to return earlier. The workers here are still strangers. Wang Zhi gave him a weird grin, then suddenly asked him a weird question. You ate at Immortal Guest last month on the sixth, right? Tang Fan was startled. A chill ran all over his body. He wanted to ask him if he had planted someone to monitor him, but after thinking a bit deeper about it, a different question came out. You own Immortal Guest? Sure enough, Wang Zhi smiled gently. You deserve to be you. Yes, the Western Depot is one of the owners of this restaurant. One of? Tang Fan raised a brow. This business had originally been under the Zheshang Commerce Committee. Later on, the Western Depot put some money into it, too. Guests crowd like clouds here, so its the best for scouting out info. Tang Fan wasnt sure why he wanted to inform him of this, only wanting to laugh bitterly after hearing about it. Im too afraid to come here to eat next time, lest you know even how many times I go to the latrine. Ive never done anything shameful all my life, so Im not afraid of ghosts knocking on my door at midnight. Stop, then. If I flirted with a songgirl here, and then she ended up being your Depots spy, wouldnt I never be able to get away from that? Wang Zhi sneered. You think about such unpromising things all day long, eh? No wonder your officials post hasnt gone up til now! That I was able to attain sixth rank at my age is already pretty good. Who can be like you, not crowned yet in charge of the Western Depot, plus able to now have extra military power? People as powerful as you are few, under this sky. Wang Zhi used to be someone that liked to hear others praise him, but instead of looking pleased after hearing Tang Fans set of pretty words, he sighed. The latter was a little confused, but the former didnt explain, so he didnt ask much. He kind of had to go right then, so he excused himself and left. By the time he returned to the table, he discovered that Ah-Dong, who had been obediently sitting and eating in the private room, had disappeared. Wang Zhi was still sitting there, though, eating and drinking as calmly as ever. Wheres Ah-Dong? Tang Fan quickly asked. I had her do something. Wang Zhi delivered the food to his mouth, set down his chopsticks, then picked up the damp, warm towelette that had just been brought over to wipe his mouth. The other frowned. Shes just a little girl. What could she do to help you? Dont joke around, Eunuch Wang. Please tell me where she went, and Ill go find her. Why would I joke with you? Those traffickers tracks are hidden, and theyre mixed into the crowd, making them difficult to distinguish. The best way to go is deeper into the tigers den. That little girl is clever and obedient; as soon as I asked her to be bait, she agreed to it. If this case can be cracked, Ill definitely mark down a great merit for you. Upon hearing this, Tang Fan was endlessly furious, but barely suppressed it. Ah-Dong is my little sister, not anyones bait! Wang Zhi remained calm. Dont you worry. Im having her walk about randomly in the crowd, pretending to be a child thats lost her elders. If nothing goes wrong, the traffickers are certain to go after her. The Depot has eyes and ears everywhere, and Ive also had people tail her; once our counterpart makes any moves, we can take over at any time, follow the trail, then dig up their hideout. Seeing Tang Fans suppressed anger, he laughed aloud. Your sister is more sensible than you. I told her that once this was done, you could get promoted, and she agreed to it immediately. Shes pretty good to you. I heard that youre not blood siblings? Tang Fan was both enraged and distressed, not in the mood to exchange half a sentence more with him. He threw out an Im going looking for her, then got up and walked out. Stop! Wang Zhi bellowed. She wont be in any danger. Dont alert the enemy! She isnt my sister by blood, but I love her like one, Tang Fan answered coldly. Imagine, if you will, that your little sisters been used as bait and captured by traffickers, and I tell you not to worry. Would you still be equanimous? Wang Zhi raised a brow. I dont have a little sister, so I cant answer that, but Ive already said that Depot people are following her. Nothing will happen to her. How can you know that nothing will happen to her? Theres a big difference between she wont die and she wont be missing limbs. The other didnt answer, because he couldnt guarantee that, of course. Tang Fan, as a Shuntian Judge, had seen many cases of women and children getting kidnapped and sold. Those lucky enough to be found and returned, if they hadnt lost their purity, had been sold as slaves or into brothels, where a beating would be inevitable no matter what. To be brief, people who had recently fallen into a nest of demons would have to be trained first, which went until they were docile and too afraid to resist, all sorts of unknowable torture methods used during that juncture. Since Ah-Dong was so young, her ability to act was likely not any kind of strong, and her odds of getting found out were high. Furthermore, there would be an abundance of fugitives amongst those traffickers; if someone like that found out that she was an inside agent, her life might be in danger. Were she to get stabbed, what would be the use of any officials catching up to her? Right then, a Depot warden came into the private room, face unsightly. Chief Eunuch, we lost her. CH 48 Wang Zhis recent collectedness was no more. He stood up with a bang. What happened?! Once we followed her all the way to the front of Doufuchen Lane, a fight happened to break out at the doorway of a nearby shop, and the commoners circling around to watch suddenly distanced us from her. By the time we had caught up, she was completely gone, the subordinate said, ashamed. Slackers! Deadbeats! What do I keep you around for?! Why arent you giving chase?! Wang Zhi roundly scolded. Just great. Zhu Yongs daughter and Assistant Minister Gengs grandson still hadnt yet been found, but now Judge Tangs little sister had been added into the mix. Wait! Tang Fan said to the warden. Can you still locate the people who were fighting? Yes. Were in the area. Then Ill trouble you all to bring them back for interrogation. In the case that that hadnt been coincidental, it might be a clue. The warden didnt answer, instead looking at Wang Zhi, which was normal. He was their boss, not Tang Fan. Why would they listen to a strangers orders? The illustrious Western Depot had now had a moment of negligence, taking a huge tumble. This was what they called fighting a goose all day long, only for it to peck your eyes blind. Wang Zhis expression was ugly, but Tang Fans was even uglier. The formers prestige had suffered damage, and he no longer had the face to speak persuasively to Tang Fan. The latter had anxiety attacking his heart, and didnt care to talk more to Wang Zhi, quickly leaving Immortal Cloud. There was a sea of people outside, now how could the little figure of Ah-Dong be found? He was not about to go find her himself, however, but right to the Five Districts Office. As the one in charge of the Brocade Guards that had been dispatched to help with Five Districts patrol, Sui Zhou didnt need to set out in person. Instead, he was sitting in the Districts bureau, so that if his subordinates came across anything, they could find him easily. This was not a time for him to lead troops out. Tang Fan knew as much, and thus had found him quickly; after hurriedly greeting everyone else, he explained what had happened to Sui Zhou. The instant the man heard about Ah-Dong being bait, his expression immediately tensed. He, too, had heard about the other two getting kidnapped an instant before Tang Fan had arrived, but since the matter wasnt his responsibility, he had remained within the bureau. Now that Ah-Dong had been mentioned, he had to move. How long ago was this? I came directly from Immortal Cloud to here, about half a shichen ago, Tang Fan answered. Sui Zhou gave a slight nod. Once he explained this to the others, he brought Xue Lings crew with him out. Where are we going now? Tang Fan asked. When it came to finding people, the Guard was more seasoned than he. Well go up on the gate towers, first. Tang Fans eyes shone. From the vantage point of the towers, the scope of view would be farther, and even clearer. It would be much easier to spot any odd actions below. Their group took a shortcut down a small path, hurrying to the roofs. Yongding Gates tower faced the middle of the capitals main road. The short buildings around werent enough to block ones line of sight, and even some surrounding streets could be seen clearly. Starting from tonight, the entire city would be going until daybreak for the imminently-arriving Lantern Festival, biggest holiday of the year, and the festivities would go until the day after its conclusion. Beneath the dual illumination of the bright moonlight and shining lanterns, there was hubbub on and off the streets, and heads near other heads in a grand stretch of black. Cheering and laughter came from below from time to time, brimming with jubilation. Citizens from outer counties would also use the festival period to come to the capital and play, making the headcount of the common haunts far exceed the level it was normally. People could be seen wherever one looked. However, underneath this flourishing spectacle of peaceful song and dance was hidden a dark undercurrent. On days like this, whole families would head out, which was exactly the time that house-breaking robbers, stuff-stealing thieves, and human-selling traffickers liked the most. Following the each yearly Festival, there would always be a rapid increase in cases reported to the various bureaus, both in ancient and modern times. Ah-Dong was a little girl that had long been submerged within multitudes of people. At a glance, there was nothing but tall and short heads; even with an all-seeing eye, she would probably be hard to find. Tang Fan knew that anxiety was useless at this point, so he calmed down, then joined Sui Zhou and the rest in observing what was below. Upon climbing high, many details that had been hard to see before immediately showed up. Within the crowd, many men flirted with their young wives, women disguised as men were out to play, and people argued with their companions over lantern riddles. They were distant, their words unable to be heard, yet quickly figured out via looking from a tall spot. Sui Zhous group split up into several spots of observation. After watching for a little under half a shichen, when everyone was feeling their necks getting sore and stiff, Xue Ling was heard to yell, Brother, look over there! Everyone turned to where he was pointing. A four-year-old child was standing in front of a shop, sucking on his finger as he eagerly stared at a peddler selling tanghulu not far from him. The peddler motioned to him, and he walked over. The elder that he had been with was selecting stuff from a store or something, as they didnt even notice. Right when the child was about three steps away from the peddler, someone suddenly scuttled out from the side, holding a stick of tanghulu out for the child as he led him away by his hand. The kid, drawn in by the candy, was quickly taken away. The peddler watched this scenario unfold, yet said nothing. Presumably, he was in the same group as the trafficker, and was just selling the tanghulu to cover for his buddy there. Looking at everyone surrounding, it was as clamorous and unusually lively as ever; they all were focused on the stuff around them, and nobody had lowered their heads to pay attention to the whereabouts of one kid. Had their own group not witnessed this event, there would have been another missing child case in the capital tomorrow. Sui Zhou gave an order, and Xue Ling quickly brought four Guards down the tower to run towards the area the child had been abducted to. The so-called overworld and underworlds each had their respective ways. The livelihood of kidnapping could not be done by one group of people, meaning that there was definitely a means of mutual contact between the various gangs, like the one they had just seen take the kid. He might not be of the same group that had kidnapped Zhu Yongs daughter or Ah-Dong, but catching one made it a lot easier to suss out other clues. On Xue Lings end, the kidnapper and the peddler had both been captured. On another end, the kids family had just realized that he was missing, and were currently running around in a panic. Upon seeing that he had been found, they shed tears of infinite gratitude. Saying no idle banter, Xue Lings group brought the two traffickers to Sui Zhou. People like this were used to shady activities, their conscience long darkened through. They denied everything in every way they could, pledging oaths to the Heavens. The peddler claimed that he was merely doing legitimate business, content with his lot, and the child-taker claimed that he had seen the child be alone for a time, then thought to take him to find his parents, lest he get kidnapped. In short, they cried about being falsely accused. Sui Zhou didnt bicker with them. Which gang do you two hang with? Boss Lai, Liu Zhili, or Ding Yimu? he asked coldly. The two blinked. What are you talking about, Sir? one said. It doesnt make sense to us. Its true, Sir, said the other. We really are normal, peaceful civilians! Intelligence agencies like the Brocade Guard or Depots had uncountable connections to the underworld, despite being governmental on the surface. In order to avoid conflict happening with government agents, some people would put in more bribes; as long as they didnt cause too much trouble, the authorities would have one eye open, one eye closed. Yet, under current circumstances, this trouble they had caused was a bit too large. Sui Zhou, of course, would never let it slide, but even if it was somebody else, they would have to do their jobs all the same. Seeing as the two of them refused to admit to it unto death, he turned to Xue Ling. Take them back to the Bastille. You know what you should do. Xue Ling nodded, laughing evilly at them. I guarantee that Ill make them regret ever being born! Once they heard the word Bastille, their souls were scared out of their bodies. I confess, I confess! one quickly shouted. Im a subordinate of Boss Lai! Right as he said that, a mild voice resounded from not far off. Dont believe him. Hes one of Ding Yimus. Accompanying the voice was Wang Zhi walking on over. He looked at the man, snorting in amusement. How intolerable. Youve already gotten captured, yet you still dare to lie. You really wont start crying until you see your own coffin, huh? He then turned to Sui Zhou and Tang Fan. Regardless of whether its Liu Zhili or Boss Lai, Ive already invited them as guests into the Western Depot. They havent captured any young children tonight, meaning that this should be the work of Ding Yimus henchmen from the Southside Gang. As it was, there were especially many wealthy people in this prosperous capital. Each and every child raised within it was pampered, making them leagues different from ordinary commoners that fled from disaster and sold themselves as servants. They were the favorite target of traffickers, among which were two gangs that specialized in selling people for a living in the underworld; the aliases of their separate leaders were Boss Lai and Liu Zhili. Apart from trafficking, the gangs did other business, too, such as privately selling salt, weapons, tea, and so on. That was the main source of their income, because how could they ever be able to traffic enough people? Their brotherhood would have long starved to death. Boss Lai and Liu Zhili had been hiding out in the city for many years. They couldnt represent all of the capitals underworld power, but there really werent many that practiced human trafficking; there had only been three groups for a long time now. These two gangs were local tyrants, and they knew who they could and could not provoke. They would absolutely never do something so disaster-courting as kidnapping the family of officials. At most, they would act against the children of merchants, maybe leaving a message behind for their family following the abduction, extorting a large sum of money from them, then putting them back where they got them. In addition to them was the Southside Gang, whose leader was Ding Yimu. It had rampant social connections, even more audacious, dark-acting, and unscrupulous in choosing targets than the other two, specializing in seeking out pretty-looking children. If they were from a wealthy family, they would place importance on extorting money from them. If there was no money to fish up, simply selling them to brothels to be trained up would still be a huge amount of income. Ding Yimu had considerable good publicity on the streets for being righteous, where the Southside Gang could be more underhanded than the other two precisely because of his personal conduct. Even so, the majority of the Gangs businesses were run by its second-in-command, Deng Xiucai. The guy had a black heart and violent hands that many lives had fallen to, but due to him being willing to pay evil unto evil, he had opened a lot of key connections, causing each bureau to turn a blind eye to him. On top of that, the kids the Gang kidnapped would sometimes get sent into the palace, taken in by people therein, then sent further in as eunuchs after their body was purified. The Gangs vast abilities were self-evident. This warranted talk about the few biggest sources of eunuchs. One was like Wang Zhi, where they had been a frontier citizen, but because of a defeated uprising, their families were escorted to the capital, the children amongst them sent into the palace to be eunuchs. Another was like Huai En, where they had been from an officials family, but were implicated because said family committed an offense, then got sent into the palace to be a eunuch on account of their youth. Of course, there were also those that willingly castrated themselves for the sake of going into the palace and winning riches, like the infamous, corrupt Wang Zhen of the previous Court. It did have to be noted that not everyone had a way of getting into the palace after such self-castration as he once had. Many got barred outside the palace gates. One of the Brocade Guards yearly tasks was to see these men back off to their ancestral homes. It was ridiculous to hear, but it was the truth. The palace was already full up on eunuchs, so no one could get in just because they wanted to. Self-castration was merely the first step; the ability to get into the palace after that depended on ones own skill. Boss Lai and Liu Zhili had been unhappy with their business being snatched. They would formerly go to cause trouble for the other party, only to always return defeated. Later on, the three groups had reached a peace treaty, dividing up territories in the capital so that they could each do their own thing without encroaching upon each other, thus restoring peace at last. Prior to learning of the disappearance of Zhu Yongs daughter, Wang Zhi had been keeping an eye out, but he hadnt realized how serious it was. He had simply let Boss Lai and Liu Zhili come right to his door first, then arrested them both for interrogation, making them cry out for their parents and repeatedly beg for mercy. Both had stated themselves that they knew that since it was the first day of the Lantern Festival, the bureaus would be strictly on patrol, so they had disallowed any of their subordinates to do anything, to say nothing of the fact that they had never even seen Zhu Yongs daughter. As for the leftover Southside Gang, the wardens had gone to its most frequented gambling den, only to discover no members at all. Even after using the Western Depot to shut the den down and overturn it, nobody from the Gang appeared, and all that had been captured were some minor hoodlums that knew nothing. Only then did Wang Zhi detect that something was off. Under these circumstances, the case needed to be cracked as soon as possible because of the urgency. There was no time to slowly socialize with the Gang. When he had seen Tang Fan taking Ah-Dong to tour the Festival, he hence got the idea to find a way to get her to act as bait, hoping to directly seize the ones doing it. He hadnt expected that she would vanish, too. If he could still remain calm when hearing of Zhu Yongs youngest going missing, Ah-Dongs disappearance thus made him antsy. As was known, he had been making guarantees to Tang Fan just a moment ago, but the next moment, the girl had gone missing. How could this not make Eunuch Wang abundantly furious from his huge loss of face? Back when Tang Fan had left Immortal Cloud with a whirl of his sleeves, Eunuch Wang couldnt say anything. Now, his emotions had relaxed, and him relaying the entire process of events in a stiff tone was seen as an explanation. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had a bit of knowledge about despicable forces like these gangs, but they didnt know more than Wang Zhi did. As he himself was the Director of the Western Depot, he had more manpower to dispatch plus the resources of the whole Depot centralized into his hands, whatever maneuvers he ever wanted done, done. Him knowing more than them was a matter of course this asymmetric information really had nothing to do with personal skill. After hearing this, Tang Fan asked, Were the guys that fought suspicious? Wang Zhi knew what he was asking about. He shook his head. No, we verified it. It should have just been a random coincidence. Tang Fan went quiet. Owing to a random coincidence, Ah-Dong had gone missing. Speaking of, though if Wang Zhi had never used her as bait, all of this could have been avoided. Finding Zhu Yongs daughter was very important, of course, but no one was close to each other in that case. Had Ah-Dong not vanished, Tang Fan would still have concern, but wouldnt be in his current mood at all. However, saying anything else about this now would do no good. The matter of most importance was to get her back. Everything else could be put off for later discussion. The Southside Gang has been parked in the capital for two years. It must have other operations aside from trafficking, right? Sui Zhou asked. Wang Zhi nodded. Right, thats what I was going to tell you all about. The Southside Gang is greater than either Boss Lai or Liu Zhili, and they act more ruthlessly, making them poor to communicate with. I asked Ah-Dong be the bait, thinking that Id catch the gang members and be done with it, but didnt expect that she would be lost, too. Those that dont want to make things worse will make things worse Sui Zhou pointed out the core of the issue. This gang can bribe inner officials of the palace to send children inside it. Their backing cant be said to be shallow. Will that effect our investigation? The other looked at him, expression a bit strange. It does have a bit of backing, but you shouldnt be asking me about this. You should be asking your Commanding Envoy. Sui Zhou frowned, saying nothing. Still, even if the Southside Gang has backing in officialdom, it shouldnt have anything to do with this case. It must be that some of their underlings are misbehaving. With such a big forest, theres bound to be all sorts of birds. Tang Fan felt like Wang Zhis attitude was very strange, and dubious. It was just like before; since he had already found out that this was related to the Southside Gang, it wouldve been fine for him to go for them directly, yet he had Ah-Dong be bait instead. It seemed like he only wanted to find the crook kidnapping kids, not aim at the entire Gang. Combining that with the answer he just gave to Sui Zhous question, Tang surmised that this might be because the Gang was in collusion with Commanding Envoy Wan Tong, who was Consort Wans little brother. Was Wang Zhi therefore not wanting to shoot at the rats out of fear that he would hit the vases? For it to be able to make the ever-lawless, unfearing Wang Zhi want to keep the peace, the Gangs capabilities were plainly not the ordinary sort of immense. However, if it could send children into the palace to be eunuchs, was it not only facilitated by Wan Tong? Was Wang Zhi being this hush-hush because the Gang had some other backer? In a split second, a lot of ideas flitted through his head. Before he had time to ponder deeper, though, he heard Wang Zhis chilly voice speak up. But, its likely also because of this that theyve gotten all the more self-confident, relying on having people in officialdom to act without restraint. What theyve done this time around is really too much, and its already reached imperial ears. No matter what, the kids have to be found as soon as possible. The captured two had just witnessed Wang Zhi pour them out empty. Not only were their faces deathly white, but they were terrified. You two are Southside Gang members, and youve heard what Director Wang just said, Tang Fan spoke. Were just asking for the chief criminal; his followers will get leniency. The child you just tried to abduct has been retrieved, so, as long as youre willing to proactively cooperate by obediently explaining where the Gang has stowed away the kidnapped children, you wont be charged. Not only that, youll be rewarded. Neither said anything. He was anxious on the inside, but maintained a calm look on his surface. Since you wont be charged, I cant think of any other reason for you to not be forthcoming. Do you really want to go to the Bastille, or the Western Depot? If you do, all sorts of torture will be carried out on you, and you wont be allowed either survival or death. Itll be too late for you to repent, then. After he said that, Sui Zhou waved his hand in conjunction. Take them back to the Bastille for pipa-play. Well go up and keep watch again later. No need to worry about not finding their colleagues. Xue Ling affirmed, flashing the two his ghastly white teeth. Do you guys know what pipa-play is? Let me tell you; we take a sharp knife to your ribs, then strum them like the strings of a pipa. You wont die, but the knife will still grind back and forth, scraping your flesh off with it until the very end, when theres nothing left but bone and then itll grind against that. That sound, tsk-tsk. Even my teeth hurt from hearing it. With such a description of torture, there was no need for them to experience pipa-play for themselves, as they had immediately crumbled, bawling. Sir, its not that we refuse to talk, but that its the biggest rule of the gang! If the second-in-command learned that we did something like this, wed probably get skinned, and then die all the same! Is Deng Xiucai responsible for the human trafficking your gang does? Tang Fan asked. One among them was sniveling. Yes, thats always been his domain. I heard that a bunch of higher goods had been abducted tonight, but our gang status isnt high. We dont know much! You dont have to worry about any retaliation, he answered warmly. How about this; after this is done, the authorities will help arrange new identities for you, then give you ample funds for shelter so that you can start over again in the South, letting you always be at ease. Xue Ling made a move like he was going to take them away. Why bother with them, Sir Tang? Since they dont want to now, once they undergo pipa-play, theyll be willing to say everything! With this hard-and-soft approach, the two finally and totally surrendered. Well talk! Well talk! Well explain everything! Despite having human trafficking as their business, the Southside Gang didnt sell salt illegally[1] like Boss Lai and Liu Zhili. They instead ran brothels and gambling dens, and also set up usury loans in other words, they couldnt get any more wicked. Selling people was not exactly illegal. For example, disasters happened all over the place in the Great Ming, and when the citizens could no longer survive, them selling their children was quite normal; it also happened to be source of slaves for may higher households. However, as was stated earlier, these traffickers would sometimes either kidnap ordinary peoples children for high profits, or extort a high price from rich families, or sell those with good looks to affluent places in the South, like those prostitution areas in Yangzhou. Just take a look at the previous worth of Jubilances former top number, Feng Qingzi. It wasnt hard to imagine the immense profits she had to have accrued. With the Southside Gangs method of kidnapping people and owning brothels at the exact same time, there was then no need to trade off to someone else they could simply groom those pitiful, innocent children into a source of wealth. Such practices were utterly reprehensible, but despite being forever banned in every Dynasty, there was no way to permanently cure it, only judge whether the circumstances were grave or not. On the basis of the information supplied by the two men, Tang Fans group found a brothel. The translator says: Deng Xiucais name is the same term for County Honorate, but he is not a smart bitch. Its like naming your kid Hunter, and they turn out to be vegan. [1] The history behind salt/tea/consumables smuggling is long and complicated, but heres the gist of it: since the ancient Chinese viewed these as necessities to life, they put special taxes and sanctions on them. However, this created bad monopolies, leading to more expensive products of lesser quality. In response, smugglers would put significantly cheaper and better versions on the black market. CH 49 As soon as they arrived and caught sight of the brothels sign, Wang Zhi laughed coldly. So, its this one. You Southsiders really were hiding out in plain sight! The two leading the way were too afraid to make a peep, both bowing their heads and pretending to be obedient grandsons. Ordered to do so by Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou, the Western Depot and Northern Bastion Offices people had already long encircled the brothel, enveloping it from head to tail to ensure that not even a mosquito could fly out of it. Hearing Eunuch Wangs very acquainted tone, he apparently understood this place better than the normal men present. Were it not for the current mismatching circumstances and mood, Tang Fan might have started laughing for real. Whats wrong with this building? he instead asked, with a serious face. On the plaque above the main entrance was engraved the name Relaxation, its calligraphy elegant, and details of outstanding literary grace. Without the bursts of giggles and dubious candlelight coming from it, it could have been some kind of restaurant. Wan Tong has a share in it, Wang Zhi answered. This tidbit was bit shocking to hear of, but when thought deeply about, it really wasnt anything strange. Since the Western Depot could become a patron boss of Immortal Guest, why couldnt there be a brothel under the Brocade Guards title? Not only that, but it could fall under the pretty name of intelligence gathering and information scouting, as brothels, gambling dens, and restaurants were areas most frequently concentrated with people coming and going. Wherever more people were at, more info would be at, which complimented the demands of such intelligence agencies. Thinking of that, Tang Fan looked at Sui Zhou. The man shook his head slightly at him, indicating that he had no idea about this. Apparently, Wang Zhi was hinting at Wan Tong having a personal connection to the brothel. His elder sister was the Consort, which made him an even more unreasonable capital character than Wang Zhi was. Owing to the shelter provided from a Brocade Commanding Envoy, the brothels business had gotten even more prosperous, and there was no need to fear people from the bureaus frequently coming to their door and soliciting bribes from them for all sorts of reasons. Anyways, right as they had come up to the door in preparation to mess the scene up, someone had already come out of it to welcome them. It was a gently-aged woman with a smile all across her face, the obvious owner of Relaxation. Oh my, Sirs! What kind of wind is blowing today? If you all wanted to come over and have fun, you only needed to say so ahead of time. Why make such a big scene? She had seen that their numbers and might were impressive, and that they hadnt come with benevolence, but she wasnt panicky. This demonstrated that she had self-confidence. Wang Zhi said nothing. There was no need for him to, really. Stationed behind him was a Depot squad leader named Ji Yang, who then ordered the two men to be put forward. Talk less drivel. Do you recognize these two? She glanced at them, smile unchanged. Never seen them before. He huffed out a laugh. Come. Go in and search! Her face sank. Hold on! Following her voice, more than a dozen big ol men scrambled out from inside the building, each of them tall, broad, and wielding clubs as they glared fiendishly at them. Simply outstanding. Tang Fan was not going to bring up who was in that group for right now. Sui Zhou, Wang Zhi, and the rest of them were all in officials uniforms, and their distinct robes would tell anyone that glanced at them what bureau they had come from. Ordinary folks wouldnt even have the time to hide once they sighted them, yet this bawd dared to openly stand off against them. Was this not the very definition of overconfidence? You must be mad, old broad! Ji Yang bellowed. Do you know who we are? She was undisturbed. I do, of course. You gents are of the Western Depot, are you not? Had you said that you were all here to seek pleasure, this old one would welcome you, but now that youve made it clear that youre ready to cause havoc, I wont be able to keep running my business if I let you in. The Western Depot has impressive might, but do you know who owns this place? Its an establishment listed under Wan Tongs name, right? Wang Zhi said at last. She narrowed her eyes and sized him up for a long while. Seeing how he was gathered around like stars to a moon, she smiled anew. Could you be Director Wang? Our house gives our courtesies. The Western Depot and Brocade Guard are as close as kin. Since you know the gains and losses amongst this, please be more accommodating on account of Envoy Wans dignity. Wang Zhi was someone of Consort Wans, and Wan Tong was her little brother. These were not secrets in society at large. However, a brothel bawd having the nerve to threaten Wang Zhi with Wan Tong made it clear that they werent in alliance. With that said, she made a gesture, and someone behind her offered up a tray. She lifted up a corner of the cloth covering it, instantly revealing the blindingly dazzling gold beneath it. Judging from its heavy weight, it was likely no less than three or four hundred taels worth. Observing that they were all staring at the tray, she couldnt help but grin, putting the cloth back down. This tiny bit of kind regard is for buying drinks for you and your subordinates, Director Wang. Theres no need to be humble, so please accept it. Wang Zhi laughed icily, reaching outwards. Everyone looked on blankly as the tray was flipped over. All the gold twisted numerous times around in the air, then tumbled onto the ground, immediately filling it with glittering light. Are you good enough to bribe me? he said to the dumbstruck bawd. Saying a few words to you is already putting you in high enough regard! Dont take yourself to be anything worthy! She had made a massive mistake. This brothel had Wan Tongs investment in it, true. Given his connection with Wang Zhi, the latter ought to give him some face. Conflict with him wouldnt be appropriate, either, else it would get back around to Consort Wan and make it hard for him to act. The problem was that he was currently looking for someone, and this place had confirmed that it had something to do with the Southside Gang, perhaps being one of its hideouts. He would be bearing the brunt of it if the case couldnt be solved, so no matter what kind of emotional incense was brought up, he had to find the children. Besides, the brothel wasnt part of Wan Tongs assets, so raiding it wouldnt be regarded as anything at all. The bawd had mistakenly believed that moving out his name would calm Wang Zhi down, but why had she thought that he would be easy to deal with? If he was too afraid to act against even an insignificant brothel, what would others think of him when word about that got out? Would he not be seen as a silver spear made of wax impressive, but ineffective? He wasnt done after scattering the gold, kicking the bawd over. Search! he then ordered his staff. Wait, wait! You cant go in! Her face finally contorted, since he wasnt responding to either force or persuasion. Due to being kicked in the middle, she couldnt get up for a moment, only able to sit on the ground and holler. Ill go send someone to fetch Master Wan! Youre not allowed in! Thatd be no use even if his own mother showed up, Wang Zhi answered indifferently. Are you all still not going in to search for me?! With that command, his subordinates directly unsheathed their blades. The several men guarding the main gate looked vicious, but how could they ever best the even more ferocious Depot wardens? In no more than a few exchanges, they had all collapsed onto the ground. Sui Zhou hadnt brought as many people tonight, and they werent even here, all guarding the rear entrance of the brothel. He didnt vie for power with the Depot, following in with Tang Fan behind them. As soon as the bawd had seen the Western Depot arrive, she had thought that moving Wan Tongs name out would make tonights major event a minor one. She hadnt anticipated that Wan Tong would have no effect, nor that Wang Zhi would pay her no mind. Since she had been confident a hundredfold, she hadnt evacuated those inside, resulting in a bunch of cries of alarm when Wang Zhis group broke in. The customers in the lobby were frightened; having something of an identity, they were prepared to slip out the rear entrance, but, unbeknownst to them, there were people waiting for them outside. They couldnt even jump out the windows, let alone the back entrance. Ji Yang gave an order, and then the wardens split up into several directions to outflank the upstairs, rapidly ascending to the second and third floors. All of the passages and doors to private rooms were kept watch on as the doors were kicked in. No matter what the people inside the rooms were doing, all of them got dragged out, which earned even more rising waves of screams. Everyone was brought out to congregate into the main lobby. Tang Fan lightly swept over them; there were a couple officials present. Hoo boy. Even though the Court had made it clear that officials were not allowed to go whoring, what man wouldnt sneak some in? So long as no one found out, they wouldnt get denounced by the censors. Since Wan Tong was connected to the place, the confidentiality of everyone that came to play was still safeguarded via the abilities of the majestic Commanding Envoy. This caused Relaxation to be unusually popular with both the over and underworlds, and business was great. Ordinary traders would frequently run into bureau workers using the excuse of collecting taxes to come and extort them, but because Relaxations influence was too great, no one dared to drop by and look for trouble. Resulting from this, they hadnt expected to encounter ghosts from walking too much at night. Today, somebody wasnt afraid to make a mess of Relaxation, and everybody was tongue-tied as they watched the Western Depot barge in. You cant fault this old one for not warning you, Director Wang! You shouldnt burn your bridges like this! the bawd said sternly as she walked in with a limp. Wang Zhi looked at her unfeelingly, as if he was looking at a dead woman. Do you know which family the children missing tonight came from? She laughed coldly. Arrogant from her behind-the-scenes supporter, she stared straight at him with no amount of dread. How would I? Youre being ridiculous. If a child has been lost, go look for it. What does that have to do with my brothel?! Among the children lost tonight, one is the youngest daughter of the Crown Princes Grand Tutor, Zhu Yong, and another is the grandson of the Assistant Minister of Appointments. Youve got some guts, to be playing accomplice to a villain and covering up missing children! Forget about one Wan Tong; even ten Wan Tongs wouldnt save you! Her face was covered with a thick layer of makeup; no one could tell whether she went pale or not, but in her eyes, there showed some hesitation and disbelief at his words. It was different from the conceited look she had had before. Right then, the wardens had already turned the whole brothel upside-down, and Ji Yang was seen to walk out of a storage room beside the back kitchens. Chief Eunuch, theres a cellar here, but nobodys inside it! Wang Zhi glared harshly at the bawd. Where are they? She forced a smile. If you didnt find anyone, then that means that weve been accused wrongly. If you dont believe it, you can search again and see that Im not lying! Sui Zhou and Tang Fan went straight into the storage room. A spot had been cleared out on the messy ground, revealing the entrance of a black hole. No ones below? Tang Fan asked. Ji Yang nodded. I went down and checked it out myself. The area below isnt large, and theres no mechanisms for secret tunnels. Even if anyone had been hidden down there, theres no chance they could have escaped from it. There were a lot of things in here, like many miscellaneous foodstuffs, and items such as rope. It looked like a typical storage room. Even the existence of the cellar below it wasnt odd, as many business or large households would have one for use in storing some perishable foods. Tang Fan didnt drop the topic because of Ji Yangs words. He glanced at Sui Zhou, and the latter immediately understood, taking a candle down from the wall. The two went down below, one after the other. Ji Yang was slightly displeased upon seeing this, thinking to himself, I said that I already checked it out. Are you two doubting me? He didnt descend, standing in place with his arms crossed, waiting to see how dejected they looked when they came up. Not long after, they did come up, but Tang Fan looked grave. People were kept below before. Ji Yang was skeptical. How could you tell? The cellar had to have been constructed some time ago, judging from the encasing walls. Theres no way that it was left completely empty, but had it been used to store foodstuffs, like pickled vegetables, there would be a remnant smell, or traces of their storage here. However, the ground is so clean, theres no traces of anything, which means that it isnt being used to store objects. Ji Yang had a sense of epiphany. He, too, had felt that the cellar was strange, but couldnt figure out why. As it turned out, he had forgotten to analyze the scent. How did they exit? Did they hear word on the wind before we got here? Tang Fan shook his head. From the time we caught those two gang members, got their confession, then came here, the time in between and people we had contact with give little possibility for word to leak out about it. They ought to have fled upon seeing our arrival. Theres no other passages here, though. People are standing guard outside, so they would have gotten discovered as soon as they had left. Sui Zhou had already gone to investigate the storage room, using the hilt of his saber to prod at a lot of the foodstuffs piled up in the corners, and also jab at the surrounding walls. Ji Yang could tell that he was trying to look for another passageway. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to be uncovered. Ji Yang, a bit disappointed, was about to go to a different room to look around when he heard Sui Zhou speak up. Theres something weird here. Turning his head, he saw that Sui Zhou was currently prodding at a huge hemp sack leaning against the wall, only for said sack not to budge at all from the action. Tang Fan stepped up and untied its opening, exposing chunks of stone that looked to weigh a couple thousand catties at a glance. No wonder Sui Zhou couldnt move it with his prodding; it would probably take two or three people to shift it. Why would a pile of rocks show up in a food storage room? There was no need for Tang Fan to explain as much; Ji Yang could tell that there was something weird going on. He and Sui Zhou joined forces to push the sack a little bit away. Spread out beneath it was a thin layer of straw. Sweeping that away, a thick floor tile could be seen covering the ground. In spite of it trying to blend in with the floor around it as much as it could, it still left some signs of itself behind. Sui Zhou and Ji Yang pried the tile up, then saw that there was indeed a hidden entrance below that seemed to go even deeper than the cellar, wherever it led unknown. Ji Yang realized that the ones that had dug out this tunnel were super cunning. They had made an easy-to-find cellar so that when people saw there was no one inside, they would subconsciously go to look in other spots, not guessing that there would be another hidden entryway in the room. Plus, the stuffed sack on top of it looked exactly like the sacks around it that held food. Only when one prodded each individual one like Sui Zhou had, then also took the time to untie and examine them, could anything be found out. That bawd wouldnt be able to yell about false accusations now. Ji Yang promptly strode out and told Wang Zhi of what had been discovered. The latter looked at the bawd. Do you want to say anything? Her face was unreadable, stiff-lipped as ever. That tunnel had been dug out during this buildings construction period for use as a ditch, then was abandoned afterwards and is no longer used. Whats so strange about it? That fucking ditch of yours was dug out just enough for humans to enter it, Ji Yang sneered. They really took some great pains for it. Which craftsmen made it? Ill hire him later! Wang Zhi had substantial proof, yet was calm as he spoke to her. You keep on saying that this place has Wan Tongs backing, but he still hasnt shown up. Do you know why? Youre nothing more than a brothel bawd; whenever something happens, youll always be shoved out to be the scapegoat. You claim to be on his side, but if theres someone that doesnt acknowledge that, whats to be done? In any case, we have the time, so well just interrogate you right here. If you refuse to speak, well keep asking until you do. Wei Mao! A middle-aged, stiff-faced man came out. He was a squad-leading Millarch of the Western Depot, and the best at forcing out confessions. Now that this task had been handed over to him, he was entirely within his area of expertise. As soon as he waved his hand, two subordinates stepped forth, then firmly held down the bawd. Well proceed with Ten Unsullied Fingers, he said as he came forward, having the others press her fingers onto the ground. Producing a pair of strangely-shaped pliers from who-knew-where, he crouched down, nipped them onto one of her fingernails, then ruthlessly pulled up. Aaaaaaaa! Her shriek rushed up to and broke through the clouds. All the customers and women in the brothel had since been gathered into the first floor by the Depot. They helplessly watched this spectacle, every face turning pale with fear. They had always heard a lot about the Depots might, but it was only now that they got to witness a real-life torture scene. For a long time following this, they would likely start trembling all over just from hearing its name. The name of Ten Unsullied Fingers sounded pleasant, but in reality, it was the pulling off of all ten fingernails on ones hands. Since fingers were connected to the heart,[1] it could be imagined how painful it was. All were white-faced as they saw the bawd howl in agony, suddenly feeling like their own nails hurt. When Tang Fan came out of the room, he heard Wang Zhi ask her, You have ten nails. Itll be slow-going until your hands are done. Theres still your feet, then, you know? If even those all get pulled off and youre still going strong, Ill accept your words. Her arms tightly restrained, she was unable to move, tears and snot flowing together. There was no need to mention how pitiful that old, previously-overbearing face was now. Even so, Tang Fan would never sympathize with someone like this. To put it in ugly terms, her heart was completely blackened; even if she had nothing to do with the missing children, she had committed no lack of immoral deeds on a regular basis. Were she to experience every kind of torture in the Depot once through, she likely still wouldnt be washed clean of her sins. Seeing that she still refused to speak, Wei Mao used the pliers to grasp the nail on her index finger. Right when he went to move, he heard her squeal like a pig getting butchered. Dont! Ill talk, Ill talk! Dont do it! Let me go! Let me go! Onlookers might not know from experience the sensation of getting a nail lifted off, but the bawd really wanted to die right now. She itched to cut off her finger, as that might not hurt so much. She wailed with all her might, body twitching non-stop though that still couldnt cast away the ache of bone-penetrating gangrene. Already unable to care about anything else, every secret in her head was far away, leaving only one thought behind: Make the pain stop! Wang Zhi waved his hand, following which she was picked up and escorted to the storage room. The door shut, leaving four people inside aside from her. Speak, he said. The kids arent arent here she claimed as she sobbed. He raised a brow, thinking that she was going to shamelessly quibble again. Wei Mao, get some salted water and sprinkle it on her finger. She screamed. No, no, no! I didnt lie! Theyre really not here! They left more than half a shichen ago! I only do business of the flesh. If the Southside Gang kidnaps any kids, they sometimes hide away here temporarily, but they always take them away quickly! Did you see us coming, then notify for them to leave? How many people were in their party? How many of them were children? Where did they escape to? Where does this secret tunnel lead to? He threw out those few questions quickly. She looked at the very near pliers, long scared into being too afraid to not answer. I didnt! I didnt notify them. They left before you came here, because someone had come back ahead of time and said that they had seen your Depot doing an interrogation near the city towers. Thinking that things might get exposed, he hurried back, took all those kids out of the cellar, then left by the tunnel. There were three adults, and about eight children. Most of them were under ten the tunnel leads outside the city. Thats all I know! My place is only a transfer point, I dont know where they actually go! What is your position in the Gang? Tang Fan asked. Who are the others in it? Im a bawd! How could I talk about having any position?! she cried out. Im just a nobody in the Gang! Human trafficking is all the domain of the second-in-command, I would never dare to ask after it! Occasionally, theyll send over some tender-skinned children over, say that they brought them all from the South, and tell me to train them up, which Ill do, but I really dont know anything more! Wang Zhi said nothing. Wei Mao directly poured salted water on the bawds blood-stained finger; she wailed in agony, but couldnt give anything else useful. Everyone could tell that she wasnt lying, and her knowledge was evidently finite. Among those children, was there a fat little girl about eight years old? Tang Fan questioned again. Her hair is put into double buns, and theres a red ribbon on her head. So that she wouldnt suffer further, the bawd vigorously thought back. It seems like there was nono, there definitely was! There was! I remember a girl like that. There was a littler girl that had been crying the whole time, and the adult leading them got impatient, so he went to beat her. The bigger girl protected the younger one, and she got slapped hard! His complexion went ashen. Ah-Dong had been born a slave, but ever since she had been with him, he was fond of her. How could he have ever hit her? Now that he had heard that someone had struck her, he was immediately enraged. Wang Zhi asked a few more questions, such as where the other hideouts of the Gang were, where the man in charge was, what the identities of those that took the children were, and so on. She always answered that she didnt know, and torture had no effect. Theres no time to waste. Im going to take a look now! Tang Fan said. Sui Zhou nodded. Well go together. He called Xue Ling and the rest over. Altogether, five people, Tang Fan included, brought along candles and such, then bent over to enter the tunnel. It was relatively narrow. Only one person was allowed to pass through at a time, and even then, they had to stoop to proceed. According to the bawd, the secret passage had been excavated pretty crudely. There was no illuminated flight of steps nor mechanisms, just a path that led out of the city. It was convenient for moving people and things that couldnt be seen, whenever they wanted. As the Brocade Guards were physically skilled, they responsibly walked in front while Tang Fan walked behind. They went on for a while; because the passage was craggy and uneven, Tang Fan was preoccupied with adapting to the environment, and thus was inattentive. By the time he had gotten a short distance along, he detected that somebody was following him. Turning back to look, he saw that it was Wang Zhi, plus a couple of wardens. A place like this is dark and difficult to traverse. Youve really been wronged, Eunuch Wang. With your status, why should you do everything yourself? he couldnt resist mocking, upset that he had asked Ah-Dong to be bait. Eunuch Wang snorted with a grin. They must have someone outside of the city corresponding with them. I feared that with how few people you have, youll inadvertently meet with them on the road, then make fools of yourselves. The translator says: In todays authorly mini-theatre, the bawd offers to tell Wang Zhi a joke to lighten the mood. Her joke is, Once upon a time, there was an imperial eunuch. He died. The end. He sicced dogs on her. End scene. [1] In TCM, heart meridians are purportedly in ones arms, which gives them more feeling compared to legs. CH 50 Sui Zhou, who was walking in front, cut off their bickering to ask, The manpower I brought tonight is limited, and theyre all here with me now. Dare I ask if the Western Depot is watching the outside of Relaxation? Inside this tunnel where one needed to bend to walk, Wang Zhis voice was still very calm. You still need to ask? Others shut the brothel down when I descended. They wont be making any big waves. The other relaxed a little and said nothing else, focusing on scouting out the path ahead. Aside from breathing and footsteps in the stifling passageway, there was momentarily no other sounds. Their group went in a rush, walking for about the greater half of a shichen. The air here was thin, and completely separated from the surface, linked to it by only its ends. As the route stretched on, it inevitably got stuffier to breathe in, and even the flames of the candles flickered in and out, so feeble that they could barely be regarded as anything. Tang Fan was inferior to everyone else in terms of martial skill, so this sensation was more prominent to him than them. For the sake of not falling behind or becoming a burden, he simply grit his teeth and made not a sound. All of a sudden, his foot kicked a rock and he stumbled forward, only for him to be snatched by the clothes on his back just in time. His shoulder was held by a hand as his figure was dragged back, averting his fate of falling face first onto the ground and eating crap. He didnt need to turn back to know that it was Wang Zhi that had helped him out. Though overwhelmingly reluctant, he didnt want to go against his own upbringing. Thanks a bunch, he was obliged to mutter out. A mocking laugh came from behind him, followed by Eunuch Wangs cold words. If you dont want to thank me, theres no need to force yourself. You civil officials suffer in life for the sake of saving face in death. If I had known, I wouldve kicked you on the ass so that youd fall onto the guy in front of you, too. What magnificent sight that would have been! Look at that; what a poor mouth Eunuch Wang had. Others couldnt thank him, but they couldnt not thank him, either. Tang Fan, angered half to death, mentally told himself that he wasnt going to bicker with him, so he didnt answer, simply rushing on ahead with a swelling head. As he couldnt pursue his victory, Wang Zhi felt this to be rather dull. He curled his lip, ordering for a retreat. Relaxation was located in the capitals northeast, not far from the citys gates, but the path was really long. While they went, they were all inwardly alarmed, thinking of how meticulous the one that had this tunnel excavated was. If they continued on like this, they would likely be in the outskirts by the time they got out. The traffickers had left over half a shichen before them, and if someone had received them already, it would likely now be very hard to overtake them. Everyones legs and backs hurt, Tang Fans especially, but the chilly air blowing against their faces roused their spirits. Knowing that the exit wasnt too far ahead, they quickened their steps. Sure enough, after another quarter hour, Xue Ling was heard to whisper, Were here! He passed off his candle to Sui Zhou, then effortlessly leapt out of the mouth of the tunnel. The others followed suit in climbing out, one after the other. Although the outside wind cut like a knife, everyone had been stuffed up for so long, they felt it refreshing. The moon remained bright tonight. Tang Fan surveyed their surroundings, then saw that they were currently situated within a forest. The hole they had just come out of was beneath a slope, with stones obstructing it and trees ahead of it. Had they not just walked it, it would have been hard to believe that the tunnel led straight to the storage room of a capital brothel. It was not just him, but likely everyone that instantly got a sense of freakish absurdity. After a long while, Sui Zhou spoke up. Heading back would just be the capital again. They must have exited the forest and headed onward. Since they believed that they had built a hidden path, then exited the city into the open world with a bunch of children brought along with them, they had to have rested their feet afterwards. Our pace is a bit quicker, so we might be able to catch up to them. Nobody had any objections, of course, and they went out the forest to go along the governmental roads. The problem here was that they didnt have horses, meaning they could only rely on their legs to move them forward. Even with a quick pace, they wouldnt be getting anywhere fast. The fortune here, at least, was that they had only walked for fifteen minutes before making a discovery. Appearing before them was a three-way fork in the road; two were official, one was an off-road, and all three went off in different directions. Wang Zhi knew the capital like his own property, but outside of the city, he was kind of blind. Upon seeing this, he frowned. Three paths which one did they take? One of the two official roads leads to the ShunyiCHuairou region, and the other goes from Changping to Xuanhua Prefecture, Xue Ling said. The off-road is a big detour that ends at Tianjin Fort. Because of said detour, a ghost village has to be passed through not too far ahead. A plague had swept through there many years ago; almost its entire population died, and most of those that survived moved away. Now, its deserted. Few would take that road. Wang Zhi was sullen. Shit. Three roads. How to choose? Xue Ling felt like he was in a bind, too. Even if they divided up into three groups to give chase, they had no horses, and couldnt walk speedily. The result would be like a cup of water to a cart on fire. Brother, should we go back, find a few horses, then split up for the chase? he asked Sui Zhou. Our Guards are all over the place. We can tell them to be tight on alert. This was a solution for a lack of solution, yet the man didnt answer. He was looking at Tang Fan, who was crouched not too far away and studying the tracks. Amidst their group, the most anxious one was he, because Ah-Dong was one of the lost children. Sui Zhous emotions were normally somewhat restrained, but he similarly didnt want to see her abducted by traffickers, stranded in parts unknown henceforth. Wang Zhi was also very anxious. In fact, he was many times more anxious than either of them. As was known, he had hurried back from the frontlines on a secret order the Emperor had handed him: investigate suspicious persons on Longevity Hill, and get Zhu Yongs daughter back. Longevity Hill had been heaped during the imperial palaces repair in Yongles reign. Placed to its north, it was also known as Viewing Hill, because, in Beijing, only when standing upon it could one look down and view the entire scenery of the Imperial City. For that reason, succeeding generations of Emperors thought it taboo, and the Hill was pretty much fully guarded. Even so, not everyone was incapable of ascending it, like the sorcerer Li Zilong. He had once bewitched a group of internal officials into bringing him on top. Following that, the Emperor would frequently get suspicious and insecure, always thinking that someone was standing up there, watching him. A few days ago, he had dreamed that someone was on top of the Hill, which made him uneasy. He had the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard go investigate it, but they couldnt figure out the cause. He didnt trust their conclusion, thusly having Wang Zhi return from the frontlines to check things out. The latter had scrambled back post-haste, had people keep watch on the Hill for several days, and then inspected it once over. Nothing dubious had been found at all; it was nothing more than the Emperors own paranoia. Still, he had to randomly seek out a justification to handle this, which happened to coincide with this second case of the missing children. To avoid the Emperor being unhappy and thus thinking that the Western Depot was incompetent and powerless Wang Zhi needed to do all he could to crack this case and retrieve Zhu Yongs daughter. On one hand, this would display his skill, as well as make the Emperor feel that his Depot still had use. On the other, he needed to comfort Zhu Yong, who was on the front lines. He had returned incognito. Not many knew of this, so wantonly publicizing it wouldnt be suitable. His return trip from Datong needed to be within a few days, because if the Eastern Depot came to know of it, Shang Ming would do something dirty, like send a memorial to take Wang Zhis place as Army Supervisor Envoy so that he could focus on the search. That would be great fun. Therefore, Eunuch Wangs time was quite precious. The case needed to be solved in two days, at most, and the longer it dragged on, the worse it would be for him. This was why his heart could now practically be described as burning with anxiety. Go to the nearest posthouse and find a couple horses! he ordered his subordinates, tone poor. Wait! Tang Fan called out, straightened up, then walked back to ask Xue Ling, You just said that the off-road leads to an abandoned village? Yes. How far is it from here? Whats the minimum time to get there? It isnt far, about a quarter-hour of walking. Are there any other villages to rest at past it? Xue Ling shook his head. No. Because of the plague that rustled the place up, some passersby later claimed that they had encountered ghosts there. After exiting the village, its basically all wildlands, and then a big detour to Tianjin Fort. Lots of people would rather go to Tongzhou instead of suffering for no reason there. Tang Fan nodded. Thats fine. Well just go to the village, theres no need to find horses. The other was taken aback. Youre saying that they went there? Not even dogs would take that road! His implication being that he kind of didnt believe him. Tang Fan pointed at the ground. Theres freshly-pressed wagon ruts here. Since people seldom frequent here, yet the ruts are new, that means the other party left only recently. Aside from those traffickers, who else would take this road in the middle of the night? Those two tracks of ruts are too shallow, and theres fresh ones on the government roads, too. Theyre even a little deeper. How can it be determined for certain that they went towards the village? Maybe theyre deliberately drawing us down another road to hold us up. No. Since theyre doing something illegal, theyre definitely scared that someone will find them, especially with so many children in their carriage. When that carriage moves, its sound is very loud, too. I just saw that the ruts on the official roads have wood shavings, while only the ones going to the village road dont. Furthermore, the rut marks are slightly uneven, which illustrates that the wheels might be wrapped in cloth. Only the carriage that was actually loaded with the children would require such pains. The tracks on the other roads ought to just be diversions. Once everyone thought about it, that seemed to be the truth. For cautions sake, Wang Zhi didnt dare to arrest his hopes entirely upon Tang Fans judgement. You all can go for it. Ill take people to get horses, search down the other roads separately, then come reconvene with you. Time was tight, so Tang Fans group didnt say anything extra, going their separate ways with a verbal agreement. Just as Xue Ling had said, they walked for about fifteen minutes until they saw what seemed to be a village site not too far ahead. Moonlight shone down upon it, reflecting off of the withered thatch roofs. Reason dictated that an inhabited village would feel a certain way to spectators, even if every single household had gone to bed. A dog would bark on occasion, for example, or pigs in a pen might squeal, or someones kid might cry. Whether from the windows that hadnt been fixed in years, or the few houses that were in such disrepair that their roofs were half-gone, a message was sent to Tang Fans group: the village before them was indeed abandoned. However, what caused everyone to feel inexplicably unsettled was not that the place had been deserted for long, no one populating it, but rather that the buildings still faintly emitted light. Weak candlelight shone through the ruined windows, bobbing and swaying, as if people inside were sewing or reading by light. Deep in the night, at a ghost village, many houses were lit up inside. What kind of scene was this? Xue Ling had been in the Northern Bastion Office for many years, consciously training himself to have a tract of iron guts, but with one look at this abnormal picture, his scalp instantly exploded, densely-packed goosebumps arose on his back, and his hairs stood on end. This village had no name, he whispered. Everyone called it Xu Village, because most of the folks that had lived here were surnamed Xu. Once a lot of people died of plague and the few remaining alive moved out overnight, the authorities purportedly send people over to cremate the corpses. It took two days and nights to burn them all away. They didnt care to make a burial mound, and had wanted to burn the whole village down, but it started raining as soon as they lit it up. This happened three times in a row. Rumors said that since the plague victims had died unjustly, their souls hadnt left, and they refused to let the village burn down. The authorities were then too afraid to try it again, so the place was completely abandoned afterwards. Generally, no one picks this path because its too tragic. Are there actually ghosts? A Guard following Sui Zhou asked anxiously. No ones lived here for a long time, which happens to give certain people the opportunity to act spooky, the man answered darkly. If they really have gone this way, this might be a trap they laid out for the sake of making us paranoid over ghosts. Take caution, everyone. Dont get caught in an ambush. Look, Tang Fan said. Not all of the buildings have candles lit in them. Sui Zhou nodded. Well check out the unlit rooms first. Dont wander off, all of you. Follow me. At a time like this, he was able to embody the characteristics of a leader. Had someone else been in his position, with subordinates at his side to support him, he would definitely say something like: You all go investigate it for activity. What Sui Zhou had said, though, was: You all have to follow me. A senior official willing to take the lead would naturally be admired and respected by their subordinates. Sui Zhou being popular in the Northern Bastion Office was not without reason. There were only about five unlit houses. Everyone brandished their weapons, checking them out one by one. Because of all the weird views in front of them, they were all extraordinarily vigilant, gripping their spring-gilt sabres tightly, bodies tensed to the extreme. Each time a house was kicked open, they kept their eyes staring at it unerringly, for fear that something dangerous would charge out of it. Tang Fan didnt need to put in any effort, of course. He followed at the end, a bit superfluous. Their eyes had now already adapted to the dusky environs of the outskirts, and that bit of adaptation made it so that there was nothing they couldnt see. The candleless homes were pitch-black, and after getting kicked open by Sui Zhou, they were discovered to have nothing but simple furnishings inside them. Some homes beds were piled with a disarray of blankets; after just one prod with the tip of a sabre, the bedding that had long gone brittle from sitting there would shortly break apart. Some homes chairs had also since gone decrepit, collapsing with one bump. By the time they came to sequentially inspect the fifth house, no one was as nervous anymore. They were mentally still on-guard, but had finally relaxed a little. Brother! Theres a carriage parked in back! A Guard, who had been responsible for checking the surroundings of the house, quickly came from behind it to report. Hearing this, Sui Zhous group successively wound around the back, then caught sight of a carriage stopped between the homes backyard and the side of the mountain wall. Upon taking a closer look, its four wheels were covered in a thick layer of cloth, just as Tang Fan had stated earlier. It was exceedingly likely that the others had fled here. The carriage was present, but the people were unseen. It wouldve been easy for those couple of adults from the Southside Gang to flee if they had martial arts, but the problem with that was that they also had a group of kids with them, who werent easy to maneuver. Where could they really hide at? At this time, they heard Tang Fan give a fleeting, hushed exclamation: Someones there! He hadnt come to see the carriage with them, still standing at the entrance of the house to finely inspect things. This made him the one most likely to detect movement outside. Sui Zhou reacted speedily. Following Tang Fans words, he turned, clearly saw the spot he was pointing out, then locked on to the other partys position this was all in the brief span of only a few breaths. Beneath the moonlight, a black shadow scrambled out of an unlit house not too far away, moving at flying speed, nearly risking his life to flee. Were Tang Fan to give chase, he definitely wouldnt be able to catch up. He couldnt, but someone else certainly could this person was quick, but Sui Zhou was even quicker. The event went faster than could be narrated; Sui Zhou zipped out, figure hopping like a rabbit and diving like a hawk. The sabre he held did not stay idle, getting thrown directly at the man. Only a shriek was heard reverberating in the wilderness as he got nailed on the shoulder, falling heavily onto the ground. Right then, Xue Ling and the rest had also caught up, roughly pressing the escapee down, then drawing the spring-gilt sabre out of his shoulder. The man squealed like a butchered swine again, after which he stopped completely. Xue Ling snatched him by his lapels. Speak! Where are your pals, and those kids?! The man groaned. I-I dont know Seeing that he was still being stiff-lipped, Xue Ling exerted some strength to break the guys right pinky. Aaaa!!! The others face contorted with pain, eyes showing enormous fear. Are you talking? Xue Ling didnt have the patience to deal with him, so he broke one of his ring fingers. Ill talk! Ill talk! the man sobbed out. They brought the kids up the mountain! Liar! Why would they abandon the carriage and choose to go up there instead?! Im not! Im not lying! A blade had hit his shoulder, making him seep blood, and two of his fingers were broken. He wailed with pain, not far off from how the bawd with plucked nails had been earlier. No matter how tough-boned he was, he could only surrender before the Brocade Guard. The carriage broke because it was carrying too many people! The front wheels split and would have fallen apart if they kept going, so they had to stop here and flee to the mountain! They took the children with! They arent far, so you can catch up if you go now! Why are you here alone, then?! The man panted. Th-they made me stay and light candles in those houses, to scare and delay you all a bit There was basically nothing else to ask after this. Sui Zhou gave Xue Ling a look, and the latter understood implicitly. The hilt of his sabre struck the back of the mans head hard, and he collapsed limply to the ground. He cant die yet, Sui Zhou said to Tang Fan. You can stay here and help bandage him while we go upmountain in pursuit. Tang Fan nodded, speaking no nonsense. Okay, leave it to me. Go, quick! He didnt know martial arts, nor was his pace quick. He would only be a lagging burden going up, and were a conflict between the two sides to happen, he would be absolutely no help. It would be better to keep watch here, so that if Wang Zhi brought his people over, he could receive them. Sui Zhous group left in a rush. Meanwhile, Tang Fan peeled off the mans outer robe, tore a strip off of it, then wound it around his armpit a couple times, binding it tightly to stop the bleeding. The abandoned village was lonesome under the mooned night. Cold wind passed through the dilapidated doors and windows, its sound like a wailing ghost. It really lived up to the rumors of it being haunted. The heavily injured and unconscious man laid beside him notwithstanding, standing alone in the chilly breeze inevitably gave him the illusion of being the only one left in the world. Coupled with the dancing shadows and flickering flames inside the homes, the ambience was extremely so. If it were to be claimed that this place wasnt haunted, no one would believe it. As he thought of this, he felt that something was a bit off. It would be justifiable to say that with the hard wind outside and busted windows, those candles should have long been blown out, but at least over half were still shining right now, not extinguished in the gale. This Southside Gang member was evidently pretty diligent at setting things up to scare people. They had arrived in a hurry, afraid that the longer they took, the farther the traffickers would get, as once they were out of the capitals bounds, it would be a lot harder to locate them again. Regardless of whether it was Tang Fan or Sui Zhou, they had to make decisions in a very limited amount of time. Since he had nothing to do at the moment, Tang Fan leisurely brought these particulars to mind. He picked the nearest house, then pushed at its door. Following a creak, it opened in response. He found that the candleholder placed beside the window happened to be blocked in front by a wall so that it wasnt directly facing the draft. There was also a white glass cover over the flame with a small plank of wood pressing down on it so that the wind couldnt get in, which made it hard for the flame to go out. He approached it, then lifted the plank. The inside was filled with lamp oil, and the wick was thicker than normal ones. No wonder it hadnt gone out. His heart thumped, as he suddenly realized that something was wrong this village had been abandoned for years, so how could there be such new, translucent lamp oil, and such a thick wick? These people held the desire to escape, which was why they had picked this road, but even if they had planned this in advance, how could they have also brought oil and wicks with them? Right then, a burst of rustling sounds came from outside. Acting on impulse, he turned and strode out, only to see that the outside was bare the Gang member that had just been knocked out was gone! Theyd been set up! His heart sank. Before he had time to think more about it, the back of his head was struck hard, and he pitched forward, losing consciousness. Feng shui really did revolve around. That one guy had just gotten knocked out by Xue Ling, and now it was his turn. That was his last thought before everything went dark. CH 51 He awoke amidst the sound of a dispute. After gradually regaining consciousness, he discovered that his arms and legs had been bound tight, his back had a hard wall against it, and his eyes were blindfolded. Two people in front of him appeared to be talking in hushed voices. You wont kill him outside? a rough one asked. Why did you bother with bringing him in? Big Liu, you idiot! another quiet one answered. Didnt you hear what Little Six said? He misled those guys up the mountain, and had to give up two fingers, plus a stab, to barely get them to believe him. If they cant find anyone, theyll definitely come back, and when they find this guy dead there, they might find this place out of suspicion, too. Were only trying to drag this out, not attract troops into chasing us! This is all Cripple Luos fault, Big Liu said, dejected. If he had clearly checked out the origins of those brats before taking them, we wouldnt be in such a mess! You really cant blame him, though. The other was also dejected. Brats go strolling around without any labels stuck on them, so who ever knows whose kids they are? To do stuff like this, you need sharp eyes, quick hands, and prompt decisions. He saw that they were well-dressed and good-looking, so he got them. He wasnt wrong for it What do we do now, then? The Brocade Guard and Western Depot have both chased us here. Should we send them back? From the second-in-commands implication, he seems to have said not to. A mistake is just a mistake. Those impsll be transported South to sell, and theres always someone willing to pay a high price for them. If we send them back now, the talons of those Court hawks might shove us out to be the fall guys! Heh heh and didnt you see the goods we got this time? That tender flesh will fetch at least a hundred taels of silver per head. Those two are especially pretty, so maybe theyll sell for a couple hundred! When that happens, everyones getting a minimum share of the figure! Five taels? The man scoffed. Can you be a bit more ambitious? Add a zero after that! Big Liu sucked in a breath. What a concept fifty taels was! Tang Fans own yearly salary didnt even amount to that much. Without a doubt, Ming officials suffered hard lots; from the Viziers down to the piddly officials, everyones pay was low, else he himself wouldnt be needing to write romance novels to supplement his income. Fifty taels was no small amount for an ordinary commoner, either, as a family of five only needed about thirty a year. A redemption price of a couple thousand taels, like Feng Qingzis, was something only the rich could afford, but even so, many people had scrambled like ducks to crowd around her. This was obviously a hugely profitable industry, and indicated that the truly wealthy were still numerous. It was thus unsurprising that the one before him would take such a severe risk for the high return of fifty taels. Hearing his description, Big Liu seemed to visualize that gleaming silver, and he started to chuckle with unlimited longing. Brother Xin, youll have to guide your littler brother, here! All Ive done in the Southside Gang prior to this is some non-mainstream little jobs, but how can I get into the second-in-commands high regards like that? Youve always been his subordinate, so Ill follow whatever it is you say to do! Brother Xin was similarly crafty. No way! All of us follow him; how would I have the skill to guide you?! Ill be honest, what happened this time has kicked up a bit too big of a fuss. That Wan guy likely wont be able to shoulder it for us, so hell have to send people for the search. The second-in-commands implied that hell drag it out for ten days to half a month. The Court group will act in waves, and once the wind passes, its search efforts wont be as strong. After that, well take a boat from Tianjin down South, where the land and waters are vast. I dont believe theyll be able to track us down, then! Tang Fans eyes were shut as he continued to feign unconsciousness, hoping to hear some more useful information. There was a throbbing pain at the back of his head; he suspected that he was bleeding from a hit with a brick. But, Brother Xin it seems like Lady Ninths group is in the middle of trying to convince him to let the two best-looking brats go, right? Its said that theyre kids of officials, and the people outside are pursuing so closely wholly because of them. If we let them go, the Court wont go after us anymore. Even if we sell whats left, thatll still be a moneymaker. Brother Xin snorted. Idiot! Theyre just cowards, the second-in-command has the right idea! Now that things have gotten to this point, we cant just give them back and have everything be okay, since Wanll be lacking a scapegoat to bear the blame. Instead of that, we may as well go for broke. With them in our hands, we can negotiate terms better with those hawk talons. Youre really smart, Brother Xin! Youve seen right through the second-in-commands thoughts! Big Liu praised on end. Having said that are we going to keep hiding here, or take the time those guys are upmountain to hurry and leave? Listening this far, there was suddenly no sound before him. He felt it odd until he suffered a hard kick to his calf, the pain making him grunt. Still faking sleep? his counterpart sneered. Immediately after that, the cloth strip blinding him was torn off. He squinted. Only one candle was lit in the room, its feeble light not at all preventing him from observing his surroundings. The room had mud walls up, down, and all around, a secret area dug out who-knew-where. There was only one chair and one blanket spread out on the floor; it didnt get any simpler than that. He also took notice that there were four circular holes dug out in each corner of the house-caves roof, which were each slightly smaller than a mans palm. They appeared to be used for ventilation. His heart jumped, but his calf got kicked again before he could ponder further. He made a muffled sound of pain, twitching continuously from it. His hands, bound behind him, couldnt even reach out to massage it. What are you looking at, shifty-eyes! the Xin guy bellowed. No need to look! You got in, so dont even think about getting out! This was the first time in his life that someone had called him shifty-eyed, and the one that did it was a shifty guy that sold people. It was so absurd, he didnt know how to react, though he did clear his throat. Have you two brothers misunderstood something? Presumably, you know that many people are looking for you outside right now. As it happens, Ive come under secret orders from Envoy Wan. I want to meet with your second-in-command to relay his words to him. Xin laughed coldly. Still acting? Dont think that we dont know that youre obviously a Shuntian Judge, and that youre grouped up with the guys chasing us! Ill tell you now that your life is in our hands, and whether youre killed or not is up to us. Quit using those smartass little ploys! Theyll cost you your life instead of saving you! Tang Fans heart sank, immediately going half-cold. This wasnt because the man had threatened him, but because the enemy was in the dark while his side was in the light. They had already discovered his origins in detail, yet he knew not a thing about them, apart from what he had learned from Wang Zhi. Seeing that Tang Fan was momentarily silent, Xin smiled in self-pride. Be good and stay here. Dont think about playing any tricks. Maybe youll be able to live for a moment more. He then turned to Big Liu. Im going to report to the second-in-command that the punks awake. You stay and keep watch. Big Liu affirmed, and Xin left in a rush. As his name told, Big Liu was tall and robust. The ceiling here was low, so someone like him had to stoop a little to stand. Quite stifled, he could only sit on the chair, which had been tottering to begin with. As soon as his butt hit it, it broke apart with a clatter, and Big Liu followed after it with an ouch, planting solidly on his ass. Tang Fan wanted to laugh, but couldnt, for fear of incurring the others wrath. He did all he could to make his face serious, and full of concern. Are you okay, Brother? You mustnt land on bone. How about you rub some medicinal wine on it? Big Liu gave him a fierce glare. Wheres wine going to come from in the middle of nowhere?! Shut up or Ill stuff a chair leg in your mouth! Tang Fan sighed. I heard that other man say that your surname is Liu, so Ill just call you Brother Liu, okay? I can tell that youre stately-looking, and a man of obvious talent, much stronger than the unbearably thin bamboo reed that I am. You surely have excellent skill. If you were willing to serve the government, you might already be a squad leader for patrolmen. Why should you squander your good physique here? He put on a look of having a heartfelt chat, as he could tell from the previous exchange of words that Big Liu was clearly someone lacking in brains, so he intended to show some feelings in the hopes that he could get some more insider information. If that Xin guy had stayed behind instead and he still did this, he probably only would have incurred another kick. Sure enough, Big Liu had been flattered. Even if he was still ignoring him, the expression he held was slightly loosened up. Tang Fan continued with his efforts. Before I came in here, the Brocade Guard and Western Depot were on a joint manhunt for you. What their backings are, I dont need to explain; you should know, yes? Their methods are ruthless, and they have no scruples at all. They arent comparable to average Shuntian Prefecture officials like me. If you fall into their hands, theyll take turns with tortures like pipa-play and ten unsullied fingers, where death will be preferable to life. As of right now, no one has lost their life. Youve merely kidnapped a few children, meaning that theres absolutely still margin for discussion. In my own words, if youre willing to turn to the light and help me out, I can guarantee that youll be wholly unharmed. Not only that, but you can be a Shuntian patrolman. Isnt that more impressive than a life of stowing away? He had spoken so painstakingly patiently for so long, only for Big Liu to suddenly ask, How much yearly salary is there for a patrolman or whatever, then? Tang Fan had tried to persuade him so strenuously, yet had to casually tell the truth. About a dozen taels. As long as I work under the second-in-command, Ill get more than fifty taels a year. Why the hell would I follow you in earning a dozen? Big Liu looked at him with a face of youre mad. Dont swindle me! Brother Xin said that you officials only get a couple dozen taels a year once youre at the top! If I cant do that, then arent I just shit out of luck? You may as well join up with us. The second-in-command will let you live well! Damn. A second of inattention, and now Im the one being recruited! Tang Fan calmed himself, proceeded with assuming an appearance of plain communication, and utilized a gentle tone to lower the others mental defenses. Speaking of, how come Ive been hearing you name the second-in-command so much? Your first-in-command is Ding Yimu, and hes a celebrated hero. Big Liu was getting bored from doing nothing. Since someone was willing to chat with him to pass the time, he went along with it. Thats true, but Im not sure. Ever since I joined the Gang, Ive never seen the first-in-command. In my eyes, the second is the most powerful. His wisdom is comparable to Zhu-something Zhuge. Right, Zhuge! Were all super confident in him. Ever since Ive been following him, my lifes been getting better by the day. My woman at home can even wear silk stuff! Thats really good. Even I cant wear silk, Tang Fan said with a smile. But does she know what youre doing, and living in no lack of fear every day? I havent let her know. She does odd jobs outside because of me. Your home is in the capital, then, yet youre stuck here now; arent you afraid that shell worry? Theres nothing to be done with that bunch searching so closely. Still, this isnt that far from home. If I can ever get back, a shichen will be more than enough to. Brother Liu, you and I have different standpoints, but were fast friends, being able to talk to each other like this. I couldnt bear to watch a married couple get separated. Excuse me for asking, but have you ever thought about what happens after this? The Western Depot will certainly maneuver the entire capital into tracking you all down. They might not be able to find you in these wildlands, but if you ever want to leave, you likely wont be able to. Big Liu scratched his head. Theres nothing to be done about that, either. Dangers in the search for wealth. The second-in-command isnt scared, so we arent scared, and itll still be hard for them to find this place. The second said that even though its only a chi down from the surface, we wont be found as long as we dont go out, and can rest easy. Tang Fan felt elated, as he had received two important messages from Big Liu; one was that they were possibly still in that deserted village, and the other was that they were possibly underground. The Southside Gang had used the advantage of the villages terrain and environs to dig out a couple cellars that were enough to seek shelter in, serving as hideouts. With the vigilance of Sui Zhous group, if no one was discovered upmountain, they would definitely come back down and find him. In other words, given that he was able to get out and make a report, or get news up to ground level, everybody here might get caught in one fell swoop. Thats an acceptable method, he said, but are you going to be able to stay here forever? What are you asking so much for?! Big Liu asked, defensive. Do you want to know where the exit is? I wont tell you! Tang Fan was speechless. It couldnt be said that this guy was smart, as he had quickly handed Tang Fan a set of information. It couldnt be said that he was stupid, either, as he was still quite on-guard, and in no way careless at critical moments. Tang Fan was a little unclear on whether he was genuinely stupid, or just pretending to be. At that time, a dark chuckle came from the entrance. Youre pretty skilled, buddy, to get Big Liu to talk. Come with me. Our second-in-command heard that youre up and wants to see you. Xin had returned. Taking big strides over, he then roughly grabbed Tang Fans shoulder and hefted him up. His arms were bound, and he had been seated on the ground for a long time, making his body lose its center of gravity. He couldnt help but fall onto him from his pulling. Xin pushed him away with a look of disgust. Look at how delicate you are. Are you one of those guys that plays with backyard flowers? This old guy aint into that! Lay off a bit! He, too, wanted to burst into expletives, but his life was grasped in the hands of the one whose eaves he was under. He had to be well-behaved. Mister Tang squeezed out an apologetic smile, humbling himself. Sorry, sorry! My legs are numb, I didnt do it on purpose! My life is now in your hands, so how Could I dare to act rashly? If I may ask, though, Brother Xin, why is your second-in-command calling for me? he asked, looking like he was currying favor. Xin looked at him with a disdaining laugh of mockery. How should I know? A softie like you thats afraid of death is best kept out of sight. If it wasnt for him saying that he wanted to see you, I would have sent you on your way long ago, and never have the luck of hearing you gab! With one glance, Tang Fan caught sight of the bloodthirsty light flitting past his eyes. He understood immediately that he was a different sort from Big Liu; this man had to have seen blood before, and might have a lot of lives on his hands. As he couldnt use the same style of interaction on such a criminal, there was no use in saying more. He simply shut his mouth, getting ready to see where they went and remember the way. Unexpectedly, Xin picked up the cloth strip he had previously thrown onto the ground, blindfolded him again, then pushed him forwards. Tang Fan had no choice but to count his approximate steps as he walked. He perceived walking about ten paces forwards, after which he was pushed into a right turn. Following about three paces, he could faintly hear the young voices of children, but they seemed to have their mouths stuffed up, only able to make weak whines. Quickly following that, he heard someone lowly shouting things like, Be good, or we wont give you food tomorrow. His heart jumped, but before he could think, he was again pushed into a left turn. After about five paces, and then another right turn, he was finally stopped by a push down on his shoulder. Second-in-command, hes here! Xin stated. Bring him in, Tang Fan heard another say. Preoccupied with keeping note of his position, he stumbled from getting pushed inside hard by Xin, and fell straight forward onto the floor in a sorry state. Did he kill your father, Xin Shitou? Why so rough? a delicate voice rebuked from nearby. Xin Shitou snickered. Are you distressed, Lady Ninth? So you really did take a fancy to this guy, and thats why you wont let the second-in-command kill him. Hes so weak. Could he even service you properly? How about you let this brother do it? Is this how you manage your underlings, Deng Xiucai? Allowing them to be so rude to me? she said, voice dark. Why havent you apologized to Lady Ninth yet, Shitou? the same voice that had told him to come in said. That gentle tone had to be Deng Xiucai, second-in-command in the Gang. Xin Shitou had no choice but to reluctantly apologize to her. This must be Sir Tang of Shuntian? Deng Xiucai asked. Ive long awaited your illustrious name. Tang Fan smiled. Im no more than an insignificant Judge; what illustrious name? Youve really overpraised me. However, my eyes were bound too tightly just now, and the force of it really hurts. Could you help me with getting it off, first? Dont you just want to see what we look like? Why beat around the bush? Shitou, help him with that. Give him a chair to sit on, too. With the blindfold removed, Tang Fan exhaled, then took a measure of everything before him. This was another narrow and cramped inner room, its differences laying in its furnishings being much more comfortable than where he had just been. Not to mention the fact that the chairs these people were sitting on werent rickety in the least. There were three people seated ahead. The leftmost one was an elder that hadnt ever spoken, the middle one was Deng Xiucai, and the one to the right was the pretty Lady Ninth. In addition to Xin Shitou, there was someone standing behind Deng Xiucai and Lady Ninth; he ought to be a personal bodyguard. Deng Xiucai, as his name suggested, was erudite-looking, around thirty years of age, and possessing of a neatly-trimmed beard upon his jaw. Tang Fan had heard, out of Wang Zhis mouth, that despite being only the second-in-command of the Gang, the mans power was quite great. Due to the leader infrequently appearing as of late, Deng Xiucai instead became the main authority, and gang members knew only of him, not Ding Yimu. Aside from human trafficking, the Gang ran brothels and gambling dens, set off usury loans, and did all sorts of other lucrative, shady stuff that dripped with grease. On account of it opening up relations in officialdom, there had never been unprofitable year for them, and they got increasingly undiscerning the more influence they had, hence why they even had the guts to snatch the daughter of the Grand Tutor. They hadnt expected for things to get so serious this time around, where Wan Tong couldnt protect them, and the Western Depot would take up the job of doggedly tracking them down to the end. They had to flee here out of a lack of option. Now that he had seen Deng Xiucai in person, Tang Fan made a mental judgement: Dont pay attention to his gentle looks. This is definitely a cruel tyrant. However, when his line of sight shifted to the nearby Lady Ninth, he was startled. She tittered upon seeing his expression. Why so shocked, Sir Tang? Have you met me before? He swiftly resumed his normal state, laughing as well. I wont hide it from you, Miss. Your appearance is somewhat similar to an old friends. I actually did almost confuse you for her. She covered her mouth and shook with laughter like a flowering branch, throwing him a flirty look. You guessed right. I do indeed look a lot like her, and not only that were sisters. So, Lady Chen, then, he answered calmly. It appears that she ought to be the elder? You have good eyes. She didnt deny it, so it was true; this Lady Ninth was the little sister of Li Mans concubine. Back when the Lis case had happened, Lady Chen had gone missing. He hadnt expected that he would ever meet her sister. No wonder his identity had been exposed. She was the one that had bestowed it to them. Once their exchange was over, Deng Xiucai began to speak with composure at last. Youre in a good mood, Lady Ninth. Great calamity is about to befall us, yet you can still reminisce on old times. She shot him a glance. You speak wrongly. Youre the one that incited all this; if you hadnt kidnapped those two hot potatoes, would these officials have been provoked into a tizzy right now? She turned back to Tang Fan with a smile. Youre a wise one, Sir Tang. We didnt mean to cause this. In your opinion, what should we do? Tang Fan wasnt sure of the status this woman had in the Gang, but upon seeing the fleeting anger on Deng Xiucai, he went along with her. This is easy to handle. I know you all didnt intend to defy the Court, so if you just set these children free, we can act like this whole thing never happened. What weight do your words carry, Sir Tang? Deng Xiucai asked gloomily. As you know, the Brocade Guard and Western Depot are responsible for hunting you down. I have a bit of a friendship with the Depots Director; its hard pressure on you is because theres officials children amongst your group, which has alarmed His Majesty. If youre willing to concede a bit and hand them over to us, this will all get played down. The Guard is even easier. Ive heard that the relationship between your Gang and Envoy Wan is good, so one sentence out of you will be more effective than ten out of me. Before Deng Xiucai could speak, Lady Ninth piped up. I told you that Sir Tang is most reasonable, second-in-command. Do you still not believe that? No matter how good a commodity those kids are, they wont be worth more than a thousand taels when theyre sold, while those Depot wardens could very well take our lives. Now that they have imperial orders, theyll come relentlessly biting us like rabid dogs. Are our lives worth that amount? You really are an expert outside of the field, Lady Ninth, Deng Xiucai answered slowly. The top puts heavy importance on money. Without those thousand taels, my assignment for this year wont be accomplished, and now that things have gotten so messy, Wan Tong will fear implication. Hell be certain to find an unlucky devil to blame; if I return the children now, Ill be that unlucky devil. As clever as you are, you must have thought of that, yes? Or are you consciously wanting to push this Deng into a pit of fire? Hearing that, Tang Fan came to comprehend something. In the inn where Lady Chen had vanished, the mark of the White Lotus Society had been left behind. So, if Lady Ninth was her sister, she must also be related to it, meaning that the top Deng Xiucai had referred to was likely also the Society. From their interaction, it wasnt hard to see that the two had a bit of conflict between them. Their views didnt conform, but she wasnt a gang member she was a diplomat sent by the Society. Thus, even though she didnt much like him, she couldnt blow up at him. Her opinion was that he should make peace with the officials by handing the kids over, but his opinion was the exact opposite, hence the divergence. Tang Fan was inwardly fearful thinking about it: If Deng Xiucai is focused on escaping to the South, wouldnt it be unnecessary for me to exist? Beyond that since shes of the Society, why is she doing all she can to defend me? Womens thoughts are truly hard to fathom. Lady Ninth smiled. Your words are so serious, second-in-command. Youre among the best in the Southside Gang; if something happens to you, and then Ding Yimu cant control the situation at large, wont the Gang be instantly disbanded? I simply believe that things havent yet reached that extent. To have a blood feud with those officials would have no benefit to your, nor my, present circumstances. If you ruin our very important affairs because of this, there will be no need for those officials to hold it against you, as the Society will deal with you directly. Can you believe that? Too much information had been revealed in those words, and Tang Fan was nearly unable to take it in. Some cold sweat seeped from his palms and back, as the more he knew right now, the worse things would be for him. As expected, Deng Xiucais face sank, and he swept his gaze to Tang Fan. Dont tell me that youve gotten a flare-up of cant walk straight upon seeing a handsome man disease, Lady Ninth? Youve said so much right to this punks face. Looks like he cant be kept around. Ill help you by getting rid of him in your stead, so that disaster doesnt make its way back to you someday! With that, a silver light flashed from his sleeve, and a dagger came out of it, heading straight for Tang Fan! The latters hands were tied up, and he was seated on a chair how would he have the time to dodge? He could only lean back on automatic reflex, but the other moved at lightning speed, coming up before him in the blink of an eye. The dagger shone icily, its point puncturing the clothes on his chest, soon about to pierce his skin but Lady Ninth was heard to shout, You dare try to kill him in front of me?! As soon as that was said, the shadow of a whip swept across. It did not hit a person, though; that dagger was wrapped up and pulled away, seized out of Deng Xiucais hand. This incident occurred in the span of a breath. Everyone was dumbstruck. By the time the two subordinates remembered to protect their leader, the confrontation was already over. I have a way to get the best of both worlds, she said, cold. Will you listen, or not? Deng Xiucai snorted. What best of both worlds? How could I not know what youre thinking? You just want this guy to be your lover! The translator says: Threw up in my mouth a little from having to type out what these old fucks say about little kids. CH 52 Lady Ninth stroked the fine hair beside her face, restoring her cute, smiling look. Whats wrong with that? Youre worried about him divulging secrets, so let him join us. Wont that be an eternal solution? Deng Xiucai laughed in mockery. Are you dreaming? Hes a Dynasty official. Men like him are typically the most holier-than-thou of all. Why would he keep company with crooks like us? Thats false. No matter how holier-than-thou sages are, dont they still have to eat and sleep? Dare I ask how much your yearly salary is, Sir Tang? Why was yet another person asking him this? He shook his head. Its shameful to say according to the precedent set by the Great Ancestor, sixth-ranks like me get ninety-six dan(4800kg) a year, but most of that gets converted into cloth and paper money. The latter thing is basically waste paper, and might not even be worth that many silver taels. In a word, Im poor. I practically have to drink northwestern wind. She smiled, covering her lips. You cant even eat meat, normally? He laughed dryly. No I have to write romance novels to supplement my income. Lets not speak of such humiliating things. I have a generous gift for you, Sir Tang. Im not sure whether youll accept it or not. She took out a few silver banknotes from her lapels, which still carried her personal fragrance as she handed them over for him to see. He gave them a look, and oh, dear. There were ten notes faced with the denomination for a hundred taels, summing up to a thousand taels in Huitong Bank tickets. That was some sincere treatment, right there. What could a thousand taels do? It could buy a home like the one Sui Zhou currently lived in, and still have some leftover but that was only due to high housing costs in the capital. If this were another area, it would be more than enough for becoming a landlord that never needed to worry about food and drink. Lady Ninth giggled. This is but my greeting gift. If you want to become a member of our Society, countless treasures await you. Youre pretty generous, Lady Ninth, Deng Xiucai said darkly. With all that money you have, wouldnt it be better to aid your little brother in bypassing this crisis, instead? She side-eyed him. You dont need to be so sour. Arent the assets that youve accumulated over the years more a hundred times this? These are from my own private funds. Im simply delighted to see a talent like Sir Tang, and I need to attract such people, is all. You know that were lacking most in strategic figures right now. Ive been the Overseers envoy for a long time, and often hear the Leader say that we have to drum up some more people like him to come to our splendid Society. If the Leader knew that Sir Tang was willing to join, they would likely give him even more than this. Tang Fan coughed fakely. Many thanks for your praises, Lady Ninth, but as a Court official, Ive received the Emperors grace. I can never be reduced to an outlaw. Dont be afraid, she giggled, Im not asking you to resign. You can keep being an official as always, youll just be a member on the sly. If the need ever arises, well ask you to be a little flexible on certain worldly things, and thatll be enough. We wont treat you poorly, of course. You could continue how you are, plus added income. Does that not satisfy both ends? If I verbally agree, is that regarded as joining? Deng Xiucai laughed before she answered. You think itd be that pretty? If you agree to join, youll have to get yourself engraved with the Societys mark, so as to prevent you from betraying it. Seeing that Lady Ninth had no retort, Tang Fan knew that those words were true. He looked at the banknotes, revealing a slightly affected, and incessantly conflicted, look. You can let me think it over, right? She smiled. I can, of course, but dont think for too long. Our time is limited. Do consider it thoroughly, hm? If you agree, well immediately let these children go, and you can step forward to be gifted with that great contribution, as well. Deng Xiucai huffed. I seem to have not agreed yet, have I? If you consent, Ill put in some good words to our superiors and exempt you from ten-percent of your assignment for this year. Like so, Ill get the credit of a referral, youll get your wish granted plus money saved, and the Society will gain another talent. Is that not one act with four results? The other said nothing else. Lady Ninth gave Tang Fan a tender look, then ordered for him to be brought back. He was blindfolded as per the rules, but had mentally recorded his route on the second trip anyways. Secretly corresponding the layout with the surface area, then adding that onto what Big Liu had said before, it wasnt hard for him to draw one conclusion: the area he was in had likely been made by gang members linking up the cellars of the deserted villages dwellings. Said homes were close together, so digging out connections between their cellars wouldnt have been hard at all. Few people ever came here, too, which gave them ample conditions to act as they willed. No wonder Big Liu had claimed that it was safe here. If the original cellar entrances were sealed up and people couldnt find the new ones, getting in would be unfeasible. It was hard to live here, though, being little better than the dark tunnel Tang Fans group had traversed through; it thus could only be used for temporary shelter, not long-term residency. On account of the trouble they were in and their carriage having broken down from being loaded with too many people, Deng Xiucais group needed to lie low here, though they surely had to be itching to leave for the surface. Were Tang Fan able to struggle free right now, and the Guard or Depot also just happened to be outside, they would be able to catch this group all in one net. Too bad there was obviously no such beautiful thing about to happen. The reality was that he was trapped here, his own life practically difficult to guarantee unless he joined their criminal organization, and got carved with an annoying mark that would act as a contract. If that really did get sliced onto him, even a jump into the Yellow River wouldnt wash it off. Owing to Lady Ninths expressed interest in recruiting him, Xin Shitou was a tiny bit restrained on the return trip, not being as impolite as before. Tang Fan was returned to his original cellar, yet Big Liu was no longer around he had likely been called out to do something. Tang Fan took advantage of this time to smile at Xin Shitou. Brother Xin, youve seen that Im going to become one of you soon. Can you help me by loosening this? The ropes binding is quite uncomfortable. Im just a scholar, so I couldnt run, anyways. Why would Xin Shitou ever be willing to do that? Youll have to go ask the second-in-command. I cant act on my own. Lady Ninth gave me those thousand taels. I feel in my heart that if I accept, well be comrades later on. Big Liu and you were the first I met here, and discord leads to concord, so you two feel more familiar than anyone else when I look at you. If you take the trouble to help me out, Ill give you five hundred taels for you to split with him. No need to see me as an outsider from here on out. Xin Shitous eyes lit up, expression easing up at once, but he still pretentiously declined. That wont do. She gave it to you, after all. Tang Fan quit smiling. If you dont accept it, Ill see you as the outsider, Brother Xin. It goes without saying that youd be one of us. Why be a stranger, Sir Tang? If you enter the Society, youll automatically be someone of the Overseers, and your status will be much, much higher than this little brothers. When that time comes, youll have to look after us a lot more, eh? As he spoke, he reached out and helped Tang Fan loosen his binds. His wrist had been strained until there was blood coming out of it and it hurt awfully when bumped, but he couldnt care much about that. He simply fished out the stack of banknotes, then handed five leafs to Xin Shitou. By the by, no need to call me Sir Tang if were going to be familiar, Brother Xin. You have more experience, so Ill have to trust you with giving me some pointers. The man took the banknotes, placidly placed them into his lapels, then sighed. What pointers? Ive been following the second-in-command for six years, yet Im still muddling about in the Southside Gang. Ive never seen the Overseer before, and it was only after meeting Lady Ninth did I know that we were even connected to them. They chatted a bit more, their friendship appearing to quickly get closer via the silver. Im going to go patrol the exits, Xin Shitou said, so that they dont get found out. Youd best stay here, cause if the second-in-command finds out, I wont be able to give him a good explanation for it. Tang Fan lightly smiled and nodded. I understand. Youre busy, Brother Xin, but could you get me a bowl of water? Im quite thirsty. Money could indeed move the mind. How hard is that to do? Xin Shitou asked breezily, then hurried away to fetch it. As soon as the man left, Tang Fan put away his smile. Despite the blindfold both ways, he had heard the sounds of footsteps and talking by the wayside. According to his conservative estimate, the number of underlings Deng Xiucai had here was no less that a dozen to twenty. This small amount likely derived from the fact that this area wasnt spacious, and couldnt contain many people. Otherwise, with how big a business the Southside Gang was, and with how Deng Xiucais position was, there definitely wouldnt be such a small number of subordinates present. Thinking back to it now, Deng Xiucais group hadnt been totally flawless in their diversion tactic. Simply put, Tang Fans group had been too anxious, worried that these guys would escape if they were too late, so they hadnt the time to think clearly about that one guys confession, scurrying up the mountain as he had claimed. If they had instead carefully searched the village, they might have discovered the entrance to this hidden area. Yet, having said that, even if Sui Zhou and them did discover that theyd been conned and turned back, it apparently wouldnt be of any use. Their enemies were many, and friends few; as soon as these crooks put a knife against a childs neck, they would be in a bind, unless Wang Zhi was able to hurry over in time. In spite of these worries, Tang Fan did not stew in them. He poured out the bowl of water into a corner, shed his outer garment to wrap the bowl in it, then viciously slammed it against the ground. No muffled sound was issued, but when he undid the wrap, the bowl had since broken into several large pieces. He stowed the fragments away, after which he shuffled out of the cellar he had been confined in, then to the room that imprisoned the children by memory. There were two people guarding it. As soon as they saw Tang Fan, they immediately stood up, looking fierce. Who are you?! He cupped his hands and smiled. Big brothers, Im the guest your second-in-command invited over. Ive come to take a look at the kids. Using the opportunity of this conversation, he had already surveyed the situation inside the room. More than ten children had been thrown into a corner, hands tied and mouths stuffed up. Each of them had eyes permeated with fear, all huddled in with their shoulders touching each other, as if they could get a bit of a secure feeling like so. He also saw that among them was a chubby little girl, one of her cheeks slightly swollen and red, who was staring right at him in extreme excitement. If her mouth wasnt blocked up, she likely would have started shouting immediately. He gave her a look to have her keep calm. She understood, quickly quieting down and making no more sounds. The two men naturally refused to let Tang Fan in, shouting, berating, and shoving. Whats going on? came a delicate voice. Tang Fan immediately knew who it was without turning his head. Lady Ninth, the two guards promptly saluted. Hello, Lady Ninth. Tang Fan cupped his hands as well. I should let you know that my little sister is amongst the children caught. I followed tonight precisely because of her. Lady Ninth smiled faintly. So thats how it is. No wonder you ventured to put yourself in harms way! How very admirable! He smiled bitterly. If she hadnt been captured, would I have ever bitten off more than I could chew by making life difficult for you all? As thats the case, wouldnt it be unreasonable for me to forbid it? Sir Tang is only going in for a visit. After a quarter-hour, remember to come find me in the room you were in earlier. Upon receiving the flirty look she cast at him, his face went red, and he looked like he wanted to peek a couple more times at her, yet was afraid to. She giggled from his teasing, then departed with a sway to her. It really didnt need to be said that that grace of hers was immensely attractive to men; such a fact could be discerned just from the way the guards stared straight at her. With Lady Ninths permission, Tang Fan entered without a hitch. The childrens faces and clothes were filthy, but their charming features and that good fabric material could still be seen. He noticed that there was one boy and one girl that looked particularly delicate, and would surely become even more outstanding after a few years of growth. They were probably Zhu Yongs daughter and Assistant Minister Gengs grandson that everyone was overturning the sky for. With those looks, it wasnt surprising that the traffickers got too greedy, then incited this big mess. As for the other kids, they were all from fairly wealthy families, and had been raised up with fine features. The most understated one was actually Ah-Dong herself, but the traffickers had perhaps seized her along with them based on the mentality of dont let any small fry go, the more the merrier, since she was fair-skinned. Tang Fan couldnt show much care for the others. He crouched before Ah-Dong, patted her on the head, then leaned in close to her ear. Ill talk, you listen. Dont make a sound. She nodded, staring at him on and off. He took the cloth wad out of her mouth. I know you to be sensible, so Ill have to ask you to help with keeping watch on these little siblings of yours. When and if someone bursts in to rescue you, these villains are certain to resist like their life depends on it. You cant just go running around because youre afraid; you have to obediently wait here for us to save you. Got it? She nodded again, using a mosquito-like voice to speak with. Dont worry, big brother. Ill look after them like you said. He was quite gratified. What he was most worried about was not that the lives of the children would be in danger, since they were Deng Xiucais money trees; unless it was a last resort, he would never abandon them, else he wouldnt have hidden away here for them. His worry was that if Sui Zhous group really did find this place, a brutal battle would be unavoidable, and these thoughtless kids would run around at random in a blind panic. If they got injured by undiscerning fighters, the goal of this whole expedition would be wasted. They couldnt exchange many quiet words before a quarter-hour passed in a wink. He knew that although Lady Ninth appeared to be easy to talk to, she was a cunning character, and it was only because of her contradiction with Deng Xiucai that she seemed to be comparatively easier to get through to. He didnt tarry much, hurriedly giving a once-through to Ah-Dong before he got up and left. The cloth had been removed from her mouth, yet she had made no big scene, instead consoling the others into calming down. She was relatively older amongst the children, and because she had suffered a slap on Zhu Yuepings behalf, they all subconsciously had quite the trust in her, willing to listen. Even though they still sniffled, they ultimately, gradually, came to be quiet. Seeing that she was able to quell them, the guards were delighted at having clear ears, so they didnt stuff the cloth back into her mouth. In their eyes, they were just a bunch of kids that couldnt make any waves whatsoever, anyways. However, at an angle they couldnt see, Ah-Dong was now holding a big, sharp piece of porcelain. Meanwhile, Tang Fan returned to his original room to see Lady Ninth sitting there, body sinuous and conveying grace. She was even more alluring than her older sister. What a shame that this beauty was nothing more than a pretty serpent. Upon seeing him, she pursed her lips into a smile. Youve come back? How ambiguous that sounded, like a wife talking to her husband that had just returned home. Face remaining unchanged, he cupped his hands like he hadnt heard that. Ive troubled you with waiting for long, Lady Ninth. My heart was a little upset from seeing my sister, so I tarried a bit. She smiled. Thats a normal human emotion for when siblings see each other. But, since were so familiar, you dont need to call me Lady Ninth, Mister Tang call me Ah-Han. Thats my nickname. When did I turn into a praying mantis? he thought, depressed, though his face showed a flattered expression. I-Isnt that too much? Whats too much? Is it a bad nickname? He shook his head. Of course it isnt. Lotus incense afresh, drawn barges afloat, makes a gent ever recall Yangzhou.[1] Thats beautiful to think of, so how can it be bad? I dont understand that verse too much, but it sounds really beautiful. She showed a look of being enchanted. Scholars truly are different, to be gifted with gab. Even their flattery is all nice to hear. He chuckled. Though I am a scholar, I cannot invert black and white, or right and wrong. You are indeed as beautiful as a lotus, and resemble your namesake. Should I say that you arent pretty? No woman hated to be praised on their looks, and Tang Fans speech could coax even sparrows down from the sky. She was made to beam from his words. Will you still be calling me Lady Ninth? she pouted flirtatiously. Ah-Han, he said, going along with her suggestion. Happily, she agreed, then reached out to pull him into a sit. He did so without waiting for her to touch him; they werent seated close together, but also werent too far apart. Lady Ninth forced herself to express satisfaction with this, gazing at him tenderly. Do you realize how dangerous your situation is right now, Mister Tang? He revealed a very surprised look. Dangerous? Why do you say that? D-Didnt you say that whatever Society youre in wants to recruit me? She was entertained by his expression. My White Lotus Holy Society, it is. This is true, but its also just my own notion. Deng Xiucai actually wants to kill you. Tang Fan let out an ah, divulging some other reactions in a timely manner. They had to be measured exactly he couldnt respond with too much dread and cowardice, as that would cause her to look down on him. Since she was wanting to recruit him, he couldnt act overly lily-livered. His reaction being too dull wouldnt do, either, as it would seem too artificial. I dont understand, Ah-Han. What good does killing me do for him? Light as a feather from his utterance of Ah-Han, Lady Ninth smiled lightly, after which she became grave. I advocated for you to join our allegiance and for those kids to be returned, since the authorities, who you could make peace with, were hunting them down. You heard as much when you were in there. Seeing him nod, she sighed. Unfortunately, he staunchly disagrees. He wants to take them all away, because hell be able to sell them for high and take in a huge sum, at the bare minimum. He wouldnt eliminate them unless he was forced to. As for you, he doesnt want to bow his head to those in officialdom, so he feels that keeping you around is a burden. Ah-Han, theres some things that Im quite puzzled about, but Im not sure if I should ask them. She placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed. You can ask. Why fake politeness? He really couldnt take this behavior of hers. Goosebumps crawled over nearly his whole body as he resisted the urge to slap her hand away, doing his best to not pay attention to it while it was on his leg. I previously heard you say that you were dispatched by the Overseer. Its reasonable to say that your status ought to be higher than his; why do you have to obey him? Who said that I have to obey him? Theres simply a lot of his subordinates around, making it so that I cant openly oppose him. In any case, the Southside Gang was founded by his hand Isnt there still the first-in-command, Ding Yimu? he interrupted. Youre dumb. That guys just a puppet made up to dupe outsiders. Deng Xiucai is the real gang leader. Like so, Tang Fan had a sudden realization. To be honest, the group of Brocade Guards I was pursuing his trail with earlier have currently been drawn up the mountain, but when they find no one, theyre bound to soon return. If they then dig up three chi of earth all around the village, they might be able to find us here pretty quickly. If this goes according to your plan, both sides will be appeased, but if Deng Xiucai refuses to surrender, how will he be able to escape? Fancy that youre a scholar how have you not heard about crafty rabbits having three burrows? Leave here, go into the mountains, and theres a fortress thats another one of his strongholds. Had his carriage not broken down partway through, he wouldnt be stuck here. Hes dragging his feet in leaving because hes waiting for his fortress subordinates to come receive him, so that hes not struck by the Guards as soon as he steps out. Then, after he leaves how will I not be killed? he whispered. Is this not what Ive come seeking you out for? If you want to keep your life, you have to join our Holy Society. Once the mark of a lotus flower is carved onto you, you will be one of us. In the rules of the Society, those that murder a fellow member are to be hunted down by all members, then turned to mincemeat by the blade. Deng Xiucai will thereupon never dare to act against you. I am able to save you, sweetie. Hurry and take off your robes so that I can mark you. Tang Fan, of course, did not wish to be marked at all. He was only being falsely cordial with Lady Ninth to scout out a bit more information. Now that he had brushed against this immense behemoth, he gradually came to understand how tremendous the power of the White Lotus Society was, both bribing up with Court officials and colluding down with gangs influences. No wonder Li Zilong had been able to stir up the capital into chaos. No wonder the Brocade Guard had been searching all this time, yet had failed to extinguish the union. He didnt answer her words, but rather showed a faintly yearning tinge. Ill be blunt, Ah-Han. Im really quite useless as a sixth-rank official. Putting aside my low salary, Im mistreated in all aspects. Even my Palace Honorate and Hanlin backgrounds are now worthless. Im not sure what kind of figure your Leader is, but since theyre able to agitate the Great Mings weather all by their lonesome, I know that were not on the same level. After I enter your Society, will I ever have the fortune to pay them a visit? Chances for that will be plentiful, of course! You just have to join. He had been thinking to pry into the Societys headquarters, but Lady Ninth was a leery person, roundaboutly not divulging their true circumstances while wholeheartedly insisting that he join. Presumably, her licentious mannerisms were just an external facade, and it was only through her discord with Deng Xiucai that Tang Fan had clearance to survive this. Thinking so, he sighed. Back in the day, Daoist Li saw the Forbidden City as his own home, entering it whenever he pleased. It was said that he could summon the elements and turn cast beans into soldiers, really god-like. What a shame that he was beheaded later on Ill never get a look at his grace. She grinned furtively. Even you say that hes god-like so how could he die so easily to the talons of the Courts eagles? He was greatly shocked upon hearing this, uncertain as to whether her statement was true or false. He hasnt yet died? he asked, pleasantly surprised. Lady Ninth laughed without words, not answering him. She could be labelled as having the ultimate skill of keeping people in suspense. Sweetie, Ill be honest. Our Society has a pressing need for talents like you. Even though your officials post is minor, if you have our secret backing, wont the promotions you want be just around the corner? After that, if we have the need, you can lend us your hand. Is this not both sides coming to an agreement, and conflicting demands satisfied? Furthermore, you only get so much salary per year. If you join us, glory and riches will surge right to you. Is there anyone in this world that would rather die poor, not having the sky-soaring wealth of a promising future? In laymans terms, she meant that he would act as the Societys plant in Court. He put on a moved, but hesitant, look. Youve spoken correctly. Thats indeed both sides getting the best of this. Im just worried about the brand after all, I am an official. If someone discovers it on me, not even a dive into the Yellow River will get me clean how about this Ill promise to join, but dont brand me. Is that alright? She narrowed her eyes in a smile. Of course it isnt, Mister Tang. If you dont put out a bit of good faith, why would I venture to hand you those children? Tang Fan smiled bitterly. But even if I do join, wont Deng Xiucai prevent me from taking his money trees away from him? Getting in close to him, she laughed quietly. Truthfully speaking, I have the Overseers token of command. Unless he wants to betray them, he wont dare to disobey me. Heart twitching, he gave a look of epiphany. A fair, svelte hand suddenly touched his shoulder, then tore half of his outer robe off with all the momentum of a thunderclap closing in on the ears! Dear Mister Tang, you cannot be overcautious when doing great things. How about I help you decide? Ill mark you on your lower back so that no one will ever find it. Sir Tang turned pale with fright; it wasnt because he was just about getting molested, but because he feared that she would discover the broken porcelain he had hidden in his robes. Dont mess around, dont! Let me think on it! Ill think on it! he repeated, simultaneously trying to pull his clothes back up. Lady Ninth giggled, but appeared to not want to squander any further time, climbing right over whilst drawing an engraving awl out of her own lapels. At exactly that moment, a voice fell down from the heavens to become his savior star. I was wondering where you had gone to, Lady Ninth. Turns out youre flirting with this punk! Deng Xiucai stood at the entryway, face overcast. Were setting off immediately. This guys a burden, so let me kill him. If you want a prettyboy, wait until we leave! You can have as many as you want, then! Lady Ninth also stood. Would those other prettyboys have an officials status like him? If I can rope him into the Society, itll be a great boon! How about we both take a step back? Tang Fans little sister is amongst those kids; leave her behind, and take the rest. After you leave, everyone will go their own ways to get their own wealth. No! he answered, resolute. He knows too much! He cant be set free! Her face cooled down. She drew a token of command out of her arms. Meeting with this token is like meeting with the Leader! Do you still dare to defy me?! His expression was indeterminate. A long while later, he swiftly reached out to snatch the token, sneering as he did so. Ive tolerated you long enough, bitch! You always act like you have the power, and make things harder for me all the time! Itd be better to just dispose of you here, then blame it on those officials! Lady Ninth was shocked, having never anticipated that this guy could be so very daring. Her reaction was a bit sluggish, token almost getting seized. Upon seeing him hack at her with a longsabre, she quickly dodged to the side, grabbed the flexible whip wound around her waist, and moved forwards. The two immediately fought into a fray. Tang Fan was surprised that their longstanding, accumulated anger would result in infighting here and now. No matter how bright he was, when faced with his present predicament there was no way for him to get out, as there were blockades on all sides. He had no other option but to draw things out for as long as possible and hopefully wait for reinforcements to arrive. Yet before those reinforcements could, Deng Xiucai and Lady Ninth had started brawling. Sabre light and whip shadows criss-crossed inside the room. At risk of being swiped, Tang Fan watched out for an opportunity, then rolled to the side, using an opening to scramble into the passageway. However, he didnt scramble towards the area where Ah-Dongs group was kept; he instead went to look for aid for Lady Ninth. The translator says: Lady Ninth is a touchy creep, Deng Xiucai is a narcissist. They can go fight to the mutual death, really. [1] From West Lakes Play Shows Similar Wanderers, by Ouyang Xiu. The character for lotus, (han), is used in Ah-Hans name. CH 53 Two enemies. One wanted you dead, one wanted to use you. Which would you choose? If Lady Ninth died, the one Deng Xiucai would come to kill next was Tang Fan. He couldnt just let her do that, so he had to find her people to help her out. She and Deng Xiucai were not of one mind; she wasnt as unfeeling as him, instead giving room for a lot of discussion. The commotion of the fight had alarmed many people. Everyone watched the two leaders fight each other, and kind of werent sure what to do. They successively ran to the cellars entrance, immediately clogging it up. Tang Fan, not far away, caught sight of the bodyguard that had just been at Lady Ninths side. Big brother, go in and see for yourself, now! Ah-Han is fighting with the second-in-command, hes going to kill her! Lady Ninth had been wanting to both seduce Tang Fan and tell him some not-to-be-disclosed secrets, so she had sent this bodyguard away. He called her Ah-Han to demonstrate to the other how unusual his relationship was with her. Sure enough, the bodyguards face twisted up. Where are they?! There wasnt actually a need for Tang Fan to explain as much, as the man had long heard the sounds of weapons clashing coming from nearby. Without another word, he dashed forward, Tang Fan following and babbling after him. You have to rescue Ah-Han, big brother! Nothing can happen to her! The guard couldnt pay him any mind, of course, shoving the crowd to the side and rushing in. Tang Fan, not far away, heard Deng Xiucai suddenly shout, What are you all staring for?! Help me kill this woman! We cant let her get back to the Overseer and complain! How dare you! Lady Ninth shouted. There was no lack of gasping for breath within the way she spoke; it was clear that she was gradually coming to be at a disadvantage. This was truly an unshakable desire to silence someone by death. Face slightly morphing, Tang Fan cared about nothing other than directly running out. Under these circumstances, no one was paying any mind to where he was, either. Whilst the two sides sank into a brawl, Tang Fan had long since fled into a food-piled cellar at the bend ahead. At the time many people had since run off to join the fray, he came out of his hiding spot and ran forth, hoping to be able to find an exit. This place was in the complete opposite direction of the path to where Ah-Dongs group was hiding. Tang Fan firmly believed that with Deng Xiucais wits, he definitely wouldnt have set up just one entry point, because these guys would practically be turtles in a jar if someone blocked it up. This underground mini-maze wasnt that big, since the cellars were so few. It was mainly due to the passages between said cellars being twisting, winding, and utterly complicated that one was likely to get confused. After turning and turning around infinite bends for a long while, evading paths that might have people guarding them all the while, Tang Fan finally found an area that looked like an exit, because it was on an upward slope, and had a duo keeping watch on it. Deng Xiucai had currently summoned all of his subordinates in order to kill Lady Ninth, yet these two were still here. This illustrated that the spot they were watching had to be very important, and thus, an entryway. Alone inside a den of thieves, he accordingly had no way to bring the children outside by himself; he would definitely get straight-up killed before he could leave, and then suffering would spread to the little ones. No matter how much he wanted to run to Ah-Dong and rescue them all straightaway, his logic told him that he wouldnt be able to. The kids were Deng Xiucais money-makers; he wouldnt rashly attack them, else he wouldnt have been willing to oppose the Court and risk worldwide anger for them. Tang Fan was different he had no sort of use whatsoever to the man, and would become a nuisance for him in his fugitive journey. The best method was therefore to save himself first, wait for a chance to escape in the fray, then get the recusing forces back here. Catching Deng Xiucais group all at once would also save the children. Still, he was vaguely, pessimistically aware that said fray might come to its conclusion soon. Deng Xiucai had the forces of many, and Lady Ninth was no match for him, owed to her being too arrogant and self-assured. She believed that her status as the Overseers envoy plus the Southside Gangs honored guest would make Deng Xiucai too afraid to act against her, and she had hence contradicted him in all regards. Yet, due to being suppressed for such a time, the man had long been of the mind to silence her. They just so happened to be in the wilderness, so as long as Lady Ninths forces were eliminated, he could plant blame for that upon the authorities. No one would ever know that he was the one that had done it. Tang Fan wasnt concerned about her, naturally. She had spoken nicely and planned to return the children to him, but that had only been because she had wanted to oppose Deng Xiucai, not because she was any sort of benevolent. However, if she died before Sui Zhous team could get here, he would be caught up in a very dangerous situation. The exit was visibly close at hand, yet he could not advance, only able to hide in a dark place with his hands tied. This situation of being on someone elses chopping block really made one anxious and helpless; regardless of how clever he was, he momentarily couldnt think of a way out of this. Right at that second, the flurried sound of footsteps approached. Without time to think deeply, he quickly hid inside the shadows of a nearby recess. He saw a few people running towards the end of the tunnel where the two were guarding. Whats going on?! one of the latter asked. Lady Ninth is dead, someone else answered. The second-in-command ordered us to prepare a retreat! The man was highly shocked. Shes dead? How?! Were you enchanted by that womanly beauty for you to care so much, you clown? the other chided cheerfully, then hushed his voice. The boss killed her, along with her two subordinates. That lady was giving him a hard time about everything. He tolerated it for so long, itd actually be weird if he didnt kill her. The questioning man knew the connection between her and the White Lotus Society, however. But isnt she the envoy of the Overseer? Is killing her just like that okay? Dont even talk about them. We pay them in coin every year, but all they do is benefit without doing anything for us. The second-in-command has long wanted to oppose them. In any case, the authorities have come to meddle, so when we push her death onto them, no one will suspect us at all. The one man actually had some brains, hesitating when he heard that. Then wont we be wanted by both the authorities, and the Overseer? Cut the crap, the other said impatiently. The second-in-command said that people from the mountain fortress are here, so we have to hurry and pack, then get ready to escape before the authorities arrive. You guys will be responsible for bringing up the rear by guarding one of the exits, so that the enemy doesnt strike at us from behind. By the way, that bloke that Cripple Luo tied up ran off. Have you seen him? No. We havent dared to leave our spots for half a second, and havent seen even a ghost. There was a short opening at another exit due to all the craziness. The second- and third-in-commands suspect that the guy ran out during that. Anyways, if you ever see him, just kill him and be done with it. Tang Fan wondered how a third-in-command was present here, too, but had a realization as soon as he thought back on it. When he had met Deng Xiucai, there had been an elder sitting next to him; he was likely it. Following his murder of Lady Ninth and intent to evacuate, Tang Fans treatment had gone from need to kill to kill only if seen, but he wasnt the slightest bit happy about that because once Deng Xiucai got deep into the mountains, that would be tantamount to a dragon returning to the sea, and finding his tracks would be difficult. The two men affirmed, immediately after which there came another burst of footsteps walking away. They began to speak in quiet voices. If the boss is having us bring up the rear, when will it be time for us to join up? It cant be that well have to wait until everyone else is gone to leave, can it? Well just wait. If we leave too early and the second-in-command sees, well get reprimanded. Are we going to search for that guy he said to? You idiot. What search? Escaping with our lives is whats important! Once were up the mountain, the authorities wont be able to find us. Why are you still worried about secrets leaking out? Tang Fan had no desire to continue listening to them, inwardly anxious. Fearing that the children would get brought away by Deng Xiucai, he cautiously retraced his original path. Upon Lady Ninths death, Deng Xiucai had brought everyone into a retreat at another exit. But, no matter how quickly they moved, they were still bogged down by a group of kids; getting them out of the cellar wasted no small amount of time by itself. Ah-Dong had recalled Tang Fans instructions. Knowing that the villains wouldnt kill them lightly, she very slowly dilly-dallied, then purposefully collapsed onto the ground, howling that she couldnt walk. One crook had no choice but to lift her up by the back of her collar and carry her. They left in bursts, Tang Fan following far behind them. Faintly, he heard them say that there was already a carriage to welcome them outside, which inevitably made him even more anxious. Watching as they exited the cave, he then took that opportunity to run out and hide behind a nearby boulder. If he could have left here a half-shichen earlier instead, he would have rushed to fetch reinforcements. Now, all that was on his mind was that he couldnt let these guys simply escape, or else it would be even harder to find the children later on. Thinking like so, he no longer cared about saving himself first. He shouted out a Stop!, then came out from behind the rock. That loud holler was basically a clap of thunder in the open countryside. All the gang members gave a huge jump in fright, and even Deng Xiucai promptly turned around. Upon seeing Tang Fan, he was startled, after which he smiled sinisterly. I thought you had run off. I was going to let you keep your little life, but you jumped out yet again. Lighting a lantern in a latrine really is asking for death, huh? Tang Fan tidied out his sleeves, unbothered. I did indeed escape ahead of time, and notified the Brocade Guard and Western Depot. Theyre five li away, but theyll be here soon. His statement cause a bit of uproar. Upon hearing that the authorities were coming, the gang members showed expressions of slight unease. Tang Fan didnt wait for Deng Xiucai to console his people, promptly cutting him off at the head. Truthfully speaking, second-in-command, I didnt want to force you into a dead-end, but since youve killed Lady Ninth and broken it off with the White Lotus Society, you have no way of retreat. If you continue being hostile towards the authorities, youll have no one on either side, and your situation will be bleak. Even if you flee into the mountains, the Court will dispatch troops to flatten you all in an instant. Since thats so, why cant we just shake hands and talk of peace? So long as you hand those children over, I can speak on your behalf towards Chief Eunuch Wang and the Northern Bastion Office. Your brothers would all survive, too. Isnt that just perfect? Deng Xiucai sneered. You speak so elegantly. Too bad youre not the Emperor, else Id believe you. If I have a change of heart now, I would have no exploitable worth to that Wan guy. Hes itching to make me be the scapegoat, so why would he spare us just because of your pleading?! Rather than struggle beneath the hands of others, its better to stand by yourself on the mountaintop! I would rather die upon a pile of gold and silver than be a slave to someone else! The other cupped his hands. Second-in-command, I respect you as a frank man. Would this be possible to discuss? If you leave the children behind, you can go without hindrance. Once the Guard and Depot arrive, Ill help out by stopping them so that they cant catch up to you. This way, both sides are conceding a step. How about that? His expression was way too calm, for one man facing a dozen or so Southside Gang members. With no fear on his face and an assuredness to his speech, they were subtly made to believe in his words automatically. The elder, who appeared to be the third-in-command, even said to Deng Xiucai, Hes right. Weve now had a falling out with the Society, so its best not to quarrel with the authorities too much, or else well suffer from enemies on both ends Deng Xiucai raised his hand to stop the others speech from continuing. His eyes stared straight at Tang Fan. Even I nearly believed you. You have no reinforcements coming at all, yet youre so bold as to bluff us here! With no change in expression, Tang Fan raised a brow. How do you figure that? The man grinned maliciously. When you were caught, I personally searched and got everything off of you. What could you have used to notify the authorities with? Your fakery just now was pretty life-like; you nearly duped me! Someone, kill him for me! Tang Fan had said all that bluffing drivel to stall for time, not expecting that his counterpart would call it so quickly. Watching two robust men of the Gang advancing towards him with steel sabres and large strides, he had to sternly say, Halt! The reinforcements are right behind you! Deng Xiucai was unmoved. Just do it already! He already regarded Tang Fan as a dead man, mounting his horse as he spoke. Another carriage with the children on it also began to gallop forwards. Before Tang Fan could react, those two sharp steel blades were already before him. He couldnt dodge. He had done all he could to stall, but Sui Zhous group had yet to appear. Even with a million kinds of tricks, he was no match for heavier power. With nothing that he could do and no way to run, he thought to himself that his life was over, and simply closed his eyes, baring his neck to receive the blow. A few breaths later, the blades that ought to have been hacking down on his head were slow to arrive, and the anticipated pain did not come. Instead, the sound of sliced wind entered his ears. He involuntarily opened his eyes, then discovered that the situation in front of him had undergone a world-turning transformation the men that were about to hack him to death had collapsed, one with a spring-gilt sabre pierced through the center of his back, and the other with a feathered arrow stuck in his skull. There were several other arrows, as well, shot into either horses or people. The horses, suffering injury and fright, were knocking people down to the ground with whinnies. Both shocked and furious, Deng Xiucai yelled out a prompt decision to everyone: Retreat! However, it was clearly a half-step too late for that. Four figures rushed down from the forest ahead and threw themselves at them upon closer inspection, it was Sui Zhous quartet! Said mans hands were empty; it wasnt difficult to see that it was he who had thrown the spring-gilt sabre, thus taking care of one of Tang Fans would-be killers. The latter shouted Your sabres here!, then drew it out of the mans back. Ignoring the blood that splashed onto him, he tossed the blade to Sui Zhou. The latter made a beautiful jump, caught it steadily in midair, then cut down another trafficker on the downwind. Deng Xiucais subordinates werent weak, especially not these trusted aides of his. Skills aside, there were only a few people that had returned with Sui Zhou. They would only make him lose a few underlings at best, not put them in such a panic. The ones that really caused the situation to turn around were the troops Wang Zhi had brought, since all those arrows had come from his Depot wardens. Seeing his brigade arrive, first shooting arrows and then joining the fight, Sui Zhous group instantly felt like they had received the assistance of a god. Deng Xiucais men were completely crushed in number. The two sides fought into a mess, the victor and loser being only a matter of time. Still, Tang Fan was anxious. Utilizing the time when everyone was too busy to pay attention to him, he ran to the carriage with the children in it. He feared that if he was a bit too late, they would get taken as hostages by the desperate Southside Gang. The curtain of said carriage lifted, as Ah-Dong, who was supposed to be bound, was currently crouched and observing the outside, several heads hidden behind her. The kids were tightly clutching at her clothes, looking utterly terrified. The reason they could move freely was because the porcelain piece Tang Fan had left for her had done its part. After little Ah-Dong had taken advantage of the chaos to untie herself, she set her other little friends free as well. This had undoubtedly saved a lot of time. Ecstatic, he ran to the carriage, got the kids out one by one, then had Ah-Dong bring them into hiding behind a nearby boulder, telling them that they werent to come out unless all the bad guys had been executed. In the middle of his piece-by-piece instructions, Sui Zhou suddenly shouted: Runqing, move! Tang Fan swiftly turned his head to see Deng Xiucai bolting towards him, a bloodstained sabre in hand, crazed and twisted look in his eyes, and dense murderousness on his face. Evidently, the battle had revolved into a crushing defeat for him, and he was unreconciled to being helpless, wanting to take the kids as hostages. The incident happened in no more than a short moment. He looked insane, but his mind was still very clear. He knew that holding Tang Fan as a hostage would be useless, as the other was a mere minor official; insignificant, able to be discarded at any time, and of no use to him. If he wanted a hostage, it would be best to catch those two children of high-ranking officials, since they were the actual targets of the authorities relentless pursuit. Only by clutching them in his hands would he be truly safe. How could Tang Fan not know what he was thinking? Once Zhu Yongs daughter was caught, no one would be able to stop Deng Xiucai. Thus, without thinking, he didnt dodge to the side, but instead pounced at the man! This act looked quite a bit stupid to the irrelevant onlooker, because Tang Fan didnt have the slightest bit of martial arts capability, an ordinary person through and through. He held no weapons, nor did he have the strength to contend with Deng Xiucai at all, making his pounce the equivalent of hitting a rock with an egg. Yet, that was what he did. Within split-second decisions, there were no affected pretenses, just subconscious actions. In Tang Fans point of view, he didnt think himself to be a Court official that was a rank above these kids. Instead, it was precisely because he was a patron official that he needed to take charge in protecting citizens. Idiot! Giant idiot! Colossal idiot! Wang Zhi was also witnessing this scene. He was so far away, it was simply impossible for him to block the blade hacking at Tang Fan. All he could do was watch on helplessly as he swore loudly. Even Sui Zhou, a little closer, would have been too late, but he still wanted to do all he could. Rather than wear his mouth out swearing like Eunuch Wang was, he sped up, swift as lightning, and turned into a black blur sabre in hand, he thrust it at Deng Xiucai. No one had expected that right when Deng Xiucai was on the verge of slashing Tang Fan, the latter would suddenly take some unknown items out of his lapels, then pelt them down upon him. They were several dark objects that looked like stealth weapons at a glance; very sharp, with something apparently daubed onto it. Could they be applied with poison? Greatly shocked, Deng Xiucai quickly waved his sabre to stringently protect his entire body. All that was heard was a series of clinks as the objects were all struck away, some breaking into several pieces to scatter successively onto the ground. With one look, Deng Xiucai was pissed. What stealth weapons?! Those were clearly broken fragments of porcelain! The areas that looked poisoned were just the blue-white patterning of a bowl! The only thing he had on his mind in that instant was to chop Tang Fan into bits. As was said, the battlefield would forever undergo infinite changes in the span of a second. The brief amount of time Tang Fan had bought was enough Sui Zhou had arrived, his spring-gilt sabre pressing down with the weight of a thunderclap, the billowing light of its murderous aura rushing for Deng Xiucai! He had no choice but to turn around, grit his teeth, and contend with Sui Zhou. Opportunities were fleeting, and Tang Fan had distracted him so much, he had missed his for taking hostages. Not even a moment later, the Brocade Guard, and even the Depot wardens, immediately followed up. Everyone knew that Deng Xiucai was the leader of these operations; given that he was caught, that would be a great contribution. The others having already been consecutively restrained, vacant hands thronged up to surround Deng Xiucai. The mans defeat was an inevitability, a matter of when. Having escaped with his life from beneath a blade and gathered back his own fate, Tang Fan finally let out a sigh of relief. Following his post-event fear, his body went limp, and he sat right onto the ground. Big brother, are you okay?! Ah-Dong ran over to help him, with noisy steps. I am, he answered, exhausted. Youre bleeding! She pointed at his neck. He felt at it, and there were indeed some thin, bleeding cuts. He had likely gotten inadvertently dashed when Deng Xiucai had sent the porcelain flying. Ah-Dong took out a kerchief from her arms and handed it to him. It was a prize he had won from guessing lantern riddles. Ah-Dong had had a pile of things crammed into her arms, of which there were three kerchiefs; not using one right now would be in vain. He accepted it, then casually covered his neck, patting her on the head. Go look after those little brothers and sisters. Dont let them run all around. She agreed, then turned and left. Right then, a mocking laugh came from behind him. Youre really in a sorry state. He didnt need to turn around to know who his counterpart was. Why are you not going to lend a hand, Eunuch Wang, and instead getting nice and cool here? The overall situation is settled. Just reporting this case as closed would grant me merits. Why should I take to the field myself? You were searching down those official roads. How were you able to arrive in time? After you all went on the off-road, I went to get horses, then divided us up into two groups. The others followed along the roads while I came to look for you all, but the time wasted between going back and forth and getting the horses was a lot, which is why we could only get here now. These Brocade Guards are really useless. If the Western Depot had taken this route, you would have never gotten trapped in that den of thieves, because we would have long beaten these roof-jumping clowns into the gutter! Tang Fan sighed, but with an expression of immense relief. And whos to blame for that? I told you to take this road, but you didnt believe me, wasting a lot of time for no good reason! We caught a gang member, but didnt expect that even with a stab wound and two broken fingers, he would still dare to lie to us. Sui Zhou only has four with him, and they were afraid of not having enough manpower, so they had to mass together to give pursuit up the mountain. You all being able to arrive in time is the exhaustion of these crooks fate, else my own life probably would have gotten lost here. Also, the reason Deng Xiucai and them left the cellars was because the Southside Gang has a stronghold up on the mountain ahead, which they could leave for in order to hide out until this all blew over. After these people are brought back, its exact position needs to be gotten out of them, as the stronghold would be best uprooted. The Gangs power is certainly not limited to just Deng Xiucais few, either; theres presumably other forces all over the capital. Please do eradicate their evil, Eunuch Wang, and wipe them out one by one. Wang Zhi frowned, clearly unwilling to go through so much trouble. In his view, once the kids were found, their assignment was done. Right as Tang Fan turned his head, he noticed the change in his expression. He knew what he was thinking. The Southside Gang has some connection to the White Lotuss demonic followers, he supplied. The others expression grew stern. Is that true? I heard it myself in there. Southside is only one such gang affiliated with the Society, and is also a source of income for it. However, Deng Xiucai refused to be bossed around, so he had gotten into an internal fight with the Overseers envoy, then killed her. After you bring him back, you may as well search him. Youre certain to find that Society command token. The sorcerer, Li Zilong, had once caused widespread panic inside the imperial palace, and subsequent investigation had proved that he had been associated with the Society. Ever since then, its name had been formally placed out in the open, causing everyone to have no choice but to confront it head on. Unfortunately, these past two years, the Brocade Guard and two Depots had investigated it on the sly, yet made no progress. The organization was concealed so deeply, even they couldnt suss out any clues, only able to catch its small fry. Now that the connection between the Gang and Society had surfaced, there was no need for Tang Fan to say more. Alongside Boss Lai, Liu Zhili, and those other underworld forces, Wang Zhis group would certainly go make an inquiry. While the two spoke, Deng Xiucai was heavily outnumbered in spite of his extraordinary martial arts, and captured at last. Leaving out those that had been shot dead by arrows or killed in the fight, there were a total of seven gang members left alive, including their second- and third-in-commands. Of greater importance was that the group of children had suffered no major issues, other than a scare. The lot of them had gone hard all night. Despite a sum of merits being arranged before them, there was no celebration. Each of them had a face full of exhaustion and a longing for death. This was true even for those of martial arts, to say nothing of an ordinary man like Tang Fan. He had gone through several life-and-death scenarios, really working himself to the bone. The carriage Deng Xiucai had intended to transport the children with was once again packed with them, but its trajectory had changed. Mister Tang, injured all over and shockingly tired, didnt feel like riding by himself. In order to avoid dozing and falling off partway through the journey, he shared a horse with Sui Zhou. Everyone was weary. The horses werent going very fast, jolting with the addition of the uneven path. Sitting behind Sui Zhou, Tang Fan unwittingly fell asleep amidst this rhythm, his drool flowing onto his back. Millarch Sui said nothing, gazing up at the sky. CH 54 Following the case of the missing children, the Southside Gang was inevitably pulled out by its roots. With the Western Depot and Northern Bastion Office jointly sussing them out, not even a common follower slipped past, let alone core members like Deng Xiucai and the third-in-command. All were arrested, taken away, and interrogated the Gang had completely fallen apart. This disturbance sent chickens flying and dogs jumping. All the gangs of the capital had the power of their decks reshuffled, where gang leaders like Boss Lai and Liu Zhili were also invited for questioning. Everyone momentarily had to tuck their tails between their legs and behave, trembling in fear of having the misfortune to be linked to the Southside Gang. Once this sweep was made, the capital immediately looked much cleaner. According to the intel sent back by Old Wangs crew at Shuntian Prefecture, even the petty thieves that took advantage of crises had calmed down by a lot. Those that had just come to Beijing from elsewhere now believed that the capitals security was consistently this good, sighing about how being right under the Son of Heavens feet really is special and some such. In another respect, Tang Fan and the rest had received quite some information about the White Lotus Society, straight out of Deng Xiucais mouth. The Societys history could be traced back to Northern Song. The end of Yuan and start of Ming, when the world was in chaos and a generation of heroes was cropping up, also happened to be the era where the Society was flourishing and expanding. Its nominal leader at the time had been Chen Youliang, a Han King that had contended with the Great Ancestor for supremacy over the realm. Later on, Chen Youliang had died, power was gobbled up by the Great Ancestor, and said Emperor was expectant towards holding the land. Revolted by such an organization that was near-yet-far plus not very obedient or disciplined he not only refused their surrender, but ruthlessly wiped them out by force. From then on, the Society had gone from the light to the dark, their war banners laid down. Of course, they had not truly vanished in their entirety. During Hongwus era, they had been too afraid to come out and cause chaos due to his strength. By the war of Jingnans time, when Yongle had been competing for the throne with his nephew, the Society had emerged to support Jianwen. In their view, the young and weak Jianwen would have been easier to control than his shrewd, powerful, war veteran uncle, but they had surprisingly pawned the wrong treasure once more; the nephew had been defeated, the uncle had become Emperor, and the Society had been forced to sink below the surface of the water yet again. Hidden in shadows, it did not rest, instead continuing to silently grow its influence in wait for the right opportunity. Following that, the Emperors of Ren and Xuan had caused the country to move into a period of stable growth, where politics were still clean, and the citizens lives were getting better. There had been no leeway for the Society to be able to act, so they seemed to disappear completely from peoples sights, gone without a trace. Those a little younger had probably never even heard of its name. During Yingzongs time, the Emperor himself had been a disappointment, deciding on a personal campaign at the instigation of a eunuch beside him, then resultantly getting captured by the Oirats after running off somewhere far away. Later on, the truth would come to light that Wang Zhen, the instigator, had been inextricably connected to the Demonic Society. After him, said party had colluded with the Oirats, attempting to take advantage of the leaderless crowd of Great Ming dragons to attack Beijing in one go, thus swallowing up half the country. Following that, many twists in the ways of the world had come to be. To be succinct, the second any general situation became stable with no opportunities to be taken at all, the Society would appear to vanish from the human world without a trace. The second there came to be a slight disturbance, they would show up out of nowhere again, stirring up the storm. The Court was very vexed by this, but the power of its various factions grew mutual dissent, never tiring of infighting for years on end, while the Emperor himself had no mind for politics, assigning swindling slackers to the Court that would waste their lives away. No one could find the energy to deal with this enormous, tightly-undercover Society of evil. That was, until the Li Zilong incident. The Emperor had been shocked and furious, and only then did the Brocade Guard and Depots cooperate with dispatching their ranks, increasing the strength of their strikes, and tracking down Society followers from all locations. However, the enemy was in the know, while they were not; despite their exacting means, the whole of the nation was too big. The fiends were difficult to find, even when only casually hiding amongst the commonfolk. Like this time around, for example. Had Tang Fan not heard Lady Ninths confession with his own ears, he would have never thought that Wan Tong had been bribed, nor that the Southside Gang, local bully of the stately capital, had mixed up with the Society. The Gang had gotten its support from the beginning. Their shady dealings were not any different than those of other underworld powers, with more than half of their profits needing to be transferred to the Overseer. Deng Xiucai had been an ambitious man, though; as time had passed, he felt dissatisfied, wondering to himself, Why am I doing all the hard work, yet you lot get all the benefits? He had purposefully tried to climb up onto a connection to Wan Tong, rely on the Court, and draw a boundary line with the Society. In one aspect of that, he wouldnt have been completely turning face with the Society. The money that had to be handed over had been accordingly handed over he had merely claimed that business hadnt been doing well, gradually lessening over the years. On the other aspect, he had bribed himself a connection with Wan Tong, even dividing half of the profits from Relaxation with him. Everything had been going his way; wasnt that delightful? Yet, since the Overseer had been receiving less money, they had sent someone to investigate: Lady Ninth. At the same unexpected time, Deng Xiucais underlings had been too presumptuous by kidnapping two that should not have been kidnapped, the resulting trouble so large, even Wan Tong couldnt keep him safe. He thereafter had no option but to escape to the deserted village in wait for the wind to blow over. Then, due to Lady Ninth and Deng Xiucai having been at loggerheads for a long time, she had exploited Tang Fans coincidental arrival to fight with him, only to end up paying for it with her own life. That was the sum of the matter, but Tang Fan and the rest wanted to know more than just that. They wanted to know the situation of the White Lotus Society even more so, including where that alleged Overseer was, how many followers existed, where they were allocated, what schemes they had been prepping recently, and so on. Unfortunately, Deng Xiucai knew nothing about all that inside info. He had headed the entire Gang, but, to be blunt, he had only been a peripheral member of the Society, unqualified for partixcipation in its major affairs. Suffering the Western Depots tactics, the iron-boned Deng Xiucai was forced to obediently fess up to his share. He claimed that he only knew that the Society had a head honcho in other words, the Leader who was a complete enigma, their true face one he had never seen. Also, in addition to the main sanctum, separate sanctums had been established all over, as the Societys influence had spread throughout the whole country. On account of Beijing being where the Imperial City was located, as well as having the garrisons of the Brocade Guard and Depots, the Society didnt dare to be too out in the open in it. There was hence no separate branch set up in the capital, only fostered peripheral powers like the Southside Gang. The Gang sending periodic annual tithes to the Overseer had not been at fixed times; the Overseer would always send someone over for it, while Deng Xiucais group would be responsible for receiving them. Said envoy also wasnt fixed every year, as the one from the previous two had been a man called Monk Zhu, while this one had been Lady Ninth. The two sides would use their token of command and spoken code as a means of contact. The token would be the Overseers, which Deng Xiucai had snatched from Lady Ninth. It had supreme gold content and was able to command the Societys members, but if someone had it without the secret code, it would be useless. Everyone else would come to know that you were a sham. The code was very abstract, too. The Society had a set of corresponding ones within it, which Deng Xiucai had enumerated in full, but he also stated that in order to prevent turncoats from cropping up, the code set would be switched out on a regular basis. Each time the Overseers envoy had come over, they would instruct him on the new set needed for use next time, rather than continue the use of the same set. So very interlinked, and strictly confidential that was why the Society could evade the investigation and suppression of the authorities, getting passed down through generations. What Deng Xiucai was able to explain was now completely exhausted. Someone who knew a bit more would have been Lady Ninth, but he had eliminated her and her two subordinates. Wang Zhi and them werent able to wipe out the Society, but finally extracting a nail in the capital that it had hammered in was still a great achievement. Tang Fan felt, though, that since the Southside Gang once had a line connecting to the palace that allowed them to sell young children to it for eunuchism, them bribing Wan Tong probably hadnt stopped there they might have additional channels in the palace. He suggested that Wang Zhi conduct a deep investigation on it, but, of course, his proposal was rejected. The grounds for Wang Zhis rejection were quite simple. He had only found the free time to come back here because of an assignment in the first place, so now that this assignment was done, he had to rush back to Datong. There was no time for him to blindly screw around. On top of that, he informed Tang Fan that the palace had long been wholly combed through, following Li Zilongs incident. People with even tiny scars on their bodies, let alone the mark of the Society, had been singled out and sent to the Depots for their turns at interrogation. All of the Society-affiliated spies had then been arrested, while others that had been fine were also getting inspected at regular intervals, since there was no Society mark left behind anywhere on their bodies. In other words, while the Society mark was a real thing, it was only directed towards middle- or lower-layer followers. Main sanctum envoys similar to Lady Ninth wouldnt have one at all. She had probably only been frightening him and probing out his mindset at the time, not taking it as an actual certificate for screening followers. At the tail end of it, he also gravely warned Tang Fan: Dont go finding something when theres nothing! His final statement had far-reaching implications. With Tang Fans wit, it wasnt hard for him to hear the connotation amidst it. The reason for Wang Zhis refusal to make a big fuss was pretty reasonable; even though he had sky-reaching power, the majority of it was gathered outside of the palace, and could not reach inside it. It wasnt just him, either, as things were the same for Shang Ming of the Eastern Depot. There were only two who were currently able to speak in the palaces internals: Huai En, and Liang Fang. Within the Twelve Supervisories, Ceremony Management and Royal Steeds had the highest authority. Each division also had a Sealwielder and a Brushholder, which, in laymans terms, were the big boss and the second boss. Seniority had to be observed everywhere. Huai En and Liang Fang were both the big bosses of their respective Supervisories, whilst even the two upstarts of Wang Zhi and Shang Ming could only claim the titles of second bosses. Said big bosses were relied heavily upon by the Emperor in no small measure, especially Liang Fang. Since he had taken the route of Consort Wan, he was all the more like a fish put into water, with a huge load of henchmen and immense influence inside the palace. Wang Zhi didnt dare to provoke him rashly. Even though the Southside Gangs connection to the inner palace might not be directly related to Liang Fang, it certainly couldnt be kept from his eyes and ears maybe there would even be the benefit of filially respecting him for them. Deeper investigation of all this would inevitably drag him into it. Wang Zhi and he were of the same trade, looking down on all from above; with the latter being his senior, the former didnt want to offend him. Furthermore, this had already implicated Wan Tong though the Emperor hadnt done anything to him in regards to Consort Wans face, after learning that he had received bribes from the Southside Gang, he requested that Yuan Bin head the Brocade Guard. This was seen as a tiny warning that wrested Wan Tongs power away, who thereafter sulked nearly to death. He was too afraid to do anything to the Emperor, naturally, but there was nothing stopping him from venting on Wang Zhi. Despite the eunuch being someone of Consort Wans, he was her little brother. If a servant could be close to her, how close would a brother be? Thus, Wang Zhi was summoned by Consort Wan for a chewing out, and he, too, became sullen. The Emperor had praised him, but then he had to turn his head and eat crap before the Consort. He certainly didnt want to offend Liang Fang on top of that. After giving Tang Fan a warning, he headed straight for Datong the following day, setting his heart upon establishing military merits while putting everything else out of sight, out of mind. Without the Western Depots support, Tang Fan couldnt go investigate the palace by his lonesome. Thankfully, Ah-Dong and the rest of the children were perfectly fine, and all the culprits had been arrested Deng Xiucai, the third-in-command, and the puppet gang leader Ding Yimu in particular. All of them were sentenced to execution, while the rest of the gang members were sentence to army exile. In The Great Ming Code, human trafficking was called human thievery. Selling lawful civilians was a grade worse of a crime than selling servants, and those that lured, took, then sold civilians as slaves were to receive a hundred rods, then be banished three thousand li away. However, Deng Xiucais group had colluded with the White Lotus Society, so they were not of the same class as regular abduction. The charge of being related to a rebellion plot was the heaviest within every successive generation of the Dynasty. Originally, Deng Xiucai had been set to be cut in half across the waist, but he was getting special leniency and kindness for being forthcoming; he could first kill himself painlessly via poison, and once that was done, be beheaded. Getting bisected was incomparably painful, so, in order to die a bit more comfortably, Deng Xiucai hadnt neglected to spit out everything he knew. Prior to Ah-Dongs group, it was unknown how many children had fallen into their hands. Even Ding Yimu, an actual puppet that hadnt done much himself, had an unfathomable amount of innocent blood staining his hands. The deaths of these three were not an injustice in the least. The work everyone had done for over half a night had not been in vain. The whole event came to an end at last, with a conclusion that barely counted as satisfactory. Apart from those wounded in the fight with the Gang, Tang Fan was the one that had suffered the worst injuries. First, he had been knocked out by a club to the head, which was later confirmed to have bled. Then, when in the cellars, his hands had bled from the binds. Then, he had gotten shoved by Xin Shitou, where his knees immediately bruised and bled because he couldnt maneuver well with those bound hands. Later still, his neck had gotten sliced by the porcelain, and so on Despite his injuries generally not being grave, his body was still riddled with wounds. Since all them were caused by official work, Mister Tang was fortunately able to take half a month of recovery leave in good conscience, celebrating Sui Zhous credits in passing. Yes, Sui Zhou had gotten promoted, yet again. This time was an accident, though. After he had handled Huang Jinglongs case, he had already been promoted to Deputy Millarch. Reasonably, there shouldnt have been another promotion within such a brief timespan, but the Emperor had been unhappy with Wan Tongs collusion with traffickers in the missing childrens case, thus having Yuan Bin head the Guard. Who was Yuan Bin? He had the merit of imperial rescue, having saved the Late Emperor. Back during the Tumu Crisis, Yuan Bin had followed by Yingzongs side to protect him, even getting captured alongside him and looking after him well; as a monarch and a subject that had experienced trials together, the feelings between them had been incomparable to those of typical subjects. Later on, Yuan Bin had aided him in taking back his throne, which could be described as another eminent merit. Due to this past history, the current Emperor held extreme respect for Yuan Bin following his ascension. Since the latter was getting older, he no longer managed anything practical, merely getting the title Commanding Envoy of the Brocade Guard hung onto him. It was only because the Emperor had the mind to teach Wan Tong a lesson that he had asked Yuan Bin to step up, whose qualifications and prestige made even His Majesty be somewhat respectful to him. A low-grade consort-kin like Wan Tongs flattery couldnt keep up, even while whipping a horse. Over recent years, the Brocade Guards atmosphere had been stirred afoul because of Wan Tong, vile people running amok. Those who had ingratiated themselves to him would become guests of the Wan family, and those who hadnt clicked with him had been suppressed and struck down by him via the power of the Guard, similar to that censor Sui Zhou had spoken of before. Now that Yuan Bin was here, the atmosphere had suddenly changed. The man was older, yet still strong and healthy in his age. As soon as he had arrived, he took down the dual heads of the Northern Bastion Office, who were also known as Wan Tongs trusted lackeys. The latter had clenched his teeth in hatred, but was powerless against him. He also couldnt go complain to His Majesty, because the latter was the one who had sent Yuan Bin to reorder the Guard in the first place. As that was so, no one dared to make a peep whenever they caught sight of Wan Tong. Any sort of nasty character inevitably had to make way for him, tucking their tails between their legs so that they wouldnt get caught in the crossfire. Even though none of this had been directly related to Sui Zhou, the word of Deputy had quickly been removed from his title on the grounds of his trademark capability, and he became a genuine Millarch. Millarchs were of truefifth rank. Their poor grade and military official status were irrelevant, as the authority they wielded was not minor. There were five Guard Centers affiliated under the Northern and Southern Bastion Offices, one of which was headed by a Millarch. More pressingly, because Yuan Bin had just removed the Northern Offices heads, no one was sitting in said position. He thus had Sui Zhou temporarily act as Bastion Envoy for the North. Upon consideration that this would be a leapfrog promotion, and out of fear that he wouldnt be able to convince the masses, he didnt promote him outright, instead having him be it in a concurrent-post manner. An old general setting out on a horse was something not of the mortal realm, and Sui Zhou had been particularly selected therein. If he performed well, full acquirement would be just around the bend, but he could also get kicked off of it at any time. Many coveted his spot, which could be seen as an indirect encouragement for him to do all he could. Now that he held the salary of a Millarch, the velocity of his promotions was really inciting red-eyed jealousy in fourth-rank officials. However, he was also facing unprecedented pressure. How to win over peoples hearts, how to convince the masses, how to make those below him obey whenever he sent them on assignments each and every thing was a difficult problem. Regardless, this was something worthy of celebration. In order to do so for him, Tang Fan, Xue Ling, and a group of Sui Zhous old subordinates arranged a feast outside not at Immortal Cloud, though, because that was too expensive. Everyone was familiar with each other and the capital had a lot of food in it, so there was no need to choose that place. Tang Fan picked out a time-honored restaurant called Yang Jis Lamb, which was most famed for its mutton. He booked a private room ahead of time, then called for some of his own Shuntian work-friends to come, as well as the group of Brocade Guards. They all sat around the table for lamb hot pot. Four pots were on the table, as well as four large plates of fatty, tender mutton beside them. There were things of cabbage, mushroom, vermicelli, and all sorts of other complimentary dishes, as well as minced garlic, soy sauce, shallots, sesame oil, Sichuan pepper, and all kinds of other seasonings. There was an atmosphere of self-matching, self-preparing, and then eating. It wasnt just Sui Zhou, but even Xue Ling and the rest that had moved up a step thanks to Yuan Bins blessing. They were all ecstatic. Conversely, Tang Fan had handled two major cases back-to-back, thus establishing two contributions. First, he had cleared away Consort Wans suspicion. Then, he had found the children of officials, infiltrated a den of thieves, and had a battle of wits and bravery with the Southside Gang, which could be described as a life-risking task where he had held back none of his strength. Yet, the higher ups had given him no reward whatsoever, his rank still in its original spot. He himself didnt feel this to be a big deal, but his close friends were inevitably upset on his behalf. Once drunk with wine and filled with food, Xue Ling stood up from his seat, walked over, then pat Tang Fans shoulder hard to comfort him. Runqing, as I see it, youre not someone destined for bad luck. Youll definitely get promoted to high officialdom! Dont get discouraged! Right! Pang Qi chimed in. Your good fortune just hasnt arrived yet! Dont be disheartened. The two of them still worked for Sui Zhou, but they had since been promoted to Centarchs, their political careers going steady. It wasnt just them, but the whole group of Sui Zhous old underlings that had pretty much all been promoted; that was how they all knew that there would be meat to eat if they stuck with their boss, thus becoming all the more loyal to him. Seeing that Xue Ling had drunk too much, his entire body swaying as he half-leaned on Tang Fan, Sui Zhou couldnt help but reach out and pull him away some. Stand properly! he scolded. This wasnt work, and literally everyone had been drinking, so Xue Ling wasnt much afraid of him. Youre really good to Brother Runqing, big bro. Even we, your underlings that follow you everywhere, cant compare! Everyone agreed with a chorus of yeahs. I still have empty rooms, Sui Zhou replied. How about you move in so that I can treat you well everyday, too? Xue Ling immediately chuckled, saying nothing else. What a joke. Even though he hadnt taken a wife yet, he had a concubine at home, and frequently hung out around brothels. Making him meet with the frigid face of his boss every day would probably hurt him more than killing him would. Tang Fan grinned. Everyone else wants promotions, but Im happy as-is. Those sound like empty words! Who wouldnt be happy with a promotion?! Xue Ling bellowed. Yeah! everyone uproared. Tang Fan feigned bitter hardship. Just think, you guys. Im only at sixth rank right now, but Ive gone deep into a thieves den, gotten knocked out, and almost died. If I get promoted up a level, would I not have to go fight to the death with the Leader of the White Lotus Society? This time next year, I might not even be able to sit down and have a drink with you all! With that amusing sketch, the crowd burst into roaring laughter. Those that had wanted to console him at the onset, upon seeing how overwhelmingly positive he was, also shut their mouths. After the hosts and their guests had the utmost of merriment at the feast, they each returned to their respective homes, and each sought out their respective mothers, then had to do whatever it was they should have been doing. On the road home, Sui Zhou noticed that there was gloom amidst Tang Fans eyes. Thinking to himself that he must have spoken freely in front of outsiders whilst actually minding it on the inside, he said to him, Fortune and misfortune rely upon each other, and all the good and bad of the world is interdependent. Not getting promoted this time around might not be a bad thing. Maybe theres something else good waiting for you up ahead. Thats not what Im worried about What is it, then? Its not even the middle of the month yet, but Im about to run out of salary, Mister Tang answered, embarrassed. That was it? Sui Zhou was a little speechless, his cold face drawing down. Where did all your money go? It seemed like you only paid a few hundred wen when you all treated me out to eat, right? Mister Pan sought me out yesterday. We both ate somewhere, but when it came near time to pay the tab, that senior of mine got a stomachache and went to the latrine. I had to pay it first. He wanted to pay after he came back, but how could I accept his money? Couldnt you two ever not go to Immortal Cloud to eat? It wasnt that, actually. It was at that dumpling stall not far from Shuntians bureau. Whether its the fish or cabbage-pork dumplings youre eating, their craftsmanship isnt any lesser than the wonton stall in the citys north. Its cold now, but when spring starts, they have jimao-mincemeat, and its delicious Youre off track. Oh. Well, after the meal, it was about a hundred strings. But He had a face of suffering. The day before yesterday, I had paid a visit to someone of my same year, then discovered that he was so poor, he was about to run out of food. So, I treated him to a meal, which was another fifty strings spent one time doesnt feel like much, but why does it now feel like I spent so much all at once? The more Sui Zhou listened, the more he felt that something was amiss. Didnt you get five hundred taels from that Society woman? Even if you did give half to me, would the remaining two-hundred-fifty really be used up that quickly? Tang Fan had been pleased about the money for a long time, not telling anyone but Sui Zhou alone, and then split it in half with him under the beautified name of dividing up spoils. Sui Zhou had refused it, but the other had stubbornly stuffed it into his hands to force him to accept it. With him saying that, Mister Tang was even more embarrassed. My same-years family was destitute. His home still had four children crying to be fed, but the lease on the house he was renting was about to be due, and he couldnt drum up the money. So I gave him those taels. Sui Zhou had no expression. Youre a very generous one. Tang Fan believed that he was praising him, thickening up his face to play modest. How so? To aid those in need is the duty of those in my generations. That money didnt require any effort for me to get, so spending it was no harm! Sui Zhou remained having no expression. How was that no-effort money? Did you steal it? Rob it? Did you forget that you almost lost your life in that gang hideout? No matter what difficulties his family was having, you giving him a hundred taels would have been plenty. How can you be so shrewd when working, yet cant apply that when it comes to yourself? You do things with no plan, spending money like its water! Sir Tang was scolded into looking like a child that didnt dare to raise his head. Yes, yes, yes. When I go back, Ill have Ah-Dong help with supervising me, he said, ashamed. It really went without saying, but ever since Sui Zhou had risen up to be Millarch Sui and taken charge of the Northern Bastion Office, his majesty had flourished more by the day. His posture when admonishing had been plenty to start with, but now he was so board-faced, pretty much no one dared to make a peep to him at all. How would Ah-Dong be able to hold you back? he asked. From now on, after you get your salary of grains and cash from your paper money, hand half of it over to me. Ill safeguard it for you. If you ever need to spend more after using up what you have on hand, youll need to justify that to me first. You can use it only after I agree to it. Sui Zhou had never been fond of meddling in others business. Almost all of said business that he had cared about in this lifetime had come from Tang Fans head. It was fortunate that they had the kind of relationship they had. If someone else had been ordered to do this, they would feel it difficult to understand, and might even turn hostile. Someone like Mister Tang, who was different from the average person, just nodded with delight. Thats great! With you stopping me, I wont spend so recklessly! From that point on, Millarch Sui not only had a heap of things to look after in the Northern Bastion Office, but also had to help Mister Tang manage his money when he returned home. He truly did wield total power, both foreignly and domestically how very envy-inducing! Yet, right when everyone was thinking that Tang Fan would continue doing his job as a Judge, news from the Ministry of Appointments came in, stating that he was to head over to it. CH 55 The promotions of military posts werent too similar to those of civil officials, and divisions like the Brocade Guard relied upon imperial favor and merits to a great extent. Even so, being like Sui Zhou where one rose from Gonfalon to Millarch, and also gained a leadership position in the Northern Bastion Office, over the very brief span of a year was still very eye-grabbing. When the heads of the Office had been taken down by Yuan Bin, the few Millarchs under him had all been staring covetously at that position, only for Sui Zhou to come up from behind and occupy it this inevitably put everyone into a bit of disbelief. After he had taken up the post, they had overtly and covertly tried to trip him up, like secretly sabotaging, procrastinating, and other such things on assignments that should have long been finished prior. Some people had even looked at Sui Zhous day-long frosty face, felt that he was bound to be someone very exacting upon his subordinates, and changed the way they spoke to get close to Xue Lings group, wanting to see if they could dig out some blackmail material, file a complaint to their superiors, and then pull him down from his position. See? No need to believe that Brocade Guards werent also civil officials, else they wouldnt have so many tortuous ideas. Officialdom had never lacked such ambushing, pitfalling schemes, and an intelligence division accustomed to interrogation like the Guard found it even easier to do such work. There were those that set up snares in the dark, laughing behind backs, and those that rushed to fawn. Wherever there were humans, there were turbulent rivers, and that was a statement that could be applied everywhere. In not even a few days time, someone presented a complaint to Yuan Bin, stating that Sui Zhou hadnt been in his position for long before he started forcing them to train, adding in many programs that hadnt existed before at a tempo that would torture the entire Office to death. If he wasnt stopped, they all likely wouldnt be able to withstand it. Yuan Bin was seventy-eight this year what spectacles had he not seen before? As Commanding Envoy, he looked down from up on high and could view the minds of all sorts of people, yet he had said nothing, did nothing, didnt lend a hand to Sui Zhous predicament, and didnt call Sui Zhou over to chastise him because of his subordinates complaints. He had merely watched what was happening in peace. If Sui Zhou couldnt resolve these troubles, he wouldnt be worthy of sitting in that position. Sure enough, very quickly, everybody quit coming around. The Guard was of martial quality, so they did regularly practice and exercise, but, since the time of the countrys founding was getting further and further away, many were inevitably becoming lazier and lazier, making said practice have no real effect. Even the Capital Battalions had turned into a pretty and useless display on the battlefield. Despite the Guard also executing the functions of acting as imperial bodyguards, patrolling, and apprehending, they were no longer as fearsome or go-getter as they had been at inception; coupling that with the repression of the Eastern Depot and sky-crowding emergence of the Western Depot, more and more power was being diverted away from the Guard, making them more and more put-out, and more and more powerless. Such was why whenever it had investigated the White Lotus Society before this, the Guard had never profited very much. After Sui Zhou took a leadership role in the Northern Bastion Office, the first thing he had wanted to change was its general atmosphere. Thus, he had given the firm order that starting from the beginning of each month, once every three days in the early time of the Tiger,(3-5a) and excluding those that were on-duty or on abroad assignments, everyone had to assemble at the training grounds to practice for two shichen. All training regimens followed the Battalions, with some extra components added in by Sui Zhou. For many of those that had long grown accustomed to doing nothing, then sleeping until the sun was high in the sky, then wandering about brothels and gambling halls in the night, this was unbearable. They all excessively whined for days on end, and even ran off to Yuan Bin to issue complaints, saying that Millarch Suis position wasnt high, yet his authority wasnt low, and he took no ones lives seriously, mistreated his subordinates, completely lacked in humanity, and so forth, all for the sake of flaunting his officials might. It had seemed, at first, that Yuan Bin would not be able to sit idly by and ignore such broad-scale complaints, but, unbeknownst to them, Sui Zhou had already informed him of all this. Prior to the training, he had sought Yuan Bin out, enumerated his plans one-by-one, and explained the goals and reasonings behind them. As it were, Yuan Bin disapproved of how the Guard had become so corrupted due to Wan Tong, hence why he was unmoved by so many coming to complain. In all things, one must first win over the understanding and comprehension of their superiors. Once they knew clearly that what you were doing was correct, the opinions of underlings wouldnt matter that much. Any action that altered existing conditions would always be met with resistance, but if nothing was done out of fear of said resistance, Sui Zhou would just be waiting to be made into an empty figurehead Seeing that their complaints were useless, everyone had no choice but to comply with Sui Zhous orders, and reluctantly come to the training grounds for practice. The very first instance, a quarter-hour had passed in the time of Tiger, yet the right-about average ones had never shown up. Every one of such people had been pulled away to suffer corporal punishment, getting ten hard hits with a paddle each, after which they still had to continue with training. If they were still late the next time, they would get another ten strikes added, and so on and so forth for any further subsequent times. They all learned that Sui Zhou was the real deal, and no one dared to be late the second time. The contents of the training outline he had set up, however, included balancing a bowl of water on top of ones head and standing in a crouched horse-stance position under the sun for half a shichen, all while holding ten-catty weights in each hand. If any water was spilled, that would be considered a violation of the guidelines, and their time would proceed to be prolonged by another half a shichen. A lot of people had raised objections to this, thinking it too painful and exhausting; the long-spoiled Guards had profusely expressed that they couldnt take this, it was simply impossible to complete within two shichens, and other such things. Without pomp, Sui Zhou had personally gone onto the field and demonstrated for them. Everyone had watched him for a half-shichen with their own eyes not only had the bowl on his head never fallen off, but not even a drop of water in the bowl had splashed out, which thereafter made them entirely convinced, in both heart and word. Xue Lings group had never needed to speak up. They had always followed in Sui Zhous footsteps, doing whatever it was he ever said to with absolutely no dissent. The rest had discovered that this newly-appointed boss was decisive and kept to his word, where complaining and being lazy would have no effect, so they had to steel their hearts and train with him to the exact beat. Still, Sui Zhou was not just blindly making uncompromising demands. At the end of every month, he would treat everybody to a meal, and those that had displayed excellence would get extra rewards. The money for that all came out of the communal treasury, of course though, when Wan Tong had been around and his people had managed both the Northern and Southern Bastion Offices, said funds had often been used privately and spent recklessly, while those below hadnt even needed to think about touching them. With no material benefit, they all had been obliged to reach down even further to lower levels. Following Sui Zhous appointment, he had the account books re-made, with each expense required to be clearly noted. Like so, an extra sum of silver could be withdrawn for the purpose of appeasing the minds of the people, which was to everyones satisfaction. Consecutive to three months of this, when everybody had gradually gotten used to this stringent training, the grumbling lessened, to say nothing of the fact that the Offices atmosphere was like brand-new; at the very least, it had changed a little from how it had been before. It was a good change, naturally, and if nothing else, the case-handling efficacy of the current month had greatly improved. A superior that set examples, as well as clearly distinguished their punishments and rewards, was much better than a boss that only knew how to eat, drink, whore, gamble, and monopolize all the benefits for themself all day long. Sui Zhou was much stricter than the original Bastion Envoy, but strictness had strict advantages. Those that had good relations with their original boss could no longer sneak around, and the subordinates that hadnt been able to hug that bosss thighs no longer needed to worry about life being made difficult for them. Before anyone had realized it, Sui Zhous position became increasingly stable, and he slowly began to leave his own mark on these people. On this day, Tang Fan emerged from the bureau of the Ministry of Appointments. His mind was invigorated on account of a happy occasion, his steps even a bit brisk as he walked. Upon seeing that it was still early, he changed directions; instead of heading for home, he headed for the Northern Bastion Office. He hadnt been over here since Sui Zhous promotion. Its formerly-lax entry defense was now quite tight. The one on-duty didnt recognize him, and as it was a little odd to see a sixth-rank civil official coming there, he stopped him. Upon hearing that he was going to see Sui Zhou, his expression grew even stranger. Who are you? the on-duty Brocade Guard interrogated. Whats your purpose in seeking out Sir Envoy? The mans attitude wasnt that great. If it wasnt for Tang Fan wearing his officials uniform, he might have suspected that the other was dropping by in his free time to come have a laugh at him. It was little wonder that he thought like so. The majority of civil officials cherished their plumage and their reputations, so, in general, they would only ever reluctantly drop by after getting invited over. Ones that came of their own volition, like Tang Fan, were rare. This one is Tang Fan, said man answered. Im a friend of your Bastion Envoy. Sorry to trouble you with passing on a message, but if hes since gotten off of work, please ask him to come out here. Sui Zhou shouldnt really be getting called Bastion Envoy, strictly speaking, because he was only in that position temporarily, but people were always getting talked up in officialdom. Deputy Millarchs, for example, would directly be called Millarchs, the removal of Deputy causing the one that heard it to feel easy and refreshed. The Guard looked at him doubtfully, disbelieving from the bottom of his heart that a man like their new Bastion Envoy would have any friends. Beyond that, this guys rank was low, making him wonder; was he bluffing about his connection in order to climb to a higher position via the Envoy? Noticing his suspicion, Tang Fan smiled. Please pass word on, my good brother. If he wont see me, Ill go back home. His counterpart wasnt purposefully trying to make things difficult for him, really, but regulations had gotten a lot stricter as of late. Were he to hastily go in and be a bother only for this guy to not have that much weight, he might be getting the paddle. Hes occupied with something important, the man thus said, straight-faced. Come again another day. Tang Fan gave an oh. Ill ask this, then; is he still inside, or has he gone home? Hes still inside. Tang Fan nodded. Ill wait for him here, then. With that, he shifted his robes aside, sat down upon the steps, drew out a book from his pocket, and began to read. The Guard glared at him. How dare you be so impudent at the entrance of the Bastion Office! What a joke. How could the impressive, iron-blooded, cold-hearted Office frighten anyone with somebody reading right in front of its gates? Tang Fan gave him a leisurely glance. I asked you to go notify him, and you refused. Im going to read while I wait right here, which isnt getting in your way, nor am I blocking the gate. My butt is to the side, isnt it? The Guard was speechless. When he thought to say something, his companion that was also keeping watch at the door gave him a look, then got in close to whisper to him. Are you stupid? So what if you go in and notify him? If hes a friend of the Envoy, you cant be offending him. If he isnt, well just drive him away! The other rolled his eyes at him. Youre one to talk. Why arent you going in yourself, then? His companion chuckled. I will. Dont be jealous when I get the Envoys praises later! The man didnt believe him, but his friend actually did turn and go in to make a report. Not long after, he saw said friend rush out from inside, face full of smiles for Tang Fan. Good Sir, the Envoy is busy right now, but hes asked you to come in and wait for him. His mouth opened wide as he watched his companion attentively guide Tang Fan in. A good while later, when the other came back, he hurriedly asked, Who is that guy? A friend of the Envoy. You didnt recognize him? He just said that his name is Tang Fan. Ive heard hes lodging in the Envoys home. The man sucked in a cold breath. Its that good of a friendship? How could it not be? How come you didnt say so earlier?! the man stamped his foot, dejected. Blame yourself for being blind, his companion mocked. I even warned you, and you still didnt go make a report. If the Envoy came to pin blame afterwards, thered be no way that I was getting scolded along with you! Depressed into silence, the man thought of how he had missed another opportunity to show his face to their boss. Regardless of whatever those two Guards were thinking of, Tang Fan arrived at the training grounds under the guidance of the watchman. Before he even saw any human figures, he heard the distant shouts of a fight coming from far away, and only upon coming near did he discover that there was a martial competition going on at the grounds. In the center of the field, two figures rose up and dropped down swiftly, the light from their sabres intersecting. This bout was not a flashy show to dazzle ones eyes and ears, but a completely relentless, life-threatening maneuver to kill. Upon taking an even closer look wasnt one amongst them Sui Zhou?! He was competing with another on-field. Next to them was an encompassing circle of people, each one jeering and cheering. Tang Fan looked around, spotted Xue Lings figure in the crowd, and then walked over, slapping him on the shoulder while he was unawares. Xue Ling jumped in fright. Right as he went to get mad, his anger turned to happiness as soon as he turned to see. How come youre here? One thats idle will wander all over. Tang Fan chuckled. Are you all having a competition? Why did even your Bastion Envoy have to get on the scene? Xue Ling grinned. Big bro previously established a rule that contests were going to be held at the end of each month. Contestants can propose challenges towards anyone, while the final winner gets a hefty reward. Lots of guys have been badly admonished by him before and were holding in their anger, so they wrote him challenges of war, only for him to beat them all down onto their stomachs, one by one. Heh-heh-heh they still have no idea how awesome he is, but how could I not? I, Old Xue, am not about to bring embarrassment to myself! While he was talking, the matchs loser and victor had already been distinguished. The one competing with Sui Zhou had believed himself to have spotted a gap in the others defenses, raising his spring-gilt sabre to sweep it from behind in an attempted sneak-attack. However, the other apparently had eyes grown on his back; the tip of his toes touched upon the ground, and he soared up, did a flip in mid-air, then sent his opponent flying with a kick. When his own body was incrementally falling to the ground, he took that landing power to go from lying flat on his back to once again standing steady. That entire series of events had been akin to traveling clouds and flowing water; extremely nimble, and having a sense of beauty that brimmed with strength. The onlookers applauded en masse, cheering in rises and falls. Sui Zhou was only in a pair of pants as he stood in the middle of the arena, his upper body bare. Sweat trailed down from every area on his forehead and neck to slide down the rest of him, his entire body drenched in it, his bulging muscles glistening under the sunlight. It was clear that such a built physique had been obtained from incessant and diligent daily tempering, which he hadnt gotten sloppy with due to his sudden high post at all. He stared at his opponent that he had kicked over onto the ground, back-handedly sticking the spring-gilt sabre into the ground. If you havent given up, come at me again, he said, icy. His state of mind was currently fully immersed within the fight. To him, there was no division between swapping pointers and dueling. Since he was on the field, he needed to spare no effort, and treat this seriously this was both respect towards himself, and respect towards his opponent. The one he was staring at felt like he was being pinned by a ferocious beast. Unable to resist a shiver, he couldnt drum up any will to fight anymore, and hurriedly took back his sabre, cupping his hands. I wont, I wont! Your skills are outstanding, Sir! This subordinate admits defeat! Those surrounding hooted with laughter. This guy had overcome everyone in the Office for two months in a row; likely feeling a bit proud of himself, he had thus challenged Sui Zhou. Many had been defeated by the latter before, but he had been certain that he would be the one exception, not expecting that he would be conceding in the end. It was truly tragic. The instant his counterpart gave in, the harsh aura surrounding Sui Zhou suddenly softened up. He walked over and pulled that subordinate up, then clapped him on the shoulder. Youre already pretty good. Sir Yuan intends on having us compare knowledge with the Battalions in order to boost morale. At that time, the fight for our Offices honor will wholly depend on you. Said underling had been a bit embarrassed, but after hearing that, he promptly got a surge of emotion. Dont worry, Sir! Ill definitely do all that I can to never let our Office lose face! This method of hit, then support was quite forcefully convincing. Tang Fan had his hands behind his back, watching this scene with a full smile. He wasnt anxious to step forward. After Sui Zhou had finished motivating his subordinates, the conclusion had been announced, and everyone had scattered, he leisurely walked up to him. Youre very mighty, Bastion Envoy. Looks like your proper place is just around the bend! It wasnt that Sui Zhou hadnt noticed Tang Fan beforehand, but that it simply hadnt been convenient to speak. Everyone else was now gone, and it was him alone that was watching him with a smile; thinking of how he didnt have a single cun of thread on his upper body, a trace of hard-to-perceive bashfulness flashed past Sui Zhous cold face. Why did you come looking for me? If its nothing urgent, wait a bit for me to wash and change clothes. Tang Fan grinned. Go and change, Im not rushing. Im inviting you to dinner today Immortal Guest. Want to go? Sui Zhou had been walking back to the room where the changes of clothes were, but upon hearing this, he stopped, raising his brows. Where did that money come from? Mister Tang did not have free finances right now. Each month, he could spend half, but the other half went to Sui Zhou for safekeeping, in order to prevent him from wastefully squandering his coin. Were the half he had to be used up, there was basically no way that he could spend the money Sui Zhou was guarding. Tang Fan laughed. It fell down from the sky! Seeing that he was keeping him in suspense, Sui Zhou was unworried. Once he was done freshening up and changing, he found Tang Fan sipping tea in his personal work office. Upon noticing that he had arrived, Tang Fan got up. Cmon, cmon, cmon! Lets go eat! Sui Zhou just shook his head, questioning him after. You got promoted? Tang Fan had anticipated that he would guess as much, so he wasnt startled upon hearing this, nodding animatedly. Yep! What post? Chief of the Henan Office in the Ministry of Justice. My late mother was granted the fifth-rank title of Lady of Peace, and I was granted an additional one hundred taels of silver. Those three above-mentioned articles had to be the belated rewards for his exceptional performances in the East Palace and child kidnapping cases. Sui Zhous brows jumped, and then he immediately loosened up, the corners of his mouth faintly lifting. Thats great. It really is worthy of celebration. Tang Fan grinned. I dont insist upon getting a high post and heavy salary, but doing something and getting proper compensation for it is a happy event. Youre not going to stop me from treating you to food this time, right? Sui Zhou nodded, only to say, No need to go out to eat. Have Ah-Dong purchase some more ingredients tomorrow, and Ill cook at home. Once he heard that, both of Tang Fans eyes shone with sparkles at once. Sui Zhou could definitely swear that he saw light showing through them, and had no idea how to react. You like the food I cook more than Immortal Guests? Tang Fan laughed, his graceful and elegant air suddenly wiped out of existence. Thats only natural. How could the dishes made by the Sui Guangchuan himself be inferior to those of Immortal Guest? His very lavish compliment automatically made the curve Sui Zhous smile even bigger. The head of their family was in a good mood, which surely blessed the other two. That evening, Sui Zhou had a rare bout of cooking, personally making pork strips flavored with yuxiang, sweet and sour spare ribs, and red-cooked lions head meatballs. Ah-Dong had even wrapped up some jimao dumplings that Tang Fan had constantly been thinking about. Added onto all this was a goblet of green plum wine simmered atop a red clay stove because Ah-Dong was still young, she had to obtain permission to drink such sour-sweet wine. Prior to starting the meal, Ah-Dong filled up two wine cups for Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, then offered them up on her own initiative. Congrats on your promotion, big brother! Congrats on your promotion, Brother Sui! The two smiled and drank their cups down in one gulp. Actually, the triennial authenticator positions havent been filled up, Tang Fan said. Logically speaking, I havent yet reached the time for promotion, but Chief Zhou of the Henan Office just died of sudden-onset illness, coincidentally vacating a spot over there. They then had me fill in for the vacancy, before anything else happened. Sui Zhou nodded. In officialdom, theres typically too many monks, and not enough congee. Your bureau isnt seen as a cushy job, but freeing up a spot for it is difficult, and theres bound to be many scrambling over it. You might have wrested away somebodys livelihood. People being envious of you is unavoidable, so be a bit careful when you first get there. In truth, there wasnt really a need for him to warn him. Tang Fan appeared to be a free spirit, but he actually had no shortage of slyness and prudence. Still, the kind regard of a good friend was something he was going to appreciate, so he gave a serious promise. What rank are you now, then, big brother? Ah-Dong wondered. I used to be sixth-rank, and now Im truefifth-rank. Thats a rank and a half of promotion. In a few more years time, youll probably be able to get first-rank, right? she asked excitedly. Tang Fan was not amused. Youre acting like the Emperor is my dad and my family runs the Great Mings government. She covered up her grin. Wouldnt he be delighted that you want him to be your dad, though? If this old man had a father like him, that would be way too miserable, he thought to himself, simultaneously raising his hand to strike a pose of being about to bop her. Ever since she had returned from her kidnapping, she had worked all the harder to learn martial arts from Sui Zhou, and it was to the point where Tang Fan couldnt get at her, only able to glare. There was a reason it was said that everybody in this world each had something they were good at. In example, Ah-Dong had no halo of enlightenment when it came to studies, but she had a gift for learning martial arts that surpassed others. Meanwhile, Tang Fan could study and be an official, but he could make no progress in learning martial arts no matter how hard he tried. Having also experienced the Southside Gang incident, he, too, had wanted to learn a few moves for self-defense purposes. However, after holding a horse stance for half a shichen with Ah-Dong, she had remained standing steady with gritted teeth in spite of the sweat soaking her back, while he had long since wavered, spitting up foam as he proclaimed that he gave up. He decided that, instead of learning how to fight, he should just do less dangerous stuff from now on. Following the Ministry of Appointments written approval, he would be able to report to his new division. Before that, though, he was going to pay a visit to his former superior-slash-senior, Pan Bin, and thank him for these two years of support. Once Pan Bin had heard the news that Tang Fan was on the eve of being promoted to the Ministry of Justice, he was both pleased and disappointed. What was pleasing was that Tang Fan and he were brothers of the same teacher, and with that layer of connection, they could look out for each other in the officials scene forevermore. His young junior having a bright future brought no disadvantage to him. What was disappointing was that Tang Fan was twenty-five this year, yet already a truefifth-rank official. Even though he had entered Shuntian Prefecture midway through his road from Hanlin, he had now made his way back into the Six Ministries, walking the path of orthodox promotion to a successive appointment as a Cabinet Vizier, still young and promising. In contrast to this, Pan Bin himself had been interred as a Palace Honorate, but because his rank hadnt been near the top, he hadnt been chosen as a Hanlin entrant, giving him a tier less of accomplishments than Tang Fan. This year, he was over forty, and the Shuntian Prefect to an outsider that didnt understand the truth, that looked pretty good, but he knew well that if he ever wanted to move up further, it would be quite a bit difficult, as he had no backers, nor mastered skills and aptitude. Looking at Tang Fan, it was hard for Pan Bin to prevent a surge of self-injury and self-pity, in a sense that the Yangtzes waves in the back pushed the waves in the front forwards, causing them to die upon the beach. No matter what, though, he couldnt put on a long face for Tang Fan, nor did the guy owe him any money. He still managed to muster up his energy to bring out his status as the senior, first congratulating Tang Fan, then earnestly urging him to be on guard against arrogance and not get complacent as a result of this. Ones biggest nemesis in the bureaucracy was typically not other people, but themself. This was all talk from experience. Tang Fan received his instruction on humility, which was ended with him staying over at Pan Bins place for a home-cooked meal. Their pair was still in the capital, able to see each other with a lift of their heads there was no need to treat this like an eternal parting. In any case, by the time Tang Fan had handed over his assignments in Shuntian Prefecture and checked into the Ministry of Justice, it was already Mays early summer season. This year was the fifteenth of Chenghua. And, not even two days after entering the Ministry, Tang Fan discovered that he was inexplicably getting isolated. The translator says: Guess we gotta change the name of the novel now. Also: Hmmm. Thats weird. How come youre fine with your other friends seeing your Sweaty Man Chest, Sui Zhou, but when Tang Fan arrives, you get embarrassed? HmmmMMMMmmm CH 56 According to the positions of each department, the order of the Great Mings Six Ministries went: Appointments, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works. The Ministry of Appointments clutched the promotions and appraisals of all officials in its hand; that it was the utmost of important did not need to be said. Revenue was in charge of money. The positions of Rites and War were actually not that low, owing to an old adage that had been conveyed for a long time The major events of the nation lie in offerings and weapons. Offerings were all sorts of religious rites, sacrificial offers, divinations, and other such things, roles that Rites became responsible for after the Six Ministries came to be. Weapons was military matters. Therefore, when it came to status, Rites was the most pure and noble, and War was indispensable for any nation. When all was said and done, each of them had a high status, all very important and irreplaceable, so Justice and Works were at the bottom seats. Still, it was not to be believed that lower positions had a lack of greasy bribe money. Were they to be differentiated by how much grease they had, the Ministries ought to be rearranged like so: Appointments, Revenue, Works, War, Rites, Justice. Such was understandable. Since Appointments was in charge of officials promotions, everyone would inevitably send money and gifts for the sake of getting a good position, or to prevent getting written down as an inferior grade in evaluations. Therein, the Office of Civil Selection in other words, the branch controlling the appraisals of civil officials was the fattest. Works position wasnt high, but that was because of everyones problematic traditional ideology, not because it had a lack of grease. Wherever palaces needed built, or river dikes needed constructed, money was required, and whenever money was required, they could cheat loopholes by cutting off a piece for greasy profits. There was no way around this. Being an ordained official of the Great Ming was really too destitute, and not everybody was willing to toil as hard as Tang Fan in writing stories to supplement their income. In spite of Revenues money management, it didnt have much grease to get. Taxes were dropping and dropping, yet they still werent always getting collected, as more and more rich people were evading them. The tax on commerce, meanwhile, had not changed since the countrys founding, and it was so excessively low, it didnt matter at all. Some areas basically never even collected it. For this reason, the Great Mings Ministry of Revenue had become the most impoverished one in history. The Emperor empathized with public welfare, but even though the tax rate had been made lower, the commonfolk were still miserable, incapable of withstanding exploitation. With all the villains allowed to act amongst central authorities, that money ended up not landing in the hands of the central government. According to Tang Fans own inward calculations, the national treasurys annual tax revenue from the previous year had been around four million taels which was quite a lot and there was only about two million leftover from the various natural disasters the year before last. However, that money needed to be allocated to the various departments, not inhaled by the Ministry of Revenue alone. War would cry out for wars, Rites would cry out for money for divine rituals and imperial exams, Works would cry out about a dam having collapsed once again somewhere and that they hadnt the money to fix it Following all that divvying up, Revenue would only have so much coin leftover for itself. It was no wonder that officials salaries were never raised, because even if the Emperor did have the mind to up wages, he wouldnt actually have the money to. For the sake of survival and happiness, clean-living officials were getting fewer, while corrupt ones were growing in number. What superiors didnt care about, inferiors would follow suit, putting the Chenghua Court into complete shambles. Yet, these things were not for Tang Fan to be concerned over, but the rightful worries of those Ministers and Solons. Even if he wanted to take care of it, no one would listen to him. To make things brief, and to be brief in things, regardless of whether one was looking at position or greasy money, the Ministry of Justice ranked at the bottom of both. Even though it dealt with prosecutions all over the nation, any case that could come to the level required for the Ministry to accept it would generally be important and difficult to judge, meaning that no one would dare to bribe for them. Even if they did, it would have no use, since the Ministry didnt even have the final say on cases at times, it would have tri-party hearings with the Court of Judicial Review and Inspectorate, suffering the impediments of two additional branches. As a brother in the same boat, Rites was an unfrequented bureau with not much grease, yet also in charge of the imperial exams, which were grand occasions for the realms scholars. Its Minister generally managed Hanlin Academy, too, making its status transcend; it really wasnt comparable in quality to Justice, a vicious demon of the lowest rung. And now, Tang Fan was wanting to go to such a department. Was the Ministry of Justice important? Of course it was. Without it, there would be many major cases with no way to be determined. Plus, after death-row inmates from various locations were submitted to the central government, they had to wait for the Ministrys approval. Regardless of how important it was, though, there was no way to change the fact that it had no grease to dredge up. Just like the other five branches, Justice had one Minister, and two Assistant Ministers. Lower tiers were divided into offices on the basis of regional subdivisions, which specialized in hearing cases each province sent upwards. In addition to those was the Office of Prisons, also colloquially known as the divine jail, as well as the subordinates of various leaders: all sorts of Office clerks, secretaries, bailiffs, and other such people of no rank. Tang Fan was the truefifth-rank Chief of the Henan Office in other words, its leader. He directly faced the Ministers burden above him, and had to manage all of the Henan Office below him. On the day he took office, he first went to pay respects to the Minister and two Assistants, as was the norm. The present Minister was Zhang Ying, who now walked close with Head Vizier Wan An, and also had an attachment to Consort Wans faction. That he was duplicitous had no need to be discussed, so he naturally wasnt a good person, either. In any case, everybody had to scrape by to pass their days; this gent just happened to be one of those Six Ministers that were like clay figurines, so named by society. However, Minister Zhang was not around today. Having thrown himself at empty air, Tang Fan could only visit the two Assistant Ministers before him. Liang Wenhua, the Left Assistant, had a slightly weird attitude towards him. Faced with his self-introduction and greeting courtesy, he only narrowed his eyes. I heard that you were posted at Shuntian Prefecture previously? Tang Fan confirmed this. Even though the Prefecture is in charge of keeping peace in the capital, its just a local bureau, when all is said and done. It cant be compared to the Ministry of Justice. When you come here, youll have to adapt properly, and not bring that Prefecture narrow-mindedness with you. The Six Ministries are the Six Ministries; Shuntian Prefecture is no comparison at all! Tang Fan was bit confused, unable to comprehend where his counterparts bizarre mannerisms had come from. Reason told that they had never met each other before, let alone had any grudges between them, for Liang Wenhua to show off his superior might the second he saw him like he owed him a lot of money. Even as he thought as much, he was ever-respectful on the surface. I will solemnly observe your instruction. Assistant Liang gave a huge pile of lectures, but all he saw was Tang Fan sticking there like a human stake, continuing to be deferential no matter what he said. Feeling this to be boring, he waved his hand to have him withdraw. Tang Fan then headed for Right Assistant Peng Yichuns suite. The man had just had his sixty-fifth birthday last month, and he wasnt in good health, already half-retired. Under such circumstances, his chances of getting promoted again were not that great, and he therefore had no conflict with the rest of the Ministry. Upon meeting Tang Fan, he rambled on and on at him and gave him a spiel of encouragement; he didnt say anything important, all of it tripe, but it indicated his own good-natured personality, where he didnt let down his reputation of being a yes-man. Seeing that he was good to talk to, Tang Fan accordingly asked for pointers. Assistant Minister Peng, this humble official has never gotten acquainted with Assistant Liang before this, let alone held enmity with him, yet when I went to pay him a visit just prior, there was quite some coldness amidst his words, which caused me confusion. Has he come across some sort of unhappiness, or have I inadvertently offended him? The man laughed. Hes probably just been in a bad mood lately. Dont you worry, itll be fine in a few days. Giving plain-spoken words was forever an impossibility in bureaucracy dialogue; ones counterpart would need to figure things out on their own. With how clever Tang Fan was, he immediately deduced a clue out of his words. It appears that his bad mood has something to do with me? Peng Yichun thought for a time, then ended up saying to him, He has a disciple thats currently in the position of Deputy Chief of Justice. When that position in Henan emptied, he had set his heart on his student Tang Fan understood. As it turned out, he had become a halfway-encumbent Cheng Yaojin, stealing a peak seat someone else had been wanting and naturally making them not look at him nicely. Now that he knew the truth, he felt powerless. There were only so many official posts, but many that wanted to be promoted to them, one radish per hole. Once you took one up, others could only envy you, and would inevitably see you as an eyesore, unless you agreed to give up your position. The question was: who would be willing for that? Seeing the helpless look he had, Assistant Peng smiled. Since youre here, be at ease. Work well and itll be fine. As Tang Fan had respect towards this affable old Mister, he promptly answered that he would benefit from his pointers. After meeting with the two Assistant Ministers, he returned to the courtyard where each of the Offices were located. They were partitioned in accordance with the Great Mings thirteen provinces, making thirteen Offices in total. Since he was a later entry, he had to visit all of his colleagues and seniors on his own initiative. The majority of them displayed indifference towards this young coworker, even being somewhat disaffectedly polite, which he found dull. Since he had learned the general situation right out of Peng Yichuns mouth, though, he could understand their attitudes. Owing to word on the wind in Court, it was said that Zhang Ying was going to enter the Cabinet to fill a vacancy, so his position as Minister would surely be given up. Among the two Assistant Ministers, Peng Yichun was old and ailing, so, as a matter of course, Liang Wenhua the one that found Tang Fan displeasing to the eye had his candidacy for becoming the next Minister in the bag. Was there anyone who didnt act according to the weather, when mingling in officialdom? Tang Fan was monopolizing the next Ministers students position with his entry, which made Liang Wenhua quite upset. On top of that, Tang Fan had not a bit of foundation inside the Ministry of Justice; between keeping distance from a truefifth-rank Chief and offending a truethird-rank Assistant Minister, how would anybody choose? There wasnt even a need to think about it! Were anyone to get close to Tang Fan right now, wouldnt that mean that they placed no importance upon Assistant Liang? It was for this reason that when Tang Fan paid visits to the rest of the twelve Offices, he received basically the same attitude the whole time. No one would manifest that too blatantly, of course, but they also werent unduly cordial, being politely aloof, and estrangedly giving greetings. It made one unspeakably ill at ease from head to toe, yet also unable to pick out faults with them. The one exception to this was Lu Tongguang, Chief of the Jiangxi Office. The old fellow was as generous a person as Peng Yichun seeing that Tang Fan appeared to be unknowing of the cause of all this, he discreetly informed him via roundabout hints that Liang Wenhua was not an open-minded man. He also suggested that it would be best if he found a time to apologize to Assistant Liang, lest he harbor a grudge and make things difficult for him on the regular. Tang Fan thanked him for his kindly regards, but pretended not to comprehend his suggestion, because, in his own view, he had done nothing wrong. This post was not one he himself had begged for, but had been allocated to him by the Ministry of Appointments. Assistant Liang was too afraid to seek out Appointments people to settle this debt, so he cast his anger upon his head, which was really unreasonable. Having to frequently make compromises was a reality of being an official, but one could not draw back until there was no room anymore. That would only be letting others bully you to death. Furthermore, since Liang Wenhua was narrow-minded, then even if he did pour him tea, apologize, and take all of the blame upon himself, the other would certainly keep on bearing this enmity. As Tang Fan refused to heed him, Lu Tongguang mentally sighed, thinking to himself that young people were much too prideful and impetuous; one of these days, after suffering a huge setback, he would come to accept the facts. Thus, he persuaded him no further, instead informing him of some minor matters from each Office, based on his mentality of producing good karma. He had always been a warm-hearted person, also taking it upon himself to give guidance to Tang Fan. This is your first time at the Offices, so you arent familiar with its subordinates, especially not those unranked clerks and bailiffs. Their statuses are the lowest, but theyre also the ones most likely to be slippery. If you want to prompt them into action, you may as well invite them out for meals, first. Keep in touch, get a good relationship with them, and then youll have opportunities to understand situations, instead of be kept in the dark about everything that might happen. Tang Fan thanked him for the lesson, then tentatively asked, Before I entered the Ministry, I heard that the Offices have monthly group dinners together, which individuals take turns hosting. Is that true? I dont fear your ridicule, Brother Lu; my parents passed early, but my daily expenses alone are not few. If there is such a standard, I may as well take out a loan ahead of time, so as to avoid not having the money to treat guests. Lu Tongguang nodded. We do indeed, but theres no need for you to worry. The places we go to arent huge restaurants like Immortal Guest, but ordinary canteens. We dont use anyones salary for them, either. The other was surprised. Where does the money come from, then? The two were deep in conversation, despite being practically strangers. Lu Tongguang hesitated to speak, but finally told him the truth. The Ministry wasnt too similar to how it had been in Tang Fans imagination, as it were. Despite being an unfrequented bureau, it was not without grease. Some important cases given that they had nothing to do with conspiracies would generally be the Ministrys to decide once reported to it, and therein laid room for possible discussion. When it came to sentences of exile, for example, three hundred li and three thousand li were definitely not the same. In sentences of rod strikes, ten strikes versus a hundred strikes were even more different; in lightness and heaviness, the Ministry had the final say. For many crimes, the Great Ming Code only held broad provisions, so if someone pushing for lenience came along, a lighter sentence wouldnt matter much. Yet, this also depended upon the region. Zhejiang, Huguang, and Jiangxi were classified as relatively affluent provinces, so they had a lot of wealthy people, and facilitation money was easy to come by. For Guizhou, Yunnan, and Henan, where Tang Fan was, there was a lot less grease. These were all unwritten rules. Therefore, even though each Office took turns with the hosting, the reality was that the ones that were a little richer would separate out some grease for the others to treat guests, thus preventing the other Offices from being red-eyed with jealousy and running off to tell on them. A period of desperate struggle would be no fun for anyone. Noticing that Tang Fan had just had an epiphany, Lu Tongguang continued. Theres no need to be concerned, really. Everyone knows that the Henan Chief doesnt get much grease and wont force you to treat. As youre a newcomer, though, if you want to have good relations with everyone else, youd best not be stingy with your bit of money. Should you be worried about not having enough, I have a bit here Acknowledging his generosity, Tang Fan quickly smiled at him. Theres no need for that, I was only asking. Many thanks for your thought, old chap, but I can still afford to pay for one meal. You saying all this has put me at ease; I was thinking that I would have to be entertaining every single month! With this back-and-forth, their relationship had swiftly become closer. Lu Tongguang burst out laughing. How could that be a thing? Not even the higher-ups would be able to afford that! Then, dare I ask; who will be the host of this months end? The other twirled his beard. According to the rules, it ought to be my turn. What a coincidence! Since thats so, can we discuss me cutting in line, so that this month will be my treat? Lu Tongguang, ever easy-going, nodded. Sure. Since you just took up your post, you can indeed make use of the communal dinners to familiarize yourself with your coworkers and forge relationships. Be careful when choosing the location, however. You dont need to make a reservation at those big restaurants or taverns, just some good-quality, cheap little places will do. If you stick out too much, those behind you will complain about you. This was a conscientious proposal. Understanding the reasoning therein, Tang Fan quickly acknowledged the help. How many higher-ups should I invite, then? The other shook his head. None. They cherish their plumage, so they wont mingle with us. Inviting the Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs alone will be fine. Dont the Executives need to be invited, too? Deputy Chiefs were Chiefs assistants, while Executives were a rank down. They were truesixth-rank, and each Office had one. Lu Tongguang shook his head again. No, only the other two. There was a particularity, here. In the eyes of a directing official like Lu Tongguang, Executives were classified as supporting roles. Though they had a rank, there was no need to be too close with them, else seniority would be obscured and the disdain of others would be drawn. Looking at this, the rules of the Six Ministries were stricter than those of Shuntian Prefecture. For dinners at the latter, Tang Fan had typically called patrol leaders like Old Wang over for it, which had showed camaraderie throughout the ranks. It seemed like every place had its own standards. Mentally jotting down these details, Tang Fan chatted with Lu Tongguang some more, until he prepared to leave. Speaking of which, he hadnt even been to his own territory at this point, nor seen his own subordinates; he needed to go and remember some faces, of course. However, Lu Tongguang called out to stop him. Brother Runqing, theres something I need to tell you, first. Seeing that he was serious, Tang Fan felt a bad premonition. Theres no harm in just speaking, Brother Lu. Your current assistant, Deputy Chief Yin Yuanhua, is Liang Wenhuas disciple. The one that was going to take over your position. Bearing the awful news that Lu Tongguang had divulged to him, Tang Fan finally arrived at his own workroom. There was no difference between this room and the workrooms of other Offices, aside from the slight one of the interior decor; there were a lot of flowers and plants here. His predecessor, Chief Zhou, had clearly been fond of gardening. What a shame it was that as soon their owner had left, his subordinates had had no idea what their new superior would prefer, so the plants had been moved out to the porch, where they were soon about to wilt. Once Tang Fan entered the workroom, he caught sight of someone in the middle of removing a pot of peonies from it. Upon seeing him, the other immediately placed the flowerpot down and bowed. This humble official is the Executive of Henan, Dai Hongming! Salutations to you, Sir! Tang Fan exempted him from the bow. Were these flowers left behind by Chief Zhou? Dai Hongming affirmed. The former presiding official had died of illness; ordinarily, many would have some avoidance of taboo, so when a new official took up post, everything in here would need to be swapped out once more. He had noticed that the bailiffs were slacking off they had only switched out the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, not moving the flowers out and that the hour was almost here, as he had seen Tang Fan paying visits to his superiors and colleagues, which meant that he was going to come over. Thus, he had had no choice but to set to task himself in preparing to move all the flowers out, in order to avoid violating taboo with their new boss. Theyre nice to look at, to me. You dont have to move them out, move them back in, Tang Fan unexpectedly said. No ones been watering these plants, so theyll need a bit without delay, lest they dry up and die soon. Dai Hongming nearly cried when he heard this, thinking, What in the hell did I waste all that effort moving them all around for, then? Yet, he didnt dare to argue. As was said, a new official taking up post would start three fires perhaps this Chief Tang felt that he was slacking off, so he was looking to inconvenience him. He could only agree hence, after which he put the peony pot back in its original spot, then went to go outside. Tang Fan called out to stop him, tone very amiable. Such trivial matters are for others to do, Executive Dai. Dont busy yourself. This official has something to chat with you about. The other was a bit antsy hearing this. What do you wish to ask, Sir? Theres no need to be nervous, Tang Fan said with a smile. I just have casual questions. Apart from you, how many members are in the Henan Office? Answering you, Sir, there are four in total. Two are Secretaries, and the other two are Couriers. If you have any errand work you need run, you can instruct them to do it. Dai Hongming paused, then showed a small, favor-currying smile. Of course, if you have something urgent and it wouldnt be convenient for you to hand it over to them, you can hand it over to me, and Ill do it! Despite entering his forties this year, Dai Hongming was still a truesixth-rank Executive in the Ministry. Ultimately, aside from his own lack of great abilities, he also had no backers after working for Tang Fans predecessor for nine years, he had never stepped off of his original spot. He didnt have a great teacher, like Deputy Chief Yin Yuanhua. As a third-roll Palace Honorate, he was only slightly better than a Provincial Honorate, so he could only rely on his superiors for support. Following the death of Tang Fans predecessor, he had immediately become a motherless child. As he saw it, this new boss could have been regarded as a new patron he could rely on, if he hadnt unfortunately stolen Yin Yuanhuas position. The man horribly loathed him, and Assistant Minister Liang was backing him, making it difficult to say whether this new boss would be able to sit stably in his seat. This had twisted up in Dai Hongmings mind, and he had mentally struggled for a long time prior to Tang Fans arrival; then, once he had seen how young the other was, his heart had quickly gone cold, as he believed that he would certainly be no match for Yin Yuanhua. At best, he would end up being forcefully reduced to a wooden puppet on display. Tang Fan smiled, as if not comprehending his implication. Since its the first day of my appointment, go on and call everyone over so that we can familiarize with each other. Dai Hongming was a little disappointed, but had to muster up his energy to answer, then part to call for the others. After fifteen minutes, the clerks had pretty much arrived in unison, and they all bowed to Tang Fan at the same time, introducing themselves in succession. Tang Fans eyes swept a full circle around. How come I dont see Deputy Yin? he suddenly asked. Dai Hongming inwardly grumbled as he forced a smile. He said that an old ailment of his flared up that inconvenienced his legs, so he couldnt walk. He told me to report his offense to you, Sir, and that he would have come, but cant. As soon as that was said, everyones expression changed. That was clearly him not taking Chief Tang seriously! They all peered at him, wanting to see how he would resolve this. Yet, all they saw was a slight look of shock on his face. Inconvenienced his legs? Is he lame? he asked with concern. Why did that sound like he was cursing him? everyone mumbled on the inside; though, upon seeing Mister Chiefs genuine worry, they then felt that that wasnt it. Hesitating in his speech, Dai Hongming hemmed and hawed. Maybe he has some kind of chronic joint pain? What a joke. Yin Yuanhua was only just thirty years old this year, how could he have any sort of joint pain or arthritis? But could he have ever said, hes deliberately making things hard for you, so hes putting on a display of power? Tang Fan sighed. Deputy Yin has only just passed thirty. Hes so young, yet has gotten joint pain; how will he fare in the future? Ah, nevermind. Since hes ill, he ought to recuperate properly. Its fine if he doesnt come. As expected, hes one soft persimmon, they all inwardly thought, believing that since he knew Yin Yuanhuas origins, he was too afraid to have a falling out with the other party. The next moment, they heard him continue. Very well. Executive Dai, have someone go out and buy a few things to send to Deputy Yin. Take it as a bit of kind regard from me. What should be sent? the other asked powerlessly. Against expectations, their new superior was not only not going to bother with Yin Yuanhuas impoliteness, but was even planning to bow his head first. What level of dignity was this?! Dai Hongming lamented in secret, mood completely dropping to the bottom of the valley it seemed like he could already envision his own dismal road ahead. Tang Fan appeared to be entirely ignorant of all the different emotions of the crowd. Go to an apothecary, and buy some siler and sweetflag rhizomes. What kind of gift was that? Dai Hongming was startled, thinking that he had misheard. Huh? Did this official not speak clearly enough? Tang Fan asked, displeased. Nono, this humble official will get to it! the other quickly answered. He wasnt sure what effect the rhizomes had, but everyone knew that siler treated joint pain. Dai Hongming was momentarily unclear on whether his superior had actually understood things, or was faking stupidity. Erring on the side of caution, he asked again, How much of each of those medicines would be appropriate to get, Sir? What do the rhizomes treat? Tang Fan laughed. Ah, sweetflag rhizhomes are mainly for treating senility and forgetfulness, with the effect of sobering the psyche and stimulating the wits. Theyre perfect for Deputy Yins illness. As for how much should be gotten, as I see it, his illness is quite serious. At least four or five coins worth of it would be enough. He was actually mocking Yin Yuanhua! This gentleman wasnt afraid of him he was confronting him head-on! But, once the medicine was delivered wouldnt Yin Yuanhua go insane with rage? Everyone was unable to react for a second, staring at Tang Fan mutely. Sir that wouldnt be okay, would it? Dai Hongming asked, face full of suffering. Tang Fans smile was quickly put away. He looked at him coldly. What? Are you intending to disobey my order? The other jolted, subsequently saying that he wouldnt dare to do so. He wasnt going to buy that stuff, of course. After the meeting was disbanded, he took some money and commanded a clerk below him to go purchase the two medicinal materials. Said clerk had been scolded by Yin Yuanhua before, and also had the mind to curry favor with the new Chief, so he bought and brought back half a catty in one go. Dai Hongmings face went black as soon as he saw that. He also knew that this was Tang Fan forcing him to stand with a team; if he failed to satisfy him, he would undoubtedly be alienated and removed by him someday. However, Dai Hongming had not been to Yin Yuanhuas liking to begin with, so even if he didnt do this, the man would still not find him pleasing to the eye. After pondering this, Dai Hongming grit his teeth, thought to himself that he might as well go all in, and carried the medicine over himself. On Yin Yuanhuas end, he was in the middle of being proud of himself for his powerplay against Tang Fan. All of a sudden, the clerk that was forever currying favor with him ran over to report to him what Tang Fan had said, which made him beyond pissed when he heard it that Tang Fan had hexed him! Before his rage hit its end, Dai Hongming then delivered medicine to him. This was a naked slap to the face! In less than a days time, word spread throughout the Ministry of Justice; Deputy Chief Yin of Henan relied upon having an acting Assistant Minister as a teacher and didnt take his newly-appointed superior to heart at all, yet hadnt expected to instead be viciously made a fool of. Yin Yuanhua had used the excuse of his legs being in pain to not participate in the conference for his new superior, where, in turn, Tang Fan had sent sweetflag rhizomes to ridicule him as having a disease of the mind. Once anyone heard about this, their stomachs would convulse with laughter, after which they would inwardly worry for Tang Fan. Would a short moment of flaunting bear edible fruit? Word of this incident very soon reached the ears of the Left Assistant Minister, Liang Wenhua. The translator says: And then he, too, was angered to death, because Tang Fan just doesnt fucking care. CH 57 After hearing of his students complaining, fire spurted three zhang off of Assistant Liang. He wasnt angry about Tang Fan humiliating Yin Yuanhua, but rather that the other had clearly known that Yin Yuanhua was his disciple, yet had still dared to do such a thing. He obviously didnt place any importance onto him. In this age, reputation was a huge deal. Tang Fan, a minor Chief, had had his first day of entry into the Ministry of Justice, yet before he was even standing steady in it, he had dared to provoke a high official. Did he have no brain, or the guts of a leopard? With Liang Wenhuas position, however, were he to rashly call Tang Fan over and reprimand him, it would make him look concerned; beyond that, this had been caused by Yin Yuanhua making the first mistake of not respecting the one above him. Such a huge fuss had done no good to Yin Yuanhua, so Liang Wenhua didnt do anything immediately. Two days later, the Ministry was to inspect the state of the completed assignments from the first half of the year. They would call forth each Offices Chief individually for questioning, then give them encouragement, having them continue to work hard for the next half a year, strive to do even better, and so on. In brief, for these solo face-to-face conversations, one could also take this opportunity to bring up any difficulties they might have run into in their work with a leader. If said leader was in a good mood, they might help with resolutions. In result, twelve out of the thirteen Chiefs came. Tang Fan alone was not called for. Were it to be said that the higher-ups had taken the fact that Tang Fan was a newcomer, and thus had not figured out Office affairs yet, into consideration, then they should have called for the Deputy Chief, but there was nobody. The Henan Office appeared to have been entirely overlooked. No one there was stupid. They all knew now that Tang Fan must have offended Assistant Minister Liang, to not have incurred his courtesy. There were three bosses of the Ministry one Minister, and two Assistant Ministers. These days, Minister Zhang didnt take care of much, and Assistant Peng was just a yes-man. This left Assistant Liang alone in charge of the majority of the Ministrys actual business. To say that he covered its sky with one hand would not be undue. Stemming from this, everyone hurriedly drew a distinct boundary with Tang Fan out of fear of implication. Even Lu Tongguang, who had showered benevolence on him before, was absent with an excuse when the other dropped by, avoiding a meeting with him. Walls collapsed when crowds pushed them; this was a natural occurrence. Seeing as how Tang Fan had maligned Liang Wenhua, no one knew when he was going to get kicked out of the Ministry. There would not be enough time for anyone to claim that they were avoiding him out of dread, as not kicking him while he was down would be just fine. Havent you guys seen? Deputy Chief Yin is as pleased as a spring wind, now. Chief Tang is going to get driven out after not too long, right? Will Deputy Yin get promoted to Chief, then? In the workroom, three clerks sat together in a circle, with Executive Dai Hongming sitting nearby. There appeared to be some lack of divide between superiors and inferiors. Yet, there was nothing to be done. Looking on as their Office was about to turn into a forgotten weed, they had all panicked, thus gathering up into a group to exchange info and give themselves a bit of mental comfort. Yin Yuanhua was not very popular. Nobody in the Henan Office liked him, apart from one clerk that unwaveringly hugged his thigh. Still, their like was just a thought in their heads; with their statuses, they couldnt contend against him, just like how arms couldnt twist legs. He was a real second-roll Palace Honorate, and there was Liang Wenhua, his direct superior and teacher, sheltering him, too. His road in the bureaucracy was definitely smoother than their roads. They had been under the impression that Tang Fans arrival could suffocate Yin Yuanhuas heat, making their lives a little better, but in not even two days time, the others insult to Liang Wenhua had crowded out even their entire Office. That seems to be so. Cheng Wen sighed on end. He was an old clerk, now over fifty, and had been in the Henan Office for over a decade. After pulling through several appointed Chiefs, he had long stopped seeking promotions, only hoping to pass his life in peace and stability. When Chief Zhou had just died and Tang Fan hadnt yet arrived, the Offices work had been temporarily taken over by Yin Yuanhua, but he was one that flattered his superiors and always put on airs with his subordinates he would eagerly show filial piety to those above for every bit of advantage he could get, practically attending to Liang Wenhua like he was his own father. It was little wonder as to why the latter liked him, but those below him did not, hence why whether it was Dai Hongming or these other three clerks, they didnt want Yin Yuanhua to be the Chief. Unfortunately, they did not have the final say on that. Chief Tang is too young, in the end. He lost his calm for a moment and chided Yin Yuanhua to his hearts content, but didnt he think about the future? Another clerk curled his lip, not looking favorably upon Tang Fan. I heard that Sir Tang is a Hanlin entrant. Hanlin lords like them all grow eyes on the tops of their heads! Theyre so high-and-mighty! How would he know the gravity of things?! Alright, stop being worried for anyone elses sake! We need to think about ourselves, first! Dai Hongming fretted. Sir Tang told me yesterday that for the communal dinner a few days from now, he had reached an agreement with Chief Lu to be the one treating, instead. He told me to go around and notify each Office, but when I made the round, no one paid me any mind, either saying that they were too busy and couldnt step away, or that there had been a death in their family and they couldnt participate in the dinner! What does that say? They clearly place no importance upon Sir Tang! Tell me, you all; what should be done about that? The other three clerks sighed along with him. What can be done? Just tell Chief Tang the truth. We cant exactly forcefully drag them over to it! Over to where? came a voice from the doorway. Everyone turned to stare. Speak of Cao Cao, and he would come Tang Fan walked in, all smiles, with his hands behind his back. People really have abandoned me, eh? Is there any good news you all could share with me? Everyone laughed dryly, looking awkward. The clerks quickly took their leaves, and Tang Fan nodded, not stopping them. Dai Hongming was the only one left; this was his workroom, so of course he couldnt just leave it. He was forced to draw out a smiling face. You must be terribly busy, Sir. Why did you come here in person? If you have any orders, this humble official could come over myself to take them! Tang Fan smiled. I asked you to send invitations to each of the Office Chiefs for the meal. How did it go? The others face suddenly crumbled. It really isnt that Im incapable, Sir, but that the higher-ups are all busy, and couldnt break away from their work Tang Fans smile was unchanged. It isnt that they couldnt break away, but because theyre afraid of offending Assistant Minister Liang and think that Ill be booted from the Ministry soon, so itd be useless to forge a friendship with me, yes? How could it be like youve said? Dai Hongming laughed all hahaha-like, thinking to himself,You knew already, so why did you even ask me? I knew this would happen. You just needed to pass word along; whether they go or not is their business, not yours. When the time comes, call Cheng Wen and the rest to have them partake, as well. That wouldnt be appropriate, Dai Hongming said with difficulty. Its always only been the Chiefs that have been able to attend the banquets. We dont have enough status Tang Fan waved his hand, cutting him off. Thats not for you to worry about. Ill be the host, so things will go according to how I dictate. You and them just need to come together at the right time. Five days from now, by the time the bureau adjourns, Ill have already made a reservation in Raising Cloud Hall of Immortal Cloud. Dai Hongming was speechless. Immortal Cloud that was among the best restaurants in the capital. Who didnt know that it had the same owner as Immortal Guest, but didnt walk the same path, price-wise? The former was even more high-class than the latter; it was said that its ambience was secluded and refined, and officials without high enough rank would fail to get in. Even if Assistant Minister Liang wanted to make a reservation there, he might not be able to. Minor officials like Dai Hongming had only ever heard its name before. And yet, Tang Fan would be able to book there. What did that signify? It signified that he had wider social connections than Liang Wenhua did! All of a sudden, Dai Hongming recalled hearing about how Sir Tang had been a Judge at Shuntian Prefecture for no longer than two years before he got transferred into the Six Ministries, in a full grade-and-a-half of promotion. He clearly had people above him there were many officials of the realm that had merits, yet he had never seen a single one of them get promoted this quickly! His mind began to run off, and in a very brief timespan, an unknowable amount of thoughts turned around in his head as his heart also sprang to life in their wake. He had originally believed Chief Tang to be a bold moron, but it now seemed that he wasnt a blockhead at all, just confident in his own backing! Even though whether this fierce crossing dragon could ultimately overpower a snake in its own turf remained to be seen, if he could take the chance to stoke a cold stove, something good might happen for him in the future. Thinking like so, Dai Hongmings attitude became less negative than it had been before. He quickly agreed, and even gave his own suggestion. Sir, most people watch the way the wind is blowing to determine their own paths. Theyre worried about Assistant Minister Liang right now, so theyre too afraid to show kindness to you; even if you invite them to dinner, they might not dare to go. Wouldnt it be better to postpone it for a while, and then bring it up again? Tang Fan smiled when he heard that. Dai Hongming was truly an interesting character. As a new arrival, he indeed needed his own staff, so he had made use of these several days of hostilities with Yin Yuanhua to find successive opportunities for observance. He had noticed that Dai Hongming was not a bad man; he had his own small-minded thoughts, but because he was at odds with Yin Yuanhua, he hoped that Tang Fan could get more influence in order to receive his backing, instead. The man hadnt dared to speak up before, as he had felt that Tang Fans chances of success against Yin Yuanhua were not great. Now that he had glimpsed the light, he naturally had to be the one to come over and cast his own line first, so as not to be alienated by his new superior. Tang Fan had also come from a basic-level branch such as Shuntian Prefecture; these folks thoughts were inevitably quite clear on who was the lesser rival. Theres no need to say as much, Tang Fan answered. Its said to be in a few days, so in a few days it shall be. Call for Cheng Wen, Tian Xuan, and Yin Wen. This Office had four clerks, all of whom were subordinate to the three higher officials. Aside from that one Liao Zijun, who scrambled to hug Yin Yuanhuas thigh, the other three were just observers. In their opinions, it didnt matter who the Chief was, as they only did odd jobs that wouldnt be changing much. They were all classified as low-key figures in the Office, minor ghosts that had been fully snubbed for many years. Even if they wanted to hug Yin Yuanhuas thigh, the man might not even give them a glance, so they had to congregate along with Dai Hongming and sigh together. Tang Fan naming those three was tantamount to excluding the remnant Liao Zijun. Thinking to himself that their new boss had set his mind upon contending with Yin Yuanhua to the very end, Dai Hongming couldnt help but smile bitterly on the inside. Seeing him cautiously agree, Tang Fan pat him on the shoulder. After giving him some words of encouragement, he also told him to look for a few dossiers in light of his own demands and send them to his workroom, after which he left in stride. The Ministry of Justice wasnt a big place to begin with. Despite Chiefs being managing officials, they were still incomparable to Ministers and Assistant Ministers, and their workrooms were about the same size as Tang Fans had been when he was a Judge. He walked into his new workroom. The plants that had almost withered up a few days prior had already begun to glow with new life, due to receiving attentive care. He had also moved over a few pots of orchid grass from his own home; their slender leaves were as tender and lovely a green as jade, and the pink buds growing from their centers were already showing signs of blossoming, on account of the rooms warmth. A faint, almost non-existent fragrance wafted about, creating a delicate aroma within the workroom that refreshed the mind. All who stepped inside it would be unable to resist taking a deep inhale. It was currently the middle of the year, so it ought to be busy. The start-of-the-year business had already passed, but Tang Fan hadnt come here to hold a sinecure, doing no work as he raked in a salary. He always had a load on his mind. Back in Shuntian Prefecture, he couldnt accomplish much because of its limited structure, but now that he was in the Six Ministries, he was going to take advantage of its convenience to do a bit more within his power. In not even a minutes time, Dai Hongming came in carrying a pile of dossiers. Head buried in case documents, Tang Fan had him set them down and excuse himself, never looking up. Noticing the half-chilled tea on Tang Fans desk, Dai Hongming didnt disturb him, and left quietly. Following another short moment, a clerk, Cheng Wen, delivered steaming-hot tea. He had since learned from Dai Hongming that Tang Fan was going to treat everyone at Immortal Cloud, and had even called for the clerks to come with for it, so his smile and actions were a bit more solicitous than they usually were. Unfortunately, Mister Chief was currently busy flipping through dossiers, so he didnt even raise his head to see who was offering him tea, merely grunting out of his throat. Clerk Cheng had no choice but to conceal his disappointment and leave. Tang Fan was actually doing something quite important. After the Great Mings founding, the Great Ming Code had been formulated via referencing the Tang Code and Yuan Institution, and ever since then, Mings officials had judged cases on its basis. Times had changed, however, as over a hundred years had now passed, and many of the original laws inside it had not much use in present times. There were also many concrete implementation details that werent specified. Officials, unable to find precedents inside the Great Ming Code, had thus begun to come to decisions according to their own personal codes of conduct. In the Great Ming, if one wanted to be an official, they had to rely upon the imperial exams, which tested for eight-legged essays, but not the Great Ming Code. Some officials that got transferred from the Ministry of Rites to Justice, or censors that had been in charge of supervising all officials, would become case-judging prosecutors after their transfer, and there was no need to expect them to have ever studied the Code. Since the central government was like this, there was no need to speak about the local ones. Before Tang Fan had taken up office, there had been a famous case over in Zhejiang. There had been Guy One, and Guy Two; they fought, and Two had accidentally ended up beating the other to death. Ming law had a provision that if ones grandparents or parents were killed by another, their descendants could avenge them on the spot, and the avenger would be found not guilty. If they killed only after the fact, they would get sixty strikes with the rod. If their foe had already been judged, yet had not been executed due to amnesty, the descendants murdering them in revenge anyways would get a hundred strikes, and exiled three thousand li away. At the time, Ones son hadnt murdered on the spot, but reached an agreement with Two in private; Two would compensate him with land, after which he himself would state that his father had died in an accident and petition for the authorities to not perform an autopsy. This had been considered a private settlement. In this time period, particular focus was given to the veneration of the deceased, while autopsies destroyed the body. Many refused to let such a thing happen, so, whenever the authorities received such a petition, they wouldnt insist. The will of involved parties and family members prevailed in everything. This event hadnt been in agreement with the law, but it also hadnt violated it. It was no more than a loophole being availed of. Had it stopped right there, nothing would have happened. At worst, Ones son would have been chastised as unfilial, been unable to raise his head in his hometown, and so on. But of course it hadnt. Two had given land compensation to Ones family, and the latter had received a lot of yearly rent. Ones son had taken the rent to indulge for a few years, marrying a wife and having a child while hed been at it. When said child was three, he had taken a knife and stabbed Two to death, saying that he had completed his task of continuing his family line, only after which he could think of revenge for his father. And there had come the problem. The law had long stated that if ones parents were murdered, children wouldnt be guilty if they killed the murderer immediately. However, no kill had happened at the time of Ones death, nor had the authorities given a sentence; One had instead been in a private agreement with Two, where he had kept the authorities in the dark. That had thus indicated that the case had already reached a verdict, and because he had killed him three years later, he should have gotten at least a hundred rod strikes and an exile of three thousand li away, as per the rules. This case had been quite sensational at the time, and had also stirred up the Ministry of Justice. The sentencing officials had been of two main opinions. The first had been that the judgement should go strictly according to the law. Ones son had refused an autopsy and hid things from the government, which had undoubtedly been him contemptuously messing with the authorities. Behavior like that needed to be harshly punished. The second had been that since Ones son had sired a son to pass on the family line, and had only been swallowing his anger at Two down until that point, he had displayed filial piety. That ought to have been handled with leniency, with a reduction in crime probable. These two opinions had caused a stalemate. The Court of Judicial Review and capital Inspectorate had also joined in on the argument. The Cabinet had to end up givingv written comment: Ones son had had sympathetic emotions, but an abhorrent crime, so, in a compromise, he would get a hundred strikes, minus the exile. In Tang Fans view, this case had been an archetypal manifestation of using filial piety to conceal ones own misdeeds, and going through a loophole in the laws. That was because, according to regulations, as long as Ones son had killed Two immediately after his fathers death, he would have been exempt from blame, but he hadnt done that. Instead, he had taken Twos money to live it up for some years, take a wife, and have a kid, and it was only then that he had run off to stab Two to death in the name of avenging his father. The Ministry of Justice and Cabinet had not understood the logic, but Ones son had used filial piety as a protective charm. Filial piety governed the realm in the Ming Dynasty had they done a harsh punishment, it would not have conformed to the doctrine of the times, hence why the Court had ended up selecting a relatively balanced option between law and reason. Yet, that had also directly let off Ones son easier. His family had been impoverished. He had only been able to improve his financial situation via full reliance on Twos land compensation. With this, he had gotten to live, have a complete as well as rich family, and receive a good reputation for being filial, his previous stigma washed clean. He had really gained a lot with just one action. This event had been a reflection of a couple of issues that existed nowadays. The current laws in effect werent that carefully regulated, giving many the chance to exploit gaps in it. Situations like Ones son were not infrequent by any means. Had the authorities mandated an autopsy back in the day, nothing of what had come after would have happened. This was a problem that not only Tang Fan had noticed; many similarly had. For example, in the previous Ministry of Justice, Minister Lin Cong, Dong Fang, and others had explicitly proposed alterations to the Great Ming Code, in order to adapt them to the demands of sentencing that were growing by the day. However, the Code had been established by the Great Ancestor, and could not be modified even if anyone wanted to. There had been many subjects that had proposed amendments after the Ancestors era, but every time someone mentioned it, a vast number of officials would jump out to denounce them in the name of violating ancestral laws. Over the ages, the Code remained the same Code, while many officials could not find guidelines in the process of judgements, thus being forced to decide based on their own knowledge. This had produced many cases of injustice. Tang Fan also felt that the Code had to be amended, but not directly on its surface. Countless predecessors had already proven to him in practice that that wouldnt work, only getting one a horrible scolding. If the Code wasnt touched, though, and a few extra sentencing regulations were to be chosen for additions, there would not be any issue. Still, it was not currently his turn to care about such things. He was merely a minor, truefifth-rank Chief, not a Cabinet Vizier. A proposal like this getting presented was overwhelmingly likely to get set aside; the present Court was not one that did anything, anyways. Since he had entered the Ministry of Justice, he at least had a good environment. Here, he could consult a bulk quantity of dossier resources that he wouldnt have been able to get to in Shuntian Prefecture, as well as initiate his own plan: discover all sorts of cases from bygone years that had had unreasonable sentencings, neatly lay them out somewhere, and compose new judgement protocols with the Code as a foundation. Should he fail to reach a high position in his life, these would most likely never receive pushes for implementation, but that did not mean that he would muddle through his days in the Ministry like Yin Yuanhua and the rest, nor squander all of his energy on mutual schemes. He had never forgotten his original inspiration for becoming an official, just as he had never forgotten the words of encouragement his teacher, Qiu Jun, had given him before he left the capital. No matter how dark the world got, there would always be a day that light would reappear. No matter how dark the world was, there would always be a group that would work untiringly to produce a day where that light showed up again. He was not the only one that was striving hard, but he was willing to be one of them. In result, after he was alienated, he was not in an alarmed bind like everyone had anticipated he would be, instead becoming so busy, he itched to bury himself into the high-piled case documents. This wasnt a task that could be completed in just one night, however, as it was not only enormous, but tedious. It was also impossible for him to do alone. If several people were working on it together, its efficiency would be much greater. Even so, he had his own machinations. He did not scramble to call Dai Hongming and the others over to assign them tasks in a test of loyalty, nor did he get anxious over the discussions outside that were about him. After Dai Hongming moved all the dossiers over to him, Mister Tang allowed him to go and do his personal work, while his own daily work became reading dossiers as he casually waited for the good show to kick off. Following a passage of two days, the time he went to work was as usual. His tea drinking as he looked through the small-mountain-esque pile of dossiers was as usual, too. He reviewed them very carefully, first looking at the case, then at its judgement. He picked out areas of irrationality from them and carried out additional markings; writing down his own opinions and thoughts was an assuredly slow thing, but he was in no rush. The future was long, and impatience would spoil the results. At right that time, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, not long after which Dai Hongmings slightly anxious face appeared in his doorway. Sir! Sir! Tang Fan looked up. What is it? Come on in. The other came inside, hushing his voice. The higher-ups summoned all the Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs to attend a meeting, saying that they were going to inquire about the Offices circumstances for the latter half of the year. When is it? Right now! Tang Fans brow furrowed slightly. Why wasnt this said earlier? This humble official only just learned of it Dai Hongming floundered. Tang Fan understood. Deputy Chiefs were the assistants of Chiefs, so Yin Yuanhua should have been responsible for telling him ahead of time but why would he do that, when he was looking forward to him making a fool of himself? He hummed. Not blaming Dai Hongming, he stood up and walked out. Anxious at heart, Dai Hongming was both afraid that Tang Fan would vent his anger on him, and worried that his lack of preparation would cause the Office to lose face. After a time of walking, Tang Fan turned to see that Dai Hongming was still following behind him. What is it? Are you going to take part, too? he had to wonder. No, no! I thought that you would have some kind of order Ill just go. Dai Hongming laughed dryly, quickly slipping away. This meeting could be described as a routine one. It was congregated every month typically at the end, but because Minister Zhang had not been in the Ministry for a few days, it had been postponed. There should have been a separate advance notification, but, well, who made Tang Fan be a disliked newcomer? Everybody bullied new arrivals, hence why when he had just learned of it, the meeting was already about to begin. As was inevitable, Tang Fan was the last to arrive out of every Office, even a half-step later than the Assistant Ministers. He quickly cupped his hands, bowed, and found his own seat. According to standards, the Chiefs and Deputies of each Office would sit together. His line of sight inadvertently bumped into Yin Yuanhua, who was seated beside him. The latter gave him a smug look. He answered with a light, collected smile. Seated close by was Lu Tongguang. The other had noticed Yin Yuanhuas demonstration against Tang Fan, and couldnt help but sigh at heart. Slightly unable to tolerate this, he whispered to the other, This meeting will not only discuss the previous month, but also mainly discuss plans for the rest of the year. Minister Zhang might question the individual Offices; youll have to be prepared. Tang Fan returned a grateful smile to him. Many thanks, Brother Lu. Regardless of what else Lu Tongguang wanted to say, Minister Zhang Ying had now come in. He hurriedly waved his hand to signal for Tang Fan not to say any more. At the hosts arrival, the meeting officially began. As Lu Tongguang had said, Minister Zhang first briefly spoke of the general state of the Ministry from the first half of the year. Immediately after that, he stressed talk about a few cases that hadnt yet received verdicts, urged the various Offices to speed things up, and then began to let them carry out their reports. Yin Yuanhua had long formulated a plan. Due to being completely unprepared and also having been here for not even a few days, when the Offices turn came, Tang Fan was bound to be unable to answer the vast majority of questions. That period would be a good opportunity for him to flaunt himself. Even if Tang Fan wouldnt be getting dismissed or transferred away for a time, as long as he was isolated and didnt put on a good display, it would be difficult for him in the Ministry, and his authority would be just an empty framework. When the time was right, he really would turn into a puppet Chief, inferior to his precursor, Chief Zhou. Chief Xian of the Fujian Office spoke up on his end. Central Min brethren have formed a new trend, its practice becoming convention; even more men are castrating themselves, yet are unable to get into the palace to act as eunuchs. These repeated prohibitions have really been a headache. Fujians Department of Investigators has sent several letters requesting for the Court to give an order that bans commoners from self-castration and gives violators heavy punishments, lest this trend intensifies. Whats your opinion? Minister Zhang asked Liang Wenhua. I, too, have once seen a documented correspondence from Fujian reporting about this. In the seventh year of Jingtai and seventh year of Chenghua, the Court already made bans on self-castration amidst the populace, but their effects have been minuscule. To be frank, the authorities never performed strict investigations, so this caused the accumulation of the practice over a long period of time to become a trend, making it persist despite repeated bans. If there is a desire to completely put a stop to this matter, one needs to consider from the source. My suggestion is to have a Court order stipulating that from now on, any citizens that self-castrate will not be allowed into the palace by law. Tang Fan nodded inwardly upon hearing this. Assistant Minister Liang coddled his student and was making things hard for him all over the place, but he did have some actual capabilities, making him a little better than all those middling officials. Minister Zhang nodded, then spoke to Chief Xian. You can jot that down. After Assistant Liangs proposal is sorted out, present it for me to look at. Chief Xian promptly affirmed, then went on to report some more events. Once Fujian was done, anothers turn naturally came up next. Meeting statements were not conducted in order of the orientations each district had in contrast to each other, but were differentiated in accordance to everyones seats. Lu Tongguang sat to Tang Fans left, while Chief Xian was seated to his right; going in the sequence from right to left, after Chief Xian was done speaking, it would be Tang Fans turn, followed by Lu Tongguangs. Minister Zhangs gaze shifted away from Chief Xian to land upon Tang Fan. You are the new Chief of the Henan Office? We dont appear to have met before, have we? Tang Fan stood up and bowed. That is I. A few days ago, this humble official went to pay a visit to you, but by ill coincidence, you were not present, so I could not meet you. I ask for your forgiveness, Sir. Since it was an ill coincidence, what is there to forgive? Minister Zhang twirled his beard with a smile. He was actually being quite just and reasonable. Go on and sit. In your view, how is the Henan Office faring? Yin Yuanhua was overjoyed the instant he heard this. Tang Fan had only gotten here a few days ago; what the hell would he even have to talk about? Wouldnt it be up to him to explain things? Thinking like so, he automatically straightened out his back and opened his mouth to speak. However, he heard Tang Fan do so first. This humble official has been in the Office for a number of days, and Ive discovered that the people here act perfunctorily, with a penchant for procrastination. There are many old, longstanding cases that have been judged wrongly due to negligence, or even bluffed at random. There are truly many areas that deserve improvement. Was this guy nuts? How come as soon as he spoke, he was like a mad dog biting at everyone? Yin Yuanhua couldnt resist turning around to stare wide-eyed at him. It wasnt just him. Everyone else was looking at Tang Fan like they were observing a monster, too. Only the man in questions face was as unperturbed as ever, as if all those words had not just come out of his own mouth. The translator says: Prepare your face for slaps, bucko. CH 58 While everyone elses expressions had begun to more or less twist up on account of Tang Fans words, Minister Zhang alone smiled, even prompting with slight warmth, Since thats so, you may as well bring up any charters, if you have them. We can all consult them in detail. As sentencing officials, Tang Fan continued, these things should have been plainly implemented according to the law, but when I flipped through the dossiers of last year, I discovered that the workers of the Henan Office cannot be stated to have a clear understanding of said law; Im afraid that they havent even thumbed through the Great Ming Code. Their judgements have been solely based on personal preferences, and its gone on for so long, its caused the internal files and older cases of the Office to go into disarray. Take this case that was submitted by Kaifeng Prefecture last year. Two brothers were disputing over asset inheritance, and in order to win the lawsuit, both sides exposed the others kept secrets, which included a murder therein. It was difficult to distinguish between right, wrong, true, and false. Kaifeng felt the matter to be intractable because of this, so they presented this to the Ministry for a verdict. The one that the case was reported to happened to be Deputy Chief Yin. Hearing this, Yin Yuanhuas heart thudded. He had a vague conjecture as to what Tang Fan was wanting to say, but it was too late for him to think to stop it. He had no choice but to let him go on. The result of that was that Deputy Yin sentenced the brothers to each be flogged, then persuaded according to reason that as brothers of the same parents, they should show understanding to each other. Purportedly, after the Prefecture received this sentencing from the Ministry, it complied, and the affair was indeed settled in short order. Minister Zhang twirled his beard as he nodded. As you specially brought it up, did some issue occur later on? Tang Fan cupped his hands. You are wise, Minister. Thats exactly it. When I reviewed this case, I found that within the secrets the brothers had mutually exposed, there was a murder accusation. It is unknown whether it was valid, but Deputy Yin did not order Kaifeng Prefecture to conduct a thorough investigation, ignoring it instead. This is one thing. Matters correlated to assets have also long been explicitly stipulated within the Great Ming Code, and there were precedents able to be followed for this. If there were no laws to abide by, then one would have to judge based on reasoning, but Deputy Yin has never even looked at the Code before. He disregarded the rules within it, made rash decisions, and led his subordinates into doing much of the same. If this continues, it will surely cause local officials to regard the law as empty, and they will be just like Deputy Yin, doing whatever their heart desires. Yin Yuanhua could no longer help himself, explosively standing up. You slanderer! How have I done as my heart desired?! The brothers lawsuit had been disputed for over a decade! Much of what they claimed had long become unverifiable, so how could the truth have been determined? I went off of the rationale of human relationships to persuade them to talk it out and resolve this on their own, using brotherly affection as a basis! How is not needing to have everything appealed to the authorities an issue?! The issue comes from them unmasking each others faults, Tang Fan answered mildly. I read the dossier, and when they did that, the ones that came out to testify for them were their respective wives and children, as well as their other brothers. The Great Ming Code has long stated that brothers arent to testify for brothers, wives arent to testify for husbands, and slaves arent to testify for masters thus, not a one of those testimonies should have had efficacy. Yet, when writing his correspondence, Deputy Yin had not plainly pointed out and rebuked this conduct. Furthermore, if assets have gone without verdict for a long time, the whole of it should be decided upon based on law, and they should not have been allowed to talk things over amongst themselves. I previously sent someone to check things out, and he found out that after the Ministrys order, the dispute between the brothers had not only not subsided, but grown in intensity. Their entire hometown knows about their quarrel, now. I dare to ask Deputy Yin: you said that they should proceed to be enlightened in accordance with human relationships, but where is that enlightenment? Yin Yuanhuas words got stuck in his throat. All of a sudden, he thought up another problem, and hurriedly interrogated back. Youve only had your post in the Ministry for about five days. How could you investigate the process of this case in such a brief time period? Arent you just bluffing? Tang Fan shook his head. Have you forgotten that the Brocade Guard has posts set up all over the place? The other went bug-eyed and tongue-tied. This guy actually had the Brocade Guard check things out? But, the question was why would the Guard obey him? He faintly realized that Tang Fan was apparently not as easy to deal with as he had imagined he would be. Before he could react, Tang Fan seized the stand first. The Great Ancestor said long ago that all governmental facilities need to want to benefit the world, as a present for future generations cannot be perfunctory or upholding of the status quo. Matters related to the foundation of the country are not trivial; a benevolent order blesses all the land, while a malevolent one brings endless disasters. We cannot be careless. These remarks are so thought-provoking, that even though a hundred years have passed, we must engrave them into our hearts to never forget them. I know that it was out of good intentions that Deputy Yin hoped that the brothers could set aside their differences and remember their love as siblings, thus avoiding the gradual formation of disaster due to kin destroying each other. However, the Great Ancestor issued the Code in the hopes that we would have laws to follow, such as for inheritance fight cases that undermine public decency. Since the two sides had been fighting for a long time, theyre both certain to be people that dont care about brotherly affection. The law should have been stringently followed for investigation and handling, as opposed to the vain thought to use ethics to correct them, else local officials will learn from example and refuse to view the Code from then on, utilizing emotions to settle every case as they see fit. Is that not exactly what the Great Ancestor warned against, where a malevolent order brings endless disasters? Deputy Yin, your good intentions have produced foul work. Yin Yuanhua had been dizzied by the turnaround of his stealthily interchanging concepts. His mouth kept opening and closing, face flashing green and white. He wanted to get angry, but that would be too inelegant mainly because those seated here were all his superiors and colleagues, and he couldnt do anything that would be of adverse affect. He wanted to refute, too, only to be unable to think of a resoundingly powerful retort, especially since the other had brought up the words of the Great Ancestor. Even though he clearly knew that Tang Fan was exaggerating a trifle into a huge problem (What malevolent order? It hadnt been anything more than a typical inheritance dispute! When did it get promoted to the degree of a malevolent order?!), he still really had no way to shoot back at him. Was he going to say that the Great Ancestors words were wrong? Or that this case hadnt been that serious? If he said anything like that, Tang Fan would inevitably quote the Ancestor to refute him again. However, just because the student had lost the fight didnt mean that the teacher was just going to sit, watch, and ignore it. At this time, Assistant Minister Liang spoke up. Your statements are rather alarmist, Chief Tang. The Codes existence was originally for the sake of enlightening the populace. If we can first use rationality to enlighten them, then we would naturally have no need to use the law. Though we are the Ministry of Justice, as officials of the Court, we bear the responsibility of enlightenment. We should first appeal with emotion and logic, and if the citizens still dont listen then, use the law to govern with finality. For that reason, this official believes that Deputy Yins sentencing has no spots of impropriety. Once the elite had spoken, what was right and wrong was known. Witnessing this scene, everyones hearts boiled despite their dignified expressions, each and every one of them getting excited. The teacher couldnt continue to watch his student get humiliated, so he had lent his aid how would Tang Fan respond? Was he going to quarrel with an Assistant Minister? That was his superior. Regardless of what he said, he would lose dignity, and others would view him as frivolous. Chief Tang was a new arrival. Unwilling to be isolated and repressed, he had taken it upon himself to cause trouble at the meeting to single out Yin Yuanhua, which had resulted in him annoying the latters backer, who had interceded on his behalf. He ought to be admitting defeat right about now, right? However, his conceding would signify that he was afraid of Yin Yuanhua. His words in his own Office would carry no weight from then on. That sort of thought in their heads, everyone sat up ramrod straight, lines of sight meandering between these few. Kind people like Lu Tongguang would inevitably worry for Tang Fan, but many more were inclined to harbor schadenfreude as they watched this good show. Right then, however, someone unexpected spoke up. That is not what should be said. This official has also long believed that there has been subpar work done in the Ministry, and several overall unambitious folks that simply muddle through life here. As they are sentencing officials that have not thoroughly studied law, cases that should have been sentenced heavily have been let off lightly, while cases that should have been sentenced lightly have been overblown. This getting out would certainly make others teeth fall out from laughter, and have them think that all of us in the Ministry are like this. The speaker was the Minister, Zhang Ying. Ever since he had joined the Ministry, he had rarely intervened in specific Office affairs. When it came to political alignment, he closely followed Head Vizier Wan An. On the principle of do nothing, and do no wrong, but do more, and do more wrong, his daily assignments at work were to drink tea and mosey through life. Those subordinate to him had long gotten used to his work ethic; any actual business was, in reality, handled by Liang Wenhua. For a meeting such as todays, his greatest action should have been playing the part of a mascot overseeing the occasion. And yet, what had ended up happening was that Mister Minister, who had rarely ever expressed his own opinions, had helped a minor Chief speak, for the first time ever! Was the sun rising from the West today? Everybody looked at Zhang Ying in shock. The latter twisted his mustache, turning the subject of conversation around. However, I also believe that Deputy Yin is being sincere in his job. Simply put, in cases like this from now on, prudence needs to be had. The Ministry of Justice controls the realms prisons, its every word and deed having great influence. Careful consideration is required. Though this sounded like he was trying to smooth things over, his intent to help Tang Fan speak out was quite obvious. Liang Wenhua apparently hadnt expected that Zhang Ying would suddenly declare something like this, his face slightly twitching as he forced out a smile. What the Minister said is correct. Before any of you do anything from now on, it would be best to comply with foundation and abide by reason, to avoid anyone picking out your faults. Yin Yuanhua stood to accept this lesson, trembling. I will cautiously observe the Ministers instruction. All of what Zhang Ying had said today had actually been for a reason, and not just to get Tang Fan out of trouble. Him infrequently caring about things didnt mean that he cared about nothing at all, but it was precisely because of this that those beneath him believed him to actually be a clay figurine. In particular, after word that he would be filling a vacancy in the Cabinet got out, Liang Wenhua had jumped up and down and made his own word law, which led to Zhang Ying feeling rather upset. Im still the Minister, arent I? he had thought. Do you not place any importance upon me? On top of that, he was in Wan Ans party. Wan An was attached to Consort Wan, and he had heard that Tang Fan had a private friendship with Wang Zhi that looked to be pretty good. He also faintly knew that Tang Fan transferring to the Ministry of Justice had apparently been owed to the Emperor passing word along himself. That was frankly amazing. Officialdom always required one to understand everything at first hear; someone without flexible thoughts would not have a future in it. In regards to this info, Zhang Ying had to look at Tang Fan differently. Everyone else in the Ministry once thought that it had been unwise for Tang Fan the newcomer to offend Assistant Minister Liang, but Zhang Ying hadnt thought the same. He felt that Tang Fan was simply confident in his backing, and he just so happened to find Liang Wenhua an eyesore, himself. Thus, no matter what, he had been determined to help Tang Fan out. No one else knew that there had been so many twists and turns to this, of course. They were only under the impression that since Minister Zhang had helped Tang Fan speak, it was little wonder as to why the latter had confronted Liang Wenhua head-on. As it was, he had a very big backer. In the span of a second, everyone was looking at him with different eyes. How could Liang Wenhua not understand everyone elses thoughts? He had no idea why Zhang Ying had lost it today, because as far as he was aware, Tang Fan and the other had never been friends before this. It was wholly going unthought in his head that Zhang Yings unhappiness had been caused by his own frequent displays of strength happening over a long period of time, until the man just happened to take this chance to vent. One meeting hence concluded, with everyones minds in completely different states. Once the Minister and Assistants left the room, no one had any apprehensions anymore. Their cordiality towards Tang Fan was practically like he had been switched out for someone else. He did not take this opportunity to strike a pose, having the same approachable, smiling face as ever, where anyone could come up to talk to him, and he could strike up a chat with anyone. Before, this demeanor had made them think he was weak and easy to be bullied, but now, it made them think that he was incredibly calm, consistent in self, and worthy of friendship. Evidently, it wasnt just women that were mutable, as mens hearts were quite fickle, as well. Witnessing this scene, Yin Yuanhua was furious, yet also powerless. He could only rush out of there to avoid courting disgrace for himself. Dai Hongming was pacing anxiously outside the room, mulling over what unknowable humiliations Chief Tang was undergoing, only to catch sight of Yin Yuanhua charging out with a face darkened by anger. Not long after that, Tang Fans figure appeared out of the doorway, yet was encircled by many Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs from other Offices. Everyone was chatting and laughing, looking exactly like good friends that had been separated for years. Dai Hongming had to rub his eyes. He was seeing ghosts, right? If these werent ghosts, then was the sky going to rain red? Everyone worked under the same roof, unable to get away from each other how could there be any secrets? Tang Fans criticism of Yin Yuanhua at the meeting, and opposition of Liang Wenhua, soon circulated. The more it spread, the more lively powerful it was, and the more excessive its versions got. In the end, a rumor that said Tang Fan slapped the table and angrily rebuked the Assistant Minister, Liang Wenhua was shamed to anger and swore wildly, Minister Zhang slapped Liang Wenhua was going around. There were even some inauthentically claiming that Tang Fan was Minister Zhangs illegitimate son. Such absurd rumors that couldnt withstand actual thought still had a huge market, and became a tale that would be widespread within the Ministry for a very long time, which everyone would love to hear after tea and meals. Tang Fan genuinely didnt have any personal relationship with Minister Zhang. The contact between Wang Zhi and him had been incidental on account of need for cases to be handled, but that didnt demonstrate that he had contact with the other members of Consort Wans party. Even so, Zhang Yings response had been completely within his expectations. To be more precise, he had long accounted for it. The time for this ranged back to the first day he had taken up post at the Ministry. Tang Fan had already known why Yin Yuanhua wanted to make life difficult for him, as well as that him messing with him by sending sweetflag rhizomes would not only infuriate Yin Yuanhua, but greatly offend Liang Wenhua. Hence, by the time Sui Zhou had urged him not to be overly bombastic, hed had a complete plan. Everything will be set into place before I make my move, Tang Fan had said with a smile. Dont worry. As soon as I had the medicine sent to Yin Yuanhua, I knew that I would inevitably be singled out. Sui Zhou knew that he was not someone that would make a fuss for momentary wrongs, and also never did anything useless. What are you plotting? Tang Fan had rapped against Zhang Yings career history on the table. He wasnt the Minister of Appointments and had no authority to look up the work histories of other officials, but who allowed him to be the friend of a Brocade Guard? The Guard itself was responsible for monitoring officials, so it had resources that Appointments had, as well as resources that it didnt. Everything had its uses. He had wanted to get a footing in the Ministry, and would succeed by surprise. Establishing my might! Tang Fan had said with gusto. In just one brief day at the Ministry, I found a lot of issues. However, what I want to do cannot be done with just me alone. In their opinions, Im an outsider thats been stuck in out of nowhere and has no roots in the Ministry; easy to bully, with no one to obey me. Thats why, if I want to stand steady, Ill need to establish my might first. With how bright Sui Zhou was, he had understood his intent immediately. So, Yin Yuanhua jumping out right now happens to make him a suitable candidate? Correct. The other had had a cunning smirk at the corner of his lips. If not him, then someone else, but since hes offered himself up, why would I let him down? Zhang Ying has long been dissatisfied with Liang Wenhuas intensity, so even if he doesnt interject, he certainly wont stand on the latters side. Once we bicker in public, hell most likely help me speak. Itll be because, in his eyes, Ive been affixed with the symbol of being a member of Consort Wans party. But youre not. Of course Im not. Nobles dont have affiliations. Sui Zhous brows had creased. But wont everyone else have a misconception about you because of that? They wont, dont you worry. When have I ever expressed allegiance to Consort Wan? There was simply some overlap in fate and case investigation. Plus, during the East Palace case, I not only helped clear suspicion off of Consort Wan, but did the same for the Crown Prince. Saying so, he had sighed. Truth be told, why would I use a method like this if I could help it? Wouldnt it be great if everyone just earnestly set their minds upon doing their work? Why must there be so many nuisances? Back in Shuntian, I had my senior above me at the apex, while I was just a minor Judge that only needed to do my own chunk of work. There was never any need to worry about so much other stuff! Officialdom will never be as calm as water. You are now the senior official of an Office, which means that youll need to do a cleanup before you can begin to do what you want to do. Tang Fan had grinned with gratification. The ones that made me were my parents, but the one that understands me is you, Guangchuan! The above-mentioned had been the ins and outs of what had happened in the meeting. Tang Fan hadnt gone to provoke Liang Wenhua on temporary impulse or a brain spasm, of course, else he would not have been able to carry on in life until now. The results of today had been completely outside of everyone elses expectations, but for him, they had been planned for following careful consideration. The tiny Henan Office had only a scant few employees, yet was further divided because of the disagreeing hearts of its people. It should have been impossible for Tang Fan, a stranger, to build up his prestige so quickly, yet he had surprisingly won, charging through to make himself a path. After Zhang Ying had spoken out, Liang Wenhua temporarily put away his war flags. Having lost the support of his teacher, Yin Yuanhua dared not go against Tang Fan again. Using this eastern wind, Tang Fan breezily tidied up the Henan Office, both inside and out. He expressly prohibited their tendency to procrastinate on work, then prompted them to have hearings and conclusions as soon as possible for the unsettled cases that had dragged on from the first half of the year. Were a major case to be issued by the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice could make its own verdict, then issue the judgement documents back to their locality. Tang Fan pointed out the dossiers that he had read before and felt that there were issues with, requesting for everyone to re-audit them. He also had Dai Hongming take two clerks to seek out cases from over the years that had been unable to be determined from the Great Ming Codes basis. Having such a firm and decisive superior, no one dared to goof off anymore. The atmosphere of the Henan Office changed instantaneously. Dai Hongming and the rest believed that Tang Fan had Minister Zhang as a supporter, each of them converting from duplicitous feelings to total obedience, scarcely imagining that he was using a tigers skin as a fake banner. Concerning Tang Fans dinner treat, the various Offices responses were entirely different from what they had been previously, going from scant responders to enthusiastic answers. They were particularly all quickly subdued once they learned that the place he was going to entertain in was Immortal Cloud No one else had a clue about the Western Depots share in Immortal Cloud, nor that Tang Fan was simply benefitting from Wang Zhis light. The only knew that those who could entertain there either had a good background, or wide social connections. Since the newly-arrived Chief Tangs influence was this strong, who would be so blind to the current state of affairs as to inconvenience him? The only one suffering torment right now was Yin Yuanhua, which had nothing to do with them. At the feast, Tang Fan did not follow precedent in bringing his assistant, instead having Dai Hongming and the others attend. Once again, his stance was displayed for all to see: I, Tang Fan, do not take Yin Yuanhua seriously, and am not afraid to offend Assistant Minister Liang. Dai Hongming and them are my people, so they will dine with me. It was hard to tell if he was for real, or for false; he used the entirety of what was in the Art of War on an officials scene. One month later, he had not only gained a steady standing in the Henan Office, but, owing to him keeping to his word and others having learned from Yin Yuanhuas prior lesson, no one dared to take his words as wind past the ears again. He did not blindly use his authority to suppress others. With Sui Zhous assistance, he came to know the career histories of each individual in the Office by heart. This one clerk had a seventy-year-old mother in his capital home; whenever he went to buy autumnal pear ointment at the apothecary for Ah-Dong, he would also buy a piece of mugwort and tell the clerk to soak the elders feet with it. That other clerk had a sick family member, so he would make an allowance to let the clerk to get off of work a bit earlier and go home to care for his relative. Yet, Tang Fan showed no mercy towards those that were treacherous, like the clerk that had fawned on Yin Yuanhua before. Because of his reliance on the latters support, he had never put Dai Hongming or the rest in his eyes. Following the meeting from that one day, he still hadnt seen the situation clearly, working half-heartedly on any tasks Tang Fan had given him. He consequently got turned into a figurehead by the latter, then booted away to do some superficial odd jobs. Over time, grace and power were both granted like so. Dai Hongming and the rest, as expected, were deeply grateful towards Tang Fan, and they put exceptional energy into their work, overhauling the entire Henan Office. In such circumstances, Yin Yuanhua became the one that was isolated. He acknowledged the current state of affairs, of course. Tang Fan wasnt going to make things hard for him, as he had come here to actually do things, not sort other people out. Still, Yin Yuanhua was forever gloomy about what had happened that day; he was too afraid to cause trouble for the time being, but he wouldnt start on anything, which, to put it bluntly, was passive slacking. With him like this, Tang Fan really couldnt do much. He was in charge of the Henan Office, but officials at the rank of Deputy Chief were not in his range. He wasnt willing to run off to file a complaint to Minister Zhang, either the entire Dynasty worked like this now, where even Ministers didnt do any work. One could not demands things of others based on their own standards. Beyond that, there had been no lack of incidental elements that had caused Yin Yuanhua to taste defeat last time, and those would not happen again. His own goal of establishing might had already been achieved; he couldnt give the impression that he was combative to his superiors. Therefore, Yin Yuanhua was unable to cope with Tang Fan, and Tang Fan was unable to cope with Yin Yuanhua. Were no accidents to happen, this situation would persist for a very long time. Half a year within the Ministry rapidly passed. Aside from his minor limelight at the beginning, Tang Fans following words and actions could be labeled as pragmatic, and low-profile. Internally, he had gradually gained ownership over the Offices affairs, keeping to his word. Externally, he had forged ties with all the other Offices, never holding himself as special and allowing others to receive all his credit. In result, he had speedily mingled himself into being a fish in water at the Ministry. No one would say that Chief Tang was an outside household anymore, with how superbly he interacted with his coworkers. At long last, he was able to catch his breath and relax a little. Over this past half a year, he had gone out early and returned late, nearly spending even all of his vacation time hanging around the Ministry. That had been for the sake of rearranging all the old cases from previous times, and either finding the ones that had disagreed with the way the world worked, or had no standards set inside of the Great Ming Code for them. After that, based on those judgement examples, he would re-write an article in Regulations for Interrogation and Sentencing as a supplement to be added to the Code, for use by later officials to consult and cite. This was an extraordinarily massive and complicated project; only about ten percent of it had been completed after half a year. Even if he managed to finish it right now, it wouldnt be able to be put into effect for a very long time. Still, he believed that it would one day have a use. In a wink, spring of the sixteenth year of Chenghua arrived. Ah-Dong was now ten. During this time period, she had learned martial arts from Sui Zhou, simultaneously improving her martial skill by a great leap while her body stretched out as it grew, no longer having its prior chubby look. She had the pretty silhouette of a half-grown young lady, but her temperament hadnt changed, being as carefree and unworried as ever actually, because she had been learning martial arts, she had become a bit more valiant. In order to prevent her from turning into an out-and-out martial artist that would never get married off in the future, Tang Fan did not neglect to force her to read when she had free time. He subsequently received verifiable proof that she did not have a penchant for it, as she couldnt even commit the Analects to memory. Fortunately, she was at least fluent in writing. The Tang family had never produced an illiterate; he had to console himself with just that. All this time, Sui Zhou had been as busy as ever. Beneath his training, the Northern Bastion Office was nothing like that procrastinatory, lazy, low-efficiency state it had been in before, but ever since the incident with the Southside Gang, the White Lotus Society had apparently completely concealed its tracks. Sui Zhou and Tang Fan had talked this over previously; they surmised that the Society had likely learned a lesson from the Gang, and would no longer rashly bring itself to the surface. It would very likely not be showing up in the capital again for a good while. Otherwise, with the Brocade Guard and two Depots at the feet of the Son of Heaven, it would be difficult for the Society to not expose its whereabouts, no matter how covered up it was. This made it much more difficult to track down. The Guard still had a lot of other things it needed to do, so there was no way it could waste all of its energy on this all day long. Its various guard posts could only be ordered to pay close attention. On this day of rest, Tang Fan was stealing half a day of idleness, drooling over a plate of crystal meat together with Ah-Dong while they waited for Sui Zhou to come back. The man appeared to have gone elsewhere today, as he hadnt returned until now. This crystal meat had been freshly made three days ago. On account of the dishs unique craftsmanship, it was difficult to make fresh, and complex and bothersome to cook. Sui Zhou couldnt make it before, until he learned from his grandmother, Madam Zhou. The dish selected for a pomegranate-esque color hidden inside a pure translucence that was like glass, and would melt in the mouth; fatty, yet not greasy. Tang Fan and Ah-Dong hadnt yet tasted its specific flavor, of course, but from looking at its shine alone, it was already quite enticing. Seeing Ah-Dongs greedy face, Mister Tang scolded her. If someone who had no idea looked at you, they would think that Ive been starving you for forever. Dont tell anyone that your surname is Tang when you go out! How disgraceful! She pouted. Im only ten, big brother. You have the cheek to say that to me? Youre drooling, yourself! How could that be?! he refuted, whilst resisting the urge to wipe his mouth off. Accustomed to being jocular, they would feel discomfort if they had to go without teasing each other for one whole day. After a good while of banter, Ah-Dong asked, What the heck did Brother Sui go out for, big brother? Todays a day off, so why doesnt he have any free time? Hes always going out early and coming back late these days. Is the Bastion Office really busy? Tang Fan shook his head, indicating that he didnt know. Since she had said as much, he then realized that he hadnt seen Sui Zhous figure around that much, either. The Bastion Office differed from the Ministry of Justice, however; due to their special duties, Sui Zhou and the rest frequently had to take many secret assignments that could not be spoken of. Even if they had a close relationship, Tang Fan had never asked about them out of propriety. Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao would come before Ah-Dong could finish whining, Sui Zhous silhouette showed up outside. Brother, you came back! She got up, then bounded over to welcome him. Noticing that he wasnt in his Guard uniform, Tang Fan wondered, Did you go to pay respects to your parents? Sui Zhous personal life was truly, absolutely mundane. Aside from abroad assignments, if he wasnt on his way to the Bastion Office, he was heading home, or occasionally going over to see his family, with practically no derivations. This was why Tang Fan had asked such a thing. Unexpectedly, Sui Zhou shook his head. Something happened in Henan. [End Arc 4: Into the Ministry of Justice] The translators says: In light of the fact that FYC deserves the Wordy As Fuck award, Ive decided that every four arcs are getting their own digital versions, which Ill call tomes. I am 90% sure that if I put the whole thing in one EPUB, itll be 5000 pages long and destroy anyones computer/device that tries to open it, or destroy my software whenever I try to edit it. CH 59 Henan was the birthplace of the Yin-Shang Dynasty, and had been basking in glory since time immemorial. After the Great Ancestor of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, had selected Kaifeng as the capital, Henan had turned into the unmatched heart of the realm. All the Emperors of Northern Song had been buried there in sum. However, in the wake of Song moving down South, Henans former status had also incrementally declined. Following the invasion of the Jin people, it then had been the armored Mongolian cavalrys turn to tread upon the Central Plains. The wheels of history had rolled onward, the commonfolk had suffered the fires of war over and over again, and by the time the Great Ancestor of this Dynasty had obtained the realm, over a hundred years had passed. Back when the Great Ancestor had passed through Gong County, where the hostilities had just been settled, he had discovered that the once-dignified Song Emperor burial mounds had been met with devastating destruction; almost every one of their surface constructions had been wrecked, the overgrown fields a full mess of broken stone carvings, their original figures long unable to be discerned. Among them, the tombs of the Gaozong, Xiaozong, and dual Emperors of Hui and Qin of Northern Song had been wantonly unearthed and damaged by the former Yuan Dynastys implicit compliance. There had been desolation that had stuck out for as far as could see, a tragedy no eyes could have endured. Purportedly, several Song Emperors had even had their bones dug up and burned, with innumerable treasures offered up to Yuan Emperor Kublai Khan to be used as ornaments in monasteries. In response to this, the Great Ancestor had ordered these excavated and plundered empty imperial tombs to be filled in once more, as well as repaired. Commoners had been prohibited from gathering resources there. He had also commanded the local government to arrange for defending citizen families for it, and waive taxes for them as seen fit only that had held the trend of tomb raiding in check. However, this was an old matter from back at Mings founding. Since the imperial tombs were still present, there would always be thieves that would risk it for the sake of getting exorbitantly wealthy overnight. Even the tombs of Qin, whose exact locations were unknown, gave people ideas, to say nothing of the tombs of Song, whose locations were well-defined. However, what needed particular explanation was that the imperial tombs of Northern Song were a bit different from Dynasties prior. Prior to Tang, many tombs took on the style of not erecting monuments, instead being buried deep, the palaces placed underground. The most archetypal one was the tomb of the First Qin Emperor. Following the Han Dynasty, mausoleums had gradually come into fashion, because mountains were as tombs, and chiseling into one was considered hiding it. This style had officially manifested as a system in the Tang Dynasty, where its Emperors had pretty much all carved out their own mausoleums in the hidden depths of the mountains. In one aspect, it had looked rather impressive, and in another, it could lower the amount of grave robbers honoring them with their presence to the greatest extent. (Peoples wills were inexhaustible, so that latter function was basically null, of course.) Coming to Northern Song, they hadnt done mountain mausoleums like the Tang Emperors on account of consideration to feng shui and geomancy; instead, they had picked out the hills opposite Mount Song, which were up against the waters of the Luo in the North while also not being far from the Yellow River. Adding on to that, all the tombs of the first seven Emperors from before Song moved South were all located there, and not too far away from each other for those with ill intent, robbing them was awfully convenient. Hence, despite there being defenders nearby, the Song tombs would still sporadically get plundered. Sans Yuan, past Dynasties that had obtained the realm had paid particular attention to defending the tombs of previous Emperors, and the present one was no exception. The Court plainly banned grave robbing, but its repeated prohibitions hadnt stopped it, nor had its full scope ever been surveyed. For that reason, local authorities would arrest anyone after discovering them there, which prevented things from getting to an unmanageable plight. Recently, however, in Gong County where Song tombs were, something very odd and shocking had occurred. It was said that starting from a year ago, in the middle of every night, nearby commonfolk would hear bizarre sounds coming from the Eternal Deep and Eternal Shine tombs. At first, they had believed that it was just the wind, but when they had listened in close, it seemed to be the sound of sobs. Eternal Deep was the tomb of Songs Yingzong Emperor, Zhao Shu, while Eternal Shine was that of Songs Renzong Emperor, Zhao Zhen. Zhao Shu had been Zhao Zhens successor, but not his son by blood; since Zhao Zhens sons had all died by that time, Zhao Shu had to be chosen out of the imperial clan. None of that was important, though. The real question was: how could there be weeping in an Emperors tomb in the middle of the night? Songs Emperors had all been dead for years, no filial descendants of theirs to be had for a long time. Even if there were still some, why would they choose to run out here in the middle of the night to mourn the dead? It had been utterly bizarre. The citizens of neighboring villages were responsible for moonlighting as tomb guards, so after hearing that wailing for several nights in a row, several villagers had gone to Eternal Deep to check things out. They had never come back. The village chief had then realized that something was wrong. While he had mobilized other villagers to go look for the missing people, he had also made a report to Gong Countys authorities, who had then been dispatched to search around, only to not find the missing people. The imperial tombs had been built on the shores of Luo; the authorities had guessed that these few might have accidentally fallen in when walking at night. With this conclusion drawn, the matter had been left up in the air. For a long time following this, that sobbing had not echoed out again, the village appearing to return to peacefulness. Aside from the few families whose relatives had died, everyone had gradually forgotten about the event. However, just half a year ago, that terrifying sobbing had showed up again, and even louder than before, vaguely paired with the sound of thunder. The village chief had dared not be too careless, so he had quickly reported to the authorities again. On account of last time, Gong Countys Magistrate had felt that the chief was making a big deal out of nothing; even though he hadnt approved, since this involved imperial tombs, hed had a few county bailiffs go see what was up in the village. This investigation had uncovered a few thiefs caves near Eternal Deep and Eternal Shine. Apparently, some grave robbers had caught sight of these two tombs some time prior, then had come by for a visit. When it came to the robbing of imperial tombs, the Magistrate wouldnt dare to be negligent. He had ordered a few bailiffs to join up with several young, strong villagers to lie in wait near the tombs, in the hopes that the thieves would be caught. Even though the chief was elderly, he still had a responsibility to the village that he could not have shirked, so he had been amongst the lineup. After the first day had passed, the surroundings of the tombs had been quiet. The moonlight had been as water, the sound of the Luo River flowing by next to them; apart from that, there had been nothing. Everything had been calm. The same had gone for the second day that had passed. On the third day, something had happened. There had been three bailiffs, six villagers, and the one village chief, totaling into ten people that had left but, in the end, only two had come back. One had been a bailiff, the other the chief. One had gone mad, the other stupid. The mad one was the bailiff. He and the chief, one in front and one in back, had fled from the tombs, but his mind had been in chaos, and he had attacked whoever he had seen. He had not been able to speak comprehensibly, to say the least. The chief had looked terrified, covered in blood; he had been almost about to go join the bailiff in his state. After a physicians diagnosis, the bailiff had been determined to have been so severely terrified, he had lost his mind. He would likely stay that way for the rest of his life, as it was untreatable. The village chief was older and frailer, but he had experienced more things in life, which resulted in him being a little more resilient than younger people. After a period of rest, his spirit had slowly recovered. Even so, whenever the events of that evening got brought up, he would keep silent and refuse to say more. It wasnt until the County Magistrate had come to personally question him that he had repeatedly chanted things like we saw a ghost and there was a monster, though more questions hadnt made him say why. Out of options, the Magistrate had felt there to be a great amount of strangeness about all this, obliged to make all sorts of reports to the capital. Saw a ghost? Monster? In this small courtyard, Tang Fan mulled over those few words. Are there grave robbers pretending to be the supernatural? Sui Zhou shook his head. I only just received this case. Going off of the Magistrates statements alone is difficult; this would need to be seen in person before a result could become clear. This is within Henans governance, too, and will likely be issued to the Ministry of Justice by the Cabinet for investigation, which might just fall upon the Henan Offices head. Tang Fan smiled, pained. That appears to be practically inevitable. He stretched out his back. Thats fine, I was born a lousy fool that shouldnt stay idle, anyways. Im tired from sitting in the bureau every single day. If I had chances to, Id rather go for walks. I plan on going there myself, as well, Sui Zhou mumbled. Tang Fan acted like he had received overwhelming favor. Could it be? Does Bastion Envoy Sui want to fight side-by-side with me? That would be this humble officials greatest honor! Even though Sui Zhous real post was just as a Millarch, he was actually the boss of the entire Northern Bastion Office, with Yuan Bin further up. Everyone in officialdom was accustomed to giving high praise when calling out names, resulting in shouts of Envoy Sui, Envoy Sui for a long time now. Of course, when that title came out of Tang Fans mouth, there was a bit of a ridiculing undertone to it. Leaning back into his chair, Sui Zhou took the buckwheat tea Ah-Dong handed over. Fighting side-by-side might not be necessary. Since Im the Bastion Envoy, Im naturally going to have to bastion my surroundings. Since youre a minor, fifth-rank official, youll have to obey my orders. The joking undertone of that was even heavier, as was proper. Tang Fan laughed at that. Ill wrangle with you, then! Youre now a fifth-rank martial official, and Im a fifth-rank civil official. Ever since Zhengtongs time of our Great Ming, the civil have always commanded the martial. In accordance with the principle that fifth-rank civils can direct fourth-rank generals, even if your Boss Yuan was here, hed likely have to obey my orders. If not, with how physically incapable I am, what could I even do if I went? I wouldnt very well be able to go into the fray and snatch vermin myself, would I? He then gave Ah-Dong a wink. Thats correct, isnt it, little sis? She nodded. Yeah. He crossed one leg over the other in triumph. Having a little sister is great! Look at how considerate my Ah-Dong is! Brother Sui is right, I mean. Now, he wasnt happy. Why did you betray me?! She giggled. My betrayal was inevitable, since Brother Sui has all of your money. Without him, we wouldnt even have wind to drink! What do you mean, all my money?! he had to refute. I only give him half! Isnt handing over money each month for you to buy food enough?! Tell us, then, how much do you have right now? Sui Zhou asked. Seeing that the two of them were uniformly looking at him with four eyes, he talked big without shame. A mans private funds are a secret that cannot be casually asked after! How much money do you have now, Brother Sui? Ah-Dong questioned. Sui Zhou did not say you cant casually ask after that, instead answering calmly. I helped him save thirty taels last year, and combining that with the three-hundred and fifty he handed me before, theres three-hundred and eighty taels. I have some savings accumulated, too, which total to one-thousand, four-hundred taels. She exclaimed over and over again. Youre so rich, Brother Sui! Theres still that Wang Ximeng painting in my room thats worth more than all his money! Tang Fan had to protest. Ah-Dong revealed his secrets with a look. That was obviously left behind by your parents. He went haha. The weathers really nice today, huh? That dish of crystal meat has been by its lonesome for a long time, waiting for us to gorge ourselves upon it. Talking about money is much too vulgar! Our mouths will stink of copper! Ah-Dong covered her lips as she smiled. You clearly hid writing payout under your pillow and didnt hand it over. I thought you would be able to hide it for a long time, but you bought a pile of useless books! Tang Fan couldnt keep his dignity intact. What do you mean, useless? Those are Zuos Commentary on Spring and Autumn Proper! Its a Song version that money cant even buy! I had to dredge up a lot to get it! She blinked. Theres another book in there called Spring Tides, though. Sui Zhou frowned. Why does that name sound a bit odd? Tang Fan was a tiny bit guilty. Its just some true monster stories. Dont let your mind go in a weird direction! He should have stayed quiet, as the more he described it, the more blackened it actually got. Bring it over for me to read later. Ah-Dong pulled a weird face at Tang Fan. I want to read it, too! Mister Tang was enraged and in pain. Last time, you took my copy of Warring States Chronicles, and you still havent returned it! When he had a little spare time, Sir Tang would write light novels to whittle the time away, collecting writers money by the by. To say that he solely wrote romance books would really be wronging him, though. Warring States Chronicles, for example, was a historical dramatization written in the setting of Eastern Zhou in the Warring States period, but due to its convoluted content and his lack of free time, he had only completed two-thirds of his writing at this point. I havent finished reading it yet. Ill give it back when Im done, Sui Zhou answered innocently. When are you going to finish? When you guarantee that you wont hide your writing earnings away next time. Anger giving rise to extreme boldness, Sir Tang expressed his defiance and malcontent with this unfair system. You wouldnt give me the money, then! Because I dont have a spending problem, Sui Zhou said, shortly terminating this entire controversy. With a clang, his self-esteem was shattered. In this day and age, the higher an officials position was, the lower their status in the family would be. How was this any way to live?! He was going to run away from home Seeing that he looked like his ears were drooping, Envoy Sui pet his friends dog head with rare affection. Im not being greedy for your money, Im just helping you keep it safe. Whos the one that makes you get overexcited whenever you see a book? The study almost cant hold any more stacks of them. You need self-restraint. Mister Tang had tears streaming down his face. Two things then happened at once. Just as Sui Zhou had anticipated, this case got reported to the Cabinet, then transferred to the Emperor. Even he, who hated working, was alarmed, not only communicating how much importance he himself placed upon this to the Cabinet, but also requesting that they send others to ally with the Brocade Guard for the investigation. They had to be sure to find the truth of this matter, and if there truly were grave robbers digging up the tombs, then needed to be caught and punished harshly. Could it be that the Son of Heaven had seen the light, heartached over these fourteen human deaths? Of course not. This merely stemmed from everyone involved being an Emperor, and the tombs of Northern Songs Emperors getting raided was like watching his own fate. He inevitably thought of what would come after he was gone were he to let this go without a care, would he encourage the grave robbing, getting his own tomb dug up later? and thus valued thorough inquiry. The Cabinet deliberated, then passed the matter down to the Ministry of Justice, since, in the final scope of things, tomb-raiding cases fell into the range of its duties. And, inevitably, as the Henan Offices leader, Tang Fan could not shaft this task. Minister Zhang called him over, then told him to bring people with him when he personally went to team up with the Brocade Guard in the investigation. Ever since Tang Fan had confronted Assistant Minister Liang, Minister Zhang inexplicably found him a sight for sore eyes, generously conveying his own appreciation for him in public settings. Despite the latter knowing that the other was simply not getting on with Liang Wenhua and therefore wanted to use him as a weapon, Tang Fan was not without benefits in this, himself. He had used it to soothe the hearts of those in the Henan Office, at the very least. No matter how one looked at it, the relationship between Zhang Ying and him was win-win. Of course, as a grand Minister, if he told Tang Fan to do something, the other would not have any room to refuse. Hence was why Zhang Ying had specifically called him into his workroom. Before anything else, he asked him about how work had been going lately, whether he had encountered any challenges in his job, and to not hesitate in saying whether he had any difficulties, as he, the Minister, could do his best to help him. Naturally, Tang Fan had to answer back that it was thanks to his grace that everything was just fine and whatnot. With a few empty remarks said from both sides, Zhang Ying got to the main topic. You are already aware of the robbery case at the Song Emperors tombs, yes? Tang Fan nodded. The documents about it were delivered to the Henan Office. This humble official has already read the dossier. What do you think of it? Forgive my bluntness, but this is a bit prickly. Zhang Ying lightly sighed. Yes. Those villagers and bailiffs might not have actually drowned in the river, and this might not be any sort of supernatural trickery, but since our opponent was able to kill over a dozen people in a row, if a human really did do this, they are certain to be a very nefarious sort. This case wont be simple to crack. But He paused. Regardless of how prickly it is, you need to do all that you can. If you can solve this, I will inform the Solons and get you a merit of appraisal. This humble official will certainly spare no effort. I dare not speak of merits. I heard that all of you call me and the other five Ministers clay figurines behind our backs, Zhang Ying suddenly said. Is that not true? Tang Fan put on an expression of shock. Where have those words come from? Ive never heard of them. Zhang Ying smiled a bit. You dont need to play dumb. Im not blaming you, I just want to hear the truth. This official isnt sure about anyone else, but in the third year of Chenghua, you were the Provincial Coordinator of Ningxia in the capacity as Right Deputy Censor. It was precisely due to your advocation and management that its capital changed in appearance, going from mud to brick constructions. Later on, you also personally presided over river channeling by directing the Yellow Rivers water to irrigate over seven hundred qing(47km2) of Lingzhou farmland, which benefited countless people. These several instances of benevolent governance are still vivid in the eyes; the citizens of Ningxia regard you like a second father. If you are a clay figurine, then there are truly few great officials that can do anything in this court! This was the truth. Although Zhang Ying was filed in with the clay figurine Ministers, he had not been like one at the start. He, too, had once been full of vigor in rendering service to the nation, being good to the commonfolk, accumulating achievements, and flaunting himself as a capable subject. Many saw him now drinking tea to pass his days away, and thus believed that he had always passed his days like that. Had Tang Fan not looked at Zhang Yings career history from Sui Zhou, he would never have known that Minister Zhang had previously had such competence and motivation. As expected, the others expression changed. How do you know about that? Tang Fan smiled. My teacher is Qiu Jun, who once repeatedly praised your capabilities in my presence. After he heard that I was going into the Ministry of Justice, he wrote to me, saying that I should learn a lot from you. This was him purely plastering gold upon his teachers face, of course, and giving Zhang Ying a plausible explanation while he was at it. He couldnt say I saw your work history at the Brocade Guard, now, could he? Zhang Ying was a bit touched, as well as a bit ashamed. I didnt expect Qiu Qiongshan to have such an evaluation of me. Unfortunately, Im as aged as Lian Po now, and no longer the me that I used to be. There is no good in besmirching your own reputation. What people say now wont matter; after a hundred years, the history books will certainly give you a fair evaluation, Tang Fan said in earnest. Zhang Ying had long been mixing into officialdom. He used to not be this easy to emotionally move, but Tang Fans remarks reached the bottom of his heart. Nowadays, everyone avoided misfortunes, content with just getting by the longer he acted as an official, the more he saw and the more he experienced, the more he felt discouraged, simply burying all his former zeal, following the others leads in doing nothing proper, and growing flowers plus strolling with birds all day long. As a result of that, others had lined him up in one chunk with Yin Qian, Liu Zhao, and the rest, ridiculing them with the nickname of the clay figurine Ministers. After hearing that for so long, he had become numb to it. Yet, on this day, it was a minor Office Chief that had efficiently laid bare the wrongs and depression hidden deep inside his core. How could he not be moved? With that coming out, their bond immediately drew much closer. Zhang Ying decided to directly call Tang Fan by his courtesy. Runqing, dont view this case as prickly, but as a sign to remain in His Majestys presence. If you perform well, that will bring great benefits to your future career. As was evident, Minister Zhang now viewed Tang Fan as half-his, else he would not have brought as much up. This was not just because Tang Fan had said stuff that opened up the others inner heart, but because he had no foundation at all in the Ministry; having fallen out with Liang Wenhua before, the only one he could rely on was the Minister. When it came to this clever young official that knew when to advance and retreat, Zhang Ying got the idea to cultivate him. Implicitly understanding, Tang Fan solemnly paid his thanks. Thank you for the pointers, Minister. I will expend all of my power in processing this case. Zheng Ying nodded in satisfaction. The sole bit of inconvenience here is in handling the case jointly with the Brocade Guard. I heard that the Envoy of the Northern Bastion Office is going to go in person, as well. The Cabinet means to make you the lead and him the assistant, the both of you being equivalent imperial ambassadors, but the Guard has always been unusual, and may not be willing to listen to all of your arrangements. Though, as you were able to ask the Guard to help you survey the case Yin Yuanhua once handled, you all presumably have a bit of a friendship, so I wont need to worry after you. Tang Fan was a smidgen embarrassed. This official was impetuous, then, and caused you trouble. Please forgive me, Minister. The other smiled. Liang Wenhua has always been presumptuous, believing that the Ministry goes by his word alone. It was about time someone dampened his attitude. Still, you two have the distinction of a subordinate and a superior you should act a bit more deferentially when facing him, so as to not let him grab something that can be used against you. Tang Fan readily accepted his instruction. It was best to start on this sooner rather than later, quicker rather than slower. Work was handed over to Dai Hongming, and he was told to take command of the Henan Office for this timeframe, left with two clerks to dispatch for errands. Tang Fan himself took Yin Yuanhua and two other clerks, Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan, with him, then headed for Henan with the men sent by the Brocade Guard. According to standards, Yin Yuanhua hadnt actually needed to come with; as Tang Fans assistant, it should have been his turn to be in charge of the Office while the other wasnt there. It was unknown what conniption hed had, however, as he had applied to go on the trip with Tang Fan on his own initiative. Assistant Liang even chimed in, stating that since the details of this case were important, the head assistant post of the Henan Office should also proceed forwards, in order to express that they placed value upon them. Like so, Dai Hongming unexpectedly got an advantage. He, in the capacity of a mere Executive, was now temporarily in the post of a Chief that commanded the Office. At Mays end, their group departed the capital, going for Gong County in Henan Prefecture. The translator says: Hmm, our boy Yin Yuanhua about to embarrass himself again. CH 60 The Great Ming had two capitals, Beijing and Nanjing, and thirteen provinces, which were the thirteen Government Offices for Continued Development. When the country had been founded, in order to avert similarities to the Yuan Dynasty, these werent called provinces, but that Government Offices for Continued Development thing. Such a long and awkward name had obviously never caught on with the commonfolk, so everyone still distinguished them as provinces. Henan Prefecture was just one of many territories in Henans Government Office; it had one state with thirteen counties under its jurisdiction, Gong County being among them. And yet, that tiny area was especially special, on account of the tombs of Northern Songs seven Emperors being there. The people of villages neighboring the county city had also consequently undertaken the duty of defending the tombs. To them, that the Emperors of previous Dynasties had been willing to be buried here demonstrated that this area was rife with feng shui, hence why all the households for li around were quite proud of that fact. In spite of most of them being illiterate, they seemed to have a bit more inside information than the citizens of other locales. Even old men over seventy would frequently point at a certain chunk of land and tell their descendants that below there was such-and-such Emperors tomb, none of them would even see a stele pavilion for it now since Yuans people had once robbed them dry, they hadnt been like this to begin with, and so on. Those descendants would then tell their own descendants, the tale of the imperial tombs getting passed down through generations. However, all of this had changed because of the incident. Now, the first reaction the locals had when bringing up the Northern Song tombs was not pride, but inexplicable terror. Tang Fans group set off from the capital, going by land for Henan Prefecture. Sui Zhou left Xue Ling behind to head the Northern Bastion Office while he himself brought twenty personal guards along, Pang Qi included. They left for the South together, in the name of being imperial ambassadors. Even though this case was not the most pressing, it had still taken human lives, and particularly involved the robbery of imperial tombs. Everyone took off on horseback without delay at the beginning, but after two days of forging ahead, a disparity was gradually revealed. The Brocade Guards were a bunch of big, thick-skinned ol men, and after enduring Sui Zhous hell-like training, they had long been polished into having copper skin and iron bones. Having said that, even without his heavy drilling, horseback riding would be a cinch for military officials like them. The civil officials of the Ministry of Justice were different, though. All of them sat in bureaus all day long, their most labor-intensive work being nothing more than serving tea and fetching water. Riding a horse out of nowhere for two days in a row could really rattle their bones out of place, to say nothing of the embarrassing-to-mention fact that all of them were getting blisters rubbed out onto their inner thighs. Some of those even broke open and bled, giving off scorching pains. In the capacity of an imperial ambassador, Tang Fan needed to put on a leaderly look, so he grit his teeth and persevered no matter what. However, Sui Zhou still quickly noticed that the civil officials werent doing so hot. He ordered the Guards to slow their pace, and even brought out ointment for Tang Fan and the rest to smear on their wounds. Were both of their leaders to remain steadfast, the subordinating two clerks would have naturally found it poor to complain. Instead of that, though, Yin Yuanhua refused to get back on his horse, and insisted upon requesting for a carriage. The Guards werent accustomed to this group of civils, but they still knew that Boss Sui had a good friendship with Tang Fan; the ambassador was reportedly lodging in the latters home, while this Yin Yuanhua had been attempting to make things hard for him the whole journey. The two clearly did not walk the same path. Since they dared not poke fun at the ambassador, they focused their artillery on Yin Yuanhua. This one gave a wink. Hey hey, someone thinks that hes here to have fun. Taking a carriage? Does he want a bead curtain to lift up like a pretty lady that half-covers her face, shy before she even says a thing? That one had a weird smile. How do you know he isnt a pretty lady? Have you seen him without clothes on? At this time, they all had passed into an official posthouse to stop and take a rest. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were the lead and deputy imperial ambassadors; for the sake of being at ease, no one wanted to share a table with their leaders even for dinner, so they had separate ones. Yin Yuanhua was at one table with the two clerks, while the rest of the Guards had scattered seating the former had heard all those words come crystal-clear out of the neighboring table. How could he not know that those guys were talking about him? He got vigorously angry on the spot, slammed his chopsticks down heavily upon the table, and stood up with a bang. Who are you all talking about?! If he hadnt stood up, things would have been fine. Once he did, his thighs suddenly cramped up on end, making him grimace in pain and inciting the Guard group to laugh at him. Tang Fan disliked Yin Yuanhua, but he was acting as lead envoy for this trip. Being the others superior, he was required to have the bearing of a leader, and thus could not sit by and watch him get humiliated like this. Using the other end of his chopsticks, he poked Sui Zhou in the arm. The latter coughed lightly, a pair of eyes as sharp as electricity sweeping towards his subordinates. They all quit laughing at exactly the same time, burying their heads in their meals at once. After they ate, Yin Yuanhua made up his mind to refuse to ride a horse, insisting upon taking a carriage to Henan. The two clerks, equally suffering so much, it was beyond words, looked at Tang Fan with longing eyes. His expression was a little strange. You all really want to take a carriage? The clerks dared not answer, but Yin Yuanhua did. Its necessary to! This humble official is not as good as you, Sir, and doesnt have the title of an imperial ambassador weighing down on me! Comfort is important! Im not afraid of being laughed at! He had incidentally implied that Tang Fan was going to live through torment just to stubbornly save face. The next posthouse might not have enough horses, Tang Fan replied. After you all switch over to a carriage, youll have to ride it all the way to Henan, even if you come to regret it. The more he spoke like this, the more Yin Yuanhua felt that he was deliberately being difficult to him. He still wanted the carriage. At this point in the conversation, Tang Fan had given them a friendly reminder, they wouldnt listen, and so he would help them out. At the posthouse, he asked the postminder to ready a carriage. It was quite spacious, enough for Yin Yuanhua and the two clerks to sit in. The postminder found a driver for them, too; once the carriage arrived at their destination, the driver would just drive it back. As soon as the three saw that the inside was cushioned, thus making it much more comfortable than horseback, they all merrily climbed on board. The result of that was, after riding out a few tens of li, that they came to learn why Tang Fan had had such an unfathomable expression on his face after he had heard that they wanted to take a carriage. It was because the fucking thing was somehow worse than riding a horse Once they left the terrain of the capital outskirts, the road conditions became uneven, each section being worse than the last. Carriage-riding was often no more relaxing than horse-riding, but Yin Yuanhua hadnt expected this one bit he had insisted upon jumping into a pit of fire, and was now unable to pull himself out. He was right about getting jolted into vomiting blood, his internal organs seeming like they were shifting around in suit. The feeling was really hard to describe which anyone who was sitting there would know but it wasnt like he could go to Tang Fan and bring up getting back on the horse again, because even if he did, there were no horses for him to have He wanted to cry, but no tears came out. He was finally tasting the flavor of what it was to smash a rock onto his own foot. It wasnt just him, but Cheng Wen and Tian Xuans innards were also all soon about to twist up in regret. After getting shaken around the whole journey, they arrived at Gong County at last, before the threes souls could yet get shaken right out of them. Long prior to the groups arrival, County Magistrate He had brought people to the posthouse on the official road outside the city, head raised as he looked on in expectance. Sir, shouldnt you sit down and rest your feet? The County Deputy, who was accompanying him in welcome, was almost getting dizzy from watching the others non-stop pacing, and couldnt resist speaking out. In addition to the County Deputy and a group of minor officials of all sizes in the countys bureaus, there had been many prominent figures of this county that had wanted to follow Magistrate He, yet had all been rejected by him. He was currently pretty irritated; where did he have the spare time to bring all these people out and show off in the presence of imperial ambassadors? Facing his trusty Deputy, Magistrate He did not conceal his apprehension. Ai, little brother you cant not know that these ambassadors arent here to see the sights. Theyre coming to investigate the case, and something happened to these tombs under my governance, at the end of it all! With just one wrong move, I might not be able to keep my black hat! Theres no use in worrying about it now, Sir, the Deputy urged. It would be better to cooperate with the ambassadors, lobby for them to move about freely, and let them go back and advocate for you. Maybe they could downplay this. Magistrate He sighed. Thats the only way to go, with things how they are now. Im such an unlucky Magistrate now that I think about it, my predecessor and grand-predecessor left awful, uncountable messes behind, but the imperial tombs were always without issue for them. I had to go clean up those messes, a contribution no one acknowledges, but now that somethings happened to the tombs, that responsibility falls on my head! The Deputy was thinking to himself, What official doesnt get tainted with one or two rotten happenstances in their tenures? When has there ever been an official that had a life of peace? And yet, when you fear things, you hate on the Heavens and blame others, not thinking at all about how youre going to fawn on the imperial ambassadors that are about to get here. What future prospects are you even hoping for? Yet, who made him be just a subordinate? Even as he thought like this, he still consoled his Magistrate. While they spoke, a squadron drew closer from afar, pace slow as it kicked up clouds of dust. There appeared to be a carriage in back of it. The two of them went out, and a minor official came over to report that before them was the imperial ambassadors group. Hurry and follow me in greeting them! Magistrate He busily said, fixing up his clothes and cap. The carriages speed was not quick, and the decorated horses in front appeared to be intentionally slowing their steps to wait for the vehicle behind them. Following the passage of about a quarter of an hour, the troops that had long since came into view finally strolled up. In the middle of a crowd of Brocade Guards was a young man dressed in a fifth-rank civil officials uniform, along with one Guard in a flying fish uniform. The Magistrate quickly came up to welcome them, cupping his hands. I am the Gong County Magistrate, He Haosi! Greetings to you, ambassadors! Even in cases where it wasnt clear which one was the lead envoy, paying respects like this was never wrong. The official documents sent from the Ministry of Justice had written that the lead ambassador was Chief Tang Fan of the Henan Office, and the deputy was Bastion Envoy Sui Zhou of the Brocade Guards Northern Bastion Office. But, since the lead and deputy envoys were here who was seated in the carriage? Could it be someone even more important? Magistrate He couldnt resist shooting a glance at the rear. However, he saw the Guard next to the civil official slightly give some distance, showcasing the disparity in status between him and the other, and opened his mouth to prove Magistrate Hes conjecture. This is Chief Sir Tang of the Henan Office. He is the lead envoy for this expedition. The travel-worn Tang Fan stepped off his horse, then bowed towards Magistrate He. Theres no need to be overly polite. We have been rushing on our journey for days on end; we should first find somewhere to sit and talk in detail, yes? Yes, yes, yes! Magistrate He quickly said, snapping out of it. This humble official has long gotten the posthouse ready and ordered for warm water and meals to be prepared! I request you all to move to the countys city, which isnt far from here. Tang Fan nodded. Please do lead the way, then. The group arrived at the citys posthouse. Magistrate He had indeed had people get everything ready in advance they even had clean clothes for switching into after a bath, which could be called highly considerate. However, because their group still needed to have dinner and a discussion with Magistrate He, they just quickly freshened up and switched into spare sets of officials robes. Only after almost everyone had gone in did the carriage that was driving at the very end slowly approach, then stop at the posthouses gate. Curiosity weighed heavily upon Magistrate He, and he contrarily went off the right track. He had long cooked up many scenarios in his head, including stuff like Mister Ambassador having not forgotten to bring a pretty concubine with him when he went out on case investigation. Seeing that the carriage had come to a stop, he couldnt help but pause in his steps and turn back, wanting to see who was going to come out from inside. A hand extended from the cabin, then slowly raised the curtain. Magistrate He mentally remarked that the hand was pale enough, but unfortunately looked like a chicken claw, not a bit of beauty to it at all. Immediately after that, a head popped out of the cabin. The Magistrate couldnt resist jumping in fright upon the discover that it had a mans face, which was not what he had imagined in the least. The mans complexion was tragic and eyes spiritless, two black bags underneath them. He looked seriously ill, but, seeing as he was wearing a fifth-rank officials robe, Magistrate He couldnt resist stepping forth to ask, Dare I ask if you are also an imperial ambassador? This humble official is the Gong County Magistrate Before he could finish speaking, his counterparts upper body stuck out from the cabin, as if he wanted to disembark. In result, his face twisted up, and he couldnt help but grab the thing nearest to him to stabilize his figure, bow his head, and start puking. What he had grabbed happened to be the robes of the now-stupefied Magistrate He. The latter had no time to pick a fight, stained all over in filth that was ironic, since he was accompanying Tang Fan and the rest in changing their clothes and freshening up. As he hadnt brought a change of clothes with him, he was forced to bear with the sour stench on him as he ran to his own county bureau to change, no one daring to come near him his whole journey. No need to bring up how unlucky he was; he had a belly filled with fire that he couldnt vent, now. Who made him be so curious, hm? The other was not only an official of the central government, but of higher rank than him, so he could only pinch his nose and acknowledge his rotten luck. Just after he had run back to the bureau and changed his clothes, he heard that the imperial ambassador was looking for him, and thusly had to scramble over to the posthouse. After his entry, Tang Fan and the rest had since freshened and tidied up, no longer having dust-covered appearances. They still looked worn-out, but overall more neat. I presume you are clear on why we have come here, Magistrate He, Tang Fan said to him. Yes, and whatever you may wish to ask, this humble official knows all, the other quickly answered. However, you gentlemen have not yet eaten, so wouldnt it be better to speak after dinner? If you also havent eaten yet, wouldnt it be better to sit down and talk while we eat? Tang Fan smiled. Magistrate He happened to want to take this chance to complain of his troubles to the ambassador; respecting his command was necessary. The posthouses food wasnt bad, of course. Since their group was from the capital, Magistrate He dared not slight them. Even all the cooks here had been transferred over from the county bureau beforehand, and they cooked authentic Henan cuisine: eight-treasure chicken, red-roasted mutton, and fish fillets fried in sticky sauce, all permeating with savory fragrances. Sui Zhou and his group werent effected much, and even Tang Fan felt fine, since he had goten used to riding on horseback. On the inverse, Yin Yuanhua, Cheng Wen, and Tian Xuan had no appetite to eat anything because of how bumpy the carriage had been the whole way. Upon now scenting the smell of meat, their faces turned green and white, and they couldnt resist covering their mouths, running outside, leaning against the porch railing, and heaving. Unfortunately, their stomachs were already empty they couldnt even spit up bile. Magistrate He then realized his own oversight. On account of being carriagesick, these people would definitely not be able to eat heavy meats. Seeing that he was a bit troubled, Tang Fan spoke to him. Have the kitchen prepare a few light dishes, then serve a few bowls of fine-grain congee. Hand me one bowl and set up a separate table for the three of them, lest they smell the meat and be unable to keep eating. No need for another table Yin Yuanhua weakly said, walking over. This humble official will just sit here. Why he had taken the initiative to volunteer in following Tang Fan thousands of li away for this had two main aims: one was to snatch the credit, and the other to be a nuisance. This had been tacitly agreed to by Assistant Minister Liang, in his description that the assistant following for investigations was a right and proper thing. Tang Fan was well aware of his little calculations, naturally. Seeing that he was persistent, he smiled, not forcing him. Very well. There was only one table in such a big dining hall. Seated were Tang Fan, Sui Zhou, Pang Qi, Yin Yuanhua, Magistrate He, and the two Office clerks, as well as Gong Countys Deputy, Registrar, and other such people. The other personnel were all in a neighboring room, disallowed from disturbing the quiet of these gentlemen. Everyones stomachs were grumbling, so they were not in the mood to talk business. Upon seeing that the dishes were successively being served, they showed some mutual comity, then picked up their chopsticks. Yin Yuanhua was seated beside Tang Fan, watching him eat a piece of meat, then insist upon assessing it with no lack of pity. What a shame that you cant eat today, Brother Yin. Despite being made with the same ingredients, the flavor of this is different from the capitals. No wonder they say that an area cultivates its own distinct style. If I could eat such delicious eight-treasure chicken every day, I would be willing to live here forever! Magistrate He knew, of course, that this was Tang Fan being polite and praising his hosting, so he urged him to eat more. On the Gong Deputy and Registrars end, they had the intent to curry favor with Sui Zhou and Pang Qi, all taking it upon themselves to jump into topics of discussion. This active mood made the ambience of the dining table exceptionally warm. Yin Yuanhua, who suffered alone at the side, felt the congee he had just eaten surging back up again from all the repeats of the word meat entering his ears. In his head, he had long since cussed out Tang Fans ancestors eighteen generations back. After he managed to finish the meal, he thought to himself that he should finally be able to rest, only for Tang Fan to set down his chopsticks and say to Magistrate He, Now that we have eaten enough, we should discuss proper business. Sir, discussing that tomorrow wouldnt be too late for it, Yin Yuanhua had to say. Everyone is quite tired today. Tang Fan Nodded. I know that everyone has toiled hard in traversing such a great distance. However, since we bear a heavy responsibility, we should understand the ins and outs of this before anything else. If you are tired, you may go and rest ahead of time. Why would I come with you if I was just going to go rest? Yin Yuanhua thought to himself, gritting his teeth. This humble official isnt tired, Sir. I can still hold on. I now know that youre wholeheartedly dedicated to work and willing to bear with the burden of your post, Brother Yin, Tang Fan answered with gratification. You are truly an example to us. Done mocking Yin Yuanhua, he turned to Magistrate He. The documents were ultimately too concise, so a lot of details were not listed. Ill have to ask you to describe the case in detail, Magistrate He. Its finally here, the Magistrate said in his head. He quickly sat up straight, then explained the depths of the situation. What he described was actually not any different than what had been reported, but compared to the unfeeling text of the documents, he was naturally more exhaustive and animated. From the side, the County Deputy, Registrar, and others added things, giving Tang Fans group an even deeper understanding of the events. For example, the dossier previously presented to the Ministry of Justice had not mentioned anything in-depth about the ghostly wailing that was happening at midnight, nor about how the nearby villagers had reacted, but Magistrate He did. The ghost wailing isnt every night. Sometimes its there, sometimes its not. After the incident occurred, I once went to the village and never heard it in the few days I stayed, but the bailiffs I dispatched there, apart from the mad one, have all said that they have. The villagers have also all claimed to hear it. The grave robbers havent been arrested? Tang Fan asked. Magistrate He shook his head, ashamed. No, only their hideouts have been discovered. No thieves have yet been captured. Ever since the successive deaths, no one dares to go out there anymore. The locals claim that the river gods are angry, and that the Emperors of the previous Dynasty were angry that their own tombs were raided, thus why theres crying in the middle of the night Magistrate He, Pang Qi had to interrupt. Youre talking about both angry river gods and angry Emperors. Is this ultimately related to gods, or the imperial tombs? The Magistrate smiled painfully. I wont hide it from you gents. The first group of six that disappeared were only stated to have drowned, so the locals say that enraged river gods had summoned them into the river to become servants. How could we disciples of the sacred sages believe in such fantastical words? That was why I made a report to the Court at the time, while simultaneously sending people from the bureau to check things out. What happened after, you all already know. Ten people went out, and only two came back. Among them was that bailiff that had not only went mad, but had had a hand cut off, and the other was the old village chief, who is up there in age and had also suffered a fright. He cant give a clear explanation, babbling all day long about ghosts and monsters and whatnot. The rumors of a haunting have therefore started up again. He paused. Of the Northern Song tombs, Eternal Deep and Eternal Shine are not far from Gong County, only about ten li away from the city. On the edge of it is also Luo River Village, which borders said river. So, now theres rumors in that village that the Renzong and Yingzong Emperors became river gods of the Luo after their deaths, and because their tombs were robbed, theyve snatched people from the surface as punishment. Those are all ignorant rumors from stupid people! Pang Qi butted in. The other nodded. Agreed, but because two groups have died in succession, no one dares to go there now. My hands are tied. Right as I was waiting for you all to come and investigate, some in Gongs capital became panicked, to say nothing of Luo River Village. They claim that the river gods are angry and looking for sacrifices, so so He started stammering, which made Yin Yuanhua impatient. So what?! So theyve been offering sacrifices on their own, the County Deputy finished. Tang Fan had an understanding. Theyre sacrificing to the river gods using people? Exactly. Sui Zhou finally said his first sentence since arriving here. Ridiculous. All of Gong Countys people hung their heads and hesitated to speak. The ancients had always revered the spirits of rivers, and there had been no lack of mountain and river gods getting dubbed with the names of Emperors and Courts of past generations. The biggest river god among them was the one in the Yellow River, of course, and beneath that were river deities of all sizes. Commonfolk were ignorant; once river water overflowed, they would believe that its god was angered, and would have to place their hopes upon appealing to them to quell their rage. For this, they wouldnt hesitate to hand over all sorts of offerings, humans incorporated among them. As a branch-off of the Yellow River, Luos area was quite important. Owing to the Court having issued multiple orders, people getting sacrificed to river gods hadnt occurred in many years, but with such an abnormal incident happening in Gong County where even the authorities had been of no use, everyone had remembered this idea of sacrificing to the river gods. Tang Fan reprimanded them with no mercy. You all are local officials in charge of enlightening commoners and making them stay far away from such supernatural things. How could you hear about this and just leave it be, allowing them to sacrifice living people? Magistrate He smiled bitterly. Pardon me saying so, Sir, but theres actually further information on this matter. Speak. Ever since eight out of the ten of the second group I sent died, Luo River Village, and even Gong County, have had profuse rumors all over the place that say that the river gods are mad, and sacrifices to them are needed to calm them. Therefore, half a month ago, everyone prepared animal sacrifices, then went to the river for worship. No people? No. At that time, everyone believed that offering up animals and objects would be enough. Tang Fan hummed. Proceed. Before, I said that the two Emperors in the tombs became river gods; that was purely just the locals forcing an interpretation. In truth, it has long been noted in the countys records that Luo Rivers god is actually Fuxis youngest daughter, but, well you gentlemen know that that no one can be accurate in these things. For the sake of being sure, they deliberately prepared three separate offerings for presentation to the three river gods. The ceremony went from morning til evening, reportedly lasting for nearly all twelve shichens. When I saw that they still knew morality and werent using people for the sacrifices, I closed my eyes and didnt go to interfere. This Magistrate gabbed for half a day without getting to the main point, occasionally needing to clear himself of blame so as not to be reproached by Tang Fan. The County Deputy wrung out a sweat as he listened to his boss, but Tang Fan thankfully still had the patience to hear him out. Late that day, after the animal and other sacrifices were cast into the river, the crowd gradually dispersed. The only ones that remained behind were a few old women keeping watch at the incense table. This is a local tradition, where the table needs to be watched for a full night to show devotion, after which it can be thrown out. However, on that night, the rain and wind were said to have suddenly picked up, and then the villagers heard that ghostly wailing, which scared them into being too afraid to come out. By the time they did the next day to take a look, they discovered that the incense table had collapsed onto the ground and the fruits that had been on top of it were a mess, yet the old women were nowhere to be seen. Why did they use old women for the night vigil, instead of healthy men? They feared that the yang qi of men would be too heavy, and upset the river god when gods when they came across them. Oh, but this is what the commoners said I never approved! Tang Fan nodded, indicating for him to go on. Magistrate He had obviously not been on-scene, and yet he spoke so vividly, as if he had actually seen it with his own eyes. Were it not for the occasion being inappropriate, Pang Qi would mock him, but seeing as his two superiors were listening earnestly, he had no choice but to quietly listen as well. At first, others believed that the women had seen that the weather was bad and fled back home, but when their family members were questioned, they learned that the women had never returned; they had simply vanished. This incident was reported to me, so I sent people to go search, but their locations are similarly unknown. Since the report had already been sent to the Court, I thought to wait until after you ambassadors came to report the incidents together. Whats going on with the human sacrifices? Magistrate He smiled bitterly. Its caused from all the commoners saying that the river gods vented their anger out on them for not offering people, just animals, hence why they took those women away in warning. They all became terribly frightened, and several large households in the county are preparing to sacrifice their own servants. You havent stopped it? The other held an expression of suffering. Stop it? It hasnt even started yet. I told them that the Court will be sending imperial ambassadors to come investigate the case, and theyll be certain to discover the truth, so they absolutely must not sacrifice any people. Theyve listened for the time being, but commonfolk are ignorant, and ultimately jittery at heart. If this case isnt cracked and an explanation isnt given to them, Im afraid that they wont listen to persuasion theyll just go make the sacrifices in private. The translator says: Channel Ximen Bao. Throw the rich people into the river and see if it ever stops lmao CH 61 Over ten people had died, and at this point, it was unclear whether the murderer was a human or a ghost. The commonfolk believed that this was a punishment from the river gods, all terrified senseless. Even Magistrate He was influenced by it, but Tang Fan and the rest were standing at an investigative viewpoint; they would not think about things from that perspective, else the case would never get looked into at all, were they to directly report to the Court that the supernatural was afoot. They also didnt want to lose the black hats on their heads, of course. Since there were thieves caves at the imperial tombs, this is surely related to grave robbers, Tang Fan said. Has not even one thief been caught, after all this time? After the incident with the former village chief, no one dares to go over there at night anymore, Magistrate He answered. This humble official once brought several people along to check all around the thief caves and tombs during the daytime, but nothing was discovered. No one wanted to descend the caves at first, so I had no choice but to put out a monetary reward, as only then would a few willing to go down. However, they came back up not long after, saying that the caves had been dug too deeply, and went all the way down into pitch-black darkness. They couldnt see where they were going, nor where anything led to, so they were too afraid to go far. After that, I brought up compensation a few more times, and some still were willing to search, but He mumbled for a bit, then finally said, But they never came back up. The lively mood of the dinner gradually cooled down. Everyone was shaken by the Magistrates description. Those details had not been written about in the memorials presented, but Tang Fan could understand why. These events were ultimately much too strange, and would have been difficult to clearly describe in those scant words, since memorials required the use of concise phrasing. There was no way every little thing could have been jotted down in it. Still, they had all come from the faraway capital to investigate this, so they definitely needed to find the truth, for truths sake. It was simply that according to Magistrate Hes words this case was complex and dangerous, which likely far exceeded their original expectations. Even Yin Yuanhua, who had deliberately planned to come and steal the credit, was having some regrets at his own insistence. Magistrate He looked at Tang Fan with anxiety, fearing that he would reproach him for not writing all this clearly in the memorial. It was only after he saw that the other didnt have any intention to blame him that he relaxed a little. The very next instant, he heard him ask, How far is Luo River Village from here? Not far, only about ten li out from the county capital. As thats so, well head over once were done eating, and simply spend the night there. Magistrate He was completely dumbstruck. Um? What is it? The Magistrate snapped out of it. Th-that wont do, is all. The village is simple, and Im afraid that it will fall short of your preferences. Moreover, in the middle of their nights That is precisely the reason, Tang Fan intercepted. Did you not say that the wailing started up again recently? Were just in time to go over for a look and see what divinity is actually there, then. Would we even be able to find anything during the day, otherwise? He then looked at Sui Zhou. Whats your view on this, Brother Guangchuan? The other nodded. Sir Tangs words ring true. We brothers of the Brocade Guard have no comment. Of course the Guard wouldnt have any comments. None of this had been too grueling thus far, as hurrying on during the daytime and sleeping at night belonged to their typical abroad assignment category, in their opinions. When Sui Zhou had investigated Huang Jinglongs case, things had been way harder than this, as they had needed to keep away from their counterparts eyes and ears, hide in the day and come out in the night, and travel at double speed on their journeys. For the civil officials, however, this was a bit unbearable. For Yin Yuanhua, it was especially so; upon hearing this, he more or less wanted to pass out and die. Sir, weve only just arrived! Let us rest for a night here. Speaking more on this tomorrow wouldnt be too late for it, yes? Tang Fan was a benevolent boss. Since you dont have the sufficient strength, Brother Yin, you can just rest in the city. I will go with the Bastion Envoys group. Yin Yuanhua had suffered through a lot to go from the capital to Gong County. Was that not to steal the credit, and snatch some blackmail material on Tang Fan while he was at it? If he wouldnt be allowed to participate in the investigation, then what would the point of him staking everything to come here be? He knew that Tang Fan very clearly didnt want to let him come with, even throwing sarcastic remarks at him, and had no choice but to force a smile. How could I do that? This humble official has my duties, so what reason would there be in making you forge on ahead by yourself, Sir? Please allow me to come with you! If youre not feeling well, dont force yourself, Tang Fan answered amicably. Recovering from your sickness is important. I can handle everything. Youre the sick one! Your entire family is sick! Yin Yuanhua was about to crack his teeth open while obliged to show a moved expression. You may have empathy, but how could I let you face danger alone with peace of mind? I will be at ease accompanying you. Seeing that he was persistent about it, Tang Fan nodded. Its up to you, then. Pay attention to your own self, and if you cant go on, let me know. Magistrate He knew nothing about the clash between these two, thinking about how Mister Yin was indeed an imperial ambassador from the capital, to stake it all like this; he had thrown up so hard, yet was still solely focused on his assignment. With Yin Yuanhua being insistent on coming with, what reason would there be for the two clerks, Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan, to not? The whole group had eaten its fill, and now headed for Luo River Village under the Magistrates directions. The County Deputys group took the preemptive step in getting lodging ready for these gentlemen. The village was ultimately inferior to the city, and with these many people charging into it, they werent even sure if enough space to stay in could be vacated. The distance between the city and the village wasnt long, so no one took their horses, switching them out for litters. The Guards steeds were left in the posthouses care, deserving of a nice break for coming out this far. The feeling of being in a litter differed from riding a horse. Sitting atop a thick, soft cushion with a sway beneath his body, Tang Fan was so comfortable, he nearly dozed off. Actually, he did doze off. And he slept until someone gently patted him awake. Were here, Sui Zhou said to him, upper half leaning into the litter. This was a public area, in the end, and Yin Yuanhua and the rest were here; it would be bad for them to be too blatant in showing off their friendship, so even the way they spoke to each other had to be within standards. Tang Fan smiled at him, stretching his back. He felt a little more energetic, but his physical exhaustion had only become all the more apparent, which made him itch to fall back asleep. Forcefully restraining this desire, the second he stepped off the litter, he was the peppy imperial ambassador once more. This assignment was not only a major make-or-break point for his personal career path, but also related to the paths of wealth and promotion for others. As the lead envoy, he had to take all those below him into consideration, and not act too arbitrarily. Like tonight, for example; leaving aside those like Yin Yuanhua, who were in a pit of carriagesick misery, the Guards like Pang Qi were eager to establish merits, and really looked forward to coming over here and checking things out immediately. Sui Zhou could curtail them, but after thinking about this from the others standpoint, Tang Fan didnt want to make things harder for him. At this time, night was just descending, the sky not entirely darkened yet. Beneath its gray-blue color, everyone took in the sight of Luo River Village at last. It wasnt a big place, but it also wasnt small, as it was both close to Gong County and positioned along the edge of the Luo. Many residents of the city originated from here, too. All the comings and goings smoothed out the roads here, resulting it being comparatively prosperous. Still, villages were villages. There was no way it could have a glamorous posthouse like the city did, which resulted in the County Deputy coming over to report with a face full of embarrassment. Ambassadors, this is a crude village inferior to the city. It was hard to find many houses. I barely managed to gather up a few for your temporary use in rest, but, in this way, Im afraid youll all need to be wronged with sharing. How do you see this? The houses had been emptied ad hoc, after the Deputy had asked a few villagers to go stay with neighbors or relatives. Tang Fan, obviously, had no opinion on this. How many houses are there in total? Nine. I specially arranged them so that theyre all linked together. Thank you for your toil, Tang Fan praised. Thatll do, then. The Deputy had been worried about getting reprimanded, yet received commendation instead. He was pretty much over the moon. Ill share one with Guangchuan. Brother Yin, Cheng Wen, and Tian Xuan will be together. The rest of you will pair up according to Guangchuans orders. Sui Zhou took the Guards to allocate them into the remaining seven houses. Some were bigger, and some smaller; Tang Fan and Sui Zhou shared everything normally, making staying in a small room and sharing a bed to sleep no big deals. No one had come here to have fun, anyways, so cramming in together would be fine. The trio of Yin Yuanhua and the two clerks were given a big house, which had an inner and an outer room. Yin Yuanhua got the inner to sleep in, and the clerks got the outer. The Guards were much easier to arrange for. They were all tough guys, and when given a spot and a blanket, they could sleep wherever, less picky when out of their own homes. If you arent in a rush to get back, you may as well take us to visit the former village chief, Tang Fan said to Magistrate He, once the homes were divided up. He saw that the other was hesitating, though, and kept stopping himself from speaking. Is there a problem with that? Magistrate He smiled painfully. It isnt that Im intentionally beating around the bush, Sir. After he pulled through that previous fright, the chief will appear to be just fine in normal times, but whenever anyone brings up the events of that night, hell just babble the same words over and over again to the point where nothing can be asked out of him. Also Also what? Its soon about to be night. Why not why not do it tomorrow? As soon as the man said this, Tang Fan then noticed that it was not only him, but even the Deputys group that looked fearful. Previously, Magistrate He had sworn that only commoners believed in the supernatural acting up, but his current hesitation showed that he, too, had apprehensions. Not far away, the sound of Luos water gurgled past, heading straight towards the Yellow River in the Northeast. It wasnt as violently churning as the latter, but it still flowed in a rapid torrent, its surface wide enough for boats to sail on it, some vegetation on either of its shores. Looking at it during daytime would certainly give a nice view of lush greenery and low-hanging mist, but it was too late for that now. Everything was dark, the attacking evening wind making it much colder than the day; those wearing less would involuntarily shudder. This river right in front of them didnt look in any way like it had swallowed up so many people, but Tang Fan might have gotten infected by the emotions of the Magistrate and them. When he viewed it from a high distance, he felt that beneath its rolling water, there might be many hardly-known dangers hidden deep within. As the others were this nervous, he didnt force them. Very well. Point the way to the chiefs residence, leave a few people behind that are familiar with the terrain to correlate, then return home. Magistrate He was indeed a bit scared, so he looked at the Deputy; the latter was contrarily of the mind to curry favor with these ambassadors, and thus volunteered on his own. This humble official is willing to stay and show you all the way. Since the Deputy was willing, the Magistrate got antsy. He left a further two bailiffs behind for orders, after which he admitted his faults to Tang Fans group, got in a litter, and hurried off. Magistrate He did things overcautiously and indecisively. Were he an ordinary person, that would have been fine, but he was an appointed Dynasty official. He should have taken at least some responsibility, even if only for his own prospects, but since he refused to go all out, he was destined to never go far in officialdom. Even so, Tang Fan did not admonish him; the most important thing right now was to investigate the case, which the Magistrate had little connection with. Him staying behind wouldnt have made any difference. In contrast, County Deputy Zhao was more enthusiastic. Following his introduction, Tang Fans group learned that the current chief of the village was the former chiefs son; because the old chief had always been prestigious and willing to put himself out there for the villagers sake, yet had met with such a mishap, everyone had elected for his eldest son to be the new chief. The old chief now lived with that son. Under Deputy Zhaos guidance, they arrived at the chiefs home. Their counterpart had previously heard that major figures had arrived in the county, but he hadnt dared to rashly come out and bother them without Magistrate Hes orders. Now that he was seeing the imperial ambassadors arrive in person, he hurriedly went to welcome them while the neighbors all became alarmed, this typically serene village turning to chaos for a good burst of time. His tiny house couldnt cram too many people inside it, so Tang Fan had Pang Qi keep watch outside with the others whilst he himself entered with Sui Zhou, Yin Yuanhua, and the clerks. The chiefs eldest son was currently over forty, with the surname Liu. He was a down-to-earth and honest fellow. Once he heard Tang Fans intent in coming there, he went in and asked the old chief to come out, then bowed in humble apology to them all. My father is currently a bit disorganized in speech. At times, he cannot be heard clearly. Please do not blame him, Lords! You dont need to fret, Tang Fan said warmly. Well simply ask a few things, then leave, though Im afraid well be a bother here for a few days. total Chief Liu was presumably a bit experienced, as though he was fearfully respectful, his words didnt lack in manners. He smiled good-naturedly. It is this chiefs honor that you noblemen grace us. How could you ever be a bother? This village is too crude, so Im afraid that its you all who will be wronged. While they spoke, the old chief was listening nearby. He seemed placid, hands slowly rubbing together, and looked no different from an ordinary person, but when Tang Fan brought up that one night, his expression suddenly went a little disturbed. Body slightly trembling, his mouth opened and closed, as if he wanted to say something. Dad, this is the high official that the Court sent to investigate the case, Chief Liu said to him. Can you tell these gentlemen what actually happened that night, now? The old chief shook his head over and over again. I cant! I cant! Divine wrath will come! Dont be afraid, dad. These officials are all celestial messengers that ghosts dont dare to get near to. Didnt you say that you saw river gods? What happened? The man sighed. Noble lords, it isnt that this little old man refuses to speak, but that I really dont want to watch all of you go to your deaths! On that night, I clearly saw gods come out of the river the few that went to dig out the tombs got dragged in all at once, with not even bones left behind! That part of the story had not been mentioned by Magistrate He. You all saw robbers beforehand? The old chief nodded. Yes. They were carrying shovels to go dig up graves, and when we ran into them, they tried to escape, so we chased, chased them all the way to the rivers edge, and then Recalling the situation from that night, he appeared to be ensnared with fear, shortly becoming incoherent again. And then we ran into ghosts! There were ghosts, so many ghosts Look at that. He had just said itd been river gods, and now he was back to saying itd been ghosts! Tang Fan, Sui Zhou, and the rest of them exchanged looks. Dad, what are you even talking about?! Chief Liu had to say. The old man shivered, face contorting like he had seen something unbelievably awful. As he shook his head, he shrank his entire body into the corner, tears rolling down from his turbid eyes. Lius Little Six had half of his body bitten off. His upper half was still on the shore, digging in with his fingernails as he laid on his stomach, crying and shouting constantly, asking us to save him Bailiff Zhou ran over, grabbed his hand, and tried to pull him up, but if it wasnt for me catching him, he would have been dragged down, too then, we all saw that there was something in the river What was it? Tang Fan chased. River gods! The river gods! He felt like there was no being serious with an elder like this. Just as the Magistrate had said, everything that came out of his mouth was disjointed; the first halves of his sentences might be fairly organized, but the half after that would be rubbish again, making it hard to tell truth from fiction. As they already werent getting anything out of him, Tang Fan turned to Sui Zhou. Do you have anything you want to ask, Brother Guangchuan? The other lightly shook his head. Yin Yuanhua was the one to want to ask something different from the crowd. Did you see what the river gods looked like? The old chief paused a bit, and then his teeth chattered. Chief Liu quickly stepped forward to support him. Dad, whats wrong with you?! he asked, worried. Unexpectedly, the old man just started trembling all the more violently, suddenly pushing Chief Lius hand away and shrinking straight into the corner of the kang. Helpless, Chief Liu had to plead with Tang Fan. Sir, with my father like this, theres really nothing hell be able to say. Can you ask again later? Sensing his own loss of face, Yin Yuanhua couldnt help but glare at the old guy; and yet, he happened to see the others head raise, the terror and desperation in that gaze reaching the extreme, and with them, a plea. It made him feel cold all over, and he promptly refused to lock eyes with him, shifting his line of sight away. Tang Fan got up, told Chief Liu to look after his father well, then left with everyone else. Behind him, the old chief muttered to himself. Dont go, dont ever go, theres ghosts there, ghosts, so many ghosts, ghosts all over the place Tang Fan couldnt resist glancing back, but the old man had since lowered his head, skull leaning against the wall. He didnt spare them a glance. Once outside of the Liu home, it was still the same shichen. Tang Fan ordered everyone to return to their respective homes that had been temporarily vacated for them and get ready for sleep. Speaking of, Deputy Zhao was indeed much more considerate than Magistrate He, having prepped even hot water and facecloths. Out of fear of not being attentive enough, while Tang Fan and them had gone to the Lius for questioning, hed had people go buy some treats from the city for here. Now, the pot of tea on the table was still piping hot the tea set was simple, but as soon as the aroma hit Tang Fans nose, he could tell that this was good, authentic tea. Magistrate He feared death and insisted upon going back ahead of time, yet Deputy Zhao stayed behind on his own initiative. His consideration and thoughtfulness is as different as the sky and the ground! Tang Fan shook his head, pouring cups of tea for Sui Zhou and himself. Hes only wanting you to go back and help him with putting a few good words in for him. People go for higher ground; likely no one wants to be a County Deputy all their lives. Sui Zhou spread out the clean bandages he had taken from Pang Qi, applying the ointment to them that he himself had brought. Come here. Glimpsing the stuff in his hand, Tang Fan couldnt help but laugh dryly. Ive been bandaged for so many days, dont you know? They should be pretty much fine. Theres no need to wrap them up again, since its so awkward. I told you to come here, so come here. Sui Zhou was cold-faced. Shouldnt you know whether theyre fine or not? They werent fine, of course. Tang Fan could only look defeated as he slowly walked on over. Lay down, take off your pants, and lift your robes up. That sounded ambiguous. If anyone was passing by outside right now, they would probably misunderstand something. But, in truth, that was not what was going on at all. Tang Fans physical aptitude was no stronger than Yin Yuanhua and the other twos. Riding a horse for however many days had been unbearable, but going in a carriage would have been even worse; just look at how Yin Yuanhua had thrown up so badly, and one would know. In comparison, horseback riding hurt only the butt and the thighs, rather than the whole body. Concerning the right choice to make, as the highest leader of this expedition, Sir Tang had preferred to suffer a little, since he absolutely could not be like Yin Yuanhua, where all of his refinedness was swept to the floor. This was what was called living with hardship in order to die with dignity. His butt was fine, as the relatively thicker skin there had been unaffected by the bumps. The main problem was that his inner thighs had been incessantly chafed and jolted in the process of being on the horse, forming blisters that had bust open and bled afterwards. These injuries needed to have medicine applied to them. At the onset, Tang Fan had been too embarrassed to speak of them on account of his dignity, which had gone until Sui Zhou had forced him to apply medicine to them. Changing his dressings every night had now become the thing Mister Tang was most reluctant to do. If he had the choice, he would probably prefer to go have a friendly confrontation with Luos river gods than lie on his back legs spread, pants off, robes lifted up to allow Sui Zhou to wrap the new gauze over the affected areas. Even though everyone was a man here that had what they should have and didnt have what they shouldnt, he was still uncomfortable, staring at the roofbeams above his head and acting like his mind was wandering to cover up his own real embarrassment. Sui Zhou seemed to be able to see his internal thoughts. On the inside, he thought this was hilarious, but on the outside, he was as expressionless as ever. He looped the bandages around a few times, then glanced at the others crotch with feigned incidence. Its not a bad size, he said blandly. Ignore Tang Fan pretending to be dead; his attention was still entirely present. The instant the mans words entered his ears, he immediately went red, fuming. How bold you are, to have the guts to nitpick the looks of an imperial ambassador! Do you want to die?! Sui Zhou gave a grunt. Im an ambassador, too. Youre the deputy, Im the lead! Dont talk crap take your clothes off, and let this official comment on you myself! Are you sure you want to see? Of course I am! He had thought that Sui Zhou would find an excuse to refuse, but, against expectations, the other bombastically stood up and went to remove the belt from his pants without another word. Nevermind, nevermind! Tang Fan quickly said. I know youre younger than me, so it wouldnt be good if your ego gets injured. All men want to save face, which Ill allow you to do this time around. Its alright. I dont mind. Sui Zhou genuinely only wanted to tease Tang Fan; he wasnt actually that stupid. Seeing that Sir Tang was on his way to puffing up his fur, he stopped, then brought the pastry dish over, picked up one piece, and put it next to Tang Fans lips himself. Beneath the dim candlelight, Tang Fan couldnt see how the sour jujube cake looked, but its taste was superb, both sweet and sour. It vaguely held the familiar flavor of his childhood homes cooks craft. He couldnt resist rolling his tongue to sweep the remaining part into his mouth, accidentally brushing it against Sui Zhous finger. The other paused, then took his hand back at rapid speed. Tang Fan didnt notice, narrowing his eyes at the sensation on his taste buds, nodding, and giving more praise. These pastries that Deputy Zhao picked out are pretty great! What a shame it is that this place is too unnatural. Itd be such a waste of good snacks, were we to need to run all over in the middle of the night. Sui Zhou told him to put his pants on and stand up, bending over to straighten out the bedsheets in the meantime. Do you think somethings fishy? Tang Fan grabbed another cake and put it into his mouth. You noticed it, too? Dont eat too much, or you wont be able to sleep later, Sui Zhou said with a frown. The old man appears to have an issue. Tang Fan nodded, wanting to say something, but because the cake had slid into his throat, he nearly choked himself to death. He couldnt help but stroke his neck as he looked elsewhere. Exasperated, Sui Zhou walked over and lightly pat him on the back, then passed him a tea cup. How have you managed to survive these past twenty years? The tea went down into Tang Fans belly, the cake going along with it. He finally sighed in relief, laughing some. I will surely be a scourge that lasts for a thousand years. I believe the old man is suspicious, as well; he spoke incoherently, but it looked more put-on than anything else. Sui Zhou hummed, waiting for him to go on. There are several possibilities. One, he killed those people, though that really isnt a very high probability. I cant imagine why he would want to kill them for no reason, and beyond that, hes an aged and weak elder. It would be impossible for him to murder so many, unless he had help. Its just not doable. So, that possibility will be set aside for the time being. Two, he, and maybe even the entire village, are colluding with the grave robbers, so theyre doing all they can think of to mislead us and make us think more in the direction of the supernatural. Maybe the thieves promised to give the village some profits if they helped them keep the secret, after they robbed the royal tombs. Those that were killed all had discovered the secret and wanted to tell on them. After he slowly analyzed this, though, he shook his head in a snap. But that doesnt make a lot of sense, either. We have too few clues in hand right now. Itll be hard to guess the truth so quickly. There is another possibility, Sui Zhou said. Tang Fan looked at him. What the old man said is true. The other raised his brows. You believe in ghosts? Sui Zhou shook his head. It might not be ghosts, but something else. Regardless of whether the former chief is actually mad or faking it, hes definitely hiding something from us and wont explain. Tang Fan smiled. Diplomacy over war. Looks like we need the Brocade Guard to head out. When it came to forcing confessions via interrogation, truly no one was better at it in the realm than the Brocade Guards. Many would think of all sorts of heinous methods once they heard the words forcing a confession, but in reality, there were many worldly methods that could make someone obediently tell the truth without torture, which were mostly used on officials that wouldnt tell the truth, yet could not be tortured. It was a secret of the Guard that had been passed on and shared to no other. Now, one could be used as overkill to deal with an elder in a remote village. Lets rest first, then speak more on this tomorrow, Sui Zhou said. Right. It was already the time of the Boar,(9-11p) so they ought to sleep. It was quiet outside, not even the sounds of chickens and dogs to be heard. Everything living had presumably entered sleep. To say that it was noiseless would be wrong, though. The nearby Luo raced day and night, the rivers rush forth causing the sound of flowing water to always fill their ears. The noise didnt feel like much, once one got used to it, instead seeming to cleanse all the disordered years of the heart. The space on the kang wasnt too narrow, being more than enough for two to sleep on. Tang Fan slept inside, Sui Zhou outside. They had lived under the same roof for a long time, yet had never slept next to each other like this. Sui Zhou heard the sound of Tang Fan turning over, then said, Turn back around. Tang Fan didnt ask why, compliantly turning his back towards him. He felt his chin get held by a warm palm, while Sui Zhous other hand slowly pressed on some acupoints on the back of his skull. The tense feelings around his head gradually loosened, making him groan in comfort. By the just-right force of the one behind him, he felt exhaustion accompanied by bursts of surging drowsiness, and quickly entered dreamland. Following midnight, he had an odd dream. In it, he was walking on the shore of a black river, many burial mounds standing unevenly on the distant, open plains. The wind whizzed past, the partnering sound of weeping drifting over from far away, bleak and shrill, as if it held endless sorrow and hatred as it curled over the plains, then bored itself into Tang Fans ears, making him shudder in fear. The crying got closer and closer and closer and closer all of a sudden, there seemed to be something behind him! The emotion he felt was indescribable; he only knew that he had never been this terrified before. He slowly turned his head And did a full body jolt, abruptly opening his eyes. Dont move, Sui Zhou whispered in his ear, arm put right across the others waist. Upon hearing his voice, Tang Fans heart that was beating madly from the nightmare gradually quelled. However, he soon realized that the ethereal wailing that had caused him all-over unease had not been in his dream at all, but was coming straight in from outside. The translator says: Im shooketh by all this flirting when theyre not even A Thing yet? I get the sneaking suspicion that this is alligators. Which, if youre an uneducated villager without internet, would be pretty close to a river god. CH 62 The sound was like a woman crying, at first, but upon a careful listen, it wasnt just like one womans crying, but countless womens, all accompanied by the gurgling of the flowing water from not far away. They might have come across something extremely painful, or perhaps had undergone something so tragic, they mourned, hated, and cursed out of powerlessness such emotions were revealed from the wails, making them even more prominently somber in the night. However, at so late a time, all the villagers had long since fallen asleep. Apart from the crops outside were the two imperial tombs; how could there be women crying out there? This sound was clearly not human. Prior to hearing the wailing himself, Tang Fan had believed that the descriptors of the old chief and the others were rather alarmist, but in this moment, he had come to experience the feeling himself. Embodying deeply-felt bitterness and anguish, the crying was sometimes sharp and high-pitched, but sometimes cold and low-pitched, like a knife gouging deep into flesh and bone. It was not a noise a normal human could have ever made; unavoidable, and causing ones hairs to stand on end. The wind seemed to be particularly strong tonight, as it made the doors and windows rattle, the wails continuing to blow alongside the non-stop sound of the wind. Tang Fan had since calmed down. This was not merely due to Sui Zhou being next to him, but because that cool-headed disposition normally inherent to him had returned to him. It was precisely from relying on this personality of his that he had once traveled all by himself, studied as he toured all over the place, and undergone countless dangers until he at last turned it around into peace. He kept listening for a little bit, then turned his head to the side to whisper in close to Sui Zhous ear. Want to go out and investigate? Grave-looking, the other nodded, and they began to get up and get dressed. Because it was windy at night here and they were not at their own home, they had only taken off their outer robes to sleep. This made it easy to put them back on and get tidied up in the blink of an eye. Sui Zhous actions were a little quicker, so he was the one to push open the door. The wind outside was strong, even raising the water level. When paired with the sound of the rushing river, the crying noise was not as crystal-clear as it had been before, but Tang Fan knew that this was just an illusion the crying was always there. He looked up to survey the scene from up on high, attempting to identify the source of the sound. It was outside of his expectations. He had thought that the sound would come from the riverside, because, going off of either the information obtained from the old chief or the recountings of Magistrate He and the others, there seemed to be something extremely horrifying hidden beneath the Luo that caused people to be pulled into it over and over again. Now, though, it sounded like it was coming from the direction of Eternal Deep. Were there people actually trying to pretend to be ghosts? Tang Fan and Sui Zhou exchanged a look. They noticed that in the neighboring few homes, some other figures were also coming out from within and approaching them; it was Pang Qi and the Guards. The villagers certainly wouldnt dare to come out and look out of curiosity, to say nothing of Yin Yuanhua, Deputy Zhao, and the rest of them. Even if they did hear it, they would act like they hadnt. What a real coincidence this was. Yesterday, Magistrate He had said that he hadnt heard the noise in a good while, yet it had reappeared the very night they were resting here. Pang Qi waited for all the Guards to come in close, then quietly asked Sui Zhou, Do you want to go check it out, Brother? Despite the sound being a good deal away from them, everyone still subconsciously quieted their steps and voices. Sui Zhou nodded, then took the lead in heading to the imperial tombs. The others naturally followed after him. As stated earlier, Luo River Village had been built bordering the Eternal Deep tomb. This had been to make it easier for the villagers to defend the tombs, and they used to have no displeasure with this; after all, this didnt hinder farming work, and Emperors being buried here showed that it was an area of good feng shui. Everyone had been honored. Yet, all those thoughts had completely changed one year ago. Everyone that lived near these tombs had to hear ghostly wailing every night and have river gods snatching people up, which scared them all to death. Thus, when Tang Fans group had come here in the night, they had felt that the looks of fear on all of the villagers faces were just them being ignorant, and it was only after hearing the sound with their own ears that they realized that those reactions were actually totally normal. It was unclear if it was the suspicions of a haunting inside their heads or what, but everyone believed that the closer they got to the tombs, the more horribly windy it was. Even Pang Qi, a highly-skilled and brave Brocade Guard that normally knew no laws nor gods, shivered a little. That grieving, resentful sound was drawn out without end, going on and on like it had no need to breathe. They neared they came, the more sure they were that this wasnt something any human could make. Was it not terrible to be human? They most feared beings that transcended their own knowledge. Few people in the world genuinely believed that nothing supernatural existed at all even scholars that had studied the sacred sages feared saying such. Incense burning, sacrifices, and the worship of gods had long been set in deep inside the hearts of the Great Mings people, and no matter how fearless one was, they would at least give distant respect to the supernatural, rather than not believe in it at all. Tang Fan would never admit to the existence of such things of his own volition, but he would also never deny that they did exist. As he saw it, humans walked the path of humans, ghosts walked the path of ghosts, and the Heavens walked the path of the Heavens. Whether they existed or not, none could deviate from their own paths by committing murder, arson, or any sort of harm unto others. Like this time, for example. Plundering imperial tombs and taking lives were both crimes, so, regardless of if they had been committed by humans or ghosts, they needed to be repaid and penalized. That was what he persevered towards. For that reason, even as a civil official with no martial arts or weapons to defend himself with, he was not any more visibly panicky than the Brocade Guards he traveled with when that weird and inexplicable voice came closer with every step. On the contrary, he was as calm and self-strong as always. The leader of a team didnt need unrivaled martial arts, but did, at the bare minimum, have to be capable of calming peoples hearts. Such was what Tang Fan did. Pang Qi and the other Guards were a bit uneasy at the start, tightly gripping the hilts of their spring-gilt sabres, yet upon seeing that their leaders were so collected, they seemed to by influenced by that, also slowly settling down. As their environment was all short hills and level plains extending far off, there were no mountain dangers, and their field of view was quite wide. The moon quietly dug half of its surface out from the cloud cover, spilling moonlight between the ruins and broken tiles of the vacuous plains, adding the further cheerlessness of desolation. Not far away, the mausoleum of Eternal Deep stood silently before them, weeds overgrowing it. It no longer had the majesty it once did. Yingzong of Song, buried within, had not only had a short life, but was also quite unlucky after his death. His crypt had caught fire in the early period of Southern Song, roasting the upper and lower layers of the tomb into a mess. What was even worse was that because one official that had participated in his funereal arrangements had also written down the layout of Yingzongs crypt in detail in his own book, that reference material had turned into a figurative scripture for later generations of cultured grave robbers. Many had run off to excavate Eternal Deep in accordance with what had been written, digging holes every which way in it; who knew how many treasures it even had left? Since his teacher was well knowledgeable, Tang Fan had also read that book, thus having some reasonable understanding of Eternal Deep. Seeing this imperial tomb from a former Dynasty that was paired with the mournful wailing in his ears, ruefulness automatically welled up within him. He thought, what had been the point of fixing this tomb back up so beautifully? After a hundred years, all Emperors, Princes, Generals, and Ministers would be nothing more than handfuls of yellow soil. Finding a random place where they could have buried would have been better than what was going on right now, where they couldnt rest even in death. But, that sort of thinking was a bit ignominious, so he merely thought this, never to say it. The issue at hand was that the closer they got, the more distinct that ghostly wailing became. There was a taut string in everyones hearts as they feared that something would suddenly happen, the psychological pressure on them so great, it was disastrous. Mister Tang alone was thinking about such an off-the-rails issue, and it was really hard to say whether it was because he was carefree at heart, or lacking in brain. All around the mausoleum was wide open areas, with nowhere for anyone to hide the crying came from behind it. They slowly came forward, detouring the already-run-down tomb. All of a sudden, Sui Zhou, who was in the very front, stopped. Everyone was caught off guard. Those behind him tensed, nearly drawing their sabres. They all quickly understood why he had done so, though. Right before them, there was still nobody to be seen, just the wildly overgrown vegetation that chaotically danced like ghosts in the wind. The sound came from a dark hole at the foot of the mausoleum. It was an inconspicuous robbers cave. Only the noises existence had caused them to even notice it. The sound was as mournful as always, like those women that were confined deep within the palace all their lives, unwilling to fade with age, unwilling to exhaust their youth there and also like those people that had suffered the apex of injustice and torture unto their deaths, unwilling to have their souls vanish, remaining thereafter with regrets, full of endless hatred as they stubbornly refused to pass on. If what had been heard back in the houses had merely been a hidden grudge carried over with the wind, then upon arriving here, one could feel a bone-deep animosity that had been amplified ten, or even a hundred times. As if it could be morphed into real substance, it pounced at them, engulfing all of their bodies and souls. Though premonitions had long been had, once everyone saw this three-square-chi hole that could only accommodate one stooping person passing through it at a time, they felt that penetrating chill. This was not a face-off against some evil thief or traitor. Their present situation could not be explained using any sort of common sense. Whenever one confronted circumstances like this, their first reaction would inevitably be to feel helpless. Right before coming around the mausoleum, Pang Qi and the other Guards had been walking a step ahead of Sui Zhou and Tang Fan, ready to deal with unfathomable dangers at any time. Even with the sabres grasped in their hands, they still felt unsteadied, hearts drumming, and had to turn to look back. They quickly noticed Tang Fan and Sui Zhou standing in place. The former came a few steps forward and took a measure of the scene, while the latter followed him with the same collected expression as ever. The Guards couldnt help but feel ashamed, hurriedly forcing themselves to calm down. Once logic reheated, courage would return, as well. Pang Qi took a few steps forward, preventing Tang Fan from going any further ahead. Sir, the situation is unclear, so you mustnt take rash risks. It would be better to wait until after daybreak Before he got to finish speaking, something happened as he registered the look of surprise on Tang Fans face, he couldnt help but put his words on hold to follow the others line of sight, whereupon he saw that a hand was reaching out of the hole! Get back! he shouted loudly. Everyone that was escorting the two leaders recoiled a few steps, but their eyes were fixed on the cave entrance. First came a hand, followed by a head. What was visible right now was definitely not as clear as it would have been at daytime, but from the outline of the mans outfit, they could tell that he was wearing rough, completely disheveled clothing. Halt! Who are you?! The Brocade Guards shout did not deter him, and soon, his upper body crawled out of the cave. He used both arms and legs, but was completely panicked, like something was chasing after him. Hearing what the Guard said, he instead raised his head. They all had since adapted to being in the dark; by the faint moonlight, they saw that something had gouged out one of his eyeballs, yet had not severed it completely, leaving it hanging on his face. His nose had also been bitten half off, face bloodied and horrifying to look at. When he caught sight of them, his facial expression contorted for a while, as if he wanted to say something. Heaving sounds came out of his mouth, but as soon as he opened it, blood raced out, bits of viscera-like meat coming with it. Despite this, his limbs kept him desperately crawling out of there. This was a horribly terrifying scene. Tang Fan would even dare to promise that if Yin Yuanhua had been here and seen this, he wouldnt want to eat any meat for three years. No need to bring him up, though, as even these mentally-strong Brocade Guards accustomed to seeing the Bastilles tortures had feelings of being easy to knock over right this very moment. This was not torture in the Bastille, but a lone person suddenly crawling out of a robbers cave in the wilderness, his facial features almost half-gone where would their minds all head? There had to be an even more horrid creature in there, to make someone become like this. The man finally climbed out on all fours. He appeared to want to ask them for help, but with an unknown foe and a lack of clear understanding as to what their counterpart had encountered, why would the Guards ever come forward so easily? They rather commanded him to stop, disallowing him from moving further. However, he had long since lost his reason; the second he saw people, it was like he had been granted great amnesty. Regardless of whether they were soldiers or friends, he staggered right towards them, disregarding their shouts. Many Guards had drawn their sabres, ready to strike him when he threw himself at them. Yet, the man had spit up too much blood, and could no longer hold his body up. After no more than a few steps, he stumbled and fell to the ground, unable to get back up. Right then, a Guard shouted, Someone else is coming out! Everyone looked over at the sound; sure enough, another figure was crawling out from within, shouting as he did so. Help! Help! Who is it?! a Guard shouted. The other cared about not a thing else, as once he heard someone answer, he shouted even louder. Help! Help me! He His voice abruptly cut off. Beneath the moonlight, Tang Fan saw his eyes widen until they were circles, and then his hand that hung in the air suddenly land heavily in the mud. Sui Zhou took a few steps forwards. While everyone else reacted too late, he reached out, grabbed the others shoulder, and lifted him up. They all gasped, because what he had hauled up was only someones mutilated upper half! As for his lower half, it was empty, dripping with blood; who knew where it had gone to. Judging from his recent ability to call for help that had turned into him encountering sudden and instant calamity, there was obviously something inside the cave that had just bitten his lower half off. Hes not dead yet! Pang Qi had crouched down to check on the man that had first run out, his hand over that nose whose original shape could no longer be distinguished. Theres still some breathing! Tang Fan also crouched down. What did you all come across down there? he asked the man. The others intact remaining eye slightly shifted, his mouth opening into a small curve like he wanted to speak, yet couldnt do so clearly. Tang Fan had to bow his head to get his ear in close. Then, he heard him saying, Monster help help me Right after the me fell out, there was no more. Tang Fan looked at Pang Qi, who shook his head. We cant help him. The sound is gone, Sui Zhou suddenly said. Everyone startled, then realized; that constant, bizarre sound that could make ones hairs stand on end was, indeed, gone. Where it had come from was unknown, and when it had ended was similarly unknown. It had come and gone without a trace, completely unpredictable. The only two people who had known the truth were dead, and so miserably. Based on how they had been acting prior to death, they had to have experienced an abnormal event. There might actually be something equally abnormal lurking in the cave. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou exchanged a look; they both felt this to unprecedentedly nettlesome. They had been thinking that this would only be a typical tomb raiding case accompanied by the ignorance of local commoners, who had made up a false narrative about river gods and whatnot, and as long they came over here and arrested the thieves, thus laying their deception bare, everything would be solved like a knife through bamboo. Now, however, it seemed that the complexity of this far exceeded their original expectations. Sir, what should be done now? Pang Qi asked. Tang Fan glanced at the two bodies. Well take this intact corpse back to the village first, and talk more on it tomorrow. Their group quickly returned. The village was still silent; their footsteps would occasionally alarm dogs outside of homes, caused them to bark a few times. Following the strange wailings disappearance, the village looked to be more peaceful, no longer as eerie-feeling as it had seemed before. As was evident, ones mood affected how they perceived their environs, everything being inner demons acting up. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou returned to their house. They hadnt felt it right then, but now that their minds were relaxing, they noticed that they were awfully parched. Tang Fan sneezed, then discovered that he had broken out into a sweat when outside, a result of getting blown on by the wind and going from cold to hot. As he felt his back now, it was still a bit soaked. Sui Zhou touched the teapot. The tea inside it had long gone cold which was natural, because them falling asleep, getting startled awake, going for a trip to Eternal Deep, and then returning had taken over two shichen. Dawn was going to break soon. Having been so busy this night, no one could sleep well. Even the thought of going to bed immediately was an impossibility, as the second Tang Fan shut his eyes, he could see the face of the man missing an eyeball swaying before him. Sui Zhou took the teapot and went to the back kitchen to heat the water. Not long after, he brought steaming-hot tea over. The snacks on the table didnt need to be heated and could be eaten plain; Tang Fan padded his stomach at last with two pieces of cloud cake. Seeing that Sui Zhou had sat down, but wasnt moving, he pushed the plate towards him. You should eat, too. Sui Zhou picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, yet didnt put it in his mouth. How do you intend to handle this incident? he instead asked. Tang Fan shook his head. Theres no good way to, with just us. Theres absolutely something in there, and the old chief is bound to know what it is. Hell need to be questioned again tomorrow. If theres still no results then, that cave will need to be filled in, after which Ill present a memorial of failure that says that this case is much too tricky. The Court will need to send more people in order to figure out what it is thats down there and slowly plan things out. This was the safest route forward, to stop the Guards from being in danger. Were the superior here to be switched out for Yin Yuanhua, he would have probably just insisted on making them go into the cave, giving no room for argument. Sui Zhou knew that when it came to how Tang Fan conducted himself, he would absolutely never endanger the lives of others in order to make progress in his own officials career. But, if things kept developing like this, they wouldnt get to decide what happens here. Many villagers had died, alarming everyone if the monster couldnt be captured so that this place could return to its quiet peacefulness, there would come a time where the villagers would make live human sacrifices to the river gods, resulting in the continued loss of life. If Tang Fan reported this explanation to the Court, it might not condemn him on its end, but it would certainly take this as him being incompetent and using this as an excuse to avoid his duties. Then, it would send an imperial ambassador of an even higher rank, making their own group more passive. Sui Zhou understood this point very well. When the time comes, Ill have Pang Qi go to the Northern Bastion Offices Henan guard post to borrow hand cannons. After another group gets transferred over here, they should be able to go down and check things out. Tang Fan looked contemplative, mind fully immersed in reflection, but that didnt at all prevent him from picking up cloud cakes and delivering them to his mouth, one after the other. How he looked while handling serious business, yet still not neglecting to eat, was quite ridiculous to see. Sui Zhou watched this with a smile, but the man in question didnt notice at all, earnestly considering the feasibility of the hand cannon proposal. Thats possible, but we still need to take time making a decision Before he finished speaking, he noticed that the corners of Sui Zhous mouth were slightly raised up. What? he asked, confused. Nothing. Sui Zhou curled a fist, brought it up to his lips, and lightly coughed, resuming his typically-cold face. Dont eat too much, someone is definitely going to be bringing breakfast at daybreak. Lets rest for a bit, or well lack in energy during the day. They hastily tidied up. This time, they didnt even take off their outer robes, laying down right in their clothes. Tang Fan had thought that he wouldnt be able to sleep, but because he was truly too tired, he dozed off after not too long, unaware of how long the night was. By the time Sui Zhou called him awake, he didnt dream again. When he opened his eyes once more, it was already bright out, and steaming congee plus side dishes were placed on the table. He had chugged down a full belly of tea last night that hadnt filled him, so now that he was seeing these simple-but-appetizing pickled veggies, his appetite was provoked. After he finished getting up and freshening up, he sat with Sui Zhou at the table and began to eat. County Deputy Zhao is waiting outside. I told him to go with Pang Qi to the old chiefs house and bring him over, Sui Zhou said. Tang Fan hummed. Questioning him in the village wouldnt be convenient; bring him back to the county capital. You all can do as you see fit. Leave half of your personnel with me, because I want to take a walk around the village. The origins of those two from last night He didnt get to finish, as the door was banged open from outside. Sir! Sir! Deputy Zhao appeared in the doorway, pale-faced and panting. Its terrible! Upon seeing him in that state, Tang Fans heart sank. What is it? Dont pant so heavily, finish your words in one breath! The old chief is dead! The translator says: Wailing on a windy night = that shits whistling through the cave. Bam, mystery solved, Im the sleuth now. CH 63 Tang Fan shot up, his normally respectable, widely-smiling appearance suddenly gone completely dark, scaring Deputy Zhao when he saw it. How is he dead? Wasnt he just fine last night?! In spite of his anger and fear, Tang Fan did not lose his reason and vent his rage upon the other party. Deputy Zhao settled down. Suicide, he quickly answered. He hung himself. His family is currently mourning. Centarch Pang brought people to stand watch there; would you like to go take a look? Of course Tang Fan wanted to go take a look. Neither he nor Sui Zhou could bother with breakfast anymore, immediately setting down their bowls and chopsticks to follow Deputy Zhao to the old chiefs home. After no more than a minute, the death of the old chief had spread throughout the village. People thronged outside his house, packed tight, but because of the Brocade Guards keeping watch, no one dared risk their lives to see the excitement. They all timidly craned their necks, both fearful, yet irresistibly curious. Commoners were ignorant, but not stupid. When that weird crying had started up last night, most of the villagers had heard it. None of them had dared to come out and look at the time, but with the news of the old chiefs death going around come dawn, and with him having returned from the tombs raving before, they couldnt help but link the two things together, all saying that his group must have disturbed the river gods last time, thus inciting their revenge. By the time Tang Fan and Sui Zhou hurried over, the Lius were a sobbing mess of endless grief. Old Madam Liu had fainted, and was being looked after by womenfolk in a side room. The two sons of the family had instead been called into the receiving hall by Deputy Zhao to await Tang Fans questioning; the two middle-aged men also had tears welling up in their eyes. Tang Fan gave them a few words of consolation, then asked, When did you two discover that he had died? After you Lords left last night, my father was persistently unhappy, Chief Liu answered. He wouldnt answer no matter what we asked, just ranting where he was, so we had to help him to bed. We didnt expect that in the morning, he he would be hanging from the rafters Your mother wasnt staying in the same room as him? Why wouldnt she know he had hung himself? Chief Liu shook his head. She wasnt. Ever since he became unwell, he would sometimes suddenly start punching and kicking in his sleep. We were forced to have him sleep alone. We didnt didnt know that this He spoke and spoke, then couldnt keep his sorrow from coming out, shedding tears without words. The second elder Liu also started loudly sobbing upon seeing his older brother like this. Who could have expected that their old dad, perfectly fine last night, would become an ice-cold corpse by today? Such a thing would make anyone crumble. After we left yesterday, did your father say anything else? No, Chief Liu said, choking up. He was just like that; the same as ever at times, talking to himself at others. All the villagers s-say that since they ran into the mighty river gods that night, the gods would rain punishment Talk like this was utter rubbish. Even after experiencing the events of last night, where his original viewpoint had been greatly capsized, Tang Fan himself would still never believe that any sort of god had anything to do with this. Not about to listen to Chief Liu continue with this, he told Pang Qi, who was keeping watch outside, to take the man to identify the body. He wasnt identifying his own father, naturally, but the corpse they had retrieved yesterday. The village wasnt big, so Chief Liu would definitely know whether someone was from there or not. If those two had been villagers, then their identities would soon be apparent. On Tang Fan and Sui Zhous end, they went inside to examine Chief Lius corpse. They were well-experienced in criminology. After inspecting the corpse for a good while, they learned that the old chief really had hung himself, not been killed, and there was nothing suspicious about it. But that was precisely what made them all the more abundantly doubtful. Others were saying that the old chief had been mad and rambling ever since his return, but hed only been able to pull the wool over the eyes of ordinary folk with that. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou people who came into contact with specialists all day long and scrutinized down to the smallest detail had noticed some evasiveness inside the old chiefs speech, the contents of which might not be true. They had formerly planned come back and question him more today, determined to get the truth out of him no matter the means. And yet, by happenstance, they hadnt gotten the time to ask before he died. Were the cause of death to be suspicious, that would have made sense, but since it was suicide, that only made things ever more difficult to unravel. At that moment, Pang Qi walked in to speak to them. Sir, Chief Liu said that the man isnt from their village, and hes never seen him before. I also asked a few villagers, who all said the same. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou looked at each other. The implicit understanding between them was now on a higher level; sometimes, there was no need for words for them to know what meaning the other was conveying. As such, right this very moment, they were thinking about the exact same thing since those two werent villagers, yet had crawled out of a thiefs cave in the middle of the night, they had to have been grave robbers. Matching this with the previous multitudes of thiefs caves discovered by the villagers at the imperial tombs, it wasnt hard to draw one conclusion: this group that wanted to pilfer the tombs was definitely not limited to the two people they had seen last night. Just as the old chief had said, it was because his group had been chasing down some thieves that they had encountered misfortune by the riverside. Even so, those people could no longer make any sort of waves, having very likely all died in that cave. Such a thing also indirectly indicated that down there, within Eternal Deep, there might truly be something unimaginable and terrifying hiding. Moreover, if that wailing sound was connected to the creature that killed yesterday, and there was a passage connecting Eternal Deep and the Luo, then the monster was likely able to come and go from the tomb and riverbed freely. As such, it would sometimes hide beneath the water to drag villagers under and eat them, then sometimes stay in the tombs. That unlucky group of thieves had just happened to come across it, which had naturally been a trip of no return, all death with no life. But, that hypothesis had issues. If there really were creatures around, why had there not been any village rumors of river gods eating people for so many years prior? As was known, these events had not started happening until a year ago, at the earliest. Time had pushed forwards, yet this little village had always been peaceful, not any sort of unusual. Apart from the Northern Song tombs being located here, Luo River Village was no different from anywhere else. At this point, they appeared to have run into a dead end. Act according to what we discussed last night, Tang Fan said to Sui Zhou. Sorry to bother you. The other gave a slight nod. The two Liu brothers were standing outside, as were the villagers that had heard the news and came to see, solidly congesting the Lius courtyard outside. Yin Yuanhua, Cheng Wen, and Tian Xuan were waiting at the reception halls doorway; upon seeing Tang Fan come out, they hurried forth. They had all stayed in the same home yesterday night, and there was absolutely no way they could claim that they hadnt heard that ghostly wailing. To be blunt, the three of them hadnt had the courage to go out and investigate, simply feigning deep sleep. Yet, when they had gotten up this morning, they had heard that Tang Fan had gone to check it out in person while they, as subordinates, had just kept sleeping inside. They all felt rather ashamed. Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan did not need to be elaborated upon. They were nervous, afraid that Tang Fan would look into their blame for this. Even Yin Yuanhua, who didnt get on with him, felt himself to be in the wrong. Fortunately, Tang Fan wasnt in the mood to bother with them, only ordering that they go with Pang Qi and the Guards to search the vicinity of the village and tomb, to see if any of the bandits that had wanted to thieve last night had survived. With imperial ambassadors resting here, Magistrate He would never have slept easy once back in the city. As soon as day broke, he had scampered over with people, and then as soon as he heard that another incident had happened last night (and seen the two incomplete corpses), he immediately went pale out of fright. Shuddering, he came up to Tang Fan to admit his own faults; it was unknown whether he was scared of losing his black hat, or worried that the monster would show up and eat him. While he was still shakily apologizing to Tang Fan, Pang Qi had sent someone over to report that they had actually caught someone. He was a member of the thieves who had been on lookout duty outside, hiding in the underbrush near the tomb. Because of last nights incident, Tang Fans group had been entirely focused on the thief cave, which had given him the opportunity to slip away. However, he had been much too tired and hungry, so he hadnt been able to resist going to the village after his escape to steal food and then, because the officers were randomly searching, he had been too afraid to come out, resulting in him getting cornered and caught red-handed. When Pang Qi brought the guy over to Tang Fan, he was about to shake himself into a sieve, repeatedly begging for mercy and saying that he had nothing to do with anything. It was said that appearances were born from the heart, a sentence that made a lot of sense in this moment. This man had a ratty look about him where even when he was sobbing for forgiveness, his expression showed so much vulgarity, it was really hard to sympathize with him. Noticing Tang Fans slight frown, Pang Qi smacked the back of the guys head. Who told you to cry? Answer him! Okay, okay, okay! The man knelt on the ground and kowtowed over and over again. Whatever you ask, this lowly one will answer! There was no need to ask anything at all, really, as the man poured everything out like beans down a bamboo tube. His name was Qian Sanr. As a child, he had been abducted and trafficked, the whole gamut done. Later on, he had followed his Master in joining his current gang the Yellow River Gang. Even though it sounded impressive, it was actually just a few dozens of vagrants gathered together to do some swindling. Tomb raiding was a zero-cost, high-risk, massive-yield industry, so it naturally fell within the scope of their business. When it came to scale, the largest tombs in Henans territory were the unsurpassed Northern Song ones, and of those, the easiest to grab at was the unsurpassed Eternal Deep of Zhao Shu. Eternal Deep being easy to get to was, as everyone knew, because of Li Zi of Northern Song recording its position and underground layout in his book down to the last detail. The unlucky Yingzong of Song had not only been a short-lived devil of a reign that was just three years long, but his resting place was constantly getting dug up. He could be called the best Emperor of the Song Dynasty, really. Hence, ever since Southern Song, countless grave robbers had targeted Eternal Deep in waves particularly during Yuan, where grave robbing had been legal and the Court itself had sent people to excavate them. That practice had not been even minutely constrained until the Great Mings founding, which was why the treasures of Eternal Deep had long been taken out. The one that had led Qian Sanrs group in plundering the imperial tomb had been Li Kui, a minor boss of the Henan gang. Their actual aim on their expedition had been the Empresss tomb right next to Eternal Deep, as Northern Song Emperors and Empresses had separate burial spots. Eternal Deep had been visited countless times before, but the Empresss was a bit better, meaning there might have been some treasures left in it. Li Kuis idea had been to start with Eternal Deep, get a clear feel for the crypts layout, then go for the Empresss tomb. In that way, they would have higher efficiency by not taking too many wrong turns. If they could find a strip and dig up some missed treasures in Eternal Deep that their predecessors had never discovered before, that would be even better. Thus, their group had gotten to it, first measuring the terrain near Luo River Village, then using the nighttime to sneak in. Before that point, there had already been hearsay of Luos river gods eating people along with strange crying coming from the shores at night, but the tomb was a little distance away from the river. Qian Sanrs group had been a bit fearful at the get-go, but after skulking around for a few nights and seeing that nothing was happening, they hadnt put it to mind. They had not used the thief caves made by previous robbers, but instead dug out another one. Its location had been picked out by Li Kui, as well. The man had been called a prodigy amongst thieves, as hed surprisingly been literate, which meant he had read Li Zis Song Dynasty Records prior. He had done quite a lot of homework on Eternal Deep in advance. In his words, the spot chosen had been both easy to get to and guaranteed to be at a tricky angle, which no one had ever dug into before. As the boss had said as much, his followers had to act accordingly. All of them had hidden in the day to come out at night, spending a lot of time digging deeper and deeper, taking turns. Following over a month of digging, a cave leading right into the tomb had finally been made. Owing to Qian Sanr being ill-seasoned and having only just joined the group, he hadnt gotten the opportunity to go in and dig for treasure, forced to wallow in the fresh air outside. The villagers bore the duty of defense, but they were just peasants, in the end, and had their own lives to pass. It was impossible for them to guard the tombs every single day. On top of that, these werent tombs of the current Dynastys Emperors, so the Court never sent anyone to guard them. These factors had allowed Qian Sanrs group to avoid the villagers attention so long as they had some extra caution, thus carrying out their own shady acts without restraint. After the hole had been finished, Li Kuis group had chosen a date to descend into the tomb. On that night, Qian Sanrs Master had also gone down, while the former remained on lookout outside by Li Kuis order. In his hand, he had held an oil paper bundle containing fat-crisped chicken that he had previously bought in the county capital during the day. Although the chicken had been cold, that hadnt stopped him from thinking it delicious, especially on that night of cold, blowing wind. Crispy chicken in one hand and a small flask in the other, he had hid behind a stone sculpture in the brush, gazing at the moon in the sky, and found this all to not be unbearable. He still remembered that by the time he had slowly gnawed the chicken down to its bones, likely around two shichen had passed, after which a weird, ethereal wailing sound had come from inside the cave, exactly like the one heard coming from the river before. The crying had been strange and horrifying. He had automatically started worrying for his compatriots down below, but he also hadnt dared to disobey Li Kuis orders, so he had kept on squatting in watch up above. Bits of time had passed. He had no idea how long he had waited for, but the sound never went away, and had even gotten clearer and clearer, as if something could crawl out of the cave at any time. He had stared dead at the cave. Right when he had been so nervous, his heart had been about to jump out of his mouth, someone had suddenly popped out of the cave. Yelping, his entire body had jumped out of fright, and he had turned around to leave, only to hear his Masters voice coming from behind him. Sanr, come lend me a hand, quick! It was then that he had realized that what had emerged was human, not ghost. Quickly collecting himself, he had run up to pull his teacher out. Behind the man, another person had come crawling out. Qian Sanr had focused his eyes on him it was Fat Lu,[2] who had gone with Li Kui before. Master, whats going on? Qian Sanr had asked. His teacher had hauled him up and fled without another word. Understanding nothing, Qian Sanr had been forced to follow suit, Fat Lu behind him. The three had run in a line, doing all they could to race forth and get far, far away from the cave. Theyd nearly reached the boundary of Eternal Shine before they had come to a stop. Qian Sanr had run nearly half of his little life away. The flask he once held had been tossed someplace unknown. The other two had been in an endless panic, fully unkempt, and only then had they told him what they had experienced below. As it was, after Li Kuis group had descended, they had quickly reached Eternal Deeps underground palace. Just as they had expected, the two top and bottom floors of the tomb were not big, and had long been pilfered clean, leaving not even a single valuable hair behind. Had there ever been any secret passages, they had all been busted open and snatched from, too. In short: it was empty as the void. Everyone had done a tour around inside, entirely disappointed, but right when they had gotten ready to leave, Li Kui had uncovered a further hidden passage near the entrance they had originally dug out. It connected to a lower level of the crypt, leading somewhere unknown. Out of a thiefs mentality that they couldnt leave empty-handed, everyone had unanimously decided to follow the passage downwards to see what they could find. The tunnel had been very winding, but also not that long. Before any of them had even caught sight of their exit, they saw a glow of preciousness vaguely radiating from below, and couldnt help but get excited, believing that they might have found genuine treasure, picking up their pace. Once at the entrance, they had been flabbergasted by the scene before them. What had presented itself was a not-too-big side chamber, its interior piled up with countless valuables as far as the eye could see, resembling a small ravine. There had been at least several hundred night pearls[1] illuminating the entire chamber up to be as bright as daytime, nearly blinding their doggy eyes. They had all been overjoyed, since they had just been thinking that they were going to return with nothing, only to incidentally come across such a wonder. In that moment, they all had leapt up in succession, jumped into the treasure mountain, and stuffed their pockets to their hearts content. There had even been some that had stuffed night pearls into their mouths after they had run out of room on their person, intending to spit them back out after they left. None of them had thought harder about this at all. With so many treasures there, plus a ready-made passage available, why had no one else discovered it before? Why had it been waiting for them to snatch it up? Wealth moved minds. Under the influence of these immense treasures, greed had long flushed away their logic. In the middle of everyone excitedly cheering, then having to finally, and reluctantly, get ready to leave under Li Kuis insistence, a nightmare had befallen them. From the incoherent image his Master and Fat Lu had painted, Qian Sanr had only gotten a general gist. It sounded like their noise had drawn some kind of creature, the frightening likes of which they had never seen before. It was unknown where the monster had been lured out of, but as soon as it came in, it had bitten the upper half and head of one of their comrades clean off. That comrade hadnt had the time to even struggle or scream, his body instantly turned into two halves; one half had become the monsters meal in its stomach, and the other lower half had spurted out blood, then collapsed onto the treasure hoard. Everyone had been scared stupid by this scene, with many too slow to react, immediately getting torn to shreds. Qian Sanrs Master and Fat Lu had been closest to the secret passage, so they had reacted quick enough to turn tail and bolt without another word, disregarding the howling coming from behind them, cramming into the tunnel, and desperately fleeing from that place. After escaping, they had then noticed that no one else had gotten out aside from them. Qian Sanr had listened to their full story in fear, then requested that they flee from there without delay. However, after the other two had returned to their senses, they had been a bit indignant, because the valuables they had stuffed into their pockets had all fallen out in the process of them running away without a care for anything else. Just one thought about those countless treasures had made them rub their hands together. Upon their return, the shadow of their ordeal had gradually faded. After calculating things for a long time, Fat Lu and Qian Sanrs Master had eventually decided to go down again. For one, they had been reluctant to part with that huge amount of treasure. If they could have brought out even a single night pearl, that probably would have been enough for them to eat and drink however much they wanted. So long as their thoughts had gone to all those riches getting possibly seized by someone else in the future, their regret had been enough to overshadow their fear of death. For two, Li Kui and the rest of the group had all been lost inside, so them alone escaping would have been unexplainable once they came back. The Yellow River Gang might have even thought that they had gotten rotten ideas due to wealth and killed the others in order to take the treasure; a jump into the Yellow River itself wouldnt have washed them clean, then. Thus was why they had wanted to go back down and bring stuff back up, so that the Gang could have been given an explanation. Qian Sanr had never heard of that much treasure before. Even though he had also gotten avaricious for it, he had still been terrified from the bottom of his heart about how Li Kui and them would never be coming back out again, and tried persuading the other two not to go. However, he hadnt gotten the final say, ultimately left behind on the surface as a lookout. Both of the other two had felt that as long as they were a bit more careful and fled as soon as they found danger, they probably wouldnt lose their lives. In the interest of safety, though, they had brought two extra daggers. Unable to convince them, Qian Sanr had had no choice but to stay topside. Reality had proven that whenever someone held the hope of luck in their hearts, there would be a ninety-percent chance that they would meet with doom. The very same two that Tang Fans group had encountered last night had been Fat Lu and Qian Sanrs Master. After this entire sequence of events was relayed, it all became much clearer. Tang Fans guess hadnt been wrong. There had to be a passage linking the underground tomb and the Luo in order for the monster to appear both in the river and down in the thiefs cave, and the crying sound also had to be coming from that monster. As long as it was killed, everything would be good. Even so, instead of getting lighter, their moods had turned all the heavier. That was because, according to Qian Sanrs story, that underground danger was likely too difficult to describe with words. Li Kuis group had had strength in numbers with its over a dozen people, and they had been armed even though they had been grades inferior to the Brocade Guard, they had definitely not been pushovers, and yet they were all now gone, just like that. The translator says: Those guys were stupid. Not getting eaten by an alligator >>>>>>> money [1] Night pearls are semi-legendary objects. There are real ones made of particular strains of luminescent fluorite, but they need to be bathed in sunlight beforehand, like all glow-in-the-dark things, and arent particularly powerful. Their functions are typically exaggerated in fiction so that they can remain glowing for centuries on their own, and light up significant areas. [2] Calling someone fat(ty) in this way was not derogatory in this time period; at worst, it was just a describing nickname of ones appearance, similar to Big Liu or Cripple Luo. CH 64 What exactly did the monster look like? Did your Master get a good look at it? Tang Fan asked Qian Sanr. The other shook his head. He said that its entire body was black. It looked like a big python, though it was much bigger than a snake, and had legs. It stood even taller than us. Both of its eyes were red, which was terrifying they had only glanced at it before running away. If they had taken any more time, they would have stayed down there Was it an alligator? Whats an alligator? Pretend I never asked. Even though they had been able to flee like that once, there wouldnt be a second time. After their first escape and new lease on life, instead of stopping there, they had been unwilling to part with the treasure inside and had entered anew, the result of which had been the vain loss of their lives. Even so, they had been thieves with ill intent in their hearts. Them dying in the imperial tomb they had broken into was not an injustice. Sui Zhou, who had been standing quietly nearby this whole time, suddenly asked, Youre certain that the secret path your Master went down is Eternal Deeps? They said they went down below the crypts second floor, but they didnt say whether it was part of Eternal Deep. This lowly one has no idea, Qian Sanr answered timidly. The death of the old chief was the largest point of suspicion, but Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had both investigated in person. He had indeed killed himself; it hadnt been done by an outside force. Qian Sanr had also been interrogated, but he kept harping on that his group had avoided the villagers detection to conduct their tomb raiding, completely unaware of that passed elder in the house. Whether he was lying or not didnt matter for the time being Tang Fan ordered for him to be brought back to the city and questioned in detail via Pang Qis hand. Bury your father, before anything else, Tang Fan said to Chief Liu. Were heading back to the county capital, and will return in a few days. Dont fill in the thiefs cave for now, as we might still have a use for it. Also, dont let anyone get too close to the river, especially at nighttime, and no one is permitted to perform human sacrifices. This official will leave some people here to stand guard. If orders are violated, you will be the first they come to ask about it. Chief Liu nodded repeatedly. This humble one will remember to. He paused, then asked, Sir, are you planning on bringing people down that cave? Tang Fan hedged around the question. So what if I am? So what if Im not? If you are, then please bring me with you! Chief Liu requested, hands clasped. I can help show you the way! Brother, are you mad?! the Second Liu shouted from beside him. Sir Tang is speaking! Its not your place to interject! Pang Qi rebuked. Tang Fan looked at Chief Liu with some surprise. You know its dangerous in there, yet you still want to go in? There were tears in the others eyes. I must tell you that despite me being dim, I know that that place has to have something to do with my fathers death. Ever since he came out of there, it was like he was a completely different person! I want to avenge him! Sir, when this humble official first sent people down to scout the way for compensation, he was one of the ones that descended, Magistrate He chimed in. Tang Fan raised his brows. Youve been down there before? Chief Liu nodded. I was walking with another in there for almost half a shichen. By that time, we reached the second floor of the complex, and saw that it went even further down. We walked for some time, but then felt apprehensive and too afraid to go further, so we went back up. Tang Fan made some mental calculations. Qian Sanr had claimed that he had been watching outside for over two shichens before his Master had come out. According to this statement, the time Chief Liu had taken was around the same amount to get to the third floor. As such, the twos timings matched up exactly, no gaps to be seen. Your filial piety is commendable and worthy of praise, but this matter has not yet been finalized. This official still needs to consider some things. The villagers are gullible; as their chief, you cannot incite panic in them, and absolutely must not recklessly spread rumors. Yes. I will keep this in mind. Tang Fan exchanged a few more words, but right as he prepared to bring people with him in depart, someones crisp voice was heard. Hold it! Yin Yuanhua walked over. I dare to ask, Sir, but how could you allow this elder to be buried when his death is so suspicious? What is your wise opinion, Brother Yin? Tang Fan asked. This case is crystal-clear, now. Obviously, the old man was in cahoots with those robbers, tacitly agreeing to them robbing the tombs here. Then, because he got found out, he made up those river gods to fool ignorant peoples and now that the plans fallen through and been exposed, he died in short order to shield his family! Yin Yuanhua pointed at the terrified Chief Liu. Maybe all the Lius are guilty of being accomplices! They should all be arrested and taken in for strict interrogation! How can you so rashly let them off?! He had followed Tang Fan and the rest all the way here, then got carriagesick and thrown up until he was half-dead, then had to stay the night in this dinky little village. A fire had long been stuffed up inside him. With how Tang Fan was dominating the overall situation, and how the ever-domineering Brocade Guard was willing to be ordered around by him, Yin Yuanhua inevitably refused to accept who the leader was, thinking that if things kept going like this, there would be no point in him coming along at all. Tang Fan didnt get angry upon hearing that, only asking, Did you hear that strange noise last night, Brother Yin? Yin Yuanhuas face went red. I was sleeping a little deeply, so I didnt. Envoy Sui, me, and the others did, so we went outside, traced it to the proximity of the imperial tombs, and saw those two people die violently ourselves. You saw the corpses, as well. Why do you think that anyone would silence someone by biting the lower half of their body off? The other was speechless for moment, so Tang Fan continued. If you dont believe me, thats simple to fix. Continue to stay in the village tonight, wait until you hear the sound at midnight, then go to the riverside to look. If you have good luck, you might be able to see the river gods descending down and capture them all in one go for us to deal with later. There was a malicious grin on his face. Yin Yuanhua was so angry, his teeth itched. This humble official will be making a report to the higher-ups on how negligently youre handling this case, Sir Tang! Tang Fan gave a light sneer. Do as you please. That same day, the group returned to the city. With the old chief now dead and the monsters nowhere to be seen, them hurrying back like this seemed to be a weak finish to a strong start. In reality, though, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were making dual-handed preparations. Upon arrival at the city, Sui Zhou didnt make any extra stops, directly leading a team to the Guards post in Henan to lend hand cannons from it. Meanwhile, Tang Fan returned to the posthouse to write out a memorandum, which listed all of what they had verified since coming here and requested further instructions from above. The two of them had already talked this over in private; to find out the truth, they were going to end up having to go underground, but they couldnt do so like they were now. Full preparations needed to be made. At the same exact time, Yin Yuanhua was also writing a report, but he wasnt writing it to Minister Shang it was for his teacher, Assistant Minister Liang. Were the fight between Yin Yuanhua and Tang Fan said to have merely been sprouted from the latter being an airborne Chief that had snatched the formers original position, thus drawing his backlash, it had now become a way for the two backers behind them to fight amongst themselves. Minister Zhang wasnt looking forward to entering the Cabinet, and Assistant Minister Liang was watching the Minister position like a hawk. How could Zhang Ying tolerate his fancy? He fully supported Tang Fan for this case, and not only that; he had helped him win the lead imperial ambassador position, as without as much, it would not have been Tang Fans place to preside over this expedition. Thus was why Liang Wenhua had agreed to his student going with Tang Fan. It was not just to have him get some blackmail material on Tang Fan, but also a bid to prove that Minister Zhang had no clear grasp on peoples abilities. As it happened, Head Vizier Wan An had been dissatisfied with Zhang Ying as of late, feeling that the old man wasnt obedient enough, and wanted to replace him with the more obedient Liang Wenhua. Tang Fan being incapable of handling this case would similarly implicate Minister Zhang. Where there were people, there was strife. Even though a case like this appeared to have nothing to do with the capital whatsoever, it was still affected by the interest struggles of all involved in the background. Since Zhang Ying was supporting Tang Fan, he couldnt disappoint his hopes. Regardless of what was said, the old man yet had some principles and bottom lines in the way he conducted himself. Letting him be the Minister was definitely better than letting Liang Wenhua be it; at the very least, he wouldnt have to worry about his life always being made difficult for him. Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhuas memorandums were separately sent to the capital, post-haste. There was no way that the capitals end would have been able to reply within two days, but Sui Zhous actions were very quick, and he came back the very next day with four hand cannons. The instant arms arrived, they were like already-powerful tigers growing wings. Tang Fan didnt waste any time, directly calling the other civil officials over. I have reported the situation here to the capital, but no matter how quick this exchange goes, itll be at least five days before word comes back, while things at Luo River Village cannot be delayed. Now that the Brocade Guard has borrowed hand cannons, Im going to go down the cave with Bastion Envoy Sui and take a look, or perhaps even catch the man-eating monster and resolve this disaster. The danger below is immeasurable; since youre all civil officials, you dont need to follow me in this peril. It would be better for you to remain in the posthouse to fulfill the role of contacts. If a message comes from the capital, help me with issuing a response without delay. Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan exchanged looks. They, too, had heard what Qian Sanr and Chief Liu had said that day, so they were perfectly happy to not do anything risky, but were even the lead envoy to go down while they, the supporting roles, simply watched the excitement from the side, if something happened after that, they would inevitably be getting punished. Sir, youre the lead envoy of this assignment. You only need to be center command. Why would you brave the risk yourself? Cheng Wen urged. Envoy Sui is an imperial ambassador, as well, and isnt he heading down? Tang Fan countered. Each person cherishes their own selves, so how could they all be made to come with? Seeing that Cheng Wen was choking on words, Tian Xuan quickly picked it up. Wouldnt it be best to wait until the Court sends a message back, first? Tang Fan shook his head. He actually had other machinations in mind, but there were some things that he couldnt explain to them right now. Ive already made a decision. Theres no need to say more. If something happens to Envoy Sui and I, you will be responsible for leading whos left back to the capital, reporting on the truth, and then sending more people down. The hidden risks of this place must be completely resolved. Upon hearing how grave he was, the two were somewhat helpless, having no choice but to agree. This official is willing to come with! Yin Yuanhua contrarily said. I ask for your permission, Sir! Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan were too afraid to go down because they valued their little lives, but Yin Yuanhua had other motives. Whatever creatures there were underground, he had boundless confidence in the four cannons the Brocade Guard had. The Guards skills were not to be compared to those of a mob of grave robbers, besides. Deep infiltration into enemy territory was a dangerous thing, but if the treasure-filled chamber Qian Sanr had spoken of could be found, that would be an immense credit. Yin Yuanhua had taken such pains to come here how could he be willing to let Tang Fan pick the total sum of those fruits? Tang Fan creased his brow. The monster is of unknown origins and has a savage penchant for slaughter. This will be an extremely treacherous trip. It would be best for you to remain here. Yin Yuanhua straightened out his neck. Are you worried that this humble official will snatch your credit, Sir? People like this had no distinction between what was good and bad to do. If Tang Fan did actually prevent him from going down, the guy would send a complaint higher up and affix him with the accusations of being bossy, arrogant, self-proud, dictatorial, and whatever else, which would be enough to cause him trouble. Bringing this to mind, Tang Fan was disinclined to bother with him. You want to go, so you can. Theres just one rule: you need to obey orders, and are not allowed to act on your own. Under the pressure of that look in his eyes, Yin Yuanhua had no choice but to clasp his hands. I will earnestly observe your orders. Having received the cannons and reconvened, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou didnt waste much time, leading the Guards straight back to Luo River Village the very next day. In spite of Magistrate He having the mind to curry favor with a higher rank, he was not as willing to go all out as Deputy Zhao, since he still cherished being alive. All he could do was place a big heap of flattery on Tang Fan to express his good faith, whilst Deputy Zhao took it upon himself to ask for Tang Fans instructions, saying that he was willing to be on the frontlines, and even bringing along two bailiffs recruited from the bureau, who were also decent in skill and willing to forge ahead. The villagers were quite shocked to see them come and go. Tang Fan had some others head for the thiefs cave ahead of time, then brought Deputy Zhao with him to call on Chief Liu. By ill coincidence, Chief Liu wasnt present; it was the Second Liu that came out to receive them. My older brother is out. He said that he was going to buy a good axe in the county capital, so that he would have a self-defense weapon to use when he goes down with you. When did he leave? Tang Fan asked. Last night. Because it was so late, he spent the night in the city, and might be back in the morning. Can you prevent him from going, Sir? This lowly one is willing to go with you! Deputy Zhao was displeased. Do you think were buying vegetables? Why are you still haggling? Two days ago, your older brother was clearly the one to request that he accompany us, as hes been there before and is familiar with it. What use would you have if you go?! The Second Liu stammered, unable to answer. Tang Fan stopped Deputy Zhao from continuing to menace him. Why do you want to come with? Dont you know what dangers there are below? I-I dont want him to send himself to his death! Deputy Zhao rolled his eyes. Were Tang Fan not next to him, he would really want to give this fool a big ol slap in the face. What did he mean, send himself to his death? Were they all getting ready to do that, then?! Tang Fan just smiled warmly. You have a strong brotherly bond, to prefer to go to a dangerous location in your brothers stead. The Second Liu nodded. Yes. My brother has had a hard life. His wife died young, and in order to get me my own, he didnt marry again, with no children for himself even now. After our fathers incident, he will have to both be the village chief, and take care of the family I-I cant just do nothing Against expectations, however, Tang Fan asked an additional, blindsiding question. Did the old chief discover something below that then forced him into suicide? The other had a face full of confusion. Um? Clearly, he had no idea what he was talking about. Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua had previously had a similar notion, where theyd been under the impression that there had to be some connection between the tomb raiders and the old chiefs death, but Qian Sanrs later testimony had capsized his conjecture. Qian Sanrs group hadnt had a thing to with the old chief, or even the villagers they really had just come to set up a loot point after hearing that the imperial tombs were easy to get to. That said why had the old chief killed himself, then? It had obviously been to cover up some sort of truth, but what exactly had he been wanting to cover up? And if it had nothing to do with Qian Sanrs group, what did it have to do with? Such was why he had just cast that inquiry at the Second Liu, but, judging from the mans reaction, he was obviously ignorant of the inside story on his fathers death. No matter how good someone was at masking, as long as they had demons in their hearts, they would always reveal some subconscious hints. And yet, this man had no evasiveness in his eyes, no pauses in his speech, nor other such things that would indicate guilt. Tang Fan smiled lightly, changing the subject. Your brother is heartbroken over your fathers death? The Second Liu nodded. He is. I urged him not to go with you, but he wouldnt listen, saying that if there really is a monster below, hell kill it to avenge our father. Brother can you really not let me go in his stead? Was my prediction entirely wrong? Tang Fan thought to himself. Did the old chief kill himself simply because he had been too terrified, genuinely? Right as he thought to speak, he saw the Second Lius eyes light up. Big brother is back! Chief Liu strode over with a sharp, brand-new axe in hand. He looked at Tang Fan and Deputy Zhao with befuddlement, as well as pleasant surprise. Why are you all back so soon, Sir? Are we descending today? Tang Fan nodded. Everyones here. Were just waiting for you. Chief Liu wiped the sweat from his brow, smiling honestly. Its good that I came back early. Lets head out! The Second Liu quickly grabbed him. Brother, let me go with you! Chief Liu scowled. Stop it! You have to take care of our mother! Go back, now. If I dont return and you tell the folks as much, theyll have to elect a new Chief, you know? It would have been fine for him not to say that, as doing so made the Second Liu even more sad. Brother The other clapped him on the shoulder. Alright, alright, cut the crap. Get a pot of stewed meat while you wait for me to come back. And add some blanched bok choy! Sniveling, the Second Liu nodded briskly. The two brothers parted ways, with Chief Liu following Tang Fan to the imperial tomb. Sui Zhou and the Guards had long been waiting there. Qian Sanr was present too, of course. Even though he had never gone down, as the one who had heard his Masters and Fat Lus accounts, he was more familiar with the internal environment here than the rest of them were. There was no way Tang Fan would leave him on the surface. Kindness was to be given to those it should be given to, not misused on those that didnt need it. People unfamiliar with Tang Fan would believe that he was gentle in nature and easy to speak to, but the reality was that he had a standard in his heart. Whenever it came time for him to be tough, he would never hesitate in the slightest. They went out early, and it was now just after the time of the Dragon.(7-9am) In light of the time it had taken Qian Sanrs Master to go down and come back up, a day would be sufficient, when everything was added up. If things went well, they would be able to get out by nightfall. If things went poorly Mister Tang suddenly realized that before he left the capital, he seemed to have not had the time to pass some last words on to Ah-Dong. If neither he nor Sui Zhou could return, the little girl was probably going to be orphaned again. Alas! For Ah-Dongs sake, he was going to have to do his best in the difficult task of not casting his life away! Amongst their people, Sui Zhou, Pang Qi, and the other Guards were the calmest. An occupation like the Brocade Guard, where going abroad was frequently required, meant that they had grown accustomed to confronting danger and unfathomable situations at any time; the only difference here was that they might not be confronting mere humans this time around. Still, with the hand cannons in their possession, even Pang Qi, who had had some doubts regarding the scene from that one night, had calmed down. In the Yuan era, the cannons had received ample use on the battlefield. At the end of Yuan and start of Ming, they had played an essential role during the Great Ancestors fight for supremacy over the realm. In the three major Capital Battalions, there was even the lone Godly Works Battalion that specialized in firearms units. With cannons in their hands, there was nothing else to ask for, thus why the Guards were collected. Qian Sanr had never gone down, but he did have the lessons his two predecessors had left him. Although he was now greedy for the treasures below, he liked his life more. Despite that, there was no way he could escape this, obliged to put on a face like he was attending a funeral, fearing that he would be going to keep his Master company with a single second of inattention. His mood was visibly affecting Yin Yuanhua. Even though the latter had brought up coming down here of his own will, he was still a civil official, lacking in the psychological qualities of the Guards. Whenever he gave thought to the condition of those two corpses, his knees would automatically start to get wobbly. Tang Fan ordered Deputy Zhao and the two bailiffs stay topside to provide support, then glanced at Yin Yuanhua. You still have time to turn back if you have regrets. This humble official has zero regrets, Yin Yuanhua insisted, gritting his teeth. Tang Fan didnt feel like persuading him further, turning to the others. Even though Im the lead envoy of this task, on account of the unknowable circumstances below, everyone including me must obey Envoy Suis directions. If no orders are had, no one is allowed to act without permission. This was an integration of commanding authority. The Guards had no dissent. On the contrary, they were quite pleased; it was only natural that they would be happier to listen to Sui Zhou than a directing civil official that they had never collaborated with before. Tang Fan had similarly no desire for a confusion in orders to crop up that would end with everyones lives lost, simply passing off all authority to Sui Zhou. The latter still had facial paralysis. He never said much in the presence of outsiders, but would still always say a little something. Upon seeing the Guards all watching him expectantly, he coldly spat out two words: Move out. The crowd: Sui Zhou promptly walked up to the thiefs cave, preparing to head down. Turning his head and noticing them all staring blankly at him, he couldnt help but show some baffled inquiry in his eyes. Only then did the men recover, hurriedly following after him. They had thought that their leader would at least give them instructions or encouragement to boost morale or something The cave was narrow, only able to tolerate one person going down at a time. In light of Chief Lius recounting, the last time they had descended to the crypts second floor, their journey had gone without a hitch, no danger encountered at all. In light of the tragic deaths of those other two, however, everyone slowed their pace, cautiously moving forwards. Chief Liu went on ahead. As the one responsible for leading the way, he had to be in the forefront. Sui Zhou and the guards came after him, followed by Qian Sanr, Yin Yuanhua, Tang Fan, and Pang Qi bringing up the rear. The cave was very twisty, having been windingly excavated. While going down, one could only tread with toes pointed down, body pointed up as they went step-by-step, supporting themselves on both sides of the surrounding soil wall. It was bright outside. When just entering, ones line of sight would be fairly clear, but the further down they got, the dimmer the light was. Being used to the shiny sensation of the outdoors, it was all the more difficult for the eyes to adapt to the dark, cramped space, which resulted in everyone walking slowly. Though the cave was narrow to start with, as it went down, it got more spacious, later turning wide enough to accommodate two people at a time. They all had to keep their bodies snug against the rock wall, so as to avoid the huge slope making their entire self slide downwards. As Tang Fan supported himself on the wall, he could tell that some areas were sticky and had a faint stink, as if a corpse had been ripped to shreds, droplets of blood and bits splattering everywhere no! He wasnt going to keep thinking down that road! He had to look inside himself and say that even though he wasnt that much of a clean freak, thinking in detail about all that was nauseating. Its here! Chief Lius voice came from up ahead. Soon, Tang Fan was waiting for each of the people ahead of him to jump down, after which he leapt himself, immediately planting his feet firmly onto the ground. But, he had forgotten that Yin Yuanhua was behind him When the other jumped down, he apparently sprained his foot, letting out a cry of pain as he tumbled right onto the unlucky devil in front of him. Mister Tang, the unlucky devil, felt a sharp bout of pain on his back, unable to even get a glimpse at the scenery in front of him before he was crushed to the ground by this guy. A Brocade Guard Gonfalon named Yan Li was walking with Sui Zhou in front, surveying the environment before them, when he unexpectedly saw the latters figure bolt. By the time he got a good look, his boss had already thrown Yin Yuanhua to the side, making him involuntarily roll several times away like a carriage wheel, then carefully helped Sir Tang up, asking after him in a hushed voice. Even though Yin Yuanhua would never dare to offend the Brocade Guard, he had also never let loose enough to make friends on his own time, forever putting on the air that civil officials had. As a matter of course, Yan Li and the rest of them didnt much like him. Bearing witness to this event, Yan Li only had one thing he wanted to say: Good job, boss! The translator says: yeah I just went into the city to get this shiny new ax thats perfect for chopping people up I Do Not Trust You My Guy CH 65 Yin Yuanhua covered his forehead as he got up, wanting to swear but not daring to. If that wronged expression was pressed against the ground, he would be inciting the Brocade Guards loud jeers. No one had the mind to care about him right now, though. This is the upper floor, Chief Liu said. Its this way. We went down from here last time. As he led the way in front, Pang Qi and the Guards lit up flamesticks, their surroundings instantly becoming brighter, allowing them all to see. The place they were now ought to be the left-side chamber of a gate in the complex. Rotten wood was scattered all over the floor, as were many trunks, with porcelain placed at random, all of which had been half-coated in dust for a long time now. Having been subjected to years of invading, Eternal Deep was an imperial tomb that had right about been plundered into a sieve, this one glance around meeting with almost no intact objects. As the palace where Yingzong of Song slept after death, there had once been countless treasures of gold and silver and porcelain interred here, but now, only the delicate motifs and blue bricks near the archways and stone walls could testify that this place used to be glorious. What was especially unfortunate was that when that many robbers came over here, they would often only steal the treasures of gold and silver, tossing the porcelain and pottery figurines aside like worn-out shoes. It was to the point that nearly all of the latter had been destroyed in the process of tomb raiding, resulting in the floor being filled with desolation in the present, even more dilapidated than what was on the surface. At this juncture, though, few were of the mind to be concerned with such details. Tang Fan stooped over to pick up a thin white object off of the ground; upon brushing the dust away, he discovered that there was still some dried blood staining it. What is that? Sui Zhou asked, walking over after he noticed Tang Fan staring at the thing he held in a daze. He had already ordered Chief Liu not to go any farther, as well as for everyone else to take a careful look around. A jade silkworm. This isnt from a Song tomb, and the blood doesnt look too aged. It ought to be something that Qian Sanrs Master accidentally dropped while he fled in too much of a rush. Upon hearing that, everyone circled around to see. Right, right! Qian Sanr said. My Master and Fat Lu both said that when you go below the second floor, you can see a lot of treasures! I have some of my own guesses, but I need to go down further to know, Tang Fan mumbled. There might be a secret hidden beneath this Song tomb. The crowd looked at each other, completely ignorant as to what secret he was speaking of. Pang Qi let out an ah. What about the corpses? If they fled from this way, there ought to be corpses left behind! He looked at Qian Sanr, as if expecting him to explain. The latter stumbled a few steps back from his glare, stammering out, Th-this lowly one wouldnt know. My Master only said that they ran the entire way and dropped all the treasures during. Maybe maybe they dropped that? Lets proceed, Tang Fan ordered. Sui Zhou nodded. Be careful, everyone. When their group left the chamber, there was really only one path forward. The angle Qian Sanrs group had picked out for the cave was indeed at a tricky angle. Just because there had been no traces of other thiefs caves close to this area didnt mean that it had been any less defiled by thieves, though; it could be said that the whole tomb was now only ruined walls, rotten wood, and porcelain fragments, any treasures once had having been emptied from this place over a century out. Thus, when they came upon bits and bobs of golden animals and earrings and other such things sprinkled on the road ahead of them, they were all shocked. On top of that, they would occasionally step upon round golden beads, fossil coral ornaments, cloud-carved jade pendants, and so on. Qian Sanr not being able to resist leaning over to pick them up was a given, but Tang Fan even saw Yin Yuanhua, as conceited and aloof as he was, not be able to resist quietly sneaking a gold bead into his pocket, either. In contrast, the Brocade Guard could still restrain themselves. Tang Fan grasped between his fingers an item he had just discovered under his feet a silver bracelet inlaid with turquoise and mussel shells, pasted with gold leaf and the supposition in his mind gradually took form. They left the side chamber and followed the passage to the underground stele pavilion in the main hall, then saw Chief Liu wind around to the back of the pavilion. Its here! he shouted in happy surprise. We went down from here the last time! The pavilion had been built as a beautiful sight to behold, being twice the size of regular stele pavilions from the surface. Three stone steles were stood in its center that inscribed the achievements Yingzong of Song had had in his lifetime of course, since he had reigned for only three years, no amount of his accomplishments could compare to Renzong and Taizongs, so the word count had needed to be made up with drivel. They were all over-generously engraved with flowing phrases of flattery and lavish rhetoric. Tang Fan only glanced over a few columns of writing before shifting his gaze away, looking towards the entrance pointed out by Chief Liu. The lower floor of the crypt was used to house the Emperors coffin, and was also the heart of the underground palace. This entrance had been later excavated, not being the original one to the crypt at all; reportedly, because the original had many traps meant to deter thieves, a lot of later generations of tomb raiders had made different routes in. In the course of a hundred years of successive waves of attempts (and judging from their unhindered path on the upper floor), there were likely not many mechanisms left on the bottom floor. Sui Zhou told everyone to have caution, after which Chief Liu went down in the lead. It wasnt that Sui Zhou wanted him to be cannon fodder, but that the man was the only one that had been through here before, and was the most familiar with the way compared to everyone else. The Guards had brought plenty of flamesticks, and were not worried at all about them ever running out. Once everyone had stepped upon the blue bricks of the lower level, the firelight they held was enough to light up the entire empty space around them. Theres bloodstains over here, Yan Li called lowly. Everyones hearts leapt. Looking over to the place he was pointing at, they saw a puddle of dark-red, nearly black, already-dried blood spots, and several sheets of gold leaf that had also been darkened by blood. One Guard bent over, picked up a sheet, and passed it to Sui Zhou. The other took it and gave it a look. There must have been a fierce fight here, but all the corpses are gone. They might have been swallowed in chunks by the monster. Everyone needs to have caution and try not to wander off as much as they can. As soon as any weird sounds are heard, congregate together and prepare to use the hand cannons. It went without saying that they all felt this place bizarre, Qian Sanr particularly. With his own eyes, he had watched Li Kuis group go down, then only his Master and Fat Lu return, after which even those two had been lost inside the second time they had gone down, never to come back up. That had demonstrated something the dangers here were certain to be far beyond anyones original expectations and imaginations. Even Li Kui and them hadnt been able to escape. For a dabbler like himself He dared not think about it further. He didnt even have any interest in the valuables spread out before him anymore, wanting to run back out to the surface and bask in the warm sunlight in one breath. How pitiful it was that he wasnt the one in charge, here. He could only brace himself and continue downwards. Tang Fan took the gold leaf sheet out of Sui Zhous hand, then observed it for a time. Theres bronzescript cut into this. Everyones attention was drawn to him. Whats bronzescript? Sui Zhou asked. Its also known as bell and cauldron script. Prior to the Spring and Autumn period, it was generally popular to make carved inscriptions in bronze ritual vessels, but it sometimes appeared on funerary implements, too. This gold foil should have been stuck to some object, then peeled off. The psychic understanding between him and Sui Zhou had already reached a set level, where they could hear ones song and know their intent. The latter got his implication immediately. You mean to say that these treasures were seeing are not from any Song tomb, but from below Eternal Deep? Tang Fan nodded. Qian Sanrs Master and Chief Liu have both said that theres another floor below. If Im not mistaken, this should be a grave vault; by coincidence, Eternal Deeps location was picked out to be just above another, smaller tomb. Song Emperors pursued the policy of burying Sons of Heaven in July, and site selection only happens after death. It cant be ruled out that because this vault beneath Eternal Deep had been buried too deep, and because the burial choosing for Yingzong was too rushed, the overlap was not found. With as much said, he did not keep the listeners in suspense. In the Spring and Autumn period, Gong County was once a fiefdom that a Zhou Emperor had conferred as the Nation of Gong. These bronzescript letters are a tiny bit hard to decipher, but looking at the quality of the burial objects, whats below should be the vault of a noble. Qian Sanr had a sudden epiphany. No wonder my Master said that there was a big heap of treasure down there! We were confused at the time. Everyone said that the Song tombs had been robbed clean long ago, so how could there be any treasure? They were even suspicious that theyd been hallucinating! So thats what it was! It may be, it may not. We still need to go down to confirm, Tang Fan answered. In pre-Qin times, nobles would generally have chariot pits buried with them. The standards back then were very different from later tombs. While they talked, the group followed Chief Liu through an archway, then stopped inside a depression behind the crypt gate. Here. We found the entrance here last time. Chief Liu indicated the dark cave opening. Because we were about to run out of flamesticks and the hole goes in deep, we only walked it for a short spell, and were too apprehensive about going further down. Tang Fan crouched down and looked in. He found that this cave entrance must have started out as a tiny pit smashed into the ground after the stone wall fell off and landed. Later on, a blaze had occurred here, and then Jin soldiers had overturned the place looting it, the blue brick layers paving the floor having long been lifted away. Who knew what menace to society had noticed that there was something odd beneath it and dug down, leading to this tunnel that went to parts unknown. It stood to reason that with how much of a hurry Qian Sanrs Masters group had been in, there was no way they could have discovered and excavated this passage in just two shichens time. The tunnel must have been there before them. But since that was the case, if there were treasures inside, why had they been waiting there for that group to find after they descended? If it was said to have been an illusion, that wouldnt make sense, as they themselves had picked up invaluable treasures all along the way. They really did exist, and werent part of the Song tombs original belongings. What could be the explanation behind that? Tang Fan said his own thought aloud to everyone. Regardless of the why, the goal of our expedition is to eliminate the monster that is bringing harm to this area, Sui Zhou said. Anything else is secondary. We cant get wayward thoughts because of greed and fail our actual job. The Brocade Guard crowd agreed, but Yin Yuanhua felt some objection within himself. In his view, were these valuables found and transported out, that would be called a great credit to the Dynasty and, when the time came, if one could stash a bit of it away, they would have endless comfort for all their lives. As for that illusory monster, he still hadnt seen even a shadow of it. Even if it was described like a real thing, he believed yet that it was very likely some people feigning the supernatural, utilizing the titles of river gods and monsters to terrify the villagers out of coming near, and thereby concealing the treasure. Sui Zhou didnt rush downwards, instead bringing people to carefully examine the lower level in a loop. Eternal Deep could be labelled as the smallest in scale out of Northern Songs tombs; added on with its baptism by soldiers, fire, and thieves, it was pretty much now an empty grave. Even the depressing wooden coffin containing Yingzongs body had been dismantled long ago, leaving only a few scattered scraps. It was likely that after those before passed through, they only left after there were too many things to take away. Even the Emperors bones were missing, to say nothing of the dragon robes and jewelry that had adorned him. This spectacle had been quite sigh-worthy at the onset, but due to Tang Fans statement, everyone became increasingly curious about the floor below. They hence circled the area in a rush, and once they discovered nothing suspicious whatsoever, they got ready to go down. Owing to his Masters experience, Qian Sanr had always had an indescribable dread towards this place. After witnessing that so many were uncomprehending while Tang Fan alone was able to describe the origins of what was below, he couldnt help but admire him a lot. He subconsciously followed by the mans side, not straying a hair too far. Now that he saw Tang Fan still squatting next to the coffin, he couldnt resist walking over, leaning down, and craning his neck to check things out. Tang Fan jumped in fright because of him, but didnt reproach him, simply wiping away accumulated dust with his hands. Qian Sanrs eyes widened. He saw that after the sawdust and grime was wiped way, a large pool of something dark was revealed beneath it. Th-thats he started, uncontrollably losing his voice. Blood, Tang Fan quietly supplied for him. Qian Sanrs teeth couldnt help but rattle. Tang Fan just laughed, though. Dont be scared. After laughing, he stood up and walked away. Qian Sanr kept staring blankly at the big bloodstain. There appeared to be meat or bone bits on top of it that had mixed in some with the dust, making one feel terror when they thought deeply about it. Putting the fact that he had been a homeless wanderer since childhood aside, all he had ever done was petty thievery, never any dark stuff like murder and arson. The time he had followed with to excavate the imperial tomb, he had been barred from coming in based on his lack of experience, thus taking back his fate, but now, he was getting the feeling that that fate might be getting reckoned today. Holding such an ominous premonition in mind, he got up with a sorrowful expression and followed after the crowd, descending into the hole that had quickly grown more terrifying in his eyes. Coming into this space, there was no natural light. Breathing felt more stuffy than when on the surface. The crypt wasnt big, but it also couldnt be described as small; apart from their group, no human auras were around, their speech and footsteps echoing emptily, steeping in the vacuity of centuries. Whether caused by some past fire here or what, there seemed to be the faint smell of scorched earth in their nostrils. Adding that onto those bloodstains that might not be found, everyone had some weight on their minds. The Guards were alright, as scenes like this didnt frighten them. Despite Yin Yuanhuas eagerness to establish merits, his face was left pale upon arriving at a place like this. If it were said that he had just been of the mind to bend over and gather gold beads while in the upper floor, he now became nervous, too afraid to lower his head and take a closer look, far and away inferior to Tang Fan, who was ever looking at the details. When seen in the eyes of others, they inevitably mocked him on the sly. The Guards hadnt taken too kindly to him to begin with. Upon seeing him so tense, Yan Li got the mind to scare him, deliberately sneaking around behind him and abruptly clapping him on the shoulder. Ah! Yin Yuanhua jumped in fright. Once his eyes settled upon and found Yan Li, he couldnt help but glare viciously at him. You have the nerve to dare frighten a higher official?! I simply saw that you were stepping on something you shouldnt be stepping on, Sir Yin, Yan Li said innocently. I thought to warn you. Yin Yuanhua lowered his head in a flurry to look, only to see that the place he had just been standing was clear. There wasnt anything there. Realizing that he had been tricked, he grew angry. Just you wait! So impetuous! Ill definitely denounce you to the Emperor when I get back! Silence! The speaker of that was not Yan Li, nor Sui Zhou, but Tang Fan. After he said as much, his face displayed a listening look. Seeing him be so serious, everyone quickly pricked up their ears and listened for a long time to hear nothing at all. Yin Yuanhua had every reason to believe that Tang Fan was intentionally making things harder for him so that he lost face in front of others. He loathed the man all the more, but was aware that he did not have the final say in anything right now, as the other was stronger in this situation. He had no choice but to keep his annoyance down. See how I deal with you when we get back! he thought hatefully. Tang Fan actually hadnt intended to mess with Yin Yuanhua. Right when the other had been loudly talking, he had heard a faint, drawn-out sound come from far away, as if something heavy was getting dragged along the ground ahead. However, after calming his heart and listening closely, the sound vanished, like it had been nothing more than his own misconception. Following this search of the lower floor and confirmation that nothing was here, Chief Liu led the way down the hole. Exactly how Chief Liu had said, the passage was a little long, nearly the same in length as the one they had just descended to get to the upper floor. This was probably the reason why the pre-Qin nobles grave, hidden in the depths, had not been discovered during the imperial tombs site selection. Were here. With the accompaniment of Chief Lius voice, they all consecutively arrived below. What was beneath their feet was uneven; stepping on it, one could clearly feel that the ground was not laid with bluestone bricks like the crypt was, but was just a run-of-the-mill ditch bottom. Beneath the firelights illumination, the small space around them immediately became clear. Qian Sanr gasped. My Master said that they saw a lot of treasure when they came down here! But where were there any sort of treasures, as far as they could see? Apart from the earthen walls on each side, there was nothing here. No with some extra attention paid to the floor, puddle after puddle of deep red bloodstains could be seen, penetrating deep into the wall after congealing, appearing as unbelievably odd chunks of varying depths. Yin Yuanhuas face was overcast. I just knew that a stupid thief wouldnt be credible! Qian Sanr had really suffered a good deal after getting brought to the county capital by the Brocade Guard. Upon hearing this, he quickly refuted, My Master really did say that! Sir, this lowly one is already here with you! How could I dare to lie to you all?! Is it is it that the monster ate them? Chief Liu nervously asked. A monster that ate people without spitting out their bones was already enough. If it ate treasure as well, what were they going to do? Call it a pixiu? That remark was ridiculous to them all, but no one was able to laugh. The cramped and sinister environment, mysteriously vanished treasures, unpredictable dangers up ahead, and monster of unknown whereabouts all forced everyones hearts to hang high. This side-chamber wasnt sealed shut, at least, since there was a stone gate erected up ahead of them. Pang Qi had just walked over and tested it out; there were apparently rolling balls set in beneath to allow it to be opened with a forceful push. The door slowly came halfway open, a long and narrow passageway appearing beyond it. Its darkness was without limit, and without the illumination of candlelight, how deep it was could not be seen. Brother? Pang Qi had to softly ask. Everyone looked towards Sui Zhou. At this moment, he was their pillar of support. Pang Qi, take two with you to scout ahead. You dont need to go too far. Once you confirm that theres nothing dangerous up ahead for now, you can turn back. Yan Li, stay here and keep watch to provide support. If you come across any sort of unprecedented situation, run for the surface and dont worry about us, Sui Zhou ordered, voice heavy. Pang Qi affirmed, nodded at two subordinates, pushed the stone door open, and walked out. If not obstructed, the door would close on its own. Sui Zhou ordered it to be blocked so that it couldnt, also making a mark on its outside. After not long, Pang Qi and them came back. Brother, theres a fork in the path at the end of the passage, going left and right. We didnt go any further. Sui Zhou hummed. Lets go on, then. Leaving Yan Li here, he brought everyone else ahead. Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua were walking at the very back, only to hear a Guard suddenly shout in front of them, Somethings up ahead! Soon after, someone else shouted, It looks like a person! Everyone was alarmed. Dont give chase! Sui Zhou commanded. When in completely unfamiliar scenery, hastily giving chase would only place ones own side in danger. While they were all subconsciously wanting to catch up and take a look, Sui Zhous calmness undoubtedly dumped a basin of cold water on their heads. Even so, everyones pace got a little bit quicker. Right then, Yin Yuanhua suddenly yelped like he had stepped on something, tripping and pitching bodily forwards. Tang Fan reached out to stop him, then was slightly put off-balance by him, quickly supporting himself on the wall to stand steady. Son of a whore! Yin Yuanhua held his flamestick and lowered his head to look, only to see that what had tripped him was a human skull. Fearing the foreboding, he quickly kicked the skull to the side, after which he noticed that Tang Fan had never reacted, thus looking up at him. Where are the others? he couldnt help but cry out. Why did they walk away so quickly?! Tang Fan creased his brow. His attention had just been drawn by Yin Yuanhuas stumble, yet in no more than a minutes time, the people ahead of them had vanished without a trace. Even the sound of their footsteps was gone. He went forwards some. Faint firelight illuminated the passage ahead, its end not too far away, but there was no fork in the road as Pang Qi had described, only one hallway to turn left into. Yin Yuanhua had evidently noticed as much, too. His complexion was a little white, voice trembling. Where is everyone? Tang Fan didnt answer, holding his flamestick up and preparing to move on. Not caring about his own dignity, Yin Yuanhua hurriedly grabbed the hem of the others clothes. Dont leave me! Mister Tang was a little speechless, but he couldnt give thought to mocking him right now. Instead of going left, he stood in place, silent as he felt up the segment of earthen brick wall in front of him. What is even going on? Yin Yuanhua looked just as he was, but couldnt make out any issues. He was already kind of regretting coming here. How about we go meet up with Yan Li, and wait for Envoy Suis group to backtrack? We cant go back, Im afraid. What do you mean? Go over there and try. Half-skeptically, Yin Yuanhua held his light, backtracked for a bit, then suddenly cried out. Where is the chamber door? Why is nothing here?! His free hand haphazardly felt the dirt wall, attempting to find the mark they had made before. Yan Li! Yan Li! he shouted, slapping the wall. Dont shout. Tang Fan sighed. We must have encountered a phantom wall. Phantom Yin Yuanhuas face paled again. Its not a real phantom, just a mechanical application to the vault for the purpose of preventing thieves from entering at will. Ive only read about them in ancient texts before, not seen them in person. When you stumbled, we probably unwittingly entered a run-off that lead to our separation from them, else they wouldnt have gone so fast without waiting for us. The fact that you cant find the side-chamber behind us is proof of that. What do we do, then? Yin Yuanhua shakily asked. How should I know? Im not the owner of the vault. Lets take a good look around, theres always a way out. Dont scramble around. Even though he was trapped here with him, Sir Tang wanted to laugh at the others panic-stricken face. It had to be said that his mental faculties had already reached a certain realm were Yin Yuanhua to know what he was thinking right now, his heart would probably wring itself to death. Tang Fan didnt get to answer before a distant voice came down the left-side corridor. Sir Tang! Sir Tang! Where are you Yin Yuanhua couldnt help but be ecstatic. Its Chief Liu! Were here! A tiny light came from far to near. Not long after, Chief Liu appeared in front of them, out of breath, looking both shocked and happy. So heres where you two went, Sir Tang! What about the others? Where did they go?! Yin Yuanhua asked urgently. Chief Liu gasped for breath, his forehead full of sweat. We were just walking for a bit when we realized that we didnt see you, so Sir Sui asked me to wind back around to look. Theyve found the area where the treasure is hidden! Follow me now, Sirs! Yin Yuanhua didnt suspect a thing, thinking to go after him, only for Tang Fan to stop him. Wait! In the timespan of that word, Yin Yuanhua turned to look at Tang Fan, while Chief Liu, who had been walking ahead, suddenly raised his axe and swung it at them! Because of the angle issue, Yin Yuanhua hadnt noticed, but Tang Fan had. He dragged Yin Yuanhua backwards, and right as the momentum made him fall, the axe missed his head by a slim margin! Plus, owing to his excessive use of force, Chief Liu viciously bringing the axe down deeply embedded it into the wall, leaving him unable to pull it out for a minute. Taking advantage of that, Tang Fan dragged Yin Yuanhua into a run. Chief Lius exasperated voice in the tunnel called out, but not for them to stop. It was: Catch them! Two people came out of nowhere and blocked their escape route, catching them by the shoulders. Not even needing to think about it, Tang Fan attempted to knee the man in front of him in the groin. That move might have use in handling ordinary folk, but it was entirely useless in handling those with bodies strengthened by martial arts. One of the others hands directly slapped him on the knee, and he felt a sharp burst of pain attack him, making his ability to react somewhat sluggish. In that short moment, he was already caught, the other harshly twisting his arms behind him as he cursed. Fucker! You tried to kick my jewels! Yin Yuanhua had long been befuddled by this string of events, struggling wildly until he, too, was caught. Who are you?! How dare you! Dont you know that were imperial ambassadors?! This is treason! Unhand me! Unhand me mmph! A sweatrag that stunk to the high heavens was stuffed into his mouth, making him gag until his eyes rolled back. Chief Liu came over like storm. Instead of caring about the noisy Yin Yuanhua, he raised his hand and slapped Tang Fan without another word! That vicious strength smacked Tang Fans head to the side at once. His ears buzzed, a bloody stench slowly bubbling out of his mouth. Barely managing to tamp down his dizziness, he looked at the maliciously-grinning Chief Liu. Must have been hard for you to act for this long. I was wondering when you were going to be willing to reveal your true colors. Chief Liu had been just about to take a dagger out and familiarize Tang Fan with it, but upon hearing that, his interest was piqued. You knew I was a fake all along? The other didnt answer his question outright. A peasant born and raised in Luo River Village will have been exposed to all sorts of farming skills since childhood. It would be impossible for one to not even know how to use an axe. The movements you used just now were unfamiliar-looking, where you werent even able to control your strength well. Youd be hard-pressed to get anyone to believe that youre the real Chief Liu! Hearing this, Chief Liu actually grinned. That smile of his looked a little warped beneath the flamesticks light. Yin Yuanhua couldnt help but shudder, but their counterpart paid him no mind, continuing to keep his attention on Tang Fan. You knowing is useless. Now that youre both down here, be prepared to die here. He drew a dagger out of his sleeve, ready to stab Tang Fan in the heart. But, all of a sudden, a spectral crying noise came from far away. Woooo. woooooooo. The sound was resentful and harsh, as if it held inexhaustible grief. Everyones expression morphed the second they heard it. V-Vicar, isnt that thing locked outside? H-how did it get in? the man holding Yin Yuanhua trembled out. Come on! Chief Liu grit his teeth, unable to put any more thought into killing Tang Fan. He ordered his subordinates to grab the two of them and run off. Their group bumped around as they fled. Chief Liu seemed to be familiar with this path, taking twist after wind until they ultimately turned into a stone chamber, then pushed the stone door shut. It wasnt until the wailing sound was unheard for right now that he sighed in relief. This chamber was clearly the central pivot of the grave vault. The area was much larger than the side-chamber they had come to before, and dimly lit; only the coffin in the center had a single candle lit upon it, its glow faint. It was unknown whether the body inside was still there. Id advise you not to kill us right now, Tang Fan said. If Im not wrong, the monster moved due to the scent of blood. If we die here, that will draw it over. When youre no longer able to get out, wont all of this have been in vain? Chief Liu was panting for air. Despite the identity he was assuming, his actual self was still a pampered do-nothing, clearly not used to such intense running. He wouldnt have missed his head with that axe chop, otherwise. Youve always been quite intelligent, Sir Tang, he sneered. Since you know Im an impostor, why dont you have a guess at who I am? Tang Fan watched him, and he watched Tang Fan. That originally-honest face was now inarguably sinister. Truthfully, you played the part well, even imitating the local accent. But no matter how lifelike you are, a counterfeit will always betray signs in their mannerisms and speech, Tang Fan composedly detailed. Before Chief Liu could get angry, he continued. When we entered, starting from the upper floor of the crypt, we found subsequent waves of jade stones, gold beads, and other such valuables. You remember, right? Of course. Those were all strewn about after that gaggle of idiots died here last time. I specifically told everyone not to clean them up. What about it? That was the problem. After we came in, even Yin Yuanhua hadnt been able to resist sneaking a gold bead, to say nothing of Qian Sanr and the rest. You, though? You were leading the way the whole time, yet were unmoved when seeing the treasures. If you were a rich merchant embracing a vast amount of fortune, or some Don accustomed to seeing wealth, that wouldnt be surprising to me. He smiled at Chief Liu. Instead, youre just a farmer that shoulders his entire familys livelihood. Your little brother said that your wife died young, you havent yet remarried due to family circumstances, and you have no offspring. Would such a person really not be moved by the baubles filling the ground? Clearly, you were too anxious to drag us into shooting range, which is why you didnt pay any attention to that detail, yes? Also, I remember what the old chief said the night before he died. In the end, he kept saying that there were ghosts everywhere. I had thought at the start that he he had only gone hysterical from fright, but after I thought more on it, that remark might have been referring to something else because at the time, besides Sui Zhou and I, there was only you nearby. Let me come to a speculation. Did he know that you werent his son? You worried that our arrival would cause your identity to be exposed too early, so you threatened him with his familys safety to force him into suicide? But why was he too scared to come clean to us? Did you have hold of some weak point of his? Chief Liu grinned creepily at him. Correct. They still believe that his grandson, my brothers son, is studying in the county, when in truth, I had him captured long ago. Only the old chief knew this secret. I told him that if he dared to unveil my identity, the boy would definitely be meeting with misfortune before I would. For the sake of the life of his only grandson, he obeyed me perfectly. That makes sense, but what I dont understand is this; the old chief was Liu Danius father, so him seeing through your disguise is not surprising, but why did his mother and little brother not have any doubts? Chief Liu snorted. As youve said, my disguise is lifelike. His old mom is elderly, frail, and has bad eyesight. As for his brother, hes just a moron that can be swindled with a few words. No one in that family knew that I wasnt the real Liu Daniu aside from the old man, haha! And on top of that, for his grandsons life, he instead had to help me hide of his own volition! Tang Fan nodded. Thats right. Its been a long time, Li Man. I presume youve been having a grand old time in this timeframe? Him bluntly exposing his identity was unexpected. The other party was stunned for a good while, then reached out and grabbed his lapels. You still remember me? he asked, ferocious. From getting choked a little by him, and also having his hands bound behind him again, Tang Fan was in a bit of sorry state, unable to put on a calm air. He couldnt help but cough a few times. Why wouldnt I remember you? You swapped identities with Li Lin in prison, putting your own son to death yourself Li Man sneered. If not for you, why would he be dead?! If not for you, why would I not still be perfectly able to act as Lord of of the Li family, instead of now being forced to wander the ends of the world from your meddling?! It was unknown what method he was using, but not only was his appearance completely unlike what it once had been, but even his voice was completely different. There was consistently a type of person in the world that was a complete failure. Instead of reflecting on their own faults, they would always shove mistakes onto others, forever believing that all of their own shortcomings were caused by outsiders. If you hadnt so cruelly murdered your own wife, you wouldnt be in your current plight at all! Tang Fan bellowed. She was wed to me when we came of age. There were some things that could never slip by her. She knew too much, and only the dead are the quietest, the man answered coldly. So you plotted to kill her from the very beginning! Tang Fan raged. Everything you said before about her refusing to get a divorce was nothing more than an excuse! So what if it was an excuse? Youre so angry, Sir Tang. If she hadnt been over fifty years old, I would be thinking that youd had an affair with her! What about Li Lin, then?! He was your son by blood! Even tigers wont eat their own cubs, so how could you have the heart to act against him?! If I didnt use him to switch with me, I wouldnt be standing here and talking to you now, Li Man said calmly. Its fortunate that his mother taught him how to be overly traditional since his youth, so that he read himself stupid. It made him easy to manipulate. That said, Lady Chens already given me a son, so my Li family has someone to light incense. That son was a piece of rotten wood that couldnt be carved. Theres nothing to be concerned about. Tang Fan felt that speaking of morality with a scumbag like this was practically a form of extravagance. If before he had said that the man had felt some remorse towards Lady Zhangs death in the Li residence, after their current reunion, Tang Fan saw only evil coming from him, an obliteration of any humanity. That was to say that in this mans mind, he now only valued Lady Chen and her son. As for Lady Zhang and her son, he had long cast them to the beyond. Before Tang Fan could speak, Li Man asked, You still havent explained. How did you figure me out? Thats simple. Before we set out, you said something to the Second Liu. Do you remember? Seeing the other tilt his head in thought, Tang Fan nicely reminded him. You told him to add blanched bok choy to a stew for when you came back. Li Man frowned. Whats the problem with that? Tang Fan smiled. There isnt any problem with it, but the term blanched is obviously not a part of the villages local dialect in that context. As far as I know, though, Jiangnans Suzhou region is really fond of the word. You took so many precautions, but didnt expect that the way you spoke would betray you, did you? The Li family lived in the capital for a long time, but their ancestors were people of Jiangnan. By ill luck, my own hometown is in Jiangnan, so Ive heard it before, too. Li Man had considered that since the other end was trapping Sui Zhous group, he would come over and kill Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua. Because of his ample time plus the coincidental question he had in his head, he had done this back and forth, but now that he heard this, he finally noticed that something was amiss. Since you all already had doubts, why did you still follow me down here?! Tang Fan had a strange expression. What would be the use of catching you alone? Have you not heard that one phrase before; if you dont enter the tigers lair, how can you catch the tiger? As soon as Tang Fan got that weird look, Li Man had gone on alert. The very next moment, the two underlings that were holding Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua cried out in surprise. Vicar! Upon hearing the sharp sound of wind, brimmed with murderousness, surging up behind him, Li Man didnt hesitate to grab Tang Fans shoulder, turn them both around, and use him as a shield! The authors mini-theatre: Author: Were any of you to get slapped, how would you react? Tang Fan: Bear with it at first, then find an opportunity to strike back. Sui Zhou: Chop that person to bits. Wang Zhi: Chop the author to bits. Author: The translator says: lmao youre on your own bye *flies off* The blanched thing is a bit weird? The literal translation is snowsnow-white (ѩѩ), which is a tiny bit strange due to the repeated character. I settled for blanched, because its a cooking method, has the meaning of taking all the color out of something, isnt properly used to the T, and is a word rural people arent likely to know, making it seem at least a little weird in context. CH 66 Quicker than could be stated, that frigid murderousness, swirling as it filled the sky, was then forcefully taken back, the muffled sound of a strike the only thing to be heard before him. Presumably, his counterpart had been forced to retract his momentum partway through, causing himself backlash. Li Man was now thinking that this was quite the easy hostage to use, but before he could grab Tang Fan by the neck, he felt a sharp pain on his back, making him scream. The one he had used as a shield was already gone. His wrist suffered a strong hit instead, which made him go numb enough to automatically release the dagger he held. In the span of a second, this situation had undergone a massive change. Li Man had a merchants background, making his skills no sort of better than Tang Fans, else he wouldnt have been so out-of-control in strength when he had swung that axe. His two underlings were much more formidable than him, but when faced with the Brocade Guards all-sides assault, they struggled for a good minute before they had no option but to be captured. How are you all here?! Hands roughly bound behind him, Li Man glared at the man before him in disbelief. Nature toyed with people. The feeling he had just been giving to Tang Fan had instantly been turned back around onto him. A Guard walked over and slowly pushed the stone door open. Under Li Mans staring eyes, Pang Qi led Qian Sanr and the rest of the Guards in calmly coming in from outside. The door was shut once again. The threat of the encroaching monster had been just a fantasy. Sui Zhou loosened Tang Fans bonds himself, concerned. Are you okay? Yeah. Tang Fan shook his head, then started looking all around. From what he could see of the set-up, this large hall they were in was the heart of the Gong nobles vault, the coffin in its center where the body was placed. The decor on said coffin confirmed Tang Fans previous speculation that this was the grave of a pre-Qin noble. Due to this space being relatively large with antechambers mimicking the occupants residence in life, Li Mans group having lit only one candle meant that aside from one tiny circular region around the flame, everywhere else was in utter darkness. Wherever one was, they tended to go towards the light and shun the dark, making it easy for them to subconsciously look towards where the candle was. As such, when their eyes looked anywhere else thereafter, they would have temporary blindness. Sui Zhou and them had taken advantage of that, concealing themselves in the antechambers, holding their breath, and then striking when Li Man had let his guard slacken. Even though Li Man had also figured that out, he still felt it impossible to believe. He had always been self-assured in his own arrangements, yet it seemed like he had been repeatedly getting planted right into Tang Fans hands. This cant be! Our people clearly drew you all away! How did you run over here from there?! Sui Zhou paid him no mind, instead looking at Tang Fan. Envoy Suis brilliance and power are things thou art neer capable of fathoming, Tang Fan joked. A hint of amusement showed in Sui Zhous eyes, but once he turned back to Li Man, his face had resumed its cold, ripple-less look. We more or less already knew this graves layout before we came down here No way! Li Man called out before he could finish. There was, of course, a reason he had said so. To prevent grave robbery in the entombing of nobility, even the craftsmen that helped construct the tomb would sometimes be killed. That no heirloom data would be left to be passed down was therefore a given. There had also been those like Cao Cao, who had created seventy-two feint burial mounds in order to confuse the later generations and completely prevent theft. The efficacy of those was never guaranteed, but everyone had done things like this since time immemorial regardless. Having a bit of caution was never wrong. This vault was right under Eternal Deep. Very few even knew of it, let alone its structure. Confronted with Li Mans expression that said Im well-read, you cant fool me, Tang Fan patiently gave him an explanation. Before I became an official, I traveled the land in my studies, once passing through the Shaanxi region, which has no lack of burial sites. The tombs of pre-Zhou royals had been purportedly long dug out and plundered dry long ago, but the pits and ruins of them are still there. From my observations, the standards of those pits were all pretty much the same. Eternal Deep only had two floor to its crypt, as was written in clear terms by our forebears. Yingzong of Song was buried in a rush, so no secret passages could have been made. Even though youre not the real Liu Daniu, it must have taken you great pains to draw us down here. Your words were not all lies, of course. They were at least half true. Qian Sanr didnt lie, either, so upon combining both of your statements, it wasnt hard to draw one conclusion: the so-called third floor of the crypt you two were talking about had to be a separate nobles tomb. That was why I kept the secret. After flipping through the county annals, I found that this place was the former site of the Nation of Gong, classified as being in the range of the Zhou Emperors territory, a fief nation of the Zhou clan. In this tiny country, all the standards had to imitate those of the Zhou clan, and graves were no exception. So you went off of the layouts of the Zhou Dynasty tombs you saw in Shaanxi, Li Man took over. Tang Fan nodded. Yes, but I was really just going off a poor imitation. The tombs cant all be copies of each other; even if we knew the general layout, there would definitely be spots of error in it. We couldnt have known where those grave mechanisms were, for example, but you all gave us a hand this time around. Li Mans voice was rough. What hand? After we came down, there were only bits of valuables scattered around, no corpses. If it was said that the monster swallowed the meat and bones together, that would be understandable, but from Qian Sanrs account, we know that Li Kuis group fought with the monster. There had to have been a hard battle in that interim, meaning that the areas we passed through could not have been tidied up so neatly. Regardless of how vicious the creature is, it would definitely have left behind a stump of limb or chunk of torso or two. If somethings abnormal, then something strange is behind it that must have intentionally been cleaned up by people in order to lead us downwards. Makes sense. What else? Since we were being deliberately led here, you would naturally safeguard your own safety before anything else, and never get thwarted by the traps here. That was why Sui Zhou and I could bring people down here without worries. Li Man scowled. When I tried to kill you just now, the monster started howling. Tang Fan hummed. Qian Sanr. Having been called, Qian Sanr quickly walked out from the darkness, gave Tang Fan a brown-nosing smile, then put a hand up to his mouth. A sound that could cause one to shudder sounded out it was that ghostly wailing they had just heard! Li Man and his two subordinates were bug-eyed. Qian Sanr puffed out his chest in quite a lot of pride. Stealing isnt my only talent! His vocal mimicry had been unmatched in the Yellow River Gang; he wouldnt have been brought along to help keep watch by his Master, otherwise. Though it wasnt a huge help, it was handy at certain junctures like fooling Li Mans group, as a matter of fact. This was actually a very simple matter. Li Man had schemed to guide Sui Zhous and company away while he got ready to pick them off, starting with Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua. Against his expectations, the others had long made preparations by using his plotting against him by means of that White Lotus follower that had wanted to lead them away, they had instead gotten a feel for the mechanisms installed here. In addition to the prior preparations Tang Fan had made, theyd had a comprehension of the ground plan here before coming down, so as long as they went along for a bit, they wouldnt have been confused by these befuddling traps. And then, Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua, who had just been following behind the Guards, had vanished. Just as Tang Fan had a deep understanding of Sui Zhou, Sui Zhou had a deep understanding of Tang Fan. He had known that the other would definitely do all that he could to stall for time in wait for their rescue. The only issue had been exactly how they would cross paths. Thus, Sui Zhou had ordered Qian Sanr to copy the cry of the monster, drawing Li Mans group over to the main hall. Such was how the previous scenario came to be. Li Man laughed aloud. I once heard Old Li say that youre quite smart, cracking cases like a god of justice. Now that Ive seen it, you really havent let your reputation down! I fell right into your hands from the beginning! My loss is no injustice! The Old Li he referred to had been the former steward of the Lis. Hed had a good relationship with Tang Fan, but was later burned alive in the Li home. Tang Fan shook his head. This official doesnt feel the least bit of honor getting praised by you. Li Man sneered. Unfortunately, youve guessed wrongly. This isnt the headquarters of the White Lotus Society, just a branch temple, at best. If you want to use this to get a promotion, Im afraid youll be disappointed! Im not really disappointed. To not reciprocate favors goes against courtesy; I just confessed the ins and outs of what happened to you, so isnt it your turn now? Ask away. Ill say what I know. Li Man was straight to point, and switched to being very happy to be after finding he had no way to resist. With the Brocade Guards watching him like hawks nearby, he had no desire in the least to test out their techniques. Tang Fan wasnt going to ask him about why he had shown up here and other such nonsense. That could all be left for later discussion. The most urgent topics right now were How many Society followers are hiding out here? Where are the others, apart from you three? And did you all set this monster free? We had about thirty to begin with, but after randomly finding this place, the majority of us were lost in a fight with the monster. Now, theres only five left. Three are here, two are outside. Theyre the ones who were leading you all away. As for the monster Li Man glanced at them all. Thats a tomb guardian. Out of Li Mans tale, they came to learn that there was a passage connecting this vault and the Luo, with a stone door in the middle that was opened and closed by a mechanism. Whenever the Luos water level dropped, the door would open, the tomb guardian would return to the Luo, and the door would close. Then, when the water level rose, the door would open again, where the tomb guardian would return to the vault from the river. The tomb guardian hadnt started out as a tomb guardian, of course. It had probably been some beast that had swum from the Yellow River to the Luo, then had simply been used by the ancients two thousand years ago as a guardian to prevent grave robbery. Li Mans group had been wanting to tomb raid, only to inadvertently find this Nation of Gong vault. Even though they all had been tossed into a crushing defeat with disastrous losses, there had been extremely abundant funerary tributes inside. Tossing away those bronze artifacts that they had believed held no worth, the gold, silver, and jewels alone could be congregated together to stack up high in a side-chamber. That sort of wealth was emotionally moving. Following the loss of the financial source that the Southside Gang had been, the Society had just-so-happened to be in need of a large amount of supplemental income. Li Mans group had been eager to make contributions. After the loss of so many people, they had finally figured out the pattern to the tomb guardians appearances, and tried to get the treasures together, preparing to smuggle them out. However, they had already invoked the ferocity of the guardian, hence why, starting from a year ago, the people of Luo River Village had been hearing that bizarre crying from time to time it was being made by the guardian. Tang Fan and them had already known that in order to discover the wailings source, the village had sent two batches of people out. The first six had gone and not returned; they had all believed that river gods were acting up, but the truth was that the Society had moved to silence them. Amongst the second batch had been bailiffs from the county capital, as well as the villages chief, and they had been led into a thiefs cave. Li Man had originally wanted to use them as food for the guardian, but he had feared that these people disappearing would draw more attention from the authorities, so he had intentionally released the already-insane bailiff and the old chief. After that, he had used the old chiefs grandson to threaten him, forcing him to feign madness and tell the people of the world that there were gods in the river. With that, everyones attention would have been shifted away, thus causing them to not notice the thiefs cave below, and giving Li Mans group more time to move the valuables. Yet, they could not have foreseen that Qian Sanrs group of grave robbers would come excavating at that point in time, open another entrance into the Song tomb, and thus discover the Nation of Gong vault beneath it. What came after that could be completed with logic. Li Man and the rest had used the same method to get rid of the thieves, yet had overlooked Qian Sanr, the fish that had slipped the net by being outside. That had resulted in Tang Fans group mining a lot of clues out of him, then going down themselves to slay the tomb guardian. None of this had been predicted by Li Man. Had these people arrived a few days later, he and the others would have fled with their loot without any hitches, and their counterparts would have solely encountered the vicious tomb guardian once they descended. The calculations of humans were inferior to those of the Heavens. Despite his complete plan, he hadnt been able to cover every base. A slight negligence in the finer details had turned into the cause of todays failure. He hadnt expected that the imperial ambassador the Court would send would be his old friend, Tang Fan. He also hadnt expected that with the huge pile of dead folk preceding them, this bunch of people would still be willing to brave the dangers of the tomb, having no fear of death. He further hadnt expected that they would have long made ample preparations, even getting an approximate feel for the grave vaults layout prior to their descent. Having suffered a slice wound on his back, the feeling of blood loss was making darkness appear before him. After explaining all of that, his mouth became even more parched, and he was weak all over. All of a sudden, Yin Yuanhua raised his foot and viciously kicked him. Where did you hide away all those treasures?! With his bound hands, Li Man got kicked to the ground out of nowhere, yet he wasnt angry, only panting harshly. If I tell, will you spare my life? Grudging that these guys had just hogtied him, Yin Yuanhua sneered at that. You lot plan to rebel and cause chaos to the realm! Not killing nine generations of your family would be good enough as it is, yet you want to ensure your life? If you dont tell, you can just wait to lose that life here and now! Like he had heard a massive joke, Li Man immediately bust out laughing, the pain from his wound making his grin distort. What are you laughing at?! Yin Yuanhua shuddered from his laughing, but still wanted to kick him again, only to get stopped by Sui Zhou. Li Man laughed without restraint, tears even leaking out of his eyes. He gave Yin Yuanhua an eerie smile. Im laughing at your stupidity! Me saying all that was just to stall you so that I can live longer, but for all of you, your time of death is here! As if to collaborate with him, the second he said that, a strange wailing noise came from beyond the stone door. Everyones expressions changed. He kept laughing. I said before that the tomb guardian moves with the scent of blood, and is most sensitive to its smell! My blood drew it over! You know everything thats gone on, but youre still going to end up dying here! A banging sound came from outside the door, like some force was smashing against it. It was only probing, at first, but as the other party felt out how strong the door was, it used more force. The hall itself even shook a bit from the hits, much ash falling down in hisses. Li Man still laughed. The secrets of this place will remain concealed forever! None of you will be getting out! The back of his head was slapped hard by Pang Qi. Arent you going to die here, too?! Cut the shit and think of something! The other grinned evilly. The Holy Societys grace to me is as heavy as a mountain. Without it, there would be no wealthy Li Man! The time has come for me to repay that favor! If I can get this many of you buried with me, my death will be no loss! While he spoke, the stone door was struck hard again. The door relied on wit to be opened. For humans, that wasnt hard, but for animals, the door was an impeding obstacle. However, the tomb guardian outside obviously had some wisdom in it; after discovering that its continuous strikes werent working, it gradually stopped its offense and switched to other ways to try. Those inside the room had believed that even though they couldnt get out for the time being, the tomb guardian outside couldnt get in, either, so as long as they waited for a good amount of time, it would leave on its own after it lost patience. Yet, when they saw the door get slowly pushed open, they couldnt help but feel utter dread. A black claw as sharp as a birds talon, yet several times larger than an ordinary one came searching through the crack in the door. With how strong the creature was, being snatched by such a claw would likely make ones head explode messily. That thought made everyones hearts pound hard. Go and hold the door! Sui Zhou shouted. There was no need for him to say that, really, as many had long since rushed forward to firmly block the gate with their bodies. Still, the force beyond was much too great, and everyone putting their tremendous strength into it was only barely enough to push the door back shut. Before they could sigh in relief, it was struck hard again! Many were still pressed against it, and their limbs were shaken numb at once, leaving them powerless. Another hit came! Another! Yet another! Cannons at the ready! Sui Zhou ordered. At that reminder, many remembered that they were still equipped with hand cannons. The Guards carrying them quickly filled their insides with gunpowder, aimed at the door tensely, and waited solely for its collapse when it could no longer be held back But ill events seemed to happen whenever they wanted to. Before they were fully ready, the stone could no longer withstand the massive force of the impacts, breaking into two chunks with a bang. It fell backwards, those without time to dodge getting crushed at once. Accompanying the complete destruction of the door, a burst of noxious wind struck them all in the face, the stench nearly making them vomit. The sole candle in the hall extinguished completely in its wake, too. Fortunately, before that had happened, Sui Zhou had already ordered for four flamesticks to be lit and thrown into each corner, making it so that in this moment, they were at last able to see the face of the tomb guardian Li Man had spoken of, a black figure accompanied by stinking wind. The beast was not that tall, but it was long and stout, with a long neck. Its entire body length was about three or four times that of a grown mans. It was covered in black scales, its ghastly white teeth and massive maw making its biting force clear to them all. Two blood-red eyes were embedded in its head raised high, which slowly turned to glare malevolently at everyone present, as if it was already taking them for a feast. It had scales and no horns, but its limbs had claws. It resembled a snake, yet wasnt a snake, and was several times bigger than an alligator. A name suddenly flashed past in Tang Fans head, but that thing had originally been recorded in a book of oddities from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. No one had spotted one in person for centuries. He was surprised to find one appear here today. He wasnt feeling a bit of excitement at seeing a creature of legend, however. The hall had turned into chaos from the monsters appearance. Its body was firmly blocking the doorway, with even the slightest movement of its head or tail stirring the humans up into disarray. A sharp spring-gilt sabre slashed down upon those black scales, but they werent chipped, while the sabre that could be used to chop firewood was instead bent and curled. The beasts tail swept over. A Guard was instantly sent flying, after which he landed heavily upon the floor, his status unknown. Sui Zhou took advantage of when the monster was contending with the others to leap onto its back. The creature appeared to be angered, opening its mouth and letting out a shrill cry it was not a roar, but the ghostly wailing they had heard countless times before. The sound echoed around the stone chamber, causing ones ears to buzz and hairs to stand on end. Accompanied by a loud, dull boom, the gunpowder in the four cannons ignited, then exploded outwards, each summarily hitting the beast. However, under everyones expectant watch, the monsters cry just got sharper as it became all the more irritated. With the momentum of a lightning bolt, it honed in on one of the Guards with a cannon, then opened its putrid mouth. Aaaaaaaaaahhhh! The Guards scream abruptly cut off. His arm and half of his shoulder had been torn clean off, blood quickly spurting out of it and splashing onto the face of his unsuspecting comrade next to him. Everyone had to stop and blankly watch this spectacle. With such frightening offensive strength, all of them put together wouldnt even be its match! When they had heard Li Man say that he had lost over twenty people, they hadnt taken that seriously, but now, it seemed like his statement had not been an exaggeration at all. Another round! Sui Zhou bellowed, snapping the staring people out of it. Pang Qi snatched the cannon out of the hands of a subordinate next to him, shouting, Fill it! The next instant, the beasts tail thrashed over to them, and they had to tuck and roll with the cannon in hand, dodging desperately. Within this chaos, martial-arts-less people like Tang Fan and Yin Yuanhua could do nothing but dodge everywhere and do all they could to not add to the confusion for the Guards. If they landed into trouble as well, even more people would be implicated. Seeing that the four flamesticks were about to go out, Tang Fan found some time to light more up and toss them around. On the other side, the cannons fired once more, striking the monster right on its tail. Flashes filled the air, giving off more dull sounds. Despite the beasts scales helping out and making it unafraid of firearms, the force of impact still made its enormous body quake. Snatching this extremely rare opportunity, Sui Zhou, who had been trying hard to steady himself this whole time, jumped up the beasts body, raised his sabre high, and pierced it right into one of its eyeballs! Hyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Its screech sounded like a womans howls. The enraged creature threw him off. Attack the abdomen! he shouted. The Guards raised their sabres and hopped up. By means of the monsters one blind eye, excruciating pain, and disordered movements, the blades went to hack towards its stomach, the softest part of its entire body. In spite of the injured animal not being as nimble as it had been, its strength got even greater. Under its crazed flailing, the Guards couldnt get close at all. Many of them were even stepped on or slashed by the monsters claws, getting bones broken and spewing blood. The power of the two sides was not equal in the least. Even if they had the power of numbers on their side, this situation was as dangerous as ever. They had come here specifically to kill any monsters, hence why Sui Zhou had gotten the cannons; in this day and age, having firearms was basically tantamount to being invincible, making even the Mongol cavalry a cinch, but none of them had anticipated that even the cannons wouldnt have any effect on this beast. Their opponent was protected by an armor of scales, its only weakpoints the belly and eyes. On top of that, it had no loss in agility despite its size, its attack power just as potent. It was hard for them to find chances to attack, too, as that eyeball hadnt been ruined easily. Still, now that they knew its weakness, there was following hope for a resolution. That lone remaining eyeball was seen to glare more ferociously and bloodily than before. Roaring like mad in the hall, it waved its tail and claws, reaping living things wherever it went, like a sickle. Yin Yuanhua was shaking against a wall. All of a sudden, those claws came slashing over he was deathly pale, staring blankly, forgetting to react. Right then, Tang Fan reached over and pulled him out of the way. Yin Yuanhua stumbled, barely avoiding the claws, which acutely cut across the wall and left three deep gashes. Had he still been there, there would be a slashed-open carcass there right now. He dazedly leaned against the wall to catch his breath, as if disbelieving that he had just escaped calamity. Go to an antechamber! Tang Fan hollered, a contrast to his typical elegance. He had just put a lot of strength into pulling Yin Yuanhua away, his complexion currently not much better-looking than the others. However, danger swiftly descended yet again. The tomb guardian appeared to notice that there were two humans that were easier to deal around. With a twist of its head, its giant mouth opened, its fangs close enough to touch. The timeframe of Tang Fan rescuing Yin Yuanhua, to the beast turning its head, was like an eternity passing in the blink of an eye! It was impossible for the guardian beast to chomp down on two people at once; its first target was Yin Yuanhua. The man was as wan as ever, but his response time seemed to be a little faster now. It was too late to flee. The monsters figure was much bigger than them, and had already cut off their means of escape. Yin Yuanhua finally reacted he elected to pull Tang Fan in front while hiding himself behind him, intending to use him as a meat shield to slow the monsters momentum, after which he would plot to flee. In this split seconds worth of time, no one had expected that he would do something like this. There was no time for Tang Fan to avoid it. He watched as his shoulder was apparently about to be bitten off like that one Guards before him, but the glint of a sabre flashed before his eyes as the beasts teeth came down upon a sabre! Sui Zhou! At this critical moment, Sui Zhou had dashed over to provide aid, using his spring-gilt sabre to block the beasts momentum! The sabre caused the beasts soft mouth to be stained with blood. It furiously bit on the blade, then gave it a vicious flick, immediately slamming Sui Zhou against the wall. The latter fell down hard, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Guangchuan! Tang Fan threw himself over to help him up, eyes so wide, they were about to split open. Sui Zhous complexion was like joss paper, his eyes shut tight. His internals had likely suffered injury, as he didnt even have the strength to speak for a time. The warm body in Tang Fans arms was very close, but in that second, he felt the fear and uncertainty that he was about to lose him. In the first half of his life, his parents had passed early, and his older sister had married far off. He had believed himself to be alone in the world; worry-free, uninhibited. He had believed that if he couldnt handle being an official, he could just hang up his cap and leave, and that there was nothing in this world that he couldnt let go of. It was only now that he realized how heavily he valued this man in his heart so heavily, he couldnt bear the thought of losing him. Right then, Yin Yuanhua noticed that the monster had come away from the doorway, and couldnt help but be delighted, running out without delay. Seeing this, Pang Qi shouted, This monster is too strong! We need to draw back, then find troops and He didnt get to finish, as a horrible scream came from outside the door. It was Yin Yuanhua! Before anyone could react, a head flew inside, spinning as it rolled on the ground. Yin Yuanhua had died with his eyes open. Theres another one outside! Pang Qi sharply shouted. Inside the passageway enshrouded with dense darkness, unknown perils looked to be buried. This one alone was hard enough to deal with, yet there was another one? These beasts were so sly. One swept the inside while another kept watch outside, firmly confining them here with no escape. A dark shadow rose up in everyones hearts. Right. Li Man had only said that the tomb guardian existed, not that there might be multiple! Tang Fan realized that he himself had made an error. He had underestimated Li Man. Because the man had fallen into his hands last time, he had seen the man as a run-of-the-mill figure. Little had he known that behind his seemingly-vulnerable admittance, he had kept many things hidden. If the White Lotus Societys true power was actually that weak, how could the Court be having such trouble in completely getting rid of it? Li Man had probably anticipated these circumstances long ago, awaiting all of their deaths here! And what of Li Man himself, now? At this moment, he was making use of this chaotic scene, where no one had attention to spare him. He had run to the coffin, and was attempting to push its lid off with his upper body. The translator says: *looks at YYHs death* Anyways. So, its not an alligator, but a giant monitor lizard? A megalania? Which went extinct millions of years ago? And its also thousands of years old? MXS explain. Why an immortal dinosaur here. CH 67 Chaos was already in the large hall. The hand cannons could not be fired continuously, requiring refills after every shot of gunpowder, which took time. The monster was nimble, making it difficult to aim at, and any bit of inattention got somebody injured. Sui Zhou had collapsed unconscious, meaning that commanding authority had been transferred to Pang Qi. Using the interim of the monsters single-eye blindness, the remaining Brocade Guards stood shoulder-to-shoulder, welcoming its stomach with their successive weapons. They werent so easy to land, however, and many were sent flying instantly. The coffin placed in the center of the hall was supposed the be the resting place of the Gong noble. Its lid was extremely heavy, to the point that in normal times, pushing it with both arms might not even work. As of right now, neither of Li Mans arms were of use, so he was using his body to push, which wasnt moving it at all. On account of the chaos here, everyone else was focusing on pouring their energy into dealing with the monsters grand appearance, with practically no one having the free time to care about him. The coffin had been liable to be affected from being in the middle, but because the candle on it had previously been extinguished, the current illumination was primarily congregated on the flamesticks strewn about everywhere. In order to be able to see the monsters weakpoints with higher accuracy, everyone was both consciously and subconsciously leading it to those. That made things easier for Li Man. The two underlings he had arrived with had since died; one had been used as a shield by him, and the other had been hooked in the chest and hung up on the spot by the monsters claws. Li Man clearly did not put their status to mind he was wholeheartedly using his upper half to push the lid off, only wishing that he could be a little faster. Unfortunately, he had been tied up into a meaty zongzi. He had to occasionally take a look at the situation around him to defend against the monster racing up before him, making him sweat profusely out of anxiety. However, just because practically no one was paying attention to him didnt mean that absolutely no one was. In the middle of his use of force, he suddenly got picked up from behind, then knocked straight to the ground. What do you think youre doing?! The next instant, he was slapped hard. Half of his face immediately swelled into looking like a pigs head, just as he had done to Tang Fan not long before. The karmic cycle of retribution really did its work. Li Man was enraged, but once he saw the others face, that anger turned to joy. Little brother, dont hit me, dont! You dont want to die, right? I know how to escape, but dont tell! he lisped out. Qian Sanr looked at him skeptically. His face suddenly changed, and then he dragged him to the side, barely managing to avoid the tomb guardians sweeping tail. Not only did that very powerful tail have scales on it, but they were sharp enough to pierce; getting swiped by it really wouldnt be any fun. Qian Sanr pressed him into a corner and slapped him again. Werent you just being all showy?! Why are you a coward now?! If it wasnt for you, my Master and them wouldnt be dead! Li Man had gone light-headed from the trashing. On any other day, he would have long started cussing, but he now forced down his fury to pull out a warped smile. Theyre dead, but youre still alive. Do you want to die here like them? Another monsters outside! How could I escape?! Theres a way. You just need to untie my binds first. Ignore him having just put on a righteous air, where hed said that he lived and died for the Holy Society; even ants still desired to live. People like Li Man where the more they had, the more they feared death would never let go of a thread of survival, so long as it existed. Since he feared death, how could he not have a follow-up move after attracting the beast here? Right now, Tang Fan was busy with checking the state of Sui Zhous injury, and had no time to care about them over there. Li Man had contended with him several times, so he was well aware of how top-class smart he was; previously, the other had just been blinded by the situation, and thus had been a bit careless. Once Tang Fan came to, he would definitely poke through his little scheme, and then Li Man really would die without a proper burial. Such was why, no matter what, Li Man needed to use this moment of opportunity to flee and leave the others to brawl with the tomb guardian. He had faith that the creatures ferocity was capable of slaughtering this group in totality. When the time came, he would try to get the valuables out again, and the governments people could never even think to catch them again in the wide open world! Qian Sanr was a thief, not an authority. Li Man was consciously aware that it would be childs play to entice him. Youve already learned that Im the Vicar of the Societys Henan branch temple. As long as you follow me, youll never have to steal ever again, let alone be ordered around and trampled on by these Court thugs. Quick, untie me! The others guard was not slackened, but he slowly got a moved look in his eyes. Tell me where the exit is, first. Li Man coldly laughed on the inside, but said sincerely, No harm in telling you. That coffin was hollowed out a long time ago; theres a road beneath that can take you straight to the Luo. Someone would pick us up, then. Qian Sanr grabbed him by the collar. Dont lie to me! If the vaults connected to the river, water would flood it, and Im no duck! Moron! No one said it was in the river! As soon as Li Man said that, he got slapped again, his back molars popping loose. Qian Sanr was glaring at him. You still got the fucking guts to insult me?! Li Man gulped down his annoyance. Im not lying to you, little brother. The other end is connected to the riverbank. Its a bit far, but its perfectly safe. Qian Sanr was half doubtful. Didnt the monster swim in from the river, though? Before I came in, I saw that the Luos water level was about to rise. What if it gets out and chases after us? Li Man grinned menacingly. Did you forget that theres still people outside? Those two are my close confidantes. I made arrangements a while ago; as long as we leave, theyll all be dying here, regardless of whether the shitheads are human or beast! That huge pile of treasures in the Gong vault has long been hidden away by us. You saw those things all scattered on the ground before, right? How could the real valuables ever be comparable to those gewgaws? Come with me, and youll have glory, wealth, and anything else you could desire! Qian Sanr gave an I see, nodding. Li Mans heart burned with anxiety. Now youll release me, right? What does gewgaw mean? Li Man nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. At last, he learned that this punk had been playing him all along. He had probably just been eking stuff out of him with no intention to set him free from the get-go! Unfortunately, he had realized that fact too late Qian Sanr had already taken a dagger out and stabbed him viciously in the heart! Li Mans eyes widened incredulously. Unto his own death, he couldnt comprehend why Qian Sanr would want to kill him. The latter drew the dagger out of the mans chest, the blood from his heart splashing onto his face, which was wiped off along with his tears. Master, Ive finally avenged you, he muttered to himself. He then stood up quickly, shouting at Tang Fan and the others. Sir Tang, Li Man said that theres an exit to the Luo in the coffin! We dont need to escape to the outside! When the crowd heard this, their vigor was revitalized. At the start, everyone had thought that there was only one way out, yet that door was firmly blocked. Knowing that even if they managed to kill the tomb guardian using all of their might, there was another one keeping watch outside, they had gradually come to despair. Now, though, Qian Sanrs words had given them hope for survival. Pang Qi, dont be eager for battle! Fight as you retreat! Tang Fan yelled. In the hall, where the tomb guardians body crashed around, the sound of whistling wind mixed in with its shrill cry. Even though it was injured, the humans here were kind of in over their heads. The guardian waiting outside in preparation to nab the finished products lost its patience, leaning its body in slightly to scout things out, showing off its horrifying fangs as it took in the humans with blood-red eyes. Pang Qi found time to turn and roar with vigor, Sir, how is he doing?! He wont die! Tang Fan put Sui Zhou on his back, then ran for the coffin. Qian Sanr was already there and forcefully pushing its lid off, which revealed wooden boards inside. He lifted them away to see that there was indeed a dark hole down below, becoming excited. Theres a way down, Sir Tang! Li Man didnt lie to us! he called over his shoulder. Lets go! Tang Fan ordered. Everyone steadily began to move in close to the center of the hall. The two creatures seemed to sense their plan. Carrying slicing, stinking wind, they pounced towards them. The injured one in particular grew more prominently crazed, its attacking power a bit stronger than before. Pang Qi and them slowly became suppressed, yet another Guard bit right in the throat due to not having time to dodge. Pang Qis eyes were red, but there was nothing he could do. The fighting strength of the two sides was simply on on the same level. Right then, a loud noise came from the distance, shaking even the ground beneath their feet and nearly knocking them over. The two beasts that had been about to attack the crowd paused slightly after this fright. Tang Fans face twisted up. He finally realized what Li Mans plan had been, but he couldnt explain much at the moment, only able to shout, Lets go, now! This place is probably going to collapse soon! Qian Sanr headed down the hole first, then turned to help Tang Fan, who passed Sui Zhou down. Are you still not coming?! Tang Fan shouted at Pang Qi. The latter still wanted to make use of the monsters injury to kill it, but after the other one came in, he knew that that goal was pretty much impossible to achieve. He was sourly forced to give up and retreat the whole way to the coffins vicinity. Using the time the beasts were startled, their group successively moved themselves through the hole. At the same time, the shaking of the whole vault was getting worse and worse, with even the walls and ground splitting apart at a rate visible to the eye. Loud sounds came, one after the other, both near and far, practically shattering the eardrums from the force. The two scared tomb guardians began to scramble around all over the place. Upon seeing Tang Fan and the rest evacuate one by one, they couldnt resist letting out shrieks and thinking to catch up with them. The rearmost Pang Qi threw his spring-gilt sabre right on over, slightly hindering their progress, then hunched his shoulders as he made his way into the coffin. Behind him, with the accompaniment of a harsh rumbling, the stone walls of the hall exploded and fell, bringing rocks overhead down with them that firmly crushed down upon the coffin, thus completely separating them from the horrifying cries of the tomb guardians. Within the long and narrow tunnel, the sound of everybodys panting rose and fell consecutively, nearly filling the ears. The exploding sounds seemed distant, but the underground tunnel was still getting influenced by them, the tremors a constant thing. Cracked bits of stone were continuously falling upon their heads, some slightly larger ones drawing blood. Quick! If were too slow, this place might cave in! Tang Fan urged. Qian Sanr walked ahead with Sui Zhou on his back, while Tang Fan helped attend in the rear. Due to Sui Zhous protection, he had not been too gravely injured, but his accumulated, fragmentary little wounds were not few. Adding that on with his seriously overdrawn physical strength, his complexion was not any sort of better than the rests. To be more accurate, if he wasnt being propped up by one current of thought, he probably would have long fallen over. Still, no one felt that the martials-arts-less Tang Fan was a burden, because if it hadnt been for his advance plans, there would be even fewer of them walking here now. The White Lotus Society had put a lot of effort into this place. The passageway had been dug out much wider and higher than Qian Sanrs groups tunnel from before, making it not that hard to walk through. Presumably, they had been watching the Gong nobles vault like tigers starting from a year ago, getting to it from the very start. The hindrance of needing to move the valuables away ahead of time had prevented them from blowing the vault up until right now. By ill fate, they had run into Qian Sanr and Tang Fan, one after the other, which had led to their intended harm backfiring on them, with even Li Man getting buried inside. Their strategies and calculations had been too clever, and had ended up taking their lives. That was all. Qian Sanr had since informed Tang Fan of what Li Man had said prior to his death. Considering the veracity of Li Mans words, all day long he had toyed with him, even concealing the burial of gunpowder in the vault unto his death, wanting to kill them all in the explosion along with the beasts. In light of such, Tang Fan dared not fully believe anything that he had said. Even so, Li Man saying that the passage led outside and that people were waiting to greet them should be the truth. On account of Li Mans self-serving personality, those valuables had to have been set right beneath his nose for him to be at ease. There was no way he would have allowed his fellows to run off with them without him. While walking forth, Tang Fan would occasionally search out Sui Zhous pulse, after which he would feel relief at the beat beneath his fingers. The group wasnt sure how long they walked until Qian Sanr suddenly stopped in his tracks. There looks to be an exit up ahead, Sir. He set Sui Zhou down, went over, and had a feel around. It seems to be blocked by something. Tang Fan motioned for everyone to be quiet. Asking for Qian Sanr to come and look after Sui Zhou, he switched places with him and groped the wall around. This was indeed the end, and the only exit was here. He painstakingly felt for the object pressing on the exit outside, lightly tapped it, and put his hand under his nose and sniffed. Thats a chest. It should be for storing clothes. Qian Sanr was confused. How do you know its a clothes chest? Its pear wood. In general, people dont use this type of wood to store miscellaneous items, so it has to be a chest. If the contents are too heavy, then it would have been hard for Li Mans group to get out. Plus, from what I just smelled, the scent of camphor oil is still on it, meaning that it has to be used for storing things that are likely to get eaten by insects, which can only mean clothes. Qian Sanr near about prostrated himself on the ground in admiration to him. He had felt around a long time, himself, yet he hadnt found anything. Upon hearing Tang Fan speak now, he had a sudden feeling of epiphany. Looking at Pang Qi and the Guards, they had obviously long gotten used to Sir Tangs fine scrutiny and knowledge that no one else could achieve. Tang Fan had no idea that he had gained another admirer. He helped Sui Zhou up, adjusted him into a comfortable position so that he could easily lean into his arms, then said to the rest of them, Outside should be a stronghold of the Society. While we were walking, I paid close attention to the distance and direction; the building ought to be located in the outskirts, accordingly. What isnt certain is if theres any Society troops outside, and if so, how many. Influenced by the vaults gunpowder, the tunnel had been raining rocks down this whole time, the force of the tremors getting greater and greater. It was unknown how much tremendously powerful gunpowder Li Mans group had hidden for it to have this effect. Everyone bore with this stifling aura. Remaining inside this passageway that was in danger of collapsing at any time was not an easy task. Many of them had lost too much blood and were beginning to teeter. Graver cases that were unconscious like, Sui Zhou, could only be carried by comrades with less severe injuries. These despotic Guards had likely never been in as sorry a state as this ever since their entry into the Northern Bastion Office. Over twenty people had gone in, and now there were only about eighteen left in this tunnel; though, compared to Li Mans tragedy, this was apparently not that bad. The departed were done, but the alive still had to do all they could to keep living. Sir, lets charge out! There might still be a way for us to survive! Pang Qi had to say. Tang Fan just shook his head. No. Use a sabre to cut the box open along the holes opening. If theres clothes in it, it wont make much noise when it falls. After that, we can take cover, observe for a bit, then act. Pang Qi felt that this method was much too unmanly, compelled to protest. Why take such trouble? Many of us cant hold on for much longer! The more we drag this out, the smaller our chances of success are! Tang Fan stopped all protests with one single sentence. Guangchuan handed you all over to me, and Im going to have as many of you survive as my abilities will allow. *** This was a long-deserted little village on the Luos banks. Some year way back, the river had overflowed, sparing not even one of the villages crops, which had resulted in the villagers all gradually moving out. Over the course of time, no one lived in these few run-down homes anymore. Wu Laosi had been here for nearly half a year, but he hadnt been the first to come. At the time of his arrival, there had already been the smoke of civilization around. White Lotus followers with his status had been ordered to disguise themselves as villagers coming to settle down here. Piloting a few small boats to fish every day at sunrise, then resting at sunset, they looked no different from regular commonfolk. The only real difference was that they had to keep a sharp eye out, paying attention at all times for the possible appearance of suspicious people peeping nearby. As for the aim in them keeping watch, or the time when they would be able to leave, Wu Laosi hadnt a clue. Those were not things that members of their level were to know. Two months after his friend and he had come here, several others had come in succession. One among them had been an alluring young woman escorted by a throng of people, who had gone inside the home that had been tidied up the best in the village. Wu Laosi and the rest of them had never been allowed to approach that house. They had guessed at her identity more than once in private, using vulgar jargon that only a certain type of man could understand. They all knew that she had to be an important figure in the Society; perhaps she was the Vicars wife. No matter what her status was, it had nothing to do with them. They werent able to say even one word to her, and ever since she had entered that house, she had been a recluse. People were always coming and going outside, and frequently went in and out of that building, yet she had rarely come out. In result, theyd had all kinds even more obscene versions of their guesses. The sunset clouds today were gorgeous and dazzling, not much different from any other time. He had long been sick of seeing sights like this. He hauled his boat ashore lazily while carefully watching for any suspicious strangers near, as he was accustomed to. Everything was as usual. He had no idea how long it had been since he had last gone for a romp. If he could, he would have long trampled this boat beneath his feet, gone right into the city, and found a few women to put out his fire. Nothing was to be done, though. He had been ordered to keep watch here, and without orders, he wasnt allowed to step one foot outside. Why had the higher-ups insisted upon making them wait around in this lousy place?! Wu Laosi was both curious and a bit indignant, but he wasnt qualified, or bold enough, to go find a Cleric to comment. These thoughts could only twist around in his head. His hands kept going as they typically did, shaking out a few fish that were not much bigger than shrimps from his net while greeting his friend that had also beached nearby. His companion lowered his voice. Come to my place tonight. Ill get a bottle of wine! As soon as he heard that, Wu Laosis eyes quickly lit up. However, the next second, there came a shriek from that mystery house not too far away! It was the young womans voice! His heart jumped in alarm, and he subconsciously looked at his friend. As average followers, their skills were also quite average. Unlike the higher echelons, Wu Laosi had no thoughts towards rebellion, nor did he have any notion to dare to get a new sky to house the sun and moon.[1] His original goal in entering the Society had been simple: to simply have a strong backer and eat well in his life. People like this were the most practical and perceptive. While something was happening in the small house, Wu Laosi and his friend were thinking of not how to rush to the rescue, but how to try and escape. Immediately after this, they were dumbstruck to witness the most unforgettable scene of their lives: over a dozen people dressed in flying-fish robes and wielding spring-gilt sabres charged out of the house, slaughtering Society-goers that threw themselves at the hut, like flying hawks! Wait a second! They had clearly seen only about three people in the house, all of whom had been Clerics of this localitys branch temple, and influential in rank. How did they get swapped out for Brocade Guards in such short order?! Could that house transform people?! Watching the two sides fight into a mess, the two looked at each other, hesitating on whether they should go up and help out, or just run from the discouraging situation. Quickly, they found that despite the Guards visible ferocity, after eliminating the experts in the house, they had gradually begun to lose strength. What do you think, Laosi? Should we go help? No! Wu Laosi answered, not even needing to think about it. Not one Cleric has come out of that house, so they definitely all got killed! Those are Brocade Guards! Something big might have happened in the Society. Our lives are important, so lets not get mixed up in it. We should find a chance to slip away. His friend thought that correct, too. Honestly, they had accumulated several private residences these years, their hearts having long broken away from the Society. Because of its strict regulations, however, they had never had such an opportunity. There was nothing good about stubbornly opposing the government; they couldnt comprehend the thoughts of those above them, and were not interested in devoting themselves to the Holy Society. Plotting together, the two used the chaos to sneak away, go far away to the South, then start small businesses, take wives, and sire children, which was a story for later. On the small houses end, the mysterious young woman Wu Laosi and them had seen every day was actually Lady Chen, who Li Man had brought to the Li home many, many days ago, claiming to have taken her as a concubine. She was also the older sister of Lady Ninth, the envoy of the White Lotus Overseer Tang Fan had met in the capitals outskirts. No one would have ever thought that inside this originally-abandoned village, there was an underground passage going right to a Gong nobles vault beneath Eternal Deep, the entrance to which Lady Chen had been guarding. After she had birthed a son for Li Man, she had handed the child over to a nearby farmer to raise while she watched the house, as well as the large amount of treasures that Li Man had moved over from the grave vault. The appointed time had long passed while Li Man and the rest were slow to show. Lady Chen hadnt dared to go looking, as she feared the tomb guardians inside. After lounging around for a very long time, she had determined that they had died in there, then couldnt help but get the idea to embezzle the treasure. She was wanton by nature, differing from women of conventional families. After she had latched onto Li Man, that nature had been slightly curbed, but the man had ultimately been in his fifties. No matter how good his disguise and illusory techniques had been, his physical prowess had never compared to that young men. Now that the man was likely dead, she had lost her misgivings and deliberately seduced several of his subordinate Clerics. With her graceful figure, there came to be no man that had resisted the bait. Therefore, when Tang Fans group had found this place, she was in the middle of going at it with those several men, not even aware of what day it was. Li Man probably hadnt been aware unto his death that his woman would go mingling with other men in the blink of an eye. If he had, he might have been able to rage himself back to life, then rage himself back into death. Following a moment of speechlessness, this had been easy pickings for the Guards. Taking advantage of the battle royale on the bed, they had jumped out, killing Lady Chens cuckolds before any of them had time to react. In order to capture Lady Chen alive, the Guards had made an oversight, which had given her the chance to scream and attract the followers outside. The two sides had quickly begun to fight, the battle fierce, blades flashing all around and blood splattering everywhere. According to logic, the followers shouldnt be the Guards matches, but they had been physically spent prior to this. They were unable to fight as hard as they could have, looking like their limbs were tied up. Tang Fans skills were nothing, making it impossible for him to mix in with it and be an obstruction. He could only watch from the side, clapping Qian Sanr on the shoulder. You did great today! We were lucky to have you! Qian Sanr was a bit taken aback by this favor. Ever since his childhood, he had followed his Master in doing various sorts of thievery, all of which had gone against the authorities. Now that he had received acclamation from an imperial ambassador, he was immediately so excited, he couldnt tell which way was North. Th-th-this lowly one is really undeserving of accepting your praise, S-Sir! Seeing him get so excited, a slight smile appeared on Tang Fans weary face. You werent fooled by Li Man into following him into the swamp. Thats enough to prove that youre not a bad person. Your Master is no longer around, so dont do those piecemeal crimes anymore. If you walk too much at night, youll inevitably meet ghosts; when we go back, you should find an honorable occupation. The other suddenly knelt down before him. I never wanted to do those black-hearted things, but I cant do anything aside from them. Please point me towards a lighter path, Sir! This guy had immediately tried to butter him up. Tang Fan wasnt revolted, instead thinking him quite clever and of decent heart, someone with promise. Well talk more on it when we get back. Once he said that, Qian Sanr knew that he had agreed, immediately going over the moon. He kowtowed to him three times, going bang-bang-bang. However, his head bangs had been too forceful. The intense fighting between two forces right in front of them had failed to rouse Sui Zhou, but the sound of Qian Sanrs head meeting the ground had made him crease his brows. Tang Fan noticed the movement of the man in his arms, lowering his head to look. Guangchuan, youre awake! he called out joyfully. Are you okay?! Sui Zhou slowly opened his eyes, Tang Fans expression that was full of concern and worry entering them. Pft! What was that reaction? Was he concussed? Tang Fan couldnt help but reach out to feel the others forehead, gaze meeting with Sui Zhous smiling eyes. Mister Tang had apparently forgotten about Li Man slapping him, which had caused his not-swollen face to swell up on one side. His elegant image had been switched out for a pigs head placed upon an altar for divine sacrifice, which Sui Zhou couldnt resist laughing at the instant he opened his eyes. However, after that laugh, his heart had gotten even softer. He focused on Tang Fan as one thought slowly came to be left by itself in his mind. Its good that hes okay. Even though he himself had suffered heavy injury, it was worth it. Wheres Li Man? he asked in a hoarse voice. Dead. Qian Sanr killed him, Tang Fan answered. Qian Sanr was bashful, thinking to make a few modest remarks, but Sui Zhou didnt even glance at him. Right now, the small world in his eyes only had room for one person. Their gazes intertwined for a time, bringing about a certain ambiguity that even Tang Fan couldnt detect. Then, with Qian Sanr as a witness, Mister Tang, whose face was as thick as the Great Wall, slowly came to a blush. Hold on. Why did this seem a little weird? And just what about it was weird? Qian Sanr was endlessly confused about the right answer to those. After racking his brain for half the day, he still didnt realize that he had the option to choose: Im the third wheel here. The translator says: Qian Third Wheel Sanr must be protected. [1] From the poem Shaoshan Revisited, by, uh Mao Zedong. You know, that one despot from 400-600 years after this novel takes place. CH 68 From daybreak to twilight, County Deputy Zhao waited idly outside with the two bailiffs, not daring to walk away for a single moment out of fear that something would suddenly happen the next moment. Even their lunch had been made and delivered by the villagers. As far as the eye could see, this place was filled with weeds, wildflowers, and ruins, yet nowhere with shade. The sun wasnt too hot, but basking it in for a long time could cause dizziness. Deputy Zhao had long been used to a life of being trailed by attendants and served in his home, finding this day spent in the wilderness unbearable. But, he had to bear with it. He wasnt the same as Magistrate He; since hard-to-get imperial ambassadors had come from the capital, he wanted to work a little harder to leave good impressions on them, perhaps earning a smoother career path in the future. In spite of his strong will to get fame and fortune, his competence at tasks was far better than Magistrate Hes, else Tang Fan wouldnt have let him follow them and keep watch here. Still, after a day had passed, the three waiting outside couldnt help but feel some anxiety. Sir, you can see that its soon about to get dark. They didnt bring many provisions when they went down there. Do you think Bailiff Teng had to say. Deputy Zhao side-eyed him. Keep on talking. Why wont you say it? Wait until Mister Ambassador hears you, and then well see how you act! Bailiff Teng immediately covered his mouth and went quiet. Bailiff Di leaned in. Sir, us waiting like this isnt the way to go. Why dont we sent people down to take a look? If a contingency has happened, well be able to respond! Deputy Zhao nodded. See that, Old Teng? Old Di is speaking at a higher level than you! How about you learn a little from him?! Before Bailiff Di could shoot a smug look at Bailiff Teng, Deputy Zhao went on, Whos brave enough to go down? How about you go see, Old Di? Bailiff Dis face immediately crumbled. Sir, you mustnt pit people like this. What was below had become an area akin to an Asuras battlefield. None of the imperial ambassadors convoy had been seen to come out so far, but who would dare to go down there? A basket of gold would probably have to be weighed out for them! Deputy Zhao spat. If youre too scared, shut up and quit making noise for no reason! Old Teng, go back to the city now and report to the Magistrate. We cant keep waiting like this. If they never come out, well be getting the blame Before he could finish, the ground suddenly shook some. It didnt destabilize them, but they all felt the vibrations under their bums. Unending loud sounds came out of the thiefs cave. The three went pale from fright, exchanging looks. What one feared really would come true at a single thought of Tang Fans group remaining down there, the three of them could not sit still. I-it couldnt be that it caved in, right? Bailiff Di stammered. Bailiff Teng had a face of sorrow. What do we do, Sir?! Deputy Zhaos voice was also trembling a bit. Dont panic! Hand! Bailiff Teng cried out in alarm. Theres a hand! Bailiff Di rushed over, then tightly gripped the hand that had suddenly stuck out of the cave. The other two quickly reacted, as well, and the threes combined efforts pulled the man out. A dust-covered face appeared before them. It took Deputy Zhao a good minute to recognize him; this seemed to be a Brocade Guard named Yan Li. Not waiting for him to ask anything, the other started roaring anxiously. Go get someone to come help, now! Its all collapsed below! How are the rest of you? Deputy Zhao questioned. Below! Theyre all below! I was ordered to watch the entry point, then escaped! As soon as he heard that, Deputy Zhaos soul nearly flew out of him. If the ambassadors were below, then there was no need to even think of promotions or wealth he probably wouldnt even be guaranteed his black hat. People separately hurried to the capital and the village to get rescue forces. The villagers came quickly, but when a few brave ones had just climbed down, they heard loud bangs from inside, then quickly crawled back out in fright. Once Magistrate He, Cheng Wen, and Tian Xuan hurried over, they saw the villagers coming out of the cave, who told them that there couldnt be any survivors below. Yan Li was struck dumb on the spot. He did not believe that hex, grabbing the shovel from a villagers hand and heading back himself. Deputy Zhao grit his teeth and brought people down with him as well. One shichen later, they all came back up with ashen faces. Magistrate He scrambled up. How is it? How is it?! Deputy Zhao shook his head. The upper floor of the crypt is already mostly caved in, and the paths lower are completely blocked up. Theres no way to get there! The Magistrate turned white. What should he do, then? Was he really going to have to report to the Court that imperial ambassadors had died here? Everyone was terrified, at a loss. Bailiff Teng then came up with an idea. Didnt Sir Tang say that theres another entrance from the river thats connected to the tomb? Maybe we should go in that way to look? Bailiff Di shook his head, voice small. Do you even know where that opening is? Luos water is chaotic. Whether itll rise after going down isnt for granted. Yan Li knelt down with a plop, sobbing near the thiefs cave. Sir! This subordinate failed you! Magistrate He was about to start crying with him, too. He stroked the officials cap on his head, thinking, Black cap, ah, black cap, I dont know if Ill be able to keep wearing you in a few days time! Deputy Zhao wanted to cry even more. What had he wasted a whole day here for? If something had happened to the ambassadors, wouldnt he be in the same situation as the Magistrate?! What are you all doing? Is this a funeral? A powerless voice was heard. It meant nothing to Magistrate He and the rest of them, but it was the unbelievably familiar sound of nature to Yan Li. His crying stopped dead as he quickly turned his head to see Pang Qi walking over by himself, dragging a sabre on the ground his uniform was filthy to the point that its original colors could hardly be seen, his face was caked with blood and dirt, and he was as exhausted as a dead dog. Old Pang! Yan Li jumped up, threw himself right on over, and hugged the man. He pinched himself; it really wasnt a dream! Youre not dead?! Hearing that question, Pang Qi rolled his eyes, too lazy to explain things to him. Hurry and bring people to that abandoned village bordering the Luo and Wuluo rivers, he said directly to Magistrate He. Sir Tang, the Bastion Envoy, and the rest of our brothers are all there! Everyone was ecstatic once they heard that. They had believed that they were going to be ousted from their posts and convicted, each one of them looking to be in mourning; they had never expected this twist to develop! Are they okay? the Magistrate quickly asked. Why arent you hurrying up and going, but spouting shit to me instead?! Pang Qi roared at him. Pissing his pants from getting yelled at, Magistrate He led people away in a puff of smoke. It was finally over! Pang Qi couldnt hold on anymore. He straight-up collapsed onto his butt on the ground, leaned against Yan Li, and passed out. *** The Gong nobles vault had been completely decimated, those two tomb guardians crushed to death inside it. Li Man had originally wanted to lure Tang Fan in, make them all fight with the guardians so that both sides lost, and then make his getaway with the treasure, but the crimes he had committed had cost him his life; he had escaped Tang Fans clutches in the capital, only to still end up dying directly because of him in Henan, thousands of li away. Following the blood-spattering battle of the abandoned village, the Guards caught many White Lotus followers, but their biggest haul was Li Mans mistress, Lady Chen. When she was being brought out of the village by Magistrate Hes people, her clothes were all untidy, as she was dressed the same from when she had been pulled off of the bed, lovely and pitiful as she shivered. It caused many men to look her over with burning gazes, even the Magistrate looking at her a few times. But, without Tang Fans say-so, no one dared to converse with her. She was a wanted criminal of the Court that was going to be escorted right to the capital, and also one of the biggest harvests from this trip. Her status in the Society wasnt low; more inside information would definitely be getting scooped out of her. The treasures from the vault had been hidden in rice jars by her inside that house, all covered with thick layers of brown rice. The group had found them rather quickly. Before taking inventory and transferring the property up above, Tang Fan took out a tenth of the objects and secretly bestowed them to the Guards. He had been immersed in the bureaucracy for a long time, and understood one principle: there was no issue with adhering to your own doctrine, but you couldnt force others to do as you do. Water that was too clear would have no fish, and one that was too critical would have no friends. Were he to demand his own standards from others, he would be a lone official at best, with no competent subordinates. For the sake of this task, the Brocade Guards had nearly given up all of their lives, to say nothing of the fact that they were injured, and four Guards had indeed been buried below. Those mingling with the rougher world would be hard pressed to never suffer blows; in an occupation like theirs, they had to be mentally prepared to give up their lives at any time, but those lives still had value, and the Courts compensation was certain to not be too generous. These gifts were simply what they deserved. As the leader, Tang Fan wanted to give them thorough thoughtfulness, but also repeatedly warned them to just take the things and not speak of them, otherwise those benefits would not be kept, switched out for a crime. Everyone understood the principle of not flaunting wealth, so the Guards, of course, swore up and down that they wouldnt, becoming all the more grateful towards him. As was common knowledge, there were very few superiors that sincerely thought about their subordinates. Many civil officials put on airs and refused to walk too close to the Brocade Guards, fearing that their own value would drop, making people like Tang Fan as infrequently seen as fenghuang feathers and qilin horns. As for where Qian Sanr was going to belong, Tang Fan helped him with mulling that over. The kid had performed well in the vault, wasnt bad in character, and, most importantly, was quick-witted enough, so Tang Fan sought Sui Zhous approval in bringing Qian Sanr back to the capital. If he passed its examination, he would then be allowed to become a member of the Northern Bastion Office. If he didnt, he would be tossed to Shuntian Prefecture. Tang Fan himself had already left that place, but his bit of reputation was still quite useful. Qian Sanr was struck dizzy by this good news that had fallen from the sky, thanking him profusely and following him everywhere, like he was itching to stick on his back like a tail. The crypt had collapsed, the Song tomb destroyed. This was a matter to sigh aplenty about to the locals, but even so, they were very happy with this, as the two tomb guardians had also died. They would never be hearing that bizarre wailing again, nor would anyone else be getting dragged down whenever they passed the shores, which naturally caused everyone to be joyous and celebratory. They were moved to tears out of gratitude towards Tang Fans group, as well, praising them as saviors of life and wanting to establish memorial tablets of eternal life for them. For the Lius, however, this was yet more grievous news. Not only was the old chief dead, but the eldest, Liu Daniu, had been proven to have also died long ago, his corpses whereabouts unknown. The Chief Liu that had appeared before everyone had been an impersonation done by the White Lotus demon, Li Man. After hearing this news, a fog of grief immediately came over them. Regardless of anything else, the old chiefs death had been related to the Gong vault. Had he never personally gone down to investigate for the sake of the villages security, none of the following events would have happened. Thus, Tang Fan told Magistrate He to compensate the Lius, as well as any villagers that were similarly affected by familial deaths. This expedition had not only eliminated the beasts that had caused the disaster, but also pulled the Henan branch temple of the White Lotus Society out by the roots. Those of important positions like Li Man were all dead, there was that group of Clerics they had killed, Lady Chen was captured, and they had seized the Gong vault treasures that the White Lotus followers had painstakingly smuggled out. No matter how one looked at it, this was a major merit. Still, while that may be so for the others, for Tang Fan, there was a shadow covering his head. And that was Yin Yuanhuas death. In the vault, he had saved Yin the guys life, only to get pushed out to act as a shield by him in the blink of an eye. Had Sui Zhou not made it over in time, Tang Fan would have died, then. After that, Yin Yuanhua had seen the tomb guardian depart from the halls entrance, then believed that he had found a road to survival, escaping without regard to anything else. He couldnt have known that there would be another guardian outside, essentially throwing himself into the net and killing himself. His death had not been any sort of pity, it could be said. Bystanders wouldnt see it like that, however. Leaving aside anyone else, once the news of his death got back to the capital, that teacher of his would be the first to seek out Tang Fan to settle this debt. You said that Yin Yuanhua was killed by the tomb guardian who would believe that? Wheres the evidence for it? How do I know that you didnt deliberately leave him in there to get rid of your dissident? With the Brocade Guards being so close to you, they would listen to your orders of killing someone to silence them, too! Its just that simple! No need to wait for Assistant Minister Liang to say anything; Tang Fan had already helped him figure out how to force a crime onto him. He could even predict that when he returned to the capital, the others would likely be reaping rewards for this event, while he alone would not be. Not only that, but he would likely have accusations waiting to denounce him. In regards to this, he thoughtfully called Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan over to him. After we return, the Court may look into Yin Yuanhuas death. Since you two didnt go down into the vault, say as much plainly when the time comes. I will take on all of the responsibility. You dont need to worry about being implicated. The two had indeed been a bit on-edge after learning of Yin Yuanhuas death. As the lead envoy, it wouldnt be undoable for him to shift responsibility onto them and re-allocate his own blame, were he to want to. He would only need to proclaim in a memorial that the two had goaded Yin Yuanhua into going into the vault or some such, and there would be nothing they could do to get away. They were just average clerks of the Ministry of Justice, after all, and didnt even have ranks, making them the best candidates to be cannon fodder. Neither of them had expected for him to not only not intend to do that, but instead tell them that he was going to bear all of the responsibility himself. Once in officialdom for a long time, many would inevitably bundle themselves up tightly out of fear of misstepping, and even further dared not randomly bring attention to themselves. Still, peoples hearts were all grown from flesh; what was invested would have recompense. Not everyone thought solely of political intrigue and eliminating opponents. Cheng Wen was touched. Sir, although this subordinates words dont carry much weight, since I went on this trip together with you, I still have credibility, if a testimony is needed. Please put my name alongside yours in the memorial to verify that Deputy Chief Yins death was his own fault, so that they dont blame you! Im the same, Sir, Tian Xuan said. Assistant Minister Liang has long seen you as an eyesore. Hes definitely going to make trouble for you after we return. Deputy Yin was always extremely disrespectful towards you, so an ending like that for him was foreordained by the Heavens, with no one else to blame for it! Im also willing to testify on the memorial! Tang Fan hadnt expected that these two that looked after their own skin would be willing to stand up and testify on his behalf, making him a little moved. Still, he shook his head in rejection of their good intentions. Seeing that he had made up his mind, they had no choice but to press it all down and not insist, thinking to themselves that no matter what, Sir Tang still had Minister Zhangs backing, so it shouldnt be that bad. What they didnt know was that not long after they had left the capital, Minister Zhang Ying had been transferred from Beijings Ministry of Justice to work as the Minister of Nanjings Ministry of Justice. Everyone that had mingled in the officials scene knew what sort of place Nanjing was. To say it in a way that was nice to hear, it was a secondary capital, ones rank would not drop after transferring there, it was really a nice retirement set-up, and one got their salary without needing to do anything. That was truly nice to hear, but the reality was that one would have not a bit of real authority there, especially in a department like the Ministry of Justice. Solely because Zhang Ying had received Tang Fans commendation last time, a small bit of conscience had been evoked inside him. By coincidence, Li Zisheng had presented bedchamber arts to the Emperor, drawing everyones curses in society, and Minister Zhang had submitted his own admonishment in a memorial. All knew the venerated names of the papier-mach Solons, but in truth, Wan An, Liu Xu, and Liu Ji did not work together. Each one stood on the summit, fighting both out in the open and in secret, as separate as a tripod cauldrons legs with no way to deal with each other. Even though Zhang Ying had relied on Head Vizier Wan An, he was a bit more compatible with Liu Xu. Wan An had long felt that the man was wishy-washy and not obedient enough, so he had been wanting to get a new Minister of Justice. He had happened to seize this opportunity to write a memorial to the Emperor that said that Zhang Ying was getting on in years and could no longer manage his Ministry, so it would be better to let him retire in Nanjing to replace him with a younger and stronger person. Wan An had deep knowledge of the Emperors thoughts, and had known that the man needed to knock down someone prominent to prevent everyone from criticizing and nagging him. That was why, unfortunately, Zhang Ying had become that someone prominent, and had been tossed to Nanjing to eat grass. The instant Zhang Ying left, Liang Wenhua inevitably became the number one figure in the Ministry. Despite not yet being officially promoted to the post of Minister, he was already in full control, his word law. The Right Assistant Minister, Peng Yichun, had been a yes-man to begin with, so he naturally wasnt any more against him for this. So, Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan had no idea in the least that what was awaiting Tang Fan ahead was a fate without fathom. It wasnt like he couldnt go back because there was a probability that he would be getting pared down, though. Above all else, Sui Zhou was heavily wounded, and there were similar wounds suffered amongst the Brocade Guards. Getting good enough treatment in Gong county would be difficult; for that reason, they needed to return the capital, the quicker, the better. In Tang Fans opinion, his own future prospects were far less important than his companions health. He ordered Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan to quickly take inventory of the valuables and write up a register, then declined Magistrate Hes urge to remain there, leading everyone in stepping upon the road back to the capital. They couldnt hurry as they had when arriving. Because care needed to be had for those injured, they could not go too quickly on their journey, and often stopped at posthouses for rest. Magistrate He had ordered several carriages prepared for them, which were padded thickly with a couple layers of mattresses for use in carrying the wounded. There was also a doctor accompanying them, ready to tend to injuries and decoct medicine. Sui Zhou frequently had to rest on account of his internal damage. With the supplement of medicine that aided sleep, he had spent eight out of his ten days on this trip asleep. The injured required someone to take care of them. The only woman here was Lady Chen, but her status was one of an imperially-wanted criminal. Even though she received the special treatment of getting a carriage to herself, her limbs were heavily manacled, and she was under strict watch. Tang Fan would also never, ever let her take care of Sui Zhou, so he volunteered himself for the task of nursing the patient. Pang Qi and the Guards were overwhelmingly touched by Sir Tangs noble moral character. Sui Zhou was in the middle of sleeping right then, but if he hadnt been, he would have been the first to jump up and object to this Yet, reality had already been cast in iron. It was too late to fight it. After Sui Zhou woke up, he discovered that the one bringing him medicine had been swapped out from the accompanying doctor to Tang Fan. Whats wrong? Tang Fan asked. Wheres the doctor? Hes changing dressings for someone else. Ill be helping you drink today. Sui Zhou forced out a smile. No need. Ill do it myself. Tang Fan took this as him being polite, and pushed him down without room for debate. The doctor said that us forcing travel right now hasnt been good for the recovery of your injury, and you need to lay down as much as you can so you can heal quicker. Arent we friends? Dont be so courteous with me! Sui Zhou went silent, thinking to himself, I really wasnt being courteous to you. Mister Tang scooped up a spoonful of medicinal broth. Right when he was about to send it to Sui Zhous mouth, he remembered what it was like when he himself had been looked after by Sui Zhou, so he imitated him in first bringing the spoon to his own lips to test the temperature, then bringing it to him. When it arrived at its destination, his hand accidentally jolted. Sui Zhou: Tang Fan: I can drink it myself. Tang Fan gave a laugh. Sorry, sorry, Im not good at this! How about we change positions? He wiped Sui Zhous collar off with his sleeve, then set the bowl to a side. He helped Sui Zhou up, half-leaned him against him, then lifted the bowl again and carefully brought it to Sui Zhous lips. Tilting it slightly, he thought about how his hand definitely wouldnt shake like last time. A womans scream unexpectedly came from outside. After which came even more sounds of chaos. A good minute later, Qian Sanrs voice sounded outside the room. Sorry to bother you in your rest, Sir Sui. It was that Chen woman who was just yelling for no reason and insisting that someone was peeping at her while she was changing. She didnt bother you, right? Sir Sui? Tang Fan: Sui Zhou: Things had gone real great this time. The entire bowl had even been upended onto Sui Zhous face. Thankfully, the temperature of the medicine had been just right, else another injury wouldve been added to his list. Sui Zhou had to reach up and remove the bowl from his face. Ill do it myself, he said, with difficulty. Guangchuan, I really didnt mean to Even though Sui Zhou was the victim here, he wanted to laugh. I know, youre not attending material. Have him decoct another bowl and just keep me company for a chat. Any requests a patient made had to be met, no exceptions. Mister Tang perked up. Okay. What do you want to talk about? Get me a set of clothes to change into, first. Ohhhh. Witnessing the scene of him getting up to go find him clothes, Sui Zhou felt both really helpless, and an emerging, slight sweetness. He was helpless about Tang Fan who couldnt even take care of himself well wanting to take care of someone else. Anyone getting looked after by him would definitely be miserable. The slight sweetness was well, him alone knowing was fine. There was no need to describe it. A short time after, Sir Tang ran back with a stack of clothes. Sui Zhous injuries were internal, not on his limbs. The doctor had explained that he needed to rest, and never said that he couldnt move at all, meaning that him changing his clothes a non-issue. However, Tang Fan insisted upon expressing his guilt over his poor performance, wanting to apologize for his previous actions; in the face of his sincerity, Sui Zhou couldnt bear to reject him, so he had to tacitly agree to him helping with the change. Under his inner robe, Sui Zhous skin was bronzed. From the arc of the swell of his arms and chest, it could be seen that he had certainly done a lot of hard training. Due to him often needing to wander the brink of danger and endure countless battles, there were also many old scars on him. Some were aged, their color since turned very light, while some had just been earned in the Gong vault a few days ago, only just scabbing over. However, such a body full of scars could only show off his manliness better. Missing the cover of clothing, his grandeur contrarily became a bit more imposing than normal. In spite of him being seated on the bed with injuries, what others would associate with this was a sleeping lion, not an injured cat. Just changing his outer and upper robes would have been enough, but Tang Fan said to switch out the whole set, insisting upon him removing even his pants. Sui Zhou had no choice but to comply. In result, when he took off those pants, he saw Mister Tang staring at a certain place, grinning with ill intent. So thats all your size is. He could really hold a grudge how many days had passed since then? Hed kept what wasnt anything more than a casual ridicule in mind all this time? Tang Fan put on his clothes for him. This trip to Gong county gave me new material for a story, he started in passing. Theres a man that has a natural proclivity for playing in flower bunches. One day, a monster takes a fancy to the artifact the mans ancestor passed down to him, but was effected by the artifact recognizing its master and disallowing others from getting close. So, it drinks the blood of women every day until it, too, turns into a beautiful woman. It seduces the man until the seduction infatuates him, and he gifts the monster the artifact on his own initiative. Having gotten it, the monster immediately displays its original form, and the man upon seeing that the everyday target of his affections was actually a blood-red-eyed terrible monster covered in scales gets frightened to death. What do you think? Sui Zhou went silent for a second. Neat. He seemed to have an ominous feeling, though Sure enough, the very next moment, he heard Tang Fan say, Naming the man Sui Zhou would do, eh? Change it. Okay. The monster will be called Sui Zhou, then, Mister Tang answered, happy to take the advice. As the ancients once said: It would be better to offend a noble than to offend Sir Tang. Sui Zhou was usually cold towards his subordinates and outsiders, his face alienating. Everyone else believed that his coldness had gotten him no friends; even when getting along with his buddy Tang Fan, the latter was always yielding to him. The perception of the very-unknowing masses was frequently wrong. Whenever faced with Mister Tang, Sui Zhou eternally went by the idea of: as long as hes happy, I can do anything, anyways. Once compromising turned into a type of habit, one would unwittingly keep retreating, and keep retreating Until they had retreated to the end, all territory lost. Thus, the name of the monster in Mister Tangs new story was decided. When the members of the Northern Bastion Office would later see this book in stores, they would automatically gasp. Mister Envoys name was not common;[1] how could it show up here? The author had to be a torturee that had been caught and tormented in the Bastille before, right? But, that was the future. At this moment, during Sui Zhous elusive weakness, Mister Tang had taken the opportunity changing clothes had given him to very rudely bully him, and was now looking like he was in a great mood, humming a little tune from time to time. Sui Zhou wasnt sure if he was putting on this display purposefully for him to see, or if he genuinely didnt care. Not holding back the concern in his heart, he asked, Have you thought about what will happen after you return to the capital, yet? The translator says: Yin Yuanhua about to be annoying from beyond the grave. Bailiff Teng is actually Tang. Its not the same character as Tang Fans, but I changed it because hes an insignificant character and I dont want confusion. [1] Sui Zhous name is distinct because the Zhou character () is used exclusively for territories (Suzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, etc.), meaning his name reads more like one for a place than it does a human. Sui is not the most common surname, but also not the rarest, and is the name of a past Dynasty. (Actually, so is Tang Fans surname. That was certainly done on purpose, knowing the author.) CH 69 Tang Fan smiled lightly, then found a chair beside the bed to sit down on. With the red swelling on his face having since faded away, this action of his was naturally smooth and elegant. What do you think about it? He countered without answering, wanting to know what was in his friends mind. Sui Zhou was strong in martial arts and sturdy in body, so even with his serious injury, he was pretty much fine after these many days of rest. Now, sitting propped up against the wall to have a chat with his friend was just another type of rest. Hearing this, he began to ponder the question. Many already see you as one of Zhang Yings, but from how Ive seen, Wan An has long had the idea to replace him. Hes definitely not going to sit in the Minister position for long. If he leaves, youll be facing Liang Wenhua alone. The Court is currently divided up into different factions with fierce infighting, though; Liang Wenhua is close to Head Vizier Wan An, but Liu Xu and Liu Ji dont like the latter. You still have a chance. This trip had taken a month. At this time, Sui Zhou hadnt yet heard the news that Zhang Ying had since been sent to Nanjing, nor did he know how very predictable his own words were. You mean to say that I should rely on help from those two? Sui Zhou nodded. Liu Xu is coarse and blunt, Liu Ji is sly, and neither are easy to cooperate with. Liu Xu, at least, is the teacher of the current Emperor. His Majesty even calls him Mister Liu of the East, meaning he clearly respects him. Hes also still appreciative of capable young officials. If you can get his protection, you wont need to be afraid of Liang Wenhua. In the Cabinet, Liu Xu was lazy and negligent in his duties, but compared to the others, he was decent in character, and would often admonish the Emperor to make him have diligence and be nice to the citizenry. However, he had a poor temper and loved to scold people. If he found someone displeasing to the eye, regardless of good and evil, he would stand on manufactured moral high ground to chide them. That trait of his incited dislike, and was thus why his popularity in the Court was awful. It was only because of those that meddled in laying things out that he ended up getting placed side-by-side with Wan An and Liu Ji. When outsiders first heard the terms three papier-mach Solons and six clay-figurine Ministers, all they would think was that every level of this Court had the general practice of dicking around in wait for death, practically incurable of it, while in truth, there were differences between each papier-mach man. Tang Fans immediate superior Zhang Ying had similarly been sublimely listed amongst the clay-figurine Ministers, yet still had something of a conscience and a bottom line in his conducting principles. He couldnt be mentioned in the same breath as the Minister of Works, Liu Zhaos breed. And Liu Xu, compared to the Head Vizier that was exceedingly adept in flattering Consort Wan and the Emperor, could practically be called a whiff of clarity in the muddy currents, in terms of moral character. However, upon hearing this, Tang Fan just smiled bitterly and helplessly. Your way would be good, but it wont work for me. Sui Zhou raised his brows. Why not? He and my teacher have a grudge. They hate to see each others faces, and will itch to eat their counterpart as soon as they meet him. Do you think, that with Liu Xus personality, he would ever protect the student of his enemy? Its that deep of a hatred? That goes without saying, but you know as well as I that neither of them have a good temper, and both think themselves smart, ha in war, there is no second place, but in wars of words, there is no first place. I dont quite know what their conflict arose from, but basically, I once witnessed my teacher splash Liu Xu with a cup of tea, saying that it was so unbelievably filthy, it was unpalatable. Great. With all that nonsense done, there was no need to even think about ever having a day where the two could shake hands and talk nicely. As Qiu Juns student, if Tang Fan paid a visit to Liu Xu, one could only imagination what sorts of humiliation he would suffer with that guys personality. That path genuinely wasnt going to work. Thinking of all that, Sui Zhou, too, was a little helpless. He presently wielded the rank of Bastion Envoy of the Northern Office. Although the officials cap on his head was still for that of a fifth-rank Millarch, that rank had a very different metal weight from a civil officials fifth rank. Said civils would have to make a detour whenever they saw him, and even figures like the Cabinet Solons had to stop and say hello to him if they saw him. Further still, he had his connection to Empress Dowager Zhou, and the Emperor had close confidence in him, making it not a difficult thing for him to continue to journey upwards. Even so, there was not a single tactic the mighty Bastion Envoy Sui could bring out when it came to the issue of his friends career path. On the surface, this seemed to be caused by the Brocade Guard and civil officials having two standalone systems for promotions, but Sui Zhou still felt that it was because he himself wasnt powerful enough. If he had power like Grand Tutor Sun Jizong had right about now, Liang Wenhua would still have to make a few deliberations if he wanted to plot against Tang Fan. They wouldnt have to be as passive as they were now. Seeing his worry, Tang Fan tried to comfort him. Dont be like that. I know youre just thinking of me, but whether I can remain as an official is not for you or I to be in charge of. I have already done what I should have done to the best of my ability, and my conscience is clear. Dont be so worried about this anymore. Drink today, be drunk today, and worries will keep on coming tomorrow! Hearing this, Sui Zhou wasnt sure whether he ought to be gratified by him being free of care, or vexed about his lack of care. Still, if Tang Fan had been an official that inhaled personal gains and wanted to climb higher, the two of them probably would never have been so complementary, or become close friends. Thus could be stated that many things with cause had result, and with failure had success. Although not everything under the sky always went as wanted, when they had gone down into the vault and encountered the bloodthirsty tomb guardians, they had believed that they were going to be buried under there, only to end up returning safely. That itself was already a blessing delivered from the Heavens; they really shouldnt be overly demanding. In any case, he had a lot of savings. If the time to came, he would be able to keep supporting him, so just trying to get him to stay would be fine. Sui Zhou hadnt yet noticed that he had unwittingly been influenced by Tang Fans freeness, his philosophy on life formerly strict and methodical to the point that it had been unforgivingly precise had slowly transformed. Were this the past, he might have thought that Tang Fan was the sort of person to not seek to better himself, then get angered by him being a disappointment and be unwilling to associate with him. Nowadays, he could understand him, and approve of his friends path of conduct. That stemmed from him knowing that Tang Fan did, in fact, better himself, and put in a lot of hard work, too. He had already performed well enough within the scope of his capabilities, he just didnt want to be demanding, and was adaptable to all scenarios; he always worked with the ambition of a peaceful government, but his personality was one of being aloof from others worldliness, as if cleansed by a spring breeze. Being able to befriend such a person was not a blessing to Tang Fan himself, but a blessing for everyone else. Well said. The corner of Sui Zhous mouth slightly raised, his mind relaxing. It was unclear when it had started, but whenever he looked at or thought of this man, the frostiness that he had in his eyes whenever he looked at anyone else was missing, replaced with simple, faint happiness. Despite being injured and forced to stay in carriages for the return trip, this was truly an extremely rare period of leisure for him. Disregarding the Brocade Guards typical illustriousness, what type of responsibility one had matched with what kind of position they were in. Were the Guard a sinecure branch that only hid after anything happened, it would have long since been swallowed whole by the Eastern and Western Depots, and the way others would look at them would be no different than how they would look at trash, to say nothing of the fact that no one would be scared upon sighting them. The position Sui Zhou had today had been earned entirely by his own efforts. As could be imagined, with the twos posts and duties being what they were, they normally had excessively few days where they didnt need to think about anything, able to just lay lazily down in a carriage, bask in the sun, and chat away every day. When the group made its way through Baoding Prefecture, it was nearly dusk. A posthouse was not too far ahead. Everyone was a bit tired, so Tang Fan ordered for them to rest here for now, then head straight for the capital first thing tomorrow. Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan went on ahead to present the groups identity correspondence and put things in order, which was nothing more than letting the postpeople know ahead of time to vacate space, prepare hot water and meals, feed fodder to the horses, and so on. However, not long after, the two returned with faces full of fury, saying that the postpeople had claimed that all the rooms were full, and none could be vacated. That was quite surprising. The identity correspondence they had had been jointly issued by the Brocade Guard and Ministry of Justice, and even sealed by the Cabinet to verify their status as imperial ambassadors so that they would be unhindered their entire journey. No matter who was staying in the posthouse, upon seeing this correspondence, they would need to make room immediately, regardless of how they felt about it. Following the group of big manly men that was the Brocade Guard gave such confidence in actions. Right before their eyes, though, at this Baoding posthouse not far from the capital, this had actually failed. Pang Qi was instantly furious, calling for two others to follow Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan back over, saying that he wanted to see which short-sighted bastard refused to yield for a convoy of imperial ambassadors. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou didnt take this matter seriously, continuing to stay in the carriage to read and chat. The former had a piece of five-spiced rabbit that Magistrate He had gifted him on departure in his view, the benefit of going abroad was guiltlessly raking in his salary while sampling delicacies from all over the country. All of the previous dangers that had been in the Gong vault seemed to get gulped down into his belly alongside this deliciously salty snack. This rabbit doesnt taste too different from the cooking methods of the capital, he still said, but there seems to be the hints of fennel and apple in it. Im not sure if Ill be able to find a specialized restaurant for cuisine like this after we get Before he could say back, Pang Qis thunderously furious voice was heard outside. What a joke! Those sons of bitches dare to try and bully our Guard?! Tang Fan couldnt help but lift the carriage curtain. Whats going on? Sir Tang, Ive asked around, and the ones staying in the posthouse are from the Eastern Depot! Pang Qi raged. Each one of them is occupying a room, insisting that theyre full up, and refusing to move! Tang Fan turned his head to exchange a look with Sui Zhou both of them were a bit surprised. The Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard had always found each other awful, but it had never gotten to the extent that they would completely turn hostile. A situation like this was really quite rare. Tang Fan was somewhat puzzled. Didnt Chief Eunuch Shang Ming want to befriend the Guard before? Why are his subordinates so bold as to be impertinent? Sui Zhou knew some of the inside information, here. What you said is something of the past. The Commanding Envoy at the time was still Wan Tong, and as the little brother of Consort Wan, Shang Ming naturally wanted to flatter him all he could. Now that Envoy Yuan took his place, Shang Ming doesnt set the Guard in his sights. Outside the carriage, Pang Qi was still seething. Brother, what should we do? Dont tell me were actually going to just take this? After Yuan Bin had taken charge, the Guard had started to be low-key. Sui Zhou wasnt one for ostentation, either. On the Western Depots end, Wang Zhi had been managing things beyond the Great Wall for these two years, meaning he, too, was neglecting the capital. This had given the Eastern Depot the chance to sit high; their tyrannical behavior had not grown overnight. Despite Pang Qis question, he wasnt someone that didnt know the gains and losses of this. He believed that with Sui Zhous personality, it was nearly a certainty that they wouldnt be going head-to-head with the Eastern Depot, but simply proceeding straight onwards to the capital. Yet, Sui Zhous mild answer was: If they refuse to move, beat them until they do. Everyone was shocked by this aggressive phrase, after which they started uproaring. They all had been beaten up by the tomb guardians, and had lost several brothers. Anger had long been stuffed up inside them. Having received Sui Zhous permission, they got excited. Those called out to by Pang Qi all rolled up their sleeves and followed after him in preparation to take back their place. Inside the posthouse, the minor official that oversaw it was speaking to someone beside him, pained. Officer Jiang, please empathize with this lowly one. Can you clear out a room for them? They are the Brocade Guard Between the Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot, he could afford to offend neither this was what was called, when gods fight, mortals suffer. The Brocade Guard had wanted rooms just now, but the Eastern Depot had yelled them away. Once the latter people patted their butts off and left, if the Guard then wanted to place this debt onto his head, wouldnt that be a wrong to him? Officer Jiang of the Eastern Depot laughed disdainfully. Youre too much of a coward, Old Wei. What about the Guard? You still think things are how they were before. That old man, Yuan Bin, is used to being a tortoise with its head withdrawn, and doesnt dare to poke it out for anything. Every single Guard has turned into a little turtle, too. No rooms means no rooms! Why should we move out for them?! All the Depot wardens subordinating him guffawed in cheer. Who are you calling turtles? Several Brocade Guards came striding over like meteors; it was their leader that had coldly shouted that. Officer Jiang side-eyed him. Ooo, its Deputy Millarch Pang! Whats the matter? You noticed that little words dont work, so you came on your own personal campaign? Pang Qi smiled icily. The one talking about me turned out to be you, Baby Jiang. Its been a long time since Ive seen you, yet youre still so hopeless! Officer Jiang was enraged. Who are you calling a baby?! Exactly the right person! Let me ask you are you moving out of the posthouse rooms or what? The other stuck out his chin. Our people have filled them all! So what? Get here earlier next time! It should be said that, aside from a few eunuchs, the underlings for use in the two Depots Chief Eunuchs hands were most likely all transferees from the Brocade Guard. Since everyone here had come from the same source, they ought to have been closer, but ever since Yuan Bin had left retreat once more and quietly cleaned out Wan Tongs cronies, the connection between the Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot had also been severed. Moreover, when Brocade Guards went to the Eastern Depot, they would inevitably become Depot wardens. With different superiors overhead, everyones benefits and standpoints would inevitably switch thereafter. These current circumstances coming about were not at all strange. Still, regardless of what trouble was cooked up, the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard would at least maintain superficial harmony. Officer Jiangs present display was much too arrogant. Pang Qi didnt mince words with him. Ill ask you one last time. Will you yield? No! Pang Qi took two steps back, then waved his hand. Beat him until he does, brothers! As soon as those words were said, the Guards standing behind him pounced like tigers. Officer Jiang went pale from fright. What are you all doing?! This is a revolt! Ow, ow Watching this spectacle, the postminders face was nearly as white as the walls. He could only fret from the side. Dont fight! Dont fight! Officer Jiang and them had been accustomed to living the good life in the capital, where they scattered their prestige all over its grounds. How could they ever out-fight the Guards, who had just come back from the brink of death? They were smacked around into a mess straightaway, crying out for their parents. This had changed from a scuffle to a beatdown, and in the end, they could only hold their heads, kneel, and beg for mercy, saying that they wouldnt dare to anymore. Within the chaos, Officer Jiang tried to take the chance to slip away, but Pang Qi, who had been waiting nearby all this time, flew a kick out, sending him straight to the ground. Looking on as the other was coming up for another kick, Officer Jiang quickly shouted, Millarch Pang! Brother Pang! Dont, dont! Ill stop! Lets just talk! Were all brothers here, dont be like this! Pang Qi grinned evilly. Now youre acknowledging us as brothers, huh? Why didnt you say as much before, instead saying that our Commanding Envoy is an old tortoise? Huh?! Officer Jiang slapped himself on the mouth. This little brother has a rotten mouth! A rotten mouth! Im the only one thats a tortoise! Youre a generous gentleman, Brother Pang! Dont lower yourself to my level! Pang Qi kicked him again. Admitting defeat early isnt going to make this okay! Do you think that the Eastern Depot is that big of a ship youre riding on, that your backing is strong enough for you even place no care upon your former brothers?! The other had a face full of sorrow. How would I dare?! I wont keep things from you, Brother Pang; we actually had an order from above that told us that there was no need to give the Brocade Guard any face outside! This wasnt by my will! Since he wanted to scout for some more information out of him, Pang Qi picked him up. Envoy Yuan is a veteran of two Courts. Your Chief Eunuch disrespecting him means hes gotten an even heavier thigh to cling to, right? Officer Jiang smiled bitterly. You know the rules, Brother Pang. How could I speak of the Chief Eunuch at random? Pang Qi gave an understanding oh, then turned to call to his subordinates. He needs a spanking! Come over and keep beating him up! Nonono! Officer Jiang quickly grabbed his hand. You havent been in the capital recently, Brother! The news must not have circulated fast enough! As it is, His Majesty newly sealed a State Master of Clairvoyance into the Truth, the Protection of Holiness, and Far-Reaching Benevolence! A State Master of what? A State Master of Clairvoyance into the Truth, the Protection of Holiness, and Far-Reaching Benevolence. That name is way too long. What then? This State Master has remarkable powers and strong magic. His Majesty is fully convinced in him, and respects him as a Master. Hes planning on building a Great Everthrive Monastery at the Western City district Pang Qi kicked him yet again. Youre spouting nonsense. What does any of that have to do with your Chief Eunuch?! Officer Jiangs expression crumbled. Ow, Brother! Youre too impatient! That Master was referred by our Chief Eunuch! His Majesty respects the Master, and has a greater appreciation towards Eunuch Shang. He told us that he suggested to His Majesty to allow Wan Tong to come back and head the Brocade Guard, and hes already agreed. Im telling you the truth, okay? Commanding Envoy Yuan wont be sitting in his seat for long! Pang Qi was greatly alarmed, grabbing him. Are you serious? I wouldnt lie to you! Why else would Eunuch Shang tell us not to give you all any face? He knows that all of you were promoted by Envoy Yuan, so if Envoy Wan returns, hell definitely put you all back in your original places! Thats why he wants to toady up to him ahead of time! Pang Qi was no longer in the mood to sort him out. He tossed Officer Jiang to the side, told the postminder to vacate several rooms, then rushed back to report to Sui Zhou. Seeing as how Officer Jiang had suffered defeat, the postminder had no room for disagreement, so he had agreed over and over again before going to ready up. After he heard the full story, there was no sort of shocked reaction on Sui Zhous face. He told them all to go divvy up the rooms in as placid a tone as ever. As his boss was so calm, Pang Qi also felt relief, and went off to obey his orders. In spite of the Eastern Depot getting out of half of the rooms, it still wasnt enough. Just like before, Tang Fan roomed with Sui Zhou. Upon getting into the room, only then did Sui Zhou show a vexed expression. Tang Fan picked up the face cloth out of the hot water, wrung it out, then passed it to him. Looks like youre going to have a hard time after we get back to the capital. Sui Zhou gave a rare sigh. Yuan Bin is a hundred times better than Wan Tong, but he unfortunately doesnt have as strong a backing as him. Each day Consort Wan still lives, Wan Tongs status wont drop from high up. His Majesty only wanted to teach him a little lesson before, which was why Yuan Bin was switched in, so now that he thinks that hes had enough of that lesson, he wants to let Wan Tong back in. When it came down to it, Wan Tong and Yuan Bin were both the Emperors pawns. Whatever he wanted them to do, they would have to do. It wasnt just them, but everyone else was like that, too. The Great Ancestor had established the Six Branches of imperial censors with the original purpose of supervising officials and admonishing the Emperor. Later on, the Cabinet similarly came to be, where one Viziers word would have the Emperor thinking twice about his actions. What a shame it was that the Solons of the present Court had truly limited courage. Even Liu Xu, who held the status of the Emperors teacher, only dared to harp at him over inconsequential matters. Under circumstances like these, no matter how loud the branch censors admonishing voices were, they would have finite effect. Tang Fan just looked at the issue from another angle. Guangchuan, after we return, it would be best for you to visit Commanding Envoy Yuan. Hes been in the Brocade Guard for years. Even though hes indifferent to fame and profit, hes definitely not someone that will allow himself to be pushed around. He asked you to take charge of the Northern Bastion Office, so he obviously appreciates your talents, and plans to foster you as his successor. If you can receive his complete endorsement and take over his power, then even if Wan Tong does come back, he wont dare to act rashly against you, as youll then have firm control of the Office and wont need to worry about him anymore. Also He sat on the bed, stooped over to remove his shoes and socks, then laid down while wrapped in the blanket to brainstorm for him. youre Empress Dowager Zhous grandnephew, and His Majestys trust in you is no lesser than his in Wan Tong. Once back, you only need to remember two things, and then you wont drop in importance before the Emperor. Regardless of what schemes Wan Tong will try to use, they wont work on you, either. Sui Zhou raised a brow. Id like to hear the details on that. First, never object to anything His Majesty does. If he asks for your opinions, dont give him your standpoint. Whatever he says, do, unless it goes contrary to your principles. Secondly, after Wan Tong tries to overthrow Yuan Bin, you need to plea on the latters behalf. If His Majesty asks for the reason, just say its sincerely because things concerning Yuan Wenzhi also concern the Late Emperors heart. His Majesty will not only not reproach you, but will pardon Yuan Bin, and be even closer to you. The Chenghua Emperor had a lot of personal defects, but was still a quite softhearted person and a cherisher of old friends. Further still, though, he was an Emperor, and disliked others opposing him all the time. Such variegated personality traits reflecting off of him forged a very contradictory person. Even though Tang Fan had only met the Emperor a scant few times before, from the lateral descriptions given by Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi, who had frequent contact with him, it wasnt difficult to deduce the mans personality. But, because these remarks were guilty of guessing at the Emperors thoughts, which was taboo, had Sui Zhou not been as close to him as he was, Tang Fan would have never said them out loud. Sui Zhou understood as much, warmth thawing his heart and making him quite happy. I understand. Thank you. Tang Fan smiled. Why the need to give thanks between us? In the night, Tang Fan dozed quite peacefully, his mood completely unaffected by all this stuff. Sui Zhou, however, was awake. In order to prevent himself from pressing on Sui Zhous injuries whenever he turned over, Tang Fan had taken it upon himself to sleep on the inside. At this moment, he was on his side with his back practically half-leaned against the wall. Sui Zhou felt secondhand discomfort just looking at him, and yet he was still deep in dreams. Sui Zhous gaze lingered. He watched him silently for a long time, then reached out to trace his handsome face. His finger ultimately landed on the others lips, but he merely rubbed them gently for a short moment not with any sort of lust or vulgarity, just cherishing devotion. Before he met Tang Fan, he had actually been very lonely on the inside. The Sui family had never understood his act in joining the Northern Bastion Office. In their eyes, he ought to work hard for the imperial exams like his brother did, so that the Suis could break into a road that would honor their ancestors and shed them from their reputation as dependents upon their status as consort-kin. The Brocade Guard had great power, but its name had never been nice to ear. Filling an empty rank was fine, but would getting called a Court lackey behind the back be any sort of good? He didnt need anyone elses understanding, though. He was a lone wolf, always walking the path he had faith in. And yet, he had met Tang Fan, someone that sincerely strategized and made plans for him. With as good a friend as this, what more could a man ask for? Only that they could repay each other for a lifetime. The moons splendor spilled in from outside the windows paper, landing upon Tang Fans face. It added something of a halo to his charms, the contrast making him look like an immortal, not a man of the mundane world. All of a sudden, High Immortal Tangs lips moved like he was saying something. Sui Zhou, getting a rare bit of curiosity, came in closer, only to hear him muttering, Crab roetofu soup Oh. That mighty image that Mister Tang simply couldnt allow to take form was shattered. It could be said that the Eastern Depot people had been beaten black and blue into obedience. Officer Jiang never dared to provoke them again. Up until Tang Fans groups departure, all of them had shrunk into their own rooms and never come out. The others, of course, would never bother with fighting these advantage-taking nobodies. Right out of Officer Jiangs mouth, they had learned that way too much had happened in the month they had left the capital. As Sui Zhou and Tang Fan had predicted, Zhang Ying actually had been driven to Nanjing by Wan An, and the Ministry of Justice had changed into Liang Wenhuas domain. Via Consort Wans pillow talk, the Emperor intended to ask Wan Tong to take Yuan Bins place and regain control over the Brocade Guard. The Emperor favored the treacherous official Li Zhisheng, and had also sealed the monk Ji Xiao as a State Master. Preparations to build the Great Everthrive Monastery had earned opposition from every level of society, because it would force tens of thousands of citizens to relocate; the Monastery wouldnt be getting built, but the Emperor was putting more and more trust into Ji Xiao, so he still planned to build an astral observatory for him. It was also said that since the Crown Prince wasnt too close to Consort Wan, she kept brooding, and had frequently put forth suggestions at the Emperors side. Over time, the Emperor came to not like the Prince much, and was thinking of establishing another one. That last tidbit was pure rumor, but it had to have some sort of credibility for Officer Jiang to have said it. Pretty much none of this news was good news. As was fathomable, what awaited them in the capital could only be an even more complicated and severe scene. When they had left the capital, it had been the beginning of spring, but now, no more than a month later, early summer had already crept in. Still, this time of the year was the best in the capital, being not too hot and not too cold, just enough to wear thin springtime garments during the day, and at most a big cloak during the night. Regardless of how perilous the situation ahead was, such nice weather would never make anyone feel bad. When the carriages rode into the capital and they saw the wisterias full of life, the groups spirit was roused. Tang Fan needed to return to the Ministry of Justice to report on his work, before anything else, while Sui Zhou had to go to the Northern Bastion Office. The two made an appointment for further discussion once they were home, then went off to do what they ought to do. Prior to entering the city, Tang Fan had freshened up in the posthouse. He was still in his everyday attire right now, but he didnt have the exhaustion of travel about him. He wanted to go and just get this over with, anyways, rather than wait around for Assistant Minister Liang to find fault in him, so he might as well send himself to the door of his own accord. Upon arriving at the Ministry, he heard that Liang Wenhua was not present, so he went to the workroom of the Right Assistant Minister, Peng Yichun. The instant the man saw him, he got up to greet him with an exclamation of shock, his face full of surprise both pleasant and not. Runqing! When did you get back? Tang Fan smiled. Just now. I came to visit Sir Liang as soon as I could. Peng Yichun pursed his lips at the workroom neighboring his. You didnt go there? I did, but the clerk said that he wasnt around. The other gave a grunt. Hes probably in the palace. He runs off to the Cabinet quite diligently these days. The Cabinet and Six Branches were both central bureaus of the Great Ming, and also the only two located within the palace. Tang Fan smiled. Now that Minister Zhang has left, Assistant Liang heads the Ministry. Him having to communicate with the Cabinet frequently is natural. Peng Yichun was astonished. You already know? Tang Fan nodded. I heard on the way here. Peng Yichun sighed. Runqing, I read the documents you all sent back. I know you handled this assignment well, but the thing with Yin Yuanhua is quite intractable. Liang Wenhua certainly has a knot in his heart about it, and he might lash out at you a few times. Just bear with it. You mustnt be affected by emotions and get into a direct fight with him. Although this fine sir feared everything, he wasnt a bad person. Tang Fan was thankful for his kindness, but the man was likely destined to be disappointed. The conflict between him and Liang Wenhua would not be resolved by making one-sided concessions. Still, he didnt refute him, only smiling as he consoled him. Rest easy, Sir. This official knows the weight of things. While they spoke, a clerk came in from outside. Sir Tang, Assistant Liang wants you to see him. Tang Fan got up to say his goodbyes to Peng Yichun, then followed the clerk into Liang Wenhuas workroom. The mans attitude appeared to be very different from how it had been a month ago. That wasnt strange; power was the highest aphrodisiac for men. Wielding great authority and being subservient to another were two entirely different sensations, making Liang Wenhuas high spirits comprehendible. However, when he gave even Tang Fan a very friendly smile, that was highly abnormal. The translator says: Baby Jiang is more literally Grandson Jiang, but now the insult is WORSE It took 69 chapters, but the diabetes is kicking in. CH 70 Ah, Runqing! Come, sit! Liang Wenhua didnt rise, himself, but beckoned to Tang Fan in a motion for him to sit down. Tang Fan had no idea what was wrong with him, so he respectfully bowed, then gently took a seat. When it came to subordinates meeting superiors and subjects meeting the Emperor, particular care was given to seating. One couldnt plop their whole butt down, but only half-plop it, just in case that superior or Emperor had a question to ask and the individual needed to stand up and answer at any time. Seeing Tang Fans appropriate mannerisms, Liang Wenhuas smile deepened. I heard that when you went to Gong county, you found a Gong nobles vault from the Spring and Autumn period beneath a Song Emperors tomb? The most likely thing that had happened here was that, prior to the groups return, a detailed memorandum had already been written, sent by horse to the capital, and reported to the Cabinet for reading. After the Cabinet had informed the Emperor, it had gone down to the Ministry of Justice and Brocade Guard in other words, Tang Fan and Sui Zhous direct superiors to let them understand the situation. Hence was why Liang Wenhua had some comprehension of the course of Tang Fans expedition. Correct. On our assignment, we also found and arrested the Henan branch temple of the White Lotus Society. Their Vicar, Li Man, died in a mishap while fighting with us, while his concubine, Lady Chen, has already been detained in the capital. She is being looked after by the Northern Bastion Office for the time being, and theyre just waiting to pry out information about the Societys remnants from her. There are a certain number of other henchmen, as well, and they are provisionally being seen to by the Guards Henan post. They will enter the capital at a later date. The other nodded nonchalantly; his main interest, apparently, was not this. After hearing him out, he didnt express much of an opinion, simply asking about something else. I heard that you all seized a great amount of treasures from the Society? There are not many, truly. Its all kinds of gold, silver, jade, and jewels. I already ordered for an inventory to be made, so I came to deliver the register today. Liang Wenhuas eyes brightened as he looked at the book Tang Fan held. Thats the treasure register? Correct. Please pore it over. Taking the book, Liang Wenhua immediately started flipping through it, and the more he flipped, the brighter his eyes became. It wasnt surprising that he would react like this. The vault had had many treasures, but some of them had been tarnished by age, turning dull like some of the gold leaf that had been pasted onto lacquerware, which had long lost its original color. It wasnt as if absolutely none of them had kept well, however. Everything truly valuable had been casually inventoried when Li Mans group had moved them, while Tang Fan later had Cheng Wen and Tian Xuan count them up again out of a want to determine the objects worth. Once it all had been summed up, their value was estimated to be around a hundred thousand taels, which was equal to about a tenth of the Great Mings annual revenue. That was large sum of money, especially since they were spoils they had flown away with without having to pay any sort of cost. Everyone watched like predators, Liang Wenhua in particular, who even expected that the valuables would allow him to show his face before the Cabinet and Emperor. Perhaps, with the Emperors delight, the day of his promotion to Minister would officially come. As smart as Tang Fan was, he knew what tune this man was playing. From the instant the other asked for the book, he understood Liang Wenhuas uncharacteristic politeness towards him. Of course he hadnt overlooked the death of his student; he just felt that credits were of higher importance than that student. Mentally finding him ridiculous, Tang Fan listened to Liang Wenhua happily say, Good, good! The gains of your assignment werent few. I will report to His Majesty and show off what credits youve made. What of the items? They should have been brought into the capital, yes? Yes. The valuables have since been packed into two separate trunks and escorted in. Where are they? Are they outside the Ministry right now? When we arrived, in order to prevent thieves from coveting them, they were handed over to Bastion Envoy Sui. He must have already entered the palace and made a report about them. Liang Wenhuas face twitched. He stared at Tang Fan a good while, as if he wanted to glean a hint of his intentions off of his face. Quite pitifully, he was disappointed. Tang Fan was as courteous as ever. While he spoke, he had stood up, hands in his sleeves and head slightly bowed as he waited for his superiors words. What could Liang Wenhua even say? You shouldnt have given it to the palace, but handed it over to the Ministry of Justice so that I can deliver it myself? Those valuables had not fallen within tax limits; had Tang Fan brought them to the Ministry, that would have been him being slyly discreet, and if he hadnt, he would still be seen as reasonable. Liang Wenhua couldnt criticize him for this at all. You performed well. Very well. Liang Wenhua said slowly, looking at him. There was not a bit of fire to be heard in those gentle words. But Tang Fan knew that the more he got like this, the more he was expressing his fury. As expected, a moment later, Liang Wenhua said, Yin Yuanhua was a fifth-rank Deputy Chief, yet died in the Gong vault with not even a corpse to bring out of it. As the lead envoy of the imperial ambassadors, how do you justify that? Answering you, Sir, the situation was critical at the time. The tomb guardian was abnormally vicious. While this official, Envoy Sui, and the other guards were contending with it, none of us expected that Deputy Yin would suddenly run out, nor did we expect that there would be another tomb guardian outside the door, which led to his unfortunate demise. The White Lotus demons had placed gunpowder in the vault beforehand, and blew up the Song tomb along with the Gong vault. We underwent many hardships before we could escape, ourselves, while the paths downwards were all completely blocked off. There were even a few Brocade Guards that came to be buried there, with no way to retrieve their bodies. Ive already read all of what youve said out of the memorandum, but theres quite a few suspect parts of that that dont make sense at all. The beasts you described are unheard of and absolutely absurd, and if I dont believe that, the Cabinet wont, either. As the leader, you had the responsibility of protecting your subordinates, yet you let them die in there. What is your explanation for that? What explanation could Tang Fan give? He could only admit his fault. This official is indeed guilty of providing inadequate protection. Regardless of how Yin Yuanhua had died, Liang Wenhua was right about this. Tang Fan had been the leading official of the task, and everyone had followed his orders. No matter what the reason, he was responsible the instant anything happened. To put it in ugly words, this was basically mud landing on his crotch. It wasnt shit, but it might as well be. Liang Wenhua nodded, then commented on it no more. You worked hard on the expedition. Go home and have a good rest, youll have time to return to work tomorrow. Many thanks for your sympathy, Sir. This official will take my leave, Tang Fan answered deferentially. They had exchanged some polite words, the scene not at all as hostile as Tang Fan had imagined it would be, but he was well aware that since he had given away the credit of offering up the valuables to Sui Zhou and caused Yin Yuanhuas death, thus yielding Liang Wenhua no benefits to fish for, the man was definitely not going to let him off. Coming out of Liang Wenhuas workroom, Tang Fan noticed Peng Yichuns head poking out of the neighboring workroom, and him beckoning him over with his hand. The dignified Right Assistant Minister of Justice acting so sneaky was rather comical. Thinking this amusing, Tang Fan walked over to him. As soon as he entered the workroom, he got pulled in further by Peng Yichun. How did it go? the man asked. Not so well, Im afraid. Tang Fan shook his head and sighed, then briefly relayed the conversation he had just had. Oi! Peng Yichun was severely disappointed in him. Why were you such a fool?! You clearly knew that he was awaiting those valuables to go show off your merits! Why couldnt you bring them over to the Ministry of Justice? How could you let the Brocade Guard take that advantage?! Tang Fan smiled bitterly. Sir, do you think that even if Assistant Liang got them, he would use them to seek fortune for this Ministry? He likely wouldnt. Instead, he would have certainly gone to the Cabinets Head Vizier to show them off, then head into the palace with him to offer the objects up to His Majesty. Peng Yichun was speechless. That was why I couldnt do things like that. If I get twenty percent of the credit for this, the Guards then deserve to have the remaining eighty percent. All of those treasures were obtained in exchange for their lives, so how could anyone seize their merits? Rather than do that, it was better for me to offend Assistant Liang and allow my Guard brothers to show their faces before His Majesty. This official knows that you had good intentions, Sir, and dont want to see me pushed out of the department, but with what happened to Yin Yuanhua, and with Assistant Liangs personality, he will hold a grudge indefinitely. Even if he does nothing this time, he will inevitably find a chance to act. Peng Yichun shook his head. With you saying as much, what else can I? Before the former Minister left, he said that you were a talent worthy of cultivating, and asked me to look after you better. But now youve gone and offended Assistant Liang to death the instant you came back! I fear that life for you wont be any sort of easy from now on. He then took out a letter and gave it to him. This is something Minister Zhang told me to pass on to you prior to his departure. Tang Fan was a little surprised. He hadnt expected that Minister Zhang would even leave anything for him. In outsiders eyes, he had been tagged as Zhang Yings person, but the truth was that he had not been that close with the man. The only association theyd had that could be labelled as deep was that long discussion right before Tang Fan had gone to Gong county. Saying farewell to Peng Yichun, Tang Fan couldnt resist opening the letter up the second he stepped outside the Ministrys gate. It was in Zhang Yings handwriting. He let Tang Fan know that the reason he had gone to Nanjing was that he had offended Head Vizier Wan An, and was certain to be replaced by Liang Wenhua as Minister. He also told him to do his best not to offend the latter, bide his time, conserve his strength, and bear with it for a time; by going a step back, ones skies would broaden. As there would be much to do in the future, rushing into conflict with Liang Wenhua was unnecessary. He was not to believe that just because justice was stifled now and things were difficult, there was no hope for the Great Mings officialdom. As was said, one would see the moon after the clouds cleared; as long as his actions did not let down the realms heart, he would be worthy of his initial intent to be an official. Zhang Ying even used himself as an example, saying that he had stepped upon the wrong path at his own beginning, resulting in him being ho-hum for over a decade. Fortunately, he had now had sudden repentance, and it was not too late for him to warn Tang Fan to learn from his precedent, maintain his integrity, and be a good official that could care for the world and its inhabitants. Tang Fan was not one who was easily moved, but from reading this letter, his eyes got a little watery. He had a shallow friendship with Zhang Ying. Before this, he had once believed that the man was just as others had described him as: a mediocre official of inaction. Now, he seemed to be able to peer into the elders heart through this letter. On the surface, Zhang Ying was mollifying and encouraging him, but it was really a feeling of regret towards his own previously wasted years, regret for how he had bowed his head to the status quo for the sake of his officials position. The difference here, at least, was that many would confess as much only in their hearts, then be done with it, either beginning to bow their heads, or continuing to do so. Zhang Ying, however, had made up for it with his own behavior. That sort of courage was not something everyone possessed. No matter what comments anyone else had towards this clay-figurine Minister, at this very moment,Tang Fan only had profound respect for him. He raised his head to look towards the South. Zhang Ying ought to have arrived in Nanjing right about now, too. Tang Fan took a deep breath, put the letter away, and strode for home. *** Ever since Tang Fan had reported the one-hundred-tael value of the property in his documents, the Cabinet and Ministry of Justice had both been waiting with open eyes. Neither had expected at all that his report was only after the fact, and he had already had Sui Zhou directly hand the items over to the Emperor. It must be said here that the Great Ming had both an internal treasury, and a national treasury. What money was in the latter was for the Dynasty, and the Emperor basically never thought to use it, as what was in the internal treasury was his own stash. As a result of the Great Ancestor decentralizing financial power, the central government collected very little coin annually, and once divided amongst the Six Ministries, it was even lesser hence why the minute the Emperor ever wanted to reach into the national treasury, everyone would chide him like their lives depended on it. He disdained trouble, plus generally wished to build palaces, peruse alchemy, reward his consorts, and pay the salaries of the eunuchs and maids, so he would solely take things from the internal treasury. Even though such things were not clearly stipulated, the Emperor was still relatively aware of them under the circumstances. Still, none of the current Solons were strong men, and kept fighting with each other, so they needed the Emperor to support them, wanting to gain his favor. Sometimes, the money in the Emperors treasury wouldnt be enough for use, whereupon Head Vizier Wan would transfer him money from the national treasury. This time around, Wan An had similarly wanted to give those treasures as tribute to the Emperor in order to get into his good graces. As a bonus, that money wasnt coming out of the states revenue, and wouldnt incite all the officials to scold the Emperor. However, the treasures hadnt gone through him at all, but had been sent straight into the palace! And, apart from being an imperial ambassador, Sui Zhou had two other identities he was a Brocade Guard, and therefore not under the Cabinets jurisdiction, and a consort-kin of Dowager Zhou, meaning it was easier for him to enter the palace than it would be for a Head Vizier. Wan An had no choice but to hold his nose and concede, though he had long cursed Sui Zhou sideways in his heart. The Emperor had no requirement to care about his feelings. In his opinion, as long as money was to be had, it was a joyous event. He called Wan An over solely because he had suddenly received a large sum of valuables and was happy about it, wanting to share his joy with the Head Vizier while discussing what rewards to bestow Tang Fan, Sui Zhou, and the rest of them. Wan An was sixty-three this year. According to standards, officials over the age of sixty ought to retire, but there were always exceptions. For those good enough to remain, age was not an issue. For those that could not remain, age was just an excuse. The Chenghua Emperor ordered his attendant to move a stool over, thus granting Wan An a seat. After some pleasantries, he asked, The Ministry of Justice and Brocade Guard had a joint case together in Gong county. Have you heard as well, Yuanweng? This subject has, Wan An answered. Chenghua smiled. Such a hair-raising thing. Even Guangchuan, who is not the best at speaking, could narrate it in a way that had us trembling. Seeing as how they have gone through such purgatory, they have established a brilliant merit! What brilliant merit? Havent they done nothing more than give a lot of money to you? Wan An said that derisively on the inside, while his face showed compassion. Havent they? This subject has also read the documents they sent over, and it is indeed extremely harrowing. However, those tomb guardians are not something I have heard of before. With how big the world is, where are such world-shocking beasts in it? He had been wanting to calmly chastise Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, but Liang Fang, who was standing behind the Emperor, had given him a a meaningful look, and he had also heard the Emperor specially call Sui Zhou by his courtesy, which meant that the former must place him in high regard. As such, he had promptly turned the subject around, going along with the Emperors preferences to talk about the tomb guardians. Chenghua laughed. It is a pity that you, as the Cabinets Head Vizier, must read memorials all day long, and also no wonder that you have no comprehension of such oddities. After we heard what Guangchuan had to say, we went to flip through those ancient tomes of curiosities, yet Classic of the Mountains and Seas, In Search of the Supernatural, and Extensive Records of Taiping had no mention of it. Huai En later called our attention to something else, however. He deliberately paused, as if to keep his listener on edge. As a standards-meeting Head Vizier, Wan An quickly revealed an expression that said, Im really quite interested in learning about this. This old subject is ill-learned. Dare I ask you the origin of those beasts, Your Majesty? His appetite satiated, Chenghua smiled. There is no harm in letting you know. This is from Notes Relating to the Extraordinary by Ren Fang of the Southern Liang; the creature is called a hui,[1] resembling a snake yet not being a snake, having scales yet no horns! It is the preceding form of the jiao! Wan An gave an ah, sighing in disapproval on the inside while looking like he had an epiphany on the outside. So thats what they were. From your explanation, this old subject also believes that to seem to be the truth. Chenghua grew excited. Seem? It is simply the truth! Previously, the State Master informed us that this land has no lack of wonders. There are monsters, gods, and even mortals that painstakingly, incessantly cultivate, which ends with them ascending upwards in broad daylight! We had only half-believed, at first, but now that it has been proven that hui exist, there must also be jiao, and dragons! The rest must also be true! Only now did Wan An realize where the Emperors interest was placed; as it was, he believed that the existence of hui indirectly verified the existence of gods and immortals, which gave him the motivation to take refined pills and cultivate. Bringing that to mind, Wan An smiled. You should only take those as amusing tidbits, Your Majesty. There is no great need to look into them so deeply. He disconnected himself from this topic so as to avoid word of it spreading outwards, and those censors saying that he was egging the Emperor on into not doing proper business. Being a papier-mach Solon was fine, but even one thought towards the other nickname he had on the streets of dick-washing hustler made him feel an anger that he had no place to get rid of. Chenghua laughed. Alright, we will not make things difficult for you. They handled an enormous undertaking, and deserve rewards. We have something of an impression of that Tang Fan, as well. In the Han family incident that implicated Consort Wan, it was thanks to him finding out the truth that she was declared innocent. He truly is a competent official. In your view, how should he be promoted this time, Yuanweng? We recall that theres a position open in the Inspectorate. How about elevating him to be the Left Royal Envoy of All the Capital? Thats a truefourth-rank position! When I was his age, I was still simmering my seniority as a minor official! Wan An couldnt help but be inwardly envious, but he was calm-looking, cupping his hands and he stood up. This old subject was not planning on bothering you with such trivialities, but as you have asked, I have something to say. Speak, speak! When would we ever prevent you from speaking? Chenghua was quite amiable towards his favored subjects, rarely using his imperial airs to suppress them. He showed enough reverence towards the Solons, as well. Wan An took out a memorial from his sleeve, presenting it. This is the memorial where Right Senior Censor Fu Yan of the Justice Branch denounces Tang Fan. Liang Fang stepped out from behind the Emperor, took the memorial, then brought it back and offered it to the Emperor. After poring through the memorial, Chenghua was surprised. He denounced him for treating human life as grass, and causing his subordinates death? We have read the documents the Cabinet reported about this, and did they not say that it was an accident? If the beasts truly were water hui, it is not strange that they could not save everyone. Your Majesty, Yin Yuanhua was a civil official. Tang Fan knew as much, but still let his subordinate enter dangerous circumstances. Thats one thing, Wan An said solemnly. A second is that as the lead envoy of the assignment, he must bear responsibility for protecting his subordinates. If he is not punished, but instead rewarded, this practice will be encouraged. A third is that this old subject has heard that the Deputy Chief that died had some personal grudges with Tang Fan while in the Ministry of Justice. Chenghua furrowed his brow. You mean to say that Tang Fan enacted his personal revenge using his position, Yuanweng? Wan An shook his head. I did not see it in person, so I cannot draw that conclusion. It is merely wind from an empty cave that might not be true. If he truly is an upright gentleman, how could such a rumor ever spread outwards? The fatal strength of those words was too potent. Even Chenghua mumbled to himself after hearing it. Then, the Emperor turned his head. Liang Fang, is your godson not Shang Ming, who manages the Eastern Depot? Has he said anything to you about this Tang Fan? Eunuchs were not allowed to get involved in politics that was a rule once established by the Great Ancestor. But if the Emperor himself inquired on his own initiative, that did not count as getting involved. Liang Fang had been beside him like a wooden doll. If the Emperor hadnt questioned, he would never have opened his mouth, so he now took a step forward and lightly laughed. Tang Fan is merely a fifth-rank official, not any sort of important figure. Why would Shang Ming ever bring him up to this servant? Chenghua guffawed. That is also true! However, Liang Fang then continued, after Tang Fan gave his contribution last time, Lady Consort appreciated him very much. You praised him a lot, too, Your Majesty. This slave paid some attention to him for a time in preparation for your bequeathed inquiries. Its simply that when I asked around, I found that ever since he entered the Ministry, he has had mediocre relations with his colleagues. A master of false accusations did not need to directly state how bad someone was, like right now. Liang Fang gave an understated quote, not even openly answering the question, yet it was enough to let the Emperor get the information hidden within. Chenghua would think that if someone had a poor relationship with one person, that might be an issue with the other party, but if the first person had a poor relationship with everyone, it had to be an issue with the individual. And since Tang Fan had a defect in his personality, that happened to correspond with Wan Ans recent claim that Yin Yuanhuas death might have been related to him. Someone like that, of course, could not be placed into an important position. After staying by the Emperors side for so long, and witnessing many masters of killing people without blades, Liang Fangs skills were extraordinary. Eunuch Liang didnt know Tang Fan personally, though, so why would he be making trouble for him? Because his godson, Shang Ming, was the Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, he was completely incompatible with Wang Zhi of the Western Depot, and Tang Fan had a decent relationship with the latter. He had heard that he frequently gave him ideas, even. Someone like that was best eliminated while the chance was present. On top of that, Eunuch Liang never did work for nothing. Liang Wenhua had gifted him five hundred taels through Wan An. One sentence was worth five hundred taels. What a great transaction. Chenghua, as expected, frowned. As that is so, this Tang Fan truly cannot be utilized. How should he be handled, Yuanweng? There is no denying that Tang Fan has given you a huge sum of valuables, Your Majesty. That merit has not disappeared. However, he really must bear responsibility for Yin Yuanhuas death. The merit and demerit counterbalance each other. This subject believes that he should be stripped of his post and returned to being a commoner. The Emperor hesitated. Is that not too severe? One begets another. As long as he keeps his post, others will think that this behavior of conspiring against coworkers can be considered a path to promotion, which will likely lead to poor customs over time. His character is also not good enough to be an official. If you feel sorry for this, Your Majesty, dismiss him from his post, then separately grant him silver as a token of commendation for his efforts. Such would keep the merits and demerits level. Chenghua nodded. Very well. Your words have long held up the nation, Yuanweng. This will be handled according to how you want it to be! He had only been interested in the case itself to begin with. Coupling that with the case of the Eastern Palace, where Tang Fan had performed well, Chenghua had formed a good impression of him, but now that fair impression had been ruined by the words of Wan An and Liang Fang. An Emperor wouldnt be too invested in whether a fifth-rank official stayed or went. With that clause revealed in scant few sentences, he went to speak about other matters with Wan An. The latter presented some memorials drafted up by the Cabinet, and after giving his report, the ruler and subject conversed for a time. The Emperor thereafter cast political stuff to the side to ask after things he was more personally interested in, like how to use elixirs to help spice things up in the bedroom. According to normal ideologies, Viziers of the country ought to boldly step forth and awe-inspiringly advise the Emperor not to be engrossed with such lewd and nefarious magic, but Wan An was instead enthusiastically conversing with the Emperor. They had similar hobbies, chatting for a long time, and exchanged understanding smiles when it came time to leave. Even Liang Fang looked on coldly at them, feeling that this Head Vizier was much too inappropriate. The time for communication between ruler and subject was a bit short today, as no more than half a shichen had passed before the Emperor stated that he was tired and had Wan An take his leave. As per usual, Liang Fang was ordered to see him out of the Palace of Heavenly Clarity. They slowed their pace down, with Wan An smiling at Liang Fang. Many thanks for what transpired today, Eunuch Liang. Liang Fang chuckled, but was blunt. Services were paid for. Theres no need to be polite, Yuanweng. Upon seeing the one walking up ahead of them, Wan An was somewhat startled. Why is he entering the palace again? The other grinned. Why must you ask? His Majesty has always cared about the Bastion Envoy, and has also been very curious about what was in the Gong vault these past few days. Really, he wasnt content enough with the questions asked yesterday, so he has to continue them today! No wonder the Emperor so hurriedly ousted me, Wan An thought. Still, hed had no contact with Sui Zhou previously, and him moving against Tang Fan had only been at Liang Wenhuas incitement. After not long, Sui Zhou had trailed the leading attendant up before them. Greetings to Mister Vizier, Eunuch Liang, Sui Zhou said as he cupped his hands. He was wearing a gorgeously detailed flying-fish uniform, its gilded threads glittering beneath the sunlight. Paired with that stern expression, Wan Ans head somehow seemed to be getting pressed down upon. Wan An subconsciously took two steps back, then caught himself. He, a stately Vizier, had actually drawn back from the presence of a fifth-rank Millarch if that got out, would it not make people laugh to death? Looking at Sui Zhou and Liang Fang, it seemed that no one had noticed that detail, so Wan An gave a light cough and a shallow smile. So its you, Bastion Envoy. Youre ready for royal audience? Yes. His words were concise, not a bit of drivel in them at all. Wan An was immediately bored. He hated talking to tactless blockheads the most. Head in quick, then. Dont let His Majesty wait too long. Sui Zhou nodded at the two of them, then strode for the Palace. Once he saw Sui Zhou enter, Chenghua was slightly more happy than he would be when seeing Wan An. There was no other reason for this than that the Emperor was an enormously filial son, and Dowager Zhou was fond of Sui Zhou. Chenghua simply loved who she loved, regarding Sui Zhou as part of his mothers family. Come, come, Guangchuan! Sit! After hearing you speak of the tomb guardians yesterday, we went to flip through some classics, and actually found the type of beast that you described. Its name is the water hui, correct? This subject does not know the particulars of that, but Sir Tang guessed the same. Hearing Tang Fans name, Chenghua appeared to recall what he had just talked about with Wan An, and his smile dulled slightly. Guangchuan, you earned a great merit this time. Have you considered any rewards you want? This subject has not. You alone are in charge of that, Your Majesty. As the saying went, if someone was likeable to you, you would find every bit of them perfectly fine. With how the Emperor was right now, Sui Zhous scarce words were not viewed as impolite by him. There were many boot-lickers all over the Court, if he wanted a boot-licker the reason why he looked at Sui Zhou differently was because his straightforward, unwavering personality was exactly what he liked about him. Youve performed well in the Bastion Office, Chenghua said with a smile. Later on, we will speak to Yuan Bin to have you not be hung with the rank of Millarch anymore, but directly promoted to being the Bastion Envoy. That is simply what you deserved in the first place, though, and is not considered a reward. How about this; how about we seal you as a Count? Only then did Sui Zhou show a look of shock. Please take your order back, Your Majesty. This subject absolutely does not deserve that! How could you not deserve it? The national treasury is now coinless. We were worried about where we were going to get the money for alchemy. These treasures you delivered have coincidentally solved our desperate problem. That is a great credit! The corner of Sui Zhous mouth pulled down. He hadnt brought the Gong vault treasures over here for the Emperors alchemy, but how could he ever stop the Emperor from doing what he wanted? He listened to the other go on. There is no need to be alarmed. The title we are granting you is one of a boon, not an iron-clad contract. If you want to earn a lineage title, you will have to work hard from here on out. We and the Dowager have high hopes for you. You must not disappoint us! Seeing how cheerfully Chenghua was looking at him, and knowing that the other had made up his mind, he no longer rejected this notion. First, he thanked him for this grace, then said, In truth, this subject only acted as deputy envoy for this assignment, and the things I did are finite, while many things were executed thanks to Chief Tangs mediation and management. If we are discussing contributions, he is placed before me. Chenghua waved him off. We know about Tang Fan already, you need not say more. We have our own ideas. We do have another thing to ask you. Sui Zhou had had no idea that the Emperor had already come to a decision on Tang Fan prior to this. After hearing as much, it wouldnt be appropriate to ask after it, of course. This subject will answer all that I can. Yuan Bin is up in age. We are thinking of letting Wan Tong take control of the Brocade Guard back. What do you think? Remembering what Tang Fan had said earlier, he couldnt help but inwardly praise his foresight. Your are a sage of brilliance. This subject has one impudent request. Do tell. Commanding Envoy Yuan has experienced two Courts, and has excellent loyalty. I respect his conduct very much. He has reached retirement age, but for the more than two years he has been heading the Brocade Guard, he has been proper in how he has handled each of its levels. Even without merits, he has worked hard. I must be so bold as to ask that you issue a decree to give him some consolation for his efforts. Chenghua sighed. Well-spoken. Yuan Bin is indeed loyal! Father Emperor owed him quite a lot. During talks of the Late Emperor, Sui Zhou could only be silent and listen to the Emperor. You are right. We really should express as much to him, give him compensation for these past years. Sui Zhou cupped his hands. You are wise, Your Majesty. The Emperor smiled. A traditional saying is that once a person leaves, the tea grows cold. You have been in contact with Yuan Bin for only two years, yet now that he is about to go, you are willing to say this on his behalf. How quaint! This subject admires Sir Yuans sincerity towards the Late Emperor, and is willing to imitate him. Things concerning Yuan Wenzhi also concern the Late Emperors heart. Hearing this, Chenghua was extremely moved, and walked over to personally help him up, laughing. Okay, Sui Guangchuan! We have hopes for you! With your abilities, you will definitely do better than even he! We have already considered your title. We had thought for it to be Count Guning, but now, it will be Count Dingan! May your heart embrace loyalty and righteousness, and may you bring stability to the nation! The translator says: Ah yes, my favorite thing in the world: corrupt men with any sort of power. Fun fact: dick-washing hustler is not embellished, lmao. Just as Wan An was a real person, he was actually called by that nickname C Im not sure if itll ever come up in the novel, but he gained favor by introducing aphrodisiacs to the Emperor, which got him the Head Vizier position. In other words, he hustled his way upwards by getting Chenghuas dick washed. No wonder MXS chose to write during this time period, its one big fucking joke. [1] I can find scant English sources about the hui (), likely due to the book its froms obscurity, which quotes: Hui turns to jiao after five hundred years, jiao turns to dragon after a thousand years, dragon turns to horned dragon after five hundred years, and a thousand years, a winged dragon. The hui character is also frequently used to describe water snakes and lizards; in this case, its a giant water lizard. CH 71 In these few days following the return from Gong county, the Court had been slow to decree the execution of any rewards. Tang Fan had no idea that Sui Zhou had earned himself a title of nobility at his trip into the palace today; he had gone to the bureau at the time of the Rabbit,(5-7a) as was habit. The various offices of the Ministry of Justice had not had much going on recently. Lu Tongguang had even paid him a visit out of boredom seeing that Tang Fan was always preoccupied with something, he couldnt help but curiously ask him what he was actually doing. Tang Fan then explained to him how he was planning on sorting out the oversights in the Great Ming Code, as well as additionally draw up Regulations for Interrogation and Sentencing for use as a reference supplement to the Code. After hearing of all that, Lu Tongguang was dumbstruck, shaking his head. Whats with all the toil, Runqing? Were only insignificant fifth-rank Chiefs. Even though someone like you has a future path that cannot be measured, who knows when youll be promoted to a high post in the department? Also, just take a look at those up above. Even if theyve assumed duties of Solons or Ministers and whatnot, are those still not sinecures? Its great that youre motivated, of course, but even if you finish it, it likely wont be taken seriously! Tang Fan smiled. Im idling my time away, anyway. I prefer to find something to do. Lu Tongguang scooted in closer, lowering his voice. Has Liang Wenhua bothered you over Yin Yuanhuas death? Not yet. Have you heard anything? No, the other answered, shaking his head. You havent been in the Ministry for long, so you might still not understand. Liang Wenhua really put the utmost of care into that student of his. He probably treated him better than his own son. His lack of reaction after something like this happened is really fishy. In this day and age, if a student betrayed their teacher, they would suffer despisal by all folks and bear infamy for all their lives. Teachers guided students not only for them to serve as their help, but to lay plans for future generations, making it a mutually beneficial set-up. Furthermore, if a father promoted his son, he would definitely receive criticism, while a teacher looking out for their student was a just and proper matter. This was why, in the Great Mings officialdom, the relationship between a teacher and student differed little from a father and son, and was even closer and more secure than that. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. He has long regarded me as being on Minister Zhangs side. Even if Yin Yuanhua was alive, he still wouldnt be looking at me kindly. Lu Tongguang sighed ruefully. Yeah. If Minister Zhang hadnt left, things would be fine, but since he has, this Ministry has turned into Liang Wenhuas domain! Zhang Ying hadnt done much of anything in the Ministry, but he had still been a Minister. With him in the lead, Liang Wenhua had been afraid to overstep no matter how powerful he was, but with him gone, those officials that had either refused to get friendly with Liang Wenhua or had remained neutral were naturally starting to worry about their own futures. Ones like Lu Tongguang were fine. His presence in the Ministry hadnt been strongly felt to begin with, and he had never provoked Liang Wenhua. As long as he obediently obeyed and didnt contradict his superiors, nothing would be done to him. In comparison, Tang Fan had no such good fortune. Ever since his return, the looks he had been receiving from all over the place had slipped-in sympathy or schadenfreude. Before he had left, he had barely managed to set up a network of connections, so after Zhang Yings transfer, his situation was in peril yet again. Were it to be said that everyone had seen him as a newcomer last time and thought to crowd him out, then this time around, they purely felt that since he had already offended Liang Wenhua unto his death, his end was bound to be tragic, so they dared not get too close to him. Even Peng Yichun and Lu Tongguang, in Liang Wenhuas presence, were too afraid to express too much familiarity to him. To be accurate, there seemed to be one word currently stuck to Mister Tangs forehead: unlucky. While the two spoke, a clerk knocked on the door outside and came in. Sirs, Assistant Minister Liang has invited all the Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs over for a discussion. Lu Tongguang and Tang Fan exchanged a look. Do you know what this is about? the former asked the clerk. This subordinate does not. The clerk was familiar with Lu Tongguang, so he said a bit more. However, seeing as how Sir Liang appears to have just returned from the Cabinet, perhaps it issued some documents? Lu Tongguang believed that things werent that simple, but he didnt question him further, smiling and thanking him. The clerk had to pass the message on to other offices, and thus hurried off. Its yet another prickly case to busy us, isnt it? Lu Tongguang said in self-contempt. Other Ministries either handle imperial exams or capital inspection, and theyre all stylish, having processions lined up outside them for gift exchanges and favors. Our Ministry alone has not even ghosts willing to enter it! Tang Fan laughed. Maybe theres actually something good afoot? They laughed and chatted as they walked to the Ministrys discussion hall, then were surprised to discover that Liang Wenhua, who would have been unfashionably late in the past, was already seated there. Busily restraining their smiles, they stepped forth to bow. Liang Wenhua was friendly beyond the norm, too. No need for so much politeness. Sit down and wait for the others. That gaze of his landed upon Tang Fan so soft, it was even about to leak water. When Lu Tongguang saw that, he couldnt help but shudder. Is the sun rising from the West today? They didnt have to wait for long. The Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs arrived in succession. As soon as they all noticed that Liang Wenhua had arrived early, they were just like the first two, immediately stopping with their chatting, then quietly taking their seats. Yin Yuanhua had died, and no one had yet taken over his position, making Tang Fan the only one from the Henan Office that had come. There was not one absence from the other Offices. The last to arrive was Right Assistant Minister Peng Yichun; upon seeing this scene, he was visibly a little surprised, then walked over to his right-hand seat without another world. Seeing as everyone had arrived, Liang Wenhua cleared his throat. I had you all come here today due to what happened in Gong County. In unison, everyones eyes quickly went to Tang Fan. Seeming to not notice their reactions, Liang Wenhua continued on. A short time back, Chief Tang was ordered to proceed for Gong to investigate the case of Song tomb robberies and the senseless deaths of villagers. The truth of that has already come to the surface. There was another vault beneath the tomb, which was discovered to be a Gong nobles grave from the Spring and Autumn Period. Due to the demons of the White Lotus Society causing mischief, odd beasts in the vault had been released to devastate the area and bring disaster to the citizenry. Thankfully, they were able to be eradicated, and a certain number of society followers were wiped out. This is a great contribution. The original intention of His Majesty and the Cabinet was for Chief Tang to be awarded heavily for his role as imperial ambassador in this assignment. As soon as that came out, the gazes on Tang Fan suddenly became a bit cauterizing. There were also some racing thoughts, however, as one word was promptly latched onto: original. Sure enough, Liang Wenhua switched direction. However, the Ministry of Justice and Brocade Guard jointly handled the case. At the time, the Ministry dispatched four people, but only three returned. Henan Deputy Chief Yin Yuanhua was unfortunately amongst those killed, and as the lead envoy, Tang Fan cannot shirk blame. So this is what he was getting at! Peng Yichun, Lu Tongguang, and the rest of them had that same realization. They had known from the start that Liang Wenhua would never let Tang Fan off as it turned out, he had merely been waiting for news from the Cabinet before trying viciously humiliate Tang Fan. Thinking of this, they couldnt help but secretly squeeze out some sweat on Tang Fans behalf. They had no idea what Liang Wenhua was going to say next. Merits are merits, demerits are demerits. The Court has always had clear definitions between rewards and punishments. It has never discarded demerits because of merits, nor has it overlooked merits because of an officials faults. Tang Fans merits and demerits counterbalance. He will be dismissed from his post as the Henan Office Chief in the Ministry of Justice, and allowed to keep his cap and belt in dormancy. He will also be granted fifty taels of silver as resources to return to his hometown. Liang Wenhuas gaze swept over the crowds stunned expressions, then landed upon Tang Fans face. The order of dismissal will surely be sent over from the Ministry of Appointments today. Just wait a minute. Compared to everyone else, Tang Fan was actually the calmest so calm, he was almost expressionless, even. He gave a hum, looking like his mind had just come back from wandering. Liang Wenhuas face twitched. Tang Fan, did you hear any of what I just said? In his own opinion, it would have been best to straight-up strip Tang Fan of his rank and make him a commoner. He had previously heard word from the Cabinet that the Emperor had appeared to have agreed with that standpoint, but somehow, later on, he had changed his mind yet again, and switched the return to commoner status out for cap dormancy. They were both post dismissals, but there were differences between them. The former removed an officials status, fired them straight to the bottom rungs, and demoted them to being amongst the rabble. The latter preserved the officials status, allowing them to chill out at home, where if they wanted to rise back up at any time, they could. Being returned to commoner status didnt mean that it would be impossible to resume being an official, of course, but it was certainly a hundred times harder than it would be with just cap dormancy. Still, even though both sides had differences, they were really only slivers of deviancy. Even in cap dormancy, if one never got the chance to make a comeback for all of their life, what was the point of it? Wouldnt it be the same as being a plain citizen, just nicer-sounding? As Liang Wenhua thought, he could only attribute this to the Emperors soft heart, then pinch his nose and take it. Were Tang Fan currently a Vizier or major official, the odds of the Emperor remembering him in his dormancy might have been quite high. Since he was just an insignificant, fifth-rank Chief, however, barring any incident, he would basically never bring him to mind. Hence was why Liang Wenhua was more or less happy with this outcome. Regardless, as long as Tang Fan was kicked out of the Ministry and disallowed from being an official again, he could do whatever it was he wanted. Without an officials post, he was exactly like that old man Zhang that had gone to Nanjing both were grasshoppers after autumn that would stop hopping after a few days. On Tang Fans end, he had been thinking while Liang Wenhua was speaking. Despite his distraction, he had kept one ear listening, and remembered all of the others words once he thought back to them. He met Liang Wenhuas eyes, nodding. I heard all of it. He had long anticipated how his own end would go, but these circumstances were actually much better than those anticipations. Liang Wenhua nodded slightly. We still have things to discuss next. You may abstain. He had proclaimed Tang Fans ousting in advance, but the Ministry of Appointments documents would not be coming the day of. In the strictest sense, Tang Fan was still an appointed official. Him telling him to abstain right now was nothing other than him trying to embarrass him. Those in officialdom had always valued reputation over their own lives. Had anyone else been humiliated like this, even the ones present here with good tempers would find this completely insufferable. On the contrary, Tang Fan was calm, not looking bothered at all. He nodded at Liang Wenhua, cupped his hands at everyone seated, and even showed a smile. I am indebted towards all of the consideration everyone here has shown me after I entered the Ministry, and I cant thank you enough. Now that I must leave in a rush, Im afraid that theres no time to treat you all to parting wine. For the time being, note the occasion down, and well make up for it later, when the chances arrive. The emerald mountains do not change, the green waters flow forever we depart from here, but we will meet again. Liang Wenhua coldly laughed on end in his head. Why are you going on about mountains and waters?! What, are you still thinking that there will be a day that youll come back for revenge? You wont ever have one where you can turn your fate around! Ill make you regret going against me for the rest of your life! In his view, Yin Yuanhua had died by Tang Fans hand. The reason why he was not in a hurry to take revenge was that he was precisely waiting for Tang Fans dismissal. When the time came, how could he allow him to screw around and do whatever he wanted? As long as he gave the slightest suggestion towards local officials, he would guarantee that Tang Fan would be tormented until he longed for death. Although a thousand twists and turns had gone through his head, Liang Wenhua was placid on the surface. First, go to your workroom and pack up your things. If someone from the Ministry of Appointments comes, I will send them straight to you. If nothing occurs, leaving a little sooner is fine. If it was said that they all had been embracing the attitude of play-attending while watching Liang Wenhua and Tang Fan fight previously, the sudden feeling of watching a fellow sufferer now surged instead. The looks in their eyes as they watched Tang Fan changed a little. The man in question didnt appear to notice. Calmly done listening to what Liang Wenhua had to say, he smiled lightly, then walked out. At first glance, his gait was a bit brisk. No one believed that he was actually happy, of course; they only thought that he was pretending to be relaxed and forcing on a smile. Any person that had studied strenuously for over a decade, finally crossed a single-plank bridge in an impressive display to pass the imperial exams and become a Palace Honorate, and then ended up being forced to pack their things and leave after only a few years would certainly feel fury, and a difficulty to take this. Tang Fan was no exception. He was, at best, simply a man with above-average open-mindedness, not a saint. He owned all the emotions a typical human should have. It was merely that no amount of indignance he had would help to change reality; if he wept bitterly and got angry, that would just give those throwing stones at him while he was down in a well something to laugh at. Why bother to act like a petulant child, then? It was better to be optimistic. Being an official gave being-an-official benefits, and not being an official gave not-being-an-official freedom. He was not someone obsessed with the job. When Liang Wenhua had declared his fate, following a split second of anger, his very first feeling had been the relief of a weight being lifted from him. If one wanted to be a mediocre, corrupt, or stupid official, things would be easy. If one wanted to be an official with a conscience, each day they were one was like a stone weighing down the body. Now that he had no post, how could it not seem exactly like he had completely unloaded his burdens? He was even thinking about how after his dismissal, he would finally have time to visit his sister that he hadnt seen in many years. The more he thought, the happier he was, which had inevitably made his pace somewhat jaunty. Liang Wenhua watched Tang Fan with his eyes as he departed the discussion hall, right about to tell the clerk outside to shut the door. However, he saw that when he had barely reached the entryway, Tang Fan stopped, turned his head, and stepped one foot back in again, pure doubt on his face. Sir, you just said that His Majesty bestowed me fifty taels of silver. Dare I ask when that commitment will be honored? Having been an official for many years, Liang Wenhua had seen many be stripped of their post and dismissed before. The reactions of those a bit intenser would be to wail and howl on the spot like madmen, while those a bit calmer would be pale-faced and dispirited. No official had ever acted like this. Who cared about that tiny bit of silver? Was this guy actually sick in the head, to care enough to ask such a question? He looked at Tang Fan the same way the tomb guardian had eyed humans, mouth twitching. Go to the Ministry of Revenue yourself to collect it. But if His Majesty bestowed it, it ought to be coming out of the internal treasury, Tang Fan answered innocently. Is no one from the palace coming? Liang Wenhuas face was dark. Tang Runqing, youre intentionally causing a ruckus! This Ministry is no longer your bureau, so go wherever you may want, but your dismissal was not this Ministers say! Whats the use in asking me this?! This well-fed man could never understand how hungry men starved. He had no idea that in Tang Fans point of view, fifty taels was the equivalent of I can buy a lot of good food. Seeing his ghastly attitude, Tang Fan could only sigh his face very plainly saying you really like to stir things up then turn around and leave. Assistant Minister Liang was made to choke until his eyes rolled back into his head from that look he gave him. Everyone else looked at each other; none of them were sure whether they ought to pity Tang Fan, or express their admiration for how mad he had just made Liang Wenhua before he left. To be completely honest, Tang Fan hadnt even done that on purpose. Fortunately, the Emperor was comparatively credible. No long after the Ministry of Appointments order reached Tang Fan, someone came from the palace to give him the fifty silver taels and two added bolts of silk. In all likelihood, after the Chenghua Emperor had seen the two trunks of treasures, he had recalled Tang Fans dismissal, then felt guilt on his conscience, thus using silk to appease Mister Tangs wounded spirit. The color of the two bolts was too gaudy. They werent suitable for men, but for women of the family. He wouldnt reject things for no reason, of course, so he went home while holding the cloth and coin. Following his return, he found that Sui Zhou had come back a step ahead of him, and was speaking to Ah-Dong. Upon seeing the bolts he had, Ah-Dong exclaimed out of surprise that they were pretty, then came up and took them with a giggle. Big brother, Brother Sui got promoted! On the road way back, Tang Fan had brought to mind that although he would be faulted for everything, with those two trunks of treasure that Sui Zhou had brought into the palace, the Brocade Guard would not only be fine, but inevitably get promoted higher. Hence, he was not surprised at all by her words, smiling. What kind of promotion? Was it a leap all the way into being a real Commanding Envoy? Ah-Dong couldnt say, so she turned to look at Sui Zhou, who shook his head. No. Tang Fan told Ah-Dong to take one of the bolts and gift it to the Sui familys young lady, while the other one she could keep for herself to make clothes out of. Ah-Dong hugged the cloth, said that she was going to bring both bolts over to let Ah-Bi have first pick, then giddily left. After washing his hands, Tang Fan returned to the small courtyard to sit down, casually picked up a piece of candied mulberry, and placed it into his mouth. These mulberries had been picked from the mulberry tree they had planted themselves, having ripened in the late spring-early summer period. After picking and washing them, they were boiled in sugar water, and once the sugary taste had permeated the fruits, they could be taken out of the pot. Once cooled, they were to be packed into a jar, sealed up, and placed into the cellar. One jar would keep for around half a month. Whenever wanted, they would first be soaked in well water, then spooned out, giving the most icy, refreshing sweetness on summer days. Come, tell me! What kind of promotion did you get? Did Pang Qi, Yan Li, and the rest of them get promotions, too? They went up one rank. Just like how you said, His Majesty intends to switch out Yuan Bin. For Wan Tong? Sui Zhou nodded. He still values him. His Majesty is compassionate, Tang Fan lamented. Thats not a bad thing. Rulers during peace and prosperity are soft-hearted, which is always better than harshness. It was just a shame that the majority of the people he was fond of were undeserving of his fondness, instead exploiting their monarchs favor to get themselves gains at all costs. Wan Tong was supported by the massive tree that was Consort Wan, but his competence was only average, and he would not stop causing problems that the Emperor once used to suppress, until the child kidnapping case had happened. Wan Tong had been involved behind the Southside Gang, who had dared to kidnap the children of important officials, which had then given the Emperor no choice but to sack him after that massive fuss. Now, circumstances had changed with the passage of time. Consort Wan must have constantly begged on her brothers behalf. Adding that onto how the Emperor had to feel that Wan Tong was closer to him than Yuan Bin was, the Brocade Guard was still grasped quite reliably within Wan Tongs hand. His Majesty does not have any less trust in you than he does Wan Tong, but your experience is shallow right now, and hastily giving you the top seat would likely incite unhappiness. Furthermore, Wan Tong has no ability to get into civil or martial officialdom, nor can he go to the Depots. The most suitable position for him can indeed only be in the Brocade Guard. Maybe thats why the Emperor is thinking to wrong you for a few years first, then make it up to you later? His analysis of peoples minds was utterly convincing. Sui Zhou recalled how the Emperor had been towards him was that not exactly right? He would not have received a title of nobility so easily, if not. Chenghuas treatment of those close to him was really indescribable. Sui Zhou was quiet for a moment. He sealed me as Count Dingan. Tang Fan was caught off guard, at first, then became pleasantly surprised. Not bad, not bad! What an unexpected delight! Congratulations to you, Guangchuan! The other smiled with a light shake of the head. Its just a boon title. Theres no joyous occasion here. Tang Fan clapped him on the shoulder, laughing. Hey, overdoing it with the modesty just makes you sound fake! Its just a boon title? Can you go out on the streets and find me a boon title to try on? Ill have to call you Count from here on out! Have you spoken to your family yet? This is an immensely joyous occasion! Ill go over tomorrow. Tang Fan nodded, sincerely happy for him. He even threw his own dismissal to the back of his mind, not neglecting to remind him, Since youve gotten such happiness, dont forget to do a dinner treat! Even if this didnt happen, dont you have me treat you all the time? Hearing that, Mister Tangs thicker-than-a-wall face went a rare shade of red. However, he then heard Sui Zhou ask, What about you, then? Tang Fan smiled nonchalantly. What about me? Your rewards should have come, right? Thinking about how if he let him know that he had just been dismissed, the nice and happy ambience here would definitely be destroyed, Tang Fan said, I wasnt promoted, but the Emperor rewarded me with silver and cloth bolts. Sui Zhous brow slightly furrowed. He was unsatisfied with that, but he was also aware that the promotions of civil officials were not as easy as his, so he didnt ask further. Im going to send this silver to my sister, Tang Fan added. Youre not allowed to seize half of it. Sui Zhou had no idea how to react, setting his suspicions to the side. If youre not going to randomly spend it, why would I seize it? There were two types of different-surname nobility titles in the Great Ming: lineage and boon. Boon titles like Sui Zhous werent granted a residence, but there still werent exactly many of them. Once bestowed, the title had great use in being taken out to be a gold-lettered personal signboard. Average people would have to respect him as a Count, and even Wan Tong, if he really did take charge of the Guard again, would have to have some apprehensions towards him. As was known, Wan Tong received favor, yet still had no title. When Ah-Dong brought the bolts to the Sui home, she related the good news to them while she was there. Their responses were a little strange, however. Sui Zhous big brother, Sui An, had a stuffy expression at the time, looking like he was unable to react. A good while later, he said, Congratulate him on my behalf. Little brother-in-law really has a bright future, Sui Ans wife, Lady Jiao, said sourly. Hes even putting on big airs. Instead of personally coming to inform us of something as major as a title, he just sends a little girl! Ah-Dong had visited the Suis many times, so she had some understanding of their internal conflicts. Big Brother Sui, Sister Sui! Dont misunderstand me! I only came over to play with Ah-Bi! I thought that this was a great thing, so I had to let the elders know first, and I just blurted it out! Dont blame Second Brother Sui, it has nothing to do with him! With how staid he is as a person, he must be thinking to wait until an imperial edict comes down to say something! She called Sui Zhou just Brother Sui to his face, but in the Sui home, because Sui An was here, she had to switch labels to avoid confusion. Now that she was getting older, her words and actions were also getting better. Still, no matter how well she spoke, her words would inevitably be a bit grating to those with biases. Lady Jiao curled her lips in a sneer. He broke off from us long ago. Even if there is a decree, it wouldnt reach us here, would it? With how mean you are, its no wonder he never wants to come here, Ah-Dong thought to herself, no longer saying a word. Sui Bi quickly smoothed things over. Mom, Im going out to play with Ah-Dong! Lady Wu, who had been sitting there silently for a long time, nodded. Go on. Sui Bi inwardly sighed. Leading Ah-Dong by the hand, she left, not caring if her sister-in-law was still grumbling there. To her, her parents were way too docile, yet her eldest brother had taken a very fearless wife that could make high waves with no wind around, always insisting upon disturbing the homes peace for no good reason. Her middle brother hadnt been able take it, so of course he had moved out. Nowadays, when ones parents were still alive and healthy, there would be no care for a branching of homes, but if the parents consented, it could still happen. Their parents preferred their eldest son, too. Their second son had been titled, yet they were still worried about their eldests feelings, not daring to show the slightest bit of joy. Shaking her head, Sui Bi said to Ah-Dong, Lets walk around the market. My brothers been titled, so I should buy him some gifts. Ah-Dong sighed. I just hope Brother Sui wont be disheartened because of this. Sui Bi could only sigh along with her. The two little ladies did not need to be vexed, as Sui Zhou had long predicted his familys reaction. That was why he had made no big parade about it, instead intending to use the later opportunity of paying respects to his parents to mention it. Against that hope, once he returned to the Northern Bastion Office the very next day, his titling had long spread far and wide. All ranks of the Office felt that they had gotten extraordinary prestige from this, congratulating him one after the other, calling him Count with every breath. They were even more excited than they would have been for the New Year. Xue Ling had remained in the Office, not having the chance to go to Gong County with them. Since all the guys that had gone had been promoted a rank, and had also had an exciting and thrilling adventure, he had long been gearing up to do something, going for Sui Zhou to ask for orders. Brother, you have to take me next time, no matter what! I stayed here for a month, having to deal with those Eastern Depot assholes every single day! Im so sick of it! Ah, Old Xue, thats where youre wrong, Pang Qi mocked. We staked our lives on the front lines so that you could live a comfortable life! You dont comprehend what painstaking efforts our big brother took! Get out! Quit being here! Xue Ling kicked at him. Pang Qi dodged him with a rotten grin, then sighed. What a shame it is that Sir Tang got implicated for no reason in that thing with Yin Yuanhua. He cant even be an official anymore. Sui Zhous hands paused in their actions. What do you mean, he cant? Did you not know that hes been dismissed from his post, brother? Sui Zhou had just been walking into his workroom, bowing his head as he went to untie his sabre from his belt. Hearing this, he immediately turned to look at him, that cold gaze terrifying Pang Qi. What happened? Sui Zhou asked. Pang Qi hurriedly explained the whole sequence of events to him. Over the span of a day, the news of Tang Fans dismissal had long gotten around. All anyone had to say was that he was unlucky. Clearly, he had established a merit, yet in the blink of an eye, he was no longer acting as an official. What was that, other than poor luck? Sui Zhou said not a word. Without untying his sabre, he turned and went out. Brother, Pang Qi hurriedly said, where are you going? The palace. However, once in the palace, Sui Zhou did not get to see the Chenghua Emperor. He waited for about two shichen outside, until the door-watching eunuch spoke to him. Sir Sui, His Majesty said that if you have come to beg for leniency on Tang Fans behalf, return. If you have something else, he will see you. The Emperor was oblivious, but he wasnt stupid. He knew that Sui Zhou was good friends with Tang Fan, and that his entry this time had to be to intercede for him. He himself didnt look favorably upon Tang Fan, so giving him cap dormancy instead of directly stripping him of his rank was already him placing value onto his contribution, as well as giving leniency in regards to Sui Zhous reputation. How could a revered regent of enormously heavy words be of two minds? Still, he saw Sui Zhou as a nephew. Not wanting to make things hard for him to his face, he simply stopped his intentions dead with one sentence. From Sui Zhous view, though, Tang Fan had clearly done a great job, and yet his reward had been to get deposed. It was absolutely indecipherable. He clenched his fists that were hidden inside his sleeves, fixedly staring at the eunuch before him. The attendant couldnt help but draw a few steps back out of fear that he would beat him up. Sui Zhou merely stood there for a long while, then turned and left. The attendant watched his retreating figure, then let out a long exhale, patting his chest and mumbling to himself. So scary! When the guard heard that Sui Zhou had gone to the palace, they feared that he would accidentally offend the Emperor, all waiting restlessly. Upon seeing him come out, they all quickly surrounded him and babbled at full speed. Brother, you met with His Majesty? What did you say? Look at your face, Brother! Wouldnt that have made him mad? Yeah, Brother! I know you have a good relationship with Tang Fan, and we dont have a bad one with him either, but we really cant butt into it! Envoy Yuan handing over his power is coming soon, and Wan Tong will be back! You cant let him get something over you right now! If you arent in the Office anymore, we brothers will refuse to mix in with Wan Tong! Brother Sui Zhou was dizzied by their nonsense, immediately frowning. All those around him, upon seeing his expression, swiftly calmed down. His Majesty did not meet with me, he said. Several of the others let out exclamations, all a bit shocked. On the way back, Sui Zhou had already figured things out. The root of Tang Fans dismissal lied with Liang Wenhua. He alone, however, could not have spoken to the Emperor, so there certainly had to have been the aid of others mixed in with that, for the Emperor to have altered his opinion. Chenghua hadnt even been willing to see him. Clearly, his ruined impression of Tang Fan had already taken deep root, and could not be changed in such a short timespan. In fact, thinking about this from the other side, Tang Fan no longer had Zhang Yings protection. Even if he did return to the Ministry of Justice, he would still get trounced by Liang Wenhua, unless swapped to another department to start fresh. In that way, Tang Fan was getting a period of rest, and seemed to have no harm done to him. Once public interest died and the Emperors impression of him faded, Sui Zhous intercession would have a much better effect than it would have now. Even so, Liang Wenhua had framed Tang Fan to this extent. Tang Fan could swallow this anger, but he, Sui Zhou, could not. Noticing how the other Guards were all watching him nervously, he said mildly, No one in this world is without weak points. As Brocade Guards, we naturally must have an omniscient presence to prepare for any inquiries from the Sacred One. I heard recently that Liang Wenhua wants to be promoted as the Minister of Justice. If hes ever made a mistake, however, Im afraid he wont be worthy of a post amongst the Six. Pang Qi and the others understood as soon as they heard this, their eyes sparkling. Each of them had evil smirks. Dont you worry, big brother. Leave it to us. We guarantee that even if his dad pissed his pants many years ago, well be digging it all the fuck up! The translator says: *sui zhou voice* so you have chosen Death I just want everyone to know that the original title for this was Achievement Unlocked: Another One Rages to Death. CH 72 After that day, Tang Fan was happy thinking about how Sui Zhou had just earned a nobility title, and decided to wait a few days before telling him about his own dismissal. It wouldnt do to drag this on, because if he wasnt needing to go to the bureau every day, even Ah-Dong would start questioning him, to say nothing of Sui Zhou. Thus, when Sui Zhou got off of work the next day, Tang Fan called Ah-Dong and him together, then glossed over the matter in simple words. Little Miss Ah-Dong had been influenced from hearing about the tricks of officialdom so many times, she knew a bit about it. She leapt three chi up in the air immediately, then castigated every single one of Tang Fans superiors for being villains. Right as she was about to reproach the Emperor himself, she got slapped on the back of the head, and immediately stopped dead. Tang Fan was both amused and angry. A lot of words are best kept to yourself! Dont even think of being so unbridled just because youre at home! What if you get too used to saying that, and it slips out while youre outside? Your brother here is a plain citizen now, so thered be no way for me to back you up! Go, go, go! Go make tea! After driving Ah-Dong away, he noticed that Sui Zhous reaction was abnormally calm. You dont have anything you want to say to me? he couldnt help but wonder. Sui Zhou shook his head. That day you told me to bring the treasures into the palace, I should have expected this. However, we were traveling, and I didnt think much about where blame would fall. That was my own negligence. Now that that ship has set sail, more words on it would do no good. Tang Fan was practically sweating. You absolutely cannot blame yourself for that! You are a Brocade Guard, and must be conscientious of His Majesty before all else. If you didnt deliver the treasures, but the Cabinet did, your own failure in duty would not be covered up, and would even create a barrier between you and the Emperor. That was why the credit needed to be yours to have. As for me, whether I curried favor with Liang Wenhua or not, I would ultimately never be able to avoid this end. At most, it would be the difference between dying now, or dying later. Since I was going to get stabbed whether I stuck my head out or shrunk it back, the briefer pain is better than the longer one. Seeing as how he instead was the one to console him, Sui Zhous expression softened. I know why it happened. You dont need to explain. Truthfully, it would have been difficult for you in the Ministry of Justice regardless, so its better for you to rest a little. It isnt like there wont be another chance for you in the future. Tang Fan nodded and smiled. You get me; thats exactly the reason. I havent visited my sister and nephew in years, so now that I happen to have free time, Ill be taking a trip to Xianghe County in a few days. Given that theres no mishaps, Ill be having a little stay there for some time. Ill go with you. Tang Fan burst out laughing. Theres no case to be investigated there, so why would the dignified Bastion Envoy head out? You should hurry to renovate the house. Itd be good to install your Count Estate plaque as soon as possible! The Court didnt grant you a residence, but we cant be too shabby-looking. Wouldnt that degenerate your prestige, Count Dingan? The word we coming into his ears, the look in Sui Zhous eyes grew ever more joyful it demonstrated that Tang Fan did not consider himself an outsider anymore. Sui Zhou didnt cover up his mood at all, so that joy shot straight into Tang Fans eyes, catching the latter off-guard. The branches in the courtyard bore clusters of fruit, leaves gently swaying in the light breeze. Early summer was of even weather. Idly sitting around in light robes, eating candied mulberries, viewing the greenery right before the eyes, and kept company by a close friend no matter what, this was a great worldly happiness. Despite Sui Zhou being a man of few words, he felt that it was time for him to say something. On the premise that no one disturbed them. A knock came from outside the gate. Is this Sir Tangs house? Sui Zhou: Tang Fan gasped a little. Isnt that Qian Sanr? Why did he come looking for me here? Probably to beg you for mercy. Why would he beg for that? While they spoke, Tang Fan walked over and opened the door. Qian Sanr was wearing the uniform of the Brocade Guards lowest rung, a rankless position called Runner. The second one heard that title, they would know that it was a post that ran errands and did odd jobs, only barely managing to count as being inside of the Guards threshold, distinguished from the low-grade public bailiffs outside. Following their return from Gong County, Tang Fan had not forgotten his promise, having discussed throwing Qian Sanr into the Northern Bastion Office with Sui Zhou and starting him off as a minor errand-runner. The Brocade Guard was not an easy department to enter. Aside from being the family of meritorious officials or consort-kin, there were three channels for entry: substitution, performance review, and referral from a superior. Qian Sanr had gone through the last channel. Even for a position like Runner, many would fight tooth and nail. With Sui Zhous current status, even if he wasnt at the top of the Brocade Guard, being second-from-the-top would always be more than enough. Letting Qian Sanr in had been a matter of one mere sentence. As was said, ones future self could gleaned from them as a child. Qian Sanr had never committed anything majorly heinous, but he had followed his Master in petty thievery ever since he was little. Now, even though he was in a Guards outfit, he had no majestic aura developed. To put it a different way, he was presently wearing uniform clothes, and Tang Fan was wearing everyday clothes. While Tang Fan still looked like an official, he looked like a thief. Witnessing how incongruous his appearance was, Tang Fan held in his laughter and let him in. Upon seeing Tang Fan, Qian Sanr was happy, but upon catching sight of Sui Zhou behind him, that happiness turned to fear. Th-the Count is here, too? Sui Zhous cold face that could scare children into not crying at night could also make Qian Sanr freeze in place. U-Um I didnt expect such a coincidence to happen today, for me to run into you here, Count how how about this lowly one comes back some other day? With that, he wanted to slip away, but Tang Fan grabbed the back of his collar, amused and annoyed. You know that Guangchuan has been bestowed a title, but why did you never even ask around about where he lives? Did your coworkers not inform you that this is his house? Huh? Qian Sanr was baffled, unable to comprehend the situation for a moment. This is the Sui home. I only live here as a tenant. Did you not see what was written on the doors plaque outside? Qian Sanr looked miserable. This lowly one couldnt read some of the characters Seeing how pitiful he looked, Tang Fan couldnt help but want to pat him on the head like he would Ah-Dong. Alright, quit acting. Why did you come looking for me? Unfortunately, Qian Sanr could no longer answer that out loud. He sneakily glanced at Sui Zhou, smiling apologetically. Its nothing, its nothing! I just came here to visit you, Sir. You are this lowly ones great benefactor! He placed the gift he was holding on the stone table next to him. This is a tiny fraction of my gratitude, not even close to the end of my respect for you. Please accept it! Tang Fan laughed. Im not a Sir anymore. You cant keep shouting that. The other scratched his head. Then Don? Lord? Tang Fan put away his smile, straightening out his face. Enough talk. One does not visit the Temple of Three Treasures when nothing is wrong what did you actually come here for? Sui Zhou answered before Qian Sanr could. Hes presumably unable to keep going in the Brocade Guard, so he came to plead for leniency from you. Why cant you keep working there? Do you know that others cant even ask to get that job? Having had his thoughts pointed out bluntly by Sui Zhou, Qian Sanrs face went thoroughly red as he smiled in embarrassment. The Count has discerning eyes, to have seen through all of this lowly ones ideas. He then knelt in front of Tang Fan with a plop. To tell the truth, it is as the Count said. That I have what I do today is entirely from your Grace, Sir, and this lowly one in beyond thankful, but but the Brocade Guard is really not suitable for me. I only hope to be your attendant! Please fulfill my wish, Sir! He really wasnt being pretentious. With his bamboo-reed physique, he was quick-witted enough, but did not have the visible power of a Guard, looking like a supporting role whenever standing in a group of them. Sui Zhous rigorous nature made it hard to get any cheats. Although Qian Sanr had entered through a back gate, he didnt receive any sort of special treatment. Every day, he practiced strenuously alongside the others, nearly giving up the ghost by the time he was done, and yet his grades were at the very bottom time after time, where he lagged behind the second-worst by a large chunk. Absolutely unable to advance higher, he had become the least capable member of the Guard. Thankfully, he was clever and mingled well with his colleagues, so everybody looked after him, but the training he ought to be doing couldnt not be done. He himself believed that this was completely due to his body being innately flawed, and he had never been a good match for the place to begin with. Thus, no matter how prestigious the Guard was, he had no affinity with it. After hearing his laments, Tang Fan turned to look at Sui Zhou. The latter nodded, then gave his own assessment. Commendable diligence, but insufficient natural gift. Meaning that Qian Sanr had worked extremely hard to keep pace with the training, but really wasnt the material for it. As an imperial corps, the most important selection criterion for the Guard was to be tall, imposing, and built like a horse. People like Qian Sanr, who wouldnt look like a Crown Prince even in dragon robes, did not have much of a future road for it, even if they somehow managed to get in. As Sui Zhou had said similar, Tang Fan asked Qian Sanr, What do you have planned for yourself, then? If you want to go back to your old profession, never say hello to me again whenever you see me from now on. I dont know you. Since I vowed to change my ways, I will never go down the wrong path again! Qian Sanr hurriedly answered. I am indebted to you for not casting me aside! Im willing to follow you, Sir! Please accept! At his intention, Tang Fan couldnt help but frown. Why is that what you thought up? Sir, when we were in the vault, I really admired you, Qian Sanr answered earnestly. I was eager to serve by your side and learn something from you, but I knew that my status wouldnt be worthy of it, so I dared not say anything Then why do you dare say it now? Tang Fan teased. Qian Sanr chuckled. Now, I came to the capital, got insight, and heard that you dont have any servants, so I want to apply for the job! Tang Fan shook his head. I have no officials post now, and I dont need anyone to tend to me in everyday life. You want to follow me, but I cant accept you. Qian Sanr was anxious. Sir He really wanted to rely upon Tang Fan. For one, he really was grateful towards him, and wished to repay him. For two, he felt that no matter how much effort he put in in the Northern Bastion Office, that was no way to go about things. Tang Fan was learned and big-hearted in character; he might actually be able to learn something from following such a person. Tang Fan still thought to refuse, but Sui Zhou spoke up. Go back for now, and come again tomorrow. He needs to think it over a little more. With the deity of exceedingly strong aura that was Sui Zhou seated nearby, Qian Sanr had been thoroughly uncomfortable, but said deity had unexpectedly helped him out. He became overjoyed on the spot, kowtowing to pay thanks again and again before he took his leave. You just prevented me from talking. Do you actually intend to have me take him in? Tang Fan wondered. Thats up to you, of course. I just think you really do need to consider it. He isnt Guard material, but hes quick-witted, loyal, and reliable, and his heart isnt bad. You could bring him along. Tang Fan gave it a think. Well, I am going to Xianghe to visit my sister. Im not bringing Ah-Dong with me, so I can bring him for my companion instead, then. Sui Zhou was a bit confused. Why arent you bringing Ah-Dong? The family my sister married into is one of the biggest in the county. With so many people babbling about, theres inevitably a lot of things going on. It wouldnt be good for her to suffer wrongs being there, so shell stay in the capital. As you wish. With the passing of these few days, everyone had come to know the news of Tang Fans dismissal. People generally sympathized with the weak, and on top of that, Tang Fan was seen as much more talented than Liang Wenhua, so many inevitably wanted to help him fight this injustice. It was simply a shame that Liang Wenhua had cast his lot in with Wan An. Those of Tang Fans same year were still sixth- or seventh-ranks simmering their experience, and had no way to vie with this opponent at all. All they were able to do was comfort Tang Fan, tell him to patiently wait for his opportunity, and so on. Tang Fan had had a few days of socializing with his exam fellows, after which he had written a letter to Tang Yu, his elder sister in Xianghe. As per usual, he had put some things about him being safe and sound and mutual pleasantries, not mentioning his series of tribulations in the capital at all, merely saying that he had received a long break and wanted to go visit her. She had sent a reply quickly, expressing her welcome of her brothers visit, as well as sincerely hoping that he could stay for longer after he arrived. She had also stated that his little nephew was over six years old now, and had long forgotten what his uncle looked like; if he didnt go, that nephew would forget him entirely. Even though the words she had written were not much different compared to those from the past, he could still sniff out something abnormal off of it. She hadnt given half a word of mention of her husband, He Lin. The He family was a major Xianghe clan. Back when Tang Fans father still lived, he and He Lins father, He Ying, had been officials of the same locality. Once close friends, they had then jointly set up a betrothal to become in-laws. Right before Tang Yu had married into the Hes, the Tang parents had both died, leaving the brother and sister pair alone, while Tang Fan had not yet been a Palace Honorate. Regardless, He Ying had kept his promise, not dissolving the betrothal between the two families, and had had his second son marry Tang Yu in. The Tang siblings had a deep bond, but with the elder sister married, she was ultimately part of her husbands family, and the Hes had three of its generations living under the same roof. As an outsider, Tang Fan had not been able to frequently visit, and after he had become an official, he had always been busy, leaving him with even less time to grab. Having gleaned a clue out of the letter, he was worried that she wasnt doing well at the Hes, so he didnt plan to have Ah-Dong come with. With this reply had, he had packed up his luggage and gotten ready to leave in a few days time. However, prior to his departure, he received an invitation from an old friend he hadnt seen in a very long time. Immortal Cloud was still Immortal Cloud, and the private room was still that same private room, but of the two present, one had a bumpy career path, and the others road ahead was unfathomable. The one with the bumpy path was, of course, Tang Fan. The reason he was sitting here was due to the heavyweight that had invited him here. The other was indeed a heavyweight, as in the past, with every stomp of his foot, bystanders would shake three times he was Eunuch Wang of the Western Depot. Because he had been focused on the situation outside the Great Wall these two years, he had rarely showed up in the capital, making everyone a little unfamiliarized with him. In contrast, the Eastern Depot had risen straight to the top. On account of him having the merit of recommending the State Master, Chief Eunuch Shang Ming had become arrogantly smug recently; he almost didnt even place importance upon Huai En, who was right in front of the Emperor, to say nothing of Wang Zhi. With the two having reunited after a long separation, they should have clinked their cups together and co-sympathized, but, ever since he got in here, Tang Fan had been listening to Wang Zhi using all sorts of methods, going from all types of angles, leaving no gap behind, and all-encompassingly scolding him. After being scolded in an unceasing deluge for nearly half a shichen, he had since become numb. At the start, he had been thinking to obediently listen to Wang Zhis admonishment to show some consideration for the others face, but he got hungry. Raising his chopsticks, he picked up a chopstickful of roasted pork neck, then delivered it to his own mouth. You ought to be thirsty after scolding me for so long, yes? he casually greeted. Do you want me to tell someone to get some malva-chrysanthemum tea? You fooltot! Ive never seen you be this much of an idiot before, giving merits to someone else for no reason Look at that. Eunuch Wang was chastising him so effortlessly, he had even slipped into rivers dialect.[1] Tang Fan nodded. Youve already said that three times tonight, though. Wang Zhi did not cease his swears. Others get greater and greater the more work they do as officials, while you regress the more you just exist! Liang Wenhua crowded out Zheng Ying and now his word is law in the Ministry of Justice, like the sun in the sky! Right when he needed to find someone to establish his might with, you run right on over! Wasnt that just you turning yourself into a target?! What can you even stand to gain from giving the credit to Sui Zhou? Now, things are great! Cap dormancy! Hah! As I see it, youll never have to think about making a comeback for the rest of your life! That ones five times, Tang Fan kindly reminded. The anger stifled within Wang Zhi had nowhere to go, making his eyes roll straight back. Seeing his man-eating expression, Tang Fan quickly smiled apologetically. Im just worried that youll talk yourself parched. I know that youre concerned about this humble one Whos concerned about you?! Wang Zhi sneered. Unfazed by his cold words, Tang Fan picked up his wine cup, clinked it against the other cup still set on the table, then downed it in one go. Reality is set, and more talk will do no good. Now that I think about it, Ive been pals with you for several years. Ever since you went to Datong, weve rarely come to be in the same room together like today, and nowadays, were both destitute men at the end of the world Bah! Cant you say anything nice to hear? When did this guy ever go destitute like you? Since they had been quite familiar with each other for long, no matter how fiendish of a look Wang Zhi put on, Tang Fan wouldnt pay it mind. He merely chuckled and set down his wine cup. All that said, was you inviting me over today purely to treat me to dinner? Wang Zhi had no words. He picked up the wine pot, poured himself three back-to-back cups that were all shot down with his head thrown back, then wiped his face. Youre right. Ive run into a difficult problem. As was known, Wang Zhi had listened to Tang Fans suggestion, and had genuinely wanted to establish military merits in the Emperors presence, so he had incited the Emperor into agreeing to send troops to the Great Bend. Then, unexpectedly, the Tartars had happened to invade when he had arrived at Datong. Under Wang Yues leadership, the Ming army had had an overwhelming victory, and Wang Zhi had made a huge show-offy display before His Majesty, giving him remarkable reputation. However, once he had gotten a taste of that sweet success, he hadnt quit while he was ahead like Tang Fan had told him to, but his mind had rather expanded outwards, wanting to establish even greater merits. While Wang Zhi devoted himself to his side-business, he inevitably neglected his capital business. A eunuch that infrequently showed his face near the Emperor was destined to be marginalized, no exception, with how favored he was irrelevant. (Naturally, that set law was also applicable to Court officials.) In short, while Wang Zhi had been getting credits abroad, the circumstances of the capital had silently changed. Shang Ming, who had previously stood on equal ground with him, even having to lower his head, had visited the dock that was major palace eunuch Liang Fang, and acknowledged him as a godfather, even growing friendly with the Emperors heavily favored Li Zhisheng and referring a monk named Ji Xiao for entry into the palace, who, as could be predicted, had become valued by the Emperor, receiving the title of State Master. With all those advantages, Shang Ming had quickly replaced Wang Zhis previous position in the Emperors mind. Without Wang Zhi, the Western Depot was basically a motherless child. Its past glory no more, it suffered repression by the Eastern Depot from all directions. If it had been all that alone, things would have been fine, but Wang Zhi had further discovered that at some unknown point in time, Consort Wan, previously willing to speak for him, had become distant from him, to the point that when he had tried to have an audience with her when he came back, he had found her door closed. How could that not cause him panic? Regardless of how talented and impressive he was, a eunuchs innate disadvantage lied here: destiny told that there was no way he could not adhere to imperial powers. Once despised by those above, his end was predictable. Even so, with his pride, he felt it too disgraceful for him to be like Shang Mings completely unscrupulous sort, where he would give the Emperor sorcerers and magic as tribute. After that feeling of getting hard-won military merits, Eunuch Wang hadnt been able to resist getting cockier and cockier, feeling that even though he was a eunuch, he did not fit in with run-of-the-mill ones, and absolutely could not bring his dignity down to do the things Shang Ming had done. On that same note, were it not for him still having moral integrity, thus differing from Shang Ming and the rest, Tang Fan would never have been sitting here to talk with him. To be blunt, even though Eunuch Wang had achieved things and received prestige young, he was still an old hat at sailing in the sea of eunuchs. Having already begun to see omens that he was on the edge of falling out of favor, he thus had to ask Tang Fan about strategies. As the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot, despite many people surrounding him, truly few of them were placed into his high regards, and of those that were, there were even fewer that were willing to associate with him. After calculations, Tang Fan alone could be labelled as an excellent figure amongst them. That was why Wang Zhi was willing to spit out some of his inner thoughts to him. No one else was around, anyway, so his appearance and grandeur of a Chief Eunuch could be put away for the time being. After hearing this, Tang Fan asked him one question. What kind of road are you wanting to take? Wang Zhi was confused. What do you mean, what kind of road? We that are mixed into officialdom have only two endings: good ones and bad ones. Amongst good endings, there are three different types. One is to retire from your post with flair and return to your hometown in silken robes this is what officials want. One is a plain end, quiet and unknown. The last is dimming into nothing, then dying in poverty and sickness. Since thats still considered a good end, whats a bad end, I dont need to say. You already know. Wang Zhi thought. For subjects throughout the ages, whether they were eunuchs or normal men, there was really no escaping endings like those. Oh, but rebellion was a separate matter, of course. It wasnt in the range of their discussion. Were not talking about appointed officials, so lets talk about eunuchs. If you want a good end, it wont be easy. As the saying goes, to accompany a monarch is to accompany a tiger. How many predecessors of yours have banked on that, thinking that they had received the Emperors favor, only to fall from the clouds and land in the mud as soon as the situation changed? At best, they would get plain ends, but if it was really bad, they would lose even their lives. What Ive described is certainly not what youre wanting. Wang Zhi nodded, with a hint of pride. Life should always be lived vigorously, as only then will one not walk the world in vain! If I have to choose, of course Id go for retiring with flair! Tang Fan smiled. Many think like that; not just you, but Shang Ming, as well. However, those inside the scene cant see the big picture clearly. At times, what someone does is actually just them digging a grave for themselves, while they themself have no idea. Wang Zhi frowned. Dont just keep getting more mysterious the more you talk! Then, Ill ask you; does His Majesty like Huai Ens prudent sort, or Shang Mings fawning sort? The current one probably likes Shang Ming more, Wang Zhi pondered. What about the Crown Prince? How should I know? Im not that familiar with him! Ill say this. The Emperor might like Shang Ming, but he doesnt dislike Huai En. It would have been impossible for Huai En to be in imperial presence for so many years and gain his deep trust, otherwise. Wang Zhi nodded, understanding what he meant. Youre saying that even if Shang Ming is having a moment of glory, it wont be a lifetime of it. That goes without saying. Many actions will yield many mistakes. Shang Ming has thoroughly sifted through his mind for how to curry favor, getting allies here, getting on good terms here. Even if His Majesty can tolerate him, will the new ruler do the same? He will inevitably come across someone that will settle things with him, and when that time comes, so will his troubles. Wang Zhi snorted. His troubles arent coming right now, but mine are about to! No need to be dismayed, Eunuch Wang. As I said before, out of those inside the palace, you can imitate either Huai En, or Shang Ming. I dont want to imitate either! Shang Mings type is distasteful to me, of course, but to have me be like Huai En, stifled every day and going to toady up to Court officials I cant do that, either! Tang Fan smiled in exasperation. Thats why, starting from a long time ago, Ive been suggesting that you take a third path. Wang Zhi glared at him. When did you ever tell me about a third path? Way back when, through my senior Pan Bin, I gave you two proposals: one was military merits, and one was the East Palace. And what kind of proposals were those? Dont look down upon them. Many things are meant to be planned for in advance, with preparations started for them long ago. Can you quit it with the drivel? Tang Fan sighed. Can you be more patient? You now have military merits established outside. You were just a Military Supervisor, but no one can possibly deny your contribution. Ever since the Tumu crisis, the Great Ming has rarely been able to prevail over Northern tribes. You can be said to have fought to everyones satisfaction these several battles, and morale has boosted. Among that, as the initiator, your credits cannot be ignored, and are enough to get you into the history books. This method of flattery could be called drenching with no sound,[2] garnered from the highest realm. Sure enough, Wang Zhis face relaxed as the other spoke, showing a look of so youve gotten to the main point, you joker. Yet, Tang Fan said with a change of tone, have you noticed that when you led soldiers out, the voices opposing you in Court have never once lessened? How could I not? Once that came out, Wang Zhis face darkened. Theyre nothing but inflexible eggheads that pose themselves as being holier-than-thou! They keep talking stuff about over-ambition! If this were Yongles time, where even Zheng He could lead troops, would they still dare to say that?! Theres the opinions of clean-streamers in there, sure, but theres one persons opinion that you cant ignore. Whose? His Majestys. Tang Fan saw that Wang Zhi was astonished. Dont pay attention to the fact that every time you ask to go on an expedition, he agrees. The reality is that his closeness to you is declining by the year. This much, I shouldnt need to say you should have also detected that its not just him, but even Consort Wan that refuses to see you. That is precisely due to you leading soldiers outside for such a long time, and therefore neglecting to engage in your relationship with the palace. But I never forgot to send gifts on New Years and holidays, Wang Zhi said gloomily. Are objects comparable to people? Shang Ming dances in front of the Emperor and Consort all day long, and he still has a mouth, so isnt that much better than those gifts of yours? Even though you still have your own people in the palace, none of them have traits comparable to yours. The Emperor and the Consort view you differently because you grew up right before their eyes, and no one else can come close to that familiarity. But, if youre away all year round and refuse to return, theyll definitely think that youre greedy for power, or even want to monopolize military authority. Add that in with Shang Ming, Wan Tong, and others speaking poorly of you to them from daytime to night, you can imagine the next question for yourself: how far are you from falling out of favor? Wang Zhi automatically sat up straight. Tang Fans analysis had reached the bottom of his heart. What should I do, then? You have military merits in hand, which is a symbol that distinguishes you from Shang Ming and the other eunuchs. Even if you werent a eunuch, though, you still wouldnt be able to hold military power forever. Though youre only a Supervisor, do you not have good relations with Lead Commander Wang Yue and Deputy Commander Zhu Yong? That itself is a great taboo for subjects to have. Hence why I urged you two years ago to return to the capital after you got your military achievement And I didnt listen to you, Wang Zhi had to admit, depressed. Due to him getting addicted to making military credits, he had been very refreshed outside and so far away from the capital. With no one keeping watch above, he had been able to do whatever he had wanted. It isnt too late yet, Tang Fan said, voice serious. Once the Great Bend battle ends, you can send a memorial to His Majesty requesting to come back to the capital. How the memorial should be written, and how to make him feel close to you once more, is something youre more familiar with than I, so I wont say. After I come back, then what? Then, you will engage in running the Western Depot, as well as its reputation. The Depots are the eyes and ears of His Majesty, always loathed by officials, but if those senses are used properly, they are not without benefits. Wan An, Shang Ming, and the others are fawning on the Emperor, but to those below the imperial, theyve taken on a obey me and prosper, defy me and die stance. If you can save one or two major and highly-respected officials from them, your reputation will immediately rise. Wang Zhis eyes lit up that was indeed a good way to go about it. The relationship between him and the Court officials had never been very good; they looked down on him, and he couldnt stand to see any of them, either. A few years back, he had felt himself to be outstandingly impressive, but now that he was aware that he had a crisis, he had finally started to think of how to make those relationships up. He would not be able to imitate Huai En in being benevolent to everyone in all aspects, as he just innately didnt have the personality for it; him even attempting to would just seem out-of-place. Doing what Tang Fan said would not be hard for him, though. Also, Tang Fan continued, to major officials that still cherish righteousness, the Crown Prince is the hope in their hearts. If you can be kind to him, that will benefit your future reputation and prospects, too. Thats a bit more difficult, however, because the Consort doesnt like him. If youre nervous about her, dont act too obviously. With that, Wang Zhi felt the weight on his heart mostly vanish, and greatly relaxed. His predicament was still present, but he at least wouldnt be feeling like fire was burning his brows off anymore. Ill find a way to deal with you getting dismissed. If I have the chance, Ill plead for you to His Majesty. Tang Fan wasnt concerned about that, though he hadnt given Wang Zhi a plan for the sake of getting something out of it. He shook his head. You can plead for me a little later, okay? Im going to leave the capital in a bit. Even if the Emperor does reinstate me, I dont want to return to my job so soon. Wang Zhi sneered. Youre the type to start putting on a show of panting whenever someone calls you fat! Is your job picking as much of the bok choy youre growing at home as you want? Tang Fan spooned out a crab meatball from his bowl, laughing. I dont grow any bok choy. Speaking of I was wanting to find a chance to make that Liang Wenhua trip up, but someone was actually a step quicker than me in nabbing it. Eh? Wang Zhi side-eyed him. You dont know? Tang Fan blinked a bunch of times, at a loss. With his cheeks stuffed full of food, speaking would be inelegant, so he could only substitute it with facial expressions. He looked beyond stupid, a completely different person from the talented man of immeasurable calm he had been just before. Supervising Censor Shangguan Yong presented a memorial denouncing Liang Wenhua, saying that his youngest son had been conceived with his concubine during the period he should have been mourning his mothers passing. Caught off guard, Tang Fan choked and coughed a couple of times aside from the two Depots and the Brocade Guard, who else in the Great Ming Dynasty could have been able to dig out an old secret like that? [End Arc 5: The Case of the Ancient Coffin in Luo River] The authors mini-theatre: Wang Zhi: With a loud bang through the sky, Ive appeared on set! Ahahaha! Werent you all saying that you missed me? This must be the charms of a protagonist! Tang Fan: Guangchuan, I want to write Commentary on Eunuchs of Past Dynasties. What do you think? Sui Zhou: Sounds good. Tang Fan: Lets start from this Dynasty, then, which is said to have many famous eunuchs, such as Huai En, Liang Fang, Shang Ming, and Yuan Liang. Sui Zhou: Only four? Tang Fan: Mhm, only four. The rest are all average and not worth mentioning. Wang Zhi: The translator says: The original title for this was basically Everybodys Crazy About Mister Tang (somethings not right here) [1] In reference to the made-up word, fooltot. Bear with me a bit; this was originally guawazi, , lit. melon baby, originating from Sichuanese. Melon is a metaphor for idiot in Chinese. I decided that, to make it read off-kilter as intended, I was going to make up a weird word in a similar vein to nincompoop, while also keeping the original meaning of you idiot child. Hence, fooltot. CH 73 Conceiving a child during the filial mourning period could not be described as a huge matter, but it couldnt be labelled as a minor one, either. With a bit of caution, the childs birth date could be falsified, and then things would be done and over with. With a bit of carelessness and no falsification, as long as no one ever complained, it wouldnt never become a thing, anyway. Liang Wenhua had been cautious. Following the birth of his son, he had tricked the household register so that even if someone calculated forwards, they wouldnt find any blemishes. Such a maneuver could only coax ordinary folk, however; if the Brocade Guard or two Depots wanted to investigate, they would be able to determine even how old his own mother had been when she started speaking, to say nothing of this inside information. Anyone in the capacity of a Dynasty official had to pay particular attention to their reputation. Whether it was a real or a fake one didnt matter as long as no one denounced you, youd be fine. Once someone did, though, that official needed to take responsibility and stay at home in wait to be dealt with. Those were the rules. Tang Fan barely managed steady his breathing. You did it? I wanted to, but, unfortunately, it was snatched, Wang Zhi said sullenly. That bloke Sui Zhou sent people to suss it out. Starting from the instance Tang Fan had given him ideas through Pan Bin, he had owed Tang Fan many favors. Even though the other was only a minor, fifth-rank official, he had helped him with work again and again. Wang Zhi was not a kindhearted person, but he was self-proud, and unwilling to be subjected to others grace to no purpose. As was said, debts of money were easy to repay, while debts of favors were hard. Against his expectations, he had never been able to find a chance to pay Tang Fan back. There was no way to restore him to his original post as of right now, but Wang Zhis capabilities were more than enough for getting revenge against Liang Wenhua. And yet, someone else had been a step faster than him. How could he not grumble about it? Tang Fan gave an oh of affirmation, heart warm. He knew that Sui Zhou must have taken revenge against Liang Wenhua over his dismissal. Since they had a good friendship, the former had needed to avoid conflict of interest and could not directly report as much, thus why he had gotten Shangguan Yong for the denouncement. As he wasnt at the bureau, Tang Fans information flow was not so comprehensive. As far as Im aware, Shangguan Yong and the Brocade Guard arent friendly. Why was he willing to do this? Hes from Huatings Songjiang Prefecture, Wang Zhi answered simply. Tang Fan immediately saw the light the reason was none other than that Minister Zhang, booted to Nanjing by the Head Vizier, was from Songjiang! Shangguan Yong was avenging Zhang Ying! Shangguan Yong is from Zhang Yings hometown, and is also his junior. He had frequent contact with him, Wang Zhi went on. He dares not attack Wan An, but he still had the courage to denounce Liang Wenhua. I never knew that Sui Guangchuans learned how to get someone else to kill for him, too! What about Liang Wenhua, then? Hes reflecting upon his actions at home, surely? Wang Zhi chuckled. As if! These couple of days have really been exciting! That guys shameless instead of staying at home, he insisted upon heading into the bureau every day, but the more he did that, the harsher everyone else criticized him. The censors are bored all day and keep on the lookout for any cracks in peoples eggshells, like a bunch of flies, so how could they ever let a situation like that slip past? The lot of them swarmed to denounce Liang Wenhua, ultimately alarming even His Majesty. Wan An could do nothing but transfer him to an abroad post for the time being. Seeing his schadenfreudian expression, Tang Fan had to make a guess. In Nanjing? Wang Zhi rubbed his hands as he chortled. But of course! Hes gone to keep Old Man Zhang company! Enemies meeting face-to-face, eyes going exceptionally red who knows how theyre going to duke it out! Tang Fan shook his head, thinking to himself that that really was exciting. Still, no matter how much it was, he couldnt exactly see it for himself. At the very least, with this happening, Liang Wenhuas Minister dream was definitely hopeless. The gap between Wang Zhi and Shang Ming was that the latter was now relying on Wan An, while the former found Wan Ans clique an eyesore. Liang Wenhua was one of Wan Ans huge helpers, so now that he had been done away with, Wang Zhi felt completely happy to watch the excitement. Eunuch Wang, your own circumstances are now a bit unclear, Tang Fan warned. Wang Zhi was puzzled. Unclear, how? You cant tell? Tang Fan mocked. In the eyes of others, youre Consort Wans, and Wan An clings to her. Now that Liang Wenhua has been devalued, it would be reasonable to say that youd sympathize, but youre instead happy to watch the flames. That wont do, will it? Wang Zhi rolled his eyes, not saying a thing. Tang Fans following words were not a joke at all, however. Because Wan An shares the Consorts surname, hes claimed being a relative of hers. To say it plainly, since hes sitting stably in his Head Vizier position, it isnt rare for people to try to cling to him. Now that Shang Ming is in alliance with Wan An, thats basically saying that theyre in the same faction. What about you, then? You hate Shang Ming and dont look favorably upon Wan An, but youre not standing on Huai Ens side, either. Moreover, the Consort doesnt feel as close to you as she once did. Your situation can be described in two words. Completely alone. Tang Fan saying them was unneeded; those words had already showed up in Wang Zhis heart. He got a chill of terror, his frostily arrogant expression becoming slightly unsettled. In regards to Tang Fans previous plan, he had felt it to be reasonable and planned to execute it. In contrast, while going down this discussion about Liang Wenhua, he only felt his sense of crisis increase by a hundredfold. He was practically sitting on pins and needles, itching to run into the palace straightaway but how could he? Consort Wan would find an excuse to not see him, which was already an obvious portent. His brow tightly furrowed as he gripped his armrests, face as sunken as water. A short while later, he stood up, then solemnly bowed towards Tang Fan. Please instruct me, Mr. Tang. Woah. He had gone from calling his name out directly, to promoting him up to Mister, like a teacher. That kind of treatment was simply impeccable! It also reflected that Wang Zhi was not someone that couldnt ever set aside his posturing; he just needed to see whether his counterpart was worthy of it or not, first. A model pragmatist, really. Tang Fan also stood up to help him up. You dont need to do that, Eunuch Wang, he said warmly. Ive already clearly indicated my attitude on this just from coming to this appointment. Things have not reached a point of no return, either. Having acted like that only for Tang Fan to make it stop, Wang Zhi promptly took the out. Then you can explain this to me as soon as possible. Because of the unequal statuses between the two of them, Wang Zhi had always put on some airs in his words and actions to him. It wasnt until this moment that he genuinely squared up to Tang Fan, regarding him as someone of equal standing. This stemmed from reality proving that Tang Fan didnt at all need to rely on him to get to the top. Even though he had no post to take revenge with as of now, he had Sui Zhou as a helper, and with the latters capabilities plus heavy value in the Emperors eyes, him heading the Brocade Guard was merely a matter of when. In comparison, Wang Zhi himself had come looking for Tang Fan for help several times, and owed him many favors. Not only did the other never come asking to cash them, but pretty much every time there was a meet-up, he would come as long as there was a request for him to. That sort of dependability alone was beyond anyone elses. Wang Zhi was not someone with poor eyesight that couldnt recognize what was good and what was bad, but since he had always had a career log of ascending into high positions while young, that had caused him to forget himself a little. Adding that onto his repeated merit gains from his side-hustle over the past two years, and he had gotten the conceited notion of himself alone being supreme. Now, that smugness had been smashed by Tang Fan, leaving only a heavy heart. Ive just picked apart what you should do, Eunuch Wang, but you need to have your own main goal in mind. Im willing to hear the specifics. I know that you cant get along with Wan An and Shang Mings group, but because theyre supported by the Consort, theres no way that you cant be on her side. Thats because, in the eyes of Court officials, you are a member of the Palace of Manifest Virtue. That Palace was Consort Wans bestowed one; its alternative name was what Court officials called it at times. Wang Zhi did not mince words. Right. To be honest, my position is quite difficult to navigate nowadays. None of the others rely on or trust me. Regardless of whether its Consort Wan or Wan An, they all innately rely upon His Majesty, Tang Fan clarified. You only need to be loyal enough to him. Also, like I just said, the Western Depot is a dual-edged sword. If you wield it well, it will bring you ample repayment. I have something else to ask you. Do tell. After the East Palace case, the Crown Prince knew that I had mediated for him during it, and remembered what good I did. Once, he expressed his thanks through Huai En, and even that old guys attitude was a little better towards me. Knowing that he definitely wasnt going to stop there, Tang Fan didnt interject, listening to him proceed. But the Prince is still just a Prince. Each day he isnt ascended, his status remains as an heir. Consort Wan has never found him pleasing to the eyes, but hes painstakingly done everything right, so shes never had the chance to move against him. Tang Fan nodded lightly. From that case, it was seen that the contradictions between them are certain to burst out someday. Consort Wan had killed the Crown Princes mother, so how could she not have a guilty conscience? As one who judged others based on her own mentality, would she ever believe that he really had no mind for revenge? Regardless of how generous and gentle he behaved, she would forever have a thorn in her heart, and if she could have him replaced, she would at least be able to sleep a little more peacefully. That case had been a fuse that had unabashedly exhibited the barrier between them where all could see. When such a day comes, His Majestys decision will not be in the Princes favor, Wang Zhi enunciated. Do you think that I should be on His Majestys side, or the Princes? That question was a massive baring of the heart. Presumably, he had been fermenting it for a long time before asking about this uncertainty hidden deep inside his heart. This was also the exact root cause of him hesitating in which stand to make. At this very moment, they were the only two in the room, but after he said this, he still felt waves of regret. Were Tang Fan to be untrustworthy and pass the words he said today on to a third party after this, his political career would be done for. Lets not speak of things like conscience and Heavens law, Eunuch Wang. You may as well think about what would happen if Consort Wans idea comes to be, where a different Crown Prince is established that will proceed to become the new ruler would that have any benefit for you? Would that new ruler remember what good youve done? There are plenty of people currently crowded around Consort Wan, not just you, while the present heir is kind and honest. Whoever reaches a helping hand out to him when hes in trouble is someone whose favor he is bound to keep in mind. To you, who is better and who is worse should not be difficult to choose. Wang Zhi pondered this for a short time. He had clearly heard him, but he still needed more time to think such an important matter over. There was no way he could tell Tang Fan his own conclusion right away. Easy for you to say. You arent sitting in my position; youve never experienced what it is to walk on thin ice. Tang Fan smiled. It is as they say; able people work harder. How else would your power be greater than mine, and post higher? The more your authority is, the more responsibility you have. Alright, stop it with the babble. Since youre leaving the capital, take this dinner today as your send-off treat. Ill tell you a secret. ? Back after I was granted a post at Hanlin Academy, I secretly went with my fellows to a brothel for drinks and a show. Wang Zhi had zero understanding of him. What did you tell me that for? The other laughed lightly. Im exchanging a secret for a secret, lest you be uneasy about me and keep worrying that Ill tell someone about today. Truth be told, after interacting with him for so long, Wang Zhi had good trust in Tang Fans character he would never have discussed such in-depth topics with him, otherwise. The guys weirdness really made him feel a deep sense of powerlessness, though. At least the heavy atmosphere that filled the room had quickly dissipated. By the time Tang Fan came out of Immortal Cloud, it was already close to second watch.(9-11p) Upon walking out into the street where Immortal Cloud was located, all the clamor was immediately cast behind him. Silent households were on either side. A few still had spots of light shining through their windows likely scholars reading by lanternlight, or women rushing to make winter shoes for their relatives. He no longer had an officials post, but he still had an officials status, meaning that night curfew did not apply to him. Having drunk too much, he had inevitably become a bit tipsy, though his mind was still sober. He walked back slowly, viewing the moon in the sky, and couldnt help but think back to that one night a few years back; because he had been late in going home after drinking, he had ended up coming across a White Lotus demon pretending to be a ghost, whereupon Sui Zhou had made his timely appearance. Allowing his thoughts to run amok, he unwittingly caught sight of that familiar alley. Just like the road he arrived from, the surrounding stretch of area was dark, but the difference between them was that there appeared to be someone standing at the mouth of the alley, a lantern held in his hand. That familiar silhouette caused him to pause slightly, after which he picked up his pace, walking forth. It was Sui Zhou. Him standing there for most of the night hadnt been to feed the mosquitoes, of course. I was afraid that you would come back late, and not be able to see the road. Tang Fan had come out here with a lantern as well, but after walking all this way, the candle had long dimmed. It wasnt as bright as Sui Zhous, that illuminating flame seeming to warm ones heart. Tang Fan chuckled. Thank you. That thanks was not solely for him coming out to meet him. As for what the other reason was, they knew well in their hearts that there were many things did not need explanation. To elucidate would be to lose meaning. A gust of wind blew over, making the light in Tang Fans hand struggle on its last breath, then extinguish completely. Sui Zhous light source was the last left around. Its soft, dusky glow snaked along the outline of Tang Fans chin; his handsomeness defied description. The feeling had when looking at a beauty under lanternlight was none other than this. Come on. Lets go home. *** When wanting to visit an elder sister, one couldnt just go over there because they said they were going to. The He family was huge, with three generations under the same roof and a whole slew of relatives; Tang Fans visit would represent the prestige of Tang Yus natal family, so his gifts needed to be good enough. Thankfully, the capital was at the Emperors feet, and it had everything one could think of. After several days of shopping, he had finally bought everything. And, after such a plunder, Mister Tangs savings had regressed by at least a few years. He had been planning to buy a house, as with how big Ah-Dong was getting, it was no longer appropriate to have her live under the same eaves as Sui Zhou anymore. That wasnt to say that Sui Zhou had any improper thoughts towards her or anything, but in the eyes of outsiders, men and women were to be separated, and her reputation needed to be considered. Also, regardless of how thick-skinned Tang Fan was, there was no way he could lodge in someone elses house for all his life. The money Sui Zhou had helped him save over the past years ought to have been enough to purchase a cheaper capital property, but Sui Zhou was hoping that they could live close together it would be best to be near so that they could look after each other, of course. Tang Fan had similar thoughts, but, unfortunately, the houses neighboring Sui Zhous were too pricey, and unobtainable for a minute. By coincidence, Sui Zhous next door neighbor was an official transferred for elsewhere, and would not be able to even think about coming back for years, so its male owner wanted to sell his capital residence. Even though its price was a bit high, had Tang Fan taken out the full sum of his savings, it would have been just enough to get the sale down in ink. However, as a result of buying gifts for the Hes, a gap had appeared in his collected money. As that silver grew wings and flew away, Mister Tangs heart dripped blood Bleeding aside, the gifts had needed to be bought, and had been. He said farewell to Sui Zhou and Ah-Dong, then brought Qian Sanr with him out of the capital. Before his departure, he entrusted Sui Zhou with buying a house for him, and to simply make a decision as he saw fit. As for the issue of money, hed had to borrow it from Sui Zhou. Since their relationship was so good, it was a whats yours is mine, whats mine is yours-type deal, and he owed so many financial debts, he was pretty used to it, regardless Two Brocade Guards were in his convoy as well, one of which was Gonfalon Yan Li, who had been in the group at Gong County. Tang Fan currently had no post, but Gonfalon was trueseventh-rank. To have a majestic Brocade Guard come play bodyguard for an idler was an affront to him, but there was nothing he could do about it, as Sui Zhou had insisted, giving him just two options: Either bring them, or dont go at all. Helpless, Mister Tang had had no choice but to submit to that blatant abuse of authority. He wasnt thinking that Sui Zhou was putting him under surveillance, of course. This was simply how the Bastion Envoy was expressing his concern. All along the road, the carriage lurched, its wheels rolling as Qian Sanr drove it. No people were packed inside it, just gifts. The other three were riding horses. Having endured the rush at Gong County, Tang Fan had since gotten used to this manner of horse riding. Their current progress was slow, different from their previous hasty spurring; whenever they were tired, they stopped for rest, and whenever they wanted to go, they would proceed onward. With this atmosphere full of idle carefreeness, strain was not even a topic to talk about. Im really sorry to have troubled you with going on a trip with me, Old Yan, Tang Fan apologized. Yan Li laughed brightly. Where did that come from, Sir Tang? Ive gotten a rare chance laze around that I need to thank you for! Im no longer a Sir. If you dont mind, you can switch it out for my courtesy, Runqing. Even though Yan Li was a martial artist, he had refinedness within his coarseness. That wont do, youre our Counts best friend! Ill just call you Don. Tang Fan couldnt refute him. If you want. Yan Li looked at Tang Fans carriage full of gifts. Are there that many people in the He family? he wondered. Didnt you bring too many gifts, Don? Tang Fan shook his head. That isnt much at all. It likely isnt even enough. Xianghe County is small, but the Hes are a local family of officials. Its present patriarch, He Ying, used to be the Left Participator of the Zhejiang Government Office for Continued Development, and is retired. His eldest son, He Yi, is a Palace Honorate, and now works as an out-capital official. In this day and age, it wasnt easy to become a Palace Honorate, and it was even more infinitely difficult for both a father and a son to be officials. Families like the Hes could readily turn into generational official clans. In addition to that, He Yings father had also been an official; he had long passed and his time was too ancient, though, so he didnt need to be mentioned. Yan Li had a realization. I kind of remember that name, He Ying. Since youve mentioned him, could it be that your sisters husband is He Yi? No, thatd be He Lin, the second son. Oh. Where is he acting as an official now? Hes not. So hes a Provincial Honorate? Tang Fan lightly coughed. He didnt pass the provincials Yan Li dared not keep asking. This line of questioning was too offensive. Tang Fan himself revealed the answer of the riddle, though. My brother-in-law has innate intelligence, and was known as a child prodigy. Perhaps hes had bad luck, as after repeated exams and repeated failures, hes currently just a County Honorate. Yan Lis expression was a bit strange. County Honorate was the lowest class of honors amongst scholars; if one wasnt one of them, then they were still a Novice. Competition during imperial exams was fierce, and many scholars might not be able to get the former title all their lives. As for those that did, even if they couldnt exam their ways into being Provincial Honorates, they could at least be teachers back in their hometowns. That was why, looking at the Great Ming as a whole, the title of County Honorate was still quite rare. However, that only pertained to average people. The issue here was that the Hes had three generations of officials. His father had been a third-rank officia and his eldest brother was a Palace Honorate, yet He Lin himself couldnt test into being just a Provincial Honorate he was merely a County Honorate, which was worthless. Yan Li, someone from the capital, especially thought so. He had contact with all sorts of officials on the daily, even having met with the Cabinet Viziers an unknown amount of times. A County Honorate, in his eyes, was really not enough to look at. Still, in order to avoid embarrassing Tang Fan too much, he tried to console him. Your brother-in-law is still young. Hes presumably just hit a period of poor luck; when good luck does come, hell be unstoppable! Tang Fan laughed. In addition to his big brother thats in another locale, he has a little brother. I heard that a few years back, he also became a County Honorate, and I have no idea if hes passed the provincial exams yet. Apart from them, the Hes have many womenfolk, as well as Father Hes brothers and such. The vast majority of the He clan lives in Xianghe and frequently visits each other, so the gifts Ive prepared are really not much at all. Hoping for him to branch away from the other subject, Yan Li nodded along. I see, I see! They chatted on the road, stopping and starting. Because of their slow pace as well as his understanding that his sister could not act easily as a married woman, he didnt send word ahead of time informing her of when he would be getting there, thinking that itd be fine for him to just drop in. On Xianghe Countys end, a family was in the middle of a banquet. Because the roll-call of this years autumnal exams had just been posted and a descendant had passed the provincials, the patriarch was happy, and had ordered a party to celebrate. Those attending were not commonplace. After the invitations went out, anyone who was someone in the County had come, with even the County Magistrate showing up himself for congratulations. Even those that hadnt received invitations still tried every method they could think of to sneak in and have a meal if they could thereby come to get familiar with the hosts family, or the local guardian officials, that would yield great profits for them. Needless to say, this family had the surname of He, and was exactly the one Tang Yu had married into. As for who had passed the provincial exams, it wasnt He Lin, but He Lins little brother, the youngest son, He Xuan. Eldest sons were for keeping up appearances, youngest sons were for doting on. The youngest of the family landing Provincial Honorate made the He elders ecstatic, the home filled with lanterns and decorations to give a festive atmosphere. Many guests had come to sing praises, too, making hands go numb from receiving so many red envelopes. More and more people were seen to come, and some uninviteds that wanted to come fish in troubled waters were quickly barred from entry. From the main hall to the courtyard, a full dozen tables were arranged. Those inside the hall were naturally major figures of the County; the Magistrate, Deputy, Registrar, and whatnot successively came to sit, as did many respectable gentry, the Hes family friends, in-laws, and so forth. They were arranged according to status, the not-so-important ones allocated to seats in the yard. The inside of the kitchen was bustling with sky-soaring fires, dishes flowing out like water to the ground. Reportedly, the chefs had been invited over from the capital, the food looking, smelling, and tasting great. Guests filled the gate, good friends filled the seats. It wasnt only male guests that had come, of course, but their wives had been brought along with them. In back was the place where the womenfolk moved about, which also had over a dozen tables set up. The Hes female relatives were spread out between different tables so that they could entertain the guests at each, and not let any of them feel neglected. Third Lord He passed into being a Provincial Honorate brilliantly! At next years spring exams, hell surely be unimpeded his whole journey, and get Palace Honorate on his first try! Hell truly bring honor to his ancestors, then! As the wife of todays protagonist, Lady Wei, was seated at this one table, the guests at it naturally had to pick out nice things to say. In result, she beamed at that; her mouth was clearly about to split her face to her ears, but she still had to be humble. Such nonsense. Talents flood the land. My husband passed the provincials by a fluke, so that conclusion cant be drawn. If it gets out, everyone will say that our family is too egotistical! A guest familiar with her smiled. No need to be overly modest. Hes only twenty-five, yet is already a Provincial Honorate. Looking at the whole of the Great Ming, he can be considered an early achiever! Theres seventy- or eighty-year-olds under this sky that are aging County Honorates, and is there any lack of those? The speaker was thoughtless, yet the listeners had ideas. Upon hearing this, everyones gazes couldnt help but glance at the neighboring table. The reason for that was none other than Tang Yu, wife of the Second He, who was entertaining the guests. In accordance with present cultural concepts, outsiders ought to call her Lady Tang of He. Lady Wei glanced at her; the latters complexion was like it always was, a mild and proper smile on her face as she introduced dishes to the women beside her. It wasnt clear whether she had heard anything. We cant say that, either, Lady Wei grinned. Take our Second, for example. He has talents and knowledge, but poor luck, unfortunately. Hes failed the exam over and over again. A woman next to her curled her lip. Hes in his thirties and still hasnt passed. He doesnt have much hope, Im afraid. And yet he still tries to be pedantic and aloof, another whispered. I heard that he shuts himself up in the house and studies himself to death all day long. Its thanks to the great wealth of the Hes that it can support such an idler. Wouldnt he have long ruined the household into the ground, otherwise? Lady Wei didnt answer them, lowering her head and eating as she listened with a grin, unable to conceal the smugness on her face whatsoever. He Yi, Eldest Lord of the family, had become a Palace Honorate at twenty-seven. If He Xuan became one next year, he would be only be twenty-six, and the Hes would be proud all over again. It was little wonder that Lady Wei basked in this glory, as a married couple was of one body, and wives relied on their husbands merits. A maid came over in a hurry, going straight for Tang Yus table and to her side, then leaning over to whisper something into her ear. Tang Yus face was seen to change slightly. She immediately got up, asked for Lady Wei to go over to a side, and whispered to her. Sister, the Second Lord is feeling unwell, and has now gone back to his room to rest. I will go see to him, and entrust you with looking after things here. Lady Wei showed a look of surprise. Hes ill? Why not ask the doctor over? No need to get so many involved. I think he might have had too much wine, so he just needs to rest. Ill have to trouble you, here. Go on, then, sister-in-law. Tang Yu thanked her, then followed the maid away. Seeing her depart the banquet in a hurry, everyone was a bit bewildered. They all questioned Lady Wei when she sat down again, who smiled. She said that the Second Lord drank too much and feels unwell. None of them were idiots, so they knew what that implied. Someone laughed. Im guessing its not that he drank too much wine, but vinegar, hm? Too much vinegar made the heart sour. With Tang Yu no longer around, the others became even more unscrupulous. In my opinion, the Second He is really shameless. He has no talent, and even throws his face away at his little brothers celebration. Doesnt he know whos watching? The Second Lady is really pitiful, too. She has looks and talent, but she married someone like him. Well, dont say that. Her parents are dead and her familys long since fallen, but the Patriarch thankfully kept his promise to let her marry into the family. She should be content with this. Wholeheartedly focused on her husband, Tang Yu didnt hear the others talking about her. She walked all the way through the noisy party, came before the door to her bedroom, then knocked twice, pushing the door open after she didnt hear an answer. Stay out! A voice came from inside, its volume not high, yet words brimming with annoyance. The translator says: Imagine being so ugly that you essentially degrade someone for having dead parents. CH 74 Hearing that voice, Tang Yu felt her heart dim, and she entered. He Lin was seen lying on the bed, one arm across his eyes and the other hanging off the side, looking like he was down on his luck. Didnt I tell you not to come in?! he put his arm down to glare at her with bloodshot eyes. It was unknown whether they were like that because he had drunk too much, or had cried. She pretended not to notice, smiling gently. I brought you sobering soup. Drink a bowl of it, lest you feel unwell. He laughed coldly. So what if Im unwell? Who in this family cares if Im well or not? They only care about how the eldests doing outside or whether the youngest can pass the triennial spring exams, dont they? I care, Tang Yu answered calmly. You are my husband, so of course I do. You cant ruin your health over idle gossip. Arent there many people in this world that need time to build themselves up? Some only get to become officials in their forties, too. Youre only thirty-four, so theres a lot of time left for you. Come, drink the soup. With that, she passed the bowl to him, but he suddenly raised his hand and knocked it over with a dull clink. Scalding liquid splashed out onto her hand and skirts, and she couldnt help but cry out. He Lin was momentarily stunned, a trace of guilt flashing past his face. He really hadnt meant to do that; he had only knocked into it by coincidence. And yet, he couldnt set his pride down and apologize, instead turning nasty. Who told you to bring that here? I even said that I wasnt going to drink it! Tang Yus eyes finally reddened. She stared straight at him, speechless. He was made fully uncomfortable by her staring. What? They all look down on me, so even you do, too? She sighed. Lord, you werent like this before. Why have you changed now? He Lin sneered. I always knew you never thought much of me. You think that I dont give you a lot of face, right? No need to call me Lord anymore! I dont have the achievement of Provincial Honorate, so calling me that will just make people laugh! Even though, strictly speaking, it was indeed true that only after passing the provincials would others call someone a Lord Honorate, Lord was honestly just what rich households called its males nowadays. Since He Lin had a fragile ego, this was nothing more than him trying to pick bones out of eggs. No one is looking down on you. Why must you take the chatter of others to heart? He sat up with a bang. How can I not take it to heart?! Twenty years ago, the most impressive one in this family was me! They were all saying that I would be the first of this generation of Hes to become a Palace Honorate! And what was the result of that? Twenty years have passed, yet I cant even test through to being a Provincial! Isnt that a joke?! I know that you feel wronged from getting married off to me, so how about you who is it?! Get in here! Before he got to finish, a knock had come from the door, and he couldnt help but rage out the last bit. A short moment later, the door was gently pushed open a crack, and a young maid that attended Tang Yu timidly came in. Second Lady, theres a young Don outside claiming that hes your little brother. Happy, Tang Yu wiped her tears away. That must be him. I counted the days out, so him getting here today is correct. Quick, lets go out to welcome him! Hold it. He Lin got up from the bed. Im going, too. He was an extreme face-saver; how would it make sense for a relative to stop by for a family visit while his sisters husband kept laying down, feigning drunkenness in bed? Youre out of sorts, so just rest, Lord. Runqing wont mind. He sneered. Could it be that youre afraid that your County-honors-only husband will embarrass you in front of your high-official little brother? His ego was so big, he could always warp the good intentions of others. Tang Yu was happy due to getting to meet her long-unseen relative after so long, so she didnt want to wrangle with him anymore, telling the maid to quickly help the Lord change out of his clothes before he went to say hello. Once he was fully dressed, the married couple went out to the main gate. Truth be told, before Tang Yu had gotten the report, Tang Fan was nearly refused entry at the He homes entrance. The only thing to blame was his poor timing, which had landed upon the day that guests were scrambling over for a party here. Many that hadnt been invited were wanting to sneak in using the chaos, and as a result of there being so many of them, the doorman had gone a little numb. Once hed heard him claiming to be the little brother of the Hes Second Lady, he had subconsciously believed that he, too, was wanting to go in to sneak some food and drink. Even with that, thanks to Tang Fan being born in a good skinsack and having some subordinates beside him, he didnt much look like a conman. The doorman uneasily asked him a few questions, then finally sent word in before Yan Li and the others could get impatient and flip out. Yan Li peered at the He home, where people were coming and going, then whispered to Tang Fan. Don, the Hes arent that big of a family. These are quite some airs theyre putting on. Tang Fan burst out laughing. You came from the capital, so you inevitably dont think this much. At the Emperors feet, any ol wealthy residence has much more pomp than this one, but with Xianghe County being as small a place as it is, this is pretty good! While the two were talking, a man and a woman walked out from inside. The young woman got hot tears filling her eyes when she saw Tang Fan the latter didnt forget his manners, but his emotions still went wild. Sis! Fluffy! That mad burst of joy received from reunion shortly changed into incredulity. Tang Fan was now depressed. Sis, can you not call me that? Because Tang Fan had had thick hair as a newborn, sprightly and cute, all of the Tangs had heavily adored him, his big sister especially. She had even regarded him as her most-beloved toy, refusing to part with him all day long and giving him that nickname. Folks claimed that giving a child an awful nickname would allow them to grow up in peace. Not only had their parents not expressed any objection towards that incongruous nickname, but they had even started calling him that, too; now that the Tang elders were gone, the only one left that knew that nickname was, of course, Tang Yu. It sounds nice! Why dont you want to be called that? Tang Yu stroked his hair and squeezed his hand, eyes filled with affection and excitement. Youve gotten taller and leaner. He beamed as he let her hand pet him. Once one gets leaner, its inevitable that theyd look taller. Many people were in front of the Hes main gate today, so the siblings meetup quickly attracted a lot of attention. Seeing this, He Lin lightly coughed. Lets go in and chat. Only then did Tang Fan realize that He Lin was standing there, and cupped his hands towards him. I trust youve been well, brother-in-law? He Lin smiled and nodded. Everythings good. Your big sister has been missing you for a long time. Since youve come, you should stay a while. Thats just what I was thinking. Tang Fan smiled. Theres no need to trouble yourself convincing me to. During their conversation, someone else had presumably brought word in about Tang Fans arrival to the Hes, as they had sent someone to welcome him. He Yings prior post had been third-rank, and his wife, Lady Xu, shared that status, so they had no need to come out in person. The newcomer was the Third He, the main lead of todays party, who had just passed the provincials He Xuan. He Xuan was clearly more personable than his second brother; at the bare minimum, the pleasantly-surprised look on his face appeared to be more fervent than He Lins, regardless of whether it was an act or not. No wonder I was confused as to why the magpies in the branches were singing today; it turns out that youve come, Brother Runqing! Forgive us for not being present to welcome you! In accordance with terms of official address, He Xuan should have bowed towards Tang Fan and called him Sir, but as they were relatives, doing things elsewise was more appropriate. Tang Fan had stopped by for a visit once before after his sister had married into the Hes, so he was well acquainted with its members. Come, come, lets talk more inside, He Xuan said to Tang Fans group. My parents were delighted to hear that youre here! Its been a long time, Tang Fan answered with a smile. Ill go say hello to them first thing. Though, why is it so lively here today? Has some immensely joyous event happened? As the one featured, He Xuan found it too embarrassing to answer, so He Lin spoke up from nearby. One has indeed. My brother here has become a Provincial Honorate. That really is good news! Congrats, congrats! Youll have to treat me to a cup of wine, Brother Mingcheng! While he said this, he imperceptibly glanced at He Lin, then saw his brother-in-laws expectedly pale complexion; clearly, he didnt seem happy for his little brother. Tang Fan couldnt help but inwardly sigh, thinking to himself that the He Lins exam route was indeed a bumpy one. Were it to be said that his talents were mediocre, that would make sense, but as a child, he had so obviously been over-qualified, even repeatedly praised for it by his elders, the name of that child prodigy spreading throughout the entire county yet it was precisely because of that that he felt an increasing sense of unbearable disappointment from falling from his heights. What one had never received, they wouldnt care about, but losing what one had gotten was probably the most upsetting sensation. He Xuan smiled. How could I dare to accept congratulations? Youre such a hugely busy man that rarely has time to come visit your relatives! You practically bring radiance to our home! Tang Fan smiled, as well. I dont deserve those words. Putting aside Uncle He being third-rank, your eldest brother is now a fourth-rank Prefectural Magistrate. With how all my predecessors are, how could I be so impetuous? The other chuckled. Those arent the same at all. My father and brother are both local officials, while youre a capital official of Hanlin status. That alone makes you a grade higher than them! He appeared to be aware that saying such things was disrespectful, so he had given those statements while leaned in close to him with a hushed voice, so that only the two of them had heard. Tang Fan had to laugh, shaking his head. Even though Xianghe wasnt too far from the capital, Tang Fans dismissal had really not been that long ago. There was no way news could have traveled here so quickly, so, even now, they believed that he was still appointed as a Chief in the Ministry of Justice. The nine children of the dragon each differed; the three He brothers naturally had different personalities, too. As it went, the youngest here, He Xuan, was adored by both his parents at home, and had a much more animated personality than He Lin. When it came to getting along with people, others would certainly be happy to interact with an often-smiling person, as opposed to being willing to associate with a stern-faced person that was gloomy all the time. Tang Fan was no exception. Still, He Lin was his brother-in-law, so he couldnt speak to He Xuan exclusively while ignoring him. Brother Mingcheng, youre being celebrated today, and were not strangers. You dont need to be preoccupied with me any longer, just go back and mingle. I still have my brother-in-law here for anything else. He Lins expression softened up a bit. Right when he went to speak, He Xuan started going again, though. That wont do! Your status is higher than our head of households, so you need to be in the seat of honor! Come first, well go pay a visit to my father, then speak more afterwards! Tang Fan glanced at He Lin; sure enough, the latters face was overcast again. He Xuan pulled him straight inside. Since it would do no good to argue, Tang Fan had to follow him into the inner hall. Upon sighting him, He Ying was overjoyed, getting up to welcome him and introduce him to everyone else. This is Tang Fan, courtesy Runqing, who placed fourth in the Sheep of Twists palace exam in the eleventh year of Chenghua, became a Hanlin entrant, and now serves as an official of the Ministry of Justice. As soon as that resume was put out in the open, things quickly came to no longer be the same. The eyes of everyone on-scene, including Xianghes Magistrate, changed as they looked at him. These days, whenever people of scholardom got acquainted, they would first exchange names and surnames, then put out their career history. The background of a Hanlin entrant was the most revered, of course. If one didnt have that, then they would clearly state which year of Palace Honorate they had nabbed. Were everyone present to be of the same year, that would be best, as they could call each other brothers, else they would address each other as was appropriate to their respective years, like Senior, Junior, and so on. Looking at Xianghe, apart from Patriarch He Ying and the already-outbound He Yi, there was really no one around with a rank comparable to Tang Fans. Even Magistrate Weng was only of seventh-rank. Everyone got up in succession to bow towards Tang Fan, addressing him as Sir. Magistrate Weng and Tang Fan gave courtesies to each other, as well, but not according to official rank instead, they were based off of scholardom seniority, in their respective years of becoming Palace Honorates. As Magistrate Weng had become one in the eighth year of Chenghua, he preceded Tang Fan by one exam, so when the latter met the former, he addressed him as a Senior; however, as the Magistrates rank was lower than his, he didnt dare to accept the honor. The rules of this eras officialdom were just way too bothersome. After Tang Fan paid back courtesies, he then bowed towards He Ying in the capacity as a Junior. The latter was obliged to accept it, smiling. This old man heard the Second say that you were coming over quite a while ago, but I hadnt expected that it would coincide with today. What a lucky happenstance! Tang Fan smiled back. This nephew also feels it fortunate. Brother Mingcheng passing the provincials is an immensely happy event. I havent given my congratulations to you yet, Uncle. He Ying shook his head. If he gets the progress you and his eldest brother have, Ill be delighted, but this day is nothing more than the locals enthusiasm, with just a few tables with drinks set up for it. You may find it laughable. Since youve come, you should stay for a little longer. Your sister and brother-in-law have missed you. I had the same thought. I will have to trouble you, then, Uncle. He Ying was a tad puzzled; he had been thinking to inquire after how the other had gotten the opportunity to request time off with how busy the Six Ministries were, but also felt that it wouldnt be appropriate to ask during an occasion like this, so he simply turned around and introduced him to all the guests of the banquet. For a moment, there was a scene of merriment, mutual toasting, and much excitement. He Lin had never liked parties like this to begin with, so he had avoided this one, only to unexpectedly have no choice but to return to it due to Tang Fans visit, thus forced to listen to each and every person list their achievements, being a Provincial Honorate if they werent a Palace one. His heart was in more pain than it would be from getting stabbed with a hundred needles. Tang Yu was a woman, making it unsuitable for her to come with. When He Xuan had brought Tang Fan over here, she had returned to the separate courtyard to attend to the guests and the food, telling the servants to make proper arrangements for the few companions Tang Fan had brought with him. As she wasnt present right now, no one was paying careful attention to He Lins expressions. Following a few cups of drink, He Ying showed sympathy for Tang Fan having rushed over here and being both physically and mentally exhausted, so he didnt force him to stay and drink. Once he requested the mans own opinion on the matter, he had He Lin bring Tang Fan away to rest. It was not Tang Fan who sighed in relief at this ending, but He Lin, who had been sitting on pins next to him. The two exited the hall and walked into a side-wing. Are you feeling unwell, brother-in-law? Tang Fan asked him. Leading me to the wing is just fine, you dont need to come with me. You can go on and rest. My sister accompanying me for a talk will be enough. He Lin forced a smile. Its fine. It was hard for you to come here, so, as your brother-in-law, I naturally need to do my best in my duty as a host. Tang Fan said no more. He truly was a bit exhausted, while He Lin was a corked-up gourd, resulting in them saying nothing else despite not having seen each other in so long. The Hes estate was huge, so making arrangements for a few relatives was no problem. However, since Tang Fans status was unordinary, his treatment was different from ordinary relatives, naturally. Having already received Patriarch Hes permission, Tang Yu had prepped an auxiliary courtyard filled with bamboo for Tang Fan. This had formerly been the home of one of the Hes neighbors, but had later been purchased by the Hes and opened up to become a wing to entertain honored guests. It didnt look very big from the outside, but once Tang Fan came to be inside it, he discovered that the interior was like a completely different world. Not only did bamboo leaves sway about, in line with the aesthetic of the literati, but there was also a tiny, elegant, and exquisite garden that was right outside his bedroom every morning, he would be able to open his window and see it. The glints of its translucent waters and rugged rockery were not inferior to the gardens of Jiangnan. The siblings hadnt seen each other in years and had a lot to talk about, but Tang Yu still brought her son over before anything else so that he could greet his uncle. He Cheng was currently eight years old and should have been at his wild age, but he was instead a very calm child. He even gave Tang Fan a serious face as he bowed to him, looking a little sullen. At first glance, he appeared to be same breed as his father; people with keen eyesight like Tang Fan, however, could immediately tell that He Lins type stifled themselves, while his little nephew was being stifled. As soon as He Chengs bow was done, he was swept up into Tang Fans arms, his fat little cheeks getting squished by the mans hands. A nice-sounding laugh sounded out from over the top of his head. This is my little nephew, eh? I hugged you just like this when you just turned one do you remember that? How would He Cheng have ever remembered that? He was struck dumb by this young uncle of his acting so silly when he had only just met him, to the point that he didnt notice that his face was getting smushed and deformed; all he could think of to do was stare at his counterpart in a daze. Tang Yu chided Tang Fan, her tone having no lack of indulgence. Alright, now! Youre an uncle, yet you still have the cheek to bully your nephew! Tang Fan laughed, hugging He Cheng relentlessly, and lowered his head to smooch him like he was deliberately teasing him. This is me liking him. Lots of other people want me to kiss them, yet I still havent; what do you say to that, Qilang? He Cheng fell seventh in his generation of the family, earning him the nickname Qilang, the Seventh Gentleman. In spite of that, he was getting hugged and kissed like so by a male elder of his several times, when even his own mother had felt him to be too grown-up these past couple of years and never treated him like that anymore. Right now, his face was completely red; it was unclear whether he was bashful, or enraged into silence from getting teased. Seeing her sons reserved and shy look, Tang Yu felt pain and remorse well up in her heart, and inwardly sighed as she stroked his hair. Your mother and uncle have things to talk about. Go and look at the present he brought you. He Cheng nodded obediently, hopped off of Tang Fans lap, then bowed to the both of them. This son will take his leave then, Mother, Uncle. As soon as He Cheng left, the maid quietly shut the door, leaving the siblings alone at last in the room. Sis, Qilang is a perfectly healthy child, so how come hes so lacking in energy? Tang Fan asked. Hes only eight. Is it that his lessons are too heavy? In their previous letters, Tang Yu hadnt wanted to cause her little brother worry, so she had always reported on the good, none of the bad. He, of course, had no idea what her everyday life was actually like in her husbands family, but upon rushing over here and witnessing his brother-in-laws performance today, he couldnt help but feel a little vexed. Tang Yu forced a smile. Its probably because of the hard work in our clans lessons, yes. The second he saw her expression, he knew there was something else. Whats actually going on, sis? If you refuse to tell me the truth, Ill go asking around myself. Itd be impossible for me not to find out. She smiled painfully. Its really nothing. You know that your brother-in-law has repeatedly failed the provincials while even his little brother has now passed them, upsetting him. Him being more exacting on the boy is inevitable. Not wanting this topic to continue, she then asked, Can you stay for a good while? As you can see, Qilang doesnt really recognize you as his uncle anymore. You should be closer to him. Also, youre twenty-six now; you should have gotten married years ago, but our parents died too soon. I havent done my duties as an older sister The more she spoke, the more dismayed she felt. You questioned me about so many things in one breath. Which one should I answer? Tang Fan hurriedly picked up. My dear sister, I can stand on my own, now. Theres no need for you to take all these responsibilities onto yourself alone. As long as you can live well, then regardless of whether its me or our parents in the Nine Springs below, well all be reassured. Tang Yu glared at him. If it werent for you always dragging your feet and refusing to get married, why would I be this worried? Have you taken a fancy to any young ladies in the capital? Has anyone brought up marriage to you? With your status and looks, there should be a lot of major officials in Court that want you to be their son-in-law, right? If there is, just tell me. Ill oversee the matter for you. For the sake of not getting forced into taking a wife, he had to give her a quick explanation. I wont hide it from you, sis. I have no officials post right now. What?! Sister Tang was shocked from head to toe. How could that happen?! Simply put, I offended someone that shouldnt be offended in bureaucracy. Tang Yu did not accept that gloss-over answer, quickly chasing after him for more details. She had been born into a family of scholars, then married into a family of officials, so she was naturally no ignorant woman he was compelled to give her a full recount. After listening to the end of it, Tang Yu couldnt say anything for a long time. So, that is to say youve offended the Head Vizier? she serenely asked. You could describe it like that, he replied, smiling. And now, even His Majesty doesnt have any good feelings towards you? Correct. Tang Yu made like she wanted to beat him up, but couldnt bear to, only able to glare at him hatefully. You still dare to grin like that? Our parents pampered you too much! Even I, the little woman that I am, have heard that Head Vizier Wan has claimed connections to the current Consort, and his position is secure, his cronies up and down the whole court how can you continue to live well in the future, if youve offended someone like that?! The man just smiled giddily. In the face of his big sister that had watched him grow up since childhood, no sort of elegance existed on him in the least. Dont be telling me that they alone pampered me; did you not pamper me just as much, sis? Seeing that her baby brother was still acting as spoiled in front of her as ever, Tang Yus eyes filled with tenderness, and her final bit of fury quickly became non-existent. As she had calmed down, Tang Fan smiled. Not being an official isnt without advantages. I can stay here for a few more days, at least. I was afraid that the Hes would slight you on account of all this, so I didnt say anything when we were in front of that many people. Her heart warmed. Theres no need for you to worry about that Since youre here, its fine for you to stay. No matter whats said, Im still the proper Second Lady of the Hes, and others cant bully me just because they want to. You dont need to restrain yourself, sis. I came here to support you as well as visit you. I know that theres definitely some people that think we Tangs are nobodies and that you have no natal family to rely upon, thus treating you irreverently, but as long as Im here, the Tangs will forever be your support. Even though I no longer have a post now, no one can walk all over me. If theres anything you cant stand for, dont keep it from me. I can help vouch for you. Tang Yu was rather moved by those words, but didnt take them seriously. In her view, even if Tang Fan hadnt been dismissed, he would only be a fifth-rank Chief. Hoodwinking typical people with such a rank would be doable, but families like the Hes, which had a clear understanding of bureaucracys happenings, would not only not be scared by his rank, but laugh out loud if he thought to make a strong vouch. Moreover, since he didnt even have that fifth-rank spot to speak of, saying that he was going to vouch for her at all would likely just end with him offending the Hes, dragging himself right into it. She hoped that he wouldnt do such a thing. She preferred to suffer some grievances by herself, because she felt that her brothers future prospects were more important than her own happiness. Thinking as much, she laughed. Dont overthink. This family and your brother-in-law treat me quite well. Meanwhile, Tang Fan similarly felt that his sisters happiness trumped all else, hence why when he had noticed that she was focusing on trivial things instead of the important, and that the expressions revealed on her and his brother-in-laws faces had been off-kilter, he had known that there had to be something else going on. However, since Tang Yu didnt want to say more about it, he didnt ask further, thinking to wait until they were in private to inquire. Once the party was concluded, the crowd dispersed, and Patriarch He sent someone to invite the married couple and Tang Fan over. Joining them was the Matriarch Lady Xu, He Xuan and his wife, Patriarch Hes two brothers, as well as the Hes third generation, which included He Cheng, He Qin, and the other grandchildren, making the hall they were all congregated into quite lively. Such was Patriarch Hes way of expressing his welcome to Tang Fan a daughter-in-laws natal relative dropping by would never require the trouble of having all generations of the family come out and visit them, otherwise. The Third Hes wife, Lady Wei, for example, had a mere County Honorates background for a natal family; even though it had later gone down the path of the merchant and become a tycoon of Xianghe County-plus-Shuntian Prefecture region, its status was still incomparable to the Hes, and there was no way it would ever get such aplomb. Everyone exchanged conventional greetings, after which Patriarch He remembered his question that had been inconvenient to ask at the banquet before. Ive been retired for many years, and am unsure of what the situation in the capital is as of now. As you are in the Ministry of Justice, my good nephew, I believe you to be quite in the know. This was a tactful question which, in reality, was asking why he had been able to take such a long leave for no good reason, despite requesting leave not being an easy task for an official. Could it be that some incident had occurred in the capitals officialdom? The all-anticipating Patriarch had not predicted that Tang Fan simply had no post now, though. Tang Fan chuckled, and did not keep things from them. Im ashamed to say as much, but I committed a faux-pas in one of my assignments, so Ive now been ordered to be in cap dormancy, with no officials position at all. What?! As soon as that was said, everyone reacted just like Tang Yu had previously, being as dumbfounded as wooden chickens. The Patriarch had the most far-reaching knowledge, as well as the quickest response time, showing off a concerned expression. What happened? Could it be that you offended someone? Theres no harm in speaking aloud. This old man is a has-been, but I still have some connections in officialdom. If its not a trouble, I might be able to help you by circulating some good words around. Tang Fan cupped his hands towards him again. Thank you for your concern, Uncle, but this dismissal was passed down from His Majesty via the Cabinet. Im afraid that no one can help me, now. The second they all heard that, they were further dumbstruck. Great, even the Emperor is offended! What a huge deal this is! Isnt you scrambling over like this just implicating our family? Having been observing everyones reactions, Tang Fan naturally knew what they were thinking. You all dont need to worry. Now that this matter has come to its end, no one will be bringing it up again. Its only cap dormancy, not a return to the citizenry. The Hes wont be implicated. I have been separated from my sister for many years and missed her terribly, hence why I happened to come to visit. If this disturbs any of you, do forgive me. Patriarch He laughed. Thats too estranging. Your father and I were the best of friends; even if your sister wasnt my daughter-in-law, you would be able to take this house as your own home. Stay for as long as you want, theres no need for scruples. Tang Fan thanked him with seriousness. With something like that suddenly coming out, everyone nearly lost the mood to chat. Patriarch He continued to ask after present circumstances; upon learning that Tang Fan was still lodging in someone elses home in the capital, he couldnt help but sigh on end, wanting to hand him a large sum of silver for him to buy a house with, which the other inevitably and persistently refused. As he genuinely wouldnt take it, the Patriarch didnt force him, allowing him to go off and rest, saying that the future was long and anything else could be put off for later. After Tang Fan, Tang Yu, and He Lin left, Patriarch Hes face sank, and he scolded He Xuan and his wife. You lot just revealed too much! Once you heard that he was in cap dormancy, even your expressions changed! This son simply heard that he offended the Emperor; wont that involve our He family? He Xuan replied, embarrassed. You see how he didnt come earlier or later, but chose exactly this time to? Perhaps hes seeking refuge with us here because he offended some huge figure in the capital! His two uncles the Patriarchs brothers also helped defend him. Right. Its not strange that Mingcheng felt as much; even we were a bit nervous hearing that! Patriarch He sighed. Regardless of what anyone thinks, since hes already here, we cant drive him away. Did none of you notice the three that came with him? What of them? He Xuan asked. I saw that two of them have an understated majesty about them, and they behave differently from ordinary folk. Theyre likely top-grade martial experts. He Xuan was astonished. Hes been dismissed, and even has to lodge in someone elses home. Why would he have experts accompanying him? They arent typical martial artists, but Brocade Guards, the Patriarch pointed out. What?! The entire He family exclaimed yet again. They had suffered so many repeat shocks, that they were quickly going numb. What sort of people the Brocade Guards were did not need to be explained by him; with just one thought given to their glorious history, the Hes couldnt help but feel a chill arise from the bottoms of their hearts. Even the Patriarchs two brothers showed looks of dread. Even if Tang Fan hadnt been dismissed, he still wouldnt have been qualified enough to have the protection of the Guards, would he? Could it be that hes offended someone so powerful, that those men are defending him in name, but monitoring him in reality? Patriarch He sighed again. I hope that isnt so. Dad, what should we do, then? Is this not leading a wolf right into our house? Shouldnt we find an excuse to get him out? He Xuan asked anxiously. Youre being ridiculous! Hes here, so what basis is there to drive him out on?! Before the entire situation becomes clear, we will keep watch for the time being. Just knowing the score in your minds is enough! Dont make a huge fuss over nothing and by no means are we beating the grass to scare off the snake! Even with that said, the women present were already on-edge due to this set of words, to say nothing of the men. Lady Xu sighed and complained to him. I said at the start that the Second shouldnt have taken that woman as a wife, yet you said some stuff about needing to stick to your word. Ever since she married into our family, the Second has been having nothing go his way. Perhaps hes been held back by her The Patriarch lost his patience. Whats the use of you saying that now, after all these years?! Fine, a few of us are good-for-nothings, but nothings happened yet! Are you all really going to keep looking like imminent doom is approaching?! Had Tang Fan heard all that and knew what the Hes had cooked up in their heads about Yan Li and the others presence, who knew what kind of expression he would have? The translator says: Its extremely ironic that were on an arc about exhausting extended family when I just got back from a trip involving exhausting extended family I flipflopped between fluffy, fuzzy, and downy. I went with fluffy because it sounds like a dogs name lmao. Original Chinese is maomao (ëë), which is the character for hair, fur, feathers, down. So, not an exaggeration, nor any less terrible to name a human. CH 75 The He family was not a parvenu household; despite their many misgivings, there was no way they could go from respect to disdain to the point that they swept someone right out the door. Patriarch He treated Tang Fan with the same courtesy as he had before, also telling the servants not to slight him, but the news of his dismissal spread quickly throughout the family, even being heard of in Xianghe County. People not clear on the truth took on the mindset of watching the excitement unfold. Despite the Eldest He being a fourth-rank Prefectural Magistrate, local officials and capital officials were not equivalent; all outsiders had thought that the Hes had a lot of credit in having an in-law that was a capital official, but now they either felt pity for Tang Fan, or felt that it would be difficult for him to make a comeback. Either way, the Hes had probably lost a strong backer. When it came to the womenfolks ideas, they naturally differed from those of the men, with their focus set much more on Tang Yu. Tang Yus parents were already passed, and to say that she had nothing to rely upon wouldnt be undue. It had been believed that she still had her officially-posted little brother to rely on, but now, she didnt even have that. The pitiful Second Lady of the Hes had been a minor ghost in the family to begin with, and would likely lose standing all the more, perhaps passing life in hardship. Regardless of how high the walls were, they couldnt block the words on the wind. It was unknown what thoughts Tang Yu had, but Tang Fan himself didnt mind, regardless; it was of no sort of importance to him whether others looked down upon him, and it wasnt like he was going to be staying in this place for all his life. He only worried after his sister and nephew. He inquired about things with Tang Yu in private, but she only smiled. Being an official has always been a harrowing livelihood. Since you liked it before, I was happy for you, and youre not depressed now that youre not one, so as long as youre happy, your sister is happy, too. As for the gossip of others, have I not heard no lack of that over these past years? If I cared about it for no reason, I would have never been able to even live my life properly. Dont you worry! In Tang Fans mind, there was no better big sister in this world than Tang Yu. As she had said as much, he didnt ask further, only having Yan Li and Qian Sanr quietly probe around. On account of the fact that he didnt have a deep understanding of the Hes at all, and thus had no idea which people needed heavy attention and which could be skipped, he gave the gifts he had brought from the capital to his sister, giving her full power over them. He stayed in the bamboo courtyard the Hes had prepared for him, reminiscing on old times with her and bringing little He Cheng out to play every day, living the good life. Despite Patriarch Hes order making the servants dare not overlook him, the male heads of each family branch were still somewhat affected. The most obvious incarnation of that was that when Tang Fan had just arrived, they were all exceedingly enthusiastic; He Xuan in particular had grabbed his hand and called him Runqing over and over again, yet after his dismissal had become known, the other had rarely set foot inside the bamboo courtyard. Whenever Tang Fan ran into him outside, he would invite him in for a chat, and even though the other would be warm and cordial, he would also reject him any way he could. Still, that was just human nature. Many in this world didnt hesitate to play nice when the weather was good, but few would be able to send firewood when it snowed. Tang Fan naturally would not request such a high standard of the Hes, as big families were always about saving face. The previous generation had a deep friendship, but that was a thing of the past; only towards the Patriarch did he still have much respect. He Cheng had been completely emancipated after his young uncles arrival. With his parents permission, he took time off of familial studies to specially keep his uncle company. In addition to bringing him out on the streets to play, Tang Fan would buy him various trinkets, and help him with his homework when he had spare time. The more they spent time together, the more Tang Fan felt that He Cheng was a very sensible and adorable boy. Other things notwithstanding, whenever he saw someone come looking for Tang Fan, he would thoughtfully take his leave on his own initiative. If Tang Fan asked for him to stay, he would obediently stand to the side and not make a peep. When Tang Fan asked himself what he had been doing at He Chengs age, the answer was that he would climb trees to steal bird nests, or take advantage of times his parents hadnt been paying attention to run off and catch the fish in the lotus-flower pond at home compared to that, little He Cheng could practically be described as gentle and courteous. However, it was precisely due to that that Tang Fan felt distressed. It stood to reason that a kid his age ought to be active and stirring stuff up all over the place; furthermore, as a Young Lord from an officials family, he had nothing he needed to fret about, as opposed to children from poor families. His demeanor should not be so stuffy. He had likely been constantly growing up in oppressive circumstances, for him to have developed a taciturn personality. Even so, kids were still kids. Following his initial shyness and fear of strangers, He Cheng had quickly accepted his amicable uncle that was willing to play with him as a part of his family. The amount of time he spent smiling also increased, the shadow of being somewhat like his peers gradually appearing on him. On this day, Tang Fan was teaching him how to write some characters when a maidservant came to report that Yan Li and Qian Sanr were asking for him outside. This place was a neighboring courtyard and wasnt likely to have the Hes womenfolk come and go near it, but because Tang Fans sister would sometimes drop by, he couldnt allow Yan Li and the others to come right in, lest they run into each other and arouse suspicion. He Cheng, who had just finished writing one character, raised his head and looked over. Tang Fan pet his hair. Go on out and play for a bit. The boy nodded sensibly, said that he was taking his leave, then left with the maid. Not long after, Yan Li and Qian Sanr came in, and sat down separately after bowing. Have you had results? Tang Fan asked. That question came out of nowhere, but the others knew what he was asking after. Qian Sanr looked at Yan Li; seeing that he had no intention of speaking, he went for it. This lowly one asked around. The Second Lady doesnt appear to be having too good of a time in this family. Tang Fans hand that was lifting the lid of his cup slightly paused. How so? I heard that amongst the three He sons, the eldest, He Yi, has the most promising future, and the most favored is not the Second, but the Third, He Xuan though the eldest is an abroad official and can come home only a few times a year, He Xuan has now passed the provincials as well, and hes been called young, capable, and one that brings glory to his ancestors. In contrast, the Second Lord is a bit unremarkable. Tang Fan nodded, sighing. Not only is he unremarkable, but with how arrogant he is, he likely cant stand being under his brothers halos, right? Right. Reportedly, the Second Lord previously planned to get a separate household, only to get severely reprimanded by the Patriarch and never bring it up again. What about my sister? Qian Sanr shot a timid glance at him. The He servants said Yan Li kicked him. Dont play coy, just say it! Qian Sanr cried out in alarm, forced to explain quickly. They said that since the Second Ladys husband is a failure and she doesnt have a natal family to rely on, her days havent passed easy. The Hes are so busy with social niceties, its inevitable that she frequently has to interact with all those women and officials, while the spending money the family gives is limited. The Eldest Lady of the Hes isnt in this county, while the Third Lady is supplemented by her natal family, leaving only the Second Lady that cant get money for these expenses. Shes had no choice but to have her maid go pawn pieces of her dowry every couple of days! Tang Fans brow creased deeply. If shes in such a predicament, why wouldnt she tell me? Qian Sanr put on a show of sighing. Sir, this lowly one has always admired your strategic wisdom, but you dont get what goes on between the women of rich families at all. Strategic wisdom? Dont randomly use phrases you dont understand, or claim that you understand women that well, Tang Fan scolded him with a smile. The other laughed. I used to travel all over the place to do shameful thievery, so I naturally heard about a lot of things that happen in inner courtyards, unlike you that does important things Saying even more nonsense, are you? Yan Li said with disdain. Qian Sanr frowned, miffed, but didnt dare to say as much. Think about it. Cosmetics need money to be bought. When it comes to interacting with women, when they treat you to a banquet of chrysanthemums, wont you need to repay them by inviting them to a banquet of peonies? Also, other people getting married or their children making the one-month mark are all things that require niceties. Even if the people dont show, the ceremony still has to. Average people are like that, too, so the Hes are even more meticulous about it than them. Tang Fan nodded. Before she married off, my sister often had to deal with her friends in the inner chambers, and it did cost a considerable amount. Furthermore, I heard that studying in the clan doesnt cost money, but as a Young Lord born of a Hes proper wife, the remuneration for the tutor, brushes, and ink cannot be cheap. Theres the Second Lord himself, too; even though hes only a County Honorate, he still has a group of friends he needs to treat, and that all requires money. The money the Hes give can only meet their daily necessities, at best, so these extra expenditures need to be provided by them. The Third Ladys natal family is wealthy in this county, while the Third Lord receives favor from the parents, so the Old Madam certainly gives them no lack of supplemental income. People like the Second Lord and Lady can only make their own way. Tang Fan had not expected him to have asked about so meticulously. Had you not said as much, I genuinely wouldnt have picked up on all that, he praised. As thats so, my sister and brother-in-law really are struggling financially. Arent they? If the Second Lord passed the provincials, life would be much better for him, but he hasnt passed it for all these years. Every year, the coin spent on buying books, on brushes and ink, is a lot. Why was there such a clear distinction between Provincial and County Honorate? If He Lin passed the provincials, he would grasp the qualifications to become an official, and it wouldnt even matter if he failed the palace exams. With the Hes connections, it wouldnt be a huge problem to pass him through a key one and get him the cap of a Head Magistrate or County Deputy. In that way, He Lin would basically be stepping into officialdom, as even if he went to an impoverished county, he would still get a lot of under-the-counter income, which would be an improvement over Tang Fans fifth-rank capital post in a clearwater bureau. He would also be able to support his wife and children, then. The problem here was that he had never been able to pass, remaining as a County Honorate. Those could still act as teachers or tutors, but he was a Don of the Hes how could he go out and toss away the Hes face like such? That was tantamount to him completely wasting over ten years worth of effort, only able to rely upon the Hes living expenses and his wifes dowry to pass his days. All said County Honorates were poor no one was ever heard to say that Provincial Honorates were. This was the reason. Even parents that loved their children unconditionally would likely still have some complaints upon seeing that they had accomplished nothing into their thirties. On top of that, the Hes had no shortage of accomplished children; what sense was there in him failing exams for over a decade, then putting on his daily airs of others owing him money, and needing to rush up to be considerate to him? In brief, that was the situation He Lin was currently in. After Qian Sanr was done, it was Yan Lis turn to speak. Your honored sister had a fight with her husband last night. So, this one had hid out in a corner to eavesdrop on a married couple. Was it over me? Tang Fan asked. The other nodded, then shook his head. At first, yes, but not later on. What did they say? It started with your brother-in-law saying that since you had such a hard time coming here, that she should persuade you to stay a bit longer. It seems like even though hes repeatedly failed the exams and is a tiny bit resentful, he still has a good temper. What did he start arguing about? Tang Fan wondered. He said that after the whole family learned of your dismissal, theyre all high-strung, especially his third brother, whos certainly worried that this will damage his exam next year. What makes his family unhappy, makes him happy. He had apparently thought too highly of him. Your sister said that Patriarch He isnt like that, and that he should get along better with his elders so that it wouldnt be so hard for them to maneuver around like this. He said that he just wanted to make trouble with them because that was the only way the Patriarch would agree to a separation of homes; otherwise, if he continues living under the same roof as them like he is now, with everyone giving him mocking looks wherever he goes, therell be no way he could stand it. What came after? She said that he would only bring troubles onto himself like this, and he should be more open-minded, not taking the looks of lowly people to heart. The amount of gray-haired men that go to take the exams are too many to count, and hes only thirty-four, so he has plenty of time. Tang Fan nodded. With how considerate she is, he should have listened to her, eh? Yan Li looked powerless. Well he actually got angry, saying that she was hexing him to not be able to pass the exams until hes eighty. Tang Fan felt like a feather getting messed up in the wind. He then heard about your sister pawning her dowry again, and said that she was deliberately embarrassing him. He also asked whether she had complained to you or not. She said no, but he didnt believe her, and the two had a huge row. She later ended up crying as she left. A typical person hearing a married couple quarrel would have felt a bit awkward, but Brocade Guards had the year-round duty of interrogation. Yan Li wouldnt have a change in expression even when listening to demonic spirits scuffling and warring for three hundred rounds, so these trivialities werent anything to speak of. He noticed Tang Fans speechless expression. His misunderstanding towards her appears to be profound. He wont listen to any sort of advice. The other nodded, sighing. Right. I had believed that he was just arrogant and couldnt accept the discrepant feeling of once being sought after everywhere, yet now being unable to pass the provincials. I didnt expect that the knot in his heart would be that deep. Were it not for the two of yous assistance, I definitely wouldnt have been able to find this all out about my sister by myself. Asking you to inquire after this stuff is like using a horse-cutting sabre to kill a chicken, Old Yan. Yan Li laughed. Its fine, Im not doing anything, anyways! What are your plans, though, Don? It looks like your sister really isnt living well at the Hes. If she was still by herself right now, this would have been easy. I would have found a way to get her a separation no matter what, then get her a better family to marry into. There are plenty of women that remarry in the Great Ming, and do so well; there would be no way that I would let her suffer grievances. Thats difficult to do now, though. Separation requires both parties to be willing before it can happen, but even if my brother-in-law consents, my nephew exists, and my sister definitely wouldnt be willing to leave Qilang behind to leave with me. This has to be discussed in the long term. Everything will have to follow my sisters wishes if she isnt willing, no one can force her, not even me. This was what they called every family having its quarrels, and good officials being powerless at handling family matters. Yan Li and Qian Sanr both felt distress, the latter even sighing. Isnt that just it? Women fear marrying off to the wrong man, especially for this large family that has so many rules. Violate one, and the gossip comes how very difficult! No matter how he looked at him, Yan Li felt that this guy needed to get beat, kicking him again. Act less! A shifty-eyed bloke like you talking like some wealthy lady is gross to look at! Qian Sanr nimbly avoided him, chuckling afterwards. You dont know yet, Sir, but Old Yan has a sweetheart that is a wealthy lady! Tang Fan had been worrying over how to help his sister; upon hearing what Qian Sanr said, he couldnt help but be surprised. Who have you taken a fancy to? Yan Li was slightly awkward, but Qian Sanr was quick to speak. The Eighth Miss of the Hes! Tang Fan recalled that the Eighth Miss was his brother-in-laws little sister, but she was concubine-born. Is what Sanr said true, Old Yan? Yan Li typically appeared to be forthright, but this time around, he became bashful. I only accidentally ran into her once, when I was going around getting information for you The other smiled. Ill help you ask about her, later. If you fancied a wife-born daughter, I would probably be helpless, but Id generally have some say in concubine-born ones. If shes not yet engaged, and if the Patriarch agrees, your status would be a good match for her. The Hes are a family of learned scholars, Yan Li hesitated, while Im a martial artist Dont worry. Ill look for a chance to survey his feelings on it, Tang Fan consoled him. Then, many thanks, Don! Yan Li answered, ecstatic. Having learned his sisters exact circumstances, Tang Fan privately found an opportunity to have a long talk with her, telling her that she shouldnt just bear with it all. No matter what, he would stand by her side and help her with things. Yan Li listening in on her from a corner ultimately failed the rules of honor, so he couldnt exactly tell her that he had sent someone to eavesdrop on her fighting with her husband, else shed lose face. He was only able to circuitously express his support for her over and over again. And yet, she was apparently set on hiding things from him to the end, refusing to have him fret about her business after making such a difficult journey here. To be further blunt, this was considered a civil affair of the Hes, and according to law, as long as He Lin didnt beat his wife or try to replace her with a concubine, Tang Fan had no right to intervene. And, as of right now, none of the Hes were talking badly to him, with He Lin acting even more normal in his presence. For the time being, there was no justification for him to go asking around. These years living with the Hes, the surrounding environment, and the bondage of He Cheng had been enough to make Tang Yu turn from a lively and magnanimous maiden to a woman that could silently bear with things for the sake of her son, adapting to the pace of life in the He Estate. Despite Tang Fans vast wisdom, his hands were tied in the face of such a situation, so he could only hang around for longer and keep watch on it. On this day, a rich merchant of Xianghe, Wei Ce, threw a banquet at the Wei household, and had invited all the gentry of the county over to partake in his sons one-month party. Wei Ce was the father of Lady Wei, He Xuans wife, and also had the County Honorate title. Like He Lin, he had failed to pass when young, but he had not had He Lins arrogant self-esteem; he had realized that if he continued taking exams like so, it would probably just be a waste of his whole life, so he had given up the path of the exams to turn to commerce. The Great Ancestor had had a deep abhorrence for corruption, without any good notions towards merchants, either. He had made a rule that officials fourth-rank and higher were prohibited from trading, even putting up policies like the merchant registry. Having a County Honorate status had made Wei Ce unlike that of a pure merchant, however, and he had utilized that to quickly befriend the gentry of Xianghe County, as well as Shuntian Prefecture. His mind and means were quite sharp, allowing him to accumulate a huge sum of money for over twenty years. In this county, the Weis monopolized the majority of staples, like the rice and salt businesses. In this era, the salt industry was government-regulated. Should a merchant want to sell it, they first needed to obtain a salt permit. That he was able to run salt shops demonstrated that he had extraordinary interpersonal connections, and that Lady Wei, his daughter of a County Honorate background, had been able to marry into the Hes precisely because of that reason. Thus, with her natal familys solid financial backing, Lady Wei didnt need to rely on the Hes in day-to-day life like Tang Yu did. In addition to his eldest daughter, Lady Wei, who had been born of his original wife, Wei Ce also had four younger daughters, all of who had been born of concubines. The Wei family was beyond rich, yet had never received a son, which had vexed him. Following the passing of his original wife, he had taken in Lady Chai, but she had not given an heir, either. That had left him with no choice but to accept several concubines, one after the other, only to still unfortunately have nothing but girls born. After managing to have this one son, the Weis naturally viewed him as a gem, resulting in them having not hesitated to throw a big party for his one-month milestone, inviting a vast range of guests to celebrate over him. As could be imagined, in such an environment, the Young Lord of the Weis was the recipient of a myriad of doting. Everyone here was a relative, and the Hes certainly wanted to grant face to the Weis youngests one-month party. Even Patriarch He attended in person. Wei Ce, one to handle things thoroughly, knew that Tang Fan was now staying at the Hes, so he also sent an invitation to him, which led to Tang Fan coming over with his sister and her husband. Even though he had no officials post now, he still was one, and could not be slighted like he was a common citizen. As a result, the instant he arrived at the Weis home, he was invited to the head table, ranking higher than He Xuan. At this table with the head-of-household, Wei Ce, there was Patriarch He, Magistrate Weng, County Deputy Lin, Registrar Wang, and so on, as well as other such officials and gentry of Xianghe. Tang Fans seat was ranked fourth, right after Magistrate Weng; it could be seen from that that Wei Ce had made some mental calculations. He Xuan was also seated at the head table, as he was Wei Ces son-in-law. He Lin was placed at the third-rank table, which was for Wei Ces friends in the industry. Reasonably, there was no issue with that set-up, but He Lin still felt that Wei Ce was looking down on him, to have placed him alongside businessmen. As for Tang Yu and the other women, they had naturally separated from them the moment they had come in to go to a separate table for women, not staying with the male guests. At the start of the feast, when everything was warm and harmonious, Wei Ce said a round of gratitudes. Since it was his sons party, he carried him out and showed him off to the guests, whereupon everyone accommodatingly said some luck-bringing words to him, wishing for the child to grow up safe and sound, then toasted each other and got down with the food and pleasantries. As the richest folks in Xianghe, the Weis dishes had been painstakingly made, not a bit inferior to the big restaurants of the capital. Most of them were Jiangnan cuisine, too, which was quite up to Tang Fans tastes. He, of course, was not overly polite; though he ate slowly, he had sampled almost all of the delicacies set before his eyes. Contrasted with the others that were preoccupied with courtesies, gourmets like him were more welcomed by chefs. Many had already heard of his dismissal. As was natural, there were a lot of people that sought out advantages and shunned problems, like He Xuan that wasnt meant to rebuke him or anything, but at the same time, there was no small amount of those that had principles and no fear, like Magistrate Weng. After hearing that the reason for Tang Fans dismissal was that he had offended someone of Head Vizier Wans, Magistrate Weng contrarily became quite enthused about his attitude. Nowadays, there were hardly any people in society that could stand to even look at Wan Ans party. When it came to capital officials and their future roads, most of them elected to remain silent, but officials of other localities didnt have such scruples, Magistrate Weng being one of them. What a shame it was that his officials route had been rife with potholes, as even though he had become a Palace Honorate three years before Tang Fan had, he was still struggling as a seventh-rank Magistrate. Tang Fan chatted with him a bit, then discovered that the other was a fan of his teacher, Qiu Jun, resulting in their friendship promptly getting a lot closer. Magistrate Weng was nearly forty years old; his know-how wasnt bad, but he just wasnt too skilled at being a official. He had been evaluated impartially several times, yet always found to be average, resulting in him being unable to obtain a promotion, in spite of that decent knowledge. As opposed to talking to old foxes like Patriarch He, Tang Fan was more willing to converse with Magistrate Weng, making the time fly by once he was done eating. Midway through, due to business in the county bureau, the Magistrate had to take his leave early, whilst Tang Fan found an excuse to go for a walk and dissipate the effects of the alcohol. The Weis had considerately prepared an internal room for guests to take rests in, with a maid attending and a screen partitioning the place from the outside, nevertheless being much more comfortable. In the opinion of Tang Fan, someone who loved quiet, this place was comparatively relaxing to the outside. He rejected the maids offer of a foot massage, requested a glass of kumquat juice, then reclined in a chair, shutting his eyes in rest. All of a sudden, a voice came from nearby him. The food here is vastly inferior to Immortal Clouds! Eating it almost makes this old man want to puke! With that entering his ears, Tang Fan spewed out the juice he had had in his mouth. Turning his head in disbelief, he looked at the man seated next to him. The other was around thirty or forty with a face full of beard, and wore a lake-blue, round-necked outer robe. One glance said that he resembled Wei Ces business friends, but from the way he sat to his voice, Tang Fan could only think of one person. He couldnt help but rub his forehead as he sighed. Why are you here? The bearded man rolled his eyes. If you could be here, could I not? Tang Fan looked at him wordlessly. Is it that the Weis have committed some major treason? he asked in a hushed voice. The man shook his head. Then what are you doing here? It cant be that youre looking for me, right? Well said, I did come to find you. Now lets go! Go where? When were there, youll know! Hold on. I needed to be connected with the Hes to get here, and the Weis sent out invitations how did you mingle your way in? The other party laughed coldly. There is nowhere under this sky that I cant get into! Sure. How about you go jump on the Emperors bed a couple of times and have me take a gander at that, then, Tang Fan said to himself. He wasnt going to continue bickering with the man, though. Is there something urgent? Of course. Ah, yes the one who was speaking with Tang Fan was Eunuch Wang Zhi, who he had been separated from for many days. Why was he, who had been doing perfectly fine in the capital, running off to find Tang Fan in Xianghe County? The place wasnt too far from the capital, but Tang Fan definitely wasnt narcissistic enough to think that the other had come to gossip with him because he was bored. The only possibility here was that something had happened in the capital. Meanwhile, Wang Zhi didnt wait for him to agree or refuse him, getting up and walking out after he was done talking. Tang Fan had no choice but to leave with him, telling Qian Sanr afterwards to go inform Patriarch He and He Lin that hes had to leave the banquet in a hurry and would return later, so they didnt need to wait for him. What urgent matters could an idler with no post have to leave a party partway through for? He wasnt like Magistrate Weng, who had official work to do. This was quite rude behavior. Even so, he didnt care about what the Hes would think right now. He followed Wang Zhi out of the Wei home, then came to a county inn. From how many interactions he had had with the Western Depot, he could make out that around the inn, inside and out, were disguised Depot wardens on lookout. Those unconcerned were barred from entry, as well as exit. In all likelihood, Wang Zhi had rushed over here, which truly wasnt good to make public. The two headed straight for a guest room on the second floor. Once the door was shut, Wang Zhi ripped off his fake beard, finally resuming his original appearance. He looked rather impatient. Sticking this piece of crap to your face is really goddamn uncomfortable! It looked awkward to me, too. Its good that youve taken it off. Wang Zhi narrowed his eyes at him. Are you mocking me? Uh, it really was embarrassing. Did you even see yourself? Tang Fan thought, but only thought, as he felt that a well-bred person like himself shouldnt be fighting over things that didnt matter at all with Eunuch Wang. What is actually going on, to be deserving of you specifically going incognito to come find me? Something happened on the Crown Princes end. The translator says: Its this guy again! Wow!!!! He has nothing better to do!!!!!! CH 76 The Crown Prince was only ten years old this year. No matter how steadfast and precocious he was, he was still a child, and as a child, he would make childish mistakes, else he genuinely would turn into a monster. What Wang Zhi described was, strictly speaking, not that huge of a deal. Following Virtuous Consort Jis death, she had been buried in the imperial tombs, and had a separately-established memorial tablet to offer sacrifices to. However, due to Consort Wans hindrance, Dowager Zhou had advised the Crown Prince that it would be best to not frequent that hall much, lest he end up angering the Consort so she does something disadvantageous to him. Upon the quick approach of his mothers death anniversary, the Prince had missed her. As he couldnt go to the side hall, he had secretly set up an incense table in the East Palace to pay respects to her, weeping as he had said some quiet things to her. It had been nothing more than him asking why she had cast him aside and left, a childs statements of having passed a hard life. Such was human nature. The Princes days were truly oppressive, too; now that his father had more than one child at his knees and was busy with immortal cultivation, alchemy, plus communicating with the State Teacher, he had no spare time to care about the Crown Prince. Han Zao had died, as had Yuan Liang. There were very few people at the Princes side that he was close to, and he wasnt able go complain to his teachers. If he couldnt say these words to his mother, then who could he? However, the speaker had no intentions, while the listener had. The Princes private worship and words to his mother had been overheard by someone, who had gone to report to the Consort. Consort Wans eyes and ears were present all over the palace, the Crown Princes sides being no exception. In spite of the East Palace being heavily guarded and having many loyalists in it, that hadnt prevented the Consort from planting people that could eavesdrop on the Prince at any time. After learning of this, she had become wrathful and fearful, thus going to complain to the Emperor, saying that the Prince had not forgotten his grudge from the death of his mother, his heart was filled with hatred, and he had said a lot of disgraceful things while praying to his mothers incense table. Were he an ordinary person, this would have been okay, as she would have suffered some wrongs at most, but since that had come from the Crown Princes mouth, handing over such a huge country to him really gave one cause for worry. It had to be said that Consort Wan had now learned to be smart; not only had she been an upstart to begin with, but she also stood at the height of the nation, one set of words of hers genuinely causing the Emperor to frown. At this moment, Li Zhisheng, Ji Xiao, and the rest of the Wan party were taking turns praising the fourth Prince, Zhu Youyuan, who had been born of Consort Shao. Most important to this was that Consort Wan had said something provoking to the Emperor, that the Crown Prince was young, yet understood how to fish for commendations, deliberately make friends with major officials, and have them spread his good reputation outside, thus allowing him to gather up a batch of outside officials. Those people had to be thinking of wealth as far as their eyes could see, and wanted to praise the Crown Prince so that they could later grab the merit of supporting a dragon if such continued, His Majestys power might be in trouble. Clearly, she wouldnt have been able to think up all that by herself. There had to be someone talented at her side giving her ideas. Regardless of how soft Chenghua was, he was still an Emperor, and would not tolerate others touching his sore spot, which was the countrys throne. Whoever was giving the Consort ideas had happened to grab onto that idea, then prod the Emperors heart. After as much had been said, the Emperor had gradually wavered, becoming dissatisfied with the Prince. Then setting his sights upon the current Court, those upright officials who had dared to speak out had all been sent elsewhere. The rights to speak were now grasped by Wan Ans group. Amongst the Solons, Liu Xu supported the Crown Prince and could have said something as the Emperors teacher, but he only had himself, and was unwilling to offend Wan An too much, making his own actions limited. The enemy was strong, while they were weak. The Crown Princes position was teetering on the brink. In the opinions of those that hoped to see the Crown Prince ascend someday, this was certainly not good news. After listening to all of that, Tang Fan sighed. What could I do about that? You really take me for Zhuge Liang, eh? Youre not Zhuge Liang, but you always have a lot of ideas. There has to be a way to dispel the Emperors suspicions. If things keep going like this otherwise, the Crown Prince really will get abolished! Tang Fan peered at him. What Im not sure of is when you and the Prince ever became this close. You even ran off on a special incognito trip here is there someone that wants you to help think up a way out? Wang Zhi didnt deny this. Yes, there is someone in the palace that entrusted me with this. There are very few people nowadays that can help the Prince speak, and His Majesty hasnt yet made a determination, meaning theres still leeway for a comeback. It wouldnt be convenient for me to speak before His Majesty, nor would it be even for the one thats entrusted me. Once I thought things through, only you could help think up a solution. The other smiled painfully. And what solution would I have? The Prince and I have just a one-sided connection, and now I dont even have an officials post. Why would His Majesty listen to me, an idler? Though, the one that entrusted you is it Huai En? Wang Zhi hesitated for a moment. Yes. As far as Im aware, Huai En is inferior in seniority to Liang Fang, but His Majesty has always trusted his word. Why would he not listen to him? Speaking of which, Wang Zhi and Huai En had never previously encroached upon each others turfs, yet this time around, the latter had told him to go ask for help. Presumably, Wang Zhi had listened to Tang Fans last bit of advice, and the two had since made a connection.. Due to His Majestys banishment of those officials, Huai En had repeatedly pled for mercy for them, and ended up annoying him until he resented him some. Previously, there was a brown-noser that wanted to get into officialdom by offering up treasures; Huai En refused to pass the edict on, then tried to have Liu Xu, Yu Zijun, and others help him persuade the Emperor in the outer Court, only for all of them to be too afraid to, which tied Huai Ens hands. The end result was that he almost came to be hated by His Majesty, so now he doesnt dare to speak on the Crown Princes behalf out of fear that hed bungle things. Wang Zhi huffed coldly. I just happened to take the initiative to join up right then, and the old jerk thew this problem over to me to test whether Im actually sincere about banking on the Crown Prince. With that, he looked at Tang Fan. Speaking of which, you told me to befriend him, so you have a part in this! No matter what, you need to think something up for me! Who did I provoke to deserve this? I gave you a kind warning, and that just invited a huge headache for myself? Seeing Tang Fans face full of helplessness, Wang Zhi suddenly grinned with secrecy. If you can help the Prince get through this crisis, Ill get an assurance that you can resume your original post. Im really not in a rush for that. Im carefree and too happy to mention right now, Tang Fan thought to himself, but, still, he had a good impression of the Prince. Had he never learned of this, he would have been fine, but since he already knew of it, if he ignored it, he would have a guilty conscience. What is the situation now? Has His Majesty clearly unveiled his intent to abolish the Prince? No, but when he went to pay respects to the Emperor, the latter refused to see him, saying that he should go and study with peace of mind. That really wasnt good. Tang Fan creased his brow. Are there any officials in Court speaking for the Prince? How about his teachers? They wouldnt just sit by and watch, right? Theyve all gone to ask for mercy, but its been no use. Purportedly, after they left His Majestys side, he had already been softening up and planning to forgive the Prince. Who knows who went up and slandered him to him, though, as His Majesty ended up calling the Prince over to reprimand him. What about Dowager Zhou? Shes been kind to the Prince, and certainly wouldnt want to see him be abolished. The Dowager has been ailing and bedridden recently. She doesnt know about any of this, and no one dares to trouble her with it theres no harm in me sharing something with you thats rather disrespectful to say. The Dowager is honestly one to pick on the weak and the fear the strong, so shes afraid of the Noble Consort. Tang Fan had heard as much before, too. Consort Wan had been selected by Dowager Sun, the paternal grandmother of the current Emperor, to attend to and protect Chenghua. In Chenghuas most difficult years of being put under house arrest by his uncle, it had been Lady Wan that had been with him to pass them, not his mother. Thus, even though Chenghua was very filial towards his mother, Dowager Zhou always had something of a guilty conscience, which gave her insufficient confidence when facing Consort Wan. Furthermore, the latter was said to be so vicious, that even the Dowager had some fear of her; back when the Emperor had abolished the Empress, Dowager Zhou had never been able to contradict that unto the end. Despite her love for her grandson, there was only so much she could do. Thinking a layer deeper about that, no matter which son of the Emperor was established as the Crown Prince, they would all be her grandsons. There would be absolutely no sense in not being filial to ones grandmother, so why would she have a falling out with her son over the Crown Prince? But, that was all nothing more than gossip. This was not the time to examine it in detail. Upon hearing that the Dowager was a no-go, Tang Fan shook his head helplessly. Youve placed too much value on me. So many people havent been able to find a solution, so how could I? I dont like to see the Prince in trouble, but the issue here is that my words mean too little. I cant help. Wang Zhi was a bit disappointed. As Tang Fan had helped him make several plans before and each time had born results, he had thereafter listened to him by forging a good relationship with Huai En. He had been hoping that this time, he would be able to think up a method that no one else could. If the Crown Prince could get out of this disaster, his credits would be plain to see Alas, reality had proved that he had just been too greedy. There is another way, Tang Fan said hesitantly, but its not really a way After his disappointment, hope greeted Wang Zhi again. Whats a grown man hemming and hawing for? Cant you be more straightforward?! he raged. First, have the Crown Prince try to meet with the Emperor alone. Then, have him apologize to His Majesty. What comes after? Nothing. Thats it. What kind of solution is that?! If apologies worked, why are there still so many twists and turns? Tang Fan spread out his hands. I havent met His Majesty and dont know him well, but hes certainly not a tyrant. That stems from the fact that all these years, very few criminalized officials have been beheaded along with their whole families, getting exiled at worst. This means he definitely isnt fond of murder. A monarch like that is actually quite good at sympathizing. Beyond that, the Crown Prince is his son that he had been hoping for for years, as well as the heir apparent; it stands to reason that His Majesty cannot be too cold-blooded and unfeeling towards him. Its therefore a certainty that theres someone at His Majestys side making trouble and causing him to repeatedly misunderstand the Prince. Wang Zhis heart jumped. He finally heard a bit of a hint. Go on. Thats why, instead of all of you intercepting for him, it would be better for the Prince to go alone. What knots of the heart cannot be untied between a father and son? The Prince is only ten, and not actually wanting to usurp the throne. His Majesty has no reason at all to not forgive him. The Princes private establishment of an incense table hadnt conformed to standards, so he only needs to honestly apologize about it, then place everything on the reasoning of filial piety. That will make His Majesty think that a Prince that could be so filial to his deceased mother will certainly be a compassionate ruler in the future, and all the more unlikely to ever rebel. Thats actually an acceptable idea, Wang Zhi said thoughtfully. I was just speaking casually. I gave the idea, so you keep the credit. If you dont make me into a scapegoat, Ill thank the Heavens and the Earth. Wang Zhi snorted out a laugh. Am I someone like that? Okay, no more gossip. In a few days time, Im leaving for the Great Bend, and I dont know when well meet again. Paint a picture for me. Tang Fan frowned. Didnt I tell you before not to stay so far away? Easier said than done. The battle of the Great Bend isnt yet done; its only because theres a Deputy Supervisor on the front lines that I could make a trip back in the name of something going on with the Western Depot. Ill have to return, soon. Even if I want to be done with it, Ill still have to wait until this battle is over, and if I wasnt here to help speak for it, the Court would have otherwise summoned Wang Yue and the rest back already. As youre also aware, His Majesty currently has no plans for war. That was natural. The Emperor wanted to dabble in magic and construct palaces, while war was pretty expensive. He was definitely thinking that instead of using money for battle, it would be better to leave it for himself to worship the gods with. Tang Fan sighed, not saying much more on it, just cupping his hands. The frontlines are treacherous. I do hope youll look after yourself, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi waved him off. Alright, no nonsense! Why should manly men act like children?! Ive already had someone prepare the ink and paper. There isnt much time, so hurry up and paint! Once youre done, Ill have someone mount it! Tang Fan had a head full of fog. Why are you suddenly asking me to paint? If I said that I admire you and want to bring a painting back so that I can see it and think of you every day, would you believe me? Wang Zhi said impatiently. Eunuch Wang noticed that the corner of the others mouth was twitching from that garbage, so he graciously told the truth. If I said that the painting might be able to help you get restored to your post, would you believe that? Tang Fan smiled. Thats a more credible explanation. If it had been that original reason, Id probably paint for you using my toes so that youd feel sick whenever you think of me. Screw you! Wang Zhi glared. Quibble less! Hurry up, time is ticking! The painting doesnt need exquisite craftsmanship, its concept is top priority! Mountains, waters, flora, and birds would be best but you mustnt paint any sort of red plums approaching snow, or chrysanthemums defying frost! That was a very strange-sounding request, but he made it clear that he wasnt going to tell him why. Tang Fan couldnt ask after it, but even if the other wouldnt state it clearly, he knew that it wouldnt be anything terrible, anyways. If you want all that, I still have some older works back at the capital. Wang Zhi shook his head. Those wont do. Youd be able to tell at a glance that theyre previous ones. I want a current painting. Tang Fan had an understanding. Let me think about it, then. I have nothing ready on such short notice. You only have an incense sticks worth of time. Im going back to the capital later, so you have to give it to me. Tang Fan smiled bitterly, shook his head, and didnt wrangle with him, striding up before the desk. On its surface was indeed long-prepared ink and pigments, with even the painting paper being top-notch. He closed his eyes in thought for a moment, gradually outlined a fully-developed likeness in his mind, then opened them back up, grabbed a brush, dipped it in the ink, and began to work. An incense sticks worth had been claimed, and that was truthfully far from enough, but Tang Fans brush flowed naturally. He had a look of utter concentration; Wang Zhi didnt pressure him. It wasnt until two quarters of an hour had passed after the incense had burned out that Tang Fan let out a long exhale. His work was completed. Wang Zhi came in for a look, then caught sight of a lush bunch of wisterias drooping down on the white paper, a chicken prancing about beneath them. Not far away, a hen was looking up and back at it within the overflowing life, there appeared to be an inexhaustible sense of parental feelings. Great! He couldnt help but exclaim. Even though he hadnt stated anything clearly, he had believed that with Tang Fans smarts, he definitely must have heard the tune he had been plucking out. This painting was, as had been expected, more than satisfactory. Despite the time crunch having made the painting slightly crude and not entirely great, it had a deep meaning inside of it. Making a special trip here to have him paint on the spot had not been in vain. At this moment, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard outside, and the twos conversation ceased. Wang Zhi frowned. Whos outside? Didnt I say that no one is to come and disturb me? Its me, Don. Surprisingly, it was Yan Lis voice. Come in, Tang Fan said. Yan Li pushed open the door. Don, Young Lord He has been beaten! Your sister wants you to head back as soon as you can! The Hes had a thriving population; Patriarch He had many grandchildren, but the only one capable of being called Young Lord by Yan Li was He Cheng. Whats wrong? Tang Fan naturally had to ask. Who dared to hit Qilang so brazenly? Why didnt my sister and brother-in-law stop it? Yan Li smiled bitterly. Your brother-in-law is the one beating him. Whenever the Hes went to a party, their younger generation naturally followed. Many others had brought their families along, too, so children of the same age groups could have fun together. Even though seven-year-olds of different genders werent to be seated together, it wasnt actually possible to be so strict. In the He family, there were several children of He Chengs age group, among them being He Xuan and Lady Weis two children, one boy and one girl, each his cousins that were a year or two younger than him. There were also the grandchildren of Patriarch Hes brothers, some of whom were older than He Cheng, but the majority of which were six or seven years old. Children would still form groups amongst themselves; since the words of children specially held no tact, what they said was all the more hurtful. Perhaps because of what they had heard from their elders a lot getting added onto He Chengs stuffy personality, no one played with him, isolating him. The cause of todays incident was that a group of children had met up in the rear courtyard to play, but hadnt called out for He Cheng. He, ultimately getting a little envious, had secretly followed after them. Wei Ces youngest daughter and Lady Weis little sister, Wei Zhuniang, was very pretty. Whenever the tiny ones played together, the boys would always cluster themselves around her, and today had been no exception. She had said that she wanted flowers to make a crown with, and also that she wanted a bird as a pet, so a group of boys had scrambled off with a boom to go pick flowers and nab birds for her. That had made the other several girls eyes go abnormally red from jealousy, He Chengs cousin included. The girls had had a falling out with Wei Zhuniang, isolating her like they had isolated He Cheng, then had held each others hands as they left to play elsewhere, thus ignoring her. She had wanted to follow, but had felt it too awkward, so she had only been able to angrily sit to the side and sulk. At his age, He Cheng had an eye to appreciate beauty and ugliness; he had liked this pretty little girl, too, so he had drummed up his courage to go up and say hi to her. Unfortunately, she hadnt wanted to pay attention to him, and also said that his dad was a useless, impoverished County Honorate. The two had had a big fight, with He Cheng running away in anger and grief. Things up until that point had just been a childrens farce, something many had experienced as kids. Thered been nothing special about it. However, shortly after He Cheng had left, he had been found by the Hes, then informed that Wei Zhuniang had died she had fallen into a well and drowned, and the few girls that had just abandoned Wei Zhuniang had all said that they had heard the two fighting. As soon as one heard this, they would hence suspect that He Cheng had gotten so angry, he had accidentally pushed Wei Zhuniang into the well, then quickly fled for fear of punishment. Looking on as the gazes used towards his son became more and more bizarre, He Lin, someone who loved his reputation, couldnt stand it. As his son was dazedly unable to justify himself, he got angry, then began to beat him in front of everyone. Tang Yu hadnt expected that such a calamity would happen at a one-month party. By the time she had heard the news and just come over, He Cheng had suffered many hits. He Lin hadnt been merciful in the least, even having Wei servants get clubs and come beat the boy himself. She hadnt been able to stop it it had been Patriarch He that had stepped forward to stop He Lin. Tang Fans brows were knit hard hearing all this. In particular, when he heard that He Lin had beaten He Cheng in front of everyone, his face immediately went pale. Whats happening now? Are they back at the Hes? Yan Li shook his head. Not when I left. Theyre still at the Weis. Purportedly, the Weis have already reported to the authorities, and Magistrate Weng came over in person to investigate. Should we handle this, Don? The reason why he had asked was that fathers had a right to beat their sons in this day and age. Even if a father accidentally killed his son, he would be faultless, but sons killing their fathers would be executed. In other words, He Cheng was a He, while Tang Fans surname was Tang. Despite being his uncle, if he wanted to handle this, he might have to have a falling out with the Hes. Sui Zhou had made Yan Li and the other Guard accompany Tang Fan to protect him, so Yan Li wasnt afraid of causing a huge ruckus he had simply thought to ask how big of a ruckus Tang Fan wanted to make. He already had a good idea in his mind, though. Yes! Of course we should! Tang Fan answered, serious, then looked towards Wang Zhi. As this is so, shall we part ways? Yan Li noticed Wang Zhi, too; as the latter didnt have his beard disguise on, he recognized him, looking at the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot in surprise. He couldnt comprehend any reason for him to suddenly run over here from the capital. Wang Zhi didnt look back at him, however, merely giving a slight nod towards Tang Fan. The latter cupped his hand at him, not saying much else, then turned and quickly left with Yan Li to go put out the fire at the Weis. At this moment, the Wei family was currently a bundle of chaos. A perfectly good one-month party had turned into a wretched spectacle that many guests had successively departed from, while a good deal of others remained to watch. The host, Wei Ces face was so overcast, it was about to drip water, while his wife, Lady Chai, was busy instructing people to see the guests off, lest the scene get even more chaotic. Apart from his eldest daughter, Lady Wei, Wei Ce had four others, all born of concubines. The oldest of those was in her teens and had already married off, while the youngest was six, the recently-dead Wei Zhuniang. She had been bright, and had inherited her mothers looks; despite Wei Ces wholehearted hope for a son, that hadnt prevented him from doting on his youngest daughter. What a shame it was that that beloved little girl was now lying next to the well she had just been fished out of, drenched and without life. Her mother was prostrate beside her, wailing. A large group of people stood in the courtyard, including Magistrate Weng, the Hes, the Weis, and a good amount of dignified gentry from town. There was He Cheng, too, kneeling in the center, both cheeks swollen up. Tang Yu was embracing her son, her tears streaming down. Wei Ce had a pale face, his anger unconcealed as he cupped his hands towards Patriarch He. I dare to ask you my daughter has been married into the Hes for over ten years. Has she ever committed any violations of her womanly duties? Patriarch He wasnt sure what he was trying to say. No. Then have I ever wielded the Hes reputation to swindle and act rashly to others? Also no, Patriarch He answered, voice unhurried. Our families have been bound by marriage for over a decade, and weve gotten along rather harmoniously. Every time bridges are build and roads are laid, the Weis have done their share, which is truly admirable. For us Hes to have such in-laws is truly a blessing. Since thats so, now that the evidence is solid, please dont obstruct me from getting justice for my daughter! Wei Ce raged. He glared dead at He Cheng, loathing to the core this murderer that had likely killed his daughter. Were it not for his apprehensions about Magistrate Weng and the Hes being on the premises, he would practically be rushing up to beat him himself. The truth is not yet known as of right now; everything must be investigated by the Magistrate, Patriarch He answered solemnly. My He family has been clean for generations. If our junior truly is of unacceptable behavior, there is no need to for you to act, as this old gent will be the first to not forgive him. Magistrate Weng sighed. Lets hear what Qilang has to say, before anything else. Unfilial child! He Lin shouted at He Cheng. Tell us everything from start to finish, now! Everyones eyes burned as they fell upon He Cheng. He was a small child when would he have ever seen such a war before? He had long gone entirely dumbstruck due to seeing his fathers vicious and malevolent face, furthermore. All he could do was cling tightly to his mother, continuously shrinking into her arms. I didnt push her! I didnt! Tang Yu wiped his tears away, pressed down on his shoulders to prevent him from fleeing, and looked directly into his eyes. Qilang, tell your mother. Did you fight with your fourth aunt of the Weis before? Even though Wei Zhuniang was one year younger than He Cheng, because she was Lady Weis little sister, and Lady Wei was his aunt from her marriage to He Xuan, the two had a relationship of a senior and junior. He Cheng hesitated for a long while, then nodded timidly. Where did you go after the fight? He Cheng glanced at his father, then lowered his head, not daring to speak. He Lin got unbelievably angry seeing that. He had been conceited for half of his life, only for his weapon to break and his body to sink into the sands of scholarly honor; with not a smidgen of external glory remaining, the only thing left that could safeguard his reputation was his clean name as a literati. Now that He Cheng had caused him a complete loss of face and the Hes would likely bear the infamy of this degenerate descendant, flames immediately shot three zhang off of He Lin. He charged straight forwards, roughly pulled He Cheng out of Tang Yus arms, then raised the rod in his hand, about to strike it down heavily. No! Tang Yu didnt have time to stop him, only able to hug the child, shielding him with her own body. Stop! Along with someones interrupting shout, He Lin felt a black shadow hack down on top of his head, his arm going numb immediately afterwards. Before he could figure out what had happened, he was shoved backwards. A couple cries of pain sounded out as the one standing behind He Lin suffered as well, getting crushed underneath him. Everyone took a closer look, discovering that the unlucky effected devil was He Xuan. The two brothers tumbled into a ball, then got up in a flurry of limbs via the help of others. Getting humiliated in front of people had made He Lins face flush red from anger, both ashamed and furious. Without waiting for them to start with their reprimands, Tang Fan strode over, followed after by Qian Sanr and Gongsun Yan. Meanwhile, Yan Li, who had just kicked He Lin, floated over to the side, casting the wooden rod he had seized from He Lin down, which happened to hit He Lin himself. The look on the latters face was distorted by the moderate strength; that had clearly smarted. Is this how you instruct your subordinates, brother-in-law?! he fumed. How can you not know etiquette?! He hadnt heard Patriarch Hes analysis from before, so he naturally had no idea of Yan Lis identity as a Brocade Guard. Yan Li clapped his hands, smiling frostily. Youve got guts. This guys been in the Northern Bastion Office for years, and Ive never seen anyone dare to speak like that to a Brocade Guard before! The second he admitted his identity, everyone around was shocked. The Hes had guessed as much before, but guesses and facts were two completely different things. Now that this had been verified, their hearts were ill at ease. Patriarch He alone, experienced in the world, remained calm. He cupped his hands at Yan Li. I am unsure of what your esteemed name is. What position are you in the Guard? Yan Li cupped his hands back to him. You are too humble. Yan Li, Gonfalon of the Northern Bastion Office. The Patriarch was slightly startled. He had thought that even if the other was a Guard, he would like be just an unnamed member, yet he was actually of Gonfalon status. Had Tang Fan committed such a horrible crime, that he needed one of these to monitor him? Thinking of that, he steadied his mind, then made his tone as warm as he possibly could. Sir Yan, please step to the side to speak with me. Unexpectedly, Yan Li acted like he didnt understand him. No need. We can just speak here. The Patriarch choked, obliged to say, Prior to my retirement, I had something of a friendship with your Offices Envoy Wan. The Guard only listens to Envoy Yuan now, not Envoy Wan. Yan Lis implication being that him wanting to fish for a friendship was useless, because he wasnt one of Wan Tongs, and wasnt going to cash him out. Truth be told, the Emperor had previously said that Wan Tong would be returning to take over the Brocade Guard, but the realization of the personnel transfer could not happen so quickly. Now that Yuan Bin had learned of the Emperors intent, he had just sent his first memorial for resigning into retirement. According to fashionable gameplay nowadays, regardless of whether the Emperors intent was true or false, hed have to intentionally keep him around for a bit, not allowing Yuan Bin to resign until he had petitioned multiple times. As such, the Brocade Guards nominal leader was still Yuan Bin. Patriarch He had never met someone as immune to any sort of persuasion as this, having no other option but to clarify himself. No matter what, this is a family matter of ours. You must have some official business to have come here, Sir Yan, so please do not get involved. I apologize to you. Yan Li glanced at Tang Fan. Upon seeing the latter shake his head slightly, he ignored the Patriarchs advice, directly walking to be behind Tang Fan. This scenario, seen with Patriarch Hes eyes, caused waves to suddenly arise in his heart. Had he guessed wrong? Had the Guards not come to monitor Tang Fan at all? But if they werent on monitoring duty, why would they follow someone that had been dismissed here? Thus, the aged and learned Patriarch He was shortly dumbstruck. The rest of the Hes didnt think the same, especially not He Lin, who had just been kicked and smacked with a rod. Seeing that his brother-in-laws companions were putting on such a fierce display, he had harsh anger in his heart. Runqing, what is the meaning of this?! he wrathfully demanded. Tang Fan was holding in his anger, as well, but the angrier he got, the more tranquil he looked on his surface. There is no other meaning to this than to prevent you from beating your son to death. Qilang is my nephew, too! His surname is He, not Tang. Im his father, so I can beat him as I like! Its no one elses place to make thoughtless remarks! Even if I beat him to death, the Great Ming Code wouldnt find me guilty! Moreover, the little bastard pushed someone down a well! I should beat him to death, lest he be a disgrace to the outside world! Tang Fan sneered. Tremendously awe-inspiring. Youre even quite familiar with the Code; how come I dont see you passing the provincials? He Lins face quickly went red; not out of shame, but rage. The other had jabbed his sore spot in one sentence. Tang Fan still didnt plan to let him go, either. Youve wasted twenty years, unable to become a Provincial Honorate, to say nothing of a Palace one. Thats why you can only brandish your might against your wife and son, right? The truth isnt had right now, youre just saying Qilang is guilty! Are you a Magistrate, or a higher official of the Ministry of Justice? What right do you have to decide that he is? If you have the ability to, beat him, then let the whole world see that not only do you have no accomplishments, but youre now even framing your own son to save face! Sir Tang was normally a modest gentleman that didnt start fighting with anyone easily. Even when getting called a fooltot by Eunuch Wang, he would just touch his nose, smile, and let it be. However, gentlemen had things they would do, and things they would not. Just because he didnt scold people didnt mean he would never scold anyone it just depended on whether he felt they were worthy of it or not. He Lin momentarily couldnt find the words to answer. For someone as reputation-loving as him, getting accused like so by Tang Fan made his complexion go from red to green, to green to white, his chest heaving repeatedly, fury about to attack his heart. The translator says: the Crown Prince hates me because I killed his mom well have you tried not killing peoples moms??? have you tried that?????? my reputation is ruined have you tried not beating your son, you garbage human????? heard not doing that does wonders!!! CH 77 How could He Lin ever withstand being rebuked in front of everyone by his brother-in-law? He immediately bent over and picked up the rod, gritting his teeth. This is a He family affair! You have no power to intervene! My son is mine to discipline, it doesnt matter if I beat him to death! Despite his vicious words, once he saw Yan Li and Gongsun Yan glaring fiercely at him from behind Tang Fan, he couldnt think of a way to get to swinging the rod. Silence! It isnt your place to speak here! Patriarch He was the one to admonish him aloud. Not looking at his sons red face, nor the rising crowd, he said to Tang Fan, Good nephew, I have a few things to ask you that have nothing to do with what happened today, so please step off to the side. Tang Fan was quite a courteous one, but he did not comply with that, merely smiling. If youve something to say, Uncle, its fine to do so here. Gentlemen have no secrets. First, it had been Yan Li, and now, it was Tang Fan. Neither of them could be persuaded. Helpless, the Patriarch could only explain himself. You came here for a visit, which this old man had welcomed, but now that Ive learned that you have Brocade Guards accompanying you, its inevitable that Id ask some more questions. Please understand, nephew. Tang Fan nodded. I know what you want to ask. These two Guard brothers worried that I wouldnt be safe journeying alone, so they specially came with me. This has nothing to do with the Court. You neednt be afraid of the Hes getting implicated. The Brocade Guards were a sensitive subject, and questions about them were normal upon learning of them. Also, Patriarch He had been treating him the same even after he had learned of his dismissal; regardless of whether that camaraderie was directed at his late father or if there was some other cause, Tang Fan kept it in mind. For that reason, in spite of his revulsion towards his brother-in-law due to what he had seen and heard particularly in regards to the others indiscriminate beatdown of his son he could still differentiate people, and would never be rude towards the Patriarch. Our Bastion Envoy and Sir Tang have a very close friendship, Yan Li said from the side, so us two were specifically sent with him to act as deterrents and help protect him. Theres no need to be too wary, Patriarch He. Upon hearing their explanation, the questions in Patriarch Hes head, instead of dwindling, increased in number. Tang Fan having a good relationship with a Guard wasnt that strange, but what kind of friendship was required for Guards to serve as his bodyguards? Also, looking at these twos expressions, they werent begrudging to do this in the least, which showed that they were obeying Tang Fan. What was actually going on? Could it be that Tang Fan had netted an unbelievable backer in his years at the capital? No one else thought like he was thinking. They only heard of Yan Li and Gongsun Yans statuses, saw the twos deference towards Tang Fan, and became immensely shocked, their impressions of Tang Fan immediately rising from thwarted man of officialdom to mysterious man of unfathomable backing. To have and not have backers were two hugely different things. Even if Tang Fan had no official job for the time being, as long as someone in officialdom was willing to cry out their support for him and help him by presenting memorials to plead for him, when the time was right, he would be able to make a comeback whenever. Thinking of all that, even the anger-filled He Lin had to relax some of the strength he held his rod with. Tang Fan wasnt interested in what any of them were thinking, though. He stooped down to help his sister and nephew up, then gently lifted He Chengs chin to look over the state of his injuries. Do you hurt, Qilang? he softly asked. He Cheng nodded, but also shook his head, firmly clenching his teeth, not letting even any grunts loose. He usually looked fragile and introverted, but he was abnormally strong in his bones. Before he had gotten his mothers protection, he had suffered a couple of strikes. They hadnt been heavy, but he was young and soft-skinned, which meant he wasnt as sturdy as an adult. Seeing that he had one hand covering his other forearm, Tang Fan gently rolled up his sleeve to see to it for him; catching sight of the red bruise swelling up there, he lightly pressed on it, and He Cheng couldnt resist letting out a low cry. Tang Yu was so heartbroken, she let out tears. Restraining his rage, Tang Fan looked up at Yan Li the latter implicitly understood, stepping forth to check. Theres no injury to the bone and muscles. We can just apply some ointment onto him. I just said that I didnt hit him hard He Lin said upon hearing that, but before he could finish, two stern sets of eyes shot over, promptly strangling him with his unfinished words. One set had come from Tang Fan, and the other, Patriarch He. The latter lightly coughed. Nephew, since the Weis have already retrieved the authorities over this, how about we leave this to the Magistrate to handle? Even though the Patriarch would never be condescending, if this had been before, where he hadnt known that Tang Fan had Brocade Guards standing behind him, he wouldnt have asked such a thing, as regardless of whether He Cheng had a thing to do with this or not, he was a He. According to current customs, things were exactly as He Lin had said; fathers had a right to beat their sons. As it was, if Tang Yus natal family had been strong like if her dad was the Head Vizier or one of the six Ministers she wouldnt have been living without even enough daily expenses at the Hes. It was none other than the feeling that her natal family was powerless that the Hes had turned a blind eye to that, frankly speaking. Now that Tang Fan was around, though, the situation was quite different. Since the Patriarch knew that he had a close connection to the Brocade Guards, he needed to be more polite whenever he spoke to him. Tang Fan gave a nod. That is reasonable, Uncle. However, right after he said that, he cupped his hands towards Magistrate Weng. Brother Weng, this matter wasnt mine to manage, and I shouldnt meddle much, but I ask that you let me assist, because this has dragged my nephew into it. As his uncle, I cannot sit back and watch him be accused unjustly. Magistrate Weng nodded. You may, of course. This interlude came to its conclusion, and the Magistrate began to interrogate on the case. People of this time period knew that the scene of the crime was of extreme importance whenever deaths occurred; unless absolutely necessary, the corpse wasnt to be brought to the county bureau for further investigation, since that would cause many clues from the environment to be overlooked. Thus, the Magistrate first had his bailiffs encircle the rear courtyard, disallowing anyone from entering or exiting, then ordered that the main gate of the Weis be strictly guarded. No matter whether someone was man or woman, they werent getting out for right now. That had, naturally, incited a lot of grumbling in the guests. The area Wei Zhuniang had played in before was located in the rear courtyards garden. It didnt reach where the women had been feasting in said courtyard, and was also quite a distance away from the banquet in the front hall. The quite-spacious place had flower and fruit trees of various colors; children that frequented the Wei home liked to come here to play. Wei Zhuniang had been accompanied by a maid previously, who had since been found and was kneeling on the ground, sobbing. Magistrate Weng questioned her on why she hadnt been at her masters side at the time of the incident. It was the Fifth Miss that asked this maid to go to the rear kitchens and find her something to eat, she answered. She said that she wanted to eat golden-silk jujube cakes, but there were none at the party. Because she often played here, and that the Misses of the Hes and Zhengs and others were also around, I left. But, before the cakes were even made, I heard that heard that she The Misses of the Hes and Zhengs she had spoken of were He Yuan, daughter of He Xuan and Lady Wei, and Zheng Qingqing, daughter of Provincial Honorate Zheng. The Young Lords of several families had also been present. All of them had heard what Wei Zhuniang had said to the maid, so they verified her words as true. He Yuan and Zheng Qingqing were called for further questioning. They were both scared stiff and stammering due to this event, unable to speak successfully for a long time. Although they normally hadnt found the pretty Wei Zhuniang to be pleasing to the eyes, that had just been jealousies of little girls neither of them had ever wanted her to die, obviously. They had actually already been interrogated for one round by Magistrate Weng before, and what they said now was not too different from what Yan Li had reported before. Both claimed that they had heard the fight between He Cheng and Wei Zhuniang; following it, they had happened to be in the rockery, and felt that they couldnt come out because it would definitely be awkward if Wei Zhuniang saw them. Despite the youth of the high-born little girls, they already knew a lot of the ways of the world. They had hence left in the opposite direction from the rockery, then gone back to look for Wei Zhuniang after playing elsewhere for a minute. They had not seen her in her former spot, so they had thought that she had run away, until the group of boys that had picked flowers and birds for her returned and couldnt find her anywhere, either. After that, the Weis maids were dispatched to search. It was a maid that had discovered the pearl earrings Wei Zhuniang had dropped beside the well, and from that, the abnormality had been detected, the girl getting fished out of the well afterwards. Magistrate Weng creased his brow at this. She should have cried for help after falling in, then. Did none of you hear her? They all said that they hadnt. While Magistrate Weng was questioning, Tang Fan walked over to the well, leaned over, and gazed down into it. He found that it was very possible that no one had heard Wei Zhuniang crying for help, because the wells water level was extremely far down one look would only give one a stretch of black, no reflection on the water to be seen. Furthermore, after the little girl fell in, she would only have been able to thrash around a bit with a faint voice. Had no one happened to pass by at right that time, nobody hearing her wouldnt have been impossible. He looked down intently for a long time, then walked to Wei Zhuniangs side, lifted off the white cloth covering her body, and took her hand for a closer examination. Since there were two Brocade Guards at his side, everyone simply watched him poke at the corpse, too afraid to say anything. At the same time, the Magistrate had already questioned many people, and all of their testimonies lined up. When Wei Zhuniang fell in the well, no one had been around. Before she had, though, she had fought with He Cheng, which he himself had admitted to. So, the question was: had she fallen in by her own carelessness, or had someone pushed her in? If she had been pushed, was that person He Cheng, or no? Where did you go after fighting with Wei Zhuniang? Magistrate Weng asked He Cheng. The latter had gradually calmed down via his mothers reassurance, not seeming so scared anymore. I was in the garden. What were you doing there? He Cheng lowered his head and said nothing. Seeing his sons cowardly appearance, He Lin got angry, but with the previous scolding he had gotten, he had to bear with it. Still, He Chengs refusal to speak made even the Magistrate frown slightly. Any who saw the boy stopping and starting, wanting to speak yet not, would automatically become doubtful. Only Tang Yu was convinced that her son was not such a person, ever persuading him to speak. Right then, Tang Fan got up from the corpses side, took the dampened cloth Qian Sanr passed over to him, and wiped his hands clean. He then walked over to He Cheng, voice warm. Tell your uncle, Qilang. Where did you go after the quarrel? He Cheng still didnt answer. Tang Fan smiled, petting his head like he was soothing him, apparently not minding that he wasnt talking. Wei Zhuniang was indeed pushed in, but He Cheng isnt the murderer, he turned and said to everyone. Don Tang, I know that hes your nephew and you want to defend him, but whether hes the murderer or not seems to not be your call! Wei Ce raged. Youve said as much, Brother Tang, but is there any evidence? Magistrate Weng asked, as well. There certainly is. Tang Fan nodded, then walked over to the corpse, letting the crowd look at Wei Zhuniangs fingernails. Theres no moss. Regardless of whether she tripped in or was pushed, she would certainly have struggled fiercely prior to her death, her fingers desperately clutching to things surrounding her. However, her fingernails are much too clean. Also, her neck was broken at the nape. This indicates that she must have had her nose and mouth covered up, and after her neck was broken, she was tossed down. For that reason, she didnt struggle at all during this process, let alone make any noise, as before she fell, she was already dead. That result was so sky-shaking, everyone couldnt resist letting out gasps. Many got in closer for a look, indeed seeing that the corpses fingers had no moss, just some blood staining them. Seeing that they all had accepted his explanation, he continued. Since thats the case, her death was a premeditated murder. It doesnt matter whether she and He Cheng merely had a fight, or he had such a deep hatred for her that he insisted upon killing her. A much more important bit of evidence is that his stature isnt that much bigger than hers. Let me ask something; could he have had the strength to cover her mouth, preventing her from making any sound at all, then break her neck, drag her over, and cast her down? Everyone looked at He Cheng, then at Wei Zhuniang, all of them thinking that to be pretty improbable. Even going by the strength of a typical woman, this would be impossible to accomplish, he went on. That means her murderer is exceedingly likely to be a very strong adult man, which He Cheng is not. Once he said that, many quickly had epiphanies. You deserve to have been appointed to the Ministry of Justice, Brother Tang, the Magistrate sincerely conceded. In such a brief amount of time, youve already set everything out so neatly. Tang Fan smiled. My mind was harried by concern. Please dont mind me stepping beyond my station, Sir. I cant thank you enough. Ashamed, Wei Ce came over to apologize. This Wei misspoke just now. Please forgive me, Don. Tang Fan waved him off. Youre mourning your daughters death. What crime is there? The most urgent matter now is to find out who the killer is. Your wisdom is like Zhuges, Don. I beg you to point out the clear path to me; who is the actual murderer? Tang Fan didnt answer, looking at Magistrate Weng. The latter knew that he was doing so for him to show off his prestige as a Magistrate, so that he wouldnt misunderstand Tang Fan as robbing his limelight. Grateful at heart, he did his part. The blood under the fingernails. Seeing that everyone was puzzled, he clarified. The blood indicates that Wei Zhuniang must have given a desperate struggle before her death, and very likely broke open the skin on the arms of the murderer. We can thus start filtering out men using that as a range. There had been an instant breakthrough in the case. Though the later remarks made by the Magistrate had redeemed some face, anyone with working eyes could see that if Tang Fan hadnt patiently started things off, everyone would likely still think that He Cheng had done this. The case hadnt originally had anything to do with Tang Fan, so were it not for the sake of washing his nephews blame away, he would never have spoken over Magistrate Weng. Now that the trail had been found, he stopped interfering, simply whispering a few things to the Magistrate, then taking his leave. Patriarch He looked at the Tang siblings, then at his own disappointing son, and mentally sighed, stepping forth to speak to Tang Fan. Nephew, Ganyu didnt handle this appropriately. He had just been anxious to defend the Hes reputation, hence why he wrangled with you. Please dont take this to heart. Ganyu was He Lins courtesy name. Tang Fans expression didnt change. Your words are so serious, Uncle. That had nothing to do with you, so why are you apologizing on his behalf? Im unworthy of such. Moreover, the reason for my anger was not at all that my brother-in-law was rude to me, but because he, as Qilangs father, had baselessly affixed him with a crime! Mister Magistrate hadnt yet made a conviction, yet he had been so impatient. If there was even a bit more suspicion placed upon Qilang, would he have beaten him to death right in front of my sister and I? The Patriarch felt slightly awkward. He had thought that admitting his mistake would make Tang Fan go down along those steps, but hed just lowered his standing in front of everyone, instead. He couldnt help but get a little angry. Still, Tang Fan hadnt spoken incorrectly. No matter what, He Lin had to be blamed for being stupid. Tang Fan looked towards He Lin, who was similarly shamed, angry, and embarrassed. In front of the Hes, he said coldly, Brother-in-law, Qilang is your son. Not even vicious tigers would eat their own cubs. Youre his father; why do you not understand what his character is like? Even I, someone whos been here for only a few days, know that hes usually shy, doesnt speak much to strangers he meets, and thus makes people unfamiliar with him think that hes of a brooding and introverted nature, but elders that understand him must also know that hes a boy that could not possibly be more kindhearted. My sister said that when his pet rabbits die, he even cries for half the day how could a child like that have ever pushed Wei Zhuniang down the well?! He Lin clenched his fists, not saying a word. Tang Fans each and every word was an accusation of him failing to uphold his duties, while Patriarch He, the Hes head, his own father, watched all of this, hands tucked in his sleeves, not calling out to stop Tang Fan. Getting splashed over his skull with criticisms from his brother-in-law, he felt like his face was getting completely peeled off, the pain scorching. And, those that were watching this scene were not only He members, but Wei members, authorities, and guests from todays banquet After saying as much, Tang Fan didnt pay him any more attention, instead bending down to hug He Cheng. You can tell your uncle now, Qilang. Where did you go after your fight with Wei Zhuniang? After the ointment Yan Li had brought had been applied to the swelling on He Chengs cheeks, it appeared to have disappeared. He looped both arms around Tang Fans neck, snuggling softly into his arms, and was silent for a bit before he whispered, I picked up a bangle she dropped, but didnt want to bring it back to her, so I threw it into that pond over there. You were afraid that your parents would scold you if they knew, so you were too afraid to say? He Cheng nodded, then gave Tang Yu a timid look. Tang Yu couldnt cherish him enough right now; why would she scold him? She dared not kiss him on his cheek out of fear of touching his injuries, so she tightly held his hand and caressed it. Noticing that, Tang Fan said to Patriarch He, Uncle, Qilang is hurt and needs rest. My sister and I will bring him back. There would be no sense in the Patriarch not agreeing to that. He quickly told one of his own servants to lead them home, and instructed Tang Yu and He Cheng to rest well. Lets also find a doctor to treat Qilang, so that theres no hidden problems left behind, Matriarch He spoke. Mom, we still have some high-tier medicinal materials in the storeroom, He Xuan said. Ask the doctor if they can be used for Qilang, and if so, give him some supplements. Tang Fan wasnt blindly polite with them. Thank you all very much. The Matriarch smiled warmly. Were all family here. No need to be so estranged, Runqing. The Hes consciously fixing things with Tang Fan, in order to not have a rift remain between them because of all this, was ultimately because they were looking at the two Brocade Guards behind him. He was well aware of that, but still wasnt going to refuse the goodwill of others. Whilst even the formerly-irrelevant He Xuan had taken it upon himself to show benevolence, He Lin the one who should have been most concerned over his wife and child solely stood in place, unmoving. Patriarch He really couldnt stand him anymore, shouting. Youre not going after them? What are you doing here?! He Lin looked up at them, then threw the rod in his hand down hard, turned right around, and pushed his way out of the crowd, not looking back as he left. The Patriarch was so enraged, he puffed out his beard and glared. Were it not for everyones staring eyes, he would likely be cursing him as an unfilial son. Now, the Hes longstanding reputation had been completely thrown away. Tang Yu watched this play out. She lowered her head, gaze landing upon He Cheng. It was unclear what she was thinking of. Tang Fan helped her up. Sis, come on. Lets go back. The Hes had arrived in excitement and left in defeat, unspeakably melancholy. Because Wei Zhuniang was Lady Weis little sister, He Xuan and her remained at the Wei Estate to help her father arrange for the funeral, while the rest of the Hes went back with Tang Fans group. Instead of bringing his nephew and sister to their own residence, Tang Fan brought them to the bamboo courtyard he was staying in. He asked a maid to bring He Cheng away to rest, then told the rest to withdraw. Sister, if this incident hadnt happened today, how long were you going to keep this from me? The disagreement between you and your husband didnt happen over a day or two, did it? Following this incident, Tang Yu had an exhausted look that she couldnt conceal, but he knew he couldnt give her any time to rest and think, else shed certainly find excuses to escape. He thus cruelly decided to open her wounds. Since the hurt was going to come eventually, instead of dragging the pain out, it would be better to make it hurt a little more now so that it could heal a little faster. Tang Yu sighed. He didnt used to be like this. When I had just married into the Hes, he genuinely did treat me well. He even said to me that although its common for men of large families to take concubines, it would be enough for him to have me. I had thought he was just joking, but as you can see now, despite us fighting like this, he still hasnt brought up getting any concubines. Ive always remembered that sentiment, so even after his personality underwent a drastic change, I never got other ideas. I didnt want to cause you worry, but I hadnt expected that today, he would treat Qilang like The instant she thought of He Chengs wounds, her heart hurt to the point that she couldnt say anymore. Her husband was no longer kind, and her little brother had been far away, making her son become her only hope. The Great Ming Code stipulated that all men over forty without heirs needed to take concubines. That was not to say that one could only take them once forty and sonless, but that men of forty with no children needed to take them to continue their bloodlines. Of course, there were some who werent yet forty and had heirs from their wife, yet still took concubines, as well as some that spited the restriction of that law, defended their wives wholeheartedly, and adopted heirs from elsewhere in the family, at most. Concubinage did not really go by the law, but by the human heart. In the views of many men in big families, that clause didnt need to go to waste if they could have a forest, why would they need to stand by just one tree? The Eighth Miss of the Hes that Yan Li had taken a fancy to, for example, had been from the Patriarch having a concubine-born daughter despite his age. It was truly rare for He Lin to be able to make the promise to not take concubines, and persevere in keeping it. After hearing her say as much, Tang Fans expression finally mellowed out. He isnt without redemption, then, its just the reality of him trying and failing for years has caused repeated setbacks for him, giving rise to a madness where he did something so nonsensical. The most important thing to a man was his reputation. Upon having seen He Cheng beaten, Tang Fan had said that He Lin was a multi-time failure right in front of everyone, which was equivalent to having a complete falling out with his brother-in-law. With He Lin being angry at Tan Fan, he would definitely take that out on his wife and child later. Noticing how crestfallen she was, he then asked, How about I go back and apologize to him? She shook her head. What would you apologize for? You said everything that I was unable to. I should be thanking you for venting my anger for me! Then, she paused, looking dismayed. You dont need to say anything nice to him. Qilang is my everything, yet he was so vicious to him for the sake of his own and the Hes face. Regardless of how much affection there is between us as husband and wife, he would still allow him to be beaten to death As she had finally woken up to the truth, Tang Fan no longer bore with it, comforting himself a bit. What do you plan to do now, sister? He gripped her hand. I was getting ready to bring you and Qilang away from here to stay in the capital for a while, but that isnt my final say to have, its yours. No matter what, you wont need to worry; as long as Im around, youll forever have a natal family to support you. Tang Yu couldnt help but hug him, beginning to cry. He patted her on the back, laughing. I havent told you this yet, but even though I have no official post, I am not without friends in the capital. You learned of Yan Li and thems identities today; the Bastion Envoy of the Guard is actually my good friend. If the Hes or He Lin dare to make things hard for you, I could have people turn their entire family upside-down. So, really, dont worry. You dont have to feel sad about that gossip all by yourself from now on. Who would dare to say you have no support, when the entire Brocade Guard is your family? Is anyone in the Great Ming more mighty than you? She was fully aware that he was easing her anxiety, and spat out laughter from his jokes, her tears cutting off into a smile. My dear Fluffy, I know that you adore Qilang and I, but even if I think to leave, I cant do so just like this. Tell me, can I separate from your brother-in-law and bring Qilang away? She was looking at him expectantly. He wanted to say it was possible, but could ultimately only answer, You wanting to separate or divorce would be possible, but if you want to bring Qilang with you afterwards, that would likely be a bit difficult. No matter what, hes a member of the Hes, and even if your husband is willing, the Patriarch and the rest wont be. Theres no reason in us taking charge of it, regardless of which direction we come at. Tang Yu was a little disappointed, but she knew that he was well-versed in law and would never deceive her. What should be done, then? she asked. If you cant separate for the time being, but just leave in the name of returning to your natal family, would you be willing to do it? She nodded without another thought. For Qilangs sake, she had bitterly born with it all for several years. Now that her little brother was here, she seemed to gain a backbone, and didnt want to bear with anything anymore. Receiving her positive answer, Tang Fan grew excited. Ill think of a way, sister. You just need to wait for the good news. In the midst of their speech, Qian Sanr knocked on the door outside. Sir, Magistrate Weng sent someone over. Let him in, Tang Fan answered. Tang Yu dried her tears, then hid away further in. Qian Sanr brought someone inside; the others surname was Huang, and he was a companion of the Magistrate. Tang Fan had just met him. The man bowed to pay respects. Don Tang, our Sir has invited you to the Weis. Tang Fan was caught off guard. Didnt I just come from there? Old Huang looked quite vexed. You did, but another has just died. The translator says: MXSs author notes say that people can be multifaceted, but this doesnt make He Lin forgivable. She also thinks men that beat up their wives and children are the most worthless. Agreed! Highly! Authors mini-theatre: Tang Fan: Sis, lets talk about this. Can you not call me by that nickname when outsiders are around anymore? Sui Zhou: Im not an outsider. He Cheng: Neither am I, Uncle Fluffy. Wang Zhi: Heh, I wont call you that. Fluffy is inferior to fooltot, eh? Tang Fan: CH 78 When Tang Fan had been in the Wei house, he had already drawn the scope of who the murderer could be from the clue of Wei Zhuniangs fingernails. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that the killer was a man. He must have had some kind of enmity towards Wei Zhuniang, but she had only been a little girl. Who would have such a deep grudge with her? For that reason, Tang Fan had suggested that Magistrate Weng start investigating her mother, as well as the people surrounding her. The most important point was that the murderer should be someone fairly familiarized with the Wei home, else he wouldnt have been able to follow Wei Zhuniang, kill her, and then escape before anyone else discovered him in such a brief period of time. Given that Magistrate Weng wasnt too much of a dummy, him finding the killer according to the trail and range Tang Fan had drawn was only a question of when, and yet he had sent someone to tell Tang Fan that something else had happened at the Wei home. Once Tang Fan arrived at the Weis, he was led all the way to the main hall by the Magistrates companion. At this very moment, the place was in complete chaos both inside and out. Some of the guests had already left, while some werent allowed to leave, forced to remain in the home, inevitably grumbling and scowling at Tang Fan in their heads. It had been his idea for it to be best to not let a single person go before the killer had been found, but this was clearly not possible to do, because all of the guests here were figures of high repute that dominated almost the majority of farmland in the county. Magistrate Wengs annual political merits, as well as the amount of tax provisions the authorities could collect, both depended on their support, hence why the Magistrate could not suppress them. Tang Fan was no longer the appointed official he had once been, and it wasnt his place to intervene, even if he did disapprove. All he had done was point at the clues; meddling too much would go beyond the rules. At this moment, two people were seated in the Weis main hall. In addition to the serious-looking Magistrate Weng was the sorrowful Wei Ce, slumped over in a chair, a maid beside him in the middle of daubing ointment onto his forehead. Prior to Tang Fans departure, the latter had been upset, but he hadnt been this bad. Clearly, this second person that had died must have been someone very important to him. Noticing Tang Fans arrival, the Magistrate stood up to greet him. Brother Tang. Brother Weng. I heard something happened again. Magistrate Weng nodded, grave. The one that died was the Weis son, the one that just had his one-month party today. Tang Fan gasped. As it went, after he had left, the Magistrate had begun to take stock of suspicious persons in the Estate according to Tang Fans suggestion, only for the nanny and maidservants that were taking care of the Young Lord to rush over and report that something had happened to him during this time period. Due to having a son in his twilight years, Wei Ce cherished the child, and had specially arranged for a nanny and two maids to keep him company. For a large family, that was considered relatively extravagant treatment. Lady Hu, the nanny, had been brought over from the boys birth mothers natal family, and was devoted and loyal. The two maids were named Xiao Lu and Xiao Shuang, respectively, and had been born in the Weis, so the degrees of their loyalty did not need to be doubted. Young Lord Wei had been the main show of todays party, yet all of its delicacies had had not a thing to do with him. After he had been showed off to all of the guests, he had been settled in for sleep in his own room, where his mother, Lady Li, had come to see him once. After that, news had come in about Wei Zhuniangs death. Lady Hu and the maids had been nervous, so Xiao Lu had been sent to see what was going on. As the Young Lord had still had the nanny and Xiao Shuang beside him, that hadnt been a big issue. A minute later, someone from Lady Lis side had come looking for Lady Hu, thus summoning her away. By coincidence, at that moment, the Young Lord had wet the bed, so the other maid, Xiao Shuang, had gotten up and gone to the neighboring room to find new bedding to switch out for him. It wasnt like there had never been such a happenstance where none of the three had been present before, and because these time periods were so brief, nothing typically happened. Today, however, was an exception; once Xiao Shuang had come back with the bedding, she had gone to check on the Young Lord in his bed as per usual, only to shockingly discover that the infant was no longer breathing. One wave had not yet settled before another had come rising up again, and the truth about Wei Zhuniangs death had not been revealed before this incident had befallen the Weis son. The instant she had heard the news, the boys mother had swiftly fainted. Wei Ce was similarly shaken to his core; in the span of a day, he had lost two children, one of which had been his hope of continuing the Wei legacy. Magistrate Weng had run into troubles, as well. He had already checked each and every individual, yet none of the male workers, male guests, or any of the entourage they had brought had any scratches on their arms, which meant that Tang Fans inference might have been wrong. On the other hand, right then, another death in the Weis had happened, which had caused the Magistrate to nearly be browbeaten. He had had no choice but to find Tang Fan again, intending to ask for aid. After listening to their recounting, Tang Fan couldnt help but crease his brow. Did you confirm that you didnt miss anyone? The Magistrate nodded. Yes. I oversaw it, myself, and looked at them one by one according to name. Not a one has scratches on their arms. Only three people had their hands scalded by soup previously, and the doctor looked them over. Theres now gauze wrapped over the backs of their hands. Tang Fan raised a brow. Who are the three? One is my wifes older cousin, surnamed Chai, Wei Ce was the one to answer. The other two are this Weis partners in the business field. They are unlikely to be the murderers of the Wei son, though, the Magistrate said. Why is that? Because when the boy died, they were all in the main hall. During Wei Zhuniangs incident, there was chaos in the hall from everyone rushing over to see what was going on. Many had seen the three splashed with the soup, so it isnt like they could make body doubles. Tang Fan pondered to himself. Id like to see them. Magistrate Weng nodded. Theyre waiting in the side hall. Old Huang, go and call them over. Taking the moment when his associate left to summon them, he asked Tang Fan, Do you have an idea? Tang Fan shook his head, smiling bitterly. After hearing that entire sequence, Im afraid that getting any ideas at all will be difficult. How did the son die? He was suffocated from getting his face covered by his own swaddling cloth. Could it be that the nanny or maids werent being careful, and covered him up too high? Such cases have happened before. Don Tang, that is absolutely impossible, Wei Ce interjected, because that stupid girl Xiao Shuang swore up and down that when she went to get the new bedding, the cloth was below his neck, yet by the time she came back, it was already covering his mouth. Clearly, someone had come in during that time period! While they spoke, three people were brought in. Tang Fan looked them over; sure enough, there were bandages on their hands. They also looked dejected. After their successive courtesies, the Magistrate had them sit down separately. How did the hot soup get splashed? Tang Fan asked them. Even if the three of you were sitting together, how could it get on all of your hands at the same time? Chai Ze, Wei Ces wifes cousin, smiled painfully. I wasnt sitting with them, merely passing by. I also dont know which fool ran into that pot of boiling soup, but it spilled onto my hand at once. Brother Wang got affected while next to me, too. I had been sitting there, another said, and saw them getting scalded, so I got up to go pick up the pot. There had still been some soup in it, though, so it got on me. Ill be troubling you three with taking off your bandages and letting me take a look. The three men were caught off guard they had only just been bandaged up! However, Magistrate Weng also chimed in. Go on. They were forced to reluctantly remove the bandages. Though their burns were all on their hands, the left and right ones were not the same, and the spots of the burns were all different. Chai Ze was hurt on the back of his right hand, while Wang Da was hurt on his forearm. As Wang Da had been walking behind Chai Ze, after the latter had been burned ahead of him, then let out a scream and dodged to the side, people behind Wang Da had rushed forth and happened to shove him to the very front, thus netting him soup sprinkled on his forearm. The last man was Bao Yi. Just like how he had claimed, he had reached out to stop the pot at the time, only to forget that the soup inside it was boiling and get burned. What was injured on him was his palm and a portion of the back of his hand. There were shot-red abscesses beneath the bandages as well as some areas of scalded-away skin, which had dark ointment applied to them. It was brutal to look at. Tang Fan inspected this carefully, then had them re-wrap and let them free. How is it? Magistrate Weng eagerly asked. The other shook his head, saying nothing. At this moment, Wei Ce had gradually come to calm down. His complexion was as dark as ever, but he had finally gotten some strength and order to his speech. I just thought it over, he said to them, and I think Wang Da might have done this. What is the evidence for that? the Magistrate asked. There is no evidence, but he was wanting to get to know the people of the Salt Transportation Office through me. As you also know, Sir, salt stores are my familial business, so why would I ever offer up that relationship to anyone else? I ignored him. Later on, he asked after it repeatedly, and I always found excuses to deceive him. Perhaps he held a grudge because of that, turned around, and took revenge on me? Magistrate Weng frowned. How would killing Wei Zhuniang and your son help him? If he held a grudge, he would have preferred to act against you. Tang Fan nodded. What Mister Magistrate said makes sense. As the other two didnt agree with him, Wei Ce was a little depressed. Waiting idly around for evidence to drop by the door was no way to handle things; Tang Fan suggested that they go to the hall that the banquet had taken place at for a look. Wei Ce mustered up his energy to lead him there himself, while Magistrate Weng followed after, having nothing to do anyways. Tang Fan had been through this area before, so it was not unfamiliar to him. Behind the screen was the spot where he had suffered a huge jump of fright from seeing the incognito Eunuch Wang, while in front of the screen was the wide-open reception hall. The original tables and chairs had been removed, and there were ten round, eight-seater yellow rosewood tables with inlaid marble set up, making it even emptier in here. However, apart from the guests had been servants bringing food and maids helping pour wine, some people even getting up for toasts, coming and going. All of that even though the space was large had made it seem noisy and crammed. Which table was Bao Yi at? Tang Fan asked Wei Ce. The latter couldnt remember, so he turned to look at the following steward, who quickly pointed at one of the tables near the entrance. It was that one. They said that the soup was scalding. Is that true? There didnt seem to be any such dish when I left before. Yes. It was served second-to-last, and is called jadeite abalone stew. Over ten glazed pots were covered at the same time to stew, then were lifted up while heated to serve to the guests steaming. The Wei home doesnt have that big of an area, nor does it have that many glazed pots, so these dishes had been prepped and delivered by a restaurant ahead of time. Which restaurant? How far away is it? Its name is Sky of Bluegreen Clouds, and its the largest restaurant in the county. Its distance from here is no more than about a cup of teas time. If you all ordered this dish from there, then, given that they make it fresh, you probably have to notify them in advance for whatever period it needs to be served, to give them some time to get it ready? You are correct, we notified them the day before. The soup needs to be slow-cooked for twelve shichen before it tastes good. When the third-to-last course was served, we sent someone over and began instructing them to carry the pots in. The coming and going takes two cups worth of time, then, while the meal took a shichen, at minimum. In other words, after the pots were taken here, it was at least another shichen before they got served. The steward nodded. Correct, more or less. Because its hot out and the pots were sealed well, it didnt start cooling down until it was set onto the tables. Magistrate Weng had left a step ahead of me, so he certainly didnt get to have any of that soup, Tang Fan said to Wei Ce. Did you? Was it hot? Wei Ce smiled painfully. This Wei had rushed over as soon as I heard that something happened to my daughter, so I didnt get any, either. This lowly one had a sip, the steward said. It indeed burned the mouth. In that case, if the soup had been spilled onto your hands at the time, do you think that they would now be blistered up like theirs are? Tang Fan asked. The steward hesitated. That seems about right? Magistrate Weng ended up reacting faster than the rest. Do you suspect that those three are using burns to cover up scratches on their arms? Tang Fan nodded. Yes. The other creased his brow. But would there be three killers? Of course not. Ill go and interrogate them individually, then. Theres no need to worry about that for now, Tang Fan answered. He didnt give much of an explanation, first questioning the steward, Is there any more of that stew you mentioned in Sky of Bluegreen Clouds today? Or does it need to be made fresh? There is! Many diners go there to eat, so the restaurant has two pots cooking every day, which are also stewed for twelve shichens. If one gets there late, theyre not getting any, so it needs to be ordered ahead of time. The dish is pretty popular. Go there and see if its still available, and if you can, buy a pot, return using the route and method of transport you all used today, and present it in one shichen. Not understanding the point of this, the steward had to look at Wei Ce. Do what Don Tang says, the latter quickly ordered. While the steward scurried off, Tang Fan said to the other two, Take a look; the table is so big, served dishes would generally be put in the middle. This soup pot alone, because it was being served fresh to the guests, was placed to the side. Both of them nodded, expressing their agreement. Presuming that the situation was chaotic, where everyone heard about Wei Zhuniang and thought to go out and see what happened, we dont know who bumped into the jar. Going along with what Bao Yi said, the soup was spilling out in the direction opposite him, after which he reached out to right it, only to get burned. The jar must have therefore been bumped by his elbow, coincidentally dumping it on Chai Ze and Wang Da as they stood near the table. He imitated the act here; Magistrate Weng and Wei Ce immediately understood upon seeing it. Also presuming that one among them is the killer, and that person is Bao Yi, then he knocked the pot over deliberately. If the killer is either Wang Da or Chai Ze, random people, they wouldnt have at all been counting on Bao Yi running into the pot. That means, no matter what the situation is, Bao Yi is lying! the Magistrate concluded for him. Tang Fan nodded. Correct. However, we have one thing to prove at this moment, and if we can, this all can be easily solved. Wei Ce was still a bit in the dark, but Magistrate Weng had already come to a full understanding, twirling his beard and smiling. Very good! He was not someone that envied others talents, and Tang Fan had always been quite proper, both not stealing the show, but also giving him the credit. He had good feelings towards Tang Fan, and didnt hesitate to praise him. You are truly talented, good brother! The Dynasty not utilizing an official like you is truly their loss! Who that their referred to, he wasnt clarifying, but the two of them knew well. Tang Fan shook his head. Im unworthy of your praise, Brother Weng. If I can only help investigate, yet not be an official, what use would I be investigating alone? His words called Magistrate Wengs own bumpy career path to mind, and he couldnt help but smile in sorrow. Seeing them crossing swords, Wei Ce had to say, What about my sons death? Do you two have an idea about that? If we havent guessed incorrectly, the Magistrate said, the deaths of your son and daughter shouldnt have been done by the same person. Wei Ce let out an exclamation, looking lost. Th-then how could? As a merchant, being affable to gain riches was a number-one priority, but no matter how slick one was, they would inevitably get rivals and enemies in the field of business. The same went for Tang Fan and the rest in the field of officialdom, where they never had a lack of foes, but even then, this type of hatred that was deep enough to kill anothers family was very, very rare. Murderers were to be executed that was a law that had not changed since Qin times. Although there were all sorts of limitations and accommodations therein, even ordinary citizens knew that homicide was no trivial matter. Think back, the Magistrate said, who else have you offended, aside from Wang Da? Wei Ce was dejected. Theres many, of course. In business dealings, one party profits, while the other certainly loses, but Ive never heard of anyone that would murder over this! Moreover, what crimes have children committed? If they wanted revenge, why not come for me? Magistrate Weng and Tang Fan remained silent. They had been officials for years, and had seen cases much more abominable than this one all over the place. Though they were rueful, they werent as emotional as Wei Ce was. While they spoke, the steward had since returned, followed by a servant carrying a pot. Sir, inside this is jadeite abalone stew. I followed your instructions, and brought a pot back after it had been a shichen off the stove. Place it on the table, then find someone to open the jar and pour some on their hands, the Magistrate ordered. Huh? The steward was completely dumbstruck, not understanding what kind of operation this was supposed to be. Find someone willing to do this, and hell be given a hefty reward afterwards, Tang Fan said from the side. The reward will be ten taels of snowflake silver, Wei Ce also spoke up. That was no small amount. The eyes of the servant following the steward lit up, and he stuck himself out. My Lord, could this lowly one do it? Wei Ce looked at the Magistrate, who nodded and answered. Alright. Pour it on for us to see, but dont shrink away from it. We just want to see how your hand will look after its burned. The servant mentally mumbled to himself that the Magistrate was a bit of a freak, but wealth moved the heart; he would do anything for those ten taels. The steward quickly opened the jar, then poured its contents on the outstretched hand of the servant. With scorching soup spilling onto him, even though he had made mental preparations, the latter still couldnt help but cry out, expression twisting up. Stew splashed onto the floor, the fragrance of it instantly permeating the place. A good minute later, the Magistrate allowed the servant to wash his hand off, but forbade him from applying medicine to it, only telling him to come back over after. When the steward came back with the man, Tang Fan and the others took a look at the servants outstretched hand. They saw that the recently-burnt skin had gone red, but it wasnt as severe an injury as Wang Da and the others had been. Upon seeing this, Wei Ce let out an ah. What is this? Why was the condition of their burns different from Old Dongs? Could it be because he has thick skin? Magistrate Weng had the steward take the servant away for medical attention, then explained to Wei Ce. Its not that hes thick-skinned, its that the pot that burned Wang Da and the rest was heated up again after it had been delivered. Wei Ce saw the light. Thats why Don Tang had the steward replicate the circumstances of the soups delivery today? To prove that by the time the pot got to the table, even if it could burn the mouth, it couldnt have been enough to cause severe burns? The Magistrate nodded. Right. As long as you all can get to the kitchen and figure out who reheated the pot that day, youll be able to follow along that vine and uncover the murderer. Having helped with all that he could have, whatever followed had nothing to do with Tang Fan. He rejected the Magistrates invitation to participate in the interrogation, then returned to the Hes with Qian Sanr. After all that mess, it was already nightfall. Tang Fan hadnt eaten well, and had been feeling ravenous for a long time now; thinking of how it was currently past dinnertime, it wouldnt be appropriate for him to ask someone to cook for him at the Hes, so the two planned to find something to eat outside. However, Xianghe County wasnt nearly as flourishing as the capital. As soon as night had come, even the restaurants had closed, leaving few open for business, aside from brothels. Qian Sanr laughed evilly, suggesting that they go to a brothel to eat, and solve all the problems of life while they were at it. He got smacked on the back of the head by Tang Fan, which promptly made his mouth shrink up, too afraid to make a peep. If you want to follow me, dont even think about that stuff, Tang Fan warned. Later on, Ill find you a wife to spend your days peacefully with! Qian Sanr felt beyond wronged, as he had a villains thoughts, but not a villains guts. He used a very hurt expression towards his superior that was thinking him to be a patron. I swear that Ive never actually been to a place like that before! Tang Fan rolled his eyes. Whats the use of swearing to me? Swear that to your future wife. Qian Sanr grinned lasciviously. Sir, you have a vast array of friends. Find me one! I have absolutely trust in your good eyesight! Youre sure you want me to find you someone? Yes! Then I shall. When were back in the capital, Ill give a proposal to the old proprietress that sells laobing on the eastside lane. Qian Sanr shrieked. Hell no! That womans forty and as round as a ball! You have the heart to make me a lamb thrown into a tigers den, Sir!? Tang Fans face nearly broke composure from hearing him call himself a lamb. Did you not say that every time you go to buy from her, she gives you a flirty look? Thats because she sells laobing every day and had never seen someone as handsome as me before, so feelings of love sprouted within her, the other sulked. But I cant send myself into the claws of the beast just because I pity her! Get out of here. You really think yourself to be hot stuff, huh? Go cool off elsewhere, and quit bothering me! The two walked all the way back, but, from far away, they noticed that the bamboo courtyards entrance was pretty noisy. Lightly frowning, Tang Fan briskly walked all the way forth. The star of the noisiness was the Hes second branch He Lin and Tang Yu. To be more accurate, He Lin had gotten drunk, and was going on a drunken tirade at Tang Yu. She was separated from him by Yan Li and Gongsun Yan. On account of He Lins status, they couldnt directly fight him, but with them around, he also had no way to get anywhere near her. The two Brocade Guards were looking at He Lin with contempt, and those gazes just provoked him into getting more and more outlandish. Far too many things had happened today; for the Weis, and for He Lin even more so. He hadnt expected that, for no rhyme or reason, he would be going to participate in a one-month party, then participating in a whole heap of things. Under previous circumstances, everyones suspicious gazes had landed upon He Cheng, yet he had been unable to say anything to explain himself. He Lin felt that if it had been anyone else, they definitely wouldnt have thought of a better method to employ than the one he had, and hadnt thought at all that there was anything wrong with beating his son. Yet, Tang Fan had stood up, bringing up the Brocade Guard and Patriarch He to suppress him. In the presence of a crowd, his brother-in-law had given no regard towards right and wrong, relentlessly criticizing him and even getting those dogs to attack him. It was something He Lin, who had had a good reputation all his life, could not accept. After he had angrily left the Weis, he had gone to get wasted, and ran into some friends that he typically recited poetry with. They had all previously heard what had happened at the Weis; using the name of comfort, they had mocked him in reality, implying that he was a husband that couldnt control his wife. Getting compared unfavorably to his brothers had been enough, but now even his brother-in-law was looking down on him they had further teased that he might be made to kneel on a washboard once he returned. Those words entering his ears had added fuel to the fire. Drinking wine bolstered ones courage, losing him his fear towards the Brocade Guards, and leaving one notion behind in his head: find Tang Yu and settle the score! From his point of view, it was quite difficult for him to see her perspective, or empathize with her difficulties over the years. All he saw was that she had her little brothers backing, who he didnt place importance upon. After today, in the He family, in Xianghe County, what dignity would he have remaining to stand on? Thus was the scene Tang Fan witnessed. After seeing that it was getting late, Tang Yu had been preparing to go back to the place she stayed in, but she couldnt stop worrying about He Cheng. Fearing that He Lin would find an excuse to quarrel with him after he got back, she had thus intended to leave her son in the bamboo courtyard so that Tang Fan could look out for him for one night. However, she hadnt been able to wait for him, and could only bid farewell to He Cheng as he studied obediently and didnt cause trouble, leaving herself ahead of time. Unexpectedly, she had run into He Lin at the entryway, who had returned in aggressive drunkenness. Yan Li and Gongsun Yan were scowling. Seeing as how He Lin was starting to brandish his intoxication physically, they were currently considering whether to beat him up or not, but he was Tang Yus husband and Tang Fans brother-in-law. They couldnt grasp what would be proper for this, starting to look forward to Tang Fans return and, upon seeing him show up, they were both elated. Don! It was unclear if He Lin had gone into a stupor from drinking too much or what, but he didnt even turn his head, continuing to yell at Tang Yu. Ever since you married into the Hes, when have I ever let you down?! For you, I didnt indulge in wine and women! Even He Xuan has a bedmaid in his courtyard, while I have nothing! Others all say that youre a jealous shrew, but I still said good things about you! But you? How did you treat me? You allowed your little brother to destroy my reputation! Do the Hes slight or put you down? Dont go thinking that you can do whatever you wish just because you have your brother supporting you! Nevermind separation, Im getting a div Quiet! came a roar with a land-leveling volume. It wasnt Tang Fan that had done that, as he didnt have such good core strength. Everyone followed the source to see Patriarch He furiously coming over while using on a cane; without another word, he raised his hand and slapped He Lin. The woman following after him was alarmed. Seeing that the Patriarch wanted to go for it again, she quickly said, You should use your words! The bamboo courtyard was quite close to the He home, and He Lins fuss had quickly become known by the rest of the Hes. Tang Fan had been standing to the side and not heading over, waiting for He Lin to say something so that he could get some insider information on him, only for the Patriarch to arrive just in time, and so quickly. He Lin was struck stupid by the slap, expression blank as he said nothing. Patriarch He wanted to come at him once more, only to get stopped by someone. That someone was Tang Fan. Uncle, beating him wont solve the issue, he said. Since hes reached the point where he already wants to split with my sister, I think we should sit down and have a nice talk. The Patriarch couldnt comprehend Tang Fan, but he knew that his reaction was much too calm, and the calmer he was, the less great things were. My good nephew, I want to help you vent your anger! This unfilial son deserves to be taught a good lesson! He held a face of rage. Dont stop me, just watch as I break his leg! What anger would I require another to help me vent? Is it not because of my sister that Im even angry? Tang Fan answered, calm, yet sardonic. The Patriarch paused slightly in his actions, looking at Tang Yu, then at the drunk He Lin. He shook his head and sighed. Such sin. Father, mother. I have something to say, Tang Yu, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly said. Her expression was nearly cold. When He Lin had just been shouting, she hadnt shown any surprise or heartbreak then, either, and was even more oddly placid now. If youve something to say, we can go in the room to talk, Matriarch He said. Right, we can speak more tomorrow. For tonight, itd be better for my sister and nephew to stay in the bamboo courtyard, Tang Fan surprisingly said. Patriarch He nodded. He didnt want to stand outside in the deep of night because of some terrible familial clamor, either. Furthermore, after experiencing all that stuff with the Weis, everyone was exhausted today; only He Lin would start fighting at a doorway without a care for anything else. He ordered for He Lin to be detained, keeping watch on him personally. Seeing as the other was still defiant, he straight-up told his subordinates to tie him up with rope. Matriarch He urged Tang Yu to rest well, saying that she would come to see her grandson again tomorrow. After that, she told the courtyard servants to serve them well, gave them detailed instructions, then departed. The second everyone else left, Tang Fan accompanied Tang Yu inside, where, upon seeing that no one else was around, she glared at him. Didnt you tell me to pay back all of the hardships Ive suffered these years? I finally managed to accumulate enough anger to scold them, yet you cut me off! A Tang Yu like this had a style similar to the former Eldest Miss of the Tangs. Having been married for so many years, she had probably nearly forgotten what she had once been like, herself. But Im hungry, he replied, aggrieved. I would only have the energy to fight if Im full. What would we have done if I passed out from hunger? She was both amused and distressed, throwing out even the bit of depression and anguish she had just had. Have you not learned how to take care of yourself while abroad all these years? Go sit inside, Ill make noodles. Ooo, I want a poached egg on mine! he answered, beaming. Thereafter glimpsing the teary Qian Sanr beside him, he compassionately added on, Sis, add another bowl to that. Sanr hasnt eaten yet. Qian Sanr shone with the bit of sunlight he had been given, immediately drooling as he grinned. I want a poached egg, too! Get out, Tang Fan said, annoyed. CH 79 At daybreak on the morrow, the Patriarch sent someone to invite Tang Fan and Tang Yu over, the place of their discussion being the middle hall of the Hes primary courtyard. The Patriarch and Matriarch were seated at the head seats, while two rows of chairs were arranged below them, separated out for Tang Fan, Tang Yu, and He Lin. The Tang siblings sat on one side, while He Lin sat on the other. The rift between them was clearly defined. No one had a great-looking expression. He Lins was overcast, some traces of a hangover still on his face. Despite sitting here, he never looked at Tang Yu. Tang Yus was placid, as if she didnt even notice that He Lin existed. Her head was slightly bowed, yet her line of sight was fallen to the overlapped hands on her lower abdomen. After the Wei incident, as well as He Lins fuss at the entrance of the bamboo courtyard, He Ying and Lady Xus spirits werent that great, either. The Weis were inconsequential; even though they had lost lives, they were just the Hes in-laws, and ultimately partitioned a layer away from them. This son that was He Lin, however, gave He Ying a headache. Though the parents each had their own favorites amongst their three sons, they had never treated any of them particularly unfairly on account of their consciences. It was simply that He Lin himself had made no progress in life, failing the tests repeatedly over these years without one accomplishment to himself, and beginning to blame everyone but himself for it. He had even blamed his parents for ever getting him a wife that had no natal family to rely on, saying to outsiders more than once that if he had gotten one that was from an officials family like the Eldests, or one from a wealthy family like the Thirds, she would have at least been able to give her husband some aid. He Ying distinctly remembered that when Lady Wei had just married into the Hes, He Lin had believed that as a merchants daughter, her status was unpresentable, while Tang Yu, in contrast, was well-bred, and thus completely satisfactory. Alas, time had passed, and the satisfaction of the past had become the presents dissatisfaction. No matter what, this was nothing other than a failure of He Lins own self, but he refused to admit that, forever finding the cause in others. Coupling that with last nights incident, He Ying was entirely disappointed in this son of his. Uncle, Tang Fan was the first to speak, as I recall, before my sister entered the Hes door, our Tang elders had already passed. We siblings thought that she wouldnt be able to claim connections to you all, and expected the engagement to be dropped, only for you to stand your ground against the opinions of the public by persevering with fulfilling the promise you made on that day. That sort of honor is something I admire to this day. He Ying shook his head. Since the betrothal had already been drawn up, it deserved to be fulfilled. People that dont keep their word have no standing. The Hes only did what should have been done, and your praise is something this old man doesnt deserve. You do indeed deserve it, Tang Fan answered mildly. You must know that human relationships change between hot and cold, the ways of society flipping between fire and ice. In this day and age, people of the world only know how to adhere themselves to that fire; how many know how to stand by their promises? My sister and I are extremely grateful to your actions, but this nephew has something that Im unclear on. I would like to ask you two elders for your wisdom. He Ying knew what he probably wanted to say, but had no choice but to answer. Do ask, good nephew. I dare then, Uncle and Aunt; after my sister married into the Hes, has she ever acted in violation of womanly virtues? He Ying was now completely clear on what he wanted to say, yet still had to answer. No. In this past decade, my brother-in-law has tested and failed repeatedly, becoming moody, suffering jeers and nasty looks. Not only did she not disdain him, but she instead treated him the same as she always had, gentle and considerate. Is that not true? He never looked at He Lin, but even the latter couldnt say sleepy words while wide awake, remaining silent. He Ying sighed. Its true. Our eldests wife went abroad with him and isnt before us, while our thirds wife only came later. In the years prior to that, thanks to our seconds wifes virtuousness and filial piety, she attended to us parents, and birthed Qilang. She has been meritorious to the Hes. Tang Fan nodded. Thank you for your impartial words, Uncle. They mean that the wrongs my sister has suffered over the years have not been in vain. Last night, my brother-in-law said that he wants to divorce her; what do you think about that, Uncle? That was nonsense my stupid son said after drinking. How could it be taken seriously? He Ying answered without a thought. The other shook his head. Isnt it actually that the truth is always spat out after drinking? To divorce a wife in our Great Ming, the female party must have committed one of the Seven Ousts: not being filial to parents, having no heirs, being adulterous, being jealous, being contagiously diseased, talking too much, or thieving. I dare ask you, brother-in-law; which of those has she committed? He Lins eyes were shot red. No mistake should be made, though he wasnt crying, he was hungover. He also didnt appear to feel any sort of shame towards his words and actions from last night, despite his sobriety, instead sneering. Your sister has been married into the Hes for years, but how many times have you visited? Now that youve got the Brocade Guard backing you up, you swagger up to the door to show off your might? Even like that, whats between her and I isnt for you to stick your nose into! What kind of thing even are you?! My brother isnt a thing, hes a person! Youre the only one that isnt anything! Upon hearing He Lins scolding, Tang Yu hadnt been able to hold back anymore, snatching the conversation before Tang Fan could speak. She was typically poised; never had there be a time where she became red-faced in rage, and she had endured everything silently, even if she was being treated coldly by her husband. The Hes had never seen her when she was furious, and all of them He Lin included were stunned for a minute. As Tang Fan saw it, this was the sister he was familiar with. Before getting married, the Eldest Miss of the Tangs had been this lively. After marrying into the Hes, being a wife was ultimately different from being a daughter, so she had had to conceal all of her sharp edges. It was only today that she could no longer withstand it, returning to her original personality. Tang Fan knew that if he hadnt shown up, she would have had to keep enduring this for who knew how long, and as soon as he thought such, his heart was drowned with self-blame. Her expression was frosty. Once she had shed the mask she had always had in front of people, she became slightly unfamiliar in the eyes of the Hes. The Tang family was strict in its traditions, and taught its daughters from the Four Books for Women ever since their childhoods. I cant claim to be perfect, but Ive read each and every one of the admonishments for women until I knew them by heart. In the He home, I performed dawn and dusk visits to you, served my in-laws, attended to my husband, and birthed a child. I dared not have any slack for one day. Even though He Lin didnt test into being a Provincial Honorate, I never thought that he was completely useless. Thats because, from how I see it, a mans goodness doesnt depend on how big of an official he is, it depends on whether or not hes broad-minded and has upstanding conduct. From the very beginning of when I married him, I didnt expect him to give me any amount of glory, only wholeheartedly wishing to spend life with him nicely. Liar! He Lin growled. You never thought that at all! You hate that Im useless and cant add any shine to your reputation! You hate that I wont make you the wife of a Provincial Honorate like the Thirds is! She scoffed at him. Is being the wife of a Provincial that great? Im the sister of a Palace one! Tang Fan nearly couldnt resist smiling, quickly blanking out his face. Tang Yus fighting prowess was not only making him look at her in a whole new light, but made the Hes do so, too. Father, mother, youve seen as much, as well. I know myself that Ive already done all I can, yet the Second still completely misreads me. He insists upon saying that I hate him, and he treats me with all sorts of coldness. From whence can I defend this? When I wedded, I had no support because my elders had died, but Runqing cherished me, using nearly all of his possessions as dowry for me to enter into the Hes. Over these years, the Hes set aside for our second branch an allowance of thirty monthly taels, and four annual sets of clothes. That had originally been enough, but because of the Second going out to visit friends, throwing dinner parties, and buying references, he spends more than a half months worth at times. I had some savings on my end. As an officials family, the Hes have dinner parties every once in a while, and as its daughter-in-law, I absolutely must not wear those clothes more than once when I leave the house, thus causing the Hes to lose face that requires expenses, too. Adding onto that is Qilangs reading and writing materials, where I need to buy inksticks and stones. Frankly speaking, the thirty taels the Hes give are not enough to use, so Ive had no choice but to use my dowry as a supplement. Lady Xu was a little displeased, and had to speak up. We give the same allowance to the Eldest and the Thirds families, and they never complained before! Tang Yu laughed. Everyone knows that Zhejiang is affluent. The eldest is Jiaxings Magistrate, so those thirty taels are nothing to him at all. Father used to be a high official; he must know that my words are true. As for our younger siblings, setting aside the fact that shes the daughter of a wealthy family, judging from your favor towards the Third, I expect that you give him private supplements, so as not to cause them to feel wronged. She saw that Lady Xus face had gone ugly, but she didnt relent on her words. Mother, these statements are not me blaming you, they are just assertions of fact. Over these years, I have used my dowry to subsidize the Second. I have no complaints, as a husband and wife are one unit, and that is how it should be. However, just because that is how it should be doesnt mean I will let others completely ignore my investment, or even be ungrateful, abandoning me like worn-out shoes. Father, mother, tell me; does that make sense to you? Tang Fan couldnt help but laud his sister. The other three people in the hall had different expressions. He Ying and Lady Xu still had some dignity, and inevitably found it hard to take getting called out like this, but He Lin wasnt thinking the same at all, sneering. You talked for so long just to exonerate yourself! If you really were perfectly happy to do all this, you wouldnt have made such a clear mental list of everything! Tang Yu had gone cold towards this man, and sneered right back without mercy. What of it? You cant even test into being a Provincial! All day long, you lose your mind in your room, shutting your door and saying that no one in the family values you! Since youre so bold, go find a way to support yourself! Why even need to take the thirty taels your parents give you?! Y you wench! He Lin went pale with anger at once, unable to say more. She paid him no attention, continuing to speak to He Ying and Lady Xu. I had thought that when Qilang grew up fully, and I was considered as not having failed to live up to the expectations you had for me, there would be no need for me to have somebody divorce me then, as I would ask to leave the hall myself. However, you both have witnessed with your own eyes that he, as a father, can be so ruthless to his own son for no rhyme or reason. Had Runqing not come in time, how badly would Qilang have been beaten? You were present yesterday, mother and father! Please speak some justice for Qilang and I! He Ying coughed lightly. Ganyus act was indeed excessive. I scolded him harshly yesterday, too Im afraid that excessive doesnt describe it enough, Tang Yu answered placidly. It wouldve been fine if he only hit me then, but if Qilang was hit, and something terrible happened to him, I wouldnt have been able to live. I would have hung myself right here, letting the world have a good look at how heartless He Lin is. He Lin had his own justification, of course. Everyone was suspecting Qilang, and he wasnt saying anything! If I didnt beat him, how could I have cleared away his suspicion? How could I have maintained the Hes reputation? The Hes reputation relies on a child being beaten? Tang Yu shot back. As Qilangs father, youre no bystander. Why do you not understand his nature? Why did Runqing not need to ask Qilang anything to ascertain the truth? He Lins shame turned to rage. All that talk, and you just hate that Im not as capable as your little brother! Tang Fan finally understood why his sister was completely disappointed in her husband. The man was beyond reason. Ever since his path of the imperial exams had been obstructed, it became the only thing left that filled his heart and eyes, practically becoming his obsession. Inferiority led to sensitivity, and sensitivity led to irritability, hence why, no matter what anyone else said, he could drag it into relating to this. For all these years, from how gentle-natured Tang Yu was, she had probably comforted and tried to communicate with him plenty. If there was even a bit of a hope for turnaround right now, however, she wouldnt have been how she was now, wanting nothing more than to take Qilang with her to leave the Hes. He Lin was completely submerged in his own little world. It had long become difficult for him to free himself from it. He Ying knew that having a son like this was too shameful. Before Tang Yu could speak to Tang Fan, he slapped his armrest hard, saying Shut up!, then turned to the Tang siblings. Second Lady, what are you getting at? If you have an idea, theres no harm in stating it. If we have the power to assist, we will naturally handle things for you. He knew that Tang Yu had said this much, and so gravely, not only to air her wrongs. The issue of the second branch not having enough allowance to use was something he had heard a little about before, but, first of all, his three sons were all the same on the surface, none owed, nor favored. Even if any of them had difficulty getting by in life, or were wealthy, that would rely on their own capabilities. Second of all, power over the inner residence was grasped in Lady Xus hands. As her husband, he wanted to give her that face, and couldnt rashly get involved; all three sons had been born from her, anyways, so she wouldnt treat them unfairly. Hence, he had never asked. Tang Yu understood as much, so she had never complained before. Now that a decision had already been made, though, and everyone was in open discussions, it had been necessary for her to lay things out piece by piece, lest others believe her to be making trouble for no reason. As soon as she heard that question, she looked at Tang Fan. The two had already agreed that he would step forth to take care of this. My brother-in-law said earlier that he was going to divorce my sister, he said. However, she has not only not violated any of the Seven Ousts, but occupies the clause of has no natal family to return to under the Three Stays.[1] He cant divorce her, according to standards. With things how they are now, even if they barely manage to stay together, they likely wouldnt have a good life. Since he feels that she lacks virtue, my sister is willing to relinquish her status as his first wife to let him take another, more virtuous woman. With how intelligent the Patriarch was, he quickly understood. You wish to separate? Tang Fan nodded. Yes, separate. And also take Qilang with her. The Hes all looked shocked. Undergoing the previous spread of things, everyone had already anticipated that they would propose a separation, but they had an objection towards where Qilang would be. Thats impossible, He Ying said automatically. Qilang is a descendant of the Hes, so he should remain with the Hes. There is no reason for any woman to take children with her in a separation! Seeing that the Tang siblings faces were unchanged, he had to warm up his tone to persuade them. Runqing, things getting messed up to this extent is not what we want. Luckily, its not too late, and theres still margin for redemption. Regardless of whether a woman can remarry or not after a separation, she will suffer peoples nasty looks everywhere, which is likely not a scenario you wish to see. Moreover, the Second Lady is not one to abandon Qilang. Dont interfere with this affair, and just allow the couple to talk it out. What sense is there in you urging your sister and her husband to separate? Tang Fan sighed. Uncle, I only have respect towards you, and wouldnt normally have such an intent, but with things as they are now, why trouble yourself with forcing things? It doesnt matter whether separation happens or not, as my sister will always be my sister. If it wont be easy for her to remarry, Ill just support her all her life. As for Qilang, we arent trying to make things deliberately difficult, but just imagine; he still almost got beaten badly with my sister around, so if she isnt, how much worse will it be? You may treasure your grandchildren, but you cant keep an eye on them every single day. Its best for children to grow up in the presence of their mothers. We arent asking for Qilang to change his surname; hell be a descendant of the Hes no matter what, he will simply live with his mother. But if that spread around outside, wouldnt the Hes no longer have any face? He Ying shook his head, predictably unwilling. Seeing that the Tang siblings had expressions of determination, he then mumbled to himself for a bit, and conceded a step. How about this; separation is doable, but Qilang must remain in the He household. However, as soon as he finished, He Lin stood up with a bang, throwing sentences out. I refuse! Ill only divorce you! Dont even think about separation! Then, he left without a care. The Patriarch shouted several Stop!s from behind him, yet he never turned his head. Despite his typically sullen temperament, he had always been obedient to his parents. His current behavior made Patriarch Hes nose scrunch in anger. This breakdown of negotiations had been predicted as such, too. Tang Fan had had no belief that the Hes would immediately agree to his conditions in the first place. In their view, separation was just that. Their daughter-in-law was ultimately an outsider, while their grandson belonged to their family. The Hes had more than just the one grandson, but, just as the Patriarch had said, if they let Tang Yu take He Cheng, others would believe that the Hes couldnt even make one grandson stay with them. Such were the feelings of the world, which humans did not have the power to alter. It was better to put forth terms that another party wouldnt accept in the first breath, then slowly raise the stakes higher; that way, there would be a much greater certainty that ones goal could be achieved. From the very beginning, their ultimate aim was not separation, but split residency. This was another method that differed from separation and divorce. In this day and age, setting aside how difficult it was to separate, if a wifes natal family was influential, a husband wanting a divorce wouldnt be able to get one. He Lin, for example, might have been able to divorce Tang Yu if Tang Fan didnt exist, but since Tang Fan was around, he couldnt even think about it and even if he did, the Patriarch wouldnt let him. For that reason, what he had just said in the reception hall had been pure anger. No matter how know-nothing he actually was, he certainly knew that since Tang Yu now had her brothers backing, she wasnt someone the Hes could possibly bully. Yet, in terms of separation, it was as the Patriarch had described. People were unfair to women; what one would go through after separation was certainly more than just nasty looks. Thus was this middle-of-the-road method: split residency. To say it plainly, the husband and wife would live separately, but since there was no official separation, it would be said to the outside world that the womans health was weak, so she had returned to her natal family for recuperation and whatnot. Both sides had a justification, and the mans ego was preserved, as was a lot of headache saved. Within larger families, if a couple didnt have a harmonious relationship, while the woman had her natal familys support and refused to just deal with it, this was the method that would be brought up. Tang Fan had seen it before in the capital, but Xianghe County was a tiny area, where it was relatively unseen. When it came to the woman, this would make it so that the marriage connection was not broken off, and Tang Yu would not be able to remarry. That was a disadvantage. However, Tang Fan had discussed with her ahead of time, and she had expressed that she had absolutely no intention of remarrying, merely wanting to raise He Cheng to adulthood and pass her own version of a peaceful life. As that was so, split living became the best option. The reason why he hadnt proposed it from the start was that he feared that the Hes would abruptly not accept it; since he had brought up separation first, by the time they slowly came to face reality, throwing out this method thereafter would go a lot smoother. On the premise that He Lin would agree and not get in the way, of course. After coming out of Patriarch Hes place, Tang Yu was still a little unhappy. In the end, married couples were one, and this plight was something no one wanted to see. Had it not been too difficult to live like this, she wouldnt have wanted to do things like so. Her overnight change had, in reality, been completely because of Tang Fan, but he wouldnt be in Xianghe County forever. Once he left, she would lose her support again, and be all the more upset by her lonesome in the Hes. That was something she understood well, so she had had to be crueler, and use this opportunity to sever herself away completely, preventing future mishaps. I just hope that Qilang doesnt blame me when he grows up, she sighed. Tang Fan smiled. Hes so thoughtful, and has already grown into a good kid. Everything youve done is for his sake; hell certainly be able to forgive it. She nodded distractedly. Dont look so dismayed, my dear sister, he comforted. If Qilang sees you, he might think something happened. The boy has a meticulous and sharp mind; therell be a chance for him to temper himself someday. She nodded again. Ive been neglecting him. Its impossible that he hasnt felt terrible from seeing his dad like that every day. Youre taking responsibility onto yourself again! If thats the case, then I think Dads blame for this is much greater. Why did he promise you to a man like He Lin in the first place?! Dont say such things! she said, annoyed. How can you blame Dad? He wouldnt have been able to see that far ahead into the future! Tang Fan beamed. And isnt that right? Our parents beneath the Nine Springs must not want to see you so unhappy. If they knew of this, they would definitely be angrier than you are. Okay, okay since Qilang is injured and cant go to familial studies, Im bringing you two out to walk the market tomorrow! Upon the siblings return to the bamboo courtyard, Tang Yu went to see He Cheng. Tang Fan was just thinking of sending the Guards to inquire after progress on the Wei case, when Qian Sanr happened to walk in from outside, his face full of mystery. Can you guess what I heard outside, Sir? Tang Fan peered at him. No. Qian Sanr grinned evilly. Try? Tang Fan smiled back. If I dont guess and you dont tell me, Ill get Yan Li to suffocate you to death. Qian Sanr was hit with defeat. Fine, fine! Ill just say it. I heard that the Wei home is haunted! The other paused in his tracks, attention successfully drawn. Qian Sanr felt a little proud, at that. You cant guess why, right? Theres several versions to this! One says that before Wei Ce made his name, hed had a childhood fiancee, but in order to climb higher via a wealthy family, he took his former wife, Lady Zhang, and thus betrayed that fiancee. In resentment, the fiancee jumped into a river and killed herself. Right before her death, she made a vow In this life, you betrayed me for wealth, so in the next life, I will cut off your bloodline! He pinched his throat to finish imitating that swansong, ending it with, After that, a wisp of womanly soul turned into a fierce ghost, concealed inside the Wei home, watching the Weis all these years. All the girls being born had been that ghost causing mischief, and what do you know? Now, a male was just born, yet died in the blink of an eye! I can tell that youre extremely talented. Qian Sanr felt triumphant. Sure am! Dont look at anyone else; Im the footman of the most intelligent person in the world, Sir Tang! Tang Fan didnt have the strength to diss him for his brag. I heard that Sky of Bluegreen Clouds lacks a storyteller for its halls. Do you want me to recommend you for a try? No way. You definitely cant leave without me! A footman as loyal and capable as me is hard to find nowadays! Tang Fan couldnt resist kicking him. Enough. Get to the main point! A second version says that the Weis current capital was all seized from someone else by Wei Ce, which he had used despicable methods to achieve, after which he came to Xianghe County to start anew. Now, the one he killed has turned into a fierce ghost and come to take revenge, intending to cut off Wei Ces familial line so that he regrets everything hes ever done. Thats the reason why the Weis are dying in succession. Why are they all fierce ghosts? Cant you come up with anything new? Yep! Something new iiiiiis He had dragged out his tone, but upon seeing that Tang Fan wasnt in any hurry, he could only continue. Wei Zhuniangs killer has been found. Tang Fan raised his brows. Chai Ze? Qian Sanr thus became depressed. Eh? You already knew? Whyd you make me say it, then?! Tang Fan shook his head. I only had a guess. Out of Chai Ze, Wang Da, and Bao Yi, Chai Ze was just the most suspicious. Forgetting his former wish to flaunt his information, Qian Sanr instead asked curiously, Why? Wei Ce had clearly said himself that Wang Da was the only one that had a grudge with him, while Chai Ze was on the best terms with him! Dont forget; I said previously that only someone pretty familiar with the Wei home would have been able to find and kill her without alerting anyone else in such a short timespan. Only Chai Ze matched up with that point. Qian Sanr slapped himself on the forehead. Right, I almost forgot about that! Magistrate Weng asked as much, too, as Chai Ze couldnt have done this alone. Purportedly, it was his younger cousin, Wei Ces primary wife, that had that pot of soup specially reheated, and after it was delivered, Chai Ze told Bao Yi that his cousin really hated Wang Da and wanted to embarrass him in public a little. He then made a plan with him to bump into the pot at the table, promising him a heavy reward, plus having him help him lie around it. The Magistrate interrogated that out of him immediately, though. Why did Chai Ze kill Wei Zhuniang? What hatred would he have against a little girl? Because Wei Ce had a son and they saw that he wanted to give him everything, Chai Ze and Lady Chai were unhappy, and thought to plot against him in order to steal his wealth. By ill coincidence, Wei Zhuniang had happened to pass by them. The two feared that their plot would be exposed early, so they struck first. Tang Fan shook his head. That was probably just their own guilty consciences talking, wasnt it? If she actually had heard them, wouldnt she have long started shouting, and wouldnt Wei Ce have not been clueless? Right, right! You are a sagely one! Thats exactly the reason! Afterwards, Magistrate Weng also questioned Wei Ce and Wei Zhuniangs mother, and it was clear that Wei Zhuniang had never said a thing to them. This was clearly all the cousins guilt that instead made them drop a rock onto their own feet! This case hadnt been complex to begin with; with so many clues set out in the open, cracking it had only been a matter of when. Tang Fan still had a concern about something else, however. Whats the progress on the sons death, then? Following this incident, Wei Ce has a bone-deep hatred with the cousins and insists that they killed his son, but they refuse to admit to that. There seems to be no conclusion as of right now. I dont think they did it. Since Wei Ce was able to have a son, with that one dead, he could just have another one. There would be no use in that. All they wanted to do was plot against Wei Ce himself, so killing the son wouldnt have made a lick of difference. Qian Sanr cocked his head. As they could do something as stupid as murdering Wei Zhuniang, they might have also had ample grounds to want the son dead. Tang Fan burst out laughing. You make sense, while Im the one grasping at straws! Qian Sanr was the type of person that would be able to open a dyeing shop if given only three different pigments, and he bloomed the second he heard Tang Fans words. Ohoho, you saying that makes me so embarrassed! Could it be that Im more intelligent than the most intelligent man in the world? The other glanced at him. When was I ever that? From now on, when were on the road, dont say you know me. Youll make people beat me up. Qian Sanr got in close with a stupid grin. But were so familiar! Who in the whole of Xianghe doesnt know that Im your old pal? You mustnt deceive yourself to deceive others! Tang Fan had no idea how to react to him. Youve obviously got the thickest skin in the world! Whos your old friend? Youre using words improperly! Your mouth is like a dogs butt letting out a bunch of farts! Ow, ow! Use your words, dont hit! Gentlemen move their lips, not their fists The translator says: Fun fact: A certain term for nonsense in Chinese is literally dog butt/farts. Unsure if I ever stated this, but divorce/separation/dissolution have different historical contexts here. Divorce is the husband kicking the wife out for violating one of the Seven Ousts, handled within the family. Separation is a mutual agreement to split. Dissolution involved some sort of criminal violation, and was forced by law. [1] In contrast to the Seven Ousts, theres three that prevent divorce altogether, and can possibly cancel them out; one is having no natal family to return to, the second is being in a three-year mourning period due to her in-laws deaths, or she is poor while her husband is rich. CH 80 The Wei case had indeed hit a bottleneck. The point the son had still lived to the point of the discovery of his death had only been a brief cup of teas worth of time. When it came to an infant, however, that amount was enough to do a lot. The three that had attended to him the nanny Lady Hu, and maids Xiao Lu and Xiao Shuang had not been present at the time. The neighboring room housed his mother, Lady Li, but at the time, she had just gotten out of her one-month birth recovery period, and had been with Wei Ces other concubines outside, preoccupied with socializing with the female guests. She had brought anyone capable that was attending her with, too, leaving two young maids watching the door of her room. At the cases outbreak, they had been sitting and chatting inside the room, and hadnt seen anyone enter or exit the neighboring room. Thus came the issue. The three that had served the Wei son had undergone questioning by Magistrate Weng, but they had not a bit of relation to Lady Chai. Amongst them was Lady Hu, who had been brought over from Lady Lis natal family and was devoted to her, too. They had no reason to lie, nor to commit this act, and were further under no circumstances to ever obey Lady Chai. Since this was the case, who had killed the son like this? Lady Chai? Or one of Wei Ces other concubines? Groundless guesswork couldnt be done. No matter how Magistrate Weng interrogated him, Chai Ze only admitted to killing Wei Zhuniang, refusing to admit from start to finish that he had killed the son. Lady Chai flatly denied it even harder, saying that she had only utilized her status as the Wei Matriarch to supply a bit of leeway for Chai Ze, and had never harmed the son. Still, Wei Ce hated the pair to the core, going to Magistrate Weng every couple of days to request that he convict the two as soon as possible. This was giving the Magistrate an incomparable headache; Chai Ze and Lady Chai had sufficient motive, sufficient prerequisites, and even fit into the timeframe. Had he not said himself in front of Tang Fan that there wasnt just one killer, he would genuinely think to just conclude the case like so and be done with it. If even the victims family was set on who the murderer was, what was he still making a fuss for? In regards to this matter, Tang Fan would love to help, but he couldnt. No matter how intelligent he was, it was established on a foundation of careful observation; others only saw that he cracked cases like a god would, thus believing that he was immensely smart, but how could anyone in this world be born to sleuth? Everyone grew up reading the tomes of sages, with the imperial exams being how to create flowers out of eight-legged essays. Without taking them, how could cases be solved, rivers be controlled, disasters be relieved? Every single one of those officials that held accomplishments had acquired them after feeling things out for themselves, on the bases of their own interests, preferences, and desires to learn. The Wei case, strictly speaking, should actually be two separate cases. One was Wei Zhuniangs death, which, now that the murderer had been determined, was closed. The other was the Wei sons death, where everyone felt that the Chai cousins had done it, yet they persistently denied it. At present, the clues were too few, and there was no clear start, nor finish. Magistrate Weng had no ideas, and Tang Fan had no ideas, either. Hence was why, after he had heard Qian Sanrs relayed information, he did not hastily meddle nor help, instead continuing to stay at the Hes, striving hard to allow his sister and nephew to have a peaceful life as soon as possible. He Cheng couldnt be happier upon learning that his uncle was going to bring them out around the market, his little face saturated with elation that he couldnt conceal. It caused Tang Yu all the more heartache to see. If it were said that Tang Yu at least had married into the Hes, and at least had had a few years of married affection, then little He Cheng had contrarily been thoughtful from the start, yet had rarely felt his own fathers affection. The reason for that was none other than that when He Lin had repeatedly failed the exams, his personality had already gradually undergone a change, becoming increasingly sullen and liable to anger, where even the birth of a son hadnt given him that much joy. Being a woman, Tang Yu couldnt bring He Cheng out often, which forced him to be trapped in a tiny world, the most amount of people he normally saw being no one beyond those that came and went. Each time he was with his father, he would either be ignored, or scolded. According to Tang Fan, that He Chengs personality hadnt warped was already an infinite blessing. Xianghe County was not as bustling as the capital, but on the fifteenth of every first month, it would have temple gatherings. Because the incense smoke at Leaving Clouds Monastery in the countys outskirts would overflow, that continuously bolstered a string of business surrounding it; there would be those that ate, drank, played, those that strolled the market and lit incense, and those that set up fortune-telling stalls, making it quite exciting. On this day, young ladies of the county would go to the Monastery to light incense, some even lining up at midnight in order to scramble to be the first to light them. Large families brought hoards of maids and servants, looking grandiose. Commonfolk that didnt have that luxury would, at most, be supporting their elders and children around, but even with that, the streets would be crowded with a throng of people. Today was the first of July, and due to Seventh Nights approach, even more people were around burning incense. That was especially so for families with daughters awaiting marriage, or people with descendants of marriageable age; each one thought to go request a betrothal from a Bodhisattva. There were even a lot of folks that had the intent to straight-up use the monastery grounds as a meeting area, bringing their daughters and/or sons, then pretending to inadvertently run into each other in the name of incense-burning. Like so, children would be allowed to see each other, get familiarized, and also not violate any social etiquette, which was really two for the price of one. For this reason, the authorities were forced to dispatch bailiffs to uphold order here, in order to avoid trampling incidents created by too many people being around. From the instant he left the house until now, He Chengs little mouth had constantly been open slightly, never once shutting. His head swiveled every which way so much, Tang Fan couldnt help but worry about his neck. (If a fly flew into his mouth right about now, he probably wouldnt even know, either.) Qilang, you were born and raised in Xianghe. Is it possible that youve never been here before? Tang Fan couldnt resist teasing him. He Cheng was taking in all these novelties, his eyes unable to do enough. Towards his uncles question, he simply nodded, then shook his head absent-mindedly. He has, but never during the fifteenth of January, Tang Yu answered for him from the side, and its never been this lively, either. From what the teacher of familial studies says, many students typically cut class and run off to play, but Qilang alone has never done such a thing. This little nephew really was spending much more time being well-behaved in his childhood than Tang Fan had. While lamenting, he said to Tang Yu, Hes still a boy. Its not good for him to be too calm. Boys always play rough and arent delicate, as only then will they be able to live well. If hes raised deep in the household with no stimulation, wont he become like your husband? Tang Yu sighed. Yes, youre right. Its not that Im not aware of that, though, its that his father never brought him out before, and I cant let him wander around outside by himself. If no elders watch him, I fear that hell learn wrong like his classmates! Tang Fan huffed unhappily. He Lin really should be ashamed of his performance as a father. Noticing that He Cheng was staring entranced at tanghulu, Tang Fan asked everyone else around; Tang Yu and the rest said they didnt want any, so he bought two sticks of the stuff, one for him and one for He Cheng. Tang Yu found this amusing. How old are you, to still be munching on tanghulu with your nephew? Tang Fan had not a care. What do you mean? No ones made a rule that you can only eat tanghulu at a certain age. What do you say, Qilang? He Cheng had the tanghulu in his mouth, his two cheeks stuffed until bulging. Upon hearing his uncle call his name, he nodded out of confusion. Tang Yu smacked Tang Fan. Dont tell me you act like this in the capital, too! When others become officials, they have prestige even if their rank isnt high, yet here you are, regressing the further you go in life! Even saying that, she felt a warmth in her heart. She had been apart from her little brother for years, yet he hadnt changed a bit, still being the one from her memory that could bring her joy. It was unclear to her how many times she had woken up with a start at night from it, but remembering the scenes of when she had yet to be married, entertaining her parents, always made her soak her pillow with tears. Thankfully, Tang Fan was still around. The man laughed. You dont understand, sis. We live until old age, and eat until old age. Human lives are only a brief couple tens of years. If others dont give you things, then you have to learn to find things for yourself! Only then can you live a life of goodness! Tang Yus heart leaped. She chewed on her brothers words several times, feeling that they had a deep implication. Their group talked and laughed, unwittingly coming to walk down most of the street. Tang Yu hadnt ridden a litter out, which made her a little3 lacking in strength now. How about this; Ill go to Sky of Bluegreen Clouds to rest for a bit, and you all can continue to walk around. You can just go there to find me later. The signboard for that very restaurant was right behind them. She also had maids at her side, so there was no risk of danger. Right as Tang Fan was wanting to nod, he heard Tang Yu gasp. That guy over there why is he staring at us so much? The instant she said that, Yan Li and the other Guard called out in pleasant surprise. Big brother! Looking over in shock, Tang Fan did indeed see a man standing beside a windmill that wasnt too far away. The other was wearing everyday clothes, but anyone that knew him could recognize him from one look at his figure and bearing. Since he was accompanying a woman and a child, it would be no good for Tang Fan to cast them to the side he had Yan Li go and lead Sui Zhou over. Even though there were a lot of people on the street, that was only a concern for regular people like Tang Fan and Tang Yu, while skilled people like Yan Li and Sui Zhou found no difficulty here. Yan Li quickly rushed over, saluted the other party, and was seen to talk with him a little, the joyous energy on his beaming face not needing to be described. Tang Yu was startled from seeing this. Who is that, Runqing? Do you want me to avoid suspicion? No need. Thats the Sui Zhou I told you about before, Sui Guangchuan. Tang Fan didnt even notice that he unconsciously had a happy smile on his face. Mister Tang was gentle and amiable, but he didnt smile like this towards just anyone he met. Tang Yu had never seen him smile like this towards any of the Hes, at the very least. So thats who it is! she exclaimed, seeing the light. Didnt you say that hes the Bastion Envoy now? Why did he come here? I have no idea. We havent seen each other ever since I left the capital. Tang Yu mentally calculated the days. That hasnt been that long. Going from when you left to today, thats only a little over half a month. You two arent newlyweds, but is the phrase like newlyweds after a short separation applying to you anyways? Getting ridiculed by his own sister, he touched his nose, too embarrassed to continue. While they talked, Sui Zhou and Yan Li had since come over to them. Why did you come here? Tang Fan asked with a smile. The instant that was said, one could tell how close they were. Even friends of any sort of familiarity would first cup their hands towards each other and exchange some pleasantries upon meeting, only after which would they get into the topic at hand. Rarely were they ever like how tang Fan was straight-to-the-point. At first listen, he seemed to have an interrogative undertone, but there was only happiness inside of his tone. Tang Yu had heard him talk about how he was pretty close with the Bastion Envoy, and had worried that her baby brother was being careless, stupidly getting used as a tool by someone. She knew he wasnt that ignorant, but as a big sister, she would inevitably worry about this and that for her brother like a parent would a child. Upon seeing Sui Zhou in real life, she noticed that the mans expression was stern, and he had a deep brightness in his eyes, not at all being like those vicious sorts. It was only after this that she calmed down slightly. She also saw that despite the other party not being forthcoming with his words and smiles, he looked at her brother with a soft enough gaze, severely differing from the sharpness he used to look at anyone else. Tang Yu knew that Tang Fan hadnt been exaggerating; the friendship between them was truly better than the average persons. Something happened, Sui Zhou answered. His eyes then landed upon Tang Yu and the even-smaller He Cheng. These two are? Tang Yu was fine, but receiving such a frigid gaze immediately made He Cheng timid, and he hid behind his mother. Yan Li smacked his own forehead. Look at me, completely forgetting to introduce you! These two are Don Tangs sister and nephew. Tang Yu gave a blessing-bow. This commoner greets you, Sir Sui. Sui Zhous expression softened a little, and he returned the courtesy. Runqing and I are like brothers. Theres no need to be so polite, big sister. Just treat me like your own. That utterance of big sister really made Tang Fan want to laugh. However, of the two people in front of him, one was complete serious in returning the courtesy, while the other didnt think anything was wrong. He quickly blanked his face. Tang Yu had heard that the Brocade Guard were domineering and aggressive, but when it came to Yan Li and Gongsun Yan, they were a bit arrogant to outsiders, yet always polite to Tang Fan and her. Now, the Bastion Envoy was here, but he was even more approachable, putting on no airs. She knew that Sui Zhou coming to Xianghe County meant that he had some business here, and that business was definitely related to Tang Fan, so she smiled lightly. Im a bit tired from shopping, so Im going to sit in the restaurant for a bit. I wont be able to accompany you. She also wanted to take He Cheng away to give them space, but Tang Fan hurriedly said, You can let Qilang stay with us! Its fine! Seeing Sui Zhou nod his agreement, Tang Yu left He Cheng behind, then took her maids into Sky of Bluegreen Clouds. Sui Zhou told Yan Li and Gongsun Yan to follow and protect her, in order to prevent people from knocking into her, while he and Tang Fan walked along the street with their smaller group. After noticing that He Cheng looked tired, Tang Fan picked him up, only to see Sui Zhou reach out and take him instead. Ill do it. Since this was the first time he had ever met Sui Zhou, He Cheng still had some caution, and dared not move a bit, held in his arms like a wooden babydoll. Amused at that, Tang Fan bought him a sugar dragon. He Cheng loved it too much to set it down, staring with wide eyes, unsure of whether to start biting down from the whiskers or the tail. You came alone? Tang Fan asked. Yes, was Sui Zhous answer, in his eternally-concise manner. After a bit of thought, he continued, Your house is bought. Its that Zhang family one. The other was elated. Thats great! My sister and Qilang will have a place to stay in, then. Sui Zhou was puzzled. Theyre going to the capital? Tang Fan sighed, and relayed all that had happened. He saw He Cheng listening calmly the whole time through, then pet his head. Do you want to live with your mom and uncle in the capital, Qilang? He Cheng nodded, whispering, Yes. Tang Fan smiled at him, then said to Sui Zhou, Patriarch He is quite reasonable. If He Lin is willing to let go, everything will be a lot easier. If he otherwise makes a big scene, my sisters reputation definitely wont be nice to hear in the outside world. Thats not hard. You have a solution? Tang Fan wondered. Sui Zhous lips hooked up. Just leave it to me. Tang Fan couldnt help but peer at him further. Sui Zhou looked back at him with a frozen face decorated with innocent eyes. As a Brocade Guard, having thick skin and a black heart was an elementary quality. He just knew that Sui Zhous so-called solution was definitely not any sort of above-board. Still, extraordinary people used extraordinary methods, and the other would definitely stay within propriety. Tang Fan didnt ask further on it. You coming here from the capital surely wasnt just to make a special trip looking for me, right? How do you know that it wasnt? Sui Zhou retorted. Tang Fan touched his nose, grinning. Im not that self-absorbed yet. The Bastion Office is so busy, and a man like you has clear distinctions between whats public and whats private. You definitely wouldnt rashly throw your work down to run off here, eh? The wisp of a smile appeared in Sui Zhous eyes. I did come with a message, but its related to you, too. The amount of times the other showed such an expression were not many, and it drew Tang Fans curiosity. What is it? Can you guess? the Bastion Envoy asked, with rare humor. Tang Fan gave it a thought. Theres no way it could be that because I offended Liang Wenhua last time, Head Vizier Wans kept that in mind, so he found some crime to charge me with and asked you to arrest me, right? No. Then does Ah-Dong have someone she likes and wants to marry off? Shes ten. Maybe its you thats getting married? Seeing his face go taut, Tang Fan poked fun at him. Dont keep me in suspense! Let me guess some more I think that you went to a brothel to experience a spring breeze, and ended up having a famous courtesan come to your door with an illegitimate child! I even said that it was related to you what do any of those guesses have to do with you? Sui Zhou asked, helpless. Tang Fan laughed aloud. Ill be acting as the kids uncle, you know? In spite of the Envoys cold face, he had no way to handle the off-kilter Mister Tang. You were originally supposed to receive the edict after your return, but I asked to take the message from His Majesty to bring it straight to you. That was completely outside of Tang Fans expectations, stunning him for a short moment before he could take in reality. Judging by your tone am I being promoted as an official? Sui Zhou showed a smile. And not a minor one. You pled for leniency on my behalf before the Emperor, and he reinstated my original post? It wasnt me. Someone else was a step quicker. His implication being that he had been wanting to plead for leniency from the get-go. Nearly no suspense was built up, as Tang Fan guessed it immediately. Wang Zhi? Out of the only two people that he knew that could directly face imperial countenance, and also be capable of pleading on his behalf, one was Sui Zhou, and the other was Wang Zhi. However, the latter had been at the Emperor and Noble Consorts sides since childhood, and Sui Zhou was inferior to him in terms of being able to dowse the Emperors mind. As expected, Sui Zhou nodded. Correct. How did he manage that? Tang Fan asked, still finding it a bit incomprehensible. We can discuss in detail when home. Sui Zhou had rushed over here from the capital, using nothing more than the name of being a messenger, just to see this man. Despite being coated in the dust of travel, the second he had caught sight of him, he quickly felt that being travel-weary wasnt so difficult to deal with. However, all those emotions that flowed through the heart were only flowing through the heart, never appealing to the mouth, because, at times, there were many things that did not need to be said aloud. Do you have a place to rest now? Tang Fan asked. Yes, an inn not too far ahead. Now that my sister wants to live apart from He Lin, it wouldnt be appropriate for me to keep staying at the Hes. Since youre here, how about I move over to stay with you? Sure. At some unknown point in time, He Cheng had dozed off as he laid in Sui Zhous hold. Chuckling, Tang Fan pet his head. The two headed back to find Tang Yu, had lunch at Sky of Bluegreen Clouds, then returned home. Patriarch He had just gotten back from a leisurely stroll in the garden, thinking to nap for a minute, when he heard a servant come to report that Tang Fan had brought a friend over to visit him. He only believed that the other was doing so for the separation topic, and sighed. What friend? He just wants to talk about separation again. Hes making it hard for one to live a peaceful life. He Xuan had coincidentally come to find his father for something on this day, and upon hearing this, he said, Why not just follow their wishes? Second brother is a man and not a woman, you know. He wont have to worry about getting a good candidate for remarriage. Wouldnt sister-in-law be the one at a disadvantage? If you keep blocking them, father, they wont recognize your good intent, and instead blame you. The Patriarch glared at him. Thats easier said than done. With your brothers virtues, what fitting family would be willing to marry their daughter to him? Your sister-in-law comes from a scholarly family, and isnt similar to women from smaller households. In my own opinion, your wifes own attitude falls short of hers, yet your brother doesnt seem to appreciate that. Qilang is young, while your brother is out-of-tune; he needs his mothers guidance all the more. He Xuan smiled slyly. Father, its the Second thats disappointing. Why direct your anger at me? Its not like you dont have other grandsons. The Eldest has two, and I have one. Why be focused on Qilang? If the other boys heard this, theyd definitely think you to be biased. Ignoring him, the Patriarch turned to the servant that had reported. Go invite them over. He then turned to He Xuan again. Tang Fan has no post, yet the Brocade Guards accompanying him demonstrate that he has people in Court. His reinstatement is only a matter of when. Even though youre not taking this seriously, your eldest brother is a fourth-rank official, but an abroad one, not a capital one. Abroad officials get a lot of greasy bribes, but their importance and speed of promotion is far inferior to capital ones. Back in the day, I wasnt selected to be a Hanlin entrant, so I could only go my whole life stopped at the step of being an abroad official. If our family can have more in-laws like Tang Fan, it would be beneficial for both you and your eldest brother in the future. Your second brother is a moron his life couldnt be easier, and yet hes quarreled so much with his wife! While he chided his youngest son, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou arrived. Patriarch He beamed. Have you eaten yet, Runqing? His tone was warm, as if the disagreement from yesterday had never happened. He then looked at the one beside Tang Fan. Who is this? Tang Fan smiled. This is my friend, the one that was just promoted to Bastion Envoy of the Northern Bastion Office; Sui Zhou, Guangchuan. He Ying was taken aback. He hadnt expected that as soon as he had described Tang Fans importance to his son on his end, Tang Fan would actually come to prove his own importance on the other end. So, its Envoy Sui! You truly are a young and promising one! In Sui Zhous presence, He Ying narrowly couldnt put his prestige as a retired third-rank official on display. Although his position was higher than his counterparts, this was a Brocade Guard. Ever since the Great Ancestor had established the Guard, the job had existed to intimidate all officials. Even with the two Depots around to split up power, that idea had never changed. Sui Zhou cupped his hands. Youve over-praised me, Lord He. Sui Zhou is bearing the responsibility of a messenger, so he came to visit me by-the-by, Tang Fan said with a smile. Once I brought you up, he said he would come visit you. This old man has been neglectful, He Ying answered cheerfully. Please, come into the hall to sit for tea. Tang Fan smiled. Thats not necessary. Its time for an afternoon rest for you, isnt it, Uncle? We will take our leave. The view of the garden is attractive regardless, so it would be our blessing to look at it more. How could the Patriarch ever be willing to let them free? If he could get in good with Sui Zhou, that would practically be netting an additional important connection. The older one gets, the less they nap. Theres no such thing as an afternoon rest, its just me leaning against pillows and staring at nothing. As you two have come, I, as an elder, will instead not be bored anymore! Come, come, I have top-tier cloud & mist, which I never easily bring out! Tang Fan glanced at Sui Zhou. Seeing the latter nod, he thus said to the Patriarch, Then well trouble you. He Ying told his youngest son to go steep tea, and smiled. Well walk a few loops around here, and hell call when the tea is ready. Ah, Runqing, didnt I tell you? Youre no outsider, so dont always be so polite. Since you like the scenery, you can just move over here, which will save you from being in that lonely bamboo courtyard. I had been wanting to prepare a guest bedroom for you here from the start, yet your Aunt said that you young people might not like to be confined. It was then that I had you set up alone in the bamboo courtyard. Tang Fan had taken He Xuans place in supporting him on the walk. After hearing him talk on and on, he laughed. The bamboo courtyard has a nice ambience, I rather like Aunts arrangement. Im not taking myself as an outsider at all, Uncle. Even if my sister and brother-in-law have no affinity, we ultimately still have the friendship from my fathers generation around, and I highly respect you as always. As he was winding the topic back around to this again, He Ying was more or less feeling helpless. My good nephew, since ancient times, harmony has been encouraged, not separation. This matter relates to your sisters lifelong happiness, and must be handled cautiously. I had set a betrothal agreement with your father back in the day, but it was no more than a verbal one; if I had wanted to go back on my word at the time, it would have only been a matter of one sentence. As I kept my promise, your father under the Nine Springs presumably doesnt wish to see this marriage destroyed. Tang Fans voice was neither hurried, nor slow, as gentle as babbling water. Your good faith of that day, I will never dare to forget, but as the saying goes, melons forcefully harvested are not sweet. At present, it isnt that my sister disdains her husband, but that her husband doesnt want a normal life. Even to my face, he still treated Qilang and her like that, so if Im not here, who knows how far hell go? Uncle, since things have come to this, let them split. Its the best option. Your brother-in-law is obsessed and lacking in enlightenment. Ill certainly teach him a good lesson. Your sister is a daughter-in-law of the Hes, and your fathers daughter; now that your father is gone, she is like my own daughter. The Hes will not mistreat her. I plan to have them move into the bamboo courtyard, then raise their monthly allowed to a hundred taels. Ill also have someone go buy back the dowry that your sister pawned. What do you say? I understand your intent, but you cant keep an eye on brother-in-law at all hours. With how old hes gotten, if hes still made no progress in life, then it wont matter what lessons his parents teach him. Instead of passing life awkwardly with the whole family, it would be better to make things easy for everyone by having the couple be no more. We would never be foes. He simply refused to let up. He Ying was a little vexed, feeling that Tang Fan was practically being tactless; he had done all he could to persuade him, yet the other was set in his path. He heard Tang Fan continue, I will be going back to the capital to report to the Ministry of Appointments in a few days. It would be best to settle this as soon as possible. In truth, if you insist with refusing separation, I still have the solution of having my sister and her husband reside in split households. Upon hearing that prior set of words, He Ying totally forgot to ask after the split households that had come later. Youre going to report back to the capital? This time, it was the never-speaking Sui Zhou that answered. His Majesty has ordered that Runqing be appointed as the Left Metropolitan Censor. Patriarch He was stunned. The Left Metropolitan Censor was an occupation in the Inspectorate. That, he knew. The question was, that position wasnt it truefourth-rank? He clearly recalled that prior to Tang Fans dismissal, he had only been a truefifth-rank Chief of the Ministry of Justice. After being dismissed, posts could be reinstated within half a month. In officialdom, that was nothing new the Patriarch had also seen quite a few get promoted after getting reinstated. He had been an official for most of his life and was no country hick, but the issue here was that he hadnt expected for Tang Fan to end up being such a lucky person. Many more people, after their dismissal, would basically have the fate of returning home to till fields. Tang Fan had been a minor, truefifth-rank official; if not for the aid of some high official, how could the Emperor have ever remembered the random scallion that he was? Patriarch He knew that the cause of this had to be someone intentionally speaking for Tang Fan, and that someone was not light in weight. Could it be this Bastion Envoy? In the blink of an eye, He Ying had his thoughts clearly sorted out, not at all like an elder approaching seventy. Thats truly a happy event! Runqing, Sir Sui and you must eat at the home tonight! Ill have the chef cook some dishes to celebrate for you! Your sister and brother-in-law should know, too, so that they can be happy with you! Brother-in-law would probably be even more unhappy hearing the news, Tang Fan thought. Maybe hed even think that somebody was deliberately showing off to him. Uncle, dont busy yourself with that. Firstly, brother-in-laws emotions are in turmoil, and this news will only worsen his mental ailment. Secondly, this is not a major event, so there shouldnt be a big display for it. Thirdly, I wanted to tell you that since Guangchuan and I are so close, I want to move over to where hes staying. He Ying was experienced with age, having made an association with Tang Fans recent proposal of split households, yet hadnt known that the other was taking this opportunity to sever their relationship with the Hes. Mentally, he had to sigh; if the Second wasnt a disappointment, how would things have gotten to todays mess? Truthfully, he could stand at Tang Fans point of view and understand why his reaction was so intense. The Tang parents were passed, there was no other family to rely on, and the siblings were all that was left. Tang Fan was someone that cherished sisters, so he would definitely unflinchingly stand up for his. However, regardless of his understanding, as the Patriarch of the Hes, it didnt matter whether it was separation or a household split; neither were suggestions he liked. As was obvious, if they came to pass, the Tangs and Hes would have a clear boundary drawn, and Tang Fan would certainly not step up if anything happened to the Hes. Smiling, He Ying played dumb. Thats not an urgent matter. Since Sir Sui and you are friends, he isnt an outsider. He can move into the bamboo courtyard with you. He brought other people with him, so the courtyard wont be enough for them. Furthermore, Brocade Guards have responsibilities and secret orders, which you know makes that not too convenient. Sui Zhou had come here to give Tang Fan a decree, and that was it. There were no secret orders. And yet, Tang Fan bullied the Patriarch, who had no inside information, wielding chicken feathers like arrows and shooting off nonsense. The second he was done, he glimpsed Sui Zhous fake smile, but thick-skinnedly acted like nothing was wrong. Receiving his warning, He Ying remembered his dread of the Brocade Guard, and automatically jolted, his smile awkward. Thats fine, then, do as you like. But you simply must come over for dinner! Dont treat this old man like an outsider! Tang Fan couldnt refuse, and thus agreed. At the same moment, He Xuan sent someone to inform them that the tea was ready. He Ying brought the two to the middle hall for tea, then only chatted about trite things, never bringing the recent discussion up. The instant they left, He Xuan noticed that his fathers expression was poor. Whats wrong, father? Werent things fine just now? Tang Fan is going to move out, He Ying said dejectedly. He Xuan sighed in relief. Oi, I thought something happened. If he wants to move out, let him. Our He family serves good food and drink, yet he isnt satisfied. Hes nothing more than someone that feels hes associated with the Brocade Guard and is just putting on airs. He Ying shook his head. What do you know? He isnt intending to mock the Hes, hes wanting to sever his connection with us to prevent word getting out that he owes us anything. Hes just like his father friendly-seeming, yet actually somewhat haughty in his bones, someone that cant be interacted with for long. Its impossible to tell. He Xuan was unconcerned. Father, you shouldnt force the thing with the second branch. Really, looking at them makes me feel upset for them. If they want separation, let them go! Our family wont cease to exist without Tang Fan, so why do you have to be concerned about him? Hes been ordered back, and will be promoted to Left Metropolitan Censor. Huh? He Xuan was similarly dumbstruck. Did he specifically find someone to come lie to you just so hed be able to bring his sister away from us? Lie, your mouth! Could that be so casually lied about?! He Ying ruthlessly smacked him on the back of his head. He said that if we dont separate, he wants split households! He Xuan rubbed the back of his head. You agreed, then? No. He Ying sighed. I dont think dragging things out will work, I just hope that I can drag it out enough until his return to the capital. At that time, Ill have your second brother admit his mistake, and then this matter will be considered unlidded. He Xuan disapproved. Would he be willing? That short remark caused the Patriarch to wordlessly look up at the sky, shortly after which he viciously stated, If he isnt, Ill have to make him be! That same night, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou remained in the He home for dinner. They indeed received hospitality and entertainment. Because He Lin was also there, and they all wanted to avoid him losing it, they tacitly didnt mention the subject of separation, nor of Tang Fans promotion, chattering to the end about some amusing stories of no importance. One meal finally ended happily for the host and guests. Afterwards, Tang Fan let his sister know of the circumstances, packed his things, and brought Qian Sanr and the rest with him in moving out of the bamboo courtyard overnight, then checking into the inn Sui Zhou was staying at. The translator says: Hey, maybe I can finally stop calling Mr. Tang a minor, whatever-rank official. Authors mini-theatre: Once Sui Zhou saw Tang Fan with an unfamiliar woman, he seemed to hear the sound of his own glass heart breaking. These two are? he asked, expression blank as he looked at Tang Yu and He Cheng. Yan Li smacked himself on the forehead. Look at me, completely forgetting to introduce you! These two are Don Tangs sister and nephew. Tang Yu gave a blessing-bow. This commoner greets you, Sir Sui. Sui Zhou: Big sister! Dont be so polite! (*^__^*) CH 81 This assignment of Sui Zhous was half-public, half-private, so he stayed alone in the inn without subordinates. The second Tang Fan came over, Yan Li and Gongsun Yan naturally followed him in the move. Despite being close to the capital, this area was ultimately not the capital, meaning the inn had many empty rooms and Tang Fan didnt have to cram into one room with Sui Zhou like he had before the bed wasnt big to begin with, so two grown men sleeping on it would be a bit of a travesty. Staying in a room alone would obviously be the most ideal option. Still, for the sake of ease in speaking with Sui Zhou by nighttime candlelight, Tang Fan chose the room neighboring his. The difference between an attendant and a master was that while Qian Sanr was helping with the luggage and getting the room in order, Mister Tang could justifiably laze around, thus bringing a plate of food over to find Sui Zhou for a chat. Even though he had been bestowed with a noble title, Sui Zhou had maintained his own daily routine, following simplicity, acting practically, and never spending much time dressing up his outward appearance; the current capital trend of using ribbons strung with jade to tie up ones bun was unseen on him. The most glittery and valuable item in his room was likely the spring-gilt sabre and its sharkskin scabbard that he had placed on the table. While he was walking out from behind a screen, having recently bathed, he noticed Tang Fan holding a roubing dripping with oil in one hand and feeling out his sabre that had drunk blood countless times with the other, inquisitively studying the patterns on its surface. That blade had kept Sui Zhou company through uncountable difficulties and hardships, dithering about the fringe of life and death. He had quite a deep affection for it. This wasnt to the point where he was someone who lived and died with his sabre, but if anyone else was eating something while messing with it, Count Sui would definitely turn hostile. This man was an exception, of course. Sui Zhou looked at what the other was eating. Its late. Are you not afraid of stomach troubles from eating something so greasy? Tang Fan waved him off. Its fine, I told the waiter to bring a pot of hot tea to break up the grease. Sui Zhou was a tiny bit exasperated. When youre not able to sleep after drinking it, dont come bug me. If I cant sleep, then well talk by candlelight, Tang Fan answered with a grin. Im really happy to see you here! Even if I dont have any tea, Im almost positive that I wouldnt be able to sleep tonight. Although he knew he was joking, Sui Zhou couldnt keep down the slight uptick of his mouth, delight spreading through the bottom of his heart. Tang Fan pushed the plate towards him. Try one, its purportedly Xianghes specialty roubing. I think it tastes pretty good. The waiter just had the cook make them, so theyre still warm. Sui Zhou hadnt originally been a glutton, but after interacting with this man for a long time, he had habitually come to eat a bit more whenever he heard his recommendations. The Xianghe roubing had been fried golden on both sides, a bit crispy when crunched. The dough had clearly been rolled out quite thin, but it was stuffed full with filling, each bite filled with fresh, tender mincemeat mixed with bits of green onion. In Tang Fans opinion, the roubing this inn had was better than the He cooks. Him moving in overnight hadnt been in vain. Soon after, the waiter brought in the brewed tea. The leaves had been bought by Tang Fan outside, since this little inn definitely didnt have anything good. A cup of hot tea downed in the belly, a bite of crispy-skinned, tender roubing then taken. Much of human life had this feeling of nothing being better than this. Of course, someone like He Lin would refuse it, even if he could be like so for a lifetime. The two ate roubing and chatted by light, which had a special sort of atmosphere to it. Tang Fan was still slightly confused. When I was dismissed, His Majesty certainly had a pretty terrible impression of me. How could I contradictorily be promoted in a brief half-months time? How did Wang Zhi manage it? It was because of your painting. After Wang Zhi had returned to the capital, he had first gone to Huai En, passed on what Tang Fan said prior, and gave him the mans painting, requesting that he look for a chance to present it and win Tang Fan a good impression in the Emperors presence. Who understood the Emperor most in the world? It was not his mother, Dowager Zhou, but Consort Wan, else she would not have such a firm grasp on his heart. However, apart from her, the eunuchs who attended his side all day long also had to be counted. There had been no need for Wang Zhi to say more, as Huai En had quickly grasped his idea, and nodded to express that he would do his best. Once he had handed the matter over to Huai En, Wang Zhi then left capital, heading straight for Datong to continue his career as a Military Supervisor. Having undergone that long discussion with Tang Fan, he had already realized that he couldnt remain abroad for too long and needed to get back to the capital as soon as he could, else the turf he had painstakingly built up would be offered up to someone else. However, he couldnt return just because he wanted to, and would at least have to find an opportune moment for him to bring it up. For now, he would have to continue eating sand in Datong. Two fronts had happened simultaneously. Heeding Huai Ens advice, the Crown Prince had found an opportunity to humbly apologize to the Emperor, stating that he should not have privately established an incense table to venerate his mother. Even though it had stemmed from filial piety, it violated the palaces roles, and deserved punishment. He had also harked back to the scene when he had met his father for the very first time, speaking from a place of emotion, unable to keep quiet tears from falling. The Emperors own former feelings of badly longing for an heir, yet not getting one for many years were incited, as well. The father and son had wept for a time; the sky cleared after the rain, and everything was over. Regardless of what outsiders saw, the Crown Prince had finally born through the present crisis, for the time being. Those looking forward to the Crown Princes misfortune, and those nearby watching like tigers, had believed that he was going to be finished, only for him to preserve his tottering position while no one was looking. Great plans sometimes seemed clumsy. What looked to be the most inelegant method had actually been the most capable of touching the Emperors soft insides. Tang Fan had been right Chenghua was not a terrible person, actually being soft at heart. Someone like that could only be moved emotionally. Consort Wan happened to have set her sights on that fact, which was the only reason why she stood at an untouchable position. Regardless of whoever tried to plead on the Crown Princes behalf, that would be inferior to him going to seek the Emperor out himself. When Wang Zhi had relayed Tang Fans words before, Huai En hadnt expected that his method would actually work, yet had embraced the idea of giving it a shot, telling the Prince to go along with it. Now that it had actually had results, deeds were to be repaid. He had to fulfill the promise he had made. Utilizing the Emperors good mood on a random day he had taken up a brush for painting, Huai En nonchalantly mentioned that he had a painter friend. His paintings couldnt be said to have high-reaching messages, but were always abundant with fun, which he himself quite liked. Despite Chenghua not placing importance on all sorts of things and being negligent towards politics, he was an authentic master of the arts of brush. At the beginning of his ascension, he had drawn A Circle of Harmony, which harbored a ruler and his subjects being of one mind, an attainment in painting major officials have all come to recognize. Were he to one day not be the Emperor, he would probably be able to make a living selling paintings. His curiosity piqued by Huai Ens statement, Chenghua quickly asked him who the man was. Huai En kept him in suspense for a long time, then let him know that the mans name was Tang Fan. Even though he was quite forgetful, the Emperor still had some memory of that name. With a minute of thought, he asked whether or not he was the one dismissed last time. Huai En had affirmed, then quickly admitted his fault, saying that he knew the rule about internal officials not interacting with external subjects. In the past, he had merely admired the others painting, and it was only now that he knew that he had no post that he had felt at ease contacting him. Chenghua had not reproached Huai En, instead repeatedly requesting that he bring Tang Fans painting over for him to see. As the Sealwielder eunuch of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management that had come from an official family, Huai En had first-grade eyesight, those able to receive his praise certain to not be inferior. The Emperor normally wasnt interested in much, but painting was one such thing upon hearing that Tang Fan painted well, he had immediately grown antsy, urging Huai En to get him Tang Fans newest work from his collection and give it to him for assessment. Huai En had then gone back, fetched Hen Watching Her Chick, and presented it to His Majesty. Due to Tang Fans painting time having been limited, the brushwork was a bit rushed and certainly missing a degree of sophistication, but regardless of whatever color usage or meaning the above-mentioned had, it was just as Huai En had said; it showed an exuberant vitality, causing one warmth in the heart to see. It was also exactly to the Emperors tastes. At this moment, Wang Zhis brilliance was on clear display. He had forbidden Tang Fan from painting harsh snow precisely because, in spite of that style of paintings having lofty symbolism, plum blossoms and chrysanthemums were eternal self-representations of the literati, portraying a scene of themselves being above the norm, and of lofty ambitions. Had Chenghua seen such content, he would definitely have thought that Tang Fan was harboring anger at his dismissal. Hen Watching Her Chick was different, though. The vibrant pigment of the wisterias brimmed with life. The hen had walked a little far off, but she was still stopping often and looking back, as if worried that the chick wasnt matching her pace. As for the chick, it was just raising its head to look at the wisterias hanging above it, trying hard to peck them like it wanted to see how they tasted. Its adorable naivety drew a smile. Huai En had lamented near him, The reason why this servant was particularly fond of this painting was none other than the emotions of the hens loving care within it. Is that not like the ardent hopes you have for the Crown Prince, Your Majesty? Seeing the Emperors face slightly shift, he knew that he had heard him, and smiled. This servant has never been a father, but when I was a child, I grew up under my parents guidance. I once skipped classes then, and my father beat me with a rod. Chenghua became intrigued. You skipped classes? Yes. At the time, there was a big annual opera show on the first in our hometown. I and a few friends planned to go see it, then faked sick to skip school, but my father caught me red-handed when I came home. The beating was so bad, I couldnt get out of bed for three months! Huai Ens father had been appointed as a truethird-rank Grand Ostler back in the day, his clan-lineage uncle as Henans Magistrate, and his clan-lineage elder brother as the Assistant Minister of War, which had made them a family of officials. However, because that brother had frequently admonished the then-Emperor Xuanzong to not waste his knowledge, which was causing him to be poor, Xuanzong had held a grudge, personally detained, then interrogated him, in order to make him confess his own mistake. In the end, Huai Ens brother had been stubborn, insisting that he had made no mistake to the Emperors face, saying that he should not discard civil affairs for the sake of hunting trips. Enraged, Xuanzong had immediately ordered for corporal punishment to be enacted on him, whereupon he had been beaten to death. His hatred still not abated, Xuanzong had also seized all of the Dais assets and entered them into the untouchable registry. As Huai En had been too young, he had been directly supplied to the palace, then castrated to act as a eunuch. Chenghua knew of that history, and had felt quite sorry for him. If nothing had happened with your brother, you would never have entered the palace at all. Speaking of which, our grandfather had really gone a bit overboard. Emperors rarely said that they made mistakes; even if they were wrong, they still werent wrong. Saying that their ancestors had made mistakes was ever scarcer. Chenghua completely differed from past generations of Emperors, though, speaking and acting more like how commoners did. Therefore, in spite of his multitude of faults, as someone that had watched him grow up, Huai En much preferred this soft-hearted, talkative Emperor. That was because, in his view, this Son of Heaven had a good point that his father and grandfather hadnt: benevolence. To compare, Chenghua was most like his great-grandfather, Renzong, who had ruled for but a year. Hearing this, the corners of Huai Ens eyes had gone damp, but his expression was placid. The past is the past. This servant dares not comment rashly on Xuanzong. I merely wanted to tell Your Majesty that parents of this world all hope for their childrens success, and fear that they will learn bad habits, such conflict inevitably making their punishments a bit harsher at times. At the end of things, fathers and sons are still fathers and sons, the same as Hen Watching Her Chick; no matter how far ahead the hen goes, she will always turn back to look at her chick. Seemingly touched, Chenghua had had to nod, sighing. Through art, the heart can be seen. Someone that could make a painting like this certainly cant be evil. It seems that our dismissal of his position was a bit too hasty. Your Majestys words are precious, Huai En had quickly said. You said that he had fault, so he had fault. Where is there any rashness to be spoken of? All weather is the monarchs grace. A qualified subject should not be concerned solely of whether he receives a rulers rewards or admonishment, but rather should think about what he can do for the Dynasty and its citizens. Chenghua had side-eyed him. Thats enough, you old coot. We smashed an inkstone as a favor to a Deputy Chief named Lin something, so why act in front of us now? Wasnt this your roundabout way of having us appreciate this painting just to plead for mercy for this Tang Fan? Its precisely because youre such a people-pleaser that causes outsiders to believe you to be easy to talk to, thus they all come to make requests of you! Huai En had smiled apologetically. You misunderstand, Your Majesty. Its different this time around; Tang Fan really didnt put me up to this, it was my heart that couldnt bear it. Just like youve said, seeing a painting is like seeing the artist. This servant viewed his painting, and despite it being incomparable to yours, when it comes to feeling, it has some whimsicality, a different song with the same effect. Chenghua had felt similar. What he liked most in life was to live in leisure, and what he loathed most was being forced to do certain things by others. If one really could see the heart through the art, Tang Fan was, in certain areas, quite a bit similar to him. The Emperor had too many people he had to meet and things he had to handle every day. Tang Fan hadnt done anything to make him hate him to the bone, so he would never be that unhappy with him. Now, with this painting, he had quite a good impression of him. Precisely because they understood the Emperor far too much, this step was one Huai En and Wang Zhi had taken on the right path. Where is Tang Fan now? Chenghua had asked him. I heard that he left to visit his married sister. He isnt in the capital. The Emperor had smiled. Well, last time, Guangchuan ran over here and stood outside all morning for this Tang Fan. We felt it too awkward to see him, but I can now give him a justification. We seem to recall that many have left the Inspectorate? Meng Yangxu announced his retirement, Mu Hongbo departed for Nanjing, and Yan Xi was dismissed. Because the Inspectorate was responsible for the duties of inspecting all officials and reporting illegal activities, it had a lot more personnel than other departments, the number of Supervising Censors alone reaching one-hundred and ten. On top of that, none of the few apex positions of Left and Right Capital Censors, Left and Right Deputy Censors, and Left and Right Metropolitan Censors had a set personnel count in other words, there were no rules limiting them, so the Emperor could set them based on definite needs. Under normal circumstances, there were only one each of the Lefts and Rights, of course. Ever since the Great Ancestor had founded the censor Branches, their job overlapped with the Inspectorates, but the latter was still one of the most important departments in the Great Ming, wielding great power as it ruled on matters big and small. Which bureau did Tang Fan work in before? Chenghua had asked. We recall that he was only denounced for bungling an assignment in the Ministry of Justice? Your memory is good, Your Majesty. He was indeed in the Ministry of Justice. At the time, someone denounced him for manslaughter of a subordinate while on a case, but whether it was deliberate or a mistake still warrants discussion. The Emperor pondered to himself. Yuan Weng brought this up to us last time. Having him return to that Ministry would be ill-suited, as I must give Yuan Weng some face have him go to the Inspectorate, then. Left Metropolitan Censor, of truefourth-rank thats not too bad, is it? Huai En had smiled. How could that be bad? It would practically be his boon! Chenghua had frowned right back. We are giving you and Guangchuan face. If anyone else came and begged me, no such wondrous thing would be happening! We know that you are soft at heart, but pay extra attention from now on. Dont just help anyone that comes to your door with whatever they ask! Hed had no clue that Wang Zhi was sandwiched in the middle of this, nor that the Crown Prince was involved in it. Huai En naturally wasnt going to add problems on, so he had simply repeatedly admitted his faults as he coaxed the Emperor into showing a smile anew. With the matter settled like so, Sui Zhou had learned the news after being summoned into the palace two days later. Previously, he had been preparing for a time when the Emperors anger had gone to plead on Tang Fans behalf; he hadnt expected that Wang Zhi and Huai En would act so swiftly, handling it silently. No matter what, though, Tang Fan having such luck could only make him happy. After explaining all of that, he said to Tang Fan, I know that you didnt kill Yin Yuanhua, but with Wan An, Liang Wenhua, and the rest of thems prior defamation, whats right and wrong has already been muddied in the eyes of others. Rather than go back to the Ministry of Justice, its better for you to go to the Inspectorate and start fresh. Tang Fan smiled. I understand, thank you. Guangchuan, to tell the truth, me being so happy today isnt solely because I heard this good news youve brought, but because I could see you. It is said that life has four joys, long droughts end with sweet rain, old friends are met in strange places this wont do. Ill get the waiter to order the cook to make two small dishes! Itll only do if we drink a few cups down tonight! Sui Zhou glanced at the completely empty plate. This is you wanting to eat, right? The seen-through Mister Tang put on a face that was as innocent-looking at He Chengs. Such poppycock! I didnt see you move your chopsticks much at the Hes tonight. That food wasnt really to my taste either, actually. It was too salty. Finding his soulmate at last, Tang Fan immediately started spitting out complaints. You dont even know! Ive long been accustomed to making late-night snacks with Ah-Dong and you when Im at home, but the He cook doesnt light the ovens at night, while the restaurants in Xianghe close early because it isnt as bustling as the capital. Ill want to eat, but find no place to! He likely didnt notice that he was saying that so spoiled-like, he had crossed over into whining, which caused Sui Zhou some exasperation as well as amusement. He couldnt resist reaching out and patting him on the head. Its so late, the cook must be resting. Ill go cook for you. Tang Fan was a bit embarrassed by that action, after which he thought about how he was on the verge of getting good food to eat, and couldnt help but start laughing. This is too shameful. You just got here today, yet you need to act as a cook! If my sister knew of this, she would definitely say that Im not being considerate to you! Hearing Sir Tangs fake and pretentious tone, Count Sui inwardly rolled his eyes, then got up to head for the kitchen. There was a lot of foodstuffs leftover. Sui Zhou had Tang Fan get the fire started while he washed and chopped vegetables, planning to make eggplant with minced garlic and kung pao chicken. For the sake of being able to eat a bit sooner, Tang Fan took to stoking the fire with never-before-seen passion and seriousness, not noticing that there were some sly pairs of eyes outside the door that had gotten there who-knew-when. Seeing Sui Zhou quickly turning around and discovering them, Yan Li, who headed the group of three, quickly showed a toadying smile. Brother, we didnt eat enough tonight, either! *** A conventional saying was that good things never left the door, while rotten things would spread a thousand li out. In reality, this good thing spread outside faster than anything else had. The news that Tang Fan was about to be promoted to Left Metropolitan Censor quickly circulated Xianghe County, where even Sui Zhous identity was exposed along with it. The inn they were staying in immediately had its front yard become as busy as a market, Magistrate Weng also scrambling over himself. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were unbelievably annoyed, forced to hole up in the inn with Yan Li and Gongsun Yan standing as door guardians, blocking all the riffraff. Still, while Tang Fan could refuse to see anyone else, he couldnt not see Magistrate Weng, as the man had not only come to get in good, but also for the Wei case. Although Tang Fan had not yet officially taken office at present, Sui Zhou bringing the edict here was the equivalent to his appointment already being in effect. No progress in the least had been made in the Wei case. Wei Ce had been getting on the Magistrates nerves by questioning him every couple of days. Lamentably, the latter clearly wanted to ascertain the truth, but in Wei Ces eyes, he must have accepted the Chai familys bribes to be willing to shelter the murderers in this day and age, it was difficult to be a good and all-seeing official. The Magistrate had had no other option but to come seek help from Tang Fan. Before, when Tang Fan had no post, he still had some misgivings, but now that he was requesting aid from a superior official, he didnt appear to be humiliated at all. Tang Fan asked him how the case was coming along. Magistrate Weng shook his head. I cant find anything out about the Wei son. Explain the Chai siblings to me; since theyve admitted to murdering Wei Zhuniang, admitting to killing the son would really just be the difference of one life and two lives, yet they wont for the life of them. There must be something else amiss here. That was why this humble official has stubbornly refused to close the case, but I fear that Wei Ce will lose patience, take a trek across Xianghe County, and report to Shuntian Prefecture! Youve done well, Tang Fan praised. This is how things should be before the details of a case are clear. Only by remaining unshaken by outside forces will one handle things fairly. Previously, they had still been peers of the same level, but upon meeting again, the Magistrate had to self-appellate as this humble official. Such was how officialdom was; those with attainments came in first, and who had seniority in the officials scene was not necessarily whichever official was older. This blatantly showed that one either had poor luck, or poor skill. In Tang Fans opinion, amongst all the people he had ever met, Magistrate Wengs skill was fair, at least able to be considered in the upper-tiers, and he also had a principled personality. His officials luck was just awfully poor, leaving him a common seventh-rank official at forty years of age. Magistrate Weng smiled painfully. I wont have a way to keep going like that, though. Wei Ce is of County Honorate achievement and has been in the business region for many years, meaning he has some connections in officialdom. If the higher-ups send inquiries down, this humble official wont be able to explain myself easily. Ill have to quickly rush to get the trail before Ill be okay. Ah, look at what an official I am Im obviously acting for his familys own good, yet he so very kindly takes me for granted, pressuring me to close the case! We dont need to ask him for his understanding, we just need to be worthy of the worlds conscience, Tang Fan consoled. Theres no need for you to worry, either. The Shuntian Prefect is my senior brother, so Ill tell him when I get back. Your responsibility wont get looked into for this. Brother Guangyuan, if you dont sing, then youre done, but as soon as you do, youll shock the world; if you dont fly, then youre done, but as soon as you do, youll soar. This is so for officials. Dont get discouraged because of the difficulties in front of you. Thinking through how the newly-appointed Left Metropolitan Censor before him seemed to have faintly divulged his intent to support him, Magistrate Weng couldnt help but be elated. Quickly, he got up and bowed. That this humble official could meet you, Sir, is really three lifetimes worth of blessings! Tang Fan smiled as he helped him up. What is this? Wherever a pearl goes, it will always shine. If you sincerely put your all into your work, that will always show on the surface, too, dont you think? Magistrate Weng nodded on repeat, no lack of excitement on his face. Having woken up, he did not forget his proper business at last. Sir, do you have any orders for this case? Tang Fan shook his head. The clues are too few. Even gods wouldnt be able to do anything about that. Find a time to go to the Wei home for a look; Ill speak with Wei Ce in passing to make him be a little patient and more empathetic to you. If youre willing to step forward, Sir, that would be best, the Magistrate replied gratefully. This humble official will send someone to let Wei Ce know. With the twos appointment time for their return to the Weis set, Magistrate Weng took his leave. The inns waiter witnessed that he had come in with a face of worries, yet had left in high spirits, and clicked his tongue in astonishment. On the Hes side, Patriarch He had formerly planned to drag out the days, and prepared to personally take He Lin over to apologize to Tang Fan. He thought to relinquish his own old dignity, which ought to make the other feel it too awkward to ask for his sister to leave the Hes again. Unexpectedly, before the one in question even showed up, He Lin had already come over and brought up splitting households on his own initiative. Shocked, Patriarch He asked him if he had a brain hemorrhage. As was known, He Lin hadnt even agreed to separation prior to this. This sudden change in attitude was really weird. However, He Lin made not a peep. No matter how the Patriarch tried to interrogate him, he wouldnt open his mouth, not mentioning much of the humiliation in his heart. This matter had been discussed two days ago. Even though none of the Hes had mentioned Tang Fans promotion to him, He Lin was not a woman who couldnt go out the door; he always went out, which resulted in him hearing about it from the mouths of strangers. How much more depressed he became then did not need to be explained. He had been frustrated over and over again on his own end, while his brother-in-law was getting promoted on his. Someone being better could infuriate another to death. In contrast, those friends of his joked to his face, saying that since he was going to have a major official for a brother-in-law in the future, he wouldnt have to fear not being able to raise his head in the presence of other He members. He knew well that they probably didnt know that Tang Yu wanted to separate from him, but every single time he heard stuff like that, he felt like someone was smacking him in the face, the pain burning. Seeing him sullen, those friends had said that they would take him somewhere that could eliminate the pressure on him. He Lin believed that they were going to take him to a brothel, so he had furrowed his brow and refused, but they had just said that it wasnt that, insisting upon towing him off. Once they arrived there, he then discovered that they had brought him to a gambling den. Sighting this noisy environment that was an affront to culture made him rather ashamed at first, but, very quickly, after some tiny wins, he gradually began to get the thrill of gambling. Money especially came in faster than all else. As long as he could win a few more times, he wouldnt need to impatiently wait for that tiny bit of silver issued each month. As long as he gave thought to the idea that even if the imperial exams were a no-go, he could still be loaded and have repute before his family, he would feel bursts of excitement. That feeling was no lesser than the one of finishing a sages tome. Yet, after a winning streak of over a hundred taels, his luck appeared to run dry, and he started losing money. Already hooked, he naturally refused to accept this, just like all other gamblers of the world, each one thinking to turn their fortunes around. Embracing the ideology of once I win my money back, Ill stop, He Lin lost all of the gains he had won. At that point, the people in the den offered to lend him money of their own volition, saying that because he was a Don of the Hes, and the He family was renowned in the county, the first three hundred taels he borrowed wouldnt be charged interest. Already red-eyed with murder, He Lin hesitated for a good minute, but still grit his teeth and borrowed the coin. However, once he started with the borrowing, he couldnt stop. If he won, then he wanted to win more, and if he lost, then he wanted to win it back, not even realizing it. When the gambling den workers set a stack of IOUs summing up to five-thousand taels in front of him, he was struck completely stupid. Five-thousand taels was not a small amount. He certainly didnt have it, himself. But would he have to request it from his father, or his wife? He felt like just killing him would be better. When that time came, his prestige being non-existent notwithstanding, he would likely become the laughingstock of Xianghe once word of this got out. In result, after he said that that charge wouldnt be paid back unto his death, the dens owner didnt kill him, nor even beat him, instead leading him to someone. Seeing the others face, He Lin was first astonished, then beyond angry. All of this was your plan?! The translator says: On this day, we remember Lin Luangua or whatever his name was. Guangyuan, despite its similarity to Guangchuan, doesnt share the same character. Guangyuan is roughly distant light, while Guangchuan is wide river. CH 82 The one before him was none other than Tang Fan. Upon hearing his interrogative question, he only smiled, not saying anything. Seeing that he was still grinning, He Lin grit his teeth, itching to throw himself over and bite him. However, someone else was seated next to him, gripping the hilt of a spring-gilt sabre and staring at him icily, which caused him to forcibly tamp down his anger, too afraid to cause trouble. What do you even want?! he squeezed out from between the cracks in his teeth. Tang Fan shook his head. Brother-in-law, this isnt about what I want. You need to ask yourself what you want. Honestly speaking, despite his cleverness, Tang Fan would never have thought of such a morally lacking plan as getting He Lin to lose money via gambling. When Sui Zhou had readily taken the matter over, he had been extraordinarily relieved, as he knew that Sui Zhou definitely had a solution. What he hadnt expected was that, a few days later, Sui Zhou would bring him to a gambling den and say that he was about to watch a good show. As a result, once He Lin was in front of him, Tang Fan understood it all. Slightly conflicted, he said nothing; Sui Zhous plan was really something else. What do I want? Dont you all just want to extort money out of me with this?! He Lin raged. Tang Fan felt that this brother-in-law of his had really thrown his all into the imperial exams without delving into street smarts, so it was little wonder that he had easily fallen into this trap. He smiled lightly. You and I are in-laws. Why would I extort you? Before anything else, lets talk about my sister and nephew. I wont beat around the bush with you, either; agree to split households, and we can write this off with one stroke, where Ill help you repay the gambling money. How about it? He Lin finally grasped their plan, letting out a cold laugh. And if I dont? If you dont, those IOUs will be sent straight to Patriarch He, whereupon the entire household will know that you, Second Lord of the Hes, went out and gambled away five-thousand taels, the other replied, unhurried. Not only will the Hes know, but all of Xianghe County will, too. With how much you cherish your plumage, shouldnt you be happy about this occurrence? He Lin was angered to the point that he clenched his fists tight. You really are contemptible and shameless! How could I have been so blind as to marry the Tangs daughter back in the day?! Tang Fans smiled faded. Do you not feel terrible saying something like that? Were it not for your poor treatment of my sister and nephew, why would I have insisted in getting them to leave? My father wanting his daughter to marry into your family was not so that you could step all over her. Had my sister not abided by the betrothal promise of our father and instead married into a small family, would she not be much happier than she is now? How have I treated them poorly? Has the He family ever shorted them any food or clothing?! He Lin still tried to justify himself. Tang Fan raised his brows. Is the He family yours? Are you the one providing them food and clothing? He Lin spluttered half to death. But, Tang Fan didnt want to wrangle with him any longer. What would be the significance in winning on this subject? As a man, you should frankly get a move on. Do you consent to the splitting of households, or not? If you dont, Ill personally go seek out Patriarch He myself. He Lin clenched his teeth audibly, only to find that even if he glared murderously at the other party, he didnt feel it at all. After a long silence, he answered dispiritedly, I consent. Tang Fan nodded. Thats good. Ill have to trouble you with going to talk to the Patriarch, as tied-up bells need someone to tie them up in the first place. Me going to say as much would be inferior in usefulness to you doing it. Thus had been the total sequence of events for why Patriarch He had seen his son come up and agree to the household split of his own volition. He Lin would, naturally, never tell the Patriarch his reason of losing five-thousand taels that he couldnt repay, instead choosing words that were pleasant to hear. Since she wants to leave, let her leave, as no matter what, its not a separation, and Qilangs surname will still be He. Now that Tang Fan is promoted and of the capital, Im afraid that if I dont agree, he will harbor a grudge, and perform some trick against the Eldest. For the sake of the peace of all our family, please allow them to, father. The Patriarch smiled angrily. Youre still able to think of your elder brother? Why have I never seen you be so righteously principled before now, huh? Not happy to hear that, He Lins face sank. Father, you prefer the Eldest, and mother prefers the Third. Since my youth, I, the Second, have been in the middle, and cannot obtain any gains whatsoever. Now that Im being considerate to the Eldest, you instead suspect my intentions? Tell me, if the households are to be split, how? Isnt the money in your second branch all your wifes dowry? Do you even have any sort of capital to supply her with? Are you going to let her walk out with my grandson empty-handed? What will outsiders think of our family, then? He Lin didnt make a sound. Differing from Tang Fans breed of impoverished capital official, Patriarch He had been an abroad official for decades, and had made quite a lot of familial capital. The Hes were also a local influential clan, where one or two tenths of the countys farmlands were theirs, or tilled under their name. Those were fixed estates of the Hes, not He Lins, though. While he worried not for food and clothing, when it came to personal items, he really didnt have anything aside from the books in his room. Had he not been born into the Hes, but a commoner family, he likely would have long fallen into poverty. Looking at how he was, the Patriarchs long-accumulated anger was triggered, and he waved his hand like he was swatting a fly. Fine! Go outside and wait for me to think this over! Do it as soon as possible, He Lin had to say, Tang Fan and the rest will soon return to the capital. Seeing that his old dads face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, He Lin finally became a bit cowed, quickly standing up to leave. As expected, a snarl that paid no mind to finesse came out of the Patriarch from behind him, his rationality snapped. As soon as possible, you dick?! Didnt you so shamelessly say at the beginning that you refuse, yet youre now pressuring me to do it as soon as possible?! Get out! This old man doesnt want to look at you! Watching his sons figure leave his line of sight, Patriarch He finally stopped vocalizing, his beard that was floating up out of anger having no time to calm down, shuddering along with the violent heaving of its owners chest. Back when the father and son had just been halfway through their conversation, Lady Xu had arrived. In order to avoid butting in and thus interrupting, she had waited until He Lin left to come out. Even with how old you are, you still dont know how to take care of yourself, getting angry at every turn! she rebuked. Rubbing his chest, the Patriarch took a sip of tea, only after which he felt a little better. This son of yours is going to anger me to death! She was displeased. Isnt he your son, too? I dont know what means Tang Fan used to persuade the Second, but it looks like the split of households is pressing in, he answered, helpless. If she wants to leave, let her. A Left Metropolitan Censor isnt much, just truefourth-rank. You were third-rank back in the day yourself, Lord. Was me being third-rank at the age of sixty, right before I retired, any sort of glory? he unhappily asked. Dont you see how old he is? A little over twenty, yet fourth-ranked, and a capital official! If hes lucky, itd be completely normal for him to be one of the Six Ministers someday! Even if we cant be tied in marriage to someone like that, we mustnt make enemies of him! The Eldest is an active official, and the Third will enter officialdom in the future they cant be implicated because the Second tempts fate! Whats to be done? With things at this plight, you cant prevent Lady Tang from leaving, right? Of course I cant. If I try to, we actually will be enemies. Splitting households is overall better than separation, and shell still be a part of our He family. If the Second is able to suddenly repent, then it wont be impossible for the married couple to be in harmony later on, but according to the morals of that vile bastard, I dont think theres any point in counting on that Having gone on and on for such a huge chunk, he then said to her, Go and take five-thousand taels from the accounts room to give to the Second Lady. Lady Xu was startled. So much? Splitting households involves dividing assets, and dividing assets must happen before the households split. The Second has no personal assets, so what division could there be? The Second Lady has subsidized this place with a lot of her dowry these years, so are we going to have outsiders say that our family embezzles its daughter-in-laws dowries? He Lin can throw his face away, but this old man cant! Five-thousand taels was not a small amount. Lady Xu couldnt help but feel distressed. You dont have to give her five-thousand, then. What shes supplemented over the years has been a few hundred taels at most Dont say it! he interrupted. Do you think I dont feel heartache at this? Were here to net good karma, not net foes! He then sighed. Theres something else that I need to talk to you about. Prepare yourself mentally. She put a hand on her chest. Say it all in one breath, dont dawdle. Is the Second causing trouble, as always? The Patriarch showed a slight smile. It actually has nothing to do with him. Count Sui proposed a marriage. She was surprised. Who did he take a fancy to? The Hes wife-born daughters have already married off. Only Bar is of marriageable age, but shes concubine-born Knowing that her thoughts were going askew, he said, Sui Zhou is a subject close to the Emperor. Why would he take a liking to Bar? Its his subordinate, a Gonfalon named Yan Li, that wants to to marry her. He probably accidentally saw her when he was coming in or out of the bamboo courtyard, so he fell in love. Lady Xu hesitated. Lord, although Bar didnt come from my stomach, I have been raising her since she was young, and treat her as my own. If she can have a good marriage, I will naturally be happy for her as a mother, but the Brocade Guard is military. Our family is a scholarly one, so how could a military man be bound to it? Gonfalon is trueseventh-rank, the same as a County Magistrate. Even though this present Court emphasizes the civil and de-emphasizes the military, causing seventh-rank martial officials to not have value, that Sui Zhou stepped up for him illustrates their good relationship, He Ying patiently explained to her. Also, just think about how good his friendship with Tang Fan is, that he ran over from the capital to support him. As Yan Li has a superior like that, if he has ambitions, his future achievements may not be meagre. Taking about ten thousand steps back I dont wish to demean my own son, but just look at the Second. Isnt marrying anyone but someone like him better? He Ying had really been angered silly by his son. Hearing words like that, Madam Xu couldnt help but side-eye him, but she wasnt someone who never listened to opinions. After a thought, she nodded. Alright. If he has the idea to seek marriage, this betrothal wont be an impossibility. Ill go ask Bar first so that she can think about it. At the end of it, shell be the one marrying off, not us; she mustnt be made to marry reluctantly. The other sighed. Youre right, we need to ask her first. We dont need to get another pair of resentful companions. If it can be done, then that would be for the best, as Sui Zhou and Tang Fan would both bear a relationship to us, and our two families could remain in contact. Even if this affair with the Second happens, we wont be completely fallen out with each other. Clearly, the Patriarch and Matriarch were not actually confused about what was going on. They had three sons; the Eldest made them proud, the Third they were very close to, and the Second just gave them trouble, while Tang Yu was bound to someone like that. Using Patriarch He as an example, despite him having concubines, he esteemed his primary wife enough to discuss everything with her, even having handed over total authority of the inner household to her, allowing her to handle things how she would and generally not asking about it. Hence, they were on good terms, never getting red in the face at each other for these many years. All the men in the present world that had chaotic households because of their multitudes of concubines should probably be paying respects to Patriarch He. In contrast, He Lin didnt have a single concubine, yet was making a big mess that actually did damage his fathers reputation. The Patriarch had no idea how much he owed his second son from their previous lives, for him to come collect the debt in this life. The following step went surprisingly smoothly. Lady Xu sought out the Eighth Miss of the Hes to mention the matter. She had believed that the Eighth Miss would think deeper about this and prefer to marry a scholar, but despite the girls shyness, she expressed no dissent. Once Lady Xu asked after that, she learned that the two had already met outside of the bamboo courtyard, and taken a mutual liking to each other. Not only had Yan Li set his heart on her, but she had already secretly promised him her heart, too. Since both parties were interested, the matter was easy to handle. However, this would need to wait for Yan Li to return and report to his parents before the marriage papers could be brought over and the process started. Taking anyone back as a wife immediately was not possible. In spite of that, after learning of the news, Yan Li was so delighted, it was like he had come down with something, grinning like an idiot for the next couple of days. Were it not for his fear of scaring the young lady, he probably would have even done things like scaled the Hes walls to tell her of his innermost feelings. On a different side, after He Lin and the Patriarch nodded over and over, Tang Yu began to pack up her things in preparation to bring her son away with Tang Fan to the capital. Tang Fan was leaning against the doorframe; upon seeing that she was smiling, he couldnt help but tease, Sis, youre about to live apart from the Second, so you could at least pretend to be sad about it. Anyone who didnt know would think you were getting married. She glared at and made to hit him, but he dodged while laughing. Truthfully, he was well aware that she was happy due to finally getting freed from being stifled for so long, and due to being able to live a new life from then on. Before you came, I was thinking solely of passing life like this daily, bearing with it day by day until Qilang grew up, whereupon I would be free, she answered. However, after he wanted to beat Qilang at the Weis, in front of everyone else, I knew there was no way I could keep bearing with it like that. I could have endured, but Qilang could not have. Were he to grow up and become like his father, self-reproaching and self-deprecating, what point would all my patience be, then? Thankfully, youre still around. If not for your help, I really wouldnt know how to get away from him and leave the Hes Tang Fan wiped her tears away. You dont need to endure anything anymore, sis. Guangchuan already helped me buy a residence in the capital, so Qilang and you can settle in immediately after you leave, and that will be your home that youll live in for as long as you want. Tang Yu was grateful. Since you bought your house, I cant just live there idly. The Hes gave me five-thousand taels, so when the time comes, itll be enough for me to buy my own home in the capital Sis, I actually have a little plan. Can I hear your opinion on it? She smiled. Go on and tell me. Our Fluffy is so bright, your plan is certain to be excellent. Powerless to resist the fact that his sister had given him that nickname, he could only meekly pretend he didnt hear that as he jumped straight to the main topic. Rather than use that money to buy a house, itd be better for you to buy a store. If you dont want to run a business, you can just rent it out, and if you do want to, you can. You wont even need to step forth yourself, as you can hire a shopkeep when the time comes, and will only need to look after finances. I remember that when you were in the Tang home, you were in charge of all of its account registries; this definitely wouldnt be hard for you. Tang Yu listened very carefully, his words seeming to open up a brand new gate for her. Previously, she had been like the majority of women of this time period, marrying off and having kids according to standards never had she imagined that beyond that, there would be room for her to choose. Youre saying that I should run my own business? Tang Fan nodded, cautiously observing her expression as he did so. Thered be no need to even show your face, as just being behind the helm and piloting in a general direction would be enough. If you dont like the idea, we can discuss it a bit longer. In this era, there was no scarcity of people like Wei Ce that had scholarly merits and went on to run businesses. The income of these large households, in addition to collecting rent from farmlands, was to run some outside stores, which naturally didnt require the owning family to go out and manage them themselves. Just as Tang Fan had said, they would only need to control the general situation from behind the scenes. However, no matter how one said them, the four classes scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were deeply engraved in peoples hearts, and many would have some conflict at heart when hearing of commerce. For a well-bred lady like Tang Yu, it would be understandable for her to refuse. Tang Fan had obviously underestimated his sisters ability to accept it, though, as after hearing this, she actually looked excited. That makes total sense! Qilang is going to need money all over the place later, and even though what I have is a lot to look at, itll be used up if I dont replenish it. Itd be much better to do some business! Thank you, Fluffy! If It werent for you, I would have no idea what to do! Promise me one thing, then. She was puzzled. Huh? He coughed. Dont call me by that nickname anymore. Ever since Guangchuan heard you call me that, hes been deliberately calling me it when no ones looking. Tang Yu imagined a scene of Sui Zhou and his unsmiling face saying Fluffy, and couldnt resist letting out a pfft. Seeing her little brothers resentful eyes, she hurriedly said, Theres no way. Sir Sui is such a serious person that likely never jokes, so how could he do such a thing? You must not want me to say it anymore, so youre purposefully accusing someone else unfairly. Fluffy, our parents are gone now, and someone that can call you this must be someone close to you. Every time I do, I think of our parents Fine, fine, fine! Call me whatever, whenever you like! Faced with his sisters on-the-verge-of-tears look, Mister Tang ran straight away. Once he was out of the He home, he saw Sui Zhou, then recalled that he had an appointment set for the Weis, walking forward. Guangchuan, lets go. Okay, Fluffy. Sis, are you blind? You read this guy wrong! He just loves doing stuff like this! Arriving at the Weis entrance, they met up with Magistrate Weng, who had long been waiting outside. Beside him stood the Wei steward, as well as some servants. Were you waiting long? Tang Fan asked with a smile. No, no, this humble official was only waiting for but a minute! the other quickly replied. The Weis had quickly invited him inside when they had seen him coming, leaving no reason at all for him to be made to stand at the entrance. However, with Tang Fan not here, how could Magistrate Weng have ever entered? He had thus insisted upon waiting outside, meaning the Wei steward could only wait alongside him. Sweeping his eyes over, Tang Fan noticed something amiss. In a context like this, by basis of both logic and sensibilities, the Patriarch of the Hes should have been here as well, yet there was now only one steward. With how meticulous in personality Wei Ce was, this should not have ever happened. The steward was astute, quickly noticing Tang Fans confusion. Pardon me, Sir, but our Lord is bedridden with sickness. The doctor said that he mustnt meet with chill, so please forgive us! Tang Fan glanced at Magistrate Weng. Understanding, the latter nodded and said, Ive also heard that hes ill, but I dont know what hes ill with. His undertone was rather annoyed. The steward knew that it really was improper for the head of the household to not come out and welcome them, but there was nothing else he could do, other than smile painfully as he repeatedly asked for forgiveness. Sirs, it isnt that our Lord wont come out, but rather that he cant get out of bed. If you will follow me in, you will see for yourself. Regardless of whether Wei Ce was actually sick or faking it, Tang Fan and Magistrate Weng were going to have to go in for a look today anyways, and walked inside upon hearing that. The steward hurriedly led the way in front, welcoming them into a room inside the back of the main courtyard. Wei Ce was laying back on a bed, face pale and beaded with cold sweat. Once he heard that Censor Tang and Magistrate Weng were here, he swiftly struggled to get up, but the maid helping him ended up being too weak with a moment of inattention, the two fell to the floor together, with Wei Ce landing so badly, it was even harder for him to get up. Going pale with fright, the steward hurriedly ran up to help him up. In tandem with the maid that came over to help, they were able to get Wei Ces oversized figure up. As he didnt appear to be faking it, Tang Fan said, No need to be too courteous, go ahead and rest in bed. We will come over there and ask a few questions. Wei Ce couldnt keep caring about politeness, smiling bitterly as he replied, Many thanks for your great compassion, Sir, then laid back down. The maid covered him with a thick blanket. Having heard that the gentlemen were going to ask questions, the steward busily moved chairs over and asked them to sit, offering tea. Magistrate Weng had no thoughts to drink tea. He felt this a bit odd; when he had seen Wei Ce two days ago, the other had clearly been just fine. How could he have developed an illness in such a short span? What illness did the doctor say you have? he asked. The doctor said that the Lords body has always been tough on the outside, but frail on the inside, the steward answered. This time, noxious wind has entered his body, and the cold weather made it worse, leading to this. He must recuperate well. Last night, the Lord was burning up to the point of danger; after listening to the doctor, three bowls of medicine were successively taken by him, and then the heat ebbed. The Magistrate nodded. Rest well, then. Wei Ce, it stands to reason that with you being so sick, we shouldnt be disturbing you in the first place, Tang Fan said. However, there are some points of suspicion in the murder of your son, and we need verification. Please ask, Sir. This humble one will say all I know, Wei Ce answered weakly. Is there any discord between the Wei wife and concubines? How is the relationship between your sons mother and the rest of them? Wei Ce smiled sourly. It normally looks to be alright. Even my primary wife, Lady Chai, handled things impartially, treated the other concubines fairly, and was never exacting. I had wholly never expected that she would collude with her cousin to do something like this. I heard that shes your second wife? Yes. When did your original wife die? More than twenty years ago. She passed of illness after the birth of my eldest daughter. Tang Fan nodded, paused, then switched the subject. Have you heard the recent rumors pertaining to the Wei home being haunted? I have. What do you think of them? Wei Ce was seemingly confused by his question, shaking his head blankly. I am unsure of the meaning of your words, Sir. My meaning is that the haunting rumors and the case broken out in your household might have some sort of connection between them. Think carefully; is there anyone that youve offended outside? Wei Ce pondered for a bit, but was ultimately lacking in energy, soon showing fatigue. Ive had myself act with prudence, but as a traveling salesman, strife inevitably occurs. Thinking of specific suspects is difficult. Tang Fan hummed. Rest well, then. Have your steward take us on a tour around the household we may need to question others. Wei Ce agreed. After I get better, I will personally visit you all to apologize. Waving his hand so that the other didnt need to get up, Tang Fan then left with Sui Zhou and the Magistrate. Under the stewards guidance, the three went around the home; owing to the rapid-fire incidents, all of the servants had lacking smiles, caution within their movements. Tang Fan asked the steward to call Wei Ces concubines over Wei Zhuniangs mother, Lady Yang, and the sons mother, Lady Li, included for individual questioning. Before this, Magistrate Weng had already looked into the starting angle of inner-residence conflict, where homicide had come from jealousy over Lady Li having a son. Lady Li excluded, he had interviewed Wei Ces concubines, only to end up with no definite proof that indicated that the murderer was amongst them. He had also made a detailed report of all that to Tang Fan; the reason why the latter had taken pains to call them all over was simply to confirm his own suspicions from them. The Magistrate did not comprehend his intentions, however, only believing that Tang Fan didnt trust his work. When the three of them left the Weis, he anxiously asked him, Was there something lacking in this humble officials procedure? Please offer your guidance, Sir. When I was talking to Wei Ce, I asked him whether he had heard the rumors outside. Did either of you notice the expression he had? Tang Fan countered, not really answering. Shamefully, I did not. Hesitant, Sui Zhou gave. Tang Fan nodded. Correct. It was hesitant, although only briefly. Hesitant about what? the Magistrate wondered. I guess he was hesitating on whether or not he wanted to tell us if he had heard it, or hadnt. Seeing that Magistrate Weng didnt quite get it, Tang Fan went on. Afterwards, I asked the other Wei family members to see if they had heard the rumors. It was confirmed that the whole family had, and they didnt betray anything unusual. Only the maids and servants were a bit uneasy from the haunting matter. Hearing that, Magistrate Weng went along that path of thought. If thats so, then at the bare minimum, it indicates that Wei Ce must be hiding something from us. Right, and the contents of what hes hiding are likely related to the rumors. Sui Zhou had arrived a few days late, but he too had heard them before. Is Wei Ce from this county? The Magistrate pondered. I dont think so, but I dont remember for a fact, either. Ill check when I get back. Check as soon as possible. At the end, Ill have the Brocade Guard accompany your people to investigate Wei Ces ancestral home. Is this your suspicion, Sir? the other asked, confused. Tang Fan nodded. The rumors of the Wei family being haunted by a wronged ghost that wants lives may be false, but this wind blowing from an empty cave may not be without a source. Regardless of whether he stole someones property or betrayed his lover, most of these rumors have one area of commonality someone once died because of Wei Ce. Mixing that with his recent abnormality, I suspect that his illness is not him catching windchill at all, but him falling ill due to fright. Magistrate Weng understood. Youre saying that he has a guilty conscience, and takes those rumors seriously? Yes. A wronged ghost taking lives might not be the truth, but a later generation taking vengeance is a possibility. Wei Ce is not a local, and moved here many years ago; first, check for his ancestral lands, then go to his hometown to verify the rumors veracity. The other sighed in admiration. This humble official never looked towards the rumors before, feeling that they were only nonsense, yet youve discovered a clue! Tang Fan laughed. Dont praise me so much. Were it not for our visit today, I would also be thinking that the rumors were just peoples senseless gossip. Im not any superior to you. No matter what, with a trail to be had, the Magistrates spirits immediately heightened. After saying goodbye to Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, he quickly went to the county bureau to order his subordinates to get this underway. Upon seeing him off, Sui Zhou beckoned to Tang Fan, who was a few steps away. Not knowing his intent, Tang Fan walked over, only to hear the other say, What do you want for dinner, Fluffy? Mister Tangs face instantly crumbled, his recent bit of confident grace gone. Hey now, my Count, can you not call me that? How bad would it be if people heard? If your tongue slips when we get back and Ah-Dong learns of it, that damned girl will surround me with calls of Brother Fluffy all day long! Sui Zhous face was blank, no one able to see through to his thoughts. Thats why I beckoned you over before I called you, so that no one else heard. Then just dont call me it at all, Tang Fan muttered. The other acted like he hadnt heard anything. Red-braised chicken wings, broth-steamed bass, or flour-steamed meat? All of them! Tang Fan answered, immediately drooling. Fluffy? Grk! The translator says: I could have left Fluffy as Maomao, but that would actually make the nickname cute-sounding in English, as opposed to awful, which it is. CH 83 For the purpose of cracking this case as soon as possible, Magistrate Weng stayed in his office overnight, ordering his workers to find out the ancestral homes of Wei Ce and the other members of the Wei family, then sent himself to the inn at daybreak the very next day. Tang Fan had had a good nights sleep, and once done with breakfast, he saw the dark bags under the visiting Magistrate Wengs eyes. Come over and eat a bit before I look at those, he said, a bit embarrassed. This humble official isnt hungry! the other politely declined with haste. Tang Fan bowed his head to begin to pore through the dossiers. Go ahead and say what you know. Very well. Magistrate Weng took in a deep breath. Wei Ce is indeed not a local, but rather from Daming Prefecture, where his County Honorate achievement was tested for. He moved to this area over twenty years ago because of his trade. As for the other members of the Weis, his original wife had already passed before he came here, so she isnt registered in this governments household registry. I would likely have to go to Daming to find it. His second wife, Lady Chai, is a local, and her family has been settled in Xianghe for generations. At the onset, this humble official investigated all the people of the Weis that I could, including the maids, as they still need to be registered despite their life contracts being held in the Weis hands. I didnt discover anything suspicious the whole time like those two maids of the Wei son, Xiao Lu and Xiao Shuang, who had been born in the family until I looked into Lady Li, the sons mother. She was found to be from Daming; her grandfathers generation had fled there to escape famine in Shangxi. By coincidence, Wei Ce had gone to Daming for business discussions, came to know Lady Lis father, thereby took a liking to her, then brought her to Xianghe as a concubine. Shes the mother of the Wei son. According to reason, she would never hurt her own child, right? Tang Fan pondered. Correct. When he died, I went to the Weis for a look, and the woman was heartbroken. It didnt seem faked. Was anyone else in the home from Daming other than her? Yes. When she married into the Wei Estate, she brought one maid and one nanny. The maid, named Chun Ying, was at her side when the case occurred. The nanny is the sons wet nurse, Lady Hu. Tang Fans heart thumped. Lady Hu is also from Daming? Such was written in the household registry. It shouldnt be false. What about her husband, mother, siblings? Did you find those out? Magistrate Weng shook his head. Im afraid that I would have to go to Daming to. Do you suspect her, Sir? Send someone to investigate that first, and well speak more on it later. Its currently too early to draw any conclusions. With no further delay, after discussing things with Sui Zhou, Yan Li and Gongsun Yan were both ordered to go with Xianghe authorities to Daming, and find out Lady Hus origins. This was a play to urge efficiency. If the authorities from the county bureau went alone, they would only have a back-and-forth spat with Damings people that would waste who-knew-how-much time. If Brocade Guards set out themselves, though, it would be different wherever they went, no one would be brazen enough to slight them. Therefore, even if the Guards external reputation was always primarily a vicious one, and they were further regarded as the Emperors violent lackeys amongst the clean-stream literary crowd, Tang Fans opinion was that if they were used properly, they could be a sharp edge that swept away all things before them. Most importantly was the fact that Sui Zhou was positioned in an intelligence agency, yet was someone with principles and a bottom line, completely unlike Wan Tongs sort. A blade being used to save or kill did not depend on the blade itself, but on its wielder. If a negative attitude was maintained towards such due to intrinsic bias, then nothing would be getting done. Yan Li was presently in a state of excitement because of the progress made on his betrothal to the Eighth Miss, and Sui Zhou didnt want to see him throw away all of the Brocade Guards prestige by running over to climb her wall every single day. Thus, he threw down the order that he was to find out the truth as soon as possible, then come back as soon as possible, as after that, he would get Tang Yu to facilitate a meeting with the Eighth Miss for him to properly express his feelings at. Once he heard that, Yan Lis motivation grew unprecedentedly strong, and he brought the others straight to Daming without a second word. He did not fail Tang Fans hopes, either. In a brief four days, before he himself came back, he sent a Xianghe authority back on a quick horse with information. Just as they had anticipated, Lady Hu truly was from Daming, and her father had once been a locally-famous do-gooder that built bridges and paved roads, being very charitable. However, he had later on met with mishap, getting beheaded because he had been convicted of the crimes of disrespecting someones wife and murder. Even with over twenty years passing, Yan Li and Gongsun Yan had still managed to find a lot of people all over the place that remembered this event. Lady Hu had been married off for years already before her fathers incident, and after it, because her husband had died of illness and she had been at odds with her daughter-in-law, she had gone to be a nanny at the Lis. Back when Lady Li had married into the Weis, shed needed a trustworthy and capable person by her side. Many in the family had refused to part from their hometown, while Nanny Hu alone volunteered herself, following Lady Li and Chun Ying to the Weis. In addition to that, the Guards brought another bit of unimaginable news: the one Lady Hus father had murdered was Wei Ces original wife, Lady Zhang. Purportedly, he had wanted to rape her and failed, and because of her resistance, he accidentally killed her, hence was why he had been sentenced to a beheading. Hearing this, Magistrate Weng had an epiphany. Could it be that Lady Hu is the sons murderer, and used that to take revenge for her father? Tang Fan shook his head. This isnt that simple. The other was confused. There is an even more important sentence inside Yan Lis information; he said that Wei Ce and the Hu family had been in-laws. Wei Ces asset situation had been poor, so he had taken his wife with him to seek shelter at the Hus, whereupon Lady Hus father took them in. Wei Ce stayed there for three years. Think about it; if the father really had tried to be obscene towards Lady Zhang, why would he have born with it for three years before he acted? Presumably speaking, if that hadnt been the first time he was improper towards her, then she had tacitly allowed it before that point, so why would she resist all of a sudden? Magistrate Weng was made a bit dizzy from his walkaround, only able to comprehend his words after a long time had passed. When you say it like that, it really is suspicious. He had just been getting excited due to discovering a trail. Once Tang Fan snapped him out of it, he immediately thought of many points of doubt. If the Hu father was obscene towards Lady Zhang, then that would mean he was a lecherous man, but, Sir you see, it says right here that ever since Lady Hus mother passed, he had never remarried. Theres clearly a contradiction there. The Hus were well-off back in the day, so it wasnt like he wouldnt have been able to remarry or take concubines if he had wanted to. Since he took no wives nor concubines, that demonstrates that he was constantly thinking about the Hu mother, and not lusting after women. In that case, why would he indiscriminately attack Lady Zhang? Could she have possibly been even more beautiful than Noble Consort Yang? Tang Fan nodded in admiration. Good. Thats logical! Then, he sighed. This case is very suspicious, and I dont even know how it was judged in the first place, to have been cracked and turned into an indisputable charge. The Ming Dynasty imposed that death-penalized cases could not receive sentencing from local authorities. After cases were locally determined, they had to be handed up to the capital for the Ministry of Justice to judge, after which they would be submitted for imperial review, then issued through the Cabinet, all before it could be determined with finality. Even though false charges were inevitable, with the procedural safeguards of multiple layers of reporting to ones superiors, it at least prevented such things from happening to the fullest extent that it could. Magistrate Weng checked the dates, then whispered, The case was determined by Daming in the seventh year of Jingtai. The Ministry of Justice endorsed it the following year, which was the first year of Tianshun. Hearing that time period, Tang Fan fell silent. In the first year of Tianshun, something highly prominent had happened in the capital the Overthrowing. Emperor Yingzong, previously under house arrest, had been re-established on the throne with the aid of Shi Heng, Cao Jixiang, and others, following which he had imprisoned his half-brother, the then-Jingtai Emperor. On that very year, the officials that had once supported Jingtai had become deposed in quick succession, the capitals officialdom had been confronted with a major shuffle of the cards, and every layer of the Court had been in a panic. Under those circumstances, officials had feared that they would turn into sacrifices with just a little slip-up, none having any thoughts to slack. This case had been so insignificant in their eyes, that the pains to overturn the verdict and investigate hadnt been worth it at all, making the upholding of Damings original sentence nothing shocking. Seeing that the two of them were silent, Sui Zhou reminded, First go to the Weis and take Lady Hu into custody, then call Wei Ce in for questioning. Tang Fan nodded, clapping Magistrate Weng on the shoulder. Guangchuans right. Well investigate the Wei sons case first, then speak more on it. We have to hear Lady Hus argument on these age-old events. When you go to the Weis, you mustnt alert the enemy. Dont tell Wei Ce that we suspect him, only that we have pretty much determined that Lady Hu is the one that killed his child. Hell certainly ask after the reason; when the time comes, bring up the old event with the Hu family, and watch for his reaction. The Magistrate understood. This humble official will set off. After he left, Tang Fan skimmed the dossiers again, presently shook his head, then said to Sui Zhou, When I was in Shuntian Prefecture, I always came across a lot of things such as this, and would feel like there was truly little that I could do for them. I can only hope that there will come to be more officials like Magistrate Weng in this world, who arent afraid of trouble and will investigate things to their ends. Sui Zhou poured a cup of tea for him. Look at it this way; theres a Magistrate Weng here, so there are countless Magistrate Wengs all over the country, he answered leisurely. Spirits raised, Tang Fan took his cup and bumped it against him, smiling. Youre right. It is I who worries about nothing! Sui Zhou shook his head. Whenever you investigate a case, there inevitably comes times where you hit a wall, while onlookers know everything clearly. Jump out of that point of view, and youll be fine. Guangchuan, ah, Guangchuan, you really are my empathetic little flower, Tang Fan couldnt help but joke. What a shame it is that you arent a woman, else Id take you as a wife! This lady has long prepared my dowry. When are you going to take me into your door, Mr. Official? Sui Zhou asked, composed. He hadnt affected feminine mannerisms at all, sitting beside the table in an imposing way while he said such a thing in a deep voice. It should have made ones skin fill with goosebumps. Tang Fan laughed aloud. Once I see you serve me properly, I might consider you for my first concubine! Sui Zhou raised his brows. Why not your primary wife? The other winked at him. Ill get a few more concubines, and whoever serves me the best will be who gets promoted to that. Who else can cook for you, risk dangers with you, and protect you like I can? Sui Zhou countered. You could say that I can be in the kitchen, warm the blankets, get into officialdom, and suffer hardships, all in one. Can anyone else do that? Mister Tang was stunned by the questions. He stroked his chin, falling into deep contemplation due to getting snared by his words. It seemed like the answer was no? Unruffled, Sui Zhou watched the others conflicted expression, then casually picked up the pot to pour himself a drink. He had been on no lack of field hunts before, so he knew that there were two ways to deal with prey. One was to catch it in one fell swoop with the momentum of lightning before the thunder, taking advantage of the time before the prey had a chance to react. Another was to instead simmer everything on low heat by trying to get closer to the prey, lower its defenses, then slowly get it used to your presence, after which it would throw itself into the net. The tea entering his throat, Count Sui felt that hum, it wasnt as good as the capitals, but it did have a special sort of flavor. The next day, Magistrate Weng sent an invite to Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, saying that he had made major progress on the case. They came to the county bureau, and the Magistrate personally welcomed them. After exchanging greetings with them, he said, Lady Hu was already detained, and confessed to everything once this humble official interrogated her. However, she said that she had another old injustice done to her that left murder as a last resort. She wants to meet you, Sir. Where is she now? Tang Fan asked. I put her in a lone cell. If you wish to see her, I can go bring her over. What about Wei Ce? Magistrate Weng smacked himself on the head. Right, I nearly forgot about that part! I intentionally informed Wei Ce of Lady Hus background. He was first shocked, then angrily said that he had indeed received the Hus grace once, but Hu Hanyin was worse than a beast, attempting to get a piece of his wife only to end up accidentally murdering her, which had come to light back in the day. He hadnt wanted to remain living in such a heart-breaking area, so he left Daming to move to Xianghe. Never had he expected that Lady Hu was holding a grudge because of her own fathers mistake. No flaws could be picked out of those words. Ill meet with Lady Hu, first. Please sit for a bit, Sir. This humble official will have bailiffs fetch her. You want to interrogate her yourself? Tang Fan shook his head. No need for that. You are the overseer of this case, we can just listen in from the side. Lady Hu was brought over quickly. She was still wearing the garments of a typical woman, and appeared to be relatively put-together. Magistrate Weng had obviously not tortured her, nor treated her harshly. Lady Hu, this is Sir Tang, the Left Metropolitan Censor you wanted to see, and this is Sir Sui, Bastion Envoy of the Brocade Guard. She showed an excited expression, quickly giving her bows. This criminal greets you both, Sirs! This official will ask you; you confessed earlier that the one that killed the Wei son was you, wasnt it? the Magistrate asked sullenly. Lady Hu nodded, without any hesitation whatsoever. Yes. He suddenly slammed his striking block[1] down. Why did you do it? Tell the truth, quickly! It was out of revenge. Even though Wei Ce escaped punishment from the authorities, I want his familial line cut off to make him regret what he did in the past! Magistrate Weng frowned. Your fathers death was entirely his own doing. What revenge could you have to get? That is a long story. Please allow me to tell it in full, Sir. Go on. My late father, Hu Hanyin, was a wise merchant of Daming, making him rich many years ago. However, he didnt hoard his wealth like other merchants, instead donating most of his money to building bridges, paving roads, giving alms of food, and founding monasteries, which made him some fame locally. My late mother died young, and he never remarried, instead raising me up and finding a family for me to marry into. Way back when, she had married far off, unable to visit home frequently, until a certain day that her natal family sent someone to inform her that the authorities had arrested her father due to him accidentally killing someone. As soon as she heard that, she was dumbstruck, and by the time she ran back home, her father had already been convicted by Damings Magistrate, who had then reported to the Court that her father was to be sentenced to beheading in the fall. Major criminals like Hu Hanyin werent supposed to be not allowed to have family visit, but she was finally able to see her haggard-looking father in jail after much rushing around, only after which she came to understand what had happened. He told his daughter that three years ago, a married couple with the surname Wei had come to their home the man named Wei Ce, and the lady surnamed Zhang who were in-laws of Lady Hus mothers natal family. Because of their dire financial situation, they had had no choice but to seek help. Seeing how pitiful they were, Hu Hanyin had taken them in, Wei Ce making progress thereafter. After settling in the Hu home, he had studied strenuously, then earned County Honorate status, but unfortunately failed to get the following Provincial Honorate title. Hu Hanyin had comforted him, saying that few passed on the first try, and he shouldnt get discouraged. He could live on peacefully, as the Hus would never slight them meals. Hearing this, Wei Ce had naturally shed many tears of gratitude, and said that were it not for Hu Hanyin accepting them, he would never have been able to think about getting scholarly honors, and likely would have perished from poverty long ago. As his parents had both passed, he had hoped to be able to honor him as a sworn father, so that he could show him proper filial respect after he passed his exams with flying colors. Hu Hanyin had only had one married-off daughter, leaving no relatives at his side. Following Wei Ces words, he had been touched; Wei Ce was a County Honorate, and having one of those as a sworn son was a beautiful thing that others couldnt get if they sought it out. He had agreed. The two had quickly gone to the authorities with the papers, and Hu Hanyin had officially accepted Wei Ce as his sworn son. However, before he could inform his daughter that was in another locality, something had happened to him that he had never even begun to anticipate would. One day, when returning home from a pawn shop, he had happened to see the door of his room half-open. Believing that the maids had forgotten to shut it after cleaning inside, he had simply pushed it open. However, that push had allowed him to catch sight of a woman lying on his bed. Taking a closer look, he had discovered that she was none other than Lady Zhang, his sworn sons wife. She was naked, a knife stabbed into her heart as she stared blankly at the roof, dead with her eyes open. His soul frightened out of him, he had immediately called out for people to come. The first to rush over had been Wei Ce. Stunned upon seeing this scene, he had then furiously accused his sworn father of thinking to rape his wife, flying into a rage out of humiliation, and then killing her. Hu Hanyin had naturally denied it, but Wei Ce had quickly gone to the authorities. After they had come to investigate, they had discovered that the knife stuck in Lady Zhangs chest happened to be the one Hu Hanyin normally used to cut paper. She had died in Hu Hanyins room, and the murder weapon had also been his. The proof had been conclusive, with no room for doubt. In that moment, Hu Hanyin wouldnt have been able to explain himself even if he had been covered in mouths. After meeting with Lady Hu, he asserted that this accusation was false. He and Wei Ce were sworn father and son; how could he have ever acted against his daughter-in-law? He told his daughter that she had to get justice for him, but she was a powerless woman, and her husbands family had no authority to. Despite her having run all over the place, the Court ultimately sentenced a beheading, her fathers life lost to the Yellow Springs. Listening to the end of that period, Tang Fan then said, Even though the case looked like it had a lot of evidence, it also had loopholes in it. Had the Daming Magistrate of that time really not discovered that? Why did he insist upon his initial sentencing? Did you not hire a litigator? How could I not have?! she answered, teeth gritted. That Magistrate did not practice by logic. He firmly believed in the principle of people using their riches to bully the poor, saying that since Wei Ce was a County Honorate, it was impossible and unneeded for him to lie. On the contrary, because my father was a merchant, he was therefore benevolent on the outside, malicious on the inside. Not only did he not listen to my defense, but he had me terribly beaten up and thrown out of the bureau! I heard that murder charges like my fathers first had to pass through the province, then be reported up to the Court before they could finally be sentenced. Because my injuries were still unhealed then, I held a sliver of hope, and asked my late husband to help me by hurrying to the province. Unexpectedly, heavy rain came down on his journey, making him a step too late, with the case already going from the province to the Court. We had no way to get to the capital, only able to bitterly wait, but all we ended up waiting for was news of my fathers death sentence! His kind heart had been in vain. He still believed that Wei Ce was a pitiful man whose wife had been murdered, she went on, face filled with tears. Unexpectedly, as soon as the Hu family declined, its assets confiscated by the authorities, he used some unknown means to move up in the world in the blink of an eye, then departed Daming without a trace. It wasnt until later on that I learned that he had asserted himself outside as a wealthy businessman, and had moved to Xianghe! For over twenty years, this case has been cold, so I wanted to make Wei Ce taste the pain of having his family line cut off, so as to avenge my fathers unjust death. Magistrate Weng furrowed his brow. Since you plotted this much, why did you only act after over two decades passed? Because I was already a married woman, I had my own husband and son. I couldnt just abandon them without a care, she answered sadly. When my husband died of illness a few years ago and my son grew up, I was able to do whatever I wished with no qualms. After your fathers incident, you once ran all over the place on his behalf. Shouldnt Wei Ce have seen your face? Tang Fan asked. How could he not have recognized you after you came to the Weis? At the time, he heard that my surname was Hu and that I came from Daming, so he questioned me about my family history. I deliberately kept it from him by fibbing. On top of that, with so many years passing, my appearance and figure are much different than they had been over twenty years ago, so he didnt suspect me. You knew that Lady Li was marrying into the Weis, so you specifically got close to her? No. At the time, my husband was gone and I was quarreling with my daughter-in-law, so I didnt want to stay at home all day long. I found a temporary job at the Lis, where the Madam came to appreciate me because I was a good worker. Later on, I heard that Wei Ce wanted to take Lady Li as a concubine, and the Lis were looking for people to accompany her. I felt that this opportunity could not be missed, thus offering myself for it on my own initiative. It took a lot of time to gain her approval and become her confidante. How did you kill the Wei son? I, Xiao Lu, and Xiao Shuang were at the Young Lords side. They genuinely did see me get called away by Lady Li, but I had the notion to return ahead of time; taking advantage of the period they were both out of the room, I first smothered him, then found a place to hide in until I heard others crying out in alarm, after which I pretended to have just gotten back so that no one would suspect me. She had answers for every question, and concealed nothing. In cases Tang Fan had previously worked on, before they were thoroughly exposed, nearly all murderers and suspects would argue without regard to anything else, as long as they held a thread of hope to escape. This was the first time he had ever seen someone like Lady Hu, who explained everything in immense detail of her own volition. Hearing all this, Magistrate Weng had to ask, Did Wei Zhuniangs death have anything to do with you? Lady Hu shook her head. No. She had nothing to do with what happened before, so why would I kill her? Were it not for her death, however, the Wei home wouldnt have been in chaos, and I wouldnt have had the opportunity to do this. Magistrate Weng sneered. You have quite the conscience, to know who does and doesnt deserve blame. So, why did you intentionally choose to kill the son, who couldnt even speak? Ever since I entered the home, Ive been wanting to make use of this chance to kill Wei Ce, but I found that my power alone made doing that really difficult You could have found an opportunity to sneak into the kitchen and poison his food, the Magistrate supplied. She answered with a pained smile. He is a very suspicious person. All of his meals are first tasted by the attendants beside him, which gave me no chance, as it would very easily be discovered. The Wei home has many individuals in it, so I couldnt waste that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After Wei Ces son was born, I felt that just killing him wouldnt be enough I would make him feel the hurt of losing his son. After the Wei deaths, did you purposefully spread those rumors outside? Sui Zhou suddenly asked. As he had come to hear a trial today, he was dressed in his qilin uniform, sitting with quite some majesty. Lady Hu was very calm when facing Magistrate Weng, but still couldnt help but take in Sui Zhous aura. She kowtowed once. Answering you, Sir, I did. Why? I knew that these old events would never be believed by anyone at first mention, so I wanted to use Wei Zhuniang and the sons deaths to fabricate a tale of wronged ghosts that would draw peoples attention. If I had no honorable lords to right this wrong for me, the next step would be to spread the matter of Wei Ce killing his original wife, framing his sworn father, and then conspiring to thieve the Hus assets. Even if he ended up getting no sort of punishment, his reputation would at least hit rock bottom. If I had a further chance, I could kill him, then make up a story about ghosts taking his life, blurring the eyes of all the people in the world. Seeing as youve planned for everything, how can you be so certain that Ill help you overturn the case? Tang Fan asked indifferently. You should know that theres only one case known as of right now, and thats the murder of the Wei son. Since youve admitted that youre the killer, the evidence is concrete, and the case can be closed. Theres no way we can go to the trouble of running all about for a two-decades-old affair. In tears, Lady Hu banged her head on the floor several times. Its because of this case that I am! I heard at the beginning that even Wei Ce himself didnt know that it was me, urging you to close the case. It was Mister Magistrate and you two gentlemens insistence upon investigating that caused me to have nowhere to hide. I know that good officials like you all dont disdain hard work, and might become the only hope there is to overturn my fathers charge. Murderers are to repay that with their lives; I know that a death sentence is inevitable for me. I ask for nothing other than that you all show compassion by exonerating my father! He acted benevolently all his life, and never deserved such an end! Magistrate Weng looked at Tang Fan. The latter shook his head slightly. Understanding, the Magistrate immediately banged his striking block. Put her away for now. We will hear more later. After Lady Hu was brought away, he prompted Tang Fans opinion. How do you view this, Sir? The other could only say one word: Thorny. Magistrate Weng followed up with a sigh. It is. That all happened so many years ago; how would we be able to find evidence to overturn it? The translator says: Has then been a good husband in this novel yet? Im sensing a recurring theme. I feel like the only one is Sui Zhou. [1] ľ C lit. hall-startling wood, used extremely similarly to how a gavel is. Its a rectangular block of wood slammed against surfaces by judiciary officials to either intimidate prisoners or get everyones attention. Its striking because you strike it, and because it draws attention, ohoho. CH 84 The Wei family had been Xianghe Countys richest. The head of its household, Wei Ce, was methodical in business, his concubines were in harmony, and hed had a son in old age, which could all be labeled as perfection. However, the Wei mother, Lady Chai, and her cousin grew greedy for the Wei fortune, and plotted against Wei Ce. They hadnt expected that the youngest Wei daughter, Wei Zhuniang, would pass by them as she played hide-and-seek with her sisters. The Chai siblings believed that she knew something, and out of fear of information leaking out, they thus killed her. By coincidence, at that point, the nanny Lady Hu took advantage of the chaos caused by the girls death to kill the Weis son, which created another murder case. Utilizing the Chai siblings to confuse everyones sights, she caused others to mistake the cases as being committed by the same people. However, she didnt know that in order to clear away his nephews suspicions, Tang Fan would interfere, first helping Magistrate Weng find out who actually killed Wei Zhuniang, then discovering something strange with Wei Ce, rummaging out that twenty-years-old case, and determining that the killer was the sons nanny, Lady Hu. Things had developed from there. Despite each wave having three turns to it, moving up and down at random, this still couldnt have been called a bizarre case. It wasnt until Lady Hu called out grievances, exposing everything that had happened over twenty years ago, that one felt all of this to have layers and layers of driving forces, and really couldnt help but sigh at this strange twist. If everything that she had claimed was the truth, then Wei Ces present face of being wealthy and kind was a complete sham. How easy would it be to overturn the charge, however? It certainly wasnt something that could be done with one flap of the lips. First of all, this all had happened over two decades ago, and the evidence of that time period had long been destroyed. If Lady Zhang had died due to poison, a trace or two of that could have been gleaned from the bones, but she had been stabbed to death, the body long rotted to just a skeleton. Generally speaking, Tang Fan could not use the method he had in the Case of Marquis Wuans Estate, where he had looked for clues off of Zheng Chengs body. In this way, the conditions for finding anything off of the corpse to overturn the case with simply did not exist. Second of all, even if what Lady Hu had said was true, where Wei Ce was a false noble taking the opportunity of worshipping Hu Hanyin as his sworn father to blame him for Lady Zhangs death, then embezzle the Hus assets that meant that he must be a man of deep schemes. Twenty years was more than enough time for him to remove key evidence from Daming Prefecture. Tang Fans group going to investigate now would probably not result in them finding anything. Also, if Wei Ce really did do such a thing, he definitely wouldnt be scared into confessing everything once they interrogated him. Also, within this case, the other involved party the alleged rapist Hu Hanyin had long been beheaded, and had no way to even think of defending how he had been wronged. His daughter had also only heard his one-sided claims, and she hadnt been at the scene, leaving many details unknown. All this old stuff made wanting to overturn this case really difficult. Thinking about as much, Magistrate Weng felt a burst of upset. Choose to believe Lady Hu, and that would bring trouble upon himself. He would really be looking for something when there was nothing. Choose not to believe her, and he would be able to kick back and relax, yet his conscience wouldnt be able to take it. At the end of it all, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had only come to help him, and couldnt decide on his behalf. He wouldnt be able to push this onto others. When will you two Sirs be returning to the capital? he had to ask in an inquiring tone. You really want us to hurry on out of here? Tang Fan joked. Nonono! the Magistrate panicked. This humble official just fears that you two will be disturbed by this event, and that youll be inconvenienced! What do you plan on doing, then? Furrowing his brow for a long time, Magistrate Weng then grit his teeth. Ill continue investigating. Tang Fans brows relaxed. Very responsible of you, he praised. Magistrate Weng smiled bitterly. What was the use of being responsible? He didnt flatter people, nor did he have a deep backing, both things causing him to be a minor seventh-rank official at the age of forty. Zimo, if you handle this case well, then once I return to the capital, Ill present a memorial telling of your achievements for you, Tang Fan said with a smile. Whenever one reached high places, who wouldnt want to keep ascending? That had no conflict with being a good official. Hearing as much, Magistrate Weng couldnt help but look ecstatic. (More important than that was the fact that Tang Fan called him by his courtesy, which demonstrated closeness, eh?) Dont get too excited too soon, though, Tang Fan interrupted. As we just said, wanting to overturn this case is not only thorny, but exceedingly difficult. The difficultly lies in the partition of so many years; nearly everyone from that time has died, leaving only Wei Ce behind. And, if he really is as sneaky and cunning as Lady Hu claimed, it will be difficult to find any inconsistencies with him, just like that one day we paid a visit. If he hadnt hesitated a bit, his tell would not have been noticed even now. Magistrate Weng nodded. I will do all I can to investigate. However, two localities are involved. The county bureaus people may not be able to handle it, so I may need to request that Sir Sui send some powerful men to help a little, when the time comes Saying so, he shot a glance at Sui Zhou. That timid expression made Tang Fan kind of want to laugh, thinking to himself that since everyone had been interacting for these many days, Magistrate Weng ought to know that Sui Zhou was not someone that used force to bully people. Why was he being so meek? Yet, Tang Fan himself had forgotten that him believing Sui Zhou to be easy to interact with was established on the basis that the two of them had gone through life and death together, and had associated for a long time. In the view of anyone else, Sui Zhous reticence made him unfathomable, his expressionless face having profound shrewdness. The vicious repute of the Bastion Envoy was even more impressive, causing people to stop in their tracks before him. Even if Sui Zhou was a little white rabbit at his core, Magistrate Weng would dare not be rash, to say nothing of the fact that he was a fierce tiger that merely looked to be docile. Sui Zhou had heard him, but he didnt agree, instead asking, Where do you intend to start investigating? From Wei Ces assets of the past years. Lady Hu said that he previously had a dire financial situation, whereupon he sought shelter at the Hus. After Hu Hanyins death, he left Daming, then became instantly rich by doing business. He had evidently already become a County Honorate, so why would he suddenly relinquish the opportunity of scholarly honors to turn to trade? If what Lady Hu said is true, there must have been some massive incentive therein that had caused him to be willing to give up the exams and start being a merchant. For that reason, I can find out where exactly the Hus assets went after Hu Hanyins death. That idea was quite reasonable, though it would likely not get any results. Sui Zhou looked towards Tang Fan, meaning that he was letting him determine whether or not he would send help for this. Tang Fan thought for a bit. We might as well send people to take a look based on what the Magistrate has said, as they might actually find something. Zimo, are the cases files here with you? Give them to me so that I can look them over when I get back, Ill see if I can discover anything. This humble official will go fetch them. When it came to certain subjects, Tang Fan would have an abnormal obsession. This case was clearly unrelated to him as of right now, and he could just thrown it entirely over to the Magistrate to handle, but as the issue had appeared right in front of him, his interest was hooked, and he would have to find the truth before hed be willing to rest. Hence, after bringing the files back to the inn, he holed himself up in his room, unable to be lured out even for dinner. It wasnt until Sui Zhou went in and dragged him out that he obediently sat down to eat. But, even that meal had no peace, and he ate on-and-off, mumbling to himself as he did so. Hu Hanyin came back home from the pawn shop in broad daylight even if he did have ill intentions towards Lady Zhang, there was no way he would be in such a rush according to Lady Hu, their household had three different courtyards. Hu Hanyin and Wei Ce were sworn father and son, but in order to avoid talk, it would have been impossible for the married couple to have lived too close to Hu Hanyin. Supposing that he actually did want to hurt Lady Zhang, how could he have dragged her so far away to his own study without anyone seeing? In order to help Magistrate Weng uncover the whereabouts of the Hus seized capital, Yan Li and Gongsun Yan hadnt yet returned from Daming. Tang Yu and her son werent around, either. Qian Sanr couldnt stand this demonic noise irrigating his ears, resolutely abandoning them with a face of suffering to go run off to another table and eat alone. That left Sui Zhou alone, who wasnt leaving, to insist upon eating at this table. Still, he had to say something. Thats soy sauce, not vinegar. Youre soaking an entire dumpling in soy sauce. Are you trying to kill yourself from salt? Huh? Tang Fan stared at him blankly. Evidently, he had only subconsciously turned his head because he heard a sound next to him, not because he had heard what Sui Zhou said. With no other option, Sui Zhou pushed the vinegar dish in front of him, grabbed his hand to maneuver the dumpling held in his chopsticks into the vinegar, and sent the dumpling into Tang Fans mouth. Getting fumigated by the vinegar stench, Tang Fan finally tasted it, and his face scrunched up from the strange flavor of the vinegar-and-soy-sauce-soaked dumpling. Whats with this flavor? Why is their vinegar so salty?! Its the unique vinegar-soy sauce of the Tang clan, unlike any other, Sui Zhou answered collectedly, thinking to himself that next time, he would switch out the vinegar with chili peppers. He knew that Tang Fans personality was just like this, though. As soon as he came across anything important, he would get particularly focused, and no one would be able to shake him out of it. Such was how it had been before, and this time was naturally no exception. As expected, after he was finished with his absent-minded meal, Sir Tang got up and returned to his room to continue deliberating. Scattered about his bed and table were dossiers relating to the old case, copies of Wei Ces household registry, and other such things. There were even copies of Lady Hus plea petitions that she had written for her fathers redress; it had to be said that the woman was very meticulous. Because she had been Hu Hanyins only child, he had put his heart into teaching her, and she had grown up rich and pampered, which inevitably made her different from the average woman that couldnt even read. While she had scrambled all over the place back in the day, she had been cautious, having people write multiple copies of her plea petition as well as keeping all of her previous correspondences with her father, which had all been properly hidden away by her until she reported them to Magistrate Weng. Perhaps all of these objects appeared to have no use, but Tang Fan always had faith in one principle: when someone did something, regardless of whether it was a good or a bad thing, they would always leave clues of it behind. The was no such thing as clothes without visible stitches in this world. Peoples hearts were variable, and the relationships between them even more so. As long as one was human, they would have their own ideas and behaviors. Therefore, even though Lady Zhang and Hu Hanyin were dead, and all sorts of evidence had been annihilated, a faint trail still existed. They just needed to see if they could find it. The process of poring over each and every line of the dossiers and documents, picking out every flaw in them, was, without a doubt, very tedious, and not much better than when he had had to memorize the writing style of eight-legged essays. However, he had always abided by the ethic of either doing something to its fullest, or not doing it at all. By the illumination of faint candlelight, he looked over everything very carefully, his entire body practically lying prostrate on the table; sometimes he would crease his brow, sometimes he would mumble to himself, and sometimes he would have an expression of sudden epiphany. When Sui Zhou pushed open the door and came in, this was what he saw. Witnessing him devotedly throwing himself into the files, he couldnt help but frown. He had originally thought that since he couldnt help, he just wouldnt bother the other man, lest he disturb his trail of thought. Now, it seemed like if no one kept an eye on Tang Fan, he would probably stay like this through day and night. Youre still not sleeping? Sui Zhou betrayed nothing, even though he had thought as such. What time is it? Tang Fan lifted his head, automatically stretching his back and showing momentary relaxation. Sui Zhou stepped up and kneaded his shoulders for him, that moderate strength making him so relaxed, he immediately let out a groan. Its the time of the Rat.(11p-1a) Stop reading and go to sleep, we can speak more tomorrow. That late? Tang Fan was alarmed, looking at the hourglass on the tall sidetable. Why arent you asleep, then? Im waiting for you, the other replied succinctly. You really are a good brother! Tang Fan said, extremely touched. Good, right there, its really sore a little higher. Sui Zhou discovered that the others hair was thick and silky. After being bound, it nearly had an indigo-colored luster under the dim lighting, and his nape appeared all the more white and soft, like mutton-fat jade, when contrasted with his hair. It made one want to stroke it, just to see how it felt. As he thought so, he did so, and the one being touched showed a look of relaxation, even asking for more kneading of his own volition. Get both sides when you massage them. The corners of Sui Zhous mouth raised slightly; he would do as the monarch wished. All of a sudden, Tang Fan seemed to sense something, letting out a noise of surprise. Guangchuan, I noticed youre using your left hand to massage my neck and there seems to be no difference in strength from your right hand? According to conventional reasoning, everyone had one hand they were used to using. Most people were right-handed, so even if they were massaging someones neck, their hands would definitely be at different strengths due to their different usages. Sui Zhou nodded, then remembered that he was standing behind him and the other wouldnt be able to see that, so he changed it to a verbal answer. Correct. Its owed to my specialized training. People like us sometimes have to fight, where a single moment can be the difference between life and death. I dont want to show any flaws due to my own negligence. Tang Fan had long been aware that beneath the others ice-cold exterior was an quite meticulous mind. Upon hearing this, he not only felt no surprise, but rather extreme admiration. Right when he thought to say some words of praise, though, he unexpectedly thought of a question. Can you write with your left hand, then? Yes, but not as well as I could with my right. If you were made to use your left and right hands to write the same character once each, and were also required to make it so that no one could tell the difference between them, would you be able to do that? Sui Zhou pondered this in earnest. I might be able to get them nearly identical, but because each hand has more power in different directions, if one looked closely at them, they would definitely be able to tell. They wouldnt be completely the same. Tang Fan quickly got up, found a piece of yellowed paper that was on the table, then gave it to him. Take a look at this! Sui Zhou observed it under the light for a while. How is it? Is it left-handed writing? Tang Fan asked. Yes, Sui Zhou finally determined, after a very long while. Thats it! Tang Fan exclaimed, slapping the table. Look here; the dossier plainly writes that when the coroner examined Lady Zhangs corpse, he discovered that she was stabbed with a paper-cutting knife, which ruptured her spleen and caused her to die of blood loss. If Hu Hanyin really had tried to rape her and then kill her, she must have put up a fight at the time; and since he was left-handed, this illustrates a problem. Sui Zhou nodded, getting what he meant. The response someone makes at a critical moment is certain to be an instinctual action that doesnt undergo thought. Were Hu Hanyin to actually have killed her, as he was left-handed, when face-to-face with her, the area he would have stabbed would have been on the right side of her body, not her spleen, which is on her left. Tang Fan showed a grin. That means that he genuinely didnt kill her! Seeing how exhausted he looked, Sui Zhou had to say, Go rest. You can handle this tomorrow. The other shook his head. A burst of energy declines quick. Since Ive already got the general outline, it wont be hard to arrange the clues into writing. Ill write it now and be done soon; you can go rest, dont worry about me. What do you want to eat? Ill go cook it. The eyes of a certain someone, originally filled with tiredness, immediately twinkled. Yangchun noodles! I saw the cook kneading dough in the kitchen at nightfall. Those were some pretty discerning eyes. Was there anyone that would go and peer into a kitchen at an inn all day long like Tang Fan did? The corner of Sui Zhous mouth twitched. Okay. By the time he brought the made noodles over, he saw that the other man was slumped over the table, asleep. Runqing? No answer. Fluffy? Still no answer. He had probably been exhausting his energy the whole day, so he had fallen asleep after sudden relaxation. Sui Zhou walked over, placed the noodles down, and gently shook him. Tang Fan mumbled vaguely, shifted a little, then continued to sleep. The other had no choice but to pick him up and settle him on the bed. To be objective, Mister Tang looked pretty good when he slept. He didnt snore or have other faults that other men had, and wouldnt sprawl out on his back the instant he touched down on the bed, instead obediently folding his hands across his stomach, sleeping soundly with his eyes closed. Sui Zhou stared for a long time, smiling lightly. Beneath the candlelight, two figures cast on the wall. The standing one stooped over, slowly getting in close to the one lying down, and, bit by bit, the two shadows nearly overlapped into one In reality, only the positioning was ambiguous. Right when his lips were about to touch the others Tang Fan turned over, groped randomly about his side, and rolled twice after finding the blanket, turning right into a log. Wrapped up in the blanket, facing the wall, he proceeded to sleep soundly. Was he actually sleeping, or what? Sui Zhou reached out to poke him in the face (as of right now, only his head was exposed to the outside world), but the man didnt move even a little. He then scratched the others earlobe. Tang Fan seemed to feel a bit of a tickle, but his arms were bundled and couldnt move for right now, so he could only furrow his brow, showing an upset expression. Were he just feigning sleep, he ought to have long woken up. It seemed like it was genuine. Sui Zhou sighed silently, blew out the candle, and shut the windows for him, after which he left with the bowl. Tang Fan woke up early the next morning, sniffed, and caught the faint smell of yangchun noodles apparently lingering in the air. He was confused for a minute, but it slowly came back to him. Last night apparently Sui Zhou had made him a bowl of yangchun noodles? Where were they? As he recalled, he hadnt eaten them himself. Rubbing his eyes, he asked for the waiter to fetch him water, and after he washed up, he strolled over to his neighbor to knock on the door. A short moment later, the door opened, and Sui Zhou appeared in front of him. Right as he came to face him, Tang Fan was greatly alarmed. You didnt sleep well last night? This was an exceedingly rare event, when it came to Sui Zhou, but the two bags beneath the others eyes were quite real. Sui Zhou hummed, turned around, went back in, and washed his face. Tang Fan followed him in with a smile. Whats wrong? Tell me about it, and Ill help you solve it! I ate too much. Eh? Sui Zhou looked at him. I made you yangchun noodles. You didnt eat them because you were asleep. I ate them myself. Tang Fan had an epiphany, remembering what had happened last night. He smiled in embarrassment. Sorry, I was too tired last night. I kept sitting and sitting, then fell asleep and forgot about that. Mhm. You fell asleep, then rolled yourself up, Sui Zhou thought. After I ate the noodles, my stomach hurt. I didnt sleep well the whole night. Tang Fan now felt really guilty. Ill go with you to see a doctor! Sui Zhou remained unmoved. Wouldnt going to see a doctor expose him? No need. I just want to rest. The more unfazed he was, the more ashamed Tang Fan was. Sui Zhou had gone to cook noodles for him in the middle of the night, only for him to not eat them, thus wasting his hard work, causing him to have a stomachache, and also not sleep well at night. Just listen to all that! What kind of heartless deed had he done?! The guilt in Mister Tangs heart was about to break through the horizon, his expression worried. That wont do, lets go to a doctor before that. Can you still walk? Do you want me to help you? No need, I dont want to. Ill lay for a bit and be fine. Fine, lay down right now, then. Ill have the waiter fetch some water and get some congee and light dishes prepared. If you have a hurt stomach, you should eat that. Saying so, he pulled Sui Zhou straight to the bed to lay down, covered him with a blanket, and finally turned to attend to the food, soon after which he brought gruel over. Sui Zhou made to get up, but the other hurriedly said, Lay down and dont move, Ill feed it to you! Had he not said that, it wouldve been fine, but once he did, Sui Zhou recalled that time they had come out of the Gong nobles tomb, when Tang Fan feeding him medicine had ended with the entire bowl of it overturned on his face. That shadow had not yet dissipated to this day. The favor of beauties is the hardest to enjoy. The ancients truly have not lied to me. Let it be, Ill do it myself. You can just sit here. Mister Tang clearly remembered what had happened the last time he fed him medicine, too, but he was thick-skinned, merely chuckling and passing the bowl over. Sui Zhou took a light sip; the temperature was just right. His speed then gradually picked up, and he effortlessly drank it down in a few gulps, as he normally would. In the end, he was met with Tang Fans surprised expression. Doesnt your stomach hurt? Are you sure you should eat so fast? He had accidentally revealed himself again. Im fine. He calmly set his bowl down, prepared to divert. Having something padding my stomach is better. Since the paramount clues of the case have been found, well have to return to the capital as soon as possible. Youre no longer part of the Ministry of Justice, and you havent yet reported to the Inspectorate, intervening in this case that you had no authority to. Dont give others an excuse to attack you as soon as you take your post. Tang Fans intention was indeed diverted, and he nodded. I will hand this over to Magistrate Weng. With this clue had, the truth about Hu Hanyins case can come to light, and although no evidence of Wei Ce murdering his wife can be found, the Weis reputation will certainly suffer from this. The Hes and he are in-laws, so I hope the Hes dont mistakenly believe that I specifically targeted them because of He Lin. No matter what, my sister is a member of the Hes in name. Sui Zhou shook his head. They wont. They cant curry favor with you enough right now, and dare not offend you. Tang Fan thought it over, and that seemed to be right. Patriarch He was unlike He Lin; he was someone that was very capable of deducing pros and cons, so even if he was unhappy with Tang Fan, he would never show that. Moreover, Wei Ces situation was unrelated to Lady Wei. She might suffer criticism, but with He Ying around, he would never allow He Xuan to divorce her, else the Hes would be suspected of taking advantage of others troubles. While they spoke, Qian Sanr came and said that Magistrate Weng was outside, requesting to see him. Tang Fan invited him to the main hall downstairs for the talk, then said to Sui Zhou, Your stomach hurts, so dont move, just rest here. Ill have Qian Sanr bring you lunch later. Sui Zhou nodded. Go ahead. Tang Fan headed down to see Magistrate Weng. The latter was vexed, as he hadnt found any evidence. Sir, the Guards passed news along that after the Hus property was all confiscated, the Daming Magistrate returned a portion of the properties to Wei Ce on the grounds that he was the Hus sworn son, and that his wife had been killed by Hu Hanyin. It was from that first wealth that Wei Ce was able to create his fortune, and it passed along a legal road, so that cant be used as evidence against him. Tang Fan told him of his left-right hand hypothesis that he had thought up of last night. Hearing this, the Magistrate beamed at once, his dejection swept away into nothing. Youre brilliant, Sir! With that evidence, Wei Ce wont be able to deny it! Tang Fan didnt have his optimism. This could only prove that Lady Hus father wasnt the murderer, at most. It couldnt prove that Lady Zhangs death had anything to do with Wei Ce. The reality that Lady Hu killed the Wei son still exists. Her fathers case can be overturned, but hers cannot be. We both know that its impossible for Wei Ce to have nothing to do with Lady Zhangs murder, but he will never admit that himself. Thinking that to be true, Magistrate Weng sighed. Lady Hu should be satisfied with the exoneration of her father, as weve already done our best. From this alone, it will be more apparent that Wei Ce is kind on the outside, but evil on the inside, and nothing good at all. Make a memorial about this, and Ill support it. It should be able to draw the attention of the Court quickly. Hu Hanyins case will be able to be overturned; since he did a lot of good in his life and died in such a way, he should obtain honors, which I will report. The other hesitated. Will that be too much trouble for you? Tang Fan shook his head. Not at all. This wont be enough to awe people, otherwise. Those officials that are confused on how to judge cases will look to this as an example. His talk of helping him out was really not just talk; Tang Fans current post was as a censor, and such a position could make tall waves without any wind. It was no problem for those to pick out and denounce peoples shortcomings all day long, to say nothing about what Wei Ce had done. If Magistrate Weng unveiled the inside information of what had happened twenty years ago, then Tang Fan would only have to send a memorial up in support of him. As was imaginable, this bizarre and twisty case-within-a-case would certainly attract the interest of the Court censors that had their fill of doing nothing important all day long. On account of Lady Hu taking revenge for her father, even though Tang Fan himself believed that she shouldnt have killed the innocent Wei son, when it came to present viewpoints, that would be enough to label her as a filial daughter. As that point would add to her bright image, it could also indirectly impel her fathers injustice to be smoothly scrubbed away. This case will inevitably shock society, and youll get great fame for it, he stressed to Magistrate Weng, but you must keep one thing firmly in mind. After coming to Xianghe County, Tang Fan was always friendly, not imposing his own status. Today marked the first time he had adopted such a chiding posture. Do tell, Sir, Magistrate Weng quickly answered with a solemn countenance. Lady Hu is sympathetic, but the Wei son was innocent. You cannot ignore what evil shes done because you want to exonerate her father; the two things are not contradictory. The censors can largely point fingers at random because they are disconnected from the event, and commonfolk tend to lean to one side because they dont understand the truth, but you, as a parental official, must uphold an impartial viewpoint, and not be biased. Even though Wei Ce is reprehensible, conclusive proof is needed before he can be convicted. Over twenty years ago, it was the Daming Magistrates idiocy that caused the Hu father to die wrongfully. You can never repeat his calamitous methods! This humble official will act impartially, and never be biased, Magistrate Weng respectfully agreed. Only then did Tang Fan smile, patting him on the shoulder. Zimo, your luck in your career was poor for the first half of your life, but I believe that was just the Heavens testing you. Many in this world take time to get their achievements, so I hope that you dont get discouraged. There will come a day that you can get rid of the fog to see the clear blue sky! Magistrate Weng smiled back. I thank you for your kind words, Sir! The case arriving at this point meant that Tang Fan couldnt help in any area anymore; what came next would not be an issue, with Magistrate Wengs capabilities. If he remained in Xianghe, that would only add to the latters busyness. Sure enough, the Magistrate managed to find a servant that had served Hu Hanyin, and verified that the man had indeed formed the habit of using his left hand to write and work. That had stemmed from suffering arthralgia, which had left his right hand, and even his right shoulder, lacking in strength. With that, it was reasonable to say that it would have been impossible for him to injure anyone, and also proved the guess that Tang Fan and Magistrate Weng had established a left-handed person, when killing someone, would stab unconsciously, and go for a spot most convenient to them. In other words, Lady Hus father truly had been wronged. There had been no circumstances of him killing Lady Zhang or assaulting his daughter-in-law at all. It had simply owed to Lady Zhang having died in his room and been murdered by his paper-cutting knife that the stupid Magistrate had foolishly cracked the case, which had also coincided with turbulence in the capital that had left higher officials not in the mood to care, that had led to this injustice. After learning of this, Lady Hu couldnt help but sob, calling out that her fathers spirit in the Heavens could rest. The sorrow of her cries could move those who heard it, and make those that saw it weep. Upon hearing Magistrate Weng say that Tang Fan had found the key clues to this case, Lady Hu deferentially kowtowed three times in the direction of where Tang Fan was staying, and told the Magistrate that she knew her own death was inevitable; she would be unable to repay the favor of them redressing her fathers wrong in this life, and would have to seek to repay them in the next one. Then, she peacefully awaited her fate in jail, not saying a word despite her sons multiple visits and questions. Pitying her misfortune, the Magistrate specially ordered the jailers to not to make things harder for her, so that she could pass her days peacefully prior to the Courts punishment. On Tang Fans end, he had a discussion with Sui Zhou, asked for Tang Yus opinion, then found a day to say farewell to Patriarch He, following which he brought his sister and nephew away with them all to the capital. Tang Yu and He Chengs departure was presented to outsiders as them going for a short visit to their natal family, but because there had long been rumors about the disharmony between He Lin and his wife, everyone knew what had happened. He Lins friends jeered at him yet again, which made him thunderously angry, so he simply cut contact with those scoundrels and shut himself up in his house all day. However, he obviously harbored a huge bias against his brother-in-law. During the departure, no matter what their reasons, all of the Hes had come out to mingle, while He Lins figure alone had not been seen. Tang Fan and Tang Yu hadnt cared, but Patriarch He had felt a little awkward, and found Tang Fan to apologize himself. The Wei case had already spread throughout all of Xianghe County. Even the neighboring Counties had heard of it. For this spell, regardless of whether they were gentry or commoners, all that anyone ever talked about over tea or after meals was this odd case-within-a-case. It was actually three cases, to be blunt. First was the murder of Wei Ces concubine-born daughter by his second wife and her cousin, after which came the death of his son. All had believed things to be done there, only for a case from more than twenty years ago to then be brought out. What had originally looked like a bewildering matter with no clear outline had had a clue gleaned out of it by Censor Tang via letters, which exonerated Lady Hus father. Such twists and turns were favored bits of street gossip. From that point on, storytellers of teahouses and pubs would add some more material to this: The Wei Estates children died violently, it was suspected to be an evil ghost demanding lives, a fierce woman cried out of wrongs to avenge her father, and Don Tang cracked the case-within-a-case. The translator says: I keep bloody forgetting, but I made a Discord server a while back that contains channels for discussing FYC, one for discussing the novel as it goes, one for other non-spoilerly stuff. Heres a link, come say hi~ CH 85 Once it had undergone the storytellers embellishment process, the tale of Censor Tang sagely cracking the case-within-a-case became widely popular, and quickly spread. In spite of transportation to faraway places not being at all convenient in this day and age, commonfolk enjoyed listening to stories like this the most; in no more than a few months, even the Jiangnan region had heard something of it, with adaptations into folk songs sung by bands even being made, purportedly. Ever since he had entered Shuntian Prefecture, Tang Fan had handled an unknowable amount of cases. Amongst them had been complex cases like the Marquis Wuan Estates, and ones as dangerous as the case of the ancient coffin in Luo River, but not many people knew of those. It wasnt until the Xianghe County cases outbreak that he gained the reputation of being able to solve cases like a god, truly having a name that shook the land. The cause of that was that those previous cases had been too far removed from the average person, so no matter how dangerous or weird they were, everyone only took them as some trivia. The two tomb guardians Tang Fan and the others had encountered before were rarely-seen, for example, but whenever spoken about, no one else believed that they had actually ever existed. On the contrary, they would merely believe this to be an exaggeration, resulting in its acceptance level not being high. The Xianghe case was different. Its details were unpredictable, yet it didnt appear to be so far-removed. Listeners would be astonished and feel sympathy, sighing for the Hu fathers misfortune, pitying Lady Hus actions. Therefore, the names of everyone else that had participated in the cases solving Magistrate Weng, Sui Zhou, the rest of them were also raised up high. With all the rumors, Tang Fan was theorized to be the reincarnation of Lord Bao, while Sui Zhou was theorized to be the Zhang Long or Zhao Hu or other enforcer at the side of this Lord Bao, which was preposterous. But, that was all stuff for later. Just as Tang Fan had said to Magistrate Weng, commonfolk viewed right and wrong very simply. Despite Lady Hu being a murderer, her starting point had been vengeance for her father, that bit of filial piety enough to move people. Furthermore, even though present facts couldnt verify the suspicion that Wei Ce had directly framed Hu Hanyin, it had at least proved that Hu Hanyin had indeed been accused wrongly. That also didnt stop everyone from starting to fantasize about what disgraceful role Wei Ce had played in the case He was very likely his wifes murderer, which he had framed his own sworn father for in order to steal the Hus assets. Now, despite twenty years passing, Hu Hanyins injustice had finally been cleared. It could be seen that even though the world might not be just, justice yet might not come too late. After Tang Fan returned to the capital, the case was expectedly reported up to the Shuntian Prefect by Magistrate Weng, which alarmed the Court. In addition to that, rumors had spread so far across the commonfolk, even high officials in Court were talking about it. A lot of people dared not offend Wan An, but they were quite willing to comment on one-hundred-percent dramatic cases like this. In quick succession, many censors presented memorials. Some spoke on Lady Hus behalf, admonishing Wei Ce as a monster with a human face, yet a beasts heart. Some, similarly to Damings former Magistrate, believed that since Wei Ce was a scholar, him having killed his wife to frame his sworn father was unlikely. Lady Zhang might not have been killed by him, making him similar to Hu Hanyin an unwitting victim. Talk was abuzz over this, and quarrels were abuzz between two opposing troops with their own opinions. This ended up shocking even the Emperor, who also became interested in the case. As Tang Fan had directly participated in it, he summoned him into the palace to ask about it. Tang Fan naturally had not forgotten his own promise. He immediately presented Magistrate Wengs contributions for him, then described the entire sequence of events as they had happened in reality. With his eloquence, it was likely that he could narrate even ordinary stories vividly, to say nothing of this very intriguing case of repeated twists and turns, which he spoke of quite smoothly. The Emperor did not differ too much from the commoners on the streets, holding his breath as he listened from start to finish. He probably had never been this focused while reading memorials before in his life. At the end of it, he exhaled, smacking his table. That Wei Ce had to be his wifes murderer! Otherwise, how would he have been able to abruptly get rich once the Hu family fell, and also give up his opportunity for continuing to get scholarly fame, turning to trade? Clearly, it was to conceal the source of his capital! You are wise, Your Majesty, Tang Fan answered. This subject also inferred as much. However, inferences alone cannot be used to convict him of that crime. Now that so many years have passed, Lady Zhangs corpse has long rotted away, and there would be no way to glean anything off of it no matter how brilliant the coroner is. Hu Hanyin is also long dead. Unless Wei Ce himself admits to it, no one can say who killed his wife. Chenghua was quite concerned about Lady Hu being unsatisfied. How could allowing a scoundrel to go free not be wronging good people? He had done many ill-advised things himself, but now that he was hearing of someone elses story, he was filled with righteous fury. Tang Fan, unsure of how to react, automatically looked at Sui Zhou. The latter spoke out, not betraying his hopes. Your Majesty, the cause of Hu Hanyins injustice was because Damings Magistrate had judged the case foolishly, having no concrete evidence, yet drawing a conviction indiscriminately. Later generations should look to this as an example to fine-comb details even more, get the confidence of others that way, and not imitate that foolish Prefectural Magistrate by charging Wei Ce with a crime before the evidence is clear. Nowadays, theres much public opinion going about, where most people are crying out about unfairness for Lady Hu and urging Xianghes Magistrate to convict Wei Ce as soon as possible, Tang Fan promptly picked up. That Magistrate Weng can withstand the pressure and keep to his morals is truly commendable. Chenghua burst out laughing. All we did was say a few words of discontent, and it drew the two of yous lengthy chiding. Tang Fan, Guangchuan is always so earnestly boring does he not bore you to death, too? Hearing the familiarity towards Sui Zhou in his tone, Tang Fan laughed as well. Guangchuan is someone cold on the outside, yet warm on the inside, with high capabilities. When this subject interacts with him, theres always pleasant surprises abound, never boredom. The Emperor nodded, rather proud. Amongst our in-laws, Guangchuan alone gives us the most hardworking repute! Speaking of which, since you are adept with cracking cases, we will have you go to the Inspectorate, not back to the Ministry of Justice to handle them. Do you feel dissatisfied with that? That I could be promoted a rank is entirely by your grace; I have not had enough time yet to be thankful, so how could I ever be dissatisfied? Furthermore, I truly did have some fault in what happened before. Your Majestys handling of that is something I have accepted wholeheartedly. Chenghua didnt want to see the person both Huai En and Sui Zhou strove to protect be a thankless wolf that knew no gratitude, becoming satisfied at this. The Inspectorate is not the Ministry of Justice with the prisons of all the nation held in its hand, but investigating and denouncing all the departments, plus rectifying injustice, is all your responsibility. Remember to be just like your performance in the Xianghe County case; look into everything regardless of its size, get the full details on everything, and dont be confused about the distinctions between right and wrong, good and evil. This subject will certainly bear your words in mind, Your Majesty, and spare no effort in doing my duties to the utmost. In truth, after Tang Fan had been promoted to Left Metropolitan Censor, some had denounced him for having a prior misconduct record, and thus being unsuited for the post. Their implication was that Censors were posts of weight, yet Tang Fan had already made a mistake; how could he set examples for other officials? Regardless of what original intent the detractors had had, they had demonstrated that some did not want to see Tang Fan return to officialdom. However, the Xianghe case had presently spread to the capital, and Tang Fans performance in overturning Hu Hanyins case had been truly extraordinary, which meant that those people had had no choice but to shut their mouths. This also gave great face to the Emperor for appointing him. Chenghua, whenever loving someones home, would love all the crows that came with it, so he had no dissatisfaction towards Tang Fan. This case of far-reaching concern did not reach its curtain call just yet. Despite it shocking the Court and even drawing the Emperors personal questions, the Daming Magistrate from that year had long passed, and there was no definite proof that Wei Ce had killed his wife to frame his sworn father. Lady Hus murder of the Wei son was not regarded as revenge for her father, but rather held the significance of killing the innocent; even so, the Emperor came to pity her filial piety, and exempted her from the death penalty, sentencing her to a banishment of three thousand li with the allowance that her family could see her off. Yet, she felt that with her father exonerated, her wish had been fulfilled. As her husband had long passed and son married, she felt that she had no worries left, and died after a seven-day hunger strike. Wei Ce was not convicted, but everyone was already convinced that he had killed his wife, following which he had conspired to steal the Hus assets. The Wei family received glares wherever they went in Xianghe, to the point that Lady Wei couldnt resist going back to her natal family and making a big scene, interrogating her father to get the truth out of him. Not long after, the Head Educator of Northern Zhili patrolled Xianghe, then stripped Wei Ce of his County Honorate status on the basis of his trading being an insult to culture, ordering him to reflect upon himself in seclusion at home. Magistrate Weng also paid several visits. Apart from the old case, he couldnt find any other information on Wei Ces crimes the mans deep calculations were truly beyond his expectations. He could only place his hopes onto positively influencing Wei Ce, so that he would confess the truth of what had happened. There was no way Wei Ce would say that, though. Now that there was no evidence to convict him with, even the Emperor couldnt have him arrested for no reason, making it natural that he wouldnt groundlessly surrender of his own accord. Yet, following the ghost-haunting rumors spreading, he had remained in his sickbed, his health never once taking a good turn. It was gradually worsening, even. Bystanders claimed that he had a guilty conscience and was suffering retribution, while some said that Lady Hus wronged soul hadnt yet dissipated, transforming into a fierce ghost that had come to take his life in vengeance. To be brief, in the colder season of this year, Wei Ce genuinely would breathe his last, his life returned to dust. Rumors on the street would say that before his demise, hed been shouting desperately at the side of his bed, where no one was: Dont get closer, dont get closer Well, no matter what, none of that would have anything to do with Tang Fan. After his return to the capital, he began to help his sister and nephew settle in. The residence that Sui Zhou had helped him buy was quite nice. It wasnt as big as the Sui home, but it was still a dual-courtyard.[1] Past the gate, the first courtyard had two side-rooms, where the servants of the original family had stayed. A lot of plants were planted before their doors, making them unlike the simpleness of average servant quarters. After the second gate, there was the inner courtyard; the main hall was in the middle, with a study and bedroom flanking it. The skywell in the center of the yard was predominantly arranged with bonsais. Tang Fan also listened to Sui Zhous suggestion, continuing to live with him while the mother-son pair moved into the other place with Ah-Dong. After coming to the capital and meeting the girl, Tang Yu felt compassion towards her life experience, and was also quite fond of the lively little lass. The sisters hit it off, but He Cheng was only three years younger than Ah-Dong, so having to call her Auntie was pretty awkward for a time. Tang Yu, meanwhile, used the silver taels the Hes had given her to open up a cosmetics shop in the capital. Before she had married off, she had loved to tinker with such things, even manufacturing a lot of them based on recipes written in ancient books, only for her to set them aside after marrying. Now that she had picked it back up, she was having quite a bit of fun. Owing to her being a woman, there were many business matters that would be bad for her to show up personally for, so Tang Fan had Qian Sanr go be her shopkeeper and help her arrange for things at the fore. This was actually precisely to Qian Sanrs taste, as he was uneducated and unskilled, yet had wandered the world at his Masters side dealing with all sorts of people was what he excelled in. Judging by his damned mouth that could say anything to survive, there was no need to worry about business being bad. However, cosmetics shops sold womens goods, and the women of large families would inevitably come over to pick them out themselves at times, whereupon Tang Yu would need to show her face. She had come from a wealthy household and carried the air of a well-bred Jiangnan lady, making her different in presence from typical merchants. Leaving that aside, her beautiful looks and graceful loquacity alone were enough to make her a living advertisement. As such, even though the store might not see profits for the time being, as long as it was well-managed, it would gain fame sooner or later. A few months later, Tang Fan received news from the Hes. Apparently, after Tang Yu and her son left, He Lin had been dejected for a time, then later caught some unknown influence. Following him cutting off those friends of his, he wholeheartedly studied in his home, seemingly having the intent to change his evil ways. He relayed this news to Tang Yu, but she shook her head, saying that scenery was easy to change, but nature was difficult to. If wastrels often turned themselves around like so, there wouldnt be so many travesties in the world. She wasnt too optimistic about He Lins alleged transformation. Speaking of, ever since Sister Tang had moved out of the Hes and to the capital, despite her being so busy all day long that her feet never hit the ground, she was smiling a lot more than she had been before. Since she was able to cheer up, Tang Fan was naturally happy for her, and didnt bother her about He Lin anymore. At the Inspectorate, unlike how things had been when he had first entered the Ministry of Justice, Tang Fan encountered little difficulty in spite of being a newbie. For one, that was because he was in the Inspectorate now, where censors of all weights could be considered half-Ministers, and a large batch of officials of lower rank were below him. Those lower than him would naturally not try to humiliate him, while those higher than him generally wouldnt go start trouble. Moreover, he was not a newborn that didnt understand how the world worked. The reason for his previous cold reception at the Ministry had been that he had snatched someone elses position, but Left Metropolitan Censor was not a post of fixed number, so it made sense that there was no discussion of anyone stealing stuff from anyone else. Of more importance were the posts above him right now in the capital there was one Left Capital Censor, Chang Zhiyuan, and one Right Deputy Censor, Lu Shaojun. The two posts of Right Capital Censor and Left Deputy Censor were vacant. With few people came few conflicts, and their daily work was never done, so they would be eager to have him come in and share their burden. Who was so bored as to try to crowd him out for no reason? Thus, with a hello to you, hello to me, hello to everyone, Tang Fan finally got back the popularity he had had in Shuntian Prefecture, now in the Inspectorate. Every rank was polite to each other, the atmosphere harmonious, and it made outsiders walking in believe they had gone into the wrong building, under the impression that this was not the Inspectorate that had a reputation of arresting and denouncing whoever it wanted, but the warm Ministry of Rites. However, even in such a friendly environment, there were some unfriendly elements. For example, every level of the Inspectorate had recently caught onto a bizarre trend, where many had taken Third Vizier Liu Ji as the denouncement target they were going to pursue for all time. Yes, it was true; for these censors, denouncing Liu Ji until he was knocked off his pedestal was a lifelong pursuit of the highest realm. Tang Fan thought that he had misheard, at first, but later discovered that this was true. Liu Ji was a Cabinet Solon and High Scholar of the Pavilion of Literary Profundity. He ranked third in the Cabinet, with Head Vizier Wan An and Vice Vizier Liu Xu preceding him. Had Solon Liu had done something so outrageous, everyone was looking at him with hate? All of this had burgeoned from the Inspectorates role. To put it simply, it served as the Emperors eyes and ears, supervising all officials, which was to say that if censors saw what you did, and you violated the countrys rules, they could denounce you. Still, censors were all human, and there was no way they would forever strictly uphold the law like they were frigid enforcers. Wherever there were people, there were the ways of the world, and once there came to be more people, they would start to form cliques and parties, cooking up their own careful schemes. When it came to the current Solons in the Cabinet, Wan An tightly hugged Consort Wans thigh, would not be able to be ousted for a time, and was pretty vengeful. No one wanted to offend him, as that wouldnt bear good fruit. Tang Fan, for example, had caused Liang Wenhua to get sent to Nanjing for retirement, and Wan An was certain to have jotted that debt down, ready to retaliate at some unknown time. All people sped towards advantages and shunned disadvantages. It wasnt that no one had never denounced Wan An before, but Wan An wouldnt fall all of his opponents would be the ones to. Over time, everyone learned that he wasnt someone easy to bully, and thus they wouldnt go looking to embarrass themselves. The Vice Vizier, Liu Xu, did not have as much of a crowd of cronies behind him, was relatively aloof, and had offended plenty of people, but the censors still werent willing to denounce him, as he was the Emperors most revered teacher. Whenever the Emperor met him, he never called him by name, but as Mister Liu of the East. Such a person had a set special place in the Emperors heart, and could not be rashly acted against. Some had denounced him several times before, to no result. Furthermore, he was proud in personality, refusing to adhere to Wan An and his filth, which thereupon gave him less information to grab onto and use against him. Even if he did fall from the denouncing, there would be no point to it. Unlike the previous two, the third-ranked Solon Liu Ji was transcendent in bearing and distinguished in self, turning him into the favorite target of the censors. He was sly in nature, socializing between Wan An and Liu Xu, and had formed his own party that stood apart from them, his influence not small. This demonstrated that if someone like that could be taken down, the one who wrote the denouncing memorial would get their name lauded. A most important saying of the people about Liu Ji was: A hundred bullets couldnt make Liu Cottonflower fall over. He was very thick-skinned. When others were denounced, they would generally remove themselves from their posts, shut themself up in reflection at home, then present their resignation upwards (this was not a clearly-written rule to follow, but an unspoken principle), which portrayed that they were pure, and not greedy for power. Liu Cottonflower was not like that, though. In spite of others denouncing him, he still kept on as usual, sitting firm in his seat and too lazy to budge, having an abundant air of no matter what weather may come, I will be as unmoving as a mountain. This made the teeth of those denouncing him itch to see, and they would wonder to themselves how this guy could have skin thicker than a city walls. Wan An didnt like Liu Ji, either. Had the latter ever submitted his resignation at the time of his denouncements, Wan An would have long pushed the boat along the river to have him go retire, but Liu Ji simply wouldnt conform to the rules of the world. The Emperor cared not for the intrigue of high officials, so Wan An had no opportunity to tear Liu Ji off of his stage. To censors, their lifelong pursuit was to get their names in the annals of history. The more tricky the target was to strike, the higher their sense of accomplishment would be after they knocked him down. For that reason, on the Inspectorates denouncement roll, Liu Ji doubtlessly had the top spot, and had held that rank for several consecutive years. Everyone was throwing their all into trying to topple him with denouncements, resulting in the formation of a shooting at the cottonflower trend no one thought it strange, but rather glorious, making noise after every little thing that happened. Even the inconsequential matters that occurred at Liu Jis household would be put forward and criticized by those dog-nosed censors. As one of the dog-nosers, Tang Fan really disapproved of this trend, but he was only a Left Metropolitan Censor. The switch-out of Capital for Metropolitan made a huge difference, as he was not the first-in-command, but the third. In any case, even if he was the first-in-command as a Left or Right Capital Censor, there still wouldnt be a way to prevent his subordinates from denouncing anyone, because that was a censors role to begin with. Them supervising officials was within their rights, and no one could say anything against it. He also wouldnt wildly criticize others or brazenly interfere. The daily tasks of the Inspectorate were not many, unlike the Ministry of Justice, where important cases from various places would be reported upwards on the daily for him to handle. When he had free time, he proceeded to work on things he hadnt been able to finish before, completing the in-progress supplement to the Great Ming Codes vacancies. Right at this time, the Inspectorate transferred another person in, directly using him to fill the vacancy of Right Capital Censor. That gentlemen was none other than that previously-dismissed teacher of Tang Fans, Mr. Qiu Jun. Qiu Jun had presented a memorial aimed at Wang Zhi, henceforth annoying the Emperor until he had kicked him straight to Nanjing. Following that, he had never made a comeback. It wasnt that Tang Fan and Pan Bin had never thought to help their teacher, but that their posts were never high enough, speech never weighed enough, and they just didnt have the ability to. However, Qiu Juns pupils filled the land. In the capital, although he only had two direct disciples, he had been the head verifier for the eleventh year of Chenghuas metropolitan exams. The Honorates of that branch that had later passed all revered him as a teacher. Their relationships to him were not as close as Tang Fan and Pan Bins, but they were still linked up into one vein as him. Broken bones were still connected to their tendons. This time around, it had been Huai En who had helped speak for Qiu Jun. That had stemmed from Tang Fans branchs top metropolitan scorer the later-Third Scorer Wang Ao being one of the Crown Princes current teachers. When Wang Ao had accidentally brought up Qiu Jun while giving lessons, lamenting that his teacher was upright in conduct yet not allowed to be in officialdom, the Prince had become interested in pleading for leniency for Qiu Jun, so that he could come back to the capital. Naturally, he could not go call on the Emperor directly himself, so the Prince sought out Huai En. Through Huai Ens words in the Emperors presence, Qiu Jun had been transferred back to the capital at last, then directly appointed to be Tang Fans superior. Tang Fan and Pan Bin were delighted that their teacher had been able to come back, of course. On the day of Qiu Juns return, they, Wang Ao, Xie Qian, and the others personally went ten li outside of the city to welcome him. The teacher and his students reuniting after so long were beyond ecstatic, and they immediately brought their teacher to a reservation at a restaurant, thus cleansing him of the weariness of travel. Unlike Tang Fan, who had mucked around for over half a month in Xianghe after his appointment before actually taking up his post, Mr. Qiu was devoted to his position. On the first day, everyone drank til midnight, and only then did the party break up, yet the very next day, he reported to the Ministry of Appointments, then went straight to work at the Inspectorate. Tang Fan had his own principles, but overall, he was a relatively sly and pragmatic person, able to accept that some things could not be changed, then draw back. Mr. Qiu was not the same; he was an aged, honest, and righteous old man with a fiery temper. Within just a few days at the Inspectorate, he discovered the improper work that the censors were doing by focusing exclusively on Liu Ji. In his view, the Great Ming was overflowing with corruption, and there were a lot of things that were much more important than the denouncement of Liu Ji. There were the imperial farmlands, the Western Depot, and, at the bare minimum, Wan An. Why denounce Liu Ji alone? Didnt they have anything else to do? Qiu Jun had the decisiveness of a thunderstorm, presenting a memorial on the spot. He enumerated three major malpractices of the present court, even scolding every layer of the Inspectorate, saying that they werent doing their jobs properly, thought of how to curry favor all day long, used public services for private gains, and wielded the power bestowed to them by the Great Ancestor for their personal benefit. Who wanted to get told off like that by him? His scolding particularly chastised Chang Zhiyuan, the Left Capital Censor. For a time, there was a right mess going about, no peace to be had. To be fair, Tang Fan supported Qiu Juns point of view, as his teacher had brought up genuine problems that existed at present. However, Qiu Jun was too impatient in nature, wanting to stuff himself full in one bite, which would unavoidably offend many. Doing such a thing was bad for the self, but that didnt mean that it was the wrong thing to do. The way the world was now had sprouted precisely from there being a lack of people like Qiu Jun springing up. Tang Fan grasped the notion of when to advance and retreat better than Qiu Jun did, but that did not hinder his esteem for his teacher. This period coincided with the fiftieth birthday of Wan Tong, who was also known as Consort Wans little brother, and the newly-appointed Commanding Envoy of the Brocade Guard. He sent out mass invitations, with every official in the capital that was higher than fifth rank getting one Qiu Jun, Tang Fan, and the rest of them were no exceptions. The translator says: c r a s h t h e p a r t y So, did Wei Ce actually kill his wife? Well, an innocent man wouldnt go to such great lengths to cover his tracks if hed done nothing wrong. The authors mini-theatre: Tang Yu: Fluffy, I plan to open a shop. What do you think would be good to sell? Tang Fan: Buns? Dumplings? Spring rolls? Wontons? Sis, the wontons at that business in the citys north are delicious. Tang Yu: Sui Zhou: Sister, if you open a shop that sells food, how am I supposed to manifest how important I am? Tang Yu: Fine. For the sake of that major turning point in my baby brothers life, Id best sell cosmetics. [1] As opposed to Sui Zhous three-courtyard setup, this one is basically the same, but missing its rearmost, smaller courtyard section. CH 86 Consort Wans favor having not waned for decades was a miracle. She might have been charming during her youth, but she was now over fifty years old. No matter how much of a world-toppling beauty she was, that couldnt conceal the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and due to her gradual aging, she was putting on weight, the slimness shed had in her earlier years not to be spoken of in the same breath. Even so, it was such a woman that had captured the Emperors heart, several decades passing like just one day. Perhaps it had not been because of her that the Emperor had stopped favoring harem women. After the Crown Prince had come to light before all, the Emperor had relaxed his own restrictions even further, having sons one after the other, though that didnt at all lower the important spot Consort Wan had in his heart. She was an unparalleled existence in his life, where the older he got, the more he heeded her. It could make anyone click their tongue in astonishment. That might merely be a rare romance story in the palace, but to some people, it was an asset to be utilized. Take her little brother, Wan Tong, for example. His collusion with the Southside Gang from last time had nearly caused the children of major Dynasty officials to be trafficked, creating such a huge mess, even Consort Wan hadnt been able to protect him. Out of anger, the Emperor had taken away his post, ordering him to return home and reflect upon himself. Still, with that great big sister that he had, everything would be fine for him regardless of what happened. In the blink of an eye, the Emperors anger had thereafter vanished, and he felt that his in-laws were more reliable than average, so he had called him back to reinstate him as the Brocade Guards Commanding Envoy. People that had good things happen to them would be ecstatic, and this was coinciding with Wan Tongs fiftieth birthday. The Emperor even joked that life was half-complete at fifty, so there was no harm in throwing a big thing for it; with his weighty words, Wan Tong naturally held no scruples, straight-up ordering his Estate to go nuts in setting things up. The invitations had been sent to every official in the capital that was over fifth-rank, purely in a posture of getting ready to catch everyone with one net. Just imagine; that Wan Tong, a consort-kin of no merits that had not grown wise with age, could still have high officials visit him for his longevity celebration what a flattering, majestic thing. Many dissented, but they heard that even the Cabinet Solons were going to show their faces, so they felt that not going would be too conspicuous, forced to grit their teeth and attend the party. Today, the Wan Estate could be described as having brilliant friends filling its seats, dazzling brightly. Looking all around, those that sat at the head table apart from the birthday gentleman were the three Solons, as well as three Ministers. On the table nearby, there sat a specially-bestowed gift, given by the Emperor when he had heard of his brother-in-laws birthday. In addition to those few, bystanders could see from a distance a couple powerful figures that had shown up before the Emperor recently: Transmissions Officer Li Zhisheng of the Office of Transmissions, and Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, Shang Ming, who was as equally famous to and in a bitter rivalry with Wang Zhi. With the Eastern Depots status, Shang Ming was able to sit at the head table. This was not shocking; had Wang Zhi come today, Wan Tong would have had to invite him to the head table, too. However, Li Zhisheng was a fourth-rank Transmissions Officer, yet was sitting with high officials and technical-royals that drew quite a bit of interest. Today, guests filled the gates, horses and carriages flowing like water, the doorkeeps hands going soft from all the red envelopes being taken at the doors. As it came to be later, whenever he saw someone he didnt recognize or was of a lower rank, he wouldnt even bother to smile, looking at people much like he would plates of food. Guests being a bit bothersome would make his nose quickly go askew in anger. No one was going to come by wearing their officials uniform on such an occasion. The people Tang Fan came with were those who had been in Hanlin with him back in the day. Even though they all had come from more or less the same circumstances, their later encounters had been individually different. Some had become lecturers at the East Palace and were giving lessons to the Crown Prince, some were still simmering their qualifications in Hanlin, and some had entered the Six Ministries and Five Courts, like Tang Fan. However, after these few years, it was Tang Fan that had been promoted the quickest. The reason for that was that his luck had had its ups and downs, and perils had sprung up in his life, making his road incomparable to those of others. As was said, the higher the risks were, the higher the rewards. Those with capabilities would eventually be able to occupy high positions. Outsiders, naturally, had nothing to say about this. Tang Fan was a loyal man, too, and would help in any way that he possibly could if anything happened with his yearmates. Whenever others were in dire financial straits, he would hand his own funds over without another word. That behavior of helping those in need out of righteousness was not something just anyone could imitate. Thus, despite everyones teasing, none of them were envious, instead vaguely following his lead. Capital officials were poorer than abroad officials. This was a bizarre phenomenon in the Great Ming, and especially true for Tang Fan and the rest, who were in clearwater bureaus that didnt take in much gray income. They, inevitably, had no way to compare to high officials, which made their gifts comparatively simple. The doorkeep was used to accepting gifts, unable to judge their weight once they entered his hand. Seeing that the names on all of their invitations were nothing special, he arranged for them to sit at a table near the door. Hes really as self-important as his master! Xie Qian joked in a whisper. Whatever. We were reluctant to come here, anyways, Wang Ao said with a grin. Those gifts were an exchange for the food, which is a profit for us! They all couldnt resist laughing at that wasnt it true? Looking at this present setup, there was definitely going to be abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and swim bladders, with one table having to cost hundred taels, at least. That their worthless gifts could be payment for this meal was a steal. A few sat at remnant tables, the scene now bustling restlessly. Most officials of low rank, after coming in, would successively go for the head table to pay respects to the Solons and Ministers, but not all did so; some were like Tang Fans group, who sat right down after their arrival, waiting for the banquet to begin. There were too many people, regardless, and no one could keep track of anyone. Perhaps even those Solons at the head table couldnt keep track of who had come to pay respects to them. Tang Fans eyes briefly swept around, and he saw Sui Zhou, who was at the third-ranked table, happen to raise his head. Their lines of sight meeting, they both smiled a bit. The curve of Sui Zhous lips was much smaller, of course, and Tang Fan couldnt necessarily see it clearly from so far away, but he could still sense that the other was genuinely smiling. Within these vis-a-vis smiles, there was a mutual rapport, and implicit understanding. The table Sui Zhou was sitting at was for meritorious officials, with not many arrivals to it. As was evident, none of the nobles really placed too much importance onto consort-kin like Wan Tong, who relied upon women to get up in the world. Despite not having power, famed families were still famed families, and many of those titles had been received from helping Yongle seize the throne back in the day. Such people had enough confidence to not give Wan Tong face; apart from being unhappy, there was nothing he could do against them. Strictly speaking, Sui Zhou also belonged to the ranks of consort-kin, but he actually had talent. One look told that he wasnt like Wan Tong, and he thus wasnt isolated by the others of the table. Judging from Sui Zhous personality, he certainly wasnt fond of attending events like this, yet he worked under Wan Tong, and it wouldnt be good to snub him though, even if he was sitting there, his expression was grave, not that much different from how he normally looked. Aside from Tang Fan, no one could tell whether he was ultimately happy or not. At the second-ranked table were more officials, among which was Tang Fans teacher, Qiu Jun. Now being the Right Capital Censor, he sat with the Left Capital Censor, Chang Zhiyuan, as people occasionally came up to greet the two of them. Both Capital Censors were high officials of truesecond-rank, the same grade as the Six Ministers, yet they were only seated at the second table; this wasnt because Wan Tong was deliberately snubbing them, but rather to express the close atmosphere of the first table. Many there like Li Zhisheng, Shang Ming, and the rest were people Wan Tong had frequent contact with, and it wouldnt be undue to say that they were diehard friends. While Tang Fan was delighting in having found an oddity within these seating arrangements, he got clapped on the shoulder all of a sudden. He turned his head right as his senior brother, Pan Bin, sat down beside him. As he was an old acquaintance, there was simply no need to be further polite. Beyond that, Pan Bin was truethird-rank, while Tang Fan was truefourth-rank with just one rank of difference, there was no need for a distinction between higher and lower. Senior, you came! Tang Fan called out, cupping his hands in greeting with a smile. Whats the situation here? Our teacher actually came doesnt he hate occasions like this the most? There isnt going to be trouble in a minute, is there? Pan Bins whisper bit him in the ear. Tang Fan shook his head, portraying that he had no idea. There shouldnt be. He isnt someone that cant act appropriately between settings. Sir Chang is here, too, so he ought to have come along to give him some face. The other faintly sighed. I sure hope so. Guests came in quick succession, seats filling up in equally quick succession. Those that were walking about slowly returned to their spots. Seeing that the hall was crowded with all sorts of high officials, half-mainstays of the Dynasty all sitting in wait for him to speak, Wan Tong senselessly had the lofty aspiration of getting all the heroes of the land into my control well up within him. What a shame it was that he wasnt Taizong of Tang, nor could he ever be. He stood, cupping his hands. Today is this Wans fiftieth birthday. So many of you gentlemen honoring me with your presence is truly gratifying. I have no way to repay this, other than toasting you all with some meager wine I also hope that none of you be too polite, and simply enjoy it, not going home until youre drunk! With that, he laughed some, the military officials present laughing along with him to spare him some face. The civil officials were conceited in their statuses, unwilling to lower themselves to perform such an unrefined act, where even the Solons at the head table only smiled lightly, not echoing him at all. They were in Wan Tongs faction, but were ultimately not his cronies. All of them walked the same path only because of shared political benefits. That they had come to Wan Tongs birthday at all was already giving him an immense amount of repute. Tang Fans group was far apart and uninvolved, feeling this to be a little funny, while Wan Tong was a little embarrassed and annoyed. Even so, he quickly adjusted his attitude, his complexion as it always was, and let the guests free, sitting down to chat with those at his table. Dishes were constantly being served, and there was also a band troupe that the Wan household had invited over, which played a jaunty ditty. The sound was pleasing to the ears, yet not so cacophonous that it would affect anyones conversations. As far as many here were concerned, they might not view Wan Tong highly as a person, but since they had been invited, coming over to have a completely-justified meal was a rare boon for them. As was known, being a capital official was the envy of many other-locality officials, since they were under the impression that being at the Emperors feet meant quick promotions, but if one wasnt in grease-getting bureaus like the Ministries of Appointments and Works, it wasnt easy for them to look after a whole family. A feast full of delicacies like todays would be wasted if not taken advantage of. In spite of him also being an impoverished capital official, Tang Fans recent days had been plenty comfortable. Tang Yus cosmetics shop had already begun to turn a profit. She allocated one-tenth of its monthly earnings to Ah-Dong, because the girl would frequently help run errands for the store, her hard work indispensable for it to remain open. Also, she was currently a well-known young lady of the Tangs, so that coin could be used for her future dowry. Another three-tenths, Tang Yu gave to her little brother. Back when she had married off, Tang Fan had gathered up the full sum of valuables their family had to give to his big sister for her dowry, leaving only a few things for himself as an afterthought. That deep affection was something she had always kept in her mind, and those three-tenths of her profits were just her expressing her heartfelt gratitude. He presently lived with Sui Zhou, occasionally went next door to have dinner with his sister and Ah-Dong, had some funds come in from his literary works every once in a while, and now had thirty-percent of the profits from Tang Yus shop. At long last, he was living a life where he had surplus money each month. Of course, even if this was the before times, when hed had no extra money, he still wouldnt have worried about not eating with Sui Zhou around. Even now, the man would watch him constantly, telling him not to go buy midday snacks every single day he was off of work, as that spoiled his appetite for proper meals and was really turning right and wrong on its head. Discussing the present, this display of dishes pouring in like water, each one cooked with exceptional flavor, made these capital officials that typically only ate plain congee and veggies drool massively. Xie Qian, the descendant of a rich family, was used to seeing such scenes, and couldnt help but sigh ruefully at the feasts extravagance. Wang Ao, who was seated beside him, saw him slightly shake his head, and asked, Whats wrong? Xie Qian used his empty chopsticks to pick up one delicacy that had just been served. This is honey-roasted deer tongue, made from a fawns. Only the tongue is extracted, and theres a restriction to the fawns age. This dish alone likely costs about a hundred taels. Hearing this, everyone couldnt help but be tongue-tied, all having a total new comprehension of the lavishness of this banquet. Still, they hadnt spent this money themselves. Despite their surprised gasps, they were not too hesitant in picking up their chopsticks. Due to Xie Qians introduction, they became curious about the deer tongue, and took turns quickly tasting it. At right that moment, Li Zhisheng was heard to say, Lively people are across the board, today. Having food and wine isnt yet enough; it would be better to play drum-and-flower to liven things up, though well use the little ladys pipa in place of drums. As soon as the beat stops, whoever is holding the flower will recite a verse or couplet to congratulate the birthday gentleman. How about that? Wan Tong laughed. Everyone here is of remarkable literary talents. As crude a man as I am, that I can read at all isnt too bad. I might not even be able to appreciate all that, as itll be the equivalent of playing the qin for a cow. Whoever has the flower might as well tell a raunchy story! Then again, if it comes across someone pedantic and inflexible, thatll be a headache, so lets not. He was actually being sincere. Not a culture snob, he straight-up admitted that he would understand nothing. Its Envoy Wans birthday, so hes obviously the boss of the day, Shang Ming answered with a smile. Since poetry cant be done, how about we switch it to each person telling a story? It needs to be a very interesting story, not one that skimps. If everyone thinks that it isnt interesting, we can request that the one in question tell a new one. What if you dont have a story to tell? someone asked. Thats easy. The birthday gentleman will ask the other party a question, and itll be up to them to answer. If they dont, theyll be punished with downing thirty cups of wine! Thinking that to be fun, everyone gave quick agreements. The game of drum-and-flower had been around since ancient times. With so many people arranged at separate tables like they were today, after one was fully passed, the last person to get the flower would pass it to the guests at the nearest table, and it would continue like that until the sound of the strings ceased. The playing woman was asked to turn around. Maids of the Wans immediately offered up a flower made out of silk. A short time later, the pipa sounded out, and the flower began to pass around the first table. When it reached Liu Jis hand, the music abruptly stopped. Everyone looked at the greatly unlucky Cabinet Vizier, beginning to laugh evilly. Liu Ji was collected, though, getting up and cupping his hands. I shall be disgraceful by telling a joke, then. It was said that in the Song Dynasty, there was an official with the surname Li that presented verses to a higher-up of his, one sentence among them being: My little brother was lost south of the river, my older brother died in a northern pass. The higher-up saw this and sympathized, saying, You are too tragic, to have your brothers all dead. Official Li answered, No such thing happened. This humble official was simply crafting couplets. He deliberately paused. Upon hearing that there was a second half to this, everyone listened up curiously. His higher-up then said, You can just completely swap that out for this: Loved concubines doze in the home of monks, pampered wives sleep in the room of the Dao. Why make your brothers be dead for no reason? After hearing that and letting it sink in, the hall was uproarious with everyones laughter, all of them clapping hard. The atmosphere warmed up at once. Liu Ji had passed, and the game proceeded. When the strings sound stopped for a second time, the silk flower was in the hands of Peng Hua, Left Assistant Minister of Appointments. He, too, told a joke, but it was one that had gotten old over a decade ago the crowd made a fuss, saying that it didnt count. There was no distinction made between higher and lower during such a spectacle, as using the air of a superior to suppress people would be much too boring. With no other choice, he had to rack his brains to think up another one, and only then did he pass. The sound of the strings varied in length. At the third time, the silk flower ended up in the hands of the Right Capital Censor, Qiu Jun. Right then, even Tang Fans table cast all of its eyes and attentions over to him. Just like how Tang Fan had guessed, Qiu Jun had indeed only come here to give the Left Capital Censor repute. Both Capital Censors belonged to the same rank and were in charge of the Inspectorate, but, according to current custom, the Left was slightly more important than the Right. Chang Zhiyuan was the head of the Inspectorate, in reality. The latter was a people-pleaser with the mannerisms of a gentleman. When he had been scolded by Qiu Jun, who was deeply aggrieved by that improper trend spread throughout the Inspectorate, Sir Chang had not gotten angry, but rather advised Qiu Jun to not try to get results in one bound, as those should be gotten in increments. Although Qiu Jun hadnt agreed with his viewpoint, he was quite respectful towards his colleague-slash-senior. This event was an example; were it not for Chang Zhiyuan personally inviting him, he likely wouldnt have come. Since he had come, he couldnt senselessly diminish the dignity of his host, and told a joke to the crowd, willing to accept his loss in this bet. Unfortunately, Mr. Qiu was a famed Neo-Confucian that was stiff by nature, so he really wasnt great at telling jokes. Everyone uproared, wanting him to drink. At that moment, the Wan steward, who was filling the post of command-giver, smiled and spoke up. The rules state that the birthday gentleman should ask a question first. Hell have to drink only if he cant answer. Wan Tong laughed. I dont know what to ask. Do any of you have any questions? I can back down! This humble official has something to ask Sir Qiu, Li Zhisheng then spoke up. Thats fine, go on and ask! Wan Tong answered breezily. Li Zhisheng cupped his hands. Could you answer one question, Sir Qiu? If you do, you will pass. Qiu Jun wasnt fond of types that ascended via luck like Li Zhisheng, but this was a birthday, not Court; it wouldnt be appropriate to bicker too seriously. He just nodded. Go ahead and ask. I heard that you once denounced Wang Zhi? Everyone had been steeping in the happy mood, none of them having expected that he would suddenly bring up Court matters. They were all slightly shocked. The hall slowly quieted down. Qiu Jun gave him a look. Yes. And? You are of upright character, Sir Qiu. I truly admire you. Dare I ask; if you were told to denounce him again, would you dare to? Given that one wasnt a moron, they could hear something amiss in those words. How could someone ask such a fun-spoiling question at a perfectly good party? Looking to Wan Tong, he currently had his head turned to Wan An to speak to him in whispers. It seemed like he wasnt paying attention to what was going on over here at all. How was Qiu Jun going to respond to such an instigating question? Say that he would dare to, and that was tantamount to accepting it. Were Qiu Jun to not present a memorial later on, it would demonstrate that his word was not to be believed. Say that he wouldnt dare to, then wouldnt people believe that he was scared, and too afraid to face off against Wang Zhi? Tang Fan slowly set down his chopsticks, his face getting harder and harder to look at. Clearly, Li Zhisheng and the rest had conflict with Wang Zhi, so they had purposefully chosen this occasion to set up a trap for him. As for Qiu Jun, since he had denounced Wang Zhi before, he was logically being made into a raft. Pan Bins face paled beside him, and he whispered, As soon as Teacher opens his mouth, hes going to offend someone! Ill stand up in a second and say that hes not feeling well, while youll go take him away! Tang Fan shook his head. Dont move. Ive got it. Qiu Juns complexion wasnt nice to look at, either. He was no idiot how could he not know of Li Zhishengs intentions? His own denouncement of Wang Zhi had been out of public outrage, not private enmity, but to these people, since their interests clashed with Wang Zhis, they were taking him as being on their side, just with different views. Had his action become a joke, in their eyes? He laughed coldly. Right as he thought to berate Li Zhisheng, he heard someones crisp voice. Sir Li has broken the rules of the game! Shocked, he followed the source of the sound, like everyone else was. His youngest disciple was standing there, a smile on his lips, his presence unsurpassed. Li Zhisheng was displeased. How did I break the rules? Tang Fan lightly smiled. The rules we just agreed to only required the other party to answer one question, and Sir Qiu already answered you; you asked if he denounced Wang Zhi, and he said yes. Yet, you also asked a second question. As that broke the game rules, logically speaking, shouldnt you have to drink as punishment? Li Zhisheng was not at all a Palace Honorate, but he had received the Emperors favor and trust on account of his practice of Daoist spells, even getting into a department as important as the Office of Transmissions. Now, he was red-hot popular enough to scald the hand, and no one dared to offend him, making him feel quite good about himself as time went on. He had set a snare for Qiu Jun, aiming to agitate the man into denouncing Wang Zhi, precisely because he knew the old man had gone to Nanjing on account of Wang Zhi before. With Qiu Juns haughty personality, indirectly influencing him would be of great use. Unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin had popped up to ambush him partway through his attack, thus helping Qiu Jun out of this predicament. Li Zhisheng automatically narrowed his eyes, sizing up the young man before him. Who are you? Why dont I recognize you? He had believed that with how young the other party was, he was, at most, a fifth-rank official, but Tang Fan answered: Left Metropolitan Censor, Tang Fan. He was actually truefourth-rank? Li Zhisheng startled slightly, promptly remembering the mans identity. Are you that Tang Fan that became famous for solving the Xianghe County case some days ago? He himself had only recently been promoted. Before he had even come to the capital, Tang Fan had already gone to Henan to investigate the Song Emperor tomb, after which he had been dismissed; meanwhile, Li Zhisheng had been wholeheartedly boring into the palace, having therefore not paid any attention to him. Tang Fan cupped his hands. That was a mere trifle. Li Zhisheng couldnt help but get angry, thinking to himself, Im provoking Qiu Jun what does that have to do with you? Was you jumping out to help him out of his situation necessary? Seeming to see his thoughts, the other smiled. Allow me to explain, Sir Li; Sir Qiu is this Tangs teacher. His disciple toiling to solve his troubles is only natural. Since youve broken the rules, should you not get the drinking penalty? With that, he reached out and beckoned. Li Zhisheng was taken aback. Wan Tong, on his end, laughed loudly. He should, he should! Thirty cups of wine, Sir Li though thats really up to you! Li Zhisheng forced a smile. Those willing to take bets must accept defeat Ill take the punishment, of course. He ordered someone to pour the wine, then drank thirty cups in a row. Time seemed to slow down for everyone in that moment, and they all applauded. Seeing that the crisis had been averted, Tang Fan sat down again. You shouldnt have been so impulsive, Pan Bin said to him. Youve offended Li Zhisheng this time, and thats not a man of nice words. Tang Fan knew his reminder had good intentions, so he laughed. I dont start things, but Im not afraid of things that are started. As a disciple, if you see that your teacher is having difficulties, yet dont act, not only will your teachers prestige lose luster, but even we as students will certainly be pointed at by others. As Pan Bin seemed to want to say something still, he comforted him. Brother, Ive already offended Wan An because of what happened with Liang Wenhua, so theres no need to worry about bearing more debts. One more wont be a big deal. You shouldnt take after me; if I get unlucky in the future, Ill have to rely on you to help me out! Pan Bins young junior was simply of meticulous thought. As the other had already spoken through about the good and the bad, what else could he say? He inwardly sighed, concedingly pat Tang Fans shoulder, and didnt say anything else. He had been a bit envious of his juniors rapid promotion rate, getting near his own level in a brief couple of years, but one had to give as much as they got. Tang Fan being able to get great opportunities lied within his own great wisdom and great bravery others could not envy that. The recent scene seemed to only be a tiny interlude, quickly drowned out inside the drinking and talking. The game continued, and a few more people got penalized. Once it came to Tang Fans table, by sheer coincidence, in the split second the flower landed in Tang Fans hand, the twanging pipa stopped. Everyone glanced over oh, wasnt this little Sir Tang that had just stuck his neck out for his teacher? and started laughing. Tang Fan also gave a slightly bitter smile, unsure if someone had deliberately set him up, or if this really was a coincidence. Then, he cleared his throat, now smiling with elegance. Ill tell a joke as well, then. If I dont tell it well, dont any of you be polite. Ill be sure to make you all laugh before I can be done. The crowd guffawed. Xie Qian and the others teased, Dont dawdle, tell it now! Hold on, a voice called out at this inopportune time. The speaker was none other than the birthday boy, master of the Wan Estate: Wan Tong. He looked forthright, but in reality, he was a man of deep schemes that was adept at getting into the palace. He wouldnt have been able to rely on his sister alone to crawl up to the position he was at today, plus receive the Emperors confidence, elsewise. When it came to hang-ups, the one between Tang Fan and Head Vizier Wan An was only a small, indirect one the one he had with Wan Tong was a big one, truthfully. This was due to the Southside Gang, which had been one of Wan Tongs sources of wealth, getting previously wiped out by Tang Fan, Wang Zhi, and the rest of them joining hands, thus costing Wan Tong a huge amount of revenue, and almost preventing him from returning to the Brocade Guard. That had started quite some beef. To this point, despite the main culprits including Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou, bringing those two down was no easy matter, especially in regards to Sui Zhou, who now had a lot of the Emperors trust. Wan Tong didnt want to end up invoking the Emperors unhappiness due to a moment of impulsive behavior. By contrast, Tang Fan was a minor, inconspicuous figure. He had become greatly famous in recent times, but in Wan Tongs opinion, messing with Tang Fan so that he couldnt be an official was easy. The issue was how to drag Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou into the water, too. He hated the three of them unto death, but his surface was as undisturbed as ever, and he had still happily used his birthday to invite two of them over. After he said hold on, he smiled at Tang Fan. Dont tell a story this time, Sir Tang. I heard that youre a god at solving cases, and I happen to have a little case of my own thats thorny and difficult to crack. Id like to ask you for your help in solving it. By means of the Xianghe case, everyone had come to hear of Tang Fans name, and they all became rather interested at Wan Tongs statement. Tang Fan smiled. This Tang is untalented, and cannot be called a case-solving god of any sort. Theres an unknown amount of gentlemen here that are more tremendous than I. How would I dare to be Lord Guan, brandishing a broadsabre before the gates? That would be much too lacking in self-awareness of me. Head Vizier Wan An twirled his mustache. Alright, Censor Tang, dont be so modest. Old brother, do tell; I believe that everyone is intensely curious to know. In order to hug Consort Wans thigh tight, Wan An used his shared surname to call her his relative. As she was from humble origins, she had naturally been willing to have such a noble relation, and they had hit things off immediately. Hence was why Wan An, glorified as the stately Head Vizier, called Wan Tong old brother it was comical, but unsurprising. Wan Tong grinned. Very well, Ill just say it. It goes that my neighbor has two sons. He became wealthy through commerce, and doesnt want to split his assets, so hes thinking to select one of his two sons to inherit the family capital. However, the older is neither filial nor virtuous, while the younger is sharp in wit and adept in grasping the feelings of others. My neighbor is in a bit of a hard spot; according to logic, the older is the eldest, so him inheriting it is right and proper, but if it did come to be in his hands, he would only squander it. Even though the younger is young, he would certainly be capable of expanding my neighbors business. In your view, Sir Tang, if there can be no split in assets, how should this be sectioned off? Who should the assets be given to? The translator says: C R A S H T H E P A R T Y Oi theres a bit of an error in the original text, here. Several times, it states Pan Bin is truefourth-rank, but according to earlier in the novel + what google says the rank of the Shuntian Prefect is, hes truethird-rank. He also hasnt been demoted. (I tend to use older versions of the text due to censorship issues, so this may have been fixed in print.) I edited the text to remedy the errors. CH 87 Even though he was talking about his neighbors, who exactly couldnt tell who he was referring to? His Majesty currently had five sons. Ever since the Crown Prince, Zhu Youcheng, had been established, Consort Wan had simply gone for broke, no longer preventing the harem women from giving birth. For that reason, following him, four other Princes had quickly sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a rain. The Crown Prince was not even twelve this year. Consecutive to him was Second Prince Zhu Youyuan at five years old, and the youngest two were less than two. As could be seen, the Emperor had never been infertile quite the opposite but since Consort Wan had been around, the harem women had had repeated abortions. Were it not for Zhu Youchengs protection, todays circumstances might be different. Still, Consort Wan typically found the Crown Prince objectionable. Even though she had never had children herself, she never wanted to see him ascend to the position of Emperor, her candidate of choice being the Second Prince, born of Consort Shao. She had brought this up before the Emperor several times, hoping that the Crown Prince could be switched out; Li Zhisheng and Wan Tongs prompting for this was indispensable therein. Everyone knew that the Crown Prince wasnt close to these people. When the Emperor passed in the future, what teeny spots would they ever have to stand on? They, of course, wanted to swap him out for an Emperor that would be easy to talk to and hold onto, so that they could continue to live grand lifestyles free of worries. It had been precisely because of their instigation that a rift had come up between the Emperor and Crown Prince before, which had ended with Tang Fans idea of having the Crown Prince go to the Emperor himself and appeal to emotion, thereafter temporarily staving off the crisis. Said event had passed through Wang Zhi and Huai Ens hands with extreme secrecy, meaning that Wan Tong had no idea that Tang Fan had intervened. His brooding over Tang Fan was merely owed to what happened to the Southside Gang, and since he had just seen him help his teacher out, he deliberately made things hard for him in public to see how he would answer. He really didnt believe that this Tang Fan, who was alone with his spear and horse, would still dare to offend him in front of a crowd. Not a single person able to sit here was a moron, understanding him well at heart. They all set their cauterizing gazes upon Tang Fan; some had schadenfreude, some were worried for him, and some were watching a good show. Sui Zhou appeared to be sitting in the same position he just had been, but no one noticed that his back was set extremely straight, nor that his expression had gotten a lot colder than before. He took his line of sight back from Wan Tong, then placed it upon Tang Fan. At this moment, he could certainly stand up and speak for Tang Fan, just like how Tang Fan had done for his teacher, but that would be equivalent to not trusting Tang Fans abilities. The other was a man as well, and an extremely smart one. Tang Fan could resolve this incident entirely by himself. He wouldnt require anyones help. Holding such a thought, Sui Zhous fists slowly relaxed, but he had already jotted down this debt of Wan Tongs in his heart. Not everyone was like him, a wholehearted believer that Tang Fan would find a way. Qiu Jun was currently furious; furious at Wan Tongs party being brazen enough to openly ask such a question that caused ones imagination to run, and furious that they were making things hard for his student. He was well aware that if Tang Fan hadnt spoken up for him just then, no such thing would be happening now. Thinking as much, Mr. Qiu raised his grayed brows, wanting to stand up and speak for his student, but his sleeve was firmly tugged by someone. Upon turning his head, he saw that it was Chang Zhiyuan that was pressing him down. Hear Runqing out first, the other whispered, he might not be helpless. His implication being that if he jumped out to help Tang Fan like this, he would instead do the opposite of help. Qiu Jun scowled, having no choice but to force himself to suppress it and calmly watch the scene. It wasnt like there was no one else like him. Wang Ao also couldnt help but want to stand up for Tang Fans injustice, but he, too, was held back by the slightly-calmer Xie Qian. Tang Fan was seen to not be panicked, his expression as usual, as if he hadnt heard any dark undertones to Wan Tongs words. I dare to ask, Envoy Wan; you claim that the eldest is not filial nor virtuous, so how is he not filial, and how is he not virtuous? The youngest is sharp, so how sharp is he? The eldests mother died young, while no relatives that have been in contact with him have met good ends. Even his father is weak in health, nowadays. As he has negatively affected the fates of his guardians, he is naturally unfilial, and all of his neighbors say that he has no virtue. As for the youngest, he is five this year, his studies are no lesser than the eldests, he incurs more of his fathers fondness than the eldest, and he has superior talent in trade. The teachers instructing him all state that he will be more promising than the eldest in the future. Once everyone heard that, they thought: This is a bare allusion to the current Crown Prince and Second Prince! Only Consort Wans brother would actually dare to say something like that so openly. Tang Fan raised his brows. There are Ten Abominations of criminality in the countrys law, and a lack of filial piety is one. If the eldest son is truly unfilial, then he shouldnt inherit the family assets. And yet, before Wan Tong could show a gleeful grin, he heard the other continue, Throwing curses and insults towards grandparents, parents, and other such elders, not giving them proper care in old age, or being in a mourning period yet still marrying and having fun while not mourning at all, or claiming that ones parents are dead when they are not; those are all unfilial. Negatively affecting the fates of ones parents, however, is actually just a myth spread throughout ignorant commoners, which has never been seen as punishable by law. If you say that his father being ailed and mother being dead means that he affected their fates, then what would you say to the fact that the Great Ancestor was mourning both of his parents when he started out on his career, Envoy Wan? Impetuous! You dare to say that the Great Ancestor brought death onto his parents by existing?! someone unknown suddenly threw out. Wan Tong followed the sound to glare viciously at that imbecile. Even if the other party had intended to aid him, he knew that the second that came out, things had instead fallen right into Tang Fans arms. Sure enough, Tang Fan smiled. I never said that the Great Ancestor did that. He was brilliant in military tactics, his genius having been gifted from the Heavens, and the experiences of his childhood had been nothing more than polishing a divine general before he descended to his post. How could he be described with the words of unlearned folks? Since this is so, Envoy Wan, your neighbors eldest son, while incomparable to the Great Ancestor, certainly cannot be inferred to be unfilial on the basis of his parents ill fates. As for the youngest, as he is still young at five years of age, saying that he is capable of inheriting the family capital now is much too early. Have you not heard the story of the pitiful Zhongyong, once told by Wang Anshi of Song? Good things when young might not be so beautiful when older. That is a saying from ancient times. Wan Tongs expression was not simply ugly; it could practically be described as hideous. Presumably, he had grown cocky ever since his older sister had become the Noble Consort. The Empresss entire natal family was beneath him, and even the Cabinet Viziers had to treat him with extra courtesy. When had he ever encountered a situation like todays, where he was getting shamed in front of everyone? He recalled what Peng Hua had just said into his ear, thinking to himself, That bastard must have long known about Tang Fans exceptional talent in speech! That was why he shrank his neck back into his shell and deliberately made me come forward! Great! Hes cost me a lot of face! Speaking of that, Tang Fan veered the topic away with a slight smile, not giving Wan Tong the opportunity to think of a response, how the family property should be divvied up is not for outsiders to have the final say on, nor is it even for the sons father to have the final say on. The Great Mings law has long had rules in regards to the division of assets. If a decision cant be made, then the authorities can be asked for a ruling. We as outsiders generally dont need to worry about things we dont need to. Wan Tong had obviously been hinting at the Crown Prince position, yet Tang Fan had chosen to interpret it literally, speaking like Wan Tongs neighbors actually were thinking of splitting up property. It left Wan Tong speechless, only able to stare wide-eyed. Thankfully, the others werent going to just sit and watch him fall on hard times. Censor Tang, this is no more than a post-meal pastime, Li Zhisheng said. Why be so serious? Tang Fan laughed. It did get serious, without me realizing it. Do excuse me. Wan Tong laughed as well, taking the out. Censor Tang has truly given me sudden enlightenment. Ill go tell my neighbor later on, lest he end up making a fool out of himself for knowing nothing about Great Ming law! Alright, everyone keep drinking! Come! For our Great Mings song to play forever through the ages, for the Emperors health a toast! A toast! A toast! As soon as he said that, everyone naturally picked up their cups and stood up in succession, the slightly frigid atmosphere livening up again at once. Those at Tang Fans table all expressed their admiration for his courage to refute Wan Tongs prestige in public, Wang Ao especially whispering a word of praise to him. Wan Tong relying on his sister is the origin of his arrogance, Xie Qian chimed in. He doesnt even place importance upon the Crown Prince, always conspiring with others to urge His Majesty to depose him. What he said today was clearly a set-up for the Crown Prince and Second Prince, thereby making things hard for you. Its good that you adapted to the situation and didnt fall into his trap on the contrary, your name will be making the rounds again! Tang Fan smiled a bit bitterly. Humans fear getting fame the same way pigs fear getting fattened up for the slaughter. That sort of fame, Id prefer not to have. Xie Qian pat him on the shoulder. Misfortunes can lead to fortunes. Think about it; this could be a good thing. You became famous for that Xianghe County case, and lots of people said that it was just a stroke of luck. Now that youve been so bold as to publicly express your own attitude, not cowering back out of timidity, thats enough to show your bravery! There will come a lot less criticism of your voice from now on! Thats right, Runqing. Later on, a fine reputation of you having the guts of a fighter and the heart of a poet might spread around in officialdom, Wang Ao teased right after. Heckled to the point that he couldnt help but side-eye them, Tang Fan simply picked up his chopsticks and ate without saying a thing more. He had offended Wan Tong regardless, so if he didnt scramble to have a big meal, how could he make up for the physical and mental strain of this expedition? Wan Tong had portrayed himself as being broad-minded on-scene, but once the party was disbanded, all the guests were gone, and hed had people shut the doors, he automatically became furious. Who does that punk think he is?! A mere Metropolitan Censor! How dare he not take me seriously! Does he think that because he handled one insignificant case that got him known, no one can touch him?! The people still present were all Wan Tongs diehard pals, so they were certain to not point fingers at him in the wake of his nostril-flaring rage. Lord Wan doesnt need to get angry over someone like that, Li Zhisheng said with a smile. As I see it, this Tang Fan is just like the other censors of trifling fame. That scene just now gave him margin to show off, but all he has is a sharp mouth. Ill get someone to find dirt on him later and drive him out of the capital, so as to vent your anger for you! Tang Fan is not a typical minor official, Shang Ming spoke up. He has Sui Zhou to help speak for him, and his relationship with Wang Zhi is pretty good. He himself is a censor, while the acting Right Capital Censor is his teacher and what do censors do? Bite whoever it is they want to bite, right? His rank is low, but to scorn him would not be easy. Its hard to tell when exactly a bite back would happen, and even though it wouldnt be fatal, it would certainly smart. That slew of words was basically adding oil to the fire, causing Wan Tong to get even angrier. The instant he thought about how his originally-happy birthday banquet had been trashed by the teacher-student pair of Qiu Jun and Tang Fan, he felt unbelievably fed up. He didnt even need to think clearly, he had to make things hard for them, first. Peng Hua twirled his beard. What Chief Eunuch Shang said is correct. With how minor Tang Fan is, even if his teeth are a little sharp, its not enough to menace. If something could be found off of him that would take down the Western Depot by the by, that would be a great merit. Even though Shang Ming dreamed of taking down his archnemesis, he shook his head at that. Unfortunately, His Majesty still holds some fatherly affections for Wang Zhi. Despite us speaking poorly of the latter several times in front of him, hes still doing fine to this day. There are so many people attending by His Majestys side, while Wang Zhi hasnt been in his presence for nearly two years. Why does he still not overlook him? Li Zhisheng asked, puzzled. Upon hearing those words, Wan Tong and Peng Hua both gave him a wordless look, cursing him on the inside for being stupid. Li Zhisheng used the luck of Daoist practices to get ahead, thought of as a flattering opportunist not only by major officials like Qiu Jun, but even believed to be so by Wan Tongs group. In reality, they looked down upon Li Zhisheng and Ji Xiaos sorts that feigned being the supernatural, but since the Emperor had added trust in those two, Wan Tong and them felt this could be of use. Such was the difference between a villein and a noble. Even if they knew the position Li Zhisheng had in the Emperors heart, people like Qiu Jun and Huai En would disdain to strengthen the Crown Princes status using someone like him. Wan Tongs lot was different; as long as their aim could be reached, the methods used were not at all important. Shang Ming was a eunuch and did not have any bias against Li Zhisheng, explaining things to him with a smile. You havent spent much time in the capital, Sir Li, so you not understanding is normal. Wang Zhi was in the palace since his childhood, having served His Majesty and the Consort for a longer time than I have; the two of them could be said to have watched him grow up. This is why His Majesty has some more favor towards him. Wan Tong huffed at that. And what good has that done?! Hes a freeloading bastard! My sister gave him a mountain of favor, yet he helped outsiders do me in! The sooner hes eliminated, the better, lest something happens the longer this goes on! The instant he ever gave a thought to the Southside Gangs destruction, his heart would itch with hate. Shang Ming had always been sour about how Wang Zhi was more favored than him, and snatched the chance to blacken his foe. Even so, hes brought upon his own downfall, asking to go be stationed at the border for no good reason. Leaving is easy, returning is difficult; I can tell that His Majesty has already gradually come to not be fond of him. As long as the Head Vizier is willing to present a memorial requesting that the Western Depot be suspended, the monkeys will scatter along with the fall of the tree. The time of his death would merely be a matter of when. Wan Tong shook his head. Dont count on that old fox. Theres nothing good about him, other than that he can run faster than anybody. Right after the banquet concluded, I wanted to have him stay behind to discuss important things with us, but he just used the excuse of something happening at home to slip away ahead of time. If you can be sure of His Majestys intentions, hell certainly be happy to embellish brocade with flowers, but if His Majesty still has trust in Wang Zhi, he certainly wont wade into turbid waters. Eunuch Shang, I heard that Wang Zhi and Huai En have been making eye contact as of late. Is that true? Peng Hua asked. I havent seen so myself, but I heard from the children in the palace that they indeed saw them bump into each other several times. The two always spoke in brief durations, but the others were far away and couldnt tell what they were discussing. Did I not hear before that those two were at odds? When did they get onto the same boat? Peng Hua wondered. Wan Tongs face was overcast. When they got onto the same boat isnt important. That old guy, Huai En, is devoted to the Crown Prince. If Wang Zhi converts to their side, the Prince will be like a tiger thats sprouted wings! How is the situation in Datong? We need to think of a solution. Once he returns with established military merits and the Western Depot still in hand, Im afraid hell be even harder to contend with! Saying so, he looked at everyone seated. Do any of you gents have an idea? Peng Hua pondered. I heard that the war in Datong hasnt been going too smoothly these days. He likely wont be able to come back for a time. It would be best to find a few censors to send memorials up detailing the Western Depots crimes and get it closed, thus breaking off his arm. Out of everyone here, there was one person aside from Wan Tong that hated Wang Zhi the most, and wished him dead. Shang Ming was seen to grin sinisterly. I have an even better solution that will kill three eagles with one arrow, getting rid of all those Lord Wan finds displeasing. Meanwhile, Tang Fan had no idea that someone was currently brewing up a conspiracy that would very likely drag him in. For the few consecutive days he went to work at the Inspectorate after the banquet disbanded, he always heard his colleagues talking about said party, and about how Tang Fan had been there, first helping his teacher out of a bind, then wittily answering Wan Tongs question that had been purposefully trying to make things difficult for him. Just as Xie Qian had said, his name made another round, where even the gazes his colleagues used towards him were different. Despite no one saying anything, the majority of people disapproved of Wan Tongs sort. Tang Fan had done what they all wanted to do, yet were too afraid to, inevitably making them admire him a little more. In addition to that, Tang Fans teacher was sitting atop the Inspectorate, so his treatment here was practically the difference between the sky and the mud from when he had been in the Ministry of Justice. This unexpected occurrence caused him to not really know how to react. Setting aside these messes from the Court, his life was not only a lot more rhythmic than it had been before, but relaxed and leisurely. After Tang Yu and her son settled in, the issue of He Chengs studies were put up on the schedule. Tang Fan himself had gotten a golden spot of honors, which would be more than sufficient for teaching his nephew, but the problem with that was that he didnt have time due to his post. He had to hire a teacher from elsewhere. The other party was a low-ranking Provincial Honorate; his scholarly merits were higher than He Lins, but he lacked He Lins aloofness. He was planning on staying in the capital until the next metropolitan exam, which he definitely needed money for. To be able to tutor the children of a large family was fairly honest work. After discussing with Tang Yu, Tang Fan let Mr. Ke stay, and bestowed him with ample remuneration so that he would tutor He Cheng alongside Ah-Dong. He Cheng was a child gentle and meek in personality that liked to study to begin with, but in Ah-Dongs opinion, reading was bitter drudgery. Before He Cheng had come, there had been no one to compare to, so she had been able to muddle through it, considered passing given that she was able to read. Now that He Cheng was here, as was a tutor, and her eldest sister was supervising, her escaping again naturally wouldnt be tolerated. Thankfully, Tang Fan and Tang Yu were not highly demanding of her. As long as she could write coherent and logical essays, that was fine. She wasnt like He Cheng, who was going to test for scholarly merits in the future they were ten times harsher in demanding things from him than they were her. However, for the sake of getting rid of the temperament that He Cheng had developed at the He household so that he wouldnt turn into a pushover when he grew up, Tang Fan spoke with Sui Zhou to have him sent to the Northern Bastion Offices training grounds every ten days, where he would follow the Brocade Guards in doing squats and push-ups. How could He Cheng bear this? From the very start, he would get teary-eyed when exercising, his pitifulness not needing to be stated. Tang Yu was endlessly distressed, and quietly asked Tang Fan in private to exempt him from such torment. Tang Fan understood his sisters motherly feelings, but still insisted upon his own idea. He explained the logic to her, comparing this to what had happened with He Lin; that mans life since childhood had been too smooth-sailing and lacking in whetting, resulting in him suddenly suffering a single setback that he was unable to recover from. Hearing this, Tang Yu thought it over for a long while, then steeled herself to not ask anymore. For a little lady like Ah-Dong that loved to practice martial arts, the training grounds couldnt be more suitable a place. She was ultimately too young to exercise together with the adults, yet the intensity of her practice was already much higher than He Chengs. Having his young aunt as an example to compare to, his competitive heart was aroused, and sometimes, when he wasnt at the grounds, he would punch out a set of moves in the courtyard at dawn, day after day. Not only was his body gradually growing due to the work, but even his complexion and spirits were an unknown amount of times better than they had been at the Hes. Seeing this, Tang Fan was happy at heart, feeling all the more that bringing his sister away with him had absolutely been the correct decision. While in the capital, aside from being busy with her business, Tang Yu was actually not lonely. Soon after their return here, Yan Li had quickly gotten his three letters and six rites prepared, and the Eighth Miss had married over and crossed the threshold, both of them living a life of harmony. The Eighth Miss of the Hes had no other relatives in the capital sans Tang Yu; the two ladies of formerly mediocre relationship became close thereafter. Tang Yu discovered that the Eighth He was actually an entertaining young woman. In the presence of the Hes Patriarch and first wife, she had seemed docile and meek, but in private, she was bold, outspoken, and had a good rein on her husband. The instant she married into the Yan household, she had trained him into obedience, and he listened to her every word. Having a woman to take care of things in the home ultimately made life different; this went for the Eighth He to Yan Li, and Tang Yu to Tang Fan. Although she did not live with Sui Zhou and Tang Fan, the two homes were close to the point that they couldnt get any closer. Tang Yu had hired two maids to help with some miscellaneous chores as well as go to the neighboring home to clean every day, and made clothes and socks for Tang Fan herself she didnt neglect Sui Zhou and Ah-Dong, of course. Sister Tangs needlework was excellent, and from there on out, the three had new clothes that contained the fervent kindness of their elder sister, with Ah Dongs own craftsmanship getting better under her tutelage. Personally, Tang Fan much preferred to live this peaceful life over being out in the limelight or winning over whoever. It was simple, but warm and blessed enough; when facing his family, he didnt need to deliberate over his wording, think about how to respond, or calculate the changes in others hearts at all. Only by staying at their side would he be completely relaxed. It was a feeling that only these few people could give him in all the world. Today was a day of rest. He went out to visit friends during the day, had dinner at a pals home while he was at it, and returned home once the bright moon was hung up high. As he had overstuffed himself, he wasnt going to be tired just yet. Seeing the brilliant moonlight, he put his hands behind his back and strolled around the courtyard to aid digestion. Owing to the store being quite bustling these days, Qian Sanr was rising early every day, then simply spending the night in the back of the shop. There were beds and blankets there, and it wasnt cramped, in any case. Lacking the gabber coming out of his mouth in the ears, and not having Sui Zhou back yet, Tang Fan felt a little bored, thinking that he might as well go to bed. Right as he turned around with the intent to head in, he heard a burst of footsteps and talking coming in from outside. The courtyard gate was pushed open quickly following that, three people walking inside. To be more precise, it was two people helping one walk on either of his sides. The man in the middles head was listing, his feet staggering was that not Count Sui? Because the other hadnt yet come home, the courtyards gate hadnt been locked. Tang Fan turned his head, then suffered a fright upon seeing him, hurriedly stepping forward to help support him. Upon noticing that the two that had brought him had unfamiliar faces, he couldnt help but ask, Many thanks for bringing Guangchuan back, you two. How did he get like this? The two exchanged a look, clearly having not expected that someone like this would be in Sui Zhous house. As Tang Fan didnt appear to be a servant, he might be his brother or something, so they answered, He drank too much at the party. The Commanding Envoy told us to send him home. While they spoke, Sui Zhou appeared to want to keep going forward, but his knees went soft, pitching him straight forward. Tang Fan quickly held his figure up by the shoulders, but the twos strength had never been on the same level; he ended up stumbling to the side while carrying him. Nevertheless, Sui Zhou was seen to wrap his arms around Tang Fan, the full-body scent of alcohol attacking the face. All on his own, he used his nose and mouth to nuzzle against and sniff the other man, calling out the name Miss Qing, Miss Qing as he did so. This harried look of having alcohol get to his head was wildly different from his typical cold and self-restrained conduct. While Tang Fan was confused over what mystical person this Miss Qing was, he held him back to avoid him making a fool out of himself in front of his two subordinates. Miss Qing, cmon lets go back to the bedroom. You said you would during the day, I want Burning hot, ambiguous breath puffed onto Tang Fans ear. He wasnt sure if it was the wine smell or hot breath, but his ear was made to warm slightly; he couldnt resist taking a step back, yet he also couldnt push away the others iron-ring-like strength, still firmly hooked. Seeing this, the other two thought of how the Bastion Envoy usually affected being incomparably aloof before others, yet was unexpectedly a lustful one in private, his true form coming to light after a short bout of drinking. This Miss Qing had to be his pretty concubine though, he had now taken hold his brother to randomly call him that. How utterly ridiculous. The two exchanged vague glances of unspoken meaning, then said to Tang Fan, The hour is late. We wont disturb his rest, Sir. We will take our leave. Unable to break free of Sui Zhous embrace, Tang Fan smiled bitterly, gave them a few niceties, saw them off with his eyes, then dragged his oversized baggage over to the door so he could bolt it, only helping him into the bedroom afterwards. In Sui Zhous room, right when he tried to help him onto the bed, the other suddenly used his arm strength to flip him right over, pressing him down on his back. Mister Tang sighed. How long are you going to pretend for? The one on top of him paused in his actions. How could you tell? Because I get you, of course, Tang Fan replied with a laugh. But what was all that about? After Wan Tongs return, hes always been trying to re-consolidate his forces. The Southern Bastion Envoy has already been swapped out for one of his, but on the Northern Offices side, his former influence was beaten to pieces by Sir Yuan. He cant touch me for right now, so he has to lower himself in the hopes that he can find a gentler tactic to slowly get a feel for things with. Today, he threw a party for the people of the Northern and Southern Offices, hoping to get my feelings towards deposing the Crown Prince out of me. I didnt want to deal with him, so I pretended to be drunk and went home early. Tang Fan knew of this. Sui Zhou inherently wasnt affiliated with the Court official bunch, relied on no one, and maintained neutrality, which was why Chenghua had a lot of trust in him. Wan Tong had noticed as much, too. If Sui Zhou could support him enough, then Wan Tong would not only be able to take back his influence that he had lost in the Brocade Guard, but win over a strong backer. He must have promised to get you a lot of benefits? Tang Fan asked with a grin. I dont care at all about those alleged benefits, Sui Zhou answered, nonchalant. The other coughed fakely, then pushed him. Alright, Count, everyones gone. Theres no need to pretend, go on and find your Miss Qing. Sui Zhou chuckled lightly. Who would you say Miss Qing is? Even though he had just been faking intoxication, he genuinely had drunk a lot tonight, his present smile having a tipsy hint to it. How should I know? Runqing is a name, just take the last character is that not Miss Qing? Honestly speaking, that conclusion could be drawn with only a tiny bit of thought put into it, and yet, for some reason, Tang Fans mind had never gone there. With how brilliant he was, that was quite odd. Mister Tangs mind couldnt help but wander for a second. Once he felt the weight on him increase slightly, he snapped out of it, only to see that the distance between the two of them was getting closer, and they were nearly nose-to-nose, even their breaths intermingling. Beneath the other mans silent and intent gaze, Mister Tang successfully blushed. You He only got one word out before Sui Zhous head slowly drooped, then nuzzled right into the crook of his neck as he fell asleep. The translator says: Im taking bets on how hard Shang Mings idea is going to backfire. Not whether it will or wont, just how hard. CH 88 Winter passed, spring came. Once the white snow covering the world went away completely, branches began to sprout fresh green. For the people of the capital, the biggest change of spring days was that they could swap out their thick winter clothes for lighter, elegant spring garments. Ever since Wan Tong had returned to the Brocade Guard, he had discovered that every level of it had changed, the power he had originally set up all but thoroughly eliminated. Even the two Bastion Envoys of the North and South were new people. Hating Yuan Bin to the extent that he wanted him to die, hed had no choice but to fix things up anew. It hadnt been easy to get his own people into the Southern Bastion Office again, but the most-important Northern Bastion Office differed from the Southern; it had since become a place where water couldnt leak into and needles couldnt pierce through. Sui Zhous matron was not inferior to Wan Tongs. He was not a figure that he could grab and replace easily. The entire Northern Bastion Office was currently made of Sui Zhous confidantes, giving Wan Tong no way to play hard. All he could do was probe Sui Zhous standing, then watch for his chance to slowly infiltrate. Wan Tong found many people displeasing to the eyes. The Crown Prince certainly took first place in that, but he wasnt someone he could touch right now, as the Emperor still held affection for the Prince, and there was always a group of people circling him to protect him, who were frequently able to turn danger into safety at critical junctures. One couldnt help but suspect that he might have brilliant luck, and the protection of the gods. The Crown Prince couldnt be touched, but that didnt mean that other people couldnt, however. The Princes teachers helped incur the Emperors favor for him every day, which Wan Tong found aggravating. There was also Wang Zhi, that ungrateful traitor, and yet another example in Sui Zhou, the obstacle dividing up his power in the Guard. All of them were people he wanted to get rid of. Following the birthday banquet, Wan Tong, Shang Ming, and the rest of them had frequently been searching for opportunities. They were deeply versed in the ways of beating a snake without getting bitten back. Either they wouldnt make a move, or if they did, they would have to be quick, ruthless, and precise with it, striving hard to give their foe one ferocious strike that wouldnt give the other a chance to backlash at them. Such an opportunity would come soon. After Wang Zhi departed the capital, he had intermittently stayed at the border stronghold for over two years. Even though he had returned several times during this period, he had come and gone in a rush that was to say, his previous power in managing the capital was getting shakier and shakier. It could be seen that starting from the beginning of this years spring, the war in Datong had not been going too smoothly. The Tartars would occasionally come over and loot like they were entering their own home, while the Ming army had had repeated losses. No longer did it have endless reports of victory like it had before, even suffering a few minor defeats. Were the war to be lost, it would naturally be difficult for the frontline commanders to escape that fault. Some suggested that there was an overall issue with the leadership of Commandant Wang Yue, and that Military Supervisor Wang Zhi needed to bear responsibility, as well. The two had held military power over Datong for a long time, and should have been switched out long ago even if Wang Zhi wasnt, Wang Yue and the garrisoned army generals nearby ought to have been made to change defenses, so as not to have the suspicion that they were growing self-important in their grasp on the army. The instant they were denounced, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi rushed to present memorials defending themselves, even having to express that they had no thoughts to lust after power. No one other than Liu Cottonflower had that thick of a face in this world, where they could just pretend that the denouncements didnt exist, after all. Ever since he had heard Tang Fans warning, Wang Zhi had long been wanting to return to the capital. He went along with the flow to announce that he was resigning from his post as Military Supervisor, stating that he missed the days where he had served by His Majestys side, and also longed for his homeland of the capital. On top of that, the poor weather of the border these years had caused old injuries of his to flare up, so he hoped that he could return to recover. Few didnt know that there were many in the capital today that neither wanted him to win the war, nor wanted him to return. Thereafter, it was explained to the Emperor that the Great Bend region constantly got invaded by the Tartars, and it was thanks to Wang Zhis previous defense that success could be obtained; the situation was disadvantaged as of right now, but Wang Zhi and Wang Yues capabilities were there. They requested that His Majesty grant them more patience and opportunities by having them continue to stay there and establish greater merits for the Great Ming, but, in order to prevent people of ulterior motives from recklessly slandering meritorious officials, a new Provincial Governor should be dispatched to Datong. The Emperor quickly agreed to that memorial. The former Datong Governor was transferred back, Guo Tang was sent to be the Governor in his stead, and Wang Zhi was officially designated as Datongs Defending Supervisor. Wang Zhi had formerly been nothing more than a marching Military Supervisor, but now that he had earned a title, that meant that the second it was fastened onto him, him remaining in Datong was entirely justifiable, and he wouldnt be able to return for a short while. Not long after this occurred, censors in the Court successively sent memorials claiming that the Western Depot acted harshly and the citizens unhappiness was piling up, so they requested that it be closed. Even Head Vizier Wan An signed his name for it. Seeing the turmoil amidst the crowd, the Emperor granted the request. The tyrannical, once-unmatched Western Depot thus quietly shut its doors. Within this tempest, Qiu Jun, who had once been demoted to Nanjing for denouncing Wang Zhi before, sent no memorial up this time. The reason for that was simply that while Mr. Qiu detested Wang Zhi, he detested being in a group of thugs throwing rocks at someone in a well even more. He refused to follow along with jumping up and down and taking advantage of anothers crisis. Back on topic, if the Western Depot had been harassing the citizenry, why had these people not said so before, only popping up after the Emperor appointed Wang Zhi as Datongs Defending Supervisor? It was for none other than the fact that everyone used to be afraid of offending Wang Zhi, and now that it looked like he probably wasnt coming back, they swarmed up to throw those rocks. With Wan Tongs group also fanning the flames, the crowd pushed the wall over. These dual moves of attacking while dissolving defenses were quite potent. The first move appeared to have given Wang Zhi the immense power to kill and seize in Datong, but locked him up there in reality. Since he couldnt return, he naturally couldnt manage the faraway Western Depot in the capital, either, and the followers under his control inevitably landed in dire straits. And yet, that was an advantage for Sui Zhou, because most of the Western Depots staff were Brocade Guards that had been transferred over, not eunuchs. Wang Zhi wasnt an idiot; once he had learned that he was being appointed as a Defending Supervisor, he knew something was off, and had quickly written to Tang Fan to ask Sui Zhou for help. When the Western Depot was wiped out, Sui Zhou therefore went along with this to take in Wang Zhis confidantes, giving them shelter from the elements so that they didnt get washed away. Inside this turmoil, Wang Zhi appeared to have suffered unreasonable disaster, but the truth of the matter was that the Western Depot had offended many people due to its previous despotism. When it had been well-off, everyone dared to fume, yet hadnt dared to say anything. Now that it was well-off no longer, who wouldnt rush to stomp on it? Many things had consequences; if those mixed into officialdom were overly mindful of gains and losses, they would rage to death sooner or later. Wang Zhi clearly understood as much, so after he heard that the Western Depot had been shut down, he didnt have that big of a reaction. However, there were rumors on the streets that said that when news had reached Datong, Eunuch Wang had broken a couple of cups out of anger, and worn his mouth out swearing stuff like, Those bastards! This guys going to get them back someday! Those were only rumors, though, and listeners would stop at a laugh, not taking it seriously. Those that had set up the game board behind everyones backs believed that this match was far from being settled. After Guo Tang replaced Datongs Governor, the hostilities did not take a good turn, several bizarre happenings occurring on the frontline instead. When news of this reached the capital, Commanding Envoy Wan Tong suggested that since Left Metropolitan Censor Tang Fan was a god at solving cases and of meticulous thoughts, he could go to Datong to help handle this. Bastion Envoy Sui Zhou acted with decisiveness, so he could accompany him, too. The Emperor approved of this, ordering Tang Fan and Sui Zhou to leave in a few days time for Datong and jointly coordinate the war efforts. Datong, during the Warring States, had been the capital of the Zhao State. After the Great Ancestor established Ming, Datong Prefecture was arranged under the jurisdiction of Shanxi. As an important strategic location on the Mings border, Datong controlled some of the Great Wall, starting from Pian Pass in the West and going to Juyong Pass in the East, and deserved to be called the master of nine borders. The area had become the frontline for resisting the Tartars, as the latter regularly infiltrated the Great Bend to plunder Datong. On account of Datongs important status, there was a very convenient official road built that went from the capital to Datong, good enough for horses to speedily gallop down. The two locals were less than a thousand miles apart, so if the horses were ridden a little faster, one could get there in about two days. Run your mouth before, run on broken legs after. Tang Fan hadnt expected that while he was sitting at home, a calamity would fall down from the sky, sending him to Datong for no good reason to go eat sand. He was aware that since he had offended Wan Tong, the other would inevitably find a way to retaliate. At this moment, his most important aim in getting Tang Fan and Sui Zhou out of the capital was separating the latter from the Brocade Guard, so that he could get to work on the Northern Bastion Office. As for Tang Fan, he was only a subsidiary. Even if this was understood, it was no use. Imperial decrees could not be violated. In spite of Sui Zhous favor, he, too, had to pack up his things and get on the road with Tang Fan. Sui Zhous leaving meant, in Wan Tongs view, that the Northern Bastion Office was a crowd of dragons with no leader, and would coincidentally be easy for him to reorganize. Against his expectations, though, Sui Zhou had long made arrangements; on the eve of his departure, he took an imperial audience, saying that since he would be in Datong, it would likely be very difficult to multitask if anything happened in the Northern Bastion Office. He requested the Emperors consent in allowing him to recommend two people to temporarily take up Bastion Envoy positions and lead the Office. Of those two, one was Xue Ling, and the other was a man with the slightly strange name of Mou Bin.[1] There was only supposed to be one Bastion Envoy, but Sui Zhou knew that his subordinates didnt have enough qualifications, so no matter who took his place in leadership, they would be a lone piece of timber finding difficulty in supporting a whole building, to be quickly suppressed by Wan Tong the instant he left. Such was why he had intentionally put forth two people, to have them jointly take command of the Office. The Emperor, naturally, agreed to his request. Wan Tong hadnt expected that Sui Zhou would do such a thing, nose nearly scrunching up in rage, but he turned his trajectory around. Xue Ling was an elder to Sui Zhou, but his talents were overall a little lacking compared to his, and Mou Bin was an unknown pawn never heard of before. When the time came, as long as he took down Mou Bin, thus leaving Xue Ling by himself, this would be easy to contend with. By the time Sui Zhou came back, what would greet him would be long far-removed from the Office of before. His own willful calculations were done pretty well, but he had forgotten that Sui Zhou would certainly have his own reason for promoting an unknown pawn to be a Bastion Envoy. Xue Ling and Mou Bin, as a pair, were one strong and one weak, one astute and one honest, yet their cooperation was as seamless as the clothes of divinity. Just as Sui Zhou had explained, they had a fortified hold on the Office, giving Wan Tong nothing to take advantage of. Wan Tong had wanted to find Mou Bins weakness and pull him down off of his horse before focusing his efforts on dealing with Xue Ling, but after all his searching, he only discovered that this trifling nobody had no weak points at all. Not only that, but Mou Bin had an integrity that not even the average civil official would possess. Wan Tong searched and searched, yet couldnt find any evidence that he had ever accepted bribes, or was lustful in nature. By the gods! Was he even a Brocade Guard?! Wan Tong learned at last why Sui Zhou had shoved this guy out before his departure it was to anger him to death! Still, that was all a story for later. Even if Wan Tong was hopping mad in the capital, Sui Zhou couldnt appreciate that with his own eyes. At this moment, his group had just reached the destination of this trip. A sturdy, imposing city wall towered before them. Atop the tall gates towers, the name Datong was firmly engraved into a stone-turned-plaque, in cursive-like calligraphy, resembling the feeling the city gave someone. It was a bold, uninhibited city, a relic of Yan and Zhao. It was a city of chivalrous bones and loyal hearts, watered with the blood and flesh of the Great Mings soldiers. Tang Fan had been to many places before, but he had never come to Datong, immediately stunned by the grandeur in front of him the second he arrived. It wasnt until Sui Zhou gently bumped him with his riding crop that he came back to his senses. According to the custom of the civil leads, the martial helps, this expedition was headed by Tang Fan, but they hadnt brought many people. Sui Zhou had left some behind to restrain Wan Tong, unable to bring along the full count of his confidantes. Yan Li had also been left behind due to being newly wed, so only ten or so elites like Pang Qi were with him. It was currently the middle of the day. There were many people queued up outside the city to get in, but for some reason, their advancing speed was particularly slow. Perhaps extremely strict inspections at the gate were the cause. Tang Fans group was on official business, and had to wait for an unknown amount of time like so before they could press on ahead to the city gate, take out their permits, show off their identities, and request entry. Unexpectedly, that set of procedures didnt work here. The defending soldier at the gate looked them up and down, heavy doubt and scrutiny on his face. Since you were sent by the Court, why arent you in your uniforms? The Brocade Guards uniform was known to be majestic, extremely recognizable once on the body. Few wouldnt know it. However, during their groups trek, they had encountered heavy rain that had soaked all of their clothes, so theyd had to put on backup sets. Who couldve known that on the very next day, it would rain hard yet again, shortly soaking their backups, too? With no other choice, the group had had to stay at a posthouse and wait for their clothes to be washed and dried. In order to avoid this same exact situation, they simply put on everyday clothes, ready to change into them after they arrived. Tang Fan had Guards open up the luggage and show a hem of the bright colors inside for the other party to examine. However, the soldiers doubts were not yet dissipated. Having only a slight bit of politeness, he threw out the sentence All of you wait a minute, then jogged back, off to report to someone unknown. Everyone was coated in the dust of travel. They had been thinking to get in, take a rest, and then a hot bath, only to be stopped right before the gates. The Guards were a little unhappy. Somethings amiss, Tang Fan said to them. Maybe something happened in the city. As much was said, but they were straight-up left to dry out there. After waiting for quite some time, they then caught sight of the soldier walking over with someone dressed like a Corporal. Said Corporal was a little cautious the entire time; although he didnt hide that he was on guard, he gave his name to them. This humble official is Meng Cun, a Corporal defending Datong. You gentlemen are wanting to enter the city? Pang Qi finally couldnt help himself. Can you not talk crap? What would we be standing here for, if not to enter the city?! We didnt come here on our own, we were sent by the Court! Did your Commandant not get the correspondence issued?! Corporal Meng knew that if the other party really was the Brocade Guard, he definitely couldnt afford to offend them, so he smiled apologetically. He has, but some things have happened recently. The Commandant specifically ordered that entry into the city needs to be strictly checked, especially for He didnt finish his words, but Tang Fan could guess that the latter half of them probably went something like, especially for types like you, who pretend to be Court ambassadors. Tang Fan stopped Pang Qi, who wanted to go off, and said to Meng Cun, Since your Commandant gave the order, we shouldnt make things difficult for you. Whatever you need to check, do so according to standards. Meng Cun quickly smiled. This gentlemen is yet a reasonable one. I ask that each of you hand over your permits and identity tags to me, after which I will bring them into the city and personally hand them over for the Commandant and Eunuch Wang to look over. After they find no fault, you all will be able to enter the city. That was kind of a huge joke. Identity tags were obviously carried on-person to prove ones identity how could it be so casually given away? If the other put their stuff away and reneged on them, a group with no provable identity, where could they go to explain themselves? The instant Meng Cun said this, even Tang Fans smile slightly curbed. Pang Qi grew even more furious. What mighty one set that rule?! When have you ever seen anyone give their tags away so casually?! Go call your Commandant to come out and meet us! These two are the Left Metropolitan Censor, Sir Tang, and our Bastion Envoy of the Northern Office, Sir Sui! I want to see whos going to have the guts to try and stop us if we want to just go in! Hearing of the twos posts, Meng Cuns complexion finally paled. He twisted his neck to glare viciously at the soldier, then turned back around beaming, even bowing with cupped hands. I wasnt aware that you two gents were gracing us with your presence. Please excuse this humble official for being a coarse man; I have been at the border for a long time and understand nothing. Please dont lower yourselves to my level! Seeing that he was cautiously polite out of repentance, but still wasnt relaxed enough to let them in, Tang Fan knew that something major must have happened here previously. Is the Defending Supervisor in the city today? He is, but he is currently in discussions with the Commandant. This humble official was afraid to go in and disturb them, so I came out here first. You can just head in and inform him. Say that Tang Fan came; I will bear any responsibility for that for you. Meng Cun only half-believed him, but since talks had come to here and he couldnt exactly take their tags by force, he answered, I will enter the city and make a report, then. Please wait a moment, Sirs! With that, he turned and went back in. Likely because he had made a separate account in private, after he left, several soldiers circumvented the gates to all stare at Tang Fans group like glaring tigers. Even the gazes that nearby entering citizens gave them turned a little weird, making them unsure of how to react. With all this waiting, Tang Fan simply found a rock near the city wall to sit down on, then quietly began to speak to Sui Zhou. On the other end, two people finally scurried out from the city. One of them apparently recognized Tang Fan, as after catching sight of the man sitting at the base of the wall, he promptly accelerated his pace to jog up, a broad smile on his face. It really is you, Sir Tang! Ever since he learned about the Courts decree a few days ago, our Eunuch Wang has been going on and on about you, and you came at last! Making you wait for such a long time was truly out of necessity this lowly one will give you a humble apology here. Tang Fan had something of an impression of him. You are Ding Rong? Ding Rong looked even happier at his recognition. Yes, that is I. Eunuch Wang told this lowly one to receive you! Meng Cuns embarrassment didnt need to be described. He repeatedly bowed to the group. This humble official has offended you all, my eyes unable to recognize Mount Tai itself. Please excuse my incompetence, Sir. Tang Fan waved his hand. Were these ordinary times, you likely wouldnt be so hard-pressed, Corporal Meng. Something big happened, did it not? Seeing that the complexions of the Brocade Guards were still dark, Meng Cun thought to himself that scholars were indeed more considerate, grateful. It did indeed. You gentlemen would not be aware, but before you arrived, several bands of Tartar spies mixing into the cityfolk have just been caught here, one group of which was pretending to be officials. They swindled our brothers on watch then, nearly causing catastrophe. The Commandant got immensely angry over this, and told everyone that if we let spies into the city again, wed be considered the same. This was unavoidable; please quell your anger, Sirs. That all is true, Ding Rong picked up from his side. The Corporal that had let them into the city was beaten with a rod in front of everyone by the Commandant, then stripped of his post, so inspection for entry into the city is stringent out of fear of repeating that mistake. Wang Yue was strict in his command of the army; this, Tang Fan knew. He also knew that the other had high prestige in the army over these years in Datong, else he would never have been able to lead the army in repelling the Tartars again and again. After hearing both of their explanations, the Guards suspicions went away slightly, their ire receding a bit. The Tartars have already used spies to scout out military intelligence? Tang Fan asked. Ding Rong smiled painfully. They come straight over and leave straightaway, always running following the fight. After those spies were caught, Eunuch Wang and Commandant Wang cross-examined them, and found that they had connections to the White Lotus Society. The White Lotus Society? Tang Fan suffered a start. How had he managed to wind all the way back around to come across the Society once again? In all likelihood, since the evil organization had operated for many years, it had influences distributed all over the world. Them conspiring against the Great Mings land with the Northern Tartars was not too surprising. Upon entering the city, Tang Fans group noticed that the atmosphere here was quite different from other places. Passersby on the road had frantic looks, and everyone was tense, far less carefree than the citizens of the capital. Every once in a while, the group would come face-to-face with stationed soldiers equipped with spears and ji, then size them up, getting inquisitive looks in return. Once they all saw Corporal Meng walking behind Tang Fan, the soldiers would then startle, quickly stop to bow, get rebuked by Meng Cun a few times, and scatter. Seven counties were beneath Datong Prefecture; this area was Datong County, the point of governance for the Prefecture. It was a county capital, but its location was important, as ever since the retreat inland from the Great Bend during Yongles time, it had turned into the Great Mings frontline against the Northern clans fire. The Tartars were nomadic peoples that could not self-sustain like farming peoples, so they could only rely on looting foreigners of their wealth to meet internal growth requirements. In their view, being able to get into the Ming Dynastys territory signified that they were rolling in wealth. They didnt want to take over their cities, they just wanted to come rob them periodically, as only that was the most fitting mode of their survival. Under such frequent wars and onslaughts, the citizens of border cities had muscles of steel and bones of iron forged, no poison able to encroach upon them. Even young women possessed an efficiency not found elsewhere. Despite being a border city, there was no shortage of supplies here in the least. Tang Fan glanced around quickly, paying extra attention, and noticed that stores crowded the streets. There were fabric stores, ready-made clothing stores, and citizens in attendance. At most, maybe, there were less patterns and colors provided to choose from, and fewer in-vogue styles. Seeing that he appeared to be interested, Ding Rong asked, Do you want clothes made, Sir? Tang Fan shook his head. Im just looking. Where are we going now? Eunuch Wang told this lowly one to take you all to meet him. Hes finished speaking with Commandant Wang? Not when I left, but he hasnt been in a great mood recently Tang Fan raised his brow. Because of the war? Ding Rong nodded, then spoke at a volume that wasnt too loud nor too quiet, just enough for only Tang Fan and Sui Zhou to hear. The Court sent the new Governor Guo over a bit ago. After he came here, hes been quite disagreeable with Eunuch Wang and Commandant Wang. Every time they discuss the war, the three start arguing. Whats going on today, then? What he was asking about were not secrets. Even if Ding Rong didnt explain, the others would be able to inquire about it all afterwards. Moreover, Tang Fan had come here to lend a hand, which was beneficial to Wang Zhi. Ding Rong must have understood as much, so he told the truth. Recently, in spite of the trails of spies frequently being caught in the city, the armys movements always seem to be known ahead of time by the Tartars. Last time, for example, we focused on defending Piantou Pass, but they appeared to know where our forces were concentrated, so they just bypassed Piantou to run off to Guangling County and loot it. Hearing this, Tang Fan glanced at Sui Zhou. Each saw undisguised surprise in their counterparts eyes. Tang Fans brow creased. Did you all not say before that you caught a few groups of spies? Can you not block them? We cant! At this part, Ding Rong couldnt keep his slightly scared expression at bay. Its not only that. Troops that weve sent out to chase down the Tartars have never come back, three times. This last time, Commandant Wang sent people to find them, and out of five hundred men, only seven ended up being found. They landed in the enemys traps? Ding Rong shook his head. Some said that they saw ghosts, and some said that the Tartars had the aid of gods, summoning wind and rain, leading them into a frightful place. Had it not been for them running quickly back to the squadron when they saw the chance to, they likely wouldnt have returned. Tang Fan had previously believed that since Datong had a Commandant, Governor, and Defending Supervisor, three people were enough to put on a play, whereas he wouldnt have anything to do even if he did come here. The circumstances here ended up being unexpectedly complicated. Traps? The aid of gods? Where could the Tartars have gotten that junk? They were a tribe known for their fighting prowess on horseback. This trick of pretending to be the supernatural was obviously related to the White Lotus Society. Still, he had dealt with the Society several times, so he knew how difficult it was. Those people had no lack of schemes, let alone the courage to plot a rebellion. The lone thing they did lack was enough strength. Now that they had teamed up with the Tartars, did they not hit it off immediately, and overturn the Heavens with one prod? Thinking to this point, Tang Fan empathized with Wang Zhi. Eunuch Wang was indeed unlucky; others had ruined the Western Depot, yet he still wasnt at peace on this end. After explaining all of this, Ding Rong said, If his tone isnt too pleasant towards you in a minute, please forgive that, Sir! Tang Fan smiled. How loyal you are! Be at ease, he and I are old acquaintances. How could I not understand how he is? I wont put it to heart. The other hurriedly smiled apologetically. This lowly one has said too much. The current Governor of Datong, Guo Tang, was one of Head Vizier Wan Ans people. Him taking up the post was naturally not for the sake of having a common goal, nor to fight for a better future together, but rather to make things harder for Wang Zhi and Wang Yue. The latter two had been managing Datong for two years, reorganizing this run-down city into the invulnerable state that it was in now, as well as repeatedly fighting with the Tartars. Why would they ever be willing to let Guo Tang dip his fingers into this? The three coming into conflict had been inevitable. As soon as Ding Rong spoke, Tang Fans group had already made mental preparations to mediate. However, once they got into the Commandants Estate, they realized that their own imaginations had been a little lacking. Inside the main hall, the tables and chairs that should have been arranged there were all nowhere to be seen, replaced with one incense stand, one rooster, and one Daoist. There was also white smoke curling all around the room, and two other people stood to the side, the smoke enshrouding them and making their features indistinguishable. The very next moment, Tang Fans eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, as he discovered that the Daoist was holding a sword in one hand and a dying rooster in the other, the blade cutting its neck. Supreme Sovereign, quickly bestow your favor break! the Daoist shouted. Alongside his voice, chicken blood sprayed onto the other two people. When Tang Fans group came in for a closer look, they discovered that the pair was familiar to them: the Datong Commandant, Wang Yue, and the Datong Defending Supervisor, Wang Zhi. Tang Fan: Sui Zhou: What the fresh hell was this? The translator says: Mr. Wang, please take the tinfoil hat off. Shang Ming has connections to the Society, #confirmed. [1] The bin () here is a rarely-used variant of , elegant/pretty, hence why its strange. CH 89 Peering into the rooms mist, Tang Fans group was simply startled speechless. What are they doing? Tang Fan asked, strained. Dispelling evil influences, Ding Rong whispered mystically from beside him. With this many people arriving, the commotion was not light, so those in the room quickly spotted them. Wang Yue looked embarrassed, his face saying I was forced to do this, while Wang Zhi was calm and collected. The accompanying Daoist also noticed them, a half-dead rooster in one hand. The spectacle was practically humorous. Both sides stared at each other until Tang Fan lightly coughed. Would you all like to switch out your clothes, first? Wang Yue woke up like he had been daydreaming, quickly shedding himself of such an awkward situation by cupping his hands towards the rest. Ive lost my manners. Please allow me to go change. Saying so, he left in a rush with all that chicken blood, likely not noticing that there was also a chicken feather stuck in his hair. Pang Qi and the Guards wanted to laugh upon seeing that, but felt it poor to, trying hard to hold it back. After him, Wang Zhi confidently walked out from inside. Resisting a grin, Tang Fan called out to him. Long time, no see, Eunuch Wang. I hope youve not been ailed since we last met? Wang Zhis face was overcast. Not only am I ailed, but Im practically too gravely ill to get back up again! Others seeing his expression would only jump in fright, looking back to wonder if they had said anything wrong, but Tang Fan still smiled, not scared in the least. Your complexion isnt that bad to me, though. Wang Zhi huffed. His gaze directly passed over him to land upon Sui Zhou, and he cupped his hands. I owe you a debt. This had come out of nowhere, but Sui Zhou knew that he was talking about what had happened when the censors had petitioned for the Western Depots closure whilst Wang Zhi was far off in Datong, his whips length unable to reach. Sui Zhou had taken in his aides prior to the Depots resounding collapse; with those men still around, Wang Zhi could yet have a time where he could make a comeback. That was, of course, a huge favor. Sui Zhou returned the courtesy. We keep watch and help each other. There is no need to be polite. Wang Zhis complexion slightly cleared up. May all of you go into the side hall and sit for a bit. I will be absent for a short time. The coated-in-chicken-blood Eunuch Wang was going to go change his clothes, of course. He had already caught sight of the Guards visibly toiling hard to hold back their laughs, and couldnt help but roll his eyes, turning to leave. Ding Rong led them all into the side hall to sit, and ordered the servants to fetch tea. A while passed; the first person to come out from inside was not Wang Yue, nor Wang Zhi, but that Daoist. He, too, had changed into clean clothes, his appearance not as messy-haired and untidy as it had been before, instead having a bit of an authentic immortal bearing. Noticing that Sui Zhou, Pang Qi, and the Guards had no intention to pay notice to him, he called out to Tang Fan on his own initiative. This poor Daoist is Chuyun-zi, from White Cloud Monastery of Mount Longhu. Hearing the name of Mount Longhu, Tang Fans brows lightly jumped, and he rose with a smile. Left Metropolitan Censor, Tang Fan. Your revered self is actually a zhenren from Longhu; pardon my disrespect. After Zhang Daoling, Mount Longhu had become an important branch of Daoism. By the time of this Dynastys founding, the Court had still followed Song-Yuan customs, granting Longhu religious leaders of zhenren status the title of Divine Master. The name of Divine Master Zhang was like thunder in the ears; the second one heard of Longhu, they would bring him to mind. The Chenghua Emperor had been obsessed with immortality and Daoist arts these past two years people like Li Zhisheng wouldnt have come to be favored, otherwise. He had originally hoped to be able to invite Divine Master Zhang into the capital, but his invitation had been declined due to reasons of the latter being in seclusion. Famed, upright sects that were able to persist for a thousand years naturally had their own survival wisdom. They knew well that they would surely have a moment of glory if they left the mountain, but once the Emperor passed, the Court officials would surely flock up and affix them with the crime of egging the Emperor into doing rotten things. Thus was why Longhu would never join in on that excitement. However, just because Longhu wouldnt stick out didnt mean that everybody else would look down upon that splendor spilling from the Heavens, too. Li Zhisheng had popped out as such, as a matter of fact. As Tang Fan was being quite polite, Chuyun-zi chuckled, slightly embarrassed. Although I practiced at Longhu, I dont belong to the Divine Masters orthodoxy, but came from a side branch. I dont deserve the title of zhenren. The man was sincere, so Tang Fan changed the way he addressed him. Did you come here after accepting an invite from Commandant Wang or Eunuch Wang, Priest? Chuyun-zis expression was unchanged. I was wandering until recently, when I saw dark surging qi in the sky over Datong. I feared that demons were up to no good, and after a divination, I knew that this place would face disaster soon, so I dropped by for a visit. The Commandant and Eunuch had vexation all across their faces, but became greatly elated once they saw me, quickly asking me to help them out. Monks cherish mercy; this poor Daoist had to help whatever way I could. Despite the mans heavy liberties, Tang Fan was an expert in flowery language. He received only one actually important point listening to Priest Chuyuns unceasing torrent of words: he had channeled Mao Sui, recommending himself at their door. Um, Priest Tang Fan started, then stopped. If you have some spot of confusion, please go ahead and clear it up, Censor Tang, Chuyun-zi said solemnly. Tang Fan coughed. That phrase, Monks cherish mercy seems to only be said by Buddhists? Pft! Several muffled laughs reverberated in the guest hall, which must have been the Guards unable to hold it in anymore. Sui Zhou was unusually calm, in contrast, still sampling his tea with his normal expression. Chuyun-zi had wandered the land, his game face extraordinary. Hearing Tang Fans question, he didnt turn red, merely smiling. Whether one practices Buddhism or Daoism, its all for the sake of finding our true natures and being benevolent to those we come across. Why is such a distinction necessary? It was I that was too pedantic, Tang Fan said with a smile. That the other could speak like this demonstrated that he had some temperance. The two chatted some more, and then Wang Yue and Wang Zhi walked in, one in front and one in back. Everyone paid greetings to each other, then sat down again. I heard that Censor Tang and Envoy Sui encountered some trouble when they entered the city, Wang Yue said. There truly was no reason for that. I will apologize on behalf of those blind bastards. With that, he stood and cupped his hands. He was a second-rank Commandant, titled as the Minister of War, and a Palace Honorate from the second year of Jingtai. How could Tang Fan and Sui Zhou have ever dared to accept such an immense grace? They promptly got up and returned the courtesy in suit. Theres no need for this, Commandant Wang, Tang Fan said. How could this humble official be deserving of such? We heard of what happened from Ding Rong on the way here, and I believe it to be reasonable. If those villains were allowed to mix into the city using the statuses of officials, the results would be quite disastrous. Wang Yue smiled bitterly. In truth, prior to this, we didnt expect those demons to be so bold as to try to swagger in like that. Ever since then, weve had no choice but to be cautious, too afraid to be the least bit careless. With Wang Yues seniority and might, he never would have needed to justify himself so much to them, nor be this polite, but he had been away from the capital for a long time, while this group had been sent by the Emperor. He must be worrying that they would hold grudges at heart, file a complaint after their return, and never let him stop suffering from that, therefore making the forging of a good relationship a necessity. Hearing them go back and forth with the pleasantries, Wang Zhi got a little impatient and butt in. Since youve all just arrived, allow me to debrief you on the situation before anything else. Thats just what I was thinking. Please speak, Eunuch Wang, Tang Fan replied. Wang Zhis explanation was a little more detailed than Ding Rongs had been. Earlier on, when the group had heard the latters depiction, there had been a lot of areas of uncertainly, but they all became clear in Wang Zhis. Ever since Mings founding by the Great Ancestor, the North had never been that peaceful. Later on, Yongle had disregarded the opposition of a gang of high officials, moving the capital straight to Beijing; apart from his own lack of adaptation to the Southern climate, hed had the intent to make his descendants personally keep an eye on the Northern threat and defend the nation. After the Tumu Crisis, however, the three Capital Battalions had been annihilated, giving the panicked Great Ming an even greater fear of being struck. Once the Oirats had waned, the Tartars had risen up suddenly. They were a similarly immense threat to Mings North, and no one in all of the Dynasty believed that the Ming army was capable of defeating them. Wang Yue had convinced Wang Zhi, though, and together, they had asked for the Emperors orders. His Majesty had agreed to send out troops at last, and the fight had lasted over two years. The two had left the capital to come here and manage things, starting from nothing and getting to here. During this period, horses had been fed, soldiers had been reprimanded, and training had been done night and day, until the situation had finally turned around, the unmatched Tartars beaten into submission. They went from coming around whenever they wanted up to twenty times a year, like the place was their own home, to now only daring to come around a few times a year. That military accomplishment had to be called impressive. However, those circumstances had changed as of the end of last year. The Tartars always coming straight in, going straight out, fleeing after the fight was done, and paying particular attention to raw power seemed to have learned how to be underhanded overnight. All sorts of sly plots of theirs had cropped up in quick order, they were sending spies, they were luring their enemies in deep, and they were having backup plans, dazing the Ming army. It should be said that on the battlefield, with the ancestors of strategy that were Sun Wu and Sun Bin, even if Mings officers had been sent for a loop a few times, they should have learned from their mistakes. Things off of the battlefield were hard to speak of, however. Every time the Ming army moved, the Tartars would always know of it in advance, then make preparations. Several times, they would even just detour around the regions the Ming army focused on to target areas with weak defenses, making it hard to successfully guard anything. In light of this, Wang Yue had ordered for a thorough search of the Prefectures boundaries, resulting in the discovery of several groups of spies. One amongst them had been found right before Tang Fan and the rests arrival, disguised as the family members of a retired official from Pingyang Prefecture. The soldiers guarding the gates hadnt verified, leading to them getting swindled, which had been discovered in the mass investigation. Even with that, however, the trend hadnt been restrained at all. There was no way for the entirety of Datong Prefecture to be sealed off, and with all the commonfolk coming and going, it was difficult to guarantee that spies werent mixed in with them. On top of that, pre-fight discussions required the summons of all of the armys higher-ups, and even if those people were tight-lipped about the battle plans, when orders were passed down, if any part of the link leaked something out and it got to a spy, the Tartars would still be able to get the information. Because of this, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi had carried out several large-scope investigations, yet could never completely snuff out the source. And the most vexing thing didnt stop at just that. From two months ago to the present, the Tartars had come five times, and been beaten back by the Ming army each time, but three Ming squadrons had all vanished in the process of hunting down the enemy. Seven people had been located from the third group, just like what Ding Rong had explained previously; the soldiers that had survived by a fluke were badly frightened, each claiming that they had accidentally gone into haunted grounds. Had they not been lagging behind the rest of the squadron, they likely wouldnt have been able to return. Upon hearing this, some might ask: Everyone says not to chase a defeated enemy, so why has the Ming army been duped so many times? But, if they did, the asker would clearly not be versed in military matters. Even though defeated foes werent to be cornered, there was another saying that went: Press home after a victory. As an officer rich in military experience, Wang Yue had only ordered the pursuit when he had previously judged that it was feasible after their opponents hurried escape. Circumstances like these could only be described as being completely out of plans and expectations. Sporadic news of disadvantageous battles still spread to the capital in quick succession, which had given political opponents an opportunity. The former Datong Governor had been switched out for Guo Tang, who had arrived half a month before now, yet had already gotten into several fights with Wang Yue and Wang Zhi over disagreements in opinion. He had likely sent no lack of false accusations back to the capital, putting the present situation at a standstill for Wang Yue and the rest. Wang Yue had heard that Wang Zhi and Tang Fan had a decent relationship, and that the others were at odds with Wan Ans party, so he had been hoping that they would get here soon. At the bare minimum, Guo Tangs haughtiness had to be curbed, lest the Emperors misunderstanding towards Datong grew deeper, and he believed that Wang Yue and Wang Zhi were too cowardly to fight. However, the disappearance of the soldiers could ultimately not be concealed. A lot of rumors soon came out, saying that the Tartars had the aid of gods, had learned how to control the weather, had the ability to grow soldiers out of tossed seeds, and could vanish people in the blink of an eye, causing morale to greatly waver. Even Wang Zhi had felt something evil at work, so, with Chuyun-zis coincidental visit, and after deeming that the other was not of suspicious origin, hed had him come to dispel that evil. Thus resulting in that dumbfounding scene Tang Fan and the others had witnessed. After hearing of this, Tang Fan asked, Where is Governor Guo now? He looked down upon Chuyun-zis work here, saying that it was a heretical path, and disdained to keep us company, leaving with a sweep of his sleeves, Wang Zhi coldly answered. Daoism as a religion is broad and profound, Chuyun-zi spoke up from the side. As long as righteousness exists in the heart and deeds are done for the benefit of others, its a proper path. Governor Guos perspective is much too narrow. Tang Fan shook his head. Are you not afraid that he will turn around and complain to His Majesty that you all arent doing proper business? he asked Wang Zhi. Dont forget that His Majesty has recently had high praise for Daoist arts. If he files a complaint like that, itll actually help us out. Tang Fan was speechless. So they had been wanting to deliberately annoy Guo Tang. Wang Yue sighed with a smile. Our hands were tied with Guo Tang here, as his memorials were getting sent to the capital one after the other, and there was no one to help speak for us. Thankfully, His Majesty is a sage of brilliance, and both learned and heard clearly. With the two of you here, this heart of mine finally feels a little at ease! As of late, hed had to command military affairs, strictly investigate the enemy spies leaking information, and defend against Guo Tangs frequent false accusations. That triplicate pressure from both inside and out was really wearing on his mind and body. He was speaking of two people, but the chiefly important target of his speech was Sui Zhou. That derived from a Brocade Guard like him being able to report straight to imperial presence without the need to go through the Office of Transmissions and Cabinet, thus not getting apprehended halfway through. Even Tang Fan, as a censor, couldnt do that. Why would everyone fear and respect the Brocade Guard, if not for that particular, one-of-a-kind quality? Faced with the other partys burning gaze, Sui Zhou nodded almost imperceptibly. Everything investigated will be reported truthfully. The stone on Wang Yues mind fell to the ground at last, the smile on his face growing more enthusiastic. Business had come to an end. Tang Fans group had come here windworn, and as the hosts, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi were to provide for them. A table was promptly set up in the Commandant Estate, Guo Tang going unsummoned as the higher few took their seats around Pang Qi and the Guards got a separate table. Set on the tabletops were fresh pots of bone broth, and next to those were tender cuts of lamb, various bits of mutton tripe, and all sorts of side dishes, like tofu, mushrooms, and so forth. Everyone was ravenous, nearly unhinging their jaws to eat. Chuyun-zi ate as happily as they were. Noticing that Tang Fan was paying off-and-on attention to him, he explained, This poor Daoist practices the path of orthodox unity, not the path of complete trueness. There is no need to abstain from meat. As I see it, you have quite the insight and wise roots for Daoism, Censor Tang. Do you want to be accepted under my denomination? At the tail end of it, he added, The path of orthodox unity wont stop you from taking a wife and having children, either! Mister Tang started sweating, the corners of his mouth automatically pulling back. Thank you for your kind intent, Priest. My life is complex, and Im afraid that itd be impossible for me to focus on cultivation. After saying so, his line of sight somehow met with Sui Zhous opposite him. The others smile was skin-deep. He watched Tang Fan until the latter felt a wave of inexplicable guilt, quickly shifting his gaze away. Once the meal was done, it was time to talk proper business. Chuyun-zi took his leave out of self-awareness, and the Guards withdrew all at once, as well. Wang Yue invited Sui Zhou into the study for a private conversation, while Wang Zhi and Tang Fan remained in the side hall. Chuyun-zi came from Longhu? Tang Fan asked. How should I know? Why did you let him stay and talk so much, then? It was on purpose. The more he hears, the better. Tang Fan suddenly understood. You suspected him long ago, so you acted to probe him out? Wang Zhi stood up, hands behind his back as he paced the hall. Im uncertain, because before he even showed up, the Tartars already had a few instances of advance knowledge. Hes indeed suspicious, though. Rather than allow him to wander all about outside, its better to have him by my side to keep an eye on him. The other grinned. I didnt expect that in these brief two years in Datong, youd become fluent in the ploy of using decoy troops, Eunuch Wang. Very admirable! And what goddamn good is it?! The Western Depots still been eradicated! Wang Zhi stated icily. I knew that once that shithead Shang Ming landed on Wan Tongs side, he would attack me using the guys power! He gave a look of calmness, but at heart, he was still very concerned about this, else he wouldnt have gnashed his teeth around Shang Mings name. That was normal, really. Regardless of whether the Western Depot had been good or bad, the influence he had built up single-handedly, once able to rival the longstanding Eastern Depot in just a few years and even suppress it a few times, had been wiped out in a wink. Anyone else would have been upset, too. And yet, Tang Fan just threw oil onto the fire. Its better if the Western Depot is gone, actually. Ignoring the eye daggers Wang Zhi was shooting him, he sipped his tea, then slowly explained, Dont be hasty. Hear me out to the end, first. Disregard the Western Depot for now. Ever since the Eastern Depots founding, of all the people whose hands it has passed into, how many have had good ends? If there are any, you may as well count them off for me to hear. Lets not speak of older examples, but newer ones, first. Take Huai En, or Liang Fang, those old fox-esque figures; have any of them ever touched the Eastern Depots affairs? No, as theyre deeply aware of the unpredictable rises and falls therein, and would therefore prefer to shrink back into the palace than touch the hot potato that is the Depot. Dont pay attention to Shang Ming jumping up and down for joy right now. Hes both in charge of the Eastern Depot and affiliated with the Wan party, but his relationship with said party is not secure, founded upon interests. The second something happens, the first one that they throw out to be the scapegoat will be him. I know that you established the Western Depot single-handedly and are reluctant to let it go, but its existence would bring you a hundred disadvantages without one advantage anymore. Its gone, so let it be gone. When you send a memorial to His Majesty after this is all over, you may as well write about what happened to it. He is soft-hearted, so hell certainly allow you to come back to the capital upon reading you write as much. Wang Zhi didnt necessarily not comprehend that logic, but he just couldnt get over the blockage in his heart, nor could he let go of his former sky-soaring power. Once this war was done, what would be the use in going back to the capital? Would he not be a powerless castrate by then? With the tree fallen, its monkeys scattered, who would still regard him as anything? Youve spoken so logically. Dont think that I dont know that youre just like all those civil officials, always hoping that the Western Depot will close down! he sneered. Youre right. I long felt that the Western Depot had no need to exist, Tang Fan sincerely, bluntly, and honestly admitted. Wang Zhi glared at him for a very long time, only to find that the other wasnt unnerved at all, still smiling, and he couldnt help but feel dejected. Tang Fan grinned. You and I have been acquainted for years. You know that what I say isnt aimed at you. Its not just the Western Depot, but the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guard, and anyone that grasps the original intent of their foundings will not feel that they should exist, either. Imagine the Qin, Han, Tang, and Song times; as long as the world is prosperous, why would there ever be the need to eternally grasp the common will via monitoring every officials? If its said that the Brocade Guard is yet a double-edged sword with both pros and cons, then the Eastern Depot truly has not a single thing going for it. We, as civil officials, all dream about it being eliminated. Your boldness grows ever bigger, Tang Runqing! You dare to criticize even rules laid out by the Great Ancestor and Yongle Emperor?! Wang Zhi shouted darkly. I consider you as one of my own, which is why I can say a few words from the heart, Eunuch Wang. How is that criticism? Tang Fan asked innocently. The other started disregarding him. For this reason, the Western Depots eradication isnt something you can totally blame on Wan Tong, Shang Ming, and the rest of them, Tang Fan continued. Even I dont want it to exist, so whats to say how the other officials in Court feel? The Eastern Depot has been established for too long, too deeply-rooted for anyone to touch, but the Western Depots foundation was still shallow. In order to prevent it from turning into a behemoth like the Eastern, there would be people sending up memorials to abolish it, even without Shang Ming or Wan An. Hearing his tone that sounded like he was perfectly happy for all this, Wang Zhi couldnt help but get vibrantly furious. Once he barely managed to tamp down his anger, he coldly laughed. So, its not your wish now? Tang Fan laughed mildly, pretending not to hear his sinister tone. This goes back to what I said before. The ancients said that fortunes decline to misfortunes, and misfortunes beget fortunes. Sometimes, what seems to be something good may not be, and what seems to be something bad may not be. As you can see, those long versed in the ways of the world, like Huai En and Liang Fang, would never touch the Eastern Depot. Now that the Western Depot is gone, thats not necessarily a bad thing for you. Im aware that youve always been in pursuit of merits and capital. Any big manly man born and raised in this world thinks as much, while your status inevitably makes doing that no less than ten or a hundred times more difficult than the average man. And yet, youre different from Huai En, and even more different from Shang Mings sort; instead of honing in on the palace or the capital, you go for the border a thousand li away, a grand ambition thats deserves admiration. Allow me to guess the one you admire most is the Eunuch of Three Treasures, Zheng He? Wang Zhi warned himself not to place importance onto this guys ornate rhetoric, but when he heard this, he couldnt help but ask, How did you know? Zheng He followed Yongle to fight in both the North and South, gaining brilliant credits that were no lesser than all of those meritorious Jingnan officials; was he not a eunuch, he likely would have been given a title of nobility. Even like so, he sailed West seven times, making all-time contributions that cannot be erased. Such a track record makes later generations that read of it yearn for it, wishing that their lives could be the same as his, therefore revering the moxie of the Eunuch of Three Treasures! At this, Wang Zhi was slightly moved, his expression changing. Truth was, the evaluations people of the current era had towards Zheng Hes sails to the West were not that great. Everyone generally believed that those expeditions, faraway voyages, and built ships had squandered the Great Ming treasurys uncountable riches, being nothing more than the Son of Heaven once taking joy in doing grandiose things. That viewpoint had become especially prominent after the sea ban. Tang Fans way of looking at it was not the same as manys, though. His words had finally gotten to Wang Zhi, who thought the world of Zheng Hes life. Wang Zhi went silent for a long time before answering. Youre right. I do take Zheng He as the sole target of my lifelong admiration, I just hate that I was born too late to be able to follow Yongle all over the place like he did. With how the world works today, theres too much hesitation in even launching a war against the Tartars, and when we do win, we still get politically attacked by some lowlifes! If Yongle was still around, this wouldnt be! At the end of his speech, he had quite a bit of a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. Tang Fan shook his head. Youre being extreme, Eunuch Wang. If you want to imitate Zheng He, why the need to focus on the path of wartime merits? The seven voyages are just as famed in the annals of history. Wang Zhi furrowed his brow. Those were obviously a waste of money and human resources. Why would they be imitated? Tang Fan smiled. A waste they certainly were, but they were not without benefits. Despite the Great Ancestors strict ban on maritime travel, Tang Fan had once traveled South and seen with his own eyes that many seafarers had not been able to make ends meet with the ban, and had had no choice but to sneak out secretly, the number of which had been gradually increasing by the year, according to government documents. For such a reason, the ban existed in name, but was dead in reality; it could hold back ordinary people that followed the law, but not those errant people that staked their entire livelihoods on it. In recent years, the coasts had quite a few sea merchants privately trading with foreign countries, with some even more excessive than that, colluding with runt pirates[1] to loot coastal folks. Zheng Hes Western voyages had not been considered violations of the Great Ancestors orders, as they had been on government ships, not commoner ones. Honestly, following Zheng Hes voyages, the sea ban amongst the citizenry had gradually loosened up, but no one was going to break through that layer of window paper, was all. On the other end, the officials sea-faring scope had vanished after Zheng He, because many in Court adhered to the rules, believing the act to just be a waste of everything. They did not feel that officials taking to the ocean could bring any benefits to the Court or the country. However, Tang Fan had seen himself that sea merchants would return from far away with full loads, ships all packed with objects acquired after selling Great Ming goods that they had transported to neighboring countries. He knew very well that this old-school style of thinking was extremely flawed. Due to the Courts sea ban, these merchants dealings were all classified as illegal smuggling, and the authorities just turned a blind eye, not imposing any merchant taxes. This had caused that annual revenue to slip away for no good reason. Whenever the Court looked to the sky and shouted that there was no money for disaster relief, yet put no consideration towards such a legal taxation method that wouldnt bother the commonfolk, it really made Tang Fan wring his hands on end. After listening to Tang Fans explanation, Wang Zhi saw the light. Youre thinking to urge me into getting the Emperor to declare the sea ban lifted, then go on voyages? You know that its not Yongles era anymore. Besides, theres no Shipbuilding Depot nowadays, and those prized vessels are all ancient hulks from that era. Im obviously not going out to sea, and even if I could, as soon as those people hear about a Western voyage, theyll think its a waste, then probably accuse me of something again. If its only to allow citizens ships to go out to sea, it will violate the forebears law, which certain people will fly into a rage about. Are you trying to help me, or hurt me? Tang Fan lightly laughed. Government vessel is just a label. Having the best of both worlds isnt without a way. I just wanted to let you know that you dont need to set your sights on just one area; you want to get outstanding achievements, so you have to have open eyes. What way do you have? Wang Zhi doubted. I said before that issuing taxes upon marine merchants could increase the national treasury. You have no objection to that, right? The other nodded. The current problem is that if only government vessels can go out, but not civilian, the Court wouldnt be able to afford it, and there would be no benefit to it. On the flipside, if government officials cant go out, and only civilian ones can, that would go against the Great Ancestors orders. Correct? The other nodded again. That isnt hard to solve. The Court can always establish a special bureau for levying taxes on marine transport, annually establishing several voyage permits similar in style to certificates of origin. Those sea merchants that want to go abroad will be allowed to buy things, after which they can be allowed to trade goods overseas in the governments name. The commodities acquired can be taxed by the Court. Those that cannot get government permits, and troupes that sneak out to sea, must be hit hard. As for the merchant tax collected, that can be apportioned in the form of business taxes. Sixty-percent goes to the national treasury, and forty-percent goes to the internal treasury. Like so, both the Dynasty and His Majesty will have gains, and since the name of the government will be used for the voyages, they wont be considered as violating the Great Ancestors ban. Even if there is opposition, it wont be too great. The most important thing is that if this much is done, you can sit in that bureau of marine transportation in the future. Holding that income in hand, you will help both His Majesty and the Court collect revenue, your status will never be doubted, and the Emperor will be inseparable from you. Is this not a great thing that gets a lot done in one fell swoop? There was a moment of silence in the side hall, where only the sound of Wang Zhis breathing could be heard. With his martial arts and physical skill, he should never have made such a rough sound to begin with. He stared at Tang Fan, unable to say anything for a very long time, before eventually getting out, If you dont go on to be an unscrupulous merchant, that would be a real waste of your natural talent! Is this you complimenting me, or chiding me? Why does that not seem like a nice thing to say? Wang Zhi waved him off. Just take it as a nice thing! His pace quickened as he circled around a few times, genuinely digesting Tang Fans idea. After he fully came to comprehend it, he realized that what he had said was actually not infeasible. If he wanted to open the sea ban, he would inevitably come across never-before-seen resistance. If he used Tang Fans method, resistance would still exist, but be far lesser. Moreover, if there was no resistance at all, a pile of people long thronged up for the cause, how would it be out of turn for him? The greater significance of Tang Fans statements, though, was that they had opened up a big, brand-new gate for Wang Zhi, causing him to think about issues he had never thought of before, and see a world he had never seen before. He had thought that he had already come to the end of his rope, but hadnt expected that Tang Fan would give him guidance, pushing aside the clouds to reveal the moon, willows making shade and flowers making light. A shine had immediately appeared in his mind, at the very least, as if a corner of a mirror covered in dust had been wiped all clean, limpid and brilliant, that bewildering fog dispersed. As time passed, his excitement slowly faded, and he gradually regained his former calmness, having yet considered many issues. The Wan party definitely wont just sit back and watch me make a comeback. Even if the sea ban can be opened in a way they cant ever prevent, theyll be coming to take a share of it. When that time comes, I wont have the final say. Tang Fan nodded. Right, thats why it cant be done for right now. For those marine merchants that secretly collude with runt pirates in private, the Court will need to build a strong navy, which cannot be achieved in the span of a day. The most pressing issue at current is resolving Datongs incident and winning this conclusive war, after which we can be completely justified in returning to the capital. Wang Zhi wiped his face, spirits lifting. Youre right! Thats paramount. Those sons of bitches dont want to let me go back, but Ill be going back anyways! Tang Fan had described a huge bing bread that had successfully roused his appetite for success, allowing him to erase all of his inopportune frustration from before. He was someone who could let things go, too, so he was already no longer preoccupied with what had happened to the Western Depot, more concerned about how to resolve the current problem. Tell me about whats happening, Tang Fan said. With Chuyun-zi having just been around, I could tell that you all had a lot of things to speak of that wouldnt have been good to get into details about right then. The thing with the Tartars spies is a bit tricky. I suspect that there is one of theirs among us. Tang Fan automatically straightened up upon hearing that. How do you figure? The translator says: I suppose it wouldnt be much of a spoiler anymore, so Wang Zhis original fate in history, for those curious, is that he remained in the Western Depot until his garrison in Liaodong alienated him from Chenghua. Shang Ming then denounced him, got the Western Depot disbanded, and got Wang Zhi banished to Nanjing, whereupon he dropped off the face of history. So, without Big Bro Tang here, our favorite foulmouthed eunuch eats dirt. ;( [1] Let me explain why I put runt here. is an old, extremely condescending word for Japan. A fitting translation for it, which both accurately portrays its offensiveness and literal meaning, would be, um midget. In reference to the islands comparatively smaller size, Im assuming. Runt was used as the pejorative instead. CH 90 There were just the two of them sitting in the side hall, nobody else, so Wang Zhi hid nothing. To tell the truth, ever since a portion of the manpower was allocated to defend Taiyuan, Datongs military strength hasnt been good enough. There are always crucial spots and areas of weakness when laying out defenses. Tang Fan nodded, listening attentively. Wang Zhi proceeded to detail the problem therein. However, the weird thing is that these last couple of times, the Tartars seem to always be able to sense events in advance. This last time, for example, we heard that they were going from Datongs eastern side, so we transferred a portion of the troops located at Shuozhous west-side gate to protect it, only for the Tartars to instead go strike Pian Pass. If anyone said that there isnt anything suspicious about that, I wouldnt believe them even if they beat me to death! Supposing that the Tartars or White Lotus Society have sent spies into the city, said spies would need to learn in advance before they would be able to pass information on, the process of which requires time in the interim. If they had to wait until the citizens knew of it before they sent word back to the Tartars side, that would be way too late. This means that there has to be someone on our side transmitting information to them! Who would be able to get word ahead of time? Tang Fan asked. The bodyguards plus confidantes at Wang Yue and Is sides do, but they would never betray us. Theres high-ranking officers on Datongs side that need to receive appointments and assignments before going to battle, so they would know, too. Theres the Datong Magistrate, additionally, though after we discovered that information was leaking out, Wang Yue and I did all we could to shrink the group at the news nucleus, and he became excluded. Wang Zhi paused. Apart from them, theres one other I suspect. Tang Fan raised a brow. Guo Tang? The other laughed frostily. Yes. Hes a Wan affiliate that has no reason to be of one mind with us. Its very likely that hes cooperating with the Society to take us down! If thats so, then itll be a bit of a headache, Tang Fan said, lightly frowning. As Datongs Governor, his duty in coming here is to keep Wang Yue and you in check. Theres no evidence as of right now, so if you accuse him randomly, not only will His Majesty think that you two are trying to eradicate your detractor, but Wan An and the rest will group up to attack. Wang Zhi exhaled in a hiss. As if worn out from pacing, he sat right down in a chair. Since evidence is needed, give them solid evidence that cant be refuted! Neither Wang Yue nor I can stick our hands in this, else it wont be enough to get His Majestys trust. On top of that, in line with their habits of previous years, the Tartars will come during threshing time in about half a month. Were beginning preparations for it now, figuring out how to keep information from being divulged again and seize the source of the spies. This matter will be entrusted to you. Threshing was an originally joyous event for the commoners of the Central Plains during harvest season, yet his usage depicted the Tartars coming to pillage. What an abundance of irony. Tang Fan smiled painfully. Thats a really high view of me. You all have been looking for someone for months yet havent been able to find them, so how could I have the power to? If this wasnt a difficult problem, why would you ever be sought out? I can put my mind at ease handing it off to someone else. The Brocade Guard is better than me at doing stuff like this, Sir Tang said, still wanting to struggle at deaths door. You should go talk to Guangchuan yourself. Wang Zhi side-eyed him. As long as its you that passes the message on, wont he help you? Finding you is much easier than finding him. I dont have any interest in talking to his rigor-mortis face! Tang Fan was without words. He just did you a massive favor. Isnt it poor to destroy the bridge after crossing the river like this? The other waved him off. Ill find an opportunity to pay that back, Im just not fond of talking to him. We were born with our stars out of alignment. Further words wont work when our conversations go wrong, I get annoyed when I see him, and Im assuming hes the same way you dont need to worry about it! If you have the need to interrogate the spies, you can come find me, and if Im not around, find Ding Rong. Ill explain to him. Tang Fan mumbled to himself for a short moment. Those spies that you arrested in the city earlier did you confiscate anything off of them? Wang Zhi nodded. We did. They all had letters. Id like to take a look at them. Theyre in my estate, not on me. Ill bring them to you later. Also, what happened with those missing soldiers? Eunuch Wang, ever unparalleled, sighed out of hardship. Back in the capital, he had always felt that he held no fear of the Heavens nor the Earth. Once he had come to Datong, he had experienced no lack of wind, frost, rain, and snow, polished by the world itself. It was only then that he had discovered that there were many people and things that were beyond his control. Those three groups, while chasing down the Tartars, all vanished near Weining Sealet. Tang Fan noticed the areas name. Sealet? Yes. The word derives from Mongolian. Locals are used to calling the lake a sealet, and its one of the greater lakes. In the former Yuan, it was called nor, so the locals also call it Darakh Nor.[1] Weining is the Han name for it. Whats unusual about the area? We later asked Datong locals; purportedly, theres fog neighboring it all year round, making it easy for one to lose their way. Some have gone missing there before, but only when the weather was poor. Commoners rarely go there for no good reason. To its north is Barbarian Ridge, where odd things happen frequently. According to what those few that returned said, when they pursued up to the northern area of the lake, they suddenly encountered disorientating fog that filled the sky, and ahead of them came the sound of a large army, weapons brandishing, and horses whinnying. Some soldiers screamed after heading into the fog, never to return. Those remaining few remembered the rumors of missing people, and felt that they had to go back and report this, thus withdrawing beforehand, which saved their lives. That enigmatic description caused Tang Fan to frown heavily. It cant be that Weining Sealet is the only path through, right? Is there another road to take? Wang Zhi shook his head. It has Barbarian Ridge to the north and Horsehead Mountain to the south, being the depression between the two. From the Great Wall to the Sealet, theres only the one unobstructed road. Moreover, even if there were other roads besides that one, they wouldnt be easily traversable. Youve never been to the prairies, so you wouldnt know that even though they look level, its easy to lose ones way on them. We arent the same as those Tartars, whove galloped across the grasslands ever since they were children. Walking along the Sealet is the route least easy to get lost on. Before all this fog and weird stuff happened, the Ming army once passed through Weining to chase down those Tartars that had nowhere to run to. Do you remember that huge victory from the sixteenth year of Chenghua? Seeing Tang Fan nod, Wang Zhi looked slightly proud. The Tartars youngest prince was the only one spared from that, even his wife having died in the fight. That battle happened to be fought close to the Sealet. Over the past two years weve fought with the Tartars, weve always been perfectly safe every time we passed by Lake Dai, yet its become inaccessible to outsiders all of a sudden! I reckon the White Lotus Society is up to its tricks! Have you ever tried catching some Tartars or Society members to question them? Yes, but whether its making use of intimidation and torture in turn, nothing comes of it. They just keep going on about gods sheltering them, which obviously means that they ought to be ignorant of whats going on. Im guessing that if there are magic techniques at use, only the upper echelons of the Society know of them in detail. Theyve presumably lied to their subordinates, as they couldnt let them know the truth. Upon hearing the whole story, Tang Fan felt that this was a bit of a thorny issue, and sighed once he recalled the preposterous Chuyun-zi that had ardently invited himself over for ceremonial practices. Since that all happened at Lake Dai, what use was there in having a Daoist dispel evil influences at the Commandant Estate? The Societys demons used demonic arts to contend with us, so we must switch out pigments. Chuyun-zi claimed that chicken blood can ward off evil, as well as counterattack the hexes of the Society. Its better to believe that there is than to believe that there is not. Do you want to go find him so that he can splash a little chicken blood on you, too? Sir Tang placed his palm on his forehead. No need. Thanks for your well wishes. After saying farewell to Wang Zhi, right when he walked out of the side hall, he saw Sui Zhou standing with his back to him in the garden, hands behind him. Butterflies floated around the yard, making a nice spring scene. When Tang Fan approached, the other didnt even turn his head. Done talking? From his tone, Sui Zhou clearly knew who it was that had walked up behind him. Tang Fan couldnt help but be shocked. How did you know it was me? I recognized the sound of your footsteps, Sui Zhou answered, only then turning around. Martial experts were a different breed. Tang Fan had long become numb to such things. Where is Commandant Wang? Something happened in the barracks, so he was called away. While the two of them walked out, Tang Fan asked, What did he seek you out for? To inquire after recent capital developments, entrust me with saying a few nice things to His Majesty on his behalf, and give me a stack of silver banknotes. The other couldnt help but laugh. Whats their value? Sui Zhou shot him a look. Ten notes, each one worth a hundred taels. A huge sum, as expected, Tang Fan sighed. A litter had been waiting outside, along with Pang Qi, Ding Rong, and the others. Upon seeing the two exit, Ding Rong quickly stepped up. Sirs, Eunuch Wang ordered this lowly one to bring you to lodge at the government posthouse in the city. It was recently renovated some time before, and is no inferior to the Commandant Estate. He said that you two cannot stay with him for the time being, so please forgive him. Wang Zhi and Wang Yue dared not shack up with them on account of Guo Tang watching like a tiger nearby. If they all stayed in the Commandant Estate or the Defending Supervisor Estate, Guo Tang would be able to accuse them of collusion later. Tang Fan nodded. Its no matter. Lead the way. Ding Rong affirmed, politely requested that they all get on respective litters, gave the litter-bearers directions, then saw them off to the posthouse. It wasnt that far from the Commandant Estate. Just as Ding Rong has said, the interior was freshly renovated, its decor not surpassed by any top-notch inns. It even had a spacious bathing pool, though, of course, that was only provided for officials of ranks like Tang Fan and Sui Zhous to wash up in, while Pang Qi and the Guards werent qualified for it. Tang Fan stepped in on his front foot, and someone from Wang Zhis side came in on his back foot, bearing some letters. As Wang Zhi had brought up to him before, they had been confiscated from spies. Not caring about washing up or changing his clothes, he took the letters and flipped them open for a look. They were written with information on Datong Citys internals, such as where granaries were located, the directions Mings defenses were, whatever date whatever gate was left out of, and so on. One of them also mentioned that Ming troops had showed movement in Pianguan County, likely about to be relocated in the next few days. Even though Wang Zhi and the rest had snatched these letters in time, they proved that information was as unimpeded as ever after the fact. Tartars getting it ahead of time made it so that they not only had the time to wind around Mings defenses, but also select spots where manpower was weak, causing the army to be weary of such troubles. Afterwards, they had interrogated the carriers of the letters, but couldnt get anything, because said people didnt even know how to read. They had simply accepted taels to help deliver it. Tang Fan looked at Sui Zhou. What do you think? The other pondered. They might have other hidden methods for passing information on. These letters are just to distract by deliberately making a commotion. Tang Fan nodded; his thoughts matched up with his. Wang Zhi said that Guo Tang is the most suspicious. That isnt impossible. He was taciturn, yet cautious, never hastily jumping to conclusions before the truth was known. Tang Fan had long gotten used to how he was. Guo Tang is not an ordinary person, and there would be no way he would let us casually search the Governor Estate. Ill trouble you with getting the Guards to keep watch on the Estate during this time period, and if theres any movement, report it. Okay, Sui Zhou answered concisely. Tang Fan stretched out. Looks like Datong City has some really muddied water. You cant even see the fish swimming in it clearly. You intend to just keep watching? As things are now, thats all that can be done. Sui Zhou raised his brow. With how well he understood this man, he held no belief that he was genuinely getting ready to tuck his hands into his sleeves and be a bystander. Seeing his disbelieving look, Tang Fan grinned with secrecy. Actually, I just gave Wang Zhi an idea. The very next day, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou paid a visit to Guo Tang. The latter accepted them politely, and everyone exchanged pleasantries. After saying a huge heap of garbage that had zero nutritional value, he sat with them for a whole morning, repeatedly inviting them for a meal while the other two repeatedly declined, after which they got up and took their leaves. Guo Tang saw him off to the entrance himself, feeling like his back was sore and mouth was dried out. There had been no getting around this. The most commonly-seen spectacle in officialdom were such niceties. Tang Fans group had just arrived at Datong, so it was only logical that they would come to visit Guo Tang, and he would have to accept them. Still, as the two sides were not on the same squad, there was nothing for them to discuss aside from polite junk. For that reason, not only did Tang Fan and Sui Zhou feel tired, but Guo Tang, the host, had to be mentally and physically exhausted. After leaving the Governor Estate, the two of them went right into casually strolling about the city. The weather of springs beginning was just warming up, still cold. Datong seemed to be a little colder than the capital, where spring garments could be seen, with many here continuing to wear lighter winter clothes. However, womens beauty-loving nature could not be subdued in any area. Ruquns hemmed with silver thread, recently fashionable in the capital, had risen in popularity here, too. Many young girls from well-to-do families were already wearing them. Likely due to border cities being more open-minded in customs than the capital, the shades of womens clothes were bolder, colors like peach-red, rose-red, and orange-red all over the place. It could make one imagine that this place was not a border garrison that could light up with the fires of war at any time, but charming Jiangnan. Pretty? a voice suddenly asked from beside him. Very much so, dont you think? Tang Fan countered. Everyone held the mindset of hating ugliness and looking towards beauty. Even if one held no vile thoughts, only looking at such rosy-countenanced, vibrantly-dressed, gorgeous people with appreciative gazes, their mood would still get a lot better. Today, Tang Fan was wearing a lake-blue shenyi. There was no pin-crown on his head, just like in the capital, his hair simply bound atop his head, a jade hairpin fastening it into place. Someone that was good-looking never needed to be decorated with too many complicated accessories, though. As those that came before had said, a lotus that grew out of clean water would be embellished by nature. The simpler a beauty was adorned, the more that could actually complement their grace. All along their trek, and unknown amount of eyes lingered on Tang Fan, yet he himself never noticed, continuing to look at other people. He had scarcely realized that, in the eyes of onlookers, he was lovely. No, Sui Zhou coldly answered. A few courageous girls seemed to want to think up an excuse to step forward and strike up a conversation with Tang Fan, but they were scared off by the ice-cold eyes beside him, forced to hide their faces and flee. Tang Fan touched his nose, retracting his line of sight from them. Right as he wanted to say some wisecrack, he saw Ding Rong scurrying all the way over from the posthouse in search. You two are easy to find, Sirs! he said. Mister Commandant and Eunuch Wang have invited you to come forth for a discussion. Mister Tangs fantastical thought to stroll about Datong City was dashed. Ill go, then. I wont, Sui Zhou stated. Ding Rong showed a look of difficulty. Um Eunuch Wang said that he wanted to invite you both over Before he even finished, Sui Zhou had already turned and walked a couple of steps away. Ding Rong stared right at him. He had been at Wang Zhis side for years. Most people were extra polite to him, if not for his own face, then for Wang Zhis. This was the first time he had been met with straight-up disregard to the end, causing him to be dumbstruck, wholly unable to react. It wasnt until someone poked his shoulder that he dazedly looked at Tang Fan. Are we going yet? Ding Rong bitterly smiled and shook his head. Would you like a sedan chair? No. It wasnt far when I arrived before, so Ill be fine walking. The other looked pained. If you go alone in a second, Eunuch Wang will probably punish me when he learns of it. Tang Fan was unbothered. He wont. Guangchuan not coming is something your superior longs for. You can put your heart back into your chest. Sure enough, just as Tang Fan had said, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi didnt say a thing when they saw Tang Fan arrive alone. Joining them was Guo Tang, who he had met not too long prior. The four first exchanged greetings, then took their respective seats. Wang Yue cleared his throat, taking the lead. You were invited into the Commandant Estate today because Governor Guo claimed that there is something to discuss. Since everyones here, Governor, go ahead and say what you want to. This humble official just received a correspondence from the capital, Guo Tang said. The instant that was said, everyone was stunned. What does it say? Wang Yue asked. For the Weining Sealet, the capitals response goes that we are to send people to investigate it. If its confirmed to have relation to the White Lotus Society, then well dispatch troops to eliminate them, in order to prevent the situation from worsening. With that said, Wang Yue frowned. Is that capital response the response of His Majesty, or the response of the Cabinet? Getting glared at by the others cauterizing eyes, Guo Tang was too afraid to say that it was His Majestys response, because that answer was too stupid, and looked down upon Wang Yues intellect too much. He had no choice but to skirt around it. This is urgent. To be brief, regardless of whether it is the Cabinet or His Majestys response, as the officials of this locality, we should all obey it. Theres a huge difference! Wang Yue sneered. Just go ahead and say that its the Cabinets! Dispatch troops to eliminate the Society? Does their back not hurt from all the standing they do while they preach? Do they think that the Sealet is part of Datong, where we can come and go from it at will?! Dont be hasty, Mister Commandant. Lets hear what the Governor has to say, first, Tang Fan mediated. Guo Tang lightly coughed. Three times, people sent have gone missing. This is no small amount. The Court wants it looked into no matter what; we speak of disappearances of our end, so how are they disappearing? If even the shadow of a White Lotus Society member isnt seen, that will be very hard to explain upon return. Presumably, I, Commandant Wang, Eunuch Wang, and Censor Tang all dont wish to witness such a thing happen, yes? Wang Yue stared at him coldly. And whats your idea? Send someone to investigate again. We need to understand what is happening with the Sealet, else the Tartars will keep coming and running after the fight is done, while the Ming army wont be able to chase them, as theyll disappear as soon as they do. How would that be alright? If things continue on like this, morale will take a heavy hit. You talk so animatedly, Governor Guo. How about you lead the troops to investigate? Guo Tang was annoyed. Please refrain from being aggravating, Mister Commandant. I am a military attache that indirectly has a part in military affairs, and the Court sent me here to help all of you. If I go out with the troops, who will serve as the Governor? The instant he finished speaking, he heard someone else speak up. What he says is reasonable. This humble official also believes that people should be sent to investigate. Guo Tang turned his head in confusion, just in time to be met with Tang Fans endorsing look. He was mystified, thinking to himself that if Tang Fan wasnt on their side, why was he helping him speak right now? Unexpectedly, this mysterious event did not stop there, because as soon as Tang Fan was finished, Wang Zhi also spoke out. Right. Our Great Ming has repeatedly defeated the Tartars before, beating them into the muck, with even the Great Bend close enough to grab. Theres no logic in being frightened off by a trifling demonic trick. No matter how awful it gets, we still have Chuyun-zi around! Guo Tangs eyes automatically widened. Even Wang Zhi, who typically wore the same pair of pants as Wang Yue, was standing on his side. What was going on today? In their previous few fights, Guo Tang had faced defeat every time precisely because once they started, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi would team up to deal with him. He truly hated and feared their menacing demeanors, but whenever they were flaring their nostrils, he would be standing alone, and it would be hard for him to have any speaking power. He had only been able to bitterly complain to the capital over and over again. He had believed that the other end had heard the voice of his heart at last in sending two helpers over, only for that heart to go cold the second he had seen the list of names. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou. Who didnt know that they had conflict with the Wan party? Solon Wan had even gotten those two to come over had he been wanting them to join up with Wang Zhi and toy with Guo Tang to death? But, looking at today why did that not appear to be the case at all? Before he had time to think up of any solutions, Wang Yue was heard to laugh coldly. So, it turns out that since you dont personally lead these soldiers out, you dont feel a teeny bit of heartache, Eunuch Wang? But I do! We have sent people to investigate before, yet what have the results been each time? Every single one of them has gone missing! I dont have any trust in such large grasslands. Aside from the road near the Sealet, there is no other path to take! Even if there was another road, and the Tartars went down it each time, why wouldnt we be able to? Wang Zhi countered. Have you never once thought about how shaken morale will be if the people we send disappear yet again? When that time comes, everyone will know that the Tartars have supernatural abilities, and then what kind of fight will they put up? Like what Governor Guo said, the Ming army cannot be a turtle shrunk into its shell, as the loss of morale will be even greater like that. Youve led troops for years, Commandant Wang, so why have you suddenly become timid in the span of a day? If even the leading general is too afraid to fight, what will the officers subordinating you do? Wang Yues expression was hard to look at. Dont forget that I am Datongs commander-in-chief, Eunuch Wang! I have the authority to decide on whether or not to dispatch soldiers! Wang Zhi sneered. And dont you forget who single-handedly got you promoted to where you are today! If I wasnt here, would you be able to be the Datong Commandant, and earn so many war merits?! Guo Tang was taken aback watching this. He had clearly been the one that had incited this topic, so how had this ended up with the other two squabbling? On top of that, they were crossing blades, the smell of gunpowder permeating, each having the attitude of being about to duke it out if they had one big moment of disagreement. Wang Yue was a civil official, but he had been leading troops for so many years, he had acquired an aura of death. Wang Zhi needed to be spoken of even less were it not for his pale, whiskerless face, no one would ever associate him with the label of eunuch. Ah both of you, calm down! You can just talk! Guo Tang was naturally excited about a conflict arising between them, but on the surface, he still needed to urge them to behave. However, someone beside him pulled his sleeve; as soon as he lowered his head, he saw Tang Fan. Dont bother persuading them, Governor, the other whispered to him. When I just arrived yesterday, they fought. Guo Tang let out an exclamation. How do you say that? he quickly whispered. As per His Majestys order, I asked after how the war had been going, but all their talk resulted in them beginning to pass each others responsibilities off to each other. Tang Fan quirked his lips. Were it not for me stopping them, their bickering would have gotten a lot worse. Guo Tang was shocked. No wonder he had felt that the mood in here was off when he had just entered; Wang Zhi and Wang Yue had actually been at odds before this? Following his arrival at Datong, he had always been repressed by these two. Now that he had abruptly discovered that his counterparts seemingly-solid alliance was actually not at all solid on the inside, his feeling of exultation defied description. Yet, he couldnt show off the fact that he was reveling in the calamity too prominently, lightly coughing. Commandant Wang is too stubborn. If he refuses to send troops regardless, that will place the situation at large into a disadvantage! Tang Fan sighed in his wake. Who could speak of it? If the Tartars learned that were fighting amongst ourselves, they might be even happier. While the two whispered quietly on their side, Wang Zhi and Wang Yue just got louder and louder, until they ultimately had a falling out. Wang Zhi left with a simple flick of his sleeves, disregarding Guo Tang and Tang Fan, who were still seated in the hall. Wang Yue gave them a pained laughed. You two have witnessed quite an embarrassment. Guo Tang wanted to say a few polite things, but Tang Fan asked what he wanted to, instead. Mister Commandant, do we dispatch people, or no? Wang Yue was displeased. Youve all agreed, so what use would my dissent be? Two imperial envoys are here! If they both file complaints about me to the capital, my troubles will never end! Guo Tang smiled dryly. Youre overthinking, Sir. How could things be that bad? People will be sent, but not right now. Then when? Please give this humble official a timeframe, so that I can report it to the Court. Weather has been poor these days, so the fog at the Sealet will likely be even greater. The Tartars might choose this time to come pillaging. Well deal with that battle, then talk more on it. Tomorrow, Ill be heading to Datongs Left and Cloudriver Posts for patrols, so I wont be able to greet you two then. If you please. Wang Yue picked up his gaiwan, striking a pose of seeing his guests off. Guo Tang and Tang Fan had to get up and leave, walking out of the Commandant Estate. Because of the spectacle of Wang Yue and Wang Zhis fight, plus Tang Fan agreeing with Guo Tangs idea, a thread of sympathy instead rose up between them. Guo Tang also felt that he might be able to win him over, thus pulling him to his side. The Commandants temper is much too explosive, he couldnt help but grumble. Its little wonder that even Eunuch Wang cannot stand him! Tang Fan laughed. We annoyed him, too. On any other day, he certainly wouldnt be like that. Guo Tang shook his head. I still dont even know what I should write in my memorial to the Court. The Commandants days are typically rife with thousands of things going on, so we should be considerate of him. In any case, if the Tartars genuinely are about to launch an attack, negligence cannot be allowed. Guo Tang laughed in mockery. What attack? He said the same exact thing last time, yet they never came. He, the Datong Commandant, is nothing to write home about! Maybe all of those contributions he claimed before were all him killing good people, then using their heads as proof! Tang Fan was alarmed. Governor Guo, rash comments are unwise. Weve only just left his estate. If he heard you, would we not have corporal punishment awaiting us? This is not the capital! Evidently, Guo Tang had tasted Wang Yues ferocity before, so he immediately went quiet. The two spoke some more, then went their separate ways. Guo Tang had official business to handle, so he went back to his own estate, while Tang Fan went straight to the Defending Supervisors Estate in a litter. On Sui Zhous end, after he had parted from Tang Fan, he had gone to the city gate by himself. On the road, he bumped into Corporal Meng Cun, who had led them into the city prior. [1] Naming scheme borrowed from Dabasun Nor. Darakh is a Mongolian re-translation of the likely-Mongolian-to-Mandarin calque name of ٶ/yane, which means suppression, suffocation, stifling. As an aside, if you try to go Mandarin-to-Mongolian with ٶ, it gives you the phrase ? ҧѧۧߧ, which, in turn, translates into English as Im dying. Thanks, I hate ghosts trying to communicate with me in Google Translate. CH 91 After sighting Sui Zhou, Meng Cun rushed up to greet him. Sir Sui! Are you heading out of the city? No. Im just looking around, Sui Zhou answered indifferently. Not bothered by his cold attitude, the other continued to beam. How about I show you around? This humble official happens to be on patrol duty today, and as a local, Im quite familiar with the area! Alright. Meng Cuns smile became all the more courteous. Where would you like to begin, Sir Sui? Sui Zhou shook his head. Im not familiar. Go where you will. How about here, then? This is the southern gate. Go west, and theres the South Monastery. Go east, and theres the armory plus training grounds Whats up ahead? Heading straight, theres a drum tower and Shrine to Lord Guan, which is overflowing with incense. Im not sure which year it originated from, but theres a rumor that Lord Guan once manifested there. All scholars seeking merits go there to burn incense. Since today is the fifteenth, there must be a lot of people there; shall we head towards the South Monastery? Sure. Sui Zhous words were scant. About ninety-percent of people would get bored being with him, but fortunately, Meng Cun had quick lips. Even if Sui Zhou didnt say a thing, he could talk non-stop for the lesser half of a day. Theres a Shrine to the City God near the training grounds that gets a lot of incense, too. Purportedly, those seeking wealth or peace wont go to Lord Guans shrine, but the City Gods. Though, its strange to say that despite there clearly being a Shrine to Flourishing Literature, those scholars do not pay respects to the star of literary feats, but go pay respects to Lord Guan. Wouldnt you say thats odd? Sui Zhou hadnt been hearing substance he wanted to in a long time, so he was forced to speak up, reining back the topic that had run off like a feral, out-of-control horse. Datong has four gates? Meng Cun let out an ah. Yes, yes! Our Datong City has four towers, one in each corner. A city like a fenghuang spreading its wings. Why do you say that? Seeing that he appeared to be a little interested, Meng Cun cleared his throat. There are four major gates in each cardinal direction of the city. The Gate of Martial Decisiveness is north, with a Shrine to Zhenwu just outside. The Gate of Eternal Peace is south. The Gate of Clean Remoteness is west, with a Shrine to the Dragon King outside. The Gate of Serene Yang is the nexus of entries and exits. When you entered the city earlier, you came in through the east; if you want to pass through to the south, it would be a bit more convenient to take the southern gate. A fenghuang spreading its wings refers to Datong Citys overall shape. It was built back when Prince Zhongshan was garrisoned, by orders of the Great Ancestor. Its secure in the details, but in recent years, the Tartars coming and going messed this place up into not resembling that at all. It was rebuilt to its current state after Mister Commandant arrived. The Prince Zhongshan he spoke of was Xu Da. Ever since the founding of Ming, on account of the frequent confrontations had with foreign northerners, Datong, which was along the Great Wall, had turned into Shanxis first line of defense, its position beyond important. After hearing his introduction, Sui Zhou asked, Following the letters confiscated from those spies, did you ever close all the gates to conduct an investigation? Meng Cun was clever. Upon hearing this, he promptly replied, We did, but no matter which gate is closed, the amount cannot exceed two days. Datong Prefecture has a large population with frequent trade dealings, especially for those merchants. The amount of people coming and going from the gates each day is really not any lesser than the capitals. Keeping them closed for too long is impossible, else the food supply will dry up, the price of food in the city will rise, and that rise will incite chaos. This was why Mister Commandant only ordered for a day of closure. Sui Zhou nodded, saying nothing else. According to Meng Cun, the strategy of shutting the gates to trap the rats inside would not work. Regardless of whether any treacherous snakes were mixed in with the dragons, if the enemies hid just a little deeper, the soldiers would have difficulty finding them. Beyond that, the gates couldnt be shut for too long, and as long as they were open, the spies would always be able to find a way to slip out. Thus, it would be best to capture the source, finding the one that was passing information to the Tartars from their own internal encampment. Seeing that he didnt appear to have anything to ask, Meng Cun just laughed. Lets walk over on this side, Sir. Noon is approaching, and theres going to be some more people on that side, so there might be a collision Before he finished speaking, someone suddenly turned a corner up ahead, a case held in their arms, and charged towards Sui Zhou in the blink of an eye! His figure darted away a bit, easily avoiding the person that was so boldly charging forward. The other party instead tripped, then fell onto Meng Cun, case and all. Meng Cun didnt have Sui Zhous lightning-quick reflexes, immediately stumbling from the hit. The two automatically pitched backwards at the same time. As a big and sturdy man, he was able to stabilize himself after a few steps, while the new person fell straight back, landing solidly on the ground. And yet, the calamity did not end just yet, because when the other party crash-landed, the case dropped from her hands happened to land right on Meng Cuns foot, causing him to immediately shriek out of pain. He swore, grabbing his foot. Which son of a bitch His voice abruptly cut off when he got a good look at the woman in front of him, becoming awkward at once, and having the wronged look of wanting to curse at her, but not being able to. S-So its you, Miss Du He forced out a tiny smile, but it would have been better if he hadnt, as it made his greeting tone of voice seem to squeeze out from between his teeth. The woman tearfully stood up. She had likely been struck hard, but as this incident had been her fault to begin with, it would be great if the others simply didnt blame her. She had to apologize to him, rather. Hello, Corporal Meng. I was just rushing back to the apothecary, and wasnt looking where I was going. Please forgive me! How about you go with me and have my father see if you need help? The medicinal supplies in the case had all scattered about. As the young lady apologized, she bent over to gather them up. Sui Zhou, completely unscathed, lowered his head to help, and he moved much faster than her, the case soon loaded back up with the stuff. Miss Du hurriedly thanked him. Many thanks for your help, Mister. What is your name? Sui Zhou was not in his qilin uniform that could terrify people, but his aura alone would not let anyone mistake him for an unnamed pawn. This is Sir Sui from the capital, Meng Cun introduced, pulling a smile that was uglier than a crying face. This is Miss Du, daughter of the doctor of Zhongjing Hall. Shes a doctor, too. Zhongjing Hall provides us with medical supplies, and Doctor Du often treats our soldiers. He knew what Sui Zhou wanted to hear, so he quickly clarified the womans identity, and also indirectly explained why he couldnt get mad at her despite his smashed foot. Miss Du showed some curiosity towards Sui Zhous status, but she didnt inquire after it, merely giving a blessing-bow, then turning to Meng Cun. Corporal Meng, you might be badly hurt. How about you come back with me to the apothecary for a visit? Meng Cun looked hesitantly at Sui Zhou, mentally wringing his hands. He had originally wanted to leave a good impression on Sui Zhou, which was why he had offered himself up to give a tour, only for him to injure his foot before he could lick any boots. He was like a student that had finished his lessons, yet died before he could make anything of himself. Sui Zhou glanced at Meng Cuns foot. Its a heavy injury. Go get it checked out. Then, you? I will go with you. Meng Cun felt embarrassed. How could that do? That will hold up your work! Can you walk by yourself? Meng Cun tried it out, then nearly collapsed to the ground in pain. She wouldnt be able to support you, either, Sui Zhou pointed out. As the main culprit, Miss Du clutched her medicine case, apologizing profusely. What was Meng Cun going to do, yell at her? He had to put on an expression of suffering. Then Ill have to inconvenience you, Sir Sui. Wanting to use flattery had ended with him suffering sudden disaster! Why was he so unlucky today?! *** At the Defending Supervisors Estate, the master of the house was leaning against a banister, slightly stooped over as he sprinkled fish food into the pond. Tang Fan slowly walked over, laughing in mockery. Silent before the wind, standing for a quick moment, catching a pair of koi.[1] Youre so leisurely, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi didnt turn his head. Im just stealing a half-day of relaxation. He tossed the rest of the food he held into the pool, clapped his hands clean, then straightened back up. Is your ploy actually going to work in fooling him? Tang Fan spread out his arms. I have no idea. Hearing that irresponsible remark, Wang Zhi couldnt help but turn his head and side-eye him. The two Wangs fighting today had ultimately been a joint performance that had followed Tang Fans scheme. Its the eve of a battle, while the Commander and Military Supervisor are at odds. The spy definitely wont be able to sit still on such a big chunk of news, Tang Fan said. If Guo Tang really is the one passing information on to the Tartars, hell certainly find a way to pass this on. And if he isnt? If he isnt, then someone else will do it, of course. Whoever has bizarre movements at that time will be whoever is most suspicious. Did you inform anyone about the details of your fight with Wang Yue? No. I didnt even tell Ding Rong. Tang Fan smiled. Thats good. Weve thrown out the bait; its up to whoever cant wait to jump out and get it. Wang Zhi creased his brow. How long do we need to fake it? Not for long. In a minute, have someone spread the news that after I left the Commandant Estate, I came over here to persuade you to make up with Wang Yue, but ended up quarreling with you, after which you drove me out of the Estate in rage, saying that if Wang Yue doesnt bow his head to you first, you will never be able to come to an agreement with him. Wang Zhi stroked his chin. Hes gone off to patrol Cloudriver Post right now. If the Tartars learned of this, theyd definitely go wild with joy and attack the Prefecture. Thats a good strategy. Tang Fan chuckled. Its actually not, but if you want to catch the traitor, you can only draw the snake out of its hole. Theres simply no better strategy. The other beckoned to him. Come here. What is it? Tang Fan asked, mystified. Wang Zhi smiled in a friendly way. I have to say something personal to you. Come here. Sir Tang was immediately on guard. Theres no one else here. Just say it where you stand. Are you coming here, or what? Wang Zhi asked impatiently. Ill be taking my leave. He turned to go, but Wang Zhi was quicker than him, straight-up grabbing his collar from behind and hauling him up, whereupon he twisted and pulled his arm, then threw a slap at his face. The sound of the strike was crisp. The servants standing watch on the other end of the corridor couldnt help but turn their heads to look, witnessing in fear that the two that had been talking pleasantly had had a falling out for some reason, where Eunuch Wang had even set to hitting the other party. Inexplicably getting slapped and even having his arm dislocated, Tang Fan was immediately both confused and enraged. What are you doing?! Wang Zhi patted his hands off. What I ought to. Didnt you say that you wanted me to get thundering mad and drive you out of the estate? How could just a verbal fight be enough? In light of my personality, Id definitely get violent, so you getting beaten up by me will look serious, but just be all talk in reality. You can go find Sui Zhou to get that set. Dont slap me in the face too for that! Tang Fan raged. Proudly observing the handprint on his fair cheek, Wang Zhi answered innocently, It was you who said you wanted to act out a full drama. If not done like so, how could we get others to believe us? When the traitors are arrested, do you want me to let you hit me back? Mister Tang stifled back swears that could not be said, forced to furiously leave the estate with a twisted-up expression. Ding Rong apprehensively went to send him off. Sir Tang, Eunuch Wang has had a bit too much of a temper these days! Please dont mind him! Tang Fan covered his face, three zhang of flames shooting off of him. If I dont mind him, who am I supposed to mind?! The other smiled apologetically. Your injury needs panax powder applied to it, as it improves bloodflow and eases bruising. Cattail powder will work, as well. How about I accompany you to Zhongjing Hall for some medicine? It isnt far, just a right turn up ahead. Their white panax ointment is specially made for treating external wounds and bruises, itll be quite effective! Effective, my ass! the ever-refined Mister Tang said in a rare instance of profanity, then walked right out with a flick of his sleeves. After returning to his senses, Ding Rong rushed over to find Wang Zhi. Gods, by all my ancestors why did you hit Sir Tang?! Th-this is This is what? Youve been alongside me for how long, yet you panic when any little thing happens? Whatll you do when theres something big? Wang Zhi tsked. But isnt he on good terms with you? Ding Rongs face was pained. Wont beating him up just make him go to Guo Tangs side?! Wang Zhi sneered. So what if I hit him? Hes an insignificant Left Metropolitan Censor that delusionally urged me to reconcile with Wang Yue! I gave him a little bit of face before, so he takes himself to be a celebrity? If he wants to go take refuge in Guo Tang, let him! I dont need anyone to help me! B-But the Bastion Envoy supports him! This lowly one can apologize to Sir Tang on your behalf! Ding Rong pleaded. The Bastion Envoy isnt shit! Youre not going. You cant go right now, at least. If Ive just hit him and you go off to apologize, where will I put my image?! Wang Zhi shot him a look. Ding Rong understood implicitly. Then, I will wait until evening to go directly to the posthouse and apologize to him. As you will. Wang Zhi huffed from his nose, then left in a whirl. *** Back to Sui Zhous side, Miss Du brought them to Zhongjing Hall, then found a physician that specialized in bone-setting to check over Meng Cuns foot. She also asked Sui Zhou to have a seat nearby, and personally steeped tea for the two of them. The main hall of Zhongjing Hall was large, almost equivalent in size to all three of the shops neighboring it. Even so, there were still many patients queued up, some standing before the cabinets in wait for medicine. It was bustling and lively with clamor. As these twos statuses were different, and Miss Du had been the one to injure Meng Cuns foot, they were able to rest in the back hall. The instant they entered, they noticed how much quieter it was. The doctor told Meng Cun to take off his shoe and sock, then felt around. Thankfully, theres no broken bones, but some are cracked. Youll have to put medicine on them, and not pressure, for now; using a cane would be best. Hearing that they werent broken, Meng Cun finally exhaled. How long will I have to apply it for? Serious injuries take three months, so at least two months will be needed. Meng Cun went pale with fear. How am I going to fight, then?! The doctor smiled bitterly. You can only rest. Meng Cuns face was now difficult to look at. When Doctor Du had learned that his daughter had injured a Corporal, he had rushed over himself, and now that he heard this, the guilt on his face grew all the stronger. Corporal Meng, I am truly sorry for what happened today. My little girl is too reckless, and Ive already reprimanded her! From now on, if you ever need medicine or a check-up, all you need to do is report your name, and itll be free of charge. Please be generous, Sir, and do not take offense! Meng Cun could no longer force out a smile, laughing blandly. Thanks, then. Had it not been for Zhongjing Hall providing necessary medical supplies for the army and Doctor Du having some respectability before Wang Yue, he would have long been raging up a storm. Doctor Du was clearly aware of that, too, as he was not only apologizing over and over again, but had also told his daughter to come over, offer tea, and apologize herself. Even with all that, Meng Cuns expression was not great to look at. I need someone on my side whos familiar with Datong City, Sui Zhou spoke up at last. You will accompany me for this timeframe. Ill go explain to Commandant Wang later. Hearing this, Meng Cuns expression changed, finally having some happiness to it. He had inquired before about Sui Zhous origins, and knew that the one before him could speak directly to the Emperor; being able to follow him was better than going anywhere else. If you dont mind this subordinate getting in the way, I will do my best, Sir! The contrast between his before and after was way too strong, to the point that the Du father-daughter duo, and even the doctor that had examined Meng Cuns foot, couldnt help but look a little longer at Sui Zhou. They guessed at his origins, but, unfortunately, they couldnt glean any clues off of his frosty face. Meng Cun no long cared about his injury, at least. Miss Du finally let out a sigh of relief. It wouldnt be good for her to leave just like that, so she stayed nearby to talk. In a cold sweat from the pain, Meng Cun had no free time to chat with her. It was instead Sui Zhou that questioned her about medicinal materials, greatly interested. Miss Du had grown up in this border city, and had practiced medicine with her father since her childhood, unlike average women that never left the inner household or stepped foot outside their homes gates. Rather bright by nature, she was able to answer all of his questions, and upon seeing that he was interested in the businesss supply of materials for the Ming army, she took it upon herself to explain. The Du family has been responsible for the treatment of Datongs army since my paternal grandfathers time. After Commandant Wang came to Datong, he had people inspect all of the apothecaries in the city, and learned that Zhongjing Halls ingredients were top-quality, as well as that we do not discriminate between patients. He thus let us take responsibility of the armys supply needs. Even when Commandant Wang falls ill, he sends someone to invite my father over to examine him. Are all of the medicinal materials of the counties under the Prefectures jurisdiction provided by the Hall? Yes. We have branch halls opened in those other counties. This city is the mother store that has a relatively complete collection of materials, while the branch halls generally have shortages, so goods are gotten here first. Where do you get your materials? Theres two channels. A large amount is purchased from merchants in advance, while a smaller portion is acquired from villagers in neighboring counties that harvest them. My father is magnanimous and buys them at a price ten- to twenty-percent higher than other apothecaries do, so the villagers prefer to sell the materials to us first. Are you going to open up an apothecary in the capital, Sir? She peered at him with bright eyes, seemingly puzzled as to why he would be so interested in the business of medicine. The capitals market is likely different from this areas. Im just asking ahead. Miss Du smiled. There isnt much difference, really, its simply that the capital will have more channels for purchasing materials than we do though the price will be comparatively higher, as it is the capital, after all. I heard that homes over there cannot be purchased without having over a thousand taels; is that true? Sui Zhou gave a rare smile. Not necessarily, it depends on location. But youve said something false. Her dark black eyes looked at him. Which was? Capital medicine can only be cheaper than Datongs. She let out an ah. Why so? More channels, he answered. Being as bright as snow, she understood with just that. Because theres so many channels, competition will also be tough, yes? For the sake of standing out, the price wouldnt be too high? Sui Zhou showed a slightly appreciative look. Correct. He was always quite a cold person, yet in a short span of time, he was happily conversing with Miss Du. That had to be said to be fate. Catching sight of this, Meng Cun was surprised, and got an idea in his heart. Speaking of complete collections of medicine, if the Dus are second in Datong, no one would dare to claim first! If youre interested in medicine, Sir Sui, how about you bring Miss Du back with you to take a look? he proposed with a grin. Miss Du flushed a little at that, appearing to get his implication. She shot a glance at Sui Zhou, lightly biting her lower lip, yet not refusing. Her given name was Guir, and she was over seventeen this year, an age where she was long overdue to be betrothed, or even married. However, she had been personally taught medicine ever since her youth, her life experience different from typical women, and her looks were some of the best in Datong. A lady like her surely had some pride in her bones; she refused to get married, have children, be trapped inside the house, and lead a boring life. The man of her dreams was a broad-minded one that would not keep her from practicing medicine nor showing her face, willing to accept and understand her goals. However, a man like that was quite hard to find in this day and age. What commonplace male would be willing for his wife to disdain being in the home after marriage, instead running out every couple of days? It was for this reason that the Dus were very worried about their daughters marriage, and Du Guir herself was feeling like she might die alone in old age. And yet, seeing Sui Zhou in this moment, she had an inward appreciation towards the mans presence and behavior, having a simultaneous feeling during their talks that he might be the one she had been forever looking for. Sui Zhou appeared to not get Meng Cuns implication, looking at Du Guir with his regular expression. Will it be too much trouble for you, Miss Du? She laughed. Of course not. If you please, Sir Sui. Just as they rose, they saw a worker scurry in from the side to call for the bone-setting doctor. Doctor Liu, come look, quick! Someone has a dislocated arm! Doctor Liu was still bandaging up Meng Cun. Theyll have to wait for now. I cant just leave! The worker agreed. Right when he went to exit, the man ahead couldnt wait, walking straight in. Sorry for the disturbance! I really cant stand the pain, so Ill have to trouble you with helping me set this, first! Oi, oi! Why did you come in?! This isnt a place you can just waltz into! the worker exclaimed, hurriedly blocking him. Doctor Liu looked up with a dark face, wanting to say that a dislocation wasnt really that big of a deal and that he should just deal with it, but he saw a figure dart past him. Sui Zhou, who had clearly been on the other side of the back hall, had somehow come to be in front of him, and he lifted the new persons arm, gently pressed on it, then set the dislocated joint back into place. Who hurt you? Sui Zhou did not resume his recent calm. Seeing the handprint on Tang Fans face, his expression was so overcast, it was soon about to drip water. Roiling off of him was a dense black aura, causing others to be too afraid to approach. Wang Zhi. With the pain stopped, Tang Fan wiped the sweat off of his forehead. Why did he? Sui Zhou touched his cheek, carefully checking it over. Are you hurt anywhere else? No. Lets go back before I explain. Tang Fan lightly pat him on the wrist, hinting for him seem less murderous, because it was clearly scaring everyone else. Sui Zhou paid no heed to the others, only furrowing his brow as he looked at that bright-red palm print, feeling extremely annoyed by its presence. Why didnt you come find me? How was I supposed to know where you went? I went to an apothecary to get a doctor to set this before anything else, as was natural. Sir Tang was slightly wronged. He had been smacked for no reason; why would he take the chance for a longer route to let even more people know that Wang Zhi had attacked him? As the slap mark was eye-catching, yet not too terribly swollen, Sui Zhou finally curbed his imposing aura to turn and ask Du Guir, Is there any anti-inflammatory ointment here? The Northern Bastion Office normally had an ointment of similar effect, fixed up by imperial physicians themselves. Unfortunately, when the Guard had set out on this trip, they had only brought internal-use medicine, forgetting to bring external-use stuff. Du Guir started, then quickly reacted. Yes! Wait just a minute! She rushed to the fore hall, then found a bottle of ointment. Apply this here. There will be no trace left in a shichen or two. Sui Zhou thanked her, opened the bottle, scooped some out, and applied it to Tang Fan. Doctor Liu was taken aback watching this, thinking to himself, Miss, you really dont know the cost of rice and firewood when youre not in charge of the finances! How could you have given away the best ointment our store has so easily?! Noticing that Sui Zhous expression was ugly, Tang Fan stood there obediently and didnt move, allowing him to finish applying the stuff. Once done, he smiled at Du Guir. This medicine is quite expensive, isnt it? How many taels does it cost? Ill pay it back. She laughed. No need, no need! I hurt the two of them on the road just now, so take it as compensation! Tang Fan wanted to say something else, only to witness Sui Zhou say right to Du Guir, We will leave for today, and come back tomorrow. He then looked towards Meng Cun, preventing him from having to get up. Get your medicine. Youll be able to find Pang Qi at the posthouse later. Take care, Sirs. This subordinate cannot see you off farther, Meng Cun had to answer. After the two hurried out of the store, their figures gone without a trace, Meng Cun reluctantly took back his line of sight. Though, turning his head back, he couldnt help but laugh he wasnt the only one that had suffered something, it seemed. Despite their aims being different, he lightly coughed upon seeing Du Guirs frustrated look. Miss Du. She turned to look at him. I heard that Sir Sui has not yet taken a wife, he went on with a grin. Her cheeks speedily dyed the pigment of rouge. She really wanted to answer that with a What does that have to do with me?, but when she spoke, it somehow changed to, He isnt that young, right? Why hasnt he yet? Im not sure, but Ive heard that people in the capital marry a little later. Hes gotten such a high and powerful rank at a young age, that its possible that hes overlooked major life events due to his busyness. What is his status, really? Hes the Bastion Envoy of the Northern Bastion Office in the Brocade Guard, sealed as Count Dingan by the Emperor. Expectedly startled by those two titles, she hesitantly asked, Is he an imperial relative? I heard that title was bestowed due to his merits. She had believed Sui Zhou to be quite mysterious to begin with, but now, the mans image in her mind was floating further and further away. That originally sweet little thought of hers was suppressed to the bottom of her heart. So, hes that powerful. Such a lament faintly appeared in her mind. It was unknown whether it was a thought of joy, or loss. Meng Cun couldnt comprehend the womans thoughts, still enthusiastically detailing things to her. I asked after this before. Hes a relative of the current Empress Dowager, and the Emperor deeply relies on him. If youre interested, Miss Du, how about I help with asking around for you? As was claimed, a woman that pursued a man would need a layer of partitioning cotton, and the female party was clearly interested. The Du family had countless branches of apothecaries opened in Datong, making them rich, while their Miss was both talented and pretty, everything about her outstanding. If this marriage could be tied, that would be a great event for both parties, while Meng Cuns relationship with Sui Zhou would get better due to being the matchmaker. (It was because of that notion that he was so energetically being a wingman.) However, Miss Du, who had formerly had quite good feelings towards Sui Zhou, turned indifferent upon hearing that. She told Doctor Liu to help Meng Cun with the medicine, then left. I was trying to help your Miss build a bridge is it that shes shy? Meng Cun asked, his head filled with fog. Doctor Liu was an old hat, glancing at him. Maybe she thinks that the traits you described are too good, and she isnt worthy of them, he answered leisurely. Meanwhile, Sui Zhou brought Tang Fan back to his room in the posthouse, shut the door, then looked him up and down to carefully check him over. Only after verifying that there was nothing majorly wrong did he stay his hand and ask after the current situation, cold-faced. Tang Fan allowed his messing about, unsure of how to react, while he gave a full explanation. This way, even though I had some superficial pain, its effect will be really great. In all likelihood, by tomorrow, there will be news that the Wangs are at odds, and I got beaten up after trying to persuade them to make peace. Sui Zhou said nothing, merely rubbing the others struck face with a gentle hand. The ointment had since penetrated into the skin, leaving no stickiness behind. Tang Fan only felt a slight tickle from being touched by his lightly callused fingers; he couldnt resist grabbing his hand with a smile. Im alright. This debt will be written down, and followed up with him later. Im not even angry anymore, so dont you be. I will find him to settle that debt, Sui Zhou said with a nod. Dont eat at the posthouse tonight. I asked Meng Cun; there are some good restaurants in the city. Ill bring you to try them out. Tang Fan laughed aloud. Are you taking me for a child that needs coaxing? Sui Zhou took out the ointment, placed it in a trunk, and shot him a casual look, his implication being: If I dont coax you, then who would I? One is famed for pea noodles and smoked chicken, the other is an expert at making muttonbit noodles. They apparently have fresh-roasted mutton every single day. Which one do you want to go to? Why not both? Sir Tangs eyes shone as he nearly drooled. Sui Zhou wanted to laugh, thinking to himself, Didnt you say that you arent a child? Later on, the two went to both of the restaurants, and tried everything that they felt like. Sui Zhou ended up fine, while Tang Fan stuffed himself into having a round belly, ending up swaying thrice for every step he took, slowly walking back. He didnt go to sleep until midnight, resulting in him being exempt from breakfast the next day. Him getting slapped had not been for nothing. On the morrow, the news that he had dropped by to speak for peace, only to instead get violently beaten up by Wang Zhi, with even his arm getting dislocated, had already spread. Everyone knew that Wang Zhi and Wang Yue had had a falling out, where even Censor Tang, who had just arrived from the capital, had been swept into it. Eunuch Wang was even more domineering than before, making it quite clear that the Datong Commandant was unimportant to him, and compelling Wang Yue to run off to Cloudriver Post to temporarily force the limelight. No one doubted the authenticity of this rumor, because Wang Zhi and Wang Yues quarrel had been personally witnessed by Guo Tang, while Tang Fan, in his sorry state, had left Wang Zhis home and run all the way to an apothecary to get his arm popped back into place. Not only had the whole Wang household seen it, but half of the people of the city had seen it. Reportedly, after Wang Zhi had struck Tang Fan, for the sake of face and affections, hed had to send Ding Rong to the posthouse with generous gifts to apologize to Tang Fan. The former had then been thrown out of the posthouse along with said gifts, forced to leave in dejection. That particular part was especially liked, everyone believing in it. News of discord at the top tier quickly spread throughout Datongs officialdom. Many were watching to see where this conflict was headed, and there was no lack of people beginning to frequently get into contact with Guo Tang in secret. At the same exact time, there was another piece of information that was silently diffusing: when Wang Yue left Datong, he had brought half of the citys military forces off to Cloudriver Post. In other words, under Datong Prefectures jurisdiction, only Datong and Huairens forces were the most fragile. However, Tang Fan was completely unconcerned about the direction of these rumors. He had eaten too much last night, and had thus slept in quite late. Only when the sun was high in the sky did he get out from under the covers, freshen up, and eat. When the server of the posthouse brought the meal in, Tang Fan asked, Is Sir Sui up? Yes. He left early this morning. Did he say where to? Yes. He said he was going to Zhongjing Hall. Tang Fan was startled. The translator says: I feel like Wang Zhi isnt going to survive this arc. At the very least, his pride isnt. [1] From a collection of seventy-one verses by a Song poet called Shi Lehui/˻. CH 92 After his bout of being startled, Tang Fan set down his chopsticks, wiped off his mouth, and said to himself with a smile, So thats how it is. Zhongjing Hall is indeed a spot of interest, so Ill go check it out, too. Sui Zhou had never been fond of being a busybody, so him running off to Zhongjing Hall on his own initiative was quite surprising to Tang Fan. Inevitably, he brought to mind that Miss Du he had met in the apothecary yesterday. She was beautiful, well-spoken, and at the age where she was like a flower. Were Sui Zhou to be moved, that would not be strange in the least; no matter how cold he was in character, Envoy Sui was, after all, a typical man. However, the issue here was that there were way more exceptional women in the capital than Miss Du. His cousin from his uncles side was one example, and she still held a candle for him. Sui Zhou had no reason to not consider his childhood sweetheart of a cousin, yet he solely focused on Miss Du, whose face was all he knew. Did she have some particularity that was hard to forget? Tang Fans mind swirled with confused thoughts, and he became slightly curious at heart. After breakfast, he moseyed over to Zhongjing Hall. The Hall appeared to be busy on the daily; yesterday, itd had throngs of people, and today, it was still packed so full, it was practically watertight. The line went out the door, with even the business of the bun vendor next door picking up. Many that had rushed over for a checkup hadnt had the time to eat lunch, so they would buy a couple buns to eat while they waited in line, killing two birds with one stone. People next to him were chatting in whispers, which Tang Fan couldnt help but stick an ear out to. They said that Doctor Du himself was sitting in the hall today, and his medical knowledge was superb, which was why a particularly large amount of people had come here. He hadnt come for a check-up, so he squeezed through the queue to head straight into the main hall. As soon as he did so, he saw stars, as the wide-open area was just as packed full how was he supposed to spot Sui Zhou? While Tang Fan was looking all over the place, a worker that was greeting guests walked up to speak to him. Pardon me, customer. Are you wanting a check-up, or to pick up medicine? If its a check-up, please wait in the line outside. If its a pick up, please hand the prescription to me. The instant he saw him, Tang Fan smiled. Why, dont you remember me? Seeing the others blank face, he reminded, My arm was dislocated yesterday, so I came to see you all. The worker recalled this. Vaguely remembering that Tang Fans status seemed to not be low, he quickly smiled. Sir. Youve come here for? Your Miss gave me medicine yesterday, so I came today specifically to thank her. The other had a realization. She happens to be in today. This way, please! The two squeezed past the clamoring crowd, the worker bringing him to the other side of the main hall. Only then did Tang Fan see that Miss Du was also seeing patients today; she had simply been blocked by other people, and was also seated, making her invisible for a short moment. Everyone was seated in the hall, but there were a lot less patients near her than her father. There was also a beaded curtain separating her, thus marking it as its own area. The majority of those getting check-ups with her were women. Tang Fan also caught sight of that left-early-this-morning Sui Zhou sitting in a chair beyond the curtain, holding a book in hand that he appeared to be very earnestly reading. The worker wanted to lead him over to Miss Du, but Tang Fan stopped him and let him go do his own work. Due to there being far too many people all around that were coming and going, neither Miss Du nor Sui Zhou noticed Tang Fans arrival. A little while later, a middle-aged man with a doctorly appearance came to take over. Miss Du rose and said a few things to him, then left her spot, lifted the curtain, and walked over to Sui Zhou, talking with a smile. Sui Zhou looked up, seeming to want to answer her, only to spot Tang Fan in passing. As the two had noticed him, Tang Fan could only rub his nose and come on over. Du Guir was a bit surprised. Sir Tang? After yesterdays scramble, she had learned his surname from Meng Cun. Tang Fan smiled in greeting. Hello, Miss Du. The medicine you gifted me yesterday has made my face as flawless as white jade, like it had been before. I came here to give my thanks. Had those words been said by the man beside him, they would have failed to be flighty, but when they came out of Tang Fans mouth, they were completely elegant. Du Guir pfft out a laugh. You are too polite, Sir Tang. Its good that youre okay. Sui Zhou didnt appear to like watching this play of them talking and laughing. You dont need to go to Wang Zhis today? he asked like the wet blanket he was, speaking like his great time had been interrupted. Tang Fan couldnt help but shoot him a look. What would I go there for? I got slapped yesterday, so why would I run over to get slapped again today? Im never going there again! Sui Zhou nodded, said nothing else, then turned right to Du Guir. Didnt you say that you were going to teach me to identify medicinal plants? Are you free now? She smiled. Doctor Tian came, I let him take over. Where did you want to start from? Anything is fine. Youll be the boss. Their progress had already reached this point? Had he missed something? Tang Fan couldnt help but widen his eyes slightly. Sui Zhou and Du Guir appeared to not notice his expression, getting up one after the other to walk over to a medicine cabinet. Taking advantage of the time Du Guir was walking in front, Tang Fan couldnt resist grabbing Sui Zhous sleeve and tugging him back towards him. How come I never knew before that you were interested in medicine? Against expectations, Sui Zhous answer made him choke half to death: Im interested now. Before they could speak more, Du Guir turned around. Sir Sui? Sui Zhous sleeve gently slipped out of Tang Fans hand. You can just call me by my courtesy, Guangchuan. Du Guirs cheeks lightly flushed. Ill just call you Brother Sui. Sui Zhou hummed, not objecting. The Halls collection of medicine was quite complete, the tall medicinal cabinet densely embedded with drawers. Each had a label for a materials name pasted on them. In order to not get in the way of people helping patients get their medicine, Du Guir chose a spot to the side to stand at. I cant reach the drawers that are too high up, so theyll need a ladder. Lets start identifying them from the bottom. Sui Zhou gave a nod. Okay. She opened a drawer, grabbed a bit of what was inside, placed it into her other palm, then passed it to Sui Zhou, allowing him to take in its shape and smell. She also succinctly described the materials properties and usages, as well as some contraindications and such. Sui Zhou, surprisingly, listened very studiously, sometimes even asking questions. One taught, one learned, their minds having no other distractions. Even in this cacophonous environment, they seemed to be in exceptional harmony. Tang Fan, meanwhile, suddenly felt like he had turned into an eyesore just standing there. Were it not for his complete understanding of Sui Zhou, he would genuinely believe that the other was planning to open an apothecary in the capital. Though, if Sui Zhou wasnt planning to do that why did he show so much interest in identifying materials all of a sudden? During Tang Fans pondering, Du Guir grabbed two other materials from two other drawers. These are turmeric, and quasi-turmeric. Both have similar medicinal properties and can promote blood plus qi circulation, but while turmeric comes from turmeric rhizomes, quasi-turmeric comes from wild turmeric rhizomes, which are grown in Zhejiang. The difference between them is that turmeric can treat pains caused by blood clots in the chest, while quasi-turmeric is chiefly used to treat pain caused by arthritis. Different physiologies, Sui Zhou said thoughtfully. She smiled and nodded. Thats right. So, even though they have similar effects, the symptoms they treat are quite different. Someone with shallow medical knowledge could easily misuse them, which would end up causing huge problems. Clever by nature and faintly sensing that Sui Zhou seemed to have something of an interest in her, she wanted to tease him with the line of Do you want to revere me as a teacher?, only to catch out of the corner of her eye that Tang Fan was standing nearby. Quite a bit embarrassed, she could only swallow the jest back down, put the materials back into the drawers, and bring two more types out. These are Mountain and golden honeysuckle? someone nearby got to it first. Du Guir startled, then smiled. Correct. Mountain honeysuckle is mostly located in the South. Its shape is extremely similar to golden honeysuckle. Few northerners can identify it, yet you have such profound knowledge of pharmacology, Sir Tang. Tang Fan beamed, fixing his sleeves. I cant claim that its profound. I grew up in the South, so thats why I knew that. Sui Zhou pat him on the shoulder. Tang Fan looked at him, confused. The three-delicacy[3] buns at the shop next door are pretty good. How about you go try them? You called me your bosom buddy, but now that you have a fair lady in your sights, youre trying to get me to leave? Sir Tang thought as much sourly, but didnt show it on his face, merely looking back at him innocently. No thanks, Im quite full from breakfast. You can go buy it if youre hungry, and Ill just stay here with Miss Du. I want to learn pharmaceutics from her, too. Du Guir had no belief that she had suddenly become excellent enough to get two young capital talents interested in her, and so particularly flattering to her, at the same time. She observed the conversation between Sui Zhou and Tang Fan, getting the overall feeling that there were words within their words, a lot of unsaid implications therein. Miss Du! the previous worker was heard to shout outside. He quickly crowded in with a middle-aged woman, panting. Miss, Aunt Xing is here! Du Guir turned her head with a smile on her face, clearly familiar with the woman in front of her. Youve come for medicine again, Sister Xing? Yes Aunt Xing smiled awkwardly. Im troubling you again. If youre busy, I can wait. Her clothes were plain, no different from any woman of common origin on the streets. Despite seeming to be not that old, the deep lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth betrayed the fact that she had endured hardships for an extended period of time. Its fine. Youre a regular, so you need extra special care! Miss Du warmly answered. Did you bring the prescription? I did, I did! Aunt Xing repeated, taking out a wrinkled piece of paper from a pocket. Miss Du looked down and quickly glanced it over. Oxknee, liquorice root, cinnamon twig this is a prescription for the treatment of arthritis. Are Uncle Jiangs back and legs poorly? The woman sighed. Yes. He didnt listen to me last time and insisted upon going up the mountain to gather herbs. As a result, it rained that day, trapping him in the mountains, and this problem arose when he came back. Aunt, you need to persuade him. He isnt that young anymore, Miss Du dissented. How can he be going up the mountain to forage? What would happen if he fell? Aunt Xing bowed her head. I said as much, too, but he wouldnt listen to me Miss Du shook her head, not saying anything else on it. Wait here for a moment, Ill get you the medicine. Itll be done quick. Am I making six doses this time? The other quickly took money out. Your uncle said he wanted nine doses, so that he could take a little more and slowly get better. Miss Du pushed the money back, smiling. Very well, Ill make nine. Dont hand money to me, else father will scold me later. How would that do? If you dont take it, I wont dare to ever come again, Aunt Xing said, at a loss. Your uncle would definitely scold me to death if he ever learned of it! While the two of them were having a pushing match, Tang Fan nudged Sui Zhou, chuckling. Miss Du isnt drop-dead gorgeous, but shes still really pretty. Shes also skilled in medicine and has a kind heart. Its rare for our Bastion Envoy to be moved by mundane feelings; do you want me to help be a go-between? Sui Zhou didnt refute that phrasing of moved by mundane feelings, only saying, Dont mess around. Tang Fan grinned. How am I messing around? Do you not believe that I could coax her into having eyes on you? She isnt like ordinary women. Hearing this, Tang Fan couldnt help but peer at him. Even though Sui Zhous face was as plain as ever, in Tang Fans view, he felt that there was a bit of tenderness within that dullness. No wonder he had rushed over here at daybreak. He was actually affected? Du Guir and Aunt Xings shoving match came to a conclusion, with the former accepting half of the payment, but giving the other half back. Aunt Xing could only thank her repeatedly, expression filled with gratitude, then follow the worker off to get the medicine. Miss Du, despite the saying that only benevolent sorts can practice medicine, Zhongjing Hall is not a charity. Why did you only charge her half? Tang Fan wondered. Du Guir sighed. Aunt Xings husband, Uncle Jiang, used to be one of our doctors. Due to poor health, hes no longer practicing, and went to rural Guangling County to retire. Unexpectedly, his son went into the mountains to gather herbs not too long ago, yet never came back. He was reportedly never found, either, so its possible that a wild animal ran away with him in its mouth. The older couple was left behind to depend on each other. As Uncle Jiang is himself a doctor, if he ever feels unwell, he makes all of his own prescriptions, then comes to us to fetch the materials. Life hasnt passed easily for them. The money Aunt Xing has must have been in exchange for something at the pawn shop on the corner. Thats why I take less, if I can. You have a heart and principles of benevolence. Youre destined to become a famed doctor someday, he praised. Her face flushed. I dare not accept your compliment, Sir Tang. Who has ever heard of a woman being able to become a famed doctor these days? I simply follow my fathers teachings, and act according to my conscience. Your words err, Miss Du. You havent mentioned Hans Yi Shuo, or Songs Lady Zhang.[1] They were both famous female doctors of their generations. What difference is there between men and women, there? Who didnt want to hear flattery? That was saying nothing of the fact that Tang Fans words had indeed gotten to the bottom of Du Guirs heart. In spite of her silence, there was happiness upon her face. Sui Zhou couldnt stand to see Tang Fan cajoling a young maiden. Theres a lot of people here. Tea and snacks are over there; go and sit for now. Wait for me to meet up with you. Tang Fan wanted to say that he wasnt hungry, but under Sui Zhous focused gaze, he could only cough lightly. Fine. Take your time chatting. On the table were dried apricots and milkvetch-root pastries.[2] Zhongjing Hall was worthy of being a land of medicine, as even its snacks clearly had a healthy tinge. Tang Fan picked up a piece and tried it, but felt that even though it was little sweet, it wasnt as delicious as he had imagined it would be. While taking small bites, he strolled for the entryway out of pure boredom. Aunt Xing, who had just been speaking with Du Guir, walked past him carrying medicine, not noticing him at all. He stood at the doorway, watching her leave the apothecary with a rushed gait, then quickly vanish around the street corner. It looked like she was heading towards the west gate. At exactly that same moment, someone walked out of the pawnshop at the street corner. Tang Fan finished off the final bite of pastry, wiping the crumbs off of his hands. Right as he thought to turn around and go back in, he got a passing glance at the other party out of the corner of his eye. His memory wasnt so good that he would never forget anything, but he seldom forgot people he had seen before. He paused, swiftly recalling the others identity. The steward of the Commandant Estate? He remembered that the Stewards surname was also Wang. He had been following Wang Yue for years and was the utmost of loyal. When Tang Fan had initially visited the Commandant Estate, Wang Yue had even specially introduced him. Steward Wang had currently come out of a pawnshop, but his mannerisms did not resemble their typical easiness. He looked kind of like he was up to no good. Tang Fans eyes automatically chased him. He departed Zhongjing Hall, following him. When passing the pawnshop, he took a deliberate look inside, and happened to meet with the line of sight of someone that looked like a shopkeeper inside. Not able to make out anything amiss, he turned away and concentrated on following Steward Wang. The others pace was quick, and by the shelter of the crowd, he soon got a good distance away from Tang Fan. The latter had to pick up the pace and train his eyes ahead, in order to prevent himself from losing the trail. To tell the truth, he had no idea why he was persistently following Steward Wang. Everyone had times when finances were tight, and it was very common to pawn things. The stewards act was not at all inappropriate. And yet, starting from when he had been standing in the apothecary doorway, he had been having a bizarre feeling that he couldnt shake off, like he had missed out on some very important information. He had no time to think carefully on that now. All he could do was set his mind on following the one ahead. Perhaps Steward Wang had noticed that someone was tailing him, as Tang Fan saw his pace suddenly slow, after which he dashed into an alley next to him. Frowning slightly, Tang Fan rushed up and turned into the alley as well. It was quite narrow with only one path to take, and required a right turn a few steps ahead. After taking that turn, he discovered a dead end, no exit around. He was shocked, immediately realizing that the other party must have noticed him following. Without another thought, he swiftly turned and walked back out. The populated street was close enough to touch. Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, though, a figure dashed into the entrance of the alley. His counterpart pounced forwards, looking to have something sharp in hand. Tang Fan subconsciously dodged to the side, back slamming hard into the dirt wall, which was pursued by a sharp pain on his arm. He couldnt help but cry out in pain, while the other rushed up, felt about him randomly, then ran off once done. Since the thief held a dagger, Tang Fan couldnt stop him, only able to helplessly look on as the guy snatched his coinpurse and left abruptly. So all that fuss had been just to rob him? Sir Tang was dumbstruck, until he heard someone cry out in surprise next to him. Little brother, your arm is bleeding! He inclined his head to find that the arm that had been dislocated just yesterday had a fresh injury there was a slash on it, now. It didnt get down to the muscle and bones, but blood flowed out of it, dying his sleeve dark in no time at all. Who had he angered for this? Was his arm the bane of everyones existence, to the point that they all found it displeasing to the eye? Feeling that the wound wasnt that serious, he declined the offers of passersby to go with him to the apothecary, and walked all the way to Zhongjing Hall while covering the gash on his arm. He hadnt felt this to be such a long trek coming here, but on the trip back, he started panting, losing some amount of blood. By the time he got back, leaning against the Halls doorframe, he was a little dizzy. That same worker greeted him again. Upon seeing that Tang Fan had gone out for no more than a minute, yet had returned with a wound, he went pale with shock, busily stepping forth to support him. What in the world did you leave for? How did you get hurt?! Hurry! Miss Du! Miss Du! The people in the hall conscientiously made a path for them. Du Guir bolted over when she heard the news. As soon as she saw this situation, she quickly said, Into the back hall, now! Theres bandages and medicine there, stop the bleeding before anything else! The worker speedily helped Tang Fan into the back hall. Sui Zhou had already caught sight of this scene on his end, locating bandages and medicine in a wink. Without another word, he half-removed Tang Fans inner and outer robes, then began to help him treat the wound. Du Guir had wanted to come in, but upon glimpsing this, she swiftly avoided doing so. This had clearly not been Tang Fans fault, but seeing how Sui Zhou looked wordless, and with tightly pressed together lips as he bowed his head to apply medicine and bandages gave him some baseless guilt. He laughed dryly, attempting to lighten up the steeply-declined mood. It was just a slash from a knife, its no big The word deal was unconsciously swallowed back down when his counterpart looked up at him. Sui Zhou watched until the blood was no longer oozing out, yet his knit brows did not relax. He simply continued to sprinkle fine powder meticulously and evenly over it. A prickling, numbing sensation caused Tang Fan to suck in a cold breath, though he could detect that the medicinal powder was very effective; the wound was slowly coming together via its active agents, at the very least. Blood had been flowing non-stop since the beginning, but it was only lightly seeping out now. Bear with it. Sui Zhou believed that he was uncomfortable, his actions gentling a little. This medicine is worth a considerable amount. Dont throw all that money to the ground, economize a bit. Miss Du will feel distressed later, otherwise, Tang Fan had to warn him. Sui Zhou didnt even look up. It isnt your money being spent. Was he mad, or something? Sui Zhou stared at the wound closing up until he felt that it was good enough, after which he wound the bandages around it fully. Runqing. Hm? Seeing the others serious face, Tang Fan couldnt help but sit up straight. Theres a reason Im getting close to Miss Du, Sui Zhou said, voice low. The back hall had no one else in it, yet his voice wasnt too loud. Only the two of them could hear. The Du family dominates the market on the supplies needed by the army. When they transport materials in and out of the city gates, they dont need to undergo extra checks, so if someone wanted to utilize that detail to get something done, it would be easy to. Dont be angry. Tang Fan felt awkward. Im not angry Sui Zhou looked at him with a dont even try to justify yourself expression. Tang Fan coughed lightly, slightly guilty, and gave an embarrassed smile. Alright, Guangchuan, you dont need to explain so much to me. I didnt mistake you as valuing charms before chums. The others eyes showed a bit of exasperation, though Tang Fan didnt have time to guess at what he was exasperated about before the man resumed his typical placidness. A little while later, Miss Dus voice came from outside. Brother Sui, how is he? Sui Zhou helped Tang Fan put his clothes back on. Luckily, theres nothing serious. You can come in. The door was pushed open. Du Guir lifted the bead curtain, saw Tang Fan seated there tidily, and sighed in relief. Sir Tang, do you want me to have Doctor Tian check your pulse? I can have medicine made for you to recuperate with? Tang Fan smiled. No need. An occasional bit of bleeding wont hurt Hes hardship-averse, Sui Zhou butt in. Du Guir restrained her laugh. Eat some more jujubes and such when youre free every day to promote blood regeneration, then. You can also stew jujubes and carp together. Tang Fan felt that his formerly lofty image had been completely ruined by Sui Zhous paltry words. Thank you, Miss Du, he was forced to weakly say. With Tang Fan being injured, Sui Zhou naturally wasnt going to remain in the apothecary, thus saying goodbye to Du Guir, then leaving with Tang Fan. Once they left, he asked, How did you get hurt? Tang Fan didnt answer directly. Tell Wang Zhi to investigate Steward Wang of Wang Yues Estate. Sui Zhou stared. Why? Tang Fan explained the sequence of events of him tailing the steward, encountering a mugger, then getting slashed, ending it with, The thief had only robbed me, but the timing of that really feels too coincidental. Did you get a good look at his appearance? Tang Fan nodded. I can sketch it when we get back. You can start a two-front investigation; it isnt convenient for Wang Zhi to go out in the open, so Ill have to trouble you. Sui Zhou brought him back to the posthouse, then headed to Wang Zhis Estate alone. This outing had taken most of the day. For the sake of awaiting Sui Zhous return, Tang Fan stayed in his room, only to end up dozing off unwittingly. It wasnt until midnight that he sensed what seemed to be movement beside him, and he opened his eyes groggily. Back? he asked. He thought to sit up using his arms as supports, but unanticipatedly bumped his wound, making him jolt in a pain that woke him up at once. Dont get up, Sui Zhou said. He shed his outer robe, blew out the candle, then got onto the bed, laying down on the outer side. Howd it go? Tang Fan asked, while actively shifting inwards to make more room for him. The thief that hurt you was found. Hm? Dead. That piece of unexpected news startled Tang Fan, but he noticed how exhausted Sui Zhou looked. Well talk more about it tomorrow. Sui Zhou hummed and shut his eyes. His breathing turned long and slow in short order. Tang Fan was occupied with turning the news Sui Zhou had just given him over in his head, falling asleep without realizing it. For one night, there were no words. The next day, the two of them rose early. After freshening up, Tang Fan sat at a table, about to lift up his cup of soymilk and drink when Wang Zhi stopped by. The translator says: Charms before chums, the antiquated version of hoes before bros that I made up just now. [1] No decent English sources as of this writing, unfortunately, so heres a brief overview of the two, according to google. Both of them have origin stories like typical protagonists, I swear [2] Im unsure of what these are supposed to be, because you do NOT eat milkvetch root unless you want a stomach full of splinters. I hope that it was just made with milkvetch tea water or something. Seriously, though, dont eat it. [3] One delicacy from the sky, one from the sea, one from land; those are the three delicacies. In laymans terms, its something typically made of pork, prawns, and chicken. CH 93 No one would have imagined that Wang Zhi, who held overwhelming power in all of Datong and could make people cower once they saw him, would show up in such a manner. When Pang Qi led him in, Tang Fan didnt notice the man in plainclothes behind him, simply smiling and calling out, Old Pang, have you had breakfast yet? Come and eat with me! What time is it? Youre still eating?! You trying to fatten yourself to death?! a familiar voice came from behind Pang Qi. Tang Fan nearly snorted his sip of soy milk out of his nose, coughing over and over. Sui Zhou rubbed his back to help him regulate his breathing, glancing over with a cold eye. Youre dressed like youre up to no good. Wang Zhi strode out from behind Pang Qi, sat right down at the table, and smiled in anger at that. If I wasnt afraid of being found out, why would I need to disguise myself like this? No longer coughing, Tang Fan looked at the doorway. Wheres Ding Rong? Does he know that youre out? No, I distracted him. Though, speaking of which, I dont understand why youd want me to hide from even him. Hes been following me for years, I have no need to doubt his devotion. Hes plenty trustworthy. Before the truth is made clear, everyone is suspicious. If I didnt know that you wouldnt do something like this, your suspiciousness is greater than Ding Rongs or anyone elses, actually. Wang Zhi glared at him. When have I ever been suspicious?! Tang Fan drank down all the soy milk, accepted the damp kerchief Sui Zhou passed over, and wiped his mouth off. First of all, you are Datongs Defending Supervisor, you have immense authority in Datong City, and no one can control you, not even Wang Yue. If you wanted to convey information, it would be fairly easy. Second of all, when I was still in the capital, I heard that someone denounced you and Wang Yue for communicating with the Tartars, claiming that your previous victories all arose from their surrender, whereupon you provided them with cloth, horses, money, and food in return for the transaction. Who said that?! He must have sinister intent! Wang Zhi shouted, enraged. Sinister intent, indeed. But dont think that Im just spouting alarmist rhetoric. The most fetching trees in the woods will be ravaged by the wind, and your performance in Datong has been too eye-catching; many dont want to see you get promoted and rise up in the world, so they have to find ways to cause you to stumble a little. I saw no lack of memorials like these while in the Inspectorate. Since so many dont want you all to establish merits, nor watch you return to the capital, the best method for them is to blacken your names and get you removed from your posts. Seeing that Wang Zhi was remaining quiet, he continued on. There is no way Wang Yue and you have communicated with the enemy, of course, but just because I have faith in you doesnt mean that others do. Also, can you completely guarantee that the servants at both of your sides are all unconditionally loyal? Thank you for trusting in me; since you followed my words exactly, I will do my best to investigate this to avoid the war from being dragged out. Tang Fan finished his righteous speech. Before Wang Zhi was allowed to get slightest bit emotional about having a good friend, though, he picked up a bun and chomped on it. Alright, Ill have to bother you with talking about what happened yesterday. Wang Zhis hand itched a little witnessing this, but because Sui Zhou was nearby, he couldnt beat him up again, so he just glared. We checked out Steward Wang. The reason he went to the pawnshop yesterday was because of poor cash flow for him recently, which resulted in him pawning things Wang Yue had gifted him. At that, Tang Fan showed a puzzled look. Hes always been a bit of a gambler and frequently owes gambling debts, but the amount is never large. The gambling den was pressuring him hard, and he didnt want to trouble Wang Yue with it. Thats why he went pawning. Tang Fan swallowed a bite, then drank down soy milk, smiling at the one next to him that had poured more for him, expressing his thanks. Did he have dubious movements upon entry, then? We havent noticed any for right now. Why did you keep an eye on him? Tang Fan took another bite. When I was following him, I encountered a thief that stole from me, who happened to delay just enough time so that I couldnt get to trailing him again. Tell me, how could that be a coincidence? Even so, when the thief was located yesterday, he was already dead. How did he die? I have to ask you about that. Tang Fan blinked. Huh? At his time of death, he was still clutching your coinpurse. The coroner said that the silver was daubed with poison. The thief had put the silver in his mouth to verify their authenticity, ended up ingesting the toxin, and fell over dead on the spot. The silver ingots cast by the government were made of the purest silver and had government stamps on their surfaces, but they were generally in the possession of rich households, which would elect to store them away and spend the less-pure ones, first. At the level of civilian circulation, because these silvers were too heavy, they would get pinched into several chunks by weight. There was no lack of privately-cast taels amongst the populace, but their quality was certainly not comparable to government-issued silver. To distinguish between purities and the authenticity of silver, the simplest and easiest method was to bite on it. All this talk, and it wound back around to me? Wheres the silver? Did you bring it? Wang Zhi brought out a small bundle wrapped in a kerchief, which he opened, revealing the few pieces of silver within. Which are poisoned? Take a guess. Tang Fan silently glanced at him, then pointed at the two largest pieces amongst them. Those two arent mine. I see. Those are the ones smeared with poison. If you shine the light of the sun on them, you can see that theres a layer of gray, foggy color on their surfaces. Who gave these to him? All he did was rob me. What did he know that would cause someone to silence him? The silent Sui Zhou suddenly spoke. You just said that he chose the coincidental time of you following Steward Wang. Could it be that the steward, in order to keep you from catching up to him, found a thief to steal from you, then killed him to prevent him from confessing? Tang Fan shook his head. Thats too obvious, and not really necessary. Steward Wang was walking so quickly, I was almost unable to keep up with him. Why would he specifically find someone to draw me away? It doesnt make sense Then, he looked at Wang Zhi. Can you find Steward Wang for questioning? It would be best not to. As you said, we dont know who the traitor actually is, and Wang Yue isnt in Datong right now. If I supersede him and go straight into apprehending someone of his, it wouldnt be excessive to say that that could easily alert the enemy. Still, having said that, I feel like it isnt too likely that Steward Wang did such a thing, because he used to be Wang Yues bodyguard during his youth. Due to Wang Yue having suffered many injuries, he treats him like family. Theres no need for him to betray Wang Yue. I also already sent people to investigate him, and he has no suspicious behaviors aside from going to the gambling den on occasion. Tang Fan paced around the room. If it wasnt Steward Wang, then it had to be someone else, but what was with that coincidence? What was the thiefs murderer trying to cover up? He remembered standing at the apothecarys entryway, watching Aunt Xing leave, then catching sight of Steward Wang He abruptly turned to look at Wang Zhi. Aunt Xing! he blurted out. Wang Zhi was confused. What? Aunt Xing was weird! Miss Du clearly stated that she lives in rural Guangling County. When leaving the city, she should go from the south or east gate, and she said that her husband was waiting at home for her to decoct medicine. Yet, after she went out, she headed west. Sui Zhou gave it thought. Maybe she remembered something she forgot to buy, so she made a special detour to the citys west. Tang Fan nodded. Thats possible, too, but I just recalled something else. Now, I just need to confirm my guess. Wang Zhi wanted to catch the traitor more than anyone else here. Whats your guess? Tang Fan looked to Sui Zhou. Prescriptions brought in by each customer are typically copied by the apothecary. Can you go get Aunt Xings from Miss Du? I can, but before it can be proved that she isnt guilty herself, getting the prescription will definitely cause her to have doubts and make unnecessary guesses. If she has a connection to the traitor, that might alert the enemy. Tang Fan was startled, but that seemed to be about right, when he thought about it. He became a little vexed. It isnt impossible, though, Sui Zhou said, gaze turning towards Wang Zhi. Hm? Tang Fan hummed. Just wait a minute! Ill get you the prescription tomorrow! Wang Zhi said, suddenly malicious-sounding. I cant stay here for too long! Im leaving! Not waiting for the others to react, he got up and went straight out. Tang Fan was still a bit confused and at a loss. What riddle are you two spinning? Sui Zhou smiled lightly. Things will be fine, as long as Zhongjing Hall catches fire or suffers theft. Theft would be a bit of a hassle, however, since the apothecary would certainly be watched at night. As stealing the prescription isnt too convenient, starting a fire would be much easier. Leaving something like this to him is most suitable. He ended that with seamlessly throwing shade at Wang Zhi. Tang Fan was speechless. That method was certainly not something he would ever think up. You two really are He tried to consider his wording, barely managing to change unethical into: Creative. Youve overpraised me. The soy milk got cold, dont drink it. Sui Zhou casually took the cup out of his hand, replacing it with a bun. Eunuch Wangs actions were truly nimble. At daybreak the next morning, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou heard that Zhongjing Hall had caught fire last night. Thankfully, it had been discovered early, and no lives had been lost, just some herbs, files, and prescriptions, which was a great blessing within this misfortune. In result, a signboard was hanging in front of the Hall today that declared the business closed, while Du Guir was currently leading people in the clean-up. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou did not leave, merely spending time chatting in the inn. At noon time, Pang Qi returned from the outside; in addition to bringing in a huge pile of snacks that Tang Fan had instructed him to buy, he had a couple prescriptions. Tang Fan looked them over. As it turned out, Aunt Xing had gone to get supplies from the Hall several times before. There were five prescriptions in total, each clearly sorted according to the dates on them. Look here, Tang Fan said, pointing at the papers. This is strange. The materials in these prescriptions are all different, and the symptoms they treat are all completely different, too. No matter how frail and sickly someone is, theres no way that they would get completely different illnesses every time. Sui Zhou picked one sheet up. Judging from the date, it ought to be the one Aunt Xing had gotten the time before last. What do they treat? He knew that Tang Fan was well-read, had dipped into a wide range of topics, and had a smattering of knowledge about medicine. It could not be said that he had reached the extent where he could accept patients, but it was sufficient enough for him to be able to distinguish medicinal properties and illnesses from prescriptions. Chuanxiong, thorowax root, angelica root, red nutsedge, peony root, bush-cherry seed, white mustard, liquorice root Tang Fan recited aloud, frowning a bit. This is a prescription for megrim dispersant. Megrim dispersant? Its an ancient recipe that specially treats migraines wait, where in the Prefecture did the Tartars go last time? Pianguan County. White and slender knuckles rapped against the table. Tang Fan mumbled the name of Pianguan County over and over again. Pianguan, side pass its named after a pass in its scope. That pass is called Pian Pass. Also known as Piantou Pass. The two exchanged glances. Tang Fan quickly grabbed the most recent prescription. Oxknee, liquorice root, golden honeysuckle, false starwort, cinnamon twig, goji, oyster, sandseed. This one ought to primarily be for nourishing the stomach, warming the spleen, and promoting blood and qi circulation. Yesterday, Aunt Xing said that because her husband had been in the mountains all night, he caught a chill and now has joint problems, so he self-prescribed this. It fits the symptoms, and theres no allusion in it He creased his brow, feeling that this discovery was just a coincidence. While he rubbed his forehead, thinking hard, Sui Zhou reacted a bit quicker than him. Oxknee, huai niu xi. Sanseed, sha ren. Take the first and last characters, and its Huairen. Tang Fan had an epiphany. Right! The news that Wang Zhi deliberately spread out before happened to say that Huairen County has the weakest military force! Thinking about it this way, these prescriptions were evidently code. Either the materials used created a signal, or the decoction was taken as a metaphor all of which were related to military affairs! This method was quite concealed. Firstly, when the entire city had been searched, even if the soldiers had found Aunt Xings prescription, they would never know that it had hidden information in it. Even Tang Fan, had he not happened to see her at the apothecary yesterday, would not have noticed the ordinary woman. Secondly, the goal of Zhongjing Hall was too conspicuous. Sui Zhou had also kept an eye on it precisely because of its connection to Wang Yue and that it could come and go freely at the citys gates. As was said, those below large trees enjoyed its shade; with the Hall around, as well as those spies that had been caught with hidden letters before, everyones attention had been diverted. The hidden thread that Aunt Xing was could not have possibly been buried any deeper. Tang Fan grabbed the prescription, then walked about the room. So, the thief that stole my coinpurse yesterday, then died, was definitely not a coincidence. There had to be someone instructing him. That instructor was He suddenly looked at Sui Zhou. It was the pawnshops shopkeeper! The others pupils contracted. What? By means of Aunt Xing, the entire thread was able to be strung together, making Tang Fan a little excited. Yes, thats it! Im almost positive its him! Do you remember what Miss Du said yesterday? Every time Aunt Xing comes to fetch medicine, she goes to the pawnshop to pawn things first to get money for the medicine. That pawnshop is located on the corner of the Halls street, and many people have to pass by it to get there. Yesterday, I saw Steward Wang come out of the shop, and when I caught up, I happened to pass by the doorway, where the shopkeeper saw me. If Steward Wang is fine, then Aunt Xing is the issue. That shopkeeper must have seen me pursuing someone and believed it to be her, so he got that thief to rob me, thus giving Aunt Xing time to throw me off and escape. However, he didnt think that the one I was chasing was actually Steward Wang, and he just ended up exposing himself in his guilty conscience. Regardless of whether his inference was true or not, the shopkeepers suspicion was immense. Aunt Xing, Steward Wang, and Tang Fan himself their only point of intersection was the pawnshop. Sui Zhou got up. Ill bring people over now. Im going with you. *** I heard that Zhongjing Hall caught fire last night! Eh? Was anyone killed? No. The worker on night watch found the fire early, and it only burned a few items. Amitabha, that truly is the Buddhas protection at work. Doctor Du is kind, giving people check-ups without payment often. Benevolence is indeed rewarded with benevolence! Ill say. When that fire broke out in the citys east last time, it burned all five members of a family to death in it. That scene was tragic, tsk I didnt dare to take a second look at it! Shopkeep Jin, as I see it, your pawnshop has a good location and practice. With Zhongjing Hall here, those that dont have the money to get a check-up will come here to pawn stuff. Listening to his neighbor go on and on, Shopkeep Jin speedily tallied up on his abacus without even looking up. According to what you said, is it that as long as my business is doing well, yours will be doing poorly? Haha! Thanks to Zhongjing Halls blessing, no one is doing poorly. Good times are ahead! As long as the Tartars dont show up in a few days, everyone will have a peaceful life! the shopkeeper of the fabric store nearby answered with a grin. Speaking of which, if you count the days out, arent they about arrive? said the jewelry shopkeeper, who was opposite the fabric store. Youre a freak. Youre scared when they get here, yet youre still looking forward to it? Dont say that. Whenever spring came before, the Tartars would always come over to loot. If they dont come, Ill forever have my heart in my throat! I need to hear that theyre coming so that I can be at ease! They ought to be too afraid to come here, Shopkeep Jin spoke up, never pausing in his actions, the abacus making clacking sounds. Since we have Commandant Wang overseeing our Datong, the Tartars will have to hold back a little. Did you not hear that Commandant Wang and Eunuch Wang had a falling out a little bit ago, and he brought people out to Cloudriver Post in a fit of anger? Oi, so senseless what was the point of it? the jewelry shopkeeper shook his head. You just dont understand. Officialdom has always been about infighting and killing people without seeing blood, just like us businessmen. We inevitably fight with customers on the regular, and whats the point of it? Fame and fortune! the fabric store owner pouted. Shopkeep Jin finally finished calculating his accounts, raising his head and smiling. Thats not what we should be concerned about. Setting our business aside, as long as we can live well, thatll be good. Regardless of whether its Commandant Wang or Commandant Zhang, the Tartars will come anyways. Arent we all running off to the countryside? Thats not the same, the jewelry shopkeeper said. Last year, I didnt run away. Commandant Wang being here meant the Tartars were too afraid to come into the city He paused before he finished. The idle chatterers looked towards the outside as several hefty men suddenly came in, causing all of their voices to stop. Shopkeep Jin was startled, quickly hanging a smile upon his face. Gentlemen dare I ask what business you may have? Would you like to pawn things, or? One glance at their appearances told that these newcomers had no good intentions there was no way they had come to pawn things at all. The men didnt make a peep as they blocked the doorway, then made a path for two people behind them to come in. Shopkeeper, do you remember me? Tang Fan cheerfully asked. Shopkeep Jin carefully looked him over, then shook his head. I dont. I passed by the door of your shop yesterday. We saw each others faces. The shopkeeper smiled awkwardly. Well this old man has a decent memory, but I wouldnt be able to memorize everyone who passes by. Then, are you familiar with Aunt Xing? I am. She often comes here to pawn things. Tang Fan took a kerchief out of a pocket, then shook two pieces of silver out onto the counter. Do you recognize these? Shopkeep Jin smiled bitterly again. You must be making things hard for me on purpose. How could I recognize specific silvers out of the millions handled by the pawnshop each day? Seems that a clear explanation isnt coming out of you for right now. How about you come back with us so you can be nice and thorough? As soon as Tang Fan said that, two men came up from behind, then clamped firmly down on Shopkeep Jin at either side, making him unable to move. Wh-what are you doing?! Datong City has laws to abide! Shopkeep Jin cried out in shock. Arent you gents being too harsh?! If you have any disagreements with him, you can go discuss them with the authorities! This is not the place to resolve private disputes! the jewelry shopkeeper stood up, unable to hold back. The fabric store shopkeeper wanted to silently leave, only to find that the door was blocked. He automatically started shouting. How can you just come in here randomly and arrest people?! I personally know the County Magistrate! The Brocade Guard does not need the permission of local authorities to act, Sui Zhou said, stopping everyones mouths from moving. Once that name was said, it was not only Shopkeep Jin that did, but the other two immediately shut up, too, faces gone pale with fear. Sui Zhou ignored their reactions, waving his hand to have the other two brought away. Tang Fan and he remained in the pawnshop. Tang Fan looked at Shopkeep Jin. What connection does Aunt Xing have with you? Did you get that thief to rob me yesterday? Shopkeep Jin smiled in pain. Sir, the Brocade Guard shouldnt accuse people so wrongly! This lowly one is a decent shopkeeper; I only work for the boss part-time, being diligent here every day. Why would I know any thieves? As I said, Aunt Xing often comes here to pawn things, so Ive come to know her. As for anything else, I really have no idea! Adept in self-restraint, Tang Fan kept on a faint smile. Before we came, we checked out your background. Youre not a local, hm? You came here a few years back because you were fleeing famine. Working in Lucky Note pawnshop as a shopkeeper gives you a high monthly salary, yet you dont go drinking or whoring, nor do you even have a wife or children. Youre all alone, with no wants nor desires. Were it anyone else, wouldnt you think that theyre odd? Your reaction just now actually sold you out. Normal people would be like those two scared, angry, and too scared to resist but you? After hearing us proclaim our identity, you remained calm. Did you never think that if you were too calm, you would just end up exposing yourself? Shopkeep Jin continued to argue. Sir, Im not a youth in this job. Ive experienced much of the ways of the world, so its natural that Im a little more level-headed. Whats so surprising about that? Tang Fan raised a brow. Youve experienced much of the world? Those two shopkeepers also work on this street. Do they not experience the same as you every day? Could it be that theyve seen less of the world? Why is it that they flew into a panic, yet you remained collected? Why are you talking so much to him? Once we use some torture, even the Heavenly Emperor wouldnt be able to stay quiet! Alongside that voice, yet another person walked in from outside. Strangely enough, the Brocade Guards guarding the doorway did not stop him. Upon seeing the newcomer, Shopkeep Jin finally showed a bizarre expression. To him, regardless of how flourishing the Guards fierce reputation was, it paled to Wang Zhis power of these two years in Datong. Many citizens could recognize Supervisor Wang anywhere. A persons name was akin to a trees shade; as soon as Wang Zhi appeared, even Shopkeep Jin felt fear. Wang Zhi was a straightforward one. Seeing that the other wasnt saying a peep, he simply raised his knee, then specially stomped down onto a certain vulnerable spot. All that was heard was a muffled sound. The hearts of everyone present skipped in its wake. Shopkeep Jins face quickly warped, but Wang Zhi took a rag out of who-knew-where and stuffed it into his mouth, preventing him from yelling even if he wanted to. The man could only make sobbing sounds. Hearing that noise, Tang Fan felt that something inside that certain area had burst. Out of a certain mental sympathy, he accordingly gave an expression of finding this too terrible to watch. Wang Zhi noticed. Whats with that look? Youre not the one I stomped on! he said disdainfully. Its distress. The translator says: This chapter was originally titled Ball Pain. RIP on that Huairen bit, by the way. That was never going to work in pure English. CH 94 Wang Zhi sneered. Youre a real let-down. And yet, he noticed soon after that it was not just Tang Fan who was a let-down, but Pang Qi and rests faces were also slightly twitching, Sui Zhou excluded. Evidently, in just one short moment, he had made all the men in the world feel sympathy. No need to look back inside. The rear door is also blocked off by us, and your assistant cant escape. His knowledge certainly isnt as much as yours, though. Were not interested in him. Eunuch Wang paid no mind to anyone else, staring at Shopkeep Jin like a viper staring at its prey. Im guessiiiing that even if you dont have a wife or children, you dont want to turn straight into a eunuch, right? Your injury is still treatable right about now, but if you dont talk tsk, tsk. Itll be hard to say! Seeing this, Tang Fan felt that the others smile would be more appropriately described as an evil grin. Ill give you a quarter-hour, hm? Dont say that I, Wang Zhi, am too cruel. Wang Zhi clapped his hands, peering at the hourglass beside him. Before Shopkeep Jin could react, he went, Three, two, one. Okay, times up. Have you thought this over enough? He took the kerchief out of Shopkeep Jins mouth. D-Didnt you say a quarter-hour? The shopkeepers eyes were wide, voice cracking and broken due to the pain. Your quarter-hour isnt the same as mine, Wang Zhi coldly laughed. Shopkeep Jin was shocked by his tyranny and lack of fairness. Seeing the disbelieving expression on his face, for some reason, Tang Fan found it a little hard to resist laughing. He recalled a phrase: Evildoers will yet be tormented by even worse evildoers. Not giving the shopkeeper time to hesitate, Wang Zhi took out a dagger, then drew it out of its sheath. Cold light was seen to glint on it, sharp enough to split hairs. Fine. If you wont talk, Ill do you a favor. Dont you worry; even though you cant enter the palace at your age, theres always some with particular kinks in the world that would like that mouth. Maybe youll get tossed to Southern Wind afterward to get your second spring breeze, and there will be no need for you to calculate on your abacus here every single day! He finished his speech with a nasty grin, raising up his knife with the dagger pointed down straightforward, to-the-point, was what this was called. Ill talk! Shopkeep Jin practically shrieked those words out, the sound so piercing, Tang Fan and the rest felt their eardrums tremble. The degree of dread in the shopkeepers heart was plain to see in this moment. I-I-Ill talk, Ill talk Tears and snot overflowed out of Shopkeep Jin, that fanged mouth able to deal with Tang Fan so easily now nowhere to be seen. Then talk! Wang Zhi bellowed. Shopkeep Jin shuddered, face filled with tear tracks as he looked at him blankly. A-a-about what? He had already been scared so stupid, he couldnt react for a moment. Your connection with that Aunt Xing, Wang Zhi amicably reminded. Shopkeep Jin roused his spirits. Right, right! I pass information along to her! How? Someone, during each fixed period someone comes here and tells me some information, then I tell her the information, and she spreads it out of the city! Explain thoroughly! Dont make me ask about all that individually! All things were difficult at their beginnings, but once the mouth was opened, all that came later was very easy. Enduring the pain, Shopkeep Jin strove to speak more smoothly. Just like th-this time, someone gave me a prescription! When Aunt Xing came, I recited it to her. Her husband is a doctor, so shes well-learned in medicine, too, meaning she knows what symptoms correspond to prescriptions. After that, shell bring the prescription out of the city, which someone else accepts. Military information is hidden on the prescriptions. Who gave you it? Even at this plight, Shopkeep Jin kept hesitating. Is it Steward Wang of the Commandant Estate? Tang Fan interjected. The shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly. Wang Zhi did not have Tang Fans high patience, his dagger already raising. Reality had proven that violence was more likely to make one yield than appeasement, especially for people like Shopkeep Jin. The latters eyes widened until they were round. I know who, I do! Dont do it! Hes from your estate! Who?! Shopkeep Jin dared not even breathe. Ding Rong! Its Ding Rong! As soon as that was said, everyone on-scene was a bit surprised, but after careful thought, it seemed to be within expectations. Tang Fan suddenly recalled that after he had been slapped by Wang Zhi, Ding Rong had seen him off, telling him to apply panax or cattail out of quite some concern. At the bare minimum, that demonstrated that Ding Rong had something of an understanding of pharmaceutics, and him being able to think up the method of using prescriptions to convey messages was not shocking. Very many people typically didnt pay mind to such insignificant daily subjects, but as soon as something happened and they had hindsight, they would discover that clues had long been hidden in those casual, daily trivialities. He also recalled that Wang Zhi had stated long ago that, sans Wang Yue and him, the only people that would be able to learn of what was happening in the military in time would be those close by their sides, and the officers subordinating them. Also, on the eve of every battle and prior to carrying out a military meeting with their subordinates, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi would pass correspondences to make sure they were on the same page, in order to prevent them from arguing during the meeting and making those below them unsure. Since Wang Yue and he hadnt leaked anything themselves, that made the confidantes at their sides the most suspicious persons. The problem there, however, was that since they were confidantes, they had to have their masters deep confidence. Speaking of Ding Rong alone, he had been following Wang Zhi ever since he left the palace to open the Western Depot, and because they were both eunuchs, he garnered even more of Wang Zhis trust. He, naturally, had not betrayed Wang Zhis high regards, handling each of his tasks satisfactorily, and he was clever in personality, always wanting to take three steps for every one he witnessed, doing everything for Wang Zhi. For someone like that, even if Wang Zhi knew intellectually that he was suspicious, he found it hard to suspect him emotionally. And yet, Shopkeep Jin had called out Ding Rongs name. Wang Zhi, cold-faced, stared at him, the look in his eyes like he was looking at a dead man. Shopkeep Jin nearly peed himself out of fear, sobbing and stammering. I really didnt lie to you! I didnt! Each time, he would come visit on his own initiative, sometimes finding me, sometimes finding my boss, but in order to prevent his identity from being divulged, we couldnt go find him! Rushing to get in before Wang Zhi could blow up, Tang Fan quickly stepped up to ask another question. Speaking of which, did that thief that robbed me yesterday indeed have something to do with you, too? Yes, yes! Shopkeep Jin answered. I told him to go out, because Aunt Xing had just left up ahead while you came chasing up right after! I feared that she would be exposed, so I had the thief go rob you to buy her time to leave! His silencing afterwards was also your doing? Yes. I feared that he would rat me out after you all found me, so I gave him silver smeared with poison on their surfaces. In their line of business, they would definitely verify the silver after the fact; so long as it entered his mouth, the poison would take effect after A comprehensive scheme. Unfortunately, I wasnt suspecting Aunt Xing at all before, but Steward Wang. Your own acts in your guilt have instead exposed you. Face full of suffering, it was now too late for Shopkeep Jin to say anything. Who is the one Aunt Xing answers to, then? Tang Fan asked again. Shopkeep Jin shook his head. I dont know. We all only have a single-strand connection. Im connected to Ding Rongs information, and all I need to do is transfer it to Aunt Xing whenever she stops by Seeing that everyone elses expressions were ugly, he quickly added, But I know where she lives! You can all go find her! Who are you answering to? The Tartars? Or the White Lotus Society? Back when famine hit my hometown, my entire family was wiped out, and I nearly starved to death on the journey fleeing. Someone ultimately rescued me, after which I learned that they were a White Lotus follower. I wanted to be able to eat enough, so they let me join the Society. I did, but Im just a common follower right now You have the mark of the Society on you? Yes, yes! On my waist! A Brocade Guard opened up the shopkeepers clothes for a look; there was indeed a tiny, blooming lotus shown on his left-side waist. Before, when Tang Fan had infiltrated that deserted village on the outskirts of the capital to rescue Ah-Dong, he had met Lady Ninth, Envoy of the Overseer that had come to the Southside Gang from the Society. She had once explained to him about the Societys mark, and had threatened to leave such a mark on him. However, neither Li Man nor Lady Ninth had had marks, so Tang Fan and the rest had later surmised that the mark ought to only be made on low-tier followers, in order to constrain them and prevent them from turning coat. As was known, the government was very strictly coming down upon the Society. The instant someone with the mark was discovered, they would inevitably punish them harshly. Because of this, Shopkeep Jin was loyal, too afraid to have the slightest bit of dissent, and also avoided having family ties afterwards, not even daring to take a wife again. That said, the owner of the pawnshop is also a Society follower? He should be. After I joined, I followed their order to come settle in here, but the owner isnt often seen. Its pretty much just me managing the shop. They appear to have turned this place into a communication point using the front of a pawnshop to pass stuff along. Having been scared by Wang Zhi, Shopkeep Jin straight-up stated all he knew. In his opinion, Wang Zhi was way scarier than the White Lotus Society. Tang Fan creased his brow. The Society has tremendous influence in this city, then? No, no. After Commandant Wang and Eunuch Wang came here, they hit the Society hard, causing it tragic losses and compelling the majority of its power to flee elsewhere. As far as Im aware, only the thread of Ding Rong and I are left, else there wouldnt be such a secret, isolated mode of information passage. As you all have seen, after a long time passes, getting caught is a certainty, but if there are more threads, this situation wouldnt have happened today. As he was genuine, Tang Fan nodded. So, what of Ding Rong? Whats his position in the Society? Shopkeep Jin had a pained face. I dont know. The boss only told me to listen to what he says. As for our boss himself, I only vaguely heard that he seems to be the Vice Vicar of this branch. Do you know where he lives? I do! This lowly can lead you there, if I can get my crime pardoned. Even though Shopkeep Jins life had been saved by the Society, their rescue had only been to get another useful follower. He had been on-edge these years, not even daring to snag a wife. He had really had enough of it; confessing the truth now was essentially a type of relief to him. As soon as he heard pardoned, Wang Zhi made out his little calculations, laughing coldly at once. That made Shopkeep Jin start trembling; were it not for his hands being restricted, he would have thought to cover his groin. With everything that should have been asked, asked, Tang Fan glanced at Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi. Seeing that they had nothing to say, he said to the latter, Guangchuan and I will go find Aunt Xings residence that he talked about. How about you bring him to go find Ding Rong? Wang Zhi hummed, not speaking nonsense, immediately grabbed Shopkeep Jin, and walked out. His face was so overcast, it was about to condensate, while Shopkeep Jin was caught in his hand like a hawk would catch a chicken, too scared to make a sound. All those twists and turns, and Ding Rong was actually a member of the White Lotus Society. He had been by Wang Zhis side the whole time, even having been regarded as his confidante. That fact was something a bit hard for Wang Zhi to accept him being a poor mood was quite normal. This matter could not be delayed. Tang Fan had no intention to worry more about Wang Zhi, discussing things with Sui Zhou, then heading for the posthouse to request some good horses and go straight for Guangling County. Going by the location Shopkeep Jin had given, and the group of people asked while they searched, they soon found the Jiang residence at the foot of Qianfu Mountain. Jiang Village, where the residence was, happened to be the hometown of Aunt Xings husband, Doctor Jiang. The completely sudden appearance of Tang Fan and the rest immediately alarmed the peaceful little place. At exactly that moment, Aunt Xing was walking out of the house with feed, prepared to give it to the chickens in the yard. Upon seeing Pang Qis group powerfully kick in her door, she was so badly frightened, she hit and capsized the bowl, turned, and ran inside. Why would the Guards let her have time to flee? They charged into the house, catching the Jiang couple red-handed. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were a step slower in walking into the room, and noticed that Aunt Xing actually had no intention of fleeing at all. She was prostrate beside a bed, tightly clutching the hand of a man atop it; he was half-reclined, having a panicked expression towards them. The strong stink of medicine permeated the tiny house. Evidently, its patriarch was ill, and this wasnt a matter that had happened merely a few days ago. Aunt Xing hadnt been completely fibbing, it seemed. Her husband was indeed sick. Tang Fan looked at the man. You are Doctor Jiang? Who are all of you? Were an average family with no extra wealth! Please, gentlemen, leave us elders an out; if you want anything, help yourselves! So, they thought that they were robbing them? Tang Fan kind of wasnt sure how to react. Are you not clear on what youve done? Communicating with enemies from the inside, passing military information on to the Tartars that accusation alone is enough to get you both deaths from a thousand cuts! Shopkeep Jin has already confessed, so you should say all that you know, shouldnt you? Aunt Xings expression quickly changed, and she started shaking. Doctor Jiang just grit his teeth. We dont know anything! You still deny it at this point?! Pang Qi exclaimed furiously. He stepped up to nab him, only to get stopped by Tang Fan. The latters gaze retracted from its survey of their surroundings, then landed upon the Jiang couple that was huddled together in fear before them. Since you two are living in a place like this, youre not getting money, nor benefits. Presumably, youre not willingly being used by the White Lotus Society, but are being coerced by them, right? For people like this, using torture like they had on Shopkeep Jin would have had no use. Finding their weakness was needed. I recall that Miss Du once said before that you have a son that went to the mountains to gather herbs, yet didnt return, so he might have been snatched by an animal. It looks like now, though, that it wasnt an animal that snatched him at all. Doctor Jiang clenched his jaw and said nothing, but Aunt Xing couldnt help crying quietly. We come from the capital, Tang Fan slightly warmed. Were imperial ambassadors sent by the Emperor. If theres some secret thats hard to keep, say so. We will help deal with it for you. He brought out his identity tag and passed it over. The Jiangs were literate, and upon seeing the words Left Metropolitan Censor, Tang Fan engraved, they mostly believed him. Ordinary citizens like them had lived in the border area all their lives. The Lord Emperor signified loftiness and omnipotence. Once she heard that they were ambassadors sent by that Lord Emperor, Aunt Xing finally released her husbands hand, then knelt down upon the floor with a thud. I beg of you, sirs! Save my son! Stop talking! Doctor Jiang automatically reprimanded. Aunt Xing turned her head back. Why wont you let me talk?! Theres been no news from Dayong up until now! We dont even know if hes dead or alive! If you make me wait any longer, I might as well die! He let out a long sigh, then said no more. Tang Fan helped her up. Say everything in full, Aunt Xing. She wiped off her tears, explaining what had happened while choking up. The Jiangs were not members of the Society, but their son had vanished after going into the mountains some time before, everyones search bearing no fruit. When they had believed that something had befallen him, someone abruptly came by and said that he wasnt dead yet, but the Jiangs needed to act according to that someones words, else his false death would become a real one. Their counterpart had brought along a letter from their son, the handwriting on it finally convincing Doctor Jiang and Aunt Xing that he was alive. Following that, they would receive letters from him at intervals. The other partys act, in addition to expressing to the Jiangs that their son was unharmed, was to threaten them into not making any rash actions. For the sake of their sons well-being, they had to do what the other party wanted, thus becoming a link in this chain. Do you know the identity of the one that found you? Tang Fan asked. I do. Hes Shen Gui, one of the richest merchants in Guangling County. After I get the prescriptions from Shopkeep Jin, I give them to Shen Gui, too. Does Miss Du from Zhongjing Hall know of this? She doesnt, Aunt Xing answered sadly. Ive taken advantage of her and her fathers kindness. Shen Gui said that after getting the prescription, I was to go to Zhongjing Hall and fetch the medicine before anything else, so that even if something did happen, it would be easy to keep it secret; others would only suspect the Hall, not me. Furthermore, due to our connection to the Hall, I can sometimes go with them out of the city in the carriages that transport medicine, with no need to pass through investigations. Having listened for a time, Sui Zhou said, In other words, you dont know any inside information at all? Doctor Jiang grimaced. We dont know who the people that caught our son were, let alone the other partys identity. Whatever they told us to do, we have done, and we have no interest in asking about what secrets were even in those prescriptions. Why would we think about causing such a huge headache? Where is Shen Gui now? He lives in Guangling County, Aunt Xing said. He has a lot of properties. Really, we had never expected this a man that was so far removed from us, why would he come and threaten us? Shopkeep Jin, who passed you the information, is a White Lotus Society follower, Tang Fan said. Shen Gui is likely to be one, too. What?! The married couple was dumbstruck, the shock on their faces not appearing to be faked. W-Will my son be okay, then? Sir, you must rescue him! Aunt Xing quickly began to shed tears. We will save who deserve to be saved, Tang Fan answered warmly, but both of your suspicions have not yet been cleared up. You will have to come with us to Datong. She hesitantly looked at Doctor Jiang. With things at this point, Doctor Jiang had no sort of hesitation, nodding. You all have orders, so we wont impede. We can even bring you to point out Shen Gui just rescue our son! Having the cooperation of the Jiang couple, events went unexpectedly smoothly. Just as Aunt Xing had said, as the wealthiest person in Guangling, Shen Gui had a lot of property, the shops under his name alone taking up an entire street. His home also contained pretty wives and concubines and a crowd of children; someone like this would not be able to run, inferior to the bachelor that was Shopkeep Jin. The other party had never expected that Aunt Xing would already be exposed. When Tang Fan and the others dropped by, Shen Gui had just come back from a patrol of his shares to see that the inside of his home had since turned into a big, panicked mess. His women and children were converged into a side courtyard from getting ousted there, while the Brocade Guards were seated like kings in his main hall, inviting him into the fire. Frightened by them, Shen Gui confessed nearly anything and everything. He claimed that he wasnt a Society follower at all, he simply had business dealings with them and had once subsidized their head honcho, so they revered him as an esteemed guest. Due to his trade of many years and superb relationship with the local authorities, the Society had asked him to pass information along. What he had to do was take Aunt Xings prescription, then use the excuse of trade to hand it to society followers outside the pass, which would then be transferred to the Tartars. He further confessed that Aunt Xings son was not with him, but had been taken away by the Society. His counterpart had only told him to get into contact with Aunt Xing on their behalf. Despite his ready cooperation, Sui Zhou and the rest wouldnt trust him unconditionally just because he answered every question. They immediately turned the Shen home on its head, discovered some suspicious correspondences, seized the home, then brought every single member of the family back to Datong for a thorough investigation. By the time they got back to Datong, nightfall had just descended. On Wang Zhis end, operations hadnt gone so smoothly. When he had brought Shopkeep Jin to arrest the pawnshop owner, he had come across no resistance. The other hadnt anticipated that Shopkeep Jin would sell him out, leading to his capture by Wang Zhis people. On the other side, however, the people he had sent to catch Ding Rong had come back in failure, to tell him that Ding Rong had fled. The translator says: Scuse the slight delay in updates. New panny D strain outbreaks in my area, other drama you all know how it is. CH 95 That guy, Ding Rong, could be described as cunning. Even though Wang Zhi, Tang Fan, and the rests private scheme had not been divulged to him, as Wang Zhis personal attendee, he couldnt have not noticed a bit of the commotion and word on the wind. According to what people at the Wang Estate said, very soon after Wang Zhi had left earlier that day, Ding Rong had left on his tail. Prior to his departure, he had told them that he was going to help Eunuch Wang with something and would return late, also telling the servants to not be lazy. Clearly, he had long made preparations, collected and calm. Everyone knew that Ding Rong was Wang Zhis aide. With how suspicious Wang Zhi was, there were not many that could fully earn his trust; Ding Rong, brought from the capital, was one of them. For that reason, no one detected anything off at the time, to say nothing of thinking that he would never be coming back from that trip. It had to be known that when Ding Rong left, he didnt take even a tiny bit of luggage with him. Of course, when Wang Zhi had someone search his room later, it was discovered that all his silver taels and banknotes were unseen. It had to be said that a fire was ignited in Eunuch Wangs heart, undoubtedly from Ding Rongs betrayal. The latters disappearance was no different from adding fuel to that fire, and he vented the sum of that fury on Shopkeep Jins boss. By the time Tang Fan and the rest returned, they were welcomed with a pawnshop owner that was on his last breath. Still, this venture was not without harvest. The harvest was quite bountiful, in fact. Shopkeep Jin had pointed out before that his bosss other identity was of the Vice Vicar of this branch of the Society. Straight from the Vice Vicars mouth, Wang Zhi had learned that the Society did not have many branches across the nation, and they had become even lesser after the governments non-stop suppression. Shanxi had only this branch remaining, the Vicar of which was Ding Rong. Wang Zhi had long made a mess of his own estate in his raid, the place shifted around from top to bottom by him. Those that had been close to Ding Rong had been summarily put on watch; were there to be anyone suspicious amongst them, it could be imagined that with his traitor-detesting personality, he would absolutely never let them go. However, after Tang Fan heard of this news, ever more questions cropped up in his mind. Ding Rong only arrived at Datong with you, over two years ago. Had he already been colluding with the Society beforehand? The Vice Vicar said that Ding Rong was promoted to being the new Vicar only after coming to Datong, Wang Zhi answered mildly. Before that, the Vicar was him. As for the capitals end, he wasnt very clear, only saying that the Overseer placed a lot of importance onto Ding Rong. Im guessing that he almost certainly already had ties with the Society before this. If thats so, things will be all the more complicated. Where even is that Overseer they all talk about? Whos the head of this dragon? The Vice Vicar said that he had never seen the big boss before, but if one particular person could be found, he would definitely know. Who? Li Zilong. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou glanced at each other, both slightly startled. This was not the first time they had heard the name of Priest Li Zilong. It was practically thunderous to the ears. Wang Zhis initial rise, too, had relied upon the case of Li Zilongs discovery and capture. Li Man, once a repeated impediment to them, had purportedly learned a few tricks from Li Zilong, hence why he had used the mystic arts of face-changing back in the capital to be a counterfeit version of his son, blinding Tang Fan and the rests eyes. Right. That Lady Ninth told me before that Li Zilong wasnt dead at all, Tang Fan answered. He had clearly been sentenced to death, yet still managed to flee. If someone said there wasnt anything mystical about that, I definitely wouldnt believe them. The only possibility there is that someone helped him, and they must be hidden so deeply, they have sky-soaring power. Who is he? Wan Tong? Or Shang Ming? After Li Zilong escaped, he fled here, and even found a way out of the passes. Now hes mixing in with the Tartars like a fish to water, getting revered as a State Master. Tang Fan felt this a bit comical. The Tartars recognized a Central Plainsman as State Master? Wang Zhi curled his lips. Dont underestimate him. You werent there when the case of the demon fox broke out, so you wouldnt know that while Court was in attendance, a giant demon fox suddenly appeared in the palace. Many people attending saw it, as did His Majesty with his own eyes, else I would never have been allowed to establish the Western Depot to investigate the case. Even if his tricks are all deceptive, that shows that theyve been perfected. Additionally, the Tartars always flaunt being the descendants of the former Yuans imperial kin; remember that back in the day, Khubilai once revered Qiu Chuji as a State Master. Being able to coax the Tartars into trusting him is a skill Li Zilong has. Very well, Ive underestimated Priest Li, Tang Fan said with a smile. The White Lotus Societys traitorous heart doesnt die, always thinking up plots, while the Tartars are even more ravenous. The two hitting it off immediately and benefiting off of each other is quite fitting. Wang Zhi creased his brow. Nevermind Li Zilong for now. The current issue is that the Weining Sealets problem has still not been solved. If an incident will happen the second the Ming army goes to the Sealet, that fight doesnt need to happen; from this point on, well simply stand guard at Datong City, expelling the enemy as soon as they come, while they will be able to calmly draw back when they see the situation is unfavorable, with us unable to formulate any strike to them whatsoever. The Vice Vicar has always been acting in the Shanxi region, never going outside of Pian Pass. Nothing came of questioning him about the Sealet. What a coincidence that is! What? Tang Fan smiled and said nothing, looking at Sui Zhou. That Shen Gui we brought back with us went to the Sealet before, Sui Zhou picked up. Seriously? Sui Zhou hummed, then spoke no more. To be blunt, he was still moping about Eunuch Wang beating Tang Fan up, making him disinclined to speak to him more. Seeing that his plan was not to explain much at all, Tang Fan could only pick up where he left off. Shen Gui once brought people with him to leave the pass and do business with the Tartars in private, and also received Li Zilongs invitation to go to the Tartar Palace. He heard Li Zilong say that he was going to make an array at the Sealet that would make it hard for the Ming army to advance, and aid the Tartars in completing their great enterprise. So, he guessed that in the vicinity of the Sealet to Barbarian Ridge, theres likely an array set up that caused those strange events. That was indeed some good news. Wang Zhis eyes flashed. His words are credible? Since we captured his family, hes answered everything. I questioned him a lot on the road here, but I had to wait for you all to ask after specifics. If what he said is true, we will have to go to the Sealet to check it out for ourselves. This all will be swiftly cut through once the array is broken. Wang Zhi couldnt wait half a moment longer, though. He promptly got up and walked out. Ill go interrogate Shen Gui myself! Dont break him. Hes still quite useful, Tang Fan quickly reminded. The other gave him an eerie grin back. Hand on his forehead, Tang Fan said to Sui Zhou, Can you go watch him? Of the present key figures, Ding Rong had fled, Aunt Xing knew nothing, Shopkeep Jin was just a low-level lackey that could only provide limited information, and the Vice Vicar had already been plundered dry by Wang Zhi. The only one of use was Shen Gui. Tang Fan was genuinely worried that Wang Zhi would vent the anger he couldnt vent on Ding Rong onto Shen Gui, then accidentally kill him. Sui Zhou agreed, rising to head out. Tang Fans belly rumbled. Only after he rubbed his stomach did he realize that he had been scurrying about all day, and hadnt eaten dinner. Not regarding himself as an outsider, he called for the Wang Estates servants to get him a bit to eat. The servants were familiarized with Sir Tang, and had just been re-organized by Wang Zhi that day. After receiving Tang Fans request, they set up a table of food without delay, to the point that it far exceeded expectations; he had only been thinking that a bowl of dumplings in chicken broth would have been plenty, yet they had straight-up cooked eight dishes and one soup, the abundance able to make one gasp. Not only that, but a Wang servant smiled at him and said, Sir Tang, do you feel that this is enough? If it isnt, Ill let the cook know. Tang Fan wasnt sure whether to laugh or cry. It is. Go see what your master and Envoy Sui are doing, and have them come eat with me. The Defending Supervisors Estate had no torture room, but this was no issue, in Wang Zhis opinion. Given that he had the want, any room could be converted into a torture room. Since Sui Zhou was present, though, he couldnt be too heavy-handed with Shen Gui. He thought as much, but Tang Fan still couldnt just wait around for them. Seeing the table filled with a whole number of dishes dangling right before him, each one looking to be written with the words Come eat me, quick!, he finally couldnt resist taking up his chopsticks, sneaking a shrimp-in-a-ring, and putting it in his mouth. It was unclear whether the Wang cooks skill was too high, or that he was just too hungry, but he couldnt stop at just that one, eating most of the entire plate. Upon seeing that of the ten shrimp that had once been neatly arranged, only two lonesome individuals were left, Mister Tang couldnt help but feel a little guilty. As no one else was around, he simply finished off the last two and hid the plate away nearby, thinking to himself that seven dishes and one soup ought to be enough. Not even a minute later, someone came back from outside. Tang Fan looked over, only to see the Wang servant scrambling over. Sir, go and look! Eunuch Wang and Sir Sui started fighting! the servant said, panting. Hah? Bring me there! Tang Fan got up with a bang, then followed him through the courtyard and veranda to get to the neighboring side-courtyard. The men were heard before they were seen. Right as he turned a corner, and prior to him seeing any human figures, Tang Fan was already hearing the sound of wind vigorously being swept up, punches and kicks being exchanged. With one other turn, he saw the Brocade Guards and a few Wang servants circling an entryway, craning their necks to spectate what was inside. As for the targets of their spectating, they were Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou, naturally. There was not too much space in the side-courtyard before them, a lotus pond with bonsai occupying its middle, but that did not influence the crossing of edges between the two experts. Their fighting speed was quick, and each and every move was hitting flesh, not giving the least bit of suspicion that they were bluffing. Watching this spectacle of swiftness, accuracy, and viciousness, Tang Fan nearly believed that there was a deep hatred between the two. Sui Zhous skills could not be doubted, of course. The paramount responsibility of the Brocade Guard was to personally defend the Emperor, and those with the qualifications to protect him had to be the very best experts in the land. Sui Zhou had been trained by famed masters from inside the palace since a young age, and had experienced no lack of things himself; these skills were not ornamented moves of no importance nor use, but all quintessence that had been tempered within danger. That much was clearest to Tang Fan, who had gone through life and death with him. However, Wang Zhi was no lesser. If he had been a touch inferior to Sui Zhou before he had left for the capital, then in these past two years of personally leading troops into campaigns alongside Wang Yue, he had also forged a lot of genuine combat experience, a murderous aura brought about from the battlefield between the images of his palms and fists. The two humans resembled a wolf and a tiger coming to blows, not the least bit relaxed, watching hard for their counterparts weaknesses and openings to strike. For a brief moment, the fighting was difficult to distinguish between, the outcome difficult to determine. Tang Fan could tell as well right now that the two were in close combat, yet had some further elements of swapping pointers, which each side might not lose out on. He thus didnt call out to interrupt them, standing to watch like Pang Qi and the rest. At that moment, a howl of anguish suddenly came from a tightly-shut door behind Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi. I cant do this, I cant! Spare me! I really didnt lie, if you dont believe me, I can take you all there! Shen Guis voice? Tang Fan was startled, then saw Wang Zhi get slightly distracted, suffering a punch to the shoulder. He immediately stumbled ten steps backwards before his momentum came to a halt. How could a fight between experts tolerate a moment of inattention? Wang Zhis own had only made a fraction of difference, yet had immediately been spotted by Sui Zhou. That punch had likely not been light. Wang Zhi covered his shoulder while baring his teeth, sneering at the expressionless Sui Zhou. This strike is what I owed Fluffy from last time. Dont think Ive lost to you! Come at me again later! Tang Fan: Sui Zhou: Tang Fan placed his hand on his forehead. Hold on, how do you know my nickname? Wang Zhi raised his brows. You want to know? Yes. Im not telling. Wang Zhi restrained his clenched fists and malicious grin, then walked towards the inside. Damn, that bastard yelling out of nowhere made me lose! You dont want to be at peace tonight, do you?! Tang Fan quickly stopped him. Eat first! Eat first, and then well talk more on it! I know youre quite angry, but it should have been more or less vented after that bout, right? It wasnt. Getting punched by him made me even more angry. Tang Fan stubbornly carried on, managing to bring Eunuch Wang back to the dining hall to eat. The instant he saw the seven dishes and one soup on the table, Wang Zhi made a hum of wonder. Theyve always served nine dishes before. Why did they change the standard today? Tang Fans mouth twitched. Havent you been busy from dawn to dusk? Why are you noticing such a minute detail? Wang Zhi furrowed his brow. Because nine divided by nine returns to one, which is wholeness enough. I tell them to make nine whenever theres guests. Seems like the thing with Ding Rong didnt teach them enough of a lesson, and theyve all grown even lazier! Tang Fan used a cough to cover up his own guilt. You cant blame them, Im the one who told them eight. The metaphor of eight isnt too bad, either! Even if he was to be beaten to death, Mister Tang was not going to tell the truth about him eating a dish clean ahead of time, but what difference would there? As long as Eunuch Wang had the whim to go ask the cook, he would learn everything. Eunuch Wang, fortunately, had no intent to take such a triviality seriously. Mister Tangs reputation was preserved, for now. At the table, the three started discussing the Weining Sealet. With things at this point, we need to take a trip to the Sealet, no matter what, Wang Zhi said. Since Shen Gui is willing to lead us, let him. Tang Fan thought for a short minute. The trueness of his words are pending discussion. They cant be used as evidence. Were he to try anything, everyone will be put in danger. If this is dragged out any longer, not only will it not help, but more schemes will be had. Regardless of whether he was lying or not, itll be worth a try. I plan to go out there myself. Tang Fan was surprised. With you gone, who will watch Datong? Arent Guo Tong and all of you around? Wang Zhi answered casually. Dont joke around, Tang Fan said weakly. Wang Zhi picked up a piece of glazed duck, ate it, then told them the truth. Its fine. Wang Yue actually never left Datong. Tang Fan was a bit shocked, but that made sense, when some real thought was put into it. The row between Wang Zhi and Wang Yue had just been a good show that they had plotted in order to keep things from everyone, deceiving both Guo Tang and the informant. Now, the ploy of false troops had actually had results; the pond becoming thoroughly muddied had not only made Guo Tang jump up and down for joy, but even the traitor hadnt been able to resist sticking out his head to set his information thread into motion, transmitting the information elsewhere, whereupon the thread had been sliced by Tang Fan and the rest, his forces dispersed. Now that the matter was resolved and the informant was caught, Wang Yue ought to show back up, lest having no commander in the city affected the armys morale. When Wang Yue appears, I can hunt down whats going on in the Sealet. What happened with Ding Rong will come to light sooner or later, and everyone knows that he was my confidante. If he cant be captured in one go, I wont only have no way to justify myself after I return, but Guo Tang will definitely be itching to complain about me. That was true. If the thing with Ding Rong couldnt reach a resolution, it would leave Wang Zhi with serious repercussions Your confidante was the Tartar informant, so what are doing being Datongs Defending Supervisor? Is it possible that youve been secretly cavorting with the Tartars? Had all those previous reported victories the court had received actually been you lot putting on a joint show with the Tartars? The Wan party had long found Wang Zhi displeasing to the eye, and it was really hard to say that they wouldnt take this chance to dump a chamberpot onto his head. His imperial favor had been getting slowly lesser to begin with, so if this continued, his political career would absolutely take a heavy hit. Ill go with you, Tang Fan said. You? Wang Zhi was slightly shocked. This wouldnt be an easy task; judging from the prior several experiences the Ming army had, it would basically be almost assuredly fatal, with no return to be had. Anyone else might yet rack their brains for a way to shirk this; Tang Fans brand of fool that requested to head out of his own volition was unheard of. Tang Fan grinned. Regardless of what Wan Ans goal in booting us out here was, we genuinely do have orders to come here and investigate. If something happens, and then we retreat right on the eve, that wouldnt be good, would it? You know as well that when those soldiers went missing before, brawn evidently hadnt made them safe and worry-free. Maybe, when we encounter some difficulties, Ill be able to help by using my brain. His speech was thoroughly modest, never proud in the merits he held. It was clear that even if he didnt go this time, the Wan party wouldnt be able to say anything, because Sui Zhou and he had come to assist in the investigation; at most, they could say that they werent helping things. And yet, knowing the danger fully, Tang Fan had brought the issue up on his own. His reason therein was mostly for the sake of ascertaining the truth so that the Ming army could be spared from loss and casualties, but at least a little bit of it was to help Wang Zhi. Of course, Tang Fan wouldnt clearly state that latter cause, while Wang Zhi couldnt blindly accept it. The personality he had acquired growing up in the palace had caused him to forever attach heavy importance to his goals and use underhanded methods in his work, making him easy to condemn. He understood that point well, yet had never minded it, having roped Tang Fan in for the purpose of achieving his own aims multiple times before. Even though he always wanted to act alone and not owe anyone anything, and had once helped Tang Fan get his post back via Huai En, after careful calculations, Tang Fan had helped him way more than he had helped Tang Fan. Whenever he held self-pride, Tang Fans figure might not show up at his side. Yet, every time he had loss, Tang Fans scant words would always let him get out of the bottom of the valley. He chewed on his relationship with Tang Fan, discovering that the two of them couldnt be said to be enemies, but they didnt appear to reach friendship, either. What was making Tang Fan help him out so much, without seeking reciprocation? If he had been able to speak for him before the Emperor previously, what use was there now in being buds with a eunuch that was gradually losing imperial favor, and had been ousted from the Wan party? Quashing his confusion, Wang Zhi looked at Sui Zhou, his implication being: He wants to go. Arent you stopping him? Sui Zhous reply was: Ill have Pang Qi lead a few in staying here to help Wang Yue. The rest will go with you. So it was having this guys infinite tolerance that Tang Fan felt that he could go wherever he wanted? Do none of you fear death? Wang Zhi couldnt help but ask. Tang Fan gave him a weird look. What are you saying? Arent you going, too? Why jinx yourself? Wang Zhi rolled his eyes. Fine, people were going to accompany him in throwing away his life. What in the hell was he worried about? Make preparations, then! Write some letters to your wives and concubines, lest they never see you again! No one should jinx themselves like this. Cant you think up one positive? Tang Fan asked, exasperated. Utilizing the time they were bickering, Sui Zhou was already deliberating on candidates to come with them. You said before that seven soldiers managed to survive Weining Sealet. Can we bring one with to show us the path? Yes, Wang Zhi said. I need to bring Chuyun-zi, too. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. What use would there be in that? To go have a battle of arrays with Li Zilong? The other side-eyed him. That might be a real possibility. Since Eunuch Wang had full trust in Chuyun-zi, Tang Fan said nothing else. It would just be another person on hand, anyways. Theres another to bring, Sui Zhou said. Who? Wang Zhi questioned. Du Guir. The daughter of Zhongjing Halls owner? Sui Zhou nodded. She said that she had once gone beyond the pass to gather herbs, and went to the Barbarian Ridge area. If she can come with, many people would be our guide. Wang Zhi smiled weirdly. I heard that shes in her maiden years, just waiting for a betrothal in her boudoir. You even call her by her unmarried name;[1] is there something to be said about the connection between you two? Sui Zhou had no expression. Cut the nonsense. It was her who guessed that we would be going sooner or later, so if we go, we can take her. Wang Zhi raised his brow, clearly disbelieving. That so? Sui Zhou didnt feel like explaining, merely glancing at Tang Fan. Hold on, what are you guys looking at me for? The candidates were determined at the start. Once everything was properly prepared, at daybreak three days later, their group set out from Datong City for Weining Sealet. The translator says: wang zhi: is this friendship? disgusting (The original title for this was Sui Zhou Player-Kills Wang Zhi) The authors says: The Defending Eunuchs Estate Enigma of the Plate Servant A: By the gods, theres a plate here! Who hid this?! Servant B: Dont yell! Maybe Eunuch Wang snuck out to eat in the middle of the night and didnt want to get discovered by us! Wont you ruin his reputation with that shout? Servant A had an epiphany. Far away, Wang Zhi inexplicably sneezed. [1] When girls marry, its considered rude to call her by her given name if youre not her husband or family. Thats why married women are usually Lady X and such, their real names never heard or said. CH 96 Their group rode out of the pass. The distance from Datong to the Weining Sealet was actually not that far; with quick horses spurred on, it would take no more than half a day to get there. Wang Zhi had only brought a man named Wei Mao with him, who was another confidante aside from Ding Rong. Tang Fan and the rest had met him before, just a few years back when they had investigated the Southside Gang and found a brothel. At the time, Wei Mao had been a Millarch of Torture at the Western Depot, instantly getting the bawds group under control. After that, Wang Zhi had scrambled off to Datong, bringing Wei Mao with him. He was harsh-hearted and loyal to Wang Zhi, relied on by him like he was one of his own hands. Of course, after what happened with Ding Rong, Eunuch Wang now held some reservations towards those at his side, and dared not give any of them the totality of his trust. This was what was called, Get bitten by a snake once, and youll fear ropes for a decade. Sui Zhou himself brought along two Brocade Guards named Wei Shan and Lu Yan. In addition to them were Tang Fan, Du Guir, Shen Gui, Meng Cun, and the one soldier, as well as magical phony Chuyun-zi. By pure coincidence, Meng Cun had also been one of the seven soldiers that had survived, and the one with the highest rank. When Tang Fan caught sight of Meng Cun, he was solidly dazed for a moment. The latter smiled painfully towards him. Sir Tang, Sir Sui. Fate really brings us together. In addition to him, Wang Zhi had found an average soldier that had similarly been one of the seven survivors. Tang Fan turned his head to Wang Zhi. Why didnt you say it was him? How was I supposed to know that you didnt know it was him? Wang Zhi answered, full of arrogance. Tang Fan glared at him speechlessly. Seeing that the other soldier had an expression of unease, he joked to comfort him. Dont worry. Since you were able to come back safely last time, you will this time, too. No matter what, theres a lot of officials here that are higher in rank than you. If something actually does happen, you wont be alone, or harmed. However, the soldier, instead of relaxing from his comforting, grew all the more apprehensive. Sir, that place is truly cursed! We were only able to return last time thanks to Corporal Mengs well-timed order to retreat! This time, we cant ensure that! Alright, dont be so gloomy! Meng Cun scolded with a laugh. I havent taken a wife and had children yet, while youve got kids. Arent we, as soldiers, meant to obey orders? Dont be such a woman, calling things unlucky when theyre not! The soldier scratched his head from the scolding, chuckling sheepishly, and didnt say anything else gloomy. Meng Cun had been smashed by Du Guirs case last time, which the doctor had diagnosed as a cracked bone. Having rested for so many days, he could go without using a cane on the road, and this trip, where everyone rode horses, did not do much to affect it. Shen Gui did not need to be mentioned. He currently had a pained face, looking like his parents had died and unwilling to the maximum. Chuyun-zi really wasnt too happy to come on this trip, either, but he had flaunted the air of someone highly capable before. Were he to refuse, he likely wouldnt have a good fate remaining inside Datong City and facing Wang Yue. So, once Wang Zhi asked, he agreed after slight thought, and brought a gaggle of dudes that all had cinnabar and talisman paper as well as one small jar of dark dogs blood. Everyone here had either been forced to come, or had had no better choice but to come. There was only one exception that had come here of her own request Du Guir. Typical maidens in the boudoir, at her age and with her well-to-do background, would typically be waiting around in their homes to be pampered and play shy about getting married. She, however, would instead show her face to help her father manage his apothecary, and had personally led people beyond the pass to gather herbs, going as far as the foot of Barbarian Ridge on the Sealets northern edge. This was a border city, its code more relaxed than the faraway Jiangnan or even the North, but she was still a rarity. On one side, she had come along because she knew the road. Together with Shen Gui, Meng Cun, and the other soldier, whenever the four of them were referring to a direction, they could verify off of each other and pare down the possibility of their squadron losing the way. On another side, the reality was that Sui Zhou didnt really trust this girl, always getting the sense that the role Zhongjing Hall played in this case was too subtle. Even if there was no proof, her suspicion was not light. Instead of letting her remain where he couldnt see her, it would be better to keep her close to watch her. However, that intent, in the eyes of others, had a different explanation. At the very least, people like Meng Cun, Wang Zhi, and the others believed that he had thoughts of some kind towards Du Guir. Gossip went unmentioned as the group left the pass and headed all the way north. The sky overhead was clear, the wind mild and sun gorgeous. The rolling mountain peaks turned into a scene of majesty. However, everyone had their own concerns, so they had not much free time to appreciate it, urging their horses ahead. They could not be described as advancing at flying speed, but it wasnt slow in the least. Right when they were about to approach Weining Sealet, a gesture came from Wei Shan as he scouted ahead. Everyone gradually slowed, only for him to turn his horse back and report, The Sealet is ahead. Nothing is unusual. Sure enough, after around an incense sticks worth of time, a lake as vast as an ocean entered everyones line of sight. Lakes as large as this were not easy to find in the Datong region. Mentally, they knew that it was obviously just a lake, yet they all couldnt help but sigh from the bottom of their hearts at first look. It was little wonder that the Mongols had assigned it the name of Sealet. For people that had never seen the sea before, this was comparable to what they yearned for at heart. Beneath the sunlight, the lakes surface was suffused with glittering ripples. Several water fowl flitted past, startled by the sound of the groups hoofbeats, and left behind a string of flapping sounds. Beautiful scenery, luxurious grass it was quiet enough here to make ones heart calm down, yet was also liable to confuse and numb vigilance. Where did you all run into the sandstorm last time? Wang Zhi asked Meng Cun. Meng Cun pointed at the lake not too far ahead. Right there. We ought to have wound around to hunt down the Tartars, back then, but a sandstorm picked up, the sky went dark at once, and the sound of many blades and spears emerged. Before setting off, they had all heard Meng Cun and the soldier explain this several times before. Despite arriving here and physically overlooking the scene, it was still difficult to sense the situation they had described; the sky was obviously blue and distant, the sunlight was dazzling, and the area surrounding them was empty. There were the mountains on the northern edge of the lake, of course, but the distance from here to there was a good chunk. If someone launched an attack from the mountainside, there would be no way they wouldnt see it. Shen Gui trembled. Priest Li once told me that as long as he made an array in the Tartars palace, they could defeat enemies from a thousand li away, eradicating the Ming army until not even a piece of armor was left, all across a partition of empty air. I didnt believe him at the time, but after hearing that weird things had happened to the Ming army, I did. Wang Zhi furrowed his brow. Didnt you say that he might have set up an array? Shen Gui truly feared Wang Zhi, the fiendish portent. He had fallen into his hands, then immediately suffered torment, to the point that he had felt that if he was going to continue to be tormented by Wang Zhi, he might as well recommend himself to lead the way. In that way, he might be able to take back his little life, and swap out his crime for a merit; he really didnt want to taste that flavor of death being better than life ever again. In the hands of Wei Mao, the Millarch of Torture, Shen Gui had come to learn that there were many tortures in this world that could leave no marks behind on his body, yet still cause extreme pain that made one want to get rid of it immediately. Compared to that, he quickly came to feel that Li Zilongs alleged gamut of magical tricks were not really that terrifying. Yes, yes, I did indeed believe so then, but following that, I accidentally heard someone say that in order to properly arrange an array for the Ming army, Priest Li deliberately moved a few artifacts to the foot of Barbarian Ridge, which restrained the Ming army right after, Shen Gui quickly answered. As for what specific type of artifacts they are, Im not sure, but I recall the word array. I informed you of this last time, theres absolutely not a bit of falsehood to it! With all that said, he smiled ingratiatingly at Wang Zhi. Where are the artifacts? Wang Zhi didnt disbelieve Shen Guis words, truthfully; with the Western Depots methods, even the mute could begin to speak, to say nothing of the fact that Shen Gui was a merchant with a plethora of wealth. It was simply that his claims were much too fantastical, making it difficult to believe him. Shen Gui peered in every direction, the entirety of the wide lake entering his sights. Where would there be any sort of tall or conspicuous stone? His face automatically crumbled. Th-that, I dont know. When I overheard the White Lotus person, their implication seemed to be that the artifacts were at the lakes shores. Once they meet with a sandstorm, the array will react, and thousands of troops will show up He wasnt so sure about his own words, himself, and kept glancing at Wang Zhi as he faltered, afraid that the other would get angry. Of course, he feared another that was seated behind him, sharing a steed with him; Wei Mao. That was because all of that torment directed at him from before had come from the mans hands. Yet, there was nothing to be done. Wang Zhi didnt trust Shen Gui, so he had specifically told Wei Mao to keep watch nearby. There was absolutely no way he would let Shen Gui ride alone. During their conversation, Tang Fan and Chuyun-zi spurred their horses onward, galloping about ten zhang forwards as per Meng Cuns instruction. The rest could only make out from a distance that they appeared to be saying things, after which they turned back in short order. Combining what Corporal Meng and Lord Shen have said, this poor Daoist and Sir Tang have already made an initial inference, Chuyun-zi said, though we are still uncertain. We need to wind around this lake to look at the base of Barbarian Ridge before I can say. Theres no harm in speaking now for everyone to hear, Tang Fan said. I have never been here before. I heard that the Sealet frequently has sandstorms in its vicinity? The one that answered him was Du Guir. She had grown up in a border city, so she naturally had more speaking power than anyone else. Theyre not very common at all, typically only happening in the period of early spring and fall. Ive never encountered one, but I heard the elders of my family say that some can buffet very seriously, which can indeed cause the look of the world around one to change. However, such huge sand cyclones are few, and theyre usually just sandstorms. Chuyun-zi nodded. Have any of you ever heard of Underworld Soldiers Passing By? The instant that outlandish phrase was said, everyone exchanged glances. Underworld soldiers were heard of, naturally. As the title hinted, it referred to the soldiers of the underworld that came to escort souls to the afterlife after they had reached the end of their allotted lifespans. However, them passing by sounded utterly bizarre. What is that? Wang Zhi asked. Seeing that everyone was puzzled, Chuyun-zi had no intent to keep them all in suspense, clarifying at once. This poor Daoist once traversed mountains and tread water in my early years, wandering all across the county. I passed the outskirt region of the capitals Baoan Province, where I saw a valley that was clearly uninhabited, yet constantly had the sound of troops galloping around inside it. The locals said that an unknown amount of years back, the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou once engaged in a fierce battle here, and the dead soldiers ghosts never left. If anyone heard the commotion of an army, yet still proceeded in, they would definitely not come back, dead. There were truly no surprises that this world didnt have. Where had anyone heard of such a thing before? Sui Zhou, Wang Zhi, and others similar were fine, while Meng Cun, Du Guir, and the rest each had expressions of shock. After I came to Datong and heard about the missing soldiers, I guessed as much in my mind, Chuyun-zi went on. However, the situation with the Ming army differs from what I encountered before. Theres no valley here, nor any ancient battleground, so I never spoke about my own guess until I heard Sir Tang say just now that Barbarian Ridge was once the territory of the Jin State He looked at Tang Fan, who took over of his own volition. When the Mongols went South to swallow up Jin, the two warred in Feng Province, their dead and wounded a full crowd. Jin was miserably defeated, its power shrinking a step to the South. If I havent misguessed, that battlefield should be in the vicinity of the present Barbarian Ridge. Were that so, then this would make sense, Chuyun-zi answered. Wang Zhi didnt believe what he was hearing, though. Whats all that junk? Where would there be any wronged and lingering souls? This is a clear and sunny day! The whole world is bright! How can spirits come out to cause havoc? Besides, wrongs have ends and debts have owners. If they really are the souls of Jin troops, they should only go after those Tartars! Their ancestors were the Mongols! Noticing that Shen Gui, Du Guir, and the rest all looked scared, Tang Fan couldnt help but smile. Theres no need to worry, that wasnt what I was trying to say. Li Zilong is nothing more than a magician of the demonic practice. How could he actually incur the supernatural? Shen Gui just said that he personally heard of an array, so these underworld soldiers are evidently connected to whatever array that is. Priest Chuyuns statement simply happened to match up the two sides to corroborate off of each other. Firstly, an area that they have in common is that devastating wars once took place in them. Secondly, there are nothing but mountains and boulders erected nearby. This must have some relationship to Li Zilongs array. We spoke of these conjectures not to make everyone worry all the more, but to hope to give you all clarity. The more we know, the more favorable the outcome of this expedition will be. His expression was soft, earnest, and inciting of goodwill. Truthfully, I had just been about to call Eunuch Wang and the rest to the side with Priest Chuyun, in order to speak of this alone. However, since we now stand here, we are all comrades that live and die together. I dont wish for any sort of hidden information to cost you your lives, which is why I plainly informed you of these guesses. If we really do encounter underworld soldiers, as Priest Chuyun said, no one will need to panic. Over these years, many White Lotus followers have been caught in our hands; while no shortage of them have learned a few tricks from Li Zilong, those people have nevertheless become mist passing before the eyes. This time will be no exception. With how Wang Zhi thought, he would never consent to informing everyone of something so important, but it was too late for him to prevent Tang Fan from telling them everything. Still, following the latters heartfelt speech, everyones expressions gradually relaxed, leaving them not as panicked as before. Wang Zhi, from the bottom of his heart, disdained Du Guirs group, believing that they played no other role aside from leading the way, important events never to be known to them. Tang Fan didnt think the same, however. Sometimes, keeping things hidden would not curb fear, but instead make it worse and spread. Since everyone was bound to share in adversity here, it would be better to put everything out so that their misgivings would be reduced more than being secretive could manage. A Li Zilong that utilized the topography of an ancient battleground to stop the Ming army with an array was definitely easier to deal with than a Li Zilong that could call forth the elements and summon ghosts. Tang Fans words were truly effective, at least getting everyone to start thinking towards how to crack the array. Even the soldier that had come with Meng Cun no longer looked scared. How long the effect would persist depended upon how long it would take them to find the array. However, things were disappointing. The alleged Underworld Soldiers Passing By was not showing back up, not a trace of the array to even be found. Were it not for what Chuyun-zi and Tang Fan had said, Wang Zhi would almost have believed that Shen Gui was messing with them. There was a taut string in everyones hearts. They had long made preparations to witness a scene where everything was awful, but everything was unexpectedly peaceful, nothing happening at all. Weining Sealet looked like it had been standing tall like so for millions of nights and days, unchanged by them coming there. From the Sealet to the North, the topography gradually steepened. Go any further, and one would need to pass through a valley, with the infinite range of mountains to the left being Barbarian Ridge. By the time everyone reached the foot of the Ridge, the sky had gone completely black, the road ahead covered entirely in darkness. Going forward now would, without a doubt, be an unwise decision. Their group garrisoned on the northern side of the lake, preparing to rest for a night and take a look around the foothill region the next morning. Meng Cun, Wei Shan, and the rest set up a fire and campsite by the lake, with even Du Guir helping out. Tang Fan put on no airs of a civil official, but after he clumsily knocked over a pot of water, he conscientiously stood to the side while rubbing his nose, so that he didnt add to anyones troubles. In his idleness, he wandered all about. Seeing that both Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi were seated by the lake, wiping down their blades, he walked over, then inquisitively peered at the spring-gilt sabre in Wang Zhis hand. Youre not a Brocade Guard. Why are you wielding a spring-gilt sabre, too? Have you heard of the sabres origins? Wang Zhi countered. Tang Fan smiled. Are you quizzing me? Its been said that the term spring-gilt was bestowed by the Great Ancestor, stemming from Gilt robes as spring endures, stand tall as the firmament; dash daily towards a parental home in vivid uniform.[1] Its message is the relationship between the Brocade Guard and the Son of Heaven, though the veracity of that is too ancient to be quizzed about. To tell the truth, the Great Ancestor was only semi-literate, and likely hadnt ever read the Four Books and Five Classics. How could he have ever made up such an allusion, such a name? It had very likely come from some later persons forced analogy. Judging by the Great Ancestors personality hed had in life, he wasnt likely to have given such a style of name, so, in Tang Fans opinion, it had probably been granted by Liu Bowen, or Song Lian, or someone else like them. Wang Zhi just shook his head. I wasnt asking about the origin of the name, I was asking about the origin of the sabre. Im actually confounded, here. Please bestow your knowledge, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi glanced at Sui Zhou. He doesnt know, but you should, right? Sui Zhou gave only two words, and slowly: Tang sabres. So you do know a bit, Wang Zhi said, haughtily. Sui Zhou didnt feel like bickering with him, lowering his head to continue wiping down the body of his sabre. The spring-gilt sabre morphed from the Tang sabre, Wang Zhi stated, and its much lighter than a Tang. In particular, it can hack, chop, thrust, be used with one hand, or be used with two. With a spring-gilt sabre in hand, one will have quite enough to travel with ease. Seeing that the other regarded the spring-gilt sabre so highly, Tang Fan smiled. I had believed that the blade you would wield might be a flexible sword, yet its a sabre. Even though Eunuch Wang was soft in exterior appearance, he was peerlessly brutal at his core. Many eunuchs would have preferred to shrink back into the palace to fight it out for power, but he preferred to go far off beyond the Wall. From that way of looking at things alone, he had to be much mightier, and it was little wonder as to why he preferred a spring-gilt sabre that overflowed with a murderous aura. Wang Zhi chuckled darkly. Swords are used by nobles, but this eunuch is a scoundrel, so I naturally use the sabre. All he had done was admit to being a scoundrel, yet he had dragged Sui Zhou down into the water. Wasnt that sentence basically saying that everyone under the sky that used a sabre was a scoundrel? Tang Fan wasnt sure how to react. Thankfully, Sui Zhou was not the sort that was fond of talking back, else they would be completely incompatible and long started fighting, not a moment of peace to be found. At this time, Count Sui merely gave Wang Zhi a cold look, and continued to be quiet. His attitude of being disinclined to speak with him and disdaining to argue with him made Wang Zhi feel immensely bored. The latter curled his lip, got up, pat the dust off of himself, threw the phrase How do you stand this guy? at Tang Fan, then went to go talk business with Wei Mao. After Wang Zhi left, Sui Zhou raised his head, looking solemn. Tang Fan believed that he was going to talk about Wang Zhi, only for the other man to say, It was too quiet on the road here. Unusual happenstances must have demons behind them. Actually, Ive been wondering this whole time; if there really is an array at the foot of the mountain, under what circumstances does it set into motion? According to Shen Guis statement, and Meng Cun and the rests depiction, every time it activates, the world will shift with sand and rocks flying about, but I have no belief that Li Zilong actually has that capability. If he did, he wouldnt need to feign the supernatural, hide away, and run to the desert to seek shelter with the Tartars. With the condition that the two were alone with each other, Tang Fan could say his own speculations without the least bit of scruples, and no hesitation over causing morale to waver. Sui Zhou nodded. Im also wondering about Shen Gui only saying that there is an array, yet not knowing what kind, and the soldiers descriptions were too unclear. Its hard to make a mental association with those two ends. Tang Fan grinned, promptly moving in close to Sui Zhou to use a volume that only the two of them could hear. I have a feeling that, among us, there is likely an informant for the Society. The others warm breath puffed onto Sui Zhous ear, making it tingle slightly. That subtle feeling even penetrated through his skin, spreading all the way to the bottom of his heart. In the viewpoints of bystanders, the twos rearview figures were stuck so extraordinarily close together, their heads were nearly about to touch. Witnessing his rare bit of distraction, Tang Fan asked worriedly, What is it? Nothing. Who do you think it is? If I said it was Miss Du, would you believe me? Yes. Tang Fan chuckled. I was under the impression that you would at least hesitate a little, out of regard for her pretty feelings towards you. My own feelings have long been given to another. There are no more to give to a second person, Sui Zhou answered mildly. This was the first time Tang Fan had ever heard him confess to liking someone, and couldnt help but suffer a start. You have someone in mind? Which young lady is she? Have I met her before? Sui Zhou gave him a look of profound meaning. You have. Tang Fan would never admit that upon hearing this information, his first reaction was not happiness, but a complex emotion. However, he didnt betray a smidgen of it, merely joking, Shes good looking, right? Yes. That tone was completely without hesitation Tang Fans mouth twitched. He really hadnt been able to tell that the ever-cold-faced Count Sui was such an infatuate. Even better looking than Miss Du, and your cousin from the Qiao family? he wondered. Hm. Better than even them. Tang Fan was bewildered. Have I really met her before? If shes such a remarkable beauty, theres no reason I wouldnt remember her! Sui Zhou hooked his lips. He* actually does know of my feelings for him, hes just slow to accept it, and refuses to admit it. Concealing the strange feeling in his heart, Tang Fan teased, So, shes a shy beauty? Mn, he is. And like you, a foodie. What is it? You cant have taken a liking to Ah-Dong, right? What made you think that up? A female foodie that Ive met. It seems like that could only be Ah-Dong. Despite Sui Zhous constant calm, his face twitched slightly. A long while later, he could only choke out one sentence: It isnt Ah-Dong. Huh? Then who? Sir Tang sunk into deep thought. There arent enough tents to stay in individually. Youll stay with me tonight. Sui Zhou lightly pat his lower back, not requesting, but confirming. Hm okay, Tang Fan answered, mind absent as he lingered on the previous issue. Seeing this, Sui Zhou couldnt help but mentally sigh. Thin streams flowed long, silently dampening all they apparently separated one from their target, too. In these outskirts, everyone ate as they felt. No one spent time catching fish from the lake, instead eating some drygoods stewed in water. Some people hated the dryness of drygoods, so they would steep it in water; this was a common method used by soldiers like Meng Cun while on march outside. Du Guir, however, wasnt too accustomed to it. Since childhood, she had grown without a worry for food and clothing, having never eaten such simple fare before. After a few bites, she started choking, forced to take several sips of water before her breathing evened out, after which she looked at the drygoods she held with something of a complicated expression. Suddenly, a hand appeared before her; a handful of dried jujubes was placed in her counterparts palm. Her eyes shone. This was her favorite usual snack, but she had forgotten to bring it with her on this outing. She looked at the one seated beside her, thanking him as she took a few. Many thanks, Sir Tang. Take all of them, Ill bring more. Its quite alright. You arent used to eating drygoods? Tang Fan asked warmly. No. Du Guir was a tad embarrassed. It seems Im too spoiled. Spoiled how? A woman like you is already amazing enough! Tang Fan bust out laughing, then quickly lowered his voice. I wont lie to you; I cant get used to it, either. Thats why I brought some other stuff. Like he was doing a magic trick, he took out a small pouch that had been made using a wrapped-up kerchief out of his pocket and passed it over. As soon as Du Guir opened it and saw what was inside, she was pleasantly shocked. Dried apricots, almonds, and walnuts? These were the favorite snacks of young girls; she hadnt expected that Tang Fan would keep these on him. He set the small pouch into her hand. I have more, keep it. You like this stuff too? she questioned, tilting her head. Yeah. I usually grab a handful and stuff it in my mouth when I have nothing else to do. Its particularly easy to get hungry whenever in thought, so one cant be afraid to carry such things on them all the time, he answered with a smile. Via these snacks, the distance between the two swiftly narrowed by a lot. Du Guirs knowledge of Tang Fan stopped at those few fateful encounters at the apothecary. It was only after this that she realized he was an exceptionally interesting person. No wonder someone like Brother Sui would become friends with you! She smiled with pursed lips. Someone like him? Tang Fan appeared to be very curious as to how she saw Sui Zhou. His personality is a bit cold, and he doesnt speak up. Any ol person approaching him might get scared off quickly. That was why, as soon as I saw him be so intensely concerned about you, I became rather curious, Du Guir admitted. He really isnt that difficult to get close to, hes just cold on the outside, warm on the inside. She stuck out her tongue in the utmost display of facetiousness. Yes, but hes very unapproachable the first time, making one feel fear from the bottom of their heart. Why would they dare to approach him even more? Thats why my good friend is unmarried as of yet. If you know a good maiden awaiting marriage, please help him out with getting a look at her, so that we can avoid him being alone all his life! he joked. Du Guirs face turned red, but she shook her head. Youve misunderstood. Brother Sui has long had someone in mind, Im afraid. The instant he heard this, Tang Fan became depressed. Why did it seem like everybody in the whole world knew about Sui Zhous beloved, while he alone had no idea? Right. Which young lady has he taken a liking to? Im not sure, its just a womans intuition. Still, you have such a good friendship with him; why not just ask him outright? she questioned, smiling. When she had learned that Sui Zhou likely already had someone in mind, she had been disappointed, a feeling equivalent to Its been difficult to find someone I fancy for all these years, only for him to have long been taken. Even so, she only had good impressions towards him, and there was no talk to be had of how deep her feelings went. Despite the disappointment, she had not reached the extent where she would feel loss. Tang Fan shook his head. Hes a corked-up gourd. If hed be willing to speak, that would be fine. Du Guir had a think. Then, he must have some unspeakable secret that maybe makes it hard for him to say it to you directly? Unspeakable secret? Hard to say it to him directly? Tang Fan mulled over her words, then had a shock. Was it that Was it that Guangchuan had taken a liking to his big sister, Tang Yu? The translator says: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO (If you havent seen the update, no EPUBs are getting made for FYC anymore, because MXTXs novels are getting English eBooks. Let us encourage the trend! We want official eBook releases!) [1] From Du Fus Presenting a Memorial, Censor Dou, Inspection Envoy of Xishan. (Heres a dual breakdown.) *In Chinese, all pronouns whether for he, she, or it are pronounced exactly the same (t). Verbal pronoun confusion is a common trope. CH 97 Tang Fan, alarmed by his own guess, felt a little out-of-sorts after he was done speaking with Du Guir. Outsiders might not be able to tell so, but who was Sui Zhou? Tang Fan and he had known each other for years, almost as inseparable as shadows in their free time; how could he not be able to tell? Vaguely, he could speculate as to what Tang Fan was tangled up with, but he didnt resolve it. When it came time to rest, the two were laying in the tent, and the one beside him was tossing and turning and disturbing his shut-eye so much, he finally said, Runqing. Tang Fan immediately quit moving and feigned sleep. Sui Zhou felt powerless yet amused, reaching out to pat him on the waist a couple of times. A certain ticklish somebody immediately shrank away on reflex, promptly revealing the fact that he had been faking it. Mm? He pretended to wake up, rubbing his eyes. Dont act. I know you werent asleep, Sui Zhou sighed. You woke me up, Mister Tang lied without a change in expression. What did Du Guir talk to you about? Nothing, it was just typical gossip. Tang Fan laughed a little, keeping his back to him. Turn around. Its late in the day, lets sleep. Well talk more about stuff tomorrow, Tang Fan answered, unaffected. In spite of Sui Zhous calm, he really couldnt tolerate being faced with Sir Tangs evasive behavior. He had been thinking that as long as he gave the other man some more time, with how bright Tang Fan was, he would be able to come to an understanding eventually but now, it looked like he had really been too naive. At times, when faced with certain people, some techniques had to be carried out before effects could be had. Sui Zhou spoke no drivel, simply pulling the other over by the shoulder, then pressing down upon him. Taking advantage of Tang Fans momentary shock, Sui Zhou kissed him without another word. The night beyond the passes was cold, the chill seeping in through the gaps in the tent, penetrating to the bone. During the day, the weather was breezy and beautifully sunny, while the wind picked up harshly at nighttime. And yet, the one pushing him down was so heated, his bodys warmth coming through skin that was tightly pressed against him, it nearly caused a daze where the full sum of the outside frigidness was separated, blocked out. So, do you understand? After a long while, Sui Zhou pulled a small distance away, propping himself up on one arm so as not to put any weight on the other man. The bewilderment on Mister Tangs face was not yet gone, his barely-swollen, glistening lips making Sui Zhou want to go in again. But, when considering present circumstances, he felt that it would be better to be clear before anything else, lest the man take back his bet after the fact. Gazing deeply at the one beneath him, he slowly repeated what he had said earlier, I have long had someone in mind. Hes shy, and a foodie. Tang Fan felt that his thoughts, which he had forever taken pride in for being clear and wise, were now trending towards swirling into a tangled-up mess. Within that chaos, there was some shock, some confusion, and what seemed to be some lack of surprise. But why would it not be surprising? He couldnt make sense of it right now. Seeing that his expression was in flux, Sui Zhou thought to say something, but suddenly heard a pained groan float in from outside. Both of their hearts went cold, any sort of trifling and pretty thoughts promptly thrown beyond the clouds. Sui Zhou, reacting quick, grabbed his spring-gilt sabre and dashed out. When Tang Fan hurried outside, he saw Shen Gui collapsed outside of his own tent, rolling all over the ground while his hands clutched his throat. Inside that state of crazed pain, even Wei Mao almost couldnt control him. Then, before anyone could react, fresh blood spurted in huge bursts out of Shen Guis mouth. Beneath the fires illumination, the blood gave off a purplish-red that was nearly haunting. It has nothing to do with me! It was they who forced me to look for you! Dont come for me, dont! Heaving noises came out of his mouth, his eyes widening desperately until they nearly fell out of their sockets. Blue veins bulged out of the backs of his hands and forehead. Whos coming for you? Whos talking to you? Tang Fan was about to step forward, but Sui Zhou blocked him, giving him no choice but to question him where he stood. He had believed that within Shen Guis pain, he would certainly not be able to hear the outside world, yet the man showed a fake smile whilst answering his question. Priest Li, Priest Li, he came for me, he said I spilled the secret, this is retribution, its retribution, retri Shen Gui physically and wildly thrashed on the ground, where no one could restrain him. In such a brief timeframe, even gods wouldnt have been able to think up a solution they all could only watch on as his face gradually turned purple, ending with his raw scream as his body spasmed, then stopped moving. Everyone had been drawn by the noise outside of their tents, and after witnessing this scene, they were completely dumbstruck. None of them had expected that, on such a calm day, something like this would occur near the middle of the night. The Priest Li he had spoken of was, without a single doubt, Li Zilong. As for that retribution, though, what had happened there? Did Li Zilong really have such immense magical powers, that he had been able to detect Shen Gui revealing the array from thousands of li away, then take his life? Du Guirs face was particularly white. This was not strange; even though she personally treated patients, when had she ever seen such misery unfold before her eyes? Shen Guis tragic manner of death made even large mens hearts skip beats, to say nothing of her, a frail woman. She swiftly covered her mouth, turning her head away, slightly unwell. It wasnt until Chuyun-zi stepped forward to check Shen Guis condition did she remember what her own role was, so she held in her nausea to go help. Was he poisoned? Wang Zhi did not come forward, his expression quite overcast. Shen Guis death, from another perspective, undoubtedly portrayed his own incompetence. What do you think, Miss Du? Chuyun-zi looked at Du Guir. He must have been. She took in a deep breath, complexion still wan. Though, I dont quite understand how he could have been. Clearly, we all drank the same water, and ate the same food Everyone turned to look at Wei Mao, as the latter had been asleep with Shen Gui in the tent. He seemed fine before, he said. He wanted to talk to me, I ixgnored him, so he went to sleep. About halfway through that sleep, I heard movement next to me, immediately woke up, then saw him clutching his neck with a pained face before he ran out of the tent. His account held zero useful content. Even if they knew that Shen Gui had been poisoned, no one knew what he had been poisoned with, nor how. His death caused everyones hearts to suspend high, emotions once slightly calmed by Tang Fans comfort shortly tensing. The emotion on Wang Zhis face could not be clearly discerned, but how could anyone else be feeling any better? Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had no belief that Li Zilong had such abilities, but just because they didnt believe so didnt mean that others didnt. Anything that went beyond common logic would cause one to feel powerless to fight it, thereby drawing back in cowardice and fear. The soldier at Meng Cuns side couldnt help but speak up in a weak, trembling voice. Sir, how about we go back He didnt get to finish before Wang Zhis malevolent stare made him shrink back. Those brave enough to say that theyll draw back will be dealt with according to military law, Wang Zhi said, darkly. The soldier hunched over, too afraid to say more. Being a seventh-rank Corporal, Meng Cun was overall superior to his subordinate. Sir, should we bury him? he asked, pointing at Shen Gui. Tang Fan shook his head. Move him to the lakeside, first. We can handle it tomorrow. Even though, following this, likely no one would be able to get to sleep, they couldnt just stand blankly outside their tents for a whole night. The wind was blowing all the harder, their clothes flapping noisily. Even some sand and rocks not concealed by the lakes water and grass were swept up off of the ground. For the sake of not getting wind and sand in their eyes, everyone was squinting slightly. Right when they were getting ready to go back into their tents, Miss Du timidly grabbed Sui Zhous sleeve, looking miserable. Brother Sui, can I stay with you two? I-Im too afraid to sleep alone! At a time like this, saying anything about men and women not having contact would seem much too unreasonable. Du Guir had come out with them, and everything was simpler in the outside world, with not so many matters that needed to be looked out for. Sui Zhou didnt answer, instead looking at Tang Fan. The latter nodded, holding a smile. Of course you can. Come on in. The former was slightly frustrated, thinking that Du Guir had popped up at a really inopportune time, and a certain someone was clearly taking advantage of this to avoid what had just happened in the tent. Were there not such a high probability that something would happen from making Du Guir stay in her own tent alone, he would think to keep her out. With a young lady present, it was impossible for Tang Fan and Sui Zhou to fall asleep. Seeing that Du Guir was a little chilly, Tang Fan gave her a thin blanket, letting her bundle up in it. The bundled-up Miss Du gradually felt a little better, but her mind was still racing entirely with the violent manner of Shen Guis death. Its so strange how did he get poisoned? It cant be that Priest Li can actually can actually Her lips trembled. She feared saying more, but her eyes peered at Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, as if she hoped that they would give her an answer to make her less afraid. Tang Fan was also pondering this event. In your opinion, is there a possibility that he could have already been poisoned before leaving the city, and it only took effect just now? he asked her. She thought it over, then shook her head. Some poisons do have delayed onset times, but that also means that there is no way that death could be immediate. In cases like Shen Guis, only if he had been hit with a fierce poison would it break out so abruptly, so quickly Suddenly, she thought of one possibility, and couldnt resist shivering. I heard that the Southwest has a bizarre gu poison that is odorless and tasteless, and can break out with just its creators thoughts. Theres no way to defend against it. He he couldnt have been hit by that, right? Tang Fan, in his vast knowledge, had a bit of an understanding towards gu. Even if it is gu poison, there is no chance that anyone could poison their victim from a thousand li away. They would need to come close before they would have a chance. In that case, regardless of what poison was used, the most urgent matter is to find out Shen Guis cause of death His words abruptly cut off, as if he had thought of something. She curiously awaited his next dictation, but he said no more. She had to turn to Sui Zhou in an attempt to find the answer off of his face. She had been destined for disappointment, of course. The wind outside was blowing harder and harder, beating incessantly against the tent and slicing across every surface, even slightly raising the three of them up. Why is the wind so strong? Tang Fan wondered, lifting his head. Du Guirs face twisted up. Could it be that a sand cyclone is starting up? The winds momentum came so violently, the entire tent seemed to be getting lifted up. The ropes at each of the tents four corners were firmly fastened into the ground by rivets, yet even those now seemed to be getting pulled out by the devastating force of the wind. The candles inside of the tent had long been extinguished beyond their control, leaving the inside pitch black. Even though the three of them were close to each other, they practically couldnt see each others appearances. With wind like this, the fires outside had also long gone out. Ill go take a look. You two stay here, Sui Zhou said, then got up and walked out. Tang Fan could vaguely see a human figure lift up the flap of the tent and walk out. The instant the flap opened, wind and sand swept in, immediately causing the other two pain as it buffeted them to the point that their sitting forms leaned a bit back. Du Guir automatically let out a low exclamation of surprise. Miss Du? Because she was a woman, Du Guir hadnt gotten too close to Tang Fan and Sui Zhou after entering the tent, staying some distance away from them. In this complete darkness, he couldnt see where she was at all. Im here she answered, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself, teeth uncontrollably chattering. She hadnt expected that at the end of spring and beginning of summer where it would already be time to change into light garments in the border city, a little more only neeeded at night the nights outside of the pass would be so cold, it could practically be considered winter. W-will something happen to Brother Sui? No, Tang Fan answered, but his heart had no bottom. This was an area they had never set foot in before, completely unfamiliar. This group that included Du Guir, despite having several people that had gone beyond the pass before, truthfully had little knowledge of the place. No matter whether it was Shen Gui, Meng Cun, or Du Guir, what they had seen beyond the passes was only one aspect of the region. Tang Fan suddenly had a feeling; since Li Zilong had laid out an array here to bide time for an ambush of the Ming army, had he long expected them to come here? He had long regarded Li Zilong as a demonic practitioner, but even if he was, that he had been able to slip out right from under the Emperors nose and flee to the border meant that he couldnt be treated the same as ordinary hoodlums. At the bare minimum, this mystical, unseen priest was much more difficult to contend with than Li Man, Lady Ninth, or anyone else. However, before he had more time to think more on that, the faint sound of muffled thunder came from far away outside. Immediately following that, a few claps were heard outside the tent, off-and-on, as if something was striking it. The sound grew denser, and Du Guirs expression changed. Rain? Yes, rain. But Sui Zhou wasnt back. Thunder boomed, lightning streaked across the horizon but what truly caused Tang Fan and Du Guirs moods to sink was the rain that was getting all the worse. Prior to coming here, they hadnt anticipated these circumstances at all. The tent wasnt sturdy, either, the heavy rain making water gradually leak in from the outside, dampening the ground while it began to accumulate. In not too long of a time, it would be impossible to remain inside. But if they left, where could they go? How things were like outside was currently unknown; Sui Zhou aside, they hadnt heard anything from anyone else, either. Naturally, even if there was anything to be heard, it had probably been concealed by the rains sound. Had only Tang Fan been here, he would definitely go out and survey the situation, but Du Guir was around. The second he left, she would certainly get scared, and in the wilderness, a lone young woman could easily land in danger. While he was hesitating, he heard her say, Brother Tang, I know that theres a cave at the foot of Barbarian Ridge. I once passed it when I was gathering medicine, and it looked quite deep from the outside. Avoiding the rain there certainly wouldnt be an issue. This place will flood eventually, we cant remain here. Tang Fan pondered for a short moment, then made a decision. Thats fine! Follow me, dont go far! The two dashed out of the tent, one after the other. The rain was even worse than they had imagined, pouring like it was doing all it could to irrigate everything; in no more than a short moment, they were entirely drenched. Du Guir was a little better off, as she was at least wrapped in a blanket that slowed the rate she was getting soaked, but Tang Fan was not so fortunate. He had turned into a drowned chicken. Brother Tang, where are we doing?! Du Guir shouted. The sound of the rain forced her to raise her voice. Were looking for them, first! Keep with me! Tang Fan turned and shouted, then ran forward, shouting for people as he searched. Guangchuan! Wang Zhi! Wei Mao! No voices answered him, only the downpour. He staggered and felt his way to nearby tents, opening them up, sticking his head in, and shouting into each of them, yet he never got an answer. Aside from the two of them, everyone appeared to have disappeared without a trace, in no time flat. Yet where would they go, if not here? They couldnt have all jumped into the lake, right? Of course, it could not be ruled out that everyone had simply separated, and because the rain was too heavy and sky was pitch-black, they couldnt see the road clearly. However, Tang Fan and Du Guir were quickly let down. With both this wind and this rain, it was hard for one to go a few steps forward, to say nothing of finding anything in any direction. The instant Tang Fan opened his mouth to shout for someone, rainwater accompanied by wind poured into it, yet they still couldnt find anyone. In the whole wide world, it seemed like only they were left. Soon, Tang Fan noticed that despite the rains quick arrival, it was leaving quickly, too, already slowly reducing and weakening. The bad news was that the wind was getting ever stronger, nearly getting them swept away, picking up the sand from the ground and throwing it harshly at them. Having just been drenched by rain and now getting blown on by violent winds, the two felt bone-penetrating cold. The blanket covering Du Guir had since become totally saturated. She was forced to abandon it on the ground, only to immediately start shivering all over from the wind. At this time, she couldnt care about the boundaries between men and women, tightly clutching Tang Fans arm as she spoke with a trembling voice. B-Brother Tang, what do we do now? Tang Fan had wanted to tow her back to the tent, use it to block the wind, and catch their breath, but when they searched and searched, they surprisingly discovered that the tent that had just been beside them had also suddenly disappeared. Brother Tang, do you hear that? There seems to be a sound? Du Guir whispered into his ear, pulling him down into a crouch. What sound? They couldnt see their fingers in front of them, with even the tent and not-far-away Weining Sealet unseen, not to mention anything else. However, with a careful listen, it seemed like there actually was something to be heard, some distant commotion flowing on the wind. The two listened hard for a minute. Despite not being able to see each others faces in the darkness, they couldnt keep their own expressions from changing. The sound of horse hooves! How are there horses here? Du Guir tensed up, but her voice became even quieter, nearly just breath. Tang Fan couldnt answer her inquiry, as he was also determining where the sound was coming from. However, their current environs were totally dark, nearly making them blind; they practically couldnt tell which direction was which, let alone figure out the position of hoofbeats. Upon listening carefully again, within the wind, apart from the horses, there appeared to be the clanking sounds of weapons mixed therein. It was like troops were charging forth into battle at night, rushing on over. Tang Fan was slightly dazed; this scenario seemed familiar to him. It wasnt until Du Guirs nails tightly dug into his skin, giving his arm a slight pain, that he snapped out of it. What do we do, Brother Tang?! She was also hearing that the others were not just a few riders, but more like an army of thousands of horses. The issue was that they werent able to tell where the road was anymore, and had nowhere to hide. With the momentum of those iron hooves, they feared that wherever they did hide, they would inevitably meet their fates of getting stomped into fleshy paste. Dont move! Tang Fan firmly held onto her, the two of them crouching where they were, clothes hiked up high. If these were ordinary days, they might have had quite a bit of immortal charm standing in the wind, but right now, their clothes were completely wet, and they could only shiver non-stop from getting blown on so harshly. The sound of hooves grew closer, accompanied by the sound of horns and unknown words. Du Guir clenched her jaw and covered her mouth, but still ended up sneezing. Afterwards, she realized what she had done. Soon following, her shoulder was slapped, and she went white. Tang Fan was crouched in front of her. She was still gripping his arm. Who could have possibly slapped her shoulder from behind? She was too afraid to turn her head, but spoke in a tone that was not much better than a sobbing one. Brother T-Tang, someone touched me from behind He was startled, subconsciously turning his head, but he couldnt see anything. Whos there? he asked, vigilant, as he pulled Du Guir forward. She immediately let out a cry, collapsing near him. He quickly caught her. My shoulder my shoulder, its like it was slashed by something, it hurts she groaned. Tang Fan reached out to feel her shoulder; there was a damp patch, and it smelled like blood when it wafted beneath his nose. Come on! He helped her up, wrapped her one arm around his shoulders, and wrapped his other arm across her waist, half-dragging, half-carrying her forward. The sound of swords crossing quickly came from behind. Du Guir bit her lower lip. I get it; is this not the Underworld Soldiers Passing By that you all mentioned before? Was I not just injured by one? Dont think so much! How could ghosts injure people? he countered, not even needing to think. He didnt turn to see what had happened, instead making the decision to run in the opposite direction while supporting Du Guir. Thousands of troops rushed up to attack, the sound of horns resonating next to the ears. Inside the darkness, it seemed that two different armies were chancing upon a meeting. The two sides quickly came to stand together, the sound of drums and the shouts to kill pairing with the chaotically dancing gale, sweeping into a mass that shocked the skies. As for Tang Fan and Du Guir, they were both wrapped up in such ferocity, treading with difficulty. They had no idea where they were, no idea where the road ahead was, and no idea where this army had come from, nor whether it was a human or ghost one. If there were human, which humans? Those words and shouts for war battered the eardrums; Tang Fan could only tell that what they were saying was not Central Plains language, yet also differed from Tartar language. What ethnicity the language came from was difficult to tell. But, if they were ghosts, how could they harm Du Guir? How could there be ghosts in this world that could harm people? What had happened on this night was much too mystifying, already far beyond the boundaries of what they could normally imagine. Even though in the daytime, they had heard Chuyun-zi speak of underworld soldiers, no one had witnessed it themselves. Now that they were placed inside it, it was inevitable that they would get the subtle feeling of being insignificant. Still, in his rush, Tang Fan had no time to think that much at all, ferrying Du Guir all the way forth. As he couldnt differentiate directions, he worries that if he didnt pay attention, he would trip into the lake or fall, so he watched the road while he ran, dooming them to not go at a very fast speed. It was unknown how long they had been running. Du Guirs steps were getting slower and slower, her body getting more and more powerless, her entire being nearly hanging on him. I-I cant no more running Brother Tang, dont worry about me! Run! she panted. Dont be stupid! He didnt let her go, of course. She didnt speak again, as she was unable to say more. The wound on her shoulder had been flowing blood this whole time, the loss of too much of it causing her to lose all of her strength. Her other arm hung limp, swaying with every step. Noticing her off condition, Tang Fan had to slow his pace. Rest a bit, first. Ill help you bandage your wound. She issued a grunt of endurance. The lady was plenty strong, never shouting out in pain. After saying Forgive me, he felt the wound on her shoulder, after which he found that it was deeper than expected. She appeared to have been slashed by some sort of weapon, the skin turned inside-out and the bleeding continuous. If this were not treated in time, it would certainly turn fatal. Du Guir was a physician herself, and she had brought a lot of medicine for both internal and external application when they had left, but the problem with that was the present environment. With even their clothes being wet, the effect of medicine would not be too great; it would be best for them to find a dry, safe location to rest in, first. Tang Fan was a tad vexed, but his hands ministrations didnt stop because of that. He first brought out the medicine, sprinkled it on her wound, then tore off a hem of his own clothes to haphazardly bandage it for her. How are you doing? Dont fall asleep, talk to me! He lightly slapped her on the cheek. I-I will She grit her teeth, voice clearly getting a lot feebler. Keep with it. When another two shichen pass, it should be daybreak. Well be able to find a way out, then! This night was endless, his companion had vanished, and the terror was unceasing, in a truly harrowing event, but, if he could resolve it with wisdom, it wouldnt be so hard. What most made one lose hope was not harsh circumstances, but rather not knowing the depths of what lied ahead. Du Guir lightly shifted. It was unclear whether she had heard him. Wind still whistled, paired up with the noise of the troops that were close at hand. Regardless of how far they walked, it seemed like they could not get rid of the phantom soldiers that hounded them like undying spirits, encircling them from the front and the back. Murder and slaughter played out before them. These were ancient battlegrounds from who-knew-how-many years before. A sandstorm and rain had brought them back to the field, to personally experience the scene of what had occurred. Horses whinnied, soldiers screamed as they were killed and injured, and the sound of brief weapon clashes did not seem illusory; it made one feel like weapons were about to land upon their heads any minute. Meanwhile, Tang Fan and Du Guir had nowhere to run, and no strength to resist. Respect was granted to this scene of melee. Even if she had been wounded, Du Guirs state of mind was as alert as ever, not completely bewildered. She knew well that she couldnt see, but she still tried her best to keep her eyes open, wanting to catch sight of what was going on around her. All of a sudden, her arm was grabbed by an ice-cold hand. Ahhh! The frightened woman was no longer able to hold out, immediately beginning to scream. The translator says: IT STARTED OUT WITH A KISS HOW DID IT END UP LIKE THIS The authors mini-theatre: The next day, following the kiss, Mister Tang woke up to find Sui Zhou staring at him. Tang Fan: What are you looking at me for? Sui Zhou: Dont you remember what happened last night? Tang Fan thought it over: Nope. Sui Zhou reminded him: That thing from before you slept. Tang Fan saw the light: Oh, that thing about you saying that you were taking away the sugar-soaked plums and not letting me eat them? Its fine. Sui Zhou: (This tale informs us that with certain people that are adept in evasion and shifting topics, roundabout tactics do not work.) CH 98 Du Guirs shriek was like an invisible hand tightly clutching Tang Fans heart. In that split second, it leapt violently, a droning in his ears as her voice reverberated fully. The next instant, her call abruptly stopped, as if her mouth or throat was being firmly strangled by someone. He became tense. Miss Du? Quickly, he turned his head, even if he couldnt see a thing. Its me, a voice showed up beside his ear. Perhaps due to the freezing wind, that tone was much frostier than it normally was, but this didnt influence Tang Fans familiarity with the voice Sui Zhou! Clearly, because he hadnt been able to see anyone at the start, he had taken Du Guir for Tang Fan. After covering her mouth and verbally stating his own identity, he felt the other party instantly relax. Only then did he let go, turn to nab Tang Fan, and briskly bring them both forward. Guangchuan, slow down! Miss Du is injured! Tang Fan quickly said, hushing his voice. The pace of the one in front indeed slowed a little, but still appeared to be quite hurried. Tang Fan was forced to support Du Guir, else she wouldnt be able to keep up. The sounds of war encircling them proceeded, giving no hint that they were stopping. It was like they were situated inside an Asuran battleground, with even the sound of splattering blood mixing into the wind. Still, with more people around him, Tang Fan felt much peace of mind. All of a sudden, Sui Zhou stopped in his tracks. Tang Fan and Du Guir were forced to stop in his wake. Before they could question him, they heard him draw his sabre out of its sheath, as if welcoming an incoming blade. The two parties collided, issuing a crisp clang. Is that you, big brother?! Brother, its us! Wei Shan and Lu Yan! his counterpart called out. Got it, Sui Zhou answered concisely. One hand put his sabre away, while his other hand tightly gripped Tang Fans arm, never letting go. Tang Fan was elated. Inside the darkness, he could vaguely make out two figures bounding up before them. The others similarly had joy that was difficult to contain. Brother, Lu Yan was injured badly. How are we going to get out of this damned place now? It wouldnt be good to remain for long. Well find an area to hide in before all else, Sui Zhou said, no-nonsense. Miss Du said just now that theres a cave at the foot of Barbarian Ridge that we can take a temporary rest in, Tang Fan quickly stated. In which direction? Sui Zhous question was very brief, but Tang Fan immediately understood him. According to where we set up camp last night, it should be northwest of the Weining Sealets northern shores. The other pondered for a short moment. Follow me. He led Tang Fan and Du Guir in the change of directions, with Wei Shan and Lu Yan closely following behind. Tang Fan was helping Du Guir. Even through her clothes, he could feel her temperature constantly rising, while her steps contrastingly became all the more sluggish and limp. Miss Du! Dont fall asleep, hang on for a little while! Well get there soon! he said to her, but she didnt give him an answer. It was unknown whether she was losing consciousness, or had no strength to speak. He had no choice but to pinch her arm hard. She moved on reflex, then said in a weak voice, Im awake. Dont pinch me, ow Tang Fan wasnt sure how to react. Then say something! What would I say? Anything. Ill recite medical scriptures, then, or I really will faint all great doctors that treat patients must be calm and collected with no desires nor demands. A heart of compassion and benevolence comes first. Vow to be willing to rescue all souls from their suffering If someone is in distress, do not ask whether they are rich or poor, noble or peasant While she soliloquized, the group stepped onto ground coated in stone fragments and wild grass, stumbling on larger stones in their path several times. By the time Tang Fan was losing strength, feeling like he would soon be unable to support Du Guirs weight, he sensed Sui Zhous pace gradually slow. Were here? His forehead was sweating profusely. It was only now that he noticed that their group seemed to be gradually leaving that battlefield, with even the sounds of the brawl abandoned behind them. Wait. Sui Zhou released his arm. You all stand here and dont move. Ill scout ahead. A minute later, Tang Fan saw a tiny spark light up inside the dark, following which Sui Zhous indistinct outline was illuminated. That light was considerably valuable here. It was not just Tang Fan, but everyone else that was staring at the flamestick in Sui Zhous hand, holding their breaths. Tang Fan also had flamesticks, but they had just been scrambling the whole path, and there was wind, rain, and unknown foes. Lighting one up would have made him a public target, which would not have been a wise move. The fire grew brighter with Sui Zhous swaying. Using its weak light, everyone could clearly see their surroundings; they were standing right beneath a tree, which was big enough to help them block some of the wind. The leaves rustling even brought some cover from the distant sound of fighting. Wei Shan wanted to light a flamestick, too, but Sui Zhou stopped him. Save it. Tang Fan saw another Brocade Guard leaning on Wei Shan; the injured Lu Yan. His injury looked to be worse than Du Guirs. At this moment, his eyes were shut tight, and he was motionless as he leaned upon Wei Shan, who half-propped him up. Is that the cave? Sui Zhou asked Tang Fan. Yes thats it, Du Guir answered, but I havent been inside. I dont know if theres any dangers. That was too late to consider, though. The rain was much lighter, but it was still falling, and coupled with the bone-stabbing evening wind. Everyone was exhausted, hungry, mentally tensed, and already approaching their physical limits. Du Guir and Lu Yan in particular really needed a place to rest and recover. Sui Zhou gave a command, and they all jogged ahead, crossing over holes beneath their soles to enter the cave. The second they were in, everyone felt relief. The wind and rain continued to float in, but it was much more comfortable than continuing to remain outside. Following his own line of sight, Sui Zhou slowly moved the flamestick around to survey the area. Some rocks were under the feet, and the stones were craggy, but this would only be for one night, so that wasnt a problem. Du Guir had been right; the cave was indeed tall, spacious, and quite deep enough. Sui Zhous flamestick couldnt reach the end of it at all. He walked forth for a time, found a dry spot, and had Tang Fan and Wei Shan help the two wounded people sit down onto it. The flamestick wouldnt be staying lit for very long, nor was the fire big enough to warm. Wei Shan looked all about. Brother, Ill go inside to see if theres any branches that can be lit. Dont go in too deep. As soon as somethings off, give warning, Sui Zhou answered. Wei Shan agreed, took a bamboo tube out of his pocket, drew the flamestick out of it, then lit it up, walking inside while holding it aloft. Sui Zhou first crouched down to help check over the state of Lu Yans injury. The latter was indeed gravely injured; his waist had been hacked, bone surfacing. There were wounds of all sizes in other areas, too. As they had been hurrying on their road, Wei Shan hadnt been able to bandage him up, the blood loss causing his entire face to go pale. Sui Zhou sprinkled goldsore ointment[1] on his wounds. Lu Yan twitched a bit out of pain, like he wanted to struggle, but he was held down by the long-prepared Tang Fan. With Tang Fans aid, Sui Zhou tore off pieces of his clothes to practically bandage him up well, then turned to see to Du Guir. The ladys injury was lighter than Lu Yans, but she was still a young woman that wasnt subjected to much pain in normal days; she was quickly crumpling from the hit, looking even weaker than Lu Yan. Tang Fan felt her forehead it was scalding, causing his expression to go stern. Get her some pills, Sui Zhou said. Theres no water here, though. Tang Fan took out a medicine bottle, brows creased in confusion. Sui Zhou didnt have his gentleness. He straight-up took the bottle, dumped out a few pills, pried open Du Guirs mouth, stuffed the pills in it, and slapped her on the cheeks. Swallow, he commanded. Utterly unsophisticated and crude. Tang Fan was speechless. Du Guirs cheeks were getting slightly red and swollen from the slaps. She swallowed twice with difficulty, managing to get the pills down, but coughed uncontrollably, the repeated action making her cheeks flush as red as blood. Tang Fan lightly patted her on the back, gradually getting her to mellow out. Witnessing this gentleness made Sui Zhou frown a bit, but he didnt say anything. This was not a good time for a private conversation. I found dry firewood! Wei Shan came dashing energetically out of the cave, his flamestick in one hand and a bunch of twigs in the other. Where from? Tang Fan was slightly confused; why would there be branches in a cave? Wei Shan shook his head. Im not sure. There was some previously-extinguished wood, so maybe some hunting party spent the night here. I took out anything that wasnt yet used. That guess was especially unreasonable, but there was no better explanation right now, and this wasnt the time to get to the bottom of it. Tang Fan took the branches to help set up the fire. The effect a bonfire had, under certain circumstances, was limitlessly immense. This bundle of flames immediately lit the cave up bright, letting them feel slight warmth. Even more importantly, it drove away the cold wind and rain, as well as the unease brought about by all the outside threats, allowing them to see hope. Even though Du Guir was still out of it, she couldnt help but get closer to the fire. Seeing this, Tang Fan helped her get up and move closer to it. What a shame it was that all the blankets had been left in the tents, and that one had been abandoned on the road. At this moment, aside from the clothes on their backs, no one had spare articles to use to cover the ground or themselves. Tang Fan noticed that Du Guir was shaking terribly. He wanted to remove his own outer robes, but the second he moved, a hand held him back. You want to catch a cold? Envoy Suis face was sullen. Shes way colder than me, though. Tang Fan blinked, not understanding. The fires been started. Shell warm up soon. Sui Zhou tossed a branch in, stoking the fire brighter. As he was preventing him from doing anything, Tang Fan could do nothing but stop. In addition to the two wounded, the other three sat around the fire, drying their clothes in passing. Tang Fan recalled that he had not been able to see his own fingers in the dark, no one had been able to see the road, and he had been too afraid to rashly light up a flamestick, yet Sui Zhou had been able to accurately discover the cave. It was so dark; how were you able to tell which direction was which? Sui Zhou took out a small object from his lapels and passed it over. Tang Fan took it for a look, then gasped. It was a compass. When they had left the city, Chuyun-zi had also been carrying a compass, but Sui Zhous was several magnitudes smaller than his. It was approximately half as big as a palm, and had been made extremely delicately. It was engraved with the positions of the eight trigrams, a needle swaying gently at its middle. Presumably, Sui Zhou had felt for the pin and the carved characters to speedily determine direction. Where did you get this from? Tang Fan looked it over with some admiration. Before leaving the capital, I asked the Imperial Observatory. If you want one, Ill ask for one for you when we get back. He said this like the things were bok choy, where he could get as many as he wanted. A compass as detailed and tiny as this one was very difficult to manufacture, and there were only three in all of the Great Ming. One was reserved for the Emperor, while the others were in the Imperial Observatory, though Sui Zhou had asked for one. Now, for the sake of currying favor with Tang Fan, not even one would be left for anyone else. Tang Fan just shook his head. Well talk when we get back, but what happened tonight? Could it be Underworld Soldiers Passing By, like how Chuyun-zi said? Yes, but also no. Why do you say that? If I havent guessed incorrectly, from the moment we came to the Weining Sealet, we were already caught in our opponents array or, should I say trap. Tang Fan was in no rush to question him, as Sui Zhou expectedly continued after a pause. After I left the tent, I checked and found nothing. I had wanted to go back around for you, only to find that I couldnt locate your tent. Not only that, I couldnt locate anyone elses tents, either. That was the exact same circumstance the rest of them had encountered. Brother, us too! Wei Shan interjected. Sui Zhou nodded. Later on, I used the compass to search, but I was attacked partway through. Tang Fan frowned. An ambush? It wasnt just one person, and their martial arts were very good. It was slightly difficult for me to deal with them, so I retreated as I fought. I didnt expect to later inadvertently run into you two. Hearing this, Tang Fan looked toward Wei Shan. It was the same for you? The other took in a deep breath. Yes, we suffered a lot of attacks. Lu Yan was injured, then, and there were troops all around, which we couldnt circumvent at all. It seems that the underworld soldiers Priest Chuyun spoke of are real! This place really is cursed! Recalling the scene, his face had remnant fear all over it. It had seemed like they had been trapped by infinite troops, those ghosts that had never dissipated for years lingering around them, menacingly shooting attacks at them. Wei Shan and Lu Yans psyches had suffered a shock; terrified and weak in strength, they had also needed to avoid getting trampled by the horses, making them quickly fall downwind. Lu Yan had ended up staking all of his effort in breaking them out of the enclosure, becoming badly wounded in consequence. What weapons did your attackers use? Wei Shan shook his head. Im not sure, it was too chaotic. We couldnt see, only listen with our ears, though Lu Yan suffered a slash wound. What about for you? Tang Fan asked Sui Zhou. Sabres, as well as swords. No spears or pikes? No. That completely certain answer made Tang Fan sink into contemplation. A long time later, he shook his head. Underworld soldiers coming by may be true, but ghosts taking humans lives might not be. Just like you said, theres a trap somewhere in here. When killing enemies on the battlefield, in order to achieve lethal effects from a long rage, weapons like swords and sabres are generally not used. Instead, long weapons such as pikes, dagger-axes, spears, and ji are. Tang Fan nodded. Right, thats exactly the issue here. Have a think; if those that ambushed us really were the wronged souls of soldiers from the Mongol-Jin battlefield, why would they use sabres and swords? It seems like people planned to kill us using Underworld Soldiers Passing By. Looking at it now, this all definitely was plotted for in advance. First came the heavy wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, after which there came the underworld soldiers for a secretly set-up ambush. No matter how capable Li Zilong is, theres no way he can actually summon the elements, able to use the help of the world around him to accomplish things at most. That is likely how Underworld Soldiers Passing By is made. The previous Ming troops dying or disappearing must have been related to them getting held up here. Sui Zhou thought for a short moment. For the current plan, we can only await daybreak. After dawn, the wind and rain vanished, the array deactivating without being cracked. Wei Shan still had many points of confusion. If theyre not underworld soldiers, then who attacked us? We couldnt see the road, so how were they able to see and attack us? Brocade Guards trained for a long time and shouldnt be this weak, but everything Wei Shan had just experienced was beyond reasonable belief. There was no need to speak of anything else, as the usage of underworld soldiers for an array, as described by Tang Fan, was already unprecedented. He still remembered that while he had been fighting with the other side, because his eyes couldnt see, his ears had needed to hear. The ears of a martial artist were keener than the average persons, but no matter how keen they were, they were inferior to eyes, which had made him a half-beat slower to react every time. And yet, their opponents had apparently been able to sight them in the dark, which had made Wei Shan and Lu Yan abnormally deadlocked. In spite of how bright Tang Fan was, even he couldnt explain that issue, only able to shake his head and tell the truth. Im not sure, either. Ive heard that some people might actually be capable of this after specialized training, Sui Zhou said. Also, they may not necessarily be able to see, they can just remain in the dark for a long time, and have purposefully trained themselves to be able to react quicker there. Upon reaching the pinnacle of their listening ability, they might be able to use their ears as eyes. Looks like after we get back, the Northern Bastion Office will have to add another article to its training. Wei Shan: Hold on he had just been asking a question because he was confused! How had that turned into Mister Envoy thinking to add to the Offices training?! If his pals learned of this, theyd hate him! Giving a single thought towards Sui Zhous usual relentless training methods, Wei Shan couldnt suppress a shudder. That said, he understood that were it not for Sui Zhous strictness, they might not have been able to get away just then. Thinking of the scenario of getting drilled within an inch of his life every single night after returning, Wei Shan suddenly felt those underworld soldiers to not be so frightening. Tang Fan sighed. I dont know what happened to Eunuch Wang and the rest. Hes cunning, Sui Zhou answered blandly. Nothing will happen to him. That statement was comforting, at first, but after he chewed it over carefully why didnt it seem like a compliment? The rain outside was not as heavy as it had been when they had left the tents, but it had never ceased. Going out of the cave, everything was dark, which made it all the more warm and inhabited inside in contrast. We lit up a fire here. Will the ambushers not follow it to us? Wei Shan worried. Neither Tang Fan nor Sui Zhou had an answer to that question. Truth be told, theyd had no other option. If that fire had never been, Lu Yan and Du Guir would likely have frozen to death by now, if not died of injuries or fever. Furthermore, not only would enemies be able to see the fire, but Wang Zhi and the rest would, too. Maybe they would come meet up. Nothing in the world was completely flawless. As the advantages had surpassed the disadvantages, making the fire had been the best option. The fire burned hot, slowly warming everyone up, their damp clothes not sticking to them so uncomfortably. After hearing Du Guir mumble about being thirsty, Tang Fan spotted a leaf on the larger side, left to collect some rainwater to feed her, then felt her forehead. The medicine must have started to take effect, as it wasnt as scalding as it had been, letting him put his heart at ease. This night had mostly passed busily from all the fleeing and avoiding of attacks, no sleep to even be had. Tang Fan had long been fatigued beyond compare; after heavily sitting down, he immediately fought his eyelids, then dozed off at some unknown time. When he woke up once more, the burning fire entered his eyes. He shifted automatically, then discovered that he was snuggled up against Sui Zhou. The man had one arm around his waist, nearly bundling him entirely up into his arms, and had even covered him in his outer robe at some unknown point. Tang Fan was a little moved. Even though this position was slightly awkward, he was afraid of waking the other up with the noise, so he dared not move anymore. However, Sui Zhou had always been a light sleeper that was quite vigilant, so he had woken up almost the instant Tang Fan had opened his eyes. Dont move. The robe will fall off once you do. It would have been better if he hadnt said anything, as once he did, Mister Tang recalled that scene that had happened in the tent before. His handsome face lightly flushed, and he had no idea what to do out of embarrassment. Thankfully, the light shining on his face made this not too obvious. He looked for a random topic. What time is it? Wei Shan was curled up, asleep, next to the fire, while the other two injured people were even more unaware of human affairs. You just napped for half a shichen. No wonder it was so completely dark outside. Tang Fan was a little disappointed. The next moment, however, he immediately sat straight up, Sui Zhous outer robe slipping down on him. It wasnt just him; Sui Zhou reacted the exact same way, and quicker, seizing his sabre and standing up. Wei Shan woke up on his end, too. All three of their gazes fell to the outside of the cave. Rain still descended, but that obviously wasnt their concern, which would be the flickering human figures showing up in the company of the rains sound. Who was it? Friend, or foe? Tang Fan stood up as well, heading over to Du Guir and Lu Yan. If a fight broke out not long from now, he would have to look after these two so that Sui Zhou and Wei Shan wouldnt have later worries. He didnt notice that he was still clutching Sui Zhous outer robes in hand, however. The footsteps drew closer and closer. Everyone was holding their breaths, staring unblinkingly outside. The silhouettes coming towards the caves edge seemed to have no hesitation. Once they reached the entrance, they suddenly slowed, sneakily probing the inside. After seeing only half of the others revealed head, Tang Fan said, Corporal Meng? Gasping, the other party revealed his entire head, expression both shocked and pleased. Sir Tang, Sir Sui! Is it really you?! With the way you were checking, wouldnt we have long found you out if we were the enemy? Tang Fan asked, exasperated. Meng Cun smiled awkwardly, quickly helping his companion enter. Everyone then realized that said person was Chuyun-zi. Priest Chuyun?! Hearing their voices, Chuyun-zi strenuously raised his head, managing to smile at them. Half of his clothes were stained in blood. After getting drenched by the rain, that blood faded and new blood constantly gushed out, making his light-colored Daoist robes look dreadful. Everyone quickly came forward to help, taking Chuyun-zi from Meng Cuns hands to help him sit. You two were attacked also? Tang Fan asked. Yes. Meng Cun smiled bitterly. He had also suffered many injuries, oozing blood all over, but they were luckily all superficial wounds, nothing serious. I came across Priest Chuyun on the way here, and saw the fire, so I hurried to escape with them. I just vaguely heard Eunuch Wang and them angrily shouting; Im afraid that their situation is likely much worse than ours. The second we left, those underworld soldiers must have all charged at them. Please go rescue them, Sirs! Tang Fan and Sui Zhou exchanged a look. Youre certain that theyre still being besieged? the latter asked. Meng Cun inhaled deeply. Yes, more circled us for an attack. It was Eunuch Wang that helped take some of the pressure off and let us come report first, so that we could flee! Guangchuan? Tang Fan asked. The two had reached a level of mutual understanding where, in many instances, they would clearly know of the other partys mind without saying a word. Sui Zhou nodded slightly, looking towards Meng Cun. Do you still have the strength to fight right now? Yes! the other answered seriously, no hesitation. This subordinate will defend this place unto death! Sui Zhou nodded, and without delay, he called Wei Shan. The two rushed for the vast night outside. Of those inside the cave now, Tang Fan knew no martial arts, Chuyun-zi and Lu Yan were both heavily injured, and Du Guir couldnt do much, leaving only Meng Cun that could resist in case something happened. Since he had been able to break Chuyun-zi out of the heavy siege, his skills likely were not too inferior. When you discovered the light here, did your opponents not follow you? Tang Fan asked. Meng Cun shook his head. No. The range of motion for the underworld soldiers appears to be limited to the array. We broke out of the encirclement, so no one is catching up. They arent underworld soldiers. Meng Cun was confused. Huh? Those arent underworld soldiers, just some people using their guises to confuse us and use the night to attack. The other was terrified. Its not ghosts that tried to kill us, but humans?! Tang Fan nodded. Thats why Im wondering why they clearly know that were here, yet arent giving chase. Meng Cun understood nothing. H-how could that be? I clearly felt like I was surrounded by so many troops, my entire body was horribly cold, and there was the sound of horseshoes, horns if they werent underworld soldiers, where did all that come from? Tang Fan had just shared his own guess with him that he still found it hard to believe, but he couldnt think of any words to refute him with. His previous experience of escaping from death made him relax a bit, a weary look appearing on his face. Chuyun-zi had fallen asleep beside him long ago. Seeing this, Tang Fan said, You should rest for a bit. Meng Cun smiled painfully and shook his head. This subordinate still has to keep watch, lest anyone barge in. You sleep first, Sir. Tang Fan was truly tired, and resting his eyes for no more than an hour hadnt been enough to relieve it. Not being too polite with him, he pulled Sui Zhous outer robe over himself, then shut his eyes. It became quiet inside the cave once again. Du Guir had been disturbed by Meng Cun and Chuyun-zis entry, her brows slightly creased, as if restless. It was unknown what she was muttering about. Lu Yan and Chuyun-zi had been so heavily injured that they were now sleeping soundly, even thunder going off right next to them not likely to wake them up. Meng Cun casually looked all around, peered at the dark sky outside, then turned back inside, his line of sight falling upon Tang Fan. Because of how cold it was, Tang Fan was pretty much about to shrink his entire self into Sui Zhous robe, yet still appeared to be a little chilly. In his sleep, he curled up slightly, but because he was too exhausted, he never woke up. Meng Cun moved, tossing a stone below him out of the cave. There came a crisp sound, not too much of a commotion, but if any of them had been sleeping lightly, they would definitely wake with a start. No one did, not even Tang Fan. Only now did Meng Cun silently get up and head for Tang Fan, all whilst pulling out a dagger from his sleeve, then slowly unsheathing it. With his skill, he would surely end his counterparts life in the blink of an eye. He grinned evilly, shifting his figure in preparation to leap up. However, at exactly that moment, Tang Fan suddenly opened his eyes, smiling at him. You bore with it for a long time, eh? CH 99 Meng Cun quickly stopped in his tracks, staring at him with uncertainty. You?! Tang Fan still sat there unmoving, the clothes covering his body not even sliding down. Though a few large steps of distance still existed between the two, if Meng Cun wanted to kill him, it would be a simple act. Tang Fan laughed. Are you confused? I actually have a lot of questions, too. Before you act, shouldnt we clear them up? Meng Cun laughed coldly. If you want to draw things out, youve got the wrong idea. As long as they go to rescue Wang Zhi, theyll be trapped together, unable to help! Dont count on them coming back! Tang Fan shook his head, voice warm. I wasnt planning on holding you up, and I know that even if I call out, the rain will block out my voice, not getting through at all. Aside from Tang Fan, no one in the cave was in good condition. Even he was no more than a weak scholar that didnt have the strength to wrangle a chicken, posing no sort of threat to Meng Cun. After measuring the situation, Meng Cun slightly lowered the dagger he held. Answer my question, first. Tang Fan nodded, his smile like a cleansing spring breeze. Go on. Why did you just fake sleep? Because I thought you were worthy of suspicion. Meng Cun raised his brows. I didnt think I gave anything away. His tone was cocky, entirely different from that ingratiating voice he once had towards Sui Zhou and Tang Fan, as if he had been switched out for a different person. Tang Fan was more willing to believe that these were Meng Cuns true colors, where he was able to straighten his back. No one ever willingly wanted to lower themselves. Tang Fan laughed. Thats only your opinion. Those in the situation are unaware, while bystanders are well aware youve always been suspicious. How so? When we entered Datong, you came to greet us. There was nothing amiss with that, at first, but then you took it upon yourself to toady to us, even using the encounter with Miss Du to purposefully divert our attention to Zhongjing Hall, thus causing us to doubt it and her from the beginning. You cant claim that that point alone made me suspicious. You later discovered that Ding Rong was an informant, too. Correct. At the time, we believed that all of the informants had been caught, until you showed up in this group. Wang Zhi said that you were one of the surviving soldiers from the third group, as well as the one with the highest post. Thats why you were already suspecting me then? I had thought it was simply too much of a coincidence. Three groups of soldiers had either died or gone missing, while you alone brought six back. The soldier that came with us said that it had been thanks to your timely retreat that they had been able to survive. Immediately after that came Shen Guis death. He believed that he had been cursed to death from far away by Li Zilong because he disclosed the White Lotus Societys secret. In reality, he forgot that the water he drank that day had been passed to him by you. You had ample opportunity and time to put poison in it. If Im not guessing wrongly, you wanted to use his death to shake morale, make everyone think that Li Zilong was incredibly powerful and undefeatable, and attack us mentally. Meng Cun nodded. Youre worthy of being called a god at cracking cases, Tang Runqing, with your penetrating analysis. So you doubted me from the beginning. Tang Fan laughed. Im unworthy of your praise, Corporal Meng. You look too highly upon me. I was not only doubting you, but Miss Du, because in this group of people, she was more suspicious than you were. Zhongjing Hall can come and go from Datong without hindrance, a superb hub for information in and of itself, and she is proficient in the medical field, which meant that she could have caused Shen Guis acute death. More importantly, before the sand cyclone appeared tonight, she happened to pop up in Sui Zhou and Is tent, and also happened to follow me all the way here. She was injured, but her life isnt in danger. Look at everyone around; is there anyone else as lucky as her? He was structured in speech, and had quite some draw, like a storyteller. Meng Cun came to be quite interested in listening. Why were you still on-guard against me, then? When I came in with Chuyun-zi just now, we were both injured. Tang Fan laughed in mockery. Because you said one thing that completely exposed you. What thing? Meng Cun asked, doubtful. You said you met up with Wang Zhi, Tang Fan said, curbing his grin, and he helped take the pressure off of you, letting you come over to report ahead of time. Right, but whats the problem with that? Unable to hold back, Tang Fan burst into laughter. Because the Wang Zhi I know isnt like that at all! Rather than give you two backup, hes much more likely to just have dumped you and come here himself! You really think too well of him! Hearing this, Meng Cuns face flashed green and white. It wasnt clear whether he was angry or not. Still, his mental endurance had always been high, so after a moments adaptation, he began to laugh as well, approaching Tang Fan once more. So what if youve found me out, though? Its too late now. Dont you worry; once I kill you, Ill deal with everyone else here. Youll all be able to talk about old times in the underworld so you wont be lonely! Saying so, he leapt straight up, dagger glinting with cold light, and pounced at Tang Fan. However, Tang Fan looked overly calm. His little smile didnt even shrink. This made the suspicious-by-nature Meng Cun even more heavily suspicious. Someone that was on the verge of death shouldnt be reacting like that at all! He quickly went on the alert. In the span of a spark, Meng Cun came to a decision his figure turned around in midair, his target no longer being Tang Fan, but Du Guir, who was sleeping not too far from him! His skills were excellent and wisdom the cream of the crop, else he would not have been able to stay hidden all this time. It had to be said that his bet was the correct one; the instant he switched goals to Du Guir, he clearly saw surprise and unpreparedness come to Tang Fans face. Meng Cun gave a smug smile. Accompanying that smirk was him crooking his fingers into a claw, then firmly grabbing Du Guir by the throat. He hauled her up, roughly pulling her into his arms to use her as a shield, then swiftly changed direction to retreat, tightly sticking himself to the stone wall. Sure enough, he saw two people appear at the entrance of the cave Sui Zhou and Wei Shan. They had never left. Tang Fan didnt have to explain, as Meng Cun already understood. When he had said that Wang Zhi let him come over to report, the others had already begun to doubt him, and even though the two had never expressed as much verbally, they had exchanged ideas via their expressions. Hence was why Sui Zhou had brought Wei Shan to pretend to go rescuing, when in reality, they had always been lurking right outside the cave, waiting for Meng Cun to reveal himself. And he had. He didnt believe himself to be truly without help, though. Im guessing that you all dont want this woman to die, he started slowly. If you dont, then dont test my patience. Sui Zhou had walked in right when Meng Cun made to abruptly attack Tang Fan, and had nearly thrown his sabre, holding certainty that he would hit Meng Cun before the other could injure Tang Fan. Against expectations, Meng Cun had become vigilant partway through, discovering the oddity, then going for Du Guir, which Sui Zhou hadnt been able to counter. Meng Cuns act was absolutely beyond anyones anticipation. After all, amongst everyone here, Tang Fan alone was the one he would possibly rush towards, as well as the most valuable. Now that he had Du Guir, they were afraid of shooting the rat so as not to hit the vase, forced to watch as he dragged her into a corner. She subconsciously cried out in alarm from being suddenly caught, but the lady quickly came to comprehend her circumstances. She was still scared and confused, her body taut and ramrod-straight, yet she clenched her jaw and didnt make a peep. Tang Fan stood up, walking over with Sui Zhou. Release her, and you can leave, he said darkly. We wont kill you. Meng Cun sneered. And Id believe that? Isnt it your array thats set up outside? The second you go out, youll be a dragon swimming in the wide open sea. And yet, Meng Cun did not head in the direction of the caves entrance, but slowly drew deeper into the cave, holding his dagger across Du Guirs neck as he brought her along. The more he walked, getting farther away from the fires range of illumination, the more the twos figures became obscured in the darkness. Wait! Tang Fan quickly stopped. What do you actually want? If its possible for us to, well fulfill it. Miss Du is innocent, why are you using her? Meng Cun laughed eerily. I want your life. Are you giving it? Nope. Meng Cun had no plans to let him answer, however. The second he spoke, he dashed straight into the cave with Du Guir, then vanished. Tang Fan looked at Sui Zhou, an inquiring expression therein. Are we rescuing her, or no? Sui Zhou asked back. Yes! Tang Fan answered, not needing to think. Truthfully, Du Guir was just a commoner woman. If they didnt rescue her, they would not suffer any reproach. She had taken it upon herself to go out there with them, too, which had nothing to do with them. After they returned, apart from Doctor Du and patients that had received her care before, few would likely be heartbroken over this ordinary girl. However, the reason she had come out with them was because she was more familiarized with the terrain, and also because she wanted to do the right thing, similarly wishing to be able to solve the puzzle of the Weining Sealet, plus aid the Ming army in capturing success. If they didnt rescue her, what would be the difference between them and Li Mans, Meng Cuns ilk? In ones time on Earth, there were things to be done, and things to not be done. What anyone else did didnt matter ones own conscience needed to not let the world down. Such was the biggest difference between the good and the bad. Receiving his confirmation, Sui Zhou merely nodded, not expressing any dissent. Wei Shan, stay here to look after Lu Yan and Chuyun-zi. Lu Yan and Chuyun-zi were injured the worst in this group. The commotion that had just been made had not been minor, yet even that hadnt roused them; they had both evidently sunken into a half-comatose state, and could not be left unattended. After explaining so to Wei Shan, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou pursued inside the cave. Meng Cun had Du Guir with him, so he was bound to not be running too quickly. Du Guir herself was also presumably dragging out the time, staggering and stumbling the whole way, nearly making Meng Cun trip and fall. How could Meng Cun not tell what her plan was? He immediately hiked her up by the lapels and swung her two slaps. Bitch! Dont even think about getting any ideas, or Ill just kill you so that I can run better! Beaten until blood flowed from the corners of her mouth, she didnt make a sound. On the other end, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were running quickly, and soon caught sight of the other two. Meng Cun was seen grabbing her while holding a flamestick in his other hand; their shadows jumped up and down in the darkness along with the light, suddenly stopping not far away. Tang Fan heard the distant slapping sounds. Seeing that Meng Cun was a little far off, his heart was anxious, fearing that they couldnt catch up to him. He went a little faster, but at that moment, a hand reached out from beside him, solidly preventing him from taking the step he was about to. He was a bit confused. Guangchuan? Underfoot, the other said concisely. Tang Fan lowered his head. By the light of his flamestick, he broke into a cold sweat out of fright. A mere few steps ahead of him, the path suddenly cut off, swapped out for a black abyss. The flamesticks faint spark gave no way for one to clearly see how deep it was. Had he taken just a few paces ahead of him, he would likely have vanished from this world. This was not at all because he hadnt been looking at where he was going, but rather that when one held a flamestick, their eyes would automatically only look at what it could shine upon. Furthermore, if eyes remained in the light for long, the surrounding darkness would get darker, making blind spots. In his worry, he had temporarily forgotten as much. Thinking back to how Meng Cuns flame had bounced a few times, there was likely a path to take here, where certain key areas would have to be hopped to before this bottomless moat could be passed. But there were no lanterns, everything completely black with only flamesticks to be used how would they be able to see the path? By the time the flamesticks could shine on anything, they would likely already be falling. As if sensing their thoughts, Meng Cun was in no hurry to leave on the other side, laughing loudly. Why dont you give chase, gentlemen? Could the trifling Bridge of Life and Death be a challenge for you heavensent geniuses? So, this area had a name. The Bridge of Life and Death was quite fitting. Tang Fan still did not neglect to persuade him. Meng Cun, you holding Miss Du wont get you anything. It would be better to let her go, and then well sit down to have a proper discussion. You joining the White Lotus Society was for nothing other than fame and fortune, but how could that compare to a future path of using actual weapons to fight? Besides, can the Society grant you a high post and generous rewards? Meng Cun laughed. High post? Generous rewards? Ive been in the border cities for a full decade; a decade ago, I was a seventh-rank Corporal, and now, Im still a seventh-rank Corporal! Do you think I have no military merits? Every time, the merits I risked my life to make either get snatched by someone else or overlooked by my superiors! I reject this! Why would you people get to decide my future?! Im going to decide on it myself! If you are willing to release Miss Du and break off from the Society, no matter what youve done before, we will let bygones be bygones, Tang Fan said warmly. After I return, how about I go recommend you to Commandant Wang to ensure your promotion? Sir Tang, are you trying to coax a three-year-old? the other leisurely asked. Im afraid that if I surrender, my head will be falling to the ground after I return. You aside, that Envoy Sui beside you is surely the first to want to kill me! With that, he laughed coldly. Since things are at this point, I might as well let you all know. After dawn, Dayan Khan will lead the Tartars elites in attacking Datong! Now that Commandant Wang isnt in the city, Supervisor Wang will find it hard to defend by himself I want to see how you all can protect the city! If Datong falls, the first to lose their heads will be you! Hahahaha! When he came out, hed had no idea that Wang Yue had never left Datong, which had been top-secret military intel. Even though Wang Yue was in the city, this information was still startling enough. Tang Fans heart jumped. Staring at that bit of light he faced in the dark, he asked, Is that the truth? Why would I lie? Meng Cun asked smugly. You cant rush back now, and even if you could, it would be too late. Even if you dont die here, youll have to relinquish your posts and titles once you get back! Why not fall to our Society, then? Though Priest Lis apprentice-slash-sworn son died because of you, so youll probably not have an easy time getting in, haha! For a long time, because the Great Ming armies and people had set settlements while the Tartars had inherited the habits of their nomadic ancestors, having no permanent location, the war between the two sides was destined to be done in the style of the Tartars having initiative, and the Ming army being passive. This was not something to be changed. The sole difference was that if the Ming army was powerful enough, when the Tartars came knocking, the Ming commander could not only repel the Tartars, but send people to chase the defeated troops and deal the opponents a heavy blow. If lucky, they might be able to catch a Tartar commander, or find their palace and destroy it. The cause for Wang Yue and Wang Zhis previous successive victories had been that under their command, the Ming army had been able to get to the retreating enemy effectively, following up their victories with pursuits to heavily strike the Tartars. Now, the White Lotus Society had deployed the Underworld Soldiers Passing By array at the Weining Sealet. As soon as a sandstorm came, the array would activate, so the Tartars specially picked out days like today when a sandstorm came to go in and raid, making it so that the Ming army could only defend, not chase. If they did give chase, they would certainly be snared by the array, and the tartars would take the chance to ambush them. As time passed, morale would be influenced, to the point that defense might not even hold up. Like today, for example; since there was a sandstorm, a scene of Underworld Soldiers Passing By appeared. Even though ghost soldiers could not harm people, they could trouble the psyches of Ming soldiers, and the Tartars could also mix in with it to launch ambushes. Even during the daytime, if the sandstorm could not stop, the array would persist. In addition to that, the Tartars believed that Wang Yue was not in the city, making the selection of this time period to attack more than appropriate. Wang Yue was in command right now, but because the Ming army would be unprepared, this situation might not be much better. Naturally, Tang Fan was worried about the army, but what he had to worry more about was their own situation at this moment. He was quite intelligent, his intelligence allowing him and his comrades to get through difficult situations time and time again, but he couldnt do everything. Like right now, for example; before he could think up a way to make Meng Cun stay, he heard Sui Zhou pulling his sabre from its sheath beside him! Wh He didnt get the at out, as he saw Sui Zhou brandish his sabre to block and slash, a clanging sound resonating nonstop in his ears. A gleam of chilling light was in the murk. Sui Zhou leapt from his side, beginning to fight with someone else at once. Only now did Tang Fan learn that while they had been concerned about running, all of their attention placed upon Meng Cun, they hadnt noticed the hidden sentries lying in ambush on either side. Since the others had attacked them, they were clearly on Meng Cuns team. Several figures dashed and weaved in front of Tang Fan, wisps of wind from blades blowing past his face. He had to stand there, rigid, not daring to move in the least. Were he to take a step forward, he would possibly get dragged into the fight, and were he to take a step back, he would face the danger of falling into the abyss. At this moment in time, he absolutely refused to distract Sui Zhou, or cause him extra headache. Even still, he had to occasionally look in Meng Cuns direction, fearing that he would take Du Guir away. Luckily, the other appeared to be rather self-assured, continuing to stand and watch. He had the means to be self-assured, too. There was that deep ravine separating the two sides that Tang Fan and Sui Zhou wouldnt be able to find a way past for a while, and even if they did find one, they were a bit too busy at the moment. Right then, an angry shout suddenly came from the other cliff. What did you do, you little bitch?! Quickly looking towards the sound, Tang Fan discovered that the flamestick Meng Cun once held had been tossed to the ground, the man himself collapsing along with it, still struggling to grab Du Guir. Meanwhile, Du Guir, who had fallen, tried hard to get up, carefully avoiding Meng Cuns wildly-swinging dagger, then aimed a kick at his groin. As an infirm woman that was also nervous, tense, and scared, her strength was quite limited and accuracy not that great, yet Meng Cun still let out a shriek. Since the distance was a bit far and the flamesticks illumination was not enough, it was difficult for Tang Fan to clearly see what had happened, but he knew that it had come about due to something precipitous happening between Meng Cun and Du Guir. Miss Du, that man is an officer of the Great Ming, yet hes thrown his lot in with the Tartars and sold himself to the White Lotus Society! he shouted resolutely at her. His threat is great he cannot be allowed to keep his life! You must kill him now, because if you dont, when he recovers, you will be the first he kills! Hearing his words, Du Guir panted hard, then did all she could to use her other, non-injured arm to pick Meng Cuns dagger up off the ground, slowly prop herself up, then crawl over to him. She had never killed anyone before, but she knew that Tang Fan had spoken the truth. If the man before her did not die, the one that died would be her. She didnt want to die she wanted to go back home and see her parents, wanted to keep being a doctor! There were so many things she needed to do! Thinking of that, she grit her teeth, shut her eyes, raised the dagger up high, and viciously stuck it into Meng Cuns chest! Fresh blood splashed onto her face. Meng Cuns yelling and swearing abruptly ceased. She couldnt help but sob. I-I killed him Brother Tang, I killed him Sui Zhous battle was also reaching its end. The other side had four people versus one, yet they still werent his match, his combat prowess far exceeding their expectations. Two out of the four had been killed by him so far, and the remaining two were at the end of their tethers. After the information of Du Guirs kill on Meng Cun came over, Tang Fan noticed Sui Zhous movements get a lot quicker, his sabres edge flashing with continuous light. A muffled noise sounded out, signifying that he had dealt with another enemy. Sui Zhou quickly slaughtered the remaining person beneath his sabre, then wiped the edge clean of blood using the clothes on one of the corpses. This set of actions was performed smoothly and efficiently, practically able to be called a murder that had changed into a trick worthy of marvel. Unfortunately, at this moment, no one was quite in the mood to appreciate it. Seeing his sabre enter its sheath, Tang Fan hurriedly expressed his concern. Are you injured? My arm got slashed. Its no big deal. Tang Fan reached out to feel. Sure enough, the others right arm had a thin wound on it. Sui Zhou hadnt lied it really wasnt a deep cut, the blood it oozed minor but Tang Fan still took out goldsore ointment to sprinkle on and help staunch the bleeding. Miss Du is still over there. What do we do? Tang Fan looked at the deep and dark chasm before them, out of ideas. It was a definite impossibility that Du Guir could make it over herself, so she could only wait for their rescue. Logically speaking, Meng Cun going over there meant that there had to be a way out on the other side, but Du Guir was a lone, frail woman. If she ran out too rashly, who knew whether there were Society followers lying in wait ahead, to say nothing of no one knowing where the opposite path even led. While Tang Fan was worrying, Sui Zhou said, Ill try it out. Tang Fan was startled. How? When he just passed, I took note of where his flamestick went up and down, and vaguely remember the positions. Vaguely Think of another way! Tang Fan ordered. He wanted to rescue Du Guir, but he couldnt risk Sui Zhous life for that. Lives were valuable, but there was no doubt in his mind as to which party was more important to him. If I do fall, no one will force you to answer that question, Sui Zhou said out of nowhere. Tang Fan was befuddled. What question? My heart is joyed by a gent; does the gents heart feel the same? That was even more straightforward than what he had said in the tent last night. As it was, Envoy Sui had long realized Mister Tangs nature, so he simply used the current circumstances to make a clear statement, firmly preventing him from fleeing. Tang Fan was struck completely stupid by that question. A long while later, he grit his teeth. Theres an absolute zero chance that youll fall, because Im not letting you get past me! He couldnt see Sui Zhous expression in the dark, but somehow, he could feel the disappointment emanating off of him. Curiously, Tang Fan couldnt resist reaching out and grabbing the mans sleeve. And, naturally, Mister Tang couldnt make out the flash of a smile beneath the other mans eyes. A long time seemed to pass. As Tang Fan never said anything, Sui Zhou gently drew his sleeve out his hand. Before he could stop him, his figured bowed slightly, then bound up high as he leapt into the blackness, like a hawk soaring off into the night. Tang Fans heart instantly suspended in air. He could only stare nervously at the bounding silhouette before him. It was no more time than the blink of an eye, but for him, it seemed like a million years had passed. Sui Zhou didnt slip and fall, nor encounter danger, his figure landing stably on the other cliff side. All at once, Tang Fan felt like he was about to bodily collapse, even more tired than he would be facing a hundred Meng Cuns. His heart was tired, and had a blockage in it. Despite having an extra person, this wasnt a difficult task for Sui Zhou. Very soon, he carried Du Guir back over with him. Disregarding the weakness of his knees, Tang Fan stepped up to grab his arm, seeming to want to check that he was completely safe. His strength was so high, it was abnormal, his fingernails nearly piercing the others clothes and digging into his skin. It hurt a bit, but Sui Zhou didnt stop him, instead raising his hand to brush against Tang Fans earlobe. For but a brief moment, a warm sensation flitted across skin, heating up half of his face. Are you alright? Hearing Sui Zhou question Du Guir, Tang Fan snapped out of it. How did you get one over Meng Cun? When I was held by him, I once pretended to trip, when I was actually using the opportunity of him being unprepared to open a bottle of numbing agent, she answered, embarrassed. As long as its smelled or touched, the whole body will go numb after not too long, though it only lasts for a minute. Its my own recipe. Nice going! Tang Fan praised her for her tenacity and brilliance. Her adaptability had not only saved herself, but had also reduced the risk of even bigger losses for Tang Fan and Sui Zhou. Had she been brought out the other side by Meng Cun, the current situation would be difficult to speak of. After rescuing her, the three delayed no more, turning back onto their original path as they spoke. However, by the time they returned to where they had been, they discovered that of the three people that had remained in the cave, Lu Yan and Wei Shan were both collapsed onto the ground, while Chuyun-zi, who was supposed to be injured and unconscious, was missing. The authors mini-theatre: Meng Cun: If the God of Time were willing to grant me one more chance, I definitely wouldnt say that. Tang Fan: Say what? Meng Cun: That Eunuch Wang is altruistic. Wang Zhi: CH 100 Sui Zhou reacted extremely quickly, darting over to examine the state of the twos injuries. Tang Fan and Du Guir hurried over in suit. How are they? Seeing the others serious expression, Tang Fans heart sank. Sui Zhou shook his head, taking back his hand that had just been beneath Wei Shans nose. The man had been stabbed in the back, which had pierced him through the heart. He had long ceased breathing. Then going to see to Lu Yan, Sui Zhou discovered that despite the other being similarly heavily injured, and also having been wounded twice over, he was still breathing! Lu Yan! he called out his subordinates name. Du Guir walked over with a struggle, handing over a medicine bottle. Brother Sui, give him a pill of this! Sui Zhou took the bottle, poured out a pill, pried open Lu Yans jaw, stuffed it in, then slightly lifted his neck, forcing him to swallow it. Tang Fan noticed that Lu Yan had a deep stab wound in his back. These injuries had been acquired before he had come into the cave, but his chest had an extra one that was actively bleeding, which ought to have been made when they had pursued Meng Cun. Du Guir ordered Tang Fan to first staunch his bleeding with goldsore ointment, then reached out to take Lu Yans pulse. After a short moment of concentration, she said, He suffered a heavy injury, but its good that we found him early. If we were a half-minute later, there would likely be no hope for him Hearing that, Sui Zhou and Tang Fan were slightly relieved. They already had their own vague guess, but they still eagerly wished to learn what had happened out of Lu Yans own mouth. Lu Yan swallowed the pill, then spat out a huge mouthful of black blood not a minute later. Du Guir felt his chest, and contrarily let out a sigh of relief. His heart is a little lower than usual. That stab didnt pierce through his heart, which was why he could be saved. As if to corroborate her words, Lu Yans eyelids trembled a few times, then slowly opened a crack. B-brother His voice was barely audible. Before they asked, he said of his own volition, It was Ch Chuyun-zi So it was him! Sui Zhou nodded. We know. Rest well, and dont talk. Only after that did Lu Yan calm, completely passing out. Tang Fans brow tightly creased. They had still made a miscalculation. Chuyun-zis origins were unknown, and he had visited of his own volition, originally being the most suspicious. However, after Tang Fan, Wang Zhi, and the rests initial investigation, they had ruled out his suspicion. That had been because, for one, his identity was much too eye-catching. For two, he hadnt been in Datong for long, had no contact with any confidential information, and thus didnt meet the standards for an informant. For three, Chuyun-zis words and acts had fully fit in with the image of a frivolous Daoist, not showing any flaws. Later on, when they had uprooted the wire that was Ding Rong and Shopkeep Jin, the whole matter had come to an end. Tang Fan had been cautious and fastidious enough to keep Du Guir and Meng Cun within his list of suspects. Reality had proven that despite Du Guirs innocence, Meng Cun genuinely had been one of the informants. And yet, with all of their calculations, they had still missed Chuyun-zi. It had been thought that he had been brought along to be used as a convenient distraction by Meng Cun; who could have thought that the priest would also have issues? He had been acting for so long, not being exposed even when Meng Cun had been. Why had he suddenly chosen this time to reveal his status to two people that had nothing to do with the situation at large, Wei Shan and Lu Yan? After this was over, he could have followed them all back to the city. Having shared in calamity with them, would he not have been able to earn their trust even more? Tang Fan regretted having not been able to consider everything from every aspect, but there would be no use in self-reproach right now. The crux was to figure out Chuyun-zis plan. This isnt your fault. Sui Zhou seemed to have sensed what he was thinking, lightly patted him on the arm. Tang Fan truly had done all he could, but an intelligent persons thousand considerations would always have at least one miss. There was nothing to be done about that. Were the White Lotus Society actually that simple an enemy to contend with, it wouldnt be like weeds that couldnt be extinguished after repeated wildfires, cropping up again with spring winds. Feeling a thread of warmth, Tang Fan smiled at the other man. However, at exactly that moment, he caught Wei Shans body out of his peripheral, and his heart abruptly jumped. No. Chuyun-zi revealing himself hadnt been for them. After stabbing Wei Shan and Lu Yan, he hadnt gone to find Sui Zhou and he, so they werent his target. His actual target was Wang Zhi?! Tang Fan stood with a bang. This is bad! As soon as this link was figured out, the rest all linked up. He knew what the other parts goal was! From the very start, the Societys target wasnt us, but Wang Zhi, he said to Sui Zhou. That was why they had to draw us away, one by one, and this cave was the best spot for it. We believed it would be safe to come here, but couldnt have imagined that our departure would leave Wang Zhi and the others in circumstances where they have no help. Following that, too, Meng Cun abducted Du Guir just to lead us astray and deal with us separately, so that we would have no way to help Wang Zhi out of his predicament. If they just wanted him dead, they wouldnt need to spend so much energy, Sui Zhou noticed. The only possibility here is that they want him alive. Right! Hes the Defending Supervisor of Datong, and a close subject to the Emperor. In the Societys view, a live Wang Zhi is much more valuable than a dead one. He has Wang Yues patronage, too; if they keep hold of him to threaten Wang Yue, the latter will certainly land in a hard spot. Even if Wang Yue was unmoved, having Wang Zhi in hand would not only shake the Ming armys morale, but cause the Dynasty to massively lose face. That was why they did so much to lure Wang Zhi over here it was to get him alive. However, Wang Zhis martial arts are strong, and he has Wei Mao. The other party wont be able to catch them for a time. Now, dawn is about to break. Meng Cun said that after the dawn, the Tartars will launch a massive attack against Datong. Chuyun-zi must have been anxious to capture Wang Zhi before that time, which is why he had no choice but to reveal himself ahead of schedule and rush to help. Catching someone alive was more difficult as opposed to dead, because when your opponent learned that you had no intention to kill them, they would definitely use various strategies to drag the time out as much as possible. With Wang Zhis own intellect, he must have realized as much, so the two sides were likely in a deadlock. He wasnt able to flee, and the Society followers werent able to contend with them for the time being. What do you think of this? Sui Zhou asked. Ill go break the array, youll go rescue him, and help him drag out the time as much as you can. No, Sui Zhou countered without thinking. The array might have people defending it. I dont feel good about it. There shouldnt be any. You saw that before, when we chased Meng Cun, there were no more than four lying in wait in the cave to kill us. After the governments suppression, the Society was already greatly diminished. They wouldnt have had to scramble to collude with the Tartars if they werent. In order to capture Wang Zhi, they must have turned their whole nest upside down. Even if there are people guarding the array, there wont be many. Thats true, Brother Sui, Du Guir said. Go rescue him now. Im here, too, and I have some tricks to use. If I want to catch anyone off-guard, I still can. I can go with Brother Tang! Time was precious, and no one could afford delays. Sui Zhous line of sight swept over the two of them, then he gave them a slight nod, said Be careful, quickly turned, and left. Tang Fan and Du Guir joined forces to hide Lu Yan away behind a boulder in the corner, checked over his injuries again, then gave him another pill. After confirming that he was fine, they went. It wasnt that they were intentionally placing Lu Yan in dangerous circumstances, but their numbers were limited right now for both rescue and breaking the array. Tang Fan by himself would not be able to overcome someone defending the array; Du Guir was a young lady of strong will and proficiency in medicine, able to take down even Meng Cun, so she was a great help. With her around, his chances of success grew. The Society was currently busy with putting all of its power into fighting Wang Zhi, where Chuyun-zi couldnt even spare any time. They likely wouldnt be able to divert anyone over here before they returned, meaning that Lu Yan was relatively safe. Once out of the cave, they walked leftwards. According to Tang Fans intuition, if their enemies wished to set it up for the best effect, the array was certain to be not too far from the Weining Sealet. It could even be in the foothill region. In order to conceal it, Li Zilong must have used the environment as cover. Can you hold on? Tang Fan asked Du Guir. She grit her teeth. Yes! Even though the slice on her shoulder had stopped bleeding, it was still there. Regardless of how good the medicine was, wounds healing up automatically was an impossibility. From getting dragged along by Meng Cun, her neck now had a shallow knife wound on it, too. She was veritably banged up all over, yet she endured, which Tang Fan quite admired. This night had been heart-pounding, yet not even two shichen had passed since their encounter with Underworld Soldiers Passing By. The sky hadnt truly started brightening, a cover of fog outside that only faintly gave a smattering hue of gray. This happened to be the most unbearable instance before daybreak. The rain had stopped, but the sandstorm was still going as ever. The instant they left the cave, they heard the sound of wind whistling past their ears, and felt the roiling sand particles attacking the face. Wang Zhi had been able to withstand these circumstances all night, still trapped inside the array. The enemy might not be thinking to kill him, but this was still highly impressive. Its pitch darkness, Brother Tang. Where are we going to find it? Du Guir couldnt help but whisper. Do you feel which direction the sandstorm is blowing? All she could feel was pain swiping across her face. Quickly pulling the outer robe she had taken off some corpse over her head, she shook her head. No. The array can only take advantage of situations. Flat land doesnt create wind; the sandstorms look to be irregular, but the more we go forward, the worse the wind and sand get. Du Guir trailed him for a time, then noticed that that was true, getting elated. Youre saying that this direction is the right one? If we keep going, well find the stone array? We should, reasonably speaking! In order to prevent the tiny woman from getting lost or blown away by the wind, he firmly held her arm. The two strove forth into the storm, one after the other. In comparison to the dangers of this night that Tang Fans group had faced, Wang Zhi was obviously not going to be much better off. At this moment, he was standing inside the crazed sand, back-to-back with Wei Mao. Using their sabres to prop their figures up, they both had wounds of all sizes and different depths on them, half of their outer robes dyed with blood. They were surrounded by bobbing phantoms, tens of thousands of underworld soldiers circling them in a war that had repeatedly unfurled for hundreds of years. Within this earth-shaking brawl, the qi of living people was mixed in as long as Wang Zhi and Wei Mao loosened their attention even a little, those White Lotus followers hidden amongst the underworld soldiers would go in for a sneak attack. At the beginning, Wei Mao had defended Wang Zhi, but later on, upon discovering the foes intention to keep him alive, that had changed to Wang Zhi defending Wei Mao. The two had held out for the majority of the night by relying on their own strong martial arts and tenacity, but no matter how skilled they were, they were just mortals, not deities. After successively killing several White Lotus followers, their opponents were evidently getting antsy, the force of their attacks ever increasing. Were they instead in broad daylight, Wang Zhi might not fear much, but now that the enemy was obscured, using their familiarity with the environment to hide and take advantage of the situation, there was no way to defend against them. This was a stalemate. If he was to be captured, then used to menace Wang Yue or lose face for the Dynasty, he felt like he would rather fight straight to the death, or slit his own throat and be done with it. This didnt stem from any deep affection he had towards Wang Yue, nor any held-up grandeur of self-martyrdom to safeguard his integrity, but rather his own pride. He wouldnt be able to stand the humiliation. Still, at the moment, the circumstances they were facing were truly terrible. If this went on, then even if daybreak came, the sandstorm stopped, and the array vanished, their dual strength was isolated. It would be hard for them to fight off so many people. Eunuch Wang, this subordinate likely wont be able to hold on in a minute, I will charge up and help you fight, so you should use the chaos to kill your way out of the array Wei Mao panted out from behind him. What a load of crap! I can kill my way out without you! Dont believe for a second that your sacrifice can save anyone! Keep your stupid life, would you?! Wang Zhi scolded loudly. Wei Mao laughed tragically, his defeated expression full of despair. If not for having no other way out, who would be willing to stake their life? In the scenario that only one person could be left alive, Wei Mao wouldnt be choosing his own survival. That he had been brought here from the capital by Wang Zhi meant that his loyalty was not to be doubted and if Wang Zhi ultimately died while he survived, he wouldnt have any sort of good end even if he did manage to get back. Eunuch Wang, instead of both of us being lost here, it would be better for me to stake it all here. If something happens to me, please look after my family My ass, Ill look after them! Wang Zhi interrupted. Take care of your own family, Im not interested in doing it! Quit saying nonsense! Its annoying to hear! You think that just because you die, Ill be able to escape? Stop dreaming! The odds of two winning together is greater! If you dare to act on your own, Ill raid your house when I get back! Eunuch Wang Wei Maos eyes watered as he firmly gripped the sabres hilt. Dont quibble like a woman! Kill them! Within the sandstorm, it was dark without daylight, the brawl of ghosts unendingly heard. It was a huge trial for ones power of will. Wang Zhi and Wei Mao had hearts of iron, but they couldnt act like they were deaf; after such a long time, their actions would inevitably be affected, thus landing them in the enemys arms. The two coordinated seamlessly, attacking and defending, thus repelling a wave of sneak attacks. Another foe was done away with during, but Wang Zhi suffered because of it, getting hacked on the shoulder. Doesnt that jackass Tang Runqing usually have all the damn ideas?! What time is it now? How come I dont see him? Where did he run off and die to?! Eunuch Wang cussed fluidly, sparing no one, from the White Lotus Society to Tang Fan. Of course, he was well aware that the others might be tied up too, but that didnt stop him from indulging in his fixation on verbal abuse. Wei Mao smiled bitterly, knowing that his Chief Eunuch was lifting his own spirits by reprimanding others. At right that moment, however, his ears twitched. Eunuch Wang, listen! he said excitedly. Are there rescue troops? Wang Zhi quit cursing everyone. He, too, noticed that the people surrounding them appeared to be lesser, their offense slowing and the pressure on the pair reducing. Within the sandy wind, the sound of weapon clashes vaguely sounded out, the commotion even more lifelike, and able to distinguished from the fight of the underworld soldiers that lingered about the ears. Had someone actually come to rescue them? Wang Zhi had no time to think more on it, saying decisively, Use this chance to kill a few more! Go! They roused their energy up high, going in together to murder their counterparts. The Society followers seemed to have not thought that Wang Zhi and Wei Mao, who had been turtles stuck in an urn, would still have the strength for a desperate struggle. Pairing that with an unexpected strike from an outside force, the momentum of their formation shortly turned chaotic from how caught off-guard they were. Wang Zhi and Wei Mao wielded their spring-gilt sabres, which had both drunk an immeasurable amount of blood, and simultaneously exploded with strength that had been previously stifled, cutting down two followers in quick succession. Of course, they had to pay a price. A few new injuries were added onto them. They understood at heart that this momentum was not going to last for long; the first beat of the drum gave energy, which waned on the second, then stopped on the third. If this situation went on, their strength would soon dissipate. Taking advantage of their foes chaotic formation, the two met up with the one that came to help. As soon as they saw each other, Wang Zhi went bug-eyed. Why is it only you?! Sui Zhou was busy fending off three people that had come attacking in front. Despite it being three-on-one, he wasnt losing out in the slightest. Who else did you think it would be? he asked without turning his head. Where are your two Guards?! Wang Zhi brandished his sabre to block oncoming swordwind that stabbed at the face, turning to grab at a newcomer. The Society follower was similarly alert, drawing back, yet was a step too slow, his shoulder getting firmly clamped down upon by Wang Zhis fingers that were like iron talons, following which he was involuntarily used as a meat shield by him. Another follower happened to swipe his emeici towards Wang Zhi, only for a human figure to unexpectedly flash before his eyes, his weapons sticking into his own comrades body. His friend shrieked, leaving the follower automatically stunned, immediately after which his neck was sliced by Wei Mao, ending his life. One is dead and one cant move, Sui Zhou coldly answered. Wang Zhi was startled. He had thought that a rescue team had arrived, but it was only Sui Zhou by himself. The others skill was no lesser than his own, but two fists would find it hard to contend with four palms what use would one person have? And how much time could be dragged out? What about Tang Runqing?! he asked, still slightly unwilling. Even though Tang Fan knew no martial arts and they would only be able to protect him if he was here, no one would believe that he was getting underfoot, because his caution, meticulousness, and ample wisdom gave him enough skill to be reliable. It could even be said that the reason Wang Zhi and Wei Mao had held out for so long was precisely because they held the thought that Tang Fan would think of a way to help them out of this predicament; with hope, there naturally came strength. Now, however, upon discovering that Sui Zhou was alone, it was not just Wei Mao, but even Wang Zhi that was feeling a little desperate. The Sui-Tang pair was as inseparable as Meng Liang and Jiao Zan.[1] Why would Sui Zhou show up alone, if nothing had happened to Tang Fan? Unexpectedly, Sui Zhous next sentence was: Hes looking for a way to break the array. Wang Zhi became overjoyed, regaining a spark of hope. Will he find it? Sui Zhou didnt respond. That question was really one he couldnt answer. Tang Fan might not be able to answer it, either. If he could find it, there was slim chance for survival. If he couldnt, everyone would meet a dead end. Sui Zhou realized that Wang Zhi and Wei Mao were arrows at the ends of their flights. If he answered that he had no idea, he would probably disappoint them further, so he changed the subject. Have you seen Chuyun-zi? No, Wang Zhi answered suspiciously. What about him? He killed Wei Shan. Runqing suspects that hes Li Zilong. Wang Zhi was shocked and furious. Is that the truth?! The other hummed. Wang Zhi was unsure of how Tang Fan came to this conclusion, but since it came from the guys mouth, he subconsciously held some belief in it. At the beginning, he had also felt that Chuyun-zis appearance was too coincidental, which was why he had placed him next to him, to keep an eye on him. Later on, after things about Ding Rong had come up, Chuyun-zi himself hadnt had any sort of suspicious motives and prerequisites, so he had gradually been struck from the list. It came wholly unexpectedly that after this runaround, Chuyun-zi would not only be an informant, but his identity would be even more alarming than Ding Rong and Meng Cuns. Truly, who could have known that that demonic practitioner, ever like a hundred-legged bug that refused to quit moving in death, would dare to appear in front of them after escaping execution in the capital? Who could have thought that he would become the State Master of the Tartars palace, then lower himself to run off here and set everything up? Who could have made an association with Chuyun-zi and Li Zilong? The second Wang Zhi gave thought to how many Society followers had been hidden right by his side, yet he hadnt noticed at all, the rage that arose from being fooled came up from the bottom of his heart. Li Zilong, you son of a bitch, get out here! Did you come out missing a ball when your mom had you? Is that why you keep hiding yourself away all day long?! Youre a sissy, making your subordinates charge out into battle while you take cover to watch the fun! Are you trying to say that youre a woman in disguise? Looks like your lackeys really have their heads in the water, to take orders from you, some hermaphrodite demon! Come on! Show yourself to me right now! Take off your clothes and let your followers see if youre actually a man or a woman! Despite no one being able to see clearly, his voice was sent out using internal force. The enemies must have heard him loud and clear. Eunuch Wangs achievements in insults were tremendous, it had to be said. This bout of vulgar disgrace would likely anger even the dead back to life, to say nothing of Priest Li Zilong, who was not to be proclaimed as being of common cloth. Not long after this, a sinister voice came out of the sandstorm, a careful listen indeed marking it as similar to that of Chuyun-zis. Wang Zhi, all you can do now is flap your trap! Dont say that Im not giving you a means to survive if you be good and surrender, I can still plead for Dayan Khan to spare your life! Wang Zhi laughed aloud. Priest Li, Miss Li, or Granny Li? How should this eunuch address you? Clarify that for me! He knew that there was no way that the Society-goers would kill him, else this wouldnt have been dragged out so much, which was why he grew all the more unscrupulous. The instant he spoke, Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi sensed their opponents attacking force become slightly fiercer. At the same exact time, Li Zilongs voice sounded out again. Do you still not recognize that youre on the verge of death?! Sui Zhou narrowed his eyes, abruptly jumped off the ground, then used the tip of his toes to step on Wang Zhis shoulder and launch himself, flying straight for a certain area ahead. Caught off guard from a wound getting inadvertently stepped on, the target of Wang Zhis insults immediately changed. Sui Guangchuan, are you mute?! Cant you warn someone before you step on them?! The translator says: Irony: insulting Li Zilong for having no balls despite being a eunuch yourself, and insulting women despite Du Guir having just killed a man. [1] Meng Liang and Jiao Zan were sworn brothers, and the right-hand men of General Yang Yanzhao. Meng Liang ended up murdering Jiao Zan due to mistaking him for an ambushing enemy, then killed himself out of guilt. CH 101 Sui Zhou didnt turn his head, so who knew if he had heard. His figure vanished into the mist like a shooting star. A short moment later, a muffled sound came from in front. The array around Wang Zhi and Wei Mao subsequently stagnated. Wang Zhi zeroed in on the opportunity, shouting, Go! Wei Maos psyche had been tensed this whole time, prepped to be on-the-go at any time. Nearly the second Wang Zhi spoke, he promptly charged in the direction Sui Zhou had broken through from. At some unknown time, the sound of fighting all around them gradually vanished. Hair-raisingly, the underworld soldiers half-hidden in the wind and sand also subsequently vanished, the dark nightfall switched out for the fishbelly-white of dawn on the horizon. Wang Zhi and Wei Mao abruptly noticed that despite the sandstorm still dancing like mad, without the arrays cover, those infinite troops that confused the eyes had vanished into nothing, the enemys situation gradually emerging. In a split second, they all realized that Tang Fan had found the distant stone formation and broken it! There were a total of eight people surrounding Wang Zhis group, arranged in accordance with the eight trigrams; qian, kun, zhen, xun, kan, li, gen, dui. Whenever their group tried to break free of the circle from a certain position, the two foes to the left and right of said position would join forces to help the middle person attack them, and if one was killed, a new person positioned outside would come up to fill in for them. This unending, multiplying cycle of come-and-go combined with the former chaos of the underworld soldiers and cover of the sandstorm had thus created a flawless array, rigidly trapping Wang Zhi and Wei Mao there. However, their foes did not have unlimited people to kill, and Wang Zhis group were not pacifists. Via a whole nights worth of effort, the enemy now had exactly eight members remaining, no new blood to restock from the outside. Sui Zhou had just determined a position from a voice; the direction he was attacking in was one of the links in the eight-person formation, Li Zilong. That the latter would actually show up to participate in the attack in person meant that they had indeed killed the greater part of the followers. Thinking of all that, Wang Zhis spirits were greatly lifted, and he laughed as he pounced on someone beside Li Zilong. The man had been about to attack Sui Zhou while he wrangled with Li Zilong, only to be intercepted by Wang Zhi. Without the protection of those underworld soldiers, the Society followers were no more than average people, if a little bit more skilled. Why would Wang Zhi and Wei Mao ever fear them? The three formed an offense-defense set-up, beginning to fight in close quarters with the eight-person group headed by Li Zilong. The black night would be passing, and daybreak would be coming eventually. Alongside the appearance of that smear of fishbelly-white, the sky was getting brighter and brighter, the wind and sand that had been blowing all night finally beginning to slow their force. That was not good news, in the Societys opinion. Wang Zhis group was only three, yet they could very well kill all eight of them. Seeing yet another companion fall, the advantage of their side gradually waning, a follower grit his teeth, then called to Li Zilong. Second Head, this cant go on! The Tartar army is about to attack! Are we really going to be able to capture him alive?! Currently, there was no longer an issue of a live capture, as the array had been broken and the other sides confidence had been greatly bolstered. If things continued like so, would they be able to retreat intact? Li Zilong realized at last that he had committed a strategic error. At the start, they could have simply killed Wang Zhi, but he had thought that a live Wang Zhi would be more valuable than a dead one, so he had persistently demanded that his subordinates capture him alive, even laying down an impenetrable trap to lead the others away from him as best as possible. Unexpectedly, Meng Cun had made a mistake on his end and failed in his task, giving Tang Fans group the opportunity to flee, then double back to help. Now that the array was ruined, the success chance of capturing Wang Zhi was greatly reduced, and because they had been tied up with him on this side, they had lost their best chance to act. The combined martial forces of the other three could surprisingly match with all of them, or even turn the situation around. Once another shichen passed, the Tartar army would go and attack. Were they to discover that the arrays effect had failed and he hadnt captured Wang Zhi, they would certainly be furious with him, judging by their predator-like personalities Bringing that to mind, Li Zilong inwardly clenched his jaw, hating Tang Fan to the bone all the more. Had it not been for him breaking the stone array, this situation wouldnt have come about tonight to say nothing of the fact that the other had caused the death of his sworn son, Li Man. Another follower fell, leaving only six of the eight-person formation left, and of those six, all were elite members that he had painstakingly cultured. The White Lotus Society, which had suffered a heavy blow, could no longer withstand any further losses. Retreat! he practically spat from between the cracks in his teeth. While the Society people slowly gained the image of drawing back, Wang Zhis group had also heard Li Zilong, and simply strengthened their offense intuitively. Each of them wielding a spring-gilt sabre left no cracks to leak out of, the images of blades harshly winding and weaving, the passive becoming the active. Their target was Li Zilong. From the demon fox case of the capital to the Weining Sealet of today, what was behind all of these suspenseful events was inseparable from the operations of the demonic priest before them. If they could catch him, the Society would certainly consider it a heavy blow, and they might be able to use that chance to pull this batch of hideously-dancing evildoers from its roots. Having thought as much, Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi thereby used all of their strength to make Li Zilong stay here. However, since Li Zilong had been able to slip out from under the Emperor himselfs nose, even managing to complete a switcheroo at his Caishikou execution via underhanded means, how could he not have a backup move? He peered at Wang Zhi, Sui Zhou, and Wei Mao, huffed out a cold laugh, then quickly drew away from the battle. The five remaining followers fought with their opponents, while he blew on a loud and clear whistle. The cry of falcons was heard coming out of thin air. Large shadows promptly covered the threes heads. They all looked up to see two huge falcons dropping down from the sky, bearing down on them without warning. Were they to be pecked by those sharp, slightly-curved beaks, that would be no joking matter, their flesh likely to come off with the scrape. They could no longer care about the followers, raising their sabres to resist the two falcons surprise attack. Meanwhile, Li Zilongs group took this opportunity to flee. The huge birds were clearly well-trained, their fighting abilities comparable to that of average experts. Due to the advantageous terrain of the open air, Sui Zhou and the rest inevitably became hindered in movement, only able to look on helplessly as Li Zilong led his team into vanishing from their lines of sight. After they left, the falcons had no love for fighting, and immediately circled upwards, flying high into the sky, gradually shrinking into small black dots until no trace could be seen of them. In truth, even without the midway interruption by the falcons, they might not have been able to actually capture Li Zilong. As they were painfully aware of themselves, after a whole night of strenuous fighting, their physical strength was already reaching its limit. Sui Zhou was okay, as he had at least had shelter from the rain in the cave and a short rest, but Wang Zhi and Wei Mao were awful. Getting any rest aside, they had been getting drenched and fighting for the prior half of the night, and the latter half, theyd had to remain in rampant sand without falling to a disadvantage. Their opponents withdrawal, from another perspective, was a great aid to them, because, after a little while more, they might not have been able to hold themselves up anymore. Sui Zhou was still cable of keeping himself upright using his sabre, panting slightly, while Wang Zhi and Wei Mao sat right on the ground. Not a bit of them wasnt injured, cutting indescribably sorry figures while their faces were covered in grime. It was likely that if Wang Zhi went back to the city now, no one would be able to recognize him. We cant rest yet, a voice came from not far away. The three followed the sound to see Tang Fan and Du Guir supporting each other as they walked over. They, too, had new injuries, looking to have suffered quite a lot when they had broken the array but as long as they were still alive, everything was going to be okay. Seeing that everyone was fine, they all relaxed. Sui Zhous gaze on Tang Fan was even more focused, as if he wanted to confirm that he genuinely was without injury. That burning look was practically about to gain substance; how could Mister Tang not sense it? His handsome face lightly flushed. Pretending not to see, he repeated what he had just said. We cant rest yet, we need to rush back to the city and make a report. The Tartars will come to attack Datong soon, and Commandant Wang needs to be informed of that in advance. As a border city, Datong was always in a state of war preparations, but the enemy might be coming and the enemy is coming, right now were two different concepts. The more sufficiently prepared they were, the greater their chances of victory would be, and the fewer casualties would come. Wang Zhi rolled his eyes. I cant walk. You lot will have to be the ones to go back! He really couldnt walk; that wasnt an act. His energy was depleted, his complexion was gray, and it looked like he was approaching his outer limit. The same went for Wei Mao beside him. Tang Fan shook his head. Ignoring his huffy words, he turned to Sui Zhou. Guangchuan, Lu Yan is still in the cave. The other immediately caught his meaning. Ill go get him. You all start walking, Ill see you in the city later. Tang Fan nodded. Okay. Take care. Sui Zhou went back to find Lu Yan, and the other four went back to Datong on foot. From the thunder, lightning, wind, and rain last night, the horses they had rode in on had long since fled to parts unknown, leaving them to walk on their two legs. It was likely that before they would be able to get back, the Tartar cavalry would arrive. Out of a lack of choice, Wang Zhi and Wei Mao led Tang Fan and Du Guir along, respectively, gathered up their energy, and ran back. Martial artists were ultimately not the same as ordinary folks, making their pace a lot quicker. If they exerted themselves, they might be able to get back to Datong before the Tartars. On his end, Sui Zhou had Lu Yan on his back, and also caught up pretty quickly. Wang Zhi tightly clutched Tang Fans arm, face ashen, unable to even speak, afraid that if he expended that energy, he wouldnt be able to get it back. The group traveled at various paces, then ultimately arrived at the outside of Datong City a shichen after sunrise Only to be barred outside the gate, disallowed from coming in. The reason was none other than that the six of them were coated in bloodstains and looked abhorrent. Even the lone woman, Du Guir, was no exception, being terrible to behold. The second he saw the gate-guarding soldier looking at all of them like they were bandits as he sized them up, the originally out-of-strength Eunuch Wang instantly grew incensed. The hell are you looking at?! Im the Defending Supervisor of Datong, Wang Zhi! What short-sighted fucker would dare to impersonate me?! This blade of mine killed a lot of traitors last night, and if you dare to stop me, youll be another one! Tang Fan placed his hand on his forehead. Didnt Wang Zhi say that he had no strength? Where was he getting this energy now? As soon as the soldier heard the name Wang Zhi, the look in his eyes immediately changed. Upon closer inspection oh no, he really was Eunuch Wang! It was simply that Eunuch Wang was typically sharply-dressed. When had he ever had such a bedraggled appearance? At this moment, the other didnt even dare to wipe off Wang Zhis spittle that had flown onto his face, hurriedly letting them in in an ingratiating manner. After entering the city, Wang Zhi still had to go report to Wang Yue, as only then could the order be passed down for the city to prepare for war. The rest of them brought Du Guir back home, having a doctor of Zhongjing Hall treat Lu Yan for his injuries while they were at it. The bandages from last night had been rushed, all of it done under pressure, and he needed better arrangements. Upon her return to Zhongjing Hall, Doctor Du held his head and wept bitterly at seeing his daughters ragged state, naturally. Idle talk was not for here. Following a period of busyness, Lu Yan was left in Zhongjing Hall to recover. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou didnt remain for long in the Hall after getting treated, instead planning to return to the posthouse to rest. Tang Fan was unbearably exhausted. On the road back, his steps felt floaty, as if he was walking on clouds. All of a sudden, his foot stepped on nothing, and once he snapped out of it, he realized that he had since come to be carried on someones back. He blinked. Guangchuan? Because he had reached the peak of exhaustion, he was forced to manually blink to avoid shutting his eyes. I feared youd doze off on the walk, said a staid voice from in front of him, the vibrations of his chest transferring to Tang Fans arms. Put me down, youre injured too. I can still walk. Tang Fan laughed, gently patting his shoulder. Seeing a man carrying another man didnt attract curiosity from passersby, as they merely took Tang Fan as having an injured foot. Mister Tang, who hadnt been piggybacked since he was four years old, still felt a little embarrassed, though. Sui Zhou didnt release him, of course, continuing to hold him steady. Tang Fan was helpless it wasnt like he could hop off his back so he had to go along with him. The other mans back was broad and warm. Regardless of how hard Tang Fan blinked, he ended up not being able to stand his strong drowsiness, and passed out at some unknown point. His sleep was extraordinarily heavy. Let alone thunder and lightning, the Tartars besieging Datong City would likely not even rouse him. When he opened his eyes once more, he saw familiar roofbeams overhead. His mind was a little fuzzy; it took him a very long time to realize that this was his room at Datongs posthouse. How long had he slept? He rubbed his stomach. It hurt a little, which was a symptom of having been hungry for a long time. He then looked himself over; his clothes had since been changed, the inner robes all new. This wasnt that outfit he had been wearing when they had come back. He lifted the blanket to prepare to get out of bed, only to hear a soft knock come from outside. Come in. A posthouse worker pushed the door open, breaking out into a smile. Oi, Sir Tan, youve awoken! You slept for a full two days! Two days? Tang Fan was somewhat shocked, immediately recalling something more important. The Tartars came? They did, and the fighting is over. The sound of the melee could shake the sky! We at the inn could hear it, yet it didnt rouse you! This lowly one was shocked! How did the battle go? Tang Fan quickly asked. It was fierce! the worker started, his spit flying all over. They say that when Commandant Wang just ordered for the city gates to be closed and martial law imposed, the Tartars came attacking not long after on their end, not expecting that we would long be prepared Dark-faced, Tang Fan cut him off. Get to the main point! The worker snapped out of it. Ohhh, the main point is that we won! Tang Fan took a huge sigh of relief, still a bit too afraid to believe it. He had learned out of Meng Cuns mouth before that the Tartars would be coming prepared this time, and Dayan Khan had been appointed as the commander, so he had feared that it wouldnt be so easy to deal with them. Truly? Truly, and it was a big victory! Everybody says that thanks to Commandant Wangs god-like prediction, we were ready ahead of time, else the gates would have all been open and the citizens wouldnt have had time to escape purportedly, he also caught that Tartar commanders son. His name is T Tur-something? Tang Fans brows raised high, feeling joyful at this great victory. He wanted to go to the Commandant Estate and ask, but his stomach couldnt hold out, gurgling. The worker quickly smiled. Look at this memory of mine! The kitchen downstairs has food already made in it. This lowly one will bring you hot water to wash up with, so you can go eat after youre done! Once freshened up, Tang Fan headed down to the dining hall enthusiastically, then caught sight of a steaming bowl of shrimp congee set upon a table. The soft white congee covered the fresh, tender, pink-and-white shrimp meat, chopped mushrooms and sausage sprinkled on top of it. Forget about eating it the smell alone made ones fingers greatly twitch. Next to the shrimp congee was also a stack of dressed cucumber and tofu noodles, both appetizing side dishes. After all the blowing wind, drenching rain, suffering cold, and starvation of last night, the fresh dishes before his eyes practically seemed to be from a previous generation. Sleeping for two full days had made his stomach, deprived of even a grain of rice, issue the harshest of complaints. He automatically gulped. For the first time in his entire life, he sat down and inhaled the food like a hungry tiger pouncing on its meal. It wasnt until half of the congee was swallowed down that he felt his entire being reinvigorate. The supreme joy of being human had to be exactly this! Mister Tang sighed like someone with no promising future, smiling at the posthouse worker. The posthouses craftsmanship just gets better and better! Even this congee doesnt taste the same! It had almost caught up with Sui Zhous. The worker smiled right back. Its good that you like it. Sir Sui cooked it for you himself! Tang Fan was taken aback. How did he know I was waking up today? He didnt. He cooked all of your meals these past two days, so that you could eat them whenever you woke up. Hearing that answer, then looking at the bowl of congee, Mister Tang suddenly tasted another, different flavor. It was sweet, and sour. After finishing his meal, he went off to the Commandant Estate. By coincidence, not only Wang Yue was there, but Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou, as well. Seeing that Tang Fan had arrived, Wang Zhi broke out into a mocking grin. Anyone else would sleep for a day at most, yet you slept for two whole ones. Even the Tartar siege couldnt wake you up! You sleep better than pigs! Tang Fans mouth twitched, thinking to himself, Of course I wouldnt be able to keep up with you, you were able to scold someone at the gate after fighting for a whole night. Thats some absolutely astounding energy. His eyes inadvertently met Sui Zhous. The two watched each other for a short moment, then Mister Tang looked away on his own initiative. I heard you all caught Dayan Khans son? Yes, Turbolat. His eldest. Wang Yue was the one to answer him, stroking his beard as he smiled, pride across his whole face. Censor Tang, this is owed to all of you heading for the Weining Sealet to break the White Lotus Societys array, then reporting back in a timely matter. It was only then that the Ming army could cross the Sealet without worry this time, chase them down to Blackrock Cliffs, and achieve great victory. Though we couldnt grab Dayan Khan himself, capturing his eldest son alive is fantastic! This official represents the Great Mings officers and Datongs citizens when I say: thank you all! Saying so, he got up and gave Tang Fan a deep bow. Reason told that despite Tang Fan having been dispatched by the Court, Wang Yue was a higher rank than him, so there was no need for him to be courteous at all. However, Wang Yue doing such a thing demonstrated that he had a good comprehension of human emotions, making it little wonder as to why someone of Wang Zhis personality could also get along with him. Tang Fan hurriedly stood up to avoid this, cupping his hands with a smile. This humble official does not deserve such, Mister Commandant. We were doing all we could in the scope of our duties; this praise from you is too much. It had to be said this was a man that differed from men! Wang Yue couldnt help but sigh inwardly, as he was also an imperial ambassador. Take a look at Guo Tang, who only ever weighed down their back legs all day long after coming to Datong, itching for them to be defeated and condemned by the Court. Things had not developed in the way he had hoped, though; on the flipside, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi had established a huge merit. Guo Tang had simply taken an absence of illness at the celebration feast, not even showing his face, as he was likely staying in his Estate to write memorials, secretly preparing to shade them. As for Tang Fans group, the instant they came, they had been a great help, and had even hurried to give an advance warning so that Wang Yue could make full preparations. After it was done, they didnt even take the credit for themselves, plenty humble. What a shame it was that treachers currently held power in Court. Talents like them would not be reused, but be thrown to the side, while more people like Guo Tang would receive promotions. Wang Yue found it beyond lamentable, but he put a smile on his face. Theres no need to be modest, Censor Tang. As you were resting in the posthouse these past two days and missed the celebration feast, youll be made up for it today. Come and have dinner at the Commandant Estate tonight this official happens to have people preparing a banquet of good food and wine, so you must not refuse! With that much said, Tang Fan couldnt reject this, giving a laugh. Theres no hurry for the meal. However, is Turbolat still in the city? Wang Yue nodded. I ordered for him to be locked up. It cant be that the Tartars have simply allowed this, making no fuss? The other laughed. How could they have not? Hes Dayan Khans eldest, Ive heard; courageous, good at fighting, of generally good repute amongst the clan, and always quite popular. Dayan Khan had only gotten away due to the protection of his bodyguards. After getting away from Blackrock Cliffs, he sent messengers over in want to ransom back Turbolat. Tang Fan was overjoyed. Thats great! Li Zilong, the agent behind the demonic fox case, is now the Tartars State Master. You can add him to the conditions of the exchange so that they deliver the demon to us! Unexpectedly, as soon as he said that, the expressions of everyone present turned a bit unsightly. Being bright, he immediately came to a realization. You already brought that term up? Wang Yue smiled painfully. Yes. We were discussing this right before you arrived. The Tartars relayed news that Li Zilong had used the chaos to flee, his whereabouts unknown. Even they cant find him. What a load of fucking bullshit! Wang Zhi slapped the arm of his chair, clearly stifling a stomachful of fire. He colluded with them, helped them set up an array and slaughter the Ming army at the Weining Sealet, and he just runs because he wants to? Are the Tartars all dead?! Do they not have a single bit of vigilance?! That isnt an impossibility, actually, Sui Zhou said. They wanted to catch you alive then, so they must have had some other plan. After their failure and escape, even if they returned to the Tartars, the latter would not easily let things lie. Furthermore, the Tartars have lost the fight, their forces took a great loss, and Turbolat is in our hands, so it will likely be difficult for them to make any sort of large-scale invasion for a few years. In the Societys view, the Tartars have lost their worth for right now. That said, as long as Wang Zhi thought about how mighty he ordinarily was, yet had been stuck in the Weining Sealet for a whole night, disheveled to his upper limits, he couldnt swallow down his anger. Wang Yue sighed. This isnt the trickiest part. The Tartars have many Ming soldiers captured, and claim that they will exchange them for Turbolat. Tang Fan was surprised. How did they get Ming soldiers? Generally, whenever the Tartars captured Great Ming citizens, they would take them as spoils of war, then divide them up amongst various tribes to be slaves and ordered around for hard labor. As for those strong-bodied Ming soldiers, the Tartars would believe them to be elements of instability and kill them, following the same sort of rapid expansion that the Mongolian cavalry once had. From the soldiers that went to scout the path at the Sealet the three times before, Wang Yue answered. They left a bunch of them, not killing them, and now theyre offering an exchange. Tang Fan was quiet. He could understand Wang Yues predicament. When it came to an exchange, Turbolat was quite a valuable political good. With him had, it would be great if they could swap him for Li Zilong. If they couldnt, Wang Yue could escort him back to the capital, which would be a really great, rare victory in the Ming Dynasty. As could be inferred, that would not only have the affect the lifting the spirits of the Court, but the commonfolk, too. If they didnt make the exchange, though, the bystanding fox would mourn the rabbits death; army morale was bound to go cold. Even though Wang Yue might end up electing to exchange them, that didnt hinder him from feeling reluctant and aggrieved, producing an ire that others could grasp. Handing over Ming prisoners of war in exchange for the Khans eldest son was a hundredfold gain for the Tartars. Seeing that everyone seated was quiet Wang Zhi and Wang Yue in particular and had no joy on their faces about winning the battle, Tang Fan smiled. The old man losing his horse was not necessarily a misfortune. Following this battle, the Court will certainly begin the transfer of you two. When you arrive at a new area, you will have a new scene for you. His implication being that the two of them would not be remaining in Datong for much longer, so they shouldnt worry about anything too long-term. Taking care of what was in front of them was of utmost importance. Disregarding Wang Zhi having always wanted to return to the capital before this, even though Wang Yue wouldnt be returning, the Court would request that he switch up defenses, in order to prevent generals on the frontier from amassing followings. This was an old standard. It would have been better if Tang Fan hadnt spoken. As soon as he did, the two Wangs moods sunk even more. No matter what, they had been living here for over two years, and taken care of it single-handedly. Would anyone else be willing to work hard to plant trees, cultivate them well, then pass them off to someone else for no reason? The issue of Turbolats exchange was to be set aside for the time being; given that Wang Yue and Wang Zhi were willing to do the exchange, they would have to draw up a few more conditions to make up for the expense. This had nothing to do with Tang Fan and Sui Zhou. They had come here purely for the case of the Weining Sealet, being unlike Guo Tang, who was a Governor that lived here. Now that the matter was done, they couldnt remain in Datong forever, and had to return to the capital as soon as time would allow, lest people start to gossip. That very night, Wang Yue did indeed set up a lavish banquet to specially celebrate the merits of Tang Fan, Sui Zhou, and the rest of them, in an indirect way of seeing them off. The translator says: My falcon siblings.. you are SO rude I was asked on Discord to collect some Chinese swears + include their literal translations, so heres what I got from this chapter and the last, all courtesy of Wang Zhi. ƨ C my ass, lit. a fart C son of a bitch/bastard/asshole/jackass, lit. turtle grandson / C damned when placed in front of a word, lit. ghost/dead C lit. a bird, but can mean damn C fucker/damned guy Ĺƨ C What a bunch of bullshit, lit. letting off your moms dog fart ɵ C dumb cunt, already a literal translation, though the /bi had to be exchanged for the /bi. The authors mini-theatre: Li Zilong: That dumb cunt Wang Zhi is a hermaphrodite demon, too! Why didnt you let me cuss at him back?! Tang Fan, speaking from the heart: Think about it. If Eunuch Wang said that Youre a demon with no balls, and you answer Youre the demon with no balls, I hope your whole family dies!, this fight would turn from all of you circling Wang Zhi to a substanceless swearing match. You are the Second Head of the White Lotus Society, the magnificent State Master of the Tartars how could you do such a thing, hm? Li Zilong: That seems to make sense. I actually have no refute. CH 102 On an occasion like this, not inviting Guo Tang would be much too unreasonable. Who let him be Datongs Governor? This position that did not a thing from start to finish, yet still got to sit and enjoy the labor of others by taking a portion of the victory fruit, was within its rights to sit at the banquet. However, Wang Zhi was not giving him any face at all. During the meal, he shifted the full sum of his sullenness at not being able to catch Li Zilong onto Guo Tang, aiming a few jokes of ill intent at him until his face flushed from the ridicule, put on the spot. Not only that, but he summoned a beautiful maid to serve him wine she had nothing else to do, so she specially poured Governor Guo alcohol, making him so drunk that he was helpless, knowing nothing of anything. Tang Fan had no idea how to react to these tricks of Wang Zhis that he was witnessing, but he knew that the other wasnt solely venting his anger. Behind his seemingly-impulsive acts, he had a different goal. Firstly, due to Consort Wan, he had been classified as a figure on the fringe of the Wan party, even though he had never made a clear-cut stance of being on it. He had simply always had his own standpoint, where it would be impossible for him to ever listen to the Wan party like Shang Ming did. As a consequence of his secret help for the Crown Prince, the Wan party had removed its label from him, even sending Guo Tang to trip him up in Datong. That had annoyed him, his attitude towards Guo Tang actually displaying his attitude of completely separating himself from the Wan party. From this point on, the two would be strangers on different paths. Secondly, regardless of how incompetent the Emperor was at doing things, as a ruler, he definitely wouldnt like for his subjects to all team up and start colluding to swindle him. For example, he did everything Consort Wan said, yet had still removed her little brother from his post for a set amount of time as a warning those two sides were not contradictory. For that reason, Wang Zhis posturing was for the Emperor to see. Wang Zhi was in disharmony with the Wan party, the two sides complaining about each other; not only would the Emperor not be vexed, he would be glad. As for who the Emperor would end up leaning towards, that would depend on whose heinous accusations could reach a higher level. As it went, of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each clearly had remarkable powers, all doing their best. Thirdly, since Wang Zhi was inclined towards the Crown Prince, he ought to show off his sincerity. His hostilities with Guo Tang, despite being in the far-off Datong, would soon reach the capital, then the ears of the Crown Prince. More importantly, Wang Yue and Wang Zhi had established great merits, and those of great achievements easily encountered jealousy. Exposing some weak points at opportune times would make others feel a bit more at ease. Thus, Eunuch Wangs recklessness and arrogance that was to the point of lawlessness was to be disregarded. When mingling within officialdom, every move and act had a deeper meaning to it. If one couldnt see and comprehend, then they would meet their doom very quickly, either being taken as a stepping stone and trampled to death, or remaining in place for all their lives. Thankfully, Tang Fan didnt need to worry about that. To him, Guo Tangs reputation and that pretty maid were inferior in attraction to these dishes that filled the table. Four-joy spheres, hall-filling treasures, cluck-as-one-wills, abundance-through-the-years, promotion-by-steps for the sake of gaining a good message, Wang Yue had specifically ordered people to pick out nice-sounding names for these. The four-joy spheres were braised lionhead meatballs. The hall-filling treasures were tricolor egg rolls. Within cluck-as-one-wills, there was a pun off of luck being in cluck.[1] After the chicken had been stewed, the meat had been torn from the bones, then mixed with shredded cucumber to make a cold dish. Abundance-through-the-years was one massive perch. After being steam-cooked, it had been sprinkled with scallion-oil sauce to bring the umami flavor of the fish to its pinnacle. Promotion-by-steps was year cake typically eaten by civilians on New Years, but for a feast at the Commandant Estate, they had been made more exquisitely and deliciously. There were also various other sorts of soups and river fish that didnt need to be gone through individually. With this feast, Tang Fan and Sui Zhous emotions would likely be at their most relaxed, eating their fills without worry though, Sui Zhou didnt have such a profound obsession with delicacies, so it was ultimately a boon for Tang Fan alone. After the meal, Wang Yue ordered for the too-drunk-to-walk Guo Tang to be taken back to his own Estate. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou got up to bid farewell, expressing that they had to go back to the inn, get their things together, and prepare to go back to the capital for imperial audience; Wang Yue understood as much, so he didnt try to make them stay longer, personally seeing them off at the entrance. Wang Zhi left together with them. Tang Fan saw that he wore barely any smile, and simply took it as him being mad over what had happened with Li Zilong. Li Zilong escaped one catastrophe, so his life shouldnt be gone yet. With this great victory, the Court will certainly not place more blame onto you, he soothed. The other just shook his head. Thats not what Im thinking about. Tang Fan raised a brow. Then what are you? I previously presented memorials announcing illness and requesting to return to the capital, but they were rejected several times with orders that I remain garrisoned in Datong. When I present another memorial this time, Im afraid that His Majesty will reject it again. He should agree to let you return after such a huge success, Tang Fan answered, confused. His meaning wasnt that the Emperor would cherish his hard work enough to let him come back, but that if Wang Zhi didnt return with his high merits, the Court would worry about him sitting too high. Wang Zhis face was overcast. Dont you understand how the Wan party is? It isnt whether His Majesty agrees or not, its that theyll definitely think of a way to keep me away from both Datong, and the capital. They might even send me straight to Nanjing for retirement. His Majestys ears are soft; if they puff on them, hell likely nod his head. Tang Fan pondered for a bit. Its actually not that hard, if you want to return. Wang Zhi having followed him all this way had been precisely to ask him about ideas, so he grew excited at that. You have a solution? Ill ask you this; did all of your last few memorials state your ill health? Wang Zhi rolled his eyes. It was more than ill health! I jinxed myself on being near-death, and His Majesty still didnt agree to let me go back! Then, did you ever say that you were willing to lay down your post to serve His Majesty and the Consort? The other was caught off guard. I never did. How could a strong man go a day without being in power? If the Emperor took him seriously and actually sank his post down to the bottom, where would he go off to weep to? Tang Fan shook his head. His Majesty has a soft heart, but it isnt a soft heart thats without a bottom line. You have to have grounds that can actually move him. Now that the Western Depot has long shuttered, even if you dont say as much, after you return to the capital, why the need to bother with starting business back up there? Youve grown up in the palace since your childhood; its your native home. Even if the Wan party is being an obstruction, they cant make you beg for your own carcass to be taken back to your homeland, can they? Wang Zhi snorted; this was one a sarcastic guy. Beg for your own carcass, in conventional words, was to return home for retirement Tang Fan was actually right. Were it said that the palace was Wang Zhis home, how could the Emperor still disagree? This seemed to be actually doable? Theres still another issue. If they use my health as an excuse to send me to Nanjing for recovery, what should I do? he asked again. Youre clearly suffering from very serious joint pain, Tang Fan answered casually. Doctors say that this sort of ailment needs to avoid long periods of time in damp and cold areas. The South is damper than the North; why would it be suitable for your recovery? Great! This was really great! Wang Zhi couldnt help but want to give him a big thumbs up, but he thought that that wouldnt be too appropriate, holding up his aloof airs. Tang Fan, I acknowledge you as a friend. The other laughed. Thats a bit heart-breaking, Eunuch Wang. I thought weve been friends this whole time! One-sided ties and bare-minimum acquaintances are both considered friends, too, Wang Zhi sneered. Its getting late, we should get back, Sui Zhou suddenly spoke. I had the posthouse people cook lotus seed-mung been soup. If we get back earlier, you can have some. It wont be any good later. Despite having recently eaten his fill, once he heard that there was sweet soup to be had, he automatically said, Lets head back quickly, then! This is my farewell, Eunuch Wang! With that, he cupped his hands towards Wang Zhi, then dragged Sui Zhou off without delay. Wang Zhi had no time to respond, blankly watching them leave. In truth, Sui Zhou was displeased at heart: Why would I tolerate you nitpicking the one I hold in my palm? Those words would not be said to outsiders, of course. A dozen or so days later, when Lu Yans injuries were good enough to let him ride a carriage, Tang Fans group officially set off for the capital. Compared to when they had arrived, they were down one Wei Shan, but up one Du Guir. During Lu Yans recovery period in Zhongjing Hall, he had developed a mutual affection for Du Guir, who had helped to look after him. On that heart-pounding night, not only tenacity had been tested, but the heart. Du Guir hadnt been with Lu Yan at the time, but she had learned from the mouths of others that he had been injured in order to protect his colleague, only for Wei Shan to unfortunately die at the hands of Li Zilong, who had been disguised as Chuyun-zi. Lu Yan had ultimately failed to save his friends life. Even so, Du Guir held some good feelings for his loyalty. Combined with him recuperating in Zhongjing Hall, their long days of getting to know each other caused her to regard his moral character all the more highly. To be exact, her previous good feelings she had displayed towards Sui Zhou had merely been a type of admiration towards someone strong. Compared to him, Lu Yans steadfastness and consideration made her genuinely realize what she needed most. Doctor Du had been deathly worried about his daughters marriage, nearly believing that she would never get married for all her life, yet Lu Yan had suddenly fallen down from the Heavens, who she happened to take a liking to. Also seeing that Lu Yan was of good character, and learning that he wasnt from a military household, but a well-off one light in capital, Doctor Du had quickly consented to their marriage. As the Du family only had two daughters, Lu Yan had even promised that the first child they had would have the surname Du, which had made the Doctor ecstatic. What was baffling was that, in order to avoid complications from prolonging things, he had made what was supposed to be a long affair very short, determining the marriage in half a month with all the velocity of a flame. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, in the capacities as matchmaker and superior, had even attended the wedding ceremony. Hence was why Du Guir was coming back to the capital with them; as the lady of the Lu house, she would have to pay respects to Lu Yans parents. It was not exactly clear on whether those parents would be over the moon, or more shocked than happy about their son going out and bringing a wife back. After several months of separation, the capital was the same, unchanged by anyones departure or existence. To speak in a way that was a great faux-pas, even if the Emperor himself perished, the commoners would wear mourning clothes for three months at most, living their lives how they ought to live them. Since Wang Zhi and Wang Yue still needed to handle post-battle matters in Datong, they would be coming back later, not with Tang Fans group this time around. What was most important was that Eunuch Wangs memorial for returning to the capital for retirement needed to be passed on via Tang Fans group, because if it went through the regular process, it would likely never reach the Emperors end. The process of their imperial audience was nothing notable. Tang Fans group had handled its assignment properly and without flaws. The Wan party could, at the very most, only pour some dirty water on them regarding Li Zilongs escape, but there was no way they could deny their credits in helping to crack the pending Weining Sealet case and report back ahead of time. When it came to Li Zilong, Tang Fans group naturally had something to say, too. The man had clearly been sentenced to death by both the Emperors brush and the Ministry of Justices documents. That an imperial prisoner like him could escape from right under the Courts nose held a huge implication didnt that mean that there was an informant in the Court that had passed messages to Li Zilong, and even helped him to flee? If they wanted a strict investigation, that would start off from the origins! Considering that that would be a huge loss even if they won it, the Wan party had no choice but to abandon the inquiry, put away their battle flags, and not even obstruct Wang Zhis request to return to the capital. Meanwhile, Wang Zhis memorial, as written by Tang Fans suggestion, indeed moved the Emperor, as he not only agreed to let Wang Zhi come back, but reinstated his position as the Brushholder Eunuch of the Supervisory of Royal Steeds. That was all a story for later. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, owing to their phenomenal performance, were bestowed with gold, silver, and silks, as well as allowed to recuperate for a few days before returning to their duties at their bureaus. After the fact, Tang Fans same-year friends privately felt no lack of injustice for him. Thinking about how hard he had toiled, and how he had nearly lost his life, yet had received no promotion, they believed it to not have been worth it. Tang Fan, conversely, understood that despite posts being good, it wasnt like one could get promoted just because they wanted to be. There was only one daikon per pit; for a promotion, someone else would have to make way from their post. In any case, Tang Fan had been promoted fast enough as it was. Amongst Palace Honorates of his same branch and age group, those that were like him young in age and with truefourth-rank posts were not nonexistent, but also werent many. His career path could be said to be worthy of pride. The Wan party hadnt gone looking to make trouble for him thus far, so he should go thank the Heavens and the Earth and burn incense in worship to the Buddha. Wanting to be promoted would purely be a search for death, so it was way better than all else to just relax a little. What ought to be yours would sooner or later come to you. What ought not would be pointless to force. *** The days following their return to the capital, in Tang Fans opinion, were relatively tranquil and easy. He was finally able to resume his standard official job again. Then, when work got off every day, he could return home to play with his nephew, make his sister laugh, eat snacks with Ah-Dong in a life like that, there was simply nothing else to look for. Well, of course, if Sui Zhou could quit staring at him with a deeply meaningful gaze all the time, Mister Tang would feel a lot more comfortable. The others feelings had already been made very clear. What needed to be said had been said in Datong, and what needed to be done had been done back at the Weining Sealet. Even with how bright and quick-witted a person Tang Fan was, he didnt have a good grasp on stuff like this, and was unsure of how to react. To say that he was revolted wasnt it. At the very least, after that night, he still held no disgust for Sui Zhou. But making Mister Tang confess that he liked him, and so terribly, was not happening. Bluntly speaking, he was happy with the way things were, and wanted no change whatsoever. See, everyone was already great friends why the need to ask that things go a step forward? Would everything be like it always was after the change? To comprehend this event, the ever-simple Mister Tang suffered an unprecedented shichen of insomnia, only to wake up the very next day as chipper as ever, interacting with Sui Zhou like nothing had happened. Him getting over it made Envoy Sui quite helpless. Alas, when faced with Sir Tangs personality, where he would pull the blanket over his head if the sky was falling down, this could not be rushed. It was good that Sui Zhou had long grown accustomed to his style. After finding that his method of slowly cooking a frog in warm water wasnt working, he decided to switch tactics. As for what tactic that was, he was keeping it a secret for right now. There would conceivably come a day where Tang Fan finally wouldnt be able to escape. On a different topic, ever since He Cheng had moved to the capital with his mother, he grew livelier by the day. By the time Tang Fan had returned to Datong and seen his nephew once more, He Cheng was no different from typical children. His melancholy and calmness of the past had decreased by a lot, and he would even go with Ah-Dong to climb trees. Of course, in order to raise a well-bred young lady that at least had an outward appearance capable of fooling outsiders lest she never be able to find a husband, Ah-Dong would get dejectedly pulled down off the tree by Tang Fan grabbing her ear. Still, as his uncle, Tang Fan was extremely happy about the heartening changes that He Cheng had gone through. He Cheng aside, even his sister Tang Yu had shed the solemness she had had in the He household, restored to how she had been back when unmarried. No one in this world wanted to wear a mask all their lives; it was only due to extenuating circumstances that one would have to forcefully change their temperaments to adapt to their situation. There were millions of women just like her, and she was not the most tragic one around, but they might not have a little brother like Tang Fan that would be willing and able to help her. That was why she felt herself quite fortunate. However, after Tang Fans return, he learned from Ah-Dong that during the time they had all been away, his brother-in-law had come over from Xianghe County, sought out the Tang house, and personally came to the door in want to take his wife and son back. In the end, despite their separation of households, she was still nominally a woman of the He family, and her name was recorded in their ancestral register. He Lins demand was completely within bounds. Tang Yu had refused, of course, and even He Cheng had rejected going back with his father. Shamed into anger, He Lin had nearly made the servants accompanying him straight-up grab them and take them away. This had been followed by Ah-Dong charging out, the little lady alone against a bigger enemy; she had taken up the longsword Sui Zhou once crafted for her, then beaten up the He people until they had fled in defeat. From Tang Fans understanding of He Lin, someone with an unaffected temperament like him would definitely not have stopped by to pick his family up for no reason. When things went awry, demons must be afoot in order to find out why, he secretly sent people to Xianghe County to investigate. The search indeed yielded a cause. Purportedly, Tang Yus departure from the He home had already spread around the County. Despite the outside world being told that it had been for recuperation, those with discerning eyes had made out a thing or two, to say nothing of the fact that the He servants had mouths. This had gradually turned into things unpleasant to hear; that the Hes had abused their daughter-in-law until she couldnt take the disgrace anymore, and also that Tang Yu had an affair with an adulterer from the capital, so she had relied on her brothers high official position to discard her husband and run away from home. Rumors were abound. To add a thunderstorm to that snow, the instant Wei Ce died, the Wei familys financials had plummeted a thousand zhang. The richest people in the county capital had scattered in the span of a night. Even though this was the Weis problem, as their in-laws, the Hes reputation had been impacted by no small amount. They were not a breakout-rich household with no strong foundation, however, and Patriarch He wouldnt make his son divorce his wife, as that would only cause everyone to think that the Hes were heartless. Before all of this, He Xuan had just tested into being a Palace Honorate. Even though he had only been on the tail-end of the second roll and not selected to be a Hanlin entrant, he was still an authentic piece, of much more promise than his second brother, He Lin. Patriarch He didnt wish for his youngest son to be like his eldest son, unable to come home for years on end, so he had used some old connections in the capital, and expended no lack of strength and difficulties, to get He Xuan into the Ministry of Justices Records Center, becoming a minor, trueeighth-rank Archivist. For the Hes reputation, and for his youngests future career, Patriarch He had made a major decision: the family would move to the capital. Their family had generations of officials, and Xianghe County was not that far from the capital, but they werent true capital folk. Despite them being a big deal in Xianghe, they really wouldnt be much in the capital area. When He Xuan entered the Six Ministries, for example, he would inevitably have times where he would need help. Patriarch Hes old colleagues were only connected to him by old experiences, after all. Every once in while, they could be asked for a favor, but that already relied on their particular nostalgic feelings; expecting others to constantly look after him was a complete impossibility. Speaking of which, the Tangs were the Hes proper in-laws, but, stemming from the fight between He Lin and his wife, the fuss made Patriarch He want to go find Tang Fan, but he couldnt set down his old dignity. On top of that, Tang Fan had previously been assigned to the Ministry of Justice when it came to looking out for someone, where could a closer relationship be than that? Regardless of how it was said, this pot had been stirred up by He Lin, so this matter had to start from the Third of the Hes, He Xuan. After he entered the Ministry of Justice, though, he had realized that Tang Fans capabilities were far greater than he had imagined. As his superiors and colleagues had said, when Tang Fan had been in the Ministry of Justice and taken up a fifth-rank Chief position, he had dared to openly lock horns with the Left Assistant Minister of Justice. The two had fought like mad, and in the end, Tang Fan had been admittedly dismissed from his post, but that hugely-influential Assistant Minister hadnt received any benefits, either, soon getting sent abroad to Nanjing to chew on grass. Then, the other implicated party had quickly reclaimed his officials post after a brief timespan, and not only that; he had been promoted a grade. How much ability was needed for that? A fifth-rank Chief had dared to go against a third-rank Assistant Minister either the mans brain was sogged, or his backer was too great for him to place importance on that Assistant Minister. He Xuan had interacted with Tang Fan before. Someone that had been wise enough to crack the Wei case certainly didnt have a sogged brain, so the only possibility was that Tang Fan had a strong supporter. Even though the man was no longer in the Ministry of Justice, he had become something of a legendary figure there. Anyone that had witnessed the storm themselves would get a complicated expression upon hearing his name. Outsiders didnt know that He Lin and Tang Yu were in disharmony, only knowing that He Xuan and Tang Fan were in-laws. On that layer of relation alone, they were a bit polite to him, no one daring to bully him for right now despite him being a newcomer. He had been bewildered at the onset, placed inside cloudy mist. After gradually coming to comprehend these connections, he had gotten the mind to ask around. These inquiries had caused him to suck in a cold breath. As it turned out, Tang Fan was currently posted in the Inspectorate, the Right Censor being his teacher. That Bastion Envoy of the Brocade Guard that had accompanied him to Xianghe was his best friend. The recently-transferred Right Assistant Minister of Rites, Pan Bin, shared his teacher. Rumors were abound that the former Western Depot Director of brilliant and vicious repute, and current Brushholder Eunuch of the Supervisory of Royal Steeds, Wang Zhi, had a fateful friendship with him. The group of his same-year friends didnt need to be brought up, either. That was a huge amount of influence no wonder he hadnt been shaken at all by that one Left Assistant Minister. It must be said that the strength of rumors was immense, and time could bury facts all the more. Liang Wenhua ending up deported to Nanjing had actually been an event done during the process of the contest between the Crown Prince and Wan parties, the latter of which had elected to abandon him. It wasnt much like how bystanders imagined, where Tang Fan had tremendous power. Still, everyone that was fond of reading commoner novels were always happy to believe in the exaggerated portions. He Xuan, who didnt know the truth, was no exception. He had quickly conferred what he had found out in detail to Patriarch He. Before this, perhaps, the Hes would have inevitably grumbled to themselves that Tang Fan had caused problems over nothing, provoking this crisis of familial disharmony. He Xuan had also been angry and dissatisfied with Tang Fan over what had happened with his wifes natal family, but after all this, the Hes had realized that if they wanted to settle in nicely, they needed to forge a good relationship with Tang Fan. Back in Xianghe, what all of their eyes hadnt seen would be put out of mind. Now that they would be at eye level, could they still pretend to not know each other? All else notwithstanding, if Tang Fan ever went out and set word on the wind that he and the Hes were at odds, giving his thoughts on them, He Xuans days at the Ministry of Justice would likely not be so great. Now, using the time before they were officially moving, Patriarch He had wanted to first send He Lin over to stand up, making him beg for his wifes forgiveness. It would be best for the married couple to reconcile, so that no one would feel awkward when meeting from now on, and if the Hes ever needed to ask the Tangs for help, it wouldnt be impossible to ask for it. This was the full story behind He Lin showing up at their door. All it had ended with was He Lin bungling everything, though, chilling the relationship between the two families down to a freezing point once again. [End of Arc 7: The Case of the Weining Sealet] The translator says: *burns demon-repelling incense* no in-laws in this house [1] Original pun was that the ji of /good luck and the ji of /chicken are homophonous. The pun I made instead makes me feel like a dad. CH 103 Tang Fan didnt share this inside information with Tang Yu, only believing that this was a one-time incident. If the Hes had self-awareness, they wouldnt come to bother them again after being refused entry. Unfortunately, his expectations had been wrong, as not long after his return to the capital, He Lin stopped by again, and this time, he had Patriarch He with him. Tang Fan didnt have someone call Tang Yu over, welcoming them himself. They all took their respective seats. He smiled. I heard that the Third He got his name on the golden roll. I havent congratulated you yet, Uncle. Getting two of your family to be Palace Honorates is a cause for celebration. The speaker had no intent, while the listener did. He Lins complexion quickly became a bit unsightly. Since Tang Yu and He Cheng were not at the He home, Tang Fan didnt need to keep the mans emotions in mind, however. Patriarch He smiled. The two of them put together are still inferior to your supreme glory of scholardom. I recall that you had barely been crowned when you became a Palace Honorate, and now youre already a high official of the fourth rank. If Brother Tang knows as much in the Springs below, he must be beyond gratified. Tang Fan shook his head. Youve overpraised me, Uncle. How can a fourth rank be called high? No one listens to me and it drives me nut. Lets put idle chatter away for now dont you live in Xianghe County? Did something happen, for you to suddenly come to the capital? He feigned ignorance about the Hes wanting to move the entire family here, not even bringing it up. Patriarch He didnt shy away, speaking briefly of the influence the Weis follow-up crisis had, as well as He Xuans appointment to the Ministry of Justice that was coming soon, ending it with a sigh. Runqing, the Hes have let you and the Second Lady down. A perfectly good woman was married in, yet things have fallen to todays plight. This old man came here today not to boldly ask for anything, just out of a want to let the Second and his wife meet face-to-face. No matter what is said, theyre still married, and this trouble continuing will have no benefit to either side. The He and Tang families are ultimately in-laws; would you say that there is any logic in living in the capital together, yet never interacting? The Patriarch was fairly good at speaking. Tang Fan also noted that the others posturing was clearly a little lower than it had been at the He household. Presumably, He Xuan had gone back and explained his discoveries from officialdom. The Hes visit this time around was naturally for the sake of mending their relationship, not to forge enemies. Tang Fan had no opinion towards Patriarch He himself, but he would never look kindly upon He Lin. Ever since Tang Yu had established her own business, she had managed the cosmetics store with surprising vivaciousness, even hanging up a Lady Tang sign for it. It was unknown how she managed it, but, in brief, many affluent families were happy to buy cosmetics from Lady Tang. To target different consumer groups, Tang Yu was apparently planning to open another division; one would be for women of humble origins, having cosmetics that commonfolk could afford, while the other would specialize in rich business. Seeing his talented big sister, then thinking about her experience from those years, Tang Fan could only say that her marrying He Lin had been a real oversight. He smiled hearing all that. You speak reason, Patriarch, but I dont have the final say in this. It depends on what my sister thinks. Also, forgive my directness, but the Third has now become a Palace Honorate. When does my brother-in-law intend on passing the provincials? Strike a man without hitting his face, call out a man without calling out his weakpoints. He Lins face immediately went red, and he stood up with a bang. Quit your menacing! Tang Fan raised a brow. How am I menacing? Have I spoken wrong? You arent young anymore. Its fine if you cant pass the exams, but are you going to rely on the Hes to take care of you all your life? Do you not have a plan? To put it in a way that isnt nice to hear, Patriarch He cannot look out for you forever, so what are you going to do then? Live with your brothers? Make them give you money? Even if youre fine with it, women of my family wouldnt suffer that repute. Our late father always taught us that its fine for one to be poor, but their ambitions cannot be minuscule. Since you want to take my sister back, you may as well answer those questions for me, first. In battles of glib with Mister Tang, his opponent would basically have no chance of success though, the majority of the time, he would be warm when interacting with others, not even fighting about Wang Zhis overdrawn mockery. If this wasnt He Lin, he wouldnt have spoken so noxiously. He Lin was trembling all over in anger. Before coming to the Tang household, he had already made proper mental preparations, but still felt thick humiliation at Tang Fans unexpected words. Whether shes inclined to return or not, the Hes wont miss her! He Cheng, too! You lot can take him, I dont think hes any sort of rarity! he blurted out in a fit of rage. Tang Fan seemed to have been waiting for that. He didnt get angry, merely nodding. If thats how you truly think, I have a solution. It would be best to adopt Qilang into the Tang household, change his surname to Tang, then have you separate from my sister. In that way, our two sides will have nothing to do with each other, and Qilang and her wont obstruct your view anymore. Bam. Patriarch He slapped He Lin. The latter covered his face with an expression of disbelief. My mutt of a son is ill-mannered, the Patriarch calmly said to Tang Fan. Please forgive me, good nephew. Tang Fan sighed. Uncle, I have no will to make things difficult for you, but just look at how my brother-in-law is. How could I ever feel at ease allowing my sister and nephew to go with him? If he believes Im menacing him, then shifts his anger onto the two of them after they return, wouldnt I have instead caused them harm? As soon as he finished, a juvenile voice came from the entrance. I want to change my surname to Tang! Everyone looked over to see that He Cheng had come to stand in the doorway at some unknown point in time, his little face serious. Who knew how long he had eavesdropping outside? Qilang! Tang Fan shouted with a slightly reprimanding expression, before Patriarch He and the rest could react. Its impolite to overhear! You are not being a gentleman, you know! His uncles scolding had not a bit of threatening power to it at all, really, that ending tone alone only able to make He Cheng secretly stick out his tongue. Since he had shown up, Tang Fan couldnt exactly make him go away. Come say hello to your father and grandfather. They were clearly the two closest in relation to He Cheng, yet they were now being made out as guests. He Cheng obediently stepped into the room, then properly bowed to Patriarch He and He Lin. This grandson greets you, grandfather. This son greets you, father. Patriarch He dotingly beckoned him over, then pat him on the head. Youve grown taller, Qilang. Do you want to go home? Grandfather will bring you home. Everything goes by my Uncles say. This grandson does not dare to make unauthorized decisions. Listen to that! Patriarch He was a little dumbstruck. His impression of He Cheng, back in the He home, had been of a taciturn child. When had he ever spoken like this? Even the term unauthorized decisions had showed up! Saying so, He Cheng walked over to Tang Fans side and snuggled up to him, looking over at his father and grandfather. Though no words were said, his attachment and closeness to Tang Fan could be seen by even He Lin. This scene stabbed his eyes somewhat, so he simply turned his head away. Patriarch He yet recalled what He Cheng had just said. Qilang, you said that you want to change your surname? The boy nodded. Yes. If the He family doesnt want me, I want to change my surname to Tang. I want to be part of the Tang family. Little children had no compunctions, in the end. No matter how precocious they were, they could break those efforts in just a few words. Upon hearing this, He Lin felt that He Cheng definitely had to have been put under some kind of spell at the Tang home in order to say such a thing. Even Patriarch Hes brows creased. Runqing, is what Qilang said his own idea? The implication being: did you plant it in his head? Tang Fan was also frowning. He had only been venting at He Lin; he had never mentioned changing surnames to He Cheng at all. Before he could answer, He Cheng overtook him. Doesnt father not want mom and I? He just stated it so clearly! Patriarch He felt slightly awkward. Youve misunderstood, Qilang. Your father didnt mean that. He Cheng peered at him with his limpid, dark eyes. Then what did he mean? Those were just words of anger But doesnt he hate us? Not only did he want to beat me to death, but he said before that that he would drive us out of the He home and go his own way. It should not be believed that just because a child was young, one could say whatever they wanted in front of them. He Cheng remembered every single thing, he simply hadnt been able to speak out before, only watch. After coming to the capital, he had fun with Ah-Dong every day; influenced by her and tempered by it, his physique had also strengthened by a lot. He had long not been that bashful child of stilted words. Only the Hes looked at him with the same old views as ever. Patriarch He shook his head. Then your father will never say so again, as hes still your father. Grandfather will not allow you two to suffer wrongs. For children, fulfilling filial piety to ones father is being a good child, and fulfilling filial piety to ones mother is also being a good child. My mother carried me for ten months, then had me, which was harder work than it was for my father. He can remarry and have more children, but my mother only has me. This world is hard on women, after all, so its natural that I would want to look out for her a little more. Please have mercy, father and grandfather, and allow us to take our own path in life! Sayimg so, he knelt down with a thud, bitterly pleading with Patriarch He and He Lin. The two watched, astounded, as he burst into sobs. In their minds, if no one had egged on the ever shy and weak Qilang, how could he have ever made such a preposterous argument? Not waiting for Patriarch He to respond, Tang Fan quickly pulled He Cheng up, scolding him. One is your grandfather, and the other is your father by blood! Why would they bring harm to you?! Where did a little kid learn these baseless words from? Apologize to them, immediately! He Chengs eyes were full of tears. He bit his lip stubbornly, saying nothing. Patriarch He had a bitter taste in his mouth, having wholly not expected that Qilangs impression of his father had already gotten so awful. It was true; in this world, the father was the sons guide, and the husband was the wifes guide. Children should obey and be filial to their parents, not disobey, but specific situations also needed to be closely analyzed. If there were tiresome and systematic laws for every single little thing, the world would have long been at peace. Right now, for example, along with Tang Fans rapid success, the power dynamic between the He and Tang families had quietly changed. Were the Hes a family that did not eat mortal fare, they naturally wouldnt bother with Tang Fan, but the current issue was that Patriarch He had two sons in official positions. In the future, his descendants might have that same career path. No one could stand alone for a single day of officialdom. Alright. Our visit this time was rude. Please dont blame us, good nephew. Our family is indebted to you for taking care of the Second Lady and Qilang, and our feelings of gratitude are unending. I had a few things brought over; please accept them on their behalf. Patriarch He knew that he had overreached. The Tang Fan of today was not someone that the He family could afford to impinge upon. He had wanted He Lin to take Tang Yu and her son back to mend their relationship. They couldnt be forced back, which would instead cause the two families to be enemies. Tang Fan softened his tone. Your words are too heavy, Uncle. Qilang has a childs thoughtless words; you dont need to put them to heart. He picked up his lidded teacup. Patriarch He implicitly understood, promptly getting up, saying goodbye, and taking his son out with him. After leaving the Tang home, the Patriarch automatically looked at the neighboring residence. He had heard that this was the Sui home of the newly-sealed Count Dingan, and Northern Bastion Envoy of the Brocade Guard. Because the Sui and Tang families had a close relationship, they had even bought homes that were next to each other, turning them into one big, happy family. Why would any good in-laws stir anything up? Had the Third been the one to marry Tang Yu back in the day, wouldnt everyone be feeling just fine right about now? Thinking so, then seeing the unsightly expression of his second son, Patriarch He felt a wave of exhaustion. Thankfully, he didnt have a weak heart, else he might collapse with a hand over it right now. Ganyu. You will return to our homeland tomorrow to concentrate on studying. When we move to the capital, you dont need to come along, he suddenly said. Father, what do you mean by that? He Lin stared at his father in disbelief. Patriarch He didnt answer, simply boarding his carriage, then saying to the old servant that was with him, Lets go. The servant hesitantly looked at the still-in-shock He Lin. The Second Lord He has limbs, doesnt he? Can he not walk back by himself?! Seeing that the Patriarch was angry, the servant dared not dissent, quickly telling the driver to ride off. He Lin walked the streets of the capital in dejection. He couldnt wrap his head around why things had ended up how they had today his wife and son had refused to come home, and now even his father had cast him aside. Returning to his homeland to study the He homeland was not Xianghe Countys capital, but its rural parts, where an old residence of theirs was. They typically only returned to it for short stays during the New Year, to worship their ancestors. The conditions there were naturally far inferior to the county capitals. Is it because I cant become a Provincial Honorate that its gotten to this plight, where everyone bullies me?! He Lin thought sorrowfully, wandering like a lost ghost, ignoring all the busyness that went as far as the eye could see. Unfilial! Unfilial! For a son to beat his own father, are you trying to defy me?! This old man is going to the authorities to report you! A burst of shouting suddenly came in front. He Lin lifted his head to look, then saw a middle-aged man with a bedraggled appearance running out barefoot, a young man chasing him with a stick from behind. Upon witnessing this, bystanders successively gathered around. Once they heard that the son was beating his father, their chests were filled with indignation, and some even took it upon themselves to help with calling patrolling soldiers due to the fathers words. He Lin originally hadnt had the interest in watching such a disturbance, but the scene before his eyes reminded him of his own situation. Taking a step forth against his own control, he listened to the bystanders randomly accusing the son of his crimes. The young man didnt get angry hearing them, merely laughing coldly and using the stick to point at the middle-aged man. Do any of you know how he conducts himself?! This man loiters about gambling dens all day long instead of making money to support his family, relying solely on my mothers work to supplement his income and raise me to adulthood. Now that Ive had success, he has the nerve to come over and put on a show of being respectable by demanding that I support him. That alone would have been whatever, but he still tries to beat my mother given that he has the thought to! I beat him back to prevent my mother from suffering abuse! What mistake is there in that?! Even if he tells the authorities, Im not afraid of him. Is it filial to watch my father beat my mother, but not filial to defend her?! He Lins heart jumped. Hearing the young mans words in his ears, then looking at the older man he seemed to have witnessed this scenario before. The bystanders heard him, then saw the older mans evasive eyes, and knew that he had spoken the truth. Everyone noticed the fathers expression getting stranger; those that had thought to give vigilante justice immediately turned their firepower onto him. The man couldnt resist arguing a bit with them, but he narrowly drowned in their flying spittle, forced to flee while he could. This had been nothing more than a minor intermission. Following the two involved parties departing, the crowd quickly scattered. He Lins feet were as heavy as a thousand catties, however. He couldnt take a single step. Recalling Tang Yus determined face when she had left the He home, recalling Tang Fans coldness in turning hostile with him, and recalling his own sons resolution in saying he wanted to change his surname to his face the storming waves in his heart seemed to stir up in their entirety due to this scene, not able to be quelled for a long time. Was it him who was wrong? No, he wasnt wrong! His failure in the provincials had been his bad luck. It hadnt been his fault. Those people were just climbing high and stepping on those below them! Even He Cheng had turned selfish due to Tang Fan, to the extent that he didnt acknowledge his own father. It was He Cheng that was unfilial! Though, if he wasnt wrong, why did even his father cast him down and ignore him? Why did everyone say that he was wrong, then abandon him? His expression was brimming with confusion. While he wandered the streets, another conversation was happening in the Tang home. Fluffy, you dont need to let them put on such a show. He has long been set in going the wrong way, his mind sunk in deep. No matter how anyone tries to snap him out of it, he just wont. Tang Yu sighed. She had absolutely no faith in He Lin, else she wouldnt have completely hidden away from the He family. Tang Fan laughed. I didnt do it for the Second He, I did it for Qilang. Hes a good child, so we cant actually let him change his surname. Dont pay attention to how determined hes speaking now, he still hopes for his fathers love at heart. There would be nothing better if the Second could suddenly repent, of course, but if he cant, at least Qilang wont be left with regrets. Tang Yu evidently didnt want to talk more about this; she was currently concerned with something else. Fluffy, youre not a fluffy-headed child anymore, either. According to reason, you should have long been married. As you can see, the Third He is around your age, yet he already has a son and a daughter. Do you not have any plans? Or do you have someone in mind? Tang Fan was taken aback. For some reason, when he heard this, Sui Zhous figure vaguely flashed before his eyes. He shook his head, as if trying to shake away the hallucination. Sis, where is your mind going? I run off in every direction every couple of days. How could I have someone in mind? Isnt there that Miss Du that came back with you all last time? Shes Lu Yans wife! Tang Yu was distressed. But I heard that you two once interacted alone before. Did she take a fancy to Lu Yan and not you, so you? Interacted alone? In the Weining Sealet, where everyone ate sand? All of them had been covered in grime and bloodstains then! It would have been weird to get feelings for each other during that! He was a bit speechless. Sis, where did you hear all of this from? Dont ruin other peoples reputations! Miss Du is a lady of the Lus, you cant cause the married couple to have disagreements! Why are you acting like I havent had any propriety? she rebuked. I heard Guanchuan say it in private. Why would this get out, with his behavior? Tell your sister, then, is such a thing true? Sui Guangchuan! What did you tell my sister?! It! Is! Not! he enunciated. She only half-believed him. If not, which young lady do you admire? This little brother of yours is the talent of a generation! I dont admire anyone! he answered unhappily. Tang Yu laughed out of amusement. You are indeed the talent of a generation, but if you keep wasting time like this, no one will want you. She suddenly let out an ah. Could it be that you like Guangchuans little sister? I heard that shes of marriageable age now! He had thought that Sui Zhou liked Ah-Dong, and now his sister thought that he liked Sui Zhous little sister. Was this retribution, or what? Tang Fan sighed. No, sis. Dont worry about it. I have my own sense about this. Do you have any misgivings that you you cant even tell me about? She creased her brow, beginning to worry that her little brother had some illness that he couldnt speak of. At Tang Fans age, not being married was indeed a little strange, but it wasnt a big deal. In officialdom, everyone was grabbing at details to attack each other with, like having intercourse or celebrations during the mourning period and such. Not getting married wasnt a clause in that. In Jiangnan, there were similarly many self-proclaimed romantic figures that didnt take a primary wife, but embraced many pretty concubines, even; this was not anything new at all. However, Mister Tang didnt have any concubines, either. If anyone wanted to find a fault in his personal business to go after, they would probably have to go after stuff like indulges in delicacies or made a few mistakes in his work. Seeing her thought process, he couldnt help but feel at a loss. Then, he had a flash on insight. When Guangchuan marries, Ill marry! Tang Yu frowned. What does this have to do with him? Think about it, sis. Hes two years older than me, yet he isnt married. We are not brothers by blood, but weve been close for a long time, and as the saying goes, blessings should be mutually enjoyed, and difficulties should be mutually suffered. How could I bear to take a wife of my own while witnessing him be alone? he spoke from the heart. You know that his relationship with his family is average, so if his parents help him pick someone out, hell likely be dissatisfied. Thats why the matter has been drawn out until now. If you have a good candidate, you should help him meet her. Ill feel at ease once hes married. But hes Count Dingan, as appointed by the Emperor, and the Empress Dowagers grandnephew. How would it be my place to matchmake for him, if someone should? Tang Fan smiled. Do you not understand, my dear sister? The Dowager and His Majesty helping him matchmake would inevitably yield high-class women. With Guangchuans personality, how could he be in-sync with haughty girls from wealthy families? Tang Yu nodded. Thats true. Its good that you always think of things for him. Okay, find the free time to ask him what kind of girl he likes, and Ill help him matchmake. He blinked. Shouldnt you ask him yourself? There would be no reason for me to ask, but since youre here, you must know what to ask for. Youre his sister too, anyways, so there wouldnt be a need to avoid talk. She looked at him funny. I really dont know what youre planning! That could be taken as an agreement. Mister Tang quietly sighed in relief, thinking to himself that he had finally thrown the hot potato away. He had the overall feeling that he was making trouble for Sui Zhou, though. That same night, as per usual, Tang Yu and the rest ate at the Tang house, while he went back next door for dinner. Seeing the several dishes set out on the table, all of which were ones he liked, Mister Tang felt all the more ineffably guilty. As he ate, he couldnt help but glance several times at Sui Zhou. The latter wasnt dead, so how could he not notice? He silently set his chopsticks down. Is something wrong? Tang Fan smiled dryly. No. Sui Zhou narrowed his eyes. After being stared at for a short moment, Tang Fan surrendered. My sister wants me to get married. I said Im not in a rush, and that she should help you with matchmaking, first. Oh. Sui Zhous calmness made Tang Fan uneasy. Wh-what kind of girl do you like? I can help you by telling her. Do you remember what I said last time? Tang Fan lightly coughed. I do, but in my mind, youre like a brother to me. What you spoke of, I think that I might not be able to accept it. Sui Zhou nodded. I know. Im getting married soon. Tang Fan hadnt expected him to be so blunt, and not have a bit of upset, hesitation, anger, or grief. He only reacted after a moment of being stunned. Then, Ill get my sister to help No need, Sui Zhou interrupted. Ive already matched with someone in my family. Huh? Tang Fan was stunned once again. Who is it? My cousin, from the Qiao family. Didnt your uncle already choose someone for her? No. She admires me with all of her heart. My uncle couldnt fight her stubbornness, so he finally agreed. For the first time, Tang Fan felt like his brain wasnt working enough. His mouth opened and closed, until he managed to choke out one sentence: When are you planning on getting married? Sui Zhou smiled. The coldness at the bottom of his eyes faded, showing a subtle tinge of warmth. Next year. It will take a lot of time to prepare, after all, and my uncle is reluctant to rush her off into marriage. The translator says: Sui Zhou doesnt joke around with his plans lmao CH 104 Truth be told, as long as one gave all of that careful thought, they could discover the flaws it had. And yet, that completely slipped the mind of the typically-sleuthy Tang Fan in this moment, his mind filled only with what Sui Zhou had just said. Seeing Sui Zhous rare, slightly-gentle look for some reason, he should have felt relief, but was not happy in the least. C-Congratulations, then, really, he had to stammer. Thanks. Sui Zhou pat him on the shoulder. Shes familiarized with you, and you and I are close, so even after we get married, you can keep living here without needing to move out in a rush. That sentence appeared to be a deliberate warning to Tang Fan. The instant he said it, the latter realized that after Sui Zhous marriage, he would be bound to have his own family, his own life he needed to live. No matter how good his relationship with Sui Zhou was, he was ultimately an outsider. Moreover, it wasnt like Tang Fan didnt have his own house; why would he have the cheek to refuse to leave? After I marry, you can continue to eat over here, too. My cousin has never done chores, but shell bring cooking maids over. Even if Im not at home, there will be someone cooking. The second Mister Tang heard this, his mood dropped even lower. Witnessing the others entire body wilt, like a dog drenched in the rain with its tail drooping, Sui Zhou wondered, Didnt you want to have your sister matchmake for me before? Are you actually unhappy with hearing that Im getting married? Tang Fan smiled absent-mindedly. How could I be? I just feel its a bit too sudden. The others steady voice floated into his ears, but it equally added a slight sense of illusion. Runqing, all those disgraceful things I said before should just be viewed as mist before the eyes. Dont take them to heart. From now on, we will still be good brothers. Mister Tang hummed a bit, forcing himself to raise a smile. What disgraceful things? Ive long forgotten them. Sui Zhou gave him a profound look. Thats good. After dinner, Tang Fan made up the excuse of going next door to help his nephew with his homework so that he could get out of there. Once he left the Sui home, he didnt actually go next door, but instead veered off in another direction. That phrase My heart is joyed by a gent; does the gents heart feel the same? reverberated uncontrollably in his head, jumbling into a mess, as he unwittingly walked to a certain someones estate. He raised his hand and knocked on the door. After a good minute passed, the door opened and the one who opened it was Wei Mao. The other was a bit surprised. Oh, is that not you, Mister Tang? Is Eunuch Wang around? He is. He doesnt need to be on-duty in the palace today, so he happens to be resting here. Please come in! After Wang Zhis return to the palace, he inevitably had to spare no small amount of effort in managing his forces that had been suppressed and crowded out, then re-establishing himself bit by bit. The Emperors side had been easy to handle; upon seeing Wang Zhi, he had remembered how people had requested for the Western Depot to be shuttered, felt guilt, and thus gifted Wang Zhi a residence outside the palace, allowing him to stay in it when he was not on-duty. Despite his great merit earned at the border, in everyones eyes right now, Eunuch Wang was simply a tiger without claws that anyone could push around. Those who had been tripped up by the Western Depot before set obstacles up for him both overtly and covertly. He was currently busy dealing with such things, counterattacking what should be counterattacked, enduring what should be endured, and opting to settle scores that should be settled. Compared to the time he had headed the Western Depot, he had clearly since learned how to hide his light in the darkness. This residence had been gifted by the Emperor, but it looked somewhat unremarkable from the outside, not too different from the other civilian homes surrounding it. Only when one came in and looked around would they find something extraordinary about it. When Tang Fan arrived, Wang Zhi was in the middle of getting ready for bed. Upon hearing that someone was visiting, he had to put on his outer robes with a face full of impatience, then welcome him. What brings your presence here, so late in the evening? His perfectly good rest had been disturbed, so his tone naturally wouldnt be any sort of good. What kind of visitor dropped by in the middle of the night? Tang Fan was startled. I just finished dinner. Why are you going to bed? Wang Zhi was not happy. This is normal! You think I live it up all day in the palace? What is it? Spit it out! Wei Mao, dont get tea, hes leaving as soon as hes done talking! Wei Mao smiled powerlessly at Tang Fan, implying that Eunuch Wang was in a bad mood and to please be patient, still going out to have someone make tea. Tang Fan sighed. Wang Zhi had never seen him look this dispirited before, which caught him off guard. Had something actually happened? What? Who did you offend? Are you getting denounced again? Tang Fan sighed once more. Do you have any wine? Wang Zhi understood nothing. You ran off to my house in the middle of the night to drink? One drunken fit solves a thousand worries. Are you explaining, or what? If you dont, Im having Wei Mao see you off. For the third time that night, Tang Fan sighed deeply. Ive run into a hard problem. Im not sure how to handle it. Wang Zhi raised a brow. There are still problems in this world that you cant solve? His curiosity was genuinely piqued by that statement, and the Wang Estate servants happened to send the tea in then. Swap this for wine, he ordered. Following three rounds of drinks, Tang Fan was a little tipsy. He wanted to get more wine, but Wang Zhis chopsticks struck the back of his hand, which immediately turned red. State your issue quickly, Eunuch Wang said, displeased. Sir Tang felt a bit aggrieved. Why are you so stingy? You wont even give me wine to drink at your house! You havent even passed three cups yet. How are you getting drunk? Thankfully, Tang Fan didnt have any notion to leave him in suspense, merely finding a tactful way to convey himself after fermenting it in his head over and over again. Theres someone that expressed admiration for me. Oh. Wang Zhis interest was mostly lost almost immediately, since it had nothing to do with politics. Tang Fan didnt care whether Eunuch Wang wanted to listen to him or not, talking on his own. I rejected him. Hes getting married now, but I feel I feel a bit uncomfortable. (Quick reminder: All pronouns are verbally identical in Chinese.) That proves that you like her back, Wang Zhi drew blood at the first prick. Since you have mutual feelings, go tell her parents. Youre a fourth-rank official, are unmarried, and have looks that arent that bad. Her parents definitely wont object. Okay, done. Steward, see him off! Cant you be a more empathetic? I cant be with him. Wang Zhi raised a brow. Whys that? Is she a married woman? Tang Fan shook his head. Born in a brothel? Tang Fan shook his head. Do you have some kind of issue that keeps you from having sex? Did I guess it? Tang Fan shook his head, and fiercely. If you dont tell me, Im hitting you. Mister Tang stammered out, H-Hes a man. Wang Zhi looked at him, brow slowly creasing. Tang Fan avoided his gaze, pouring himself a few more cups of wine. The normally painful and hot alcohol was now unexpectedly refreshing, a burst of heat going from his throat to his stomach. His entire face flushed peach-red, too. Wang Zhi looked strange. It wouldnt be Sui Guangchuan, would it? he suddenly asked. Tang Fan abruptly coughed, tears bubbling up. The others expression was unfathomable. He held neither disdain, nor surprise. This was not because Eunuch Wang was widely knowledgeable and progressive in thought, but because homosexuality was prevalent in the Great Ming Dynasty. Officials were banned from seeking female prostitutes by law, having policies and countermeasures about it everyone thought that if they werent allowed the company of women, men were always fine, right? Despite typical brothels still existing, they consequently had to follow the tides to keep up business. Southern Winds had also become popular, especially in the Southeast, where it was all the more fashionable. Hence was why a man expressing his admiration for another man was not commonly seen, but, in the Great Ming, also not exactly rare. Wang Zhi snickered. I thought a long time ago that that punk had rotten thoughts towards you. So thats why youre waiting here since you feel the same, why reject it? Tang Fan frowned in his drunken haze. I want to continue the Tang family line. Theres no way that he can just not take a wife and have children. But, in my mind, its one pair all your life, the two of you in perfect harmony, where you shouldnt let each other down, and theres no need to burden anyone else. It would be better to just to just do you get it? No. You want to talk to me about continuing family lines? Tang Fan suddenly recalled the others status. As a eunuch, Wang Zhi wasnt unable to continue the ancestral worship of his family line. The most common method was adoption, which many eunuchs did. Those with relatives would adopt children from family members, and those without would make a separate selection; ordinary citizens being able to have a powerful eunuch in their family was not a cause for shame, but of honor, because it signified that their family would also grow wealthy. However, discussing the continuation of lineage to a eunuchs face ahem, was rather offensive. Tang Fans wide eyes looked at him guilelessly. Wang Zhi sneered. If you get smacked, youll start talking. Ill beat you up, then throw you in front of him. Maybe he wont take a wife if his heart is in pain. Mister Tang flattened his mouth, saying nothing. After getting drunk, his behavior was prominently much more childlike than it was when he was sober. Whenever he wisely laid out a hundred different plans, he always had the air of a lofty man and yet, didnt he give one the itch to thrash him on the face now? For the sake of not quarreling with Sui Zhou someday, Wang Zhi had to suppress his impulse, calling Wei Mao over. Go, call for Sui Guangchuan. Make him take this guy back. Wei Mao affirmed. Not even a minute later, he rushed back in, Sui Zhou following behind him. Wang Zhi raised a brow at this. This subordinate ran into him the second I went out, Wei Mao came in close and whispered. Im not sure how long he was standing there. Wang Zhi laughed mockingly. If youre so tense, why do you need to keep making new problems? Ever since Sui Zhou came in, his eyes had been on the intoxicated Tang Fan. The latter hadnt noticed his arrival, watching his empty cup blankly. Sui Zhou diverted some of his attention to answer Wang Zhis question. If I dont let him realize that theres nothing to lose, he will forever choose to run away. Like I said, why make such a fuss? Get married, have kids thats all the norm, and you can still be fond of whoever you want. Is there someone thats even able to stop you? Sui Zhou shook his head. Since I cant tolerate anyone being near him, I wont make him bear with it, either. Wang Zhi tutted, fully conveying the two concepts of youre hard to understand and I dont feel like talking nonsense with you. Fine, fine, take him back now. Quit disturbing my sleep. What a bunch of stupid crap this was. I have to go into the palace early tomorrow! Go on, get! There was no need for the host to wave his hand and drive them out; Sui Zhou quickly left with someone in tow. Tang Fan was a glutton, but that didnt mean that his alcohol tolerance was high. A few cups of burning-knife wine[1] had put him under, then ended with him completely exposing the matters of his heart to others, allowing a certain someone to see everything clearly. By the time he was getting carried back, he was still dazed, as if he had fallen into a dream. Guangchuan? he asked with some uncertainly, while Sui Zhou piggybacked him. Hm. Why are you here? Am I not at Wang Zhis? Tang Fan asked, perplexed. Youre drunk. Im taking you home. The other gave an oh. Youre not marrying? It was unknown to him if the man answered, or what he answered with. Mister Tang involuntarily planted his head down, then dozed off. After waking up the next day, he had a splitting headache, in a haze about what had happened last night. He couldnt claim that he had totally forgotten it, as he certainly had some vague impressions of it, but whatever he had specifically said and whether or not he had said something amiss was not so clear. Asking Sui Zhou about it? He felt that shameful and embarrassing. He wanted to find Wang Zhi, but the other was tremendously busy. There was no way he could be in his outer-palace residence every single day. Out of a lack of choice, Tang Fan could only play dumb. Someone couldnt stand to see him self-deceive, however. After a few days, Tang Yu came looking for him. I found an opportunity to ask Guangchuan. He said he already had someone in mind, so I dont need to help him matchmake. Tang Fan was startled, quickly remembering that the other had said that he was engaged to his cousin in the Qiao family, then also remembering that after he had gotten drunk last night, the other appeared to have said that he wasnt getting married. He couldnt help but mentally curse, Sui Guangchuan, you scoundrel! Are you trying to ride two boats at once?! Meanwhile, he feigned casualness to ask, Who does he have in mind? Why dont I know? Tang Yu sighed, not answering that. Fluffy, be honest with your sister. Do you not want to get married for right now? Seeing her question him so earnestly, he replied solemnly, Yes. Im always running all over the place, and occasionally landing in danger. It would never be good for a nice young lady to marry me, then worry herself sick all day long. Didnt a remark like that mean that border guards couldnt have a wife or children all their lives? Tang Yu side-eyed him, knowing well that that was an excuse, but didnt expose him. Following her long discussion with Sui Zhou, some of her thoughts had quietly changed. No matter what, the Tang family was only them, siblings that relied on each other. Their parents were passed, so the eldest sister was akin to the mother. She truly did wish to see Tang Fan marry and have children, spreading out his branches, but she also didnt want her little brother to be unhappy. As he was playing ignorant now, he likely still didnt grasp his own thoughts. She had experienced the thing with He Lin for herself, and never wanted her brother to repeat her personal calamity. Husband and wife, husband and wife the husband sung, the wife followed, and only then would they be in harmony. Never having any good feelings would just make her brother and his future wife become resentful, wouldnt it? It was better for him to be happy, of course. She had now come to an acceptance. People pursued nothing other than a happy life in this world. If they could do whatever their heart desired, why force shackles all over them? What you would not wish for yourself, you should not shove onto others. She refused to do so, so she would try to force him even less. After thinking for a time, she brought up a different topic. Fluffy, in your view, if Qilang wants to change his surname, would that be a possibility? Tang Fan creased his brow at that. Sis, did you actually take his angry talk seriously? She shook her head. Im just thinking that the Hes have no lack of grandsons. After the mess from last time, He Lin was so arrogant, he might propose separation. We can use that chance to add that condition. He smiled painfully. You think too simply. Qilang is currently the bind that ties the Tang and He families. If he changes his surname to Tang, that is the equivalent of us completely severing our connection to the Hes. From how I see it, they would never do such a foolish thing. As soon as talks turned to stuff like this, Sir Tangs brain immediately became useful. Hearing that statement, faint worry covered Tang Yus face. Is that so? Sister, Qilang is young. Those were just words born of anger. Do you really want him to change allegiance like that? Its not a joking matter. When he grows up, if he suffers the gossip of others, hell likely turn around and blame you. I talked this over with him long ago. He isnt that young anymore, and I dont need to hide so many things from him. He already told me that he does indeed want to change his surname, and doesnt want to return to the He family. Truthfully, the reason why she wanted to completely break away from the He family had another layer of concern. Two of Patriarch Hes sons were acting officials; if ever something happened, they would rely on their connection with the Tang family to drop by. For his nephews sake, Tang Fan would never refuse, but she didnt want to make trouble for her brother. Tang Fan looked grave. What does he know? The Second He did many things wrong, but in blood ties and status, he is still Qilangs father. If he doesnt acknowledge his own father, that will be unacceptable wherever he goes, and hell face full criticism. Tang Yu shook her head. It isnt that he rejects his father, he just doesnt want to be involved with the Hes. Before you came, he suffered difficult bullying in family studies all day long, as his classmates knew that his father wouldnt take care of him. The bullying got all the worse, and he was too afraid to tell me; it was only when I saw a wound on him one day that I knew. Why didnt you tell me about something like that earlier? he asked, enraged. When we were there, I should have paid that all back! She laughed at him. What would you have done? Those were all little children about the same as Qilang. Would you fight them back? Wouldnt that have just made you a big bully of the weak? In any case, he was too frail back then. It was I, his mother, that couldnt protect him. It wouldnt have been convenient for you to step in. Brother-in-law didnt care, but was the rest of the family busy being dead? Did Patriarch He also not care? Tang Yu went quiet for a minute. Qilang said that the Third Hes son was amongst those that bullied him, so the Patriarch turned a blind eye to it. If the bullying had become vicious, the Patriarch would have stepped in, but it had simply been small fights between children. The Third He was his youngest son, too, so he definitely had some bias. Even though Tang Fan knew that He Cheng had suffered a lot of bullying at the He home, he hadnt thought that it had left such a deeply-cut impression on him, he refused to enter the family again. Now that he thought about it, his fathers lack of conduct, grumbling about his mother, and lackluster passage through life had caused the crowding out from his classmates, his own cousins included, who had been influenced by their elders to not be kind to He Cheng. Childrens displays often were the bluntest and most injurious. All of that had left scars on He Chengs heart that could not be erased. If not for Tang Fans meddling, it was hard to say whether he would have been another He Lin when he grew up. That thinking made Tang Fans impression of the Hes decay yet again. Actually, if you want to sever ties with them completely, theres a chance to. Greeting Tang Yus inquiring look, he laughed. I heard news that a grace exam branch is supposedly opening up this year. Whenever celebrations of great importance came such as the Emperor or Dowagers days of longevity, the birth of a Crown Prince, or other such things the Emperor might choose to open a grace branch to express universal celebration and add amnesty to the land. For scholars that were still slowly treading exam paths, the opening of a grace branch was an immensely joyful event. It meant that they had another shot at taking the exams, and another shot at getting listed on the golden roll. Noticing that Tang Yu still didnt get his point, he explained. The Second He is wholeheartedly hoping to be an official, and as long as he can become a Provincial Honorate, he will then possess the qualifications to be one. Even though theres too many monks and not enough congee, and I might not be able to help him achieve a capital post, if he wants one abroad, that would not be an issue. Under those terms, I can force him to relinquish the two of you. If hes willing for the separation himself, his family wont be able to say anything. What about Qilang, then? He smiled. Thats easy, too. Before the separation, both of you should draft documents for uxorilocality. Let the Second He marry into the Tang Family, and then you can change Qilangs surname to Tang, as well as handle the separation. After you separate, since Qilang will be a Tang, he will never have to return to the He family. She was dumbstruck. Thats thats possible?! He gave his sister a sly grin. The Great Ming Code doesnt state that it isnt possible. Tang Yu was speechless. With how clever her little brother was, if he was even a little willing to find a wife, practically every unmarried, well-to-do woman in the capital would be crying and shouting to marry into the Tang family, wouldnt they? On that note, even if he had no interest for it, wouldnt he attract a bouquet of peach blossoms all the same? Thinking of what Sui Zhou had said to her earlier, she couldnt help but inwardly wipe off her sweat. [1] յ/shaodaozi, a rice wine named for the burning and stabbing sensation that comes from its extremely high alcoholic content. CH 105 Do you not think its possible? Tang Fan cocked his head, seeing his sisters slightly strange expression. Tang Yu hesitated. Weve plotted against the Hes like so, but will they consent to it? Im afraid that the Patriarch will be the first to refuse. He lightly laughed. You dont need to worry about that. Well handle the Second first, and then Ill handle the Patriarch. Apparently, Mister Tang was capable of resolving others troubles very handily, but when confronting his own troubles, his brain frequently seemed to sog in water, and he would constantly do things that made one unsure of whether to laugh or cry. Tang Yu couldnt help but poke him awake. You need to find a chance to be frank with Guangchuan. Dont be fussy for no good reason. Huh? Tang Fans face went blank, instantly completing the transformation from outstandingly shrewd to dull-witted. Wh what did you say? Listen to that, he had actually stuttered. Tang Yu placed her hand on her forehead, giving a long sigh. When she had learned about this last night, it had shocked her beyond compare. Today, her emotions had gradually steadied, and her logic had gradually returned to her. After analyzing all sorts of merits, drawbacks, gains, and losses when it came to Tang Fan, plus seeing how he was now, she felt some sympathy for Sui Zhou. Nothing. All follows the laws of fate. Sister Tang had been visiting temples to worship the Buddha occasionally as of late, so she now had a bit of mysticality in her speech. If you spend your life happily, our parents in the Nine Springs will definitely be at ease. Tang Fans hairs stood on end from her meaningful look. Sui Guangchuan, you wretch! he thought to himself. What did you tell my sister while I was away?! Envoy Sui, who was currently devastating his subordinates in the Northern Bastion Offices training grounds, lightly sneezed. From then on, Tang Fan infrequently sent people to ask after his brother-in-laws current situation. Seemingly, He Lin had indeed calmed some, as he didnt make a brouhaha when he was sent to the old home in the countryside for his studies. The He family speedily moved to the capital. On the day of their moving banquet, Tang Fan brought He Cheng for a visit to hand over gifts himself, which gave enough face to Patriarch He. The latter naturally reciprocated, gifting He Cheng many things in turn. Tang Fan had many same-year friends at Hanlin Academy, and Wang Zhi was on-duty in the palace. The hearsay he had told Tang Yu was reliable, as after not too long, the Court announced the news that a provincial grace branch of the exams would be opened this autumn. This year, a provincial grace branch, and the next year, a metropolitan grace branch. There was a basis for the opening of the grace branch, of course. As was known, the Emperor had truly deep affection for Consort Wan, and because her fifty-fifth birthday would be next year, he planned to open a grace branch in order to celebrate his favored consorts longevity and paint up her renown. Though no one dared to say so, flattery took hard work, and whether it was common opinion or the Court officials, impressions of Lady Wan were not very good. There was no lack of civilian novels based on her, which portrayed her as a termagant tyrannizing the Emperors harem. Just because they didnt like Lady Wan didnt mean they would hate the grace branch, though. The scholars of the land were naturally pleased to be able to have another chance at getting on rolls, individually gearing up to bury their heads into strenuous study. Those that were already County Honorates, but too far from the province capital, needed to leave their homes and get on the roads early, lest their exam times be delayed. Of Patriarch Hes three sons, two had already gained their honors and become Court officials, while the Second He alone was a gent of County Honorate status. The Second refused to relinquish this opportunity, naturally. Every day, he studied hard in the old country home, waiting for when he became a Provincial Honorate to let out a sigh of relief. He Lin had failed to make the roll so many times, that even Patriarch He didnt hold any high expectations for him, to say nothing of anyone else. He already had two promising sons, anyways; adding the Second He to that would be more of a good thing, but if not, it would be no big deal. When it came to He Lins temperament, Patriarch He worried that if he became an official, he would offend someone, then bring calamity onto the He family. Such a thought made it seem that He Lins failure to place was actually a good thing. He Lin himself certainly didnt believe that, though. The provincial exams were his only opportunity to reverse his fortune. As he got older and the years romped by, he was too afraid to imagine the shameful scene of him still going to the tests with graying hair. Harboring such a notion, he exerted nearly all of his power in preparing for the grace branch. Under such circumstances, Tang Fan found a chance to travel to Xianghe Countys countryside himself, paying a visit to his sisters husband. He Lin was astonished at this visit, and had a coldness that was difficult to conceal. Tang Fan didnt care, simply chatting happily with him for a time, speaking only some words for the occasion. In He Lins eyes, his brother-in-law was amply devious, sinister, and full of schemes. People of different paths did not seek each other out; making himself have the patience to speak with him was uncomfortable. Seeing that the other man was going around in a circle, He Lin couldnt help but ask his guest to leave. Is there something urgent? If not, I will go to study. Tang Fan didnt mind it. How are your reviews going? Fine, He Lin answered coldly. The other laughed. I heard that the presiding examiner of Northern Zhili next year will be Pan Bin, Pan Zilin. What of He Lins voice abruptly cut off. He was not up-to-date on current affairs, but he had heard before that this Pan Zilin seemed to be Tang Fans senior of the same teacher. What are you planning? His expression darkened, as he only believed Tang Fan was wanting to trip him up. Tang Fan inwardly shook his head. The Second Hes biggest issue was not that he couldnt pass the provincials, but his personality. It didnt require careful thought to know that if such a man even could get into officialdom, it would likely be difficult for him to receive promotions. Perhaps Patriarch He had seen as much, and thus didnt have any expectations for his second son. In order to get He Lin to understand what he was hearing, Tang Fan had to switch angles, though he couldnt be too explicit. My seniors personality is one that doesnt seek merits, but does seek to not offend. It may seem like mountains are not fond of being level, but at the provincial exam scene, it would be better to have more caution. I have a few eight-legged essays here, all made by capable people. A few among them are ones I did in the provincial exams, myself. If you dont disdain doing so, you should take a look. He had once read He Lins typical essays from Tang Yu. The writing wasnt too shabby, really He Lin had been called a child prodigy in his youth, so how could it be? Moreover, not only was it not bad, but it had quite some literary flair, giving even the strictly demanding format of eight-legged essays color. Even so, it was too pompous, and He Lin was too high-and-mighty, having to add in his own thoughts and opinions every time, thus leaving an aura of arrogance on the paper. If he was lucky enough to come across an examiner of generous personality, that would be fine. If he came across the kind of examiner that preferred overcaution, or one that wasnt fond of his style, he would be out of luck. Tang Fan surmised that that might be the reason why He Lin had been able to test into being a County Honorate, but had repeatedly failed to be a Provincial Honorate. By the by, the examiners-to-be in Northern Zhilis provincials Pan Bin aside would all be older and wiser men. Were the Second Hes bellyful of whining to be brought to the exams and written onto the papers, it would most likely be thrown out again. Tang Fan had taken great pains, too, intentionally going on such a big detour to make He Lin pass the provincials on the proper route. The selected essays couldnt have any relation to the current examiner, either. It really had taken a lot of effort. As for whether He Lin would be able to puzzle it out or not, that would depend on the mans own destiny. His goal achieved, Tang Fan didnt stay longer upon seeing He Lins persistent confusion, soon getting up and taking his leave. He Lin wasnt yet the pinnacle of stupidity. He had thought that Tang Fan had come here to show off his own dazzling achievements and mock him, but after the other left, he did a lot of thinking, and finally grasped something of what the other had been playing at. He immediately picked up the essays Tang Fan had left, pinched his nose, and studied them thoroughly, meticulously, and repeatedly. He had failed too many times. Regardless of Tang Fans intent, he didnt have any further option but to try. Starting out with not too much hope in his last-minute effort, after he came back from the provincial exams, he didnt loiter, heading straight back to the old country house. When the autumnal exam spots were announced, and the old servant that helped with reading the roll came back to report alongside the notifier bearing the good news, he was in disbelief, as if he had fallen into a dreamland. I actually made it? He Lin confirmed his name and place with the notifier over and over, dazed, afraid of the great embarrassment that would happen if they had gotten the wrong person. The notifier must have met many like him before, as he smiled without impatience at He Lins endless checks, then took out a big red roll call for him to verify it. Ninety-third place, He Lin. Provincial exam enrollment had a set number of spots that varied by province. Northern Zhili had the most out of all, having about a hundred spots for each provincial branch. Ninety-third place was not much at all, but compared to all those scholars that had fallen off the roll, He Lin had gotten really lucky. The He family soon learned the news of He Lins achievement. Even Patriarch He couldnt help but inwardly sigh for Heavens blessings; evidently, his decision to make the other return to their homeland for studies had been a good one. If he had let He Lin move to the capital and face this world of distractions, he might not have been able to calm his mind enough to prepare for the exams. The Hes had only just moved to the capital, so having family friends in it was quite out of the question, but Patriarch He still had some old pals from his days in officialdom. The Third He was appointed to the Ministry of Justice and had also forged some friendships with his colleagues; when those people heard about the Second He passing the provincials, they all dropped by for congratulations, saying that Patriarch He was mighty blessed to have two sons on official paths, and now even his least remarkable one was having a lucky turn, the misfortune turning into a boon. This was a portent that the He family was on the verge of a flying rise to the top. No matter how anyone else gave their praises, He Lin knew best of all that if Tang Fan hadnt given him hints and those essays at his visit, he would not have been able to pass the provincials. To say it differently, despite his high self-regard, he hadnt gotten to the extent where he viewed nothing around him as important, or felt himself to be the sole supremacy in all of the world. He didnt understand why Tang Fan had helped him, but upon thinking about it, he could only ascribe it to Tang Yu and He Cheng. The Tang and He families were still in-laws. In this day and age, particular attention was paid to the wife relying on the husbands nobility; were he to be met with contempt, Tang Yu and He Cheng would subsequently be met with mockery. For his sister and nephew, Tang Fan would inevitably lend a hand. After figuring that out, He Lin didnt feel a single bit of happiness, simply determining that in the next years metropolitan grace branch, he had to get on the roll without relying on anyone. Tang Fan would take a nice long look it wasnt like he wouldnt be able to get it apart from him. Having that motivation, he had a rare bout of not going wild with happiness after passing the exams, and didnt go to visit the Tang home. Contrarily, he rejected Patriarch Hes proposal to let him live in the capital, and proceeded to stay in the old home in preparation for next years metropolitan exams. Perhaps he understood him too well, as Tang Fan didnt come to bother him, nor did he ever drop by to flaunt his credit for the achievement. After He Lin passed, the Tang family was quiet, neither sending gifts of congratulations, nor sending word from Tang Yu and Tang Fan. The other sides calm reaction just made He Lin feel ill-disposed. He was used to everything being a hassle, only able to think poorly of the Tang family, and that Tang Fan looked down upon his insignificant Provincial Honorate status. He wanted all the more to make a stunning hit at the metropolitan exams, and let the Tangs see how tremendous he was. Time passed in the blink of an eye. The third months grace branch in the nineteenth year of Chenghua soon arrived. He Lin smugly stayed for three days in one of the Ministry of Ritess numbered rooms, then sent a servant early to go read the list on the day of its release, feeling both tensed and ecstatic. The entire morning, he had paced around the study in the Hes capital house in order to get the rolls information in a timely matter, after the provincials, he had finally set aside his ego to move from the old country home to the new residence. Patriarch He was also sitting in the study to await the news. Even though he did not place as much value onto He Lin as he did his other two sons, that didnt signify that he didnt wish for He Lin to pass. A son having promise would be a fathers delight. Besides, having three Palace Honorates in one family would be a hundred times more impressive than having two. Noticing that his mind wasnt at peace, the Patriarch deliberately diverted his attention so that he wasnt unduly anxious, and there would be scene of joy when the time came. After passing the provincials, did you ever send someone to give word to your wife and brother-in-law? Didnt you send someone for it? Patriarch He hated his lack of ambition. Is me saying so the same as you saying so? Thats your wife and her brother! Seeing that his dad wanted to berate him again, He Lin had to frown. Wouldnt it be even better to wait until I get Palace Honorate for that? Giving this a thought, he added something else. The Tangs dont look highly upon us at all. I heard that mother invited them for a small get-together for her day of longevity, but they refused. Why bother rushing to press myself against someone elses cold rear? They sent gifts! Theres nothing impolite about them coming or not! the Patriarch raged. How did you get to be such an idiot? Tang Fan is already unhappy with you! If you dont take chances to mend your relationship, how long will you need to wait? Are you going to cast your wife and son to Tang Fan for all time, making him help you with supporting them?! What vexed He Lin about his father was how he readily scolded him, yet whenever he saw him interact with the Third He, he was never so harsh in words. Presumably, he liked He Lin the least. Right when he wanted to argue, he heard a burst of rushed footsteps come from outside. Despite feigning a calm look of carelessness, he had long become skittish at heart, and jumped to open the door. Standing outside was the steward, tailed by the servant who had been sent to read the list. The twos faces did not have the joy typically seen when their master had passed a test, but instead hesitation. This sight made He Lins heart promptly thud. After experiencing years of failure, he had gradually turned desperate for exam luck. For this metropolitan exam, despite his hard work and immense hopes, he was not conceited enough to place himself as Prime or Second Scorer. In his opinion, being a second-roll Palace Honorate would be a hugely pleasant surprise. How was it? Patriarch He asked. I must inform you, Master, Second Lord, that this lowly one looked all around the rolls, and did not see the Second Lords name The servant hesitated. But it may be that my lousy eyes werent working and I couldnt read it clearly. I ask that another be called over to take a look, in case I made an error. The Patriarch felt a wave of disappointment. How would the servant have ever dared to come back and report this, had he not verified it multiple times? He Lins name must not be on the roll. He Lin was even more disappointed than he was. He stood there mutely, only hearing that he had fallen off the placings yet again, no other words left to enter his ears. What stunning hit? What scene would the Tangs be looking at? His previous ideas were now turned into complete jokes. He had really thought that he would turn upset into a cause for celebration, only to end up having the Heavens play a trick on him. Could it be that being a Palace Honorate genuinely wasnt in the cards for him? Following his burst of disappointment, Patriarch He let it go. His sons didnt stop at just He Lin, and the latter had been lucky enough to pass the provincials. Making extravagant demands was ultimately rather greedy. For He Lin, however, this was a fatal strike. During his time of near-collapse, Tang Fan dropped by again. He Lin believed that he wanted to mock him, but that was him underestimating him; were it not for his sister and nephew, Tang Fan wouldnt have come to do this. The previous setup had come to fruition, and it was time to take back the net. He arranged for He Lin to meet him alone in the study, then got straight to the point. Do you want to keep taking exams, or do you want to get right into your official career? He Lin was caught off guard, furrowing his brows as he stared at him. What do you mean? You are a Provincial Honorate, so you can go straight to being an official. It will be a lower post, but promotion wont be an impossibility for the future. I can help you, if you want to take that path. Of course, if you want to continue taking tests, you can do as you will. Forever having vigilance and guard towards Tang Fan, He Lin asked, Why would you help me? What are you trying to get? It wasnt He Lins crazed thinking at work this time, and Tang Fan didnt hide anything. I want you to separate from my sister. Also, Qilang must change his surname to Tang. From that point on, you will have no sort of married life. He Lin grasped Tang Fans plan at last. He grew immensely angry, sneering. You believe that Ill sell off my wife and son to seek fame? Tang Runqing, youre really despicable! Dont even think about using that as blackmail! Tang Fan did not get angry, remaining calm. I urge you to consider it. My suggestion is actually perfect for both sides. Theres a vacant post for Official Mentor of Miyun County; my own post isnt prominent, but I would have no issue in helping you out for this. Your two brothers are also in officialdom, but they probably wont be able to help you with anything right now. As long as you perform spectacularly in your three years, you can be promoted to County Magistrate. Your future would not be any lesser than that of a true second-roll Palace Honorate. He Lin was struck stupid, speechless. Youre still young, the other continued. Remarrying and having children wouldnt be hard for you. Qilang will only be one of your many children, but he was carried by my sister for ten months. The weight in values there is clear. If youre willing to adopt my plan, it will give you a hundred advantages with not one harm. What if I refuse? He Lin grit his teeth. There will be another metropolitan exam next year. I can pass it with my own ability, so why would I accept your charity?! Tang Fan lightly smiled. You being able to pass on your own ability is something you could do, of course. What can I say on that? However, above-board people have knowledge of the self. Think about this carefully the Official Mentor post will not be open forever. Many people in this world want to be officials, so if you refuse, others will certainly be willing. After passing by this village, there will be no shops; if you have regrets, then want me to help you, Ill likely be powerless. Furthermore, Im not handing out charity, but performing a collaboration that benefits both sides. If you agree, my sister and I will be grateful to you. No matter what, Qilang is your flesh and blood, and that will not falter he will not refuse to acknowledge you as his father because of the change in surname. He and my sister are simply disappointed in the He family, and no longer want to be involved with its name. He Lins expression changed. After a good while, he said, I want to meet with her. Who her was, Tang Fan knew well. In his mind, He Lin had no belief that Tang Yu would be so unfeeling towards him. Tang Fan nodded. You may. Three days later, by means of his connection to Wang Zhi, he reserved a private room in Immortal Cloud for Tang Yu to meet He Lin in. Tang Fan himself withdrew. It was unknown what discussion his sister and the Second He had, but upon seeing Tang Yu return looking relieved from a burden, he knew this matter had its proper end. He agreed to it? he asked. She nodded, then immediately became a little worried. Do think the He family will have refutes on their end? Tang Fan laughed. They definitely will, but theyre not able to plot any good way forward for He Lin. Even if they oppose it, it wont work. He Lin is Qilangs father; given that he agrees, everything will go smoothly. This ended with He Lin taking his suggestion instead of waiting to take the exams next year, which demonstrated that he was not certain that he would pass them. Just as Tang Fan had said, opportunities were transient, with a whole gaggle of people busting their heads open to get even that Official Mentor position. If he gave it up, then failed the exam again, he would have lost his wife along with his army. Tang Fan was actually a little confused, though. Sis, do you really detest the He family that much? Why did you insist upon changing Qilangs surname to Tang? Are you not unwilling to take a wife for right now? I wont force you, you can get married whenever you like. If Qilang changes his surname to Tang, that can be something of a justification to our parents. Sis! He suffered a shock, having never imagined that her insistence upon the surname change had such an idea behind it. No wonder he had always felt that her behavior of not loathing the Hes very much, yet persisting with getting He Cheng to leave them, was really strange. Fluffy, if this were the past, I might have still urged you to marry soon, but I dont think that way anymore. I dont want you to be like me or your brother-in-law, where you force a bond. Even if it gives you momentary bliss, it will turn you into a pair of resentful spouses as time goes on. I only hope that you live a happy life, and dont need to suffer any sort of discomfort. Do you understand? she spoke softly, touching his shoulder. Her little brother had gotten so tall. She could no longer reach up to pet the top of his head. You seem intelligent, but in truth, the closer you are to someone, the dumber you get. I can see something of Guangchuans intent towards you, and you should get this over with, too. You cant lead people on, you have to be clear on what exactly is happening. Out of nowhere, this was the topic she was bringing up. Tang Fan was stupefied for half the day, his face that was typically thicker than the skin of a boars slowly turning red. What crap did he say to you?! She smirked. He didnt say a thing. If you want to know, you should go ask him. The authors mini-theatre: Tang Fan: My skin is thicker than a boars couldnt you switch that to a more refined comparison?! (sF)sߩ Author: Pigskin can be made into pigskin jelly! Doesnt that fit in exactly right with your attribute? Tang Fan: What attribute? Explain yourself clearly! Sui Zhou: Eating. Wang Zhi: Eating. Tang Yu: Eating. He Cheng: Eating. Ah-Dong: Eating. Tang Fan: CH 106 Tang Fan carefully mulled over his sisters words, getting the overall sense that there was a deeper meaning within them, and seemingly another motive. In truth, from the time he had returned home drunk from Wang Zhis home to today, more than a half a years time had passed. During this period, Sui Zhou had gone on several abroad assignments, seldom able to spend a few successive days peacefully at home. Tang Fan himself had been posted at the Inspectorate, which, due to being particularly short-staffed these years, had particularly large workloads allocated to each individual. This was especially so with a superior like his teacher, Qiu Jun, who had strict demands of his subordinates. Even in the capital, Tang Fan frequently left early and came home late. It was difficult for the two of them to find days where they could spend time together like they had in Datong. However, Tang Fan had always kept such in mind. As was known, Sui Zhou had previously stated that he would get married at the start of spring; even though Tang Fan seemed to have vaguely heard that he wasnt taking a wife, he had never found an opportunity to question it. The matter had been set to the side. They appeared to have reached a sort of implicit understanding, neither taking it upon themselves to bring it up. That was, until today. His sisters words had finally made Tang Fan come to a decision. He planned to wait until Sui Zhou was off-duty to make things clear to him. However, he waited here and there, looking on until the curtain of night fell, and the mans figure didnt appear. A bit anxious, Tang Fan went straight to the Northern Bastion Office to find him. Outside of his expectations, he was informed that Sui Zhou had received an abroad mission at the last minute, and was preparing to head for Tongzhou overnight. It wasnt long since he had set off, so if he went now himself, he would probably be able to catch up. Tang Fans mind was on fire, caring for nothing else. He immediately borrowed a horse from the Office people to run to the city gates. By the time he did, it was already dark, and the gate was soon about to close. Scrambling forth, he managed to catch sight of a group that seemed to be about to leave the capital, and immediately shouted out, Sui Guangchuan! He hadnt even been certain that Sui Zhou was amongst them, yet that shout unexpectedly drew the entire group into successively turning their heads and there Sui Zhou was. The latter said a few things to all his companions, allowing them to proceed with their journey before him, then turned his horse back. What happened? Seeing how he was panting, Sui Zhou habitually wanted to take a kerchief out to wipe off his sweat for him, but just when he lifted his finger, he stopped, unmoving. No one could have been able to detect the slightest flaw. For this over half a year, he had been carefully measuring himself. They seemed to have returned to the days where they had only just met, plus not known each other for very long. Despite living under the same roof, Sui Zhou had never said a half-word of ambiguity again, nor made the slightest ambiguous action. That should have made Tang Fan relieved, but for some reason, he was not as happy as he had expected himself to be. A stomachful of words spinning in his throat, all he ended up asking was one thing: Why are you going on another abroad trip? Sui Zhou hummed. Imperial orders. Im going to Tongzhou to handle something. Simply-worded, without a bit of nonsense. Not even his goal was ever revealed. Tang Fan cupped his hands, voice a little sullen. Then have an easy trip, and come back soon. Sui Zhou nodded. Thank you. With that, he turned his horse in preparation to leave. A scant few words, nothing else. When had they become so estranged? Tang Fan felt inexplicably discomfited. Seeing the other mans figure appear to become one with the darkness, he turned reckless, not making a sound as he leaned right forward to grab the others arm, only to almost fall off of his horse. Luckily, Sui Zhou reacted in time, turning around to hold him up by the arms, then bringing him back onto his own horse. He himself dismounted, and dragged the other off. What are you doing?! he coldly rebuked, anger inside his tone. If I wasnt paying attention to what was behind me, you would have fallen off! Tang Fan smiled sheepishly. I wasnt being careful. Sui Zhou went silent for a bit. If theres nothing else, Ill take my leave. Tang Fan couldnt drag this out further, so he lightly coughed, took something out of a pocket, then handed it over. I just saw this on the streets and bought it. Take it and have fun! Not waiting for Sui Zhous reaction after that, he turned and rode off on his horse, kicking up dust. Sui Zhou was a bit mystified. He bowed his head to observe using the moonlight, seeing a piece of jade in his palm. It was warm to the touch, and its make was a little inferior, as if it really had been casually bought off of the streets. Upon a closer look, the janky beaded string tied through the jades hole seemed to be Ah-Dongs handiwork? Raising it up for a sniff, there was no fragrance to it, except for the smell of simmer-fried eggplant. And he recalled that when Ah-Dong and the rest had dinner last night next door, they had eaten simmer-fried eggplant. What kind of ploy was this?! He carried the jade with him out of the city, head full of fog. Everyone was waiting for him at the outskirt posthouse. It was too late in the day, making it unsuitable to get on the road, but if they didnt leave the city, the gates wouldnt be open when they tried to leave early the next day, which would cause a delay. Hence was why everyone had planned to rest for a few shichen in this outside posthouse, then get on the road when daybreak came. Journeying with him was the Minister of Revenue, Yu Zijun. Seeing that Sui Zhou was holding a jade pendant, he teased, So, Censor Tang calling you over was to hand over a love token for someone else? Dark-faced, Sui Zhou vaguely grunted. Never before had he received a love token that stank of eggplant. In any case, Tang Fan suddenly giving him a jade must have had a deeper meaning. Thinking of how Yu Zijun was also a Palace Honorate and erudite scholar, he humbly asked for guidance. Please instruct, Minister Yu; is there something I need to understand in this? Did you give the other party anything prior? No. The implication a gift of pretty jade had was quite simple. Since antiquity, there had been a saying that went toss a quince, get a jade back, but he was getting the sense that Tang Fan wasnt going by that, else he would have had his own jade pendant. Why take the trouble to steal Ah-Dongs for the gift? Let me see, Yu Zijun said. Sui Zhou passed the pendant over. Yu Zijun found it poor to say that the beads had been strung uglily, so he could only pick out nice-sounding words. Hm. The make is average, but it has a young maidens full heart in it uh, why does it seem to smell like fried eggplant? Yu Zijun looked it over for a time, then returned it with a smile. Have you ever read a certain poem by Po Qin, Envoy Sui? Despite being well-versed in writing, Sui Zhou was not a true scholar, and had no specific knowledge of such things to speak of. He shook his head in response. I wander outside the eastern gate, where I meet a noble air of great. I follow to a secluded room, attending to him with garments grabbed. No vows made beneath the mulberry, near the roadside, we are together. Engaged I am by his lovely looks, pleased is he by my countenance, too. How to convey our sincerity? Slip on the arms two golden bracelets. How to convey our courteousness? Fix the fingers a pair of silver. How to convey delicate feelings? Appoint two pearls upon the earlobes. How to convey our joint devotion? Tie a sachet behind the elbow. How to convey our pining, yearning? Wind around the wrists two long ribbons. How to bind affections eternal? Fine jade strung by beaded, silken thread Hearing the last two parts, Sui Zhou couldnt help but be shocked. Such an open implication how could he not grasp it? Though was that actually what Tang Fan wanted to convey? Was that dead tree having a day of revival? Yu Zijun kept talking on his end. Presumably, this young lady has deep feelings for you, and she finds it hard to say directly out of embarrassment, so she had to choose to express it this way. Such touching affection; Envoy Sui is truly blessed beyond compare. Seeing no sort of joy whatsoever on Sui Zhous face, then remembering that eggplant smell, Yu Zijun seemed to understand. That ladys hopes were likely all in vain. He stopped poking fun, going to rest after saying a few more things. He could have never imagined that Sui Zhous mind had long come to be a total wreck, or that he itched to turn around, grab that guy, and interrogate him thoroughly. However, he had a job to do, and the city gates had long shut. All he could do was forcefully quell his burning mind, focus on his task, and ask later. Tang Fan had no idea of Sui Zhous reaction, of course. While on his way back, he was still measuring whether his act of gifting jade had been too esoteric. With Guangchuans literary talent, he likely wouldnt be able to guess the poem. He had taken Ah-Dongs jade pendant at the last minute and hurried out; buying her another piece in compensation was a trifle. When Sui Zhou came back, and she saw her pendant show up with him, who knew how she would react? Were it not for the fact that his own jade pendant had no beads, but a tassel, he would not have done such a thing. Thinking as much, Mister Tang held his forehead, troubled over how to fix this disaster. Not only did he have a headache, but He Lin had a headache, too. He Cheng changing his surname and the separation was too big of an event. Knowing that he wouldnt be able to keep it secret, he informed his parents of it after his return. Once Patriarch He and Lady Xu heard, it was like a bolt from a clear sky, turning them both stiff. In the current age, men from decent families would not go for uxorilocality, as it was dishonorable, and viewed as a disgrace that cast aside ones ancestors. Unless there was no further path of survival for him, no man would ever agree to it, let alone allow a perfectly good descendant to change families and be handed over to someone else. Had the Hes been impoverished, this would have been fine, but they were clearly a family of standing! How could they allow their son to do such a classless thing? I knew those Tang siblings had no good intentions! Now theyve even wrested our grandson away! Lady Xu couldnt resist shrieking out, disregarding her typical dignity. Mom, dont get angry! Listen to what Brother has to say first. He Xuan, having rushed over at the news, couldnt help but mentally shake his head. What was even happening?! What could he say?! How has our family reached the point where it sells off its grandsons?! Second, did you never consider our reputation when you did such a thing?! How do you view the He ancestors?! Lady Xu pointed at He Lin, hand shaking out of anger. Patriarch He was much calmer than she was, tamping down his anger to speak to He Lin. This was nothing more than a private talk, right? That road hasnt yet been crossed, so it can just be like the gibberish that comes after drinks. Tomorrow, I will go find Tang Fan and request that he withdraw this proposal. I dont believe that he wouldnt even give me that face. You dont need to go find him, He Lin answered. I already signed the uxorilocality documents. Both Patriarch He and Lady Xu were taken aback. Once the authorities process it, Qilangs surname will change, and then Ill separate from Lady Tang, He Lin continued. After the separation, the uxorilocality documents will be nulled. How would that be seen as losing the family face? Brother, how could you be such an idiot! He Xuan stamped his foot. Even if you separate, what could be done? Once Qilang changes his surname, outsiders will say that youre powerless to the point that even your wife and son dont respect you! That wont put your reputation in a good light! And I have much of one right now? He Lin asked coldly. Tang Fan agreed to help me get past this blockage by offering me a post. What did he promise you? Patriarch He asked. Official Mentor of Miyun County. That little job won you over?! You pawned off your wife and child for that?! The other became furious. His face flushed red, and he pressed on his chest. Lady Xu and He Xuan rushed up to help him upon seeing this. Since they have no will to remain in the He family, why force it? Father, do you think I dont know that your refusal to let me separate from Lady Tang is for no other reason than to pave a path for the Third?! Has he ever let you down?! the Patriarch fumed. Hes a He, and the He family is good are you not?! You cant become a Palace Honorate, so youre keeping your own brother from success?! He Lin sneered. The issue there is that the Tang family doesnt want to be bound to us at all. Youre scrambling to hug their thighs, but have you never considered how they would regard us? No matter what, Im Qilangs father, and Ive already agreed! If Lady Tang treats Qilang well, then whether he changes his surname or not, hes still my son! With that, he swept out his sleeves and left, not paying any further attention to the expressions of his parents and brother. He Lin had always been a lone wolf of reclusive personality. Over all these years, Patriarch He had grown used to that, and yet He Lin had decided to separate from Lady Tang and let Qilang change his surname without permission that was both unacceptable and incomprehensible. Yes, the Hes had no shortage of descendants. He Yi had three sons at his knees, and He Xuan had a son, too. He Chengs nickname of Qilang had been granted according to the lineup of his same-generation brothers in the family; without him, Patriarch He had four grandsons from his non-concubine lineages. That generation could be labeled as thriving, but the families of the Eldest and Thirds wives had no in-laws in them like Tang Fan. The joining of two families by marriage was not only for the purpose of producing offspring, but for having mutual support. This was something commonplace, and yet a friendship spanning two generations had been completely severed when it had come to He Lin. The Patriarch was really of the mind to beat his unfilial son to death. Dad, what do we do now? Do you want to go to the Tang home? He Xuan asked. Patriarch He waved him off, dispirited. That the Tangs came up with this means that they were scheming for a long time. Since the Second has consented to it, our dissent will have no use, and if we force it, well instead make enemies of them. Forget it, just let them be. He Xuan stamped his foot again. How did the Second bungle a perfectly good marriage like that?! The Tangs conduct has not conformed to etiquette, and they were clearly in a rush to cast us aside, like they were afraid that we might ask something of them. How about I get a peer to denounce Tang Fan? Are you a fool?! the Patriarch shouted. Will denouncing him make our reputation all shiny? No matter how we speak of it, this is a family matter. Both of our families have officials in them tell me, how will the authorities judge that? Dont be an embarrassment, just let it be! The Second will fix the problems he causes, and youll mind your own business! He Xuan hesitated. But, if this goes on, the Tangs will have a complete falling out with us. Wont Tang Fan take that chance to build obstacles for me? The other laughed angrily. You think too little of Tang Runqing. If he wasted energy on such petty affairs, he wouldnt have his current post! Listen to your father; youre in the Ministry of Justice, so just do what you need to do, and dont criticize him behind his back. We were indeed the first to let him down about what happened with the Second Lady and Qilang, so this recompense should be enough to calm his anger. You dont need to overthink though I do have a warning for you. Hearing his father get serious, He Xuan stood solemnly. Please speak, father. That your second brother had this day was entirely his own fault, and caused by his personality. No one else can be blamed for it. Since he was able to decide to get this minor post, if he mends his ways, he will still have room for redemption. If he cant, his life will be a total waste. Your mother birthed all three of you, yet you all have distinct personalities. The Eldest has a wealth of calmness, but lacks drive. To be able to sit in the post I had before retirement is the apex of his sky, and its difficult for him to advance further. The Second will not be spoken of. As for you, your personality and aptitude are not lacking, and youre now at the perfect age to be a Palace Honorate and get on your officialdom path. Your only defect is that you frequently view little schemes as big ones, and that is a huge taboo in officialdom! Little schemes can work for a small while, but will make it hard to walk far. Take Tang Fan, for instance; setting his quick rise aside, if you were made to go to Datong to puff sand, would you be happy? Would you be able to perform beautifully under those circumstances? Would you dare to oppose the Wan party? He Xuan felt that an aspect of that had some logic, while another aspect, he couldnt help but argue against. But with the Wan party constantly suppressing him, no matter how promising he is, it will be difficult for him to have any sort of great luck! The Patriarch sighed. When observing any situation, your eyes must look into the distance. No one dares to provoke the Wan party, but will it live forever? To put it disrespectfully, is its ten thousand years of longevity actually going to be ten thousand years? Both He Xuan and Lady Xu were shocked by his unscrupulous words. My Lord! the latter quickly called. Patriarch He waved his hand. There are no outsiders here, Im guiding my son. What level of society does the Wan party rely upon? Only the one seated above them, right? They clearly appear to have no one brave enough to oppose them, but who isnt suppressing their ire? Tang Fan looks to be on a rugged road now, but once that dark cloud covering his head is gone, the career path he has today will be his future qualifications! He Xuan was pensive. Having not yet expressed himself, the other added more sparks. Ill ask you this; when in the Ministry, what did you hear that was related to him? He was exceptional, polite to his superiors, and warm to his inferiors. Is no one unhappy because he drove Liang Wenhua out? Some were, but not many, only a few. Most had a bad impression of Liang Wenhua to begin with, believing that he was too domineering, and they sympathized with Tang Fan. This son also heard that the former Minister, Zhang Ying, had even more praise for him, and it was because of his support that Tang Fan was brave enough to oppose Liang Wenhua. Patriarch He shook his head. Did you know that Zhang Ying was once a member of the Wan party? He Xuan let out an ah. He was? I never knew. The crux of it is here. Before Tang Fan entered the Ministry, Zhang Ying obeyed Wan An. After Tang Fan entered the Ministry, Zhang Ying was demoted to Nanjing because he presented a memorial contradicting Wan Ans will. If anyone said that there was no connection at all, I wouldnt believe them. Following his settlement in the capital, Patriarch He had regained contact with old friends, some of which had not yet retired, giving him a source of information. He Xuan was astonished. Youre saying that Tang Fan encouraged Zhang Ying to oppose Wan An? He cant be that tremendous, can he? Of course not, but it had to have something to do with him. Im not saying this to frighten you, nor to tell you to promote others ambitions while destroying your own style. I only want to let you know that there is a lot of deeper knowledge herein. If you dont understand something, speak less and observe more until you do understand. Based on my comprehension of Tang Fan, he will not take revenge against you because of the chasm he has with your brother; that would be too unlike him. Your brother is your brother, and you are you. If you have the chance to, you can still forge a good relationship with him. Understand? This son understands, He Xuan accepted. With no obstruction coming from the He family, things went a lot smoother. Because of Tang Fans connections, the governments processing efficiency was rather quick. This case of uxorilocality-first, separation-after was pretty uncommon, but not rare enough to make everyone raise their eyebrows. Many bizarre people and events had existed in the Great Ming; by comparison, this incident was completely inconsequential. Tang Fan was not an unreasonable man. He knew that despite He Lin agreeing to it, this matter had only gone so smoothly because Patriarch He hadnt added any blockades. Cast a peach, reciprocate with a plum via his former colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, he asked them all to look out for He Xuan some more, so that the latter would not be at a loss for what to do when he entered the Ministry. Compared to Tang Yu and He Lins separation, He Lins uxorilocality and He Chengs change of surname were not things that many knew of. Following them, all that happened was that He Chengs name was quietly scratched off of the Hes genealogy record. Most solely heard that He Lin had separated from his wife, and inevitably mocked him behind his back as being so hopeless, he couldnt even keep her. However, by that time, He Lin himself had already gained the post of Miyuns Official Mentor with Tang Fans help, and headed off for Miyun County. Official Mentors belonged to a class of tutor officials; Mentors for Estates were Palace Honorates, but county Mentors only required a Provincial Honorate or Tribute Student to fill the post. The He Lin of twenty years ago, who had been wholeheartedly thinking to get his name on the golden roll, wouldnt have thought much of the post, but things had changed with time. Nowadays, he was fully satisfied with being able to get a county tutor position. The He family, its Patriarch especially, did not hold too many expectations for He Lins future career. He had truthfully disappointed all of them too many times before. Now that he was going to work abroad instead of stay at home and blame everyone but himself all day, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. The ways of the world were variable, and the minds of people hard to predict, however. No one would have thought that, after a certain number of years, the one exceeding all expectations would be He Lin. That was all a story for later, of course. That which was not important to the now was not to be brought up for the time being. With He Lins side resolved, this aggravating familial matter came to a close at last. Yet, not long after the start of spring, something happened. The translator says: Yu Zijun was mentioned much earlier in the novel as being the Minister of War. Ill assume he got transferred. Im finally at a point in translating where I dont want to commit fullspeed window whenever I see poetry *sobs happily* CH 107 This happening could not be described as either big or small. The current Crown Prince had many teachers, those amongst them of the highest status and most resounding name being a few Cabinet Viziers. However, they were occupied with other things, only having the title without ever teaching the Prince themselves. Those that actually taught him were several tutors of the East Palace, which included Liu Jian, Xie Qian, Wang Ao, and others. They were considered his real teachers. At the start of this year, one of the Princes teachers returned to his homeland for mourning his father and would not be returning until three years later, leaving a vacancy in the East Palaces tutors. Reason stated that someone else should make up for this, in order to not hold up the Princes studies. Someone capable of being the Princes tutor had to be a learned scholar that was not only a Palace Honorate, but a Hanlin entrant. However, those who had only just entered Hanlin Academy wouldnt do, as they were too impetuous, and senior subjects wouldnt do, either, as those people would be too busy with their jobs to have time to focus on instructing the Prince. Of Tang Fans branch of peers, their qualifications were just perfect, which was why two out of the top three of the branch had become tutors. Originally, this hadnt been Tang Fans business, as he was now a Censor that didnt hold a candle to being an East Palace tutor, but someone recommended him for it. The recommender was Peng Hua. Peng Hua was a Cabinet member, ranking behind Liu Ji and the rest of them, but that did not at all influence his doughty war victories. Unlike Liu Ji, who got denounced all day long, he was classified as the type that no one dared to provoke. This stemmed from him being a very aggressive person that smacked people (especially their faces) and exposed people (particularly their faults); whoever annoyed him would have their each and every defect and shortcoming infinitely magnified. He was deeply comprehending of the minds of humans, too. Every time he instructed censors to attack his opponents, he could always prod their weakness, causing them to be worse off than they had started. Over time, Solon Peng had gotten another name: Peng Paperwasp. He stung whoever was unlucky enough. Peng Hua and Tang Fan had no frequent contact. The only time they had ever met was at Wan Tongs fiftieth birthday, where they had exchanged brief pleasantries that had amounted to nothing more than Tang Fan being courteous to Peng Hua, and Peng Hua saying a few polite things. For that reason, upon abruptly learning that he had been recommended as a tutor by Peng Hua, Tang Fans first reaction was not happiness, but worry. This was because Peng Hua was close to the Wan party, and Tang Fan had wittingly ruined a lot of the partys nice things. He had no belief that he was universally loved, or that the Wan party held no grudges whatsoever. He had also heard this news brought up by his teacher, Qiu Jun. There were no secrets in officialdom; within not too many days, the event spread throughout the Inspectorate. Many of his colleagues looked at him with envy in their gazes, believing that Tang Fan had walked into some great luck. Being the teacher of the future Emperor meant that ones career path would be a little smoother than others. Furthermore, being a tutor didnt meant that one would need to resign from their current post, so Tang Fan would both be able to have his identity as Left Metropolitan Censor and be a lecturer in the East Palace. The two were not irreconcilable; at most, Tang Fan would be getting more of a good thing, not receiving any hindrance to his current career path. This was a glorious thing that many wouldnt find even if they sought it out. Tang Fan, however, was a mute that had eaten goldthread, unable to describe its bitter taste. Peng Hua had recommended him for no good reason the man couldnt have been doing his daily good deed and taking joy in helping others out, could he? Peng Hua had no clear idea of Tang Fans intellect. How would he know that he was capable of guiding the Crown Prince? There had to be something afoot. Tang Fan pondered back and forth. Even though he wasnt sure of the others intent, he couldnt just be led by the reins like this, so he hoped to be able to go through Wang Zhi to find an excuse for himself to resign from this duty before the Emperor. However, after several days of waiting, Wang Zhi never once came out of the palace. This went until the evening of a certain day, when Tang Fan got back from the Inspectorate and ran into the travel-worn Sui Zhou at the doorway. At this unexpected encounter, both were taken aback. Sui Zhou was fine, but Tang Fan instantly thought of the scenario where he had quickly nabbed Ah-Dongs jade pendant to give to the man, and felt that act to have been incredibly stupid. He hated that he couldnt go back in time and prevent it from ever happening. Afraid that Sui Zhou would ask about what he had been trying to say, he immediately took a step back, laughing dryly. Youre back, Guangchuan? Oh no, I just remembered that theres something at the Inspectorate that I didnt grab. Im going back to get it! With that, he turned and went, as if there was a ghost chasing after him. Stop! Tang Fans figure subconsciously stopped, after which he inwardly scolded himself, Tang Runqing, youre really hopeless, stopping whenever anyone tells you to stop! Youre avoiding me? Sui Zhou asked coldly. Tang Fan turned around, doing all he could to put on the most innocent expression he had ever had in his life. Why would I avoid you? Youre thinking too much. The other was expressionless. What was the purpose of you giving me Ah-Dongs pendant? Mister Tang laughed. There wasnt one. I saw that you left so quickly that you didnt have time to put on a pendant to weigh down your clothes, so I gave you one! Then why didnt you give me your own? I wasnt thinking that hard. He regretted saying that. It was such a perfunctory answer, even he couldnt stand to hear it. Sui Zhou gave him a profound look, tossing him something. Tang Fan caught it on reflex, then lowered his head to look it was Ah-Dongs pendant. He instantly felt something indescribable. Sui Zhou didnt look at him, turning around and heading inside. Sir Tang stood there in a daze for a long time. Belatedly realizing that he hadnt yet eaten dinner, he moved his feet to walk next door. Tang Yu was bringing food out. Seeing him come in with a distracted look, she teased, Whats wrong with you? You look lovesick! Snapping out of it, Tang Fan handed the jade pendant to Ah-Dong. Ah-Dong, the half-wit, exclaimed upon seeing it, and pounced on him. He dodged to the side, glaring at her. Youre too grown to pounce on a man! How scandalous! She snatched the pendant, fuming. I knew my pendant vanished for no reason! I set it on the table last time, so I thought Qilang took it! You grabbed it without saying anything! Tang Fan felt a little guilty. I was in a rush at the time, so I forgot to tell you. She blinked. Where is yours, then? He wanted to say that it was on his waist, but when he felt for it, he discovered empty air. No pendant was there at all. Now, he was completely dumbstruck. Ah-Dong chewed her tongue. You lost it, brother? That was good jade! Quick, think of where you might have lost it! Did it get knocked off when you came in from outside? Ill look for it for you! It would have been better for her to have not said that. With that statement, sparks flew in his head, and he quickly reached out to grab her by the back of the collar, firmly pulling her back from heading outside. Nevermind, dont be anxious right now! Who knows where I might have dropped it? Ill look after were done eating! he said, feigning nonchalance. The Emperor wasnt worried, but his attending eunuch was. That wont do! she said. If someone picks it up, wont you regret it forever? You all eat first, Ill go out and look! Right when she took a few steps outside, she saw Sui Zhou coming in. After the latters return from the capital, he had first gone to the palace to have audience with the Emperor and report on his entire journey, then hurry back for dinner. Despite his recent change of clothes, it could be seen that his days of running back and forth had made him rather tanned. Ah-Dong said hello to him, quickly went to head out, then suddenly gasped. Brother Sui, why do you have my brothers jade? The little ladys voice making a big thing over not much caused Tang Fans heart to leap. Following the sound, he indeed saw a piece of jade hanging from Sui Zhous waist, which was precisely the one he had lost. He gave me it, Sui Zhou answered. Really? Ah-Dong asked skeptically. She looked back at Tang Fan, saw that he wasnt arguing, and had to tease. You sure are something! You gave your pendant away, then forgot about it! Have you been working too much at the bureau recently? Your memory is about the same as an old mans! How could he say he hadnt, under these circumstances? He could only give Sui Zhou a scathing look, thinking to himself that the man was truly shameless! Noticing the undercurrents hidden between the two while Ah-Dong and He Cheng were clueless, Tang Yu shook her head with a smile. Guangchuan, you must be tired from the journey. Come sit and eat! Sui Zhou nodded. Thank you, Sister. Tang Yu then shot a look at Tang Fan. Fluffy, whats with that dazed look? Help set out the chopsticks. Theres cucumber noodles stewing on the stove, I have to go see if theyre ready. There were maids to help around now, but if Tang Yu had the free time to cook like this, she typically would give pointers from the side herself, rather than pass the whole thing onto the servants. Mister Tang childishly deflated to express his dissatisfaction with his sisters favoritism. Accepting his fate, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and passed them to Sui Zjou. When the other man accepted them, it wasnt clear whether it was on purpose or not, but his fingers gently swiped the back of his hand. The calluses on them met skin, causing Tang Fans hand to jolt and the chopsticks to fall. You asshole! Tang Fan mentally cursed. Ah-Dong poked her head out to join in on the fun. Whats the matter, brother? Youve been absent-minded all night! Its nothing. Tang Fan pushed her skull away, bending over to pick up the chopsticks. Go get your food! A maid brought the cucumber noodle stew in, Tang Yu walking behind her. She had happened to see him drop the chopsticks, chiding, How old are you? You cant even pass chopsticks without dropping them on the ground! Mister Tangs injustice nearly made him feel sympathy for the eternally-wronged Marshal Yue! He had to give Sui Zhou a vicious look, only to find that the man wasnt looking his way at all, but speaking with He Cheng. After the latter had been training for a time in the Northern Bastion Offices training grounds, Sui Zhou had noticed that his physique had gotten tougher, so he didnt make him go back, only having him practice what they had taught him before in order to keep him fit. The Office apprehended major criminals as imposed by royal orders, in the end, and also had the hellish Bastille, a bloody aura overflowing from it all; it was best for children like He Cheng and Ah-Dong to not go there so much. Due to his experience in the Office, He Cheng had become somewhat close to Sui Zhou. Instead of fearing his stoic face, he excitedly asked him about some things during melee training. Eat without speaking, sleep without talking such went an ancient proverb, the standard of every household. However, when it came to the Tang family, it was hard for all of them to be able to come together for dinner after a long day. If they solely ate without communicating, feelings would inevitably be hurt, so there was no such standard here. Tang Yu prompted the two children to start eating. Ignoring Tang Fans resentful look, she placed moo shu in vinegar sauce into Sui Zhous bowl. Guangchuan, will you be able to stay a while this time? she asked. I should be able to. She glanced at Tang Fan, then asked, How are wedding preparations going? Tang Fans hand that had been reaching for the stew paused, then spooned some into his bowl like nothing had happened. He bowed his head and started eating. Theyre about done, Sui Zhou answered. The date can be set for next month. A good deal of work could be said to have gone into this stew when Tang Yu had made it. In the pot was mincemeat, shiitakes, crab, tofu, and bean starch noodles. After being simmered for two quarter-hours, the sliced cucumbers were to be added, as well as water and seasonings. Once the cucumbers were lightly cooked, the boiling could begin. During that period, the noodles would absorb the umami flavor of the miscellaneous ingredients, all of it cooked into a tenderness that made it melt in the mouth. The most wondrous thing was the cucumbers enhancing the flavor, making the entire dish even more sweet and refreshing. It had always been Tang Fans favorite. And yet, as he gnawed on this dish that his sister had so carefully cooked, he felt that it wasnt as delicious as it used to be. A spot of warmth was felt on his thigh. He lowered his head to see that there was a hand placed on it. There was no need for him to think about who that hand could belong to. He was vibrantly furious. While Tang Yu and the others werent paying attention, he reached under the table and tried to pry that paw off, but no matter how he tried, the hand was like a locust, not budging. His minute motions finally alerted Tang Yu. Seeing her brothers face slightly twitch, she asked, What is it, Fluffy? Do you feel unwell? His mouth drew back. No. I was just bitten by a mosquito. The mosquito left his thigh at last. Looking at Sui Zhou again, the latter still quietly had his head bowed to eat, as if that hadnt been his hand just then. Him trying to look like he hadnt been involved made ones hackles raise. With that, Tang Fans appetite greatly increased, leading to him taking a few dishes and repeatedly finishing off the white rice in his bowl. Fluffy. The speaker was not Tang Yu, but Sui Zhou. Hating him on the inside, Tang Fans face was blank. Call me Runqing. Tang Yu was heard to pfft. Tang Fan looked at her hatefully. Sui Zhou was, in contrast, good-tempered. I have something to say to you. Lets go to the study. There are no outsiders here. You may as well just say it. Its related to you being an East Palace tutor. When he spoke like this, if Tang Fan refused again, it would seem like he was being petty. He could only follow him into the Tang study. When I went into the palace today, I ran into Wang Zhi. He said to pass on to you that it would be best for you to not resign from the role of tutor. Tang Fan hadnt expected that he would talk actual business. After being stunned for a bit, he asked. Why? If you want to enter the Cabinet someday, this role will add a splendidly-colored mark onto your qualifications. Any civil official of the Great Ming would have his ultimate dream be to enter the Cabinet. Tang Fan already had all the prior requirements for entering the Cabinet; he was not only a Palace Honorate, but a Hanlin entrant. His only minor shortcoming was that he had been in the Academy for a mere three years, not remaining to simmer his qualifications there like the rest of his peers, but if he could become an East Palace tutor, that little flaw would be nothing at all. Following the ascension of a new Emperor, he would first promote his subjects and confidantes close to him. East Palace tutors, as teachers that were entrenched in the Son of Heavens residence, were indisputably connected close to him. This would have been a superb assignment, but since it had been brought up by Peng Hua, a Wan party friend, it made Tang Fan hesitate quite a bit. Hearing his apprehensions, Sui Zhou asked, Can you guess the motive behind Peng Huas action? Tang Fan smiled bitterly, shaking his head. If I could, I wouldnt be so worried right now. I really would like to hope that he recommended a talent for the good of the nation and out of a mind to help the public, but he doesnt seem to be the type. If I was alone at this point, then even if something did happen, me getting dismissed or resigning wouldnt be anything awful. I worry that since the Wan party clearly knows of my connection to both you and Wang Zhi, they want to go after me first, and use me to bring you two down afterwards. With Sui Zhou currently around, Wan Tong would never have a day where he could fully control the Brocade Guard. He horribly hated him, but there was nothing he could do. After what had happened with Datong, the Wan party regarded Tang Fan and Sui Zhou as thorns in the eye all the more; Peng Hua wasnt a true party member, but Tang Fan wasnt about to take him lightly. Sui Zhou knew what he was thinking of. You dont need to worry. Wan Tong cant do anything to me, and since Wang Zhi advised such, that shows that there wouldnt be any problems on his end. He also told me that Huai En knows of this and also expressed his approval, hinting for you to take up the decree. Tang Fan was startled. This is what the Crown Prince wants? Huai En is always close to the Prince, and if he isnt, then he isnt too far. The Prince likely has a good impression of you, and hopes that youll take on the task. Tang Fan considered this for a moment, then came to a decision. Fine, then. Looks like rough times are up ahead, and I need to charge through them. Sui Zhou gently smiled. Thats the Tang Runqing I know. He shouldnt have said that. The atmosphere turned awkward. Tang Fans gazed flitted over the pendant on his waist, and he immediately couldnt sit still. Go on back and rest a little earlier! I just remembered I have books I need to read, so Im going! Not waiting for Sui Zhous response, he got right up and left, the way he deliberately detoured around Sui Zhou resembling how one would avoid a flood, or rabid beast. He had forgotten that if Sui Zhou wished to stop him, then no matter how he tried to leave, he would definitely be stopped. However, Sui Zhou just sat peacefully in his spot, watching his fleeing figure sink completely into the darkness, after which he lowered his head to look at the jade pendant he was playing with in his hand. Sending something and immediately refusing to acknowledge it, having something taken and then playing dumb. He was clearly already on the chopping block, yet he believed that he was still able to fly out of the spiders web. Sui Zhou shook his head a little, a tiny, invisible smile streaking across his eyes. The decree appointing Tang Fan as an East Palace tutor was soon issued. According to the rules, Tang Fan did not need to resign from his original job at the Inspectorate, let alone go to report to the East Palace every single day. As the Prince had other teachers to give him lessons, he only needed to go there once every five days. His Highness the Crown Prince was now thirteen, a half-grown teenage boy; in a poor familys household, that would be enough for him to bear an entire familys worth of property, and no longer be regarded as a child. People of this age were most liable to think up some original, out-of-the-norm ideas. Were he an average student, that would be fine, but when faced with the heir apparent of a nation, the Princes teachers had to treat him with one-hundred-twenty-thousand percent concentration, carefully selecting his lessons and being cautious out of fear that one misstep would hold up his progress. Youre really calm, Runqing. When I first came to the East Palace, I didnt have your self-restraint! To welcome this new teacher, the Crown Prince had specifically asked that another teacher, who happened to be Tang Fans same-year friend, show him around, thus showing his respect. The other party also held an East Palace post as an attending lecturer. Tang Fan laughed. Ive been to the East Palace before, when I needed to handle a case. Thats why Im not surprised this time around. Right! How could I have forgotten that? Xie Qian realized. Yuqiao, I heard that when we teach His Highness, we are each responsible for a subject? The other nodded. That is so. Im still unsure of which subject to teach the Prince, as my predecessor went off to his homeland for mourning. Can you tell me what it is? I instruct him on classical argumentation, while your predecessor was responsible for history. So, if nothing goes wrong, you should also be responsible for history. Tang Fan was slightly surprised. Hes interested in learning classical argumentation, too? Xie Qian sighed with a smile. He must not only learn what we have learned, but learn what we never have, of course. As I see it, even though hes very young, hes still royalty. He works strenuously in his detailed studies, not being a single bit lacking to when we ourselves studied relentlessly! However he lowered his voice, his days in the palace arent too easy. You must have some caution. That much had become deeply understood by Tang Fan back when he had cracked the East Palace case, but he wouldnt speak of his own relationship with the Prince in front of his pals, lest he show off terribly. Xie Qian was a generous nobleman, and told him a lot of things to pay attention to as a tutor. After listening closely, Tang Fan asked, Yuqiao, do you know what my predecessor taught His Highness last time? Ill pick up from there. The other shook his head. I dont know, actually. When we teach the Prince, we each given separate lessons. Later on, you can ask Orator Lin Ying. Hes responsible for jotting down the Princes learning curriculum and providing assistance. While they talked, they arrived at the East Palace. A few individuals were seen from far away at the palaces entrance; upon getting closer, it was seen that the Crown Prince had come to personally welcome him, followed by some servants. He hadnt seen him in some years. The Prince had grown by a lot, the sparse bun atop his head even having gotten visibly thicker. Perhaps due to his congenital weakness, the Prince was now thin for his age, but he was still a lot better compared to when Tang Fan had seen him before. Only his shining and clear eyes had remained unchanged. Upon seeing the Prince come out to greet him, Xie Qian was not at all surprised, merely turning quick to whisper to Tang Fan, His Highness is one who highly respects teachers. The same was done for several other teachers in the past, so theres no need to panic. Tang Fan and the Princes eyes met. The two of them automatically smiled, knowingly. CH 108 Xie Qian and Tang Fan stepped forth to bow. The Prince didnt wait for them to even bend over before he scrambled up to stop them. Dont be overly polite, teachers! Look at you, Teacher Xie you did something like this, and made Teacher Tang do the same! Of all that was in officialdom, what was most abundant was false politeness. Tang Fan had seen countless fake polite people, who clearly wanted you to bow, but would still shout about politeness not being needed, putting on obvious airs yet acting like they were respectful scholars. What was true and what was false were things the other party might not sense, but bystanders could tell all too well. In Tang Fans eyes, however, the little Prince appeared to have not changed even a little bit. Hardships turned into time, yet only calm indifference remained in his heart. Were he not like this, why would someone like Huai En be set on him? Despite the Prince wanting him to not, Tang Fan still proceeded to bend at the waist, making a big show of respect. Ai, Teacher Tang! Unable to stop him, the Prince could only grab his arm, then stoop over along with him. The scene was a little comical to witness. Xie Qian laughed. Since hes here, this subject will finish my withdrawal. Teacher Xie, please come in and have tea. Sit for a bit before you leave. This subject still has things to do in Hanlin Academy, and it would be unsuitable for me to stay long, Xie Qian rejected. Besides, Your Highnesss schoolwork should not be held up too much. I will see you off, then, the Prince had to answer. You must remain here! Xie Qian quickly stated. He firmly refused to let the Crown Prince see him off, so the latter had to have his attendant do it. After the two left, the Prince said powerlessly to Tang Fan, Teacher Xie was being overly cautious. Tang Fan smiled. Theres nothing much wrong with being cautious. Him being cautious is just him thinking of you, Your Highness. The Prince smiled back, stepping into the hall while holding Tang Fans hand. I know, Teacher Tang. I was very happy to hear Father Emperor appoint you as a tutor! Thank you for your trouble in remembering me, Your Highness. Weve sadly been apart for several years; this subject rather missed you, too. Now that I see that youre in good health and high spirits, I feel at ease. The boy cocked his head. Yet why did I hear that you were not too willing to take up this position? He held no reproach in his tone, only showing a small amount of complaint, as if to say, We got along fine before. Why didnt you want to see me? Tang Fan wasnt going to keep anything from him. Youve misunderstood. That was simply because the one that recommended me was Peng Hua. I have never had any contact with him, so Im suspicious, and fear that he wants to use me to put you at a disadvantage. Theres no need to worry, Teacher Tang, the Prince answered, relieved. Youre only instructing me, with no other tasks. There certainly wont be any troubles. Dare I ask which tome Teacher Zhou last left off on for you? He was teaching from A Mirror for Governance Aid. Last time, he taught me about the seven year Wude era. Am I remembering wrong, Orator Lin? It is indeed the Wude era, the young Court of Education employee beside him said with a bow. Ever since Sima Guang had written A Mirror for Governance Aid, it had been viewed as required reading for future generations of Emperors. The tomes status was self-evident. Despite the Annals of History being seen as the pioneer of historiography, its years were too far away. When it came to the Ming Dynasty, the Song and Tang Dynasties were much better references, which was why the Mirror had become a crucial text for successive Crown Princes since Mings founding. Tang Fan raised a brow. The Wude era from where Zhang Jinshu killed Gao Kaidao and surrendered to Tang, or the fifty-three clauses of the Tang Code added onto the old Kaihuang Code? Any able to be Hanlin entrants had to be well-learned scholars, but those like Tang Fan, who could bring up any section of contents from A Mirror for Governance Aid without even needing to flip it open, were still rare. The Princes eyes instantly glinted. The section with Zhang Jinshu! Youre really amazing, to not forget anything youve read! Tang Fan grinned. A Song man once said that those that are rulers yet do not know the Mirror are those that wish to govern yet do not know the source of self-governance, and fear rebellions yet do not know the techniques to defend against rebellions; those that are subjects yet do not know the Mirror are those that cannot manage anything for their ruler, nor govern the citizenry. In light of that, I had to study it carefully. It was no huge matter. If you go and ask Teachers Xu and Xie, they are likely quite familiar with the book, as well. The Prince snuck in close to his ear. Teacher Zhou didnt know it by heart. He had to flip through the book for a look every time, and would still get it wrong sometimes. I never pointed it out, though, else someone who had a reputation like his would definitely feel embarrassed! Tang Fan felt amused. Owing to their previous interactions, they didnt feel too unfamiliar despite having been apart for so long, and even though the Prince was precocious, he still had something of a mischievous childs heart. You have kind intentions, and are very generous. Teacher Zhou is up there in years, so his memory is certainly not comparable to that younger folks. Pointing out his mistakes to his face would have likely embarrassed him. As long as you understand the core of this, you will meet with no sort of instability. The boy nodded with a smile. You know me well. That was indeed the case. They looked at each other with smiles, the only remaining gap between them vanishing into nothing. Today, then, I will continue from where Teacher Zhou left off, starting from the seven years of Wude. This subject does not know what his teaching style was; if you think me long-winded or difficult to adapt to, all you need to do is point it out, and I will adjust appropriately. He said as much, but he really wasnt long-winded when teaching at all, even directly skipping over some things that werent so important. The equal-field law and three-tax system, which had not much ink dedicated to it in the Mirror, he instead described in great detail, occasionally using comparisons to the Great Ming so that the Prince would receive an even clearer understanding. Half a days time quickly passed. When Tang Fan got up to take his leave, the Prince was rather reluctant to part from him. Its a shame that you wont be able to return until five days later. It pains me that I cant continue to listen to your teachings tomorrow, too. Tang Fan laughed. Your words truly shock this subject with flattery, Your Highness. There are simply many concrete examples in history books, which is why you think theyre more interesting to listen to than others. Its not due to this subjects merits. As a thoughtful and considerate child, the Prince knew not to speak like this too much, else it would make his other teachers ill at ease to hear, and also gain Tang Fan enemies for no reason. It was I who spoke rashly. I will see you off, Teacher Tang. He ignored Tang Fans rejection, personally wishing to escort him out. In the end, Tang Fan had to say, Please remain here, Your Highness. It would be better to let Orator Lin see me off. Teacher Tang is right, Lin Ying said. Please remain here. You must not be too attention-grabbing. The Prince was forced to stop. If you please, then, Orator Lin. While they walked out, Lin Ying brought up a topic on his own. Your lectures differ greatly from Teacher Zhous, giving one quite an undivided sense of altruism. Its little wonder as to why His Highness was unwilling to part from you. He has been cordial with others before, but this humble official has never seen him be so close to a teacher whos teaching for the first time. I presume that youre old acquaintances with him? Tang Fan having explicitly pointed him out for the send-off was for the purpose of taking the chance to ask him about things related to the Princes progress, so he smiled. I cant be considered an old acquaintance. This was simply a duck being forced to roost; Im afraid that my tutelage of His Highness was poor and laughable. How could I compare to Teacher Zhous wide knowledge? Youre being too modest. Looking at His Highnesss attitude alone, you evidently teach well enough. Ive only just arrived here, and do not know the rules. Dare I ask what areas require focus in the Princes lessons? Please give instructions, Orator Lin. Lin Ying thought a minute. There shouldnt be any. However, The Grand Teachings of Literary Flourish reached completion not too long ago, and His Majesty looks upon it very fondly. Once the Mirror is done, the Grand Teachings should be taught from. If you have the spare time, you should read the tome in advance to make a lot of proper preparations. Tang Fan understood immediately. The Grand Teachings of Literary Flourish was a new tome that had just been compiled in December of last year. The originating goal of the books creation was to instruct the Crown Prince on how to cultivate himself and rule the land peacefully, but in actuality, it had been a motion manufactured by the Wan party to curry favor with the Emperor. Following the books creation, all of the Cabinet Solons that had participated in it or edited it had been promoted and rewarded. To get the Emperors favor, they had also requested that he personally pen a foreword, which he had easily agreed to. Despite him not having the mind to engage in politics, he was not only an exceptional painter, but had a literary flair that was above the norm, making the Wan partys plan really scratch his itch. Because of this, the Prince had to express importance towards the set of books, lest he give others a cause for gossip. Had it not been for your reminder, I would have forgotten that, Orator Lin. Thank you! Lin Ying smiled. No need to be so polite. His Highness being happy means that all of us are happy, too. This is something Im well aware of. Tang Fan smiled back. Youre exactly right! Everything following went smoothly. Tang Fan entered the palace once every five days. The Prince was of decent aptitude and quickly progressed in his studies; there was not a more stress-free student than he. Compared to Consort Wans tyranny, the Prince was reasonable, of gentle personality, treated his teachers and subjects with total respect, and did not get high-and-mighty in his status. Human hearts were grown from flesh who wouldnt want to be close to such a Crown Prince? However, the Wan party currently had tremendous power in Court. Those with the wisdom to protect themselves did not dare to offend them, only able to quietly bury their thoughts in their minds. No matter how good the Crown Prince was, in the eyes of the Wan party, there wasnt a bit of good about him. In other words, they didnt support his ascension, and he certainly wouldnt walk the same path as them in the future. Hence was why, even though Consort Wan hadnt had a son herself, she had to support Consort Shaos son the current Second Prince, Zhu Youyuan for Crown Princedom. Of course, that stemmed from Consort Shao bowing low before Consort Wan, adhering to her via filial piety. Zhu Youyuan was seven years old. According to sequence, he ought to be the Fourth Prince, but two of his older brothers had passed in their youths, the Crown Prince notwithstanding. He was not a half-grown teen like the Crown Prince, nor had he had a hard childhood, nor was he early-maturing in wisdom, nor was he uninfluenced by the Wan party; he was a prince that had practically grown up inside a pot of honey, loved by his parents since childhood. Obviously, he was pampered, and not a thing like the Crown Prince, who had almost lost his young life. A child like him was clearly much easier to grip than the Crown Prince. In spite of only spending a brief morning in the palace, Tang Fan was already acutely aware that the Crown Princes current situation was a bit isolated. Furthermore, the rumors outside of the palace going around about the Crown Princes abolishment had never ceased, some even saying that his health was weak, which would not be promising towards the proliferation of the family. In contrast, Zhu Youyuan was strong-bodied, making him more suitable for the continuation of the lineage. There was both truth and falsehood to the rumors, yet more falsehoods than truth. One thing was certain: if the Crown Princes position genuinely was as stable as a boulder, these rumors wouldnt have disseminated in the first place, and no one would have belief in them. Also, while coming to and from the East Palace, Tang Fan had once inadvertently discovered some people spying in the dark like ghouls. He knew that they must have been sent to monitor the East Palace, and even catch blackmail material on the Crown Prince. However, with Tang Fans present position, even if he was the Princes teacher in name, there was nothing he could do. On that topic, even when He Cheng was being taught, his mind would inevitably start wandering after sitting for a long while, but the Princes would not. From start to finish, he would be completely focused on listening to his lessons and asking questions whenever there was something he didnt understand. What teacher wouldnt inevitably adore a student like him? Despite Tang Fan not saying so, he had seen too much noxious air in the present Court. Like many, he held high hopes for the Crown Prince, and became biased towards him at heart. When it came to the Princes lessons, he was more attentive, needing to carefully prepare for the five-day-interval lessons in advance. As expected, the Prince came to be all the more fond of Tang Fans lessons, at times even accidentally letting his mouth run. It got the point that even Xie Qian had jokingly complained that the subject he was responsible for was too pedantic compared to what Tang Fan had to do, which had led to the Prince being fascinated by the novelty. On this day, when Tang Fan came home from the Inspectorate, he saw that Ah-Dong was dressed up nicely, even having brought out the gold wire bracelet inlaid with rubies that she never usually wore. Our Ah-Dong is such a pretty young lady. What handsome lad are you planning to go out and see? he wondered. She jumped up to berate him. All you know how to do is make fun of me all day, brother! He beamed as he pat her head. Whos forcing you to always be a monkey that dances around with swords, waves around sticks, and even runs off to climb trees? Im worried about how youll marry someday. At long last, you look a bit like a young lady that puts me at a lot of ease! Ah-Dong pouted. What do you mean, dancing around with swords and sticks? Were it not for me, big sis wouldve let the Hes take her away by force! Yes, yes, he conceded, but no matter what is said, youll always be a woman, and this is your natal family. Your brother and sister know how you are, but that might not be the case when you get to your husbands family. You need to learn to be a little more restrained, even if you have to fake it. Im still three-ish years away from hairpinning age! she said, feigning anger. Most big brothers wish for their little sisters to stick around for longer, but you itch to marry me off! He bust out laughing. Thats because you eat too much! Im worried that youll eat us out of house and home! The two joked around for a bit, until she hurriedly bounded some steps away. No more playing, sis has to help me put my hair back up in a bit. I need to rush over to the Suis, we can talk later! He grabbed her. Why are you getting so dressed up to go there? Did Brother Sui not tell you? Ah-Bis marriage is set, Im going to congratulate her! Thinking of what Sui Zhou had said last time, Tang Fans brow creased. Speaking of that, Guangchuan is about to get married too, right? Ah-Dong was quite confused. I havent heard of that. He faintly detected something amiss. Wasnt he going to marry his cousin? You remembered wrong! Sister Qiao already married last year! Then, is his marriage still up in the air? Yep! I heard that he wasnt happy with the engagement his family got for him and refused it. Ah-Bi is a girl in her prime, so she cant be waiting; their family said that she should be engaged and made to marry first. Brother Sui knows as much. Did he not tell you? Though there was an order of seniority, a lot of affairs amongst the citizenry were not overly particular, like in the Sui situation. Since Sui Zhous engagement was drawn out and undecided, his little sister could marry before him through their familys initiative. Upon hearing this, Tang Fan only felt a burst of fire start in his heart, and couldnt help but harshly swear on the inside: Sui Guangchuan, you bastard! Making him think that he was getting married this whole time, only to have been keeping him completely in the dark! Seeing that his face was flashing green and white, Ah-Dong kept asking him what was wrong. He had no desire to explain to her, so he reassured her, then strode out, ready to find the guilty party and settle the score. Right when he had just walked out of the gate, he sighted a litter stopped at the entrance of the alley up ahead. As for the one that stooped and stepped out of it, he could not be more familiar with him. The other party having come here at nighttime was likely not to reminisce about old times. Sure enough, Wang Zhi spotted him quickly, said a few things to the people at his side, then walked over briskly. Eunuch Wang Before Tang Fan could cup his hands in greeting, the other lowered his voice to speak anxiously. Come into the palace with me, quick! His Majesty wants to see you! Tang Fan was astonished. Something happened? Wang Zhi grunted. I took the chance of relaying the message to come out in person so that I could clear things up with you beforehand! Get on the litter, well talk on the road! He had made early preparations, having found the biggest litter available. It wasnt so crowded that two grown men would have to cram in there, but even if it was cramped, they wouldnt have had the spare time to care. When the curtain was lowered and the burly bearers lifted the chair, Wang Zhi first questioned, When you were lecturing in the East Palace last, did you or did you not say something that shouldnt have been said? Tang Fan was mystified. No. Im responsible for teaching His Highness from the Mirror, and everything was based off of its contents. What did you speak about last? When I had first arrived, the Prince said that his former teacher had just started talking about the seven years of Wude, so I went from there. Were now on the fifteenth year of Zhenguan. Wang Zhi looked grim. Thats probably where the issue is. Someone claimed to His Majesty that you were speaking randomly during your lessons to the Prince, misleading him and driving a wedge between father and son, ruler and subjects. Tang Fan smirked. When did I get such a skill? The other glared at him. Youre still in the mood to laugh at a time like this?! What the Prince learns, someone will report to the Emperor after each set period of time. If His Majesty wasnt truly angry right now, he wouldnt have ordered you to enter the palace. Youll probably be reprimanded and interrogated when the time comes, so you need to be prepared. Do you know what exactly I said that angered him? Wang Zhi shook his head. Neither Huai En nor I were near him at the time. Wei Xing was the one on-duty. Tang Fan had not much contact with in-palace officials, so that name didnt make him feel anything. Hes Liang Fangs apprentice, Wang Zhi supplied. Now, he understood. That is to say, hes not on your team, so he wont share specific details with you. Right. Because Wang Zhi didnt know much, there was no way to get ready for anything ahead of time. The two said nothing the whole route. Upon arriving at the palace gate, Wang Zhi warned, No matter what you answer with, you will need to consider it carefully in advance. Before the switch, Wang Zhi never would have given such warm-hearted advice, but he really didnt know the details of what was happening, so he had no choice but to repeatedly warn Tang Fan out of fear that he would cause a calamity. The Emperor hadnt ordered Wang Zhi to go out and pass the message on to begin with, while Wang Zhi had used his own position to go in person and give Tang Fan an advance warning. This made it inappropriate for him to lead Tang Fan to the Emperor, and he had to call another palace-goer to do so. The Chenghua Emperor was in the midst of reviewing memorials presented by the Cabinet. The Crown Prince was standing beside him with his hands hanging. They were too distant for Tang Fan to clearly see their expressions, so he was obliged to follow standard by first reporting his name and paying his respects. Tang Fan? Present. The Emperor set down the vermilion brush he held, raised his head, and said something shocking. We told you to teach the Crown Prince in value of your knowledge, yet you took the opportunity teaching gave you to beguile him. Is that something a subject should do? Your remarks make this subject fearful, Your Majesty, Tang Fan quickly replied. The Prince is the nations heir apparent. That I am able to give him lessons is truly a blessing to me, and my gratitude for your trust in me is neverending. How could any dissatisfaction arise in my heart? Please retract your statement! Chenghua huffed coldly. We had believed that you being on the roll meant that even if your knowledge was inferior to your peers like Xie Qian and Wang Ao, you must also be exceptional. Yet you used your tutelage to inform the Prince of something that goes against proper relationships between ruler and subject, father and son! And you still dare to quibble about it! This subject does not know what you are referring to, Your Majesty. Please clarify! The Princes face had long been filled with worry, and he couldnt hold back any longer, quickly walking out from behind the imperial desk to kneel by Tang Fans side. Father Emperor, you are brilliantly wise; Teacher Tang conducts himself with righteousness and gentleness, and his lessons picked up from where Teacher Zhou left off. This son has not heard anything wrong, let alone any talk of anything beguiling. The Emperors face was cold. Prince, you do not need to step in for him. We clearly had someone inform Lin Ying to let Tang Fan know to skip over the few tomes of Wude in the Mirror. Why did you teach it anyways, Tang Fan? The Prince was startled, automatically turning to look at Tang Fan. However, Tang Fan was even more astonished than he. Your Majesty, I have never heard Lin Ying say so. The Emperor smiled coldly. You still want to deny it? Someone, call Lin Ying over. Lin Ying was quickly located. Lin Ying, we told you that when giving lectures to the Prince, the tomes about Wude were to be skipped over to go straight into Zhenguans first year. Have you ever informed Tang Fan as such? Answering Your Majesty, this humble subject did indeed inform Teacher Tang of this. When? Right after Teacher Tangs first day of lecturing at the East Palace, this subject saw him off, and warned him on the road. His Highness the Crown Prince can testify on this matter. Prince? The Prince hesitated. That day Lin Ying did see Teacher Tang off. As for what they said on the road, this son does not know. Lin Ying was calm. At the time, Teacher Tang asked me what areas to pay attention to while teaching the Prince. I relayed what Your Majesty told me, then said to Teacher Tang that The Grand Teachings of Literary Flourish had since been compiled, and that you have high hopes for the tome. He was to pore it over to teach it to His Highness as soon as possible. His wording was arranged methodically, and, owing to his placid expression, the way he spoke was not in any way suspicious. The Emperor turned to Tang Fan. What do you have to say to that? The translator says: *rolls eyes audibly* The authors mini-theatre: Tang Fan: Youre not getting married at all. You lied to me. Heh. Sui Zhou: I didnt lie to you, I just didnt say that it was Ah-Bis marriage. Your sister knew last time, too. Shes an accomplice. Tang Fan: My sister is my sister, you are you! Dont mix it up! Sui Zhou: How about I take you as a wife in apology? Tang Fan: Heh. You marrying off would about about do it. Sui Zhou: Okay! Tang Fan: Hm, what did I just say? I suddenly lost my memory! Sui Zhou: CH 109 From a brief couple of sentences, Tang Fans mind was like a storm of waves, though that didnt show on his surface, and he instantly figured many things out. Clearly, this had been a trap all along. It could even be said that after Peng Hua had recommended him for being an East Palace tutor, and he had agreed to it, he had already stepped into this trap. It was a trap not only targeting him, but the Crown Prince. Currently, from an outsiders point of view, there had to be one amongst Tang Fan and Lin Ying that was a liar. Lin Ying had been appointed as Orator ever since the Prince had entered the Cabinet for study. Over the years, the Princes teachers had rotated, yet he had always been by his side, and due to his dependability and reliability, he deeply held the Princes confidence. Even though the Prince had a special bond with Tang Fan, he trusted Lin Ying, too. The evilness in this trap was that the one who had laid it out not only wanted to divide the relationship between the Crown Prince and Tang Fan, making the former think the latter to be undeserving of trust, but through him, the Prince would also be dragged into the water, suffering the Emperors dislike. What was the problem with the Wude to Zhenguan period? Why would the Emperor intentionally tell Lin Ying to skip over it? Tang Fan was quite familiar with the Mirror, and quickly thought of the key issue therein. In the sixth month of the final year of Wude, not long after the establishment of the Great Tang Dynasty, there had come a coup detat, following which had been the rebellion of Xuanwu Gate that all knew of. If the Emperor didnt wish for the tutors to teach in detail from those years, then it ought to be because of this portion of history. Still, for that coup detat, regardless of whether it was a new or old Tang book or the Mirror, historians generally held a positive assessment in their comprehension of Taizong of Tang. There was no taboo to be touched upon. Why would the Emperor not let it be taught? After thinking about it, Tang Fan felt that the issue might be Taizongs slaying of his brother. Those thoughts were naught more than sparks streaking past the mind. If he wanted to get past the obstacle before him, he couldnt reveal the slightest bit of panicky emotions, as that would not only do nothing helpful, but make it easy for others to misunderstand. He collected himself. Answering Your Majesty, this subject dares to pledge to my ancestors and the world itself that I never heard Orator Lin say such a thing. Furthermore, when I was giving lessons, Orator Lin was attending at his side. If there was an issue, why had he not brought it up at that time? In this day and age, it was extremely serious to pledge to ones ancestors and world. Hearing this, the Emperor looked at Lin Ying. Your Majesty, this subject also dares to pledge to my ancestors and the world that I did indeed explain this to Teacher Tang. However, when this segment was mentioned earlier, I happened to have taken a leave of sickness. The Court of Education has record of such. This was just great. One said he had, one said he hadnt, both had been present, and both had pledged heavy oaths. Who was actually telling the truth, and who was lying, was something only a heaventsent genius would know. However, if Tang Fan became seated with the accusation of deliberately violating a taboo and not taking the Emperors words seriously, then bore the charge of beguiling the Crown Prince, it would not only be him that would be out of luck, but the Prince would suffer the effects, too. The Wan party would be given an opportunity, and those close to the Prince would believe that Tang Fan had implicated the Prince, inevitably coming to hate him to the bone. Thinking up such, in spite of Tang Fans calmness, he knew that this present situation was wholly disadvantageous to him. He imperceptibly raised his head, gaze flickering across everyones faces, from Lin Yings calm, to the Princes uncertainty and lack of sureness on who to believe, to the unhappy Emperor. Quickly taking his line of sight back, he cupped his hands. Your Majesty, those in the know know the truth themselves, but only Orator Lin and I were on-scene at the time. Who is right and who is wrong is on the basis of conscience, and more wrangling about it will do nothing. However, this subject is confused about one thing. Please clarify, Your Majesty. Speak. I am unsure of what is taboo in the seven years of Wude to the first year of Zhenguan. Please elaborate. Having biased thoughts, the Emperors tone was naturally poor. We ask you this. Taizong committed the incident Xuanwu Gate, but this did not hinder his monarchy. Have you ever said that to the Prince? Yes. Then what are you still blubbering for? We willed for the tutors to bypass this section of the Mirror precisely because of the Xuanwu Gate incident! Taizong had no choice, but that was ultimately his brother is you saying this to the Prince not you deliberately having the heart for instigation, implying that he should strike first so as to not be bound by his brother later? There was no issue with the Xuanwu Gate incident in and of itself; it was just an ordinary historical fact. Although that regent had had a slight defect to him, the whitewashing of successive historians had made this not a big deal. Whenever anyone lectured about history, they would generally not skip over it on purpose. And yet, rot was afoot. A few days ago, Consort Wan had suddenly become interested in reading history, so shed had people find books for her, then put together tales to be told for her to hear after interpretation, chatting to pass the time. When Chenghua had come to visit her, she had happened to be listening to the section about Taizong, and she said to him, Carnage at Xuanwu Gate, brothers destroying each other to the end, it is nothing pretty. The Prince is young and of unset nature; if someone uses history as a mirror to deliberately mislead him, he will inevitably go down a wayward path. Tales like this would best be taught less, and the tutors should be made to make more anecdotes about filial brotherhood and respect. It had to be said that in Chenghuas eyes, Consort Wan had not a thing bad about her, and whatever she said had reason to it, even if it really didnt. He had been deeply convinced by her, agreeing, then had given Lin Ying the order to have the East Palace tutors skip over several sections of content in the Mirror. If the Emperor hadnt given the order, Tang Fan teaching it would have been fine. Those ignorant made no crime. However, as the Emperor clearly had, Tang Fan had thus secretly opposed him, disregarding imperial orders. This was called knowing something was a crime, yet doing it anyways, and harboring unfathomable schemes, a first-class offense. To speak of this matter with brief finality, if the father completely trusted his son, trouble wouldnt be stirred up so easily like this. Sadly, the talk on the fathers pillow was too strong; compared to Lady Wan, the Prince really was just a son. The most terrible thing about this was that the Emperor had no shortage of sons. And, to tell the truth, his favorite child was not this current Crown Prince, but both of his older brothers that had died young. One had been born from Consort Wan, but had passed before he had reached his first birthday, not even having the time to get his big name. The premature death of this son had left a deep-set wound in the Emperors heart, and he believed that if the child still lived, he would definitely be a peerlessly heroic Crown Prince, the most outstanding successor. The other one was Crown Prince Daogong. The child had also once had the Emperors high expectations, as could be seen from the fact that he had been sealed as the Crown Prince at the age of two, but he hadnt been able to keep him, either. Therefore, the current Crown Prince was truly apprehensive and could have no fun, forced to face daily traps that had been dug out in wait for him to jump down into them, and the slander of prigs. What was happening right now was no more than a change of tricks. Someone outside was sorting out Tang Fan, but their ultimate, actual target was still the Prince. Tang Fan solemnly cupped his hands. Your Majesty, please retract your statement about this subject instigating and beguiling I dare not bear it! I spoke of Xuanwu Gate precisely for it to be a warning to His Highness to have love for his brothers and respect for his parents, and that there is not a bit of similarity between him and Taizong of Tang. When Taizong had not yet ascended, he was only the Second Prince, while the Crown Prince above him was undeserving of the name. His Highness is the eldest son, has been dubbed the Crown Prince by you for going on ten years, and he deserves his name, as he is known throughout the realm; how could he ever imitate Xuanwu Gates incident? Only someone with errant thoughts would decide to place the incident upon the Princes head to strike him first, because in the midst of framing this subject, the Prince has also been framed as unrighteous! Please have wisdom, Your Majesty! Impudent! The Emperor was furiously angry. Tang Fans words undoubtedly held the implication that someone was slandering to his face, but the one who had spoken had been Consort Wan. How could he tolerate anyone saying that she was wrong? Father Emperor, quell your anger! the Prince said anxiously. Teacher Tang was only speaking thoughtlessly in a moment of panic! Ever since he became an official, he has repeatedly cracked bizarre cases, and has an amazing political voice. He is not someone who harbors unfathomable motives! Please, Father Emperor, be magnanimous! You must not bicker with him! He was no imbecile. Had he still not been able to tell who was actually telling the truth and who was lying between Lin Ying and Tang Fan, then him being the Crown Prince would be in vain. His words had minute efficacy. The Emperor was truly appalled by Tang Fans statements, not only because the latter had laid his thoughts bare, but because he had spoken poorly of his favorite woman. Tang Fan had been forced to do so, however. If he didnt speak loudly and with an impassioned attitude to indicate his standpoint, he would only attract even worse suspicion. In any case, he had made the Prince believe him to be innocent. The Emperor called in his attendant, pointing at Tang Fan. Oust him from the palace! We never want to see him again! Panicking, the Prince quickly took some steps forward. Father Emperor, hear what this son has to say The man looked at him. After hearing of Xuanwu Gate, what were your thoughts, Crown Prince? No matter how unmatchably heroic Taizong of Tang was, Xuanwu Gate was nothing but brothers destroying each other. It was nothing pleasant, the Prince answered automatically. When learning history, it is used as a mirror to distinguish right from wrong, not to copy and blindly follow. That is exactly what Teacher Tang taught me! Please know, Your Majesty, that that was indeed my intent, Tang Fan picked up. Whether in Tang stories or the Mirror as written by Lord Sima, there were an inexhaustible number of disasters during this time period that had stemmed from brothers fighting amongst each other. Examples would be the calamity of Emperor Wen of Suis two sons, and Emperor Jing of Hans rebellion of the seven states, which historians do not shun. Even if this subject did not teach the Prince about the Xuanwu Gate incident, when we speak of such things from now on, would we be able to avoid every possible instance of it? Historians write history precisely to warn future generations to never repeat those mistakes. I believe that instead of shunning illness and avoiding medicine, it is better to take history as a reflection. His Highness is the heir apparent, and it is even more imperative that he is well-versed in past and present matters, and behaves honestly. Only after learning from the examples of his predecessors can he become exceptional. Hearing this, the Prince automatically gave a slight sigh of relief, and he looked up at the Emperor. As expected, even though the latters expression hadnt cleared, he did not become as violently furious as he had before. At this moment, Lin Ying piped up from the side. Your Majesty, this subject did convey your orders to Teacher Tang. I beg that you reinstate my innocence. Who wouldnt have said the same thing? This subject also begs that you reinstate my innocence! Tang Fan said. Chenghua looked at the Prince. Who do you believe? The truth has not yet been made clear. Teacher Tang and Lin Ying each gave conflicting statements. If this son hastily draws a conclusion, it will err into subjectivity, so I dare not say. The Emperors brow furrowed. His anger had come quick, and left just as quick. When it came to this he-said, she-said stuff, there was no evidence on either side, both were saying that they were innocent, and he felt an unending headache. Forget it. The bottom of this will not be reached for a time. The day is late, so this will be discussed tomorrow. You all should retire first. The three agreed, bowed, then withdrew together. Orator Lin, stop! the Prince called out to Lin Ying, who was about to leave, right as they came out. What is your order, Your Highness? Lin Ying was respectful, as if nothing had happened. Why would you frame Teacher Tang? Dare I ask, how long has this subject served at your side? Lin Ying countered without answering. Ever since I went to study in the Cabinet, you have followed me. Then, this subject will have the audacity to ask how long has Teacher Tang been instructing you? The Prince choked on his words. Tang Fan looked at him coldly, knowing that with how Lin Ying had inverted black and white before the Emperor, the young Prince could never be his opponent. Seeing that the Prince wasnt answering, Lin Ying said, Our forebears once said that clothes are better new, but friends are better old. This subject has served you for several years, and my loyalty is well-known. Why do you believe him, but not me, Your Highness? Orator Lin, you sure are hilarious, Tang Fan said coldly. Have you not heard that when vipers want to bite someone, they typically lie in wait for a long time, watching their target before they make their move? According to you, every single friend in the world is undyingly loyal, so why did Hou Junji betray Taizong of Tang? All for just fame and profit, no less? Im just wondering this: which type are you after, Orator Lin? He hadnt wanted to gripe with Lin Ying here, but tonights incident was a real, unmitigated disaster. Even if the Buddha was here, there would be fire, and Tang Fan was no saint; he couldnt keep down his ridicule forever. Unexpectedly, Lin Ying was the same type of person. Hearing that, he answered, Whatever type you are after is whatever type I am after. Paths that dont align will not conspire together. Why am I hearing something about a gentleman conspiring with a peon? Tang Fan replied placidly. Saying so, he quit speaking to Lin Ying, turning to cup his hands at the Prince. This subject has some words I would like to share with you, Your Highness. Please step off to the side. The Prince gave Lin Ying a look. The latter wasnt going to shamelessly insist upon listening in, immediately cupping his hands and withdrawing. Your Highness, what happened tonight was set up by the other party step by step, fastened link by link. Im afraid that planning began from right when I was assigned to be an East Palace tutor. As of right now, further complaints would be of no use. Tang Fan had been thinking up of countermeasures following the confrontation with the Emperor. Those who know, know. I dont with to argue on my own behalf more, but Lin Ying is someone you must be guarded against. He looked at the Prince. I am not saying this for my own sake. You should know this, Your Highness. Truthfully, Lin Ying had acted overly collected, and no matter what his status or motive was, there had not been a single reason at all for him to frame Tang Fan. This was why, despite the Crown Prince knowing that Tang Fan had very likely been accused unjustly logically, he still couldnt help but waver emotionally. Upon hearing Tang Fans statement, he felt slightly ashamed. It was me that was useless, unable to clear your name. Tang Fan laughed. That isnt important. This subject is insignificant in power, so their aim was not actually me. After this, I surmise that someone will use this to speak to His Majesty and claim that snakes are mixed in with the dragons at your side, who will inevitably hold back your studies and mislead you. They will submit a request for him to re-vet your instructors in order to eliminate those that are genuinely loyal to you, causing your voice in Court to be completely cut off. The Prince was terrified at that. What should I do, then? Tang Fan shook his head. There is no need to do anything. Doing more makes more mistakes, doing less makes less mistakes. Keep watch for the clouds to part and reveal the moons brightness. Those loyal to you will keep you in mind regardless. If I bear the blame, or the other teachers get removed from their teaching positions, it would be best for you to not come forth. Has it really reached such a serious plight? the boy asked, hesitant. This subject hopes not too, as if it isnt, that would also be best. Unfortunately, after this, Im afraid that I will not be able to continue teaching you. Please forgive me. Saying so, he cupped his hands, making a deep bow towards the Prince. Tears in his eyes, the Prince tightly clutched his hand. Im sorry, Teacher Tang. I believe you. I should not have doubted you alongside him. Please take care, there will be a day I Tang Fan gripped his arm back, tightening to stop the Princes following words. What happens after will be discussed after. Real gold does not fear forging by fire; as I am innocent, I can pay no mind to any suspicion. Your hesitation just means that you have fond feelings; whats the crime in that? Protect yourself, Your Highness. Here, I will withdraw. What needed to be said had been said. This was not a place to remain in for long, and he said no more, immediately taking his leave. The nights darkness was vast. Tang Fans figure quickly vanished into it. After evening came, the Forbidden City would look to be beyond vacuous. Lanterns glinted like stars in the distance, yet they couldnt light up such an enormous area. The Crown Prince stood there blankly, only feeling an extreme loneliness. Meanwhile, Tang Fan left the palace under the guidance of an attendant, then sighted Wang Zhi, who was impatiently waiting outside the gates. Not waiting for Tang Fan to come forth, he busily walked forward a few steps. I heard that you angered His Majesty? No secrets were to be had in the palace. As early as when the Emperor had flown into a thunderous rage, the news had already reached Wang Zhis ears. Tang Fan concealed nothing, giving a rough explanation of what had happened. After hearing it all, Wang Zhis face was quite unsightly, yet he couldnt reproach Tang Fan for his brusque words. In these circumstances, Tang Fan reacting calmly would have instead caused people to be suspicious. On top of that, he was the one that had originally suggested that Tang Fan accept the role. Now that something had happened, it could only be said that those that wanted them downtrodden were too cunning. Wang Zhi had never expected that they would think to get at the Crown Prince by getting something on Tang Fan. I asked around about this, Wang Zhi said. This is related to Consort Wan. Tang Fan was puzzled. What happened? She had people lecture her on history one day, and when she heard the Xuanwu Gate part, she felt it to be too bloody. Fearing that the young Prince would be affected by it, she proposed to His Majesty that it should be skipped over, but you got caught by Lin Ying. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. Such a thing went on? No wonder His Majesty got so furious. I might as well be justly dead. Wang Zhi was quiet. With how obedient the Emperor was to Lady Wan, even the shady deaths of princes would not be investigated. Moreover, the Consort had only asked after the Crown Princes studies; although she did not have the Empress title, she was an Empress in reality, and in the Emperors eyes, there was nothing unsuitable about this. To be honest, this game might have already been set starting from Consort Wans proposal, meaning Tang Fan had been destined to be unfortunate. Wang Zhis feelings towards Consort Wan were quite complex. No matter what outsiders thought of her, without her, there would be no him today. Everyone else could be ungrateful in the face of grace. He alone could not. Even if he turned hostile with the Wan party, it was aimed only at the party, not involving her at all. In his mind, she was very special. Tang Fan had no intent to make things hard for him. This wasnt your fault. No one could have expected it. You dont need to blame yourself too much. Wang Zhi side-eyed him. Why are you being so overinvested? When have I ever blamed myself? Right. In Eunuch Wangs lifelong maxim, there was likely self-confidence, self-conceit, and self-inflated ego, but there was no self-blame. He was speechless for a short time before continuing. His Majesty has rarely ever killed major subjects after ascending, so I certainly wont lose my head over this. At most, Ill suffer a bit of a beating, or be dismissed. This wouldnt be the first time, anyways. The most pressing matter is for me to trouble you with letting Huai En know about this. The Crown Prince has one Lin Ying planted beside him, so Im not sure if a second Lin Ying is around. Huai En cares for His Highness, and he will surely know what to do. Wang Zhi hummed. I understand. Go on back, Ill do all I can to turn this around for you. Tang Fan merely cupped his hands. Everyone was familiarized here, so there was no need for excess words, everything going unsaid. After this event, despite the Emperor not immediately calling for Tang Fan to be dealt with, he could no longer so thick-facedly enter the palace. He didnt even go to the Inspectorate, remaining home for self-reflection. According to standards, a manifest of self-defense, apology, and whatnot was to be sent up, the wording inside of the memorial to be contrary to that nights ferocity, having tactful language and speaking of his own past, from his start as a Palace Honorate, to his midway dismissal and renewal. All of it had been a sea of divine mercy, he had put his all into it, and had not yet had enough time to give back to the county and display his loyalty how could he ever knowingly do wrong, and have unfathomable motives? Tang Fan did not act according to average procedure, which would be to first go into the Office of Transmissions, which would then pass the memorial to the Cabinet, which would finally present it to the Emperor. On the contrary, he had Sui Zhou bring it directly into the palace for the Emperor to view. Of course, if the Emperor knew that Mister Tang whose every word in the memorial wept with blood, who itched to mutilate himself to portray his innocence was presently at home, happily gnawing on saucy bones, who knew what he would be feeling? Just as Tang Fan had predicted, after this, the Wan party really did use the excuse of snakes are mixed in with dragons in the East Palace, benevolent and not are unseparated, and Your Majesty should deal with this as soon as possible, lest the Princes lessons be held up, requesting that the Emperor replace those around the Crown Prince. The Emperor still wasnt sure who between Lin Ying and Tang Fan was actually lying; in his opinion, the Princes attendants were indeed of errant minds, so he agreed. From that point on, apart from those former Cabinet Great Scholars that still had their names, not only were the East Palace tutors all purged, but even the Court of Educations group was. Because Xie Qian had a good friendship with Tang Fan, he hadnt been able to flee, but Huai En later spoke to the Emperor, which allowed him to keep being a tutor for the Crown Prince. Even so, after this fracas, the Crown Princes power and morale was heavily injured, and he likely wouldnt have the power to contend with the Wan party for the time being. The party hadnt been able to pull him off of his horse, but they had achieved their goal of clipping his wings. It was unclear whether Tang Fan was lucky or unlucky, but before the Emperor could deal with him, something big happened in Suzhou. [End of Arc 8: Into the East Palace] The translator says: The Simperor strikes again. DISGOSTING The authors mini-theatre: Wang Zhi: Well, I really miscalculated this. I didnt expect that they would be so treacherous! It isnt that our army was too incompetent, but that the enemy army was too cunning! Tang Fan: Let it be, I didnt expect it, either. Can anyone really tell the future? Wang Zhi: In any case, Ill owe you a favor this time. Tang Fan: Seriously? Wang Zhi, annoyed: When has this eunuch ever gone back on my words? Tang Fan: In that case, I want free lifetime memberships to Immortal Guest and Immortal Cloud! Wang Zhi: Get away from me. CH 110 The case originated from the eighteenth year of Chenghua, specifically in the between period of last years spring and autumn. For several consecutive months, there had been no rain, and many fields had become barren, their crops running out and withering one after the other. That alone was not much, as Suzhou Prefecture had always been wealthy and of ample food reserves, able to endure several months of famine, but come the spring-fall transition of this year, harsh rainfall had abruptly come down, causing Lake Tai to disastrously overflow. This time, not only had the fields been unable to yield a thing, but the citizens homes had all been submerged. The flood waters had not receded for a long while, leading to the propagation of disease in a very heavy tragedy. The Court had ordered Suzhou Prefecture to open its granaries for disaster relief, and ordered South Zhilis Patrolling Censor to aid with surveying from nearby. Following the course of one winter, the situation logically should have taken a good turn. According to the rules, after the events completion, the Court would have to dispatch another censor to conduct a review, then report the results of the disaster relief. This was for the sake of preventing collusion between local officials and the deception of the Court, which was justifiable. However, at this time, a public case broke out: the South Zhili Patrolling Censor and County Magistrate of Wujiang had sent memorials denouncing each other, one after the other. The Censor, Yang Ji, denounced the Magistrate, Chen Luan, for ineffectual disaster relief, while the Magistrate argued that he had done everything within his power, it was just that the money and provisions coming from up above hadnt been enough; even a clever wife would find it hard to cook without rice. His implication was that his counterpart was standing up and saying stuff, yet his back wasnt hurting from work. Both sides each had their own statements, refusing to come to an agreement. The Court had ordered that the Prefectural Magistrate of Suzhou, Hu Wenzao, send a statement, but he expressed that he knew nothing of the situation, and stated that not long after Wujiang and other areas had been flooded, the Prefecture had opened its granaries, so that reasonably should have been enough for disaster relief. However, his argument was much too weak and powerless; it didnt prove his own innocence, it just made the Court think that he was shirking his responsibilities. On the basis of these memorials alone, the truth was very difficult to see. At this point, the Patrolling Censor, County Magistrate, and Prefectural Magistrate had separate stories, making it impossible to determine. After the Cabinet discussed it, it requested the Emperors confirmation, as its ultimate decision was to have a censor from the Inspectorate go out to investigate the disaster situation, and clarify right from wrong while he was at it. Taking this chance, Right Capital Censor Qiu Jun recommended Tang Fan. Within this, there was no small amount of his desire to keep his young student far away from the capital turmoil, and temporarily shunning the limelight from him. It was currently difficult for Tang Fan to make any moves in the capital, and he was just putzing around. It would be better for him to walk around more outside, as that might get him a change of fortune. The Chenghua Emperor quickly consented to this. Maybe, in his view, Tang Fans expertise laid within cracking cases, as opposed to teaching the Crown Prince. Now that an unsolved case had shown up somewhere, he hadnt needed anyone elses reminder the first one in his head had been Tang Fan. In Tang Fans own opinion, this was both a good and a bad thing. The good was that even the Emperor had to concede that he was a competent official. Unlike other ones that were lackluster and replaceable at any time, Tang Fan had a genuine field of use. The bad was that the Emperors impression of him had stagnated. Being competent didnt mean one was virtuous. To be able to govern the country peacefully, a higher official needed to have both talent and virtue; in other words, every day this Emperor was in power was another day that Tang Fan wouldnt be joining the Cabinet. Still, having said that, he was not alone in being so unlucky. Many people, on account of having opposed the Wan party or been unable to tolerate its tyranny, had suffered relocation or dismissal, and he was simply one of them. It made no difference to add or subtract him, with the sheer number of them all, and it was only because he had foiled the party several times that it even wanted to single him out. Compared to the worries and discontent others had, he could think open-mindedly. With a decree, he packed his things fittingly in preparation to head for the South. However, a minor mishap happened for the trip. Amongst the bodyguards accompanying him out of the capital, there was not the inseparable Sui Zhou from before, nor was there a single familiar face from the Brocade Guard. The good relationship between Tang Fan and the Northern Bastion Office was something many knew, while some didnt wish to see him and the Brocade Guard walk too closely. Hence was why Tang Fan had left accompanied by two Eastern Depot wardens, instead, under the beautified name of protection but as for whether it was actually for protection, or surveillance, was something only the Heavens knew. On the day of their departure, Tang Fan brought Qian Sanr to arrive at the city gate early with him. However, they waited and waited until the sky broke daylight and even the tea hut nearby opened for business, yet no Eastern Depot silhouettes were seen. Tang Fan had always known these big oafs to put on big airs, but he hadnt expected those airs to be so big, that they would even regard an imperial assignment as unimportant due to relying on Shang Mings support. With nothing to be done about this, he ordered tea at the tea hut and ate while he waited. It came to be noon. The Depot people were way past overdue. When they saw him, they dashed over to bow, smiles across their faces. We didnt know you came early, Sir. We hope you can forgive us for coming late! Tang Fan lightly smiled. You didnt come late. It was I that came early. The two exchanged looks. They could have come here earlier, but had instead gone to eat breakfast at a place not too far from the city gate for over half a shichen. They had predicted that this would anger Tang Fan, yet he was instead bearing with it. Your magnanimity is something we subordinates are greatly thankful for! the two gratefully replied. After we leave the capital, well be bearing the responsibility of an imperial assignment, and thus be crowded onto the same ship. You two dont need to be polite with me; this is nothing more than us meeting for the first time and familiarizing ourselves. The two affirmed, then introduced themselves. One was Zeng Pei, the other Wu Zong, and the two of them were Eastern Depot wardens. Such wardens specialized in arrest and interrogation, and were the most commonly-seen position in the Depot. They were here, yet Tang Fan was in no rush, inviting them to sit down for tea, then leave after having lunch. Now, it was they that couldnt sit still, repeatedly urging for him to get on the road and admitting their faults over and over again, saying that they shouldnt have been late. Only then did he have horses reined in preparation to get on the road. At exactly that moment, someone called out behind him to stop him. He turned his head back to see Pang Qi, Millarch of the Brocade Guard, galloping over on a quick horse, nearly coming to be in front of the tea hut before he stopped. Not even glancing at Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, he requested that Tang Fan come to the side. Its good that I caught up, Sir Tang! Brother told me to give you this. He passed over an object. This is a token of correspondence. After you arrive at Suzhou Prefecture, if you have any issues, you can seek help from the Brocade Guard post in Wu County. Tang Fan was taken aback, forced to ask, Where is your Brother? Why didnt he come? For some reason, ever since Sui Zhou had nicked his jade pendant, the mans attitude had gotten even worse than before, having a current of indifference to it. Tang Fan couldnt wrap his head around it. Lately, Tang Fan had not only been busy presenting memorials defending himself, but Sui Zhou had been similarly busy. Despite living under the same roof, they werent as close as they used to be. Human nature was a rotten thing. Sui Zhou had pressed in close by steps at the start, and Tang Fan had retreated by steps. Now the man had completely let him go, and Mister Tang only felt a loss-like frustration. Like this time, for instance; after Tang Fans trip out of the capital had been decided, Sui Zhou had not expressed anything whatsoever, not even bringing it up, as if he didnt care at all. Tang Fan had asked if he would be going with him, but he said that since many knew of his relationship with the Guard, for the sake of avoiding suspicion, the Emperor would not agree to have the Guard go south this time. Even with that, he didnt get to see the guys figure upon departure, which was rather alienating, and much too unpleasant. Pang Qi cupped his hands. He was ordered to go to the Battalions today, which he had to leave from a different gate for. Time was tight, which was why he didnt have any to see you off with, having me take his place. Please take care on your journey, Sir Tang! Sir Suis been pretty busy lately, to have not been showing his face as much, Qian Sanr couldnt help but mutter beside him. Concealing the odd feeling in his heart, he ignored Qian Sanr to smile at Pang Qi. Youve been troubled with coming over. Thank you! Noticing the looks of impatience Zeng Pei and Wu Zong had, Tang Fan drawled on in idle chatter with Pang Qi, until Wu Zong had to implore him. Sir, we should be on the road. Time waits for no one, and we need to get on a boat for Tongzhou! They had made him wait before, but now, it was time waits for no one. Tang Fan sneered on the inside, yet knew that these two had come specially to give him a headache, so he said nothing on it, merely nodding. Lets go, then. After saying goodbye to Pang Qi, the four left the city, went all the way to Tongzhou, then went through the canals southwards via boat. Going by water was not just faster than by land, but more steady. If going by land, one would have to stop to seek shelter from rain on rainy days, while boats could simply keep going without obstruction to the journey. As people on an imperial assignment, they were using a government vessel, naturally. It had two decks, which was plenty spacious enough for their group plus all the boatworkers. Tang Fans room and the wardens room happened to be on opposing ends of the second deck, leaving them with no need to pass by each others rooms to come and go. They all happened to be at loggerheads to begin with, so this avoided the misery of having to see each others faces on the daily. The ship sailed down with the currents, its speed incomparably better than that of land travel. Qian Sanr had seldom ever stepped into the Souths haunts, and saw that all along the way, the scenery of both shores differed from everyday stuff mist-like willows, painting-like bridges, stylish banners, and jade-green drapes. The people on the shores were especially so, as he could occasionally see peasant girls carrying clothes to the riverside for laundry, all grouped up and talking and laughing merrily. Their figures were soft, clothes were thin, and looks vibrant, completely different from the bold and bright makeup of the North. He looked on, dumbstruck, eyes unable to turn away. When they came to Yangzhou, night was about to fall, and travel by boat was not recommended. The vessel moored at the shore alongside some civilian vessels of all sizes, as they would leave after evening passed. It was at the almost-dark of day, yet the shoreline still had a young girl calling out that she was selling fresh flowers. Hearing her, Tang Fan had Qian Sanr invite her onboard. She was around Ah-Dongs age; having seen the government vessel, she could guess a thing or two about their status, and beamed at them. Will you buy flowers, Mister? These ones were picked today. Looking at water and trees the whole journey is boring; it would be better to stick a few flowers in your cabin to liven it up a bit! She was eloquent in speech, with a soft and suave accent. Qian Sanr went mute hearing it. These are ginger lilies? Tang Fan asked. She let out a gasp. They are! They smell nice. Can you smell them, Mister? With that, she raised her basket up. There was really no need for her to do that, as ginger lilies had a strong aroma, the pungent odor able to be smelled from getting only slightly close to them. The opinion of the nearby Qian Sanr might be that the flowers had no intoxicating aroma, but the person herself did. Tang Fan smiled. Hearing your accent are you from Suzhou? I am! Why did you come to Yangzhou? Is Suzhou no good? She lightly creased her furrowed brows, seemingly a bit uncomfortable. Ill buy the basket of flowers, he continued. How much? The girl immediately brightened up. Not much! Ten coins will do! Sanr, give her five coins. She opened her limpid eyes up wide, seemingly wondering how she had come across a cheapskate. He laughed. Dont worry, Im about to head to Suzhou, and Im not too familiar with the place. I happen to have some questions to ask you. The girl was relieved. After getting the money Qian Sanr handed over, she brightly asked, What do you want to know, Mister? Suzhou is such a good area. Why are you not there, but in Yangzhou? My home was next to Lake Tai. Last year, there first came a drought, then a massive flood, which wiped out my family. Grandpa brought me to Yangzhou to seek shelter with relatives, and theyre not wealthy, so Im selling flowers to help Grandpa earn more of a living! Where was your Suzhou home located? Wujiang. Was the flood there heavy? Has it still not improved at this point? Did your grandpa not think to bring you to see it? She shook her head, sadness across her features. My family all starved to death. I was almost sold by my papa, but Grandpa protected me and didnt let him. Grandpa and me are doing great in Yangzhou, we dont need to go. He asked some more questions relating to the disaster, but the other was young and didnt know much, only able to speak of what she had seen along the road. According to her, it had been truly miserable in Wujiang last year. Following the flood, it had congee stations set up at government institutions, but there had been too many people and not enough congee, quickly leading to demand exceeding supply. All to snatch that watery congee to eat, many homicides had even taken place. While even less people had congee to eat, what had come next were plagues, death, and illness. After winter had come, the spread of the plague had finally eased a little, but with the weather freezing up, the vagrant commoners had suddenly started freezing and starving to death in high amounts. Many families had gradually used up their previous food stores, the situation turning increasingly dire, and those without means for further survival had sold their own children, some even straight up cooking them to eat. Hearing that part, it was not only Qian Sanr that was horrorstruck, but even Tang Fans brows twitched, showing a faint trace of anger. Is what you said the truth? The girl bit her bottom lip. I dunno. Grandpa told me about the cannibalism part, but papa wanting to sell me was real. I heard it with my own ears. What about now? Is Wujiang any better? She shook her head, repeating that she didnt know. She hadnt returned since she had left with her Grandpa, so it was natural that she wouldnt. Tang Fan wasnt going to make things hard for her, and after a few more words, he had her go. As soon as she left, Qian Sanr started, Sir, Wujiang Tang Fan slightly raised his hand, indicating for him not to speak. Qian Sanr immediately went on the alert, turning his head to discover that Zeng Pei and Wu Zong had been standing beside them all this time. Its hard to spend the night outside of Yangzhou City. Why dont you two go into it and see whats fun? Tang Fan called out to them with a slight smile. Zeng Pei smiled back. You live quite the carefree life, Sir Tang. Those flowers are short of being pretty, and they have a plainer color. Tang Fan passed the basket to Qian Sanr. They would either be fragrant, or they would be beautiful. There is no such thing as having both in this world, but getting the height of one aspect isnt too bad. The other laughed. You sure are a scholar, and great wisdom comes with every opening of your mouth. Coarse men like us are no match. However, youre not too familiar with whats going on with Suzhou, and this subordinate has some things to discuss with you beforehand, lest you take a winding path and hit roadblocks. Tang Fan reached out his hand in a gesture of please do. Be frank with your words, Brother Zeng. With your knowledge, Sir, how is the Suzhou case to be investigated? Tang Fan raised a brow. You two mean to instruct me? What are you saying, Sir? How could we instruct you? The case already had the Patrolling Censor on it before, so there likely wont be any major blockades. The Court having you and us come down to re-check is nothing more than a stroll through the scene, then a question for a result. The Suzhou region has been wealthy since ancient times, and is an important ground for national grains taxes. If there is too much of a fuss, the Courts reputation will have no luster. Do you understanding my meaning, Sir? These two were Tang Fans subordinates in name and bore the responsibility of protecting him, yet they figured that with the Eastern Depots backing, they could not only snub him at the start, but even completely disregard him on the trip. They had long been hearing that while Tang Fan held the name of an imperial ambassador going on a patrol, the truth of it was that he was in an exile situation. They had no belief that he would dare to contend with the Eastern Depot, so these words were softness carrying steel, containing menace both overt and covert. Their intent was to warn him that water here was deep, and to not investigate at random, else the ending would be difficult to sort out, and people that shouldnt be offended would be offended. Many thanks for your very precious words, brothers, but there is something Im not clear on. Please state it. Is the phrase a stroll through the scene your idea, or the Courts? Zeng Pei was speechless for a moment, face slightly dark. What do you mean, Sir? If that is the Courts will, then I will follow it, though I dont really understand, Tang Fan answered calmly. His Majesty and the Courts ideas were both to have me find out the truth; why did that idea distort when it came to you? Did His Majesty issue different confidential orders to the Eastern Depot? We gave you a friendly warning! Zeng Pei raged. Why are you twisting each and every aspect of our goodwill?! Tang Fan laughed. I do understand your goodwill. However, someone that understands the truth would say that you two are treating me well, while someone that didnt would likely think that youre impeding the way I handle the case. That getting out and affecting Director Shangs reputation would probably bring a hundred losses without one gain, your good hearts resulting in something terrible that would only cause calamity for your Director. Ever since the capital, the two had deliberately menaced Tang Fan, yet had earned the opposite result, getting schemed against by him. While interacting on the road, they had also found that Censor Tang was not easy to contend with, even more difficult to handle than those who only knew how to curse them unto their deaths. The mans speech and conduct shunned neither gentleness nor toughness, and he would inconceivably turn hostile, making one that wanted to poke at his shortcomings have nothing to poke. It was little wonder as to why their Director viewed him as an important target to be defended against, and had ordered them to pay extra attention to him. They had believed that the others investigative process would at least be a little more discreet than those hardheads, where he would know that some things couldnt be done at random and some people couldnt be provoked, but now, it seemed like they had been laughably incorrect. How was he any different than those above-board officials? He was exactly like them, down right to the bone, only a little more cunning! CH 111 Zeng Pei looked overcast. Think over this more, Sir Tang! Dont regret it when its already too late! Are you threatening me? Tang Fan calmly countered. Standing beside him, Qian Sanr stared at the two like he was facing major enemies. Zeng Pei glared for a long time, then laughed icily, turned, and left with Wu Zong. Theyre way too impudent! Qian Sanr raged. When have the Eastern Depots people ever not been impudent? Tang Fan sounded collected. Its inseparable from them, no matter which Emperor reigns. Their capital lies in pure impudence. They had at least maintained a display of harmony before, yet they had now completely turned face. What do we do, Sir? Qian Sanr asked. Tang Fan was not really bothered. This would have happened sooner or later. It isnt like we would have to eat live pigs without the incompetent Butcher Zhang around, is it? That they could bear with it and only speak now is already quite honorable. The Eastern Depot was used to being domineering, which was why Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, two minor wardens, had dared to mock him. He had long been mentally prepared, however, and wasnt enraged at all about it. While they spoke, the sky had since turned completely dark. Many people got off their boats, talking and laughing while they headed for Yangzhou City, ready to experience a place that was famed all over the world. Even Emperor Yang of Sui hadnt been able to resist setting up a special trip down south to see its beautiful scenery and people. Anyone that had been to Yangzhou before would now happen to bring up Yangzhous parable with bravado; something about skin engulfing water in the morning, water engulfing skin in the afternoon, and skin meeting skin in the evening. Hearing it would make the listeners drool overflow and hang three zhang down, getting them all the more filled with yearning for Yangzhou. Qian Sanr heard as much from the shore while on it, and returned full of envy, asking Tang Fan, Sir, what is skin engulfing water, and water engulfing skin? Why does that sound so rapturous? Tang Fan smiled. It means that Yangzhou folks wake up in the morning to have tea and light refreshments, then spend the afternoon in bathhouses. Yangzhou has such livelihoods, but that sort of life is generally only for wealthy families to enjoy. Average commoners dont have enough time to work to get three square meals a day, so how could they have the thought to mess around? Qian Sanr blinked. Sir, I heard that your hometown is in Jiangnan. Are you actually from Yangzhou? Tang Fan shook his head. No, but my hometown is close by, so Im pretty familiar with civilian customs of the region. The other gave a look around, grinning evilly. Then, is there also skin pressing against skin at night? Tang Fan side-eyed him. This guy was already well aware of the answer, harboring bad ideas. You want to get off the boat and walk around the city? Qian Sanr climbed onto the pole given to him. That requires your approval. Those Eastern Depot bastards are unreliable, and I cant just leave you alone With that, he started drooling. Are you going, Sir? Tang Fan shook his head. In truth, it was not just Qian Sanr that wanted to; he wanted to go stroll Yangzhou City, too. However, for the sake of not having peoples gossip get going, it would be best for him to not go anywhere before reaching Suzhou. Zeng Pei and Wu Zong are here to surveil me. Dont pay attention to them not doing anything; if I step into the city right now, after I return, an accusation of ignored a Court task to have fun in private will be placed on my head. Qian Sanrs chest filled with indignation, but he didnt dare to say anything that would cause catastrophe for Tang Fan, only showing his rage on his face. Well, I cant go into the city, but theres no issue for you. Even though its getting late, inns and restaurants are still open, and wont shut until the time of the Boar,(9-11p) unlike the North. Go take a walk, and pack up a few things for me to eat while youre at it. Qian Sanrs eyes shone. What do you want, Sir? At one mention of this, Tang Fan had to keep down his desire to salivate, doing all he could to look deadpan. I want a portion each of three-diced buns, shredded tofu boiled in chicken broth, pipa prawns, and jade-colored shumai. Anything else, sight it out. Got it! Having received permission, Qian Sanr itched to sprout wings and fly off into the city immediately. The day of Guanyins ascension draws near. There are lantern festivals going on from day to night in the city, giving it a lot of liveliness, but you need to remember not to loiter about brothels. If you do, you dont need to come back, Tang Fan reminded him. Seeing his serious expression, Qian Sanr quickly took back some of his floatier ideas, agreed to everything, then left the ship for the bank. After he left, Tang Fan felt a bit listless, so he set down his book and walked out of his cabin to get some air on the open deck. Beneath the nights contamination, the mist-like willows on either shore had lost color, no longer the bright green they had been during the day, but that accordingly sparked off bits of candle flames that swayed lightly, reflected upon the waters surface. It looked like another world made of glass, causing one to not know what night it was. Such was the the enticing power of Jiangnans watery home. There was no Northern wind and sand blowing about, and it had this beautiful scenery day after day, all through the seasons. It wasnt strange that many Northerners came to be unwilling to leave this place. Yangzhou City was even more phenomenal alone. Tang Fan stood on the ship, gazing into the distance, able to see the city filled with brilliant lanterns that shined like the day itself. It abruptly reminded him of his childhood, when his father had brought him and his sister to Yangzhou for fun. So many years had passed in a wink; the landscape was the same as ever, while the faces of the people had all changed. Were it not for the two Depot wardens watching him on this expedition, he would definitely want to visit some of the places he had gone to before, and go into the city to take a look. Help! Come quick! Someone fell into the water! A scream cut through the peaceful quiet, interrupting his slightly painful memories. Looking up, he saw that a few boats had come together on the river at some unknown point in time. Two amongst them were viewing ships, and there was a faint disturbance on the waters surface, as if someone actually had fallen in. However, what was weird was that someone from this side had called for help, while the boats side had the sound of giggles coming from it, with several figures appearing at the boats edge. Tang Fan looked closer; it seemed like the dandies were having a laugh. Some rolled up their sleeves in preparation to get into the water, but dawdled, which was really weird. Sir, Sirs! Someone fell into the water. Do we rescue them? The speaker was one of the boatworkers. Having seen Tang Fan, Zeng Pei, and the rest come out to see the commotion, he had hurriedly asked for instructions. What happened? asked Tang Fan. This lowly one isnt too sure. It appears that the one that fell was a woman. Just now, those two viewing-boat dandies spoke rudely, but were already on the boat, which resulted in a shoving match that pushed the woman into the water. Zeng Pei was displeased. Why would we rescue her? Theres so many people over there, they can do it! We have imperial orders to handle our task, not be river-patrolling bailiffs! Dont make such a fuss! Saving someones life is more worthwhile than building a seven-story pagoda, Tang Fan said. If we didnt see it, fine, but since weve seen it, we need to go and help! However, while they were talking, someone on a small boat had since jumped vigorously into the water, swimming to the drowning person. The other was quite good at swimming, and quickly nabbed her, dragging her towards the government vessel here. Seeing this, the boatworkers quickly scrambled to help get them both up. There were several boats nearby that werent too far from the woman that fell, and their distances were similar visually, but the womans boat still had those two dandies standing on it, so sending her back there would be like a lamb entering the tigers den. The other nearby ships werent really big enough. By comparison, the government vessel was undoubtedly more impressive and reliable. When the rescued woman was hauled onto the deck, Tang Fans group then discovered that she was a beauty worthy of a nation. By means of the illumination from an exuberant amount of lanterns, the maiden was seen lying on her back on the floor, eyes shut in unconsciousness. Her thin spring garments couldnt conceal her exquisite figure, and her bound braids had loosened in the water, her long, drenched hair sticking to her cheeks, making her complexion all the more snow-white. Brows like the umbral black of distant mountains, lips like the bright red of cherries. In that instant, such a phrase floated up into Tang Fans mind. If even he couldnt resist having the shock of seeing a beauty flit past his face, no one else could, either. The group was staring at the woman, not knowing what to do. Men and women were not to be close; if she was a girl from a decent family, saving her was the absolute limit. If something happened in the process of saving her, then even if she woke up, her reputation would likely be gone. Judging particularly from what had happened before, if she had jumped into the river to clear her own innocence, she was likely fierce in personality. Zeng Pei and Wu Zong were eager to try their luck, but with Tang Fan nearby, they dared not be rash, else it would be very easy for him to get a handle on them. Tang Fans attention remained on the girl for only a moment, immediately after which it landed upon the one that had rescued her. The other looked to be in his early twenties. His features were sleek and handsome in the lanternlight, and his white clothes were soaked through, pressing tightly against his body. Even so, he didnt cut a sorry figure, instead manifesting a stylish heroism. Right as Tang Fan thought to speak, he saw the young man turn around and jump back into the water, swimming towards the boat the woman had been in. Everyone was confused by his abrupt action, watching him quickly swim to the boats edge. The instant his arms were gripping its railing, his figure swiftly leapt up, then landed stably upon the deck, beautiful and efficient to the extreme. Following this, the youth punched the two dandies aboard into the water, then had the boatworker drive the ship close to Tang Fans vessel. The two maidservants of the girl that fell were brought over, and he told them to press against her chest to get her air. After a good bit of struggle, her life was saved. The two dandies cursed and called for help. The viewing boat they had been in scrambled to come up and save them, causing a momentarily chaotic scene. Wu Zong had no complaint about the pretty girl being around, but had a very big complaint about the young man that had brought people aboard their ship without their permission. Who are you?! How dare you trespass upon a government vessel! Do you know whos on this ship?! he rebuked. No matter whos on it, youre not the one in charge, the youth lazily answered. Since youre not in charge here, then you can stay cool on the sidelines. The boss hasnt said anything, so why are you sticking your head out? Youve really got a dogs guts! Do you know who we are?! Wu Zong fumed. Wu Zong, if Im not remembering wrongly, the one in charge of this ship seems to be me, correct? Tang Fan suddenly asked. Despite their overbearingness, they didnt actually dare to take care of Tang Fan for real. At the very most, they could only intimidate him with empty words, then set up some minor stumbling blocks behind his back; apart from that, their duty was to ensure his health and safety. That much was unchanged. If something happened to him, they would definitely be the first ones out of luck. Hence was why Wu Zongs face fluctuated upon hearing this, yet he ultimately said nothing, tasting bitterness in his mouth. Because of his act of saving someone, Tang Fan smiled pleasantly at the young man. The other was caught off guard; antithesis to his recent haughtiness, a slight blush of shame was on his face, and he smiled like he had returned to innocence, showing off his canines. Tang Fan didnt mind him, though, his line of sight since turning to the groggy maiden. As youre awake, Miss, you should head back to your boat. Her face was pale, and she looked a bit dazed, coming to stand up with the support of a maid. Surrounded by men with clothes soaked through, she had no idea how much they had seen just before, and upon hearing Tang Fans words, she immediately reacted, looking humiliated and embarrassed. Thankfully, the maid helping her had a cloak on her, and she had already bundled the girl up tight. Thank you for your rescue, Mister Official. Please allow me to go wash and change before I come back to thank you. Theres no need. Go on back. The present situation was way too terrible. The girl bit her lower lip, bowed, and returned to her boat with the maids help. After being saved, the viewing-boat dandies were unhappy and wanted to come around to make trouble. Tang Fan lifted his chin, saying to the boatworker, Go tell them that the Eastern Depot is here on business, so they should only come onboard if they dont fear a headache. The boatworker went up to relay that. Just as had been expected, once the name Eastern Depot was heard, it was practically like the men had seen a ghost. How could they have nerve to demand any justice? They immediately turned their bow away and sped off. Had Tang Fan staked his Censor status just then, that likely wouldnt have been so effective, which was both hilarious and annoying. Having resolved that bunch of belligerent fops, Tang Fan turning to the young man. Your good self saw an injustice in your travels and upheld righteousness via rescue. There was much chivalric flair to your act. May I ask your exalted name? The man cupped his hands and grinned. This humble one is Lu Lingxi, courtesy Yiqing. I hail from Jiaxing Prefecture, Pinghu County. This was no more than a random rescue I did because I was passing by; what sort of chivalric flair could I have? Your own good self is taking a government vessel, so you must be on a Court assignment. I pay my respects. He didnt self appellate as this commoner, so he ought to be of scholarly rank. Tang Fan nodded lightly. Youre drenched, so you can change your clothes before we talk more. The young man was strong in body, feeling nothing after standing on the boat for such a long time. At Tang Fans reminder, he laughed. Quite unfortunately, I rented a small boat for night travel, and didnt prepare a change of clothes. If it isnt too much trouble, could I borrow a set, Sir? Ill return it later. This Lu Lingxi was thick-skinned, to know that Tang Fan was Court-appointed official, yet still dare to speak to him in the same tone of voice as he would a same-generation peer. It somehow didnt cause any negative reactions, either. Tang Fan was easygoing by nature and had no intent to bicker with him by showing off his official power, so he found some clean clothes for him to change into, then told him to find him at a tea hall. The other had a tall and lanky figure. Tang Fans clothes were not really big enough, making them a little tight on him, but he had fair skin and graceful poise. Even with any bit of irregularity, one could overlook it. You came from Pinghu, so you presumably know Assistant Minster Lu Ding? Tang Fan asked. Youre speaking of my uncle. The youth blinked, showing some joy. You know him? Tang Fan shook his head. Weve known each other from a distance for a long time, but havent had much contact. The Lu family is a big clan of Pinghu; I assumed you all would know of each other. The man crooked his brows. Im afraid that I still dont know your own revered name? Left Metropolitan Censor, Tang Fan. Lu Lingxi suffered a shock, looking at him with wide eyes. It wasnt until the other slightly raised his brows that he smiled awkwardly. Ive long heard of your reputation of solving cases like a god would, Sir Tang. Now that Ive met you, its difficult to remain unmoved. Please forgive this Yiqings rudeness! Do you have your own honors? Yes. The year before, I was lucky enough to become a County Honorate. After reporting to my parents, I bid farewell to my family to travel abroad. Its been over two years thus far. I saw that your agility was unlike an average scholars. Youve learned martial arts? You really do notice the finer details, Sir, the youth smiled. This humble one did indeed study under Grandmaster Mulian of Shaolin Monastery for years, and Im considered a laydisciple. Oh? Then youre of both civil and martial capabilities. Are you intending to return home for a visit to your parents? Yes, but Ive now changed my mind. Ill go home later. Tang Fan was surprised. Why is that? The youth kept cupping his hands to the last. Because I met you. Ive admired you for a long time, and I hope that we can interact some more so that I can receive your guidance. Can you fulfill this humble ones little wish? Tang Fans popularity wasnt bad, but he had never seen a fan like this before, who was filled with admiration at first meet. Were he an influential academic like his teacher, this wouldnt be so strange. Even with the minor fame he had gained on account of his judgements, he had never thought that his reputation would be at this degree. However, the one before him looked sincere, and had a good face on him. Even Mister Tang inevitably became guilty of the crimes of judging someone by looks and cherishing talent. Of course, there was a more important reason, too Lu Lingxi came from the Lu clan of Pinghu. It was a generational family of officials, and nearly every generation produced Palace Honorates, so being friends with him would do no harm. Looking at the young mans character and aptitude, he might slowly become a rising star in the next few decades. Tang Fan smiled, pointing at the chair beside him. Sit. Youre a County Honorate, but why did you not go to test into being a Provincial, and travel around instead? Do you wish to abandon scholardom for the military, imitating Ban Chao in laying down your brush for the spear? Lu Lingxi sat down with poise. I want to lay down my brush for the spear, but this Dynasty is inferior to the Han Dynasty. If a general has no scholarly merits to his name, then he will always be a grade below the rest, and have to look at civil officials faces all the time. He glanced at Tang Fan. Seeing that the other didnt appear to be displeased, he continued on. Im not complaining or anything, let alone saying that civil officials are bad, its just that military men are of lower position for no reason. Civils that actually understand military affairs and can strategize are few, after all. This humble one thinks that reading ten thousand pieces is inferior to traveling ten thousand li, and that is exactly why its imperative to have broader knowledge. Otherwise, even if I do come to be a Provincial Honorate later, I would just be a mediocre man of ineffective military strategies. Tang Fan nodded and smiled. Very good! Being able to both have such aspirations and implement them is extraordinary. I believe that youll achieve it someday! Lu Lingxi suddenly looked bright. Thank you for your praise, Sir. I Right when he thought to continue, he saw a boatworker come in from outside to report to Tang Fan. Sir, the woman that fell wants to come over to thank you and this Don. Reasonably, for a woman that beautiful, no earthly man would not want to try to see her again, to say nothing of how she had come to thank them, which could not be more proper. There was absolutely no grounds for rejection, and no one should want to reject her. And yet, Tang Fan said, I wont meet with her. If you want to Sir, this humble one saving her had been no more effort than the wave of a hand. I have no intent to make her give thanks at all! I dont wish to see her, either! Lu Lingxi immediately answered. As he had responded too quickly, Tang Fan had to tease him. If you do, thats just normal human behavior. Go and see her, I wont chastise you. The other was anxious. Sir, I really dont want to see her! To be able to meet you and receive your guidance and conversation is three lifetimes worth of blessings! Why would I vainly care about irrelevant bystanders?! Seeing a layer of panic quickly shroud his handsome appearance, Tang Fan no longer had his prior calmness, a bit amused as he thought about how Lu Lingxi likely hadnt become enlightened on appreciating the opposite sex. Towards this big-hearted, honest, and juvenile in nature Lu descendant, he actually had a lot of fondness and admiration. Tell her that she doesnt need to come over, she should just recuperate properly, Tang Fan said to the boatworker. No one wants her to repay them, so there is no need for her to be overly polite. The boatworker agreed, withdrew, then returned after not long. Their conversation disturbed, neither Tang Fan nor Lu Lingxi were too pleased. Noticing as much, the boatworker was also awkward. Sir, she said that her parents both died and shes going to Suzhou to take shelter with relatives. Because only her maids accompany her, she worries that this same sort of situation will happen again, so she hopes to be able to request your permission in tailing your vessel for the journey. Apart from that, she will absolutely not bother you further. That was not an extravagant request. A woman traveling by herself in this world using minor ploys to protect herself was not any sort of big deal. Since Tang Fan didnt mind her, he also had no interest in worrying about studying her background to its depths, so he allowed it. Sure enough, the woman didnt come to disturb them again. Lu Lingxi was an odd person. Tang Fan had seen that he was happy to help others without wanting to take the credit for it, and since he was also a younger member of the Lus, he chatted some more with him. The other was unexpectedly engaging, his clever remarks like pearls that often made one hold their stomach with laughter. Owing to his many travels over these two years, he was also wise in all he had seen; he happened to speak with him about going some area, and the two were like old friends at first meet, talking for over half the night. When dawn approached, Lu Lingxi reluctantly said farewell, changing his appellation from Sir to Brother Tang. After day broke, the government vessel did not remain for much longer, proceeding on with its journey. Once it had passed through Changzhou, Wuxi, and other such areas, it finally reached Suzhou Prefecture, where they disembarked, then took a carriage from Changshu to Wu County. Suzhou had Changshu, Wu County, Wujiang, and other counties associated with it. Among them, Wu was the Prefectures seat of governance, and it bordered Wujiang, while both of them were on the edge of Lake Tai. There was only a jiang of difference between them, yet they were two separate areas. The Court had naturally issued official documents to local officials when Tang Fan had left the capital. By the time the group arrived at Wu, Hu Wenzao, Suzhous Magistrate, had long been waiting outside the city to welcome him, having brought his subordinating officials with him to stand in the intense sun. When it came to rank, both Hu Wenzao and Tang Fan were fourth, but the latter was an imperial ambassador. The former didnt need to call himself this humble official, yet him personally coming to welcome him expressed his attitude, and when he saw Tang Fan, he was even more cordial and polite. Suzhou was a rich region, and its Magistrate had a cushy job, unlike officials of poor counties. As the guardian official of the Su-Hang areas, he innately had an abundance of confidence and capital, so him being so courteous was not something Tang Fan was going to be too pretentious about. It didnt take too long after their initial meeting for them to already refer to each other as brothers. Hu Wenzao introduced his subordinating officials to Tang Fan. At the end of that, everyone believed that Tang Fan would introduce Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, who were beside him, but he just said, Were a little tired after coming all the way here. Is there somewhere to rest our legs at in the city? Zeng Pei and Wu Zong hadnt expected that they would get straight-up skipped, their faces flashing green and white. Having as oppressive a signage as the Eastern Depot meant that wherever they went, they were mighty in all aspects, and even local officials dared not offend them lightly. How could they have ever imagined that they would be so completely overlooked by him? They didnt need to think, either; had they not previously relied on their status to try and reprimand Tang Fan, why would the two sides have had a falling out? Respect was ones own acquirement, not what others gave. Their mistake had been to equate him with other officials scared of offending the Eastern Depot. He had already offended the Wan party, so what was the Eastern Depot added to that? Seeing this, Hu Wenzao hesitated. Dare I ask, good brother, who these two are? Tang Fan then showed a look of surprise, laughing. Look at me, I forgot introductions! These two are Eastern Depot wardens that came along to help protect me. He finished without even saying their names. Their complexions immediately got even darker, and they thought, Who the fuck is only protecting you? Were also responsible for monitoring you! Tang Fan didnt give Hu Wenzao another opportunity to speak, though, looking confused. Why are we not going into the city? Is there something wrong, Brother Hu? Of course not, Hu Wenzao quickly answered. Please come in now, Brother Tang. The posthouse rooms have long been ready. Tang Fan and Hu Wenzao walked up in front, talking their way into the city. Tang Fan dared to slight the Eastern Depot, but Suzhous subordinating officials did not. Seeing that Mister Prefect was busy speaking with the imperial ambassador, they helped with greeting Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, not being neglectful just because they were unknown pawns. The posthouse indeed had long made preparations, hot water and food all being available at first call. Suzhou was wealthy, with even the bedding in the rooms being made of silk that was as soft as clouds. The luxury was evident. Hu Wenzao personally brought Tang Fan to his room. He had thought that he had finished his task and could withdraw from his job well done, but Tang Fan called to him, If its no trouble, how about you sit for a bit, Brother Hu? Taken aback, Hu Wenzaos smile promptly turned not too genuine. I dont think I should I still have some official business to do. How about we talk another day? Tang Fan looked at the sky outside. Its already nighttime, so the bureau logically should have long closed. Are you so cherishing of the common good that you even work through the night? Hu Wenzao laughed. There is no other way to be. Things have been relatively hectic lately, so I wont be able to accompany you much. Please rest a little earlier, good brother! Ill come visit again tomorrow! With that, seemingly quite afraid that Tang Fan would tell him to stay, he left the room without waiting for his response. Watching his back that was practically fleeing, Qian Sanr shut the door, then turned back while chewing his tongue. Anyone that didnt know better would believe that a ghost was chasing after him. It seems like something really fishy is going on, Sir! Tang Fan smiled, turned an upside-down tea cup over, poured tea for both himself and Qian Sanr, then purposefully studied him. Tell me, how is it fishy? Didnt you say before that both Yang Ji and Chen Luan denounced this Hu Wenzao, and hes still sending memorials defending himself? According to that, he should be more anxious than anyone else. Why did he retreat so far away when he saw that you wanted to talk proper business? Tang Fan nodded. His attitude was pretty weird, but weve only just arrived here and dont understand the situation. Theres no need to be rushed; we can look first, talk later. Qian Sanr grinned evilly. Thats just fine. When we just entered the city, I immediately noticed that Suzhou is different from the North even the tea has the taste of cosmetics on it. Its no wonder people say that heavenly halls are above, with Su and Hang just below! Do you want to sample the grace of that Southern makeup, Sir? Tang Fan was displeased. What taste of cosmetics? Thats just you having lewd thoughts on the mind! I didnt taste any! Qian Sanr sighed. Ai, I knew you would refuse to go. But, having said that, this place is so far away from the capital. Even if you go, Envoy Sui wouldnt know, and this lowly one wouldnt go spill the secret to him! Tang Fan immediately spat out his tea. What secret?! What would that have to do with him?! Qian Sanr gave him a wink. Tang Fans response was to boot him right on out CH 112 Despite Hu Wenzao having said that he would come pay a visit the next day, his image never actually showed up. Tang Fan visited the Magistrates bureau himself, only to be informed that the other had some abroad task and happened to not be present. At this point, how could Tang Fan not know that he was purposefully avoiding him? Hu Wenzao really doesnt know right from wrong! Qian Sanr raged. Youre clearly here to help him solve this issue, but he seems to see you as having come to add to his headache! Dont mind him, Sir! Since he doesnt wish to see us, we will go meet with people who do. The other was puzzled. Who? The Patrolling Censor of South Zhili, Yang Ji. Right! Wasnt it said that both he and Chen Luan denounced Hu Wenzao for his inaction? Now that the guy is avoiding meeting with us, its obvious that he has a guilty conscience! He really does seem to have something off with him! Qian Sanr said joyfully. Tang Fan smiled, saying nothing. The Patrolling Censor was not a permanent-resident official, so he had no set Estate, always staying in posthouses wherever he went, like Tang Fan. The only difference was that Tang Fan had been sent directly from the Court, making his officials rank much higher than that of a Patrolling Censors. When Tang Fans group had arrived at Wu County yesterday, Yang Ji had not been seen in the crowd that had greeted him. After Tang Fan had questioned the posthouse people, they had claimed that Yang Ji had previously gone to Ze County for an inspection. He did want to meet with Yang Ji, but he didnt wait idly at the posthouse, instead bringing Qian Sanr to stroll the streets and alleyways of Wu. Qian Sanr was beside himself with joy. Back in Yangzhou, he had been preoccupied with buying Tang Fan some eats, and had also worried about no one being around to protect him, so he had run back after a brief shichen, not daring to remain long, let alone have any fun. Now, Tang Fan bringing him out could be said to be justified for him. He walked about here and felt about there, in a pure display of viewing a novelty. The North and South had differences in sights, with the Souths stuff overall being more exquisite and pretty; this was incarnated in many of its refreshments, where even the patterns embellished on top of them appeared to be a bit more delicate. The two entered a long-established snack store. Tang Fan had the shopkeep measure out two catties of all sorts of snacks, then told Qian Sanr to carry them while he himself took a rose pastry and put it into his mouth. It still tastes like how I remember! he praised, nodding. Hearing that, the shopkeeper grinned accommodatingly. You speak with a Southern accent, yet the style of your robes is Northern. You must be visiting your parents after many years away from home? Tang Fan smiled. You have good eyes, shopkeeper, but the Great Ming is unified. Are there really differences between the clothes of the North and South? Why wouldnt there be? Take that goose-yellow color thats been in fashion here for two years. Regardless of gender or age, lots of people like putting on goose-yellow outer robes, and your jade pendants tassel is different from how the South does it. Qian Sanr was pondering. As I see it, that junk is only for women to pay attention to. No wonder people always say that Southern men are softies, if this is what they care about. After saying that, he received a side-eye from Tang Fan, after which he remembered that the other was a Southerner. Since he had just pointed at a monk and called him a bald donkey, he quickly went to flatter him. Youre different, of course! How could the North and South divide be used on your character and aspirations? Tang Fan wasnt mad, but the snack shopkeeper wasnt pleased. Little brother, youre quite wrong! Whats wrong with Southern men? The water and soils supports the people, and our Jiangnan is wealthier than the North! Its only natural that its people would live more meticulously! Qian Sanr grinned. Dont be angry, Shopkeep, I was just kidding! Our Don here is a Southerner, so how could I claim that Southerners are bad? I just thought it was strange. Its said that the heavenly hall is above with Suzhou and Hangzhou right below, and this is where Suzhou Prefecture is governed from, but why is it more bleak than Yangzhou? Is Yangzhou City actually the most prosperous in Jiangnan? This time, the shopkeeper wasnt angry, merely sighing. This was caused by the mess of last years flooding. We of Wu are alright, but I heard that Wujiang is even worse, and hasnt recovered to this day. Are any citizens still affected by the disaster in Wu now? Tang Fan asked, going with the flow. No. Why not? Tang fan wondered. Didnt Lake Tais shores flood? Were they able to replant their crops this spring? No, they all left for Wujiang. And why is that? Wujiang and Wu must have really offended the ones above last year, as there was first a spring drought, then a summer flood, the shopkeeper lamented. I have a relative that lived on Lake Tai outside the city, and his fields flooded, to say nothing of his house. He was forced to come seek shelter with me, which was fine. Because of plagues arising, a lot of people died, and the authorities worried about the spread, so they were disallowed from entering the city. Later on, it was heard that Wujiang had more congee on its end, so a lot of people headed there. That all happened last year. I also heard that a lot of them froze to death in winter, but now that spring is here, the situation ought to be a lot better. The two left the snack shop. At this point, Tang Fan had already eaten about eighty percent of the two catties of snacks Qian Sanr held, and even drank down a pot of rainfore longjing the shopkeep had made, his stomach right about full. Qian Sanr had eaten his share of the snacks, of course, but when all was said and done, he had to admire Sir Tangs people skills in chatting with the shopkeeper, else that rainfore definitely wouldnt have been theirs to have later. Looking at the emptied out oilpaper, Qian Sanr rubbed his stomach, a little unsatisfied. Sir, can we have lunch, too? Yes. Why wouldnt we? You can still eat after that? Tang Fan side-eyed him. Why wouldnt I be able to? If you cant eat anymore, go on back, I can do it by myself. Let me think what to have for lunch? Squirrel fish, or longjing prawns? Qian Sanrs drool nearly overflowed from hearing that. Both are good! While the two joked around, a pleasantly surprised voice suddenly came from in front of them. Brother Tang? Following the voice, Tang Fan saw Lu Lingxi, who he hadnt seen since parting with him that one day, standing not too far away, looking at him with happy surprise. Before he could snap out of it, the other had already taken a few steps forward. Why are you here, Brother? After I went back that day, I had thought to pack my stuff and cheekily trespass on your ship, but once I got to the riverbank, I discovered that your vessel had long been on its way. Why did you go so fast? Did you know that I wanted to freeload your ship? Lu Lingxis tone gave off enthusiasm and happiness, with a faint trace of being wronged in his words. It made one smile a bit hearing it. Am I not seeing you again now? Tang Fan smiled. That we could be drawn together from a thousand li apart is clearly fate! Lu Lingxi said happily. Are you on a stroll? I once lived in Wu for a while, and Im familiar with the place. I can show you around! We happen to be searching for a place to eat. Im even more familiar with that! Come with me, Ill take you to a place. Very well. Seems that we have a good fortune for food this day. While they spoke, he brought the two of them to a restaurant, got a private room with elegant decor and a fine view of the landscape, then ordered a good couple of dishes like it was routine. It looked like he had been here many times before. Brother Tang, the squirrel fish here is made especially authentic. You need to try it! If you have another free day, theres another place in the citys south that specializes in making iced eel. You came at a good time, as that dish is most refreshing during the summer Yiqing, Tang Fan suddenly interrupted. Whats wrong? Lu Lingxi asked, puzzled. You know that Im a Court official, and that Ive been imperially ordered to handle something in Suzhou. Lu Lingxi nodded. You said that. Then do you know what Im here to handle? The other thought, smiling. Is it related to last years famine? Tang Fan smiled back. Tell me if this is a coincidence; I just pass Yangzhou, and you come to visit. Now Im at Suzhou, and we have yet another lucky encounter. With that said, who ultimately sent you? What is your purpose in following me? Following that, Lu Lingxis smile gradually went away. When he smiled, he had an innocent feel to him, but when he didnt, he looked a bit frigid. His previously ever-grinning thin lips pressed together, changing to seem more unfeeling. If he came to be a few years older, and experienced some time to take full form, the youth would definitely come to be rich with allure, an unknown amount of women coming to fall head over heels for him. What do you mean by that, Brother? Open people dont speak in secret words. What you think I mean is what I mean. The two looked into each others eyes. The formerly relaxed atmosphere of their chat quickly turned a bit tense. Qian Sanrs heart dropped. When Lu Lingxi had shown off his might on the river last night, he had happened to be absent, but after Lu Lingxi had left Tang Fan, he had personally witnessed that while the government vessel had been some distance from the shore, Lu Lingxi had launched himself right off the deck to land steadily on the bank. Qian Sanr had been amazed by his brilliant skills, and when he had heard the boatworkers speaking of Lu Lingxis rescue, he had felt that among the people he had met before, likely only Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi could match the man in abilities. Upon seeing Lu Lingxis change of face, he was now afraid that the other would suddenly put Tang Fan at a disadvantage, and prepared to pounce if needed. Then, he saw Tang Fan pick up some squirrel fish and put it in his mouth. Hm, this fish is really good. Its soft and fresh, with a sweet and sour flavor. Its great for a dinner. Waiter, some rice from last night do you two want any? Qian Sanr was instantly dejected. Sir, couldnt you have kept your grandeur up for a bit longer? How can I, as a subordinate, help you put on a front like this?! Lu Lingxi pfft out a laugh, waving his hand. I dont. Im not much for rice. Waiter, give me a bowl of congee. Brother Tang He looked at Tang Fan, a serious expression on a pure and innocent face. Do you think I would hinder you? Tang Fan took the rice the worker brought, thanking him, and was in no rush to answer. On the contrary, he picked up some rice to taste with his chopsticks, then nodded to express his satisfaction. The rice is good, too. Lake Tai rice really deserves its repute! However, since there was a flood and famine last year, why is there still fresh rice to have? Could it possibly have been transported from elsewhere? Lu Lingxi shook his head. No, it was harvested last year. Even though the lake flooded to point of calamity, it was not without crop yield. Last year, the only fresh crops were collected right into the pockets of wealthy Suzhou merchants. This Lake Tai restaurant is one of the properties owned under the name of a merchant, Liang Hongyi. Can you guess how much this meal is going to cost? Tang Fan didnt answer that, instead setting down his chopsticks to answer his question from before. I dont think youll hinder me, else I wouldnt have spoken with you into the night. I also hope that you dont betray my trust. After all, its not just anyone that I will allow to call me Brother Tang. Lu Lingxi startled. Youve been suspicious of my identity ever since that time on the boat? There were so many boats around, yet you pulled onto mine. After that, I didnt tell you that I was going to Suzhou, yet we just so happened to meet on the streets. One coincidence is easy to find, but too many coincidences are seldom. If you were a little more patient, you wouldnt have needed to be in such a rush to come out and see me. Wouldnt it have been better for you to bump into me when I went to Wujiang? At this moment, Tang Fan was smiling, eyes roaming. His tone was light, yet carried an indescribable carefreeness. Lu Lingxi was dumbstruck for a minute, then suddenly said, Brother, you really look good when you smile! The corners of Tang Fans mouth twitched. With how the youth was sometimes bright, sometimes naive, it was a little unclear on whether he was feigning stupidity, or actually stupid. If youre not telling the truth, Im going. No matter how delicious the squirrel fish is, I have no interest in sharing it with someone of unfathomable mind, as it spoils the food. Tang Fan made to stand up, and Lu Lingxi anxiously reached out to stop him. Brother Tang, dont be angry. I didnt intentionally hide from you. I was entrusted to do this by someone else, but it isnt to hinder you its to help you. Tang Fan raised a brow. Help me? Lu Lingxi nodded, eyes sincere and honest. Yes, dont leave. Listen to me through first, okay? Go on and speak. Im not lying to you. I really am a member of Pinghus Lu family, and I really am traveling abroad. Look, this is my jade identity token that I wear on me, with my name and surname engraved on it, as bestowed by my elders. Its simply that when I last went to the capital, I ran into an old friend, and he said that you might come across some troubles while in Suzhou, so he asked me to go South to find you and lend you a hand. I was born in Pinghu, but I grew up in Suzhou since childhood, and have some friends here, too. I might be able to help you out. Who is that old friend of yours? Huai En. Tang Fan was surprised. How is it him? Eunuch Huai once stayed in Suzhou Prefecture and was kind to my family, so we have constant contact with him. When I went to the capital, I followed old standards by visiting him at his residence outside the palace, and happened to meet him as he was resting at home, where he entrusted me with doing this. He said that what happened to the Crown Prince had nothing to do with you, but stemmed from someone else wanting to mess with him, yet you were still implicated, and the Eastern Depots people might use this time to set up obstacles for you while you investigate. He told me to come and help you while I was here. Tang Fan heard the key point amongst that. What relation does this have with the Eastern Depot? Eunuch Huai said that each year in Suzhou, a lot of presents will be gifted to Director Shang Ming. They used to be given to the Western Depot, but now that its gone, the Eastern Depot rules alone, and they fawn even more. Huai En had always been low-key, but he was extremely popular in Court. The Wan party relied upon the Emperors idiocy and tried to sort out many major officials, while Huai En would always help out if he could. Tang Fan had been dragged into the East Palace incident, but he knew that that had been out of the Princes hands, and thus had never blamed him; he hadnt thought that Huai En would sent Lu Lingxi over, which really surprised and moved him a little. In your view, whats happening here? he asked. After exposing his identity, Lu Lingxi spoke with more frankness. Im not too clear on it, I only heard a little from Eunuch Huai at the capital oh, right, Brother Tang; he told me to tell you that the uncle of Wujiangs Magistrate is Nanjings Minister of Revenue, Chen Jing. Tang Fan raised his brows. Is that true? After the Great Ming had shifted its capital, Nanjing still had its Six Ministries, but their authority had been pretty much replaced by Beijings Six Ministries, turning them into a well-known retirement resort in officialdom. However, Nanjings Six Ministries were not actually without any power. At the very least, that wasnt the case for its Ministry of Revenue. It bore the responsibility of collecting grain taxes from the four areas of South Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang, which had all been wealthy since ancient times. To tell the truth, near about half of the whole nations grain taxes were held in the grasp of its Minister, and even though it would ultimately have to be passed up to Beijing, there were many areas of the process where manipulations could be supplied. This resulted in the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue being a good, dependable area, and its Minister was a post everyone longed for. If one couldnt make it in Beijing and was destined to make it in Nanjing, then everyones first pick would be Revenue. It didnt stop there. In addition to to the grain tax, the Ministry was also responsible for nationwide signing of salt licenses in other words, if merchants wanted to peddle salt, they first had to get a license from Revenue before they could do so legally. Otherwise, they would be selling it illegally, and would face heavy punishment if caught. As such, the Suzhou Magistrates odd behavior and disappearance had to be related to this. Tang Fan felt himself to have been thinking about this too simplistically at the beginning. He had believed that he was only coming here to inspect the state of the disaster, acting the part of a peacekeeper, but after his arrival, things were just getting increasingly complex. Also, the more Lu Lingxi explained, the more convoluted it got. The Eastern Depot, Nanjings officialdom, Suzhou Prefecture, Wujiang County stringing all of these people together could really make one see stars. Were he an ordinary official, he would have likely thought to run away, let alone find out the truth. However, Lu Lingxi noticed that after hearing of this connection, instead of showing a look of hesitation, Tang Fan seemed to be full of interest, as if he had discovered something fascinating. Brother Tang? he had to tentatively call out. Since thats so, lets go to Wujiang to take a look, the other said. Let me go with you, Lu Lingxi said automatically. I know martial arts, I can protect you. Saying so, he looked at him pitifully, as if fearing that he had a poor impression of him from the initial secrecy, and he would be left high and dry for asking. Tang Fan didnt care, though. The reason why Lu Lingxi had kept Huai Ens part a secret had probably been to see if he could impress him. The thoughts of a youngster were nothing special, and offensive even less so. On top of that, his impression of Lu Lingxi was pretty good, and he was subconsciously a bit softer on him. Sure, but while were in Suzhou, you have to listen to my every order. If you dont, you shouldnt blame me for being cold. Hearing this, Lu Lingxis entire face suddenly lit up. Of course! Ill definitely be nice and obedient! If you tell me to go east, I wont go west! Qian Sanr immediately glared at him when he heard this, alert. He was trying to nab his spot! Seeing his face full of vigilance, Lu Lingxi smiled at Tang Fan. Brother Tang, apart from those two Eastern Depot-goers, all you have is this frail and useless guy at your side, and he wouldnt be able to defend you if something happened. I would do better following and attending to you. I can be both a boyservant and a bodyguard, two things in one! Im great! Qian Sanr puffed up. Whos frail and useless?! I once worked as a Brocade Guard in the Northern Bastion Office, got it? If you dont believe that, weve got a few tricks, and then you can see whos afraid of who! Lu Lingxi sized him up, looking hesitant and doubtful. You? A Brocade Guard? Having his manly dignity and pride encounter a serious challenge, Qian Sanr put up his fists without another word in a vow to viciously knock this punk to the floor. However, Lu Lingxi didnt evade him, instead reaching out to hold his fist, turning his body slightly, then gently twisting his wrist along with the direction of his momentum. An elegant pose, a lithe figure. His other hand was even behind his back he wasnt using all of his strength! Qian Sanr involuntarily pitched himself forwards, watching himself about to massively eat dirt. All of a sudden, there was a tightness on his middle, and he was summarily pulled back by someone. Before he could react, he was standing in his original spot with a face full of confusion, maintaining his same posture of holding his fist out. Are you alright? Lu Lingxi asked with concern, after which he turned to smile brightly at Tang Fan. See, Brother? This guy isnt good enough to protect you. Am I not better? Feeling himself to have lost Tang Fan face, Qian Sanr felt humiliated and enraged, face flushing. Sir! Sir While the two of them had been screwing around, Tang Fan had since casually eliminated all of the squirrel fish meat. Alright, quit fighting. Are you eating, or what? If youre not, leave! Brother Tang, did you not see my moves just now? Lu Lingxi asked, faintly complaining. Tang Fan reached out and flicked him on the forehead. I did see. Very cool. Even stronger than the Brocade Guard, alright? Only now was Lu Lingxi happy. Qian Sanr felt it to be necessary to rectify the Brocade Guards name, quickly refuting, Sir, Envoy Sui aside, even Millarch Xue and the others would have been enough to make this jerk eat it! Lu Lingxi beamed. Brother Tang said Im good, so Im good. No matter what way you quibble, its useless, so why bother expending energy for no reason? Qian Sanrs anger hit him until his teeth itched. Who said youre good?! He was only consoling you! Tang Fan didnt feel like listening to their childlike squabble, walking right out. The two quickly sounded a retreat and ceased attacking, following close behind him. Wujiang neighbored Wu, the two localities being tight up against each other; not only were the names nearly the same, but their distance was quite close. The three of them got three horses from the posthouse, then rode straight for Wujiang, setting off in the afternoon and arriving quickly. The second they entered its city, they felt that the atmosphere was even more oppressive than Wus. People that were getting off of work, coming to trade, or visiting relatives came and went from the city gates in the same way they would in other cities, but the amount of people was far fewer. Wujiang City has two city gates. Were entering the east gate, and Lake Tai is at the west gate, Lu Lingxi advised. Tang Fan nodded. Lets go look at the west gate, then. However, they didnt go far before they saw a group of people catching up to them from behind. Their leader was wearing a seventh-rank officials uniform it was the Wujiang County Magistrate, Chen Luan. The authors mini-theatre: Wang Zhi (schadenfreude): Did you play around too much? Now hes having an affair! Lu Lingxi has the martial arts, the good background, the talent, the looks. What do you have? Sui Zhou (expressionless): Ive been prepared. Everything is in my control. (turns head) Fluffy, do you want to have coiled dragon tonight? Tang Fan: Whats coiled dragon? Sui Zhou (Baidu wiki face): Lean pork, fat stock, fresh fish cuts, egg whites, mung bean flour, scallion whites, black pepper, salt, and other such ingredients are used. The fish and meat are sliced up into a mince, strained through gauze, mixed with seasonings, wrapped in egg, then arranged in a coiled dragon shape, after which its steamed until done. Tang Fan (pondering deeply for a second): Lets be together! Wang Zhi: Could you get a bit more of a spine? CH 113 The other presumably rode litters out on average, as it was only a few steps from the bureau to the city gate, yet Chen Luan was already gasping for air. It wasnt until Tang Fan was right in front of him that he forced out a smile. Please wait a bit, Sir! Dare I ask if youre Left Metropolitan Censor, Tang Fan? Tang Fan raised a brow. And you are? Chen Luan quickly cupped his hands. This humble official is Wujiangs Magistrate, Chen Luan. I pay my respects to you, Sir. Tang Fan smiled fakely. Magistrate Chen, I am neither wearing an official uniform, nor have I made my identity known. How are you so certain that Im Tang Fan? Wouldnt it be a laugh if you recognized the wrong person? You have a dragons cadence, fenghuangs poise, and extraordinary looks, like a crane amongst chickens. Anyone can plainly see that youre not an average civilian. This humble official heard that the Court was sending a censor to inspect the disaster situation, so I instructed the soldiers at the gates long before to pay close attention, letting me rush over quickly. He was not too old, seeming to be only in his early thirties, and his facial features were straight and neat, which gave one a sense of goodwill. He was a model young, intelligent, competent official. Even though the imperial exam system had long grown and matured from the Great Mings founding to now, and people of humble origins could test into the provincials and become officials, generally speaking, those from wealthier families were able to get more resources, hire famous teachers, be guided by their elders, and enter known academies. Their probabilities of passing the test were much higher than the average persons. Take Tang Fan, for instance. Despite his family having fallen, they had still been influential, and he had been well-educated since his childhood. Chen Luan was beyond that; his uncle was Nanjings Minister of Revenue, and he himself was an official, which illustrated that the Chen family was at least a scholarly family spanning three generations, and very likely an official family. Circumstances like that were all over the Great Mings officialdom. Therefore, even though Chen Luan was a seventh-rank Magistrate, him having such an outstanding presence was not strange. After hearing his explanation, Tang Fan only smiled, saying nothing. Chen Luan had been anticipating questions, but Censor Tang was instead abnormally collected, so he had to continue. You came a long distance for this assignment, Sir, and this humble official should put all of my effort into entertaining you, but Wujiang suffered a huge disaster last year, and its vitality is greatly injured to the point that it hasnt yet recovered. If I slight you in any way, please forgive me. Tang Fan nodded. Thats fine. You are the host, so youre naturally the one in charge. Whatever you arrange is what we will go with. How about I take you to first see the situation of the refugees settlement, then? Tang Fan raised his brows. Following his arrival at Suzhou, of the three people he had met, Prefectural Magistrate Hu Wenzao avoided seeing him, Patrolling Censor Yang Ji wasnt present, and the Wujiang Magistrate, the one at the heart of the turmoil, had been the one to bring up taking him to see the refugees. Quite forthcoming, with no schemes at all to cover up or whitewash. Their eyes met. Chen Luans did not shy away, gazing back the same with a slight smile, which brought with it an inquiring undertone. A seventh-rank County Magistrate and a fourth-rank Prefectural Magistrate the superior one appeared to be immediately evident. Tang Fan smiled. Please lead the way then, Magistrate. If you please, Sir Tang. Chen Luan brought them to the citys south, to what had originally been an abandoned temple that was now cleaned up, the Buddha statues and such inside accordingly tidied as well, turning it into a charity hall. The former monk quarters had been all torn down so that more beds could be set up. Of course, these were simple beds, nothing more than straw mats laid out on the floor which people would lay on and cover with blankets. Still, for these refugees that used to not have a roof to shield them and now had this place doing so, and could eat their fill plus be warm in clothes, this was already a paradise. When Tang Fans group came over, it happened to be lunchtime. After people that had been sent from the government cooked congee, it was delivered, and the refugees queued up, holding their bowls and awaiting their turns. It was not at all the wailing, miserable scene Tang Fan had imagined it would be. This congee is served up twice a day, once at noon and once at night, Chen Luan explained. The number of refugees has decreased by a lot. Since the start of this year, many have begun to return home in succession, so its nice and orderly now. There were several incidents of injuring and stealing from people to get more food before. Tang Fan nodded. Looking at the bowls held by the refugees that passed by, he lightly creased his brow. That congee looks a little too thin? The other smiled painfully. I must tell you that what could be diverted from the countys granary has already been diverted, Sir. The remaining had to be given to Nanjing for taxes, meaning its long been emptied out. If you dont believe me, I can take you over to it for a look. Tang Fan didnt speak to him, instead grabbing an old man that was passing by. Elder, where are you from? The old man looked up to see Tang Fan, then the uniform-wearing Chen Luan, and shakily went to kneel and bow. Tang Fan didnt let him do that, readily keeping him up. No need for too much politeness, elder. Where are you from? This commoner fled the famine outside the city. It was thanks to this County benefactors compassion that it opened its city gates to let us in, giving us shelter and preventing us from starving to death. Now that the benefactor is here, please accept this commoners praises! Saying so, he kowtowed in respect. Chen Luan helped him up with a slight smile. Did you not hear Sir Tang say to not be so polite, elder? This was what the county should have done, and as a guardian official, what I should have done. The elder only agreed, looking reserved as he gripped the bowl and dared not speak. Seeing that he didnt know what to do, Tang fan let him go, asking Chen Luan, Did Suzhou Prefecture not allocate provisions? Chen Luan shook his head. It wasnt enough at all. To tell you the truth, Wu was also hit by the disaster, and because its where the Prefecture is governed out of, it was higher priority. In result, our Wujiang was basically the stepchild, and we were given only about thirty shi of provisions. Tang Fan furrowed his brow. Why so little? These are all things that can be verified. This way, please. He brought Tang Fan to the county granary, then ordered the door to be opened. Tang Fan immediately saw that the interior was truly empty, with not even half a grain of rice in it. Chen Luan then brought the grain registry out for his viewing. Behind the portion where Suzhou Prefectures allocated provisions were, three-hundred shi had plainly been written down. How many more days can the provisions still be given to the refugees? About three, probably. After that, what do you plan on doing? This humble official plans to lend grains from merchants in the county. Also, now that the lakewater has receded, the fields can be replanted, so Im getting ready to have the refugees persuaded to return. Theres only a few hundred people remaining, after all, making it a little easier, and if they can go home, people generally wouldnt be willing to be dead mice here, apart from the local hoodlums. Thats why I only need to borrow a few days worth of supplies. Are the merchants willing to? Chen Luan laughed. They arent of course, but I intimidated and enticed them. I can always make them dredge some up. Tang Fan laughed, too. Youre quite the competent official, Hongya! Before, he had called him Magistrate Chen on official business, and now he had changed it to his courtesy, immediately getting much closer to him. It also indirectly portrayed his stance. Chen Luan cupped his hands. I dare not accept your praise, Sir. This falls within my duties, and is nothing more than me being devoted to my post. Tang Fan pat him on the shoulder. Loyalty is a word thats easy to say, but hard to do. How many officials fail to abide by it? You doing this much really wasnt easy. After I go back, I will report nothing but the truth, rather than allow you to be wronged. Chen Luan smiled. Your words are too weighty, Sir. The Prefectural Magistrate hasnt had it easy, either, as several counties were hit by the disaster. There inevitably comes to be different priorities, which this humble official can understand. As far as Im aware, though, Wujiang and Wu were the worst affected areas. Moreover, Wus refugees heard that there was more congee supplied over in Wujiang, and hence all came over here. Was that true? They did indeed have extravagant hopes, which is why were so overtaxed here. If we werent, then with our typical amount, the granarys provisions would have been enough. It was precisely because of this that Yang Ji denounced me, but after I explained this to him, he didnt wrangle much more with me. Tang Fan nodded. I will go look for him to verify that. Chen Luan brought him around the citys south, answered many questions completely methodically, and caused the smile on Tang Fans face to get all the more friendly. Compared to the extraordinarily talkative and decorous Chen Luan, the flustered-in-movements, very weird Hu Wenzao was not only inferior, but appeared to be extremely suspicious. Tang Fan stayed in Wujiang for a meal. Chen Luans treatment was quite simple; he didnt go get out the big proteins because he was here, but he also wasnt too shoddy with it, of course. Chen Luan, Tang Fan, Lu Lingxi, Qian Sanr, and the few accompanying Chen Luan had seven dishes and one soup together. It was all common fare, yet very delicious. Regardless of officials status, Tang Fan and Chen Luan had similar life experiences, giving the two a lot to talk about. The host and guests were quite happy during the feast, everything being peaceful. Following the meal, Tang Fan rejected Chen Luans accompaniment, stating that he would look around when in the county again, and had Chen Luan go back to his proper business without needed to escort him. The latter did not insist, leaving after a few niceties. Watching Chen Luans back, Qian Sanr sighed with a happy grin. Thats the bearing of an honorable official. This lowly one thinks that hes a little comparable to you, Sir! Tang Fan turned to Lu Lingxi. How do you see him? Highly suspicious. Right. Tang Fan put away his smile, expression turning serious. He did not hold up his recent appearance of being as warm as a spring breeze. Hes likely even more difficult to handle than Hu Wenzao. Qian Sanr was confused. Sir, whats suspicious about him? He hadnt been able to tell at all. In his eyes, Chen Luans words and actions had been normal, much better than Hu Wenzaos. Lu Lingxi was the one to speak. He knew when we had entered the city immediately. If it was as he claimed, where he had long known that we might come and thus had the soldiers at the city gate keep an eye out, I wouldnt believe it at all, because were that true, then as early as the gates themselves, the soldiers would have directly barred Brother Tangs way and invited Chen Luan to meet him. Now, its obvious that he had sent people to track us beforehand, which is why he knew our location so easily. That point is enough to say that his motives are impure, and he didnt tell us the truth. Tang Fan nodded. Correct. Theres another thing; I saw that when we were in the charity hall, those refugees clothes were neat and tidy. They had obviously been newly changed into. No matter how good the conditions of a charity hall are, there is absolutely no justification for a government to pay for refugees clothing. Do you all remember what happened when I stopped and questioned that elder? Seeing them both nod, he smiled. Did you notice anything off about him? Qian Sanr scratched his head. He really hadnt paid attention to such fine details, so he couldnt answer. He acted a bit odd, Lu Lingxi said. He had been uncomfortable at first, yet was abnormally fluent in his answers, as if he had memorized them ahead of time. I also saw him look at Chen Luan from time to time. Were it said that he was a citizen that had never seen the County Magistrate before and wanted to look at him a few more times due to the rarity, that would be okay, but the look in his eyes was really bizarre. It felt like like He furrowed his brow to think of a fitting visual, but Tang Fan picked it up. Like he was looking at Chen Luan for cues. Lu Lingxi clapped. Right, thats it! Youre really as fine-tuned as a hair, and leave no scheme unconsidered! Tang Fan had already grown numb to his frequent praise. Strictly speaking, Lu Lingxi wasnt a flatterer, and even if he was, his skills at flattery were way too clumsy. Actually, if he was flattering him, it would be fine, but he was full of sincerity and perseverance, needing to express a dizzying amount of reverence towards Tang Fan whenever he had the opportunity. After a few bouts of it, Tang Fan had long learned to just pretend not to hear him. He shot him a look. Yiqing. What are your orders, Brother Tang? Tang Fans expression was mild. You must have known earlier that someone was watching for our location? Instead of denying it, Lu Lingxi happily confessed. Yep! Tang Fan frowned. Then why didnt you say so earlier? I thought you knew so from the start, and just didnt want to alert the enemy, the other answered innocently. Tang Fan glared at him. The latter, both innocent and aggrieved, brought out some favor-currying words. But you never asked before from now on, whatever you want to know, Ill tell you, okay? Tang Fan went quiet for a short moment. Then, what else do you know? There were two groups watching us outside of the posthouse, and they followed us all the way here. Two groups? Tang Fan asked, raising his brows. Lu Lingxi nodded, certain. Two groups. Are you sure they werent of the same affiliation? They arent. You know as well that martial arts practitioners always have keener senses than ordinary people. One of the groups is likely on Chen Luans side, and the other, Im not sure. Could it be the Eastern Depot? Thats a possibility. Tang Fan thought for a short moment. Lets head back, then. Qian Sanr was startled, still a bit puzzled. Where are we going? Back to Wu, and then well come back here. As for what they would be doing back in Wu, Tang Fan didnt explain. However, when they returned to Wus posthouse, he was informed that Yang Ji had returned, and came to pay him a visit. The translator says: This chapter is less than 5k words. Im so not used to it lol CH 114 Where is he now? Tang Fan asked the posthouse worker. Censor Yang is in the posthouse and hasnt left, waiting to be called over upon your return, Sir. He told this lowly one to wait here, and if I saw you come back, I was to first ask if you want to see him, then invite him over. Tang Fan nodded. Go and bring him. Compared to Chen Luan, Yang Ji was a little unpresentable. He was not yet forty in age, yet his hair had already gone half-white, and it wasnt from stress; some people were simply born to age prematurely. Because of his thin figure, a lot of traces of hardship had been invisibly added to him, too. This humble official is the South Zhili Patrolling Censor, Yang Ji, and I send my greetings to you, Left Metropolitan Censor Sir Tang, Yang Ji said with a bow. You dont need to be polite, Censor Yang. Tang Fan waved him off. Come sit. Sanr, bring tea. Tang Fan and Yang Ji had no friendship, nor were they about to talk nonsense in circles. As soon as they were seated respectively, he asked, Is there something urgent? Yang Ji cupped his hands while seated. This humble official went to inspect Kunshan County before and was unable to meet with you, Sir. After my return, I heard that you looked for me, so I went to visit you, only for you to have gone off to Wujiang. Thankfully, I didnt miss you again this time. I know youre here to investigate Wujiangs famine, and I happen to have things to report on it. Tang Fan picked up his gaiwan and took a sip, nodding. Say them, then. I was ordered to garrison in Suzhou Prefecture. Last year, Lake Tai overflowed, and the lost crops in Wujiang, Wu, and other places caused many lives to be lost. After I went to all of those areas, I discovered that Wujiangs condition was the most severe. At the time, I was reckless, and without any investigation, I decided that Chen Luan had neglected his duties plus delayed disaster relief, which is why I sent a memorial denouncing him. With that, he sighed. As it was, I later confirmed it to be my error. Tang Fan set his gaiwan down, rapping his knuckles lightly against the table. Oh? You were wrong? How so? Rather than neglect his duty, Chen Luan actually did it thoroughly, and has already done all he could. He moved every one of the refugees to the citys south, then resettled many that had come from Wu, only for the provisions allocated by Suzhou to not have been enough. For this, Magistrate Chen was forced to empty the county granary and borrow from wealthy merchants in the city, which I witnessed firsthand. This is why I now feel my previous denouncement to have not been very proper. Were Magistrate Chen to lose his black hat over this, it will be on my conscience for all my life, so please see the light, Sir. Tang Fan hummed. So, youre saying that you think Chen Luan has not only not gone overboard, but has merit? Yang Ji shook his head. Whether he has merit or not is not something I dare to decide. I just hope that you can find out the truth and report it to the Court. I am willing to sign my name alongside yours to make up for the mistake I made earlier. Tang Fan smiled. Whether youve made a mistake or not is yet to be determined. As a Censor, it is your right to denounce every department, and be an annotator of every official that is contemptible, greedy, and corrupt. In every case, you must be iron-faced and selfless, keeping everything in order. Wheres the error in that? Yang Ji was taken aback. Your implication is that Magistrate Chen is still in the wrong? Tang Fans gaze fell to the color of the tea, as if a flower was blooming there. Yang Ji waited for a long time, then couldnt wait anymore, asking, Sir? Sir Tang? The other seemed to wake up from a dream. Hm? What did you just say? Tang Fan smiled in embarrassment. We just got here yesterday, then ran off to Wujiang today. Im a little tired and distracted. Yang Ji had a face full of understanding. You should take care of your health, Sir! he said, sincere. Tang Fan couldnt help but yawn. Pardon my laughable performance. Go on, go on, he apologized. Yang Ji was forced to repeat what he had said. What you implied just then, Sir, is something this humble official doesnt understand too well. Can you please elaborate? Hm? What was it that I just said? You said me being wrong about Magistrate Chen is yet undetermined. Right. Whats the issue? Whether hes at fault or not is for the Court to decide upon. Im an imperial ambassador, but even I can only report on what Ive seen and heard. Yang Ji really had no way of telling if Tang Fan was playing dumb, or actually dumb. He had never interacted with him before, but the other had repeatedly cracked cases, and was known for his judgements. When he had been in Xianghe County in particular, a child had died in a well, and everyone had though that it had been an accident, or that someone had pushed her, only for Tang Fan to find evidence on the body that determined that she had first been killed, then thrown in. It was precisely that case that had spread his name around. Looking at him now, though, he seemed to be more suitable for being a Judge than for running off here to mix in the water. Yang Ji felt that this guy didnt live up to his reputation, and faintly looked down upon him. Although, on that note, with what was happening right now, a stupid imperial ambassador that wasnt paying attention was obviously much better than an intelligent and competent one. Yang Ji smiled. You are correct, but however you plan to write your memorials, why not let this humble official see them first? That way, I can follow close behind you, and not go on the wrong path. Saying so, he took a memorial out of his pocket, then offered it up with both hands. This is the memorial Ive re-drafted over these past days. Please look it over, Sir. Tang Fan took it and placed it to the side. I will. If youre free tonight, lets have dinner together, and we can discuss at the table. Those were exactly the words that Yang Ji had hoped for, and his smile grew all the more sincere. I will wait for your summons in the other courtyard, Sir. As soon as Yang Ji was seen off, Lu Lingxi came back on his heels. Why are you back so soon? Tang Fan asked. Lu Lingxi grinned. I dared not stay back for too long, and spurred back full speed after I learned about everything, afraid that youd have no one to order about here. Before they left Wujiang, Lu Lingxi had followed Tang Fan out of the city, only to circle back in, do what Tang Fan had instructed him, then run back out. Qian Sanr curled his lips. What do you mean, no one to order about? Am I not someone?! But you have no skills. What if Brother Tang ended up running into danger? Qian Sanrs humiliation turned into rage. Who said I have no skills?! My skills were learned from Mister Bastion Envoy, of the Brocade Guards Northern Bastion Office! Do you know who he is?! Hm. So its Mister Envoys apprentice that couldnt last three moves against me? Qian Sanrs heart immediately shattered all over the ground. Alright, quit messing around. Tang Fan picked up the memorial and opened it. A piece of paper floated down out from inside it, and before it landed on the ground, Lu Lingxi caught it between two fingers. Its a banknote for ten thousand taels, Lu Lingxi said, awed. The descendant of a wealthy family like him had been nurtured well since childhood, and he was not someone whose eyes could be opened by money; to be able to move him, the amount on any banknote had to be massive. It has a Maochang notation, and the silver can be withdrawn on sight thats a lot! Banknotes were more convenient to carry around than pure silver, not easily pilfered, and a must-have for gifts and bribes. For that reason, following the former Songs wisdom and Great Mings founding, silver notations like this had gradually become mainstream. Native banks in this age were all backed by big merchants. No one merchant was running them, but one big merchants association. For example, the renowned Huitong notation in the capital had Shanxi merchants backing it, while the Maochang notation had Yangzhou merchants backing it, supposedly. Each native bank had its own unique anti-counterfeit measures. On the one Lu Lingxi held, the characters had all been made with an ink that had special materials in it, and as long as it was placed under sunlight, the writing could show off its luster that differed from common ink. There was also a half-seal on the note, which would be matched up with the stub on the banks end to form a full seal. Hearing that amount, Tang Fan recalled that when he had been investigating the Marquis Wuan Estate case, Jubilances Miss Qingyi had been worth a few thousand taels. Since that was the case, was his own current worth about two top-names at Jubilance? Thinking such, Mister Tang, who had some sort of slight deficiency in his brain, started laughing. Brother Tang, why are you laughing? Lu Lingxi asked inquisitively. While smiling, Tang Fan recalled the memory to them. The Marquis Wuan Estate case? I know something of that, Lu Lingxi said. I heard that there was a huge row, and they verified that there was more than one group that killed Zheng Cheng. Tang Fan nodded. Thats a correct assessment. One group was his little brother and concubine collaborating, the other was his primary wife buying off a prostitute from Jubilance to kill him. Though, after his death, it was difficult to identify the cause of his sudden demise, and perhaps it originated from both sides. Sins from past lives must have caught up to him; not only did his brother want him dead, but even his wife did. Being in such a situation is much too tragic. So you were the one the judged that case! Lu Lingxi exclaimed, excited. Ive heard of it before. The Estate had believed that he had passed of too much lust, while an official later staunchly searched through layers of clues to find both groups of killers. Turns out that official was you! That case had been the first bizarre, noteworthy one Tang Fan had had since starting off on his career path, but it was not the one he had become famous for. It was not surprising that Lu Lingxi hadnt known. Tang Fan smiled and shook his head at him. Actually, Marquis Wuan was not as incompetent as you might be imagining. He knew that there was something fishy about his sons cause of death, but he didnt want implications that were too far-reaching, so he wanted to just settle the situation and its people down. I was young and reckless at the time, insisting upon shining a light upon the case, and had turmoil come up from behind. The Estate lost a son and a daughter-in-law because of me. When its people see me nowadays, they straight-up take a detour. My career path having several ups and downs is inextricable from me throwing rocks at them while they were down. Regardless of why the decedent died or what he did while he lived, getting to the truth was something that should have been done. Whatever their attitude is has no bearing on whether you did something wrong, Brother Tang. You didnt. Tang Fan stared at him deeply for a moment, then nodded with a smile. Youre right. I didnt. In the others eyes, there looked to be a confirmation of his attitude, approval of his viewpoint, and a barely-there sense of knowing him well. This caused Lu Lingxis pulse to quicken, his mood instantly lifting up high. So, someone like you is soft on the outside, tough on the inside the more complicated a situation gets, the more others menace you, and even though you seem to draw back, in reality, youve long had a plan in mind. Tang Fan grinned. Tell me, then. What is my plan? Lu Lingxi wasnt sure what was wrong with him, but every single time the other smiled at him like that, he would unwittingly go dumbstruck seeing it, and he would not snap out of it until Tang Fan spoke again. Display weakness to let your opponent relax their guard, then secretly go back to investigate what you want to. Tang Fans eyes betrayed his praise. He had not met many youths that were as intelligent as Lu Lingxi before. Others going unmentioned, his former brother-in-law had been known as a child prodigy in his youth, and his intellect had definitely been no lesser than Lu Lingxis, but the latters praiseworthy areas lied within his strong abilities to learn and adapt. Because of his travels, he was also far more experienced than scholars who were shut up in their homes, capable of both literary and martial feats with a more open-minded thought process. No wonder Huai En had recommended that he help. There had likely been the thought to have Tang Fan help guide him, too; after all, no matter how valued Huai En was in the imperial family, he was just a eunuch, and there were many things that were inconvenient for him to do. Letting Lu Lingxi forge a connection with Tang Fan would aid in the formers future career growth. No matter what else, Tang Fan did indeed get a mind to cherish a talent. Correct. He wasnt going to keep him in suspense anymore. It looks to be that Yang Ji is now on Chen Luans side. His words were wrapped with intent to exempt Chen Luan from responsibility. Patrolling Censors have huge authority, but their positions arent high, and Jiangnan is wealthy, but Yang Ji did not come from a wealthy family. Him easily taking out ten thousand taels of silver to bribe me with is clearly not possible, so that banknote had to have been taken from Chen Luan to give to me. Qian Sanr was confused. Since theyre in the same group, why did they denounce each other? Maybe the two of them didnt get along before, and are now colluding? Lu Lingxi guessed. Or they want Brother Tang to speak nicely of them in front of His Majesty? Even though he was smart and had seen much of the world, he was not actually in officialdom, having not much grasp on the twists and turns inside it. Tang Fan shook his head. Theres no need for baseless guesses right now. Qian Sanr will stay in the posthouse tonight. Yiqing, youll go with me to a place. Qian Sanr scratched his head. Dont you have dinner with Yang Ji tonight? Tang Fan side-eyed him. Itll be after. Lu Lingxi already understood Tang Fans plan, grinning while rubbing his palms. Good idea, Brother! When night just fell, Tang Fan sent someone to invite Yang Ji over, then footed the bill in having a posthouse worker buy a good feast from outside. He spoke and drank with Yang Ji alone, never about serious business, but trite affairs. Yang Ji had an unsullied name fond of not wealth, but reputation alone and Tang Fan could make out as much; two out of his every three sentences didnt stray from his appreciation of the common good, incorruptibleness, and frankness. He spoke until he had a floaty air about him, even. Under the wines assistance, he seemed to view himself as having become a savior that pulled the commonfolk out of all sorts of perils and set them upon those bedmats, and that without him, the Great Ming Dynasty would have been sunk into a situation it couldnt get out of, and would need a competent official to come save it. Still, he did not forget his goal. Availing himself of a drinking interval, he had to ask, Did you ever read this humble officials memorial, Sir? Tang Fan smiled, looking satisfied. I did. Its well-written. To those not in the know, they were genuinely speaking of the memorial, but in reality, Yang Jis implication was, Did you get the banknote folded into it? Is the amount to your liking?, while Tang Fans implication was, I did, and it is. Then, he heard Tang Fan say, I personally went to look at Wujiang. Magistrate Chen really did do the utmost of his responsibilities. Meanwhile, the Suzhou Magistrate, ever since I came here, has only paid a visit to me once, even avoiding me when I came to his door. It was uniquely detestable if the amount of provisions allocated to Wujiang wasnt enough, he likely wont be able to shirk his connection to that. As he had expressed his stance, Yang Ji finally relaxed. You are wise, Sir. Magistrate Hu covers the sky with one hand, and everything in Suzhou is his final say. My position is humble, with what Im able to do ultimately limited; now that youre here, I finally have a pillar of support. I am willing to send a memorial up with you rather than leave you to fight the war alone. Tang Fan laughed. Alright, come on. Drink, drink! With an atmosphere like this, their dinner was the utmost of enjoyable. Yang Ji had a moderate amount of alcohol, yet he was getting poured some by Tang Fan over and over again, and before the banquet was done, he fell headfirst under the table. Tang Fan staggered to his feet and pulled him up. Brother Huimin? Yang Ji gave a barely-audible mumble, not even lifting his eyelids. Tang Fan reached out to support him, then accidentally stumbled a little, pressing most of his weight down onto Yang Ji. The other still didnt make a peep. How drunk he was was self-evident. Tang Fan narrowed his eyes for a short time. Seeing that he really had drunk himself into a puddle of mush, he gently rapped on the table. A moment later, people pushed the door open from outside Lu Lingxi and Qian Sanr. Tang Fan said nothing, only lifting his chin. The other two got it; Qian Sanr helped Yang Ji up and walked out, simultaneously saying, Sir Yang, this lowly one will bring you back to rest up! Lu Lingxi came over to support Tang Fan, meanwhile, whispering, Yang Ji only has one boyservant at his side, and if he has to look after him, he definitely wont have the spare time to care about us. Qian Sanr will pretend that youre still in the posthouse on his end. As for the people watching us, theres only two outside right now, and theyll be easy to shake off. We wont go through the rear entrance later on, but jump straight over the wall. Lips pursed, Tang Fan whispered, I wont be jumping over any walls. The other pinched his waist. No worries, Im here. Where are you putting your hand? Take it away, Tang Fan coughed. How could I carry you if I took it away? Lu Lingxi asked innocently. Dont talk so much, youre still drunk and need to get that noticed! Saying so, he slightly raised his volume. Sir, relax a little, watch your step hey! Sir, Im not your Chunr! Dont rub my waist, that tickles! Tang Fan rolled his eyes. That night, Tang Fan and Yang Ji had gotten massively drunk, and didnt part for sleep until late in the evening, likely not about to get up before the sun was high in the sky tomorrow. On another end, two people disguised as ordinary civilians departed the posthouse in secret, heading for Wujiang County. The gate of the county capital was closed at night, never to be opened unless there was an urgent military situation. The pair had no interest in climbing the gates; stuff like that only showed up in stories and legends, as the reality was that the act was way too troublesome, and very easy to notice. For that reason, they quietly walked all the way to the outside of the city, mixed in with the citizens that wanted to enter in the morning, and peacefully waited for the gates to be opened. They wore coarse clothes that looked no different from those of ordinary peoples, but their appearances and presences would not change because of what they were wearing. Their faces would stick out when standing amongst ordinary people, and they had just been to Wujiang in the daytime, meaning that the guards at the gates might recognize them. Thus, Lu Lingxi had slightly modified their looks, drawing their eyebrows on thicker, making their complexions waxy yellow, pasting facial hair on, and adding some wrinkles to the forehead and corners of the eyes so that they werent too remarkable-looking, and no one would be able to recognize them. Tang Fan was unfamiliar with this trick. Is this face-changing? Lu Lingxi shook his head. This isnt in the same vein as face-changing, but similar to how a woman does makeup. The face-changing technique is more refined, as in addition to changing ones face, they could change their hair, figure, and even go from male to female or female to male. That would have some genuine unfathomability. Tang Fan recalled how Li Man had noiselessly swapped identities with his son and fled disaster, then also recalled how Li Zilong had disguised himself as Chuyun-zi, and nodded. Thats true. Lu Lingxi looked at Tang Fan. He had changed skin tone and gained a beard, but that actually gave him some allure. It could be imagined that when Tang Fan grew a beard for real and regained his look of a pale-faced scholar, he would be even more handsome than he was now. Still, Brother Tang, even when you look like this, you look good. Tang Fan glared at him. Dont always be speaking so irreverently to your elders, sprout! Im your father! They were currently disguised as a father and son. As Tang Fan had a mature bearing, he could pretend to be a middle-aged man with a beard. Lu Lingxi wouldnt be able to do that no matter how he disguised himself, so he could only stick to his true colors. His present appearance wasnt as handsome as it had been before, but his sallow complexion made him seem a few years younger, like an impoverished lad who had been undernourished for a long period of time. He smiled at that, leaning in close to Tang Fan. Dad, we both have the same qing in our courtesy names. Is that not a karmic tie from a previous life? They were standing at the base of a wall with other commoners beside them. In order to not draw attention, they were quite close, with Tang Fan nearly able to feel the others warm breath whenever he spoke. This was straight-up, bare-naked flirting! Tang Fan had no idea how to react, unsure of whether to get mad or be amused. He stroked his bread, completely serious. Guair, why say that? That were father and son is obviously a karmic tie from a previous life. Your dad is a little tired from standing, so come massage my feet for me! He had thought that Lu Lingxi would draw back, but the bloke actually said okay with a grin, then reached out and kneaded Tang Fans waist. The latter smacked away his mitts. I said massage my feet, not knead my waist! Lu Lingxi blinked. Waists also get sore from standing for a long time, so that should be kneaded first. Your waist is thinner than mine, dad! Tang Fan was simply beside himself from how thick-skinned this guy was. Luckily, right then, the city gates finally, slowly opened. Tang Fan got serious, pulling down the conical hat on his head. We should do our job. Right. Lu Lingxi tactfully took his hand back, picked up his pole that had baskets loaded with pears on either end, then followed Tang Fan into the city. Afterwards, they found an unmanned alleyway, set down the baskets, and headed for the citys west. The citys west gate led to Lake Tai, yet Tang Fan had always gone through the east gate before this. Chen Luan leading him to examine the refugees had brought him to the citys south, while the citys west had never been approached. Now, Tang Fan was hidden from everyones eyes and ears, bringing Lu Lingxi here to personally check whether Chen Luan had lied or not. From a distance, they saw the gate of the citys west shut up tight, with soldiers patrolling around. When Tang Fan had ordered him to double back before, Lu Lingxi had already fully asked around. The actual settlement for the refugees ought to be outside the city. This gate is only for exiting, not entry. Following the disaster, plagues were rampant, and to avoid the spread, Chen Luan ordered for all those infected to be driven out of the city. They were settled together outside along with the refugees. They have only one meal of congee a day, and more and more die out there, so the authorities send people daily to collect the corpses. Because they worry that the bodies would spread the disease, they basically all get burned. When it came to handling plagues, authorities had always carried out the isolation method. Tang Fan couldnt nitpick that fault, but Chen Luan had known that he had come to patrol Wujiang and refused to bring him to see the actual settlement site of the refugees, instead putting on a charade and trying to get his mouth sealed up via Yang Ji. There had to be something else off with this. Since youve said that, will it be difficult for us to go out and take a look? Tang Fan asked. Lu Lingxi shook his head. The opposite; itll be really easy. We can mix in with the people collecting the bodies, and those officials responsible for the collection. Pretty much no one wants to take on the task, so they even hire people to do it. The soldiers guarding the city, too as long as no refugees want to get in, they wont care. Follow me. He brought Tang Fan to the county bureau, and they went into the sidehouse next to it, where several people were sitting in a circle, drinking tea, and chatting. The instant they entered, Lu Lingxi smiled ingratiatingly. Gents, weve come for some jobs! One amongst them munched on melon seeds. Jobs? Theres only one job: go out of the city and burn corpses, thirty coins per trip. Are you doing it? Yes, yes! Thank you for your great kindness, Mister! Lu Lingxi hurriedly answered. The other sized them up. Their postures were bowed, heads lowered. He huffed in satisfaction, clapping his hands and saying to his companions, You all keep talking. Save some melon seeds for me and dont eat them all, Ill be right back! Then, he said to Lu Lingxi and Tang Fan, Come with me! They followed him all the way to the west gate, convening with a group that was already waiting there. Beside them were some flatbed carts with firewood stacked in them, as well as a few sets of cloth wraps. You lot remember that whenever youre dragging corpses, you need to wear these wraps that cover your mouth and nose, the bureau clerk said to them. You cant touch the corpses directly. Come back immediately after youre done burning. Im giving you all one shichen; any later, and the gates wont open. Clearly, it was not the first time these other folks had done something like this. Everyone just agreed. The clerk left after his explanation. Tang Fan and Lu Lingxi pushed one of the carts, following the rest out of the city. The gate was a boundary line. In the wake of its slow opening, Tang Fan saw a world completely unlike that of what was inside the city. That was to say, the underworld had come to the living world. In the open areas outside, scattered all about, sitting or laying down, were densely-packed people all over. Some were groaning, and some had their eyes tightly shut, but without a single exception, their faces were entirely blank. Even if they saw Tang Fans group dragging away the corpses of their relatives right next to them, they didnt move at all. Their eyes just vacuously flitted over them, remaining at an imaginary distance. This was the true resettlement site. There were no doctors, no medicines. The total number of refugees from both Wujiang and Wu had to have added up to several thousands, but in this moment, there couldnt be more than one thousand here. A lot of them had likely died prior to this. Their sole hope was a small amount of daily congee delivered by the authorities using a basket hanging from the gate, but it wasnt enough for everyone to eat. In the rush, those infected or physically weak would be the first to get washed out. Due to being worn down day after day, having only a faint hope of being able to survive this, many refugees had lost their fighting spirit for charging the gates or their thoughts to leave, only able to wait for death to welcome them. The issue was that if there had been enough congee and medicine to begin with, none of this would have happened. In other words, Chen Luan, in his governance, had not elected to appease the refugees, but had instead left them alone to die and survive as they would. This was the truth that he hadnt wanted Tang Fan to know. As more and more people died, after not too long a time, the evidence here would be erased forever. Chen Luan had deceived the Court, Yang Ji had assisted him in the abuse, and Hu Wenzao had kept quiet. If even Tang Fan sent a memorial saying that all was well, no one in the future would ever know what had taken place here. Everything before Tang Fan deeply shocked him. Never before had he seen a local official be so brazen. On one side, he was working in tandem with Yang Ji, striving to manufacture the illusion that he had already done all he could to help, while on the other side, he was slaughtering the commoners under his jurisdiction, in a way that didnt use blades. CH 115 The job was unexpectedly smooth-going, because whenever Tang Fan and the rest dragged a corpse away and burned it, those remaining didnt try to block them, just watching numbly, motionless. They didnt even have the strength to stand up, even though their own relatives were amongst the bodies. After finishing all of this, Tang Fan and Lu Lingxi took off the cloth wraps on their hands and masks on their faces, burned them, then followed the others back to the city. After checking over their names and identities, the soldiers let them back into the city, and gave each person thirty coins of payment. Once they left the city gate and confirmed that no one had noticed them, the two left from an alley and headed straight for the citys south, where Chen Luan had brought Tang Fan for a look yesterday. Even though all of his conjectures had already been confirmed with what he had personally seen and experienced, he still had to make this trip. As expected, when they approached the monastery, yesterdays neatly-organized charity hall was emptied out. Even the straw mats and blankets that had been laid on the ground were completely gone, to say nothing of the figures of the refugees. That alleged proper settlement of the refugees had been a sham from beginning to end, a sham made for the imperial ambassador sent by the Court. No matter how cunning Chen Luan was, Tang Fan had still found his faint clues, and got to see the truth that he wanted. In this moment, however, instead of having any elation in his heart, it had all been replaced with sky-soaring fury. His usual warm and elegant smile had completely gone from his face. He quietly watched the empty, not-too-far-away charity hall, neither joy nor anger distinguishable on him, but anyone that got close enough would be able to sense a cold and intimidating aura coming off of him. Lu Lingxi had had no clue that the ever-approachable Tang Fan could give such a chilling look. Right when he thought to say something, the other turned and walked away. He was startled, hurrying to catch up. Brother Tang, were now? Going back to Wu, Tang Fan answered concisely. It was natural that they had to go back. They had come here disguised like this precisely to not draw anyones attention; even though they had uncovered the truth, what use was there in running off to Chen Luan now? Were the other to confess on the spot, he could still later renege on his confession in a memorial. Furthermore, with how sly he was, he would definitely not fess up outright, and because there was no way that Tang Fan could drag the Emperor himself to come see all of this, it was similarly impossible for him to see what he had seen. And, between him and the Emperor, there was a partition of thousands of mountains and bodies of water, as well as many human affairs and variables. Thus, Tang Fan needed to find evidence, in the form of either people or objects. That would be difficult, of course. On the road back, he didnt say a word, thinking of this the whole time as his mind raced. When they returned to Wu, Lu Lingxi noticed that the corners of his mouth were still drawn back, giving him a slightly icy look. Brother Tang, how about I return to the capital and report this to Eunuch Huai, and have him think of something? he helped suggest. Hes a favorite of His Majesty, and has his deep confidence. Maybe hell believe him. Tang Fans lips drew up, showing a curve that couldnt count as a smile. At first look, it seemed a bit mocking, but it wasnt directed at Huai En. That wont work. Even if I spend half a month drawing up what I saw for the Emperor to see, the outcome would not be within our control. Lu Lingxi was astonished. Why? Someone will block it, Tang Fan answered coldly. Even if Eunuch Huai personally gives a full account for us, it would have no use? Lu Lingxi couldnt understand. He regarded Huai Ens position and innate importance as too high and heavy, having no idea that there were occasions where he had no power. Huai En is just one person. He could talk to His Majesty once or twice at best, but his counterparts? Chen Luans uncle is the Nanjing Minister of Revenue, and his department controls nearly half of the Great Mings taxed grains, as well as salt permits. Do you think that the Wan party would allow someone thats at odds with them sit in such a position? Chen Luan has no scruples because hes not only supported by his uncle, but knows that even if I expose him, nothing may end up happening. Also, Wu Zong and Zeng Pei didnt hesitate to warn me before reaching Suzhou that theyre keeping track of my whereabouts is that merely because of the gifts Jiangnan merchants have given to the Eastern Depot? Shang Ming is not happy to help other people to this extent. There has to be involvements and connections to the Eastern Depot within this. With so many people speaking in unison before His Majesty, do you believe that hell listen to them, or Huai En alone? Sentence after sentence, he questioned Lu Lingxi into speechlessness. It was currently the end of spring and start of summer. The warm breeze was gentle, yet his body was full of cold sweat. He stared at Tang Fan in a daze. For some reason, his nose suddenly ached a little, and he quickly bowed his head, blinking away the soreness in his eyes. He had once faced off against dozens of mountain bandits alone in a perilous situation and had not felt much from his injuries then, but now that he was seeing Tang Fans profile, an indescribable melancholy arose from the bottom of his heart. All he wanted to do was cry his eyes out. For Tang Fan, and for his difficult path. Lu Lingxi had never known that being a good official and wanting to do a good thing would be so difficult. He was quiet for a long while, then asked, Then are we still investigating? Yes, Tang Fan answered automatically. Why wouldnt we? Lu Lingxi furrowed his brows. Could we even fight against them? Tang Fan smiled. We havent tried yet. How would we know? Within such banal words, there was a fighting spirit that could move the soul. Affected by his smile, Lu Lingxi suddenly sighed. Brother Tang, I finally understand why Eunuch Huai had me come find you. Tang Fan turned his head, as if able to see what the other was thinking. Yiqing, you could choose to be a wealthy gentleman, or you could choose to travel the land, becoming a hermit that cares not for the mundane world. However, if you later walk into officialdom, I hope that you dont choose the paths of Chen Luan, Yang Ji, or Hu Wenzao. Lu Lingxi cupped his hands solemnly. I will definitely not fail your expectations! He had believed that Huai En had sent him to Tang Fan in a wish for him to help protect him using his skills. Later on, he had further felt that in all the scheming and running about at Tang Fans side, he really had been a great help to him. However, he hadnt truly understood Huai Ens intent up until now it was not only for him to help Tang Fan, but more so for him to learn from Tang Fan. Learn from others, learn from other places. Tang Fan must also know as much, yet he had never pointed it out, instead allowing him go everywhere. This made Lu Lingxi feel a little humbled, but in addition to that, there faintly arose an unspeakable admiration. The man before him had no martial arts, nor any strong backers, but he did have a stalwart mind that no one could compete with. Were he to accept the ten thousand taels and help cover up the disaster, he wouldnt need to do anything other than portray in a memorial that everything was fine. No one would cause trouble for him, and those refugees jumping up to reproach him would be even less likely. Yet he had still chosen the most difficult route. Lu Lingxi inhaled, his morale reignited because of Tang Fans words. Where do we investigate from now? No matter how strong a fortress is, it will have cracks. There is no such thing as genuine invincibility, it simply depends upon whether were willing to discover those cracks. In this case, someone that tied the bell up is needed to untie it. Lu Lingxi creased his brow and thought for a time. Chen Luan was a no-go, as he was strongly supported, and dared to lie to Tang Fans face despite only being a seventh-rank County Magistrate, not placing importance onto him at all. Yang Ji had helped Chen Luan give Tang Fan money, so he was obviously smoke from the same geyser. That only left Hu Wenzao? Tang Fan nodded. But didnt he avoid seeing you? Thats because he has no idea that hes been sacrificed, Tang Fan answered mildly. He acted dumb because he didnt want to offend Chen Luan. Now that Chen Luan and Yang Ji are going to push him out to be the scapegoat, will he keep sitting still? The sky had brightened, the amount of people watching the outside of the posthouse gradually increasing. It was impossible for them to stealthily slip back in using their original method, so Tang Fan simply kept wearing his coarse clothes and conical hat, then openly entered the main gate with Lu Lingxi. They were stopped by the door guard. Tang Fan removed his hat; his counterpart could still recognize him, stammering out, S-Sir?! It was not only him, but the spies watching the outside of the posthouse that were greatly shocked. No one knew how Tang Fan and Lu Lingxi had managed to sneak out from right under their noses, nor where they had come back from. Tang Fan grinned at the posthouse soldier. Its me. Whats wrong? Can I not go in? The soldier quickly moved out of the way. Nonono! If you please! Seeing the two enter, the guard scratched his head, wondering to himself what that was all about. Did the other have some kind of strange hobby that wasnt appropriate for a proper official to have, so he wandered out in the clothes of the commonfolk? If he could be an official, he would have to wear his officials robes all his life, not even talking them off in sleep! Back at the posthouse, Qian Sanr came over to report. Sir, Yang Ji still hasnt woken up, and neither Zeng Pei nor Wu Zong have left. What about Hu Wenzao? Did he come? Tang Fan asked. No. Tang Fan laughed coldly on the inside. That Hu Wenzao had no idea that he was on the brink of death. He spoke no nonsense. Help me change my clothes, I need to go on a trip. You havent slept all night! Where are you going? Cant you do it after you rest? Qian Sanr quickly asked. Tang Fan shook his head. Its too late. Time is of the essence. Those people will definitely report to Chen Luan that we went out, and they might do something to Hu Wenzao. I want to win him over as quickly as possible. Using the hot water Qian Sanr brought over, he washed the makeup off of his face, restored his original looks, switched into normal clothes, then headed out. Lu Lingxi had already come to recognize Tang Fans tireless look when it came to proper business. Sighing inwardly, he hurriedly followed after him. The two found the prefectural bureau. It was daybreak, and today was an off day, so Hu Wenzao was still sleeping in the rear hall of the bureau. Tang Fan didnt wait for anyone to make a report, directly bringing out his imperial ambassadors token, breaking in with Lu Lingxis protection, and going straight for the rear hall. Hu Wenzao was sound asleep, until a womans shriek unexpectedly came from beside him. In his haze, it sounded a little familiar to him, as if it were his concubines voice. His eyelids twitched, striving to open a crack, and he saw that someone appeared to be standing beside his bed. He had no idea what idiot would come to disturb his slumber. Even before his eyes were fully opened, he dimly rebuked, Who dares barge in here? Get out! You really live a comfortable life, Magistrate Hu. Even this Tang feels inferior! the other party mocked, rather than get scared away. That voice Hu Wenzao felt it to be inexplicably familiar. That was, until his concubine yelled out in ashamed anger. You pervert! Didnt you hear what he said?! Get out! Hu Wenzao was annoyed, crawling up from the bed. Once he got a good look at who was in front, though, he completely woke up. C-Censor Tang! He looked flustered, anger and embarrassment mixing together. How can you burst in here without the owners consent?! Tang Fan said nothing, only looking at him calmly, until Hu Wenzao avoided his line of sight out of guilt. A minute later, he finally remembered that his rank was equal to the other partys, and he didnt need to be so fearful. Tang Fans hands were behind his back. I came to save your life, Magistrate Hu. The latter was struck dumb. Please dont be alarmist, Censor Tang! What is this nonsense about my life being in danger?! Tang Fan laughed with an unclear meaning. Drag everyone unrelated out of here. That sentence was for Lu Lingxi, and it received a thorough implementation. He dragged the concubine with messy clothes off of the bed, then pushed her out the door. During this entire process, Hu Wenzao could only shout ineffective stuff like, What are you two trying to do? What are you actually trying to do?! Lu Lingxi seemed to hear none of it, and after finishing, he conscientiously shut the rooms door, then stood guard. No one would be getting in before Tang Fan came out. Okay, its quiet. Now we can sit down and talk business. Tang Fan sat down in a grandmaster chair. Talk what business? Hu Wenzao wasnt even in clothes, how could he talk business?! He viciously mocked the other in his heart, naturally not having any nice expression on. Anyone who had been sleeping pleasantly, then been barged in on and disturbed would also likely not look any better. Im not sure what you wish to talk about, Censor Tang? he asked coldly. I was ordered to come down south to inspecting Wujiangs famine from last year. As Suzhous Magistrate, youve hidden away, not only not reporting to me, but also making a lot of oversights. If I submit the truth to the Court, what effect do you think that will have? Hu Wenzao was unmoved. This Magistrate already allocated the provisions in a timely matter. Anything else is the responsibility of Wujiangs Magistrate. Why not go and ask him? His attitude of deflecting responsibility was quite common, but since Yang Ji and Chen Luan were working together to do him in, it looked rather moronic. Tang Fan laughed. I already inspected Wujiang yesterday. Do you know what Magistrate Chen said to me? Hu Wenzao didnt answer. Not minding, Tang Fan took it upon himself to continue. He first brought me to see the citys charity hall. He set it up nicely, with all the refugees properly settled in. The sole less-than-perfect thing was that there were only three days worth of provisions left, and the county granary was already emptied. He didnt ignore this, planning to get grains from wealthy merchants to help the refugees overcome this difficulty, but he did tell me that the reason why provisions werent enough is that Suzhou Prefecture only allocated thirty shi to Wujiang. Hu Wenzaos eyes instantly widened. Tang Fans line of sight imperceptibly passed over his face. You dont believe me? I also didnt believe him, but he showed me his grain registry, which clearly had thirty shi on it. He also said that if you hadnt given such a minor amount, disaster relief would have been enough. Bollocks! Hu Wenzao couldnt hold back anymore, slapping a table and standing up with a bang. If the other hadnt said so, he would have had no idea how death would come to him. Censor Tang, thirty shi isnt even enough for the annual salary of an unranked official! How could I have done such a thing?! The provisions Suzhou allocated was clearly three-thousand shi! He had the grains registry to prove it. What do you have? Tang Fan countered indifferently. I have a grains registry too! the other raged. Whenever provisions are moved, it always gets recorded! Where is it? Come, follow! Hu Wenzao loudly called. Magistrate Hu, the weather is warm, but it seems to be a little indecorous to meet guests while wearing only inner robes, doesnt it? Tang Fan kindly reminded him. Hu Wenzao then realized that he hadnt put on clothes, angrily and abashedly putting on an outer robe, shoes, and socks, cursing out Tang Fan and Chen Luan an unknown amount of times in his head. A servant came in from outside. You were looking for this lowly one, Lord? Get Auditor Liao to bring the grains registry over! The servant agreed and left. Calling someone required some time. Taking advantage of this interval, Tang Fan asked, After returning to Wu, I secretly went back in disguise and discovered many refugees outside of the citys west. Their clothes were threadbare, and they looked like the living dead. Starving victims were everywhere, plague was rampant. You ought to know whats going on there? This humble official has no idea what youre talking about, Sir, Hu Wenzao refused to admit. Tang Fan did not get angry. If you dont speak now, I might not be willing to listen when you want to speak later. Hu Wenzao still did not say anything. The room was immediately immersed in an abnormal silence. A short time later, Auditor Liao hurried over. Mister Magistrate! He looked at Tang Fan. He had been present when Hu Wenzao had led the welcoming committee, so he recognized him. Greetings, Censor Tang! Tang Fan nodded slightly, saying nothing, but Hu Wenzao couldnt hold back. Wheres the registry? Did you bring it?! I did, but theres a lot of them, and I left them outside. Did you want to look? Cut the nonsense! This Magistrate asked you if you have the registry where what was allocated to Wujiang was recorded! Yes, yes! You want to read that section? Go find it, now! Please wait a minute, Sirs! This humble official will go get it! He had transported all of the years registries over via cart. They were sorted according to time and region, so it was easy to find things. Not much time was needed for Auditor Liao to find the registry Hu Wenzao demanded. This is the registry for Wujiang last year. Please look it over, Sir. He flipped to one of the pages, then offered it up to Hu Wenzao. The latter nearly snatched the booklet. His eyes hurriedly swept it from top to bottom, then suddenly froze. What. Is. All. This?! He looked up in shock and fury, his gaze nearly swallowed Auditor Liao alive. The other had no idea, so he leaned over to see, apprehensive. Sir, I dont know what the issue is here? It was clearly three-thousand shi! Why did it change into thirty shi?! Hu Wenzao roared. Where did the rest of the two-thousand, nine-hundred and seventy shi go?! Did you eat them? Huh?! Auditor Liao trembled. Youve accused me wrongly, Sir! You clearly ordered for thirty shi to be allocated. Where did three-thousand shi come from? The other nearly lost it. Suzhou Prefectures granary had a total of five-thousand shi last year in provisions! After allocating three-thousand, two-thousand is left! If it was thirty shi, then the granary will have more than four-thousand left! This Magistrate will go take a look now! If there isnt more than four-thousand shi in there, you can wait for your black hat to leave along with your head! Auditor Liao looked at him like he was looking at a nutcase. Did you remember it wrong, Sir? Suzhous granary had ten-thousand, five-hundred and thirty shi last year. Amongst that, the ten-thousand five-hundred was handed over to Nanjing, then to the Dynasty. The remaining thirty shi was given to Wujiang. The granary currently has nothing in it. Where did two-thousand shi come from? Hu Wenzao glared at him, chest heaving nonstop. Im going to see for myself! Also, bring the grain registry with! Auditor Liao brought them to the prefectural granary, ordering someone to open its main door. The instant it was, Hu Wenzao pushed the crowd away like he was mad, rushing in. Every wall was bare, not even a single grain of rice on the floor. It really was an empty granary. Hu Wenzao bellowed, then snatched the grains registry that Auditor Liao passed over. Sure enough, what was written on it was exactly what the other had claimed before. He stared blankly. He wasnt thinking at all that he was going insane, or that his memory was wrong. Chen Luan! Chen Luan!! Chen Luan!!! That name was madly circulating his mind, nearly devouring him whole. He slowly raised his head, staring at Auditor Liao maliciously. That dark look in his eyes made the other subconsciously take a few steps back. Liao Shouchang, you sure are great! Hu Wenzao spat out each word from his mouth with deep rancor. His eyes were shot red, as if he was about to throw himself at him and take him down with him. Auditor Liao forced out a smile. This humble official has no idea what youre talking about, Sir. Tang Fan wanted to laugh hearing that. Not too long ago, Hu Wenzao had used that sentence to cut him off, and now someone else had gone down the same road of doing it to him. Feng shui really did revolve. And he really did laugh out loud. That laugh seemed to suddenly affect Hu Wenzao. He did a full-body jolt, coming back to his senses, looking at Tang Fan with an urgency and hope he had never had before. Brother Runqing, can we discuss this somewhere private? He was quite anxious, but Tang Fan was not. Hands behind his back, he answered leisurely, Discuss what? What else do we need to discuss? Dont you not know what Im talking about? Hu Wenzaos face flashed green and white. I failed to recognize Mount Tai before. Please dont stoop to my level, Brother, I really do have a hundred thousand urgent matters to report to you! Please give me just a short moment of your time! Tang Fan pretended to think it over. Eyes sweeping over Auditor Liao, who was looking all over the place with an uneasy expression, he gave Lu Lingxi a look. Understanding him, Lu Lingxi went right behind Auditor Liao, and squeezed him at his nape at lightning speed. The other immediately collapsed, limp. Lu Lingxi cried out in alarm. What happened to you, Sir?! Is the granarys airflow so bad that you passed out? This lowly one will help you to bed! With that, not waiting for anyone to stop him, he picked the man up and walked up, unsure of where exactly to bring him. Hu Wenzao quit losing it at last, reacting with a shout at his confidantes. Come and get this place under control! Everyone is to be taken out of here! Finishing with that, he turned to Tang Fan, looking faintly pleading. Sir? Tang Fan finally nodded a bit. The two returned to the rear hall of the bureau. The area was the same as before, the people were the same as before, yet the mood was not the same as before. Were it to be said that Tang Fan had wanted to pry open Hu Wenzaos mouth prior to this, the active and passive spots were now inverted. Tang Fan didnt give him much time to revise his thoughts. Speak. I dont have much patience. Hu Wenzao was quiet for a moment, then took a deep breath. All of this is Chen Luans plot. The authors mini-theatre: The author meows out righteously: A truly handsome dreamboat wouldnt need another mans contrast behind his back. Sui Zhou slowly draws his spring-gilt sabre Following a cold light The author dies. Novel over. Wang Zhi: == Shit. This guy hasnt had enough screen time yet! CH 116 When the famine happened last year, Wu and Wujiang were both wrecked by Lake Tai overflowing. At the start, we at Suzhou wanted to allocate a thousand shi of provisions, then leave the remaining two-thousand for Wu, but Chen Luan told me that he hoped that I could allocate three-thousand shi to Wujiang. He could help me pacify the refugees in Wu, and in that way, all of them would be congregated in Wujiang. As for Wu, it wouldnt receive any impact, and that would be beneficial for my reputation. Tang Fan raised a brow. You believed that he would kindly help resolve your issue for no real reason? Hu Wenzao smiled painfully. Of course I didnt, but his uncle is the Nanjing Minister of Revenue. You cant look at just the monks face, but also the Buddhas I anticipated that he might embezzle grains to sell to merchants and make staggering profits, but I never expected that he would be so unreasonable as to not even leave a small amount of grains for the refugees. He even collaborated with Yang Ji to push all the responsibility onto me! Brother Runqing, you have to pull me up instead of get led around by the nose! That isnt right, is it? Tang Fan suddenly asked. The other was caught off guard. What isnt right? Tang Fan leaned back in his chair. From a night of no sleep, his energy was a little lacking and voice a little hoarse, but his expression was still relaxed. Brother Hu, we are open people that dont speak in secret words. You just shouted your throat raw about being innocent and indignant you, as Suzhous Magistrate, had someone switch three-thousand shi out for thirty shi right under your nose, yet you didnt notice at all. Tell me, should I believe that? To say nothing of me, you likely dont even believe it yourself, right? At this point, Chen Luan and Yang Ji want to shove you out to be their meat shield. You only have two roads you can pick between: the first is that you can work with me, and the second is that you can continue to say nonsense with your eyes wide open, where I only need to stand by and watch with my hands in my sleeves while those two shove all sorts of blame onto you. No matter what, it would be someone elses problem, and the one with the bleak end would definitely not be me. Hu Wenzaos expression was unsightly. His lips were opening and closing, as if he wanted to argue, but ultimately couldnt say anything. All he could do was sit there, dejected, even hunching over a bit more than typical, the desolate aura of being at a dead-end coming off of his whole body. Tang Fan didnt have the least bit of sympathy, though. The day this man had said nothing was the day he should have expected to be cast away like a pawn. When in officialdom, one couldnt solely think about getting promoted and getting rich. They should also be ready to lose their posts, or even their heads. I said before to just say what you need to. I dont have that much patience. If you wont explain, I still have other channels for checking, Tang Fan said, then stood in preparation to leave. Wait! Hu Wenzao quickly called out to him. Ill talk! Ill talk! Tang Fan turned to look at him. If I act as a witness and expose them, can you ensure that when Chen Luans group is pulled off its horse, Ill be safe? Tang Fan loathed his behavior of still trying to bargain while on the brink of death, but for the sake of the situation at large, he had to say, Of course. You likely dont know that the youth with me was sent to help me by Eunuch Huai, of His Majestys side. Hu Wenzao was slightly moved. You mean to say that His Majesty already knows about this? Correct, Mister Tang lied without a change in expression. Ive already sent report of Chen Luan and Yang Ji obeying no law and deceiving the monarch. Now, I just need to gather up more evidence. If you ware willing to abandon the darkness to turn towards the light, I will plead on your behalf in the future, and ask that the Court punish you lightly. You might not be able to continue being Suzhous Magistrate, but your life and capital can at least be safeguarded. If it goes a little better, you might even be able to continue being an official. Hu Wenzao eyes shone. Tang Fans words had touched the bottom of his heart. To tell the truth, this He gulped, speaking with some difficulty. has some further inside information to it. Tang Fan raised a brow. Be more clear. Suzhou really did allocate three-thousand shi to Wujiang while Chen Luan secretly changed it to thirty I knew of this. At the time, he used his uncles name to pressure, threaten, and tempt me, saying that if I keep quiet and feign ignorance, Id get a thirty-percent cut of the profits gained from the three-thousand shi. If I refused to obey, Yang Ji would denounce me in regards to ineffectual disaster relief. I had no choice but to bend to their tyranny. It doesnt end there. We all knew that the Court would send an imperial ambassador this year to investigate how the disaster was going, and that Yang Ji might not be able to circumvent him. Thats why the two put on a joint show of denouncing each other, which had three goals: the first was to clear them of responsibility, the second was the demonstrate their respective stances to the Court, thus creating the false image that they werent cooperating, and the third was to laudably portray their complaints to the Court. When the time was right, as long as the imperial ambassador could be duped, this would be over, and everything would be fine. Since youve said that, when the Court had you all submit statements, did you already know this inside story? Hu Wenzao nodded. Yes. Chen Luan said that I only need to remain silent and claim that I didnt know. Once the imperial ambassador came, he would deal with it, and I wouldnt need to bother with anything. Tang Fan chuckled. Now Im here, yet they lied, shoving all the blame onto you! Hu Wenzao grit his teeth. If I had known before that they would do something like this, why would I ever play deaf and dumb?! Whats going on with the five-thousand shi you said was in the granary, then? After those three-thousand shi were given to Chen Luan, there genuinely was two-thousand shi left. I can honestly swear that Im not lying! But, as you also saw, there was not a single grain of rice left in there; the only possibility is that when Chen Luan requested three-thousand shi, he actually pulled all five-thousand clean out. Because I didnt want to cause trouble, I turned a blind eye to it, not even coming to the scene myself to check and they just exploited that! They even tampered with the grains registry! Theres no evidence at all now! I I They sold government grain to merchants? Yes. Because of the famine, food prices rose quickly. They sold the government grain at high prices, making enormous profits off of it, and only a small portion was used for disaster relief. Beneath Tang Fans lightly weary expression was a hidden coldness not easy to detect. And you knew all this well, sitting and watching on the sidelines as the refugees died of starvation and plague? Chen Luan told me that he would properly settle them, and had me move Wus refugees to the outside of Wujiang City I didnt know that he would treat them like that! Hu Wenzao quibbled. Tang Fan didnt want to get hung more up on this issue with him. You said that all of this was Chen Luans doing. Is there proof of that? If there was no proof, the chamberpot would end up upended over Hu Wenzaos head. In order to get rid of the unjust blame and ease his crime, Hu Wenzao was going to have to wring his brain juices dry to think. Chen Luans profits from selling the provisions were divided up to me using Maochang-notated banknotes. They total to about two-thousand taels. Could that be used as evidence? Tang Fan shook his head. The banknotes cant speak by themselves, as who knows where you got them from. At best, they could be used as auxiliary evidence. Keep thinking. Hu Wenzao was so dejected, it was hard to speak. He had to think of other things. The Emperor of Heaven didnt betray peoples hopes, as he actually did come up with something. Chen Luan would definitely have a grains registry with the correct number recorded, but I dont know where hes hiding it. If that registry can be gotten, that would be proof. Tang Fan nodded. That would be the most direct and effective proof, but the issue with that is that your own registry was tampered with by Auditor Liao. Its likely that only Chen Luan himself knows where such an important item is hidden. How would it be found? Hu Wenzao was dispirited. This wont do, that wont do what would you have me do? How would I know what to do? Tang Fan said with a smile, not taking responsibility. Youre the one thats in trouble, not me. If you want to save yourself, you need to think of a solution, though I do have a word of advice for you. Please say it, Hu Wenzao said, restraining his annoyance. Since theyve already thrown you out, they certainly wont pick you back up. Youre still of two minds, holding onto the notion that you can have one foot in each boat; youre cooperating with me here, yet youre still capitulating to Chen Luan there. If there isnt even enough left of you for a burial when the time comes, dont blame me for not warning you ahead of time. Getting his thoughts seen through, Hu Wenzaos face was scorching hot, and he forced out a smile. You think too little of me, Brother Runqing. I definitely am not like that! When all was said and done, he still hadnt decided upon completely falling out with Chen Luan, nor did he believe that Tang Fan would be able to defeat the others. As the common saying went, a strong dragon would find difficultly crushing a snake in its home environment and beyond that, Chen Luan was not really a native snake anymore, but a native dragon! Tang Fan stood. Itd be best if you werent. Your life is your own if you dont value yourself, no one else can help you. Hu Wenzao finally got scared. Brother, wait! Tang Fan stopped in his tracks. Youre right. Theres no taking back an arrow let loose from its bow, the other said, dejected. Now that Ive told you everything, that pretty much counts as a witness account. Chen Luan will never let me off. Im afraid that I could be met with an accident at any time; could you find a martial expert to protect me? Why, you decided to work with me at last? Are you not afraid that I cant beat Chen Luan? Tang Fan teasingly countered. Hu Wenzao smiled painfully. They all sold me out. If I still held on to hope for them, would I not be irredeemably stupid? Seeing that he was speaking from the heart, Tang Fan nodded. Thats good. Wait a bit, Ill find someone when I get back. Hu Wenzao became so frightened, he straight-up grabbed onto his clothes and wouldnt let him leave. What will I do when you leave? If you go out, theyll silence me on your heels! Then whatll happen?! Tang Fan wasnt sure how to react. Only now did this guy know to be afraid; how had he not been gotten rid of sooner? If you dont let me go, how can I find someone to protect you? Besides, no matter how quick Chen Luan reacts, hes are still in Wujiang. It would be impossible for him to get the news straightaway. No matter what was said, Hu Wenzao refused to let him go. Then Ill leave with you! Wherever you go, Ill go! That will only alert them further, Tang Fan scolded. I dont want you to die more than anyone else, so put yourself at ease! I, Tang Runqing, have never said anything that I couldnt fulfill before! Youre a stately fourth-rank Magistrate, too why feign being such a wimp? How scandalous! The other was scolded by this younger-than-him, of-the-same-rank official until he was worn-down and unable to speak, only able to let go of his clothes out of embarrassment. He now looked like a wronged little wife, which was worlds different from how he had been before. Tang Fan had no choice but to give him some words of comfort before he brought Lu Lingxi away. The latter had heard a bit from standing outside the door, and he asked, Brother Tang, why didnt you leave me to protect him? With me there, that would guarantee that no one would get the idea to attack him. Tang Fan shook his head. I have something more important for you to do. Hu Wenzaos knowledge isnt much, and there wouldnt be a huge difference whether Chen Luan silences him or not, so its unlikely that he would do anything like that. Still, for the sake of keeping him calm, Ill ask someone else to defend him using you would be like killing a chicken with a cow cleaver. Lu Lingxi felt a sweetness in his heart when he said that, and was unable to keep from smiling. However, a burst of clamor came from ahead a couple of dandies were harassing a maiden on the street. He gave them a careful look, then gasped. Isnt that the woman that fell into the water outside of Yangzhou City? It hadnt been clear that one night, but now that she was seen during the day, the womans beauty was even more striking she was practically so gorgeous, she could overturn a city. In addition to that, she was only accompanied by one maid, and was wearing no veil, so it was no wonder that she had attracted lechers. Lu Lingxi was responsible for Tang Fans safety, and he didnt want to be too nosy. Seeing that someone else was already stepping up to fight this injustice, he thought to take Tang Fan on a detour. However, the other said, Go on and save her. Lu Lingxi was caught off guard. Um? Seeing injustice on ones travels warrants the drawing of a blade to help. What happened to your heart of chivalry? But someone is already helping out, and those lechers arent too tough to deal with. In any case, the authorities will come soon A womans reputation is heavier than Mount Tai, and will be damaged if shes saved a little too late. Furthermore, we rescued her once before, and meeting another time is simply fate; go on and help her. Lu Lingxi was a little displeased, but couldnt argue, forced to step up and beat the lechers away. The pretty woman clearly recognized Tang Fan and him, not only gratefully thanking Lu Lingxi over and over again, but also coming over to thank Tang Fan herself. Thank you for your help, benefactors. You previously denied me getting onto your ship to thank you, yet weve met again today. I really cannot repay your grace in saving me twice, she said respectfully. Why dont you bring a few more people out with you? Tang Fan asked. You wont be able to escape by a fluke every time. This lowly womans parents passed early on, and my family has fallen. I had been planning to seek shelter with family in Suzhou, but since the famine from last year, my relatives have all been wiped out, not a one to be found, she answered sadly. I had to find somewhere to settle down in before anything else, and because my funds are shamefully low, I couldnt afford to keep many servants, and had to let a few people go. Now, I only have this maid left. A house with a leak in its roof will encounter several nights of rain your circumstances are truly lamentable, Tang Fan said, quite sympathetic. Tears filled her lashes, but she held back and didnt let them fall, instead turning her head, as if she didnt want him to see her sorry state. However, she had no idea that such a lovey pose could be all the more pitiable, and able to incite a mans protective instinct. No matter how much of a nobleman Tang fan was, he still fell within the category of male. Dare I ask your good name, Miss? She bowed. My surname is Xiao, and given the lone character Wu. As refreshingly beautiful and divinely charming as the frail and slender woman was, she ought to have been valued and favored by being hidden away in a cushy home, not coming out to suffer the wind and rain. Have you been able to find somewhere to live now, Miss Xiao? She bit her lip, shaking her head. Rent here is too expensive. Now, I Im Her voice became quieter and quieter, until she ultimately said nothing. Tang Fan wouldnt make her expose her difficulties, of course. If you have no place, you can stay in the posthouse for the time being, then find other accommodations as you see fit. Xiao Wu raised her head, staring blankly at Tang Fan. There was a look both grateful and conflicted in her eyes. Obviously, her self-esteem was wreaking havoc and she didnt want to accept others help, but her current situation was truly bad, putting her in a hard spot. Tang Fan didnt push. Prior to this, he had been rushing to the posthouse, but was now patiently waiting for her answer. Brother Tang, wouldnt having her there be inappropriate? Lu Lingxi had to ask, his volume not too loud, but just enough for Xiao Wu to hear. The latter flushed with embarrassment, immediately giving a bow with her hands overlapped in front of her, turning, and going to leave. In a rush, Tang Fan reached out and grabbed the hem of her clothes. Wait, Miss Xiao! This little borther of mine is young and speaks tactlessly. He wasnt actually aiming at you, its just that theres others at the posthouse, which are those other two that were on the boat with me that day, who youve seen before. My brother feared impinging upon you, is all. He wasnt being malicious, please dont think much on it! She bowed her head, wanting to take back her clothes, but he was holding on tightly. Her face slowly turned red, but it was not much like the embarrassed red of before. I-I wasnt thinking as much, but I dont want to cause you all further trouble He beamed. Theres no trouble, not a bit of it. Since its our second time meeting, this is fate. To you, these have been great favors, but to us, theyve taken no more effort than the lift of a hand. Please dont reject this. What effort? Youve clearly been entranced by beauty! Lu Lingxi mumbled in his head. No matter how pretty Xiao Wus looks were, they had turned into a disaster in his eyes. Still, as Tang Fan was insisting that she stay, he couldnt say anything more to prevent this, else he would be reducing Tang Fans standing. Seeing that Tang Fans intentions were sincere, and also being quite at a loss herself, Xiao Wu finally agreed to his proposal. This one has bothered you for days, Sir. This great kindness is something worthy of grateful tears. I dont know what to say. Tang Fan smiled. Then you dont have to say anything. This interlude was fairly long. By the time Tang Fans group returned to the posthouse in the city, it was nearly noon. Qian Sanr was waiting at the main gate, looking this way and that, face full of anger added with deep worry. The instant Tang Fan returned, he quickly stepped forth to report. Sir, youre finally back! Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, those two bastards Tang Fan waved his hand, stopping him from continuing. Being clever, Qian Sanr immediately noticed that this was the wrong place to speak in, quickly shutting up. Yiqing, take Miss Xiao and her to settle in first, Tang Fan said to Lu Lingxi. Xiao Wu didnt question much, merely thanking him repeatedly, then leaving with Lu Lingxi. Despite this, all along the way, her alarming beauty had long been attracting attention. Even Qian Sanr was distracted for a very long time before he could react, staring at her back and stuttering, S-Sir does that lady know you? On the night Tang Fan had helped Xiao Wu, Qian Sanr had been in the city to buy stuff, not present. This was the first time he had seen her true face, and was shocked by it. In the wake of Xiao Wus footsteps, many burning gazes landed upon her, but a government posthouse was just that, after all. Even if the woman was a nation-toppler, her safety could be ensured. However, were Tang Fans group to return to the capital one day, a frail woman like her really would incite much coveting, and her looks would often earn her misfortune. Tang Fan turned Qian Sanrs head around. Come with me to the room. Qian Sanr seemed to have just woken up from a dream. Tang fan had since strode towards his own little courtyard, going so quick, he was nearly uncatchable, totally unlike someone that had been running around for one day and night. Back in the room, Tang Fan didnt care to freshen up, immediately asking, What happened? While you were out, Suzhous merchant society sent someone to deliver a gift. I refused to accept it, of course, but those two bastards, Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, still accepted it in your name! Qian Sanr answered angrily. I kept a firm watch on the courtyard to stop them from carrying that stuff in, so they left it outside and left afterwards. I can already tell that this was meant to pour foul water on you! After hearing this, Tang Fan didnt get angry, instead looking deeply thoughtful. Sir? Qian Sanr was anxious. Where is the gift now? Just outside the courtyard. Its a small box, and pretty heavy! Qian Sanr answered hurriedly. Go carry it in. Huh? Tang Fan was annoyed. Why are you being dumb? Move! Qian Sanr was anxious, fearing that his own brain was having a momentary lapse in function. But theyve caused a set fact that youve accepted a bribe! If you bring it in, thats just just Tang Fan smiled. Does you putting it in the courtyard mean Im not accepting a bribe? Go pick the box up. You can do it by yourself, cant you? I can Then do it! Without choice, Qian Sanr could only jog away, then move the box in. Theres a key, but its pressed under the boy. I brought them in together. Do you? Open it, Tang Fan ordered. The second the box was opened, Qian Sanrs mutt eyes were nearly blinded. He sucked in a breath. Th-this?! The inside was packed with gold ingots, the gaps stuffed with fingertip-sized pearls. Ingots aside, the pearls were also each around the same size smooth, round, clear, exquisite, and desirable. Qian Sanr had once traveled all around, even going for the tomb of a Song emperor, so how could he not tell the value of these objects? He wasnt the slightest bit happy, though, because the greater the gift from the other party was, the more trouble Tang Fan was signified to be in. Sir! he said, anxious. What do you we do now?! You cant actually want to keep Yep! Why wouldnt I? Tang Fan answered with a smile. Its like getting a pillow handed to me when I want to sleep. If I take such a huge amount of money, I wont have any worries for the rest of my life! Qian Sanr mouth was open wide. He looked at Tang Fan like he had gone mad. Tang Fan ignored him, simply reaching out to touch the ingots, then pick them up and examine them, as if drunk on the gold color filling his eyes. Meanwhile, Qian Sanr was pulling his hair out. It was not out of the ordinary for Great Ming officials to accept gifts from merchants. On the contrary, it was all too ordinary. It was to the point that many big merchant notations had Court officials backing and speaking out for them, which had even become a thing of mutual, implicit understanding. Such a thing happening with Tang Fan made one feel odd no matter how they looked at it, though. When Tang Fan slowly showed a smile while viewing the ingots, Qian Sanr finally couldnt help himself. Sir You need to listen very carefully to what I say next, Tang Fan interrupted. Qian Sanr expression went harsh. Uncaring about what had just happened, he subconsciously straightened out his back. Please instruct, Sir! Tang Fan took off the identification token from his waist, as well as a stack of silver banknotes, and set them on the table. Take the box and these banknotes away. The other was surprised. Take them where? Bring the token to Millarch Jiang of Suzhous Guard post, and have him take haste in taking all these things back to the capital and giving them to Wang Zhi. Sir, can Millarch Jiang be trusted? Tang Fan nodded. Yes, hes on Guangchuans side. Ill have Yiqing go to the capital with him; based on his connection to Huai En, thatll be another channel. Ill set out immediately! Do you have any other orders, Sir? Tang Fan thought a bit. Wait a moment. There were pre-prepared brushes, ink, inkstones, and paper in the room, with the ink not even needing to be ground. He sat down, spread out a paper specifically used for writings memorials, and, after a bout of thinking, immediately wrote a memorial up. Qian Sanr watching from the side, agape. He hadnt been able to read many characters once, but after helping out in Tang Yus store, he had gradually learned more. However, there was no way that he would be able to so breezily write memorials of literary flourish like Tang Fan could. This cause his admiration for Tang Fan to reach another level, for no other reason than that he didnt know that these were the basic survivals skills needed for Great Ming officials. Many typically used the ghostwriting of aides, but that didnt mean that they couldnt write themselves. It wasnt long until the memorial was written. Tang Fan waited for the ink on it to dry, then folded it up and handed it to Qian Sanr. Put the memorial and banknotes in the box. Have them all given the Wang Zhi; hell know what to do. Qian Sanr hesitated. Sir, Lu Lingxis skills are much stronger than mine. If hes not here, who will protect you? If those two bastards, Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, swindled their way in, Im afraid I wont be able to hold them back Tang Fan stretched his back, smiling carelessly. Itll be fine. If you lot are around, how will I get close to the beauty? Qian Sanr was dumbstruck. A good minute later, he suddenly babbled, Then then what about Envoy Sui? Take the stuff and get out. Got it! Lu Lingxi soon returned. Once he heard Qian Sanrs explanation, he swiftly objected. That wont do, Brother Tang! Youve set your heart on going against Chen Luan, so what if he jumps the wall like a desperate dog and does something to you?! Thats why Im having you go to the Brocade Guard for help, Tang Fan replied. Tell them to send two, no four people here. Two will stay by my side, and two will help protect Hu Wenzao, so as the prevent him from being scared stiff all day long. Lu Lingxi still wanted to speak, but Tang Fan waved to stop him. Yiqing, this is very important. These valuables arent the most crucial evidence, but only with them will His Majesty believe my words more. I have to stay here and continue to look for Chen Luans grains registry, so going to the capital will be entrusted to you. You and Sanr must hand over the objects and memorial to Wang Zhi or Huai En. Not wanting to leave Tang Fan at all, yet pressured by his feelings of righteousness, Lu Lingxi couldnt say anything, merely being silent. Tang Fan patted him on the shoulder. Alright, dont get fussy, he said softly. Youre a County Honorate, so how come youre acting like a child? Im not a child! Lu Lingxi refuted. Sure, sure, sure, youre not! Tang Fan laughed. Sanr is loyal, but his skills are lacking, and youre familiar with Huai En. You must have a way to see him in person. This is something you have to do; if things go smoothly, the next time we meet, itll be in the capital. Lu Lingxi grit his teeth. Ill give the stuff to Huai En as soon as possible, then come back and look for you! Saying so, he turned and left, forgetting to even say goodbye. And you said you dont have a childs temper? Tang Fan thought, exasperated. Chen Luans methods were inexhaustible. First, he had collaborated with Yang Ji to put on an act that deceived the Court, then brought Tang Fan to see a false scene, then gave him ten thousand taels, then sent money using the name of the merchants association, even getting the Eastern Depots people participating in it. Had Tang Fan been a little weaker-willed, he might have comprised now, no longer wanting to spend energy messing with this thankless work anymore. With one thought towards the refugees outside of the city, though, he didnt end up changing his mind. Only by completely toppling Chen Luan could those outside the city be properly settled down, and could latecomers be warned to prevent similar things from happening in the future. After Lu Lingxi and Qian Sanr left, Tang Fan finally felt exhausted from staying up all night. Not bothering to change his clothes, he collapsed right onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep in no time, aware of nothing at all. When he awoke again, it was due to the sound of knocking coming from the door, and a womans inquiring voice. Is anyone in there? Lashes trembling slightly, he slowly opened his eyes, mind still a little sluggish. The chaos was not fully waking him up. This was? Sir Tang, are you in there? the person outside asked again. He huffed, rubbing his head as he sat up. Is that you, Miss Xiao? It is. Whats wrong? Im bringing you a nighttime snack. Hearing the words nighttime snack, Tang Fan raised his head to look out the window, then discovering that it was completely dark out. He had wanted to say that Qian Sanr should have done this, but then he remembered that he had sent Qian Sanr and Lu Lingxi away, their figures gone from sight. He also had no idea if they had found the Brocade Guards like he had asked, thinking of such as he got out of bed. Wait a moment, Miss Xiao. Ill get dressed first. Okay, she answered softly. After a short moment, he was dressed up neatly. Please come in. Xiao Wu pushed the door open and entered. Tang Fan saw that she was carrying a food tray that looked to have some weight to it, yet had stood for such a long time outside with it without complaint. He got up and took it from her. Youve worked hard, Miss. There was no need for you to bring it yourself, theres workers here. She smiled lightly. Its no problem. The workers has posthouse chores to do, while Im idling around. You can just send me on any task you have, Sir. She lifted the lid of the stewing pot. The aroma of chicken soup subsequently came upon the senses, and by its side was a bowl of white rice and a small dish of green veggies. It could not be more appetizing. Were this the past, Tang Fan definitely would have begun to chow down, but now, despite his stomach already starting to growl, he remained unmoving, only staring at her solidly, as if he had a thousand things to say, yet no idea where to start. Beneath such a gaze, a snowperson would melt, to say nothing of the very alive person that Xiao Wu was. Her face slowly reddened, head also bowing slightly, revealing the fair and beautiful neck beneath her collar. The rooms atmosphere gradually turned warm and ambiguous. And at right that moment, a knocking came from the door again. Having a good thing interrupted, Tang Fan was a little annoyed. Who is it? Sir, this subordinate was sent by Millarch Jiang of the Suzhou Guard post to protect you, a rough voice sounded outside. Xiao Wu seemed to snap out of that weird mood, face getting ever redder than before. Tang Fan was unhappy, but said to the one outside, Wait out there!, then turned to Xiao Wu with a pleasant look on his face. Why is there only one bowl of rice? Did you already eat, Miss Xiao? She bashfully looked down. I did. Please eat soon, Sir. He nodded, appreciated the beautys timid look, then reluctantly took his gaze back, picked up a spoonful of the chicken soup, and was about to put it into his mouth. Right before the spoon reached it, he stopped. I suddenly remembered something important. Xiao Wu gave him a confused look. Did you not put anything in this soup? he asked with a smile. Like arsenic, crows head, or thornapple, for example? She stared blankly at him. Sir, what are you saying? I dont understand Another disrupting knock came from txhe door. Tang Fan smiled warmly at Xiao Wu. Then Ill trouble you with doing one thing. Please state it. All of a sudden, he reached out, then pulled her right into his arms! Following her tiny exclamation, the door was pushed open from the outside. The translator says: it was the kool-aid man. this confused everyone CH 117 Standing outside the door was a big, tall man wearing the trueseventh-rank Gonfalon uniform of the Brocade Guard. If any distinguishing features of his were to be spoken of, that would be his mustache that blocked practically half of his face. Still, his eyes were bright, and as he stood there, his out-of-the-ordinary bearing felt like a deep pool of still water, a peak on a tall mountain. What a shame it was that Tang Fan had no martial arts knowledge. Were Lu Lingxi here, he would know that the other man was definitely an expert fighter. The man held his fist towards Tang Fan, who was still embracing the beauty. This subordinate is Di Han, Gonfalon of Wujiangs Guard post. Greetings, Sir Tang! Tang Fan creased his brow. Who sent you? I was ordered to come protect you by Millarch Jiang! Tang Fans expression sank. He told you to come protect me, so why did you barge in here for no reason? Whats your purpose? Di Han bowed his head. This subordinate acknowledges my mistake. I simply didnt hear your answer and felt anxious, fearing that you had met with mishap. Do you feel that coming to protect me is a waste of a resource like you, Gonfalon Di? Tang Fan coldly asked. If thats so, I can go to Millarch Jiang and tell him to give me a replacement. Hearing this, Di Han immediately knelt. I acknowledge my mistake! Please dont drive me away, Sir! Millarch Jiang told me over and over again to obey your every word, yet I was reckless please forgive me! Tang Fan peered at him for a long time. Didnt I ask him to send two people over? Why are you alone? Perhaps he sees my skills as adequate, and felt that one person was enough. The other was angered into amusement. Youre not modest at all. Thank you for your praise. This subordinate is too ashamed to accept it, Di Han answered, true to rhythm. Xiao Wu, an actively-radiating beauty, was sitting there, yet he had only given her a glance when he had come in. After that, his line of sight never landed upon her. Since Millarch Jiang told you to obey my every word, I want you to do one thing right now, Tang Fan said. Please instruct, Sir. Leave. Di Han was finally had a rare startle. Im telling you to leave now, shut the door, and not disturb us. Did you not hear? Tang Fan repeated. I did. Di Han silently left. Tang Fan relaxed his arm on Xiao Wus waist. Then, the door opened once more, and Di Hans dawdling mug showed up again. Sir, this subordinate will stand guard outside. If you have an order, you only need to yell. Tang Fan nearly keeled backwards out of anger. Get out! The room resumed tranquility at last. Tang Fan let go of Xiao Wu. Pardon this laughable performance, Miss Xiao. She lowered her head, too bashful to speak, only able to warn him out of embarrassment, Sir, the food has gotten cold. How about I make a fresh batch and send it over? Theres no rush to eat. I have something to say to you, Miss Xiao, he said softly. Her head got even lower, hands wringing the hem of her clothes as she was silent. Following their recent bout of close contact, the ambiguous feeling between them grew denser. A man like Tang Fan would never have been so audacious if he didnt have genuine interest in a woman. Despite her doing all she could to hide the expression on her face, her hands still slightly trembled beyond her control. Such a young, handsome, and graceful Don had repeatedly his intent to get closer how many women in this world would not be moved by that? Expectedly, she heard him ask, Are you engaged, Miss Xiao? That question was much too hinting. Her face grew even redder, and she had no idea how to answer, until she suddenly remembered something and raised her head. Sir, wh-why did you believe I poisoned your food earlier? Tang Fan smiled apologetically at her. Weve met twice before at too-coincidental opportunities. I believed that someone else had sent you, so I thought to probe. She bit her lip. And what about now? Now, I still think that youre pretty suspicious, but I cant control my own heart, he confessed. The first half made her face pale, but the second half made it go from white to scarlet. Massively shocked and pleased, her body nearly couldnt take it. She hesitated for a time, then drummed up her courage. Actually I know what it is that youre suspecting. Hm? Xiao Wu lowered her head. I wont hide it from you; Im not a woman from a good family. What I said before about seeking shelter with relatives was a lie. A good woman certainly wouldnt be like me, coming into a mans room in the middle of the night, right? If you want to speak, you can. If you dont, I wont force you to, he said softly. She abruptly looked up. Really? Really. Tears rippled like waves of stars for a very long time in her eyes, then finally fell. Not all beauties looked good when they cried, but the phrase dewed pear blossom couldnt be more appropriate for her. Have you heard of Yangzhou leanmares before? she asked him. He had, of course. Yangzhou leanmares were pretty girl children bought for cheap from poor families in order to be trained for prostitution. Whether they had literary attainments in the four arts or bedwork to seduce men, they were all stunningly beautiful, and thus could be sold at high prices, either as high-grade brothel workers or concubines to wealthy families. They were highly popular in the Jiangnan region, and there were even people that specialized in this industry, similar to human brokers. Seeing him nod, she continued. I used to be a leanmare, actually. I was bought when I was fourteen to become the concubine of a wealthy merchant. After he died, his primary wife could no longer tolerate me and drove me out, which was why you met me outside of Yangzhou City. I have been working to attend to men since I was learning characters, and after that, I was kept like a bird in the cage; I never knew how hard it would be to make a path for myself in life. If it hadnt been for you, Sir, Im afraid I would have already Xiao Wu wiped her tears, smiling softly. Now you know. After that I met you, I-I shouldnt have deluded myself in deliberately disguising myself as a proper lady. Im not one at all She was wiping away tears more and more as they flowed all the more profusely. Unable to speak anymore, she abruptly stood up, then turned to leave. Tang Fan grabbed her hand, then pulled her back into his embrace, hugging her tight. Ah-Wu! As soon as that nickname hit her ears, Xiao Wus slender frame shuddered slightly, and she immediately went limp in his arms. I really like you, his voice came from over her head. Ive liked you since I first saw you I dont care about your status, either, as long as you say one thing: if you agree to come with me, Ill bring you back to the capital, and take you as a bride! As soon as he said that, a knock sounded from the door again. Sir, its late. You should rest, Di Han said outside. Tang Fan was furious. You keep making trouble! I told you to wait outside, didnt you hear? Then, he softly asked Xiao Wu, Did that scare you? She lightly shook her head. There was quiet outside once more. The two maintained their hugging pose. Tang Fan had no plan to let go, and Xiao Wu didnt struggle, only saying softly, This ones heart is the same as yours. Ah-Wu! he said, elatedly. She covered his mouth that was about to speak, smiling bitterly. But Ill never dare to expect to be wed to you as the primary wife. With my status, as long as I can stay by your side and attend to you, that will already be my greatest blessing. His eyes were gentle. Dont you worry. My parents are dead, and my older sister is excellent at understanding other people. She wont stop us. Xiao Wu shook her head. But my identity will make you a laughingstock in officialdom. You dont need to say anything more, Sir, I can understand your intent. I-Im already quite happy, really from childhood to adulthood, no one has ever been so honest to me, and no man has ever said that he wanted to take me as a wife Tang Fan sighed, stroking her hair with his palm. After a long while, he said softly, Dont speak of such depressing things. I still have something very important to do. Chen Luan deceived the sovereign and sold disaster relief provisions for soaring profits I must find evidence of that to report to the Court, so that I can bring you back to the capital as soon as possible. During this period, I might not be able to look out for you, so stay in the posthouse and minimize going outside as much as possible, lest Chen Luan gets desperate and tries to threaten me with you as my weakness. Are you in danger, then? she asked, worried. He gripped her hand. I shouldnt be. I have something of a connection with the Brocade Guard, so they sent someone to protect me. Is there not one standing outside right now? She huffed out a laugh, her tears breaking into a smile. It seems to me that hes here to manage you. He gave a powerless expression. The Brocade Guard has always been domineering. I only have a friendship with their boss, I cant control them. As long as he can protect me, what changes in the weather will matter? She laughed. I didnt sleep at all last night, only shutting my eyes for a minute just then. Now Im a little weary. I-Ill leave, then, she quickly said. Ill bring you breakfast tomorrow! He smiled. If youre willing to keep accompanying me, I dont mind much. Xiao Wus face flushed. Speechless out of embarrassment, she picked up the tray of food, lowered her head to hide, and left. Tang Fan didnt chase after her, merely watching with an infatuated gaze, his eyes so soft, they were about to drip water. Even though Xiao Wu didnt turn to look, she could still feel his burnings sight on her back. Strictly speaking, back at Yangzhou City, the one who had saved her was Lu Lingxi, but for a woman like her, Tang Fan would be the target of her ultimate affection. She had long set her heart upon a secret promise, but never spoke it out, only silently following him to Suzhou, then coincidentally getting saved by him yet again were mysterious forces truly at work? Was fate truly set by the Heavens? If she could go with him back to the capital Thinking of that, her charming fate heated up all the more red, and even her footsteps got a little a more chaotic. When Xiao Wu had shut the door and gone far away, Tang Fan then stretched out his back, smile not fading from his face. Di Han, are you outside? I am, a voice said from outside. Come on in. Di Han pushed the door open, only to hear Tang Fan say, Im a bit tired. Go and fetch me some water to wash my feet in. Not waiting for his answer, Tang Fan slightly looked up. What is it? You refuse to? Ill have Millarch Jiang replace you, then. This subordinate will do it. Di Han turned and left, then speedily returned with a basin of water, placed it beneath Tang Fans feet, and reached out to pull up Tang Fans trouser leg. Tang Fan coughed. No need, I can do it myself. Just sit down, I have something to ask you. Di Han ignored his rejection. With that facial hair, his expression couldnt be clearly seen, but his voice was very sincere. Since this subordinate is following you, I should attend to you in everything. Otherwise, if you go to Millarch Jiang and complain, I will never be able to live it down. Please give me a chance, Sir. Before Tang Fan could refuse, he had already rolled up Tang Fans pants, cupped some water in his hands, then lightly pat the top of the others feet. Once the other was used to the water temperature, he lifted and placed his feet into the water. Tang Fan was a man, so his feet couldnt be described as delicate-looking, but they were fair, slender, and had well-proportioned bones that werent frail, giving them a just-right beauty. When Di Han held them, he also noticed that their soles had thin calluses. Civil officials always took sedan chairs or carriages when they went out, and wouldnt walk more than a few li ordinarily. Where did the calluses come from? Tang Fan seemed to see his doubts, answering languidly, Did you forget? Before I became a Palace Honorate, I spent a few years traveling all across the country, countless roads going under my feet. Getting calluses is normal. Di Han lowered his head to help him wash his feet. You must have remembered wrong, Sir. You never told me this before, so how would I be able to forget it? Tang Fan hummed in contemplation. Then maybe I mistook you for someone else. About that, though, you just barged in over and over again; what crime deserved that? This subordinate only worried that you would come across danger. Tang Fan sneered. I think you saw a stunner and got carried away. Would you like a few more chances to soak her in? Di Han went quiet for a moment. Sir, that womans background is odd. She isnt a simple character. Tang Fan shook his head. I might as well let you know that Ive taken a liking to her, and will receive her in a few days time. If you dont have any intent towards her, thats fine, this official isnt going to give up easily ow! What are pressing so hard for?! Youre about breaking my ankle! Letting go, Di Han saw that there was indeed a new red mark on it. He helped the other man by kneading it. I didnt mean to. Tang Fan took back his feet, then wiped them off with a kerchief while waving him off, as if he was swatting a fly. Sure, sure. Go on out. Dont disturb my shut-eye! Before he could finish speaking, he was suddenly thrown back onto the bed! What are you doing?! he asked angrily. Their eyes faced off, noses almost touching. They were so close to each other, they could feel the hot breath their counterpart exhaled. Forgive this subordinates abruptness, Di Han said slowly, though he still had no intent to get up. Staring at him, he enunciated his each and every word, That womans motives are unknown. Please dont be swindled by her, Sir. Tang Fan laughed. Isnt she Chen Luans favorite concubine? I dont care. What is this about being swindled? Di Han was caught off guard. You know? Do you think that your Brocade Guard is my only source of information, and I would dare to bust into Yangzhou without knowing anything? You look down on me too much! How did you know? How long are you going to hold me down for? Sorry. Di Han looked deeply at Tang Fan, then finally let go of him and got up. The latter lightly huffed, lifting his chin. Go take the water out. This official is going to rest. Please clear up this subordinates confusion, Sir. Are you begging me? Tang Fan wondered. Di Han breathed out quietly. Yes. This subordinate begs that you clear up my confusion. Tang Fans mood went high. Seeing that youre being so sincere, I will very compassionately let you know that as early as when I met her on the streets of Suzhou a second time, I have suspected her. Witnessing Di Hans slightly doubtful look, he went on. Know oneself, know the enemy; only when anticipating your foes crucial moves will one have no losses in a hundred battles. Before leaving the capital, I had Wang Zhi help me with looking Hu Wenzao, Chen Luan, and Yang Ji. For Chen luan, Wang Zhi specially informed me of one thing: he has an extremely gorgeous concubine. Few people have seen her, but any that have have been invariably blown over by her beauty, and she was once a Yangzhou leanmare. This world has many beautiful women, but Xiao Wus soul-shaking, nation-toppling looks are not commonly seen. Even if shes not unique within ten-thousand li, she at least ought to be unique within one thousand li. This official is no antsy pervert that has never seen the world before; would I not feel suspicion at such an extravagantly beautiful woman randomly popping up outside of Yangzhou City? And what you said about her background being odd; Chen Luan sent me both money and a beauty. If that beauty wasnt someone he himself valued and was familiar with, he likely wouldnt be at ease. For all those reasons, isnt it highly likely that shes his favored concubine? Di Han nodded. So, youre planning to lure her with your charms in a fake play with a real effect? If Tang Fan had liquid in his mouth right now, he would definitely have spurted it out. I dont have charms its not here that I want to lure! The other was confused. Tang Fan sighed. Purportedly, Chen Luans favored concubine is exceptionally gorgeous in appearance, bright my nature, proficient in literature, and exquisite in thinking, which is why Chen Luan is so fond of her, even specially building a separate residence for her to settle in. That he was willing to use such a woman to put me in a honey trap can be considered a high regard to me! If I actually did lay with her and fall for her, a jump in the Yellow River would not even wash me clean perhaps, in the honey trap, even my ambitious heart would be whittled away, and I would only be able shakes hands and talk merrily with Chen Luan, turning into one of them. While he spoke, he began to feel amused. However, when the time comes for me to share a home with that beauty, will Chen Luan choke, or simply send her to me? Seeing him getting more off-kilter the more he spoke, Di Han had to say, Sir, you mean that you want Chen Luan to mistakenly believe that youve been trapped? Tang Fan shook his head, showing a devious smile. I want him to believe that after coming to my side, Xiao Wu gradually came to like me, and even means to betray him. Di Han looked surprised. They can make use of a honey trap, so cant I use a counter-trap? Tang Fan continued, grinning. Xiao Wu has Chen Luans high regard and can be dispatched to do something like this, indicating that she has to know a lot about Chen Luan, and might even know where the real grains registry is hidden. If Chen Luan thinks that shes betrayed him and come to my side, what do you suppose he would do? Out of desperation, he would silence her, Di Han slowly spat out. Tang Fan nodded. Right. At that time, even though shell be of no mind to betray him, shell have no choice but to come to my side. What a spectacular counter-trap! Suspicions within suspicions no one could fail you more than yourself. Di Han raised his brows high. His expression beneath his facial hair was unknowable, but judging from the inexplicable luster seen glinting in his eyes, he obviously agreed with his plan. Tang Fan pushed the wooden basin towards him with a bare foot. Youre done hearing the tale. Why arent you leaving? Didnt you hear that this official is going to bed? The other wordlessly bent down and picked up the tub. Rest well, Sir. This subordinate will be on guard outside. Right before he was about to leave, Tang Fans joking voice came from behind him. The next time you want to change your identity, remember to learn well from Daoist Li beforehand, Brother Guangchuan. The next morning, Tang Fan walked out of his room refreshed, and Xiao Wu was already sitting outside and smiling at him. The table next to her had all sorts of snacks upon it, all small, refined, and very cute. Di Han, who should have been standing watch outside, had gone to who-knew-where. Tang Fan smiled. Ah-Wu, why did you get up so early? Xiao Wu hid her mouth as she smiled. Its not early, its nearly noon. I made breakfast before, but since you werent yet up, I made it again. Why did you need to do it yourself? The posthouse has its own cook! he said, moved. She turned red. You were quite sincere to me, Sir. I-I wanted to repay it in good faith. He sighed inwardly. This womans acting was beyond the pale; with both beautiful looks and a scheming mind, it was little wonder that Chen Luan would cherish her, and not hesitate to hide her beauty away inside an expensive house. Honey traps had different ranks to them. Being able to have such a beauty try and use her charms to seduce her made it obvious how much value Chen Luan placed onto Tang Fan. The latter was deeply honored. What a pity it was that his counterparts plans were destined to be fail. Seeing that Tang Fan was looking at her, Xiao Wus cheeks automatically became a bit hot, and she faintly uttered, Sir He came back to himself, sat down with a smile, picked up a golden-fried mantou, and put it in his mouth. He hadnt eaten Xiao Wus nighttime snacks yesterday, as he had feared that she would that opportunity to drug him, then fabricate a story that would pour tainted water onto him. Now that it was broad daylight, even if Xiao Wu wanted to act, she would know that this was not a good time for it. These are stuffed? he wondered. With cherries. She smiled. Is it good? He nodded. It is, very good. The craftsmanship is better than my little sisters. If you come back to the capital with me, Ill be eating well in the future. Xiao Wu smiled, lowering her head, as if exceedingly shy. Tang Fan held her soft hand. Ah-Wu, you have barely any hairpins on you. Ill bring you to the market to buy some today. She was confused. Arent you going to investigate Chen Luan? He gave her a mysterious smile. I wont keep it from you Ive actually found crucial evidence than can bring him down. Ah. What evidence? Lets not speak of such drab stuff. You wont be interested in it, he said, instead changing the subject. Come, after we finish breakfast, Ill take you out for some fun. Chen Luan gifted me ten-thousand taels last time, and I havent touched them yet I can get you a good amount of stuff! She was rather shocked. Y-you took his money, and yet and yet are still going to denounce him? Tang Fan was nonchalant. You must not understand. This is what is called, villain-eats-villain! The translator says: Ah-Wu is pronounced awoo, like a wolf howl. Do with that information what you will. Im thinking of werewolves CH 118 Old Zhao was a soldier on watch outside the posthouse. In his opinion, Magistrates or Censors having a big row, embezzling, bribing, and all that stuff had absolutely nothing to do with him. Minor characters should live minor character lives; as long as one could get off work, then have a cup of hot wine, a woman warming the kang, and brothers to chat about whatever with, that was enough to be satisfied with. However, minor characters also had minor character gossip. For example, he and his other brothers on-duty at the posthouse had been extremely curious about the major beauty Censor Tang had brought back recently, and had guessed at her identity more than once in private. Some said that she was a concubine from his home, and because she couldnt bear the jealousy of the main wife, she snuck out to follow Sir Tang when he went on a Southern assignment, chasing him all the way here. Others said that she was a gift to him from some other official, and Sir Tang liked her the second he saw her, instantly being unable to part from her to the extent that he insisted upon always bringing her everywhere. Others still said that she was actually a proper woman that Censor Tang had snatched after taking a liking to her; he had come on imperial orders to investigate Wujiangs famine from last year, yet had cared about getting tangled up with a woman after coming here and wasnt even caring about proper business, appearing to be a corrupt official. Rumor spread rapidly in the posthouse, and then gradually spread to the outside. Still, regardless of how far-and-away absurd the contents were, Old Zhao and his colleagues could identify two major points. One was that the woman was truly beautiful; so heart-shocking, soul-movingly so, that she could nearly draw someones soul out of them. Suzhou and Hangzhou had many beauties. Old Zhao and them were native-born Suzhou folk, and considered themselves to have seen a lot of the world, unlike all those hicks, but the beauty at Tang Fans side was so beautiful, she couldnt have been locally produced. With their barren lexicon, they couldnt fathom how to describe her looks at all. The first time they had seen her, they had only been able to watch, tongue-tied, as the beauty with a seductive air was brought into the posthouse by Tang Fan. After the fact, they had inwardly mocked themselves as having lost themselves too much then, but when they had witnessed Censor Yang, who was also staying in the posthouse, have a similar reaction to seeing the beauty, they had immediately balanced out mentally. It wasnt that they hadnt seen enough faces in the world, but that this beauty was too beautiful. Tang Fan picking such a flower that was more delicate than a peony it had to be said that everyone else was awfully envious. There was still the second identified point, which was that Censor Tang heavily pampered the beauty, practically tying her to his belt and frequently bringing her out. On the basis of Old Zhaos watches over the past few days, whenever Censor Tang went out, no matter where he was going or what he was doing, he would take her with him. It was even claimed that wen he went to pay a visit to Mister Magistrate at the prefectural bureau, he had brought her in with him, not avoiding taboo at all, which was pretty much dumbfounding. Even so, it was unsurprising. If they could instead be the ones to cozy up to such a woman, they would be pretty unwilling to part from her. Those with the title of Sir were also human; what was so odd about it? As could be imaged, once Censor Tang returned to the capital, the beauty would definitely follow, and if his primary wife back home wasnt a tigress, she would definitely dominate his back residence in the future. But, speaking of which, such a beautiful woman not being in the Emperors harem, but taken up by a fourth-rank Censor it wasnt quite clear if Censor Tang would be able to hold onto her! No matter what elements stormed and exaggerated deluges of divine petals rained down outside, Tang Fan heard none of it, continuing to bring Xiao Wu in and out. Despite carefully making Xiao Wu wear a veil to cover her features whenever they went out, with her graceful figure, who would be fooled? In not many days, nearly half the people in Wu knew that there was a nation-toppling, rare beauty at his side that was going everywhere and doing everything with him. Every single man sighed over Tang Fans luck with the ladies. In Xiao Wus opinion, though, this was another feeling entirely. She had no idea that Tang Fan had already figured out her identity, merely doing her best to stay by his side and completely ruin his reputation, in accordance with Chen Luans orders. Even if they werent married in true, she had to do all she could to make outsiders think that she had long become Tang Fans sole domain. Now, that plan was being implemented step by step, and Tang Fan was indeed deeply infatuated with her, but she wasnt happy about it because, in spite of his infatuation, he insisted upon holding onto a noblemans rules. Apart from hugging and holding her hand, the twos relationship had not gone any farther. That really wasnt anything, as she had seen many self-proclaimed noblemen, and it wasnt like his type had been absent. What she was hung up on was something else: now that he already liked her, he couldnt be apart from her for a single moment. Not only did he have to bring to bring her out, but even when she took a short moment of time to go to the bathroom, she would see him looking for her all over the place with a panicked expression upon her returned, and he would say stuff like Ah-Wu, where did you run off to, I didnt see you, I couldnt do anything and such. She had been rather fond of his graceful looks and elegance, but after interacting with him for a long time, she had discovered that the man was clingy at his core. After being bothered by him for so long, her fondness had dried up; how could she still like him? The sole consolation for her was that he did not shy away from bringing her into anything, and that included official business. Hence, over these past few days, she had not only come to learn that Hu Wenzao had already cast his lot with Tang Fan, but also that Tang Fans major backer was the former Director of the Western Depot, and now-close subject to the Emperor, Wang Zhi. Tang Fan had also informed her that the treasures sent by the Suzhou merchant society had since been sent to Eunuch Wang in the capital. However, what really made her depressed was that because of him being so tightly bound to her, and the sneaky looks of that Brocade Guard being too powerful, ever since she had entered the posthouse, she had never been able to find an opportunity to pass word along to Chen Luan. One lone time, she had taken advantage of when Tang Fan had brought her out to attempt to send news in a jewelry store, but in the end, it had been a stone thrown into the sea. Not the slightest bit of response came from Chen Luan. She had begun to panic. She was not afraid that she wouldnt be able to complete the task Chen Luan had assigned her, but worried that he would believe those rumors flying all about, think that she had fallen for Tang Fan, and therefore betrayed him for him. How heavy Chen Luans paranoia was, and how cruel he was, was something no one understood better than her. Just look at the number of refugees outside of Wujiang City, whose numbers waned by the day; for the sake of profits, he even dared to deceive the Emperor and an imperial ambassador, to say nothing of here, a mere woman. No matter how beautiful a woman was, to men, the difference between them was that they were either a toy that could be casually thrown away, or a toy of some higher worth. Her mind was not at ease, to the point that even Tang Fan had noticed, believing her to be ill. He not only personally brought her soup, but stayed by her bedside. Were another woman to have come across such a passionate man, she would have long been moved. Not Xiao Wu. The better Tang Fan treated her, the more she fretted that Chen Luan would doubt her loyalty. Seeing her face that was somewhat pale and gaunt from lack of sleep, Tang Fans worry defied words. Ah-Wu, whats wrong with you? Is something on your mind? Tell me. Im not the guardian official of Suzhou, but I can always help you resolve any of your troubles. If you keep going on like this, my heart will die from pain! His expression was one of genuine sincerity, and the heavy load on Xiao Wus mind didnt make her feel that this was inappropriate, but rather made her heavily ponder how to get rid of Tang Fan and go make a report. She forced out a smile. I have some tightness in my chest, Sir. Id like to lay down for a minute. He felt her forehead, tucking her bangs behind her ears. Ill stay with you, then, he said, voice soft. You! Do! Not! Need! To! Do! That! She grit her teeth, nearly wanting to say as much aloud. Thankfully, her reason was still in place, and she swallowed them back down, just like one would swallow down a mouthful of blood. Knocking came from the door right then. Tang Fan got up to open it, only to see a posthouse worker carrying in a medicine bowl. Sir, this is the medicinal brew you wanted, freshly made! he said diligently. Set it down, Tang Fan replied with a nod. He was not as affectionate towards the worker as he was towards Xiao Wu, naturally. Ah-Wu, drink. This is to help calm the psyche. Afterwards, youll be able to sleep well, and be just fine when you wake up. He picked up the bowl, carefully helping her up. With him currently being a truefourth-rank official, such a feat was truly not easy, and if she were some other woman, she might have truly been affected. Unfortunately, her thought were not going that way at all. I can do it myself. She took the bowl, then lowered her head, about to drink. Wait! he suddenly said, taking the bowl she held back. The movement was a tad abrupt, causing some of the liquid to splash onto both of their hands. Di Han! Di Han, are you there?! Tang Fan shouted. Present, came the deep response from outside. Bring a dog or a cat here. The other agreed without further question. Xiao Wus attention was diverted at last by him. You, what? I felt that the smell of this medicine is a bit off. She was startled. There was that worker that just brought the medicine, too. He looked a little unfamiliar and after he came in, he didnt glance at you like other people have. Thats really abnormal. Xiao Wu had wanted to crack a joke about him making a big fuss over nothing, but upon thinking of something unknown, her face sudden went white. Di Han quickly returned with a puppy in his hold. At Tang Fans indication, he picked up the medicine bowl and poured it into the puppys mouth. In not long at all, the puppy howled, seeming to squirm in Di Hans arms in horrible pain. The instant he let it go, it collapsed onto the ground, limbs twitching a few times before it didnt move anymore. Tang Fan was furious. This had to be someone trying to get at me! Why did they not target me, but try to hurt Ah-Wu?! Maybe they thought that with Miss Xiao gone, it would cause your mind to spiral, thus exposing your weakness, Di Han answered. After their exchange, Tang Fan turned around in want to comfort Xiao Wu, only to find that her complexion was getting paler, jumping in fright. He gripped her hand, with was also freezing cold. Ah-Wu, whats the matter with you?! She didnt respond. He delicate frame shuddered uncontrollably, and she remained silent as he took her into his arms. He lightly pat her on the back, comforting her in a soft voice. Its okay, its okay. After consoling her for a long while until she laid down again, he left her room, returning to his own. And as soon as his front foot went in, someone followed him on his heel. He knew who it was without needing to look back, unhappy. If you come and go like this, how would anyone believe that youre an ordinary subordinate? Youll give yourself away too easily! This subordinate isnt an ordinary subordinate to begin with. Im a personal bodyguard. Unintentionally or not, he put heavy emphasis on the word personal, while his eyes were fixed on Tang Fan. Tang Fan made a fist, put it to his lips, and coughed fakely. I was busy setting things up lately, and never had time to ask: with your status, how could you have easily left the capital to come find me? Something happened in Jiangxi. His Majesty ordered me to handle it in-person, so I took a detour to Suzhou while I was at it to see you. Youre abusing your power! Tang Fan scolded, half-mad. The trace of a smile appeared in Di Hans eyes. So what if I am? Yan Li and the rest went ahead. I just missed you terribly. Those straightforward, not-even-a-little-bit-embellished words coming out of his mouth were more effective than a limpid look from Xiao Wu. Mister Tangs handsome face instantly turned a bit red. Di Han reached out, gently touched his shoulder, and then his hand went all the way down along it, until it stopped on the others hand. Once his fingers brushed his palm, he unsurprisingly felt the mans hand quickly shrink back. However, Di Hans reaction was quicker. Before the other could take a step back in response, he grabbed his hand tight. Upon skin contact, he found that Tang Fans knuckles were slim and evenly-proportioned, similar to the feeling of his feet from the other day. Without a doubt, these hands were used to create beautiful writing pieces. Tang Fan was a little embarrassed. Enough! Lets just talk business! Having said that, though, he still didnt break away. Seemingly aware that he was especially thin-skinned in this respect, Di Han didnt tease him much, only smiling. Xiao Wu must now believe that Chen Luan gave her that poison. Tang Fan hummed. Shes someone who understands that she needs to make plans for herself, and is shrewder than the average woman. This event alone will not be enough to deceive her, nor be enough to make her come to a decision. We need to make her understand two things: one is that Chen Luan will definitely be taken down and out of luck, and the other is that Chen Luan is suspicious of her and wants to silence her, where even if shes thinking of him, he wont place importance onto her. What are you thinking of doing? Tang Fan gave a sagely smile. I have to ask you for a favor in putting on a good show, to make her believe all that completely. Theres just one thing. Hm? Dont hug her anymore. Xiao Wu spent the night with nonstop nightmares and restless emotions. Early the next morning, Tang Fan came looking for her. Ah-Wu, its much too dangerous here. I want to bring you to the capital as soon as possible to get you out of here! She was taken aback. Are you finished with your proper business, Sir? Are you not going to take down Chen Luan? He smiled mysteriously at her. Its all near about done. Ive already passed on evidence of Chen Luans crimes, Im just waiting for the capital to issue an order for how to handle it. Xiao Wu was utterly confused. Because of her identity, she knew many things about Chen Luan, including why he was so unbridled. It wasnt just because his uncle was Nanjings Minister of Revenue, but also because he gave many annual gifts to the capital to put it bluntly, Local Emperor Chen Luan not only had a tie to the Eastern Depot via Suzhous merchant society, but he and his uncle were even members of the Wan party. It was precisely because of that that he had sold Wujiangs government provisions, colluded with Yang Ji, and even regarded Tang Fan, an imperial ambassador, as unimportant. Fearing his might, Suzhou Magistrate Hu Wenzao had also been too afraid to speak out at first, and had Chen Luan not used him as a shield, he likely wouldnt have cooperated with Tang Fan to this day. Consort Wan, the Wan partys backer, had no sons, but it was said that she had formed an alliance with Consort Shao, ready to support her son as the Crown Prince, and incite the Emperor to abolish the current Crown Prince. Xiao Wu had learned a lot from Chen Luan, so she didnt think that Tang Fan alone would be able to bring him down. Even having Wang Zhi backing him might not be enough, as what Tang Fan was dealing with was not Chen Luan at all, but the complicated mess of a colossus behind him. Now that he had sworn that he was capable of handling Chen Luan, Xiao Wu was beyond shocked, her first response inevitably being disbelief. And yet, with Tang Fans infatuation towards her, he certainly wasnt lying. What evidence did you get on him, Sir? she thus asked, but as soon as she did, she appeared to realize something, then lowered her head in shame. These arent things I should be asking about. Ive overstepped. Tang Fan didnt mind, gripping her hand. I told you before that Chen Luan is backed by Consort Wans party, which includes her younger brother Wan Tong, the current Head Vizier Wan An, and so on. You should remember that? Seeing her nod, he continued. Thats actually really easy to handle I just need to deal with Chen Luan alone this whole time, with no plans at all to involve the Wan partys people. No matter how domineering Chen Luan is, hes nothing more than a pawn to them. If he isnt there, the Wujiang Magistrate can be swapped out for someone else. It isnt that important of a position. A storm was raging in Xiao Wus heart, but she could only show a delicate expression on her face. But isnt his uncle Nanjings Minister of Revenue? Would he sit and watch his nephew be denounced by you? Tang Fan smiled. Well, theres no harm in telling you: I have some senior pals from the capital that were forced out to Nanjing Wan party, one of which is the former Minister of Justice, Zhang Ying. Hes already found evidence of Minister Chens corruption and denounced him. Minister Chen is currently too busy to even look after himself, so how would he have the spare time to look after his nephew? She gaped. W would that work? Why wouldnt it? Outsiders talk to much, and you wouldnt understand. All you need to know, in brief, is that even though the Wan party is tremendously powerful, it has a lot of apprehensions, and so long as you dont try to take it down with you in mutual destruction, it wont struggle to the death with you. Chen Luan is only the hegemon of the Wujiang region; if he doesnt have his uncle, what even is he? To tell the truth, hes already a little anxious right now, since he cant get in contact with Hu Wenzao and doesnt know what Im planning. Hes currently plotting to be the villain filing a complain first, thus getting me out via the Wan party maybe theyll try to say that I accepted bribes in Wujiang and indulged in feminine wiles. Unfortunately, Chen Luan has no idea that Ive already handed that money over to His Majesty! With that, he laughed, which was filled with ridicule for Chen Luan. Xiao Wu couldnt laugh, though. This conversation had turned her heart upside-down, and she couldnt calm down for a good while. She had to admit that he had made a lot of sense. She had only seen Chen Luans rampant side, having never imagined that, in the eyes of this imperial ambassador from the capital, he was not any sort of invulnerable. Upon standing in a different spot, the problems one saw would become different. Chen Luan was a charming man that treated her well, but his means were just as vicious. She didnt have too much longing for him, she was simply worried about her own escape route. If he were to be taken down, what could she do? Yesterdays poison event had left her with some lingering fear. Tang Fans group thought that the poison was meant for Tang Fan, with Xiao Wu an unexpected party, only she knew that it was very possible that Chen Luan felt that she had betrayed him, and thus couldnt wait to keep her quiet. Thinking of this, she bit her bottom lip until it turned white. Ah-Wu, whats wrong? Tang Fans voice brought her back to herself. She forced a smile. Im fine. Youve been distracted recently. Do you not want to come with me to the capital? Tang Fan asked, brow creased. It isnt that. She shook her head. To be able to accompany you is my blessing. Its just that Ive felt stuffy in my chest lately, and adding that with the drugging incident Im really terrified. Saying so, she buried herself into his arms, as if wanting to extract a sense of security from him. He held her, thinking to himself, She threw herself at me, I didnt hug her on my own initiative even if shes a peerless beauty, putting on an act every single day is exhausting. Still, he looked as gentle as ever. In that case, the weather is nice today, so why dont you go on a walk with me? The headpieces ordered last night should be made. Do you want to take a look at them yourself? If something isnt right, you can have them change it while youre there. She really didnt want to go out, but her thought processes were slowly starting to change. At the beginning, she had been as untrue as a winding snake, which had slowly become a fake act with real actions at this point. Trending towards Tang Fans thoughts, she smiled softly. As you wish. Then, she whispered, Its entirely my disappointing health and sickness all these days that has made me unable to truly serve you, Sir. I-I After all that talking, she started blushing. Tang Fan had adhered to a noblemans courtesy in not touching her, and she had been happy to not whet his appetite, too. That stemmed from her being learned in male psychology, and knowing that those that succeed too easily would never cherish anything; human nature had a contemptible foundation, and men treated women as much. The more reserved Xiao Wu was, the more Tang Fan would end up cherishing her like a treasure. Thus, in spite of their two different minds, they were both at ease, and she had never suspected his behavior. Silly girl, he said softly. Your health getting better is the best compensation for me. Do you still not know what I feel for you? She looked touched. Due to her frailness, he specially found a cloak for her to wear before he brought her out. They werent taking a carriage, and their escort consisted of only Di Han, which could be considered a light packing. After being nearly poisoned, though, Xiao Wu had some lingering worries. Sir, you only brought Gonfalon Di. Will that be safe? It will be. Hes only one person, but he can match the strength of dozens with no change in expression, Tang Fan explained with a smile. You wouldnt know this, but his martial arts have even been praised by His Majesty. Why else would he have been sent by Millarch Jiang? Stunned, she couldnt help but smile. It seems that your relationship with the Brocade Guard is quite good, for them to transfer over a talent like him. There was a probing nature in her words, but Tang Fan didnt notice, just nodding. I wont hide it from you; I have a very good friendship with the current Northern Bastion Envoy. He follows me wherever I go, and I cant get rid of him. Were it not for His Majesty putting him on some other task, he definitely would have come with me. That all seemed to have elements of exaggerated, but he was presently being followed by a Brocade Guard, so it wasnt that much of a brag. Xiao Wu mostly believed it, further plans brewing in her mind. Di Han, following behind them, was looking downwards, like their conversation had nothing to do with him. The three stayed in the jewelry store for a time. Once Xiao Wu had picked her headpieces well, Tang Fan brought her outside. Its still early. Lets fid a teahouse and sit for a bit, since it near about lunchtime. If we go back, youll have to stay in that little room again, which would be boring, Tang Fan said with a smile. As you wish, Sir, Xiao Wu answered, having no opinion. However, before she quite finished speaking, something happened. Three people rushed at Tang Fan and Xiao Wu from three different directions the right, the left, the front with sharp blades in hand and a fierce momentum. Xiao Wu was completely dumbstruck. She wasnt a martial artist in the slightest; caught off guard in a wink, she could only watch this all unfold. What was even more terrifying was the discovery that their target was not Tang Fan, but her! The translator says: This is the second novel where Ive had to type out a dog CH 119 Xiao Wu didnt want to die. She further didnt want to die for Chen Luan, or be buried with him, else she would be swaying back and forth between betraying him or not. And then this moment came. Seeing the blades coming in at three angles, she subconsciously shrieked, tightly gripped Tang Fans clothes, and hid behind him. The threes offensive power didnt slow at all because of that, her alone left in their eyes. With no mishaps, Tang Fan would die alongside her beneath the blades, one-and-done. With this all happening so quickly, no one on the mainstreet could react in time, all of them even forgetting to scream. Xiao Wu couldnt move, her eyes blown wide. This did not at all destroy her charming air, the frightened beauty instead able to arouse protective instincts, but no one could care about appreciating her charms right now. Everyone was rigid, only able to follow he direction of the glinting blades, witness to a scene of imminent bloodshed and death. The blade coming down over Xiao Wus head stopped. The wind it kicked up swept across her hair, making it flutter. The assassin was quite surprised, too. He hadnt expected for his attack to be blocked, and at the same time, he felt a sharp pain coming from his wrist. Looking down, he saw half of his own hand get sliced off evenly from his wrist, flying off into the air along with his sabre. Blood splashed out, staining Xiao Wus clothes, and she screamed yet again. The other two individuals faced the same situation, not even able to tell how it had happened. One fellow was sent flying high, then crashing into a small candy peddlers stall at the roadside, smashing it into pieces. Thankfully, the peddler had quickly seen an opportunity and had long since fled, so he was not drawn in. The other assassin thought to draw back upon seeing his companion fail, but before he could turn around, a spring-gilt sabre had already pierced through his back. The final act he had in life was to lower his head and see its bloodstained tip shining in the sunlight. Three assassins, three directions. All had been dealt with in the blink of an eye. Di Han drew his sabre out of the assassins body. The expression on his face was as collected as it ever, and he even leaned over to wipe off his bloodied blade on the others clothes before he walked over to the assassin that had crushed the stall. Facing this Yama that killed without hesitation, even the assassin became terrified. He couldnt get up, only able to watch the other approach step-by-step, moving backwards in a panic while shouting in a false show of strength, Dont get near me! Dont you get near me! Right then, the people on the streets seemed to get jostled, as screams sounded out in all directions. Following a bout of turmoil, a half-li area around Tang Fan and Di Hans group was quickly vacated. Di Han walked over to heft the man up, then unhinged his jaw without a word to prevent him from biting on any poison hidden in his teeth. Tang Fan pat Xiao Wu on the shoulder, causing her to subconsciously shudder. She wasnt sure if she had been frightened by the assassins or cowed by Di Hans straightforward killing methods, as she hadnt been able to come back to herself for a long time. Seeing as much, Tang Fan exchanged a glance with Di Han. The previous poisoning had been their handiwork, but these assassins had not been arranged for by Tang Fan. The latter had anticipated that once Chen Luan noticed that Xiao Wu was slow to send word back, he would do something, he just hadnt expected that the other would be anxious enough to send out assassins. That at least expressed one thing: her role really wasnt minor, and she had to know something of his private matters, at the bare minimum, to the extent that after feeling that she might betray him, he couldnt wait to silence her. The three Chen Luan had sent had clearly been top picks. Had Di Han not been here and an ordinary bodyguard was around instead, he would have likely been surpassed by them. Who could have known that the unremarkable-looking Di Han was actually the alter ego of the Northern Bastion Envoy? Also, were Chen Luan to learn that Tang Fan had been waiting for him to try to kill Xiao Wu, would he have regrets until his insides turned green? Ever since Tang Fan had stepped foot into Jiangsus realm, the two parties had been destined to set up a game. Chen Luan had not believed that Tang Fan would be such a huge threat to him; had he known that the other responded to neither coercion nor bribes, wouldnt accept beauties, and didnt seek wealth, he likely would have strangled the threat in his cradle back when he had been on the ship. That a thousand gold couldnt buy much was long known. Ah-Wu, are you alright? Lets go back first, then talk about it, Tang Fan softly consoled upon seeing that she was scared stiff, wanting to bring her away. She just clutched firmly to his clothes, refusing to let go. N-no! We cant go back. Theyll definitely send someone else! He laughed. Look at how scared you are! I told you earlier that Di Han is pretty powerful. Im not afraid of getting assassinated, so why are you? Xiao Wu finally crumbled. They didnt come to kill you, they came to kill me! What? he asked in astonishment. Ah-Wu, did the fear make you lose your sense? Youre a mere woman, why would they kill you? Im the only one going against Chen Luan, I ought to be the one he wants to kill! She shook her head desperately, sobs within he voice. Take me away from here! I have the grains registry, I have it itll help you take down Chen Luan with no room for him to recover! Due to fear, she was almost bodily climbing up on him. Di Han frowned slightly seeing this, stepping forth and pushing her away. She stared blankly at him, unable to respond. Mouth twitching, Tang Fan reminded him, Put your sabre away. Dont scare Ah-Wu. If he scared someone so important stupid by shoving her all the time, where would they find another one? Di Hans cold gaze swept over Xiao Wu. The latter shrunk back from his staring, leaning in towards Tang Fan, who hugged her. We wont go back to the posthouse. Ill take you somewhere safer so that no one can attack you, he said softly, then turned to instruct Di Han, Clean all this up, soldiers will probably be here soon. Give that stall owner some compensation money while youre at it; his stall getting smashed up for no reason is quite pitiful. Di Han felt like the other was retaliating for what had happened last night, but, well, who made Envoy Sui take on his current identity of Gonfalon Di? He could only watch the other twos backs silently, draw out some silver to toss onto candy peddlers stall, then dragged the two passed-out assassins into bitterly following behind him. The place Tang Fan brought Xiao Wu to was none other than the local Brocade Guard post. Millarch Jiang quickly greeted them himself. When he saw Di Han behind Tang Fan, he got several magnitudes more enthusiastic, chatted them up, and cordially accompanied them, falling just short of serving them tea himself. By his orders, the assassins were promptly taken by the Guards to be dealt with. Even though Tang Fans group knew why they had come for them, if more things could be pried out of them, Chen Luan could instead be charged with the crime of trying to assassinate an imperial ambassador. This humble official worried that I would interfere with your work, Sir, which is why I never came to visit you after you came to Suzhou. Please forgive me, Millarch Jiang said. Youre too polite, Millarch Jiang, Tang Fan answered with a smile. We were the ones to disturb your peace, actually, and now Im having to trouble you. Envoy Sui is far off in the capital, but he has repeatedly brought up your valor in doing your tasks, intelligence, and capabilities! Millarch Jiang gave a few glances towards Sui Zhou, who was being mute, and his smile grew brighter. Youve overpraised me, Sir Tang. This humble official dares not accept. This is all thanks to the Bastion Envoys proper leadership! After former Commanding Envoy Yuan Bin had stepped down, he had passed almost all of the forces hand-reared by him over to Sui Zhou. Combining them with Sui Zhous own confidantes, and he was a hidden competitor to the current Commanding Envoy, Wan Tong. The Brocade guard of today was split into two factions: one was headed by Wan Tong, and the other was loyal to Sui Zhou. For that reason, despite the Guard still being the Guard, the people subordinating those two needed to pick a side, making it far less calm than it was on the surface; and Millarch Jiang happened to be on Sui Zhous side. The head honcho coming in person was a rare opportunity, so he had to spend extra effort. Tang Fan chatted with him for a bit, then left Di Han and Millarch Jiang behind to speak while he brought Xiao Wu into the courtyard prepared for them to rest. Ah-Wu, are you better now? Do you want me to find a doctor for you? Not a single word of his brought up the grains registry, instead asking after her health, first. She shook her head, yet looking shaken. She held onto his sleeve with one hand, like she would only feel a little relieved when doing that. Dont be afraid, Im here. Whatever you want to say, you can just say it, he comforted, pouring her a cup of tea. Holding the cup, Xiao Wu finally, slowly calmed down, the warmth going from her palms and into the bones of her limbs. She took in a deep breath. Sir, Ive actually been deceiving you this whole time. She wasnt an idiot. Contrarily, she was intelligent, having the astuteness of a young woman Chen Luan wouldnt have sent her to entrance Tang Fan, elsewise but due to her confidence in her own good looks, she had failed to see the full picture, having felt all this time they she would be able to complete this task smoothly. Now that the situation had gotten out of hand, she had been thinking, and felt that confessing everything to Tang Fan might be the best course of action. Hearing this, instead of looking surprised or angry, Tang Fan just calmly smiled. Deceived me about what? She was astonished. You already know? I didnt know that you had the grains registry on you. He didnt know that, so he had long known that Chen Luan had sent her? So, him accompanying her had been a long con? He had long taken her for a fool, being insincere while laughing at his own jokes? Seeing her face flash green and white, he said in understanding, You dont need to think too hard. Since you refused to reveal your own identity at the start, if I unmasked you too early, would that not be alerting the enemy? You and I have our own standings. I cant say that you were wrong for acting like that, but now that youre willing to give up the darkness for the light, I welcome it, of course. So, he had said Ah-Wu, Ah-Wu over and over again, pretending to be an idiot fallen into loves net! The man before her had a smiling, handsome face with clear eyes where was that half-obsessed look from before? She was angry at heart. This was the first time she had discovered her own looks and allure to be ineffective, but she dared not blow up, because if she wanted to keep her life, she would have to rely fully on him now. Since you long knew of my identity, did you arrange for todays assassination? she had to clarify. He shook his head. Of course not. I only arranged for that poisoning incident from before. With things come to this point, and with how bright you are, why bother deceiving yourself? Since I knew your identity in advance, I was naturally able to intercept the information you sent out to prevent it from getting to Chen Luan. As a result, he couldnt keep waiting for word from you, and once he heard the outside rumors, he believed you actually betrayed him. Those assassins are the best proof of that. They failed to kill you this time, but theyll definitely think of a way to get to you again. The only leeway for your survival is for us to get decisive evidence against him soon, and thus bring him under law. Recalling that recent harrowing scene, Xiao Wu was still awfully frightened, but she didnt need to put on an act in front of Tang Fan anymore. No longer wanted to show timidity to him, she grit her teeth hard. Even if you get the grains registry, its no use. Hes backed by the Wan party, and sends no lack of gifts to them yearly they might even strive to protect him! You are smart, Miss Xiao, but you dont understand the intrigue of Court. I told you before that he has little use to the Wan party, and if hes not around, they could just make someone else the Wujiang Magistrate. This is simple, and I have my own method, naturally. She was doubtful. What method? He smiled wordlessly, spreading out his hands. His implication was obvious: If you refuse to come clean, Ill throw you right out to face Chen Luans wrath. See if hes willing to believe in you. During this time period, not only had Xiao Wu worked hard to put on an act, but he had, too, and it hadnt been in vain. Basically everyone knew that he was infatuated with Xiao Wu, as gossip was a ferocious tiger why would Chen Luan not believe it? If she didnt have Tang Fans protection, the second she left this place, she would be shot through with arrows until she was a hedgehog. Beauties needed to be alive to arouse peoples pity. A dead beauty was just a gravesite. She had no other option. Xiao Wu pondered silently for a time. If I hand over the registry, what kind of protection can you give me, Sir? Tang Fan curbed his smile, speaking solemnly in a way she had never seen before, I, Tang Runqing, swear on my own life and future that I will do all I can to ensure your safety. If I violate it, may five lightning strikes come down upon my head, giving me no sort of good death. She was slightly moved. People of this time period took oaths very seriously. Him making such an oath at least demonstrated his sincerity, and that he was a little superior to Chen Luan. How unfortunate it was that such a man wasnt lured by her. Xiao Wu peered at him with low-key grievances. Chen Luans grains registry was in the residence I had been settled in, but after I was sent out, he must have moved its position. Tang Fan creased his brow, faintly disappointed. If that was so, then why did Chen Luan still try to hunt her down and silence her? Sure enough, her words took a turn. But I can write the registry from memory. He was ecstatic. Are you serious? She smiled with some self-pride. Of course I am. On looks alone, would Chen Luan have cherished me for so long? Or wanted me dead? How long would it take you to re-write it? One night, she said, putting on no empty posturing. Just give me one nights time! Tang Fan clapped. Alright! Given that we can successfully bring down Chen Luan, not only will your life be saved, but I can send you to a safe place where no one will know you, and give you a sum of money that will let you be worry-free for the rest of your life. Her eyes sparkled. Just like what Tang Fan had said, she had indeed previously been bought to be a concubine by a wealthy merchant. When said merchant had died, she had been driven out of his residence, then hidden in a cushy home by Chen Luan. However, while she liked wealth and splendor, she had no interest in serving him and his fickle nature plus unstable personality. Do you not have feelings for me? Have you not thought of taking me as a concubine like Chen Luan did? Do my looks not entice you? she asked. Tang Fan smiled lightly. Your looks could topple a nation, Miss Xiao. Ive rarely seen anything like you in my life. If I said my heart wasnt moved by them, would that not be me blatantly lying? Theres likely no man under this sky that would dare to say such a thing to your face, is there? She felt a sweetness in her heart. Why dont you want me, then? she then said, displeased. My heart being moved doesnt mean my emotions have been, he said with a smile. Furthermore, those looks of yours being at my side will be nothing but misery for both you and I. Xiao Wu glared at him angrily. Truthfully speaking, she didnt have any affection for him. At most, she enjoyed his handsome, graceful face, and jade-like, orchid-like bearing but her own beauty was something everyone would be hooked on, without exception, even self-important men like Chen Luan. Kicking this iron plate that was Tang Fan really made her feel frustrated. She knew that the most important thing for her right now was simply to first get free of Chen Luans grip, and save herself, before anything else. I understand. Fetch me writing materials in addition to that, I need a maidservant who can write to help me organize my recitation. Tang Fan nodded. What do you think of me doing so, Miss Xiao? She stunned for a minute, then broke out into a lovely smile. There couldnt be anything better than you willingly humbling yourself so that we can collaborate, Sir. Once the insincere masks were gone and they could interact honestly, it was much easier for them to get along than before. Tang Fan no longer needed to behave like a clingy infatuate, and Xiao Wu no longer needed to conceal her identity and feel wronged about everything. She wasnt fond of him because of this, while his impression of her changed. He found that the woman had her own areas of excellence. One night passed. Neither slept, bags under their eyes, but they werent doing anything unspeakable. One was reciting from memory, the other was organizing, until they managed to collate a grains registry. Xiao Wu claimed that she had a highly retentive memory, and that was no lie, as all of the accounting numbers from the registry had been firmly planted into her head. It was little wonder as to why Chen Luan was so panicked after suspecting that she had betrayed him, thus sending an assassin. It could be said that Tang Fans evaluation of the mans psyche had been very on-point. Even if Chen Luan hadnt sent anyone to kill Xiao Wu, Tang Fans group had planned to fabricate another murder plot against her life after the poisoning incident, then frame Chen Luan for it to drive a rift between the two. That wasno longer necessary, as Chen Luan had done it himself, causing her to land fully on their side. This registry Tang Fan held recorded the true details of the government provisions exchange, and proved that Hu Wenzaos previous statement had been correct the granary once had five-thousand shi of provisions left, all of which had been taken away by Chen Luan, then sold to food merchants at high prices. At the end of it all, some old and rotten provisions were sold at an extremely low price for use on the refugees. Such conduct, in the Great Ancestors time, would have gotten him skinned and stuffed. Xiao Wu watched as a look of fury emerged on his face while he flipped through the registry. If this is passed to the capital, Im afraid itll take a while. Chen Luan certainly wont sit and wait for his fate before then. Correct. The one that answered her was not Tang Fan, but Di Han, who had pushed open the door. Millarch Jiang walked in behind him, smiling. After your arrival yesterday, I found people to disguise as you and return to the posthouse as normal. In result, people snuck in last night, planning to assassinate you, and we caught them red-handed. Xiao Wu let out a gasp, a look of lingering fear on her face. Is it Chen Luans people again? He nodded. Yes. What do we do now, then? Millarch Jiang couldnt answer that question. In the room, there were three people with six total eyes, all of them looking at Tang Fan. He weight the registry he held, smiling, and said two words: We wait. Xiao Wus eyes widened. Wait for what? We have the registry, so why cant we take him down?! Clearly, staying in the Brocade Guard post couldnt completely put her at ease. Tang Fan excluded, were anyone to be described as having not slept a wink and hoping that Chen Luan would be apprehended as soon as possible, they could only be her. It wont be for long. He gave her a calming smile. We can do it soon. For Chen Luan, meanwhile, days were passing like years, yet he itched for them to go even slower. Truthfully, things had gone completely out of control by now, and he couldnt quite understand how the situation had suddenly come to this. Two pieces of bad news had come this morning. His uncle the formerly all-powerful Nanjing Minister of Revenue, Chen Zhi had been denounced, and stepped down. The Wan party hadnt been able to defend him. The Emperor had issued a decree; empathizing with his virtuousness, advanced age, and declining health, he told him to return home for recuperation. This sounded honorable, but was actually a dismissal from his post. Chen Zhi was finding it hard to defend himself, so he naturally couldnt care much about Chen Luan. Moreover, Chen Luans low post meant that he couldnt directly contact the Wan party. He had relied on his uncle to build a bridge between them, and now that his uncle was gone, the sole link between them was broken. The second piece of bad news was that the people he had sent to silence Xiao Wu had failed. Not only was the woman not dead, but the assassins had been lost; who knew how much they had revealed? At this point, he certainly couldnt hope that she would keep his secrets. If the grains registry hadnt been lost, or if his uncle hadnt lost power, Chen Luan wouldnt have been that worried, because he knew that wimp, Hu Wenzao, couldnt cough up too much alone. Now that the situation was obviously disadvantageous to him, he was forced to plan his future acts. Within the Magistrates spacious rear hall, Chen Luan, three of his aids, and Yang Ji the Patrolling Censor sat in separate spots. Many people were here, yet the ambience was silent. Yang Jis heart was filled with burning worry. Seeing that everyone had turned into corked gourds, he had to see, You should think of something to do! An aide lightly coughed, saying to Chen Luan, Sir, with things like this, why not ask them for help? Yang Ji quickly perked up his ears, but what he heard confused him. He didnt know who the other meant by them. Beneath everyones expectation looks, Chen Luan slowly said, I already contacted them. Theyre willing to help us. The three aides were overjoyed, but Yang Ji was still in the fog. Brother Chen, what are you talking abou Before he could finished, a servant of the Chens was seen to stumble in from outside. Master, its terrible! A large group of Brocade Guards suddenly arrived outside, and theyve already surrounded the county bureau! You need to get out! Greatly shocked, Yang Ji quickly looked at Chen Luan. The latter just smiled coldly. Just in time. The translator says: I dont know if Ive ever said this, but if anyone is wondering why I put stuff like this humble official once, then switch to I the rest of the time, its because Ive seen several occasions where the original text itself does the same. A few have happened in FYC alone. (Semantic satiation is also a real problem in English.) CH 120 Ever since he had helped Chen Luan with giving Tang Fan money, Yang Ji had been a little regretful. To be blunt, Chen Luan had dashed into misfortune on his own, and was now about to fight against an imperial ambassador why in the hell was he helping to clean up the mess? If Tang Fans group was unable to topple Chen Luan and redirected their fury onto him, Chen Luan likely wouldnt stick his neck out for him. Yet, there was nothing Yang Ji could do. Chen Luan had already tied him onto his boat. Their individual fortunes might not be mutually reliant, but their misfortunes were bound to be shared. Were Chen Luan to fall off of his horse, those unclean affairs under his own rear were going to be brought up soon after, so he was obliged to stand on Chen Luans side. After Tang Fans arrival, the other hadnt made any major moves, neither turning hostile with Chen Luan nor refusing Yang Jis bribe, instead hiding away in the posthouse without going out much. That had put Yang Ji at some ease, thinking that Tang Fans reputation spread far, but he was ultimately still too young. Not everyone could resist such a a large sum of money, Furthermore, Chen Luan had later sent him a beauty, whose loveliness Yang Ji had witnessed; she could practically be stated to put the moon itself to shame. Had Tang Fan not taken the bait of such a huge amount of assets, that would really be unnatural. Yang Ji was merely a Patrolling Censor, not the local Emperor, so his information wasnt as up-to-date as Chen Luans. Hence was why today, while sitting here and listening to Chen Luan say that Tang Fan had not only gotten Hu Wenzao to switch sides, but had even wiped out the two batches of assassins he had sent out, Yang Ji was a bit dazed. Chen Zhi, the Nanjing Minister of Revenue, had been denounced and stepped down? Chen Luan had actually sent people to assassinate Tang Fan? The important bit there wasnt that, but rather that all who Chen Luan had sent for it had never come back. Tang Fan had only brought four people with them, two of which were from the Eastern Depot; what kind of backer did he have to be so safe and sound? That question now had its answer at last. Yang Ji followed behind everyone else out of the Wujiang bureau, then saw that there was a circle of Brocade Guards outside, each one holding sabres and looking like gods of murder. His legs immediately went soft, leaving him almost unable to stand. One of Chen Luans aides quickly helped him up. Chen Luan glanced at him in disdain, then looked at the one that was coming from not too far away behind the Brocade Guards. As Tang Fan gradually approached like he was taking a casual stroll, the Guards parted down the middle to make a path for him. I trust youve been well, Magistrate Chen? he greeted him, his tone similar to how he might ask, Have you eaten breakfast yet? What is the meaning of this, Censor Tang? With such decorated troops in such a large formation, this humble official fears that the bureau doesnt have enough bowls and chopsticks to treat them all with. Chen Luan was smiling lightly, not panicked in the least, an unknown amount of times more collected than Yang Ji. It made Tang Fan regard him a bit higher, but also made him realize that the other being so calm meant that he must have backup. Tang Fan smiled. Youre too kind, Magistrate. Theres no need to worry about food. This official came today to invite Censor Yang and you to come back and speak of past times. Will you all come with me on your own, or will you have these Guard brothers bring you over? If its the latter case, it wont be very nice to witness. While he spoke, Millarch Jiang strode over, stopped beside Tang Fan, and lowered his voice to warn, Sir, this is likely not Chen Luans full nest. Tang Fan nodded slightly, whispering back just as quietly, Well arrest first, talk later. What happened with what I asked you to do? Millarch Jiang smiled. I havent let you down. Suzhous merchant society has already come under control, and none of its people will escape. Tang Fan smiled back. Good. Di Han also known as Sui Zhou had other official business to do, and making a special trip to Suzhou had been his absolute limit, which meant that he couldnt stay long. He had since left Suzhou to head for Jiangxi, making Millarch Jiang fully responsible for cooperating with Tang Fan had aiding him in the final toss of the net. Chen Luan couldnt hear what they were saying, of course, but that didnt stop him from seeing the fully satisfied smiles on their faces. Gaze passing over them, it stopped on a woman in back who was disguised as a man, though that couldnt cover up her beautiful features and he instantly became overcast. He huffed out a laugh. I can see that youre displaying your official power all of a sudden for some unknown reason, Censor Tang. I blame myself for not knowing a certain someone like I thought I did, as I didnt expect that she would go turncoat at the last second! Women will be women theyre long-haired, short-sighed, and cannot be trusted! After many years of being cowed, Xiao Wu was still a little fearful of Chen Luan, too afraid to make eye contact with him and even hiding a bit behind Tang Fan. As soon as she heard this, however, anger arose in her heart as revulsion brewed in her gut. As I see it, youre the one thats short-sighted! she retorted. Dont talk as if you have any deep affection for me! Was you taking care of me all those years not precisely to send me on assignments like this? With all those shameful things you exploited me to do before, everything I did for you, was more than plenty to pay back what you spent on me! Hua Cui was with me for years, yet you killed her and tossed her in a well! I couldnt wrangle with you then, so I was too afraid to speak, but I remembered every single stroke of those debts! Also, your fathers concubine, your sister-in-law how many women have you sullied? Do you want to have a bit of honor, or do you want me to list each one of them?! Im willing to talk, so ask them if theyre willing to listen! The area was silent. Everyone looked at Chen Luan in shock, each gaze different and expressions strange. Most men were loose, and having multiple concubines was commonplace, but if that involved their fathers concubine or older brothers wife or similar woman, that would be disregarding natural human relations, making them inferior to an animal. Chen Luan was enraged. What nonsense are you spouting, you whore?! Even though she was disguised, Xiao Wu twirled her hair out of habit, smiling. Im spouting nonsense? You getting so unscrupulous didnt happen in just a day or two. Is you deceiving the Emperor and looking down upon the Court anything strange? Deeply hating her, yet thoroughly aware that now was not the time to have a battle of words with her, he forcefully suppressed his anger to speak to Tang Fan. I am a Court-appointed official. You want to search my bureau and take me away, but do you have a decree from the Court for that, Censor Tang? Im an imperial ambassador. I may act as I see fit. Chen Luan sneered. But the Courts order was only to investigate the conflict between me, Yang Ji, and Hu Wenzao, as well as conduct a mediation, not for you to come arrest me! Your actions feign imperial decree I will not go with you! Tang Fan rasied a brow. You want to rebel? Youre the one rebelling! Chen Luan shouted. Moving the Brocade Guard in on your own is enough a crime alone for you to suffer! Right as he finished, as if to echo him, a familiar voice came from nearby. Correct! Tang Fan, you have no authority to bring Chen Luan away! Tang Fans group looked towards the sound, then saw Zeng Pei and Wu Zong scrambling over with a small squadron. The Brocade Guard had posts set up in various areas, but the Eastern Depot had none. The troops the two wardens now led had been transferred over by Defending Supervisor Ma Xingfu. When Defending Supervisors had first been established, their authority had been limited to military affairs, and could not meddle with the local government. However, they had later gradually upgraded, and began to meddle in local politics. Despite not being affiliated with the Eastern Depot, as fellow eunuchs, how would they not have any contact with each other? Ma Xingfu was also a member of the Wan party, which was closely bound to the Eastern Depot, and had Shang Mings written command, hence was why he had loaned the wardens manpower. Watching them approach, Tang Fan didnt rush to give an order, his expression quite serene. In contrast, the others had needed to rush a bunch of people over from a long distance, spending no lack of energy, and currently looked a little exhausted and haggard as the previous words were repeated. Y-You have no power to arrest Chen Luan! Millarch Jiang was on Sui Zhous side, not Wan Tongs so he wasnt going to be nice to these two. Bystanders have no power to question the Brocade Guards handling of matters! he said, face cold. Having the gall to obstruct us is akin to rebellion! Oh, very majestic, Millarch Jiang. Why, am even I not allowed to question you? The one who had been half-hidden behind them showed his face. Zeng Pei and Wu Zong quickly made way. They did not unwilling, instead being filled with smug energy, like they had foreseen their counterparts poor luck. Millarch Jiangs expression changed slightly. He cupped his hands reluctantly. Youve graced us with your presence, Eunuch Ma. Pardon me for not going to welcome you. Was the new arrival not Suzhous Defending Supervisor, Ma Xingfu? Tang Fan and Millarch Jiang had previously calculated that Chen Luan might move out rescue forces. Now that his uncle had since stepped down, only the Eastern Depot could help him. They hadnt expected Ma Xingfu to make a personal appearance. Chen Luan and Yang Ji represented Wujiang, while Tang Fan had come to arrest them, Millarch Jiang was backing him with the Brocade Guard, and now even the Eastern Depot had arrived. It was like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each path of immortal ending up at the same place. Ma Xingfus appearance made todays situation even more complex and bizarre. It was good that Hu Wenzao had a prior premonition and hid away in his bureau, refusing to show his face, else he would have been scared to death seeing this scene. Xiao Wu became nervous. She was not a peasant woman that had never seen the world before she had believed that the Brocade Guards abilities were great enough to completely crush Chen Luan, yet another tall mountain had come as the Eastern Depot. If Tang Fan and the Brocade Guard gave in, allowing Chen Luan to escape this calamity, then the first person he would turn to to take revenge on would definitely be her. Could Tang Fan withstand the pressure? She glanced at the man before her. He was standing the same, hands behind his back, with even his verve unchanged. It was impossible for one to judge from his bearing whether he was actually afraid or not. Ma Xingfu was fat, but his voice was slightly feminine. Such a fuss. What are you trying to do? His gaze landed upon Tang Fan. So this is Censor Tang. After you came to Suzhou, I never got to see your face. Fate has let us meet today! He was greeting him on the surface, but his implication was that Tang Fan had been in Suzhou for a long time, yet had never paid him a visit. Defending Supervisors had very heavy power. They could send memorials straight to the Emperor, which made them similar to his eyes and ears. Even if the average official wouldnt want to befriend them, they also wouldnt want to make enemies with them, and would at least pay them a visit out of courtesy. Both sides would put on a show, and face would be given. However, throughout his entire time at Suzhou, Tang Fan seemed to have overlooked Ma Xingfu. He hadnt even sent a gift, to say nothing of visiting himself! How could that not make Ma Xingfu inwardly seethe, Since you dont place importance on me, dont blame me for not giving you any face! Tang Fan had his own plans, of course. Upon hearing Ma Xingfus words that were silk hiding steel, he only sneered. Youre too kind, youre too kind. This Tang failed to be courteous, but I am on official business, making it unsuitable for me to pay visits all over the place, lest His Majesty hear of it and think me to not be taking my assignment seriously. When this assignment is done, I will prepare a generous gift of apology and bring it to your Estate myself. No need! Ma Xingfu raised his voice to the point that it sounded a little shrill. Im unworthy of it! The other nodded. Okay, then. Todays meeting will be regarded as such, and this Tang will no longer visit you at a later date. Having never met someone that looked down upon him so much before, Ma Xingfus nose went crooked in anger. Good good, good! he said in quick succession. You really are out of the ordinary, Censor Tang! Thank you for your excessive praise. Tang Fan smiled warmly at him, then turned serious. I was dispatched to handle this case, so I request that you keep out of the way, Eunuch Ma, lest you accidentally be injured. Come, arrest Chen Luan and Yang Ji, then raid this place! How dare you! Ma Xingfu raged. No one is allowed to move without my order! Tang Fan raised a brow. You are the Defending Supervisor of Suzhou, yet you want to overstep your authority in commanding the Brocade Guard? Tang Fan, you were ordered to come resolve a conflict, yet you made movements in private! How would you, a Left Metropolitan Censor, have the power to dispatch the Brocade Guard?! Ma Xingfu said darkly. Millarch Jiang, the Brocade Guard is the Emperors defense, responsible for find information for him and arresting wrongdoers, yet you are colluding with Tang Fan! Is that not a plot to rebel?! Huh?! Yang Ji gradually came back to himself. Seeing the smug grin at the corner of Chen Luans mouth, then turning his gaze to Tang Fan and Ma Xingfu as they faced off, he came to understand that Chen Luan had long prepared for this. The support he relied upon was the Eastern Depot, and he was able to invite Supervisor Ma to make his own appearance; it was no wonder that he felt no fear hearing that Tang Fan was coming. However, would Tang Fan fall back so easily? Yang Ji hoped so, of course, else Chen Luan would be unlucky, and he wouldnt be getting off any better. Everyones thoughts differed. The situation was on the verge of a breakout. After Ma Xingfus statement, it immediately became more tense. Millarch Jiangs expression was grave. His gaze was fixed upon Ma Xingfu, hand quietly gripping the hilt of his sabre, as if waiting for Tang Fans word. Still, if there was any room to come back from this, he certainly didnt want things to come to that point. Faced with Ma Xingfus questioning of him, Tang Fan responded with a calm smile. Eunuch Ma, what is right and wrong, black and white, is a matter of public opinion. A portion of Chen Luans bribery has already been presented to His Majesty, and I also have evidence of him secretly selling government provisions. As an imperial ambassador, I naturally have the authority to arrest him and take him back for interrogation. Will it be worth it to risk sacrificing your future in helping him? Ma Xingfu laughed loudly. Tang Fan, dont go thinking that Ill fear you because you mentioned your title of imperial ambassador! To tell the truth, I currently hold an order passed on by His Majesty and the Cabinet; before you came to Suzhou, it was already in my hands, instructing me to monitor you in secret, lest you use your power to do something you shouldnt be doing. Saying so, he brought out a written document from a pocket, offering it to Tang Fan. If you dont believe it, how about you read it with your own eyes? Millarch Jiang had someone take it. After examining it himself, he passed it to Tang Fan, whispering while he was at it, Sir, its real. Truthfully, there was no need for Tang Fan to read it to know that it was real. Not everyone had the gall to forge something like an imperial order, and Ma Xingfu wasnt tired of being alive, so why would he get a fake one to swindle Tang Fan? Judging from the date on it, it was as he had claimed; at the same moment Tang Fan had arrived at Suzhou, this order had reached Ma Xingfu, turning into a tool now used to control Tang Fan. Millarch Jiang became a little restless. Ma Xingfu having such an order was tantamount to him being in an invincible position. With the preparations they had, they would likely have to admit defeat. He just feared that Tang Fan, in a moment of impetuousness, would not care, arrest Chen Luan regardless, and have them all turn hostile with Ma Xingfu. No one spoke at present, all watching for Tang Fans reaction. Some were smug, while some were just nervous. Tang Fan took the order, took a very long time to carefully read it through, then ended it with passing it back to Mllarch Jiang, telling him to return it to Ma Xingfu. The latter grinned. Censor Tang, no matter how long you draw this out, its useless. Why, have you determined if its real or false yet? Tang Fan looked calm. Of course its real. How could you fabricate an imperial order? Ma Xingfu smiled in satisfaction, beckoning with a chubby hand. Then youre withdrawing, yes? If anythings amiss, you may as well come to the Supervisor Estate to speak of it. Tang Fan shook his head. Millarch Jiang. Sir? Tang Fan lifted his chin, gesturing at where Chen Luans group was. Arrest them. Ah? Not only was he taken aback, but even Ma Xingfu flew into a violent rage. Tang Fan, you dare to ignore the order?! Whoever dares to move is who I will arrest! In an instant, his troops armed with blades came forward in succession, protecting Chen Luans group in front to form a showdown with the Brocade Guard. The two sides glared at each other, swords drawn, about to explode. Ma Xingfu had brought no fewer people than Millarch Jiang, but the two sides had both been defenders of Suzhou, and were now enemies over whether to catch a County Magistrate or not. It was quite a bit comical, when one thought about it. Chen Luan sneered on the inside, only thinking that Tang Fan was completely courting disaster. This fuss he was kicking up being reported to the Emperor would inevitably be a crime of ignoring imperial will and neglecting the monarch. To be quite serious, dismissal from his post and exile were both possibilities. Ma Xingfu, and the order he held, were Chen Luans secret weapons. He had not revealed them before now because this move was extreme, and if possible, he hadnt wanted to fall out with Tang Fan. Unexpectedly, the other could not be persuaded, insistent upon digging him up, forcing him back step by step. Using a game of the upper echelons, he had taken the drastic measure of taking down Chen Luans uncle. Such was why Chen Luan had been out of ideas, and needed to request help from the Eastern Depot and Ma Xingfu. The imperial order was the equivalent of an imperial decree. Even the Brocade Guard couldnt violate it, yet Tang Fan still wanted to arrest them by force. How could that not be courting death? Ma Xingfu, Chen Luan and Yang Ji have deceived the Emperor. The evidence is conclusive, and justice is upon them, yet you still aid them. What is your intent? Tang Fan asked. He called out his name directly, not as Eunuch Ma, as if he was overlooking the imperial order and wanting to face off against him. Chen Luan, Yang Ji, and even Millarch Jiang couldnt help but look at him like he was insane. Millarch Jiang was even more nervous. His future was basically tied with Tang Fan; if the latter courted death, he wouldnt be able to escape, either. Sir! He couldnt resist tugging Tang Fans sleeve. How about we take a step back and talk more on it later? He has an imperial order, after all! My standpoint is mine alone. You just follow my orders, and I will bear all of the responsibility. The other smiled bitterly on the inside. Prior to his departure, Sui Zhou had told him to listen to Tang Fans every instruction, with no dissent whatsoever. Now, that was being put to the test. Screw it. If I die, I die! This guys throwing caution to the wind! He grit his teeth, then shouted, Brothers, arrest them! Ma Xingfu was shocked and enraged, also shouting out, Stop them! If you encounter resistance, do not hesitate to kill! Right as the word kill left his mouth, the quickest-reacting warden had already raised his sabre to hack at the Brocade Guard in front of him. In that moment of imminent peril, a clang was heard. The sabre he held did not slash his opponent, but instead went flying into the sky. At the same exact time, a squadron madly galloped over from far away. Their leader was in python robes and a black cloak, holding his reins in one hand and his sabre in another. What had just happened appeared to have been his doing. After the object that had hit the sabre landed on the ground, everyone saw that it was a jade thumbring. The two sides were separated by a huge distance, and he was still riding a horse still being able to hit it meant that he had extraordinary vision and skills. Everyone was so startled by that move, they temporarily forgot about the imminent fight, only able to watch the group draw near as it kicked up dust. Ma Xingfu was squinting, very unhappily trying to see what divinity was incoming, but after getting a good look at him, his complexion abruptly changed. What are you trying to do? Rebel? The one in the python robes surveyed his surroundings, then suddenly laughed coldly. Not even dismounting, he looked down upon his counterpart. Ma Xingfu, the older you get, the more you regress. Youre not being a good Supervisor, running off to stick your hands into whatever local politics there are! Ma Xingfus expression was a bit unsightly. What winds blew you here? Anyone that could make this Defending Supervisor change his pallor out of fright was no minor figure everyone was aware of that. However, none of them dared to speak first without know whether he was a friend or foe. Right then, though, Tang Fan said, Youre finally here. You made me wait a good bit. Youre calling me slow? Wang Zhi was not happy. This guy set out the second I got word, traveling both day and night! Thanks to the canals, I only took a few days! I wasnt slow! Hearing the twos familiar tones, how could Chen Luan not understand? Tang Fan had reinforcements! Eunuch Ma! he quickly said. His implication was for Ma Xingfu to quickly resolve what was happening right now, so that the opponent didnt strike first. The reminder was unnecessary, as Ma Xingfu also understood. He glared at Wang Zhi. Eunuch Wang, I am acting under imperial order. Please dont obstruct official business. Wang Zhi sneered. Do you think I came from the capital to talk about old times with you? Tang Fan, receive this edict! As soon as that was said, every last person was alarmed aside from Tang Fan, who was the most collected, making a great bow of honor. This subject will hear it. The Emperor has made a statement: Tang Fan has gained the title of Right Assistant Minister of Justice, and will hold it in tandem with his assignments as a Left Metropolitan Censor. He is also ordered to investigate the Suzhou case. All officials with records of corruption can be denounced according to verified truth, and handled at his discretion. The order was exceedingly simple, lacking those common prefixes that would embellish the wording, but that just made them hear the two most important points better. One was the tandem title of Right Assistant Minister of Justice. That signified that Tang Fans current post of Left Metropolitan Censor was still held, not removed, yet he also held the rank of Right Assistant Minister. The Censor post was truefourth-rank, while the Assistant Minister post was truethird-rank. In other words, Tang Fan was now a major official of truethird-rank, and when other people addressed him, they would generally have to call him Mister Minister to show their respect. This dual-post situation was not uncommon in this Dynasty, because his Assistant Minister post was not a real post, but an empty title to wear. For example, Wang Yue used to be in the Inspectorate, yet held the title of Minister. Thus, strictly speaking, Tang Fan was now still doing Inspectorate work, but his rank had raised a whole level. Still, the significance of that level was great, as in this way, it would be much easier for him to turn the false into the real, and become a genuine Assistant Minister of Justice. Also, he now had the qualifications to enter the Cabinet. The second thing was that he could handle things at his discretion. That sentence had much more injurious strength, Plainly speaking, it allowed him to act first, memorial later. Thus, if Tang Fans promotion had still not been able to make Chen Luans group feel threatened, Wang Zhis final statement certainly made the complexions of many present change. Who could have expected that Tang Fan would have such a backup plan? No one, that was who. Millarch Jiangs gaze that he looked at Tang Fan with completely changed. Xiao Wu, too, understood why Tang Fan had told her to wait before as it was, he had been waiting for exactly that decree. CH 121 After Wang Zhi finished his word-for-word reading of the decree, everyone was dazed where they stood, unable to react. Chen Luan responded a bit quicker than the rest, quickly turning and running into the county bureau but he seemed to have forgotten that if he could successfully flee, the Brocade Guard would have no prestige from now on. As expected, he hadnt run a few steps off before he was thrown bodily to the ground, then hauled up and tied up so tightly, he completely turned into a sacrifice of meat for his ancestors. Wang Zhis eyes swept over Ma Xingfu and the rest, then said lazily, Since thats the case, Sir Tang, hurry up and deal with these small fries. I came on His Majestys order time is precious, and I cant stand all this dilly-dallying! Those words were clearly for Tang Fan, but Ma Xingfu was angered half to death. Small fry?! That was clearly an insult to him! Yet, what could he do about it? Even though Eunuch Wang was young and he had more seniority than him, and even though the Western Depot had poofed like smoke, things had turned around. He was now a high-ranker in the Emperors presence, and his words were heavier than a Defending Supervisors, who was far away in Suzhou. Where is Millarch Jiang? Tang Fan asked. Present! The Millarchs voice was particularly resounding. Arrest Chen Luan, Yang Ji, and their entire group to bring them to justice. Furthermore, Supervisor Ma Xingfu has colluded with Chen Luan to embezzle relief provisions. Zeng Pei and Wu Zong have aided the evildoers; instead of fulfilling their responsibility in protecting an imperial ambassador, they secretly passed Chen Luan information, and helped him fight against the Court! Arrest them, too! Understood! Pale-faced, Ma Xingfu put on a brave front. Who dares arrest me?! Sir Tang, dont presume authority that you dont have! If youre arresting Chen Luan, then do that! What does that have to do with me?! I also have an imperial order and worried that you would unjustly accuse a good official, which is why I had to come forth! Dont capsize the entire boat in one strike, or youll end up getting yourself splashed with water! Tang Fan smiled. Eunuch Ma, you rushed up to stick your neck out for Chen Luan before, so why are you scrambling to distance yourself from him now? Right and wrong will be cleared up during interrogations. I certainly wont wrong a good person, if you are one. Saying so, he put away his smile and called, Get them! Those that followed Ma Xingfu exchanged looks, unsure of whether to protect him or not. The few loyal ones had already drawn their blades, looking to want to square up to the Brocade Guard, but with a wave of Wang Zhis hand, the people behind him simultaneously unveiled their sabres. Their numbers being comparatively higher, Ma Xingfus troops became surrounded, instantly turning weak and pitiful. Wang Zhi sneered. Are you still holding on to the hope that your Director Shang is supporting you? To tell you the honest truth, Shang Ming has since been denounced, removed from the capital, and gone to watch Hongwus tomb. Suzhou isnt that far from Nanjing, so maybe youll be able to meet up with him in the future! That news could crack boulders and shake the sky. As soon as Ma Xingfu heard it, he went stiff all over. You youre talking nonsense! Wang Zhi laughed coldly. Why would I come here just to blab at you?! You can ask him yourself when you see him later whether its nonsense! Millarch Jiang, why havent you arrested them yet? He had been here for no more than a short moment, yet Millarch Jiang already learned of the arrogant aspect of Eunuch Wangs personality. Hearing this, he didnt dare to mosey, ordering his subordinates to arrest them. Perhaps Ma Xingfu had been shocked by Wang Zhis words, as he didnt react, even with two Brocade Guards behind him. Seeing that he was so docile, his subordinates could only set down their weapons and wait to be dealt with. Since even Ma Xingfu had stopped resisting, the rest of them would never be able to keep staunchly resisting, either. Every single one of them, as listless as frostbitten eggplants, allowed the Brocade Guard to arrest them. Yang Ji was wan, squeezing a smile out at Tang Fan. Sir Tang, Sir Tang, I have something to say I was coerced into all of this! I never participated in anything Chen Luan did! Not only that, but I can provide you with even more evidence so that he can never make a comeback, you see can you give me an out? Chen Luan laughed icily hearing that. You never participated in anything? Thats a real joke! You knew about the refugees outside of the city, too, yet you never sent a word out about it! You want to pretend to be a good person now? Theres still those taels I gave you; when the search is underway, theyre bound to find each and every one! That was all you! Were it not for you dragging me into the water, how could I have fallen to this extent?! Yang Ji said angrily. I told you at the start to not be too zealous in what you were doing, but now retribution has come! The two were about to start squabbling. Disinclined to watch dogs biting each other, Tang Fan waved his hand. Take them all away! When Chen Luan was being escorted past Xiao Wu, he glared at her menacingly, resentment seeming to spill out of him. With Tang Fan around, why would she fear him? She just smiled charmingly at him. He was instantly enraged, and couldnt resist cursing, Bitch! Xiao Wu sneered. Since you slept with a bitch, what does that make you? A mongrel? Those nearby all huffed out laughs. Chen Luan quickly went green with rage. Since she no longer needed to act in front of Tang Fan, her doughtiness had grown by the day. When Chen Luan was gone, Tang Fan couldnt help but wonder, You said that he had illicit affairs with his father and brothers women. Was that true, or false? False, of course, Xiao Wu answered automatically. Would he have gotten so stomping mad, otherwise? Seeing that he looked speechless, she added, Still, hes forcefully bound other peoples wives and daughters into being his concubines plenty of times. If you wish to check that, Sir, it can all be verified. Tang Fan nodded. I understand. Chen Luan, Yang Ji, and the rests violation of the law was not quite wrapped up yet. After clearing away the biggest blockage, Tang Fan ordered for mugwort to be burned outside the city, congee stalls to be set up, physicians to be sent to treat the refugees, and a lot of provisions to be excavated from the mouths of those grain merchants that had colluded with Chen Luan in order to feed the refugees. Even so, the refugees had nearly been wiped out by Chen Luan, as not many remained. After receiving proper settlement, their health gradually took a good turn, and then they left Wujiang to return to their hometowns and resume farming the fields, one after the other. Tang Fan prepared a memorial requesting for Wujiang to be exempt from grains taxes for two years; it would not be able to take the refugees completely out of poverty and let them live successful lives from then on, but it was the most he could do within his authority. After Chen Luan was arrested, the post of Wujiangs Magistrate should have been taken by the County Deputy, but the reason why Chen Luan had become Wujiangs local ruler was that those below him had aided in his tyranny a lot. Once he discovered this truth, Tang Fan fired nearly eighty percent of all the officials in Wujiang County. The County now had many vacancies, but that wasnt an issue. The Great Ming had a huge populace, and every year, the reserves of those that had the qualifications to be officials, yet no posts to grab, was uncountable. They were eyeing this area like tigers, as no matter what, it had cushy jobs. Lacking a few Chen Luans meant that many wanted to fill in their positions. During this incident, Hu Wenzaos performance had been within bounds. It couldnt be said to have been good, but he also hadnt been as impudent and vile as Chen Luan to be blunt, he hadnt the guts to do anything terrible, simply having let things run, at worst. After all this, he had likely learned his lesson, and would be more alert from now on. His timely switch of sides was also mentioned in the memorial by Tang Fan, to plead for mercy for him. Hu Wenzao ended up not losing his head nor getting exiled, only being stripped of his post and ordered to retire while retaining his officials status. This was a great fortune within this misfortune. Of course, an officialdom-obsessed person like Hu Wenzao definitely didnt think this to be any sort of great fortune. Once he learned that he wouldnt be able to be an official, he would probably be a wailing mess. Tang Fan had no free time to care about his feelings. Ever since the arrest of Chen Luans group, he had been finding settlements for the refugees without pause, not even able to chat with Wang Zhi for long. It was only when the other was about to return to the capital that he took a break from his work, as well as the chance to sit down and eat together with him. This is all thanks to you. Ive been so busy these days, its made me dizzy, and I havent yet had time to thank you. Lets toast! Tang Fan first poured cups of wine for them both, then stood holding one in his hands, lifted it up slightly, and tilted his head back to down it all in one gulp. You should be thanking me for getting here on time, but, really, this was all your own planning. It didnt have much to do with me. Wang Zhi didnt act polite, downing all the wine in front of him, then pointing at the cup to hint for Tang Fan to refill it. He was a model greedy git. Thankfully, Tang Fan had long gotten used to his personality. He smiled, casually picked up the wine pot, and poured two cups anew. In this event, Tang Fan had made a surprising move with his qi pieces. As all knew, Chen Luans uncle was a member of the Wan party, which was why many felt that Tang Fan working against Chen Luan was basically him working against the party. It was also why no one had had faith in him at the start, as they thought that he would never be able to contend with Chen Luan. Tang Fan never thought so, though. Regardless of how much posturing Chen Luan had in Wujiang, it had been limited to Wujiang. He had no participation in upper-level political strife, and no one regarded him as important. His uncle being in the Wan party did not mean that he himself had been in it too plainly speaking, his post had been too low to be eligible for joining the play. As such, to take down Chen Luan, his uncle had needed to be taken down, first. Nanjings Minister of Revenue was a coveted position, with every single person scrambling to get it. On top of that, many regarded Chen Zhi as an eyesore. Tang Fan had thus exploited that; via the connections he had with Zhang Ying and Huai En, his peers had initiated the denouncement of Chen Zhi. In his flurry, the latter couldnt look after himself, leaving him with no time to look after his nephews status. Every acting official had weaknesses and faults to nitpick, it just depended on whether ones political opponents wanted to make use of them or not. For someone like Tang Fan, if another could one day dig up the fact that he had once written romance novels, they would be able to put on a whole show about it, to say nothing of anyone else. The wall collapsed from everyones pushing right when Tang Fans peers had denounced Chen Zhi, many others had been watching for good opportunities to grab hold of Chen Zhis corruption and bribery faults to attack him with. Liu Ji was wanting to push his own person up into the Minister spot, too, so he had added another fire. Getting massively chastised, Chen Zhis fall was inevitable, and the Wan party couldnt protect him. Him stepping down made it easier to put Chen Luan into order. Still, the other had had another killing truncheon. Hed had a close connection to Suzhous merchant society, and through it, he had given the Eastern Depot many gifts, which was the source of his prior unscrupulousness. Zeng Pei and Wu Zong following Tang Fan all the way South had not only been to protect and monitor him, but to safeguard Chen Luan at critical moments. Eunuch Shang Ming would have hated for Tang Fan to uproot his giant money tree, hence why he had wanted to help him. After coming to understand Chen Luan and the complex, intertwined connections behind him, Tang Fan had chosen to not fight the Wan party to the death, but rather focus his firepower on the Eastern Depot, tying Chen Luans crimes to it. In the memorial he had made Lu Lingxi deliver, he hadnt mentioned one word of Chen Luans other backers, only speaking of the Eastern Depot, asserting that the taels he had given the Emperor were not even a twelfth of what Chen Luan and the Depot had embezzled. He also stated that while His Majesty was cultivating to immortality in the capital, apprehensive and thrifty because the internal treasury was empty, Shang Ming, Ma Xingfu, and Chen Luan, the villains, had meanwhile taken advantage of the Emperor being far away to blatantly hoard a massive amount of wealth. Regarding His Majesty as nothing, they had also hidden that money away and indulged in extravagant lifestyles, yet had turned around and cried to him that they had no money, that even if he could stand for this, they absolutely could not. The Emperor could neglect Court politics, but it should absolutely not be thought that his low intellect made him prone to being deceived. Back when he had just ascended, he had fought hard to clean up the government and indemnify wrongs. Although he had declined over these years, a lion was still a lion, and would at most shut its eyes and be deaf to the sounds of the outside world. If those sounds disturbed his slumber, he would reach out his paw and give people a whack. Tang Fans words had undoubtedly spoken to the bottom of his heart, as well as prodded his soft imperial underbelly. He could tolerate others not doing anything and everyone muddling their days away, but he could not tolerate anyone thinking that he was easy to humiliate and deceive. Most importantly, Tang Fan had solely targeted the Eastern Depot and mauled Shang Ming, not involving anyone else. That not only made the Wan partys backlash minimal, but also caused the Emperor to have no misgivings in dealing with Shang Ming. Had Tang Fan dragged the party down, the Emperor would get pillow talked to due to thinking of Consort Wan, and the matter would definitely be left up in the air. A good deal of elements adding up was why Wang Zhi had shown up here. Tang Fan couldnt have done this by himself, of course; he was just a Censor, and far off in Suzhou. The combined skills of many people had been needed to get this done. For example, when it came to Shang Mings decline, the efforts of Huai En, Wang Zhi, and those officials that hated the Eastern Depot had all been behind it. The internal power struggles of the Cabinet had also been involved. Tang Fan had simply noticed this, then made proper use of it. After Shang Ming had been driven out of the capital, the post of Eastern Depot Director had been immediately filled in by Chen Zhun, a eunuch on Huai Ens side. The Wan party had then realized too late that the Depots power was no longer within their grasp. The situation had undergone a million changes in the span of a breath, its opportunities transient. If they couldnt be grasped one moment, they could only be watched as someone else grabbed them the next. In the refugees opinion, Tang Fans arrival had given them a renewed hope for survival. However, in the opinions of many more people, this misfortune hit not just Chen Luan and Yang Ji, but the Wan party too, in loss of Shang Ming and the Eastern Depot. Its power had weakened a good bit; there was no way it would be able to use the Depot as henchmen or tools that took public weapons up for personal use, or took public revenge for personal grudges, now. Therefore, not only did Tang Fan resolve Suzhous issue, but the Crown Prince had received a significant victory. It could be said to be an evening out, of sorts. Following this, the Crown Prince will definitely be more grateful to you. Even though he didnt say anything, in the future, if well, youll definitely be getting reutilized, Wang Zhi hinted. Everyone was well aware of what the words in that pause had been. Tang Fan shook his head. My original intent wasnt to take down the Eastern Depot, I simply wanted to resolve Suzhous issue. This current conclusion can only be described as a chance coincidence. Moreover, Shang Ming has been overbearing for a long time, which the Heavens couldnt bear to see, hence why this happened. Wang Zhi rolled his eyes. Alright, quit putting on airs. Too much modesty just makes you pretentious. The Crown Prince is going on thirteen by logic, he should be in the Cabinet watching the governmental process, but His Majesty is growing more convinced by the Dao day by day and is lukewarm towards the Prince, so him entering the Cabinet has been repeatedly blocked by the Wan party. Its been put on hold for a very long time. Now that the Eastern Depot is collapsed, their chutzpah will probably be curbed a little. Tang Fan was too far from the capital and not a member of the central power circle, so these little machinations did not get to him promptly. Had it not been for Wang Zhis present explanation, he wouldnt have even known that the Wan party had been preventing the Prince from entering the Cabinet. He shook his head again. I must say, the Wan party is doing everything it can to get in the Princes way. What a very stupid move. Ever since Mings founding, if anyone other than the eldest son thinks to ascend, even if the Emperor dotes on them, they end up with nothing. Just look at how strong Yongle was he favored the Prince of Han far more than the Crown Prince, but didnt the latter ultimately receive the throne? Considering the present ones firmness of will, hes far and away from Yongle. How could he accomplish what he failed to? Facing Wang Zhi, Tang Fan would bare his heart in his words. The former was slightly moved, indeed prior to this, he had never heard of such a viewpoint, but after a careful thought, it really made sense. But is having such insight useful? How can the Wan party be resigned to not putting up a desperate struggle? The throne has been enticing since ancient times. The party doesnt have the guts to rebel, but theyre obsessed with supporting the Emperor, which isnt odd. Its good that youre far from the capital so that you dont get dragged in or made into a raft like that last time in the East Palace. Once the situation in the capital clears up a little, Ill help you petition to return. Saying so, he picked up a piece of osmanthus-candied lotus root, put it in his mouth, and wrinkled his brow. Whats this sugary crap? Tang Fan was speechless. One glance would tell you that its sweet. Why did you pick it up if you dont like that? Wang Zhi slightly scoffed. I was distracted by talking. Only sugary people would like sugary stuff! Tang Fans mouth twitched from having been struck while lying prone. It was good that he had long been used to Eunuch Wangs cold treatment. The next moment, he expressionlessly reached out to pick up another piece of root, bite it, and smile with curved eyes. Its good. The sticky rice is soft, and osmanthus taste strong. By the way, Im pretty shocked; why did His Majesty promote me for no reason? It isnt because I gave him that box of treasures, right? he asked his own question that he couldnt figure out. You think too optimistically. If a gift of silver could net a third-rank official title, the national treasury would never have to worry anymore! Tang Fan smiled. Please clarify for me, Eunuch Wang. Wang Zhi laughed a few times, the sound full of schadenfreude. Its because theres another mess for you to go tidy up, so he needed to give you a sweet jujube! Tang Fan began to noiselessly bury his head in his food. Can I act like I never heard that? No. After eating for a spell, Tang Fan found that not even steamed meat in lotus leaf powder could make him happy. He was forced to set down his chopsticks and question after his fate. What happened this time? You dont need to be so spooked. This actually isnt too complicated a matter. You have bad intentions all over your face, yet you tell me it isnt complicated? Would I believe that? I bet you dont even believe that! Wang Zhi had no care. I wouldnt falsely console you. Why let you steel yourself to take on a task? Besides, youll have the title of Right Assistant Minister of Justice, which will make it much easier for you to act than only having a Censor status would. I brought this up before His Majesty and got it for you. His logic sure was something. When it came to being recklessly unreasonable, Tang Fan had never once surpassed Eunuch Wang. Okay, okay, okay. Explain, then, he said, head hurting. Anyone that had taken the imperial exams knew that in order to kill ones way from nobody to Palace Honorate, there were countless exams of all sizes to take. Among those were six relatively more important ones: county exams, prefectural exams, institutional exams, provincial exams, metropolitan exams, and palace exams. In simple terms, those that could pass the institutional exams were County Honorates, those that could get their names on the provincial rolls were Provincial Honorates, and those that could be on the metropolitan rolls were Tributary Honorates. Those last ones were bound to end up in the palace exams, and not fall off the roll. Institutional exams were conducted twice per three years. Unable to become even a County Magistrate without it, all had to consider them the starting point of their careers. Something had happened in Jian Prefecture of Jiangxis institutional exams at the start of this year. There was nothing out of the ordinary about Jians exam process; it was the same as anywhere else. The head examiner was Shen Kunxiu, currently appointed as Jiangxis Consul of Education. He was an official that had been directly appointed by the Ministry of Rites, and directing exams like this was second nature to him. However, on the day the institutional exam roll had been released, a heaven-shaking scandal had suddenly broken out. It was unknown where the rumors had originated from, but they said that the top twenty exam candidates on the first roll had mostly received their ranks through cheating. Not only that, but the rumors had spread like they had limbs; on all of those candidates scrolls, words like Great Achievement appeared, which had been a signal for alerted appraisers that had accepted bribes, and knew the secret behind them, to give papers high marks whenever they saw the words. Things had become more and more hectic. Within the tumult, the scholars that had fallen off the roll had been the most violently raging. They had first beaten the drums in requesting that something be done, then had brought a commemorative tablet for Confucius out of a Confucian temple, making a clamor outside the Consul Estates gate the official in charge had needed to give an explanation. After Shen Kunxiu had heard the news, he had reacted quickly, checking those candidates papers over, then discovered that the rumors hadnt been too far off the mark. Of the top twenty on the roll, at least sixteen individuals papers had the words Great Achievement in them. That had been no coincidence. Alarmed and furious, he had decided to investigate thoroughly. He had no idea where the rumors had come from, but the most important thing at that time had been to find out if those candidates had actually cheated to get a scholarly title as had been claimed. If proved false, there would then be a thousand methods available for stifling the rumors. Thus, he had first called for the appraising officials to interrogate them individually, who had flatly denied it. He had then sent people to arrest each of the top-twenty scholars to question them one-by-one. The process of learning whether anyone had cheated or not was quite simple: ask a few more exam questions, then have them write on the spot. If they couldnt do it, or if their level was greatly lowered, then there had to be an issue. When Shen Kunxiu used that method, amongst those sixteen people, several had seemed shaken with one attempt. After the topic changed, they had either written their essays sloppily, or their levels had dropped dramatically, completely different beings from the embroidered content of before. At that point, how could Shen Kunxiu have not yet understood? For the sake of killing one to warn a hundred off from following these bad examples, and also to quell the rage of the other scholars, he had promptly sent a memorial to the Court, requesting that all sixteen exam-hopefuls be stripped of their honor and never employed, as well as planning to hold another institutional exam at Jian Prefecture. However, at that time, one of the sixteen title-stripped scholars had hung himself. Prior to death, he had written words in blood on the wall of the room where he had been detained: Grossly wronged beyond compare, I die with my eyes still open. Things had become even more critical, then. Even though Shen Kunxiu had stripped the sixteen of their honors via memorial, before the Court issued a clear degree, they would still be considered County Honorates. One being forced into death by a Consul of Education immediately shocked the entire scholarly circle. If the other had been feeling guilty without yet having the time to tell half-truths after losing his honors, why would he use suicide to proclaim his innocence? Who could say that there was no inside story there? A lot of rumors immediately cropped up, saying that Consul Shen had a grudge with the other party, found an excuse to deal with him, and then caused him to kill himself out of humiliation and fury. It was also claimed that Consul Shen had judged the case incorrectly, and that the dead scholar had been accused unjustly, having not cheated at all. Not long after the incident, Jiangxis Envoy of Education and Envoy of Investigation had sent separate memorials asking for a strict investigation of this case, to distinguish between who was being honest or not, and to use righteousness to observe. Right as Tang Fans Suzhou assignment came to its end, the Emperor told him not to return to the capital, but go straight to Jiangxi to fix this. As Shen Kunxiu was a truethird-rank Consul of Education, his status exceedingly pure and noble, Tang Fans fourth-rank Censor status wouldnt have been enough against him. Therefore, the Emperor had given him the additional title of Right Assistant Minister of Justice with a stroke of his brush, to make it easier for him to investigate. After learning this whole story, Tang Fans feelings were mixed. He only wanted to say one thing right now: There are no free lunches in this world. The ancients really didnt lie to me. CH 122 Tang Fan had originally planned to return to his native home and worship his ancestors after returning from Suzhou, but now that he was still an imperial ambassador and a life debt had broken out in Jian for no good reason, his hopes had subsequently been dashed. Once he had passed the follow-up arrangements to Wang Zhi, he was to ride non-stop to Jian of Jiangxi. Prior to his departure, he lamented to Wang Zhi, I remember that when I got to know you, you had not even reached crowning age yet. A few years have since passed in the wink of an eye. Pitifully, we must part ways after meeting up for not too many days. After todays parting, Im adfraid that I wont be able to see you again until my return to the capital. I do hope youll take extra good care of yourself. Where did you learn to be a sap? Eunuch Wang just replied back. I thought you were different from banal folk, but now I see that youre the most banal of all! Dont forget that youre not yet thirty, yet had already taken the title of a truethird-rank Assistant Minister. Even though its an empty title, youve attained it much earlier than others have. What you need to do now is quickly use the Jiangxi case to establish a huge merit, as in that way, Huai En and I can will be able to speak to His Majesty for you so that you can become an actual Assistant Minister of Justice. I heard that the Cabinet is going to officially nominate new people for entry into the Cabinet next year if youre considered to have enough qualification for that then, that place gives ranks according to time of entry! Every day you get in sooner is an advantage! He had always been like this, bold and unrestrained, with gloom or negativity seemingly forever unable to be seen on him. Even when he occasionally came across a setback, he was never seen to shrink back. Someone like this would inevitably give others a bossy and domineering feeling, while also being infected by an eternal fighting spirit. Tang Fans heart-filling sentimental feelings about this separation were all swept clean away. He could only pull down the corners of his mouth as he repeatedly agreed to him. Unexpectedly, Wang Zhi turned the conversation around, grinning with ill intent. Actually, you should be pretty happy about being able to go to Jiangxi instead of anywhere else. Tang Fan understood nothing. Why is that? Because Sui Guangchuan is there too, eh? You two not seeing each other for one day is like not seeing each other for three autumns. Wont this be exactly as they say, where those that spend some time apart are like newlyweds again meeting up? That purported feeling of melancholy people had while gripping hands and facing one another upon farewell was only a thing of myth and imagination. When facing Wang Zhi, he might as well save those feelings for someone else. Seeing that he had choked him too much to say anything, Eunuch Wang laughed, self-proud. Alas, he has an assignment, so he probably cant look after you, and might not even be in Jian. You not having protectors by your side wont do. A dignified imperial ambassador traveling solo is much too tragic I have four people here that I can happen to lend to you, enough to ensure good faith. When youre in Jians territory, someone will be there in advance to accept you. Dont worry about anything else, there wont be any Eastern Depot lackeys giving you a hard time this time! Those four were Wang Zhis former subordinates of the Western Depot, of intrepid appearance. Tang Fan had met them several times before. They now called out greetings and introduced themselves, separately greeting him, even if they did recognize him. Suffering such an interruption, Tang Fan quit expressing any sort of inner feeling. After saying goodbye, he led the other four in speeding for Jian Prefecture. The distance from Suzhou to Jian wasnt much, meaning that there was no need to rush every single day and that it could be reached in about ten days. Their group of five departed Suzhou, not saying a word of chatter the whole way to their entry into Jiangchang Prefecture. Reaching a local posthouse for rest and refreshments, they encountered an unexpected acquaintance. Brother Tang! the happy voice of someone that had been waiting for a long time outside of the posthouse called out, upon seeing them approach. After confirming that he hadnt seen incorrectly, Tang Fan grew excited. Yiqing? This Yiqing gives my greetings to you, Brother! Lu Lingxi was even more excited, leaping to be in front of Tang Fan with his hands cupped towards him. My fortune hasnt let me down. When I brought the stuff to the capital, I passed them over to Eunuch Wang to handle. I assume that youve resolved what happened in Suzhou already? No need to be so polite. So, the friend Wang Zhi spoke of was you! Tang Fan laughed, helping the other up with both hands as his heart suffused with the joy of finding an old pal. Lu Lingxi was quick-witted in handling things, clever in mind, and quite active. Even though they had not interacted for very long, Tang Fan already felt very fond of the youth, even seeing him as a little brother. When he was following by him before, Tang Fan had unthinkingly taught him a lot of things. That attentive sentiment was something Lu Lingxi had certainly been able to realize. Thats me! Arent you happy to see me, Brother? Lu Lingxi said with a smile, eyes curved in a lovable way. Quit acting like youre a good little boy! Tang Fan accordingly bopped him on the head, the action showing his full closeness. Lu Lingxi covered his head, looking wronged and innocent, though there was a happy grin on his face. Tang Fan grouped up with him. The accompanying group of four had already gone ahead to make proper arrangements for their stay. These people Wang Zhi had given Tang Fan were shrewd and strong, handling a lot of work. All along the journey, there were some things even Tang Fan himself hadnt thought of that they had been quick to do. With their assistance, he had nearly expended no effort this whole trip. Xi Ming and the rest had come from low origins, later becoming valued by Wang Zhi and transferred directly into the Western Depot. They had been devotedly following him ever since. When Wang Zhi had gone to Datong, he hadnt brought them with, thinking to have them watch the Western Depot. Unexpectedly, once the weather had undergone precipitous changes, the Depot had straight-up shut its doors, turning these four into dogs mourning their homes. Following Wang Zhis return to the palace, they were woven into the Left Feathered Forest Guard, turning into imperial guard chiefs defending the Imperial City. Tang Fan was going to Jiangxi the investigate the case of the imperial exams as an imperial ambassador; as no Brocade Guards accompanied him, he couldnt go over alone as a one-man army for no good reason, or people would laugh. The Court therefore needed to send him bodyguards according to standards, firstly to protect the imperial ambassador, and secondly to have that ambassador have the flair that an ambassador ought to, lest the Courts reputation be lost. In light of the fours capabilities, Wang Zhi had told them to follow Tang Fan. Martial experts had the conceit of martial experts; although they said nothing and obeyed his orders, Tang Fan could sense that they were not at all convinced by him. He didnt care, though. Each individual had their individual ways of thinking, and there was no way to force someone else to listen to you wholeheartedly. To speak disrespectfully, even the ol Emperor probably wouldnt be capable of doing that, as in this day and age, plenty of people derided him in private. Given that Xi Mings group could listen to orders, not act on their own, and not voice their own opinions, Tang Fan would be fine. However, what he didnt know was that there was another weighted consideration behind why Wang Zhi had told the four to follow him. Eunuch Wang said that several hints of the White Lotus Society have shown up recently in Jiangxi, Lu Lingxi said. The Brocade Guard has already gone to investigate, but he also said that youve ruined the Societys plans several times, even destroying their Tartar foothold. Over these past few years, their influence has been mostly eliminated, and your contribution to that has been indispensable. They have to hate you to the bone because of that. Thats why Xi Mings group is here, so they can ensure your safety, at the very least. After I heard that, I took it upon myself to volunteer. Another person can overall give you some more protection. Tang Fan was somewhat surprised. The White Lotus Society? To tell the truth, after he had returned from Datong, he hadnt heard that name for quite some time. And yet, this all seemed to be within expectations. Back at the Weining Sealet, Li Zilong had escaped by a fluke, his whereabouts unknown, but from his previous behaviors, the man was abundantly ambitious and certainly unwilling to face defeat. On the contrary, he would wait for an opportunity to do all he could to rise up again. Also, from the gifts Tang Fan had given the Society, he was likely up top on the list of Li Zilongs enemies. Yes. Thats why you must be careful in order to sail a ship that lasts forever, Lu Lingxi answered. Be more cautious, Brother Tang. Starting from today onwards, I wont stray a step away from your side. Tang Fan laughed. Theres really no need to be so nervous. Fate is determined by the Heavens, and its recipients wont escape. Even though this present world isnt one that clothes, feeds, and warms everyone, its generally a land at peace. The scenario of Yuans end, with smoke in all directions and formidable characters coming in groups, has long gone. Average citizens wont want to follow in the Societys nonsense for no reason, meaning it has no soil with which to propagate itself in the first place. Their followers are getting fewer and fewer, and now even their altars have lesser numbers. As long as their few upper-tier members can be wiped out, their opponents will have nothing to worry about. He said as much to Lu Lingxi, but Tang Fan still mentally had some vigilance while thinking of the Societys unorthodox, limitless methods. While it was true that the Societys general actual power was diminishing gradually, it was precisely because it was reaching a dead-end that its counterattacks had turned even more ruthless and rampant. He yet recalled that Li Zilong had been called the second-in-command by the Society followers, which meant that there could be a first-in-command above him if those people could not be excavated, they would undoubtedly become hidden menaces that might pop up at any time. Lu Lingxi didnt notice the secret concern beneath Tang Fans relaxed chat. He had never dealt with the Society before, after all, and had no idea how badly this nefarious sect stuck around. The youths personality combined with his high martial arts caused him to generally have some heroic ambitions that feared nothing. Actually, Brother Tang, before I convened with you, I went on a patrol of Jian Prefecture. Tang Fan raised a brow. Since you said that, what did you ask around about? The other chuckled, having a smidgen of eagerness to curry favor via proving his ability to him. It was all hearsay, but I did indeed hear things. Would you like to hear them too, Brother Tang? Despite the question, his face had the expectation of Come ask me about it, quick written all across it, exceedingly resembling a cute little puppy wagging his tail. Resisting the impulse to pet his head, Tang Fan smiled. If you dont tell me, Im going to go to bed. Afterwards, he saw the others face instantly fall, listless-looking, and ended up laughing aloud. Alright, just say it! Ill listen, okay? Lu Lingxi was not about to throw a little girl tantrum of You told me to say it, so now Im not going to, of course. Hearing him say that, he immediately brightened up. Supposedly, the involved Consultant Shen is terrible with people. When he was still in Nanchang, his relationship with his coworkers in officialdom was average, and now that hes patrolling Jian for exams, hes already caused extreme discontentment everywhere in such a short amount of time. His skills at offending people are truly unmatchable. Tang Fan nodded. Consultant Shens temper really is poor. Those rumors arent too ridiculous. The other was astonished. Youve heard of him before too, Brother Tang? A territorys Consul of Education was also called a Consultant of Education, with every single matter pertaining to teaching and imperial exams the responsibility of the Consul to handle. Someone able to preside over a territorys students needed to be an official with very comprehensive knowledge, making the average Palace Honorate no good they had to be an official that had gone to Hanlin and had some literary fame. Tang Fans type, for example, could someday walk the path of the Consul of Education, then enter the Ministry of Rites. Shen Kunxiu was born in Xian Prefecture, and a Palace Honorate from the fifth year of Jingtai. That he could be the Jiangxi Consul of Education meant that his knowledge had no shallow aspects to it. The scholarly circle spoke of all things north and south of the river, basically anyone with some fame coming to be known in it, but Shen Kunxius fame did not come from his expertise; it came from his brother. An incident had happened before, where, when Shen Kunxiu had just entered Hanlin Academy, everyone had once gathered up to write poetry and bounce off of each others. He had been upset that then-Hanlin member Liu Pengcheng had stuck himself to Head Vizier Xu Youzhen, so he had written a verse mocking him to his face, causing the other party to swiftly leave with a twirl of his sleeve out of anger. Later on, due to Xu Youzhen not getting on with Shi Heng and the rest, he had been booted out of the capital to go be an official in Guangdong. Adding that on to Yu Qians political revolution, Shen Kunxiu had written poems mocking those that had adhered to Xu Youzhen, which had won him a beautified reputation as a clean-streamer. If that was all, it would be no big deal. Reality had proven that in order to be labeled a clean-streamer, only always had to have a weird personality that normal people couldnt comprehend. After Shen Kunxius Hanlin job had been fulfilled, he had held successive posts in the Imperial College and Ministry of Rites. However, in every place he went to, he would just quarrel with and part unhappily with his colleagues, and offend every single person there by the time he finally left his posts. As time went on, people had given him a nickname: Shen Shitstone, which implied that his temper was harder and smellier than a rock inside a pit latrine. Tang Fan feared interacting with people like him the most. If against someone conniving and barbaric like Chen Luan, anyone could fight with wits and valor, but Shen Kunxius type generally wouldnt speak reason with you, because they felt that all the rationality in the land belonged to them, making them immune to all persuasion. Did you hear anything regarding this case? Tang Fan then asked. Consultant Shens voice as Jiangxis Consul of Education is good, and hes also reportedly sincere in his holding of his post. The scholarly circle has high regard towards him. When this case broke out, some people said that he had secret enmity with the deceased and took this opportunity to retaliate, while others said that he had made a cruel ruling. Still, a portion of scholars have spoken out for him, believing that he isnt like that. Tang Fan grasped onto a key point. What did they mean, he has a secret enmity? Ah, right, I forgot to explain that. Its said that the scholar who hung himselfs father is Lin Fengyuan, Balancing Magistrate of Jian Prefecture. The other creased his brow. In other words, the younger gen of an officials household? That really was a bit of a bother. Yes. The enmity between these two families started from the previous generation. Shen Kunxiu won first place when he participated in the county exams back in the day, so he was expected to earn the title of Minor Prime Scorer. Unexpectedly, when he took the institutional exams, he happened to run into Lin Fengyuan, the acting Consul of Education, who straight-up threw out his papers. Not only did he make Shen Kunxiu have to retake the exam, but the title wrongfully passed him by. Now, feng shui has revolved; Lin Fengyuans son happened to be a test-taker under Shen Kunxiu. The latter, knowing that Lin Zhen was Lin Fengyuans son, was giddy, laughing loudly and saying that his revenge was nigh and wrongs would be repented, after which he grabbed onto that handle, crossed Lin Zhens name off the list, and abolished his scholarly title, which was why Lin Zhen hung himself out of shame hey, big brother, why do you look like that? Tang Fans expression was weird. You know that he laughed and what exactly he said? Were you there on the scene to witness it with your eyes? Lu Lingxi scratched his head, laughing dryly. This is all rumors on the street, yeah? Im only relaying them! Tang Fan glared at him. Even though he spoke to him in an admonishing tone, he wasnt angry at all. Since you know those are street rumors, you also know that they cant be taken seriously. If I took them seriously and used them to judge this case, it will invariably generate the idea that first impressions take the lead. The other was a little embarrassed. I only wanted to make you laugh. Still, the grudge between Shen Kunxiu and the Lin family has spread all around the common haunts; baseless, but not necessarily without cause. I thought it would be good to let you know. Tang Fan pat him on the shoulder, then poured him a cup of tea himself. I know you had good intentions, and Im not reproaching you. Keep on talking. Seeing the faint smile at the edges of his mouth, Lu Lingxi immediately became animated again. The three-generation hatred of the Shens and Lins is old. Shen Kunxiu is now truethird-rank, Lin Fengyuan is only a minor Balancing Magistrate, yet their two sons are completely different. Shen Kunxius is a stereotypical fop unlearned, untalented, and not able to recite texts well so he has to bring him everywhere to personally prompt him to study. Meanwhile, Lin Fengyuans son was promising, already earning second-place in the institutional exams at around age sixteen. Shen Kunxiu was unhappy, feeling that comparisons were damning, and therefore murdered the others son. Tang Fans mouth twitched, really unsure of how to react. What was all that junk? The people who made up these tales were really lacking in common decency. With Shen Kunxius character, if he learned of this, he would probably rage to death. He shook his head. Enough. All this can wait until we go to Jian Prefecture and see him ourselves. You said before that the Brocade Guards footprints have been through Jiangxi? Yes. I listened to Eunuch Wang, and after coming to Jiangxi, I was met with not just one group. Theyre in Jianchang Prefecture, too. All of them travel incognito, but anyone with martial arts can tell from their every gesture. Their bearing differ from typical jianghu folk, too. Im almost positive they were Brocade Guards. Tang Fan hesitated for a second. Then, did you come across Sui Zhou? Sui Zhou? Is that the Northern Bastion Envoy? Yes. I didnt. Ive long heard of his name, but Ive unfortunately never met him. I also heard that hes pretty skilled; I would want to see him if I have the chance. Tang Fan thought to himself about how the other had taken his orders to request help from the Suzhou Guard post, which had ended with Sui Zhou-as-Di Han coming over. Maybe the two had already met, yet Lu Lingxi had no idea who he had faced it was a little funny. Brother Tang, do you need to find the Envoy for something? Should I help ask around for you? Lu Lingxi had to ask, observing his body language. Tang Fan shook his head. No need, it was just a random question. Judging from all that you said, this assignment likely wont be breezy. Are you afraid that the White Lotus Society took this chance to stir up trouble? No, its that Shen Kunxiu is not an easy person to get along with, Tang Fan said with a smile. With his personality, hes going to be hard-lined to the end of handling this matter. He has something of a name in the scholarly circle, too I wont be able to strong-arm him. Though, Im guessing that Im not the only with a headache right now, as the Jian Magistrate must have a major one, too. This is all under his jurisdiction, after all, with one being his superior, another his subordinate, and him being unable to take both sides. Lu Lingxi smiled as well. Isnt that just it? Everyone says that the position of Jian Magistrate is unlucky, with its lucky starts clashing in the sky. Thats why the previous one was unlucky, and this one is also unlucky. When it came to information byways, markets and streets were definitely no inferior to officialdom. Furthermore, commoners frequently loved to stretch the truth and add a lot of unlikely elements, just like the previous ancient coffin of the Luo River case. The locals hadnt known the truth, and the White Lotus Society had purposefully spread gossip, making them all believe that it had been the wrath of river gods. Tang Fan had no belief that this information had too much value, but that didnt keep him from hearing it out. The previous one was unlucky? How so? The former Jian Magistrate was Huang Jinglong. A few years ago, because of his prisoner abuse and deviant accusations of good people that caused innocent citizens to be arrested, then tortured to death in prison, the Court had ordered for his arrest after the fact, but he was already dead. The next position-holder has encountered that same kind of poor luck; obviously, its ill-fated. When I went to Jian, it happened to be in time for Duke Guans birthday, and the local Prefectural Magistrate purportedly requested for people to dance for the deity at his bureau! He had once traveled all around the world, never having the opportunity to interact with such matters of officialdom. The longer he was by Tang Fans side, the more he was seeing, and the more his field of view opened. As it turned out, not each and every one of those old officials that had relied upon their knowledge to become Palace Honorates were actually not fully versed in politics or above it all. People like Chen Luan and Yang Ji were admittedly included, and those like Jians Magistrate were further abundant; the higher one went, they could find the tests above getting all the more intense. The Emperor spurred on his subjects, and the subjects exploited him. Everyone fought with wisdom and bravery, thinking up all sorts of different things. A moment of inattention on their path, and they would have no idea when they ended up on the brink of death. Those that appeared to be low-key and prudent might not really be at a disadvantage, possibly pretending to be swine to eat up tigers. Last time, when he had entered the capital with what Tang Fan had entrusted to him, his heart had burned with anxiety, itching to see Huai En or Wang Zhi as soon as possible so that he could save Tang Fan from his perilous situation. The following series of unexpected changes had been enough to overwhelm his eyes. When Shang Mind had lost power and the Eastern Depot had changed ownership, he realized that he seemed to have learned a lot. Even if Shang Mings loss of power had no direct connection to Tang Fan, he had definitely played a part by seizing the opportunity to add to the waves. Had Tang Fan currently been a Cabinet Vizier, that method would have not been a surprise, but he had been no more than a fourth-rank Censor at the time. Being so far away from the capitals core of authority, yet still able to judge the situation at large so accurately, made one gasp in admiration. Such was why whenever Lu Lingxi saw Xi Ming and the rest have an inevitable air of covert arrogance, he would always recall his own self that had just been at Tang Fans side, then not point such out, only huffing to himself: Youre all self-important now, but youre going to respect him by the time this Jiangxi trip is done! Tang Fan gave no notice to Lu Lingxis thoughts. The latter had taken the Jian Magistrate position as an interesting story, but the former was thinking back to what had happened with the former Magistrate, Huang Jinglong. As was known, Sui Zhou had handled this case himself, and Huang Jinglong had suddenly died in prison later, cutting his impression of it in deep. Due to that death, the case had been left hanging afterwards, leaving many riddles behind. Looking at it now, Heavens fate might be at work. What came before was the cause, what came later, the effect there were truly many areas of worthy of deep inquiry in Jian. Whatever was weird in them would have to wait until after Tang Fan came there himself to check each and every one of them. After joining up with Lu Lingxi, the group took a rest in Jianchang Prefecture. Meanwhile, Tang Fan sent people to go on a step ahead and notify the Jian Magistrate. An imperial ambassador out on the road would have themselves announced everywhere they went; it wouldnt be impossible to his their whereabouts, but it would relatively difficult, and not necessary. This time around, Tang Fan was going to investigate without tricks, not go incognito. There was nothing for him to hide. Upon hearing that he was here, the local Jianchang officials scrambled to the posthouse to visit him. Outside officials had an indescribable admiration for capital officials, especially directly-dispatched imperial ambassadors like him. If they could forge a relationship to him or hug his thigh, it would be even better. Still, thigh-hugging needed a survey of the situation. If he was instead someone that opposed the Wan party and left the capital to work on a case, every wouldnt be able to avoid them out of fear fast enough. Why would they ever come closer? Tang Fans circumstances werent much the same. Despite him repeatedly defying the Wan party and having ups and downs in his career path, the Emperor still needed to make use of him. His opposition to the Wan party had instead ended up turning away from peril, and, owing to his repeated cracking of cases, his reputation had grown. Wherever he went, if he really waved his imperial ambassador banner, not only would the local literati and gentry come to visit, but even local officials would come to revere him, wanting to forge a good connection with him. Recently, at the Suzhou cases solving, Chen Luan, Yang Ji, and others had fallen off their horses, and the Eastern Depots tyranny had greatly reduced. Recalling how insufferably overbearing Director Shang Ming had been, had he not still been so dejectedly diminished to the rock-bottom of the Ming tombs? Who with working eyes couldnt link up Shang Mings decline with Tang Fan investigating Chen Luan? Who wasnt inwardly thinking that he was of strong talent and mind? If being able to get one over the Wan party wasnt talent, then what was? That was why, in spite of him trying all he could to reduce his social interactions, there was still an unceasing flow of people coming to visit him. Not only Jianchang officials came, but Jiangxis Envoys of Education and Investigation even sent people to pay their respects. Some people had to be met, else it would easy to give off a too-good-for-you air. Henceforth, even though he didnt like these annoyance, he still had to spend a few days to contend with immortals of various paths. Two days later, he brought his group to Luling County, located in Jian Prefecture. The Jian Magistrate, together with the Luling Magistrate and a group of officials, had since received word and were waiting at the posthouse outside the city. When Tang Fan saw the Luling Magistrate as he stood beside Fan Yuezheng, the Prefectural Magistrate, he couldnt help but be stunned. CH 123 Really adding it up, Tang Fan and he had not seen each other for nearly five or six years. That did not at all prevent familiar memories from rising up as soon as he saw his face. The other must have learned that Tang Fan was coming earlier, so he didnt look as surprised as he did, only looking at him with a slight smile. Keen-eyed, Fan Yuezheng quickly detected Tang Fan abnormal attitude towards the Luling Magistrate. Are you and Magistrate Ji old acquaintances, Sir? he asked with a probing-esque smile. Tang Fan smiled a bit. More than just acquaintances Ziming and I were friends. But, after he left the capital, we lost contact. I didnt expect that while we havent met on a far-off horizon, fate brought us together from a thousand li apart. Wouldnt you say, Ziming? Hearing his name, Ji Min came half a step forth and cupped his hands in greeting. This humble official, Magistrate of Luling, greets you, Sir Tang. Tang Fan held his arms, preventing him from bowing, and grumbled, Why so polite? Ji Min smiled. Personal relationships are personal relationships. Public decency cannot be discarded due to personal reasons; please dont stop me, Sir. Even with that, his tone held no estranged undertones. Tang Fan relaxed a bit knowing that he didnt wish to distance himself, then stopped blocking him, allowing him to give a respectful bow. As friends of old times meeting again, the two naturally had a lot they wanted to say, but because this scene wasnt appropriate for that, they could only put away their ideas for the time being. Tang Fan cast him a regretful look. Seeming to understand what he wanted to say, Ji Min nodded slightly at him, a smile in his eyes that was just like before. Very many people had followed Fan Yuezheng to welcome Tang Fan, pretty much all Jian officials, as well as local gentry. In comparison, Ji Min, the Luling Magistrate, was much too inconspicuous. Amongst this crowd, Shen Kunxius figure did not appear. That was only natural. As a third-rank Consul, there was no need for him to lower himself to come curry favor with Tang Fan, despite the latter having an imperial ambassadors halo. If Shen Kunxiu had come in person, no one would have said anything, but with his character, he definitely wouldnt do something like that. However, after individually introducing him to some important people present, Fan Yuezheng pointed out a youth to Tang Fan. This is the Don of Mister Consuls family. Wuh? Shen Kunxius son? Was there something wrong with Tang Fans hearing? During his speechlessness, the other had since bowed to him. This talentless Shen Si greets you, Sir Tang. Truthfully, one could roughly make out someones personality through what clothes they wore. As an example, whether it was the color, style, or material that Sui Zhou wore, they all gave off a perceptions of meticulous strictness, which was not without connection to his conduct. Meanwhile, this Don Shen before him had a dark-red, Tang-styled jin hat with a massive, gold-inlaid piece of jade embedded in it, and was wearing a Suzhou silk zhidou the color of faded reddish-purple, tied up on the side with an intricately-carved jade ornament strung on a gold-threaded cord. Even his belt had cloud patterns embroidered in multiple colors, truly glittering with golden light. It was simply unbearable to look straight at. Was it that Shen Kunxiu couldnt come himself, so he had asked his son to come in his place? But really, what kind of taste and style was this? Shen Kunxiu was a stately Consul, no matter what, and his own taste ought to be approximate to modern scholars that revered elegance. Why was the son he raised this out-of-the-ordinary? Tang Fan ultimately had profound self-restraint. His dumbstruck state lasted only a short moment, quickly after which he resumed his normal one, slightly smiling as he returned the bow. Youre too polite, Don Shen. How has Consul Shen been? Shen Si laughed, saying carelessly, Not too good. Hes been losing his temper recently, which made staying at home terrible for me, why is why I left. After being startled for a moment, Tang Fan said with a laugh, I will visit him myself tomorrow, so I must trouble you with informing him after I return. Shen Si nodded thoughtlessly. It was unknown if he had been listening. From this conversation, Tang Fan understood that Shen Sis appearance here had definitely not been Shen Kunxius idea. To say nothing of the mans temper, he had not yet been set free from his homicide accusation why would he let his son run off here to greet the imperial ambassador? Even if Shen Kunxiu had a son come greet on his behalf, in regards to Tang Fans reputation, he would absolutely never dispatch such an odd character. For the first time in his life, Tang Fan had no idea how to keep the conversation going with someone. Magistrate Fan appeared to detect his awkwardness, quickly resolving it. Sir Tang, this humble official has prepared a welcoming feast for you to rest from travels. Please enjoy it! Unlike other places, Tang Fan didnt refuse this time, nodding with a smile. Then Ill have to bother you, Magistrate Fan. Seeing his appreciative face, Fan Yuezhengs smile grew a bit more sincere. This way, Sir. The large batch of people that had welcome him was to be disregarded; when they arrived at the restaurant, the miscellaneous gentry were all arranged in outer rooms. Very few people ended up being able to eat at the same table as Tang Fan in his private room. Touched by his light, Ji Min earned a seat, as did Fan Yuezheng, Jians Sub-Magistrate Sun Yu, Shen Si, salt merchant Xu Bin, cloth merchant Fang Huixue, then Tang Fan and Lu Lingxi themselves. Ranking arrangement was very important for an occasion like this. Lu Lingxi was a trusted confidante Tang Fan had brought, but he had no rank, making it not his place to sit beside Tang Fan. He was arranged together with Ji Min. Tang Fan was at the seat of honor, obviously. To his left was Fan Yuezheng, but to his right was not Sun Yu; it was instead Fang Huixue. Xu Bin appeared to be quite a bit unhappy with that, yet said nothing. This piqued Tang Fans interest towards Fang Huixue. A merchant able to both sit alongside officials and also receive a seat next to Tang Fan would naturally not be an ordinary one. Following Fan Yuezhengs introduction, Tang Fan learned that Xu Bin had a friend in a certain Nanjing official, while Fang Huixues daughter was married as the local Envoy of Educations second wife. Xu Bin was whatever. Fang Huixue was in his early forties, fully-bearded and possessing an air of elegance, less like a merchant and more like a scholar. He was very capable of leaving a good impression, however it seemed like his daughters age wouldnt exceed twenty, then. Thinking of the Jiangxi Envoy of Educations age, Tang Fan mentally shook his head a bit and declined to comment. Thinking that he saw Tang Fan being not too interested in these two, Magistrate Fan also believed that he had the bias of other officials where they despised merchants, so he purposefully added on a few things while introducing them. You wouldnt know so, Sir, but Brother Fang here is known as Great Benefactor Fang. Apart from becoming rich by being a traveling merchant, he has also done many great deeds for this area his role in every single built bridge, paved road, and congee given to refugees is indisputable. After Solon Peng retired and returned home, he had heard of Brother Fangs righteous acts, and once personally made calligraphy for him of the words A Helper of Those in Need, which still hangs in his familys main hall today. There it is, Tang Fan thought. Peng Shi was an elder that had lasted through three Courts, good from start to finish, of rather high prestige, and a coincidental native of Luling County. Even though he had passed on a few years ago, the locals still had a lot of respect for him, which made Fang Huixues meteoric rise in worth unsurprising, if he could obtain Peng Shis calligraphy. Now that he was also become the Envoy of Educations support, he had even more respect than the Sub-Magistrate. He smiled lightly. You must be extraordinary to have received the appreciation of a Lord of Belletrism. I will have to admire that calligraphy myself some other day; the Great Benefactor must not drive this official away, when the time comes. This is all Mister Magistrate praising me; how could this commoner dare to think so? Fang Huixue said on repeat. If you wish to visit, my humble home will certainly be lit up by your presence! While they conversed, Magistrate Fan had the food brought out, saying, This humble official knows that you are here to investigate the case of the imperial exams, and I dare not disturb you much, so I have already prepared a room in the posthouse that you may check in to. After today, if you have any summons, you only need to send someone, and I will certainly come over to visit you. Tang Fan waved his hand. Delicious delicacies are on the table! Discussing serious business is rather too depressing. We should have as much fun as possible; anything else can wait for discussion tomorrow. Eager for him to not talk about it, the other smiled at that, That is very true, Sir. How about I toast you, before all else? After three rounds of drinks, the mood of the feast grew energetic. Since Tang Fan was no longer accepting toasts, merely having everyone go their own ways, everyone else could see that he was much more interested in the food than the wine. Thus, they set down their wine cups, and switched to introducing the dishes on the table to him. Youve just come from Suzhou, Sir, so youve likely been eating the utmost of exquisitely. However, you must not think that our Jiangxi is inferior in exquisiteness to the Su-Heng side, Sun Yu said with a smile. When it comes to food, we have a lot to offer that they dont. Take this loach-bored-tofu; first, you need to boil bones for seven or eight shichen for stock, then take it off the heat and let it cool. After that, a whole block of tofu and live loaches are set into the broth. As soon as a low fire heats them up, the loaches will desperately bore into the tofu, and by the time theyre hot enough, both will be fully cooked, the two flavors penetrating into each other. The tofu is soft and tasty, with the fishs umami flavor; its the most delicious thing! The man introduced it to him so enthusiastically, Tang Fan wanted to be nice. He ladled a piece of tofu into his bowl, lowered his head to have a taste, then nodded in praise. It really is tasty! Sun Yu was not simply introducing dishes to Tang Fan, but also hoping to use this chance to leave a good impression on him. He had several same-year friends with posts in the capital that he frequently exchanged letters with, and he had learned from one mouth that there was an Administrator surnamed Weng in their Department of War who had originally been only a County Magistrate in some minor area. Because he had assisted Tang Fan in handling a case, outstanding in abilities and well-known to people, after his Magistrate term expired, his had transferred to serve as an Administrator of War. The capitals Six Ministries were not all cushy jobs, the monetary grease of some bureaus occasionally being inferior to local officials, but the statuses of central government bureaus were not to be mentioned in the same breath as bureaus in other locations. Anyone with the notion to go up in life would definitely hope to get into the Six Ministries. Had Administrator Weng not received Tang Fans favor and recommendation, who would have ever taken notice of a minor County Magistrate? That was why it was said that while competence was important, it was also important to have the appreciation and support of nobles. Sun Yu had no sort of backing bloodline, but he was quite well-informed. Knowing that Tang Fan had no lack of impatience, he wanted to double up on the flattery. If Tang Fan took a liking to him and mentioned a bit about him, that would be all the better. Still, hed had no idea that Mister Tang would have a food obsession, a major, bona fide foodie. Seeing his encouragement, he believed himself to be using the right toadying method, increasingly ecstatic and describing things all the harder. However, Don Shen was heard to suddenly say, Doing nothing but chatting is rather boring. Finding some entertainment would be better, as that would make this meal more flavorful! As soon as Magistrate Fan heard that, he felt that it made some sense. In your view, Don Shen, what entertainment should be found? he asked with a smile. Shen Si answered, without thinking, Why not a few girls to play, sing, and liven things up? The instant that was said, the corners of everyones mouths drew back at the same time. In this Dynasty, officials that visited prostitutes would be sacked, never to be hired again. If songgirls were only asked to come over, play instruments, and sing, that would be fine, though. The problem here was that an imperial ambassador had come to investigate a case. It was his old mans case, even, yet he was in the mood for people to come over and sing how was that okay? Shen Si also appeared to notice that his statement wasnt appropriate, hurriedly laughing. Im a commoner that cant say much of anything elegant. How about all of you come to a decision? Wouldnt match-phrase be better? If you cant match, then you drink. How about it? Fan Yuezheng asked. Everyone present is a learned scholar, aside from me, who is unlearned and unskilled, Xu Bin said with a smile. If we play like that, this humble one will definitely lose every turn, so I have a bit of a crooked idea. How about we set up an ivory chip to play twirl-n-sip? Whoevers turn it is has to answer everyones match, and if he doesnt get one, hell have to drink a cup. What do you all think? Twirl-n-sip was really just guess-n-sip. Nowadays, the popular ivory chips were not counting rods made of bone or ivory, but a clay tumbler doll spun on a table. Whoever it ended up facing was whoever would have to answer questions asked by the others. Everyone felt those game rules to be more invigorating, successively agreeing. Tang Fan had no other ideas, so the initiating Magistrate Fan had the first turn. He forcefully twirled the painted ivory chip; the doll quickly revolved on the table, then slowly slowed its velocity until it stopped on Lu Lingxi. He scratched his head, smiling shyly. Im not great at match-phrase. Can I skip? No regard for superiority was given at the banquet, to say nothing of the fact that Lu Lingxi was only someone Tang Fan had brought, not Tang Fan himself. Everyone, inevitably, said no with smiles. He helplessly cupped his hands. This boy is talentless. Please have mercy, gentlemen! Magistrate Fan went first. Bamboo blooms blue after frost. The difficulty of this couplet was quite low. He wasnt going to deliberately make things hard for him, of course; having heard him say his level was lacking, he had quickly spoken a phrase that would be hardly any problem. Lu Lingxi thought for a minute. Blossoms stir before snow frosts. Tang Fan knew that this guy was clearly dressing up as a pig to devour these tigers. He even had a County Honorate title, so why would he be bad at match-phrase? He couldnt help but secretly glare at him, then say, A view from a high place has no obstructions. Lu Lingxi grinned. When the mind is open, its waves are clear. Sun Yu and the rest wouldnt make it hard for him either, of course. All of them gave blas couplets, and he matched them all without a hitch, avoiding his fate of drinking. However, when it came to be Xu Bins turn, the other laughed and said, At Sir Tangs side, Don Lu must be influenced and read many books of poetry. If this humble one gives one thats too easy, it will be a disrespect to you. Dont you think so? Lu Lingxi smiled. You regard me too highly, Merchant Xu. I may be talentless, but I cannot lose Sir Tang face. Please put forth your question. Someone questioned a couplet of me before, but Ive never been able to match it. Now that Ive come across a lot of sages, I can ask for pointers. The couplet is this: Hans waters, vast and yawning, streams and lakes torrential, waves arising. Every single person was stunned. The first half of this couplet was plain, but all of the original characters contained the three-point water radical.[1] That meant that the second half would have to use an equivalent method. This was merely a drinking game at a welcoming banquet, intended to be fun and amusing, yet Xu Bin had immediately given a couplet like this one. The target was even Lu Lingxi, young and obscure there was quite a bit of an implication that he was making things hard for him. Tang Fans eyes slightly flashed. He glanced at Xu Bin, but the other was the same as ever, just watching Lu Lingxi with a light smile, waiting for him to answer the couplet. The others were also intrigued by this couplet, beginning to ponder it themselves. Magistrate Fan mentally reproached Xu Bin, thinking to himself that if Lu Lingxi couldnt match it, would that not sweep Tang Fans prestige away. As the conventional saying went, beating a dog depended on its owner; if Tang Fan then became unhappy, would it not be he, the Prefectural Magistrate, that would end up unlucky? Tang Fan appeared to not be worried about Lu Lingxi, however. Indeed, right when he sipped his soup, Lu Lingxi said, Lightning in firmament, thundering vibrations while rain spills steadily.[2] Do you think that second half completes it, Merchant Xu? Xu Bin smiled. It does, as expected! You are really too talented, Don Lu! Looks like Ill have to punish myself! Saying so, he lifted up his cup and drank thrice, rather heartily. Everyone also smiled about this turn of the page. When it came to be Don Shens turn at a first couplet, he racked his brains to think one up. It appeared that the hard-up one was not the one matching, but the one giving. His brows twisted in deep thought for a very long time. Uh, well thats a got it! Warm food, fragrant dishes, springtime fills the inn! Everyone: Lu Lingxi held in his laughter. Windows clear, tables clean, the guests come as clouds do. Shen Si heaved a big sigh of relief, aware that his own skill was lackluster, laughing. Brilliant, Don Lu! This match was suitable for the occasion, Don Shen: simple and without frills, Lu Lingxi replied. It really makes me feel rather cordial with you! Immediately overjoyed, Shen Sis sense of self-assurance surged, his impression of Lu Lingxi quickly changing. As it was, they were seated next to each other and also close in age, so they soon chatted about other subjects. The tumbler revolved twice around, for Magistrate Fan and Fang Huixues turns, respectively. As a second-roll Palace Honorate, it wasnt odd that Magistrate Fan was able to match everything. Fang Huixue was a merchant, yet also ended up matching most of them, only having to drink once. Evidently, despite being a merchant, his belly was not completely inkless. Tang Fan was seated beside him. Seeing the mans graceful demeanor and lack of copper stink on his breath, he automatically got a good feeling about him, speaking to him on his own initiative. Fang Huixue was immensely flattered. Able to conduct business in every Southern province, his insight and spirit were incomparable to that of ordinary merchants, and he certainly didnt have ordinary subjects of conversation with Tang Fan. Coincidentally, both of them were extremely invested in the livelihood of citizens. As an official, it was natural that Tang Fan was concerned what was rare that Fang Huixue, as a merchant, was quite understanding of it. On top of that, his words held no pleasure for profits that typical merchants had, instead considerable reverence for the righteous merchant Xian Gao of the Spring and Autumn period. Having heard that Tang Fan had just come from Suzhou, he asked, Sir, this villein heard that Wujiang had a famine last year, and the deaths from it are uncountable. Have things improved by now? This years circumstances are a bit better, but if the refugees want to return to their homelands, Im afraid theyll have to start all over again. Its best to teach people to fish so they can feed themselves. If you dont hate the idea, this commoner is willing to fund the rebuilding of the refugees homes, then give them some money for them to plan out their own livelihoods. Are those free alms? Tang Fan wondered. Fang Huixue smiled. Of course not. If I said it was, you would likely not believe me. The citizens living on the edge of Lake Tai have fished and farmed for generations. Those skills are definitely still there, they just have had their homes completely destroyed, with no money to pick themselves back up. I can help them buy boats or rent new fields. As long the weather comes to be favorable in three years, they could then return that capital and profits to me, and three years later, those things will be theirs to have. In that way, he certainly wouldnt be making any money, maybe even reaping losses. Suzhou is not my domain, Tang Fan said with a smile, but I can pass that along for you. However, like that, your business will lose money. Did you consider that? The other grinned breezily. Benevolent people cannot be wealthy, and they will be divinely punished with time in hell. What someone does, and how much of it they do, is all watched by the Heavens, and recompensed when the time comes. Besides, it may seem like I would lose money in this moment, but in reality, given that public praise spreads for me, everyone will come to know that my fabric business cheats no one and treats fairly. That will actually increase my business all the more. This is why its better to think in the long term. Ive earned a lot doing business these years; if I still didnt understand the logic behind giving alms, I would inevitably invoke calamity one day. I wish to emulate Tao Zhugong, not Shen Wansan! Tang Fan really appreciated his carefree attitude towards money. How generous! If all the merchants in the land were like you, the Court would never need to worry, and the citizens would be blessed! Fang Huixue mocked himself humorously. If that was so, then how could I have received the attention of both Lord Peng and you, Sir? The two looked at each other, both starting to laugh. While they chatted merrily, the tumbler was spun again, then stopped facing Tang Fan. He smiled, saying, Looks like its my turn to embarrass myself. If you please, Magistrate Fan? Giving an imperial ambassador something to match was not simple. Say an easy one, and it wouldnt embody his skill level, instead portraying that they looked down on him. Say one that was too hard and he couldnt match it, the one that had asked the question would be out of luck. Tang Fan was famed for cracking cases, which everyone here knew of, but they had not much of a clue about his literary talents. People like Magistrate Fan and Ji Min must have heard the tale that he had once narrowly become Prime Scorer on the golden palace roll, only to later turn into a mere fourth-ranker, but after he became an official, no collections of his essays or poetry circulated the scholarly circles. For that reason, Magistrate Fan dared not take any risks. After thinking and thinking some more, he finally thought up a couplet that was not too high or too low in difficulty, and once the other matched it, he even let out an inward sigh of relief. At Ji Mins turn, he smiled. I cant think of a good one for right now, so Im going to just use that painting on the wall of a squirrel on a peach branch as one. Behind the branch, a squirrel gazes at peaches and plums. There was hardly any difficulty to speak of in that. Atop the well, a nimble monkey covets the sun and the moon. Peaches and plums grew on the branches, and the sun and the moon could be reflected in the well. Tang Fans matching couplet was clearly rich in wit, and everyone praised it. Several others had their turns presenting first couplets, none able to get one over Tang Fan. When it was Xu Bins turn, he said, If this commoner is remembering correctly, you were ranked fourth on the first golden roll, Sir Tang. Common verses would disgrace you. I have another couplet that I ask you to enlighten me on. Earlier, it could be said that he had only a slight feeling, but now, Tang Fan was completely, doubtlessly sure that the other was gunning for him. However, he didnt know Xu Bin personally, nor had he ever heard of him before. Why was he being so rude over and over again? Tang Fan smiled mildly. Theres no harm in doing so. Sneering on the inside, Xu Bin cleared his throat. A whiteheaded bulbul leads an ox over Changshan, but the oxs knee drops and breaks upon hitting a stone of bone. Several names of medicines were implicitly contained within this match: whitehead for pulsatilla root, leads an ox for morning glories, Changshan for gigil root, stone of bone for talc, and oxs knee for oxknee. He had believed that match to be quite difficult, scarcely imagining that not long after he had said it, Tang Fan would say, A yellow-haired girl scorches grass heaped upon fertile ground; lost protection from the wind burns the grass into black. That also have five names of medicinal ingredients: yellow-hair for bitter yam, scorch(ing) grass for licorice, fertile ground for foxglove rhizomes, protection from the wind for siler roots, and grass black for aconite. The matchup worked, unable to be nitpicked. Not accepting this, Xu Bin added another first couplet. The whiteheaded bubul, wielding a giant ji, straddling a seahorse, fights a hundred meetings with bandits of wood and foes of grass, whirling back around to return to Court, proving itself to the General and its old countrymen. General and old countrymen were alternate names for rhubarb and licorice, respectively. The others giant ji for spurges, seahorse for dried seahorses, bandits of wood for horsetails, foes of grass for shell ginger, whirl(ing) back for yellowhead, and hundred meetings for lilies were all names for herbs, too. Everyone simultaneously smelled a hint of gunpowder. They couldnt help but hold their breaths and pay attention, afraid that Tang Fan wouldnt be able to match that. Magistrate Fans expression was getting uglier. Xu Bin had an unusual backer, so he didnt want to offend him, but how could he have expected that the other would insist upon provoking Tang Fan? Tang Fan laughed a little. The matchmaker, inserting a golden hairpin, wearing silver patterns, surpasses five-fold the mudans and peonies, and cistanches leave the pavilion, just like the cloud-mother of divine immortals. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Magistrate Fan shouted. The others, coming back to themselves, successively cheered. That matching couplet really was wonderful, which went without saying. Cloud-mother of divine immortals was the final dot on the eyes. Muscovite, the cloud-mother, could be used as medicine, and divine immortals referred to divine immortal grass. The fantastic thing about them was that they could also refer to people, and happened to complement generals and old countrymen. Before Xu Bin could speak, Tang Fan arched his brows. You said one match per person. Arent you breaking the rules, Merchant Xu? Should you not be accepting punishment? Correct. Drink, drink! Magistrate Fan said quickly. Xu Bin was really unhappy with this. He had thought that he would be able to embarrass Tang Fan in public and make him lose face, not having expected it to backfire. He lifted his cup, smiling forcefully. Those willing to bet must be ready to lose! Ill drink! He ended it with three cups in a row. At that time, Shen Si started whining. Everyones bosoms are filled with scriptures, which bullies me for being unlearned. Match-phrase is pretty dry why dont we play guess-the-character riddles? Thats not a bad idea, Lu Lingxi echoed, but lets not play twirl-n-sip. Well just solve the riddle directly by ourselves, and whoever answers correctly first, wins. What do you all think? Tang Fan grinned. Thatll be how it goes, then. As the seat of honor, Sir Tang will take the lead, and present us all with a puzzle first, Magistrate Fan hurriedly said. Just now, Magistrate Ji used the first couplet, Behind the branch, a squirrel gazes at peaches and plums. Ill be lazy, and use behind the branch, a squirrel for the puzzles base. While everyone was in the middle of thinking, Ji Min laughed. The answer in hidden in the base itself. Has this humble official guessed correctly? The instant he said that, everyone had a sudden realization was the wood radical (ľ) not in those characters twice?[3] The rat character in squirrel corresponded to the time of the Rat, which was represented by the zi character (). Wood plus zi naturally made the character for plum (). Tang Fan gave a smile. Youre a real talent, Ziming! Youve overpraised me, Sir. Truthfully, Lu Lingxi had already figured out the answer, but he had been just a second too slow. Seeing Tang Fan and Ji Min smile at each other, looking like their mutual understanding had no bounds, he immediately became mighty upset. The translator says: Ji Min last showed up in the first arc, chapter 6. To clarify a little, this match-phrase game is less memorizing preexisting couplets, but making new ones that fit. The one with the similar radicals was definitely preexisting, though. As for the final riddle and all those plant names dont worry about them. Just dont. I dont want to think about them anymore. The authors mini-theatre: Lu Lingxi: Eunuch Wang, isnt this wrong? Wang Zhi: What is? Lu Lingxi: You clearly said that I would only have to confront Sui Zhou. Why has this Ji guy now shown up? With so many feelings of meeting up after a long time? And theyre smiling at each other? Wang Zhi: Whats that have to do with me? How was I supposed to know that Tang guy is so liberal with his affections? Tang Fan: We purely have a friendship between men, got it?! Sui Zhous heart is stopped up. [1] Behold: Ӻ󣬽ϲӿ. (To emulate the feeling of the couplet, every English word in the first part has a in it.) [2] Behold again: 늣Zء(This part has all is.) [3] Take a gander: ֦ CH 124 Apart from the minor disharmonious element that was Xu Bin, the welcoming feast was generally considered joyful between the host and his guests. Due to Magistrate Fans directions, the gentry outside did not dare to come in and bother them rashly, each going their own way after they were finished eating. Tang Fan and the rests table was especially riled up because of the drinking games adding to the liveliness, and when the banquet was over, each of them were a little tipsy. Magistrate Fan personally helped Tang Fan onto a carriage, then instructed the driver to take Mister Ambassador back to the posthouse. Mister Magistrate lowering himself to speak to him made the driver unspeakably giddy, nodding and bowing over and over again in agreement. Tang Fan wasnt actually that terribly drunk, he had just wanted to end the party early with that excuse. Once on the carriage, he released his hold on Lu Lingxi, and his slightly-dulled eyes resumed their clarity. Yiqing, before he gets too far, catch up with Magistrate Jis litter and request that he go to the posthouse. I want to see him. Didnt you just chat a lot with him at the banquet? You want to chat more? Tang Fan bopped him on his skull. Those were just niceties. I have other, official things I need to ask him about. Lu Lingxi was a little reluctant at heart, but he couldnt say no, obliged to jump out of the carriage and run to call for someone. Not long afterwards, he brought Ji Min over. Tang Fan lifted the carriage curtain, smiling at the latter. Ziming, if you find it agreeable, how about you rest at the posthouse tonight? Weve met again after such a long time, I have a lot I want to say to you. Ji Min smiled back. What a coincidence; I also have a lot I want to say to you, Sir. Can your carriage squeeze one more person onto it? The beckoned him over. Two could be accommodated for, let alone one! Get on, quick. We just drank wine, be careful not to catch a cold from the wind! Ji Min wasnt going to play coy, bending over to board the carriage while holding Tang Fans hand. Magistrate Fan had done all he could to curry favor with Tang Fan. The carriage was dolled-up in every aspect; specifically, in order to defend against bumps, it was padded with three layers of thick cotton cushion, and because it was currently summer, those cushions had a bamboo mat laid out atop them. People seated atop them, rather than feel feel the bumps of the carriage moving, would instead feel rather comfortable. It was also very spacious inside, with more than enough room for a full-grown man to lay down in. Fitting Ji Min in was not hard at all. Tang Fan shot a look right at Lu Lingxi, who was sitting outside with the driver, and questioned, Why are you sitting there and not getting in here? Lu Lingxi had thought that with Ji Min here, Brother Tang definitely wanted to whisper secrets to him. To avoid waiting for himself to get driven away, he had simply left out of tactfulness beforehand. Having not expected that Tang Fan would let him sit inside, after a moment of being stunned, he was immediately happy again, agreeing verbally, quickly turning around, then nimbly darting into the carriage. Youre from a martial household, Don Lu? Ji Min asked with a smile. Not at all. I only exchanges some punches with my elders in my childhood to strengthen myself and keep fit. You are both intelligent and physically talented, a dual threat both martial and literary. Will you take the literary exams, or the martial exams someday? Ji Min joked. Lu Lingxi lowered his head and smiled, hiding half of himself behind Tang Fan, as if somewhat bashful. Despite being aware that this wasnt his personality, Tang Fan didnt expose him, instead helping speak for him. Yiqing is an intergenerational friend of mine. Hes young and often mischievous. His elders asked me to take him out and see the world; I see him as a little brother. His implication being that Lu Lingxi was no outsider. I havent seen you for a few years, yet youre the same as ever, Runqing. Always making friends easily! Ji Min said ruefully. Tang Fan laughed. Youve overpraised me, Ziming. Since were friends, we must treat each other with honesty. Speaking of which, you and I havent seen each other for five or six years, right? The other nodded. Its been over five years since I left the capital. Without those other people around, Tang Fan was able to size the man up naturally. Ji Min had long gotten rid of the gloom and upset he had had in the capital. Despite being a few years older than him, he looked not a bit different, the hairs at his temples black and rich with luster. Also, those officials robes themselves had an immense effect once worn, the allure of authority would imperceptibly make one look younger. It looks like Jiangxis resources have kept you well. After coming here, youre more energetic than Ive ever seen you! Tang Fan said with a smile. Ji Min laughed, not avoiding anything. Honestly, I had a lot to do. Once you get busy, you dont have time to think of anything. Before this, I failed the exams repeatedly, and it was easy to let it get to me, always feeling that this was disgraceful, that was a disappointment to myself. However, Ive seen and heard so many things now. When I think of the past, it practically seems like I was having a pipe dream. It was very shameful I dont know if Brother Yuqiao and the rest still remember me, but next time I go to the capital to relay my duties, if theyre still there, Ill have to drop by and apologize! Of course they remember! Werent you in a bad mood them, too? Anyone could understand that, and if they were in your place, their mood wouldnt have been any better. Luck is also quite important in exams; we were simply luckier to get a step ahead of you. If you go over now and they hear of it, theyll definitely be happy for you! Ji Min held in his laughter. You still speak so Before he could finish, the carriage jolted hard, then came to an abrupt stop, succeeded by horses neighing outside. Their cabin swayed harshly, causing them all to hold onto its walls for stability. Sir, dont come out! Don Lu, protect him! Xi Ming shouted outside What happened? Ji Min asked, alarmed. There was no need for Xi Ming to give a special explanation, really. Lu Lingxi had already drawn his sword, gripping it tightly while vigilantly listening to the commotion outside. The sound of blades clashing was heard outside, the intermittent voices of Xi Mings group coming through. Damn bandits! You dare to try assassinating us in the middle of street?! Leave your names if youre the types! Their opponents didnt answer them, naturally. Judging from the sounds Tang Fans group was hearing, the brawl outside out to be rather fierce. Tang Fan was still collected, though, even having the spare leisure to console Ji Min. Dont you worry, Ziming. Xi Ming and them are enough to handle this. Despite saying so, at heart, he couldnt help but furrow his brow. It needed to be known that Xi Mings group of four were all former elites of the Western Depot. With how Wang Zhi was, he would have certainly found it beneath him to send him a few mediocre people. Even Lu Lingxi had said that if the four attacked him together, he probably wouldnt get many moves off by himself. However, as time passed, drip by drop, the fighting outside held no hints of stopping, the metal-on-metal contact turning all the more intense as a raging tempest. At this time, nights curtain had since dropped. Luling County was not considered a small area, but after nightfall, there certainly wouldnt be anyone on the streets, apart from night watchmen or patrolling soldiers. The noise here was so great, patrolling soldiers rushed over hearing it, only to see a carriage stopped in the street and two unknown sides in a fervent fight to the death, their momentum unrelenting, when given a visual estimate. Beside the carriage laid a few figures; seeing their outfits, those were not only the driver, but bailiffs of the county bureau. As soon as the soldiers saw that, they knew that there had to be a certain official seated in the carriage. They exchanged looks, not daring to openly fall back, and also not daring to step forward and mix in with the fight. What they did dare to do was, while having someone go request help, shout out a bluff. Who dares to fight here?! Government soldiers will surely arrive! Quickly put your weapons down and surrender! The ambushers appeared to be dead-set on attacking the carriage, their moves vicious and without mercy. The soldiers shouts did not control them, their focus placed upon Xi Mings group. Right then, a call came from within the carriage. I am Lulings Magistrate, Ji Ming! The imperial ambassador is also in the cabin with me! Why are you all not rushing back to report this?! Hearing that, the soldiers were promptly so frightened, their souls flew out. Luling County was the seat of Jian Prefectures governance, making its people more informed than other areas. They knew that an imperial ambassador had come to Jian to investigate the case of the imperial exams, yet he had encountered assassins the second he had reached Luling Countys bounds if their superiors looked for someone to blame, they would be the first people out of luck. They exchanged looks again, immediately too afraid to sit by and watch. They had to brace themselves in slowly approaching the carriage, fearing that with a moment of inattention, they would turn into cannon fodder like those unlucky devils laying on the ground. Even so, with experts battling, how could they have room to intervene? There were eight ambushers. Xi Mings four had separated to surround the carriage in four directions, one-on-two; it was hard to contend with. Seeing and hearing the noise outside getting all the more fierce while reinforcements were slow to come, Lu Lingxi couldnt sit still in the carriage anymore. He said to Tang Fan, Brother Tang, Ill go out and help, then raised his sword, lifted the curtain, and leapt out. With him joining in, the pressure on Xi Mings group immediately lightened, but the situation was still not turning hopeful. Lu Lingxi said nothing. He had learned from Shaolin and had a past of traveling the land, making his real combat experience nothing shallow. Xi Mings group were also first-class experts, yet five people like them still couldnt match the opponent. The eight black-clothed, face-covered people had come from parts unknown, very vicious and trying to take lives at first blow. Xi Mings group had been caught off guard, nearly suppressed, but they knew that those in the carriage had no strength to resist, so they had to defend the carriages protective line with all their might, not allowing their foes to break through. For Tang Fan and Ji Min in the carriage, seconds practically passed like years. To not make trouble for Xi Ming and the rest, the two didnt poke their heads out to survey the battle circumstances, only staying right where they were, looking at each other. From the very start of his travels back in the day, Tang Fan had experienced an unknown amount of dangers. This present moment didnt count as the most critical, so he was calm on his surface, though his brow was creased in worry for Lu Lingxi and the rests safety. Ji Min refused to show his nervousness before Tang Fan. In spite of his slightly pale face, he kept calm, with only his fists clenched tight. Dont worry. Yiqing and them are very skilled, itll be okay, Tang Fan then comforted him. Ji Min forced out a smile, which was immediately followed by a tight furrowing of his brow. Luling County has been very peaceful before this. Ive never heard of any bandits why is there an assassination attempt on your heel when you got here on your toes? Did you encounter one in Suzhou, too? Tang Fan shook his head. I didnt. Then could it have something to do with the case youre investigating? the other guessed. Tang Fans heart jumped. If anyone were to be said to not want him to come investigate the most, they could only be Shen Kunxiu, without a doubt. However, how could he, a Consul of Education, have gotten into contact with these assassins outside? Was there some inside story to the case? Right as his mind was turning, the sound of horseshoes seemed to come from far away, accompanied by the rising clamor of peoples voices. And, those patrolling soldiers that had only been able to watch helplessly nearby, saw torches draw near, becoming overjoyed. Reinforcements were finally here. The imperial ambassador and Luling Magistrate were surrounded together in a carriage the soldier that had gone to report had needed to go straight to find Magistrate Fan Yuezheng. When the feast had just disbanded, Magistrate Fan had drunk himself drunk, and had been in the middle of heading back to the prefectural bureau. However, when he got to its main gate, he saw a patroll soldier come to report something, out of breath from running. He had said that the imperial ambassador had been ambushed on the way back, with the Luling Magistrate in the same carriage. However much Magistrate Fan had drunk, he had immediately mostly sobered up hearing this, and could not rush off fast enough. His aides, smart, had quickly stopped him, saying that it would be useless for him to go like this, to say nothing of the fact that he would not even saving himself, let alone the ambassador. He needed to hurry to get a rescue team. Feeling that that made sense, he had busily changed trajectory to go find Millarch Tan at Jians Millarch post. The post had no relationship to the Brocade Guard, instead being a local garrison affiliated to the department of Jiangxis Commanding Envoy. Even if it had no connection to the Guard, as soon as it heard Magistrate Fan say that the Courts imperial ambassador had been attacked in Ji Ans territory, it had to send people to rescue him. Because it had been reported that the foes had exceptional skill and many people, Millarch Tan had specifically brought a small squadron carrying firearms. That build-up of twists and turns had then caused a lot of delay. Thankfully, Xi Mings group had held out long enough, as they knew that if anything happened to Tang Fan, that would be equivalent to them failing to protect an imperial ambassador. Even if Wang Zhi didnt reproach them, they would still suffer punishment from the Court. They therefore did all they could to block the onslaught, their bodies having long become riddled in wounds. Their opponents were not doing any better, of course. All eight of them were more or less wounded. Even though their target was the one in the carriage, they also needed to take care to not be captured by miscalculation or get their identities revealed. Thus, the instant they saw a large group of soldiers rush over, they knew that the most favorable opportunity for killing him had passed and it would be difficult for them to find another. One of them, who resembled a leader, was seen to make a hand gesture, and the other seven swiftly flew in the opposite direction from where the soldiers were coming. After they withdrew a certain distance, they turned and ran forth, figures quickly vanishing into the vast night. Lu Lingxi had wanted to give chase, but was held back by Xi Ming. Do you want to die?! In light of the enemys skills, they were roughly a tick higher that Xi Mings group, so this war had left all give of them injured, two amongst them heavily so. The opposing eight had also been wounded, but they had only been light injuries. If Lu Lingxi caught up with them, he would most likely never come back. He had no choice but to listen, rancorous. The soldiers had since scrambled over. Seeing their sorry states, Magistrate Fan was aghast. Whats going on, Sir Tang? Are you okay? I am. Tang Fan disembarked the carriage, followed by Ji Min. This is Millarch Tan, from Jians Millarch post, Magistrate Fan introduced. After hearing the news, this humble official rushed to call him over! His word held no lack of wanting to incur merits for himself. Such conduct was frequently seen in officialdom. Normally, Tang Fan would be in the mood to play polite with him, but right now, he only cupped his hands towards Millarch Tan. Many thanks, Millarch. I will come to visit and thank you personally one day for this favor Ive received! Millarch Tan was wiser than Magistrate Fan. Seeing that the ones at Tang Fans side were moderately injured, he said, This humble official knows some doctors that specialize in traumatic external injuries. If you need them, I will send people to call on them! Not being overly polite, Tang Fan accepted this without hesitation. Then I will have to burden you, Millarch Tan. No need to be so polite, Sir, the other quickly answered. This happening in Jians scope is something I cannot shirk responsibility for. Please, allow this humble official to escort you back. Not to lag behind, Magistrate Fan also said, I will escort you too, Sir! Xi Mings group was injured, two already on the verge of collapse. Tang Fan didnt refuse this, having Xi Ming help his two injured subordinates onto the carriage, then borrowing a few horses from Millarch Tan. Those of the group able to move rode back. Those assassins definitely werent going to return, so, under the personal escort of Millarch Tan and Magistrate Fan, Tang Fans party safely reached the posthouse. Aside from the two heavily injured ones, Xi Mings group had a bunch of slice wounds on their bodies. Lu Lingxi had a slash on his arm deep enough to show bone it had been difficult for him to stay silent the whole time, then after returning, he had haphazardly torn a strip of cloth to staunch the bleeding. It wasnt until doctors came and were about to apply medicine on him that everyone saw how deep the wound was. They had been injured protecting Tang Fan, but, strictly speaking, that had been their job in the first place. Even so, Tang Fan didnt take that at all for granted, instead giving up his own room for the heavily injured patients to stay in, and personally watching the doctors check pulses and question Xi Mings group extensively about the state of their wounds. Once he learned that no one was in life-threatening danger, he ordered them to rest well, then also instructed the posthouse workers to cook them easy-to-digest meat congee tomorrow. Seeing this, even though it didnt show on their faces, Xi Mings group was a bit moved at their hearts. Many officials could put on superficial appearances, and many more would disdain to do even that. They, while described with the nice-sounding words of martial experts, were really just lackeys ordered around, either wandering the world or tossing themselves into officialdom. Even as military generals, their positions were not as high as civil officials. Xi Mings group had thought that with Tang Fans status, he had to be the type to look down his nose at everyone. They themselves had also had some ideas about being dispatched by Wang Zhi to defend a weak civil official, but now that something had happened, Tang Fans actions had caused their views to greatly change. No matter what he was actually thinking, putting on such a thoughtful and meticulous display alone was not being cold to them. A shichen or two had passed since the injured were settled in. Magistrate Fan and Millarch Tan had been sent away by Tang Fan, leaving only Ji Min in the posthouse. Since the main courtyard was given to Xi Ming and them, Tang Fan moved into the side courtyard; even though the posthouse workers had made some temporary arrangements, the conditions were definitely a little worse there. Forgive me, Brother Ziming, he apologized. Look at how you were nearly injured from the mess tonight, and now I left you to dry for over half the day, unable to speak to you alone! Ji Min waved him off. Its fine. Rest tomorrow, too. Therell be no need to rise early. With that, he sighed. Still, the fact that this happened tonight is fishy. I envied you for getting such quick promotions, yet I never expected that your spot would be so perilous. No wonder you had to bring a few martial artists with you! If you didnt have them, would you not be in even more danger? Tang Fan smiled. Things like this arent frequent, really. I never encountered them in Suzhou. He actually had, but his opponents had used a beauty as a honey trap and money for bribes. As was said, Alcohol is a drug perforating the gut, sex is a blade cutting away bone that could be seen as a different form of danger. Hearing this, Ji Mins worries were plain on his face. With Don Lu and the others injured, how will you be safe these few days? Should I send some county bailiffs over? Thank you for your goodwill, but if the enemys skills are the same as the ones from tonight, more people will likely do nothing. You may as well tell Millarch Tan to send me a firearmed squadron, Tang Fan jokingly declined. Ji Min knew that he was speaking the truth, shaking his head. Its me thats useless. When I heard you were coming, I was really happy, thinking that when I met you this time around, we would definitely have a good time reminiscing. I didnt expect that you would encounter assassins upon reaching Lulings territory. I, as a guardian official, have neglected my duty. This has nothing to do with you, dont be ashamed. Can we not still reminisce now? Speaking of which, Ive been wanting to ask since I saw you: did you take part in the metropolitan exams afterwards? Why didnt you come find me when you were in the capital? I didnt return to take the test again. After I returned to my hometown, I met a rich merchant. He appreciated my hard studies in trying to improve myself, so he funded me in facilitating a relationship with the Ministry of Revenue, which got me the position of Luling Deputy. Later on, when the Luling Magistrate ended his term and transferred, he recommended me to his superiors, and I filled in his spot. In this Dynasty, Provincial Honorates could act as officials Tang Fan helping He Lin become a Mentor of Miyun County was because of the latter being a Provincial Honorate but with Ji Mins pride, Tang Fan had always believed that he would not rest until he tested into being a Palace Honorate. Seeming to see what he was thinking, Ji Min smiled in self-mockery. My mother was ill at home, then. I just wanted to get a post to earn money so that I wouldnt need to worry about my elders. Dont worry much. It wasnt that I didnt want to go look for you, its that at the time, you had just gained a foothold in Shuntian Prefecture. Even if you wanted to help, you would probably feel helpless. Bystanders cannot get involved in such matters; I had to resolve it myself. Thats why I didnt inform you, so that you didnt get hung up on it. No wonder I wrote you a few successive letters, yet never got a reply. You had to have been away from home, then? Ji Min sighed. Yes. After coming to Luling, I was so busy, I couldnt get the spare time to return to my homeland. Its really unfilial to speak of. Officials of this Dynasty rarely had vacation time, and it was excessively difficult for officials at the bottom rung to get any. Ji Mins situation was unsurprising; in the Great Ming, a vast many officials had come across much of the same. Runqing, thinking of that day, you and I formed the great wish to both get our names on the golden roll. But not only did continue with my efforts, I became a deserter in order to take a shortcut. I know that that isnt the proper way I dont love hearing you say that, Tang Fan cut him off. Whatever is called the proper way or the crooked way has nothing to do with imperial exams or honors. When it comes to how an acting official presides over the commonfolk, the proper way is being generous. As is known, at the countrys founding, most of the Court officials came from the Imperial College, not from the exams. There was no lack of meritorious officials amongst them did those predecessors not take the proper way? Ah. Ziming, you think too much, and have too heavy a load on your mind. As long as you remain as you are, we will forever be good friends! Ji Mins heart was warm, and he felt in unsuitable to say anything, bowing his head to cover up how touched he was. When his emotions had gradually calmed, he asked. At todays feast, Xu Bin was always targeting you. Do you know why? Im also a bit perplexed by that. Do you know any inside information? A thing or two He wanted to continue on, yet a knock came from the door. Tang Fan wanted to get up and open it, but Ji Min pushed him down and did so himself. The one standing outside was not an assassin, of course, but Lu Lingxi, with the majority of his arm wrapped up. He smiled giddily. Brother Tang, I heard that you two were speaking by candlelight, so I came over. Did I bother you? Tang Fan creased his brow. Youre injured, yet are getting up and doing things instead of resting? Dont make a fuss! I cant sleep, the wound keeps aching. Just let me sit here for a bit! His cutesy tone made him impossible to refuse. Furthermore, whenever he thought of how the other had been wounded for him, Tang Fan couldnt harden his heart to reject him. The issue here was that Xi Ming and the rest were all resting in their rooms, not running off to play coy here, while Lu Lingxi couldnt sit still. Apparently, hes still too young, with a child-like temper. No wonder Huai En wanted him to follow me and temper himself, Tang Fan thought. Even thinking so, his heart softened up. Alright. Just sit here, and say when youre uncomfortable. Lu Lingxi happily agreed, moved a chair over in Tang Fans direction using his uninjured arm, then sat near him. Looking up to see Ji Min staring at him, he automatically returned him with a slightly provocative look, causing the other to be a bit taken aback. The author says (abridged): MXS speaks of how she cant put Wang Zhi and Sui Zhou too much into the texts, or it might seem hackneyed. Then: Wang Zhi: That is, Im a man of status and position. Sui Zhou: That sentence should be split into two. The second part belongs to you, but the man part belongs to me. Wang Zhi: Right, youre a man. A man that lives only in author notes. Sui Zhou: CH 125 Xu Bin had just met face-to-face for the first time, to say nothing of the fact that they had had no prior contact. Even if he held a grudge, he was a merchant, and regardless of how much money he had, he wouldnt dare to confront a Court official. And yet, he had still tried to lose face for and make a stumbling block for an imperial ambassador. Magistrate Fan had previously introduced Xu Bin as a relative of Nanjings Right Assistant Minister of Appointments. That was a bit of a distanced connection; if just anyone shared a hometown or clan with an official, then they could also wave that tigers skin as a banner by claiming a connection. That was why Tang Fan had guessed that Xu Bins status might might have something else to it. Indeed, Ji Min resolved his suspicions. Xu Bins former backer was Minister Chen Zhi. After the other stepped down, he reportedly gave up the majority of his wealth and relied on his connection to the capital to enter Head Vizier Wans eyes, and give him all his salt permits for the next three years. Saying so, he shook his head, half-joking. Everyone says that Chen Zhi meeting with poor luck was because of you. You cause Xu Bin to have no choice but to donate most of his wealth to Head Vizier Wan tell me, does he hate you, or not? Tang Fan saw the light. So thats what it was. I saw how he was looking at me like I owed him several tens of thousands of taels when he tried to embarrass me every time. If he has the big tree that is Wan An backing him, its no wonder he had no scruples! Right. Runqing, you dont need to fear him now, but a vile man like that is best left unprovoked. If you offend a noble, they will scold you a bit to your face at most, but if you offend a villain, they will conspire behind your back. Youre saying that the case Im investigating is likely related to him? I dont know for sure, but there is one thing. On the eve of the institutional exams, Xu Bins son, Xu Sui, had a verbal altercation with the deceased scholar, Lin Zhen, at an academy. They had both participated in this years institutional exams. After the list was revealed, Lin Zhen was in the top twenty, but Xu Sui wasnt. That was actually a very important clue. How did you know about that altercation? Tang Fan wondered. Ji Min shook his head. The Egret Isle Academy they were at is the most famous academy in Jian. One little gust that stirs the grasses can spread to every alley. There had been a big disturbance then, with two sides beginning to fight, where I had nearly gone out to stop it. Purportedly, the headmaster later showed up to calm them down, as had the trouble gotten to me, the scholars would be disgraced, and it might affect their future honors. I understand. This is all very useful, thank you. The day is late; Ill have to wrong you with staying overnight. Ji Min huffed out a laugh. Wrong me how? Im the one that set this posthouse up. I still have a lot of things to discuss with you, so isnt it best for you and I to get some shut-eye together tonight? Before Tang Fan could say anything, the sufficiently mute Lu Lingxi reacted quicker than all others. Brother Tang, my wound really hurts! He hadnt made a peep this whole time, most of his weight leaned against Tang Fan. The latter had thought that he was asleep, that unexpected utterance really startling one into a jump. Tang Fan turned his head to side-eye him. Go back and rest, then. Lu Lingxi chuckled. Can you bring me back? I cant walk. Tang Fan was someone that could be persuaded, not forced. If one was defiant, he might not stand for it, but if one politely asked, he might compromise. Sui Zhou had long figured his character out, and another person had now, too. If Envoy Sui, so far away, learned of this, what would he feel? Ji Min laughed. Don Lu, youre not that young, yet you still have a childlike personality. No wonder Runqing said he sees you as a little brother! That just made Lu Lingxi rather unhappy, unable to disclaim himself from having the personality of a pampered son. His hand refused to loosen on Tang Fans sleeve it held, having much of an air of I want you to help me. Seeing this, Ji Min felt nothing. Ever since his failure at the exams, he had long been seeing instances of coldness and warmth in human relationships, and came to know many human expressions and personalities. Lu Lingxis grade didnt make him wonder even a little. Runqing, you must be tired from running around today. How about I take Don Lu back? No need. Thank you for your goodwill, Brother Ziming. Ill send him off, so you just rest well, and well chat again tomorrow. With Tang Fan having said that, Ji Min couldnt argue, nodding with a smile. Very well. The three of them were staying in one courtyard, which took only a few steps to exist. Lu Lingxi had been able to come over and hear the two chatting with his injury, so there was no reason that he couldnt take those few steps; Tang Fan figured that he likely had something to say to him alone. Granting his want, he led him back to his room. Lu Lingxi was legitimately tired, but he still preserved his spirits. As soon as he entered his room, he couldnt resist flopping down onto the bed. Tang Fan felt a bit heartsick and guilty seeing this, chiding, Anything to say can wait until tomorrow. If you had been sleeping here to begin with, you wouldnt be so exhausted. The other gave him a weary smile. I heard Eunuch Wang speak of the White Lotus Society before, and I didnt take it to heart, thinking that with people like us by your side protecting you, nothing would happen. Only now do I know that I couldnt have been more wrong. A few unknown bandits at night put us in such a sorry state; if there were any more people, you might now be Im terrified just thinking of it. Thats why I cant leave you alone somewhere I cant see. Tang Fan was amused. This is a posthouse. Whats going to happen? Dont think too much. Its good to be careful, but you cant be on guard against enemies hiding around every corner. How else are you going to sleep at night? Lu Lingxi grabbed his sleeve. Brother, cant you sleep here tonight? I need to see you to be at ease, or Im going to go stand guard outside your room. Its your choice; dont tell me that you have to heart to make me spend the night outside! Tang Fan really had no way to handle him. Go to my room, then. The beds a bit bigger, this one cant hold two people. Lu Lingxi made a happy noise. He had limped out of unwellness a moment before, yet now immediately leapt out of bed like he wasnt injured at all. Despite being June, it wasnt too warm at night. The cooling mats spread out on the bed were quite refreshing, and there was just enough room for two men to lie down on without too much tossing and turning. However, Lu Lingxi had an excited energy for some reason, and he would not stop wriggling like a caterpillar. Tang Fan had to reach out and stop him. You were sitting with Shen Si all night. Did you find anything out? Remembering his proper business now that he was reminded of it, Lu Lingxi flushed with shame and quickly coughed to cover up his awkwardness. A little bit. I think that Don Shen is a really big moron. Tang Fan raised a brow. Why do you say that? Lu Lingxi smiled. I had looked at his act during the banquet and believed that he intentionally obfuscated stupidity, but a few sentences in, I learned that hes been relying on his dads status to wreak havoc for a few years: theres been no huge mistake that he hasnt made, an unceasing amount of minor offenses, and no progress in his studies. It was out of anger that Shen Kunxiu brought his son everywhere with him. If he really was faking it, there would be no need to hide it from his own dad, nor for so many years. Tang Fan shook his head. Shen Kunxiu is old-fashioned in personality, but he has quite some knowledge. Making a son like that must have been bad karma from his previous life. The father was implicated in the case and needed to avoid suspicion, yet the son had still openly attended a feast, and one for welcoming an imperial ambassador, no less. Those not in the know believed that he had come to bribe the imperial ambassador on his fathers orders. If Shen Kunxiu knew of this, he would likely rage to death. With a son like that, it was little wonder as to why he wanted to bring him around and keep an eye on him. If he wasnt with him. Shen Si might cause problems. Im about the same age as him. Dont you think Im a lot cuter than him by comparison, Brother Tang? Lu Lingxi asked with a grin. Tang Fan rolled his eyes at him. Your aspirations are pretty low. You might as well try to compare to me if youre actually comparing yourself to him! Refined and outstandingly handsome, Tang Fan did not err on the sides of boyish or womanly in looks. Throwing out an eye-roll naturally couldnt throw out any sense of loveliness or style, either; an eye-roll was just an eye-roll. In the eyes of those fond of him, however, he looked good no matter what. Lu Lingxi immediately asked him, like a pest, Brother Tang, tell me how you were when you were a teen, then! Tang Fan didnt jump on the opportunity, however. Did you hurt your arm, or your head? Why does it seem like you suddenly became ten years younger, even learning how to play coy. Its late; behave and sleep now! With that, he turned so his back faced Lu Lingxi. The latter wanted to place his hand on his waist, but he feared that Tang Fan would get angry and turn hostile, having a villains heart but not ones guts. He had to resentfully stare at the back in front of him, thoughts turning rampantly, but because he was too worn-out, he unwittingly fell asleep. No words were said for a night. The day after, Tang Fan did not rise early, since there had been an assassination last night and he had been busy for most of the night before he could sleep. When he did get up, he heard from a posthouse person that Magistrate Fan dropped by, and was now waiting outside to meet with him. The Magistrate had been waiting most of the morning. Too afraid to rouse Tang Fan with noise, he hadnt even allowed anyone to make a report until Tang Fan woke up by himself. Seeing Tang Fan walk in, properly dressed, he hurriedly got up and bowed. This humble officials greets you, Sir. No need to be so polite, Magistrate Fan. Why did no one wake me up when something happened? Magistrate Fan dryly laughed, as how could he have dared? I am here specifically to apologize to you, Sir. After the assassination attempt on the streets last night, I was immensely shocked, and together with Millarch Tan, I launched an investigation to search everywhere in the city overnight. Now that people have been sent to hurry the search, we must be close to finding those villains! Despite saying as much, he knew himself that the chances of finding anyone were beyond slim. They hadnt been able to catch them last night, so wanting to catch them now was very troublesome. If the assassins had assumed other identities, when the soldiers searched, they would definitely only go into the homes of civilians, which missed many clues and was no different than trying to find needles on the seafloor. As a local official, Magistrate Fan bore this responsibility, but Tang Fan had personally experienced those assassins might. They had clearly been prepared, and had been able to retreat intact; given that they had shelters in the city that they could hide in any time, they could disguise themselves as ordinary civilians and leave the city at daybreak. Who would even find them? For that reason, he didnt lay too much responsibility on the Magistrate for investigating this. Dont blame yourself. You have already fulfilled your duties. No one had anticipated this, in any case, so theres no need to speak more on it. However, from now on, some more caution is needed. I hope nothing like this happens a second time. Magistrate Fan shivered. This humble official understands that lesson, Sir, and I acknowledge my wrongs! Your subordinates were all injured; I specially borrowed a few skilled soldiers from Millarch Tan for you to sent out. What is your opinion on this? His behavior completely differed from Chen Luans. Chen Luan had relied on his supporter to look down upon Tang Fan, while Fan Yuezheng feared misstepping and being reproached by the imperial ambassador, his black cap no longer ensured thereafter, so he was fawning on Tang Fan to the best of his abilities out of fear that his service would be lacking. Tang Fan had a think. Now that two of the four Wang Zhi had given him were seriously injured, the usable subordinates at his side were greatly diminished, so he nodded. Arrange for them to stand guard around the posthouse, then. Sorry to trouble you. A superior willing to receive his goodwill and not express an intention to look into his faults made Magistrate Fan delighted, and he mentally wiped off his sweat. This is within my duties! It is what should be done! After he left, Lu Lingxi came in. Brother Tang, everyone he found are soldiers from the army. I could probably say that their abilities are limited, and even more say that they cant top mine! Arent you resting? Why did you get up again? Lu Lingxi laughed. Even youre up, so how could I keep sleeping? I said before that wherever you go, Im going with you. How could I defend you, otherwise? I dont what a repeat of what happened last night! His complexion was a bit wan, but his energy was decent. The youth had recovered quickly, the severity of his wounds being lighter than Xi Mings groups. As long as he didnt move his injured arm, there would generally be no issue to speak of. Don Lu is right! Xi Ming and Han Jin came in from outside, picking the conversation up. They had been the least injured of the four last night. Sir, that group that failed to succeed last night will certainly try to make a comeback. You must have people around you. Tang Fan furrowed his brow. But all of your injuries Xi Ming smiled brightly. We have no internal injuries and can walk around. You dont need to worry, Sir! Since they were so insistent, Tang Fan couldnt object anymore. In that case, when breakfast is done, Xi Ming and Han Jin will follow me to visit Shen Kunxiu. Yiqing, you go ask Magistrate Fan for Lin Zhens corpse, then find a coroner to identify his cause of death. Every day this case went uninvestigated was a day the institutional exams would go unrepeated. Because this case involved the County Honorate title of many other scholars, if their accusations of cheating were confirmed, then Lin Zhen had senselessly died, killing himself to avoid the crime. Those scholars would never have their honors resumed, either. If it became verified that Shen Kunxiu had cruelly misjudged the case and made up false charges, and the scholars hadnt cheated, his career would be over. This was a simply topic, and how the case should be judged was all in Tang Fans hands alone. If Shen Kunxiu was any other official, even if he wasnt guilty, he would certainly rush to cozy up to Tang Fan right now, lest his neglect led Tang Fan to anger and caused him to incline towards the scholars. However, Shen Kunxiu did not do that from yesterday to today, he did not show up, nor had he even gotten someone to come over and greet Tang Fan. It was unclear whether he was overly open-minded, or way too aloof and conceited. Xi Ming and Han Jin simultaneously agreed, but Lu Lingxi was a bit reluctant. Brother Tang, how about I come along with them? Tang Fan pat his head. Do what youre told. Lu Lingxi imperceptibly held in a smirk, content with his place in life. Notices needed to be delivered before paying a visit, but Tang Fan was an imperial ambassador that didnt need to be constrained by that rule. He brought Xi Ming and Han Jin straight to where Shen Kunxiu was staying. The city had two posthouses. One was where Tang Fan was, and the other was currently occupied by Shen Kunxiu. As the Jiangxi Consul of Education, his permanent residence was in Nancheng Prefecture, and he always stayed at posthouses when he patrolled the various prefectures in the provinces. Now that he was deeply bothered by the case, he didnt leave his door rashly, naturally being there when Tang Fan came. Both of them were in the third rank. Due to Tang Fans status, Shen Kunxiu had to be especially half-courteous toward him, which Tang Fan did not reject. After they took their seats, he spoke no extra nonsense, getting straight to the point. I just came here, and the only sources for this case are Court reports and rumors. Please describe everything from start to finish, Consultant Shen. Shen Kunxiu began to explain. Truthfully, this matter was not that complicated. Ever since the Tang Dynasty, imperial exams had been used to employ scholars. Some had then begun to cheat in order to snatch every opportunity, and since this Dynasty had developed to the realm of having great achievements, many test-takers would have no scruples in acquiring honors. Hiding tiny cheat-sheets in clothes or hidings things in ones hat or soles were too low-brow not only was it easy to detect, but ones future prospects would be ruined so many intelligent folk had thought of a way to cheat from the source: bribing the evaluating officials. Evaluators were human, too. Humans had desires, meaning they had weaknesses. However, following the Song Dynasty, prior to exam papers being presented to the grading officials, they would be re-transcribed. No one could be told apart from their handwriting, with even their names muddled, only to be clarified after the results were public. For that reason, telling a grading officials your name ahead of time os that they could pick you out was a useless method, unless you could get the test questions straight from the overseeing officials. Still, the world had successive generations of talents, so a new way to cheat would quickly appear: making an appointment with the grading officials in advance to formulate a codeword. This time around in the institutional exams, Great Achievement had been a code, which the exam-takers had thought hard about how to cram into their papers. When the evaluators had seen it, they would understand that this was the agreed-upon codeword, and the paper needed to pass. The last exams had been an archetypal codeword cheat, but Shen Kunxiu had not detected it beforehand. He had overseen many exams, with Jian Prefecture being only one of his posts, so this was not at all strange, when added with his limited energy. After the evaluators had laid out all the ranks of the graded exams, he had only briefly skimmed over the first couple of papers, felt that there was no issue, and agreed to announce the roll. He hadnt expected that something big would happen. The deceased Lin Zhen included, Great Achievement had shown up in sixteen peoples papers total. Shen Kunxius interrogation of the evaluators had yielded nothing. He had gathered those sixteen together and had them re-take tests, which had resulted in many poked holes; on that basis, he had believed that the sixteen had not been unjustly accused, so they needed to have their honors stripped, never to be employed. That had pretty much been a bolt from a blue sky to that group of honors-obsessed scholars, and had subsequently made Lin Zhen hang himself. Hearing all this, Tang Fan asked, Since you re-examined the sixteen, you presumably still have their papers? I do. Can I look at them? Those papers were important evidences, so Shen Kunxiu still had them safe. He found them immediately, and, together with the sixteen papers from the institutional exam, handed them all to Tang Fan. Tang Fan read them, then wondered, Consul Shen, Lin Zhen was at the same level in both of his papers, with no huge discrepancy. The last-minute re-examination afterwards is not any inferior. Clearly, these are articles made with real abilities. How so? Shen Kunxiu countered. The two papers were not that far apart in difference, but that doesnt men that he didnt chat. Great Achievement appeared in his previous paper. Clearly, he had been looking for easy advantages at the time, and with those words, he would have extra protection. Too bad that his plot was exposed. That was reasonable, of course. He couldnt be said to be wrong. However, if any other official of education had run into that situation, had they found that a test-taker was similar in both papers after the second exam, they would generally choose to let those people have an out. Those that did indeed have a great difference in their post-level would be expelled, and a blind eye would be turned to those otherwise. Because scholar-officials were in charge of public opinions nowadays, and all scholar-officials had been students before. The Emperor appeared to be up on high and solely reigning supreme, yet he actually wasnt alone in governing the realm, ruling it together with the civil officials. Thus, he was a little more lenient towards them. A story had passed around some area once, where one year, owing to a natural disaster, the amount of people participating in the institutional exams had been much smaller compared to previous years. In the end, the number of people getting County Honorate had been higher, with only five falling off the roll. The rest of those who had passed had sent a joint petition upwards, requesting that the head examiner pass the five that had fallen off in order to send a good message. The examiner had believed that to make sense, so he had admitted the five others. This event had later spread amongst the literary circle, and no one ever said that the head examiner had been wrong, instead all praising him. Hence, Shen Kunxius conduct, compared to common practices of education officials, was quite a bit too harsh. Of course, it couldnt be said that he was wrong because of that, since, just like he had said, those sixteen really were suspicious. There might really had been people able to pass with their actual talents, but felt that their chances of passing would be greater with a codeword, following the example only to end up in a tragic state. Tang Fans investigation really had two key points to it: one was whether the sixteen should be ousted all together, and the second was to see if Lin Zhens death had been forced by Shen Kunxius actions. After coming to Jian, I heard some rumors related to you, Consul Shen. Shen Kunxiu creased his brow. What rumors? Lin Zhens father had a personal grudge with you from the past? Bunch of drivel! Shen Kunxius reaction was quite severe. He smacked the table. Who was it that blurted that to you, Censor Tang? Lin Zhen and them had obvious hints of cheating! I expelled them out of a will for fair play! How could any bit of slander be tolerated?! Seeing him flush red from irritation, Tang Fan asked, No need to be angry. Even if theyre rumors, its my responsibility to ask after them to understand. Also, after the roll was released, the motives behind those who had brewed up the cheating rumors are extremely suspicious. Did you ever look into that? Shen Kunxiu had not. By the time he had learned the news, everything had already turned into a huge fuss. He had been occupied with stamping out the fire, so how could he have been of the mind to look for the one who had set it? Hearing Tang Fans question, his face darkened. No! Then did you question those evaluators again? How did they get into contact with the test-takers for cheating? After I did, they refused to admit anything. Tang Fan frowned. Had they not admitted anything, or had he not thought to ask? Cheating was obviously impossible to do on the exam-takers efforts alone. The cooperation of evaluators was essential. How would the codeword come about in the first place, otherwise? Seeing Tang Fans frowning face, Shen Kunxiu was mighty unhappy. He had searched inside him and concluded that he had done nothing wrong in his handling of this event, and it was only because of the mess with Lin Zhens death that he had ended up the object of public criticism. Now that the Court had sent an imperial ambassador to handle things, he had no comment, but seeing that Tang Fan was young in age yet using a tone of voice like he had come to arrest him as a criminal, Shen Kunxiu automatically became angry. Excuse me for asking, but how many evaluators were in the institutional exams, and what were their respective origins? Five altogether, all headmasters at Jians academies. Where are they now? I want to meet with them. They all went home. Tang Fan couldnt take this anymore. As theyre involved in this case, all of them are suspicious. You very clearly knew that the Court was going to send people down to investigate, yet you let them go home? What is your reasoning?! Shen Kunxiu grunted. If youre dissatisfied, you can always call them back for questioning! Tang Fan was especially enraged by his uncooperative attitude. This guy was obviously the one to bungle things, yet he still looked self-assured what right did he have to try to intimidate anyone?! Ill be making a report of this, he said, expression sunken. Meaning, Im going to complain about you. However, Shen Kunxiu replied, in a stuffy voice, Do what you please! Their discussion ended unhappily. Knowing Shen Kunxius temper well, Tang Fan didnt bother adding words to a bad situation. He stood with a bang, prepared to brush out his sleeves and leave, only for him to see someone scramble in from outside with a panicked look. Master, Master! Its terrible! Upon seeing Tang Fan, his voice stopped dead, yet the expression on his face didnt detract, seeming quite odd. Noticing that the other not saying anything meant that he didnt want him to hear, Tang Fan was disinterested in remaining here. He said a farewell to Shen Kunxiu, then strode away with Xi Ming and Han Jin. Shen Kunxiu never rose to send him off, remaining seated. The second they left, Xi Ming said to Tang Fan, Sir, his servant had an off expression just now. Tang Fan nodded. He had also noticed that the man had been overly shocked. Had something only minor occurred, he wouldnt have been like that. Go ask around for what happened. Go find the five evaluators and some of the scholars that had cheaters, too. I have to question them. You can go to Magistrate Fan; hell have to help. Xi Ming affirmed all of that. If there really had been a cheating scheme, the evaluators role in it was indispensable, yet Shen Kunxiu had let them go without a single word. It was hard to not be suspicious. Even though Shen Kunxiu had made it evident that he wasnt going to cooperate, Tang Fan didnt believe that he wouldnt be able to do anything without him. This case hadnt been complicated at the start, yet with those related to it nowhere to be seen, there was no way to start on it. Xi Ming accepted his orders and quickly went to find Magistrate Fan. Tang Fan brought Han Jin back to rest, but Lu Lingxi had already returned. Brother Tang, Lin Fengyuan said that Li Zhens body has since been buried. CH 126 Upon hearing this, Tang Fan immediately started frowned. Then, does he admit that his sons death was unrelated to Shen Kunxiu? Lu Lingxi shook his head. Not so. He said that Lin Zhen had been pressured into his death by Shen Kunxiu, and also that Lin Zhen was buried. By the logic of letting him be at peace in the ground, the coffin must never be opened for an autopsy, and if you cant right this wrong for him, hes going to go to the capital to beat the drum of grievances. At the nations founding, the Great Ancestor had established a rule that anyone amongst the populace that had been wronged could beat the drum of grievances to cry about it. The Emperor would have to hear it out in person, with no official allowed to prevent it. All who violated that would be heavily punished. No later Emperor would show as much detailed interest as the Great Ancestor had, but the rule of grievance-drum-beating had passed on to today. However, only commonfolk had ever been heard to have used it, never Court officials. Regardless of how low Lin Fengyuans position was, he was still a Balancing Magistrate. If he entered the capital to complain, he would undoubtedly smack him in the face and mock him for his incompetence. Of course, when things get to be a big ol fuss, the Emperor would actually believe that Tang Fan was incompetent. That little trifle wouldnt end well. Hes threatening me? Tang Fan laughed, no humor heard in it. Go and have him come meet me nevermind, youre injured. Dont be running all around. As soon as he finished speaking, Xi Ming came in from outside. He had been slashed in the thigh last night, which made him walk pretty unnaturally, his pace much slower. Sir! Something happened! He had seen much of the world, so he would never be the fussy sort of person that made mountains out of molehills. If he said something had happened, then it had to have been something big. Tang Fans heart sank as he heard Xi Ming say in a dark tone, The five evaluators are all dead. What?! It was not only Tang Fan that shouted that aloud, but also Lu Lingxi, as that was just too shocking. How did they die? When? Tang Fan asked. Just last night, in their homes. They ought to have been murdered by someone slicing their throats as they slept in bed. This clearly has something to do with Shen Kunxiu, Brother Tang! Lu Lingxi said immediately. He must have also played a part in the cheating! He was afraid that the Court would look into him, so he just silence them all! Tang Fan shook his head. It wasnt him. Why? When we left his place before, we happened to run into his servant reporting some news in a flurry, with a look of panic. I didnt know what that news was at the time, but thinking back it on it now, this was likely it. Had he done this, no such thing would have happened. He presumably knows nothing of it. Then why did he deliberately let them go, and refuse to cooperate with your investigation? Tang Fan smiled bitterly. His behavior really is suspicious. This all looks to be a bit complicated now. He then asked Xi Ming, Has Magistrate Fan found those scholars, or have they been silenced too? He sent people to call them back individually. After Lin Zhen died, Shen Kunxiu was too afraid to detain them anymore, so he let him go and they went back to their hometowns. However, a few live in Jians capital that will be summoned soon. Tang Fan nodded. Lets go pay the Magistrate a visit, then. Runqing, youre going to visit Magistrate Fan? In the middle of their talk, Ji Min walked in from outside with an apologetic look. Im really sorry. I drank too much last night and got up a bit late! Seeing their solemn expressions, he asked, Did something happen? Tang Fan told him the news of the evaluators deaths. Ji Min was wholly shocked. B-But, how could that happen?! Whats actually going on here?! Him aside, Tang Fan was also shocked, though he didnt express as much. Im going to the prefectural bureau now. Do you want to come with? Ji Min came back to himself, saying promptly, Yes! Of course I will! Magistrate Fans hair was nearly turned gray now. The second an imperial ambassador arrived, things were happening in Jian; first had come the assassination attempt of that ambassador that had nearly lost him his subordinates, immediately after which the evaluators of the institutional exams had been murdered. Who would believe that something wasnt afoot here? He subconsciously thought of Shen Kunxius mug, thinking to himself, That old thing must have done some embezzling, so he silenced them out of guilt upon seeing the imperial ambassador, huh? The issue here was that despite him having nothing to do with all of this from start to finish, as Jians Magistrate, the debacle landed within his jurisdiction, and he couldnt shirk his tie to it. If a displeased Tang Fan denounced him together with that, he would be done for. The corpses of the five evaluators had already been brought over by government workers, and were now lying in the front courtyard of the bureau. To more precise, there were actually six corpses, because one of the evaluators had been sleeping together with his wife; when the killer killed him, there was no way they would have spared his wife, so she was murdered, too. It had happened in the middle of the night, during the full immersion of good dreams. It hadnt been until those sixs families had risen in the morning that they had successively found them dead, following which they had reported to Magistrate Fan. Faced with the bodies, there were almost as many wrinkles on the Magistrates face as there were hairs. When he saw Tang Fan rushing over, it was like his saving star had come, and he nearly threw himself at him. Sir, you came! Did you let Consul Shen know of this? Tang Fan asked. Magistrate Fan nodded on repeat. I did, I did! The coroner was inspecting the corpse, but there was really no need for any coroner, as even Tang Fan could see that the deceased should have no external trauma, the only wounds to be the one on their throats. These really had been straightforward killing blows, plain and neat. Xi Ming crouched down to observe, then said to Tang Fan, Sir, those that killed them ought to be from the same group as those that tried to assassinate us. Hearing that, everyone suffered great alarm. Could it be that after they failed to kill us, they freed themselves to kill these people? Ji Min asked. Xi Ming anticipated that his statement might generate misunderstandings, so he explained. Wounds cut using different weapons would not be the same. Inspecting carefully based on this tells us that their wounds are the same as those inflicted on us last night. Thereby, I can infer that even if the murdered didnt come the same group, they must have come from the same area. Lawless! Theyre just lawless! Magistrate Fan was alarmed and furious. Something like this hadnt happened in Jian in decades, yet these people had dared to attack an imperial ambassador, plus kill a few weak evaluating officials. What could that be seen as? Where did all these evaluators originate from? Tang Fan asked Magistrate Fan. In previous institutional exams, previous evaluators were all selected from headmasters of repute from academies around the exam locations perimeter. These ones were separately from the the Academy of Luoxiao Mountains, the Academy of Luling, the Academy of Peak Excellence, and the Academy of Yongning. Two of them were from the same academy, as headmaster and vice headmaster. To my knowledge, Egret Isle Academy is the most famed in this locality. Why not ask its headmaster to be an evaluator? Could it be that due to many of the test-takers coming from the Academy, Consul Shen worried that their headmaster would favor them? No. This humble official knows why; Headmaster Qin of the Academy is great in age, so he had planned to retire, but the Academy cant find an appropriate replacement for right now. He had to take a temporary appointment. For that reason, even if he had been asked to evaluate the papers, he wouldnt have had the energy to. Tang Fan pondered some. If his headmaster position was unoccupied, how would the next one be chosen? For an Academy as famed as Egret Isle, the headmaster position is highly coveted, with many wanting it. Headmaster Qin had wanted to take advantage of Consul Shens inspection during to ask him to pick a new headmaster on his behalf. With this roadblock happening later on, Consul Shen is likely not in the mood for it. That is to say that its not only former students of Egret Isle, but the headmasters of other academies that would all be qualified to serve as Egret Isles headmaster? Yes. Egret Isle Academy has a very high standing in Jiangxis scholar circle. Similarly to how acting officials tended to fight for power, scholars tended to fight for renown. This convention was everywhere. The position of headmaster had no authority to speak of, but it represented prestige in the scholarly circle. If one could be the headmaster of an academy that had realm-wide fame, then their future students would definitely earn a lot of scholarly honors, meaning their headmaster would have a lot of influence via students in the world such was the lifelong goal of many academy headmasters. Thus, once Magistrate Fan said that, Tang Fan understood. He didnt get to ask anything else, however, because at that moment, Shen Kunxiu arrived. With something like this happening, Shen Kunxiu couldnt cooperate with Tang Fan anymore, but he also couldnt not come over and see what was going on. Walking in with a dark face, he did not greet Tang Fan, and directly asked Magistrate Fan, Whats going on? The Magistrate repeated what he had told Tang Fan before. He had released the evaluators on his toes, and then they had died on his heels. It was difficult to not link the two events together. Ji Min and Fan Yuezheng found it poor to say as much, but that didnt mean that Tang Fan was too afraid to do so. Consul Shen, you rashly let them all free yesterday. Did you hope for what happened today? Shen Kunxius expression sank. What do you mean by that? You very well know what I mean. How are you going to defend yourself in your memorial to the Court? Youre trying to say that I killed them?! the other raged. I didnt say that, but could you stop anyone from thinking so? Tang Fan mildly replied. I have no past enmities with you, so why would I accuse you unjustly for no good reason? You may as well find the reason within yourself. This official is upright in conduct! I have no fear of any lowlifes prodding at my flaws behind my back! Tang Fan didnt feel like gabbing with him. This guy simply could not be reasoned with. He turned the subject around, pointing at the corpses on the ground. Magistrate Ji and I encountered an assassination attempt last night. You must have heard of that, Consul Shen. The assassins that killed these people last night happen to be bound to the same source. Impossible! Shen Kunxiu said without thinking. Seeing everyone else looking at him, he coldly supplemented, This official simply feels that to be unimaginable, and not possible at all! Tang Fan paid him no attention, turning to ask Magistrate Fan, Did you find all fifteen scholars? Three of them are Jian City locals and have already been brought. The rest dispersed to other county, and I sent people to find them! Tang Fan nodded. I have things to ask them, and it needs to be done quickly, before they get silenced. The instant he heard this, Shen Kunxiu was desperately angry, thinking, Is this not you disparaging me indirectly?! Tang Fan, I dare you to say that again! Things well-said dont need a repeat. Tang Fan didnt even glance at him, asking Magistrate Fan, Will you lead the way? The Magistrate wiped off his sweat. Yes, yes. This way, please! Truthfully, he couldnt comprehend Shen Kunxius behavior; he was just an official using his high rank to suppress people to death. No retaliation could happen before. Now that he was seeing Shen Kunxiu be made to stamp his feet out of anger because of Tang Fan, Magistrate Fan couldnt help but feel gratified. On another side, the three brought up by Magistrate Fan were sitting in a side hall, nervous and uneasy. Only half of their butts were touching their seats. After a good minute of waiting, they at last saw Magistrate Fan and a young man walk in, quickly standing to greet them. Zeng Jin, Yang Wen, and Wu Jun had all participated in Jians institutional exam this years, having ranked fifth, ninth, and eleventh, respectively. Great Achievement had appeared on all of their papers, so as soon as someone had exposed them, they had been arrested and shut up in small, dark rooms. Shen Kunxiu had then interrogated them several times individually, but these three similar to the rest of the arrested exam-takers had all denied cheating for the life of him, also claiming that Great Achievement appearing in all of their papers had just been a coincidence. Shen Kunxiu was well-learned, but that didnt mean that he was able to investigate cases. He had completely bungled a simple case of exam cheating: him letting the involved evaluators free aside, he had not even gotten the exam-takers to confess. Hindered by possible criticism, he had also been too afraid to use torture on scholars, so these three speaking as one had left him with no recourse. Thus, he had needed Tang Fan to come over and help him tidy up this mess. However, Tang Fan hadnt expected that Shen Kunxiu would not only not be appreciative, but also make things harder for him constantly. It really made one speechless. While Tang Fan walked in, Zeng Jin and the rest sized up the young man at Magistrate Fans side. Without a single doubt judging from the others bearing as well as how the Magistrate subconsciously fell half a step behind him the man was an imperial ambassador. Those that participated in imperial exams nowadays were not necessarily young, with people in their seventies with heads full of gray taking them all everywhere. The youngest of their three was twenty, the oldest nearly thirty, all right in their primes. Looking at this man again, he was also in his twenties, seeming a little younger than even them, yet he was already a third-rank official. Another step upwards, and he would be the highest official in the ministry comparing oneself to another really could anger one to death! In officialdom, seniority was valued, and those that had attained it were priority. Even though Tang Fan was around their age, as long as he had the status, they needed to get up and bow to him respectfully. Not wanting to talk in circles with them, Tang Fan nodded to exempt them from the courtesies. Whats going on with Great Achievement? They hadnt expected him to be so frank. After a moment of silence, one said, Answering you, Sir, it was just a coincidence. We have no idea whats happening. Tang Fan smiled. Your name is Zeng Jin? Yes. I heard that Consul Shen re-examined all of you. The competence of your second papers are quite different? This humble one doesnt know where to begin speaking about that discrepancy. However, I really did put in a lot of effort to earn my County Honorate title, with no underhanded tricks. I can only say that the evaluators had acute insight to admit me. The evaluators are dead. Huh? All threes faces were blank expanses of confusion. Evidently, they didnt understand what he had said, so he repeated, All of the five evaluating officials that altered your exam papers for you are dead. If you dont believe that, you can go to the county bureaus front courtyard and look for yourself. Their corpses are held there. Tell them, Magistrate Fan. The deaths of the six had been discovered not long ago. When these three had come in, they hade come in through the smaller gate at the back, so they knew nothing for right now. Aware that Tang Fan was deliberately cowing them, Magistrate Fan knew intuitively to explain the general state of the corpses, particularly exaggerating their manner and cause of death to be abnormally frightening. When the three heard that not only had the five evaluators died at more or less the same time, murdered tragically with a slash to the throat, their faces quickly turned as pale as paper, bodies shaking like sieves. They could say absolutely nothing. Tang Fan appeared to not notice their states, saying to Xi Ming, Bring them to see the bodies. S-Sir, we dont need to see them. We didnt kill them Zeng Jin said. Tang Fan smiled coldly. Of course you didnt. Even if you had that notion, theres probably no way you could slip into someone elses home and kill them without notice. Whats wrong with making you see the bodies? If youre going to pursue a career someday, youll see an unknown amount of huge spectacles. Dont tell me that even if you see starving refugees all over the place, you wont deal with them out of fear? Talks reaching this extent, they were forced to go, following Xi Ming out like a funeral procession. Once they left, Shen Kunxiu came right in. I heard that you judge cases like a god would, Censor Tang. I specially came here to observe. I assume you wont refuse? he asked with a dark face. Even if I did, would you get out? Tang Fan thought, though there was still a faint smile on his face. Please take a seat, Consul Shen. No more words were to be had in this sour atmosphere. The two were seated quite close together, yet they had nothing to say, all the way until a little bit later, when Xi Ming brought the three scholars back inside. The threes faces were paler than when they had left, and they were even staggering a bit underfoot; presumably, they had been shocked by what they had witnessed, and had yet to come back to themselves. This was not strange. If those were ordinary dead folk, it would be fine, but the deceased were all related to the case. Any careful thought about that would inevitably cause one to break out into a full-body cold sweat. With even the evaluators dead, were their own lives in peril? Did you all get a good look? Tang Fan asked them. W-we did They were worn-down and timid, like three delicate and powerless little flowers. Who knew how many wrongs they had suffered? I received the essays you all made when you were studying at Egret Isle Academy. Tang Fan accepted a stack of papers from Han Jin, then placed them on the table. What your levels are does not require my further explanation, and you all must know them well at heart. However, your essays in the institutional exams were very prosey. If you said that no one ghostwrote them, I wouldnt believe it. He had determined their characters with one remark. The evaluators are dead. The killers are not yet captured. They may still be in Jian City, and may commit the act again. Regardless of why they murdered the five evaluators, to be brief, they are inextricable from this case. If you all continue to stubbornly remain silent, there will be no need to wait for the Court to strip you of your honors perhaps youll be just like them in a few days! The three were so scared, they had no idea what to do. Shen Kunxius face darkened. Censor Tang, do you judge cases by intimidating students? Tang Fan ignored him, only looking at Zeng Jins group. If youre willing to be forthcoming and open, I can send a letter to the Court to beg for leniency for you. At that time, you might have another chance to participate in the next institutional exams. If you fail, you lose your honors, and if you pass, you can keep them. Whos saying that their honors can be kept?! Shen Kunxiu said angrily. People like them put no thought into forging ahead on their own legs, resorting to crooked methods! If theyre allowed to keep those, it would be a disgrace to Jiangxis scholarly circle! Only now did Tang Fan charitably give him a smidge of attention, saying coldly. You are implicated in this case, Consul Shen. For your own innocences sake, it would best if you tried to control things less, else Ill think that youre purposefully attempting to obstruct my investigation, and harbor some schemes. Before the other could react, he also said, Xi ing, Consul Shen is so tired, hes become a little delirious. Bring him away to rest. Dont let anyone disturb him easily. Understood. Xi Ming answered, striding for Shen Kunxiu. The latter was alarmed and enraged. What are you trying! Before he could finish, he collapsed limply. Zeng Jin and the others mouths were agape, and they watched in surprise as Xi Mings hand retracted from Shen Kunxius neck, after which he picked him entirely up and exited stage left. Still, no one had sympathy for him. Even Magistrate Fan held some schadenfreude, feeling that Shen Kunxiu really had no sense of right and wrong; it wasnt odd that even Mister Ambassador would be provoked by him. All of you heard that Consul Shen is insistent in stripping your honors. Ive already given you another option. You can come find me once youve thought it over; the one who confesses first is the one I can consider pleading for to retain his honors, with no need to take another exam. Then, Tang Fan changed the subject. However, your thinking time is only half a day. When that expires, itll be too late, and your further justifications wont count. In any case, you lot aside, theres still over ten other scholars that Magistrate Fan has already sent people to summon. Theyll be coming soon. Presumably, theyll understand what to pick even more than you do. The second they heard this, the three hesitated, then scrambled to be the first to say, Sir, Ill talk first! I will! They were flushed red from the fighting in an instant. Tang Fan was in no rush, allowing them to bicker as he sat there and drank the cup of tea Magistrate Fan had brought him down to its bottom. Fan Yuezheng was observing his body language, constantly taking note of his superiors actions, and upon seeing this, he quickly had a new pot of tea brought. along with a few plates of snacks, so that Tang Fan wouldnt be hungry after drinking so much tea. Noticing that the fire was almost put out, Tang Fan then said, Is your talk done? Talk when it is, just leave if you dont want to talk. This officials time is very precious I dont have any to spare to listen to you all squabble. Well talk! Zeng Jin quickly said, afraid of his companions snatching the opportunity. Before the exams, we heard word on the wind that said that as long as the words Great Achievement were added to our papers, we would get on the roll! Where did that information come from? Why did only around fifteen of you get it, while the other exam-takers had no idea? It was bought! Our information was bought! Yang Wen rushed to answer. Tang Fan unnoticeably glanced to the side. Lu Lingxi, on his end, had since found a paper and started taking notes at who-knew-what point. Who bought it? Where? Who was the one selling the information? Wu Jun hadnt gotten the opportunity to answer just then, feeling resentful. The second he heard Tang Fan ask three successive questions, he said, We didnt see who was selling it. Back then, we went into a private room in Clearwind Clearwind? Its a restaurant in Jian. Very famous! Magistrate Fan supplied. Tang Fan hummed. Go on. He was sitting behind a screen and stating himself to be a Daoist of Great Peace. After I paid a hundred taels of silver, he told me the information. Tang Fan looked at the other two scholars. This is also true for you? Zeng Jin and Yang Wen both nodded. It is. What he said isnt wrong at all. A hundred taels was no small amount. Even in a large academy like Egret Isle, scant few could afford that. Furthermore, they had purchased a piece of information of unknown veracity. After paying so much for it, these students would definitely not tell anyone else, so only about a dozen of them had cheated. Had the other partys price been a bit cheaper, perhaps more than sixteen people would have been arrested right about now. Magistrate Fan, Ill trouble you with taking Han Jin along to Clearwind to verify whether what theyve said is true. If someone really did sell information on the institutional exams there, its not impossible that the shopkeeper had noticed. Magistrate Fan quickly agreed, then left with Han Jin. How did you all come to know that someone was in Clearwind selling inside information? Tang Fan asked the group. Answering you, Sir, it was Zeng Jin that told me! Wu Jun said. Sir, I also heard Zeng Jin say so! I heard many of our schoolmates did! Yang Wen said. He must have not controlled his mouth and blabbed about it everyone, and someone who couldnt afford the info got jealous of us, then told Consul Shen about it! Zeng Jin went red. Whos blabbing?! I only told a few of you! Who would talk about something like this everywhere they went?! I only learned it from what someone else said! Who did you hear it from? Tang Fan asked. Lin Zhen! I heard from Lin Zhen! Who did he hear it from? Zeng Jin shook his head. I dont know. When he told me at the time, I only half-believed him. His assignments are typically good, so there was no need for him to cheat at all, but his dad pressured him a lot. Out of fear that he wouldnt pass, he ended up taking the risk. Tang Fan thought for a bit. Thinking that he had nothing else to ask, he waved them off. You all can withdraw. It would be best to not leave the city. This official may have to summon you at any time; if you arent found, youll be responsible for the consequences. The three exchanged looks. Drumming up his courage, Zeng Jin cautiously asked, Sir, we spoke of all we know, and you just said you could not strip us of our honors Tang Fan was angrily amused. When did I say anything like that? I said it could be considered! Enough, you can all go your separate ways. Me not arresting you right now is already a special favor to you. Future event will depend on your perfomances! Seeing that the three were reluctant to leave, his expression sank. What? Do you want me to be like Consul Shen and lock you up in dark little rooms? Once they heard that, they could only obediently leave. Results soon came from Magistrate Fan and Han Jin, but they could also be called non-results. Clearwinds shopkeeper had said that someone legitimately had rented one of the private rooms on the eve period of the exams for several consecutive days. He and the restaurant staff had also see different people go into that room in quick succession, but had never paid attention to their specific appearances. Since Clearwind was a famous local restaurant, many officials came to eat there every day, coming and coming, and unhappy to be asked questions. The shopkeeper and them had dared not commit a faux-pas. At this point, Tang Fan had a lot of clues, yet pretty much no gains of real substance. Him and Shen Kunxiu turning hostile had spread quickly, however, becoming known to all. Purportedly, Shen Kunxiu was thundering mad after waking up from being knocked unconscious, letting it be know that he was going to send a memorial to the Court about Tang Fans poor conduct and whatnot. The case of the imperial exams, from its outbreak to the present, had become known to all of Jian Prefecture, spreading throughout every street. First had come the mass cheating, then the scholar that had hung himself, then the imperial ambassadors assassination attempt, and then the evaluators bizarre deaths. The commonfolk didnt know the inside information, but they most loved to hear about such strange and tortuous stories. Purportedly, the gambling dens had even opened up a pool, betting on whether the judgement-god Censor Tang would be able to discover the truth this time around. After Tang Fan heard of this, he had no idea how to react, and ended up having Lu Lingxi bring ten taels to a gambling den and earn himself profits. Several days later, the rest of the exam-takers that had gone off to other counties had been retrieved individually by Magistrate Fan. Their confessions were more or less the same to Zeng Jins group, not much of a discrepancy to be had except for the starting sources of the information being different. Some said they had heard it from A place, some had heard it from B place, and it all went around until it ultimately involved one important figure: Lin Zhen. Yet he was long dead. There was no way to ask after it anymore. The deaths of the five evaluators was even stranger, the killers from the same group that had tried to assassinate Tang Fan. The formerly-ordinary case of cheating on imperial exams had become a bit odd due to these additional few couple of deaths. Amongst the commonfolk, it was even rumored that Consul Shen Kunxius eight characters with incompatible with Jian, so once he came here, Jian was never at peace something quite absurd and best left unheard. Tang Fan hadnt believed that Lin Zhen was a key figure, hency why he hadnt put much of a stake into Lin Fengyuans refusal to open his coffin. Now that many clues had expressed that Lin Zhen really did have a significant role in this case, the opening of his coffin for an autopsy was critical. Before that, though, he would definitely have to join up with Lin Fengyuan. If he could obtain the others understanding and approval, Tang Fan would be spared from getting denounced as investigating cruelly and in no accordance with human emotion. As was known, following the death of the five evaluators, Shen Kunxiu had written a memorial scolding Tang Fan every which way, also claiming that he wouldnt be able to decide this case at all, made the people start complaining wherever he went, and now had not only failed to find out the truth, but had caused the evaluators to die strange deaths. That was a plain reversal of right and wrong. However, there was an abundance of people nowadays that wished for Tang Fan to fall into misfortune. They cared nothing for whether what was on the memorial was true or not. Even if it wasnt, the Emperor couldnt come to check it out in person. Political struggles frequently required not actual evidence, but reasonable excuses, just like Yu Qians murder charge back in the day: Although there is no clear evidence, there is a motive. Tang Fan didnt want to fight it out with Shen Kunxiu, but with this reaching this extent, he needed to send a memorial to defend himself, which really wasted a lot of time. In light of the disharmony between Tang Fan and Shen Kunxiu, the Court decided to dispatch another imperial ambassador to assist Tang Fan in the investigation which, in reality, was them doing two separate investigations, which would end with the results being processed for mixed consideration. This demonstrated that the Cabinet had no confidence in Tang Fan, but he had no power to refuse. At this point, around six days had passed since he had come to Jian. This period was neither short nor long, enough for him to discover many things. On this day, because he had been interrogating confessions out of those scholars, he was a bit tired, and fell asleep early. His original plan to find Lin Fengyuan for questioning was pushed back for tomorrow. During his sleep haze, he suddenly felt a hand on his middle. He subconsciously frowned some. Thinking that it was Lu Lingxi coming to rouse him by doing some mischief, he didnt even open his eyes to say, Yiqing, quit messing around! Whos Yiqing? a voice said beside his ear. That wasnt Lu Lingxi! Tang Fan jumped, any notion of tiredness immediately flying into the nine heavens above, and nearly shouted. The very next moment, his mouth was firmly covered by a hand. Dont yell. Its me. His eyes opened wide. He looked at the man who was half-leaned against the headboard, dressed all in black, and had come from who-knew-where. Wait a second. When he had slept until midnight last night, he seemed to have sensed someone next to him then, too? Seemingly noticing what he was thinking, Sui Zhou thoughtfully supplied, It was me last night, too. Seeing you sleep so soundly, I didnt wake you. Again, though. Whos Yiqing? CH 127 Noticing that he looked a bit confused, like he hadnt woken fully up from his daze, and had none of his typical witty and cheerful looks, Sui Zhou felt quite amused at heart. He couldnt help but lean forwards, taking advantage of when the other was completely unguarded to press against his lips. At that very moment, Mister Tang finally came back to himself, reaching out to push the others skull away with a dark face. However, that push unexpectedly aroused the others ferocity, and he pushed him straight down to deepen the kiss; it wasnt until Mister Tangs eyes were about to roll into the back of his head from being suffocated did Mister Envoy Sui compassionately released him. Tang Fan was flushed fully red. It wasnt from shyness, of course, but from lack of air. Because he had been afraid of alerting Lu Lingxi, who was outside the door, and because there was no small difference between his strength and Sui Zhous, he had stubbornly held back from making any sounds. In result, he had nearly become the first ever Court official to be suffocated to death because of a kiss, narrowly reduced to a laughingstock for all the ages. You couldnt breathe? Sui Zhou asked, surprised. That playful, obedient tone of voice Tang Fan didnt want to acknowledge him at all. Sui Zhous cold, unchanging-for-ten-thousand-years, strangers-will-never-see-it-shift-ever face showed a rare smile. How about we go again, so I can teach you this time? Sir Tang had no strength to mock him. How had he never noticed how thoroughly shameless this guy was before? A few knocks came from outside the door. Brother Tang? came Lu Lingxis inquiry. On their first night in Jian, Lu Lingxi had been injured because of him, so Tang Fan had agreed to his request to sleep together out of consideration for his feelings. Two sizable men sleeping on the same bed was so unbelievably common, there was nothing to say about it at all. However, this bed was so small, two people sleeping on it left very little room for movement, meaning that no one would end up sleeping well. For that reason, after Magistrate Fan borrowed people from Millarch Tan, Tang Fan didnt allow Lu Lingxi to come over and sleep with him again, instead asking the soldiers to stand vigil outside. Even so, every day, Lu Lingxi would come in every morning to wake him up, taking up the job as his personal attendant while he was at it. Tang Fan had talked to him a few times, but seeing as he wasnt stopping, he let him do whatever. Since they stayed near and their two rooms neighbored, Lu Lingxi would occasionally get up in the middle of the night to make a round, seeing if anything unusual was about. He had truthfully been scared by that assassination attempt, and he feared the same thing would happen again, to say nothing of his personal deep respect and good feelings towards Tang Fan. If something happened to Tang Fan, he would bear the blame. Clearing his throat, Tang Fan raised his voice a bit. Im fine. I woke up in the middle of night, so I started reading and saying my thought aloud. You go back to sleep! Lu Lingxi hummed. He made no noise for a minute, as if waiting for Tang Fan to call him in, but other said nothing. That caused him a bit of disappointment. If anything happens, shout. Im in the next room, Ill hear you, he said a long time afterwards. Thanks. Youre very considerate, Tang Fan said happily. Theres guards keeping watch outside, so its fine. You just go on to bed. We have work that needs doing early in the morning! You cant run out of energy during the day! Lu Lingxi affirmed. Tang Fan listened close, but did not hear the others retreating footsteps. However, he had forgotten that with Lu Lingxis skills, his walking movements were much lighter than the average persons, and he went until Sui Zhou poked him. He left. Only now was Tang Fan at ease. He looked coldly at Sui Zhou, lowering his voice. You keep on regressing, Bastion Envoy, even imitating a thief by sneaking in here. If people learned of this, you might lose your hallowed reputation. That was a clear castigation, but in reality, it held a sense of concern. Being who he was, Sui Zhou could tell that plainly. Feeling amused at heart, he didnt expose him, only saying, I wanted to see you, so I came. No matter how Sui Zhou could try, he couldnt compare up to Wang Zhis sort, whose linguistic skills could curse someone out until their body was covered in wounds, nor was he like Lu Lingxis sort, willing to have the cheek to act cute and play dumb until he was so wound around Tang Fan, the man had no way to deal with him. Such a huge sweet-nothing coming from him really left Mister Tang speechless. As for his emotions, only he himself knew them. Still, from his warming expression and softened tone, he had clearly been moved by those words. You know Im not talking about that. With Sui Zhous identity, he could always come and see him with confidence. Why had he elected to sneak in when no one was around in the middle of the night, or need to avoid the eyes and ears of the gate guards? That was no average amount of toil. If not for there being some other incident, Sui Zhou would never do anything like this. Sui Zhou wasnt going to hide it from him, either. In his opinion, there was no need to keep anything from Tang Fan. An incident did happen. As it were, long before Tang Fan had come to Jian, the Brocade Guard had received news that traces of White Lotus followers were showing up in Jiangxi. Over these past years, the organization had constantly refused to dissipate, suddenly popping up in the capital, then suddenly giving the Tartars plans. Not only were they sly and hard to deal with, but due to their decentralized power, it was quite hard to dig them up by the roots. For that reason, despite the Brocade Guards far-reaching powers, the labor and resources it had spent contending with the Society was immeasurable, to the point that even Sui Zhou had become a bit frustrated. Fortunately, that influence had not got eternally without defeat. By their piece-by-piece efforts, the Societys former great numbers of followers had now been chased and beaten all over the place, and could not be more subdued. Its branches had repeatedly been demolished, with even the forces that had colluded with the Tartars. The defect within that beauty was that the few remaining Society leaders had still slunk off to elsewhere, infrequently causing some headache for the Court if they could be caught all together, then could be completely exterminated. Sui Zhous group had toiled a few rounds in Jiangxi, and had finally destroyed the last Society branch. They had also caught its Vicar, the third-in-command of the society, Zhong Hao. In light of Zhong Haos testimony, Sui Zhou and them had learned that beneath the unrelenting pressure of the Court, the White Lotus Society had already reached the desperate realm of having nowhere to go. Even the Tartars, due to worry over angering the Ming Court and thinking the Society to be too unreliable, had stopped cooperating with its followers and chased them entirely out of the passes. The followers had been forced to wander, taking refuge with Zhong Hao. He was quite an ambitious man. He had laid dormant in Nanchang for many years low-key, quietly enduring things, and rarely showing his face but seeing Li Zilong have the limelight over and over again had long made him unhappy with his third-in-command position, and he wanted the entire Society in his pack. Thus, the first one he wanted to get rid of was the second-in-command that blocked his way in front, Li Zilong. Far prior to the Brocade Guard receiving news of it, the Society had undergone a bout of large-scale infighting. At the end of it, Zhong Hao, the snake in his home burrow, had taken a slight advantage. Li Zilong had been forced to leave the Nanchang Prefecture branch. Zhong Hao had been wanting to kill him to have everything done with, but had been found out a step too soon, leading the other to run so fast, he ended up failing. A bunch of factors had combined; due to that infighting, the Societys remaining influence had once again diminished by over half, which meant that Sui Zhous group had experienced a lot of danger, yet had still been victorious. Had Zhong Hao not fought against Li Zilong, there would be a discussion on whether Sui Zhou would be seeing Tang Fan right now. Following Zhong Haos capture, he had fessed up many things. In addition to the Societys twilight hours, he revealed a shocking bit of insider information: even though Li Zilong was the second-in-command, the Society had no first-in-command whatsoever. In other words, the rumored first-in-command was nothing more than a ruse to deceive all his followers, for the purpose of fabricating an unseen, enigmatic, omnipotent figure. When the followers saw him using face-changing, arrays, and other such things, they would inevitably believe that the first-in-command above him was even more powerful, thereby building more confidence in the Societys indestructibleness. That was real, shockingly massive lie. Not only had Sui Zhous group been deceived, but even the Societys own had been. Owing to the matters heavy importance, it was known to no one but a scant few, and there was no way that those who knew would have ever unveiled the smallest word about it to the outside world, decreasing the Societys might. Had it not been for Zhong Hao being unable to bear the Brocade Guards variety of tortures, thus taking it upon himself to confess and get away from it, Sui Zhous group would have likely kept rushing to find this illusory first-in-command. Furthermore, after the infighting, Li Zilong had brought people with him to flee a step ahead, which is why he had escaped their ambush. However, that was tantamount to planting another hidden trap. The Society was an organization that could persist since Song not because because it was tightly organized or had a distinct methodology, but because it loved to oppose those in power. Regardless of whether the Court was Han orthodoxy or did good or evil things, as long as someone held power, it would stir up troubles against them. For that reason, all successive dynasties had been disgusted by it. However, an objective like that was favored by those with other intents. For example, in the late-Yuan-early-Ming period, the heroes of the realm had raised their weapons in succession to fight against Yuans rulers, the Society had joined in on the fun, then later followed Zhang Shicheng in fighting against the Great Ancestor of the present Dynasty, aided the Jianwen Emperor in dealing with the Yongle Emperor, and so forth. This was not due to it sympathizing with the weak and wanting to take from the strong, but due to it fearing a world not in chaos. Therefore, once it had a suitable habitat, it would be exploited by people like Li Zilong. If he couldnt be captured, more and more people would imitate him in the future, the unstable element of the Society tirelessly causing the Court trouble and wearing out Sui Zhous group. Listening up to here, Tang Fan immediately thought of something related. Speaking of which, Huang Jinglong, the former Jian Magistrate, abusing his prisoners also had a connection to the Society? Zhong Hao said that Li Zilong was very cunning, and had secretly developed his own power out out of Nanchang a long time ago, behind his back. Supposedly, he secretly opened a mine, then colluded with Huang Jinglong to have him sell him prisoner. Li Zilong used those people to help him mine and make private funds. However, there are numerous mountain ranges in Jian, and Li Zilong did this very secretively, so Zhong Hao has no idea where this was. So that was the truth behind the prisoner abuse! Tang Fan saw the light. When he had first heard Sui Zhou explain that case, he had felt it strange a magnificent fourth-rank Prefectural Magistrate being so bored as to abuse prisoners, giving no one any benefit, not even himself? Had that been a mental issue? If the real explanation was this, though, then it made a lot of sense. So, you came to Jian to track down Li Zilong and his dregs? he asked. Not only that. After receiving all sorts of information related to the Society from Zhong Haos mouth plus learning that Li Zilong was very possibly hiding in Jian, in order to not alert the enemy, Sui Zhou had decided to deal with things in bits, distribute his manpower, then wait for a good opportunity to eradicate everything in one go. Right in that time period, on account of Tang Fans quarrel with Shen Kunxiu, the war of words and complaints had all reached the capital. The Wan party had been happy to see Tang Fan be defeated, wanting to send one of its members to add chaos, but Huai En and Wang Zhi had gotten to the Emperor in time, saying that the truth was unclear, and if someone was sent, they would very likely create interference with Tang Fans investigation that would only end up making things more complicated. Moreover, the previous Suzhou case had demonstrated Tang Fans competence, illustrating that he indeed had skill at investigations. And yet, the Wan party had argued that, for fairnesss sake, another imperial ambassador should be sent to investigate without the need to interfere with Tang Fan; both parties could do separate things. Faced with the aggressive posturing of the party, Huai En had simply pushed the boat along the waters to recommend a candidate directly to the Emperor: Sui Zhou. He had been recommended on two bases. One was that he was the Bastion Envoy, a confidante and close personal guard of the Son of Heaven, as well as consort-kin, having the Emperors trust. The other was that he was already in proximity in Jiangxi, so there was no need to make someone else travel far away from elsewhere, which would both waste time and delay the cases progress. The Emperor had agreed to that suggestion. Sui Zhou thereafter became the second imperial ambassador, coming to Jian with a perfect reason. That outcome made the Wan partys teeth itch in hatred. Who didnt know that Sui Zhou and Tang Fan had a fateful friendship? Who didnt know that the two were close enough to wear the same pair of pants? The proposal for another ambassador had been to make a stumbling block for Tang Fan, but with this, it had turned into a helping hand for him instead! At the beginning, no one had placed importance onto Tang Fan. How could they have known that in a brief few years, this guy would go from being a minor, sixth-rank Judge to getting promoted to fourth-rank Censor, also having a third-rank veneer title? That alone would have been alright, but the Wan party had been pushed down several times, and rather than beat Tang Fan down, it had caused him to make a clear stance for the Crown Princes side, continuing to rise in steps. Was that not a clear smack in the face to the Wan party? Ever since the Suzhou case that had been followed by Shang Mings fall and the Eastern Depots change in leadership, the party no longer took Tang Fan seriously. On the contrary, in their eyes, his status was about to rise to a similar rank as Huai Ens, becoming a role that it would need to quickly eliminate. If Tang Fan knew that his level in the Wan partys mind had risen, how would he feel? Honored, or dumbfounded? With the edict done, Sui Zhou had another assignment, but as of right now, his most important matter was the White Lotus Society. The reason why Wang Zhi and Huai En had strongly recommended him was to keep Tang Fan from being bothered, anyways, so in this imperial exam case, as long as he showed support for Tang Fan and did nothing at all, that would be the greatest help. This was why Sui Zhou had not entered Jian with great pomp. Instead, according to his prior plan, his subordinates had disguised themselves to sneak into Jian, ask around for information, and wait for orders. He himself had quietly come to find Tang Fan and clear things up, lest he not be informed. Xi Ming, Lu Lingxi, and the others had been injured, so their alertness was not as good as it had been. Those soldiers at the posthouse alone certainly couldnt obstruct Sui Zhou, either, thereby letting him come in without anyone knowing. The night before, he had seen Tang Fan sleeping deeply, then hadnt disturbed him, coming quietly and leaving quietly in the night, alerting no one. Tang Fan discovering him tonight had naturally been because he wanted him to. Truly, from the time Tang Fan had left the capital for Suzhou to now, the two hadnt seen each other for a few months. To say that Sui Zhou hadnt missed him a single bit would be a lie. It was simply that he was typically restrained and introverted that made it hard for others to detect, but Tang Fan different from bystanders some words didnt even need to be said for them to understand each other. If the realm of understanding what the other party was thinking with only eye contact, language would turn into a needless decoration. I lined people up outside the posthouse already. You dont need to worry about being safe. Starting from today onwards, Ill be accompanying you, Sui Zhou said. What about the Society? Theres no news for right now. If they make any movements, there will definitely be word of it, and that discussion can happen then. Theres no use staring at them all day; its better to wait for them to move first. Tang Fan thought about it, feeling that to be a good method. Sui Zhou being at his side had the honorable grounds of being on imperial orders, and it was also good to look after each other. Since you want to hide your identity, though, isnt you following me like this not a great idea? It isnt, which is why Im going to disguise myself. It would be best that the people at your side cant recognize me, too, to avoid them letting something slip for the Society to discover. Since Li Zilong has an arrangement in Jian, then he has people, and might even have them stuck in the government. Tang Fan smiled. That makes sense, but you surely cant dress up as Di Han again, right? This isnt like Suzhou. The Society has fought with you countless times, to say nothing of anyone else. Even if you put on a beard, your presence cant be covered up. Li Zilong would definitely recognize you. So Ill have to reduce my public appearances as much as possible. Then you might as well crossdress. That makes your chances of getting discovered even smaller, Tang Fan joked. Unexpectedly, Sui Zhou took him seriously, giving it an earnest consideration, then nodding. Thatll do. I can say that Im a distantly-related, younger maternal cousin youve been betrothed to since childhood. Both my parents died and I heard you were in Jiangxi, so I specifically came here to seek shelter with you. Wow. In a brief moment, he had compiled a whole life story! Mister Tangs mouth opened and closed, until he choked out, What kind of family would a cousin as tall and sturdy as you come from? Sui Zhou smiled. If a Northern woman practices martial arts since childhood, she would have a physique like mine. Did you not see how Du Guir was as tall as you? That was a completely fallacious argument. Tang Fan shook his head. If your disguise is bad, itll make people even more suspicious! Itd be worse than not showing up to begin with! Even if I dont have the unfathomable face-changing techniques Li Zilong does, Im passable in disguising. Two days from now, send people to prepare a sedan chair to pick me up at Fortune Comes Inn. Since he was this confident, Tang Fan had nothing to argue, only smiling. Then Ill just wait and see, If you show the slightest gap and lose me face, dont blame me for sweeping you out the door! My Tang family wouldnt have a cousin like that! No matter what, Im yours. Whether you lose face or not, you cant even think about going back on your word. Hearing that, Tang Fan nearly choked to death on his own spit, thinking, When did you become mine?! I didnt even do anything! While they spoke, although it felt like not that long, more than half the night had unwittingly passed already. If he didnt want people discovering him, Sui Zhou certainly couldnt wait until for daybreak to leave. He pressed against the bed with his palm, flipped right over Tang Fan, and landed steadily outside. Tang Fan only now noticed how long they had been sitting and talking on the bed, and that he had been so engrossed with Sui Zhou recounting his days, that he had forgotten than tidbit. Those few at your side are so poorly vigilant, they didnt notice me coming in and out. Looks like the people Wang Zhi sent are no good. Tang Fan was unconcerned. Thats because they were injured. Sui Zhou furrowed his brow. How were they injured? Tang Fan then realized that he had let something slip. Sui Zhou still didnt know about the assassination attempt. Face with the others gaze, his eyes like lightning, he couldnt cover it up anymore, and explained what had happened that night. Listening to the end, Sui Zhous brows knitted tighter. A good while after, he reached out and caressed Tang Fans face. Its good that youre okay. Mister Tang promptly felt half of his face grow a bit hot. Even if this hadnt occurred, Sui Zhou would feel that since he was already in Jian, he definitely needed to watch by Tang Fans side to feel a bit of ease. Tang Fan saying this now had only made his determination all the stronger. From how it looks now, Jian is probably not going to be too peaceful. You should take extra care these days. Those outside the posthouse will follow after you when you go out, but they arent close protectors. Wait two more days; Ill first set them up, then come find you. Alright, I get it. When did you get so long-winded? My cousin should be off to get ready, hm? You must be proper, and not scare me like you just did. Sui Zhou gave him a deep look, turned, and made to leave. Suddenly seeming to recall something, he turned his head around. Speaking of that ? Who is Yiqing, really? Why did he still remember that tripe? He said nothing, but Sui Zhou guessed it. Is it the one that spoke outside the door? I saw him one, when he brought your message to Suzhous Guard post. He seems to be Wang Zhis? Hes not. Huai En sent him to protect me. His skills are good, his character is moldable, and hes a mainstay talent, if a little immature and in need of teaching. Sui Zhou hummed. Next time, Ill swap pointers with him to help you teach him. Dont do one thing in the name of another. Tang Fan had no martial comprehension, but even he knew that Sui Zhous skills ought to be a grade higher than Lu Lingxis. Seeing this, Sui Zhou comforted, Dont worry. I wont break him. Him not saying that would have been better, as that just made Tang Fan feel even more uneasy. Before he could say anything, Sui Zhou had already left quietly, just like how he had come. Were it not for the window being open, he would think himself to have seen a ghost. On another end, Lu Lingxi, sleeping in the night, inexplicably shuddered, and subconsciously bundled himself tighter in the blanket. The weather didnt seem to be that cold, did it? CH 128 Very early the next morning, Tang Fan went straight to the prefectural bureau and asked Magistrate Fan to invite Lin Fengyuan over. However, the one sent to pass the message on returned to Magistrate Fan, saying that Lin Fengyuan was feeling unwell, and sent someone to inform him that he was taking leave today to recuperate. Magistrate Fan scowled immediately. Go to the Lin home and tell him that no matter how many illnesses hes suffering, he needs to get over here Tang Fan placed a hand on him. Do you know where Magistrate Lin lives? I do! the other quickly answered. Since he wont come, I will meet him in person. Tell someone the address to have them bring us there. An imperial ambassador giving him an order meant that he would need to do it even if he was busy. Magistrate Fan quickly agreed, but didnt borrow anyone elses hands, leading Tang Fan over himself. He, too, felt that Lin Fengyuan knew nothing of right and wrong. Your son died, and in spite of your heartbreak, when Censor Tang came to find out the truth behind it, you not only dont work hard to cooperate with him, but fake illness in order to not get up! Whats the meaning of that? Once at the Lin home, Magistrate Fan discovered that Lin Fengyuan wasnt faking sick he was actually sick. Although he didnt see Lin Fengyuan every single day, he was still his immediate superior required for official business, and saw him once every three days at a minimum. Following Lin Zhens death, Lin Fengyuan had become haggard, his face overcast the day long. Such was typical human nature. However, the one that greeted them now was not only haggard, but practically a different person. Lin Fengyuans hair was mostly occupied by silver strands that had not been prominent before, his face was thin and pale, and there were dark bags under his eyes. It looked like he had aged ten years. Tang Fan had never seen him before, so he wasnt that shocked, but Magistrate Fan and Lu Lingxi both jumped in fright. When I went to meet with him, he didnt look this old, Lu Lingxi leaned in and whispered to Tang Fan. Lin Fengyuan stepped forward and bowed. This humble official is Lin Fengyuan. Greetings to you, Mister Ambassador, Mister Magistrate. Tang Fan helped him up. No need for politeness, Magistrate Lin. Your complexion isnt so good. Have you called a doctor over to look at it? Thank you for your concern, Sir. This humble official merely caught windchill, its no big issue. He didnt look to have windchill, but rather to have spent a night up while overthinking. When ones son died, this behavior was normal if was still able to smile, that would be off. Tang Fan already knew that Lin Fengyuan had three sons. The eldest was the dead Lin Zhen, the second was a little younger and currently studying at Egret Isle Academy, and the youngest was around seven, still in toddler studies. Over forty, and with three sons; even though Lin Fengyuans official was no roaring success, he had more than most, and there was really nothing to nitpick. Because of this, though, his familys white cloth had not yet been taken down, vexing the mind. Tang Fan exchanged some pleasantries, asked after his health, then said, This official has come because of a presumptuous request. Lin Fengyuan just cut his speech straight off, saying bluntly, If youve come to open my sons coffin for an autopsy, please dont ask. The dead are to rest at peace in the ground. He is already buried, so how could he be dug up again, causing him to be ill at peace in the Spring below? This humble official has lost my eldest and am grieved enough, so please have sympathy for a fathers emotions, Sir. Tang Fan raised a brow, somewhat unhappy with his refusing stance, but did not show so on his face, keeping his genial voice that was devoted to enticing goodwill. Magistrate Lin, this official heard that the Lins and Shens have some grudges from the past, which is all the buzz is about outside. Is that true, or no? Unlike Shen Kunxiu, Lin Fengyuan did not get intensely angry at hearing this question, instead nodding. Its true. Can you elaborate a bit on that? Shen Kunxiu took first place in the county exams back in the day, but placed out in the institutional exams. Because my late father had been the head examiner, he held a grudge, and wouldnt let it go even after becoming a Palace Honorate. He told everyone he came across that my father had dislike him and deliberately kept him off the roll, as well as that my fathers lackluster career path had been entirely caused by his lack of accumulative virtue! He did everything within his power to vilify him! Was he right? Lin Fengyuan was indignant. Of course not! His paper had indeed been looked upon favorably by other evaluating officials, but when it reached my fathers hands, he discovered that a word of his had violated taboo, so he scored him off the roll. He was in the right, acted according to regulations, and was not inappropriate in the slightest! Violating taboo might have meant that a certain word happened to have shown up in the reigning Emperors writings. Exam-takers generally needed to switch it out in writing, or deliberately write that word less, to show that they were avoiding the Emperors avoid. However, everyone taking the exams would e quite tense, many of them often forgetting to avoid the taboos; times like those depended on luck. Evaluators or chief examiners dropping such papers off the roll would not be wrong, but if they ran into one of a little more lenient character that also saw those writings to genuinely be well-written, they might turn a blind eye to it and allow the other on the roll, if ranked down a bit. Tang Fan made no comments towards Lin Fengyuans words, nor any judgements whatsoever, only saying, So, you believe that the reason your good son died is because Shen Kunxiu harbored a personal grudge and intentionally retaliated? Yes! Shen Kunxiu has the guts of a chick, and he could not possibly be more narrow-minded. Were it not for him pressuring him at every step, why would my son hang himself?! Please, you must restore my sons innocence! What youre saying is that you firmly believe your son to be innocent, and the alleged cheating is Shen Kunxius consciously wrongful accusation? Lin Fengyuan hadnt expected that he would ask such a thing, startling for a bit before he answered, Yes. My sons knowledge is admittedly not too vast, but he would never need to cheat to earn a scholarly title! And yet, as far as Im aware, amongst your sons classmates and other exam-takers suspected of cheating in this case, several admitted that the reason they knew the score at all was from hearing Lin Zhen say it. Thats impossible! Theyre slandering him! Please have clarity on that, Sir! Lin Fengyuan said angrily. Tang Fan lightly nodded. I will be clear on what need to be clear. This official never judges cases with selective hearing; I have heard their confessions, so I will naturally hear your side, too. Who is right and wrong in the feud between your families is something I, an outsider, cannot judge on, but if its related to the case, thats another matter. You are ultimately not the implicated party, and only Lin Zhen knew the truth. I wont keep it from you; I am no coroner, but I do have some knowledge in autopsy. Lin Zhen may be dead, but he can still speak on whether he had been forced into suicide by Shen Kunxiu in order to portray his innocence, or whether there was another cause of death. A look at the body will tell such. As a father, you surely hope that your son can be at peace in death? Lin Fengyuan still shook his head. Sir, this humble official really doesnt see the necessity in opening up the coffin again. The day before my son was sent here, the governments coroner already made an autopsy, and confirmed without a doubt that he had hung himself. Why do you not investigate Shen Kunxiu, but insist upon making things difficult for my son? His words were particularly discourteous. Impudent! Magistrate Fan reprimanded. Tang Fan stopped him, then said to Lin Fengyuan, In the past, there have been cases where the coroner determined a suicide that ended up being reversed. Coroners abilities typically vary. Many are under the impression that they can autopsy correctly from reading Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified, scarcely imagining that this is the very reason for those repeated injustly-judged cases. Ever since I became an official, such examples have been abundant. If, as youve said, Shen Kunxiu really wanted to make things hard for your family, he would definitely not have let such an opportunity go. There are over ten test-takers Shen Kunxiu wants to strip of their honors, and theyre still doing perfectly fine to this day, while Lin Zhen alone has died. Within that, perhaps Shen Kunxiu did something else to your son in secret that was the actual cause of his death. Dont you want to find out the truth? He had shown quite enough tolerance in that speech, yet Lin Fengyuan still refused him. Please forgive me, Sir. What if I insist upon opening the coffin? Lin Fengyuan hesitated for a short moment. If you intend to, I have no way to stop you, but I heard that the Court has sent another imperial ambassador to investigate this case. I will certainly make a complaint to him! With Lin Fengyuans position, him threatening Tang Fan like this appeared to be laughable, but this was how things were nowadays, with great importance given to the dead. Tang Fans act of wanting to open the coffin for an autopsy truly would not get the support of the public, and everyone would certainly sympathize with Lin Fengyuan, thinking Tang Fan to be without scruples and bullying others by force. Even if he was now a Great Scholar of the Cabinet, he still needed to consider how actions like these would trigger discussions and influence his reputation. From the side, Lu Lingxis anger overgrew hearing this. Is Brother Tang wanting an autopsy not to find out your sons cause of death? Not only do you not appreciate that, but you cause problems all over the place! You really dont know right from wrong! On that same note, ever since they had come to Jian, they seemed to have frequently run into people that didnt know right from wrong. First, it had been Xu Bin at the welcoming banquet, then it had been Shen Kunxiu, and now it was Lin Fengyuan. Could it be that the feng shui here was bad, incompatible with their eight characters? Even Magistrate Fan felt that Lin Fengyuans attitude was too hateful, too excessive, yet Tang Fan was not as angry as everyone was imagining. It could also maybe be said that he had experienced too much before this, and some people had been even worse to deal with than Lin Fengyuan; a scenario like this couldnt make him angry. He even picked up the gaiwan on the table, gently wiped off the tea froth atop it using the lid, and bowed his head to take a light sip. Lin Fengyuan refused to cooperate, yet Tang Fan refused to leave. The other couldnt open his mouth to drive him off, either, only able to treat him with silence. In this interim, the atmosphere of the guest hall seemed to get a little stagnant. A moment later, Tang Fan suddenly said, This painting has a good feel to it. Everyone was taken aback, unable to understand why he had suddenly started talking about a painting. They followed his gaze, then discovered that he was speaking of one that was hung on the Lin homes wall. Mountain streams were lined out distantly. A great river flowed east, a skiff drifting down it, one person standing with their hands behind their back on that, gazing at the eastern sunlight. It had quite a A morning farewell to a Baidi in rainbow clouds, a day of returning one thousand li to Jiangling sort of feeling.[1] The poem joined next to it read: Far trees in two rows, a reflected mountain, a light boat rowing horizontally. A very ordinary painting. Surpassing in concept, yet really not done by a grandmasters hand. It could only be described as a mediocre work. The painting was average, and so was the poem. That painting is a recent work of mine, Lin Fengyuan said. Its just enough for me to appreciate, myself, and would never be mounted in an elegant hall, much less deserve your praise, Sir. Tang Fan had only casually praised it, and laughed upon hearing that. Since Magistrate Lin is unwilling to open the coffin, thats that. Farewell. He stood. Lin Fengyuan hurried cupped his hands. Many thanks for your forgiveness, Sir. Otherwise, if you wish to know anything else, this humble official will certainly say all I know and do my utmost to cooperate! No need. Stay home and rest properly, Tang Fan said mildly, leaving. Magistrate Fan viciously glared at Lin Fengyuan, whispering out a rebuke. You really dont know right from wrong! He was a little perplexed. Before what had happened with Lin Zhen, Lin Fengyuan had actually had a pretty good relationship with this superior of his, Magistrate Fan. Furthermore, Lin Fengyuan had been very savvy at bootlicking, never allowing his superiors to get into a tight spot, yet he had now not hesitated to offend Tang Fan, an imperial ambassador, to death. This was practically madness. It was not only Magistrate Fan, but Tang Fans followers, Lu Lingxi and Xi Ming, both felt that Lin Fengyuan was just asking to be yelled at. With Tang Fans status, the fact that he had come to the Lin home personally over Lin Zhen was already a high compliment to Lin Fengyuan, but not only did he not cooperate, he made up all sorts of excuses! Had it not been for Tang Fan not blowing up, even Lu Lingxi would think to open his mouth and give Lin Fengyuan a scolding! Brother Tang, do you want me to find a chance to teach him a lesson? Lu Lingxi asked once they came out of the Lin home. No use in that. Tang Fan waved him off. He looked ponderous, but said nothing, so no one knew what he was thinking about. After they left the Lin home, Tang Fan told Magistrate Fan and Ji Min that they didnt need to accompany him anymore, saying that he wanted to stroll around places. Lu Lingxi and Xi Ming were enough for that. The two were local officials, in the end; they had work to handle every single day, making it impossible for them to go with him everywhere. When he said this, they politely pushed the boat along the water, saying farewell. Tang Fan then led the final two in a few loops around the street, entering a restaurant not too far ahead. By coincidence, it was the place Zeng Jin and the rest had bought the exam answers from: Clearwind. It was decorated expensively, customers flowing in like clouds. The taste of the food here was presumably not bad. People like Tang Fan and them, who had come suddenly and without prior reservation, could only be allocated to the main lobby. However, said lobby was divided into a first and second floor; each table on the second had screens separating them from each other. The privacy was inferior to that of a private rooms, but it was a little quieter than the first floor, as well as a little pricier. A server greeted him enthusiastically. Upon hearing that they wanted a private room, he apologetically expressed that there were not. Tang Fan didnt bicker with him, having him lead them to seats on the second floor, then ordering some dishes. They had all left with Tang Fan early in the morning, then had drunk down a bellyful of tea and held back a bellyful of anger, now starving. Seeing the three-cup chicken, sauted fish, steamed pork with taro chunks, and dry-fried wild mushrooms all typical homely dishes their fingers automatically twitched. There were only four people around, as Tang Fan hadnt allowed Xi Ming and Han Jin to have a separate table, but it was still quite lively as they sat in a circle, alternating with grabbing food in a whirlwind. Paired with white rice, most of the dishes on the table were quickly cleaned out. Alright, Tang Fan said to Xi Ming, once everyone had eaten their fill. I have a distant maternal cousin that moved with her parents to Jiangxi when she was little, but her parents died a few years ago, and her life has been somewhat hard ever since. She heard that I had also come to Jiangxi, so shes coming to seek shelter with me. After we return, explain this to the posthouse people so that they can put together that room that Ziming used to be in. Xi Ming didnt think much of this, agreeing, but Lu Lingxi asked, Brother Tang, how come I havent heard you talk about this cousin before? Tang Fan smiled. We were far apart before, and had no contact. I had only heard so from my older sister right before I left the capital, too. But why didnt you say so when you just came to Jiangxi, and only bring it up now without the slightest warning? Xi Ming would not have the sort of curiosity for a question like that. No matter what, whatever Tang Fan ordered was what he would do. Meanwhile, Lu Lingxi was full of doubts, but didnt question it too much, as he ultimately didnt know too much of Tang Fans familial situation. After thinking a bit, Lu Lingxi tactfully changed tactics. Brother Tang, your good cousin is a woman, in the end. It wouldnt be too great if she shared a courtyard with you and I, right? Tang Fan thought about that. Youre right. In that case, you can move to stay with Xi Ming and them. My cousin and I can stay in the same courtyard. We had a betrothal in our youth, and now that shes alone in the world with no one to rely on, theres no need for her to take so much care in all that. The second Lu Lingxi heard that, needless to say, he was depressed. He had merely asked an extra question, and ended up trapping himself. After a very long time, he couldnt think of an excuse to refuse, forced to sullenly agree, simultaneously saying, To be able to be betrothed to you means that she must be a well-read woman of virtue. What should I call her when we meet? Please let me prepare properly, lest I fail to be courteous when the time comes! When he heard woman of virtue, Tang Fans mouth couldnt help but twitch. Thankfully, Lu Lingxi didnt see that. He fixed up his face to put on a slightly nostalgic look. Call her Miss Qiao. I only met her a few times when I was young, not recently. She was typically shy by nature Saying so, Tang Fan paused, mentally told himself to just spit it out, stalling for a good minute, then proceeded to say, Shes shy, and probably wont be accustomed to you all straight-up calling her sister-in-law or Madam, because we arent actually married yet. A womans reputation must not be tarnished. According to what Tang Fan thought, informing Lu Lingxi and them of Sui Zhous real identity was not something that couldnt be done, he was uncertain about whether White Lotus Society-goers were hiding in the government here. Lu Lingxi was too young if any flaws showed in his words and actions, the gains wouldnt be worth the losses, so it was better to have some caution. He could fess up after this affair was done. Lu Lingxi couldnt process this shocking information for a minute, a little out of it after hearing what Tang Fan said. Meanwhile, Xi Ming asked, Sir, is there anything this subordinate needs to do about the Lin family? Tang Fan smiled. There is, but its a bit of a nefarious task that requires fooling people and lengthy considerations to do. You only need to give the order, Sir! First, go ask around about where Lin Zhens body is buried. In the dead of night, well go dig it up. He spoke tranquilly, yet those hearing it didnt know how to react. So, him having not been angered by Lin Fengyuans insubordination had been because he had long had this idea? Brother Tang, is this necessary? Lu Lingxi had to ask. Despite coming from an aristocratic family, he had wandered about at a young age and ought to have a fearless personality, yet the digging up of a grave was not good for the reputation, after all. Tang Fan might be an imperial ambassador, but if they were discovered and this spread out, people would definitely hold it against him. Hence, for Tang Fans sake, he had to re-confirm it. Tang Fan did not answer his question. What did you notice at the Lins today? Knowing that he was intentionally being thorough, Lu Lingxi gave this an earnest consideration. Lin Fengyuans performance was a bit odd. Odd how? Someone like him, whose son is dead and who has an old grudge with Shen Kunxiu, would hope more than anyone else that Shen Kunxiu would end up unlucky. Therefore, logically, he shouldnt have refused your request to open the coffin, yet he acted way too stubbornly. There was no reason to it at all. Also, Magistrate Fan said that before Lin Zhens death, Lin Fengyuan wasnt like this. What else? Sensing Tang Fans approval, Lu Lingxi had to keep racking his brains. Maybe someone was fishy about Lin Zhens death? Or, his death might have had nothing to Shen Kunxiu, but Lin Fengyuan was afraid that we would discover this, which is why he firmly refused to let us do an autopsy? Thats very likely. Greatly encouraged, Lu Lingxi continued to spread out his imagination. The only thing that could make him this worried and scared is his own guilt. Is it that he killed his own son, and feared being found out? Tang Fan shook his head with a laugh; he had put on too much of a display. Do you remember the painting on the wall? Yes. It didnt look like anything special, though. When I was speaking with him, he would glance out the corner of his eye from time to time. At the start, I wasnt clear on why, but later, I felt he must be looking at the painting, hence why I casually asked. I found something suspicious in result. He said that the painting was a new one. Think about it would a man with a dead son, looking so haggard, be of the mind to paint? Lu Lingxi let out an ah. He really hadnt thought about it from that aspect. Painting are based on visions. Poems, the voice of the heart. Even if he had wanted to pain what he felt, they would have expressed sorrowful and commemorative feelings. Why would he have painted something as optimistic and bold as that one? Youre saying that theres something off about Lin Fengyuan? Not only is he off, but hes greatly off! Tang Fan answered assuredly. And not only did he have issues, but even Shen Kunxiu had them. Lu Lingxi was confused. Youre saying that Shen Kunxiu used public affairs for private revenge? Tang Fan shook his head, but did not continue on with that. Come, all of you. Lets see if we cant find something off of Lin Zhen, first. Every time he heard Tang Fan analyze a case, Lu Lingxi felt a sort of powerlessness, where he was far and away from him in sufficiency. All he could do was make him work a little harder and be a little more meticulous in the hopes that he could match Tang Fans pace, but if the other was unwilling to explain thing, he would never be able to guess. That reality made him a bit unavoidably frustrated. Seeming to see his thoughts, Tang Fan pat him on the shoulder. Yiqing, I might not have done any better than you, at your age. Food always needs to be eaten in bites. Theres no need to be antsy. Lu Lingxi was having different thoughts, though. Hearing Tang Fan speak to him with the tone of an elder bolstering a junior, the disappointed sensation in his heart became heavier, and he had to protest. Brother Tang, Im not that much younger than you! Ive helped you with a lot! Yes, yes, of course youve been a big help. All of this has been thanks to you, Xi Ming, Han Jin, and the rest! Oh. He was in the same position as Xi Mings group. CH 129 Xi Mings group speedily found the spot Lin Zhen was buried: his body had been transported to the Lin familys ancestral tombs in their Luling Countys suburbs. That area wasnt far from the County, but since what they were about to do was not fit to be seen, they obviously couldnt go plain dig up the grave in the light of day; it needed to be done in secret. Therefore, after Xi Ming had come back with the report, Tang Fan decided to head over the next night, because the day after tomorrow was Double Seventh Jian nighttime would be having a lively lantern festival, and everyone of every age in the city would be coming out to see and release lanterns. On that night only, all the citys gates would not be shut for curfew, and their group coming and going would not attract anyones notice. After getting back from the Lin home, Tang Fan made no other movements for two days straight, instead bringing Lu Lingxi and the other with him every day in strolls around Jians various streets, coming and goings from restaurants of all sizes, and sampling the local foods, which was all inscrutable to onlookers. Unavoidably, some believed that he had made no progress on the case, and since it was heard that the Court was on the verge of appointing a second imperial ambassador, he must be feeling moody and stopped bothering. Regardless of what anyone else though, Tang Fan continued to do his own thing. He didnt even go into the prefectural bureau, let alone say he was going to go look for Shen Kunxiu. For these two days, Jian was vast, and he was going to tour the whole thing. Tang Fan did not seek out Shen Kunxiu, but the latter was not even a little bit happy about that. The most dramatic thing that happened in Jian these two days was not Tang Fan cracking the case, but Consul Shen beating his son half to death, until he purportedly wasnt about to get up for half a month. Don Shen was really quite the troublemaker. Had he only done some stupid, off-key things, that would have been fine, but he had run off to a brothel, and because he had fallen downwind in the fight for a girls affections with another fop, he had brought out his fathers name, completely destroying said fathers reputation. As was known, Shen Kunxiu still bore this case. Every day it went unsettled was another day he carried the suspicion of harshly judging a case and forcing a scholar unto his death. And yet, his son was the opposite of good, not only not sympathizing with him, but making a mess all over the place. Who knew what Shen Kunxiu felt, having sired a son like this? Still, Don Shen was his only son. As could be imagined, Shen Si having become what he was today was likely Shen Kunxius blame to bear. Whatever Shen Kunxiu was feeling, Lu Lingxi had no idea of it for right now, though his current emotions might not be much different than his. That was because Tang Fan was going to pick up his distantly-related cousin. Supposedly, her surname was Qiao, and she had some sort of relation to Tang Fans mother. Since the two families had neighbored and diligently visited each other during his childhood, they had gone with the flow to pledge the two to each other before they were born, establishing a childhood betrothal. However, due to the fickle ways of the world, the Tang family had fallen, and Tang Fan had traveled far away in his youth, gradually cutting off contact. It wasnt until recently that correspondences had been re-established. His cousins family had fallen, too, and now she was pitifully alone in the world, which was why she had come to seek shelter with her older cousin. Once he had finished the case, she was going with him back to the capital all of that, Lu Lingxi had learned straight from Tang Fans mouth. Today happened to be Double Seventh, and there were already more people walking around in the daytime than was usual. There was also a bustling temple festival at the Temple of the City God, which was so crowded, water wouldnt be able to squeeze through it. At the same time, womenfolk were hurrying to the monastery for incense, their litters blocking up the road the sea of people made a huge uproar. However, this was only the daytime scene. When night came, there would be the even more bustling lantern festival, whereupon young men and women would all pour out of the city to light up lanterns and make wishes. The lantern festival inside the city would also afford a spectacular sight; it was said that in years prior, there had been no lack of wealthy people uniting to buy fanciful lanterns and hang them up all over Jian City, making it a true display of trees of fire and flowers of silver, the lanternlight resplendent. Tang Fan did not join in on the fun. Instead, he went out at daybreak for tea and a chat with Ji Min, and when he returned, he hired a cushioned sedan chair, then told Han Jin to lead it to Fortune Comes Inn for picking someone up. It was the closest inn to the city gates, and many foreign traders chose to rest there after entering the city. I already made plans with her, he said to Han Jin. I told her to wait at the entrance of the inn after coming into the city, and Im guessing she should be arriving right about now. Go over there a bit in advance, and wait if you get there earlier than her. Lu Lingxi, who was listening at the side, butt in. Brother Tang, do you want me to help, too? Miss Qiao should have brought just maidservants. A few frail women on the road alone would be terrified the whole journey. If they have a mishap, that would be terrible. No need. They also have a few from their hometown that came with them, else they wouldnt have made it here. Han Jin alone is enough. Lu Lingxi was forced to give up. At heart, he was really very curious about this never-before-seen Miss Qiao. Casting out those thoughts no one was to know about, he had always felt that for someone like Tang Fan, the talent of generation that was of good moral character, a future woman worthy of him must be beautiful outside, intelligent inside, and of good heart. To be more specific, it was a thought much like, Even though I might not have any hope myself, I hope that the one I like can have the best. It was precisely because of him covering up like this that he typically portrayed his familiarity by being clingy and childish. As Tang Fan was especially slow to grasp emotions, he had no suspicion that Lu Lingxis feelings towards him were abnormal, and came to treat him as a junior and younger brother that had not yet grown up. This could be said to be Lu Lingxis massive mistake when he later came to learn that he had used the wrong method to begin with, who knew how he would feel? Anyways, Han Jin was ordered to pick the woman up at noon, and did not return until it was nearly nightfall. Alongside him was a small cyan sedan chair, with two people following it on either side. Judging by their dress, they should be Tang Fans alleged cousins maidservant and manservant. Hearing that his cousin was here, Tang Fan brought Lu Lingxi and the rest to personally welcome her. However, the second they stepped out of the posthouse, everyone Tang Fan included solidly jumped in fright. No mention was going to the cousin right now, only about the two beside the sedan chair. The manservant was around twenty years old with a beard and stocky stature, while his face was full of pockmarks, his visage course. That was all, though; servants naturally had to look like servants if he looked like a jadeite tree facing the wind, would he be called a servant? Apparently, it was exactly due to the presence of this guy that Lady Qiao and her maid could safely arrive here from Zhejiang. He could be said to have made a great contribution. However, seeing the maid could make one much more speechless. The others upper body was covered with a round-necked duijin, no sleeves to be seen, under which was an embellished, short coat of vivid coloration. On her lower half, she had a grass-colored horseface skirt. Her hair was combed back into two topknots on either side of her head that were tied up with red silk ribbons, and a string of tassels hung from them, swaying with each of her footsteps, fine and lovely. And yet, her loveliness was only in her dress. Had this outfit shown up on a fourteen-year-old girl, it would have been pretty and adorable but if it showed up on someone that was around the same height as the manservant next to her, could it still be called cute? It could practically be called a horrorshow! The least impressive thing was that the the maids face had been assailed with a thick layer of makeup, her lips were daubed with bright red rouge, and her brows were made up slender and long. Her walking steps were very small, her feet hidden beneath the bottom of her skirt and refusing to show; her bearing was graceful and delicate, but when paired up with that tall skeletal structure, it looked oddly ridiculous. The only thing desirable about any of her was that she had a pair of sharp eyes on her, full of life as they looked about, inlaid upon a face whose foundation powder was thicker than the paint brushed on walls, which was not jarring. Also, her features were somewhat defined, causing her to have something of an exotic grace. Lu Lingxi was caught off guard for along while, uttering out, Brother Tang, could your cousins maid be a Semu? Semu was a label from the former Yuan Dynasty. Yuan had classified the commonfolk it governed as fourth-class, and Semu second-class. After this Dynastys establishment, Han and Tang attire had been restored, and non-Han language and clothing forbidden. Even so, the Han regions had many Semu left behind from Yuan. Seeing the maids high nose bridge and deep eyes was what made Lu Lingxi ask. Truthfully, Tang Fan was no less shocked at heart than he. He had thought that Sui Zhou would dress up as his cousin, yet he had dressed up as a maid in that case, who was the cousin in the sedan chair? Maybe, Tang Fan vaguely answered. His line of sight shifted away from the maids thick white makeup and flowery clothes, unable to bear looking at them again. Greetings, Young Lord. The maid paid courtesy to him, her voice hushed, with a somewhat androgynous tinge. If he hadnt been looking at her face, Tang Fan would nearly be unable to hear the owners voice. He coughed lightly. What are your names. My names Tie Zhu! Greetings, Young Lord! the manservant said. That was clearly Pang Qis voice. A-Answering you, Young Lord, this maid is called Xiao Zhou. While she spoke, she looked up and quickly glanced at him, then bowed her head again, as if shy. It appeared incidental, which everyone caught sight of. Lu Lingxi: Your Miss must be in the sedan chair? Request that she come out now, Tang Fan said. He felt like if he couldnt go back inside, he likely wouldnt be able to keep a straight face. Hearing this, Xiao Zhou leaned over, gathered up the curtain, and said softly, Miss, were here. Please come down. A fair, slender hand reached out from the cabin, then settled on Xiao Zhous, after which someone walked out. Everyones eyes shone at once. This woman had a heart-shaped face, willowy brows, eyes like autumnal waters, and a cherry-lipped mouth an objective beauty. Like Xiao Zhou, she was also wearing a coat and skirt of eye-catching colors, but while Xiao Zhous adornment caused people pain, the beautiful Miss Qiao was complemented by beautiful dress, the two going together well. In other words, from looks alone, a woman like this was a match set in Heaven with Tang Fan. Cousin! When Lady Qiao saw Tang Fan, her face broke out into a brilliant smile. You must be him, right? Despite this maiden giving him an overall sense of indescribable familiarity, Tang Fan went all in on the play, smiling and nodding. Yes, Im your cousin. We havent met for many years. Youve indeed become a grown woman, the spitting image of my aunt. Youve been traveling for so long, that you must be tired. Lets go in before we talk. You still remember what my mother looked like? Lady Qiao bowed with her hands held in front, then immediately came forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him firmly crowding out Lu Lingxi to be behind like she had known him for a long time. Xiao Zhou closely followed behind her Miss, and by wielding her figure, she crowded Lu Lingxi back even further. Lu Lingxi was extremely depressed, but as he couldnt bicker with two women, he could only admit this defeat. Unexpectedly, yet another figure came in close. With a raise of his head, he saw Tie Zhu smiling naively at him. Youre a manservant! Why are you following so closely! Tie Zhu smiled dumbly. But I followed the whole way over like this. Miss said a lot of bad people are outside. She had me follow close so that I dont end up alone and get kidnapped! Who would want to kidnap someone that looks like you? Lu Lingxis mouth twitched. Your Miss and Brother Tang havent seen each other in a long time and probably have a lot to discuss. Dont bother them by going in there. But arent you goin in there, too? If you can go in, why cant I? I. Am. Not. Going. In. Tie Zhu hummed, rubbing his stomach. Then Im not goin. Hey, Brother, can I dare to ask if theres anything to eat here? I only ate ten buns today! Im really hungry! Lu Lingxi had believed himself to have already met enough people and experienced plenty, but after he started following Tang Fan, he was having to write new pages in his memory over and over again. Seeing the others cow eyes blinking as he watched him, he immediately lost his verve. Yes Ill bring you there, he said powerlessly. Tie Zhu turned excited, following after him as they headed for the kitchen, not neglecting to ramble on. Thank you, Brother! Youre a real nice guy. In our hometown, everyone except the Miss and Xiao Zhou look down on me. You dont! Youre worthy of being by the Young Lords side! Brother, whats your name? Brother On the other end, Tang Fan led Lady Qiao into the hall. Xi Ming and Han Jin did not come in the room, ordered to watch outside. Okay. Whats going on, here? Tang Fan subconsciously avoided Xiao Zhous gaudy clothes, his expression a bit disconcerted from the horrible sight. Lady Qiao could be described as gorgeous, but that wasnt enough to make Tang Fan shocked enough to think her a heavenly being all he needed to do was look at Xiao Zhou, then at Lady Qiao, and the comparison between the two looks made the latter instantly more beautiful than an immortal. She sneered. Sir Tang, how could you forget me after such a short time apart? Tang Fan was stunned for a good while, then said, Youre Xiao Wu? Xiao Wu threw him a coquettish look over her sleeves cover. Could it be anyone else? Upon a closer look, that silhouette really was mostly similar to Xiao Wus, but back when they had parted ways in Suzhou, he had handed her over to Wang Zhi for proper placement. Who could have though that once he turned around, they would meet again here? Tang Fan couldnt help but look up at Sui Zhou. You two have really thrown be for a loop! Xiao Wu smiled. Allow me to give you an explanation. As it was, after the conclusion of the Suzhou case, Xiao Wu had felt that as a single woman with her looks, even if she sat on a pile of wealth, she might not be able to protect it; once Tang Fan and Wang Zhi left, she would likely get caught in circumstances like before, where someone would steal from her and take her as exclusive property. For that reason, she needed to protect her capital. Furthermore, she had long been accustomed to an exciting life, and returning to the tranquil life of a good woman was inevitably impossible for her, so after pondering things, she had asked Wang Zhi for help, hoping that he could grant her protection. In exchange, she would help him enact things, becoming his spy and scout. Although she had no martial arts, she had stunning looks and was used to putting on acts. She didnt even need to invest with her body to make many men grovel at her pomegranate-colored skirts. She was not totally useless, but the Western Depot had collapsed, and Wang Zhis scope of influence had long transferred to the palaces internals. There was no way he could get her into the palace by making her the Emperors concubine, right? Therefore, Wang Zhi had contacted Sui Zhou. With the latters consent, Xiao Wu was transferred into the Brocade Guard, becoming a spy under its banner, helping it act when needed, and naturally having its shelter. When necessary, the signboard it was could block any external harassment for her, allowing her to live the life she wanted. All kinds were under the Brocade Guards banner. It wasnt like it had never had women in it before, but it had never had as dazzling of a subordinate as her. The reason she had been willing to seek asylum in either the Brocade Guard or Wang Zhi was that she knew that they had good relations with Tang Fan, and with his character, if his counterparts were not good people, he would never associate with them. At the end of it, her trust in him had caused her to come to a decision. After getting the whole stoy, Tang Fan learned that her first assignment after joining the Guard was to pretend to be his distant cousin, betrothed to him in childhood. A beauty dressing up ugly would have it easier than an ugly dressing up beautiful; all that had been needed was a bit of a dextrous hand to change her pallor a little, modify her facial features slightly, and change her voice somewhat to lower her timbre, her intonation going from alluring to relaxed. Even Lu Lingxi hadnt recognized that the charming lady before him was Xiao Wu from back in Suzhou, not thinking that Chen Luans concubine could instantly morph into a Brocade Guard ally. If he couldnt recognize her, no one else could, naturally. Her disguise as Tang Fans cousin was more convincing than Sui Zhou. As a maid of Semu descent, how tall he was didnt matter; anyone seeing the master-servant pair would generally be paying attention to Xiao Wu, and not too much to her maid. How are you all going to track down and capture the White Lotus Societys remnants? Tang Fan asked. With Li Zilongs cunning, the most dangerous place is also the safest, Sui Zhou said. His probability of having left the city isnt high. He might still be hiding somewhere in it, but in order to prevent the Court from finding his nest, theyre definitely going to move. Yan Li and the rest have already gone out to Jians outskirts to secretly probe around. It shouldnt be long until they find something. Whats happening on your end? Tang Fan explained his plot to go dig up Lin Zhens grave. Sui Zhou pondered for a moment. In that case, you can use the chance of going out of the city to look at lanterns with Xiao Wu to go. It wouldnt grab attention. Pang Qi and I can help, too. Tang Fan thought it over. Sounds good Just as he said those two words, the loud voice of Tie Zhu came closer. Brother Lu, youre a real swindler! There were clearly no buns in the kitchen! You lied to me by saying there were! Lu Lingxi was glum. You ate an entire bowl of beef noodles! Youre still complaining about there being no buns? Ill let you eat my whole portion! Hearing the twos commotion, they stopped talking, watching them walk in one after the other. Lu Lingxi saw that Tang Fan was not seated at the head seat, but down closer to Lady Qiao, one tea table partitioning them, and he couldnt help but get even more glum. He thought to himself, You only just met. Why are you getting so familiar? Lady Qiao, too, really even if you had a childhood betrothal, why are you going without a womans reservedness? Unexpectedly, as if to confirm his silent criticisms, Lady Qiao truly didnt have a bit of reservedness not worried about Lu Lingxi being nearby, she said flirtily to Tang Fan, Cousin, I heard that theres a lantern festival outside the city. Can you come see it with me? Now, Xiao Wus acting brilliance could be seen. In Suzhou before, Lu Lingxi had seen her, but Xiao Wu had been just like her name, both charming and gentle, fully able to automatically invoke pity and totally different from her current vivacious look. It was little wonder as to why he didnt recognize her. Him aside, even Tang Fan, who had spent a few days around her, hadnt recognized her when they first met. Nevertheless, Tang Fan showed her a warm and indulgent smile. Lots of people will be there. What if you arent careful and get lost? I wont be afraid if youre with me! Okay, okay. But youre not allowed to run all around! Alright. Ill listen to everything you say. Seeing this, Lu Lingxi had to remind, Brother Tang, were going to do work. Its probably not appropriate to take Miss Qiao, right? Lady Qiao unhappily pursed her lips, glaring at him. What does this have to do with you?! Dont be impolite! Tang Fan gently scolded her, then smiled. Ive been careless. You two havent been formally introduced. This is Lu Lingxi, courtesy Yiqing; hes a junior friend. You can just call him Yiqing. Yiqing, my cousin is no outsider; theres no need to keep anything from her. Even though Tang Fan did not reveal any identities, Xi Ming and Han Jin, as onlookers, clearly got it, quickly hearing something off in his undertones. They couldnt help but stare a bit at Lady Qiao. Lu Lingxi, however, as someone involved, knew nothing; seeing Tang Fan put so much trust into a fiancee he had just met made him rather downtrodden. Noticing that he seemed to not be reacting, Tang Fan added, If she comes with us at night, we can deceive others better. Reluctantly, Lu Lingxi accepted that reasoning, looking at Sui Zhou and the idiot Tie Zhu who were standing close behind Lady Qiao. Then they dont need to go, right? Tie Zhus voice was like a great bell, rattling Lu Lingxis eardrums into buzzing as he stood beside him. Young Lord, you cant leave me here! Im big and strong! I can do any work! The maid Xiao Zhou gripped the hem of her clothes, saying shyly, Miss said that I will later be the Young Lords bedmaid, so wherever the Young Lord says I will go, I will. Lu Lingxi: Tang Fan quickly bowed his head to drink his tea, which was actually to conceal that his mouth had started twitching again. Everyone ate and rested for a bit. After night descended, they left the posthouse in preparation to go out of the city. As expected, homes were emptied of people, a stretch of white light shining in the distant night sky. Evidently, people were setting off fireworks outside the city, loud noises faintly heard. All along the route, there were many passersby like them, supporting their children and elders in heading out of the city. By contrast, Tang Fans group was all young people, but they still blended completely into the crowd, not conspicuous at all. The only difference was that while everyone else was going to view lanterns, they were going grave-digging. The Lin ancestral gravesite was not far from here, the carriage driving out for under half a shichen before it got there. The surroundings were quiet all around. A small town was nearby, where the Lin home family was, but most of its people had gone out to lantern-view today. Those remaining were the old, infirm, or wives and children; even if they heard any commotion, they would not rush out to see. Xi Mings group had long pinpointed Lin Zhens burial plot, straight-up walking to the grave, taking out the shovel and other tools from the carriage, and starting to dig. Lady Qiao, seated in the carriage, poked her head out at this time, but there was no surprise or fear on her face, as if she saw everything they were doing as ordinary. Were Lu Lingxi stupid, he would still be able to tell that something was unusual about Tang Fans cousin right now and he wasnt stupid in the least. Tang Fan had dared to tell his suddenly-appearing, previously-undiscussed cousin that he had just met about something so important, then had brought her to a place like this, so the two must have long known each, their relationship not at all shallow. Thinking so, Lu Lingxi felt some mix of emotions on the inside. Still, as a subordinate, he didnt hold up his work; everyone here, sans Tang Fan and Lady Qiao, was of prominent martial arts, making excavation overkill for them. After not long, the corner of a coffin was revealed. Everyone sped up their motions, one after the other. The full appearance of the coffin was soon exposed. They hefted it up together, then used their tools to pry off the rivets on top of it, lifting away its lid. There was no need for Tang Fan to do an autopsy. Upon seeing the corpse beneath, everyone was greatly astounded. Lady Qiao, who had gotten off the carriage, couldnt help but softly gasp. CH 130 Had there been no one in the coffin, they all might not be this alarmed, but there really was someone lying there. To their surprise, the others face, neck, and even hands showing from beneath his robes all held marks of being burnt. The body was charred black, features a bit similar to Lin Fengyuans vaguely able to be recognized on it. Since Lin Zhen had hung himself, why would there now be burn marks on him? Xiao Wu knew little of this cases inner workings, nor had she seen the corpses of the five evaluators. She had just exclaimed due to the state of the body being too terrifying to her, and because there was an unpleasant stink when she got near to it, she couldnt help but retreat several steps back, quickly shrinking into the carriage and peering at the rest of them. Lu Lingxi furrowed his brow. Strange. How come, between Lin Fengyuan and Shen Kunxiu, neither brought up the part about burning? Did Lin Zhen not commit suicide, but get immolated? Were that the case, however, there would be even more issues. Shen Kunxiu was under immense suspicion due to Lin Zhens death; if Lin Zhen had burned to death, why hadnt he said a word to exonerate himself? Had the grudge between the Shen and Lin families been bad enough for Shen Kunxiu to kill Lin Zhen? Everyone observed the corpse, only thinking that there were many mysteries with no answers here. Despite the corpse not having been buried for long, due to the hot weather, it had already started to give off a faint rotting stench. Xiao Wu aside, the others also instinctively covered up their noses and took a few steps back; only Tang Fan was standing there, wordless, staring at the body, as if a flower could bloom out of it. Not only did he stare at it, but he also went to examine it himself. They all watched his fair and slender hands feel all about the body, even probing into the deceaseds mouth and nose. The corners of their mouths couldnt help but slightly twitch. Merely witnessing this, they all felt nauseous, while Tang Fan was doing all of it without a change in expression. It was truly admirable. He wasnt burned to death, he suddenly said, not long after. Then, he stood, stuffed the jade cicada that had been in the corpses mouth back into it, and carefully wiped off his hands with the wet rag Xiao Zhou handed him. Before anyone could ask, he took the initiative to explain. Theres a huge difference between getting burnt before death, and after. If a person is burned to death, they ought to breath in soot, but I just checked his mouth and nose. Theyre clean, with no traces of soot at all. Theres another important piece. If one hangs themself, because of the pressure on the throat causing the tongue to protrude outwards, it should be a little longer than usual, pressed against the upper teeth. However, the length of his is the same as a typical persons, with no abnormality. That shows that likely didnt hang himself. Wanting to learn more things, Lu Lingxi forced back his repulsion and imitated Tang Fans posture of getting down low to the coffin, his upper body leaned over it as he pinched his nose and observed. Brother Tang, his neck is all burnt black. Theres no traces of strangulation. How can you determine his cause of death like this? Since he didnt hang himself and was only burned like this after death, its very possible that after being murdered, someone faked evidence of suicide in order to deceive Shen Kunxiu. Then, fearing that people like us would re-examine the body, they burned it beyond recognition to conceal the actual reason for Lin Zhens death. If someone unrelated did this, they would have just burnt the body in full, instead of doing it like this; burning only half, dressing it in jades, and solemnly burying it, allowing us to find flaws from the body now. That could only be a relative of the deceased clearly knowing that they needed to destroy the corpse, yet unable to bear it, giving up halfway to make this. Therefore, the one that burned the body should doubtlessly be Lin Fengyuan. Lu Lingxi furrowed his brows. If you say that, then he must know that Lin Zhen didnt hang himself, yet he still helped the killer in burning the body to remove traces from it. Is he the killer himself? Tang Fan shook his head. If he was, then since he had the heart to murder his own child, he would have been able to burn the complete corpse. Still, seeing the previous clues, he definitely knows who the killer is, and deliberately covered for them Speaking up to there, he paused, then exclaimed, Damn! Everyone looked at him, confused. Quick! Put the coffin back in, then lets hurry to the Lin home! Hearing this, the others believed he wanted to go there to settle the score with Lin Fengyuan. Only the maid Xiao Zhou knew what he meant. You think Lin Fengyuan is in danger, Young Lord? Yes. I recall when we dropped by that day, he was acting abnormal. First, he had wasted away, as fearful as a bird frightened by a bows twang, then he had occasionally glanced at the painting on the wall. Presumably, because he had been threatened, he had to keep quiet, but was trying to tell me something. There had to be a hidden component to the painting, something he wanted to tell me, yet couldnt clearly state. But weve thought of that much, the killer can certainly think of it, too! His implication being that Lin Fengyuan would likely be targeted by the killer, then silenced. As soon as everyone heard this, without another word, they picked up their pace in filling the hole up level, then heading right for the Lin home. The city gates were open all night, and they had been at the Lins just a few days ago; familiar with the road, they arrived quickly. The surroundings were quiet. It wasnt because everyone was resting, but because they had all gone out of the city to lantern view, likely not to be back within the shichen. The Lins front gate was shut tight. Xi Ming stepped forth to bang on the door, the sound shaking the sky. Movement quickly came to be heard inside, the other party calling out a Who is it? as he hurried over. Because he didnt know the identities of those outside, the other was too afraid to open the door without permission. Xi Ming then said, The imperial ambassador on a case! We came just two days ago! D-do you have proof of that? the one inside asked timidly, apparently not believing that. Xi Ming disdained to talk whatever with him, merely looking back at Tang Fan. Seeing him nod, he went around to the wall nearby, leapt straight up to the top of it, then jumped into the courtyard. A cry of alarm quickly sounded. A short moment later, Xi Ming opened the door from the inside. The Lin servant was beyond terrified, truly believing that he had encountered robbers that had come to loot. Before he could shout, Han Jin stepped up to cover his mouth. Dont shout, its me. Dont you recognize the ambassador that came to your home a few days ago? Tang Fan said to him. The servant couldnt speak still, opening his eyes wide. After sizing him up in the dimly-lit candlelight of the doorway, he nodded. Han Jin let him go. The servant gasped for air, his panic unending. Wh-why are you here, Sir? Wheres your Master? I need to see him for something urgent! He isnt here. Dare I ask what it is? Forcing breaking down the door was weird, no matter how one looked at it. Tang Fan wasnt of the mind to clarify for him, expression sinking. Where did he go? While he was talking, perhaps on account of hearing the commotion here, a few servants hurried over. Thinking there were thieves, they all held clubs in their hands. He said he was going to see lights Old Lin, whats happening? The steward swiftly walked out, measuring Tang Fans group up in alarm. The servant informed him of their identity, after which the steward was relieved; he had seen Tang Fan during his previous visit. He cupped his hands to him. Answering you, Sir, our Master has indeed gone out to lantern-view, and is not yet back. How many people did he leave with? When did he? Um I came by in the middle of the night not to intentionally cause problems for you, but to save his life. If you dont speak and he has an accident, dont blame me for not warning you! Seeing that he was serious, the stewards expression changed slightly. After thinking for a bit, he clenched his jaw and said, To be honest, we also noticed that he was a bit weird tonight. The Third Lord was fussing about going out to lantern-view. Master had never prevented him in years prior, but he refused this one. When someone sent a letter in, he hurried out, and he hasnt returned. About when did he leave? Was he alone? Around the time of the Dog.(7-9p) He only brought Lai Wang ah, his attendant. Do you know where they went? Is the letter still here? He never told us where he was going, and burnt the letter after reading it. Plus, when he left, he looked serious, appearing to not be too happy, so we didnt ask anything. What is the meaning of this, Sir? That servant, then. Has Lai Wang always worked at the Lin home? No, he was personally brought in by Master a few months ago. Said he was replacing the former attendant, Ji Xiang, who was sent to look after the study. He was sad about it for a while He looked at Tang Fan, unsettled, not knowing what had gone on. Im afraid somethings going on with your Master, Tang Fan said. Send someone to find him, now, and theyre to come back and report if they do. I will also inform Magistrate Fan to have authorities go searching! The steward went entirely pale. S-Sir, whats going on? If you delay any further, he might not be coming back, Tang Fan said coldly. The steward jumped in fright. Not daring to inquire further, he quickly sent most of the household out to search. Meanwhile, Tang Fan said to Lu Lingxi and Xi Ming, One each of you go to the prefectural and county bureaus, have Magistrate Fan and Brother Ziming to send people respectively to search. If hes found, Im to be told! Ill be waiting here, at the Line home! Also, visit Consul Shen while youre at it whether he wants to come or now, be sure to get him over here! Xi Ming affirmed, while Lu Lingxi hesitated. Brother Tang, if we both leave at once Miss Qiao has no martial arts, so the only one at your side will be Han Jin, and thats not good Before he finished, Tie Zhu smacked his own chest. I aint someone? Brother Lu, you can go in peace! Xiao Zhou and I are here! Nothing will happen! Its because youre here that I cant relax, Lu Lingxi thought. However, Tang Fan also said something. Hurry and go! Time is of the essence, dont delay on second! Ill be fine here! Everyday jokes were one thing; now that he was getting serious, Lu Lingxi dared not argue. Agreeing, he left quickly with Xi Ming to their respective tasks. Such a huge ruckus had also disturbed all of the Lin family members. The Lin Matriarch send a maid out to ask about the situation. After hearing of it, she disregarded the rule about it being inappropriate to meet with unfamiliar men, coming straight out to see Tang Fan, the panic on her face unconcealed. Sir, what you said about the Lord is that true? Tang Fan didnt answer that. Husbands and wives are one unit if Lin Fengyuan was acting odd recently, as his wife, it must have been easy for you to notice. Lady Chen creased he brow. Yes. Ever since Ah-Zhen died, my husbands words and deeds seemed a bit off. I only thought that he was so out of excessive grief, so I didnt ask further. The time before, I wanted Ah-Jue to come back, but he refused, saying he should remain at the Academy. Ah-Jue? The Second Lord! the steward helpfully added. Is he still in the Academy now, then? Yes. When the Eldest Lord passed, the Second was called back, but in not a few days time, the Master sent him back, saying that he shouldnt delay his schoolwork. Reasonably speaking, there would never be enough time for parents to be inconsolable after their eldest sons death. Why would he have made his second son hurry back to school? Moreover, judging by how Lin Zhen had been buried, it wasnt as if Lin Fengyuan didnt love his son. No matter what, that action was strange, even to those not of the Lin family. Tang Fan frowned and thought. Find a few servants to go to the Academy and see if your Second Lord is still there. The steward and Lady Chens eyes widened at the same time. Sir, youre saying Its nothing, no need to panic. I just want to confirm his safety. Go, now! Even when he said that, anyone could hear his ominous implication. Quickly! Do as he ordered! Lady Chen said to the steward/ The Lin home suddenly went into a flurry. Lady Chen, a woman of the inner household, had never come across this situation before, unsure of what to do for a time, only able to stand there anxiously. As it was, Tang Fan had something for her to look for, and asked, I remembered that when I paid a visit, there was a painting hung in your main hall. Magistrate Lin said he had made it himself. Is it still there? She thought for a short moment. Youre speaking of the painting where a great river flows east? Yes. It seems to be. I saw it there this morning. Bring me to see it. This way, please. She led them to the main hall, but when she looked around, she gasped. I clearly saw it here this morning! Why has it been switched out? The location from Tang Fans memory had since had a different painting hung on it, of a bright mountain moon. The name on it was not Lin Fengyuans. Not seeing anything amiss with it, Tang Fan lifted its scroll away. There was an ordinary wall beneath it, nothing weird to be seen. Maid Xiao Zhou also walked over, knocked on the wall, and felt around for a spell. Theres nothing, she said. No issue was with the wall, so there was an issue with the painting. Tang Fan carefully thought back to it, not even noticing someone rush in from outside. Sir, Consul Shen, Magistrate Fan, and Magistrate Ji are here, Han Jin called out from nearby. Upon raising his head, Tang Fan rose to greet them. I didnt want to disturb you all. This Tang truly apologizes. Sir, this humble official has summoned help to find Magistrate Lin. Has something happened? Magistrate Fan was a bit unhappy, but dared not lash out. Today was Double Seventh; ordinary commonfolk aside, even he had been leisurely lounging in his courtyard, eating snacks, chatting with his wife, and having a great time, only for Tang Fan to have sent someone to break that rare time of leisure. It was natural for him to be unhappy. Still, it was no good to say so to Tang Fan, though he had to think so at heart. Shen Kunxiu still had a darkened face, looking like someone owed him a lot of money and hadnt paid it back. Truthfully, when Xi Ming had come to the door, he hadnt been wanting to come, yet Xi Ming had used force to invite him over. His complexion being anything pretty would be weird. Are you not speaking drivel, Censor Tang? Dont you need real evidence to start? You said that something may have happened to Magistrate Lin and have made all of Jian Prefecture awfully busy. If he comes back safe and sound, how will you explain this? If something did happen to him, what does that have to do with this Consul? Tang Fan waved his hand. Dont get irritated, Consul Shen. Please sit. Shen Kunxiu flung his hand out. No need! You have something to say, so please say it as soon as possible so that I can hurry back and lantern-view! Tang Fan grinned. Youre quite open-minded, Consul. Your good son caused such a catastrophe, yet you still have the free time to view lights. I heard that he was taught enough of a lesson to not rise from bed for a few days; he must not be able to view them with you, hm? What does that matter to you? Shen Kunxiu raged. You try to control the Heavens, you try to control the Earth youre being too controlling! Smile curbing, Tang Fan abruptly shouted, Shen Kunxiu, youve indulged your son in violent acts what crime fits you? Taken aback for a moment, Shen Kunxiu then became furious. Tang Fan, dont dirty me with your slander! Fan Yuezheng fears you, but I dont! Dont believe that just because you were imperially ordered to investigate, you can invert black and white! What does Lin Zhens death have to do with me?! Tang Fan coldly smiled. When did I ever say you were related to Lin Zhens death? I was talking about the deaths of those five evaluators, plus ones wife! Six people in total! You dare say you didnt have an inkling of what happened there?! In that split second, a hint of oddity swiftly flitted past Shen Kunxius face, eyes involuntarily wandering for a moment. Many, when having guilty consciences, would often have a reaction like this. Despite the extremely short duration, Tang Fans eyes had been trained on his counterpart the whole time. He would never miss the subtle changes in his expression. Neither Magistrate Fan nor Ji Min had expected that Tang Fan would choose to turn hostile with Shen Kunxiu right now. They exchanged looks, and dared not console them, only sitting there awkwardly. Face flushing straight red, Shen Kunxiu pointed angrily at Tang Fan. Keep talking nonsense, and believe me, Ill denounce you tomorrow! The second he got angry, Tang Fan contrarily smiled. Havent you already denounced me a few times? Were it not for your memorials, why would the Court send another imperial ambassador? Shen Kunxiu, I ask you this: you were well aware that the five evaluators were related to the imperial exam case, so why did you not wait for an imperial ambassador to come, and were in a rush to let them go? Shen Kunxiu didnt want to answer, but had to, only sullenly saying, Because, according to my investigation that day, they didnt participate in the cheating! You could only convince a five-year-old with that. Before the institutional exams, a total of sixteen exam-takers paid a hundred taels each for information at Clearwind, which said that as long as the words Great Achievement were mixed in with the text, they were to pass with high marks. If that information was false, then it would have been impossible for all sixteen of them to get on the roll. As the situation goes, when the exam rolls were released, all of their names had been on it. If there were no evaluators colluding with them, how could they have ranked based on those two words alone? Tang Fan paused. At that point in development, you hadnt found out in time. At best, that would only be the crime of a failure to oversee. After that, you gathered up the exam-takers suspected of cheating, and had them retake the exam. That incident is also enough to prove that you were certainly aware without knowing the details. However. After I came here, youve been making things hard for me all over the place, not only refusing to cooperate, but being obstructive in all things. You clearly knew that that someone had to be accepting bribes amongst the evaluators, as well as that when I came, I was bound to investigate them, yet you still let them go, preferring to make yourself bear heavy suspicion. Even after those six died, you still refuse to unveil a bit of the truth, only blindly denying it. That says only one thing: the one that sold the cheat to the exam-takers must be closely related to you. You can abandon your own honors and career path as long as you can protect him, is that right? Shen Kunxiu sneered. Thats a whole lot of nonsense! He got up and was about to walk away with the swing of his sleeve, but Han Jin and Xi Ming, having long come to guard the door, stood still ahead of him, staring coldly. Embarrassed into rage, Shen Kunxiu turned his head back. Tang Fan, what is the meaning of this?! Are you trying to forcefully convict and confine a Court official?! Tang Fan ignored him, continuing to speak pleasantly. Previously, Magistrate Fan said that the headmaster of Egret Isle Academy is very old, and the position will be vacant. Those who want to be the next one are not few, yet those five evaluators had been the most qualified to contend for it. As they were academy headmasters of various Jian spheres, they were equal in qualifications; if they could receive a recommendation from Mister Consul, they would have more certainty in being appointed. You are aloof by nature and fond of having a clean name, so you must have disdained to hear them fawn on you. You might not even have accepted bribes. Bu, just because you didnt doesnt mean someone else did. To be able to represent you, and also get them all to listen to a plan and believe it to be true apart from your son, who else could it be? Shen Kunxius face was ashen. He said nothing. He had never been eloquent to begin with, and couldnt think of how to argue with Tang Fan right now. The other didnt allow him to think deeply, quickly saying, Im guessing that your son might have wanted to learn the exam question from you ahead of time, which would be easy for him to peddle, only for him to be scolded by one. That plan failed, but it birthed another; he simply used your name to contact those headmasters in private, promise them many benefits, then make an agreement with them ahead of time. As long as the words Great Achievement appeared on the papers, they were to pass. Pitifully, by the time you learned of it, it was too late, yet you couldnt just blankly watch on as something happened to your only son. For that reason, you deliberately made things difficult for me so that I couldnt investigate towards him, forcing my focus to be placed on you while I was at it. If the case ended here, you would, at most, have been expelled from your post due to handling the case poorly. Your son has no honors; if it was known that he colluded with exam officials and peddled the exam questions, the death penalty wouldnt be out of the question, and a lifelong penalty would be inescapable. For that reason, you did everything you could to exempt your son, not even sparing your own repute, causing others to believe you to be a relentlessly stubborn idiot of an official! Hearing all of this, Magistrate Fan and Ji Min were dumbstruck. They had no idea how Tang Fan had inferred this, but the instant those well-structured words entered their ears, they automatically mostly believed them. The two looked at Shen Kunxiu at the same time, as if they wanted to glean the answer from his face. Shen Kunxius expression fluctuated, looking at Tang Fan with a complex gaze it could not be stated to be hateful, but lamenting. Due to his character, it was inevitable that he would be holier-than-thou. He had literary fame, but his career path was not that great, and his popularity was only so-so. Becoming a provinces Consul of Education was pretty much the end of it. If he wanted to go right up into the Ministry of Rites, it would be difficult. Compared to his literary-world fame, many behind his back said that he was difficult to get along with, yet he didnt care at all, ever doing his own thing, demanding rigor from himself. Bribes were a trend in officialdom, but he never accepted a bit of them, taking pride in such. He had never expected that the clean reputation he had cherished all his life would be upended by his son. He had further never expected that the one that understood him most would be his foe. At this point, Tang Fan had already guessed Shen Si out. Even if Shen Kunxiu refused to admit it, it would be no use as long as Tang Fan grabbed Shen Si and asked him, with how the others personality was, he would confess to all of it in short order. In such a way, it was better for Shen Kunxiu himself to speak. He sighed. I didnt kill those six. As for Lin Zhens death, its unrelated to either of us. Tang Fan raised a brow. But you should know who the murderer is. Shen Kunxiu was quiet. At that moment, someone hurried in from outside it was a bailiff from the prefectural bureau. Sir! We found Magistrate Lin! Fan Yuezheng stood up with a bang. Where? Let him in! The bailiff hesitated. Hes in the Temple of the Old City God, already dead. Then, a Lin servant came running in, panting, and said to the steward and Lady Chen, Madam, we went to Egret Isle Academy, but didnt see the Second Lord! His classmates said that after he went home for the funeral, he never came back! Once a crack was in the roof, it would rain that night. Everyone else was merely shocked; Lady Chen alone saw black before her eyes, then fainted. The authors mini-theatre: Late at night: knock-knock-knock! Tang Fan opened the door. Outside stood the maid, Xiao Zhou. He stared for a good minute. What is it? Xiao Zhou was expressionless. Young Lord, its midnight. My mistress told me to come warm your bed. Saying so, he pulled his collar down. Below his neck was no white makeup, exposing bronzed skin, as well as strong chest muscles. N-no need. I feel like I wont be able to withstand such beauty. (Xiao Wu: I swear I never said that!) CH 131 These successive events caused everyone to feel somewhat confounded, especially the Lin household. At first, Lady Chen and the steward had half-believed all this, merely believing that Tang Fan was being sensationalist, yet horrible news had genuinely descended upon them. They couldnt accept this for a minute. Lady Chen fainting aside, even the steward was as still as a wooden chicken, not knowing what to do with limbs. After Magistrate Fan and Ji Min got over their shock, they simultaneously looked to Tang Fan, the one with the highest post. When you all found him, did you search the surroundings afterwards? Where is the Temple located? The bailiff, presumably the head of the rest of the bailiffs, answer tidily. There are two Temples to the City God in this city, allocated into the eastern and western districts. The new temple was built a few years back, and the only one was gradually abandoned, because its close to the outskirts. Few people frequent its surroundings, and even if they do, theyre the unfortunate homeless that occasionally take shelter from the rain. This lowly one hadnt thought that Magistrate Lin would be there, so it took a long time to find that place; when I went searching around the Temple, I found no suspicious figures. Wheres the body? Already brought back. Its just outside; would you like to see it? Bring it in, quickly! The corpse was speedily brought inside. Lady Chen had since been sent inside the back halls to rest; if she saw this scene, she would have another spell of heartrending grief. Lin Fengyuan had indeed been murdered. He had been stabbed in the back through the heart, leaving a big, bloody gash. Even an immortal would have lost half their life from it, to say nothing of the fact that Lin Fengyuan was no immortal, and couldnt wait for anyone else to come save him. By the time the Jian bailiffs had found him, he had already passed, a big puddle of blood beneath his body in a horrible sight. There was no need for Tang Fan to verbally analyze this, as many present all had a similar though: That the murderer had killed Lin Fengyuan from behind meant that he had been caught unawares, and when Lin Fengyuan ahd left, he had only one attendant at his side. Now, that attendant was gone without a trace the murderer was most likely him. In light of the famously-rumored three-generation grudge between the Lin and Shen families, Magistrate Fan and Ji Min subconsciously looked over at Shen Kunxiu. Receiving weird looks from the crowd, the latter immediately went fully red, enraged. What are you all looking at me for?! His and his sons deaths have nothing to do with me at all! I killed them, may the Heavens strike me with lightning so I die a horrible death! Tang Fan ignored him. He was thinking differently than everyone else, and what was most important right now was not Shen Kunxiu. With Xi Ming and the rest around, it was difficult for the other to take flight even if they grew wings. Therefore, he first asked the steward, That attendant named Lai Wang you must not know where he came from? No, the steward said, grieved. When Master brought him back and personally appointed him as an attendant, I had some doubts and asked after it, but Master scolded me, so I didnt dare to ask again. How did did things come to this? Does your home have anyone else of unknown origins like him? No. Aside from him, everyone in the family is known down to the roots. Tang Fan had him go look for the painting of the great river flowing east, but after going through the whole residence searching alongside the authorities, the painting Tang Fan had seen could not be found again. Not only that, but Tang Fan went to Lin Fengyuans study and bedroom to investigate himself, yet never found the hint of a clue, only typical official paperwork. Had it not been for father and son having successive incidents, this would look like the home of a sixth-rank official that could not possibly be any more typical. At this point, even though no one said it, they all felt that Shen Kunxius suspicion was the biggest. However, at the same time, him killing the son, then the father, for merely an old grudge was way too insane. If he actually ended up being the one to do this, it would be a massive scandal of the Great Mings history: Court officials not working for the people, but instead fighting with each other the day long, to the extent that they plotted against each others lives. If that wasnt a scandal, what was? Shen Kunxiu had been greatly angered at the beginning, yet now, he was slowly becoming a bit numbed. He stood there silently, gazing up at the roofbeams with his hands behind his back, not making any excuses for himself. Prideful-looking and incompatible with his surroundings, he gave off a heavy sense of, Everyone in the world is drunk, I alone am sober.[1] It was fortunate that Tang Fan wasnt bickering with him. If it were anyone else and they saw his aloof look, even if they didnt throw rocks at him while he was in the well, they would feel repulsion in their hearts, then ruthlessly chew him out before they would let it go. At that moment, the maid Xiao Zhou, stood by Tang Fans side, suddenly came in close to his ear and said something for a brief moment. It was an intimate look, practically more unbridled than the honorable Cousin Qiao. It stabbed Lu Lingxis eyes to see. However, both Tang Fan and Xiao Zhou could be seen as carefree, as if there was nothing more natural than this. Seeming to hear what Xiao Zhou said, Tang Fan turned his head to ask the steward, Is there any area that your Master typically paid the most attention to, that he prevented you all from entering to clean or approaching? That should be the study. Its where he worked, and he didnt readily allow anyone in. However, in the daytime, Ji Xiang tidies it up; it cant be called a forbidden area. But Tang Fan had just examined the study, and had made no sort of discoveries. Nothing else? Think carefully again. The steward did, then let out an ah. There is another area, but its just a miscellaneous storage room. It used to have some junk piled up in it, but for some reason, Master locked it up later on. No one has entered. Bring me there for a look. This way, please. He brought him all the way to a building beside a firewood shack in the rear courtyard. Magistrate Fan, Ji Min, and the others couldnt restrain their curiosity, following behind. They had long heard of Tang Fans brilliance in cracking cases, yet they had never seen it with their own eyes. This case appeared to be simple at the moment, but the reality was that the connections inside it were crossed over each other. Shen Kunxiu held the most suspicion, while Tang Fan had discarded him, beginning to look for an unknown painting of the Lins. Although they dared not get in his way or interrupt rashly, they couldnt help but disagree on the inside, wanting to see if he really was worthy of his fame of being a god at judging cases. Without the key, the building couldnt be opened, but just because the Lin servants were too afraid to open it by force didnt meant that everyone else was. Lu Lingxi stepped force and kicked the lock, breaking it and opening the door wide. The inside hadnt been cleaned in years, clouds of dust filling the nostrils as soon as they stepped in. Everyone automatically started coughing, fanning it away with their hands. The steward also had people find some candlesticks to place in each other, after which everyone could see what was going on inside clearly. Just like the steward had said, this was a through-and-through storage room, heaped full of things that had been formerly cast away in the Estate, as well as many trunks. After they were opened, they held various books and some cloth, but both things had been so horribly devoured by insects, that they were wholly unusable. The steward hesitated. Sir, if Master didnt want anyone to see the painting, he likely burnt it long ago. It wouldnt be left somewhere like this. Tang Fan shook his head. Im not looking for the painting. The other was confused. Huh? Then, what? Not answering his question again, Tang an turned to Lu Lingxi. All of you, search everywhere. They all agreed, with even Xiao Zhou and Tie Zhu joining the search lineup. The storage room was turned upside down. Right when everyone was thinking that there would be nothing to find, Tie Zhu exclaimed, Sir, its hollow under here! They all looked over to see him reach out and rap against a corner tile, then say, Theres a space here. We need a tool to get it open. I have one, Ill do it, Lu Lingxi said. He took out a dagger that was as thin as a cicadas wing; a close look at the blade saw it glint faintly with a blue light. It was inserted right into the nearly invisible gap between the floor tiles, and with a little effort, the whole thing was lifted up and out. When Xi Ming shined the nearby candle on it, everyone couldnt help but gasp. Based on his previous experiences, Tang Fan had been thinking that this would probably be another secret passageway or room again, but the truth proved his guess incorrect. There was only a five-by-five chi square compartment below, likely not even big enough for one grown man to lay down in. While the space couldnt hide anyone, if objects were put in it, there would be a lot. Beneath the flickering candlelight, silver ingots neatly filled up the interior. They were of beautiful purity, appearing as an expanse of impressive silver. Tang Fan reached out and took one, weighing it in his hand. Such top-quality silver ingots would likely only be able to be cast by the government, but there was no insignia on them. Evidently, they were not officially cast. Suddenly seeing such a huge pile of money, everyone went quiet for a time. Lin Fengyuan was only a sixth-rank Magistrate, and his ancestors were never in trades! Where did so many taels of silver come from?! Magistrate Fan exclaimed. Everyone looked towards the steward, seemingly wanting him to give an explanation, but he was just as stunned, waving his hands repeatedly. This lowly one knows nothing about this! Even though the Lin home had good financials, the furniture in it was more or less the same as that of a family doing just well, all ordinary pear, pine, and cedar wood, none made of red sandalwood or yellow rosewood. There were also no valuable calligraphic pieces, antique pieces, or precious baubles. However, if these taels were to be brought out, it would be more than enough to purchase golden zhennan, let alone red sandalwood. That all made it evident that the Lins really might not have known that Lin Fengyuan had secretly hidden away so much money. The steward looked to be afraid that no one would believe him, stammering out an explanation. Master never allowed us into this room. Even the Madam has no idea Magistrate Fan and the rest felt this night to be bizarre. The Double Seventh festival, originally a happy day for everyone, had Lin Fengyuans incident happen on it where a grand Court official had been murdered, and in his own jurisdiction which had been quickly followed by Shen Kunxiu being forced by Tang Fan to finally acknowledge that he had long known about the imperial exams case, and now a huge pile of silver had been found in the Lin home. Anyone encountering a case like this would likely give them a slight headache. Magistrate Fan thought to himself that if he were the one to judge this, he would only be able to think of Shen Kunxiu. And yet, seeing Tang Fans actions, he didnt seem to believe that the two deaths were related to that man. Sir, do you think this? Noticing Tang Fans continuous silence, Magistrate Fan couldnt help but start questioning, yet that tall maid next to him glared at him coldly. The latter half of his sentence was immediately stopped up in his throat, going neither up nor down, his expression pained from the choke as he thought, When has even a little maid dared to climb over my head? Even so, the others frosty-eyed deterring force was quite a bit powerful, causing the stately Prefectural Magistrate to break into a cold sweat, so, despite his mental reprimands, he dared not speak up again. Tang Fan didnt raise his head, so he didnt notice that little interlude. He looked about it carefully, then placed the silver ingot back into its original spot, saying to Magistrate Fan, Find a case to pack these ingots in, and transport them back to the prefectural bureau. Sir, since these were left behind by our Master, they ought to be the Lins property the steward couldnt help but say. Tang Fan stood, patting the dust from his hands with a fake smile. These taels of yours dont even have government-cast insignias on them, so they naturally didnt come from a proper source. Your Master threw away his life for these things, yet you still want to keep them so you can die, too? The steward was taken aback. This lowly one doesnt know what you mean, Sir? Whats there to not understand?! Lu Lingxi had to interject. Anyone with eyes can see that your Master had to have colluded with someone in secret and done some shady business that shouldnt come to light! In the end, the loot was distributed unevenly, which caused a rift, and the other party simply kidnapped your Second Lord, coerced your Master into coming to the Temple of the City God, then killed him while he had the chance! These taels must be the loot! Saying so, he turned to Tang Fan with a smile, unconsciously trying to curry his favor. Was I right, Brother Tang? Tang Fan nodded slightly. Thats mostly it, but you missed a point. Lin Zhens death also ought to be related. Hearing that, everyone was quite surprised. Ji Min couldnt help but raise a question, That cant be right. If its related, then why did he hang himself? And right after the cheating happened? Im not going to talk about the exam cheating for right now; I will ask Consul Shen to resolve my suspicions later. First, well speak of the Lin family. I inspected Lin Zhens body myself just now, and he didnt hang himself at all, but had another cause of death. Judging by what happened with Lin Fengyuan, its extremely likely that he was murdered. This official is quite confused, as prior to him being buried, the body must first be verified by the government coroner that nothin is amiss. Why is there a false narrative of suicide? Getting cross-examined all of a sudden, Magistrate Fan stuttered. U-um Lin Zhen was hanging from a roofbeam when he died. Many people saw that with their own eyes at the time, then Lin Fengyuan came over and made a huge fuss in a rush to get the body back, so so Tang Fan didnt want to argue too much with him about that problem, continuing. When I visited the Lin home last time, you all were here. Did you pick up any clues off of Lin Fengyuan himself? Afraid of his faults being pointed out by Tang Fan again, Fan Yuesheng quickly racked his brains to think back. He was horribly thin, very nervous, and didnt want us to remain visiting for long? He really seemed to not, Ji Min said. He firmly insisted that it was Consul Shen that forced his son into death, and when you wanted to help him find out the truth, he actually refused. How did such a father come about in this world? Its really too strange. Right. Thinking back to it not, he was thin and haggard not because of the death of his eldest son, but because of the disappearance of his second son. The other party had killed Lin Zhen and was threatening the life of his second son, so Lin Fengyuan was too afraid to say the truth, contrarily doing all he could think of to cover it up, even shoving Lin Zhens death onto Consul Shens head. It was out of fear that if anyone knew, the other party would be furious, and he would not lose just one son, but another. Even so, he detested being played to the others beat, meaning there was inevitably some flaws within his words. The key point must have been hidden in that painting. Unfortunately, just as we discovered it, the other party definitely detected it as well, which is why Lin Fengyuan was silenced. Speaking up to here, Tang Fan and Sui Zhous gazes met. The two instantly thought of the same exact thing. Lin Fengyuans death was likely related to the White Lotus Society. The duties of a Balancing Magistrate were complex. While assisting the Prefectural Magistrate, what was called wielding transactions, forbidding abominations was basically the management of provision transport and water conservation. A few years back, when the case of Huang Jinglong abusing prisoners had come about, the Brocade Guard had hunted down and arrested a whole bunch of people without restraint, yet the Societys foundation had not yet gone. It could still cooperate with officials in secret to proceed with their own big rebellion plans. However, their collaboration partners could not be just anyone. Magistrate Fan was cowardly and fearful, so he probably wasnt much in the Societys eyes. Lin Fengyuan, as a Balancing Magistrate, had many things pass through his hands, and his immediate superior was not much to deal with. It couldnt have been more convenient for them. Sui Zhou had mentioned earlier that they had received information from the Societys third-in-command. Purportedly, the Society had secretly mined and cast money in Jians scope, and now these silver ingots of unclear origin had appeared in the Lin home, of new quality and markless. Combining those two facts, the connections was not hard to guess. However, even if the Lin home and Society had colluded, that didnt explain Tang Fans assassination incident, nor the tragic deaths of the five evaluators. Furthermore, would people of repute up and down Jian collude with Lin Fengyuan alone? Probably not. For that reason, there were still many unresolved mysteries at this point in development. Every day those puzzles werent solved was one where there couldnt be a satisfying resolution. The lone thing that could be determined was that Shen Kunxiu ought to have nothing much to do with the Society, nor the Lin deaths. That was because, firstly, the Consul of Education position had not much exploitable worth to the Society, and secondly, there was no way someone of his personality would collaborate with the Society. It was only due to his moronic son that he had even become involved. Thinking of that, Tang Fan let out a long exhale. Using the imperial exam case to fish in troubled waters the Societys abacus was truly refined. Magistrate Fan had people pack the silver up into trunks and carry them away, while the others returned to the Lins forehall. Lady Qiao was sitting there, having tea and snacks. Seeing them return, she wiped the crumbs off her hands and stood up. Youre back? Seeing this, Tang Fans mouth involuntarily twitched. Lin Fengyuans corpse was still laying right there. Just recently, she had covered her nose and drawn three chi back when the body had been dug up, yet now she was bold enough to eat something when faced with a corpse. As if seeing his thoughts, Lady Qiao blinked at him, appearing to say, This isnt a graveyard. The atmosphere is different, so the mood is different, too. Before he could grasp what she meant, his line of sight was cut off by someone. He looked up to see the maid Xiao Zhou giving him a bashful and charming smile. By coincidence, Magistrate Fan and the others coming in behind Tang Fan witnessed that smile, all shuddering at the same time. They instantly felt like ice water had been dumped onto their hands, practically more cooling than iced watermelon. Fan Yuezheng had once heard of Semu women being amorous. What a shame it was that their shape was a bit too heavy, a flaw within the goodness. Back in the day, he had been entirely regretful, thinking that he wanted to be able to sample that exotic flavor, able to bear with it even if she was a bit big, but looking at this now Yeah, nevermind. That kind of luck with women was something only Mister Tang could enjoy! Tang Fan had no idea what was going on in Magistrate Fans mind. He first ordered for people to bring Lin Fengyuans body back to the government, then set his sights on Shen Kunxiu, saying gravely, Consul Shen, with things at this point, although Lin Zhens death had nothing to do with you, you will never be able to shed your connection to the exam cheating, to say nothing of how you consciously went against the law in harboring your son. If youre willing to come clean quickly, I can still intercede somewhat for you. If you wait until your son gets here and let him speak for himself, I wont be as polite as I am now. What do you want me to say? The evaluators deaths had nothing to do with me or Shen Si! Shen Kunxiu answered huffily. Witnessing him still trying to shove responsibility off at this point, Tang Fan became a little angry. I said before that even if its not related to you, you must know something of the inside story! Everything else aside, was the Taiping Daoist that sold the exam answer at Clearwind not your son?! Shen Kunxiu startled slightly. Had he willingly confessed, Tang Fan would have saved him a bit of face, but since the other wouldnt cry until he saw his own coffin, he felt that there was no use in being polite to him. Before Shen Kunxiu said anything, Fan Yuezheng curiously asked, Sir, how do you know that the Daoist was Shen Si? Those of Taiping are also of Changan. Changan is the ancestral name of Xian Prefecture. The Shen familys ancestral lands are in Xian does that not match up exactly? Magistrate Fan let out an ah. He had never thought from that angle, but with all this, it actually made sense. Having a Consul of Education for a father should have been glorious. Unfortunately, you have never accepted bribes, and Don Shen loved to spend his days in bars and loiter in brothels. His daily allowances are far from enough, so its unavoidable that his thoughts would go astray. Compared to colluding with the evaluators, he must have preferred to sell the exam answers directly. Sadly, you have clean hands that never do such disgraceful things; its likely that as soon as he brought it up, you were already pouring dog blood on his head in the form of a scolding. For that reason, he had no choice but to think up another method to make money in other words, colluding with the evaluators. Shen Kunxiu was visibly embarrassed, because Tang Fan had spoken the majority of the truth. As for Shen Sis private contact with those evaluating officials, Shen Kunxiu had no idea. Don Shen wasnt that bad of an idiot. He had known that a snake needed to be grabbed by the neck, and an opponent needed to be struck in the weakpoint. He had found out that Egret Isle Academys headmaster position was going to be vacant, and those evaluators intended to contest for it. So, exploiting that bit, he had faked his fathers name to coerce and lure them, making them collaborate with him, after which he had peddled information at Clearwind as a Taiping Daoist. With Tang Fans competence, he had been able to guess all that, which was quite tremendous. However, what Shen Kunxiu said next was greatly outside of everyones expectations. My unworthy son has not a bit of literary skill, and does things without thinking them through! Everything from start to finish has been entirely because someone took advantage of him! The translator says: MXS says Consul Shen has shown up before in the text. I dont remember, so points if you do. CH 132 Don Shen was unlearned and talentless, yet he luckily had a good father. Shen Kunxiu hoped that his son could become a mighty dragon, not only bringing Shen Si wherever he went, but also having him enter famed academies to study whenever he him was busy with work. It was all in the hopes that his son could be influenced by it, and repent his mistaken ways. Prior to going to Egret Isle Academy, Shen Si had gone to the slightly more famous academy in Nanchang Prefecture. No one had really been able to bear a student like him, and Consul Shen didnt have the cheek to make his son remain there, so he brought him to Egret Isle, expecting that after being removed from that bunch of hooligans, Shen Si would be able to calm his mind and study hard. However, he had been destined for disappointment. While at Egret Isle, rather than repent his ways, Shen Si had instead became acquainted with a foppish rich boy like Xu Sui. They shared the same stench, immediately hitting it off like blood brothers that been separated in their past lives. All who went to school knew that, regardless of whether it was ancient or modern times, where there was people, there were vagrants. When together in the same place, there would forever be groups that divided up for various reasons, all completely different sorts that found each other objectionable all the day long. The wealthy younger-gens headed by Xu Sui found Lin Zhen unsightly, feeling that despite him clearly being from an officials family, he had drawn a clear boundary with them, as if he was so high-and-mighty. Of course, Lin Zhen had found Xu Sui unsightly as well, making them all typically hate to see each other and not get mutually involved. Had Xu Sui been an average merchants son, he would have only thought so inside, never daring to get on Lin Zhens case whatsoever. After all, Lin Zhens father had been Jians Balancing Magistrate that post might not be much to look at in Nanchang Prefecture, but in Jian Prefecture, he was a snake at home. However, Xu Sui was not an average merchants son. His father, Xu Bins former supported had fallen, yet he had quickly climbed onto the big tree that was the present Courts Head Vizier. The Wan partys name could scare people to death when spoken, so, of course, Xu Sui would not fear Lin Zhen, the son of a sixth-rank, and had thought all day of ways to make life harder for him. After Shen Sis arrival, Xu Sui had regarded that as finding a friend on the same path. By pure coincidence, Shen Si had learned of the grudge between the Lin and Shen families from his father, growing even more unhappy with Lin Zhen. The second Xu Sui spoke, the two had hit it off immediately, always thinking of how to trip up Lin Zhen. The latter was not to be outdone, making the two sides quickly become like water and fire. On the eve of the institutional exams, Lin Zhen and Xu Sui had gotten into a verbal argument, when had ended up developing into a group scuffle. Since Lin Zhen had typically behaved well in front of the academys teachers, he had been the first to complain to them, which meant that while Xu Sui and Shen Si had received some punishment, Lin Zhen had gotten off scot-free. Ever since that incident, the two had held a grudge that wouldnt settle, hatred in their hearts, and had been waiting a long time for a chance to retaliate. By happenstance, the institutional exams had been coming up. Xu Sui and Shen Si were nothing unless possessed by some god of literature, they were destined to not pass them but Lin Zhen was different. His schoolwork was decent ordinarily, so acquiring aspirant honors ought to be no concern; the difference would only lie in what ranking he got. In light of this, Xu Sui had thought up a cruel idea, planning to have Lin Zhen take a massive tumble in the institutional exams. He had first made Shen Si go ask for the exam answers ahead of time from Shen Kunxiu, but he naturally failed; Shen Kunxiu had refused to tell his son anything, spitting dog blood invectives upon his head. This failed plan had birthed another; Xu Sui and Shen Si had specially found a public area that Lin Zhen might pass by daily, then sent two people there to pretend to have an incidental private conversation where they casually mentioned that Clearwind had a Taiping Daoist, who had specially been giving people good tips of efficient results. The speaker had a motive, and the listener had the will. Had Lin Zhen genuinely thought his own skills to be enough, he would have probably paid it no attention and not been enticed, yet it had stayed on his mind unable to resist the temptation, he had gone to Clearwind to get to the bottom of things. Shen Si, putting on a front as the Taiping Daoist, had said a slew of nonsense to him, and ended up selling him the Great Achievement words. After that, Lin Zhen had felt that him alone buying it wouldnt do, because if there was an issue, he alone would be caught for it. Therefore, he had passed this on to a few other students that he was closer with, thinking to himself that even if this came to light, a group could not be persecuted, and he would definitely be alright. In Shen Sis view, that had actually been two good things in one: it both had tripped up Lin Zhen to completely ruin him, and also made him a fortune. One hundred taels per person, with sixteen total people having come to hear the information, had netted him a total of sixteen-hundred taels. His fathers yearly salary wasnt even that much; how could he not grin wide out of happiness? Since he had wanted to mess with Lin Zhen, he couldnt have just left things unfinished, and accepting money was just ancillary. After that, Xu Sui had made Shen Si use his fathers name to intimidate and lure those evaluators into agreeing to cooperate with them. That was only the first step, however. After the institutional exam roll was released, Xu Sui and Shen Si had immediately released information saying that everyone on the top twenty list had cheated, and after that, the situation turned massive. Their original intent had only been to reduce Lin Zhen to a laughingstock, making it so that he would never be able to participate in imperial exams again. Shen Si had never imagined that this catastrophe would be so great, that even his father would end up swept into it. As was known, Xu Sui was not well-read, but he was really great at having malicious ideas. With Shen Sis brainlessness, he must have led him by the nose the whole time. As soon as Lin Zhens tragic death had happened, Shen Si had some afterthoughts, then realized that this situation had gone beyond his control. Following a lot of hesitation, hed had to steal himself to tell his father all of what had happened. At that time, Shen Kunxiu had already sent a memorial requesting that the Court strip these scholars of their honors when Lin Zhens incident occurred immediately after, which had been an unexpected twist that made him not too uneasy. Then, his son had unexpectedly run off to confess everything to him, making him so mad, he started blacking out and nearly spat up blood on the spot. Sons were supposed to be superior to the father, yet his had specially come into being to bring harm to him. How could he endure this? And, what could a possible solution be? He had lived most of his life, and only have one son like this. If something happened to Shen Si, the Shen family line would be cut off. Had he been able to toughen his heart and beat his son to death, this would have all been done with when the time was right, he could hand the body over, give the Court an explanation, he could win himself a beautiful reputation for placing justice before family, ending the matter there. But how could he have stood that? All he could do was clean up the mess for his son. Facing his father, Shen Si had wept bitterly, not daring to conceal anything. He only said that Lin Zhens death had had nothing to do with him, then every single thing he had done with Xu Sui. Most parents in this world, no matter how much they resented how disappointing their children were, would always foist off their shortcomings onto others. In spite of being a Consul of Education, Shen Kunxiu was no exception. After hearing Shen Sis testimony, it wouldnt have been possible for him to be any more furious, yet he had also felt that this matter could not have been done without Xu Sui masterminding and instigating it there was no way the slow Shen Si could have done it. Now that something had happened, there was no sense in their father-son pair being snared, while the Xu family would be exempt. Remembering the Xus connection to the Wan party, Shen Kunxiu had felt a stroke of luck, believing that they should be able to undertake this. So, he had personally visited them to discuss with Xu Bin. Xu Bin hadnt expected that his son would have the gall to enact such a calamity, either. Still, with the Wan partys backing, he had indeed been unworried, thereafter having Shen Kunxiu send the five evaluators free, then telling him to obstruct the imperial ambassador as much as he could, after which he should insist that out of worry that his honors would be stripped, Lin Zhen had overly worried, and hung himself. At that point, Shen Kunxiu had had no other option but to act according to Xu Bins words. He had planned it out long ago. If Shen Si bore the charge colluding with the evaluators to peddle information to the exam-takers, what awaited him was not a beheading, but an exile of three-thousand li away. However, if Shen Kunxiu was an annoying bugger preventing the case from being handled, making it so that Tang Fan couldnt find anything, he would be dismissed from his post, at worst. He felt that using his future career in exchange for his sons life was a very profitable exchange. Also, in order to prevent anything from happening to Xu Sui, the Xus would definitely do all they could to hinder Tang Fan. Hence was why, like what Shen Kunxiu had said before, he really wasnt helping his son avoid responsibility. With Shen Sis brains, there was no way he could have thought up such a sinister plot, nor stir up such a huge disaster; he had been an accessory, at most. If they really wanted to speak of the mastermind, they should be talking about Xu Sui, son of Xu Bin. After hearing all of this, Tang Fan was calm, not having any sort of special reaction. What youre saying is that the deaths of the evaluators had nothing to do with you and your son? Indeed. I had undergone an assassination attempt the night I came to Jian, nearly losing my life. The group that wanted to kill me used the same weaponry that caused identical wounds on the evaluators. According to you, this all must have been done by the Xus? Shen Kunxiu went quiet for a moment. Because you asked me for the evaluators then, yet I had already had them go, I worried that you might get my son to speak of them. I went to find Xu Bin to discuss countermeasures. He told me not to worry. I didnt expect that with a turn of my head, I would hear that they were all dead but whether this was ultimately related to him, Im not too clear. Everyone in the hall looked at each other. Magistrate Fan felt that it was too late for regrets, thinking to himself that he had managed to not come here tonight with some excuse, he wouldnt be having to listen to the inside information of this case now. When he had welcoming Tang Fan from his troubles, the reason he had called for Fang Huixue and Xu Bin was that the two had very strong back-stage supporters. Fang Huixue was unimportant a few years before, he had not shown himself prominently, only transforming into nouveau riche after his daughter had become the second wife to the this provinces widowed Envoy of Education but Xu Bin was different. The big ship he relied on was the Wan party, and every day that Consort Wan went unfallen was a day the party wouldnt fall. Nobody was willing to offend such a force. If Tang Fan refused to pursue this to the end due to fear of the Wan party, all present tonight would basically witness Mister Ambassadors incompetence. If he wanted to go against the Wan party, they, as bystanders, would inevitably be implicated. How could someone like Magistrate Fan, who only wanted to be an peaceful official, keeping away from the slightest bit of trouble out of fear on typical days, follow Tang Fan into these troubles? Luckily, Tang Fan was extraordinarily good at understanding others, and had no intention to make them remain. After listening to Shen Kunxiu to the end, he told everyone else, Its gotten late, you should all head back. I can take care of what comes next. Remember to have Lin Fengyuans body checked over well, without the slightest bit of oversight. As if receiving amnesty, Magistrate Fan quickly asked for forgiveness, then quickly pulled Ji Min who appeared to have something he wanted to say into leaving. However, Tang Fan said from behind him, Wait. Fan Yuezheng jumped out of his skin. When he turned his head, his smile was uglier than a sob. What other commands do you have, Sir? Leave Shuntian Prefectures men with you, then go to Millarch Tan to borrow a hundred troops to come over and surround the Xu residence. The other was agape, tongue-tied. Sir, Im afraid thats not appropriate? Whats not appropriate? Magistrate Fan was too embarrassed to admit in public that he was afraid of Xu Bin, only able to tactfully say, Should we not investigate this matter further? You must not draw such a hasty conclusion, just in case surrounding them is a mistake If its a mistake, thats my business. Im not making you go with. The Magistrate wept, thinking to himself, When Xu Bin sees people from Shuntian Prefecture, how will he not know that its me?! Tang Fan was not please. An imperial ambassador was assigned to handle a case, twisted logic has caused an injustice, and we are acting first, sending a memorial later. What are you still hemming and hawing about? Are you afraid of offending a paltry merchant? But behind that merchant is the Wan party! Youre not afraid, but I am! Magistrate Fan was unable to speak of all of his grievances when Ji Min added oil to the fire. Sir, if it isnt easy for Mister Magistrate to act, there are dozens of bailiffs in Lulings bureau that can be transferred over immediately. This humble official is willing to put in all of my meager efforts! Comparing the two, superiority was immediately apparent. With no other option, Fan Yuezheng was forced to say, face pained, Forgive me, Sir. This humble official will go. He thought of how Chen Luans backer had been no worse than Xu Bins, yet he had still fallen to Tang Fan in Suzhou. Evidently, Tang Fans support wasnt bad, either. Neither side could be offended; the only sufferer was a small fry like him. He left quickly, and Tang Fan said to Shen Kunxiu, Attempting to assassinate an imperial ambassador, even silencing the evaluators, over a personal grudge, is horrifying behavior that Heaven would find hard to tolerate! Are you willing to go with me to arrest Xu Bin and his son, Consul Shen? Aware that this was to make him testify against those two in their presence, Shen Kunxiu said, Im willing to cooperate with you. I only ask that you can help get leniency for my unfilial son afterwards, Sir, so that he can keep his life. Where was the Shen Kunxiu of nows previous naggingly forceful, barbaric-beyond-reason mannerisms? It was clear that everything he had done before had only been to muddle Tang Fans line of sight and divert his attention. What a shame it was that it had all ended up being for nothing. Tang Fan sighed. You knew of all this long ago. From the start, why bother? Shen Kunxiu smiled bitterly. Its always been said that a failure to raise properly is the fathers fault. When have I not wanted him to make something of himself? And is there not another saying that a parents heart is all-encompassing? When you have children, Sir Tang, you will know. Shen Si is indeed guilty of a crime, but not to the point of a death penalty. When I send the memorial later, I will make the truth clear. The other cupped his hands. Thank you. However highly he had regarded himself before, he now lowered himself for the sake of his son. This could be said to be a type of sorrow. Tang Fan shook his head, declining to comment. Magistrate Fan worked quick enough. In no more than a shichens time, Millarch Tan was located. Millarch Tan was garrisoned in Jian, and knew a thing or two about the Xus backers. Once he heard that they were going to circle and raid them, his reaction was similar to Magistrate Fans; a little hesitant. Sir, this is a matter of great importance. Why not report to the Court, then act on their judgement? Do the Xus have three-Courts worth of elders, or four-generations worth of meritorious officials? Tang Fan asked, displeased. Even an Emperor breaking the law will be punished like a commoner I only showed up here for exactly this by the Courts appointment! Millarch Tan looked awkward. Sir, I wont hide it from you; its said that the Xus being so deeply rooted in this area stems from not only their slight reliance in Court, but because theyre keeping one thing hidden. What thing? An iron guarantee. Every single person was startled, with even Tang Fan as no exception. Iron guarantees were the death-exempting gold tokens spoken of in written drama, originating from the Han Dynasty. In this Dynasty, when the realm had settled, the Great Ancestor had bestowed iron guarantees upon meritorious subjects that had helped him obtain the land, which had totaled forty-two families. During Yongles time, due to the battle at Jingnan, he had also bestowed many guarantees to subjects. Truthfully, only one half of had gone to the hands of subjects, while the other halves had been hidden inside internal departments; whenever one needed to be used, the two would be combined into one for proof. Did the iron guarantees exempt one from death? Maybe not. Those that had had any at the start of the Dynasty had late been pared down a lot by the Great Ancestor. Still, if it had been successfully passed onto future generations, it was a safeguard. Even if those descendants were degenerate and the family declined, in light of the iron guarantee, local officials would be too afraid to pressure them too much. Theyre a merchant family. Why do they have an iron guarantee? Tang Fan asked. I heard that their ancestor was a slave of Duke Dingguos. Because of the bravery he displayed in the battle of Jingnan, and because he took a hit for the Emperor, he was bestowed an iron guarantee. He was later set free, so he left the Duke Estate and migrated here. Duke Dingguo had been the youngest son of Xu Da, this Dynastys founding Great General. That part of the origin story was quite long and best unmentioned. Millarch Tan didnt elaborate on it, and everyone present knew it well. Hearing this, Magistrate Fan was even more hesitant. Sir, if thats the case, it would be better to consider this at length. Shen Kunxiu, hands in his sleeves, watched them all be indecisive. The corners of his mouth were slightly drawn, and he didnt speak, falsely smiling. He seemed to be saying: See? Arent you all even afraid of the Xus, too? Sir, since the Xus wont sprout wings and fly away, it would be best for the other imperial ambassador to arrive, Ji Min urged as well. In that way, you wont bear responsibility alone, or have the gains not be worth the losses! His remarks held goodwill, but Tang Fan shook his head. Matters of today must be finished today, lest more ideas will be had during the long night. None of you need to be afraid. If anything goes awry at the time, I alone will bear it, not implicating you in the least. Truth be told, that other imperial ambassador was standing by his side, but that was not suitable to speak of right now. Everyone took him as being too stubborn to listen to persuasion and surpassing another to act by himself. They felt that he might wish to take sole credit, so as to avoid the other ambassador sharing in the risk after he came, thus spreading out the contribution. Still, as an ambassador, if he insisted upon the arrest, all anyone could do was obey. Even so, Millarch Tan really didnt want to be the bird that poked his head out. Sir, Double Seventh is tonight, and each household has gone to lantern-view. More staff is needed to patrol and defend the city. Manpower is lacking on this humble ones side, and I fear that it will be difficult to fulfill your request. Perhaps Magistrates Fan and Ji could allocate people from their bureaus? The Xus are mere merchants, they would probably be too afraid to resist. Magistrate Fan automatically cursed him out on the inside, thinking, Youre too afraid to go, so you pulled me out to be your shield?! What kind of logic is that?! Youve spoken erroneously, Millarch Tan, he answered. Since they dared to send someone to assassinate Sir Tang, they must have a good backer those assassins martial arts were so strong, even his bodyguards were unable to beat them. Furthermore, those in the bureaus are weaklings. As I see it, it would be better for you to bring more men with you, else we wont be able to catch them when the time comes, instead having losses and turning into a joke! Those assassins failed in their ambush and suffered heavy injuries. It was only because those evaluators were powerless that they had any easy successes, the other argued. Moreover, hes going to arrest people, not fight a decisive war. If those assassins dared to openly attack, wouldnt the Xus be close to a revolt? They shirked responsibility off to each other. Were these ordinary times, this would be a good plat worthy of a marvel, but Tang Fan had no patience right now. In that case, neither of you need to go. Both Millarch Tan and Magistrate Fan were caught off guard. Magistrate Ji, will it be an issue if you go with me? Tang Fan asked. This humble official is duty-bound! Please give the command, Sir! Ji Min quickly answered. Clothes were better new, friends were better old. When things had come to a head, the old pal was still reliable. You are indeed both loyal and courageous, Tang Fan said with a satisfied nod. After this, this official will send a memorial to get you credit. Lets go! Consul Shen, if you please! He didnt look again at the other two, leaving the Lin home with Shen Kunxiu. Lu Lingxi, Lady Qiao, and the rest naturally followed after. The left-behind Magistrate Fan and Millarch Tan exchanged a look, feeling a bit regretful. One regretted that he had just offended an imperial ambassador, and the other regretted about how he shouldnt have come into these muddied waters tonight. Had he known in advance, he would have pretended to be sick and dying. Seeing that the others had since gone far off, the two had no choice but to steel themselves in following after. Everything else aside, if Tang Fan sent a denouncement upwards, they would not be escaping blame. In any case, if they said nothing in front of the Xus and just watched, that would be fine, right? One group of people with separate calculations speedily came to the Xus entrance. It was quiet in the vicinity. It was unknown whether everyone had left to lantern-view, or had just gone to bed early. Tang Fan immediately saw two big, hanging red lanterns, two vermillion doors, and two stone lions, giving off a broad aura of majesty. This was indeed a rich merchants household. After two or three generations of business, if one could maintain that and not decay, or if someone in the family could take up an officials post, they would cultivate a bit of a luxurious aura. Since Ji Min had set his mind on following what Tang Fan was doing, he couldnt shrink back in the thick of it. He went up to knock himself. In not much time, the main door didnt open, but the smaller side door did. The one inside poked his head out, and upon seeing the scene of a big crowd of troops outside the door, couldnt help but startle. All of you are? This official is the Luling County Magistrate! On orders from the imperial ambassador, weve come to arrest Xu Sui and bring him to justice! Ji Min said darkly. The doorman was arrogant. Hearing the words imperial ambassador, he not only wasnt the least bit scared, but instead frowned. My Master isnt here. Please come back tomorrow! Ji Min was angered into amusement. Never had he heard before of picking a good time to arrest someone. Talk less drivel! Open the door now! Tang Fan glanced at Xi Ming. The latter understood, stepping right up and throwing out a kick. The doorman collapsed backwards with an ouch, and Xi Ming went through the small door, unlatched the gate from the inside, and opened it. Somebody! Somebody! Thieves are breaking in! Thieves are killing people! the doorman started loudly shouting. The rest of them were both angered and amused. Lu Lingxi thought to go and block up his mouth, only to be stopped by Tang Fan. Let him holler. The doormans shouts speedily attracted the Xu family. Lanterns lit up all over the residence, one after the other. Many servants carrying clubs rushed out like a torrent, only to see a large group of government people. Everyone was shocked, unsure of what to do. Whats going on?! A middle aged man came out of the crowd, his voice quite imposing. Steward Xu, th-they said theyre going to arrest the Young Lord! the doorman shouted. When he saw Shen Kunxiu beside Tang Fan, Steward Xus complexion changed slightly, and he clasped his fist towards Tang Fan. Sir Tang, I presume? Tang Fan didnt return the courtesy, only saying, Have your Young Lord come out. What crime has he committed? Please make that clear, Sir. Tang Fan looked to Shen Kunxiu, and the latter said, Colluding with examining officials and beguiling the exam-takers, resulting in fraudulence of the institutional exams. Steward Xu just laughed. Your statement is ludicrous, Consul Shen. My Young Lord was not on the roll last time, nor amongst those scholars suspected of fraud. If he colluded with the examiners, why wouldnt he get honors for himself, first? Knock it off, Shen Kunxiu said mildly. This incident is an adversity for my Shen family. My son will not be able to escape responsibility, but Xu Sui instigated him, plotting from start to finish how to fraud the exams. There is no escaping that crime! I advise you to not bicker about it! The other sneered. An official really does have two mouths, and logic spouts from both of yours. If you want to arrest people randomly, just do it! To be honest with everyone, our Master is not at home right now hes been invited to the capital by a certain gentleman, and Im afraid he wont be able to come back for half a month. If anything is wrong, please wait until his return to speak of it. This lowly one cannot act as the owner here! Were here to arrest someone, not to have you make decisions, Tang Fan said. If you dont step aside, dont blame me for using diplomacy before force. He raised his hand slightly, and archers lined up behind him, their arrows pointed at every member of the Xu family. The Xu servants had never encountered such a thing before. Seeing this, they promptly took several steps back, panicked expressions on their faces. No matter how arrogant they were, they werent rebellious, and did not have the courage to fight against the government. Steward Xu hadnt expected Tang Fan to be this unyielding he clearly knew that their family had a deep connection to Solon Wan, yet he insisted upon an arrest. An official as stubborn and tough as this was practically unheard of. However, what he hadnt thought of was that if Tang Fan was afraid of offending the Wan party, he would not have contradicted Chen Luan in Suzhou. He grit his teeth. Recalling the explanation his Master had given him prior to leaving, he said loudly, Come the iron guarantee! A servant carefully walked over with a sandalwood case. Steward Xu opened it; illuminated by a candle that shone like daylight, there was half of an iron guarantee inside, carved with an inscription whose characters were inlaid with gold. An authentic piece, an iron guarantee bestowed by Yongle himself. After so many years, it was still brand-new, presumably having been carefully maintained by the Xus. Even though they had long made mental preparations, Magistrate Fan and the others faces automatically twisted, and they simultaneously looked towards Tang Fan. Seeing that everyone was scared, Steward Xu was a bit smug. I must let you all know that our Xu ancestor established a great merit, and was bestowed this iron guarantee from the Emperor. Ever since then, we have abided by law for generations, never violating taboo. We use it today not to deliberately go against an imperial ambassador, but because our Master isnt present today. Therefore, I ask that you view the guarantees surface, wait a few days, then speak of all this when he returns. Why did he want Tang Fan to wait a few days? He didnt say what everyone was thinking, that Xu Bin had definitely gone to the capital for a rescue team. If Tang Fan went home today, this situation might change by then. Had Steward Xu not brought out the iron guarantee, Tang Fan could have arrested people fine. Now that it was out and shown clearly to the audience, if Tang Fan persisted in seeking detainment, when word of that reached the capital, others could say that he acknowledged no monarchs, and had fabricated this gargantuan crime. Why bother? Magistrate Fan thought, inevitably having a bit of schadenfreude. He had said long ago to think harder about this, yet Tang Fan hadnt listened, insisting upon coming over here. Was that not refuting a sizable reputation? It was hard to get off a tiger one was riding, wasnt it? Young people were too impulsive! At this current scenario, everyone felt that Tang Fan was unable to get out of this. Ji Min, ever magnanimous, said, Sir, this humble official recalled at the last moment that I have something urgent to report; I request that we head out. How about we let them go for now, and come back tomorrow? Hearing this, a mocking smile appeared on Steward Xus lips. However, Tang Fan said, Iron guarantees are not sacred decrees. Were this an ordinary situation, this official would give them face, but the Xu family is now under suspicion of conspiracy. Does such a matter have to wait for Xu Bin to return and handle them? Wouldnt that be the biggest joke sliding across the land? Is his status higher than that of the Courts?! Huh? Everyone was startled. Conspiracy? What conspiracy? Why was conspiracy being dragged in here? CH 133 Steward Xus expression morphed. The others might not have reacted yet, but he knew what idea Tang Fan had immediately. The iron guarantee garnered exemption from the death penalty in all cases but conspiracy and rebellion and that was exactly where the problem lied. If saddled with the crime of conspiracy, not even the guarantee would protect them. Tang Fan, dont you forget that Jians boundaries are not where you have the final say! Steward Xu said in a fit of rage, even calling out his name directly. Xu Sui and Shen Si, in order to frame Lin Zhen, plotted the exam cheating case. Thats now happened. Beyond you all resisting arrest, youve also threatened a Court official and planned to resist authorities with martial force if that isnt a conspiracy, what is it? Tang Fan countered. Consul Shen has already confessed that when he worried that the evaluators would spill, he sought help from Xu Bin, who told him there was no need to worry, and then those five later ended up dead. What is your familys explanation for that? The wounds on the five were exactly the same as the ones caused by my previous assassination attempt. If you didnt collude with traitors, how could you have supported such tremendous killers? This official even suspects that those assassins are affiliated with the White Lotus demons! Y-you just want to pile accusations on, not shying away from any charge! the steward raged. You dont want accusations to be piled on? Well need to search to know for sure, then. Get searching! Lu Lingxi led the charge, rushing forth with the bailiffs. Watching as they surged up, how could the crowd of Xu servants dare to oppose? Their attacks softened, and then they were broken through all at once, where Lu Lingxis group charged in. Steward Xus face was extremely ugly, and the look in his eyes he was giving Tang Fan had a bone-deep hatred. Tang Fans kept his hands in his sleeves, bowing his head slightly and not saying a word. Under Lu Lingxi and Xu Mings leading hunt, the Xu residence was overturned, not even the inner household where women lived left alone, yet nothing was discovered. A while later, they came out of the rear courtyard empty-handed, lightly shaking their heads at Tang Fan. Steward Xu sneered. Great! So great! Didnt you say that there are traitors in our family? How come you didnt find anything?! Tang Fan glanced at him. Wheres your Young Lord? You did the searching! Wouldnt you know better than I if you found him?! The other raised a brow. It seems like you already sent Xu Sui away? I yet advise you to bring him back as soon as possible. Scheming to fraud the imperial exams is a big crime; fleeing the charge is another level of crime entirely. Steward Xu looked at him coldly, silent. Magistrate Fan and the others were a little ill at ease. They hadnt wanted to come here to begin with, and now that Tang Fan had tasted defeat, reaping absolutely nothing, their former schadenfreude had turned into worry about whether they would be implicated. Sir, at this point, it would be better to go back and talk this over at length. Staying here is Millarch Tan said quietly. In the eyes of bystanders, Tang Fan had indeed been a bit impetuous tonight. He had come over so impressively, ignored the Xus retrieved iron guarantee, stubbornly set them with the charge of colluding with the White Lotus Society, insisted upon searching their residence, and ended up finding nothing, losing all of his prestige and making a fool of himself. To his fave, none of them dared to say anything, but they had to castigate him on the inside. Everyone spoke of him judging cases like a god had he once had a reputation of relying on such brutish investigations? Tang Fan appeared to have been waiting for a stage exit like that, nodding. Very well. You will be let free for right now. I do hope you all can rectify your errors by handing Xu Sui over as soon as possible, avoiding more suffering. Hearing this, Steward Xu only laughed coldly. Just you wait, Tang Fan. When our Master returns, this great humiliation will be repaid with interest! Tang Fan just acted like he didnt hear, leaving with the others. Once out of the Xus main gate, Magistrate Fan had to say, Sir, Xu Bin must have gone to the capital to seek help. Forgive this humble officials directness, but even if Xu Sui is related to the fraud case, its his business alone. There was no need to involve the entire Xu family! He spoke very suavely, yet in reality, he was accusing Tang Fan of being overly impulsive and barbaric; after believing Shen Kunxius one-sided account, he had run to find the Xus crimes, yet now there were no crimes found, instead staining him with a full-body stench. Shen Kunxiu laughed mockingly hearing that. Xu Sui is a son of the family. Without Xu Bin supporting him, would he have dared to be so easily arrogant? If he was by himself, him killing the five evaluators is even more unlikely. Who would believe that this matter doesnt have Xu Bins interference in it? He hated to the utmost that Xu Sui had instigated Shen Si in committing something this major, but before this, when his son hadnt been exposed, he had done all he could to cover it up. Now that Shen Si had been dragged out, if nothing happened to Xu Sui, Shen Kunxiu would not be okay with it whatsoever. Hence was why he was doing all he could to drag Xu Sui into the water. Appearing to not notice everyones different thoughts, Tang Fan instead generously consoled Magistrate Fan. Dont you worry so much, Im well aware of all that. Im heading this investigation, so I will naturally bear responsibility. None of you will be implicated. Magistrate Fan laughed dryly. What are you saying, Sir? How could I be such a self-serving villein? The cases situation is not yet clear. Before the Court reaches a conclusion, Ill have to ask you and your son to relocate to the posthouse Im staying at, Consul Shen. Itll make it easier to look out for you nearby, Tang Fan said. Han Jin, you will return with him to ensure their safety. By look out for you, he really meant monitor you. Shen Kunxiu was surprisingly easy to speak to right now; he must have anticipated this long ago. At this, he grunted, then turned and followed Han Jin out. After his departure, Tang Fan said to the rest, There are still many unclear areas of this case at present, but there is no doubt that the Xu family has a crucial role in it. Consul Shen precipitously repenting, turning back from the coast, is great, of course. If the very rich Xus have conspired with the White Lotus Society, this will be a case big enough to attract the Courts alert. At that time, not only will Shen Si get off lightly, but all of you will be commended and promoted in accordance. His implication was that the institutional exam fraud case was a minor one, not on the same level as fraud in a county or metropolitan exam. Even if Shen Kunxiu confessed and Shen Si faced punishment, the results would be more or less the same. If a major case could be solved, everyone would then receive a major contribution. Everyone else felt this ridiculous. You couldnt even get a grip on the Xu family; what major case are you going to make this into? With that previous event, they were all having some regrets towards coming out with him tonight, already starting to think of what excuses they would use to refuse the next time he wanted to make things hard for the Xus. Confronted with their absent-minded reactions, Tang Fan paid no mind, gave some more orders, and had them disperse with their respective troops. After returning to the posthouse, he said, You all must be tired from tonight. Go and rest a bit earlier. Xi Ming had been sent by Wang Zhi to assist Tang Fan; just because he didnt speak much didnt mean that he couldnt think. At this moment, he had to say, Sir, there is no evidence at all of collusion between the Xus and the Society, and the deaths of the five evaluators are only a one-sided statement. It is difficult to situate the Xus with a crime based on the Shens testimony alone. He had thought that Tang Fan would be unhappy hearing this, but the other just nodded. Right. They might have been related to the evaluators deaths, but might not be masterminds in collusion with the Society. Xi Ming was taken a bit aback. In that case, you just arbitrarily accused the Xus of a crime does that not give them something on you? What was the actual purpose of all this mess? As I see it, youre using the Xus to divert other peoples attention, Brother Tang? Lu Lingxi asked. Tang Fan smiled, not denying that. Truth be told, I hadnt linked the Society with the imperial exam case at the beginning. They can be regarded as two independent, if linked cases for right now. The starting reason was Xu Sui and Shen Si both wanting to snare Lin Zhen into cheating, thus causing him ruin, which Shen Kunxiu has confessed to. None of you object to that, right? Everyone shook their heads. He dipped an index finger into his tea cup, then drew a line onto the red sandalwood table, followed by another branch in the middle of it. They only wanted to ruin Lin Zhens reputation so that he could no longer participate in the imperial exams; there was no reason at all for him to be killed. Therefore, starting from Lin Zhens death, another case can be branched out. Lu Lingxi pondered this. Lin Fengyuan insisted that Lin Zhen had been forced into suicide by Shen Kunxiu, saying it so definitively that it was suspicious. Also, we saw his body with our own eyes; he didnt kill himself, someone else killed him. Lin Fengyuan clearly knew all of that. Tang Fan nodded. Right. He not only knew it, but he had deliberately divulged it in his words and actions, causing us to pay attention to that painting. Lady Qiao, her chin rested in her hand as she sat beside the table, asked curiously, You all keep talking about that. What kind of painting is it? Glancing and Tang Fan and seeing that he had no dissent, Lu Lingxi said, A landscape one, with mountains, water, trees, a person, and a boat. There was a poem on it, too. She creased her brow. Arent paintings like that common? Whats the issue? The two lines of that poem Far trees in two rows, a reflected mountain, a light boat rowing horizontally combine to create one word, Tang Fan said. Before this, no one had been thinking in that direction. They had been believing that there was a secret in the painting itself, or even that the figure might be of the killer. As soon as Lu Lingxi heard this, he immediately mimicked Tang Fan by dipping his finger into the water and drawing on the table. A reflected mountain (ɽ) should be the ji radical (). Tree does tree imply mu (ľ), for wood? Or feng (), for abundant? Feng. One feng is one row, two fengs are two rows. A light boat is the ya radical (]), and when a light boat travels on water, droplets will splash out (). There was no need for Tang Fan to unlid the riddle, as even Lady Qiao had a reaction. Is it hui (), for wisdom? Lu Lingxi jumped. He wanted to say that its Fang Huixue?! In light of those silver ingots found at the Lin home, Lin Fengyuan and the other party have been collaborating for a long time, Tang Fan said. Supposing that Lin Zhens death and the disappearance of the Lins second son are related to this, when we visited last time, Lin Fengyuan was using this method to hint to us. It was just a shame that we didnt notice it at the time, and he was murdered after the fact, with even that painting missing. The other party must have silenced him. I remember that when we spoke to Lin Fengyuan, that attendant of his was around, too! Lu Lingxi said. Pausing, he then furrowed his brow. But I dont really understand. From the start of this until now, it seems like Fang Huixue has had no connection. The people that killed the evaluators and tried to assassinate you were from the same group; on the contrary, the Xus are much more suspect. Faced with his fully doubtful expression, Tang Fan laughed. Dont look at me, Im not some divine immortal. Just like you, there are many problems that I cant figure out. Lady Qiao giggled. As I see it, youre amazing enough as it is, cousin! Being able to infer so many things from one word puzzle is something I couldnt do! Lu Lingxi: What he had wanted to say had been stolen from him. Anyone would be a little depressed. Tang Fan only shook his head. If I really was amazing, I would have discovered this back when Lin Fengyan had been acting strange, but now hes dead, and the Xus are provoked. When the time comes, who knows what troubles will await me. He stood. Its late in the day. All of you rest; anything else can be said tomorrow morning. Lady Qiao seamlessly glanced at her maid, quirking her lips into a pout as she said, Cousin, weve been apart for so many years. Youre always busy, and weve had a private talk before! All of a sudden, a hand stretched out from nearby, blocking Lady Qiaos body that was nearly plastered to Tang Fan. Miss, please have self-respect, came Xiao Zhous voice, which had been silent all this time. Lady Qiao stomped her foot out of bashfulness. Were betrothed! Why do you have to talk so much?! Xiao Zhou was expression. Men and women are not to be too close. She laughed coldly. Xiao Zhou, are you thinking that hes bound to take you as a concubine, so you dont regard even me as important? Youre daydreaming! Every day we arent married is a day you wont even think about getting close to him! Wh what kind of opera was this? Everyone stared at this act, tongue-tied. They had yet to be officially wedded, yet mistress and maid were fighting amongst themselves? Tsk, tsk his luck with women was truly great! What luck was it, though? Watching their performance, Tang Fan felt a little numb, only able to put a hand on his forehead. Cousin, you go and rest too. Im tired. Lady Qiao dared not play around too much, inwardly sticking her tongue out as she laughed prettily. Okay, cousin! Ill cook some nice food for you myself tomorrow, how about that? Fine, fine, fine! Tang Fan agreed, then said to Xiao Zhou, Xiao Zhou, well head back to the room. I have something to ask you. Okay. Tang Fan turned and walk to his room, Xiao Zhou following close after. With a look both full of unwillingness and a fear of stopping them, Lady Qiao viciously glared at Xiao Zhous back, then snorted and left in a rage. Lu Lingxi, meanwhile, stood in place, watching the figure of the main that appeared to be a little taller than Tang Fan. His expression was a bit dazed, having mentally suffered a blow. C-could it be that this was the type of woman Brother Tang liked? After half a day of turmoil, he looked all around, saw that everyone was gone, and couldnt help but go in the direction the two had gone, all the way to the outside of Tang Fans room. A candle was already lit up inside, its faint light coming through the window, ever flickering. One side of Lu Lingxi felt that he shouldnt listen, yet the other couldnt stop his own footsteps and curiosity. The closer he got, the clearer the voices were; and upon a carful listen, it seemed like the maid was talking. Sir, would you prefer to wear your clothes, or take them off? This maid believes that off would be better Right then, he heard Tang Fan cough lightly. Clothes on is fine. Theyve gotten to this point?! A buzzing was in his head, making him a bit muddled. After that, the voices became a lot quieter, but Lu Lingxi already had no will to continue listening. He left as quietly as he had come, only dispirited, making his footsteps a little disordered. Inside the room, upon seeing the slightly upward curve of his counterparts mouth, Tang Fan felt exasperated. Someone running away out of annoyance makes you this happy? Truthfully, there was no such ambiguity as others might have thought, being nothing more than one person rubbing the shoulders of another. And yet, a certain somebody had caused a misunderstanding for no good reason. Sui Zhou gripped his chin, leaned over, and kissed him. Of course it does. Tang Fan calling him in alone had not been for him to rub his shoulders, of course, but some something else important. Since Sui Zhous identity had not yet been made clear, though, he could only allow Lu Lingxi to misunderstand for right now. You should send people to keep an eye on Fang Huixues place. Xi Ming, Lu Lingxi, and the rest have already shown their faces; if they go, hell know at once that we already suspect him, Tang Fan said. Sui Zhou hummed in affirmation. Ill move staff tomorrow to survey him in secret. What do you plan to do with the Xus? Tang Fan smiled bitterly. What is there to plan? I can do nothing more than send a memorial stating that Im handling the case on my end, but Xu Bin is definitely not going to let this lie. I hope that Eunuch Wang can help me stave off for a time. Once the White Lotus Society are punished, all the water will recede to show the rocks, the truth becoming clear. Sui Zhou rubbed his temples for him. Even though he said nothing, his intent to comfort was clear. Even though Tang Fan had done this all on purpose, his raid of the Xus would be, in the eyes of people that didnt know the score, inevitably seen as far too reckless. They were quiet, yet the atmosphere had a somewhat rare warmth. Ever since they left the capital, it had been hard for them to have such leisure time for peaceful interactions, so they cherished this quiet interval. In not long a time, Tang Fan roused his energy. Actually, you dont need to worry about me. There are many points of doubt in this case, but Shen Si and Xu Sui have concrete evidence to their crime, so its not completely without gains. As long as Xu Sui can be found out, itll be solved. Sui Zhou smiled lightly. I never doubted that much. Tang Fan, wooden-faced, brought his hand away from under his collar. Xiao Zhou, you should go back. Sui Zhou bent down and breezily looped around him, hot breath puffing onto his ear, his low voice alluring. Do you not want me to wait on you in bed, Sir? I can service you all night long, whether you want me to massage your shoulders, or some other spot as long as Im alive, theres nothing I cant do. Tang Fans mouth twitched. Do you know what Im thinking of saying? What? Miss Xiao Zhou, your stubble is peeking out. However depressed Miss Xiao Zhou was over her internal injuries aside, the capital was ultimately a thousand li away from Jiangxi. Despite Steward Xu releasing a harsh statement and Magistrate Fans group feeling that Tang Fan had acted inappropriately, even if Xu Bin had sky-reaching power, Wan An pleading for the Xus to the Emperor and causing a headache for Tang while he was at it would at least take the five to seven days for the Courts decree to arrive here. During this time period, Tang Fan personally interrogated Shen Si, sent up a memorial clarifying each and every fact of the case, including Xu Suis escape as well as all the points of suspicion, hoping that the Emperor would give him a time limit to discover the truth. Due to the lack of concrete evidence, Tang Fan did not bring up the White Lotus Society in his memorial, but Sui Zhou received a piece of information possibly related to it on his end. Purportedly, a few days ago, villagers neighboring some mountain at Luling Countys outskirts had suddenly heard waves of thunder in the middle of the night. When they went to investigate it in the daytime, they had discovered that there was new cave cracked open by lightning at the mountains base. Bolder villagers had gone in to investigate, only to find many corpses inside, after which successive rumors had spread about there being human-eating monsters in the mountains. The more they spread, the more mysterious they became, frightening the villagers. Also fearing that they would be held responsible, they had quickly made a report to the authorities. In accordance with government procedure, after learning of this, Ji Min should have discussed with the Prefectural Magistrate, then reported it up through the layers until it reached the capital, where the Cabinet would ultimately issue an order to either have the locals investigate on their own, or send the Brocade Guard over. This process would take a month or two, at the minimum. Even though Tang Fan was an imperial ambassador, he was only responsible for investigating the imperial exam fraud case, having no authority to ask after this matter. For that reason, Ji Min, Fan Yuezheng, and the rest did not need to report to him. Still, even if they said nothing, it wasnt like the Guard would have no methods of knowing this. Sui Zhou believed that this event was extremely likely to be related to the Societys private mining and casting of money, so he left half of his men to watch the Fang residence while the other half followed him out to investigate. In any case, Tang Fan put on a show of having Lu Lingxi, Xi Ming, and the rest of them to search for hints of Xu Sui, while he found trouble for the Xus off-and-on, secretly keeping an eye on the Fangs movements. Fang Huixue was said to have caught windchill, and had not taken even half a step out of the Fang household in days. Because of their status in Jian, people were coming nonstop to visit him in sickness; Tang Fan sent a gift over, too. It was reported that the one who had come to receive it was the Fangs steward, with Fang Huixue not showing his face. This was quite normal. Had Tang Fan gone in person, Fang Huixue certainly would have come out to greet him himself, but since it had just been someone he sent, he hadnt need to show up. On top of that, no unusual changes had happened in the Fang household. People still came and went every day. Fang Huixue had two sons and one daughter; the daughter was the second wife of the Envoy of Education, and of the two sons, one had married and had a son, while the other was still in school, supposedly to earn scholarly honors. The married-off daughter excluded, the two sons figures frequently coming and going from the residence was something everyone had seen. All of this had passed into Tang Fans ears from the mouths of those observing. Even so, Tang Fan always felt that something was off, having an unspeakable sense of oddity that could not be dispelled. That was, until Lu Lingxi brought him information about Fang Huixues daughter. CH 134 Even though they hadnt found Xu Sui in the Xu household that day, Lu Lingxi felt like he was likely still hiding out in there. Even if he wasnt, someone of the household must know his whereabouts. Thus, Lu Lingxi kept watch near the rear gate of the Xu residence, spying for news straight from the Xu servants, hoping to find something related to Xu Sui in the process. However, for two successive days, he had been disappointed. People came in and out of the Xus rear gate daily, their cooks and workmen often chatting about daily life when the farmers came to deliver their vegetables, yet they never mentioned Xu Sui. At most, all they brought up was that Tang Fan had brought people to raid the house, saying that when their Master got back, that Censor would be out of luck and whatnot. Just like Steward Xu, in the eyes of the Xu servants, Master Xu was a very capable person, where even the local Prefectural Magistrate had to be more polite to him. They looked up and only saw the one-mu Xu land that did not exceed Jians boundaries, so they believed that Tang Fan could do nothing against them, quite a hint of schadenfreude to their words. Despite his upset, Lu Lingxi knew that there was no need to bother with the finite knowledge of the poor. On this afternoon, as per usual, he was leaning against the trunk of a tree not far from the Xus rear gate. This spot was close to the wall and in a very hidden location, where generally no one would make a specific detour to go see him; he was skilled enough to leave before anyone found him, anyways. Like it was habit, he listened to the Xu servants speak far away as he basked in the sun. This time, however, Lu Lingxi heard something about Fang Huixues daughter. Supposedly, his eldest daughter had another betrothal before she married off, but he broke it off on his own to marry her as the Envoy of Educations second wife. At this point, Lu Lingxi held off for suspense. Can you guess what they were doing on the sly, Brother Tang? Tang Fan cocked his head slightly. Cursing him out for his betrayal? No! Lu Lingxi replied with a grin. Everyone says that he was benevolent for it! The other raised a brow. Oh, thats odd. Why so? The original betrothal had also been set by him for his daughter, thats why. Its said that the man of it was a rich kid from Nanchang Prefecture, but he had been unlearned, unskilled, and took in countless prostitutes before he had even been married. That reputation had even spread to Jian. To make a long story short, he was probably worse than Xu Sui and Shen Sis type. Back then, the Fang family appeared to have been in dire straits due to business difficulties, so they planned for their daughter to marry this guy. For some unknown reason, though, Fang Huixue suddenly changed his mind, withdrew from the betrothal, and pulled against a losing tide. His family that had been on the verge of decline was restructured into a rich family that no one in Jian dares to take lightly, and he chose a new betrothal for his daughter. Tang Fan straightened up, expression turning serious. Speak more about what went on with Fang Huixue. What do you want to hear about? Tang Fan thought for a bit. The Fangs started off in commerce, with no scholarly honors. Even as a second wife, the Envoy of Education shouldnt have been too happy to marry their daughter. Is there something else going on? Yes. I heard that Fang Huixue also used to be a spoiled fop when he was younger; after inheriting the family business, his stupidity quickly turned the household into a wreck, and only then did he needed to use his daughters marriage to maintain his livelihood. However, for whatever reason, he suddenly turned better, his skills in trade got more and more formidable, and he used the money he earned from his business to build bridges, pave roads, and aid the poor, thus making his reputation in Jian all the better. In contrast, hardly anyone at all speaks of his earlier affairs. After hearing about his daughter, I specially asked around about this whats wrong, Brother Tang? His brows knit tight, there was no iota of a smile on Tang Fans face, which caused his entire person to look slightly frosty. He didnt answer him, instead asking, You said he got better all of a sudden. When was this? Im not too sure, they just said it had been several years. From a few years ago until now, hes changed massively? He should have, else there would have been no way he could have managed the declining Fang family into its current state, right? I heard that went they were at their worst, all of the servants and workers were dismissed, totally incomparable to how they are now Brother Tang, are you suspicious of something? Do you think that the Fang family was funded by the White Lotus Society to reach the scope it has today? Tang Fans expression was overcast. Im afraid its not that they received funds. Lu Lingxi was slightly confused. Huh? Then why Has the Fang home still been motionless these days? Tang Fan interrupted. Yes, everyone says that Fang Huixue is laying in bed. Even Magistrate Fan visited himself and didnt get to meet him. It seems his illness is too heavy. Its good that you didnt go; if hes as arrogant as Xu Bin, you might have lost awful face then Brother Tang? Tang Fan had stood up with a bang, startling Lu Lingxi with the immensity of the act, causing his voice to stop. The other removed his identification token and passed it over. Go to the one that peddles candy not far in front the Fang home at once. Say its on my order, and have him gather staff to raid the inside of the home. Even if they have to dig three-chi deep, they need to find Fang Huixue for me! The candy peddler in front of the home? Appearing to make out his surprise, Tang Fan gave some more words of explanation despite feeling that time was tight. They are Brocade Guards in disguise, there to secretly watch under my orders. You will know when you see them! Seeing that the other was about to leave, Lu Lingxi hurriedly called out to him, Wait, Brother Tang! What if we cant find him? If this is like the Xu family, your situation will be on thin ice! Tang Fan didnt look back. Dont mind that. Even if you cant find him, not one member of the Fang family can be set free! Make sure to get information out of them! With such explained to Lu Lingxi, he brought Xi Ming with him straight to the county bureau. The bailiffs recognized him, quite surprised to see that he had come himself without sitting in a sedan chair. He didnt even wait for them to bow, asking, Where is your Magistrate? Answering you, Sir, in the bureau! That answer settled Tang Fan some, and he passed them to go straight into the bureau. After questioning some people along his path, he learned that Ji Min was drinking tea in the rear halls rain-watching pavilion, and brought Xi Ming along with him. This bureau hadnt been large to begin with, but some Mister Magistrate before Ji Min had renovated the bureaus rear courtyard, simply creating a space for the construction of a garden and planting flowers so that it could be used for rest, enjoying the scenery, and entertaining guests. He hadnt been able to use it for a few years, instead giving latecomers the advantage. Tang Fan had been here once, too. It was a bit on the small side, yet had a special sort of feeling that Jiangnan gardens had: lush trees, babbling brooks, and good soundproofing. When speaking here, there was no worry about being overheard. The rain-watching pavilion had been build atop an artificial mountain in the gardens center. Beneath the mountain was a small stream that converged into a lotus pond; this was the period when fields of lotus leaves blossomed with flower buds, making a very pretty sight when viewed from above. However, at this moment, Tang Fan wasnt of the mind to appreciate it at all. Only when he saw that familiar rearview figure did he slow his pace. Brother Ziming, he uttered. The other turned his head, showing a look of surprised, after which he smiled. This humble official barely managed to steal some leisure time here; I didnt expect to be caught red-handed by you, Sir. Tang Fan smiled back, told Xi Ming to wait at the foot of the mountain, then skipped steps climbing up, reaching the pavilion in no time. Its good that youre here, he said; an inadvertent glance over the stone table let him see that there was tea pot, yet two cups. You rushed to come here. Was was so important to come find this humble official for? When interacting in private, even though he called him Sir and himself this humble official, Ji Mins tone was that of joking with an old friend, appearing familiar and casual. I have something to ask you, Tang Fan said with a slight smile. Why dont we go out and chat? Ji Min shook his head. His suddenly gained a half-smiling, half-mocking expression. Just talk here. Its no good outside. It was perfectly fine. How was it no good? Goodness aside, Tang Fan was the superior, and Ji Min, the inferior. He shouldnt be talking to him like this. In an instant, those words caused a trace of alert to spring up in Tang Fans mind. He unconsciously drew a few steps away. However, the next second, there came the sound of blades crossing from the mountain below! Sir, somethings wrong here! Leave, now! Xi Ming called out. There was no need for him to say; Tang Fan already knew something was wrong. The stratagem of those several opponents was exactly the same as those that had tried to assassinate him that night they were likely one and the same. Xi Ming and his group hadnt been able to overcome them, to say nothing of the fact that he was alone now. Four against one gradually landed him downwind, in an unpromising situation. He looked at Ji Min, saying gravely, Ziming, what is the meaning of this? The others expression didnt change. You can see it for yourself. Let him go. Ill do as you say. Ji Min shook his head. Even if I dont, you will. Right then, someone unexpectedly said from behind Tang Fan, Why are you talking to him?! Just kill him and be done with it! In the voices wake, a burst of wind came at the back of his head. Tang Fans expression changed, but when he turned to dodge, it was already too late all he felt was a sharp pain on the back of his head, and his body collapse limply to the ground, beyond his control. He opened his mouth in a want to speak, yet couldnt utter a sound. The sound of weapons clashing still entered his ears, getting vaguer and vaguer. No wonder there had seemed to be so few people the whole time he had walked through the bureau. Those bailiffs must have long been dismissed by Ji Min, so that no one would hear the commotion over here At just that extent, his thoughts abruptly cut off, and he completely sunk into darkness. Were times flow able to be reversed, perhaps Tang Fan might have had a bit more caution before coming to find Ji Min. He might have brought Lu Lingxi or more people, or just straight-up surrounded the bureau, making it hard for Ji Min to take flight. However, Mister Tang was ultimately not a deity. At most, he was more prudent than others, but that was about it; he was no seer, and had never thought that Ji Min would dare to brazenly attack an imperial ambassador in the county bureau. Based on the phrase he had heard before passing out, Tang Fan had expected that he would have cut his life short, and not that there would come a time that he would wake up again. He subconsciously shifted a bit, discovering that his eyes were apparently covered and limbs bound. He was laid on his side in a not very elegant pose, something similar to a handkerchief even stuffed into his mouth. A vibrating sensation was beneath him, and his unclogged ears could hear the rolling of a carriages wheels. To speak precisely, he had been awakened by the noise of an argument. Ji Min, dont think that I dont know that youre old pals with this prettyboy, but I advise you not to waste your brainpower. The second-in-command hates this guy to the bone! If you dont let me kill him now, once he gets to him, his death will be even worse! Tang Fan slightly creased his brow. He felt that voice to be a little familiar, immediately after which he recalled that this ought to be the man who said he should be killed. Its precisely because hes so important to the second-in-command that Im personally bringing him to him. Hes the one who should decide whether he dies or not, it isnt your say. In comparison, Ji Mins voice was much calmer. Also, you ought to be calling me Vicar Ji. As the Vice Vicar, if you disobey, Ill have to tell the second-in-command the truth. Another person bahed. Vicar Ji? You cant even put in the slightest bit of effort! Being a County Magistrate is something he helped you get, too, so put on less airs in front of us brothers, will you! If it werent for the Society lacking in talents right now, it wouldnt have been your place to be any sort of Vicar! Old Wu, shut it! the man from before shouted at him. Vicar Ji, the carriage goes quick. So that you dont get underfoot, please get in! There quickly came to be no sound outside, or perhaps the speakers voices had reduced, leaving him not able to hear too well. A short time later, the carriages curtain was lifted, and wind blew in from outside, swirling Tang Fans hair into a mess. He surmised that his bun must have been set free. Very soon, though, the curtain seemed to lower again. Are you awake? That was Ji Min talking. Tang Fan continuing to feign unconsciousness would obviously not work well, so he nodded. The next instant, the kerchief was pulled out of his mouth. He let out a long exhale; instead of doing something stupid like wasting energy calling for help or requesting that his blindfold be taken off, he asked, Wheres Xi Ming? Where do you think? Tang Fan went quiet for a short moment, then asked, Where are we going now? Youre being brought to see Daoist Li. You should be pretty familiar with him. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. Indeed I am. Were old enemies. Ji Min said nothing. The wheels ran over rocks from time to time, the carriage jolting along with the bumps. Tang Fan, feeling like his internal organs were about to come up from being knocked around, couldnt help but say, Brother Ziming, can I trouble you with helping me sit up? If this goes on, Im afraid my soul will fly nine days away before I can meet your Daoist Li. Only after a good long while did a pair of hands help him up. Sitting was just as bumpy, but with his back against the carriage wall, it was overall much better than laying fully powerless on the ground. Thank you. Tang Fan sighed in relief, nodding slightly in the direction Ji Min might be sitting. You still call me Brother Ziming. Ji Mins voice was slightly mocking. I thought you would call me a White Lotus demon. Tang Fan laughed. Instead of squandering time on those useless disputes, I have a lot of questions to ask. Such as? Such as: after you kidnap me, wont you be unable to keep being the Luling Magistrate? Ji Min sneered. Youre a real worrywart, Sir Tang. Your life is about to be in peril, yet youre concerned with this humble officials career path. That isnt for you to worry about. Tang Fan sighed. Why do you keep using that tone of voice with me? Could our friendship of many years not withstand a Vicar position? Whats so good about the White Lotus Society, anyways? Those outlaws follow Li Zilong, who stupidly thinks to fight with the Court over money, and risk their lives readily. You had great future prospects; why did you join up with them for no reason. His eyes were still blocked with a cloth strip, so he couldnt see Ji Mins sarcastic expression. Great future prospects? You think too much of me, Runqing. If it werent for the Society, I would still be tilling the land in the countryside, and who knew how many years it would have taken me to fill a vacancy. How could I be mentioned in the same breath as all of you Palace Honorates? When they had separated at the capital, Ji Mins heart had been full of disappointment, but Tang Fan had only just stepped onto his own career path then. Apart from comfort, there was no way he could have given him any help of real substance. Furthermore, the realm had many equal talents, and there were far too many that wanted to get on the golden roll, with too few spots supplied for scholars. Every single year, disappointees like Ji Min were uncountable. Some with gray hairs kept rushing about for scholarly honors, making Ji Min not the worst out there, but whenever one was in the midst of despair, they would always feel the most defeated and miserable in the world. At this moment, if Tang Fan said something akin to, Youre still a Provincial Honorate, why dont you just work harder, that would doubtlessly add oil to the fire, so he said, If you say that, the kind merchant from your hometown that funded your donation into the ranks was actually the Society? Yes, Ji Min answered, self-mocking. You know that my family is poor, and them being able to vainly support me for over twenty years is their limit. I didnt test into being a Palace Honorate and had no money to buy a post, which was my incompetence. I cant let my family suffer from being related to me, raising a lazy man that eats while contributing nothing, and banks on a hope three years from now. But, if I was made to be like those old Provincial Honorates in the countryside, only able to flaunt myself in my homeland all my life, nameless, I wouldnt be willing for it, either. Truthfully, Ji Mins ambition was something Tang Fan had sensed when he had just gotten to know him; but what scholar that studied for a decade was not doing it to make their ancestors proud? To make those dreams of saving the world and its people a reality, one must first have honors and an official place, else it would all be only baseless talk. Being an official was tantamount to being on a higher level. Descendants that grew up in an influential official family, like Lu Lingxi, might not feel too deeply about it, but for someone of Ji Mins background, getting honors was their only hope. In his poverty, with no money to bribe his way into a vacancy and no guarantee that he would have been able to become a Palace Honorate in three years, the branch that the Society had extended had become his live-saving branch, yet the same moment he had accepted the other partys present, he had become tied onto their boat. Tang Runqing, Im actually quite envious. Im jealous of even you, Brother Yuqiao, and the rest of them, because you all have good backgrounds, good talents, and get what you want with almost no effort spent. When I called you all my brothers, one side of my heart envied you, and another resented you, itching to seize all that you own. You see? Even as a County Magistrate, I still need the Societys help, while youre younger than me, yet are an imperial ambassador and Censor already. I cant accept that! I really cant accept that! Tang Fan leaned slightly, switching arms that leaned on the wall. Due to the carriages trembling as well as his arms being tied behind his back, his upper body was numb. Ah, Brother Ziming. You clearly arent that sort of person, he said with a sigh. Why do you keep saying such things to make me misunderstand you? When I just arrived in Jian, you actually gave me a warning, but I was too slow to understand. That was why, before this, I still didnt know that Fang Huixue is Li Zilong. When did I remind you? Ji Min said sullenly. Tang Fan smiled. At the welcoming banquet, when I matched your latter couplet, you later used four of the characters from it for a word puzzle. A squirrel behind the branch is the character Li (). Was that not to warn me? Since you knew that much, why did you come looking for me?! Ji Min said angrily. Tang Fan was a little nonplussed by his sudden-onset rage. The one getting quashed right now was clearly him, right? Im not a deity. How could I anticipate the enemys foreactions in everything? Even if I knew that you might be referring to something, how could I have known that Fang Huixue was Li Zilong? If you want someone to blame, you can only Daoist Li for being too capable at deceit. After all, he replaced Fang Huixue years ago and has been operating there this whole time presumably to constantly do business while he rushed all around the country, which was nothing more than a cover making it easy to go out and handle things. Still, having said that, why did Lin Fengyuan have to die? Is it because he found out Fang Huixues real identity? No. He simply witnessed the Brocade Guards unbridled sweep within Jiangxis boundary, and remembered Huang Jinglongs fate, so he got scared, not wanting to cooperate with the Society anymore. How could the higher-ups tolerate him leaving just because he said he would, though? Right when the imperial exam case occurred, the second-in-command ordered Lin Zhen murdered, framed Shen Kunxiu, and kidnapped Lin Fengyuans second son to force him into submission. When others saw the grudge between the Shen and Lin families, all they would believe was that Shen Kunxiu used government means for a private grudge, not associating it with the Society. Tang Fan furrowed his brow. What went on with the deaths of those evaluators after, then? The Fang and X families have had some business dealings for a long time now. Xu Bin is greedy by nature; even though he faintly detected what was involved in back of the Fangs, but for the sake of making money, he didnt completely draw a line with them, and also refused to get too draw in. Bluntly speaking, hes trying to be both work as a whore and establish an arch in the name of his own chastity. At that point, Ji Min laughed in mockery. But how could something so perfect exist under this sky? They could be said to have made their own sins. Xu Bin and Shen Kunxiu werent strict in teaching their sons, causing a lot of trouble that narrowly implicated their old men. Shen Kunxiu feared that you would interrogate the good deed his son did out of those evaluators, so he sought help from Xu Bin, and Fang Huixue well, the second-in-command took that opportunity to egg him into killing the five and having it all be done with. He also said that since he was backed by the Wan party, as long as he made a light threat, you wouldnt dare to act against the Xu family. Xu Bin, the halfwit, had a brain aneurysm and agreed to it. Tang Fan realized something. In that case, Lin Fengyuans death was by the Societys hand? He didnt use you, but the Society to refer to. Ji Min took note of that minor detail, some complicated feelings bubbling up in his heart for a time. A good while after, he said, Yes. Someone was keeping watch at his side, yet he still wasnt settled, thinking to hint at you. The second-in-command found him out. So he just ended up dying still, Tang Fan lamented. But his death wasnt completely useless, Ji Min said coldly. Didnt you find that key clue off of his painting? That makes his death too late. Had he died earlier, there would be no such headache! Tang Fan shook his head. How could there ever be such a seamless wall? The truth would always see daylight, it was just a matter of when. He wanted to say something, only to hear Ji Min say, Ive told you all that you wanted to know, which is enough for you to die without regrets. Since youre an old friend, I fought to have you stay alive a little longer. Whether you can keep doing that depends on our second-in-commands compassion. Wait! I still have some questions! Sensing the others approach, Tang Fan leaned his head back automatically, only to find that he had nowhere to run. His mouth was quickly covered by a cloth, the smell on it inhaled through his nose, which made him get a bit groggy. Sleep. Well be there soon, he heard Ji Min say coldly. Tang Fan had not expected in any way that when he regained consciousness yet again, it would be by a basin of ice water being poured onto his head. CH 135 Even in the hottest periods of summer, ice water like this would have been enough to make him shudder. It wasnt something he wanted to experience a second time in his life. That was, if he still had enough life left to experience a second time at all. Long time no see, Sir Tang. Youve been well since our parting, right? a familiar voice resounded. Tang Fan opened his eyes. Beads of water were still on his lashes, teetering and threatening to fall with the motion of his blinks. His arms were still bound, but he had gone from the interior of a carriage to the inside of a hall. The surrounding decorations were elegant, with several blades and bows hung up on the wall it appeared to be some separate manor of a wealthy familys. Perhaps the only caused for celebration was that his eyes were not blindfolded at this time. He sighed. Blame my poor eyesight for not recognizing you before. You seem to have gotten on fine, Daoist Li but should I be called you Daoist Li, Merchant Fang, or Chuyun-zi? Fang Huixue or Li Zilong, it should be said laughed at that. We can really be said to have a karmic tie. Several times, weve met; its good that we didnt end up missing this one. Although people were not be judged based on appearances, all humans were creatures of the mundane world. Who could really remained uninfluenced by outward appearances? Tang Fan didnt know what Li Zilongs true appearance even was, but from these several meetings whether he was Chuyun-zi or Fang Huixue he had either the bearing of an immortal or a cultured cordiality, all characters that appeared as they were disguised. It other words, his appearance-changing technique not only changed his face, but his entire look. If he didnt, with Tang Fan and Sui Zhous perception and caution, he would not have been completely unrecognizable. Tang Fan shook his head. Wet hair plastered to his scalp, some pieces stuck to his cheeks, which made him quite uncomfortable. How could having a tie with you not signify bad luck? That said, I hope we never have a destiny again. Using his speaking opportunity, he began to take in the environment surrounding him. In addition to Li Zilong and Ji Min, there were several black-clothed people, each holding a weapon and sharp-eyed, guarding every corner inside the hall. He was well aware that even if he wasnt tied up, he wouldnt be getting out of here. Li Zilong clearly knew that he couldnt run, so he very generously allowed Tang Fan to look all around. Its been so long, and youre still so witty. Reasonably speaking, we ought to have a nice, long reminiscence after being apart for so long, but Im short on time. Thanks to you, most of the foundation I worked hard to create for so many years is ruined. I thought I would be able to come to Jiangxi and live the latter half of my life in peace, yet you chased me down here yet again. You really wont go away, Sir Tang! The deeper his hatred for Tang Fan was, the softer his tone of voice became. Daoist Li, you saying so is a greatly false accusation, Tang Fan said, sighing. As you can see, me coming here this time had been to investigate the imperial exam fraud, which was far removed from you. I also didnt provoke you of my own initiative. And yet, Ive ended up tied up, while you instead say that Im bothering you does that have any logic? If I had known beforehand that I would meet you here, I wouldnt have come even if I was beaten to death. Li Zilong smiled lightly. Really? Its good that you did, then. How else would I have witnessed your grace in judging cases like a god? Tang Fan smiled bitterly. Weve known each for so long, and know each other to the corse. Dont poke fun at me, Daoist Li. Li Zilong stroked his beard, his other hand behind his back, and slowly walked a few steps to be in front of Tang Fan. He had just said that he didnt have much time, yet now he was of the leisurely enough mind to drag him into some insignificant drivel. Seeing so, Tang Fan had something of a speculation. Now that youve tied me up here, Daoist Li, what do you plan to do? Can you guess? No. It cant be that you brought me here specifically to kill me, right? This Tang is an insignificant pawn; why bother going to this trouble? Youre too modest. I heard youre already at third-rank? Thats pretty quick. You would have been able to join the Cabinet in not too much of a time. If you werent here today, maybe you would turn into the Great Mings youngest Vizier, hm? Li Zilong jested. The man had fallen to this plight, his final layer of hidden identities as Fang Huixue getting revealed, and should have been antsy or stomping mad, but was still about to joke with Tang Fan. It had to be said that he held the slight bearing of a formidable hero. What a shame it was that a world at peace did not need one of those. Tang Fan shook his head. I dare not think about that. If you have something urgent, you can go on and do it. No need to mind me. Li Zilong smiled playfully. Why would I want to cast you aside, Sir Tang? In regards to our friendship, Ill have to send you off to see the one you want to see? Tang Fan feigned surprise. Who else would I want to see, apart from you? Sui Zhou. Dont you want to? Is he also in your hands? Very nice, very nice. Have him come out now, lest he keep saying that Im useless; this time, I can have a nice laugh at him, Tang Fan said with a smile. Dont be anxious. Didnt that Sui guy go looking for the silver mine after hearing about it? That was actually fake news that I set free. The mine has long been emptied, but I left some good stuff for him. As long as he gets in when the times comes Witnessing Tang Fans collected expression finally change a bit, Li Zilong couldnt help but life, extremely gratified. Tang Fan, I thought you would keep pretending until your death. So you can get scared! Tang Fan shook his head with a bitter smile. It seems that Im a failure as a person. Friends betraying me aside, even an old acquaintance like you has his heart set on having us die! Ji Min, standing nearby, remained expressionless, as if Tang Fan wasnt talking about him. Truthfully, if you hadnt killed my adopted son Li Man and ruined my good deals too many times, I wouldnt be specifically making things hard for you, Li Zilong instead comforted. Buddhist thought teaches of karmic ties; good ties are bad ties are both ties. When all is said and done, we still have a tie. Tang Fan nodded, unsure of how to react. Youre right. Since were tied, and you owe me so much, if I want to take revenge by stabbing you a few times, you wont mind, right? Li Zilong asked warmly. If I say I do, will you change your mind? No. Then it appears that I can only let you do as you may. Li Zilong wanted to say something, but saw someone rush in from outside. Second-in-command, everything is ready! they said, clasping their fist. He nodded. All of you keep drawing back in bits. Ill come out in a quarter of an hour. Tang Fan inwardly sighed. If Li Zilong wanted to flee, he wouldnt have bothered with him, a burden. It appeared that he would only be living for a quarter-hour more. As expected, after the other party agreed and left, Li Zilong grinned at him. Blame me for being unable to contain my joy meeting you, Sir Tang. Weve been chatting for so long I wanted to cut your flesh off bit by bit until you died in agonizing pain, but its too late for that now. Looks like I can only stab you a few casual times. Where do you want me to start? On the eve of his death, Tang Fan didnt neglect to joke around. Can you just stab me in the heart? Im afraid of pain. Lets solve everything with a single stab so that it wont hold up your desperate escape. Confronted with someone like this, Li Zilong wasnt sure if he should say that he was very brave, or brainless. In reality, he felt not only pure hatred for Tang Fan, but an abundance of appreciation for someone of similar talents. Were their two sides not incompatible, he would have done everything he could to recruit Tang Fan, as, in his eyes, he was more of an outstanding talent than Li Man or Ji Min. However, just like how Tang Fan knew Li Zilong could not be enlist and amnestied by the Court, Li Zilong knew that Tang Fan would not be persuaded. That wont do. A stab to the heart will absolve you, but not my hatred. Shaking his head, while he spoke, Li Zilong took a dagger glittering with cold light from who-knew-where, and pierced Tang Fans thigh with it. Hng! Tang Fans face instantly went pale, but his cry was not as loud as his previous speaking voice. That bored Li Zilong a bit, but he had long come to understand that beneath Tang Fans casual demeanor, he had bones harder than anyone elses. That was why, even if someone like him had a weakness, it would never be fame, profits, glory, or wealth. It was also why Li Zilong would never have been able to win over Tang Fan the same way he had won over others. The dagger was stuck in so deeply, the majority of it was in. Blood gushed desperately out of the gap between the knife and his skin, dying a lot of Tang Fans lower robes red instantaneously. He clenched his jaw tightly, eyes shut, as transparent drops slid down from his temples; it was hard to tell if they were water or sweat. At this moment, all Li Zilong would have to do was twist the hilt a bit to chew apart the muscle inside. He didnt do that not because his hatred for him had gone down, but because he didnt have enough time. Thus, he pulled the dagger back out, and pondered over whether to just kill him with the next stab, lest some adverse change occurred. Blood spurted from the wound. Tang Fan was already limp on the chair, having no strength to talk glibly. At that moment, Ji Min opened his mouth. Second-in-command, everyone is waiting outside. You go on ahead, let this subordinate deal with him. Li Zilong raised a brow. Youre not wanting to let him go, right? Tang Runqing is a most crafty person. Hes just been delaying this whole time speaking with you; I suspect that he has some trick planned. You should take a preemptive step, I will do the hard wok. The other smiled coldly. Its not going to be that quick. Even in the Weining Sealet, I could still Before he finished, two hawk cries sounded outside in quick succession. Tang Fan raised his eyelids, having something of an impression of that sound. Back at the Sealet, Li Zilong had gotten away by relying on two massive hawks; they must have some additional scouting role in addition to being fierce. Expectedly, Li Zilongs expression changed. No longer caring about tang Fan, he went straight to the door, and someone happened to come in at right that time. Second-in-command, those Court lackeys came out of nowhere, and had already fought their way in! Both alarmed and furious, Li Zilong couldnt believe this. How could they know where we are?! No one could answer that question, and he didnt intend for anyone to. All of you go out and obstruct them! You must not let them take half a step in here! he said to the black-clothed people in the hall. Understood! Ji Min became worried. Second-in-command, what do we do now? Li Zilong sneered. What are you panicking for?! With all those people set up outside, even if they find this place, theres no way theyll be able to fight their way in so quickly. But Ji Min seemed to want to say something, looking helpless, which revolted Li Zilong. Had it not been for the White Lotus Societys personnel being too heavily damaged, leaving no one to use, he would not have placed someone like Ji Min by his side. Clearly, he had begun with treated him as no more than a pawn set to idle in Luling County; who could have known that he would be forced to start using even that disposable pawn, in the end? On another side, he felt this rather strange. Once the Brocade Guard had split into two, one group had been allocated by Tang Fan to observe the Fang residence, while the other had followed Sui Zhou into the mountains, which Li Zilong had received news of. He was cautious everywhere he went in Luling County, never to repeat the same misstep and spoiling his efforts for want of one basket, which was why he had idly chatted with Tang Fan here e had convinced himself that he was hidden so well here, no one would be able to find him. Why were Court lackeys attacking his door now, though? He was in a rush and didnt have time to think further on it, turning to stride toward Tang Fan with an intent to use him as a hostage. In that moment, he was grateful that he hadnt hurried to kill this guy before, as he still had a use now. Having him as a meatshield, he predicted that no matter how nuts those Guards went, they would definitely be too afraid to openly shoot a third-rank official. However, the instant he was about to grab Tang Fan, he suddenly went on the alert, twisted to the side, and dodged the dagger that was stabbed from behind him. He kicked it out of Ji Mins hand, swept out a palm, and immediately sent the other backwards, who knocked over a chair and landed on the ground, spitting up a mouthful of blood. You really are an ungrateful wolf that bites the hand that feeds you! Li Zilong had even more hate for people like Ji Min than those like Tang Fan, and now had to go give him his own stab. What he didnt expect was for Tang Fan to break free of his bindings behind him, seize the dagger he had just kicked onto the ground, and thrust it at him. Tang Fan had no intent to land it successfully; it was only for letting Ji Min flee in time. After waking up here, he had realized that a piece of broken porcelain had come to be in his hands at some unknown point in time. Before this, his hands were tied behind him, and there had also been people keeping watch behind him, so he hadnt dared to rashly expose this, only sawing through the rope after everyone had gone out. The moment Ji Min had attacked Li Zilong, he understood that the porcelain must have come from Ji Min. No more words needed to be said right now just like how Ji Min would elect to betray Li Zilong, he couldnt just watch blankly as Ji Min died. He had clearly overestimated himself, however. With Li Zilongs skill, he would be more than a match for Sui Zhou or Wang Zhi, so how would these two be of any importance to him? It was only because Tang Fan still had some use that he hadnt killed him prior to this. Seeing the other strike at him, he laughed coldly, as this was exactly what he wanted; he didnt pay any mind to that dagger, grabbing Tang Fans shoulder and starting to drag him away. Then, a figure darted over from the side, threw himself at him, and firmly held on. Go! Ji Min hissed out. He knew no martial arts and couldnt match even one move of Li Zilongs, but when he used all of his strength to hold on to him, the others punches and kicks couldnt get him off. Eyes brimming with hot tears, Tang Fan grit his teeth, but didnt hesitate for a moment as he turned and ran out the door with all of his strength. He couldnt allow Ji Mins bravery become a joke. Watching Tang Fans figure vanish beside the doorframe, Li Zilong became incensed, viciously palm-striking Ji Mins body several times. The other kept spitting up fresh blood non-stop, yet still refused to let go, his nails deeply embedded into the others skin while he himself could feel nothing anymore. After a short while, Li Zilong finally tore him off. Not bothering to find Tang Fan to be a hostage, he ran straight for the rear entrance. However, when he was only a few steps away, the sound of cut air attacked the back of his head. He dashed to the side an arrow flitted right past his ear, lodging halfway into the wall before him. And, leaping up high behind him was someone hacking towards him with a spring-gilt sabre it was Sui Zhou, who should have died in the mines! No retreat, no escape. Li Zilong grit his teeth, obliged to draw out his flexible sword and fight. Experts exchanged moves, the image of blades flashed. How fervent the battle was needed no mention. Tang Fan had returned; not to watch the fight, but for the sake of Ji Min, who was lying there. He had been struck by Li Zilong several times, his internal organs heavily damaged. Tang Fan didnt dare to even bring him outside the hall, only able to move him to the nearest corner to avoid the fight, then carefully support his neck while he pat his cheek. Ziming, Ziming After calling out many times, Ji Mins body slightly jolted, his eyelids forced open a gap. He appeared to want to say something, but his voice was too quiet. Tang Fan had to lean down to hear him. The wound on his leg had only been haphazardly bandaged using his outer garment, blood still minutely flowing from it and his entire leg hardly able to move, but he had no spare time to care about all that. He even forgot his physical pain to hug him tight. Runqing he heard him say. Im here! Im here! Tang Fan put his ear to the others lips, so that he could hear every word. My home mom Ji Min could no longer say complete sentences, only able to express himself in pieces, but how could Tang Fan not understand him? He picked up his unfinished words. I know, dont worry. Ill take care of her. The others breath was weak. And dont tell the court that I-I relied on Tang Fan gripped his hand tightly, as if afraid that as soon as he let go, he would completely disappear. His eyes were rimmed red, and he had to grit his teeth to swallow down the crying choke that was about to come up. You did not rely on the White Lotus Society. Those demons captured you alongside me, and in order to catch their leader, you unfortunately died during your duty, which makes you a greatly meritorious subject that ought to receive the Courts compensation! Not only that, but I will send a memorial to request that you be granted a posthumous title! Hearing that, there was slight gratification on Ji Mins face, and a luster emerged in his eyes. His body regained a bit of strength, making his speech flow better. Sorry. I really am jealous of you, but I admire you, and like you, too Back then back then, when I was depressed, only only you treated me the same as ever. If you dont hate the idea, in our next life, we we can be friends again His pupils gradually dilated. He couldnt say the whole sentence, his mouth agape and eyes remaining half-opened, looking to have had regrets. Ziming! Grieved, the tears Tang Fan had been holding back for a long time finally fell. When he had been stabbed in the leg by Li Zilong before, he hadnt even grunted, but now, he could only let out anguished sobs. On the other end, Li Zilong was anxious to get away, yet Sui Zhou was focused on his death. They had witnessed who was superior in their battling minds. Additionally, there were many Brocade Guards who were coming to control the situation outside the gates; Pang Qi and crew came in to lend a hand, tightly surrounding Li Zilong. While he panicked, Sui Zhou slashed him across the back, and Pang Qi fired off his long-prepared firearm from nearby, hitting him directly in the chest. He opened his eyes wide, glaring dead at Sui Zhou whilst his body automatically slid down the wall. He died with his eyes open. No matter how awingly powerful and full of schemes he was, or how he could transform himself in so many ways and toy with hearts between his palms, he couldnt escape the conclusion so much evil brought him. Tang Fan paid no mind to the fight over there. He was still entrenched in the grief of his friends death, until a hand pressed down upon his shoulder. How did you escape, and how did you find this place? Knowing who it was, he didnt lift his head. Sui Zhou voice was permeated with exhaustion. We had already entered the mountain when I noticed something was weird, so we drew back in time. Right when we left the mountain, an explosion went off inside, making half of it cave in. Everyone was injured, but since we withdrew, no one died. He spoke in an understated manner, but how could Tang Fan not have heard how harrowing it had been? Had Sui Zhou noticed a little too late, or had less resolve, he estimated that they really would have to meet in other in the Yellow Springs below. Its good that youre okay, he said hoarsely. Sui Zhous hand tightened on his should, and he continued. Due to that explosion, I worried that the enemy would lure the tiger out of its mountains, so I rushed back. When I returned to Jian, I learned the prefecture had turned into chaos, Xi Ming was dead in the county bureaus rear hall, and Ji Min and yu were both missing. At the time, I found these on his stone table. He reached his hand out, spreading his palm open. Tang Fan looked at it. Water caltrops? Sui Zhou nodded. A bunch of uneaten ones. After asking about it, I learned that this cultivar has a distinct sweet flavor and is only grown in an area near Luling County, and is considered a local commodity. I followed the trail to find you. This ought to have been a clue he prepared and left for me ahead of him. Tang Fan shut his eyes. His hand swept gently across Ji Mins face, closing his eyes. Pang Qi was ordering their subordinates to handle the aftermath. In spite of Li Zilongs death, there were still many things that were unresolved, like the batch of White Lotus followers that were waiting at the rear entrance to pick Li Zilong up. This manor was location in the outskirts of Luling, a little-known home under Fang Huixues name that was specifically used by him to conduct shady Society business that couldnt come to the light. Who knew how many secrets were buried here that they need to dig up individually? In addition to that, there were the silver mines that Li Zilong had excavated and that silvers whereabouts, how the Xu and Fang families should be dealt with, and what divinity the great figure that had colluded with Li Zilong in the far-off palace actually was. That was a pile of things that they all had yet to figure out. But, at this time, Tang Fan could only think, and only let out a long sigh. I miss the capital a bit right now! He missed his big sis, missed Ah-Dong, missed his adorable nephew, missed the capitals liveliness, missed the precious food that filled the eyes along all of the citys streets and alleys. We can return soon, Sui Zhou said. The afternoon summer sunlight was brilliant, close to dazzling, shining on the entire courtyard outside so that it was without any shadows. How lucky. How lucky it is that I have him by my side, Tang Fan thought. CH 136 In the wake of Li Zilongs death, the majority of his subordinates were caught. The White Lotus Society completely collapsed. A few fish had yet slipped the net and gone on the run, but they could hardly clap with one hand; they were of no speakable threat to the Court. The silver that the Society had been about to pack up and carry away was intercepted, and later on, the Brocade Guard discovered many silver banknotes on Li Zilongs corpse. They all belonged in chunks to a few different native banks to exploit for business over these several years, as sly hares had more than one burrow to fall back on. That could ensure that he would have money that he could use anytime, anywhere and it was precisely the reason that he had always had enough manpower and material power to contend with the Court. In addition to this, the Xu and Fang families were raided clean, owing to their collusions with the White Lotus Society. Only then did the Fangs discover that their shrewd, competent, and prideful patriarch was actually the Societys second-in-command. The real Fang Huixue had been murdered by Li Zilong years ago. The latter had not only pretended to be him and taken all that was once his, but accomplished in passing on his behalf something the Fang descendants hadnt even been able to achieve: their revitalization. Borrowing Fang Huixues identity, Li Zilong had mingled himself into popularity in Jian. He had simultaneously used that concealing layer to secretly mine and cast money, and donated money for infrastructure to win a good reputation for himself, as well as make the things hed been doing in secret go even smoother. With the support of riches, the Fang business had inevitably grown, and the Societys great rebellious cause had been able to continue, an alleged case of one move, two rewards. Tang Fan had ruined several of the Societys booms and exposed several layers of Li Zilongs identity, which caused it to view him as a nail in its eye, but in reality, Li Zilong had been deep of mind, calculating, and difficult to deal with. With the Brocade Guards power, there would have been no way he could have drawn this out for so many years, slipping away time and time again, otherwise. Had it not been for Ji Mins last-second regrets, Tang Fan would long be dead right now, Li Zilong would long be gone, and by the time Sui Zhou got there, he would likely only have been able to collect Tang Fans corpse. Tang Fan did not forget his promise. By his strenuous efforts, Ji Min was accepted to have died doing his duty as he was laid to rest. The Court bestowed him the titles of Officer of Noble Comment and Rectifier of All Officials, while his mother was sealed as a fifth-rank Lady of Decorum, granted a plaque and money enough to take care of her for the rest of her life. On the Xu familys end, owing to the inextricable attachment between it and the Fang family, it was charged with rebellion, similarly coming into danger. Even though Xu Bin was far-off in the capital, his reaction was very sharp; noticing a poor trend, he immediately took it upon himself to donate all of his familial wealth directly to the Emperor through the Wan party, thus letting him keep his life. Of course, with his slyness, whether that donation actually was all of his wealth was unknown. The White Lotus Society going unmentioned for the time being, the institutional exam fraud case came to light. Xu Sui and Shen Si were fifty- and thirty-percent responsible for it, respectively. They were never to participate in exams for all of their lives, in light of their fathers falling into financial ruin or losing their post. Due to his merit in confessing and Tang Fan pleading for him in a memorial, Shen Kunxiu was stripped of his rank and returned to the citizenry; in his opinion, his son being able to keep his life was already a great fortune within this misfortune. Regardless, all of this came to a conclusion. The Fang and Xu families would eventually become history. Flowers bloomed, then fell. Autumn went, and spring came. A few years time passed quickly by, and in the turn of an eye, it became fall in the twenty-second year of Chenghua. The White Lotus Society no longer made trouble, and the world appeared to be at much more peace in Tang Fan and Sui Zhous opinions, at least. After returning to the capital, the two finally lived a peaceful life without needing to wear themselves out running all over. However, peace was merely relative. Nothing major was happening in the land, but that didnt mean that the Court was at peace. On the contrary, over these past two years, the Emperors health had steadily gone downhill until it was at its bottom. This was a long story. Before the current Crown Prince had been named, because Noble Consort Wan had no children of her own, she had strictly regulated the imperial harems offspring. For example, Zhu Youji, born of Consort Bai, had been the current Crown Princes big brother, sealed as the Crown Prince at two years of age. However, less than two months after receiving the title, he had passed of a sudden, bizarre illness. There had been many rumors both inside and outside of the palace, amongst which most people agreed that Consort Wan had nothing short of poisoned him. Even the current Crown Prince, Zhu Youcheng, had suffered a lot of hardship prior to getting his rank, getting displaced several times during his childhood and nearly not surviving. When he met the Emperor at five, he had passed the age of where one was most weak, most liable to die, and after that, Consort Wan had appeared to have smashed the already-broken pot, no longer forbidding harem women from bearing offspring. For that reason, after Zhu Youcheng came children birthed in quick succession. At this point, there were several tens of Princes and Princesses at the Emperors knees, and that wasnt including those still in concubines wombs. It was clear how hard the Chenghua Emperor had worked following Consort Wans lift of the ban. Now, the rear palace thrived with children. With branches extended and leaves scattered, However, the inevitable consequence of that excessive hard work was that the Emperor had excessively lost internal essence, falling ill. His body had not been sturdy to begin with, and his lack of moderation made even the imperial doctors helpless. Upon seeing that medicine was powerless to completely heal him, the Emperor began to place his hopes upon fictitious immortality techniques, putting more faith into Li Zisheng, Ji Xiao, and the rest of them, virtually to the extent where he only heard what he wanted to. His care towards national affairs diminished by the day, to the point that he was almost completely uninvolved in them now. The only good thing was that despite him refusing to work, the Cabinet still did. Not everyone in it worked as one mind with the others, but, using the system set in place by their ancestors, the empire was finally capable of maintaining daily operations. Even so, that had no bearing on it being actually all that calm. At the very least, with Tang Fan in the Cabinet, every day contained marvelous audaciousness that could be described as stimulating. Two years back, on account of his accrued merits from the Suzhou and fraud cases, plus the termination of the White Lotus Society and such, after his return to the capital, Tang Fan had transferred from the Inspectorate to the Ministry of Justice, officially taking up the position of Left Assistant Minister. On top of that, because there was a lack of Minister, he had passingly taken up the posts role as a substitute. While he had yet to receive the proper title, he was already the real Minister of Justice. In light of his age, that promotion rate was already pretty astonishing he had just hit thirty when he went from a third-rank Assistant Minister to a second-rank Minister. Looking at the Great Ming Dynasty, there likely werent many similar. Compared to others in their forties and fifties in officialdom who still struggled to head up from Prefectural and Provincial Magistrate positions, it could practically be called the precipitous rise of a promising young man. At that time, the Cabinets situation had since undergone an earth-overturning development. Wan An, Liu Xu, and Liu Ji, once secretly named by officials the three papier-mach Solons, really only had two left of them: Wan An and Liu Ji. As early as a few years back, Liu Xu had been crowded out by them. After his departure, Wan An had consecutively recommended Peng Hua, Yi Zhi, and some others for entry into the Cabinet. By himself, Liu Ji would have been weak and gradually fallen downwind, so he had also recommended Liu Jian, Xu Pu, Qiu Jun, and others for entry in order to vie with Wan An. At that time period, Tang Fan had not yet returned to the capital. The Cabinet entries hadnt a thing to do with him, except that Qiu Juns admission encountered immense resistance because Old Man Qiu was upright in conduct, preferring to break rather than bend at any resistance. Liu Ji recommending him had not been because he liked him, but rather that he simply wanted to use him to deal with Wan An. The latter would not agree to bring such a headache onto himself, of course, leading to a deadlock on either side. Coincidentally, Tang Fan had resolved the Jian incident and returned to the capital, temporarily taking up the Minister of Justice post. Liu Ji had then taken a step back, saying that it would be better to let Qiu Juns student enter the Cabinet; Tang Fan resembled the drift character of his name, being sleek and adaptable by nature, which made him far more suited than his teacher. Ever since the Cabinet had been established, due to the limits of system, even Head Viziers had less power than that of Tang and Song Prime Ministers. Thus, despite Wan An being the Head Vizier, there was no way he could be all-powerful as much was evidenced by Shang Ming stepping down after the Suzhou case. His alleged slight upper hand was sourced from none other than the Emperors favor. In Liu Jis view, his recommendations of Liu Jian, Tang Fan, and the others had not been because he appreciated them, but because he had difficulties that had given him no choice. As had been said before, the one censors denounced the most times out of every level in society was not Head Vizier Wan An, but Solon Liu Ji, who because of his thick skin, black heart, and lack of fear about denouncements had been crowned with the beautiful name of Liu Cottonflower. And yet, no matter how thick his skin was, in the face of an endless stream of denouncement memorials, he was depressed and distressed on the inside. When an official, who wouldnt hope to have a good reputation? Hence was why he had recommended all of these people; they all had honorable officials reputations, well-liked by the public. Him recommending virtuous talents would wash his own not-to-splendrous reputation away by the by, of course. For the sake of not having total losses on both sides, Wan An had finally agreed to Liu Jis proposal. After it was pushed through the Court, Tang Fan thus also entered the Cabinet. His rank came after Liu Jian and Xu Pu; in other words, he was the very youngest there, belonging to the bottom rung. Still, being the youngest was always better than not being in at all; as the authoritative core of the Great Ming Empire, the Cabinet had always been the ultimate quest of officials. No matter what seniority rankings there were inside the Cabinet, being capable of joining it meant turning into a Vizier of the Great Ming. From that point on, any outsiders would have to use Solon Tang when addressing Tang Fan, as only that would show more respect. A young Vizier such as him was very unique, too, as at this point in time, it had only been about six-ish years since he had been appointed as a minor Chief in the Ministry of Justice. The velocity of his promotions could really strike one dumb. It seemed like he was the only one in the Great Ming Dynasty to have such encounters. Still, as long as any bystander gave a careful thought about all he had done, they would seem to not feel so shocked. Anyone that wanted to get into a certain spot would have to have the skills to match, as otherwise, even if he had sky-reaching luck, there would be times where there would be no divine light for him. In the tigers den that was the Cabinet, mediocre men could only be reduced to fish on a sacrificial altar, ripe for others to slaughter. While envied by his peers, Solon Tangs time in the Cabinet was really not as hunky-dory as outsiders imagined. When not in the Cabinet, anyone would look up to it and inevitably get a sense of mystique stemming from a lack of knowledge. Only when one was actually located inside it would they find that this life, and the feeling of it therein, was really not something good enough to tell those outside. Since the Emperor wasnt doing it, the Cabinet was required to handle important documents that came from all over the country, then issue corresponding policies and pointers, every single day. The Great Mings territory was expansive, which further indicated that the Solons desks had memorials piled up like snow, each needing urgent handling with no delay, also every single day. At times, the Eastern rivers would flood farmlands, but the citizens in a certain Western prefecture would often be devastated by pestilence and drought, the local governments weeping and whining for days on end. Cabinet Viziers could never go inspect things themselves, so no matter what memorial read pitifully and in need of help, the national treasurys funds and provisions were still limited. Which side should have aid allocated first, and which could be set aside first, both required the Cabinets judgement. Sometimes, if their judgement was incorrect, that meant that thousands, or tens of thousands of lives would be lost from their mistake. After Tang Fans group had entered the Cabinet, its manpower had accordingly multiplied. Everyone shared a portion of the work. It was reasonable to say that the workload had already been reduced to its fullest extent, yet each of them still had to go on duty before dawn daily. Come afternoon, when the bureau was dismissed, the Cabinet members would remain there most times, discussing business and evaluating memorials. The toil involved in all of this could not be fully described in a mere sentence. In spite of numerous criticisms, Wan An was not the Head Vizier that typical imagined he was; where as long as he flattered the Emperor every day, then did nothing, he could sit stably in his Head Viziers position. Whenever the Cabinet officials were discussing political matters, the Head Vizier needed to supervise the discussion, as well as conduct summaries and come up with final policies when the others had unfinished talks and differing opinions. On some major matters, even if the other Cabinet members had evaluated them, the Head Vizier would still need to look it over again to verify that the conclusion was doable and without flaws. Since the Emperor was honed in on cultivating to immortality over the government, the Cabinets responsibilities and workload had imperceptibly increased by a large amount. Following many policies being implemented, the instant the Court officials were all unhappy, they would believe it to be Cabinets responsibility. As the acting Head Vizier, Wan An had to bear even more accusations than the other members did. These were all other aspects that Tang Fan had never seen before. Formerly, when on the outside, he had always felt that the Wan party had nothing better to do other than make trouble for him all day long. Now that he had witnessed this with his own eyes, Wan Ans capability to be Head Vizier was not a pure reliance on toadying with not one good point to him; at the bare minimum, his organizational abilities were far stronger than anyone elses. Also, Tang Fan knew that the Wan partys core was not actually Wan An. To be more specific, the reason why it could stand tall in the Chenghua Court without fall depended upon Consort Wans favor from the Emperor, to a large degree. Without her, there would be no party. She never directly intervened in political affairs, but her influencing power was all over it. Its most direct manifestation was in her extreme unhappiness with the current Crown Prince, never not hoping that he would be replaced, thus making the Wan party forever oppose the Prince. All those things, at most, only allowed Tang Fan to understand Wan An a bit better, which didnt at all mean that he had a good impression of any of these people. On account of Consort Wans enormous influential power, in order to strengthen his position, Wan An didnt skimp on letting go of his civil official posturing to claim relation to the Wan siblings. Liu Ji was also tied by marriage to Consort Wans family, which firmly tied their interests to the Wan clan, acting in tandem with what it liked and loathed, completely losing their principles and magnanimity of Viziers. That was the real reason why everyone hated the Wan party, slandering Wan An and company behind their backs. That was saying nothing of the fact that while the Cabinet was impressive to hear of, it was actually an even worse work environment than that of the Six Ministries. Everyone was crammed into the tiny Pavilion of Literary Profundity, with the tiny workrooms the Cabinet members used all connected to each other it could not compare in the slightest to the bright, spacious bureau halls of the Minisitries. Beyond that, Tang Fan held the concurrent position of Minister of Revenue. Not only did he have to deal with that pile of Cabinet stuff, but he also needed to find time to return to the Ministry every day, constantly busy. It was fortunate that there were not many things that the Ministry needed him to judge at the moment, the majority of them being done by the Right Assistant Minister, Peng Yichun. Way back when Tang Fan had still been a Chief of the Ministry of Justice, the old gent had had a decent relationship with him, and after he had left, he had constantly kept in tough with him. After returning to the capital and re-entering the Ministry of Justice, Peng Yichuns support had been indispensable in him getting to work so quickly. Therefore, after entering the Cabinet, he had recommended for Peng Yichun to be the Minister of Justice, so that he could relieve himself from the unceasing work. The Minister of Justice was not too important a position, so him having both it and entering the Cabinet was not something anyone objected to. A typical person holding two posts would probably never be happy enough, eager to never pass off power, and they especially happened to be in both the Cabinet and Ministries yet Tang Fan hadnt even warmed his seat in his Minister spot before he was rushing to suggest someone else to share the burden. Even Wang Zhi had to laugh at him not recognizing the fortune within a fortune. Even with all that, the Cabinet meetings every three days still made Tang Fans head ache. He wasnt the only one, either; all of the Cabinet members felt the exact same way. Like today, for example. In the Pavilions discussion hall, the Head Vizier sat at the head seat, and every else sat in two rows. Seeing the hourglass reach the time of the Monkey,(3-5p) which meant that the discussion was about done, everyone inwardly let out a sigh of relief, think to themselves that they ought to be able to get off duty on time today. Then, Wan An said, There are two more final things that I want to talk over with all of you. Hearing that, they all subconsciously straightened up, peacefully awaiting the Head Viziers next words. The Pavilion has four workrooms. Formerly, there were not so many members, leaving one room per person. Now that there are so many more people, it seemed a bit crowded. His Majesty is compassionate; after hearing of this, he said that he couldnt bear to watch his Viziers work hard for the nation yet have such a tiny workspace, and that he was going to allocate funds from the internal treasury to renovate and expand the Pavilion. When he said that, everyone couldnt help but liven up, all nodding. His Majesty has a kind heart, so busy, yet still never forgetting to empathize with his subjects, Liu Ji picked up. He really has us officials unending gratitude! The Pavilion had been constructed in the Yongle era, formerly used for book storage. Later on, an additional function came, turning it into the confidential vital area for Cabinet members to go on duty and work in. Coming to today, even with the ever-increasing power of the Cabinet, the Pavilion was still that tiny Pavilion. As of right now, there were seven Cabinet members: Wan An, Liu Ji, Peng Hua, Yin Zhi, Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and Tang Fan. Aside from one room for the Head Vizier, everyone else Vice Vizier Liu Ji included had to have two to a room. Outsiders only knew of the Viziers flair, not of their misery. If they could see the Pavilions workrooms, they would probably be speechless. This was why the Emperors words really touched everyones hearts. Who didnt hope for a bit more roomy workspace? Their eyes all shone brightly, awaiting Wan Ans follow-up. Wan An purposefully paused for a short moment, waiting for them to absorb those words, then continued. However, all sorts of spendings are needed nowadays, leaving the internal treasury not with abundance. We, as subjects, should share His Majestys worries, rather than add frost to the snow. Therefore, I told him that there was no need to give funds from the internal treasury, but to instead get funds from the national treasury for renovations. Everyone: See, this was one of the reasons why people found Wan An hateable. The money in the internal treasury was separate from the national treasury. The Emperor could use the internal treasury any time he willed it, but if he wanted to use money from the national treasury, he would need to obtain the Courts consent. The Great Mings treasury was counted annually. What ought to allocated for the Ministry of Wars funding, and what ought to be put away for disaster, left not much thereafter. Even thinking of taking money out to fix up the Pavilion was pretty much impossible. Even though Cabinet members stayed in the Pavilion, it was ultimately a construction inside the palace. Reasonably, it should be fixed up with the internal treasurys money, but past Emperors had rarely brought that problem up. The current Emperor had, with great difficulty, been made aware and wanted to pay for it himself, yet Wan An had declined it. Listen, you wanting to curry favor with the Son of Heaven is fine, but you pulled all of us into the water by rejecting a hard-to-come-by boon can you maybe not make everyone hate you? The most depressing part was that nobody could object they would have to say he had been right to reject it, because throughout all the ages, there had never been record of a subject forcing the Emperor to pay for renovations of his workplace. While they all had odd expression, they couldnt speak, mixed feelings in their minds as they paid respects to Wan An who-knew-how-many times. Wan An looked at his surroundings. What? Do you all believe that to not be right? He was waiting for somebody to jump out and say it wasnt, so that he could give them the cap of dishonesty and complain of him before the Emperor in passing. What a real pity it was that everyone present was a bit on the cooler side than others, when it came to personality. Even if it was uncomfortable to be in those cramped workrooms, they were determined to not be the bird that stuck its head out. Even Liu Ji laughed, saying, Yuanweng, you said as much that as officials, we should share His Majestys burden. How could we add to his troubles? What was the second thing you wanted to speak of? Wan An lightly coughed. The second matter is also related to money. His Majesty wants to repair the Palace of Esteemed Realness and Longevity. That Longevity Palace was actually a Daoist monastery. In the Yuan Dynasty, it had been equally as famed as White Cloud Monastery, but the latter was all that was left. During the war at Yuans end, the Longevity Palace had gradually become abandoned, and was now a grassy field under the Supervisory of Royal Steeds control. The Emperor wanting rebuild it on a whim had to have a reason, and no one here needed to ask to know that Li Zishengs instigation had been involved. Following the Emperors poor health, he had grown more and more obsessed with magic. This wasnt something that had happened over a day or two. What those on top liked, those below would have all the more fervor for; people like Li Zisheng and Zhao Yuzhi had received re-use because of this, even getting arranged into important spots, like the Office of Transmissions. There were no lack of colluders in the Cabinet nowadays, too. The reason Peng Hua was able to sit here was because he got on Wan Ans connection through knowing Li Zisheng. Dare I ask, Yuanweng; why have I never heard His Majesty speak of this before? Liu Ji asked. I just heard him bring it up when I went into the palace yesterday. Liu Ji smiled. How the internal treasurys money is used is for His Majesty to decide. If he wants to use it for the Longevity Palace, we, as subjects, cannot stop him. Im unsure of why you specially wanted to talk this over with us? Wan An inwardly scolded him for pretending to be a sly old fox, a genial expression still on his face. His Majesty meant that rebuilding the Palace is not a simple matter, and will be a huge task. The money in the internal treasury might not be enough. That is why I wanted to ask what all of you think. Youzhi, you head the Ministry of Revenue as you see it, how should we respond to His Majesty? In other words, the Emperor wanted to use money from the national treasury to build his Daoist monastery, but was too embarrassed to say so, so he had made Wan An ask the Cabinet for its opinion in a roundabout way. As soon as Wan An spoke, everyone looked to Liu Ji. Liu Ji didnt want to agree, because he was valuing his reputation all the more; if he nodded and allowed the Emperor to take money from the Ministry of Revenue for his monastery, he, the Cabinet member in charge of that Ministry, would be chastised to death by censors. However, if he didnt agree to it, he would offend the Emperor. Thinking of that, he said with a smile, I may be in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, but this is a greatly important matter. I alone dont have the final say; its up to everyone here to decide. Wan An was not happy at all about his fate-defying, shirking attitude. How much money does the national treasury have at the moment. Less than a million. Thats no small amount. His Majesty has been economic in everything since his ascension, never doing anything to waste resources. Now, he has the seldom want to rebuild a palace monastery. Thats no big thing; can you not give out five-hundred-thousand taels? Liu Ji smiled painfully. His Majestys affairs are his subjects affairs. If the Longevity Palace could be rebuilt using that much, what reason would I have to disagree? However, I must let you know that that money has long been reserved for the Ministry of War, which is said to be for buying the Northern garrisons winter clothes. That isnt my call, either. Liu Jian, head of the Ministry of War, spoke up at that. Yes, thats true. Yuanweng, those five-hundred-thousand taels were agreed upon with Lord Liu half a year ago. Wan An said nothing, face dark. Peng Hua ended up saying, Yuanweng, why not let everyone go home to think it over, and well speak on it tomorrow? Getting his prestige refuted by Liu Ji and Liu Jian in quick turn, Wan An was pretty unhappy. He looked over the crowd, threw out the phrase Then the meeting is adjourned, and left in a huff. Meetings like this were without both efficiency and meaning. As Tang Fan occupied the last seat, and also headed the most unremarkable Ministry of Justice, it was not his place to express any opinions under typical circumstances. Seeing that everyone was leaving, he also packed up his things and walked out after Liu Jian. Once out the palace gate, Liu Jian stepped away first. Seeing that this was a rare day where he had gotten off work early, Tang Fan wanted to make a detour to that usual wonton stall, go buy some scallion youbing, then go home, but when he had gone just a few steps away, he heard someone call him. Solon Tang! Tang Fan turned to see; it was Wei Mao. The other hurried over in just a few steps. I say, Old Wei; others calling me Solon Tang is fine, but why are you doing it, too? It makes me almost too embarrassed to respond to you! Tang Fan said with a laugh. Wei Mao laughed along with him. This is only way to look respectful. I wont hide it from you; this lowly one came here on Eunuch Wangs orders. He said that hes inviting you to eat at Immortal Cloud in the evening, so after you get off of work, you shouldnt leave, but go right there to wait for him. On any other day, Tang Fan would definitely get shiny-eyed, but he said this time, Im sorry, but I have to go home for dinner tonight, or else the Hedong lion[1] in my home will get mad and make me kneel on the washboard! Wei Mao was taken aback, thinking, Youre not married; where could a Hedong lion come from? Then, his thoughts turned around, and he went speechless. Before he could react, Tang Fan had already boarded a sedan chair and left. The translator says: I cant believe the Emperor is going to die from too much banging?? Or maybe I can ugh Small tidbit: The Pavilion and the Cabinet share the same character in their names, ! Why isnt the Cabinet the Pavilion, then? [1] The origin behind this idiom is complicated C it stems from the poem Trusting Wu Deren and Choosing Chen Jichang (ʼ¼) by Su Shi (), which in turn stems from Chens wife not liking him hiring songgirls, which she yelled at him for. Since her surname is Liu, and the poem Lamentable by Du Fu has a line that goes A woman of Hedong with the surname Liu, that became the basis of the Hedong lions roar; shes the lion, roaring at her husband. So its a poem referencing a poem while referencing a real-life event. I should probably translate that poem, eh. CH 137 For someone that loved fine food as much as Tang Fan did. Being unmoved by food and rejecting Wang Zhis invite was certainly something highly unusual. However, his status was not what it once had been; even Wang Zhi had to bow to him when meeting him, so the insignificant Wei Mao couldnt stop him, either. If he wanted to leave, Wei Mao could only watch helplessly on, too afraid to force him to stop. On his end, Tang Fan hurried back home. Before he stepped through the door, the aroma of food hit his nostrils. A room that should have been lightless now looked to be lit up bright with lanterns, the autumn night seeming to make one warm up from the bottom of the heart. He smiled lightly. After he had entered the Cabinet, he no longer lived together with Sui Zhou, instead moving back to his original home next door. Tang Yu had taken He Cheng his name should really be changed to Tang Cheng now with her out of the place, having purchased her own residence in the capital that wasnt far so they could still look after each other. Ah-Dong had also moved, and a home guard hired; with Qian Sanr still around, thieves did not dare to drop by. The reason behind this was that between Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, one was now a Cabinet member, and the other was a head of the Brocade Guard. Even if no one criticized or denounced them, they needed to defend against the monarchs suspicions, as their statuses were sensitive and could easily give someone a handle on them. Furthermore, the Wan party would occasionally latch on to smaller handles of Tang Fan; if there ever came a time where he was charged with the crime of colluding with the Emperors personal bodyguard, a jump into the Yellow River wouldnt wash him clean. Following his return from Jiangxi, Tang Fan had been promoted due to his credits, and Sui Zhou had earned even more of the Emperors trust. He had originally been going to seal him as Marquis Dingan, but his repeated refusal to accept it had made the Emperor feel sorry for him, so he had bestowed him with much more salary to compensate for the lack. Due to Consort Wan, her little brother Wan Tong still held the post of Commanding Envoy of the Brocade Guard. Sui Zhou had never been able to take control of the Brocade Guard in an above-board way, but it was only an issue of when, really; in the years-long contest between the two sides, those who genuinely obeys Wan Tong were getting lesser and lesser. Now, apart from the Southern Bastion Office, the Northern Bastion Office and several Guard posts were Sui Zhous people in an overwhelming majority. It had gotten to the point where others said that the Guard currently had two Commanding Envoys of real power. In spite of Sui Zhou being a Bastion Envoy at his surface level, his post a rank down from Wan Tongs, the reality was that even he had no way to seize the power that his counterpart firmly grasped. Wan Tong didnt want to watch such circumstances unfold, of course, but the Emperor trusted Sui Zhou no less than him. His frequent tactics to eradicate dissidents, like slander and vilification, had no effect on Sui Zhou, so, in light of that, Wan Tong had been forced to give up for right now and form some other plan. Even so, to Tang Fan and Sui Zhou, there was not too much of a difference between being neighbors and being under the same roof. They would leave at dawn and return by night; even if they did live in the same home, they still might not have many chances to meet up. In contrast, after coming to be neighbors, the courtyards of the two homes were connected by side-doors. As long as they could come home in a timely manner, they would sit down and have dinner together, even if such opportunities were few. Today was a lucky coincidence. Sui Zhou hadnt had much to do as of late, and Tang Fan had been able to return earlier, not required to hole up in the Cabinet and look at Head Vizier Wans face until after mealtime. He walked a bit more briskly once in the door, went through the moon gate connecting the inner and outer courtyards into the dining hall, then saw that there were several dishes arranged on the table, all his typical favorite foods. A wine pot was to the side with two cups and two chopsticks; he knew who put this all here. The smile on his face deepened. He picked up his pace to head in, reached out, and nabbed the nearest plate of salt-Sichuan pepper ribs. They had been fried to a crispy tenderness, their fragrance wafting up from the plate, still warm. Clearly, they had not been off the pan for long. Every single rib was silently saying Come eat me, quick, the very considerate Mister Tang would never let them down Go wash your hands. A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him. His hand jolted, nearly dropping the ribs onto the ground. He quickly put a hot rib in his mouth, then turned to give him a favor-currying, yet guilty smile. Count Suis culinary skills were top-rate, and everyone close to him knew that, but he was no cook. Even if he had free time, he might not be willing to cook; it depended on his mood. That was why not everyone had the fortune to sample his work. There were exceptions in all things, as he was happy to cook for a certain someone. And even so, the other was busy all day long, not having much off-time to go home and eat a quiet meal. I will after this! Tang Fan still had the rib in his mouth, which muffled his speech, his expressed the utmost of innocent. He grinned, eyes curving, at Sui Zhou, and his gaze landed upon the crab tripe-tofu soup he held, immediately lighting up. Why did you make so much tonight? The two of us wont be able to finish it. The second he spoke, he forgot that he had something in his mouth, and the rib fell right to ground before it could be caught. Who could have imagined that Solon Tang, erudite and never losing prestige in the outside world, would be like this at home? Tang Fan laughed dryly, quickly bending over to pick up the ribs. Youre busy, youre busy Ill go wash my hands! Sui Zhou shook his head, set down the soup, then turned for the kitchen to take out a tray of mantou that had been fried to a golden crisp. By the time he returned to the dining hall, he saw an extra figure at the table. Tang Fan was not yet back from washing his hands. What are you doing here? Sui Zhou asked with a cold face, his tone not any sort of good. Eating. I was just in time to keep up with you! Wang Zhi answered with a laugh, going right into grabbing a wine glass and pouring himself some. I invited Solon Tang to Immortal Cloud, and he said he had to go home tonight, or hed be punished with kneeling on a washboard by his Hedong lion. The second I heard that, I was awfully curious, so I specifically came to see what the lion in his house looked like. Hey, he wasnt talking about you, right? There were also maids in the home that Tang Yu had carefully picked out, but mere maids could not have stopped Eunuch Wang, and ordinary people wouldnt break in without asking like he did. Sui Zhou had the desire to dump the plate of mantou right onto this guys head and kick him out, but he kept it down. Because Wang Zhis skills werent bad, if they got fighting, only this table of food would end up unlucky. Thinking of how it hadnt been easy for Tang Fan to be home for dinner in half a month, Sui Zhou could only pinch his nose and tolerate this guy strutting in and eating for free. He shot Wang Zhi a cold look, feeling that he was an incomparable eyesore no matter how he looked at him. Less drivel. Eat if you want, and leave when youre done. The more Sui Zhou kept up that cold face, the more delicious Wang Zhis wine tasted, and he even smiled. Youre busy with yours, no need to care about me. Wheres Solon Tang? Call him out to come have a drink with me! Ignoring him, Sui Zhou turned and left. There was still a pot of old duck soup on the stove, with ladybell and jadestalk roots in it, which he was making for Tang Fan. He had to check the fire on occasion. In result, the instant he returned to the kitchen, he saw someone with his back facing him, concentratedly fiddling with a plate of garlic chicken gristle that had not yet been taken to the table. It used to be padded with a layer of taro shreds underneath, but now they had all been put on top, used to cover up what little gristle remained. You dont have to do that. Ive seen everything. Tang Fan froze for a moment, and slowly turned, smiling dryly. No matter how you walk, you dont make a sound that made me jump! Hah. This was a reversal, a villain being the first to complain. Seeing Sui Zhou watching him expressionlessly, Tang Fan had a guilty conscience that he couldnt hide. I didnt steal a taste on purpose, I just wanted to help you with making sure the taste was right. cough, who made you make it so tasty? I couldnt hold back for a second, haha dont blame me, dont blame me! He just cant ever not get into trouble, Sui Zhou thought with some helplessness, still having no expression. You told Wang Zhi that Im a Hedong lion that would punish you with kneeling on a washboard, hm? Tang Fan grinned apologetically. I only didnt want to go to a feast and talk about junk. Youve cooked this all by yourself; what in the world would I be doing eating elsewhere, right? As the others expression wasnt easing up, apparently not accepting his explanation, Tang Fan tried to butter him up, somewhat tentatively. Why dont I go and tell him that Im actually the lion? Eunuch Wang, in the dining hall, had not a bit of guest-based awareness; before the owner of the home had even taken a seat, he was already picking from the dishes. When Count Sui returned carrying Solon Tang, he lazily called out to them, Done? Come over and eat if you are, huh? He was flipping the roles of guest and host, while acting like he was right to do so Sui Zhou already had no wish to say anything, but Tang Fan was a little surprised. Why are you here? I heard that you refused my invite, Solon Tang, so I deliberately came here to take a look, Wang Zhi said cooly. It turns out that your partner cooked for you personally. No wonder you didnt even think much of Immortal Cloud! The Solon tag coming out of his mouth did not only not seem to have a bit of respect or flattery, but even had a hint of mockery. Tang Fan laughed. Then youre in luck tonight. Guangchuan cooked not everyone is blessed enough to encounter that! While he said that, he put all of his mind onto the ladle Sui Zhou was spooning him soup in, not paying attention to the appellation Wang Zhi had used for Sui Zhou. And yet, Sui Zhou paused in his actions, raised his head to look at Wang Zhi, and narrowed his eyes. Partner? Tang Fan blankly raised his head in sync. Wang Zhi was unruffled. Yeah, partner. What is it? Can you not be a partner if youre also a Hedong lion? Tang Fans mouth twitched. Very worried that Sui Zhou wouldnt give him the soup out of anger, he rushed to resolve the dispute. Youre not my partner! Youre a stranger! A stranger! Im not a stranger, Sui Zhou corrected. Solon Tang nodded his head like he was pounding garlic, then said, with no principled standpoint at all, Husband, then! Husband! Wang Zhi stared at him in disbelief. Youre a mighty Vizier of the Cabinet; can you not have some backbone? Tang Fan giddily took the soup from Sui Zhou, joyfully ate several spoons of it, and only then found the spare time to answer him. Whats a backbone? Does it taste as good as crab-tofu soup? Look at those words. If an outsider heard them, what would they feel? Sui Zhou gave him a piece of roasted duck, previously bought from an established shop that Tang Fan often went to. Eat, he said. His implication being for him to not pay Wang Zhi mind. Noticing that this wasnt too great to spectate, Wang Zhi also took a piece of chicken gristle and put it into Tang Fans bowl, imitating Sui Zhous voice, Eat, Fluffy. Eat some more. That was a total, purposeful troll. Sui Zhous gaze towards him went straight murderous. Were it not for his consideration for Tang Fans reputation, Wang Zhi would have now been swept out the door. And it was precisely because he knew this that Eunuch Wang was getting all the more smug and unscrupulous in his assurance. The two exchanged looks, not giving in to each, invisibly brawling for a round. Mouth twitching, Tang Fan buried his head into the food. How could this minor interlude be worthy of talk? The meal went on in storms and silence. Sui Zhous skills were truly good. After all these years of experience, even Wang Zhi, someone used to royal meals made by the imperial kitchens and the craft of Immortal Clouds cooks, felt that these dishes could be called exquisite. However, he had no idea that it was because Sui Zhou had known that Tang Fan was coming back today that he had painstakingly made this table of food, its taste not to be compared to the skills of outside cooks. After eating up, a maid tidied up the table and dishes, and the three moved into the main hall. Tang Fan steeped tea of his own volition. Its so late, and you invited me to meet outside the palace; there must be something important happening? Wang Zhi was now working as an agent of the palace, which was not the same circumstance as operating the Western Depot outside so many years ago. If he wanted to stay outside the palace for a long time, he could, and he could also leave it on vacation, but he was generally less unrestricted than before. More importantly was that Tang Fans status was of a Cabinet member, and a Cabinet member having too close a relationship to a palace eunuch was taboo in this Court. Even though Wang Zhi never spoke of such, he would still give as much attention as possible to these intricacies. There had to be something really critical, for him to come out and see him in person, as opposed to having Wei Mao or someone else do it. There is. Not savoring the taste, Wang Zhi drank down his tea in one gulp, then set down the cup. His Majesty wants to rebuild the Longevity Palace. You heard, right? I more than heard. Tang Fan smiled bitterly. Before I came home today, the Cabinet was discussing it. Oh? What was said? Wang Zhi showed an expression of interest. There were no genuine secrets in the palace. A high-ranking eunuch like Wang Zhi would quickly learn of many things that went on in the Cabinet, but when he had left in the evening, he hadnt time to ask. To curry favor with His Majesty, Wan An planned to answer the question by getting Liu Ji to take out five-hundred-thousand taels from the Ministry of Revenue for the monasterys repairs, Tang Fan summarized. Liu Cottonflower fears bearing a poor reputation, so he repeatedly refused, saying that the funds had already been set for the Ministry of War. Wan An was pretty unhappy, and is having us all draft articles for another discussion tomorrow. While he spoke, his hands ceased their tea-making actions, and Sui Zhou took his teapot, headed inside to fill it with water, then poured three cups for all of them, passing Tang Fan his. The latter took it smoothly, giving him a smile, then turned his head to give Wang Zhi a pained one. As I see it, this ismt something easily decided upon. Liu Cottonflower is unwilling to stick out, and Liu Huian is definitely not going to budge one cun, so theres going to be another quarrel. Liu Huian was Liu Jians address. What about you, then? What do you think about this? Wang Zhi asked. To be frank with you, the annual income of the national treasury tops out at a paltry six-million taels, Tang Fan answered, serious-looking. I estimate that the silver from Li Zilongs mining vein could be cast into more taels than that, but that also requires favorable weather and high harvests in all areas to be kept; theres no way to compare it with Tang and Song. At the root of it, abuses sprouted from the taxation system the Great Ancestor set at the countrys founding that is not a grandiloquence I alone have, its something everyone knows that has long not been a secret. Still, because the ancestor-set laws cannot be changed, anyone that proposes altering the taxation system will immediately be group-attacked by censors. Wang Zhi was somewhat impatient, but had to listen patiently. Based on his understanding of Tang Fan, the other was not one fond of speaking nonsense, so whatever he was saying had to be related to his next statement. But, from Sui Zhou point of view, it didnt matter if Tang Fan was acting casually, shamelessly, or even seriously as he spoke honestly, like now, he was cute. Other peoples personalities being in flux would inevitably have him believe them to be indeterminate in mood or back-stabbing, but Tang Fan having the same was not a bit disharmonious, instead adding a lot of charm to him. Outsiders knew only of the refined, approachable Tang Fan, while only those close to him could see this variable side to him. Tang Fan took a sip of tea, proceeding. For that reason, the national treasury has all that money, but it needs to be spent on countless things; frequently, it survives payment-to-payment, so if the next year needs to be paid for ahead of time, how could there be any funds remaining for His Majestys monastery? He could just take the money from the internal treasury and no one would say anything, but Wan An had the unique idea to want to use the national treasurys money to please His Majesty. Liu Jians objection aside, if Wan An wants everyone to express themselves tomorrow, I would definitely object. That said, he smiled in slight mockery. And, as I see it, His Majesty definitely wasnt the first to propose this. Someone probably incited him to take from the national treasury. Wang Zhi sneered. You all probably cant actually object to this. Ji Xiao suggested to him that after the monastery is built, it can become a bridge between the mortal world and the immortal realm, reaching up directly for the Heavens to hear. Since the Emperor is the Son of Heaven, he was born not of the mundane world, and paired with the bridge that is the monastery, whatever he seeks from the Heavens will definitely be permitted. Tang Fan heard something amiss. Wait Ji Xiao is a buddhist monk, right? Why is he intervening with someone elses building of a Daoist monastery? He claimed that Buddhism and Daoism have been one school since antiquity, also that the Deity Cihang from Daoism was originally the Bodhisattva Guanyin of Buddhism; as long as there is an ability to extradite all living things from suffering, there is no need to distinguish between Buddhism and Daoism. That said, those cheap, I-can-turn-stone-into-gold-by-touching-it tricks he performed in the palace made His Majesty think of him as a celestial out of shock. Even if he said that he was the Buddhas reincarnation, His Majesty probably wouldnt doubt it, to say nothing of him merely claiming Buddhism and Daoism to be the same. Tang Fan and Sui Zhou looked at each other, both a bit alarmed. They had clearly not expected for the Emperor to have already become this obsessed with such things. Previously, Ji Xiao had recommended many monks to the Emperor, and the latter had granted each one a title, even bestowing them golden seal of the State Master, jade crowns of the zhenren, and so on. Many censors admonished him for this, only to be rebuked by him in turn for disrespecting divinity, with several censors that had made the most fuss getting throw into prison. This was something Sui Zhou had handled. Even so, compared to major national affairs, these were insignificant details. Given that the Emperors conduct did not influence the nation at large, the Cabinet members Tang Fan included would let him do it. His present wish to use the national treasury to fund repairs for the monastery would made everyone discontent. Tang Fan shook his head. Even if Wan An agrees to it, its no use. As long as the rest of the Cabinet objects, he cant just think and act alone. If His Majesty wants to repair the monastery, he has to take the money from the internal treasury. The national one really doesnt have money to spare. Wang Zhi didnt argue with him, because he hadnt come with that goal in mind today. Im only warning you; its good for you to have a bottom line. I came here for something else. Tang Fan felt a bad premonition. Is it even worse news than that? Wang Zhi pulled up a fake smile. Yes. No matter who pays for it, His Majesty has set his heart on fixing that pain-in-the-ass monastery. Not only does it need to be built, but it needed to be built within three months, because when the time comes, the Crown Prince will be made to pray there on his fathers behalf, showing heavy respect in that way. Thats nonsense! Tang Fan unthinkingly rebuked. Thats another devil-made idea! How can the valuable Crown Prince leave the palace so rashly?! Moreover, forcing the prestigious heir apparent to go to some unorthodox monastery and pray would ruin his reputation! Sui Zhou pressed his hand to his back, lightly patting it with an intent to console. Whats the use in aiming your anger at me? Am I the one that suggested it to His Majesty? Wang Zhi asked coldly. Tang Fan quickly calmed down, smiling bitterly. Dont misunderstand; Im not aiming it at you, this is just really preposterous! Thats why I came to inform you that Ji Xiao proposed this, and His Majesty will most likely agree to it. Huai En and I are in sensitive positions, so its hard for us to speak dissent, or His Majesty will get a bad feeling in his heart, believe that the Crown Prince wishes to bully his own father, and end up turning all the more to Ji Xiaos side. Therefore, this is all up to you two. Tang Fan creased his brow. Why did Ji Xiao suddenly make that suggestion? He typically has no association with the Crown Prince Ji Xiao was recommended by Li Zisheng, and Li Zisheng walks close to the Wan party. Is there any connection in there? Sui Zhou asked. Ever since the Princes studybuddy, Han Zao, died of poisoning, in addition to the attendant that taste the Crown Princes food, a eunuch with medical knowledge was arranged to specially supervise the Princes everyday diet. To someone with motive, the path of wanting to poison the Prince was completely blocked off. Also, following Orator Lin Yings framing of Tang Fan during his last visit to the palace, with the Emperors quiet approval and Huai Ens command, a major purge had been conducted in the East Palace and Court of Educations staffing. Those that remained were all deeply loyal to the Crown Prince; were someone to want to buy off one of them to assassinate him, it would basically be impossible. However, the Prince still wasnt completely safe. His time of crisis was always present, on the contrary, because Consort Wans idea to have Zhu Youyuan, son of Consort Chen, be the Crown Prince had never been extinguished. The Wan party was doing all it could to incite the Emperor in abolishing the Crown Prince, while Consort Wan would even constantly bring Zhu Youyuan in the Emperors presence to foster feelings for him. A few instances more, and the Emperor indeed came to particularly favor Zhu Youyuan, and because of Consort Wans preferences, he started having some thoughts to abolish the Crown Prince, but hesitated on end, never able to set his heart to it. Now that his health was gradually waning, some people were getting especially antsy. Reminded by Sui Zhous words, Tang Fans brow knotted tight, and he had to say, The Wan party has always been set on abolishing the Crown Prince they shouldnt be thinking to use the time hes out on the road to assassinate him? Those were clearly the words of a layman. Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi both shook their heads hard hearing that. Thats impossible. Even if he does leave the palace, the escorting guards would be extremely strict. Anything else aside, the Brocade Guard would definitely arrange for people to line the road. If someone wanted to assassinate the Prince under everyones staring eyes, theyd have to be sick of being alive. Even if they are, their only end would be getting shot with arrows until they turned into a hedgehog, leaving the Crown Prince unharmed. Since there would be no assassination, why did the Prince have to step up for it? Was Ji Xiaos proposal and what Wan An said in the Cabinet today merely a coincidence? Tang Fan couldnt think of a reason for right now, merely shaking his head. In that case, I will get into contact with Liu Huian and them to jointly send a memorial request that His Majesty cease his idea to rebuild the monastery. If we really cant stop him, well speak more on it later. For right now, His Majesty has not yet proclaimed that the Crown Prince is going to pray; if I make a hasty suggestion, it will only tell him that information is leaking out of the palace, which would be bad for all of you. Wang Zhi got up, patting off his butt to leave. Alright, do what you can. A young lady wants to get married, and it rains no one can stop this, so we just need to counter every single move! Even with Wang Zhis warning, Tang Fan had long prepared for this, going during the night to discuss things with Liu Jian and Xu Pu at their homes. The next day, the three of them jointly sent a memorial to unanimously object to the construction of the monastery during the Cabinet meeting, causing Wan An to be unable to so unabashedly demand funds from the national treasury. They were not alone. After learning of the news, many censors also sent memorials of opposition. However, just like how Wang Zhi had anticipated, the progress in rebuilding the Longevity Temple did not slow because of this, and the crowds opposition just impelled the Emperor to be contrarian. He stubbornly demanded that it be rebuilt, and that there was no need to get funding from the national treasury it would be paid for straight from the internal treasury. His meaning was clear: Im spending my own money. All of you can stuff it. At that point, everyones dissent was ineffective, so they could only listen and let go. In late autumn of the twenty-second year of Chenghua, the Palace of Esteemed Realness and Longevity had its location selected, and construction began. By orders, Li Zisheng was the Head Supervisor, accepting the rank of Chief of Works. To please the Son of Heaven, the monasterys construction progressed at a mystifying pace, being over halfway done in the twelfth month. At that time, the Emperor suggested that when construction was done, he would personally go out there to pray. As soon as that was said, every level of society was alarmed. All the officials spoke out in opposition, the scene far more fervent than the opposition to him building the monastery. Even the every-internally-discordant Cabinet had a rare moment of uniting their voices to express their opposition. Following the Tumu Stronghold Crisis and Yingzong nearly making a mess of moving the capital from Beijing, the Court officials were abnormally repulsed to the Emperor leaving the palace, wishing to keep him confined in the Forbidden Palace all his life so another fracas wouldnt occur. With everyone else having the combined will to oppose it, the Emperor took a step back at last. He did not demand to leave himself, but proposed that the Crown Prince go out to pay respects and pray in his place. Everyone disagreed with that too, of course, and another mess ensued. This matter continued to be deadlocked until the end of December, when the monastery was about to be completed, and two major events happened in succession. One, a comet streaked across the North Cup. Two, the Gold Star encroached over the Sun. The translator says: That partner/stranger/husband thing has some backstory. The words went -> -> , insider (partner) -> outsider (stranger) -> literally outguy (huband), where insider means wife (because women are typically always in the home) and outguy means husband (because theyre usually outside). The main problem here is that there is no subtle, yet also gendered term for a wife or husband, and of those, none would trigger Sui Zhous dislike of the word. I had to sacrifice the wife implication C easily missed in-universe, that word could legit mean insider, or just the one inside (your house) C for a generic partner, and instead of making Sui Zhou upset over the wife terminology, he seems upset because partner wasnt strong enough for him or just because it was coming out of Wang Zhis mouth. The authors mini-theatre: Qilang (Tang Cheng): Uncle, mom said you and Uncle Sui are good friends, but Brother Sanr said you werent. Which is it? Tang Fan: We are, of course. Why would we be neighbors, if not because of our good relationship? We can visit each other every day, since we are. Qilang (doubtful): Then why did Brother Sanr say that you arent good friends? Tang Fan: He needs to get slapped. CH 138 The Gold Star was the Gold Star of Great Blankness, and the Gold Star encroaching upon the sun meant the Great Blankness was encroaching upon the sun. It indicated war and national difficulty, indicated decline, even an usurping of the throne. The Tang text Observances in Kaiyuan stated that a comet across the North Cup was an imperial palace emptied, as well. The North Cup referred to the regent, while the appearance of comets has been a portent for calamity since ancient times. An imperial palace emptied pointed to the Emperor leaving the palace, the imperial buildings not having a monarch to oversee them. For that reason, it was only when the Emperor fled the place in a rush would the palace be emptied. The two celestial phenomenons were not any good omens, but them actually appearing in quick succession a few days apart was really made the imagination go rampant. Since time immemorial, Emperors had superstitious belief in astrology. Court subjects also loved to use astrology to convey their own wishes, like using a comets appearance to persuade the Emperor to have diligence in governance and a love for the commonfolk. Some Emperors had even decreed of their own crimes because of it, hoping that they could receive Heavens pardon. This instance was no exception. Once the phenomena appeared, every level of society immediately boiled over. Before the Imperial Observatory could issue a comprehensive statement, censors had already sent successive memorials up expressing their varying viewpoints on the two celestial events. The most spoken-of thing amongst them was none other than scaring the Emperor into not leaving the palace. However, because they had all been too rushed to advise the Emperor, their presented memorials had no one, unified statement, to the extent that they each spoke in their own distinct styles. Lacking in energy, the Emperor felt fed up upon reading two books worth of them, and tossed them right to the side. What spare mental power did he have to read all of them to the end? Compared to listening to his subjects opinions, he preferred to listen to the views of certain people. State Master of Far-Reaching Benevolence, our hearts panic has been difficult to calm these days! While the Chenghua Emperor said this, he was askew in his chair, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Ji Xiaos high-monk air given off by a red-gold kasaya and calm aloofness, an envy that couldnt be concealed in his heart. Were someone to bring out a picture of the Emperor that had been painted a few years ago, they would discover that he was now much thinner, his status appeared to have shrunken a bit in result. Still, the worse his health became, the more he actually believed in fake Daoist alchemy, without suspicion. This seemed to be a defect of all regents, whether wise and strategic or not. Unrest of the heart is all due to inner demons causing mischief. Your Majesty, your body contains the value of infinite gold, and evil forces do not dare to come near it lightly; where could inner demons have come from? The Emperor let out a long sigh. Looking at people of the current era, he wasnt too old, as it wouldnt be until after next year that he hit forty. It wasnt too difficult for him to be the Emperor; following his ascension, everything had generally gone satisfactorily. The issue of children that had vexed him in earlier years was now fixed. There had been various human- and nature-made calamities, but his subjects had been able to resolve them skillfully, with even the Tartars defeated until they were too afraid to invade again. There had never been another incident of foreign forces invading the city, like his father or uncle. Even so, he was filled with melancholy. As his health grew frailer by the day, that melancholic feeling grew more intense. Now, he could finally understand how the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han of history, regardless of how brilliant and talented they had been, had also somehow become obsessed with immortality alchemy. A monarch had all the wealth of the land, and whatever they wanted was what they got, yet they still had no say in their lifespan. When all things were in ones grasp with only one thing that couldnt be held onto, one would become even more uncomfortable. Especially with the recent celestial events. Thinking of that, his expression show a tinge of unease alongside his mood. You must have also heard the recent, highly unusual star phenomena? Our inner demon stems precisely from that. What you speak of is the Great Blankness encroaching upon the sun, and a comet going over the North Cup. Correct. All the Emperor felt was his heart leap at hearing those two phrases. Not only was he beyond unwilling to speak of them, but he wasnt even willing to hear of them. Ji Xiao put both hands into an a?jali mudr gesture. The Heavens bequeath signs, showing the auspicious and the not. This matter is highly unusual, and needs to be discussed at length. The Imperial Observatory specializing in watching the stars, and Court subjects are full of knowledge; they must have said as much. The Emperor waved his hand, somewhat impatient. We are tired of hearing what they say! They each say different things, we are not sure who to believe! Some say the Great Blankness going over the sun is because war will come this year, and some say it is because we want to leave the palace that drew the comet over the North Cup as a sign from the Heavens. A true joke! How many times has it been heard of before that because an Emperor wished to leave, he drew the unhappiness of the Heavens? Is that saying that Emperors should just remain in the palace all their lives? Saying so, he trained his eyes upon Ji Xiao again. For that reason, we wish to hear your opinion. Could this really be a portent given to us by the Heavens? This meager monk does have a different view, Ji Xiao answered calmly. The two cosmic signs coming so closely together should not be regarded as separate. They must be interpreted together. Oh? The Emperors eyes shone. He had never heard a statement like that before. We are willing to hear the details of that. Have you ever heard of a passing guest star, Your Majesty? Guest stars are stars beyond the norm. Whenever one exits the Heavenly palace, it must have an odd decree. Ji Xiao gave a nod. Yes. It stands to reason that the Great Blankness is not any sort of guest star, but compared to the sun, it becomes one. Therefore, the Great Blankness encroaching upon the sun has the meaning of a guest seizing control from the host. The same logic also goes for the comet across the North Cup, as it is akin to a guest superseding the host. Treasurer Shufu of Zhou once said: In less than seven years, Song, Qi, and Jins rulers will all perish in rebellion. Him having been able to get into the Emperors graces and be titled a State Master hadnt solely relied on him using a couple mystical magic tricks, of course; he could also be described as well-read in the classics. As expected, the similarly-read Emperor understood at once. Those are words from Zuos Commentary. Ji Xiao nodded. Correct. Therefore, the Great Blankness and the comet are two events that can actually be said to be the same thing. What does that mean, exactly? the Emperor hurriedly asked. Ji Xiao focused his gaze in looking back. Heavens machination cannot be divulged. This monks statements end here. Your Majesty is a thoroughly learned, erudite man of Heaven; you must be capable of reaching an understanding. Since ancient times, every beginning of a reigning familys calamity has started from a guest superseding the host. The Heavens had already given warning, so please head it cautiously, and observe the utmost of caution. The more he hesitated to speak, the more the Emperor felt this too deep to fathom, and beguiling. After Ji Xiao left, the Emperor dismissed his attendants, then remained alone in the massive palace hall, thinking strenuously. A guest superseding the host, the guest star encroaching upon the host. Who was the host? The Emperor, of course. What of the guest? Was it that someone was thinking of rebellion? That wasnt likely. A lesson had been learned from Tangs provincial segmentation and Songs value of the civil over the martial; ever since the Great Ancestors founding, the conditions for civil officials to revolt and military officials to stage a coup no longer existed. Furthermore, the world was not in chaos right now, so if anyone tried to rebel, he would only end up attacked in a group. The sole threat would be feudal princes, but after Yongle, that threat was also completely wiped out. Even if feudal princes wanted to have their own troops, they could only cause harm to their locality at most, not being a threat to central governance. If none of those above things were it, what could it be? The Emperor bowed his head, his indistinct figure reflected in the polished tiles surface. He took a deep breath as a faint hint of shock slowly arose in his heart. Could it be Could it be that hes made up his mind at last? Unbeknownst to the Emperor, someone, somewhere else, asked that question. The one asked chuckled darkly, a smile upon his fat, bloated face as he rubbed his hands together. It looks like this time, even the Heavens are aiding us! After Wan Tong said that, he saw that the other two did not have the same happy expression, and his laughter died a bit. What? Do you Solons not feel this to be a good thing? As I view it, the State Masters words alone still wont force His Majesty to make up his mind, Wan An answered. After all, the Crown Prince has done no major wrong How is this not a major wrong?! Wan Tong straight-up cut him off, not having the least bit of reservations towards the others Head Vizier status. He attracted a comet! How is that not terrible?! Clearly, even the Heavens feel that letting Zhu Youcheng be the Crown Prince is a massive mistake! I want to see what excuses those people have this time to protect him! Wan An smiled bitterly. Little brother, its only a celestial phenomenon. However its explained, isnt it still up for a human to decide upon? Yuanweng, are you shrinking back right before the end? Wan Tong asked, displeased. Dont forget that you claimed relations to our Wan family long ago! If you actually do wait until the Crown Prince ascends, the first one to be purged will be you, the Head Vizier! He scanned Wan An and Peng Hua, gloomy. I can say it like this; my sister and I are both irreconcilable with the Crown Prince, her more so. Hes a profound hypocrite! My sister is enemies with him, yet he still plays respectful with her. If these people let him gain power, we will not spend our lives peacefully! No matter what, we cannot let him sit on that throne! Seeing that this scene was a bit deadlocked, Peng Hua smoothed things over. Brother Wan, that isnt what Yuanweng meant. Hes only worried that with His Majestys benevolence, the State Masters words would only make him suspicious of the Crown Prince, at most. It might not compel him to staunchly depose him. When the times comes, at others urging, he might change his mind again. Wan Tong huffed. Yuanweng, youve been a Head Vizier for so many years, and you cant even control the mouths of those censors? As I recall, a few years ago, they were all too afraid to go against us. Why did they get more courageous these past two years? Getting his weak point jabbed, Wan An was a bit discomfited. Is that not because that old fox, Liu Cottonflower, is opposing me, where he ended up swiping Tang Fan and that group? he replied, bitter. You dont need to instigate me. How could I not want the Prince of Xing to inherit the Great Unity? Its just a shame that my authority as a Head Vizier is incomparable to Prime Minister of Tang and Song! However, if His Majesty ever shows a hint of deposing the Crown Prince now, the Cabinet will tear itself apart. Once the Cabinet sets an example, those censors will have no apprehensions in swarming forth, which will be a genuine headache for us! Peng Hua sighed as well. Right. There is nothing Yuanweng can do, Brother Wan. Our Great Ming has paid high attention to the standings of the wife-born and eldest ever since its founding. Now, the Crown Prince is the eldest, so his title is proper. As long as those people can hold onto that point, he will not fall from where he stands. Wan Tong disapproved. The censors cant do anything! Send a few of them away on punishment, and the rest will be too scared to speak! Putting how hard their bones only appear to be, when Ji Xiao was welcomed into the palace a few years back, didnt several people jump up and down denouncing him? And what was the result? His Majesty sent Lin Jun to prison, and the others went quiet! Tch at the end of it all, they dont want to die, turning their ships along with the winds direction! If no one takes the lead, they will indeed be a group of headless flies. Once someone does, then, as Yuanweng said, the rest will immediately come up in waves. That would be the real trouble. Even if they speak drivel, His Majesty still would not be able to overlook their opinions. Then strike down the one that stands up! Wan Tong said, malicious, then looked to Wan An. Who opposes us in the Cabinet right now? That Liu Cottonflower guy? Wan An shook his head. While Liu Ji does make a lot of things hard for me, hes accustomed to watching people set his dishes down, and he doesnt go against His Majesty. Therefore, as long as His Majesty reveals his idea to depose the Crown Prince, he probably wont openly oppose it. Wan Ton became somewhat impatient. Who else? How about you speak clearly?! Despite Wan An having claimed relation to the Wan family to cozy up to Consort Wan, he despised men like Wan Tong, who rode on his sisters skirts to climb upwards, from the bottom of his heart. On top of that, he was the Head Vizier, yet Wan Tong relied on his sisters spot in the Emperors eyes to speak to even him without any sort of politeness. This dissatisfaction had been in his heart for a long time, he had just never said it out loud. Penghua yet had keen eyesight; seeing Wan Ans inward unhappiness, he took over with a laugh. Zhengyan and I are insiders here, of course. Apart from that, those in the Cabinet that will not speak with us as one piece are none other than Liu Ji, Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and Tang Fan. Xu Pu is a people-pleasing noble of slow words; even if he does oppose it, he wont be able to argue much. No need to place importance onto him. Its only Liu Jian and Tang Fan that are slightly worrisome. Liu Jian is quick-tempered and typically aggressive, while Tang Fan is talented in words and can turn black into white. They have their hearts set on the Crown Prince, so they will inevitably argue for him on solid grounds. Also, many of Tang Fans same-year peers are censors in the scholarly circle. All of those people converged together would be a sizable force. Wan Tongs impression of Tang Fan still lingered on that minor censor from many years ago, forced to go into the East Palace for teaching, then forced to abroad for assignments. It wasnt that he didnt know Tang Fan was in the Cabinet, but the other was now on the bottom rung. Reasonably speaking, he basically was no threat to speak of. Who could have imagined that now, when everyone that would be a hindrance to deposing the Crown Prince was laid out, Tang Runqing would occupy his own niche? Peng Hua knew what he was thinking by observing his expression, and he spoke to warn him, Brother Wan, dont forget that it was entirely Tang Fans award that Shang Ming was sent to sweep floors in Nanjing. Learn from precedent; Tang Runqing is not to be taken lightly. What ideas do you two have? Wan Tong asked. In order to prevent more things happening as this stretches on, this needs to be a quick battle with a quick conclusion. That conclusion cannot be repeatedly delayed to the extent that its left to the Cabinet to discuss. It would be best for His Majesty to wield executive power to decide on his own, then issue the edict for the Crown Princes deposal directly. At that time, the wood would have already been used to build the boat, and no one would be able to say anything. Wan An shook his head. That wont work. He isnt the type. He has never made lone decisions in his life. Of those who understood the Emperor best in this world, Wan An was certainly included. He knew very well that if the Emperor was someone that insisted upon his own way, he would never have been fond of Consort Wan, nor would he have blankly watched as she lethally poisoned Crown Prince Daogong. It was precisely due to his soft personality that he would be too indecisive, and favor a woman like her. With how His Majesty acts, if he wants to depose the Crown Prince, he would definitely summon me to talk about it, first, he analyzed. Then, he would have me go probe word on the wind amongst the Court officials. Once their opinions are evaluated, he would then come to a decision. Wan Tong was vexed. Thats a damned ride! Itll be dragged out to a year-and-a-half of wrangling by then, If His Majesty has an incident during that, wont the Crown Princes succession a matter of course? We dont have much time. This is an urgent matter! Peng Hua smiled. Dont worry. I still have a plan. What plan? Say it, quickly! Since His Majesty cannot come to a decision, we will help him make one. He spoke through about his plot. After hearing it, Wan Tong was joyous, slapping his thigh. Great idea! Were going to force the Crown Prince onto a cliff, set the fire, and make him have nowhere to go until he jumps of his own volition! When the Cabinet follows up on it, well see what His Majesty has to hesitate about! Those censors will have nothing to say, too! Wan An was still hesitant. But, the rest of the cabinet Wan Tong grew impatient. They each harbor their own ulterior motives and arent of one mind! What are you afraid of?! Ill lend a hand, so dont keep hesitating! Seeing Wan Tongs smug look, as well as Peng Huas scheming demeanor, Wan An knew that the two had already made up their minds, and could only clench his jaw. Fine! Wan Tong then laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. Thats good! This can only succeed, not fail. As long as the Prince of Xing can become the Crown Prince, well make it big. Just wait until you sit on glory and wealth, Yuanweng! Not long after the conversation between the Emperor and Ji Xiao, on the twelfth month, twenty-third day of the twenty-second year of Chenghua, Vice Observer of the Imperial Observatory, Zhao Yuzhi, commented upon the star phenomena. He claimed that the omens of the comet over the North Cup and guest star encroaching upon a host possibly referred to the East Palace. This was the first time anyone had clearly linked the two as correlating to the Crown Prince. Zhao Yuzhis statement was akin to a signal; before the Emperor could issue a response, and before the Court officials could react, the Imperial Observatory reported once more that a comet neared the sun. A comet nearing the sun, as it went, meant a realm in great chaos, a military coup burgeoning, Court officials scheming for the Son of Heavens demise and was that not the hope that the Emperor would die a bit quicker, so that the Crown Prince could ascend? Who could bear such an enormous cap set upon their head? Even if others said nothing, the Crown Prince couldnt sit still. He quickly sent a memorial apologizing, saying that he was of scant talent and virtues, and only wished to abdicate so that someone of virtue could have it, thus conserving his fathers health, the Great Ming at infinite peace. Him aside, all the officials successively sent memorials arguing that they had absolutely no rebellious thoughts, as the world could see. It was just like how someone denounced would apologize and defend themselves, then avoid suspicions by remaining at home. Said person might not actually be guilty, but it was necessary posturing to express their attitude and standpoint, lest they give anyone a handle on them. After the Crown Princes apology memorial was presented, the Emperor should reasonably issue a decree of reassurance expressing that the celestial events were not credible, the love between a father and son should not be shaken, and so on. However, what was unsettling was that this time around, the Emperor did not give the slightest bit of expression. With no choice, the Crown Prince sent an apology memorial again. It was still akin to throwing a stone into the ocean. Now, only a fool would not be able to tell what the Emperors stance was. He was clearly unhappy with the Crown Prince, wanting to push the boat along the water. Everyone was confused and uneasy. At this time, the Gold Stars transit across the sun appeared, but only after a few days had just passed. The situation was developing so rapidly, everyone was unable to react for a minute. Tang Fan was no exception. He was certainly very bright, and a bit more meticulous than others, but that didnt mean that he could accomplish what others cannot. The star phenomena was in response to the Crown Prince. He apologized. That was a justifiable response. The Emperor did not issue a response to that. That was what he was free to do. He didnt say he was going to depose the Crown Prince, either. No one could say anything. For those reasons, when Wei Mao came on Wang Zhis order to find him to ask him for a way out, he could only smile bitterly. Is your Eunuch Wang taking me for a temple Bodhisattva that grants every wish? What plan could I have? Wei Mao also smiled bitterly with him. You can think of something still, right? Eunuch Wang said that the situation is urgent, and His Highness the Crown Prince was forced to apologize in a memorial. Someone ought to step up and give His Majesty an out, as only that will resolve this deadlock. Youre a Solon, you should be able to do that! Wang Zhis original words had definitely not been that warm, but Tang Fan was used to it, shaking his head. If His Majesty wants to depose the Prince now, none of you would need to say anything, as I would send a memorial stopping it directly. The bad thing right now is that His Majesty hasnt said anything. If I speak out, wont I only anger him instead? Wei Mao did not understand these governmental problems, as he was only responsible for passing words along, and he grew perplexed hearing this. What should be done, then? Without a doubt, the Imperial Observatory making that statement was because someone was giving directions behind them. Why else would they point straight at the Crown Prince? Hes out in the open, the other is hidden; that is a disadvantage that cannot be changed, and why they will conspire against him repeatedly. For right now, its best to not say or do anything. Calmly watch for change and wait for this storm to pass before we speak again. Go back and tell Eunuchs Wang and Huai that they must not beg for mercy for the Crown Prince to the Emperor, else they will only overstep. While youre at it, tell Wang Zhi that Tang Fan is busy enough every day. Dont keep pestering him with things he can solve himself. Wei Mao didnt need to look back to know who this was. Who else could freely come and go from the Tang study? Still, he had to turn to cup his hands in respect. Greetings to you, Count Sui. Sui Zhou nodded slightly. He was still wearing the Brocade Guard qilin uniform, yet walked over to help Tang Fan with rubbing his temples like it was natural. The Ministry of Justice had been busy as of late. Peng Yichun was the department Minister, but he wasnt very decisive in personality, leaving many things counting on Tang Fans judgement. Each member of the Cabinet also had a pile of things to do, added on with the fact that the Cabinet frequently forgot the rule of time during discussions. Over time, sitting for a long while each instance caused him a headache. The moderate pressure made him relax at once, lightly closing his eyes. Wei Mao wanted to say something still, but under the menace of Sui Zhous look, he could only shut his mouth and quietly withdraw. Sui Zhou didnt call Tang Fans attention to it, not ceasing his ministrations until he sensed that the others skin was not so taut. Is it any better? Yeah. Tang Fan opened his eyes and smiled. Every time I get an awful headache, you always massage it away in no time. You need to teach me that skill, because if this old problem flares up while youre not around, what will I do? That wont ever happen. Sui Zhou rejected that conjecture readily, tone mild, then turned the subject around. When I entered the palace today, the Empress Dowager questioned me about the star phenomena. The Emperor hadnt responded to the Crown Princes apology memorial; everyone that wasnt an idiot had quickly realized something was amiss. Star phenomena were beyond comprehension, so who could guarantee that the appearance of a disastrous star had absolutely no relation to the Crown Prince? Just like how Tang Fan had said, even if everyone wanted to help the Crown Prince speak, the Emperor had expressed nothing right now. What could they even say? Thus, they could only be quiet. However, that silence was destined to not last too long. Beneath the tranquility, a dark undercurrent surged, awaiting for a certain moment to blow up. What did she say? Tang Fan asked. To him, Sui Zhou did not need to avoid taboo. She cares for the crown Prince, since she helped raise him. But she can only play a small role; similar to His Majesty having deposed the Empress, the Dowager cannot stop him. Tang Fan sighed. I get the general sense that this isnt that simple. Is His Majesty really going to depose the Crown Prince over a scant few prophetic words? Sui Zhou had no response. The Crown Prince had truly done no wrong, but his existence in and of itself was an eyesore to certain people. The Wan party was going all out. This was only the beginning. I hope this storm passes as soon as possible, Tang Fan concluded. And yet, when he said this, he did not anticipate that an even bigger storm was about to come. The translator says: The Great Blankness is technically just Great White, but I couldnt stop thinking about sharks I went with something that sounds ominous, instead. The authors mini-theatre 1: Pertaining to the mystical use of the open door between households Tang Maid (terror-stricken): Master, when this maid passed by your study last night, I noticed that there looked to be two figures in your room! Tang Fan: Its fine. Theres no ghosts. Tang Maid (fearful): But the last time I woke up in the middle of the night, I seemed to hear a talking voice in your bedroom Tang Fan: Its fine. I was sleep-talking. Tang Maid (confused): Ah? Do people pant while sleep-talking? Tang Fan: The authors mini-theatre 2: Wang Zhi: Do you know why I sent you, instead of going myself? Wei Mao: Is it because this subordinate answers to your seniority? Wang Zhi: No. Its so that I wouldnt be blinded by those two fooltots. Wei Mao: CH 139 The stars and moon in the sky were not yet gone, the world still pitch-black. At this period, most people should be in dreamland, out cold, but there was a group of people already dressed up neatly, on their way to participate in a Court meeting. Tang Fan had gotten to bed late last night, his energy a bit lacking. As he now sat in a litter, swaying, his tiredness surged up in bursts, and he unwittingly fell asleep. Within his daze, he only felt the litter suddenly stop, the motion a bit more abrupt than was typical. Unable to stop his own inertia, Tang Fans body pitched forward, and he knocked into a convex wooden roofbeam, which happened to hit upon the hardest edge of his officials cap. He sucked in a cold breath out of pain, any sleepiness he had flown off to the clouds of the ninth firmament. He took off his cap to rub his head. Thankfully, it wasnt bleeding, just bruising. A faint clamor was heard outside, followed by a litterbearers voice. Sir, we cant proceed ahead. Should we take a detour? Tang Fan lifted the curtain. A burst of chilled wind swept in at once, the cold making him shiver and clearing his head. Whats going on? It looks like people are quarreling! Furrowing his brow, Tang Fan poked his head out to look. There was another litter blocking the way in front, its owner unseen. No wonder his own litterbearers had stopped so hurriedly; they would have bumped into each other if they had gone any further. Go and see whats going on, he ordered. A litterbearer agreed, wound around the litter in front to probe the source, then returned not long after. Sir, there really are people arguing. Tang Fan was a bit surprised. Who? At this shichen, there should reasonably only be officials hurrying to Court. Everyone served in the same Court, seeing each other with a raise of the head, and they should always be polite. It was impossible for there to be a traffic jam, but there had always been exceptions. It seems that Assistant Minister Li of Rites bumped into Right Capital Censor Qius litter, and the two sides are arguing! Assistant Minister Li was Li Zisheng, and Censor Qiu was Tang Fans teacher, Qiu Jun. Is my teacher okay? Tang Fan quickly said. He is. Mister Qiu is scolding Assitant Li, the litterbearer answered cautiously. As soon as he heard this, Tang Fan knew what was going on, and laughed bitterly soon after. Qiu Jun was unused to people that got by on luck, like Li Zisheng. Assistant Minister of Rites was a third-rank spot that others dared not rashly provoke, but a truesecond-rank Capital Censor like Qiu Jun would not fear him. On typical days, it was hard for him to get the chance to scold him, and even if he did, the Emperor might not take him seriously. Now that he had managed to snatch an opportunity where Li Zisheng was in the wrong, Qiu Jun was naturally not going to let it go. Furthermore, Censor Lin Jun of the Inspectorate had been imprisoned because he had denounced Li Zisheng, Ji Xiao, and the like. This was something that Old Man Qiu had always resented. Because he knew his teachers temper well, Tang Fan did not need to witness the scene in person to have linked most of the events together. He waited for a good while. Seeing that the little ahead had no intention to get on its way, he could only dismount and walk forth in the snow. Not too far ahead, he saw two litters clashing in the middle of the road. Qiu Jun was standing beside them, spittle flying all over as he quoted verses to verbally abuse Li Zisheng. The latter was not a Palace Honorate, nor was he well-learned, but that didnt mean that he was afraid of Qiu Jun. His expression was arrogant, one look telling that he placed no importance upon Qiu Jun. Eight people circled the two, all of them officials that had been going to Court, but been blocked partway through. They were all in a hubbub, mostly attempting to get Qiu Jun to calm down. If they didnt persuade him, they wouldnt be leaving. Who wanted to spend much more time in the snow, in such cold weather? Also, if they were late without cause, they would get the rod, as well as salary deducted. Everyone worked hard every month for not much money; if they had any more deducted, they would not be able to live their lives. Seeing the onlookers blindly persuading him, Qiu Jun instead grew angrier. Do you all not think that I want to leave?! He broke my litter by bumping into it, and my litterbearers are injured, unable to get up! Everyone poked their heads out to look to look and wouldnt they know it? The two litters had somehow collided so terribly, Li Zishengs litter had one of its rear supporting beams missing, while Qiu Juns had fallen askew to the ground, one side of it smashed from the pressure. Thankfully, the old fent had left it speedily, else he would have been injured along with it. Like so, the two litters were blocking the middle of the road, the ones behind them unable to get through. Hearing Qiu Juns statement, Li Zisheng sneered. Sir Qiu, thats so unreasonable. It was clearly your litterbearers that were in too much of a hurry, wanting to pass by my litter, only to bump into it and overturn. You didnt express your status; how were my litterbearers to know that you were sitting in it?! This humble officials litter is also ruined! Who is going to compensate for that?! Dont speak nonsense! Qiu Jun raged. My litterbearers have been with me for many years, and could not be more steady on the regular! Why would he hit you because he was rushing? Clearly, you were walking too slowly! My men feared that I would miss Court time, which was why they were forced to speed up! Youre in a hurry to get to the Court, so am I not also? The snowy road is slippery, why not let people walk a little slower? Li Zisheng strangely mocked. Why trouble yourself with being so angry at your age? Even if you hurry, you wont be getting into the Cabinet, so whats the use in doing it? Qiu Jun was intensely furious. You shameless, flattering, lucked-out fool! Hearing that, Tang Fan had to step up. It was hard to tell who was more correct in the collision just by listening, but Tang Fan knew well that this trivial matter had only been a fuse. Because Qiu Jun and Li Zisheng represented two side that mixed like fire and water, they had been watching each other without relent, and only seized today to explode. However, as more and more litters came up behind them with the two continuing to fight, many people here would be at a loss. They would not be late for no reason, but it would generally be embarrassing. Teacher, he said. Everyone turned to look goodness, Solon Tang was here! They quickly cleared him a path, cupping their hands and greeting him all the while. At the thought that Solon Tang might also be late because of this, they all became less anxious, with a feeling of having someone tall to bear the collapsing sky. He smiled at them, nodding to return the courtesies. While he had no high-and-mighty airs of a Vizier, he also did not indiscriminately lower his posture to garner good impressions. Were it to be said that some people of this world could enchant someone with one look, Tang Fan would be one of them. Five or six years ago, he might not have had such a presence, changed with the times. In addition to his appearance, mannerisms, and knowledge, the changes brought by his status were quite important, his heart and courage even more so. The scope of ones vision determined what height they would stand at as the saying went, the heart influenced perception. Even though Wan An was the Head Vizier, and of tall, sturdy stature, if he stood together with Tang Fan, he would be a rank inferior to him in terms of bearing and behavior. That rank emitted from the inside to the outside, formless, difficult to describe. Upon seeing Tang Fan, Qiu Juns expression eased some, then tensed up again once he remembered that Li Zisheng was still here. Tang Fan didnt wait for Qiu Jun to speak, saying to Li Zisheng, Assitant Li, since the litters are already broken, more talk will do nothing. Its dark out, and the road is slippery; if this is dragged out, we really will be late. You should have your subordinates lift the litters away now, so that the people behind you can pass. Li Zisheng could pay Qiu Jun no heed, but he couldnt afford the same thing with Tang Fan. That stemmed from the latters influencing power in Court gradually strengthening, to where he had surpassed his teacher, having vaguely turning into a notable figure amongst several branches of officials eleven years of Chenghua prior. Your order is something this humble official dares not disobey, Solon Tang, but my two of my four litterbearers were injured, and I ordered them to return home, Li Zisheng answered. The remaining two will likely not be able to life the litter. Not replying to that, Tang Fan looked at his own litterbearers. Go lend his people a hand. Since he was of the idea to pacify everyone, the teacher could not refute the prestige of his own student, so Qiu Jun told his own litterbearers to help, sullen-faced. Under the focused efforts of several people, the two litters were shifted to one side. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Tang Fan let them all go ahead. Too afraid of being late, they had no will to be modest, successively boarding their litters and leaving after quick apologies. How about you take this students litter for Court, Teacher? Tang Fan asked Qiu Jun. The other shook his head. No need. This old man will get a new one rented. Tang Fan laughed. Its not dawn yet; who would be lending litters? Dont be so courteous to me. Its easier for me to do things since Im young, while you cant bear the cold at your age! Saying so, he half-forced, half-supported him onto his litter, then ordered the litterbearers to carry his teacher to the palace gates. He watched it leave, then turned to the unhappy-looking Li Zisheng with a smile. Assistant Minister Li, do you want to wait for a litter with me, or will you walk to Court? Li Zisheng forced out a smile. This humble official will walk, lest I be late. Farewell, Sir. Tang Fan didnt keep him, nodding. Do as you will, then. The accumulated snow was not deep, and one could still walk, if they wanted to. However, in the midst of that walking around, one would inevitably get their shoes and socks soaked through. Tang Fan preferred to wait a bit more, unwilling to wear a pair of damp socks all day that was a special kind of torture. He stood beneath the eaves of someones streetside home, watching Li Zisheng walk unsteadily away with the help of his servants, and then his line of sight shifted to the messed-up litters at the roadside. Something seemed to flit past his mind, but he couldnt snag it in time. The Tang household had only one litter for use; his litterbearers returned to the neighboring Sui home to borrow theirs. This come-and-go left him waiting nearly half a shichen before they came carrying a litter. The Great Mings Court assemblies were divided up into the Great Court, the New Moon Court, and the General Court. The Great Court assemblies were held every time there was a majestic holiday, and the New Moon Court opened on the fifteenth day of the first month in ordinary times, they were usually General Courts. Ever since Yongles era, the General Court had gradually turned into a ritual; everyone would come for roll call, listen to some drivel, then go their separate ways, returning to their bureaus for duties. When Tang Fans litter stopped at the palace gate, the sky slowly brightened, the streets became lively, and the snow began to melt beneath the sunlights splendor. Bursts of cold seemed to pierce through fur cloaks, right to the bones. The General Courts daily routine was probably long over by now. Tang Fan had no intent to gather in on the excitement, instead going straight to the Pavilion of Literary Profundity. However, the second he entered the palace gate, he was blocked. He slightly raised his brows. What is it? Youve all gone one day without seeing me, and you already dont recognize me? The other quickly smiled at him. How could that be, Solon Tang? Dont lower yourself to this lowly ones level. Word came down from higher up that too many people were late today, which angered His Majesty. He said that everyone that was late is to stand outside to clear their heads this lowly one dares not disobey! Tang Fan was a little surprised. Where are Censor Qiu and Assistant Minister Li? Have you seen them? Yes. They went in, arriving half a shichen earlier than you, right before they would be late. The ones after them were not so lucky, as theyve all been pulled to the side and received the rod. As this lowly one sees it, you should take the day off and not go in. According to national Court rules, being late for no reason meant ten strikes with a rod. If a dignified Solon was to take his pants off in public view and be beaten, what a riot that would be. Tang Fan would probably not go out in public for a month. However, the current Emperor was laid-back and soft-natured. Beatings for lateness hadnt happened in a long time, being a salary deduction at most. Why was today an exception? Why is His Majesty angry? Do you know? he asked. The guard shook his head. You must be trying to confound me. With this lowly ones status, how would I know of that? However, continuing to stand here idly was not an option. Tang Fan thought for a bit, then said, As thats the case, go on and tell your superior that I said Before he could finish speaking, someone called from behind him, Runqing! Tang Fan looked back to see a litter carried up by jogging, panting litterbearers stop not far from him, after which someone came out of it, hurry towards him a few steps; it was Liu Jian, his Cabinet fellow. The man was over fifty and thin, but his energy was high, paired with a tall stature and jet-black hair. There was not a bit of aged air about him, making him look to be in his early forties. Tang Fan paused to cup his hands towards him. Brother Huian. Despite being twenty years apart in age, they were both of the Cabinet, and thus were in equal positions of seniority. Reasonably, that would mean he only needed to call him by his courtesy, but for the sake of expressing esteem for his predecessor, he used his art name. Liu Jian wiped sweat off his forehead. Why are you late, too? Tang Fan smiled bitterly. It seems that today was a bad one for travel. Then, he turned to the palace guard. See if we can get some accommodation to let us both in, so that we can explain and apologize to His Majesty ourselves. Seeing that another Solon had shown up instantly, the other felt it odd, thinking to himself, What kind of day is today? Will another one show up? Stopping the empires Viziers outside the palace gates is a really huge joke. He looked awkward. Forgive me, Sirs. Its a really strict order from above, and we act according to orders. We dare not disobey in the slightest, else you two will be fine, while us on duty will be punished. Liu Jian was a generous person. Hearing so, he said to the guard, Go in and help us with giving a report. Well wait right here. The other agreed, leaving his companion to stand watch while he turned and went in himself. It was coldest when the snow was melting. Even though they were wrapped in thick fur cloaks and cotton-padded garments were beneath their official uniform, that could stop the chill from boring into their clothes. They stood at the doorway, rubbing their hands together and stomping their feet to dispel the cold. How did you only just get here, Brother Huian? Tang Fan asked. Liu Jian smiled bitterly. Oh, its nothing. On the road from my home to the Court, for some reason, someone was digging a ditch early in the morning. The roadblock aside, one of my litterbearers fell into it, so I had him go home to find someone else, then take a long route around before I could get here. The second he finished speaking, he noticed that Tang Fans expression was a little off. What is it? Tang Fan told him his own reason for being late. Neither of them were slow. Mentally comparing the pair of events, how could they not notice the coincidence and oddity between them? Liu Jian grabbed the remaining palace guard to ask, Apart from us two, have the other Cabinet members gotten in? Not getting it, the guard answered truthfully. All of them did. How about Solon Xu? He went in, too? Yes, early this morning. Liu Jian and Tang Fan exchanged a look. Runqing, do you think this is? Lets go in and see before anything else, Tang Fan answered gravely. Seeing that their expressions were poor, as if they wanted to barge in, the guard quickly said, Sirs, please dont make things harder for this lowly one! My brother has already gone in to make a report, and will likely return soon! Please wait! After we go in, we will apologize to His Majesty. There is no need for you to take responsibility, Liu Jian answered. Saying so, they strode forth. The guard could do nothing, wanting to stop them but too afraid to, fearing that his weapon would injure the two Viziers, which would only result in him being the unlucky one. Halt! After the two had gone just a few steps, they saw a small squadron of imperial bodyguards enter from far away. They stopped, awaiting their approach. Nevertheless, these ones were not as eloquent as the palace gate guards, expressionless, as if they wouldnt even recognize their close relatives. Even if Tang Fan and Liu Jian stated their identities, they would still request that they return to being outside the palace gate, not bust in. Liu Jian was enraged. We are established members of the Cabinet, but now we have to listen to your orders? Whether this is actually an order from His Majesty or not, we will possess that knowledge once we meet him! Now go! Their counterpart did not go, nor did he look afraid, only cupping his hands. A verbal command was indeed issued from His Majesty. This lowly one would not dare to falsify a decree please forgive us, Sirs. Liu Jian was about to get angrier, but Tang Fan stopped him, asking the bodyguards leader, Did you personally hear His Majesty speak it? I did. When he said it, who was at his side? The other was unsure of Tang Fans intentions, hesitating on whether he should answer that, but seeing the cold, harsh look in Tang Fans eyes that could turn into a sharp edge, his heart thudded, and he automatically answered, Assistant Minister Li Zisheng of Rites was also present. That fucker! Liu Jian nearly spat out that curse, narrowly tamping it down. He was not Qiu Jun, in any case he wouldnt be losing his temper. Even so, his expression became quite unsightly. As Li Zisheng was a high official of the Ministry of Rites, it was completely justifiable for him to request that the Emperor punish late-goers with the excuse of correcting proper etiquette. Why had he chosen today to do it, though? To hinder Tang Fan and Liu Jian? They had previously believed that something had happened inside the palace, but with a careful thought about it, they knew that that was impossible. In spite of the current Emperor abandoning governance more by the day, in this Court especially following Yingzongs era forcing an abdication in rebellion was a situation that couldnt happen. Since nothing had happened on the Emperors side, something had to have happened in the Cabinet. With a deeper layer of thought, based on their comprehension of Wan An, if there was a major event that required Cabinet consensus to pass, he knew that Liu Jian and Tang Fan would never agree to it, and would definitely do what he could to cast them out. As soon as they were, Liu Ji was a fencesitter, and Xu Pu was bad at warring with words. The Cabinets game would be one-sided. Wait, and that rice would be cooked even if the two of them did object then, it would be too late! That in mind, the two of them changed directions. Instead of asking after punishment statues, they went straight for the Pavilion. The imperial bodyguards had their duties, yet also couldnt stop them, only able to follow after them, shouting as they pursued, Slow down, Sirs! Wait! But the two ignored them, striding forth. One in back and one in front made a very comical scene. However, in the Pavilion of Literary Profundity, there was another scenario going. The Emperor not coming to todays General Court was something everyone was used to. After their formalities, they all had gone back to their respective bureaus, while Wan An gathered up the Cabinet members for a discussion, its contents happening to be related to the spurt of celestial phenomena. His gaze swept over Vice Vizier Liu Ji, then rapidly, yet meticulously, took in the expressions of everyone in a brief time, then landed upon the two empty spots to the left and right of Xu Pu. After a short moment, he took it back. The Heavens showed bizarre signs in quick succession. The whole nation is on edge. I presume that all of you have come to know that, as well. Upon giving his opening statement, he saw that no one had an answer, so he continued. You all must have also heard about the Crown Prince sending an apology memorial. We, as subjects, should observe the thoughts of those above, being worried about what His Majesty is worried about, and thinking of what he thinks. Even if he has said nothing, we ought to understand at heart. Those words were superfluous; they sounded mysterious at first, but everyone here was an old piece of fried dough that had stewed in officialdom. Many words did not need to be explained. Liu Ji, for example, understood at once: Wan An was trying to use this opportunity to unite the Cabinet in urging the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince! No wonder Liu Jian and Tang Fan werent here today! He cursed the two out on the inside, thinking that they had received the news earlier and therefore avoided it on purpose little did he know that their litters had been obstructed. He was not of the Wan party, nor was he pro-Crown Prince. He didnt get on with Wan An, and typically judged based on a situations momentum, basically landing on whatever side the wind was blowing. For things like todays event, had he known this weather ahead of time, he wouldnt have come to Court at all, claiming sick and staying home to avoid the headache. When the time came, if the Crown Prince didnt fall, he would not offend him, and if the Prince of Xing could ascend, he would send a memorial congratulating the new Crown Prince for his might. Neither side was to be offended; that was how one got to be an official for a long time. Wan An suddenly making this move today had caught some completely unawares. Deeply shrewd, Liu Ji still had no reaction, but Xu Pu was completely dumbstruck, his astonishment unconcealed on his face. Wan An pretended to not see their reactions, continuing to speak on his own. Peng Hua and Yin Zhi had long made mental preparations, faces as calm as ever. I drafted a memorial that is ready to be presented to His Majesty. Take a look, all of you. If you have no issue, sign your name on it, as our Cabinets joint signing. With that, he pushed his memorial forth to Liu Ji, who was on his left. With things at this point, Liu Ji had no choice but to take it. He picked up the manifest, then opened it up for a look he found that there was not one mention of deposing the Crown Prince within, but every line alluded to the Emperor making his own conclusion and coming to a decision sooner, while also stating that no matter what he decided upon, the Cabinet would support it and such. Were the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince, and the Cabinet disagreed with him alongside the censors, that would be the equivalent of every level of society unanimously opposing it. The Emperor would have to consider the opinions of important subjects. However, if the Cabinet stood on the Emperors side, they could help placate the censors. No matter what fuss those below made, it had its limits. Grasping Wan Ans plan, Liu Ji laughed coldly on the inside, and looked up. Yuanweng, Liu Xixian and Tang Runqing are not yet here. A joint signing without the two of them would probably not be good. We should wait for them another day before we discuss this. Wan Ans expression did not change. No need. The two have taken leave today and wont be coming; our joint signatures will be enough. His implication being that Liu Jian and Tang Fan ranked at the bottom of the Cabinet, and their presence would make no difference. However, Liu Ji laughed a little. Thats not right, Yuanweng. No matter what is said, we are all Cabinet members. How could they be overlooked? Well wait for us to be all together, first. With that, he folded up the memorial, and passed it to Peng Hua next to him. The latter took it, looked at it briefly, took a brush to write his name down, bowed his head to blow on the ink, waited for it to dry some, then passed it to Yin Zhi. Once Yin Zhi had signed his name, the memorial returned back to Liu Ji. All eyes fell on him. Seeing the he could not get one over the Great Supreme, Liu Ji said, How come I had no idea that the Cabinet had this joint signature rule at some point? This does not comply to the rules, yes? If those below learn of this, they will only say that our Cabinet is not of the mind to assist in advising His Majesty, but following blind tomfoolery. How are we not advising His Majesty? Wan An answered indifferently. This memorial is to urge him in coming to a decision as soon as he can, and to personally settle the matter, lest rumors crop up and the hearts of the people be unsteady. It had taken him great thought to write a memorial like this. Despite the hints all over the place that the Emperor should set his mind to something soon, there was not a word about deposing the Crown Prince, leaving no worry about others getting a handle on him. To sign, or not to sign? Liu Ji was hesitating on the inside. If he didnt sign, offending Wan An was a trifle; more importantly, he would offend Consort Wan. Who didnt know that the one most hoping for the Crown Princes deposal was her? She was a most important figure, the only one that could make the Emperor listen. If he did sign, and the Crown Prince didnt get deposed, he would then be considered an affiliate of the Wan party. What if, after his ascension, the Prince added him into his list of names for purging? However, right when Liu Ji was making a difficult decision, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside. Everyone automatically looked up. The next moment, the door of the discussion hall opened, and Brocade Guards headed by Wan Tong, aggressive in their brocade uniforms and thick-soled boots. They did not greet the Cabinet members, going around them to stand apart behind them, glaring down like predators without a single word. Liu Ji glared angrily at Wan Tong. Envoy Wan, what are you trying to do?! This was mutiny! Wan Tong laughed in mockery. He did not have Sui Zhous physique the qilin uniform bulged a bit on him. Vice Vizier Liu, you dont need to be nervous. This humble official was ordered to bring a letter. Please, Solons, read it over. The Pavilion is a private area that unrelated people are not to enter! Who gave you the order?! His Majesty did, of course, Wan Tong answered casually. Wan An accepted the letter, quickly looked it over, then handed it to Liu Ji. All of you take a look. Liu Ji read it. On it was the Imperial Observatorys records pertaining to the recent celestial phenomena. According to them, during this month, comets had appeared an unusual amount about eight, of all sizes. The one going over the North Cup that everyone was talking about was only one of many. Why would the Emperor suddenly hand such a letter over for the Cabinet to read? Liu Ji was inwardly frightened. Based on his own grasp on the Emperors thought process, this ought to be him wishing to depose the Crown Prince, which was not a good thing to blatantly state. Hence why he was hoping the Cabinet would issue a memorial first, so he could push that boat along the water. Plainly speaking, he was making the Cabinet help him come to a decision and share the pressure of it. Liu Ji passed the letter on to the next person, while he sat in place, not saying a word. Everyone has other business they should be doing, and I have no desire to hold you all up, Wan An stated. Quickly sign this memorial, so I may present it to His Majesty. His Majesty and the Noble Consort are scheduled to view the chrysanthemums in the Southern Grounds after noon. If Yuanweng is late in going, Im afraid he will not be able to catch up, Wan Tong pointedly exhorted. That sentence was to remind Liu Ji of the relationship between the Emperor and Consort Wan. When the Emperor had told Wan Tong to pass the letter along, he might not have told him to bring such a large group along, but a bunch of Brocade Guards were now glaring nasty-eyed at a group of Cabinet members. Getting stared at made their backs feel like they were getting pricked with needles, sitting uneasily. Beneath that pressure, Liu Ji grit his teeth and signed his name. The looks on Wan An and Wan Tongs faces laxed a bit. Now, only Xu Pu had yet to sign it. Wan An had no belief that Xu Pus bones would be less brittle than Liu Jis. Qianzhai, please go ahead. Xu Pu knew that he had fallen into a meticulously plotted trap today, and he shook his head. Forgive me, Yuanweng. I cannot sign this memorial. Wan Ans expression sank. Why? Because this Dynasty establishes the eldest first, not the younger! The Crown Prince has done no wrong, so how can he be deposed because of a prophecy? Thats absurd! If anyone harbors ill intent, they should be labeled a traitorous subject, and each one punished! In the wake of those resoundingly powerful words, Tang Fan appeared in the doorway of the discussion hall, Liu Jian behind him. The light behind them caused their figures to seem to be plated with a halo of soft light. CH 140 The instant the two appeared, Wan An and Wan Tongs expressions changed in unison. Wan Tong seized the lead, saying unhappily, Youre very mighty, Solon Tang. Who here has ill intent? This letter is His Majestys personal statement, ordered for the Cabinet ministers to read! I only came here on decree, yet you dare to say I have ill intent! Ignoring the Emperors command is the real ill intent here! Whoever wants to act as a traitorous subject will not be forgiven by the spring-gilt sabre I hold! After that, he drew his sabre out of its sheath with a shing! As if responding to an order from their leader, the rest of the Brocade Guards also unsheathed their sabres simultaneously. The room instantly became a bit colder, a dense, murderous aura hitting one in the face. Even though the Cabinet members were the height of the Court and set policies for the empires operations, they had never seen such a scenario before. Their expressions all twisted up; to say that they didnt feel uneasy would be false. It had to be said that Liu Ji was no fledgling that had only just left his home and would sign his name out of idiocy; a large portion of his reasoning was intimidating pressure like this. Also, his mind had been wavering to begin with, and once compelled by an external force, he had followed his gut. When Xu Pu had refused to sign, he had been pressured similarly hard, and was also not great at arguing. Had Tang Fan and Liu Jian not arrived, he might truly have been half-forced to sign, in the end. Thus, the second he had seen them show up, he had finally let out a sigh of relief. Faced with Wan Tongs antagonism, Tang Fan displayed a completely unrelenting serenity. This is an important and confidential area that not a single unrelated official is allowed to enter unauthorized. Violators will not be spared from punishment. Could you not read the words hanging outside, Envoy Wan? Wan Tong sneered. What of them? I cam on imperial order who could stop me? After the seventh year of Zhengtong, the Pavilion of Literary Profundity has been the working place of Cabinet members. Even if His Majesty came here, he would need to send someone to report that ahead of time. Who or what gave you the misconception that youve become more important than the Son of Heaven? Tang Fan answered, tone indifferent. Tang Fan, stop being such a pest! I came here on His Majestys approval! the other raged. You have his approval, but did your subordinates get it, too? Tang Fan sternly questioned. Dont claim that you dont even know that rule! Why are you not having them leave?! When had Wan Tong ever been yelled at to his face, following his sister becoming the Noble Consort? He was dumbstruck for a moment, complexion green and red at the same exact time. His hand that gripped the hilt tightened, as if he wanted to lift it and bring it down upon Tang Fan. However, if he did that, whether Tang Fan would actually die was hard to say. Him daring to attack a Vizier in the Pavilion was probably something his sister couldnt defend him from. Seeing that the situation was going poorly, Wan An quickly spoke up, I have something to Before he could finish speaking, Tang Fan interrupted him by looking towards one of the Guards brought by Wan Tong. Xi Bo, you arent supposed to be on duty today. For what reason did you show up here? His counterpart was clearly an unarmed civil official, but being swept over by that sharp-as-a-blade gaze made Xi Bo automatically take a step back. After that, he reacted at last, embarrassed. This this subordinate He was unable to give a justification, as Tang Fan had already looked towards another person, narrowing his eyes slightly. Xia Rui, he called out. This subordinate is on duty today! Xia Rui subconsciously replied. Tang Fan sneered. I didnt say you werent! Youre from the Southern Bastion Office, right? Since when have you all intervened in palace defense? Xia Rui immediately became speechless. Prior to entering the Cabinet, Tang Fan had come and gone from the Brocade Guards Capital Commanding Envoy Office many times, and had come to recognize a majority of the faces therein. Immediately after calling out the names of several people, he interrogated them on why they had appeared here. Sui Zhous eminence in the Brocade Guard was quite high. Had it not been for Wan Tong pressing down on his head, he would long be a true Commanding Envoy. As it were, these people were also aware that Tang Fan had a deep friendship with Sui Zhou as soon as they witnessed Tang Fans interrogations, they recalled Sui Zhous methods, immediately feeling some timidity. Wan Tong was about to die of rage. He was the Commanding Envoy, so why, in Tang Fans words, were his own words less useful than a Bastion Envoys? Looking at these Guards reactions, he had really lost a lot of face! With Tang Fans disturbance, the hostile atmosphere dissipated some. Wan Tong could not allow him to keep speaking. He took a step forward at once. Relying on the oppression of his big and tall stature and the sabre he held, he glared at Tang Fan with a sneer, trying to intimidate him. Solon Tang, you speak quite a lot of nonsense! Were discussing proper business here, its not for you to come in and reminisce with Guards! Since His Majesty asked all of you to read the letter, you must fully understand his desire! Saying so, he went to grab Tang Fans shoulder. Wan Tong had no intent to injure him, as he wasnt an idiot. He knew the consequences of hurting a Cabinet minister. However, with things having unfolded like so, he needed to take advantage of the time that his side was on the high ground to quickly get the memorial jointly signed, else everything that they had done today would be a waste. Tang Fan was not slow to react. He took a step back when the other was first stretching out his hand, one of his own picking the letter up off the table. Wan Tong, would you also have the nerve to confirm that with me, in the Emperors presence? His Majesty had you deliver the letter, and you brought a huge group of Brocade Guards to menace Court members! I want to see for myself who gave you this enormous courage! His voice and expression were harsh, his typical smile gone from his face, and he had a certain valor that could terrify. Yes, Wan Tong! Even if His Majesty told you to deliver the letter, he would never have let you bring so many people in there! Leave, quickly! Liu Jian also shouted. Talking was slow, actions were quick. Liu Ji seized the time when no one was paying attention to get up, snatch the memorial that had been set in front of Xu Pu, and then, with a shredding sound, rip it in two! At that moment, everyones eyes moved from Tang Fan and Wan Tong to him, wide-eyed and tongue-tied as they stared at the torn-asunder memorial he held. Wan An grew dreadfully enraged, to the point that he called Liu Ji by his derogatory name. Liu Cottonflower, are you courting death?! What I tore wasnt His Majestys letter, but a mere memorial, Liu Ji answered passively. It was an accidental slip of my hand. Im afraid you will need to rewrite it, Yuanweng. Saying so, he stuffed the memorial he had signed into his pocket. Wan An was near about struck stupid by this mans audacity! Clearly, he had written his name down a moment before, but when Tang Fan made a racket, he had gone back on his word! Even if he had regrets, a dignified Solon still had the cheek to do something like tear a memorial, right in front of everybody! It was not only Wan An, but all the others that were staring at Liu Ji in a daze, not reacting at all. His nickname of Liu Cottonflower had not been in vain. Someone that could remain unscathed beneath many years of continuous verbal and written castigation by censors would have to be someone beyond the average. When it came to thick faces, if Vice Vizier Liu had second place, no one in the Great Ming would dare to have first place. With that rip, Wan An knew their great momentum was gone. Like Liu Ji, the reason why they had been deceived was, for one, that Wan Ans group had put in a strong first hit, and for two, there had been the pressure of the nearby Brocade Guards. Something like this could not be repeated, because as soon as the others woke up, there would be no second chance. Furthermore, Liu Ji had just destroyed the joint memorial, which was his ploy to completely deny his part. As for Xu Pu, with Tang Fan and Liu Jian around, he was even more unlikely to concede. All of the advantages that the Wan party had wracked its brains building were now dumped into the river, vanished without a trace. Wan Ans mood was a bit down. He sat right down, not even wanting to say anything. Wan Tong was of a similar mood. He tightly gripped the hilt of his sabre, itching to leap up and cut Liu Ji and Tang Fan into bits. However, logic told him not to do that, so he took extreme effort to endure, the fat on his face trembling. In the end, he could only puff hot air out of his nostrils, turn, and leave. With their leader going, those he had brought with him naturally followed after. Hold it! Tang Fan announced. Envoy Wan, arent you forgetting something? Wan Tong had a breath of noxious air stuck in his chest that wanted to come out, but couldnt. Hearing this, he turned around to spit out nastily, What would I forget?! After so many years, the people of the Court had long come to an agreement: Every day that Consort Wan existed was a day the Wan party would not fall. As a core of the Wan party and her brother, it didnt matter if Wan Tong whipped up a massive catastrophe; as long as he didnt want to overthrow the Great Ming or plot a rebellion, the Emperor wouldnt do anything to him. Those that opposed him generally wouldnt have a good end, either. For that reason, even if people refused to yield to the Wan party, they would always stay far away from it, and wouldnt provoke it if they didnt have to. Like today, for example; even though the party had lost and failed at the last moment, Wan Tong was still that arrogant Wan Tong who no one could provoke. Everyone had been happy to see this pestilence god off, never having expected that Tang Fan would take it upon himself to provoke him. Xu Pu was somewhat worried, opening his mouth in want to help Tang Fan with mediation so that he wouldnt offend Wan Tong severely, but when he saw Liu Jian watching Wan Tong with an indignant look, he was forced to swallow the words in his mouth back down, smile bitterly on the inside, and feel himself to be too much of a pushover. No wonder Tang Fan and Liu Jian had been blocked outside; if only he had been let in, then forced to sign, he wouldnt have had Liu Jis shamelessness to repent. He would have just dug a hole and buried himself in it. At that point, he knew that Tang Fans method was the right one. Stately Viziers getting pushed around by someone would only cause others to think them powerless, should their hues not be returned to them. How could they lead the officials, then? Tang Fan raised the letter, saying coldly, Barging into the Pavilion without authorization means you should face the rod and reproach, to say nothing of you rushing in with Brocade Guards. If the Cabinet was to allowed anyone to come and go as they see fit, where is the law of our forebears? Where is the law of the Court?! Wan Tong glared at Tang Fan, a dense wish to kill in his eyes. In that moment, there was no doubt in anyones minds that if he could have, he likely would have cut Tang Fan down. Liu Jian had even taken a step forward, planning to come up and stop him in case things got dire. However, Wan Tong ultimately did nothing. Despite his lack of good traits and his reliance on his sister to reach his current position, he was not an idiot completely without sophisticated thought. What do you want, then? he asked, teeth bared in extreme anger. Go with me to confirm how right you are with the Emperor, or apologize to all the Solons present, Tang Fan answered mildly. Your choice. Solon Tang, youve set your heart on opposing me, right? Wan Tong particularly enunciated. Tang Fan shook his head. Why would I oppose you for no reason? Im managing affairs that are well within my position. I only want to protect the dignity of the Court and the Cabinet; if word of this spreads out, future generations will imitate you. What accusation will you deserve then, Envoy Wan? Wan Tong had no argument, because Tang Fans every word had stabbed him in his weakpoint. This had been plotted by the Wan party to begin with, first using the celestial phenomena to build momentum, having Ji Xiao and Li Zisheng hint for the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince, then having Wan Tong put forth a proposal for the Cabinet to take the lead in this, in order to lessen the talk the deposition would trigger and cause the Emperor to agree. This had been something Wan Tong had long discussed with Wan An and then. Once Wan Tong had received the Emperors approval, he was to bring the letter over, but to force the other non-Wan party Cabinet members to agree, he would also bring a squadron of Brocade Guards. And since Tang Fan was holding on to that point without letting go, if a fuss was made before the Emperor, Wan Tong would be in the wrong. Silence stretched out in the discussion hall. Everyone looked at the two of them, Wan Tong especially. The latter stared at Tang Fan, his scorching gaze seeming to want to glare a hole through him, but it seemed to have no effect on him, the others aura never ebbing in the slightly. It gave Wan Tong the very powerless feeling of punching a cottonflower. After a long deadlock, Wan Tong could only say, This humble official acknowledges my mistake! Please forgive me, gentlemen! His attitude in admitting his error was not much different than one for demanding a debt, but being able to force Wan Tong to bow his head was something that had never happened before. In that split second, everyone had a subtle feeling. It wasnt towards Wan Tong, but Tang Fan. In the Cabinet, one could pick out the qualifications of any single member, and they would be higher than Tang Fan. And yet, at a critical juncture, it was he who had maintained the Cabinets dignity. Wan Tong left after he spoke, but before he did, he gave Tang Fan a vicious glare. The rancor in that look could shock the heart. Tang Fan did not call out for him again, allowing the team of Brocade Guards to leave, then joining up with Liu Jian, because they had to apologize to the Head Vizier for being late this morning. Everyones mind were still immersed in what had just happened. Who cared if they were late? Wan An should have hated these two for ruining the Wan partys plan, but what purpose would there be in saying anything further? Opportunities were fleeting. If they were missed, they were missed. Like so, a massive incident that could have raised great waves was invisibly eliminated. By the time the other officials learned what had gone on in the Cabinet this morning, the storm would long be gone. Many felt as though this was not the end of things, inevitably apprehensive at heart. All levels of society spoke a lot of it, like mountain rain threatening to come over. After returning home from the palace, Solon Tang placed at the heart of this vortex just casually strolled to his sisters home to see his nephew, go over his coursework, and stay for dinner. It wasnt until Sui Zhou, off from work, came looking for him that he said goodbye to Tang Yu, her son, and Ah-Dong. Pelted with the ambiguous smiles of his sister and Ah-Dong, Tang Fan somewhat exasperatedly allowed their teasing. They had no idea what had gone on in the Cabinet that morning, nor did they know that what step the situation had developed to, tense inside, lax outside. If they did, Sui Zhou wouldnt have so easily come and picked him up. Tang Fan didnt wish for his relatives to worry about him. He had basically completely gone hostile with the Wan party. Although this morning had looked majestic from all sides, where even Wan Tong had bowed his head to him, the party hated him to the core, and would certainly not let things lie. The next vicious battlw was already brewing. After Wan Tong had left the Pavilion, the Cabinet meeting couldnt proceed. Soon following, Tang Fan and Liu Jian brought the letter into the palace, and harshly complained about Wan Tong to the Emperor. On account of Wan Tong having acted improperly, him barging into the Pavilion with Brocade Guard was very likely to get people talking, the Crown Princes whole deposition aside. The Emperor had no way to excuse Wan Tong, instead forced to console the Cabinet and berate Wan Tong. The issue of the letter was left up in the air. Sui Zhou had not been idle when this happened, of course. The Brocade Guard was not entirely under his control right now, with a portion still loyal to Wan Tong. Basically, Wan Tong and him each had one half of the influence in the Guard, with Sui Zhou having a slight advantage. Still, the Brocade Guard was not Sui Zhous whole domain. It had been due to Wan Tong being a real Commanding Envoy that he had been able to mobilize people for the palace. After the Emperor had reprimanded Wan Tong, Sui Zhou had seized the chance to re-organize the Brocade Guard again. Such was why he looked slightly worn-down upon appearing before Tang Fan. Have you eaten yet? Tang Fan breezily took the lantern he held. Sui Zhou shook his head. Im not hungry. Youre not hungry, yet you must eat. I havent been to the wonton stall in the citys north for a long time. Lets go! I want a bowl of it, too! Didnt you just eat your fill? Tang Fans face did not go red and heart did not jump at being seen through. I didnt eat much just now, really. I can have some scallion youbing. The wonton stall still stood. Because the day was getting later, the customers were gradually dwindling. Tang Fan hadnt been here for a some time, yet the owner still recognized him at a glance, enthusiastically calling for them to sit. Sir, that beardless friend of yours seems to have not come here for a long time, he casually chatted. You still remember him? Tang Fan asked with a smile. The vendor smiled back. Of course I do! Last time he was here, he fought with the Eastern Depot while I was here. It was quite impressive, and difficult to forget! The Eastern Depot has always been arrogant that fight was pretty satisfying! The Eastern Depot is under new management. It acts very low-key now, not arrogant. Really? No wonder I havent seen them come over in such a long time! the vendor said, confused, then slapped his forehead. Look at this memory of mine; when I start talking, I dont stop. What would you two like to eat? This lowly one will go make it! Bring two bowls of wontons, and one scallion youbing One bowl, Sui Zhou said. One-and-a-half bowls. One bowl. The vendor was quiet. In the end, Tang Dan admitted defeat. One bowl, then. Listen to him. I want two youbing, though. The vendor smiled apologetically at that. Im sorry, Sir Tang. The youbing are sold out. Seeing his whole being appear to droop listlessly, Sui Zhou had a smile in his eyes, lightly patting his hand. It isnt good to overeat for dinner. Ill share the bowl with you later. Solon Tang brought all of his haggling drive. The two bowls. Sui Zhou ignored him. The vendor came over bearing two cups of tea. Drink, Sirs. The wontons are in the pot, and will be ready soon! The tea was very average-quality wild yea, incomparable to what they typically drank, but Sui Zhou didnt mind, taking a sip of his. Whenever he had abroad business, he would experience unforgiving environments; a cup of coarse tea was nothing to speak of. Huai En might be heading for Nanjing, he said. Tang Fan was caught off guard, his motion to get his own tea cup stopped midway. What happened? He urged His Majesty to not listen to the celestial phenomenas statement, and spoke up for the Crown Prince. His Majesty got angry, so he sent him to be an Incense Tender at the Ming tombs. Incense Tender was a real position for tomb-guardings, responsible for putting incense on the memorial tablets every day. The dignified Supervisor of Ceremony Management being assigned to watch over tombs in Nanjing was a treatment as different as sky and soil. Most importantly, everyone knew that Huai En was quite protective of the Crown Prince. This development would certainly deal a heavy blow to the the Crown Prince partys power. After Huai En, who else would dare to speak up for the Prince? Tang Fan creased his brow. What about Wang Zhi? Is he alright? For now, but the situation right now isnt great. You should be more careful. Tang Fan nodded. I know. You, too. While they spoke, piping-hot wontons were brought out. Tang Fans expression immediately changed from deadly serious to severely salivating; he eagerly water Sui Zhou bow his head to spoon some broth, gaze too burning for anyone to ignore. Sui Zhou had to pass the brimming spoon, which had one wonton in it, over to the others mouth. Dont do that. Ill eat by myself, Mister Tang said, putting on an air. Sui Zhou turned his spoon right around and brought it to his own mouth. Not caring if anyone was watching, Tang Fan grabbed the others wrist, then brought the spoon to his side, finally getting the in-limbo wonton into his mouth. The umami of the chicken broth and wonton flooded his tastebuds, fully satisfying him at last. Give me another? he said, sweet-talking Sui Zhou. The latter was disinclined to acknowledge him, simply bowing his head to start eating. Unlike Tang Fans peace within hardship, the Emperor was in an especially horrible mood right about now. He had just started falling asleep, then had a nightmare. The scene of his dreams was hard for him to shake off. Therefore, the frail Emperor disregarded the chilly weather, and left his bedroom that had the warm earth-dragon of a kang, descended the white jade steps, and walked aimlessly down the long palace path. Towering palace halls in daylight had transformed into oscillating black behemoths, hidden within darkness by nights cover. In the massive Forbidden City, were candles to be lit up all over the place, the expenses for it would undoubtedly be immense. To cut costs, palace-goers had to reduce the amount of candles used. From far away, the speckles of palace lights made the atmosphere all the more mysterious. With Huai En not here, no one dared to come up and persuade him. A few young eunuchs had no choice but to follow the Emperor as he wandered all around, one with a meaningful look already turning his head and going to inform the Noble Consort, quick as flight. The Emperors movements were doubtlessly abnormal, but ever since he started believing in Daoist magic, this was not the first time such a curious scene had been seen. Your Majesty Seeing him walk farther and farther, a eunuch trembled uneasily. He had wanted to speak up to advise him, only for the Emperor to turn his head and stop his words, the look in his eyes extraordinarily harsh, unlike a sick persons at all. Silence! the Emperor said. We heard something like someone calling for us Why would anyone be calling the Emperors taboo name? And why would anyone call for him in the middle of the night? The eunuch was truly terrified, not daring to speak. Then, the Emperor turned many corners, going all around. It was unknown how far they had walked, until the eunuch actually did hear some whispering at a corner up ahead. He automatically lightened his footsteps and held his breath. Once he heard the contents of the words clearly, his complexion changed. CH 141 The palace was utterly silent at night. The cries of bugs and birds, and even the sound of footsteps coming from far away, were audible, likely due to heavy echoes. It had snowed tonight, leaving a thick layer of white snow on the ground. The dim candlelight illuminated a large range by means of the snows contrast. The woven soles of black silk shoes noiselessly stepped upon it, the cold wind happening to occasionally bring words right into the Emperors ears. The Crown Prince has an ominous, yet sturdy fate. I heard that he was born poisoned in the womb, yet he ended up surviving Thats nothing. You dont know that when he was sealed as the Crown Prince, his birth mother died Birth mother? Consort Ji! Ah, even his mother has passed does His Majesty really want to depose him this time? Isnt everyone saying that those celestial signs really are related to the Crown Prince? Shhh What are you afraid of? Its spread all over the outside by now, and we didnt say it first. Every one of them has said as much. Think about it; His Majestys health being lacking is related to the Crown Prince too, right? Because his fate is ominous, his mother passed, and Hearing this, the face of the eunuch following the Emperor morphed. He immediately stepped forth to prevent the others from continuing to speak such taboo. However, as soon as he took a few steps, his arm was pulled. He turned his head to see that the Emperor had actually grabbed him. Not only that, he was stopping him from making a sound, a harsh look in his eyes. The eunuch was a little worried. He had no idea what the Emepror was thinking. He had grown up in the Palace and knew that he had heard tonight, he should not have, and even if he did, he had to convey that he didnt remember it. Under normal circumstances, if the two speakers ahead of them were caught, they would be beaten to death. Now, however, the Emperor said nothing, only standing there quietly to listen for a bit. It wasnt under the two switched to chatting about other things that he turned around, going back along the road he had come. He wasnt going to get to the bottom of the twos crimes. He was hurried after. His footsteps were unexpectedly quick, almost unlike someone still bedridden. Your Majesty the eunuch had to call out. The Emperor seemed not to hear him, though, going faster and faster. He didnt stop, not until he reached the steps of the Palace of Heavenly Clarity. Someone was standing on the steps, looking back at him from far away. Upon seeing the other, the Emperors expression suddenly eased, showing a tenderness that he had never unveiled before even his own mother. He took a few steps up. Out of fear, the eunuch followed close after, yet didnt dare to reach out and help him, fearing that the Emperor would step on air and suddenly take a tumble. Thankfully, no such thing happened. The one welcoming them stood before the palace entryway, reached her hands out to the Emperor, and caught his own firmly. Why have you gone for a walk so late at night wearing so little, Your Majesty? What if you get even sicker? Expression sinking, her tone of voice towards the Emperor even somewhat impetuous, but he didnt care at all, giving a reliant smile. Sister Wan, you should come sleep with us tonight. Without you, we cannot rest. A forty-year-old man, using a spoiled tone of voice if those words came out of an Emperor, they would be even more terrifying. However, the other was clearly used to him talking like that, not softening her tone or posture because of them, still persistent. Your harem has so many beauties in it. As long as you want it, there will someone new accompanying you every night. Why would you still need an old bag like me? The Emperor smiled. You are not old. In our mind, you will never be old. The two held hands, leaning on each other as they entered the Palaces back bedroom. The eunuch quietly wiped his sweat off. Looking at the tall woman holding the Emperors hand, he had some inexplicable awe within. She wasnt pretty, nor did she need to take care in currying favor with the Emperor while interacting with him, unlike other concubines. On the contrary, she laughed when she wanted to, raged when she wanted to, and even made noisy scenes when angered, giving the Emperor no face and the latter tolerated it. Even with the Princes and Princesses being born in succession, no one in the harem could yet replace her position. Even though the woman was a year older than the present Empress Dowager, to the point that the Dowager would not allow her to be Empress for the life of her, her status otherwise, in all degrees, had long surpassed the current Empresss. At the Emperors insistence, no one inside the palace or outside in the Court could change that fact. Despite not having a young, jade-like appearance, in the Emperors heart, she would always been one-of-a-kind. Making the connection of the Emperor having heard those taboo words yet not reacting in the slightest, the eunuchs heart thumped. He couldnt help but think on the inside, Is the Crown Prince really going to be deposed this time? Most people had no inkling of what had happened in the palace, let alone what the Emperor had heard, and what idea it had produced. The twelfth month of the twenty-second year of Chenghua was at its end. It was destined to be a year and month of unrest. Still, regardless of how tense the situation was in secret, life that should be lived was going to be lived. Swapping out the Crown Prince made no difference to average citizens, nor did it have any influence on the majority of officials. Not long after Peng Yichuns promotion to Minister of Justice, according to standard practice, even if one was subdued in actions and didnt want to wantonly party, it was always a must to invite all of his bureaus colleagues and subordinates for a dinner. Everyone toiled in working for their higher ups; from now on, they would be interacting all the time, and as officials, they couldnt elect to say nothing ever. The dinner was determined for Immortal Guest. Peng Yichun invited Tang Fan, as well. This was not only because Tang Fan now held power in the Cabinet for the Ministry of Justice, but also because Peng Yichun would not have risen to be Minister, had it not been for Tang Fans recommendation. He might have a long seniority in the Ministry, but there had always been others pushing down on his head; before, it had been Liang Wenhua, and then later, it had been someone else. Tang Fan could have held the simultaneous post of Minister of Justice, so, if he hadnt relinquished authority himself, the title of Minister would not be Peng Yichuns to have, no matter what. In light of that, Peng Yichun acknowledged the favor, and felt deep gratitude towards Tang Fan. When it came to daily work, he had reversed his previous style of muddling through life to do all he could in keeping up with Tang Fans pace. What happened above, those below would imitate. Mister Minister and the Cabinet had a harmonious relationship, no one needed to waste energy on relentless wrangling and social niceties, and their day-to-day efficiency had naturally improved by a lot. Amongst the corresponding combinations between the Cabinet and Six Ministries, the Tang Fan-Peng Yichun pair could be said to have the utmost of rapport. The Ministry of Justice had many workers, but this time, only officials at sixth-rank and above were invited. There were enough to seat two tables full. Peng Yichun had reserved a private room in Immortal Guest ahead of time, which happened to have just that. After getting off work today, Justice officials of lower rank had mutually determined to arrive in succession. There had always been an unwritten rule in officialdom that higher ranks were to come later; therefore, after the Administrators and Chiefs had sat down, higher officials like the Assistant Ministers and Minister were yet to arrive. (Tang Fan actually didnt intent to be late, but he was still in a Cabinet meeting right now.) Those that had arrived first had nothing to do, simply chatting about anything and everything, somehow getting to Tang Fan. As the most shallow in experience of all the present Cabinet members, he was the subject of envy for many. Entry into the Cabinet aside, even if one looked at officials above third-rank, there might not be anyone as young as him. Many were present right now that had interacted with him back in the Ministry. No one had believed that that minor, fifth-rank Chief would be able to fly to this height after a few years. Looking at him, then at themselves, inevitably gave rise to some mixed emotions of being rueful, or wronged. Thinking of the very beginning, when he had offended Liang Wenhua, everyone had believed that his official career was finished; at best, he would have come back as a minor admin of some locality, impossible for him to return to the capital without great opportunities and great luck. In a wink, he had gone to the Inspectorate, then become their overhead superior yet again, where everyone could only look up to him. The overwhelming majority of them would never reach his height in all their lives. In spite of everyone saying that being an official was hard and simmering qualifications in the Cabinet was even harder, if they could switch, they would all probably want to go into the Cabinet right now. Junqi, has Solon Tang told you anything about the recent celestial phenomena? As soon as He Xuan sat down, he heard someone ask him that. As the younger brother of Tang Fans brother-in-law, when He Xuan had just entered the Ministry, many had been genuinely jealous of him. However, after not too long, everyone had learned about the separation of Lady Tang and He Xuans older brother, and their views had quickly changed. The had felt that the Hes really didnt have any pearls of wisdom, to have failed in keeping those in-laws. In private, they had also joked about what kind of shrew Tang Fans sister must have been, for He Xuans brother to have found it hard to keep going on like that, and want to separate from her. After that, Tang Fans path had gone on many twists, turns, ups, and down. Everyone had then believed that the Hes were really clairvoyant, knowing that Tang Fans career would be rocky and severing the relationship early, so that they wouldnt be implicated by him. Unexpectedly, in a blink of the eye, Tang Fan had entered the Cabinet. The speed of this change was stupefying, leaving one unable to react at all. At that moment, some had been under the impression that the Tang and He families got along like fire and water, wanting to use the occasional changes Tang Fan walked about the Ministry of Justice to make He Xuan stumble in public, thus pleasing Solon Tang. The latter had not appreciated that, however, instead being very cordial to He Xuan while everyone was watching. He would also ask him about many things related to daily work in the Ministry of Justice, which was not at all the look of two enemy families. No one understood anything at that point, but they thereby understood one truth: Dont go patting a horses rump to flatter it, because you never know when youll end up accidentally patting the horses leg. Beyond that, Solong Tang was not the sort that liked to avenge private matters by public means, nor bring grudges into official business. Any wish to use He Xuan as a means of currying favor or attacking Tang Fan was not going to bear fruit. Recently, with the frequent celestial oddities, Tang Fan and Liu Jiang had publicly clashed with Wan Tong; that event had long gone the rounds. Liu Ji ripping up the joint memorial was another object of laughter. Even if they had no direct connection to it, the Crown Princes deposition involved all of society. This fuss in the Cabinet, Huai En getting set to Nanjing, and the Emperors unclear attitude made everyone uneasy, though they said nothing. There was always a hope that they could get some confidential information a bit sooner, else they would still be scared and confused when the weather changed again. Thus, upon hearing this, everyone successively turned to look at He Xuan. The latter just shook his head with a smile. I havent met with Solon Tang in many days. Furthermore, with something as important as that, even if we did meet, why would he tell me? They all felt that that made sense. Why would such a thing be talked about just wherever? Even so, Tang Fans attitude was evident; judging by his crossing of swords with Wan Tong, Solon Tang very likely fell on the Crown Princes side. The other two Solons, Liu Jian and Xu Pu, ought to be the same. Everyone here had grown up reading the books of sages, and the Crown Prince was a completely above-board eldest heir that met every criterion for heir apparent. They feared the might of the Wan party, and many dared not say so aloud, but they doubtlessly leaned relatively more towards the Crown Prince. Tang Fan had spoken out of a sense of righteousness. The instant news of the Wan partys fall in prestige spread, a lot of people had promptly slapped their tables and cried out in cheer. He had said what they had been too scared to say, and did what they had been too scared to do all else aside, that valor and courage was enough to incite a lot of admiration. And yet, as soon as He Xuan said that, someone nearby huffed coldly. Someone angling for fame like him would never dare to rashly speak of heavenly omens! What sort of idiot would say something that tactless, knowing well that Tang Fan would come here? Everyone looked over at the sound, then immediately had an epiphany. It had been Xu Bang, Chief of the Zhejiang Office. This guy was attached to the Wan party, so he found Tang Fan displeasing to the eye every which way. The others didnt want to provoke him, but He Xuan could not keep his silence, raising his brows. Angling for what fame? Do explain, Chief Xu. Xu Bang side-eyed him. What happened in the Cabinet that day has long gone around. Who doesnt know about it? If he really was full of righteousness, why did he not display his strength in speaking up for the Crown Prince, instead only holding on to the rule that outsiders could not enter the Pavilion of Literary Profundity? What could that be, if not angling for fame?! In reality, this was Tang Fans spot of brilliance. Under the circumstances that had been, Wan Tong hadnt said anything about whether the Crown Prince should be deposed. Had Tang Fan brought up the Crown Prince, it would have instead caused a pointless dispute that would have easily given others a source of gossip. However, in Xu Bangs mouth, Tang Fan had instead become a villain seeking glory and adding to his own reputation. He Xuan sneered at him. Since youre so righteous, Chief Xu, then the next time someone acts unfavorably towards the Crown Prince, you should step out and speak on his behalf! As a Great Ming official, our loyalty should be to His Majesty. The Crown Prince is the succeeding heir now, but he still has to actually succeed! Xu Bang answered, refusing to show weakness. Whats inappropriate with what Solon Tang said, then? The fight between him and Envoy Wan was a debate of Court laws. About how much was for the Crown Princes sake? He imitated that look of his brothers that had once angered his father, a disdainful expression that said, Idiots arent worth speaking with. It made Xu Bang angry enough to choke. However, before he could think up a retort, the door of the private room opened. Minister Peng Yichun and his Assistant Ministers walked in, escorting Tang Fan. Everyone got up to bow, the dispute between Xu Bang and He Xuan left unresolved. The former had only dared to talk smack behind his back; to Tang Fans face, he had to properly get up and greet him like all the rest. Tang Fan and them had no idea that before they got there, there had been a scene of quarrel playing out. Noticing that the ambience was a bit rigid, Tang Fan believed that their arrivals had made everyone less at ease, so he joked. Minister Peng is treating us to dinner today. None of you need to be polite, so just order whatever good food and wine you want to eat, or else youll regret it! Hearing that, everyone started laughing cheerfully. Try to leave me some money, Sir, lest I have to eat the northwestern wind this month, Peng Yichun jested as well. Tang Fan laughed. Never fear now that the cold winter is about to pass, youll be drinking in spring breezes no matter what! Following a few jokes, the atmosphere slowly came alive. Everyone raised their cups, one after the other, stepping up in turn to toast Peng Yichuns promotion. They didnt forget the nearby Tang Fan, of course, as he was also a protagonist today. After three rounds of wine, dishes came out sequentially. Minister Peng was a generous man; feeling that his subordinates had spent a long time being impoverished capital officials, he made use of today to order very many dishes. The skills of Immortal Guests cooks were above the norm, each dish being incomparably exquisite. Upon witnessing the higher-ups speak in low voices, everyone quit stepping up to bother them, beginning to chow down at great speed. Tang Fan coming to this occasion gave Peng Yichun face in and of itself, meaning he wasnt required to stay until the end of the dinner. Him sitting there would make everyone else afraid to let loose. Therefore, after drinking a few cups of wine, he got up to take his leave. Peng Yichun sent him off at the private rooms doorways, wanting to see him off outside, but Tang Fan refused. Immortal Guest was famed in the capital, many feeling that treating people to a meal here was impressive and dignified. In comparison, Immortal Cloud out around back was a bit more out of reach. It was currently the beginning of lanterns-on, a commotion going on inside and out. This was the second floor, with private rooms all about. The soundproofing had been made well; no matter how noisy it was outside, only faint sounds would get in, not affecting nearby customers. Tang Fan came here often, long familiar with the scenery. He had no need to find a worker to lead him out. When he left the private room, he walked straight in the direction of the stairwell. However, after going no more than a few steps, the door to the private room next to him suddenly opened, the laughter and noise from inside pouring into his ears. Before he had time to furrow his brow, an aromatic wind flew at his face from the side. Immediately following that, a flower was before his eyes, and his shoulder was bumped into hard. He automatically peeled back a few steps, only coming to a stop at contact with a nearby balustrade because there was an extra person in his arms. Thank your for your help, Don. Can this lowly woman ask you for a favor? The one he held spoke coquettishly, lifting her white jade face up, her slightly-knit, painted brows like faraway mountains, very moving. Skin came into contact, her hand that Tang Fan held delicate and boneless. A warm fragrance wafted over from her clothes, which would make any normal mans heart soften up. Tang Fan was doubtlessly normal, but after witnessing Xiao Wus divine beauty, he felt that the woman in front of him was nothing more than mid-grade. He wanted to let her go, but the others hand came out of her sleeve to grab his own, her expression beseeching. The hair around her face was a bit disordered, her lips red and swollen. She had obviously just experienced something in the private room. Still, Tang Fan pulled her hand off. Miss Before he could say the men and women arent to be close part, two more people quickly came out of the private room. You whore! Youve been out for not even a minute, and you hooked up with another man?! Hearing that voice, the woman trembled, hiding behind Tang Fan more desperately and hugging him around the waist, unable to be pulled off. Don, help me she said, quivering. The others grew even angrier at seeing this, pointing at Tang Fan and hollering, You dare to snatch my woman right in front of me, prettyboy? Are you tired of being alive?! Tang Fan frowned, then shouted Let go!, but at the woman. She obviously hadnt expected that he would be unmoved by beauty, scared into letting go. Tang Fan immediately pushed her off, but she was quick to react, jumping forth to hug him tightly on the thigh and sobbing out, Don, you clearly just said that you were willing to stick up for me! Why are you going back on your word now?! Tang Fan was speechless for a short moment, then said to the young dandy that came out of the private room, You see? Shes bugging me. I was only passing by. The man grinned out of anger at hearing that. If you werent acquainted before this, why would she seek help from you alone? Are you saying youre not an adulterer?! His voice and this commotion was making many people from the surrounding private rooms poke their heads out to watch. Someone from Peng Yichuns side also came out; after seeing Tang Fan, they suffered a start, quickly went back in to say something, and then everyone else hurried out after not too long. Someone recognized the young man. Isnt that Solon Yins son? Hearing that, everyone reached an understanding. Don Yin was an unrestrained fop of the capital. The capital had many fops, but the reason Don Yin was famous was not only because he was Yin Zhis son, but because he could play around. From the capitals flower lanes to pubs and gambling dens, traces of Don Yins figure never faded in some aspects, he was even more well-known than his father. Clearly, he had been pleasure-seeking with his rogue friends at Immortal Cloud, only for it to have been cut off halfway. Everyone looked at Yin Qi, then at Tang Fan, then at the woman behind Tang Fan. Things were hard to judge for a while. That woman had good looks, but Solon Tang wouldnt be so ravenous as to vie for her affections with some else in a place like this, right? Tang Fan couldnt pry her off, so he simply let her go. If he used to much force, when he pulled her off, she would pull his pants off along with her. That would be a loss of face beyond description. A grand Solon getting pantsed by a woman in a restaurant, which dozens of people on-scene had witnessed with their own eyes that scene might get recorded in the history books for later generations to laugh at. Seeing all this, Peng Yichun said sternly, Don Yin, this is a Cabinet member that works alongside your father. Solon Tang only came here today at my invitation! If Tang Fan had just exited a private room to grab Yin Qis woman, he would never believe that. However, were this to get out, no one else would dive into the specifics, only taking Tang Fans conduct as dishonorable. If this Courts censors got words, they wouldnt need actual facts to make a huge mess, turning it into a real stain on Tang Fans reputation. However, Yin Qi didnt entertain him at all, looking down on him with his chin up. And who are you? I am Minister Peng Yichun of Justice! he answered, restraining his anger. Yin Qi huffed. So what?! A man of power can rely on his status to snatch someone elses woman?! Peng Yichuns nose nearly went crooked in annoyance. What snatching? Who was snatching? This was simple a reversal of black and white, an outright annoyance! Yin Qi sneered at Tang Fan again. Tang, let me tell you this you better return my woman to be as quick as possible, else itll spread outside that a dignified Solon snatched someone elses woman at a restaurant! Well see what end you have, then! Even if his father was also in the Cabinet, and even if his father ranked higher than Tang Fan, people like him not at all impressed and bold enough to set off a bunch of rot at Tang Fans face were not many. A lot of customers had been drawn by the commotion. Even those on the first floor had ascended to watch, many people crowding inside and out. Tang Fan still had a woman holding his thigh. Those that didnt know the inside story had already begun to cook up scenario of fighting over a woman, especially after they learned of Tang Fans identity. Scenarios like that would only get more outrageous the more they spread; by tomorrow, there might be rumors that he had an illegitimate child with this woman. And, if those rumors got more fervent, censors would denounce him, and he would have to present his resignation according to standards. Under this sky, there was no one apart from Liu Cottonflower that could persistently refuse to walk after being denounced by censors. A modest nobleman like Tang Fan would be likely to do such a thick-faced thing even less. Him being at the bottom of the Cabinet lineup aside, his open rebuke of Wan Tong had already spread all over the capital. Without him, those few in the Cabinet would not be enough to contend with the Wan party, and the Crown Prince partys power would also be badly hit. Even Huai En had been demoted and departed from the capital if Tang Fan left as well, who would be able to stop the Wan party? Thinking of that, Peng Yichuns heart felt a shock. He really couldnt be derided as overthinking it. Yin Qi was Yin Zhis son, and Yin Zhi was a backbone of the Wan party. Now that Tang Fan and the party were irreconcilable, who could not tell the connection between the two? What Peng Yichun thought of, Tang Fan had thought of, too/ For that reason, he didnt pull the woman off, nor even look at her, focusing his attention solely on Yin Qi from start to finish. Yin Qi was being a hassle, and getting stared at by Tang Fan gave him a guilty conscience. What are you looking at? he asked, putting on a show of strength. Are you trying to deny it?! Im telling you, Im a law-abiding civilian! Dont think you can bully me just because youre a Cabinet Vizier! Those words could make a pig laugh. If Don Yin here was law-abiding, there was not a single good citizen in all the land. Still, he had deliberately emphasized the words Cabinet Vizier, in order to make everyone know what Tang Fans status was, add mud to the water, and blacken Tang Fans name to death. Peng Yichun blamed himself a bit; he had invited Tang Fan here, after all. Had he insisted upon seeing Tang Fan off at the door, things might not be like this. However, he had forgotten that the other was consciously attempting to make trouble for Tang Fan. Regardless of whether he was by his side or not, Tang Fan would have never gotten away. Right when Peng Yichun was about to step forth and put this inconvenience onto himself, he heard Tang Fan say, Youre right. I did indeed come here for this woman. He admitted it himself? Everyone looked at Tang Fan in shock, thinking that he had been angered into losing his composure, and thus had smashed the already-broken jar. Yin Qi was also caught off guard, then laughed aloud. So you admit it! A stately Cabinet Solon ran off to a restaurant to steal someone elses woman! Is this really a Vizier of our Great Ming? With people like you in it, how could this Court get any better?! CH 142 In the face of everyones strange looks, Tang Fan acted like nothing was wrong, turning to say to Peng Yichun, Old Peng, go send someone to the Brocade Guards Capital Envoy Office, and tell them that Court rebels were discovered here. Have them send people over. Pitiful Peng Yichun, in spite of being a Minister, was shocked into a stutter by that. Wh what Court rebels? Tang Fan pointed to the woman hugging his thigh. I suspect that shes connected to the last dregs of the White Lotus Society. If that isnt treachery, what is? Why is no one heading out? Sir, this humble official will go! He Xuan stood out to say. Glancing at him, Tang Fan nodded. Quickly, then. He Xuan cupped his hands, hurrying downstairs without another word. Yin Qi watched He Xuans back as he left, astonished. He only reacted after a good minute, saying angrily, Tang Fan, this is slander! Hm, no eyes on the law. Youre a peon, yet you called a Court official by his taboo name thats another level of offense. Tang Fans hands were behind his back, neat and orderly. Were it not for the person hanging off of him, that posture would be extraordinarily elegant and confident. As was natural, the pretty woman hugging his thigh right now was also in a daze. Dont you change black into white! Shes clearly a courtesan from Fragrance! How could she be a White Lotus leftover?! Yin Qi said, raising his voice. Tang Fan gave an oh. So, shes a Fragrance courtesan. You seem to know that quite well, when even I didnt!Idiot nephew Solon Yin lives a clean life, and if he knew that you were embracing a brothel woman while you played around here, youd likely anger him to death! Whether he would anger his dad to death or not, Yin Qi had no idea, but he definitely was about to rage to death from Tang Fan, himself! This guy was not even two years older than him, yet he was using his status to play the role of his elder! Also, people had only ever called him good nephew; what was this idiot nephew crap?! And yet, Tang Fan wasnt done scolding him, saying frostily, The White Lotus Society has harmed the nation and its people. Its leader has long been executed, but there are still some subordinates that slipped the net and scattered in all directions. Take this woman that uses a brothel as a false background; in reality, she colluded with the Society, specially exploiting you, an officials son, as an identity shield while she secretly conspired for mutiny! Mysteriously saddled with the charge of mutiny, the woman immediately looked frightened. With no care for her previous mission, she let Tang Fan go at once, and got up in a desire to escape. His eyes and hands were quick he grabbed her bun and hauled her backwards! She shrieked in pain, but he didnt have the slightest bit of pity. His actions were extremely quick, contrarily giving one the impression of poise. Everyone was dumbstruck seeing this, their scalps similarly aching faintly. Yin Qi was flustered. He had been ordered by his father to dump a basin of filth onto Tang Fan so that the censors could denounce which, which he had believed would be a cinch. Unexpectedly, it had not been so simple; he had clearly underestimated Tang Fan, getting challenged instead. Now, everyones attention was entirely drawn to the topic of rebellion. Upon seeing how roughly Tang Fan treated that woman, who would believe that he was vying for her love? Thinking of so, Yin Qi felt all the more anxious. If he could not complete his task, then when he back, his fathers face would probably be a hundred times uglier than when he usually heard that he had gone out to be dissolute. Tang Fan, youre obviously just embarrassed that I saw right through you! Youre still holding on to her right in front of me! Tang Fan sized him up a few rounds, looking doubtful. With how you defend her are you also associated with the Society? Why are you saying that shes connected to it?! Do you go grabbing random people on the road and saying that theyre from the Society, too?! Its because I crossed swords with the Society many times, then personally eliminated them, that I am qualified to speak about them, Tang Fan answered leisurely, I only need to look at each and every person here once to know whos colluding with the Society. Saying so, he looked up to scan the bustling crowd. Wherever his eyes went, people would subconsciously take a few steps back without fail. Some, not wanting to incite trouble, had already begun to turn and leave. Everyone knew the Society had been a great bunch of traitors that the Court had wiped out. Who wanted to be implicated as one? Furthermore, Tang Fan hadnt been doing nothing over these years. He wasnt wearing his officials uniform right now, his expression was mild, and no anger was displayed on him, yet the look in his eyes still held a deterring power that could not be clearly described. Few were brave enough to look directly at them. Even Yin Qis companion had gone from high spirits to cowing back, quietly tugging on his robe as he whispered, Brother Yin, how about we just go? Yin Qi was livid. He hadnt realized that under Tang Fans imposing aura, he himself had already started to go a little weak, only thinking that everyone else was a cowardly punk. If you all want to leave, do it! Im not! Don Yins competitive mindset was only aroused by them, shoving the guy away. He raised his chin slightly, peering at Tang Fan provocatively, full of a What can you even do to me? air. Who isnt leaving? said a cold voice from the stairs. Following a proclamation of The Brocade Guard is on a case, none are allowed to leave, the expressions of everyone watching the excitement changed to nervousness. Some individual wanted to slip out, but they had unfortunately missed the opportunity from not leaving before. The front and back entrances of Immortal Cloud were blocked by knife-wielding Brocade Guards, who were sizing each and every person like they were dead, enough to cause them terror. Anyone that could afford to spend money at Immortal Guest was generally not any sort of impoverished, but even Peng Yichuns group shuddered a bit upon hearing the name Brocade Guard, to say nothing of them. It was because their shadow was too profound, really. Brocade Guards belonged to the Emperors personal troops, and had always had the power to arrest first, send a memorial later. The fearsome name of the Bastille went without saying. However, with Tang Fans understanding of them, regardless of whatever bureau had good and bad people mixed in, the real Brocade Guards like Sui Zhou and Xue Ling were still ordinary humans of flesh and blood. At times, they were even more particular about camaraderie than the average person, but that did not diminish the fear most people had of them. Of course, they had no interest in clearing up their names to anyone else. In life, it was enough to know oneself guiltless at heart; if one wanted perfection in all pursuits, it would be much too exhausting. Sui Zhou stepped out from the crowd. His eyes first fell upon the woman that Tang Fan had caught by the hair, then imperceptibly across Tang Fans face, until it landed accurately on Yin Qi, ice-cold and murderous. Was it you who reported the case? Theres dregs of the White Lotus Society here? N-no dregs here! The Society isnt here! Despite forcing himself to pull together his grandeur, Yin Qis grandeur was really not anything in front of Sui Zhou, instead making him more short of breath and guilty. Were someone to be watching carefully right about now, they might discover that his legs had already begun to shake. Bastion Envoy Sui, I reported it. This woman was incited by someone to act errantly. I suspect that shes related to a White Lotus follower, Tang Fan said, expression calm. When he said this, he let go. The woman sat weakly upon the floor, collapsing into a wail. It wasnt me! Im not in the Society! It was Don Yin that ordered me to keep watch there and run into you when you passed by, then act like we were having an affair! He wanted to use that to sully your reputation! It has nothing to do with me! Please see reason, Sir! Those not aware of the truth had an epiphany at that, but those that were aware didnt need her explanation. They had long noticed the oddity. Don Yin is Solon Yins son. Why would he do something like this? You shouldnt slander people. It would be better for you to be forthcoming, so that you dont continue to suffer. Tang Fan looked towards Yin Qi with a false smile. Am I right, Don yin? Yin Qi jolted, hurried saying, Yesyesyes! Uncle Tang, that woman is connected to the Society! She not only wanted to assassinate you, but wanted to pour filth onto me! You should arrest her now! He had just said Tang Fan so derisively, yet not that had changed to Uncle Tang. The woman hadnt anticipated that she would instantly become a cast-off pawn, beyond stunned. She wanted to grab on to the life-saving stick near her again Tang Fan. However, before she could throw herself forth this time, her collar was firmly grasped from behind, and she was towed straight back as Sui Zhou tossed her at his subordinate next to him. Continuing off of Tang Fan, there was another who was unaffected by beauty. No one dared to open their mouth and speak for her, because no one wanted to be called a rebel. The Brocade Guards vicious reputation really was useful. No matter how many people were present, they were all scared into silence, not making a peep. Seeing that circumstances were not promising, Yin Qi wanted to turn and sneak away. His actions were too obvious to onlookers, though, and he was quickly blocked by two Guards that showed up out of nowhere. Youre Yin Qi? Sui Zhou asked. Yin Qi strove to straighten up and look a bit more imposing within the others frigid scrutiny. Yes! My father is the Minister of War, Grand Protector of the Crown Prince, Yin Zhi. Sui Zhou seemed to not hear his implication, saying to his subordinates, Take him away, too. Hold on! Yin Qis expression changed. What sovereign law have I broken?! You dont have the right to arrest me! Since the woman is related to the Society and you were the one that brought her in, who can verify that you have nothing to do with the Society yourself? Sui Zhou asked coldly. With that, he didnt feel like speaking more nonsense, waving his hand. The Brocade Guards stepped forth, ignoring Yin Qis struggle as they firmly grabbed him. Of his companions, not a one was let go. Sui Guangchuan, you crony! You dare to arrest people on your own?! Im going to tell my dad, just you wait! Youll never stop suffering from this! he shouted out. The Wan party had made Yin Qi do this. From the beginning, it couldnt be labeled a mistake. Had Tang Fan been a little less quick-witted, or had a moment of non-response, a basin of filth water would very likely be dumped on his head by now. When tomorrow came, everyone in the capital would have known that Tang Fan fought over a woman with Yin Zhis son. Yin Zhi, at most, would be scolded with a failure to teach his son properly, while Tang Fan would be flamed as a disgrace to refinement, with an outside that didnt match the inside. Thing had developed in an unsuspected way. No one could have known that Tang Fan would have such a speedy counterattack. Brother, do you want me to stuff up his mouth? Xue Ling asked quietly. No. Let him keep yelling. Its his father thatll lose face, in any case, Sui Zhou answered similarly. Then thats that. Ill make him scream some more things out! Xue Ling laughed, his tone filled with schadenfreude. He stepped up and smacked Yin Qi on the back of his skull. What are you yelling about?! How could Solon Yin have a son like you?! Youre even trying to steal someones identity! Lets walk over to the Bastille before we talk more take him away! The second Yin Qi heard Bastille, his soul was scared out of him, and sharply shrieked. I really am Yin Zhis son! If you dont believe me, go ask the Yin Estate! The Ministry of Justice group stood at the side, entirely unable to intervene. All they could do was observe until the end, watching as Yin Qi and the rest were taken away. A trap that had likely been aimed for Tang Fan had turned into a true farce, with no need to continue watching it. Peng Yichun sighed in relief at last, apologizing, Sir, everything that happened tonight was because of me. If I hadnt invited you over, this wouldnt have Tang Fan waved him off. If it wasnt tonight, it would be another night. I just cost them face, so why would they give up? A wave of anger rushed into Peng Yichuns heart. Even an inoffensive man like him had to say out of annoyance, The Wan part is much too Tang Fan stopped him from saying the rest. Danchen, this has nothing to do with you. Dont get mixed up in it. Peng Yichuns was over sixty, while Tang fan was not yet thirty. The age difference between them was massive. Listening to his chiding now, contrarily being the one instructed, actually gave Peng Yichun no dissatisfaction at all. He knew that Tang Fan had the qualifications to do so. However, it was also precisely because of that that Peng Yichun felt this to be all the more unfair to Tang Fan. Sir, he said, calming down a bit, if someone tells the censors to send memorials denouncing you, I wish to use my own innocence and this black hat on my head as a guarantee that I will come forward and testify for you. Sir, this humble official is also willing to use my life and innocence to testify. The speaker was Lu Tongguang. Back when Tang Fan had been in the Ministry of Justice, their friendship had been decent, but the other had been gutless and mediocre in his typical behaviors, too afraid to assume responsibility. Being able to stand up and speak on his own initiative was pretty commendable. Sir, I will do the same as Minister Peng! He Xuan stated. SIr, so will I! Sir, so will The officials spoke up in succession. Perhaps they were only following the lead, but Tang Fan was still quite moved. Although the Wan party was domineering, it could never be all-powerful. In this world, those righteous-minded ultimately took up a majority of people. He cupped his hands. Thank you, everyone, but this isnt that dire of a plight. If I do need help, this Tang will certainly say so on my own. Thank you again! Everyone quickly returned the courtesy. No need for such politeness, Sir! This is what we ought to do! After sending them all off, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou left Immortal Guest. The woman ought to be blameless. After interrogating her, let her go. The Bastille will scare it out of Yin Qi, Tang Fan said. Sui Zhou nodded. I know. Will what happened tonight affect you? Hm? Tang Fan cocked his head, not understanding what he was referring to. His confused look only made Sui Zhou grab his hand, then go to bite his lower lip. Mister Tang let out a yelp of pain, taking two bodily steps back. The faltering candlelight lit up a semi-mad, slightly embarrassed face. Sui Guangchuan! he raised his tone slightly, with some warning undertones. Just like how you cant restrain yourself when seeing food, I cant restrain myself when seeing you, Sui Zhou said quietly, smiling. Mister Tang rolled his eyes, but didnt use any effort to shake off the others hand, allowing him to lead him forth. You need to be careful, Sui Zhou said. Almost half of his figure was hidden in darkness. The lanterns faint light elongated their shadows, becoming inseparable in truth. With that ending, the Wan party wont be letting this go. Tang Fan sighed. Frankly, I was just passing by. Their real aim is to depose the Crown Prince. It was only because I humiliated Wan Tong last time that he would instruct Yin Qi to plot against me. Every day the Crown Prince is still in the East Palace is a day they cant spare much thought for me; its the Crown Prince that really needs to be careful. Sui Zhou hummed, gripping his hand tightly. To be short, I dont want anything to happen to you. Sometimes Tang Fan didnt hear him clearly, pricking his ears up. What? Sometimes, I really want to tie you to my belt. Tang Fan laughed. Wouldnt your pants fall off? Just like that woman holding on to your thigh tonight? Did your pants fall off then? Did you see them do that? No, I heard people nearby saying so. Too bad I was a step too late. Tang Fan grinned, saying composedly, Thats a real shame. As it was, that ladys looks were pretty good. Had it not been for Yin Qi mucking things up terribly, I might have actually pushed the boat along the water to have a casual fling with her. Sui Zhou hummed again, as if he didnt hear him. After we get back, take off your pants so I can check whether she left any marks behind. Tang Fans mouth twitched. Was it too late to say that he hadnt had any physical contact with her at all? When tang Fan went to the Cabinet the day after, everything appeared to be no different than usual. Even though Yin Zhi ducked away when he saw him, looking like he didnt want to talk, it had stopped there, not going a single act further. In line with Tang Fans guess, his son had still not yet been released from the Bastille yet. Even though his life wasnt in danger, he was certainly enduring no lack of torment. Those Brocade Guards especially did not regard him as important, itching to mess with a dandy like him. However, Yin Zhis reaction was much too calm. Out of a desire to probe, Tang Fan took it upon himself to say, Brother Yin, you surely know of the incident with your son and I at Immortal Guest last night? Isnt he still with the Brocade Guard now? Yin Zhi stated coldly. A Prince that breaks the law is treated the same as a commoner. My unfilial son has always been a troublemaker, and it isnt rare for him to do all sorts of preposterous things. I should be thanking you for helping me disciple him. He cast everything off of himself in just a few words, leaving Tang Fan unable to say anything. At that time, people arrived in succession. Head Vizier Wan An alone was slow to arrive, after everyone had been waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour. His Majesty just summoned me, which is why I was late, he said. Todays meeting will be pushed aside for later. Everyone, come with me to meet with His Majesty. They all exchanged looks, unsure of what was going on. The Emperor wanted to summon them? Why had no prior notice been given? Still, since it was his command, no one said anything further, stepping out of the Pavilion and heading for the Palace of Heavenly Clarity. Liu Jian purposefully lagged a few steps behind, grabbing Tang Fan to whisper, Do you know why His Majesty is summoning us? Tang Fan shook his head. I havent heard anything. Xu Pu also came in close, saying quietly, I heard a little something. Tang Fan and Liu Jian stayed their mouths, waiting for him to follow-up. Xu Pu said nothing, however, instead reaching out his palm, then drawing the character for Crown on it. The Crown Prince was related? Was His Majesty going to make a real move this time? Tang Fan and Liu Jian looked at each other in shock, both becoming somewhat apprehensive. CH 143 Upon arriving at the Palace of Heavenly Clarity, everyone was brought into a side hall. The eunuch in front of the Emperor said, Gentlemen, please sit and wait here for a bit. His Majesty would like to speak to the Vice Vizier inside. Despite the Ming Grand Chancellor position being re-distributed, and the might of Tang-Song Prime Ministers no longer existing, the Emperor still had to uphold fundamental courtesy towards Tang Fan and them. Had typical officials been visiting, they would have been made to stand outside and wait, but Viziers would need to have seats to sit in and tea to drink. Still, evidently no one cared about that detail right now. The thoughts turning in each of their minds were none other than what the Emperor was going to say, and how they should respond if asked about the Crown Prince. Logically speaking, the Cabinet was one unit. There should never have been this scenario of individual Cabinet members being called in to speak alone, yet the Emperor was actually doing it, likely because he knew that no one could come to a consensus on a certain topic. He planned to separate them, put them in order, and break them down in turn. The grand Emperor Almighty using a method like this on his subjects was both amusing and irritating. If it truly was related to the Crown Prince, though, the Emperors actions were understandable. Seeing the compliant looks of Wan Ans group, Tang Fan grew a little uneasy. An incense sticks worth of time later, Liu Ji came out. His expression was odd and unable to be described, but with everyone else here, Tang Fans group couldnt go up to ask. After sitting down, Liu Ji didnt look at anyone. Like an old monk entering meditation, his eyelids were slightly hooded, unmoving. Following him, Peng Hua and Yin Zhi entered in succession. Their times inside were not long at least, not as long as Liu Jis and they came out a short time later, calm-looking, yet with a smugness. The eunuch stepped up. His Majesty invites Solon Liu for a discussion. Liu Jian rose, fixed up his clothes, send Tang Fan and Xu Pu a look, then followed the eunuch out. Then, Wan An said, Runqing, I heard that you caught a remnant of the White Lotus Society last night? It was no more than a suspicion, Tang Fan answered. I reported it to the Brocade Guard. Theyve yet to confirm it. Yin Zhi sneered. Tang Fan, youre a Solon, yet you have an intimate relationship with imperial troops such as the Brocade Guard? Could it be that you were acting under somebodys order, and had some other intent? Tang Fan was unmoved. Those are heavy words, Brother Yin. Its the Brocade Guards responsibility to track down and arrest imperial criminals. Me aside, had it been you, would you have covered up and not reported traces of the White Lotus Societys dregs? Im just afraid that someone is using public matters for revenge, Yin Zhi said with a cold smile. Where did talk of revenge come from? Please explain, Brother Yin. The two verbally clashed for a round, then saw Liu Jian come back with the eunuch. Had Liu Jis expression when he came back been described as merely odd, then Liu Jians could be labeled as hard to look at. What had His Majesty said to him? Tang Fan and Xu Pu looked at each other, both a little mystified. However, Liu Jian didnt try to make eye contact with them, nor did he look at anyone else, merely sitting down with his chest slightly heaving, as if he had just experienced a draining quarrel. Seeing that, Xu Pu became a little uneasy, but he could only follow the attendant passing along the message to go see the Emperor. At that moment, Tang Fan contrarily collected himself, no longer attempted to speak or make eye contact with anyone, and began to shut his eyes in rest. Yin Zhi had wanted to jab at him a few times, but had to shut up when he saw that. Xu Pu soon came back. His expression was even uglier than Liu Jians, his complexion slightly pale, feet slightly staggering. Tang Fan opened his eyes. Noticing his out-of-sorts look, he couldnt help but step forth to lend him an arm. All of a sudden, Xu Pu grabbed his sleeve and bawled aloud, Runqing, you have to convince His Majesty! Everyone was startled by him to the point that they were slow to react; even the attendant that had wanted to call for Tang Fan was astounded. In all of their memories, Xu Pu had always been a mild man of inelegant speech. He might defend the Crown Prince, but he was poor at arguing with other people, would be cowed quite easily, and typically worked quietly. Compared to Tang Fan, the youngest one at the tail-end of the ranks, he had no sense of existence. This was the reason why the Wan party had agreed for him to enter the Cabinet; a man like him would not pose any threat to them. No one had expected that the mild man, when forced into a tight spot, would explode. Faced with his outburst, Tang Fan was unsure of what to say. Mr. Qianzhai Liu Jian lent Xu Pu an arm, saying to Tang Fan, Go on, Runqing. Ill be here. Tang Fan nodded at him, quickly following the attendant away. The Emperor appeared to have lost more weight from when he had seen him a few days ago. Even though General Courts were held every day, with his recent sickness, not going to Court on the basis of his health couldnt be a better excuse. This subject greets you, Your Majesty. May your health be well, Tang Fan said, bowing in courtesy. Unless there was a Grand Court meeting or festival, Cabinet members generally didnt need to bow for such summons. Youre exempt from courtesies, Subject Tang. Sit, the Emperor said, voice a little hoarse, and accompanied by a few coughs. Thank you, Your Majesty. Amongst the Cabinet ministers, the relationship between the Emperor and Tang Fan was not especially close. When the latter had been elected by the Court for entry into the Cabinet, which the Six Ministries had voted upon, the Emperor hadnt objected, was all. Following his entry, Tang Fan hadnt had many opportunities to meet the Emperor alone, as the majority of time, he would have audiences together with the other members. The Emperors impression of Tang Fan could be said as either good or bad; he felt that the man might be highly capable, but not too understanding of how to conduct himself as a subject. Had it not been for his need to speak to them individually today, the Emperor would not have thought to summon Tang Fan by himself. In a rare instance, the Emperor had a kindly look as he spoke with Tang Fan a long time about unimportant topics, like whether he was getting on well after entering the Cabinet. Someone that didnt know the inside story might might have been moved to tears by the Emperors considerateness. However, Tang Fans expression was grave, his answered within bounds. He had none of the vigor that a young subject would have, causing the Emperor to feel bored. A dry, tedious conversation like this was torment for both ruler and subject. The frequently-appearing, unusual phenomena of now; you have presumably heard of it as well, Subject Tang? So, the Emperor could finally no longer bear with chatting about everything, getting into the main topic. It was here! Tang Fan couldnt help but straighten out his spine. Yes, this subject has heard, and seen the letter Your Majesty ordered to be passed around in the Cabinet. The Emperor leaned forward a bit, looking antsy. How do you view this, then? Tang Fan pursed his lips. Please forgive this subject for my slowness; I dont know what you mean, Your Majesty. The Imperial Observatory informed us that the phenomena were all in answer to the East Palace. Your implication being that, the East Palace? The Emperor didnt feel like going in circles with him. Heavens warnings must be made manifest. We wish to issue a decree of our own faults, and reset the East Palace. What do you think, Subject? The conversation coming to this, Tang Fan could not continue to play dumb. Schooling his expression and standing up, he cupped his hands solemnly. I dare ask, Your Majesty; where has the Crown Prince lacked in virtue? The Emperor was a little impatient. Before Tang Fan, that question had already been posed by Liu Jian and Xu Pu, and he was sick of these wheel-like conversations. Still, in order to fight for the Cabinet members to not drag their feet in deposing the Crown Prince, he was obliged to patiently attempt to convince them individually. The officials of this Dynasty far surpassed all previous Dynasties in defending the eldest-son orthodox. As was known, with how strong Zhu Di had been, he had still failed to depose the Crown Prince in order to establish his favorite, the Prince of Han. The power of the Wan party overtook the Yongle periods, but the Emperor did not have the power that Yongle had, required to consult the Cabinet for its opinion, first. The Crown Prince has been in the East Palace for over ten years, now, yet he has never made any sort of accomplishment, nor gained a reputation of benevolence. Is that not an area where he lacks in virtue? The celestial omens were precisely to have us correct this without delay. He may be the heir apparent, but when all is said and done, he is still Your subject, Tang Fan answered, and as one, he must be content with his place, disallowed from exceeding the distinction between a ruler and a subject. It is exactly because of that that he has no accomplishments, as only then can he fully perform his duty as successor. Why are you dissatisfied with that, Your Majesty? His meaning being, The Crown Prince achieving nothing is the only correct thing to do. Otherwise, if he put on a high-profile display everyone, outsiders would only know that there is a Crown Prince, not that there is an Emperor. Would that make you happy? That sentence referenced the Emperors internal thoughts without mercy, and clearly expressed his standpoint: I am against deposing the Crown Prince. The Emperor was somewhat annoyed. Tang Fan, since you understand the concept of performing ones duty, you should know that a ruler acts, and subjects follow. You speak up for the Crown Prince in all aspects is that a subjects duty?! Not afraid at all, Tang Fan bowed and said, Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this subject has read the tomes of sages since childhood. Although I cannot claim rich erudition, I understand the principles behind the Heaven, the Earth, the ruler, the relation, and the teacher. The sages did not speak of strange powers and chaotic gods, because the Prime Sage believed that the powers of mortals could not fathom divine will or the supernatural, preferring to never speak of them. The frequent phenomena are indeed a sign of warning, but how can it be identified on the Imperial Observatorys few words alone? I only fear that there may be another cause. All the land knows that the Crown Prince has done no wrong this subject hopes that you reconsider, Your Majesty! The Emperor shut his eyes. What Tang Fan said had been the source of his previous hesitation. However, he had now made up his mind, so the others plea could not sway him. Silence was in the hall. Even the young eunuch nearby strove hard to stifle his own breathing, itching to hide his figure behind the curtain. The Emperors poor health meant that someone needed to be attending to him at all times. This eunuch had been selected for entry into the palace in his childhood, his loyalty undoubtable, but that didnt mean that he wanted to hear this stuff. Word had passed through generations in the palace that the more one knew, the worst they would end up. Had the former Eunuch Huai En not been exiled to Nanjing by His Majesty for stick his hand too deeply into politics? A while later, he heard the Emperor slowly speak out, We plan to establish another East Palace. Would you be willing to draw up an edict for us? The eunuchs heart hung high. He was thinking of how Solon Tang would answer that. He was also thinking how he would answer if he was Solon Tang. If Solon Tangs answer angered the Emperor even though this Emperor had a better temperament than Emperors of previous Courts, and the results might not be terrible, it was still likely that he wouldnt be able to remain in the Cabinet, nor would he have another opportunity to enter it. The eunuch thought that if he was Solon Tang, he might choose the second-best option of not helping His Majesty draw up the edict, but also no longer oppose the deposition of the Crown Prince. While his thoughts twisted about, he heard Tang Fan answer, Forgive me. Please reconsider, Your Majesty. Oh no! His Majesty was definitely going to get mad! The eunuch was nervous. He had heard that Solon Tang was typically polished, not as volatile as Solon Liu, so why had he chosen the worse possible answer? Nobles did not stand beneath teetering buildings that saying was not wrong. Nobles ought to pursue fortune and avoid disaster that saying was also not wrong. However, he didnt understand that there were always some things in the world where one knew well that they couldnt act, but had to act, anyways. The Emperor was clearly angered, his tone even changing. Tang Fan, do not believe that just because you have a good relationship with Sui Zhou, we would not act against you to save him face! Liu Jian is like this, you are like this, and even Xu Pu is like this! You all fight over showing the most loyalty to the Crown Prince! Are you hoping that we will go out West as soon as possible, so that you can gain the merit of supporting a dragon?! You accuse this subject wrongly, Your Majesty, Tang Fan answered calmly. From beginning to end, we subjects have been loyal only to you, and it is because of that that we must do our duty to advise while there is still time, lest you make a mistake you cannot take back. Think of back when you personally selected the Crown Prince; the harem had few offspring, and when you saw him show up, you must have been very happy. His mother passed young, and the only one he can rely on is you. If even you throw him away, what will he be made to do with himself? You can go. Tang Fan raised his voice. Your Majesty! Withdraw! The eunuch had to step forth and whisper, Solon Tang, please stop! Tang Fan looked up, glancing at the Emperor. The latter looked exhausted, deep lines at the corners of his eyes. He did not resemble a finely-kept, forty-year-old man, but more like a man of Consort Wans age. A rapidly-deteriorating Emperor made the heart ill at ease. Tang Fan didnt bother to stay. He took back his gaze, gave courtesy, then left the place, following the attendant. Liu Jian and Xu Pu had been waiting nervously in the side hall. Seeing Tang Fans figure, they automatically stood, casting their expectant gazes towards him. There was no need to ask, as Tang Fan knew what they wanted to ask. He slightly shook his head. They were instantly disappointed. On the road back, everyone was of different minds, and have different expressions of emotion. Wan Ans group was naturally of light gait and easy speech, which Liu Jian and the rest were heavily dismayed, looking like their parents had died. Tang Fan wasnt bawling like how Xu Pu just had, but his mood wasnt any better. That was because that he knew well that with this much done, the Emperors decision to depose the Crown Prince was unflappable. Within the Cabinet, only Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and Tang Fan firmly opposed the deposition, but they were of the lowest seniorities. Once Liu Ji agreed to it, a one-sided situation would appear. And, judging from his display today, Liu Ji likely hadnt plainly agreed, yet also hadnt expressed opposition. With his personality, it had probably gone similar Li Jis response to Gaozong of Tangs deposition of Empress Wang for establishing Empress Wu, and he had told the Emperor something like, This is a family matter of yours, Your Majesty. Why bother asking outsiders? For that reason, the three of them alone had no way to control the situation at large. Were there no incident, the Crown Princes deposition was set. Something even Yongle couldnt have accomplished would be realized in the hands of the current Emperor. Tang Fan sighed inwardly, unsure of whether to laugh or cry. Others did not have his mood of finding joy within the bitterness. Liu Jian and Xu Pu were distracted all day long, and as soon they got off-duty, they dragged Tang Fan away quickly. Wan An didnt make them stay the Crown Princes deposition was already the theme, and no matter how the rest of them struggled, it would all be in vain. Also, the Wan party was not without influence amongst the censors. If someone sent a memorial opposing it at that time, Wan An could move the censors to support it. Is there really no margin for recovery on this matter? Xu Pu asked, sighing. Ill go see the Crown Prince right now! Liu Jian said, pausing in his tracks and turning to go. Tang Fan and Xu Pu quickly grabbed him. What can you do if you go there? Ask him to beg His Majesty himself? That will only make people think that hes having errant thoughts by colluding with officials! Think what, now?! Only the Wan part would flip right and wrong like that! Liu Jian raged. Then that means you can go even less! Xu Pu said. Mr. Qianzhai is right. Weve done all we can, Tang Fan said. Is doing all we can enough to cover everything?! Liu Jians voice was both angered and dismayed, but he was not aiming it at them. The two sighed, having nothing to say. Most of society had long sensed the Emperors intent, but they still had no idea that he had already made up his mind. His lone summonings of Cabinet members might not necessarily get around until tomorrow. At times like this, the importance of Cabinet Viziers was shown, because they were in the Pivot of the empires power. No one learn news or hold information as quickly as they could, and yet, Tang Fan was not feeling a drop of happiness. He didnt even eat dinner, hiding away in his study to stare off at his desk by himself. Until a knock came at the door. Come in. Sui Zhou was the one to open the door, noodle soup in hand while Wang Zhi stood behind him. The latter couldnt wait to open his mouth. What is even going on? This morning, His Majesty What did you promise me when you came in here? Sui Zhou cut him off, plainly displeased. Wang Zhi very reluctantly shut his mouth. With that, Sui Zhou set the soup in front of Tang Fan. Eat first, then well talk. Im not hungry, Tang Fan said, looking bitter. Times were he said that sentence were rare. Sui Zhou acted liked he didnt hear him. Ill feed you? I can do it myself. Tang Fan was obliged to take the chopsticks. The cooks regard could be gleaned from the aroma of the broth, Tang Fan couldnt bear to brush off such regard. Sui Zhou never said much superfluous drivel, because he would often apply it all right into his actions. Wang Zhi patiently watched Tang Fan eat, managed to wait until the bowl was almost half-eaten, then couldnt couldnt hold back anymore. I hear that this morning, His Majesty summoned the Cabinet members individually to speak? Which his temper, that he could wait until now to speak was already remarkable. Yeah, Tang Fan answered. Wang Zhi stabbed right in. Was it related to the Crown Prince? What was the result? Even you should know the answer to that. Why the need to ask me? Tang Fan shook his head, setting down the bowl. Why didnt you stop it?! Wang Zhi harshly interrogated. Tang Fan remained calm. I did all I could; Liu Jian and Xu Pu did all they could, too. Wan An might have promised Liu Ji something, causing him to not propose an objection to this. Since the Head and Vice Viziers have reached a unanimous decision, what is the use of us threes objections? Wang Zhi got up and paced around, unable to hide his anxiety. Then what should I do now?! Tang Fan watched him, internally wondering whether he was having regrets about listening to his advice back in the day, and falling on the Crown Princes party. He sighed. I urged you some time ago to draw a clear boundary with the Wan party. I didnt expect that it would only bring you ha Wang Zhi waved him off somewhat brusquely, interrupting him. You dont need to say that! I want to know your way out! Planning matters is up to humans. Completing them is up to the Heavens. All of Tang Fans worry and heaviness seemed to have vanished along with the noodles. He took the handkerchief Sui Zhou offered to wipe his mouth off. I discussed with Qianzhai and him already; if His Majesty acts on his own will, we will all submit memorials of resignation. Wang Zhi was taken aback. Whats the use of that? If you all leave, wont the Cabinet become even more of Wan Ans echo chamber? That is the limit of what we can do. Do you have a better way, otherwise? Wang Zhi had come to find Tang Fan while holding a glimmer of hope. In his opinion, Tang Fan always had inexhaustible ways out of things, really exceeding expectations at times to leave him pleasantly surprised. Still, everything had their exceptions. In the end, Tang Fan was a person, not a deity. There were times that he was too powerless to do anything, too. Wang Zhi was utterly disappointed. Fewer and fewer people were at the Crown Princes side. Huai En was no longer in the capital if these three were also forced to leave the Cabinet, the remainder would not be enough to pose a threat. As for Wang Zhi himself, he could secretly help the Crown Prince escape, but he could never stand openly against the Wan party like Tang Fans group. Sui Zhous status similarly restricted him to be staunchly loyal to the Emperor; the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, but not yet an Emperor, ultimately. Was there no one to stop the Crown Princes fate of getting deposed? Wang Zhi ultimately left the Tang home feeling down. After sending him out, Tang Fan said to Sui Zhou in self-mockery, Were it not for me egging him to get close to the Crown Prince, he might be as smug as a spring wind right now, without the need to be so worried. Sui Zhou reached out and brushed some hair that had been in his face due to the wind back behind his ear, and said one profound set of words: You just said as well that completing things is up to the Heavens. Heavens might is hard to fathom; how can a mortal or two distort it as they see fit? Following this conversation, when Tang Fan was still immersed in dreams in the middle of the night, he was shaken awake by Sui Zhou, and came to learn a bit of news. There had been an earthquake in Shandong and it had happened at Mount Tai. CH 144 An earthquake? Tang Fans mind was not yet clear, not totally resuming his typical sophisticated calmness. His black eyes even had a thin fog over them, his expression confused and guileless, while his inner clothes hung loose on his form, revealing a large expanse of bare chest beneath it. Despite being a scholar, Tang Fan usually did not entirely go without exercise in the Six Arts of noblemen, at least, he had to be proficient in archery which made his figure quite pleasing to look at. It was unlike that frail bookworms that truly didnt have the strength to truss a chicken, two columns of their ribs visible when they undressed. Sui Zhou truly loved to see this occasionally-revealed other side to him, as it gave him a sense of, This man is mine. I alone can witness this side of him. Few were aware that Count Suis desire to possess was this strong. At Taian, in Shandong. Sui Zhou placed emphasis on the location, casually reaching out to fix the others belt and drape his outer robe over him again. His own clothes were not any sort of neat and tidy, but he primarily didnt want Tang Fan to catch a cold. Shoulders and back warming up, but neck still getting chilly from meeting the ice-cold air, Tang Fan jolted, finally waking up a bit. How do you know that? The news already reached the palace. Wang Zhi sent someone to relay it. Even though the knocking hadnt been loud, the middle of the night had made it especially ear-piercing. Tang Fan had been sleeping too deeply to heard it, but Sui Zhou hadnt been the same. An earthquake implied catastrophe. If one happened at Mount Tai, though, the meaning was particularly different. When monarchs were ordained, or a switch in the ruling surname came, they needed to ascend and be sealed on Mount Tai. Why? The East had been an area of good omens since ancient times. Mount Tai was not only located in the East, but also view as a place where gods descended to and spirits congregated together. When ones shoes tread on Tai, then they would be secure; hence was why the ancients named it Mount Tai, for safety. In the prior Qin and Han, monarchs had already repeatedly been visiting Mount Tai for fengshan; after the Founding Emperor of Qin, this convention had been passed down, all succeeding monarchs going to the mountain for fengshan and showing pride. Unlike the various versions of conjecture that might appear following a comet over the North Cup, if anything occurred at Mount Tai, everyone would only think one thing: the Heavens were giving the Emperor a scolding. Had the Emperor done something wrong? (It could be many somethings.) Even if he hadnt, officials would always be happy to make links to in in order to pick out his shortcomings and admonish him for them, or any inadvisable large-scale projects, or demands for diligence in government, and so on, to say nothing of the major event set up before the eyes: he wanted to depose the Crown Prince. See? Right as he had gotten the idea to depose him, Mount Tai had quaked on his heel. If that wasnt a warning from the Heavens, then what was? Were he to insist upon acting on his own, there would then likely be more than a mere earthquake. Tang Fan naturally didnt believe that the Crown Princes deposition was related to the quake, like how general commoners did, but he had no doubt that after the Emperor learned of this, his originally resolute notion would be shaken. And that was once-in-a-thousand-years chance. Had it not been for Wang Zhi sending someone to spread the news, Tang Fan and the rest would have only found out when they went to the Cabinet the next day, at the earliest. It would have been very easy to miss this critical opportunity. Without another word, Tang Fan got up to get dressed, preparing for an overnight visit to Liu Jian and Xu Pu, after which they would each send a memorial. The contents would be a total exaggeration of the catastrophe, more dreadful than it was, as it was best to scare the Emperor off from his intent to depose the Crown Prince. It was unknown when it had started, but there was an indescribable affinity between the two. Almost as soon as Tang Fan moved, Sui Zhou already knew what he wanted to do. Ill see you off. Okay, Tang Fan didnt refuse, but, thinking about it, he then said, Youre of sensitive status and always have His Majestys confidence. This is a matter for civil officials, you shouldnt get mixed up in it. I understand. If you unluckily anger His Majesty, Ill still have to go intercede for you. How could I get mixed up? Sui Zhou coldly joked in a deadpan. Tang Fan didnt know how to react. Cant you say anything nice? The day after, when most people were just learning that the Emperor had openly brought up his plan to depose the Crown Prince and had already sought out the Cabinet for this, they also heard of Mount Tais earthquake. Court and society both immediately went into tumult, but before they could create a response, Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and Tang Fans memorials were separately passed upwards. Within them, they made a connection to the earthquake and the Emperor wanting to depose the Crown Prince, their wording harshly admonishing of him, basically saying, The Crown Prince is the heir that you yourself set, and he has offered sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven on your behalf, gaining Heavens acknowledgement. He now has no lack of virtue, yet you want to oust him the earthquake at Mount Tai was a warning to you. Is causing unrest in the country for your own personal preference something youre happy to see? If the Great Ancestor in the Springs below learned of this, he would be distraught. Even though the three memorials were not phrased identically, they all had the same meaning. After reading them, the Emperor kept them without release, but there were no secrets in the capitals officialdom the contents of the memorials still happened to quietly leak out of the Office of Transmissions. As officials, and in standing out amongst the brawl of countless troops, no official of the Six Ministries was a simple character. From those memorials, they had espied several issues. Issue one: The Cabinet had seven people, yet only three had sent memorials. Clearly, the Cabinet held differing opinions, and the rest were likely to support the Crown Princes deposition, or at least not oppose it. Issue two: The three had chosen to send memorials, as opposed to seeking the Emperor out for a face-to-face talk. Clearly, there had likely been talks with the Emperor before that had fallen apart. Just like how there were frequently differing explanations for celestial phenomena, the Mount Tai earthquake was really a matter of viewpoint. It was not a certainty that it was related to the Crown Prince, as it could also be explained as the Emperor neglecting governance work it all relied on what others wanted to say. In other words, set before the Court officials right now were a few choices. Should they follow Liu Jians group in sending memorials, or act like they didnt know anything? If they did send memorials, which side should they support? Linking the earthquake to the deposition would undoubtedly be standing on the side opposite the Wan party. What if His Majesty ended up stubbornly acting as he saw fit, and deposed the Crown Prince anyways? Those that sent memorials now would all have offended the new Crown Prince later on. No one could predict the futures direction. Similar to those people that stayed in the Imperial Observatory all their lives and dealt with the stars every day, they could never, to the end of their lives, say that they had peep into the machinations of the universe. Perhaps, they could not even see into their own destinies. However, the wheel of fate would not cease going forwards just because of personal unease, even if the regents will could not be changed. The saying that human determination could overcome the Heavens was really a fearless, ignorant, and ridiculous one. The Emperor was finally afraid. He looked at the three memorials set before him. The decision he had managed to come to had been completely destroyed by an earthquake. No matter how Wan Ans group attempted to change his mind, it was useless. He was capable of thinking for himself, not a puppet nor an idiot the earthquake was like a warning bell that had shaken him awake all at once. He had no idea that the reason Wan Ans group strove hard to support the Prince of Xing as the Crown Prince was purely selfish, but all this time, him wanting to depose the Crown Prince was neither for the Wan party, nor because he hated the Prince (though that was one of the reasons); the true reason was that he didnt want to let Consort Wan down. The loss of her son back in the day had greatly heartbroken them, and following that, she had no other children. This nations inheritance would not end up shouldered by a son from both of them. Since Lady Wan preferred the Prince of Xing, hated the Crown Prince, and hope that the Prince of Xing could inherit the throne, the Emperor had been willing to grant her wish. Both of them were his blood-related sons, anyways; it made no difference to him who was the successor. This time, however, the Emperor had hesitated. It wasnt due to opposition from officials, but due to a sign from the Heavens. Do the even the Heavens not want Lady Wan and I to do as we want? Do the Heavens also believe that Zhu Youyuan cannot replace Zhu Youcheng? He was ultimately not someone completely lacking in a sense of responsibility. Despite having no interest to speak of in governance, preferring to birdkeep, garden, and paint, the education he had received when settled as the Crown Prince had long been deeply engraved into his mind. At this critical moment, he weighed the wish of his favorite lady against the burden of Zhus Ming country for a long time, flip-flopping, and ended up choosing the latter. Sister Wan, we let you down! It isnt what we want Zhu Youyuan to have the throne, but we have to give an explanation to our ancestors! he thus said to him with some slight pain, gripping her hand. Why must you say such things, Your Majesty? It was my poor luck. The Heavens didnt want to let my son be the Crown Prince, didnt want to let me be the Empress, and now doesnt want to let my preferred child have his wish. Im afraid that in this life of mine, such luck wont happen, she similarly lamented. Although her temper was violent, she was not one to lose it blindly. Had she been, she would not have been able to give the Emperor endless warmth and comfort in his childhood. Hearing her speak, the Emperor felt even more pangs of guilt. He sincerely cherished this woman he had gained and lost many things in his life, but even if he would lose his throne, he would refuse to lose her. And yet, he indeed still sat on the Zhu throne, his nature stopping him from not caring about the opposing voices, then willfully doing something mad. That isnt true. If you have no good luck, then we will impart luck to you. Once our time is up, we will draft a decree to have them revere you as Empress Dowager. We know you dislike the Crown Prince, but he is a filial child that will never defy our will. He will treat you well on our behalf, attending to you so that you can enjoy the rest of your life. Lady Wan couldnt help but be touched. This man, who was a full nineteen years her junior, really was enough for her. She had once impudently fought with him over his harems increasing amount of concubines and offspring, even putting those women and children to death by poison, and he had clearly known of it, yet had turned a blind eye. At times, she would wonder if it was Heavens retribution for taking so many lives that it had bound her to bearing no sons, nor ever being the Empress. But, at other times, a feeling of unhappiness would arise in her heart: For what reason did I expend all my effort in raising you since your youth? When you were in dire straits, even your mother was too afraid to visit you! Were it not for me, you would have died deep in the palace without anyone to know it, yet at the end of it all, you never made me the Empress because of your mothers refusal! Those contradicting thoughts had always made her feelings towards the Emperor a mix of love and hate. Whether she hated him more or loved him more was hard to say. As youve come to a decision, there is no need for more to be said, Your Majesty. This is just not my bit of fortune to have. She held his hand in hers, patting its back and giving him a comforting smile. But there is another thing. He felt so guilty, that he longed to offer up all of the very best things in the world to her. At that, he answered, Tell me. The Palace of Esteemed Realness and Longevity is about to finish construction. When you wanted to leave the palace for worship yourself, those officials nagged and wouldnt let you. It would be better for the Crown Prince to go in your stead, wouldnt it? That way, they cant say anything. Your health is poor; I want him to pray for blessings in your stead. The Emperor was a bit moved. Sister Wan, only you would think of me like this. She pursed her lips into a smile, hand slowly stroking his hair. Youre the one I brought up single-handedly. Of course I would think of you. At about the same time that Emperor and Consort were speaking, the inside of the Wan Estate was a whole different scene. With a sharp bang, a cup was swept to the floor, its fragments spraying out in all directions. One or two landed right upon the legs of the nearby maidservant thankfully, as they were too small, and clothes were acting as a barrier, they did not cause her any sort of harm. Even so, she still showed a look of fear, even her breaths subconsciously quieting out of fear of angering her master. Wan Tong was so angry, his whole body was shaking. How does this make sense?! Ridiculous! Why was there an earthquake?! The why aside, is every single natural disaster have to be about deposing the Crown Prince?! It was inevitable that this would anger him. Every single thing had been prepared for, with even the Emperors edict being drafted, yet this had happened all of a sudden. The Emperor had purportedly ordered the Office of Transmissions to recall the edict the night of, and hadnt brought up the deposition again. Wan An, Peng Hua, and Yin Zhi looked at each other, all sighing on the inside. Natural disasters happened yearly, but the Emperor wanted to depose the Crown Prince on his toes only for an earthquake to happen on his heel, which was indeed relatively uncommon. Moreover, the earthquakes location had been Mount Tai, which was the center of the issue. Had the quake been anywhere else, no matter what frippery Liu Jians group did, the Emperor wouldnt have changed his mind. It was too late to say anything now. With the Emperors indecisive personality, once he had shrunken back into his shell, it would be hard to get him to set his mind on it again. Everything they had done before had been for naught. Wan Tong was getting angry here, but Wan Ans experience in the Cabinet today had been worse. Ignoring how Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and Tang Fan had beamed and chatted amongst themselves, even Liu Ji, who had previously come to an agreement with him in private, was ignoring him. They clearly needed to discuss proper business matters face-to-face, yet Liu Ji had found an excuse to avoid him, even having his official documents sent over via Vizier Deputy. Ever since becoming Head Vizier, Wan An had never come across such a thing, his nose having gone askew out of anger. But what could be done? Truthfully, Wan An was terrified. Just how stubborn was the Crown Princes destiny? He had suffered heavily in his early childhood, yet hadnt passed early on like Crown Prince Daogong, growing peacefully to adulthood. They had even brought up the star phenomena, and he had still managed to escape it. Was the Crown Prince genuinely destined to be the true Emperor? Who were they to defy the Heavens, then? These fears were buried deep within Wan An. He had never spoken of them to anyone. He felt that Peng Hua and Yin Zhi were probably thinking the same way he was, but no one dared to say so. Seeing that the three of them were saying nothing, the fire in Wan Tongs heart burned more vigorously. Yuanweng, whats the word now? Can you pull up a statute for this?! he asked, sinister-sounding. Wan An smiled painfully. With things at this point, we have done all we should have. What else can we? Im especially powerless. The others face was dark. Dont any of you forget that when His Majesty was urged into deposing him, you already portrayed your positions! If you dont think of a way out quickly, then when the Crown Prince ascends, therell be a switch of fate! There wont be glory or wealth, as even our lives and deaths wont be ours to manage! Yin Zhi lightly coughed. The Crown Prince is of gentle nature, much like his father. Things might not get to that step. Wan Tong was furious. So youre saying that youve all decided to hand your lives and futures to someone else?! Him being so nervous was because he was consort-kin, not the same material as civil officials. Wan An and the rest standing on the wrong side and following the wrong person would, at worst, be dismissed from their post and sent back to the fields. If the Emperor died, however, Consort Wan would have no support, and they would probably be faced with an even more miserable end. As he himself had stated before, their lives and future relied upon the thoughts of the new monarch. Yin Zhi laughed dryly. I didnt say that Dont forget that your son is still locked up in the Brocade Guard, Wan Tong said with a huff. I went to demand him, and Sui Guangchuan wouldnt give him over. He said that interrogations were not yet finished! Hes a dog relying on his owners power isnt that because he walks close to those civils?! My sister is still around, yet he still dares to be like this! If we wait for the future youll see how many lives your son has left in him! When that was said, Yin Zhi shut him mouth. Peng Hua looked at their faces. Right as he was thinking to say something and change the atmosphere around, he saw someone hurry in from outside, then make a report to Wan Tong. Master, someone came from the palace saying that they wish to meet you. Who? Xiao Liu. Wan Tong clearly knew this person, quite familiarly. Let him in. The newcomer was young attendant in plainclothes, disguised as a typical citizen. As soon as he entered the room, Wan Tong asked, Xiao Liu, did Eunuch Liang have you come over, or did my sister? This palace attendant called Xiao Liu was now working Wang Zhis original job at the Palace of Manifest Virtue, serving Consort Wan. However, he was also the disciple of Liang Fang, Sealwielder of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management, hence Wan Tongs question. This lowly one came on Eunuch Liangs order. There is something to discuss with all of you gents. Wan Tong was a little disappointed, having thought that he had been sent by his sister, but he still waved his hand to have the servants draw back, somewhat impatient. Did he send you to tell us that His Majesty refuses to depose the Crown Prince? Weve long known that! You misunderstand, Sir. He knows that you all already know. This lowly one came by for something else important. Dont leave us in suspense, then! Slightly smiling, Xiao Lu explained what he had been ordered to pass on. Hearing it, Wan Ans face contorted immediately. That must absolutely never be done! Wan Tong had still been considering it, displeased at Wan Ans statement. What cant be done? I think thats a really great idea! Peng Hua and Yin Zhis expressions were oscillating, but they didnt refute Wan Tongs words. Wan Ans tone had even changed. Are you all insane? If this comes to light, you we will all be done for! The reactions of everyone present were each distinct. Wan Tong was vicious, Wan An was astonished, Peng Hua was collected, and Yin Zhi was hesitant. Xiao Liu took the scene in fully, not batting an eye. As long as we make suitable plans, there wont be any danger of it coming to light! Wan Tong said, overcast, and turned to the other two. What do you all think? How certain are you all about this? Peng Hua just asked Xiao Liu. We cant say its an eighty- or ninety-percent likelihood, but its at least a seventy- or eighty-percent one, Xiao Liu said, having prepared for this in advance. Eunuch Liang has long made arrangements. Please be at east, all of you. What of the Noble Consort? Is she aware of this? Yin Zhi asked. Xiao Liu smiled. Yes. A month ago, she proposed this plan to Eunuch Liang. No one understands His Majesty better than she does. She said that hes never had an unwavering personality; all of you using the celestial phenomena to persuade him was very likely to end up failing at the very end, but at the time, she and Eunuch Liang hadnt set their minds to this. For that reason, they hadnt let all of you know, but now that the boat has suck, we have no choice. Wan Tong smacked the table. Great! Youre right. This matter is already a strung arrow; it cant not be released. If anyone draws back at a time like this He scanned the others, then said viciously, Then they will be an enemy of me, and an enemy of my sister! Wan Ans lips moved, but, in the end, no sound came out. CH 145 The Emperor no longer brought up the Crown Princes deposition. Apart from those opportunistic that had wanted to use this to snatch wealth, everyone else sighed in relief. The Crown Prince had been established at the East Palace at five years old, and it had now been over a full ten years. He had received all the educated that a Crown Prince ought to receive, knew everything that a Crown Prince should and should not do, was humble and courteous, never used his power to harass others, highly respected his teachers, and was magnanimous to his subjects. In many peoples minds and eyes, he was the most ideal future monarch of wisdom. He might be as great of a strategist as the Great Ancestor, nor did he have the ambition to expand the borders, but that was no issue. The empire, at its current development, had long had a perfected and matured system, from the Cabinet Viziers to all local officials. It was disrespectful to say, but even if the Emperor issued no orders, the Great Ming would be able to operate the same as ever and, therefore, the best role the Emperor could have was to do absolutely nothing. The ancients once said: The sacred Son of Heaven should rule with effortlessness. Those were wise words. Before, when the Emperor insisted upon deposing the Crown Prince, not many people said so, but they had clearly not approved of this on the inside. The Prince of Xing had never been reared for the role of successor since the beginning the education he had been able to receive differed from the Crown Princes. His birth mother being close to Consort Wan had also put everyone on-edge. However, the Emperor acting on his own will and the celestial phenomena to back it up had made it useless for everyone to oppose it. It was good, now; even the Heavens were unhappy with the Emperors mucking around. With the earthquake at Mount Tai as a warning, the Emperor couldnt overlook it. Circumstances had taken an abrupt turn, causing one to wonder if the Mandate of Heavens truly belonged to the Crown Prince, since several tribulations hadnt been able to shake his position. Following the dust settling of the fight for the Crown Princes deposition, Liu Jian, Tang Fan, and the rest of them hoped from the bottoms of their hearts that this would end here. If they could have, they would have itched to run up to the Emperor and say: Your Majesty you keep causing trouble, and then some. Can we have a few days of peace, or what? However, if the current Emperor didnt keep causing trouble, that just wouldnt be like him. A few days later, he played the same old song of leaving the palace to pray for fortune at the Longevity Palace once it was completed. As soon as that was said, the Court officials objected to it in a flurry. Not only did they all believe that the Emperor making this trip would be a waste of money and manpower, but, most importantly, his health wasnt any sort of good right now. Were some unexpected mishap to occur, there would inevitably come trouble, so, on the principle of saving themselves the headache where they could, they opposed it to the end. This time around, the Emperor wasnt unyielding, instead taking a step back, expressing, You lot not letting me go out of the palace myself is fine, but at the very least, you have to let the Crown Prince go out to pray on my behalf. There had come frequently-appearing comets in quick succession, plus the earthquake; since the Heavens had given a warning, setting itself on the Crown Prince, if he could leave to pray for fortune for his father, maybe the Heavens would notice his sincerity and help him recover. Even though Tang Fan and the rest thought this overly absurd, now that the Emperor had already taken a few steps back, everyone worried that forcing him too hard would have the reverse effect, and he might do something that would stupefy everyone. They were obliged to not object any longer. On the second day, first month in the twenty-third year of Chenghua, the Crown Prince went to the Longevity Palace for prayer. It was the first time he had ever left the palace in his life. Everyone was on high alert, from the Cabinet to the Six Ministries, and the Ministry of Rites in particular racked it brains, worrying over the slightest mishap that could happen during travel. The squadron departing the palace was majestic, the carriage specifically designed for outbound travel especially so. Big and spacious, the Crown Prince being able to sit in it went without saying; even laying down and rolling around a few times wouldnt be an issue. When riding a horse, about a shichen was needed to go from the palace to the Longevity Palace. A carriage would take even longer, as there would be many palace-goers keeping pace behind it, a portion the ceremonial guard. As this was prayer and not an escape from calamity, the palace-goers pace and mannerisms were mainly slow and graceful, so that the commoners all along the road could revere divine prestige. Out of consideration for that, the carriage needed to be as spacious and comfortable as it could be, so that the Crown Prince wouldnt be exhausted from making a nearly four-shichen-long round trip. Tang Fans group, meanwhile, was considering even more things. They were on alert towards the Wan partys sudden compromising silence. Upon learning that the Crown Prince was going out to pray, many were liable to think by association that the Wan party, backed into a corner, might use this opportunity to assassinate the Prince. In reality, that was impossible, because the very second the Prince got off the carriage, he would be escorted by layers of imperial bodyguards, who were prepared to give their lives to protect him, anytime, anywhere. Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi were already regarded as martial experts of the present world, but even they would find the formidable task of assassinating the Prince impossible to accomplish. It was much more likely that before their weapons could come before the Prince, all of their energy would be used up on the successive waves of guards, after which they would die of overexertion. Following the Ming Dynasty, no Emperor or successor had died by assassination precisely because it was much too difficult. Were someone to want to assassinate either, that would doubtlessly be an exceptionally stupid action. However, just because the path of assassination was bound to be impossible to actualize didnt mean that there were no other methods. Since the construction of the Longevity Palace had been done by the Wan party from start to end, Tang Fan and the rest feared that it would use the time the Crown Prince entered the monastery to secretly perform some trickery, their hearts in their throats. Wang Zhi even brought up keeping the Prince company the instant he entered the temple, which the Emperor later agreed to. Having Wang Zhis protection, there would naturally be no danger to the Prince, but there might still be some subtle loopholes therein. For example, according to established processes, there was nearly a shichen in the midst of this where the Prince would be required to remain alone inside a repose room, praying to the Heavens for the Emperors health and realms peace. This process could not have anyone elses interference. Even Wang Zhi and the other major officials could only wait outside the room. For that shichen, no one would know what was happening inside. Liu Jian and them really wanted to exclude that step, asking for the Prince to pay respects and burn incense under everyones watch, then returned straight to the palace. However, the Emperor felt that he had stepped back too much already, and stubbornly refused to pare back the procedures. As his son, the Crown Prince couldnt object, instead taking it upon himself to send a memorial expressing that he was willing to go pray for fortune for his father. It was deadlocked for a very long time. Everyone conceded a step by changing the one shichen to a stick of incenses time, which was all the Prince needed to stay in the repose room. Also, before the Crown Prince entered the temple, the Brocade Guard would investigate the temple inside and out to ensure that no one suspect was stalking about or hidden. Thus, with all this preparation to go to war, they managed to arrive the day of, on the second day of the first month. Because the Prince was going to pray and sacrifice to the gods for his father, all officials of third-rank and bove were to accompany him, Tang Fan included. However, the officials were separated from the Crown Princes carriage by a long procession of palace-goers, and the two sides would only be meeting up until they reached the temple and the ceremony was officially underway. All along the road, many citizens heard that the Crown Prince was coming himself, and specially came out to kowtow in respect. The imperial guards had constructed a human wall to separate them from the road so that they could only observe from afar, yet the citizens were still awed by this ceremonial majesty. Infected by the ambience, they had to shout, Long live the Emperor and Long live the Crown Prince while tears filled their eyes out of excitement, and they found it hard to control themselves. It was an exceptionally lively scene. This was doubtlessly a scene any monarch would be happy to enjoy. Human nature innately held an inclination towards power, obeisance, and adoration, which was why the Dragon Throne had been fought over since ancient times. What a shame it was that Chenghua hadnt made this trip under the officials opposition had he witnessed such a scene, he likely would have wanted to come here once every month from now on. The Crown Princes performance was quite satisfactory through the whole process. Had he been a typical teenager, he likely wouldnt have been able to resist poking his head out of the carriage to see the crowd at this point. He ultimately wasnt an ordinary young lad, saddled with the future fate of the entire country, and having experienced such a difficult, rough early childhood, that it had made him exceptionally collected. His manners were not the slightest bit lacking, his diction was never inappropriate, and, compared to the present Son of Heavens unreliability, he immediately evoked a type of hope for the nations future in people. Unlike the pleasant surprise of officials that normally didnt interact with the Crown Prince much, Liu Jian, Tang Fan, and the rest of them all had their hearts aloft through the whole process, fearing that some unpredictable mishap would happen. Contrary to nearly everyones expectations, the worship procedure went along pretty smoothly, no chaotic situation that everyone had imagined coming up. The sole incident was what, as the Crown Prince was leaving, it began to lightly rain in patters, drenching everyones clothes. Added on with the cold weather, the feeling of it was difficult to describe, and many officials fell ill after coming home, Tang Fan included. He was forced to take leave to be at home, stared at by Sui Zhou as he drank medicine every day, his suffering therein not for words to describe, or for others to know of. Ive gotten better, really, and dont need to take any medicine. Look at my complexion isnt it a lot different from the past few days? he said, face full of bitterness, wrapped in a thick fur coat, as forced onto him by Sui Zhou. Few people had the ability to combine expressions of difficulty, pain, grieving, pleading, and innocence all into one, yet he had done so. Unfortunately, the one he was speaking to remained unmoved. I can feed it to you? Feed it to him how? Not with a spoon, of course. Mister Tangs fang was dyed red. This play had been put on countless times every day, ending repeatedly with Tang Fans defeat. However, he couldnt be blamed; the medicine truly was bitter. If Sui Zhou had to drink it, he would probably refuse to, too, but he was physically sturdy. He had also been drenched, yet he was just fine, not sick at all. In contrast, the civil officials were a little worse for wear, the Cabinet especially so. Apart from Tang Fan, almost all of them were over forty, and now excluding Vice Vizier Liu Ji and Xu Pu, who still resolutely guarded the Cabinet and handled business everyone else had been laid low by the rain. Not even Head Vizier Wan An was an exception, purportedly laying in bed without rise. Tang Fan was doing fairly well. He only requested for one day of leave, and without mishaps, he would return to work tomorrow. If he didnt, Liu Ji and Xu Pu wouldnt be able to hold out, as affairs that should have been handled by seven were now being piled up onto two. Liu Ji had even just sent someone over at noon to ask whether Tang Fan could return to the Cabinet in the afternoon to help. Were returning to the Cabinet to make it so that he didnt have to take medicine, Tang Fan would have been more than glad, but if he actually did do that, he would probably suffer a full degree of torment. After drinking down the medicine in one gulp, Tang Fan felt that bitterness coated his entire mouth, his face wrinkled up like a chrysanthemum. Is there any candy around here? he asked Sui Zhou. What kind do you want? Whatever. Osmanthus candy, malt candy, alls fine. The other mans answer was to stop him from continuing with a deep kiss, and tightly holding on to his waist so that he couldnt draw back. It wasnt until Tang Fan was almost out of breath that he let go, saying, I just ate malt candy. Is that enough? The second he said as much, Tang Fan tasted the faint flavor of malt candy in his mouth. But, the method He blushed. Sui Zhou observed his reaction with relish. Fair skin had turned bright red, and a misty layer floated over his eyes from the recent suffocation, looking like he had become humiliated into anger yet wasnt sure how to resist. No matter how many times he saw this, he would never tire of it. I saw this in a romance story you wrote. Werent the descriptions in it pretty straightforward? Why are you always getting shy so easily, hm? He hooked the others chin and brought his head over, speaking while nearly pressed against the corner of Mister Tangs lips. The fragrance of plums flowed beneath the veranda. They were very close together. With Sui Zhou having practically hauled him over, they were face-to-face, with Tang Fans legs apart as he sat on his lap. In broad daylight, facing the courtyard, this sitting posture was enough to make traditionalists condemn them, both in writing and speech! Mister Tang wanted to struggle, but putting his current sickness aside, even in his usual state, he wouldnt be able to wrest free of Count Suis grip. Its warmer like this. Ill help you block out the wind, Count Sui said, like it was natural. Tang Fan couldnt take this anymore. Why did you get so indolent the second I went on leave? I went on leave, too, Sui Zhou explained very earnestly. The other raised his brows. Youre sick? No. It was to take care of my sick family member. Youre so shameless! While they idly sparred with words, a knock came from outside. Is this Solon Tangs Estate? Is anyone here? Tang Fan used this opportunity to break away from Sui Zhous hold, go over to the door, and open it. Standing outside was a middle-aged man that looked like an attendant. Seeing Tang Fan, he quickly cupped his hands and bowed. Sir, this lowly one came from Solon Lius home. Tang Fan recognized him; he was Liu Jians servant. Your Master is looking for me for something? Yes, hes at the mouth of the alley. Please step out to speak with him. Tang fan was a bit surprised. Liu Jian had also stayed home on sick leave today why had he run over here? Once he explained to Sui Zhou, he followed the man out, and, sure enough, saw Liu Jian wrapped in a thick fur coat as he stood on the corner, stomping his feet and rubbing his hands to keep warm. It didnt look like he was sick at all. Mr. Huian? Tang Fan greeted, walking over. Since youre already here, how about you come inside and sit down? No. Liu Jian pulled Tang Fan a little closer, whispering, If youre not doing anything right now, you should come with me into the palace to go visit the Crown Prince? Seeing how he was acting secretive, Tang Fan couldnt help but ask, Whats going on with him? You are aware of him falling ill after returning from the worship? Tang Fan nodded. He knew about it because many people had done so because of the rain, the Crown Prince being one of them. When he had returned, in spite of having a carriage and not needed to walk back in the rain like everyone else had, there was a long, tall section of white jade steps from the carriage to the temple, a portion of the travel that required walking. Even though Wang Zhi had removed his outer robe to cover the Princes overhead with, the latter getting his hair and clothes drenched had been hard to avoid; after returning to the palace, he, like many others, had caught windchill. However, as the rain hadnt been heavy, even if he had ridden a horse like Tang Fan and gotten rained on all the while, he would need to take two bowls of medicine, at most. Many had taken their outer robes off to cover their heads, as well; in general, even if they fell ill, the illness wouldnt be that great. And this time around, no one could blame the Wan party. No matter how much they wanted the Crown Prince to be deposed, it would have been impossible for them to have predicted the rain. Even if they had anticipated it, they might not have predicted that he would inevitably get sick from the rain. Claiming that they had wanted to get rid of him using this method would be much too laughable. The Crown Prince had been ill for two days. Tang Fan had inquired yesterday, and it didnt sound to be too serious, the imperial doctors only having him recuperate. For that reason, once Liu Jian said this, his heard promptly jumped, a really bad premonition arising within him. It couldnt be that he? Liu Jian knew that he had misunderstood. No, I merely heard that he was ill, and wanted to see that hes fine with my own eyes so that I can be at ease. I specifically asked for leave today. When I heard you were at home, too, I came over by the by to meet up with you. Prior to entering the Cabinet, Liu Jian had served as a lecturer in the East Palace for many years. His relationship with the Crown Prince was different. It wasnt shocking that he was more concerned about the Princes health than others were. I would be willing to go with you on a trip, Mr. Huian, but Im suffering from windchill right now. If fail in etiquette before the Prince, or pass my illness to him, it wont be pretty, Tang Fan answered. Liu Jian thought about it, and agreed. Fine, Ill go ahead alone. Well speak in the Cabinet tomorrow. Quick-acting by nature, he said goodbye to Tang Fan, hurrying off. Out of politeness, Tang Fan stood there, seeing off the others carriage until it went far away. Cold wind blew, raising the edges of his robes, his slender figure standing there giving an indescribable elegance. Sadly his windchill had not yet gone away, so he couldnt help but snivel, sucking the snot that was about to drip back into his nose. Then, he turned around. Tang Fan: Sui Zhou: Ive been discovered! My elegance is gone forevermore! Mister Tang howled on the inside, suddenly having the urge to weep. Sui Zhou held in his laughter. Come back. Its cold out here. Tang Fan lightly coughed. I didnt bring a kerchief when I left. So, you should come back with me and drink your medicine. If you disgrace yourself in front of your colleagues in the Cabinet tomorrow, wont you lose face? He shouldnt have said anything. As soon as he did, Tang Fan couldnt help but imagine himself arguing with the Wan party over something tomorrow. He would be speaking sharply and self-assuredly, yet would suddenly feel his nose drip, then couldnt resist snorting it all back all of his grandeur completely gone to waste. Seeing his face suddenly flash green and white, Sui Zhou was a bit mystified. After thinking about it, he felt that there shouldnt have been any issues with his wording. Before he could get to understand, he heard Tang Fan say mournfully, Im taking another day off tomorrow. That wish could never come true, naturally. Liu Ji and Xu Pu had nearly been driven mad working in the Cabinet for one day, even being forced to have dinner there, not able to leave until late at night. Were Tang Fan to request another day of leave, they would likely send people to urge him otherwise. He was obliged to haul his still-ailing body to the Cabinet for duty, three brand-new handkerchiefs in his pocket in case of emergency. The others had come as well, including Wan An. There was no conference today, so there was no requirement for everyone to meet, each going to their respective workrooms after roll call. Being in the same room as Liu Jian, Tang Fan happened to ask about yesterday. Did you meet with the Crown Prince, Mr. Huian? Liu Jian creased his brow, wanted to speak, yet stopping. Did he refuse to see you? It wasnt that, but he appeared to be quite ill. Supposedly, he had been in bedrest, and only got up after he heard I arrived. Tang Fan jumped in fright. Its that bad? An imperial physician happened to be around, thankfully, and said that windchill can come in all degrees. He told the Prince to rest well, and for no guard to be lowered. Tang Fan nodded. So thats why. However, Liu Jian then spoke out about the dissatisfaction in his heart. But I heard that after the Prince fell ill, His Majesty never went to visit him himself! As long as he gave one thought to the melancholy on the Crown Princes face, Liu Jian would feel bad for him. Tang Fan sighed, too. It was hard for outsiders to judge on something like this as subjects, it was even more impossible for them to comment wantonly on it. From an outsiders point of view, the Crown Prince might be pitiful, but the Emperor might feel that he had already given the Prince the best things in the world: the future throne. What did it matter, if the Prince suffered some grievances? Moreover, the father acted, the son followed; the monarch acted, the subject followed. They were both father and son, as well as monarch and subject. There was no basis of a father neglecting his son, and the son resenting his father. For that reason, this was destined to be a debt not clearly accounted for, a dispute to last half a lifetime, a complicated tangle. Even Consort Wan might think herself to be quite pitiful; clearly, she was the woman the Emperor regarded the highest, yet that had ended with her not having a son that could inherit the throne, instead getting that thieved by an insignificant son from a sidewoman. After ascending, if the Crown Prince could hold fast to his mindset, not getting tangled up in grievances and forgetting his duty of ruling the country, that would be amazing. Countless people reached out a helping hand, or even risking their lives to protect him when he had been down and out would not have been in vain. Liu Jian clearly understood that much, so he merely complained about this to Tang Fan in private, then cast it away, never to speak of it again. They hadnt come for a whole day, leaving much business from the Office of Transmissions and Six Ministries waiting for them. They buried their heads in it, worked until they were dizzy, and didnt get the greater half of it done until it hit nighttime. From now on, even if I die on duty, Ill never take leave again, Liu Jian joked, shaking his head. Coming back from leave means you work yourself to death even worse than usual! Tang Fan couldnt stifle a puff of laugher. Tragically realizing that his snot was about to drip again, he quickly fished out a kerchief to hold it back, which made his voice sound a bit stuffy. Mr. Huian, please dont make me laugh Liu Jian clearly noticed his sorry state, laughing without any sympathy in the slightest. Barely managing to pull through dealing with important business, Tang Fan hurried out of the palace to head home. Before he would be fully recovered, he prepared to shoot down all invites to parties and would not be going to meet anyone if they called for him, so as to not lose further face if he showed up in front of anyone. Unfortunately, the calculations of humans were inferior to those of the Heavens someone cut him off partway through his walk. CH 146 The one who stopped Tang Fan was Zhou Jing not a nameless junior, but the husband of Princess Chongqing. These days, he managed the Imperial Clan Court, being the consort-kin of highest repute today. Princesses of this Dynasty resembled the former Songs, having weak sense of existences; after marrying someone, the married couple of nobodies becoming estranged and ultimately ending in despair was a common occurrence. Princess Chongqing was an exception, however, because she had been birthed by Empress Dowager Zhou, the little sister of the current Emperor. Only that layer to her identity was enough to make people look at her differently. This Princess had a decent life, having married a husband of good temperament. His ability to study was no inferior to that of the average scholar, and when younger, he had been a handsome young man that had gotten into the Late Emperors good graces. The Princess and her Consort had a great relationship, tied together in perfect harmony for over twenty years, a loving married couple that was the envy of everyone in the family. Are you well, Consort Zhou? The last time we parted was the Great Court meeting. Seeing how you look chipper, youve been getting on fine, I presume? Zhou Jing differed from garbage consort-kin like Wan Tong, so even Tang Fan didnt dare to be discourteous when seeing him, quickly getting off the sedan chair to greet him. Still, he was a bit perplexed, because despite knowing of each other, they rarely interacted. Zhou Jing acted carefully in his words and actions, yt he had suddenly moved to block someone on the street that was pretty unordinary. Chipper? Zhou Jing smiled, pained, and pulled Tang Fan to a side. Solon Tang, I came to ask for your help! Tang Fan was even more surprised at that. Those are heavy words, Consort Zhou! Zhou Jing sighed. We are open people that dont speak in secrets; the situation is urgent, so I wont give you the runaround. Something happened in our home! The Princess Estate? Precisely, ours hah. Ive been arguing with the Princess over something these past few days. I heard that youre a god at solving cases, so I want to request that you help us determine this, lest the Princess accuse me unjustly! Princess Chongqing might hold favor, but after marrying into the Zhou family, she had shown considerate respect to her in-laws, not relying on her favor to act spoiled at all, and thus earning praise. To say nothing of her having a huge fight with her husband, to say that Zhou Jing had run off to find him was already really odd. Contrary to Tang Fans fondness for discovering truths, he absolutely did not want to get mixed into marital problems as the saying went, upright officials would find it hard to judge familial matters. When the married couple quarreled from the head of the bed and reconciled at the foot, would he, as a middleman, not end up unlucky? Thus, hearing that, he smiled bitterly and replied, I cant help you with this. Please look for someone more qualified than I! Then, he freed his sleeve from Zhou Jing and turned to flee. However, Zhou Jing moved a lot faster than him, grabbing his arm with such force, Tang Fan felt that if he tried to break away again, his official uniform would be yanked off, so he was forced to stop. Consort Zhou, you and the Princess a married couple if you have things to talk about, sit down and talk about them, and then the rain will pass and sky clear up. Why the need to make this bigger than it is? Im afraid I cant help you! You havent hear me out yet! How could you know that you cant help?! Zhou Jing answered angrily. Tang Fan felt powerless. You can see that my windchill is not yet gone, and Im in the middle of hurrying home. Cant we speak about this another day? What a joke! A Princess and her Consort having a row was not something he wanted a part in at all! Thats easy to deal with. Come back to our home now; Ill have a good banquet prepared for the table, and explain things to you in detail. In any case, you let me bump into you today, so you have to help me think of something! Solon Tang, I beg of you if the Princess keeps making a fuss and word gets around, Ill have nowhere to put my dignity! That set of words, both yielding and coercive, made Tang Fan unsure of whether to laugh or cry. Even if he wanted to refuse, he wouldnt be able to, because the man was holding fast to his sleeve. He sighed. Cant I just not go? No, Zhou Jing said decisively. The two of them were going back and forth in the middle of the street, and with their out-of-the-ordinary statues, they were attracting quite some attention. Seeing that if they didnt leave, the Five Districts Office was going to be summoned, Tang Fan could submit, tell the litterbearers to go make a report on his behalf, then get on to Zhou Jings carriage. The Princess Estate carriage was spacious enough for two brown men to sit down in with room to spare. The seats were padded with thick silk cushions, leaving one barely able to feel the bumps of the wheels going on the road, but Tang Fan wasnt in the mood to appreciate it. Since he had just been in the blowing, cold wind outside, suddenly getting onto a warm carriage immediately caused him to sneeze, tears and snot both flowing out of him. Zhou Jing peered at him, saying with concern, Youre still young, Solon Tang. You have to take care of yourself. Tang Fan covered his mouth with a kerchief, inwardly rolling his eyes. Who was the one that brought me here? Seeming to sense his resentment, Zhou Jing laughed dryly. I was backed into a corner, too. Please forgive me. Dare I ask the reason why you and the Princess were fighting? Tang Fan asked, powerless. No one else was around aboard the carriage, yet Zhou Jing kept it vague. Its nothing more than a trivial thing. Once were at the Estate, Ill explain it to you. Tang Fan suddenly felt that something was off. Zhou Jing was a man of even temper, and Princess Chongqing was not a woman of arrogance. On top of that, they were not newlyweds. Even if there was any sort of immense conflict which Tang Fan didnt believe if it really was major, why would Zhou Jing block a Cabinet minister halfway through his travel to invite him to his house for meditation? Tang Fans relationship with Zhou Jing was not so deep that the other would allow him to make judgements on his familial matters, let alone a familial matter between a Princess and her Consort. Thinking of this, Tang Fan put away his handkerchief. His voice was a little stuffy from the windchill, but he sounded more stern. Is there something you need to tell me, Consort? Whenever he got serious, few could maintain nonchalance beneath his keen gaze. Zhou Jing was no exception, automatically shying away from it. You will know very soon. Please dont ask further. The carriage stopped at the Princess Estates front gate. The servants, upon seeing that a young man they had never seen before was with the Consort, had some respect, as well as curiosity, in their actions. Mentally guessing after the others status, they quickly came to know it, as the Consort called him Solon. Solon was certainly not someones courtesy name. Within the Great Ming, there were only seven people that could be called that: the Viziers, equivalent to Prime Ministers. They subordinated just one person, and prevailed over many. Even though that position was less stable than the nobility of consort-kin, founding families, and influential families, frequently getting rotated every few years, it could not be denied that someone who could become a Solon doubtlessly grasped the power of Great Mings Pivot, and also determined the realms fate. Also, this young man appeared to only be in his late twenties. If he was a Solon, an elder of the Pavilion, could there have ever been such a young Prime Minister? Well, it wasnt like there wasnt one now, really. Well-informed servants quickly brought someone to mind, and the age of that man happened to match with this one in front of them. Still, they hadnt expected that the legendary young and promising Solong Tang was such a handsome, elegant character. Hm. While he was walking, he was constantly covering the lower half of his face, as if his health was not so good? Tang Fan didnt have to spare time to observe the reactions of the servants, and Zhou Jing clearly had no thought to, rushing forward with him non-stop. Even his smile was gone, which made Tang Fan nearly think that something major happened with the Princess. That was, until they arrived at the study in the rear courtyard. The rear courtyard, and even the study, were generally not open to outsiders, unless they had an extremely familiar relationship with the host family. That was because the study was a key location, where people of status would often store a large amount of important documents the hosts own family might not be allowed to enter it, to say nothing of guests. And yet, Zhou Jing had brought Tang Fan directly here. He opened the door, saying to someone inside, Ah-Shu, I invited him here. The one inside could be none other than Princess Chongqing. She was over forty, but her good looks were still in place, making her look not a day over thirty, not much older than Tang Fan. He didnt dare to slight her, cupping his hands in a bow. May you be in good health, Princess. The Princess gave her husband and look, and the latter understood. Ill go outside for a walk. You two can talk, first. At this point, no matter how stupid Tang Fan was, he would have been able to realized that things were complicated. And he wasnt stupid at all. To have made her own husband keep watch outside himself, what she wanted to say must be of high importance. For that reason, Tang Fan didnt hurry to ask, instead waiting for the other to speak first. She smiled bitterly. Sir Tang, please excuse us for inviting you here, but this matter is unavoidably crucial. I dont have typical contact with you, but I have heard of your talents many times. Hence was why we boldly made a fuss. Please forgive us. He tone was suave and soft, truly being similar to the rumors outside. Completely lacking a Princesss spoiledness, she also diminished her posturing as soon as she spoke; even if Tang Fan had still had a thread of unhappiness, it would have long been overlooked. There is no need to be so polite, Princess. This humble official is here to listen. With that, Tang Fan had to take out a handkerchief, cover his mouth, cough, and then sniff, ending it with a pained smile towards Princess Chongqing. Im still suffering from windchill. Please excuse my rudeness. She knew well that the only rude ones were them, disregarding his illness to stubbornly cut him off in the middle of his travels. However, she and her husband hadnt had a choice but to employ such a method. Her brows lightly creased, but it was not aimed at him; rather, she was brewing her words, seeming to think about whether she should say them or not. Tang Fan didnt prompt her. The two sat in silence, with only the sound of Zhou Jings footsteps lightly echoing outside. After a good while, the Prince slowly started, When I went into the palace to visit Mother Empress, I hear that the Crown Prince was ill, so I visited him while I was out. Hearing that this was related to the Crown Prince, Tang Fan suddenly came to look a bit more serious, waiting for her to continue. At the time, I didnt notice anything strange. Because hes ill and in poor spirits, I didnt remain for long, only for about a quarter-hour before I took my leave. However, after returning home, I remember one thing, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt that something was off he had wandered the palace in his youth. You must have heard of that, Sir Tang? Tang Fan nodded. It would not be good for the Princess to bring up Consort Wan, but there was pretty much no one inside or outside of the palace that didnt know of that. When he was three, he tripped and fell on a doorsill due to someones negligence in care, bumping his head open. It left a scar that can be seen to this day. I wasnt present at the time, I only heard Mother Empress tell me of it later. What few know is that the Prince also injured his pinky on his left hand during the fall, where a splinter had pierced skin and caused him to bleed. Even today, a slight scar of that can be seen. She took a deep breath. However, when I met the Crown Prince, I inadvertently glanced at his finger, and I didnt see the scar. At this point in the conversation, she had only been saying what she had seen, but the implication hidden inside of her words was alarming. Tang Fans brow lightly furrowed. Youre sure that the scare can still be seen today? The Princess grimaced. Im not sure that I hadnt seen wrongly. This is not a small matter, so Im too afraid to rashly enter the palace to confirm it. However, when I met the Prince a month ago, I did see a tiny scar on his hand. Theres no way that in the span of a month, a scar that hes had since childhood has suddenly vanished. What about the scare on his forehead? Its still there. When you first entered the East Palace, did you come across anything that was different from before? She thought. No, actually. Were the Princes behaviors or speech abnormal? I only said a few things to him. He was laying in bed at the time, and I couldnt see anything wrong. What of the people at his side? Was anyone swapped out? I dont think so, but I dont interact with him much ordinarily, and rarely pay attention to his attendants. Seeing Tang Fan mutter to himself, she sighed. I know that this is too ridiculous and hard to believe. If I saw wrong, it would be nothing, and I would suffer a reprimand at worst, but if its true, the consequences will be beyond imagination. We were thinking about it, but didnt dare to make too big of a fuss, so we had to invite you here under the name of a quarrel. As you see it, how should I handle this? Tang Fan smiled painfully. This humble official has never seen the Prince in person before. Its much too hard to make a judgement on this. I know that Ive caused trouble for you, Sir, the Princess apologized. Everyone was solely based on her suspicious, and that suspicions evidence was only a scar that was so subtle, it was nearly-imperceptible. Her not having seen the scar didnt exactly mean that the Prince was a fake maybe shining light had led to her seeing things. Furthermore, impersonating the Crown Prince was such a huge thing, that once the conspiracy came to light, not only would the perpetrator lose their head, but it would implicate a huge stretch of people. Thus, the Princess had been too afraid to say something, only able to quietly get Zhou Jing to bring Tang Fan for a discussion. How about I go into the palace and ask Mother Empress? she proposed. He shook his head. The Dowager and Crown Prince might not meet much more than you do. People in the palace talk too much, so it would be bad if things got too big. As thats so, this humble official will find someone to ask about before I come to a conclusion. The Princess sighed in relief. Thats the best way. I hope that I saw wrong. The curtain of night slowly descended. Today was the fourth of the first month. All officials were on vacation, every bureau in the capital stopping business. Even so, the capitals streets did not become lively because of the New Years Festival. The only lively areas were the market on Dengshikou and a few alleys in the vicinity. Everywhere else remained the same, going quiet after nightfall. An inconspicuous, plan litter parked at the back entrance of a similarly-inconspicuous residence. A litterbearer came up to knock on the door, the sound not loud, so that the surrounding neighbors wouldnt be alerted. Not long after, the door was opened from the inside by a middle-aged man with sharp features. He said something quietly to the litterbearer for a short bit, who turned back and stooped to say something unknown to the litters cabin, immediately after which someone disembarked it and entered the residence. A stick of incense later, that person came out from inside, got on the litter, and quickly left from there. Less than a quarter-hour after the other left, the door opened yet again, and the middle-aged man also left in a rush, his figure quickly fading into the night. No one had expected that this would all fall into the eyes of someone with motive. The Forbidden City. Wang Zhis steps were a bit faster than before. He couldnt see much of it, but the eunuch behind him was trying pretty hard to follow. The latter dared not complain, only able to quietly quicken his pace while praying that the lantern he held wouldnt go out because of this. By coincidence, right as he thought that, a burst of cold wind blew, and the candle swayed a few times, as if actually about to go out. He jumped in fright and looked at Eunuch Wang up ahead, but the other didnt even turn his head. Honestly, were he not worried about being too eye-catching, Wang Zhi would have gone even faster. But he couldnt do so now. After Huai Ens departure, his subordinates had almost all been eradicated, replaced by Liang Fangs people. Even the Eastern Depot was no exception, as Chen Zhun no longer occupied the spot of Chief Eunuch, having quickly been booted off to the Supervisory of Seals to feed the mosquitoes. Why did Liang Fang have this confidence, and lack of fear about being reprimanded by the Emperor? It was related to the one backing him, no question. Wang Zhi remained, and it was kind of hard for him to clap one-handed. The reason he had not been struck down together with him was that his conduct was sly upon sly, unlike how Huai En clearly stood on the side of the Crown Prince and civil officials, and that it was still by Consort Wans hand that he had received promotions. After Huai En left, he had aptly drawn closer to and yielded to the Wan party. That posturing had paralyzed them, and he was allowed to stay, but the price he had paid was leaving the two important spots of the Supervisories of Royal Steeds and Ceremony Management, and going for the Supervisory of Glyphs. He still had some manpower, but they all had needed to be re-positioned after he returned to the palace. Many hadnt been able to climb into corresponding spots, meaning that their power was relatively small, and they could not fulfill a role. People inside the palace felt more comfortable than those outside of it. People had soon gone to kick him while he was done upon seeing that he had lost power, but he was not someone that could be bullied easily. After his return to the palace, his aggressiveness was restrained beneath a gentle, low-key disguise, and the adaptable Eunuch Wang remembered those peoples mugs, having jotted them down onto his blacklist long ago. If anyone believed that he was living a miserable life inside the palace, they would be horribly wrong, though. An emaciated camel was still bigger than a horse. Eunuch Wang still grasped his own influence, and Huai En had even transferred some of his own people to him. As a result, Liang Fang didnt dare to push too much against Wang Zhi. After crowding Huai En out, he had turned a blind eye to Wang Zhi, else the two deeply-rooted Great Eunuchs would be forced into desperate straits and counterattack him, the end results being a loss for both sides. These difficulties, Wang Zhi had never told Tang Fan. No matter how formidable the latter was, his abilities were limited, and besides that, outside subjects could not meddle in palace matters. Such was greatly taboo. Ever since Wang Zhi had returned to the palace, the two had subconsciously diminished contact, this thread to go unused unless it was absolutely necessary. Countless one-time contacts, all for the Crown Prince. This time was no exception. Once he received Wei Maos tip-off, he couldnt wait to find an excuse to go into the East Palace. He had to see with his own eyes before he could be at ease. Usually, at this hour, the Crown Prince might still be studying, but with his recent illness, he would go to bed early. It looked pretty unusual for Wang Zhi to request an audience in the middle of the night, so he was inevitably barred outside, where the East Palace members informed him that the Crown Prince had since gone to sleep. However, Wang Zhi was not powerless. He had brought with him the Empress Dowagers statement. The Dowager was listening to sutras, suddenly heard a medicinal sutra, and, preoccupied about the Crown Princes illness, ordered me to come bless him with Buddhist sutras, so that he might recover a bit sooner. As the Dowager had spoken, the palace-goer didnt continue to block him, going in to make a report. Not long after, he came out again to say that the Crown Prince was awake, and willing to see him. Hearing that, Wang Zhi stepped forth. The bedroom of since-extinguished candles was lit up again with an arm-thick candle, which brightly lit up most of the hall. The bed curtain was half-drawn, and the Crown Prince was supporting himself into a sit, preparing to go change his clothes. Wang Zhi stopped him. Please sit, Your Highness. The Prince didnt fight it, smiling at him. His expression had a hard-to-conceal weariness and weakness. Ill have to trouble you with bringing my thanks to Grandmother, Eunuch Wang. When I get better in a few days, I will go to thank her. His words and actions were not strange at all, his intonation the same as ever. Wang Zhi didnt see him every day, but he interacted with him often in his opinion, at least, there was nothing off. Still, the Prince had doubtlessly lost a lot of weight, his cheeks slightly sunken and some blue around his eyes, with was a bit alarming. No need to be polite, Your Highness. Eunuch Huai is very concerned about you, and if he hears that youre ill, he might get pretty anxious. The Crown Prince smiled bitterly at that. Im useless. I couldnt protect Huai En, I I really let him down. Those words werent flawed, Wang Zhi thought to himself. Then, he witnessed the Crown Prince cough like his lungs were tearing apart, the manner of which was simply frightening. The servant nearby quickly stepped up to pat the Prince on the back. Wang Zhi scanned his surroundings briefly, asking, Your Highness, why dont I see Cui Yong? That was the Princes personal attendant. Ive been coughing through the night and cant fall asleep. I once was prescribed some calming pills by the imperial hospital before, and theyve already been used up. He went to ask for some for me. The Prince then asked the servant, Is he still not back yet? No. Attendant Cui left a little under a half-shichen ago. There was no issue with that sentence. Wang Zhi couldnt pick any faults out of it, at least. He decided that he was going to leave the East Palace and go take a look in the hospital. While the servant spoke, his eyes inadvertently flitted across the Crown Princes left pinky. The others lower half was covered by a blanket, both of his hands placed to the sides, his left one lightly gripping the blanket; its pinky happened to be obscured. Wang Zhi couldnt exactly grab his hand to check it over. Eunuch Wang? Wang Zhi snapped out of it. Do you have an order, Your Highness? The Crown Prince smiled powerlessly. I asked you just now; are you used to being in the Supervisory of Glyphs yet? Do you want me to speak to Father Emperor, so you can return to the Supervisory of Royal Steeds? Wang Zhi shook his head. Thank you for you goodwill, but its not too appropriate for you to speak on this. So that you arent implicated, please dont speak about it. At that, the Crown Prince sighed, saying nothing. You should take medicine, Your Highness, the servant nearby whispered. It wouldnt be good for Wang Zhi to stick around, so he took his leave upon seeing this. In the end, he was not as familiar with the Crown Prince as Huai En was if the latter was still around, he would be able to tell if something was off with the Prince better than he could. Unfortunately, Huai En was still burning incense for the Great Ancestor in Nanjing, too far away to be of help. Wang Zhi left the East Palace for the hospital. Cui Yong was indeed there; because the pills needed to be made on-demand, he was in the middle of helping the imperial physicians. Wang Zhi asked him a few things about nothing other than the Crown Princes condition; judging by Cui Yongs tone, he didnt believe that anything was amiss with him. Wang Zhi had reaped nothing at all from this trip. He almost suspected that because he typically pushed Tang Fan around, the other had seized a chance to mess with him, instead. However, that idea was fleeting. Wang Zhi knew that Tang Fan wasnt like that. When it came to serious business, he was never vague about things. Wang Zhi had no idea that Tang Fan was being cautious from hearing Princess Chongqing out. Because Wei Mao had been a medium and time had been limited, Tang Fan hadnt been able to explain things in full, only able to tell Wei Mao to pass word on for Wang Zhi to pay more attention to the Crown Princes status. Due to this, Wang Zhi had gone to the Empress Dowager in the middle of the night to acquire Buddhist sutras and deliver them to the East Palace, yet he had found absolutely nothing. He returned to his own residence. A home outside of the palace was inferior in comfort to one inside it, but with Wang Zhis seniority, him wanting to arrange the house he lived in comfortably was no issue. He had his subordinating eunuch get water boiling, comfortably soaked in a hot bath, then sat on his bed with his blanket in his arms, beginning to analyze. Having interacted with Tang Fan for such a long time, he had learned how to emulate the others way of thinking, but after pondering for a long while, he still couldnt figure anything out. Forget it! This bothersome junk is something for Tang Fluffy to do! Wang Zhi put out the light and went to bed. However, he hadnt expected that before he could send news out of the palace, the next day of the fifth the very day Court officials were to resume their jobs Tang Fan would be denounced. CH 147 Tang Fan had been denounced because someone had seen him come in and out of Wang Zhis capital residence, and that very night, Wang Zhi had gone to the East Palace to visit the Crown Prince. A Cabinet member and a eunuch being too close was a great taboo. Regardless of whether there actually was a direct connection between the two, the coincidence in timing was enough for someone with an ulterior motive to connect the dots. Therefore, the censors points in denouncing Tang Fan were very clear: he was spying upon the palaces internals for some unfathomable motive. According to due process, Tang Fan had to reflect upon himself at home, no longer able to go to the Cabinet for work, and then send a memorial defending himself. However, it was unknown what had gone wrong in the middle of this, but his memorial didnt reach the Emperor at all, the matter getting dragged out without limit. Unable to get the Emperors answer, Tang Fan had to keep staying at home, his return date uncertain. Who knew how to react to this? Liu Jian and Xu Pu had sought out Head Vizier Wan An and requested that he help Tang Fan speak, and the latter had agreed on the surface, but who knew whether he had actually visited the Emperor? In any case, every day that the Emperor said nothing was a day he couldnt return to the Cabinet. Liu Jian and Xu Pu, clearly seeing Wan Ans indifference, went to see the Emperor themselves, wanting to ask him about it to his face, yet were told that he was in poor health and wasnt seeing anyone. With things coming to this, Tang Fan was unsure of who on his own side was watching his every move in secret. As a last resort for avoiding suspicion, the line of contact between Wang Zhi and he was forced to break. Wang Zhi had been hoping that Tang Fan would help his resolve his suspicion, yet hadnt expected that the Wan party would strike first, directly cutting him off from his outside help. Tang Fan was not going to be able to contact him for the time being. It wouldnt be impossible for them to have contact, of course, but that would doubtlessly give others an easy handle to grab, sweeping Tang Fan completely into dangerous territory. Wang zhi was no saint that paid good unto evil, but he wouldnt do anything that would implicate a friend. Now, he could only rely upon himself. Life in the Supervisory of Glyphs was far more leisurely than serving by the Emperors side, but Wang Zhi also couldnt frequently run off to the East Palace to check on the Crown Prince. As of right now, his responsibilities clearly had nothing to do with the East Palace, and if he always went in and out of it, that would likely fall into the eyes of someone with motive, causing him headache. He needed to find a loophole elsewhere. He really hoped that the information Tang Fan had passed on was wrong, and that there was nothing wrong with the Crown Prince. If there wasnt, however, the Wan parts actions would clearly be bizarre. It had been Consort Wans idea to have the Crown Prince go pray on behalf of the Empero; now that censors were being directed to denounce Tang Fan, the shadow of the Wan part was faintly visible behind. Were there no conspiracy going on, why would the Wan party have gone to so much trouble doing all of this? However, in terms of conspiracy, was the Crown Princes illness due to a downpour something the party could have calculated for ahead of time? If they were gutsy enough to replace the Crown Prince, where could the opportunity have been? He still remembered that in order to prevent the Crown Prince from meeting with mishaps on his personal journey to prayer, he, Tang Fan, and others had preemptively speculated on what might happen during. Their ultimate discovery had been that the most dangerous possibility was the incense sticks worth of time he was in the Longevity Palace, because he would have to be alone in the repose room. Had someone been lurking inside ahed of time and took that chance to assassinate him, no one would be able to prevent it. In light of that, right before the Crown Princes trip, Sui Zhou had brought people to search the repose room inside and out, then confirmed that there were no hidden people, as well as no sort of hidden compartments whatsoever. On top of that, the Prince had been accompanied by attendants all throughout the process, and there was no way he could have been swapped out while everyone was watching. Upon thinking of this, Wang zhi recalled a phrase Tang Fan said almost daily: Perfect people or things have never existed in the world, and alleged perfection is likely just use not having paid attention to some flaw. Wang Zhi attempted to imitate Tang Fans method of thinking, reconstructing everything that had happened that day. Then, he thought of a crucial detail, something likely everyone had overlooked. The carriage. Yes, the carriage. While everyones focus had been gathered on the most probable dangers and loopholes, another possible danger had been neglected. After the Crown Prince left the palace, in addition to the repose room, an opportunity where he was isolated was inside the carriage, which was even longer than the period he had been inside the monastery. The convoy had been a force, the sound of its travel loud had something happened in the carriage and the sound could be muffled, it would have very likely gone unnoticed. More importantly, the carriage had been further adjusted to imitate the Emperors own carriage just before the Crown Prince had left, specially expedited in its creation. Before that, there had been no specialized carriage shape for him to leave the palace in. With that thought, Wang Zhi couldnt sit still. He sought out his confidante the other was a minor lead of the Supervisory of Hall Oversight, who did all the minor work he assigned randomly. Go to the Supervisory of Miscellany, try to find the carriage the Crown Prince used to leave the palace, and check to see if theres anything wrong, he said to him. The man understood nothing. What do you want to check for, Milord? The Crown Prince only used it once after such a long time, and no one knew when he would leave the palace next. As this follower sees it, the carriage was likely dismantled long ago. Wang Zhi hadnt expected that upset, caught off guard. Can the pieces still be found, then? The other smiled apologetically. Its possible, but the wheels and cabin and such must have been put into the Supervisory of Miscellanys storehouse. What do you want to investigate? Please explain, so that this follower may not wonder so much. Go and see if theres a spot or hidden compartment where someone could be hidden. The other was dumbstruck. Huh? This is extremely serious. Speak nothing of this, or else you and I wont be having good ends. Understand? The other nodded repeatedly, leaving with his orders. Today was the ninth of the first month. It was a very ordinary day. The Yellow Calendar wrote: Everything is going to go wrong. This was the fourth day of Tang Fans denouncement. He was idling about at home, and with how Wang Zhi understood him probably happy to take the opportunity to be lazy. The Crown Princes condition was still off-and-on, lingering. It could not be said to be horrible, but it was also not completely gone. The imperial physicians wording remained vague, which was their typical style. On account of the Great Mings official vacation system differing from the previous Dynastys, their time off did not go straight from the Spring Festival to after the Lantern Festival. They had to resume duty in the middle of it, so today was a day for bureau work. Since the Emperor had been ill for many days, all matters were being decided upon by the Cabinet. At this time, its members ought to be busy with evaluating letters sent from all over the country, in their respective workspaces. Of course, they might still be having meetings, but Liu Jian was always having disputes over disagreements with Peng Hua and Yin Zhi. Without Tang Fans presence, Liu Jian and Xu Pu fell increasingly downwind, with Liu Cottonflower swaying between the two sides, as was normal. This appeared to no sort of different than other days. Perhaps because the feeling of the new year had not yet dissipated, the joy on the palace-goers faces had not yet gone, with even their clothes appearing to be a lot brighter than usual, the strings used to tie up their hair also brand-new. A springtime aura permeated all over the place. The confidante that was helping him inquire around the Supervisory of Miscellany had yet to return, but for some reason, Wang Zhi felt a general sense of vague unease, an intuition that had come from being immersed within the palace for many years. It was like something was about to happen. Would it be a good something, or bad? He raised his head to look at the sky. It was azure and without limitless, clouds rolling and unfurling. Winters cold had gradually passed. Even flocks of geese were beginning to show up, crossing overhead, leaving drawn-out honks behind that lingered in the ear. Even though he was only twenty-ish and hadnt been back at the palace for too many years, he felt like his days of criss-crossing the desert were from a previous life. He had grown up in the palace, yet he wasnt accustomed to it despite it being towering and majestic, in his eyes, it wasnt as charming as the views outside. If he could have chosen, he never would have wanted to return. He was walking down a long palace road, followed by two young eunuchs. He was going in the direction of the Palace of Benevolence and Life, about to meet with the Dowager so that he could get someone to check on the Crown Prince, using her as an excuse. Due to the minute unease in his heart, he quickened his pace. The two eunuchs behind him nearly couldnt keep up, both dripping with sweat from the effort. All of a sudden, a few rushing figures turned from a corner up ahead of them, all palace servants. They hurried towards Wang Zhi with pale faces, steps quick, and were seen to bypass Wang Zhi, not seeing him at all. He recognized them; they were all maids and eunuchs from the Palace of Manifest Virtue, responsible for serving Consort Wan. For them to be in such a panic, there was no question that something big had happened. Wang Zhi grabbed a maid that was running by him, asking, Whats going on? The maid appeared to only now notice him. She appeared to be about to cry. Eu Eunuch Wang What happened, really? Why are you this flustered? He was getting more impatient than her. Her companions had long hurried forth, not even noticing that one of them had lagged behind. She gasped for air. The Noble Consort something happened to her What? Wang Zhi was great shocked on the inside, yet he didnt bat an eye on the surface. His His Majesty had an affair with a maid of the Palace of Manifest Virtue, she stammered out. After the Consort found out, she was furious, and summoned the maid to reprimand her. The maid spoke out against her, the Consort grew angry, and she beat her herself, but but then she fainted all of a sudden That was definitely something she would do. Wang Zhi had been by her side for many years no one understood what kind of person she was better than he did. Half of her overbearing personality was inborn, and the other half had come about from the Emperors pampering. Even though she no longer forbid harem women from bearing heirs, if she discovered it, the other part would inevitably suffer a round of verbal abuse. Furthermore, that maid had back-talked to her face; with how her personality was, how could Consort Wan have not been intensely angry? Had she fainted due to anger attacking her heart, that would not be difficult to understand. Prior to this, her health had not really been that great. On occasion, she would suffer chronic heart problems, or dizziness at other times, but she typically didnt need to be bedridden like the Emperor, which made her seem a little better. Were Tang Fan around, he definitely would have been worried about the fate of the maid that had angered the Noble Consort, but Wang Zhi had seen this sort of thing so much, he placed no importance upon it at all after hearing about it. He was more concerned about something else: was there actually something seriously wrong with the Noble Consort? Thinking of this, he released the maid, allowing her to tearfully catch up with her companions. She wasnt worried about Consort Wan, of course, but concerned about her own fate. Wang Zhi stopped in his tracks, not continuing to go forward. He told a eunuch beside him to go straight to the Palace of Manifest Virtue and ask around, then turned into a palace room piled with junk, as if familiar with it. Arent you curious as to why I brought you here? he asked the other eunuch that was following him. The others name was Wen Sheng. He had been in the palace for many years, was a few years younger than Wang Zhi, and reticent. He had once been in charge of miscellaneous tasks in the Supervisory of Hall Oversight, later getting transferred to Wang Zhis side. Wen Sheng was silent for a moment. You always have a reason for doing things, Eunuch Wang. His reticence was actually just out of being ineloquent, nothing beyond life in the palace making him most afraid of speaking too much. What Wang Zhi liked about it was his quietness and his loyalty, as it were. Rolling his eyes, Wang Zhi was about to teach him a lesson, but the other eunuch he had sent out, Wen Yuan, had already returned. After his trip, his expression had turned rather unsightly, nearly matching those palace servants from just recently. Seeing his expression, Wang Zhis heart sank, and he immediately threw his lesson plan up to the clouds. What is it? The Noble Consort she The others tongue was a bit tied, and it took a lot time for it to smooth out. Shes dead! Wen Shengs face twisted up. He couldnt help but glance at Wang Zhi. And when he did, he immediately admired him more, because the others expression remained unchanged, and even his voice was calm. Are you sure? Truthfully, after hearing the prior news, Wang Zhi had already made mental anticipations and preparations, so he wasnt overly surprised. There should be no mistake! Wen Yuan quickly answered. Everyone is wailing in the Palace of Manifest Virtue. This lowly one was too afraid to get in close out of fear of attracting attention, so I only secretly found a few people to ask. They all said she isnt breathing. Have the imperial physicians come over? Not yet, but its been such a long time He didnt continue, but his implication was obvious. If too long passed, even if the physicians rushed over, they probably wouldnt be able to resuscitate her. Listening to the end, Wang Zhis face was as cold as water, and he was silent. Wen Yuan and Wen Sheng exchanged a look, not going to disturb his thoughts. In Wang Zhis view, it had been by Consort Wans grace that he had been promoted. The news of her sudden death had beyond shocked him were he to say that he wasnt a tiny bit sorrowful, that would be a lie. However, that sorrow passed quickly.He had to face an issue that was much more grim. In the harem, concubines dying was commonplace. If one wasnt an Empress, no waves would be raised. Consort Wan was no Empress, but her status exceeded that of one. While she had never directly meddled in politics, the Wan partys influence was everywhere. Despite having the power to overturn society, the Wan party did not have abilities or prerequisites to rebel. Ever since Mings founding, no major officials had ever rebelled. Their bossiness came from the Emperors indulgence and the reason he indulged them was, ultimately, because he loved the crow that came with the house, and he was giving regard to Consort Wans reputation. Even though he indulged them now, ultimately, they relied on nothing further than Consort Wan as a source. Without her, their capital arrogance no longer existed. Like a hall constructed out of snow, it would melt with the sunrise. As could be imagined, in the wake of her death, many who had previously been harassed by the Wan party, yet too afraid to speak up due to backlash, would use this chance to step up and get revenge. When the tree fell, its monkeys would scatter according to trend, the Wan party would quickly fall to pieces. Still, its members werent idiots. Who would ever be willing to hand over power that they were already holding? Who would be willing to sit and wait for their demise? They would inevitably counterattack, or even strike first. Once the news of Consort Wans death spread outwards, it would surely cause unrest inside and out, all troops beginning to get restless. On this day, things would change. With this information, Wang Zhi didnt stay still for one moment, immediately going in the opposite direction of the Palace of Manifest Virtue. Eunuch Wang, where are we going now? Wen Yuan asked. The East Palace! Wang Zhi didnt turn his head. Following Tang Fans denouncement, Wang Zhi had felt that going to the East Palace again would alert the enemy, but he had changed his mind, now. With Consort Wans death, the Wan party would inevitably be harried if anything was off with the Crown Prince, now was the time to unveil the truth! The East Palace had not yet learned of Consort Wans death, as the Crown Prince was sick without rise. He hadnt even invited his teachers over for lectures in days. On account of their Masters illness, the lower servants were too afraid to even speak too loudly, afraid to disturbing the bedridden Prince. Wang Zhis bustling arrival caught all of them unprepared. Cui Yong, hearing the news, quickly came up to welcome him. Are you well, Eunuch Wang? You are here for? Wang Zhi didnt have time to exchange pleasantries with him, immediately asking, Where is His Highness? Perhaps he was too intense, as Cui Yong was too afraid to hide it from him. Hes resting inside. Ill go in and Before he could finish, Wang Zhi pushed him aside and barged in. Cui Yong was scared pale, watching as Wang Zhi strode right up to the Crown Princes bed, lunged at the Prince as he was reclined and reading a book, and said, Excuse my rudeness, Your Highness! Then, while the Crown Prince was surprised, he grabbed the others left wrist, bowed his head, and took a look. By means of the bright light coming in from outside the hall, Wang Zhi was able to clearly see the skin texture of the Princes hand, including the very faint, barely-noticeable scar on his pinky. It was in place! Wang Zhi couldnt say for sure whether he ought to sigh in relief, or be mad at Tang Fans unreliability. Right then, Cui Yong rushed up, attempting to push Wang Zhi out of the way to take on a protective pose in front of the Prince, firmly guarding him. Wang Zhi, how dare you! Wang Zhi didnt allow him to push him, of course, dodging on his own initiative once Cui Yong had started moving. Please forgive me for my rudeness, Your Highness, he said, cupping his hands. Before the Crown Prince could ask questions, he explained what Tang Fan had requested that he investigate. The Prince was not mad at this, merely amused. Solon Tang suspected that someone replaced me? Cui Yongs expression relaxed, as well. Thats too much of a joke, Eunuch Wang. I follow His Highness all day long would I not be able to detect whether he was real or not? Wang Zhi shook his head, expression serious. I would prefer it if I was joking, but Tang Fan has always been someone that can be entrusted with major events. If he said that, he must have some evidence for it. If such a thing actually happened, the consequences will be unimaginable, which is why I braved an irredeemable crime to come seek the truth. After that, his gaze remained fixed on the other, as if not relinquishing the idea to check for flaws. The Prince was collected, not showing the slightest bit of panic due to his words, and instead suggesting, As thats so, how about you test me, Eunuch Wang? You and I have known each other for years, and there are some things we each know that the other would only know. If I was a fake, there would be no way for me to know each of them. That made sense to Wang Zhi. When Huai recommended this subject to you, he said a series of words. Do you remember them? The Prince thought for a bit, then said. Not individually, but he said something like your martial arts are strong, and because youre on Consort Wans side, if I accidentally offended her, I could ask you to mediate on my behalf. Wang Zhi betrayed nothing, asking, Huai En also evaluated Tang Fans personality in one sentence. Can you remember that one? This time, the Crown Prince didnt need to think, answering with, Even though he is a civil official, he is loyal to the core, carries righteousness about his shoulders, and plans benevolently in worldly governance. Now, Wang Zhi had no more doubts. When Huai En had said that, only the Crown Prince had been on scene with him. Even if someone was pretending to be him and was imitating him perfectly, there was no way they would have been able to memorize every one of those words. Wang Zhi sighed in relief. Thank you for dispelling my doubts. This subject has been reckless; please forgive my offense, Your Highness. You and Solon Tang are only racking your brains on my behalf. How could I blame you, when I havent yet expressed my appreciation enough? However, Ive been loitering about in bed, and just heard Cui Yong say that Solon Tang was chased back home. Did such a thing happen? What can I help him with? Plead for him with Father Emperor, maybe? Im afraid that His Majesty has no time to meet with you right now. The Crown Prince was startled. Why so? Consort Wan just passed, Wang Zhi replied, carefully. The Prince and Cui Yong both gasped, struck mute. Before they could respond, someone came to report the news of Consort Wans demise. This had come much too suddenly. The Crown Prince aside, even the Wan part likely wasnt mentally prepared at all. In everyones thoughts, were someone to be said to be dying prematurely due to illness, that someone would have to be the ever-ailed Emperor, not the much-healthier-looking Consort Wan. The reason why she had tried her hardest to depose the Crown Prince was that, after the Emperors lifespan was up, she could rise to be Empress Dowager. In wanting wind, one must get wind; in wanting rain, one must get rain. And yet, the Emperor was still perfectly alive, and so was the Crown Prince, while the one who had always been wanting to grab everything up in her hands had taken the first step out. Of all the fickle, absurd events in the world, nothing could beat this. At this moment, the palace would inevitably be in a lot of turmoil. Wang Zhi didnt have the spare time to care about the Crown Princes response; after confirming that the Prince was not a fake, he quickly left the East Palace, returning to the Supervisory of Glyphs. The eunuch he had ordered to go ask around the Supervisory of Miscellany also returned. He gave Wang Zhi one very important message: The carriage that had brought the Crown Prince to the Longevity Palace had indeed had an issue. Beneath the carriage, an extra four square-chi groove had been constructed, big enough to hold someone curled up inside. Wang Zhi, who had been under the impression that Tang Fan had been making something out of nothing, had not had any time to get the boulder off of his heart before it was suspended by this bit of information. CH 148 Had the indentation been used to conceal someone, then there would be no doubt that back when everyone had been paying attention to the Longevity Palace, the Crown Princes carriage had been secretly tampered with. Someone with an unfathomable motive could hide within, then wait for a moment halfway through the trip to act against the Crown Prince assassination would have been the quickest, most convenient method. However, at the same time, if the Prince had died in the carriage, the assassin wouldnt have been able to escape. From them, others would have easily been implicated, and the mastermind wouldnt be getting away. There was another method, which was to swap identities with the Crown Prince, but Wang Zhi had personally confronted him the one in the East Palace was the real thing, not any sort of fake. Also, the Prince was completely unharmed. Aside from having been rained on and contracting windchill, he had not encountered any other dangers, and rain was what the Heavens did. It was not something anyone could control. After returning from the Longevity Palace, many officials had fallen ill, not just the Prince. In that case, what was the purpose of the indentation on the carriage? Wang Zhi thought and thought, yet couldnt explain it. He knew himself to not be a moron, but this was so complicated, no one would be able to figure a clue out of it. Maybe Tang Fan could he was the one that had found this headache for him, anyways but Tang Fan was currently outside the palace. Water that was far away couldnt help a fire that was nearby. The most important point was that Consort Wan was now dead, and every level of the palace was in chaos.She was no Empress, but Wang Zhi could imagine what the Emperors reaction was right about now. Eunuch Wang? His subordinates Wen Sheng and Wen Yuan, and even the eunuch that had reported the news, were looking at him. Wang Zhis hard-to-quell impatience had infected them, and they showed slight apprehension. Whats with the panic? Is the sky falling down?! he answered unhappily, standing to walk a few steps off. He decided to set the carriage aside for now. Since the Crown Prince was fine, there was no need to be caught up in that for right now. Times were perilous, and with the Noble Consort dead, the Wan part had to be more fearful than anyone else. Cornered dogs would jump over walls they might do something. He thought for a bit. Heres this; each of you separately ask about Liang Fangs movements. Be careful, and report back to me if you find anything out. Huh? Wen Yuan was a bit confused. At this time, shouldnt the Emperors movements be the most inquired after? Idiot! Wang Zhi could tell what he was thinking of with one glance. Use your brain to think! Asking about His Majestys whereabouts is taboo, too conspicuous, and easy to be discovered. If we start from Liang Fang, itll be a lot easier! Youre both eunuchs, so not many will be on guard about this! Wen Yuan had been harshly scolded, but he was thankfully used to this. Tongue slightly stuck out, he quickly agree to this. Wen Sheng was overall wittier. Do you wish to know if theres any connection between him and Wan Tong? Correct! Wang Zhi gave him an appreciative glance. He has a lot of secret ties to the Wan party. He wouldnt be quiet about something like this! Watch carefully! In terms of seniority, Liang Fang was a bit higher than Wang Zhi. Of the eunuchs in the palace, only Huai En had been able to sit equally to him. After Huai Ens exile, the two most important departments in the Twelve Supervisories Royal Steeds and Ceremony Management had landed entirely in Liang Fangs hands, giving him all-encompassing power, his word being law. Coordinating with Consort Wan inside and echoed by the Wan party outside, he was practically a fish in water. Communications between her and the party had sometimes relied upon him to spread the word. His power was obvious at a glance. Wang Zhi had guessed wrong. Upon learning that Consort Wan had died, Liang Fang had immediately spread the news outside of the palace, and exploited his connections to get Wan Tong into the palace overnight. This had not been according to the rules, and was a crime that should be thoroughly investigated, but at this time, the Emperors grief was at its peak. How could he have had the time to care about these trifles? Seeing Consort Wans little brother perhaps gave him a trace of comfort. You came. Consort Wans corpse was still placed upon the bed she typically slept in, the Emperor seated beside her. His eyes ere bloodshot and face shot pale, his hand still tightly gripping one of hers. An Emperor having this level of affection for a concubine had been rare since the dawn of time, yet Wan Tong wasnt the slightest bit touched, instead secretly calculating how much he could benefit from his sisters death. Yes, Your Majesty. This subject entered the palace last night when I heard of my sisters death. Please forgive my recklessness, he said, kneeling in courtesy. The Emperor wouldnt look into these details, of course. He raised his other hand. Come over. See your sister one final time. His voice held chokes that were hard to conceal as well as immense sorrow. His gaze never left Consort Wan. To Wan Tong, he might have merely lost a sister that could continue to protect him, allowing him t enjoy glory and wealth, but to the Emperor, he had lost a support beam from half his life. Wan Tong got up on orders, cautiously came over, stopped beside the Emperor, knelt, and looked at his sisters closed eyes. Consort Wan had suddenly collapsed to the ground at noon. By the time physicians had determined they were powerless to resuscitate her, it was already nighttime, the various bureaus having already dispersed for the day. Beforehand, the news of her serious illness had since flown out of palace like it had grown wings, with many officials of the highest seniority having already received it, yet since no one had confirmation of her death, they had were watching, none of them daring to make a move. And Liang Fang had happened to be one step ahead, taking this opportunity to summon Wan Tong into the palace and meet the Emperor. This was an extremely important step. If Wan Tong and the Emperor decided upon something and waited until the next day to announce it, it would be too late for the officials to object. This was the plan that the Wan party now fought for. Curtail your grief, Your Majesty. My sister in the Nine Springs below will not want to see you be so broken-hearted for her, Wan Tong consoled. It wouldve been better for him not to have said that. The Emperor resisted his tears from flowing down for a long time. We still remember that when we were little, we were put under house arrest by our uncle, unable to meet with our mother even once. Our heart was struck by worry and fear in turn, and we frequently fell ill. People in the palace were of indeterminate emotions, climbing up high to tread upon those below when they saw us in dire straits, they refused to cause trouble for themselves. But your sister went in the night to request help from the Dowager, then ran to the imperial hospital to request that a doctor treat us. Her accompanying our side every day was why we recovered, and we dont know where we would be today, otherwise! Wan Tong was quiet. He couldnt understand the Emperors baby bird complex, but he knew that his sister ha not only been the Emperors concubine, but more so his sister, friend, and mother. It was precisely due to this that she had not had the cautious flattery of average concubines in the Emperors presence, and the latter had accepted punishment happily. Their relationship had been complex, requiring more than a few scant words to clearly explain. Wan Tong was very aware that the Wan family would later be convicted. Were it not for laying within Consort Wans light, he would have been eating sand at some border region, having none of the omnipotence that he did now. The Wan family could not stand to lose the protective charm that was Consort Wan, which was why his current distress was not a smidgen less than the Emperors, if being forcefully suppressed. With your sister gone, it likely that our days are not many, as well. The Emperor lamented. Since youve come, discuss with us her funereal arrangements. The Ministry of Rites is around, but we always worry about handing things off to others. The Noble Consorts posthumous title is something we must draft ourself before we will be assured His endless babbling was something Wan Tong felt a bit impatient to listen to, but he couldnt interrupt, obliged to listen to the full chunk before saying, Your Majesty, there is something more pressing right now. The Emperor looked up, gazing at him naively. Wan Tong did all he could to keep his voice calm and restrained. Your Majesty, since my sister could not have been made an Empress while she lived, no matter how many posthumous titles you may give her now, It would be hard for her to experience your kind regards. His words made the Emperor all the more grief-stricken and guilty. That was what he had let Lady Wan down the most about. He had once wanted to establish her as Empress, but Dowager Zhou had objected calamitously. Seeing that if he actually did made Lady Wan the Empress, his own mother would sever ties with him, he had been forced to choose to disappoint her. We can make Sister Wan Empress posthumously, he said. It was unknown whether he was speaking to Wan Tong, or Consort Wan through Wan Tong. This time, even if the Court officials or the Queen Mother objects, we will stick with it until the end. However, this was not what Wan Tong wanted at all. No matter how respected an Empresss little brother would be, it would be no more than an empty title. Your Majesty, you know that wasnt what my sister wanted. The Emperor was confused. What did she want, then? We can fulfill it for her. When she was alive, what she always thought about was nothing less than the hope that she would see the Prince of Xing become the Crown Prince. Wan Tong had no idea how overly audacious he was being, but the arrow was on the string and had to be released. If tonight was missed, they might have no chance at all in the future. Seeing that the Emperor wasnt speaking, Wan Tong inwardly grit his teeth and summoned his courage. Even though she has now passed, this subject believes that if you wish to comfort her spirit in the Heavens, there is no better way than this. When Consort Wan had lived, she had urged the Emperor to depose the Crown Prince more than once. The latter knew of that, of course. At the time, he had indeed been moved and prepared to implement it, only for Mount Tai to suddenly have an earthquake, catching everyone off-guard. He was not of resolute personality, having dismissed the idea at that. Now, Consort Wan had left abruptly, and Wan Tong had brought it up once more. Within the massive Palace of Manifest Virtue, aside from these two living men, there were no other sounds of breathing. All the palace servants had been sent outside. These circumstances were bound to not persist for very long, as the Empress Dowager would soon be sending someone to check on the Emperors condition Wan Tong had to cherish this available moment. The Emperor was quite for a good while. Then, he suddenly said, We know you are not thinking of your sister. Wan Tongs heart jumped, and he tried to explain. Your Majesty, please listen to this subject You worry that after the Crown Prince ascends, he will attack your family out of revenge for his mother, so youre doing everything you can in the hopes that hell be deposed, the Emperor interrupted. Wan Tong knew that the Emperor was not someone stupid and easy to push around, his sole reliance being the Emperors obsession with his sister, but he hadnt expected that the other would be so merciless as to point out his thought process, blood seen at first draw. His heart jumped wildly and soul flew out of him out of fear, where he kowtowed repeatedly. Your insight is great, Your Majesty, but this subject has no such intentions! I was only think of my sisters wishes The Emperor sneered. Your sister wanted us to depose the Crown Prince. That, we could understand, because she had those qualifications. For as long as we can remember, she was at our side, and has also given us the grace of saving our life. In our heart, no one can compare to her. But you? What qualifications do you have to request that of us? Wan Tong had never seen him speak so harshly before, dumbfounded for a time. All he could say, non-stop, was, This subject has been accused wrongly. However, you are right about one thing, the Emperor switched topics. Having the Prince of Xing be the Crown Prince is indeed what she wanted. So that she may go with peace of mind, we will do our best to fulfill her wish. After you return, have Wan An get ready. The Great Court meeting tomorrow is when we will announce the deposition of the Crown Prince. Following a great shock came great joy. Wan Tong had nearly sweat through his clothes, already having no strength to speak. The ever-uncaring-about-everything, ambitionless Emperor now smiled mockingly at him. How fortunate you are to be born from the same womb as your sister, allowing you to be her brother. For this period of time they had spoken in this Palace, no one was listening in. Wang Zhi had no idea that the Emperor was yet again of the idea to depose the Crown Prince due to Consort Wans death, but he had long come to know from his subordinates reports that Liang Fang had secretly let Wan Tong into the palace, as well as that Wan Tong was slow to leave the Palace of Manifest Virtue after entry. He was clearly having a private talk with the Emperor. Even if Wang Zhi, who had lived in the palace for many years, didnt know what exactly they were saying, he already smelled the stench of a conspiracy. With things like this, the Wan part and those on the Crown Princes side were like fire and water. There was absolutely no room for any differences. Every day that the Crown Prince didnt ascend was another day that he was only a monarch-to-be; there was only a suffix of difference between a monarch and a monarch-to-be, but the difference between them was astronomical. The Wan party would not stop everything just because Consort Wan was dead. On the contrary, in order to protect their own lives and futures, they would get even more reckless, and do even crazier things. Wang Zhi knew that no matter how tremendous he was, he was just one person. The palace was now in Liang Fangs grasp, Huai En was not around, and he could not clap single-handedly. He didnt care whether or not someone was monitoring him right now, having Wen Sheng go out of the palace to find Wei Mao, who would go to find Tang Fan, and inform him of everything that was going on. At this same time, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou were already preparing for bed, only to hear the gentle sound of birds singing outside. Its so cold, and the middle of the night. Why are birds singing? Tang Fan wondered. Sui Zhou quietly draped clothes over himself, stood, and left, immediately after which the thud of a heavy object falling to the ground was heard outside. After a short moment, he pushed the door open again and entered, followed by Wei Mao, who was rubbing his arm with a pained expression. Tang Fan was both amused and annoyed. I say, Old Wei. You can just come in if you want to, no one would stop you. Why pretend to be a bird? Wei Mao smiled bitterly. This lowly one had no choice. Thanks to the Brocade Guard, no one dares to be impudent around these parts, but there are many people keeping watch around Eunuch Wangs residence. It was hard for me to find a chance to leave, and I didnt dare to make too much noise, but the Count here is much too rough. My arm nearly broke! Sui Zhou was expressionless. No one would be happy to have a good thing interrupted. Thankfully, it hadnt yet begun, because if hed had to go out and grab someone halfway through, his anger would have been even greater. Tang Fan gave a slightly awkward cough. It must be something urgent for you to have come here at this hour, yes? Wei Mao didnt speak nonsense, immediately conveying in simple terms what Wang Zhi had wanted him to. Afterwards, Tang Fans brows furrowed tight. Thats a bit ominous. Sir, is Eunuch Wang going to be in danger in the palace? Wei Mao said nervously. Tang Fan shook his head. You dont need to worry at all about him, he has more advantages than anyone else and will certainly avoid all poor luck. When I said ominous, I didnt mean him. Then, he said to Sui Zhou, It seems like Ill need to make a trip to the Princess Estate. The other had no objection. Ill escort you there. Sui Zhou wanted to escort him not because he was afraid that something unexpected would happen to him, like getting mugged or silenced the capitals public defense had not deteriorated to that extent. Even though Tang Fan was now idling about at home, no baddies were going to be able to get him willy-nilly. Simply, because Sui Zhou was used to being a Brocade Guard, he was familiar with the roads of the capital, so he could bring him down detours that would avoid the senses of those with motives. After Wei Maos departure, the two left out of the back door, one after another, to head for the Princess Estate. The Estate was currently at rest, the on-duty doorman no exception. In this cold weather, no one wanted to sit there and eat wind; he had long hidden away in a nest of blankets, refusing to come out. And yet, because it was too cold, he couldnt fall asleep right away, tossing and turning. Thinking back to the stewed meat he had eaten during the daytime, he felt elated. Right then, a burst of cold wind seemed to blow past the crowd of his head. He shrank his neck back. Remembering how he had clearly shut the windows and wondering where the wind had come from, he lazily opened his eyes, and couldnt help but be terrified. Somehow, there had come to be two extra people in his room. It was dark, their features too blurry to make out. The doorman went to shout in fright, then quickly found that his mouth was being covered up, leaving him only able to make a whimper-like noise. One of the people said, Dont yell. Im Tang Fan; a few days ago, Consort Zhou invited me in as a guest. Theres something urgent that I need to find him and the Princess for, so pass along a message for me quickly. That voice was indeed a little familiar. The doorman though about it, then nodded, after which the other released him. He panted loudly. You are Solon Tang? The oil lamp on the table was then lit. By the faint light, he could finally make out the others appearance it really was him. But, um they they had to have jumped over the wall to come in, right? In the middle of the night, a stately Cabinet Vizier had not walked the proper path, but had instead jumped over a wall to trespass in someones home was that appropriate? The doorman was tongue-tied, whereupon he saw the one beside Tang Fan coldly say, Why arent you going to inform them? Do you think he came here to play around out of boredom? The mans voice was so cold, it was about to drip slush. The doorman automatically shivered. Too afraid to drag this out, he quickly draped his outer robe over himself and ran off. With the layers of reports made, the Princess Estate quickly became alarmed. Candles lit up in quick succession. After half an incense sticks worth of time, Tang Fan finally met Princess Chongqing and Zhou Jing, who remained in that same study. Tang Fan spoke no nonsense, cutting to the chase by asking, For what reason did you lie to me, Princess? As soon as that was said, it was not only Sui Zhou, but even Zhou Jing that had a look of surprise. The Princess did not, however. You found out, Mister Tang? Yes. You knew from the very start that the Crown Prince had not been replaced. Why did you say last time that you didnt see a scar on his hand? Princess Chongqing sighed. I was forced to do that. When I entered the palace last time, I accidentally overheard two attendants of the Supervisory of Miscellany talking about there being an indentation below the Crown Princes carriage. I was scared to death then, but couldnt go investigate it myself, as that would only alert the enemy. And, honestly speaking, you should also be aware that even though Im a Princess, my words dont matter much in the palace. She paused. Needless to say, that indentation had to have been used to hide someone, but if the other had intended to assassinate him, he would long be dead. There must have been some other use for it, and that was likely to have been to swap out the Crown Prince. That might sound hard to believe, but if performed properly, it wouldnt be impossible. Therefore, after thinking about it, I could only think up this method of getting your help to go check the Crown Princes veracity. It was out of need. Please forgive me, Sir Tang at the time, I was so terrified, I didnt even tell my husband. Tang Fan sighed as well, saying nothing. When everyone had been thinking that the Wan party would very likely use a fake Crown Prince for a switcheroo, thus implementing a sky-shaking conspiracy, it had done no such thing. The real Crown Prince was living perfectly fine in the East Palace. In that case, why would the party do all these extra things? It couldnt be that they were willing to watch the Crown Prince ascend, doing nothing at all? Seeing Tang Fans grim expression, the Princess probed, Sir Tang, you must have learned of Consort Wans sudden fainting spell, yes? The Noble Consort cannot be resuscitated, he answered. Shes dead. Both the Princess and her husband sucked in cold breaths, deeply shocked. CH 149 The Princess having been able to find out that Consort Wan fell ill and passed out was already pretty well-informed of her she hadnt expected that Tang Fan would be even more well-informed. What surprised them even more was the fact that Consort Wan was actually dead. There was a moment of silence within the hall. No one spoke, seemingly all mulling over the news. However, after thinking about it carefully, this appeared to be as expected. The lives of many had stained Consort Wans hands, with even the Crown Princes mothers death unable to be separated from her. Everyone had been saying that Heavens doctrine would turn and respond with retribution that retribution only coming now was a bit too late, though. The Princess sighed. Brother Emperor is going to be heartbroken and inconsolable now. I dont know what hell do, now perhaps fight for Lady Wan to be posthumously titled as Empress. A sister knew her brother best. Little did she realize, but she had guessed most of what the Emperor had said to Wan Tong. Tang Fan said nothing. If it was only that much, then whatever. To speak very disrespectfully, Consort Wan was already dead. Whatever titles she was given now that the censors would kick up a fuss about and fight over, none of them would influence politics or the country at large. What was scary was that the Emperor, on a whim, would think to do something universally shocking. With this said, the Crown Prince is not a fake, nor was he poisoned or assassinated? she then asked. Correct. Hes suffering from windchill, but his life isnt in danger, Tang Fan answered. She creased her brow. In that case, what was the purpose of the indentation beneath the carriage? The Supervisory of Miscellany didnt just add it on randomly, right? Everything about a palace carriages shape was strictly regulated. Furthermore, because of the time crunch, the Crown Princes carriage had been altered at the last minute from one of the Emperors, which had consisted of nothing further than removing some of the decor on it. Why would there be an extra groove for no real reason? This humble official came here to seek your verification of what went on last time, Princess. Since the Crown Prince is fine right now, bothering more about it will yield no use. I am truly sorry about causing a disturbance this late at night, and will be taking my leave. Princess Chongqing was not someone that could discuss anything major. After hearing what the Supervisory people had said, her giving Tang Fan the information already portrayed her close position to the Crown Prince, but she couldnt manage the situation at large. Disobeying her imperial brother was even less doable. Hence was why she had needed to make up a lie about the Crown Princes finger scar to have Tang Fan go dive in to the truth, lest she invite disaster onto herself. That intelligent, self-preserving behavior was something Tang Fan could understand, but it ended there. There was no way he could discuss things with her, or speak in more in-depth words. Everyone was smart here. There was no need to say much more. The Princess smiled apologetically. Ive troubled you with running all around, Sir Tang. This formerly had nothing to do with, yet I dragged you into the water. Youre too polite, Princess, he said with a smile. If its related to the Crown Prince, then its a major event that could shake the foundation of the nation. This Tang Fan currently has no official duties, but I cannot stay out of it. With those few polite words, Tang Fan and his companion got up to leave. From start to finish, Sui Zhou hadnt said a thing, as if completely forgotten, but the force of him sitting there could not be ignored in and of itself: antagonistic, and strange. Many knew that Tang Fan had a good relationship with Tang Fan, but only after witnessing with her own eyes how Sui Zhou had escorted him in the middle of the night did the Princess realize exactly how good their relationship was. While Sui Zhou was consort-kin, he had actually fought for contributions. People might say that Wan Tong had gotten lucky, but no one say that Sui Zhou had this was the difference between them. There was no need to mention how Sui Zhou had extended a helping hand when the Crown Prince was in the worst of trouble. If the Prince could smoothly ascend, Sui Zhous position would only get more secure and illustrious. Tang Fan needed even less explanation. He ran himself ragged for the Crown Prince, and as long as the latter wasnt an ingrate, he would definitely repay his regards. Tang Fans re-entry into the Cabinet was only a matter of time. In light of all that, the Princess and her husband treated the two of them with surplus courtesy, not daring to rely on their status to give them any slight. Zhou Jing personally saw the two of them out, and said to Sui Zhou with conscious concern, Guangchuan, your complexion looks poorly. Have you been working too hard recently? You might still be young, but you need to focus on recovery. Dont strain yourself so much. Tang Fan knew why Sui Zhous complexion was poorly, of course. Who would have a nice one, after being called out in the middle of the night, away from your ahem, nest of blankets? But, that was not for outsiders to know of. Sui Zhous face remained paralyzed. Thank you for your goodwill, Consort. Ill focus on it. He always had this look; anyone not close to him would not be able to tell what thoughts were hidden beneath it. As time passed, everyone had grown used to that. Were he to smile at Zhou Jing right now, the latter would actually be scared. Once out of the Princess Estate, a burst of cold wind outside made Tang Fan shrink back his head. A fur cloak covered him Sui Zhou had taken it off of himself. You should wear this, Tang Fan said. Im not cold, Sui Zhou glanced at him, Im still pretty warm. The other grabbed his hand. Thats why we need to back as soon as possible. The frigid wind was cold, but with another person at ones side, the chill was reduced practically to nothing. However, if they knew about the conversation that had happened between the Emperor and Wan Tong, they would likely be in no mood to be happily free of duty. Wan Tong didnt stay long in the Palace of Manifest Virtue. After confirming the Emperors will, he quickly left the Palace. In the end, entering the palace in the middle of the night violated the rules. Dowager Zhou had never looked highly upon the Wan family to begin with now that its supporting mountain had collapsed, if she caught blackmail information on him, who knew what would happen? That old hag! Why wasnt she the one to die?! Wan Tong mentally spat, picking up his pace. He felt a slight wave of sadness over his sisters death, but when thinking back to the Emperors promise, it was hard to conceal his excitement. Distantly, several figures swayed at the palate gates, and his heart automatically suspended but he soon released it, because he recognized one figures amongst them. The other party welcomed him, asking in a quiet voice, Sir Wan, how did it go? Everything went smoothly. Wan Tong grinned in a want to laugh. Quickly recalling that this wasnt the right occasion, he quickly put away his smile, quieting his voice. You mean to say There was must luster in the others eyes. Yes! By your great blessing, Eunuch, I said what you told me to say, and it actually succeeded! If something this big can be done, you will have an immense share in that contribution! Youre too polite, Sir Wan. I only came up with the idea. The other was quite humble, not smugly claiming credit at all. His Majesty had deep affection for the Noble Consort, which is why he agreed. This is better than us having to take a very big risk. Wan Tong nodded. Right. Now that I think of it, our previous method was way too risky. Making it much more above-board is really phenomenal! What did His Majesty say? He asked me to talk it over with Wan An, and will announce it during the Great Court meeting, expediting its implementation before anyone is able to react. Then, the Crown Prince will surrender his title, and be sent directly off to elsewhere. At that time, His Majesty will immediately declare that hes going into seclusion to cultivate the Dao, avoiding the noise of the censors. Once a long period of time passes, those people will know that there is absolutely no margin for recovery, and will only be able to helplessly accept it. The other yet raised doubts. It likely wont be too easy to get pass the blockade of the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, yes? No need to worry. Im going back to discuss things with Wan An, Peng Hua, and the others. If I need your power when the time comes, Ill have to ask you to be generous with your help. When the time to act comes, I will naturally help. Be at ease, Sir Wan; you and I are on the same boat, so we should help each other out. However He switched the topic around. You know as well that His Majestys nature is the most finicky. Each day that the promise he made to you does not come to light is another day that it might not be for certain. Perhaps someone might persuade him to change his mind again. Dont forget that during the Crown Princes deposition last time, it failed at the final stretch. Recalling what had happened last time, Wan Tong felt inward resentment. If there hadnt been that earthquake then, they wouldnt be needing to go to so much trouble now! Relax. There wont be a repeat of last time. In this hurried exchange, the time and location were inconvenient, and they could not say much more. Wan Tong bid farewell to the other, turned to get on his carriage, then rode straight back to the Wan Estate. This Wan Estate was not his own, but the residence of Head Vizier Wan An, who had not yet fallen asleep. This stemmed from Wan Tong having already spread word around before entering the palace, to have two other Cabinet members Peng Hua and Yin Zhi, fellow members of the Wan party come to Wan Ans house, so that they could meet up after he left the palace. At this point, the three had already drunk down several cups of tea, going from sleep-eyes to full of vigor, and then Wan Tong finally arrived. Seeing him, they only stood up, not coming forward to greet him. These few were called the Wan party by outsides, but the core of that was Consort Wans little brother, Wan Tong, not Wan An. At the end of it all, even though they were headed by him, they kept their civil official pride at heart, having some vague contempt towards tacky consort-kin like him. It was only because they all had identical benefits that they had come together. This also didnt mean that this alliance was unstable. On the contrary, it was precisely because they had done a lot of misdeed togethers if anyone wanted to wash their sinful hands in a gold, cleansing basin, both sides would look down upon them. Brother Wan Yin Zhi had just opened his mouth, only to be cut off by Wan Tong. My sister died. What? What?! Exclamations of surprise rose up in the hall successively. Everyones expression were the same type of shocked. But after their shock, all of their expressions grew increasingly different. Wan Tong wasnt of the mind to bother with that, immediately informing them all of his dialogue with the Emperor. Having learned a lesson from last time, no one rushed to be ecstatic right now, instead requesting Wan Tongs clarification over and over again. His Majesty genuinely plans to depose the Crown Prince? Yes! Wan Tong drank down the tea the maid served in one gulp. We even discussed that after the Crown Prince is stripped of his title, he should be sent off to a fiefdom as soon as possible. He should have set his mind. However, we also need to have both hands at the ready this time, we cant let those pedantic officials drag a good thing down into being a ruined thing. With that said, he set his cup down hard, saying viciously. This old man doesnt think that theres going to be another earthquake at Mount Tai! Only now did the others revel in this. Well have to plan well for the Great Court meeting tomorrow! Yuanfu and I have a group of censors we can supply for the task, Yin Zhi said. If those people send memorials of objection, then, our people can also send memorials refuting them. A quarrel between scholars is nothing more than seeing whose voice is louder. The more turbid the water beneath is, the more His Majesty wont regret this. In order to prevent further complications, it would be best to make the Crown Prince leave the capital the same day as the deposition edict, else every day he remains here is another that those people wont give up, Peng Hua also said. Yin Zhi frowned. Im afraid that that wont be too probable, as its too rushed. This will cause His Majesty to be heavily criticized. Wan Tong waved him off. Dont fret so much. The sooner the better, anyways. Just like Yanshi said, complications will come the longer this is drawn out I was really terrified by what happened last time. Theres also the matter of the edit. Even though we have the Supervisory of Ceremony Management around, in order to prevent His Majesty from changing his mind, it would be best for us to help him draft it ahead of time. Like that, it could be used at will! Yin Zhi was dumbstruck. Isnt that too inappropriate? Wan Tong turned to Wan An. What do you think, Yuanweng? While the rest of them had been discussing, Wan An had never said a thing. Hearing Wan Tongs question, he said deliberately, Thats fine. Wan Tong keenly detected subtle abnormalities in Wan Ans expression, saying darkly, Youre having regrets about getting onto this ship of villains with us? Wan An smiled bitterly. Youve misunderstood. I was wondering what you all wanted to do with that fake Crown Prince? At the mention of that, everyone present gave a weird look. Their plan had not started out like this. The indentation in the carriage, exactly how Princess Chongqing and Tang Fan had predicted, had indeed been for use in hiding someone. It hadnt been for assassination, but in preparation to use the time of the Crown Princes trip outside to swap the fake Prince for the real Prince. After they returned from the Longevity Palace, the one in the East Palace would have been swapped out. The fake Prince had been meticulously selected. His appearance was about eighty-percent similar to the real Princes, and then, paired with face-changing adjustments, there was no issue in creating the full-on look. In addition to that, the palace would sent people to specially instruct him in his actions to imitate the Crown Princes everyday habits, response language, and so on. Given that he would cover it up by feigning illness upon return, not even Cui Yongs servant would be able to tell. The Wan partys idea had been this: Due to the real Crown Prince being difficult to manipulate, if they had a fake Prince at hand, they could have much more leeway for control. They could have the fake Prince be seriously ill without rise, or meet with an accident and turn crippled, after which the Emperor would definitely need to reconsider his selection of heir when it came to inheriting the throne. The Court officials would have no room to reject them, either. However, that plan had ultimately been rejected by a friend of the Wan party: Sealwielder of the Supervisory of Ceremony Management, Liang Fang. He believed that it was too risky and easy to mess up, as if anyone caught on, their entire army would be wiped out. Wan An and the others were also worried about something happening, which is why they had disagreed with Wan Tongs plan. With internal willpower at a standstill, it had ultimately gone without implementation. By coincidence, when the Crown Prince had left the Longevity Palace, he had been rained on, his health had fallen, and he had gone back in illness. Therefore, the Wan party simply ceased in their sky-shocking risk of switching out the Crown Prince. Wan Tong had listened to Liang Fangs suggestion, switching plans to find an opportunity from this to act. The risk was similar, but it was a lot more reliable than swapping out Princes. For that reason, when the Prince returned to the palace, the indentation beneath the carriage had indeed held a fake Prince in it, but he had ended up not being switched out. These hair-raising, circuitous events were not things Tang Fan or Princess Chongqing could have guessed. And then, Consort Wan had died. As was said, all calculations were inferior to the calculations of the Heavens. Despite this extremely tortuous process, this had finally gone as they wanted. Everything was prepared, and all that was left was to wait for the results at the Great Court meeting. However, even though the Crown Prince hadnt been replaced, the fake one was still around, hence Wan Ans inquiry. Wan Tong thought for a bit. Hell be hidden. After the Crown Prince is actually deposed, it wont be too late to deal with him. His implication was pretty evident. In the event that the Crown Prince couldnt be depose, the fake one might still have a use. Wan An was hesitant. The fake Princes existence is ultimately a liability Wan Tong smiled fakely. Are you afraid that the fake one will stand up and tell on us, thus implicating you? Dont worry. Ive hidden him away nicely the Crown Princes people wont be finding him! Wan An still had doubts. Sui Zhou also heads the Brocade Guard Wan Tong was intensely angered into amusement. What even is Sui Zhou? He still has to listen to my orders in the Guard! Im the Commanding Envoy! Peng Hua quickly went to mediate. Why get angry, Brother Wan? Yuanweng was just being cautious! Yuanweng, dont worry. Even if they have hunch, they wont have any concrete evidence, and couldnt make any waves at all. As long as tomorrow goes well, well have made a great contribution! Wan Tong eased his tone, too. At a time like this, there were still many areas that required relying on Wan An; he couldnt turn hostile with him. Even if he hated the others gutless heart, ever anxious that something was going to happen. In his opinion, this was a disadvantage of working with civil officials. They were always overcautious, looking to and fro all day long, fearful, and not reliable at all. They were inferior to Li Zisheng and Ji Xiaos types, who were more daring and black-hearted in doing things. Both sides took a step back. Wan An smiled, slightly apologetic. When one ages, they always get more concerned about everything. Dont mind me, Brother Wan, I just worry over things falling through at the last second! Wan Tong laughed. Youre too serious. His Majesty has a soft personality, and weve all suffered from this loss why would there be any reason to worry? How about I trouble you with drawing up a first draft of the edict? He held an intent to venture, but Wan An seemed to not have heard clearly. In contrast with his recent hesitation, he agreed very readily. Seeing that, Wan Tong felt at ease. By the time everyone left the home, it was nearly third watch.(11p-1a) On his litter, Wan Ans smile and collectedness vanished in an instant, replaced with no expression at all. His family hadnt yet gone to sleep, and his grandson, Wan Hongbi, was waiting for his return. The Wan family had only had one son for each of three generations. Wan Ans son, Wan Yiyuan, was an official off in Nanjing, and the grandson lived with his grandparents. Wan An would generally never avoid his grandson, having the mind to impart him a lesson. Grandfather and grandson were very close; Wan Hongbi could tell at a glance that the other was not feeling great. Grandpa, did something happen? Wan An looked at him, refusing to reveal any oddities before the other family members. Come alone with me to the study. As soon as they were in the study, Wan An could no longer hide his emotions. His shoulders practically slumped, and he let out a long exhale. Grandpa has made a massive mistake. Wan Hongbi jumped high in fright. Grandpa? Wan An didnt answer, instead asking, How do you peers in Hanlin Academy evaluate me? Seeing the others hesitance to answer, Wan An laughed bitterly. I can guess without you tell me. It should be none other than that Im treacherous, devious, sinister, and oppressive, I only ever flatter the Emperor and the Consort, and I have the high status of Cabinet Head Vizier, yet Im mediocre and never do anything, right? Grandpa, whats actually going on with you? Why did you make a trip to the house did that Wan tong block say something to you? Wan An shook his head, proceeding to talk to himself, I never had regrets before, really. Everyone walks their individual paths. Being Yu Jieans sort, where one is loyal and righteous, doing all he could what conclusion did he end up with? Didnt the Late Emperor cut him down with one word? Of all those people that had received his grace before, which one spoke one word for him? Of all those citizens that were spared the fires of war due to him defending the capital, which one spoke up one word for him? That is why I dont have regrets. I dont want to be like Yu Jiean, as I wont have a good end on the eve. How is it bad to cater to the whims of the one above? I would have wealth and safety at the very least, right? Wan Hongbi was genuinely frightened. Grandpa, what happened? Wan An closed his eyes, pained. Him not walking the path of Tang Fan and them didnt mean that he wanted to rebel. What difference was there between what Wan Tong was doing and rebellion? Deposing the Crown Prince was fine, but making a fake Prince That had entirely exceeded Wan Ans mental anticipation. Although the fake Prince was unused for right now, Wan An could tell that the others actions were already to the extent of total lawlessness. If they were bold enough to swap out the Crown Prince, what else would they be bold enough to do? In the future, if the Prince of Xing did not conform to their hopes, would they swap him out for a fake Prince of Xing? Wan An was scared, but it was too late now. He foudn that he was no longer able to stop the insane momentum of the others. Thinking back on it now, if the favorites of todays Emperor Li Zisheng, Ji Xiao, and the others were to be placed into any other Court, they would be the spitting image of renegades. When a new Emperor ascended, regardless of whether it was the Prince of Xing or the current Crown Prince, that group would be cast out to eliminate the hatred of the populace. What about him, then? Thinking about how he might be hung with the title of conspirator or something in the second half of his life, a chill came from the bottom of his heart. He wasnt on the same path as Liu Jian, Tang Fan, and all of them. That didnt mean that he wanted to be implication with Wan Tongs group. Were Wan Tong alone, it might not be a big deal, but there was also the merciless, unscrupulous Liang Fang echoing him distantly in the palace With that on the mind, Wan An opened his eyes to look at his grandson. Do you want to be an official that flatters, or one that is upright? Wan Hongbi was baffled. He stood there for a long time, understanding nothing, his head full of fog. Hearing this, he could only cautiously counter, Neither. Is that okay? What do you want to be, then? Of the mind to make his grandfather happy, he said with a smile, To be like you, of course, muddling along in peace and wealth! Wan An was simultaneously angered and amused. All you want is to bathe in peace and wealth? That moment is still far away! Even I, your grandpa, dont completely have that, Looking at the Court, only that damned old fox Liu Cottonflower would fit the term! Even though the other had been his rival for over half his lifetime, looking back, Wan An had to admit that someone like Liu Ji, ever resembling an unkillable cockroach, was hated by all, yet no one could do a thing about him he never needed to rely on anyone, ever slippery. As had been seen, even the Emperors teacher, Liu Xu, had been forced to go back to civilianhood, and Cabinet members had been swapped out in batches, while Liu Cottonflower had remained perfectly fine to this day, despite daily denouncements. Meanwhile, he, Wan An, was about to fall into a pit that he could never get out of. The authors mini-theatre: For New Years, the maid and boyservants returned home on holiday. In this greatly cold weather, no one wanted to get out from under the covers. Tang Fan: Guangchuan, someones knocking outside. Sui Zhou: Act like you dont hear it. Tang Fan: Theyre still knocking, go open it. Sui Zhou: No. Theyll stop when they get tired. A quarter-hour passed. Tang Fan: Theyre still knocking. Sui Zhou: (t_s)# Tang Fan: Forget it, Ill go open it. But you have to let me be on top from now on. Sui Zhou: Ill do it. CH 150 It was the tenth day of the first month of the twenty-third year of Chenghua. This was a very average day, but something major had happened yesterday: Consort Wan had passed. Many officials had only received the news after arriving at their bureaus in the morning. Unlike the numerous unknown concubines in the harem, this news was obviously extremely important due to her position in the eyes of the Emperor. Lady Wan had ruled over the harem for decades, and had really done nothing laudable, instead having created waves out of level ground, as well as ruined lots of things, the Emperors deposition of the first Empress, the storm of the Crown Princes own deposition, and so on included. All of those things had invariably been her hard work. No one could really feign sadness. Liu Jian, Xu Pu, and the others said nothing, but even they believed that this was good news, as they felt that with her death, many things would be solved. The Emperors previous insistence upon changing the Crown Prince had ultimately been because of his affection for Lady Wan, and now that she was gone, no one would be able to pillowtalk him, the influence of the Wan party also being greatly reduced. The Crown Princes crisis was resolved at last. However, before they could breathe a sigh of relief, there was another unexpected occurrence: the Emperor wanted to posthumously title Lady Wan as Empress. During the Cabinet meeting, when Wan An brought up the idea on behalf of the Emperor, the Cabinet immediately exploded. This was not the first time the Emperor had gained interest in this idea. Back when Lady Wan still lived or, it should be said that this needed to be traced back to when the Emperor had just ascended, itching to make his favorite woman the Empress, only to have immediately encountered opposition from all sides. The strongest objection amongst them had been none other than his mother, Dowager Zhou. The reasons therein had been complication, and listing them off now would be meaningless the only thing to know was that the Emperor of then was quite young, and even more indecisive. He had not been able to hold up, forced to have a different Empress. Soon after that, however, due to arising conflict between Empress Wu and Lady Wan, the Emperor had finally found an opportunity, and took it to depose Lady Wu. He had wanted to make Lady Wan Empress again, but the second time, the fierce opposition he had encountered was the same, and he folded again, compromising. The third time was after Lady Wan had birthed the Eldest Prince, where he had promised that once his son was granted the title of Crown Prince, the Emperor would depose the current Second Empress Wang, then make Lady Wan Empress. However, the Heavens did not follow the will of humans, as his eldest son had passed early on, causing the twos wish to go ungranted yet again. Many years had now passed. Older officials still remembered how much of a fuss the Emperor had made over Lady Wan; they hadnt expected that now that she was dead, his fussing energy would resurge, and he wanted to posthumously make her Empress. This did not follow the rules at all. The Ming Dynasty had a system. Most of the harem was made up of honest girls from commoner families, with not too much attention paid to their family status. Lady Wans origins were very much an issue of status, though she was descended from a criminal, and it was because of that criminality that she had been allowed to enter the palace as a maid. Due to fate, she had come to serve the then-Crown Prince, thereby becoming a fish that leapt over the dragons gate. Her origins were no sort of honestly. On top of that, she had not only made no great achievements, but had never birthed a Crown Prince, meaning that she had no qualifications to be Empress at all. On that basis, Liu Jian immediately opposed this, listed the above justifications, and ended it with, Dont forget, Yuanweng, that the Crown Princes mother is still only a Virtuous Consort! Despite Lady Jis son being the Crown Prince, she had not been made Empress after her death, the Emperor having only given her the posthumous title of Virtuous Consort of Dignity, Merriment, and Respect. Liu Jians implication was that if even the Crown Princes mother couldnt be titled as Empress, why would Lady Wan be? Are we not talking it over? What are you anxious about? Wan An said calmly. The Cabinet heads all officials, and every affair of the government must be decided upon by us before being passed down. With how old you are, Liu Xixian, why are you still so impulsive? Dont you understand those regulations? Liu Jian choked, eyes rolling into the back of his head. Unable to say anything for a long time, he sat down in a huff. After he was reprimanded, the atmosphere in the Cabinet stagnated a bit. No one was willing to readily express their stances, especially not Liu Ji. Even though Wan An had called this a discussion, who didnt know that with Lady Wans death, the Emperor had to be filled with grief? Whoever opposed him right now would be torn apart by a furious Emperor. Liu Cottonflower was set on not getting mixed up into this. Taking in the current Cabinet, Liu Jian would be fighting with Wan An. Xu Pu was inarticulate in speechl even if he wanted to help, he likely wouldnt know how to say it. A persons death is akin to a light going out, Peng Hua said. As I see it, the Noble Consort is already dead. His Majesty doing such a thing is human nature, and theres no harm in it, for the sake of consoling him. Liu Jian sneered. What about the Virtuous Consort? She needs to be posthumously granted the title, doesnt she? Where will that put the Crown Prince, otherwise? You speak incorrectly. Whether shes Empress or not, the Crown Prince will remain so, and no one can change that, Yin Zhi said, acting mysteriously. His Majesty has held a deep affection. When the Noble Consort was alive, he had wanted to make her Empress, but failed. Now, if its for the sake of consoling His Majesty, why not do it? He is distressed beyond belief, yet you insist upon blocking this. Do you hope to anger him to death, so that your wish will be fulfilled and the Crown Prince will ascend sooner, hm? Liu Jians nose scrunched out of anger. Youre being deliberately provocative with your nonsense! During his anger, Tang Fans value was realized once more. Were this the before times, the Wan party would have long been berated into submission by Tang Fan, where a punk like Yin Zhi would never have his turn to speak heresy. Without Tang Fans help, Xu Pu and he would never be able to match up to the Wan party in a verbal battle. Seeing how Liu Jian was hopping mad, Yin Zhi smirked, inwardly smug. Truthfully, from the very beginning, Lady Wans posthumous title was just a cover, but Liu Jian and Xu Pu had clearly already had their attentions attracted by it. There was no need to merely believe that the news of the Empresshood would soon spread quickly, and all of society would no longer be at peace. Of those who opposed, those who agreed, those who were neutral, those who wanted to curry favor, those who wanted to express themselves, and all the quarreling parties that itched for others to accept their opinions who would even pay attention to what was happening with the Crown Prince. Watching them start to bicker, Liu Ji then said, Does the Dowager consent to this? He pointed out the main idea in one sentence. When Lady Wan had lived, the Dowager had staunchly opposed making her the Empress. Now that the other was dead, there was no way she would agree. At his reminder, Liu Jian immediately said, Right! She would never agree to this. Mothers and sons are of one heart, Wan An said, carrying heavy meaning. She will not bear to see His Majesty be sorrowful for too long. The Cabinet was not unified, so no result could be reached, the morning getting wasted by nonstop wrangling. When noon approached, Wan An then announced the meetings end, and everyone left, preparing to go eat lunch. Premier! Liu Jian called out to Wan An. Xu Pu pulled at his sleeve, hinting for him not to be impulsive, but the other acted like he didnt notice, merely staring at Wan An as he clearly enunciated, As an official, you have to think about the legacy you leave behind, as your descendants are innocent! Dont do anything youll later regret just for a moment of feeling proud of yourself! On any typical day, Wan An would have ignored a provocation like that, but today, he stopped in his tracks. Waving in a signal for Peng Hua and Yin Zhi to go on ahead, he then sneered as he asked, What regrets? Are you even qualified to explain how to be an official to me? Eyes that do not regard the ruler, overlooking his will is that what you call official conductt?! The way to be an official is not to fawn, its to advise! Liu Jian raged. If the monarch is inappropriate in his words and actions, he must be advised by his subjects, as only then will be worthy of the worlds conscience, be worthy of the citizenry! We are Viziers! We assist the sovereign and support him with ruling the country, not those treachers that only suck up to him! Wan Xunji, look inside yourself! Are you worthy of the title of Vizier?! Impudent! Clay figurines could still have some anger, to say nothing of how Wan An wasnt one. He knew that many people cursed him out in private, but that was one thing, because he couldnt here all that. This was the first time someone had scolded him while pointing at his face. Do you even know what being a Vizier is?! Its not your place to criticize how this Lord behaves! Do you believe that youre able to protect the Crown Prince?! If you do, then go advise His Majesty to death! You squashbairn prawn! As I see it, even a Daxing watermelon would be smarter than you! Wan An was an authentic Meizhou native. Riverfolk would curse others on repeat, but after entering the Cabinet, it had been many years since he had done so. Today, it seemed that he had been so enraged by Liu Jian, his native dialect had leaked out. Liu Jian had no idea what squashbairn prawn meant, but he knew that it was nothing good. His face immediately went pale from anger. Rolling up his sleeves in preparation to use Henan dialect at him in turn, he was firmly stopped by Xu Pu, Calm down! Calm down! It was unknown where he had gotten so much strength all of a sudden, but Xu Pu hauled Liu Jian straight out, barely avoiding the insult war about to be waged between Solons. What are you pulling me for?! I need to berate him to death right now! Liu Jian wrathfully said, finally able to shake off Xu Pus hand after leaving the Cabinet. Xu Pu smiled, pained. If you won, what would it do? Not only would it do no good, but when word got out, people would laugh. The Head Vizier fighting with a Solon would your reputation be great, then? Didnt you hear what he said?! He hugs thighs so shamelessly! Whatever the Emperor wants, Wan An will indulge him! What a crummy Head Vizier he is! What they say outside is true; hes a follower, and completely loses the dignity of our Cabinet! Xu Pu sighed. Leave it be. If even the Dowager cant object to this, what use would be our desperate opposition? I can tell that His Majesty has set his mind on this, and will hold onto it to the end. I dont know what sort of gu Lady Wan placed on His Majesty, for him to have this much affection for her, even when shes dead! Liu Jian curled his lip. What deep affection? If there really was any of that, he would have thrown caution to the wind and made her Empress years ago! The fact that shes still making trouble when dead is really aggravating! Xu Pus pallor changed a bit. That mouth of yours is truly unforgiving saying that to me is find, but dont say such things to outsiders! The other had no patience. I know! When did I say any of this to any outsider?! If it wasnt for you holding me back, I would have insulted that bastard to death! Xu Pu was exasperated. Youre still on about that? Liu Jian rolled his eyes. Why wouldnt I be? What does squashbairn prawn mean? Or Daxing watermelon that really pisses me off! How about I go back and insult him for a round?! With that, he turned to go back in. Xu Pu quickly grabbed his arm. Hey, hey, I said its fine! You scolded him harshly enough already! But I havent insulted him in Henan dialect yet! He had an expression of helplessness. Seeing Liu Jian suddenly stop in his track, he believed that he had listen to his urging, and quickly said, Come, lets go! We need to be on-duty in the afternoon, so lets eat first. Dont be angry, its not worth it! However, Liu Jian asked, Do you remember what he said, when he was berating me? I do. Why? Repeat it once through so I can hear it. Xu Pu thought he was mad, taken aback. No, theyre nothing good! Are you still hung up on them? Liu Jian shook his head. No, Im not. Unsure of what he wanted, Xu Pu could only imitate Wan Ans tone of voice. Squashbairn prawn? Not that one. The one before it. Xu Pu blankly thought back for a bit. The one before? He said that his actions were not for you to judge, and also that you believe that you have the ability to defend the Crown Prince those things? Liu Jian knit his brow. This morning, we were arguing over Lady Wans posthumous title. Why did he suddenly bring the Crown Prince into this? The other was unsure. Maybe it was a slip of the tongue? Hm, Liu Jian said skeptically. He couldnt have been hinting at something? Theres no way. Liu Jian shook his head, realizing that he couldnt understand this. Nevermind. We should let Tang Runqing fret over things like this. Xu Pu smiled bitterly. No matter how talented Runqing is he wont be able to stop His Majesty from sealing Lady Wan as Empress. As I see it, it would be more reliable to keep the Dowager well-informed. Youre right. Lets go to the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity! Oh? Are we not eating? Eat what?! Well eat after we get back! Okay, okay, okay! Dont drag me, slow down, slow down! My bones are old, they cant take the stress! *** Word of the fight between Wan An and Liu Jian quickly spread. This was a rare event Cabinet discord had always been around, but todays sort, where hostilities came out, was infrequent. However, compared to the Emperor wanting to posthumously promote Lady Wan, it really seemed like nothing. A lot of discussion bubble up everyone. No lack of censors were readying themselves, already prepared to send memorials of admonishment. Tang Fan heard of this as well, but didnt place importance on it. That was, until Liu Jian came to the Tang home in the evening to tell him what had happened that morning. I didnt take it to heart, really. Wan Xunjis lack of propriety is not something that popped up overnight. Liu Jian would never say that he had nearly been angered half to death earlier. However, after I went home, I thought hard about it. It was a little more reassuring for me to come over and talk to you, but I think I might be reading too much into it Daxing watermelon? Tang Fan chewed those words over, a bit confused. Why would Wan An mention Daxing for no reason? Liu Jian looked embarrassed. Was it not just a figure of speech to insult me with? Tang Fan pondered for a bit, but couldnt think of a reason, shaking his head. It ought to just be a run-of-the-mill insult. I cant hear anything strange out of it. Liu Jian sighed in relief. Its good if it was nothing. Wan Xunji is a scheming, cunning, and treacherous bloke. I feared that he was implying something, but it seems I overthought it. As it was getting later, Liu Jian took his leave quickly. Tang Fan personally saw him to the door, but did not return to his home, instead going for the neighboring Sui home. Sui Zhou knew that Liu Jian had visiting, so he hadnt gone to seek Tang Fan out. Seeing him come over now, he asked, He left? Tang Fan nodded. Yeah. He was a bit distracted, mulling over what had just been said. Noticing his odd look, Sui Zhou asked again, What is it? Whats so special about Daxing watermelons? Sui Zhou was mystified. Where would watermelons come from this time of year? Tang Fan felt that line of thinking to be kind of off, and changed the way he asked. Does Daxing grow watermelons? I think so. Does every single household grow them? I dont know for sure, but Xue Ling is from Daxing. I can find him and ask tomorrow. We should do that now. His antsy attitude was somewhat uncommon. When it came to many things, though, Tang Fans caution had always proved to be unusual and necessary after the fact. That much, Sui Zhou had profoundly experienced himself, having gone through life and death with him. The current affinity between them had reached a point where they didnt need to say much to understand each other. Therefore, upon hearing that, Sui Zhou immediately left to find someone without any discussion. Xue Ling was speedily located; he was in the middle of a drinking contest with his colleagues in a put he frequented, his alcoholic stink not yet dispersed. Suddenly getting called out to his bosss home was inevitably a bit embarrassing for him, but neither Tang Fan nor Sui Zhou were thinking about those details. Daxing? Xue Ling was a bit surprised. He hadnt expected that Sui Zhou would call for him in the middle of the night to just talk about this. An abundance of fruits are grown there, yes. Most of the watermelons and grapes given as tribute to the palace are from Daxing. The neighbor of this subordinates ancestral home is one of those melon farmers, but I heard them say that the profit margin is small, because the price the government pays isnt high, and they cant sell them to merchants. He had no idea what Tang Fan wanted to ask, so he could only say what he knew. There was nothing off with what he said, of course. Tang Fan frowned. Is that all? Did you ever hear any rumors there that were related to Wan An? Xue Ling thought, then shoot his head. No. Tang Fan was a little disappointed. He couldnt think of anything else to ask, saying to himself that perhaps Liu Jian and he really had overthought this, and Wan Ans remarks might have purely been insults born of anger. Oh, right! Xue Ling suddenly said. I head that not all of the melon farmers were losing money. Theres one family that somehow has a relationship claim with Wan Tong, because they live right next to his separate residence. For that reason, when the government purchases melons from that family, the always give a higher price than other families. Tang Fans heart felt cold. Youre saying that Wan Tong had a separate residence in Daxing? Xue Ling nodded. Yes, but he rarely stays there. I heard that its where he puts concubines that fell out of favor, and he only occasionally comes over to have a look at them. Hearing this, Tang Fans brows tightly knit. If Wan Ans remarks genuinely were referring to something else, was it this? But why would Wan An hint at Liu Jian? Had he known that the latter was bound to inform him of this? But wasnt Wan An on the same boat as Wan Tong? Why would he do such a thing? Even if there is an actual problem with Wan Tongs second residence, what did it have to do with the Crown Prince? Many questions quickly rushed up to his mind. In spite of his intelligence, it was too hard for him to solve these tangled mysteries for right now. Do you believe that Wan An was giving us a clue? he asked Sui Zhou. The other thought a bit, then suddenly brought up a different, irrelevant matter. Back when you dealt with Chen Luan in Suzhou, then implicated Shang Ming in it, Huai En and Wang Zhi used that chance to strip him of his post as Eastern Depot Director. The Emperor agreed. Wan An saw the way things were going, and sent a memorial endorsing it. That made Wan Tong really mad, and he loudly berated Wan An for being an opportunity, but the two quickly made up. You werent in the capital, so you didnt know. Tang Fans eyes shone. You mean to say that Wan An doesnt stand firm with the Wan party, but has his own agenda? His agenda is nothing other than to curry favor with the Emperor and preserve his own wealth. Since the Emperor was set on Consort Wan and obeyed her commands, he went along with it. If there comes a day where the Emperor spurns Wan Tong, he would definitely not stand on the latters side. Saying so, his mouth curved up into a sneering arc, but he didnt laugh. People like him can only share in wealth, not in share in adversity. If Head Vizier Wan couldnt share any adversity, that was a problem Wan Tong needed to worry about, not what they needed to. However, Tang Fan heard a note within Sui Zhous words: What Wan An had insulted Liu Jian with were quite possible not things blurted out on a whim. There was just one last question Even if weve guessed that Wan Tong might be hiding some nasty secret in his other residence, we would never be able to go search it with haste. And, if nothing is found, well lose that up on him. Thats no problem. Leave it to me, Sui Zhou said, turning to Xue Ling. Go gather our brothers up now. Xue Ling not only didnt look hesitant and fearful, but instead showed an eager excitement. Were going to go turn that son of a bitchs house upside-down? Sui Zhou lightly nodded. Go wild, just keep your identities hidden. Xue Ling laughed, rubbing his palms. Rest assured, Brother! Having you lead us means that our spoils are going to be massive! We brothers have long been wanting to make things difficult for that bastard, since he always tries to push down on our heads! Hearing his tone of voice, he didnt resemble a Brocade Guard, but a bandit about to rob someones house. *** Daxing was located in the outskirts of the capital, and belonged to Shuntian Prefectures jurisdiction. However, no matter how close it was to the capital, it ultimately wasnt the capital; its evenings grew quieter, and it became silent after nightfall. On this night of no wind, it looked like even the plants were frozen in ice, standing upright and noiseless, not moving at all. During summer nights, there would typically be sounds of birds and insects, while in this season, they had all gone without a trace. In this freezing landscape, every citizen that had a home to shun the cold it was hiding away inside right now, shrinking back into bed, the wife and children on the warm kang. It was basically the best comfort in wintertime. This second residence beside Dalong River was no exception. Even though it might look more grand and beautiful than the farms surrounding it during the daytime, it was invisible now. After the candle in a certain room of it completely went out, it, too, would sink into a deep sleep at night. Until a womans shriek sounded out. Miss Man tightly clutched her blanket, looking at all of these men of unknown origin in horror. The torches they held lit the room up, and they were dressed all in black, only their eyes exposed, fierce and cruel-looking. One glance told that they were nothing good. She wasnt the only one screaming in the house, but there was nothing any of them could do but scream. Do do you know what this place is?! This is the second residence of the Brocade Guards Commanding Envoy! You dare to barge in here? Do you want to die?! Leave, now! Her voice trembled, as she hoped that Wan Tongs title would scare them off. However, she was disappointed. The others not only didnt listen to her, but they even searched all around her room. Miss Man was one of Wan Tongs concubines, having been sent here a few years ago after falling out of favor. Pretty much all of the women in the residence had come here for that reason. They knew well that this was their fate for the rest of their lives, but there was nothing they could do, forced to live day after day of a lonely life in the residence, waiting for Wan Tongs occasional, whimsical visit. However, about half a year ago, these circumstances had changed. The residence had, for some reason, suddenly been garrisoned with a large amount of highly skilled guards. For this reason, the range of activities the woman had been able to do had further reduced confined to the rear courtyard, never to step foot into the front courtyard. Also, Wan Tong had started visiting more frequently after that, but he still rarely set foot into the rear courtyard. The women were as wilted flowers, seemingly completely forgotten. One of Miss Mans sisters hadnt been able to bear the loneliness and wanted to seduce one of the guards, but Wan Tong had found out, immediately dragging her out to beat her to death. The sound of that club hitting flesh, and those tragic screams, were things she still remembered. Ever since then, the front courtyard had become a forbidden area. Now, however, these black-clothed men had entered a no-mans-land, yet no one had come to stop them. Those guards might be dead, if they couldnt even notice the commotion on this side. The only possibility is that those guys had since been dealt with. Miss Mans heart jumped, seemingly seeing hope in escaping this residence. Wh what are you all looking for? When she had laid down, she was wearing only a dudou, yet these men hadnt spared her a glance. Clearly, they hadnt come to assault. However, they definitely werent here to steal, either, because the silk fabrics in her trunk had been overturned and scattered on the ground, occasionally getting mixed with some valuables, yet they didnt go for it. Shut up! If you keep blabbing, Ill kill you! One of the men in black said, the impatience in his tone obvious and plain to hear. Miss Man watched as they took a dagger out to pry up the bluestone tiles, and once again drummed up her courage. I know what youre looking for! The movements of the men in black suddenly paused. All of them looked at her. She cowered a bit, stammering out, A-Actually, I dont know that well, but you all must be looking for something specific? I-I might know a clue What do you know? said the same man. What will I get for saying it? she answered, wanting to bargain. The others response was to put a knife right to her neck. I-I was just kidding she immediately tried to soothe. But if youre looking for something, it definitely wouldnt be here. It would be in the front courtyard! The translator says: Wan An is relatable though? Doesnt want to be a horrible criminal, still isnt the nicest person, only wants money. (I learned as of this chapter than Wan Ans courtesy is not actually Yuanweng (Ԫ). To be fair to myself, it isnt the craziest courtesy name Ive ever seen, my Google search did not tell me that it was a real term 80 chapters ago when it first showed up, and my renewed, more in-depth search as of this writing also similarly turned up either peoples names, or one specific poem. Anyways, as the characters more or less mean Premier Gentleman, likely in reference to him being the Head Vizier, I will be changing all mentions of Yuanweng to Premier.)