With a sharp smack, Liu Jinquan staggered back a few steps, clutching his face. The officials in the room all lowered their eyes, pretending not to see – but pretending did not mean it hadn’t happened. Liu Jinquan’s face burned red, his whole body aflame with shame. Beside him, the Prefect’s expression was equally strained, his gaze at Liu Jinquan filled with hatred.
No matter what, he himself hadn’t known of it, yet it was still his subordinate who had caused the trouble, forcing Master Gao to come in person. The Prefect certainly didn’t feel flattered by such an honor.
He had only held the post of Prefect for two months, and serving as acting governor of the city was just a transitional step – his true goal was the Council of State.
But now, because of this matter, he was dragged into it, his future uncertain. Just now, if Attendant Scholar Gao hadn’t acted swiftly, that slap would have been delivered by his own hand.
“Do you bear a grudge against me?” Attendant Scholar Gao jabbed a finger at Liu Jinquan and barked, “Or is it that you’ve taken benefits from Chen Shao?”
Liu Jinquan could no longer worry about the humiliation; he waved his hands frantically.
“My lord, my lord, no, I didn’t, I didn’t! I only wanted to ease your burdens…” he said in a rush.
“Ease my burdens? This is your idea of easing my burdens?” Attendant Scholar Gao cut him off with a shout. “You’re pouring oil on the fire! We can barely manage to suppress the matter, and you – what do you do? You go and arrest people, you make it blow up even bigger!”
“My lord, my lord, this really isn’t some public outrage – it was just a group of people fighting over the wine from his house to drink. So I thought I should just seize the wine…” Liu Jinquan said bitterly.
Attendant Scholar Gao gave a cold laugh.
“Liu Jinquan, have you lost your wits?” he said. “Are you the only one who knows that brewing and selling private liquor is a serious crime?”
Of course not – everyone knew it. That was precisely why the wine was being given away rather than sold. Attracting the common folk was one purpose; avoiding trouble and charges was another consideration.
“My lord, my lord, I know. I only wanted to bring them back first, suppress the matter before dealing with it. I never thought – I never thought these people would actually…” Liu Jinquan stammered.
Attendant Scholar Gao snorted.
“You never thought these people wouldn’t be the docile, fearful commoners who bow to officials? You never thought even a little maid could lure you into a trap? You imagined you could use the wine to catch them – did you think they wouldn’t imagine the same?” He fixed his gaze on Liu Jinquan. “Liu Jinquan, do you still remember Liu Zhang, who once served as Secretariat Editor in the Imperial Archives?”
The name felt somewhat unfamiliar – let alone Liu Jinquan, even the Prefect beside him paused for a moment before recalling it.
That was the Secretariat Editor Liu who had first suffered a stroke from the excitement of a promotion, and later, when his son committed a crime, was implicated and stripped of office and rank, slinking back to his hometown in a donkey cart. By now, who knew whether he was even still alive.
But… why bring him up?
“How do you think your current position compares to his, back before he fell ill?” Attendant Scholar Gao asked.
Though Liu Jinquan had entered office as a jinshi and served over ten years as magistrate and assistant magistrate in the provinces, earning his way into recommendation for a post in the capital, there was still a large gap between him and a Secretariat Editor.
Perhaps in another five, six, ten years, he might have managed to climb his way to becoming a central official – assuming, of course, he could survive this present crisis.
Liu Jinquan shook his head, face full of misery.
“Of course, I cannot compare,” he said.
“You know you’re no match for Liu Zhang – so what makes you think the people of Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode would fear you?” Attendant Scholar Gao sneered.
What?
Everyone present looked at him in surprise.
The words seemed to carry a deeper meaning… could it be that what happened back then with Secretariat Editor Liu…
“You know who the great owner behind Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode is, don’t you?” Attendant Scholar Gao asked.
“It’s Guide General Zhou…” Liu Jinquan hurriedly replied.
Attendant Scholar Gao’s brows shot up, and suddenly he burst into loud laughter. Laughing, then stopping abruptly, he spat in Liu Jinquan’s direction.
“Useless! Get out!” he bellowed, thrusting a finger toward the door.
To be cursed so harshly in public – on top of that slap – Liu Jinquan could no longer stay in the capital. Covering his face with a hand, he hurried out.
“Useless, useless – daring to act without even asking, without even looking!”
“Not even knowing what mountain you were entering, and you dare to boast of hunting tigers!”
“Are the Prefecture officials all such worthless trash now?”
Attendant Scholar Gao’s furious voice echoed through the great hall, while the gathered officials lowered their heads, silent as stone.
When Attendant Scholar Gao had finally finished cursing and walking about, he stopped in his tracks.
“How are things now?” he exhaled, then asked.
At a signal from the Prefect’s eyes, a judicial officer stepped forward.
“My lord, both Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode have closed their doors and suspended business, but this was not on our orders…” he said.
Attendant Scholar Gao gave a cold snort.
“Not on your orders – and yet it is on your orders all the same,” he said.
The commotion stirred up yesterday by the magistrate runners at Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode, together with the lingering excitement from the funeral procession, once again touched upon the matter of the divine doctor. Add to that the sudden deaths of five men in battle, and the heart-wrenching outcome of a single orphan left behind – such a twisting, stirring tale was simply too perfect for the storytellers’ trade. So in less than a day, the whole capital was swept up in a new wave of tales and performances; in taverns and teahouses great and small, in alleys and courtyards alike, everywhere one heard the city abuzz with talk of Maoyuan Mountain.
And in these discussions, the authorities were cast squarely as the oppressors of the common folk.
Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode had shuttered their doors – though outwardly claiming family affairs as the reason – in the eyes of the people, this was clearly the consequence of official harassment.
If in previous days the talk had been nothing more than idle chatter of wine and street gossip, now the matter had finally drawn in the imperial officials. This was what truly aroused public feeling and indignation. Without a clear resolution and a settled verdict, there would be no way to quiet the storm.
“My lord, is this matter truly beyond suppression?” the Prefect asked hesitantly. “In truth, we haven’t done anything wrong. They were distributing wine, and it isn’t unreasonable for the authorities to investigate. It was only a quarrel in words – if we just clarify things, shouldn’t that ease the situation somewhat?”
“Facts?” Attendant Scholar Gao let out a cold laugh. “Since when have affairs of state ever been settled by facts?”
He exhaled, gazing toward the doorway.
“It’s all about needs,” he said. “The Emperor’s needs, the court’s needs, the people’s needs. What must be given is what they need – not the facts. No one cares about facts!”
That was why Lu Si’an had dared to submit his impeachment. Originally, it was nothing more than a move to satisfy the Emperor’s needs – but who would have thought that useless Liu Jinquan would leap forward on his own, only to be exploited, stirring up public sentiment.
This time, it seemed fortune truly was no longer on his side.
“My lord, do we truly have to investigate Jiang Wenyuan?” the Prefect asked. “This… this is really nothing more than a small matter.”
“A small matter? And what great matter has not begun as a small one?” Attendant Scholar Gao replied. “If we don’t quickly bring all sides to the outcome they need, the entanglements will only grow larger, and the number of people waiting to share in those needs will grow larger still.”
Yes – court struggles always began with trifles. Then came wave after wave of impeachments, countermeasures, debates; more and more people were drawn in. In the end, one side was bound to suffer grievous loss. Though no one ever wished to be the loser, there were only two possible outcomes: victory or defeat. One could hope for the good result – but the bad one had to be considered as well.
Those deserters again!
Last time they had nearly ruined his plans, and now here they were again!
Them! No – her!
Her!
So it turned out that besides bringing the dead back to life, she could stir up all this chaos as well!
If only he had known the true background and identity of Tai Ping Residence and Immortal’s Abode – last time, he would never have merely considered whether she could treat the Second Prince. If he had eliminated her then, there would be none of these troubles now!
“The fool from Jiang-zhou!” Attendant Scholar Gao clenched his fist, grinding his teeth as he slowly spat out the four words.
“The fool from Jiang-zhou.”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Old Master Chen spoke, though his face bore a smile.
“From now on, the capital will have two Jiangzhous – one Master Jiangzhou, and one the Jiangzhou Fool.”
Chen Shao poured tea and handed it over.
Old Master Chen took it, waving his hand lightly.
The servant who had been reciting the tale of Maoyuan Mountain from under the veranda quickly kowtowed and withdrew.
“You had thought to wait a while, to let her bring her grievance forward in her own time. But think – when has that girl ever waited?” he said.
Chen Shao smiled and nodded.
“Indeed. Not only does she not wait – she outright dragged the whole world into it, turning what began as a city-wide scramble for wine into a city-wide cry for justice,” he said, with a trace of admiration. “And all the while, from start to finish, she herself has said nothing – nothing at all. It is always others who are speaking for her.”
Old Master Chen smiled as he sipped his tea.
“No matter how you look at it, you owe her thanks,” he said. “And Lu Si’an owes her even more thanks.”
Chen Shao nodded, his expression complicated.
Just as he was about to speak, a servant hurried in from the outer gate.
“Master, someone has come from the palace to summon you.”
Chen Shao looked at the servant, then at his father.
“They’ve come,” he said.
It was unclear whether he spoke of the imperial summons – or of the events that were about to unfold.
The Song Family Tavern, located by the West Gate, was hardly ranked among the capital’s notable restaurants, yet today it welcomed a distinguished guest.
“Well now, Miss Ban Qin, how is it that the great manager herself has come to our humble place?” the manager of the Song Family said with a smile.
The head maid-manager of Immortal’s Abode and Tai Ping Residence was a figure known to every inn and restaurant in the capital.
“Our shops are closed, so I had to find somewhere else to eat.” The maid replied with a smile, then broke off her banter with the manager. “Give me an upstairs room, facing the street.”
The manager was about to respond, when his gaze shifted past her – to the pair following behind.
The young man’s robes were sumptuous, a jade pendant hanging at his waist, and with each step the glint of silver-thread embroidery on his shoes was revealed – everything about him proclaimed wealth or noble rank.
Then the manager’s eyes fell on the young lady, and in that instant he could see no one else. Though her face was hidden beneath a gauzy veil, as if obscured from view, she seemed to him like a rare treasure of the world.
Not only had the head manager arrived – the head owner herself had come!
And if the head owner had come, might this not also be a chance to obtain some of that fierce Maoyuan Mountain liquor?
“This way, my lady.” At once he straightened, dropping all levity, and personally led the way.
Just as they stepped into the tavern, the curtain of a carriage passing in from outside the city was lifted by a hand as pale and smooth as jade, revealing half of an exquisitely beautiful face.
“It really is Young Master Qin,” said Chun Ling at her side, leaning close. Watching the tavern recede farther behind them, her eyes sparkled. “It’s been so long since I last saw him – I thought he was buried in his books, but it turns out he’s out in the company of a beauty. Why hasn’t he come to visit you? Has he forgotten you?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. It would be worse if he did remember me,” Lady Zhu replied. “What kind of propriety is there in a noble scion spending all his time in frivolity? Besides, when has he ever come looking for me? If we meet, it’s only by chance, or because he was invited by someone else to sit together.”
Chun Ling giggled.
“True, Young Master Qin isn’t that sort of person,” she said.
Which is exactly why you esteem him so – and cannot forget him.
The carriage rolled on toward the city, when suddenly the street erupted into commotion. Pedestrians scattered to the sides as a courier rider galloped past at full speed.
“That’s an urgent dispatch bound for the northwest,” Qin Shi’san-lang said as he watched the rider disappear into the distance, then turned back to look at Cheng Jiao-niang.
Inside, Cheng Jiao-niang had removed her gauze veil, revealing her clear and striking face.
“With this urgent report sent out, the matter will now be thoroughly investigated – and you will soon be known to the whole world,” he said with a faint smile.
Cheng Jiao-niang steadied her sleeve with one hand and slowly lifted a bite of food with her chopsticks, chewing unhurriedly.
“I’ve always been here. Whether others recognize me or not – that’s their affair,” she said, raising her head to look at Qin Shi’san-lang with a faint smile of her own.
She had never gone out of her way to make herself known, nor to deliberately hide from recognition. If others did not recognize her, it was because they could not see. Just like him – he had seen her at a glance, and known her for who she was.
Qin Shi’san-lang laughed heartily, came over, and sat down, raising his wine cup to her.
What of being abandoned by family? What of the hardships of living in the capital? What of covetous eyes cast toward her holdings? She dared snatch food from the mouths of high officials, dared strike down ruffians and scoundrels. To her, the storms and jagged roads of the human world were no different than the sunlit plain. Dragon’s lairs, tiger’s dens, crashing waves and buffeting winds – what difference were they from a clear day on level ground?
All the same.
Cheng Jiao-niang lifted her teacup, touched it lightly to his, and raised her sleeve to drink.
