Chapter 39 The Dust Settles and the Case Is Closed

Zhong Yuxiu and Zhang Wanying were transferred to the back residence of the prefectural government, where they were looked after by the prefect's wife. Also accompanying them was a young lady who originally lived in the residence of the ghost market stall owner.

As luck would have it, the guard who replaced the stall owner found Zhang Wanying in the woods after disguising himself, and just as he brought her back, he encountered the stall owner's accomplices.

I came to discuss selling goods in a few days. I wanted to leave what I had with him for now so he could watch over it, and then I would figure out how to get another one.

The guards recognized the woman with her head down as the one who had argued with the emperor at the ghost market that day.

He immediately agreed.

The Imperial Guard was originally the second son of the Minister of War, who had been trained in the Imperial Guard and was quite familiar with Zhang Wanying.

Most importantly, the Wen family, the Minister of War, is preparing to discuss marriage with the Grand Secretary's family.

Wen Ling, the second son of the Wen family, and Zhang Wanying, the granddaughter of a Grand Secretary.

Wenling had met her once before, at a palace banquet last year.

The entire Wenling family were military officers. The father had fought on the front lines before being transferred back to the capital when he got a little older. The older brother served as a garrison general in another region, and the younger sister was recruited into the princess's personal guard.

After a few more years of experience, he will take over General Wang's position.

Wenling disliked pretentious and affected women. He didn't want to marry most of the young ladies in Kyoto; to be precise, he was prepared to live a lonely life.

Wenling, who had intended to refuse her mother's suggestion, met Zhang Wanying at the palace banquet.

At that time, she was getting some fresh air outside the hall, and Wenling was on guard duty outside the hall.

I don't know which family's young lady it was, but she eagerly went up to mock Zhang Wanying, saying that as the granddaughter of a college student, she didn't even dare to participate in the competition for the most talented woman in Kyoto.

Zhang Wanying immediately retorted, saying that this "first talented lady" was just a bunch of teenage girls playing house and writing a few pretentious poems, and then she called herself that?

The woman opposite was so angry that she could only point at her and say "you," before turning away with her maid.

Wenling was mindful that he was still on duty, otherwise he would have burst out laughing.

He was going to accept his mother's suggestion.

Before he could find a suitable opportunity to visit her, Wenling saw Zhang Wanying again in a tree.

His fiancée was very strong; if she hadn't been hungry, even he wouldn't have noticed that someone was hiding in the tree.

Wenling casually recalled the events. He removed his disguise, selected a few guards, and had them protect the three young ladies and the prefect's wife in the backyard of the government office.

After going through the normal interrogation process, Di Ting and Fang Xiangshi returned to the Jiang residence with Sui Gu.

Fang Xiangshi pretended to be mute throughout the entire conversation with Sui Gu, only nodding and shaking his head. If a male voice were to come out of his mouth, Sui Gu could not predict what would happen.

...

Knowing that Zhong Yuxiu was alright, Jiang Yuzhi instructed Zhisan to go to the orphanage to report the news, while she herself finished making the unfinished funeral clothes. After the court hearing, it wouldn't be long before Ake was buried.

The house next to the sales home happened to be empty, and the guards contacted the owner and bought it with the proceeds from the confiscation.

The rescued women and children are temporarily staying there.

Bai Yan entered the palace at dawn to explain the situation to Emperor Huizong.

The expansion of the orphanage still needed someone in charge, so Xiao Yao made time to personally oversee it.

The government office was very efficient; the result was out two days before the trial.

Bai Yan's daily routine consisted of going to the palace in the morning, visiting the Jiang residence in the afternoon, and returning home at night.

There are usually two figures in the tailor room of the Jiang residence.

One was Jiang Yuzhi, busy sorting threads and cutting fabric; the other was Bai Yan, who was tidying up behind her with a winnowing basket.

Bai Yan used the legitimate reason of restoring the "Sheji Tu" (a map of the land and grain) to enter and leave the Jiang residence without fail.

Jiang Yuzhi had no reason to refuse.

Bai Yan brought over a pot of freshly brewed flower tea, poured out a cup and let it cool on the small table, then turned to tidy up the loose threads and scraps of cloth on the floor.

He kept talking, "They're all brainless remnants of the previous dynasty, unwilling to live in poverty, still thinking about restoration, spreading white stone powder in an attempt to sow discord among the people. As for the place where white stone flowers are planted, we need to investigate further."

"Most of the abducted women were sold into slavery or as maids. The prettier ones were sold to wealthy families as concubines, and some were even sold specifically to bear children."

"Quite a few boys did stay behind, ha, dreaming of training an army, what a pipe dream."

"They are also involved in many clandestine casinos in Kyoto, amassing wealth and seeking to recruit more members."

Jiang Yuzhi paused, her hand holding the silver needle still. "It worked?"

Bai Yan handed the tea to Jiang Yuzhi's lips and then said, "Of course not. Father controls eight-tenths of the iron ore in the entire Xia Dynasty. The remaining two-tenths are nothing to worry about."

Jiang Yuzhi took a sip from the white inkstone in her hand; the burial shroud still needed some finishing touches.

Do you want to know... how I died?

Bai Yan put down his teacup, remaining motionless for a long time. "If you don't want to talk about it, then you don't need to..."

No, I want to tell you.

Jiang Yuzhi ignored his retreating figure and lowered her head to insert the silver needle into the soft fabric.

"Almost everyone in my family knows how to mend and sew clothes, and their embroidery skills are beyond question. The most skilled woman in the family will work in the Imperial Clothing Bureau. The last one was my aunt, and the next one is me."

"Back then, I was a bit arrogant and took it for granted that I could mend anything and make the best clothes in the world. My parents and brother doted on me, so I was always a bit willful in front of my family."

“Until I rescued He Ji, my brother and I took him home. He was badly injured, and the doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. He could only be kept alive. My parents took pity on him because he was all alone and helpless, so they took him in.”

Upon hearing the familiar name, Bai Yan calmly sat down on the small couch.

"He was only eleven or twelve years old, very quiet, and didn't like to talk or laugh. A year passed, and I considered him a friend, but one night... he left without saying goodbye."

"Another year has passed in the blink of an eye. He Ji has returned, carrying a piece of exquisitely embroidered cloth and a roll of gold thread. He asked me if I could mend it. Of course I said yes. He begged me not to tell anyone and to keep it a secret between us."

“I didn’t take it to heart, but I didn’t tell anyone. He left the embroidery cloth and then left. It would be very difficult to repair it completely, but I still managed to do it. I hid the cloth at the very bottom of the chest.”

“He never came to collect it. I didn’t wait for him. Instead, the soldiers who ransacked my house said that my family was secretly possessing the ‘Map of Mountains and Rivers’ and that I was plotting a rebellion.”

"How ridiculous! Whoever obtains the map of the state can bring peace to the world."

“I have no home anymore. My soul wandered home from the guillotine, all alone. I searched the whole house, but I couldn’t find the piece of cloth that He Ji gave me. I know that it is the Map of the State.”

“I couldn’t find my parents and brother either. Brother Xie and Brother Fan found me, but I went to the underworld. Even the Black and White Impermanence didn’t know where they were. At that time, I often wondered if they were blaming me? Blaming me for bringing disaster, blaming me for being arrogant and complacent, and ruining my happy family.”

Bai Yan's throat seemed to be blocked, and he forced out a sentence, "No..."

Jiang Yuzhi's voice was flat and emotionless, as if she were telling someone else's story. "I hate it. I hate myself. I hate He Ji. I hate that tyrannical ruler who disregarded human life and preyed on the people. What's the use? He Ji did nothing wrong. He wanted to live. I wanted him to live."

"I think my parents and brother must hate me, otherwise why would they refuse to see me, even managing to evade the underworld's ghost messengers?"

“Even after He Ji died, he protected me. I’ve figured it out. The Sheji Tu (a mythical map of the land and grain) prevents me from being reincarnated, so I’d rather not enter the cycle of reincarnation. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said, ‘I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty.’ But the evil spirits in the human world haven’t gone to hell yet.”

"That's why I'm here, so don't let them get away."

"Otherwise, I might become a demon."

The burial clothes were finished, and Jiang Yuzhi picked up the silver scissors and cut off the excess threads.

Bai Yan stood up, staring intently at Jiang Yuzhi, and walked step by step to her side, placing his hand on the table and taking Jiang Yuzhi's free hand in his.

It was cold and covered with fine cocoons.

This was not the first time they had joined hands; the Sheji Tu could only be passed on to Bai Yan through Jiang Yuzhi.

Bai Yan often used health problems as an excuse to hold hands and get a hug.

“Let’s go see it together on the day of the trial.”

...

Two days later.

The prefectural governor presided over the joint trial by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, and the Court of Judicial Review.

The area outside the government office was completely surrounded by angry citizens.

Jiang Yuzhi and Bai Yan mingled in the crowd.

Zhong Yuxiu, Zhang Wanying, and Yang Shu, the original owner of the box of pearls, who was brought from Zuo Huai by the ghost market stall owner.

To appear in court as a witness.

The man who killed Ake was also arrested. When he heard the prefect introduce Zhang Wanying, he thought he had seen a ghost and fainted from fright.

Fairy water, white stone powder, and all the stolen money are laid out.

The prisoners brought in one after another were tortured to the point of being unable to speak, and there was only a confession with their fingerprints on it.

No one questioned the government's use of torture to extract confessions; they only felt it wasn't harsh enough.

With both witnesses and physical evidence present, the verdict was announced in court.

Those involved in the case will be punished ranging from exile to hard labor for life to slow slicing and dismemberment by five horses.

The young master Zheng from the family of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was naturally among them, but he only bought a few servants and concubines and was sentenced to exile.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was dismissed and investigated.

Grand Secretary Zhang arrived when the case was closed. Leaning on a dragon-headed cane bestowed upon him by the Emperor, he held his granddaughter tightly in his arms, tears streaming down his face.

Looking up, I saw Wenling standing behind her granddaughter, smiling gently.

The old man snorted coldly, "Yingying, let's go home."

The imperial edict arrived just in time.

Everyone knelt down, waiting for Eunuch Xu to announce the imperial decree.

Zhang Ke, the adopted daughter of the Zhang family, served her master with utmost loyalty and integrity, never shirking danger and bravely protecting him. She sacrificed her life to preserve her chastity, her will as firm as metal and stone.

We hereby posthumously confer upon you the title of Lord of Yicheng Township, with a rank equivalent to the eighth grade. We hereby authorize the establishment of a shrine in your township, and provide you with an annual sacrificial stipend of twenty taels of silver.

With that, the dust settled.

Emperor Huizong dispatched imperial envoys to various regions to inspect and appoint officials, intending to completely eradicate the remnants of the previous dynasty and destroy the Baishihua planting area.

...

Xie Bi'an rarely had free time, so he first came up to admire his new home and then casually talked about some interesting things happening in the underworld.

There was a newly appointed ghost messenger who was exceptionally capable and humble, and he helped relieve a lot of pressure for him.

Although she was a woman, she was more useful than a man, and her name was Ke.

Jiang Yuzhi chuckled softly, offering no explanation.

Xie Bi'an was confused and couldn't get any answers before Fan Wujiu took him away to work again.

Zhong Yuxiu dared not go out anymore, spending her days teaching and researching new things in the orphanage.

He met Xiao Yao, the foreman, by chance, and the two hit it off and became close friends despite their age difference. They often got together and didn't know what to say.

Emperor Huizong had no time to arrest her. This case had also taken away many people in the court, and the reopening of the imperial examinations was imminent. He was so busy every day that he barely had time to rest.

The Minister of War went to Emperor Huizong of Tang to request an imperial decree to grant the marriage. Upon hearing that the children from both families got along well, Emperor Huizong agreed.

To everyone's surprise, Grand Secretary Zhang was so angry that he resigned and stayed home.

Emperor Huizong knew that Zhang Pei, that old scoundrel, was faking it; he was just throwing a tantrum.

Knowing was useless; Emperor Huizong was too embarrassed to keep exploiting people of his age.