Censor
When Old Madam Meng came from Jingsi Garden, leaning on her cane as she entered, she was not as smiling as usual. Her silver-gray hair accentuated her wrinkles, revealing her vicissitudes.
Seeing her wave away her attendants and have them wait outside the door, Mu Qing stepped forward, took her arm, and helped her sit down on Lu Fei's soft couch.
Lu Fei glanced at the old lady sitting beside him, called her "Grandmother" softly, as obedient as a puppy.
Old Madam Meng patted his head, then looked at Mu Qingshi, her face still showing some kindness despite the passage of time. "What are you two whispering about in this room?"
Mu Qing considered carefully before saying, "I'm reflecting on what happened today."
Grandma Meng nodded. "It's time to reflect on this." She looked down at Lu Fei with a knowing gaze. "Little Fei, what do you think was wrong today?"
Lu Fei's voice came from under the pillow: "We shouldn't have put the rare book that Father collected in someone else's room."
As soon as she finished speaking, Old Madam Meng lowered her chin slightly and gave the back of her head, which she had been touching, a heavy tap with her well-defined knuckles.
"Crack!" The crisp, loud sound startled Mu Qing so much that he dared not move. He had always thought the kind and gentle old man would actually use such force against his grandson. If it had been any harder, he might have been able to crack a person's skull open.
Lu Fei clutched the back of his head and sobbed, "I shouldn't have stolen my father's rare book and framed someone else."
"Stealing is despicable, but framing someone is utterly shameless." Old Madam Meng spoke coldly and sternly, her authority evident. "Why did you do such a despicable thing?"
Mu Qing held her breath, not daring to utter a single sound, for fear that Lu Fei would say it was all for her sake and pin the blame on her.
Lu Fei buried his head in his pillow and mumbled, "It was a moment of confusion on my part."
Mu Qing felt relieved, but then saw Old Madam Meng reach out and press her fingers flat on the blue satin silk quilt, causing Lu Fei to cry out, "Grandma, Grandma, Father beat me dozens of times! I'm really injured!"
Grandma Meng stopped, looked at her grandson on the bed, her brows furrowed deeply, "If you make a mistake again, not only will your father beat you, but your grandmother will also never want to see you again."
There will be no next time!
Lu Fei's urgent voice betrayed regret.
Old Madam Meng patted his head again, her expression becoming much kinder. "Tell me what grudge you have against that Imperial Censor Zhong."
Upon hearing this, Mu Qing's heart sank again. She stared intently at Lu Fei, fearing that he might mention her.
Lu Fei squirmed on the couch for a while before finally speaking: "He's just a seventh-rank censor, why does Grandmother care about him?"
Old Madam Meng had been granted an imperial title in the capital and was worldly-wise. Even now, with her eldest and second sons still serving as officials in local areas, she still felt somewhat apprehensive about the censor.
"Do you think a seventh-rank censor is the same as a seventh-rank county magistrate? Censors are the eyes and ears of the emperor. They have low rank but high power. They have the real power to supervise officials and oversee criminal cases. Many fourth-rank officials will get out of their sedan chairs and avoid censors when they see them on the street."
Lu Fei was secretly annoyed that his father had allowed such a troublesome person to stay at home. He raised his head and said rather unwillingly, "If a two-faced person becomes an imperial censor, wouldn't everyone be in danger?"
Old Madam Meng said in a calm voice, "You think you're so smart that you can spot a hypocrite better than anyone else?"
Hearing this, Lu Fei felt very depressed.
The conversation in the bamboo grove the day before yesterday was told to my mother by Ning Gu, and my mother summoned him that very evening and gave him a scolding. After today's commotion, my mother will surely plead for him in front of my father and relay his opinion of Zhong Linlan. My father has never hidden anything from my grandmother, so it's no wonder that my grandmother knows about the hypocrite's words.
Lu Fei stammered, "I just don't like him. I hate him just looking at him."
"But one must not act recklessly."
After Lu Fei promised not to cause any more trouble, Old Madam Meng asked Mu Qing to accompany her for a walk in the garden.
It hasn't snowed in the last couple of days, and spring is gradually emerging in the garden. A few green buds are sprouting on the bare branches, and the sunlight is warmer.
When Mu Qing arrived at the garden, she felt a sense of fleeing. She took the old lady's arm and walked silently on the bluestone path, trying to forget the resentful look Lu Fei had given her when she left.
Old Madam Meng glanced at her and saw a shadow falling over her usually innocent face. She couldn't help but sigh, "What did that rascal say to you?"
Mu Qing lowered her eyes and said, "It's nothing, just some grievances."
Old Madam Meng chuckled and said, "He's good at playing the victim. In the past, he always begged and pleaded before we let him off the hook. The more we indulge him, the harder he is to discipline."
Once the conversation started, there were many complaints. Mu Qing listened without agreeing, occasionally interjecting a few words, only advising him to take it easy.
Old Madam Meng couldn't help but remind her: "Just ignore what that boy said. Just listen to it and don't take it to heart."
Mu Qing responded in a muffled voice.
As evening approached, Lu Fei sent someone to invite her, claiming he wanted to see her. Mu Qing declined, citing dizziness, to avoid hearing him say that all his misdeeds were for her sake.
The next day, the sky cleared up even more.
Inside the Weizhou Prefectural Government Office, under the plaque that read "A Clear Mirror Hangs High," Prefect Liu Cheng finished judging a case, stroked his beard, and was about to go to the back hall for a short rest when he suddenly saw his advisor rushing over and whispering something in his ear.
Prefect Liu's expression changed, and he turned and went to the inner hall where guests were received, asking questions all the way.
"When did this Imperial Censor Zhong enter the city?"
"At least two days ago, by some unknown means, they went to the Censorate to see the scene."
Prefect Liu hissed in shock. The former censor had been murdered in his residence, and the new censor had bypassed him to investigate the scene himself. Could it be that the new censor suspected him? He immediately ordered his staff to recount all the information about the new censor.
A native of Chongzhou, he might know something about the neighboring Weizhou. At only twenty-three, he's already holding the position of Imperial Censor; he must be quite intelligent. Coming from a humble background, he once served under the Minister of Rites, indicating he understands human relationships. Entering the city quietly and staying at the reputable Lu family's residence, delaying their discovery by two days, shows he has some skill.
When Prefect Liu entered the inner hall, he saw a young man in a dark blue official robe rise from his seat, accompanied by several junior officials.
After exchanging pleasantries and simple greetings, they got down to business.
"Lord Liu, what's the progress in the case of Imperial Censor Qin?"
The censor before me is investigating the case on the Emperor's orders, and can submit a secret memorial that reaches the Emperor directly.
Prefect Liu dared not be perfunctory. After explaining the case in detail, he considered that such a major case had occurred in his jurisdiction, and the murderer had not been found for half a month. He felt he should apologize and hurriedly said, "That day was the Lantern Festival, and the whole city was celebrating. At the time of the incident, I was out with my family to enjoy the lanterns and failed to keep a close watch on the situation, which led to the murder of Censor Qin. It is truly my fault..."
Before he could finish speaking, Imperial Censor Zhong said, "Now is not the time to determine guilt. I have been ordered to come to Weizhou, and my primary task is to find out the truth and arrest the murderer. I request Lord Liu's assistance in the investigation."
The prefect Liu was relieved when he heard the censor asking about old cases from recent years and requesting to see the files. He immediately ordered someone to take him to the prison office.
Inside the torture chamber, cases piled high, the door closed, with only a few rays of light filtering through the windowpanes.
"Your Excellency is wise. The murderer who killed Imperial Censor Qin was skilled in his methods and may be a repeat offender."
The head clerk of the criminal investigation department took out a stack of unresolved murder case files from the cabinet, spread them on the long table, and waited aside for the censor to review them.
He lowered his head and did not peek, but he was a conscientious and experienced official who was very familiar with those files. He could tell which file the censor was looking at just by listening to him flip through them one by one.
When the censor turned to one of the documents and stopped to examine it closely, he was not surprised.
The archived file depicted a beautiful young woman, who stood out from the other scarred and bearded bandits. Moreover, her crimes included murdering a high-ranking official.
The suspect's name was Mu Qing. Five years ago, she poisoned the prefectural magistrate of Weizhou, robbed him of his treasures, and killed dozens of people. She was accused of being the leader of a bandit gang, nicknamed "Night-Hate Fox," but even after wiping out all the bandits outside the city, they still couldn't capture her.
"My lord, I still remember the cases from before. Would you like me to explain them?"
"No need."
The censor politely declined.
The registrar of the criminal division didn't want to say too much. He glanced up and saw that the official was turning the page of the document. Bright light shone through the paper, and the image on the page was faintly visible.
The girl, depicted with just a few strokes, has delicate eyebrows and beautiful eyes, her lips tightly pursed as if she is gritting her teeth, exuding a fierce and malevolent aura.
Inside the Lu residence, the same face, though devoid of hostility, carried a sorrowful expression.
Sunlight streamed through the window, carried by the wind. Mu Qing sat by the window, flipping through "A Thousand Poems," but couldn't concentrate on a single word.
Lu Fei sent someone again, saying he wanted to see her. He had asked her three times today. Even Aunt Ning asked her why she didn't go to see the young master.
After thinking it over, Mu Qing still went, just to listen to Lu Fei's whispers in her ear.
Lu Fei was still lying on the couch. When he saw her come, his face lit up and he smiled broadly. He complained softly about why she hadn't come sooner. After sending the others out of the room, the smile on his face faded.
"What do you want to say?" Mu Qing sat in front of the bed staring at him. "Don't say again that you did bad things because of me."
“That’s not important anymore,” Lu Fei said mysteriously. “I just want you to do one thing for me.”
Seeing him hold up a finger and shake it, Mu Qing's eyelashes trembled. "What is it?"
“You heard it yesterday too. Grandmother said that if I make a foolish mistake again, she doesn’t want to see me anymore.” Lu Fei lay back on the pillow, her voice heavy with sorrow. “That means she wants to kick me out of the house.”
Mu Qing had no suspicions. "Just don't do it again."
"But the night before last, I not only placed my father's rare book in Lord Zhong's room, but also a painting. I don't know if he didn't notice or deliberately didn't take it out, but the painting is still in his room. If he takes it out, wouldn't that be evidence of my wrongdoing again?"
“You’ve been lying here these past two days. You can talk to your father directly. He’ll definitely know you’re not repeating the offense.”
Lu Fei looked up, her face darkening. "That painting is a portrait of my mother. Do you think my father will break my legs if he finds out?"
"Why did you do this?! I think even your mother would want to break your legs."
Mu Qing now understands that a woman's innocence is extremely important, and her portrait should not be given away lightly. He thought that the Third Madam was already mentally exhausted because of Lu Fei's mistake. If she knew that Lu Fei had carelessly thrown away the portrait, she would be furious.
"Keep your voice down!" Lu Fei glanced towards the door and whispered, "At the time, I only wanted that scoundrel to be expelled from the manor; I didn't think much of it." After saying that, he looked at Mu Qing expectantly, "Can you bear to see me lie in bed for the rest of my life because of a moment of folly?"
Mu Qing felt uncomfortable listening to this. "Why don't you secretly find... that Lord Zhong and ask him to quietly return the painting?"
“When he came to see me last night, I already apologized to him and hinted that there was another painting, but he didn’t respond.”
"Then what should we do?"
"Go and steal the painting back."
Mu Qing was startled. "Me? I can't."
Lu Fei's gaze was fixed. "If you can climb walls, you certainly can."
He once brought a mastiff to scare her, but she darted up the high wall in a flash, as agile as a monkey.
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