Chapter 9: Unsealing

By this point, Madam Yu realized she had been deceived.

Yet, she couldn't let go just yet.

She had just lost two hundred taels! That was no small sum!

Anyone spending such a sum would harbor a glimmer of hope. Tremblingly, she asked, "Is there a Mr. Huang at the county yamen? The one who just left, could he be associated with the prefectural yamen?"

The fair-faced Mr. Huang frowned, "What’s with all these ‘this Mr. Huang’ and ‘that Mr. Huang’?"

Seeing Madam Yu slightly confused, Zhu San stepped forward to inquire respectfully, "May I know the purpose of your visit?"

Someone behind Mr. Huang frowned, "Won’t you invite the guests to sit first?" Zhu San thought for a moment and said, "Please, have a seat."

Seizing the opportunity, the server added, "Please take a seat, gentlemen. I’ll bring some tea and snacks right away." He then quickly disappeared.

Once everyone was seated, the person who had asked about seating spoke again, "We are here because of our relatives who are suffering. Let’s discuss any possible solutions, even if it costs some silver. Are you not interested?"

No one from Madam Yu’s side responded, sensing something amiss. Mr. Huang asked, "What’s the matter?"

After some back-and-forth, Mr. Huang and his companions managed to verify their identities, and Zhu San shared Madam Yu's ordeal.

Mr. Huang and his group explained, "You’ve encountered swindlers who prey on families embroiled in legal troubles, exploiting their desperation to defraud them of their money."

Madam Yu's voice carried a hint of despair, "I thought I knew enough about how the yamen operates, and everything they said seemed logical."

"It’s exactly because you’re a half-knowing ‘insider’ that they targeted you!" Mr. Huang said, "Had you questioned us as thoroughly earlier, you wouldn’t have lost your lifesaving money. What’s so hard about sounding logical? If it didn’t make sense, would they have deceived you? Anyone can strategize on paper! Everything seems real, but if the person is fake, what good does it do? Can he really resolve the issue? Only those who can truly make things happen are genuine."

Madam Yu appeared profoundly distressed, and even Zhang Xian Gu felt pity for her, commenting, "If you have any suggestions, please share. Blaming anyone now is pointless..."

Zhu San quickly stepped forward, shielding her and apologizing on their behalf to Mr. Huang, "Their minds are unsettled, and if they’ve been rude, I offer apologies for them. May I know if you have any advice?"

What advice could there be? Mr. Huang responded, "At this critical moment, stop making a fuss and just wait patiently."

Zhang Xian Gu interjected, "So, we just let the money go to the dogs? How do we get it back to properly handle the situation... Can we report this to the authorities? Would the prefectural yamen care?"

Zhang Xian Gu, bold and direct with a hint of accent, frustrated Mr. Huang and his already irritable companions even more with her rapid-fire talk, darkening their expressions further, "What kind of foolish woman is this?! Seeking death? You’re already embroiled in a lawsuit and now you want to inform the government you planned to bribe but got scammed? Planning to confess?"

Zhu San told Zhang Xian Gu, "Take Madam Yu back to the room. I’ll handle things out here."

Zhang Xian Gu was hesitant about her daughter; she raised her in contradictions, treating her as a boy while worrying over her as a girl, resulting in a conflicted demeanor. Zhu San forcefully ushered the three women into the inner chamber, instructing Flower Sister, "Big sister, take care of them!" After closing the door, she turned to Mr. Huang with an apologetic smile, "Excuse us."

Mr. Huang, seeing her as somewhat mature and decisive for her age, chided, "You’re not young anymore. Why let them create such a fuss?" He then advised, "Your mother seems not in good shape; you better take good care of her. We'll contribute money, and if it’s possible when resolving the issue, we’ll try to include Yu Ping in the rescue. If not, his fate will depend on his luck. As for discussing getting the money back through official complaints, let’s not talk about that now to avoid complications."

Zhu San responded, "I understand the reasoning and can prioritize. We won’t spill the beans and spoil everyone’s efforts."

Mr. Huang managed a smile and produced a half ingot of silver, "Couldn’t bring much in a hurry, and I understand you’re tight on funds. This is for emergencies. We must leave now, take care."

Zhu San interjected, "Please wait, sir, just a few more moments. There are a few more things I’d like to inquire about to reassure the family. I can’t keep an eye on everyone by myself."

Mr. Huang asked, "What do you want to discuss?"

"I have a few questions, fearing that seeking answers from others might lead to misinformation and potentially harm our cause."

"What would you like to know?"

Zhu San said, "I heard there are two major issues at the prefectural yamen involving the imperial envoy. It seems unusual for such a high-ranking official to make a trip for these matters; there must be other reasons. Also, the witchcraft case is significant. I hope it doesn’t negatively impact what we are trying to accomplish."

Mr. Huang, seeing some sense in Zhu San's questions, showed a bit more patience: "Because he is the chief official of the Ministry of Justice and also a former undercover agent."

"Eh?"

"Don't you understand? Handling criminal cases is within his jurisdiction, and he was also involved in the cases of substituting death row inmates that were reported to the capital. His name was on the documents, he made the judgments, and the prisoners were identified under his watch. It was only discovered just before execution that a switch had occurred! It was a slap in the face for him under broad daylight. How could he tolerate that?"

The subsequent strict and swift actions are partly due to the guilt of the local officials involved and partly to his outrage.

Regarding the witchcraft case, it involved two wives of Chancellor Chen. His first wife, who was of equal social status and his primary spouse, died quickly after her family was implicated in a major scandal. Their eldest son, affected by the scandal, returned to his hometown. Chen's second wife bore him another son, whom Chen reported as his heir.

As fortunes turned, the first wife's family regained power and was exonerated. Thus, by the principle of primogeniture, the son of the first wife was the rightful heir. After failing to obstruct this through other means, the son of the second wife resorted to a desperate measure – witchcraft, hiring a group of Taoists and shamans to curse and attempt to kill the son of the first wife.

Mr. Huang continued: "These matters concern those above us and are not ours to question. The imperial envoy is close to the emperor, and Chancellor Chen is a key official. It's only natural for the envoy to take a closer look on behalf of the emperor. But you're right, we should avoid provoking his taboos."

Zhu San, having learned what she wanted to know, declined Mr. Huang's offer of silver, saying: "We still have enough for immediate expenses. Taking your money without my mother's knowledge might lead to her reproach."

Mr. Huang, not insisting, quickly departed with his companions.

………………

Returning to her room, Zhu San found Yu Miao Miao staring blankly on the bed, Flower Sister holding her hand with a worried look, and Zhang Xian Gu staring at her daughter, biting back whatever she wanted to say.

Just now, Zhang Xian Gu angrily remarked, "Debt collector! Getting too capable!" But Flower Sister retorted, "It's good that Zhu San is becoming capable. If she weren't, our days would be even harder." This left Zhang Xian Gu speechless. Now, with Zhu San's return, all three women looked her way.

"Why are all of you staring at me?" Zhu San, actually seething with anger, couldn't help but laugh in frustration. Zhang Xian Gu, worried by her unusual demeanor, blurted out insensitively, "Have you gone mad or dumb? What's so funny?"

Flower Sister tried to calm the situation: "We're all anxious here, with no ill intentions. If we delay, whom can our cousin and Uncle Zhu rely on?"

Zhang Xian Gu dismissively said, "Whatever!" Despite her words, she couldn't help worrying about her husband and the burden Zhu San might face from being too involved in the rescue efforts.

Having cried earlier, Yu Miao Miao now tearfully asked, "Zhu San, what did Mr. Huang say?" Zhu San recounted the conversation.

Yu Miao Miao declared, "We can't wait. Let's go back, sell the house, the land, anything to gather more money. Without securing the funds, I'll be restless. Even if not another two hundred coins, we must gather another hundred. Zhu San, let's head back..."

Yu Miao Miao, not poor, had her wealth tied up in real estate, lands, and heirlooms. With two hundred coins already conned from her, fetching another two hundred in cash meant borrowing or selling assets.

Zhang Xian Gu advised, "Madam, maybe reconsider? Can we afford this expense?"

Yu Miao Miao insisted, "People matter most. My lapse in judgment led to the scam, delaying the matters of Ah Ping and Zhu San's father. Don't worry, I'll contribute to your family's cause too, not letting Zhu San work in vain."

"Madam, be clear! When did we ever covet your wealth? The marriage proposal was your initiative, not our desperate plea! We've kept our distance; how you spend your money is up to you, we've never said a word!"

"My husband's case needs only ten coins; I'd sell everything to get it, twenty coins, I'd beg on the streets. Beyond that, I wouldn't spend a penny on him! I'd rather cut grass from the back hill, weave a mat, and wrap him for burial! Spare me your words; I hardly count on you now, with your nephew's case unresolved, how could you possibly worry about my deadbeat husband?" Zhang Xian Gu, vividly gesticulating, was genuinely infuriated!

Flower Sister tried to pacify, "Let's not speak in anger."

Frustrated, Zhang Xianmu lamented to Flower Sister, "We're so poor we can't afford our lives. We might scrape together twenty guan at most; beyond that, we're not worth spending money on to save!"

She grabbed Zhu Three, saying, "This child is priceless to me. You're using her to boost courage and as a shield. Why else follow the prison cart here? If we encounter robbers, I won't lament lost money, but my child is irreplaceable!"

Yu Miaomiao reassured her, "Sister, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that I'm more familiar with handling the money. I understand your concern for your child. Isn't Zhu Three also my child? But now, with Ah Ping and Zhu Three's father gone, who do we lean on? Even if we return and shut ourselves away, can we truly live in peace?"

Zhang Xianmu became disheartened, "Yes, we need someone to rely on..."

Flower Sister softly called out, "Zhu Three?"

Zhu San silently grimaced. So, her father and Yu Ping, the pillars of their respective families, relied upon!

Yet now, not only could neither be someone else's support, but it was those outside who needed to come to their rescue. Among these outsiders, Yu Miaomiao had been the most proactive, yet now she seemed dispirited.

Mr. Huang's words unexpectedly resurfaced, "Only those who can truly handle affairs are genuinely reliable!"

"Who relies on whom, eh?" Zhu San mused. "It's just so-so!"

The invisible rope that had been binding her lately snapped inch by inch.

"Old Three?"

Zhu San stood up, stating, "It's dark now, we can't leave. I'll have a plan by dawn."

Hua Jie called out again, "Zhu San?"

Zhu San said, "I won't neglect you all."

It seems I have to be the one to act... Zhu San thought.