Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Meanwhile, in Zhang Shiqiu's courtyard, agonizing groans echoed intermittently.

Last night, Zhang Shiqiu returned home, his leg inexplicably broken. The pain was so excruciating that he fainted, lying at the doorstep for four hours. It wasn't until a neighbor discovered him and helped knock on the door that he was finally brought inside.

His hands and feet were severely frostbitten, and the injured leg, left untreated, had turned a ghastly purplish-blue from the cold. The physician who examined him declared amputation necessary.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shiqiu erupted in a furious rage, cursing the physician as an incompetent quack. How could he possibly take the imperial examinations without a leg? He screamed that he might as well be dead!

The physician, thoroughly incensed, shook his sleeves and stormed out, leaving Scholar Zhang's parents utterly bewildered and helpless.

Zhang's father wailed, "Who could be so heartless as to break my son's leg for no reason?"

"It's him, it must be him!" Zhang Shiqiu struggled to rise, attempting to get out of bed.

"Lie down quickly! You mustn't move that leg now!"

"It must be Chen Qingyan who sent someone to break my leg! He wants to ruin my chances at the imperial examinations, but he won't succeed!"

Zhang's mother gasped, startled. "Who is Chen Qingyan? Why would he break your leg?"

"He's jealous that I passed the county-level imperial examination to become a *xiucai*. He cheated and got caught, so he can’t take the exams anymore. Now he wants to ruin my chances too! Dad, go report this to the authorities, quickly! Have him arrested!"

"Alright, alright, I’ll go right now. You lie down and rest…"

Zhang's father hurried to the *yamen*, just as Huang San was emerging with a few *yamen* runners for their patrol.

"Officers, please have mercy! I beg you to help my son!"

"Old sir, please rise. What happened?"

Zhang's father, flustered and inarticulate, could only stammer about his son’s broken leg. Huang San, understanding the gist, took his men to the Zhang residence.

As soon as Scholar Zhang saw the *yamen* runners, he burst into tears, pleading, "I beg you, officers, to help me seek justice!"

"Take your time and tell us what happened."

Scholar Zhang then recounted an embellished version of the previous night’s events. "I am a *xiucai*, and I was supposed to take the provincial-level examinations next year. But he… he had my leg broken, ruining my future! I’d rather he just killed me!"

Scholar Zhang’s parents wept bitterly, wiping away their tears. Though Huang San felt a pang of pity, his sympathies secretly lay with the Chen family. After all, he had dealt with Wang Ying several times and found the man straightforward and generous. Having received kindness from him, Huang San was naturally inclined to favor them.

"You say it was someone from the Chen family who broke your leg. Do you have any proof?"

"It was too dark last night—I couldn’t see what the person looked like. But I’m certain it was someone from the Chen family!"

"Without evidence, you’re just making baseless accusations!"

Zhang Shiqiu, startled, quickly added, "I’ve only ever had conflicts with Chen Qingyan! No one else would do something so cruel!"

"Then tell me the reason for your conflict with him."

Zhang Shiqiu repeated his familiar story: that Chen Qingyan was jealous of him for passing the *xiucai* exam, falsely accused him of hiding copying notes in his brush, and even punched him.

After hearing this, Huang San said, "This is just your side of the story. I’ll need to go to the Chen family to get their account. We’ll discuss it further once I have a clearer picture."

Leaving the Zhang residence, Huang San went straight to the Chen family home. When he arrived, Wang Ying was teaching Li Shi, Chen Rong, and a few children how to play leaf cards.

Wang Ying had drawn the cards himself; the game was similar to mahjong but simpler, something he had learned as a child by watching his grandmother play.

The gatekeeper suddenly reported, "Someone from the *yamen* is here. He wants to see our young master."

Wang Ying’s heart sank, and he quickly stood up. "I’ll go see."

Li Shi and Chen Rong also wanted to come out, but Wang Ying stopped them. "It’s cold outside—no need for you to come out. Qingyan and I will handle it."

"Alright."

When they reached the front courtyard’s reception room, Wang Ying ordered a servant to bring hot tea. "Third Master, happy Lunar New Year."

"Shopkeeper Wang, happy Lunar New Year to you too." Huang San smiled, stood up, and cupped his hands in greeting.

Soon, Chen Qingyan also arrived, and they exchanged greetings.

"May I ask what brings you here today, Third Master?"

Huang San replied, "There is indeed an important matter. This morning, someone reported to the authorities that his leg was broken by someone from your family. I came specifically to ask if there’s any truth to this."

Chen Qingyan was taken aback and asked, "Who said this?"

"The person’s surname is Zhang. He’s a *xiucai*."

"Zhang Shiqiu?!"

Huang San nodded. "That’s the one."

"His leg was broken?"

"Yes, it happened last night."

Chen Qingyan glanced uncertainly at Wang Ying, then immediately shook his head. "This wasn’t done by us! I did have a conflict with him before, but he framed me first. If I wanted revenge, I would’ve done it right after returning from the county-level imperial examination. Why would I wait so long?"

"I don’t believe what he’s saying either, but given his status, I had no choice but to come and bother you."

Wang Ying added, "Our servants were given leave a few days ago and have returned to the estate to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Only the gatekeeper Lin Zai and Uncle Chen are left here. You’ve met them—one is old, the other young. Who among them would have the ability to break his leg?"

Huang San nodded. "It really doesn’t seem like something you would do. I’ll go back and inquire further."

The two saw him off, and Wang Ying had Uncle Chen bring four boxes of pastries for Huang San.

"Oh, this is too much! I can’t come empty-handed and leave with gifts."

Wang Ying said, "It’s the Lunar New Year, and we’ve troubled you to make this trip. These aren’t expensive—just something for you and your men to enjoy."

The *yamen* runners all chuckled. The pastry boxes cost at least fifty *wen* each, a significant amount, so the trip wasn’t for nothing.

After they left, Chen Qingyan grabbed Wang Ying’s hand and hurried him along to the backyard. Once inside the room, he cautiously bolted the door. "A-Ying, was this your doing?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don’t lie to me. Was it you or not?"

Wang Ying lowered his eyes. "Yes. I couldn’t stand how he kept mistreating you."

"You… why didn’t you discuss it with me? How could you do something like this…"

"He’s harmed you again and again. Should we just keep putting up with it? If we repay good with good, how do we repay malice?"

Chen Qingyan held his hand and said, "I’m not blaming you—I’m worried about you. If this were discovered, you could be punished by law!"

Wang Ying happily stood on tiptoe to kiss Chen Qingyan, realizing the guy was worried about him—his risk-taking for him wasn’t in vain.

"Don’t worry, even if he knows, he has no evidence. He harmed you so badly—breaking just one leg was letting him off lightly."

"Don’t do something like this again."

"Mm." Wang Ying also felt a pang of fear. After all, he wasn’t some vicious person; if the other party hadn’t gone too far, he wouldn’t have resorted to such measures.

Chen Qingyan sighed. Truthfully, when he heard Zhang Shiqiu had his leg broken, he felt a flicker of *schadenfreude*, but more than that, he felt helpless and sorrowful.

They could have been close scholar friends and classmates, yet it ended in mutual destruction...

*

After understanding both sides of the situation, Huang San went to the Zhang residence and informed them that the Chen family wasn’t responsible for the incident.

Most ancient investigations were like this—not as miraculous as portrayed in TV dramas. Without witnesses or evidence, cases often went unsolved, and the constables had no other options.

"No, impossible! It must have been them!" Zhang Shiqiu refused to believe it and even crawled off the bed to cling to Huang San’s leg. "Sir, I beg you, investigate carefully! You must help me seek justice!"

Huang San brusquely shook him off. "If you have evidence proving they did it, I’ll definitely help you seek justice. But with no witnesses or evidence, how can I help you?

Take my advice: don’t provoke the Chen family anymore. Chen Qingyan’s uncle is the Prefect of Laizhou. If you truly anger them, the consequences will be more than you can handle."

"So what if he’s a Prefect? Does having an official uncle mean they can trample on lives?!"

Seeing that his advice fell on deaf ears, Huang San waved his hand dismissively. "Then go beat the drum at the county *yamen*. We can’t help you."

After Huang San left, Zhang Shiqiu lay on the ground, weeping bitterly. His mother tried to help him up, but he harshly pushed her away.

"Get away from me!"

"What’s wrong with you? Lie on the ground if you want!" She was already upset—such awful business during the New Year celebration, and it was uncertain whether his leg could be saved. If it couldn’t, he would never be able to take the imperial exams again. Would those gifts need to be returned?

Clenching his fists, Zhang Shiqiu’s eyes filled with resentment. Knowing he couldn’t rely on his parents, he immediately thought of Lu Changan, clinging to this hope like a lifeline.

"Mother, go to the Lu residence at once!"

"What for?"

"Lu Changan is my close friend—he’ll definitely help me!"

Skeptical but obedient, Madam Zhang went to the Lu residence. To her surprise, the young master of the Lu family came, bringing a physician with him.

The moment they met, Lu Changan’s eyes welled up. "How… how did things come to this after just one day, Shiqiu?"

Tears streaming down his face, Zhang Shiqiu closed his eyes and shook his head, acting as if he didn't dare speak.

"Was it the Chen family? This is utterly outrageous!"

"Brother Lu, you mustn’t clash with them because of me! Chen Qingyan’s uncle is the Prefect of Laizhou. If we truly anger him, we’ll pay dearly for it!"

"Let’s not talk about that now. Let the physician examine your leg."

The doctor Lu Changan brought was more competent than the one the Zhang family had hired earlier. After a careful examination, he said, "The bone can be set, but the injury is too severe, and too much time has passed. Even after healing, I’m afraid you won’t be able to walk as before."

Meaning he'd be left with a limp even after healing. The Wu Dynasty prohibited people with disabilities from taking the imperial exams—in other words, he had lost all hope of pursuing an official career.

Zhang Shiqiu still refused to accept it. "Physician, please take a closer look! I’m a *xiucai*—I’m meant to take the provincial examinations!"

"The injury is too severe. Not even a miracle worker could fix it."

"Shiqiu, let the physician set your leg first. Don’t worry about anything else—I will definitely seek justice for you!"

Having his leg set was pure agony; Zhang Shiqiu nearly bit through the wooden chopstick in his mouth. In his heart, he wished he could make Chen Qingyan suffer a thousand cuts. From start to finish, he never reflected on how he had ended up in such a situation.

Upon returning home, Lu Changan immediately ordered his servants to prepare so he could go to the county *yamen* and file a grievance by beating the drum on Zhang Shiqiu’s behalf.

When Lu’s father learned of this, he summoned his son. "What are you thinking, stirring up trouble during New Year's?!"

"Father, Chen Dalang has crossed the line! Over some petty disagreement, he broke my friend’s leg! I must help seek justice for him!"

"You are not allowed to go!"

"Father..."

"I have no issue with your friendship with that Scholar Zhang, but I won’t allow you to make enemies of the Chen family over him! I’ve known Chen Xian for over thirty years. Though we’re not close, I know his character well. His wife and children are honest and kind—they would never do such a thing!"

"Father, you don’t know what happened." Lu Changan recounted the previous incidents between the two.

"Then you should stay out of it even more! You’ve only heard Scholar Zhang’s side—how do you know he isn’t lying?"

Lu Changan choked up. "Shiqiu wouldn’t lie to me."

Lu’s father snorted coldly. "Poverty breeds deceit—I’ve seen plenty of such people. Helping him set his leg is already going above and beyond. You are forbidden from associating with him from now on!"

"Yes, father..." Lu Changan agreed verbally, but in secret, he started spreading word about Chen Qingyan’s "wrongdoings," vowing to help Zhang Shiqiu get payback.