Chapter 112 Execution

Chapter 112: Execution

Only a few months had passed, yet Changping had undergone earth-shattering changes. As early as November, Song Tingzhou had brought the evidence to Shengjing, and the items he carried were secretly handed over to the Censorate office.

Censor-in-Chief Gou Zhengfang spent a sleepless night poring over two account books. After a long while, he carefully stored one of them away, wrote a lengthy memorial, and took the other to the morning court, where he directly brought the case before the sovereign.

He stepped forward, presenting the thick memorial. "Your Majesty, I, Gou Zhengfang, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, submit this memorial! I accuse Changping Prefect Wu Yong of the grave crime of embezzlement. Out of concern for the people, Your Majesty ordered the promotion of potato cultivation across the nation. Yet after four years, only Changping Prefecture has shown negligible results."

Another official stepped forward to defend him. "Your Majesty, please understand. Changping is located in the northern lands, where the climate is harsh and crops are extremely difficult to survive. Even in previous years, its grain output ranked near the bottom."

Gou Zhengfang seemed to have anticipated that someone would refute him. He retorted angrily, "Harsh climate in Changping? Are Jianping and Anping Prefectures, which are even further north than Changping, somehow blessed with spring-like weather all year? How is it that they both submitted progress reports on potato cultivation, yet Changping has shown no results for all these years!"

The kingdom had so many prefectures that, aside from the major ones like Fengtian, Lin'an, and Jianghuai, the King could not personally oversee each one. This gave some local officials room to exploit the system.

Had Changping not suffered a major disaster, Wu Yong might have continued his unchecked rule for many more years. At his position, even with support from his cousin at court, promotion without notable achievements was difficult. Moreover, he had long grown accustomed to being a local tyrant in Changping.

The reason he acted with such confidence was that his family belonged to the Wu clan of Heqi. As an established aristocratic family spanning over a century, the Wu clan had more than thirty members serving as officials, five of whom held ranks above the fourth level—among them Wu Yong.

Minister of Rites Wu Wei remained unflustered. In a slow tone, he argued, "Prefect Wu's administrative performance may indeed be mediocre, but he has served in Changping for six years. Though he lacks merit, he has worked hard. Even if he was somewhat slow in promoting potato cultivation, that is not the great crime of abusing power for personal gain that Lord Gou claims."

Gou Zhengfang was waiting for exactly this. He immediately presented the evidence he had gathered. "Your Majesty, I have physical evidence to submit. Out of benevolence toward the people, Your Majesty distributed potato seeds free of charge to the northern prefectures. Yet Wu Yong secretly withheld Changping's seeds and used this as a pretext to extort money from his subordinates. The accounts recorded that several county magistrates under Changping Prefecture presented gifts to Wu Yong under the guise of 'buying' potato seeds, paying ten silver taels per jin of seed!"

The potato seeds were first presented by officials of the Maritime Trade Supervisorate and had been trial-planted in the imperial estates. At that time, many other seeds were also brought back and planted, merely as a novelty crop. But unexpectedly, the yield was astonishing.

When the news reached the court, everyone knew this was a boon for both the state and the people. The King was overjoyed. Not only were the Maritime Trade Supervisorate heavily rewarded, but even the ordinary farmers on the imperial estates who had specifically planted potatoes were granted the title of Count Fuen—a meteoric rise from humble origins.

The northern regions had always had lower harvests than the south. When promoting potato cultivation, the King first introduced it in the north, then collected half of the northern seeds to promote in the south.

In the first year, the seeds distributed to the major northern prefectures were few, meant only for trial planting and saving seeds. Yet even these few seeds became an opportunity for Wu Yong to exploit.

The eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial received the evidence and presented it to the King. The sovereign flew into a towering rage. He immediately dismissed Wu Yong from his post and sent investigators to Changping for a thorough inquiry.

Among the princes, Prince Qin, the second in line, had always been close to the Wu family. At this critical moment, he wanted to avoid involvement but was unexpectedly appointed by the King to go to Changping and investigate the case.

Wu Wei had been rebuffed in the main hall. After the court session, he exchanged glances with Prince Qin Wenhui. Among the Censorate's censors were also men from the Wu family. After court, Wu Wei summoned them to his residence for a meeting.

"Did you hear nothing of this in the Censorate?" Wu Wei was inwardly furious. In his view, the potato seed issue was not a major matter, nor was bribery or corruption. But if Wu Yong's accounts had been leaked, he should have immediately sent word to the capital seeking help. Otherwise, he would not have been so passive at court today.

"Forgive me, uncle. Lord Gou has the Censorate under such tight control that the Right Censor-in-Chief is merely a figurehead. Both of the Vice Censors-in-Chief under him are also his men. Your nephew's rank is low and truly could not uncover anything."

The man spoke words of apology, but was hinting that he wanted Wu Wei to promote him.

Wu Wei toyed with an exquisitely crafted, smooth, and valuable jade pixiu in his hands, his voice carried an inherent authority that commanded respect. "These are troubled times. Once the storm passes, I will have Zhi'er arrange a transfer for you."

This meant that the Ministry of Personnel also had members of the Wu family, giving them immense influence. But cultivating a fourth-rank official cost the clan significant energy and resources. He was still considering whether to try to salvage Wu Yong's position.

The waters in Shengjing ran deep. The King was aging, while the princes were all in their prime.

In early February, Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang Zan and Prince Qin, who had finally learned the truth, returned to Shengjing.

To demonstrate his urgency in seeking an audience with the King, Wang Zan ordered his guards to first go to the Wang residence to fetch his official robes. He washed and changed in the carriage, then immediately went to the palace to meet the King.

It was a grand court session. Before all the civil and military officials, an exhausted Wang Zan knelt prostrate in the great hall, weeping as he spoke. "Your Majesty, the crimes of Wu Yong, Prefect of Changping, are clear. Three years ago, he falsely reported to the Ministry of Revenue that the dikes in Changping were dilapidated. But in reality, the funds allocated by the ministry all went into his own pockets.

The county magistrates under him followed suit, carrying out the dike repairs carelessly. Last summer, the dams in three counties were all destroyed by floods, leaving the people destitute.

To prevent exposure, he ordered the prefectural city sealed off and intimidated me. Fortunately, Yan Changsheng, the County Magistrate of Guqing, sacrificed himself, enabling me to send the accounts back to Shengjing!

When Prince Qin arrived last year, he opened the official granaries to relieve the victims and borrowed grain and cotton from neighboring Fengtian and Jianping Prefectures. In the freezing cold, the people were able to survive the harsh winter."

His memorial was twelve pages long. The casualties in the three counties were severe, yet the magistrates were feasting and carousing. The victims were reduced to exchanging their children for food, while thousands of jin of potato seeds rotted in the yamen's backyard.

The Guqing County magistrate was devoted to the nation and its people, yet his ultimate fate was to have his body posthumously flogged by Wu Yong. Each word in the memorial was gut-wrenching, as if the horrors were jumping off the page.

The King exploded in rage and threw the memorial, striking Wu Wei's black gauze cap.

Wu Wei knelt prostrate in the great hall, trembling, not daring to make a sound.

The ministers had thought the Censorate's impeachment of Wu Yong was about the potato seeds. Who would have imagined it also involved embezzlement and the murder of an Imperial Official?

"Prince Qin," the King said in a deep voice.

Prince Qin, standing at the front, knelt down, his face pale. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, your son..."

"You did well. You deserve to be rewarded. I grant you Changping as your fief. You will preside over the trial of Wu Yong." The sovereign's voice calmed.

Prince Qin was overwhelmed by this unexpected favor. At thirty-three, he was the eldest surviving prince after the early death of the eldest prince, but he was inherently timid and conflict-averse. He had been forced into this assignment. In reality, after arriving in Changping, the Governor-General of Liaodong and Wang Zan had handled everything, and he had been happy to stay out of trouble and not offend anyone.

Only later did he learn of the myriad crimes Wu Yong had committed, crimes warranting the extermination of his entire clan. Afraid of offending the Wu family, he had nearly lost his nerve.

But then Wang Zan returned and credited him with the achievements, and his father even granted him a fief—a heaven-sent blessing!

Just as Prince Qin began to feel relieved, Wang Zan dropped yet another bombshell. The mysterious account book regarding the salt trade had returned to his hands, and he presented it to the King at the opportune moment.

"Your Majesty, Wu Yong's crimes do not stop there! He secretly colluded with Imperial Merchant Zhu. The Zhu family privately excavated salt wells. As a prefectural governor, Wu Yong not only concealed this but also used his authority to help the Zhu family mix well salt into official salt and sell it throughout Changping Prefecture for profit!"

The entire court was stunned. Since the founding of the Yu Dynasty, this was the first time an official had dared to involve himself in the salt trade. Eyes discreetly darted toward Wu Wei, still kneeling at the front without daring to rise.

This was a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his clan!

Wu Wei said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, I beseech you. I knew nothing of this. Moreover, this matter is of great importance. Your Majesty should not rely solely on the words of Censor Wang!"

No wonder the messages he had sent to Changping before the new year had disappeared without a trace. It turned out it was not just about the potato seeds, but also natural disasters and the salt trade. Wang Zan was truly skilled, having managed to conceal this until now.

No—Wang Zan was a man of the Crown Prince. Could it be him?

Wu Wei, prostrate on the ground, turned his head slightly to look at the crimson figure standing at the front of the hall, embroidered with golden threads in the pattern of a four-clawed golden dragon. The Crown Prince stood motionless in the hall, like a towering mountain, majestic and unshakable.

Wang Zan tearfully accused, "Your Majesty is wise. I would never dare to falsely accuse an Imperial Official. Besides the accounts of correspondence between Wu Yong and Zhu Yu, I also have a human witness. Please allow Zhu Rui, the third son of the Zhu family, to come to the hall."

Wu Wei's heart trembled violently. He heard the sovereign above speak a single word: "Approved."

Third Master Zhu was brought into the throne hall by guards. No matter how shrewd this man usually was, he had never seen such a scene. Suppressing his trembling, he knelt with a heavy thud. "Your... Your Majesty, may you be well. I am a servant... a commoner named Zhu Rui, a concubine-born son of the Zhu family, ranked third. I originally knew nothing of Zhu Yu's private salt well excavation. I had already been separated from my fourth brother, until—"

—

The King was enraged by the salt affair. Wu Yong's death sentence was unavoidable. According to the law, he should have been punished by the extermination of nine generations of his clan. However, the Wu clan of Heqi was a powerful northern aristocratic family; when the late emperor raised his army, they had contributed grain and horses. In the end, Wu Yong was sentenced to death by dismemberment with five horses, and his three closest generations of relatives were executed. Nine of these relatives held official positions, including that 'Zhi'er' in the Ministry of Personnel, as well as members of Wu Yong's wife's clan.

On the eve of the metropolitan exam, Meng Wan received a letter from Huang Zheng. It detailed the series of events in Changping—Wu Yong's downfall, his clan's extermination, the execution of the master of Baojin Studio, the dissolution of the studio and its division among the other three establishments, and how Qingxiao Pavilion had also snapped up some spoils. However, Huang Zheng made it clear that he would not forgive and rehire those who had previously jumped ship.

Shocked, Meng Wan hurried to the front courtyard to find Song Tingzhou and showed him the letter.

"Such a major event, and it wasn't even reported in the gazette," Meng Wan said, gripping Song Tingzhou's sleeve, his fingers trembling.

Song Tingzhou pulled his sleeve free and held Meng Wan's cool hand. He quickly read through the letter with the other hand and said with mixed emotions, "This is how it had to end."

Meng Wan wrapped his arms around Song Tingzhou's waist, burying his face in his chest. He half-closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. "Lord Yan did not die for nothing."

——

On the eighth day of the second month, auspicious for: sacrifices, weddings, prayers, and coming-of-age ceremonies.

In the dead of night at the fourth watch, Mama Geng knocked lightly at the door. "Young Master, it's time to wake the Master."

Meng Wan had hardly slept all night. At Mama Geng's knock, he sat up straight. Song Tingzhou embraced him from behind, burying his face in Meng Wan's neck and pecking a few kisses.

"Let's get up." Meng Wan's mind was foggy; he left the warm bed and lit an oil lamp.

Song Tingzhou also got out of bed and tidied the bedding.

Mama Geng entered and bustled over. "Oh my, my Master, today is a big day—no need for you to do such chores!"

The maids behind her efficiently made the bed, and one tried to help Song Tingzhou change clothes, but he declined.

After washing up, Meng Wan personally fetched the basket and luggage from the study, taking everything out to recheck.

"Five brushes, two ink sticks, two inkstones, twenty sheets of rough paper, one straw mat, one fur blanket, one thin quilt, one copper pot, one wooden cup, one bowl and one pair of chopsticks, one kettle, twenty candles, two flints..."

Meng Wan checked each item carefully to ensure everything was complete, with no hidden compartments or tampering. Then he asked Mama Geng, "Mama, is the dough in the kitchen ready? I'll go make some pancakes."

It was bitterly cold outside. Mama Geng fetched a thick cloak for him. "I told them to knead the dough when I got up. Xue Sheng is watching over it."

Meng Wan put on the cloak and saw Song Tingzhou washing up inside. He instructed Mama Geng, "Mama, don't follow me. Keep an eye on these things I've organized—don't let anyone touch them. I'll be right back."

He braved the cold wind into the kitchen, where Xue Sheng was indeed watching. Meng Wan was a suspicious person; since it was food Song Tingzhou would take into the examination hall, if he was around, he had to do it himself.

He kneaded the dough carefully, rolled it into thin sheets, spread a bit of lard, salt, and chopped scallions, then rolled them up and cooked them in a pan over low heat. Meng Wan made thirty pancakes in total, carefully wrapping twenty-five in oil paper and placing the remaining five on a plate. He also cooked a pot of thick congee and twenty eggs.

The congee and the five pancakes were for Song Tingzhou to eat now. The eggs and wrapped pancakes were to be taken into the examination hall, where he would stay for nine days. He wasn't sure if they would be enough.

However, based on Song Tingzhou's experience in the provincial exam last time, he hadn't had much of an appetite in the tiny examination cell.

At home, Song Tingzhou only drank half a bowl of congee and ate one pancake, then picked up the basket and boarded the carriage. Meng Wan followed and sat beside him, meticulously checking the contents of the basket again.

"When you're in line, be careful of others—don't let anyone tamper with anything."

A faint warmth and resignation appeared on Song Tingzhou's brow. "Wan'er, don't worry. If you're bored, you can invite Nie Fulang to keep you company. I'll be back in nine days."

Meng Wan had gotten up early and had too much on his mind, so the bumpy carriage ride made him lightheaded. He leaned lightly on Song Tingzhou's shoulder and replied softly, "Mm, focus on answering the questions in the examination hall. Don't worry about me. I'll stay home, refusing all visitors, and won't go anywhere."