Chapter 62

Ji Xing hurriedly said that the Commissioner’s affairs were surely serious matters, and added that all those dirty things Young Lord Lian mentioned, even if they forced their lord to do them, he would never be able to.

Lian Xiusheng asked no further, gave Ji Xing a cup of tea to drink, and had Man Cai give him a few silver coins before sending him off.

Afterward, Lian Xiusheng put away his brush and paper, called for Jin Cai, and said, “It rained ceaselessly a few days ago, and my teacher caught a chill. Since Third Brother is not at home, I might as well go visit my teacher.”

“Should we bring anything?” Man Cai pressed.

Jin Cai turned back and said, “There’s the Fujian Luoyuan tea that His Majesty bestowed upon the young master in the storehouse. Go pack some.”

Man Cai tilted his head. “Since when does this junior servant call the shots in our courtyard?”

Lian Xiusheng was too lazy to pay attention to the two of them, and even less inclined to settle their dispute. He simply ordered Man Cai to fetch the tea.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, from leaving home to just stepping out, the rain began again. Lian Xiusheng was in his sedan chair, but seeing the rain was too heavy, he had Jin Cai fetch two umbrellas. They would walk the remaining stretch. Jin Cai said, “Young master, it’s better to stay seated in the sedan chair. I think this rain won’t last long.”

Lian Xiusheng insisted on walking. Jin Cai couldn’t talk him out of it. After taking the umbrellas from the chest, he stepped down from the carriage first. Standing on the ground, with one umbrella tucked under his arm and the other already opened, he held it up for Lian Xiusheng as he descended. The moment his feet touched the ground, the hem of Lian Xiusheng’s wide-sleeved Daoist robe became soaked. He had Jin Cai hand him the tea, worried it might get damp, so he tucked it into his own clothes.

Both men knew some martial arts and walked faster than most, but the rain was truly torrential. By the time they arrived, both were drenched through.

Ye Xin received them first. “My father’s illness is not serious. Why did you have to come in the rain?”

He handed Lian Xiusheng a handkerchief, and seeing him pull out the intact package of tea from his bosom, he said, even more exasperated, “If my father knew the tea was delivered this way, he’d never dare mention his love for tea again.”

Lian Xiusheng merely smiled. He took off his net cap. A young servant from the Ye household came forward to wipe his hair and change his clothes, but he gently declined.

Ye Xin knew his aloof nature and waved the servants away. “Don’t bother with him. He has too many quirks. You two, find some clothes for Jin Cai to change into, and bring two bowls of hot ginger tea.”

“There’s no need for such trouble. I came to pay respects to my teacher, and instead I’ve added to your burdens.” Lian Xiusheng’s hair was still wet, so he loosely pinned it up with a bamboo hairpin.

After a short while, a little girl of seven or eight ran in. She had a pair of small hair buns and wore a new green Willow-leaf Spring Swallow patterned cross-collared long robe and a white silk cloud-patterned horse-face skirt. She entered, called out crisply, “Father,” and then curtsied to Lian Xiusheng, saying, “Sixth Maternal Uncle.” The Ye family’s Second Brother had married the Lian family’s Fourth Miss, so Ye Xin’s daughter followed the same courtesy as her cousin-in-law, addressing her maternal aunt’s brother as uncle.

Ye Xin doted especially on his eldest daughter. He let out a sound of delight, lifted the girl onto his lap, looked at her, then at the elegantly upright Lian Xiusheng, and suddenly said, “Xiu Sheng, since you’re not yet married, how about betrothing you to my eldest daughter?”

Lian Xiusheng was adjusting his clothes and replied, “Nonsense.” Then he added, “I already have someone in my heart.”

Ye Xin was astonished. “Which family’s daughter? Why have I never heard you mention her?”

“Not a daughter. A man.” Lian Xiusheng said it frankly, but did not reveal the person’s name. “He knows my feelings and is very unwilling, so I told him it was a misunderstanding. He believed me for now. After everything is settled, I will tell you in detail.”

Ye Xin covered his daughter’s ears, shook his head, and sighed. “You should speak to him properly. He might not refuse you. Why deceive him?”

“Able to act as if unable, use as if not using.” Lian Xiusheng glanced at Ye Xin. “If our teacher knew you were this naive, his illness might not get better.”

“......”

“Once you’re ready, I’ll take you to see my father.”

The rain came down in thick, steady strands, eaves dripped like curtains.

Ye Xin, always afraid of his stern father, only escorted Lian Xiusheng to the door of the chamber and then returned, leaving Lian Xiusheng to go in and pay his respects alone.

Grand Secretary Ye, named Ye Jie, had just passed his fiftieth birthday a year ago, but he looked older than his years, perhaps because he was perpetually unsmiling. When Lian Xiusheng entered to kowtow in greeting, Ye was sitting upright at the table reading, his expression solemn and imposing.

“Your eldest son sent word that you were coming; I didn’t believe it,” Ye Jie said, rising from his chair and walking around the table to help the young man up. He coughed a few times and listened to the rain outside the window. “With such heavy rain, I’ve put you to the trouble of coming.”

“Your student was worried about you, Teacher. Besides, the weather was fine when I left home; it only started pouring when I was on the way. I took it as a test from Heaven—I had to come and see you no matter what.” Lian Xiusheng, knowing what to do, went to the table to boil water and make tea for Ye Jie. “His Majesty bestowed some Fujian bud tea on your student, and I thought it a good opportunity to brew it for you with fresh water.”

Ye Jie took a few books from the bookshelf. “Smooth words are of little use. The sea of learning is boundless. I’ll give you these books; take them home and study them carefully.” After speaking, he asked, “Do you know that His Majesty is about to take action against Censor Song’s family?”

Lian Xiusheng said no.

“This morning, His Majesty summoned the Censorate for a meeting. He said that recently many censors had submitted memorials complaining that building the Xielu Hall consumed too much manpower and resources, and asked whether the Censorate had objections to Crown Prince Jiao. The Censorate was silent, until Censor Song stepped forward, pointed his tablet at His Majesty, and shouted, ‘We have no objection to the late crown prince; we have objections to Your Majesty!’ His Majesty was furious, though he did not reprimand him at the time.”

“Later, the Ministry of Justice informed me that His Majesty had summoned Meng Chong for a private meeting. As for the things Meng Chong has done over the years, even if you and I don’t know nine or ten out of ten, we know five or six. He bends to the emperor’s will to amuse His Majesty.” Ye Jie sighed. “I suspect Censor Song’s family will not end well.”

Lian Xiusheng listened and said calmly, “Censor Song acted rashly in his remonstrance, offended the emperor’s dignity. Dying for his crime would not be excessive. Why sigh for him, Teacher?” He finished brewing the tea and respectfully handed it to Ye Jie.

Ye Jie took the teacup, looked at the tea, wanted to drink, but put it down. “Fourteen years ago, the case of Crown Prince Jiao’s old officials implicated thousands. It started with heavy rain like today, and only stopped when the thousands had been killed. A Confucian scholar wrote an article saying the rain was a sign from Heaven: if the rebels were allowed to live, they would drown the Great Yao, and praised His Majesty’s sage wisdom. Xiu Sheng, what do you think of such articles, and of this rain today?”

Lian Xiusheng poured a cup of hot tea for himself as well, sat down on an armchair, his brows clear and his expression warm. After thinking, he replied, “Your student does not understand celestial phenomena well, so I cannot judge rashly. But His Majesty’s sage wisdom is indeed correct.”

Ye Jie could not help laughing loudly. “I think you might have something to say to Meng Chong and his ilk as well.”

Lian Xiusheng just smiled in agreement, neither confirming nor denying.

“The Northern Court of the Embroidered Uniform Guard handles cases! All unrelated persons, stay away!”

-

“Open the door quickly!”

It was raining, so torches could not be lit. In the dark night, only the blades of the waist knives held in the hands gleamed. Everyone wore round hats and straw rain capes, their murderous intent fierce. Two horses slowly appeared behind, one before the other, and stopped in front of the Song residence. Beneath one round hat was a face full of sorrow; even the two bright red moles on the left cheek seemed dim.

Qiao Yuer came over and asked loudly, “Sir, shall I go knock on the door now?”

Lian Cheng did not speak. Lou Lan was beside him. “Go ahead, but remember, today we are here to arrest, and we must not harm anyone.”

Qiao Yuer took three steps as if two, nimble as a monkey, and leaped onto the steps. Just as he was about to knock, a loud clang came from inside the gate, and then the door slowly opened by itself. What met the eyes of the cavalry was not a gatekeeper or servant, but a coffin.

Seven or eight servants carried the heavy coffin to the gate and set it down heavily. All wore uncommon white linen shirts, and half of them had red-rimmed eyes.

Lian Cheng’s heart pounded heavily at the sight of the coffin, and his eyelids twitched. He gripped the reins tightly. Qiao Yuer read his expression and shouted, “Please ask Lord Song to come out and meet us!”

“Has my father not already met you?” A woman’s voice came from inside the gate. Song Fangyu walked out, her head covered with linen, wearing sackcloth. Her hands were clasped, her eyes red and full of resentment.

“You honored officials want to arrest someone? My father’s corpse is in the coffin. Take it if you will. If you don’t believe me, open the coffin and verify!” Song Fangyu was weeping and choking. “My father served as an official for over thirty years, wore cloth and ate vegetables, left no surplus wealth. His wife and daughters wear plain clothes and silver hairpins. He offended countless colleagues with his outspokenness and angered His Majesty by remonstrating. He died with his aspirations unfulfilled, but he does not regret it—” Song Fangyu could not swallow the anger in her throat. Her eyes seemed to bulge out as she shouted, “Today, the Son of Heaven acts capriciously and abnormally; at the slightest displeasure, he resorts to knives and saws. He values the name of brotherhood but has no brotherly feelings. He builds palaces to extort wealth, plunging the realm into misery, the people unable to live! Now the emperor holds the world, yet the people have not a single peck of grain. The calamity of Dayao’s downfall is not far off! Today we die; tomorrow the history books will be iron and will wash away our grievances!”

With that, she wailed, “Father! Mother! Your daughter is coming to join you in the underworld!”

“Stop her!” Lian Cheng shouted.

But it was too late. Song Fangyu collided with a pillar, blood flowing everywhere. Before Lian Cheng could dismount to check on her, one of the coffin-bearing servants pulled a short knife from his sleeve and stabbed at a nearby officer.

With a swish, a cold flash. The officer, accustomed to killing, instinctively plunged his knife into the servant’s chest and abdomen. When he realized what he had done, he had already pushed the man to the ground.

After a moment of helplessness, he became indifferent. Killing a criminal’s family member by mistake was no big deal. Just as he thought this, he was kicked hard in the back. Thinking it was one of the other servants seeking revenge, he scrambled up to defend himself. When he raised his knife and looked, it was the Commissioner of his own office.

Commissioner Lian was the most good-natured in the office. Though a rich young master favored by the emperor, he never acted arrogantly because of it; he was always smiling with everyone. But now his face was as cold as frost, sending chills to the heart. The officer who killed knelt down, his legs weak. A voice without any warmth came from above: “Lord Song is guilty, but that should be determined by the law of the land. You think you’re something special, overriding the law?”

Lian Cheng did not punish him on the spot. He told him to get up and go to one side. First, he checked the servant; he was already dead. Then he checked Song Fangyu; she still had breath. So he immediately relaxed his expression, called over a few servants to carry her inside, and sent for a doctor to treat her. After arranging everything, Ji Xing came over and asked whether they should still make the arrest.

“Arrest? Will you carry this coffin?!” After saying this, Lian Cheng nearly cried. He wished he could lie on the coffin and wail. Damn feudalism—he really didn’t want to work this job for a single day longer.

Lou Lan said from behind, “Send a few men to guard the Song residence, to prevent the rest from escaping. I’ll go to the palace first and ask His Majesty’s opinion before reporting back to you.”

Half of the Embroidered Uniform Guard withdrew, leaving half to guard the Song residence’s gates. The Lian residence was just across the street, but Lian Cheng passed it ten times without entering. Finally, he stepped into the Song courtyard and went with the doctor to see Song Fangyu. He waited outside the room. Ji Xing and Qiao Yuer stood on either side. They exchanged glances. Finally, Qiao Yuer stepped forward and said to Lian Cheng, “Sir, Chiliarch Wu sent word earlier. What should be done with the officer who killed the servant?”

“Lock him in the imperial prison. Judge according to the law.” Lian Cheng was restless. “Do I even need to ask?”

Qiao Yuer wiped the rain off his forehead. "Are you afraid, sir, because this is your first time making an arrest?"

Lian Cheng let out a cold snort. "I am afraid—afraid of retribution. Aren't you?"

Qiao Yuer didn't quite understand. Why would carrying out the emperor's will bring retribution? Shouldn't it lead to promotion?

Before long, a young boy in hemp clothes was led across the corridor by an old maidservant. The maidservant's face was pale, marked by both grief and fear. As they approached, Ji Xing quickly stood up to block Lian Cheng, suspecting ill intent. Lian Cheng pulled him aside, saying this was Song Fangyu's younger brother, Ming-ge.

Song Fangming came over, first bowing to Lian Cheng, then greeting Ji Xing and Qiao Yuer. "Greetings, sirs."

Then, bowing again to Lian Cheng, he choked out, "Brother Cheng, is my sister dead too?"

Lian Cheng found it hard to speak, but just then the doctor emerged, saying Miss Song had regained consciousness.

Song Fangyu only asked to see Lian Cheng and Song Fangming. The old maidservant reluctantly handed her young master to Lian Cheng, trembling with fear. Seeing her fear, Lian Cheng said softly, "Madam may fear the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but surely not Third Lang of the Lian family?"

Inside the room, the siblings met and wept in each other's arms. After crying, Song Fangyu wiped her tears with a handkerchief and said to Lian Cheng, "Forgive my tears." Lian Cheng stood at the foot of the bed, giving a thumbs-up. "Sister is a heroine among women. We petty men admire you deeply."

Song Fangyu managed a faint smile and said in a low voice, "Last evening, someone sent a letter to my father, and he knew disaster was imminent. He immediately prepared to send me, my mother, my little brother, the nanny, maids, and servants away to safety. But my mother refused to leave if my father stayed, saying it wouldn't be easy for dozens of us to slip out of the capital suddenly."

"Let's skip what happened in between. But seeing you today, I feel much relieved. Third Brother Lian is a kind-hearted gentleman—even as a hawk and hound, he is gentle and benevolent. He would surely grant my family a dignified end. Had it been someone else, I wouldn't be so sure."

Lian Cheng frowned sympathetically. "Though your parents are gone, you still have your brother. Endure a few years until he grows up; he can revive the Song family's fortunes. The future is long."

Song Fangyu wept. "The current emperor is young and strong, far more vigorous than most youths. How long must I wait? And after the reckless words I spoke today on behalf of the Song family, how could he ever let us off?"

Lian Cheng paused in thought, then slowly sat down on the stool at the foot of the bed. After a moment of calm reflection, he said, "Sister, would you care to take a gamble?"

"How?" she asked.

"The emperor cares about his reputation. He leaves everything to Meng Chong to handle. Even the censors only impeach his ministers, never criticizing him. Today you pointed out his faults, and you yelled it at the gate. By dawn, the words will spread throughout the capital. As they say, 'words can be deadly.' I think he might be afraid," Lian Cheng said with a faint smile. "If he is afraid, then things will be easier for you and your brother. The more afraid he is, the better your lives will be."

Song Fangyu hugged Song Fangming tightly. "But how can these words spread? The city is full of eyes and ears. If you act and it implicates you, I..."

"Fewer ears and eyes means the words won't reach the emperor. As for how to spread them, let me find someone to discuss it first. Just tell me whether you're willing to take this gamble."

Song Fangyu nodded without hesitation. "At worst I'll die anyway. I'm willing."

Lian Cheng smiled. "Since we have a plan, sister, don't think about dying anymore. Take good care of your health and raise your little brother well. You never know—lots of good days might be ahead."

Later, when Lian Cheng was about to leave, Song Fangyu tried to get out of bed to thank him deeply, but he declined. After stepping out, knowing the Song family was poor, he took silver from his sleeve and paid the doctor. Handing the prescription to the old maidservant at the door, he said, "Get the medicine without delay. I'll have Huqiu deliver the money to you." The maidservant was overcome with gratitude and tried to kowtow, but Lian Cheng stopped her.

In the courtyard pavilion, Lian Cheng sent Ji Xing and Qiao Yuer to find places to rest. He waited alone for four hours until Lou Lan arrived with an imperial decree, saying it would be proclaimed the next morning at the Song family gate, at the busiest time. Lian Cheng took the decree and was stunned, then overjoyed. He hadn't expected that he and Song Fangyu would succeed right out of the gate!

Delighted, Lian Cheng hugged Lou Lan with great gusto. "Commander Lou, thank you for your hard work. Without you, this decree might not have come down."

Lou Lan remained indifferent and unmoved, allowing himself to be swayed back and forth without any change in expression. He only said, "I saw your sixth brother at the gate."

Lian Cheng's expression froze. "You ran into him?"

"He came in a carriage. When he saw me, he asked about your whereabouts. I said you were probably home and already asleep."

"...Oh no, oh no!"

Lian Cheng's face changed drastically. He stamped his feet twice, completely losing his commissioner's dignity. "Lou Lan, you've ruined me!" With that, he grabbed the waist knife from the stone table and ran off like a ghost was after him.