Chapter 72

Chapter 72: The Seventy-Second Return

After a bumpy ride home, Lian Feng was drenched in sweat. As he got off the carriage, he told Lian Pu that he would have craftsmen build larger carriages and sedan chairs. Lian Cheng followed closely, lifting the curtain, and Zhang Ailian came running out from the Song family's gate across the street, with Qing Zhu lightly supporting her from behind.

"Mother!" Lian Cheng saw that although she was wearing an ornate hair bun and embroidered clothes, she could not hide her haggardness. His eyes stung, and for once he was sentimental, instinctively wanting to give his mother a big hug.

Lian Feng tugged him from behind, quietly reminding him to mind his manners. Lian Cheng immediately reacted, knelt and kowtowed, and Zhang Ailian helped him up.

"My son, you've lost weight... you've suffered so much." Zhang Ailian wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

Just as the Lian family's carriage arrived home, Eunuch Chen from the palace came with an oral decree to deliver to Lian Cheng. It was generally about the matters discussed at court. Lian Cheng heard that he had been promoted again, and in a daze he thanked the imperial grace. Facing Eunuch Chen's fawning old face, he showed little reaction, only being led dazed to sit before a table of wine and food.

The meal was still being held at the Song family's residence. After several cups of wine, Lian Cheng suddenly stood up. "Hell, Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! A big official!"

Fortunately, only family members were at the table, and no one faulted him for being improper. They thought he was just carried away by his success and spoke words of caution about high office bringing worry and high salary bringing fear, meant to sober him up.

There were seven people at the table. Besides the main guest Lian Cheng, there were the family head Lian Pu and his wife Zhang Ailian, the two brothers Lian Feng and Lian Ying, Lian Xiusheng, and Old Master Guan Lian was also seated.

Next to the funeral shed, separated by a curtain, a stage had been set up with several performers performing an opera. They were performing the fourth act of Guan Hanqing's *Lord Guan Goes to the Single Sword Meeting Alone*. Lian Cheng, normally carefree, had a mind full of swirling thoughts. He leaned close to Lian Xiusheng's ear and hummed along: "It is your three-inch tongue that offends my three-foot iron blade. This sword feasts on the heads of generals and drinks the blood of enemies."

Lian Xiusheng, under the table, squeezed his third brother's hand that rested on his knee.

"Stop touching me, brother," Lian Cheng said, not minding it. He picked up his wine cup and drank, then pricked up his ears when Old Master Guan Lian began to speak.

"It seems the Emperor is set on making you vie with Meng Chong," the old master said, then added, "But be careful. Meng Chong works exclusively for the Emperor. I fear the Emperor himself has no intention of removing Meng Chong, only to give him a warning. If so, Lian Cheng, you must not—and cannot—be too confrontational with him. Stop at the right point to satisfy the Emperor."

Lian Cheng gnawed on a goose leg and nodded repeatedly. "Teacher is absolutely right."

Guan Lian couldn't bear to look at him, thinking that wine and meat had muddled his judgment on that snowy night when he accepted this foolish young man as his student. He turned his attention to speaking with Lian Pu.

Lian Pu was both happy and worried. "The Emperor is confused. If he wants to warn Meng Chong, there are countless talents at court. Why pick my son?"

Lian Feng said, "The Lian family has been loyal and virtuous for generations. Third brother is truly the best choice."

Hearing this, Lian Cheng sneaked a glance at his father and sixth brother's expressions. The former was unfazed, like a man with too many worries, thick-skinned on the outside but solid inside; the latter showed no sign of displeasure. He looked back at his elder brother, who was shamelessly bragging about himself.

"The urgent matter now is to handle the case from last night. Just catch the culprit, and third brother can completely clear his name," Lian Xiusheng said.

Lian Cheng still didn't know what had happened the night before. Lian Ying gave him a brief account, and Lian Cheng almost dropped his wine cup. He said incredulously, "So I was released because the one who killed the prison captain is still out there committing crimes?"

"Exactly," Lian Feng said, frowning. "On the way to the prison to pick you up, Father, Sixth Brother, and I kept discussing the case. There are too many doubts. If the culprit was jealous of the Lian family, why kill an innocent captain and six young masters from official families in Whorehouse Alley? Moreover, if he was capable enough to infiltrate the heavily guarded prison, why not just go to the Lian residence and finish you off? Why bother with framing?"

Lian Cheng: "...Nice analysis, brother."

"Third brother flatters me," Lian Feng said, clasping his hands in thanks.

"Then it's most likely the rebel faction. Could be Crown Prince Jiao's faction, though there is evidence from the tiny piece of wood, but it's hard to guarantee its authenticity," Guan Lian said.

Lian Cheng tore off a goose leg and put it into Lian Xiusheng's bowl, asking quietly, "Sixth brother, do you also think it's the rebel faction?"

Lian Xiusheng looked at the gleaming goose leg, thought for a long moment, and said, "Crown Prince Jiao is obedient. Cai Hao has the bearing of a famous scholar, and his followers are mostly pure-stream scholars. The perpetrator is ruthless and cruel, which indeed doesn't resemble Crown Prince Jiao's followers. But since he could enter the prison, his official rank and status must be considerable."

"Where do we start investigating?" Lian Cheng bit his chopsticks, troubled.

Lian Xiusheng thought for a moment, personally poured a cup of wine for his third brother, and said, "I do have a list of officials who have committed crimes. If third brother permits, we can pick one who is displeasing and frame him."

Lian Cheng, who had been drinking, quickly put down his cup and said no, then admonished his brother, "The net of heaven is vast, but nothing escapes it. Give me some time, and I will definitely solve the case."

He then asked Lian Xiusheng for the list, but Lian Xiusheng refused.

"Are the bodies still at the yamen?" Lian Cheng had to rely on his own wits.

Lian Pu: "They were taken home last night. If you still want to examine them, you'll have to look at the coroner's reports."

"The case hasn't been solved, and the bodies are already taken away? Can't I still examine them?" Lian Cheng asked.

"Ordinary families might follow your procedure, but these are official families. If they make a fuss, it'll be awkward to face them later," Lian Feng remarked.

Guan Lian saw Lian Cheng's worried face and said, "Eat your meal first. After you rest, go to the yamen and have someone copy the records from the past two days. Bring them home, and I'll go through them with you. We might find clues."

"Old Master is right," Zhang Ailian said. "The case will eventually be solved. You should pay more attention to your own health."

Lian Cheng nodded in agreement and ate three large bowls of rice.

-

Lian Cheng had been promoted from Commissioner to Vice Commander. Ordinarily, the family would have held banquets for friends and relatives, with endless feasts and music lingering for days. But the Song family's funeral was still in progress, and the Lian family could not celebrate in such circumstances. The family suggested a simple meal of fine food, wine, and exotic fruits, but Lian Cheng declined, wanting only to rest for a day and go to the yamen the next day to investigate the case.

When he arrived at Penglai Pavilion, he saw two young maids, Tong Xue and Qiong Hua, come out to greet him, but Huqiu was nowhere to be seen. Thinking he was slacking off again, Lian Cheng asked about him and then dismissed it. Qiong Hua curtsied and replied, "Huqiu was beaten badly by the mistress yesterday. When he came home, he had a high fever and talked nonsense all night. He only just woke up."

Lian Cheng was shocked and hurried to Huqiu's room.

Huqiu was leaning against the headboard, eating a bowl of millet porridge. When he saw Lian Cheng, he cried out, "Master!"

"How did you get beaten? The two sisters said it was severe. Let me see." Lian Cheng considered Huqiu family, so he didn't hesitate and moved to lift the cotton quilt.

Huqiu wouldn't let him see. "Master, don't bother about me. I can already jump down and jump around. You go attend to your own business."

Lian Cheng put his hands behind his back and lifted his chin slightly. "Jump for me."

"..."

Seeing he couldn't bluff his way out, Huqiu gave an embarrassed smile, still insisting he was fine. Lian Cheng didn't force him but ordered a page boy to take good care of him. He also sent Tong Xue and Qiong Hua to the storehouse to pick out some things Huqiu could eat and use. Although Qiong Hua was deeply sorry for Huqiu, she was unwilling to use good things from the storehouse for him. "He's a lowly servant. He can get by on chaff and wild vegetables. It's not like he's dying. Why waste good things on him?"

Tong Xue scolded her for being sharp-tongued. "Who was it that stayed in Huqiu's room all night last night and couldn't be driven away? Today you've changed your tune and started cursing. What a show. Who spoils you like that?"

Lian Cheng didn't waste any more time with them. He left Huqiu's room and went to see the sweet potatoes. Thanks to plenty of rain lately and good care from Li San, the rows were growing well, a pleasing sight. But soon, Lian Cheng sat by, chin in hand, worrying again. When harvest time came, what would he do with them?

As he was thinking, someone stepped over the threshold under the side eaves and entered. Lian Cheng wasn't startled, but the newcomer was. It was his cousin from the Zeng family, Ceng Gui.

"You're always up to mischief. With all the summer flowers to admire, why are you squatting by the eaves gutter?" Ceng Gui pulled him up and they went into the inner courtyard room. Tong Xue made tea for them.

Ceng Gui said, "Miaozhen wanted to come see you too, but she's tied up with marriage matters. She went with Sister Yu to offer incense at the Bixia Yuanjun Temple. She said she'd also pray to the Empress of Mount Tai for you, so you can be steady and soar straight up."

Lian Cheng drank tea and said, "If you want to soar straight up, don't cling to steadiness."

"Minzi speaks very appropriately."

Lian Cheng asked about which family Miaozhen was being matched with.

Ceng Gui said, "Miaozhen and I have no fame or status. I had no expectations for her marriage. The other day, Grandfather sent a secret letter saying he had arranged a match with the Second Brother of the Han family."

"The Han family? Which Han family?" Lian Cheng asked.

"The Han family of the Minister of Justice, of course. Which other Han family is there in the capital?" Ceng Gui said with a laugh. "Speaking of which, Miaozhen and the Han Second Brother were acquainted, but Miaozhen was held back by family matters. The marriage with the Han family never worked out. She had already resigned herself to it, but then Grandfather's letter said the Han family had softened, and the marriage might go through."

Lian Cheng knew that the Han family's fate in the book was not good, so he said nothing for a moment. Ceng Gui thought he shared his view and also expressed doubts about Miaozhen's match with the Han Second Brother, explaining, "Both families were interested in the union, just waiting to check the horoscopes. But after our father passed away, the matter was put on hold. Although one aspires to higher things, a family that breaks its word cannot be entered. Only..."

"Miaozhen must be very happy, right?" Lian Cheng finished Ceng Gui's sentence.

"She is utterly delighted. Since our father passed away, this is the first time she's truly happy."

"As long as Cousin is happy herself, that's what matters. If things don't go smoothly for her in the future, we can just bring her back home. If the Han family refuses, we'll have her smash her head against their gatepost."

Ceng Gui was both amused and exasperated. "Oh, Minzi, you dare to joke about my mother too."

The conversation then turned to his aunt, Lian Biyun, and Lian Cheng's laughter abruptly stopped. He suddenly remembered there was still a letter he needed to send.

There was no more time to delay. Lian Cheng made an excuse to go to Yiqiu to find Lian Xiusheng for a chat, but in reality, he slipped back to his room, tucked Zhang Xian's letter into his sleeve, and crept along the wall, hunched over, sneaking out alone.

A young man in his prime harboring a secret crush on a widow with two grown children—while not entirely scandalous by old-time standards, to Lian Cheng, a conservative modern man, it felt rather unconventional. Embarrassed, he made his way to Fangcao Yuan, where Lian Biyun lived, but paced outside the door, unsure how to broach the subject.

Just as he was hesitating, one of Lian Biyun's old maidservants came out. Seeing Lian Cheng, she smiled and asked if he had come to pay respects to his aunt. Lian Cheng said yes and was dragged inside like a lifeless corpse. Lian Biyun was sitting by the door embroidering. Even from a distance, Lian Cheng could see she was stitching a plump mandarin duck. He thought to himself that there was no one truly proper in the Lian family—everyone had their own peculiar ways.

Soon, Lian Cheng stood before Lian Biyun and bowed deeply, greeting her. Lian Biyun had her hair coiled in a cloud bun, adorned with several gold-threaded pearl hairpins. She looked Lian Cheng up and down. "These past few days, the family hasn't slept a wink over your imprisonment in the Imperial Prison. Now that you're safely home, have you informed everyone?"

"Mother has taken care of all that," Lian Cheng replied, standing straight and obedient.

"Your mother is always thorough," Lian Biyun said, but then furrowed her brows. "Then why did you specifically come to find me?"

Lian Cheng dismissed the maidservant and handed the letter to his aunt. Lian Biyun scolded him lightly, "What precious thing is this that you're afraid of others seeing?" But she opened it nonetheless. In an instant, she transformed from a Bodhisattva into a Yaksha. She slapped Lian Cheng hard on the neck, making him jump back like a startled monkey.

Seeing Lian Biyun pick up her needle as if to stab him, Lian Cheng flew toward the door. "Aunt, spare me! It was that scoundrel Zhang Xian who forced me to bring this!"

"Just what good intentions did you think you had! Playing matchmaker here and there, and now even a junior like you joins in the song and dance! What kind of vile, filthy thing did you give me? Are you possessed?" Lian Biyun's curses shook the heavens, startling a pair of swallows on the eaves into flight.

Lian Cheng didn't dare to turn his head back as the woman cursed. He ran all the way back to Penglai Pavilion, leaned against the courtyard wall, and gritted his teeth. Tomorrow, he would definitely eat Zhang Xian alive.

Still panting heavily, his heart thumping, he saw Lian Xiusheng approaching from the yard of Yiqiu. It seemed Lian Xiusheng hadn't expected to run into his third brother out here. He paused mid-step, then changed direction and walked straight over to him.

"What's got you so worked up?" Lian Xiusheng tucked the books and scrolls under his arm, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the sweat off his third brother's temple. But as he did, he noticed the scratch marks on his brother's neck. He glanced at him, then wiped at the scratches instead. Unable to erase them, he pressed the handkerchief onto Lian Cheng's head, forcing him to tilt his head and fully reveal the dirty mark.

Lian Cheng struggled a couple of times but failed. So he kicked Lian Xiusheng.

"What's this on your neck, Third Brother?" Lian Xiusheng's tone was worried, but his gaze was icy.

Lian Cheng grabbed Lian Xiusheng's wrist and finally pulled him away, sighing with exasperation. "You want to know? Then promise not to tell anyone."

After Lian Xiusheng nodded, Lian Cheng launched into a lively explanation, complete with gesturing and jumping around. Once he had laid out the whole story, he sighed about what a tough job messenger pigeon had.

To cut a long story short, Lian Xiusheng, holding books in one hand, pulled his third brother inside, saying, "Zhang Xian's father is the current Minister of Rites, also a Hanlin Academician and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He'd be a perfect match for our aunt."

"..." Lian Cheng marveled at how open-minded ancient people were. Lian Xiusheng was completely unfazed and even commenting on it.

"Zhang Xian is only a few months older than me. How could Aunt possibly marry him? Besides, who knows how disgusting his letter was. It's his misfortune—Aunt only read two lines before her eyes shot fire. It scared me to death!"

After hearing this, Lian Xiusheng said thoughtfully, "If you want to become one in marriage with your beloved, you must choose your words carefully."

Lian Cheng nodded at first, but then sensed the atmosphere growing a bit strange. His limbs stiffened, and he nearly tripped over the threshold. He quickly pulled his hand out of Lian Xiusheng's grasp, ran over to drink tea. The teacup on the Eight Immortals table was empty, but since everything felt odd, drinking from an empty cup seemed trivial.

After a few fake sips, Lian Cheng tugged at his sleeves and asked, "So, what did you come to see me for?"

Lian Xiusheng also sat down. "These are all the family records of the deceased involved in the major case you're investigating, Third Brother. I brought them for you to see if there's anything useful."

Family records—Lian Cheng knew a thing or two about them. They were usually kept by prominent families or aristocratic clans. Families with no notable achievements rarely had them. Lian Cheng thanked his brother first, then grabbed one at random. It detailed the history of the Wu family. Since the reign of the previous emperor, the Wu family's old master had served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a craftsman. For improving the armor of the military, the family had been granted privileges: five generations tax‑free and three generations of hereditary office.

"Old man was quite impressive. Too bad he died so miserably," Lian Cheng thought, feeling uneasy.

But on the next page, a note read: In the 20th year of Jianhe, the border military of Dayao requested 5,000 sets of armor. Due to numerous instances of fraud and embezzlement, many soldiers were killed due to these faulty armors... The Censorate investigated and found that the craftsmen had stolen from their own stores. Several were executed. Wu Shengde, a secretary of the Ministry of Works, was given twenty strokes of the cane but spared. Though he suffered from being implicated, he remained dedicated...

Lian Cheng looked up. "I take that back. This old man deserved it."

Lian Xiusheng's lips curved slightly. "I think so too, Brother."

But seeing his third brother still frowning, he added, "However, the law is the law. Even though he delayed national military operations, he should not have been subjected to cruel private punishment."

Lian Cheng, still holding the Wu family records, nodded at these words. "I'm glad you see it that way. Means I didn't waste my breath."