ROHYX Chapter 680 : Redress A Wrongful Conviction (1)

The sky was filled with stars, like golden specks scattered across dark blue silk: bright, sparkling and stunningly beautiful. Unfortogtuna...

The sky was filled with stars, like golden specks scattered across dark blue silk: bright, sparkling and stunningly beautiful. Unfortogtunately, Xu Wu was not in the mood to enjoy the view at that moment.

Zhuzi said, "Madam is really something—both Prefect Yao and Tongpan¹ Guo have old grudges with the Zhou family. The Yao family's grudge is a deadly one."

After pausing, Zhuzi continued, "The Eldest Young Master Zhou beat the Prefect Yao's elder brother's only son to death. At the time, the Zhou family was powerful and had the backing of another prefect, so they pinned the blame on the Eldest Young Master Zhou's personal attendant, who was executed in his place. Prefect Yao's brother died of rage soon after."

The Zhou family killed Prefect Yao's brother and nephew, thus cutting off his brother's incense line²—how could he not hate them!

Xu Wu asked coldly, "And what grudge does Tongpan¹ Guo have with the Zhou family?"

Zhuzi replied, "The Zhou family used underhanded tactics to seize two of the Guo family's prime shop lots at a low price. Since then, the two families have been on bad terms."

By now, how could Xu Wu not see it? Prefect Yao and Tongpan¹ Guo had been using their public authority to avenge their personal grudges.

Although this case wasn't particularly serious—and Zhou Wei's framing was, in a way, the result of the sins his own family has created³—it was enough to show that neither official was fit for their post.

Zhuzi added, "Guard Xu, I've also discovered that Zhou Wei and Dong San are quite close."

Before Xu Wu could respond, a guard came in to report that Xu Zhen had arrived. Xu Wu went out to meet him, brought him into his room, and asked, "What brings you here so late?"

Xu Zhen said, "I'm a bit curious. Why are you so interested in Zhou Wei's case?" He himself hadn't given it much thought. As the person responsible for law and order in Linzhou and several nearby counties, he was very busy. All the matters recorded in the registers were handled by his subordinates on his orders. However, since Xu Wu was taking such an interest, he felt he had to ask.

Xu Wu replied, "There's something fishy about Zhou Wei's case. Yao Guangzhang and Tongpan¹ Guo are most likely using their positions for personal revenge. Once we interrogate the suspect tomorrow, the truth will come out."

Xu Zhen wasn't surprised—his subordinates had already informed him of the underlying issues. "How do you plan to deal with Yao Guangzhang? To be fair, Xu Wu, this guy Yao is quite capable. He's done a good job managing Linzhou lately."

Xu Wu shook his head. "No matter how capable he is, if he acts unjustly, such a man can't be trusted with power." As for how to handle Yao Guangzhang, that would be up to Madam to decide.

Seeing this reaction, Xu Zhen didn't plead for Yao Guangzhang any further. But he was still curious. "Come to think of it, how did you realise there was something off about this case?" He still had a copy of the register in his own hands.

Xu Wu smiled and explained, "I'm not that sharp—I couldn't spot anything wrong from just a few lines. It was Madam. She read your reports and thought something didn't add up." He then added, "Xu Zhen, Madam said your records are too brief. From now on, no matter what the matter is, you must clearly state the causes and consequences."

Xu Zhen froze momentarily, then exclaimed, "You mean you gave that register I handed you to Madam? How could you hand that over to her?"

Xu Wu responded, "The General has ordered it — whatever Madam wants, I will cooperate fully. It's not just about Madam wanting to look at a dossier. Even if she ordered me to kill Yao Guangzhang tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to stop her." He said this to make Xu Zhen understand that Yuxi occupied a very high place in Yun Qing's heart — it was so high that she could do as she pleased. This way, even if Xu Zhen were displeased, he wouldn't say anything more.

How could Xu Zhen not understand Xu Wu's words? Anxiously, he said, "Loving one's wife is fine, but there still have to be limits." They always said that even heroes found it hard to overcome the beauty pass⁴. Even the General had fallen into Madam's hands.

Xu Wu said coldly, "What are you saying? Not to mention that the General is no fool. Even regarding the Madam's conduct, she has always been very measured. Over the past few years, she has only ever helped the General; she has never once pulled the General's hind leg⁵." The reason the General allowed Madam to intervene in state affairs was precisely because she was capable of doing so.

Seeing Xu Wu's displeasure, Xu Zhen smiled wryly. "You're not unaware of Weiguo's situation, are you? If he hadn't indulged Yan Shi so much, he wouldn't have reached this point." Xiang Weiguo had his rank stripped by Yun Qing, his embezzled funds were all recovered, and now he was at home recuperating.

Hearing this, Xu Wu did not relax his expression. On the contrary, he spoke even more coldly, "Comparing Madam to Yan Shi is an insult to Madam. Madam even gave up her dowry for the orphans of Yu City — have you forgotten that already?" That woman Yan Shi wasn't even comparable to Madam — she was not worth a single hair on Madam's head.

Xu Zhen had not expected Xu Wu to hold Yu Xi in such esteem. He replied with some concern, "I do admire what Madam has done before. But the current situation isn't as simple as helping a few children or founding a school, is it?"

At a loss for words, Xu Wu said, "If you think establishing a school is easy, then you're too naive. Running a school is much harder than fighting a war."

Aside from Yu Cong, Xu Wu and several close aides, nobody outside knows of Yuxi's assistance to Yun Qing. Xu Zhen said, "I know Madam is capable, but the matters she has involved herself in now are very complicated. She may intend to help, but what if her help actually makes things worse?"

Xu Wu pointed out, "Madam could tell from those few brief lines your subordinate wrote that there was something wrong with the case — do you really think she would make things worse? Besides, Madam is well-learned and well-versed in hydraulics and law; few can compare with just those skills alone." None of the General's advisors was as formidable as Madam. After this episode, Xu Wu had no remaining doubts about Yuxi's ability.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhen stopped arguing with Xu Wu and raised another matter. "Xu Wu, does Xiang Weiguo really have no chance of recovery?" Xiang Weiguo and Xu Zhen were brothers who had shared life and death, and Xu Zhen could not bear to see his brother Xiang's career ruined like this.

After some thought, Xu Wu said, "The General only removed him from his post. He didn't ban him from returning to the barracks. As long as he is willing to start again, Xiang Weiguo still has a chance to turn things around." Xiang Weiguo could rise quickly again by starting from the bottom and accumulating military merits.

Seeing that Xu Zhen's expression had relaxed, Xu Wu added, "Don't relax yourself too soon. Xiang Weiguo has nothing now, and Yan Shi may not be willing to stay with him. You know how much he values her — if she decides to leave him, it's doubtful he can start over."

A hard look passed over Xu Zhen's face. "If Yan Shi dares to leave Xiang Weiguo, I'll k!ll her." With the power he now wielded, k!lling someone like Yan Shi would be easy.

Back when Xiang Weiguo wanted to marry Yan Shi, Xu Zhen strongly opposed it. The most important thing when choosing a wife was her ability to manage a household, but Yan Shi, who was always dressed like blooming flowers and waving branches⁶ all day long, was not someone who could do that. Yet Xiang Weiguo was blinded by desire — he insisted on marrying Yan Shi no matter what, and in the end, Xu Zhen's worst fears were realised.

Xu Wu smiled and reminded him, "If you threaten Yan Shi, given how much Xiang Weiguo dotes on her, I'm afraid even the bond between brothers would be severed." Seeing Xu Zhen say nothing, Xu Wu continued, "Moreover, even if Yan Shi does not leave Xiang Weiguo, and he gains military merit and rises in the ranks again, she will still hold him back."

Xu Zhen grew irritated. "He can't leave her, nor can he stay with her — then what should be done?" Yan Shi was truly the calamity in Xiang Weiguo's fate.

Xu Wu wasn't worried about Xiang Weiguo's situation. "No one can help him with this kind of matter. Let nature take its course."

Xu Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up. "Didn't you say Madam was very capable? Why don't we ask her if she has any good ideas?"

Without even thinking, Xu Wu refused. "If Xiang Weiguo still lets Yan Shi have her way in everything, no one can save him. If he wakes up in time, he can stand on his own two feet again." If a man didn't marry a good wife, his whole life would be ruined — Xiang Weiguo was the best example.

Xu Zhen looked a bit dejected.

Xu Wu patted him on the shoulder and said, "If he can come to his senses, then as brothers, we are duty-bound to help him. But if he insists on walking his own road until it turns dark⁷, our worrying won't help." After all, Xiang Weiguo was not a three-year-old child; there was only so much they could do.

Seeing Xu Zhen sigh, Xu Wu said, "Instead of sitting here sighing and lamenting, why don't you go and arrest Zhou Wei, Dong Er and the other witnesses? When daylight comes, let Madam question them herself." This could be a good opportunity to help Madam build her reputation and authority. He was sure the General would be pleased to see that.

Xu Zhen nodded. "I'll have someone take care of it right away."

After breakfast, Xu Wu approached Yuxi and reported, "Madam, Zhou Wei, Dong Er, and the others have been brought in. You can interrogate them personally."

Yuxi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Of course, the case needed to be adequately investigated, but she had never considered interrogating the suspects herself. "Let's forget it this time, but this action shouldn't be repeated in the future."

Xu Wu had his own reasoning as he said, "Madam, Yao Guangzhang is the Prefect of Linzhou. If other officials take over, they might not conduct a fair and just trial."

Yuxi nodded. "Your concern makes sense. Very well, I will let you handle the trial. I won't appear in person." Seeing Xu Wu hesitate, she added, "The case isn't complicated. As long as the witnesses tell the truth, that's enough. I'll be listening from the back hall, and if there's any mistake, I'll have someone remind you." She simply didn't want to appear in public.

Hearing her last words gave Xu Wu some confidence. He smiled and nodded. "As Madam commands." Who would have thought that he would ever get to preside over a court case? Just thinking about it excited him.

Yuxi noticed that Xu Wu was very excited and was puzzled, but didn't ask further. "Zaozao has been crying for her father these past two days. The General must have left Yu City by now, right?"

As he hadn't received any definitive news, Xu Wu replied, "Madam, at the General's pace, he should catch up with us in four or five days." Their caravan travelled between seventy and eighty li⁸ per day, but the General could cover that distance on horseback in a single day.

Yuxi nodded slightly. "I understand." Even if Yun Qing caught up with them, he could only stay for two days at most before heading to Haocheng.

Footnotes Full List

1. 通判 (tōngpàn): local magistrate
2. 断了香火" (duàn le xiāng huǒ) — meaning to end a family's male line or terminate the continuation of the family name.
3. 造的孽 (zào de niè) — literally "the sins one has created," meaning retribution for one's past misdeeds.
4. The Chinese idiom "英雄难过美人关" (yīngxióng nán guò měirén guān) means that even the strongest or most heroic men can be defeated by love or beauty — that is, no matter how powerful or rational a man is, he may still lose control when faced with romantic or sexual temptation.
5. This is an extremely common Chinese idiom (扯后腿, chě hòutuǐ), where "pulling the hind leg" is a metaphor for slowing someone down or sabotaging their efforts.
6. 花枝招展 (huāzhī zhāozhǎn): A four-character idiom that describes a woman who is dressed up beautifully, brightly, and ostentatiously—often implying vanity or extravagance.
7. 一条道走到黑 (yī tiáo dào zǒu dào hēi) — literally "to walk one road until it's dark"; a metaphor for stubbornly sticking to a wrong or hopeless course despite warnings.
8. "里" (lǐ) is a traditional Chinese unit of length (about 500 metres or one-third of a mile).

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