Yuxi entered the study, took a seat and picked up a memorial. She had only just opened it when she quickly closed it again, put it down, th...
Yuxi entered the study, took a seat and picked up a memorial. She had only just opened it when she quickly closed it again, put it down, then called Xu Wu into the study. "What is the name of Xiao Yongchang's concubine tangge1? What case is he involved in?" Originally, Yuxi did not want to insert her hand2 in this matter and had planned to let Yun Qing handle it. However, upon further consideration, she felt that it might not be as straightforward as Xiao Yongchang claiming that she was favouring her Dage.
Xu Wu was quite clear about this case. "That criminal is called Kong Yang. He has committed numerous crimes. This time, he also drove someone to their death, and the deceased's son reported him."
For minor cases, local officials could handle them directly without reporting them to higher levels. However, cases involving death had to be reported.
Yuxi thought for a moment and recalled, "I remember reviewing a case at the end of last year. That criminal was also called Kong Yang. He cheated, swindled, abducted, deceived, and bullied his neighbours; he was a local tyrant. Later, he was only arrested after he drove someone to death. Is it this case?" Yuxi remembered this case because the criminal's name was rather unusual. Kong Yang meant brightness and light. At the time, Yuxi had even commented that such a good name had been wasted on him.
Xu Wu nodded. "It is this case. This man used Xiao Yongchang's name to commit many evil deeds and, in just one short year, amassed a vast fortune. In the third month of last year, one victim even went to the yamen to lodge a complaint, but for unknown reasons, the matter remained unresolved. Later, Kong Yang ruined the complainer's family, leaving them broken and dead. After that, no one else dared to file a complaint anymore. Even if they suffered losses, they could only pinch their nose and accept it3. At the end of last year, Kong Yang wanted to buy a residence, so he invited a feng shui master to assess it. Ultimately, the master concluded that the Zhang family residence boasted excellent feng shui and would bring Kong Yang great prosperity."
When Yuxi heard this, she felt that this case had become interesting.
Xu Wu continued, "It was a three-courtyard residence. The location was good, and the interior was well-arranged. Even two thousand taels might not have been enough to buy it. But Kong Yang wanted to buy it for just two hundred taels of silver, and the Zhang family was unwilling to sell. To obtain the residence, Kong Yang framed the head of the Zhang family, forcing the Zhangs to agree to use the house to repay the debt. The night before Kong Yang's family was due to move in, the Zhang family head hanged himself at Kong Yang's front gate. The deceased's son submitted a written complaint to the yamen, and Han Daren4 accepted the case."
Yuxi glanced at Han Jianming and stated, "Dage, Kong Yang has done so many terrible things. I don't believe that Xiao Yongchang is totally innocent." She did not believe that Kong Yang had not given any of his ill-gotten wealth to Xiao Yongchang.
Han Jianming's expression froze slightly. Yuxi's words clearly pointed out the hidden issue. "Since Xiao Yongchang has questioned the fairness of my judgment in the case, another person must be found to retry it."
Yuxi nodded. "As for the person who will preside over the retrial, I already have someone in mind."
Han Jianming did not ask whom Yuxi had chosen. He merely said, "I will go prepare at once. This matter will definitely be settled within three days."
With guilt on her face, Yuxi confessed to Han Jianming, "Because of me, Dage has been burdened." Han Jianming was already working very hard at the Surveillance Commission, and now he was being questioned because of her. Yuxi felt very sorry about this.
Han Jianming smiled and reassured her, "What's the big deal? An upright person does not fear a crooked shadow5. Let them say whatever they want!" No one could be perfectly flawless.
After returning to the Han residence, Han Jianming told Mr Zhao, "I thought Yuxi would choose to calm the matter and pacify the people6. I didn't expect…" He had not expected Yuxi to have become so assertive.
Mr Zhao, however, was not surprised. "If she allows this Xiao Yongchang to slander her, what will become of Wangfei's authority?" He had to admit that Han Yuxi was acting more forcefully than before. But this was understandable as well; after all, her status was now different.
Mr Zhao advised, "If there are any difficulties in the future, just tell Wangfei directly, so that you won't be blamed for anything you do." What Han Jianming had done was truly a thankless effort. Of course, the most hateful one was still that Xiao Yongchang. They had already spared him once before, yet he still dared to cause trouble.
That night, as they were getting ready to sleep, Yuxi leaned close to Yun Qing and asked, "He Rui, how do you plan to handle Xiao Yongchang's case?"
Yun Qing was not surprised that Yuxi knew about this matter. "I have already demoted him." Although Yun Qing doted on his wife, he had always acted fairly. He had not punished Xiao Yongchang simply for speaking badly of Yuxi. Instead, he waited until his subordinates had thoroughly investigated the matter today and were sure that Han Jianming had judged the case fairly before punishing Xiao Yongchang.
Yuxi smiled and predicted, "If you handle it this way, Xiao Yongchang definitely won't accept it." Had Xiao Yongchang been a rational person, he would not have rushed to see Yun Qing yesterday and made such wild remarks. Therefore, this matter would not simply end with Xiao Yongchang's demotion.
Yun Qing held Yuxi and assured her, "I will handle this matter properly. You do not need to concern yourself with it." Demoting Xiao Yongchang by one rank was the absolute maximum. Any heavier a punishment would be inappropriate. After all, Xiao Yongchang had only said a few unpleasant things and had not harmed Yuxi in any way.
Hearing this assurance, Yuxi changed the subject. "It is already the second month now. There are only a little over three months until Zaozao turns three. It's going to be too hard for her to start martial training at such a young age." Once Zaozao turned three, she would have to learn martial arts from Huo Changqing. At the thought of this, Yuxi felt reluctant to let her suffer.
Yun Qing responded with a smile, "Before the age of five, the focus is on building her foundation. She won't start learning martial skills until she turns five. That's when the hard part truly begins."
Yuxi breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, then."
Two days later, rumours had spread throughout Haocheng that Han Jianming was relying on Yuxi's power to act recklessly and treat human lives as worthless. Naturally, the rumours became more outrageous and uglier the more they spread. In the end, even Yun Qing was dragged into it.
Xu Wu did not hide this matter from Yuxi; he told her everything in full detail. "Wangfei, it was Xiao Yongchang who shouted these things loudly while drinking at a restaurant. Quite a few people heard it. However, someone is pushing the waves and helping the billows7 from behind the scenes, wanting to ruin Wangfei's reputation."
After saying this, Xu Wu even raised his head and glanced at Yuxi. Seeing that there was not even the slightest ripple in her expression, he asked, "Wangfei, how do you plan to handle this matter?"
Yuxi did not answer his question. Instead, she asked, "Did Xiao Yongchang actually know about the things Kong Yang did?"
Xu Wu shook his head and replied, "I'm not sure. But Kong Yang and Xiao Yongchang were business partners. Xiao Yongchang didn't manage the business matters; he only took a share of the profits. Before the incident came to light, Xiao Yongchang could receive two hundred taels of silver in dividends every month." Even if Xiao Yongchang did not know about Kong Yang's crimes, the fact that he received this money implicates him.
Yuxi smiled slightly. "No wonder he is so angry. So it turns out Dage has damaged his interests!" Xiao Yongchang was currently a fifth-rank official, and his monthly military salary was only about twenty taels. The dividends Kong Yang gave him each month equalled his annual income.
Xu Wu actually felt quite sympathetic towards Xiao Yongchang. Had he behaved honestly after being punished by Wangye, the matter would have passed. But he just had to court death. Now he had angered Wangfei so much that she had decided to get involved in this matter. Wangfei was not Wangye, so Xiao Yongchang was going to be in for a rough time.
In the evening, Yuxi told Yun Qing, "Now this matter is being discussed everywhere outside. It must be resolved. He Rui, I plan to reopen the case and invite some people to attend and listen. By then, I believe that everyone will form a clear opinion on the rights and wrongs of it."
Yun Qing fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Who do you plan to have retry this case?"
Yuxi replied, "I want you to preside over the trial. I just do not know whether you are willing." Seeing that Yun Qing was considering it, she continued, "I have already had Xu Wu investigate. Over the past year, Xiao Yongchang received more than two thousand taels of silver from Kong Yang. How is Xiao Yongchang's conduct any different from that of Ji Xuan's subordinates? If the civil officials and military generals of the northwest all follow Xiao Yongchang's example, then how are we any different from Ji Xuan?" Yuxi wanted to severely punish Xiao Yongchang this time, not because of a personal grudge, but to use this matter as a warning to the generals to be more vigilant and not to be dragged into the water8 by people with ulterior motives who would ultimately ruin them too.
Yun Qing exclaimed, "Then I will preside over this case!" He had done all kinds of other things before, but when it came to trying a case, this was truly like a maiden getting into a bridal sedan chair—the first time9.
Footnotes Full List
- 堂哥 (táng gē) — paternal male cousin (older)
- 插手 (chā shǒu) — to interfere/get involved
- 捏着鼻子认了 (niē zhe bí zi rèn le) — to reluctantly endure/accept something unpleasant
- 大人 (dàren) — title of respect toward superiors
- 人正不怕影子斜 (rén zhèng bù pà yǐng zi xié) — an honest person has nothing to fear from rumours
- 息事宁人 (xī shì níng rén) — to smooth things over/avoid making trouble
- 推波助澜 (tuī bō zhù lán) — to add fuel to the fire/help make trouble worse
- 拖下水 (tuō xià shuǐ) — to implicate someone/drag someone into trouble
- 大姑娘上花轿，头一回 (dà gū niang shàng huā jiào, tóu yì huí) — doing something for the first time
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