Chapter 6: Turning the Tables (Part 2)

Sun Ru, Deputy Magistrate Sun, knew that there were far too many muddled cases in the world, and with his limited abilities, he could only look after his own path to advancement.

Thus, he was especially adept at reading between the lines and gauging others' intentions.

This Wen Renyue had clearly purchased his official post, had no connections at court, and had previously only been burying his head in his work without fanfare, showing no signs of having a background.

His own inquiries had yielded the same result.

Wen Renyue was nothing more than a convenient soft target, someone anyone could push around.

Deputy Magistrate Sun had barely ever left Nanting County in his life; the highest-ranking official he had ever met was the local prefect. As for the Provincial Judge, even someone as adept at social climbing as himself had absolutely no chance of meeting him.

But the way he had just mentioned Lord Ji, with such familiarity and ease, as if talking about a neighbor living next door...

Could it be that Wen Renyue truly had some hidden ability, connections that reached the heavens, yet never showed his hand, keeping it under wraps, only to be deployed at the critical moment?

While he was still stunned, Le Wuya softened his tone and added a few more pleasantries.

It wasn't until Deputy Magistrate Sun stumbled out the door, dazed, that those words still echoed in his ears: "What you seek is merely a promotion. If you were to throw away your future over this matter, it would be a pity."

"Of these two thousand counties, I came to none other than this one. Why is that? Deputy Magistrate Sun, do think it over carefully."

"In any case, it is a great destiny to work alongside you. I would not want this bond to be wasted in vain."

"Perhaps we should both reconsider whether there is a better solution to this matter?"

"Scholar Ming's affair is truly of little consequence. What matters is..."

Deputy Magistrate Sun halted abruptly, feeling as if Le Wuya had lightly tapped his back again with the fan handle.

"What matters is the future."

Deputy Magistrate Sun gritted his teeth slightly, wondering: Is this man bluffing, or does he truly have the ability?

After tidying his appearance and composing himself, he appeared nonchalantly at the southern city prison.

Just as he reached the prison gates, he saw Chief Jailer Chen Wang seeing off a physician, and they ran straight into each other.

Chen Wang immediately clasped his hands: "Deputy Magistrate Sun."

Deputy Magistrate Sun returned the courtesy briefly and asked, "Who is ill? Is there an outbreak of disease?"

"Oh, no, no. It's just Scholar Ming's old mother."

Chen Wang harbored his own ulterior motives. He didn't want to botch the county magistrate's orders, but he also didn't want Deputy Magistrate Sun to know he was acting on Wen Renyue's behalf, so he conveniently took the credit: "If that old woman dies, that Ming fellow will have nothing left to lose and might recant his confession. That would make things tough."

Deputy Magistrate Sun remained impassive: "You're thinking ahead."

He wasn't stupid.

Wen Renyue had come here last night, and now Chen Wang had called a physician. It was pretty clear Wen Renyue had told him to do it.

Chen Wang didn't have the brains or nerve to act on his own.

Deputy Magistrate Sun walked inside: "How long did the magistrate see Scholar Ming? And what did he say? Tell me honestly."

Chen Wang told the truth: "Not long at all."

Deputy Magistrate Sun frowned deeper and stopped to turn back: "...Oh?"

Chen Wang thought the deputy magistrate was blaming him for not keeping a close watch on the magistrate, so he hastily explained: "The magistrate did send me away, but I kept an eye on things for you, I didn't dare slack off. At most, I was gone no more than the time for a cup of tea."

Deputy Magistrate Sun's expression was like a mask of stone.

What could he have gotten out of him in that short time?

He confirmed again: "Did that Ming fellow really say nothing?"

Chen Wang stuck to the truth: "He did shout and cry injustice, but I came out in time to stop him from spouting nonsense."

"Did they ask for writing materials?"

Chen Wang, having not slept all night and now dizzy from the barrage of questions, had no energy to fabricate lies, so he told the truth: "Nope."

At this, Deputy Magistrate Sun didn't buy Chen Wang's story at all.

That signature and fingerprint were unmistakably Scholar Ming's handwriting, and the ink was still fresh.

The magistrate couldn't possibly have carried brush and ink on his person to see Scholar Ming.

Deputy Magistrate Sun was a very pragmatic man.

That Chief Jailer Chen Wang was willing to cover for Wen Renyue and even called a physician for Ming Xiangzhao; he must have been bribed with something.

His suspicion was further amplified when he reached Scholar Ming's cell and caught a faint scent of medicinal herbs.

Chen Wang had no idea that Deputy Magistrate Sun suspected him.

In his view, he had only done some little tasks for the county magistrate.

Although the county magistrate had no real standing in this place and was utterly pathetic as an official, he was at least generous with his spending.

Chen Wang had always been like that—as long as his seat was stable, he could afford to sway a little, help out the county magistrate, and sell him a favor. That was no big deal.

Feeling a bit guilty, Chen Wang waved his hand to disperse the lingering smell of medicine and led Deputy Magistrate Sun to Scholar Ming's side, nudging him rudely with his toe: "Hey, Ming, stop playing dead."

Wen Renyue, inhabiting Ming Xiangzhao's body, opened his eyes.

Though he wasn't about to die right away, his body was still weak. As soon as he breathed in the damp, musty air of the prison, he broke into a violent coughing fit.

Deputy Magistrate Sun's face darkened: "Ming Xiangzhao, what did you tell the magistrate?"

Wen Renyue: "?"

That gentleman had instructed him not to speak no matter what anyone asked him.

Conveniently, he didn't know what to say anyway.

So he just kept gasping for breath and said nothing.

Deputy Magistrate Sun raised his voice in anger: "Speak!"

Wen Renyue squinted, glanced at him calmly, and closed his eyes again.

No matter how humiliating his post was, he had once been the deputy magistrate's superior. He would never be intimidated by a petty man who was all bluster.

Seeing him neither subservient nor arrogant, a complete change from his previous cowering manner, Deputy Magistrate Sun became even more certain that Wen Renyue had fed him a soothing lie.

The two of them must be in cahoots!

He crouched down and said menacingly, "Scholar Ming, don't you care about your mother's safety?"

Wen Renyue knew this man was despicable, but being directly threatened as the person of interest was a different level of shock.

He suddenly opened his eyes, a rare sharp and angry gleam flashing in them.

He wanted to call him shameless, but remembering his mentor's instructions, he shut his mouth and did not answer.

Deputy Magistrate Sun: "..."

There was definitely something going on.

But this Scholar Ming had suddenly changed his attitude, putting on a confident, unrepentant demeanor that said he had nothing to lose, leaving Deputy Magistrate Sun at a loss.

He had been using coercion and bribery to get Scholar Ming to change his testimony.

If by some carelessness Old Lady Ming really died, then that Ming would surely hold a deep grudge against him, and might even, following Wen Renyue's instructions, implicate one or two more people; who knew if he would be the next one implicated.

If he went after Scholar Ming himself, this man was already frail, at death's door; if he died, that testimony would become the final, unshakable piece of evidence.

At this moment, Deputy Magistrate Sun felt completely out of options, like a tiger with nowhere to bite.

Leaving the prison heavy-hearted, he glanced at the fawning Chen Wang and said, "You..."

Chen Wang quickly bowed and said, "Sir, please speak."

Deputy Magistrate Sun wanted to hint at him a bit, to make him see which side his bread was buttered on, but the words died on his lips.

Although Chen Wang was in Master Chen's household, it was hard to guarantee that he hadn't already been bought off by Wen Renyue.

A man who plays both sides is hard to offend.

If he let slip any information, whether Chen Wang went to gossip in front of Wen Renyue or to badmouth in front of Master Chen, it would be troublesome.

Moreover, Scholar Ming really couldn't die now.

So he instructed softly, "Don't let this mother and son die."

This happened to align with the magistrate's orders.

Chen Wang had been secretly worrying about whether to obey the magistrate or the deputy magistrate, but now he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said loudly, "Got it!"

Deputy Magistrate Sun did not return to the county office; instead, he went to Master Chen's mansion again.

Master Chen was somewhat surprised to see Deputy Magistrate Sun, who had just come the previous night, calling again early in the morning.

Before Deputy Magistrate Sun arrived, Master Chen was practicing calligraphy. Hearing the servant's announcement, he put down his brush, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Deputy Magistrate, sorry for not coming out to greet you. You're not holding court today—want me to warm up some wine?"

Deputy Magistrate Sun was a sharp man, and his expression was open. After exchanging a few routine pleasantries, Master Chen relaxed a bit and said with a smile, "I thought you came in such a hurry because something unexpected happened with Scholar Ming's case."

After sitting down, Deputy Magistrate Sun said, "It is indeed about his case."

"Oh?"

"It's like this: when Scholar Ming's case files are sent up, they must be reported level by level—county, prefecture, circuit, and the Provincial Surveillance Commission. Along this chain, do you have anyone you can speak to? If you could pass word and pull some strings, wouldn't it be more secure? Especially Lord Ji..."

Upon hearing this, Master Chen stroked his beard and chuckled lightly, "So this is what you were worried about, Magistrate Sun."

Sun Ru did not shy away: "You jest, Master. I have never handled such a big case; I just want to make it as perfect as possible."

"No need. Don't spoil things by overdoing it. Just submit the confession, evidence, and case files together." Master Chen was a bit impatient at having his calligraphy practice interrupted, but he still tried to reassure him: "Lord Ji, huh, he's a man of refined integrity. The more you try to grease the wheels, the more he'll suspect something is off, and he'll likely examine the case in detail."

Deputy Magistrate Sun said in surprise, "Is that so? Are you also acquainted with Lord Ji?"

Master Chen said modestly, "I have a classmate who was in the same year as him in the imperial exams. I have never met him myself, only heard a little about him."

Deputy Magistrate Sun said, "Is there really such a thing as an incorruptible official in this world? If he doesn't want money, he must want a clean reputation, right?"

"I don't know. But I heard my classmate mention after drinking that he really likes bamboo and often likens himself to it. If you really want to give a gift, after this matter is over, plant a few bamboo forests and see if he is willing to come to Nanting for an outing."

Deputy Magistrate Sun paused, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Better not. Criminal cases are troublesome. Getting involved once or twice is fine. It's better to keep a low profile and avoid catching this official's eye—that's the smart move."

After a few more pleasantries, Deputy Magistrate Sun took his leave of Master Chen and walked back to the county office.

The streets were coming alive, and people he knew greeted him in droves.

Deputy Magistrate Sun responded absentmindedly, walking with his hands clasped behind his back on the noisy street.

The further he walked, the heavier his heart grew.

He saw it all clearly—this was Wen Renyue's move.

Earlier, he had made a move in cooperation with Master Chen to get rid of the troublesome Scholar Ming.

But he countered by targeting him, dragging him into the plot.

Sun Ru couldn't understand why this previously spineless magistrate had suddenly struck back, not only flipping the script but also using this case to exploit his weakness.

Sun Ru knew his abilities were limited; otherwise, he wouldn't have slogged away as deputy magistrate for over a decade without moving up.

He had cooperated with Master Chen, throwing away his conscience to cook up this false case, all to get a foothold with Master Chen's powerful network.

Master Chen had extensive connections. If he could ride on those coattails and inch forward, it would be the fulfillment of his lifelong wish.

But the magistrate was dead set on overturning Scholar Ming's case, and his first move was a cold, all-out strike.

If his patron were really implicated, his official career...

In broad daylight, Sun Ru stopped, looked at the gray sky, and shivered.

In the game of power, power comes first, strategy second. Power is everything.

Without that overarching support, no amount of scheming on his part would be of any use.

...

When Deputy Magistrate Sun returned to the county office, carrying a package of freshly baked pastries, he went looking for the magistrate, but the man was no longer in his office.

He was bursting with words, burning with anxiety. After poking around and asking around, he heard someone say they saw the magistrate in the East Flower Hall, so he hurried over.

By the time he arrived, Le Wuya had already finished a game of pitch-pot by a pavilion, amusing himself, and was gathering the arrows from the two-handed quiver.

Le Wuya loved archery and horsemanship. Since his last life, when he could no longer draw a strong bow, he had taken a liking to pitch-pot. In later years, his eyesight deteriorated, so he mostly played by feel, tossing arrows while lost in thought, just for fun.

He hadn't had this much fun in a long time. His heart was light, a smile on his face, and his voice was light: "Deputy Magistrate, you're back."

Deputy Magistrate Sun was indeed a man who could adapt. As if all their previous friction didn't exist, he raised the pastries in his hand and said with a smile, "Magistrate, I thought you might be reading, so I bought some snacks. I'm not sure if they suit your taste." Le Wuya pulled out an arrow, spinning it smoothly and gracefully in his palm several times: "I've finished reading a whole book. Next time you want to curry favor, Deputy Magistrate, you might come earlier."

This flashy move, he had practiced for a long time in his previous life, not for anything else but to show off in front of one person.

Seeing him so relaxed and carefree, Deputy Magistrate Sun felt like a killjoy.

He had dealt with Wen Ren for half a year in a lukewarm manner, but had never felt so stifled in front of him.

Standing with his hands clasped, he was thinking about what to say when he heard the Magistrate, who was focused on playing with the arrows, say, "You've already verified all my statements, haven't you?"

Sun Ru's scalp tingled. Not daring to argue, he simply bowed deeply: "Please instruct me, Magistrate."

Le Wuya shot him a sideways look. "I'm still young. How could I presume to instruct the Deputy Magistrate?"

Sun Ru did not dare to speak, nor did he dare to straighten up, maintaining the respectful bow.

Le Wuya was done playing. With a slight flick of his wrist, with a sharp *thunk*, the arrow landed steadily on the left ear of the double-eared pot.

He asked, "You know the true origin of Scholar Ming's case, don't you?"

Deputy Magistrate Sun couldn't help but gasp sharply.

Given his shrewdness, just that one sentence from the Magistrate was enough for him to understand.

Suppressing his shock, he straightened up and played dumb. "Magistrate, what do you mean?"

Le Wuya said nothing, just looked at him with a grin.

Deputy Magistrate Sun felt his skin crawl and had to be more direct. "It must be that Scholar Ming was arrogant and offended someone."

"Yes," Le Wuya said, pulling out another arrow, staring at its tip. He sighed, "Running a coal mine is a dangerous business. Accidents are common. If someone refuses to let it go and blocks others' path to money, that's annoying enough. But framing him for rebellion is too big a hat. That's a crime of execution and wiping out his entire family. Scholar Ming can't be saddled with that."

He tilted his head slightly. "Deputy Magistrate Sun, do you think that case was tried fairly?"

Deputy Magistrate Sun let out a dry laugh.

He realized he'd screwed up again.

He thought the Magistrate was targeting him, to make him understand who really called the shots in Nanting.

But it seemed he had something else in mind.

He ventured, "Magistrate, are you referring to Chang Xiaohu's drowning case half a year ago? Wasn't that already closed as an accident?"

Le Wuya threw another arrow.

It landed squarely on the right ear of the pot.

He sighed, "Deputy Magistrate Sun really doesn't get what I'm driving at."

Deputy Magistrate Sun's heart raced. "I am too dull-witted."

Le Wuya smiled.

He turned to Deputy Magistrate Sun, held one arrow behind his back, and pointed with the other hand at the sparse, bare winter plants. "Deputy Magistrate Sun, look, I've found a good spot. No one can hide here. No one else will hear what we say. We're alone here. You don't have to play dumb anymore."

"...Now, I want Chang Xiaohu's drowning case ruled not an accident."