“Vice Magistrate, who shall I summon next?”
“Call the clerk who responded to my questions this afternoon.”
The straightforward clerk from the afternoon arrived. Upon seeing Xiao Jingduo, he hurriedly bowed and greeted him, “Vice Magsitrate.”
“No need for formalities. Sit.”
Even though Xiao Jingduo said this, the other man was still visibly nervous, sitting upright and rigid on the lower seat.
“What is your name, and how long have you worked in the county office?”
“My name is Ma Liu. I have been working as a clerk in the county office for ten years.”
“For that long? In that case, you must be quite familiar with everything in the county office.” Xiao Jingduo jotted something down on the paper at hand before continuing, “In the past few days, has the magistrate shown any unusual behavior? No matter how trivial, tell me everything.”
“Unusual behavior?” Ma Liu fell into thought. “There doesn’t seem to be much different. Magistrate Chen is the same as always. After finishing his daily work, he drinks. But in the past few days, he’s been drinking more heavily, to the point of neglecting his duties. The magistrate has had a rough time. Ever since his wife passed, his condition has been poor, and after the young lady followed suit, he’s grown even more dispirited. The day before yesterday, I happened to run into the magistrate in the privy. His face was pale. Though it was only a brief encounter, it was clear his health was not good.”
At first, these words seemed inconsequential, but Xiao Jingduo, being knowledgeable in medicine, sensed something unusual. “You mentioned that Magistrate Chen’s face was pale the other day. Was he also unsteady on his feet, with dry lips, looking particularly weak?”
“Yes, that’s exactly right. How did you know what he looked like then, Vice Magistrate?”
“Just a guess,” Xiao Jingduo replied without offering further explanation. However, he had already come to an understanding. Based on Ma Liu’s description, Magistrate Chen had likely ingested a purgative that caused severe vomiting and diarrhea, which would explain his pallor and frailty. This unexpected discovery suddenly opened up new avenues of thought for Xiao Jingduo. Quickly, he pressed on, “Since Magistrate Chen no longer has a wife or daughter, who takes care of his daily needs?”
“It’s an old servant in the county office. This servant has been here for years. Considering his advanced age and frailty, the magistrate didn’t drive him out but allowed him to stay and tend to the flowers and plants or help out in the kitchen.”
“Tending flowers and helping in the kitchen?” Xiao Jingduo mused, deep in thought. Seeing this, Ma Liu curiously asked, “Vice Magistrate, he’s just a servant. Why are you asking about him?”
Xiao Jingduo didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “When Magistrate Chen got drunk, who usually took care of him?”
Ma Liu replied, “It was also that old servant.”
“Drunk people are difficult to manage. Could an elderly and frail servant handle it on his own?”
“Vice Magistrate, you might not know, but this servant, though weak and elderly, is very devoted to the magistrate. Every time Magistrate Chen got drunk, the servant would personally prepare hangover soup, serve tea, and take care of everything. He’s quite attentive.”
“A truly loyal servant, indeed,” Xiao Jingduo remarked with a knowing smile. Then he stood up and said, “Take me to where the magistrate’s body was found.”
Although Ma Liu didn’t understand why, he obediently led the way. Xiao Jingduo followed Ma Liu back to the western courtyard where the magistrate had lived.
“Vice Magistrate, the magistrate died in this room.”
Standing at the doorway, Xiao Jingduo gave the area a quick glance. This was the magistrate’s main courtyard. It was slightly larger than the eastern courtyard but had a similar layout: a north-facing main building, flanked by side wings, with a gate in the southern wall shielded by a screen wall. The eaves connected to a covered walkway, and each corner of the courtyard had a small door leading to steps and the walkway.
“These corner doors—are they locked at night?”
“Back when the magistrate’s wife and daughter were still alive, there were women residing in the rear courtyard, so the magistrate’s corner doors were always locked. But after his daughter passed away, the magistrate didn’t bother to lock or unlock the doors daily. He just left them ajar.”
“So Sun Sizuo’s claim that he wandered here while stargazing does make sense,” Xiao Jingduo noted.
Xiao Jingduo memorized the layout of the courtyard before pushing open the door to enter the house.
Magistrate Chen’s residence appeared extremely modest and ordinary. The main building consisted of three connected rooms: the central room was for receiving guests, the eastern room was a study, and the western room was the bedroom. Xiao Jingduo first walked toward the eastern room.
The study was dimly lit. Against the wall stood a tall wooden shelf filled with scrolls and books. By the window was a desk equipped with all the necessary writing tools—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Opening the window revealed a tree with white blossoms outside. Xiao Jingduo couldn’t identify the type of tree, but with flowers in front of the window and bamboo behind the house, it was a serene and elegant place to read. Clearly, before Magistrate Chen became consumed by alcohol, he had been a man of refined tastes.
The western room was where the magistrate’s body was found. Against the north wall was a bed, the bedding stained heavily with blood. Xiao Jingduo approached for a closer look and found that the blood had seeped deeply into the fabric, now blackened with time. Judging by the location, the bloodstains were concentrated around where the neck would have been. There were also streaks of blood arcing across the wall, creating a grim and terrifying scene.
Ma Liu had already turned his head away in fright. He couldn’t understand what was so interesting about such a horrifying sight, but Xiao Jingduo continued to examine it intently.
After inspecting the bed, Xiao Jingduo followed the trail of blood toward the window. A large patch of blackened blood had pooled on the bed. In addition, there were splattered drops along the edge of the bed, the floor, and even the steps leading to the center of the room, where a large puddle of flowing blood had formed.
Ma Liu added from the side, “The magistrate’s body was lying right here.”
Xiao Jingduo didn’t need Ma Liu’s explanation; he could deduce the location based on the shape of the bloodstains. Straightening up, he walked to the window and pointed at the candlestick beneath it. “Was this candlestick placed here from the beginning?”
“Yes,” Ma Liu replied. “So many things happened today. By the time we had gathered the magistrate’s body, it was already late, and we didn’t have time to clean up the room.”
It seemed that Magistrate Chen greatly enjoyed reading by the window. His desk was placed under the window in the study, and the same arrangement was present in his bedroom.
Ma Liu followed behind Xiao Jingduo, turning this way and that, and asked curiously, “Vice Magistrate, have you discovered something?”
Xiao Jingduo was about to respond when his gaze suddenly sharpened. He reached for a brush from the bamboo tube and threw it forcefully in a particular direction, shouting, “Come out!”
A startled cry of “Ah!” came from outside the door. Xiao Jingduo quickly stepped out and saw an elderly servant with graying hair clutching his forehead, standing nervously in place.
Ma Liu hurried out as well. When he saw who it was, he froze in surprise and exclaimed, “Why is it you?”
Ma Liu turned back to Xiao Jingduo and said, “Vice Magistrate, this is the old servant I mentioned who takes care of Magistrate Chen’s daily needs.”
“So, it’s you,” Xiao Jingduo said slowly, fixing his gaze on the old servant. There was a hint of something deeper in his tone that Ma Liu couldn’t quite grasp. Unable to figure it out, Ma Liu chalked it up to his own misunderstanding.
The old servant bent low in a bow to Xiao Jingduo and said, “This humble servant greets Vice Magistrate.”
“Hmm. Are you the one responsible for Magistrate Chen’s daily meals?” Xiao Jingduo asked.
“Oh no, not at all,” the old servant replied humbly. “I merely lend a hand in the kitchen.”
“Merit should be rewarded, and faults punished. There’s no need to deny it,” Xiao Jingduo said coolly. “You’ve served Magistrate Chen for many years. Even if you’ve no great achievements, you’ve certainly endured your share of hardships. It’s only fair, considering Magistrate Chen’s kindness in keeping you here.”
The old servant repeatedly bowed and waved his hands in protest. “Deputy Xiao overpraises me. This humble servant does not dare claim such credit.”
Xiao Jingduo smiled faintly, saying nothing further. With his hands clasped behind his back, he said, “You mentioned that you assist in the kitchen. Lead the way—I’d like to see what the kitchen looks like.”
Hunching his back, the old servant led the way. They soon arrived at the kitchen, which, like the rest of the decrepit Jinjiang County government office, was dark and disorganized. When Xiao Jingduo entered, the other kitchen staff stopped what they were doing and stared at him, unsure of how to respond.
“I’m just looking around. Don’t mind me,” Xiao Jingduo said with a friendly smile as he began to wander around the kitchen. Ma Liu, visibly anxious, trailed closely behind him, muttering, “Vice Magistrate, what are you looking for? Just tell the servants to fetch it for you. They say gentlemen keep their distance from the kitchen, and as an imperial official, you really shouldn’t lower yourself to come here personally.”
No matter what Ma Liu said, Xiao Jingduo ignored him completely. Ma Liu sighed inwardly, finding the new Vice Magistrate’s stubbornness hard to manage. For someone so young, he was impossibly firm in his ways. Ma Liu was about to continue his persuasion when he noticed Xiao Jingduo’s upright figure come to a sudden halt.
“What is it?” Ma Liu asked.
Xiao Jingduo squinted, his gaze fixed on a corner of the stove. There, lying on the ground, was a shriveled purple flower petal, as if it had accidentally fallen.
A cold smirk flashed across Xiao Jingduo’s face. So that’s how it is.
“Vice Magistrate?” Ma Liu asked again.
Xiao Jingduo quickly masked his expression, turning back with a calm smile. “I was just curious, taking a look around. You’ve worked hard today; you may go.”
“Ah…”
Ma Liu was called over inexplicably and then dismissed just as abruptly. Scratching his head, he couldn’t make sense of what had happened. He called out to Xiao Jingduo’s retreating figure, but the young deputy magistrate simply strode away briskly, paying him no mind.
“What on earth is going on here?”
…
Feng the butcher was locked up in the county jail, forbidden from going anywhere or doing anything. He was utterly stifled.
In frustration, he pounded the wall with his fist and shouted loudly, “Anyone out there? You cowards, come on and fight me one-on-one if you’ve got the guts!”
Usually, shouting like this would yield no response. But this time, before the echoes of his voice faded, Feng saw a light appear at the entrance of the jail. Soon after, a tall figure emerged from the glow and then stepped into the shadows.
Feng squinted, carefully trying to identify the visitor. The person walked forward at an unhurried pace. The lanterns hanging on either side of the wooden bars swayed in the breeze, casting light onto the person’s face.
Even if Feng had a poor memory, he would have recognized this face.
“It’s you?” Feng snorted, reluctantly muttering, “Your skills aren’t bad. Who taught you how to fight?”
“Hmm,” Xiao Jingduo replied.
“What’s with the ‘hmm’?” Feng suddenly burst out in irritation.
“I have many things to deal with outside and don’t have time to waste on you,” Xiao Jingduo said coolly, his tone concise to the extreme. “Answer me honestly. What were you doing sneaking into the county office in the middle of the night yesterday?”
Although Feng found Xiao Jingduo’s aloof and arrogant demeanor annoying, he trusted this new official more than anyone else. Despite his unwilling expression, he answered truthfully, “Magistrate Chen summoned me.”
“Hmm. Why?”
Feng shook his head, refusing to say more.
Xiao Jingduo, though only in his position for a day, was already fed up with the locals’ evasive and roundabout way of speaking. Irritated, he snapped, “If you have something to say, then say it! What kind of man dodges and hedges like this?”
“Hmph, I knew it. You officials are all the same,” Feng the butcher fumed, his temper flaring up even more. “You bureaucrats sent by the imperial court are all weaklings, afraid of trouble. All you think about is smoothing things over and muddling through your days. Anyway, once your term ends, you’ll be reassigned, so why would you care about the lives of the people in our county?”
His reaction was unexpectedly intense. Xiao Jingduo was slightly taken aback. He had barely been here for a day, so the “muddling officials” Feng referred to couldn’t possibly include him. It had to be a jab at Magistrate Chen. Remembering what the secretary had mentioned about some conflict between Feng and Magistrate Chen, Xiao Jingduo probed, “It seems you have a younger sister?”
At the mention of his sister, Feng instantly flew into a rage. “Shut up! You fancy types are all the same! I’m warning you, don’t even think about laying a finger on my sister!”
“You all…” Xiao Jingduo ignored Feng’s tirade, instead latching onto the key term in his words. He repeated it aloud, then immediately followed up, “The other one is Assistant Magistrate Sun?”
Feng was startled. “How do you know that?”
It seemed his guess was mostly correct. However, Xiao Jingduo never felt the need to explain his reasoning to others. Ignoring Feng’s astonishment, he clasped his hands behind his back, took a couple of steps along the corridor, and said in a deep voice, “Assistant Magistrate Sun claims you’re the murderer. Your blade was also found in the magistrate’s room. If you don’t explain why you went to see the magistrate in the middle of the night, I won’t be able to help you.”
Feng looked a bit bewildered. “You believe me?”
Xiao Jingduo sighed, pressing his fingers to his temple. This man was all brawn and no brains—an impulsive brute. Yet despite this, Xiao Jingduo had to exercise patience. “Yes, I believe you. But before the case is closed, you must tell me everything you know, immediately.”
Feng wasn’t stupid. Seeing the odds stacked against him, he wasn’t about to turn away someone willing to listen to the truth. After a brief hesitation, he began to stammer, “Magistrate Chen summoned me to discuss the disappearance of Miss Chen.”
“Disappearance?” Xiao Jingduo’s alertness sharpened. Everyone in the county office had said the magistrate’s daughter was dead. But now Feng was claiming she had merely disappeared.
“Yes. I don’t know the details. That’s just the message Magistrate Chen conveyed to me. I received his note and, following his instructions, slipped into the county office through a side gate at midnight. When I reached Magistrate Chen’s room, the entire place was pitch dark. I couldn’t figure out what he was up to, so I carefully pushed the door open and groped my way inside. The moment I entered, I sensed something was off. As I moved further in, I seemed to step on something. Growing up as a butcher, I immediately recognized it—it was the smell of blood.”
“I was terrified and hurried to the candlestick, using a fire striker to light it. Once the candle was lit, I saw that the blood I had stepped in earlier was actually Magistrate Chen’s. He was lying on his back on the ground, surrounded by blood. I crouched down and checked his breath, only to find he had already passed away. Faced with such a scene, I was at a complete loss. Just as I was wondering what to do, I suddenly heard someone shouting outside. Startled, I bolted out the door, only to run into that brat from the Sun family. To make it worse, he grabbed my sleeve and accused me of being the murderer. The others wouldn’t listen to my explanations either. We argued from the middle of the night until noon, and then you arrived.”
After listening, Xiao Jingduo let out a long sigh. The accounts from Feng the butcher and Assistant Magistrate Sun were completely contradictory. One of them had to be lying. Once the liar was identified, the murderer likely wouldn’t be far off.
When Feng finished speaking, he noticed that Xiao Jingduo remained silent, giving no indication of whether he believed the story. Anxiously, Feng couldn’t hold back and asked, “What does your silence mean? Do you believe me or not?”
“Stay here and wait for tomorrow’s court hearing,” Xiao Jingduo replied curtly, turning to leave. After taking two steps, he stopped and said coldly, “Today, you’ve repeatedly shown disrespect to an imperial official. Considering your current circumstances, I’ll let it slide this time. But if it happens again, I won’t go easy on you.”
“Hey, hey! Wait a minute! Make yourself clear—”
The sound of banging and shouting echoed behind him, but Xiao Jingduo ignored it and left without looking back.
After leaving the prison, Xiao Jingduo summoned a junior clerk and ordered, “Spread the word: the trial for Magistrate Chen’s case will be held tomorrow. Everyone must be prepared, and there must be no mistakes.”
The news of the upcoming trial for Magistrate Chen’s case quickly spread. Qiu Ju had just finished putting things away when she saw Xiao Jingduo returning from outside. She hurried over to greet him. “Young master, you’re back! I heard you’re holding court tomorrow—do you need anything prepared?”
“No need. Just have my official robes ready.”
“Your official robes? Oh no! Speaking of which, although the robes were washed, they haven’t been scented yet. I’ll call Xi Qi to bring the incense burner right away!”
“That won’t be necessary. We’re not in Chang’an, so there’s no need for such trouble.”
“How can that be? Young master, you’re now an official of the eighth rank. All the proper formalities must be observed without compromise.” With that, Qiu Ju called for Xi Qi, and the two of them took the official robes and incense burner to the side room, where they worked together to scent the clothing.
In recent years, many foreign caravans had arrived in Chang’an, and aromatic spices had become quite popular. The practice of perfuming garments began in the imperial court and later spread to the aristocracy. Among the wealthy, it became customary to wear clothes that had been scented. There were two primary methods of perfuming clothes: the “cold” method involved placing fragrance pellets in a chest with folded garments, allowing the scent to permeate slowly, while the “warm” method used a small fire to burn incense. The clothing was then placed over a bamboo frame atop the burner, with two people carefully moving the garments to ensure the scent infused both inside and out. The latter method produced a more lasting fragrance and was a greater symbol of status, so every prominent household in Chang’an had incense burners and maids specifically tasked with perfuming clothes.
When Xiao Jingduo lived at the marquis’s residence, these luxuries were naturally abundant. But now, living outside the capital, he found such habits unnecessary and burdensome. However, Qiu Ju disagreed with his pragmatic mindset. To her, attention to detail and refinement should be maintained no matter where they were.
On such matters, Qiu Ju couldn’t convince Xiao Jingduo, and Xiao Jingduo couldn’t overrule Qiu Ju. He could only shake his head and let her have her way.
While Qiu Ju and Xi Qi were in the west wing perfuming clothes, Xiao Lin was familiarizing himself with the people and surroundings of the county office. The slanted sunlight bathed the courtyard, painting a serene and tranquil summer scene. In such a peaceful setting, Xiao Jingduo settled his mind and began reviewing the records of Jinjiang County from the past three years.
At first, he planned to read just a few files before going to bed. But after a few files, he no longer felt like sleeping.
The incompetence of these officials! Xiao Jingduo was so exasperated that he didn’t even want to speak.
The tax records were disorganized, the financial accounts were a mess, and the case judgments over the years were absurd, clearly handled perfunctorily.
What Xiao Jingduo faced was a remote, impoverished, and rough southwestern border county, where the government had no credibility whatsoever.
Achieving political accomplishments in such a place would be a challenge even for a deity. Yet that was a secondary concern. What truly mattered now was taking the most crucial first step tomorrow in the public trial: establishing his authority.
The truth behind Magistrate Chen’s death, along with the dark schemes hidden beneath the surface of incompetence, would all be revealed tomorrow.
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