The news that the county office would hold a public trial today spread quietly and unintentionally. Even the people of Jinjiang County, who usually showed little interest in government affairs, were greatly surprised upon hearing it.
After all, the county court had been neglected for quite some time. Since Magistrate Chen lost his wife and daughter, he had struggled even to manage daily affairs, let alone conduct public trials. Over time, the citizens stopped reporting cases to the court altogether, preferring instead to seek the help of the local gentry in Jinjiang County.
Under Xiao Jingduo’s insistence, the long-unused county court was reopened. Following Magistrate Chen’s unexpected death and the court’s inability to send a new official in time, Xiao Jingduo had no choice but to preside over the trial. However, Xiao Jingduo was always cautious about leaving any evidence of misconduct. Although he was effectively in charge, he refused to sit in the magistrate’s seat, instead adhering to protocol by taking a subordinate position.
Once the formalities of opening the court were complete, Xiao Jingduo maintained a solemn expression and called out in a deep voice, “Bring in Butcher Feng.”
Butcher Feng had not expected Xiao Jingduo to be serious about this. He was shoved into the courtroom by the bailiffs and forced to kneel on the ground.
Being a tall and burly man, Butcher Feng was unwilling to endure such humiliation. Just as he was about to resist, a calm voice came from the magistrate’s bench: “Do not be rude.”
The statement carried a double meaning. The bailiffs restraining him immediately moderated their actions, and Butcher Feng also reluctantly ceased his struggles.
After signaling for the bailiffs to step back, Xiao Jingduo asked, “Are you Feng Dalang, also known as Feng Xiang?”
Butcher Feng shrugged reluctantly and replied, “That’s me.”
“Assistant Officer Sun of this county has accused you of murdering Magistrate Chen and claimed to have caught you red-handed outside Magistrate Chen’s room the night before last. Is this true?”
Butcher Feng’s confidence wavered. From Xiao Jingduo’s tone, it seemed he was siding with Assistant Officer Sun. What was this man trying to do? Butcher Feng couldn’t figure out why Xiao Jingduo’s words were completely different from what had been agreed upon yesterday. With a stiff neck, he declared, “I don’t admit to it. I didn’t kill him!”
Assistant Officer Sun was also seated on the side of the courtroom. As someone responsible for recording trial documents, it was natural for him to accompany today’s proceedings. Hearing Butcher Feng’s denial, Sun dropped his brush, pointed at Feng, and exclaimed, “It was you! You were the only one who appeared in Magistrate Chen’s room that day. I saw with my own eyes that you killed Magistrate Chen. What more do you have to argue? Vice Magsitrate, pass the verdict! Execute this brute and avenge Magistrate Chen!”
Butcher Feng was equally enraged. Had he not been physically restrained, he would have already lunged at Sun for a fight. “You despicable, shameless little coward! I’ll kill you!”
“County Deputy, just look at him! What are you hesitating for?” Sun, unnerved by Feng’s glare and worried that the bailiffs might lose control of him, hastily urged Xiao Jingduo to act.
Butcher Feng continued shouting threats, while Sun, relying on his eloquence and education, rattled off accusations against him with fervor. The two of them argued incessantly, their bickering stirring up a noisy commotion in the courtroom. Others in the room began murmuring and whispering among themselves, adding to the chaos. Suddenly, a crisp sound of the judge’s gavel striking the table cut through the noise: “Silence!”
The voice was commanding, with such force that it immediately startled everyone present into quiet. Xiao Jingduo set down the gavel and, with a stern expression, said, “This is a court of law. No one shall cause a disturbance. Feng Xiang, now recount your actions from the other night in full detail, without omission.”
Butcher Feng was still fuming, his heavy breaths audible. Though his glare at Sun remained hostile, he began recounting the events of that night as commanded.
Unbeknownst to those inside, a crowd of curious townsfolk had gathered outside the courtroom. They whispered among themselves, clearly discussing the incident involving Magistrate Chen.
Xiao Jingduo ignored the growing audience outside. When Feng mentioned that Magistrate Chen was already dead when he entered the room, Sun could no longer hold back and interrupted, accusing loudly, “Impossible! I saw with my own eyes that you killed Magistrate Chen!”
“Silence!” Xiao Jingduo’s voice rose sharply as he cast a cold glance at Sun. “When someone is giving their testimony, no one is permitted to interrupt. If it happens again, there will be severe consequences.”
Sun was indignant. No one had ever dared humiliate him in front of so many people before. With a cold sneer in his heart, he begrudgingly sat back in his seat, curious to see how Xiao Jingduo would handle the situation.
Finally, Feng was able to finish his account. Once he was done, Xiao Jingduo turned to Sun and said, “Assistant Officer Sun, you claim you witnessed Butcher Feng committing the murder. Now describe the scene in detail.”
Assistant Officer Sun suppressed his impatience and began, “At the time, I was reciting poetry under the moon and happened to walk near Magistrate Chen’s door. The lamp in his room was lit, and I saw two shadows cast against the paper window. I thought Magistrate Chen was having a late-night conversation with a guest and didn’t disturb him. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a muffled sound. Turning back, I saw someone shove Magistrate Chen forcefully and then use a concealed blade to attack him. I immediately called for others and, disregarding my own safety, blocked the door myself. Sure enough, not long after, Butcher Feng came out of the room. He murdered Magistrate Chen and refuses to admit it. He’s even attacked me multiple times here at the county office. If that’s not a guilty conscience, then what is?”
Others in the courtroom chimed in, “Assistant Officer Sun’s account makes sense. It seems clear—Butcher Feng is undoubtedly the culprit.”
Xiao Jingduo asked, “Assistant Officer Sun, you claim you saw Butcher Feng commit the murder through the paper window?”
“That’s correct.”
“Chief Clerk, after Magistrate Chen’s death, has the arrangement of his room been altered?”
The Chief Clerk bowed slightly and responded, “This subordinate ensured everything was guarded and untouched.”
“Good.” Xiao Jingduo nodded. “Since the room’s layout hasn’t changed, that means the desk was still positioned beneath the window on the day of the incident. Magistrate Chen’s bedroom had only one candlestick, placed on that desk. The bed was by the north wall, and the desk with the candlestick was beneath the south window. From this arrangement, it’s evident that Magistrate Chen and Feng Xiang could only have stood in the center of the room to talk. Assistant Officer Sun, let me ask you: with the candlestick positioned beneath the window, how could the shadows of Magistrate Chen and Feng Xiang have been cast onto the paper window?”
Sun hadn’t anticipated this question and began stammering, “This… this…”
“Furthermore, at the crime scene—specifically, in Magistrate Chen’s bedroom—the most blood was found on the bed, soaking through the bedding. Yet, there were only narrow streaks of blood on the wall. What does this indicate?”
The Chief Clerk couldn’t help but echo, “What does it indicate?”
“It indicates that Magistrate Chen was killed first, and then wounded postmortem. Magistrate Chen’s fatal injury was a severed neck. If the neck were severed while he was alive, there would have been a significant amount of blood spraying around. With the bed so close to the wall, the wall would inevitably have been splattered with a large amount of blood. However, the wall only has narrow streaks, which are the kind of marks left when blood droplets are flung through forceful movement. This means that when the assailant struck Magistrate Chen with the blade, he was already dead. The blood from his neck flowed downward rather than spraying outward, and during the act, blood on the blade was flung against the wall, leaving those streaks.”
Hearing Xiao Jingduo’s explanation, the crowd inside and outside the courtroom erupted in shock. The Chief Clerk, who had spent considerable time in Magistrate Chen’s bedroom, had never noticed anything unusual about the bloodstains. Now, after Xiao Jingduo’s detailed analysis, it all seemed so clear.
It wasn’t just the Chief Clerk—many of the commoners present also understood what had been revealed. They hadn’t realized how complex the case of Magistrate Chen’s murder truly was. Some, who had previously found the proceedings dull and were about to leave, quietly stepped back to see what the new deputy magistrate would say next.
“Vice Magistrate Xiao, are you suggesting…”
“Magistrate Chen was injured after his death. This means the real culprit is someone else.”
The moment Xiao Jingduo finished speaking, the entire room was stunned. But Xiao Jingduo wasn’t content with just that. Fixing his gaze firmly on Assistant Officer Sun, he asked, “Assistant Officer Sun, at the time, Magistrate Chen was already deceased. Setting aside whether shadows could even be cast on the window, as per your account, how exactly did you see Magistrate Chen talking to another person and being killed?”
Sun’s face turned pale as he repeatedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. “I… perhaps I was too engrossed in admiring the moon and got confused.”
Butcher Feng, now feeling vindicated, sneered, “Confused, were you? Just now, when you were accusing me, you seemed awfully confident! Those two eyes above your nose—are they reliable or not?”
“You—” Sun gritted his teeth and glared at Feng. But Feng, now basking in his vindication, laughed heartily, mocking Sun. Sun was seething with anger but had no retort.
He had fabricated his story, assuming it was flawless. Who could have predicted that in just half a day, Xiao Jingduo would uncover so many inconsistencies?
This revelation caused an uproar among the officials in the courtroom. One couldn’t hold back and asked, “Assistant Officer Sun, why did you lie?”
“Yes, why?”
Sun’s face turned ashen, and he nearly spat out his response through gritted teeth: “At the time, I saw Butcher Feng coming out of Magistrate Chen’s room, covered in blood. Suspecting him as the murderer was perfectly reasonable. I must have overthought things and mixed up my speculations with what I actually saw. That’s how I got confused.”
“Confused?” Butcher Feng scoffed. “Next time, I’ll get confused too and say you’re the murderer. Don’t complain then, Sun.”
“Shut up!” Sun yelled angrily.
“Enough,” Xiao Jingduo commanded, stopping the commotion. “Assistant Officer Sun, as a court officer, falsifying testimony without having witnessed the events yourself is a dereliction of duty. After this matter is settled, I will report it truthfully to our superiors. Any resulting punishment will be determined by the provincial officials.”
Xiao Jingduo did not truly believe Sun had fabricated his testimony out of mere carelessness; there were undoubtedly deeper issues at play. However, given the powerful Sun family backing him, it would not be easy to deal with Sun directly in the short term. For now, Xiao could only accuse him of misconduct and impose a minor punishment. The rest would require a more calculated approach.
Sun, a legitimate son of the influential Sun family, had lived a privileged and smooth-sailing life. Never before had he been humiliated so publicly, and in front of such a large crowd no less. He clenched his fists tightly in secret, silently vowing revenge.
The Sun family had long wielded unchecked power in Jinjiang County. Seeing Sun publicly embarrassed brought quiet satisfaction to many. At that moment, someone in the crowd called out, “Vice Magistrate, then how exactly did the magistrate die?”
“Yes, who is the real killer?” echoed another voice.
Sun lowered his head, the corners of his mouth curling into a cold smirk. This audacious newcomer had dared to disgrace him—fine, then. Sun now considered their enmity set in stone. While Xiao Jingduo had managed to expose his fabricated testimony, Sun refused to believe he could actually uncover the true perpetrator.
The fact that the townspeople were asking questions was a good sign, at least. It showed that they were beginning to accept him as the new official. Xiao Jingduo smiled faintly and said, “For that, we must ask those closest to Magistrate Chen.”
“Bring in the old servant,” he ordered.
Sun’s brow twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. The old servant was brought before the court and immediately knelt to the ground. “Greetings to the officials. This lowly servant knows nothing! What is going on here?”
“Knows nothing?” Xiao Jingduo repeated, his tone sharp. “Let me ask you this: in the past few days, when the magistrate drank heavily, were you the one who prepared his sobering soup?”
“Yes, it was this servant. But sobering soup is something anyone can drink. What is so strange about that? Deputy Magistrate, are you accusing me just because of that? That would be most unreasonable!”
“It’s true that anyone can drink sobering soup,” Xiao Jingduo replied calmly. “But what if something had been added to it?” He gestured for evidence from the kitchen to be presented. “Old servant, do you recognize this?”
From the crowd, someone shouted, “Isn’t that kudzu flower? I’ve seen this herb in the mountains before. It can indeed be added to soup to help with sobering up!”
“Kudzu flowers can indeed sober up a person,” Xiao Jingduo began. “According to Medicinal Herbs of Southern Yunnan, kudzu flowers treat dizziness, chills, high fever, and alcohol poisoning while aiding digestion. Many ancient texts also record the effects of kudzu flowers in sobering up. However, wild kudzu flowers are highly potent and cannot be consumed in large quantities. Overconsumption can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, significantly harming the stomach and spleen. Worse still, if alcohol is consumed the next day, some individuals may experience violent reactions—ranging from uncontrollable convulsions to toxic asphyxiation. Magistrate Chen fell victim to the latter scenario.”
These words caused an uproar, with many exclaiming in disbelief: “Who would have thought that common kudzu flowers from the hills could—”
“Old servant,” Xiao Jingduo interrupted sharply, “you knew that Magistrate Chen was physically weak and prone to alcohol poisoning, yet you deliberately added an excessive amount of kudzu flowers to his sobering soup. After Magistrate Chen drank the soup that day, he suffered severe diarrhea. The next day, you intentionally brought strong liquor to his room. Unaware of the danger, Magistrate Chen drank it, triggering a reaction between the potent kudzu and the liquor. He convulsed and suffocated to death. And you, this so-called loyal servant, simply watched him die and only cleaned up the dining utensils after he had drawn his last breath, didn’t you?”
The crowd was stunned into silence, their wide eyes fixed on the old servant in disbelief. The servant knelt on the ground, drenched in cold sweat and unable to utter a single word.
Xiao Jingduo slammed the gavel. “Speak! Why did you kill the magistrate?”
“I didn’t! I didn’t!” The old servant knelt, beads of sweat rolling down his face as he repeatedly denied the accusation.
“Guards, search his residence immediately!”
Before Xiao Jingduo could finish, several volunteers from the crowd rushed off to the servant’s quarters. It wasn’t long before two bailiffs returned with remnants of herbs and unused kudzu flowers. “Deputy Magistrate Xiao, we found these in the servant’s room.”
The old servant had been too guilty to dispose of the herbal residue in the kitchen, instead hiding it in his room, planning to deal with it once the investigation subsided. Ironically, this served as perfect evidence for Xiao Jingduo. Taking the remnants, Xiao spread them out on the table and sorted through them. Pointing at the debris, he explained, “This is costus root, orange peel, poria, atractylodes, and kudzu flowers. These are ingredients for a sobering formula. Kudzu flowers should not exceed five qian in weight. Judging by the amount in this soup, it’s far beyond that limit.”
Xiao’s effortless identification of the herbal remnants left many in awe. Even the registrar and other officials were taken aback—this newly appointed deputy magistrate was not only highly knowledgeable but also skilled in medicine.
Faced with such damning evidence, the old servant could no longer maintain his composure. Collapsing to the ground, he wept bitterly. “It’s my fault! I wronged Magistrate Chen! I deserve to die!”
The registrar slammed the table and scolded him angrily: “Magistrate Chen took special care of you, keeping you in the yamen to do light work. Instead of showing gratitude, you repay kindness with treachery!”
“I deserve to die!” the servant sobbed.
The registrar, overwhelmed with emotion, was about to lash out again when Xiao Jingduo quickly motioned for the nearby bailiffs to restrain him. The yamen officials and staff were all seething with anger, and even Xiao Jingduo sighed heavily. “Why did you kill Magistrate Chen?” he asked.
Kneeling on the ground, the old servant, his deeply wrinkled face streaked with tears, shook his head even as he sobbed. “Deputy Magistrate Xiao, your reasoning is impeccable. I fully admit my guilt. It was I who poisoned Magistrate Chen, and no one else was involved. You may pass judgment now.”
Xiao Jingduo frowned, still finding it difficult to believe. “But why would you do this?” he pressed.
However, the old servant only shook his head, refusing to elaborate. He continuously urged, “I confess my guilt. Please, Assistant Magistrate, deliver the sentence.”
The evidence was overwhelming, leaving no doubt that the old servant was the culprit. The county clerk and others also pressed for a decision. Left with no choice, Xiao Jingduo struck the gavel heavily and pronounced the final judgment for the day’s public trial:
“According to the Penal Code, intentional poisoning resulting in death is punishable by decapitation. The servant standing before this court deliberately poisoned Jinjiang County Magistrate Chen. By law, he is sentenced to execution by decapitation.”
The crowd gasped in shock, with some even cheering. It had been a long time since such a significant case had unfolded in Jinjiang County. Even as the crowd dispersed, the citizens were abuzz, eagerly discussing the events with one another.
The officials, including Xiao Jingduo, closed the court session and retreated to the rear hall to continue their paperwork. Although the death of Magistrate Chen had been resolved, much follow-up work remained. Since the imperial court had yet to appoint a new magistrate, Xiao Jingduo, as the acting official, was responsible for preparing detailed case records, including testimony, evidence, and trial proceedings. These records would then be sent to Chang’an for review by the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice. Only after the Ministry approved the case would the servant’s execution truly be finalized, with the punishment carried out after the autumn assizes.
For now, their task was to complete the case files.
As the county assistant, Xiao Jingduo’s duties primarily involved overseeing litigation, granaries, and related matters. This should have been his busiest time, but instead, he excused himself from the others and went to visit Butcher Feng.
Butcher Feng, having been falsely accused and briefly imprisoned, was now free and unharmed. Puffed up with pride, he was boasting to his younger sister about his exoneration. His sister, Feng Jiao, who had been terrified throughout the ordeal, was furious to see her brother acting so complacent. She was about to scold him when she noticed someone approaching.
Seeing the visitor, Feng Jiao froze, then quickly restrained her temper. She whispered a warning to her brother and stepped aside.
Butcher Feng turned around in surprise to see who had arrived. “Assistant Magistrate Xiao? Why are you here?”
“I still have an unresolved question and came to ask you about it.”
After today’s events, Butcher Feng had developed an immense respect for Xiao Jingduo. Though rough around the edges and often unruly, Feng was fiercely loyal once he acknowledged someone’s worth. For him, Xiao Jingduo was now one of those rare few.
“You don’t have to be so polite, Assistant Magistrate. Just tell me what you need!”
Xiao Jingduo smiled at Feng’s straightforwardness and asked, “You said that you sneaked into the county office late at night under Magistrate Chen’s orders. Do you have any proof of this?”
“Uh…” Butcher Feng scratched his head awkwardly. “Magistrate Chen only sent a verbal message, so there’s no way to prove it.”
As expected. Since Feng couldn’t read, it was unlikely Magistrate Chen would have used written communication. Comparing handwriting wasn’t an option. Xiao Jingduo pressed further, asking about the messenger’s appearance and making a mental note before taking his leave.
While Xiao Jingduo and his colleagues were busy preparing the case files, the punishment for Assistant Officer Sun was also announced. Sun, who had deliberately provided false testimony, was stripped of his position according to the law. However, in consideration of his years of diligent service, his punishment was reduced by one degree. He would be temporarily suspended without pay and required to work under supervision at the county office, with potential reinstatement depending on his conduct.
If Magistrate Chen were still alive, the punishment could have been enacted directly. However, with Magistrate Chen deceased and no replacement yet appointed, Xiao Jingduo, despite acting as interim magistrate, lacked the authority to punish subordinates outright. Thus, the matter had to be reported to the prefecture governor in Rongzhou for approval.
Both rewards and punishments required cumbersome procedures. Even the preparation of case files proved challenging. The lax attitude of the county office staff resulted in poorly compiled records. Xiao Jingduo’s repeated reprimands left them thoroughly chastised.
One clerk finally mustered the courage to protest, “But Assistant Magistrate Xiao, this is how it’s always been done in our county!”
“Exactly,” Xiao Jingduo replied calmly, sipping his tea. “That’s why we’ll review and retry all past cases.”
“What?” The hall erupted in groans of despair.
The news that the new assistant magistrate planned to reopen old cases quickly spread. Xiao Jingduo personally announced that any citizens with grievances or unresolved cases could come forward to the courthouse. While only a few initially dared to beat the large drum outside the court to lodge complaints, their actions set a precedent.
Though the response was modest, Xiao Jingduo consoled himself that progress was gradual. The county office had long been viewed as ineffectual. Restoring its credibility and reshaping public trust in local governance would take time and careful planning.
Late that night, under the glow of a lamp, Xiao Jingduo reviewed old case files.
“Huh,” he murmured, puzzled. “Why are there so many missing person cases?”
One name stood out among the records: Chen Ci, the daughter of Magistrate Chen.
T/N: The kudzu flower is native to many parts of Asia, Asutralia, and New Guinea. It is considered an invasive species in the United States. You can actually use the flowers to make a jelly like this one here.
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