Chapter 9: Rectification of Names

The news of the fire at the Yang residence and the subsequent arrival of the patrol inspectors had long since spread through the streets and alleys.

The most curious detail, naturally, was that the bride who was supposed to be buried with the late Sixth Brother Yang was still alive.

Although Madam Zhang, Xie Yuyan, and the others had been taken to the magistrate’s office, countless curious eyes remained fixed on the Yang residence.

When the patrol inspector’s office arrived at Yong'an Ward with a carriage, people immediately gathered around, fearing they might miss the excitement.

Seeing the carriage stop, the Second Old Madam felt a pang of distress and hurried forward a few steps, desperate to see Yang Mingshan immediately.

The carriage curtain was lifted. The Second Old Madam almost shouted "Fourth Son," but when she realized it was Yang Qin who climbed out, the words choked in her throat.

It wasn't the fourth son.

She suppressed her impatience and continued to watch. The next to step down was actually Madam Zhang, followed by "Xie Shiniang" in her bright red wedding dress.

The fire in the Second Old Madam’s heart burned even brighter, nearly scorching her internal organs.

Why were they people from the third branch? And why was that woman still following them to the Yang house? Where were Yang Mingshan and Madam Zou?

The old madam had too many questions, gnawing at her heart and leaving her restless. She longed to call Madam Zhang over immediately and demand answers.

"That is Inspector He."

The steward whispered a reminder in the Second Old Madam’s ear.

The Second Old Madam had to suppress her thoughts for the moment and stepped forward to bow: "Had I known Inspector He would visit, the rest of the family would have come to welcome you."

"That is unnecessary," Inspector He said. "I come to the Yang residence only because it is my duty."

As he spoke, he looked at the clerk beside him.

The clerk took out a document and handed it to the Second Old Madam.

The Second Old Madam was not very literate and was about to pass it to the steward beside her.

Chen Ju stepped forward and briefly summarized what was written on the document: "Yang Mingshan and Madam Zou have both confessed. Although they were not the masterminds of this case, they attempted to conceal the truth, nearly causing a catastrophe. They must wait for the magistrate to hold court and determine their punishment."

The world went black before the Second Old Madam’s eyes, and she immediately clutched her chest.

"It’s a grievance!" The Second Old Madam knew she shouldn't argue at this moment, but her son's safety made her lose her composure. "There must be some misunderstanding. My daughter-in-law... she is usually careless in her work, perhaps she handled things improperly. My Mingshan is busy running about outside; how could he know what happened at home? I beg the Inspector to investigate thoroughly."

After she finished speaking, He Tan remained silent. The Second Old Madam thought there might still be room for negotiation and took a few more steps forward.

The inspector had come to the Yang house—wasn't it just to give them a chance to grease the wheels?

The Second Old Madam was very familiar with such matters. She bowed to Inspector He again: "Inspector, it is very cold outside. You have had a hard journey; please come inside to warm yourself by the fire."

"What?" He Tan’s face was cold. "Are you trying to avoid the crowd and bribe this official?"

The fire of hope that had just ignited in the Second Old Madam’s heart was extinguished instantly, taking the last trace of warmth with it.

Under the pressure of Inspector He, the Second Old Madam hurriedly said: "No, no, how would this old woman dare..."

Chen Ju sneered: "The imperial document is in your hands, yet you claim your son is innocent. Could it be... that the laws of the Great Liang are of no use to your Yang family?"

Now, the Second Old Madam dared not harbor any crooked ideas and only bowed to apologize: "It was this old woman who spoke wrongly. How would I dare to question you, sir? This old woman... this old woman was confused."

"You are not confused," Chen Ju said. "Just now, you were quick to push the blame onto your daughter-in-law. You clearly know what is light and what is heavy."

The Second Old Madam’s face turned from green to red, but she dared not do anything else, fearing she would further provoke Inspector He... her fourth son was still in his hands.

"Since there are no more questions..."

Just as Chen Ju said this, a voice rang out, interrupting him.

"This commoner has one more presumptuous request."

Chen Ju turned to look; it was Xie Yuyan, who had been standing beside Madam Zhang.

Xie Yuyan’s words were also meant for He Tan.

He Tan looked at Xie Yuyan: "If it concerns my duties, I am naturally duty-bound."

Wang Heshun stood not far away. Unlike his lazy demeanor at the magistrate’s office, his eyes held a bit more spirit as he quietly watched the scene.

Xie Yuyan said: "This matter started because of me. If it is not clarified, I fear it will breed rumors, damage the reputation of Sixth Brother Yang’s loyalty and righteousness, and implicate the Third Lady and the young Master Yang."

Having said this, she turned to look at the crowd of onlookers.

"Since the neighbors are here, everyone can bear witness for me."

Naturally, no one in the crowd responded, but countless eyes were fixed on Xie Yuyan, and the surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Xie Yuyan said: "I believe everyone heard what the officer said just now."

"I was kidnapped by human traffickers and brought to Daming Prefecture. I was then harmed and sold to the Xie family as a 'corpse.' Fortunately, the Third Lady of the Yang family discovered I still had breath and saved me; otherwise, I would surely have been buried alive."

After finishing, she looked at the Old Madam Yang: "As the victim, I also have questions. The Xie family bought a corpse to impersonate Xie Shiniang; did the Yang family know about this long ago?"

Old Madam Yang said: "Naturally, we did not know."

Xie Yuyan said: "Then how did you know the Xie family had a tenth daughter who had just died of illness?"

"It was..." Old Madam Yang said, "It was the people from the Xie family who told us."

"Told whom?"

"The Old Master..."

Old Madam Yang was anxious to prove that the Yang family had not conspired with the Xie family in advance and immediately blurted out the truth. As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. They had originally planned to push the marriage arrangement with the Xie family onto Madam Zhang once the wind blew over, as it was damaging to their reputation.

Once everyone forgot about it, they would only think Madam Zhang was greedy for money and nearly caused a death. After so much time had passed, who would really investigate the truth?

Just like how, years ago, it was the clansmen who begged the third branch to take the sea route, rather than the third branch acting on their own and nearly destroying the entire clan.

But now that it had been said in public, with so many people listening, it would be hard to change her story later. The Second Old Madam glared at Xie Yuyan with hatred and was about to look away.

"Old Madam, looking at me like that—do you feel I shouldn't be here?"

"I didn't want to be here either; it was you who carried me into the Yang house."

Xie Yuyan exposed the Second Old Madam’s thoughts in public, immediately drawing snickers from the crowd.

The Second Old Madam realized she had been tricked and knew she must not lose her composure in front of others: "How could I think such a thing?"

Xie Yuyan said: "Then I am supposed to be here?"

"You are clearly being deliberately difficult," the steward beside the Second Old Madam couldn't help but say. "No matter how one responds, it is wrong..."

"I nearly lost my life in the Yang house," Xie Yuyan said. "Is asking a few questions considered being difficult?"

The steward had no way to refute her; his face turned red, and he dared not say another word.

Xie Yuyan said: "After I was saved by the Third Lady, I thought the Yang family were virtuous people. Was I wrong?"

"Virtuous people" was what the Old Master had always wanted to be, and it could not be tarnished.

The Second Old Madam glared fiercely at the steward: "It is this old woman who was lax in disciplining the servants. I will certainly punish them when we return."

Xie Yuyan clearly did not believe her and looked at He Tan with concern.

He Tan had been curious about what this young lady wanted him to do. Seeing this, he had a rough guess.

"Sir," Xie Yuyan said, "The house caught fire, and the Third Lady risked her life to save me. Does that count as a righteous act?"

He Tan nodded: "Naturally, it does."

Xie Yuyan took a deep breath: "Since it is a righteous act, should she not be spared from blame?"

He Tan frowned and followed Xie Yuyan’s lead: "Who would blame her?"

Xie Yuyan cast an undisguised gaze at the Second Old Madam of the Yang family.

The Second Old Madam felt as if she had been suddenly dragged out to be put on display. At this moment, she regretted it deeply; she shouldn't have been in such a hurry to welcome them at the door.

Xie Yuyan said: "It is hard to guarantee that some might feel that if not for the Third Lady’s meddling, the Yang family would not have suffered this turmoil. Once the coffin lid was closed, who would have known it was a living person buried inside?"

He Tan’s gaze darkened.

The Second Old Madam’s legs went weak. Under the gaze of Inspector He, it felt as if her family had already committed that act and was currently being interrogated.

From the bottom of her heart, she hoped Inspector He would not be led astray by that woman and add another crime to the Yang family.

He Tan’s majestic voice sounded again: "The patrol office has been strictly investigating the trafficking of people..."

At this point, a light went off in He Tan’s mind. He had just taken office and was lacking an opportunity to establish his authority. This young lady had stumbled upon exactly what he needed.

He Tan continued: "We have long received news about traffickers inside and outside the city. So, even if the Yang family deliberately conceals it, once we catch the traffickers and interrogate them strictly, we will learn of this incident. Whether it was selling a corpse or harming a person to pass them off as a corpse, opening the coffin for inspection will reveal the truth."

"By then, the Yang family’s crime will not be attempting to conceal the truth, but taking a human life."

He Tan looked at the Second Old Madam again: "Do not deceive this official, do not show contempt for the law, and do not attempt to bribe imperial officials with silver. If you do not heed my advice, feel free to try it in front of me and see if all the officials of the Great Liang can be swayed by your wishes."

He Tan’s gaze was deep; he said this for the benefit of those listening.

Xie Yuyan said: "So, it was the Third Lady who saved the Yang family, not harmed them?"

He Tan said: "Naturally."

Taking a deep breath, Xie Yuyan looked around: "Did you all hear Inspector He’s words clearly? May I ask you neighbors: Sixth Brother Yang sacrificed himself for the country, and the Third Lady saved a life—are this mother and son not loyal and righteous? I ask the neighbors to clear their names."