Chapter 8: Wei Jiao's Case

"What are you afraid of?"

"Naturally, I am afraid of certain people making false accusations and pinning crimes on others indiscriminately."

"Whoever has a guilty conscience knows it in their heart."

"Wei Jiao, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you hold the imperial tally. I, too, hold an imperial tally; I am not afraid of you Xiuyi."

Ji Ying shouted angrily, then turned and flicked his sleeves as he walked into the tent.

The other officials turned pale, but they steeled themselves to speak kindly to the person on horseback. "Commander Wei, please come inside to talk." "Inspector Ji has been exhausted and worried for days and hasn't been able to rest well; his temper is a bit short."

Compared to Ji Ying, Wei Jiao had a much better temper. Not only was he not angry, but a smile even played on his fair face.

"What 'exhausted and short-tempered'? He just likes to scold me; he scolded me plenty back in the capital, too," he said, raising his hand slightly.

The Xiuyi guard who had spoken earlier immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee. Wei Jiao stepped on his back to dismount.

"As long as he doesn't delay my business, he can scold me all he wants."

As he spoke, his sleeves fluttered, and he walked toward the tent.

The officials looked at one another, not daring to follow him in. Voices soon drifted from the tent. Although the Inspector's voice sounded displeased, they were no longer arguing. A moment later, Ji Ying’s voice rose, calling out, "Someone come here!"

An official hurried inside and soon emerged, saying to the Xiuyi guards, "Follow me to search Baima Town."

The Xiuyi guards dismounted in unison and swarmed into Baima Town, leaving no broken house, ruin, or debris unchecked. They seemed to be looking for someone, or perhaps for some trace.

Soon, a squad of Xiuyi reached the area where the laborers were staying.

The laborers were terrified, huddling together; some even bowed their heads in fear.

Mo Zheng wrapped her blanket tighter, feeling the cold gazes of the Xiuyi sweeping over her. In her ear, she heard an official explaining, "These are recruited laborers, all from the county town."

The next moment, the baskets and shovels beside her were poked aside by swords and blades. The laborers were also barked at to pull away their blankets, causing a flurry of panic.

"They are all using equipment provided by the government..." the official explained from the side.

The Xiuyi ignored him, looking over everyone and everything before moving on.

Only then did the laborers dare to whisper. "Who are these people?" "They're even more formidable than the Inspector." "What are they investigating?" "Is it still about the mountain bandits?"

But soon, the bailiffs came over to shout, "No talking!" "Lie down!"

The laborers hurriedly lay down. After lying down, Mo Zheng reached out and quietly pulled back the bamboo pole that had been mixed in with the baskets and shovels, hugging it to her chest once more.

Baima Town had been almost entirely burned to ruins. The surviving residents had been relocated elsewhere. Aside from government soldiers and bailiffs, there were only the dead, leaving nothing to investigate. Soon, the Xiuyi gathered back at the town entrance.

"No need to see me off, Inspector Ji. I’m leaving."

A cold, clear voice drifted over.

Lying on the ground, Mo Zheng looked out from under the cover of her blanket and saw Wei Jiao walking out.

The Inspector did not see him off, and Wei Jiao did not look back. He stepped on the back of a Xiuyi guard to mount his horse. The black horse neighed, and they galloped away into the night, the Xiuyi guards following closely behind.

The intense firelight and dark clouds dissipated, and the town entrance returned to silence.

……

……

Inspector Ji Ying pressed his forehead against his desk, as if trying to soothe a headache.

Two officials accompanied him inside, their expressions tense.

"Did the Xiuyi come to cause trouble?" one official asked in a low voice. "Were problems discovered with the executed mountain bandits?"

The other official muttered, "So that is the Xiuyi Commander Wei Jiao. He’s so young, and he seems quite easy to talk to."

Ji Ying raised his head. "Easy to talk to? Don't be fooled by his appearance; this man is a madman." He paused here and pointed to his head. "The kind who is truly mentally ill."

Truly mentally ill? Was that for real? Both officials were local county magistrates, and their information on the capital was somewhat delayed.

"Then why does His Majesty use him?" one official asked.

Ji Ying sneered. "Because his father is Wei Cui, of course."

The two officials exchanged a look.

One official said, "The Great General of Longxi, Wei Cui? So he is his son."

"His Majesty truly favors the Wei clan. I heard he is going to grant Wei Cui a princedom," the other official said.

Ji Ying seemed unwilling to discuss this and waved his hand to stop them. "In any case, ignore him. He isn't here to investigate this case." He gave a mocking smile. "He wouldn't even look twice at a case like this."

The officials breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking of the status of the person involved in this case, they realized that while the son of the Great General of Longxi might not care, they couldn't afford not to—after all, she was the daughter of a Duke's household.

Their expressions were full of gratitude.

"It is fortunate that we have you, my lord, otherwise what would we have done?"

"Duke Ding'an is a close courtier of the Emperor; who would have thought his daughter would be here with us?"

"More than just a close courtier. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, those who have been ennobled have either relied on military merit or were from great aristocratic families helping His Majesty stabilize the empire. Yang Shixing possesses neither, yet he was still ennobled..."

"The Yang family were neighbors with His Majesty; they provided much support in his youth. His Majesty never forgets a debt of a single meal."

Seeing the conversation becoming trivial again, Ji Ying tapped the table.

The officials fell silent.

"Beheading the mountain bandits was to provide an explanation to the Duke Ding'an household, and also to appease the public so that panic wouldn't lead to riots," he said. "Once the Duke Ding'an household responds, whether the body is buried on the spot or taken back to the capital, the matter will be concluded. However, you must not slacken. You must continue to pursue the mountain bandits, clear out the hidden dangers, and ensure the peace of the region."

The two officials hurriedly stood up and bowed solemnly. "Yes."

……

……

The two officials walked out, shedding their tension and yawning.

"Let this matter end quickly," one official whispered. "If we keep going like this, we really won't be able to hold on."

The other official still carried a trace of unease. "Is that Wei Jiao really not investigating our case? I hope he doesn't return after the Inspector leaves."

If that happened, they would have nowhere to turn for help.

As they spoke, they saw the lights in the tent go out. The Inspector's personal attendant came out, and they hurriedly pulled him aside to ask repeatedly.

The attendant was somewhat helpless at being pestered.

"Rest assured, both of you, it really isn't about the case here," the attendant said. "Wei Jiao told our lord that it is a case of rebellion and treason."

Rebellion and treason?

The two officials were shocked. "Who rebelled?"

"Jiang Wangchun of Zhao County. Wei Jiao came personally to apprehend him, but before he arrived, the entire Jiang family had been silenced. Now he can only pursue his accomplices," the attendant said in a low voice. "That is why he came this way."

So that was it. It had nothing to do with the mountain bandits. The two officials breathed a sigh of relief, but then they were surprised. "Jiang Wangchun is a highly respected teacher in Zhao County. How could he commit treason?"

The attendant didn't know. "Whatever Wei Jiao says, goes. We wouldn't dare question whether there is evidence or not."

Since it involved treason, the two officials didn't ask any more questions. They thanked the attendant and walked toward their own tents to rest.

"If Jiang Wangchun really was committing treason, then who killed his family before the government could?"

"Silenced by his accomplices?"

"These rebels are truly ruthless."

"I hope they have already left our Lu County."

Talking as they went, the two officials entered their tent.

The night grew deeper and heavier.

In the darkness, a shadow swayed, leaping into the pile of waste stones like a cat.

Mo Zheng huddled under the rubble, wrapped her blanket tight, and closed her eyes.

(End of chapter)