When Ma Bing and others left Jinze, they only then realized Yuan Yuan had not left yet.
Ji Fang had also stayed behind.
Thus, two little tails were added to the back of the Kaifeng Prefecture group.
Considering the previous carriage was a hearse carrying corpses, the entire return journey became eerie.
Even Huo Ping, who usually disliked gossip, couldn’t help asking his companion, “What exactly is going on back there?”
His companion glanced at Ji Fang, who was following closely behind, and chuckled, “You know what they say—fair ladies inspire gentlemen’ affection.”
Huo Ping looked at Yuan Yuan and nodded in sudden understanding, “Indeed, Miss Yuan is quite lovely.”
But her family background is quite inferior!
His companion stared at his large head, “…”
Forget it, I shouldn’t bother explaining to you.
Clearly, a big head doesn’t necessarily mean a sharp mind.
Upon entering the city, the hearse took the side gate, while the Kaifeng Prefecture officials, on official business, could use the central gate. Ma Bing had originally intended to accompany Yuan Yuan inside, when suddenly Xie Yu called out from behind, “Someone, escort Master Ji home.”
Ji Fang, newly freed, thought this was utterly absurd.
We’re already at my doorstep—do I really need an escort at my age?
“No need. I’ll see Miss Ma back to Kaifeng Prefecture instead.”
Ma Bing was stunned.
Wait, what does this have to do with me?
Xie Yu’s expression darkened, and he raised his hand, “Also, convey to Master and Madam Ji to keep their family in check—don’t interfere with Kaifeng Prefecture’s investigations.”
Needless to say, Ji’s parents were shocked and anxious upon hearing this, unable to fathom how their son had somehow incurred the charge of “obstructing an official investigation” just from going out to play. Huo Ping, for one, suspected that his superior’s decision was laced with personal vendetta.
So you didn’t get enough of a beating on the polo field that day, huh?
Later, when they entered the city, Yuan Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and said, “Dear older sister Ma, today’s outing was rather unfortunate. We’ll have to meet again another time. I won’t disturb you while you’re busy with official matters—I’ll head home first.”
Ma Bing nodded, “Remember to drink some calming tea so your parents won’t worry.”
Yuan Yuan smiled sweetly, “Okay, older sister, you also take care of your wrist—don’t push yourself too hard, or you might leave a lasting injury.”
Ma Bing chuckled and pinched her soft cheek.
They exchanged farewells in cheerful chatter for over a dozen rounds, when suddenly they noticed a large group of scholars in long robes striding down Zhuque Street, discussing something with great intensity and emotion.
Ma Bing was puzzled when she heard Xie Yu summon someone to inquire.
The man struggled to hide his excitement, “Apparently many scholars are holding a sit-in at the palace gates, demanding an audience with the Emperor!”
A sit-in at the palace gates?!
This was a huge matter!
Xie Yu wasn’t surprised and explained to Ma Bing, “In recent days, the call to abolish the examination guarantee fee has grown stronger. The debate has spread from the court to the common people. At the beginning of the month, many poor scholars submitted a joint petition, but their memorial was suppressed… The autumn examination is less than four months away. They must want this resolved before the exams begin.”
After hearing this, Ma Bing thought of Cao Qing, who was awaiting execution in prison, and felt a complex mix of emotions.
The abolition of the guarantee fee affected countless commoners. If it succeeded, their descendants would have another path forward—no wonder they fought so hard.
When these people, whom the aristocrats saw as ants, united, their collective power surpassed everyone’s expectations.
Just a month ago, no one could have imagined that a mere one or two taels of silver would act like a spark, igniting a raging fire across the capital and spreading like wildfire throughout the entire empire.
Though the aristocratic families were powerful, they had initially mocked these efforts as futile attempts by weaklings to challenge giants. But faced with the current situation, even they might struggle to find a way to completely suppress this movement.
Public opinion is like water—it can carry a boat, but also capsize it.
Ma Bing looked at Xie Yu, “Master Xie, being from a noble family yourself, what do you think of all this?”
“Nothing much,” Xie Yu replied calmly. “If the commoners rise, the court will gain many capable officials. This is good for both the people and the nation.”
As for the noble-born, those panicking now are mostly the incompetent ones. Their downfall wouldn’t be a great loss.
When they reached the gates of the Kaifeng Prefecture, a deep, resonant drumming came from the imperial palace—”Dong… dong… dong…”
The drumbeats were low and powerful, like thunder rolling across the summer sky, continuous and unrelenting.
Xie Yu said solemnly, “Someone has beaten the Drum of Petition.”
According to the laws of the Great Lu Dynasty, if anyone beats the Drum of Petition at the palace gates, the Emperor must respond.
However, if the petition is unreasonable, the person who beat the drum would be considered as challenging the law and defying imperial authority, facing punishment ranging from imprisonment to exile.
This was the commoners’ last stand.
Ma Bing looked toward the imperial palace. Though she couldn’t see what was happening there, she felt her blood surge, her heart pounding in rhythm with the drumbeats—”Dong… dong… dong…”
People often say scholars are useless, unable to carry burdens or do physical work. But when these people commit themselves to a cause, they can move even the heaviest stones!
As soon as they entered the Kaifeng Prefecture, Tu Yao came hurrying toward them in official robes.
He usually valued etiquette, but this time his robe flapped wildly as he walked, showing the urgency of the situation.
Xie Yu led the greeting, “Sir, are you heading to the palace? Do you need us to accompany you?”
With such a major incident at the imperial city, the Prefect couldn’t possibly remain uninvolved.
“No need,” Tu Yao waved his hand. “Has the body been brought back?”
Xie Yu replied, “Yes. We’re preparing for the coroner’s examination and will make a sketch to post for identification.”
The worst-case scenario was a corpse with no documents to confirm identity and no relatives to claim it—verifying the identity alone would take a lot of time and effort.
“Good,” Tu Yao paused briefly. “But we must hasten the process. Also, Xie Zi Zhi, take my order and increase patrols inside and outside the city. Prevent any troublemakers from taking advantage of the situation.”
Xie Yu quickly understood his implication, “Understood!”
The scholars’ actions likely had two purposes: to ease the pressure on commoners and to break through the aristocrats’ monopoly. At most, they would sit at the palace gates or beat the Drum of Petition—probably nothing overly aggressive.
The real danger was other forces in the populace attempting to stir up chaos.
Tu Yao exhaled slowly, “This is the critical moment. You all hold down the fort. I’m off.”
It was already difficult enough for commoners to reach the examination hall. If this movement succeeded in abolishing the guarantee fee, that would be ideal. Even if it failed, he would do everything in his power to protect those students.
With this thought, Tu Yao’s eyes grew firmer. He lifted his official robe and stepped into the sedan chair.
“Let’s go!”
Everyone bowed and silently watched his sedan disappear into the distance.
Once the sedan was completely out of sight, Xie Yu led the group to rise, “Go fetch Magistrate Song. We must solve this case quickly!”
Today’s situation was extraordinary. With Tu Yao gone, the entire Kaifeng Prefecture was filled with tension. Even Magistrate Song had no time to scold anyone.
After all, Tu Yao was the one who initiated the proposal to abolish the guarantee fee. If the Emperor approved, all would be well. But if things escalated, and he insisted on protecting the students who sat in protest, he would inevitably face repercussions.
Everyone first went to make the sketch, then waited for the coroner’s examination. When the sun began to set, the coroner rushed over and said, “Sir, your deduction was correct. Zhou Xun was indeed killed by having the candlestick pierce his heart. I found tiny wax fragments inside the tear on his clothing and inside the wound.”
Everyone’s spirits lifted.
Excellent!
By then, everyone was tired and hungry. They stopped discussing the corpse and asked the kitchen to prepare some noodle soup.
Knowing how hard they had worked, the kitchen staff went all out, preparing extra side dishes like pickled radish with chili, sour plum slices with ginger, and slicing two large platters of steamed chicken and tender duck.
Because of the recent heat, the office always kept iced mung bean and licorice water on hand to cool people down, which they also brought over in a large basin.
Initially, they thought the chicken and duck might be too greasy, but when they saw the glossy, sweet-sour apricot jelly drizzled over the meat, it looked incredibly tempting.
Then, a bowl of the cool mung bean water went down, and their hunger surged. They all began eating heartily.
After dinner, the officer who had gone to investigate the fruit tray returned with a report.
“All the fruits were from Old Lady Huang’s shop in the western part of the city, except for the fresh mulberries, which the shop owner specially ordered. The person in question was indeed named Zhou Xun. He had bought from Old Lady Huang many times before and was well-known.
This morning, Zhou Xun came to buy fruits but didn’t say what for. As a regular customer, Old Lady Huang allowed him to borrow a food tray, asking only that he return it in the evening…”
But he never came back.
The fruits were common, but fortunately, the food tray had the shop’s mark on the inside. Otherwise, it would have been like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Xie Yu pressed further, “Do we know where Zhou Xun lived or what he did for a living?”
The officer shook his head, “According to Old Lady Huang, Zhou Xun wasn’t originally from here. He was a drifter, and apparently, he was even a scholar. But he often hung around the red-light district. Since he was good at composing lyrics and songs, many courtesans paid him handsomely to visit. He had no fixed residence.”
Everyone was amazed. This kid really knew how to enjoy life.
“Did he never try to take the exams again?”
In the capital, scholars were a dime a dozen. A mere scholar wasn’t particularly impressive. But hearing of his descent into decadence, there was a sense of regret.
The officer said, “That I don’t know.”
Perhaps he tried, but failed.
Ma Bing asked, “So he spent every day of the year in brothels? Didn’t he have any relatives or friends?”
Such a person would surely have a complex web of relationships and many entanglements. Where should they even begin?
The officer shook his head again, “Old Lady Huang only asked a few casual questions during conversations, and heard bits and pieces from others’ gossip. That’s all she knew.”
Xie Yu concluded, “In that case, tomorrow we’ll take Zhou Xun’s portrait and visit all the major brothels inside and outside the city.”
Before his words finished, Yuan Pei, who had just returned from patrolling, burst in shouting, “It’s huge! You won’t believe who beat the Drum of Petition!”
“Who?” everyone asked in unison.
Yuan Pei gasped for breath, not caring whose cup he used, grabbed the remaining half bowl of iced mung bean water on the table, drank it all in one go, and finally exhaled dramatically, “Li Qinghe!”
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