Miss Fang was too young and too guileless to hold herself back, and she had no guile at all — her shout cut off Jin Yuanbao’s statement.

Zhù Ying said, “Bring them all up for a direct confrontation.”

Jin Yuanbao glanced at Xiao Huan, then turned back and kowtowed, saying, “It was they who said they did not wish to be married off to some ugly man by their family, and would rather choose someone themselves. I said I had no home and no property — their families would never agree. They said: once something is a fait accompli, once there is a child, what choice would the family have but to provide for me? And then the dowry would also come with her. If I did not agree, they would start screaming. Your Excellency, consider — I was all alone in their great household. If they were not willing, they only had to cry out, and I would be done for. I was in a weak and isolated position; they are the ones with the wealthy household at their backs. If they decided to torment me, how could I do anything about it? I was genuinely afraid!”

Miss Fang was shocked and furious, so angry she could not even form proper curses. Xiao Huan beside her stood with a face like ash, motionless.

Of the three, only Miss Fang still had an intact appearance. She had not suffered any punishment, not a single stroke of the board. The other two — one had been beaten nearly raw by the Chief Secretary and was not yet recovered; the other had just been beaten by Zhù Ying, both legs streaked with bloody welts.

Miss Fang glared at Jin Yuanbao: “Say that again!” No, it wasn’t like that — it wasn’t like that! He was the one who said, “Even if your father-in-law doesn’t like me at first, once he sees a grandson he won’t be able to let go.”

Jin Yuanbao said, “Your Excellency — she is the one who set out the wine and food to entertain me! Otherwise how would I have known there was someone like her? Without the two of them acting as insiders, how could I ever have gotten into the compound?”

The Fang patriarch first nearly turned white with rage and fury; his son pounded and rubbed his back. The old man finally gasped a breath back, tottered to his knees before the hall, trembling: “Your Excellency, Your Excellency, Your Excellency — please stand up for this commoner’s cause! If we are to go by whatever this scoundrel says, how are decent people supposed to live?! Your Excellency — it was this commoner’s fault; this commoner should not have mistrusted the authorities…”

He struggled to admit his own earlier fault for “making an unreasonable fuss”: “This commoner was ignorant — please have mercy, Your Excellency.”

On the other side, the three were still fighting a three-cornered battle: Miss Fang directed a few curses at Jin Yuanbao and then turned to try to tear at Xiao Huan: “You despicable wretch! How have I ever wronged you?!” Jin Yuanbao then called Miss Fang a curse and a temptress, and she released Xiao Huan and tried to claw at Jin Yuanbao.

Zhù Ying struck the gavel; Jiang Zhou immediately stepped forward and pressed down on Miss Fang’s shoulder. Miss Fang was pampered and weak; Jiang Zhou was a working girl and used to labor. One firm press on the shoulder and the person was held flat to the ground. Her parents both said, “Answer Your Excellency properly! Speak up — say you were deceived, that you were coerced.”

Zhù Ying struck the gavel again. Miss Fang cooperated this time and said, “That day…”

That day she was bored at home, chatting with Xiao Huan. Her parents had been saying that there were plenty of undesirable men outside — even the young Jing woman had one ogling her — the nerve. So they did not let her go out easily. She had spent most of her days at home, and the family was already trying to arrange a match for her. But she had her heart set on someone exceptional in every way. At this point the maid suddenly pointed into the distance and said, “What about that one?”

The two of them were standing on the upper floor of the small pavilion, and through the surrounding wall they could glimpse a tall, upright young man. Too far away to see his face clearly. Xiao Huan said, “It looks like it might be Jin Yulang. He’s quite handsome — would you like to take a closer look?”

She had thought it was only said in jest, and said, “Very well.”

Zhù Ying then turned to interrogate Xiao Huan. Xiao Huan had been badly beaten earlier and was brought back for more travel and jostling while barely recovered; she was now barely breathing. She said, “The young mistress’s temperament was such that even her own parents’ words she would not heed — what could anyone else do about her?”

Jin Yuanbao also said, “Your Excellency, I have spoken the truth.”

Zhù Ying said to Chief Secretary Zhang, “Chief Secretary — you were right. This maidservant did have a story in her. As for this creature still howling — give him twenty more.”

The constables surged forward and hauled him out for another twenty strokes. Even with some martial skill, another twenty strokes on top of what he had already received was too much. He was dragged back like a dead dog. Remarkably, both girls — though they each directed a “pfff!” at him — could not help glancing in his direction.

The Fang family patriarch and his wife were so enraged they nearly fainted. Unable to do anything about their propriety in the public hall, they dragged their daughter aside and would not let her look at this scoundrel. Because of this one creature, the Fang family had lost all face accumulated over several generations! The “fox spirit” had been bad enough — and then they had made a scene at the yamen on top of it, and now their unmarried daughter’s liaison with a scoundrel had been aired openly in court.

There was nothing they could do but kowtow repeatedly, knocking their foreheads bloody, praying only that Zhù Ying would have some compassion. Chief Secretary Zhang — they had given up on. First there was the Chief Secretary’s reputation, and second, they had already offended him in this very case.

Zhù Ying said, “Help them up — how terrible if they knock themselves unconscious. The facts of the case are fairly clear now. None of you may leave yet — stay here for the time being. Keep a close watch on the young mistress; don’t let anything go wrong again.” Then she turned her gaze to Jin Yuanbao: “Continue.”

Jin Yuanbao was dazed from the beating. “Your Excellency, I have spoken the truth.”

“Rubbish! With methods this practiced, you must have cheated and seduced many women. This is not your only case, is it?”

Zhù Ying gestured, and the constables brought forward the items seized from his house.

Zhù Ying quickly divided these into several groups. The largest portion was what Miss Fang had given him, which he had not yet spent. A few more handkerchiefs, sashes, and the like — Zhù Ying pointed to these: “Did Xiao Huan give you these?” Then holding up the rest: “And where did all of this come from? You’re still not being honest — beat him more.”

This wretched Prefect was far more terrifying than that cold-faced Chief Secretary! Who had said it was the Chief Secretary who was the judge from the underworld? The Prefect was the real one! Jin Yuanbao was a man who told fortunes and could read people’s expressions; he finally realized that this Prefect’s seven emotions did not move her — it was not the official’s cold facade. She simply, naturally, did not take human life seriously!

Jin Yuanbao said, “Those are genuine payment from fortune-telling — telling young women and widows they would definitely find a good match is all it takes! Your Excellency, show mercy — I know about other people too! If Your Excellency spares me, I can expose him, which could solve a case involving a death!”

Zhù Ying said, “Beat him.”

Chief Secretary Zhang said quietly, “Your Excellency? There is currently another case involving a death — Magistrate Guo is hearing it.”

Zhù Ying said, “I can catch this creature, and I can catch that other one too, you little scoundrel — trying to bargain with me? Threatening me, are you?! Beat him — if he dies, it’s on me!”

Jin Yuanbao immediately said, “Stop, stop! I’ll confess! I’ll confess!”

The Chief Secretary also could not quite read Zhù Ying’s full intention, but cooperated by speaking up in a louder voice to discourage her a little. Zhù Ying said, “Speak!”

Jin Yuanbao no longer dared to bargain: “I used to only tell fortunes for a mouthful to eat. One day, I was drinking with a fellow called Second Brother Wang; I saw he had a fine embroidered purse at his waist and teased him about it. He said — as long as you don’t look too bad, if you can find your way to seeing a young woman from a decent family and get her attention, what comes next is very easy. I treated him to wine and food, and pressed him to tell me — so he taught me…”

Wang the Second was a peddler. “Peddler” was an occupation, ranging from teens to fifties, with people of varying ages traveling from village to village. But this Wang the Second was a presentable young man of around twenty, with a sweet mouth and a good eye for reading people. In the villages he regularly passed through, every girl and young wife liked him. A peddler coming into the village aroused no suspicion, and a peddler entering the homes of slightly wealthier people to let the women browse his wares was perfectly common. Peddlers sometimes also doubled as mirror-polishers, which gave them even more opportunity to interact with women without arousing suspicion.

He had gotten into an illicit relationship with one household’s daughter; after Jin Yuanbao’s repeated questioning, Wang the Second told him the woman’s name. This was the case of the new-bride suicide that had been causing such a stir in recent days.

Chief Secretary Zhang said, “This man speaks nothing but lies — it would be better not to trust him without a confrontation.”

The Chief Secretary, who had been quite ready to accept the “temptress” narrative, suddenly found Jin Yuanbao completely untrustworthy when it came to evidence about other people’s cases.

Zhù Ying said, “Someone, summon Magistrate Guo.”

While waiting for Magistrate Guo, the Fang family begged her repeatedly. Jin Yuanbao kept insisting he had been seduced by the women. Miss Fang glared furiously at Jin Yuanbao and Xiao Huan, gouging at Xiao Huan with her eyes. Xiao Huan was expressionless.

The Chief Secretary looked at Zhù Ying. She still had that same expression — not the slightest trace of fatigue, let alone any other emotion. He sighed: “Your Excellency’s manner of handling things truly is exceptional — to have resolved everything all at once.”

Zhù Ying said, “Didn’t the Chief Secretary see through it long ago? If not for the uproar two days ago — a few more days of custody, and the maid’s silence would eventually break. That young mistress — she would not have held out.”

The Chief Secretary smiled. “They’ll be saying it was a coerced confession again.”

“Do they say it any less?” Zhù Ying said, dismissing the concern lightly.

Having nothing else to do, Zhù Ying asked Jin Yuanbao, “That night — how did you get away?”

Jin Yuanbao said, “I pretended to help catch the fox spirit. I blended into the crowd; they didn’t realize it was me.”

“Has everything been recorded properly? Have them sign and press their seals.”

Within a few moments, Magistrate Guo came rushing in — he had come along on the trip to make arrests. When the hearing was closed for the inner session, he too had been locked outside. He had not gone far, and came back in with just a few steps. He entered, cupped his hands: “Your Excellency! Has the case made progress?”

Zhù Ying pointed at Jin Yuanbao. “Have him tell it. Your case.”

Jin Yuanbao recounted it all again. Magistrate Guo was delighted: “This subordinate will send people to arrest him immediately!”

Most of the constables were local, and locating this peddler was comparatively simple — go to the countryside and ask around, then arrest him — done. The only problem was that with this development, Magistrate Guo’s case would not be concluded today. Magistrate Guo sent people off to make the arrest and, extremely curious, glanced at the sky and slipped back inside to see how the “fox spirit” case turned out.

He had more or less guessed that the “fox spirit” involved an illicit affair, but you never knew what these young men and women would cook up for you.

He came in to find Jin Yuanbao in the process of pressing his seal, the Fang patriarch in the process of signing a guarantor document, and Miss Fang about to press her fingerprint.

Magistrate Guo said, “Is the case being concluded? It’s almost curfew time.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “There is still more to hear. Your case also move quickly — get your person here for a confrontation with this Jin Yuanbao.”

Jin Yuanbao hurriedly kowtowed. “This person can testify — this is the man!”

Nobody was willing to trust a word from his mouth. Zhù Ying said, “Take them all down first — continue tomorrow.” This time, neither side caused any further scenes. The Fang family cried themselves dizzy, drooping their heads, hating Jin Yuanbao to the bone.

Jin Yuanbao glanced at them and thought: I cannot stay in this place any longer. Even banishment would be better than remaining here and suffering their revenge! If only he had run that night when he had the chance!

Zhù Ying said, “Court adjourned.”

Martial Sister Hu had been standing to one side throughout. Hearing these words, she stepped forward without a sound and — crack, crack — dislocated both of Jin Yuanbao’s arms. Jin Yuanbao let out a howl of agony, then struggled to smile through the pain, saying with a half-pleading tone, “This young lady — what a fine technique. Rather painful, though.”

Martial Sister Hu had not expected him to cry out so loudly. She looked at him for a moment, then said to Zhù Ying, “Your Excellency — he has some martial skill. I’ve done this so he cannot run. When you finish questioning him, I’ll put them back.”

The Chief Secretary said, “There we go — run a skewer through his lute-bone!”

Jin Yuanbao cried out: “Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!”

The constables looked to Zhù Ying; she nodded. Martial Sister Hu said quite naturally, “Let me help you.” Her voice was completely flat and matter-of-fact; the constables dared not be careless, and seeing Zhù Ying did not object, they all went together to the back to deal with Jin Yuanbao.

The hall was thoroughly satisfied! Only the two girls’ faces showed a flicker of reluctance. They were then placed in the women’s holding cell with female guards watching through the night. Martial Sister Hu had meant to help keep watch, but was taken to the rear courtyard by Xiang An; Jiang Zhou took over the task. Xiang An said, “I’ll come relieve you in the second half of the night.”

Jiang Zhou said, “Don’t worry — just this one night! Good younger sister — let me! If I work a little extra, when I ask Your Excellency questions I can chat a little more with Your Excellency.”

Xiang An said, “Even if you only do the second half of the night, Your Excellency will still teach you.”

The two finished speaking, and Xiang An quickly took Martial Sister Hu to the rear courtyard.

On the road, Martial Sister Hu said, “Are there still things to report?”

Xiang An smiled. “No.”

“If everything is done, then I’ll go back.”

Xiang An said, “No hurry, no hurry, Martial Sister — can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?”

Xiang An said, “What are your plans from here on?”

“Find some work. I have no other skills; just these martial arts. The trouble is families looking for guards don’t much like hiring women.”

“Your skills are better than my second older brother’s.”

“That doesn’t look right.”

Xiang An said, “Then… what would you think, if — if Your Excellency wanted to hire you, would you be willing to work for Your Excellency?”

Martial Sister Hu was startled. “Enter the government service?”

Xiang An said, “No need to be on the official rolls — Your Excellency would hire you privately to help with things. Normally you would live in the household; there are several women in the household too. If there is something like today’s assignment, you would be called upon. The pay can be negotiated. What do you think?”

Martial Sister Hu thought for a moment, then said, “All right — it also means keeping you company.”

“Don’t look at me — just think about yourself.”

They were almost at the rear courtyard entrance. Martial Sister Hu stopped and said, “What do you think?”

“Of course I want you to stay.”

“Then all right.” Martial Sister Hu said, “This Excellency is a good official.”

Xiang An said, “What about the wage? What kind would you like?”

“Is Your Excellency really going to hire me?”

“Yes.”

“You decide what’s appropriate — don’t ask for too much and scare her off.” Martial Sister Hu said.

“Do you want to be an official at the yamen, or work for Your Excellency privately?”

Martial Sister Hu said, “I won’t go into the yamen — I can’t do anything else anyway. If Your Excellency has something like today that needs me, just give the word and I’ll do it.”

Xiang An said, “Then — two sets of seasonal clothing, all four seasons, meals and lodging included. You live with me. Food… hmm, you eat with the old lady and Da’niang. A string of cash per month. If you fall ill, medical care included. If you manage to work with our Excellency for three years and then want to leave, just give two months’ notice in advance so a replacement can be found, and you’ll also be given travel expenses. What do you say — is that acceptable?”

Martial Sister Hu didn’t even dare to accept at first. “This… this is too good to be true?!”

All meals and lodging included, plus clothing, and three years’ wages would be pure savings — enough to buy several good plots of land! A string of cash per month — her father when he was alive, going with trade caravans, had not earned this much.

Xiang An said, “Your Excellency is genuinely a good person!”

Martial Sister Hu thought back to things Xiang An had told her before — her father’s grudge, all those cases — and what she had seen of Zhù Ying’s conduct these days. She nodded. “At those terms, I could work on and on indefinitely — the only worry is that when I’m old my bones won’t be as strong as a young person’s, and then I won’t be of use.”

Xiang An said, “By that time you’ll have your own savings, and Your Excellency won’t abandon you either. Look at Old Uncle Hou.”

Martial Sister Hu nodded. “All right.”

The two went in hand in hand. Zhù Ying was already sitting in her study; Gu Tong was attending her with tea, and Ding Gui smiled. “Young Master — don’t steal this old servant’s livelihood!”

Gu Tong had gotten quite comfortable with him by now. “Go, go, go.”

Ding Gui smiled. “Days like these, and you still act like you’re seeing Your Excellency perform for the first time?”

Gu Tong said, “I am being diligent in learning.”

Zhù Ying said, “Fine — when the case is concluded I will explain it to you from the beginning.”

Gu Tong was pleased. Xiang An said from outside, “Your Excellency, Martial Sister has been brought.”

Gu Tong ran to open the door.

He was quite curious about Martial Sister Hu too, and greeted her: “Martial Sister Hu, please come in.”

After they came in, the two stood before the desk. Zhù Ying rose and said, “You’ve come? Sit.” Ding Gui brought up tea.

Martial Sister Hu was careful not to sit. A little constrained, she performed a bow: “This woman greets Your Excellency.”

Zhù Ying said, “You’ve worked hard these past few days.”

Martial Sister Hu said, “It was… nothing, really.”

Zhù Ying said, “Please drink your tea. Has Third Lady spoken with you?”

Martial Sister Hu forgot the tea entirely: “Yes.”

Xiang An spoke for her: “Martial Sister is a free spirit and doesn’t adjust well to the yamen’s constraints. She respects Your Excellency’s conduct and is willing to look after the household for Your Excellency. If Your Excellency has other matters to summon her for, she will also do her duty without hesitation.”

Zhù Ying said, “That would be wonderful! Does the lady have any requirements?”

Martial Sister Hu quickly said, “It is already far too good.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then — let us sign a contract! I’ll have one drawn up.”

She had a contract prepared with the terms listed clearly. Martial Sister Hu was somewhat illiterate; Xiang An read it to her. Martial Sister Hu was so moved, she could hardly believe she was signing a contract with a Prefect’s household for a guard position — so much better than toiling under the sun and wind. Going with a trade caravan, the hard travel was the least of it; the weather, illness, and so on were even more worrisome.

She could not write either, and just pressed her fingerprint. Two copies of the contract, three years to start, renewed upon completion.

Zhù Ying said, “Very well — now prepare for dinner. When you get back, we’ll set up your furniture and clothing. The household has extra bedding, which you can start using tonight. Tomorrow move your luggage over. For now, eat what there is — if there are any dietary restrictions or preferences, tell the kitchen staff, Qiao’er and Widow Lin. You can stay in the west courtyard up front. Any laundry that needs doing, there is also someone in the household to manage it.”

She had arranged everything for Martial Sister Hu without waiting to call Huajie! She had a soft spot for Martial Sister Hu’s pellet-throwing skills.

Martial Sister Hu had never met such a senior official, and found it unexpectedly warm — nothing like an official at all. And so attentive, arranging everything thoroughly. At first she could barely believe it, and felt a little flustered. Her knees slightly bent: “I am a rough person — anything goes. This is already too much.”

Zhù Ying said, “Settle in first.”

Martial Sister Hu still didn’t quite dare sit at the table for dinner — guards didn’t usually eat together with their employers. Xiang An dragged her bodily to the table. Martial Sister Hu thought: Perhaps it’s just the first day and the employer is being courteous — I must not take this as normal and start acting presumptuous.

All three of the Zhù household — hearing she had no family and was on her own — promptly felt sympathy for her. Even Zhù Da said, “There are rooms in the house — just stay here.”

Huajie looked her over and already knew she would need to add to her wardrobe. Over dinner she deferred to her and, seeing Martial Sister Hu was still a bit constrained, stopped being so solicitous — better not to make her uncomfortable. Zhang Xiangu said to Huajie, “Give her the full rundown later.” Then she asked Martial Sister Hu her name.

Martial Sister Hu had never had a proper name. Some called her “Widow Hu,” others “Lady Hu.” Zhang Xiangu simply called her “Lady Hu.”

And so her name in the household was settled.

That evening, Huajie first took her around to meet all the members of the household, then brought Du Dajie along to open the storeroom and fetch new bedding. She also temporarily lent Martial Sister Hu one of her own sets of clothing to change into. “Everyone else’s clothes won’t fit right — this is mine, new and never worn. Tomorrow we’ll have the tailor cut a fresh set.”

Originally, the Xiang siblings had occupied the west wing of the first courtyard; brother and sister shared one courtyard. Now that Zhù Ying needed to set up a room for Martial Sister Hu, Martial Sister Hu quickly said there was no need — she could put a bed in the Xiang siblings’ side room and that would be plenty. Zhù Ying could see it: Martial Sister Hu’s relationship with these two younger martial siblings could not be viewed as an ordinary martial-school bond. The Xiang family had once been the Hu family’s employers — the Xiangs had money; the Hus had provided labor. Earlier talk of “keeping you company” — on reflection, was not quite right. Better to give her a separate courtyard.

Zhù Ying said, “They are already settled in their place — no sense in moving them again. A separate courtyard is available; you can have it. If someone else comes later, they’ll stay in your courtyard with you.”

Hearing this, Martial Sister Hu immediately agreed.

The room’s furnishings had all been supplied at the same time — bamboo pieces, needing only a dusting before use. Martial Sister Hu had her very own little courtyard now; everything new; it felt like a dream. She washed, combed her hair, changed into new clothes, and lay down under new bedding. In all her twenty-odd years, she had no memory of a day when everything was brand new all at once. In the past everything was always patched and made-do — clothes only replaced when they could no longer be worn, and then still with old shoes. By the time new shoes were made, the clothes were already in patches again. Sometimes not even that worked out, and she wore straw sandals to get by. All her possessions were the same.

Martial Sister Hu lay on the bed, tossing and turning.

Early the next morning she snapped her eyes open. Staring at the unfamiliar surroundings, she bolted upright, felt the darkness swim, then remembered where she was. She quickly got up, dressed, pulled open the door and wanted to find water — she had to wash up fast; she needed to practice her forms.

Coming out of the courtyard she ran into Du Dajie coming with a basin: “Lady Hu? I’ve brought water for you.”

Martial Sister Hu asked, “A’Jie — where is the well?”

Du Dajie told her, then said, “Later I’ll scrub out the water vat and fill it. The courtyard has a water vat so taking water is convenient.”

Martial Sister Hu got herself ready. Huajie’s clothes had a little extra room on her frame; she tucked in all the hems and set out to see if she could use the plum-blossom training stakes. She arrived to find Zhù Ying already crouching on top of them. Martial Sister Hu was startled: “Your Excellency?!”

Zhù Ying smiled. “Come — shall we train?”

Martial Sister Hu lightly jumped up onto one of the lower stakes. Zhù Ying said, “Feel free to use them whenever you like.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying chatted with her for a while, asking whether she practiced every day and so on. Martial Sister Hu, when she had no particular duties, spent her days eating, practicing forms, and if Zhù Ying was busy, just practicing. Zhù Ying thought: True specialization in one field.

She said, “Eat more meat after practice, or you’ll go hungry.”

Martial Sister Hu’s face flushed. “Yes.”

Zhù Ying jumped down: “All right — you carry on.” She went to pick up her bow and arrow; a few shots, and she shook her head. The courtyard was too small; at this distance her aim was fine, but at longer range she did not practice often and it might be poor. Time to find Commander Mei.

After the morning exercise, she rested a while, ate breakfast, and went to the prefectural office.

Martial Sister Hu spent that day being dragged by Huajie and the others to sort out the room — all the furniture wiped down, the bedding re-aired in the sun. Then it was choosing fabric, then finding a tailor. Martial Sister Hu simply picked several bolts of white cotton cloth, refusing silk: “Plain cloth is fine.” Huajie said, “What size of shoe?”

Martial Sister Hu said, “I’ll sew my own.”

Huajie said, “When would you ever find the time for that?”

Martial Sister Hu thought of it: she was a guard for the household, and if there was a case the yamen needed her for too. She quickly said, “Da’niang is right.” She hurried to retrieve her things. She had a very small bundle, the cloth still bearing a patch, and put it in the wardrobe. She went to fill the water vat herself, and put her sleeves back down, brushed off her clothes, made a circuit of the rear courtyard checking that the doors were all locked and the walls had no one climbing over — then went to the front yamen and stood alongside Xiang An to stand guard at Zhù Ying’s side.

Magistrate Guo moved fast this time — a match for Li Sifa when he had arrested the gambling den owner.

He also made his arrest overnight. The person was brought to the prefectural office for a direct confrontation with Jin Yuanbao; once the confrontation was done, Zhù Ying would conclude her session and Magistrate Guo would take over and continue hearing his own case.

Wang the Second at first flatly denied everything, but Jin Yuanbao described with facility the ornaments Wang the Second wore on his person. Wang the Second said, “He’s been close with me — knowing what I carry on me is nothing strange.”

Zhù Ying had the new bride’s mother and maidservant called over to identify the items. The new bride’s mother said, “These are my daughter’s needlework.” The maidservant only kept her head bowed, tears streaming, and nodded.

Wang the Second then said, “That day she asked me to buy a hairpin, didn’t have enough money, and used these as payment.”

Jin Yuanbao burst out: “Nonsense! You clearly said you had charmed that foolish girl into giving you these! Then show them to the father-in-law, and whether he liked you or not, he wouldn’t be able to refuse you! Your Excellency, he has other things on him too!”

The maidservant suddenly lifted her head: “Second Brother Wang — is this really true?! How much you deceived our young mistress!”

Magistrate Guo also had not expected his own case to be blown open all over again at the prefectural office’s court. The maidservant who had always been at her mistress’s side of course knew the most. Unlike the Fang family’s situation, Wang the Second had been able to meet the bride directly on his own; the two had fallen for each other. The little maidservant had been concealing things only to help her own young mistress.

When they learned of the impending marriage, both mistress and maidservant panicked, wanting to find Wang the Second. But a peddler was always on the move; if he didn’t come to find them, they had no way to find him. When the day came, the bride had despaired.

Zhù Ying asked where he had gone. Wang the Second said, “This person owed some gambling debts and had gone to hide from creditors.”

Zhù Ying said to Magistrate Guo, “This is your case.”

Magistrate Guo said, “Yes, yes. Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“No need to say such things. Chief Secretary — that other case is yours.”

The Chief Secretary absolutely refused to accept it: “Your Excellency investigated the facts; of course it is for Your Excellency to pass judgment!”

Zhù Ying said, “The Chief Secretary’s earlier assessment was entirely correct — it was only because the plaintiff gathered a mob that the questioning had to be interrupted.”

The Chief Secretary declined repeatedly.

The two were in the middle of this exchange of courtesies at the top of the hall when the Fang family below grew frantic with anxiety. They first went to apologize to the Chief Secretary, acknowledging their own ignorance. Then they turned and asked Zhù Ying to judge the case.

The Chief Secretary also wanted to see how Zhù Ying would judge this case, and graciously stepped aside.

Zhù Ying said, “Very well — I will adjudicate in the Chief Secretary’s place. Those below the hall, hear the judgment!”

The new-bride suicide case finally had a breakthrough — that was a good thing. The difficulty was how to judge what was in front of them. A rigid judge would hand down nothing harsher than exile for Jin Yuanbao, the maidservant would probably be sold, and Miss Fang would not come out well either. Though the two girls were foolish and deserved to be taught a lesson, ruining Jin Yuanbao’s victim for life with merely exile felt too light. Zhù Ying did not want to use back-channel means the way she had in the Cao Shi case to send him to his death.

And slapping local gentry in the face was satisfying, but having constant skirmishes with them every day was tiresome too. The local gentry here were more troublesome than the landed gentry in Fulu County.

You’re not a “fox spirit”? And you also happen to play at impersonating gods and telling fortunes — so accusing you of “witchcraft” would not be unjust, would it?

Zhù Ying said slowly: “Jin Yuanbao — you say you were all alone inside their great compound, that if they were not willing they only had to cry out, and you would be done for. Yet these mistress and maidservant together never let out a single sound throughout. Evidently you have some supernatural power! I will now abolish that power!”

She ordered charcoal to be lit, then threw her own official seal into the fire. She had Jin Yuanbao pressed outside the yamen gate, and when the seal was heated red-hot, she used the fire tongs to press it against Jin Yuanbao’s face. A puff of white smoke rose; Jin Yuanbao screamed in agony.

The crowd of onlookers who had gathered to hear the verdict of this strange case — Jing Gang and the other local gentry, Academy students, all there watching — the “fox spirit’s methods are now being broken.” White smoke rising — there truly was witchcraft involved! And now looking at Jin Yuanbao, the face that had just seemed so handsome and personable was now grotesquely contorted. The evil arts were truly broken!

Zhù Ying then threw the hairpin Jin Yuanbao had given Miss Fang — the one Martial Sister Hu had spied on when she was watching — into the charcoal fire to burn: “The witchcraft implement is now destroyed, and the person will now come to her senses.”

Of course she did not put Miss Fang on display. The girl did not look as though she would come to her senses anytime soon.

Old Man Fang collapsed against his son’s arm and said, “It is over now.”

The witchcraft accusation meant Jin Yuanbao was finished. His daughter was not carrying on a liaison with someone — she had only been under an irresistible spell; now it was broken. Her reputation could never be fully restored, but the worst outcome had been prevented. Old Man Fang’s heart was full of relief; when he looked at Zhù Ying again he found the Prefect thoroughly likable and kind.

Zhù Ying did not pass judgment on Xiao Huan — she returned her to the Fang family. Xiao Huan was detestable, but judging her would inevitably drag Miss Fang further in. This young woman had already had quite enough misfortune. But Xiao Huan was the Fang family’s maidservant, and they now resented her — which would probably not be good for her. Zhù Ying could not protect Xiao Huan any further.

Once judgment was rendered, Zhù Ying also took the opportunity to issue a public notice, broadcasting to the whole prefecture: “Do not believe in heterodox cults! If you are going to worship, worship the gods and spirits properly established by the court! If you are going to attend a temple, attend a temple or monastery with a proper court-issued certificate. And do not pay tribute or sacrifice to false gods — that is witchcraft!”

At the same time she gave another public reading of the great crime of “witchcraft,” telling everyone: spirits and immortals would never physically consort with mortals; demons and monsters only swindle, seduce, and prey upon women and widows — all of it is “witchcraft and demonic arts.” Dare to speak of such things — come report it to the authorities. Red-hot iron branded on the face, skewer through the lute-bone, then beheaded. That is how it is dealt with. You can relax; the authorities can handle it. No need to fear!

And if someone asks you to surrender your family property — that too is witchcraft; never believe it!

When the verdict was announced, the crowd of common people burst into cheers. A few wise elders in the crowd, seeing all this, smiled knowingly and sighed: “Your Excellency is a fair-hearted person — giving people a way out.”

“Fair-hearted” had already returned inside the prefectural office. Jing Gang and the others followed in; the Fang family, having cleaned their faces that day, also followed to express their thanks.

Zhù Ying said, “If you wish to thank anyone, thank the Chief Secretary. If the Chief Secretary had not taken your case in hand, you would still be in the dark — and taking his hold on your daughter was wrong?”

Old Man Fang understood the hint and also apologized to the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary said, “Please rise quickly. I am this prefecture’s Chief Secretary — what I should manage, I will continue to manage.”

Jing Gang said, “At least the fox spirit has been caught.”

“Have you ever seen such a useless fox spirit?” Zhù Ying asked Jing Gang.

Jing Gang was speechless.

Zhù Ying said to Old Man Fang, “Your daughter needs to read some books and see more of the world — you can certainly afford it. Do you want to raise a simpleton to be served up to someone else?”

“Yes, yes.”

“As for that maidservant—” Zhù Ying said, “what do you plan to do with her?”

“What is Your Excellency’s meaning…?”

“You are angry — everyone understands that. If you want to pursue further action, that is your own business. But I do not wish to hear that this case gives rise to any further rumors, and I absolutely do not wish to hear reports of mistreatment.”

“Yes, yes — a quiet punishment to close the matter!”

“All right then. You have had quite a commotion for a while now — go home and recover. Chief Secretary — shall we go listen to how the case next door is being judged?”

The Chief Secretary smiled. “After you.”

Magistrate Guo’s case was a thorough pleasure. The evidence and witnesses had all been delivered to his door; this maidservant hated Wang the Second with a grinding of teeth. She had been with the bride for seven years, had helped out in the household since she was young. Her mistress had found a man she liked, and she had helped her mistress — but what a thing to come to! The maid swore she would bite Wang the Second to death.

Magistrate Guo thought over the way Zhù Ying had just judged the previous case, pondered for a moment, and sentenced Wang the Second to death by strangulation. The grounds: “Enticing a woman into a liaison meant knowing she would have no way to live afterward — equivalent to plotting her death.” The bride — though having done wrong — had already committed suicide, and so no further action would be taken; the parents could reclaim the body for burial. The husband’s family, who had suffered through no fault of their own, were to receive the return of the betrothal gifts and compensation for wedding expenses. The maidservant had also done wrong, but for her merit in giving testimony, she received twenty strokes of the board and was sold.

Acceptable, all in all. Zhù Ying nodded, and returned to the prefectural office with the Chief Secretary.

The day had been quite thoroughly filled. Zhù Ying said to Martial Sister Hu, “Has your luggage been moved in?”

Martial Sister Hu said, “All settled. Tomorrow I’ll give back the rented room.”

“Good. The household has a few monkeys — when you see them, don’t take it to heart. One little monkey wants to learn from you. If you’re willing to teach, teach her; if not, send her off to practice writing instead.”

Martial Sister Hu said, “Of course. That young lady — to train her to real skill, it takes suffering and time. She also needs to learn characters. She won’t have that much time to practice forms. I’m afraid she won’t become truly accomplished.”

“No matter — whatever effort she puts in, that’s what she’ll get out. Oh — do you want to learn to read characters?”

“Me?”

A sudden commotion from outside. Zhù Ying said, “Go see what’s happening.”

Ding Gui had just lifted his foot when Martial Sister Hu had already flashed out like a white shadow. She quickly returned and said, “The maidservant who was just sold — she dashed her head against a wall and is dead.”

Zhù Ying gave a quiet sigh, pointed at Ding Gui, and said, “Have Little Wu release a bit of money — have her buried.”