The proprietor of Zhiyinjiu was named Lu Ruiming. Two years prior, he had spent more than half his savings to purchase a property in the capital, Daxing, sending his wife and children there while he stayed behind alone to keep the tavern going.

Zhiyinjiu had been passed down through his family. He didn’t want to let it die out on his watch. The tavern had been in operation for over a hundred years, and if it were to end now, he felt he would be failing his father and his ancestors.

Yet he also knew that with Dachu in its current state, no one could say when a small county town like Tang County might be overrun by bandits.

Even though the neighboring county of Laihu was Liu Chongxin’s hometown, those bandit forces in winter, when their supplies ran low, might well strike across the border.

For the past two years, it had been a few waitstaff and the kitchen chef who kept him company. Most of them went home in the evenings, but fortunately Yu Jiuling lived on the premises, so he didn’t feel quite so alone.

After three cups of liquor, Lu Ruiming’s face had turned slightly flushed.

“What only-one-of-its-kind nonsense.”

Lu Ruiming slapped the table and swore.

Everyone was baffled, wondering where that had come from.

“They all say Zhiyinjiu’s Shaodaozi is the genuine article — pure in flavor, fragrant in aroma, crisp and powerful. But the truth is… it’s just that we don’t dilute it with water. Other taverns selling wine — one jug of wine gets half a jug of water added. What the hell kind of flavor is that supposed to give you?”

Yu Jiuling said, “Innkeeper, you’ve had too much to drink.”

“Too much?”

Lu Ruiming said, “I ought to know how strong my own wine is. You underestimate me far too much.” He smiled at Yu Jiuling and said, “Ten years younger and I could put every last one of you under the table… When I was a boy, my father was teaching me to brew wine. I’d sneak drinks all the time, so my father thought something had gone wrong in the process — the yield was always less than before.”

He said loudly, “Back then after too many cups I’d always think I should be a righteous wandering hero — that’s how it was in the storyteller’s tales: anyone who could drink was a great hero.”

His tone abruptly shifted, carrying several shades of sadness.

“Back then there were no bandits. The common people’s lives were still manageable… I don’t know what happened, but later the court just kept raising taxes, again and again, until the people had nothing left to eat…”

Yu Jiuling said, “Innkeeper, you really have had too much.”

“I have not!”

Lu Ruiming said, “I know my own capacity… And you all know what I’m saying is true. Where did all the court’s money go? Why does it keep reaching into the pockets of common people?”

Yan Qingzhi said, “Innkeeper Lu, drink a little less.”

Just then several people entered through the front door. They glanced inside — there was only Li Diudiu’s table, because outside hung a sign saying “Closed for the day.” Feeling stifled in a private room, they had chosen to sit in the main hall. The people who had just entered had an unfriendly air about them; their hands all rested on the hilts of their sabers.

Ye Zhangzhu, who had not been drinking, frowned slightly and said quietly to Xiahou Zuo, “Surveillance Bureau men. It’s probably related to Master Yuming’s case. Don’t make any rash moves.”

The Surveillance Bureau guards entered. The leader was a squad leader who looked the group over and said, “Which one of you is Lu Ruiming, proprietor of this tavern?”

Lu Ruiming hurried to his feet. “In answer to the official, that’s me.”

The squad leader narrowed his eyes and looked him over, then ordered, “Come with us now. The Surveillance Bureau has questions for you.”

Lu Ruiming was startled and quickly asked, “Official, what is this about?”

“Why so many words!”

The squad leader snapped, “No more dawdling. Come with us now.”

Lu Ruiming had no idea why the Surveillance Bureau had come for him. He was simply rather unlucky: the previous night he had followed Li Diudiu and the others wanting to talk them out of taking Yu Jiuling away, only to encounter the affair with Master Yuming. Curious, he had stayed to watch the commotion.

Shortly before this, Surveillance Bureau Lieutenant Commander Yan Jiuji had entered the city and ordered people to be brought in for questioning. Someone reported that Zhiyinjiu’s proprietor Lu Ruiming had been present at the scene, and further investigation revealed that Master Yuming had previously visited Zhiyinjiu on multiple occasions to drink.

Xiahou Zuo had just gotten to his feet and was about to speak when Ye Zhangzhu tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to reveal his identity for the moment.

Before Xiahou Zuo could say anything, Yan Qingzhi stood up and said, “Sir, I am a teacher at the Four-Page Academy in Jizhou City. Innkeeper Lu is a close friend of mine. He hasn’t done anything wrong, has he?”

“And what does the Four-Page Academy matter?”

The squad leader’s expression darkened. He fixed his eyes on Yan Qingzhi and said, “Do you think the title of a penniless teacher is enough to obstruct Surveillance Bureau business? Think about whether you’re important enough before you stick your nose in other people’s affairs — don’t end up getting yourself tangled in this as well.”

Yan Qingzhi’s anger flickered.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Lu Ruiming said, “The official is just taking me to ask a few questions. I haven’t done anything wrong. There’s no need to worry. I’ll be back before you know it.”

He tidied his clothes and stepped toward the door, then turned back and said, “Jiuling, look after our guests well.”

Yu Jiuling said, “Innkeeper, I’ll go with you.”

The squad leader roared, “All this dithering — do you want me to put you in irons?!”

Lu Ruiming bowed hurriedly. “We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare. Please don’t be angry, sir. This boy is young and doesn’t know any better. Please don’t mind him.”

As he walked, he glanced back toward the counter. Yu Jiuling immediately understood — the innkeeper was telling him to safeguard the money.

After the Surveillance Bureau men had taken innkeeper Lu away, Ye Zhangzhu said, “He should be alright. He doesn’t have much connection to Master Yuming. Perhaps they’re just asking routine questions — Master Yuming may have come here for drinks in the past.”

Yu Jiuling said, “He really did come. Master Yuming was quite fond of our Shaodaozi and even praised me for being clever. I remember Master Yuming once wrote a poem praising our Shaodaozi.”

It would have been better if he hadn’t said this. Everyone’s expression darkened upon hearing it. Yu Jiuling himself didn’t sense anything was wrong.

The county yamen’s main hall.

Lieutenant Commander Yan Jiuji sat in a chair and looked over the several people kneeling before him — all individuals who had some connection to Master Yuming.

“That one.”

He raised his hand and pointed at Lu Ruiming. “Bring him forward for questioning.”

Two guards went over and kicked Lu Ruiming. “Get up here!”

Lu Ruiming hurriedly crawled forward on his knees, his face somewhat pale. “Whatever the lord wishes to ask, this commoner will answer honestly and hold nothing back.”

Yan Jiuji asked, “I’m told Master Yuming used to frequent your tavern. Were you well acquainted with him?”

Lu Ruiming said, “In truth, Master Yuming didn’t come all that many times — perhaps five or six. Most of the time his disciples came to buy wine to take back. So this commoner can’t really say he was well acquainted with Master Yuming.”

“Let me ask you: when Master Yuming drank at your tavern, did he ever get drunk?”

“He… he did, twice.”

Yan Jiuji nodded upon hearing this. “That settles it. This one counts as one… Master Yuming got drunk at his tavern and let slip in conversation how much silver he kept at home. This man’s heart was moved by greed. As a tavern keeper, he had dealings with various figures from the jianghu underworld, so he conspired with them to break into Master Yuming’s home to rob it, killing many people in the process.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Ruiming’s face went instantly white as a sheet. He kowtowed again and again. “My lord, this commoner has been wrongly accused! This commoner barely knew Master Yuming. He never said anything of the sort in this commoner’s establishment. This commoner truly has no knowledge of how bandits came to his home.”

Yan Jiuji gave a cold snort. “I rather expected you wouldn’t confess so easily… Men, apply the instruments!”

At his command, two guards stepped forward. One grabbed Lu Ruiming’s hair and yanked his head back, forcing his face up. The other drew an iron plate and began striking Lu Ruiming’s face left and right without pause. Within a few blows, blood was flying from Lu Ruiming’s face.

The other people kneeling nearby were all terrified senseless, trembling like sieves.

Yan Jiuji looked at them and asked, “You’ve all seen it. This is what a criminal looks like — iron-mouthed even with iron-clad evidence, refusing to confess. Do you all want to follow his example?”

The people shook their heads at once, frightened nearly to the point of wetting themselves.

“Will anyone testify against him?”

Yan Jiuji asked once more.

The several people kneeling in the county yamen’s main hall were all merchants — some who sold cooked food, some who sold pastries, some who sold dried fruits and preserves. They were all familiar with Lu Ruiming in their daily lives. Who would want to bear false witness against him with a clear conscience? They were all neighbors and townspeople; no one was willing to do such a thing.

Seeing that no one spoke, Yan Jiuji pointed at one of them at random and said, “This man is shielding a criminal — knowing and saying nothing. The offense is equal to the capital crime of murder. Give him the instruments. Beat him to death — no matter.”

The other guards moved forward and forced that merchant to the ground, beating him savagely. They had clearly understood the meaning in Yan Jiuji’s words and struck with extreme viciousness. Before long that man was left without a breath in him, blood flowing from all seven orifices.

Yan Jiuji stood up and walked a circle around the remaining people before asking, “Now — is there anyone willing to testify against this wicked criminal? If you won’t think of yourselves, think of your families. Those who shield a criminal will not come to a good end.”

“I…”

One of the merchants trembled and said, “I am willing to testify against him. He… he knew Master Yuming kept great wealth in his home, and so he colluded with a band of jianghu bandits.”

Yan Jiuji smiled and said, “Knowing what’s good for you is wisdom. You’re a smart man. Then tell me: how did you come to know this?”

The man trembled as he answered, “He… once tried to pull me in on the scheme?”

Yan Jiuji made a sound of acknowledgment. “Plausible.”

He turned and ordered, “The accomplice has testified against the principal criminal. Have the accomplice sign and press his seal…”

He paused, looking at Lu Ruiming’s face, which had already been beaten to a pulp — both sides mangled, the corner of his mouth split open. Yet Yan Jiuji seemed still unsatisfied. He pointed at Lu Ruiming’s mouth and said, “Tear out his tongue… You all saw it — he bit it off himself to hide his crimes.”

After saying this, Yan Jiuji returned to his seat and looked at the county yamen officials standing to one side, frightened into silence, and said, “Gentlemen, you all saw this as well, did you not?”

The Tang County officials all nodded vigorously.

“Yes, yes, yes — this villain was wicked to the end. He actually bit off his own tongue in an attempt to take his own life.”

Yan Jiuji smiled and said, “In that case, the matter of the bandits breaking into Master Yuming’s home has both witness testimony and physical evidence… Ah yes, where are the physical exhibits?”

Yuan Wuxian, who had just returned not long ago, stepped forward. “This subordinate brought back several dozen weapons recovered from this criminal’s premises. There is still blood on the weapons, and so the evidence is conclusive.”

Yan Jiuji made a sound of assent and then ordered, “Go. Go to that tavern and see whether any criminals have slipped through the net.”

Yuan Wuxian immediately replied, “This subordinate complies!”

—