After sleeping well snuggled together, Prince Hui went to the front courtyard very early in the morning.
He rose too early. Yao Huang wrapped herself in the quilt and continued sleeping for another half a shichen before getting up.
A’Ji came in carrying a water basin. Glancing at the princess sitting on the bedside with rosy cheeks, she hummed, “Madam, you ran so fast last night! If you hadn’t been smiling when you closed the gate, I would have thought you’d seen something unclean and abandoned me to save yourself.”
Yao Huang: “…Did the way I ran look like fleeing for my life?”
A’Ji: “…Well, no. When Madam runs, it’s quite beautiful—clearly running to meet her lover.”
Yao Huang walked over to tickle the little maid, scaring A’Ji into circling behind the washstand. She begged for mercy, “Madam, don’t be angry! I’ll tell you something—the Qi family was quarreling again this morning. My mother told me when I went over to heat water.”
Yao Huang’s attention was indeed diverted. She placed a towel in the water and gestured for A’Ji to continue.
A’Ji: “Didn’t the Qi family’s eldest son come home for the festival? He was supposed to return to the academy this morning. Then Lu Shi discovered that Master Qi had given another five taels of silver to the eldest son. Lu Shi cried that Master Qi was playing favorites, saying he gave all the family’s silver to the eldest son’s household, which is why Silang can’t attend the academy. She made an endless fuss. Dalang wanted to return the silver, but then the eldest Qi daughter-in-law also started clamoring, saying Dalang has to go to the county in the eighth month to take the prefectural examination and needs to socialize with his fellow students. He’ll need to stay at an inn for five days, front to back, and the five taels of silver is to guard against other unexpected circumstances. If nothing goes wrong, naturally he’ll bring back the remaining silver.”
After hearing everything, Yao Huang said, “It’s fortunate Your Highness didn’t accept Master Qi’s payment. Otherwise, we might have received Lu Shi’s scolding over those ten taels of silver.”
Perhaps not openly, but indirect sarcasm would likely be unavoidable.
A’Ji: “Lu Shi truly has no reason in this matter. Taking the scholar examination is such an important affair, and the Qi family has money. They’d certainly rather over-prepare than let the examination be delayed due to lack of funds. And her own grandson Silang—one look tells you he’s a troublemaker, not the type for studying at all. Sending him to the academy at great expense would be a waste.”
Yao Huang: “Master Qi’s silver is a fixed amount. If he gives the eldest son’s household an extra five taels, the two sons Lu Shi can distribute to will get five taels less. Of course she’ll make a fuss. Reason can’t be exchanged for silver to eat. At the root of it all, Master Qi hasn’t managed his household well. Either establish the authority of the household head early so wife and children don’t dare defy his decisions, or be completely fair with silver on both sides. With all this constant quarreling like now, no one in the household is content.”
A’Ji: “From what the neighbors gossip, overall Lu Shi and her mother and daughters-in-law have taken advantage. The eldest Qi household only spent silver on three children’s education. On Lu Shi’s side, the betrothal gifts for her two sons’ marriages were generous, and later they even opened shops outside—every sum was money. Add to that Lu Shi buying herself jewelry every few days. It’s fortunate the eldest Qi son married such a strong-willed wife, or they couldn’t even have raised three scholars.”
Yao Huang concluded with a smile, “One must be strong-willed in life. Being soft only invites bullying.”
Both Lu Shi and the eldest Qi daughter-in-law were strong-willed enough, so both obtained the benefits they wanted. Master Qi wasn’t strong, so he could only be ground down from both sides in the middle.
Yao Huang had heard enough about the Qi family’s pile of troubles that it wasn’t even fresh anymore, so she didn’t mention it to Prince Hui. When the time came, she simply pushed Prince Hui out for his sun exposure.
After strolling along the riverside for half a shichen, on their way back, they suddenly heard a commotion from the main street intersection leading in and out of town. It didn’t sound like a quarrel, more like some urgent matter had occurred. Yao Huang hadn’t yet decided whether to go look when a woman hurried over to the stone bridge nearest the new residence and shouted toward the Qi household, “Eldest Qi daughter-in-law, come out quickly! Something’s happened to Dalang!”
Yao Huang’s expression changed slightly.
At this moment, Qi Er, who ran a general store on Main Street, also came running over, his steps stumbling. Crying and shouting, he said, “Father, this is terrible! Dalang encountered bandits on the road!”
Master Qi, Lu Shi, and all three daughters-in-law ran out. The eldest Qi daughter-in-law rushed the fastest, grabbing Qi Er who had collapsed by the bridge and firing off a string of questions: “Where is Dalang? Is he alright? Did you see him?”
Qi Er pointed toward Main Street, his face pale. “He’s back. Two mountain villagers carried him back. Elder Brother sent him to the medical hall…”
The eldest Qi daughter-in-law released him and ran toward Main Street.
Master Qi followed running. Lu Shi, being the step-grandmother after all, wasn’t as urgent. She pulled up her son and asked, “How is he? Is he injured or what?”
Qi Er: “He was beaten—black and blue in the face, footprints all over his body, and he’s still unconscious!”
Confirming the person was still alive, Lu Shi breathed a sigh of relief. She told her two daughters-in-law to stay home and watch the children while she went with her son.
All the neighbors who got the news rushed toward Main Street. Yao Huang saw A’Ji was also squeezed in among them and pushed Prince Hui back to the eastern courtyard.
After entering the residence, Zhao Sui said to the princess, “If you want to go, go ahead.”
Yao Huang glared at him. “I only like watching happy occasions, not distressing ones.”
Hearing about it afterward was fine—Yao Huang had no interest in the miserable state of others after being beaten.
Handing Prince Hui over to Fei Quan, Yao Huang went to the western courtyard.
After waiting about two ke, A’Ji returned and sighed, “Dalang woke up. He said he encountered mountain bandits and his silver was stolen. He has external injuries all over his body. My father examined him—he also has internal injuries. He needs to rest in bed for at least five days before we can assess his condition.”
Gao Niangzi patted her chest. “Fortunately, it’s not too serious. There are still over twenty days until his prefectural examination. If he recuperates well from now on, he should make it in time.”
A’Ji: “The eldest Qi daughter-in-law is making a fuss. She’s absolutely convinced Lu Shi hired people to do it and wants to report it to the authorities.”
Gao Niangzi: “That can’t be, can it? Lu Shi only discovered Dalang had gotten the silver this morning. She stayed home the whole time. As for Qi Er and Qi San…”
A’Ji: “Both of them were in their shops. Nearby neighbors testified for them. So Master Qi said reporting to the authorities is fine, but he’ll only have the authorities investigate the whereabouts of the two mountain bandits—he won’t allow the eldest Qi daughter-in-law to make wild accusations. When I came back, Qi Da and Qi Er had gone together to report to the authorities.”
After hearing all the details, Yao Huang went to tell Prince Hui: “Your Highness, do you think this matter was done by mountain bandits, or…?”
She pointed in the direction of the Qi household.
Zhao Sui: “Solving a case requires evidence. Only after investigation can conclusions be drawn.”
Yao Huang: “I’m not asking you to solve a case. I just want to hear your thoughts.”
Zhao Sui looked at the princess’s eyes, which resembled someone wanting to hear a story. Only then did he set down the Buddhist scripture in his hands. “Three possibilities. First, mountain bandits did it—the authorities investigate the bandits. Second, nearby villagers who know the Qi family has money and know which road Dalang takes to the academy pretended to be mountain bandits to rob him. Third, because of discord with her stepson, Lu Shi and her sons hired thugs in advance to ambush Dalang. If there’s silver, steal it; if not, a beating would still let them vent their anger. Thus, Lu Shi’s quarrel this morning cannot serve as evidence that she and her sons are unrelated to this matter.”
Yao Huang was more interested in Prince Hui’s third analysis: “So you’re saying Lu Shi’s side still has suspicion?”
Zhao Sui nodded.
Yao Huang: “If Your Highness were the magistrate of Lingshan County and received this case, how would you investigate?”
Zhao Sui: “Before coming here, I had people inquire about this area. In recent years, there have been no cases of highway robbery. Dalang being robbed seems more like it was motivated by enmity. I would first ask Dalang or passersby who saw the mountain bandits to describe their physical characteristics, then question one by one those who have recently had grievances with him, including relatives and friends who might be willing to be used by these people, about their whereabouts from last night to this morning.”
In small places, there are rarely professional thugs. To resolve grudges, people usually employ trusted relatives and friends.
Yao Huang’s eyes lit up. “If it really was Lu Shi who did it, both her sons are in town, so she must have asked brothers or nephews from her maiden family for help. As long as we check whether those people were home last night and this morning, we can identify the suspects, right?”
Zhao Sui: “Unless they can’t withstand interrogation, even if they did it, they can claim they went somewhere else this morning where there are no witnesses. For assault cases like this, unless someone witnessed the attack, it’s very difficult to convict after the fact.”
Yao Huang immediately deflated. How many timid people who dare to run off and beat someone would confess upon the first interrogation?
In the afternoon, a constable from the county yamen brought two bailiffs to the Qi household. Seeing all the neighbors coming to watch the excitement, Yao Huang brought Gao Niangzi and A’Ji along. Fei Quan also followed.
The constable had already investigated—the Qi family’s eldest son was ambushed from behind and didn’t see the physical features or faces of the two mountain bandits. The mountain villagers who brought him back had only seen Dalang unconscious on the ground and hadn’t witnessed the bandits committing the assault.
When Yao Huang heard the constable ask Master Qi whether Dalang had any recent enemies, she knew the authorities also suspected this matter was done by Dalang’s enemies.
The eldest Qi daughter-in-law jumped out and first pointed at Lu Shi, scolding her thoroughly!
After a bout of commotion, the constable drove away the circle of neighbors who had come to watch the excitement. Yao Huang and her group immediately retreated to the western courtyard and stood at the base of the wall to listen. They discovered the constable was interrogating Qi Er and Qi San about their movements these past days, asking about their usual friends, and asking about Lu Shi’s and her two daughters-in-law’s maiden families.
The interrogation wasn’t very smooth, accompanied by various protests of innocence and wailing from the Qi household members. The constable had to reprimand them several times before getting clear answers.
After coming out from the Qi household, the three bailiffs also confirmed with neighbors like the Liao family and He family the fact that the three branches of the Qi family were discordant, only then changing locations to investigate elsewhere.
Yao Huang excitedly ran to the eastern courtyard and said to Prince Hui, “This constable seems to be capable. He actually thought of the same approach as Your Highness.”
The constable…
Zhao Sui glanced at the princess and reminded her, “He may have simply received instructions from the magistrate.”
Yao Huang: “That’s true too. Then it means the local magistrate is capable, not just eating for nothing.”
Prince Hui thought of how Pan Xuniang’s ultimate fate in that “wait for the next installment” story was to become the magistrate’s wife, and fell silent.
The bailiffs didn’t obtain any confession or solid evidence from the relatives and friends of Lu Shi’s two branches. Yet the Qi household was turned completely upside down by this. Finally, on the fourth day after the Qi family reported to the authorities, despite the eldest Qi daughter-in-law’s opposition, Master Qi had Qi Da and Qi Er go to the yamen to withdraw the case. They would no longer pursue it.
Lu Shi and her daughters-in-law stopped crying and making fusses. The eldest Qi daughter-in-law also surprisingly quieted down. That was, until the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, when the eldest Qi daughter-in-law personally escorted Dalang, whose internal injuries had mostly recovered, to the academy. After returning home that afternoon, the eldest Qi daughter-in-law suddenly made a big scene—she wanted to divide the household.
Yao Huang had also changed from initially watching the excitement with relish to getting a headache whenever she heard the Qi family’s quarreling.
In the evening, she pushed Prince Hui to the rear courtyard. After lying down, she discussed with him somewhat reluctantly, “How about we return to the capital early?”
They had originally planned to return on the eighth day of the eighth month. However, the Qi family quarreled and bickered all day long. Yao Huang herself was fine, but she feared Prince Hui would be annoyed. Having this worry, she also became annoyed.
Zhao Sui: “If you’ve had enough of staying here, we can. If you’re only worried that the Qi family’s affairs will disturb me, they haven’t.”
Yao Huang said in surprise, “I thought Your Highness couldn’t stand such noise and foul language.”
Zhao Sui: “With the windows closed, it’s not very clear.”
Yao Huang: “Then shall we stay a few more days? I also want to know if they can actually divide this household.”
At midnight, Jinbao, sleeping in his dog bed in Qing Ai’s room, suddenly perked up his ears and barked once.
Qing Ai woke with a start. Just as he was about to check what was wrong with Jinbao, from next door at the Qi household came a woman’s piercing scream. It seemed to be Lu Shi’s voice.
“Master! Who killed my master!”