Chen Jingji regretted it to death—he shouldn’t have squeezed to the front to watch the excitement and observe Wang Daxia getting beaten. Now he was in trouble.

Chen Jingji was a commoner who had to kneel when seeing officials. Without an official father, the snobbish clerks couldn’t be bothered to bring him a cushion.

Chen Jingji knelt on the hard ground to respond: “Commoner Chen Fa, working as a broker on Gulou West Slant Street. This morning…”

The broker profession relied on a silver tongue. Chen Jingji described Wang Daxia’s assault in just a few words: “…I planned to wait at the Wang mansion gate until Wang Qianhu finished his duties to seek justice, but I didn’t wait for the officer. Wang Daxia found me at the wonton stall, warning me not to complain to the authorities. Then the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to arrest Wang Daxia.”

“Every word I speak is true—I dare not lie. The Sweet Water Lane neighbors, the wonton shop owner, and the tenant can all testify.”

Chen Qianhu pressed further: “From when you were beaten until you encountered Wang Daxia again at the wonton shop, you never saw Wang Daxia himself during that time. How long was this period?”

“About half a double-hour.” Wang Daxia recalled: “When Wang Daxia grabbed me onto his horse, I heard the nearby Longhua Temple ringing its evening bell. Longhua Temple’s summer evening bell rings 108 times at the end of the You hour (6:20 PM). By the time I was eating wontons, it was already dark, with night watchmen on the streets beating wooden clappers to announce the time—it was exactly the first watch, at Xu hour (7:00 PM).”

Chen Qianhu looked at Wang Daxia kneeling on the cushion with ice-cold eyes: “From Sweet Water Lane in Wanping to the prefectural school in Daxing, you rode your horse to kill my son and return—exactly half a double-hour. If you’re not the murderer, who is!”

Even Wang Qianhu felt his son was difficult to clear of suspicion, urging: “What did you do during that half-hour? Do you have witnesses?”

Wang Daxia stammered hesitantly, looking troubled, hanging his head and pressing his hands together at his chest.

Chen Qianhu’s gaze was murderous: “Wang Qianhu, as a court official, you cannot shield a murderer in the courtroom.”

Wang Qianhu assumed a fierce expression and roared like a lion: “Rebellious son, speak quickly! If you’re wronged, Father can still help clear your name. If you truly killed someone, even Father cannot save you!”

Wang Daxia lowered his hands and sighed: “At this point, I can only confess honestly.”

In the courtroom, Prefect Wang the Loach was delighted: solving a murder case on the night it occurred would ensure this year’s performance evaluation was worry-free.

Wang Qianhu looked at his son in disbelief: “You… you fool!”

Chen Qianhu imagined personally serving as executioner, cutting this boy into a thousand pieces: Wang Yanei, don’t you dare die before I reach a thousand cuts!

Outside the courtroom, Wei Caiwei listening to the trial thought: What’s happening? I clearly killed Chen Dalang!

Wang Daxia took a deep breath. Pushed to this point, he had no choice but to tell the truth and honestly reveal the facts: “I left very early this morning. Everyone guess where I went?”

Chen Qianhu said: “You must have secretly gone to scout the prefectural school, secretly stalking my son, waiting for a chance to strike.”

“Not at all, not at all.” Wang Daxia shook his head. “I went to Sanlitun, where my mother has a dowry estate.”

Sanlitun was located east of Beijing’s eastern district, called Sanlitun because it was exactly three li from the inner city’s Chaoyang Gate.

Wang Qianhu had a bad feeling: “What did you do at the estate?”

Wang Daxia said quietly: “I sold the estate. A feng shui diviner found me, saying someone had taken a fancy to that land and was willing to pay 2,500 taels of silver for the estate. I initially disagreed, but I urgently needed money recently, so we agreed to make the transaction at the estate today.”

Wang Qianhu shot up: “Your mother’s dowry is all kept by your stepmother. How did you get the land deed?”

“Of course I stole… took it.” Wang Daxia argued sophistically: “It’s Mother’s inheritance left to me anyway—I have the right to dispose of it. My stepmother has no authority to interfere.”

“I’ll beat you to death, you rebellious son!” Wang Qianhu rushed over to kick him, but Mu Baihu wrapped his arms around his waist, restraining him while advising:

“Sir, calm your anger! Second Young Master might have unavoidable difficulties—urgent need for money. Let’s clarify first before acting.”

Wang Qianhu felt chest pains, clutching his chest: “What difficulties could this wastrel have? He must have lost at gambling and sold the estate to pay gambling debts.”

“Impossible!” Wang Daxia said: “My gambling skills are excellent—I usually lose little and win much. If you don’t believe me, go ask at the gambling houses.”

Truly an A-Dou who cannot be helped!

Now even Mu Baihu didn’t know how to excuse the young master: “Second Young Master, say less—look how you’ve angered your father.”

Chen Qianhu, watching this scene of “paternal kindness and filial piety,” waved his hand: “If Wang Qianhu wants to discipline his son, do it at home. This is a courtroom for interrogating criminals—Wang Daxia, you went to Sanlitun to sell land. This all happened in the morning, but my son died in the evening.”

Wang Daxia said: “Sanlitun is far away. I sold the land and signed the contract in the morning. The estate still had some of my mother’s dowry chests, so I rented quarters near Sanlitun to move the dowry away. I was busy until afternoon before returning to the city. Passing Sweet Water Lane, I saw new locks on the main gate. Neighbors said Chen Jingji had rented out the house. I didn’t even go home first—I went straight to Gulou West Slant Street to drag him back, demanding he make the tenant move out because I wasn’t renting the house.”

Chen Qianhu said: “You beat Chen Jingji, then rode to the prefectural school to kill my son.”

“I did not.” Wang Daxia said: “Didn’t I just get 2,500 taels of silver? After beating Chen Jingji, I went to Red Sleeve Pavilion at Shichahai, spending 2,000 taels to redeem Yingying’s freedom. I deposited the remaining 500 taels at Santong Money House on Gulou West Slant Street. Look, this is the 500-tael bank note just issued by the money house, with the date on it.”

Wang Daxia took out a bank note from his chest. The clerk placed it on a tray for Wang Qianhu and Chen Qianhu to examine, then presented it to Prefect Wang the Loach.

Wang Daxia said: “Red Sleeve Pavilion and Santong Money House are both in Wanping County’s northern district. Redeeming her freedom plus depositing silver took exactly half a double-hour. I left the money house and headed home. Seeing Chen Jingji eating wontons by the roadside, I went over to warn him not to complain to my father. The Red Sleeve Pavilion’s madam, the brothel servants, Miss Yingying, and the Santong Money House shopkeeper and clerks can all testify for me.”

Hearing this, Wang the Loach ordered constables to split up and bring witnesses to court for questioning.

Chen Qianhu, half-believing, ordered his Embroidered Uniform Guards to follow along with the Shuntian Prefecture constables to escort witnesses.

Wang Qianhu likewise didn’t trust the Embroidered Uniform Guard, fearing they would threaten witnesses to slander his son. He also divided his Northern District Military Commission men into several teams to accompany the Embroidered Uniform Guards and Shuntian Prefecture constables in bringing witnesses for questioning.

Thus the yamen’s officers scattered like a swarm to arrest people, with most departing.

Chen Jingji rubbed his numb knees: “Sir, since there’s nothing more for this commoner, I request leave.”

Wang the Loach said: “Stay in the yamen—don’t leave. Wait until we finish questioning the other witnesses before going.”

Still unable to escape, but better than kneeling. Chen Jingji limped away to sit in a small room on the west side.

One person couldn’t possibly bribe both a brothel madam and a money house owner within half a double-hour. Though the witnesses hadn’t yet arrived at Shuntian Prefecture yamen, Wang the Loach already felt Wang Daxia couldn’t possibly be the murderer.

Wang the Loach said: “Everyone rest first. I’ve ordered late-night refreshments and fragrant tea prepared for all.”

Wang Daxia stood up from the cushion, acting as if nothing happened: “I’ve never tried Shuntian Prefecture’s tea. I must taste it properly today.”

“I’ll beat you to death, you gambling, drinking, whoring wastrel!” Wang Qianhu could bear it no longer, rushing over with a kick: “Spending 2,000 taels on whoring—you’ve completely disgraced the Wang family!”

Wang Daxia was used to being beaten by his father and had been on guard. As Wang Qianhu delivered a flying kick, he rolled backward three times, dodging the kick and rolling to the wall base, saying:

“I didn’t whore! I only redeemed Miss Yingying’s freedom. She’s a courtesan who sells art, not her body. Chen Dalang repeatedly harassed her. I fought with Chen Dalang over her—that’s where our conflict began.”

Wang Daxia pointed at Chen Qianhu sitting statue-like: “Since I’m on your murder suspect list, presumably Chen Dalang’s servant has already mentioned Miss Yingying. Red Sleeve Pavilion was planning to sell her virginity at month’s end, with customers competing to bid for deflowering her. Chen Dalang bid highest—300 taels—saying he must have her. Miss Yingying begged me to help rescue her from the dusty world, so I sold the Sanlitun estate to redeem her freedom.”

The hope of finding the real murderer immediately shattered. Chen Qianhu vented his anger on Wang Daxia: “2,000 taels can redeem Red Sleeve Pavilion’s top courtesan? You’re talking complete nonsense!”

Wang Daxia said: “Over these years, Miss Yingying privately saved over 5,000 taels, preparing for self-redemption. But the madam demanded 7,000—still short 2,000. I sold the estate for emergency funds.”

Wang Daxia pulled out another paper: “Look, this is the IOU Miss Yingying wrote me. She said she’ll repay me immediately when she has money. I don’t plan to touch the remaining 500 taels at Santong Money House. After she repays me, I’ll redeem the Sanlitun estate.”

“You believe a prostitute’s words?” Wang Qianhu was furious: “2,000 taels to rescue a fallen woman? Being played for a monkey by a prostitute, toyed with in her palm! You might as well have just whored!”

Wang Daxia shamelessly said: “What kind of father teaches his son like this? ‘Might as well have whored’? Mother has been dead eleven years. If she knew from the underworld, she’d be so angry her coffin lid couldn’t stay shut!”

Wang Qianhu nearly fainted on the spot.

The crowd outside the yamen burst into laughter, commenting:

“Wang Yanei lives up to his reputation—2,000 taels to rescue a fallen woman.”

“If Miss Yingying is now free, don’t we lose our chance to taste her charms?”

“Madams love money, girls love handsome men. You think the courtesan queen lacks 2,000 taels? She just fancied Wang Yanei’s good looks and was testing his sincerity. You ugly fellow could offer 2,000 taels and Miss Yingying might not even glance at you.”

Hearing this, Wei Caiwei suddenly felt her pure white mourning hairpin turning green: So her dead husband had such romantic debts in his youth!

Man! How many more “surprises” do you have that I don’t know about!

Cut it off, quickly!

You hopeless wastrel—just castrate yourself for permanent cure!