Old Master Chen in the adjacent room still didn’t know that sitting next door was Censor Shi, who struck fear into the hearts of many officials. His entire mind was currently fixated on Yang Qing—what had been well-arranged matters had somehow suddenly changed. The one who died wasn’t Young Master Wang but rather that male companion. This matter hadn’t been personally handled by him, so what he knew was limited, and what he could control was even more limited. To make matters worse, Yang Qing, his valued student and future grandson-in-law who could manage this affair, was now locked up in prison.
The message ordering Huangjue Temple to act according to plan had already been sent out. They had probably already made their move by now. Whether that side succeeded or not, his side couldn’t fall into chaos—Yang Qing still had to scheme regarding Cui Yingshu’s matter, and the Prefect of Jiujiang would only listen to Yang Qing as well. He was so worried his beard had gone white. Several days ago, he had already gone to present his calling card inviting Lin Yuanchuan to dinner, but who knew Lin Yuanchuan hadn’t attended the banquet, claiming he was too busy with official duties to spare the time. These past few days he had sent people to deliver cards several more times before finally managing to get him here. What was most vexing was that these past days there had been no news of Yang Qing at all.
Now he was completely in the dark. Though he knew something had gone wrong, he didn’t know exactly where the problem lay. At the banquet, wine cups were exchanged repeatedly. Only after Lin Yuanchuan had drunk quite a bit did he open his mouth to ask, “Upon arriving in Jinling, I heard of a major incident. It seems to involve the Wang family and a young master from the Earl of Changning’s household in the capital. It seems someone died?”
The co-hosts also chimed in with great interest. “It seems the Fourth Young Master of the Earl of Changning’s household was sent as part of a dowry escort to Jinling. Did he perhaps become accustomed to wild behavior with Young Master Wang, momentarily lost control of restraint, and cause a death?”
Lin Yuanchuan hastily waved his hands. “How could that be? The Fourth Young Master studied under the great Confucian scholar Tang—he’s an upright and self-respecting person. How could he be involved in such sordid affairs? It was a male companion who got into a dispute with Young Master Wang, fell into the river, and drowned.”
So the one who died truly was just a male companion. Old Master Chen suppressed his inner disappointment and continued probing. “Then why did I also hear that someone was arrested over this male companion? If he fell to his death after getting into a dispute with Young Master Wang, there should be no grieving family, right?”
Lin Yuanchuan pushed the wine cup at his side away and looked up at him. “Old Master, you don’t know—this involves yet another remarkable matter. Young Master Wang said this male companion had eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, coming specifically for his life. He had previously put poison in the wine intending to poison him, and when that failed to kill him, he tried to push him into the river.”
How could poison have been used? Old Master Chen frowned. What Young Master Wang said was truly strange. Could it be that Song Yan had told him something? He patiently watched Lin Yuanchuan, waiting for him to continue.
“Since both Young Master Wang and Young Master Song insisted the male companion had colluded with someone to harm them, this official had no choice but to temporarily listen to their account. Who knew they actually guessed correctly? The very next afternoon, someone abducted the jailer’s son and invited the jailer to a teahouse, wanting to bribe the jailer to kill the male companion and the servant attending Young Master Wang to silence them. He didn’t even know the male companion wasn’t dead yet and walked right into the trap—he was caught red-handed on the spot!”
Everyone couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. Only Old Master Chen lowered his head, his heart surging with tumultuous waves. So it had become a trap within a trap. That Song family boy was actually this shrewd—he had seen through Yang Qing’s scheme in advance and turned it against him to lure out the snake?
He felt a chill in his heart, though his face still maintained a warm and natural smile. After making a sound of acknowledgment, he continued inquiring with Lin Yuanchuan. “Then shouldn’t this case be closed? Since the matter is resolved, why did Master Lin decline several of my calling cards, saying official duties kept him too busy?”
Lin Yuanchuan smiled ruefully, waving his hand and sighing. “Gentlemen, you don’t understand. This young master of the Song family truly isn’t someone to be trifled with. He insists the matter isn’t finished yet. He believes the one who came to bribe was also just running errands for someone else, and wants me to interrogate strictly. The Wang family has also been making a huge fuss. These past days I’ve been busy with this case. Neither family is easy to offend.”
Yang Qing was now the only lead. Old Master Chen couldn’t help but feel his heart rise to his throat and asked, “Have you used severe torture?”
Before Lin Yuanchuan could answer, someone knocked at the door. A waiter timidly and respectfully shuffled into the room, saying that Constable Xing from Yingtian Prefecture requested an audience.
Lin Yuanchuan couldn’t help but rise with a joyful expression, excusing himself to step outside. He first apologized to Old Master Chen and the others. “I’ve had people interrogating through the night. Torture has been used—after all, under severe torture there must be gains. For Old Xing to come find me at this time, there must be news.”
Old Master Chen glanced at Eunuch Feng, his expression darkening—no matter how capable Yang Qing was, he was ultimately a scholar without the strength to truss a chicken. How could a scholar withstand those instruments of torture in the prison?
Indeed, when Lin Yuanchuan returned, he was already cupping his hands to take his leave from Old Master Chen. “Old Master, please forgive me. News came from there saying the criminal has confessed. I must go take a look.”
Old Master Chen’s heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly stepped forward to pull him back. “It’s mealtime now. No matter how urgent, it’s not so urgent it can’t wait this moment!”
Eunuch Feng also spoke up in support. Since he and Lin Yuanchuan, one civil and one military, jointly guarded Nanjing, it wouldn’t do to refuse to give face. He could only reluctantly nod. “Then I’ll go over later.”
Old Master Chen breathed a sigh of relief and gave everyone a meaningful look. Everyone except Eunuch Feng, who sat immovable as a mountain, found excuses to step outside. Before Lin Yuanchuan could ask questions, Old Master Chen took the first step and knelt on the ground, earnestly and sincerely pleading. “Master Lin, save me!”
Lin Yuanchuan froze in place, seemingly completely bewildered by the situation before him. Greatly alarmed, he stepped forward to support Old Master Chen’s hands. “What on earth is this about, Old Master? Why do you speak this way?!”
Old Master Chen was helped to his feet by him, tears suddenly rolling down from his eyes. He wiped them with his sleeve, unable to help but sigh. “Things have come to this—I won’t hide it from Master Lin any longer. The one you arrested for bribery was sent by me.”
Lin Yuanchuan seemed stunned for a moment, wrinkles appearing on his aged face. Full of confusion, he made a sound of surprise. “Old Master, surely you’re not joking with me? How on earth could you be connected to this matter?”
Eunuch Feng leaned back in his chair looking toward them and interjected, “Things have come to this—Old Master Chen, you should speak truthfully with Master Lin. We’re all on the same side. Whatever the matter is, once it’s out in the open, we can help each other where we’re able. What’s there to be cagey about?”