After all that guessing, she never expected that before going to the Meng family’s wedding feast, she would first offend someone from the Meng family.
The Duke’s daughter-in-law should be Meng Hu’s sister-in-law, but the Duke’s residence should be in Meng City, the capital of Meng Kingdom. Who would have thought his daughter-in-law would appear in Puyang.
Jing Hengbo recalled and remembered that Meng Hu seemed to have mentioned that when his grandmother sought a match with the Zheng family’s young lady, it was through his sister-in-law’s maternal family connections. This Madam Meng’s maternal family was probably also in Puyang. She had returned to her maternal home for her brother-in-law’s marriage affairs. Judging by her manner, this woman’s family was also a prominent clan.
She sighed softly, feeling her head beginning to ache again. She had no intention of causing trouble in Meng Kingdom – surely she wouldn’t end up in trouble again for no reason?
Looking at the raging fire before her, she helplessly stepped forward.
Outside the house, the female manager was looking anxious, working desperately with neighbors to carry water and fight the fire. This time the buckets contained water – the buckets filled with lamp oil had already been thrown into the fire to destroy evidence.
“Quick! Quick!” The female manager kept urging the servants. “This young lady kindly helped our Beauty Hall. How can we let her perish here in a fire! We must save her! Don’t worry about those goods – hurry and save the person first!”
Sweat mixed with ash streamed down her face, and she didn’t even have time to wipe it. The neighbors praised her repeatedly, all saying, “Liu Sanniang is truly kind-hearted, so loyal and righteous. Even if this young lady were truly unfortunate, she would surely be grateful to Sanniang from the underworld.”
Just as Liu Sanniang’s smile was about to spread across her lips, she heard a lazy female voice saying with a smile, “Yes, we are indeed very, very grateful to Sanniang.”
Liu Sanniang froze instantly, her face turning iron-blue in a moment, barely daring to turn around.
How was this possible?
The neighbors’ delighted greetings were already thundering in her ears, “Oh my, they came out!”
“How did they get out? We didn’t see anything! Are you both alright? What great fortune!”
“Sanniang, good deeds bring good rewards – look, they’re fine!”
Liu Sanniang bit her pale lower lip hard. When she slowly turned around, she had already changed to a smiling face, looking “surprised” as she said, “Ah! You escaped from the fire? Thank heaven and earth – you scared me to death!”
Jing Hengbo looked at her face with a half-smile – it was really hard on this woman, smiling so stiffly, like a dead person.
“Thank you all, fellow townspeople, for your righteous assistance. The person is fine now, please go back. Beauty Hall will send small gifts to everyone later to calm your nerves. Any neighbors who suffered property damage, just tell me – Beauty Hall will provide compensation.” Liu Sanniang hurriedly urged the helpers away, needing to disperse the crowd quickly lest Jing Hengbo say something terrible.
“This fire can still be fought – we might be able to save some goods…” The neighbors were somewhat puzzled. Liu Sanniang pushed people outward without explanation. Jing Hengbo suddenly smiled and said, “What’s worth saving in those goods? They’re all fake!”
Liu Sanniang spun around, her gaze angry. Jing Hengbo didn’t even glance at her, waving a piece of wooden bucket fragment in her hand – something she had casually picked up after the oil buckets crashed in. Her right hand weighed a piece of silver as she smiled, “Please, everyone, would someone help notify the authorities? Tell them the Beauty Hall manager committed arson and attempted murder to silence witnesses. The evidence is clear – please ask the magistrate to uphold justice.”
Silence fell all around, everyone staring wide-eyed.
Liu Sanniang’s whole body trembled, her face turning deathly pale as she said hoarsely, “You… you’re slandering me!”
Jing Hengbo beckoned with her hand, and the water bucket at Liu Sanniang’s feet came before her. She kicked the bucket and pointed to the oil bucket fragment in her hand, saying, “Everyone please look – this is a bucket from her Beauty Hall, right?”
Everyone nodded. The bucket was coated with tung oil varnish and had black iron hoops – clearly from a single shop. Someone said, “This is from Wang the Bucket Maker’s shop in the south of the city. His buckets are the best in the city, naturally also the most expensive. We common folk can’t afford such buckets.”
At this time, city patrol soldiers had also arrived to help fight the fire, but saw the fire had suddenly died out. Hearing the dispute here, they came over and stood with arms crossed, watching. Liu Sanniang’s expression became even uglier.
“Smell this.” Jing Hengbo handed the bucket fragment to an elderly man. “This bucket was just smashed into the burning house.”
The old man smelled it and his expression changed, saying in alarm, “Lamp oil!”
“This is your own bucket! You’re framing me! How could I possibly burn down my own shop!” Liu Sanniang’s voice was shrill.
“When I entered Beauty Hall, everyone saw whether I was carrying water buckets.” Jing Hengbo smiled. “I was only in your back hall for a short time before the fire started. Even with excellent lightness skills, the distance from here to the south of the city is considerable – I wouldn’t have had time to buy buckets and fill them with oil to burn this house. Besides, there are many bucket sellers on this street. If I really wanted to commit arson, why would I need to go all the way to the south of the city to buy buckets? Taking it further, would I necessarily need buckets to carry lamp oil for arson? Would a living person carry buckets of lamp oil in broad daylight to your Beauty Hall to commit arson? Hey, am I sick or something?”
Laughter erupted all around. Someone laughed, “When the young lady entered the shop, she had a pile of snacks, fabrics, and jewelry, but as for lamp oil, we really didn’t see any.”
People laughed and moved away from Liu Sanniang – everyone despised such ungrateful behavior.
“You… you… you had accomplices who threw the oil-filled buckets over the wall to you…” Liu Sanniang pointed at her with trembling voice.
Jing Hengbo shook her head – truly stupid, still unwilling to give up.
“Earlier you told all the townspeople that it was an accidental fire due to dry weather. How do you now suddenly insist I committed arson?” She smiled. “I arranged for people to deliver lamp oil? This is broad daylight, Beauty Hall is a business place with your people coming and going constantly. Could a living person transport several buckets of lamp oil over walls without any of you seeing it?”
Too lazy to continue arguing with this desperate woman, she turned and pointed to the extinguished fire scene, “If you gentlemen don’t believe it, there should still be unburned oil buckets inside. Go look and you’ll know. Without lamp oil, it couldn’t possibly burn so fast, and we two couldn’t have brought so many buckets of lamp oil here in broad daylight under everyone’s eyes.”
The patrol soldiers nodded and went in to look. They indeed found many unburned bucket fragments with remaining lamp oil. While collecting the buckets, they muttered, “Strange, with so many buckets of lamp oil, theoretically the whole house should have burned down in the blink of an eye. Why does it look like it barely burned at all?”
Jing Hengbo smiled silently – with such an ice-cold body present, would it be easy to start a fire?
Liu Sanniang’s face was ashen. When she originally threw the oil buckets into the house, first it was to fuel the fire, second the large fire would burn the buckets clean – the most thorough way to destroy evidence. Who knew the fire would be big but extinguish so quickly, leaving the most crucial evidence unburned, essentially delivering the evidence to her opponents.
“The human and physical evidence is clear.” A leader-type fellow collected the oil buckets and waved his hand, “Take her away!”
A group of soldiers dragged away the struggling, constantly protesting Liu Sanniang. The leader then said, “Please accompany us to the yamen, miss. We still need you as a witness.”
This was expected. Jing Hengbo naturally agreed. Throughout her inspection tour of all Dahuang, entering and leaving royal palaces, disrupting courts, she had rarely dealt with grassroots government offices. She was quite curious about how Dahuang officials judged cases.
At this time, in the back office of Puyang Prefecture, a woman’s shrill voice was ringing out.
“Big brother! You must help your sister vent this anger today! To think that in this Puyang city, under your governance, your sister would suffer such humiliation! That Beauty Hall clearly sells shoddy counterfeit goods yet dares charge high prices, deceiving the people. When I couldn’t stand it and went to teach them a lesson, I was humiliated by those vulgar women. How can I swallow this insult!”
The middle-aged man behind the desk reading didn’t put down his book, frowning slightly, “The prefecture yamen isn’t run by our family. Everything must follow reason. Stop causing more trouble.”
“Big brother!”
“I have no mind to deal with your trivial matters now.” The man slammed his book down heavily. “You’d better think of a way to get either the Meng family or Zheng family to break off this engagement. Really troublesome – who told you to be so eager to play matchmaker, arranging the Zheng family’s seventh daughter for that Meng Hu from the Meng family?”
Bringing up this matter deflated the woman. She sank heavily into her chair and said petulantly, “How was I to know Prince Li also had his eye on the Zheng family’s young lady? When Old Matriarch Meng fancied the Zheng family girl, my maternal family is in Puyang, so helping with matchmaking – when the old matriarch spoke, could I, a granddaughter-in-law, ignore it? If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself for being too scheming, joining Prince Li’s faction without telling the family. Only after everything was done do you blame me.” Suddenly her eyes lit up, “The Zheng family young lady is already engaged and will marry soon. I think this matter should be dropped. Just compensate Prince Li with another beauty. That woman I met at Beauty Hall today was truly beautiful – why not find an excuse to capture her and present her to His Highness?”
“What do you know! Can just any random woman be presented to His Highness?” The middle-aged man’s eyebrows shot up as if to scold, but after a moment he sighed in frustration, “Prince Li wants the Zheng family’s young lady not for her beauty. Meng City has countless beauties – as a prince, what woman can’t His Highness have? It’s just that the Great King has yet to establish a crown prince, and the princes are competing fiercely in open and secret struggles. Prince Li is considered the most favored prince, commanding 100,000 elite troops of Meng Kingdom. But word from the palace says the Great King is undecided between Prince Li and Prince Ping, saying that though the Great King loves Prince Li’s martial prowess, he also feels his temperament is violent and he doesn’t have the hearts of Meng Kingdom’s scholars. If he ascends the throne, fearing his actions will be arrogant and cruel, if the military’s hearts aren’t tempered, the nation will face great disaster. In comparison, Prince Ping, who excels in both civil and military arts, especially literary talent that wins scholars’ adoration, might be more suitable as Meng Kingdom’s ruler.”
“That’s right,” the woman nodded. “His Highness is indeed martially superior, but his temperament is truly beyond praise. When I was in Meng City, I visited his palace once. That residence actually kept many fierce beasts – tigers, leopards, bears, and jackals. A dignified prince’s palace reeked of animal stench. I personally saw His Highness practicing martial arts, tearing tigers and leopards apart with his hands, swallowing wolf hearts raw – truly disgusting. Even more bizarre, I heard he doesn’t love rouge but prefers young men. His palace has countless concubines, all resentfully guarding empty chambers, while many of his so-called guests and advisors are all handsome, pretty-boy types who stay by his side day and night. What a smoky, miasmatic atmosphere. If the Zheng family’s young lady were to marry into the prince’s palace, she’d truly be entering a pit of fire…”
“Enough! His Highness’s private affairs are not for us to discuss.” The man cut her off heavily. “In any case, with this word from the palace, Prince Li’s advisors gave him a plan. His princess consort recently passed away, so he should take a new princess consort from among the noble civil official families to gain civil officials’ support and win all scholars’ hearts. This civil official can’t be just any civil official – it must be a great scholar, a renowned master, a leader of the pure stream that all Meng Kingdom scholars respect and follow. Counting them all, those with great influence in both court and scholarly circles are naturally the Zheng family, who run academies and lead the pure stream. The Zheng family’s marriageable young lady is currently only Miss Zheng Seven. How can His Highness not be determined to have her?” He knitted his brow center, saying in great distress, “His Highness has secretly come to Puyang. He’s furious about the marriage between the Zheng and Meng families, ordering me to make amends and get Miss Zheng to marry him, without offending the Zheng or Meng families, or else he’ll hold me accountable. I’m already worried sick – His Highness can’t be offended, but are the Zheng and Meng families easy to provoke? Scheming between them, one misstep means reputation ruined and bones crushed, bringing disaster to our whole family. Such a big matter is enough to worry about! Don’t trouble me with those irrelevant things anymore!”
The woman listened, seeing her brother’s troubled expression. After thinking for a long while, she suddenly giggled, “Brother dear, you usually pride yourself on being clever. How has such a simple little matter stumped you so?”
“Oh?” The man looked at his sister suspiciously. “What good plan do you have?”
“Women ultimately care most about reputation. If someone else controls that reputation, she has no choice but to follow whoever.” The woman raised one corner of her mouth, her eyes mysterious. “Brother, lean closer.”
The man leaned his head over. Sunlight through the window lattice cast their two shadows long on the wall. In the hushed whispers, the two black shadows twisted slightly, like two black snakes emanating sinister energy…
After a while, the man said in a low voice, “Will this work?”
“It’s better than you being helpless.” The woman’s smile was coldly sinister.
Suddenly a report came from outside, “Report to Your Honor, citizens are now formally accusing the Beauty Hall manager of privately burning the shop and attempting murder. Please Your Honor handle this matter.”
The man stood up, and the woman also stood, murmuring, “Beauty Hall?”
Seeing the man go to the front hall, she also quietly followed. When she saw the ashen-faced Beauty Hall Liu Sanniang kneeling in the hall, and Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin standing there, her eyes brightened and she couldn’t help quietly laughing. She said to a nearby bailiff, “Please call Your Honor out for a moment. Tell him I have urgent matters to discuss regarding the previous incident.”
A moment later the man returned to the back hall, asking impatiently, “What now?”
“Brother, did you see those two plaintiffs in front?”
“I saw them.” The man thought briefly. “Could these two be the ones who had that conflict with you earlier?”
“Exactly.” The woman smiled. “Brother, earlier you told me not to cause trouble, and I agreed, even giving you a good plan. But now they’ve delivered themselves to our door. Won’t you help your sister too? Don’t forget, the plan I just gave you still lacks scapegoats.”
The man pondered slightly, looked back toward the hall, his gaze lingering particularly on Gong Yin, then nodded, “Alright, we’ll do as you say. You go back and prepare too. This matter must be handled properly without the slightest leak.”
He looked at the sky and murmured, “His Highness will secretly move into my residence tonight. We must hurry.”
“Don’t worry, brother. I guarantee I’ll handle it properly for you.” The woman beamed with joy. The siblings discussed a few more points before hurriedly parting.
Jing Hengbo stood in the hall, examining Meng Kingdom’s prefecture hall, completely unconcerned about today’s lawsuit. The prefect she’d just seen looked like a shrewd, capable official. With such clear human and physical evidence, there really wasn’t much to ask. She was already planning – she’d heard the southern part of the city had particularly delicious pastries, wondering if she should buy some for everyone to try later.
Before she could decide, the prefect came out again, his face somewhat pale. Jing Hengbo glanced over and suddenly froze, feeling this person looked somewhat familiar. She seemed to have seen him somewhere but was certain she’d never met anyone from Meng Kingdom except Meng Hu before.
She asked Gong Yin if he felt the same. Gong Yin shook his head, and so did Jing Hengbo. The great master had no dust in his eyes – where would others exist in his sight?
However, the prefect’s judgment was quite refreshing. After asking about the cause, examining physical evidence, questioning the plaintiff, then inquiring with neighbors, he cleared everything up and said, “This case has clear human and physical evidence. Originally Liu committed arson and attempted murder because she resented having her weak points exposed. How can such an evil woman be allowed to remain in this world? Guards, temporarily sentence her to death pending autumn execution. Imprison her in the prefecture jail, await reporting to His Majesty for final decision before execution!”
Everyone applauded, saying the magistrate was wise and just. Jing Hengbo also nodded, feeling that in Meng Kingdom territory, other things aside, the officialdom and noble families were acceptable – not like the various corruptions she’d encountered along the way that nearly made her despair of the world.
The case was decided, Liu Sanniang was dragged away wailing and lamenting, onlookers also dispersed. Just as Jing Hengbo was about to leave, she saw the prefect come down from the bench, saying, “Miss, please stay.”
Jing Hengbo turned around. The prefect gave a slight bow, “This prefect presumptuously troubles you – there is a matter I wish to request. From what was said earlier, you are a manager at Beauty Hall?”
“Yes.” Jing Hengbo smiled in acknowledgment.
“This prefect has an improper request,” the prefect smiled. “I have a young daughter who turned thirteen this year. According to Meng Kingdom custom, she should participate in this year’s Hairpin Flower Banquet in Puyang. The so-called Hairpin Flower Banquet is where Puyang’s noble young ladies of marriageable age display their talents and beauty to official families. The city’s ladies all attach great importance to this, seeking perfection in clothing, jewelry, and makeup to secure good marriages. However, my wife comes from a military family background and isn’t skilled in feminine adornment. I’ve long heard that the women at Beauty Hall excel at makeup and styling, wanting to invite guidance. Now that Manager Liu is beyond redemption, she naturally can’t be invited. You are also a Beauty Hall manager and presumably skilled in this art. This matter concerns my daughter’s lifetime happiness. If you would extend a helping hand, this prefect would spare no expense in gratitude.”
Listening to this, Jing Hengbo felt favorable toward him. This was probably like modern high society debutante balls – the first time noble young ladies displayed themselves to great families, essentially a disguised elite matchmaking banquet. In this era of strict propriety, a thirteen-year-old girl’s future happiness depended entirely on this – it was indeed important. This father who governed a prefecture, willing to lower himself to personally request help from her, a “merchant manager,” made Jing Hengbo quite envious of such deep paternal love.
So she agreed very readily, “How dare I refuse Your Honor’s summons?”
“Excellent.” The prefect smiled with pleasure. “Please have your honored friend drink tea in the front hall while you follow my household servants to the back courtyard – how about that?”
Jing Hengbo smiled and agreed, making a “behave and drink tea while waiting for me” gesture to Gong Yin, following the prefect’s maids to the back courtyard. The prefect led Gong Yin to the front hall of the inner residence, assigned a household steward to keep him company, saying he needed to return to his study to handle official business before taking his leave.
He didn’t return to his study but went directly to the back gate of the prefecture yamen, mounted his horse, and rushed out of the city with his servants. His master would soon arrive secretly in Puyang, and he needed to go meet him and arrange matters here.
In the back courtyard, after Jing Hengbo entered, the prefect’s sister who had been hiding in the shadows watched as the maid led Jing Hengbo toward the arranged location, her lips gradually curving into a proud, cold smile.
Then she hurried out, got in her carriage, and as she lowered the curtain, quickly ordered, “Don’t go back yet – go to the Zheng family!”
“Yes.”
…