The question of how to seek revenge indeed deserved careful consideration.
If this revenge were to be achieved through the mutual destruction of both the victim and the perpetrator, Jiang Si believed it would be a failure, especially when she was leading this revenge. It must not endanger the safety of other victims.
This was the bottom line.
Revenge was meant to make her life more fulfilling, not to transform herself beyond recognition for the sake of vengeance.
“On May 19th, the upright official Master Zhen, who is about to take office as the Prefect of Shuntian, will rest at a post station thirty li outside the capital. If you can meet Master Zhen and explain your daughter’s plight to him, he will surely help you seek justice.”
The position of Shuntian Prefect was two or three ranks higher than a regular prefect. It sounded prestigious but was quite challenging. Many who held the position of Shuntian Prefect couldn’t last for more than a few years, and some even resigned after just two or three months.
Shuntian Prefects came and went like flowing water. It wasn’t until the summer of the 18th year of Jingming that Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Zhen Shicheng came to the capital to assume the position of Shuntian Prefect, finally stabilizing this role.
Zhen Shicheng was known as an upright official during his time in the provinces. When he left, the local people presented him with a civilian umbrella as a gift. He was famous throughout Da Zhou for his integrity and for championing the people’s causes.
Yu Qi had once remarked to her that Zhen Shicheng was truly a man worthy of admiration.
Such a person might not be able to single-handedly reverse the fortunes of a dynasty, but he was the backbone of the common people.
The reason Jiang Si remembered the date of Master Zhen’s arrival in the capital so clearly was that a major event occurred on that day.
Someone had died suddenly at the post station where Master Zhen was temporarily resting. That person was the elder brother of Yang Fei, the newly favored imperial consort.
Although Emperor Jingming had a firm grip on the court, he had one weakness: he was easily swayed by the soft persuasion and insistence of his favored consorts in the imperial harem.
Note that there’s a key point here: the one employing this delicate art of persuasion had to be a “favored consort,” with emphasis on the word “favored.”
In other words, if a consort the Emperor didn’t care for tried this, she would be met with two words: “Heh heh.”
With Yang Fei making such a fuss, the death of this “Imperial Brother-in-law Yang” became the focus of attention throughout the capital.
The first case Master Zhen handled upon entering the capital was the sudden death of “Imperial Brother-in-law Yang.” After the case was solved, he successfully established his position and secured his role as the Shuntian Prefect.
However, before the case was solved, Master Zhen was quite overwhelmed.
When “Imperial Brother-in-law Yang” died suddenly, they were both at the post station. Yang Fei inevitably directed her anger at Master Zhen, which created many obstacles in solving the case. Initially, Master Zhen even became a suspect due to the slander of some ill-intentioned individuals.
“Mother, remember, if you want to meet Master Zhen that day, you must wait on the road before he reaches the post station. Once Master Zhen enters the station, with guards around, you won’t be able to see him…” The young girl’s voice was soft as she explained in detail what to do.
If Madam Xiu could intercept Master Zhen in advance, it would cause him to avoid being present when “Imperial Brother-in-law Yang” died suddenly, thus sparing him considerable trouble.
“Mother, have you remembered?”
Madam Xiu nodded repeatedly, “Yes, I’ve remembered.”
Still somewhat worried, Jiang Si cautioned again, “Mother, you must not act impulsively. If you were to be harmed as well, there would be no one left to seek justice for your daughter.”
“I understand, Niuniu. Don’t worry, I will seek justice for you.”
A gust of wind blew into the main room, causing the half-torn cloth curtain to sway back and forth. The light in the room dimmed further.
The young girl took a small step backward.
Madam Xiu was startled, “Niuniu—”
“Mother, your daughter must go now. Please get some rest and take good care of yourself…”
“Niuniu, Niuniu, will you come back?” Madam Xiu was so anxious she almost cried out, but she bit her lip hard and didn’t dare to blink, fearing that her daughter would disappear if she closed her eyes for even a moment.
But an irresistible drowsiness overcame her, gradually making her eyelids as heavy as a thousand catties. Finally, unable to resist any longer, she closed her eyes.
Jiang Si quickly supported Madam Xiu as she fell asleep.
“A-Man, help her inside.”
A-Man was still in a daze.
“A-Man.” Jiang Si sighed helplessly, emphasizing her tone.
“Yes!” A-Man finally snapped out of it, stumbling over and tucking Madam Xiu under her arm.
After settling Madam Xiu, Jiang Si placed the copper hairpin she had picked up from the ground beside her pillow.
Taking a last look at the sleeping woman, Jiang Si let out an almost inaudible sigh and walked to the west room.
On the kang bed in the west room still lay the man who had attempted to violate Madam Xiu in the middle of the night.
“Miss, what should we do with this man?” A-Man asked in a lowered voice.
“Where’s that kitchen knife?”
A-Man returned to the east room to fetch the kitchen knife.
Jiang Si took the knife and made a gesture near the man’s lower body, coldly saying, “Chop it off.”
“What?” A-Man cupped her face with both hands, her voice going off-key.
The shock she had received today was a bit too much. Heaven knows she was just a frail little maid!
Yu Jin, who had been hiding in the shadows ready to rescue his beloved at any moment, instinctively reached down to check, feeling a chilly breeze in his nether regions.
He must have misheard.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
“M-Miss, what did you say to chop off?”
The young girl’s expression remained calm as she said in a matter-of-fact tone as if discussing the day’s menu, “Naturally, the thing he uses to harm women.”
Yu Jin: “…”
He couldn’t understand what A-Si was saying at all.
“Miss, let this servant do it.” Seeing that her mistress was about to act, A-Man took the kitchen knife with trembling fingers.
Looking at the man who appeared innocent in his sleep, A-Man felt a bit envious. Steeling her heart, she raised the kitchen knife.
Yu Jin couldn’t help but hold his breath.
“Wait.”
A-Man let out a huge sigh of relief.
“Dealing with it here will leave bloodstains. Let’s take him away first.”
A-Man hurriedly put away the knife and lifted the man.
Jiang Si checked inside and outside thoroughly, making sure they hadn’t left any traces before leaving Madam Xiu’s home.
The entire village was still shrouded in darkness, with only faint lights visible in the distance by the Jinshui River.
Jiang Si walked forward without a word, while A-Man followed closely behind, carrying the man like a dead pig.
After walking for an unknown length of time, Jiang Si finally stopped.
She stopped in front of a house. In the faint starlight, one could see that the courtyard walls of this household were higher than others, with blue tiles and white walls that looked like they had been built no more than two years ago.
Jiang Si pointed at the doorway of this house, gesturing for A-Man to put the man down.
“Take off his pants.”
A-Man blinked, seeing that Jiang Si was indeed not joking. She closed her eyes and pulled down the man’s pants, exposing his pale buttocks.
Yu Jin, who had been following the two, looked up at the sky and let out a soft sigh.
Heaven knows how much self-control it took for him to overcome the urge to intervene.
Did that silly girl not know that casually looking at other men’s buttocks would cause her to grow sites in her eyes?
“Give me the kitchen knife.”
A-Man was on the verge of tears: “Miss, let this servant do it. Don’t dirty your hands.”
“Give him one cut on the buttocks, just don’t kill him.”
After all, lacking experience, and chopping off that thing might lead to death, which would be another troublesome matter. Fourth Miss Jiang thought with some regret.
“Let’s go.” After coldly watching A-Man finish her task, Jiang Si took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands.
As the mistress and maid gradually left Wang Family Village behind, Jiang Si suddenly stopped.
“How long are you going to follow us?”