CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 42: A GRIEVOUS CASE

Zhu Yu watched from the side, feeling a bit puzzled.

She could see that Lu Qing planned to start from the wasteland and agricultural taxes of Qingshui County to punish Li Wencai, mobilizing the imperial guard to make it easier to take bold and decisive action.

But why did he still need to go to the Runzhou Prefecture government office to borrow governmental officials from Magistrate Zhao Xin?

Whether it was the county government or the State Mansion, these governmental officials might have some authority in front of ordinary people, but when facing ruthless criminals, they might not be enough, and could never compare to the well-trained imperial guard.

Isn’t this like holding a strong crossbow in hand but asking to borrow a whip from someone else?

Unless, what he wanted all along was not just a few errand-running officials, but something else.

Perhaps, it was the other party’s attitude and stance.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yu’s mind cleared up. Previously, Lu Jingxing mentioned that Magistrate Zhao Xin of the neighboring Runzhou was different from the apathetic and indifferent attitude of Congzhou Prefecture where the Capital was located. Zhao Xin somehow convinced the local farmers to stay and continue farming peacefully, and their annual harvests seemed quite good.

Previously, Lu Qing said Li Wencai was working hard to ingratiate himself, and eventually managed to become a nominal disciple under the Second Prince, Prince Yi Lu Zhang, with the real intention of squeezing into the faction of Lu Zhang’s maternal grandfather, Duke Yan.

Mere Li Wencai, a seventh-rank official, naturally couldn’t even reach the soles of Lu Zhang’s shoes. The superior who could provide him with shelter all these years was likely those connections he made while seeking favors.

So the State Government was most probably filled with Duke Yan’s people.

On the surface, Lu Qing had Fu Lu go to Zhao Xin to borrow people, but in reality, he wanted to use the subsequent reactions from this move to guess whose supporter Zhao Xin from the Runzhou Prefecture government office was.

It was likely that Lu Qing’s decisive actions had indeed shocked the many servants in the Li Mansion, and the matter quickly spread through the whole household. Normally, it seemed Li Wencai wasn’t particularly kind to his servants, causing them to fear that they might suffer with him, wishing to run away as far as they could.

By the afternoon, a few maids were pushed out, timidly bringing tea and snacks to Lu Qing and Zhu Yu at the side courtyard. They didn’t dare come near the doorway, just placed the refreshments on the stone table in the courtyard, called out, and quickly ran away.

Zhu Yu thought this situation wasn’t necessarily bad. Originally, with Fu Wen and Fu Lu each tasked to go out and handle matters, only Lu Qing and herself were left in the Li Mansion, which made her feel somewhat uneasy.

When it came to autopsy, she was adept, not even batting an eye.

When it came to dealing with ruffians, she was practically sent as a gift.

So now that those servants were too scared to come near the side courtyard, it was indeed a blessing in disguise.

But, there are exceptions to everything, and there would always be someone who acts unconventionally.

Just when the servants in the Li family acted like the side courtyard was haunted—fearful yet unable to provoke—a bold one appeared.

"That person is here again," Zhu Yu said softly while standing at the window, her peripheral vision catching a glimpse of a bun appearing over the wall, then spoke to Lu Qing, who was resting with his eyes closed in front of the desk.

Lu Qing opened his eyes and glanced at Zhu Yu, "Then please, Chief Historian, invite this person in. If I go, they might get frightened and run away."

Zhu Yu followed his directions and stepped out. The figure by the wall hesitated, seemingly trying to leave but then stopping, not really departing.

"Since you’re here, why sneak around outside? If you have something to say, come in and say it!" Zhu Yu called loudly to the person outside the wall.

The bun on the wall shifted slightly, and soon there was the sound of footsteps. A young woman, who appeared to be about the same age as Zhu Yu, moved slowly from the side of the wall and appeared outside the moon gate.

This woman had a beautiful appearance, her hair still in the twist bun Zhu Yu had seen before, with no hairpins or ornaments. She wore a plain white dress, and the material seemed quite good, but it lacked color, not matching her youthful beauty at all.

The woman raised her eyes to look at Zhu Yu; though her features couldn’t be seen due to a skin mask, noticing she wasn’t a burly man like Fu Lu seemed to slightly ease her tension.

She cautiously walked into the courtyard, curtsying from a distance towards Zhu Yu, "This maiden Zhu Qiaoyun, greets the official, requesting you to seek justice for me."

"Don’t panic, come forward and speak," Zhu Yu motioned her to come to the front of the main house.

Zhu Qiaoyun wrung a handkerchief with both hands, pursing her lips, walking step by step closer, each step seemingly a decision made with great resolve.

Zhu Yu noticed she wore a pair of simple hemp shoes on her feet, as if mourning someone.

Yet, Li Wencai’s household didn’t appear to have had any recent deaths.

Without revealing it, she glanced at Zhu Qiaoyun’s hands, noticing the fair and delicate skin, like someone who hadn’t done any hard labor, thus having a rough guess about the woman’s identity.

Entering the main house, Zhu Qiaoyun knelt down in the direction of Lu Qing, prostrate on the ground, "This young woman Zhu Qiaoyun, pleads for justice!"

"Who are you, and what grievance do you have?" Lu Qing asked nonchalantly, his voice low and indifferent.

"To answer your honor, I was a daughter of an ordinary family in Taiping County. At the age of seventeen, I went to the city with my family to watch the lantern festival and accidentally caught Li Wencai’s eye, after which he wanted to take me as a concubine.

I was betrothed to Zhou Sanlang from the Zhou family in my village since I was young. We grew up together, deeply in love, originally planning to marry when the time was right. Unexpectedly, Li Wencai interrupted our plans.

He is the county magistrate, and we couldn’t provoke him, but he was tyrannical in Taiping County, and we all hated him deeply. My parents and I were unwilling for me to become his concubine, so we arranged with the Zhou family for Zhou Sanlang and I to flee in the dark of night and return after the storm had passed.

By then, Zhou and I would have consummated our relationship, and Li Wencai, never being someone who holds affection, might let it go. At worst, they would be punished, but it was better than me becoming a concubine.

However, Zhou and I were intercepted that very night by Li Wencai’s people, who not only took me away but beat Zhou Sanlang to death with clubs... His body was thrown into the river... Not even leaving a whole body..."

At this point, overwhelmed with sorrow, Zhu Qiaoyun began to weep, tears streaming down unabated, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhu Yu suddenly understood, realizing that this woman was in mourning for her lover, killed by Li Wencai.

Looking at her now, she was about twenty years old, having been taken and made a concubine by Li Wencai for quite some time. Yet, she wore plain white and hemp shoes all the while, clearly showing she never intended to please Li Wencai. Instead, she constantly used her attire to remind him how much she despised him.

"So you want me to seek justice for your Zhou Sanlang?" Lu Qing asked.

"This maiden pleads for the official to seek justice for the people of Qingshui County!" Zhu Qiaoyun wiped her tears and said in a trembling voice, "As long as Li Wencai is the County Magistrate of Qingshui County for one more day, who knows how many more vile deeds he’ll commit, and how many more people will be harmed like my Zhou Sanlang!

This maiden initially thought your honor was a guest invited by Li Wencai but was uncertain, so I only dared to wander outside, not daring to enter.

Upon hearing today that your honor came to punish Li Wencai, I gathered the courage to return!

This maiden knows that Li Wencai keeps a ledger recording how much he spent bribing the State Government’s officials, and knows where he hides it. I’m willing to tell all to your honor, as long as you punish this villain, leaving him no chance to rise again, preventing him from harming the people of Taiping County any further!"