Chapter 16: Is It Worth It?
Zejiang County Office.
A hurried court attendant dashed through the corridor and several archways, arriving at the inner office. At the door, he called inside, “Sir, it’s bad news, very bad!”
“Early in the morning, what are you shouting about?” came an impatient voice from within.
“Sir, Commander Wu was killed last night.”
With a loud bang, the door swung open. “What? Killed?”
The attendant replied, “Just last night, he was slain with a single sword thrust to the throat. The murderer left no trace.”
Liu Qing thoughtfully stroked his beard. After a moment’s reflection, he ordered, “First, seal off the Wu residence. No one is to enter or leave.”
“The quick response squad has already taken the coroner to examine the body.”
Liu Qing sternly interrupted, “I said no one comes in or out, to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to steal.”
“Of course!”
The Wu family had held the hereditary title of Commander for over a hundred years. By Wu Renpin’s generation, they were the wealthiest in the region. Yet, strangely, though nearly forty, Wu Renpin had no children.
The Wu family’s wealth and lands were vast.
It was said that Wu’s household boasted a dozen or so concubines, a fact that stirred a wave of curiosity within Liu Qing...
All the Wu family members knelt in the front courtyard, a sea of dark figures.
After thorough questioning, everyone steadfastly claimed they had seen no suspicious person the previous night, nor heard any unusual sounds.
Though the steward seemed uneasy, it was he who had stopped the servants from investigating the commotion in the house. The servants, having been warned and fearful of blame, echoed the steward’s claim that nothing was amiss.
With this conclusion, Magistrate Liu of Zejiang had already made up his mind.
His gaze then settled on the brightly adorned concubines lined up before him...
As evening fell, Su Yunqing slipped through the crowd and left the city. Under the moonlight, she made her way to the Su family tombs.
Approaching the fresh graves, she was stunned by what she saw.
The new tombs were surrounded by paper effigies, and in front of them, layered offerings were piled high. A few incense sticks, only recently lit, smoldered on the ground. Attempting to draw closer, she found she could not step among the offerings.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind a grave, “Are you here to pay respects to Elder Su as well?”
Su Yunqing remained silent, uncertain if the voice recognized her.
The stranger said again, “If you don’t want to speak, fine. I’m leaving.”
With that, he vanished swiftly.
She recalled her childhood, when the whole family lived in the capital with her grandfather. Guests often brought rare treasures she had never seen before, sparking the curiosity of the young girl.
Yet, before she could touch them, her grandfather returned the gifts.
She could not understand why they refused gifts so willingly offered.
Grandfather had told her, “The honest find joy in contentment; the greedy are forever anxious about lacking. Greed is the thief of the people...”
She had not understood, but he explained, “Remember only this: there is no such thing as free wealth. Those who give to me will try to reclaim it from the people, with interest. Everything we eat and use is created by the common folk. As long as your grandfather serves in office, his heart must be with the people...”
Later, when he was promoted to Grand Secretary, the bribes increased. He sent the family back to Zejiang, remaining alone in the capital.
When she grew older, she saw other families owning many lands, earning rents without labor, living without worry. Visiting her grandfather in the capital, she suggested buying land or trading, hiring others to work so she could earn income at home.
Grandfather stroked her head and said, “Those who draw salaries from the court should not compete for profit with the people...”
He fought corruption his whole life but was forced to resign in the end.
She once asked if it had been worth it.
He only smiled, never replying.
But now she seemed to understand.
“Grandfather, do you see? You have devoted your life to the people, and they have not forgotten you.”
She knelt, bowing deeply several times, then noticed a small wooden box among the offerings, out of place.
Reaching for it, she opened it to find several small porcelain bottles, each labeled.
“Golden Wound Medicine,” “Digestive Pills,” “Calming Pills”...
All were common medicines, and the handwriting was unmistakably that of Physician Ma.
Physician Ma must have failed to find her but knew she wouldn’t leave before Wu Renpin’s death and guessed she would come to bid farewell to her family, so he left these here.
Placing the bottles in her bundle, a gentle breeze stirred, bringing a light coolness and a faint, subtle fragrance—not the smell of paper money or incense.
Guided by the moonlight and the scent, she found beneath the paper effigies a large bunch of fresh flowers.
Where could such flowers bloom in this season?
Leaning closer, she recognized them as rare species from Wu Renpin’s courtyard.
Who had gathered and brought them all here?
The next day, County Magistrate Liu announced the Wu Renpin case solved: the culprit was a bandit from another region who infiltrated Zejiang, looted the Wu estate overnight, and fled.
Acknowledging his own failure in vigilance, the magistrate apologized to the townsfolk and vowed to tighten the city gates, leaving no chance for thieves.
Disguised in men’s clothing, Su Yunqing went to the docks and found a cargo ship heading south.
“Boss, how much to take me to Cenzhou?” she asked.
The middle-aged man, directing laborers, replied distractedly, “No passengers. This is a cargo ship.”
“That’s okay. I won’t take up much space.”
He glanced at her, skeptical. “It’s not about space; it’s a freight vessel.”
She pouted. “But I really don’t mind.”
He was puzzled.
Seeing he was not firmly refusing, she clasped her hands in pleading. “Please, boss, I don’t have enough money to hire a boat alone. Can I share a ride? Just bring me along.”
The man shuddered, unnerved by the coquettish tone of this pretty “young master,” then called into the cabin, “Master Ling, there’s a young master here who wants to sail to Cenzhou.”
Young master?
Suddenly realizing she’d forgotten she was disguised as a boy, Su Yunqing winced, awkwardly pressing her hand to her forehead and drawing a breath.
A youthful voice called from inside, “Did you tell him we don’t carry passengers?”
The man sighed, frowning, “Didn’t say anything. But, well, you go tell him yourself.” With that, he shook his head and walked away.
Moments later, a young man bowed from the cabin and looked toward her. “Are you the one who wants passage?”
Su Yunqing raised her head, confident and resolute. “Yes, I am!”