Chapter 42: I’ve Come to Take My Brother

Chapter 42: I’ve Come to Take My Brother Home

Song Zhen sat in his office, watching Yang Xuan’s departing figure, and suddenly chuckled.

“To make use of the methods of the Golden Guards shows resourcefulness, yet to cast aside fame and merit for the sake of a brother—such stubbornness, resourcefulness that does not lack in perseverance… how interesting.”

A subordinate clerk spoke up, “Minister, about that request…”

Earlier, an old comrade of Song Zhen from his military days had come by, exchanging pleasantries before mentioning a request: asking Song Zhen to mediate between Zhou Yan and Yang Xuan.

Song Zhen picked up a dossier. Memories of those years of warhorses and armor flickered across his brow, lending him a stern air. “Go tell him: what the Unruly Commander seeks is not merit, but justice. If he doesn’t want to see his reputation ruined in old age, he’d best withdraw his claws—otherwise, I won’t be able to resist chopping them off myself!”

The clerk knew his superior was a man of his word. Still, emboldened by his closeness, he ventured, “All this for a mere youth, Minister…”

Song Zhen replied coolly, “The Tang Dynasty has grown decadent in recent years—I know this well as Minister of War. For every young talent we gain, the future of the Tang is that much more vital. Now that I’ve come across such a one, if I don’t shield him, must I simply watch as he’s swallowed up by those who live by scheming and crawling?”

The clerk took his leave. Song Zhen looked up, nostalgia flickering deep in his eyes.

“Wasn’t I just as stubborn in my youth?”

…

Yang Xuan returned home.

Jia Ren had already changed into a new set of clothes. “Greetings, my lord.”

“You’ll tend the horses in the front courtyard,” Yang Xuan assigned him his role.

A moment later, he entered his room, with Cao Ying following after. “My lord, this man has been a notorious grave robber for years—why keep such a one?”

“We’ll observe him first.” Yang Xuan asked, “How’s business at the shop?”

“Booming,” Cao Ying replied happily. “Fourth Lady has hired more hands, and it’s growing bigger by the day.”

Yang Xuan nodded. “I’ll go have a look later.”

He had some ideas in mind, but they’d have to wait until the matter with Bao Dong was resolved.

Lunch was hand-pulled noodles.

Yang Xuan, Cao Ying, and Yi Niang sat together, savoring the meal.

“Passing spirits, please partake first!”

The three looked over to see Jia Ren holding his bowl, praying to the empty air.

Cao Ying glanced at Yi Niang, then at Yang Xuan.

“My lord…” She recalled the man’s background as an infamous grave robber; this ritual before the meal sent a chill down her spine.

“Is he worshipping spirits?” Yang Xuan’s eyelid twitched.

Jia Ren sat. “Indeed!”

Is this man a charlatan?

After finishing a bowl, Jia Ren said sheepishly, “I haven’t eaten all day…”

“Go help yourself,” Yi Niang said, pointing to the kitchen.

Soon, the sound of scraping the clay pot came from the kitchen.

Yang Xuan called out, “No licking!”

Both Yi Niang and Cao Ying imagined the scene: Jia Ren scraping the bottom of the pot with a spoon, reluctant to waste even the last trace of broth, finally stretching out his tongue to lick it clean…

Could he really?

The two looked at Yang Xuan. Cao Ying sighed, Yi Niang fumed.

Just what has our lord been through?

After the meal, Yang Xuan instructed, “Jia Ren, go find out where Golden Guards’ Registrar Huang Li lives. Go inside and look for something.”

“What sort of thing?” Jia Ren asked.

“Anything irregular.”

Without a pause, Jia Ren replied, “I’ll see to it at once.”

After he left, Yi Niang and Cao Ying exchanged complaints. “Why keep such an old thief around?”

After lunch, Yang Xuan headed to Wannian County.

Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu were already there.

They had brought along two women.

One was rather alluring; the other, plump, with a sycophantic smile.

“Greetings, Commander Yang,” the alluring one—Zhi Xiang—said.

Yang Xuan studied her. She was attractive, but not so much that it would bleed a patron dry, surely?

“Tell me—how did the man die?”

Zhi Xiang answered honestly, “He… died spitting blood.”

Yang Xuan asked, “From where did the blood come?”

He’d looked into it; Vermilion Bird had said that ‘sudden death in the act’ doesn’t cause one to spit blood.

Zhi Xiang lowered her head, voice soft. “Both above and below.”

Just imagining the scene made Yang Xuan’s spine tingle.

Next, he questioned the madam, who swore someone had come to warn her not to change her story.

“Bring in the deceased’s widow,” he ordered.

Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu were at their wits' end, but Yang Xuan was full of confidence.

The widow arrived, dressed in mourning white, delicate and pitiful.

“Which physician did he usually consult?” Yang Xuan’s question was direct and abrupt.

The widow reflexively answered, “Doctor Wang of Virtue Lane.”

“Bring him in.”

Doctor Wang arrived carrying his medicine chest, busy and professional, casting a sweeping glance at everyone upon entering.

“Greetings, Commander Yang.”

Yang Xuan appeared at ease, kneeling and reading, but looked up with a smile. “Did the deceased suffer from any stomach or digestive ailments?”

The physician nodded. “Commander Yang, how did you know?” He glanced at the widow, who looked back in astonishment.

Was Commander Yang a seer?

The two were left in awe. Yang Xuan pressed on. “Had he ever vomited blood?”

The physician pressed his forehead, thinking. “Yes, five years ago, he drank too much and vomited blood. I saved him then.”

Yang Xuan stood. “To the Golden Guards.”

In his earpiece, Azure Sparrow was still speaking:

“…died vomiting blood—most likely a stomach hemorrhage, possibly tuberculosis, but that would be coughing blood… so stomach bleeding is the most probable…”

Yang Xuan asked quietly, “So how does one actually die of ‘sudden passion’?”

Vermilion Bird: “Ecstasy.”

Yang Xuan: “….”

At the Golden Guards’ office, Zhou Yan had just finished a furious rampage, leaving his office in shambles.

Huang Li returned. Zhou Yan snorted coldly. “Will Yang Xuan back down?”

At this crucial juncture in his career, the more trouble, the less chance of promotion. As much as he hated Yang Xuan, he was ready to swallow his pride and make peace.

In his view, Yang Xuan should be grateful.

Huang Li looked up. “He refuses.”

“That wretched dog—what does he want?” Zhou Yan’s veins bulged.

Huang Li smiled wryly. “He wants justice for Bao Dong.”

“Justice?” Zhou Yan was stunned, then burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha!”

He laughed until tears came. “Ah! I was once that stubborn in my youth, but I soon learned… there’s no justice in officialdom.”

“Deputy Zhou, Yang Xuan is here with his men. He wants to examine the body,” someone reported.

Because the case was unresolved, the deceased’s widow refused to allow burial, insisting that injustice would turn her husband into a vengeful spirit.

The group moved to the front hall. Yang Xuan brought two subordinates, Zhi Xiang, the madam, the deceased’s widow, and Doctor Wang.

“The Golden Guards have taken over,” Huang Li sneered.

“Investigating homicide is the duty of the Unruly Command,” Yang Xuan retorted.

Fool, Huang Li thought scornfully. “The Golden Guards have taken over.”

I have only one answer: the Golden Guards have taken over. What can you do?

Yang Xuan declared, “As Chief Unruly of Wannian County, I believe there’s a problem with this case.”

If you can seize the credit, why shouldn’t the professionals question the case? This was the Unruly Command’s responsibility—who could object?

Huang Li was about to rebuke him when a clerk appeared at the door, standing on tiptoe to call out, “The Minister says this matter must be thoroughly investigated!”

Huang Li bristled. “Which minister?”

The clerk replied coolly, “The Minister of War.”

Huang Li was left speechless.

Yang Xuan recalled Song Zhen’s stern, commanding face.

Zhou Yan said, “Let him investigate. If he finds nothing, and the body is damaged, the soul will not rest…”

But the deceased’s wife was calm, even adding, “We rely on you, Commander Yang.”

What sort of woman would wish her late husband unrest in death?

In her mind echoed the words of Cao Ying: If this is a murder, you won’t get a penny. But if it’s proven he died of illness, the brothel will be implicated… and you can demand compensation.

Thinking of that upright man, the widow grew even more grateful.

He truly is a good man. If only I could marry him… As for that dead scoundrel, he wasted money on brothels—dead is dead.

The body was kept in a dark room, next to where the Golden Guards stored ice blocks, which also preserved the corpse from decay.

It was cold upon entry, eerie and chilling, the body laid out on a wooden board, surrounded by ice, the air thick with an odor that turned the stomach.

The coroner arrived.

Huang Li’s voice was icy. “Where will you cut?”

“The stomach and intestines,” Yang Xuan answered, a bit tense.

Azure Sparrow murmured in his ear, “Stay calm.”

Zhou Yan glanced at the widow. “If nothing is found, the Golden Guards will wash their hands of this.”

If the autopsy yielded nothing, the widow would surely make a scene, leaving Yang Xuan to take the blame.

The coroner produced his tools, inserted something into his nostrils, donned a mask, and approached the body, muttering a prayer…

“Every wrong has its debtor—let the dead count their own killers…”

The coroner glanced back at the onlookers, eyes dark and cold.

He set to work.

Clothes peeled back, the knife slid in…

Everyone bowed their heads; Yang Xuan was reminded of those film scenes of mourning.

It was just the same.

A faint sound—pfft.

Then came the noises that made all think of meat being sliced at home.

“Ugh!” Someone dry-heaved.

The coroner called out, “The stomach and intestines are full of blood!”

Everyone looked up to see the coroner holding up a mass of something, black clumps dropping to the floor.

Huang Li sneered, “That’s the effect of poison.”

He saw Yang Xuan approaching.

“Poison never makes one vomit so much blood,” Yang Xuan said earnestly. “Only diseases of the stomach and intestines do that.”

Huang Li scoffed, “Nonsense… non… non…”

He saw the coroner nod.

He saw Doctor Wang gazing at Yang Xuan with admiration.

Everyone else present, save for these two and Yang Xuan, was stunned.

This case… was a miscarriage of justice!

Huang Li’s legs buckled.

“Registrar Huang! Registrar Huang!”

Amid the cries, Yang Xuan stepped up to Zhou Yan.

Their gazes met.

Yang Xuan said calmly,

“I’ve come to take my brother home.”