Wen Chan’s nosebleeds came and went quickly. Liang Yanbei made a round trip, and his bleeding had stopped even before the medicine was applied.
Liang Yanbei was still a bit uneasy, “Do you feel any discomfort? Does your nose still hurt?”
So Wen Chan felt his nose carefully and felt that there was nothing uncomfortable. He shook his head lightly and said, “I’m fine.”
“It’s better to go to the town and find a doctor to take a look at you.” His voice was a little low as if he was talking to himself, “It’s not good if something goes wrong.”
Wen Chan had no objections to this proposal, but he was a little confused as to why Liang Yanbei did not go to the highly skilled doctor, Situ Zhoulan, but went to find a doctor in the town.
“Young Master Wen, can you ride a horse?” Liang Yanbei asked while walking.
These words interrupted his train of thoughts. Wen Chan turned his consciousness back, raised his eyes to look at his sideface, and replied, “Yes.”
“Then let’s go on horseback to save time.”
“Where to?” He asked.
“Of course, to report the case to the authorities. When there is a murder, we have to go to the yamen first.” Liang Yanbei responded as if it were a matter of course.
Wen Chan suddenly realised that he had almost forgotten about the existence of the authorities and that it would save him a lot of trouble if he had the help of the authorities.
When leaving the mansion, Liang Yanbei asked for two horses.
The City Lord’s Mansion was in the centre of Jile City, and there were roads out of the city on all sides. One of the roads facing north was the carriageway leading directly to the yamen.
After walking through a crowded and bustling city, they found themselves on a spacious avenue with sparse pedestrians. On weekdays, only some carriages and horses would go there. It was a road set to conveniently report a case to the authorities.
After driving for about half an hour, they could see the blue-waved and white-patterned government gate, with four government officials standing lazily in front of it.
As soon as Wen Chan got off his horse, he saw the two of government officials whispering to each other and looking at him repeatedly.
Just when he felt strange about the behaviour of the two government officials, Liang Yanbei came from the side, took the horse rope from Wen Chan’s hand, glanced casually, and said, “Have you committed any crime since you came to Wuyue Island?”
Wen Chan shook his head innocently, “How is that possible?”
He searched in his heart and thought that he was a completely good citizen who did not fight or cause trouble.
“Those two government officials seem to have seen you before.” Liang Yanbei tied up the horses and leisurely patted the horse’s head, “Go ask first.”
The two of them headed towards the bailiffs of the yamen, and when they reached the front, he heard the bailiffs of the yamen say before Wen Chan could say anything, “You’ve come at the right time.”
He pulled out a roll of white paper from his arms and unfolded it casually. His eyes went back and forth between the paper and Wen Chan’s face a few times before revealing an expression of certainty, Putting the paper away, he reached out to grab Wen Chan’s arm.
“Come with me!”
“What are you doing?” Wen Chan dodged his hands subconsciously, “We are here to report a case to the authorities. Let us see the official.”
The bailiff sneered and still went to grab him, “I’ll take you there now.”
“Wait a minute.” Liang Yanbei stretched out his hand to block the government servant’s hand and brushed it away lightly. He took two steps forward and stood in front of Wen Chan. He curled his eyes and swung out a harmless smile, “Brother, can you lend me that piece of paper in your hand to take a look at?”
Wen Chan seized the opportunity to retreat behind Liang Yanbei. Seeing the unkind expressions on the faces of the two bailiffs, he didn’t want to be caught and thrown into jail for no apparent reason.
“This is the felon whom our Lord ordered to find just yesterday. We haven’t even gone to the city to post it yet, but you sent him to our door first.”
The bailiffs on Wuyue Island were not as good as the ones outside. The authorities here had a lower status than the Jianghu people. After all, it was a place where people talked with their fists. Therefore, the bailiffs did not deliberately make things difficult and handed the paper to Liang Yanbei, “I see that you want to see the Lord. But you need to squat in jail for half a day before you can do so.”
On the paper was a portrait of a man’s head with a neck, which at first glance looked similar to Wen Chan’s, and the brushwork was very exquisite.
Wen Chan peered over Liang Yanbei’s shoulder. When he saw that it was he himself who was drawn on the paper, he became perplexed and exclaimed, “This is impossible. I have only just arrived on this island……”
“Come with us.” The bailiff stepped forward to catch Wen Chan.
He dodged left and right. His body was as flexible as a loach, again letting the bailiff catch nothing.
“Wait.” Liang Yanbei stopped the person again, took out a jade token from his sleeve, flashed it at the bailiff, and said, “We need to see your Lord right now. Please lead the way.”
The bailiff originally thought that it was just a jade token. But unexpectedly, when he took a closer look, he saw that there was a bright and shiny word “Emperor” on the jade token. He was so shocked that he almost knelt down and kowtowed, and he did not dare to arrest Wen Chan anymore.
Even the local authorities in smaller regions knew that anyone who held this kind of jade token with the word “emperor” in it had a strong status. They were either a prince, or a noble, or a high official in the capital who carried out imperial orders.
The four bailiffs looked at each other and started working immediately. Two of them stayed and continued to guard the door. While the other two respectfully said to Liang Yanbei, “Sir, please wait a moment. These humble ones will go and report to the stern Lord.”
Liang Yanbei was very satisfied with the attitude of these people. After putting away the jade token, he looked at the paper a few more times before folding it into his sleeve and saying to Wen Chan, “You must have done something to offend this newcomer, stern Lord. So think about it again.”
Wen Chan had no clue at all. He carefully recalled what he had encountered in the past few days, and suddenly he noticed the word “newcomer” in Liang Yanbei’s mouth. Then he got some guesses in his mind.
The pair of beautiful eyebrows wrinkled slightly, and Wen Chan whispered, “This is not good. This will cause trouble.”
Liang Yanbei smiled secretly, “Remembered about it?”
He raised his head and said, “Just two days ago, I……”
“My Lords, our stern Lord requested you to come in.” A bailiff interrupted Wen Chan.
The two stopped talking and followed the bailiff. After entering, they walked around the hall and through a verandah before arriving at a small garden with all kinds of flowers, plants, and trees, including stone tables and chairs.
There were two people standing in the garden. Both of them were wearing dark blue robes and were of different heights.
The shorter one stood with his back to them and his hands behind his back. His robe was embroidered with billowing white waves. He wore an official hat on his head, and his identity was clear.
When the person beside him saw Liang Yanbei and Wen Chan coming, they reminded the county magistrate in a low voice. Only to see that the county magistrate had turned his face sideways first.
When Wen Chan saw him, he immediately felt that his sideface looked familiar.
Unexpectedly, the county magistrate had a huge reaction when he saw Wen Chan. He turned around and rolled up his sleeves, “Good ah! You still dare to appear in front of me!”
Wen Chan was startled. Only then did he see clearly that the young magistrate had a greenish-purple bruise on the other half of his face, which was extremely obvious on his fair face.
As soon as he bared his teeth and grinned, he tugged at the injured part of his face and wailed in pain.
The man beside him hurriedly opened his arms to hold him, “My Lord! My Lord, calm down!”
It seemed that the harder the other person tried to stop him from fighting, the more energetic the county magistrate became. He waved his arms and shouted, “Let me go! I’m going to teach this black-hearted villain a lesson today!”
Wen Chan took two steps back with a guilty conscience. But his face was calm and composed, “A gentleman settles a dispute through communication instead of a fight. Please don’t get agitated, Your Honour.”
He had completely remembered why this county magistrate looked familiar. After he was rescued from the bandit’s den by Liang Yanbei a few days ago, he took advantage of the gap when no one was looking and pointed a group of people to the road to the bandit’s hiding place.
He had originally thought that all the bandits should have been eliminated by Dan Ke. But now, looking at the huge wound on the county magistrate’s face, he knew that he must have suffered as well.
“I was never a gentleman in the first place!” The magistrate bared his teeth and claws.
It was unknown if it was because he struggled too much, but when the man behind him took off his hand for a moment, the county magistrate was caught off guard without the shackles on his body. He rushed forward two steps as if in inertia, and then stopped suddenly.
He lost his temper really fast, turned around, and stopped abruptly. He put his hands behind his back, coughed twice, turned his head, and glared at the man without leaving any trace.
There was a hint of embarrassment in the air.
Liang Yanbei smiled, took out the jade token again, and said to the county magistrate, “My surname is Liang. I come from the capital. I have come across a problem now. I would like to request the assistance of the county magistrate.”
The county magistrate first took a look at the jade token in his hand. He suddenly lost a bit of confidence. But he still managed to stay calm and said in a cold voice, “This small temple of mine can’t accommodate two great Buddhas. So please find someone else.”
Even after being rejected, Liang Yanbei’s eyebrows were still relaxed, and he said with a smile, “Then it seems like there is no need for this small temple of yours to exist?”
The young county magistrate’s body stiffened upon hearing this.
“Anyway, this yamen is in name only on Wuyue Island. Otherwise, I will just take the news and return to the capital. Then I will report to my superiors that the county magistrate here is incompetent……” Liang Yanbei said this and sighed slightly, “I’ve always been the person who loves to tell the truth.”
Wen Chan’s mouth twitched slightly when he heard this.
Love to tell the truth? I’ll be damned if I believe you.
The more the county magistrate heard, the more he became unsure. He looked back at the man and saw the man shaking his head slightly at him.
The county magistrate pondered for a moment with a thoughtful look on his face, and then said solemnly, “Just now, I had been impulsive. I don’t know where Lord Liang needs my help. I will do my best.”
Wen Chan was shocked. This was the most cowardly paper tiger1“Paper tiger” is a calque of the Chinese phrase zhǐlǎohǔ (simplified Chinese: 纸老虎; traditional Chinese: 紙老虎). The term refers to something or someone that claims or appears to be powerful or threatening but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.
The expression became well known internationally as a slogan used by Mao Zedong, former Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and paramount leader of China, against his political opponents, particularly the United States. It has since been used in various capacities and variations to describe many other opponents and entities. that he had seen in his two lifetimes combined together. He could change his expression and tone easily, so straightforwardly, and so quickly.
When he saw the young county magistrate’s handsome and fair face, he felt it to be very unfamiliar. Wen Chan searched his mind roughly, but he could not find a face similar to his among the civil and military officials.
This man was truly talented! It would be a pity if he was not a high official.
He sighed in his heart.
“Your Excellency, the county magistrate, you are quite knowledgeable.” Liang Yanbei responded, moving to the stone table and chairs next to him without making it obvious.
“Come and sit, Lord Liang. Don’t be so formal.” The county magistrate signalled with his eyes, and while leading the people over, he briefly introduced himself, “My surname is He2He said that in a formal and polite way. Courtesy name: Zhiyi. I was transferred here to take up the post not long ago. I am not very familiar with things in the yamen. So if you are not well received, please forgive me, Lord Liang.”
“county magistrate He must be joking.” Liang Yanbei said casually and pulled the conversation to the topic, “The second son of the Yao family on the island was poisoned and killed in his room today. Does Magistrate He know about this?”
“This humble servant didn’t know about it.” He Zhiyi looked surprised.
“We came to the yamen because we wanted to borrow some people from Magistrate He.”
“This matter is easy to deal with.” He Yi agreed flatly, “Just ask for as many people as you want, Lord Liang.”
“Lord Liang.” The man standing behind He Zhiyi spoke suddenly, “This humble one would like to ask one thing. The Yao family did not come to report the death of Second Young Master Yao, but you did. Is there any compelling reason for it?”
“Indeed.” Wen Chan replied, “I accidentally got involved in the Yao family dispute. Now I need to find out the cause of Second Young Master Yao’s death.”
“The Lord’s business is this humble servant’s business.” He Zhiyi quickly added, “Jile City is still within the jurisdiction of this officer, and this officer will do his best to assist you in this murder case.”
Liang Yanbei was very satisfied with what He Zhiyi said. Things went much smoother than expected. So he had no intention of staying and turned his head towards Wen Chan.
“Young Master Wen, do you have anything else to say?”
Wen Chan thought for a while, “Master He, please sort out the records of the medicinal herbs sold in all the pharmacies in Jile City in the past two days. I need to use them.”
“This humble servant will send someone immediately.” He responded solemnly.
“Nothing more.” After hearing He Zhiyi’s answer, he turned to Liang Yanbei and said.
“In that case, we won’t be staying any longer.” He stood up, took out a jade token, and handed it to He Zhiyi, “county magistrate He, if anything happens or if you have any clues about the murder, take this token and go to Jile City to find me.”
Wen Chan glanced away and realised that this jade token was the same as the one he had taken out earlier. He guessed that it was the one that Xie Zhaoxue had left behind for Liang Yanbei before he returned to the capital.
There is the word “Emperor” on the jade token. Anyone who was not determined to go against the royal family would be wary of this jade tablet.
He Zhiyi happily accepted the jade token and then glanced at Wen Chan. Maybe he remembered the matter of him intentionally giving him the wrong directions and raised his hand to touch the injury on his face.
“……” Seeing this, Wen Chan coughed slightly and said, lowering his voice, “What happened in the two days before…… I am sorry for what I did to Young Master He. If I have a chance in the future, I will make up for it.”
Hearing this, He Zhiyi’s eyes lit up. He didn’t decline it modestly and said directly, “Then this humble servant will hereto thank Young Master Wen.”
After a few more words of politeness, Liang Yanbei said his farewells and led Wen Chan away from the yamen.
After leaving the gate, Liang Yanbei went to take the horse, while Wen Chan stood by the side and waited, pondering.
It was still unknown whether the poison was made by the murderer himself or brought by him. Even if he asked for the list of medicines from the pharmacies, it was still unknown whether they could be put to use or not.
It was the time of the Meeting of the Heroes on Wuyue island, and it was the time fore celebrating dieties. There were so many people, and it was really troublesome to find the murderer who poisoned Yao Yanming.
As Wen Chan was thinking, Liang Yanbei came with his horse, “What are you thinking about?”
He glanced at Liang Yanbei and said quietly, “I am not feeling well in my heart having to go through all the trouble to find out the cause of the death of a useless person.”
“What’s wrong with that.” Liang Yanbei casually smoothed his horse’s head, “Think of it as investigating for your three little subordinates. If you can’t find out, I’m afraid Yao Mengping won’t let them go.”
When it was put this way, it was also true.
The breath that was stuck in Wen Chan’s heart came and went very quickly. In just two sentences, he suddenly felt more comfortable. He took the reins from his hands and asked, “Where are we going next?”
“There is no rush.” Liang Yanbei said, “You haven’t eaten anything since you woke up. You must be hungry now. I remember that there is a shop in the city that specialises in food from the capital city. I will take you there.”
Wen Chan wasn’t feeling hungry at first. But after he mentioned it, he really became hungry. So he directly climbed onto the horse without any superfluous words, “Take me there quickly.”
Translator’s corner
Thank you so much for reading the chapter. If you liked my translation and wanna support me, you can comment down your thoughts or send me a Kofi.
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