Chapter 109: The Blocking Cart

"Let alone the fact that this case was decreed by the imperial court and no one at any level of the provincial or prefectural government dares to overturn it. Even if you have already appealed to the Son of Heaven and he is willing to review it, where is your evidence? What can you prove with just the oral testimony of Jiao Zheng at the time and those three hundred thousand coins? Will Liu Yin admit to it? Even if he does, so what? Do you think Liu Yin is behind this case? He was merely a minor official in the Bureau of Regulations at the time, and a commoner at that; what right would he have to frame a commander of the Imperial Guard? Could he have accomplished this with his own strength alone?"

"And your father—if the looting was truly done under orders, why didn't he explain it? Of course, it's possible he had no chance to. But what about the others? Could they really have known nothing at all? Furthermore, even if someone wanted to harm your father, this plot is far too elaborate. First, ordering your father to loot a town, turning it into a sensation that shocked the court and the public, and then framing him, silencing witnesses, and bribing others—all just to harm your father? If someone with such immense power truly wanted to harm your father, was there any need to go to such great lengths?"

Chen Qingshan felt her entire body go limp.

She felt as though a vast, boundless ocean lay between her and the truth. She swam with all her might, searching desperately, yet she could never see the shore. She did not know what to do, nor what she should do. She felt as if she were placed in a chaotic world, with no direction and no guidance. Yet, the obsession to clear her father's name pulled frantically at her heart, while at the same time, she was bound by a profound sense of powerlessness.

Wang Yang saw Chen Qingshan standing there quietly, her eyes dull. As a cool breeze blew, a few strands of hair stuck messily to her pale cheeks, making her look exceptionally helpless and fragile—a stark contrast to the cold, heroic woman who had saved Wu Yi Wo earlier. A sense of pity stirred in his heart, and he said, "Although the truth of this matter is difficult to investigate, it is not without a turning point. There are two key points—"

Upon hearing there was a turning point, Chen Qingshan hurriedly looked at Wang Yang, her previously lifeless eyes gaining a bit of vitality.

Wang Yang continued, "First, the manor to which the goods were diverted. Does your family have a manor?"

Chen Qingshan was stunned for a moment, then immediately shook her head. "Absolutely not. My family is neither of the gentry nor wealthy merchants; how could we have a manor?"

"Exactly. Since there is no manor, if someone wanted to frame your father, wouldn't it have been better to transport the goods directly to your home? Why go through the trouble of creating a manor?"

Chen Qingshan felt a surge of excitement. "Then should I go investigate this manor?"

"You can, but it might not be very useful. Think about it: since these people transported the goods to that manor and then instigated Jiao Zheng to file the initial complaint, they were prepared for the manor to be searched. If you go to investigate now, you might learn some information we don't know, but the imperial court must already know this information! Because they were the ones who seized the stolen goods from that manor at the time! Since they knew this and still convicted your father, it shows that the issue with the manor did not affect the verdict against your father. Furthermore, the person who framed your father is definitely not afraid of the manor being investigated; otherwise, they wouldn't have transported the goods there."

Chen Qingshan could not help but admire Wang Yang's clear thinking. She nodded and asked, "Then what should I do?"

At this moment, she did not even realize that she was beginning to rely on and trust Wang Yang more and more.

Wang Yang said, "The matter of the manor can be set aside for now. Let's first investigate the second point."

"Right, you said there were two key points. What is the second one?"

"Naturally, it is Liu Yin. Although there is no proof or evidence, and I cannot interrogate Liu Yin, that does not mean there is no opportunity to investigate him."

Chen Qingshan asked blankly, "How do we investigate him?"

"I haven't thought that through yet, but since both the matter of Du Sanye and your matter are related to him, I must put some thought into this person."

Chen Qingshan was filled with curiosity. "What kind of thought?"

"Are you still leaving or not?" Wang Yang asked suddenly.

"Ah?" Chen Qingshan did not react in time.

"Didn't you say you were leaving tonight? Are you still going?"

Only then did Chen Qingshan remember what she had said about leaving tonight. Seeing the slight, teasing smile in Wang Yang's eyes, she could not help but feel a bit shy and annoyed. She turned her face away and said nothing.

Wang Yang teased, "If you leave, then what am I supposed to investigate?"

Chen Qingshan did not know why, but her ears turned red and hot, and her voice became smaller involuntarily. "If... if you can really find out the truth... then I... I will follow you."

Wang Yang laughed heartily, his mood excellent. With his left hand behind his back and two fingers of his right hand pointing forward, he sang in a theatrical style: "Look ahead, into the pitch-black hole, it must be the thief's lair! Wait for me to rush forward and slaughter them all—"

Chen Qingshan:????????????

"Right, I'm going to the Wang Fu for a banquet tomorrow. You hire a cart and take the Strong Man to Jiao Zheng's house to get the money. Once you have it, put it directly in your room."

Wang Yang had wanted to use the ox cart from the County School, but after thinking about it, he felt it was better not to involve Mr. Liu in such matters.

"Put it in my room?"

"Yes. He framed your father; three hundred thousand is just a bit of compensation."

Chen Qingshan shook her head. "I don't want it."

"Why not? You've spent quite a bit of money running around investigating this case for the past few years. It's only right to be compensated."

Chen Qingshan's eyes turned slightly cold. "This money is dirty."

Wang Yang said speechlessly, "Why are you so stubborn? If we followed your logic, no victim in the world should ever accept compensation. Why is it that outside of criminal litigation, one can still file a civil..."

He stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Chen Qingshan was looking at him with a strange expression.

Chen Qingshan thought: This guy has started using strange words again.

Wang Yang did not explain, simply saying, "Anyway, I've already reached an agreement with Jiao Zheng. If you don't take this money, I won't be able to keep him under control. You have to take it whether you want to or not!"

Chen Qingshan said, "Then give it to you. You can use it to buy a cart. It's not really appropriate to keep borrowing the one from the County School, is it?"

Wang Yang smiled somewhat awkwardly:

"A gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it in the proper way. I swindled this money out of Jiao Zheng; if I keep it for myself, wouldn't that make it swindled money? You are the victim; there's nothing wrong with you taking this money. As for the cart, let's hold off for now. I've always advocated for low-carbon environmental protection..."

Chen Qingshan:???

The next day, the Prince of Badong hosted a banquet at the Wang Fu for Wang Yang, inviting the civil and military officials of Jingzhou to accompany them. All the high-ranking officials were present, except for the Chief Clerk of Jingzhou, Liu Zhao, who could not get away due to official business.

On the left sat the prefectural officials, the first two being the Chief Clerk and the Commandant. Since the Chief Clerk was absent, the seat was empty.

On the right sat the provincial officials, the first two being the Assistant Governor and the Registrar.

These four all sat alone, while from the Commandant and Registrar onwards, they began to sit in rows.

This was because the first four officials were the top aides of the province and prefecture, also known as the "Upper Ranks." Their official positions were high and prominent, and they were all appointed directly by the imperial court; even the Inspector had no power to appoint or dismiss them.

Wang Yang sat in the fourth seat of the first row of the prefectural officials, right behind the Advisory Aide, directly facing the Jingzhou Registrar, Kong Zhangyu. The two bowed to each other in greeting.

"Someone, move Wang Yang's seat closer to me. I am hosting this banquet for him today; how can I let him sit so far away?"

As soon as the Prince of Badong arrived, he ordered the Wang Fu attendants to change the seating.

Not allowing Wang Yang to decline, six attendants stepped forward and set up another seat to the lower right of the Prince.

Many officials showed strange expressions upon seeing this.

Liu Cheng, however, knew that today was Wang Yang's doomsday. Seeing the Prince treating him so affectionately, he did not get angry, looking at Wang Yang as if he were a grasshopper after autumn.

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Sigh! At the end of the first volume, I had a burst of enthusiasm and decided not to take a break, but the reality is that there is truly too little time for writing. Forcing an increase in speed might be possible, but it would only come at the expense of quality, and I am extremely, extremely, extremely unwilling to do that. So, unless I have the ability of Balzac or Kafka to squeeze sleep, I won't be able to find any more spare time.

Especially when writing on the theme of "Living in the Southern Dynasties"—since it is "living," one cannot rush. If one is restless, one cannot live well; one must sway to have grace. Furthermore, I want to write every segment of "living" to be both well-researched and interesting, so speed cannot be rushed. Here, please allow me, on behalf of myself and the Space-Time Committee, to quote the dedication at the beginning of Borges's *A Universal History of Iniquity* to express my feelings: "I offer you the core of myself that I have saved—the core that is not concerned with words, does not trade in dreams, and is not touched by time, joy, or adversity."

Time cruises ahead of me, and I say, "Please, slow down a little," and it slows down, accompanying me, draped in twilight, walking slowly forward. ===== CHAPTER 110 =====