Chapter 29: The Wild Goose Pecks the Eye

As the first light of dawn appeared, a clap of summer thunder startled the air, and thin threads of rain began to stretch across the sky, falling onto the bluestone floor and stirring up a layer of fresh fragrance.

Han San, who had been busy for the better part of the night, was awakened by the freshness and slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at the scenery outside the window and could not help but smile.

He had thought he would still have to do some dirty work, but who would have expected that fellow to be someone seeking death anyway. The poison had already reached the abdomen, indicating that he had taken the poison before he died, and the dosage was not small.

As for why the County Assistant Zhao took poison, that was not something he needed to consider.

Now, he only needed to open the coffin and examine the corpse in front of everyone, and the crimes on Feng Bangning would be reduced by more than half.

This immense merit would thus fall into the hands of him, Han San.

He had joined the Zhang Family's command, but had yet to establish any merit.

This major affair was his "letter of intent" to join the Zhang Family; his future prospects would naturally be incomparable to what they were before.

Thinking of this, Han San curled his lips and stood up from the bed with a carp-like leap.

After dressing and washing up, Han San walked out of the room with his head held high.

He was met by a subordinate who looked flustered, running toward him as if his feet were on wheels of wind and fire, while shouting, "Chief, something else has happened!"

Han San felt a sense of foreboding and asked, "What happened?"

The man took two deep breaths and panted, "County Assistant Zhao... he was buried by the Zhao family early this morning."

"What?!" Han San was shocked, his eyes widening as he cursed, "Are you all idiots? Didn't you know to keep an eye on things? Didn't you know to wake me up?"

"Chief, wasn't it you who said yesterday that we weren't allowed to disturb you until you woke up? Ouch..."

Before the man could finish, Han San kicked him over, gathered his men, and rushed straight toward the burial site of County Assistant Zhao.

By the time Han San arrived, the coffin had already been buried in the earth.

He swept his eyes across the scene, which was packed with commoners watching the spectacle, as well as officials who had come to pay their respects.

"Wait!"

Han San shouted, and the crowd shifted their gazes over; upon seeing the uniforms they wore, their expressions could not help but change.

Lady Zhao squeezed out of the crowd and said with a sobbing tone, "Officer, my husband is already dead, just let him rest in peace."

Seeing Lady Zhao's tear-streaked face, the crowd was immediately ignited with anger.

"That's right, the man is already dead. No matter how overbearing you Embroidered Uniform Guards are, can you really manage the affairs of the dead?"

"A bunch of lackeys, accomplices of the Eunuch Faction! This is not your Imperial Prison; we won't allow you to act recklessly here!"

"Oh Heaven, please open your eyes and strike these beasts down with a bolt of lightning."

Before Han San could continue speaking, the crowd immediately began to push and surge forward.

Without an imperial decree, Han San dared not beat the officials, so he hurriedly retreated and stood his ground on a small hill.

"The death of County Assistant Zhao has other suspicious circumstances, so I ask everyone to remain calm."

The crowd looked at each other, and after a long while, one person stretched their neck and asked, "What suspicious circumstances? The man was beaten to death by you, so isn't it just whatever you say?"

"Exactly! You Embroidered Uniform Guards are best at calling black white. You bully the weak and fear the strong; when you see commoners, you want to swallow them whole, but when you see the wealthy and noble, you act just like lapdogs."

"We can't let the Embroidered Uniform Guards fool us!"

Blocked by so many mouths, Han San tried his best to remain calm, his neck turning red as he roared, "County Assistant Zhao died of poisoning, not from external injuries."

At this shout, the crowd immediately quieted down.

"Poisoning? Do you have proof?" one person asked, emboldened.

Han San did not answer the man, but instead asked the sea of heads below the hill, "May I ask who is the Wanping County Magistrate?" Magistrate Lin lifted his embroidered robes and squeezed out of the crowd: "This official is Lin Cheng, the Wanping County Magistrate."

"Good, Magistrate Lin." Han San narrowed his eyes and scanned him, asking, "After County Assistant Zhao died, did you send a coroner to verify the body? If so, please call the coroner out."

"Verified. County Assistant Zhao died of a heart attack caused by blood and Qi," Magistrate Lin replied, calm and composed.

A fine Magistrate Lin you are, lying with your eyes wide open.

Han San was furious, and gritting his teeth, he said: "Then please call the coroner here; I have some things to ask him."

"What, do you Embroidered Uniform Guards want to use torture to extract a confession and tamper with the testimony again?" A mocking voice rang out, and a forty-year-old fat man was seen walking out, surrounded by the crowd.

It was the medical clinic owner.

"It's you?"

"Yes, it's me." The medical clinic owner smiled and added, "Chief Han, are you surprised to see me? Your brothers beat me quite badly."

As he spoke, the medical clinic owner turned to face the crowd and said with a sorrowful face, "It was them! They broke into my home the day before yesterday, dragged me away, and used torture to force me to say that I sold two taels of arsenic to County Assistant Zhao."

"I am but a common citizen; how could I withstand the torture? I had no choice but to grit my teeth and write the confession."

*Whoosh. * This statement instantly caused an uproar. Magistrate Lin stamped his foot and took the opportunity to curse: "What a fine Embroidered Uniform Guard! A mere Chief is bold enough to use private torture on the common people."

"If you were to become a Battalion Commander, wouldn't this official have to live under your thumb?"

Han San cursed inwardly; he only regretted not having subdued this medical clinic owner yesterday, and also regretted not taking away the corpse of County Assistant Zhao.

Now, he knew there was only one path to resolve this crisis.

Open the coffin and examine the corpse.

"Justice resides in the hearts of the people; I, Han, have always acted uprightly and sat straight!"

"A fine 'upright and straight'." Magistrate Lin gave a cold laugh and provoked him further, "The medical clinic owner has no grudge against you, so why would he frame you?"

"This... this doesn't need to be said, but the fact that County Assistant Zhao died of poisoning is an unalterable truth."

"The man has already been buried, so naturally, it's whatever you say."

Han San felt his chest fill with rage, and gritting his teeth, he said, "Then open the coffin and examine the corpse! If County Assistant Zhao did not die of poisoning, I, Han, will chop off this hand and give it to you! I will let you dispose of me as you please."

"The man is already dead, and you still want to desecrate the corpse of County Assistant Zhao? There is no justice in the Embroidered Uniform Guards!" a man roared, stretching his neck.

"He has been laid to rest; were you Embroidered Uniform Guards not born of parents?" another official chimed in.

Lady Zhao's eyes also turned red, and she knelt on the ground, crying out, "Officer, just consider that my husband had poor fortune. We won't sue anymore, we won't sue! We will return to our hometown now and never come to the capital again for the rest of our lives."

Once these words were spoken, the officials present felt even more sympathy for Lady Zhao.

"Look, look." County Magistrate Lin pointed at Han San and said to Lady Zhao, "These are the hounds, creatures born without parents. It is useless for you, sister-in-law, to beg them. You had better bury your husband early; I will send men to escort you back to your hometown."

Lady Zhao raised her eyes to look at him and said through tear-filled eyes, "Many thanks, Great Magistrate."

What a fine County Magistrate Lin, what a sharp-tongued official.

Watching the highly excited County Magistrate Lin, Han San guessed that the death of County Assistant Zhao must have had a great deal to do with him.

Forced by the situation, Han San restrained his anger and had no choice but to soften his stance first: "County Magistrate Lin, esteemed lords, it was Han San who was too eager to perform meritorious service and was reckless."

"I shall take my leave now, and I will report this matter to my superiors."

Having said this, he turned his head and left.

(End of this chapter)