Chapter 114: The Law Is Like a Furnace, But It Cannot Match the Darkness of Human Hearts (Subscription Requested)

Xianghe Shop occupies more than one mu of land, stretching over a hundred meters from the front gate on Linjie Street to the rear gate’s pair of red-lacquered wooden doors.

A space larger than one mu certainly isn’t all occupied by the pawnshop.

In fact, it has been split cleanly in half.

The front faces the bustling Xiao Lianghe Street as a pawnshop; the rear gate connects to Yimin Xiao Street, which leads to the Hu family’s residence.

Earlier, the government office runners came to arrest Master Hu and demand Xu’s golden carp jade pendant; Madam Hu and her fellow disciples guarded the front gate of Xianghe Shop but abandoned the rear gate on Yimin Xiao Street (though from Yimin Xiao Street’s perspective, it too was the front entrance).

Master Hu has been sentenced by the City God to wear wooden stocks for three months and now lies paralyzed on his bed, moaning day and night in agony.

Madam Hu naturally wouldn’t keep him inside the front shop, so the government office runners carried him away through the Yimin Xiao Street entrance.

Now Madam Hu has shut the front gate of Xianghe Shop and remains inside the pawnshop’s main hall with a dozen well-dressed martial arts apprentices.

A thin thirty-year-old man leapt down from the roof, gasping as he sprinted through the rear gate into the main hall, still unsteady on his feet as he cried out urgently.

“Senior Sister, disaster! Zhu Yitao has gone mad—he’s ordering the City Defense Battalion to surround Xianghe Shop!”

“Surround? We’re not bandits—why surround us? And why send the City Defense Battalion?” Madam Hu exclaimed in shock.

She was of average height and proportionate build, neither fat nor thin, with a slightly broad square face that was not ugly but soft, plump, and well-proportioned; her black, lustrous hair was tied into a bun at the nape and wrapped in a fine pearl net.

Elegant and dignified, even past forty, she still retained five or six-tenths of her charm.

Yet when she spoke, the corners of her eyes lifted, revealing a hint of cruelty and sharpness.

The thin disciple quickly recounted what had transpired at the government office and sighed: “Zhu Yitao is serious this time—he’s even targeting Liu Gugu of Hongxiu Fang. Can your Xianghe Shop be more powerful than Hongxiu Fang?”

“Alas, earlier when Zhu Yitao sent men to demand Xu’s jade pendant, you should’ve just handed it over—why drive the government office runners out with blows?”

“The pendant isn’t in my home,” Madam Hu said.

“At a time like this, are you still trying to fool us with that excuse?” the disciple grumbled. “We don’t care who’s treasure you stole.

But the problem is, everyone in Yingxiang Prefecture now believes Xu’s jade pendant is in your possession.”

A bearded senior brother sitting at the table drinking rose and said: “Senior Sister, the soldiers are about to surround Xianghe Shop—we won’t die for you. You know that.”

The other disciples also urged: “Senior Sister, you already have such a vast business—why cling to a single jade pendant?”

Madam Hu frowned in thought for a moment, then said: “Brother Chai, come with me.”

In the rear courtyard, Madam Hu pulled a yellow silk pouch from her sleeve and handed it to the thin man: “Brother, among all the disciples, you have the best lightness skill. Take this and leave Tianmen Town.

Don’t show your face again until the counterfeiting case is fully resolved—don’t come back to me.”

Brother Chai touched the small yellow cloth bag—inside was a hard object—“Is that the jade pendant? Is it really worth this?”

Madam Hu fixed him with a piercing gaze: “I don’t want to hear another word!”

“Alas, I understand.”

The thin man shoved the pouch into a small pocket at his waist, leapt upward, and landed on the eaves.

“Clack-clack-clack~~~” Hearing the nearly imperceptible sound of roof tiles beneath his feet and feeling the cool night breeze, Brother Chai felt a sense of boundless freedom, as if the heavens and earth were open for him to soar.

“Master, Master, you’ve truly gone senile. With my talent and skill, I could easily be recommended as a martial instructor at the Wang Fu—yet you’ve assigned me to escort stolen goods for a merchant’s wife? You don’t care if the sect is disgraced, but I feel I’m wasting my gifts—uh!”

A willow leaf, silent and swift as a thrusting blade, struck the Fengchi point at the back of his skull.

His neck tilted, his body went limp, and before he hit the ground, he was already peacefully asleep.

Xiao Yu appeared like a phantom, arriving at his side the instant he fell; with a flick of her foot, she sent him rolling gently off the roof and into the courtyard without a sound.

“What happened to him?” Zhang Da Niang asked nervously.

“Nothing. He’s just asleep.”

Xiao Yu bent down, pulled the small cloth pouch from his waist, and took out the jade pendant to examine it closely.

“Is Madam Hu just greedy—or is there something extraordinary about this jade?”

Even as an outsider, she could tell the golden carp pendant was of exceptional quality.

It was pitch dark, with only distant, blurred candlelight casting shadows—but when the light touched the jade, it glowed with a luminous, radiant luster.

As if the jade itself were emitting light.

Zhang Da Niang hesitated: “This jade—”

Before she could finish, something was already in her hand.

Xiao Yu slipped the pendant into it and said: “Later, as a righteous citizen, you will voluntarily surrender the jade to Zhu Yitao and report Madam Hu’s misconduct.

I think Zhu Yitao, though crude and harsh, is a good official who stands up for the people—he’ll likely return the jade to the Xu family.”

Zhang Da Niang grimaced: “How can I be a righteous citizen? Why not you—”

“I can’t,” Xiao Yu quickly waved her hands. “My status is too awkward—I shouldn’t draw attention.”

“What if we just return it directly to Old Xu?”

As soon as she said it, Zhang Da Niang shook her head vigorously: “No—gamblers can’t be trusted! Give it to Old Xu, and it’ll end up with Busigui anyway.

Give it to Hui’er? No—she’s too young to protect it. Ugh, this is such a headache!”

“You’re the elder—decide how to handle the jade,” Xiao Yu smiled cheerfully.

The jade weighed less than two taels, yet the psychological burden it placed on Zhang Da Niang was visibly heavy.

Earlier, when she watched Zhu Yitao beat people, she had been delighted, laughing and clapping.

Even had the energy to follow the drama to Hu’s pawnshop.

Now, back at the government office gate, with Madam Hu, Master Hu, and Du Dajia of Busigui all present, Zhang Da Niang still looked deeply troubled, her eyes distant and unfocused.

“Grab this wicked woman and give her thirty lashes first—to break her arrogant, bandit-like spirit.”

Seeing Madam Hu, Zhu Yitao didn’t speak a word—he tossed down a bamboo tally and ordered the runners to beat her.

“Why are you beating me? I’m innocent! I won’t accept this!” Madam Hu screamed like a slaughtered pig.

“Still claiming innocence? Qian Doutu, come here and speak.”

Qian Doutu, who looked like a frail scholar, bowed to Zhu Yitao, then recounted how he and his men had gone to Hu’s home to demand the jade pendant, only to be blocked by Madam Hu’s disciples.

“You’re a coward! As a government office captain, you carry my official tally and are surrounded by your men—and yet you’re held back by a single fierce woman? Shameful!”

Zhu Yitao spat at Qian Doutu, then turned to Madam Hu: “You wretched thief, how will you twist the truth now? I’ll tell you this: every lie you utter adds ten more lashes.”

“I won’t lie—I’m telling the truth: my home doesn’t owe anyone a jade pendant,” Madam Hu shouted, neck stiff.

“Ha! You really care more about money than your dignity.” Zhu Yitao sneered. “I’m a disciple of Confucius—I respect spirits but keep my distance.

Today, I won’t mention the City God.

But your husband lies right there beneath us!

And so does Jia Yintong, the counterfeiter.

No matter how you twist it, you have two living witnesses—can you eat them?”

Madam Hu said: “They’re my witnesses too! I only wish them well.”

Zhu Yitao blinked in surprise: “Interesting. Very interesting. Speak your defense—if it’s clever, I won’t add lashes; if it’s foolish, your punishment doubles—one sentence, two lashes.”

Madam Hu said: “You, my lord, are a disciple of Confucius; I am a disciple of the great merchant Tao Zhu Gong.

Tao Zhu Gong taught merchants two great principles: one is ‘one coin yields ten thousand profits’; the other is ‘goods and silver exchanged fully.’

Tell me, my lord—did my husband pay Jia Yintong five taels of silver?

Wasn’t it a full exchange of goods for silver?

Jia Yintong used counterfeit silver—he deserves death—but my husband merely did business with a criminal. What crime is that?

How long did Jia Yintong stay in Tianmen Town? What did he eat? Where did he sleep?

The vendors who sold him food and gave him lodging—should they all be guilty?”

“Yes, the golden carp jade is worth five hundred taels.

But with five taels as capital, selling for five hundred is only ‘one coin yields a hundred profits’—far short of Tao Zhu Gong’s ‘one coin yields ten thousand.’

Tao Zhu Gong’s ‘one coin yields ten thousand’ isn’t just innocent—it’s admired.

My husband’s ‘one coin yields a hundred’ doesn’t ask for praise—but at least, my lord, you must declare him innocent.”

Zhu Yitao stroked his beard and nodded approvingly: “What a shrewd woman—thank heaven I’m an official and you’re just a merchant’s wife!”

Madam Hu asked: “You’re a lord, I’m a merchant’s wife—so what?”

Zhu Yitao tossed down four tally sticks: “I’m a lord—I can’t outargue you, but I can still beat you. Give her forty lashes!”

Madam Hu, furious, shouted: “Zhu Yitao, don’t forget—this is a court of law! The villagers have eyes and ears—and mouths!

When you’re out of logic and law, you resort to torture.

If word gets out, how will you answer to the Prefect? To the Emperor?”

Zhu Yitao roared: “Wretched woman! You know this is a court of law—and yet you shout in court? That’s an additional offense—ten more lashes!”

He threw down another tally stick.

“I won’t accept it! I won’t accept it! I won’t accept it~~~”

Madam Hu screamed wildly, flailing her arms and knocking away every runner who tried to grab her.

“You captains—what are you good for? Don’t you dare take down this fierce woman!”

At Zhu Yitao’s command, seven or eight experts of true qi leapt from behind the hall, moved as one, and pinned Madam Hu to the ground in two or three moves.

Only when the runners began to crack their batons against her did Zhu Yitao smile: “This shrew—I clearly told her to defend herself.

What is defending yourself?

Lying, twisting facts—that’s defending yourself. Talking about law and reason?

Let me tell you about the law.

Your husband knew Jia Yintong used counterfeit silver—he deliberately let Jia use it to swindle Madam Xu.

Heh, Sha Xingfang, tell this shrew how many major laws of Great Shu her and her husband broke.”

The clerk behind the desk put down his brush, rose, bowed to the magistrate, then spoke solemnly: “Article 107 of the Shu Law Commentary: If two parties conspire to commit a crime, and one masterminds the act without directly committing it, yet later shares in the profits, he shall be punished as the principal offender.

Master Hu deliberately used Jia Yintong to swindle Madam Xu—this fits the crime.”

Moreover, Hu the Shopkeeper long knew that Jia Yintong used counterfeit silver but failed to report it—this is also a grave crime.

Zhu Yitao waved him off and smiled at Hu’s wife, who lay on the ground enduring the bamboo strokes: “Understand now? Magistrate Sa has accepted your husband’s mutton, wine, melons, and fruit—he won’t favor me over you.”

Magistrate Sa scrambled to his feet. “My Lord, I—”

Zhu Yitao waved again. “Sit down! Accepting gifts? What’s that? I accept seasonal gifts and give them too. As long as you do your duty diligently and don’t deliberately shield evildoers, that’s enough.”

“Besides, logic,” Zhu Yitao sneered several times, then began cursing again. “The word ‘logic’ coming out of your rotten mouth reeks of shit.”

You say Tao Zhu Gong made a profit of ten thousandfold on one unit of capital—but your husband Hu made only a hundredfold.

Tao Zhu Gong earned his wealth through wisdom; every copper coin he gained was clean.

Your husband Hu knew the Xu family needed money to survive, yet he didn’t even settle for a hundred percent profit—he demanded tenfold profit, watching Xu’s wife despair and jump into the river without a shred of remorse.

Do you believe me? If you dare compare your sonless, degenerate husband to Tao Zhu Gong again, Heaven will sooner or later send down a few thunderbolts to send you straight to the Netherworld to be reborn as an animal.”

“My Lord, stop beating me! I give in! I admit my guilt!” Hu’s wife wailed.

Earlier, she had pounded the government office runners with her fists, mercilessly and gleefully.

Now, the runners beat her just as mercilessly—less than half of the forty strokes, and her buttocks were already ruined.

“Listen, listen! This vile woman admits her guilt! Since she’s a criminal, she deserves to be beaten further!”

Zhu Yitao felt refreshed and turned to his next target.

Du the Boss stepped forward, bowed, and said: “My Lord, I am guilty!”

Zhu Yitao narrowed his eyes. “What is your crime?”

“A few days ago, you rebuked Shopkeeper Liao for my failure to discipline Manager Wang Xiaohu, who forcibly turned virtuous women into prostitutes.”

Shopkeeper Liao outwardly agreed, but secretly harbored resentment.”

Du the Boss lowered his head and sighed. “Alas, it’s my fault for neglecting discipline.”

These past few days, all of us bosses have been visiting old friends in Yingxiang Prefecture.”

I never imagined Shopkeeper Liao would again take the contract to Old Xu and insist on taking Old Xu’s daughter, as stipulated in the signed agreement.”

This afternoon, Shopkeeper Liao even went mad—he openly resisted imperial officers.”

I received a swift pigeon message while in Yingxiang Prefecture, terrified and restless, and rushed back immediately.”

But when I returned to Busigu—”

He suddenly raised his head, fixing Zhu Yitao with a venomous, cruel gaze, yet sighed softly: “Shopkeeper Liao has committed suicide out of guilt!”

“What? Shopkeeper Liao is dead?” Zhu Yitao’s body trembled violently.

Liu the Aunt’s pupils contracted—her gaze at Du the Boss held both shock and wariness.

Du the Boss wore a sorrowful expression, yet a faint smile curled at his lips. He pulled a letter from his sleeve and murmured: “My Lord, please see—this is his suicide note, written before he hanged himself.”

The government office runners were all stunned, some bewildered, none moving for a long while.

Finally, the Clerk, his expression complex, stepped forward to take the letter and handed it back to the County Magistrate.

Zhu Yitao waved his hand, signaling him to take away the “provocation letter,” leaned back in his chair, and stared at Du the Boss’s mocking, challenging eyes. He sighed: “Is my demand so hard to fulfill?”

Recovering the jade pendant from Xianghe Company should be more than enough for Old Xu to repay your gambling den’s debt.”

I’m not asking you to tear up the gambling contract for free.”

Du the Boss sighed. “Who says otherwise? It was just a small matter—he insisted on making trouble, and couldn’t see reason.”

Zhu Yitao closed his eyes and remained silent until Hu’s wife finished her fifty strokes.

“Hu’s wife, you heard that—another life lost! While Du the Boss is still here, hand over the jade pendant immediately, publicly cancel Old Xu’s debt note, and let this case end quickly.”

He seemed weary, no longer the haughty man he had been before.

“The jade pendant has been sold. I’m willing to pay five hundred taels to redeem it,” Hu’s wife grumbled.

Zhu Yitao gave a cold laugh. “Where’s the receipt? Who bought it?”

“It was a secret deal—the buyer’s identity is unknown, and I didn’t issue a receipt,” Hu’s wife said.

Zhu Yitao said: “Without a receipt, even if you didn’t sell it—or sold it for fifty thousand taels—you could still claim you sold it for five hundred.”

“I really sold it—for five hundred taels only! I swear it! If I lie, may I spend the rest of my life as a widow!” Hu’s wife cried.

“Hmph, you think being a widow is a sweet deal?”

Zhu Yitao sneered, then sighed. “I won’t argue with you. Bring out two thousand taels—I’ll personally draft a contract for you and Xu Huier.”

Two thousand taels: after settling Busigu’s gambling debt, Old Xu may keep one hundred taels to bury Xu’s wife and support his family.”

The remaining eighteen hundred or so taels will be sealed in the county treasury.”

If Old Xu never gambles again, in three years, I—or the next County Magistrate—will return the remainder in full.”

But if Old Xu gambles even once—ah, one gamble leads to countless more; he’ll soon squander the hundred taels he took, then start selling his daughter again.”

But these two thousand taels were bought with Xu’s wife’s life.”

If Old Xu remains useless, give Xu Huier thirty taels annually for her upkeep; when she turns sixteen and finds a husband, the remaining silver will serve as her dowry.”

But before Xu Huier marries, if you manage to buy back the sold jade pendant, you may return to the government office and reclaim one thousand taels in cash.”

If you hide the pendant or sell it for a higher price, once discovered, the pendant will be returned to Xu Huier, and you won’t get a single copper of the two thousand taels.”

Anyone who secretly buys the pendant shares your guilt.”

All this will be written into official documents, sealed with the County Magistrate’s stamp, endorsed by all six departments of the government office, and witnessed by neighbors and street elders.”

After this case concludes, notices will be posted at the city gates and the government office entrance to make it known to all.”

Hu’s wife said: “I handed over two thousand taels in silver—why am I only getting one thousand back?”

Zhu Yitao widened his small eyes and barked: “You committed a crime and still refuse to accept your punishment?”

I tell you: Xu’s wife’s case is closed today—but your ‘counterfeit silver’ case has only just begun.”

From today onward, anyone previously defrauded by Xianghe Company, or deceived by counterfeit silver near Xianghe Company, may come to the government office with witnesses or evidence to register their claims.”

When I have time, I’ll hear them all together.”

Hu the wicked woman, for the next five years, you are forbidden to leave Tianmen Town. government office runners will inspect your condition at the beginning and middle of every month.”

If you dare vanish—hmm, go to the back courtyard after this, and let the artist make a portrait of your likeness.”

If you run, I’ll put you on the Most Wanted List of River and Sea Bandits, alongside ‘Covering Sea Club,’ ‘Sand Sky,’ ‘One-Legged Old He’—and let the Ten Great Captains of Shu State deal with you properly.”