Chapter 230

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

The process by which Song Miao discovered Lv Mao's whereabouts was a matter of chance and coincidence, extraordinarily intricate; it required her to be sufficiently meticulous herself, and also twelve parts luck — it absolutely cannot be explained clearly in a few words.

After all, for ordinary commoners, if they themselves are not entangled in it, who would pay that much attention to a fugitive?

And if one wants to explain clearly why she knew so many of Lv Mao's characteristics, one cannot avoid bringing up the gambling den case in the capital several months ago.

At this very moment, even if another person from the Capital Prefecture Office responsible for this case came over, or took charge, even Qin Zong, most would only be able to speak vaguely and gloss over it; after all, there are too many details below, unrelated to the main vein of the case progression, they would not be recorded on paper in such detail, and superiors overseeing the overall situation would not care excessively.

But Xin Feng was different.

The gambling den case was headed and managed by him; he had even stayed at the Song family residence, and the subsequent Shangyuan case was also followed by him from the start; although he had to hand it over to others midway due to an accidental injury, the entire framework had already been erected — he had genuinely experienced it firsthand, knowing the causes and effects, the ins and outs.

When Song Miao came to his door the day before yesterday, aside from greetings, she specially explained all the details of the Hua Prefecture matter clearly.

Others might only listen to it as a story, truly thrilling and full of twists and turns, but with only imagination in their minds, after a short while most would only remember the general outline.

But Xin Feng could remember it all completely.

Lying in bed for these two-plus months, he carefully pondered the case details, even resolving that once his injuries healed and he returned to the Capital Prefecture Office, any other punishments could be accepted, but one thing could not — he absolutely had to remain within this case.

Having been in the yamen for many years, he had long seen clearly how everyone else conducted themselves.

Abduction cases are originally the hardest to solve; if one does not dig to the root and persist doggedly, it is very likely that once Lv Mao ran, he would truly be gone.

He turned the case details over and over in his mind, they were already branded in deep.

When Song Miao spoke of the scar on Lv Mao's hand, he didn't even need to ask — he knew exactly how the original moles were distributed and what they looked like.

When Song Miao said Lv Mao mentioned a kind of fish, called 'Huazi', also known as 'Thousand Layer Cake', and searched everywhere, asking until he learned Huazi was the local term in Minzhou, Xin Feng immediately reacted — Lv Mao was from Minzhou.

When Song Miao said Lv Mao's accent had a Guanzhong flavor, not a Min accent, he immediately thought of the transport direction of the abducted women and children that day; many went toward the Northwest.

Thus, when the Emperor and Empress Dowager asked just now, he held nothing back, narrating everything from start to finish, piece by piece.

How Young Lady Song discovered something was amiss inside the opposite house, and proactively offered her own residence for the yamen to set up an ambush; how she picked up a hem of clothing left by the thief when the officers caught the thief, bearing traces burned by incense candles; and then because she recognized a mother and daughter traveling to the capital to seek relatives, encountering them again on the road, the other party was helping someone starch-wash clothing, and she observed the same incense-candle burn traces on the clothes in that basin.

Later, how she discovered a loophole in Guangji Temple, reported it to Han Li, how Han Li rescued a trapped embroidery woman, and the yamen thereby peeled back the layers, repeatedly interrogated, and caught Lv Mao's trail — unfortunately he escaped.

After that, Han Li was transferred to the Du Shui Jian, went to Hua Prefecture to assist with river engineering; because time was tight and the task heavy, fearing unfamiliarity with the local people and terrain would cause obstruction and delay the water situation, he specially invited Young Lady Song to help manage the corvée laborers' meals; and how she wanted to use the matter of bound feet as a bargaining chip to exchange with local merchants for a solution to the laborers' latrine problem on the river.

Finally, Lv Mao came following profit, and happened to be spotted by Young Lady Song.

The scar on Rui Fusheng's wrist, because it resembled the position of 'Lv Mao's' moles; Rui Fusheng's 'Huazi', because it resembled 'Lv Mao's' hometown terminology — she grew suspicious and reported it to Han Li.

The latter did not shirk or perfunctorily dismiss it; after an investigation, he set an ambush accordingly.

Indeed it was Lv Mao.

The abduction ringleader was captured.

Xin Feng's eloquence is not superior; he cannot speak with a lotus-flower tongue, he can only lay out what he knows in a straightforward narrative; but his expression is not poor, sufficient to tell clearly a story that was originally full of twists and turns.

But precisely because of his unadorned expression, the story appears even more solid and real.

Even without excessive rhetorical embellishment, it is precisely because there is no complicated rhetorical embellishment that a 'Young Lady Song' in Xin Feng's eyes is depicted from his mouth, veiled with a faint layer of cover — whether the Empress Dowager or the Emperor, both can hear that all these descriptions are not exaggerations, but rather contain reductions; the true 'Young Lady Song' must be even smarter, even keener, even more meticulous, even better.

Once Xin Feng finished speaking, the Empress Dowager Yang could not restrain herself for even a moment, and immediately said: "Such a clever young lady, such great merit! What reward has the court given??"

Over these few months, two major cases had occurred in succession in the capital; although there were many twists and setbacks in between, in the end both were solved, and the top merit even included a young lady — highly unusual; Zhao Yu naturally had an impression of it.

He said: "The request-for-merit fold submitted by the Capital Prefecture Office indeed lists a young lady, only stating her merit was outstanding."

That fold was rarely eloquent; he even took an extra look, and turned to the back to check the signatures.

As for what reward, the Emperor handles myriad affairs daily; being able to remember such a matter exists is already rare, so naturally he would not remember the amount.

Hearing there was merit, the Empress Dowager Yang no longer asked further about this matter, and said again: "The same thing, placed before others, they wouldn't spare a second glance, yet she alone could find the clue, helping the yamen catch the criminal! If every officer were like her, what worry would there be for the world not to be peaceful!"

Hearing the Empress Dowager praise Song Miao like this, Xin Feng was truly overjoyed, and couldn't help adding: "Not just this case; the horse meat case a few days ago, also entirely relied on Young Lady Song's merit!"

Excited to the utmost, he spoke with saliva flying, narrating how Young Lady Song connected the foul smell on a child's body with the venison and roe deer jerky sent by the village head and Chai Guan as samples, and finally found the location of the rotten horse meat workshop, telling the whole old story.

Everyone was interested in the story.

Not to mention the Empress Dowager Yang, even Zhao Yu listened with relish.

The Empress Dowager Yang couldn't help saying: "A mind fine as hair is already rare enough; even rarer is how she, a young lady, managed the meals of several thousand people on the river! Old Lady is truly curious — why not invite her into the palace to attend a banquet together!"

Zhao Yu had not yet spoken when Xin Feng below, hearing this, hesitated a few breaths, finally mustering courage to say: "May the Empress Dowager know, Young Lady Song has exerted so much effort, but the horse meat case and abduction case are different from others; the principal culprit in the former escaped, the latter still has who knows how many fugitive accomplices at large; this lowly one... fears that if the palace invites her in today, tomorrow outside there will arise many discussions..."

The Imperial Household's every move, who knows how many people are watching.

Sending an emissary at this time, I fear Young Lady Song's front foot just steps out the door, her back foot someone outside will scrape her family background clean, and more will go ask and investigate by what merit she was summoned by the Empress Dowager.

Xin Feng paused, then said: "This lowly one is a Censor in the yamen; daily one must still be careful and cautious, and must instruct wife and children to mind safety; that Young Lady Song is an underage girl, and there is no one else in her household..."

"How could that Young Lady Song's household have no one else?" The Empress Dowager Yang asked in surprise.

Xin Feng immediately laid out Song Miao's family situation completely: mother and elder brother deceased, gambling-addict father accidentally drowned and died, creditors pressed for payment at the door, nearly losing the house — the young lady alone, forced to push a cart and set up a stall to do business...

The older a person gets, the more they cannot bear to hear a single pitiful thing.

The Empress Dowager Yang's heart clenched tight, she sighed, and said: "You who serve on duty and handle cases, it is truly not easy; the court must treat you well, so as not to let your efforts go in vain."

And said: "That Young Lady Song, also makes one's heart ache — I will not add trouble in the back; whenever this case's limelight passes, I will find a suitable pretext and invite her into the palace to sit a while!"

These words spoken, Xin Feng instantly let out a breath of relief.

But his breath had just relaxed when his mind suddenly buzzed, and he felt something was not right.

— The Empress Dowager summoning Young Lady Song into the palace for a banquet is truly a great good thing; although fame cannot be spread immediately, one must wait a bit before publicizing, but from her words just now, most likely there would be a bestowal on the spot.

Now because of my words, it at once becomes waiting for the 'case limelight to pass' — when will that be?

What if the limelight passes, the Empress Dowager forgets this matter, or loses interest — what then?

Who would remind her? Who would dare remind her?

My action today, isn't it well-intentioned but doing a bad thing??

Xin Feng's heart was pounding with anxiety; he only felt a bitter taste in his mouth and panic in his heart, and for a moment he couldn't even eat his rice.

He thought and thought again, but in the end he was blunt and outspoken; even though he had reached the Imperial Palace, he still couldn't control himself, and opened his mouth to give a warning — yet unexpectedly, before the words were even out, he saw the Empress Dowager Yang across from him say to a palace attendant beside her: "You make a note of this Young Lady Song; I am old and forgetful these days, not like before."

That palace attendant immediately took out paper and brush, and wrote it in the booklet she carried.

Xin Feng stared at that person finish writing, put away the paper and brush, and then saw that the booklet's edges were worn and old, clearly often flipped through and used, not something thrown aside and ignored on ordinary days; only then did he feel slightly more at ease.

They spoke a while longer, and it was already the appointed hour; palace attendants had long since brought the meal.

After waiting for a full banquet to be eaten, Xin Feng repeatedly returned salutes and expressed thanks; as the banquet was about to disperse, Empress Dowager Yang said: "Today, having Censor Xin enter the palace has also broadened this old body's knowledge considerably; I heard many stories — with a Censor like this among the officials, the commoners can be at ease, and the Court can also be at ease."

"Recuperate well, heal quickly, and then return to the government office to work." Speaking, she again had someone bring a wooden box, and handed it to Xin Feng: "Earlier you worried that the remnants of those two cases would implicate that Young Lady Song; as an official, aren't you afraid of being implicated?"

"That Pan Tao Lane borders two docks, and also has a market and a slaughterhouse; it's noisy and chaotic, not convenient for recuperation — better to move to a residence!"

And Zhao Yu then said: "Acting fiercely without fear is good, but you must also abide by the Court's rules and regulations; don't violate them recklessly again, otherwise if you take the lead in causing disorder, even if I want to promote you greatly in the future, I won't be able to!"

This one sentence made Xin Feng's nose turn sour; he nearly shed tears.

By the time he stepped out of the Imperial Palace, holding that wooden box in both hands, sitting in the carriage, his whole mind had already turned into a paste of confusion.

He opened the wooden box; inside were stacked warm, lustrous silver ingots, and on top of the silver ingots lay an official document with an envelope, inside which was written an address.

Actually, several characters in the address Xin Feng only recognized half of, but he looked over and over repeatedly, and had already memorized the location and residence number on the address clearly and completely.

The Empress Dowager bestowed a residence! And it was a Zhou Bridge residence!

He, Xin Feng, actually had a day like this too!

The carriage traveled all the way, and finally returned home.

At this time the sun was setting in the west, the sky was already half-dark; shops lined the road, lamps brightly lit — but once they entered Pan Tao Lane, most households had only a few dots of lamplight.

Yet the Xin family home was still very bright; one look showed that not only were lamps lit, but torches had also been lit.

As soon as the carriage arrived, before it had even steadied, someone outside suddenly called out: "Censor Xin has returned!"

The moment these words came out, the sound of doors and windows opening immediately rang out in the lane; naturally there were already people keeping watch, and at this moment each and every one secretly looked over.

One box after another was carried out of the carriage compartment; under everyone's gaze, they saw the things being moved into the Xin household, and then heard the eunuch loudly proclaim the imperial edict — it turned out that besides bestowing gold, silver, and wealth, a residence was also bestowed.

Those standing closer, hearing such words, were both anxious and angry, wishing the injured one was themselves.

Those farther away couldn't hear clearly for the moment, only hearing a clamor here; they really couldn't wait any longer, and hurried over anxiously to secure a spot to watch the excitement.

And Xin Feng, having expressed thanks and received the edict, leaning on a crutch, was helped into the house; his whole person was simply like he was stepping on cotton.

Today really had too many things happen; at this very moment, he had no heart to look at those many boxes of bestowed gifts, no mind to attend to the silver, money, and land deed in that wooden box, and even couldn't be bothered with the many, many pairs of envious eyes outside — only one thought remained:

Zheng Yan, in your article, what exactly did you praise me for! You wouldn't have blown it sky-high, would you!

Otherwise how could even the Emperor and the Empress Dowager act as if they'd drunk a bewitching soup!

With Xin Feng gone, only mother and son remained in Ciming Palace.

Zhao Yu said shamefully: "This son is incapable; Mother is honored as Empress Dowager, yet merely wanting to invite and meet a young lady who rendered great merit, you still had to give it up because you worried about villains causing trouble — back when Mother Empress hung the curtain, the Capital was governed so well that lost items weren't picked up on the road..."

Empress Dowager Yang shook her head, and said: "Back then there were several households in the Capital; now how many households are there? My son is already extremely diligent; where in the world is there anything that is perfect in every way, with everything going as one wishes?"

She added: "However, this incident now is also a warning! You must order the Political Affairs Hall to handle affairs properly, supervise government offices in all places to investigate cases — this is still the Capital Prefecture Office, under the Emperor's feet, yet they still have to fear retaliation by evil men; how much more so in the outer prefectures? Let alone the countryside!"

Zhao Yu agreed repeatedly.

After a while Empress Dowager Yang said again: "Today listening to Censor Xin's description, that Young Lady Song in Suanzao Alley has many merits; the rest connected to the case are not suitable to publicize, but the matter of the Huai Prefecture Riverway canteen behind it is likewise a great merit, yet without those many taboos — first send someone to investigate thoroughly; if it is indeed solid..."

She hadn't finished speaking when Zhao Yu actively took over: "Mother Empress rest assured; it would be best if the Huai Prefecture river matter goes smoothly; if it truly can control flooding, it deserves reward originally; at that time, reward it a few portions more — if it is indeed solid, this matter should also be promoted for all under heaven, letting people know that serving the Court and the country, regardless of man or woman, old or young, I will absolutely not shortchange them!"

While mother and son were speaking here, the news that the Empress Dowager had summoned the Censor Xin Feng from "Xin Feng Brick" had already spread into many people's studies.

And along with the many neighbors in Pan Tao Lane seeing the palace-bestowed gifts, and additionally the next day an Imperial Physician personally came to help diagnose and treat Xin Feng, and the day after that the Xin household directly moved to the Empress Dowager's bestowed residence at Zhou Bridge — the Capital, whether literary circles or streets and alleys, even eunuch and noble households, all discussed this matter without exception.

Especially the commoners in the marketplace — who doesn't love to see a fine horse meet its Bo Le, a good general meet a wise ruler, a deep injustice get vindicated, a dust-covered treasure sword see the light of day?

Ordinary commoners won't consider too much about the dynasty's operation, rules and proprieties; they only think simply: an old Censor, worked hard for many years, temper though explosive, matters are done solidly and practically — as for him beating and scolding criminals — oh, indeed not right, but I'm not a criminal, the fiercer he beats, doesn't that mean I'm even safer?

Right now he made a mistake; although it's not good to break the rules, he received the Empress Dowager's bestowal — truly the best of both worlds, everyone rejoices!

Such a sensational event in the Capital, triggered by an article, then stirred up even greater response by the Empress Dowager's bestowal, naturally spread outward to the outer prefectures.

And far away in Chan Prefecture, the many noble scions participating in the Six Pagodas River matter, almost at the very first moment, successively received letters from home tucked inside urgent memorials.

Cai Xiu had no relatives or friends who would send him letters via urgent memorial; therefore when he learned from others' mouths that there was such an article, such an affair, he was truly caught completely off guard, utterly unprepared.