Chapter 4: This Great Official Ximen Is Clearly Overpowered, Yet Unnecessarily Cautious

While Zhang Jie was still striving hard, trying to sharpen his skills at the last minute,

a conversation about him also arose within the five-hall mansion of the Great Official Ximen.

Seated at the head of the room was Ximen Qing, dressed in luxurious silk robes, his face handsome and bearing an air of distinction,

though his eyes occasionally flickered with a lustful gleam.

Before him stood Dai’an, his personal servant who regularly delivered messages and ran errands for him.

After a moment, Ximen Qing set down his tea cup and slowly asked:

“Dai’an, has that man been arranged for?”

Dai’an bowed slightly and replied:

“Master, all is arranged.

He will not utter a single word linking him to you!”

“Hmm, that’s best.”

Hearing this, Ximen Qing nodded in satisfaction.

He was also accustomed to Dai’an calling him “Father.”

In the Ximen household, as the supreme authority,

his wives, concubines, maids, and servants all respectfully addressed him as “Father” to show deference and obedience.

Moreover, in certain intimate or specific situations—such as during intimacy—

his wives and concubines would use even more affectionate terms like “Dada” to address him.

“Hmph!

I heard that brat has been showing up frequently lately, calming people’s nerves?”

Thinking of his current predicament, Ximen Qing let out a cold snort,

his face occasionally clouded with worry.

As Ximen Qing’s personal servant, Dai’an naturally knew who “that brat” was and what he was worried about:

“Father, our earlier actions have already cut off the supply of old ginseng from Mount Zhangbai that Zhang Jie regularly consumes.

Over these years, Zhang Jie has been barely clinging to life thanks entirely to these tonic herbs.

Now that he’s deprived of this vital ginseng, he won’t last much longer.

Father need not worry.”

Hearing Dai’an’s words, the worry on Ximen Qing’s face lessened slightly, and he silently bolstered himself:

“That Zhang Jie is just another Hua Zixu—nothing to fear.”

He had previously used delay tactics to slowly kill Hua Zixu,

seizing both his wealth and his wife, Li Pinger.

Now he was merely repeating the same trick with Zhang Jie.

“Alas!

I never imagined Zhang Jie was a genuine examination prodigy,

passing the imperial exam in one attempt to earn his scholar title.

Had I known, I shouldn’t have acted so rashly before.”

Ximen Qing’s voice carried unmistakable regret.

He had assumed Zhang the Elder had been dead three years, his lingering influence long faded,

and that his only son, Zhang Jie, was a frail, sickly tubercular who might die any day.

That was why he had schemed to seize the Zhang family’s wealth to increase his own fortune.

Yet he never expected Zhang Jie to be an examination genius, passing the scholar exam on his first try.

Judging by his effortless demeanor, he’d likely pass the provincial exam with ease in future attempts.

Even the prestigious jinshi degree might one day be within Zhang Jie’s reach.

At that point, he’d truly become a dragon leaping from the river, soaring beyond all bounds!

Every time Ximen Qing thought of this, he was filled with regret:

He shouldn’t have, out of greed for the Zhang family’s wealth, deliberately leaked the route of their caravan to bandits outside the city.

The task he had just ordered Dai’an to perform was to “dispose” of the messenger boy,

to prevent this news from reaching Zhang Jie and sparking conflict between the Zhang and Ximen families.

Of course, “dispose” here did not mean physical elimination,

but rather paying a sum to send the servant to a remote place where Zhang Jie could never find him.

First, although the Great Song had servants, the law forbade masters from arbitrarily killing them.

A master who murdered a servant without cause would face severe criminal punishment.

If a master killed a servant who had committed an offense, the punishment was one degree harsher than for killing a lowly bonded servant—potentially death.

If a master killed an innocent servant without cause, the punishment was reduced by one degree from that of killing a commoner—exile three thousand li.

If the servant had been hired for less than five years, the killer would be punished as if he had killed a commoner—execution by strangulation.

The authorities would also inspect the servant’s death to prevent masters from secretly murdering them.

If a master was found to have murdered a servant, he would be held criminally liable.

Second, although Ximen the Great Official ruled Yanggu County with impunity,

killing a servant wasn’t impossible to handle—but it was troublesome.

Moreover, he couldn’t casually kill servants; Dai’an, Laiwang, Laibao, and others were all his servants,

and if he killed them at will, he’d incite outrage among the rest.

Besides, this servant was one of his absolute confidants, painstakingly cultivated over time,

otherwise he wouldn’t have dared involve him in such matters.

Once this storm passed, he planned to recall the servant,

for such useful servants were rare in his possession.

“Father, the prefectural exam is held in the county seat, so Zhang Jie need not leave the city.

But the provincial exam must be held in Jinan, the provincial capital—Zhang Jie must leave the city.

At that time, we only need to inform Wang Chuang and others; I’m sure Wang Chuang won’t mind doing another job.

Even if Zhang Jie doesn’t die at Wang Chuang’s hands, with his frail body,

a little fright alone might kill him.”

Understanding Ximen Qing’s thoughts, Dai’an devised a poisonous scheme of using another’s hand to kill.

Wang Chuang was the leader of the bandits who had previously raided the Zhang family’s caravan.

“Hmm…”

After a moment’s thought, Ximen Qing said: “This plan is excellent.

Even if Zhang Jie survives Wang Chuang’s attack and barely clings to life,

he certainly won’t be able to take the provincial exam—otherwise he’ll surely die in the examination hall!”

The provincial exam included poetry, classical exegesis, essays, and policy proposals, lasting three full days.

Even strong, healthy candidates often left the exam exhausted and ill.

With Zhang Jie’s weak body, after being terrified,

and then entering the examination hall, he’d likely die right there!

“Even if Zhang Jie survives, if we just delay him a few more years,

even if he becomes a juren or even a jinshi, I won’t fear him!”

Thinking of Laibao, the servant he had sent to Bianjing to bribe Minister Cai, Ximen Qing felt great confidence.

If he could establish ties with the all-powerful Minister Cai, even a petty Zhang Jie was nothing—

even County Magistrate Wen Bin of Yanggu would have to bow to Ximen the Great Official!

To Minister Cai, what were juren or jinshi?

They were less valuable than a green-haired turtle in the Jinshui River (a river within Bianjing, used for urban water supply and drainage).

“Dai’an, order Lu Hua and Zhang Sheng to use their skills as Grass Snake and Street Rat to keep constant watch on Zhang Jie.

Even the flight of a single fly must be recorded and reported to me.”

Lu Hua, the Grass Snake, and Zhang Sheng, the Street Rat, were thugs he routinely funded,

who had previously framed Jiang Zhushan, beating him bloody and then extorting silver from him.

They were also his eyes and ears in the marketplace,

and every whisper and movement in Yanggu County reached Ximen the Great Official’s ears.

“Yes, Father!”

Dai’an replied firmly.

Though a servant, his bond with Ximen Qing was so deep that their fortunes were inseparable.

This matter was too grave to be handled lightly.

After dismissing Dai’an, Ximen Qing, realizing that relying solely on Laibao to curry favor with Minister Cai was risky, summoned another servant, Laiwang.

“Laiwang, go to the brickyard and invite Lord Liu and Lord Xue to dinner.”

After seeing Dai'an off, Ximen Qing, realizing that relying solely on Lai Bao to curry favor with Master Cai was unreliable, summoned another servant, Lai Wang.

“Lai Wang, go to the brick factory and invite Lord Liu and Lord Xue to the banquet.”

“Yes, Father.”

Although he did not know why Master Ximen had suddenly decided to host a banquet,

Lai Wang, who had always obeyed Master Ximen without question, bowed and left at once.

“Hmm, is the three-pronged preparation sufficient?”

Watching Lai Wang’s retreating back, Ximen Qing’s gaze grew increasingly deep.

Although Liu Eunuch and Xue Eunuch were merely eunuchs assigned to the Linqing brickworks,

their rank was far below Cai Jing’s first-rank post of Grand Tutor,

the second-rank Left Vice-Premier, and the first-rank Minister of the Door,

yet both had been specially dispatched by the Emperor himself to oversee the firing of imperial bricks,

and were figures of equal stature to Cai Jing, able to speak directly to the Son of Heaven.

It was precisely because of the hidden protection of these two eunuchs that Ximen Qing could act with impunity in Yanggu County.

What about the opinion of County Magistrate Wen Bin?

Not only was Wen Bin’s seventh-rank status inferior to that of Liu and Xue,

but the very fact that eunuchs were the Emperor’s personal servants made Magistrate Wen dare not act rashly.

Even a seventh-rank official dares not defy a minister’s door—how much less the servants of the most exalted man in the land?

Is it not said that eunuchs hold three ranks above any official?

Eunuch: “Inside the palace, you may call me ‘eunuch’ or ‘Eunuch’—I won’t hold it against you.

But once you step beyond these palace gates, what must you call me?”

Court official: “Father!”

…

“Hmm~

Just inviting Liu Eunuch and Xue Eunuch isn’t enough—I need a few lively companions to enliven the atmosphere.”

Ximen Qing realized that merely inviting Liu and Xue would not be lively enough,

nor would it demonstrate his sincerity or grandeur, so he summoned another servant:

“Ping’an, go invite Ying Bojue and Xie Xida to my Ximen residence tonight for the banquet.”

Ying Bojue was Ximen Qing’s foremost hanger-on—eloquent, flatteringly subservient,

always accompanying him in drinking, feasting, and amusement, lavishing him with praise in every aspect of daily life.

Xie Xida was the hereditary son of a thousand-man commander from Qinghe County,

idle and dissolute, skilled at playing cuju, and addicted to gambling,

spending his days with no occupation, merely feasting on the pleasures of courtesans.

With these two masters of wine, women, music, and vice as companions, Liu and Xue would surely depart thoroughly satisfied.

“Understood, Father.”

Ping’an, who handled miscellaneous duties for the Ximen household, bowed and departed.

“Something still seems missing.”

After assigning his servants, Ximen Qing stroked his chin.

Suddenly, remembering his recent nightly indulgences with Li Pinger, he realized:

“We need a few courtesans to warm up the scene!”

Though Liu and Xue had lost certain male parts,

their desires had not diminished one bit,

or rather, precisely because they lacked those organs, their cravings had grown fiercer, more twisted.

Not only did they maintain concubines and wives in their private residences outside the palace,

but every banquet required the presence of courtesans.

Ximen Qing immediately sent yet another servant

to the brothels and entertainment quarters within the city to fetch several bold, skilled courtesans…

If Zhang Jie knew that Master Ximen had devised so many elaborate schemes just to deal with him, he would surely sigh:

“Master Ximen is clearly immensely powerful, yet he’s overly cautious.”