Chapter 85: A Favor Asked

Inside the second hall of the Fengyang Governor's office, Chen Qiyu, seated in the place of honor and clad in a bright red official robe, was reading a letter. Its writer was his fellow jinshi of the same year, Lü Siqing, now Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works in Nanjing. Chen Liangmo sat upright in the lower seat, his expression solemn, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

In the letter, Lü Siqing first congratulated Chen Qiyu on his restoration to office, then recalled the glorious moment when the two of them had passed the examinations on the same list, and went on to praise the dashing vigor with which Chen Qiyu had once dominated the scene. The letter's closing drifted into a lukewarm mention of the recent incident in which a eunuch named Hou in Fengyang had beaten a man to death, saying the matter had caused a great stir in Nanjing, with the common folk discussing it endlessly and expressing immense indignation toward eunuchs who flouted the law and treated human lives like grass. Civil officials had already submitted memorials impeaching those behind it, and so on.

The letter's final passage heaped lavish praise on a merchant named Li who had carried the personal letter to Chen Qiyu, calling him a man who ordinarily built bridges and paved roads, aided the distressed and relieved the needy—truly a rare and virtuous merchant.

Though Chen Qiyu and Lü Siqing had passed the examinations in the same year, since then one had gone south and the other north, and they had rarely been in contact. When Chen Qiyu was imprisoned, Lü Siqing had never submitted a memorial pleading for him, and in the several months since Chen Qiyu's arrival in Fengyang there had been not a word of news—clearly Lü did not think highly of his new post. Now that his letter had suddenly arrived, Chen Qiyu naturally knew the other man had some matter to entrust to him, and after reading it he understood exactly what was being asked.

When civil officials had matters to entrust to one another, they rarely spoke plainly and directly. Instead they went roundabout, rambling this way and that, with the true request hidden between the lines. The letter's sudden mention of Hou Dingguo's killing of a commoner, along with the virtuous deeds of the letter-bearer Li—how could Chen Qiyu fail to grasp the meaning?

He casually set the letter on the small table beside him, then looked at Li Shiqun, who knelt a few paces away, and said: "How is Brother Wenzhong? Your humble servant has not seen Wenzhong for several years now—his voice and features have already grown dim in my memory."

These words told Li Shiqun: don't think that just because Lü Siqing was my fellow jinshi, a letter from him can get things done. My relationship with him is only so-so—I've even forgotten what he looks like.

Li Shiqun lowered his head, cupped his hands, and replied: "To answer Your Excellency, last month Master Lü just took a concubine. Your humble servant attended the wedding feast. Though Master Lü is past sixty, his body is truly hale and vigorous for his age—comparable to a young man!"

Chen Qiyu burst into loud laughter: "An old tree putting forth new blossoms! Lü Wenzhong is trying to make up for the years he's lost! Good! Very good! Hahaha!"

When Lü Siqing had passed the examinations, he was already past forty. A man originally poor and downcast who suddenly had wealth and honor thrust upon him would naturally indulge all the more extravagantly in life's fine things, as compensation for his former days of poverty.

Chen Liangmo, however, gave a cold snort and said: "An official who does not think of repaying the court and benefiting the people, but instead devotes his efforts to wine, women, and pleasure—what use is keeping such a mediocre official?"

Li Shiqun was inwardly astonished at these words. He himself wholeheartedly agreed with what Chen Liangmo had said, and had not expected there to be an official so upright and outspoken. He could not help but turn slightly and raise his head to steal a glance at Chen Liangmo.

Chen Qiyu laughed: "Shiliang, your words are quite mistaken! We officials are mortal men too—the seven emotions and six desires are only human nature. The court's laws do not forbid elderly court officials from taking concubines, do they? How has such an elegant matter become so unsavory in your mouth!"

Before Chen Liangmo could retort, Chen Qiyu said to Li Shiqun with a serious expression: "I have accepted Lü Wenzhong's letter. You may withdraw."

Li Shiqun had long anticipated this move from Chen Qiyu. Hearing himself being dismissed, he gritted his teeth inwardly, kowtowed once, then straightened up and said in a loud voice: "Your humble servant has something to say, and begs Your Excellency to hear it!"

Chen Qiyu's brows knit together, and he was secretly displeased, but he still had to show face to Lü Siqing, so he said sternly: "If you have something to say, say it quickly!"

Li Shiqun was throwing caution to the wind. After returning to Nanjing, he had mobilized every connection of the Li family, eaten countless closed doors, spent no small amount of favors and silver, and only at last had he learned of the relationship between Lü Siqing and Chen Qiyu. Seizing the opportunity of Lü Siqing taking a concubine, Li Shiqun had presented five thousand taels of silver to obtain today's letter. If he were thrown out now, everything before would become a joke. He had to gamble—for the wrongfully dead Manager Xu, for that glance that had treated him like an ant. Even if it cost him his entire fortune, he would not hesitate!

He announced in a loud voice: "Months ago, when Your Excellency first arrived in Fengyang and called upon the gentry to donate funds in aid of farming, your humble servant was present as well, though the silver I contributed was not much. Now only a few months have passed, and your humble servant ventures to guess that the government offices are most likely still short of silver. Today your humble servant voluntarily donates twenty thousand taels of silver to the Governor's office, to aid the government in assisting the people!"

Both Chen Qiyu and Chen Liangmo were overjoyed at heart upon hearing this. Twenty thousand taels was already a considerable fortune. A shortage of silver and grain was like having his hands and feet bound—Chen Qiyu had strength but nowhere to use it. The prefecture of Fengyang had even fallen behind on the taxes it owed upward; where was there any surplus silver for him to dispose of? Right now, never mind twenty thousand taels—even two thousand taels would keep Chen Qiyu happy for many days.

Chen Qiyu hurriedly said: "Does Squire Li speak the truth? Please, rise at once! Servants! Bring a seat! Serve tea!"

A servant of the Chen household brought a chair and set it near the door of the second hall. Li Shiqun cupped his hands in thanks, then slowly rose to his feet—he had knelt so long that his waist and legs ached terribly. He walked slowly to the chair, bowed once more to the two men, and sat down, thinking to himself: Truly, the yamen gate opens wide like the character eight—reason and right won't get you in without money! All that talking had done nothing at all; it was still gleaming white silver that moved men's hearts.

Once Li Shiqun was seated, Chen Qiyu smiled and said: "Brother Wenzhong truly has an eye for talent! Squire Li is indeed a virtuous merchant! Good, very good!"

Though Chen Liangmo spoke bluntly, that was simply the result of his character—hating evil as one hates an enemy. It did not mean he was stupid. After decades of bitter study by lamplight, was there any scholar who finally passed the examinations and had his name on the golden list who was a fool?

He knew that for Li Shiqun to invest such a great sum, he must certainly have some important matter to request. He wondered whether it might involve corruption or bending the law. As a Censor, he naturally had to find out what the matter was. If it was a request for Chen Qiyu to show favoritism, then no matter how much he admired Chen Qiyu, he would have no choice but to impeach him as well.

By custom, at such a time, aside from Chen Qiyu and the one making the request, all unrelated persons should withdraw to avoid suspicion—but Chen Liangmo remained firmly seated, unmoving.

Chen Qiyu showed not the slightest intention of having Chen Liangmo withdraw. This was not because he was so open and incorruptible, but rather because the matter mentioned in Lü Siqing's letter was precisely the breakthrough he had been seeking to open up the situation. With Chen Liangmo present, it made him appear all the more single-minded in his devotion to the public good. The reason he had tried to send Li Shiqun away was that he disliked being coerced and pressed.

He spoke: "Just now Brother Wenzhong's letter mentioned the earlier affair of the eunuch killing the good commoner surnamed Xu. Here in Fengyang the public outcry was also great, and the impact considerable. I learned of it that very day and ordered the Fengyang prefecture to apprehend the culprit within a set deadline. But what could be done—at the time there was a lack of witnesses and evidence at the scene. The Fengyang prefecture could hardly frame an innocent man, could it? Does Squire Li have some connection to this matter?"

Li Shiqun cupped his hands and said: "Your humble servant has an improper request, and begs Your Excellency to grant it!"

Chen Qiyu thought to himself, what a lot of trouble you are. But he still said with a beaming smile: "Speak. So long as it is reasonable and proper, I will not refuse!"

Li Shiqun continued: "The twenty thousand taels of silver your humble servant just mentioned donating all sit in my home in Nanjing. Because the sum is so great, I beg Your Excellency to send trustworthy men to accompany your humble servant back to Nanjing to fetch it, lest anything go wrong along the way!"

Hearing this, Chen Qiyu's estimation of Li Shiqun rose at once. He knew the man was first making certain the donation was no empty boast, so that the request that followed could not be refused. It seemed that the murder case had a direct connection to Li Shiqun. Could the deceased be his direct relative?

He said with a smile: "Squire Li truly lives up to being a man of commerce—showing such fine attention to detail in everything! I will naturally make proper arrangements. Now back to the main topic—tell me what it is you request. Everything will be settled for you by me and Magistrate Chen!"

Li Shiqun had been rushing about for a long time, enduring countless sneers and taunts along the way. He had borne it all, and his desire for revenge and to wash away the shame had grown stronger with each passing day. Today, at last, he heard a high minister of the court say he would see justice done for him. Whatever the outcome, those words alone set his heart surging with emotion.

His eyes reddened. He suddenly stood, then knelt straight down, knocked his head loudly against the floor, and cried: "Your Excellency! Manager Xu died wrongfully!"