Chapter 326

Only heard a fat merchant say, "This morning at the Jingzhao Prefecture someone beat the drum, it was a girl in mourning clothes, she struck it with all her strength, the loud sound drew a crowd from the whole street."

The person at the same table wondered, "I didn't come from that way today, I missed it; do you know what case this is?"

Their conversation attracted the attention of other guests.

A woman at the neighboring table sighed, "What a sin, to force a girl to beat the drum and cry injustice—how great must her grievance be?"

Seeing everyone interested, the fat merchant cleared his throat solemnly and spoke vividly:

"The bailiffs of Jingzhao Prefecture came out, and before they could even ask a question, they saw the girl plop down heavily on her knees, both hands holding up a large petition."

"I was standing in front of the crowd, and I truly saw it—white paper with red characters, clearly written in fresh blood!"

Everyone fell silent listening.

Gu Xixi and An Qinghe exchanged a glance, slowed their steps, and perked up their ears to listen.

The fat merchant looked around, then continued, "Then I heard the girl loudly say she was from out of town, a person from Anning Village under Nan Yi County, surname Lü. She accused the local bully Fan Dongping of long-term tyranny—killing, seizing property, and abducting women."

Someone whispered, "I've been to Nan Yi County; it's not that far from the capital."

The fat merchant said, "The girl's father was beaten to death by that bully, her tea garden property was seized, yet the local county office not only ignored it but claimed her family's tea had poisoned someone, and that same day they arrested her mother."

"Now, what do you all think happened then?"

He deliberately kept them in suspense, waiting for the crowd to urge him on, then said, "The bailiffs of Jingzhao Prefecture changed expression, they told the girl to rise and follow them inside to see the magistrate and recount her grievance again."

Among those present were many perceptive people who sneered, "Those bailiffs must have heard the county office shielding the culprit, afraid word would get out and damage their official dignity, so they panicked!"

Another echoed, "It's just the usual official collusion, trying to silence the victim!"

The neighboring woman anxiously asked, "What happened to that girl? Did she go with them inside?"

The fat merchant waved his hand mysteriously, "Speaking of that girl, she is truly both clever and brave."

"Faced with the bailiffs' urging, she remained kneeling upright, her voice even louder than before, practically shouting at the top of her lungs."

"She said that a few days later, the office personnel notified her to collect the corpse, claiming her mother had hanged herself in prison. She did not believe her mother had committed suicide, but the county office refused to let a coroner examine the body."

The crowd discussed it heatedly.

"No autopsy? Surely something is fishy."

"Aren't they in league with that bully? I think they killed her and staged it as suicide!"

The fat merchant sighed, "How tragic—she is likely an only daughter with no other close kin. All she could do was first bury her parents; her father even lacked a corpse, so she could only set up a cenotaph."

"She swore at her parents' grave that since there was no justice here, she would go to the capital to file a complaint."

"But just as she left the area, that bully tried to force her to become his concubine; fortunately she escaped."

The neighboring woman slapped her thigh, hatefully saying, "He killed her parents, the mourning period hasn't even ended, and yet he dares to…"

"Good heavens! This beast doesn't fear retribution? Why doesn't heaven strike him down with a thunderbolt!"

Enthusiastic townsfolk sighed, others cursed loudly.

Gu Xixi and An Qinghe had already walked out of the inn.

An Qinghe said with a solemn face, "Should we rush to Jingzhao Prefecture now? I don't know if Miss Lü has come out safely."

Gu Xixi said, "No need to go; she should have already left safely."

"At that time so many eyes were watching, and the news even spread as far as Dongshi here."

"Before the Jingzhao Prefecture holds a hearing, they would never dare detain her without cause."

An Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief, "Then that's good."

"However, her whereabouts have already been exposed; Fan Gegela's people will probably find her soon."

Gu Xixi smiled, but her eyes held mockery for those evildoers, "That's why I said Lü Jing did a splendid job—she beat the drum, knelt, and gave her statement outside Jingzhao Prefecture."

"Just now in the inn, could you hear the people's reactions?"

An Qinghe said relievedly, "The people here are actually more enthusiastic and just than I imagined."

Gu Xixi said, "Lü Jing's intended effect goes beyond this."

"She deliberately stated her grievance publicly, wanting more people to hear it."

"Only as the common folk discuss it more and the case spreads widely among the populace will her situation become safer."

An Qinghe agreed wholeheartedly, "Since Jingzhao Prefecture has already accepted the case, anyone who silences her now is essentially incriminating themselves."

Gu Xixi took a deep breath and said, "But the timing is still not ripe."

"Since we want to make a big fuss, we should do it thoroughly, making this murky water even muddier."

She stared ahead, her pupils suddenly contracting, like a beast locking onto its prey.

"We might as well give it another push."

An Qinghe had long practiced tacit understanding with Gu Xixi; he immediately bent his head and brought his ear close.

Gu Xixi cupped one hand to her mouth and spoke a few words in that manner.

An Qinghe's mouth gradually widened into a grin, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Great! Let's do it just like that!"

"But I'll cover this expense, and it will also make me feel satisfied."

Gu Xi laughed, "Then I'll leave it to you; I'm returning to the Xiao He residence."

Before leaving, I had agreed with He Jinglan to return early.

Because the He family's carriage accompanied them, An Qinghe didn't need to worry about Gu Xixi's safety; after seeing her onto the carriage, he went on foot alone.

By the second day of the spring imperial examination, three days had passed since Gu Xixi last went out.

The two hottest topics being discussed everywhere in the streets, teahouses, and restaurants were:

First, in this examination, among the candidates gathered in the capital there are many already famed abroad; especially, who among the several currently most prominent will win the top three places? The common folk have even set up betting pools over it.

Second, the "exterminated household mystery—father dead without a whole corpse, mother died strangely in prison," and "the lone maiden's filial appeal moving heaven"—such topics spread widely, even street storytellers rushed to produce fresh pamphlets.

The common folk all speculated that the case was indeed true, which led them to mention the woman in mourning clothes beating the drum before the Jingzhao Prefecture gate.

Everyone was keen and eager to deduce the case, from which more rumors arose.

All kinds of things are being said; some rumors have no traceable source.

For example, the bully surnamed Fan is the illegitimate son of Fan Gegao, a senior official and Minister of Personnel in the Imperial Court.

For example, Grand Secretary Fan, to cover up his illegitimate son's crimes, pursued and killed all the way, forcing the victim to have no choice but to kneel for a long time before the Jingzhao Prefecture's gate to petition.

Hearing such rumors over and over makes people inevitably suspect even the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Several esteemed scholars and academy students have already announced that they will be present when the Jingzhao Prefecture opens its court to observe.

He Jinglan took a sip of milk tea and laughed, saying, "I heard that the Fan family patriarch, who refuses to die, has flown into a rage several times at home, ordering an investigation into the source of the rumors; unfortunately, with so many people in the marketplace gossiping, he can't find anything."