Chapter 57

Chapter 57

As for the yamen within Yingqiu City, its courtyards were deep and secluded, the corridors and inner chambers adorned with carved beams and painted rafters—an elegant sight beloved by scholars and men of letters.

However, emerging from this study, traversing the long corridor, and arriving back at the first room one entered upon stepping into the yamen compound—the proper, formal main hall of the yamen—the place inexplicably felt somewhat desolate.

It wasn’t that this grand hall lacked splendiferous construction.

Given its location amidst mountains and wilderness, particularly isolated, expecting the yamen to be built with absolute magnificence was somewhat unreasonable. Moreover, this County Magistrate, while overseeing minor repairs, had likely been quite benevolent, at least adding some stone walls and roof beam columns to enhance the grand hall. Judging by its appearance and furnishings, it certainly didn’t fall short compared to official buildings in other cities.

However, construction was one thing; a hall did not earn its status as an official yamen grand hall merely from being beautiful or imposing. Looking out across this expanse of pristine brick tiles, not a fallen leaf in sight, reflecting the candlelight on the walls in its glitter, even on such a splendid, immaculate surface, especially on the plank wooden chair intended for the Magistrate’s seat, a fine layer of dust had settled.

Shen Jie’s eyes swept over it, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. She clearly noticed too, her mind working through the implications, though nothing showed on her face. Hitching her outer robe slightly, she stepped over the threshold.

Shortly after, the County Magistrate settled himself into that chair. At least he knew the formalities of a court proceeding. Slamming the court block down, he spoke as if completely at ease: “Who stands below the bench? State your names!”

Perhaps because the grand hall was now crowded with official runners—many looking bleary-eyed and clearly summoned at the last minute—this massed presence lent an imposing aura. Even Sun Jin, the County Security Official from earlier, seemed to draw confidence, standing ramrod straight. As soon as the Magistrate finished, he chimed in like an actor cueing a song, pitching his voice theatrically:

“State your names at once!”

“A resident of the capital, Shen Jie,” Shen Jie answered, somewhat cooperatively. Seeing her answer so frankly, Chen Shu beside her also moved to respond, but Shen Jie cut her off. Patting Chen Shu with her hand, she added, “— This is my younger sister, Little Shu.”

“Oh?” The wily old Magistrate, observing Chen Shu’s expression, detected something amiss. Likely mindful of the two skills that had defied restraints earlier, he avoided intimidating Chen Shu directly. Instead, he adopted a benevolent air, leaning slightly forward: “Is that so, little girl?”

“Oh yes!” Chen Shu replied instantly, this time not even glancing at Shen Jie. She nodded earnestly at the Magistrate and said, “She is indeed my older sister!”

Failing at this gambit didn’t trouble the Magistrate’s composure. His genial smile remained, as if his earlier question had been merely casual small talk. He smoothly shifted topics, “Shen Jie… that name doesn’t ring a bell. The Shen clan isn’t one of the great noble houses, if my memory serves me?” He let his sentence trail off, turning with an inquiring tone towards Sun Jin standing beside him.

Yet Sun Jin spoke in a thick Yubei dialect. His presence in the yamen was solely due to his family possessing a modest fortune. Yingqiu City wasn’t like other cities; officials posted there remained firmly seated in their positions, large or small—from the Magistrate presiding on the dais down to the minor clerks sweeping the yamen grounds—largely because it was a hardship post. Few willing to serve in exile, especially if they understood the situation in Yubei, would volunteer to come. Thus, these officials in Yingqiu City lacked not only the ambition for self-improvement but also the basic knowledge required.

Therefore, how could Sun Jin possibly know about any illustrious Shen clan from the capital? While the Magistrate’s question seemed directed at Sun Jin, his gaze remained fixed on the Shen and Chen ladies.

His calculation was cunning. Unfortunately, Chen Shu was naive, and Shen Jie was worldly. The former knew less than Sun Jin; the latter… well, while her smile held a cold glint, unblinking, her gaze was as sharp as lightning. Less that the Magistrate was subtly observing his chance, and more that Shen Jie was scrutinizing the Magistrate’s every word and move, instilling a sense of dread in those present.

Sun Jin was still trying to respond to the Magistrate’s question, shouting orders at the runners below. Shen Jie spoke up first, volunteering, “My family is indeed not some exalted noble house. I merely partake of the Emperor’s salary and uphold the Emperor’s duties, performing insignificant tasks for the court.”

“As you put it,” said the Magistrate, “you two had cause and reason for coming to Yingqiu Weir. Then, this official must ask: What kind of cause and reason compels you to investigate late at night? What kind of cause and reason allows you two to stand here in this grand hall, faces so composed, showing not one whit of regard for this official, for the court, or for the hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives that very reservoir’s water might sweep away!” With that, the County Magistrate finally erupted. He slammed the court block down hard.

The sound of the court block was even louder and more jarring than before, echoing through the hall in that instant like a crashing wave bearing down from the bench. The candles flickered, dust motes flew. Not only did it startle Chen Shu, making her almost leap out of her skin, it also jolted the dozing runners out of their stupor, gasping as they lurched awake.

“Well said!” Shen Jie raised her voice too. “Pity this Magistrate’s earth-shaking lecture is misdirected at the wrong individuals. We explicitly informed this petty constable the very moment he escorted us into the city— our presence at Yingqiu Weir tonight was entirely coincidental! We had no intention of being there, so naturally, there’s no question of some ’cause and reason’ for visiting Yingqiu Weir.”

“— Is that true?” The Magistrate swiveled his head sharply to Sun Jin. This time, though, his face bore no kindly smile. His eyes held a sinister gleam, and hatred twisted his expression.

It startled Sun Jin badly enough to make him panic. Pointing accusingly at Shen Jie and Chen Shu, he blurted to the Magistrate: “They’re lying, sir! They’re lying! Master, you see clearly… this woman has a cunning tongue, twisting black into white! But think on it, sir— all she has is her mouth! One word says this, the next word says that! Such testimony is worthless! When I apprehended these two, I saw no baggage, no travel mounts! How could they possibly be passing through?!”

“Reasonable,” the Magistrate murmured, picking up his court block and placing it slowly beside him. “Prisoner Shen Jie, since you stand here before the bench, cease your denials. Should you confess honestly, this official might yet spare you, grant you a whole corpse. Your sister might then arrange your burial, allowing you a better rebirth in the next life. Know this: your empty words, your baseless excuses— they lack both evidence and principle. You merely waste time.”

“Shen… My sister told nothing but the truth!” Chen Shu couldn’t hold back this time, interrupting the proceedings.

Shen Jie patted the back of her head again to soothe her, and after hearing that remark, the County Magistrate indeed grew even more self-satisfied. His tone softened further. He stopped addressing Shen Jie and instead turned to look directly at Chen Shu, smiling: “Little girl, you should also understand that every word of my counsel comes from the heart. Covering your elder sister’s lies may seem like helping her now, but in truth, it is harming her. Since the two of you cannot produce any evidence and refuse to confess honestly, even with my merciful nature and willingness to forgive, what remedy do I have for such a situation? In the end, I will have to resort to punishment…”

As if fearing Chen Shu might miss a word, the County Magistrate spoke slower and slower, drawing out each word. When finished, he picked up the bamboo tube and gave it a shake. The red sticks inside rattled, sending an involuntary chill down one’s spine.

But Chen Shu, naturally oblivious, not only failed to understand but also curiously stood on tiptoes to peer into the tube. Then she said:

“What kind of punishment? Show me?”

Shen Jie quickly pulled her back, shook her head in amusement, and prevented Chen Shu’s next words from escaping. Shen Jie understood the implication, but the yamen runners in the hall did not. Having missed how easily Chen Shu had broken the ropes earlier, they likely underestimated her and mistakenly perceived her as the harmless young girl she appeared, causing looks of pity to flash across their faces.

The County Magistrate, naturally spotting his subordinates’ expressions, showed not a trace of mercy himself. His intimidation tactic had not only backfired but had even been shattered by Chen Shu’s simple, half-spoken question, unsettling his men. Shame morphing into anger, he barely maintained his smile. He truly plucked a bamboo stick from the tube, and spoke with a sinister tone: “It is not that I wish to punish you; it is you two who are obstinate, hemming and hawing here instead of cooperating. Little girl, if you wish to see these tortures, I will gladly oblige your request! Someone—”

As he spoke, his two murky eyes fixed unblinkingly on Chen Shu. Judging by his expression, he no longer cared about anything else; he was determined to make Chen Shu suffer first!

“Wait!” Shen Jie exclaimed, stepping forward. “Without clarifying the facts, you resort to torture? Isn’t this forcing a confession through unjust punishment?”

“It is you two ingrates of suspects who cannot prove your innocence and disrupt this court, insisting on ‘seeing the punishment’! No matter how benevolent my nature, how forgiving my inclinations, what can I possibly do?!”

At these words, Sun Jin, the bully who relied solely on the magisterial authority, shrank his neck, his cowardice and disgracefulness evident. Most of the runners in the hall who had felt pity moments before averted their gazes, staring straight ahead or at the floor, their faces taut, merely standing even more rigidly.

Shen Jie, however, merely laughed. Utterly unafraid, she declared directly: “But my companion and I are not ‘unable to prove our innocence’. Observing for a long while now, I finally grasp how bizarrely you conduct yourself as an official. I just explained awhile ago that the two of us are merely passing through Yingqiu Weir, headed elsewhere. Yet you pay no attention, choosing to question us solely as suspects. With such foolishness, how can you possibly judge cases and preside over this hall?”

“Audacious!” The County Magistrate’s anger ignited, and he shot up from his chair. “You dare shift blame onto me? I have served as Magistrate for over ten years and have never presided over a single false or wrongful judgment! Seeing you as suspects today comes only from my cleareyed discernment of your suspiciousness!”

“Aye, never presided over a single false or wrongful judgment? You concealed them all, never been caught for a single one!”

“If you dare, come investigate then! See which is harder—my bench of justice or the brazen mouth of a rogue like you!”

“I need not investigate your decades-old cases; only this single case unfolding today shall expose the truth!”

“How would you investigate?” scoffed the County Magistrate. “With nothing but your insolent defiance?”

“What if I possess evidence here and now to prove our innocence?”

“Then produce it! Show me!”

The two argued heatedly across the hall. With her final declaration, Shen Jie ceased speaking, allowing silence to reclaim the courtroom following the County Magistrate’s resentful half-shout. Portly to begin with, the County Magistrate grew flustered and gasped for breath throughout their quarrel. It took him quite a while to catch his breath before sinking heavily back into his chair. Shen Jie, conversely, smiled, seemingly confident. Raising her hand towards Chen Shu, she gestured and said slowly:

“Little Shu, produce the letter.”