The hall echoed only with Liao Jue’s cries. The surrounding people all kept their heads down, silent. Lu Wuxie lowered his gaze, his expression seemingly placid, but the large hand hidden beneath his dark sleeve had, at some point, quietly clenched into a fist.
“When I returned that day, Miaomiao and Aran were both gone. At first, I thought they had just gone out to play and would be back soon. I waited, and waited, from the bitter cold of night until the warmth of dawn. But they, mother and daughter, never returned.” Liao Jue spoke, his breath growing short. He patted his chest, wiping the tears from his eyes, and continued:
“So, I packed my bamboo basket, intending to gather herbs along the way while searching. But as soon as I stepped out, my neighbor, Auntie Zhang, grabbed me and told me something terrible had happened. Zhou Miaomiao and Chu Ran’s bodies had been found discarded in the mass graves on the northern outskirts…”
Upon finishing, Liao Jue closed his eyes, as if all his strength had been drained. His face was ashen.
“Since Zhou Miaomiao and Chu Ran met their fate twenty years ago, why have you waited until now to act?” Lu Wuxie voiced the question in his heart.
Liao Jue shook his head, sorrow and self-reproach etched all over his face. “Back then, Suqing was suffering from famine. The county was on the brink of becoming a bandit’s den. Anyone who had even a little food or warmth had to guard it closely, lest it be stolen or snatched away by someone.”
“Miaomiao died miserably. When she was found, her body…” He paused, then said, “was unclothed. Because of that, some people spread rumors that Miaomiao had gone out on her own to find the bandit leader. But alas, her attempt to steal a chicken resulted in losing the egg, and she also lost Aran’s life.”
As Liao Jue spoke, he raised his hand and slapped his own face. The sound reverberated through the entire hall.
“At the time, I actually believed it. I even felt ashamed that the Chu family had produced such a woman. In a fit of anger, I went to Lingshan Temple to become a monk.”
“Your face…” Lu Wuxie began, then stopped himself.
Liao Jue explained, “The Chu family had suffered such a great tragedy. As the head of the household, how could I still have the face to see anyone? Before entering Lingshan Temple, I disguised myself.”
Lu Wuxie understood. “So, can this Prince assume that you were also involved in Liao Chen’s dealing of counterfeit medicinal herbs?”
“Yes!” Liao Jue replied loudly. “Liao Chen is nothing but a quack doctor. With his limited skills, it’s a miracle he hasn’t killed anyone. Lingshan Temple has many worshipers, but what kind of person is Liao Chen?” He spat in frustration. “Moreover, the meager incense money from Lingshan Temple must also support the other monks in the temple. Liao Chen would certainly find ways to get money elsewhere. The people of Suqing county are simple, and for so many years, no decent physician has emerged. Five years ago, I happened to cure a long-standing ailment for a pilgrim, and his scheme then fell upon me.”
Liao Jue’s expression changed slightly as he spoke, a hint of bitterness tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Actually, I had no intention of cooperating with him. After all, it violated the oath of a physician to help the world. But to win me over, they revealed their greatest secret to me. When I learned the true cause of Miaomiao and Aran’s deaths, I began to plan and scheme. Since they could deceive people with ‘Buddha’s tears,’ why couldn’t I use their corruption of funds? Now that Your Highness knows the whole truth, old man asks you, if this were your situation, how would you choose? How would you all choose?”
Liao Jue’s gaze fell upon Lin Jin, then shifted to the two yamen runners guarding him in the hall.
“If it were this Prince, I would send them to the Ministry of Justice’s water prison to suffer a fate worse than death.” Just as Liao Jue thought no one could refute him, Lu Wuxie raised his eyes and spoke: “Perhaps you do not know, Liao Jue? To prevent certain officials from monopolizing power in one region and to address issues of collusion and mutual cover-ups, the Emperor specially established the Court of Judicial Investigation. It operates independently of the Ministry of Justice and the Grand Court of Revision, unbound by any official constraints, and reports directly to the Emperor. You had many paths to choose from, but you chose the most extreme one.”
Liao Jue gave Lu Wuxie a profound glance, lowered his eyes as if lost in thought, and then a piece of paper with his signature was placed before him. He pressed his vermilion fingerprint onto it and was escorted to the prison by the yamen runners.
Meanwhile, at the Li residence.
Zhong Li sat opposite Madam Feng, watching her spoonful by spoonful consume the small bowl of congee, remaining silent.
When a burst of fireworks lit up the sky, Zhong Li stood up, closed the open door, and took a prescription from her怀. She placed it on the table. “Madam Feng, this is a prescription for regulating qi and blood. I formulated it based on the one you gave me earlier, and after taking your pulse again. Take it on time, and your health will naturally recover over time.”
Madam Feng took the prescription Zhong Li handed her, glanced at it, and folded it, placing it against her chest. “Thank you, Young Master Zhong. I apologize for troubling you to make this trip. I am deeply grateful.”
Zhong Li returned Madam Feng’s smile and then placed the prescription Liao Jue had given Madam Feng on the table. Madam Feng looked somewhat puzzled.
Zhong Li no longer intended to keep her in suspense. She took a deep breath. “Madam Feng, the person has confessed. Why don’t you also tell the truth?” As she spoke, her fingertip tapped on the prescription for the contraceptive decoction, her meaning self-evident.
Madam Feng, holding her bowl of congee, her expression unreadable, downed the congee entirely. “Young Master Zhong, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Li Kun,” Zhong Li said calmly. “The killer wore Li Kun’s shoes and carried Li Kun into the woodshed. And you were the accomplice who helped the killer leave the woodshed undetected, weren’t you?”
“Pfft…” Madam Feng chuckled lightly. “Young Master Zhong, there are so many people in the back courtyard. Why do you suspect me specifically? I know nothing.”
Zhong Li took a deep breath. “This morning, before coming to your room, Madam Feng, I went to look for clues near the woodshed in the backyard. I found some soil traces on a cart used for pushing night soil, and even straw from the woodshed. To be honest, Madam Feng, you are very clever. You knew Liao Jue entered the woodshed wearing Li Kun’s shoes. To avoid leaving any trace, Liao Jue’s footprints could not appear in the woodshed. Therefore, you used the night soil cart to push Liao Jue out of the Li residence backyard. No one would suspect you, after all, an姨娘’s footprints are everywhere in the Li residence. It would be impossible to find fault with you.”
Madam Feng, hearing this, propped her chin on her hands and looked at Zhong Li. “Young Master Zhong’s analysis is very interesting. This method of murder indeed explains why there were only traces of Li Kun entering the woodshed, but none of him leaving, nor any footprints of outsiders. However, Master Liao Jue and I only have one prescription in common. Furthermore, as Young Master Zhong said, Master Liao Jue knew the carp powder was problematic but did not inform me, surely he must have a grudge against me. Why would I help an enemy kill my own husband?”
Zhong Li gazed deeply at Madam Feng. She knew that Madam Feng could cunningly evade all evidence at this moment. Whether she was willing to confess or not depended solely on Madam Feng’s own will.
“Since that is the case,” Zhong Li stood up and cupped her hands towards Madam Feng. “Zhong Li will take her leave. I hope Madam Feng remains healthy and her good fortune extends for years to come.” With that, Zhong Li opened the door to the room and quickly departed.
When Madam Feng was left alone in the room, she smiled at the prescription Zhong Li had given her for conditioning her body and took out a tinderbox from her怀, lighting it slowly. The firelight illuminated Madam Feng’s stunningly beautiful face. She stood up and knelt, kowtowing towards the west. “Mother, revenge! Your daughter has avenged you. Since I have killed someone, I do not intend to live on. Wait for me, mother. Wait for the Li residence to be thoroughly investigated, and your daughter will come to accompany you.”