Chapter 11: Endings And Beginnings
Whether two beggars were missing from the county town or a young lady left under a guard’s escort, such minor matters caused no ripples in Lu County.
The inspector Ji Ying, still residing in White Horse Town, was even more unaware, as his mind was entirely on the letter just received from Duke Ding’an.
“Duke Ding’an says to bury them on the spot, to let his sister and niece rest in peace, and he will come to pay respects in person later.” He finished reading and said.
The officials of Lu County breathed a sigh of relief, meaning Duke Ding’an had accepted the conclusion that mountain bandits had committed the evil and Miss Yang had met with a sudden calamity, with no intention to hold Lu County’s officials accountable for lax governance, let alone pursue it relentlessly.
“Duke Ding’an is quite reasonable.”
“The old Duke Ding’an is famously kind-hearted; this is the family tradition.”
Everyone praised him profusely, but some officials muttered inwardly that he seemed to have no feelings for his sister either.
Not to mention living here for over ten years with no contact, the county didn’t even know, and now that she was dead, no one from the family came, saying they would pay respects later…
The word “later” often meant indefinitely far off.
But since it was someone else’s family matter, they didn’t discuss it much.
Ji Ying’s expression was quite calm, as if he had expected it, and he said, “Then you shall represent Duke Ding’an and properly bury Miss Yang and her daughter.”
Lu County’s officials responded, “Please rest assured, sir.”
Ji Ying once again urged them not to slack off in clearing out the bandit problem, and the officials all responded in agreement.
“In that case, I won’t stay any longer and will set off tomorrow.” Ji Ying said.
The so-called inspector was to inspect the provinces and commanderies, not stay in one place; it was just that Ji Ying had arrived in Lu County earlier and encountered the mountain bandits massacring White Horse Town, so he had to stay to personally oversee the matter.
The officials thanked him again, Ji Ying stopped their flattery, saying he needed to rest, and only then did the group of officials take their leave.
Ji Ying stood in the tent, his expression changing for a moment, and looked at his attendant nearby: “Does the marquis have a reply?”
The attendant said in a low voice: “The marquis says there’s no need to mention someone who is already dead, and besides, it’s someone else’s family matter.”
Ji Ying’s face darkened.
The attendant asked softly beside him: “Sir, do you think there’s something strange about this matter?”
Ji Ying looked at him: “It didn’t happen early or late, but precisely when I was inspecting.”
If he didn’t know the inside story and hadn’t quickly suppressed the matter, if it blew up and reached the capital, then…
The attendant knew the inside story but didn’t dare mention a word of it, and hurriedly said: “The marquis recommended you for office in the capital three years ago, and His Majesty personally appointed you as inspector. You know, although the marquis is the emperor’s father-in-law and His Majesty respects him, on major court politics, the marquis cannot interfere. Our His Majesty won the rivers and mountains with his own hands.”
The current emperor was the founding emperor, who had risen through chaotic times, fighting his way out from many warlords, not like those emperors raised in the deep palace who could be swayed by ministers.
Ji Ying naturally knew this well; he kept telling himself it was a coincidence, but there were no coincidences in this world—this matter was absolutely not simple…
Although he had been demanding that Lu County’s officials continue investigating the mountain bandits, he knew in his heart they would find no trace of them anymore.
He wasn’t a waste; he could see the oddity in White Horse Town’s bandit disaster—how could mountain bandits appear so silently, destroy an entire town, and then vanish without a trace.
This was clearly meticulously arranged by someone, most likely mobilizing soldiers…
Ji Ying thought of the corpses of the mother and daughter embracing each other and couldn’t help closing his eyes briefly.
But what could be done about it?
The marquis was right; there’s no need to mention someone who is already dead.
They were dead; was there any need to disturb the living further? Moreover, Duke Ding’an’s Mansion clearly didn’t care and didn’t want to pursue it anymore—never mind, never mind.
“You stay behind and personally oversee their burial,” Ji Ying instructed the attendant, “Make sure it’s done properly.”
The attendant hurriedly agreed.
Ji Ying picked up his cloak to go out, when the attendant thought of something else.
“Magistrate Huang of Zhao County sent someone the day before yesterday, hoping sir could help,” he said. “The Embroidered Uniform Guard has turned Zhao County upside down; if they keep investigating, the entire Zhao County will be labeled as treason.”
Ji Ying recalled: “The matter Wei Jiao mentioned about Jiang Wangchun’s treason in Zhao County and then being silenced?”
The attendant nodded: “He had come here to investigate before, but turned back to Zhao County after finding nothing.”
Then the entire Zhao County was thrown into turmoil.
Ji Ying frowned.
On his side, the matter was superficially handled by substituting death row prisoners for mountain bandits; even if uncovered, it would only be negligence of duty, but in reality, it hid secrets that couldn’t see the light of day—better not to stir up extraneous matters, or if bitten by Wei Jiao, it would be trouble.
“I can’t help.” Ji Ying said, and instructed the attendant again, “Tell Magistrate Huang to do nothing and wait for Wei Jiao to tire himself out.”
The attendant agreed and accompanied Ji Ying out; outside the tent at the town entrance, a team of soldiers was lined up waiting, ready to escort him on the journey.
Ji Ying suddenly raised his hand and looked up; dense raindrops began to fall.
It was raining again.
It had been a heavy rain on the night White Horse Town suffered its calamity.
Ji Ying looked over; the officers and soldiers had withdrawn, White Horse Town’s surviving civilians were preparing to rebuild their homes, and some merchants had come hearing the news to buy land. In just over ten days, White Horse Town’s atmosphere of grief had dissipated; a few months later, new houses would rise, and in another year, it would become a prosperous town again.
With the dead buried, everything was buried.
Ji Ying withdrew his gaze, put on the raincloth, mounted his horse, and galloped away amid the soldiers’ escort.
……
…….
The rain grew heavier.
Mo Zheng deftly flung the oilcloth over the carriage top; bean-sized raindrops hit it, making dense sounds.
“A Sheng, come in quickly to avoid the rain.” Yang Luo lifted the carriage curtain and called.
Mo Zheng stepped on the wheel to smooth out the cloth, then in the next moment went to the front of the carriage to lead the horse.
“There’s a big tree ahead where the horse can take shelter from the rain.” She said.
Yang Luo could only watch her lead the horse forward; the rain was heavy and the road slippery, making it hard for the horse to pull the carriage, but the horse was very obedient in Mo Zheng’s hands and soon reached the tree, where a raincloth was also draped over it; only then did Mo Zheng enter the carriage.
She untied the raincloth and placed it outside the carriage, took the blanket Yang Luo handed her to wipe the rain from her head and face, then wrapped it around her body.
“Hot tea.” Yang Luo handed over the tea heated on the small clay stove.
Mo Zheng drank it down in one go and thanked her.
“What are you thanking me for? I didn’t do anything.” Yang Luo said. “A Sheng, you’re really capable; you’ve prepared everything so thoroughly for the journey, with everything we need, and you even handle the horse so well.”
In her previous life, going to the capital, her uncle had come personally to pick her up with over a dozen servants, and there were government receptions along the way, yet she still found traveling troublesome and tiring; now A Sheng managed everything perfectly alone.
Mo Zheng said: “Traveling is much like hunting; it’s just preparing those things—once you’re used to it.”
There were many who hunted, but few who could become bandit leaders that gave the imperial court headaches; Yang Luo thought A Sheng was indeed impressive.
“We’ve left Lu County now, right?” She looked outside. “Where do we go next?”
She was going to the capital but didn’t even know the way.
Mo Zheng was also prepared; she set down the tea and pulled a piece of paper from the small rack in the carriage.
“I’ve never been to the capital either and don’t know the way, but when I bought the carriage, I asked people at the shop who often go to the capital.” She said, unfolding the paper. “I even had them draw a simple map.”
Yang Luo leaned over to look; the map was indeed simple, outlined with lines, ink dots marking cities, and both water and land routes.
“A Sheng, you’ve thought of everything so thoroughly.” She praised again.
“It also takes Miss having money.” Mo Zheng said. “Preparing thoroughly costs money.”
A Sheng was still humble; Yang Luo smiled to herself, seeing Mo Zheng’s gaze roaming the map, then pointing at an ink dot.
“Let’s stop in Zhao County.” She said. “Then head south, switch to the water route—it’s faster.”
Yang Luo nodded without even looking: “Sure, sure, I’ll follow your lead.”
