Chapter Text
明·冯梦龙《喻世明言》第十卷：“常言道清官难断家事。”
It is often said a righteous official finds it hard to judge family affairs.
//
Dawn.
The marketplace is bustling, already filled with people when the first light touches the sky.
Vendors setting out their wares, bolts of colored silk to entice foreign merchants, fine jade for a fair concubine, books for the scholarly, candied haw to lure a child. Harried servants with baskets on their arms, street orphans quick on their feet.
A young maiden, rather pretty, moving clumsily through the crowd, bamboo pole knocking on the ground with each halting step, careful and meticulous.
“ - born like that...”
“What a pity!”
“ - never seen pupils that white - ”
“Laopo, don’t look, it’s inauspicious for the baby.”
A middle aged man, dressed in bright, expensive clothing too garish to pass for nobility, stumbling from the force hitting his back.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I can’t see. I’m sorry!”
Having collided with someone, the man turns furiously around, ready to curse at the culprit. Upon seeing the little maid of scarcely fifteen, slight and trembling and blind at that, his face changes, dark eyes darting hither and thither at the passersby.
If he were to slap her flagrantly in the streets, he would definitely be criticized, thus he has no choice but to merely scold.
“Watch where you’re going!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I - ”
Unsatisfied, an oily palm reaches out to squeeze the soft flesh hidden beneath her ragged skirt, giving a hard squeeze before he departs.
Good riddance.
Tapping her way into a forsaken alley, A-Qing spits through her teeth once there is nobody around to see.
What a miser, no taels, only copper in his pouch!
“Those lousy men, all of them are like this. Dressed as if they really are something, but they don’t have any coins. You can’t even shake a penny out of them.”
The next one better be rich.
//
Wandering on the busy streets, it is not long before the girl bumps into someone else again. This time, the man is tall and slim, ivory sleeves fluttering in the morning breeze, simple yet clean.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I can’t see. I’m sorry!”
Having been jolted, he does not falter, offering her a steadying arm.
“I’m fine. Maiden, you can’t see?”
The lower half of his face is rather handsome, although somewhat emaciated. The upper half, incomparable, with clear, black pupils, fine brows creased together to meet a high, straight nose.
Taken aback, A-Qing pauses before answering. This man is strange - he didn’t even try to take advantage!
“Y-yes.”
“Then, walk a bit slower. Don’t be so fast. You wouldn’t want to bump into someone again, would you?”
Taking the maiden’s hand with his own - and touching nothing else - he leads her to the deserted side of the road, gentle and meticulous in both words and actions.
“Walk here. There are less people.”
“Brother in white, A-Qing is very thankful of you!”
The man smiles.
“Then, since you call me Brother, why don’t you give back Brother’s pouch?”
White eyes going wide, A-Qing takes her pole and runs.
But having a small frame like hers, not even a seasoned street-roamer can outrun a tall, strong young man, so A-Qing finds herself being grabbed by the back of her collar before she can cross the distance of several zhang. Furthermore, with such a grip, no matter how hard she struggles, it is impossible to break free.
“As I’ve already said, you shouldn’t run so fast. What if you bump into someone again?”
Biting her tongue and thinking quickly, she parts her lips, ready to scream.
“Mol- ”
“There you are, you little bitch. I’ve finally caught you. Give back my money!”
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a furious voice yells. Rushing over, that bastard from earlier dares to proclaim loudly, gleaming eyes alight with malice, cheeks red with anger as he storms over, right fist raised to strike.
Out of reflex, A-Qing glances down, shrinking herself into a ball.
Yet before the blow lands, it is stopped in midair by a billowing snow-like sleeve.
“Sir, please calm down for a moment. It’s quite an impolite way to treat a young maiden, don’t you think?”
Peeking out from behind her eyelids, the trembling girl sees the dirty pervert snarl, accusing stubbornly despite his nervousness.
Despite not having used much force, this brother easily restrains the filthy man, leaving his arm unable to move an inch.
“What are you doing here? Saving the damsel in distress? So the little bitch is your lover? Did you know that she’s a thief? She stole my money! If you protect her, then you’re also a thief!”
Holding the man and A-Qing, the brother in white utters solemnly.
“Give the man his money back.”
In such a situation, she has no choice but to comply.
“Please check the money, sir. Is everything in order?”
Leaving the man to count, he turns to the girl, thin lips curved amicably in an upturned crescent moon, though his gaze is stern.
“You really are too bold. How do you dare steal things even when you’re blind?”
“He touched me! He pinched my butt, and it hurt so much, so what’s wrong with me taking some of his money? There’s only so little inside of such a big pouch, and he’s being a bully about it. He’s gonna die flat broke!”
“Such being the case, you really should’ve known better than to provoke him. Today, if nobody was here, the matter wouldn’t have been solved with a mere slap. Maiden, take care.”
“Wait! You are going to let the little bitch off like this?”
“Sir.”
A-Qing watches as the righteous brother produces a carved seal concealed upon his person, leaving the wretched bastard pale and trembling as he rushes to prostrate.
“Do you wish to appeal the judgment in court?”
“Daren! Daren, this ignorant one wouldn’t dare!”
By now, the spectacle has attracted a small commotion, all marveling and pointing fingers at the tall, lean youth.
“The magistrate is wise! The magistrate is wise!”
“What magistrate?”
The white-pupiled maiden murmurs in confusion, truly astute at keeping up her blind act.
“This is your lucky day, to have met the Bright Moon and Gentle Breeze, the county magistrate in person!”
“Isn’t the magistrate some old fogey?”
“Ah, Xiao daren is the new magistrate, freshly arrived in our town!”
“Such a young lad, passing the imperial examinations without difficulty, already so upright and wise, a defender of innocents, his future is limitless!”
“Brother! Brother, wait!”
Chasing as fast as she can with her pole, the girl intentionally falls forward, experienced by now.
“Is there anything else?”
Crashing into his back in her haste, A-Qing takes the chance to whisper.
“I still have your money pouch.”
“It’s yours now. There’s not much inside, anyway. Before you spend all of it, be sure not to steal anything else.”
“Thank you! Thanking Brother in white!”
He laughs.
“An astute child indeed, to notice this brother dressed in white. Come by the yamen (magistrate court) tomorrow to earn some money if you like.”
//
“Xingchen. Where were you?”
By the gate, a strapping constable waits, somber with his neat hair and black uniform, features stern and cold as unmelted frost, a model man of the yamen.
“The morning session is due to begin.”
“Zichen! I was held up. Did you miss me?”
“Xingchen.”
“Ah, alright, let’s get to official matters, Constable Song. Are there many cases today?”
Song Lan frowns.
“There are...none.”
“It is understandable. The people are reluctant to trust a newly arrived official from a foreign province, younger than their firstborn sons, with their disputes and their feuds. We can only - ”
“Murder! MURDER! Daren, daren, you must help us.”
Hurling herself at the yamen entrance, the maidservant in yellow pleads, twin braids quivering in agitation, grasping at his sleeve before Xiao Xingchen can calm her down.
“There’s been a murder at the Jin estate!”
//
Filled with treasures of gold and jade, the Jin estate is the largest manor in town, unmatched in opulence and spending - if the Jinlintai claimed second in wealth, no one dared claim first. Beyond riches, Jin Guangshan does not lack influence, as a high-ranking official even the magistrate’s court cannot offend. Of this, Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are well aware.
“We are officials from the yamen, here to investigate.”
Leading the group of constables and runners is the magistrate himself, humble yet not deferential as he produces his seal.
“Please come in, sirs. This one is Mianmian, assigned by second young master Jin to show you the way.”
Xiao Xingchen bows.
“Miss, we will have to trouble you.”
Observing the twists and turns through gardens and pavilions, it cannot be said that the famed Jinlintai’s design is insufficiently complex, nor that it lacks security - there are guards at every wing.
“We have arrived at Old Master Jin’s residence, sirs.”
“Many thanks to miss Mianmian.”
“Why is our daren taking so long?”
“He is unfamiliar with the procedures!”
“Ha! A magistrate scared of blood...”
Treading carefully, Xingchen steps past the threshold, Zichen at his right, noting the cloying scent of perfume in the air.