Chapter 37

Seeing Lin Yue, the homeowner's face showed a brief start, then he came to his senses and said: "I came to see if you had woken yet."

Lin Yue said: "If I was awake, I was to go to the yamen. The county magistrate has already interrogated the attackers and learned the reason they wanted to kill us husband and wife."

The homeowner raised a thumb: "Divine foresight!"

Lin Yue said: "I understand. Thank you for your trouble."

"A small matter. To do things for Sir Lin is my honor." The homeowner smiled extremely attentively.

Gu Jun had already given the compensation that should be given to the homeowner and tenants. Magistrate Gu had also dispatched men to patrol the vicinity to ensure their safety. Now, Lin Yue could tidy himself up, ensure the doors and windows were locked properly, and then head to the yamen.

Before setting out, he tucked the blanket in properly for Gu Jun.

During this time, Gu Jun turned over, curling on his side with a bowed waist, shaking off some of the blanket.

.

The courtyard was not particularly far from the yamen.

After the time it takes one stick of incense to burn, Lin Yue saw Magistrate Gu.

It was the first time he saw Magistrate Gu in the court hall.

The other was handling a case of a master beating a thieving servant to death. He was very impatient, drinking tea cup after cup. The yamen runners on both sides stood holding punishment staffs, chanting "mighty" to overawe the master and the servant's father who had brought the lawsuit, both kneeling below.

Lin Yue glanced briefly, then retreated to the side to wait for Magistrate Gu.

Magistrate Gu, however, was unwilling to delay important matters for commoners. He had both of them locked up in jail. Then he walked over and said: "How is worthy nephew Lin feeling now? Should I call a doctor for you to take a careful look?"

Lin Yue heard the commoners' cries of injustice. He lowered his gaze, clasped his hands, and said: "Thank you for your concern, magistrate. I currently do not feel the injury is worsening. However, if there is a good doctor, I would be willing to be examined, since the injury is on the head, after all."

Magistrate Gu sent someone to fetch the most experienced doctor in the county.

After one stick of incense's time, that doctor arrived.

The doctor first asked about Lin Yue's current physical condition, then removed the bandage and observed his wound. Finally, he reached out and pressed around the wound and some acupoints, reaching a conclusion similar to the previous doctor's:

"It's a flesh wound; the skull has not been affected. However, considering you were unconscious for an entire night, there may have been a small amount of intracranial bleeding after the trauma. But that's of no concern. You woke up quickly and have no abnormal reactions, which means that bit of bleeding caused no adverse effects."

Hearing this, Lin Yue thought of the bump he had felt after being rescued by Gu Jun.

The bump happened to be on the back of his head, within his hair. Since it only hurt when touched at the time and hadn't brought about anything abnormal, he had paid it no mind.

Now, thinking back...

Lin Yue asked the doctor: "What adverse effects could intracranial bleeding produce?"

The doctor said: "That's hard to say. You could become dull-witted; you could easily get headaches; your temperament could change greatly, and so on."

"Speak more clearly." Lin Yue said.

The doctor pondered for a moment, then said: "Or you might be unable to do certain things; you might not be able to exert yourself; you might lose your memory, and so forth."

Lose his memory? Lin Yue lightly tapped the armrest of the chair with his finger. He stood and thanked the doctor.

The doctor clasped his hands, packed up his medical box, and took his leave.

Magistrate Gu said to Lin Yue: "Knowing you're all right puts my mind at ease. Worthy nephew Lin, last night's villains who wanted to take your lives and your wife's—guess who was behind them?"

Lin Yue put on a troubled expression: "My wife and I have never offended anyone. I truly cannot think who would want our lives."

Magistrate Gu sat down boldly, his sleeve brushing across the tabletop. He picked up his tea, took a noisy sip, and said:

"When I speak of it, I get angry. That person is the Magistrate of Yanlin County! Wang Gong! The villains said that the night before last, Wang Gong's secretary found them and said Magistrate Wang had a major thorn in his side and asked them to deal with it. If they succeeded, they would be richly rewarded!"

"Magistrate Wang?" Lin Yue frowned. "Magistrate Wang looked after me before."

Magistrate Gu said: "You know the face, but not the heart. Last time, regarding the fire at the Feng residence, you came to me hoping I'd look after Constable Feng a little. Yet you didn't know that man had defected to Magistrate Wang, plotting to harm you and your wife. One could say your kindness was fed to wolves!"

Lin Yue followed along with indignation.

Magistrate Gu watched Lin Yue's reaction with satisfaction and said: "I have already dealt with Constable Feng."

Lin Yue rose and thanked Magistrate Gu, then said with worry: "My wife and I have never offended Magistrate Wang either. I truly don't know why he is so determined to put us to death."

Hearing this, Magistrate Gu silently drank a mouthful of tea.

He felt that Magistrate Wang wasn't really targeting Lin Yue and his companion; he was targeting him. As for why he was targeting him.

—It was probably because, entrusted by Chancellor Meng, he had been the first to complete the task. The other was jealous that his official career was proceeding smoothly and, in order to hinder his promotion, had resorted to such vicious means against Lin Yue.

Speaking of which, the two counties were adjacent. Certain matters, such as merchants flowing to the other county and the speed of official document responses, always involved some entanglements.

Their rift had existed for a long time; it was just that, both being officials, they maintained politeness when meeting.

Additionally, he worried this matter was related to Secretary Huang. According to his investigations, before Magistrate Wang moved against Lin Yue, Secretary Huang had visited his residence.

It had already been the dead of night. The other acted very covertly. Had he not now reclaimed full authority, he probably wouldn't have been informed and would have been kept in the dark.

Magistrate Gu didn't tell Lin Yue the whole truth, not because he was guarding against Lin Yue, but because he worried the other would be dissatisfied with him because of it.

What's more, to tell him this matter...

So, he said to Lin Yue: "If you don't know the reason, I know even less. Perhaps there is no reason at all; the other simply took a pure dislike to you two. Don't worry; I will properly resolve this matter."

Lin Yue said: "I wonder how the magistrate will resolve it. I am truly worried about this. If I cannot know the solution, I will surely be unable to eat or sleep."

Magistrate Gu said: "Wang Gong, this brat, dared to harm the orphaned son of the Chancellor's old friend. With both witness testimony and material evidence complete, I will submit a memorial directly impeaching him. He will surely lose his official post. On your side, I will increase manpower, patrolling day and night to protect your safety.

"The news that I had found you, worthy nephew, has by my reckoning already reached Chancellor Meng. I imagine before long, the people to escort you to the capital will arrive."

Magistrate Gu had originally planned to go see Magistrate Wang this morning.

Constable Feng's words were only one side of the story, with no one to corroborate them—after all, the Feng family was wiped out, and Constable Feng had not yet struck. To use this to convict Magistrate Wang would be very difficult.

He went to see Magistrate Wang precisely to fish for words implicating him in the crime.

But now, the other had personally delivered witnesses and material evidence to his door. What need was there to fish for words? This was truly Heaven helping him!

.

When Gu Jun woke, the sky was dusky yellow. For no reason, a sense of being abandoned by the entire world arose within him.

Sitting on the bed, he took a long time to recover before Gu Jun finally extracted himself from that feeling of being abandoned by the world. He got up. His clothes hadn't been changed; Lin Yue must have carried him to the bed. As for Lin Yue...

Where had Lin Yue gone?

His wound wasn't even healed; how could he be running around everywhere?

Gu Jun opened the door and went looking for Lin Yue.

Just as he stepped out, he was stopped by the yamen runners patrolling nearby. They said: "Sir Lin will return very soon. Please wait patiently, madam."

Gu Jun asked: "Where did he go?"

The runner replied: "Sir Lin has gone to the worksite to find the old master craftsman and collect his wages for these days."

Lin Yue had already completed two days of work. Although the old master craftsman hadn't yet found a suitable laborer, he was benevolent to the utmost, so today, after returning from Magistrate Gu and reading for half a day, he went directly to find the old master craftsman to collect his wages.

Gu Jun thus returned to the room to prepare a meal. The vegetables bought yesterday hadn't been finished yet.

Just as dinner was ready, Lin Yue happened to return. The other brought back a stack of books and was carrying Bi Laosan's book crate on his back. Behind him followed two yamen runners, also hugging a stack of books.

Gu Jun said, surprised: "You're..."

Lin Yue had the two runners set the books down properly, politely saw them out, turned back around, and was about to explain to Gu Jun. The other clenched his right hand and struck his left palm, saying: "I know, you're going to take the imperial examinations!"

Lin Yue did not deny it.

The two sat down to eat. Gu Jun's culinary skills had still shown no improvement; they ate with the pickled vegetables as before.

"What was the deal with those villains last night? Were they also sent by someone?" Gu Jun chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth, then asked.

Lin Yue said: "The magistrate told me they were sent by Magistrate Wang. That Constable Feng was the same. However, the latter was executed by the magistrate."

Hearing this, Gu Jun's heart sank, then quickly rose again. He said: "Why does Magistrate Wang want to kill us?"

Lin Yue stared straight at him: "Don't you know better than me about this matter?"

Gu Jun muttered quietly: "What would I know? I know..."

Lin Yue watched his pale red lips opening and closing. After a moment, he shifted his gaze away, tapped the tabletop with the other end of his chopsticks, and said: "Alright, eat quietly. I know you are innocent. We can only blame Magistrate Wang for having poor eyesight, mistaking you for that man who has a grudge against him."

Gu Jun's expression turned from cloudy to sunny. He nodded repeatedly: "Right, it's all his fault for having poor eyesight!"

Lin Yue said: "The magistrate believes Magistrate Wang is acting against us to get at him. He wants to deal with Magistrate Wang, but from what I can see, it's not that simple."

...

Lin Yue's words proved prophetic.

Magistrate Gu had spent no small effort writing the memorial to impeach Magistrate Wang.

He sat in the front yamen office, confirming the wording of the memorial was flawless, then called his attendant and instructed him to give the letter to the post station runner, having the runner send the letter to the capital, ensuring that the several chancellors handling this type of memorial on behalf of the Emperor would all see it, especially Chancellor Meng.

Just at that moment, Magistrate Wang arrived for a visit.

"What a coincidence!" Magistrate Gu handed the memorial to his attendant and ordered him to depart, then gave a cold laugh.

The yamen runner asked: "Shall I receive him, my lord?"

Magistrate Gu said: "No. Invite him to leave."

The runner assented.

At the same time, a hearty laugh came from outside the door. Magistrate Gu looked up and saw Magistrate Wang walking in with a man whose back was bent very low.

Several yamen runners surrounded Magistrate Wang, their expressions anxious. Upon seeing their own magistrate, they immediately begged forgiveness.

"My lord, we could not hold back Magistrate Wang..."

Magistrate Gu, his face dark, waved them away, signaling them to withdraw. The group felt as if granted a great amnesty and immediately withdrew. The earlier attendant also withdrew along with them.

Magistrate Gu sized up Magistrate Wang, his expression extremely sour: "Magistrate Wang, barging in with someone in tow—what business brings you here? What, was today's meal not to your liking, so you've eaten until you're stuffed?"

Magistrate Wang said: "Magistrate Gu, do not be angry. I have come to give you an explanation."

"What explanation?" Magistrate Gu said warily.

Magistrate Wang kicked the leg of the person behind him: "Wretched beast, kneel!"

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Magistrate Gu asked.

Magistrate Wang pointed at the kneeling man: "Does Magistrate Gu recognize this person?"

Magistrate Gu tilted up the man's bowed head, studied it carefully, and said: "This is the secretary by your side."