Chapter 40

Secretary Huang, not flustered at all, said: "Your master wanted me to eliminate that secretary of yours—I did it. The two matters he asked me to handle today—I handled them too."

He smiled.

"For past matters, I won't pursue them with your master. Thanks to your master's blessing, the magistrate now has the intent to kill me, just waiting to use me up before finishing me off.

"Therefore, the benefits your master promised me must be delivered.

"I know what your master is waiting to do. I've already made my arrangements. If I am silenced by murder, my friends and family will go to the prefectural court and raise a ruckus without end."

The man in black stared at him: "You truly are, as my master said, exceedingly clever."

Secretary Huang said: "Working as a personal secretary to an official—if one isn't clever, how can one support a family?"

The man in black sheathed his blade.

It's a pity this cleverness is only petty cleverness. You will pay for this with your life.

——

A few days ago, Magistrate Wang said to him: "After this is done, deal with Secretary Huang's entire family."

The man in black said: "As I expected, he'd figured out our plan. For us to kill them all..."

Magistrate Wang said: "So you understand my meaning clearly. Send men to watch Secretary Huang right now. If his family, at his command, attempts to flee in secret, seize them all—but do not alert him. This big fish has no tail; he cannot stir up any waves."

"Why doesn't the master take him into his service?"

Magistrate Wang laughed heartily: "A clever man like this—on what grounds would he be used by me? Raising a tiger, one is easily devoured. Enough. Go do what needs to be done. I'll write a memorial. Magistrate Gu is waiting for the Surveillance Commission to come investigate me. I'm also waiting for the Surveillance Commission to come investigate him. The only difference between us is that one will live, and one will die."

——

His recollection ended. The man in black said to Secretary Huang: "Rest assured, what the master promised you will certainly be given."

Secretary Huang said: "Then I can set my mind at ease."

The two quietly awaited the arrival of the Lin couple at the yamen grounds, the magistrate's residence.

.

At that moment, Gu Jun and Lin Yue had already put the food and other items away in their room. He was asking Lin Yue if he wanted to bathe and change into clean clothes before going to the banquet.

He was a bit nervous.

Lin Yue said: "If you want to be particular, it's fine. I'll boil water for you."

The implication was that it wasn't necessary. For a moment, Gu Jun again grew curious as to why Lin Yue had earned the magistrate's favor.

As his curiosity wandered, it suddenly occurred to him: Lin Yue is so capable—couldn't he use his hand to secretly exact a little revenge on Magistrate Wang...

Lin Yue lifted his face: "What wicked scheme are you hatching?"

Gu Jun looked at him in surprise.

Lin Yue said: "Let's hear it."

Gu Jun immediately shook his head, flatly denying it.

He thought about it more carefully and no longer wanted to take revenge on Magistrate Wang.

The common people must not contend with officials. He had only just managed to secure a stable life. In truth, he had already begun to forget those days, hadn't he?

Besides, the magistrate had already indicated he would deal with Magistrate Wang. Hopefully he could resolve that problem.

Lin Yue pulled open a drawer and took out a brand-new dagger, tucking it into his chest pocket. He said: "Don't act on your own."

As if I even could act on my own.

Gu Jun said: "When did you buy a dagger?" He actually hadn't noticed there was a dagger in the drawer.

Lin Yue said: "Bought it two days ago."

Gu Jun said: "Then you're taking it to the yamen?"

Lin Yue smiled: "Preparedness averts peril."

Gu Jun understood the underlying meaning. He touched the small wooden knife he carried close to his body and felt it was insufficient.

He searched left and right and found that the only sharp tool left at home was the kitchen knife, but the kitchen knife was too heavy and large—he simply couldn't carry it on him.

Cowardly, he said: "How about I don't go?"

Lin Yue said: "Sure, and we'll wait for the magistrate to personally come invite you."

Gu Jun locked eyes with him. Seeing the other's hand reaching toward his face, he retreated a step backward, leaped over the threshold, and nursed his personal grudge, sparing no stinginess in his assessment, saying: "Always licking your own lips morning and night—sooner or later you'll poison yourself to death."

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow: "I said 'preparedness averts peril.' You are entertaining groundless fears. Do you take me for the kind of person who would abandon his wife and flee for his life alone?"

Gu Jun covered his ears and walked forward. After two steps, faint laughter came through his fingers. He recalled something he had forgotten.

He quickly walked toward the kitchen, ladled a scoop of clean water from the communal water vat, and from a distance, poured it into his mouth.

"What are you doing?"

Lin Yue had soundlessly followed over.

Gu Jun: "..."

Gu Jun's hand trembled, spilling some water from the ladle onto the lower half of his face. The icy water dripped down, soaking his lapel. His entire body tensed. His throat moved; with a "gulp," he swallowed the water down.

He was already in despair, but on his face, he still maintained a smile and answered: "I'm drinking water."

Lin Yue slowly walked over. Without questioning him, he took a handkerchief, wiped the water off his face and lapel, leaned down and kissed his lips, saying: "Noted."

Noted my foot! Gu Jun pressed his lips into a straight line.

The two arrived at the yamen. Before they even reached the location, the magistrate and the others came out to greet them. The group exchanged courtesies and, chatting and laughing, headed into the residence.

The last rays of the sunset glow rested on the mountaintops. Cooking smoke curled from the residence. Several li outside Zhuyang County...

This area, at the edge of the Nanling Prefecture, had towering trees and sparse human habitation. Compared to the main roads of the capital, it was considerably more rugged, and the road surface was not as wide either; on both sides of the path grew quite a few weeds.

A group of people, some mounted, some standing, rested briefly at a post station.

They had set out in haste, eating and sleeping in the open. Under the post station staff's care, they wolfed down a meal, rested a short while, and decided to continue on to Zhuyang County.

The post station master came to replace their tired horses, saying: "My lords, take care."

Meng Zhao nodded, took the reins, and mounted his horse. Gazing into the distance, he saw layer upon layer of peaks, dark and green-tinged.

Ning Fu said: "Sanlang, let's go."

Meng Zhao ranked third among the younger generation of the Meng family, so those close to him called him Sanlang.

He turned his head back, a stern face toward the others: "Everyone, pull yourselves together. Just over forty li to Zhuyang County!"

"Yes." The others replied.

The group spurred their horses onward. The horses ran very fast, kicking up a cloud of dust before vanishing from the post station.

About ten li from Zhuyang County, Ning Fu, with a "Whoa!", pulled his horse to a stop. He concentrated his gaze on Zhuyang County ahead and said:

"Sanlang, something's not right."

Meng Zhao lifted his eyes to look. It had already fallen into night; there was no wind. Only a faint firelight loomed over the county town.

Ning Fu said: "To be able to see it from this distance—this fire is no small one. It'll be winter in a few days; though the weather is dry, it shouldn't be so severe that a single mistake causes a fire this big. Sanlang, this is no ordinary fire."

Meng Zhao said: "Take men and enter the city."

Ning Fu said: "Yes."

Meng Zhao said: "After entering the city, split into two groups. One group goes to the yamen; the other goes to His Highness's current residence. If His Highness's residence is in trouble, then the yamen is sure to be as well. Find the magistrate and tell him to ignore the yamen's situation. Deploy all available men to His Highness's current residence."

Meng Zhao pulled two sealed envelopes bearing wax seals from his person and handed them to two attendants at his side. "Take these letters to..."

Having said this, he wheeled his horse around and galloped back to find the Prefect of Nanling and mobilize the prefectural troops.

...

At this moment, the county yamen was engulfed in a sea of fire. Both the front yamen and the back residence were thrown into utter chaos. Night-watch runners, servants, etc., all were shouting and running outward.

The steward thought: The banquet was halfway through, and suddenly a fire breaks out—what kind of affair is this! Sweat covered his head as he supported the drunken Magistrate Gu and yelled: "No pushing! Let the master and the others out first!"

The scholar scolded: "Everyone calm down! Do you not want your heads anymore?!"

The chaotic scene finally settled somewhat. Everyone made way. The steward and the scholar supported the magistrate and ran toward the back door; the escape distance from the back door of the residence was very short. All the family members followed behind.

Lin Yue had drunk a little wine; Gu Jun had not touched a drop. Thus, both were very clear-headed. Lin Yue pulled Gu Jun along, using a handkerchief soaked in wine to cover their noses, following alongside.

Gu Jun knew that the sooner they got out, the greater the survival chances for the rest of the people. This era did not talk to you about equality for all.

Waves of fire lapped against their skin with a burning, fiery sensation.

Black smoke, mixed with the odor of various burning building materials, stung their eyes until tears streamed down, making it nearly impossible to see the road ahead.

The group was about to reach the back door when they suddenly heard several miserable screams from outside. These were the screams of the maids and servant boys who had run out earlier.

Gu Jun, using the cover of the half-open door, looked outside. He saw a group of masked men outside, armed with bows and arrows.

The steward said: "This way! There's another small door over here." Reaching the spot, they saw the situation outside was exactly as before. "The front door! The front door!" the steward shouted.

Gu Jun thought: If both the back door and the small door are blocked, then the front door is certainly blocked too.

Sure enough, as expected.

Not only that: someone who tried to climb the wall and escape was also shot down by arrows.

The steward's face was ashen. He said: "These rebels want us to die in this great fire."

Gu Jun was relatively calm; after all, it wasn't the first time he faced a life-threatening situation. He asked the steward: "Think carefully—is there a secret passage in this residence?" Don't all TV dramas say that some officials' homes have secret passages built in?

The steward forced himself to calm down. He thought for a while and said: "I have never heard of any secret passage."

They also pulled over the magistrate's wife, who likewise indicated she had never heard of such a thing.

She looked at the son cradled in her arms, gritted her teeth, handed her son to a maid, stepped forward two paces, grabbed the magistrate by the collar, and slapped him across the face.

The other was forcibly slapped awake. Looking around, "AAAAHHHHHH!" his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

Useless.

Gu Jun cursed.

Lin Yue kicked up a child's-arm-thick wooden stick used to prop up a flowering tree, casually grasped it, and said: "Those who know martial arts, follow me and fight our way out to bring back help. I will inform the magistrate of your valor. The magistrate will record your merits. Future glory and wealth will surely not be lacking."

In the front yamen, there were only a few night-watch runners. Those who knew martial arts numbered just three. Adding the attendant Magistrate Gu had recruited, there were five in total. Among them, two also knew archery, though their aim was average.

Lin Yue had those two assist from inside the doorway. Taking the remaining three, he found a wooden cover from a water vat to shield their chests, and charged out.

In an instant, a rain of arrows came whistling down.