Master Rong Qin had naturally seen it as well. She glanced at me, then turned back to the old woman with an unruffled smile. "It is getting late. Why don't you get some rest, Auntie? We can have this young lady look after us."
The old woman cast a sidelong glance at the young wife’s retreating back and shook her head expressionlessly. "When you get old, you don't need much sleep. Besides, my son isn't back yet; I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. I might as well keep you company."
Master Rong Qin and I exchanged a look but said nothing more. The young wife brought a cup of hot water for the old woman, then hung her head and hurried out.
It seemed we would have to deal with the old woman first. Otherwise, if she raised an alarm, we would be surrounded by their people from all sides. That would be truly troublesome—these were, after all, ordinary villagers. How could we use force against them? But if we didn't, we couldn't just sit there and wait to be attacked. I cycled through several plans in my head, wondering which would be best for her. Perhaps some medicine? That was my specialty.
Just then, a chorus of barking dogs erupted in the distance. The old woman hurried outside to check. I seized the opportunity to dart over and slip a little "special seasoning" into her cup. Master Rong Qin watched me with a faint, knowing smile but said nothing.
The old woman returned, shaking her head and muttering, "Could he have stayed over at his uncle's house?" As she spoke, she stole a few glances at us. I suspected that seeing our weapons had made her uneasy, and she was hoping her son would return soon to provide some backup.
Master Rong Qin smiled and offered some comfort. "Don't worry, Auntie. He's a grown man and knows the roads well..."
The old woman paced restlessly around the hall before sitting back down. She took two sips of the hot water, then knitted her brows and shouted toward the door, "Zhu-zi’s wife! How did you wash this cup..." Before she could finish, her head slumped onto the table, and she drifted into a deep sleep.
The young wife came scurrying in from outside. Seeing the scene, she fell to her knees before us with a heavy thud.
I quickly pulled her up. "Tell us quickly, what happened? Were you kidnapped and sold here?"
The young woman nodded, and before she could speak, tears began to fall like rain.
I can never stand to see someone cry, so I hurriedly said, "Don't be afraid, she's just in a deep sleep. Tell us exactly what's going on."
Wiping her face, she sobbed, "I was sold here half a year ago. Every day, besides the heavy labor, I have to endure their beatings and curses. I truly can't go on any longer. I beg you, heroines, please save me..."
Hearing her start to pour out her grievances, I cut her off. "How were you sold here?"
She wiped her face again, looking pitiful. "My name is Li Xiu. I am from Dai County in Zhongjing. My family are tenant farmers. Besides my parents, I have an older brother and three younger sisters. Last year, a brokeress came to our village saying a wealthy family in Zhongjing was looking for maids. My parents discussed it and sold me, thinking that being a servant in a grand house was better than starving to death. I never imagined..." Her expression shifted, and her shoulders began to tremble. "They took me to a place where I found seven other girls. We weren't there to be maids; they were forcing us to learn how to sing and serve people... If any of us questioned anything, we were beaten..."
I frowned. "Eight girls in total?"
Li Xiu nodded. "Yes. I heard the old crone who watched us say that at their peak, there were twenty or thirty."
Master Rong Qin and I exchanged a look. If what she said was true, how could such a large-scale human trafficking operation go unnoticed by the authorities?
Li Xiu continued, "The old crone said some tried to escape before, but they were all caught and whipped to death." At this, her face turned deathly pale. "Later, we were loaded onto a carriage and taken west. I fell ill on the way with a persistent fever. By the time we reached here, the brokeress said I wouldn't recover and feared I would infect the others, so she sold me cheaply to this family..."
Hearing this, both Master Rong Qin and I fell into deep thought. To the north of the Kingdom of Yantian lies the Gobi; to the west, the Linxi Grasslands; to the east, it borders the Great Chu; and to the south is the sea. I had only ever heard of people being trafficked overseas to the southern island nation of Nanwan. Where were these traffickers taking people by heading west? We hadn't heard any such rumors while we were on the grasslands.
Li Xiu shook her head, indicating she didn't know either.
Master Rong Qin sighed. "We will take you home and tell your parents not to sell you again. It is better for a family to stay together, even if life is hard, than to be torn apart like this."
I curled my lip, having guessed my master would say something like that.
"Li Xiu, think carefully," I said. "If what you say is true, these traffickers have already harmed many people and are continuing to do so. Even as we speak, other women like you might be falling into their trap. I want you to come with me to the Ministry of Justice to give a statement. We need to get them to open a case and catch every single one of those villains."
Li Xiu immediately looked terrified.
I patted her hand. "Think about it. If they remain free, they might catch you again one day. The best way is to lock them all up—some to the gallows, some to the dungeons. Only then can good people live in peace. Don't you agree?"
Li Xiu hesitated for a moment, then looked up at me. "I will go with you to the Ministry of Justice."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "When they bought you, was there a contract? That is evidence; we must find it."
Li Xiu nodded and ran toward the eastern wing.
Master Rong Qin looked at me thoughtfully. "Xi Xia, you already sound like a constable. Most people in the martial world prefer not to involve the authorities—I have that habit myself. But with a disciple like you, I suppose I'll have to change my ways."
I couldn't help but smile at her words. Just as I was about to speak, Li Xiu came running back from the eastern wing with a piece of paper. It was her deed of sale. The contract was very simple; the seller was listed as a woman named Chen Liu. I asked who that was, but she shook her head, not knowing.
Just then, a sudden knocking sounded at the door. Li Xiu turned white as a sheet. Could it be the old woman's son?
I patted her shoulder to reassure her. "Don't be afraid. We know martial arts. Just let him in. We will definitely take you away tonight."
Still trembling with fear, Li Xiu went to open the door. Master and I slipped behind the door to hide.
A man's voice came from outside, cursing as he walked in. The moment he stepped into the hall, I lunged forward and struck his pressure points. In a situation like this, a preemptive strike was essential. I had heard from my former colleagues that when they went to villages to rescue kidnapped women, sometimes the entire village would unite to attack the police. If he were allowed to shout, our situation would become very precarious.
I grabbed Li Xiu to lead her out, but she suddenly wrenched her hand free, walked back to the man, and delivered a stinging slap to his face. Seeing her tear-filled eyes, I could only imagine the suffering she had endured.
Master Rong Qin had already led the horses out. We left the courtyard and fled that mountain village as if our lives depended on it.
We hadn't gone far from the village when the sounds of shouting and pursuit rose behind us. Perhaps the medicine was too weak and the old woman had woken up, or perhaps the neighbors had discovered something. I had only been worried about being trapped inside the village; now that we were out, it didn't matter who chased us—few horses could hope to keep pace with Eternal Love.
Finally, we returned to Zhongjing. Master Rong Qin insisted on staying at the Pure Water Nunnery, so I had to take Li Xiu to the Ministry of Justice first.
Luo Jin listened to my account of the events and immediately arranged for a clerk to take Li Xiu's statement. I had a stomach full of questions for him, but before I could speak, he smiled. After two years, he hadn't changed much; his eyes were as bright and piercing as ever. "Are you anxious to ask about the Ministry recruiting new blood?" he asked.
I nodded vigorously.
Luo Jin smiled again. "You've returned at just the right time. I am currently drafting a memorial for the Emperor. Rest assured, I will include your name."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "But don't write 'Ji Wuchao.' That's the name of the Ji family's young lady. Just write... Xi Xia."
Luo Jin thought for a moment. "Fair enough. After all, the court knows that Ji Wuchao is the future consort of Prince Jing's Manor."
Still a bit uneasy, I added another reminder: "When you write the recommendation, make sure to make me sound good. And don't forget to mention that I'm the disciple of the Poison Fairy."
Luo Jin looked at me with amusement. "Have you really thought this through? It's not too late to regret it."
I shook my head. Why would I regret it? I had been waiting for this day for so long.
Luo Jin said solemnly, "Even if His Majesty agrees, you will start at the very bottom of the Ministry of Justice as a lowly constable. You'll spend your days patrolling streets, catching petty thieves, and settling trivial disputes. It might be a long time before you're allowed to handle a major case. Have you... truly thought this through?"
I nodded again, though his words left me feeling a bit dissatisfied. "If I really join the Ministry, then Li Xiu's case..."
Luo Jin shook his head. "Even if you join, this case won't be handed to you. You're a novice, and a woman at that." Seeing my dejected look, his expression softened but remained serious. "The first thing you must do is get along with the brothers at the yamen, and then... slowly build your own prestige."
This was a bit different from what I had imagined...
Luo Jin’s amused expression returned. He patted my shoulder and said, "We can talk about all that once you've actually joined the Ministry."
Li Xiu was still giving her statement, so I didn't see her before I left.
I headed home with Eternal Love. The streets were crowded, and fearing the horse might get spooked, I carefully stuck to the quieter alleys.
From the outside, the Ji Manor looked no different than it had two years ago. The vermilion gates were tightly shut, appearing very peaceful.
Xiao Hei was the one who opened the door. I recognized him instantly, but the silly boy stood there dazed, questioning me for ages until I lost my patience and gave his leg a good kick. Only then did he recognize me. Hearing him shouting at the gate, Bao Fu and Auntie Fu both came rushing out, wanting to see what kind of monster had arrived to make Xiao Hei lose his mind.
When Auntie Fu saw it was me, she pulled me into a hug, laughing and wiping away tears all at once. Her words were a jumble: "I dreamed of you just last night! My good young lady, you've finally come home... You've grown taller, and you're even prettier than before, but how did you get so tanned?... The madams are in the back garden, and the Master is in the study..."
"Father didn't go to court?" I asked, surprised.
Auntie Fu said, "The Master has a persistent cough. Prince Liu granted him leave to rest and recover at home..."
After settling my great black horse, I hurried toward the study.
The study was silent. I peeked through the window and saw my father dozing in his chair, a half-read book still in his hand. In the two years since I'd seen him, he had grown thinner, and the wrinkles on his forehead seemed more pronounced—was it because of a daughter who caused him so much worry?
I tiptoed inside and crouched beside him, studying him closely. In my memory, my father always appeared high-spirited; I had never seen him look so drained of energy...
Father suddenly began to cough. When he opened his eyes and saw me, he froze, then reached out to rub his eyes. The gesture made my heart ache. I threw my arms around his waist and buried my head in his chest. My father's embrace was as comforting as ever. Smelling his familiar scent, it felt as though a heavy stone had finally settled back into place, bringing an unspeakable sense of peace and ease.
Father’s hand rested on my head, and he chuckled softly. "You're really back? Are you tired?"
I shook my head. He started coughing again. I quickly checked his pulse and leaned against his chest to listen to his breathing. Only then did I feel relieved. "I heard from Auntie Fu that you were coughing, and I was worried sick. It's nothing serious. I'll prepare some medicine for you later."
Father laughed heartily. "Have you seen your mother yet?"
I shook my head.
Father sat up and called out toward the window, "Bao Fu! Bao Fu! Have someone prepare the carriage immediately to fetch Min Zhi and Min Yan!"
This caught me by surprise. "Is Min Yan old enough? You sent him to the academy too?"
Father shook his head. "The grand examinations are approaching, so Min Zhi is back to prepare. Today he took Min Yan to the Right Prime Minister's Manor for a poetry gathering."
"Are they both well?" I really had missed them.
Father nodded and was about to speak when a loud "crash" sounded outside, like something breaking, followed by a woman's cry of "Ouch!"
***
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A Dream of Justice: The First Lady Constable | Chapter 20 | A Plea for Rescue | Novela.app | Novela.app
