I finally stepped onto the bluish-grey flagstone road. To say I wasn't excited would be a lie. Just think—the streets were lined with what would be considered priceless cultural relics in my time. Picking up any random trinket and taking it back would fetch a fortune, though I had no idea if I’d ever find a way home.
"Stop pulling me so hard," Minzhi grumbled, turning back to give me a shove. I gave him a sweet, placating smile, but my hands remained ruthlessly clamped onto his belt. I had no choice; he was taller than me and actually knew the way. With my hands hitched to his waist, my eyes were free to wander shamelessly in every direction. Dahei and Xiaohei followed beside us, their expressions just as dazed by the spectacle.
Zhongjing was every bit the prosperous metropolis. Not only were there various shops run by locals, but merchants from other lands were also here, trading primarily in jewelry and silk. On the wide streets, one could occasionally spot foreigners with green or blue eyes. The sight unconsciously reminded me of the most glorious era in Chinese history—the Tang Dynasty.
Two tall horses trotted slowly past us. Atop them sat two fierce-looking men dressed in black martial attire with red trim, broad sabers hanging from their waists.
"Minzhi, Minzhi!" I hurriedly tugged his belt, pointing them out. "Look, those two are carrying swords. They look so imposing!"
Minzhi glanced over and rolled his eyes at me disdainfully. "Those are just two constables from the Ministry of Justice out on patrol. You didn't even know that?"
Constables?
My eyes widened instantly, my gaze glued to the vigorous retreating figures of my fellow officers. Though I had been in narcotics, we were all part of the same police family, after all. For a moment, my heart was flooded with a thousand different emotions.
"Let’s go," Minzhi urged, his patience wearing thin. This kid really had no staying power. "Do you want to see the excitement or not?"
I reluctantly withdrew my gaze and continued following our little guide through the crowd.
And what a crowd it was. The number of people on the street had increased imperceptibly. Perhaps because women couldn't leave their homes freely, the gathering consisted mostly of men. Every face wore the expression of someone eager for a good show. It seemed the historical tradition of loving a spectacle ran deep and long.
Minzhi led us through various twists and turns until we reached a large tree. Several large stones sat beneath it, but they were already occupied by people standing on them. Minzhi hopped on his toes to look over the crowd, but he couldn't see much. He looked down at me and asked, "Do you dare climb the tree?"
I glanced at the thick, towering old banyan and nodded without hesitation. Dahei and Xiaohei had already scrambled up with practiced agility. Dahei claimed a sturdy horizontal branch with a clear view and reached down to pull Minzhi and me up.
The view from the heights was indeed excellent. I sat down beside Dahei and let out a long sigh of relief.
Below our feet was a dense sea of people. In a cleared space guarded heavily by soldiers, several people were currently kneeling. Looking further in, behind a wide official desk, sat a man in deep blue robes.
I nearly choked on my breath—this was actually the Ministry of Justice! I was witnessing my ancient counterparts conducting a live trial!
Minzhi grabbed me, his face pale as he shot me a fierce glare. "Can't you sit still?!"
Before I could respond, the sharp *crack* of a gavel echoed from below, and the buzzing of the crowd instantly fell silent. A deep voice asked, "Madam Yan, will you confess or not?"
So cool!
I carefully studied the official sitting in the shadows of the hall. He looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with dark skin and a square, well-defined face. Beneath thick brows, his medium-sized eyes shone with piercing light. One look at his features told me he was a man of iron will.
Kneeling on the left was a plump woman in gaudy clothing. Judging by her voice, she was likely in her thirties or forties. She cried out "Your Honor" first, then said aggrievedly, "This lowly woman is an honest, law-abiding merchant. The Hongyan Pavilion has been a reputable establishment in Zhongjing for over ten years. How could I possibly do something so devoid of conscience?"
An old man on the right immediately collapsed onto the ground, wailing loudly.
*Crack!* Another strike of the gavel, and the wailing old man involuntarily fell silent. The official continued questioning the plump woman: "The workers at the Xifu Pavilion across the street can testify that they saw the scholar Li Liang enter the Hongyan Pavilion and never come out again."
The plump woman wailed, "Your Honor! They are my bitter rivals! Besides, can they really keep their eyes glued to my door without blinking, watching every guest who comes and goes?"
The crowd immediately erupted into a low buzz of whispers. I sighed inwardly; this witness testimony was indeed not very convincing.
The official struck the gavel several more times before saying, "Bring the witness to the stand."
A thin, small old man was brought up by two bailiffs. He knelt to pay his respects to the official and then spoke articulately: "Reporting to Your Honor, Madam Yan of the Hongyan Pavilion did indeed come to my pharmacy last month to buy two packets of Xurong Grass. She said there were too many rats in her house."
Before the official could speak, Madam Yan began howling loudly, "Xurong Grass grows in the river ditches outside the city! If I had intended to use it to harm someone, why would I go out of my way to buy it at a pharmacy? Would I deliberately leave a witness against myself?"
This statement sent another wave of murmurs through the crowd.
I had gathered the gist of the situation. The Hongyan Pavilion was a brothel; Madam Yan was the madam; the deceased, Li Liang, was a patron; and the old man wailing in court was Li Liang's servant.
The case wasn't actually that complicated. Even using one's feet to think, it was obvious Li Liang didn't go to the Hongyan Pavilion to see the madam. The girl he went to see should be the biggest point of suspicion, yet the official hadn't called her to court. Had he lost his mind? Or was there some other hidden story?
Just as I was lost in thought, the crowd below suddenly turned into a chaotic mess for some unknown reason. People were rushing in, others were rushing out, everyone was screaming for their parents—it turned into a complete scramble. The people in our tree were the same, some climbing higher, others jumping down. Minzhi was likely scared now; one hand gripped me tightly while the other clung to a branch. His handsome little face was taut and bloodless. Dahei and Xiaohei, however, having spent years roaming the streets, were grinning, unbothered by the chaos.
Stealing a glance at the court, I saw the bailiffs protecting the official and the suspects as they retreated into the inner courtyard. A few thugs who had led the charge began smashing things. The few decorations in the hall were reduced to a pile of trash in moments. At this, even I couldn't help but gasp: a minor case had actually escalated into a riot... This Hongyan Pavilion was clearly no simple place.
We ended up falling out of the tree after all, though not voluntarily—we were pushed.
Dahei jumped first, and I landed on top of him, bruising my leg. A large bump swelled on Minzhi's forehead, and Xiaohei had scraped his arm somewhere; he was covered in blood, which smeared all over his clothes.
We had intended to sneak through the back door to our rooms to wash and change, but we ran straight into Baofu the moment we entered. The old fellow ignored our desperate pleas entirely. With a stony face, he hauled us all to Father Ji's study.
Father Ji was reading. When he saw us enter, he only gave an imperceptible frown. Then, he slowly and methodically set down his book.
"Uncle Bao, I leave Dahei and Xiaohei to your disposal," Father Ji said calmly. "Minzhi, go to Uncle Bao's room to receive twenty strokes of the board. You are grounded for one month."
Minzhi’s dejected look made me want to laugh, but then I felt Father Ji’s gaze fall on me. He seemed to sigh softly, then said tonelessly, "Chao'er, come with me."
I followed him with my head hanging low. We left the study, crossed the garden, and strolled all the way up the rockery. Father Ji sat down facing the setting sun and patted the spot beside him. "Come, sit."
I sat down cautiously beside him. This was the first time I had been alone with him, and having just made a mistake, I was feeling rather nervous.
Where we sat was the highest point in the manor. From here, we could see the pond filled with water lilies below the rockery and most of the back garden. The crimson sunset fell warmly upon us, making everything before our eyes seem incredibly peaceful.
Father Ji plucked a blade of grass and chewed it slowly, speaking in a measured tone. "Chao'er, you know that I don't restrain you as strictly as other fathers do."
I hummed in agreement, thinking that was certainly true.
"I am willing to let you interact with the outside world, and I encourage you and Xiu'er to read and write just like the boys." His tone suddenly shifted, becoming stern. "However, that does not mean I permit you to go out and stir up trouble."
I defended myself in a small voice, "We didn't stir up trouble."
Father Ji sighed. "To do something without considering its potential danger is not clever. To do it even after considering the danger is not rational."
I blinked, involuntarily looking up at him. Father Ji’s eyes sparkled with a brilliant light in the sunset. "Did you ask yourself: if something unexpected happened while you were watching the spectacle in such a chaotic place, what would you do?" He looked at me seriously. "Did you think you were safe just because your brother and two companions were with you?"
I was stunned into silence. This Father Ji was truly beyond my expectations.
A hint of a smile seemed to flash in his eyes. "Chao'er, you must remember: taking risks is never the mark of a clever person."
I leaned my head against Father Ji’s arm, feeling an immense sense of admiration.
Father Ji’s hand gently stroked my braid. "Did you go to see the Ministry of Justice trial today?"
I nodded. "You knew?"
Father Ji laughed. "The Vice Minister of Justice, Luo Jin, is a fellow graduate from my exam year. We just met yesterday; how could I not know?"
My heart stirred. "Could I... could I meet Lord Luo?"
Father Ji chuckled. "Chao'er used to be set on becoming a hero of the greenwood; are you now setting your sights on the Ministry of Justice?"
I was overjoyed. "So you agree?"
Father Ji warned me seriously, "On the condition that you do not cause trouble, do not play pranks on Uncle Luo, do not..."
I couldn't help but bury my head in his chest. There was a scent about my father that made one feel at peace, as if even if the sky fell, there would be nothing to fear while hidden in his arms.
I said from the bottom of my heart, "Thank you, Dad."
Father Ji laughed again.
***
