Once, I Was a Legend | Chapter 56 | The Salt Trade Secret | Novela.app

“Ye Zhao, you’re finally here!” In that moment, Jiang Ziqi felt hot tears welling in his eyes. Ye Zhao gave him a reassuring look, signaling for him to stay calm. Ye Zhao? Upon hearing the name, everyone present recalled his identity. But what was he doing here? The official presiding over the court weighed his words, his tone remaining relatively calm. “What brings you here? This is no place for you.” His meaning was clear: leave now, and he wouldn't pursue the charge of disrupting a court session. However, Ye Zhao had come specifically for this. Why would he leave? He remained composed and asked, “May I ask your surname, Excellency?” The official was displeased and spat out a single word: “Chen.” It was obvious that if Ye Zhao continued to waste time, Chen would have him removed immediately. “Magistrate Chen, I am here to help you solve a major case. Once this case is closed, the credit you receive will be no small matter,” Ye Zhao said with a meaningful smile. Magistrate Chen’s lips twitched into a joyless smirk. He said leisurely, “Then tell me, what major case? A murder?” He was dismissive. Yet, Ye Zhao’s next words nearly made everyone doubt their own ears. Ye Zhao cupped his hands and declared, “There are those in the imperial court lining their own pockets, privately trafficking government salt, and embezzling funds in total defiance of the nation’s laws. I wonder... does that count as a major case?” His voice rose and fell with measured emphasis. When he finished, the courtroom fell into a heavy silence. “W-what? Say that again?” Magistrate Chen instinctively sat upright, his eyes widening as he stared at Ye Zhao in disbelief. Ye Zhao looked up and repeated exactly what he had just said. Once Magistrate Chen processed the words, he let out a sharp shout. “Audacious!” “Impossible!” “You make such claims, but do you have evidence? To speak so recklessly and fabricate such rumors—be careful, or I shall have you punished!” *Don’t think that just because you are so-and-so’s son and have protectors, I can’t do anything to you!* Ye Zhao could clearly read the unspoken threat on the man’s face. His thoughts drifted for a split second before he returned to the matter at hand. “Since I dare to speak, I naturally have proof.” “Oh?” Magistrate Chen was truly paying attention now. “What evidence do you have?” He glanced at Jiang Ziqi standing below, then added, “And why come forward at this exact moment?” Ye Zhao put on an air of helplessness. “It seems I have no choice but to speak the truth. To be honest, Excellency, I came here to clear my friend Jiang Ziqi’s name and restore his innocence. At the same time, I wish to prevent Your Excellency from being deceived by villains and accidentally presiding over a miscarriage of justice.” Ye Zhao concluded firmly, “This is not just a murder case; it is a major case involving high-ranking officials breaking the law!” “As for the evidence, I have it!” Ye Zhao spoke with absolute confidence. He then turned his gaze toward an elderly man who had entered the court with him and was currently huddled in a corner like an ostrich. Seeing everyone’s attention shift to him, the old man couldn't stop trembling. “T-this humble one... greets the Great One!” “This is...” Magistrate Chen looked at the man, frowning in confusion. Ye Zhao smiled calmly. “Excellency, allow me to introduce him. This is the village chief of Xiaofeng Village. That is the very village the deceased, Wang Xin, visited before his death. It was that visit that brought about his fatal misfortune.” “Hmm? What exactly are you trying to say?” Magistrate Chen frowned. “What does this have to do with the salt trafficking you mentioned?” “Please, Excellency, do not be in such a hurry. Before we discuss that, we must start with this murder case.” Having his interest piqued only to be stalled made Magistrate Chen displeased. Though impatient, he suppressed his temper. “Speak!” He wanted to see what kind of tale Ye Zhao could spin. *Isn't he just trying to get his friend off the hook?* Chen thought to himself. Ye Zhao stood his ground, composed and eloquent. “Wang Xin was indeed murdered, but the killer was not Jiang Ziqi. It was someone else. The proof is that Wang Xin did not drown; he was smothered to death!” Ye Zhao’s words sent a shock through the room. He immediately cupped his hands and said, “If Your Excellency does not believe me, simply have Wang Xin’s body brought up. I have a way to prove that my words are true.” “Men! Summon the coroner! Bring Wang Xin’s body as well!” Seeing Ye Zhao’s calm demeanor, Magistrate Chen felt a flicker of uncertainty. He couldn't tell if Ye Zhao was truly confident or just putting on a front. The coroner’s initial report clearly stated it was a drowning. How could the cause of death be questioned now? A moment later, the body was brought in. Upon seeing the coroner, Magistrate Chen couldn't help but ask, “What exactly was the cause of Wang Xin’s death? Was he drowned?” The coroner found the question strange. Hadn't he already reported the results? But since his superior asked, he answered honestly. “Reporting to Your Excellency, Wang Xin indeed died of drowning.” “Ye Zhao!” Magistrate Chen immediately felt he was being played. Ye Zhao showed no panic, still standing firm. “Excellency, please don't be so quick to shout at me. The coroner says it was drowning, and there is a reason he thinks so. However, he is wrong. The true cause of death is exactly as I stated.” “Heh... and what proof do you have?” Magistrate Chen gave a thin, mocking sneer, his gaze unfriendly. Ye Zhao slowly walked over to the body and looked up at the coroner. “You say he drowned. On what basis?” “The deceased has water in his nose and mouth, and there is fine sand in his mouth. This is sufficient proof that the flow of water blocked his airways, causing him to suffocate. If that isn't drowning, what is?” The coroner’s voice carried a hint of resentment. How could anyone question his judgment on something so obvious? Ye Zhao was not provoked. He said slowly, “Based on what you’ve said, it’s understandable why you’d conclude he drowned. But did you know? The lake where Wang Xin fell is exceptionally rich in aquatic weeds along the shore.” His lips curled into a slight smile as he asked curiously, “Don't you find it strange? He has sand in his mouth, yet not a single trace of waterweed?” The hearts of those present skipped a beat. The coroner was startled. Ye Zhao used his fan to slowly lift the white cloth covering the body. His gaze slid from the head down to the abdomen. “A person who drowns has a pale complexion and a bloated body. But look at his face—it is clearly a silvery-gray. His stomach is indeed distended, but that is because he was drinking with someone before he died. His belly is full of wine, not lake water.” He turned his head. “If we were to cut open his throat and lungs to look, I am certain there is no water inside!” “*Hiss—*” Many people gasped, unable to help themselves. The man was already dead, and now he wanted to perform an autopsy? How much hatred must he harbor to suggest such a thing? “Ye Zhao!” Magistrate Chen was also startled by the suggestion and immediately rejected it. “No! You cannot do that!” Ye Zhao asked, “Why not? Does Your Excellency not wish to know the true cause of death?” Facing Ye Zhao’s questioning, Magistrate Chen remained firm. “The dead should be respected. How can we... perform an autopsy on a corpse?” If word got out, he would be cursed to death by the public! “But I have already obtained the consent of the deceased’s relatives. It is said that our bodies, hair, and skin are gifts from our parents. If the parents themselves agree to this, will Magistrate Chen still interfere?” “This...” Magistrate Chen hesitated, his face a mask of conflict. “We, this humble couple, agree with what Young Master Ye says.” Just then, two people stepped out from the crowd of onlookers outside the court. Magistrate Chen confirmed their identities; they were indeed Wang Xin’s parents. They came forward, weeping. “We are willing to listen to Young Master Ye and let him try. We only ask to find the true killer so he may pay with his life! If our son knows this in the underworld, he can die in peace!” Since the victim’s family had spoken, what else could Magistrate Chen say? The body was taken to the back hall for the coroner to verify the claims personally. In the courtroom, Magistrate Chen looked at the man standing calmly below, his expression complex. Only Ye Zhao would dare to do such a thing... He recalled asking the young man earlier, “This act goes against human ethics. Are you sure you want to do this?” He had been warning him, reminding him to reconsider, or else he would surely face a barrage of public condemnation in the future. How had Ye Zhao responded? He had been indifferent, saying, “A person is born like a handful of yellow earth; we bring nothing into this life and take nothing out. After death, there is no consciousness. If I help him find his killer and avenge him, how is that a violation of ethics?” “In that case, I would even dare to dig up someone’s ancestral graves.” ... ...... Upon hearing those words, everyone present looked pale. What else was there to say? This was a reckless rogue who even dared to dig up ancestral graves. There was no need for further words. A short while later, the results came out. It was exactly as Ye Zhao had said. The coroner was filled with shame. Ye Zhao stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Excellency, the result is now clear. The deceased was smothered to death while alive, not drowned. Did Jiang Ziqi explain the events of that night clearly to you?” “Yes. He said someone swapped places with Wang Xin midway. The killer committed the murder, intentionally fell into the lake, and then swapped the killer's body for Wang Xin’s corpse underwater—a classic case of 'substituting the plum for the peach' to frame him.” “Then does Your Excellency have any further doubts? Do you still believe Jiang Ziqi is the killer?” Magistrate Chen had not expected such a seemingly simple murder case to hide so many twists and turns. He massaged his temples, his voice sounding weary. “Then who do you say killed him?” “It could be anyone, but it wasn't Jiang Ziqi. Now, we should discuss the reason Wang Xin was killed.” Ye Zhao smiled, but his next question seemed completely unrelated. “Does Your Excellency remember what I said earlier about the trafficking of government salt?” *Hmm? Weren't we talking about the motive?* Magistrate Chen was momentarily dazed before answering, “Yes... I remember.” At the mention of the issue he cared about most, he regained his focus. Ye Zhao asked, “Do you know what Wang Xin’s daily job was?” Without waiting for an answer, Ye Zhao provided it himself. “He traveled around, looking for interesting news and stories. I wonder if you have read the *Fengyun Newspaper*, which has gained some fame in the capital recently?” “Er...” Magistrate Chen replied, “I have.” Ye Zhao gestured toward Jiang Ziqi. “Humbly speaking, the one running the *Fengyun Newspaper* business is this friend of mine.” “I never expected that this very business would lead to Wang Xin’s death and Jiang Ziqi’s imprisonment.” Magistrate Chen’s brow furrowed deeply. “What do you mean?” “Because before he died, Wang Xin accidentally discovered a great secret.” Ye Zhao pointed at the village chief of Xiaofeng Village, who had been ignored by the crowd. “The secret of government salt trafficking within Xiaofeng Village!” Ye Zhao steadied his breathing and said slowly, “Of course, before this, neither Wang Xin nor Jiang Ziqi realized the truth. They simply thought it was an interesting story that many people in Xiaofeng Village suffered from the same strange disease, yet lived more prosperously than others by selling cured fish and meat.” “But if this story were published in the *Fengyun Newspaper* and seen by countless people, it would inevitably attract the attention of those with keen eyes. Anyone clever would wonder: how could selling cured fish and meat make a whole village so wealthy? Once an investigation began, the secret of Xiaofeng Village could no longer be hidden.” Hearing this, everything became clear. Magistrate Chen gasped, the realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning. “Silencing the witness and killing with a borrowed knife!” What a venomous strategy! They didn't kill Jiang Ziqi directly; instead, they framed him. This was to prevent the authorities from naturally tracing the trail back to Xiaofeng Village. By pinning Wang Xin’s death firmly on Jiang Ziqi, if Jiang Ziqi were executed, could the *Fengyun Newspaper* continue? The answer was obviously no. And thus, the news of Xiaofeng Village would never reach the public! Two birds with one stone, deceiving the heavens to cross the sea. Even Magistrate Chen had to praise the brilliance of the person behind the scenes. Hearing his words, Ye Zhao offered a smiling compliment. “Your Excellency is wise!” Magistrate Chen thought: *No, no, no... I think the wise one is you.* *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 小丰村 | Xiaofeng Village | The village where the illegal salt trade is hidden. 风云报 | Fengyun Newspaper | The publication owned by Jiang Ziqi. 官盐 | Government Salt | Salt produced and sold under state monopoly; private trade was a capital offense. 陈大人 | Magistrate Chen | The official from the Ministry of Justice presiding over the case. 刑部 | Ministry of Justice | One of the Six Ministries, responsible for judicial and penal matters. 惊堂木 | Gavel | A rectangular block of wood used by Chinese officials to strike the bench for order. 身体发肤受之父母 | "Our bodies, hair, and skin are gifts from our parents" | A Confucian tenet emphasizing filial piety and the sanctity of the physical body. 李代桃僵 | Substituting the plum for the peach | A stratagem involving sacrifice or substitution to deceive others. 瞒天过海 | Deceiving the heavens to cross the sea | A stratagem involving achieving an objective through deception and camouflage. 杀人灭口 | Silencing the witness | Literally "killing a person to seal their mouth." 借刀杀人 | Killing with a borrowed knife | To use someone else to do one's dirty work.