A cargo ship was ablaze on the Huan River.
A ship catching fire was no small matter. Had it not occurred in the predawn hours, the authorities would likely have arrived much sooner.
By the time Magistrate Fan reached the pier with his men, the flames on the cargo ship had been extinguished. However, thick black smoke still billowed from the lower decks, standing out starkly against the pale grey of the eastern sky.
Early-rising merchants and vendors had already gathered on the shore to watch, but they were quickly driven back into the alleys by several bailiffs. The peddlers huddled together, whispering in low voices, their eyes constantly drifting back toward the river.
Of the Su family’s five cargo ships, two were currently surrounded at the widest point of the river. The remaining three had been intercepted downstream at the city gates before they could pass through, awaiting inspection. Two fast boats, flying the Green Fish Pennants of the Longshu Commandery Governor, were flanked on either side of the charred vessel. The men aboard were the water guards stationed in Jiugao City. They held the cargo ship fast with long boat hooks before deftly deploying wooden ladders against its hull, lashing the vessels together.
Lu Zican was the first to board. Magistrate Fan followed half a step behind, his feet stumbling in his haste, sweat pouring down his face. He had only received the report at dawn and had rushed out of his manor so frantically that he had even put on mismatched boots. He feared that if he arrived late, not only would the credit for extinguishing the fire and solving the case go to that young brat from the Qiu family, but he might also be branded as incompetent in his governance.
Of course, he was late regardless. By the time he led his men onto the deck, Qiu Ling and several young officers had already boarded from the other side, standing in formation.
There was a brief, heavy silence in the air. Magistrate Fan stood on his tiptoes, peering over the broad shoulders of the young Commander. He saw a woman dressed in snow-white silk, cradling a white marten, sitting regally in the only chair on the deck. She watched the crowd surging aboard with an expressionless face. This was the eldest miss of the Su family, Su Muzhi. Standing behind her with an arrogant, self-important air was the Su manor’s manager, Guo Rengui.
Su Muzhi lived up to her name; she possessed an indescribable air of nobility. This nobility, contrasted with the shrill cries of the beast in her arms, took on a certain domineering quality. She was like a brilliant flower blooming upon a cliffside, its toxicity uncertain. Even before she spoke, she appeared far more formidable than the Su Muhe who had barged into the county yamen days prior.
But Magistrate Fan prided himself on his years of experience in the city. How could he let a mere slip of a girl overshadow him? His previous leniency had been out of respect for the Su family’s reputation, but seeing that the opponent was just a woman and that Su Lin himself was absent, he puffed out his belly and stepped forward. He intended to play the mediator while asserting his own authority, but Su Muzhi seemed to anticipate his move and spoke first.
“What is the meaning of this, Magistrate Fan? Do you find the mountain lingzhi and snow ginseng I sent to your manor last month to be of insufficient age? Or perhaps you feel the return gifts my father gave you a few days ago were not generous enough?”
Facing this aggressive crowd, the woman showed not a hint of fear. Instead, her words carried a natural, commanding weight. This was not the temperament of a sheltered young lady, but a sharp edge honed through years of cutthroat business dealings.
With a single sentence, she had publicly exposed Magistrate Fan’s history of taking bribes, instantly striking his Achilles' heel.
Magistrate Fan never expected her to discard all civility and turn on him so directly. His temper flared, and all his prepared pleasantries were tossed to the wind.
“You... you bold woman! How dare you spout such slanderous nonsense in the face of disaster! You violated the Huan River navigation laws by sailing during the curfew, dispatched five cargo ships overnight, and nearly caused a fire that would have devastated both banks. Do you have any idea of the gravity of your crimes?!”
Su Muzhi was clearly prepared. Her face remained as calm as still water.
“If I recall correctly, the curfew ended the night before last. Even if the city is under martial law, the scrutiny should be on those acting suspiciously. I left the manor around the hour of the Ox and have remained peacefully on this ship ever since. These five cargo ships of the Su family have all paid their taxes according to regulation and possess the necessary transit permits. Navigating the city’s waterways is a matter of routine. May I ask, Magistrate Fan, what is improper about spending the night on one’s own ship? What is improper about sailing in the middle of the night? There are many in Jiugao City who make their living on the water; are they all forbidden from staying on their boats?”
Su Muzhi’s words were not only logically sound but also completely overwhelmed Magistrate Fan in terms of momentum.
No one expected that after such a massive disturbance, she could still defend herself with such clarity and righteousness. Su Muzhi was truly the next head of the Su family, having inherited every bit of Su Lin’s legacy.
The deck fell silent. The crowd that had arrived with such aggression now found themselves hesitant to speak.
A moment later, a cold male voice finally rang out.
“Since there is nothing improper, then Commander Qiu’s routine inspection of the ship should be something Miss Su can understand.”
Su Muzhi turned to look at the young Commander in black armor, her face finally showing a flicker of impatience.
Over the years, she had dealt with many officials like Fan Tong, accustomed to seeing greedy, stern faces turn into drinking companions in the blink of an eye. When had she ever encountered such an unfeeling, impenetrable block of wood? Su Muzhi rose from her sandalwood chair, immediately making her stance clear.
“Does the Commander think my Su family is like those common fishmongers, to be searched and poked at whenever you please? We have done nothing to violate imperial law or evade taxes. The fire has been extinguished. By mobilizing such a force to surround my ships, does the Commander have a specific charge to name, or evidence to present?”
As Su Muzhi’s words landed, the scent of gunpowder that had been brewing in the shadows instantly intensified.
Magistrate Fan, having lost the previous round, decided to stay his hand for now. He saw that Su Muzhi was putting up a desperate resistance, which convinced him that there must be something hidden on this ship. He had been right to follow. The Su family had shifted from someone to be flattered to a prize to be claimed for merit. Since the top credit would be hard to snatch, he might as well watch from the sidelines and reap the benefits later. After all, Qiu Ling was a tough nut to crack; he wouldn't let the Su family off easily.
Indeed, the young Commander standing at the front showed no sign of retreating. If anything, his gaze grew even firmer.
He understood the situation perfectly. It was a routine inspection; if the Su family were smart, they wouldn't resist. They could have even turned it into a favor owed. To react this way instead...
Unless the ship truly could not be searched.
“Miss Su, acting in this manner constitutes obstructing official business. By law, you should be taken to the prefectural yamen for interrogation.”
Su Muzhi laughed, but her fingers, which had been resting lightly on the white marten, suddenly clenched. The startled creature shrieked and leaped away.
“And if you find nothing, what then?”
“Then I shall visit your manor another day to personally apologize to Master Su.”
The young Commander stopped looking at the woman and signaled his men to begin the search.
The well-trained soldiers, led by Lu Zican, fanned out across the cargo ship. They easily broke through the defensive lines formed by the sailors and servants like a flood. They brushed past Su Muzhi, leaving her unable to hide the humiliation and resentment on her face.
She was the master of this ship. She was the one steering the Su family through these turbulent times. She was the one leading the Su manor toward a greater future.
And yet, this eldest son of the Qiu family—who had appeared out of nowhere and was supposed to be joined to her family by marriage—was humiliating her in front of everyone. If she did not settle this debt today, how could she continue to conduct business in the world?
The fire of rage burned hotter in Su Muzhi’s heart, even as her expression grew colder.
The search lasted for the duration of an incense stick. During that time, everyone else remained on deck in a standoff with the Su family. Su Muzhi stood before her chair, even taking a sip of fresh tea handed to her by Guo Rengui, until the bearded lieutenant returned to the deck with a grim expression to report.
“Reporting to the Commander, we have searched the lower decks and all rooms on the main deck. Only the small cabin next to the pilothouse is locked and has not been inspected...”
Lu Zican’s voice trailed off, hardly daring to look at his Commander’s face.
Su Muzhi slammed her teacup back onto the tray in Guo Rengui’s hands.
“Did the Commander come with high hopes only to return disappointed?”
Qiu Ling ignored her sarcasm entirely. His hawk-like eyes slowly and deliberately scanned every inch of the deck, refusing to miss a single detail.
“Why is the cabin next to the pilothouse locked? Miss Su, please enlighten us.”
Su Muzhi scoffed inwardly and gave Guo Rengui a look. The manager understood immediately and took a brass key from his waist.
“The Commander and our Su family were meant to be joined by marriage. We are practically family; why must we act in a way that hurts our relations? Since tonight’s trouble began because of the fire, why don't I hand over the thief and arsonist who harbored such malicious intent to the authorities? That should serve as an explanation for both you and Magistrate Fan. What do you say?”
Before her voice had even faded, Guo Rengui had unlocked the room. Two servants then dragged out a woman whose hands were bound behind her back and whose mouth was stuffed with cloth.
The woman was very small in stature, practically being carried forward. Despite her dire situation, her small face, stained with soot, darted around incessantly. Her bright eyes shone with a vigorous will to survive, showing none of the submissiveness expected of a prisoner.
Having been suddenly released from the dark, cramped room, Qin Jiuye’s eyes struggled to adjust to the flickering torchlight. However, she desperately searched the crowd for a familiar figure. Finally, her eyes met those of the young Commander. Her heart leaped with joy; Old Tang had pulled through and led the men here. The stage was set. Her mission as the "shrimp" was over; now it was up to the players to reach the conclusion she hoped for.
But then she noticed the expression on Su Muzhi’s face and sensed the atmosphere on the deck. Her heart, which had just settled, rose into her throat again.
*From the looks of it, they found nothing? How is that possible? Is this Lord of Severed Jade actually going easy on them? Or did something happen that I didn't anticipate...*
Qin Jiuye was consumed by anxiety. She saw Su Muzhi looking straight ahead, her gold-dusted nails shimmering under the torches as she spoke with ringing authority.
“After the fire broke out, my sailors found this person emerging suspiciously from the bottom of the hold. Upon questioning, we discovered she is the very suspect Magistrate Fan interrogated previously. First, she was heavily involved in the Kang Renshou case, and then she repeatedly used underhanded tricks. Today, she actually followed me and sneaked onto the Su family cargo ship. When her attempt to steal medicinal herbs failed, she set fire to the ship. Had my manager not discovered her in time, the Su family would have suffered another undeserved calamity.”
*Undeserved calamity? Who is the one suffering here?!*
Qin Jiuye was furious, let out muffled cries of protest.
She suddenly understood why Su Lin, despite favoring his useless son, relied so heavily on Su Muzhi. This woman was a carbon copy of her father—haughty, ruthless, and incredibly thick-skinned when it came to twisting the truth.
In Su Muzhi’s mouth, she didn't even have a name; she was just a lowly suspect trying to "harm" the Su family. But of those accusations, which one besides the very first was true? It was a vicious case of calling a stag a horse. Even if the murder charge didn't stick, this charge of theft and arson was enough to send her to hard labor.
And not just her—Old Qin, Jinbao, and the others would likely not escape either.
Qin Jiuye let out a desperate, angry cry, but because of the cloth in her mouth, she sounded like a frustrated duck. After a few muffled squawks, she was forced down by several strong servants.
“Miss Su says this person intended to steal medicinal herbs. May I ask where those stolen herbs are now?”
Qiu Ling spoke. His tone was still cold, but to Qin Jiuye, it felt like a spring breeze scattering the chill in her heart, instantly reigniting her hope.
Others might not know, but she did. This stubborn Lord of Severed Jade valued evidence above all else when handling a case and would never overlook a single discrepancy. She had been unlucky enough to be locked in the Listening Wind Hall for so long; now it was finally someone else’s turn to suffer.
Seeing him oppose her again, Su Muzhi’s expression darkened further.
“Once she realized she had been discovered, she naturally threw everything into the river. Does the Commander expect me to fish them out one by one for you?”
The young Commander remained unmoved, pressing further.
“Then may I ask Miss Su, what kind of herbs did she steal? And from where were they taken?”
Su Muzhi fell silent.
Qiu Ling finally stepped toward the center of the deck. He walked slowly, each step thumping heavily against the wooden planks like the beat of a war drum.
“I found it strange earlier. You said this ship was transporting precious medicinal herbs, yet my men searched the entire vessel and found nothing but a few wooden crates and some straw. I was unaware that merchant ships had become so leisurely as to sail with mostly empty holds, using only a few crates as ballast.” He stopped abruptly and looked up at Su Muzhi. “Or perhaps Miss Su has a clever method of hiding the most precious items where we cannot see them, and is currently laughing at our expense?”
Qiu Ling’s words not only pierced through to the heart of tonight’s confrontation but also enlightened Qin Jiuye.
At first, she had thought she was on an empty ship because, although she had entered the lower hold, she had found nothing but crates and straw. Thinking back carefully now, something felt wrong.
Though she wasn't a martial artist, she had seen the fight in the hold clearly. When Xin Yu fought Li Qiao, she was able to escape repeatedly because the space was cramped, putting Li Qiao’s wide-ranging techniques at a disadvantage. But when she had sneaked onto this ship from Yinma Shoal, she hadn't felt that it was a particularly small cargo ship. Even the deck was longer than that of a typical vessel.
There was another possibility: the ship’s lower hold had vertical bulkheads, and there must be another space behind those bulkheads.
Even if it was to deceive the eye, why pile straw specifically at the stern? Why were the horses tied to the stern deck so restless? And those sailors who kept heading toward the stern...
Qin Jiuye’s eyes widened as a realization dawned on her.
With the cloth in her mouth and her body pinned down, she tried her best to turn her head, signaling the young Commander to investigate the stern. The servant behind her, seeing her "tossing and turning," shoved her head down again, so she could only roll her eyes frantically.
Just as her eyes were about to cramp and she felt like she might spit blood, Qiu Ling finally spoke.
“Zican, clear the horses and the straw from the stern.”
Lu Zican took the order. Ignoring Su Muzhi’s grim face, he led two soldiers toward the stern. The rest of the people on the deck instinctively gathered toward the back of the ship.
Bales of straw were moved away. At first glance, that section of the deck seemed normal, but upon closer inspection, one could see that the color of several planks differed slightly from the surroundings. It looked like a trapdoor. A commotion broke out among the onlookers.
Magistrate Fan, having watched the show for so long, finally found an opening. He asked with feigned authority, “Miss Su, what is beneath this?”
The Su family sailors and servants, who had been composed just moments ago, now looked uneasy. They seemed to huddle closer together, or perhaps they were simply unsettled by the turn of events.
Su Muzhi swept them with a single glance, and the sailors instantly regained their composure. She then looked at Magistrate Fan and spoke slowly.
“Magistrate Fan does not understand shipping matters, so I shall enlighten you. That is a watertight compartment. Normally, no one enters or exits it, and it must not be opened lightly. The precious herbs the Su family transports—whether they be mountain ginseng, rare lingzhi, snow grass, or elixirs—must be sealed to prevent pests and moisture. A single touch of dampness would ruin them. These watertight compartments serve first to mitigate the risks of sailing, and second to seal out moisture. Once opened, the ship must return to the pier for repairs, taking anywhere from several days to half a month. Will you all be responsible for the losses incurred during that time?”
Qiu Ling watched Su Muzhi quietly, as if he hadn't understood the implication of her words.
“I noticed earlier that the port side of this ship is damaged. If what Miss Su says is true, the cargo is already at risk of exposure. This ship is unfit to sail and should have been docked for inspection anyway. Miss Su, please open the compartment.”
Seeing this, Magistrate Fan chimed in from the side.
“It is merely a routine inspection. If Miss Su cooperates and we find nothing amiss, we will release the ship immediately. The transport of herbs will not be delayed. But if there is something else... that would be a different story.”
These words were far less forceful than those he had used when first boarding, but Su Muzhi’s attitude became even more arrogant, determined not to yield an inch.
“Has Magistrate Fan gone senile? Matters of the Huan River waterways have always been under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Waterways. Even the Commandery Governor’s manor has no right to interfere without evidence. What crime has the Su family committed? Magistrate Fan and the Commander forced their way aboard and ignored the thief right in front of them. What right do you have now to demand the Su family’s ship be torn apart? The items on this ship are to be delivered directly to the manor of Prince Xiaoning. If anything goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?”
Su Muzhi’s words were a clear attempt to intimidate. After all, who didn't know that Prince Xiaoning, far away in the capital, was a man of unpredictable and eccentric temperament? If this ship truly contained something sensitive for his manor, everyone present would be in trouble.
Previously, although rumors circulated among the city’s elite, the Su family had never loudly proclaimed their backing. By revealing it publicly now, they were burning their bridges and making a desperate stand.
Even Magistrate Fan hadn't expected that the Su and Qiu families, who had been so close due to the impending marriage, would one day reach such a state. But then he thought of the forces behind them and understood.
Standing on this deck were not just the Su and Qiu families, but also the manor of Prince Xiaoning and the manor of the General of the Southern Plains. This wasn't about broken ties or personal grudges; it was a clash of interests.
The two sides were at an impasse; the atmosphere on the ship turned stagnant.
But Qin Jiuye knew that if this continued, Su Muzhi would be the winner.
If she hadn't set the fire, these Su family ships wouldn't have even alerted the Commandery Governor’s men. As it stood, the inspection had already caused a massive stir. If they tore the ship apart and found nothing, given the Su family’s usual way of doing things, not only would today’s matter be impossible to settle, but any future attempts to investigate would be even more difficult. Now, the opponent had even brought up the Prince in the capital to checkmate the game.
The big fish was in the net, but was it worth the risk of the net breaking? Everyone was hesitating.
Qin Jiuye watched blankly, her heart slowly turning cold.
She and the people of Listening Wind Hall had put everything into this final gamble. She had suffered so much and nearly lost her life, only to be one step away from success and watch all their efforts go to waste?
Withdrawing the net and letting the big fish go seemed like a compromise that saved both the net and the fish, but the shrimp would be sacrificed for nothing. What kind of logic was that?
A powerful sense of indignation surged in her heart. And just then, a faint but familiar sound reached her ears.
*Clang. Clang.*
***
### Glossary Table
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
洹河 | Huan River |
龙枢 | Longshu | Name of the commandery.
青鱼幢 | Green Fish Pennant | Official insignia of the Commandery Governor.
九皋 | Jiugao | The city where the story takes place.
苏沐芝 | Su Muzhi | Eldest daughter of the Su family.
郭仁贵 | Guo Rengui | Manager of the Su manor.
孝宁王 | Prince Xiaoning | A powerful royal figure in the capital.
水密舱 | Watertight compartment | A structural feature of the ship; also used as a hidden hold.
都水台 | Directorate of Waterways | Government office managing water transport and infrastructure.
