Rong Qing's frantic searching suddenly drew to a pause.
He abruptly turned his head around, meeting Yang Yun's gaze. The look in the latter's eyes was calm and serene as if he had expected all this. Yet it seemed like there was nothing within them either, and that everything had been Rong Qing's own illusion.
At that moment, Rong Qing completely understood.
These three paintings might have been work of Huang Lue's, and perhaps Huang Lue did show the intention of siding with them and providing guidance; however, Huang Lue's paintings have been discovered, so the enemy must have lured Cui Buqu and the others away on one side, while plotting a trap for Rong Qing on the other, masquerading as Huang Lue to deliver a secret message. The enemy knew that Rong Qing would most definitely come to the meeting because Huang Lue is the most important character of this case. Wouldn't those clues be attractive? Rong Qing could never ignore a temptation such as this.
Then, Rong Qing heard Yang Yun asking that azure-coloured robe servant.
"Are you the one who let Imperial Censor Rong in?"
The servant lowered his head, his expression not visible: "Yes, Imperial Censor Rong said he has something important to discuss with the master. After this humble servant had informed the master, Imperial Censor Rong was let in."
Yang Yun asked again: "What did they discuss?"
The servant said: "This humble servant doesn't know. This humble servant was standing guard outside on orders, only to hear that a fight rose between both of them and became all the more vigorous. The master shouted, "I am a subject of the Imperial Court, every action of mine will have testimonies of the law, and not to let you do as you please". After that, the ink slab was flipped, and so were the tables and chairs. This humble servant realized something wasn't right, couldn't call the others in time, so ran inside to push the doors open, yet saw…"
His voice was trembling with fear as if he really did hear these series of noises outside. Rong Qing snorted coldly twice, no longer interested in defending himself.
Because he knew that regardless of what he said, this crime of murdering Huang Lue would definitely be clasped onto him.
This was a theatre staged since the beginning; whether Rong Qing was a part of it or not did not matter, this theatre would surely be able to carry on.
"What did you see?" Yang Yun asked as if he hadn't heard Rong Qing laughing coldly, and neither did the other big and small officials.
Rong Qing cast Li Yan a look; the other did not raise his head to look into his direction.
How did he conclude that this Assistant County Magistrate was a good person to begin with?
From the beginning, Huang Lue was the only one that could be bought over.
So it was a pity that Huang Lue was already dead.
Because dead men tell no tales.
"This humble servant saw Lord Huang fallen on the ground. Imperial Censor Rong was holding a dagger in his hand. When he saw me opening the door, he ran forward. This humble servant was so shocked that he quickly left in a panic, locking the windows and doors from the inside before calling out to the others. After that, all your Lordships were alerted."
The azure-robed servant put everything in a logically arranged manner, laying out the causes and effects clearly. In due time, he would be quite an intelligent and formidable subordinate. If Rong Qing hadn't been the one being pressed charge to, he would have wanted this servant for himself.
As things have progressed, Rong Qing no longer has a reason to take out that secret letter.
However, he still carried a sliver of hope, and so he took the letter out of his bosom to put it onto the table.
"This is the letter Huang Lue gave to me. He drew me three paintings to warn me that the rations of Guangqian County had been distributed to anonymous sources, that someone had embezzled it. So, many victims were not saved. The corrupt did not only embezzle the rations, but they have also refused to spare the victims. In order to totally annihilate any future troubles and to avoid the Imperial Court from looking into the matter, he would rather go big or go home, and so he silenced all the victims outside the city. I have already dug out a lot of corpses from beneath the tree. Yang Yun, what do you have to say?"
Yang Yun spread the letter and took a look at it.
"Imperial Censor Rong, although I really want to believe your words, I cannot refrain from saying: I have seen County Magistrate Huang's penmanship, and this is not his."
When Rong Qing listened to this, he no longer felt surprised.
If the other knew Huang Lue had delivered three paintings, decided to cast the line longer on purpose to fish for the biggest fish and deliver a secret letter, then this all made sense.
As to the same style of leaves and mountains at the end of the letter, it was very possible that the murderer forced Huang Lue to draw it on before he killed him. Only in this way can it lift Rong Qing's final concern.
Rong Qing cannot refrain from admitting that when he was before a sly old fox like Yang Yun, before an iron fortress like Guangqian County, he had finally ran his head into the wall until it cracked and bled.
"Yang Yun, feeling cocky aren't you? The moment I came here, you were like an old hunter, quiet and soundless, waiting for the prey to jump into the trap on his own."
"Imperial Censor Rong, your words are all over the place, and I have ceased to understand it." Yang Yun sighed, giving Rong Qing a pitiful expression, "Additionally, I know not of the corpses you speak. Li Yan, Wu Yi, do you people know what these matters are?"
Hearing his own name, Li Yan finally took a step forward, put his hands together and said: "Those corpses and bones belonged to victims who had died from the plague. To avoid an infestation, the County Magistrate had given orders to gather them all and bury them. During that time, the flood invaded and everything was put into a hurry, so they could only be hastily taken care of."
"I see." Yang Yun nodded his head, turning towards Rong Qing, "So, Imperial Censor Rong, why did you kill County Magistrate Huang Lue?"
Rong Qing laughed loudly and asked instead: "Say it yourself, why would I want to kill Huang Lue?"
Yang Yun's expression was unchanged: "Huang Lue is dead. Only you would know the causes behind it. Although you are the Imperial Envoy, you would be similarly guilty for killing an Imperial Official. If you refuse to speak the reason, then I can only retain you temporarily and wait for the imperial edict before executing punishment."
"He who has a mind to beat his dog will easily find a stick1!" Rong Qing pointed at Yang Yun brusque with a harsh look, "Do you dare to go to the capital with me and debate before the Emperor?!"
Yang Yun shook his head: "As an Imperial Censor, you knowingly violated the law and killed a County Magistrate yet refused to repent. Seize him!"
He raised his hand slightly, and from his left and right people moved, pressing Rong Qing down.
"Let me go! I am the Imperial Censor; do you people intend to defy your superiors and start a rebellion?!"
Rong Qing knew that he cannot give in. Once he was caught today, tomorrow he could be executed soundlessly for any form of reason in the prison. There might even be a file charge with his very own signature and seal on the Emperor's desk. Even if other Imperial Censors are to come here in the future to help him reopen his case, he'd only have one life and cannot be resurrected. To him, this would already be too late!
He struggled with all his might, hollering and yelling with the intention to sway these constables.
However, very quickly he grew disappointed. These people would not bulge, obeying Yang Yun and being on his beck and call. They cared nothing for what Rong Qing said.
Li Yan, Wu Yi, and the others pretended that they have heard and seen nothing, hearing him but paying no heed.
"Release me! Release me!"
Even if Rong Qing tried all he could to root himself to the ground, he was still dragged outside against his will.
Could it be that even before he could prove himself, his life will be forsaken here?
Walking until the bitter end, disappointment turned to despair; Rong Qing felt inexplicable grief and anger.
"Who dares to touch him?"
An unfamiliar yet familiar voice resounded from outside the door as if the holy voice of nature had descended from thin air.
Rong Qing violently turned his head!
His strength was immense, practically snapping his neck. Yet, he didn't care, pinning his gaze towards the outside.
Everyone else followed the voice and looked, stunned as if they had never thought that even at this time, someone would show up willingly be a guarantor for Imperial Censor Rong who has committed murder.
Outside the door, someone showed up.
As he finished speaking, he hadn't stopped walking, moving forward in huge steps towards everyone else.
His cloak fluttered behind him as he strode, leaving behind a cold chill.
He bore a sickly countenance and stood alone, yet it felt as if there were thousands of troops and horses behind him, to the point that there were soldiers at his left and right awed by his aura and couldn't refrain from taking two steps back, opening up a path for him.
"Master Cui!"
Rong Qing's feelings had become agitated, as his eyes were filled with hot tears.
He had never before been so thankful for Cui Buqu's appearance. In Rong Qing's eyes, Cui Buqu's figure had become unsurpassably gigantic.
Behold a high mountain in awe, where all scenery had stopped2.
Yet the others did not share in his sentiment.
Wu Yi, who was worrying over the fact that he had not proven himself in front of the Governor, took a step forward when he watched the scene, standing in the way of the exit.
"From where did this rebel come from? You…"
"It is me. Cui Buqu." Cui Buqu rebuked with an even louder voice, refusing to allow the other to finish his words. He fished out a wooden token of authority and cast it at Yang Yun.
Yang Yun dodged it, and so the token hit Li Yan's shank.
It hurt.
Li Yan groaned, his face twisting, wanting to stomp on that accursed token. However, Cui Buqu's next words stopped this thought of his.
"Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, to be regarded as similar to the Six Ministries, additionally, with the authority to execute an action before a permit." Cui Buqu surveyed his surroundings, an impatient and domineering aura written on his face. "To put it simply, I am superior to Yang Yun's title as an official, understood?"
Li Yan and Wu Yi exchanged glances before the latter stepped out to question him: "Among the three Departments and Six Ministries, why have I never heard of the Zuoyue Bureau?"
Cui Buqu laughed coldly: "You haven't, but Yang Yun definitely has. As the Governor of a Prefecture, as well as a relative of the Royal Family, Yang Yun, will you dare say you haven't heard of the Zuoyue Bureau?"
Yang Yun said slowly: "Are you not Imperial Censor Rong's aide, Master Cui? Since when have you turned into the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau? Rong Qing dared to kill even an official of the Imperial Court; how would I know whether or not you are fake?"
Cui Buqu: "Ever since we came here, haven't you refused to show yourself? How would you be able to tell, with a single look, that I am Rong Qing's aide? Could it be that Governor Yang had known everything like the back of his hand, but still he refused to show himself, so he may wait for the prey to leap into the trap on its own?"
This person was truly as the rumours made him out to be: difficult to deal with.
One especially cannot spar with him in matters of the tongue.
Yang Yun thought: A face deep like water, an aura as superior as the height of mountains, steadfastly standing his own ground.
"Regardless of how you elaborate on the account, Rong Qing remains the murderer of Huang Lue…"
"A suspect!" Cui Buqu cut him off again, "Before the Three Judicial Divisions find Rong Qing guilty, he cannot be called the murderer! I have already sent someone on horseback to deliver an edict to the Emperor. An answer will come within a few days. Before that, Governor Yang cannot retain him for any sort of reason!"
Yang Yun snickered coldly: "What a coincidence. Before I came, I have also delivered an edict to the Emperor, telling him of Rong Qing's doings while he carried the identity of an Imperial Censor: vilifying a colleague, inferring in the relieving of the calamity, and even wished to forcibly share it out among the people with the intention of raising a riot and ten other similar violations of the law!"
Rong Qing said angrily: "Keep letting those words spill out of your ass!"
Yang Yun did not pay him any attention, glaring at Cui Buqu with both his eyes.
"A life that belonged to Huang Lue lays here. As an official of the people of Guangqian, I cannot sit here idly and not take it into regard. Before the superiors order it, crimes committed by all classes of people will be similarly punished. Rong Qing must be imprisoned! If after the investigation it is proven that he is indeed not Huang Lue's murderer, I will ask for punishment for my erros in front of His Majesty myself!"
Cui Buqu refused to take a step back: "I have already brought in the nearest Zuoyue guards to this area, and they will arrive very quickly. His Majesty allowed Rong Qing and I to embark on this expedition so that this matter will be handled by me. It's not necessary for Governor Yang to bother himself with it."
Yang Yun squinted his eyes.
Even if the people around them were obtuse, at this moment they could already see the contrast between the two of them. The senior and junior officials all looked at them in awe, as quiet as mutes, and dared not even breath.
Even though Rong Qing was from the Censorate, he had just come out of the thatched cottage; impulsive and quick to be driven into anger, did not even pose a threat.
As the saying goes: When the gods fight, the people suffer; no one would be willing to be the fish in the pond that got involved, and so they waited until a victor and loser were decided among the gods, before the common mortals would once again come out and watch the crowd.
"Three days." Yang Yun finally said slowly, "I can only give you three days. After three days, no matter what, I want Rong Qing to be arrested and questioned. When the time comes, you and I will just demonstrate our own prowess in front of His Majesty!"
Cui Buqu glared at him for a moment. "Alright."
Yang Yun laughed, putting his hands together: "The inability to attend to Master Cui since he came to this place is our own fault. I ask for your understanding."
Cui Buqu said in disinterest: "Ignorance can be forgiven; Governor Yang has taken it too seriously. Please take care of County Magistrate Huang's corpse. I will order people to investigate the truth of his death."
Yang Yun: "Naturally, it will be done. This matter is enshrouded by mysteries, perhaps even strange. It is true that the truth must be uncovered."
As two old foxes came and went, the anxious aura radiating around them both gradually wore thin. The bystanders couldn't help letting out a long breath of relief.
Rong Qing's heart that had been suspended for a while could also temporarily relax.
Listening to how Huang Lue's corpse will be taken care of, he wanted to speak but said nothing, as if there was something he wished to say, but in the end, he refrained.
If Cui Buqu could hear his thoughts, he would have felt that he was finally a little bit smarter.
Yang Yun didn't remain for long, he brought his people and left quickly, returning a quiet posthouse to Cui Buqu and the others.
Rong Qing let out a breath of relief, and just as he wanted to say something, Cui Buqu spat out a mouthful of blood, dyeing his front in red.
"Master Cui!"
Rong Qing's face paled, immediately climbing over to help Cui Buqu who had fallen down, taking up half of his weight.
Only now he knew that the front Cui Buqu had put up just now was all forcibly acted out.
However, this was difficult to lay blame to. Just now, Yang Yun was stunned by this exact act. If he knew that Cui Buqu was just faking it, let alone three days, he would have immediately tossed both of them into the prison, striking first to gain the upper hand.
Cui Buqu said nothing, he only glared at him.
Rong Qing knew he was guilty at heart, he dared not spill nonsense and told him everything.
"I know I am in the wrong, Master Cui. I haven't listened to your warnings and took action on my own, so this is my comeuppance. Presently, I dare not act impulsively any longer. Everything will go as you say!" Rong Qing confessed honestly, gritting his teeth, "Everything is surely the work of Yang Yun! Huang Lue is also murdered by him!"
If Cui Buqu still had his strength now, he would most certainly take Rong Qing's head and slap it a few dozen times before speaking. However, at present, Cui Buqu had no strength to scold him. He could only be thrift with his strength and squander it on more useful matters.
"We were ambushed in Qixia Villa. Qiao Xian and Guan Shanhai have both been injured. I only managed to escape through their protection."
Rong Qing's heart skipped a beat as he listened: "That proves that Yang Yun knew every step we took. Could it be that near us there is…"
Cui Buqu shook his head, his voice sinking low: "At this pressing moment, we should bring Qiao Xian and the others back as quickly as possible. They have been secured in a cave by me without water or aid. It's difficult not to guarantee that the enemy will find their way there!"
"I will go with you, taking Xiao-Liu along. He's powerful and could be of use!" Rong Qing nodded his head, before asking in confusion, "Just now, you managed to suppress Yang Yun purely by your aura, why not take Huang Lue's corpse as well? He will most certainly do something to it!"
Cui Buqu: "This is their territory. Even if I retained the corpse, they would still find ways to do something. Additionally, they would patch all the holes and leave no traces. There is no need to hold on to any hope that anything could be found on the corpse."
Rong Qing remained silent for a moment: "You spoke about submitting an edict to the Emperor and moving nearby manpower; I suppose they are lies meant for Yang Yun?"
Cui Buqu closed his eyes and nodded his head: "Only in this way he wouldn't dare act rashly and we could buy more time."
In this game of chess, they have lost their advantage. It was as if the enemy could foretell the next steps they were about to take and block their every path, forcing them to a dead end.
Cui Buqu was very certain that he saw clearly the thick intention to kill in Yang Yun's gaze just now.
If not for the enemy's inability to determine whether there were Zuoyue guards waiting outside of Guangqian County for orders, they would have already acted.
Ambushes were laid on all sides, and their enemies stood in all four directions; it gave one a feeling of helplessness as if they punched a bed of cotton with a fist.
Perhaps this wasn't the worst situation he's found himself in, but it was definitely against an enemy who knew him best.
Cui Buqu ordered Xiao-Liu to help himself apply some medicine and change his clothes. Only now Rong Qing knew that Cui Buqu even sustained a stab wound to his chest by a sword. Thankfully, it was only the skin that was pierced, and not anything deeper. However, it still bled a little and needed to be tended with medicine and gauze cloth.
After it was hastily bandaged, Cui Buqu brought Rong Qing and left. They had to escape a few pursuits before finally leaving the city and running towards the North of the city.
To avoid the enemy finding Qiao Xian and Guan Shanhai's location, Cui Buqu secured them outside a cave, even making best of the situation by utilizing the geography and deploying a small array, causing people who enter the forest to lose their sense of direction, no longer finding their way out no matter what.
However, once he entered the forest, his eyebrows furrowed.
"What happened?" Rong Qing immediately realized something was wrong.
"The array changed." Cui Buqu said.
Rong Qing was astonished: "Someone came here before us!"
Even if this was the case, Cui Buqu cannot back out. Because Guan Shanhai and Qiao Xian both could still be waiting for him in the cave.
Internal wounds could be tended with meditation, but if external wounds were not treated with medicine, then the healing process will be prolonged. Only with water and food could Guan Shanhai and Qiao Xian recover.
Rong Qing was also aware of the disadvantages, so after he was astonished, he followed behind Cui Buqu soundlessly.
The fog in the forest was thick, for even sunlight could not penetrate through it.
Only god knew where such a fog came from at a time and season like this.
A wind blew from the mountains, bringing with it grains of sand. Rong Qing couldn't see very well, so he rubbed his eyes. It had only been a brief moment, but once he opened his eyes once again, he realized that Cui Buqu and Xiao-Liu had disappeared!
Cui Buqu heard the laugh of a young maiden in his ears.
It oscillated between sounding close up and far away, like a feather that tickled at his heart, sending his thoughts into disarray.
They said many things, yet it seemed like they hadn't said anything at all.
Unintentionally, Cui Buqu expended some of his attention to listen.
Dong—————
It was neither a drum nor a chime3. It sounded more like a chime being split open by someone using a weapon and a long winding aftersound ensued, ringing endlessly in one's ear.
Cui Buqu's body shivered a little, feeling like an awl had pierced through his ears. Pain came suddenly, and it was too late to cover his ears. He could only forcibly stomach it. Everything before his eyes suddenly blacked out, and a feeling of wanting to vomit blood brimmed up his chest all of a sudden.
A pair of hands immediately covered both his ears.
The warmth they brought seemed to also bring a strong foundation of inner strength, acting like a barrier that kept the sound at bay.
Behind him, a very familiar breathing pattern twinned its way here, enveloping him in it.
Author's Note:
The Director: Okay, you've made your debut. Time to turn in for the day.
Feng-er: ???
[1] 欲加之罪,何患无辞 (To add to [my] crimes, how would [you] fear you have nothing to say?): means that when someone is determined to condemn someone else, they would surely find one reason or another.
[2] 高山仰止,景行行止: Often used by Sima Qian to describe Confucius (Kongzi) for his persona in Records of the Grand Historians, which is used to describe someone who holds his head high with an air of great virtue.
[3] 编钟 Ancient Chinese instrument: