Seeing the blood-stained bandages on Lord Lu, Xiao Youcheng pursed his lips and bowed with a cupped-hand salute.
Lord Lu nervously sidestepped, not daring to accept the full courtesy, then glanced at Zhou Qingyuan behind Xiao Youcheng and asked in surprise,
"And this is...?"
"Your humble servant, Zhou Qingyuan, greets Lord Lu."
Lu Chao explained, "Brother Qingyuan is also from the Zhou family. We both study at Guanfu Academy."
Lord Lu nodded approvingly. "You are all outstanding talents indeed. The Zhou family truly produces exceptional individuals!"
"You flatter me, Lord Lu," Zhou Qingyuan replied with an awkward smile.
"Nephew, I acted rashly in the matter of the road construction. I never imagined it would implicate Prince Kang. If His Highness's reputation suffers for this, I would deserve ten thousand deaths!"
Xiao Youcheng quickly steadied the trembling Lord Lu.
"You exaggerate, Lord Lu. Prince Kang does not blame you. Your intentions were for the people—it was merely exploited by those with ulterior motives."
The Lu family was just a tool used to suppress him. Like clinging vines, every step he took outward was met with shears cutting him back.
Hah. He had already conceded so much, yet they still distrusted him. Very well—they’d brought this upon themselves.
"Then... does His Highness have a solution?" Lord Lu asked hopefully.
Xiao Youcheng shook his head.
"Lord Lu, have the county constables found the villagers who incited the trouble?"
Lord Lu sighed. Though the villagers were illiterate, they stood united. When asked who threw the hoe, each one shook their head, claiming they hadn’t seen. Pressed further, they fell to their knees, kowtowing and pleading for mercy—spring planting was about to begin, and they begged the just magistrate to spare their lives.
"Lord Lu, could you give us two days? We wish to resolve this properly and report back to His Highness."
Lord Lu had no reason to refuse. Shouldering the blame alone or sharing it—only a fool would choose the former.
He immediately ordered Clerk Zhang to deliver all case records to the study.
"My lord, delaying further may incite a riot among the people. With all due respect, these young masters, though of noble birth, know little of governance. Entrusting this to them seems... unwise."
"Then you are indeed bold," Lord Lu replied with a faint, mocking smile.
"What choice do I have? I handed this to you days ago, and you’ve turned up nothing."
Clerk Zhang flushed but could only force a hollow laugh.
"They refuse to talk, and I can’t resort to torture. Besides, they’re all neighbors."
When Lord Lu ignored him, Clerk Zhang stormed out in frustration.
Hmph! A bunch of greenhorns—what could they possibly accomplish?
After discussing with Lu Chao, Xiao Youcheng decided they would split up.
Lu Chao took Lu Yuanyi to the prison to gather information.
"Hey, Chao Chao! You’re not as influential as that Zhou Youcheng, huh?"
Now even he was being ordered around.
Lu Chao gave him a complicated look. "Indeed. So remember to show Zhou-gongzi proper respect from now on."
Lu Yuanyi scoffed. "Then step up your game and outrank him next time!"
Lu Chao hastily covered his mouth.
"Second Brother, never say that again."
Are you trying to commit treason?
In the prison, the young men from the two villages were idly chatting. When they saw the constables escorting two silk-robed youths like stars around the moon, they sprang to their feet, staring intently at Lu Chao and Lu Yuanyi.
"Your Honor! If you must punish someone, take me! Say I threw the hoe by accident—I’ll confess! Just let the others go. Their families are waiting for them!"
Lu Chao studied his face—excitement, anticipation, tension, but no fear. He looked like a hero basking in admiration.
Yet to their shock, Lu Chao only gave them a deep look, shook his head, and left.
"What’s the meaning of this?? Why’d he leave again?"
"Shouldn’t they release us soon?"
"If we don’t return, the planting season will be ruined!"
"Exactly! Cang, say something!"
A few anxious men glanced at the young man lingering in the back.
The youth watched Lu Chao’s retreating figure and murmured, "They won’t dare. If our families starve, we’ll storm the county office. Follow my lead, and there’ll be roads and silver. Cross me, and you’ll answer to the clan elders."
The others fell silent.
"Chao Chao, aren’t we interrogating them?" Lu Yuanyi asked, puzzled.
"No point. They’ve already coordinated their stories."
"Then how do we expose the mastermind?"
"Second Brother, our goal isn’t to uncover the mastermind."
That was Prince Kang’s concern. Their task was to help Lord Lu overcome this crisis.
So they had split roles—Xiao Youcheng would handle the schemers, while Lu Chao resolved the road dispute.
After leaving the prison, Lu Chao dragged Lu Yuanyi through every shop in town, chatting idly with merchants.
Lu Yuanyi fumed but obeyed—their father had ordered him to follow Lu Chao’s lead.
By evening, Lu Chao returned with a large bundle of goods.
He then requested Yuxi County’s maps from Lord Lu and pored over them late into the night.
Watching his son’s composed demeanor, Lord Lu felt a pang—what a loss it was that this boy couldn’t sit for the imperial exams.
The study lamp burned until dawn, teapots emptied and refilled.
At sunrise, the three exchanged satisfied smiles. It was done.
"Father, you should rest. Second Brother and I will report to Zhou-gongzi and return shortly."
Though dark-eyed from exhaustion, Lord Lu was in high spirits, gazing at Lu Chao with rare warmth. Lu Yuanyi rolled his eyes.
"Go on. The kitchen has prepared breakfast—eat before you come back. Growing boys need their meals."
Xiao Youcheng’s group had also pulled an all-nighter, their panda eyes comically pronounced.
"Any progress on your end?" Lu Chao yawned.
Xiao Youcheng gulped strong tea. "Nearly there. You?"
"Done."
Clerk Zhang and the local gentry had taken bribes, leaking information to the village chiefs. The clerk’s youngest son had squandered the silver at a brothel the same day—silver minted by the Huifeng Bank, which had no branches in Yingchuan.
At noon, a notice posted at the county office drew a crowd.
"What’s it say?"
A constable struck a gong and read aloud:
"Tomorrow at noon, Magistrate Lu will preside over the trial of the villager riot and publicly announce the Yuxi County road construction plan!"
Villagers from Xiaohe Village and Zhoujiagou, who had camped outside the office for days, cheered and raced home to spread the news—their men would be freed tomorrow!
In the study, Lu Chao sealed a letter in a leather pouch and handed it to a Lu family guard. He hoped Qiu and Shi Liu wouldn’t scold him too harshly.
The next day at noon, the county office was packed with spectators.
Lord Lu adjusted his dark blue official robe and straightened his hat before stepping out of the hall, supported by two bailiffs.
"It's the county magistrate!"
"Heavens, is he really that badly injured?"
"These officials are so delicate! Just a light hit with a shovel, and twenty men from our village were thrown into prison. Who knows how they’re being treated in there."
"Exactly! It wasn’t even on purpose! Slipped right out of my hand—who’d dare strike an imperial official on purpose?"
"Must be made of gold, huh? Us common folk, a handful of ash on a split head is all we need to heal."
"Heard he was unconscious for days, kept alive with ginseng. Only just woke up."
"Tsk, tsk! How can you lowly lives compare to a noble official? All smiles in public, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors."
The crowd buzzed with chatter.
Lu Yuanyi burned with anger and was about to turn and retort when Lu Chao tugged at his sleeve.
Xiao Youcheng lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
Thwack! The gavel struck.
"Silence in the court!"
