Eighteen years ago, the Yunsheng Troupe was an ordinary acrobatic troupe in Qingzhou, run by a man named Cheng Shangjiang, the father of Bai Qingmu.
Though Cheng Shangjiang's troupe was small, with only five or six members, every one of them possessed exceptional skills, so they never lacked for engagements.
One day, the Yunsheng Troupe had just finished performing at the home of a wealthy merchant who was celebrating his mother's seventieth birthday. The merchant was extremely generous, rewarding the troupe with a considerable sum of silver. Everyone was in high spirits, chatting and laughing as they headed home, when a madwoman stumbled upon them in a frenzy.
Her hair was disheveled, her clothes torn and ragged, and her face was bruised and battered, clearly the result of severe beatings.
She looked back in terror, as if someone were pursuing her.
Sure enough, moments later, Cao Jian came charging over to seize her.
The woman clutched Cheng Shangjiang's legs in desperation, weeping pitifully: "Please, save me, save me..."
Seeing how utterly wretched the woman was, Cheng Shangjiang and the other men of the troupe joined forces to drive Cao Jian away, took the woman back with them, and summoned a physician to tend to her wounds.
After she bathed, changed clothes, and took her medicine, everyone realized that this woman was not insane at all, nor was she simple-minded.
Her earlier frenzied behavior had been purely the result of terror driving her to distraction.
The woman told Cheng Shangjiang that her surname was Mei, her given name Qingxue, and she was the daughter of Doctor Mei of the Jishi Hall in Zhanzhou, a neighboring prefecture to Qingzhou.
A month earlier, while she had been going up the mountain to burn incense, she had encountered bandits. The bandits had stopped her carriage, killed her coachman and the two escorting servants, dragged her maidservant into the woods, and assaulted her to death.
As for her, because she was beautiful with fair, delicate skin, the bandits had kept her alive, intending to offer her as a gift of gratitude to Cao Jian.
The bandit leader was called Thunderbolt Tiger, a notorious outlaw of the region, infamous for countless robberies and murders.
When Mei Qingxue had been captured, she overheard the bandits talking, and it seemed that on one occasion, when Thunderbolt Tiger had been severely wounded while fleeing from government pursuit, he had happened upon Cao Jian hunting in the mountains.
With Cao Jian blocking the path ahead and pursuers closing in from behind, Thunderbolt Tiger had offered to sacrifice his own life to save his brothers. Cao Jian, moved by the outlaw leader's sense of duty and loyalty, had let Thunderbolt Tiger go and helped divert the pursuers.
From that day on, Thunderbolt Tiger felt he owed Cao Jian a debt of gratitude.
He was a man of honor and righteousness, quick to repay kindness and quick to avenge wrongs.
So once he had recovered from his wounds, he asked Cao Jian what he lacked. Cao Jian said he lacked a wife.
It so happened that during this raid, Thunderbolt Tiger had captured a delicate young lady, Mei Qingxue.
When Bai Qingmu reached this point in his story, Xiao Jun's expression changed dramatically.
Yan Tongshu shot him an icy glare. "Lord Xiao, why does your face look so pale? Could it be that something in this tale reminds you of the past?"
Zhang Jiu also seized the moment to speak: "What Bandmaster Bai says must be true. I also recall that back then, Lord Xiao and Lord Cao were both outlaws on Yunheng Mountain. Later, Lord Cao led the Yunheng Mountain bandits to enlist in Prince Ming's army. Even now, many of those former bandits hold positions in the military."
"That's a completely different matter!" Xiao Jun roared in anger. "What was wrong with my elder brother repaying a debt of gratitude? If not for that, Mei Qingxue would have died just like her maidservant. She should have been grateful that General Cao spared her life. And, and... we had no idea at the time that Cao Jian was secretly... as for women, they were meant to be married off anyway. What difference did it make who they married?"
"So you admit your guilt?" Yan Tongshu's voice was icy and menacing. "Robbery on the road, murder and arson, rape of women—each and every one is a capital offense."
Xiao Jun had been an official for many years by now, no longer the ignorant outlaw he had once been. He knew full well how serious it was for old cases to be dredged up. Hurriedly he tried to distance himself: "That matter was between Thunderbolt Tiger and General Cao. It has nothing to do with me."
Yan Tongshu cast him a look of utter contempt, then urged Bai Qingmu to continue.
Bai Qinglan, tears streaming from her eyes, resumed the story.
Thunderbolt Tiger hoisted Mei Qingxue onto his horse and carried her to the hunting cabin Cao Jian kept in the mountains.
The moment Cao Jian saw her—so pretty, so fair-skinned, an untouched young virgin—she suited him perfectly.
He thanked Thunderbolt Tiger profusely. The two brothers drank and chatted together, their conversation growing livelier and livelier, until in the heat of the moment they knelt on the ground and swore to become sworn brothers. Not born in the same year, month, or day, but willing to die in the same year, month, and day.
The two men boldly downed their wine, smashed the bowls, and embraced fiercely: "Good brother!"
Cao Jian shouted back: "Good elder brother!"
They spent the entire night cementing their friendship. The next day, Thunderbolt Tiger left, and Cao Jian removed the filthy rag stuffed into Mei Qingxue's mouth.
Mei Qingxue was terrified beyond measure, her mind in a state of utter panic.
Her hands were bound behind her back, her feet tied as well, and she collapsed to the ground, pleading tearfully: "Please, good sir, spare me, spare me, I beg you, please spare my life."
Her eyes seemed to bleed tears as she wept: "Good sir, my father is Doctor Mei of Jishi Hall. He is an excellent physician. Many officials and noble lords come to his clinic for treatment. He has earned a great deal of money. Whatever you ask, he can give you. Please spare me! Spare me!"
Smack!
Cao Jian slapped the woman across the face. "Who do you think you are? Your father has money? So what if I don't? Does having no money mean you look down on me? You money-grubbing whore."
And with that, Cao Jian dropped his trousers in front of Mei Qingxue.
After several consecutive days of this, Cao Jian brought Cao Yang into the room as well, telling him to get Mei Qingxue pregnant.
Mei Qingxue was frightened out of her wits, her spirit on the verge of collapse.
Fortunately, Cao Yang was a simpleton who understood nothing. Cao Jian had no choice but to have Cao Yang watch him as he went about it, telling the fool to learn well.
Half a month later, Cao Jian went hunting up the mountain. Cao Yang treated Mei Qingxue as his wife in earnest, calling her "wife" over and over, feeding her wild fruit. Mei Qingxue seized the opportunity to coax him into untying her, and then she ran.
She had been clever since childhood with an extraordinary memory. When the bandits had captured her, they assumed she was just a helpless woman who could cause no trouble, so they had only bound her hands and feet and gagged her, without blindfolding her. Thus Mei Qingxue remembered the path up the mountain, and naturally she knew the way down as well.
Along the way, she stumbled, tumbled down slopes, was bitten by wild beasts. She ran for who knows how long, clinging to her last breath, until she finally made it down the mountain and collided with Cheng Shangjiang, who took her in and saved her.
This portion of the story reignited Lady Cao's painful memories, and tears poured down her cheeks in great streams.
That cursed bastard Cao Jian had treated her the same way.
When Cheng Shangjiang heard Mei Qingxue's account, like Lady Cao, he wept on the spot.
The senior members of the Yunsheng Troupe wavered between pity for Mei Qingxue's suffering and gnashing their teeth in hatred for Cao Jian.
Bai Qingmu, who was only nine years old at the time, felt the same.
Cao Jian was gifted with astonishing natural strength. Earlier, even with the entire Yunsheng Troupe fighting him off, they had barely managed to stop him from taking the woman away. If Cao Jian came back for her, the troupe might not hold against him.
Cheng Shangjiang made an immediate decision: take Mei Qingxue back to Jishi Hall in Zhanzhou at once.
He reasoned that Jishi Hall was well known in Zhanzhou, and Doctor Mei's superb skills would certainly have won him connections among the authorities. As long as the government got involved, Cao Jian and those bandits would not dare act so brazenly.
Zhanzhou was right next to Qingzhou. Cheng Shangjiang placed Mei Qingxue in a carriage, and the whole group traveled for just a day and a night before reaching Jishi Hall.
Doctor Mei saw his beloved eldest daughter in such a pitiful state, wept on the spot, and offered silver to thank Cheng Shangjiang.
Cheng Shangjiang refused the money and urged Doctor Mei to quickly seek protection from the authorities.
Only then did Doctor Mei snap out of his grief and hurriedly take Mei Qingxue to report the matter to the officials.
Mei Qingxue said she still remembered the road to the mountain stronghold.
The magistrate of Zhanzhou had Mei Qingxue draw a route map, which was then reported to the prefectural government. The prefecture mobilized the local garrison to go up the mountain and suppress the bandits.
The magistrate also sent men to confiscate Cao Jian’s property.
Cao Jian was born with extraordinary strength. In his moment of crisis, he erupted and fought his way out, desperately carving a bloody path and escaping with Cao Yang.
The prefecture’s campaign wiped out Thunderbolt Tiger’s stronghold.
Thunderbolt Tiger died under the garrison’s blades.
Many of Thunderbolt Tiger’s underlings also died.
Although Cao Jian was not captured, Thunderbolt Tiger was dead, and the bandits of Yunheng Mountain were either dead or fled. It could be considered justice served.
The Mei family was overjoyed, and Mei Qingxue was happy too.
Half a month later, it happened to be Mother Mei’s birthday.
After discussion, they decided to hold a banquet to celebrate. But with the court’s military campaigns straining resources, a grand celebration was inadvisable. They decided that just the two families would have a lively meal together. Doctor Mei even sought out the restaurant owner he had once treated and bought many rare and exotic ingredients to prepare lavish dishes.
That day, the Mei family and members of Yunsheng Troupe ate and drank together.
Members of Yunsheng Troupe even took to the stage to perform acrobatics.
Doctor Mei felt grateful to Yunsheng Troupe, but since Cheng Shangjiang refused to take money, he secretly stuffed banknotes and gave gifts into Bai Qingmu’s collar, as a way of expressing thanks.
Bai Qingmu was young at the time, too busy watching the excitement to notice how much money Doctor Mei had slipped into his collar.
Midway through the meal, the Mei family’s seven-year-old daughter, Mei Qingyue—who would later become Bai Qinglan—heard that Bai Qingmu could imitate sounds with his mouth and pestered him to perform for her.
The banquet was too noisy, so Bai Qingmu took Bai Qinglan somewhere quiet and imitated the chirping of crickets for her.
And then, at the height of the festivities, just as Mei Qingxue felt she had finally escaped her nightmare and been given a new life—
Cao Jian led the bandits of Yunheng Mountain back for vengeance.
After Thunderbolt Tiger died, the surviving bandits had no leader. Coincidentally, Cao Jian, fleeing with Cao Yang, ran into them. After discussing it, they decided: since they were all brothers and their big brother was dead, they must avenge him.
So they recognized Thunderbolt Tiger’s sworn brother Cao Jian as their new leader and swore brotherhood again.
Among the bandits was a literate one who knew some strategy. He helped Cao Jian plan his revenge.
The group disguised themselves, came down the mountain, and crept up to the Mei residence. Taking advantage of the birthday banquet’s bustling celebration, they slaughtered the Mei family and Yunsheng Troupe alike.
Dozens of members of both families were killed.
Only Bai Qingmu and Bai Qinglan, who were hiding in the rockery practicing mouth sounds, survived.
Bai Qingmu clamped his hand over Bai Qinglan’s mouth. The two of them watched with their own eyes as the bandits slaughtered all their loved ones.
Afterward, the bandits looted the Mei home. Cao Jian divided the stolen money among his brothers, telling them to go down the mountain, find a trade, and live honest lives. He himself hid in the mountains, hunting for food while caring for Cao Yang.
Bai Qingmu, afraid the bandits would return to eradicate them, took the traumatized Bai Qinglan and fled south.
Fortunately, Doctor Mei, to thank Yunsheng Troupe, had secretly stuffed many banknotes into Bai Qingmu’s clothing, so the two half-grown children’s livelihood was assured for the time being.
As the years passed, they grew up, yet every night they dreamed of the day the Yunsheng Troupe and the Mei family were massacred.
The two resolved to take revenge.
At first, they tried to report the case to the authorities, but they soon discovered the officials did not dare to get involved.
Cao Jian killed a tiger, saved Prince Ming, led the bandits, and joined Prince Ming’s army, earning merit in battle after battle.
The late emperor needed to maintain a balance between factions—he could not let Prince Ming fall behind, but he also could not let Prince Ming become too powerful.
The authorities refused to accept their case.
Later, as the late emperor aged and Prince Ming grew stronger, Cao Jian and his group had the support of Prince Ming, and the officials dared even less to interfere.
The grievance of Yunsheng Troupe and the Mei family was trivial compared to these affairs of state.
No authority dared to handle the case. No one dared to investigate.
Day after day of despair, Bai Qingmu and Bai Qinglan finally decided to take revenge themselves.
Bai Qingmu trained relentlessly in acrobatics, and Bai Qinglan devoted herself to studying medicine. They changed their appearances and even altered their ages, disguised themselves as a pair of siblings, and founded the Dingsheng Troupe.
They performed all over the country, step by step tracking down the enemies who had annihilated their families, killing them one by one.
On this journey, they had already killed five. Cao Jian was the sixth, and the arrow that killed Cao Jian was taken from the previous victim.
Xiao Jun’s whole body shuddered: "You’ve killed five people!"
Among the brothers from back then, some had died of old age, some of illness, and because their paths had diverged, aside from those who remained in the capital, many had lost contact.
But he remembered that those who survived all held official positions.
And yet, the Bai siblings had already killed five of them.
Bai Qingmu stared viciously at Xiao Jun: "General Xiao, would you like to hear the names of old friends? Wu Tieshan, Ma Yuanji, Xia Li..."
"That's enough, stop naming them." For the first time, Xiao Jun felt panic. He immediately said to the Minister of Justice: "Lord Chu, these two have killed six people. Their crimes are monstrous. They must be executed immediately."
"How dare you!" Before the Minister of Justice could speak, Yan Tongshu scolded: "Kaifeng Prefecture falls under my jurisdiction. It's not for General Xiao to be calling for blood here."
Xiao Jun’s face turned fierce: "Yan Tongshu, what do you think you’re doing?"
Having just heard Bai Qingmu and Bai Qinglan recount what happened all those years ago, Yan Tongshu was already seething with barely contained fury. Now, he was outright enraged: "Xiao Jun is a bandit—a murderer, a thief, a rapist, a merciless criminal. Men! Arrest him!"
"Who dares!"
Xiao Jun bellowed: "I am Commander of the Divine Strategy Army, rank Zheng-san-pin, same rank as your Lord Yan. Who dares!"
"I dare!"
Meng Zheng drew his longsword and slashed straight at Xiao Jun’s face.
Yan Tongshu said in a low voice: "Xiao Jun is guilty of the Ten Abominations. Lord Meng, show no mercy. Kill."
It was at this moment that the Minister of Justice finally snapped back to his senses: "Stop!"
He shouted.
Xiao Jun could not be harmed.
He was the Commander of the Divine Strategy Army.
If something happened to him, what about the Divine Strategy Army? What about the questions from Prince Ming?
The Minister of Justice shouted: "Men!"
The yamen runners of the Ministry of Justice drew their blades.
Zhang Jiu was quick. He rushed forward, snatched a knife from one of the Ministry runners, shielded Yan Tongshu, and pointed the blade at the Minister of Justice’s throat.
The Minister of Justice was furious: "Zhang Jiu, you’re only a tongpan."
Zhang Jiu warned: "Lord Chu, as long as you don’t make any rash moves, I swear I won't hurt you."
"I don’t believe you would dare." The Minister of Justice’s face was iron-gray as he stared Zhang Jiu down, slowly raising his hand to order the Ministry runners forward.
The Kaifeng Prefecture runners stepped forward together, ready for battle.
At that, Cen Xu laughed lightly: "We’re all here to handle the case. Why does Lord Chu make such a fuss?"
Cen Xu stood in front of the Ministry runners and barked: "What are you doing? This is a jurisdictional dispute between two lords. What business is it of yours? Fall back."
The Ministry runners looked at one another, not daring to move.
Cen Xu said to the Minister of Justice, "Lord Chu, this is where you're wrong. The Ministry of Justice handles legal codes and reviews. This case falls under the Kaifeng Prefecture."
The Minister of Justice's temple throbbed violently. "Cen Xu."
He gritted his teeth. "You dare betray me."
Cen Xu smiled faintly. "There was never loyalty, so how can there be betrayal?"
Before Yan Tongshu could overturn his case, Xiao Jun was still a convict and carried no weapon, so he could only be overwhelmed by Meng Zheng.
Meng Zheng slashed his sword across Xiao Jun's shoulder, and blood poured out.
Meng Zheng smoothly withdrew his blade, then drove it through Xiao Jun's palm, pinning it to the ground. Meng Zheng threatened, "General Xiao had best not make any rash moves, or I'll cut off this hand of yours right now."
Yan Tongshu snatched the knife from Zhang Jiu's hand and strode over to Xiao Jun, about to chop off his neck. Meng Zheng quickly grabbed the blade from her. "Lord Yan, the trial isn't over yet. Don't lose your composure."
Although the plight of the Bai siblings was pitiable, and the mountain bandits were truly inhumane and utterly vicious,
the trial had not yet concluded, and their accounts had not been verified by local authorities. Killing him now would give others ammunition.
Yan Tongshu stared at Xiao Jun and commanded, "Men, take all those involved back and lock them in the underground prison. Without my order, no one is permitted to visit."
The bailiffs of the Kaifeng Prefecture answered in unison, "Yes!"
The Minister of Justice stepped forward to object. "This case also involves the Ministry of Justice. The prisoners should be sent to the Ministry..."
Yan Tongshu swept a cold glare over him. "Lord Chu, if you're dissatisfied with how I handle cases, feel free to impeach me."
Hand the prisoners over to the Ministry of Justice?
The Bai siblings would be dead before nightfall.
...
Yan Tongshu had Xiao Jun, Bai Qingmu, and Bai Qinglan all escorted back to the Kaifeng Prefecture, imprisoned separately, and specifically instructed the bailiffs to arrange better cells for Bai Qinglan and Bai Qingmu, complete with hot water bottles and quilts for the winter.
Yan Tongshu said, "If you need anything, just mention it to the bailiffs. I'll petition the Emperor on your behalf and try to seek leniency."
Bai Qinglan nodded, her eyes reddening. "Lord Yan, will Xiao Jun really be punished?"
Yan Tongshu nodded.
"That's good." Bai Qinglan sighed softly. "If only we had reported this to the authorities back then and met with someone like you."
If they hadn't been driven to desperation, if there had been any door to seek justice, she and her brother would never have chosen this path of no return.
Yan Tongshu asked, "You and Bandmaster Bai have been tracking and hunting those mountain bandits all along. You must have gathered a great deal of evidence and information on their crimes. Can you hand it over to me?"
Bai Qinglan nodded.
She and her brother were already in prison. If Yan Tongshu were in league with those people, killing them would have been far too easy—she wouldn't have needed to be tricked with such elaborate effort.
Moreover, men like Cao Jian and Xiao Jun held high office, and no one dared investigate them.
The evidence they held was effectively worthless.
So she might as well trust Yan Tongshu, trust Lord Yan.
Bai Qinglan told Yan Tongshu where she and Bai Qingmu had hidden the materials, and Yan Tongshu immediately sent Zhang Jiu to find Meng Zheng, ordering them to mobilize the Divine Guard and escort the evidence back under heavy protection, to prevent anyone from seizing it en route.
Zhang Jiu and Meng Zheng arrived at the courtyard rented by the troupe. In Bai Qingmu's room, they found the hidden list and evidence tucked inside the puppet-show dolls he collected.
Yan Tongshu had Zhang Jiu copy the list and evidence several times over, store them separately, and send the accounts of the Yunsheng Troupe and the Mei family massacre to local authorities for confirmation.
With eight-hundred-li express delivery, racing against time and leaving no room for manipulation, the local confirmations soon came back.
The bandits of Yunheng Mountain were a scourge upon the region, their crimes numerous and beyond reckoning.
When word reached Prince Ming that the Kaifeng Prefecture had already secured the evidence, he grew frantic. The Minister of Justice even contacted allies, prepared to face Yan Tongshu in a fierce court debate when she reported to the court at the next morning audience. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect...
He racked his brain for three days and nights, unable to understand how Yan Tongshu had such nerve.
She had dared to arrest people directly without the Emperor's approval!
And when confronted, Yan Tongshu was not only audaciously bold, but utterly self-righteous.
Yan Tongshu sneered, "Beneath the Emperor's very feet, who doesn't have some background? If the Kaifeng Prefecture had to report to His Majesty every single time we investigated a crime or caught a culprit, then the Prefecture might as well cease to exist. This acting prefect post of mine would be unnecessary—His Majesty might as well serve as Prefect himself!"
The Minister of Justice sputtered in fury, his beard bristling. "Y-you... I'll have you know, I will not approve a single one of your death sentences!"
Yan Tongshu looked genuinely puzzled. "I never planned on asking for your approval anyway."
The Minister of Justice was nearly choking with rage. "You dare execute prisoners without going through the Ministry of Justice?"
Yan Tongshu couldn't be bothered to respond and simply turned and walked away.
The next morning, Yan Tongshu rose before dawn, changed into her official robes, and headed to court.
Cao Jian's mysterious murder, the Bai siblings' killings, the Yunsheng Troupe and Mei family massacres, the Yunheng Mountain bandits enlisting in the military—the Kaifeng Prefecture arresting people one after another—
Which of these could possibly be kept secret?
From the court to the common streets, everyone knew.
In other words, the Emperor knew, and Prince Ming knew as well.
Prince Ming, because his own promoted generals were involved, couldn't speak openly—that was understandable.
But the Emperor also said nothing, allowing Yan Tongshu to arrest people at will—that was already an open declaration.
During the morning audience, Qin Yi sat high on the dragon throne, eyes lowered, surveying the hundred officials below.
Lu Xi announced in a loud voice, "If there is anything to report, speak now. If not, this court is dismissed."
Everyone turned, almost in unison, to look at Yan Tongshu. No one spoke first—they were all waiting for her.
Yan Tongshu stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Your servant has a memorial to present."
The Minister of Personnel lowered his head slightly, using his ceremonial tablet to shield his face. Here it comes. There it is.
"Oh?" Qin Yi set down the hand propping up his chin and leaned slightly forward, his gaze cutting through the assembled officials to land precisely on Yan Tongshu.
At previous court sessions, Yan Tongshu had always been listless, face full of world-weariness, half-asleep, or mentally elsewhere.
But today, her spine was straight as a pine, her expression grave and composed, her eyes sharp as blades. An air of deadly resolve surrounded her, causing even Qin Yi to set aside his usual attitude of mockery toward his courtiers.
Qin Yi said, "What does Minister Yan wish to report?"
Yan Tongshu's voice was icily cold. "Half a month ago, Cao Jian—Deputy Commander of the Divine Strategy Army—was struck by an arrow and died in the study of his home. As Acting Prefect, I was responsible for investigating the case, and in the course of my inquiry, I unexpectedly uncovered a massacre that took place eighteen years ago."
Yan Tongshu recounted the full story of the Yunsheng Troupe and the Mei family massacre, concise in words, yet every detail factual and every sentence staggering.
As she spoke, the court fell utterly silent.
Yan Tongshu said, "Through the combined efforts of myself, the Kaifeng Prefecture, the Divine Guard, and the local offices of Zhanzhou and Qingzhou, the Kaifeng Prefecture has verified that everything the Bai siblings reported is true." Yan Tongshu pulled out a register. "This is a list of the surviving bandits of Yunheng Mountain. Aside from the six killed by the Bai siblings, including Cao Jian, and Xiao Jun, there are twelve more alive, serving in the military in various positions. Of these twelve, three are relatives of the original bandits, four are sons of bandits, and five were core members of the bandit forces."
The bandits of Yunheng Mountain included Thunderbolt Tiger, who was beheaded by the prefectural government. The actual bandits responsible for raiding, burning, and killing numbered only thirty-six in total. The remaining thirty-plus people living in the mountain stronghold were their family members, ten of whom handled laundry and cooking, providing logistical support for the bandits who descended the mountain to plunder. The remaining twenty-some were their offspring.
Yan Tongshu: "The supplies plundered by the Yunheng Mountain bandits at the foot of the mountain were transported back to the stronghold, where Thunderbolt Tiger distributed them uniformly. If women were among the stolen goods, they were split into two groups—one group was used to satisfy carnal desires, and the other was imprisoned for breeding. After the women gave birth, once they lost their value, they were killed. If a daughter was born, she was drowned directly; if a son, he was raised and trained to become a new bandit."
Yan Tongshu: "Cheng Shan, male, eighteen years ago served as a scout and lookout for the Yunheng Mountain bandits. Now forty-four, he currently holds the position of squad leader in the Leizhou Infantry Brigade. He has fathered two sons, Cheng Xiao and Cheng Wu, both serving in the military. He now owns two residences, has one wife and two concubines. It is said that his two sons are very filial, and Cheng Shan takes great pride in them. He is currently preparing to retire from the military and enjoy his remaining years in comfort."
Yan Tongshu: "Zhou Jinshan, eighteen years ago was the head chef of the Yunheng Mountain bandits. His most famous dish was 'baby stew'—the flesh of infant girls being the most tender. Now fifty-one, he previously served as a camp cook in both the Leizhou Infantry and the Divine Strategy Army. He has since left the military and married twice. Both wives, unable to endure his drunken violence, spent their entire fortunes to compensate him before divorcing him."
Yan Tongshu: "Zhu Guidao, eighteen years ago was the son of the Yunheng Mountain bandit Zhu Gui. Zhu Gui was skilled with dual blades, and his son inherited that skill. At twelve, he descended the mountain with his father to rob and plunder. Due to youthful recklessness and carelessness, after killing two people in a row, he accidentally had a finger bitten off, earning him the nickname 'Nine-Fingered Hero.' Now thirty-three, he previously served as a squad soldier in the Northwest Tiger-Guard Army, and currently holds the position of cavalry company captain in the Divine Strategy Army.
His first wife was the only daughter of a grain shop owner in the Northwest. She died in childbirth, and the grief-stricken grain shop owner fell ill and passed away shortly after. Zhu Guidao thus inherited all of his wife's family property. His second wife was the daughter of the former cavalry battalion commander of the Divine Strategy Army. Three years ago, that former battalion commander fell into a river and drowned after drinking. A month later, his second wife died of puerperal fever after giving birth to a son."
...
Yan Tongshu's voice fell word by word in the silent hall—clear, heavy.
Every name she recited was once a bandit steeped in blood on Yunheng Mountain. Yet now they were surrounded by beautiful wives and concubines, their descendants at their knees enjoying life. They had vast wealth and thriving official careers. They were smooth operators, bleeding others dry while escaping justice scot-free.
No matter how many lives they had on their hands, no matter how many sins they had committed, these people all lived glossy and prosperous lives.
Take Zhu Guidao, for instance—his two wives had died under murky circumstances, yet he still reaped fame and fortune with a bright future ahead.
The entire court, even members of Prince Ming's faction, felt a chill run down their spines.
The Minister of Justice in particular had drafted countless rebuttals, preparing to engage Yan Tongshu in a three-day, three-night courtroom debate.
He had intended to argue that merits could offset faults.
He had wanted to say that those soldiers of bandit origin had also rendered military service, and that among outlaws there were surely heroes.
But he had never anticipated that Yan Tongshu would investigate these men so thoroughly and so meticulously in such a short time.
From the looting, rape, and murder on Yunheng Mountain, to their vicious cruelty after joining the military—
one crime after another, each drenched in blood, too numerous to record in full.
Throughout his life, he had played with power, scraped and schemed, engaged in corruption and bribery—but at this very moment, hearing Yan Tongshu recite name after name, he felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar.
He even thought to himself: thank goodness he had never offended Cao Jian. Otherwise, given Cao Jian's bandit ways, he wouldn't have wasted time negotiating or debating—he would simply have chosen a moonless, windy night and killed him outright.
Had Cao Jian truly never killed anyone in the capital?
Among those who died under mysterious circumstances, were there really no deaths attributable to Cao Jian and Xiao Jun?
The Minister of Personnel stood in the hall, likewise trembling with cold.
Yesterday, someone had come to him with lavish gifts, urging him to speak up for Xiao Jun and his men, to not let soldiers who had shed blood on the battlefield and turned over a new leaf feel disheartened.
At the time, he had hesitated, unwilling to oppose Yan Tongshu and His Majesty.
But now, he was glad he hadn't agreed.
It was only at this moment that he truly realized—
Those who had once slaughtered without mercy, steeped in villainy, could never simply shed their past because they had latched onto the military and secured an official post, transforming overnight into law-abiding citizens.
If they harbored even a shred of goodness in their hearts, they would never have been cruel enough to massacre the entire Mei family and the Yunsheng Troupe.
These people had already tasted the 'rewards' of evil-doing, and they would never wash their hands of it and start anew.
Whenever they encountered adversity, they would only continue, again and again, to repeat their old ways, seeking even more 'rewards' for themselves.
...
