“Five years ago, the Black Tiger Gang fell into internal strife. Liu Youcai took the account books and sought refuge with the Shen residence, where Shen Zhixing took him on as a retainer.”
“After that, all of Shen Zhixing’s grain business in Huaibei was handled through Liu Youcai.”
Shi Huai’s brows drew together slightly as he read.
“On the surface, Shen Zhixing’s business in Huaibei was ordinary grain trading. In reality, he used the Black Tiger Gang’s connections to force local farmers to buy and sell at his terms.”
“He purchased grain at rock-bottom prices, then sold it in the capital at exorbitant rates.”
“In five years, he made more than one hundred thousand taels.”
One hundred thousand taels.
The figure made Shi Huai’s fingers pause. He looked up at Shi Yuanping.
“That much? How did the son of a Ministry of Works vice minister find the nerve to do something like that?”
“It wasn’t that he was bold. It was that his father, Vice Minister Shen, was backing him.”
Shi Yuanping lowered his voice. “Although Vice Minister Shen no longer oversees the river works throughout the realm, his former students and protégés are scattered across Huaibei.”
“Which local official would dare refuse him a favor?”
“Shen Zhixing used his father’s name to run roughshod over Huaibei. Who would dare stand in his way?”
Shi Huai set the letter back on the table. “So Shen Zhixing was the mastermind from beginning to end? Shi Lingyi was merely being used?”
Shi Yuanping shook his head.
“Shen Zhixing’s business in Huaibei was one matter. Your kidnapping was another. The two were connected, but they had different masterminds.”
He pulled another letter from his sleeve and handed it over. “This was found at Liu Youcai’s residence. Take a look.”
Shi Huai accepted the letter and unfolded it. The handwriting was crooked and awkward, clearly disguised on purpose.
“After the deed is done, five thousand taels. The other half will be paid upon completion. The address is as stated before. —Shen.”
Five thousand taels. The address.
Shi Huai’s gaze rested on the letter, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
He looked up at Shi Yuanping. “Where is Liu Youcai?”
“He’s been arrested. Li Chengze’s men caught him last night in Linshui County, just as he was preparing to cross the river and flee back to Huaibei.”
Shi Huai rose from his chair and walked to the window. He pushed it open.
The morning sunlight streamed in, falling across his face. His skin was so pale it was nearly translucent, but his eyes were as cold as ice in the dead of winter.
“Uncle, how do you intend to deal with Shen Zhixing?”
Shi Yuanping walked to his side and studied his profile. “How do you want him dealt with?”
The corner of Shi Huai’s mouth twitched. His voice was cold, utterly devoid of warmth.
“Handle it according to the law. If he deserves execution, execute him. If he deserves exile, exile him. There’s no need to show him leniency, but there’s no need to destroy everyone connected to him either.”
Shi Yuanping stared at him for a long while before a smile slowly spread across his lips.
“Very well. We’ll proceed according to the law.”
The news reached the capital three days later.
Shen Zhixing was in his study, practicing calligraphy.
The Huzhou brush in his hand had cost him one hundred taels when he bought it from Jiangnan the previous year.
Its shaft was made of mottled bamboo, and its bristles were the finest wolf hair. With it, his characters normally flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water.
But today, his hand trembled as he held the brush. The characters he wrote came out crooked and misshapen, so distorted that even he could not recognize them.
“Master! Something terrible has happened!”
Shen Fu rushed in from outside, his face as pale as paper and his voice shaking.
“Liu Youcai has been arrested. Li Chengze’s men did it—they caught him at the Yellow River ferry in Linshui County!”
The brush fell from Shen Zhixing’s hand with a slap.
Ink splattered across the desk, soaking the half-finished characters he had just written.
He looked up at Shen Fu, his mouth opening as if to speak, but not a single word came out.
“There’s... there’s more.” Shen Fu lowered his voice further, sweat trickling down his forehead and cheeks.
“His Highness the Crown Prince summoned the Minister of Justice to the palace first thing this morning. He ordered a thorough investigation into the Huaibei grain case. They say a high-ranking court official colluded with bandits to force farmers into buying and selling at unfair prices, causing widespread public outrage.”
Shen Zhixing’s legs gave way. His entire body slid from the chair, and he collapsed onto the floor.
His fingers trembled. His lips trembled. His whole body shook uncontrollably.
“Where is my father? Where is my father?” His voice rose to a shrill pitch, almost unrecognizable.
“Lord Shen was summoned to the palace as well. The Emperor wishes to question him.”
Shen Zhixing sat on the floor, his mind a blank void.
He remembered his first trip to Huaibei five years ago—full of ambition and confidence, convinced he was the most promising young man in the world.
He remembered Liu Youcai kneeling before him and presenting the account books, smiling obsequiously like a dog wagging its tail.
He remembered all the grain he had forcibly purchased at rock-bottom prices; the farmers driven to sell their children; the local officials who bowed and scraped before him, then turned around and cursed his ancestors to the eighteenth generation.
He was finished.
Shen Zhixing buried his face in his hands and let out a muffled howl.
The sound was wrenched from the depths of his throat, high and thin, like a taut string snapping all at once.
In the main hall of the Shen residence, Shi Lingyi sat before her dressing table, staring blankly at a letter.
It had been sent by Shi Yuanping.
There were only a few short lines on the page. She recognized every individual character, yet when they were put together, she could not understand them.
“Shen Zhixing’s business in Huaibei has been fully investigated. It involves multiple charges, including coercive buying and selling, collusion with bandits, and tax evasion. The Ministry of Justice has opened a case and will summon him for questioning shortly.”
“As the wife of the Shen family, although you did not participate directly, you are still culpable for knowing of the crimes and failing to report them.”
Shi Lingyi stared at the letter, slowly tightening her fingers until the paper crumpled in her palm.
A burst of disorderly footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by the heavy breathing of men and the muffled sobs of women.
Shi Lingyi folded the letter and tucked it into her sleeve. Then she rose, straightened her collar, and pushed open the door.
The main courtyard had already descended into chaos. Maids and matrons crowded beneath the covered walkway, whispering among themselves, their faces filled with fear and helplessness.
The moment they saw Shi Lingyi emerge, they all fell silent at once and lowered their heads. Not one of them dared look at her.
Shen Fu ran into the courtyard from the gate, stumbling as he went. His hat had slipped askew, but he was too distracted even to straighten it.
He dropped to his knees before Shi Lingyi and slammed his forehead against the brick paving again and again, each impact ringing out with a dull thud.
“Madam, the master has been taken away by people from the Ministry of Justice. They said they needed to question him. The young master has been taken away as well, and the residence...”
