Chapter 32

On the other side, in the rear residence of the Yanlin County yamen, at Magistrate Wang’s quarters.

Magistrate Wang’s expression was dark as he asked his advisor, “What do you make of Young Master Lin’s treatment of his wife?”

The advisor considered for a moment before replying cautiously, “Judging solely by the way he treats his wife, it would seem rather good.”

Magistrate Wang said, “In other words, he cares about his wife.”

The advisor said, “But his wife is a man…”

“Since they are together, how could he possibly not know? Utterly absurd!” Magistrate Wang cursed Lin Yue for throwing yin and yang into disorder. “If it were just a man for amusement, that would be one thing, but he actually dared marry him as his principal wife! If this is not a violation of ancestral tradition, then what is? An unfilial descendant, with no thought for the family’s future. He ought to be cast out of the clan.”

The advisor understood perfectly well why he had lost his composure. Originally, by being the one to locate Lin Yue, he might have left an impression with Chancellor Meng. Even if he failed to gain recognition, he still stood to reap considerable benefits. But now, because of Gu Yun, he had ended up with nothing at all.

If Gu Yun were to speak ill of him in front of Lin Yue, and Lin Yue later went to the capital and gained Chancellor Meng’s favour, there was every chance Lin Yue would turn around and make trouble for him.

Chancellor Meng had gone to such lengths to find him. How could he possibly not bring him to the capital?

And once he was brought to the capital, how could he fail to value him?

Even granting him a minor official post, with the man’s abilities, judging from both his conduct and the information that had come from Jailer Feng, it was obvious he was exceptionally capable.

Such a man was bound to rise rapidly through the ranks. Him seeking revenge sooner or later was practically inevitable.

He would not even need to expend much effort. A little collusion with officials from the Ministry of Personnel would be enough to block his path of promotion, condemning him to remain a mere county magistrate for the rest of his life.

Even trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it would have been preferable to this.

The more the advisor understood the underlying reasons, the less he dared speak, afraid Magistrate Wang might vent his anger on him instead. This man was no soft persimmon like Magistrate Gu, someone who could be manipulated with a few small tricks.

The advisor silently listened to him curse for a while. Only after he had finished did he finally speak.

“Your Excellency, are we simply going to sit and await our doom?”

Magistrate Wang gave a cold snort. “Sit and await our doom?”

The advisor said, “But the news that he has been found has already been sent to the prefectural office. Even with riders changing horses at full speed, I fear it cannot be stopped now. At most, we might be able to intercept the message sent by Magistrate Gu.”

A trace of cold malice passed through Magistrate Wang’s eyes. “The affairs of this world are ever-changing.”

Since Lin Yue’s return would bring him no benefit, then he simply must not return.

“Tomorrow, bring over Huang, the advisor under Magistrate Gu. Last time he secretly passed information to us, and we still have not had the chance to thank him properly. Magistrate Gu is incompetent anyway. He cannot even keep his own advisor under control. Better to have Chancellor Meng replace him with someone more capable. That way, official correspondence between the two counties would proceed much more smoothly.”

.

Magistrate Wang and his advisor were racking their brains trying to deal with Lin Yue. Gu Yun was also racking his brains trying to deal with Lin Yue, although the scale of the matter was somewhat different.

Gu Yun was seething with resentment. He had already grabbed Lin Yue by the throat, yet still felt dissatisfied. After all, he could not genuinely strangle the man to death, and he did not even dare use too much force.

Sulking, he withdrew his hand and stared expressionlessly at the ceiling.

The roof of the house had not been fully sealed, and several spider webs hung overhead in places impossible to clean. After imagining one of those webs going splat onto Lin Yue’s body, Gu Yun suddenly thought of something. His eyes lit up as he carefully climbed out of bed.

Putting on his shoes, he crept through the darkness to the table, blew alight the fire striker he had bought that day, and lit the bean oil lamp. From inside the book chest, he took out a brush, inkstone, and stick of ink.

He poured cold water into the inkstone and, by the flickering firelight, ground out a little ink. Picking up the brush and dipping it into the ink, he crept stealthily to the bedside and bent down to observe Lin Yue.

Lin Yue was sleeping on his side, his posture unchanged, his expression peaceful.

Still not awake.

Gu Yun carefully brushed aside the hair covering the back of Lin Yue’s neck. Pinching the collar between his thumb and forefinger, he tugged it down slightly. Then he aimed the brush tip at the exposed skin of his neck and lightly drew an oval.

Leaning forward to check, he saw Lin Yue remained asleep just as he had hoped.

Around the oval, he added several curved lines, drawing six irregular shapes. Inside the largest one, he dotted two points, then beneath them drew a crescent.

He really did have a bit of talent for drawing.

Look at this turtle. Positively lifelike.

Holding the brush, Gu Yun admired his masterpiece and nodded in satisfaction. Then he burst into muffled laughter.

Lin Yue shifted slightly.

Gu Yun hurriedly covered his mouth and looked towards Lin Yue in alarm.

That strikingly handsome face was turned away from the lamplight, submerged in shadow. Those captivating phoenix eyes remained closed, while each distinct eyelash carried an air of quiet stillness.

Gu Yun started laughing again. Not as brazenly as before, but with his mouth covered, chuckling softly to himself.

Once he had laughed enough, he fanned dry the ink on the back of Lin Yue’s neck, restored his collar and hair to their original positions, then retreated to the table and tidied away all evidence of his crime. After blowing out the lamp, he climbed contentedly back into bed in the dark and closed his eyes to sleep.

He passed the night without dreams. The next morning, just as the sky was turning pale with first light, Gu Yun awoke.

A fine morning like this naturally called for studying.

Back in secondary school, he had also risen at around this hour. Only top students had the right to act wilfully.

However, Lin Yue had awakened even earlier. By now, he had already washed up and was currently leafing through the same book from the previous night.

Gu Yun had been too distracted by Lin Yue teasing him the night before to pay much attention, but today he finally took notice.

He realised Lin Yue intended to sit the imperial examinations.

Bi Laosan was a student at the county academy, but he was a complete fraud. His family had donated money to secure his place, bypassing the child examinations altogether. What he was currently studying was preparation for next year’s provincial examinations.

Lin Yue had learned all this from the servant boy.

Gu Yun remembered that Lin Yue had already gone through all the books inside the book chest.

He had Bi Laosan’s schoolwork completely under control. The assignments he handed over were perfectly calibrated to Bi Laosan’s proper level.

Whenever Lin Yue completed the assignments, he also produced another copy that was flawless and beautifully done. It was this version he had used previously when teaching Gu Yun characters.

Yet Lin Yue had never handed that version to Bi Laosan. Once finished, he simply tossed it into the fire and burned it. Comparing his own efficiency in completing assignments against Lin Yue’s, Bi Laosan had not even realised the consumption of paper and ink was rather abnormal.

If Lin Yue could handle Bi Laosan’s current studies so effortlessly, then his own learning was certainly above Bi Laosan’s level. Ghost-writing assignments for him was more than easy enough, so naturally there was no need for him to keep reading ordinary books.

Therefore, there could only be one explanation for Lin Yue making such painstaking use of his time to study now.

Lin Yue was ambitious. He wanted official rank through the examinations.

Gu Yun leaned closer to look at the type of book Lin Yue was reading, immediately confirming his suspicions.

The book contained examination papers from previous successful provincial examination candidates, together with analyses of their answers.

After only a few glances, Gu Yun felt dizzy and overwhelmed. For a modern man who had only just learned to read and write the characters of this dynasty, it was far too profound.

Watching Lin Yue, Gu Yun actually sensed that same relaxed confidence unique to academic geniuses radiating from him.

Wait…Had he accidentally tricked some major figure?

Cold sweat nearly poured down Gu Yun’s back. He stopped looking at Lin Yue altogether, hurried through washing up, then picked up the Classic of Poetry and began reading it with stiff seriousness.

Once the sky had fully brightened, Gu Yun proactively went to heat the food. After Lin Yue finished eating and washed the bowls, he headed for the worksite.

The previous day he had already informed the old master craftsman that he would no longer continue working. Under the current circumstances, staying on was merely a waste of time. However, since the old craftsman had not yet found anyone to replace him, he intended to work another two days.

The old master craftsman had treated him well, so naturally he had to show some consideration in return.

That was secondary, though. The important thing was not to damage his own reputation. Right now, reputation was more important than money.

As for Bi Laosan’s assignments, he could continue ghost-writing them for the time being. The work was easy, convenient, and even saved paper and ink. There would still be time to quit before departure.

Meanwhile, Gu Yun needed to deliver the book chest to the bookshop. Since they were now staying here, Lin Yue could no longer carry the chest containing the assignments to the shop while also heading to the worksite.

Gu Yun volunteered to deliver it himself.

Lin Yue did not stop him. “I won’t be coming back for lunch. Just cook for yourself.”

Gu Yun asked, “Someone treating you to a meal?”

Lin Yue replied, “I’m asking someone to handle a matter for me.”

“Oh, alright,” Gu Yun answered.

Lin Yue then went out. As he stepped through the door, the sunlight fell warmly upon him. He tied his hair a little higher, exposing the long, slender stretch of neck wrapped by his collar.

Gu Yun, carrying the book chest on his back, was in the middle of locking the door when he caught sight of Lin Yue’s neck from the corner of his eye. Remembering last night’s masterpiece, he guiltily lowered his head.

…

After finishing work at noon, Lin Yue went to the yamen.

The constables on duty were lounging lazily to one side avoiding work. They had already heard about him, so the moment they saw him, they recognised him immediately. Two constables hurried forward eagerly.

“Young Master Lin, what wind has blown you here? Have you come to see the magistrate?”

Lin Yue said, “It’s only a minor matter. No need to trouble the magistrate.”

The constables immediately understood and grinned. “For us to be able to serve Young Master Lin is a tremendous honour.”

Lin Yue said, “I’m looking for a woman.”

“A woman?” The two constables exchanged glances. “May we ask Young Master Lin to describe her in more detail?”

Lin Yue said, “She is not a respectable woman. Her appearance is ordinary enough, though her features are decent. Around thirty years old. She does shady things that cannot bear the light of day, such as trafficking people. Beyond that, I know nothing further. I shall have to trouble the two of you.”

Hearing this, the constables immediately understood. “If she is still inside the county town, then we can certainly find her for Young Master Lin. It is only that, once we do find her…”

Lin Yue replied, “Handle the female trafficker exactly as the law prescribes.”

The two constables laughed. “Rest assured, Young Master Lin. Once we find her, we guarantee you will never see her again in this lifetime.”

Lin Yue thanked them and said he would treat them to drinks once the matter was settled. As the two sides chatted and laughed together, Magistrate Gu heard that he had arrived and sent someone to summon him.

Lin Yue therefore went to see Magistrate Gu.

Magistrate Gu and his family were in the middle of eating. He ordered someone to add another set of bowls and chopsticks so Lin Yue could join them. Bowing with cupped hands, Lin Yue said, “Then I shall respectfully accept.”

At that moment, Advisor Huang, who was accompanying them, pointed at the back of Lin Yue’s neck and laughed. “Young Master Lin, what is that drawn on the back of your neck?”

Lin Yue frowned.

Magistrate Gu leaned over to look. “What is it?”

Lin Yue stepped into the side room, accepted the bronze mirror from a maidservant, pulled open his collar, and turned his head to look.

Across the back of his neck was an ugly black pattern. After staring at it carefully for a while, he finally recognised what it was.

A turtle.

Lin Yue instantly guessed who had done it and laughed out of sheer fury.

The maidservant brought over a damp cloth.

Lin Yue said, “No need.”

He straightened his collar properly and looked in the direction of the rented house, his gaze dark and unreadable.

For no apparent reason, Gu Yun suddenly sneezed. Who was thinking about him?