Master Huang, unhurried, said, “Your master wanted me to eliminate that advisor of yours, and I did. The two tasks he gave me today, I have also completed.”
He smiled faintly.
“Regarding the past, I will not pursue matters with your master. Thanks to your master, the county magistrate now has murderous intent towards me, intending only to use me and then dispose of me afterwards.”
“Therefore, the benefits your master promised me must be delivered in full.”
“I know what your master intends to do next, and I have written it all down. If I am silenced, my relatives and friends will go to the yamen to file a complaint, and they will see this through to the bitter end.”
The man in black stared at him. “You are indeed as your master said, exceptionally clever.”
Master Huang replied, “If one is an advisor and not clever, how does one feed a household?”
The man in black slowly sheathed his blade.
Unfortunately, this cleverness is only petty cleverness. You will still pay for it with your life.
—
A few days earlier, Magistrate Wang had said to him, “Afterwards, deal with Master Huang’s entire family.”
The man in black replied, “As expected, they have guessed our plan. We should eliminate them completely…”
Magistrate Wang said, “You still do not understand what I mean. Send people to watch Master Huang now. If his family tries to escape, arrest them all quietly without alerting him. A fish without a tail cannot stir up waves.”
“Why not recruit him for your use instead?”
Magistrate Wang laughed. “Someone so clever, why would he serve me? Raising a tiger only invites being devoured. Enough, go and do it. I will draft a memorial. Magistrate Gu is waiting for the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to investigate me, and I am also waiting for him to be investigated. The only difference between us is that one of us lives, and one of us dies.”
—
The memory ended. The man in black said to Master Huang, “Rest assured, the rewards promised by my master will be delivered.”
Master Huang replied, “Then I am reassured.”
The two of them waited quietly for Lin Yue and his wife to arrive at the rear of the county magistrate’s residence.
—
At this time, Gu Yun and Lin Yue had brought the food back into their room and were asking whether Lin Yue wished to bathe and change before attending the banquet.
Gu Yun was somewhat nervous.
Lin Yue said, “If you want to be particular about it, that’s fine. I’ll boil water for you.”
Meaning it was unnecessary.
Gu Yun, however, suddenly became curious again about why Lin Yue had gained the magistrate’s favour. As his curiosity deepened, another thought surfaced: since Lin Yue was so capable, could he be used to secretly deal with Magistrate Wang…?
Lin Yue lifted his face. “What are you plotting now?”
Gu Yun looked at him in shock.
Lin Yue said, “Tell me.”
Gu Yun immediately shook his head, firmly denying it. After thinking it through again, he abandoned the idea of revenge against Magistrate Wang.
The common man should not fight officials. He had finally obtained a stable life, and in truth, he had already begun to forget those past days.
Besides, the county magistrate had already said he would deal with Magistrate Wang. He should… be able to.
Lin Yue opened a drawer, took out a brand-new dagger, and placed it inside his chest pocket.
“Do not act on your own initiative.”
As if I could.
Gu Yun asked, “When did you buy this dagger?” He had not even noticed it in the drawer.
Lin Yue replied, “Two days ago.”
Gu Yun asked again, “So you’re bringing it to the county yamen?”
Lin Yue smiled. “Better safe than sorry.”
Gu Yun understood the implication and instinctively touched the small wooden blade he carried on his person. He felt, suddenly, that it was inadequate.
He looked around and found that the only sharp weapon left in the house was a kitchen knife, but it was too large and heavy to carry.
Hesitantly, he said, “Then… maybe I shouldn’t go?”
Lin Yue said, “Sure. Then wait for the county magistrate to come and invite you personally.”
Gu Yun met his gaze. Seeing his hand reach towards his face, he retreated a step, jumped over the threshold, and, with undisguised resentment, said, “You’ll be licking your lips sooner or later. You’ll end up poisoned one day.”
Lin Yue raised a brow. “I said better safe than sorry. You’re worrying unnecessarily. Do you think I am the sort of man who abandons his wife and runs for his life?”
Gu Yun covered his ears and walked out. After a few steps, faint laughter drifted through his fingers. Then he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.
He quickly walked to the kitchen, scooped a ladle of clean water from the communal vat, and drank it from a distance.
“What are you doing?”
Lin Yue had followed silently behind him.
Gu Yun: “……”
His hand trembled. Water splashed across the lower half of his face. Cold droplets soaked his clothes. His body stiffened. His throat moved and he swallowed with a “gulp”.
He was utterly defeated, yet still forced a smile. “I’m drinking water.”
Lin Yue walked over slowly, not questioning him further. He used a handkerchief to wipe the water from his face and clothes, then leaned down and kissed his lips.
“I see.”
You see nothing at all. Gu Yun pressed his lips together tightly.
—
They arrived at the county yamen. Before they could even reach the rear courtyard, the magistrate and others came out to receive them. After greetings and laughter, they entered the residence together.
The last glow of sunset lingered on mountain peaks veiled in grey mist. Smoke curled from chimneys several li outside Zhuyang County.
This border region of Nanling Prefecture was heavily forested and sparsely populated. The roads were rougher and narrower than those leading to the capital, overgrown with weeds.
A post station stood there.
Meng Zhao, Ning Fu, and the others ate a hurried meal under the post station’s hospitality and rested briefly before deciding to continue towards Zhuyang County.
The post station attendants brought out fresh horses to replace their exhausted mounts.
“Please take care, sirs,” they said.
Meng Zhao nodded, took the reins, and mounted his horse, gazing into the distance where layered mountains stood dark and vast.
Ning Fu said, “San-lang*, let’s go.”
(*TN: lang = in this context translates to something like “Mr.” or “Young Master”.)
Meng Zhao was the third son of his generation in the Meng family, and those close to him called him San-lang.
He turned, his expression stern. “All of you, stay alert. We are less than forty li from Zhuyang County.”
“Yes!” the others responded.
They spurred their horses onward, kicking up dust as they vanished from the post station.
About ten li from Zhuyang County, Ning Fu suddenly reined in his horse. “Whoa!”
He stared ahead. “San-lang… something is wrong.”
Meng Zhao looked up. Night had fallen. The wind was still. Yet the outline of Zhuyang County was faintly illuminated by firelight.
Ning Fu said, “We can see it from this distance. The fire is large. Winter is approaching. Even though it is dry, a fire of this scale would not be caused by a simple accident. This is not an ordinary fire.”
Meng Zhao said, “Take your men and enter the city.”
Ning Fu replied, “Yes.”
Meng Zhao continued, “Once inside, split into two groups. One goes to the county yamen, the other to His Highness’s current residence. If there is trouble at His Highness’s residence, then the yamen will also be in chaos. Find the magistrate and tell him not to worry about the yamen fire, but to mobilise all manpower to support His Highness’s residence.”
He took out a sealed envelope and handed it to two attendants.
“Deliver this letter to…”
Then he turned his horse and rode back, heading to seek the Assistant Prefect of Nanling Prefecture to request troops.
—
At this moment, the county yamen was engulfed in flames. Both front and rear courtyards were in chaos. Night watchmen and servants fled in panic.
The steward thought: the banquet was only halfway through, and suddenly this fire. What a disaster!
Sweating profusely, he supported the drunken magistrate and shouted, “Don’t push! Let the magistrate and the others out first!”
The scholar shouted, “Calm down! Do you not want your heads anymore?!”
The chaos gradually stabilised. A path was cleared. The steward and scholar supported the magistrate as they ran towards the back gate. The rear exit was closer, and the family members followed behind.
Lin Yue had drunk a little alcohol; Gu Yun had not drunk at all, so both were clear-headed. Lin Yue pulled Gu Yun along, covering their noses with a wine-dampened cloth.
Gu Yun understood: the faster they got out, the higher the chance others had of surviving. This world did not concern itself with equality.
Flames licked their skin with searing pain.
Thick smoke mixed with the stench of burning wood stung their eyes, bringing tears and blurring vision.
Just as they reached the back gate, screams erupted outside… Those of servants who had fled earlier.
Through the half-open door, Gu Yun saw masked men outside, bows fully drawn.
The steward said, “This way! There is another small gate!”
But when they arrived, it was the same scene.
“Front gate! Go to the front gate!” the steward shouted.
Gu Yun thought: if the back gate and small gate are blocked, the front gate must also be blocked.
And indeed, it was. Even those attempting to climb the walls were shot down by arrows.
The steward’s face went pale. “These bandits intend to burn us alive.”
Gu Yun remained relatively calm. He asked, “Is there a secret passage in the residence?”
The steward tried to steady himself and shook his head. “I have never heard of one.”
The magistrate’s wife was brought over; she also said she did not know.
She looked at the child in her arms, gritted her teeth, handed him to a maid, stepped forward, grabbed the magistrate by the collar, and slapped him hard.
The magistrate woke abruptly, looked around, screamed, rolled his eyes back, and fainted again.
“Useless.”
Gu Yun cursed.
Lin Yue kicked up a thick wooden pole, grabbed it casually, and said, “Those who know martial arts, follow me and fight out. I will report your bravery. The magistrate will reward you with wealth and rank.”
There were only a few night watchmen in the front yamen; only three knew martial arts, and two attendants could shoot arrows, though poorly.
Lin Yue had two stay behind the gate for support, then led the remaining three out, using a wooden vat lid as a shield across their chests.
They charged forward.
In an instant, arrows rained down.
