Chapter 10: Home-style Tofu (Part 10)
When Zhang Lao Wu spoke these words, his hair was still disheveled, his clothes disarrayed, his body leaning slightly on his cane. His limbs trembled, his lips quivered, presenting such a pitiful sight that one couldn't bear to believe him, yet couldn't bear to disbelieve him either.
Cases of relatives reporting each other were already rare, let alone a grandfather reporting his own grandson. Jing Yi had never even heard of such stories in teahouse storytelling sessions.
Jing Yi frowned and glanced at Leng Yue, only to find her staring back at him with a gaze so intense it seemed capable of drilling holes through his skull.
While Leng Yue had encountered cases of grandfathers reporting grandsons outside the capital region, even when other grandfathers reported their good-for-nothing Turtle Grandsons, they would take the matter to local magistrates. Within the capital, there was the Capital Prefecture Office, yet Zhang Lao Wu hadn't gone there, instead secretly seeking out the Deputy Chief of the Supreme Court. What was his motive?
Most of the time, such unofficial reports sought negotiation - and Jing Yi happened to be someone who could negotiate anything. Leng Yue stared at Jing Yi's head precisely to warn this particular head not to act recklessly in broad daylight.
She had already collected nearly enough reasons to chop off his head today.
As she continued staring, she saw Jing Yi's gaze darken and shift toward Zhang Lao Wu as he spoke gently and amiably, "Sir, please speak plainly. I'll do everything within my power to help."
Leng Yue quietly moved several steps closer to Jing Yi, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him without uttering a word.
At this distance, she could employ no less than seven methods in the blink of an eye to make him shut up obediently.
"Fourth Young Master, you're a good man, a truly good man..." Zhang Lao Wu shuffled half a step closer to Jing Yi. Perhaps because he was lowering his voice excessively, his words trembled particularly violently. "My... my grandson has committed murder. I can't protect him, or I'd have no face to meet my Zhang family ancestors in the afterlife... But he's my only grandson. His parents died young, I raised him with my own hands... I just want to see him one more time... If other officials catch him, I don't have that much money, I definitely won't get to see him... Fourth Young Master, please have mercy!"
As Zhang Lao Wu spoke, he began to kneel, but Jing Yi quickly caught and supported him. With a slight frown yet still maintaining his gentle tone, he said, "Sir, don't worry... First tell me, about this matter of paying money to see prisoners - have you witnessed it yourself, or heard about it from others?"
Zhang Lao Wu stared blankly, "This... isn't this the rule in government offices? The bigger the office, the more they demand. If he gets thrown into the Capital Prefecture prison, it would cost no less than a hundred taels of silver..."
Leng Yue's heart had already ached upon hearing the old man's plea, but upon hearing these words, her sorrow mixed with rising anger. Unable to contain herself, she burst out, "Those fucking virtue-deficient bastards!"
Zhang Lao Wu jumped at this full-throated roar, nearly dropping his cane. He waved his hands frantically at Leng Yue, "Madam, you mustn't curse, you mustn't... It'll bring disaster!"
As Jing Yi supported the terrified, weak-kneed Zhang Lao Wu, he sighed inwardly. He completely understood why she was so furious."Well... what my wife means is that the way the yamen is handling this matter is rather inappropriate... I've taken note of this and will certainly report it to the imperial court in a few days."
Though Jing Yi was speaking to Zhang Lao Wu, Leng Yue felt these words were more directed at her. His voice was as gentle as a soft yet reassuring embrace, inexplicably extinguishing her anger while stirring other emotions deep within her.
After a brief pause, Jing Yi continued gently, "First, please explain clearly what happened with your grandson. Who did he kill, and how?"
Zhang Lao Wu sighed, shaking his head as he slowly raised his hand to point toward the firewood feeding port about shoulder-width wide. "He killed someone right here—stuffed the person into the feeding port and burned them to death..."
Burned to death.
Leng Yue tensed and blurted out, "How do you know this?"
Zhang Lao Wu didn't find it strange that the daughter-in-law of the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would be curious about a murder case, so he answered truthfully, "My apprentice, Xu Qing, also works here firing kilns... He was supposed to be on duty that night, but his wife fell ill and needed him home. My grandson came to substitute for him. Xu Qing said my grandson kept cursing all day about wanting to kill someone. When he asked what was wrong, my grandson wouldn't explain clearly, just told him to wait and see..."
Zhang Lao Wu swallowed and took a breath to steady his trembling voice before continuing, "The next morning when Xu Qing returned for his shift, there was a charred body stuffed in the feeding port. The kiln fire had gone out, and my grandson was nowhere to be found..."
As if unable to bear listening further, Leng Yue's brows knitted tightly. She stepped toward the feeding port and began examining the kiln opening intently.
Jing Yi maintained his gentle expression, speaking with the attentive concern of someone chatting with an elder about daily matters. "Was all this information told to you by your apprentice?"
Zhang Lao Wu nodded, his eyes slightly reddened though his voice had grown calmer. "He knew my grandson is my only descendant. Worried I couldn't handle it if something really happened to him, he first hid the burned body in a chest, then came to my house to check if my grandson was home... When he couldn't find my grandson and returned, even the burned body had disappeared. That's when he told me everything... With both my grandson and the burned person missing, I had no other choice. I first told Boss Xiao that my grandson had returned to his hometown for personal matters and that I would take over. I was just considering how to find you when you arrived."
Zhang Lao Wu heaved a deep sigh and shook his head vigorously. "I spoiled that grandson since he was little. He's got a terrible temper and has caused plenty of trouble... That he could commit such a crime now is entirely my fault!"
Jing Yi didn't offer comforting words in response, instead speaking with gentle certainty, "Whose fault it is can only be determined after we find him... If you truly want me to locate him, please describe what he looks like and where he might go."
Zhang Lao Wu thought as he spoke, "He... his name is Zhang Chong, thirteen years old, about my height... round face, large eyes with double eyelids, quite handsome... He lost a canine tooth in a fight before, so he speaks with a slight lisp... He loves the buns from Qingxiang Restaurant most, and sometimes gambles with dice on the streets... That's about all.""Alright..."
Just as Jing Yi uttered the word "alright," Leng Yue walked back from the firewood feeding port and seamlessly intercepted his words. "Uncle, I have some questions about porcelain I'd like to consult you on. Would it be convenient for me to visit your home sometime?"
Zhang Lao Wu blinked in surprise. "To... to my home?"
Leng Yue smiled humbly, appearing completely different from the sharp-tongued young woman who had just been scolding her grandson moments before. "I've recently acquired a few treasures and would appreciate your expert opinion. But with so many people around here, it's not very convenient to discuss them."
"Oh... that's easily arranged." Zhang Lao Wu glanced toward the kiln. "After this firing is complete... I'll be home from tonight until tomorrow afternoon. My house is in the alley right next to Qingxiang Tower - it's the last household at the very end, easy to find."
Leng Yue acknowledged this, then hesitated before adding, "Please don't think me impolite, but the items in my possession are quite valuable. Would it be possible for your apprentice Master Chen to also take a look?"
"No problem at all... He needs to monitor the fire here tonight, but I'll tell him to come to my house first thing tomorrow morning."
"Thank you so much, uncle."
"Don't mention it..." Zhang Lao Wu looked at Jing Yi and sighed again. "If Fourth Young Master could just let me see my grandson one more time, I'd be eternally grateful..."
"You can rest assured..."
Before Jing Yi could finish his sentence, Leng Yue linked arms with him. Startled, he left his words unfinished.
Still holding Jing Yi's arm, Leng Yue said to Zhang Lao Wu, "Then I'll trouble you again tomorrow."
"Alright, alright..."
Without giving Jing Yi a chance to speak further, Leng Yue guided him out the door. They passed through the courtyard where the kiln was located, not bothering to check if Xiao Yunde had returned, and continued straight through the front estate until they reached the main gate.
Jing Yi attempted to speak with her several times - mentioning how pitiful Zhang Lao Wu was, suggesting she didn't need to consult others about porcelain when she could just show it to him - but Leng Yue ignored all his remarks.
Leng Yue's horse was tethered to a hitching post by the gate, but she didn't go to retrieve it. Instead, still without a word, she led Jing Yi along the compound wall, moving away from the main entrance until they reached a secluded spot at the corner. There, she suddenly spun around and pinned Jing Yi against the wall with one hand, while her other hand roughly yanked the silver bracelet from his waist. Holding it up before his eyes, she enunciated each word clearly: "How did our engagement token end up in someone else's possession?"
Jing Yi sighed silently.
He had known all along that her earlier composure didn't mean she wasn't bothered by this matter - she had simply prioritized more urgent matters, choosing to settle this score later.
"This..." Jing Yi remained obediently pressed against the wall, looking at the small silver bracelet that had hung from his waist since childhood. He replied somewhat weakly, "I'm not entirely sure either. Two thieves inexplicably stole it from me on the street. When I noticed and chased after them, I happened to see them beating an old man. The moment I appeared, they stopped. I demanded the bracelet back, but they refused, so I had to resort to force..."
"So that story about losing a bet and getting beaten up was fabricated to deceive me?"
"It wasn't exactly deception... That's the story I told everyone."Leng Yue clearly didn't find any comfort in knowing others had been deceived alongside her. Her expression darkened further, her voice turning colder. "So you got stabbed because you lost it and tried to get it back?"
Seeing Leng Yue's terrifyingly grim face, Jing Yi nodded obediently. "There were two of them. The bracelet was hidden in one person's clothes, and the red cord became visible during the fight. When I tried to grab it, I wasn't careful and got slashed from behind... But at least I got it back."
Before Jing Yi finished speaking, Leng Yue couldn't hold back a stream of curses, each angrier than the last. "Are you fucking stupid! Brainless! Did a donkey kick your head or was it crushed by a door!"
Yes, Jing Yi had thought the same back then—he must have been utterly brainless to have his most treasured possession stolen in broad daylight.
This item was precious not only because it once belonged to Leng Yue, but also because if it were lost, their arranged marriage would be void.
Without this marriage contract, how likely was it that Leng Yue would still agree to marry him?
Jing Yi never dared to be certain, so this bracelet was truly important to him.
"My lady speaks wisely..."
"Wisely your head!"
Leng Yue's voice rose several pitches, shouting until it cracked. "Why would you risk your life for this thing? If they'd killed you, was I supposed to marry the bracelet?!"
After these furious words, Leng Yue's eyes reddened. The eyes glaring at him were glistening with tears, making Jing Yi freeze for a moment before snapping back to reality.
"Xiao Yue..."
"You bastard!"
Though these were unmistakably curse words, to Jing Yi they sounded like the highest praise from all the world.
Ignoring how loudly she was scolding him and the hand tightly pressing his shoulder, he pulled her into his embrace.
"...Let go of me!"
Jing Yi released her—but not before planting a deep, tender kiss on her delicate lips. After letting go, he dutifully leaned back against the courtyard wall, gazing at Leng Yue's flushed eyes and cheeks with pure innocence. "Seven copies of Biographies of Exemplary Women—I'll finish copying them tonight."
"..."
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