Chapter 91: Adding Fuel to the Fire

West Street was not far from the Boat Pavilion. Half an hour later, Zuo Jun and Wan Qi returned to report, accompanied by Liu Mingyi. Liu Mingyi was in his early twenties. Like most scholars of this era, he had a lean figure and delicate features. Perhaps driven by the hardships of life, his eyes lacked the firm conviction and fanaticism typical of a scholar, replaced instead by a weary and weathered exhaustion.

Xu You looked at Liu Mingyi’s right arm, where the grey cotton cloth wrapped around the wound was seeping with fresh red blood. "You are injured?" he asked.

Zuo Jun lowered his voice and said, "When Wan Qi and I arrived, we happened to run into people from the Celestial Masters. They were disguised and had already seized Liu Mingyi. During the fight, I was entangled by a dozen men and lowered my guard for a moment, causing Liu Mingyi to be slashed in the arm. Your subordinate has failed in his duty; please punish me, Master."

Hearing Zuo Jun ask for punishment, Wan Qi beside him looked puzzled for a moment. In her singular mindset, Xu You’s order was to bring Liu Mingyi back, and he hadn't said that injuries weren't allowed. However, Zuo Jun had stayed by Xu You’s side the longest, and since even he said so, there must be some special reason. Hesitating for a moment, she followed suit and said, "Please punish us, Master!"

Xu You chuckled softly. "To snatch a person back from the hands of the Celestial Masters is already a great merit. I should be rewarding you, not punishing you. Very well, go and rest first. Leave the rest to my wife and me."

Upon questioning Liu Mingyi, they learned that the sequence of events was indeed as Xu You had guessed. After receiving the assignment from the Boat Pavilion, Liu Mingyi immediately spread word everywhere about the wrongdoings of the Celestial Masters and interpreted the deeper meanings hidden within *The Legend of the White Snake* into straightforward language for the public. Because Liu Mingyi was a literate scholar well-respected by the neighbors in West Street, his words carried considerable weight. He quickly planted the seeds of doubt in the minds of the common people, which indirectly led to those two merchants being overheard chatting by Xi Yuanda, resulting in their tragic, unknown fates.

After the questioning, Feng Jiuniang arranged for Liu Mingyi to treat his wound. Although the blade wound was not particularly severe, infection was the primary concern; once it festered, it could become life-threatening. As Xu You was contemplating his next step, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Qian Qin trying to sneak away. With a cold snort, he demanded, "Where are you going?"

Qian Qin's body froze in place. After a long moment, she turned back, her eyes revealing embarrassment. Although the bet stipulated that she must obey Xu You's every word from then on, she couldn't mentally adjust overnight and still stubbornly put up a bold front. "It's none of your business where I'm going..."

"Oh, it seems someone is trying to renege on a debt!" Xu You’s lips curved upward. "I recall that you have read the *Zuo Zhuan*, which contains the phrase 'When a gentleman speaks, there must be proof and trust.' I wonder how you interpret that?"

Qian Qin could readily recall allusions from the *Zuo Zhuan*, so she naturally knew the meaning of this phrase, yet she argued evasively, "I am a young woman, not a gentleman..."

Xu You’s expression darkened. "You are in charge of the Boat Pavilion, with hundreds of retainers under your command. With a single word from you, you can drive them to face death unflinchingly. Is there any among them who treats you with contempt or insult because you are a woman? Is there any among them who harbors the intent of outward compliance and secret defiance because you are a woman?"

"This..."

Qian Qin stammered for a long time, her cheeks flushing with heat. She wanted to retort, but knowing she was in the wrong, she could not utter a single word.

"To make a wager is to make a promise. If you make a promise and fail to keep it, how can you command respect? If someone who cannot command respect is in charge of such an important Boat Pavilion, isn't that a mockery? Should any mishaps occur, upward, you fail the Master and Mistress; downward, you fail the boatmen and retainers. Ask yourself deep down in the quiet of midnight dreams: can your conscience rest in peace?"

Rebuked to her face, Qian Qin felt her lungs were about to explode with anger. Her slender hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and she ground her teeth almost to pieces. Glaring fiercely at Xu You, she snapped, "Stop talking! I admit defeat! If you want to torture me, just say it outright!"

"Don't flatter yourself. Torture you? I don't have the time nor the mood!" Xu You said indifferently. "Go down for now. When I am in the mood, I will come collect your wager!"

After Qian Qin left in a fit of rage, Zhan Wenjun, who had remained silent on the side, smiled and said, "This girl actually doesn't have a bad nature; she just loves sharp-tongued banter and, due to certain reasons, is at odds with me, which has caused her to vent her anger on you. Fortunately, you orchestrated everything brilliantly to make her submit completely."

Xu You apologized, "Forgive me, Madam! Qian Qin is your maid after all, and for me to discipline her like this borders on overstepping my bounds. I hope you don't mind!"

"You disciplined her well!" Zhan Wenjun sighed. "I am actually poor at managing subordinates. In my heart, I treat Bai Hua the best, yet Bai Hua went behind my back to collude with outside enemies. Qian Qin is somewhat close to the Divine Consort, and ever since I arrived, she hasn't truly opened her heart to me. Although her outward etiquette is still respectful, behind my back she has many cynical remarks. It's just that she is fairly responsible in running the Boat Pavilion, so I generally couldn't be bothered to argue with her. As for Shi Shu, you know her background, so although we are mistress and servant in name, she has never actually regarded me as her master. Only Wan Qi appears cold and unapproachable, but in truth she has a pure heart and unwavering loyalty, following me through life and death without ever taking a step back. Outsiders often say that my four maidsets—Shi, Bai, Qian, and Wan—are all my trusted confidantes, but how many can I truly rely upon as confidantes?"

"It is easy to know a person's face, but difficult to know their heart; that is a common thing in this world," Xu You comforted her. "With your kind and benevolent nature, Madam, governing your subordinates without relying solely on power tactics, you will naturally win their devotion."

"Very well, let us speak no more of this!" Zhan Wenjun had been valued by Guo Mian and taken charge of such a massive enterprise as the Guo family; her mental fortitude was far beyond that of ordinary people, and she rarely revealed her innermost thoughts. However, because she and Xu You had almost crossed a line in the room some days ago—and though they pulled back from the brink in time and stopped—she mentally regarded him as a very close person, which was why she showed a moment of weakness and spoke these words.

"Master, what shall we do next?"

Xu You smiled and said, "Since Xi Yuanda cannot keep his composure, we will add more fuel to the fire!"

At the Qiantang County Yamen.

Two gate-guarding bailiffs saw from afar a crowd of common people approaching. The first seven or eight people were wearing white mourning robes and holding up white paper with the character "Grievance" written in blood-red. The sound of their weeping could be heard for miles, and the bailiffs immediately knew something major had happened. One of them stepped forward to inquire about the reason, and upon hearing a rough outline, he became so dizzy and lightheaded that he could barely stand. Crawling and stumbling, he rushed into the yamen and happened to run into Bao Xi. Gasping, he reported, "Master Registrar, a crowd has come outside, accusing Xi Yuanda, the Disaster-Relieving Libationer of the Celestial Masters, of wrongdoings and taking human lives..."

Bao Xi was equally shocked, but his poise was deep, and his face remained calm. "Do not panic. Go and lead the crowd to the main hall to wait, while I go report this to the Magistrate."

Guo Yun was furious upon receiving the news. Donning his official robes, he ascended to the hall to hear the case. Seeing the hall awash with weeping, several women and elderly crones with runny noses and slurred speech who could not clearly explain what had happened, he felt helpless. At that moment, a scholar-attired man knelt on one knee and said, "May the Magistrate please listen!"

"Who is before the hall?"

"I am Liu Mingyi, a native of Qiantang, who has lived for generations in Walnut Lane on West Street. I am a neighbor to these people. I know a thing or two about their grievances, and the blade wound on my arm is also related to this case."

Guo Yun nodded. "Tell me in detail, without leaving out the slightest bit. If there is truly a grievance, the court's laws will uphold justice for you all!"

"What, the person wasn't captured?"

The two Five-Hundred-Lump Taoist Generals exchanged glances, both seeing deep terror in each other's eyes. Simultaneously, their knees went weak, and they dropped to a thudding kneel. Xi Yuanda strode up close to them, his gaze terrifying to the extreme. "As dignified Five-Hundred-Lump Generals, taking twenty men with you, you couldn't even capture a frail scholar! You have completely shamed the entire governance of Yangzhou!" With a sudden, flying kick, he sent one of them airborne. The man crashed heavily onto the window lintel before tumbling to the floor, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Speak, what on earth happened!"

The remaining kneeling Five-Hundred-Lump General said with trembling fear, "W-we brought men to Walnut Lane and had already captured Liu Mingyi, but on our way back, we encountered two people—a man and a woman—with immensely high cultivation levels. We fought with all our might but were no match, so we had to... had to watch helplessly as they rescued Liu Mingyi..."

"A man and a woman? Did you recognize their faces?"

"They wore veil hats; their faces... their faces were unclear!"

Xi Yuanda narrowed his eyes. Able to become the Disaster-Relieving Libationer of the Yangzhou commandery, he was naturally no fool. Although he didn't yet know what exactly had happened, he instinctively felt danger approaching.

"Were any brothers injured?"

"Eleven were injured, and one was severely wounded and died on the way back!"

Xi Yuanda flew into another rage. Dead was dead; he didn't care about his subordinates out of affection, but rather felt it was utterly disgraceful that so many men dealing with just two people had still resulted in a death. Reaching out, he slapped the kneeling man, sending him sprawling to the ground with a mouthful of blood and his body listing to one side.

"Get up, take the injured men, and leave the Zibin Building immediately. Also, take those two dead bodies from the secret room, find a secluded spot to dispose of them, and leave no traces!"

"Understood!"

Having arranged all this, Xi Yuanda thought everything was foolproof and went back inside to revel with the singing girl Zhan Ting had sent him, until the entire Zibin Building was surrounded by Qiantang County bailiffs, and he was panicked awake by Zhan Ting.

"Libationer, Bao Xi has arrived and explicitly demands to see you!"

Xi Yuanda asked curiously, "What does he want with me?"

Zhan Ting was equally clueless and asked in confusion, "Could it be that the Censorate has pressured Qiantang County, and Guo Yun has finally decided to help us?"

He had spent the entire day busy taking inventory of the Zibin Building's assets and knew nothing about Xi Yuanda murdering two merchants, nor that he had sent men to capture Liu Mingyi. Seeing Bao Xi step forward, he thought a turning point had arrived.

Xi Yuanda put on his clothes and said, "Let's go meet him!"

Bao Xi actually did not approve of Guo Yun's approach. Given Xi Yuanda's status, touching one part would affect the whole; without absolute certainty, one must never act rashly. However, Guo Yun had insisted on his own view, saying that when common people came to voice grievances and seek justice, failing to uphold it for them made one no different from beasts. This statement was too heavy, and Bao Xi dared not push his objections further, so he could only take things one step at a time. The situation was shrouded in mystery, and he needed to observe further.

"Master Registrar Bao!"

"Libationer Xi!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Bao Xi cut straight to the point. "The Magistrate invites the Libationer to the yamen for a chat!"

Xi Yuanda replied, "I have pressing matters at hand and cannot leave. Please convey my apologies to the Registrar."

"Oh?" Knowing that Xi Yuanda wouldn't comply easily, Bao Xi suddenly asked, "May I ask the Libationer, did you visit the banks of Qiantang Lake at noon today?"

"Indeed, I went to the lakeside to enjoy the scenery and returned fully satisfied!"

"Did you happen to encounter two men—one tall and plump, the other short and lean?"

"Never!"

"Have you ever seen Liu Mingyi?"

"Never!"

As an official accustomed to government service, Bao Xi possessed extraordinary interrogation skills and immediately knew Xi Yuanda was lying. Given the Disaster-Relieving Libationer's personality and demeanor, if he had nothing to hide, he would have flown into a rage and flicked his sleeves to leave long ago; why would he obediently answer these questions? Furthermore, without even asking who Liu Mingyi was, he flatly insisted he had never seen him—the flaws were simply too obvious.

Having seen through Xi Yuanda's lies, it meant the accusations made by the complaining common people were true. Instead of feeling any joy, Bao Xi was filled with worry. Turning to look at Zhan Ting, he said, "Master Zhan, you wouldn't mind if I had my men search the various rooms within the building, would you?"

Zhan Ting was baffled and didn't know what to do, but Xi Yuanda burst out laughing. "The Registrar comes on official orders; how could Master Zhan dare not comply? Please go ahead!"

Bao Xi's gaze lingered on Xi Yuanda's face for a moment, hatching a new plan. With a faint smile, he said, "Never mind! Sorry to have disturbed you both; I shall return to report now. Please don't see me out!"

After sending Bao Xi off, Zhan Ting muttered in puzzlement, "What kind of game is Bao Xi playing?"

Xi Yuanda gazed through the darkening sky, feeling as though a massive net was slowly being cast. Coldly, he instructed, "Have all your men go out and find out what has happened at the county yamen. Also, I will return to Linwu Mountain at dawn tomorrow to seek help from my Master. You must steady the situation here in Qiantang—do not panic, and above all, do not fall into chaos!"