Chapter 67: It Is Said the Prison Is Quite Cool

The Liu family residence in Little Liu Village was a grand estate, occupying nearly a tenth of the village’s land. With three generations living under one roof and never having divided the household, the place felt perpetually crowded.

Daoning, clad in monk’s robes, let his eyes wander mischievously over the Liu family’s maids. Liu Fengyin, observing his nephew’s behavior, could not help but snort in disapproval.

This nephew was thoroughly disappointing. Had he possessed any merit, he would not have been expelled from Shifang Temple by Chunxin, nor would Liu Fengyin be forced to rack his brains to erect a Dragon Maiden Shrine for him.

“Where are you looking?” Unable to hold back any longer, Liu Fengyin barked.

“Ah... Uncle, I’m simply idle, just looking around, nothing more,” Daoning replied, awkwardly retracting his gaze and rubbing his shaved head.

“Hmph, today’s affair is of great consequence. If it succeeds, you’ll finally secure your position as abbot of the Dragon Maiden Shrine, and henceforth, pious men and women from miles around will flock to you. Those foolish women will be yours to command, will they not?” Liu Fengyin struck his cane hard against the ground. “You never strive for anything. If only you possessed a fraction of Ye Eleven’s cunning, I would not have to worry so much.”

“I’ve learned a thing or two, haven’t I? Ye Eleven brought in a rough monk to impersonate Weituo, so I found a painted-face performer to play Wu Ze’s Dragon Maiden. Ye Eleven staged a Buddha’s judgment, while I arranged for the Dragon Maiden to manifest her powers,” Daoning declared, proud of himself.

“Is that your wit? All those ideas were mine! I even hired skilled swimmers from outside the region, intending to stir up some spectacle in the water, but now I have to clean up your mess instead—”

Noticing his nephew had become a little too pleased with himself, Liu Fengyin rebuked him sternly, lest the younger man misunderstand their relative status. Sure enough, Daoning fell silent, shooting Liu Fengyin a resentful glance.

“They should have returned by now... why have none come back?” Liu Fengyin muttered, rising uneasily.

“Burials are never so simple, a delay is inevitable,” Daoning replied.

“What do you know? By now, there’s time enough for a monk to recite the Yan Kou. Why hasn’t any of our men returned to report?”

“Didn’t someone just come by, saying Ye Eleven was frightened and waiting at the river bend for the Dragon Maiden’s wrath?”

“That was an hour ago, and still no word. I fear something has happened. Those two southerners may be excellent swimmers, but no one can stay underwater for over an hour!”

“Perhaps they’ve caused trouble and slipped away?” Daoning was growing anxious himself.

“If Ye Eleven were dead, that would be ideal. But good men seldom live long, while evildoers endure for millennia. Ye Eleven is hard to kill; I doubt he’s gone so easily.”

“If he’s alive, so be it. What can he do?”

“You’re ignorant. If not for my presence, who could restrain Ye Eleven? Even the post of village chief would soon fall into the Ye family’s hands!”

“He has that ability?” Daoning remained doubtful. “He’s just a charlatan, tricking the gullible.”

“You—” Liu Fengyin started to scold him, but suddenly there was chaos outside, followed by the clamor of chickens, dogs, and people, sounding like pandemonium. Liu Fengyin frowned. “What’s happening out there—”

Someone rushed in, shouting, “Liu Fengyin, you’d better hide! The magistrate has ordered your arrest!”

“What?”

The newcomer was a county official, long friendly with Liu Fengyin, who had often bribed him. Now, this connection proved invaluable. He urged, “Hurry and hide! The Ye family from Wu Ze has accused you of hiring river bandits to commit murder. The constables and soldiers are already on their way. If you don’t flee now, it’ll be too late!”

With that, he left without further explanation. His warning was a great favor; any more would be reckless.

Liu Fengyin leapt up with surprising agility for an old man, his eyes filled with terror. “This is dreadful!”

If things were not dire, he would not react so. Public sentiment is iron, the law a forge—if arrested, even a stone statue must speak in court. Liu Fengyin knew the intricacies well, and that knowledge bred fear.

“Hide, hide!” he whispered, then turned and ran.

---

“Uncle, what about me?” Daoning was panicked; this upheaval was entirely unexpected.

No matter how he called out, Liu Fengyin ignored him. When disaster strikes, even birds sharing a tree fly apart; how much more so with these two, uncle and nephew in name only.

Liu Fengyin understood the rules of official pursuit: if he could disappear for three or five days, let the heat die down, then investigate the situation, pull strings or spend money, at worst drag it out for years, the matter would fade. Such was the way of the officials—what matter ever remained so important without profit?

But this depended on his ability to hide.

Fortunately, the weather was still warm, and the mountains offered plenty of places to conceal oneself, though mosquitoes would be a nuisance. With this in mind, Liu Fengyin picked up his pace, slipped out the back door, and crept along the wall. He knew if he were caught, all would be lost—not only would he suffer, but his property would be ruthlessly seized by officials. If he escaped, there was still hope.

In the past, he’d always gone out with pomp, accompanied by many relatives and several servants. Today, only his most loyal old servant followed, a pitiful, anxious pair, hoping not to be discovered.

At the village gate, Liu Fengyin sighed, leaning on his cane, “Such disgrace today—there will be retribution!”

“Master, hurry on. Tomorrow’s matters can wait for tomorrow,” the old servant urged.

The two left the village, and had not gone far when a commotion behind signaled the county officials’ arrival. Liu Fengyin’s hatred for Ye Chang intensified. “If that Ye brat isn’t dealt with, no one in the region will know peace!”

Just then, footsteps approached from behind. Turning, they saw Daoning running out, robes hiked up, calling, “Uncle, wait for me!”

“Why are you following?” Liu Fengyin snapped.

“I... I can serve you,” Daoning pleaded.

Liu Fengyin knew Daoning was afraid of being caught too. In a pinch, he couldn’t drive him away, so the three fled north toward Fufu Mountain.

They hurried, but were familiar with the terrain, and soon disappeared into the forest. Under cover of leaves, Liu Fengyin glanced back and saw smoke rising from Little Liu Village. He seethed, “This debt will all be remembered against that Ye brat. When my son returns, there will be vengeance!”

“You may not live to see that day,” a cold laugh echoed nearby.

Liu Fengyin spun around to see Ye Chang standing beneath a tree, arms crossed. Beside him were a dozen men from Wu Ze, both Ye clan and others, all staring with ill intent.

“How are you here?” Liu Fengyin exclaimed.

“With your temperament, you’d never surrender. You’d surely flee to the mountains. That’s obvious even to a child, yet you ask me?” Ye Chang raised his little finger in contempt.

Daoning, agitated, stepped forward to protest, but Liu Fengyin pulled him back.

Liu Fengyin’s gaze darted over the men with Ye Chang, his expression shifting. Even if Ye Chang had brought only the bald monk Shan Zhi, whose strength was legendary, he could easily handle the three of them.

“Eleven... Eleven, our Liu and Ye families have intermarried for generations. Even your mother is a granddaughter of the Liu family. By seniority, I am your grand-uncle. Though we haven’t kept in touch, our families are kin. Eleven, I erred in the past, but from now on—”

Finding escape impossible, the old man tried playing the kinship card, invoking family ties. Ye Chang merely smiled, letting him talk himself hoarse, without a hint of sympathy.

“The weather’s hot, and you’re quite elderly. Talking so long must be tiring,” Ye Chang finally spoke, languidly. “I hear the county jail is cool and pleasant. Why not stay there for a while?”

“Ye Eleven, are you determined to utterly destroy us?” Daoning could not restrain himself this time, leaping forward in anger.

“Annihilation is the business of court and officials. Me? I’m merely aiding in justice—seeing fugitives and helping the authorities,” Ye Chang replied, smiling. “I’ve just returned from Chang’an, and you immediately tried to drown me... plotting murder and calling me ruthless?”

“We only meant to scare you,” Daoning protested.

Everyone laughed, and Liu Fengyin scolded Daoning harshly, “You fool! If you can’t speak wisely, keep quiet—no one will mistake you for a mute!”

---

This was an open confession, confirming they had plotted against Ye Chang—enough to tie them to any further charges.

“Well, well, after decades in Xiuwu County, I never thought I’d fall into your hands, boy,” Liu Fengyin said, no longer feigning pity. He stared at Ye Chang with malice. “You did well, brat. Very well!”

The hatred in his words made the hairs on one’s neck stand up, but Ye Chang was unmoved. He signaled to his men, who surged forward and bound Liu Fengyin and his companions.

The men were all from Wu Ze, many having suffered at Liu Fengyin’s hands, and they were ruthless. By the time the three were tied up, their faces were battered and bruised.

Liu Fengyin endured in silence, while Daoning, though younger, moaned incessantly. Ye Chang could see the old man still plotting revenge, so he shook his head.

Such rural bullies were capable of any venomous scheme. Since Liu Fengyin showed no remorse and was bent on revenge, Ye Chang resolved not to show mercy.

“Take them to Little Liu Village.”

Everyone hesitated. Ye Zhi said, “Eleven, is this wise?”

“Don’t worry. If anyone in Little Liu Village tries to rescue him, it means the whole Liu clan is complicit,” Ye Chang replied coldly. “If you’re worried, gag their mouths. Without his orders, the Liu clan is leaderless. No one will dare act. Monk, if anyone does, capture them as well.”

They trusted the monk’s strength and Ye Chang’s intelligence, so they gagged the three and marched them toward the village. Liu Fengyin, puzzled, wondered why Ye Chang would risk bringing them to the village, especially if the Liu clan might riot. Even if the authorities followed up, it would be too late. What was Ye Chang’s purpose?

Over the past half year, Liu Fengyin had clashed with Ye Chang several times, directly and indirectly. He knew Ye Chang was no reckless gambler; there had to be a reason.

As they reached the village entrance, Liu Fengyin suddenly realized what was happening and struggled desperately, eyes filled with terror.

But his mouth was tightly gagged. He could only look at Ye Chang with pleading eyes, the hatred now replaced by fear. Ye Chang remained unmoved; he was not the farmer who would warm a snake in his bosom.

If weeds are not uprooted, spring winds will make them grow deeper. Today, Liu Fengyin’s root would be removed.

Inside the village, few gathered to watch. At the gate of Liu Fengyin’s residence, the reason became clear: most villagers were already assembled there, surrounding the county officials.

When Ye Chang brought Liu Fengyin forth, the villagers stirred uneasily. Before they could speak, Ye Chang raised his voice, “I am Ye Chang, called Ye Eleven, of Wu Ze. Hearing the county officials were capturing criminals, I came to assist. The chief culprit, Liu Fengyin, is here. Any who conspire with him will be arrested and sent to the county office!”

At his words, the crowd quieted.

No one was foolish; though Liu Fengyin was clan chief, few besides his own kin would risk being arrested as accomplices. If someone took the lead, perhaps others would follow, but now even Liu Fengyin’s own children kept their doors shut, let alone outsiders.

Ye Chang only needed to quell them temporarily. He signaled to the official among them.

The official, a confidant of Yuan Gonglu, knew his superior admired Ye Chang. He stepped forward, smiling, “Ye Langjun, today I owe you much. If not for you, I would have wasted my efforts—and if I delayed the magistrate’s business, I’d be punished!”

“May I ask your name?” Ye Chang bowed.

“My surname is Zhong, given name Wei, courtesy Huawen. I dare not accept your courtesy, Ye Langjun.”

“Officer Zhong, as they say, to catch a thief, you must seize the stolen goods. Though we have Liu Fengyin, we haven’t found his loot. Since we’re at the Liu residence, why not search for stolen property?”

Ye Chang whispered to Zhong Wei, and nearby constables’ eyes lit up.

Searching for loot was a lucrative task—especially in a grand estate like the Liu family’s. Ye Chang’s suggestion suited them perfectly; they looked at Ye Chang with renewed respect. No wonder Ye Langjun’s reputation preceded him—he knew how to act!