Chapter 96: Lost in a Fog of Anxiety and Fear

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Jia Mao’er exchanged a glance with Wang Qinian. When they reached a spot a little farther away, Jia Mao’er asked, “What shall we do?”

“Like with that Yang Fu?”

“That won’t do. Yang Fu is a slave, but this one is an official…”

“Just let him go like that?”

“That won’t do either. Half-measures won’t help Lord Ye; they’ll only bring trouble upon him.”

“Then, Brother Mao’er, what do you suggest? I can’t think of anything right now.”

“Even if the two of us are tied together, we’re not as clever as Lord Ye. The only option now is to inform Lord Ye again!”

“True. If we act on our own, it might backfire.”

Once they agreed, they sent someone to ride back swiftly to Wolong Valley to consult.

They had taken a detour along the mountain path, actually not far away, so it wasn’t long before the messenger came back.

“What did Lord Ye say?”

“Lord Ye was considering disguising someone as a woman, but now it’s unnecessary. With this official seal, naturally someone will go to Yuan Zai to cause trouble.” The man relayed Lord Ye’s general plan.

Jia Mao’er and Wang Qinian burst out laughing. They whispered for a while, then Wang Qinian let out a strange laugh and said, “So be it!”

Meanwhile, Yuan Zai had been uneasy for a long time. Ever since handing over the official seal, those people had ignored him. He knew they must be deliberating, perhaps even verifying the seal’s authenticity. But no matter how long discussions lasted, it shouldn’t take this long.

Only then did he hear someone clear their throat: “So it truly is the Prefect—new Prefect. We humble villagers knew nothing of the Prefect’s arrival. Seeing two shadowy figures, we inadvertently offended you. Please forgive us.”

Yuan Zai snorted, “Ignorance is no excuse. If that’s so, will you release me now?”

“To be frank, we fear the Prefect’s revenge. We must consider carefully. Prefect, please be patient.”

Yuan Zai sneered inwardly. Of course they intended revenge—vengeance to the death! He was just worried about having no reason to imprison Ye Chang. This group was his perfect tool. If they struck hard, no matter how formidable Ye Chang’s backing was, they could control him. Even if they claimed Ye Chang ordered it, no one would dare oppose them.

As they asked him several detailed questions, he answered them all, despite the blindfold. He did not notice Jia Mao’er and Wang Qinian signaling to another person, who nodded in readiness.

This man was the one who had accompanied Ye Chang to Wuzhi County disguised as cattle thieves, later impersonating a member of the Zheng family from Xingyang. He was well acquainted with Jia and Wang, though active mostly around Luoyang. This time, accompanying them to pay New Year respects to Ye Chang, he happened upon this incident.

After signaling he was ready, he quietly left. Yuan Zai was placed on a cart under guard. He repeatedly asked why he was not released, but was met with laughter to cover the answers.

That night, he did not return home. Instead, alone, he handed a document stamped with the County Captain’s seal to the office, instructing them to inform his wife that he was on official business in Wuzhi and would not return that night.

While still on the cart, he suddenly felt warmth as a bundle of wheat straw was piled onto him. His first thought was to burn it, so he begged for mercy, swearing and promising to offer a generous reward and no revenge later. Yet no sound came from around him—just one bundle after another of straw piling up, until he could no longer hear outside noises at all.

In terror, unaware how much time had passed, Yuan Zai was dragged to a place and finally got off the cart. The place was drafty; though there was a fire, he still shivered through the night. Exhausted, he finally fell into a heavy sleep. At dawn, freezing cold woke him. Looking around, it was pitch black. Only then did he remember the sack over his head had not been removed.

“Everyone? Anyone there?”

His voice broke the silence, but no sound replied.

“Could someone add more wood? The fire’s gone out.”

Still no response.

Listening intently and hearing nothing, he dared to bring his hands up and untied the sack on his head.

Looking around, he found himself in a dilapidated firewood shed; no wonder the cold pierced to his bones. Fortunately, the kidnappers were no longer near.

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Yuan Zai originally intended to untie the ropes on his hands immediately, but reconsidered—what if the kidnappers were outside? He cautiously peered through cracks in the walls and saw no one. Only then did he tear at the bindings with his teeth.

The ropes were stiff and foul-smelling, nearly making him gag. After some effort, he broke free. He pushed open the firewood door and looked and listened again, confirming no one was around, then stepped outside.

His heart was filled with both joy and fear: joy at escaping the bandits, fear because he had lost his official seal. Once news spread, it would be a grave offense. He did not know that Yuan Gonglu had also once lost his seal; otherwise, he might have found strange coincidence in the fact that both men surnamed Yuan, both county captains in Xiuwu, had lost their seals.

But Yuan Gonglu had Ye Chang’s help to retrieve his, while Yuan Zai might not be so lucky.

“If I am to be punished for losing the seal, before dismissal, I will make sure to eliminate Ye Chang—or that scoundrel—who caused me this suffering.”

Yuan Zai’s teeth chattered—half from cold, half from hatred. He was prepared to fight to the bitter end; since the seal was gone and he could no longer serve as county captain, it was only a matter of time before he was exposed and punished. Better to use the power he still had to finish Ye Chang once and for all.

Whether this would worsen his own punishment, he no longer cared to consider.

Having been driven around for hours the previous day, Yuan Zai had no idea where he was. Though at odds with Ye Chang, he was not a fool; judging by the direction of the sunrise, he picked a way and went straight.

After a long time, he finally saw a figure. The man, seeing Yuan Zai in a wild state, heard him call out, then turned and ran without a word. Yuan Zai tried to give chase, but having not eaten for days, he lacked the strength and could only watch the man disappear.

Dizzy and weak, Yuan Zai looked up at the sky, his hatred for Ye Chang doubling: all this misery was caused by him!

Yet where there is one person, there is often another. Yuan Zai hoped to find someone to ask for directions. A little further on, he saw a group of men, all holding hoes and shovels, led by the man he had seen before.

At first, Yuan Zai was relieved—more people might mean someone bold enough to listen. But from afar, he heard them shout, “There! That one must be a villain. Let’s beat him first!”

Yuan Zai turned and fled immediately. He was already terrified of being beaten; if they mistook him for a villain and pummeled him, he doubted he’d survive.

But how could he outrun farmers used to working the fields? Soon they caught up. He was struck by a hoe, then a shovel, and only by leaping into a ditch did he barely escape.

Barely escaped, but a new trouble arose: the cold!

It was still early spring, biting cold that even the strong found hard to endure, let alone Yuan Zai, a scholar!

Frozen to the point of tears and snot streaming down, Yuan Zai’s luck finally turned. Crossing the ditch, he found an old man and asked for directions. He learned he was no longer in Xiuwu but in Wuzhi County.

Tempted by a generous reward, the old man changed his clothes and arranged a slow ox cart, heading toward Xiuwu. The journey was slow, and the road broke down once, taking two full days before Yuan Zai glimpsed the Xiuwu county town.

Seeing the now-familiar town, Yuan Zai’s eyes welled with tears.

“Sir, this is Xiuwu County Town. You said bringing you here would earn a generous reward… I don’t dare refuse, but you must pay the old man thirty to fifty coins, right?” The old man stopped at the gate, refusing to go further.

Entering the town required a tax. If he took Yuan Zai inside without a reward, he’d suffer the loss.

“Into the town, old sir. Even if you don’t trust me, trust my clothes. If no reward is given, you can keep these clothes.”

“Those clothes belong to me! Sir, you jest. How can you give me my own clothes as payment?” The old man bristled. “I was kind-hearted to help a scoundrel like you!”

“Enter the town and get your reward. Don’t, and you get nothing. You know I have nothing else on me…”

“I don’t care. Only money!”

They argued. A gate guard came to check and vaguely recognized Yuan Zai.

“Hey, you look… familiar…”

“I am Yuan Zai, the county captain of this county!” Yuan Zai could no longer bear it and shouted, “Who knows me?”

He thought that in a county town, someone would recognize him. If so, entering the town and repaying debts would be easier.

“Yes, yes, the new Prefect Yuan… tsk tsk, Prefect Yuan looks like this…”

The guard seemed to realize and whispered to others. Soon, more people whispered and pointed at Yuan Zai.

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Yuan Zai was deeply embarrassed, feeling everyone was mocking his wretched state. His hatred for Ye Chang nearly reached its peak.

“Prefect Yuan, the magistrate said yesterday that anyone who sees you should immediately bring you to meet him.” The guard bowed but showed little respect.

Yuan Zai snorted and called for the old man’s reward. The old man accepted the money but muttered, “I helped the wrong person. This Prefect may be an official, but he has no humanity!”

Before Yuan Zai could get angry, the old man drove off. The assembled soldiers and townsfolk covered their mouths and chuckled. Yuan Zai felt strange. Despite his sorry state, people should sympathize, not mock.

Could it be that Ye Chang’s influence in Xiuwu was so great that the people lost all sense of right and wrong?

“Demon!” Yuan Zai ground his teeth at the thought.

But he was no Zhuge Liang; curses would not kill. Rumors had already spread, and everyone who saw him covered their mouths to laugh.

“What happened? What’s the matter?” Yuan Zai asked the guide guard.

The guard grinned, unafraid: “The Prefect’s fame as a rake has spread through Xiuwu. Many admire him and follow him.”

Yuan Zai knew he was lying, but since all officials were cunning and corrupt, and he had no proof to punish him, he just gave a cold glance and said nothing.

What puzzled him more was that many idle townsfolk began to follow him all the way to the government office.

Yuan Zai’s face darkened further. He vaguely felt that during the day’s delay, something had changed in Xiuwu County—something extremely unfavorable to him.

At last the county office came into view. Seeing him approach, the guards bowed, “Prefect, please wait. I will notify the magistrate…”

“Hmph.”

Yuan Zai’s irritation grew. Perhaps because of Wang Zhongsi behind him, Magistrate Feng had always been courteous. Yuan Zai never had to be announced upon entering the office. But now a guard dared to block him—surely the magistrate’s order!

After waiting the length of an incense stick, Yuan Zai lost patience and turned to leave. Just then, the guard returned: “Prefect, please enter.”

He flicked his sleeve and stepped forward—usually with measured grace, the so-called “graceful official’s walk,” neither hurried nor slow. But with worries on his mind, he strode in hastily.

Behind the scenes, Feng Du was mockingly called “Feng Bamboo Horse” by the guards—meaning all show, no action, a braggart. Sitting solemnly before the hall, he did not rise but simply gestured for Yuan Zai to sit.

Yuan Zai narrowed his eyes: how dare the magistrate be so rude!

“Gongfu, you have acted recklessly!”

Before he could settle, Feng Du began to scold him outright, leaving Yuan Zai baffled. He was stunned, not knowing how to respond, when Feng Du continued:

“Your recklessness has stirred up the entire town, making us colleagues ashamed to face anyone, and damaging the dignity of the court…”

Yuan Zai could no longer sit still. “Magistrate, how can you say that? Though I am incompetent, I would never bring dishonor to the court!”

“Gongfu, do you still intend to hide the truth? Where were you yesterday?”

“Yesterday… I was about to report to you when I was kidnapped by a gang, who must have been sent by Ye Chang!” Yuan Zai said. “I beg you to order Ye Chang’s arrest for interrogation, and to capture all those bandits!”

Feng Du looked at him strangely, then said, “Gongfu, even if you refuse to admit your faults… don’t recklessly accuse others!”

“What?” Yuan Zai was stunned.