Chapter 109: Threatened, Exposed!

Although it was still early and there were few pedestrians or carriages on the imperial road, a caravan of twenty or thirty people blocking the middle of the way was naturally highly inappropriate. Fortunately, the sudden turn of events had left everyone in the caravan quite shaken. When Du Shiyi selected three of the Cui family’s house servants and ordered them to escort the others back to Taolin County, not a single person raised an objection, and they all readily agreed to the warning against speaking recklessly. Before sending them off, he called over Liu Mo—who had been running back and forth from last night until this morning—and another servant, whispering several instructions into their ears.

"Have you committed it all to memory?"

"Yes, we have." Liu Mo nodded heavily, though he asked with some hesitation, "But what if we arrive at the inn too late, or if we encounter some formidable character, or if we end up wronging someone..."

"Didn't you two discuss a good plan last night? It remains the same now. As long as the person is still there, no matter how you proceed, you are to use your discretion. If anything happens, I will take the responsibility!"

Reassured by these words, the two servants nodded firmly, mounted their horses, and rode off, bypassing the caravan as they galloped back toward the city.

Meanwhile, the other servants crowded around the terrified young Master Cui, clumsily attempting to comfort him, but the boy kept his head bowed. Magistrate Liu did not immediately follow them back to the city. He kept his eyes fixed on Cui Ting, who had pursued the assailant, seemingly never having considered asking Du Shiyi how he had come to suspect that man. After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly shouted, "He’s back! He’s back!"

Du Shiyi, who had been standing to the side in deep thought, looked up at once. He saw the bulky Cui Ting dragging someone back, only to suddenly stop near a large tree in the fields in the distance, where two figures—one standing and one sitting—were faintly visible. Realizing there was no intention of them coming over, he thought for a moment and said, "You few stay here to protect the twenty-fifth young master. Magistrate Liu, let us go over and take a look!"

No sooner had the words left his lips than he heard a voice, seemingly squeezed through gritted teeth: "No, I am going too! I want to see what kind of creature dares to treat me like a monkey!"

Glancing back at the young Master Cui, who was standing unsteadily with the help of a servant, Du Shiyi saw the boy staring back at him with unyielding defiance. Du Shiyi said calmly, "In that case, follow along. The field ridges are not suitable for many people; with Cui Ting restraining him, you, I, and Magistrate Liu will be enough. The others shall remain here!"

After the recent incident, the five or six remaining Cui family servants held Du Shiyi in awe, and they all bowed in compliance. Magistrate Liu, without a word, was the first to step off the imperial road onto the ridge. As they reached the tree where the fields converged, they saw Cui Ting standing there, while the man in the brown garment lay limp on the ground, having already lost consciousness. Magistrate Liu could not help but take a deep breath before asking kindly, "We owe thanks to the brave man for capturing this thief! Although he should be taken back to the county office for interrogation, I am deeply concerned that delays might invite further trouble. I wonder if he could be revived so I may ask him a few questions?"

Knowing full well that Cui Ting was a servant, he still used such a consultative tone. His proposal was meant to secure an immediate explanation, and Du Shiyi had no objections. Cui Ting, seeing Du Shiyi nod and catching a glimpse of the young master’s gnashing teeth, took the wine gourd hanging from his waist, unscrewed the cap, and sprayed a mouthful onto the bruised and battered face of the man in brown. The gourd contained a specially concocted medicinal wine, and upon contact with his skin, it burned with a searing, fiery pain. The man groaned twice before struggling to open his eyes.

Upon seeing the few people before him, a flash appeared in his eyes. Instead of showing fear, he let out a cold, mocking laugh.

Magistrate Liu, seeing such defiance, assumed his official authority and sternly demanded, "Who are you? Why did you infiltrate the caravan and brandish a blade at the twenty-fifth young master of the Cui family?"

"A mere county magistrate like you is qualified to question me?" Shedding his initial air of servility, the man in brown suddenly grew arrogant. "If you release me now, I can wipe the slate clean regarding everything that has happened. But if I were to speak, you would regret it before it was too late!"

"Insolence!"

Magistrate Liu, his anger erupting, snapped, "You bold villain, do you think such gibberish can unsettle people? If you refuse to speak now, we shall see if you confess under torture in the courtroom!"

The man in brown glanced sideways at Du Shiyi, remembering that if it weren't for this person exposing him, the treasures in the caravan would have been within his grasp today. Instead, his mission had failed, his right shoulder felt as if the scapula had been shattered, and after Cui Ting's beating, even his ribs were broken. If he were to perish here, all hopes of building a career and achieving greatness would vanish. A cruel grin spread across his face.

"No need for torture. Since you want me to confess, I shall. A man of honor does not change his name, nor does he hide his surname. I am Shi Wanxing, a captain of the Left Yulin Army, acting under the orders of General Wang, Duke of Huo, on official business in Taolin!"

At these words, Magistrate Liu suddenly thought of Captain Xiao and his party from the Left Yulin Guard who had departed earlier, and his face changed drastically. Young Master Cui, who had been glaring at the man, was struck dumb once more, and even Cui Ting, who had been guarding against a sudden attack, was so shaken that he nearly let go of the man's shoulder.

Though Du Shiyi was equally startled, he wore a look of indifference and laughed dryly. "And on the strength of your words alone, one is to believe you are a subordinate of General Wang? Even if we take a step back and assume you are, for the crime of attempting to assassinate the twenty-fifth young master of the Cui family in broad daylight, you deserve the punishment that awaits you!"

"Twenty-fifth young master of the Cui family, I only borrowed your name to leave the city; I had no intention of crossing you, and I am willing to apologize for what just happened! Your sixth uncle may be the Duke of Zhao, but in the eyes of the Sage, whose weight is greater—his or General Wang's? You may be young, but you should know! If you offend General Wang, never mind whether the Sage still remembers your father after his three-year mourning period concludes—even your father, who has just been promoted, will be dragged down with you!"

Having boasted about his family background to Du Shiyi yesterday, young Master Cui now heard his own words thrown back at him. Seeing the boy's face turn ashen, Shi Wanxing turned to Magistrate Liu. "As for you, Magistrate Liu, having painstakingly passed the Mingjing examination to secure this post, you surely wouldn't want to offend someone you cannot afford to provoke for the rest of your life, would you? If you do, don't talk about your meager ninth-rank position—even your life and family would be hard to preserve!"

From start to finish, Shi Wanxing never cast a glance at Du Shiyi. However, contemplating these words that seemed to strike at the heart of human nature, and observing the shock and fury of the two victims who were unable to make a decision, Du Shiyi stared at the man’s conspicuous bushy beard, his gaze finally resting on the chest the man was clutching tightly with one hand.

While the others remained silent, Du Shiyi suddenly lunged forward, grabbed the man's collar, and tore it downward with a violent yank. With a sharp sound of ripping fabric, the front of the man's garment tore open, and something fell out from within. Magistrate Liu, sharp-eyed, instinctively leaned over to pick up the pearl hairpin that had landed before him. Seeing the pearls, each round and lustrous, he recalled the pattern of the stolen goods and gasped.

Such a treasure, even if the man were truly a subordinate of General Wang, should never be in his possession! There could only be one answer! The earlier theft must be connected to this man!

Shi Wanxing, who had intended to use his silver tongue to intimidate them and force the two most crucial individuals to agree to his release, had not expected Du Shiyi to suddenly pierce through that most critical veil of secrecy. He stared with a parched throat at the detestable youth who had repeatedly pulled off such unexpected moves, and suddenly hissed, "Are you determined to set yourself against General Wang?"

"First, whether you are under General Wang’s command is unproven by your words alone. Second..." Du Shiyi paused, then smiled faintly, "General Wang is surely strict in his discipline and would never admit that his subordinates would engage in the theft of travelers heading to Chang'an. Third, I must inform you that I have already sent men to the inn where the twenty-fifth young master stayed last night to detain everyone there, pending a thorough investigation once Magistrate Liu returns."

Magistrate Liu, whose face had been alternating between green and white, heard these words from Du Shiyi as if a drought-stricken land had finally received rain, and he suddenly cleared his head. Before he could speak, Du Shiyi commanded, "Furthermore, when the case is presented to the authorities, if you truly dare to implicate General Wang in this manner, the Sage will surely see the truth. Even General Wang will not let you off! Cui Ting, knock him out; we must return to the city immediately!"

Once Cui Ting had cleanly knocked the man unconscious with a sharp blow, Du Shiyi finally exhaled a long breath. However, just as he was pondering how to handle the aftermath, Magistrate Liu said, "May I handle the matters that follow, Young Master Du and Young Master Cui? Of course, you two are welcome to follow along and observe how I dispose of this; it is a matter of great importance, and I will certainly give you both an explanation!"

Since Magistrate Liu had spoken, Du Shiyi pondered for a moment before agreeing. Upon returning to their original spot, even when facing the Cui family servants, Du Shiyi did not mention the origin or identity of Shi Wanxing, claiming only that he was a villain who had coveted young Master Cui’s wealth and harbored malicious intent. Faced with this explanation, both young Master Cui and his servant Cui Ting remained silent, and Magistrate Liu, the local authority of Taolin, echoed the same narrative. Without delay, the group took the unconscious Shi Wanxing and hurried back to the city of Taolin.

Instead of returning directly to the county office, they first went to the inn where young Master Cui had stayed. After knocking open the gate, they found several men bound in the courtyard, all blindfolded and gagged, with a few of the Cui family servants standing guard. Upon learning that everyone in the inn had been detained and no other guests were staying there, Du Shiyi signaled for Cui Ting to keep Shi Wanxing guarded there while he had Liu Mo lead the way to the inn where the caravan had been staying. As expected, the two leaders of the caravan expressed deep remorse for allowing a man of unknown identity—who would launch such a violent attack—to infiltrate their ranks. Though annoyed that young Master Cui had caused such trouble, they dared not criticize him for "inviting the wolf into the house" due to his family background.

One of the older leaders even respectfully offered a brocade box, smiling apologetically, "It was our fault that young Master Cui was frightened. Inside is a mutton-fat jade paperweight; please accept it as our apology and to soothe your nerves."

The previous night, young Master Cui had been so enamored with that mutton-fat jade lion paperweight that he would have been overjoyed had they offered it to him then, but now he could only force a faint smile. Before he could refuse, Du Shiyi said calmly, "Young Master Cui appreciates the kind gesture. But one should not accept a reward without merit. When you continue your journey, just be careful with your words."

After leading the twenty-fifth young master out the door, and seeing Magistrate Liu deliberately lag a few steps behind, clearly leaving them space to speak, Du Shiyi said coldly, "Do not wear your despondency on your face. The matter has already occurred; rather than dwelling on the future, think of how to handle the present!"