2.8 Judging the Gourd Case

That evening, at the Jinling Prefecture Yamen.

A group of over a dozen men marched directly through the open side gate and strode into the courtyard. When two yamen runners at the gatehouse attempted to block them, a burly man swung his musket butt, knocking them to the ground. Seeing the intruders priming their firelocks right in front of them, the runners were too terrified to make another sound.

Lin Rui glanced at them, nodded to the small banner officer leading the team, and strode straight toward the rear offices. Although there were duty runners and even administrative officials along the way, no one dared to stop him. This was partly due to what they had witnessed at the gate, and partly because they saw him with his hand resting on his sword.

Fortunately, Jia Yucun, having heard the commotion, came out to meet them.

"Brother Anping, it is not easy for you to come all this way. Why make such a scene?" He scanned the area with a look of "helplessness" before a smile returned to his face. "I heard you have been in Jinling for some days; why haven't you come to see me?"

"Old Jia, you haven't played this fair!" Lin Rui retorted without ceremony.

At this form of address, Jia Yucun’s expression twitched. Furthermore, the other yamen officials who had intended to step forward and make an impression retreated into their rooms, pretending to see nothing. After all, who would want to risk their life by listening to a conversation involving terms like "Old Jia"?

"Let's go inside and sit," the Prefect said, his face cooling as he gestured stiffly.

Soon, the two reached the main reception hall and took their respective seats as host and guest.

"Do you have business with me?" With things having reached this point, Lin Rui saw no need to beat around the bush.

As they spoke, a dignified woman entered from the back door. Smiling, she directed the maids carrying a tray to step forward. She then personally lifted a tea bowl, greeted him with a respectful "Master Lin," and placed it carefully on the table.

"You are too kind, Madame," Lin Rui said, his expression turning solemn as he stood up and bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

He had met this woman before, and more than once. Back when Jia Yucun was still in Yangzhou serving as a private secretary to Lin Ruhai, she had not been a "Madame," but a maid. Jia Yucun’s original wife was still alive then. Lin Rui even knew her name: Jiao Xing. She had originally been the personal maid of Zhen Shiyin’s wife, Lady Feng, before becoming Jia Yucun’s concubine. It was a twist of fate that when Jia’s first wife passed away, she was elevated to the position of primary wife.

By standard moral conventions, this was highly irregular. No respectable official would ever take a maid as his legal wife—otherwise, what would happen to the "backyard diplomacy" of their social circles? Yet, it had happened. One could only say that Jiao Xing was indeed a woman of great capability. Just like today, she had acted according to the etiquette of "family friends," personally serving tea, and he could not afford to be blind to that. Besides, as long as a man’s affairs outside can be handled, they shouldn't involve the women of the house. Even among enemies, there is a rule that "misfortune should not extend to the family."

"You two please continue," Jiao Xing said with a smile, nodding and bowing to her husband before departing.

"Thank you, my dear," Jia Yucun said slowly, watching her and the maids leave. Regardless of her true motives, this gesture eased the tension in the room significantly.

"Prefect Jia, logically speaking, this is not something you would do," Lin Rui went straight to the point. "What kind of person Xue Pan is, who in Jinling doesn't know? You spent many years with Master Lin and are no stranger to Jiangnan; you can't possibly be ignorant of the Xue family of Jinling."

"What, he beat someone to death, and I, as an official, am not allowed to enforce the law?" Jia Yucun looked at him sternly.

"Is that your line?" Lin Rui was blunt. "Enforce the law? Are you going to talk about 'impartiality' now? There were so many salt merchants in Yangzhou; you only ever offered strategies to Master Lin, and when it came time to act, I was the only one left. Did you ever show your face once? Hmm?"

Even with Jia Yucun’s temperament, he could not help but look embarrassed. When everyone is so familiar, who are you putting on airs for? But this emotion vanished in a flash. He quickly regained his composure and clapped his hands. Immediately, the sound of footsteps followed as all irrelevant personnel retreated.

***

Lin Rui looked at him in silence, reached down to unbuckle the long sword at his waist, and placed it gently on the tea table. A gesture of mutual sincerity. Even though Jia Yucun had worked with him for over a year, he still couldn't help but twitch at the sight of the weapon. It was a standard battle sword—a six-sided Han sword, five feet in total length with a blade width of nearly three inches. Combined with a twelve-inch hilt and antique-style fittings, it looked like a lethal instrument of war. In truth, it was rarely used, serving more as a "ceremonial" piece. Lin Rui couldn't exactly walk around carrying his six-foot steel mace on his shoulder all day.

"Brother Anping, I am helpless in this matter," Jia Yucun sighed softly.

"The Wang family?" Lin Rui stated his guess directly, ignoring how much of his reaction was genuine and how much was performative.

Jia Yucun did not answer, merely lifting his tea cup to take a sip.

"So, the arrangements for what comes next have already been made?" Lin Rui did not pursue the matter behind the scenes.

"I will judge him, but not execute him. I will announce to the public that he is dead to appease the people," Jia Yucun nodded.

"Striking him from the registry?" Lin Rui frowned immediately.

"There must be an explanation that holds up to scrutiny," Jia Yucun nodded again.

Lin Rui exhaled softly and leaned back in his chair. This was exactly how it was written in the record. At first glance, it seemed like another performance of "officials protecting officials and perverting the law," but those who understood knew that this was a way to fool the Xue family as well. On paper, there would be no trouble. Xue Pan would be "dead" and removed from the registry—a living ghost who could do nothing but eat, drink, and play. He would be barred from any official activities, much like how the Xue family’s "Imperial Merchant" title was eventually discarded and forgotten. Jia Yucun would win a reputation for "impartiality," and the servant who knew too much would be dealt with because the Wang family didn't feel secure.

Exile was not immediate execution, which was already the limit of Jia Yucun’s conscience. The Xue family would have to move to the capital; their businesses in Jiangnan were ruined, and their foundation in the capital had long since eroded. They would live off their past glory until it ran dry, and their later attempts to have Xue Pan reopen trade routes would fail.

"Reduce the sentence," Lin Rui said after a long silence, sitting up straight.

"Brother Anping, you are not a man who meddles in other people's affairs," Jia Yucun was stunned. "If you hadn't asked about the Xue family the moment you walked in, I wouldn't have bothered to say anything. Didn't you already guess it? This wasn't my decision, and the 'Four Families of Jinling' are not people I can afford to offend."

"I owe the second branch of the Xue family a great favor this time—a life-saving favor." After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Rui placed the name card he had obtained before coming here onto the table. "This is not just my intention. You have heard of the two young ladies of the Xue family, haven't you? They both have to call her 'Aunt'."

Jia Yucun’s expression changed the moment he glanced at the card. "Brother Anping, you have set a huge problem for me!" he said with a bitter smile.

"I heard you have also joined clans with the Jia family?" Lin Rui tapped the card to remind him.

Jia Yucun’s face turned pale.

"Does this person mean..." Jia Yucun finally calmed down, "...only a reduction?"

"No, she only gave me this," Lin Rui tapped the card for the third time. "If I must say, she didn't even take this incident to heart. If I hadn't guessed that it was the Wang family’s doing and wanted you to lighten the blow, you should understand her perspective."

How would Jia Min think? *It's just beating someone to death, is that even a matter?* The high-ranking nobles of the feudal era had always been so naively detached.

"Brother Anping has been very thoughtful," Jia Yucun finally relaxed. Because he could not afford to offend either Jia Min or the Wang family, and by comparison, the Xue family truly didn't matter. He had worked under Lin Ruhai, acting as a secretary and a tutor for Miss Lin, and his later rise was initially due to the recommendation letters from the Lin family—a debt of gratitude as deep as a second birth. In the eyes of others, he was a staunch protégé of the Lin household. Now, just as the Lin family had suffered a tragedy, he had received the name card of Lin Ruhai sent by Jia Min. Theoretically, even if it cost him his life, he had to handle this well for the Lin family.

"So?" Lin Rui wanted to see what he had in mind.

"Negligent supervision leading to a vicious servant committing murder—exile to Qiongzhou!" After pondering for a long time, Jia Yucun looked up sharply. "He must not appear in Jinling. Also, I hear next year is the Emperor Emeritus’s milestone birthday. By custom, I am to remain in Jinling until the year after."

"Many thanks, Brother Shifei!" For the first time, Lin Rui used his formal style name and rose to bow solemnly.

The Emperor Emeritus’s milestone birthday would surely involve an act of grace, but it would not be a grand "general amnesty." Instead, it would be determined by the circumstances. Whether Xue Pan could be pardoned would be decided by the Prefect of Jinling. This meant the Xue family would only have to bear the stigma for a year before being completely in the clear. It was the most he could do.

"Now, let us discuss your affairs, Brother Anping," Jia Yucun said, quietly tucking the name card into his sleeve.

"Brother Shifei, did someone truly ask you to relay a message?" Lin Rui had expected this.

"Master Lin unfortunately met with an assassin, and the Cheng family has been executed. The case is closed." As he said this, Jia Yucun’s expression was complex, for he was truly a student of Lin Ruhai. "The joint memorial signed by all the Yangzhou yamens was sent to the Office of Transmission many days ago."

"I signed it as well!" Lin Rui’s face darkened. He had to keep his mouth shut about the truth of that matter.

"Master Lin served the country with merit and met an unfortunate end; the Imperial Court will surely bestow honors," Jia Yucun continued. "I hear you are taking the Madame and the young lady back to the capital. Do not forget to go to the Censorate and the Ministry of Personnel to close your files; you will know then."

This was the compensation.

"I understand," Lin Rui nodded again. What else could he do?

"The ledgers from the He and Cheng families..." Jia Yucun reminded him.

"Only the He family’s. I did not touch the Cheng family’s aftermath; I presume the Yangzhou Prefect’s yamen has the archives," Lin Rui interrupted him coldly. "Tomorrow morning, I will have someone deliver them here."

"No need!" Jia Yucun shook his head hurriedly. "The weather is dry, just be careful of 'accidental fires'."

"Understood." After a long silence, Lin Rui nodded heavily. He had already been watched while on the boat; if he dropped them off at the pier, someone would surely burn them. Otherwise, there would inevitably be an "accidental fire."

"Whew—" Having finished the arrangements, Jia Yucun let out a long breath. "Brother Anping must understand that you and I are both helpless; many things must be done this way. I, too, was once young."

That was why his first term as a magistrate had ended so quickly with him losing his position.

"One last question, Brother Shifei may choose not to answer," Lin Rui looked at him intently.

"When I went to the capital for the imperial examinations, my master was none other than Grand Secretary Wu."