Chapter 41: The Frontier Garrison Penal Bureau

"Ah?"

The man's scorching breath invaded her heart with no warning.

Yun Niang felt a sudden "buzz" in her mind; her entire body went rigid. The scene from that night surged uncontrollably in her memory, making even the tips of her ears burn.

"Hmm?" Lin Chuan, noticing her dazed expression, flashed a teasing glint in his eyes. "Could it be... you can't wait anymore?"

"Ah—ah, you—you're talking nonsense..."

Yun Niang was so bashful that even her neck flushed a soft pink. She wanted to pull away, yet she was loath to leave the warmth of his palm, so she ultimately just buried her face lower.

The night breeze brushed past, but it could not disperse the searing heat of embarrassment on her face.

Under that same starry sky, the swing in the back courtyard of the county office swayed gently.

Qin Yanqiu sat alone on the swing, her plain white skirt cascading onto the bluestone floor. She tilted her head back, letting the dappled shadows of the trees dance across her face, yet they could not conceal the two clear tracks of tears.

"So he... has a wife?"

The whisper was as light as a sigh, yet it carved into her heart like a dull blade.

From the distance came the clapper of the night watchman, and she suddenly laughed. Her laughter was steeped in self-mockery:

"What exactly am I... feeling sad about?"

The night wind blew, scattering a strand of hair against her temple. As the moonlight turned as liquid as water, the tear hanging from her chin finally fell.

***

The next day. At the Border Army Justice Bureau, the flickering firelight illuminated the hall as if it were broad daylight.

Zhang Shiren knelt on the floor, his face a mangled mess of blood and flesh, no longer recognizable. He trembled violently, mumbling incoherent pleas for mercy, but no one paid him any mind.

Military Judge Zhao Shouyi sat upright behind his desk, carefully reviewing the case documents submitted by Lin Chuan. As the pages turned, a guard’s loud voice echoed from outside the door:

"The General has arrived—"

Zhao Shouyi hurriedly stood up and cupped his hands in a salute.

"General!"

However, when he caught sight of the figure following behind the General, his heart sank abruptly.

The Ministry of Revenue Supervisor, Wang?!

Zhao Shouyi’s head instantly began to buzz.

According to military regulations, there was no need for the General to personally attend a hearing at the Justice Bureau unless it involved a military officer of the fifth rank or higher. Today, not only had the General come, but Supervisor Wang—who had always been at odds with the border troops—was trailing right behind him.

This case... it seemed a storm was brewing!

He couldn't help but steal a glance at Lin Chuan. This centurion from Ironwood Fortress, holding a mere seventh-rank position, what was his background? How could he possibly stir up two such high-ranking officials?

General Chen strode to the main seat and sat down. With a cold and stern gaze, he asked in a deep voice:

"Zhao Shouyi, what is the status of this case?"

Supervisor Wang sat down languidly at the side. His gaze swept over Lin Chuan with a mocking smile before landing on Zhang Shiren, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.

Zhao Shouyi took a deep breath and cupped his hands. "Reporting to the General! The evidence for this case is ironclad. Zhang Shiren led private soldiers armed with standardized military weapons to ambush our border soldiers. According to military law, he should be sentenced to immediate execution!"

Before he could finish, Supervisor Wang gave a cold laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Magistrate Zhao, do you dare to determine a man's fate based on a single document? How do you know this isn't a case of someone framing another?"

His gaze turned sinister as he stared straight at Lin Chuan, his voice chilling. "Centurion Lin, I have heard that you and the Zhang family have long been at odds. This matter... I fear there is a suspicion of settling personal scores under the guise of public duty, is there not?"

The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.

Lin Chuan cupped his hands in a salute, his voice neither servile nor overbearing. "Supervisor Wang, please observe clearly! This subordinate has never met Zhang Shiren before; yesterday was our first encounter. This man led his men to forcibly break into Willow Village, intending to kidnap a young woman, and that woman..." He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "...is my betrothed wife."

He stepped forward and pointed at Zhang Shiren. "When I led my men to stop them, Zhang Shiren actually led thirty private soldiers to ambush us with weapons. Had my soldiers not protected me with their lives, I would have already perished!"

The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting shadows across his face. He waved a hand. "The evidence is as solid as a mountain! Twelve soldiers from Ironwood Fortress witnessed it with their own eyes, and all thirty-eight households in Willow Village can testify. If the Supervisor has doubts, you are welcome to question them one by one!"

Supervisor Wang’s complexion changed drastically. Rage surged in his eyes as he slammed his hand on the desk and stood up.

"Insolence! Even if true, this should be handled by the local government! For the Justice Bureau to overstep its authority is a crime, and I, as the Supervisor, will certainly report this to the Imperial Court!"

General Chen’s expression was as cold as iron. He tapped his fingers on the desk.

"Supervisor Wang." His voice was low and hard. "It is only right and proper for the Justice Bureau to investigate an attack on border soldiers. By obstructing this, are you suggesting that you intend to shield a criminal?"

Supervisor Wang’s pupils contracted, his face turning ashen. He was momentarily struck speechless.

After a long pause, he argued stubbornly, "This case has far-reaching implications; how can it be handled so rashly?"

"Oh?" General Chen furrowed his brows.

Supervisor Wang sneered repeatedly. "General Chen may not know this. Zhang Shiren is a relative of the Prefectural Army’s commander, and the Prefectural Army’s commander is a protégé of the Minister of War. Furthermore..." He glanced at Lin Chuan with a sinister look, "...the border troops suffered no losses in this case, whereas the Zhang family lost over a dozen men. If you rashly pass a death sentence, how will you justify it to the public?"

Below the dais, Lin Chuan sneered inwardly. Every word Supervisor Wang spoke was an attempt to exert pressure through power.

"General!" Lin Chuan said loudly, cupping his hands. "Supervisor Wang is correct; this case indeed requires thorough investigation. However..." He looked at Supervisor Wang with burning intensity, "I wonder what sort of proof would be required to satisfy the Supervisor?"

Supervisor Wang snorted coldly. "Naturally, there must be both human witnesses and physical evidence. One cannot simply rely on one-sided words!"

Lin Chuan’s lips curled upward slightly. "How coincidental. I have prepared thirty-six standardized waist sabers as physical evidence and the testimony of thirty-eight households from Willow Village as human witnesses. With evidence as conclusive as this, I wonder what other doubts the Supervisor might have?"

"Nonsense!" Supervisor Wang barked. "You claim there are witnesses, but where are they? Do you have their thumbprints as proof?"

"Supervisor Wang, please take a look." Zhao Shouyi presented the documents with both hands. "All thirty-eight households have their thumbprints right here."

Supervisor Wang froze, his face turning a sickly shade of pale. The candlelight crackled, reflecting his turbulent expression.

"Report—!"

A soldier hurried inside and knelt on one knee.

"Reporting to the General, Commander Zhang of the Prefectural Army is outside the camp gate requesting an audience!"

Lin Chuan felt a shiver in his heart.

A cold light flashed in General Chen’s eyes. "My Justice Bureau is quite lively today."

Before the words had finished, Commander Zhang had already strode into the hall. He was clad in polished battle armor, a sword hanging from a jade belt at his waist. He laughed before he spoke, cupping his hands in a salute.

"General Chen, I trust you have been well! It has been half a year since we last met at the drill grounds."

General Chen remained seated, merely nodding slightly. "Commander Zhang, you are not stationed at the prefectural capital; what business brings you a hundred miles to my border camp?"

Commander Zhang’s smile was amiable. He stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Brother Chen, to be honest..." His peripheral vision swept over the kneeling Zhang Shiren. "The man below is a cousin of mine, a family friend of three generations. Could you show some leniency in this case? The price is negotiable."

"Commander Zhang!"

General Chen suddenly slammed his hand on the desk, his voice booming like a bell.

"Military law is as solid as a mountain; how can you speak of private favors? Zhang Shiren used weapons to ambush border soldiers, the evidence is ironclad, and according to the law, he must be executed!"

His gaze was like lightning, piercing through Commander Zhang. "You are a fifth-rank commander; who gave you the audacity to come to my border camp to plead for favors?"

Commander Zhang’s smile froze instantly. His right hand tightened on his sword hilt, then loosened, as he squeezed out a rigid grin. "General Chen, I came merely out of consideration for our fellow official status..."

"Status?"

General Chen interrupted with a cold laugh. "Does Commander Zhang realize that when your cousin led men to ambush my border soldiers, he showed no consideration for status whatsoever?"

Zhang Shiren struggled to lift his head and shrieked, "Cousin, save me! That Lin Chuan is trying to frame me..."