Chapter 19
Chapter 19: He’s Back
Before dawn, Gu Yan rode out under escort—guards, pages, long-serving attendants—skirting Hang Zhou and heading straight for the Jiang Nan Maritime Tax Office in the northeast of Ping Jiang Prefecture.
They changed horses twice. By late morning, they reached the outskirts of Lin Hai Town. Gu Yan urged his mount up a low dirt rise and looked out over the busy sprawl of the Lin Hai Three Towns, the world spread wide beneath him.
In his previous life, this had been the starting point—where he had torn into corruption, rebuilt systems, and forced the empire’s blood to run again.
It had also been the beginning of his end.
Last time, he had ignored too many hidden dangers. They sprouted here, tangled together, grew strong, and strangled both his efforts to restore the empire with the emperor—and the emperor himself.
Now he stood here again.
Five years earlier than before.
And no longer the hot-blooded youth who only knew how to charge.
Gu Yan flicked his whip in a sharp crack and pointed toward the endless bustle. “Go.”
The Jiang Nan Maritime Tax Office stretched vast, spanning an island and both shores. It was less an office than a beast lying in wait.
Gu Yan changed out of riding clothes into a moon-white robe of fine silk, tied a matching sash, and strolled into the crowds with a folding fan. He looked left, then right, pausing now and then to lean in and examine something as if he were just another traveler seeing Lin Hai Town for the first time.
At a warehouse hung with a sign bearing the character He, he stopped.
The paint was bright. Fresh.
Gu Yan’s eyes narrowed. He stared at the He, then at the warehouse, then back at the sign. After a beat, he shook his fan once, as if brushing away a thought, and moved on.
That He came from Prince Rui’s Manor.
The He Family were retainers of Prince Rui’s Manor, tasked with managing Prince Rui’s Manor’s holdings in Lin Hai Town and the estate in Ping Jiang City.
Gu Yan had always treated them as his own people—Prince’s Manor folk, loyal and useful.
Only much later did he learn the truth: in the He Family’s eyes, the real owners of Lin Hai Town’s wealth were the He Family themselves. They saw themselves as uncrowned kings rooted in Lin Hai Town, the true masters of the Maritime Tax Office. Prince’s Manor, to them, was merely a leash they could tug when they wished.
Gu Yan walked on, fan swaying, expression easy.
He passed a restaurant strung with bright ribbons and carved woodwork. He stopped, looked up, snapped his fan shut, and stepped inside.
He questioned the server about dishes—what was special, what was sharp, what was mild—then picked five or six plates and ate in a second-floor private room facing the street, watching the river of people below. When he finished, he resumed his wandering.
At the Maritime Tax Office gates, he slowed. Across the broad bluestone road, he studied the enormous compound with careful attention, as if measuring it with his eyes.
After a while, he turned, yawned, and said, “Tired. Let’s go back.”
Once they left town, he mounted again and rode a mile or two before suddenly reining in. “What county is nearby?”
“Reporting to you, sir,” Shi Gun said quickly, “Kun Shan County. It’s a small county.”
“Then we’ll go take a look,” Gu Yan said, the words carrying a faint edge of resignation. “Observe the local customs.”
Shi Gun understood at once and glanced at the heir apparent’s profile.
A man meant for great work, detouring to a small county to “observe the wind.” It was like using a spear to poke at a fly.
But Gu Yan held the inspector envoy duty. Passing through Kun Shan County without stopping would look careless.
The heir apparent truly had it hard.
—
In the yamen of Kun Shan County, Magistrate Huang quietly summoned Li Shi Kuan of the Wang Branch again, questioned him closely about the history between Li Xue Dong’s household and Li Wen Cai’s household, and settled the details. He spoke with Teacher Yao, confirmed several points, and waited.
Now all he needed was for Li Xue Dong to return to Kun Shan County.
That afternoon, Li Wen Hua came off the boat first, a large bundle on his back. Li Xue Dong and the others followed—and immediately saw Teacher Gao running toward them, one hand lifting the front of his robe as he hurried.
“I need to speak to your third uncle first,” Teacher Gao said, waving at Li Xue Dong, then turning to Li Wen Hua. His face was too serious for any comfort. “Your uncle says you must go back at once and keep out of sight. If anyone asks, say you went to your eldest brother’s place in Lin Hai.”
Li Wen Hua’s grin vanished. “All right.” He shoved the bundle into Li Jin Zhu’s hands and hurried away toward Li Family Market Town.
Li Jin Zhu’s stomach dropped. “What happened?”
“Nothing big,” Teacher Gao said quickly—too quickly. “Get on the cart first. We’ll talk once we’re moving.”
He reached for Li Xue Dong, pulled him close, and looked him up and down with anxious tenderness, then patted his shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. It’s nothing big. You’re a xiu cai scholar now.”
His gaze flicked. “And Little Nan came too.”
Little Nan shrank under his attention and hid behind Li Jin Zhu, showing only half her face.
“Little Nan…” Li Xue Dong began, guilt rising like heat.
“Cart first,” Teacher Gao cut in, gentle but firm. “We’ll talk on the road. Come—we’re going to Li Family Market Town.”
The cart had a simple bamboo canopy—enough to block the sun, not enough to block the wind. It rattled lightly as they climbed in, cool air slipping through the open sides.
Once they were moving, Li Jin Zhu asked again, voice tight. “What happened?”
Teacher Gao held himself very straight. “Your third uncle Li Wen Cai filed an accusation at the county yamen. He claims Xue Dong’s licentiate was earned by Little Nan taking the exam for him.”
Li Xue Dong’s face drained of color.
“Don’t panic,” Teacher Gao said at once, both hands lifting and pressing down as if physically pushing fear back into place. “Look at you. You’re a xiu cai scholar now. What is there to fear? Your nerve is just too small.”
Li Jin Zhu’s lips went pale. “What did Magistrate Huang say?”
Little Nan pressed close to Li Jin Zhu, eyes lowered, silent as stone.
“What would he say?” Teacher Gao forced a laugh that didn’t quite land. “Magistrate Huang is sharp. Would he believe nonsense like this? I already told him the truth—that your third uncle wants to swallow your household whole. This is a false accusation. Don’t be afraid.”
He paused, then leaned in. “Now listen to the important part.”
“On the day he filed that accusation, the magistrate summoned me and asked about the history between your household and your third uncle’s. The next day, after dark, Old Master Kuan came to my house—straight from the yamen. He said the magistrate asked him the same questions.”
Teacher Gao looked from Li Xue Dong to Li Jin Zhu, making sure they were following. “Old Master Kuan said Magistrate Huang was moved by what he heard. He said he would return Licentiate Li his innocence and a fair judgment.”
Li Jin Zhu nodded so hard her hairpin trembled.
“I spoke with Old Master Kuan,” Teacher Gao continued. “He must stay in Li Family Market Town to keep things steady, so I came here to wait for you and escort you in. Last night, the magistrate sent word: he plans to hear this case in Li Family Market Town.”
He softened his voice. “Don’t worry about the clan. Old Master Kuan is no simple man. He has surely arranged what needs arranging. When the time comes, you do exactly what you should do—nothing more, nothing less.”
Then he turned fully toward Li Xue Dong, expression sharpening into a teacher’s focus. “Now, Xue Dong. Your status is different. Let me teach you the proper way to speak when you meet Magistrate Huang.”