Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Trial III

That single line—beat him to death and we can eat meat every day—made Magistrate Huang lean back as if someone had shoved him.

After a moment, he turned to Clan Head Li Wen Gang, who stood off to one side of the platform, and frowned. “About what Licentiate Li just said—did you know? Had you ever heard it? Is it true?”

While Li Xue Dong had been speaking, Li Wen Gang’s face had gone pale. Li Xue Shou’s blunt answer drained what little color remained.

“They live in Little Li Village,” Li Wen Gang stammered. “Four or five li from Li Family Market Town. It’s hard to travel back and forth, so I…”

Magistrate Huang’s eyes narrowed.

Li Wen Gang’s voice died in his throat.

No matter how he tried to dress it up, as clan head he couldn’t escape blame.

“Looks like you don’t know,” Magistrate Huang said. “Then there’s no need to ask you. Is anyone here from Little Li Village?”

“Yes.” The head runner stepped forward, scanned the cluster of villagers, and pointed at the woman in front—eyes bright, practically vibrating with excitement. “You. Come out.”

The woman shuffled forward on stiff legs, half terrified, half thrilled, and dropped to her knees with a thud.

“Upright Lord!” she cried.

“Don’t be afraid.” Magistrate Huang smiled, gentle as spring rain. “You know about the affairs between those two households, yes? If you know, then speak.”

“Upright Lord! Xue Dong—”

“Slap her mouth!” the head runner barked.

A licentiate’s name wasn’t something the likes of her could toss around.

The woman jolted as if lightning had hit her spine.

“Don’t scare her,” Magistrate Huang said, still smiling. “A licentiate won’t take offense at this. Go on. Don’t be afraid.”

“Upright Lord!” The woman kowtowed again. “He!” She didn’t dare say his name now. With curled fingers, she carefully pointed at Li Xue Dong instead. “Third Aunt said he was unlucky. She said his whole household was unlucky. She said he’d bring disaster on our whole village. Third Aunt made a little doll, wrote his eight birth characters on it, and stabbed it every day—stabbed and stabbed—and she made us stab it too. Third Aunt said he—”

“Li Xue Fu and Li Xue Shou beat Little Nan of the Li family until she fell unconscious,” Magistrate Huang cut in. “Did you know about that?”

“I know, I know!” the woman blurted. “Our whole village knows! Oh—there was so much blood! It was terrifying! Everyone said she wouldn’t live, said she had no breath left, and then later she lived again. Third Aunt said that’s unlucky too. She said his sister is lazy and useless, crying at leaves and grass roots all day, talking so you can’t understand a word. She said his sister is a fool! They—”

“Did you help with Licentiate Li’s father’s funeral?” Magistrate Huang interrupted again, smooth as a knife sliding into its sheath.

“I did, I did! Our whole village went! That time—just that one time—Third Uncle was generous. Truly generous!” Her eyes shone as she relived it. “He slaughtered two pigs on the spot, and there was even a sheep. Our whole village ate pork and rice for three days!”

She smacked her lips. “We didn’t get any mutton. Third Uncle said it was for the gods. But he smelled like mutton every day after that—so fragrant! It lasted more than a month! Tsk. Third Uncle is stingy. He’s never been that generous. Only that one time. Oh, it was grand…”

“About Li Jin Zhu breaking her engagement,” Magistrate Huang said, cutting her off with practiced ease. “Do you know?”

“I know! How could I not?” the woman cried. “The family she was engaged to—well, they’re from the same village as my husband’s sister’s brother’s wife’s natal family. Good people! Her Eldest Sister is capable—truly capable. The wife they married later isn’t as good as her Eldest Sister, not by a long shot. Third Uncle did it all for her Eldest Sister’s good. That household is good, and their boy is handsome, and he—”

“That cow in your Third Uncle’s household,” Magistrate Huang said, “was it raised jointly by the two households?”

“Yes, yes!” the woman said eagerly. “The copper coins to buy the calf were split half and half. After that, the cow was raised by his father. His father was truly capable! He raised that cow so well. He could build walls too! Once his father died, he became pitiful. His father was capable, truly capable! His father—”

“Enough,” Magistrate Huang said, flicking his hand. “Take her down.”

A yamen runner tapped the woman lightly with a water-and-fire staff, signaling her to leave. She was still talking, carried away by her own voice.

“Upright Lord, I still have so many things I haven’t said—so many things—”

“Go back!” the head runner snapped with a glare.

The woman shrank her neck and scurried back into the crowd.

Magistrate Huang turned again to Clan Head Li Wen Gang. “What do you think of this?”

“This commoner…” Li Wen Gang began, then froze. His mouth opened, but no words came.

Suddenly he spun around, yanked Li Wen Xi forward, and slapped him so hard it half-missed, leaving a thin, whistling sound in the air. “That’s your full brother! Speak! What is this? You tell it! You tell it!”

When Li Wen Xi first heard about the accusation petition, his fury had shot straight to the sky. He knew his brother was foolish, but foolish to this extent? He hadn’t imagined it.

Then Li Xue Dong’s testimony poured over him like cold water, dousing the rage and leaving him chilled to the bone.

What Li Xue Dong said had to be true. Li Wen Xi knew what sort of creature his brother was. He’d always thought that no matter how low he could be, at least he was a coward.

Now his brother had grown bold.

And when Li Xue Shou said, so simply, that beating him to death meant meat every day, Li Wen Xi felt both legs start to shake.

Dragged forward and slapped, he snapped back to himself. He dropped to his knees with a thud and began kowtowing without stopping.

Magistrate Huang watched him for a long moment. Then he lifted his cup, lowered his eyes, and took a few calm sips of tea.

He set the cup down, swept his gaze over the crowd, and spoke slowly. “As for the matter Li Wen Cai accused Licentiate Li of—someone taking the exam in his place. The person he claims took the exam for him…”

Magistrate Huang pointed to Little Nan, who had been shrinking behind Second Sister the whole time.