Chapter 24
Chapter 24: Case Closed
“This case isn’t quite finished. I still have two small matters to question and settle.” Magistrate Huang struck the wooden block. The courtyard fell silent at once.
“Bring the household registers for Li Wen Cai and Licentiate Li. Since you’ve brought them, let’s see whose register lists that ox.” He gestured to the yamen clerk.
The clerk shook out the registers, held them high, turned in a slow circle, and called out, “According to the register, one work ox belongs to Licentiate Li’s household!”
“You are the Village Head of Little Li Village. Every register here bears your thumbprint and seal. If so, the record of whose ox it is cannot be wrong. And these past years, the cattle tax was paid by Licentiate Li’s household.”
Magistrate Huang’s gaze swept the crowd. “As for the work ox, my judgment is as follows: one work ox, along with its calf, belongs to Licentiate Li’s household. Li Wen Cai claimed he and Licentiate Li’s household raised it together for…”
He glanced at the clerk.
The clerk bowed quickly. “Five years.”
“These five years, since Licentiate Li’s household also used the ox, count it as Li Wen Cai renting Licentiate Li’s ox for two and a half years. After that, the total comes to…”
He looked to the clerk again.
“Three and a half years,” the clerk answered at once.
“Mm.” Magistrate Huang nodded, as if he were counting grains of rice. “Added together, Li Wen Cai has rented Licentiate Li’s work ox for six years. In your area, what does it cost to rent a strong work ox for a year?”
This time, Magistrate Huang turned to Li Shi Kuan.
“Old Niu says two strings of cash at the low end. A strong ox is at least four,” Li Shi Kuan replied, bowing.
“Then we’ll use four. Six years makes twenty-four strings. Li Wen Cai will hand it over to Licentiate Li within ten days.”
He didn’t pause long enough for anyone to breathe.
“Second: Li Wen Cai, as Village Head, bullied a clansman, deceived those above him, and hid the truth from those below. The law is the law. Strip Li Wen Cai of the post of Village Head and place him in the cangue for ten days.”
He struck the wooden block again, then looked straight at Li Shi Kuan.
“Li Wen Cai’s other misdeeds were tolerated by the Li clan. Those matters will be handled under clan rules. Decide what crime he should bear, what punishment fits, and how it will be carried out. Have Licentiate Li write a petition and bring it to me for review.”
“Yes,” Li Shi Kuan said, bowing low.
Li Xue Dong, finally regaining his wits, hurried to bow along with him.
Magistrate Huang descended from the dais, waved Li Xue Dong over, and spoke to him in a low voice.
Li Yin Zhu was too happy to stand still, bouncing in place every few breaths. Li Yu Zhu managed a single, shaky, “Eldest Sister,” then her throat seized and tears spilled over. Li Jin Zhu stood stiffly, watching Li Xue Dong lean close to Magistrate Huang as they spoke. After a moment, she turned toward Little Nan.
Little Nan clung to Second Sister Li Yu Zhu’s arm, still half-hidden behind her, blinking up at Li Jin Zhu with a small, bright smile.
Gu Yan idly fanned himself, his eyes sliding from Little Nan to Li Jin Zhu. He looked Li Jin Zhu up and down, then down and up again—slow, thorough, twice over.
After Lu Xiu came to his side, she had asked him to inquire about her three sisters. The night Lu Xiu was sold to a broker by Third Uncle, this Eldest Sister had carried a knife into Third Uncle’s home, cut down Third Uncle and his wife, and then slit her own throat.
This Eldest Sister was not simple.
Once Magistrate Huang finished his instructions to Li Xue Dong, he spoke a few words with Teacher Yao and headed out of town. Gu Yan snapped his fan shut and followed behind.
At the town gate, Magistrate Huang stopped. Gu Yan stepped forward, removed his veiled hat, handed it to Shi Gun, and bowed with clasped hands.
“I’ve come from the capital and have been traveling. Watching you try this case, I found a few points I don’t understand. May I ask for guidance?”
“Guidance is too grand a word. Ask,” Magistrate Huang said, smiling.
Gu Yan walked beside him. “That Li Wen Cai tried more than once to harm the young licentiate. Why did you only rule on the ox and his dereliction as Village Head?”
“Because those two matters have iron evidence. I could not avoid judging them.” Magistrate Huang’s tone stayed mild, but his eyes sharpened. “As for attempted murder, it is indeed true. But if we chase it to the end…”
He glanced at Gu Yan, as if testing him.
“You look like someone who has read his share of books. You know this dynasty is not the last. Any case involving a life must be investigated by the prefectural yamen judicial commissioner. After the facts are verified, only then may this county decide.”
“An investigation needs witnesses and evidence. Li Wen Cai never succeeded—where do we find physical proof? As for witnesses, those people were caught off guard today and blurted out the truth. But when the judicial commissioner arrives, Li Wen Gang and the rest will have had plenty of time to prepare. In the Li clan, the Feng Branch and Sheng Branch have numbers and influence. When the time comes, will those witnesses keep their mouths honest… or change their story? Most likely, it becomes ‘no solid proof.’”
Gu Yan listened without interrupting, nodding slowly.
“That’s one reason,” Magistrate Huang continued. “The second is this: even if the judicial commissioner accepts the witnesses and concludes Li Wen Cai intended to kill Licentiate Li, he failed. A failed attempt and a finished murder are not judged the same.”
“And there’s more. Li Wen Cai is an elder, and he is still within the five degrees of mourning with Licentiate Li. In a failed attempt, will Licentiate Li show magnanimity and submit a plea for leniency? If he doesn’t, people will say he is petty and thin-skinned—very bad for his future career. If he does, then the punishment becomes exile five hundred li, and with further pleading, perhaps one or two hundred. A year or two later, the man is back.”
“Li Wen Cai is already past fifty. The law allows a son or nephew to serve punishment in an elder’s place. He has sons and grandsons to spare—pick one, send him off, and Li Wen Cai barely feels it.”
“And one matter cannot be punished twice. If the government tries and rules on the attempted murder, the clan will say there is nothing left to handle. At that point, Li Wen Cai might come out practically unscathed.”
“So you leave that crime to the clan,” Gu Yan said.
Magistrate Huang laughed. “Exactly. Let them ‘handle it’ themselves. In half a month, or a month, send someone to ask around. See what their clan truly does.”
Gu Yan’s mouth curved. He bowed. “I’ve learned a great deal. Thank you, Magistrate.”
“No need,” Magistrate Huang said, returning the salute.
Gu Yan exchanged a few more polite words, took his leave, and mounted his horse. Under the escort of his entourage, he rode more than ten li before slowing. He lifted a hand, signaling for Wang Gui from the retinue behind.
Shi Gun saw it and immediately slowed as well, motioning the eunuch and page to fall back and keep distance. Wang Gui was the Heir Apparent’s scout commander, and the matters passed between them were never for wandering ears.
“You heard the case just now?” Gu Yan asked.
“Yes.”
“First, find out what day Li Xue Fu and Li Xue Shou knocked out Little Nan. Second, for each of them, give me a wound on the head—three inches long, one inch wide. When it heals, that scar is not allowed to grow hair.”
“Yes,” Wang Gui answered, eyes steady, as if he’d been asked to buy vegetables.