Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Killing Zhou Rong

As soon as the Heir Apparent of Prince Ning, Huo Yu, arrived, the crowd outside the court hall parted to make a path for him.

Huo Yu looked about twenty-four or twenty-five. He was gentle and handsome, dressed in brocade with a jade crown, and held a folding fan. At first glance he seemed like a dashing young master.

With the Heir Apparent’s arrival, Zhou He and Zhou Rong immediately felt bold again, because the Heir Apparent would not let Prince Chang’an sentence them to death.

Huo Yu walked into the court, lightly shaking his fan, and asked with a smile: “What case is this? So lively.”

The retainers who came with the Heir Apparent all bowed to Prince Chang’an of the Imperial Court and said: “Greetings, Prince Chang’an.”

Jiang He and the Shadow Guard gave a half-bow and said: “Heir Apparent.”

Huo Yu glanced at the bench and laughed: “What case has made our Seventh so angry? Look, he even threw the gavel block.”

He picked up the gavel block from the floor, walked up to Huo Zheng step by step, and set it back on the table.

Huo Zheng gave him a brief look and asked coldly: “Why are you here?”

Huo Yu snapped his fan shut and smiled: “Naturally, to find you. You have been in Nanzhou for days, busy with the case, and you have not even had time to eat with your cousin. I feared you would forget our appointment today at the Drunken Immortal House, so I came to fetch you.”

Huo Yu had fox-like eyes; when he smiled at someone, it looked as if he were plotting something.

At that moment, Huo Zheng looked at him and knew Huo Yu was not here just for a meal, [he clearly had more in mind], but Huo Zheng did not care to waste words.

“This is a court hall, not a place for small talk,” Huo Zheng said calmly: “If you have nothing else, step outside.”

Huo Yu chuckled and said: “As it happens, I do have something else.”

“Speak,” Huo Zheng said, short and to the point.

Huo Yu said evenly: “The prefect’s son committed crimes and dragged down his father. That part is hard to argue with. But this is Nanzhou. If you plan to punish the Zhou father and son by law, should you not first inform my father, Prince Ning?”

A vassal prince’s fief was almost its own country. It was not a written rule that all Nanzhou matters must ask Prince Ning first.

But if trouble broke out in Nanzhou, and Prince Ning neither handled it himself nor let others handle it, that was truly hateful.

Huo Yu did not say the Zhou father and son could not be killed. He only told Huo Zheng that he should ask Prince Ning first.

Yet Huo Zheng had come by imperial order to inspect Nanzhou. If he had to ask Prince Ning before doing anything, how could he ever set things right?

Huo Yu kept smiling as he spoke. People say you do not hit a smiling face, but Huo Zheng truly felt Huo Yu deserved a beating, [he really wanted to hit him].

“This prince has already sentenced the Zhou father and son to death,” Huo Zheng said flatly: “Now that you know, go tell Uncle Prince Ning.”

Huo Yu spread his hands with a helpless smile and said: “How is that the same?”

Huo Zheng feigned puzzlement and asked: “How is it not the same?”

Of course Huo Yu knew Huo Zheng understood the difference. If Huo Zheng had informed Prince Ning before passing sentence, Prince Ning could object and might even save the Zhou father and son. But if Huo Zheng set the death sentence first and only then sent word to Prince Ning, the matter would be as fixed as nails in iron, impossible to change.

Huo Yu wanted to say more, but he also knew it would be useless. Though they were cousins and childhood playmates, they now stood on different sides, [anything he said would bounce off].

So Huo Yu tried another tack and said: “Beheading them in three days is too fast. Zhou He has served as Nanzhou Prefect for ten years. Many matters can only move forward after he gives a full account. How about this: lock them in the main prison first, and wait until after autumn to execute.”

Huo Zheng could not stay in Nanzhou that long. Once he returned to the Capital, Prince Ning could free the Zhou father and son with one word. Or he could find two death-row inmates to die in their place, give the two new identities, and let them keep harming Nanzhou. Huo Yu sounded as if he were making a kind offer to negotiate.

Huo Zheng rose and said: “Executing them in three days is indeed poorly considered.”

Thinking he had won, Huo Yu’s smile grew wider: “Right? Then let us do as I said—”

He had not finished speaking when Huo Zheng suddenly stood, drew a Shadow Guard’s sword, and with one sweeping strike cut down the Zhou father and son.

Blood splashed three feet. The hall fell silent.

Huo Zheng tossed the blood-stained sword back to the Shadow Guard, turned to Huo Yu, and said: “People guilty of monstrous crimes should be executed on the spot.”

Huo Yu stared at the vivid cut across Zhou Rong and Zhou He’s necks as the two bodies fell together, blood still pumping out. He flinched and nearly threw up, [Seventh is ruthless].

Huo Zheng’s voice was steady as he ordered: “Zhou He and Zhou Rong have paid for their crimes. Search and seize the Zhou estate according to the law. Use the proceeds to compensate the complainants and turn the rest over to the State Treasury.”

“Thank you, Prince Chang’an!”

“Prince Chang’an, long life, long life!”

The complainants knelt again and again.

“All of you, rise,” Huo Zheng said, lifting a blind old woman with his hand, then told the Shadow Guard to send the people safely back home.

Soon, men dragged away the bodies of Zhou He and Zhou Rong, and others brought water to wash the blood from the floor.

Watching all this, Huo Yu felt even more certain that Huo Zheng was truly hard and cold. The Nanzhou Prefect, killed just like that. Two lives taken with one stroke. He had not even blinked, [Seventh’s heart is a blade].

Huo Zheng took the embroidered handkerchief Jiang He handed him and wiped his hands. He glanced sideways at Huo Yu and asked: “Still eating?”

“Eat,” Huo Yu said with a stiff smile: “I came here just to eat with you. Come, to the Drunken Immortal House.”

The carriage from Prince Ning’s Residence was waiting outside the court. Huo Zheng and Huo Yu boarded together and headed for the Drunken Immortal House.

Meanwhile, at the Drunken Immortal House, Chun Zhi had risen early and taken a boat to Nanzhou City.

The Drunken Immortal House was famous. After asking around, she found it quickly. The steward who had approached her yesterday was waiting inside. As soon as he saw her, he led her to meet the owner.

The owner’s surname was Su. He was very young, fair, and a bit plump, with a friendly look. Even so, someone so young who could run a great restaurant like the Drunken Immortal House was not to be underestimated.

The owner greeted her and said: “My surname is Su, given name Yu Tang. We met in Linshui Town, though you may not remember me.”

Chun Zhi smiled and called him: “Shopkeeper Su.”

Su Yu Tang said: “Today the Drunken Immortal House is hosting an honored guest, so I invited you here to make tofu. The two taels Steward Li gave you yesterday were the deposit. When you finish, I will pay you five more taels. Will that do?”

Chun Zhi answered simply: “Money is easy to discuss.”

Su Yu Tang said: “Then there is no time to waste. Hurry and make the tofu. The soybeans are already soaked. If you want help, I can call two people for you.”

Chun Zhi said: “No need. I always do it alone at home.”

“Very well,” Su Yu Tang replied: “I will have Steward Li take you to the back hall. Our honored guest arrives today, and I have many things to handle, so I will not keep you.”

Chun Zhi nodded and said: “Please go ahead.”

Steward Li led her to the back hall. The stone mill and big cauldron were all set. Chun Zhi sent Steward Li off to his work, then began grinding the beans and making tofu.

After about two hours, the fresh tofu was ready.

Su Yu Tang paid her five taels of silver and also gave her a string of coins to hire a cart.

When Chun Zhi walked out of the Drunken Immortal House, a carriage from Prince Ning’s Residence was just then rolling toward the door.