"A scoundrel triumphant!" Madam Yu returned home and said this indignantly to her husband, Liu Chi.
Liu Chi frowned, guessing the reason at once. "You went to Chunze Village?"
Madam Yu sat down and pursed her lips. "Your younger brother has made something of himself, becoming a County Commandant. He really got lucky. Who knows, maybe he'll climb even higher in the future. You two are brothers, after all, so of course I had to go help you mend your relationship!"
Liu Chi's face darkened. "You are forbidden from going there again!"
Stunned by his sudden shout, Madam Yu's eyes reddened as she couldn't help but say aggrievedly, "Husband, why must you lose your temper with me! Wasn't I doing this for you, for the Liu family?"
Liu Chi sneered. "You think Liu Yuan is so capable? Disaster is upon his family, yet they don't even know it. And you just walk right up to their door? Are you trying to hasten our deaths?"
Madam Yu was startled. Forgetting even to wipe her tears, she quickly asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Liu Chi snorted. "County Magistrate Song has already been transferred away. Assistant Governor Wu has lost his backer. The new County Magistrate is very displeased with Assistant Governor Wu's conduct. A few days ago, someone went before the County Magistrate and accused Wu of 'privately slandering the government and mocking the sovereign'!"
Madam Yu stammered, "This... this... Husband, you know I am slow-witted. Please speak plainly. Is this charge serious?"
Liu Chi curled his lip in a cold smile. "Qin Shi Huang had many children, and Young Master Fusu was renowned throughout the world, yet in the end, it was Huhai who ascended the throne. No one knows the reason why. But because of this, the new emperor loathes it when others say he obtained his position illegitimately. Now that Wu bears this accusation, what do you think will happen to him if the new County Magistrate submits a memorial to the emperor? It's laughable that Assistant Governor Wu is still courting death, dead set on opposing the new County Magistrate. If the charge of 'speaking up for the criminal Fusu' is pressed, no one can recover from it! If Wu is doomed, do you think Liu Yuan can possibly escape unscathed?"
Madam Yu was so frightened by Liu Chi's words that her face turned deathly pale. She forgot how to react, only managing to say after a long moment, "Then what... what should we do?"
Liu Chi irritably slammed a bamboo slip onto the table. "That's why I told you not to visit, to stay out of it! No matter how bad our relationship with them is, we are still blood relatives. If something happens to Liu Yuan, I'm afraid we will also be implicated. At that time, do you think your husband will still be entrusted with important duties by his superiors?!"
Madam Yu pressed a hand to her rapidly beating heart. After a moment's thought, she leaned in and lowered her voice. "Husband, should we sever our ties with his family beforehand?"
Liu Chi frowned. "We are connected by blood. How can that be severed?"
Madam Yu said, "I've heard that if someone breaks the law, and you go to the authorities to report them, you receive the merit of being the first informant..."
Liu Chi's expression changed. He stood up and roared, "Ignorant woman! Do you know what you are saying!"
Startled by his sudden movement, Madam Yu's upper body lurched back, and she fell sitting on the ground.
Liu Chi gritted his teeth in anger. "Liu Yuan and I are blood brothers! We share the same name. If he falls because of this, what good would that do me?!"
Unafraid of his anger, Madam Yu tilted her head back. "You said it yourself, the new County Magistrate can't stand that Assistant Governor Wu and is trying everything to pin a crime on him. Your brother relies on Assistant Governor Wu, so of course he'll go down too. If that happens, what will become of us if we're implicated by him? If you pledge your allegiance to the new County Magistrate now and gain the merit of being the first informant, not only will our family not be implicated, but you, Husband, might even get a promotion! Am I wrong?!"
Seeing her husband's silence, Madam Yu lowered her head, wiped her tears, and sobbed, "Don't tell me you see me as some malicious woman who is deliberately trying to sow discord between you brothers? I am only doing this for the Liu family!"
"...This course of action is not feasible." After a long while, Liu Chi forced the words out through gritted teeth.
"Why?" Madam Yu pressed.
"He and I... are brothers, after all. He may be heartless, but I cannot be treacherous!" Liu Chi said with difficulty.
"Brothers?" Madam Yu sneered. "Husband, you see him as a brother, but has he ever treated you as one? Liu Yuan was promoted to County Commandant, a rank higher than yours as a County Clerk, but have we seen him offer you, his elder brother, any help? If I hadn't taken the initiative to visit, they probably would have cut off all contact with us long ago. Forgetting one's own kin after a sudden rise to fortune—he's nothing but a scoundrel!"
Liu Chi said nothing.
Madam Yu added more fuel to the fire. "If you are hesitant, Husband, why not go and ask Father for his opinion? He surely wants what is best for you!"
Liu Yuan's family knew nothing of Madam Yu and Liu Chi's conversation. They were currently having their evening meal.
In this era, commoners generally ate two meals a day. However, after their family's finances improved, at Liu Zhen's strong insistence, the Liu family often added an evening meal, making it equivalent to three meals a day.
Today's evening meal was meat-stuffed fried flatbreads. The flour was kneaded until soft and formed into small balls, which were then repeatedly rolled flat and fried until golden brown on both sides. A slit was cut in the middle, and large chunks of braised sauced meat were stuffed inside, similar to the roujiamo of later generations. Liu Zhen had also washed and chopped some fernbrake, placing it to the side. Eaters could scoop some fernbrake onto the sauced meat according to their preference, a delicious mix of meat and vegetables that was fresh and sweet.
This simple, easy, and delicious dish was not only popular with the Liu family, but even An Zheng and Xu Zhongfang were full of praise for it and would occasionally come over to freeload a meal.
Perhaps today happened to be one of those days. When Liu Yuan returned home from his duties, he brought An Zheng and Xu Zhongfang back with him. He hadn't informed them in advance, but thankfully, there was more than enough sauced meat and flatbread, so there was no worry of running out.
However, the three men's expressions were a bit grave today. As they ate their meat-stuffed flatbreads, they lacked their usual cheerful and lighthearted demeanor. Seeing the adults like this, the younger generation didn't dare to be unruly. When Liu Zhuang's mouth turned down, about to cry because Liu Wan had taken the flatbread she wanted, the quick-eyed and quick-handed Madam Zhang clamped a hand over her mouth and led her away. Liu Wan and Liu Jin were also taken to the inner room to eat.
Madam Zhang had intended to have Liu Zhen and Liu Nan leave as well, but Liu Zhen blinked, leaned closer to her father, and put on a well-behaved expression, looking eager to listen. Her father spoke up at the right moment, "You go ahead and take the children. Ah Zhen and Ah Nan can stay."
His own children were tight-lipped and wouldn't go around spreading what they heard from their elders. This was what Liu Yuan was most satisfied with; otherwise, he wouldn't have let them stay.
Once everyone else had left, An Zheng heaved a sigh. "Big Brother, what do you plan to do?"
From the sound of that question, it seemed something had happened. Liu Zhen sat up straight and pricked up her ears.
Liu Yuan shook his head. "Everyone knows I'm one of Wu's men. What can I do?"
An Zheng grew anxious. "Big Brother, Assistant Governor Wu has already been thrown in prison! The new County Magistrate has seized upon the Qin Emperor's taboo against anyone saying he obtained his position illegitimately. Once this charge is laid, Wu will have almost no chance of recovery. You have to find a way to get out of this!"
What, Assistant Governor Wu was arrested?
Liu Zhen's eyes widened.
Liu Yuan sighed. "Do you know who reported Wu? It was Xiao Qi."
An Zheng let out a sound of surprise. "The Xiao Qi who was always on bad terms with Assistant Governor Wu?"
Back when Liu Yuan was promoted to Prison Warden, it was because Assistant Governor Wu disliked Xiao Qi and deliberately had Liu Yuan take the position that should have gone to Xiao Qi. Although Liu Yuan's tactfulness allowed him to maintain a superficial friendship with Xiao Qi afterward, having a prize snatched from his grasp like that would leave anyone with resentment. Xiao Qi was surely not happy about it.
He had endured it for so long and finally got his chance when the new County Magistrate took office. To make matters worse, Assistant Governor Wu was courting death, even trying to stand up to the new County Magistrate. So, Xiao Qi used this opportunity to pledge his allegiance to the new official, reporting Assistant Governor Wu on charges of "recklessly discussing state affairs and sympathizing with Fusu."
The new County Magistrate had been looking for a chance to deal with Assistant Governor Wu, so as a matter of course, he threw Wu into prison. It was said that next spring, Wu would be escorted to Xianyang to be sentenced.
Liu Yuan nodded. "My good relationship with Assistant Governor Wu is common knowledge. If I were to go curry favor with the new County Magistrate the moment he was imprisoned, I would become a fickle scoundrel in the eyes of others. That is something I will never do."
Xu Zhongfang finally understood the whole story and immediately said, "Does that mean you're just going to wait for the new County Magistrate to treat you as Wu's accomplice, Big Brother? You have to think of a solution quickly!"
An Zheng said, "I'll go to the County Magistrate first to sound him out and plead for you, Big Brother. If the Magistrate has no intention of pursuing the matter, then that would be for the best!"
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Brother!" Liu Yuan gave a bitter smile, not wanting to discourage him.
In fact, when the new County Magistrate first took office, Liu Yuan had accompanied Assistant Governor Wu to pay his respects. The Magistrate had clearly already marked him as one of Wu's men. Now, it was feared that nothing he said would be of any use.
An Zheng added, "Xiao Qi probably just wanted to vent his anger. If you go and plead with him, Big Brother, perhaps there's still a chance for things to turn around. As long as he puts in a few good words for you with the new County Magistrate, the matter should be fine."
Liu Yuan said flatly, "I have already sought out Xiao Qi twice in the past two days, but he has avoided seeing me each time."
Xu Zhongfang was furious. "Don't tell me he really intends to harm you, Big Brother?!"
An Zheng said, "Third Brother, calm down. Perhaps Xiao Qi has a guilty conscience for framing Assistant Governor Wu, and that's why he's avoiding you, Big Brother. Before the truth is revealed, let's not jump to conclusions."
Liu Yuan nodded. "The Third Brother is absolutely right."
The three of them discussed back and forth, deciding that An Zheng would first go to the County Magistrate to sound him out, while Liu Yuan would go see Xiao Qi again tomorrow, hoping to resolve this undeserved disaster.
After An Zheng and Xu Zhongfang left, Liu Zhen asked Liu Yuan, "Father, what will you do if Xiao Qi still refuses to see you?"
"Don't worry, you still have your Uncle An. There might be a turn for the better with the County Magistrate. After all, I never helped Wu make things difficult for him." Liu Yuan stroked her hair and said to her and Liu Nan, "Just keep this matter to yourselves. You are not to tell your mother."
The brother and sister naturally agreed. Liu Zhen knew that Liu Yuan was afraid Madam Zhang would make a big fuss. It wasn't as if she could help anyway, and there was no benefit in her knowing more.
Liu Zhen's understanding of Xiao Qi mostly came from her father's discussions with his two sworn brothers. In her father's words, Xiao Qi was a pragmatic man who knew how to adapt to circumstances and probably wouldn't do something as ruthless as wiping them out completely. Plus, since Liu Yuan and the other two had not shown any particular worry at the time, Liu Zhen subconsciously felt that this was not a very serious matter.
But then, late one night three days later, while she was sound asleep, she was suddenly woken by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
Liu Zhen rubbed her eyes. The knocking was like falling rain, each rap more urgent than the last, every sound hammering at her heart. She quickly put on her outer robe and got up to see what was happening.
Over there, Liu Yuan had already gotten up and opened the door.
What greeted the Liu family's eyes was An Zheng's anxious face. "Big Brother, this is bad! Xiao Qi is heading this way with a group of men. Quick, find a place to hide!"
Liu Yuan was filled with a mix of shock and fury. "I am the County Commandant! The deployment of all the county's patrolmen and guards should be under my command. The audacity of that dog Xiao Qi! What right does he have?!"
An Zheng gave a bitter smile. "He's acting on the County Magistrate's orders, so of course he has the authority. I was only able to find out in advance because County Assistant Liu tipped me off. I'm afraid they'll be here in an hour. Big Brother, stop talking and think of a plan!"
Translations during sleepless nights. I can sleep when I'm dead! ...Please let me sleep. Happy readers keep me awake, and lots of love and a huge thank you for supporting my hobby!
Give me feedback at moc.ebircssutol@ypeels.