The Mystery of Zhang Gong

The Youth Smiled Again. “Then, I Can Guess Why Brother Zhang’s Dressed Up Like This. You’re Here to Investigate a Case, Right?” 

The two dead maids were locked in a cell alone; it was tentatively determined suicide. 

Wang Yan immediately ordered people to the Liu Residence to report this issue and inquire about the two maids’ backgrounds. Then, he went to the prison and inspected the bodies and cell room. 

The prison guard said the two maids were completely fine when they came in. Suddenly, last night, they banged their heads against the wall and died. 

Wang Yan questioned whether anything strange happened last night. The prison guard knelt on the floor, trembling; he swore nothing happened. 

Suddenly, Wang Yang faintly felt this matter was slightly suspicious. He exited the prison and waited in the Palace Hall of Government Affairs for the constable’s inquiry result. 

»»————-¤————-««

Zhang Ping had woken early and rushed to Lingjue Temple. By the time Lan Jue was back at his residence after morning attendance, he’d already returned from Lingjue Temple. He reported to Lan Jue, “The abbot said Lord Liu Yuan hadn’t requested a talisman. Instead, he requested for the《Diamond Sutra》.”

Lan Jue glanced at his empty hands. “Why didn’t you request for a set of sutras?”

Zhang Ping was silent.

Lan Jue asked again, “Why aren’t you answering?”

Zhang Ping replied, “This student only knows how to answer the truth.” 

“Did I forbid you from telling you the truth?”

Zhang Ping raised his eyes and looked at Lan Jue. “Lord Lan didn’t have me visit the temple to request sutras, hence this student didn’t do more than required.” 

Lan Jue laughed. “You can return to your room.”

Zhang Ping bowed. “This student would like to request a break today.” 

Lan Jue glanced at him. He knew if he told Zhang Ping ‘even the Ministry of Justice’s Assistant Minister Wang Yan would find it difficult to turn back from this case; it’s impossible for a young failed examinee like you to find out the truth’, Zhang Ping wouldn’t listen. 

Hence, he lightly said, “You can travel in and out of this residence as you wish. There’s no need to inform me each time.”

Zhang Ping thanked him and returned to his room. He undressed his Changshan and changed into a short garment before leaving Lan Jue’s residence. Steward Sun knew he was questioned by Lan Jue last night and guessed it was due to the incident last night, so he deliberately avoided him and stopped mentioning how he’d help him get into the examination hall. 

Zhang Ping didn’t go to the examination hall; instead, under the scorching sun, he walked all the way to Zhuyin Lane. 

Ma Lian’s residence had long been searched by the Ministry of Justice and all the necessary evidence had been taken away. However, Wang Yan believed this case needed careful investigation, so he still sent constables to guard the residence day and night; this way, he could simultaneously observe any signs of disturbance. 

The moment Zhang Ping arrived at the lane, he was immediately expelled by the constables. He was just about to make a detour through the narrow lane by the roadside before a distant voice suddenly called out, “Scholar…” 

Zhang Ping continued walking forward. The voice called out again, “The scholar in short garments-” 

Zhang Ping turned his head and saw two people sitting under a tea stall by the roadside. One was a skinny man in his forties wearing thin, grey garments and a shabby cooling towel on his head. He had a short moustache and a pair of swift and fierce (1) sword eyebrows; however, underneath them were a pair of fine, benevolent eyes. As he looked at Zhang Ping, he stood up. “This scholar, my Young Master finds you familiar. Would you please come under this stall and have a cup of tea?” 

The youth sitting beside him smiled at Zhang Ping, looking as precious as jewels. 

Zhang Ping walked into the tea stall and cupped his hands. The grey-clothed man claimed to have the surname ‘Xu’ and given name ‘Deng’. He was the Qi Residence’s steward and the youth was the Qi Residence’s Young Master Qi Zhu; they came to the Capital to visit his uncle. Because Zhang Ping looked similar to a relative they hadn’t seen for many years, they felt a strong sense of familiarity, hence they took the liberty of starting a conversation. 

The youth, Qi Zhu, continued. “Moreover, I saw that although you’re wearing short garments, your behaviour is similar to a scholar’s, so I was also a little curious. May I ask for this brother’s name?” 

Zhang Ping replied, “Zhang Ping.”

Qi Zhu asked again, “Do you have a (2) courtesy name?”

Zhang Ping answered, “Qin Yong.”

Qi Zhu said, “What an upright name. I seem to have heard the two characters ‘Zhang Ping’ somewhere.” After a moment, he knocked his folding fan. “That’s right. Before, in the teahouse, I heard someone discussing an examinee in the Imperial Examination who was mistakenly arrested by the Ministry of Justice as a suspect. However, in the great hall, he solved an old, unsettled case. His name was Zhang Ping. Could he be Brother Zhang?”

Zhang Ping replied, “Yes.”

Qi Zhu immediately said, “I apologise for not recognising you.” Then he smiled again. “Then, I can guess why Brother Zhang’s dressed up like this.”

He was at most fifteen or sixteen years old; even his eyebrows carried a childish nature. Although he conducted himself in an extremely mature manner, his smile brought out a natural youthfulness. He whispered, “You’re here to investigate a case, right?”

Zhang Ping stood still; his expression didn’t move either. 

Steward Xu laughed with a ‘hehe’ and said, “Young Master Zhang doesn’t need to worry. Although my Young Master is young, he’s always liked hearing about odd cases. When we came to the Capital, all we heard were strange cases. To be honest, Young Master brought me here deliberately; he’s also very interested in this case.” 

Qi Zhu gently tapped his folding fan against the table’s surface. “I heard the Ministry of Justice believes the criminals are a number of scholars. Could it be that Brother Zhang believes there’s another story behind this?” 

Zhang Ping stared at the desk. “I haven’t seen the crime scene – there are government workmen walled up outside the deceased’s residence. Moreover, everything I know about this case was heard from others; I don’t dare make a judgement.”

Qi Zhu said, “That’s right, when investigating a case we must use reliable evidence. I might have a way of entering that residence.” 

Zhang Ping’s eyelids moved. Qi Zhu continued, “My uncle is friendly with the Ministry of Justice’s Chief Minister Tao and Xu Deng happens to know the head of the constables by the entrance. If we say Brother Zhang was the deceased’s good friend and wants to go in and have a look, perhaps they’ll be accommodating.”

Zhang Ping nodded. “Then I must trouble you.”

Xu Deng stood up. “Young Master and Young Master Zhang, please stay here. I’ll go speak with the constable’s head.” He hurriedly left the tea stall; not long after, he hurried back. “We can enter.” 

Zhang Ping followed the youth and Xu Deng back to Zhuying Alley. The constables by the entrance had all disappeared. Xu Deng said, “I gave them money and had them leave for some tea, but we only have approximately (3) 30-45 minutes.” 

After the three of them entered the courtyard, Xu Deng latched the courtyard doors. 

Ma Lian had earned a lot of money these past few years. Unlike the other poor scholars who had to share accommodations with others, he rented this small courtyard for himself. 

However, Ma Lian didn’t hire any servants because he felt they’d be too loud and disturb him from reading and writing articles; he only allowed an old woman who also lived in the lane to come over every few days to help him wash some clothes. 

According to the old woman, Ma Lian was slightly eccentric. He never allowed her into the room – only letting her wash the clothes in the courtyard – and after, she had to immediately leave. 

Zhang Ping observed the courtyard. The leaves and dust on the ground were freshly fallen; the grasses between the bricks were newly sprouted; there was only fresh dust on the opening panels of the doors and window gaps – no dust accumulation – and the grey brick flooring inside the house was also very clean. 

Within the residence, there was only one hall room, two side rooms, one kitchen, and a lavatory at one of the courtyard’s corners. 

Two side rooms; one was the study room and the other was the bedroom. Ma Lian was murdered in his bedroom while he was bathing. 

Evidence such as the murder weapon and bathtub had all been taken away by the Ministry of Justice; the clothes inside the wardrobe and the bed had also been searched through. Qi Zhu stood in the room with his hands behind his back whilst Xu Deng looked to the sides with narrowed eyes. Zhang Ping looked around before glancing at the door latch. He walked out of the bedroom and entered the kitchen. Qi Zhu followed behind him, only to see Zhang Ping open the cupboard and carefully observe the condiments.

»»————-¤————-««

The head of constables reported his findings to Wang Yan. 

The Liu Residence said the two dead maids were sisters and had been bought into the Liu Residence at the end of last year. They still had their purchase documents. 

The constables used these documents to find their relatives; however, they discovered something very strange. 

The head of constables placed several pieces of paper before Wang Yan and mumbled, “M-my Lord, this is what I found. My Lord, please rest assured; I won’t speak of this to anyone else.” 

Wang Yan picked up the papers and skimmed over them. Then, his expression drastically changed. He strode out of the Palace Hall of Government Affairs and ordered someone to prepare his sedan chair. 

“Send me back to the Grand Preceptor’s Residence!”

»»————-¤————-««

Lan Jue requested a vacation from Chief Minister Gong, so he left the yamen and returned to his residence early. He ordered people to arrange a jade (4) ruyi and seal it in a brocade box. After preparing some other gifts, he changed into an ordinary robe and had someone prepare his sedan chair. 

The steward asked, “Where does Master want to deliver these gifts?”

Lan Jue smiled. “The Liu Residence.” 

Previous || TOC || Next

(1) Sword eyebrows – we commonly find this description for wuxia characters known to have a righteous and upright character. Sword eyebrows are long and broad, with a sword-like curvature. 

(2) Courtesy name – a name bestowed to scholars when they reach adulthood for people other than family or friends to use. They’re usually given by parents, teachers, or are self-selected, and mirror the meaning behind their given name.

(3) 30-45 minutes – when describing how many quarters in an hour has passed, ancient Chinese people would use the measure ‘刻’ (‘ke’). 30-45 minutes is, therefore, two-three 刻. 

(4) Ruyi – a ceremonial sceptre that literally means ‘as desired’. It symbolises power and good fortune. A jade ruyi looks something like this: