The Mystery of Zhang Gong

A Few Days Later, Examinee Ma Lian’s Murder Case Was Closed.

Tao Zhoufeng asked in a faltering voice, “You- Are the surviving child of the Zhou Family, Zhongqian?”

Around twenty years ago, Tao Zhoufeng had also served at the Hanlin Academy and was Duke Zhou’s colleague. That tragic case made him feel very sorrowful – he remembered that during the disaster, only Duke Zhou’s youngest son, Zhongqian, luckily escaped. 

Zhou Zhongqian was only two or three years old at that time. A female servant had jumped into the river holding him in her arms, but his head collided with a burning log. In the end, he floated to shore, miraculously keeping his life.

Tao Zhoufeng and several other colleagues put together some money and sent it to Zhou Zhongqian and Duke Zhou’s elderly parents, but it was declined by his father.

He said, “My son’s grievance has not been redressed – even in death, his eyes cannot close1. What use is this money?”

Blood-mixed tears dripped freely down Lu Zhonghe’s face.

Zhang Ping couldn’t bear looking at him, hence he continued, “When I was checking past files, I discovered that after the case closed, the brothers’ Ma Hong and Ma Lian suddenly appeared on the northwest Ganliang County’s household registration record. I personally went to investigate and found out Lord Dou secretly approved Ma Lian and Ma Hong’s household registration before placing them in the care of a poor household in northwest Ganliang County. The name list of officials who helped Lord Dou with this matter is recorded. All ministers present can send word and inquire anytime. Ma Hong and Ma Lian were actually the bandit, Niu Ba’s, sons.”

Bo Yifan was at a loss for words. “Why did Lord Dou do this?”

Tao Zhoufeng sighed. “Lord Dou was magnanimous. He was even willing to take great care of his mentor’s murderer’s children. He truly set a great example for the world.” 

Deng Xu coldly said, “I suspect Dou Fang did this to find the whereabouts of the real culprit who incited Niu Ba from these two children.”

Niuba’s sons were still alive, so perhaps they were holding onto some secret, or maybe, the real culprit would feel concerned and expose themself. 

To Dou Fang, who couldn’t find anything on the real culprit at that time, this small lead was better than nothing.

Zhang Ping said, “It’s unknown what Lord Dou was thinking at that time; however, I found some letters with Lord Dou’s handwriting at Ma Lian and Ma Hong’s home in Ganliang County. This proves that Lord Dou had always been taking care of these brothers – even though their family was poor, they could still study. None of them knew their true background, so both of them saw Lord Dou as their most revered adoptive father. Whenever Lord Dou contacted them, he’d use the owner of Sixian Bookstore as his identity. 

Dou Fang violated the Imperial Court’s prohibition forbidding ministers from carrying out businesses and privately opened Sixian Bookstore. 

Perhaps this way it was more convenient to find clues on Zhuge Zhen’s imitation of ‘Orchard Pavilion Preface’. If the real culprit had this imitation in their hands, they may sell or copy it. A bookstore was the easiest place to obtain information. 

But Dou Fang waited twenty years for nothing. By then, Niu Ba’s two sons had already grown up and both of them were well-read. His eldest son, Ma Hong, even passed the northwest county’s admission exam and came to the Capital for the Imperial Examination. 

Right at this time, Dou Fang made a discovery in the Capital – he suspected an examinee who also came to the Capital for the Imperial Examination imitated his handwriting from Zhuge’s ‘Orchard Pavilion Preface’. This person turned out to be his former mentor, Duke Zhou’s, good friend, Chen Wending’s, grandson, Chen Zishang. 

“Which was why Chen Zishang’s case would’ve definitely become a miscarriage of justice – because the person who set him up step-by-step, robbed his article, framed him, and, in the end, destroyed his family was Dou Fang. Chen Zishang’s mother died crying injustice, wanting to tell Lord Liu that the real culprit behind her son’s conviction was sitting in the Ministry of Justice’s great hall.”

Ma Hong was Dou Fang’s accomplice. He and Dou Fang worked together to cause a miscarriage of justice six years ago. Even before his death, he didn’t speak the truth. 

In the end, nobody knew whether it’s because he discovered his true background or if he decided to use his life to repay Dou Fang’s kindness. 

“After Chen Zishang’s unjust case, it was Lord Dou who rechanged Ma Lian’s household registration. Even to the end, Ma Lian had no idea about the truth behind this – this could be seen from how he wanted to take revenge on Lord Yun and Grand Preceptor Wang.”

After Chen Zishang’s case, Dou Fang may have felt he accomplished revenge. Ma Hong also lost his life for this, so he wanted to let go of Niu Ba’s last descendant and let him live well. 

Hence, he changed Ma Lian’s household registration to Wangshan County of the Shu Prefecture2 and left Sixian Bookstore to Duke Zhou’s son, Zhou Zhongqian, before committing suicide with poison. 

“But Ma Lian didn’t know the truths. He thought his adoptive father and brother were both good men. Because Lord Yun reversed the verdict for Chen Zishang’s case and sentenced Ma Hong to death, he wanted to avenge his brother. Hence, he came to the Capital to rely on his adoptive father’s help, not knowing his adoptive father was Dou Fang and was already dead. Childe Zhou may have told him his adoptive father passed away from illness. Although Dou Fang let go of Ma Lian, Childe Zhou wasn’t planning on doing the same.”

Zhou Zhengqian struggled, expressing his need to speak – Deng Xu signalled the yamen runner to take out the cloth from his mouth.

Zhou Zhongqian hoarsely said, “That’s right, his father murdered my entire family – why should I let go of him?!”

The vague memory of that night from his childhood was his eternal nightmare. 

There were only scattered fragments in his dreams – a sky of red; the piercing pain of scorched skin; a blade’s incoming gleam; the wretched screams from both men and women, and icy-cold water pouring into his nose and throat. He’d choke awake to find himself drenched in a cold sweat. 

Nightmares of his family’s demise were destined to haunt him for an entire lifetime – he would never break free. 

His teeth gritted until blood spewed out. The yamen runner restuffed the ball of cloth back into his mouth.

Zhang Ping continued, “Ma Lian didn’t speak of his plan to the Sixian Bookstore’s staff. First, he unscrupulously began rising to the top and deliberately tarnished his reputation. Later, he finally got acquainted with Young Master Wang, got in contact with Lord Liu, and prepared to find evidence of cheating at the Imperial Examination.”

Wang Xuan stretched his neck out. “What evidence? Me, my dad, and my brother – our entire family’s candid and upright!”

Wang Yan glared at him. “Shut up! We’re in court, not a place for you to rage!”

Ignoring them, Zhang Ping carried on, “Ma Lian deliberately made a racket outside the examination venue because he thought the cheated papers were in the ‘ethics’ category. The papers he’d previously obtained were also from that category. He didn’t expect to be arranged to the ‘moral principles’ examination room, so he deliberately created a disturbance to inform those outside the venue that there’s been a change. And the talismans under the bed – I’m afraid it wasn’t the cheater who etched them, but the person who wanted to catch them.”

Since the cheater could arrange exam rooms, buy and sell exam papers, and even influence the recommendation list at will, they had no need to risk leaving evidence by etching markings under the bed. 

Only beds in the ‘moral principles’ and ‘ethics’ examination rooms had these kinds of imprints, perhaps because the person who wanted to catch the cheater long received notice that something fishy will happen in these rooms. They etched markings so once they obtained solid evidence of cheating when the papers were being collected, they could arrange them in a talisman. The talisman was for inviting ghosts – this meant there were ghosts in the examination venue. 

Deng Xu’s frown deepened. A small official came out from behind the screen and quietly stuffed a piece of paper into his hands. 

Zhang Ping: “Also, Ma Lian and-”

Deng Xu suddenly raised his hand. “I’ve roughly understood this case. We’ll examine it in court again after verifying the evidence.”

He fixed his clothing and left the court hall.

»»————-¤————-««

Zhang Ping walked out from the Court of Judicial Reviews. The glaring sunlight created profound shadows on the ground. 

Zhang Ping looked down at the shadow beneath his feet. Wang Yan paced to his side and stiffly said, “The truths behind this case will come to light. I admit you did beautifully for this case, but you may not meet a good outcome. Good luck.”

Zhang Ping responded with ‘en’ before slowly walking forward. He understood there were some things he couldn’t say. 

For example, six years ago, Yuntang already discovered the truth behind Chen Zishang’s case. It was the Imperial Court who suppressed any information from leaking to preserve Dou Fang’s reputation. He could only engrave Chen Zishang’s handwritten articles on his memorial hall and obscurely express the truth. 

If the truth was publicised back then, perhaps Ma Lian wouldn’t have been murdered. 

For another example, the two maids from the Liu Family who suddenly died in prison were just like Ma Hong and Ma Lian. They used their lives in an attempt to overthrow their so-called evil. 

Was it truly worth doing this?

Zhang Ping stood on the street. The sun hung in the sky; all those under the sunlight had shadows by their feet. 

There were all kinds of bustling streets, buildings, and passers-by – rarely would you find things that are purely in black or white. 

Beside the dazed Zhang Ping, a voice sounded.

“You accomplished such a major case – I’m almost afraid of inconveniencing you to continue living at my shabby residence.”

Lan Jue stood three or four steps away from him, looking at him with a small smile.

Zhang Ping’s eyes lowered.

“I’ll move out immediately.”

Lan Jue’s smile grew. “I still have to go back to my yamen. You may go back to the residence first. Having not seen you these past few days, Hui’er kept asking of you – my head is still aching. You don’t need to work right now; I grant you three days off – we’ll talk after you’ve recovered your spirit. If you lack money, you can go to the accountant’s office and receive next month’s salary in advance.”

Zhang Ping was silent for a moment before he softly said, “Many thanks, Lord Lan.”

Lan Jue walked towards the sedan chair by the Court of Judicial Review’s entrance and hurried directly to the Minister of Rites.

In the evening, yamen runners brought back the bloody clothes found at ‘Lu Zhonghe’s’ residence to the Court of Judicial Reviews. 

»»————-¤————-««

A few days later, Ma Lian’s murder case was closed and the culprit, Lu Zhonghe, was beheaded. 

Wang Xuanbei sat in prison for a while before he returned to his residence. Grand Preceptor Wang didn’t say much either. 

When Chen Chou was released from prison, he held Zhang Ping and wept bitter tears. “Brother Zhang, you’re the ultimate saviour of my life! I’ll be your cow in this lifetime. In my next lifetime, even if I become a horse I’ll still repay you! You are my-”

Zhang Ping stopped Chen Chou before he could become the other’s reborn parent. 

Chen Chou bought large stacks of joss paper to burn at Chen Zishang’s memorial hall, ceaselessly sobbing. 

His mother had been secretly taken care of by Chen Zishang’s father away from his residence. 

But she was a shrewd woman. She knew Father Chen’s first wife gave birth to a son and she acknowledged her lowly status, so there was nothing for her to compete. She requested a piece of land and bought a small residence to live in alone. 

Because of this, Father Chen found her very virtuous, so even after his first wife gave birth to a son he’d occasionally visit her. Just like this, Chen Chou was born. 

After Chen Chou was born, his mother became increasingly concerned, afraid that the first wife would think she’d want to compete for the family property and harm her. So, she secretly brought her child and wealth to a northwestern province, severing all contact with Father Chen since then. Because of this, she unexpectedly escaped from a calamity. 

Chen Chou sobbed. “My mother would always say to never think about nor take what’s not yours; otherwise, you won’t meet a good outcome. She’s truly too sensible!”

After he finished crying, Chen Chou asked Zhang Ping, “How did Brother Cao become Minister Lan? Since you’ve entered Lord Lan’s residence, does this mean there’s hope for a scholarly honour in the future? Once you’re successful, don’t forget to support me.”

Zhang Ping softly said, “I don’t know.”

The Imperial Court worked as usual. Under Tao Zhoufeng’s scholarly influence, the Ministry of Justice decided Wang Yan would take the lead to diligently continue snatching cases from Jingzhao 3 Prefecture and the Court of Judicial Reviews. 

The Ministry of Appointments continued to focus on cleansing out political corruption and ambition.

For Prince Huai’s marriage, the Ministry of Rites was still so busy their four legs were facing the sky. 

But before Prince Huai’s grand wedding, there was something that needed to be settled. 

The Minister of Rites’ Chief Minister, Gong Songming, raised the list of Imperial Examination palace graduates to Emperor Yongxuan. “Your Majesty, will these twenty-nine people be on the Court Examination list?” 

Emperor Yongxuan raised his brush. “List Zhang Ping’s name as the thirtieth. Have Tao Zhoufeng become his mentor.”

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Translator's Notes

 

’死不瞑目’ (si bu ming mu) – an idiom meaning ‘they died with a remaining grievance’It’s been a while since Ma Lian’s ‘hometown’ is last mentioned, but I remember I translated ‘Shu Prefecture’ as ‘Shu County’ which, at this moment, I realised was a mistake- Although 郡 (jun) can also mean ‘county’, in this case, it means ‘prefecture’. The author uses ‘县’ (xian) to represent ‘county’ instead.’京兆’ – a region centred on Chang’an