amaotonovel Chapter 363 Unknown Changes in the Valley
Chapter 363 Unknown Changes in the Valley
Chapter 363 Unknown Changes in the Valley
As dawn broke, an old boatman, who had risen early to fish, rowed his small sampan past the mudflats behind the temple and was the first to discover the shaman's stiff, lifeless body. At that time, lingering white mist still hung in the reeds of the Shuiliu Temple, so from a distance, it looked like a white sail standing abruptly in the river.
The boatman was terrified and didn't even bother to reel in the fishing net. He stumbled all the way back to Jiachong Village, banging on the village head's door and shouting, "Murder!" The village head didn't dare to delay when he heard about it. He immediately put on a short jacket and took two strong men to Shuiliu Temple to investigate.
Half an hour later, Jiang Xingliang, the magistrate of Min County, arrived at the scene in a hurry with the coroner, the clerk of the criminal office, and more than twenty yamen runners.
The old coroner wrapped his hands in hemp cloth and carefully walked to the body. He first waded through the water and walked around the body, then used a silver needle to probe the deceased's mouth, nose, and throat. Finally, he had two constables drag the body from the river to the shore.
After examining the body, the old coroner judged from the signs of death that it was likely a drowning. However, the state of the body was too strange; he had never seen a drowning victim die so stiffly, so he dared not make a conclusion easily.
A moment later, the torture chamber returned to report that there seemed to be signs of a struggle inside the Water Flow Temple. There were several fresh footprints on the ground, stretching from the temple gate to the back gate, and then from the back gate to the riverbank. Judging from the size and depth of the footprints, it was likely that five or six people had been there...
After escaping from Shuiliu Temple last night, Geng Jingzhong told the boys to go home and not make a fuss. He thought the matter would go unnoticed, but he didn't expect the constables to arrive so quickly.
Not long after, He Lang'er and the other five teenagers were arrested. They had sneaked home the night before, intending to hide it from their families, but their neighbors saw the mud and blood on their bodies and told the constables. Only Geng Jingzhong had hidden in Old Man Zeng's house and deliberately took a roundabout route to erase his traces before returning, so no one suspected anything.
When the five boys were brought to the county government office, they were all determined to protect Geng Jingzhong, so they did not mention that there was a mastermind. When Jiang Xingliang took the stage for interrogation, the boys told him in detail that they had gone to the Shuiliu Temple the night before to settle accounts with the shaman, and that they had seen the shaman stand up from the river and spit out insects.
After hearing this, Jiang Xingliang felt it was utterly absurd.
He slammed his gavel and roared, "Nonsense! Who in the world vomits worms and dies like that? It's clearly you unruly scoundrels who, in a quarrel with the shaman, accidentally pushed him into the river and drowned, and then fabricated this nonsense to deceive me!"
The boys cried out that they were innocent, but Jiang Xingliang ignored them and ordered them to be locked in the cell to await their fate.
As is customary, once these suspects are locked up in jail, they inevitably suffer some form of exploitation. The jailers and guards in the jail will try every means to extort money from them. If they don't have money to bribe the jailers, they will either go hungry and cold or be beaten until their skin is torn and bleeding.
He Lang'er and his family were dirt poor and had no money at all. They thought they were going to die this time, so they quickly scraped together the money they had to send a message home. But after a while, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
That afternoon, Jiang Xingliang actually came to the cell himself, looked at the five teenagers, and then said to the cell boss, "These kids are still young, and there's no conclusive evidence that they committed murder. Release them for now."
The jailer was stunned, thinking he had misheard: "Sir, this..."
"What? You won't listen to me?"
Jiang Xingliang coldly said, "Release the person immediately, then change the body record. Say the deceased accidentally ate poisonous clams, vomited by the river, and drowned. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
The jailer dared not say anything more and quickly opened the cell door to release the five boys. The boys looked at each other in disbelief, unable to believe that they had been released so quickly.
At the same time, Jiang Xingliang also sent the corpse and the revised criminal case files to Fuzhou Prefecture.
Upon receiving the report, Fuzhou Prefect Li Yuzhan flew into a rage, throwing the documents to the ground: "Outrageous! Who is Jiang Xingliang trying to fool? That shaman's death was so suspicious, and he actually ruled it a drowning accident?"
Prefect Li Yuzhan immediately picked up his pen, about to order the case to be sent back to Min County for retrial, when his legal advisor hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade him: "Your Excellency, please calm down, this is absolutely unacceptable."
Why not?
Li Yuzhan angrily said, "Jiang Xingliang is so perfunctory in judging cases and determining sentences. If he is not severely punished, who will be willing to take things seriously in the future?"
"My lord, have you forgotten what happened in the thirteenth year of the Chenghua reign?"
The legal advisor pointed to the corpse and whispered, "Back then, a pool of giant clams suddenly appeared beside the mountain in Changle County. The people rushed to eat them, and within ten days, over a thousand people died of dysentery. There's a precedent for this; it's not a perfunctory explanation."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuzhan's expression changed slightly—he had naturally heard of this matter before; it was a major epidemic that occurred before and after the floods of the Ming Dynasty, filled with many supernatural and bizarre occurrences that still send chills down people's spines.
"But what's wrong with judging a murder case? You mean..."
Li Yuzhan hesitated.
"My lord, that shaman behaves strangely. He calls himself 'General Water Frog,' and says that a great plague will strike Fuzhou. Now the city is filled with panic..."
The clerk quickly whispered, "The best course of action now is to suppress the issue; we absolutely cannot lift the lid. You see, drowning someone is a minor matter, but if we convict someone of this and expel them from the government, some might spread rumors and cause unimaginable consequences. In my opinion, Magistrate Jiang's actions, seemingly perfunctory, are actually aimed at stabilizing public sentiment."
At this moment, Li Yuzhan's personal aide also stepped forward and spoke.
"That makes sense. The political situation in Fujian is currently turbulent. Governor-General Li Shuaitai was stripped of his post for his crimes, retaining only the title of Governor-General. Governor Xu Yongzhen is old and frail, and has repeatedly petitioned to retire. All affairs in Fuzhou, large and small, prioritize military matters, which in reality depend on the Jingnan Prince's Mansion. However, the situation at the Jingnan Prince's Mansion is unclear, and the young prince has not yet returned. No one wants to cause trouble for themselves at this time."
“What you’re saying makes sense, but I just feel like something’s not right. You two have always been at odds, so why are you both on the same page this time, urging me to suppress the matter?”
Li Yuzhan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Did you two receive any bribes?"
The advisor and his staff hurriedly knelt on the ground, waving their hands repeatedly: "Your Excellency, you are wise! We would never dare to accept bribes! However, this matter is of great importance, and we have no choice but to consider your feelings. Moreover..."
The aide paused, then continued, "...It was Lord Lin Qilong, the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, who sent someone to speak to Magistrate Jiang, offering to vouch for those teenagers. Lord Lin enjoys great prestige in the court and is a close advisor to the Emperor; since he has spoken, our Fuzhou Prefecture cannot refuse."
When Li Yuzhan heard Lin Qilong's name, his expression finally softened.
Lin Qilong, courtesy name Beihai, was originally from Fuzhou. He was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the third year of the Shunzhi reign and served successively as a Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Last year, he was awarded the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Although he was not in Fuzhou, his family still had a great influence.
"I am still somewhat uneasy. What if the court investigates the crime of 'private reconciliation'..."
This time, however, the aide smiled confidently and said:
"Your Excellency is overthinking this. That shaman can't even find a single relative. How can it be considered a 'private agreement'? And with whom would he have a 'private agreement'?"
He pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Since he's willing to make the decision, let's follow Jiang Xingliang's suggestion and close the case as an accidental drowning."
After saying that, he picked up a pen, signed the case closure report, and stamped it with the prefect's seal.
………………
Geng Jingzhong hid in the Zeng family's wooden house until the afternoon, when he learned from Old Man Zeng that He Lang'er and the others had been arrested and taken to the county government. Geng Jingzhong's first reaction was to go to Fuwei Escort Agency to avoid trouble and then have Lin Zhennan bail them out.
However, just as he was preparing to leave in his old clothes, a commotion suddenly broke out outside. Zeng Amei ran in, excitedly shouting, "Young master, young master, He Lang'er and the others are back!"
Geng Jingzhong was taken aback and quickly followed Zeng Amei out. Sure enough, a group of people were gathered at the alley entrance. He Lang'er and five other teenagers were standing in the middle, all looking energetic and showing no signs of having suffered.
"He Lang'er, weren't you arrested by the government? How did you get back?" Geng Jingzhong stepped forward and asked in confusion.
Upon seeing Geng Jingzhong, He Lang'er and the others immediately surrounded him, their faces filled with admiration: "Big brother, we're alright! The authorities released us, saying that the shaman drowned himself and it had nothing to do with us!"
"Yes, brother,"
Another boy chimed in, "We didn't suffer at all in the cell. The jailers treated us very well, giving us good food and drink, and they didn't dare to hit us. It must be because of your great reputation, brother, that the authorities didn't dare offend you and released us!"
Geng Jingzhong frowned upon hearing this.
"He Lang'er, tell me honestly, what exactly happened?" Geng Jingzhong said to him in a deep voice.
He Lang'er scratched his head and said, "Actually, I don't know much either, but I chatted with a constable in the jail for a bit, and he secretly told me that someone from the Lin family paid a guarantor, so the government released us."
"Are you sure it's the Lin residence?"
He Lang'er said, "Yes, that yamen runner said that the Lin family sent someone to make arrangements, and the county magistrate didn't dare to refuse, so he downplayed the matter and let it go."
Geng Jingzhong was even more puzzled. Could it be that Lin Zhennan had planted spies around him, and that he was able to arrange even these things so well?
However, just as they were talking, a servant dressed in brocade robes suddenly came from the alley entrance. He walked straight up to Geng Jingzhong and respectfully bowed, saying, "Young master, my master invites you in."
Geng Jingzhong looked at him warily: "Who is your master?"
"My master's surname is Lin."
The servant smiled and said, "Knowing that you have nothing to do today, he has specially prepared some wine and would like to invite you and all the heroes to his residence for a chat, as a way of expressing his gratitude."
He Lang'er and the others looked at each other, seeing doubt in each other's eyes. Only Geng Jingzhong nodded, seemingly confirming his own suspicions.
"Alright, lead the way."
Geng Jingzhong spoke calmly, then strode over with great strides.
The servant nodded in acknowledgment and turned to lead the way. Geng Jingzhong followed behind him with five boys. After walking hundreds of steps through the streets and alleys, they finally arrived at a secluded small building made of blue bricks, with the words "Rouyuan" written on the plaque above it.
The servants in brocade robes led them to the front of the building and opened the door. Inside, a sumptuous feast had been laid out, with six cold dishes, eight hot dishes, and a full range of soups and drinks.
Three people sat at the banquet: an old man with white hair and beard, a young man with a large face and a thick beard, and a young woman wearing a veil.
Upon seeing Geng Jingzhong and the others enter, the three quickly stood up. The young man smiled and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting, "My name is Lin Lunyi, greetings to you all."
Geng Jingzhong sensed something was amiss and stared at the man with a thick beard, asking, "You don't look like Lin Zhennan."
The man who called himself Lin Lunyi was slightly taken aback, then said calmly and with a touch of pride, "My father is Lin Qilong."
Lin Qilong?
Geng Jingzhong had heard of this name. He started his career as an imperial censor, and his memorials were quite treacherous. He was once dismissed from office for making false accusations. Later, he was appointed by Emperor Shunzhi to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, where he shone brightly. Therefore, his career has been quite smooth in recent years.
But Geng Jingzhong and the Jingnan Prince's Mansion not only had no acquaintance with Lin Qilong, but they were even among those impeached by him. Last year, Geng Jingzhong submitted a memorial on "reforming the Green Standard Army system," which was in line with Shunzhi's wishes to reduce the number of troops for these princes. So why is Lin Qilong helping him now? Could it be that his identity has been exposed?
Thinking of this, Geng Jingzhong felt a chill run down his spine. If Lin Qilong already knew his identity, then Zhou Shi probably also knew that he was hiding here. Perhaps this was a trap set by Zhou Shi to lure him out.
However, Geng Jingzhong remained calm and composed, merely nodding slightly as he carefully examined Lin Lunyi, then glanced at the old man and the masked woman beside him, becoming even more wary.
"Please have a seat, everyone."
Lin Lunyi warmly greeted them, "We've prepared some simple wine and vegetarian dishes today; it's nothing special, and we hope you won't find it offensive."
After everyone was seated, the white-bearded elder raised his wine cup and smiled, saying, "I am Jin Yingyuan, and this Miss Aragaki Rei and I are both from Ryukyu. It is truly an honor to meet you all today, thanks to Young Master Lin's introduction. Please allow me to offer you a toast first."
After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp. He Lang'er and the others, who came from poor families, were already hungry when they saw the table full of delicacies. They didn't stand on ceremony and started eating and drinking heartily. Only Geng Jingzhong remained calm and composed, neither drinking nor eating, but just quietly watching them.
Seeing this, Lin Lunyi smiled and said, "Young master, there's no need to be so formal. I've invited you all here today for two reasons: first, to thank you for acting on behalf of Heaven and eliminating that charlatan; and second, because I have a favor to ask of you."
Geng Jingzhong toyed with the white porcelain wine cup in his hand and said calmly, "Young Master Lin, please speak frankly."
"Very well, young master, you are indeed a man of few words."
Lin Lunyi said, "My father, Lin Qilong, has always hated unorthodox sects and heretical sects. In his early years, he once submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting the court to strictly investigate and ban the White Lotus Sect, the Dacheng Sect, the Hunyuan Sect, the Wuwei Sect, and other evil sects.
"My father has been in Beijing for a long time, and only now has he learned that there is another Trinity Church in Fuzhou, which steals the words of Confucius and Mencius, spreads fictitious doctrines, and has a perverse purpose. They also worship false saints and repeatedly use heresies to bewitch people. Recently, they have been gathering people at the Longjiang Thatched Cottage, chanting scriptures day and night, and I don't know what they are up to. My father suspects that they are plotting something sinister and wants to send someone to investigate, but he has not been able to find a suitable person."
He paused, then continued, "I've heard that you heroes possess extraordinary courage and have a grudge against the Lin family of the Trinity Sect. Therefore, I would like to ask for your help to infiltrate the Longjiang Thatched Cottage and see what they've been doing lately. If you succeed, Mr. Jin is willing to give you two hundred taels of silver as a reward."
Upon hearing this, He Lang'er and the others stared wide-eyed. They came from humble backgrounds and had fought each other over a few coins in their daily lives. They had never seen so much money in their lives, so they were all extremely excited and looked at Geng Jingzhong, waiting for him to nod in agreement.
However, Geng Jingzhong shook his head: "I cannot agree to this. We ordinary people just want to live a peaceful life and don't want to get involved in these troubles."
"Please wait a moment, young master, before you decline."
Lin Lunyi quickly said, "This is no ordinary matter. If the Trinity Church truly harbors ill intentions, I am genuinely worried about the safety of Fuzhou."
Geng Jingzhong remained unmoved, stood up, and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Young Master Lin. We'll take our leave now."
Just then, the veiled woman who had been silent suddenly lifted her veil, revealing a face as white as snow, with exquisite features, and a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
"My lord, you are wise."
The entire room fell silent. Suddenly, the woman spoke softly, her voice as melodious and sweet as a nightingale's song, though her eyes were already brimming with tears.
"My parents and brothers suffered greatly at the hands of heretics in my early years. This hatred is endless. I beg you, sir, to have mercy and restore justice to the world."
The boys were stunned, and even Geng Jingzhong was momentarily dazed. Looking into the woman's tearful eyes, he felt a strange impulse welling up inside him. Then, as if possessed, Geng Jingzhong nodded and blurted out a sentence.
"Okay, I promise you."