Chapter 335.2: Nicely Settle This Debt Altogether
Meanwhile, the big and small officials of Chuanzhou Fu also got startled entirely. The relevant personnels naturally crawled up from their beds, their clothes still disorderly as they hurriedly rushed to the scene. And the unrelated personnels also were unable to sleep for the whole night, anxiously sending people to discreetly inquire the specifics. All knew that Jin Qinw.a.n.g had reserved the pleasure boats today, and on the Linchuan River, they didn’t have the guts to go join in on the fun, just fearing that it would ruin Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s mood, and end up suffering a calamity again. Yet, in the end, they still weren’t able to escape this disaster.
The government workmen held the torches, sealing off the scene of the crime. The fu’s magistrate also personally arrived at the scene, tremblingly watching the workers fish up the corpses.
Linchuan River’s river flow was very slow. In this bit of time, the corpses for the most part were all still in the same spot, getting fished out one by one. In a certain sense, it was quite concentrated, one moment a corpse, one moment a corpse, making one heart directly tremble in fear from watching. How come there was this many, and how come still not done fis.h.i.+ng out, still not done?!
The coroner had been examining from the start, and the results were basically all the same, and that was the vitals getting cut by a sharp blade. Majority were all killed in one blow. The ones that had more than three wounds on the body were just a countable few. After fis.h.i.+ng out the last one, and confirming that the river was already clean, counting through, there were a hundred and ninety-two corpses. Then, looking at these people’s attire, even using one’s toe to think, one would all figure out what was going on. It’s over, with this many people attempting to a.s.sa.s.sinate Jin Qinw.a.n.g, even if they’d just escaped a calamity previously, because of this matter, their official hats will still be destined to be lost.
Not long after they’d just finished counting up the numbers on this side, the other officials for the most part all knew the outcome, and practically still those two words: It’s over!
And these people were indeed done for, and not just because of this matter.
But, even so, they still can’t neglect their duties and do nothing. Those that were still curled up at home hastily came out, and at this time, no need to bother with what faction, and further don’t bother with whether or not this matter was within their responsibility or not, or whether or not so and so was their rival. Discussing the important matters together, and having the serious consequences that this present matter may bring about reduced to the lowest point was the most important right now.
Through the night, they brought in more than ten painters to have all the dead people’s facial features all drawn down. With this many people, it was impossible to all be unfamiliar faces. Under normal circ.u.mstances, it was only the flow of merchants that was relatively big, and relatively large caravans entering and exiting the city all have records. Just purely having unfamiliar faces entering the city, one or two was still okay, but for nearly two hundred, it was impossible to completely not arouse any attention. One has to know, the people guarding the gates long term also weren’t useless. As long as these people aren’t ones that suddenly appeared from nowhere, by inquiring the whole city, one will eventually be able to find people that recognize them. Even if it’s just a portion of them, by following the vine to the melon, exactly to what degree they can reach in the end, will just have to depend on the will of heaven.
After Jing Wan and them returned, they let the rear kitchen prepare some light and simple food, eating about seventy percent full. Then, after sitting for a while, taking a bath and preparing for bed, it was actually a good night’s rest.
Compared with the many that were unable to sleep for the whole night, it practically was just too comfortable.
The next day, they’d just gotten up and finished using the morning meal when they heard Eunuch Mu say that outside, the various officials have been waiting at the door for a while, wis.h.i.+ng to meet with master.
“Tell them to come look for this prince when they have results. If unable to get results, then just let them have their necks washed clean for this prince.”
With this line from Li Hong Yuan, what else was there to say, quickly go handle.
Countless copies of the portraits were made. The officers of the city patrol were all dragged out, as well as the city guards, and these still weren’t enough, even pulling out two thousand soldiers from the barracks of the fu army. The city gates that were shut last night simply didn’t open again, inquiring from house to house, letting everyone look over one by one. And when it wasn’t troublesome, it was increasingly the efficiency as much as possible.
Because of not knowing what exactly happened, the people of the entire city were all alarmed and anxious, and at the same time, also exceptionally cooperative. As such, in just a short amount of time, there was already news. Finding one person, for the most part, can just implicate a whole string of people behind them. And for these people, a small portion of them had family.
And without a doubt, regardless of whether or not these people knew the truth, all won’t have a good end, the young and old all the same ending. For anything that involved the remnants of the previous dynasty, it was to ‘rather kill wrong, then to let off’. When it came to Jing Wan, she all won’t say a single word.
With Jin Qinw.a.n.g getting attacked by a.s.sa.s.sins when watching the hundred boat parade, Louxie Fang naturally was the first target of serious investigation. And the other eleven establishments certainly won’t be let off either. Under normal circ.u.mstances, even if having nothing to do with them, nine out of ten will all lose a bit of something. Fortunately, Jing Wan thought of this problem and sent someone to give a greeting. As such, when these government officers took the opportunity to dropped in to put on airs, they just pulled out Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s name, and each and every one could only behave according to the rules, not daring to act reckless.
Things were far smoother than predicted, despite half of the people, in a certain sense, were just ‘visiting friends and relatives’, staying over at a friend’s house.
Around nightfall, the various officials just worked up their spirits, once again requesting to meet with Jin Qinw.a.n.g.
Li Hong Yuan rather didn’t give them the cold shoulder, and because he roughly was aware, he didn’t make things difficult for them either. “Fine, this matter, this prince won’t look into anymore…………..”
Everyone all relaxed a breath, having a kind of coming back to life feeling. Since Jin Qinw.a.n.g is perfectly fine, and also won’t look into anymore, in addition to the a.s.sa.s.sins’ special ident.i.ty, his Majesty most likely won’t punish too harshly either. However, before this breath even finished relaxing completely, Jin Qinw.a.n.g began to place the mines again……………
“……………..Let’s come settle another matter. The people that transferred over after the Minshan County earthquake three years ago can get lost.”
The people that were unclear as to why naturally looked left and right, and afterwards, deferentially retreated out. However, for the ones that understood, even if having a good mentality, they still couldn’t help but change face.
What was called falling from the high clouds into the dirt, precisely this!
Li Hong Yuan lifted the tea cup, leisurely taking a sip, afterwards looking to them with a nonchalant expression. His gaze wasn’t that sharp either, yet it made them somewhat unable to withstand.
Once the time was mature enough, Li Hong Yuan once again opened his mouth, “If you say it yourself, your family members, at most just sent into exile, and for those whose situation is a little better, it’s nothing more than just losing the family property, but the people can all return to the ancestral home fully intact, and after three generations, still have the chance to rise again. If you wait for this prince to come say it, then on the light side, it’s just the women all reduced to the slave cla.s.s and sent into the Bureau of Theater[1], and the men all get castrated to become the lowest ranking inner court attendant (eunuch). On the heavy side, it’s just execution of the entire family. Don’t cry out your innocence with this prince, and further don’t tell this prince you don’t know. Of course, if you all want to gamble, wanting to test whether or not this prince has evidence on hand, then feel free to blurt out. ——-Someone come, have the various officials invited down, and let them properly contemplate clearly. This prince doesn’t mind waiting one more night.”
He simply didn’t give them the chance to speak, all entirely taken down, each person, one room. They just have one night.
When Jing Wan learned of this matter, she also had to admire, this psychological warfare really was more than well played.
In reality, this matter didn’t really have too much evidence. At the time, the people that partic.i.p.ated in this matter knew the severity of the matter, so their tails were all swept very cleanly. Of course, it wasn’t impossible to investigate either, for instance, thoroughly investigating those twenty thousand people’s whereabouts, but that was too troublesome, and Li Hong Yuan didn’t have that idle energy. Even if suspecting that he was bluffing, they still didn’t dare to go gamble.
This night, for some people, felt countless times more arduous than the previous night.
In the morning, Li Hong Yuan, in a very good mood, watched his wife’s morning exercise routine. Jing Wan was just wearing her dudou and inner trousers, that l.u.s.trous and glossy skin comparable to frost and snow, then adding on a layer of sweat, in addition to Jing Wan growing rather quickly during this period of time, that appearance really was quite seductive, yet Jing Wan was completely unaware, completely focused on practicing yoga, further having that figure stretched to the extreme. Li Hong Yuan’s gaze grew increasingly deep, even not at all concealing the changes on his body, though he didn’t go disturb Jing Wan, but rather continuing to wait.
When the exercise was over, Jing Wan got up and adjusted her breathing, afterwards raising a smile as she looked towards Li Hong Yuan. However, in the next moment, her smile was a bit stiff. This b.a.s.t.a.r.d was sitting there in an imposing manner. That area practically couldn’t be more obvious, and also that gaze, what did it mean? It was just like as if he was about to eat someone. Jing Wan glanced left and right, when did the servants go out? “Eh, um, Ah Yuan, you sit here for a while, I’ll go wash up, and afterwards, use the morning meal together.” Her feet slid, preparing to slip away.
Unfortunately, who was Li Hong Yuan? A hungry wolf whose eyes have reddened from hunger. Would he let the plump and tender sheep run away?
Like as if knowing Jing Wan’s escape path, he intercepted halfway, not the gentle princess carry, but rather crudely picking up like a sack.
Jing Wan cried out, “b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
However, what she got in exchange was two neither light nor heavy slaps on the b.u.t.t. It won’t hurt, but it still dyed with a dense color, even getting mischievously groped twice.
Jing Wan grinded her teeth, wanting to bite him, but she was certain, if she chomps down, a certain someone’s flames will definitely surge even more. In the past, it’s not that this kind of thing didn’t happen before. “Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan, I’m covered in smelly sweat………..”
Li Hong Yuan had Jing Wan placed on the bed, leaning over, “How can it be smelly sweat, my little darling is the most fragrant.”
“I’m, I’m hungry.”
“Alright, this husband will immediately feed you.” Li Hong Yuan already unhesitantly went down.
As for the officials that had gotten locked up to reflect, clenching their fist, they made their decision. But after waiting left and right, they all didn’t see Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s shadow, making them increasingly anxious and afraid inside. When the sun reached the third pole, Jin Qinw.a.n.g finally brought them in for interrogation. Each and every one’s eyes were already entirely filled with wisps of blood.
Li Hong Yuan interrogated one by one, and without needing him to ask, they’d already poured everything out cleanly.
The ones in the back also didn’t dare to conceal, not daring to gamble. Furthermore, who knows whether or not the person in front had already had them sold out.
Jing Wan although had heard Li Hong Yuan mention before, but when she saw those confessions, it still made her extremely angry. These people were practically just deranged. Could it be that they just lacked that bite of food, lacked that piece of clothing? Doing this kind of thing, are they not afraid of getting struck by lightning, severing their descendants?
[1] 教坊司 – I’ve translated it as ‘Bureau of Theater’, but when you look up this term the only english result on google is this wikipedia page, where they have it translated as ‘Royal Academy’, and although the information is roughly correct, whoever translated the name as ‘Royal Academy’………THIS IS MISLEADING AS h.e.l.l.
The literal translation of ‘教坊司’ is ‘teaching mill department/bureau’, and it was a government organization started during the Tang dynasty to train musicians and dancers for court entertainment. ‘教坊司’ is the name for it in the Ming dynasty, and at the same time, it also served as the government brothel. Although at its start in the Tang dynasty, it didn’t function as a brothel, but the people inside were generally of the slave cla.s.s or lower cla.s.s, because being an entertainer in ancient times was considered a very lowly profession and most were either slaves or prost.i.tutes. Literally one of the words for theater or ‘place of entertainment’ in ancient times ‘勾栏’ is also just another word for brothel. This is precisely why ‘Royal Academy’ is such an inappropriate translation of the name. ‘Royal Academy’ sounds like some fancy school for the rich or n.o.bles, not exactly appropriate for a teaching mill for slaves.
By the Ming dynasty, the female musicians inside were generally the wives and daughters of criminal officials that have been reduced to the slave cla.s.s as punishment, and were generally viewed as s.e.x slaves, because they were treated as guilty by a.s.sociation, just like mentioned in this chapter. It’s pretty similar to the Korean equivalent gisaeng house. It just doesn’t have the same tone to say you’re sending someone to the royal academy as punishment.
Also on a tangent, there’s literally 太学, which was the highest educational inst.i.tution in ancient china, and the name roughly translates to the ‘Imperial School’. This is way more fitting to be called the ‘Royal Academy’ imo.