Chapter 47: The Corrupt Official-Above Chang'an(Sir Dybala)

On the official road, an old man collapsed, and a young man, flustered, waved at the travelers ahead.

“Steady,” the old thief murmured, his lips unmoving.

Cao Ying calmly said, “I’ve cultivated since childhood.”

“I’ve been a tomb raider since childhood,” the old thief replied, his voice chilling.

Cao Ying turned back first, “Dismount slowly, don’t rush.”

The blind man couldn’t control his horse; he had to dismount first.

Jia Ren stepped down, staring blankly ahead, tapping the ground with his bamboo staff.

“I’ll support you.”

The two moved forward slowly.

“It’s a fine horse, such a pity,” Liao Bao’er whispered. “But there’s a bundle on its back, likely filled with valuables.”

Lying on the ground, Liao Huotou opened his right eye a crack, scrutinizing the approaching pair. “A blind man, and the other has a righteous face—probably a scholar turned fool. Easy to deal with, settle him with a knife later.”

He closed his eyes once more.

“What’s happened here?” Cao Ying, supporting Jia Ren, approached. “Heatstroke perhaps? Let’s carry him into the woods first…”

“Thank you.” Liao Bao’er was pondering how to lure this upright gentleman into the forest, but unexpectedly, he delivered himself.

The two carried Liao Huotou into the woods.

Will the blind man escape? Liao Bao’er wondered. She glanced back; the blind man, bamboo staff in one hand, clung nervously to the gentleman’s robe, trembling as he followed step by step.

Even the horse followed on its own.

This…

This was truly heaven’s favor!

Liao Bao’er’s heart rejoiced.

“It’s cool here,” the gentleman panted.

They’d only walked a few steps—proving what the elder said: this was a scholar made foolish by books, with a righteous face… Last time, the village fool with a righteous face didn’t even know his wife was cheating on him.

“Here, be careful,” the gentleman said, bending down to gently place Liao Huotou under a tree.

“Ah, it’s hot.”

The gentleman leaned in to examine Liao Huotou, squeezing his lips. “I once studied medicine, judging by his appearance…”

Liao Bao’er slipped around quietly, drawing a short knife.

The blind man stood nearby, his hollow gaze like a ghost.

Liao Bao’er waved the knife before him; the blind man remained blank.

Later, I’ll deal with you!

She circled behind the gentleman.

“Cough, cough!”

Behind her, the blind man coughed.

Liao Bao’er felt a chill on her back but still aimed the knife at the gentleman’s waist.

Last time, she stabbed a nobleman this way—no scream, instant death. She knew it was a vital spot.

One stab…

“Cough, cough!”

The coughing sounded closer, almost at the back of her head.

Liao Bao’er slowly turned.

The blind man stood right behind her—so close their faces nearly touched, breaths audible.

His vacant eyes remained lost. He spoke.

“Has the younger generation become so crude at killing?”

Liao Bao’er was startled, instinctively thrusting her blade. But a bony hand seized her wrist, no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free.

“Grandpa, save me!” Liao Huotou opened his eyes, ready to spring up, but the gentleman smiled, “I am Cao Ying. I’ve waited for you long.”

Later, Yang Xuan sat boldly on a tree stump, Yi Niang handing him a water pouch. He drank heartily, then looked at her in surprise.

A tangy sweetness with a hint of alcohol.

This was fermented rice wine.

Yi Niang said, “In this heat, this will help you cool off, my lord.”

Are you trying to build up my tolerance?

The grandfather and grandson knelt before Yang Xuan, Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu each holding one.

“Speak,” Cao Ying stood at Yang Xuan’s side, the aroma of rice wine making his mouth water. He glanced at Yi Niang; her gaze clearly said: don’t even think about it!

Liao Huotou looked up, “It’s all greed that drove me… all my fault…” He eyed his grandson. “My grandson is timid, just followed along…”

He kowtowed hard; with each thud, his forehead swelled.

Liao Bao’er nodded, “Yes! Grandpa did all the killing.”

Yang Xuan was silent.

Suddenly, Liao Bao’er cursed, “It’s all this old dog—he never let go of his evil ways, forced me to ambush travelers. I refused, so he beat me… even threatened to kill me later. I had no choice, I’m innocent!”

Liao Huotou nodded vigorously, “This brat does nothing at home. I hate him most. If trouble came, I’d take him with me to die. But he never dared act…”

“Yes, this old beast tried to make me do it, but I…” Liao Bao’er looked at Jia Ren, who was sighing nearby. “He saw it all. I couldn’t do it, just too timid… this old dog!”

Liao Bao’er whimpered, glaring fiercely at his grandfather. “I want to report him—he killed seven people, he deserves death!”

Liao Huotou’s cheeks trembled with apparent fear. His eyes reddened, tears brimming as he nodded, “I deserve to die, my sins are unforgivable. I am… just an old beast.”

The old thief watched Yang Xuan.

Cao Ying watched Yang Xuan.

Yi Niang’s eyes were only for Yang Xuan, wishing she could bring him ice and some beautiful women to fan him.

This was judgment.

The leader’s judgment largely determines a group’s rise or fall.

Yang Xuan looked at the pair, then suddenly laughed.

“Grandfather forced grandson to rob and kill; the grandson curses him—old beast, old dog. You play your roles well, but you forgot something.”

Yang Xuan stood. “If the old thief hated his grandson so, why didn’t he curse him earlier? Instead, he kept covering for him…”

He’d watched many dramas, amazed by worlds that seemed divine. But he never understood how such false defenses could fool people. Even the translator Zhūquè couldn’t explain, simply saying:

—It’s a god’s play.

Yang Xuan handed the wine pouch to Yi Niang. “Kill one.”

Cao Ying glanced, seemingly carelessly, at Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu.

If the lord wishes to achieve great things, his subordinates must be loyal. If these two lowly men don’t act, they’re unreliable and must be distanced.

“Old Zhao, I’ll do it.”

Wen Xinshu drew his blade, but Zhao Guolin’s horse spear darted forward like lightning.

“Bao’er!”

Liao Huotou’s eyes bulged as he lunged in front of Liao Bao’er.

Liao Bao’er shrank, hiding behind his grandfather’s thin body.

“Enough.”

The horse spear halted, its tip just at Liao Huotou’s neck.

The chill made his neck break out in goosebumps.

Yang Xuan walked out of the woods, looked at the sky, and said, “Such a grandson is as good as none. Yet you protect him fiercely. He kills and you hand him the knife; he wants to climb the roof, you hold the ladder. In the end, he becomes a menace to others and himself.”

“Spare him, please, spare Bao’er.”

The grandfather and grandson were dragged out. Liao Huotou collapsed, biting at Bao’er’s trouser leg. Wen Xinshu dragged Bao’er, Bao’er dragging his grandfather along.

Liao Huotou’s sparse teeth didn’t last, soon all were pulled out. Blood filled his mouth, but he still clung to the trouser leg, whimpering.

A tug, and the trouser leg slipped from his bloody mouth.

His hands were tied behind him; he couldn't stand. He lifted his head, body twisting, crawling forward to catch up with his grandson.

“Bao’er…”

But the farther he crawled, the farther away he fell. Zhao Guolin reached to pull him.

“Bao’er…”

Liao Huotou used the help to arch his body, hunching to kowtow hard, “I beg you, please… spare Bao’er, I am an old dog…”

Bang!

Liao Huotou’s body slowly sank; he strained to lift his head, his eyes wide, blood flowing from the corners—just to see ahead.

“Bao…”

Zhao Guolin checked under his nose, then reported, “Commander Yang, he’s dead.”

Yang Xuan turned back, seeing Liao Huotou’s eyes still open, shook his head.

Liao Bao’er suddenly shouted, “It was that old dog who killed them, all him! I was only an accomplice, only an accomplice…”

Wen Xinshu cursed, “Damn it, you think with your grandfather dead there’s no proof?”

The old thief looked at Yang Xuan.

A student of the Imperial Academy, the first to earn promotion in two counties—bound for greatness. Today, Yang Xuan’s judgment was sound, but the old thief was more eager to see how Yang Xuan would deal with Liao Bao’er.

A leader!

He must not be soft.

Yang Xuan rode past.

A gust of wind carried his words.

“Break both legs… no, three legs!”

The party returned to the city. The old thief, who had gone ahead, approached, “Yu Yong, the assistant governor of Qinzhou, will pass by soon.”

Cao Ying smiled as smugly as a hen who’d just laid an egg. “This matter must have reached Yu Yong. He’ll vent his anger on Wannian County, but the officials there are careless—while the few lowly men, tanned by the sun, are running about…”

Yang Xuan, with Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu, looked bedraggled—their clothes torn, exposing pale thighs. Their lips were as cracked as drought-ridden fields… For this, Zhao Guolin and Wen Xinshu hadn’t drunk water for most of the day.

The purpose…

“He’s here, Yu Yong is here.”

The three lowly men, using horses to carry the criminals, trudged forward.

Approaching them was Yu Yong, assistant governor of Qinzhou…

Meanwhile, Qiu Sheng was discussing matters with Huang Wenzun.

“Though Prince Zhen is idle, His Majesty is kind. Since Prince Zhen’s brother-in-law was killed by bandits, the court must at least make a show…”

A strange cold intent flashed in Huang Wenzun’s eyes. “Assistant governor Yu just inquired about this case. I acted troubled, said the clerks below are incompetent, might take a month to investigate, and begged for three months. Yu looked unmoved…”

Qinzhou governs Chang’an and the surrounding area; the governor is often a prince in name, with the assistant governor holding real power. Yu Yong is the current assistant governor.

Qiu Sheng smiled like a mother hen, “Rest assured, sir, this is all arranged.”

“Ten days?” Huang Wenzun asked.

Qiu Sheng smiled, “Seven days.”

“Excellent.”

Qiu Sheng returned to his office, closed the door, and sighed contentedly.

“If this matter is resolved, the lord will have a scapegoat to appease the nobles—just throw the lowly men out for them to vent their anger. It’s just that Prince Zhen has been harmless as a rabbit for years, barely leaving his residence, likely won’t dare vent any anger.”

Then came a commotion outside.

Qiu Sheng’s thoughts were interrupted; he spoke in a deep voice, “What’s all that noise?”

The office of a big shot must be quiet—that’s the rule. Otherwise, his thoughts get disrupted, or worse if nature calls while squatting…

Someone knocked.

Knock, knock, knock!

Three times, standard.

Not too light, not too heavy.

Qiu Sheng coughed, straightened up. “Enter.”

The door opened; Yang Xuan walked in.

“Greetings, County Bailiff.”

Qiu Sheng’s face was dark. “Today is the sixth day. I gave you seven days to solve the case, yet you idle about. Today, I must assert authority. Guards!”

Two clerks entered.

The air was thick with menace.

Reminding Yang Xuan of the White Tiger Hall.

Outside, a crowd gathered to watch.

“The criminal has been caught.”

Hmm?

Qiu Sheng was stunned. “If you dare fool me, the law will show no mercy!”

Liao Bao’er, his legs broken, was dragged in.

“All valuables have been recovered and verified—they belong to the victims.”

Qiu Sheng was surprised; he thought Yang Xuan had really solved the case. Heaven had spared him. Good, now the lord can go to Yu Yong for credit.

Later, word came from the governor’s office.

The Wannian County magistrate, Huang Wenzun, was drenched in tea by Assistant Governor Yu Yong.

The key—

Yu Yong cursed him for shamelessness.

What shamelessness?

Back home, Yang Xuan lounged, “Slack in duty, first in taking credit—who else would the leader target?”

Beside him, Zhuque muttered, “Dog official!”

Who are you cursing? Yang Xuan: “……”