Record of Testing the Heart
The Prince’s Residence, Listening to the Rain Pavilion
After a whole day of secret investigation, several tricky cases had been found. Today, Zhao Chengxian was going to arrange for them to beat the drum and cry for justice. Of course, they would each go to the officials recommended by the Cheng and Rui factions. The Cheng faction had put forward the Prefect of the Capital, Shang Zhixia, while the Rui faction recommended Xia Keshang, the magistrate of Rong County, not far from the capital. As Zhao Chengxian wrote down their names, he chuckled inwardly: these names are quite interesting—one moves from top to bottom, the other from bottom to top. I wonder, after this test, who will climb upwards and who will descend?
He knew well that perhaps neither was suitable for the position, but only by trying could he find out; all else was empty talk.
At that moment, Hui Yue’er carried a tray of tea and pastries into the Listening to the Rain Pavilion. This pavilion, closest to the rear garden, was a perfect place to enjoy the rain and flowers. Yue’er set the tea and pastries to Zhao Chengxian’s right, then glanced at what he was writing, puzzled. “Why are you writing this? Aren’t those two people’s names?” she asked. She always spoke casually to Zhao Chengxian, and he had grown used to it. Yue’er was even freer in her speech than his concubines.
Without looking up, Zhao Chengxian asked as he nibbled on a pastry, “Can you see any connection between these two names?” Of course, it was impossible to tell just from the names. He wasn’t deliberately keeping Yue’er in the dark; he simply wanted to tease her.
Yue’er answered offhandedly, “From the names, it looks like the one above will come down, and the one below will go up, right?” If one could judge people solely by their names, things would be simple; but alas, sometimes you can’t even discern a person’s character from their face, let alone from just a name.
Zhao Chengxian shook his head. “Even I don’t know yet!” Then, smiling at Yue’er, he added, “Later, I’ll take you to watch a good show. The outcome will reveal itself!” Yue’er was bewildered, not sure what he meant, but happy enough to go out for some fun.
Morning, Capital Prefecture
Outside the prefecture office, Zhao Chengxian had disguised himself as a farmer to avoid being recognized, aging his face as well. Hui Yue’er, ready to watch the proceedings, was unaware of the background, but it was her first time seeing Zhao Chengxian so earnest in his duties, and she sensed the matter was extraordinary.
Pretending to be husband and wife, they lingered at the prefecture gate until someone arrived—a middle-aged woman. She struck the drum for justice twice before an officer appeared. Hui Yue’er and Zhao Chengxian hurried after her inside. The woman entered and immediately knelt before the prefect’s desk. As the bailiffs cried, “Mighty and just!” Shang Zhixia, still in his early twenties and a scholarly, amiable figure, struck the gavel and asked, “Who kneels before the court, and what grievance do you bring?”
The middle-aged woman bowed to Shang Zhixia, sobbing with tearful eyes. “I am Wang Liu, a commoner from the outskirts of the capital. Yesterday, my husband and I brought our daughter to prepare her dowry. We encountered Yan Wu, the notorious bully of the capital. He wanted to take my daughter as his twelfth concubine. We resisted desperately; my husband was beaten to death. My daughter, seeing her father die for her, dashed herself against the wall in grief and took her own life. I beg you, great and just official, please avenge my kin! Please, great and just official, please avenge my kin! Please, great and just official, please avenge my kin…” Her anguish was so overwhelming that it was impossible not to be moved.
Shang Zhixia was shocked to hear Yan Wu’s name, for Yan Wu was his cousin. He knew Yan Wu was arrogant, but he hadn’t imagined it had reached such extremes. Wanting to confirm, he asked, “Is it Yan Wu, the son of Yan, the silk merchant of the southern city?” He desperately hoped it was not; after all, if it weren’t for his uncle Yan’s support, he wouldn’t have been able to sit for the imperial exam or achieve his current position. He desperately hoped it was not so, but fate was unkind—the woman nodded. With no choice, Shang Zhixia ordered the bailiffs, “Bring Yan Wu here!” The helplessness and disappointment on his face, the inner struggle and conflict, were all apparent to Zhao Chengxian. Zhao Chengxian resolved to see how he would handle the clash between emotion and law.
Ladies, gentlemen, the old and the young, those neither old nor young, quickly shower me with gold tokens, red envelopes, and gifts. Do not hold back—let the storm rage even fiercer!