No Way Out

Su Mo was dumbfounded after hearing Chen Gan's words.

He truly could not underestimate the wisdom of the ancients.

This whole maneuver was indeed watertight, far more brilliant than simply running away. His more than twenty years of life in his previous world had been wasted!

An old clerk of many years was indeed an old clerk of many years!

If he thought that his knowledge from a later age would let him crush the ancients beneath his feet, he would surely suffer a terrible loss.

He still needed to watch and listen more, and speak and act less!

He inwardly marveled at his third uncle's skill, but Chen Gan sighed. "This is the best of bad options."

"Even if Big Wart Ma has no choice but to swallow this insult, he'll definitely bear a grudge against the two of us and come back for revenge sooner or later!"

He glared fiercely at Su Mo. "You shouldn't have meddled in other people's business!"

"What does Zhou Meng ruining that widow have to do with you!"

"Sooner or later, the Su family will be left without descendants because of you!"

Though Su Mo was somewhat unconvinced, he also felt that he had indeed acted rashly.

If one recognized a mistake, one had to admit it. "Third Uncle's reprimand is right."

"But the beating has already been dealt. Now that Zhou Meng has reported it to the authorities, does Third Uncle have a solution?"

Chen Gan said irritably, "Nothing more than spending money to avert disaster!"

He took the cloth pouch from his waist and slammed it heavily onto the table. "There are eighty taels of silver here. Add yours, and that makes a hundred taels—more than enough to buy two cheap lives!"

"The Criminal Affairs Office can at most suppress the case for one night. Tomorrow, it will have to be submitted to His Excellency's desk."

"We'll eat something, then go meet Big Wart Ma."

As he spoke, he unceremoniously opened the food box the little widow had sent over, grabbed a dumpling, and stuffed it into his mouth.

He clicked his tongue in praise. "These dumplings are good. Mutton filling!"

"Once this matter is settled, take her in as a concubine."

"Hurry up and have her bear the Su family a son, so your old uncle doesn't have to worry himself sick every day!"

Su Mo hesitated. "Would she agree?"

"She'd dare not?" Chen Gan raised his triangular eyes, a flash of viciousness passing through them. "For her little mess, both the Su and Chen families have been drained dry!"

"If she doesn't bear the Su family a son, just watch me deal with her!"

"Of course." He changed the subject. "The position of principal wife must be kept for Yiyao!"

"Yiyao will come of age soon."

"After she comes of age, we'll arrange the marriage. The second son will take the Chen surname and carry on the Chen family line!"

Su Mo...

Chen Yiyao was his third uncle's only daughter, his cousin.

She was dainty and delicate, taking after her mother in appearance. She was exceedingly lovely and did not resemble her old uncle in the slightest.

If this were modern times, Su Mo would have strongly suggested that his old uncle get a DNA test!

Girls of Great Wu came of age at fifteen.

Su Mo did not know Chen Yiyao's exact age, but she definitely was not yet fifteen!

Leaving the age issue aside.

Wasn't this plainly a collateral blood relation within three generations?

Su Mo did not argue with his old uncle over this matter.

They could talk about it later, once she grew up!

Chen Gan handed Su Mo a dumpling, then said gravely, "Remember!"

"Insist to the death that the little widow is your woman!"

"If Big Wart Ma has even a shred of shame, we might save more than half the silver."

Su Mo understood what his third uncle meant.

Seize the moral high ground first.

Zhou Meng had touched another man's woman and been beaten for it—it was only natural. Even if he demanded compensation, he could not do so with perfect justification.

Such a claim would naturally damage Qin Bi'er's reputation.

Put bluntly, it was adultery.

But the old subordinate clerk did not consider that issue at all!

Great Wu Dynasty law encouraged divorced women and widows whose husbands had died to remarry.

Sleeping with a widow was merely a matter of morality, not a crime.

As for Su Mo's reputation?

He was already a subordinate clerk—what reputation was he still hoping for???

After finishing the dumplings, Chen Gan told Su Mo to call Qin Bi'er in.

Su Mo went to the side room in a complicated mood. He saw the little widow wearing a worried expression, though her cheeks were faintly flushed. She kept her head lowered and did not dare meet his eyes.

Su Mo then knew that the little widow had heard at least some of what his old uncle had said.

Seeing Qin Bi'er so ill at ease, hesitating and unable to speak, Su Mo smiled. "My old uncle asked you to go over. He has something to tell you."

"You needn't be afraid of him either. He only looks fierce. He's actually not a bad person."

Qin Bi'er was speechless.

Chen Gan did not merely look fierce!

His methods were even crueler, all right!

He was only good to you, his nephew!

The little widow took a deep breath, and her expression became resolute. Looking at Su Mo with great seriousness, she said, "This humble woman has implicated you, my lord!"

"But please rest assured, my lord. If they take this humble woman to the yamen, this humble woman will certainly not... drag you into it!"

"It's only that..."

"The only thing this humble woman cannot let go of is that her daughter is still young."

"If this humble woman is sentenced to death, I hope you will be righteous and help look after Dian Dian in the future."

Su Mo smiled. "It's not that serious."

"I was the one who beat Zhou Meng. If anyone is to be punished, it should be me!"

"He bullied a decent woman. He deserved the beating. If Big Wart Ma insists on clinging to this, I'll be careful to take him down along with Zhou Meng!"

Naturally, Qin Bi'er thought Su Mo was comforting her.

She did not know that Su Mo had truly considered doing exactly that.

The little widow told Dian Dian to stay obediently in the side room, then headed resolutely toward the inner hall.

With Su Mo and Dian Dian left in the side room, things instead became awkward.

The little girl sat properly and neatly, so well-behaved it was almost unbelievable. Even when he spoke to her, she barely responded to Su Mo.

Meanwhile, Su Mo paced back and forth through the side room, not even knowing what he was worrying about!

About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later.

Chen Gan and Qin Bi'er came in together.

Qin Bi'er's pretty face was faintly red as she gave Su Mo a slight curtsy, then left with Dian Dian.

Su Mo watched Qin Bi'er's retreating figure leave through the door, then turned his gaze toward his old uncle. "Third Uncle..."

Chen Gan glared at Su Mo. "Remember, hurry up and have the Su family a son!"

Su Mo asked reflexively, "It's settled?"

Chen Gan snorted. "Did she dare refuse?"

"Still, though she is a widow, she is also a respectable woman. Once this matter is over, we'll lay out a few tables and make it lively. Consider it a wedding feast for bringing her into the household."

Su Mo secretly gave his old uncle a thumbs-up.

He truly was his own uncle!

He could not have treated this nephew of his any better!

The Criminal Affairs Office could only hold the case down for one night. The two did not dare delay, picked up the money pouch, and headed straight for the Ma Residence.

The Great Wu Dynasty had only recently lifted the curfew that had lasted more than fifty years, but the streets remained bleak and deserted. Other than the night watchmen, there was not a soul in sight.

After crossing several streets, they saw a vast five-courtyard residence with red walls and green tiles near the yamen.

At the sight of such a luxurious ancient mansion, Su Mo could not help sighing.

The grounds alone covered more than two mu. Located along the Eastern Market side of Changping's busiest stretch, it surely could not have been bought for less than one or two thousand taels of silver.

His annual salary was only thirty taels, and he had only been here for half a year, yet he had acquired such a grand residence.

Was he not afraid of drawing the Imperial Guard's attention?

Chen Gan looked back at Su Mo and warned him once more. "When we see Big Wart Ma later, speak less. Leave everything to your uncle to explain."

They made their way with practiced ease to the side gate.

The gatekeeper was an old servant who looked to be in his early fifties.

When he saw Chen Gan approach, he immediately barked, "Stop!"

Chen Gan hurriedly handed the gatekeeper a small piece of silver and smiled. "Chen Gan of the Fast Squad. I have business with the County Clerk. Please trouble yourself to announce me, brother."

The gatekeeper weighed the silver in his hand, then tucked it into his belt, his attitude softening considerably.

"You're Chen Gan?"

He gave Su Mo, standing beside him, a sidelong glance. "The unpaid runner who beat Zhou Meng—is he your nephew?"

Chen Gan hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly. "This boy doesn't understand propriety. He had a small misunderstanding with Officer Zhou. They are both hot-blooded youths, and their hands and feet did not know their strength, so some flesh wounds were unavoidable."

The gatekeeper gave Chen Gan a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Some flesh wounds?"

"The physician said Officer Zhou's right shoulder bones have all been shattered!"

Chen Gan froze upon hearing that. "Is that true?"

"That is no joking matter!"

If it were only flesh wounds, there was plenty of room to maneuver with the authorities.

But if all the bones had been shattered, it would be much harder to handle.

They might spend money and pull strings, only to end up squatting in prison for a year or half.

The gatekeeper could not be bothered to say more to Chen Gan. Rolling his eyes, he said coldly, "Don't even think about seeing the master."

"The master has already spoken."

"For the sake of working in the same yamen, Officer Zhou may choose not to pursue this matter. One hundred and fifty taels of silver must be paid, and that wretch must be sent to the Zhou family for Officer Zhou to deal with as he pleases."

"If you refuse, then official business will be handled officially. First, give him a hundred strokes of the rod; if he survives by sheer luck, exile him three thousand li!"