Aunt Murder Case

After idling at home for two days, Zeng Anmin had done little besides occasionally teasing Huzi, spending the rest of his time in his study.

This study had been a room in his courtyard that his father had ordered cleared out over the past two days.

For the past two days, Two Rivers Prefecture had basked in bright sunshine after the snow.

After followers of the Confucian Path Opened their Purple Mansion, further advancement could only come through settling down to study, relying on the accumulation of days and months and one's insights into heaven and earth.

Without some special opportunity, one might even remain unable to advance an inch for an entire lifetime.

In Zeng Anmin's hands was a copy of Yi Zi, left to him by Zhang Lun.

"Quanfu, the annotations are this brother's insights into Scholar's Intent. I hope they will be of use to you, so that I do not fail the trust our teacher placed in Lun."

Seeing the familiar notes, Zeng Anmin continued reading closely.

Almost every obscure passage bore Zhang Lun's tiny handwriting.

He read all the way to the final page.

Zeng Anmin's gaze landed on a short poem, likewise written in Zhang Lun's hand.

May Brother Quanfu not squander his time.

To encourage your studies, I have specially written this poem:

Time flows like water and never returns; while young, one should seize the day and read.

A single phrase that breaks the question upon the palace steps shall win the Literary Champion's crown and repay the light.

Seeing the poem, Zeng Anmin's mouth twitched.

"Brother Tongyu, Brother Tongyu, this poem of yours encouraging study is truly not much to speak of."

Though he could not write poetry himself, Zeng Anmin was still a man of the Confucian Path, and his ability to appraise it was passable.

His verdict was that this poem could barely count as a Doggerel Verse.

Smack.

Zeng Anmin set the book on the table and was just about to stretch.

Then someone knocked outside the study, followed by Dachun's simple, guileless voice:

"Young Master, it's time to report for duty at the yamen."

"Oh."

Zeng Anmin rose and headed outside.

The day after he had fallen out with his father in his father's study, he had received his appointment papers from the Xuanjing Division.

He had to admit, his father's bad habit of having a hard mouth but soft heart was actually quite nice.

Today was his first day on duty.

"Click~"

He gently pushed open the door and looked at Dachun standing outside.

Dachun was leading a horse, his expression exceedingly respectful.

Two days ago, after following his young master home, he had been beaten for no reason by Uncle Qi.

When he returned and indignantly argued with Uncle Qi, he got another beating.

Thus, over the past few days in the estate, he had behaved with utmost honesty.

"Let's go."

The two left the courtyard one after the other and stepped onto the long path through the estate.

The moment he left the courtyard, Zeng Anmin saw his father, led by a servant and preparing to head out.

Their eyes met, but neither spoke first.

Because of the unpleasantness in the study, Zeng Anmin was currently in a cold war with his father.

"Father! Why aren't you wearing your Official Robes today?"

Zeng Anmin blinked.

Since his father had already helped him secure the position, he might as well be the first to soften.

How could a son hold a grudge against his father?

"Today is my Day Off. I'm going out to enjoy the spring."

Hearing his son speak first, his father's taut expression eased somewhat, and his voice softened considerably.

Zeng Anmin clicked his tongue. "Enjoying the spring is good. At your age, you ought to pay more attention to relaxing."

His father's face, which had just softened, darkened again.

He gave a cold snort and headed outside, saying as he walked:

"Today is your first day on duty. Behave yourself at the yamen. Don't cause trouble, and listen more to your superiors."

"Got it!"

Zeng Anmin straightened his back and led Dachun out onto the street.

"Hyah!!" He swung onto his horse with dashing ease. With a light tug on the reins, the fine steed beneath him galloped away!

He had the original owner of this body to thank for his horsemanship; he did not feel the slightest discomfort.

Dachun likewise mounted another horse and followed his young master toward the gates of the Xuanjing Division.

Zeng Anmin led his horse as he looked at the imposing gates before him.

A trace of wistfulness appeared on his face.

He remembered that the last time he had stood before these gates, he had still been a man carrying guilt.

Now, he was already a grand official of the eighth rank.

The Xuanjing Division was enormous.

After entering through its gates, one had to walk a long way before reaching the place where he worked.

The moment he entered the courtyard, a middle-aged scholar in green robes was waiting for him with a smile.

The middle-aged scholar wore Official Robes. His face was lean, his eyes small, his nose unusually high, and a small moustache sat at each corner of his mouth.

Upon seeing him, the scholar laughed heartily.

"I am Xu Yunfeng, Right Clerk of the Xuanjing Division. Left Clerk, you are newly arrived. We shall be colleagues from now on, so I will show you the way."

"Thank you for the trouble." Zeng Anmin gave the middle-aged scholar a courteous bow without betraying anything.

He could sense that the other man had come prepared and knew his identity well.

As for whether he was friend or foe, that remained unclear.

The smile on Xu Yunfeng's face did not change. He slowly came to Zeng Anmin's side and gestured with one hand.

"This way, please."

"Thank you."

Zeng Anmin followed Xu Yunfeng into the courtyard and entered a room that was not small.

The entire room was bright and airy, furnished with screens, tables and chairs, porcelain, and everything else one could need.

Xu Yunfeng pointed to the room and said:

"This is the Left Clerk's Office. All official duties will be handled here from now on."

Zeng Anmin looked around the room.

It was clear that it had been cleaned very thoroughly.

"The position of Left Clerk is rather special, and the matters under its charge are quite miscellaneous."

"The most important is maintaining public order along the riverside area of Two Rivers Prefecture."

After hearing this, Zeng Anmin sighed inwardly.

Father has treated me well!

It was obvious that this was a position where one could rake in serious money.

The riverside area.

It included docks, Grain Transport markets, and many other places.

As the largest prefecture on Fengqi Road, Two Rivers Prefecture's docks and Grain Transport held untold riches of grease and profit; one could imagine it without difficulty.

Under Xu Yunfeng's introduction, Zeng Anmin quickly became familiar with his duties.

"Our Clerk's Office has two squads of Red-robed Guards. With them around, you can leave these everyday tasks to them."

Xu Yunfeng's voice was very mild.

"Mhm."

Zeng Anmin gave Xu Yunfeng a discreet glance and slowly nodded.

The two walked and spoke. When they reached a bookshelf, Xu Yunfeng introduced it.

"This is the scroll rack. Cases from the riverside area are all collected here. Quite a few passed through this brother's hands. When Brother Quanfu has nothing to do, you may also look through them and learn from them."

Just as Xu Yunfeng finished speaking, a voice sounded from outside.

"Clerk Xu, these are the case files you requested."

As the voice fell, a servant entered carrying something that resembled a scroll.

"Mhm, put them on the table."

Xu Yunfeng's smile remained unchanged. Looking at Zeng Anmin, his voice was still mild as he said:

"Previously, the position of Left Clerk was vacant, so this brother has been handling cases from the riverside area. Now that worthy brother has arrived, naturally this brother cannot overstep his bounds and handle matters in your place."

The instant those words fell, Zeng Anmin keenly sensed something amiss.

Without revealing anything, he nodded, then picked up the case file on the table and slowly lowered his gaze to it.

On the first page of the file were seven clear characters: Jin Taiping Ship Merchant Nephew Kills Aunt Case.

Jin Taiping.

The largest ship merchant in Two Rivers Prefecture!

A nephew by a junior branch of the family—in other words, a nephew.

The date was clearly marked: a case from three months ago.

The date alone showed how thorny this case was.

If it were an ordinary case, how could it possibly have dragged on for three months?

"Heh, interesting."

Zeng Anmin looked at the case file in his hand, a faintly smiling yet not smiling expression appearing on his face.

This Xu Yunfeng before him... was an enemy, not a friend!

The Xuanjing Division was nominally an institution established by the Imperial Court to assist the Governor.

But in reality, it was faintly divided into three factions.

The first was his father's direct line, cultivated over the four years since his father had taken office.

The second was the lackeys Prince Jiang's Estate had infiltrated over the years.

The third was the neutral faction.

From their encounter just now, it was clear that Xu Yunfeng knew he was his father's son.

If he belonged to his father's direct line, he would never have thrust such a case upon him the moment they met.

Likewise, if he were from the neutral faction, even if he wanted to cast off a hot potato, he would have given Zeng Anmin two days to familiarize himself with the work first.

Therefore, there was only one possibility.

This Xu Yunfeng should be one of Prince Jiang's Estate's men!