Turning Against His Own

"Master Li, what is the meaning of this?"

When Dai Sheng and the others arrived, they saw Li Yi dressed in mourning white from head to toe. It made his hair seem considerably grayer, and his entire bearing was vastly different from what they had seen before.

Back then, although Li Yi was only a merchant, his years as the head of a household had given him an air of authority that seeped through his every gesture.

Now, however, that imposing air was entirely gone.

Not only was it gone, but his whole being was shrouded in extreme anger and resentment.

"My lord, I am ashamed, and I am guilty! I have failed the people of Yan Prefecture, and I have failed all the guidance you have given me over these many years!"

As Li Yi's chest rose and fell, spots of blood slowly began seeping through his outer robe.

The stains grew increasingly apparent until, finally, a large patch of his robe had been dyed red.

The sight gave Dai Sheng a fright, and he blurted out instinctively, "Master Li, those wounds of yours..."

Hearing Dai Sheng's question, Li Yi let out a deep sigh.

"My lord, they say a household's shame should never be aired in public. And this man is none other than Li Hai, the chief steward I have always trusted so deeply."

"But now, that servant actually intended to harm His Highness Prince Duan. Though I am a man of little ability, even I knew this was no trivial matter, so I tried to persuade him to come to the County Office and confess."

"Who could have known that this wicked servant would take advantage of my lowered guard and try to murder me!"

As he spoke, Li Yi turned toward the man who had been trussed up and dragged over a short distance behind him. "My household guards have now subdued this wicked servant. Please pass judgment, my lord!"

The onlookers began murmuring among themselves as they listened to Li Yi.

"I never imagined Chief Steward Li would be that sort of man!"

"You can know a man's face without knowing his heart! Master Li trusted him so much. Who could have imagined Li Hai was a beast wearing a human face, daring to strike at a prince!"

"For a chief steward to have such nerve, he must have someone backing him! But that backing..."

The same thought flashed through everyone's minds.

If Li Hai dared to act so brazenly, even striking at the master he had served for years, then he must have a powerful backer whom no one could afford to dismiss.

And in Yan Prefecture City, the only backers who could make a servant throw all caution to the winds like this were probably...

The bandits!

Yes, who but those bandits could give him such confidence?

At the thought of that possibility, raging flames of anger flared in the hearts of the surrounding townspeople.

For all these years, they had lived trembling beneath the shadow of those bandits, terrified that one day they would lose their lives at the bandits' hands.

Now they had learned that someone was brazenly working for those bandits—and that this person was someone they often dealt with. The fury in their hearts could no longer be suppressed.

"Everyone, get him! Beat this dog to death! Avenge our loved ones!"

"Yes! Hit him! Beat him to death!"

The townspeople all lunged toward Li Hai.

Fists rained down on him, soon beating him to within an inch of his life.

Just then, Yang Qing, who had been standing to one side, spoke. "Good people, Li Hai certainly deserves punishment for his crimes, but our nation's laws will see to that. Moreover, if he could collude with the bandits for so many years without being discovered, there must be others helping him behind the scenes."

"Otherwise, with Master Li's shrewdness and competence, deceiving him completely would surely have been very difficult."

"The authorities have yet to identify those who helped Li Hai. Therefore, he must not be harmed for now."

Having finished speaking, Yang Qing waved to the Prefectural Soldiers beside him. "Go. Take Li Hai to prison. We will set a date for his hearing!"

"My lord is wise!"

The surrounding townspeople dropped to their knees before Yang Qing.

But Yang Qing waved a hand. "I have merely done my duty. Had His Highness Prince Duan not devised such an ingenious plan with his keen judgment and wisdom, men like Li Hai would still be hoping to escape justice, waiting for another chance to bring misery upon the people of Yan Prefecture."

"Thank you, Your Highness Prince Duan!"

"Your Highness is our great benefactor!"

For a time, cries of gratitude rose one after another as people bowed before the County Office.

"There is no need for such ceremony. I have come to inspect the realm on Heaven's behalf precisely because of this bandit scourge."

"The bandit scourge in Yan Prefecture has long been a thorn in Western Chu's flesh. Whenever my imperial father thinks of it, he tosses and turns, consumed by worry."

Chu Yifeng stepped forward and addressed the townspeople. "Now that the vicious bandit Scarface is dead and men like Li Hai have been caught in the net, I believe that one day, the bandit scourge in our Yan Prefecture will be wiped out completely!"

"When that day comes, you will have a truly peaceful and happy home once more!"

As Chu Yifeng's words fell, waves of excitement surged through the hearts of the surrounding townspeople.

For so many years, they had hoped someone would come and save them.

Now Lord Yang had come, and His Highness Prince Duan had come too. At last, they had something to look forward to!

Cheers rose all around, while Li Yi alone remained kneeling where he was.

Dai Sheng stepped forward and looked down at him. "Master Li, I too am deeply shocked that such a villain has emerged from your household."

"But as the head of your household, you failed to exercise effective control over those beneath you, even allowing them free rein, which led to the situation we face today. Do you acknowledge your guilt?"

Li Yi bowed low. "Every word you speak is a pearl of wisdom, my lord. I bitterly regret my past actions."

Dai Sheng snorted. "In consideration of the good you have done for the people of Yan Prefecture over the years, you will be spared death, but you cannot escape punishment. Furthermore, many questions remain unanswered in Li Hai's case, and I must ask you for certain details. Do you have any objection?"

"I have no objection whatsoever. I submit entirely to your judgment, my lord!"

"Guards, take Master Li away and put him in prison."

Dai Sheng instructed the Prefectural Soldiers, "Master Li has shown kindness to the people of Yan Prefecture. Arrange a cleaner cell for him, and have the government physician treat his wounds."

"Thank you, my lord!" Li Yi bowed low once more.

Li Hai and Li Yi were both led away, and the townspeople outside the County Office dispersed in twos and threes.

Once calm had returned outside the County Office, Chu Yifeng noticed little joy on Yang Qing's face.

"Wasn't the Li Household on your list of suspects? Now that they're in prison, whatever lies hidden behind them should soon come to light, as stones emerge when the water recedes. Why do you still look so weighed down with worry?"

Chu Yifeng looked at Yang Qing. Even someone as close to him as he was could not fathom what was on his mind.

"I was merely overcome by a passing feeling."

Yang Qing shook his head slightly, but said nothing more.