Blood will tell (part one)

Boss Song of Swallowcloud Tower came hurrying back in a panic. He had just gone out on business when he heard that trouble had broken out at his restaurant, but even rushing back, he had arrived a step too late. The scene before him made him groan inwardly. While Boss Song was asking Yuan Shiqing what had happened, the constables from the Capital Prefecture arrived with Shi Xuedong's second uncle, Shi Jingde. Shi Jingde was the Capital Prefecture Vice Prefect, an official of the lower Subordinate Fourth Rank. Although Murong Feiyan had subdued Shi Xuedong, she knew that even if the matter went before the Capital Prefecture, it would ultimately come to nothing. She had merely sealed the pressure points of Shi Xuedong and his companions without taking any further action against them. While sending someone to report to the Capital Prefecture, she also urged Zhan Peng to leave. After all, he was only an ordinary hunter. By standing up against injustice today, he had offended the young thug Shi Xuedong, and staying would surely bring him no end of trouble. That was why Murong Feiyan told him to leave before the other side discovered who he was. Zhan Peng was reluctant, but he knew that someone of Hu Xiaotian's standing should be able to resolve the matter. Remaining would only add to the confusion. Better to leave early.

Murong Feiyan knew she would certainly be reprimanded over this incident, and might even be demoted as punishment. But then inspiration struck, and she dragged Hu Xiaotian into the mire with her. This was called grabbing someone to cushion your fall before you died. She had never liked Hu Xiaotian anyway. Setting one young thug against another would rid the people of a scourge even if both sides ended up battered and broken. Her calculations had been clever, but when she actually saw Hu Xiaotian beating Shi Xuedong, she felt little satisfaction. Instead, guilt crept over her. She really did feel she had gone a little too far in setting Hu Xiaotian up today.

Dressed in his official robes, Shi Jingde arrived on the second floor of Swallowcloud Tower, panting as he shouted, "Stop! Every last one of you, stop!" He had rushed over so quickly because he feared his nephew would cause serious trouble. Other people might not know what sort of creature Shi Xuedong was, but how could his own family not know? Over the years, Shi Jingde had wiped up plenty of messes for this precious nephew. He was not actually worried that his nephew would suffer. Until now, Shi Xuedong had always been the one bullying others. What Shi Jingde feared most was a death. The old emperor's health was worsening by the day, and a change of rulers was clearly approaching. At such an extraordinary time, every official was taking care to keep a low profile. His third brother, Shi Buchui, the Minister of Personnel, had specifically instructed them to exercise restraint during this period. Yet this troublesome brat had still managed to cause an incident.

The moment Shi Jingde arrived, the situation changed. Hu Xiaotian's beating had just knocked some of the arrogance out of Shi Xuedong, but seeing his second uncle restored his confidence at once. Shi Xuedong shouted, "Second Uncle, arrest them! They're all in league together, plotting rebellion!"

Search TWKAN on Google.

Hu Xiaotian's expression chilled at that. Fuck, no wonder he was so arrogant and overbearing. Turns out he's got someone in the Capital Prefecture. This bastard even has a bit of my knack for turning black into white. He actually dares accuse us of plotting rebellion! Rebellion was a capital offense; if things went badly, all nine branches of a person's clan could be exterminated. Ruthless enough, Hu Xiaotian thought. Today, we'll see which of us is more ruthless.

While Hu Xiaotian prepared to match Shi Xuedong in ruthlessness, the bystanders all withdrew to one side. Even Yuan Shiqing understood that it was best to keep his distance at a time like this. A struggle between officials' sons was not something an ordinary physician like him could meddle in.

Hu Xiaotian had already determined from Shi Jingde's official robes that he held the Subordinate Fourth Rank. Murong Feiyan had just said that the green-clad thug's father was a fifth-rank official; he had not expected him to have a second uncle of the Subordinate Fourth Rank as well. Still, Hu Xiaotian saw little difference. So what if you're Subordinate Fourth Rank? My father holds the Principal Third Rank at court. What do you dare do to me?

Shi Jingde did not recognize Hu Xiaotian either. Frowning, he asked, "What happened?" As he spoke, he walked up to Shi Xuedong and gave him a light pat on the back.

Shi Xuedong felt his body suddenly loosen. His second uncle had released his sealed pressure points.

Although Hu Xiaotian knew no martial arts, he saw that Shi Xuedong, who had been unable to move, regained his freedom immediately after Shi Jingde patted him. From that, he could deduce that Shi Jingde was quite skilled.

As soon as Shi Xuedong was free, he lunged at Hu Xiaotian, intent on revenge. Shi Jingde caught him and snapped, "Just what happened?" The question was directed at Shi Xuedong, but his gaze turned toward Murong Feiyan.

Murong Feiyan was his subordinate, but Shi Jingde had little liking for this female chief constable who repeatedly solved major cases and stood so sternly for justice. Had his superior, Capital Prefect Hong Baiqi, not been protecting her, Shi Jingde would long since have expelled this disobedient girl from the Capital Prefecture's ranks. As far as he remembered, this was hardly the first time Murong Feiyan had opposed the Shi family. Even if his nephew had done something wrong, there was no need to create such a commotion. She was simply embarrassing him.

Murong Feiyan stepped forward, cupped her hands in greeting, and briefly recounted what had happened. She made no mention of Hu Xiaotian in her account, saying only that Shi Xuedong had injured someone, and that she had subdued his group first to prevent the incident from escalating.

Shi Xuedong snapped, "You're spouting lies! That blind girl was clearly trying to steal my jade pendant. When I caught her, she panicked and dropped it on the floor, smashing it to pieces. I confronted her, and her accomplice rushed up to hit me, lost his footing, and fell down the stairs. Everyone with me can testify!"

Shi Xuedong's disreputable companions had also regained their freedom by now. With Shi Jingde present, their arrogance immediately returned, and they all clamored that Shi Xuedong had been wronged.

Murong Feiyan said, "That isn't what happened..."

Shi Jingde silenced her with a look. "Had you arrived when their confrontation began?"

Murong Feiyan bit her lip. She had indeed not been present when the initial confrontation occurred, so she could only shake her head. Zhan Peng had been the only witness then, but knowing he was merely a hunter without any backing, she had not had the heart to involve him in this trouble and had told him to leave first.

Shi Jingde gave a cold snort and ordered someone to bring over the blind girl, Fang Fang.

Fang Fang had never encountered such an imposing gathering. Though she could not see what was happening, the constables' shouts alone frightened her so badly that her knees gave way and she sank to the floor. "This commoner, Fang Fang, pays her respects to Your Honor..." she said in a trembling voice.

Before the crowd, Shi Jingde presented a kindly face. "Young lady, there's no need to be afraid," he said gently. "Tell me what happened, and I will see that justice is done for you."

Fang Fang nodded and quietly recounted what had happened. When she reached the part about meeting Shi Xuedong at the head of the stairs and being bumped by him, Shi Xuedong interrupted. "You were clearly trying to steal my jade pendant, and now you dare spew lies! A wretch like this will never tell the truth unless she's taught a lesson."

Fang Fang burst into frightened tears. "Your Honor, I've been wronged... I'm blind. How could I possibly steal his belongings? Honored guests, good people, sorry for the trouble, but please stand up for me! Please say a fair word on my behalf!"

There were many guests watching, and all felt sympathy for the poor blind girl, Fang Fang. Yet everyone knew that someone like Shi Xuedong was not to be provoked.

Hu Xiaotian could hold back no longer. "Who just said this jade pendant was an imperial gift?" At some point, he had picked up the fragments from the floor. He knew a little about jade objects, and one glance told him this was ordinary jade, not some treasure. The carving was equally unremarkable. Finding such a crudely made jade ornament in the imperial palace would surely be harder than fishing a needle out of the sea. That was why Hu Xiaotian asked.

Shi Xuedong said, "Of course it was an imperial gift! His Majesty bestowed it on our family. By breaking the pendant, you've shown disrespect to His Majesty! You've deceived the emperor! You've committed rebellion!" Thinking he held every advantage, the fellow immediately grew arrogant again.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "You could buy dozens of jade pendants like this for a single copper coin at a roadside stall. Who would've guessed? You're a real master at staging breakage scams!"

Shi Xuedong did not know what a breakage scam was. Glaring at Hu Xiaotian and pointing at his nose, he said, "He's that blind girl's accomplice! Arrest them all!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Whatever you say goes, does it? Who do you think you are? An imperial gift? Would His Majesty have time to meet a lazy good-for-nothing like you?"

"You..."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Let's set aside whether this pendant is worth anything. You claim it was bestowed by His Majesty, and that isn't hard to prove. At worst, we can take the matter to His Majesty himself. If he really gave it to you, I'll eat it."

Shi Xuedong hated this fellow to the core. Through clenched teeth, he said, "Wouldn't eating it be letting you off cheaply? Damaging a gift bestowed by His Majesty is a grave crime punishable by the execution of your entire household."

**********

Once again, please vote for me in the Dream Cup. The voting link is just below the synopsis, so it's easy to find. Find the homepage for Medicine Rules Jiangshan and you'll find it. More than ten thousand people have bookmarked it, yet it only has a little over a hundred votes. That makes no sense!