The next morning, mist hung thick in the air.
Jia Huan had barely arrived at the office when Twin Whips came to report:
"Boss, someone came crying for justice outside the Embroidered Uniform Guard's gates during the fifth watch this morning. I snapped up the case."
Jia Huan said, "Anyone seeking justice in court should go to the Shenjing Prefectural Court!"
Twin Whips hastily said, "Boss, there's murder involved. Otherwise, why would I have grabbed the case?"
"Oh? Where is he?" Jia Huan's interest stirred.
"In the old office next door," Twin Whips said.
"Let's go."
Inside the old office, a scholar in a bordered robe paced back and forth, his face filled with grief and his eyes swollen red from crying.
Twin Whips looked solemn. Pointing to Jia Huan beside him, he said gravely:
"This is General Banner Jia. Tell him every detail of your grievance."
The scholar dropped to his knees with a thud and choked out:
"Lord Jia, my sister didn't throw herself into the well! My brother-in-law bribed the coroner. He's the murderer!"
"Start from the beginning!" Twin Whips snapped.
The scholar nodded emphatically. He knew all too well how difficult it was to gain an audience with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Struggling to rein in his grief, he said hoarsely:
"Fifty li west of the Capital lies Wu Family Village. My sister married Master Wu there. They were always loving and never quarreled, but during the hour of the rooster the day before yesterday, my sister was found dead in a well. Tao'er, her personal maid, was pulled out along with her. After examining their bodies, the coroner said they had drowned themselves."
"Wait!" Jia Huan fixed his gaze on him.
"If they were a loving couple, why do you say Master Wu killed his wife?"
The scholar's eyes widened as though they would split at the corners. In anguish, he said:
"Just ten days ago, my sister visited our mother's home. Her face filled with terror when she spoke of Master Wu, but when we pressed her, she sealed her lips. The next day, Master Wu sent someone to fetch her back."
"Do you have any other evidence?" Jia Huan asked.
"I beg you to investigate thoroughly, my lord!" The scholar wept bitterly. Clearly, it was all speculation.
"Boss, should we hand this over to the Shenjing Prefectural Court?" Twin Whips suggested.
The scholar looked pleadingly at him.
"My lord, Old Dog Wu has connections everywhere. I trust only the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Jia Huan considered for a moment. Now that he knew about it, he could hardly stand by with folded arms. He ordered:
"Twin Whips, take Skinny Monkey and Drunkard with you. First, ask an experienced coroner from the Southern Commandant Office to come. Open the coffins and examine the bodies. If they drowned themselves, drop the case. If they died of anything else, haul Master Wu into the Imperial Prison!"
"Yes, sir!" Twin Whips cupped his fists.
"Thank you, my lord. Thank you!" The scholar kowtowed with tears in his eyes, then followed Twin Whips out.
Jia Huan felt helpless. A dignified General Banner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was doing a constable's work now. He would have to remind his men later not to snatch up every case they saw.
That evening, Jia Huan finished dealing with three cases and was preparing to leave the office for home.
"Boss!"
Twin Whips hurried back. Without even stopping for a sip of hot tea, he reported:
"The Southern Office's experienced coroner examined the bodies. They died of poison, not drowning. Master Wu lied!"
Jia Huan asked, "Has he been taken to the Imperial Prison?"
"He's in custody." Twin Whips nodded.
"Interrogate him thoroughly tomorrow!"
With that, Jia Huan left. But before he had even made it out of the Celestial Pivot Office, he ran into an older member of his own clan in the corridor of the office marked "Xu."
The man was just past forty. Years of indulging in women and pleasure had left his complexion waxy yellow and his back stooped. Dressed in an extravagantly luxurious, pale-black robe, he was none other than Jia Zhen, the eldest grandson of Ningguo Mansion, who bullied men, preyed on women, and committed every sort of outrageous deed!
"Cousin?" Jia Huan said in surprise.
"Brother Huan, I need an important favor." Looking grave, Jia Zhen pulled Jia Huan into a secluded, empty office.
Jia Huan waved a hand, signaling Twin Whips to wait outside.
"Brother Huan, you've made a foolish mistake. You arrested the wrong man! Master Wu is an old friend of mine. He pays his respects with gifts every New Year and festival. I know his character better than anyone. He's upright, honest, and kind to others. How could he possibly murder his wife?"
"Steward Wu came to my door for help. As soon as I heard it was General Banner Jia, I thought, who else in the entire Capital could be an Embroidered Uniform Guard surnamed Jia but Brother Huan? We're all family. I told him to rest easy-his master would be back in Wu Family Village tonight."
Jia Zhen draped an arm around Jia Huan's shoulders, speaking as though the matter were nothing.
"What do you mean, family? Who's family with that man Wu?" Jia Huan's tone was stiff.
It had only been a suspicion before, but now that he knew the man consorted with Jia Zhen, he could practically be certain.
"Come now!" Jia Zhen lowered his voice. "Do me this favor. Steward Wu offered a thousand taels of silver for his release."
It was actually five thousand taels. The remaining four thousand would go to him.
"Cousin, I can't do you that favor." Jia Huan's stance was firm.
Do you a favor?
Who the hell do you think you are?
If I let an innocent woman die without justice just to please you, my conscience would be stained and my mind shackled. Even my path in martial arts would be obstructed.
"You're really going to deny me face?" Jia Zhen looked incredulous, his expression darkening. He said angrily:
"We kneel in the same Ancestral Hall! You're deliberately humiliating me in front of outsiders, aren't you? Trying to flaunt your power before your older cousin? Do I have to bring the Old Madam here to scold you? All it takes is one word from you!"
Jia Huan said evenly:
"If he's been wrongly accused, I'll apologize in person. But if he really did murder his wife, will you still shield him, cousin?"
"You..." Jia Zhen was beside himself with rage. He had solemnly assured Steward Wu that everything would be settled, only for this little bastard Jia Huan to disregard their family ties!
If the Shenjing Prefectural Court had been handling the case, he could have pulled strings. But it had to be the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his own clansman had to be the one investigating, playing at being incorruptible and impartial.
Jia Zhen dropped all pretense and cursed:
"Jia Huan, getting by in the Divine Capital means knowing how favors and connections work. You help me, I help you. If you make me lose face this time, don't blame me for becoming your enemy!"
Jia Huan's face remained as calm as a still lake. He said in a deep voice:
"Twin Whips, torture Master Wu immediately. Don't ask whether he killed his wife yet. I want him half-dead first!"
"Yes, sir!" Twin Whips left to carry out the order.
"You're the disgrace of the entire household. Just you wait!" Jia Zhen's face turned livid with fury. He flung his sleeve and stormed off.
Damn it, this junior has gone too far!
"I'll be waiting." Jia Huan smiled instead.
Never mind you pleading for him, Jia Zhen-even my own father, Jia Zheng, couldn't change this. Of course, though Jia Zheng is pedantic and hidebound, he wouldn't do something so despicable.
I may be selfish, but now that this case is in my hands, I absolutely cannot betray my conscience!
If Old Dog Wu were innocent, he wouldn't have pulled strings all the way to Jia Zhen. Torture him hard!
"Father, Third Uncle Huan agreed, didn't he?"
Outside the offices, Jia Rong came forward to meet him.
Jia Zhen's face was livid.
"Father, did Third Uncle Huan..."
He stopped halfway through.
Smack!
Jia Zhen delivered a vicious slap that left his son reeling. Burning with fury, he snarled:
"You spineless, shameless wretch, remember this: don't call him Third Uncle again. He's nothing but the Jia Family's little bastard. If you dare smile at him from now on, I'll break your legs!"
Jia Rong clutched his cheek. "When the gambling den was raided last time, Huan... he helped us."
Smack!
Jia Zhen slapped him again. "That petty little mess of yours was nothing! Haven't you seen that little bastard clearly this time? The moment something gets difficult, he disowns every last one of his kin!"
"I'll cut ties with him," Jia Rong said timidly, terrified of his father.
"Home! He's infuriated me to death!" Jia Zhen seethed with towering rage.
Before you continue