The next morning, Jia Huan woke fully rested and brimming with energy.
When he arrived at the yamen, the rosewood desk and screens that had belonged to Wang Zhenglun had all been removed from the Celestial Pivot Office Hundred-Household Commander's quarters. The spacious Government Office held only a black wooden plaque with gilded lettering hung high overhead, bearing the two characters of "Jia Huan" in bold, dragon-soaring, phoenix-dancing regular script.
Fathead Fish reported with a smile:
"Boss, someone from the Experiences Office just came by. They said to draw up a list of anything we need."
Jia Huan nodded.
"Give it some thought. Make the office as luxurious as possible. We've worked ourselves to death confiscating estates and handed over mountains of silver. Don't save the yamen money."
"I'm going to the Experiences Office!"
With that, he took the Case File Archive Command Token and left the garrison.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had Three Judicial Offices: the Northern Commandant Office, the Southern Commandant Office, and the Experiences Office.
In the eyes of the world, the Northern Commandant Office comprised the court's notorious hawks and hounds, ruthless men who ran rampant, executing first and reporting afterward. The very name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard struck terror into every heart.
Within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, however, the people they feared most were actually the civil officials of the Southern Commandant Office.
Since ancient times, whoever controlled personnel appointments spoke the loudest.
The Southern Commandant Office decided all assessments, promotions, and demotions for those below Deputy Thousand-Household Commander.
Offend your immediate superior, and at worst he would make life difficult for you. Offend the Southern Commandant Office, and you might not even keep the uniform on your back.
As for the Experiences Office, it controlled documents and records, as well as the money. Its most important offices were the Archive of All Under Heaven and the Embroidered Uniform Guard treasury.
Half an hour later, Jia Huan stood before a towering three-story hall, surrounded by forbidding black walls with pointed ridges. Command Token in hand, he entered the main hall. Rows upon rows of bamboo shelves held all manner of records, each scroll fastened with a crystal clasp and marked with a cloth tag in one of five colors to identify its case type.
"Hundred-Household Commander Jia, you may only consult Case Files in the Wu District."
An Experiences Office clerk reminded him quietly.
Jia Huan nodded.
Hundred-Household Commanders could go no farther than the first floor of the Case File Archive.
That floor was further divided into the Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and Wu districts, corresponding to the five gold-thread stripes on the silver Flying Fish Uniforms. Without question, cases in the Jia District were complicated but offered an easier path to merit.
Jia Huan searched through the Case Files in the Wu District. Cases from across the realm were gathered here. He selected those within two hundred li of the Capital, taking nearly a hundred files in all.
"Hundred-Household Commander Jia!"
The clerk was aghast and warned him:
"Think this through! Every one of these files must bear your seal. If a case goes unsolved or involves a tangled web of connections, the higher-ups will hold your Celestial Pivot Office Garrison accountable!"
"No matter." Jia Huan smiled.
Seeing that he was set on his course, the clerk stopped trying to persuade him. He took Jia Huan's seal and stamped the files one by one in front of him.
Back at the office.
Jia Huan picked out fifteen files and placed them in a drawer, then handed the rest to his six subordinates.
"Assign the Celestial Pivot Office Garrison's Strongmen to solve these cases and apprehend the criminals without delay!"
"If anything difficult comes up, they should inform you first, and you should report to me. If it's a matter of burning urgency, they may come straight to me!"
"Understood!" Twin Whips, Scholar, and the others divided up the cases.
Jia Huan leisurely sipped his tea.
As for those fifteen cases, their sin values were likely fairly high. He would certainly handle them himself.
He left the other cases to his subordinates. Although his participation would be much lower once they solved them, bringing fewer rewards and fewer experience points, that was far better than having no cases at all. Even scraps of fly meat could pile up into a great slab of fat.
After all, he was flesh and blood, with limited energy. If he personally took part in a hundred cases, he really would work himself to death.
Rongguo Mansion.
Madam Wang's courtyard.
"Mother, my heart is shattered."
Jia Baoyu's eyes were vacant and his face red and swollen. He had not slept all night, and the more he thought about it, the more humiliated he felt.
He had always looked down on that wretch Jia Huan, yet the fellow had slapped him across the face-and in full view of everyone. So many of his sisters had witnessed it. He had lost every shred of dignity.
Early that morning, more dreadful news had arrived.
Sister Lin had gone walking with that wretch last night, whispering with him. That maid whose tongue deserved to rot had even said Sister Lin's eyes were brimming with affection.
How could this be!
That wretch had designs on Sister Baochai and was drawing close to Sister Lin as well. The pain in his heart was killing him.
Madam Wang's face was livid, furious that iron would not turn to steel.
"Who told you to speak without restraint? Before, it was one thing to curse the court's treacherous officials, but now that vile brat serves in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He can seize on your words and pin a charge on you. If the household punishes him, he'll dare to stir up a storm at the authorities, and we'll end up in the wrong."
Jia Baoyu gritted his teeth. "Father curses court affairs all day whenever he has nothing else to do. I was only following his example."
"Shut up!" Madam Wang pointed at him and scolded:
"Your father has his eye on the post of Right Vice Minister of Works. Keep out of his way for now, and don't cause any more trouble. Otherwise, you'll get another thorough beating, and even the Ancestors won't be able to stop him."
"Mother!" Jia Baoyu stamped his foot hard, his face woebegone.
"If I don't vent this anger, I won't be able to hold my head up in the garden. All my sisters will laugh at me. Please think of something. Ask Uncle to help."
"Nonsense!" Madam Wang snapped.
How could she not want to deal with that mother and son?
Her elder brother Wang Ziteng held high office and great power. How could he intervene lightly, unless the Wang Family's reputation or interests were at stake?
And she still had no leverage over that vile brat.
She could hardly ask her brother to act over a slap to Baoyu's face. If he asked what had caused it, how was she supposed to answer?
"Are you just going to watch your son get beaten and do nothing?" Jia Baoyu flared up, tears welling in his eyes again.
Madam Wang's heart truly ached for him. Taking her darling son's hand, she lowered her voice.
"I have an excellent plan."
"Tell me, Mother." Jia Baoyu's face filled with anticipation.
Madam Wang spoke unhurriedly:
"Sun Shaozu of the Sun Family has always been overbearing, and he's a fifth-rank military officer himself. Since last year, he's been trying to marry Yingchun and establish ties with our Jia family. Master She seems inclined to agree, but the Ancestors absolutely refuse."
"Baoyu, have Sun Shaozu give that vile brat a thorough lesson. Then go make a scene before the Ancestors and get them to agree to the marriage."
Her words had barely fallen.
"No!" Jia Baoyu refused outright, indignant.
"That wretch Sun Shaozu is vicious and loves tormenting women. If ten maids haven't died in his house, at least eight have. Second Sister is so honest and gentle. How could she marry a beast like that?"
Madam Wang, however, remained expressionless.
"Second Wood is only Master She's concubine-born daughter, after all. Even Master She is willing. Besides, idle rumors can't be trusted. Sun Shaozu merely looks fierce. For a concubine-born daughter like Second Wood to become mistress of the Sun Family, what more could she ask?"
"Just say a few words to the Old Madam, and she'll certainly agree to this marriage."
"I won't push Second Sister into a pit of fire!" Jia Baoyu shook his head desperately, resisting with all his might.
"Then don't you want to vent this anger?" Madam Wang stared at her son.
Jia Baoyu's expression turned hesitant.
Madam Wang stroked her son's palm and said gently:
"Second Wood must marry sooner or later. For a concubine-born daughter to become mistress of the Sun Family is already a very good match. Those rumors outside are all slander against Sun Shaozu. People can't bear to see him prosper."
Jia Baoyu wrestled with it for a long time. His mother had a point. Once Second Sister is married, she can tell the Jia family if she suffers any grievances. I'll avenge her!
Seeing that her son had come around, Madam Wang said quietly:
"Baoyu, go to the Eastern Mansion now. That father and son hate the vile brat to the bone. The three of you men can go find Sun Shaozu."
Jia Baoyu nodded firmly.
That wretch Jia Huan would pay dearly!
Before you continue