County Magistrate, I Am Innocent

For half a month after Wang Youcheng's death, Gu Zhengchen had not entered the town.

During that time, County Magistrate Li Yi had not given up his investigation, but he had found no leads. The coroner could not determine the cause of death, and the Wang Family testified that Wang Youcheng had indeed fought with no one. All the evidence pointed to an illness that had caused his sudden death.

Because of the heat, Wang Youcheng's body lay in state for only three days before it was buried with the consent of the Wang Family's matriarch.

News of the court's approval of Wang Fugui's execution finally reached Teng County, though it was scheduled for after autumn. The Wang Family had fallen into utter ruin, leaving only a few women and a three-year-old girl. This branch of the family line was as good as ended.

Wang Youcheng's death became an unsolved case.

Zhang Shiping had no intention of traveling with Liang Family Jiajun and Gu Zhengchen. He left Teng County on the third day of the seventh month with Zhao Ya'er, four servants, and two maids.

He had departed so early not to reach the Capital sooner, but to roam the mountains and rivers and nurture their affection.

The seventeenth day of the seventh month was auspicious for travel.

"Brother."

Gu Qingqing clutched Gu Zhengchen's sleeve, unwilling to let him go.

Gu Zhengchen raised his hand and stroked Gu Qingqing's head, smiling. "Once I'm gone, you must take good care of Mother and Aunt Chen. Don't be naughty, and listen to Mother in everything."

Tears glimmered in Gu Qingqing's eyes. She gently released his sleeve and sobbed softly. "I don't want you to go."

Gu Zhengchen took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from his sister's face, then looked at his mother, Gu Shi. "The Sun Family has decided to set up a white sugar workshop and open a white sugar shop in the Capital. Once everything is ready, they'll send someone to bring you over to help. Jurong is much closer to the Capital."

Gu Shi tugged at Gu Zhengchen's lapels, studied him, and nodded. "We can discuss whether to go to the Capital later. All I hope is that you conduct yourself well as an official and prove worthy of the imperial family's favor. And-take good care of yourself."

Gu Zhengchen stepped back, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt. He kowtowed three times and said solemnly, "Since ancient times, loyalty and filial duty have been hard to fulfill together, but I still wish to find a way to honor both. I only hope you won't worry too much about me, Mother. Please look after your health."

Gu Shi helped Gu Zhengchen up and urged him on. "All right, it's getting late. Be on your way. Gu Cheng, take good care of your master."

Holding the horse's reins, Gu Cheng answered, "Rest assured, Old Madam."

The carriage belonged to the Liang Family, and two wooden trunks were loaded inside.

Gu Zhengchen left his home and followed the carriage toward the village entrance, turning back three times with every step.

Gu Shi, Chen Shi, and Gu Qingqing followed behind, waving from time to time.

The village entrance was crowded with villagers.

Leaning on his cane, Elder Yan tottered forward with a basket in his hand. He offered it to Gu Zhengchen, who had stepped up to meet him. "Zhengchen, I have nothing else to give you. Take these eggs to eat on the road. They've just been boiled and are still warm."

Gu Zhengchen's eyes stung. "I can't accept these."

Elder Yan insisted, "We villagers aren't seeing County Magistrate Gu off. We're seeing off a child of our own. When our child goes on a long journey, we give him a few eggs so he won't go hungry on the road."

"Take them."

The villagers all urged him to accept.

Uncle Whiskers Wang stepped forward and said to Gu Zhengchen, "You gave us work in the white sugar compound, where we can earn a whole string of coins a month. We remember all your kindness. Go with an easy heart. Leave Aunt Gu and little Qingqing to us. We won't let anyone wrong them."

Gu Zhengchen looked at the villagers and bowed solemnly. "Then I thank you all."

He straightened.

Gu Zhengchen looked at Gu Cheng. "Put the eggs away. Let's go!"

"Right!"

Gu Cheng took the basket of eggs and placed it in the carriage.

Gu Zhengchen turned to look at Gu Shi, Chen Shi, and Gu Qingqing, then glanced once more at the familiar villagers before striding past the street entrance. When he was more than a hundred paces away, he looked back. Gu Shi and the villagers had still not dispersed.

They kept watching, watching until the figures blurred, until the travelers vanished, until they turned away with tears of sorrow.

Gu Zhengchen's eyes reddened slightly, and he sighed. "Of all that dims the heart and shatters the soul, nothing compares to parting."

Gu Cheng, too, was reluctant to leave. "When I left home in previous years, I never felt so unwilling to go. Now there's much more weighing on my heart. But when I think of venturing out into the world with you, Master, what does this reluctance amount to?"

"Ha! Aren't you afraid I'll stir up trouble the moment I take office and get driven home?"

Gu Zhengchen felt his heart ease.

While one's parents lived, one should not travel far; if one did, one must have a fixed destination.

If a man could stay home and still earn money, gain a reputation, and realize his worth, who would leave his parents to wander distant lands?

In the end, there were countless things beyond one's control, yet one could only shoulder the burden and press on.

Gu Cheng smiled. "You could still live comfortably if you came home, Master."

Gu Zhengchen shook his head.

If he stayed in Teng County, serious trouble would find him sooner or later.

Even setting aside the bloody storms of the Hongwu Era, the Jingnan Campaign launched by Zhu the Fourth alone would be enough to destroy more than half of Shandong.

What he wanted to change was an entire era.

But Old Zhu was stubborn and self-willed, thought himself extraordinary, and had no shortage of schemes and methods. Persuading, influencing, or changing him would be no easy feat. Damn it, why did I have to transmigrate into the Hongwu years? Wouldn't it have been better to follow Zhu the Fourth and reap the easy rewards? This whole Hongwu era is a pit, and I actually volunteered to jump into it...

Liang Family Jiajun was nearly forty, and even his son was already fifteen or sixteen. He did not intend to bring his family on this journey, only an old servant named Liang Wujin, who was past fifty.

That saved them some trouble.

There were two carriages: one for the luggage, and one shared by Gu Zhengchen and Liang Family Jiajun.

Sun Bing came to see them off and summoned a sturdy middle-aged man with a steel saber hanging at his waist. He introduced him to Gu Zhengchen. "His name is Sun Shiba. He served in the Red Turban Army toward the end of the Yuan. Later, he was wounded, and I took him in. He's followed me for many years, guarding the Sun Family's estate. From now on, he'll follow you."

Gu Zhengchen studied Sun Shiba. The man seemed to exude a murderous aura, his eyes were bright, and his temples bulged slightly. He appeared to possess some skill, so Gu Zhengchen did not refuse. "Then thank you, Brother Sun."

Sun Bing laughed heartily. "There's no need to stand on ceremony with me. Once I've settled matters here, I'll make a trip to Jinling myself and visit you in Jurong."

"It's a promise!"

"It's a promise!"

Gu Zhengchen and Sun Bing exchanged smiles.

Liang Heng came out of his house and instructed Liang Family Jiajun, "If you encounter something you can't decide, write to Zhengchen and ask him. He may only just have reached twenty, but he knows far more methods and means than you do."

Gu Zhengchen smiled. "There's no need to worry about Brother Jiajun, Elder Liang. He'll be at the Imperial Academy, not in the imperial court. As long as he devotes himself to teaching the students, he should be fine."

The Imperial Academy in the Capital was a harbor sheltered from the wind. As long as one did not leap out and invite trouble, the storm would not reach it...

Liang Heng, Liang Fengyang, and the others offered a few more words of advice.

County Magistrate Li Yi brought travel funds, then drew Gu Zhengchen aside and asked in a low voice, "Tell me, did Wang Youcheng's death truly have nothing to do with you?"

Gu Zhengchen answered crisply, "County Magistrate, I am innocent..."