Chapter 29

In a certain residence in the west of the city.

The lean, middle-aged man sported a thick beard that was quite at odds with the amount of hair on his head. Fury consumed him, his facial muscles twitching and squeezing his narrow eyes into two pinholes. He snatched a teacup off the table and hurled it at the chest of the black-clad man kneeling on the floor. Scalding tea seeped through his clothes, but the man in black listened to the torrent of abuse without a sound.

"Useless! Every last one of you is useless! Didn't you say Guan Jiasheng was dead? Then why did he show up in the capital without a scratch and even bring the emperor to raid Qing Garden? You can't even tell the living from the dead! What am I keeping you for?"

His voice was low, his accent not native to the capital.

"I did gravely wound Guan Jiasheng. A sword thrust to the chest and a blow to the back of the head-even Hua Tuo reborn couldn't have saved him. Even if my strikes missed his vital points, he couldn't possibly have reached the capital in half a month without recuperating. His wounds practically healed themselves! Is he a man or a ghost?" The man in black could not help defending himself.

The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment. "Are you certain?"

"I stake my life on it."

The middle-aged man paced twice around the room in agitation.

"Then there are only two possibilities: first, the man you attacked was a fake; second, the one in the capital is a fake. You said the servant we planted beside Guan Jiasheng was found dead in an alley in town, correct? It seems Guan Jiasheng met someone in that ruined temple and told him why he was returning to the capital, or they switched places right there." A cold smile curled the middle-aged man's lips. "What about Guan Jiasheng's wife?"

The man in black said, "She ran back on her own, so we killed her too."

"That settles it. I know Guan Jiasheng. He would never abandon his wife. That leaves only one possibility."

The middle-aged man lightly struck the table with his right fist. "This man is too clever. Leaving him alive will bring trouble. Go to the ruined temple at once and make sure you find Guan Jiasheng's corpse. Let's see whether Old Madam Guan can recognize her own son."

The man in black took his orders and left. The middle-aged man summoned a servant. "Go immediately to..."

Father Guan's real name was Sun Yong. More than twenty years ago, he had married into the Guan family. He had originally been destitute and, despite ten years of arduous study, had failed even to become a provincial graduate. When the Guan family sought a live-in son-in-law, he had never expected Miss Guan to actually choose him. Too excited to sleep all night, he had gone to bow before his ancestors' spirit tablets first thing in the morning, muttering, "Our ancestors must be showering us with blessings."

The Guan Clan's vast wealth truly befitted a household built up by senior statesmen who had served several reigns. Sun Yong had truly felt, dazedly, like a carp leaping through the dragon gate. Everything he ate, wore, and used was exquisite.

Later, he gradually made some friends, all men who were neither successes nor failures in the capital and spent their days frequenting brothels. They flattered Sun Yong to his face, but behind his back they were consumed with envy and mocked him for living off a woman.

Petty by nature, Sun Yong noticed people talking behind his back and deliberately paid attention, only to hear more remarks such as, "The Guans are a scholarly family, a household of prime ministers. Even a boy sweeping their floors probably knows more than Sun Yong." "You envy Sun Yong? Have some ambition. Once Miss Guan has a son to carry on the family line, just see whether Sun Yong has any standing left in that household." ...

An ordinary man who had been so delighted to marry into a family that he muttered about his ancestors' blessings began to feel superior after eating enough rare delicacies. He started caring about his reputation, and the more it eluded him, the more obsessed he became. Terrified that he would one day be thrown out, he gradually conceived the idea of swallowing up the entire Guan Clan, completely forgetting who had given him the luxurious life others so envied. Even his unborn child became a thorn in his side.

At a restaurant in the pleasure quarter, more than half the wealthy young men who came to squander money had abruptly disappeared, leaving the place rather quiet. Sun Yong sat at a round table by the window and ordered two pots of Huadiao wine. In a foul mood today, he did not ask for any girls.

Guan Jiasheng had been promoted as soon as he returned. Five years ago, he had still shown Sun Yong some respect, asking after his health and comfort and constantly showing concern. Now, as he rose higher and higher in office, he had grown independent outside the household and no longer thought anything of his father.

Sun Yong gloomily swallowed a mouthful of wine, his eyes filled with disdain. In truth, it had already been like this five years ago. He had merely teased his daughter-in-law once, and Guan Jiasheng had made a fuss about taking an official posting outside the capital. After that, Old Madam Guan's attitude toward him had cooled, and the servants had taken their cue from her.

He was impotent, yet he had married a beautiful young wife. Couldn't his father make a remark or two?

Two customers arrived at the next table and immediately began discussing gossip from the capital. First, they expressed their envy of that fellow who had married into the Guan family. All he had to do was toss aside the surname his ancestors had given him, and he lived like the king of heaven himself. How could anyone not envy him? Then they turned to Guan Jiasheng. A phoenix was a phoenix-even if he was impotent, he kept rising through the official ranks, unlike his father who lived off a woman. Sun Yong might be good for nothing else, but he was good at having sons, just like the speaker's wife.

The other man laughed and scoffed. "Could your wife give birth to a third-place imperial examination graduate?"

Both men burst out laughing. Veins bulged on the hand Sun Yong had wrapped around the winepot's handle. Just as he was about to erupt, the men at the next table suddenly lowered their voices and began discussing something strange.

"Brother Zhang, let me tell you something, but don't tell anyone else. I happened to go to Suzhou to buy cloth a month ago and met Lord Guan once. When he heard I was from the capital, he chatted with me for a while. Yesterday, I saw the one here in the capital from a distance, and, tsk, he didn't seem like the same man at all."

"My friend, you can't say things like that lightly. Impersonating an imperial official is a capital offense."

"Hey, I'm only telling you, aren't I? I heard Lord Guan was ambushed on his way back to the capital. Poor man, dead and being impersonated. Come on, drink..."

Sun Yong's ears pricked up. Once he grasped what they meant, wild joy overwhelmed his doubts about the truth of their words-or rather, he did not want to doubt them at all.

Guan Jiasheng was dead?

After all these years of waiting, had the moment finally come for him and A-Bao?

The more Sun Yong thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He leaped excitedly to his feet and ran out of the restaurant. By the time he returned to the Guan Residence, drenched in sweat, Meng Zhou was just coming back from Jingzhao Prefecture.

Meng Zhou lifted his eyes to glance at Sun Yong, not particularly inclined to acknowledge him. He still remembered passing the Guan Residence two months ago and hearing him tell A-Bao, "Just wait a little longer, and this entire residence will be yours."

What father would curse his own son like that?

Besides, he had heard from the household maids that Sun Yong used to take advantage of Guan Jiasheng's absences to molest his wife. Guan Jiasheng's departure from the capital had actually been an indirect expression of his dissatisfaction with Father Guan.

Sun Yong stared Meng Zhou up and down. Unfortunately, he had never paid much attention to this son, so he looked the same no matter how Sun Yong examined him. Just then, A-Bao ran over clutching his little wooden sword. Sun Yong had spoiled him rotten. He stabbed at everyone he saw with that wooden sword, laughing triumphantly whenever he landed a hit and relentlessly chasing anyone who dodged.

The little fatty charged headlong with his sword raised. His head barely reached Meng Zhou's lower abdomen, and his bulk was clearly more of a threat than his wooden sword.

"Stop. Time to eat," Meng Zhou barked.

As though he had heard nothing, the little fatty charged straight at Meng Zhou's stomach. Naturally, Meng Zhou would not be afraid to dodge like the servants. He stepped aside, slipped behind the little fatty, and caught him by the collar.

He had been standing on a step. If the little fatty charged down so recklessly, he could really get himself killed.

Yet the boy was furious that he had failed to crash into Meng Zhou and swung his wooden sword blindly behind him, nearly poking Meng Zhou in the eye. Mindful that he was a child, Meng Zhou did not let go, and the boy actually managed to jab him in the neck.

Sun Yong stood to one side, looking thoughtful, with no intention of stopping A-Bao.

Meng Zhou's lips curved. With a deft twist, he turned the little fatty around and let go, sending him hurtling toward Sun Yong.

Grandfather and grandson fell to the ground together, shouting and cursing nonstop.

The racket gave Meng Zhou a headache. Conditions at the Meng Residence had been poor, but at least there had been no noisy brats.

With Old Madam Guan present at dinner, grandfather and grandson both behaved much better. As the meal was almost over, Meng Zhou pushed his sleeve up a little, exposing his elbow.

Sun Yong's eyes flashed.

When Guan Jiasheng was ten, Sun Yong had taken his foul mood out on him and accidentally burned a hole in the child's arm. Coming to his senses, he had panicked, afraid Old Madam Guan would find out, and coaxed Guan Jiasheng into hiding it. Guan Jiasheng promised his father and never mentioned it to anyone. Relieved, Sun Yong had put the matter out of his mind without even applying medicine. Guan Jiasheng's wound had taken a long time to heal, leaving an ugly scar.

Only father and son knew about it.

Yet this man's elbow was perfectly clear, without a single scar.

Unable to contain himself, Sun Yong waved the servants away. "Lately, I've heard rumors that you're an impostor. Jiasheng, I remember you had a scar on your arm. Has it faded? Let your father have a look."

At those words, both Mother Guan and Meng Zhou gave him a more appraising look.

Meng Zhou froze for a moment, and Mother Guan suddenly interjected, "How did he get hurt?"

Sun Yong's expression shifted repeatedly before he offered an excuse. "Jiasheng burned himself playing with fire as a child. He came to me because he didn't dare tell you."

Mother Guan wiped her mouth and said casually, "I later obtained a tube of ointment, and the scar is gone. I haven't brought up the past, so don't go asking for trouble yourself."

There was a warning beneath Mother Guan's words.

Sun Yong had never imagined she would react this way. He cried out in disbelief, "There's no scar on his arm! He isn't your son!"

"Do you think I can't tell?" Mother Guan raised her voice. She did not need anyone else twisting a knife in her heart. "I know why you had A-Bao registered as Jiasheng's son. You had better abandon that idea and keep your mouth shut. The Guan Residence will always belong to the Guans. No outsider will ever take it over."

With his intentions exposed, Sun Yong sheepishly fell silent. Back in his room, he tossed and turned over it all night. Why should some man of unknown origins be allowed, but not A-Bao?

Early the next morning, Sun Yong followed Meng Zhou out of the residence. Knowing Meng Zhou was the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, he had the sense not to submit his complaint there, going directly to the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice instead.

How were they supposed to investigate whether someone was another man's biological son? Especially when the man in question was the prefect of Jingzhao, currently entrusted with important responsibilities by His Majesty. Sun Yong had nothing but a few vague statements, without any solid evidence.

People often talked about Guan Jiasheng because of his physical condition. Although he had not become despondent over it, he had grown accustomed to keeping a low profile. Combined with his five-year absence from the capital, this meant few people there knew him well.

An official from the Court of Judicial Review went to inquire at the Guan household, and, well, Old Madam Guan had no suspicions whatsoever. She hinted at Sun Yong's sinister intentions, and everyone expressed sympathy for her household's misfortune.

After discussing it among themselves, the parties involved decided Sun Yong was talking nonsense and did not intend to open a case.

When Meng Zhou heard about it, his heart sank.

Being treated as a joke once was all well and good. What worried him was that Sun Yong might refuse to give up and cause enough of a stir to arouse Chu Huaiyin's suspicions.

Mother Guan gave Sun Yong a thorough scolding. She had not expected his desire to put A-Bao in Jiasheng's place to run so deep. This crossed her bottom line, and she warned him bluntly, "Our family can disown this adopted son."

Mother Guan stressed the words "adopted son," and Sun Yong went pale.

Mother Guan had known from the start that A-Bao was Sun Yong's child by a woman outside the household. She simply did not want to bother with it or air the family's dirty laundry.

When Sun Yong emerged from the Buddhist shrine, Meng Zhou was waiting there. He suddenly smiled. "When I was fourteen, you drugged my tea to wipe out the Guan Clan's line. What did we ever do to you? Hmm?"

Meng Zhou put all his skill into imitating Guan Jiasheng as he spoke. A gust of wind swept through, cold and eerie. Sun Yong probably knew Guan Jiasheng was already dead, and for a moment, he could not tell whether the figure before him was a man or a ghost.

Mother Guan had just exposed the truth about the "adopted son" in the shrine. Now his mental defenses collapsed. He stumbled back two steps, his eyes widening as he blurted out, "How did you know?"

"Sun Yong!"

Old Madam Guan gripped the doorpost, tears spilling from her eyes. She had thought this was simply Jiasheng's fate and had gradually come to accept it. Who could have known it was an evil man's doing? She hurled her cane at Sun Yong. "What did our family ever owe you? Jiasheng respected you from childhood, and this is how you treated him?!"

Meng Zhou had actually only been bluffing. It had happened so many years ago that even if he had suspicions, he had no way to verify them. Guan Jiasheng had always been healthy, yet had suddenly become impotent, while Sun Yong had constantly revealed his malice toward him. It was difficult not to make the connection.

After comforting Old Madam Guan, Meng Zhou returned wearily to his room. He yawned, hoping this turmoil would pass soon. He still had to find a way to get some medicine to restore his health.

Yet when he opened the door, Chu Huaiyin was sitting at the table. Meng Zhou was halfway through his yawn, and the shock left him unable to close his mouth.

Chu Huaiyin did not look at him, concentrating on his tea. "Close the door."

Meng Zhou said, "Your Majesty, have you come so late because there has been progress in the case?"

Chu Huaiyin glanced at him and got straight to the point. "I heard something curious today. Your father went to the Court of Judicial Review seeking redress, claiming someone was impersonating his son."

So it was about this after all.

Meng Zhou took a deep breath. He had already prepared an explanation.

Chu Huaiyin gestured for him to stay quiet. "Your father's actions gave me an idea. I have an old acquaintance who bears a great resemblance to you, my minister. Lately, I have kept suspecting that you are the same person, and it has troubled me so much that I can neither eat nor sleep in peace. I hope you can ease my worries."

Unease welled up within Meng Zhou. "Your servant is most apprehensive."

Chu Huaiyin abruptly closed in, looming over him and pinning his gaze in place, missing not the slightest flicker of emotion. "Meng Zhou has a red mole on his left shoulder. Do you dare let me look?"