Yu Yang called out: “Yingqian?”
Su Yingqian moved the painting aside and looked at her.
He slowly stood up, forcing a smile.
“A Yan, I’m rather tired today and fear I cannot entertain you and Qi Xiong any longer. Another day, I’ll invite you both for drinks and properly make it up to you.”
Yu Yang couldn’t say much more.
She simply nodded: “It’s fine. You should rest first, don’t worry too much.”
Su Yingqian replied meekly: “Alright, thank you A Yan, Qi Xiong.”
Just as Yu Yang and Xie Chi passed through the Moon Cave Gate, they encountered Magistrate Su and his wife.
Magistrate Su said to Madam Li: “Madam, please go check on Qian’er first. I’ll see A Yan and Qi Gongzi out.”
Yu Yang quickly responded: “Uncle, there’s no need to trouble yourself…”
Magistrate Su said: “I invited you here today, yet you didn’t even get to have a meal… I should see you out.”
Seeing this, Yu Yang didn’t refuse further.
Along the way, Magistrate Su remained silent.
As they approached the gate, Yu Yang finally asked: “Uncle, when I visited the night market yesterday, I encountered a ruffian who I heard was brought to the yamen.”
Magistrate Su said: “Indeed, I’ve imprisoned him.”
Xie Chi was surprised.
“Imprisoned him?”
Magistrate Su nodded.
“Yes, he claimed to be a Celestial Guard on official business and demanded I release him.”
Magistrate Su scoffed, “I don’t care who he is. He was caught engaging in illicit relations with someone in the temple in public view. What kind of official business requires defiling a young woman? He wouldn’t tell me which family’s daughter she was, and I suspect he might be connected to last month’s case of rape and murder outside the city. This needs investigation.”
Xie Chi: “…Magistrate Su’s impartiality, strictness, and integrity are admirable. I, Qi, am impressed.”
He had been shallow to think that once Gao Tuo revealed his identity, Magistrate Su would release him.
Indeed, Magistrate Su was different.
A good official!
Magistrate Su smiled: “Since I’ve become an official, I should naturally handle affairs impartially and serve the people diligently. There’s nothing to admire.”
After leaving the county yamen, Yu Yang and Xie Chi stood on the main street.
Yu Yang said: “Shall we find somewhere to eat?”
Xie Chi said: “I was thinking the same.”
On their way to the tavern, Yu Yang asked: “With Gao Tuo imprisoned, will someone come to bail him out?”
Xie Chi said: “There are definitely Xi Wei personnel nearby. He won’t stay imprisoned for more than two days.”
Yu Yang asked: “Then shall we remain in Fuyang County?”
Xie Chi said: “We’ll stay a few more days to see if we can encounter other ghosts. As for Gao Tuo… if he hasn’t been released in a couple of days, I’ll first send that ghost to Bei Wei, just to add to the count.”
Yu Yang: “…Alright. With Gao Tuo imprisoned, that ghost won’t go anywhere for the time being.”
Unfortunately.
Yu Yang was mistaken.
Because the next day, they received news.
“Jiao Guniang has disappeared.”
Xie Chi’s guard Xiang Ming reported: “Early this morning, Jiao Guniang went to the county yamen again to find Young Master Su. Since it was inside the yamen, I couldn’t infiltrate to keep watch, so I guarded outside. But Jiao Guniang never emerged, and when I saw Young Master Su leave alone, I realized something was wrong.”
Yu Yang’s subordinate Mo Ying added: “Moreover, Magistrate Su sent people to arrest Young Master Su, apparently because he secretly released Gao Tuo.”
Xiang Ming said: “We checked the carriages leaving the yamen today and suspect both Gao Tuo and Jiao Guniang escaped hidden in a manure cart. But…”
He looked at Xie Chi, somewhat uncertain: “This subordinate thinks it’s unlikely Gao Tuo would agree to hide in a manure cart.”
After all, he was the son of a high official – no need to escape prison by hiding in a manure cart.
Xie Chi stood up: “We’ll find out by seeking out Young Master Su.”
County Jail.
Su Yingqian lay prone on the ground, blood seeping through his back—clear evidence of torture.
Magistrate Su stood outside the cell, his face grim. “This wretched boy forged my handwriting, stamped my seal, and used a fake release order to take the prisoner away.”
Xie Chi asked, “Young Master Su, where is Jiao Guniang?”
Su Yingqian turned his head to look at Xie Chi.
Then his gaze shifted to Yu Yang.
After a moment, he said, “She left with Gao Tuo.”
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Su’s eyes widened in shock.
“What did you say?!”
Su Yingqian turned away again, lowering his gaze. “She came to beg me today—to release her beloved so they could flee far away together.”
Magistrate Su’s lips trembled.
“Beloved… A Yin and Gao Tuo…”
Su Yingqian said calmly, “Father, that Young Master Gao is indeed from the Vice Minister’s residence. He’s more imposing than me, and he saved her once… It’s not surprising. Besides, the couple who were intimate at the Shrine of the Divine Lord that day were them. Since the truth is clear, Young Master Gao is no longer a prisoner.”
Magistrate Su’s eyes reddened instantly. “How outrageous! Does being a Vice Minister’s son give him the right to steal another’s wife?!”
Su Yingqian replied, “Father, we’ve already called off the engagement. She returned the Concentric Jade and marriage contract to me.”
He looked down at the jade in his hand.
Only then did Yu Yang notice he had been clutching it tightly all along.
Magistrate Su knelt down, placing a hand on Su Yingqian’s shoulder, his voice choked. “Why didn’t you say anything when I ordered them to beat you? Why didn’t you explain?!”
Su Yingqian smiled faintly. “Forging a release order is a crime. I deserved the punishment.”
Yu Yang frowned slightly.
Xie Chi asked, “Young Master Su, where did you send them?”
Su Yingqian looked up at Xie Chi and suddenly laughed. “The world is vast—let them roam free. I won’t tell.”
The two left the jail.
Yu Yang looked at Xie Chi. “What should we do?”
Xie Chi said, “It would be fine if Gao Tuo really took the ghost away, but I suspect this Young Master Su might be problematic. The ghost being killed is secondary—I’m more concerned he might kill Gao Tuo in a fit of rage.”
Yu Yang shook her head. “No, if he killed Gao Tuo, Magistrate Su and Madam Li would be implicated. Su Yingqian wouldn’t do that.”
Xie Chi said gravely, “Have someone keep watch on Young Master Su. The ghost can die, but Gao Tuo must live. We can’t let a ghost bring ruin to the Su family.”
Two days later.
Late at night.
A shadow guard led the way ahead.
“There’s a tunnel in the Fuyang County Office. Young Master Su likely left through it.”
Yu Yang and Xie Chi walked under the moonlight.
Occasional cries of children echoed through the streets, while dogs barked incessantly somewhere, making the night feel oddly lively.
Yu Yang couldn’t suppress a yawn.
Xie Chi glanced at her.
“Sleepy?”
Yu Yang admitted honestly, “A little, but it’s fine.”
While she had no major ailments, she was genuinely prone to fatigue and needed little sleep.
Xie Chi suggested, “Should you head back first?”
Yu Yang said, “Su Yingqian is one of my few friends.”
She sighed softly. “If I had met him as Yu Yang from the start, perhaps Jiao Guniang…”
Xie Chi countered, “If you weren’t Lin Gongzi, and he had a fiancée, he wouldn’t have been so close to you. You might never have seen the Fuguang Pavilion Rhapsody he wrote for you, nor received his plea to restore Fuguang Pavilion.”
Yu Yang rubbed her temples to clear her mind.
“I was overthinking.”
Xie Chi said, “I rather think Young Master Su might have known all along that the person before him was no longer the same.”