YHMCBW Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Not Becoming a Wife 33

Under Yan Zheng’s expectant and benevolent gaze, Huo Jingchuan, enjoying the drama, said: “Be bold and tell the truth. I’ll accept you as a disciple on behalf of my father, but then you’ll have to call me Senior Brother.”

Xie Baizheng: “…”

Then he would be imprisoned for disrespecting the late emperor.

Xie Baizheng could only smile wryly: “Master Yan, you flatter me. This student is just showing off. I don’t have a teacher. It’s just that this student has always been restless, so my father casually gave me a Go manual, hoping I would learn that ‘silence is golden,’ as he found me too noisy.”

Yan Zheng didn’t believe his explanation, but he knew that some masters preferred to keep their discipleship a secret and felt sorry for Xie Baizheng having to make up such a story to appease him.

Yan Zheng had only asked casually and didn’t press further when Xie Baizheng refused to answer. However, as the provincial Educational Inspector, it would be embarrassing if he lost a game of Go to a county scholar.

So he just made a few casual remarks and focused on the game.

Huo Jingchuan chuckled, thinking that Yan Zheng was just as competitive as his teacher. This game would probably last a while.

Meanwhile,

The newly appointed Magistrate Chen Anyuan hadn’t even had time to familiarize himself with the constables or have a cup of hot tea before he was put to work.

His only consolation was that his advisor, who was skilled in finance and taxation, had arrived and could share some of the burden.

Chen Anyuan was somewhat dazed. Was he here to be an official or a prisoner?

Why were there heavily armed guards while he was handling official business?

He glanced at the tall soldier guarding the door and recalled how he had been carried to the county government office. How utterly undignified!

However, he couldn’t afford to offend Ye Wenbin, so he had to do his job.

Chen Anyuan sighed inwardly and looked down at the daunting ledger, feeling utterly miserable: He couldn’t afford to offend the Imperial Envoy, a member of the imperial family, but he was just an itinerant official. Could he afford to offend the local influential figures?

His advisor also looked at the ledger worriedly and asked: “Master, are you really going to investigate these land holdings?”

Chen Anyuan naturally didn’t want to investigate thoroughly. The Imperial Envoy would return to the capital and live a life of luxury after concluding the case, but he still had to serve in Tongzhou Prefecture. Ci’en Temple, with its vast resources, was not someone he could afford to offend.

Chen Anyuan asked wistfully: “How can we appease that Young Master Ye without offending anyone?”

Ye Wenbin didn’t know that Magistrate Chen harbored such grand ambitions of “offending no one.” He personally took the thousands of ordination certificates and the Ye Family Army to the Monk Registrar Office—at the county level, it was also called the Monk Assembly Office.

The Monk Assembly Office, although responsible for religious matters, hadn’t expected such an important visitor. The head monk hurriedly received Ye Wenbin, his face full of naivete, as if he didn’t know what was happening.

Ye Wenbin threw the thousands of ordination certificates before the head monk, who only expressed surprise: “How could there be so many ordination certificates?”

Ye Wenbin sneered: “This Imperial Envoy is here to investigate a case by imperial decree. A total of two thousand six hundred ordination certificates were found in a bank in this county. As the head monk, you’re responsible for managing the monks in this county. Haven’t you heard anything about this?”

The head monk was stunned and felt wronged: “Your Excellency, although I’m a monk official in this county, I’m still a monk. I don’t concern myself with worldly affairs! The court only requires me to manage the twenty registered monks in this county. As for matters of the government, how can a monk like me interfere?”

After speaking, the monk glanced at the pile of ordination certificates, as if Ye Wenbin, the Imperial Envoy, was abusing his power and deliberately trying to bully him, a monk, by falsely accusing him.

Ye Wenbin, originally having no negative impression of monks, was now annoyed by his pretentiousness: “Are you saying that this county has only issued twenty ordination certificates? That there are only twenty monks in total?”

The head monk replied readily: “Exactly!”

Ye Wenbin: “Then are these two thousand six hundred ordination certificates all fake?”

The head monk: “…”

He was speechless.

Ye Wenbin looked away, “Take them to the county government office and let the Magistrate handle it.”

The Ye Family Army acted swiftly and efficiently, but Ye Wenbin suddenly felt unprecedentedly constrained. All the low-ranking officials he had encountered during this investigation were incompetent, yet they all claimed to be wronged.

Ye Yingyong, seeing his frustration, stepped forward and asked: “Young Master Ye, are we still going to Ci’en Temple?”

Ye Wenbin rubbed his temples and nodded wearily.

Ci’en Temple, twenty li away from the county seat, occupied a prime location with mountains and water. If Young Master Ye had looked at the official land registry map, he would have found that the thousands of mu of temple land were all fertile fields.

Ye Wenbin led his men and rode towards the temple. The road was bustling. After stopping passersby to ask, they learned that Ci’en Temple was giving out free porridge today, and anyone could queue up for a bowl.

The auntie they asked for directions even said: “This is a regular practice. Today, the abbot himself will be giving a sermon! Because so many commoners go, the wealthy families in the county have sent their servants and guards to help. The rice used for the porridge might not be new, but it’s much better than what we eat at home!”

Ye Wenbin looked at the auntie’s sunburnt face, opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say. He could only instruct Ye Yingyong to give her a generous reward.

Ye Wenbin tightened his grip on the reins and rode to Ci’en Temple.

Ye Yingyong, following behind him, gasped: “Why does this Ci’en Temple look even grander than the Huguo Temple in the capital? There’s even such a large courtyard in front of the gate?”

Ye Wenbin remained silent, his face cold.

He recalled the auntie’s words. This wasn’t charity; it was a deliberate obstruction of his investigation by the local influential figures colluding with the temple.

Did these people have any regard for the law, for the imperial court?

Abbot Puzhi of Ci’en Temple, leaving the ceremony and the commoners, personally came to greet him, with the demeanor of an enlightened monk: “So it’s the Imperial Envoy. This poor monk greets you.”

“But may I ask, what brings you here?”

“If it’s not urgent, why not listen to the Buddhist chants in this poor monk’s temple? It can calm the mind.”

Ye Wenbin couldn’t believe this monk’s composure.

Ye Wenbin felt that this trip had almost exhausted his twenty years of cultivated patience. He had his men present the official document from Ling’an County ordering Monk Yinhui to return to secular life and said directly: “One of your monks is a deserter. Are you unaware of this? I won’t stop you from giving your sermon, but you must hand him over first!”

Abbot Puzhi’s expression didn’t even change: “General Ye’s soldiers took Yinhui away the other day. Why has Young Master Ye come again today?”

Ye Wenbin said: “Abbot, if you have nothing to hide, why not let my men search the temple?”

Puzhi chanted “Amitabha”: “A Buddhist temple is a sacred place, not suitable for searching. Young Master Ye, having lived in the capital for so long, you probably don’t understand the hardships of the common people. Today, Ci’en Temple is providing porridge to the people. Are you asking them to wait on an empty stomach?”

Ye Wenbin: “…”

Ye Wenbin had brought eleven men, along with several constables from the county government office, to determine if Monk Yinhui was still in the temple. He had anticipated some resistance, but he hadn’t expected the people obstructing him to be the commoners of the county.

Seeing the stalemate, Ye Yingyong suddenly recalled what Young Master Xie had told him at the county government office. At the time, the accountant had just finished calculating Ci’en Temple’s land holdings, and his Young Master Ye was furious. He had been wondering if he should try to calm him down.

While he was hesitating, Xie Baizheng had whispered to him: “If your Young Master Ye goes to Ci’en Temple today, you should make some preparations in advance.”

Ye Yingyong: “What preparations?”

Xie Baizheng: “Prepare a reason why Ci’en Temple can’t refuse to hand over the person.”

Ye Yingyong: “What reason?”

Xie Baizheng: “Although he’s a deserter, he’s not alone. Bring his family. If there’s no time, bring a fake one. Find someone with a loud voice from an opera troupe, and just have them wail in front of Ci’en Temple, demanding the return of their son.”

Ye Yingyong: “…”

Seeing the situation, Ye Yingyong signaled his subordinates to bring the person forward.

Thus, a woman dressed as a commoner stepped forward.

In front of all the villagers, the servants and guards of the wealthy families in the county, the abbot, and the monks of Ci’en Temple, she wailed loudly: “My son! Can you hear your mother?”

“You were only sixteen when that bald donkey took you away! He said you were enlightened and should serve Buddha! Since then, you haven’t been able to return home, to see your parents!”

“Two years ago, your grandfather passed away!”

“Last year, your grandmother passed away!”

“This year, your father is bedridden, only wishing to see you one last time!”

“My son! Why won’t that damned bald donkey let you come home?!” The woman’s voice was loud and clear, and she knew how to create a scene. After her tearful performance, she rushed forward and pointed at Abbot Puzhi, cursing hatefully: “But I didn’t know, is my son serving Buddha, or serving this bald donkey?!”

Everyone: “…”

What did she just say???

Puzhi had been a respected abbot for many years. Being accused like this in public was a great humiliation!

Puzhi said angrily: “Where did this shrew come from?!”

Ye Wenbin, finally feeling a bit better, added fuel to the fire: “Naturally, she’s your beloved disciple, Monk Yinhui’s mother.”

Puzhi was furious: “She’s not…!”

Ye Wenbin’s tone became gentle again: “How could she not be? This Imperial Envoy guarantees that this is Monk Yinhui’s mother. How pitiful, her elderly father is bedridden and only wishes to see his son one last time. Abbot, are you still unwilling to let him go?”

Puzhi: “…”

This was slander! A grave injustice!

Ye Yingyong also played his part. He shouted: “Fellow townspeople, this woman is also suffering. Let’s help her find her son! Does anyone know Monk Yinhui? If you’ve seen him, please help us find him!”

Now, everyone stopped queuing for porridge and started looking for the monk.

A five-year-old child, with the sharpest eyes, pointed at the large bell at the temple gate: “He’s hiding there!”

Ye Wenbin gestured slightly, and the Ye Family Army immediately apprehended the monk. Ye Wenbin said calmly: “Monk Yinhui, you’re not even wearing your robes. Have you decided to return to secular life?”

The opera troupe actress hired by Ye Yingyong completed her performance, rushing forward with tears streaming down her face: “My poor son! Although your grandfather is gone, and your grandmother is gone, and your father is now bedridden, your mother is still here! From now on, we’ll depend on each other, and we won’t serve those bald donkeys anymore!”

Yinhui: “…”

His whole family was alive and well!

Who was this woman?!

Yinhui wanted to retort, but his mouth had already been gagged. He looked pleadingly at his respected abbot, but Puzhi didn’t even dare to look at him.

He was a monk, but he also cared about his reputation!

Now, with so many people speculating about his relationship with Yinhui, how could he dare to look?

How hateful!

He had deliberately arranged for these commoners to be here today to force the arrogant Imperial Envoy to retreat, not to embarrass himself!

This young Imperial Envoy was truly vicious!

Ye Wenbin, after enjoying Puzhi’s furious expression for a moment, finally left the gossiping crowd behind and returned to the county government office with Yinhui.

On the way back, Ye Yingyong, seeing his good mood, approached him.

Ye Wenbin: “Well done. Who gave you that idea?”

Ye Yingyong: “Young Master Ye, it was Young Master Xie. He said that abbots, those high-ranking monks, all care about their reputation!”

Ye Wenbin: “…”

Although devious, it was effective.

Ye Wenbin: “You did well too. Go and collect your reward from Ye Sen.”

Ye Yingyong: “Thank you, Young Master Ye!”

Chang’an County government office.

The Go game between Huo Jingchuan and Yan Zheng still hadn’t ended. The players didn’t seem to be in a hurry, but the servant behind Yan Zheng was anxious.

It was time for lunch. Would his master eat or not?

Xie Baizheng, noticing this, reminded him: “Master Yan, the young man behind you seems to have something to report. This student wouldn’t dare to delay your official duties. Shall we pause this game?”

Yan Zheng didn’t have any official duties to attend to. Only after being reminded did he realize it was almost noon. He said, somewhat reluctantly: “Alright, let’s have lunch first, and then we’ll continue the game!”

Huo Jingchuan: “I thought that Yan fellow finally realized he was about to lose. This prince is truly at his wit’s end. He’ll definitely lose within ten moves!”

Xie Baizheng: “…”

Was that how “at wit’s end” was used?

Xie Baizheng sighed helplessly and thought of another way to decline. But it was better to eat first. Since the Educational Inspector had kindly invited him, he might as well experience the private kitchen of an ancient civil servant.

Government offices at all levels in the capital had fixed meal standards. For example, the standard for a third-rank official was seven dishes, two liters of noodles, five ounces of mutton, etc. There were also extra dishes during festivals.

However, local county government offices didn’t need to be so particular. It all depended on the magistrate’s preferences. The Chang’an County government office naturally didn’t have any rare delicacies. Even with Young Master Ye, who wasn’t short of money, there were only some chicken, duck, fish, and a plate of salted small yellow croaker. There were definitely no river delicacies, but there were two plates of pickled vegetables to add flavor.

Just as they sat down, before they could even pick up their chopsticks, they heard that Ye Wenbin had returned. Having successfully captured Monk Yinhui, Ye Wenbin was in high spirits. Seeing Xie Baizheng, he recalled the idea he had offered and was even more reluctant to let him go home. He ordered: “Warm a pot of clear wine. I’ll have a drink with Young Master Xie.”

Huo Jingchuan was on high alert: “What gives him the right?”

Xie Baizheng also asked in surprise: “Young Master Ye, you captured the monk, but you’re not interrogating him?”

“Of course, I’ll interrogate him.” Ye Wenbin said: “But there’s still one unresolved matter. We need to wait for the Magistrate to investigate the origin of Ci’en Temple’s land holdings and find the stolen silver. Isn’t that what you said?”

Xie Baizheng nodded, not wanting to dampen Young Master Ye’s enthusiasm, but he thought to himself, Magistrate Chen and his advisor, who was skilled in finance and taxation, along with the two accountants from the county government’s accounting office, four people searching for a needle in a haystack, what results could they possibly find?

Furthermore, Ye Wenbin had captured Yinhui to investigate the illegal sale of ordination certificates, but Xie Baizheng had initially asked Zhang Wanzhou to investigate Yinhui’s origins for Li San’s younger sister.

Ye Wenbin could wait, but Li San and Zhang Wanzhou probably couldn’t.

Just as Xie Baizheng had this thought, he heard the sound of the drum of appeal outside the county government office—

“Dong! Dong! Dong—”

The drumbeat echoed through half of Chang’an County, its mournful sound resonating in people’s hearts.

Xie Baizheng could almost imagine Li San’s desperation as he beat the drum. After months of waiting, the wronged soul in Ci’en Temple finally had a chance to seek justice!