Chapter 24: Sacrificing the Plum to Save the Peach

Chief Constable Zhang walked to the door, glanced inside and found nothing unusual. Outside, the grass rustled; he headed in that direction and discovered it was the magistrate Wang’s dog. The dog lingered near the thicket, seemingly wanting to relieve itself. Zhang, annoyed and never fond of the creature, gave it a fierce kick.

“You mangy beast, relying on your master’s power—your whole family’s nothing but dogs,” Zhang cursed, venting all his resentment toward Magistrate Wang. The kicked dog stumbled backward, yelping as it ran off, leaving Zhang feeling triumphant as he returned to stand at the doorway.

Luo Gan watched with curiosity, wondering how Zhang, who appeared so subservient to Magistrate Wang, could harbor such hatred in private. Liu Buwen caught the look of confusion on Luo Gan’s face.

“Sir, you must be curious about Chief Constable Zhang. In a small yamen like this, there’s no shortage of scheming and rivalry.”

“How strange—it seems even someone as servile as Zhang has designs against the magistrate.”

“Zhang’s family has held minor offices in Anping for generations. Though their positions have never been high, they have always wielded considerable influence, behaving like local tyrants.”

“If they’re so powerful, why would they fear Magistrate Wang?”

Liu Buwen glanced around nervously. “Let’s discuss it at home. It’s not convenient here.”

Luo Gan and Liu Buwen hurried on, Liu clutching his poetry anthology and anxiously scanning the surroundings to see if anyone was watching. As they rounded a corner, they nearly collided with Magistrate Wang, who was amusing himself in the courtyard with a turtle.

“Meow—meow—” Magistrate Wang mimicked a cat, trying to coax the turtle out.

But the turtle was clever, refusing to come forth without food, not fooled by Wang’s antics.

Magistrate Wang, eyes closed as if meditating, seemed unhurried, idly scratching the turtle’s shell with a wheat stalk. The turtle remained motionless.

Luo Gan and Liu Buwen kept their distance, hoping to slip past unnoticed, especially Luo Gan, who wished to avoid the magistrate entirely.

“Stop right there! What are you two sneaking about for?” Magistrate Wang, eyes barely opened, caught them in the act.

“Sir, I am Liu Buwen, and we are here to educate the prisoners.”

Magistrate Wang turned his head aside, thoughtful. “Liu? The old man’s son, right?”

“Precisely.”

Magistrate Wang rubbed his face, relaxing his expression with a sigh. "Go on, then—winter’s bitter cold. Everyone back to their own homes.”

Liu Buwen bowed with Luo Gan, who trembled as he passed the magistrate, terrified even by a glance.

“You… new here?” Magistrate Wang, head turned, looked at Luo Gan with disdain. Luo Gan was at a loss, and Liu Buwen quickly intervened.

“It’s a distant relative from the family. My father saw his intelligence and wanted him to study with me.”

“Study with you? Ha ha ha!” Magistrate Wang burst out laughing. “If he’s learning from you, he’ll never pass the exams—ten years and still nothing.”

Liu Buwen’s face showed irritation, but he restrained himself. Luo Gan noticed his displeasure and lightly tapped Liu, hinting that it was time to leave.

“Sir, we’ll take our leave now.”

Magistrate Wang turned aside, waving them away impatiently.

Fortunately, their scholarly attire distinguished them from common villagers; the old adage holds true—clothes make the man. Magistrate Wang failed to recognize them, and they finally escaped his sight.

Back at the Liu residence, Liu Buwen and Luo Gan returned to the study to strategize. Liu flipped through the poetry anthology and asked, “Now that the book’s gone, we can’t let my father take the blame—shouldn’t we find the records keeper?”

“Take the blame? Certainly not. Chief Constable Zhang was on duty this afternoon; neither of us scholars ever lingered in that side room.”

Seeing Luo Gan’s confident demeanor, Liu quickly fell in step.

“So the next move is to let my father leak the news; Zhang stands accused of dereliction.”

“Smart.”

The two clinked their teacups in agreement.

The yamen was in chaos, several clerks and constables gathered to discuss how to handle the missing book.

“How could a book just walk off on its own?” one clerk reported the loss to Magistrate Wang.

In the main hall, Magistrate Wang lounged, calm and composed.

“That ill-omened thing—so it’s lost, so what? It’s hardly a disaster. Maybe it’s just misplaced. Who’s been watching it these days?”

“It was Chief Constable Zhang.”

“Let Zhang look for it. If it’s lost, so be it—a minor matter… You all have no idea about the world.”

The clerk prepared to leave, but Magistrate Wang reconsidered and called him back.

“Actually, now that I think about it, this book is no ordinary text—it’s a slanderous work against the current dynasty. With the anthology gone, there’s no evidence left. I’ve already reported it; the culprit must be punished.”

Magistrate Wang’s gaze was piercing, hawk-like, making the clerk uneasy.

The yamen was thrown into further disorder, constables and clerks whispering among themselves.

“Could it have been that records keeper, Lord Liu, behind all this?”

Chief Constable Zhang shook his head. “Some days ago, Lord Liu and others did review the book, but he’s been ill for days and hasn’t been here. It can’t be him.”

A clerk approached Zhang and whispered something in his ear, causing Zhang’s face to turn pale with shock.

Luo Gan and Liu Buwen returned to the Liu residence, only to find Liu Chengyu—supposedly “ill”—doing calisthenics in the courtyard.

Luo Gan was amazed. “Lord Liu, everyone’s been saying you’re unwell.”

Liu Chengyu replied, “A few days ago, Buwen suggested this—resting for a while avoids suspicion.”

Liu Buwen smirked, Luo Gan waved his finger in admiration.

“I thought stealing the book was my idea, but it turns out you had plans all along.”

The three entered the house; outside, the trees still bore leaves, but they were frozen solid.

“Sir, about why Chief Constable Zhang fears Magistrate Wang—I’m still curious.”

Liu Chengyu looked at Liu Buwen and nodded for him to explain.

“Sir, you know about Magistrate Sima? Rumor has it he was struck ill by the rat demon.”

“I’ve heard a little.”

Luo Gan, eager for clues about the rat demon, felt as if he’d found an oasis in the desert.

“But the yamen is rife with intrigue. When Wang Ge was deputy magistrate, he and Sima always clashed. Suddenly, Sima fell ill and vanished, and Wang swiftly seized the position.”

“Is it possible… Sima wasn’t sick because of the rat demon?”

“No one really knows. After Sima’s illness, no one saw him again. His home was guarded by soldiers—likely he was put under house arrest.”

Magistrate Wang certainly didn’t seem the upright sort; what was Sima’s true fate?

Liu Chengyu sighed, “Sima was a good official, but I was powerless to help.”

Liu Buwen spoke bitterly, “If not for Li Yuan’s betrayal!”

“Mind your words! If we serve Tang, our loyalty must be with Tang.”

“There are no gentlemen in politics,” Buwen sighed.

A hint of guilt crossed Liu Chengyu’s calm face. “People like us are like duckweed, drifting and uncertain. Still, we must hold fast to our principles and beliefs if we are to survive in this world.”