Chapter 124: Sin

Upon returning to the manor, Sister Cai had already prepared dinner. Seeing Cai Cong, she hurriedly called out, "Qiuyue, hurry and serve the young master; help him wash his face and hands and change his clothes. Son, go wash up quickly and come eat. Once you're done, finish the story—what happened to Lin Daiyu?"

"Mother, I’ll tell the story later tonight. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll eat dinner in a while. Someone, tell Xu Jie to come see me in the study after dinner."

Cai Cong had been telling stories for a month; for this person to come and expose him now, rather than earlier, suggested it wasn't out of some sense of righteous justice. Most importantly, how did he know he was the Marquis of Chang'an? Even within the imperial court, few knew that the storyteller was the Marquis himself.

In the study after dinner, Cai Cong carefully wrote out the Heart Purification Mantra before setting down his brush and saying to Xu Jie, "Investigate the resident scholar of the Hongwen Academy. Find out exactly who he has been speaking to and whom he has met these past few days. Is that clear?"

"I will arrange it immediately. Does the Marquis want me to send men to arrest him for interrogation?"

"No, don't alert the enemy. Keep an eye on Tang Yi while you're at it; he’s been following him for a while, so make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Tang Yi is a clever one; if he’s careful, there shouldn't be any trouble. I’ll get right on it, Marquis!"

As Xu Jie turned to leave, Cai Cong waved his hand irritably. It seemed this was targeted directly at him.

Early the next morning, Cai Cong was awakened by frantic knocking. Xu Jie said with a look of panic, "Marquis, the entire family of the resident scholar was found dead last night. Rumors are spreading in the streets that you were the one who killed them, claiming that because he disrupted your recovery, you flew into a rage and wiped out his entire household. The story is being told so convincingly that all of Chang'an knows it, and the scholar's relatives are currently carrying coffins toward the Marquis's manor."

Cai Cong’s expression darkened upon hearing this. The method was crude: murder, framing, and public opinion manipulation—the very tactics he had used to kill Zhang Xiao.

But these people were even more ruthless. By killing their own pawn, they ensured the whole world would stand against him.

"What about Tang Yi? He followed him long enough that he should know something. Where is he?"

"When we arrived, the scholar's house was already dark, and Tang Yi had vanished."

Cai Cong glared at Xu Jie before asking unhappily, "And you lot kept watch all night and didn't see who killed the scholar?"

"The corrupt official kills the innocent! We shall set up the mourning hall right here! Everyone, come help!"

Just then, shouts erupted outside, followed by noisy clamor and the clattering sound of bamboo poles—they were erecting a mourning hall.

Xu Jie’s face changed dramatically. He leaped out of the room and climbed onto the wall, only to jump back down with a grim expression. "Marquis, those bastards have set the mourning hall directly facing the Madam’s room."

"Take my calling card immediately to the Magistrate of Chang'an. Tell him to bring his men to handle this, or don't blame me for being ruthless."

Cai Cong said this with a somber face. He couldn't act himself; the other side was deliberately provoking him, hoping to goad him into attacking the scholar's relatives.

Once he acted, the masterminds would have an endless series of traps waiting for him. This was a calculated move, a conspiracy built on human lives.

Xu Jie went to carry out the order, returning half an hour later looking indignant, as if he had been humiliated.

"What happened?"

"The Magistrate of Chang'an tore up your card, had me thrown out of the county office, and even declared on the street that even if he loses his position or is beaten to death, he will not act as an accomplice to a tyrant.

"The townsfolk pelted me with eggs and vegetable scraps. It’s as if everyone in the city learned of the scholar's murder overnight."

"Interesting. Overnight, everyone has become a paragon of unyielding integrity. Find out if the Chang'an Magistrate has a son or an illegitimate child. Strangle him and frame the Magistrate for it."

Cai Cong spoke expressionlessly, not considering the murder of a child to be a significant matter. So they want to use a public conspiracy? Then he would use a poisonous scheme.

"I will investigate at once."

"Wait. Find a group of brothel girls and have them go keep the scholar's relatives company at the mourning hall. Have them put on a lewd show there. Make sure they don't know who hired them."

Xu Jie shuddered. His master was truly terrifying when he turned evil. Hiring prostitutes for a mourning hall—the scholar's relatives would never be able to show their faces again.

"Tell the servants in the house that even if they are beaten, they are not to retaliate. They must appear aggrieved—more aggrieved than ever."

Cai Cong spoke with a sinister tone. No matter who the opponent was, they wanted to force his hand, but he wouldn't play along. He could play dirty, too.

The mourning hall of the scholar's family was filled with music and wailing, and guests came in an endless stream until nightfall.

Several of the scholar's cousins sat on the ground, exhausted. "Didn't they say we’d get beaten? Why hasn't anyone come to hit us after we've been kneeling all day?"

Someone asked, confused. The others shook their heads; who knew what was going on? They weren't from the Marquis's manor; how could they know what the Marquis was thinking?

"Heh, this is the first time I've heard of someone waiting to be beaten. It’s hilarious."

Just then, a delicate voice drifted from outside the mourning hall, followed by the giggles of women. The men in the hall looked up, only to be hit by a wave of fragrance as a group of gorgeously dressed women walked in...

The Chang'an Magistrate kept a woman on the side who had borne him a son. He would visit to play with the child or stay the night.

Today, his woman had sent word that the son seemed ill, refusing to eat or drink, and just crying. Distressed, he put aside his work and rushed to the outer residence.

Watching his son cry and refuse food, he felt his heart ache. He immediately berated the child's mother while tenderly caring for his son.

In a dark corner, someone said with difficulty, "That's just a child. I can't bring myself to do it."

"The Marquis said he must die. He is already a dead man; he must die," another person said coldly, his eyes piercing through the darkness to watch the dim room.

The man inside was becoming increasingly irritable, his patience wearing thin, accompanied by the sounds of his cursing and the woman's sobbing.

"But there are so many other ways. Why make a child suffer all night? The Marquis is too ruthless; I can't accept this."

The first man struggled with his words; this went against his conscience, leaving him in agony.

"Who can you blame? He was born to the wrong father. Since his father aids the villain, his death is inevitable. Put away your unnecessary mercy. Think about what they are doing to the Marquis."

The other man spoke without a hint of emotion. His expression was hidden in the darkness, but one could sense his sinister grin.

They were people who walked in the shadows, existing in the dark and doing dirty work—what need had they for mercy?

"Is the Marquis not supposed to be compassionate? Why would he have us do such things?" The voice carried a sob; his idol had shattered, and he couldn't grasp it.

"Naïve! Everything the Marquis does is for the common people. But when some target him, he cannot sit and wait for death. If you show mercy to enemies, are you trying to get the Marquis killed? Wipe your tears, keep watch, and strangle the child when the opportunity arises."

This night was destined to be a shameful one. A kind sage walked between light and shadow, and everything depended on a single thought. Yet, who knew that he had once been a bandit who committed every imaginable crime?