14 - Imperial Commissioner

Chapter 14 – Imperial Commissioner

Unfortunately, although Shangguan Yan deliberately avoided Di Jing and did not feel concerned about him, he was very concerned about her.

For a government official or a merchant, the greatest fear is being caught by the pigtails *.

(Caught by the pigtails is a metaphor meaning to have one’s mistake, shortcomings, or actions be used as a threat against oneself.)

Two days later, Shangguan Yan’s premonition came true.

A large number of officers and soldiers surrounded her Baolai Pawnshop and they also went to Shangguan Mansion with a warrant.

When the group of officers and soldiers suddenly appeared at Shangguan Mansion, the Chief Steward immediately informed Old Master Shangguan. Old Master Shangguan, Old Madam Shangguan, Eldest Master, and Second Master, all hurriedly came out to receive the officers.

Although Old Master Shangguan was no longer involved in the business matters of the family as he had handed over all the businesses to his two sons, he was still informed about the important matter of the officers’ arrival.

“Lord Officer, please tell us what’s the matter.” Old Master Shangguan stepped forward and asked respectfully.

The Head Officer said solemnly. “On the orders of the Imperial Commissioner, we’re here to bring Shangguan Yan back to the Yamen for questioning.”

Everyone’s expressions changed drastically.

The Imperial Commissioner?

The person who is conducting the interrogation is not the Lord Justice of Yamen nor the local Criminal Officer but the Imperial Commissioner of the imperial court?

The Imperial Commissioner represents the Emperor, holds great power, and travels the world.

Old Master Shangguan had nothing to fear if the local Criminal Officer came with the warrant. However, the rank of the person presiding over the case had risen to the rank of the Imperial Commissioner, then it should not be a minor case.

What crime had Yan’er committed for the Imperial Commissioner to send people over to escort her back for questioning?

Old Madam Shangguan’s complexion changed and looked at her husband. “Old Master…..”

After all, Old Master Shangguan is a seasoned businessman and had dealings with government officers all year round, so he smiled calmly and said. “This old man understands. Lord Officer, please wait for a while.” Then he turned around and spoke to his second son. “Find Yan’er and bring her back.”

Second Master got the hint when he looked into his father’s eyes. He knew that his father wanted him to find his Fifth Sister personally and take the opportunity to personally give her instructions on how to handle this.

Once one enters the Yamen , it will no longer be a joke. At that time, one would either receive a punishment of caning or a sentence. No matter what happens, one must make some preparations first.

After Second Master ordered for a horse to be prepared, he hurriedly left from the side door.

During this period, Old Master Shangguan continued to talk with the government officer calmly.

“I have sent people to find Yan’er and bring her back. It will take some time. I don’t dare to let Lord Officer stand and wait, so please come inside to rest and have a cup of tea.”

The Head Officer is called Guan Chao. Actually, during normal times, he had gained a lot of benefits from the Shangguan Family. Today, he received an order to take away a member of the Shangguan Family, and on the surface, he still had to put on an act.

“Alright, since we still have to wait for a while. Let’s go inside the house as our brothers are also thirsty in this hot weather.”

So Guan Chao ordered everyone to wait inside the house. After the Eldest Master of Shangguan Family received Old Master Shangguan’s instructions, he led the officers and soldiers to the guest courtyard and ordered the servants to serve tea. Old Master Shangguan took this opportunity and stepped aside to talk to Guan Chao.

“Lord Officer.” Old Master Shangguan held up his cupped hands and addressed him politely.

Guan Chao quickly held up his hands to return the salute. “No, no……Old Master Shangguan, this small one doesn’t deserve this. Today, I received orders to come which is beyond my control. Please bear with me.” Guan Chao knew very well that Old Master Shangguan has good relationships with powerful people and is very influential among the noble clans. At this time, for Old Master Shangguan to personally receive him, it gave him a lot of face.

“This old man understands that Lord Officer is here on official order and has to handle this matter fairly. My Shangguan Family will cooperate but just hope that Lord Officer can give us a little information. This old man will be most grateful.” He quietly stuffed a gold ingot into the other person’s hand.

After receiving the gold ingot, Guan Chao weighed it in his hand and found that it was not light. He swept his eyes over the surrounding area to confirm no one was around and whispered to Old Master Shangguan. “This Imperial Commissioner is surnamed Di with a single name Jing and he suddenly appeared. We have never seen him before but the Imperial Commissioner Medal that he holds is indeed granted by the Emperor.”

Di Jing?

Old Master Shangguan frowned. He was acquainted with many ministers and officials in the government and knew the powerful forces in the imperial court. For many years, he had worked with these people and was well informed but had never heard of this person called Di Jing.

“How old is he?”

“He is a young man, around the age of twenty-four, twenty-five and he is investigating the case of Lord Tian’s grave robbery.”

When Guan Chao saw the frown on Old Master Shangguan’s face, he knew the old man was puzzled, so he added another sentence. “Does that Baolai Pawnshop belong to your family? A stolen item was found there.”

As soon as Old Master Shangguan heard, he immediately understood and knew that Guan Chao could only tell him this much and could not disclose more.

Old Master Shangguan hurriedly saluted him and Guan Chao hastily helped him up. After returning the salute, Guan Chao went into the guest courtyard to drink tea and wait.

At this time, Shangguan Yan was busy in the shop, and her Second Brother’s appearance gave her a surprise.

During this period, her Second Brother should be busy with her Eldest Brother, but why is he here to look for her?

When she heard the reason he came, she was stunned.

The government officers came to bring her to Yamen ? This does not sound good!

She immediately ordered Xilang to visit Ling Wang Mansion and inform the Wangfei and Hua Qianqian of this matter. Then she returned to Shangguan Mansion with her Second Brother.

Before they could enter the mansion, the Chief Steward was already waiting at the door for them. He was ordered by the Old Master to wait for the Young Miss’s return and then tell her what Guan Chao had revealed.

Only then did Shangguan Yan realized that something had happened at the pawnshop.

At this time, she was dressed in men’s clothing and did not have time to change, so she added some thick cloth to pad her clothes. She got ready in a hurry and then followed Guan Chao to the Yamen .

At this time, Di Jing was sitting on the main seat of the Yamen ’s meeting room and the Yamen ’s Lord Justice was waiting on him at the side.

The documents related to the grave robbery case were spread on the table and Di Jing could not help but feel surprised after reading them.

He did not expect Shangguan Yan to have another secret identity. The matter was truly beyond his expectation. As secret constables, their identities must be kept secret and only the Chief of the Dali Temple had the right to review their cases. With his identity as the Imperial Commissioner and the medal granted by the Emperor, he had to first obtain permission from the higher-ups before he could look through the documents on the case.

(Dali Temple is the modern-day Supreme Court.)

When he saw the document on the case regarding the Qin Family that happened two years ago, he stared at it and could not move his eyes away for a long time. His surprise turned to calmness and finally, his pair of sharp eyes narrowed.

It’s really her!

“Ha, ha……..”

The Imperial Commissioner who had always shown a serious and unsmiling expression suddenly laughed coldly. All the officials who heard him raised their eyes in amazement and wondered what was written in the document that made the Imperial Commissioner laughed.

Of course, Di Jing had to laugh because the unsolved case in his heart finally has an answer……..Ma’er is Shangguan Yan……..and Shangguan Yan is Ma’er……..

She is indeed capable! It turned out she is a secret constable and is good in business as well! Her skill in pretending to be stupid is first-class, well-concealed, and without flaws!

For two years, this woman lied to him and two years later, when they meet again, she still lied to him. In his life, he had never kept a woman in his heart for this long and he would always think of her in the dead of the night. He always wondered whether this sly and deceitful woman would also think of him as he does.

It turned out she is a secret constable. No wonder he could not find her.

The Daxing Dynasty has strict rules that the identities and whereabouts of secret constables are kept confidential. Even a first-ranked official is not allowed to investigate.

If he did not personally handle the grave robbery case this time and had the authority to access the information of all parties involved, he would never know of her true identity.

After a long hard search for her without reaping any results, he finally found her without any effort.

Di Jing smiled for a long time similar to the time taken to drink a cup of tea and it made the group of officials around him feel fearful. They did not know which case made the perpetually stern-looking Imperial Commissioner behave so abnormally.

Di Jing studied all the cases that Shangguan Yan handled throughout the years. He did not look at cases handled by others and only just concentrated on hers. His eyes were filled with burning light and he kept on looking at the documents until Guan Chao and the others returned.

“Reporting to Imperial Commissioner, Shangguan Yan is already brought back.”

In front of the subordinate, Di Jing resumed his stern expression. He closed the documents and ordered in a deep voice.

“Bring the person in……get the court ready for trial.”

Shangguan Yan was led into the court by the officers. She knelt on the ground with her head lowered and narrowing her eyes, she scanned the surrounding area to find that it was the Punishment Court. However, except for the officers, it was not opened to the public to watch.

This is not good! A private interrogation!

A while later, when the Imperial Commissioner arrived, two officers loudly announced his arrival, and their voices vibrated through the hall.

With her head lowered, Shangguan Yan waited for the Imperial Commissioner to speak. In the solemn atmosphere, the man’s stern and steady unhurried voice floated over.

“Who is kneeling in the hall?”

“Reporting to my Lord, this is Shangguan Yan, a commoner.”

“Shangguan Yan, do you recognize this jade flute?”

An officer holding a tray brought it in front of her. Shangguan Yan glanced at the jade flute on the tray and replied with her head bowed.

“I recognize it.”

“Retaining a stolen item from a grave robbery, do you know your crime?”

“Replying to my Lord, this commoner doesn’t know that this flute is a stolen item.”

It was all due to her carelessness. When she retained the jade flute, the thought that it might be stolen goods had indeed crossed her mind. Initially, she had thought a wealthy family might have lost it, and perhaps, there would be a reward for finding it, then she can return the flute and earn some reward. Unexpectedly, those two people turned out to be grave robbers and she had let others get a hold on her which is indeed a miscalculation on her part!

The Imperial Commissioner’s words had a trace of mockery. “You don’t know? Ma’er, raise your head.”

Ma’er?!

Shangguan Yan’s heart trembled. In this world, only a few people knew that she was Ma’er and a person’s face flashed in her mind. She slowly raised her head and when she saw the man sitting on the high seat above her, she could not help but scream in her heart.

Oh my God! Why is it him again? Di Jing!

This time she was truly shocked. She never expected him to be the Imperial Commissioner! And he even called her Ma’er? It’s over, over…….he recognized her!

Di Jing’s eyes were like eagles’ eyes as he locked his gaze tightly on her. He felt very satisfied to see her shocked expression and involuntarily, his eyes hid a smile. However, his face was still stern as he said solemnly in a deep voice. “As a secret constable, don’t you know that Guo Tiewang and Liu Shan were grave robbers who robbed the Tian Family’s grave?”

Shangguan Yan’s heart turned cold and was speechless for a long time.

This man is the high-ranking Imperial Commissioner and a high-ranked official can crush people to death! Moreover, he is several ranks higher than her! This time it’s going to be tragic for her!

“Constable Shangguan, what else do you have to say?” Di Jing looked at her as if he was staring at his prey.