Chapter 55

Yang Shouwen fell silent.

He didn't know how to evaluate the matter, and he had long been prepared for such an outcome, so he wasn't shocked.

Lu Yongcheng had been the chief clerk in Changping for twenty years!

In those twenty years, how many major changes had occurred in the imperial court, and how many people had lost their lives as a result? Although Changping was located in a remote area, the internal struggles were even more intense. Unlike the major changes in the imperial court, where the struggles, though fierce, were somewhat restrained due to people's status and positions, and at least appeared calm on the surface.

However, in local areas, especially at the county level, power struggles were always brutal, with everyone fighting bare-chested. While the methods of struggle in the local areas were not as varied as those in the imperial court, they were more direct and ruthless.

Lu Yongcheng became the chief clerk of Changping at the age of twenty-eight. Over the past twenty years, the county magistrate of Changping had changed more than a dozen times, and the county town had changed hands seven or eight times, but only Lu Yongcheng remained firmly in his position as chief clerk, unshaken by anyone.

Even Yang Chenglie had spent over a decade consolidating his power as the county military officer.

On the surface, he and Lu Yongcheng, one civil and one military, did not interfere with each other. In reality, there was no shortage of competition between them.

Such a person, skilled and adept at struggle, should not be imagined as an innocent lamb. When such a person gets serious, they can be truly terrifying. Therefore, when Yang Shouwen heard the news of Kou Bin and Lu Qing's deaths, he did not show any unusual reaction, and even felt that such an outcome was to be expected.

He let out a deep breath and smiled.

"Father, isn't this result quite normal? When Gai Jiayun mentioned these two names to me, I knew..."

"Damn old fox."

Yang Chenglie suddenly cursed, "Xizi, why can't you satisfy me a little?"

In other words, he was saying: Why are you so cool? Why don't you show some shock to satisfy my vanity?

Upon hearing this, Yang Shouwen immediately opened his mouth, widened his eyes, and put on a shocked expression.

"Kou Bin and Lu Qing are dead?"

"Get out of here!"

Yang Chenglie laughed and cursed, then picked up his wine bowl and took a big sip.

Yang Rui couldn't help but laugh out loud. He whispered, "On the way here, I bet with Father that Eldest Brother would be very surprised. Father said you wouldn't be surprised... It seems Father knows Eldest Brother well."

Today, Yang Rui seemed a bit off when he came to the mountain.

As soon as he said this, Yang Shouwen immediately felt a strong sense of disappointment.

Yang Chenglie glanced at Yang Rui but didn't respond.

He refilled his wine bowl and said softly, "I've been a county military officer for ten years, thinking it would be a peaceful and uneventful life. But I never expected... The situation this year is more dangerous and unpredictable than when Li Jinzhong invaded Youzhou two years ago. Especially these murders, they are all strange, and I feel uneasy."

"What did the county magistrate say?"

From Yang Chenglie's words, Yang Shouwen could sense his anxiety.

Yang Chenglie said, "The county magistrate thinks it should be left as it is... The deaths of Kou Bin and Lu Qing were clearly an accident."

"How could it be an accident?"

Yang Rui finally couldn't hold back and said excitedly, "Kou Bin was clearly murdered, and Lu Qing... They say he drowned after drinking, but how is that possible? I've heard that Lu Qing was skilled and had a good tolerance for alcohol. How could he drown?"

"If he didn't drown, who is the murderer?"

"It's clearly Lu Yongcheng..."

"Proof!" Yang Chenglie tapped the table and said sternly, "According to the Zhaichu Law, this is slander against a superior, punishable by exile."

"I..."

Yang Shouwen grabbed Yang Rui, gently patted his shoulder, and signaled him to calm down.

The Zhaichu Law was an amended version of the Zhenguan Law, which was promulgated in the eleventh year of Zhenguan. In later generations, this law, compiled by Changsun Wuji, underwent three revisions after Zhenguan, and is now known as the Zhaichu Law.

Yang Chenglie seemed upset and glared at Yang Rui, saying, "Lu Yongcheng is a ninth-rank chief clerk, and I am half a rank lower. If he says Lu Qing drowned, how can I find fault without evidence? He is my superior, and if I were to investigate the case, I couldn't avoid his eyes and wouldn't be able to find any results.

If the county magistrate were willing to investigate, I would have a reason.

But now, the county magistrate doesn't want to get involved and wants to keep things quiet. How can I, as a county military officer, take action?"

Yang Chenglie laughed bitterly.

"County military officer, county military officer... Just a peaceful county military officer for ten years. Do you really think I can control everything?"

Yang Rui lowered his head and didn't speak.

But Yang Shouwen could see a deep sense of frustration in his eyes.

This frustration was very familiar to Yang Shouwen.

In his previous life, when he first entered the workplace, he also encountered such a situation and felt frustrated. He later pursued the investigation on his own, but ended up bedridden for nearly ten years. Although the case was eventually solved and the criminal brought to justice, who remembered the young man who had sacrificed his best years for it?

On his sickbed, Yang Shouwen read many books and thought for many years.

He finally understood a phrase: "Man acts, heaven watches; it's not that there is no retribution, but the time has not yet come."

To understand the true meaning of this phrase, he...

Feeling the atmosphere becoming heavy, Yang Shouwen smiled and said, "Alright, let's stop talking about this. We won't mention it again."

"Right, let's not talk about it, let's not talk about it!"

Yang Chenglie's anger subsided, and he put on a smile.

Yang Shouwen continued to drink with him for a while. Seeing that Yang Chenglie was showing signs of fatigue, he bid farewell and left the meditation room.

Yang Rui followed behind him, silent.

The two came to the entrance of the Great Buddha Hall, where the moonlight shone on the square, giving it a cold and clear atmosphere.

It had rained during the day, making the air on the mountain especially fresh.

But after the rain, the temperature had dropped significantly, and a gust of wind made Yang Rui shiver.

Outside the meditation room, Bodhi and Wukong were lying on the porch.

In the kitchen, the Yang family was still busy, coming and going.

Qingnu wasn't feeling well, so she went to rest early with Songshi.

Only Youniang was sitting by the well, washing clothes. She didn't greet Yang Shouwen and Yang Rui when she saw them.

When Yang Chenglie wasn't around, Youniang was very casual.

But when Yang Chenglie was there, she paid attention to her manners.

The young girl, though not old, was very perceptive and knew when to be lively and when to be quiet.

"Second Brother, why aren't you talking?"

Yang Rui looked up, as if gathering his courage, and said, "Eldest Brother, should I resign and let you take over as the chief clerk?"

"Me?" Yang Shouwen shook his head vigorously.

"I don't want to suffer in the government office... Look at me, how carefree and happy I am now! Why should I go to the government office to suffer?"

"But..." Yang Rui looked very troubled, scratching his head, making his hair even messier. He said softly, "But I really feel so stupid! I was played by Gai Jiayun, but I thought he was afraid of me; today, when I went to the scene and saw Lu Qing's body, even I, a fool, could see that he didn't drown, but Father kept saying he drowned and chatted with Lu Yongcheng as if he saw nothing.

Eldest Brother, I'm really confused!

I used to think I was smart, even before you regained consciousness, I still thought so.

But..."

As he spoke, Yang Rui squatted down, hugging his head.

Yang Shouwen understood his feelings, a pain of being the only one awake in a world of drunkards.

To some extent, Yang Rui was still a righteous young man.

He just didn't fully understand the meaning of patience.

Patting Yang Rui's shoulder, Yang Shouwen sat down beside him.

"Second Brother, look at how beautiful the moonlight is. I like it, but I can't grasp it; close your eyes and feel the wind, how gentle, but I can't see it; smell the flowers, how wonderful, but I can't preserve it."

"Eldest Brother, what are you talking about?"

Yang Rui was confused by Yang Shouwen's words and turned to look at him in surprise.

Yang Shouwen smiled, "I'm talking nonsense."