TSLSILMH Ch 26

Chapter 26

 

In that moment, who among the onlookers could fail to recognize who this man was?

Though none had ever seen the young head of the Yu family nor knew precisely what sort of person he was, all understood at once.

Only this young master of the Yu family could possess such bearing and grace—truly worthy of that peach blossom poem.

Then, seeing Xie Shu and Yu Chuxi exchange a knowing smile, all understood without words. The crowd could not help reflecting on themselves: how could they have entertained such absurd notions just now—imagining that Xie Shu and Wei Qingtong had some lingering attachment?

Wei Qingtong was handsome, yes, but everyone was long accustomed to his looks. Besides, his temperament tended toward the dainty and demure—how could he compare to this Yu lord’s peerless beauty and noble poise?

Anyone, in such a choice, would know what to do!

Ximo came forward, heart settling. At last, the lord had arrived.

Head Constable Wang was stunned at first, then swiftly recovered, hurrying up to offer respectful greetings.

A moment ago, he had been unsure whom to assist—and what to do—but now the situation was clear.

Yu Chuxi was the legitimate young head of the Yu family. Family affairs of the Yu household must be handled by him.

Seeing Yu Chuxi arrive, the middle-aged man ought, by rights, to have felt glad—by plan, Yu Chuxi’s appearance was the final step. But the way events had unfolded bore no resemblance to the original scheme. Instead of triumph, he felt a growing panic.

Yet he knew he must complete this errand properly. Otherwise, given his master’s temper, he would suffer greatly upon returning.

Steadying his thoughts, he raised his voice to Yu Chuxi: “Young Master Yu, allow me to say this: your spouse took a piece of Yu family red agate and gave it to an outsider. Tell me—how should this matter be judged?”

Hearing this, the onlookers, though skeptical, grew keen to watch. They had heard this young head of the Yu family was sharp-tempered and intolerant of even a grain of sand in his eye. If he learned this, would he let it lie?

Some even thought, rather enviously, that while marrying into the Yu family had great advantages, what was the point if a man was constrained in everything?

Yet to everyone’s surprise, Yu Chuxi’s smile did not fade in the slightest. He only glanced at the middle-aged man, his expression then cooling: “No one knows my spouse better than I. There is no need for your prattle. As for the red agate—though it belongs to the Yu family, it has never been known to outsiders. Where did you hear of it? And where is your proof?”

The middle-aged man had never imagined Yu Chuxi would speak so.

Ordinary people, upon hearing such a report, would at least harbor suspicion. But Yu Chuxi, instead, so clearly shielded Xie Shu. What was going on?

As for the red agate—he had no way to produce it immediately. Flustered, he stammered, “It’s at the gambling house—how am I to bring it here now?”

Just then, a richly built elder came panting through the entrance. The crowd murmured: wasn’t this Second Master Yu, Yu Wanchun? Why had he come as well?

In truth, Yu Wanchun had followed alongside Yu Chuxi, but the latter had not allowed his carriage to proceed first, and he dared not have his sedan borne directly within. By the time he arrived, not only was he late, but the situation had wildly diverged from his expectations—his own man was now being pressed.

Yu Wanchun inwardly cursed the man’s incompetence. A plan so carefully woven—link by link—and in the end, needed his own hand to patch it!

Though he did not know exactly what had happened, the moment had come to lay all bare. He drew out the red agate from his breast and said, “No need to search—this gambling house red agate is in my possession. Were it not for the gambling house informing me that a private Yu family item had fallen into his hands, how would I know that Xie Shu, though outwardly the Yu family’s son-in-law, is in truth a treacherous ingrate? Chuxi, do you still not understand?”

An uproar swept the crowd. Who would have thought that such a drama would unfold?

So Yu Wanchun had a hand in this after all. Clearly, the waters of the Yu family ran deep. And to think that the ever-smiling Master Yu was not so simple.

As for the substance of Yu Wanchun’s words, their expressions did not change much—the situation had already become clear.

Yu Wanchun noticed that after his declaration, the onlookers merely watched, without the reaction he had hoped for.

At that moment, Xie Shu gave a faint smile, striking the final blow: “So then, Master Yu, you admit to having orchestrated all of this? You first slandered that the item pawned by Old Man Wei was counterfeit; then you sent gambling-house men to collect the debt and beat the Wei family—staging it all to frame me?”

Yu Wanchun had no time to argue before an officer who had just gone inside to check on Old Madam Wei came running out in haste: “Brother Wang, Old Madam Wei is dead!”

What!

What had been internal strife within the Yu family had now become a capital case—a homicide!

Wang Qiang’s face changed drastically. Ignoring the ruffians’ protests, he ordered them bound tightly, then looked uneasily toward Yu Wanchun.

Xie Shu could not help a sigh. When he had gone inside earlier, he had not clearly seen Old Madam Wei’s condition and had thought her merely unconscious. Had they arrived earlier, perhaps she could have been saved.

Yu Wanchun turned ashen. Never had he imagined things would come to this!

And just now Xie Shu had laid everything at his door. He hurried to protest: “Xie Shu, enough with the nonsense! This was the gambling-house men coming to extort—what has it to do with me?”

At this, even the ruffians balked. Without Master Yu’s orders, how would they have touched such a case?

Head Constable Wang’s brows knotted tighter. He knew some of the story. Whatever gifts Yu Wanchun had slipped him before were now useless.

Yet they still lacked ironclad proof.

Then, a frail voice spoke from behind: “Sir, I have something to say.”

All turned to see Wei Qingtong. Of course—he was directly involved and knew the truth.

His face was deathly pale, eyes swollen and red, as if from a desperate bout of weeping. Seeing this, Wang Qiang recalled his wretched father and now his mother’s death. His expression softened. “Speak.”

Wei Qingtong’s gaze swept the assembly, lingering for a heartbeat on Yu Chuxi.

So this was Yu Chuxi—so strikingly beautiful.

He possessed a grace and grandeur that Wei Qingtong would never have. No wonder Xie Shu had never mentioned him.

Then Wei Qingtong looked to Xie Shu.

He could indeed bind Xie Shu to him with an ambiguous stain. But he understood well that even if he did, the outcome would be no better than now.

There were not many choices left to him in life; he could not take the wrong step.

At last, he turned his eyes upon Yu Wanchun. For an instant, Yu Wanchun felt a jolt, as if a venomous snake had fixed him with its gaze.

Wei Qingtong spoke in a sorrowful voice: “That item in Master Yu’s hand—I have never seen it. Brother Xie did aid my family, but that was long ago. As for this morning—Second Master Yu came to our home. He threatened me, demanding I denounce Brother Xie. I did not understand and would not agree. Who knew he would summon a gang from the gambling house!”

There was no need to say more. The neighbors present provided corroboration: they had indeed seen a silk sedan that morning. From the description—who could it be but Yu Wanchun?

Yu Wanchun stood stupefied. He had never thought Wei Qingtong could be so shrewd!

Now, with witnesses aplenty and a clear link to Yu Wanchun, and seeing Yu Chuxi raise no objection, Wang Qiang ordered Yu Wanchun taken into custody to await further disposition.

He moved to summon more men to assist, then paused, turning to Wei Qingtong: “Your father is still at the gambling house. Do you wish to…”

Wei Qingtong shook his head. “My father indeed owes gambling debts. Now he has brought my mother to such an end. Even though he is my birth father, I still hope he receives some punishment. Only—my mother’s body is scarcely cold. I ask that everyone, for the sake of our neighborly ties, help me give her a proper burial.”

Hearing this, compassion spread among all. They had watched Wei Qingtong grow up. Unlike his disgraceful parents, he was obedient and sensible—who would not favor him? Now one parent was dead and the other imprisoned. Truth be told, he was freed of a burden.

As for his two good-for-nothing elder brothers, when the gambling-house thugs arrived today, Old Madam Wei shielded them so they could flee the city. Whether they would return, no one knew.

And so the neighbors contributed—some with money, some with labor.

Yu Chuxi lowered his gaze slightly, then said evenly: “Feng He, bring the silver.”

A grateful smile flickered on Wei Qingtong’s face, yet a heavy gloom settled over his heart. He could not say why. He had spoken thus, in part deliberately before Yu Chuxi, to obtain funds. Yet he felt no triumph at all…

At that moment, Xie Shu realized: so this was Wei Qingtong.

He pitied him, yes—but recalling all that had transpired, he knew that Wei Qingtong was far from as harmless as he appeared.

Still, he was young. In the future, there might be room to change. Let him not be bound by his circumstances.

After a moment’s thought, Xie Shu left him with a single line before departing: “To emerge unstained from the mire; to know cunning yet not employ it—there is no greater good.”

His tone was simple—less an admonition than an encouragement.

Hearing it, Wei Qingtong stared at him with a strange expression, until Xie Shu’s figure vanished from sight.

Slowly, he lowered his eyes, looked at his own palm, and tugged at the corner of his mouth without a sound.

With everything settled, Xie Shu felt at ease. Now that Yu Wanchun faced a capital charge—even if he was not the one who struck the fatal blow, he could not escape culpability—his carefully maintained reputation was ruined.

Henceforth, his lord would have no more scruples.

Realizing he had fallen a few steps behind without noticing, he hurried to his lord’s side.

Yet this time, his lord did not allow him to lend a hand into the carriage, mounting on his own. Xie Shu followed and slipped in after him.

No sooner had he sat than Yu Chuxi shot him a glare, then, still unsatisfied, curled his fist and gave him a light, playful punch.

Such a tap required no effort for Xie Shu to catch.

He cupped his lord’s fist against his own abdomen, and said gently, “My lord, what is it?”

FOOTNOTES

1. “To emerge unstained from the mire” – Allusion to the classical ideal of remaining pure amid corruption, often associated with the lotus metaphor; here paired with a moral stance against manipulative cleverness.

2. “Riding dragon son-in-law” (乘龍快婿) – An idiom praising a son-in-law of outstanding status; here used ironically in gossip.