Judge of the Song Dynasty

After dinner, Zhang Fei went back to his room to rest. Despite his youth, he couldn’t take it anymore. Even if a stunningly beautiful woman were lying in his bed, he would still be too exhausted to respond.

The past few days had been overwhelming. There was the auction, the kidnapping, entertaining guests all day, and then constantly thinking about how to handle the lawsuit.

His nerves had been taut the entire time.

He fell asleep the moment he lay down on the bed.

It wasn’t until the next afternoon that he slowly woke up.

“Brother San, the water is ready. Would you like to take a bath first?” Li Si called from outside the door.

Zhang Fei felt sticky all over. Yesterday, he had only managed a quick wash. He praised, “Li Si, you are getting smarter.”

Li Si said, “The Madam asked me to prepare it.”

Zhang Fei was taken aback and muttered to himself, “In this era without computers and phones, it’s indeed necessary to have a woman at home!”

After soaking in a hot bath, he felt much better and immediately seemed more energetic. “Brother San! The food is heated and ready,” Li Si ran over.

Zhang Fei asked, “Did the Madam arrange this too?”

Li Si nodded.

Zhang Fei chuckled, “It’s true that when you lose something in the East, you gain something in the West!”

Initially, Zhang Fei was willing to buy Gao Wenyin because Cao Dongdong was paying, not him. Who wouldn’t take a free offer? Even if her looks and figure weren’t as good as Gao Wenyin’s, he would still have wanted her. He was just after her body, but this small wish hadn’t come true.

This left him very frustrated.

However, now it seemed that although he didn’t gain physical pleasure, he received spiritual comfort.

Gao Wenyin’s attitude and performance made the house feel like a home.

This was very important to Zhang Fei.

After all, coming to this era had made him feel like a rootless duckweed. Even though he had moved to a new house, it still felt like living in a hotel.

Zhang Fei asked, “Where is the Madam now?”

Li Si whispered, “Brother Feng is here. They are talking in the side room.”

Zhang Fei frowned, “Didn’t we agree he would come tomorrow?”

Just after breakfast, Feng Nanxi arrived at the main hall.

“Arriving early is also a form of being late, and I hate lateness the most, especially when it affects our safety,” Zhang Fei said bluntly.

Feng Nanxi quickly clasped his fists, “I apologize! It’s my fault. But my two brothers were making a lot of noise, so I had no choice but to come a day early.”

Zhang Fei frowned, “I hate making excuses for mistakes more than not being punctual. Your brothers making noise means they can implicate me?”

“I’m sorry! I really didn’t think it through. I deeply apologize! Please forgive me,” Feng Nanxi had nothing more to say but kept apologizing.

If someone helps you, don’t make trouble for them. Isn’t that just asking for scolding?

Zhang Fei said, “This shall be the only time.”

“Yes!”

Feng Nanxi quickly nodded, “It won’t happen again.”

Zhang Fei looked at Feng Nanxi, thinking that although these people had many faults, they valued feelings and loyalty, and were skilled, which was exactly what he needed. He suddenly asked, “You’ve already met Lady Gao?”

Feng Nanxi nodded.

Zhang Fei said, “Then she should have told you who lives next door to me.”

Feng Nanxi nodded excitedly, “If Chief Judge Xu is willing to help, our grievances will be cleared soon.”

For people like them, having the Court of Judicial Review as a backer was unimaginable!

Zhang Fei smiled and asked, “Then what are you worried about?”

“We always believed you would clear our names,” Feng Nanxi said.

Then, after a pause, he continued, “If you win the lawsuit and prove our innocence, our confiscated property should be returned to us, right?”

Zhang Fei nodded, “Of course.”

Feng Nanxi said, “Then my sister-in-law shouldn’t have been sold, and the court should return the fifteen hundred strings of cash to you.”

Zhang Fei frowned, “What? Do you think I would use such despicable means to force Lady Gao?”

Feng Nanxi quickly said, “I never thought that.”

Zhang Fei asked out of the blue, “We have never met. Why do you trust me?”

Feng Nanxi said, “Because I have heard of your reputation and know you have cleared many wrongful accusations and sought justice for people.”

Zhang Fei asked, “Is that all?”

Feng Nanxi hesitated for a moment, “Also, my sister-in-law was intent on dying. I wanted to use this to stop her from seeking death.”

Zhang Fei said, “That is my intention too.”

Feng Nanxi looked puzzled at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei said, “I just want to use her gratitude and guilt to stop her from seeking death. Once I clear your names, she can leave anytime, and I won’t stop her. I don’t want her to die in my house.”

Feng Nanxi was both moved and ashamed, feeling he had judged a nobleman with a petty heart. He immediately clasped his fists, “Benefactor, I will never forget your great kindness. If you need anything in the future, just command me.”

“Enough of that.”

Zhang Fei raised his hand, “Alright, stay here and do what you can. I have to go out for a bit.”

…

Zhang Fei didn’t take Li Si with him this time because he was just going next door.

“Newlyweds are usually inseparable. How do you have time to visit me?” Xu Zhiqian teased upon seeing Zhang Fei.

This girl was getting bolder; it’s time to teach her a lesson. So Zhang Fei blinked at Xu Zhiqian.

Xu Zhiqian was taken aback, “What do you mean?”

Zhang Fei said with affection, “Don’t you understand my heart, Lady Xu?”

Xu Zhiqian blushed and spat, “You rogue, stop talking nonsense.”

Zhang Fei scoffed, “You can set a fire but don’t allow me to light a lamp. If you keep making trouble, I’ll make sure you can’t get married.”

Xu Zhiqian was genuinely scared, “What do you want?”

Zhang Fei said, “Work, of course. Did you really think I came here to talk about love?”

“You keep talking nonsense.”

Xu Zhiqian glared at him, then quickly changed the topic, “Have you decided?”

“Not yet!”

Zhang Fei shook his head, “I came to borrow some documents and records.”

Xu Zhiqian asked, “What kind of records?”

Zhang Fei said, “Those that relate to the First Emperor and the Second Emperor.”[1]

Xu Zhiqian was shocked, “What? You want records of the First Emperor and the Second Emperor? Aren’t you handling a lawsuit?”

Zhang Fei said, “Yes, it’s for the lawsuit. I can’t explain now; I need to verify something first.”

Suing the court, involving the First Emperor and the Second Emperor? What are you planning? Xu Zhiqian was worried, “These…these documents, you need to ask my father.”

They went to find Xu Zun.

Xu Zun first gave Zhang Fei some books about the First and Second Emperors, mainly about the policies they issued. He also told Zhang Fei everything he knew.

After talking with Xu Zun, Zhang Fei returned home with the documents and studied them for an entire day. Updates are released by NoveIꜰire.net

In the morning, at the Wang residence.

“Brother San, we’ve been standing here for half an hour,” Li Si cautiously reminded Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei was surprised, “That long?”

“Yes.”

Li Si nodded.

Zhang Fei looked at Li Si, then at the large door of the Wang residence, and sighed, “Once we go through this door, there’s no turning back. We must follow this path to the end.”

Li Si didn’t understand, “Brother San, if it’s that scary, let’s not go in.”

Zhang Fei sighed, “We have to go in. It’s just earlier than I expected. Let’s go!”

Knock, knock, knock!

With a creak, a doorman peeked out, “Who are you?”

Zhang Fei said, “I am Zhang Fei. I am here to see Academician Wang.”

“Wait a moment.”

The doorman closed the door.

After a while, the doorman opened the door and led Zhang Fei inside.

Entering, they first met Madam Wang. Zhang Fei had made a good impression on her. She welcomed him warmly, “Zhang San, you are quite the hidden talent. Your poem, ‘Thinner than the yellow flowers,’ has made our Academician Wang feel inadequate!”

That poem had become famous in the literary circles of the capital. Madam Wang herself had written it down.

“Please, I am not worthy,” Zhang Fei said humbly, “If compared to Academician Wang, I am like a firefly compared to the moon.”

Wang Anshi walked out, coughing, “Did you really write that poem?”

He felt embarrassed because his poetry was not as good as his essays, and certainly not as good as Li Qingzhao’s poetry.

Li Qingzhao had even mocked that reading Wang Anshi’s poetry made her stomach hurt from laughing.

Zhang Fei nodded, “Yes.”

Wang Anshi said, “It clearly has a woman’s touch.”

Zhang Fei said, “But who could I have copied from?”

Madam Wang smiled, “Indeed. Nowadays, I don’t think any woman could write such a perfect poem.”

She was a famous talent herself and hadn’t seen any woman capable of such poetry.

Wang Anshi glanced at his wife, feeling puzzled. What spell did this kid cast on my wife? He grumbled, “You can’t even write your own essays; how could you write such a poem?”

Zhang Fei chuckled, “It was true love that inspired me. It triggered my creativity and resulted in an extraordinary poem.”

Madam Wang laughed, “I didn’t expect Zhang San to be such a romantic.”

Zhang Fei laughed, “You flatter me.”

Wang Anshi couldn’t stand this guy anymore, “You’re newly married. Why are you here?”

Wow…he sounded just like Xu Zhiqian. Zhang Fei’s expression changed, and he said mischievously, “A big case.”

“A big case?” Wang Anshi was puzzled.

Madam Wang tactfully said, “Husband, you and Zhang San talk. I will have some tea and snacks prepared.”

“Thank you, Madam Wang.”

After Madam Wang left, Wang Anshi asked again, “Did you really write that poem?”

Zhang Fei was almost in tears, “Even if I deny it, no one will believe me!”

“What nonsense!”

Wang Anshi snorted, thinking, I believe you! Then he asked, “What big case?”

Zhang Fei told Wang Anshi about the Shi brothers’ case.

After hearing it, Wang Anshi was furious, “Unbelievable! How could they commit such heinous acts…”

He had always hated such things, seeing too much of it, which strengthened his resolve to reform the system.

After venting his anger, Wang Anshi asked, “You should go to Kaifeng Prefectural Office or ask for help from the Court of Judicial Review. Why come to me?”

He had only returned to the imperial court for a year and wasn’t yet a chancellor, and this wasn’t within his jurisdiction.

Previously, Zhang Fei always went directly to Kaifeng Prefecture.

Zhang Fei said, “To be honest, I have discussed this with my benefactor. This case is not easy to investigate. It’s not my expertise, and I can’t control what the outcome will be.”

Wang Anshi understood the complexity, as such happenings were as common as high-interest loans, “What do you plan to do?”

Zhang Fei said, “I plan to sue the imperial court for the Corvee Labor Law.”

“Sue the court?”

Wang Anshi was shocked.

He considered himself rebellious, but compared to Zhang Fei, he suddenly felt obedient.

Wait! Sue for the Corvee Labor Law? Wang Anshi suddenly became alert and sat next to Zhang Fei, asking, “Suing the imperial court is unheard of. How do you plan to do it?”

Zhang Fei slowly held his breath.

[1] The original text refers to the Emperors’ temple names, but I will be referring to them simply as the First and Second Emperor. The Second Emperor was actually the First Emperor’s younger brother, and both of them did much to set up the Song dynasty system.