Judge of the Song Dynasty

The early autumn evening breeze inadvertently swept away the last trace of late summer’s sweltering heat, bringing with it a touch of refreshing coolness and comfort.

But not everyone could leisurely enjoy all of this.

Zhang Fei, who had been stubborn all day, returned home and took a good bath, only to suddenly feel as if his feet were filled with lead. Every step he took felt both heavy and as if he were stepping on nails.

“Ouch! Oh oh oh… ah damn it… hiss…”

“Oh my! Zhang San, what’s wrong with you?”

Gao Wenyin, who had just walked over, saw Zhang Fei leaning against the door frame, writhing at the entrance, and couldn’t help but be greatly alarmed.

“Wife, quick… quickly come help me.”

“Oh.”

Gao Wenyin hurried over.

Zhang Fei didn’t stand on ceremony and pulled her over in one motion, leaning his entire body against her. Gao Wenyin wasn’t unfamiliar with being held by him, but she had never been embraced so tightly. Her face flushed red, but she didn’t say anything and instead wrapped one arm around Zhang Fei’s waist, helping him into the room.

He lay down on the couch and lifted both feet.

“Oh my! Your feet!”

Gao Wenyin immediately cried out in alarm.

Zhang Fei was also startled by her reaction. “What’s wrong with my feet?”

Gao Wenyin said, “You have several large blisters.”

Zhang Fei groaned, “No wonder they hurt so much.”

“Wait a moment.”

Gao Wenyin quickly got up and left the room. After a while, she returned, now carrying a small needle kit and a bottle of ointment.

Zhang Fei exclaimed, “What are you going to do?”

Gao Wenyin said, “I’ll help you lance these blisters.”

“Ah?”

Zhang Fei asked, “Will it hurt a lot?”

Gao Wenyin said, “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt much. After lancing them and applying some ointment, they’ll heal quickly.”

“Oh.”

Zhang Fei nodded.

Gao Wenyin even professionally brought over a candlestick and heated the fine needle over the flame.

So scientific? Even sterilizing it.

Zhang Fei felt nervous just watching.

But Gao Wenyin appeared extremely professional. After heating it for a moment, she lowered her head, held the fine needle, and slowly moved it toward the sole of Zhang Fei’s right foot.

Before she had even pricked him, Zhang Fei’s entire body was already tense. Just watching made him panic, and he nervously squinted his eyes.

Suddenly, a patch of snow-white cleavage reflected a ray of spring light.

Wow… Zhang Fei’s eyes widened, and his gaze gradually became somewhat fixed.

Gao Wenyin was concentrating on lancing Zhang Fei’s blisters, completely unaware that her spring scenery was exposed.

“Zhang San, don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt much.”

“Oh, take your time with the pricking, I’m not in a hurry. Ah!”

Zhang Fei let out a moan.

Huh? How did a stick suddenly appear in the middle? It really spoiled the scenery. Zhang Fei tilted his head slightly.

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

“Phew, all done. Oh my!”

Gao Wenyin suddenly cried out and quickly stood up.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

Zhang Fei was completely startled.

Gao Wenyin covered her neckline with one hand, turned her face away, and said, “It’s all bandaged up, Zhang San. You should rest early.”

She hurriedly left.

“What did I do? Why did she…”

Zhang Fei looked down and suddenly his eyes widened. “Buddy, when did you wake up? You could have given me a heads up.”

He pressed down hard on it, then said with slight regret, “This wife is really something. She could have squeezed this area too while she was at it. Maybe I should go inspect Zhiqian’s place now. We agreed during the day. Forget it, my legs can’t exert force today. But my wife’s medical skills are really good – it didn’t hurt at all, I felt nothing.”

The next morning, Gao Wenyin came to Zhang Fei’s bedroom as usual, helping him comb his hair and dress, except today her face bore a trace of bashful blush.

“I never expected my wife’s medical skills to be so brilliant. Yesterday I felt no pain at all throughout the day.”

Zhang Fei sat before the bronze mirror, smiling cheerfully.

Your mind was full of improper thoughts, so how could you feel pain? Gao Wenyin glanced at Zhang Fei with resentment, but still asked with concern, “Do you still feel pain?”

Zhang Fei said, “I’m fine now.”

Gao Wenyin asked again, “Will you still go today?”

“Of course!”

Zhang Fei said, “Why wouldn’t I go? A young person walking just a few steps and getting foot blisters – this clearly shows I still lack exercise. It’s a perfect opportunity to train my body.”

Gao Wenyin paused slightly, then nodded with a smile.

She was naturally rather pessimistic, but Zhang Fei’s innate optimism infected her as well, preventing her from overthinking things.

She feared Zhang Fei might not return once he left.

After finishing combing her hair, Gao Wenyin retrieved the freshly dried uniform and helped Zhang Fei put it on.

“There, all done.”

“We’re still missing one thing.”

“Missing what?”

Gao Wenyin looked at Zhang Fei curiously.

“An encouraging hug, of course.”

Without waiting for Gao Wenyin to react, Zhang Fei gently embraced her, then waved goodbye saying, “Wife, I’m heading out.”

Only after that rascal had already left through the door did Gao Wenyin shyly roll her eyes at him.

“You really are such a strange person.”

Xu Zhiqian was being pulled along by her hand by Zhang Fei, but her face was full of resentment as she pouted. “Usually when things happen, we all think you should be restrained, but you keep pressing aggressively. Now when we all think you’ve been wronged, you show no resentment at all.”

Zhang Fei said with casual indifference, “Buddha said, ‘If I don’t enter hell, who will?’ Without knowing the people’s suffering, how can one draft complete laws? Look at that Remonstrator Fan – when he’s ganged up on by that group of pen-in-caps at the Bureau of Records, he has no power to fight back, precisely because he doesn’t understand worldly affairs.”

Xu Zhiqian looked at him with surprise: “When did you become so noble?”

Zhang Fei chuckled, “It’s all from your influence.”

Xu Zhiqian smiled shyly – she quite enjoyed hearing that.

Seeing her radiant smile, Zhang Fei’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but lower his head to kiss her red lips, laughing, “Alright, I’m off to work.”

Xu Zhiqian nodded shyly, “I’ll come pick you up this afternoon.”

She was just like a newlywed little wife.

“Huh? Old Tao, why are you standing here shivering?”

Just arriving at headquarters, he saw Tao Yonghan standing at the entrance, trembling.

Tao Yonghan stamped his feet anxiously: “Brother San, we’re in big trouble.”

Zhang Fei asked curiously, “What trouble?”

Tao Yonghan said, “A new superior came here today.”

Zhang Fei asked curiously, “A new superior? Who?”

“Just – oh, you’ll know when you go in and see.”

Zhang Fei wasn’t one to be afraid, so he walked in. But he saw not a single muscle-bound man in the courtyard. Before he could react, he heard an excited shout.

“Brother San!”

Zhang Fei looked up and saw Ma Xiaoyi running out from inside the building. “Little Ma, what are you doing here?”

“I came with big brother.”

“Huh? Little Ma, why are you dressed the same as me?”

“Big brother gave it to me.”

“Young Master?”

“Ahem!”

Hearing two coughs, a young official dressed in government robes walked out.

Zhang Fei looked closely and exclaimed in surprise, “Young Master!”

It was none other than Cao Dongdong.

Cao Dongdong held his head high and said, “You little clerk, you really don’t understand proper etiquette. Please address me as Inspector Cao.”

“Inspector Cao?”

Zhang Fei was stunned.

Ma Xiaoyi said excitedly, “Big brother is now a Four-Direction Inspector, specifically managing this district.”

Zhang Fei asked in delighted surprise, “Really?”

Cao Dongdong said, “Are you blind? Can’t you see these official robes I’m wearing?”

His father was the Deputy Commander of the Infantry, controlling more than half of the military patrol posts, and he himself was imperial nobility – becoming an official was just a matter of minutes, it only depended on whether he was willing.

A minor Four-Direction Inspector position was easily within reach.

“This is really wonderful!” Zhang Fei’s eyes lit up as he said excitedly, “I was just short of help.”

“Get lost!”

Cao Dongdong waved his hand dismissively, “Stop trying to get close to me. I barely know you – we’re just casual acquaintances. Now go shovel manure for me.”

Zhang Fei asked in surprise, “Young Master, what are you doing?”

Cao Dongdong snorted, “You were quite arrogant yesterday when you fined me money. Didn’t expect this, did you? Hehe, today you’re finished.”

Zhang Fei suddenly realized, “So Young Master parachuted in here just for this matter.”

“Parachuted?”

Cao Dongdong’s eyes flashed quickly, “I like that term. Parachuted, yes, I parachuted into this office specifically for revenge.”

“Young Master, you’re really—”

“Old Tao!”

Cao Dongdong shouted at the top of his voice.

“Coming!”

Tao Yonghan rushed in hurriedly, not daring to breathe heavily as he asked, “What orders does Inspector Cao have?”

Cao Dongdong said, “Why aren’t you taking your men out to patrol the streets?”

“You—”

“Zhang San, don’t say anything more. Let’s go quickly.”

Tao Yonghan didn’t dare contradict Cao Dongdong and hurriedly pulled Zhang Fei away.

After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Zhang Fei shouldered a manure shovel and followed Tao Yonghan, who was pushing a small cart, out of headquarters. Behind them, Cao Dongdong rode a tall horse, grinning so widely he couldn’t close his mouth.

He had always wanted to make Zhang Fei his subordinate, and now he had finally gotten his wish.

“Why is there so much manure?”

But just after leaving headquarters, Tao Yonghan suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring dumbfounded at the ground covered with cow dung, horse dung, and donkey dung.

Zhang Fei spun around sharply and glared angrily at Cao Dongdong.

Ma Xiaoyi also looked at Cao Dongdong: “Brother, did you do this?”

Cao Dongdong hastily defended himself: “This has nothing to do with me. I’m not that bored.”

Tao Yonghan said, “This manure looks like someone dumped it here.”

Cao Dongdong immediately said, “Old Tao, how dare you slander this young master!”

Tao Yonghan hurriedly replied, “This humble one wouldn’t dare, this humble one was just—”

Just then, someone suddenly spoke: “Oh! The great pen-in-cap Zhang is out shoveling manure again.”

Zhang Fei turned his head and saw several young gentlemen approaching. The leader was none other than Gu Shaoqing, the main character from yesterday’s traffic incident.

Zhang Fei frowned and smiled: “Young Master Gu, did you win yesterday’s lawsuit?”

A flash of venomous hatred crossed Gu Shaoqing’s eyes, but he smiled as he spoke: “What does it matter if I lost? In a few days, that servant will probably only be able to keep you company, coming here to shovel manure.”

“Haha!”

A gentleman beside him laughed: “A mere delivery boy who offended our Brother Gu—who in this capital would dare employ him now?”

Cao Dongdong on horseback finally understood what was happening. He immediately dismounted, holding his riding whip and pointing it at Gu Shaoqing: “You did this?”

Gu Shaoqing smiled: “Young Master, you must have evidence when you speak. Which of your eyes saw me do it?”

Cao Dongdong flew into a rage: “My word is evidence! I’ll have you whipped a hundred times and see if you confess. Men, seize them!”

“Yes!”

Ma Xiaoyi immediately became eager to act.

Gu Shaoqing looked somewhat panicked and hurriedly said: “Young Master Cao, you have no proof or evidence. If you dare touch us, my grandfather will never let you off!”

“Wait.”

Zhang Fei also quickly walked over and said: “Young Master, don’t fall for their trap. They’re deliberately trying to provoke you.”

Cao Dongdong snorted: “Then I will give them what they want. Stand aside and don’t obstruct my authority.”

In the world of spoiled rich kids, this fellow had never submitted to anyone.

Zhang Fei gave Cao Dongdong a meaningful look and whispered: “You are wearing official robes now. If something happens, it will cause a commotion in the imperial court.”

Cao Dongdong looked at his official robes, frowned, but was still somewhat unwilling: “But I cannot swallow this insult.”

Zhang Fei said: “Don’t pay attention to them for now. We’ll talk about it later.”

Cao Dongdong saw that he seemed to have a plan, so he nodded.

Zhang Fei picked up the manure shovel and began cleaning up the dung.

When Gu Shaoqing and his group saw that Cao Dongdong didn’t dare act, they became emboldened. They stood to the side, mockingly ridiculing Zhang Fei and even calling passersby over to watch the spectacle.

This infuriated Cao Dongdong so much that he simply left—he couldn’t afford to lose face like this. Ma Xiaoyi was quite loyal though, staying behind to help Zhang Fei shovel manure.

This sharp-tongued pen-in-cap Zhang actually wouldn’t talk back—how boring this was.

Gu Shaoqing couldn’t help but say to his companions: “Miscalculation! What a miscalculation! For lowly people to do lowly work is only natural. What’s there to mock about that?”

Having said this, he left with his pack of friends.

After they left, Ma Xiaoyi said: “Brother San, can you really swallow this insult?”

Zhang Fei smiled: “To tell you the truth, I should actually thank him.”

Ma Xiaoyi asked in surprise: “Why?”

Zhang Fei said: “Because he gave me an inspiration.”

“What inspiration?”

“I’ll tell you later. Let’s finish this work first.”

After cleaning up, Zhang Fei and Ma Xiaoyi returned to headquarters.

When Cao Dongdong saw Zhang Fei, his anger flared up immediately. “Zhang San, I really misjudged you. I never expected you to be so weak. Hmph.”

Zhang Fei smiled and said: “Young master, please don’t be angry. I will definitely make them pay for what happened today. Not only that, I’ll also help you achieve great merit, so much so that even Empress Dowager Cao will look upon you with new respect.”

Cao Dongdong’s spirits lifted. “Really?”

Zhang Fei said: “Absolutely. I want to make you the number one patrol inspector in the capital.”

Ma Xiaoyi was also extremely excited upon hearing this: “Brother San, what do you plan to do?”

Zhang Fei chuckled: “Give them a taste of their own medicine.”

The next day.

Gu Ji emerged from his mansion gate, where a servant stood waiting beside the carriage. “Master, please board the carriage.”

“The weather is nice today, so I won’t take the carriage.”

Gu Ji waved his hand and walked forward, but before he had taken two steps, he suddenly felt his foot slip. Looking down, he immediately felt disgusted and couldn’t help cursing: “Which beast dared to defecate near my home?”

Several servants quickly came over and carried Gu Ji back inside.

At the Wang residence.

“Be careful on the road.”

“I know, please don’t see me off.”

After bidding farewell to his wife, Wang Anshi headed toward the Imperial City, but after just a few steps, he suddenly felt his foot sink into something soft. Looking down, he couldn’t help but laugh: “Am I going to have great luck today?”

He looked left and right, and seeing no one around, he hopped on one foot to the roadside and frantically rubbed his shoe in the grass.

At the Sima residence.

Knock knock knock!

The door opened.

“Husband, why have you returned? Did you forget something?”

Madam Sima looked at Sima Guang with some puzzlement.

Sima Guang pointed to his right foot. “I had bad luck today—stepped in manure as soon as I left the house.”

Madam Sima glanced down and instinctively covered her nose in disgust, then helped Sima Guang inside.