Chapter 16: Striving for Recognition
Tonight, the entire Pingkang District was ablaze with lights.
The Golden Guards, the Martial Marquis, the magistrates of the two counties, and the Prefect of Jingzhao all mobilized fully for this case. From buyers to sellers, from roads to waterways, the long darkness finally welcomed the dawn.
Though Song Sanniang’s relationship with the county captain had turned cold over personal matters, she did not neglect her duties and continued to investigate clues alongside the county officials. From Pingkang District to the docks, they found breakthroughs that finally cracked the longstanding case of the missing girls.
Holding a torch, she watched with her own eyes as the madam of the brothel, Xiao Wu, and their accomplices were arrested and led away. The firelight shone brightly in her eyes, illuminating hope.
From afar came a commanding voice, clear and resolute: “Tonight, everyone entering and leaving Pingkang District is to be thoroughly inspected. Any suspicious persons must be captured and interrogated without fail! If any are let slip tonight, they will become the evil fish stirring up trouble tomorrow!”
The youthful, heroic tone echoed like a crystal-clear valley, familiar to Song Sanniang. Taking advantage of the bright torchlight, she immediately recognized the distinguished scion of the Liu family from Hedong. Smiling, she teased, “Young Master Liu, it must have been three years since we last met—when did you learn to walk on stilts?”
Liu Wenxu remained his usual gentle self: “Sanniang, I know you’re sharp-tongued; I could never win an argument with you since we met. Don’t say things I don’t understand just to laugh at me.”
“How could I be laughing at you? Two years ago you celebrated your success in the imperial exams, and now suddenly you’ve been promoted to Prefect of Jingzhao at just over twenty years old. Who in the capital can match your rise? If you weren’t walking on stilts, how else could your official career have taken such a leap?”
As she spoke, Song Sanniang gestured to mimic stilts, and Liu Wenxu smiled faintly. The two chatted happily.
“Sir, all the criminals have been accounted for. May I report—”
A clerk interrupted. Liu Wenxu bid farewell to Sanniang, and as his attendant led a swift horse forward for him to mount, his gaze suddenly fixed.
In the distance, in front of the Nanqu Gate residence, a shirtless ruffian swayed leisurely. His square face was stretched taut.
Faint letters were tattooed on his arm, but the dusk made them hard to discern. Liu Wenxu narrowed his eyes for a closer look.
Many cared for him deeply, but this was the first time he had seen someone inscribe him on their body.
“Dogtooth—” Liu Wenxu casually grabbed the attendant’s large ear, grinning reluctantly, “Is it because I’m too diligent that you slack off behind my back?”
Dogtooth smiled sheepishly, revealing two rows of sharp, wolf-like teeth. “In all of Jingzhao Prefecture, you’re clearly number one in diligence, and I dare say I’m number two!”
His lord sighed: “Dogtooth, that character is pronounced jīng.”
Dogtooth confidently raised his tone: “Right, I work hard and rank second in Jingjing!”
“...”
“Since you can read so well, why don’t you read aloud what’s tattooed on that square-faced man’s arm?”
Following his master’s finger, Dogtooth carefully enunciated: “Fearless in life, Prefect of Jingzhao; fearless in death... Lord of the Underworld.”
Liu Wenxu asked, “Did you read it clearly?”
Dogtooth proudly answered, “Clear as day, and I even learned a new poem.”
“...”
Such a foolish servant tested Liu Wenxu’s patience. He dismounted immediately and strode swiftly, like an eagle catching a chick, dragging the ruffian before Dogtooth.
Like catching a thief with the goods, he reprimanded loudly: “A lawless scoundrel roaming under our noses, swaggering out from the crime scene? Dogtooth, are you saying all suspects are accounted for?”
“That man is a righteous fellow!” Dogtooth protested.
Liu Wenxu straightened his back: “Oh? Did he catch the king of thieves and suppress rebellion?”
“Indeed—”
“When you were ambushing the pickpockets at the docks, he caught the madam and handed her to me. We have no reason to arrest him.”
The tattooed man, having narrowly escaped death, finally realized the master’s prophecy. At this moment, he wished he could appear before Song Ruozhao and kowtow three times in gratitude.
---
After a chaotic night, the gentle evening breeze softly blew, dispersing the thick clouds in the moonlight.
Dawn broke.
Dogtooth brought breakfast to his master: coriander and celery tea, and coriander and celery pancakes.
Liu Wenxu bent over his desk, carefully reviewing the detainees’ confessions from the previous night. He also took out torn cloth fragments from a bell and pieced them together according to the pattern.
It was the embroidery of a cotton tree flower.
He examined the cloth repeatedly, muttering, “It doesn’t match... why doesn’t it match?”
Dogtooth looked puzzled: “Master, it matches. Isn’t it just a cotton tree flower pattern?”
Taking a sip of hot tea and chewing the crisp, spicy celery, Liu Wenxu patiently said, “I mean the testimonies don’t match the evidence.”
The madam claimed she was captured by Song Ji.
The group of girls unanimously said Song Ji was their savior.
Xiao Wu wailed like a banshee, lamenting that the beauty the madam had prepared for him somehow turned into a young lord.
Dogtooth grew even more confused: “Master, doesn’t that match even better?”
His lord pointed out: “Can you connect these three things—‘fragrant silk skirts, cotton tree flower embroidery, and the rustic Song Ji’?”
“Well, they do seem incongruous.”
His keen gaze scanned the embroidered fabric. “Last night’s rescue was so smooth, there must be a third party involved.”
“Send someone to invite Song Ji, Sixth Young Master of the Song family, to Jingzhao Prefecture for tea.”
Dogtooth was distracted, only wanting to chase debts.
At the crowing of the rooster, Song Ruozhao woke with a start from a nightmare in which a creditor was chasing her for ten wen.
She looked at the three people standing before her: the Emperor, Princess Xian’an, and the young prince.
Not family, not under one roof.
There were many live-in sons-in-law, but never one who brought along his whole family.
The system only mentioned saving the Emperor, not raising the Emperor’s entire household!
Princess Xian’an, having learned the truth, covered her mouth to laugh secretly. Since Empress Zhaode’s death, her father had remarried, no wonder he was content to stay in this humble corner and refuse to return to the capital.
Xian’an spoke first, intent on hiding her identity: “Sister, my name is Jing Qi. How do your family members address each other?”
The man in formal attire blurted out at lightning speed: “I am her husband!”
Mr. Shen deliberately raised his hand high: “I am the legitimate wife!”
Moyu Er fluttered proudly: “I am the favored concubine!”
Upon hearing this, a certain shrimp jumped up and perched on Bird’s neck, declaring: “You punk, I am the favorite; you’re just the driver!”
Song Ruozhao was speechless.
Why were they all fighting for status?
At the corner of the table, the little treasure focused on his meal, then struggled to stand, wobbling as he said, “I am Xiao Bao!”
The 2G network was indeed slow.
“Second Sister! Trouble—”
Like a bolt of lightning, Song’s little brother burst in wearing a white demon costume, wings fluttering in the wind.
A foul stench, like chicken feathers, filled the air.
The smell arrived before he did.
“I must declare in advance, this is not chicken feathers I’m wearing, but crane feathers!” he solemnly insisted.
After sitting, he began the serious matter: “Second Sister! Listen to this injustice—”
“Where did that servant come from, saying he was sent by Dogtooth to collect my debt? Naming me directly, claiming I owe their boss ten wen?”
Song Ji grumbled, annoyed at himself: “I wish I only owed ten wen!”
Everyone present was speechless.
“I owe Iron Fist fifty strings of cash, Wild Dragon ten, Blade Overlord five hundred, and I can’t even count what I owe Jiuyou. How could I owe him just ten wen?”
“Who’s Dogtooth? Never heard of him!”
He had only just begun to vent his grievances, but already everyone was splattered with his spittle.
“I could jump into the Yellow River and still not explain it! Second Sister, guess how he says I owe these ten wen?”
Song Ruozhao narrowed her eyes: “He says you owed it while visiting brothels?”
Smack!
He slammed his palm on the table and stood up angrily. “That’s what’s infuriating me! I may gamble on cockfights and dogs and have bad luck, but I’ve never dabbled in pleasure-seeking! I know every beast clearly, but I don’t know a single lady!”
“Second Sister, guess what he said he’d do if I refused to pay?”
Song Ruozhao said softly: “He spread rumors throughout Chang’an that you have a hidden illness.”
“It’s more unjust than Dou E’s case!” Song Ji’s veins bulged. “It’s bad enough to owe money for no reason, but now they slander me as impotent?”
“Wait, Second Sister, how did you know?”
She looked suspicious: “Weren’t you the one who asked me to guess?”
Half-believing, half-doubting, Song Ji was amazed at how accurate her guess was, as if she were the one involved.
A maid came in with a message: “Sixth Young Master, Jingzhao Prefecture has sent someone to invite you for tea.”
Song Ji cursed: “Damn it! To slander me like this and still dare to report to the authorities?”
The maid looked puzzled: “But the official said you rescued the abducted girls last night and made a first-class merit, so they invited you for tea.”
Another thunderclap struck inexplicably. Song Ji doubted himself and asked again, “Who rescued the abducted girls?”
The maid was twice as confused: “Sixth Young Master, you did!”
Song Ji felt his soul leaving his body: “What’s wrong with me?”
“You saved the abducted girls and made merit—”
In an instant, his fate swung from hell to heaven. Song Ji’s wandering soul murmured, “Oh, I’m still not awake. Where’s my pillow?”