Chapter 125: A Pie Falling from the Sky

Magistrate Gao was struck with utter astonishment. Was this not the very case that had been haunting the capital of Luojing for days? Furthermore, Magistrate Lu had been working tirelessly to get to the bottom of this exact matter. How had the culprit ended up at his own doorstep? He was truly shaken.

"Who are you two?"

"My lord, this man is the mastermind behind the theft. I was staying at the inn when I overheard his henchmen discussing how to dispose of the silver..."

It was a stroke of incredible luck. To have stumbled upon such a major case was serendipitous indeed. Magistrate Gao immediately reported the matter to the Emperor. Because he had successfully cracked the case, he even earned the Emperor’s praise and an extraordinary promotion in rank.

However, Prince Huai was furious. Despite all his careful calculations, he had foreseen none of this. While the silver had been recovered, the future oversight of the restaurant would now fall under Magistrate Gao’s purview. Everything he had done until now had been in vain. A portion of the annual profits was also destined for the imperial coffers; he was left with nothing.

"Lu Tingsheng, you promised me you would handle this properly. How is it that a mere Magistrate Gao has left you at such a loss?" Prince Huai asked coldly, his eyes betraying a hint of disdain. He found the man’s efficiency abysmal and doubted he could be of further use.

"Your Highness, although the case has been solved, Magistrate Lin of the Capital Prefecture is indeed guilty of negligence. The Emperor will surely punish him for it. If you were to speak on his behalf in court, he would naturally be grateful to you," Lu replied.

This suggestion cleared the Prince’s mind. Prince Huai nodded. "Not bad for a scholar. You turn the situation around, and in the end, I am the one who benefits?"

Magistrate Lu nodded. A mere Magistrate Lin was nothing to fear. What was truly unsettling was that this theft case had resulted in Magistrate Gao’s promotion. It was suspicious. To his knowledge, Magistrate Gao had never been involved with any faction, so how had he managed to unearth the culprit? It was a matter that warranted deep thought.

Magistrate Lin of the Capital Prefecture was indeed reprimanded, fined a year’s salary, and demoted by half a rank. This punishment was reasonable enough. However, Prince Huai’s personal plea for leniency before the Emperor had instead made the Emperor wary.

Why was a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy now involving himself in the affairs of the Capital Prefecture? Just how deep did the schemes of his eldest son run? In the end, he did not let Prince Huai have his way. Magistrate Lin understood that the Prince was attempting to win him over, but he had no desire to be dragged into the factional strife of the imperial court. He was over fifty and was already preparing to resign and return to his hometown. Moreover, he saw the current situation clearly—the waters were becoming increasingly murky. If he were to intervene, the consequences would be unimaginable. Thus, he chose to remain detached.

The prisoner who had been brought in was none other than Chen Tianwei, who had been missing for a long time. Magistrate Gao had provided him with a chance for advancement, and the Emperor had promoted him to the Bureau of Civil Appointments, giving him charge over many criminal cases in Luojing. Magistrate Chen had reached the fifth rank, which left everyone in awe. Previously, though he had served the Emperor, he had held no real power. Now, things were different.

The power dynamics among the officials in Luojing had shifted drastically. Magistrate Lu, who had always looked down on others, began to act with caution. Suspecting that Chen Tianwei was no simple man, he secretly arranged for people to investigate him. Aside from being entrusted with a major task six months ago, there was nothing unusual about his record; since returning to the capital, he had always held a nominal position. But now, with real authority, everything had changed.

Yet, all these changes were the handiwork of Han Qing. Could the disappearance of a mere hundred thousand taels truly be that simple? It was nothing more than a secret transaction between the restaurant and them.

"You are helping him, yet he does not know your intentions. Isn't that a bit too reckless?" young Master Zhu asked without hesitation. The two had parted on bad terms, and now Han Qing was helping him rise to a high position without even informing him. It was clearly strange.

"He only needs to be in that position; some people will naturally come to thank him," Han Qing said dismissively.

Sure enough, Magistrate Lin of the Capital Prefecture brought lavish gifts to thank Chen Tianwei. Had Chen Tianwei not captured the culprit, his own life would have been forfeit. The two talked and laughed as if they were old friends.

The objective had been achieved. Others wanted to stir up the muddy waters of Luojing, but Han Qing only desired for the common people to live in peace. Since their goals were diametrically opposed, there would inevitably be ripples in the shadows.

"Magistrate Lu, I have arranged for men from the Liusha Pavilion to investigate. It turns out this Magistrate Chen was once hunted by the Liusha Pavilion, which led to his flight to Luojing, after which he kept a low profile."

What? There was such a history?

"If I give you a chance now, can you finish him off?"

"My lord, Luojing is a crowded place with eyes everywhere. If we act, it will surely expose you directly. We must proceed with caution."

Lu nodded. So, the Liusha Pavilion was actually linked to Magistrate Lu. A Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy who appeared indifferent to worldly affairs was, in secret, deeply entangled with the powers of the underworld. His methods were far too insidious.

"Arrange for people to watch Chen Tianwei. See which officials he has been associating with lately."

"Yes."

The subordinates withdrew. Magistrate Lu had a new plan. If he could not eliminate this new official, then winning him over would not be a bad alternative. Furthermore, given his own precarious position, how could he afford to ignore it? Having read the correspondence from the past few days, Magistrate Lu understood that this was an excellent opportunity. If he could bring Chen Tianwei into Prince Huai’s fold, Magistrate Lin would naturally join their faction as well. A strategy of killing two birds with one stone rarely failed.

That very day, he paid a visit to Chen Tianwei and stated his intentions. However, the man did not agree, nor did he show any fear of the underworld forces hunting him. Magistrate Lu was enraged and issued a death order to the Liusha Pavilion: they must kill Chen Tianwei within a week without exposing their own identities.

Yet, this news reached the ears of Han Qing. Perhaps none of them realized that the Liusha Pavilion was no longer what it once was.

"This won't do. Even though we haven't had much contact with Chen Tianwei, he is about to face an assassination attempt. We must warn him to leave Luojing," young Master Zhu said in a panic.