Unintentional Surprise (GL) - Chapter 11

The courtroom of the Dali Temple was engulfed in silence.

So silent that even the cawing of the crows on the roof eaves rang out with sharp clarity.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for the yamen runners who had been sent out to bring back the second and third place winners of the imperial examination—the bangyan and tanhua—so the trial could resume.

His Majesty’s patience was considerable, which meant that the surrounding officials and citizens had no choice but to be patient as well.

A clerk holding a staff kept sneaking glances at the sundial in the courtyard, counting the time that had passed.

A full hour had gone by—perhaps even more.

At last, the yamen runners returned. They hadn’t gone in vain; they had brought back the bangyan and tanhua.

“Reporting to His Majesty! Reporting to the Lord!” the runner announced with pride at having completed his mission. “The suspects have been taken into custody!”

And “taken into custody” they certainly were—regardless of their high-ranking titles, their wrists were tied with coarse hemp rope that had chafed and bloodied their skin.

The bangyan, Master Wang, being the second-ranked scholar of the year, had some tact and awareness. When he saw that it was the Emperor himself seated at the main table, he dropped to his knees without a word.

The tanhua, Master Li, was hot-tempered and furious at how roughly the runners had treated him. Without so much as looking around to take stock of the situation, he burst out cursing:
“F*** your ancestors! Do you even know who I am? I’m the tanhua—personally appointed by the Emperor!”

Jiang Shunyao had intended to speak first, since everything had started with her. She felt she should say something to reopen the trial.

But before she could open her mouth, the Emperor spoke.

He was addressing Master Li, the tanhua:
“I know exactly who you are. Li, the tanhua of this year’s imperial exam. Indeed, it was I who granted you the title.”

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over Li’s head, instantly quenching his rage and arrogance. He quickly followed Wang’s example, falling to his knees with a thud louder than the one before.

Jiang Shunyao smiled. No matter how loudly these two men knelt or how humbly they postured, they would not escape prison today.

She was more confident of that than they had been of their imperial honors.

Wu Xuyan, reclaiming control of the courtroom, slammed his gavel and shouted:
“Plaintiff and defendants are present. Lord Jiang, you may now state your grievance truthfully.”

Sure enough, Wang and Li’s expressions changed drastically, their faces caught between panic and denial.

Jiang Shunyao, calm and unhurried, feigned confusion:
“After narrowly escaping being poisoned, I racked my brains but still couldn’t understand—whom had I offended to deserve this?”

The Emperor comforted her:
“Minister Jiang, you are a person of upright character. This is the work of vile people—do not take it to heart.”

Jiang Shunyao bowed deeply in thanks and continued:
“Thanks to the help of Guard Song and the capital defense forces, a few days later we caught the suspect who had been trying to flee.”

That suspect was now kneeling in court, wearing a wooden cangue and emanating a rebellious air.

“Has he confessed?” both the Emperor and Wu Xuyan asked, clearly concerned.

“At first, no,” Jiang Shunyao replied. “But later, upon investigating his immediate family, I discovered they had all been illegally imprisoned—by none other than Lord Wang’s steward. Once the steward was caught and questioned, he confessed fully to the crimes of illegal imprisonment and attempted murder.”

That steward, trembling and terrified, kept sneaking glances at the bangyan, Wang.

One might say he was naturally timid—but he must have summoned great courage to accuse his master.

“It wasn’t me! I didn’t hire the killer!” the steward cried. “It was Master Wang, the bangyan! He told me what to do—kidnapping, bribing, poisoning—it was all his idea!”

Wang reacted by kicking the steward hard in the chest. But as soon as he did it, he realized he’d made a terrible mistake.

That kick was as good as an admission of guilt—an unspoken confirmation of the plaintiff’s accusations.