“You will repent by making up for lost time. Take him home and make him into a worthy man.”
Wen Jun bowed until his forehead touched the stone floor. “I accept.”
Magistrate Bu pounded the tiles. “Unacceptable! I have never heard of such lenient sentencings in my life!”
“You and I have read the same classics, Bu. A child’s wrongdoing is a reflection of his parents.”
“You are a partial old weasel, Li! I will write your impeachment letter and send it to the capital city. The Ministry of Justice will be hearing about this!”
“My partiality is to my family. Yours is to yourself,” Magistrate Li said mildly. “I’ll send your impeachment letter as well. We’ll see which one of us the ministry thinks is more dastardly.”
With that, Magistrate Li concluded the trial.
A crowd was gathering outside theyamen, craning their necks over the guards to see what Magistrate Bu had done to his thief. Zhi Lan could only imagine their surprise when they saw their magistrate dragged along by a pair of guards, kicking and sputtering, followed by a seemingly random collection of strangers.
“Lady Bu,” Zhi Lan said, trotting up to her as they made their way back to the manor. “Did you plan all this?”
Magistrate Li, Wen Jun, and Shao Qing trailed some paces behind. The man bound by ropes and the old woman had been allowed to go free.
Lady Bu gave Zhi Lan a mysterious smile. “When I first saw Shao Qing, I had my suspicions. It was only a matter of time before all was revealed.”
So that was why Lady Bu had insisted on finding out Shao Qing’s name and where he came from. But to imagine that she concocted her plan and gathered all the right people in less than a day!
“I owe you a debt, your ladyship,” Zhi Lan said. They entered the manor and passed the courtyard. It felt odd walking into Magistrate Bu’s parlor when the master of the house was detained.
Lady Bu had no such scruples, however, and ordered a maidservant to fetch tea. She took her place at the head of the parlor. “You owe me no debt, child. If it weren’t for you, my brother would not have found his son.”
Zhi Lan looked behind her to see the three men enter the parlor. Shao Qing leaned on his father’s arm, still looking sick. Magistrate Li observed them silently as Wen Jun said something too low to hear.
Shao Qing had reunited with his family. She could only imagine the shock he was still feeling, but she was glad he was safe—that they were both safe. She wanted to go and console him, but suddenly she felt like an outsider. After all, everyone else in the room was family. She was just some farm girl.
The maidservant came back with the tea.
Zhi Lan turned back to Lady Bu. “I suppose I’ll fetch my master and we’ll leave as soon as we can. I don’t wish to be a burden to you any longer than necessary.”
“You may stay the night. I’m in no rush.”
Zhi Lan thanked her for her graciousness. “If I may be so bold to ask, your ladyship, what will happen to Magistrate Bu? Surely this would affect the household and implicate you in some way.”
Lady Bu sipped her tea. “I’ll have divorce papers written up. This is the best basis for separation I ever had the pleasure to uncover.”
Zhi Lan stifled a laugh. Her gaze strayed to Shao Qing again. He was still with his father across the room, but he met her eyes, looking as if he wanted to speak.
“Zhi Lan! I came as soon as I heard!” Master Dan rushed into the parlor at an impressive speed for his age, his white robes flying behind him. “Child, you’ve never given me this much trouble before!”
“I’m sorry, Master Dan,” Zhi Lan said meekly.
“Never mind that. What happened? Are you alright?”
Zhi Lan quickly summarized the trial to the best of her ability, though her head was still spinning. “I’m fine,” she said finally.
“So this is the master painter who started all this trouble,” Magistrate Li said from behind them. “Dan Li Chen, I presume?”
Master Dan bowed low. He had forsaken propriety for her, having not introduced himself to their betters when he entered the room. He was generous with his praise now. “Thank you, Magistrate Li. If it weren’t for your fair and just ruling, my student here would be in terrible trouble. You are truly noble, of position and of character.”
Zhi Lan blushed and bowed as well. She was still embarrassed about being caught breaking and entering Magistrate Li’s house. And despite what Master Dan said, Magistrate Li hadn’t exactly been fair or just. He had bent the rules to suit them. Why, he himself was entangled in the thievery by being a patron of stolen art!
Shao Qing was right about the law. Justice never happened as it should.
