Chapter 40: White Bones
That day, they spoke behind closed doors for a long time. When they emerged, they earnestly tutored the young ladies in their studies, only returning home as the sun began to set in the west. The next day, she ran into Chen Yangzheng and lavished praise on Chen Qingshang's talent, delighting him so much that he beamed with joy. Believing he had found a way to grow closer to Fang Jian, he went home and encouraged Chen Qingshang to visit Fang Jian's residence more often.
Perhaps she had mentioned to Chen Yangzheng that she was worried about completing her duties if things continued as they were, for after that, her Censorate office began to receive a few minor cases, all trivial matters. Fang Jian played the part of a profligate dandy, spending her days in leisure and often inviting young ladies on excursions—not just from the Feipeng Poetry Society, but from the Qiulan one as well. The young men, not to be outdone and perhaps prompted by some hint from someone, learned that Fang Jian was unmarried and began to flock around her. Fang Jian refused no one, taking them all along for horse riding and boat trips. At the same time, she began to have her people sort through Qinzhou's legal documents and review the case files. This was a Censor's duty, so the Qinzhou prefectural government had no grounds to obstruct her. Their wariness of Fang Jian had lessened slightly, and they even offered her some conveniences so she could report back to her superiors.
A month passed in this peaceful manner. An imperial decree arrived, ordering all prefects to the capital for an audience with the Emperor, to report on their duties, and to attend the Double Ninth Festival banquet. The prefects, already anxious about the reforms, were all eager to make a good impression on Her Majesty and were naturally very proactive. But no sooner had Chen Yangzheng's front foot left Qinzhou than someone entered the Censorate office to file a complaint.
Fang Jian shed her usual lazy demeanor, solemnly changed into her official robes, and strode resolutely into the main hall. She sat in the primary seat and struck the gavel. "Who is in the court? What is your complaint?"
Kneeling below the steps was a young lady. She flinched at the sound of the gavel and said, trembling, "This humble one… this humble one is Ding Yuzhu, formerly a hired hand for the Prefect… for the Chen family… I accuse… I accuse the Chen family's eldest son, Chen… Chen Shouyi… of torturing and killing several female servants…"
"What did you say?" Fang Jian broke out in a cold sweat. Chen Qingshang had revealed to her that they had a case that pointed directly at the prefectural estate, one that could help her succeed. Fang Jian had long known that Her Majesty would summon the prefects to the capital for the Double Ninth Festival, so she had instructed them to expose the matter while Chen Yangzheng was away, striking at the heart of the problem. But Fang Jian had never imagined it would be a case like this.
"It's right in the prefectural estate! All these years, whenever the Eldest Young Master was displeased, he would lash out at those around him. Even the former Young Madam couldn't escape it." As Ding Yuzhu spoke, tears welled in her eyes. "Sometimes he would strike too hard and beat people to death. It wasn't just one or two."
Fang Jian composed herself and asked, "How do you know this?"
Ding Yuzhu explained that she was originally a servant in charge of the Chen estate's garden. When she grew to be fourteen or fifteen and had some looks, she was noticed by Chen Shouyi one day and transferred to his courtyard. Only then did she discover that whenever Chen Shouyi was angered, he would return to his courtyard, close the doors, and beat the servants to vent his frustration. The female slaves were even forced to have intercourse with him, unable to resist. She was terrified and did her best to avoid Chen Shouyi every day, but ultimately, she could not escape. One day, after being scolded by his father again, Chen Shouyi returned, first beating a male servant about the head and face. Then he saw her, and an idea came to him. He called her over to attend to him in bed. She was too scared to move. Chen Shouyi lost his patience and came forward to grab her.
Ding Yuzhu closed her eyes, her heart filled with despair. Suddenly, she heard a gentle voice: "My lord, what has angered you again today?"
"Hmph, am I angry? She's just a female slave. It's her good fortune that I've taken a liking to her." Chen Shouyi looked at his wife and restrained himself slightly.
"She's still a child. Let it go," Song Qiong said softly, looking at Chen Shouyi.
Chen Shouyi turned back to her and sneered, "Then will you take her place?"
Ding Yuzhu was shocked. The Young Madam was of noble status; how could she be compared to servants like them?
Song Qiong was not angered. "That is not impossible, but you must give me her servitude contract. From now on, she will serve me."
"Fine. After you, Madam." Chen Shouyi revealed a pleased smile and turned to go back to his room.
Song Qiong sighed, helped Ding Yuzhu up, and wiped the tears from her face. "It's alright now. You may go."
Ding Yuzhu didn't dare go far, afraid something else might happen. She kept watch outside the house for the entire night and thus heard the sounds from within.
At first, it was gentle and harmonious. Ding Yuzhu had never heard the Eldest Young Master speak with such a tender and patient voice. But gradually, it changed.
"Why are you frowning? Do you think I'm no good? Do you look down on me too?"
"My lord… gentler…"
"Gentler? Why should I be gentle? How could you understand my pain? Husband and wife are one body. Why don't you share my pain?"
"Ah…"
Ding Yuzhu huddled by the wall, covering her ears with her hands, but she couldn't stop the sounds from reaching them. The man's foul language and the woman's suppressed moans intertwined, leaving her body cold and her limbs weak.
By the third watch, the sounds gradually subsided. She heard the man's remorseful voice: "A'qiong, A'qiong… I'm sorry… I… I didn't want to… I can't control myself…"
The door was pulled open. Chen Shouyi's face was filled with panic as he stumbled out and ran off. Ding Yuzhu waited a while, and when he didn't return, she mustered the courage to enter the room.
Song Qiong managed to turn her head and see her, breathing a sigh of relief. "It's you. Good, come help me wash up and change my clothes. I'm a little tired."
It was then that Ding Yuzhu saw the black and blue marks on her body. She choked back a sob. "Madam, why must you suffer so? We are of humble birth. How are we worth you trading yourself for us?"
"I am his wife, after all. He might be heavy-handed, but he wouldn't beat me to death. It would be different for you. I cannot bear the weight of a human life." Song Qiong's voice trembled faintly.
And so, Ding Yuzhu stayed by Song Qiong's side. Song Qiong was an excellent master—gentle, patient, and never harsh with her. Chen Shouyi, in the end, still respected his wife. The next day, he sent over Ding Yuzhu's servitude contract and never made any advances on her again. But she gradually discovered that Chen Shouyi seemed somewhat unstable. When he was good to Song Qiong, he practically cradled her in the palm of his hand. But when he flew into a rage, he would spout all sorts of nonsense. When they were intimate, he was always inconsistent, abusing her only to regret it later, and then treating her doubly well for the next few days. The cycle repeated itself. But with Song Qiong there, the lives of the servants in the courtyard were more or less a little better.
But the good times did not last. A few years later, Song Qiong passed away. Chen Shouyi grieved with genuine sorrow for a long time, but he also became even more volatile. Without Song Qiong to shield them, the abuse fell upon the female slaves with renewed intensity. One by one, Ding Yuzhu watched with her own eyes as sisters she had been laughing with just a short while ago fell silent at his hands. In a panic, Ding Yuzhu sought out the Second Lady. Second Lady Chen Qingshang had been good friends with Song Qiong, so she helped her, retrieving her servitude contract and secretly sending her out of the estate. She then devised a plan to bring the matter before Chen Yangzheng. However, Chen Yangzheng only reprimanded Chen Shouyi harshly in private. Unwilling for the matter to become public, he merely ordered everyone in the estate who knew to keep silent. The affair never even made it out of Chen Shouyi's own courtyard.
After leaving the Chen estate, Ding Yuzhu lived in hiding. With the Chen family being so powerful in Qinzhou, she had nowhere to turn for help. She had waited with great difficulty for Fang Jian's arrival, and only then did she rush here from Zhuo County to seek justice.
Fang Jian's heart burned with anger as she listened. She had met Chen Shouyi; he seemed like an honest and dutiful person. There was no hint that he was such a villain in private. She asked again, "Is there evidence? If you have ironclad proof, I will certainly see that justice is done for you. But if this is a false accusation… I will show no mercy. Ding Yuzhu, think carefully before you answer."
"This humble one is not lying! The bodies are all buried in the prefectural estate's garden! I saw it with my own eyes!" Ding Yuzhu kowtowed to her eagerly, to show that she was telling the truth.
Fang Jian knew that Ding Yuzhu had been sent by Chen Qingshang, and her testimony was likely what Chen Qingshang had prepared. That being the case, it must be true. She announced in a clear voice, "Men! To the prefectural estate to make the arrest!"
This batch of Censors shouldered heavy responsibilities. They had all been carefully selected by the Censorate and personally confirmed by Her Majesty. Each was assigned an Imperial City Guard soldier, who served as both a personal bodyguard and a supervisor. Each Censor also had an imperially bestowed token. In an emergency, they could present the token at the nearest military camp to requisition a squad of soldiers to assist them. In the past few days, Fang Jian had conferred with the soldier assigned to her, Shen Jin. She had Shen Jin take the token to the garrison near Qinzhou and dispatch a squad of soldiers. They disguised themselves to avoid notice and infiltrated Qinzhou city in batches, to be ready for any contingency. At Fang Jian's command, this squad of soldiers donned their armor, took up their weapons, and surged forth, escorting them to the prefectural estate.
The Chen estate was not far from the government office. Fang Jian ordered her men to knock on the gate. With Chen Yangzheng away, Chen Shouyi came out hurriedly to greet her, his head covered in sweat. "Lord Fang, what is the meaning of this? Why have you surrounded my prefectural estate?"
Fang Jian looked at him coldly. "I have received a complaint from the common people and have come to invite the Eldest Young Master Chen for a discussion. This is my duty, I hope you will not take offense."
"This… this… who has accused me?" Chen Shouyi's face was a mask of bewilderment, as if he had no memory of what he had done.
"Someone has accused the Eldest Young Master of the Chen estate of taking human lives wantonly. That's a serious crime. Wouldn't failing to investigate tarnish the Chen family's reputation?" Fang Jian's hands were clasped in her sleeves, held properly before her. Just by standing there, she radiated an aura of righteous integrity.
Chen Shouyi's face turned pale, and for a moment, he was speechless. Fang Jian signaled for Shen Jin to arrest him, but the Chen estate's steward and servants moved to block them.
"What? Does the Chen estate intend to obstruct an official investigation?" Fang Jian raised an eyebrow.
"We wouldn't dare!" Amid the standoff, another voice came from within the gates. Chen Qingshang, leading her younger sister Chen Qingzheng, hurried over. She bowed to Fang Jian, then rebuked her own steward and servants. "Stand down! How many heads do you have that you dare to obstruct a Censor in the performance of her duties?"
"Second Lady Chen, Third Lady Chen," Fang Jian nodded slightly at them. "What does your estate intend to do?"
"My elder brother is an upright man. He would never do such a thing. It is hardly appropriate for you to arrest him without evidence, my lord," Chen Qingshang said calmly.
"Oh?" Fang Jian replied. "But the evidence is right here in your Chen family home."
"What do you mean, my lord?" Chen Qingshang frowned.
"The petitioner claims the Eldest Young Master tortured and killed several women, and that the bodies are buried in the garden. Does Second Lady Chen dare to let us enter and take a look?"
Chen Shouyi nearly collapsed and had to be held up by the steward. Chen Qingshang, however, seemed not to see him. She said serenely, "My brother would certainly not do such a thing. If you wish to enter, my lord, then please do. But if you find nothing, how will you explain yourself?"
"I hope Second Lady Chen will understand. I am merely performing my duties according to the law. If it is proven to be a false accusation, I will personally escort the Eldest Young Master back and offer my apologies to you all."
Chen Qingshang nodded slightly. "Very well, then. I will grant Lord Fang this courtesy. I trust my brother. Please, my lord."
"Little sister!" Chen Shouyi cried out, but he was already restrained by the soldiers and could not break free.
Fang Jian led her people into the Chen estate and found the place Ding Yuzhu had described. A group of soldiers dug three feet into the earth and unearthed five skeletons.
It was the first time Fang Jian had come face to face with death. Her face turned pale as she looked at Chen Qingshang. "Does Second Lady Chen have anything else to say?"
Chen Qingshang stared intently at the skeletons. That was the debt her Chen family owed. Only by cutting out the rot and scraping the bone could they move forward again. She was silent for a long while before she finally spoke. "Qingshang has nothing to say."
"Very well. Seal the gates of the Chen estate. No one is to leave. Question them one by one."
Author's Notes
This Chen Shouyi has a bit of a mental problem
Sigh, this Qinzhou story is so tragic, it's making me sad.
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