Crimson Leaves: Chapter Thirty-Three – The Interrogation

Dong Xinwu replied, "I shall follow your instructions, Excellency." He waited for Magistrate Wan to continue, and the Magistrate did not disappoint: "The Bald-Tail Mountain case remains unresolved, but the Tang Haiqiu case has far more dire implications, so you must devote your full attention to that. I am transferring the follow-up of the Bald-Tail Mountain case to Li Zheng. Since Gao Shengdong and Ding Sibao have already laid out the mountain's defenses, I trust that taking the mountain will not be difficult, yes?"

This was a blatant attempt to snatch the spoils of victory. Dong Xinwu glanced at Cheng Jie, who looked away, pretending not to notice. Li Zheng stood up and said, "Since Head Constable Dong has already paved the way for me, I shall certainly do my utmost."

Magistrate Wan stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "Very good. I look forward to receiving good news from both of you."

Dong Xinwu accepted the decision with a sense of helplessness. Li Zheng, however, did not sit back down. He turned to face Dong Xinwu and asked, "Head Constable Dong, now that the Bald-Tail Mountain case has been transferred to me, there is one matter I do not understand and must ask for your guidance."

Dong Xinwu remained composed. "Speak your mind, Head Constable Li."

Li Zheng’s expression hardened, his eyes glinting with malice. "Although the bandits Gao Shengdong and Ding Sibao have been brought to justice, the field battle outside the capital resulted in heavy casualties. Five of the men who accompanied you suffered light injuries, and two remain in critical condition, still hovering between life and death. Should you not provide an explanation for this, Head Constable Dong?"

Dong Xinwu’s expression remained indifferent. "The journey was long and the escort arduous. No matter how meticulous the plan, no one can guarantee that accidents will not happen. You have been in this profession for over a decade, Head Constable Li; I am sure you have had similar experiences. I am deeply saddened by the injuries to our men, but if someone must be held responsible, then let it be me."

Li Zheng sneered and looked toward Magistrate Wan. Cheng Jie quickly stepped in to mediate: "Head Constable Dong is only speaking out of frustration. You are a veteran of the criminal courts; you know that even with the best planning, things can change. It is just that his men..."

"Enough!" Dong Xinwu barked sharply.

Cheng Jie had almost never seen him lose his temper like this; he was so startled that he swallowed the rest of his words. Magistrate Wan also intervened: "I, too, trust in Xinwu's ability. However, while the office has successfully captured the ringleader, the losses were indeed severe, and there must be an accounting for this." He turned to Cheng Jie. "Will you not be submitting a detailed report on the case? We shall decide based on the facts then. Those who performed well will be rewarded, and those who failed will be punished. How does that sound?"

"That is only fair!" Cheng Jie agreed hastily. After bowing to the Magistrate, he grabbed Dong Xinwu by the arm and pulled him out.

Li Zheng watched their retreating backs, clicked his tongue, and said with regret, "Excellency, since Dong Xinwu has already admitted his fault, why not take this opportunity to hold him accountable?"

Magistrate Wan looked at Li Zheng’s profile and frowned almost imperceptibly. "Li Zheng, I know you hate Dong Xinwu to the bone. But he has spent his entire life in the criminal courts. Half the men in the rapid-response squad are his students or protégés. To move against him would invite chaos. Unless you have ironclad evidence, do not act rashly."

Li Zheng remained dissatisfied. "He is jealous of talent, suppresses me, and... he even blocks my path to advancement. As long as a man like that remains in the Shuntian Prefecture, the office will never know peace."

Magistrate Wan said coldly, "At times, I feel you act more like the Prefect than I do."

Li Zheng was terrified and fell to his knees with a thud. He began slapping his own face repeatedly, the sound echoing loudly, and his cheeks were soon swollen, a testament to the force of his blows. Magistrate Wan had only intended to curb his arrogance and impulsiveness, but since this man was adept at accumulating wealth and provided substantial private tributes, he had no intention of truly falling out with him. He waved his hand. "That is enough."

Li Zheng stopped and looked up at the man on the dais with pleading eyes. One was a high official, the other a mere clerk; the chasm between their statuses dictated that he could only ever look up to him. Magistrate Wan pondered for a moment. "Cheng Jie is, after all, your superior; you must maintain the necessary relationship with him. He will present the case files the day after tomorrow. As the successor to this case, you have the right to verify any errors or suspicions in those files. You may deal with any of his subordinates as you wish—just not Dong Xinwu."

Li Zheng knew there was no hope of taking down Dong Xinwu this time, and what Magistrate Wan offered was the best possible outcome. He gritted his teeth and nodded. "Thank you, Excellency."

Fang Wei returned home, placed the food box on the table, and took off his coat. The wound on his chest, reopened by the struggle the night before, was a mess. He walked gingerly to the woodshed, retrieved his wooden medicine box, endured the pain as he washed away the blood, reapplied the medicinal powder, and bandaged it with gauze. Only then did he change into clean clothes, walk into the hall, and open the food box to take out hot soup and steamed buns. "Xiuxiu, I brought you Master Zhao’s lotus seed soup. Come out and see if his cooking has improved!"

There was no response. Fang Wei called out twice more, and suddenly his expression changed. He lunged forward and pushed open the bedroom door—the room was empty. That sense of unease returned. Fang Wei carefully recalled the events of the previous night, and suddenly, a scene in his mind froze. It was Tang Haiqiu in front of the Jiqing Ward this morning. Tang had been hiding the child behind him, sneering at Fang Wei: "Head Constable Fang, I escaped from the encirclement of you lackeys five years ago. I am quite confident I can do it again this time."

*How did he know my name?!* For an instant, Fang Wei felt his scalp tingle. During his contact with Tang Haiqiu, he had sensed that the man recognized him. But five years ago, including Dong Xinwu and others, there were nearly twenty constables involved in the hunt, not to mention the countless soldiers from the Five Cities Military Garrison. Recognizing Fang Wei’s face showed that Tang Haiqiu had an astonishing memory, but to know his name meant that the man had investigated him!

Fang Wei panicked and bolted out into the courtyard. A wave of dizziness hit him. The sun was bright, yet he felt only chills, his hands trembling uncontrollably. His wife was frail and sickly; if she had been abducted by those bandits, any threat—be it from her captors or her own weak constitution—could cost her life. Fang Wei dared not think further; he grabbed the courtyard gate and prepared to rush out.

"Oh!" Mrs. Fang happened to be walking in from outside. Caught off guard, she collided with Fang Wei, and the bowl of rice porridge she was carrying spilled onto him. She hurriedly wiped at it with her sleeve, complaining, "Look at you, you're a grown man, why are you still so reckless?"

The fear suddenly drained away, and the sunlight reclaimed every corner. Fang Wei could no longer hear what she was saying; he suddenly pulled her into his arms. Startled, she tried to pull away. "Be careful, you'll stain your clothes!"

Fang Wei held her small frame tightly, saying nothing. Mrs. Fang felt the shift in her husband’s emotions and slowly stopped struggling. She wrapped her arms around him and gently stroked the top of his head. "We're home. I'm here."

*It is so good to have you.*