History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Several jailers who were leaving the county office passed by here. They were glad that they had changed out of their official robes and quickly walked past the troublesome Confucian scholars.

An old prison guard prevented Zong Yin and Feng Xing from turning around and told them, "You'll see that this kind of thing happens often in the future. Remember, don't show sympathy indiscriminately, and don't kick someone when they're down and make things difficult for them."

Despite being good friends, Zong Yin and Feng Xing have very different personalities. Feng Xing is only interested in the spectacle of the group of scholars.

Zong Yin was indeed quite sympathetic, because when the county prison was investigating Li Biao's case, he overheard some old prison officials talking.

"The higher-ups want us to close the case as soon as possible."

Who is "above"? The prefectural government office? The state government office? The court administration office?
Unfortunately, his father was even busier and hadn't been home lately, so Zongyin couldn't ask his father and kept the matter to himself.

He wasn't one to keep things bottled up. Seeing the pitiful Li family coming to the yamen every day to beg for an explanation, he really wanted to secretly tell them: Stop making a fuss. Even if you block the magistrate, he can't make a decision.

The officials parted ways at the south intersection and went home.

Zong Yin and Feng Xing weren't in a hurry. They went to a roadside food stall to eat. After sitting down, Zong Yin said, "This meal is on me again. Order whatever you want."

Feng Xing waved his hand: "That's enough. You've been treating me for a month now, so it's my turn to treat you this time."

"You're the one who got me this prison guard job..."

"Don't say such formal things. We're brothers, so of course we should share the good times together."

Before they learned how to investigate cases, they learned how to drink. After a few cups of millet wine, Zong Yin felt his cheeks flush and he had to get the secret out. "Let me tell you, Li Biao definitely didn't die a normal death."

Friends of the same ilk must have something in common.

Feng Xing immediately lowered his voice and leaned closer, saying, "Let me tell you, I sensed something was wrong a long time ago! Do you know how I sensed it? Li Biao used to be a high-ranking official. Can someone who was once a high-ranking official die in the street be treated the same as an ordinary person dying in the street? Even if there's nothing suspicious, they'll drag out the investigation so that the Li family thinks our county government officials are capable."

Zong Yin hadn't considered this point, and couldn't help but praise, "That makes sense!"

"But this case was closed so quickly! They were clearly afraid that if it dragged on and became too big of a deal, the county government wouldn't be able to cover it up! Who is Magistrate Jia covering it up for?"

Zong Yin excitedly tapped his finger and quickly revealed what he knew. The two were about to whisper to each other when they saw Yao Yao and the other two approaching.

The two young women were Li Yin and He Lan, and the young man was Ji Ledao, a disciple of Li Biao.

As the three passed by the food stall, He Lan glanced at Zong Yin and Feng Xing for a moment.

Feng Xing stared at the other person's back, then suddenly grinned mischievously and gestured with his chin towards Zong Yin: "Look at that lady on the right, doesn't she look like the Miss Wei you've been eyeing?"

"Not like."

"I'm not talking about looks, but the kind of person who's read a lot of books, but doesn't have that annoying arrogance of Miss Li... Um, I can't really explain it, but I think it's pretty similar."

Following his friend's words, Zong Yin stared blankly and dejectedly at He Lan's figure. Unexpectedly, the three people in front of them turned around at the same time, which startled them sobered up instantly.

He Lan had a reason for glancing sideways earlier. She noticed that the two diners by the roadside were both leaning slightly to the side. Were they deliberately avoiding her and her group?

why?
She was quick-witted and immediately guessed that the two boys might be clerks from the county government.

She told Li Yin about her suspicions, which led to the scene where the three of them turned back together. Ji Ledao said, "Junior Sister, go back and rest well. I'll try to get to know those two. But don't have too high hopes. Even if ordinary officials know something, their status is low, and their words won't be of much use. We still have to rely on Lord Zhi. I remember someone named Cui Hong, who is the nephew of Cui Guang, the Attendant-in-Ordinary. Lord Zhi's courtesy name is Hongdao. He and Cui Hong were once known as the 'Two Hongs of Luoyang.' The Master praised the 'Two Hongs' several times back then, which shows that Lord Zhi and Lord Cui have a relationship. Junior Sister, you can persuade Lord Zhi to ask Cui Hong for help."

Li Yin nodded in shame. She understood what her senior brother meant: they shouldn't go to the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat anymore, as Minister Wang clearly didn't want to help them. "Alright, if my brother doesn't go to see Master Cui, I will."

He Lan thought Ji Ledao's idea was stupid.

The two heroes of Luoyang? It sounds exactly like the stories of "Li Yin of the East and Wei Yao of the South" who rose to fame. Don't forget, Li Biao was the Imperial Censor at that time. Relying on his power, he compared his son to the talented Cui clan members. Would Cui Hong dare not associate with Li Zhi?
At this moment, He Lan regretted it even more and began to despise the Li family, including Li Yin.

Sizhou Office.

Zhao Zhiming was on duty the next day. After getting familiar with the office and exchanging pleasantries with her subordinates, the mother and daughter left.

Yuan Zhi went back and forth through the side gate closest to the Cavalry Office more than a dozen times. By sheer coincidence, during the time he was away, Zhao Zhi and her daughter left through this gate.

"Oh dear!"

The Sizhou government has run out of charcoal again this winter.

Wei Yin met up with his wife and daughter at a spot on the site of the Imperial Academy. The three of them smiled before even saying a word.

Wei Yin could tell that his daughter's knot in her heart had been untied, but he still asked, "How is it?"

Wei Yao: "The murderer was Gao Cong, and Mother got rid of that scourge."

The family was finally reunited, so she changed her tone and said excitedly, "Father, I went to see where Mother is on duty. Don't be fooled by the small size of the courtyard; there are so many officials! But Mother's office is very spacious, and there are all kinds of weapons inside. Hehe, I tried them out, and they're all quite heavy."

Wei Yin and his wife looked at each other and smiled.

There are some things I should tell my daughter.

Before Zhao Zhi was recommended as a cavalry officer, Gou, the chief clerk, came to see Wei Yin and asked him if he had any intention of working as a staff member in the Sizhou government. Wei Yin politely declined, saying that he was "ambitious to teach."

The grudges from their elders' past were all told to Wei Yin by General Wei Yi, and he couldn't verify their authenticity, which is why he didn't tell Wei Yao.

Things are different now; even falsehoods must be treated as truths and guarded against.

“Yao’er, your great-grandfather may have been Cui Situ, the one who caused the great upheaval in the history of the nation… Your grandmother may have been a descendant of Xi Jin, the King of Hongnong, from the Daxi tribe.”

"If what General Wei told me is true, then your grandmother Xi Wunan is the aunt of your fellow disciple Xi Jiao."

“Yao’er, whether this long-buried story is true or false, I must take it seriously and keep my oath… I must never become a disciple or hold an official position.”

"Your mother and you shouldn't be implicated in such ancient matters. However, old grudges won't be easily resolved. As you get closer to the central government, those people's descendants will become wary, and it's hard to say whether they will retaliate against you."

"But if we change our perspective, even without past grievances, wouldn't one still encounter difficulties and petty people in their official career?"

"There's no need to worry about that old crime in the National History Prison. When we first arrived in Luoyang, General Wei told me something: during the reign of the late Emperor Yanxing, Cui Situ's younger cousin was appointed to an official position, which shows the intention of leniency."

"Remember, Yao'er, the higher the mountain, the fewer places there are to stand. The greater the profit, the thinner the bonds of friendship. Never intentionally harm others, but always consider things beforehand, anticipate potential problems, and disaster will be avoided." (End of Chapter)