Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 644 Helping out
Prefect Qiu had anticipated this; if a small merchant caravan dared to commit murder and arson like this, there must be someone supporting them behind the scenes.

"What can be found out?" Magistrate Qiu asked.

The magistrate presented the county government's documents to Prefect Qiu: "Supervisor Liang interrogated the caravan members and learned that their owner was the head of the Bianjing porcelain trade."

Prefect Qiu had previously received a report from the court informing him that something had happened at the Bianjing porcelain shops; the former shopkeeper had been imprisoned, and the new shopkeeper was a woman.

There had never been a precedent of a woman acting as a matchmaker, which he found strange at the time, and now it seems there was indeed a problem.

The judge said, "I went to the porcelain shops in the city and found out some information about that woman." He then recounted Xie Yuyan's background and her husband's family situation.

Prefect Qiu frowned as he listened: "Do you think that woman is working for someone else?"

The judge dared not speak frankly, but said, "How can a woman be stronger than a group of men? Something is amiss... We cannot help but arrest the criminal, but we must also be prepared."

Prefect Qiu nodded: "After we get the person, we'll interrogate him overnight..." That way, no matter who's behind the caravan, he'll have evidence in hand and won't be easily implicated.

Just then, a clerk came to knock on the door.

"Sir, someone has delivered a letter to the yamen, saying they want to see you."

Prefect Qiu's face darkened, and the magistrate replied, "For official business, send someone to deliver the documents; for private matters, send a visiting card to the residence. Don't you know the rules, sir?"

The adults do have this rule, but this time it's a little different.

The clerk stammered, "But...that person...that person...the invitation they sent...was from the Buddhist Registry...but...she also has...and the official seal and name card of the esteemed gentleman."

"I don't know either... whether this is a private matter or a public matter."

The Buddhist Registry should be handling official business, but those who can bring their private seals and name cards all have connections with the magistrate.

The judge also found it strange, but Prefect Qiu, who was standing to the side, had already stood up: "Was that person a man or a woman?"

The clerk said, "The woman... is a Buddhist nun."

Upon hearing this, Prefect Qiu hurried forward and accidentally bumped into the table, scattering official documents all over the floor. Looking at the mess in front of him, Prefect Qiu took a deep breath and calmed himself down.

Things are different now; he doesn't need to be so afraid. The Cining Palace has long since ceased to concern itself with politics...

Prefect Qiu pursed his lips. It was no wonder he acted this way. In the prosperous days of Cining Palace, the ground would shake whenever this man appeared, indicating that something big was about to happen.

Coughing, Prefect Qiu looked at the clerk and said, "Take the man to the second hall." Perhaps the person who came was not the one he was thinking of.

After all, that person had been hiding in the temple and hadn't ventured out for a long time.

Prefect Qiu walked to the second hall and pretended to be nonchalant as he continued reading the documents in his hands until he heard footsteps outside.

The door was then pushed open, and a figure in a monk's robe appeared before him.

Prefect Qiu instinctively held his breath as that familiar face appeared before him.

The last time he saw her was several years ago when she asked him to do something.

Compared to before, she had lost a lot of weight, and her body was filled with a strong Buddhist fragrance. She performed Buddhist rituals skillfully and looked very much like a monk.

But that was all; her eyes still held the same burning passion as before.

It's as if there's a flame inside that will never go out.

Having been in the temple for so long, how come you couldn't suppress it even a little bit?
Prefect Qiu dismissed his attendants, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Sir."

Abbess Jingyuan said calmly, "My Buddhist name is Jingyuan." Prefect Qiu wanted to say something more, but in the end he didn't dare to speak.

Master Jingyuan continued, "This humble nun has come to the yamen to ask the prefect for a decision."

Prefect Qiu was uneasy. The person was familiar, but his words were different from before, a mix of truth and deception... which seemed even more frightening.

Prefect Qiu said, "Please speak, nun."

Master Jingyuan handed over a document: "The Buddhist Registry had a batch of monks' robes, medicines, and ritual implements being transported to Zen temples in the Northwest. Unexpectedly, they were robbed on the way. It was initially thought to be the work of mountain bandits, but who knew that the caravan was surrounded by government troops."

Sweat immediately beaded on Prefect Qiu's forehead. Just hearing this made him feel as if a thunderclap had exploded overhead.

Master Jingyuan continued, "Is the prefect aware of this matter?"

Prefect Qiu opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.

Master Jingyuan's gaze sharpened: "Why doesn't the prefect speak up? Does he think that monks shouldn't concern themselves with such matters?"

“Of course not,” said Prefect Qiu, “it’s just that…”

Master Jingyuan twirled her prayer beads: "Prefect Qiu, please speak freely. As long as it is the truth, Buddha will not blame you."

Prefect Qiu's eyes darkened. She wasn't pointing to Buddha at all; she was clearly pointing to the Cining Palace.

"I received news that a caravan had robbed villagers. After being discovered, they killed the villagers to cover their tracks. The guards of the yamen were aware of this and led troops to arrest them."

Master Jingyuan showed no surprise on her face; at this moment, she resembled a detached nun. However, the more she acted this way, the more flustered Prefect Qiu became.

Abbess Jingyuan had obviously heard the news... So, her coming here was either to support the caravan and try to get him to bend the law and let them go, or there really was more to the story, and she had come to confront them.

Prefect Qiu didn't want to see either outcome.

Master Jingyuan said, "Since we do not know the truth, this humble nun is willing to go with the official to see for myself, so that I can bring the truth back to the capital. No matter what the result is, it will be an explanation to the Buddhist Registry."

Upon hearing the words "the truth," Prefect Qiu breathed a sigh of relief. If he could handle the matter truthfully, at least he could still be a fair and upright official.

Without hesitation, he immediately said, "This matter is of great importance. I will inquire about it immediately and go with the nun."

Master Jingyuan sat down in the second hall, picked up her tea and took a sip. She watched as the entire government office began to bustle with activity. The nun beside her lowered her head and twirled the prayer beads in her hand. This feeling of others being flustered while she was relaxed and at ease was as comforting as ever.

Otherwise, why would she have traveled all the way from Bianjing to come and help?
Convincing the Empress Dowager to intervene didn't take much effort. This was because the commotion in Bianjing had already caught her attention.

The Empress Dowager meant that the evil cult had been causing trouble for so long, it was time to put an end to it.

With the help and persuasion of the Shen family, she quickly obtained a job to leave the city.

Everything was ready; her only worry now was whether Madam Xie could maintain order. As far as she knew, Madam Xie didn't have enough men, yet she had to deal with both the demon cult and the government offices simultaneously…

Hopefully she's not too late.

Thinking of this, Abbess Jingyuan showed a hint of dissatisfaction on her face. She wondered how many generations of good deeds the Wang family had accumulated to allow their son to meet Xie Yuyan.

Under these circumstances, Xie Yuyan did not use the Wang family's connections, and whatever happened was none of the Wang family's business.

He really thought of everything for him.

Master Jingyuan has never liked romantic relationships because... they really waste time. If it weren't for Wang Yan, Xie Yuyan might have been able to accomplish even greater things.

(End of this chapter)