Daming: Internship also counts as work experience

Chapter 161 Mu Lian
Gao Yuntian slapped his thigh and said excitedly, "There is no one else at all. Jia Shunzi alone can poison Zhou Cheng. If he had delivered the poisoned food to Zhou Cheng, Zhou Cheng would not have suspected anything. Having another person would have aroused Zhou Cheng's suspicion. This also matches what you said before... symptoms after death."

Jia Chuan nodded, then frowned and said:
"I'm just curious who benefits from killing Zhou Cheng? And how? But that's the wrong way to think. You were just analyzing why poison was used. It's late at night, and there are only the master and servant in the courtyard. If they can be poisoned, they can be killed with a knife... Let me put it another way. Even if Zhou Cheng has to die from poison, what about the fake Shunzi? Gao Yuntian just said that the murderer not only had to force-feed the fake Shunzi the poison, but also had to time it so that he would come back after shouting outside. After something like this happens, people will come to the courtyard soon. The murderer can indeed blend in with those people, but timing the poisoning perfectly is a bit difficult, isn't it? Besides, why kill an accomplice? If you're going to kill someone, you can leave first and then kill them..."

Chen Mo hurriedly said, "They're definitely trying to frame the fake Shunzi. No, he was the one who killed him. They just want to use the fake Shunzi to take the blame for this case..."

“If that’s the case, there should be some clues left behind. I can understand that this place is clean, but it’s a bit unreasonable that the place where the fake Shunzi lives is so clean.”

"What should there be?" Gao Yuntian asked, puzzled.

Jia Chuan shrugged and said, "At the very least, there should be poison."

All three looked thoughtful. Jia Chuan stood up, opened the door, and looked at Dong Yuanyuan, who was practicing with Dahuang in the courtyard with a cold glint in her eyes... Gao Yunduo, who was not far away, said softly, "She shouldn't have gambled with her marriage."

"What are you muttering about?" Gao Yuntian asked as he walked over.

"I said it's helpful to sit down and talk about the case. Now I've figured out who killed the master and servant."

"Who?"

"Old Zheng! Perform an autopsy!"

……

Old Zheng came out of the west wing cursing.

Last night, Jia Chuan slept soundly, snoring loudly. But Old Zheng's shadow hadn't dissipated yet. He had been scaring himself all night. In the morning, he went to Chen Mo and Gao Yuntian's room to sleep for a while. After lunch, he slept again. He was sound asleep when Shunzi woke him up, saying that they had to do another autopsy. How could he not curse?

Old Zheng could draw those two corpses with his eyes closed, so what else could they be examined for?

Inside the side room were Jia Chuan and Old Zheng squatting on the ground, while Cai Lian was still standing by the wall.

In the courtyard, Gao Yuntian asked Chen Mo in a low voice, "You said he examines people eight times a day, is it to examine corpses or to see someone?"

Chen Mo turned his head and glanced at Gao Yunduo, who was teasing Han Guang, before answering in a low voice, "You're not as successful as your sister. Jia Chuan doesn't seem like he's up to anything. I also think that woman is strange. What kind of young lady would clamor to get married? Her uncle and cousin both work at the herb-gathering bureau. She's been here for several years, why hasn't she gotten married yet? Besides, Jia Chuan is at least a seventh or eighth-rank official, how could she dare to dream of marriage?"

“I’m just worried that Jia Chuan will be infatuated with beauty and lose his sense of propriety, then I can’t help him.”

"You should worry about yourself; he won't."

"Can you do it? If you can, why can't he? I'd better keep a closer eye on him." Gao Yuntian mustered his courage and approached the side room, but finally stopped at the door. Although he didn't go in, he could hear the voices inside.

"...This is so clear. Before, I was like a fool, running back and forth."

"You know what, comparing them like this, it's likely that the two of them were actually poisoned by different kinds of poison."

“Of course, the people who did it were not the same, so the medicine used would naturally be different.” Jia Chuan finished speaking and turned to look at Cai Lian.

Upon hearing this, Cailian looked alarmed, not expecting Jia Chuan to turn and look at her at that moment, and had no time to hide her surprise.

Old Zheng also turned his head to look over. He sighed and said, "Girl, you really don't have much time left. When the time comes, even if you kneel down and kowtow, he won't be able to save you."

Cailian dared not look at Jia Chuan, and quickly lowered her head, squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth: "If you agree to marry me, I will tell you... what kind of poison Zhou Cheng was poisoned with."

Jia Chuan stood up, stared at Cai Lian, and said:
"You're not the herb-gathering girl, and the uncle you're talking about isn't your uncle!"

Cailian tried her best to hide her panic, but her body language betrayed her.

"What are you trembling about? Since you dared to stand up, you must have guts. Did you not expect me to expose you? Or do you think I'm eager to find out the truth and get rewarded, and that I'll agree to whatever conditions you set? I'm puzzled. How come I know who the murderer is just because I know what kind of poison Zhou Cheng was given?"

"That's right, young lady. Do you only know what kind of poison Zhou Cheng was poisoned with, or do you know who the culprit is? That's not the same thing. Don't gamble with your life."

Cai Lian couldn't stop her body from trembling.

“I thought you knew Yu Yan before, but now that I see you have nothing to do with the Prince of Han’s mansion, who are you? Don’t try to make up a story to fool me. You’re not from an ordinary family. The pride and stubbornness in your eyes, as well as your age, all show that you are not from an ordinary family.”

Cailian's face paled even more.

Old Zheng suddenly realized: "That's right, she's alright in this situation."

Jia Chuan stared at Cai Lian and said again:
“Zhao Dewen doesn’t want you to get involved, but you insist on getting involved. Obviously, he can’t control you. Although he’s full of lies, I know he has nothing to do with this case. He doesn’t want you to get involved only because… he knows your identity. It’s not that he doesn’t want you to get involved, it’s that he doesn’t want the people behind you to get involved. Who are you? This is your last chance. Zhao Dewen can’t withstand a few more lashes.”

After she finally exhaled the last breath that sustained Cailian, she collapsed to the ground.

The side room was quiet for a short while.

“I am… Mu Lian, the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Qian of Yunnan.”

Gao Yuntian, standing at the door, couldn't help but take a step back, stepping right on Chen Mo's foot. Gao Yuntian didn't shout, but Chen Mo said "Huh?!" for him.

Jia Chuan didn't react to what Mu Lian said, but hearing the commotion at the door, he keenly sensed that this mansion was no ordinary place.

"Get up first, Old Zheng. Take her to the east wing to have some hot water; the floor is cold."

Before Mu Lian could say anything, Jia Chuan went straight out of the side room, gave Gao Yuntian and Chen Mo a wink, and the three of them went to the main room.

……

Jia Chuan needed to know what kind of official the Duke of Qian was and what his standing was in the imperial court in order to judge why this woman named Mu Lian was taking the initiative to contact him.
The three entered the main hall. Gao Yuntian quickly closed the door and turned to say, "No wonder he has such a fiery temper; it turns out he's from the Mu family." Chen Mo replied in a deep voice, "Someone from the Mu family is at the herb-gathering bureau, yet the Embroidered Uniform Guard didn't know."

"Did you hear that wrong? They said 'Duke,' not 'Prince's Mansion,'" Jia Chuan reminded them.

Chen Mo first gave Gao Yuntian a reproachful look before saying, "Then you mentioned the Mu Prince's Mansion." Then he asked Jia Chuan in a low voice, "Do you know who Mu Sheng, the Duke of Qian, is?"

Gao Yuntian hurriedly said, "How would he know? When he was a child, he pulled boats on the river. When he grew up, he hunted in the forest. Let alone Yunnan, he wouldn't know who is who even in Dongzhao County."

Jia Chuan snorted and said, "What I know, you may not know."

Gao Yuntian and Chen Mo both assumed Jia Chuan was referring to his abilities in investigating cases and acting as a coroner, so they didn't argue. They genuinely didn't know anything about that. However, after saying that, Jia Chuan still felt a bit frustrated. Logically speaking, if he returned to the Ming Dynasty, he could become a prophet even if he wasn't a prince. Unfortunately, his historical knowledge was limited, so he could only rely on the arduous task of investigating cases to gain opportunities. If he clearly understood the historical context, wouldn't things be much easier? At least he could avoid trouble.

"Is Commander Lu busy?" Jia Chuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and calmed himself down.

Chen Mo got up, opened the door, looked outside, closed the door again, and sat down in the chair next to Jia Chuan. As if he hadn't heard what Jia Chuan had just said, he said in a low voice, "Mu Sheng is the second son of Mu Ying. Mu Ying was adopted by Emperor Taizu when he was young. In the tenth year of Hongwu, Mu Ying was granted the title of Marquis of Pingxi by Emperor Taizu for his military achievements in pacifying Tibet, Sichuan and Tibet. The title was hereditary."

Gao Yuntian frowned and asked Jia Chuan, "Do you know about titles?"

"nonsense!"

Gao Yuntian pretended not to hear and continued to introduce in a low voice: "Nobility is divided into three ranks: duke, marquis, and earl. At that time, Mu Ying was only a marquis, not a duke. Do you know who the dukes were at that time? Duke of Wei, Xu Da, and Duke of Han, Li Shanchang..."

"Why are you going off on such a tangent? Let's get back to the Mu family!" Chen Mo scolded in a low voice.

Most of the titles of nobility awarded by the imperial court were merely honorary titles, but Mu Ying, though only a marquis, was a marquis with real power. He guarded the border and controlled the military and political power of Yunnan. Although he did not have the title of prince, he had the power of a king. Gradually, the marquis's mansion was called the Mu Prince's Mansion by the common people.

Yunnan is not a region that is easy to control. Not only is it a place where many ethnic groups live together, but it is also a frontier region. The Mu family spent two generations building manors and controlling military garrisons in Yunnan. They also formed marriage alliances with local chieftains, not only firmly establishing themselves in Yunnan but also elevating their noble titles.

Mu Ying died at a very opportune time. He did not live to see the Jingnan Campaign and passed away in the 25th year of the Hongwu reign. His eldest son, Mu Chun, inherited the title of Marquis of Pingxi. Unfortunately, Mu Chun did not live long. Perhaps he also wanted to avoid the problem of the Jingnan Campaign. He passed away at the beginning of the campaign. Since he had no children, the problem fell to Mu Ying's second son, Mu Sheng.

The honor bestowed upon the Mu family by Zhu Yuanzhang. It was precisely because of Zhu Yuanzhang's trust that the Mu family was allowed to serve as both the general and the civil administration officer in Yunnan, wielding power far exceeding that of ordinary nobles. Logically, the Mu family should have supported Emperor Jianwen.

Emperor Jianwen did indeed ask Mu Sheng to mobilize troops, but Mu Sheng did not move them. The main reason was that Yunnan was too far from the battlefield, and their family's main responsibility was to guard the frontier and prevent rebellions by the southwestern chieftains. Should they mobilize troops to the north? This matter needed to be carefully considered and properly prepared.

In the meantime of preparation, the Jingnan Campaign ended.

If Mu Sheng disregarded the safety of the southwest, harbored a heart of gratitude, and granted Jianwen's every request, well... anyway, after Zhu Di ascended the throne, Mu Sheng immediately submitted a memorial of loyalty, which satisfied Zhu Di, and the Mu family could continue to guard Yunnan.

In the sixth year of the Yongle reign, Mu Sheng was rewarded for his meritorious service in the campaign against Annam and was promoted to Duke of Qian by Zhu Di.

When Prince Zhu Su of Zhou was demoted to Yunnan, he stayed at the Mu Prince's Mansion for a period of time.

……

Jia Chuan took a deep breath. This Mu family... is extraordinary.

Who else could steadily rise up from the Hongwu to the Xuande periods?

Of course, Jia Chuan didn't know if there were others, but he knew that someone who could retain his title as the Marquis of Pingxi during the Jingnan Campaign and prevent his family from falling into ruin, and then make timely decisions based on the situation, and then seize the opportunity to make new contributions and be promoted to a higher title, which was not just an honorary title but had real power, what position would such a person hold in Zhu Zhanji's heart?
How could a family like this allow its members to secretly infiltrate the herb-gathering bureau?
Jia Chuan counted on his fingers. The current Duke of Qian had served as a marquis and duke during the reigns of four emperors: Jianwen, Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande. Moreover, he was a man who avoided choosing the wrong side at crucial moments, demonstrating his vision and strategic acumen.

“If this case involves the Mu family… I think you should write a secret letter to the Emperor first. The Duke of Qian is different from the Prince of Han. The Prince of Han is all talk and no action, but the Mu family is different.” Gao Yuntian said earnestly.

Jia Chuan pondered for a moment, then got up and left the room, heading straight for the east wing.

In the east wing, Gao Yunduo and Dong Yuanyuan were sitting with Mu Lian in the hall.

Old Zheng was somewhat better than Jia Chuan. After Mu Lian introduced herself, she knew that this girl should be treated with respect, so she told Gao Yunduo about it.

Gao Yunduo knew what was important. Although she was unhappy, she still politely led Mu Lian to the east wing, served tea, and asked her to sit quietly.

As soon as Jia Chuan entered the room, Mu Lian looked up and immediately said, "I ran away from home, and not many people in my family know about it."

Jia Chuan raised an eyebrow and sat down next to Gao Yunduo. Gao Yunduo got up and pulled Dong Yuanyuan out.

Jia Chuan coughed lightly, and Gao Yuntian's voice came from the doorway: "Aren't you going to listen? Let Yuanyuan rest for a while."

As soon as Gao Yuntian finished speaking, the door was pushed open, and Gao Yuntian and Chen Mo entered the room.

"If you don't want the Duke of Qian's mansion to be implicated, you need to tell me the truth: what have you discovered?" Jia Chuan asked seriously.

Mu Lian stared wide-eyed and asked, "Can you believe me?"

"I can tell whether what you're saying is true or false."

"If I were to speak out, it would surely alarm the imperial court and the Duke of Qian's mansion. But you are unwilling to marry me. Who will protect me then? I do not wish to marry the chieftain as a concubine. I would rather die than do so!"

Jia Chuan frowned and said, "Even if you don't speak up, this case will still alarm the imperial court. And now that I know your identity, there's no reason for me not to report it. At that point, it won't just be a question of who you marry, but whether the Mu family... can still stay in Yunnan? Will their titles and even the lives of the entire family still be safe?"

Mu Lian said urgently, "What they did has nothing to do with the Mu family!"

"This isn't something you can just say is irrelevant. You say that not many people in the Mu family know you're in the herb-gathering bureau, but you know me, and you know me very well. If no one informed you, no one explained things to you in detail, how could you be so bold as to ask me to marry you? And how could you know that I could protect you?"

Mu Lian stared at Jia Chuan with wide eyes as if he were a monster. She couldn't understand how this young man, who wasn't even as old as her, could predict everything.

(End of this chapter)