Chapter Ninety-Four: Ambush and Promotion

It was truly bold of him.

After being roused by a splash of cold water and seeing his own grandfather bound fast, Tao Qing suddenly shouted, “Di Ying, do you know what contribution I, through my studies in practical invention, have made to the dynasty?

“Every datum I record is a priceless treasure. Men of my talent should be worshiped by all and protected with every resource. That was only a commoner; for him to serve as the target of my experiments was a blessing earned over several lifetimes! Do you not understand the principle that one great general’s success rests on the bones of ten thousand men? How dare you hurt me for that? How dare you kill me?

“Do you not understand the importance of talent? Do you have even the slightest concern for the future of the dynasty?!”

Di Ying nodded, agreeing in earnest. “You are right. All of it is right.”

A spark of hope lit Tao Qing’s eyes.

But then he heard Di Ying’s order: “Life knows no rank or lowliness. To trample upon another’s life under the pretext of practical invention is a capital offense!”

Tao Qing broke down and screamed, “You dare!”

“Hah!” Di Ying answered with a cold laugh.

A blade of chilling light flashed past, cutting off every word Tao Qing had left to say for this life.

And Tao Changling, who had been held down and could not break free, could only watch helplessly as his fifth grandson Tao Qing, once more doused awake, lost his head while fully conscious.

The severed head rolled across the floor, and those eyes were still staring straight at him, filled with desperate hope.

Tao Changling...

Collapsed completely.

At that moment, from the side chamber of the courtroom, Zhang Jian led out the county magistrate’s staff of officials, all of them walking slowly, their faces full of shock.

They had witnessed the entire hearing from beginning to end.

Once outside, they clasped their hands toward Di Ying and bowed in unison. “Lord Di is truly a god among men.”

A case of such obscurity, with scarcely a clue and yet entangled with power at court, had been solved by Di Ying just like that.

The impact on them was overwhelming.

Zhang Jian bent low at the waist.

In his heart there was awe, and shame; enlightenment, and gratitude.

He said sincerely, “Thank you, Lord Di, for your care and protection of us.”

Di Ying smiled and signaled for them to rise. Then he said to Zhang Jian, “I am no god, only a man who, when faced with a case, thinks a little more because responsibility demands it.

“Protecting you also falls within my duties. There is no need for you to take it to heart.

“Lord Zhang, you are meticulous, cautious, intelligent, and keenly perceptive. In wit and strategy, you are not beneath me. If in the future you can set your mind on the right path, your prospects will be limitless.”

“I shall obey your instruction and heed your correction!” Zhang Jian bowed deeply.

His admiration for Lord Di could no longer be put into words.

He, and they all, understood in their hearts: this hearing had been a lesson for them. Yet to prevent a mad retaliation from Tao Changling, they were allowed to listen only from the shadows.

That was Di Ying: broad in spirit, willing to give them a chance to amend their ways, and at the same time offering them direction and the drive to improve.

“All right, all of you get back to work. I shall be taking my leave. Lord Zhang, I trust that within one month you will resolve all of the outstanding cases. If you truly encounter difficulties, send someone to find me at the Court of Judicial Review. So long as you do not grow careless or slack, that will be enough.

“Also: after Tao Changling wakes, if he asks you anything about me, you need not hide it. Tell him whatever he wishes to know.”

With both hands, Di Ying helped Zhang Jian upright, then gave his final instructions with grave seriousness before departing.

Watching Di Ying’s back as he left, Zhang Jian sighed again.

“Lord Di is worthy of being Lord Di. We once looked down on him and made things difficult for him, yet he not only held nothing against us, he continuously protected and guided us with such consideration. I, Zhang Jian, could never compare.”

The others all nodded at that.

They understood: Di Ying’s final words were meant to direct all of Tao Changling’s fury at Di Ying alone.

And indeed, once Tao Changling awoke, he kept questioning Zhang Jian and the others relentlessly.

But seeing that their attitude was sound and that they answered every question, Tao Changling devoted himself entirely to hating Di Ying.

Since he did not interfere with the affairs of Peace County, Zhang Jian and the others were able to remain safe.

And Tao Changling did not know this: how could Zhang Jian and the others, whose spirits had been kindled, remain the same as before?

Tao Qing’s execution did not merely rouse the people; it also filled Zhang Jian and the rest with surging blood and fierce spirit.

Who among them was not a man who stood while pissing?

That very night, the county lieutenant led men in secret and intercepted a group of assassins pursuing Lord Di.

After that, the people of the Tao household discovered that their once blossoming, smooth-sailing days had quietly changed.

Bit by bit, they became unbearable.

A suffering that could not be named.

...

And Di Ying, upon hearing Peng Liang report that one band of attackers had been intercepted and killed by another group of masked men, merely smiled faintly.

Good seeds, in good soil, will always take root and sprout.

Who said he, Di Ying, knew nothing of farming?

After leaving Peace County, Di Ying and his party detoured back to Han Family Village, where they told the villagers of Han Lixing’s cause of death and the fate of the murderer.

Han Lixing was given a proper burial in the ancestral ground at the village entrance.

And when Han Lixing’s parents and the villagers wished to thank Lord Di, Lord Di had already gone, and no one knew where.

The two children of the Han family suddenly became much more sensible, and within their hearts there arose a goal to strive for in the future.

See? The punishment of the murderer means so much to the victim.

That was the force that drove Di Ying to hold fast to the law in his heart.

With every case he solved and every lawbreaker he brought to justice, Di Ying’s spirit grew stronger.

And after he had thoroughly cleared away the backlog of old cases...

In the twelfth month of the seventh year of the Great Xia calendar, Di Ying was jointly impeached by several court ministers.

As he listened during the morning audience to their itemized denunciations, Di Ying merely blinked his phoenix eyes.

Some ministers below began whispering.

“Lord Di certainly has ability. How long has he even been in office at the Court of Judicial Review? Just a little over a year, right? And he’s already made so many enemies. Impressive.”

“Exactly. In just over a year, he cleared out a backlog of cases involving more than seventeen thousand people. Who among us can do that? No wonder he’s being impeached.”

“You mean... there were wrongful cases among them? And that provoked revenge?”

“No, no, nothing like that. But the strange part is exactly there. I heard that among those more than ten thousand implicated people, not a single one filed an appeal or defense.”

“Huh? That’s incredible.”

“And what did you expect? If it were us, who could manage that? Could you do it? Could you? Or you? Anyway, I couldn’t.”

“So this impeachment must be, well... because they got their tails burned? Or maybe because of jealousy?”

“Shh...”

At the mention of sensitive matters, they hurriedly fell silent.

The old emperor on the high throne was thinking the same thing: Di Ying was simply too capable, and had poked straight into the lungs and hearts of certain people.

He knocked on the dragon table and said, “Enough. Stop reading. You went to the trouble of preparing such a long memorial; aren’t you tired? Do you really take me for a fool? Who ordered you to do this—do you think I have no idea in my heart?

“You lot simply cannot bear that beside me there is someone useful, someone I can use.

“But can I be blamed for that? Can I be blamed for treating Di Huaijie well?

“If each of you were useful and employable, would he still stand out? Would I still value him?”

Then the old emperor straightened in his seat, picked up a memorial, and opened it.

In a solemn voice he declared, “Let my decree be known: from this day forth, promote Di Ying to the rank of Senior Judicial Censor of the Court, third class, and have him assist the Grand Censor Wu Yongchang in jointly overseeing the governance of court officials and devoting every effort to criminal investigations.

“Promote Yao Cong to Deputy Regional Commandant of Mao Prefecture, third class, lower grade.

“Promote Zhang Jian to Junior Investigating Censor, eighth class, lower grade.

“May all of you unite your hearts and toil together, serving the dynasty with every last ounce of your strength!”

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long, long live the Emperor!”

As the court was dismissed, the officials finished their prostrations and left the hall in twos and threes.

Di Ying also walked out, head lowered and steps heavy.

At a glance, he seemed not at all pleased by his promotion, and more like an eggplant beaten by frost.

Seeing this, someone exchanged a knowing smile with his companion.