ITVCFITB CHAPTER 17

 Chapter 17 – Dealing with Lady Liu

Luo Renshou received the urgent message from a household runner. Though he had no idea what it was about, since it mentioned a matter of life and death, he didn’t dare delay. He rushed home at once and simultaneously sent people to summon Luo Shumo and Luo Shuhan back, if something had happened, the two of them might still be of some use.

On the way, he asked the servant who’d come for him, “What on earth is going on?”

“Master, I don’t know either. Steward Qingwang from Third Young Master’s side told me to fetch you, said it’s a matter of life and death.”

Luo Renshou pressed his twitching right eye, uneasy. “Shuyu? What has he done now?”

The servant had no answer. Luo Renshou fretted. Hadn’t the missing dowry already been made up to him? Why stir up more trouble—what new trick was he trying now? Of late, as a father he felt like a mere decoration, led around by the nose.

As soon as he reached the gates, the butler was waiting, face anxious. He led Luo Renshou toward the main hall while explaining, “Master, there’s real trouble this time.”

“What happened? Why the rush? I was in the middle of important business.”

The butler hesitated, then lowered his voice. “Madam’s younger brother, Liu Yong, was caught in our garden committing adultery with the maid Ping’er and caught on the spot by Third Young Master. The girl was bawling that Madam forced her to do… things. Liu Yong, meanwhile, got kicked in the manhood by Third Young Master in a rage, rolled on the ground a good while before he could breathe again. Now Third Young Master’s had them locked up separately, and no one is allowed to see them. He’s also summoned Madam to the hall. With Third Young Master’s face the way it is, it looks like he wants to eat her alive. I reckon it’s blown up big that he even called in guards from the Third Prince’s residence. No one’s allowed in the hall right now.”

Luo Renshou seized on the key point, face darkening. “You said Liu Yong fornicated with a maid in our garden? Does he think the Luo residence is his home or a brothel?”

The butler could only spread his hands. “Master, that maid once served by Madam Chen’s side.” He was shrewd; he didn’t voice his own suspicions, only reminded Luo Renshou of the notorious, public facts.

Luo Renshou’s qi and blood were churning. Still, he’d weathered officialdom for years; he kept himself steady.

What exactly had Luo Shuyu found?

Lately, the only topic sure to provoke Luo Shuyu was his mother. Just thinking of it gave Luo Renshou a headache.

After Ping’er and Liu Yong were caught, Feng Momo promptly brought the Third Prince’s outside guards into the estate to protect Luo Shuyu. Some stood watch at Liu Yong’s door, some at the hall. Inside, several matrons were strictly guarding Ping’er, gagging her to stop her babbling, and binding her limbs to prevent self-harm.

Lady Liu had already been “invited” over by Luo Shuyu. At first she thought he was picking a new fight over the dowry, but when she entered the hall and saw Ping’er, her legs turned to water. This was no small matter!

Her brother Liu Yong had come by that afternoon to ask her for money. In the recent days, with Madam Chen’s dowry being reclaimed, even her authority over accounts had been stripped. Where was she supposed to find silver for him? She’d scolded him and thrown him out. Who could have guessed he’d be bold enough to fornicate with Ping’er inside the Luo residence! She was nearly apoplectic upon hearing it; then, seeing Luo Shuyu’s cold face, her legs weakened further; she could barely stand.

She would have liked to faint and be carried away but Feng Momo was an old hand from the palace, with ways to deal with such “swooning.” Two ruthless pinches to the philtrum and the flesh and Lady Liu behaved, no longer dared act out in front of Luo Shuyu’s icy gaze.

If she couldn’t faint, she could still cry. Luo Shuyu refused to speak; she cried and cried, crying until her children would come save her, crying until the Master came home!

When Luo Renshou reached the hall he saw two armed guards at the door, stern as statues. They let him and the butler pass.

He flared his sleeves. “You’re from the Third Prince’s residence?”

“Yes, Lord Minister. By order of His Highness the Third Prince, we are here to ensure Third Young Master’s safety.”

“Outrageous. My son is in his own home, do you think I would harm him? Get out of the Luo estate at once.”

“Please pardon us, my lord. We cannot obey. When Third Young Master’s business is concluded, we will leave of our own accord. We won’t make things difficult for you.”

He had no recourse. He swept into the hall in a huff.

If it were the Crown Prince or the Eldest Prince he might file a memorial, but the Third Prince feared neither Heaven nor Earth; even His Majesty could hardly restrain him. What could he do? He could only vent a little spluttered anger.

“You show contempt for the law itself,” he snapped.

The guards let him scold them without retort. Compared to their master’s punishments, the Lord Minister’s words were but a draft at the ear.

Household servants had gathered in clusters. The butler barked them away, and they scattered to their chores, heads tucked in.

Inside, Ping’er was bound and kneeling on the floor.

Lady Liu’s eyes brimmed. Seeing Luo Renshou, she sobbed louder. Luo Shuyao and Luo Shuyue stood behind her, fearful that Feng Momo would come pinch noses again. Other servants had been barred; no one else was allowed in.

Luo Shuyue was first to complain. “Father, save Mother! Third Brother is being unreasonable. He detained Mother here and won’t let her leave. You must uphold justice for us!”

Side by side with their tears and contrasted with Luo Shuyu’s cold, composed face, the three of them looked the picture of fragile innocence, pitiful as wind-tossed white blossoms.

Lady Liu whispered weakly, “Master…”

Luo Renshou turned to Luo Shuyu. “Shuyu, what is the meaning of this?”

Compared to the first shock of truth, Luo Shuyu was much calmer now. “Father, why not have your good wife explain?”

Lady Liu struggled. “Master, I know nothing! That maid is framing me!”

Luo Shuyu’s voice was mild. “What are your thoughts about my mother’s ‘sudden illness,’ Father? I was young then and couldn’t tell illness from poisoning. If you think back, perhaps you’ll recall… many details.”

On his way home, Luo Renshou had not imagined Luo Shuyu would pursue his mother’s death, let alone seize Lady Liu outright.

“Your mother died of illness,” he said. “The physician diagnosed consumption.”

“The doctor from Zhongde Hall?” Luo Shuyu snorted. “Their clerks told me the physician Liang who treated my mother struck it rich overnight and vanished, his whereabouts unknown to this day. Tell me, why would a doctor disappear immediately after my mother’s death? You expect me to believe there’s nothing to that?”

Clang! Luo Shuyu hurled his teacup to the floor. It shattered; shards skittered to rest by Lady Liu’s feet, making her shrink against the chair with a squeal.

“Luo Shuyu! What are you doing?!” Luo Renshou barked.

“What am I doing? Seeking justice for my mother.” Luo Shuyu’s voice cut like a blade. “Lady Liu not only embezzled my mother’s dowry, but she is also the very murderer who killed her! You want evidence? Liu Yong and Ping’er are right here. I heard every word they exchanged while rutting. Passing servants saw them half-dressed, don’t say I slander. If you don’t believe it, have a few matrons examine Ping’er’s body and see whether she’s just been with a man! Father, I called you back today to let you handle this here, for the sake of the nearly eighteen stable years I’ve lived in this house, a favor to you and to the Luo name, honoring the debt of being raised. Otherwise, they would already be at the magistrate’s court or better yet, in the Criminal Ministry’s prison. Weigh that as you will.”

“So you’re threatening me?” Luo Renshou dropped the doting father’s mask and spoke with the authority of a minister.

Luo Shuyu didn’t flinch. “Laughable. I speak with reason and proof, and you call it a threat. If you intend to shield Lady Liu, then fine. I’ll take these two away now and hand them to the magistrate, no, the Criminal Ministry suits them better.”

Lady Liu’s legs gave out entirely. After Luo Shuyu’s words, even fainting wouldn’t come; she couldn’t refute a thing. She fell to her knees. “Master, don’t hand Liu Yong to the Criminal Ministry. I confess, I confess! It was my doing. It had nothing to do with him. He’s the sole heir of our Liu line, if he goes to the Criminal Ministry he’ll die!”

Luo Shuyu found her tearful show tiresome. “No need to cry before me, Lady Liu. Why didn’t you think others would cry when you poisoned someone? What use are tears now? Who are you acting for?”

The intended audience, Luo Renshou, was silent. He’d always fallen for Lady Liu’s pear-blossoms-in-the-rain display. A single teardrop and his heart softened. Luo Shuyu had pierced that male vanity with one thrust.

Still, this was a life at stake. He had to think. He softened his tone. “Shuyu, give me a moment to consider.”

“What is there to consider?” Luo Shuyu shot back. “A human life, your lawfully wedded wife’s life, and this is your attitude? Truly eye-opening.”

Luo Shuyue, unlike the shaken Luo Shuyao who had collapsed into a chair, horrified that his mother might be a poisoner, stayed cold-eyed. “Third Brother, you’re using my uncle to force Mother into admitting guilt. What direct evidence do you have that my mother killed anyone? She doesn’t dare even kill a chicken, how would she kill your mother?”

“Oh?” Luo Shuyu looked at her anew. “So by your logic, I forced your dear uncle to run wild in the Luo residence? It was you who gave him that license or Father’s indulgence? Is the Luo residence your Liu clan’s private garden? Kill when you wish, toy with women when you wish? Luo Shuyue, don’t forget, your surname is Luo, not Liu.”

Her tongue was sharp against Luo Shuyao, and she could bully him who was easy to sway; but this Luo Shuyu had sparred with the imperial clan for five years. She wasn’t a match.

Caught between, she could neither defend her mother without looking like a turncoat, nor abandon her. She dropped to her knees and pleaded with Luo Renshou. “Father, you must act for Mother!”

From the imperial edict onward, Luo Shuyu had ceased to show him the old respect; he’d known this summons wasn’t a consultation but a demand to accept the outcome. He sank into the grand chair, defeated. “Since Lady Liu has confessed, I have no more to say.” He was long since disgruntled at her funneling Luo funds to the Liu clan. Using Luo Shuyu’s hand to deal with Liu Yong, he had no objections.

Lady Liu’s tears were no longer delicate; they gushed. Her hair had come loose. “Master, I- I don’t want to die! Don’t send me to the yamen! Shumo and Shuhan can’t have a murderer for a mother, Master!”

He said nothing. Lady Liu crawled to Luo Shuyu. “Shuyu, it was me. I know paper can’t wrap fire. But please, spare your Eldest and Second Brothers. They’ve done nothing to you. Please, spare them.”

“When you poisoned my mother,” Luo Shuyu snapped, “did you think to spare her? Did she kill your whole family or your sons?”

Lady Liu had no words. She slapped her own face. “It was my fault, my greed, my delusion in coveting the mistress’s place, my fault, all mine!” Sons, sole heirs, she’d lost track of her pleas. “Shuyu, I was wrong, truly wrong!”

He pushed her away. “North Mountain Nunnery. Take the tonsure and become a nun. Lamp and sutra for life. If you wish to return to secular life, it will only be over my dead body.”

“You want my mother to die!” Luo Shuyue cried. “How can a nunnery house a human being?”

“My mother is dead,” Luo Shuyu said coldly. “Yours is still alive. A little fasting and chanting, what of it?”

“At this point…” Luo Renshou sighed. “What else?” He knew there was more.

Luo Shuyu and Luo Shuyue stared, disbelieving, at their ever-accommodating father. They rushed to Lady Liu and clung to her, sobbing.

“Back then, the Liu family were fallen merchants,” Luo Shuyu said crisply. “Everything they own now was bankrolled by my mother’s dowry. It all gets reclaimed. As for him, an accomplice, Father, please send him to the yamen on charges of theft and negligent bodily harm; let him serve a good ten-plus years.”

Luo Renshou closed his eyes, then opened them. “Very well. I’ll see to it.”

“Ping’er goes to the yamen as well.” As for the charges, Luo Renshou could compose them.

Ping’er collapsed bonelessly. She knew she was finished.

“Father, anything else to say?” Luo Shuyu asked.

With a complicated mixture of grief and regret, Luo Renshou murmured, “A pity your mother did not bear you as a man.”

At that, Luo Shuyu thought of a line Shen Mingyun often spouted in the book: All humans are born equal.

Man or ger, so what?

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

A loud voice sounded outside. “Who are you people and why won’t you let me in?”

“Let him in,” Luo Shuyu said toward the door.

In came Shen Mingyun. He took in the kneeling Lady Liu and the weeping Luo Shuyu and Luo Shuyue, then shot Luo Shuyu a hostile look. “What have you done to them this time?”

“You’re here to save a murderer?” Luo Shuyu asked mildly.

“…What murderer?” Shen Mingyun froze. He’d only come because he’d received a quest to rescue someone!

Luo Shuyu rose and looked to Luo Renshou. “I trust Father will keep his word.”

Luo Renshou seemed to have aged ten years. Listlessly, he nodded; when he looked at Lady Liu, his eyes were complicated.

As Luo Shuyu was leaving, Shen Mingyun muttered under his breath, “The sky king covers the tiger.”

The pagoda suppresses the river demon.

Luo Shuyu pretended not to understand, face blank as he walked out, ignoring the sobbing trio and the limp Ping’er on the floor.

In his mind, Shen asked the system, “Is he a transmigrator or not?”

The system did not answer, only flashing the words: Quest Failed!!!

Author’s Note:

Third Prince: Wife, wife, you’re the strongest! Wife, wife, you’re the best! Fly free—your husband’s forever at your side!

Luo Shuyu: …

PREVIOUS           TOC           NEXT