Ger, So Proud

Chapter 114: The Outcome

Due to the need to maintain a critical condition, only half of the poison in Wang Fucheng’s body had been neutralized at the beginning, leaving his life hanging by a thread. They originally thought there would be no risk to his life, but who could have expected…

“Your brother has fainted from crying, my lord, please go and see him!” The servant, who was a trusted aide of Li Deming and well aware of the situation, was now also in a panic.

“Heaven wants to end me…” Blood surged up to Li Deming’s throat, and as he began to lose consciousness, he could only hear the servant’s panicked shouts.

Wang Fucheng’s severe illness had been the crucial leverage in this case. Now that he was dead, Zhou Wen would certainly conduct a thorough investigation during the retrial. How could they possibly escape scrutiny?

When Li Deming woke up, it was already late. “Someone!”

“My lord?”

“Hurry, help me to the main hall to see Fucheng, my nephew…” After half a day of dazeness, he had come to a decision.

By this time, the Wang residence was already draped in white mourning attire. The servants walked around carrying white lanterns, making the entire residence feel dim and desolate. Wang Fucheng was the only son of the Wang family, pampered and spoiled by his parents. Now that he was dead, the family line was cut off, and the pain of having no descendants was unbearable. If they were careless, their own lives could be at risk.

“My lord, we have arrived…”

Li Deming closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they were red-rimmed. He pushed aside the servant’s support and stumbled into the room, crying out, “My dear Fucheng, how could this happen… Uncle is so sorry!”

Inside, Dad Wang was leaning on Wang Fucheng’s coffin, crying uncontrollably. Evidently, in the past half-day, Wang Fucheng’s body had already been placed in the coffin.

Wearing mourning clothes, Wang’s father sat on the ground, silently shedding tears, “My son…”

As soon as Li Deming entered, the couple turned to him, their eyes filled with a mix of anger and hatred, but they didn’t rush forward. Li Deming continued to cry by the coffin, his grief so palpable it moved everyone to tears.

After nearly half an hour, he wiped his tears. “Brother, brother-in-law, I know Fucheng’s death is a huge blow to you, and it is to me as well. I don’t have a son, and over the years, Fucheng was like a son to me. Fucheng wasn’t good at studying, so I was thinking that when I became the county magistrate of Qiong County, I could get him a position as a registrar. In a generation or two, the Wang family could become a scholarly household…”

As he spoke, Li Deming choked up again.

Wang’s father and dad remained silent.

Li Deming continued, “It’s my fault… If I hadn’t been old and confused, agreeing to let Fucheng act as bait out of a moment of anger, it wouldn’t have come to this! It wouldn’t have come to this! Now that he’s gone, those of us still living must live well. You two are still young, and Heaven may show mercy; perhaps Fucheng can be reborn…”

Dad Wang’s eyes were bloodshot. “Can he really?”

“He can, he surely can!” Li Deming wiped his tears as he spoke. “As long as you take good care of yourselves, the Wang family’s line won’t be broken. Now that Fucheng is gone, this case is still unresolved. Zhou Wen has gained favor, so this case is likely to be left unresolved. My suggestion is that it’s better to keep a low profile for now. If we blow this up, not only will it affect me, but the Wang family’s estate will also be at risk from the covetous eyes of the Luo family. What do you think?”

“Brother, do you mean my son should die in vain?” Wang’s father’s eyes were filled with rage, as if he wanted to devour someone.

“Brother-in-law, there’s no need to speak like that. It’s just a temporary forbearance. Once Zhou Wen is transferred, the Luo family will be a toothless tiger. And that little brat from the He family, without a powerful backing, you can exact revenge on him for Fucheng in any way you want.”

“Brother! You only care about your official position! If it weren’t for your insatiable greed, how would my Fucheng have ended up like this…”

“Enough!” Wang’s father staggered to his feet and helped his wife up as well. “We understand your intentions, brother. It’s all about weighing the pros and cons, considering the greater good. But Fucheng has just passed away. Please understand how my wife and I feel. We will give you our answer in a few days.”

“The pain of losing a child, I feel it deeply… Ah, even if my brother misunderstands me, I still have to say this. I’m just a minor official, constantly bullied in the capital. If it weren’t for my brother, for Fucheng whom I’ve treated as my own son, I would have long given up this damn official post. Enough! The Wang family’s estate has been passed down for generations; brother-in-law should think this through carefully!”

After saying this, Li Deming left, brushing his sleeves.

In the mourning hall, Wang’s father held Dad Wang, closing his eyes as tears streamed down.

……

Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During these days, Zhou Wen was restless, like a bride in a new house anxiously waiting for his husband to lift his veil.

One evening, he returned home under the moonlit willow trees. Inside, his wife Ni Luo, was waiting for him. As he approached, he caught a whiff of alcohol and wrinkled his nose. “Have you been drinking with that He family boy in the jail again?”

“Just a little, just a little,” Zhou Wen smiled obsequiously. “Still no news yet, and my mind is all over the place.”

The couple had a good relationship, and Zhou Wen usually didn’t keep things from him. However, the matter at hand was of utmost importance. The conversation he had with He Ze in the jail after the “miracle” was absolutely confidential. Thus, his wife only thought he was worried about reporting the miracle.

“From the county capital to the imperial capital, even a lone rider on a fast horse would take five or six days. Didn’t you say Lord Zhao was personally returning to the capital? With the weariness of travel, even if he rushed, he would just be arriving in the capital around now. Be patient and wait a bit longer. Normally, you’re not this impatient.” Ni Luo handed him fresh clothes to change into, speaking with mild annoyance.

“You don’t understand. Can you compare this matter with anything from the past? I feel like I’m back to the anxious days of waiting for the results of the imperial examination.”

“You wish, thinking about it makes you ten years younger.” Ni Luo teased him, then sighed. “Let’s just hope for a good outcome. Otherwise…”

“It will be fine.” Zhou Wen replied firmly, though it was unclear if he was trying to reassure him or himself. “I saw it with my own eyes that night; it can’t be fake. Besides, I did what was within my duty. No matter what happens, they can’t blame me.”

Ni Luo pinched Zhou Wen. “You keep fooling me. If only things in officialdom were so simple… But still, if you’re so worried, why not discuss it with Yangji and the others instead of drinking with a youngster…”

“You don’t understand. That He family boy is truly remarkable, full of brilliant ideas and vast knowledge. In some areas, I’m not even his equal… Besides, he has real skills… Never mind, what do you know, being a ger!”

Zhou Wen’s anxiety lasted for another ten days until finally, a message arrived from the county capital.

Early that morning, just as dawn broke, the door of his residence was pounded urgently. Zhou Wen rushed out without even putting on his shoes, and Ni Luo hurriedly threw on a robe and followed him out.

It was a letter from Inspector Zhang of the county capital. Zhou Wen carefully tore it open. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the letter.

“Safe.”

The large character “Safe” caught his eye, and the weight pressing on Zhou Wen for nearly a month was finally lifted. He felt an urge to laugh out loud in relief.

“Sir, my master requests that after reading the letter, you visit the county capital.” The messenger said.

“Alright, wait a moment while I get ready. Someone, prepare a carriage immediately!”

He Ze was informed of this by Luo Zhanming, who reported, “We’ve received the news. Everything went smoothly. Congratulations, Brother He, you’ll be out soon.”

Three or four days later, Zhou Wen returned from the county capital. He Ze finally learned the detailed situation.

“I saw the message from Lord Zhao. That fruit is indeed a rare treasure. The Emperor first had an old eunuch try half of it, and within half a day, the eunuch’s white hair turned black and his wrinkles disappeared. Lord Zhang also volunteered to try half, and he highly praised the ‘divine fruit’. Of the remaining two, the Emperor consumed one, curing his chronic illness, and the Empress Dowager consumed the other, instantly regaining his youth. This has become a miracle in the capital!”

“The Emperor is overjoyed. He even had the Astronomical Bureau calculate the best time and place to transplant the broken branch of the divine fruit. He asked me to immediately submit a memorial detailing the entire miracle. Brother He, we succeeded!!!”

“It’s not our achievement; it’s all due to the Emperor’s wisdom and virtue moving the heavens. But congratulations, Lord Zhou… *cough*…”

Unlike the jubilant Zhou Wen, He Ze’s face turned somewhat pale, and before he could finish his sentence, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Brother He, what’s happening to you?”

“The cycles of birth, aging, sickness, and death are part of the natural order. Since this is an object defying nature, there must be a price to pay. Though I possess some skills, I can’t completely avoid the consequences. I’m afraid I’ve damaged my foundation and have shortened my life by at least ten years.” He Ze wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, smiling bitterly.

“This… No wonder you look so pale. It’s all my fault. I kept persuading you to drink these days…” Zhou Wen said guiltily, helping He Ze to sit on the grass mat. “You should have said something. Brother He, you must take good care of yourself. Now that the situation is settled, you will soon be out of here. Won’t it be wonderful to reunite with your wife and child?”

“What you say is true, my lord…”

Zhou Wen waved his hand. “How many times have I told you, stop calling me ‘lord’. But forget it, you seem unable to change that. Now, rest well. I’ll call Yangji to get a doctor for you. Even with special skills, you shouldn’t neglect your health!”

After sending Zhou Wen away, He Ze also dismissed the doctor who came to check on him.

In truth, there was no backlash from any spell. He Ze had simply injured himself with his abilities. The symptoms were such that the doctor couldn’t find anything wrong, diagnosing only minor injuries.

He Ze dared not test human nature, but given the situation, he could only make some amends. He hoped that Zhou Wen would not do anything foolish in the future.

Another half month passed. During this time, Zhou Wen’s memorial reached the capital, and the imperial decree from the capital was brought to Qiongchuan by Zhao Qing.