Chapter 8: A Good Person
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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The Ministry of Records was located below the Imperial City. As Lin Xiu approached the entrance, he was stopped by a guard.
“Who goes there? What business do you have at the Ministry of Records?”
Sun Dali, hands on his hips, puffed up his chest. “Are you blind? You don’t even recognize your own superior?”
At that moment, another guard hurried forward with a fawning smile. “He’s new here, hasn’t met Master Lin before. Please don’t take offense, Master Lin. This way, please…”
Although the position of clerk wasn’t high-ranking, merely a Ninth Rank official, an official was still an official, not someone these low-level functionaries could afford to offend.
Lin Xiu didn’t bother with the guard. After agreeing with Sun Dali on a time to pick him up, he walked straight through the Ministry of Records gates.
After Lin Xiu entered, the new guard asked curiously, “Who was that? I’ve been here for a month and I’ve never seen him before.”
The other guard shook his head, whispering, “Someone who bought his way in with money. Strange, though. He hardly ever comes to the office. What brings him here today…”
Inside the courtyard, directly ahead was the main hall of the Ministry of Records, also where court was held. On either side were the various departments. After spotting the sign for the “Archives,” Lin Xiu crossed a long corridor and entered.
The Archives were usually quiet. The other three clerks were chatting and joking. Seeing someone enter, they looked up and, recognizing Lin Xiu, their faces registered surprise.
They knew him. Supervisor Chen had specifically instructed them to look after him. But after a few initial appearances, he’d vanished. What wind had blown him in today?
The three smiled faintly at Lin Xiu in greeting, then resumed their conversation.
Lin Xiu nodded politely, his gaze sweeping the room. Besides rows of bookshelves, the room contained four desks. Three were spotless, their writing materials neatly arranged. The last desk was piled high with clutter. Clearly, that was his.
Lin Xiu walked over, tidied the mess, fetched a basin of water, wiped the entire desk clean, then sat down and picked up a random book.
His eyes were on the book, but his mind was elsewhere.
The Mystical Arts Academy wouldn’t pay much attention to those with low talent like him. Apart from a monthly stipend, free access to the library, and the option to consult instructors, they had access to no other resources.
And the Academy didn’t care what they did in their free time.
For Lin Xiu, the greatest benefit of joining the Academy was the opportunity to interact with various ability users. He had to find a way to make more friends. Only after becoming familiar with them would he have the chance for prolonged physical contact.
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This matter required careful planning. For now, he still needed to cling tightly to Zhao Lingyin. His cultivation depended on her.
As for the Ministry of Records, there was usually nothing to do. He just needed to show up occasionally to avoid being fired, fulfilling his obligation to Baron Ping’an and his wife.
As Lin Xiu planned his future, the three clerks ignored him, only wondering why the previously stuffy Archives had suddenly become so cool after his arrival…
After half an hour, Lin Xiu decided to try his luck at the Mystical Arts Academy while he still had time.
Exiting the Archives, he glanced across the courtyard and noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance of the main hall. Outside the building, more people were milling about.
Driven by curiosity, he moved closer.
Inside the main hall, guards lined up in two rows. In the center lay a straw mat covered with a white cloth, only a pair of feet visible underneath.
A richly dressed young man sat with his legs crossed, glancing at the mat. “She hanged herself,” he said. “Why did you summon me here?”
Looking at the arrogant, unfazed young man, the Ministry of Records magistrate felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples and asked, “Witnesses saw Wang Shi enter your residence yesterday. Today, she was found hanged at home. What explanation do you have for this?”
The young man shook his head. “She did enter my residence yesterday, but she did so willingly, after receiving payment from me. Afterward, she left. She hanged herself in her own home. What does that have to do with me?”
The magistrate pressed, “If she went willingly, why would she hang herself?”
The young man retorted, “What kind of question is that? She hanged herself, what does it have to do with me? Perhaps she was troubled by other matters, who knows…”
Silence fell upon the court.
Then, an elderly man kneeling beside the mat cried out, “Your Honor, that’s not true! My daughter has always been virtuous, how could she engage in such conduct? I beg you, clear my daughter’s name, give her justice!”
The magistrate paused, then slowly said, “Wang Shi’s death by hanging cannot be directly linked to Qin Cong. This case will be further investigated by the Ministry of Records…”
These were clearly placating words. Hearing this, the old man’s face turned ashen, as if all strength had left him. He slumped to the ground, murmuring, “Wronged, my daughter was wronged…”
At this point, the young man in the chair slowly rose, cupped his hands toward the magistrate, and said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave…”
“Hold on.”
He had only taken two steps when a voice came from outside.
The crowd parted, allowing a figure to enter. He first bowed to the magistrate, then said, “Your Honor, Wang Shi did not hang herself. She was murdered.”
Without waiting for a response, he pointed at the body under the white cloth. “If someone hangs themselves, their feet will dangle limply. This body’s feet are stiff, pointing upwards, indicating she likely died before being hanged, and some time ago at that. Moreover, someone who hangs themselves will have their tongue protruding, their face bruised and contorted. But if they are hanged after death, their tongue will be retracted, and their face pale rather than purplish. Whether the deceased hanged herself or was murdered and then hung can be determined simply by lifting this cloth…”
As Lin Xiu’s words fell, the young man standing not far from him subtly narrowed his eyes.
The magistrate, who had been about to adjourn the court, looked intently at Lin Xiu, then asked the coroner in the corner, “Is what he says true?”
The coroner hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, Your Honor.”
The magistrate pointed to a guard. “Lift the cloth.”
“Yes, sir!”
The guard rushed forward, lifted the cloth, revealing the face of a young woman. Her features were delicate, her face pale. Lying there so still, she evoked a pang of pity.
Her face was indeed pale, her tongue not protruding.
“Just as he said!”
“So, she was murdered, then staged to look like a suicide?”
“Isn’t that Clerk Lin? How does he know more than the coroner…?”
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In the hall, the magistrate took a deep breath. “This case is full of suspicious points. Young Master Qin, you are not yet clear of suspicion. I’m afraid you’ll have to remain here for a while.”
The young man seemed unconcerned. “Very well,” he smiled. “I trust Your Honor will clear my name.”
The magistrate struck the gavel. “This case requires further investigation. Qin Cong will be temporarily detained. Court adjourned!”
As the young man, Qin Cong, was escorted out of the hall by two guards, he glanced back at Lin Xiu, his gaze full of meaning.
Just as Lin Xiu stepped out of the hall, a hand grabbed him and pulled him towards the Archives.
A middle-aged man in official robes frowned at him. “Why did you have to show off? Did you think the coroner couldn’t tell the difference between a hanging before and after death? Did you think the magistrate didn’t know this case was suspicious? Did you think everyone was oblivious, and only you were clever?”
Although Lin Xiu didn’t recognize the man, he quickly guessed his identity. The only person in the Ministry of Records who would speak to him in this tone was his father’s old friend, Supervisor Chen, the head of the Archives. It was through him that he had obtained his clerk position.
Feigning ignorance, Lin Xiu asked, “Uncle Chen, if the magistrate knew she was murdered, why didn’t he say so?”
The man shook his head. “Things aren’t as simple as you think. That Qin Cong is the son of First Rank Baron Qin Wu. Even the magistrate can’t afford to offend the Qin family, let alone you. Now that you’ve stirred things up and Qin Cong is in jail, there’s no guarantee the Qin family won’t hold a grudge against you…”
Lin Xiu feigned sudden understanding, his face filled with panic. “Uncle Chen, what should I do now?”
The man pondered. “Don’t worry too much. The Qin family should be able to smooth this over. Although your Lin family is in decline, you’re still nobility. They likely won’t dare to do anything to you. But remember, in the future, never get involved in such matters again.”
Lin Xiu adopted a chastened tone. “I understand. Thank you for the warning, Uncle Chen.”
Supervisor Chen waved his hand. “Just be mindful. If something were to happen to you here, I wouldn’t be able to face your father.”
After giving Lin Xiu a final warning, Supervisor Chen left.
Lin Xiu sat back down, letting out a soft sigh of relief.
The Ministry of Records was the investigative authority in the capital. The officials and guards here were sharp. What Lin Xiu knew, they would also know.
He had seen it while standing outside the hall; the magistrate was clearly wary of that young man.
It was best not to get involved.
But seeing the woman’s body laid out in the hall, the old man slumped on the ground, his expression helpless and despairing, Lin Xiu’s heart had softened.
Even though his own life was far from perfect, he couldn’t bear to witness such suffering.
He had been the same in his previous life.
He had always been eager to donate to disaster relief. Seeing children in mountainous areas too poor to afford schooling, he would donate a truckload of textbooks. On a whim, he would give all the money he had to beggars on the street, buy all the oranges from elderly vendors braving the cold night wind, even though he didn’t particularly like oranges.
Perhaps this was why, after breakups, his ex-girlfriends were always willing to introduce their friends to him. They often described him this way: Lin Xiu might be a bit of a scoundrel in relationships, but he was definitely a good person.
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