Chapter Sixty-Nine: Success

As soon as Ping Clan’s Seventh Young Master stepped into Drunken Moon Pavilion, the little beggar who had handed him the note darted away into an alley.

“Brother Luo, we’ve got it—hee hee, so much gold!”

Luo took the purse from him, and seeing how the little beggar stared at it with longing, clicked his tongue and said, “What’s the rush? I told you, this money is for you all to leave this place—it’s your travel fare, to be split evenly among you. I won’t take a single coin!”

“Alright!” The little beggar leapt with joy. He was experienced—just by the feel of the purse, he knew how much was inside. Split evenly, there must be at least a hundred taels of gold! Tsk tsk, he’d never seen so much money in his life. Just the thought that, in the blink of an eye, he and his fellow beggars were about to become rich made him feel light as air.

Lu Ying felt quite uncomfortable in the scarlet gown she wore.

Compared to her cold and unremarkable nature, this attire was much too flamboyant and eye-catching, especially as it accentuated her skin and figure. Though there was nothing inappropriate about it, for the women of her status often dressed so, Lu Ying, accustomed as she was to plain features and simple dress, found herself ill at ease.

Therefore, having achieved her aim of causing a stir, she hurried home straight away.

When she entered the alley, Lu Ying suddenly turned her head; but after looking around for some time, she noticed nothing unusual. Dismissing her doubts, she hastened home and changed back into her usual clothes.

After tidying up the house, she estimated the time and, seeing it was right, stepped out once more.

By now, the setting sun bathed the world in gold, and Drunken Moon Pavilion was already festooned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with guests.

Among the ceaseless flow of people, the madam of Drunken Moon Pavilion emerged, following behind Ping Clan’s Seventh Young Master. Swaying her hips, she smiled and said, “Young Master of the Ping family, it’s not that this old woman mistrusts your character, but since ancient times, who visits a courtesan without bringing money? Besides, you’ve not shown yourself in Hanyang for quite some time—if not for Xiyue recognizing you, I wouldn’t have believed your story!”

Her voice was low, so only Ping Seventh Young Master could hear her words. After all, she was an old fox herself—since she’d agreed to let him pay on credit, there was no need to embarrass him in public. Still, it had to be said, if only to remind him.

Though no one else paid attention, Ping Seventh Young Master’s face was dark and unsightly. Never had he imagined that one day he’d be caught off guard like this: not only had his purse been stolen, but he was now branded a freeloader!

A freeloader! Was he, Ping Clan’s Seventh Young Master, such a man?

What was worse, he couldn’t even remember where he’d lost his purse. If he ever found the thief, he’d torment them until they begged for death. How dare anyone make him lose such face? He’d see their whole family dead! For years, the Ping family had dominated Hanyang—who had ever dared offend them?

Seething with humiliation and rage, his expression twisted and turned ashen. Forcing himself to clasp his fists in salute to the chattering madam, he strode away.

Perhaps ill fortune dogged him.

For as Ping Seventh Young Master hurried off, a small, filthy figure suddenly ran toward him in a panic!

At that moment, Ping was so full of anger that he paid no heed, and the figure kept glancing back in agitation—so much so that, running blindly, the two collided with a solid thud.

Had it just been a collision, it would have been nothing. But the key was, as the little beggar was knocked askew into Ping’s arms, his right hand, groping for balance, inadvertently grabbed Ping’s most vital part!

“Ah!” Ping, who had just begun to recover his composure, was struck with excruciating pain. His anguished scream drew every eye; humiliated and furious, he could no longer suppress his violent nature. He shoved the little beggar to the ground and began kicking at his head and small body without restraint.

As he stomped, Ping gritted his teeth and cursed, “You damned brat! Was it you who stole my purse just now? I’ll beat you to death, you little beast!”

He’d only kicked twice when the beggar, agile as a monkey, began rolling and howling on the ground, shrieking, “Help! The Filial and Incorrupt Official is beating people—help! Someone save me, the Ping family’s official is going to kill me!”

The beggar’s cries were pitiful, his writhing body seemingly tormented by pain and fear—a truly pathetic sight.

Instantly, the crowd gathered. While some hesitated about intervening, many began to whisper, “Who is that?”

“They say he’s the Ping family’s Filial and Incorrupt Official.”

“Impossible! Aren’t officials like that supposed to be paragons of virtue? How could such a man be one?”

“Hmph, what virtue? That’s just a rich man’s game. Didn’t you see him coming out of Drunken Moon Pavilion?”

Amid the clamor, a small voice piped up, “I heard the madam say this official visited a courtesan but refused to pay.”

Refusing to pay for a woman? That was headline news. The murmurs swelled into an uproar.

Ping Seventh Young Master had only kicked the beggar a few times before the chorus of accusations and curses became overwhelming. After hearing just two sentences, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

This was bad!

His face turned white; clenching his teeth, he tried to push his way out.

But just as he tried to leave, the little beggar clung tightly to his legs, wailing, “Please, sir, spare me! I beg you, please spare me!”

Though the beggar was clearly the one holding on, the crowd thought Ping was the one pinning him down, and, moved by the beggar’s desperate cries, their anger only grew louder.

Ping Seventh Young Master shivered with cold dread. An inexpressible terror rose in his chest. In his panic, he looked around wildly, and his gaze met that of an old man who watched him with furious contempt.

Suddenly, Ping’s chest tightened, and darkness swam before his eyes.

At that moment, not only did Ping notice the old man, but Lu Ying, who had been watching among the crowd, noticed as well.

She glanced at the sweating Seventh Young Master, the corner of her mouth curving upward, then turned and left.

What happened next was no longer her concern. With that, Lu Ying returned home.

Lu Yun was waiting for her.

When he saw his sister return, he hurried to greet her.

As Lu Ying closed the door behind her, she looked at her brother and said softly, “It’s done!”

“Sister, what’s done?”

Lu Ying smiled mysteriously. “You’ll know in a couple of days.”

Indeed, a few days later, Lu Yun heard that the three new elders were incensed at the state of affairs in Hanyang. They believed the county magistrate had failed in his duties, allowing the rich and ruthless, even the cruel and wicked, to be named Incorrupt Officials.

The title of Filial and Incorrupt Official was meant for the highest virtue, to reward loyal and righteous men, filial sons, and kind souls. Yet in Hanyang, it had become a ladder for the wealthy to climb. How could these devoted elders, who cared deeply for the new court, not be furious?

Their rage sent ripples through the city; every wealthy family in Hanyang was left trembling.

The county magistrate of Hanyang, long in league with the Ping family and accustomed to receiving vast sums from them each year, would turn a blind eye to their misdeeds. But now, with the Ping family’s misconduct exposed, he too found himself under criticism. Especially after this scandal, his official career was doomed, and so he also turned against the Ping family.

To ruin a man’s prospects is like killing his parents; thus, the corrupt alliance between officials and merchants was utterly broken.

Meanwhile, the Ping family received an edict: for collusion and deceiving the throne, none of their descendants could be nominated as Incorrupt Officials for the next ten years, and their conduct would be announced to the world.

Thus, the Ping family lost their backing and their future. This merchant clan, whose rise had depended on such connections, now had nowhere left to climb.

Having learned all this, Lu Yun was delighted. Especially after Lu Ying told him how she had orchestrated everything, he felt he had grown immensely.

For the first time, he realized that a family with only wealth and no power could be crushed into the mud with a single word.

For the first time, he understood that no matter how arrogant a rich family became, as long as their ties with officials were severed, they were nothing to fear.

That evening, after hearing more gossip about the Ping family at the market, Lu Yun sidled up to his sister and whispered, “Sister, does this mean Grandmother and the others will never come after us again?”

Lu Ying was silent for a while, then shook her head. “Perhaps they will, perhaps they won’t.” Pressing her lips together, she said softly, “The Ping family has lost its path to advancement and has offended the county magistrate; even their reputation is ruined. If nothing unexpected happens, the family will only decline further. The authorities need only adjust their taxes each year to drive the Ping family to ruin.”

What she feared was that, knowing their prospects were hopeless and aware that their reputation was beyond saving, the Ping family might still refuse to see reality, still cling to hope, still attempt to use her as a means to grasp at a powerful patron.

If that day came, she would enact the second step—severing their hands and feet!

For now, she truly wished not to go to such extremes. If they didn’t force her, she would never do so.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Lu Yun spotted a classmate and ran off to play with him.

Engrossed in talk with his friend, Lu Yun didn’t notice when an ox cart suddenly pulled up before Lu Ying. After the person inside said something, his sister’s face went pale. Helplessly, she climbed onto the cart and disappeared from his sight…

…

New book launch, seeking subscriptions and pink tickets. (To be continued)