This kind of thing wasn’t good to discuss on the street, so the fat Taoist had He Zifeng go to his shop. People like him who dealt in the mystical arts lived day by day with no guarantee of tomorrow. Now that he had made a name for himself in the county, he didn’t want to wander anymore. He had established a shop in this county, not far from Lingshan Village’s shop, making it convenient to get supplies.
The shop’s main hall had several young Taoist boys. The fat Taoist brought He Zifeng to the inner room.
“Master He, this absolutely cannot be consumed!” The fat Taoist said: “I could tell at first glance – this is Five Stone Powder. Although the recipe is different from the old ones passed down from before, the smell is similar. After taking it, one can briefly feel clear-headed and refreshed, but it poisons all five organs.”
Although the fat Taoist also liked to swindle some wealthy people’s money, he only sought wealth and didn’t feel guilty about the silver he took. If he encountered real illness, he could solve it on the spot and received good rewards. But this Five Stone Powder was an evil formula forbidden by the ancestors.
The fat Taoist often moved around the county and said: “It must be that evil Taoist.” He frequently walked around the county town, and several colleagues would also gather to drink. They all said you could cheat money but couldn’t harm lives, in order to continue doing this long-term. If one bad apple appeared, it would implicate them all and leave them without food – that would be truly sinful.
The fat Taoist had initially thought He Zifeng was using it and was scared out of his wits! Now thinking about it, He Zifeng brought this to inquire about it, which meant he didn’t know about this matter. He mentioned that evil Taoist who carried a dark banner around the county office every day, even calling himself a Celestial Master. Those wealthy people who dared to hire him were truly blind!
After the fat Taoist described the evil Taoist’s appearance and characteristics, He Zifeng vaguely seemed to recognize him too.
The fat Taoist, having just encountered He Zifeng, said: “Master He, can I go to the government office to report this case and have this person arrested?”
He Zifeng said: “Yes, I’ll arrange this matter.” Then he asked about what Five Stone Powder episodes looked like and the consumption cycle before leaving.
Then he went to the county office. As soon as he entered, the bailiffs looked at him like he was their savior.
Bing Zi said: “Brother He, you’re finally here! The county magistrate was furious just now.” The sound of him angrily scolding the secretary could be heard even by them. They didn’t dare even breathe heavily, nor did they dare go in to mediate. Inside there was both throwing things and cursing.
Both were people that ordinary bailiffs couldn’t afford to offend, and they had been arguing for quite a while. Someone needed to give both sides a way out. Captain Zhu wasn’t there, so the best candidate was He Zifeng. During the most intense moment earlier, they were all afraid the county magistrate would kill the secretary.
After He Zifeng learned about this, he said: “Those on duty guard the government office. Everyone else go repair the city gates. The current situation is special – no one should slack off!”
When everyone heard He Zifeng speak, they felt like they’d received amnesty. They quickly left – they didn’t want to get involved in this kind of thing. If discovered, they would become cannon fodder. With He Zifeng’s words, they repeatedly left.
He Zifeng then entered the county magistrate’s inner room and indeed found it in complete chaos. Although the secretary usually looked down on the county magistrate, after causing trouble repeatedly, he now didn’t dare talk back when being scolded.
When He Zifeng went in, the secretary imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief.
He Zifeng said: “Your honor, everyone outside has already gone to repair the city. Would you like to go take a look?”
The timing was just right. The county magistrate was tired from scolding and said: “Forget it, I’ll go take a look.” Then he left without even giving the secretary a glance.
The secretary had experienced huge emotional swings repeatedly, plus he had been taking medication continuously. He also couldn’t hold on anymore and swayed. He Zifeng supported him and said: “His honor didn’t mean it that way. You should also take care of your health.”
The secretary couldn’t be bothered to settle accounts with He Zifeng later and said weakly: “Not a word of what just happened can be spoken outside. Otherwise I’ll kill you!” He still wanted to maintain face and dignity, not knowing that his scolding could be heard throughout the entire government office.
The secretary then left the county office. Who knew that just as the secretary went out, those scholars came looking for him. They somehow got word that Gong San had been released. Now the scholars were not having it. Although the prison said it was because Gong San was sick, it sounded fake.
When the secretary saw them approaching aggressively, he was so angry his lungs were about to explode! It was all these troublesome people who brought up old matters and caused him to suffer such humiliation. But right now he couldn’t clash with them head-on, so he hid in the government office.
These scholars were all furious. Last time they were sent away, and then the person was immediately released. Now they swore not to give up. Several people clearly saw the secretary, but when the secretary turned and walked away, they got angry: “Catch him.”
Young people were naturally impulsive and immediately grabbed the secretary. The secretary was someone with status who usually had many people around him, but today even his sedan bearers were nowhere to be seen. Otherwise, just these few people would never have been able to get close.
But the secretary had taken Five Stone Powder before, so his strength was great now. He forcibly broke free from these scholars’ grip and ran. One of the scholars, in his anxiety, pulled out a packet of powder from his body and threw it at the secretary’s face.
A scream was heard from the secretary. Wherever the medicinal powder touched, blood marks immediately seeped out. All the scholars were scared silly. The person who threw the powder was also scared stiff. He repeatedly said to those beside him: “I thought it was chili powder.” He had been persuaded by a man to buy it!
The secretary was still wailing. Everyone knew something serious had happened. They repeatedly went to report the case.
The county magistrate returned with a group of people and immediately called for a doctor to treat him. The county magistrate had these scholars controlled. The person who threw the medicinal powder was almost scared to death.
The doctor quickly came over, applied pain-relieving medicine to him, and reduced the secretary’s suffering, but his appearance could not be restored. As a current dynasty official, appearance was also part of the evaluation. Disfigurement absolutely disqualified one from being a secretary.
When the scholar heard this, he was scared silly. Other bailiffs immediately arrested him, and the rest went to arrest the person who sold the medicinal powder. Soon they brought him back. Not only him, but also about fifty packets of similar medicinal powder!
When the doctor looked, good heavens, it was highly toxic. The man said he had found this poison. This person was idle and liked to wander around looking for treasure. He actually saw signs of earth disturbance at a ruined house. He dug up these poisonous powders and went around selling them. He had only sold one packet before being caught.
When the doctor came to look, it was very similar to the poison used by the male-female deadly duo years ago. All the remaining poison was confiscated and destroyed.
These two people – the seller was beaten twenty times and detained in prison. The scholar who threw the poison had his achievements revoked and was banned from examinations for life.
At this moment, when the secretary realized what had happened, he frantically came over to tear at the two people, no longer having any of his usual dignified appearance. Moreover, his addiction flared up, and soon he was howling strangely. His reaction was like being possessed.
It was his trusted subordinate who tremblingly took out some medicinal powder, stirred it in a cup, and half-forced it down the secretary’s throat. Only then did he feel somewhat comfortable. But his hair had somehow already come loose.
The county magistrate was so stunned by such a major incident that he momentarily didn’t know what to do.
He Zifeng quietly reminded him from the side: “Your honor, this case matter can’t be delayed any longer. In just a few days so many things have happened. It’s better to close the case early.”
The county magistrate steadied himself and then said: “Go, bring that old man, his half-mad daughter, and all the Gong family members.”
The case was re-examined, and this caused another sensation. The county magistrate was determined and issued an ultimatum to the Gong family – people must come. If they didn’t come, he would automatically judge them as the guilty party.
Gong San had just regained consciousness when he was helped to the county office by several servants. There were also many common people outside, and many people from the Gong family came too. Although they had been dissatisfied with the secretary before, they still hoped he could help. But when they arrived and didn’t see the secretary, and were told that ugly monster was the secretary, they were greatly shocked.
When the mad woman saw Gong San, she pounced over to bite him. This was in the government office – how could they allow a mad woman to commit violence? Others separated them. But the mad woman was no longer mad at this moment and recounted in detail how she was forcibly violated by Gong San that day.
What happened? Who was around? Gong San repeatedly denied it, denying it so anxiously that he choked and coughed.
Suddenly someone outside said: “I can testify. That day I indeed saw Young Master Gong San drag her onto a carriage.”
“Years ago, the tailor shop’s daughter also committed suicide. It was said to be related to him too. Who doesn’t know that Third Young Master Gong is not a decent person?”
“Sinful!”
The county magistrate quickly had that witness come to testify. Since one person stepped forward, others also jumped out to testify one after another. The usually clever Gong San also panicked and said: “Your honor, I’m wronged!”
But at this moment no one believed him anymore.
Seeing that this matter was beyond redemption, Gong Xiyuan stepped forward and said: “My son has done such sinful things – even being cut to pieces would be deserved. I just pity this father and daughter. I promise to recognize her as my adopted daughter and support them both for life. If you’re willing to forgive my son, I’ll pay one hundred taels of silver!”
Ordinary families couldn’t earn one hundred taels of silver in a lifetime. This kind of matter couldn’t possibly result in immediate execution. At most he’d be imprisoned for a few years.
It was He Zifeng who came out to mediate. Finally they decided the county would issue them travel permits, let them take this one hundred taels and leave this place to live somewhere else. As for Gong San, he could escape death but couldn’t escape punishment. He would receive fifteen strokes as a warning to others.
Gong San was sick, and after three strokes he was crying uncontrollably. After five strokes, blood seeped through his pants. A solid fifteen strokes – when finished, he had fainted and was taken away by the Gong family.
Since Gong San had already confessed in court, this involved another matter – the secretary’s case of covering up.
The secretary was now completely mad and said: “You deserved it.” This one sentence again aroused public anger: “It’s still your daughter who’s loose – otherwise why wouldn’t he look for others?”
The mad woman was already crazy, but hearing him say this, she directly used her head to ram his stomach, making the secretary howl.
The county magistrate also knew the secretary was useless and said: “Audacious! You covered up before, then sent people to beat and cripple common people after. Now you still don’t know repentance. Stripped of position, fifteen strokes!”
“What right do you have to beat me?” the secretary raged.
When the county magistrate saw the bailiffs didn’t move, he said: “Beat him!”
Only then did everyone wake up. They tied up the secretary, afraid he would say more, stuffed his mouth with cloth strips, and beat him twenty times. The secretary couldn’t withstand it and died at the thirteenth stroke.
Just then, He Zifeng said: “Your honor, the reason the secretary made mistakes was because he took Five Stone Powder from an evil Taoist. His poison has already entered his five organs and six bowels.”
The county magistrate increasingly felt that He Zifeng was very bright. No matter how big a mistake the secretary made, they couldn’t beat him to death – otherwise it would be harming a colleague. Now with this reason, it would be easy to explain wherever they went in the future.
He immediately had people arrest the evil Taoist, and indeed they found lots of Five Stone Powder at his and the secretary’s places. They also called the fat Taoist to inquire about this matter, and the fat Taoist explained the dangers of Five Stone Powder.
The evil Taoist was also beaten thirty times. Where was his former Celestial Master dignity? After just a few strokes he told the truth. After the beating, he was directly detained and exiled one thousand li.
After this matter was finished, the county magistrate had people properly bury the secretary. Everyone was also sorrowful.
After He Zifeng eliminated his greatest worry, he left the county office and went directly to Ran Ran’s private school. Even though it wasn’t a holiday, he picked up the child. He told Teacher Lin there was something at home and he would send the child back tomorrow. Teacher Lin agreed.
Little He Ran was brought out bouncing and jumping, running over: “Daddy!”
He Zifeng picked up his son and kissed him. Little He Ran smiled and hid in his father’s arms. He Zifeng turned his face and kissed his son again.
Little He Ran’s eyes sparkled brightly: “Daddy missed me, didn’t he?”
He Zifeng’s throat moved up and down, and his eyes were also very sore: “Yes.”
The little one lay in his arms and said: “I missed you too.”
