Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Most Peculiar Death

The Zhang family was celebrating a grand wedding. Zhang Shiping, mounted on a tall steed, set out to welcome Zhao Ya’er as his bride. Both the Zhang and Zhao families possessed considerable wealth; furthermore, with Zhang Shiping having been appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, the Zhao family provided such an extravagant dowry that it became the envy of all onlookers.

Zhao Feng was dead drunk. Although he had misjudged Gu Zhengchen and nearly ruined his daughter’s happiness, Zhang Shiping’s luck was far better than Gu’s. Zhang was a third-rank official in the capital, while Gu was merely a seventh-rank magistrate of a small, remote county. Looking at it this way, missing out on Gu Zhengchen had actually been a blessing.

Naturally, the "Left Vice Minister" had to be congratulated, so the magistrate brought along Liang Jiajun, who was busy burying his head in books, and Gu Zhengchen, who had been out fishing on the lake. As "colleagues," even if they weren't currying favor, the formalities of official social interaction could not be neglected.

After the banquet, the sky was filled with stars. Liang Jiajun returned to the Liang estate, while Li Yi accompanied Gu Zhengchen toward the city gates.

"He is a Left Vice Minister, a higher rank than you. Don't dwell on matters of the heart any longer," Li Yi said.

Gu Zhengchen looked at Li Yi in surprise. "Why would the Magistrate say such a thing?"

Li Yi chuckled. "At the banquet, although your face was full of smiles, it felt quite insincere. Everyone knows that Zhao Ya’er once had a marriage contract with you. Had it not been for the Zhang family, perhaps your two families might have mended fences..."

Gu Zhengchen swatted a mosquito and rubbed his hands. "Magistrate, you underestimate me. I have seen the character of the Zhao family and Zhao Ya’er with my own eyes. In a life of several decades, I still wish to find a woman who truly understands me."

"Ha, that is a difficult task indeed." Li Yi walked with his hands behind his back, seemingly speaking from personal experience. He added, "Harder than being an honest official."

Gu Zhengchen understood this well. In the Great Ming, there was no such thing as free love. To find someone who was both agreeable and a kindred spirit—and who didn't come with the complications of a scandalous affair or a bizarre tale from a play—was a tall order.

Li Yi stopped and looked at Gu Zhengchen gravely. "You must remember one thing: officialdom is a world of human relationships. The lofty integrity of the scholar-official who stands alone without fear exists only in books. Whether at court or outside it, everything relies on connections and favors. The common folk say, 'Do not become an official if you have no one at court.' You should understand that without a patron, one does not go far."

Gu Zhengchen stared at Li Yi intently. This was the truth. Without a patron or connections, the idea of promotion or a prosperous life was, frankly, impossible. But to seek a patron now—wasn't that courting disaster? Next month, Hu Weiyong would formally become the Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, beginning his seven-year reign of unchecked power and reckless ambition. To seek his patronage would mean thriving for a few years, only to end up lying flat—in a coffin—a few years later.

Li Yi looked deeply at Gu Zhengchen. "Zhang Shiping holds a high rank and is in the capital, making it easy to associate with high-ranking officials. Liang Jiajun has the Liang family behind him, and they have connections in the capital. Only you have nothing. Your path will be harder than theirs."

Gu Zhengchen looked up at the starry sky. "The Pole Star will point the way. As long as I follow its path, I cannot go wrong."

Li Yi laughed and pointed toward the road ahead. "Go back then." Gu Zhengchen bowed and took his leave.

In the days that followed, Madam Gu stopped going to the sugar mill and instead sat in the courtyard sewing shoes with Chen. Gu Zhengchen was heading to the capital to take up his post; he couldn't go alone, and Gu Cheng would need to accompany him. Though the separation was not vast and there was reluctance in their hearts, the women were pleased. To enter officialdom now meant bringing honor to their ancestors later. This was the worldly consensus. Gu Qingqing, meanwhile, was ordered by her brother to read and write, and she sat there miserably, her brush creating nothing but scribbles. Gu Zhengchen was busy teaching Gu Cheng how to cook; since the fellow would be his chef and errand runner, he had to train Gu Cheng’s hands well so as not to neglect his own stomach.

"Is Scholar Gu home?" At noon one day, County Assistant Jin Dache arrived at the Gu residence with two bailiffs.

Gu Zhengchen stepped out, and seeing Jin Dache with the bailiffs, his expression turned somber. "Assistant Jin, what has happened?"

Jin Dache asked seriously, "Scholar Gu, you haven't been into the city today, have you?"

"No," Gu Zhengchen replied.

Jin Dache pressed, "Do you have witnesses?"

Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly. He looked at his mother and Chen before telling Jin Dache, "I have been home all day. Not only can they testify to this, but the neighbors can as well."

Jin Dache let out a sigh of relief, his tense face relaxing. He lowered his voice. "An hour ago, Wang Youcheng died."

Gu Zhengchen was surprised, but then his eyes turned cold as he looked at Jin Dache. "Does the Magistrate suspect me, and that is why he sent you?"

Jin Dache sighed mournfully. "Scholar Gu, I am merely following orders. Everyone knows that Wang Fugui harmed your father, and that you and Wang Youcheng had a public brawl. There is deep resentment between you. Now that he has died suddenly of unknown causes, the Magistrate must investigate. Since you have not been in the city today, there is no issue."

Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly. Jin Dache turned to leave with a smile, intending to ask around the neighborhood to confirm that Gu Zhengchen had indeed been seen at home an hour ago, just to be safe.

Madam Gu looked at her son, her brow furrowed. She rose and said, "Come into the room with me."

Gu Zhengchen followed her inside. She sat down, fixed her gaze on him, and whispered, "Did you do it?"

"Mother, I have been home the entire time," Gu Zhengchen said, feeling wronged.

Madam Gu reached out and twisted his ear. "You were home, but Gu Cheng was not. Tell Mother, what is going on?"

Gu Zhengchen cried out in pain. "Gu Cheng only went into the city to buy vegetables and meat! Besides, even if I handed him a knife, he wouldn't know how to kill anyone. You are overthinking it, Mother. Wang Youcheng likely died of sudden shock or excessive anxiety."

"Is that the truth?"

"Of course."

Madam Gu let go and said sternly, "Child, you must remember: never take a life unjustly. If you do, Mother will never forgive you."

Gu Zhengchen raised his hand in a vow. "I will strictly follow your teachings, Mother."

At the Wang residence, the coroner had carefully examined the body but found no signs of injury. He reported helplessly to Magistrate Li Yi, "Judging by his appearance, he seems to have been poisoned. However, we have searched the entire house and found nothing. It is difficult to determine the exact cause of death."

"Keep searching," Li Yi said, his face heavy. He looked at Jin Dache. "Well?"

Jin Dache shook his head. "It is certain that Scholar Gu did not enter the city today. Furthermore, villagers from Dayan Village mentioned that Wang Youcheng had gone there two days ago, threatening to kill the entire Gu family, though the villagers chased him off."

Li Yi scoffed. "That Wang Youcheng was a fool. Gu Zhengchen may not have processed his official credentials at the Ministry of Personnel yet, but he is still a man of status. To threaten the family of an official—he deserved his fate!"

"That may be, but the case..." Jin Dache looked worried.

Li Yi stared at the deceased Wang Youcheng, a headache throbbing at his temples. He had questioned the servants, and they insisted Wang Youcheng had only wandered the city, never left it, and had not argued with anyone. His death was truly baffling.