Chu Tiểu Lại grim-faced, his eyes almost spitting fire. He had never imagined that his newlywed wife, during these few months he was imprisoned, would openly collude with the yamen palanquin bearer and commit adultery. This news cut him to the quick.

Vương đại thúc grumbled at his wife, saying, “Why must you speak of such things?”

Vương đại thẩm glared. “Why not speak? The junior official’s wife cannot be found; I am merely helping him to devise a plan, to see where she might be located. Moreover, what kind of person his wife truly is, the junior official must clearly understand, lest he suffer further harm in the future. — I simply cannot bear to see an honest man suffer. A promiscuous woman like her, with her husband still locked in prison, yet she herself is out indulging in illicit pleasures; I simply cannot stand it. There is no other way, I am merely one who champions the wronged.”

Chu Tiểu Lại did not inquire further, rising to take his leave. He specifically bowed to Vương đại thẩm and offered his thanks.

After departing, he visited several other neighbors’ homes. Two neighbors confirmed Vương đại thẩm’s words, adding that they had also frequently seen the palanquin bearer entering and exiting his house, and could even hear the laughter of the two from inside the room. Each time the palanquin bearer visited, he would close the room door, yet the neighbors secretly whispered and gossiped, while he himself showed no discretion. Perhaps he thought Chu Tiểu Lại was locked in the yamen, facing a murder charge, a sealed case awaiting execution, and thus acted without any restraint, as if Chu Tiểu Lại were already dead.

The news Chu Tiểu Lại had gathered made the passing of his days all the more bitter.

Chu Tiểu Lại had already changed the bedsheets. Although the foul odor in the room had faded considerably, it was still clearly perceptible.

He had originally wanted to lie on the bed in his house to rest, but the thought of that horrifying, nauseating corpse lying on the bed for several days, and his nostrils still detecting that terrible stench, immediately gave him goosebumps all over his body. Thus, he took two cotton quilts to the living room, spread them out, and slept on the floor. In this manner, he surprisingly felt a little more comfortable.

Chu Tiểu Lại arrived at the yamen and presented his certificate of release to the County Magistrate.

After reviewing it, the County Magistrate wore a somewhat awkward expression. He coughed twice and instructed Chu Tiểu Lại to return to his former post in the criminal division, then encouraged him with a few words, praising his good work and assuring him of a bright future, and so forth.

Chu Tiểu Lại did not complain that the County Magistrate had mistakenly investigated his case and imprisoned him for several months; he remained utterly respectful as before. Only then did the County Magistrate breathe a sigh of relief.

Chu Tiểu Lại returned to the yamen’s criminal division, where many colleagues came to congratulate him. However, news of a highly decomposed female corpse, dead for six days, found in Chu Tiểu Lại’s house had long spread throughout the yamen. Therefore, besides congratulating him, their greatest curiosity naturally lay in the identity of the woman who had died in his bed. Chu Tiểu Lại most feared being asked this question, so he remained silent with a grim face. It was then that his colleagues chuckled and dispersed.

As work was about to conclude, the County Magistrate’s palanquin returned from outside. The palanquin halted in the courtyard, and the Magistrate proceeded into his annex office. The two palanquin bearers wiped their sweat, preparing to return to their small courtyard. Just then, Chu Tiểu Lại happened to emerge from the annex office opposite, and met the two palanquin bearers face to face. The palanquin bearer’s expression was somewhat flustered. He had been wiping sweat, but upon seeing Chu Tiểu Lại, he immediately lowered his head, as if there was some treasure on the ground.

Chu Tiểu Lại clearly perceived the panic in his eyes, thus becoming even more certain that the neighbors had spoken truthfully: this fellow had indeed slept with his wife. Now, where was his wife? He must find her and clarify this entire matter. Though he himself had been imprisoned at the time, their affair still constituted adultery, a matter that violated royal law.

Chu Tiểu Lại, a clerk in the criminal division, held a clear understanding of the royal law’s regulations in his heart. Returning to his office, he sat at his desk, huffing and puffing, grim-faced. He had no mind for office work and simply sat there until work dispersed. Now, Chu Tiểu Lại no longer needed to go home, for there was no one to prepare food and await his return. So he went to a snack shop opposite the yamen to casually eat something and make do for a meal.

After ordering a bowl of noodles, he suddenly heard someone call his name. He looked back and saw a strong man quickly approaching. The man cupped his hands and said, “Brother Chu, you’ve been released, congratulations, congratulations! I heard the news; what a coincidence to meet you here.”

Saying this, he grabbed a long, narrow bench and sat opposite Chu Tiểu Lại.

This strong man was a ruffian from the streets, a henchman who helped guard the gambling den. One time, someone was caught cheating at gambling, and he, according to the gambling den owner’s request, cut off that person’s hand. Unexpectedly, that person even had a relative who was an official in the capital, so this matter caused too much commotion and could not be dealt with lightly.

The gambling den owner paid a sum of money to this henchman, making him take responsibility for the entire matter himself. At the same time, money was spent to prepare the yamen officials, which included Chu Tiểu Lại, who was in charge of his case. Therefore, Chu Tiểu Lại, with a flourish of his miraculous penmanship, revised his confession, changing it to accidentally injuring the other party. In this way, the offense became much lighter; he was subjected to a beating with sticks, fined a sum of money, and didn't even have to sit in prison.

This henchman knew that Chu Tiểu Lại had done him a great favor and was very grateful to him. After learning of Chu Tiểu Lại’s release, he had even intentionally prepared wine and meat, intending to go to Chu Tiểu Lại’s house to express his gratitude, never expecting to meet him here now. The henchman saw Chu Tiểu Lại’s melancholic and unhappy appearance and found it a bit strange, so he asked, “What’s wrong with you? Is there anything unpleasant? Tell me about it.”

Chu Tiểu Lại sighed and said, “During these few months in prison, my wife and the yamen palanquin bearer colluded, and the neighbors all know. That palanquin bearer, that adulterer, looked strange when he saw me today. I intend to find this palanquin bearer, but how can I go ask an adulterer for my wife’s whereabouts? This truly makes my heart seethe with anger.”

When the henchman heard this, his eyes widened. He said, “This adulterous pair clearly bullies an honest man like you; I can’t stand it. I’ll help you teach him a lesson.”

“No need, no need.”

“You don’t need to worry about this anymore. I’ll find that palanquin bearer and help you clearly ascertain your wife’s whereabouts. If he speaks well, at most I’ll give him two slaps. But if he doesn’t speak well, I recognize him, but my fists do not.”

Having said this, he waved his club-like fists twice.

Chu Tiểu Lại urgently said, “It’s nothing, please don’t cause trouble. Wait a few more days, my wife might return. I originally guessed she wouldn’t go to her maiden home, but if things are like this now, she might have gone to her maiden home. I’m preparing to ask the County Magistrate for leave, go to her mother’s house to see, and if she’s there, I’ll bring her back.”

“She didn’t go to her maiden home, because all her clothes are still there, as you yourself reported to the County Magistrate.”

“How do you know?”

The henchman chuckled and said, “What’s so hard to know about this? You yamen officials have loose tongues; this matter spread very quickly. I and the constables are close friends; we were drinking together last night, and they said that the corpse found in your house had been dead for six days, and your wife acted as if nothing had happened. The neighbors all felt very surprised.”

Chu Tiểu Lại couldn’t believe the constables had spread his private family matters everywhere, but this was also understandable. A female corpse dead for six days appeared in his own house, and his own wife acted as if nothing had happened, staying with the corpse for six days. If it were anyone else, they would also be very surprised and discuss it.

Soon the noodles arrived. Chu Tiểu Lại ate quickly, then bid farewell to the henchman and went to his yamen office. Midday breaks were usually quite long, but he had nowhere to go, so he might as well stay in the annex office, too lazy to go home.

Midday usually had an hour and a half of rest time. The County Magistrate, regardless of wind, rain, cold, or heat, always took a midday nap, so he would certainly not go out at midday. Thus, the palanquin bearers could also relax for a while. After meeting Lady Đổng’s husband, that clerk, earlier that morning, the palanquin bearer still felt somewhat uneasy.

He had also heard that a female corpse was found in Lady Đổng’s house, wearing Lady Đổng’s clothes and jewelry, but had been dead for six days. Thus, the palanquin bearer was certain that the deceased woman was not Lady Đổng. Because just the day before yesterday afternoon, he had still seen Lady Đổng. Lady Đổng had wrapped all the clothes and jewelry he bought for her into a bundle and returned them to him, fearing her husband would recognize them. Although the palanquin bearer possessed immense brute strength, if it came to a fight, two clerks might not necessarily be able defeat him; yet he repeatedly dared not look Chu Tiểu Lại in the eye, wishing he could just run away. This was probably a sign of a guilty conscience.

He squatted in his room, pondering what to do about this matter now. He definitely couldn’t tell Chu Tiểu Lại the truth; otherwise, even though Chu Tiểu Lại was a frail scholar, he surely had influential connections and could even get acquitted of a murder charge. The palanquin bearer was currently thinking about whether to resign from this job, leave Phong Khâu County, and go elsewhere; as long as he had the strength in his arms, finding work wouldn't be too difficult.

While he was thinking, a beggar knocked on the door and said, “A friend of yours wants you to immediately go to the small alley next to the cemetery; he has something urgent to give you.”

The palanquin bearer was a bit surprised and asked him, “My friend, what’s his name?”

The beggar shook his head and said, “I don’t know, he just asked me to relay the message to you, saying that if you don’t say you want it, he’ll throw it away. It seems someone from your old family sent him to deliver something, but he has something very urgent to do, so he called me to tell you, for you to go and get it yourself.”

After saying this, the beggar turned and left.

It was very common for family members to send someone to bring things. If he (the friend) couldn't come, then he (the palanquin bearer) could just go fetch it himself.

The palanquin bearer then went out and walked towards the small alley by the cemetery. Ordinary towns all had them, and Phong Khâu County also had a cemetery, not far from the yamen.

This place, adjacent to the cemetery, was always deserted. Many people didn’t want to pass through here, preferring to take a detour. Inside the cemetery were only coffins; naturally, people would keep their distance. The palanquin bearer entered the small alley, and indeed, from a distance, he saw a person in black standing there; there was no one else. The small alley was very quiet, so he quickly approached, appraised the black-clad person, and said, “Are you the one bringing something for me? I am the yamen palanquin bearer.”

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