The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 13: Scheming Servants and Cakes

The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty. 《成化十四年》Chengnian Shisi Nian
The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 13: Scheming Servants and Cakes

All three of them had prepared their regular clothes in the government office, and when they got out of the office, they changed into their regular clothes and headed for the guest house.


Pan Bin, Wei Yu and Tang Fan are all three officials who have been promoted to the rank based on the Imperial examinations, Pan Bin is Tang Fan's senior brother, Wei Yu has been working in the official dome since the 8th year of Chenghua reign, in detail, they all have a lot of common topics, Pan Bin although usually like to put on a show of seniority of weekdays but the man is stills stingy with his pockets, but not only he is an upper rank official than Wei Yu and Tang Fan, but also as a senior in the officialdom, but also has more a lot of experience than two people with, more than enough to teach, so this meal, everyone laughed and smiled, the guests and the host enjoy.

By the time they came out of the tavern, it was still early, but halfway through the hour of You (5 pm to 6pm), there was still no night ban.

Pan Bin and Wei Yu had family members waiting outside the restaurant, escorting them back, Tang Fan lived alone, he has neither a servant nor a boy. It was not too late and the sky was just dimming. After sending the two out of the restaurant, he walked by himself going walking home.

Ancient house prices are not cheap, especially the capital's house prices, inch by inch measure by gold, the emperor is stingy, since the Taizu Emperor, every year the government failed to pay a few salaries, many foreign officials coming to the capital to take office cannot afford to buy a house in the capital, the class or rank has not yet reached the level of the Imperial court official who are supplied with a house, such as Tang Fan as who is a northerner making him a northern drifters - Renting a house to live is the only way to go, some officials are a little more miserable than him, and some would even borrow to live in the home of a colleague, said is a painful feeling.

If not for the fact that the courtyard is a small place that the people of the Li Family have isolated it for fear of ghost haunting, Tang Fan would not be able to move in with their families, and they would not be able to allow a bachelor like Tang Fan to rent there.

In the evening in the capital, the sky is full of sunset, and there are people hawking snacks and cakes, calling their children home for dinner, and familiar people greeting each other and chatting, with a lively and bustling atmosphere.

As Tang Fan walked into the Liuye alley way, he happened to see the Li Family’s servant girl A-Xia coming out of the Li Family’s door, ready to knock on his door.

Tang Fan: "A-Xia?"

A-Xia looked back, surprised, "Master Tang, did you just come back?"

Tang Fan laughed, "Yeah, just got back from outside, what are you?"

A-Xia: “Today is the great summer heat, and our lady has ordered me to make some pastries and send them to Master Tang."

Tang Fan: “There's no need to be so polite, I just finished my meal, A-Xia you better sent them back, thank your house mistress for me."

A-Xia was anxious: "If Master Tang won't take it, how can I explain it to her? If Master Tang wants to refuse, you’d better talk to the mistress in person!"

She came and uses this trick every time, and Tang Fan really cannot refuse, he is a big man, even has a cordial friendship with the Li Family, but also it is not easy to go to see the mistress of the Li Family, after all, the Master of the house is not here, the Li Family now except for a twelve or thirteen year old boy, all are old, weak women and children, so he has to try to avoid suspicion, A-Xia is an inferior class, this is nothing taboo.

Tang Fan opened the door and invited her in, and seeing her gloomy eyes, he asked, "A-Xia girl, are you alright?"




Whenever the Li Family's mistress had anything to deliver, she usually sent A-Xia over.

She came back here a few times and Tang Fan and here were familiar with each other. A-Xia was in a bad mood and needed to be consoled. When he asked her, she lowered her voice: "In recent days, my mistress received a letter from the master who came back from outside the capital and the letter said that when the master was outside, he had a woman and slept with her, and that the woman is now pregnant. The mistress was very upset about this matter. Well, the nature of those of us now must be very careful, I only hope that my mistress can open her mind!"

Tang Fan is not very interested in this kind of private house affairs, but he is still comforting A-Xia: "You can speak well in front of your home mistress, just give her a few more words of comfort, and the day is still going to pass.”

A-Xia's complexion improved a bit, she looked at the basket she brought, her cheeks suddenly dyed a blush: “The weather is hot, it's not good to leave the pastry for a long time, please Master Tang eat it early, A-Xia will leave first."

"A-Xia girl!" Tang Fan called out to stop her.

A-Xia turned back around, "Master Tang what else is there?"

Tang Fan: “This basket of pastries, didn't your mistress ask you to send it here?"

A-Xia: "Master Tang, why do you say that? If my mistress hadn't asked me to send it, how could I have taken the liberty?"

Tang Fan: "I appreciate the girl's kindness, just this basket of cakes, please take it back!"

A-Xia was about to burst into tears, and had to confess the truth: "Master Tang don't misunderstand, the pastry really was sent to me by my mistress, I just, I just put an extra purse in it!"

Tang Fan reached out and searched for a while in the basket, and found a pink lotus bag under the pastry with peony embroidered on it, so he could not help to be awkwardly amused.

The meaning of a young girl's gift is self-explanatory, but A-Xia doesn't want to think about it, Tang Fan who is also a Shuntian Prefecture official, the eyes are sharper than others, she just dodged his eyes, certainly cannot hide from Tang Fan piercing gaze.

A-Xia bowed her head: "I put this purse in without my mistress’s permission, and if Master Tang is willing, I will give myself as a maid to serve of tea and sweep the snow and serve Master Tang day by day."

She finally plucked up the courage to express her heart, and by the end of it, her cheeks were already red, her head was about to hang down to her chest, and she didn't dare to look at Tang Fan.

Tang Fan was silent for a moment: “Thank you A-Xia for your kindness, I'll take the pastry, but I also ask you to take back the purse, and I ask you to not to come again."

A-Xia raised her head and blushed her eyes: “Master Tang thinks I'm too shameless to recommend myself for a concubine seat and look down on my lowly body?"

Tang Fan shook his head: "I'm just a poor official, I have nothing to offer, I have no constant income, and my salary is just enough to support myself, I really don't deserve to be treated so sincerely by A-Xia.”

A-Xia: "Master Tang doesn't need to coax me, I'm from this same background, and I can't find a good place to live. I, live with my admiration for Master Tang and the future will be better!"

The Li Family's ancestors were officials, but they had been businessmen for generations, and if they could get a relation with the promising official Tang Fan through a maid, the Li Family's mistress would certainly be happy about it.

But Tang Fan is not interested in taking in concubines, so why not just reject them?

So in the face of A-Xia’s bitter plea and gentle expression, Tang Fan still said: "A-Xia girl, I will not tell anyone about today's matter, please take back your purse, I have to rest."

A-Xia saw that he did not move, and did not even come to help her, she knew that it was useless to stay any longer, she wiped her tears and stood up: "It is all A-Xia's fault, and washed the Master with this news and please Master Tang forgive me."

Tang Fan: "No harm, A-Xia girl there is no need to be too polite."

A-Xia made a salute and clutched the purse in her hand, feeling disappointed and humiliated in her heart, she couldn't bear to be polite again, so she turned around and left with her head down.

Since the Emperor Yingzong, the status of the Imperial College is gradually declining, the Imperial court formed a "Non-Hanlin Academy man is not allowed into a cabinet position." subtle rules, Tang Fan was born handsome, and is Hanlin birth, the family status is that one of the noble families, although he is now only a small capital official, but no one can guarantee that he will not be a very big shot one day, ascend to the position of minister, such talent, more than appeared to A-Xia, he is simply a matchmaker wet dream, to coax the man is the big issue.

A-Xia also very aware of this, She knew that she was not worthy of Tang Fan as a slave servant, but she could not be a proper wife, and it was always possible to be a servant girl, and she did not ask Tang Fan to accept her as a proper concubine, but if he could be gentle, A-Xia would be satisfied.

But even if the request is so low, Tang Fan doesn't want it.

She was so sad that she felt she had no face to stay, so she opened the door and hurried out the door, but there was someone standing in front of her, and if she had been faster, she would have almost fallen head first.

The girl looked up in anxiety, and found that he looked familiar, the one who had come to see Tang Fan last time.

She didn't react for a moment and just froze looking at the other.

The other didn't even look at her, raised his hand and went to knock on the door.

A-Xia suspected that what she had just said to Tang Fan in the courtyard had been heard by this man, so she accelerated his pace and returned to the next door the Li Family with a little bit of desertion.

Tang Fan sent the woman away and went to look at the basket again.

Just now A-Xia was there, he had to keep his poise, and now that the person is gone, he naturally has no scruples about gobbling the food.




At this moment, when he saw the Poria cake and yam in a sour plum sauce, he took out the cut of yam, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

The yam is cut into strips and chilled, then drizzled with a sour plum juice, which is sweet and sour and crisp, both tasteful and refreshing.

After eating one, one didn't hold back and took another.

Master Tang joyfully lifted the basket and prepared to take it to the room to enjoy.

There was a knock on the door from outside.

Tang Fan thought it was A-Xia who went and returned, frowned, he really did not want to give the maiden any reverie that might cause misunderstanding, so he put down the basket, walked over, ready to latch the door directly.

It turned out that just at this time, the people outside seemed to be waiting a bit impatiently and pushed the door open directly.

Tang Fan who still had the cold yam in his mouth: "......."

Sui Zhou stood outside.

Tang Fan was relieved: "It's General Sui Zongqi, come on in!"

He looked behind Sui Zhou and it was good to see that there was no one left at door.

"General Sui Zongqi have you had dinner, want some?" Master Tang is very generous at the expense of others.

The night was cool, and the fragrance of the yam could be faintly smelled, and Sui Zhou took one look at him, and took a piece of yam with approval.

Taking a bite, he nodded, "Not bad."

Tang Fan laughed: “The cook next door can make dim sum a few points better than the cooks in Xianwei restaurant, General Sui Zongqi please come inside, this dim sum must be served with tea!"

The last time Sui Zhou came to see Tang Fan, he did not enter the house, but sat in the courtyard, and when he saw no one else inside or outside, he asked, "Master Tang lives alone?"

Tang Fan boiled water to make tea, spoke in a self-deprecating tone: "Yeah, I'm a simple person, the family is not hungry, here some rudimentary stuff, and I have no good tea set, usually I'm alone in the drink, please Sui Zhou flag do not mind, but the tea is okay, although nameless, but the mountain wild tea tree picking, come, taste!"

Sui Zhou picked up a cup of hot tea, first smelled the tea, then tasted it shallowly, nodding slightly: "Bitter but not astringent, this is good tea."

Tang Fan laughed and said, "It is thanks to you that the Cabinet has gently let go of its responsibility for the Shuntian Prefecture, and I have not yet thanked the General Sui Zongqi, so if you have time some other time, please let me treat you to dinner!

Sui Zhou: "Guangchuan."

Tang Fan froze, "Huh?"

Sui Zhou: "I am Guangchuan."

The first time I saw him, he said to me, "If that's the case, you don't have to call me Master Tang, just call me Runqing."

Sui Zhou nodded.

Tang Fan: "At the moment, although I am half a rank higher than you, if I can use your ability, it's only a matter of time before I can go up to the top ranks, this time the Shuntian Prefecture can be exempted from responsibility it is thanks to your contribution from it, Master Pan also asked me to express my thanks to you."

 [1] Sui Zhou is a Regular Seventh Rank official while Tang Fan is a Lower Sixth Rank official. The Nine Ranks System is super confusing to a non-Chinese and I had to actually research it. So there are nine ranks and within a rank there is Upper High which is the top position of a rank, Upper lower which is the second position in a rank, Regular is a middle position in the rank, Lower is the fourth position and Below is the lowest position in the rank.




Sui Zhou did not hesitate to say, "Without you, Pan Bin would have been a mediocre official who should have been demoted and relegated."

Tang Fan laughed: "Master Pan is actually not bad at all, it's just that after staying in the officialdom for a long time, I inevitably have some more worries when thinking about things, maybe in a few years, I will be just like him."

He shifted his words, "But then again, I always feel that this case is still not over."

Sui Zhou: "The Baihui Point."

Talking to a wise man is always like saving a mind, Tang Fan nodded, "Not bad, although Zheng Zhi and Madam Hui confessed to the crime, there is still one more doubt in this case, there is still no reasonable explanation for the depression on Zheng Cheng's Baihui meridian points."

Sui Zhou: "I cross-examined Madam Hui, and she did not know that Zheng Cheng had this wound on his body, and according to her account, Zheng Cheng had not been in her room for a long time, as others in the Marquis House can testify."

Tang Fan: "We've already discussed before that it's impossible for a person to be in a sober state and not be aware of the Baihui acupuncture point, so this person's relationship with Zheng Cheng is necessarily close, at least if they've shared a bed with him for a while, according to this condition, Madam Hui doesn't fit, and Zheng Zhi is even less likely."

Sui Zhou: "Do you have a suspect in mind?"

Tang Fan: “There are not many people who meet this condition, but there are also quite a few, in the Marquis of Wu’an’s house, Zheng Cheng's concubine Madam Yu is one of them, and I heard from Zheng Fu that Zheng Cheng also has a woman outside, and he has been frequenting the Qing House recently, so these are all suspicious candidates."

Sui Zhou frowned, "But those people don't have the right motive, after all, it's still that Madam Yu who is the most suspect, unfortunately the Jinyiwei manpower has been withdrawn from the Marquis of Wu’an Mansion, if it's necessary, I'll send someone to keep an eye on her."

The Tang Fan laughed, "It's not necessary for the time being, although the Shuntian Prefecture is not as much powerful as your Northern Administrative Court division, but it can still come in handy in some cases. Long before the case was re-investigated, I had arranged for men to go down, and for a little while, perhaps soon we will get some results."

Sui Zhou saw him say with certainty, so he no longer asked, directly eat tea and snacks.

He had been in the Northern Administrative Court Division for much longer than Tang Fan had been an official, and he had been involved in many cases; in this respect, some of his experience was more worthy of Tang Fan's attention.

In the midst of chatting, a plate of Poria cake and a plate of cold yam were unknowingly reached empty at the bottom.

The two reached for the last piece of Poria cake in unison.

As a host, it is always difficult to snatch food from the guests, Tang Fan shyly retracted his hand and glanced at the lovely Poria cake.

Those eyes were as lingering in the same way that A-Xia girl had just looked at him.

Sui Zhou: "......."

Note.






1. The circumstances of the Li Family and A-Xia are irrelevant to this case that is a different matter. Although this article is about solving crimes, it's not only about solving crimes, Master Tang is the main character, his career and personal life are important, right~ (Say it right!)

2. To this point it can be announced a little bit that there is more than one killer. I also saw that "someone" was right about this, when the case is completely over, let's name the smart and witty friends!

3. The article said that the officials did not have a house to live in and borrowed to live in someone else's house, that is true, but I forget who exactly it was, the Ming Dynasty had the lowest salary in history, if they crossed to the Song Dynasty, they would certainly be happy to tears the Song Dynasty Ministers were paid handsomely.







- The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty -



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