Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 341 Wen He, you are shameless!
A few days later, the vermilion gate of the Ministry of Justice prison was pushed open.

Xun Jue staggered out, leaning on the door frame. His face was deathly pale, his once-neat brocade robe was now covered in dust, and his hair was disheveled and stuck to his forehead. He looked utterly disheveled.

The sunlight outside was extremely bright, and he squinted for a while before his eyes could adjust to the light.

"Young man! You've suffered so much!"

Xun's servant was already waiting nearby. Upon seeing this, he quickly stepped forward and handed over a handkerchief soaked in warm water, his voice full of heartache.

Xun Jue snatched the handkerchief and haphazardly wiped the dust off his face, but he couldn't wipe away the resentment in his eyes. He snorted indignantly.

These past few days in jail, he hasn't even had a hot meal, and no one has come to ask about the case. He's just been locked up like this, thrown into a corner like trash.

This morning, the notorious gangster Fan Biao finally appeared, casually dismissing it as a "misunderstanding," and released him.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. Fan Biao came out with several thugs, arms crossed, looking at Xun Jue with a mocking gaze: "Oh, so your name really is Xun Jue? I must have made a mistake."

He deliberately dragged out his words, as if he had just realized something.

"The person who reported it said that those things were done by a man named Gou Wang. I can't read, but I thought your name sounded like it, so I invited you in."

This story was full of holes and was clearly a deliberate attempt to humiliate him. Xun Jue clenched his fists so tightly that they cracked, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

Fan Biao, however, seemed oblivious to his anger and pulled out a string of coins from his pocket.

It was thrown at Xun Jue's feet with a clatter.

"But don't worry, we Bad People admit our mistakes. This string of cash is your compensation."

That contemptuous tone, that casual gesture of tossing money around, was no different from dismissing a beggar on the street.

Xun Jue stared at the copper coins on the ground, his face turning from white to green, then from green to red. He suddenly looked up at Fan Biao, not angry but laughing, his voice icy: "Very good, you do have guts. I just don't know if Wenxianzi can keep you safe."

A minor official who isn't even worthy of being called a rank, merely a dog by Wen He's side, dares to act arrogantly in front of him, a member of the Xun family of Yingchuan?
Once he has a free hand, he will make sure that bitch dies without a burial place!
Fan Biao completely disregarded his threat and raised his hand to slap Xun Jue across the face.

With a sharp "snap," the sound was exceptionally loud, even the servant next to him was stunned, standing there dumbfounded, forgetting to step forward.

Xun Jue's head was turned to the side by the blow, and a five-finger mark instantly appeared on his left cheek. His eyes widened as he looked at Fan Biao in disbelief: "You...you dare to hit me!"

"We've already started fighting, why are you still asking if you dare?"

Fan Biao scoffed, shaking his numb hand, his tone full of disdain.

"I think you've gone stupid from reading too much; your brain isn't even working properly anymore?"

Xun Jue was so angry that he trembled all over, his teeth grinding together, but he dared not retaliate.

The thugs behind Fan Biao were staring at him with half-smiles, their hands on the knives at their waists.

He knew in his heart that this group of people were deliberately provoking him, and if he dared to fight back, it would give them an excuse to arrest him again.

"go!"

Xun Jue turned around abruptly and roared at the servant, his voice hoarse with anger.

He practically fled in panic.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would rush up and fight Fan Biao to the death.

"Hahaha!"

Behind him came Fan Biao's unrestrained laughter and the mocking voices of the scoundrels.

"These Xun family members are really rich, aren't they? They don't even want this compensation?"

"I think they're just cowardly; they're running away with their tails between their legs."

"Hey, you used that word well. Looks like you've been to school."

"What's the use of being educated? You're just a pretty face with no substance."

Those laughs felt like needles pricking Xun Jue's back, making his cheeks burn even hotter, while his heart sank little by little.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he didn't even notice.

Xun Jue, his hands clenched with rage, had only taken a few steps when his chest suddenly bumped into something soft.

With a scream of pain, the person in front of me fell straight to the ground.

The man was covered in dark red "blood" and was clutching a short knife tightly in his hand, the blade gleaming coldly.

"Murder! I'm dead! I'm dead!"

The person who had fallen to the ground suddenly let out a shrill scream, the sound piercing through the commotion in front of the Ministry of Justice's prison.

What made Xun Jue's scalp tingle even more was that before the man fell to the ground, he suddenly shoved the hilt of the knife into his hand, then closed his eyes and lay motionless.

"How dare you, Xun Jue! You commit murder in broad daylight!"

Fan Biao reacted extremely quickly behind him. Almost the instant the word "deceased" was uttered, he rushed forward and kicked Xun Jue in the back of the knee.

Xun Jue lost his balance and fell to his knees with a thud, still clutching the short knife stained with "blood" in his hand, looking as if he had just killed someone.

The servant standing nearby turned pale with fright and rushed forward to help him up, saying, "Young master! He didn't do it!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was pinned to the ground by several thugs behind Fan Biao and unable to move.

"You still dare to quibble?"

Fan Biao then stepped on Xun Jue's back, forcing his face to the ground, his voice full of sarcasm.

"The knife is in your hand, the man lies dead in front of you, and you say you didn't kill him? Do you think we, the thugs, are fools? Guards! Take him back to the cell and keep him under strict guard!"

Xun Jue was being trampled and couldn't breathe, but his mind went blank.

He realized it was a trap! A trap specifically designed to lure him in!

"I didn't! I didn't kill anyone!" He struggled desperately, trying to break free from the thugs' grasp.

"That man isn't dead at all! Look, his chest is still moving!"

But Fan Biao didn't give him a chance to explain. He gave his men a look and said, "What are you all standing there for? Drag him in!"

Two thugs grabbed Xun Jue and dragged him toward the Ministry of Justice's prison.

Xun Jue's fingernails dug into the ground, leaving several bloody marks, as he roared incessantly, "It's Wen He! It must be Wen He! He framed me! Shameless! Wen He, you're shameless!"

The vermilion gate of the Ministry of Justice prison slammed shut, completely shutting out his angry curses. Only the word "shameless" seemed to linger in the air, dissipating in the wind.

Not far away, under the shade of a tea stall, Wen He was holding a teacup, staring dumbfounded at the scene, almost spitting out the tea in her mouth.

He put down his teacup, swallowed, and turned to Huang Chun beside him, saying, "This...who arranged this? I swear, it has nothing to do with me."

Xun Jue's statement, "Wen He must be him," was nothing short of blatant slander!

If he really wanted to set up a trap, he would have made it more realistic, not so crude.

"Cough... It's a villain."

A sheepish laugh suddenly came from behind Wen He.

Qi San scratched the back of his head and stepped forward, a hint of guilt on his face. "I thought I couldn't let this scoundrel get away so easily, so I got one of my brothers to put on this show..."

Wen He looked up at him, her eyes full of helplessness: "The actors you hired are terrible! Who shouts 'I'm dead' after being killed? As if they're afraid people won't know they're faking it?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Qi San nodded hurriedly, his smile becoming even more awkward.

"This was just a spur-of-the-moment idea, I didn't have time to think it through... I'll definitely pay attention next time, and make sure he acts more convincingly, at least he should close his eyes and not say a word!"

Wen He wanted to say something more, but then she saw Fan Biao stride towards the tea stall.

He walked up to Wen He and first glared at Qi San.

Qi San quickly shrank his neck.

Bad guys and scoundrels, it's like cat and mouse.

However, seeing him standing next to Wen He, Fan Biao did not make things difficult for him. He walked straight past him and came to Wen He.

"Sir, the person has been escorted back. It was just that this happened too suddenly. Fortunately, I reacted quickly, otherwise it would have ruined your plans."

He assumed that Wen He had orchestrated the whole thing, so he was here to claim credit.

"none of my business."

Wen He immediately waved her hand, clearing herself of any wrongdoing.

"It was Qi San's own idea."

"Huh?" Fan Biao was taken aback, but quickly realized what was going on.

With a stern face, he accused Qi San, "I knew it! If it were a county-level scheme, how could it be so full of loopholes? Who did you hire? His acting was so bad. My men had just taken him away when he couldn't wait to get up."

Qi San lowered his head, not daring to utter a single word of rebuttal.

"Alright." Wen He waved her hand, and Fan Biao finally stopped talking.

"But since things have come to this, let's lock Xun Jue up for now and let him 'reflect' properly in prison."

A hint of a smile flashed in Fan Biao's eyes: "Don't worry, magistrate, I know what to do. I'll make sure he's 'comfortable' in jail these next few days, so he won't keep thinking about causing trouble."

Wen He nodded, her fingertips tracing the edge of the celadon glaze of the teacup. She tilted her head back and took a sip of cool tea, suppressing the slight amusement she had felt while watching the "extortion" farce.

He put down his teacup, his gaze falling on Fan Biao and Qi San, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable weight: "This time, you two have both done a good job. I have two paths for you to choose from: either join the Hundred Cavalry Division, or come work for my household."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Biao almost reflexively took a step forward, bowed, and said loudly, "This humble servant is willing to join the Hundred Riders!"

His voice was full of urgency, without the slightest hesitation.

Qi San stood still, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes, his eyes flickering for a moment.

He started out as a servant in a brothel, but later, unable to find a way to make a living, he became a scoundrel. In the end, he was nothing more than an idle person with no proper way to make a living.

The Hundred Cavalry Command sounds prestigious, but it's full of highly trained fighters. He has no martial arts background whatsoever, so if he goes in, he'll probably never get ahead.

After much deliberation, he finally bowed to Wen He, his tone resolute: "This humble servant is willing to follow the young master."

Wen He had seen their reactions and had expected it all along.

Although Fan Biao was a corrupt official who could keep the people in check, he was ultimately a low-ranking official without any real power or a path to advancement.

The Hundred Cavalry Division belonged to the Fubing system. Joining the Hundred Cavalry Division meant becoming a proper "official," and one might even be able to obtain a rank in the future. For Fan Biao, this was an opportunity he couldn't ask for.

As for Qi San, he was aware of his shortcomings, and by following Wen He, he could use his cleverness to make a name for himself.

"Okay, I respect your choice."

Wen He first nodded to Fan Biao, then turned to Qi San, speaking casually.

"I need someone to help me drive the carriage. Would you be willing?" he asked.

This is not an insult to Wen He.

He drove the carriage for him; at least he was a respectable businessman.

Upon hearing this, Qi San's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed and replied, "I am willing! If you don't mind, young master, I can become a slave and follow you for life!"

In his view, being able to work in Wenhe's household, even as a slave, was better than living a life of idleness outside.

"There is no need to become a slave."

Wen He waved his hand, his tone serious.

"It's just considered employment. I'll give you two strings of cash a month, and you'll be provided with food and lodging."

He wasn't one of those landlords who exploited their servants. The servants he had bought from the brokerage firm were already registered as slaves, and he couldn't change that.

In the Tang Dynasty, getting rid of slavery required government approval and a hefty ransom, making it no easy task.

"Thank you, young master!"

Qi San was so excited that his voice trembled, and he quickly bowed.

Two strings of cash is no small amount; an ordinary family of several people might not even have that much for half a year's expenses.

Fan Biao, who was standing to the side, suddenly felt a pang of regret as he watched this scene unfold.

Two strings of cash a month, more than his salary as the head of the criminal gang!
Moreover, if Qi San follows Wen He and Wen He rises in rank in the future, Qi San might also benefit from it. As the saying goes, "even a seventh-rank official is in front of the prime minister's door." Wen He has won the trust of the emperor and the crown prince at a young age, and he may well become prime minister in the future.

Having worked as a rogue for over a decade and witnessed the glamorous lives of servants in wealthy families, he now felt a pang of resentment when he thought back to the "official position" he had chosen.

But the words had already been spoken, and he had no face to go back on his word, so he could only suppress his regret.

Wen He didn't notice the change in Fan Biao's expression. She stood up, straightened her robes, and said to Fan Biao, "Tomorrow, go directly to the Hundred Cavalry Division to report. Just find Xu Jingzong and tell him that I sent you."

He then turned to Qi San, took out a brocade pouch embroidered with a dark pattern from his sleeve, and handed it to him.

"Here is a string of cash, which can be used as your resettlement allowance. Go and settle your family first. Tomorrow morning, go to the Gaoyang County government to find A-Dong, and he will arrange your accommodation and job."

"Yes!" Fan Biao and Qi San responded at the same time. One bowed to accept the order, while the other took the brocade pouch with both hands and held it tightly in his hands, as if afraid that it was all a dream.

Wen He nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk out of the tea stall.

Meanwhile, inside an elegant tavern in Pingkangfang, Chang'an City.

"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

An old man's roar suddenly exploded, followed by a series of shattering sounds.

The wine pot and wine vessel on the table were swept to the ground, the exquisite porcelain bowl was smashed into pieces, and the wine mixed with the food was spilled all over the floor, making a complete mess.

The white-haired old man trembled with rage, his white beard bristling, and his withered hands slammed heavily onto the mahogany table.
"Too deceiving!"

"Shameless! Shameless little thief! How dare he do this!"

In the side room, an elderly man with white hair angrily pounded the table.

The other people in the room either closed their eyes to rest or had their brows furrowed.

"I must submit a memorial to impeach you, gentlemen..."

The old man trembled with anger, but before he could finish speaking, someone beside him stopped him.

"enough!"

(End of this chapter)