Volume One: The Carefree Journey of Leaves Indistinguishable Chapter Seventy-Three: The IOU

Yang Ning remained calm and said nothing, but Dou Lianzhong had already laughed, “Master Mo, your discerning eye sees through truth and falsehood in an instant.” Fixing his gaze on Yang Ning, he sneered, “What else do you have to say?”

“What would you have me say?” Yang Ning replied with composure. “Has Master Mo already rendered a final judgment?”

“Did you not hear? Master Mo said this is made of inferior colored glass,” Dou Lianzhong puffed out his chest. “Given that, what more is there to judge?”

“Master Mo only commented on the material, stating it was not particularly valuable,” Yang Ning replied unhurriedly, “but he did not say that the Glass Horse itself was worthless. Since you are versed in antiques and paintings, you should know that sometimes the paper and ink of a painting are ordinary, yet the finished work is worth a fortune. True treasures are not always valued by their material alone.”

Dou Lianzhong was about to retort when Governor Mo’s eyes showed a slight smile. “Qi Ning is correct. Judging by the material alone, this would not be regarded a treasure. However, I did not deny that the Glass Horse itself might be a priceless artifact.”

Dou Lianzhong was momentarily stunned, somewhat bewildered.

“Qi Ning, you claim this is a family heirloom?” Governor Mo asked. “What proof do you have?”

“Your Excellency, this Glass Horse was bestowed by the late Emperor to my grandfather. Upon it are the constellations of the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper and the Seven Mansions of the Northern Dipper, able to distinguish between life and death,” Yang Ning replied serenely. “If the Glass Horse were intact, it would even glow at night.”

Governor Mo was taken aback. “A gift from the late Emperor?”

“Indeed,” Yang Ning answered. “It has been treasured in the Marquis of Brocade’s household for decades and only brought out today, never expecting…” He glared at Dou Lianzhong, his face full of anger. “Dou Lianzhong has destroyed this heirloom and now makes excuses to shirk responsibility. I beg Your Excellency to decide with justice.”

Governor Mo nodded slightly. Seeing this, Dou Lianzhong hurriedly protested, “Master Mo, just because he claims it was bestowed by the late Emperor, does that make it so? Who knows if he’s merely invoking the Emperor’s name? The late Emperor has already passed, the dead cannot—”

“Enough!” Governor Mo rebuked sternly, “Dou Lianzhong, how dare you profane the late Emperor? What punishment should you receive?”

Dou Lianzhong, flustered by the sudden reprimand, stammered, “Master Mo, I… I meant no such thing.”

“Do you realize that, for what you just said, I could charge you with a grave offense?” Governor Mo’s expression darkened. “This is the Capital Prefecture. You dared to profane the late Emperor in my presence—what are your intentions?”

Dou Lianzhong’s face flushed crimson with anxiety. “Master Mo, I assure you, no disrespect was meant. I only meant that if the late Emperor bestowed something, there should be an official record. Whether this Glass Horse truly came from the late Emperor can be verified in the archives.”

At that moment, the court clerk looked up and asked Governor Mo, “Your Excellency, should this remark be recorded?”

Dou Lianzhong’s complexion changed dramatically. He pleaded, “Master Mo, please…!” He knew that if his words were entered into the record, the consequences would be dire. He had always relied on his family’s influence to bully others and, though somewhat cautious today in the Capital Prefecture, seeing Governor Mo’s reaction to the words “bestowed by the late Emperor” made him fear that Governor Mo might favor Yang Ning, and in his panic, he spoke without thinking, committing a grave blunder.

He deeply regretted it, but Yang Ning respectfully asked Governor Mo, “Your Excellency, since we are in a court session, is every word not to be recorded?”

“I require no reminder,” Governor Mo replied coolly. He turned to the clerk. “Having served as clerk for so many years, do you not know the rules? Is there any need to ask about this remark?”

“My apologies, I was rash,” the clerk responded and wrote it down without further question.

Dou Lianzhong’s face turned ashen, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He knew he had made an unforgivable error. The matter might seem small, but it could also become a great scandal. If it were someone else, perhaps his father could have the record altered with ease, but he was facing Governor Mo, famed as “Iron Judge Mo.” Worse, Yang Ning himself was present and heard everything.

“Dou Lianzhong’s words are reasonable,” Governor Mo said. “Whenever the Emperor bestows gifts upon his ministers, the court keeps records. Items from the imperial household are recorded by the Office of Imperial Regalia; if they are bestowed from the Ministry of Revenue, there will also be records there.” Stroking his beard, he continued, “Since Dou Lianzhong’s father is the Minister of Revenue, if this Glass Horse came from the Ministry, the record will be there; otherwise, we can check with the Office of Imperial Regalia in the palace.”

Dou Lianzhong quickly added, “Exactly. That is what I meant. Master Mo, I have already sent someone to the Ministry of Revenue to search for any records regarding this Glass Horse.”

Yang Ning then realized that when Zhao Xin had left earlier, it must have been at Dou Lianzhong’s behest to search the Ministry.

Governor Mo frowned. “Dou Lianzhong, you do not hold any official post, do you?”

Dou Lianzhong was taken aback, not understanding the implication.

“You have no official rank, so how could you dispatch someone to the Ministry of Revenue to investigate the records?” Governor Mo said coolly. “Though your father is the Minister of Revenue, even he must follow proper procedures to access the archives. How did you so easily send someone to investigate? For this case, any examination of records should be conducted by the Capital Prefecture, petitioning the Ministry or the Office of Imperial Regalia. You seem overly eager.”

Only then did Dou Lianzhong realize he had made a second fatal mistake. Though his father Dou Kui was Minister of Revenue, Dou Lianzhong himself held no office and had no authority to meddle in ministry affairs. By sending someone to access the archives, he was treating the Ministry as his own backyard. Should this become public, and if political enemies got wind of it, it could be used as a powerful weapon against his father.

Dou Lianzhong’s facial muscles twitched and his mind went blank.

This time, the court clerk didn’t utter a word, but directly entered the statement into the record.

Yang Ning thought to himself that Governor Mo was indeed a stern and impartial man. Now, before Dou Lianzhong could disentangle himself from the matter of the family heirloom, he had already made two slip-ups, both of which, if seriously pursued, could become major offenses.

Dou Lianzhong wanted to argue further, but Zhao Wushang, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up, “I am Zhao Wushang. There is something I must report to Your Excellency.”

Governor Mo said, “What is it you wish to say?”

“The shattered family heirloom was bestowed by the late Emperor upon the old Marquis,” Zhao Wushang said slowly. “Governor Mo, may I ask if you know the origin of the title ‘Marquis of Brocade’?”

Governor Mo replied, “In the days when the late Emperor campaigned to pacify the rebels, the old Marquis of Brocade was one of his fiercest generals. During the suppression of the Jingnan bandits, the war reached a stalemate and supply lines faltered. The front lines suffered from shortages of food and clothing; as winter set in, the cold was so severe that many soldiers froze to death. The late Emperor shared in the hardships of his men and is said to have fallen ill at the front due to thin clothing. It was then that the old Marquis of Brocade gave all his garments to the Emperor, and even roamed the hills naked to find medicinal herbs for him. Thanks to his efforts, the Emperor recovered, but the Marquis nearly froze to death himself.”

“Exactly so,” Zhao Wushang said. “In gratitude, the Emperor later conferred upon him the title ‘Marquis of Brocade’ to commemorate their bond as sovereign and subject.”

Governor Mo pressed his hands together in salute. “The old Marquis was a paragon of loyalty, a model for all us ministers.”

“Then, Master Mo, you also know that the late Emperor conquered all lands, capturing cities and seizing treasures without peer,” Zhao Wushang continued calmly. “In those campaigns, he gathered many rare and precious artifacts, which he bestowed upon his meritorious generals. Not only the old Marquis of Brocade, but also the four great marquisates of today likely possess treasures bestowed by the late Emperor.”

Governor Mo nodded slightly, saying nothing.

“At that time, these imperial gifts were not always entered into the official records,” Zhao Wushang went on. “Can we then conclude that if no record of the Glass Horse is found in the Ministry of Revenue or the Office of Imperial Regalia, the old Marquis of Brocade must have obtained it by improper means?”

Governor Mo frowned. “Are you saying the Glass Horse was given during the old Marquis’s campaigns with the Emperor?”

“That is so,” answered Zhao Wushang. “Moreover, when the gift was bestowed, the old Marquis of Wuxiang was also present.”

Dou Lianzhong nearly spat blood.

The old Marquis of Brocade, the old Marquis of Wuxiang, and the late Emperor—all three had been dead for years. Was he expected to drag them from their graves as witnesses?

But now he dared not speak lightly; already he had made several errors, and feared that any further word would bring even more trouble.

Governor Mo said, “Since it was an imperial gift, it is naturally of inestimable value.” He looked sternly at Dou Lianzhong. “Dou Lianzhong, you destroyed a treasure bestowed by the late Emperor. What have you to say for yourself?”

Dou Lianzhong opened his mouth, but could only say, “How can they prove it was a gift from the late Emperor?”

“The Emperor’s name is not to be invoked lightly,” Governor Mo said coldly. “Anyone who dares use the Emperor’s name for falsehood or blasphemy deserves death.”

Dou Lianzhong shuddered and bowed his head. “Then… what should be done?” Now he truly feared that Governor Mo would disregard the issue of the Glass Horse and instead pursue his own blasphemous words, which would be far graver.

“Qi Ning, the Glass Horse is already shattered and cannot be restored,” Governor Mo said gravely. “How do you wish Dou Lianzhong to make amends?”

“Your Excellency, the Glass Horse is a family heirloom of the Marquis of Brocade, but more importantly, it is an imperial gift and thus priceless,” Yang Ning replied respectfully. “I dare not sully an imperial treasure by requesting monetary compensation. My grandmother is not yet aware of this matter; I must inform her before any decision about reparations. I hope Your Excellency will preside and have Dou Lianzhong sign a promissory note first.”

“A promissory note?”

“Yes,” Yang Ning said. “Let Dou Lianzhong acknowledge that he destroyed my family’s heirloom. So long as this is established under your supervision, the rest can be settled more easily later.”

Governor Mo considered for a moment before stating, “Dou Lianzhong, Qi Ning requests you sign a promissory note. What is your response?” His tone was cold and his gaze fixed intently on Dou Lianzhong.