The second act of "The Sword and the Tablet" is shrouded in mystery and tension.

The second act is shrouded in mystery and tension.
Mule and Horse Lane in the south of the city runs north-south and is about two zhang wide. During the day, the mule and horse market is bustling.
But at night, it's unusually deserted. The blue bricks paving the ground have long since crumbled and sunken, creating numerous puddles of varying sizes after rain
. Even though
it's autumn, there's still a thunderstorm.
"This damn weather!" Chen San, his hands tucked into his sleeves, stood under a rain shelter, looking up at the inky black sky.
He stood at the entrance of Horseshoe Alley in Mule and Horse Lane, a place usually bustling with carriages and horses. His wonton stall, leaning against a low
wall, was surrounded by cloth on two sides, with a rain shelter above and three tables under it; business was always good. But
once the city gates closed, fewer people came. The shops in the alley were also closed and locked today. If it weren't for the customers,
he would have already gone home to warm his wife's feet. But these two customers were not to be offended; they were
Zhang, the head constable, and Qian, the constable, both from the Jingzhao Yin's yamen.
"Chen San, two more bowls of wontons," Constable Qian called out, then turned to the head constable and said, "I think Da Zui and Xiao
Su will be back soon." Chen San agreed and went back to work; it seemed these officials
wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
"Head Constable Zhang, our master has always had a good relationship with the Left Censor-in-Chief. Whenever there's a lucrative job of confiscating property in the capital, we brothers
always manage to go along and get a piece of the action. But recently..." Qian Lao Er had only started to speak when Head Constable Zhang raised his hand to stop him.
Head Constable Zhang looked around, then listened intently to make sure no one was around before whispering, "Do you remember
the matter of 'castrating men and humiliating women'?"
"You're talking about the case of Xu Rongsi, the Director of the Waterways Department of the Ministry of Works." Qian Lao Er's eyes widened, and he made
a throat-slitting gesture with his right hand. Seeing Head Constable Zhang nod slightly, Qian Lao Er couldn't help but gasp.
A century ago, at the end of the Xiniu Dynasty, the oppressive taxation and harsh labor policies caused immense suffering to the people.
Officials at all levels formed cliques, engaged in infighting, and schemed against each other. That year, various states suffered continuous disasters: floods, plagues, locust infestations, and droughts
followed one after another. Refugees fled their homes, seeking refuge in the east. Along the way, desolation
filled the land, farmland lay barren, and more and more refugees joined them, eventually numbering in the tens of thousands. Among them were hunters and butchers, those who made their living with swords and arrows,
hunting wild animals and birds to fill their hungry stomachs. The hunter Zhao Zong, tall and mighty, possessed superhuman strength and even subdued a white tiger in a mountain stream,
thus gaining the power to command the people.
At that time, refugees from all over raised the banner of rebellion against the court. Zhao Zong was thus chosen as their leader, rising up in
revolt and being hailed as the "Tiger Emperor." He became the eighth rebel army, killing officials and distributing wealth along the way, gradually increasing his power until he
finally pacified the land and established the White Tiger Dynasty. Ten years have passed since the first year of the White Tiger Dynasty, and the current
Emperor has been on the throne for three years.
The Ministry of Works of this dynasty is in charge of mountains and lakes, military farms, artisans, and the supply of paper and ink for various government offices. It comprises four departments: the Department of Works,
the Department of Military Farms, the Department of Forestry
, and the Department of Water Resources. The Department of Works oversees all construction and management projects, including the dredging of city walls, the repair of earthworks, the supervision of military equipment manufacturing, and the oversight of artisan procedures. The Department of Water Resources manages the administration of rivers, canals, and ponds throughout the empire, ensuring
the proper flow of waterways and the proper management of irrigation systems. Since his ascension, the current Emperor has restructured the system of rites and music, exempted from taxes, revived the imperial examination system, changing it from a triennial examination to an
annual one, and reinstated officials from the previous dynasty. The funds from the national treasury are primarily allocated to the Ministry of Works. In particular, six months ago,
Xu Rongsi, the Director of the Department of Water Resources, suddenly fell ill, and the current Emperor showed exceptional leniency by sending a royal physician to visit him, with Murong Qiu accompanying him. Afterwards
, Xu Rongsi was out of danger and often discussed the matter with his colleagues, saying that he had
served three emperors—the previous dynasty, the late emperor, and the current emperor—and deeply felt the emperor's
boundless grace. He felt it was his duty to devote himself to the cause until his dying breath. The court officials speculated that the emperor's tax exemptions and emphasis on etiquette had won the hearts of the people; and that his recruitment of talented individuals and his heavy reliance on the Ministry of Works were aimed at strengthening the army and restoring its morale after the western expedition
.
Unexpectedly, half a month later, the situation changed drastically, and a bloody storm erupted. First, Zhang Hongwang, the Director of the Ministry of Works
, was impeached by Murong Qiu on charges of "colluding with foreign powers and leaking military secrets." He was dismissed from his post in court, imprisoned on death
row, and his property was confiscated pending trial. That same night, the entire male family of Xu Rongsi, the Director of the Ministry of Water Resources, was murdered by bandits from the previous dynasty, and all the men were mutilated.
The women disappeared. Three days later, Zhang Hongwang hanged himself in the Ministry of Justice's prison. The hundred or
so women of Xu Rongsi's family were found naked and hanging in the woods west of the city, raped, disemboweled, and their bodies stained with blood. Even more horrifying,
a white linen cloth was stuffed into the women's genitals, with one end hanging down, on which were written in blood the words "Recognizing a thief as father, cut off
from offspring and descendants."
Rumors spread that the Emperor suspected the Ministry of Works of forming cliques and enriching themselves. Just then,
a rebellion broke out within the Ministry of Works. Someone from the Waterways Department secretly denounced the
Ministry, leading to the imprisonment of a Director of the Ministry of Works. There were also rumors that remnants of the Xiniu Dynasty were gathering former officials of the Ministry of Works to plot a restoration. Officials in the four departments of the Ministry of Works were filled with anxiety, especially those former officials who could
n't sleep at night and were vying to resign at the morning court. The Prince of Taiping knelt on the ground, offering his head as collateral, and earnestly pleaded for their retention.
Only then did the Emperor speak: "This matter is complex, and the villains must be eliminated. The Ministry of Works is unharmed; past transgressions will not be punished. They should be mindful of the Emperor's grace and diligently
perform their duties." In the following month, the Emperor ordered the Ministry of War to sweep away bandits and outlaws within a hundred li of the capital
. General Shangguan Qiuming, the Grand General Who Pacifies the South, successfully captured the bandit leader and beheaded him in the capital. The Ministry of Personnel specially appointed two local prefects
to fill the vacancies in the Directors of the Ministry of Works and the Waterways Department, and the matter was thus dropped.
Seeing that Qian Lao Er still didn't understand the crux of the matter, Constable Zhang continued, "There's another strange thing about this case: the
Ministry of Justice failed in its oversight, leading to the death of the key figure, Zhang Hongwang. Yet, His Majesty didn't punish him."
"However, His Majesty still doesn't trust the Ministry of Justice, so the Censorate always uses the Ministry of War, or
our Jingzhao Prefecture's office, for all the confiscations." This time, Qian Lao Er picked up where he left off. Constable Zhang nodded approvingly.
"But recently…" Qian Lao Er suddenly understood something, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
He bent his right index finger and gestured to Constable Zhang: "Could there be a 'hook' (traitor) in our office?"
Constable Zhang stared into his eyes and slowly nodded.
A gust of wind mixed with rain swept by, and Qian Lao Er shivered.
The black carriage traveled smoothly, slowing its pace after entering the inner city, gradually navigating the maze-like passageways
. The passageway was flanked by high walls, and apart from the sounds of horses' hooves and carriage wheels, all was silent. After traveling for
the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the carriage stopped in front of a gate.
A dozen or so people were waiting there, holding umbrellas and lanterns that read "Imperial Household Department."
The black curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a man stepped out. This man wore a yellow crown, a black turban, a blue robe, a yellow sash, a
crane-feather cloak, white socks, and crimson shoes with cloud-patterned design—a true Taoist priest, possessing all five elements. Someone
hurried to the carriage, holding an umbrella, and led him under the eaves.
"Master Zhenyang, you've had a long journey! We've been waiting for you." A man approached and bowed.
"Amitabha, thank you for waiting, Eunuch Chen." The Taoist quickly returned the bow. "Guard Li brought the golden token; I've
traveled day and night, hoping this journey will not be in vain."
"Did you bring everything you requested?" Eunuch Chen seemed very interested in the contents of the carriage.
Master Zhenyang smiled slightly: "Please send someone to receive them, Eunuch Chen." Turning to the curtain, he said, "Daoqing, bring
them down!"
The curtain was lifted, and a young Taoist boy stepped out, holding the curtain open. The person following behind bowed and crawled out of the carriage
.
Chen Gonggong's men, carrying lanterns and umbrellas, hurried to the front of the carriage and lined up with their backs to it.
One by one, people emerged, all dressed as Taoist priests. They climbed out of the carriage without a word, climbed onto the backs of the eunuchs,
and the eunuchs quickly ran to the eaves. Chen Gonggong stopped one of them, lifted the Taoist's drooping head, and examined him.
The man had snow-white skin, a rosy complexion, and was quite young. Chen Gonggong said in a high-pitched voice, "Not bad, not bad! Take him to
the Imperial Household Department to rest." Then, nine lanterns, carried in the darkness, crossed the palace gate, passed through a large open space,
and filed towards a row of dark houses.
"Young Marquis, as an Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, your indulgence in sensual pleasures—have you failed the Emperor's grace?" In the hall, Murong
Qiu spoke sharply, directly addressing the matter. Unexpectedly, Gu Daji remained unfazed. He first turned to Prince Taiping and said,
"His Majesty's grace is boundless, his laws are clear and just, his rewards and punishments are appropriate, and the people support him, which is why we have this peaceful and prosperous era." Prince
Taiping smiled, thinking to himself, "Everyone says you are 'shrewd and tactful,' but this man is notoriously 'aggressive
.' Let's see how you handle this kid!"
Gu Daji then turned his gaze to the people at the table, noticing that everyone present seemed to be sitting on pins and needles, feeling uneasy. He
raised his wine cup, cupped his hands in a toast to everyone, and slowly continued, "Throughout history, wise rulers have most delighted to see the people
living in peace and prosperity, with no one picking up lost items on the road, prisons empty and dilapidated, and the law ineffective. Our current emperor is compassionate towards the people, his decrees precede the laws
, and the people are inclined towards goodness, ashamed to commit wrongdoing. This humble servant deeply feels that the laws of the Ministry of Justice are merely a formality; the singing and dancing in peacetime
are only for the purpose of congratulating His Majesty on His Majesty's long life!" His words made the guests seem to suddenly understand, and
smiles returned to their faces.
Murong Qiu was momentarily speechless, but after a moment's thought, he continued, "The people's singing and dancing in peacetime is indeed
something His Majesty delights in. However, we officials should devote ourselves wholeheartedly and do our utmost to this task..."
"As the sage said," Murong Qiu began, but Gu Daji interrupted him, "Those not in a position
should not concern themselves with its affairs. The Censorate's presumptuous remarks about the Ministry of Justice's matters are tantamount to
overstepping its bounds. Although I am incompetent, even the Left Censor-in-Chief present today should speak frankly: if I were in the Ministry of Justice and neglected official duties, or mishandled criminal cases, the Ministry would
handle the matter accordingly." Gu Daji paused, his gaze sweeping around the assembled officials, including... Kuo Taiping,
the Prince, nodded slightly, his expression focused, and continued, "According to the laws of this dynasty: impeachment requires substantial evidence. False accusations
against the government or officials are serious crimes, punishable by imprisonment or exile to remote, desolate lands. Throughout history, no
one has ever escaped this punishment. If anyone dares to defy the law, the Ministry of Justice will not hesitate to show no leniency!" The guests present, who usually
found this young marquis easygoing and humorous, privately believed he only
held a position in the Ministry of Justice due to his family's influence. Unexpectedly, today they witnessed his sharp wit, his expertise in legal matters, and his profound knowledge of the law
, revealing a formidable presence befitting a high-ranking official. The guests exchanged bewildered glances, falling silent in fear.
The room was filled with a misty haze. Liao Chen, eyes closed, was immersed in a tall wooden tub.
Fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead and between his brows, and his cheeks were flushed. His shoulders and neck, which were above the water, were snow-white, and the steam made his skin
appear even more supple. Liao Chen scooped up water with his hands to wash the sweat from his face. He tilted his head back, and his two snow-capped peaks burst forth from the calm
water, creating ripples. The two peaks were round and large, without any sharpness
or the sagging and limpness often seen in women in their forties. They were full and plump, with pale areolas, like
two pink peach blossoms on a snowball, and two proudly erect nipples, a luscious pink that
would tempt anyone to suckle.
Liao Chen was proud of her large breasts from a young age. Her mother was a renowned wet nurse in the area,
sought after by wealthy families in the countryside and county town, and even by the county magistrate. Her monthly stipend was raised to five taels of silver, and she was still overwhelmed with requests.
Her father, originally a tenant farmer, had used his wife's stipend to build up his land holdings and become a wealthy landlord. Liao Chen
, whose common name was Bai Juhua, was the eldest daughter in the family. By sixteen, she had developed a curvaceous figure, especially her breasts,
which were so full they seemed about to burst out of her clothes, making even young women nursing babies pale in comparison. Since her family had become landlords, her father began to
pretend to be particular about etiquette. After she became a young lady, she was confined to the house all day. She was served by maids
and had a private tutor to teach her the Four Books and Five Classics and proper etiquette for young ladies, driving this wild mountain girl to the brink of madness. Consequently,
the antique porcelain vases, antique paintings, and calligraphy in her boudoir suffered the consequences. Seeing the mess on the ground, her father was so heartbroken he felt like hanging himself
. From then on, he avoided her everywhere, no longer forcing her to study or learn manners. So, when she was bored
, she would sneak out to play with the tenant farmers' children, always getting covered in mud and sweat,
and then bathing in the mountain pool. It was in that pool that Liao Chen met him, which changed her
life forever.
It was pitch black all around, with only the lantern hanging at the wonton stall providing a little light. First,
the sound of rushing water came from the darkness, then two men, an old and a young, dressed as officials, rushed in through the rain and mist, soaked to
the bone. Officer Qian quickly invited them to sit down.
"Damn it, this rain really couldn't have come at the right time," the older one, nicknamed "Big Mouth Liu,"
said, swearing profusely, as he plopped down on the bench, squeezing the water from his clothes. The younger one, the one Qian Lao Er called
"Little Su," was thin and very shy. He first bowed to Constable Zhang, then wiped the rain from his face...
Shui Bian sat down on the bench opposite Constable Zhang. Chen San quickly brought over two bowls of steaming wontons. Liu
Da Zui, not caring whether it was hot or not, started eating with a wide grin.
This case, which occurred two days ago, was a case of missing children. In fact, even under the emperor's nose,
it was not uncommon for ordinary people's children to go missing or be abducted. What was strange this time was that two days ago,
dozens of children, regardless of wealth, went missing in the capital, and they were all six or seven years old. Tonight,
Liu Da Zui and Xiao Su went to the matchmaker in the capital to inquire about the situation.
"Xiao Su, what did the matchmaker say?" Qian Lao Er exchanged a glance with Constable Zhang and asked Xiao Su directly.
Xiao Su, with her fair face, opened her mouth, but before she could utter a sound, Liu Da Zui interrupted her: "Damn it,
that woman is a shrew. The moment she sees a pretty boy, her whole body trembles. She grabbed his hand, calling him 'sister'
and 'brother,' almost swallowing him whole." Xiao Su blushed crimson, too ashamed to speak.
Constable Zhang's face darkened, and Constable Qian, unable to bear it any longer, shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting? I'm asking you serious questions!"
Today, Liu Da Zui, for some unknown reason, continued his rant: "I was asking her serious questions, but as soon as I opened my mouth,
that woman started wailing and screaming, claiming she was innocent. She even grabbed her pipe and tried to hit me! If I hadn't run
fast..."
*Smash!* The teacups and bowls on the table flew high into the air. "You bastard! Are you a constable or a
brothel owner?" Constable Zhang was truly enraged. "The master is urging us to solve the case, it's been two days, and there's not a single piece of news!" Liu Da Zui
lowered his head, speechless. Qian Lao Er was also very dissatisfied: "Da Zui, we're all constables, investigating cases,
questioning, surveying, and detaining people are our duties. How come you're getting older and less capable!
Aren't you disgracing us?"
"Bullshit! What disgrace have I suffered? I don't earn much a month, I work in the cold and heat, and I still
have to investigate cases in the dead of night." Liu Da Zui had nothing to say to the constable, but he didn't give Qian Lao Er any face: "Damn it!
I'm cold and hungry, and according to the rules of the 'Six Doors': if we can't solve a case in three days, we'll get a beating. And you're here
licking the constable's boots. If you're so capable, go and investigate!" Liu Da Zui didn't back down at all, making Qian Lao Er cough.
"Get out!—" Constable Zhang had reached his limit.
Liu Dazui's face turned red with anger. He suddenly stood up, knocking over a long bench with a crash, and turned to
rush into the rain. After a splash of water, his angry figure disappeared into the dark rain and mist.
Xiao Su was so frightened that he lowered his head and ate his wontons. As for whether the wontons were salty or bland, he couldn't tell at all. He only heard Constable Zhang
say to Qian Lao Er, "You can go now!" Xiao Su saw the two of them exchange a glance. Qian Lao Er
put his chains, iron ruler, and other items on the table, tightened his belt, and leaped over the low wall,
chasing after Liu Dazui in the direction he had gone...
The Xiaoyao Marquis's bedroom was in the back garden. It was called a garden, but it was actually a lotus pond. This was because the princess's name
contained the character "lotus." The surface of the lotus pond resembled a vast expanse of round, emerald-green lotus leaves, stretching over ten zhang in diameter.
Various lotus flowers and water lilies were planted across the water. Six narrow, verdant bamboo bridges, like slender stems on lotus leaves,
converged from the shore to the center of the pond, supporting a white marble platform, like a water droplet in the center of a lotus leaf. The bedroom was
a two-story building, built on the white marble base.
In autumn, the lotus flowers withered, leaving only the leaves. When a sudden rainstorm struck, large raindrops pounded on the lotus leaves,
creating a continuous pattering sound, so loud that one could not hear a sound within five steps. But if you pressed your ear against the window, you could still
hear those sweet, cloying moans. And if you pierced the gauze, the rising and falling moans would surely
drive you mad.

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The second act of "The Sword and the Tablet" is shrouded in mystery and tension.

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