County Magistrate Gu’s face darkened as a memory surfaced from many years ago. He recalled the chance encounter with the current owner of Tower Beyond Towers—a woman he had nearly married.
Of course, that wasn’t quite how it had happened. The truth was that he had just passed the scholar examinations back then, brimming with youthful arrogance. In a bold move, he had publicly proposed marriage to her, only for her to turn him down flat.
Ah, best not to dwell on the past. That image of the woman lingered in his mind, and with it came County Magistrate Gu’s decision.
“You insolent commoner! Slandering others without evidence and twisting words to justify it? Guards, drag this thief away! Give him fifty strokes of the staff, fine him a hundred taels of silver as compensation to the wronged party, and make an example of him!”
“Your Excellency is wise!” The cry rose from everyone inside and outside the courtroom.
“Court is adjourned!” County Magistrate Gu slammed down the court gavel, quietly breathing a sigh of relief. Upholding justice by the book—that could never go wrong.
“Your Excellency, this is an injustice! Tower Beyond Towers is the top imperial merchant house. I… ahh!” Shopkeeper Lu’s protests drowned in the relentless thud of the staff.
County Magistrate Gu glanced at the people below, then shot a look at his wife.
In the yamen’s back courtyard, Madam Gu’s eyes shone with admiration. “My lord is ever wise.”
Fifty lashes could easily cost an ordinary man half his life. She hoped Shopkeeper Lu took this lesson to heart and stuck to honest business from now on.
County Magistrate Gu shot her a glare. “Madam, you were far too reckless today. What if we couldn’t prove the complainant’s innocence? What then?”
That poor girl Lai Di—it hadn’t been easy for her.
Madam Gu gave him a sidelong glance. “We follow the rules, of course. Don’t you always say so, my lord? Justice must never falter, no matter the circumstances. Only then can the county enjoy peace.”
She trusted her husband, just as she trusted Chu Shaoyang, whom she regarded as a little sister.
County Magistrate Gu sighed softly. “True, we must never compromise on justice. But sometimes I wish I could simply rule by decree.”
Not every wronged soul saw their name cleared, while villains schemed endlessly to frame the good.
Even with so-called evidence before him, a magistrate sometimes had to swallow his conscience.
Thinking back on the courtroom drama, his expression softened. “Lucky for us, there was a sharp mind at that little restaurant. Otherwise, this case would have been a tough one.”
Madam Gu nodded in agreement, then asked, “You zoned out twice in court, my lord. Thinking of someone?”
This old scoundrel was surely lost in memories again. Mention of Tower Beyond Towers, and she knew exactly whose face he had in mind.
County Magistrate Gu chuckled wryly, his tone helpless. “Madam, how many times must I swear it to you? Back then, I was young and foolish, dazzled by her beauty for a moment. Now, I hold only respect for her—nothing more. You are the only one in my heart.”
Madam Gu wasn’t having it. “Oh, please. She just didn’t fancy you, so you turned admiration into respect. Tonight, I’m sleeping alone. You go to your study.”
“Madam, hear me out…”
“Quiet! Go keep your past company in the study…”
In the courtyard, the servants exchanged knowing glances, each sighing inwardly at how solid their lord and lady’s marriage was.
At the same time, Tang Jin and the others left the yamen and headed back to the little restaurant.
Cao Kesang eyed Chu Shaoyang, who walked beside Chu Lingyue. He rubbed his still-hungry belly and followed quietly.
It wasn’t until Tang Jin unlocked the restaurant door that he spoke up. “Sister Tang Jin, are we opening tonight?”
Tang Jin had been lamenting the silver they’d missed out on today. His words brought a smile to her face.
“Of course we’re open, Brother Cao…”
“Come in, come in, Little Cao! Join this old lady for a drink. No business talk tonight—just thanks for speaking up for us back there.”
Tang Jin’s words cut off as Old Madam Tang’s booming voice drowned them out.
The old madam shot her a glare afterward. That unlucky granddaughter had been clever enough in court, but back at the restaurant? Back to her foolish self. Opening for business now? Nonsense. Repay the favor first.
Meeting Old Madam Tang’s warning glare, Tang Jin clamped her mouth shut. Fine, they should treat everyone to a meal. She wouldn’t argue.
Too bad—no silver tonight after all!
Cao Kesang stayed, and so did Chu Shaoyang without a word. Chu Lingyue glanced at the sky, then at Chu Shaoyang’s expectant face. In a gentle voice, she said, “Shaoyang, join us for dinner too. But no more rushing into things like that from now on.”
Chu Shaoyang nodded obediently. “Sister’s right.”
Next time, she’d do it again.
Without her sister’s secret help all those years ago, their father never would have made his comeback. She wouldn’t have her current life of wealth and comfort.
With her sister in trouble, how could she stand by? Recklessness was the only option.
Overhearing this, Old Madam Tang gave Chu Shaoyang a closer look, mumbling to herself. What exactly did this young miss feel for Chu Lingyue?
Calling her “sister” like family?
She just couldn’t make sense of it anymore.
Glancing at the impassive Tang Jin, she looked away. Forget it. If the unlucky granddaughter didn’t care, what was the point of her worrying like a eunuch fretting over the emperor?
Tang Jin felt her heart sink. Not only no silver tonight, but now heaps of ingredients gone to waste. With this crowd, that was six plates at least—one per head.
She snuck a glance at the goods shelf in the void. Got it.
One big pot of garlic honey-glazed, and one of abalone chicken wing stew. Two massive pots—surely enough to feed everyone.
Anything else? Too stingy.
Luckily, these two were on daily rotation. She really was clever.
After the meal, everyone sat contentedly sipping tea. Cao Kesang headed out early to pack—he was leaving Ping’an County at dawn to head home.
He’d return next month, wife and kids in tow.
Tang Jin eyed Chu Shaoyang, who showed no sign of leaving. Muttering as if to herself, she said, “The city gates are probably shut by now.”
Was Miss Chu planning to bunk down at the restaurant?
It was too late to head out to Tang Village now, but the restaurant had no spare rooms or beds.
Chu Shaoyang answered without prompting. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m staying at an inn.” She gave Tang Jin a cool glance as she spoke.
Even if her sister insisted the woman had changed, memories of their past entanglements made it hard to warm to her.
Chu Lingyue smiled helplessly and took Chu Shaoyang’s hand. “Shaoyang, A-Jin didn’t mean it that way. The restaurant’s just too small—no extra rooms or beds. She’s always blunt, but her heart’s in the right place.”
Chu Shaoyang replied flatly, “Oh.”
Seeing her like this, Chu Lingyue said no more. She stood, pulling her along. “I’ll walk you to the inn. It’s getting late.”
Chu Shaoyang demurred politely. “Before heading to the yamen, I already arranged with Second Aunt Tang at the inn. No need for you to come, Sister.”
“I’ll walk you anyway. We can chat.”
“Alright, whatever Sister says.”
The sisters left hand in hand, chatting and laughing.
Hand in hand… they went!
Tang Laidi blinked furiously at Tang Jin, as if to say: Did you see that? They’re holding hands!
Old Madam Tang was more direct, jabbing Tang Jin’s arm with her cane. “What are you sitting there for? Hurry up and go with Lingyue to see her off!”
Tang Jin clutched her arm, wincing. “Grandmother, go easy—that hurts!”
This was solid jujube wood, not cotton. It stung.
The old madam itched to poke her again. Hurt? As if the unlucky granddaughter hadn’t taken cane whacks before. Was now the time to whine?
Her daughter-in-law had just run off hand-in-hand!
Tang Jin jumped up, dodging the cane, and explained, “Grandmother, don’t worry. Lingyue’s heart belongs to me. She’s remembered some things—Chu Shaoyang’s her cousin, blood cousin.”
Old Madam Tang blinked. “Really?”
Tang Jin nodded. “Absolutely true.”
Old Madam Tang fell silent. So Lingyue was Chu Shaoyang’s cousin?
What kind of family was that? Young miss of immense wealth, daughter of a Provincial Graduate with a fortune to match.
If they were blood cousins, Chu Lingyue’s background couldn’t be ordinary either.
With that in mind, she eyed her unlucky granddaughter worriedly. “Tang Jin, cherish your blessings. From now on, no more making Lingyue wash dishes. You do it.”
Had it not been for the amnesia and Tang Jin’s timely rescue, she’d never have married into their family.
Now that Chu Lingyue remembered her kin, what if her family came and disapproved of the match?
Forcing her to stay wouldn’t be right…
Sensing the old madam’s concern, Tang Jin said calmly, “My wife’s family arrives tomorrow.”
Last night in the kitchen, Chu Lingyue had said the day after next—and here it was.
Old Madam Tang gasped. “Tomorrow? So soon! What do we do?”
What if Chu Lingyue’s parents took one look at Tang Jin, at their Tang family, and dragged her away? Her precious heart’s treasure!
Tang Jin gazed out the door. “What else? We’ll handle it as it comes—floods with earth, soldiers with generals. If my wife doesn’t want to go, we’ll help her stay.”
“You say Lingyue doesn’t want to go home?” Old Madam Tang latched onto those key words, her heart easing. Good, good. Lingyue was such a sweet child, reluctant to leave this old lady after all.
Tang Jin recalled Chu Lingyue’s words, skipping the part about a traitor’s daughter to give her grandmother a heads-up. “My wife’s family situation is complicated. Her mother passed early, Uncle Chu remarried, and he has a nine-year-old son with his second wife. To get the boy into a prestigious school, Uncle Chu plans to marry her off as a concubine to some great house. That’s why she left home to seek out her cousin Chu Shaoyang—and ended up rescued by me instead.”
“What kind of uncle is that? Another heartless old bastard. This old lady will have it out with him tomorrow!” Old Madam Tang seethed after hearing Tang Jin’s account.
One after another—what kind of fathers were they? All rotten, deserving a beating.
Making a fine daughter a concubine? All for a son? The nerve! If you’re so capable, earn your boy’s future yourself instead of ruining your daughter. It made her blood boil.
“Struck by lightning these days… Poor Lingyue of mine. Such a beauty, steady as they come—what a wonderful girl… Uh, Lingyue, you’re back.” Old Madam Tang was mid-lament when footsteps sounded outside. Turning, she spotted Chu Lingyue and trailed off.
Chu Lingyue’s lips curved faintly, her expression tinged with melancholy. Clearly, she’d overheard some of it.
Moonlight silhouetted her from behind, lending her figure an air of quiet sorrow.
Old Madam Tang hurried over and took her hand. “Lingyue, don’t you fear a thing. As long as you don’t want to go, no one gets past this old lady.”
Chu Lingyue bit her lip lightly, forcing a faint smile. “Mm. With Grandmother here, I’m not afraid at all.”
But the smile looked strained, heavy sorrow lingering in her eyes. It only made the old madam ache more for her.
