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Although it was already March, the dawn had not yet broken. The city of Chang'an was still enveloped in a tranquil silence when Sun Liyuan, the steward of Horse Residence, rose early from his bed, dressed hurriedly, and rushed to the large room where the servants gathered to arrange the day's affairs.
The servants had also risen early. Yesterday, Steward Sun had already outlined and assigned tasks for the day, so many of them were busy with their respective duties. Today was the third day of the third month, a significant occasion as it marked the sixtieth birthday of Mr. Ma, the master of Horse Residence—a day that required careful preparation to avoid any mishaps.
Mr. Ma came from humble beginnings; he had made a living teaching in a school during his youth and was not supposed to reside in such a grand mansion. However, due to his upright character and dedication to teaching and guiding others throughout his life, he accumulated blessings. His son-in-law, Liu Muqing, entered government service and after ten years of hard work, finally gained recognition at the court at the age of forty, being promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of Revenue.
The rank of Deputy Minister of Revenue is a fourth-grade official position, making Liu Muqing a significant figure in the court. He served in this capacity for three years, earning a reputation for diligence and integrity. Therefore, when the new emperor ascended to the throne last year, he retained Liu in his position and gave him considerable attention. Everyone believed that with time, Lord Liu's rise would be inevitable.
Lord Liu was indeed a man of deep loyalty and affection. His wife from the Ma family had stood by him during his difficult times, and his father-in-law Mr. Ma had provided substantial support and guidance. After achieving success, Liu Muqing treated his wife with utmost respect and love; he never strayed outside their marriage and was often spoken of as an exemplary figure in courtly tales. For his father-in-law Mr. Ma, Liu purchased this residence in a convenient location in Chang'an and hired a steward and servants to ensure that the elderly couple could enjoy their twilight years peacefully.
Mr. Ma had always held great affection for this son-in-law. Today was his sixtieth birthday, and an evening banquet was planned to invite friends and family for a lively celebration; naturally, Lord Liu would be attending as well. Although they were all family, Lord Liu was still a high-ranking official in court, so every detail needed meticulous planning to ensure that this esteemed son-in-law did not lose face among relatives and friends.
In fact, preparations had begun several days prior; however, as today approached its critical moment, Sun Liyuan had been up early checking on various matters. He first went to the kitchen to inspect the menu and drinks for the banquet, ensuring that all main ingredients were ready and that any fresh produce needed for today was procured without fail. He then checked on the arrangement of the reception areas for guests. Before he knew it, noon was fast approaching.
Wiping away beads of sweat from his forehead, Sun Liyuan took a moment to calm himself from the anxiety brought on by overthinking before hurriedly making his way toward the back door. It should be around the time when Liu Family Restaurant was scheduled to deliver food; being a long-time patron meant that they reserved their freshest produce exclusively for Horse Residence.
Today, Liu Family Restaurant had promised to send some fine mountain delicacies. Recently, these rare ingredients were hard to come by; good quality items were nearly impossible to buy. Thus, sending servants to fetch them felt somewhat dismissive; Sun Liyuan felt it necessary to personally express gratitude to show sincerity.
As he passed by the north wing of the house, Sun Liyuan suddenly heard strange voices engaged in conversation.
“Hey! I’m Wang Rong! You’ve been dragging your feet on this payment—when are you going to settle it?”
It was the voice of He Qihui, a notorious rogue from West Market.
“Brother, just give me another two or three days; I’m really tight on cash right now…”
“Tight on cash? You’ve got some money; you just want to gamble it away!”
“I swear I’ll have it all together within three days—just three days!”
Sun Liyuan heard this exchange but pretended not to notice as he shook his head and walked past.
Wang Rong happened to be Mr. Ma's second son-in-law. Compared to Liu Muqing, there was a stark contrast in character between these two sons-in-law.
Liu Muqing was a learned and knowledgeable man, highly talented and well-respected. Despite his high position, he was known for his generosity and down-to-earth nature. However, Wang Rong was a different story; he indulged in all vices—gambling, drinking, and associating with unsavory characters.
At thirty-three years old, Wang Rong had yet to secure a proper job. Liu Muqing, feeling the bond of family, had tried to help him find work, but Wang Rong's laziness prevented him from holding onto any position. Now, he and his wife were living at Mr. Ma's house, where Mr. Ma felt helpless regarding Wang Rong's situation.
Sun Liyuan sighed, suspecting that Wang Rong had lost money gambling again. She had to oversee the household accounts, and many of their financial troubles stemmed from the messes Wang Rong created outside.
After noon had passed, a servant announced that Lord Liu had arrived early. Mr. Ma hurriedly took Sun Liyuan with him to greet their esteemed guest. Although Mr. Ma was already in his sixties, he still carried himself with the grace of a scholar, dressed impeccably and walking with purpose, his ears attentive and eyes focused.
Liu Muqing stepped down from the sedan chair in casual round-collared robes. He turned to help his wife, Ma Family, out of the chair, and together they greeted Mr. Ma respectfully. The old gentleman quickly offered his support as they made their way into the hall to converse.
Having not seen her mother for a long time, Ma Family went to meet her in the inner chamber while Liu Muqing stayed in the living room to chat with Mr. Ma. Though they were father-in-law and son-in-law, they had always been open with each other over the years. Sun Liyuan personally served tea while listening to their casual conversation about daily matters. She couldn't help but feel moved by how easily Liu Muqing spoke despite being a high-ranking official.
Liu Muqing mentioned that the Ministry of Revenue was overwhelmed with tasks due to the new emperor's chaotic reign last year. As a result, there were even more responsibilities now. The ministry consisted of one minister and two deputy ministers overseeing land management, citizens' affairs, finances, and tributes. Liu Muqing was responsible for fiscal affairs and storage management; even just handling finances was enough to wear anyone out.
Before long, the conversation shifted to Wang Rong. Mr. Ma sighed and said, "I don't know if I accumulated virtue or committed sins in my past life; I have you as a capable son-in-law but also that unreliable troublemaker. If only Second Mother could divorce him; it would save me some worry. But she is so weak-willed that she can't make any decisions."
Recently, Wang Rong's behavior had become increasingly disgraceful, leaving Second Mother in tears at home. Sun Liyuan shared what she had heard earlier that morning, prompting more sighs from everyone present. Finally, Liu Muqing stood up and said, "I should go talk to him again; last time I spoke with him, he did manage to behave for a few days. This time I need to be stricter."
Wang Rong and his wife lived in the back half of the residence. Since it was still early, Liu Muqing decided to walk over alone while deep in thought about how best to guide this stubborn relative.
The entire afternoon passed busily at Horse Residence without anyone noticing what was happening around them. After the hour of Shen had passed, guests began arriving one after another, filling the house with liveliness.
As dusk fell and lamps were lit, the banquet hall was prepared beautifully with branches of peach and plum blossoms adorning it—a sight to behold. The Ma Family changed into fresh clothes and came out supporting their mother but could not find Wang Rong anywhere.
With dinner about to start and Lord Liu being half the host, it was crucial for him to be present at the banquet. Mr. Ma suddenly felt an ominous premonition; could it be that Wang Rong had so much to say that he still hadn't returned? The eldest son-in-law was usually very aware of such matters; how could he possibly not show up when it was time to eat?
Mr. Ma quickly called for Sun Liyuan to go fetch both sons-in-law from the back residence. Sun Liyuan hurriedly made her way to Wang Rong's house but found it dark inside with no signs of life.
Could they have gone out together? Sun Liyuan thought quietly to herself. The afternoon had been the busiest time at home; all the servants were occupied elsewhere, leaving no one behind to inquire about their whereabouts.
Deciding to take a look inside herself, Sun Liyuan stepped into the courtyard only to find the door wide open—a strange sight indeed. Although Wang Rong was not known for his integrity, he was meticulous about his belongings and would never leave his door ajar without reason. If he were inside, why wasn't there any light?
Sun Liyuan entered the house and struck a match in the darkness. As the candle flickered to life and illuminated the room, she gasped in shock and fell back onto the floor in disbelief at what she saw before her eyes.
Inside the house lay two mangled male corpses, and the room was in disarray.
After reporting to the authorities, the family dared to come and confirm that the two deceased were indeed the sons-in-law of the Ma Family. The joyous occasion had suddenly turned into a funeral, with parents mourning their children, a heart-wrenching scene that words cannot adequately describe.
In Chang'an, criminal cases are now directly overseen by Governor Bai Qianfan of Yongzhou. The death of a high-ranking official in such a manner was no ordinary case. Thus, upon hearing the news, Bai Qianfan immediately rushed to the scene to organize an investigation.
The scene was exceptionally chaotic; every piece of furniture capable of holding items had been turned upside down, even beneath the bed sheets. The actions of the murderer appeared to be frantic, as they had looted all valuables but failed to clean up afterward, leaving bloodstains scattered across the floor.
Both victims had been brutally hacked to death. With Bai Qianfan's experience, he could tell at a glance that the murderer had used a kitchen knife. Each victim bore dozens of varying depths of cuts, suggesting that there was likely more than one assailant involved.
Further examination revealed that the murderer must have entered by climbing over the wall, as there were clear signs of someone having scaled it on the north side of Horse Residence. From the different marks left behind, it appeared there were at least four murderers, whose skills were average; the traces they left from climbing were rather crude.
The murderers were extremely brutal; after killing their victims, they tore open their clothes, clearly searching for valuables on them. All personal valuables on both men had been stolen. Lord Liu Muqing had originally carried some silver coins and wore an intricately carved jade pendant, but now all of these were missing. The only item left on Lord Liu was a plain handkerchief stained with blood.
Sun Liyuan provided clues to the authorities, stating that he had overheard Wang Rong having a suspicious conversation with He Qihui, a rogue from West Market. He Qihui had pressured Wang Rong for repayment of debts, indicating that this matter might be related to the ruffians from West Market.
When authorities investigated West Market, they discovered that He Qihui and several other thugs had vanished after the incident. They likely fled upon realizing their scheme had been uncovered in order to avoid capture.
Currently, He Qihui and his accomplices have not yet been apprehended. The preliminary assessment of the case suggests it evolved from an attempted extortion into robbery and murder. Poor Lord Liu Muqing was so unfortunate; he had kindly advised Wang Rong to turn his life around and be a good person, only to encounter bandits looking for Wang Rong and become an innocent victim caught in this tragedy.
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