A banner honoring the emperor hung on one wall, and opposite was a painting of a ruby swift flying through a bamboo grove. Between them, five chairs had been set politely next to each other, with two chairs on the banner’s side and three in front of the ruby swift. There was also a low round table to hold a tea pot and light refreshments.
Yu Ning, Zhang Dehua, and Chen Wenbin occupied the side with three chairs.
Beitang Rong sat across from them with a polite expression on his face. There’d been a hardly a twitch or blink throughout the entirety of Zhang Dehua presentation of the events at the Dreaming Ox and the subsequent raids on the other Rock Knife properties currently taking place. At most, he’d glanced down briefly at the list in his hands.
A masterful performance, Yu Ning thought, her heart clenching with worry for her people, in anger at the Rock Knives. I can learn from it. She took another sip of the tea to give her hands something to do. The taste was gentle; the color reminded her of new willow leaves.
Beitang Rong set aside the list to drink from his own cup. Just what is he thinking? she wondered. I suppose I’ll know soon enough. Steward Zhang is approaching the heart of the matter.
“As a gesture of our gratitude,” Zhang Dehua said, “we will donate a third of the proceeds from today’s efforts to your esteemed family, with the intention of solidifying the bonds of friendship our two houses have already begun to form.”
The clerk smoothly set down his tea cup. Seemingly at ease, he sat back in his chair to duly consider the steward’s offer. “To my family directly?” he asked. “Not the department?”
Yu Ning set down her own cup and sat back to also mimic his posture. “It was you who joined us in revealing the Ma family’s perfidious dealings with the Rock Knife Gang and with other… mysterious forces. Given the nature of the deceitful practices arrayed against us, we would rather invest our goodwill in someone we can trust.”
Beitang Rong’s eyes sought hers. “I am, of course, honored to be considered worthy of your trust.”
“And?” Chen Wenbin prompted.
The clerk turned toward the Yu’s xiàowèi. “And I will need time to consider the proposal.” Beitang Rong shifted in his seat, somehow seeming to make himself even more comfortable. “None of us are simple people. We can all recognize the complexity of the political currents in Ruby Swift City, and it is my responsibility as the head of my house to navigate those currents and find opportunities for my family within them.”
“We’ve offered you a third of today’s proceeds,” Zhang Dehua said. “What say you if we make it half? This is a demonstration of our sincerity!”
Beitang Rong didn’t respond immediately, sitting in his chair like a lump of stone. Only after a pair of breaths did he glance toward Yu Ning to verify that the steward was authorized to make such an offer.
She nodded to acknowledge that he’d heard correctly. At the same time, she realized that they’d genuinely surprised the clerk. That lack of response was him hiding his response!
A thin strand of hope wove among the worries and the anger wrapping around her heart. With the Department of Crimes and Punishments firmly on the Yu’s side, the family could continue raiding the Rock Knives without consequences—finding all sorts of incriminating evidence, both genuine and manufactured, along the way. And the House of Yu would also have the constables employed by the department to help with investigating the people listed on the slats found at the Dreaming Ox. Such a turn in events would dramatically shift the Yu family’s fortunes.
“That is generous,” Beitang Rong said. A wry smile turned the edges of his lips upward. “I must admit it’s tempting, but I truly do need time to weigh the benefits. A one-time windfall can be turned into long-term gain, but will it be possible if I’ve also allied myself and my family with the House of Yu?” He shrugged. “That’s the crux of the problem.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“You don’t believe the House of Yu will survive?” the duchess asked pointedly.
“I wouldn’t dare to suggest such a thing,” the clerk replied, “however I do think it’s fair to question if the House of Yu will flourish. That’s very different.”
Which was Yu Ning’s own worry, so how could she chide the man for sharing it? Still, the argument must be made, yet before she could rally, Beitang Rong raised a hand to stop her.
“Peace, peace. I see the storm rising in your eyes, so let me assure you: I am grateful. Your dūtóu saved my grandmother’s life, and your xiàowèi and I fought together against the mysterious forces, as you called them. I’m not unsympathetic to your cause. Let us each consider how the basis for a long-term relationship might be found, then we’ll discuss the proposal again.”
“So you refuse to receive half the proceeds from today’s venture?” Zhang Dehua asked, an eyebrow raised.
For the first time, the clerk appeared pained. “For now. Hold onto those proceeds, if you please. We may yet come to a successful agreement. And…” Beitang Rong picked up the list previously set aside. “There appears to be a demonic cultivation practice that’s taken root in Ruby Swift City. It’s only right for the Department of Crimes and Punishments to investigate. That is my sincerity to you.”
“So, a pause in the negotiations,” Zhang Dehua observed.
“Just so,” Beitang Rong replied.
“And the raids against the Rock Knives taking place today?” Chen Wenbin asked.
“There’s already been enough evidence found to justify retribution,” Beitang Rong answered. “Perhaps you’ll find even more.” The clerk’s smile returned. “If you do, please continue to consider my family’s wellbeing when dividing the spoils.”
“That’s not just a pause,” Yu Ning concluded. “This is a temporary arrangement.”
“Yes, that’s true, isn’t it,” Beitang Rong said. “How fortuitous for us.”
Yu Ning thought quickly, then nodded to show her agreement. Her retainers followed suit and, seeing that there was nothing else of import demanding secrecy, Zhang Dehua released his spell to keep anyone from eavesdropping.
The conversation turned immediately toward small talk. Yu Ning had to force herself to stay seated and participate. Her people were fighting and dying, but this was her battle for the time being. Beitang Rong and his family must be won over.
Not a success but not a failure either, she thought. The fight must continue.
###
He Huizhen lingered near the door to the department’s formal receiving room. The deputy clerk’s actions were reasonable, since the door might open at any time and a request be made. For example, Duchess Yu might need a document to be retrieved from the archives. Or it could be something simple, like a fresh pot of hot water.
The waiting room also had a handful of constables working at their desks. He Huizhen felt their envious glances toward her like pins pressed against her skin. Yet, only she among the staff possessed the necessary stature to respond to requests, should there be any. It’d been her ancestors who’d helped found Ruby Swift City nearly two hundred years ago. They’d fought the barbarians and their monstrous beasts to claim this land for the empire.
If not for the fall of Duke Yu, her family would still be enjoying the dignity that came with such honors. If not for the old duke’s betrayal of the emperor’s expectations, He Huizhen wouldn’t have to be scrambling for scraps at the behest of people below her station.
A slight popping sensation alerted her that the spell obscuring the conversation within the formal receiving room had expired. Her eyes lidded as she listened to what came next, yet there was nothing of consequence: gossip about trends in the price of river shrimp, followed by early estimates of the amount of marble quarried upstream.
Truthfully, the information was likely to be valuable in the right hands, but none of it was worth a visit from Duchess Yu to the Department of Crimes and Punishments. Such a thing was unprecedented.
He Huizhen rubbed at the callouses on her sword hand as she considered how to proceed. Beitang Rong had been less and less forthcoming about his plans for the department of late. It was very possible he suspected her of wrongdoing.
The man had no right to judge her of corruption. He’d accepted gifts from nearly everyone doing business in Ruby Swift City. The clerk had passed on that beneficence to the people under him, of course, but not enough. Not nearly enough. A return to prosperity for the House of He required more than Beitang Rong would be willing to give.
A constable rushed into the waiting room. Sweat poured down his face and stained his clothes as if he’d run all the way from the low city. “The House of Yu,” he said between gasps. Then he took a solid breath to steady himself and continued: “The House of Yu moved against the Rock Knife Gang. We have reports of four confirmed assaults on their operations, and at least two more unconfirmed ones. The clerk must be informed right away!”
Constables stood from their desks, their chairs clattering behind them. He Huizhen’s own spine straightened involuntarily. The shock threatened to scatter her thoughts, but then she realized why the Yu duchess was suddenly so willing to pander to a city clerk.
It was already too late to send a warning to the Knives, but with this new development she might finally be able to convince them that Beitang Rong had allied himself with the House of Yu. Her breath quickened. There was a good chance that sometime soon, the Department of Crimes and Punishments would need a new head clerk. And possibly more? One can begin to hope.
ten chapters ahead. :)
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Beitang Rong, head clerk of the Department of Crimes and Punishments
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Chen Wenbin, xiàowèi, commander of the Yu's household forces
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He Huizhen, deputy clerk of the Department of Crimes and Punishments
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Yu Ning, duchess and the head of the House of Yu, BLACK 12
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Zhang Dehua, steward of the House of Yu