Under the Microscope Recap, Plot, Synopsis
Under the Microscope Synopsis
Shuai Jiamo, a man obsessed with mathematics, stumbles upon a historical problem in Jinhua County. His attempts to rectify the mistake are frequently blocked and lead to a game between various interest groups.
Under the Microscope Recap
Episode 1 Recap
Shuai Jiamo was in a vast field, using a field division technique to divide land. When villagers saw his measurements, which they perceived as crooked, Shuai Jiamo tried to explain the intricate methods for categorizing plots into Guitian, Xietian, Jitian, and Hutian, detailing their specific calculation formulas. The villagers, however, found his explanations useless. One villager produced a title deed clearly stating 4 mu, while Shuai Jiamo’s measurements showed only 3 mu and 6 fen, a discrepancy of 4 fen.
This caused an uproar, with villagers accusing each other of manipulation. Shuai Jiamo insisted, "Arithmetic is truthful by nature, my calculations aren't wrong, and I cannot lie," but after re-verifying his calculations and finding no error, the villagers refused to believe him, leading to a physical altercation among them. Perplexed, Shuai Jiamo walked away, still holding the title deed.
Later, on a busy street in Renhua County, Shuai Jiamo was absorbed in his drawings until a large, ornate float caught his attention. His friend, Feng Baoyu, pulled him aside, suggesting they seek fortune instead of joining a prayer procession. Shuai Jiamo was still troubled by the morning's land dispute, feeling that everyone thought his calculations were incorrect despite his repeated checks. Feng Baoyu dismissed the villagers as "scoundrels," arguing that conflicts ultimately boiled down to "brute force."
Shuai Jiamo mused that even brute force could be measured using "techniques of calculating area, circumference, and height" to determine volume. Feng Baoyu then proposed they go to a newly opened gambling house in Renhua, hoping to take advantage of the fact that the Lanxi owners didn't know Shuai Jiamo's exceptional mathematical skills. As Feng Baoyu played, Shuai Jiamo, discreetly positioned, used his skills to assist him.
Inside the gambling house, Lu Feilong, a loanshark, pressured an old man to either repay his debt or sell his daughter, Chen Xiaozhi, to him, cynically suggesting it would be a story of "filial piety." Their conversation was interrupted by loud cheers. Lu Feilong learned that Feng Baoyu, a wealthy "playboy" from "Feng's Ham Shop," and Shuai Jiamo, an "arithmetic nut" with a "genius in arithmetic" who "wins every bet," were causing a stir.
Intrigued, Lu Feilong challenged Shuai Jiamo to a game. As they played, Shuai Jiamo, intently observing, eventually revealed a "Supreme lord" card. However, a second "Supreme lord" card was then shown, prompting Lu Feilong to accuse them of cheating, declaring his intolerance for such deceit.
He ordered his men to seize Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo, demanding Shuai Jiamo settle the gambling house's accounts by nightfall and Feng Baoyu pay 200 taels of silver to avoid having his hands chopped off. Meanwhile, Feng Biyu, Feng Baoyu's sister and owner of "Feng's Ham Shop," rushed to the gambling house after hearing about her brother's predicament.
She arrived with a ham, intending to redeem Feng Baoyu, but found Shuai Jiamo still oblivious to the commotion, diligently calculating in the accounts room. Feng Baoyu explained they had won a significant amount, but Lu Feilong accused them of cheating. Feng Biyu offered her "Feng's Ham" as a "welcome gift" to Lu Feilong, but he insisted on the 200 taels.
When she attempted to leave with her brother and the still calculating Shuai Jiamo, a fight broke out between her and Lu Feilong's men, during which Feng Baoyu fell into the river. It was only after completing his calculations that Shuai Jiamo finally became aware of the chaos around him. Elsewhere, Magistrate Fang, the county magistrate of Renhua, was informed that Prefect Huang would arrive in Renhua the next day.
Recognizing it was the "day for receiving plaints," he instructed his subordinates to collect all case files, aiming to clear pending cases before the Prefect's arrival to avoid scrutiny. During the court session, Magistrate Fang heard a series of cases, all involving Lu Feilong. Cheng Renqing, a skilled lawyer known as "the Honorable and Just Iron-mouth Cheng," represented Lu Feilong. In the first case, a debt and battery charge against Chen Dashan, Cheng Renqing eloquently argued against Chen Dashan.
Shuai Jiamo, present at the trial, attempted to correct Cheng Renqing's calculation of Chen Dashan's debt, stating that 10 taels with "9 out and 13 in" over two cycles should total 16 taels and 9 mace. Cheng Renqing, however, clarified that "9 out" meant Chen Dashan only received 9 taels, making that the effective principal, leading to his calculated amount of 18 taels, 7 mace, and 2 fen.
Cheng Renqing then accused Shuai Jiamo of having a personal vendetta against Lu Feilong, prompting Magistrate Fang to silence Shuai Jiamo. Cheng Renqing proceeded to question Chen Dashan's integrity, highlighting his dilemma between selling land or his daughter to repay debt, despite the "Great Ming Code" prohibiting human trafficking. Overwhelmed, Chen Dashan agreed to mortgage his "ancestral 5 mu of paddy fields" to Lu Feilong. Next, the gambling dispute was heard.
Shuai Jiamo explained his card-counting technique for Paigow, asserting the mathematical truthfulness of his method. Cheng Renqing countered that if the court ruled in favor of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu, it would encourage widespread gambling among students in Renhua and Jin'an, leading to moral decline and negatively impacting local official evaluations. He also revealed Lu Feilong's offer to "donate 100 taels of silver to the county charity hall" as community outreach.
Influenced by these arguments, Magistrate Fang ruled that Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo's winnings were obtained through "cheating and unlawful means" and would not be paid. However, due to Shuai Jiamo's accounting service for the gambling house, his actions and their alleged "cheating" were considered "made even," and Lu Feilong would not pursue charges.
Finally, addressing the damages from the fight, Feng Biyu intervened, stating that while the fight originated from Lu Feilong's detention of her brother, she would "pay everyone double for all your losses," which was met with approval from the villagers. With all cases resolved, Magistrate Fang adjourned the court. Cheng Renqing, after receiving his fee from Lu Feilong, noted that the justice he provided was proportional to the money he received.
Back in his room, Shuai Jiamo continued his calculations, murmuring, "Arithmetic is honest by nature. Isn't it very clear what is right and what is wrong?" Feng Baoyu spoke of his desire to earn money to alleviate the burden on his sister, Feng Biyu, who solely managed "Feng's Ham Shop" since their father had remarried and opened a branch in Yangzhou.
Shuai Jiamo, however, remained fixated on the discrepancy between land deeds and actual acreage, realizing it wasn't a calculation error but an inherent inconsistency. He suggested visiting the Archives, where all land records, including "fish-scale map registers" and official "red contracts," were stored. Feng Baoyu agreed to take him to the Archives if Shuai Jiamo would accompany him to the provincial capital for a lucrative venture.
Inside the Archives, Shuai Jiamo, immersed in his work, discovered an old, beautifully illustrated book titled "Laying Out the Scenes at Brothels." He was momentarily transported, recalling a similar book from his childhood and a memory of his father. As he continued to calculate, a fire erupted at his home. Despite shouts of "Fire!"
and urgent pleas from neighbors, Shuai Jiamo remained completely absorbed in his work, seemingly unaware that his house was burning down, prompting onlookers to call him a "dummy." Neighbors frantically wondered if his parents were still inside.
Episode 2 Recap
Shuai Jiamo lay in bed, his mind drifting back to vague childhood memories. He quickly rose, hearing Feng Biyu's calls from outside. Feng Baoyu soon joined his sister, eager to discuss the goods for the provincial capital. He assured Feng Biyu that he and Shuai Jiamo would handle it, which pleased his sister. However, Feng Biyu insisted that Feng Baoyu go alone, leaving Shuai Jiamo at home.
Feng Baoyu pleaded with her to let Shuai Jiamo accompany him, following her into the house, only to find Shuai Jiamo had vanished. Shuai Jiamo had gone to the Jin'an Prefectural Office, informing an official of a major discrepancy in Renhua County's tax registers and requesting immediate correction. He presented a memorandum. The official, uninterested, dismissively told him that the matter was beyond their purview and he would need to report it to the Jin'an Prefectural Revenue Office.
Shuai Jiamo protested that the issue concerned the entire Renhua County's tax payment, not just his family, and tried to write down his calculations. When the official questioned his right as a commoner to interfere and threatened to remove him, Shuai Jiamo explained he had already been to the Renhua Revenue Office, where he was told it was a prefectural-level issue. The official reiterated that the Prefectural Yamen only accepted official documents from county governments and dismissed him.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fang Maozhen of Renhua was outside the Jin'an Prefectural Office, instructing his subordinates to be lively and loud in welcoming Prefect Huang, ensuring Renhua would not be embarrassed. Assistant Prefect Song Ren arrived, and Magistrate Fang enthusiastically greeted him, surprised he hadn't arrived with Prefect Huang. Song Ren explained he was "checking in before he gets here." As the sedan chair arrived, Magistrate Fang approached, only to find it empty.
Prefect Huang had already arrived via a different route through the alleyways. When Magistrate Fang and Song Ren finally encountered Prefect Huang, they offered elaborate greetings. Prefect Huang dismissed the greetings, explaining that he had decided to arrive a few days early to experience the local customs of Jin'an, hoping he hadn't caused any inconvenience.
Magistrate Fang flattered him, saying all officials should be like him, but Prefect Huang humbly responded that as the prefect, he would "do my best until the day I die." After settling in, Prefect Huang discarded the greeting cards from various county magistrates, including Xu Kang of Wujiang, realizing their absence was a concerted effort to challenge his authority. He acknowledged his inability to visit the counties directly for fear of impeachment, which the magistrates exploited.
He lamented the "accumulated dust" and "turbid" state of Jin'an Prefecture, implying it needed a thorough cleaning. Back at his office, Magistrate Fang, annoyed by Prefect Huang's "doing his best" act, was informed that Shuai Jiamo had been "making trouble in the Revenue Office," insisting on tax discrepancies. Magistrate Fang, furious at the suggestion of overpaid taxes, ordered Shuai Jiamo to be flogged ten times as a warning.
As the flogging was underway, Assistant Prefect Song happened upon the scene and intervened, citing his acquaintance with Shuai Jiamo's elders. Magistrate Fang's subordinate agreed to stop the flogging but urged Assistant Prefect Song to persuade Shuai Jiamo to stop talking nonsense about tax problems, fearing it would cause trouble for them with Prefect Huang. Assistant Prefect Song then advised Shuai Jiamo not to "talk nonsense" about tax matters and to "keep to himself."
Shuai Jiamo, limping and injured, returned home to a dark house. Feng Baoyu and Feng Biyu arrived home later and were startled to find him lying on the floor. Upon learning the truth, Feng Biyu firmly supported Shuai Jiamo's intention to file a complaint, declaring that they should pay what was due, but not a single penny more. Feng Baoyu, however, worried about Shuai Jiamo enduring more flogging.
Feng Biyu encouraged Shuai Jiamo, likening his perseverance to Tripitaka retrieving the sutras. When asked if he would still go and if he was afraid of more flogging, Shuai Jiamo confirmed his resolve. Feng Biyu then insisted he first recover, and they would go together. Feng Biyu later discussed the matter with Feng Baoyu, pointing out that this was an opportunity for the Feng family to earn a good reputation in Renhua.
She explained that Shuai Jiamo, the "arithmetic nut," might need someone skilled in communication to represent him. She then revealed a significant discovery: a number Shuai Jiamo had carved on the wall as a child, "3,530," matched the amount of the Silk Poll Tax. She concluded that Shuai Jiamo was not foolish but had a clear objective in mind. Shuai Jiamo, lying on his bed, continued to observe the numbers on his wall.
The next morning, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu appeared before Magistrate Fang at the Renhua County Office. Feng Baoyu, following Feng Biyu's plan, formally accused Shuai Jiamo of assault. When Magistrate Fang inquired about the reason for their quarrel, Feng Baoyu dramatically claimed they fought over the Jin'an Prefecture's tax discrepancies, with Shuai Jiamo insisting on 3,530 taels of overpayment and Feng Baoyu calculating 3,510 taels.
The assembled crowd, already stirred by Feng Biyu, began to murmur, demanding Magistrate Fang properly calculate the taxes. Under pressure from the agitated crowd, Magistrate Fang reluctantly allowed Shuai Jiamo to explain. Shuai Jiamo, standing confidently, detailed the hierarchical tax system, explaining that Jin'an Prefecture, with its eight counties, collected summer and autumn taxes.
He revealed that Renhua County was uniquely burdened with a "Silk Poll Tax" of 3,530 taels annually, a sum whose origin and purpose were undocumented in any Renhua records. This tax, he discovered, had been collected for a century since the sixteenth year of the Chenghua reign, amounting to an astonishing 353,000 taels.
He asserted that this tax was originally intended to be shared among all eight counties but had been unjustly imposed solely on Renhua, making it an unwarranted burden. The revelation of such a massive overpayment enraged the commoners. Magistrate Fang, looking uneasy, hastily declared the matter too complex for immediate resolution and proposed adjourning court to consult the Revenue Office. Feng Baoyu quickly withdrew his assault complaint against Shuai Jiamo.
The crowd protested the abrupt dismissal, demanding an answer regarding the Silk Poll Tax. Magistrate Fang insisted that Shuai Jiamo's explanation was merely testimony for the assault case, and the tax issue required a separate, formal complaint from a qualified plaintiff. Without hesitation, Shuai Jiamo stepped forward, declaring his intent to file a plaint for all citizens of Renhua County, "regarding the unequal payment of a shared tax."
When Magistrate Fang pointed out that Shuai Jiamo, as a commoner, was unqualified to file such a complaint, Feng Baoyu, a Supplementary Student of the 3rd-class, stepped forward, offering his scholarly status as a guarantee. Magistrate Fang warned them that even if successful, they would receive no personal benefit. Shuai Jiamo calmly replied, "We only want to correct the mistake. My family has enough money." The story of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu spread rapidly throughout Renhua County.
Prefect Huang, finding the unfolding situation "interesting," realized it presented an opportunity to address the stagnation within Jin'an Prefecture. During a game of chess with Magistrate Fang, Prefect Huang informed him that he would appoint Shuai Jiamo to investigate the Silk Poll Tax case and expected results within a month. Shuai Jiamo began his investigation, targeting the summer and autumn tax records of Renhua, Tongyang, Wancheng, and Lanxi, spanning from the Chenghua era to the beginning of the Wanli era. Despite the immense volume of documents to review, Shuai Jiamo confidently promised to deliver results within five days.
Episode 3 Recap
Fang Fanzhen welcomed Shuai Jiamo to dinner, thanking him for his hard work on the accounts. Shuai Jiamo admitted he hadn't made a breakthrough but had an idea. He explained that he shouldn't just focus on the converted silver tax but also on goods in kind, such as rice, millet, cloth, and silk, which take time to convert to silver. He added that he still lacks sufficient evidence to make a definitive statement.
Fang Fanzhen offered Shuai Jiamo some silver, pressing him for details. Shuai Jiamo explained that the information could not be "entered into the storehouse" yet, as it would disrupt the balance of the accounts. Soon after, he declared his "time is up" and rushed off to work. Watching him go, Fang Fanzhen muttered to herself that Shuai Jiamo was truly an arithmetic nut. Lying down, Shuai Jiamo vaguely recalled his father's words from his childhood: "Tomorrow is the five-day limit.
At the county and prefectural joint trial, you must report your findings carefully. If anything goes wrong. . . Jiamo, remember this number. . . your father's life's honor and disgrace are in it." The next day, Shuai Jiamo knelt outside the Jin'an Prefectural Office. Prefect Huang and Assistant Prefect Song were present, and an official warned Shuai Jiamo to report his findings truthfully, threatening him with a flogging if he lied. Shuai Jiamo remained kneeling, not beginning his report.
When Prefect Huang asked why, Shuai Jiamo stated he was waiting for his friend, Feng Baoyu, explaining that they initiated the plaint together. A county magistrate dismissed Feng Baoyu as irrelevant, but Shuai Jiamo insisted that his friend wished to gain scholarly honor through this. Prefect Huang warned Shuai Jiamo that if he made a mistake, Feng Baoyu would be punished alongside him. Shuai Jiamo, however, remained resolute, declaring that he would not make a mistake.
Soon after, Feng Baoyu arrived, accompanied by his elder sister Feng Biyu. Cheered on by the gathered crowd to speak for the people, Feng Baoyu excitedly greeted Prefect Huang and the other magistrates, who barely acknowledged him. Prefect Huang reported to Fang Fanzhen that the magistrates of Lanxi, Wancheng, and Tongyang had coincidentally submitted their greeting cards on the very same day that Shuai Jiamo was to present his findings on the Silk Poll Tax case.
Fang Fanzhen explained that the silk tax dispute was widely known in Renhua County, so it was not surprising that neighboring counties had heard about it. Shortly thereafter, the magistrates of Tongyang, Lanxi, and the Assistant Magistrate from Wancheng arrived. Magistrate Mao Panfeng asked if the trial was about the Silk Poll Tax and requested to sit in, despite Fang Fanzhen's reservations. Prefect Huang agreed, noting that the matter involved several counties, and invited them to sit.
Meanwhile, Feng Biyu learned from a subordinate about the arrival of the three magistrates and the Assistant Magistrate from Wancheng, instructing her staff to keep a close eye on them. Feng Biyu then encountered Cheng Renqing, who greeted her with overly flattering remarks and feigned unfamiliarity. She dismissed his pleasantries, urging him to state his purpose. Cheng Renqing continued to compliment her appearance before inquiring about the big case that had drawn other county officials to Renhua.
She suggested he was only there for profit, but he denied it, claiming there was no profit to be made from this case. He then directly asked her to clarify the silk tax matter, to which she demanded "half a string of cash" for any information. Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo presented their case to the county magistrates. Shuai Jiamo began by explaining the origin of the silk tax.
He stated that in the ninth year of the Chenghua reign, when Japanese pirates attacked Fengxing, the court ordered Renhua County to provide 1,500 bolts of silk as military provisions. Although the Japanese withdrew that same year, Renhua continued to pay this amount for the next two years, effectively turning an emergency measure into a regular tax.
When Magistrate Mao Panfeng interrupted, questioning the relevance of the Japanese, Shuai Jiamo clarified that the army's initial request for a total of 6,000 bolts of silk was directed to Jin'an Prefecture, with Renhua contributing 1,500 bolts and the other seven counties contributing the remaining 4,500. He further explained that 6,000 bolts of silk, valued at six qian of silver per bolt today, totaled 3,600 taels, but during the Chenghua years, its silver equivalent was exactly 3,530 taels.
A magistrate quickly deduced that the current Silk Poll Tax paid by Renhua County was, in fact, the former provisions supplement that should have been borne by the entire Jin'an Prefecture. Shuai Jiamo confirmed this. Cheng Renqing, observing from the side, praised Feng Baoyu's public-mindedness, noting how he had risen to speak for the people, a stark contrast to his past as a "playboy."
However, Cheng Renqing then cautioned Feng Biyu that the path ahead was fraught with difficulty, citing the unexpected arrival of the three magistrates as a potential bad omen for her brother. Feng Biyu expressed hope that Shuai Jiamo's accurate calculations would prevent problems. Cheng Renqing questioned Shuai Jiamo's arithmetic background and Feng Biyu's trust in him, to which Feng Biyu revealed that Shuai Jiamo's father was also a renowned master of arithmetic.
Feng Biyu distributed copies of the eight counties' account books from the 9th to the 16th year of the Chenghua reign, which Shuai Jiamo had prepared. Shuai Jiamo explained that the key lay in "what we can't see." He showed that from the 9th to the 11th year of the Chenghua reign, the silk provision supplement—1,500 bolts from Renhua County and 4,500 from the other seven counties—was clearly recorded annually.
However, he discovered that the tax registers for the 12th to the 15th year of the Chenghua reign were missing from the Archives. While acknowledging that damage from fire, earth, and insects was common, he pointed out that the register for the 16th year showed the other seven counties no longer paid their 4,500 bolts of silk supplement. Concurrently, Renhua County's records abruptly displayed a new "Silk Poll Tax" of precisely 3,530 taels.
Shuai Jiamo asserted his suspicion that sometime after the 11th year of the Chenghua reign, someone deliberately recast this tax, covertly transferring the entire burden onto Renhua County. This allowed Jin'an Prefecture's overall accounts to remain balanced, while fundamentally changing who bore the tax. Other officials quickly dismissed Shuai Jiamo's claims as "nonsense" and "arbitrary," given the missing records for the intervening years.
Fang Fanzhen praised Magistrate Deng Siqi as a mathematical prodigy, noting that he had once accurately calculated a year's expenses for Yellow River management. Magistrate Deng then challenged Shuai Jiamo, asserting that while his calculations were precise, he "forgot logistical fees," leaving a "huge flaw" in his argument.
Magistrate Deng elaborated on the distinction between "Goods in Kind" taxes, such as the 6,000 bolts of silk for the army, which entailed substantial transportation costs—requiring hundreds of donkey carts and bearers, along with food and wages—and "converted silver" taxes, like Renhua's 3,530 taels, which were silver and demanded minimal transport, perhaps only three donkey carts. The logistical expenses for these two types of payments, he emphasized, were vastly different.
The officials argued that once logistical fees were factored in, the numbers for the provisions supplement and the Silk Poll Tax would no longer match, thus invalidating Shuai Jiamo's entire premise. After a brief altercation between Fang Fanzhen and Feng Baoyu regarding respect for officials (Feng Baoyu chastised Fang Fanzhen for addressing Magistrate Deng informally), Prefect Huang permitted Shuai Jiamo to continue.
Shuai Jiamo then explained that in the tenth year of the Jiajing reign, the "Single Whip Law" was implemented in Fengxing, introducing a new regulation: "government collection and transportation" for all taxes. He clarified that prior to this law, people were responsible for collecting and transporting their own taxes to the storehouses, but afterward, the government assumed both collection and transportation duties.
He further elaborated that initially, corvée labor was used for transportation, but this was later replaced by "paying silver instead of labor," requiring citizens to pay a fixed amount of silver to the government instead.
Shuai Jiamo explained that before the tenth year of the Jiajing reign, the value of "Goods in Kind" taxes was recorded in one register (the money and grain tax book), while the logistical costs, which involved corvée labor, were recorded in a separate register (the corvée roster). Thus, the value of the goods and the cost of their transportation were kept in two distinct account books.
However, after the implementation of "government collection and transportation" in Jiajing 10th year, and with logistical fees converted to silver payments, a single register was then used. He presented copies of registers from the fifth year of Jiajing and the first year of Longqing as evidence, inviting comparison to illustrate this change in bookkeeping.
Shuai Jiamo then confidently stated that in his calculations for the period after Jiajing 10th year, he had already accounted for and subtracted the logistical fees, and the sum still remained precisely 3,530 taels, offering to explain his intricate algorithm if needed. Unconvinced, the magistrates retorted that numerical similarity alone did not prove the two taxes were the same, demanding further proof that the Chenghua 9th year provisions supplement evolved into the later Silk Poll Tax.
Shuai Jiamo conceded that the current figures cannot conclusively prove his claim due to the missing registers from the 12th to the 15th year of the Chenghua reign. However, he asserted that while Jin'an Prefecture's main registers were incomplete, copies must exist in the individual sub-ledgers of the eight subordinate counties. Feng Baoyu clarified that this meant requesting each county to open its Archives for verification, a suggestion Shuai Jiamo affirmed.
The other magistrates vehemently objected, arguing that the Archives were sensitive state locations not to be easily accessed by commoners. Feng Baoyu countered that it was not trespassing if the investigation was conducted openly with everyone present. Prefect Huang, considering the burden of over 3,000 taels, agreed to personally oversee the process and dispatch his trusted subordinate to accompany them for the inspection of each county's Archives.
Just as the Prefect's proposal to open the Archives gained momentum, Assistant Magistrate Ren Yi dramatically feigned illness, collapsing and requesting to speak privately with Prefect Huang. The other magistrates quickly intervened, citing Assistant Magistrate Ren's age and the unfairness of making a decision without the representative of Wancheng County. They insisted there was no need to rush and suggested adjourning the trial until the following day, to which Prefect Huang reluctantly agreed.
Later, the three county magistrates gathered at Assistant Magistrate Ren's lodging. Upon being assured there were no outsiders, Assistant Magistrate Ren opened his eyes, revealing his feigned illness. The magistrates commended his quick thinking, which they believed saved them from a difficult situation. Magistrate Mao Panfeng emphatically declared their solidarity, threatening anyone who dared to retreat, even vowing to burn down Lanxi's Archives if Prefect Huang attempted to force an inspection.
Assistant Magistrate Ren then cautioned them against getting bogged down in the specifics of the silk tax. At this point, Cheng Renqing entered, much to Magistrate Mao's annoyance, who questioned his presence at a government meeting, asserting it was not a lawsuit for a lawyer. Cheng Renqing replied that he was "at someone's behest to bring you something."
Episode 4 Recap
After Prefect Huang concluded his other official duties, he inquired about Assistant Magistrate Ren's health. Ren thanked the Prefect, who confirmed he had found a good physician in the city for him and invited him to join the ongoing discussion about the Silk Poll Tax. Prefect Huang noted that all the county magistrates were busy and urged everyone to conclude the meeting swiftly.
Prefect Huang then raised Shuai Jiamo's request from the previous day to open the Archives in all eight Jin'an counties for a thorough investigation. Magistrate Mao vehemently opposed this, arguing that Shuai Jiamo was merely a commoner, and granting his request would undermine the government's authority. He also worried about potential chaos if others followed Shuai Jiamo's lead. Prefect Huang sharply rebuked Magistrate Mao for "making a scene," emphasizing that this was a matter Jin'an Prefecture itself needed to resolve.
He stated that the Silk Poll Tax, having been in place for over a century, could not be justly adjusted without a complete examination of the original records in the Archives. Another magistrate brought up a past incident in Nanjing where a father and son were sentenced to strangulation for tampering with yellow registers, highlighting the seriousness of Archives access.
Magistrate Mao then turned on Magistrate Fang, questioning why he had only given Shuai Jiamo a flogging for trespassing into the Archives, implying a disregard for national records. Magistrate Fang defended himself, claiming he hadn't anticipated Shuai Jiamo would cause such an uproar, though he had subsequently prohibited him from re-entering the Archives. Prefect Huang attempted to redirect the conversation back to the tax, but the magistrates insisted Shuai Jiamo harbored ill intentions.
They questioned his motives, pointing out that as an orphan and bachelor, he stood to gain nothing personally from challenging the tax, and thus must be acting under someone else's instruction. They demanded Shuai Jiamo clarify his true purpose, threatening him with severe punishment, akin to the Nanjing case, if he failed to do so. Prefect Huang, growing weary, finally prompted Shuai Jiamo to explain why he had entered the Archives.
Shuai Jiamo stated that while helping villagers measure land, he discovered discrepancies between his measurements and the fish-scale map registers. Driven by his discomfort with numerical anomalies, he went to the Archives to investigate. He began by reviewing the fish-scale map registers, which led him to the tax registers. He explained that the numbers were interconnected, and "one movement changes everything." Following this trail, he uncovered problems with the Silk Poll Tax.
The magistrates dismissed his explanation as "nonsense," but Shuai Jiamo earnestly insisted on his seriousness. One of the magistrates then called upon Cheng Renqing, who introduced himself as a student from Lanxi County. When asked how he knew Shuai Jiamo's motives, Cheng Renqing offered a philosophical reply about common sense and justice. Despite Assistant Prefect Song's attempt to interject, Prefect Huang allowed Cheng Renqing to continue.
Cheng Renqing then recounted a tragedy from 20 years prior, in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign, when a house fire in Renhua County claimed the lives of a couple, Shuai Duncheng and Liu Yue'e, leaving behind an orphan. He revealed that Shuai Duncheng was a highly skilled copyist in the Renhua County Revenue Office. Cheng Renqing linked this to a massive corruption case in Jin'an Prefecture, which had alerted the Grand Coordinator and Regional Inspector.
The investigation, he claimed, pinpointed Shuai Duncheng as a culprit who had embezzled 3,530 taels from the Silk Poll Tax. The fire, he suggested, was a self-immolation to escape justice. Cheng Renqing then directly implied that the orphaned child, Shuai Jiamo, was now seeking revenge for his parents.
Assistant Magistrate Ren confirmed the general facts of the tragedy but also noted that the sum involved seemed too large for Shuai Duncheng to have embezzled alone, suggesting the case had lingering doubts. Cheng Renqing conceded that while the old case might have had suspicious elements insufficient to overturn the original verdict, it was certainly enough to plant seeds of hatred in a child's heart. Overwhelmed, Shuai Jiamo collapsed, recalling a blurry image of his father holding a book.
Feng Baoyu quickly took him to a back room, where a physician diagnosed him with repressed emotions that he was unable to vent and prescribed sour date water and rest. Upon regaining consciousness, Shuai Jiamo was still fixated on investigating the Silk Poll Tax, but Feng Baoyu informed him that the focus of the discussion had shifted from the tax to Shuai Jiamo's identity and past.
Meanwhile, back in the main hall, Prefect Huang grew suspicious of the magistrates' concerted efforts to condemn Shuai Jiamo, wondering if there was indeed a hidden truth about the Silk Poll Tax. Assistant Magistrate Ren presented his worn and mended boots, explaining his personal frugality and the dire poverty in Wancheng, a region primarily composed of mountains and water.
He detailed how the burden of regular taxes, apportioned corvée, and various miscellaneous corvée work left peasant families with barely enough to survive, often less than half a tael of silver profit annually, insufficient even for seeds the following year.
He warned Prefect Huang about the severe consequences of imposing any new taxes, predicting that farmers would be forced to sell their assets, fall into debt, abandon their land, become tenants, flee, or even resort to violence against officials and become bandits. He stated that for the sake of his people, he could not support the tax, whether it was real or not.
The Lanxi County magistrate echoed these concerns, threatening to resign if disputes over new taxes delayed the delivery of main taxes to the court. Another magistrate added that the tax was over a hundred years old and had become an established custom, arguing that pursuing it meticulously would open a Pandora's box of endless controversies. Seeing their united front and realizing his limited power to act, Prefect Huang closed his eyes in contemplation before delivering his verdict.
He formally declared that Shuai Jiamo was being detained for spreading false rumors and inciting unrest, driven by personal revenge. He ordered Shuai Jiamo to be handed over to the Office of Justice for sentencing and warned the people of Renhua against discussing the matter further or spreading rumors, threatening accountability for any offenders. Unaware of the full proceedings, Feng Biyu, in her shop, believed her brother and Shuai Jiamo had won.
Cheng Renqing approached her with feigned congratulations, then gleefully revealed that her brother had lost the lawsuit and Shuai Jiamo was in dire straits, having been reported for acting out of personal vengeance. He thanked Feng Biyu for inadvertently providing him with information about Shuai Jiamo's family background, which allowed him to uncover this secret.
Cheng Renqing then warned her about the dangers of meddling in tax and grain affairs, which were the "lifeblood" of officials and the court, saying such interference was a path to doom. When Feng Biyu retorted that he was the one seeking doom, he countered with a second warning: "Interfering with someone making their fortune is akin to killing their parents," the gravest form of enmity.
He then threatened her businesses, hinting at inspections for diseased pork or financial irregularities, and suggested she might be commanded to supply 3,000 jin of premium ham hocks to the capital for free. He concluded by asking if she wished to save her "playboy brother."
Cheng Renqing then presented a pre-written confession for Feng Baoyu, asserting that he had been deceived by an evil person, couldn't discern truth from falsehood, and only filed the joint plaint out of obligation to a friend. The confession ended by stating Feng Baoyu now repented and was willing to testify that Shuai Jiamo was indeed acting out of personal revenge and deceiving the public.
As Cheng Renqing was being carried away in his sedan chair, Feng Baoyu knelt before him, pleading for justice for Shuai Jiamo and a way to secure his release. Cheng Renqing, dismissive, stated that "justice comes at a price" and mocked Shuai Jiamo as a mere "arithmetic nut" who wouldn't survive exile. He cynically suggested Feng Baoyu could tear up the confession, turn himself in, and claim he was the mastermind behind everything, thereby freeing Shuai Jiamo.
Instead, Feng Baoyu defiantly tore up the confession document, declaring that Shuai Jiamo's sentence ultimately rested with Prefect Huang, and he departed with a new plan to rescue his friend. Inside the prison, Shuai Jiamo's peculiar behavior at night—muttering to himself and drawing sigils—unnerved the other inmates. They clamored for the guards, claiming they had seen black smoke and that Shuai Jiamo was possessed, demanding to be moved and offering to confess their own crimes.
By morning, rumors of a "cat spirit" possessing Shuai Jiamo circulated throughout the prison. Feng Baoyu arrived to visit Shuai Jiamo, presenting an official document that granted him access. He asked the guards to tell Shuai Jiamo not to "do hoodoo" in their prison. Inside his cell, Shuai Jiamo, unfazed by his surroundings, was still engrossed in his calculations.
He excitedly told Feng Baoyu he had devised a new method to prove the link between the Silk Poll Tax and the provisions supplement, needing only the original registers. Feng Baoyu, however, pressed him on Cheng Renqing's story, asking if he was indeed using the tax case to avenge his parents. Shuai Jiamo denied it, explaining that he remembered nothing of his parents' death, only a jumbled mess of fragmented memories, making it impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood.
He confirmed that arithmetic remained his sole passion, a legacy from his father. He articulated his philosophy: numbers are inherently honest and simple, their relationships immutable, unlike unpredictable human hearts. He described arithmetic as his "path," a source of immense joy where he could "wander up into the heavens and down into the netherworld," comparing it to becoming an Immortal. Feng Baoyu, though not fully grasping the intricacies of Shuai Jiamo's mathematical passion, promised to return.
Later, Feng Baoyu explained his rescue strategy to Feng Biyu. He reasoned that Prefect Huang's decision to hand Shuai Jiamo's sentencing to the Office of Justice was a subtle hint that he wished to avoid direct involvement. Feng Baoyu's plan was to propose a highly exaggerated and absurd sentence for Shuai Jiamo to the Office of Justice, such as flogging 40 times and exile 3,000 li away.
This extreme proposal would be easily overruled by Prefect Huang, thus acquitting Shuai Jiamo without overtly challenging the other magistrates' united opposition. In the public square, the local magistrates posted proclamations, declaring Shuai Jiamo a "scoundrel" for spreading falsehoods about the taxes and stirring up trouble, assuring the public that the "criminal has been detained" and "all is well."
The Renhua county magistrate, Magistrate Fang, also posted a notice claiming he had "caught a cold" and was postponing all official matters. As predicted, the Office of Justice, interpreting Prefect Huang's subtle hint, proposed a severe sentence for Shuai Jiamo: exile 3,000 li away for "deceiving the people with falsehoods and indulging in barratry." Cheng Renqing noted that the long-serving Clerk of Justice had "acted sensibly."
Prefect Huang then formally overruled this sentence as "too harsh" and ordered the Office of Justice to review it. Ultimately, Prefect Huang issued a new order, acknowledging Shuai Jiamo's crimes of spreading falsehoods and barratry, but citing "mitigating circumstances" and his status as a "first offender." He admonished Shuai Jiamo and ordered his release, warning him of severe punishment for any future transgressions.
Upon Shuai Jiamo's release, the guards jokingly told him to "turn over a new leaf" and "not come back." Feng Baoyu joyfully "cleansed" him of bad luck. Prefect Huang appeared, returning Shuai Jiamo's original plaint. Shuai Jiamo, ever the number enthusiast, began to explain his new method of proving the tax discrepancies, but Prefect Huang interrupted, firmly instructing him not to file any more lawsuits "in Jin'an Prefecture."
As he left, Prefect Huang handed Shuai Jiamo an official newspaper, commenting, "The memorandum was well-written. It's just that Shuai Jiamo entrusted it to the wrong person." Feng Baoyu, after Feng Biyu explained the nature of the official newspaper, grasped Prefect Huang's subtle hint: they should appeal to a higher authority outside Jin'an Prefecture.
Episode 5 Recap
Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo set out for the provincial capital to file a complaint. Along the way, Feng Baoyu quizzed Shuai Jiamo, even commenting on how good Shuai Jiamo looked in his clothes, and then asked a question about money, joking that they might get 300 taels if Shuai Jiamo performed well.
They encountered a fast courier, prompting Feng Baoyu to explain the system of relay stations: couriers run 10 "li" within three marks on a water clock, passing documents in relays day and night. Shuai Jiamo calculated that it would take approximately 26 hours for a document to travel from the provincial capital to Renhua.
He then posed a riddle, asking at what distance from the provincial capital a document sent from Renhua County at the same time as their departure and after they had traveled for two and a half days would catch up with them, to which Feng Baoyu jokingly responded, "Just kill me." Meanwhile, Cheng Renqing, bored, spent his time at a restaurant, reciting classical poetry, including lines such as "The world's joys are inexhaustible.
Laying out all the books I've never seen. Playing pitch-pot as an offering to Zhai Zun. Speak not of Ma Xiangru." The women around him admitted they didn't understand, so he explained the game of pitch-pot, likening it to understanding a person's "opening" and "stabbing their heart" with an arrow to win. He confidently declared he could hit two hearts at once. Before he could prove it, a subordinate interrupted, informing him that Master Fan urgently needed to see him.
Cheng Renqing rushed to Master Fan’s residence under the cover of night. An attendant informed him that the silk tax case in Renhua County had encountered complications, and Shuai Jiamo was "back at it again." Cheng Renqing dismissed this, confident that he had blocked all channels for filing a plaint in Jin'an Prefecture.
However, Master Fan revealed that Shuai Jiamo had gone to the provincial capital and sternly rebuked Cheng Renqing for such an oversight, despite his knowledge of the Great Ming Code. Cheng Renqing, still dismissive, called Shuai Jiamo an "arithmetic nut" who wouldn't know the intricacies of the provincial "yamen". Noticing Master Fan's grim expression, Cheng Renqing quickly changed his tune, offering to depart immediately for the provincial capital to rectify his mistake.
Master Fan warned him seriously, stating, "A tiger gives its all even while fighting a rabbit. I don't look down on anyone, nor ignore any possibilities. I hope you will do so too." Cheng Renqing promised to ensure Shuai Jiamo would "have nowhere to file his plaint and returns empty-handed," but Master Fan instructed him to only focus on the provincial capital and not concern himself with Shuai Jiamo’s return.
On their journey through the provincial capital, Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo observed lively street performances, including an "iron flower" show. Feng Baoyu expressed his wish to host such a performance for his sister if he were to pass the imperial examinations. However, the sparks from the performance triggered a traumatic childhood memory for Shuai Jiamo: a fire in which his parents died.
He recalled villagers accusing him of being a "dim-witted son" who failed to act, leading to their deaths. Feng Baoyu found Shuai Jiamo curled in a corner, sweating profusely, and comforted him, insisting it was an accident and he shouldn't blame himself. Back at their inn, Shuai Jiamo told Feng Baoyu that his father had given him a book before he died, which contained "something very important" called the "Art of Gathering Projected Steps."
However, he couldn't recall its full title or contents, prompting Feng Baoyu to suggest he stop dwelling on it. Meanwhile, Cheng Renqing arrived at a government relay station and ordered black beans and chicken eggs for his horse, stating he would leave in an hour. The inn owner initially refused him service, explaining that the station was only for active government officials.
Cheng Renqing countered that he was acting on behalf of Master Fan, the Right Censor-in-chief, and presented an imperial document granting Master Fan "access to relay stations on his way back to his hometown." The owner argued the privilege was a one-time use from the capital and only for the official himself. Cheng Renqing challenged him to find such specific limitations in the document, threatening to take the matter to the "yamen" to verify the Great Ming Code.
The exasperated owner complained about officials abusing their authority, but eventually relented after Cheng Renqing offered to help him file a complaint against his superiors if he felt unfairly treated. Separately, Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo met Zhuang Santi. Zhuang Santi questioned their involvement in the silk tax case, as it didn't directly affect them. Feng Baoyu insisted on knowing the proper "yamen" to approach.
Zhuang Santi reviewed Shuai Jiamo's original memorandum, finding it a numerical "mess," and offered to rewrite it for a scribal fee. He then advised them against filing a direct lawsuit as commoners against officials, instead suggesting a "retrial on the basis of correcting an error" at the Provincial Surveillance Commission. Shuai Jiamo quickly grasped that this would give Prefect Huang a pretext to reopen the investigation.
However, Zhuang Santi pointed out two major obstacles: first, the Provincial Surveillance Commission might send the case back to Jin'an Prefecture, resulting in the same Prefect investigating himself; second, filing an "overstepping lawsuit" by skipping local administrative levels carried a penalty of twenty floggings in the "yamen" hall. Feng Baoyu was horrified, but Zhuang Santi explained that for a fee (one tael and five mace), a middleman could arrange for lenient flogging. Shuai Jiamo calculated the cost per stroke.
Zhuang Santi further detailed additional expenses, including new official paper for their plaint (as their own was deemed non-compliant) and fees to expedite the process, as the Provincial Surveillance Commission only accepted plaints on specific days, known only by junior clerks and the Assistant Surveillance Commissioner-in-charge. Feng Baoyu complained about the mounting costs, but Zhuang Santi emphasized that not paying would render their previous expenses futile.
As Zhuang Santi led Feng Baoyu to the "yamen", leaving Shuai Jiamo to wait near what Feng Baoyu called a "gambling house," Shuai Jiamo’s cat suddenly escaped his grasp. The cat darted into the street, startling Cheng Renqing’s horse, which bolted. Cheng Renqing, riding the horse, passed Shuai Jiamo, and their eyes met for a moment before the horse and rider plunged into a ditch. Onlookers gathered, but Shuai Jiamo immediately jumped into the water to rescue Cheng Renqing.
Once ashore, Cheng Renqing, though asserting he could swim, thanked Shuai Jiamo for saving him. Shuai Jiamo confessed that he would be "scared and sad" if someone died in front of him again. Cheng Renqing called Shuai Jiamo a "dummy" and "a good person," remarking that in this age, "only dummies can be good people."
When Shuai Jiamo asked if Cheng Renqing was a good or bad person, Cheng Renqing replied that he was "a knife," serving whoever paid him, and that the intentions of the user were irrelevant, just as no one cared about a knife's thoughts. Shuai Jiamo admitted he didn't understand. Before leaving, Cheng Renqing warned Shuai Jiamo that since he was now in the provincial capital, all of Shuai Jiamo's plans were "doomed to fail."
Shuai Jiamo informed him that Feng Baoyu had already gone to submit their memorandum, to which Cheng Renqing simply replied, "We shall see." Later, at a gathering with old classmates, Cheng Renqing reminisced about being framed for cheating in exams, which led to him being banned for life, and how his love, Yunniang, was lost. His friends noted that the hated Ma Wencai had become highly successful, while Cheng Renqing had suffered.
Cheng Renqing denied being framed and claimed he was better off, enjoying life without the toil of official business, unlike his friends. He dismissed his past aspirations of being a "gentleman who was of service to the world" as "childish," declaring that "only money is real." Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu waited to submit their plaint at the Provincial Surveillance Commission. Their number, 10, was repeatedly skipped.
Feng Baoyu became agitated, and the middleman eventually discovered that their memorandum had been rejected, stamped "unreasonable," with the note that Jin'an Prefecture had already made a judgment, so no retrial was needed. The middleman declared that someone was deliberately targeting them and that their case could not proceed at the local level. Shuai Jiamo realized that Cheng Renqing was behind this.
Feng Baoyu, seeing their provincial capital efforts thwarted, suggested they pursue the Grand Coordinator's Office or the Regional Inspector's Office. Zhuang Santi explained that the Grand Coordinator only handled appeals from the local level, and they wouldn't even be able to access his "yamen". Shuai Jiamo then suggested the Regional Inspector, who, as a court-appointed monitor with no local ties, would have fewer considerations.
Zhuang Santi agreed this was a viable path but warned them that the Regional Inspector, being constantly on "inspection" tours, would be hard to find in the provincial capital. He speculated that the Regional Inspector would likely be in Yanzhou Prefecture. As Yanzhou was on their way back to Renhua, Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo decided to head there. As they were discussing this, Cheng Renqing reappeared, mockingly advising them not to return to Renhua for the time being.
Feng Baoyu dismissed his advice, reminding him that his sister only trusted half of what Cheng Renqing said. Cheng Renqing simply wished them "good luck." That night, Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo stayed at an inn in Yanzhou. Two men, implied to be assassins, were waiting, expressing impatience about their "brother's" lack of success. Suddenly, soldiers arrived, stating they had received a report of robbers in the inn and ordered everyone to assemble.
Feng Baoyu identified himself as a government student from Renhua County, Jin'an Prefecture, and presented his travel papers. Shuai Jiamo identified himself as being from Renhua County, Jin'an Prefecture, and explicitly stated his purpose was to file a plaint regarding the silk tax case. He tried to elaborate with numbers, but Feng Baoyu quickly intervened, explaining that Shuai Jiamo was "a nut for accounting" and "a dummy."
The officer then questioned another man, who identified himself as Lu Feilong from Tongyang County, Jin'an Prefecture, claiming to be there to collect debt and showing his travel papers. The officer noted the unusual number of Jin'an residents. Feng Baoyu then exposed Lu Feilong, revealing he was actually from Lanxi County and ran a gambling house in Renhua, not Tongyang.
The officer pulled Lu Feilong aside and, in a hushed conversation, indicated he was aware of Lu Feilong's gambling operations in Yanzhou and expected to be included. Lu Feilong quickly agreed. The officer then declared no robbers were found and dismissed everyone. Lu Feilong's accomplice asked if they should proceed with their attack. Lu Feilong, now wary of the officer's suspicion, decided against it, stating that if Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu were killed, he would be the prime suspect. He then told his accomplice to "sleep."
Episode 6 Recap
Lu Feilong's subordinates reported that Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu had been seen entering the Investigation Bureau in Yanzhou. Lu Feilong expressed surprise, as he had believed they were returning to Renhua County. Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu appeared before Inspector Liu Jing with their complaint. Inspector Liu dismissed their first submission as pretentious and manipulative, accusing the lawyers who drafted it, such as Zhuang Santi, of instigating conflict.
Feng Baoyu, realizing their predicament, then presented a different version of the memorandum, one that had been edited by Prefect Huang Ningdao. Inspector Liu found this document intriguing, noting it bore the handwriting of two distinct individuals: Shuai Jiamo as the main writer and Prefect Huang Ningdao as the editor. He deduced that Prefect Huang Ningdao, a former Investigating Censor whom he knew, must be in a difficult position and seeking external support.
Inspector Liu, whose duty was to correct malpractices, officially accepted the silk poll tax case, stating that rejecting it would be a dereliction of his own duty. Shuai Jiamo immediately inquired when they could access the Archives in other counties to view relevant documents. Inspector Liu affirmed his authority to demand access to these records and promised to proceed to Jin'an Prefecture and its Archives immediately after concluding his current affairs in Yanzhou.
As Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu left, Inspector Liu questioned their earnest efforts in a case that offered them no personal gain if won, but ruin if lost, suggesting they had ulterior motives. Feng Baoyu quickly disclaimed involvement, while Shuai Jiamo simply stated his belief that incorrect numbers should be corrected. Walking away, Feng Baoyu reflected on Shuai Jiamo's innocence, observing that everyone involved in the silk tax case seemed to have their own agenda.
Meanwhile, Lu Feilong's men, who were trailing Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu, reported that the two were following an official palanquin, which was unusual for commoners. Upon learning the palanquin carried the Regional Inspector, Lu Feilong, suspecting a significant development, departed quickly to report to Master Fan. Inspector Liu, determined to prevent local officials from colluding, decided to bypass prior notification and establish the Regional Inspection Bureau directly in Lanxi County, bypassing Renhua.
He immediately ordered their party to proceed there. Lu Feilong, on the other hand, rode through the night to reach Master Fan in Renhua and deliver his urgent report. In Lanxi County, Magistrate Mao, who had been practicing martial arts, was surprised by Inspector Liu's unannounced arrival. He challenged Inspector Liu's identity, demanding to see official credentials, including the imperial edict, official seal, and documents from the Censorate, before finally acknowledging his authority.
After excusing himself to change, Magistrate Mao was informed that Shuai Jiamo had arrived with Inspector Liu. He then dispatched a subordinate to Zhuge Village to summon Cheng Renqing for a discussion. Returning to Inspector Liu, Magistrate Mao paid his respects. Inspector Liu then declared his intention to set up an Inspection Bureau in Lanxi County to examine documents and oversee lawsuits, citing imperial orders.
Despite Magistrate Mao's attempts to deter him by emphasizing the sensitive nature of the case, Inspector Liu remained firm. He reiterated Shuai Jiamo's claim regarding the 3,530 taels of silk poll tax, arguing that records from the 11th to 16th years of the Chenghua reign in Lanxi's Archives would reveal the truth. Magistrate Mao's continued obstruction led Inspector Liu to threaten him with a formal complaint, forcing the magistrate to concede.
Inspector Liu then delegated two of his trusted scribes to assist Shuai Jiamo in examining the Archives. Shuai Jiamo estimated the work would be completed within three days. While Shuai Jiamo began his work in the Archives, Feng Baoyu waited outside. There, he encountered Cheng Renqing, who tried to entice him away to Lanfang Pavilion with promises of wine, music, and card games, subtly implying that Shuai Jiamo's work would take time.
Feng Baoyu initially resisted but eventually joined Cheng Renqing and others for a card game. During their conversation, Feng Baoyu revealed that a crucial bulletin, dated to the fourth month of the current year, was attached to Shuai Jiamo's second memorandum, and that Inspector Liu's attitude had drastically changed upon seeing it. Cheng Renqing relayed this information to Master Fan and Magistrate Mao, who were deliberating.
They deduced that the bulletin concerned a land remeasurement initiative in Mindi and that Grand Secretary Zhang was likely using Mindi as a pilot. They concluded that Inspector Liu, recognizing this as an opportunity to gain favor with Grand Secretary Zhang, intended to implement a similar land remeasurement in Fengxing under the guise of the silk tax case. This would establish a precedent for national land remeasurement, despite the potential for widespread unrest and upheaval in Jin'an.
They resolved to prevent Liu Jing's plans from succeeding in Lanxi, deeming it a serious threat. Later, Master Fan and Magistrate Mao hosted a dinner for Inspector Liu, where they discussed the wisdom of Zhuge Village's formations and Zhuge Liang's integrity, subtly probing Liu Jing's character. Inspector Liu confirmed that the banquet was a private gesture from the local gentry rather than a county expense, further affirming his principled stance.
Meanwhile, Shuai Jiamo, dining alone, discovered a threatening message in his food box, warning him that Feng Baoyu's life was at stake if he didn't comply. At the Archives, Lu Feilong confronted Shuai Jiamo, who was tied up alongside Feng Baoyu. Lu Feilong demanded the evidence. Shuai Jiamo explained he had only made copies and had returned the original documents to the Archives.
Feng Baoyu pleaded with Shuai Jiamo to cooperate with Lu Feilong to save himself, but Shuai Jiamo was more concerned about the preservation of the original tax records, fearing that their destruction would forever prevent the correction of the tax errors. Lu Feilong and his men then set the Archives ablaze, abandoning Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu to the fire.
As the flames engulfed the building, Shuai Jiamo was overwhelmed by a traumatic memory from his childhood, reliving the horror of a past fire. News of the fire at the Archives and the unknown fate of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu quickly reached Inspector Liu at the banquet. Enraged, he declared the incident ridiculous and vowed to investigate thoroughly, challenging whether Lanxi County still truly belonged to the Ming Dynasty.
Episode 7 Recap
Flames engulfed the Archives, and servants desperately hurled water to extinguish the blaze. Inside, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu lay unconscious. Lu Feilong, believing this would solve all his troubles, intended to burn them alive. As he prepared to kill them, Cheng Renqing swiftly intervened, explaining that killing them now, with news of the Archives fire already spread, would raise suspicions, especially from Liu Jing, if their bodies were found outside.
Lu Feilong considered killing them and then placing their bodies back inside, but realized the many firefighters outside would make it impossible. Cheng Renqing then proposed a plan that required an accomplice to act out a fabricated story. Soon after, an official reported to Liu Jing that the ruins contained only paper ash and charred wooden structures, with no sign of bodies. Magistrate Mao expressed frustration at Lu Feilong, and Cheng Renqing assured Magistrate Mao that everything was handled.
When questioned, two scribes confirmed that Shuai Jiamo had voluntarily stayed behind the previous day, having been seen dazed with blank papers on his desk. They indicated that Old Zhang, the old official in charge of the library, was the last person to see Shuai Jiamo. When brought before Liu Jing, the flustered Old Zhang recounted his attempt to lock the Archives at sunset. He saw two scribes who mentioned Mr. Shuai was still inside.
He then discovered another young master, Feng Baoyu, there as well. The two scholars began to quarrel over matters like the fish-scale map and how to explain it without implicating others. When Zhang reminded them it was time to lock up, Feng Baoyu grew angry, chastising him for potentially delaying matters important to Liu Jing, and chased him out. Zhang confessed that he was worried and later returned to witness the raging fire, admitting it was his fault.
When Liu Jing asked if he had seen Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu after the fire, Zhang claimed to have no clue. Cheng Renqing, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward to offer his "deductions." He explained that Shuai Jiamo, desperate to uncover the truth about the silk poll tax but making no progress, and Feng Baoyu, who had bet everything on Shuai Jiamo's success, grew anxious and came to the Archives to press him.
This led to an argument, and during their quarrel, they accidentally knocked over a candle, causing the catastrophic fire. Cheng Renqing asserted that the two must have fled due to the severe penalty of burning down the Archives in Lanxi County. Liu Jing, initially skeptical and deeming it mere speculation, was swayed by Cheng Renqing's argument that if they were innocent, they would not have fled but would have sought out Liu Jing.
Cheng Renqing later met with Master Fan, who praised his composure and quick thinking. Cheng Renqing explained their plan: Lu Feilong had already smuggled Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu out of Lanxi County to be secretly detained on the way to Tongyang. Once an arrest warrant was issued across Jin'an, Lu Feilong would formally turn them over to the Tongyang County office.
Magistrate Mao questioned why they needed to be sent to Magistrate Deng's jurisdiction instead of being dealt with in Lanxi. Cheng Renqing justified this by saying a longer escape route would make the story more believable and asked Magistrate Mao to issue a constable's status to Lu Feilong for easier cross-border arrests. Magistrate Mao expressed frustration, suggesting it would be simpler to kill them outright.
Master Fan reprimanded him, emphasizing that the Archives fire was a serious matter requiring a formal explanation to the imperial court. He stated it was better for Shuai and Feng to shoulder the blame through proper legal procedures, no matter how cumbersome, to prevent future complications. Master Fan concluded by stating he would handle all the necessary paperwork.
Meanwhile, Lu Feilong's subordinate questioned the purpose of transporting the two men so far without either killing or releasing them, to which his superior simply told him to follow orders. Shortly after, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu regained consciousness. They quickly cut their ropes and fled into the forest. Along the way, Feng Baoyu accidentally injured his leg in a trap.
Shuai Jiamo stopped to help him, but by the time Lu Feilong and his men arrived at their last known location, the fugitives had vanished. Lu Feilong, furious at their escape, had initially intended to kill them and claim they resisted arrest. He then led his men to search a nearby hut inhabited by a woman and a girl named Xiao Zhi.
The women claimed to have seen two scholars pass by and head down the mountain, but Lu Feilong's suspicions were aroused by the fact they were cultivating barren land in the mountains of Tongyang. Despite their protests, Lu Feilong ordered his men to search the hut, discovering a cellar. Ignoring the woman’s warning about poor ventilation, Lu Feilong entered. He emerged visibly shaken and terrified, prompting his subordinates to quickly escort him away.
Back in the hut, as Feng Baoyu nursed his injured leg, Shuai Jiamo recalled the fire at his own home and realized that the silk poll tax case was inextricably linked to his father's death. He remembered a book called "Complete Works of the Silk Event" by his father, which repeatedly featured the number 3530, a number his father had once told him represented his life's work.
Feng Baoyu advised Shuai Jiamo not to mention their true purpose for being in Lanxi or the Archives fire to anyone, especially not their kind hosts, to avoid implicating them. Feng Baoyu then instructed Shuai Jiamo to travel to Tongyang County with his letter to retrieve money from his family's shop and find a doctor, and to send a message to his sister. Shuai Jiamo pondered how they ended up in Tongyang after fainting in Lanxi.
Shuai Jiamo arrived in Tongyang County and sought out Shopkeeper Zhao, who, upon receiving Feng Baoyu’s letter, promised to fetch a doctor. However, Shuai Jiamo was soon apprehended by patrolmen and brought before Magistrate Deng Siqi. Magistrate Deng, who was in the midst of a complex civil engineering calculation, was surprised when Shuai Jiamo, after observing his work, pointed out an error and correctly identified the problem as calculating the storage capacity of a cylindrical granary with a canopy.
Magistrate Deng admitted his admiration for Shuai Jiamo's "white wall drawing" calculation technique he had witnessed earlier but confessed his own limited ability to apply it accurately. He questioned why Shuai Jiamo, knowing he was wanted by the county, would appear openly. Shuai Jiamo explained that Feng Baoyu was injured and he came alone. Shuai Jiamo, facing detention, declared he had conceived a brilliant method to prove the silk poll tax case without needing the burned Archives.
Magistrate Deng acknowledged the brilliance of Shuai Jiamo's approach of working backward from conscripted labor to calculate tax revenue. He confessed his personal wish to discuss the silk poll tax from an arithmetic perspective, but his official position prevented him from doing so as it was disadvantageous to Tongyang County. He likened himself to a lone boat in turbulent waters, having to navigate according to the current interests of his county, rather than risk being "drowned" by going against them.
Shuai Jiamo, with his characteristic innocence, simply asked if the Magistrate couldn't swim. Deng Siqi, lamenting Shuai Jiamo's naiveté, ordered his guards to take Shuai Jiamo away, but Shuai Jiamo's revelation about his new calculation method gave Deng Siqi pause. Deng Siqi challenged Shuai Jiamo to a field measurement competition using Tongyang’s most famously irregular field, a irregular field.
Shuai Jiamo explained his father had mentioned an ancient solution called "Art of Gathering Projected Steps" which could instantly calculate the area of such fields, a technique he had been trying to rediscover for years. When both men completed their calculations using conventional methods, Shuai Jiamo had arrived at the correct answer much faster, impressing Magistrate Deng.
Shuai Jiamo noted that the "Art of Gathering Projected Steps" could halve the calculation time, a method that would greatly benefit counties like Renhua, which had many such irregular fields. He believed the full method was likely recorded in his father's "Complete Works of the Silk Event."
Shuai Jiamo confided in Magistrate Deng about an unresolved question from his childhood: why he was not home on the day his house burned down, and if, as Cheng Renqing suggested, his parents committed suicide out of guilt, why they had left him behind. Magistrate Deng empathized but advised Shuai Jiamo not to dwell too much on the past. While acknowledging their opposing positions on the silk poll tax, he expressed admiration for Shuai Jiamo's pure heart.
As he had only been in office for two years and lacked knowledge of past events, he suggested Shuai Jiamo seek out Chief Bookkeeper Ren of Wancheng, a local who might have answers. Magistrate Deng offered to write a letter of introduction, as Wancheng was on Shuai Jiamo's route back to Lanxi. Meanwhile, in Lanxi, Master Fan received news from Magistrate Deng that one of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu had been captured, and the other would soon be apprehended.
Master Fan sternly reprimanded Lu Feilong for his past failures and lack of diligence. Cheng Renqing was eager to immediately bring the two back to Lanxi and solidify their charges, but Master Fan interrupted him, expressing regret that they hadn't been killed earlier to avoid all the complications. In the hut, a doctor confirmed that Feng Baoyu's leg injury was serious but would heal with the applied herbs and regular care.
The doctor also relayed Magistrate Deng's orders that Feng Baoyu was to be held under close watch, prevented from communicating with anyone, and would be transferred in a few days. The woman of the house confronted Feng Baoyu about being a fugitive, expressing her worry for Shuai Jiamo.
Feng Baoyu, anxious about Shuai Jiamo, attempted to leave to help him, but the woman stopped him, warning that his leg would be permanently crippled if he moved, urging him to prioritize his recovery.
Episode 8 Recap
Feng Baoyu, recuperating at an elderly family's home, was delighted to see meat on the table. He took a piece to eat, only to be playfully told it was rat meat, which momentarily startled him. The woman of the house clarified it was rabbit, a lucky catch from the mountains that month. As she finished eating, she explained their harsh life to Feng Baoyu.
The family once had five mu of land and three able-bodied men, making ends meet despite hardship. However, heavy government taxes, including biannual regular taxes and various miscellaneous levies, along with corvée work, left them with nothing at the end of the year. Their uncle died during corvée, and his cousin fell ill, leaving them with insufficient labor to work their remaining land or buy seeds for the next season.
Forced to borrow from loansharks, they were tricked by Lu Feilong into selling their land, first the second-class sloped land, then irrigated land, and finally paddy fields, just to repay the exorbitant interest. This led them to clear land in the wilderness. The woman, confused, asked Feng Baoyu why the wealthy paid less tax while the poor paid more, a question that also puzzled Feng Baoyu, though he attempted to explain it as the court's sympathy for the gentry.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fang in Renhua County learned that Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo had fled from Lanxi to Tongyang County. Concurrently, Liu Jing and Prefect Huang Ningdao played a game of gobang. Prefect Huang acknowledged that the conflict was deeper in the peripheries and, feeling trapped amidst adversaries, admitted he had brought Liu Jing in as a reinforcement. He was dismayed when the chessboard was overturned.
Liu Jing, determined to salvage his reputation after his setback in Lanxi, declared that the Silk Poll Tax case must proceed. He stressed the need for a significant example to be made, especially with Grand Secretary Zhang's land remeasurement campaign facing resistance in Fengxing, an area known for hidden land. Upon learning of her brother's plight, Feng Biyu prepared to leave, but Cheng Renqing intercepted her.
He revealed that he was the author of Feng Baoyu's arrest warrant and warned her that trying to save him now would only endanger him further. He suggested that her only recourse was to pay him for "justice." Feng Biyu reluctantly handed over her money. Cheng Renqing, after giving her advice, surprisingly refused to take the silver, leaving Feng Biyu and Feng Cheng bewildered. Soon after, soldiers discovered Feng Baoyu's location, forcing him to flee the elderly family's home.
Before leaving, he entrusted his personal jade pendant to the old man's daughter, Chen Xiaozhi, for safekeeping. Feng Baoyu then rendezvoused with Shuai Jiamo, and the two were handcuffed together and forced onto the road. Lu Feilong, posing as a Lanxi constable, attempted to take custody of them, but the Tongyang constables, following Magistrate Deng's strict orders, refused to transfer the prisoners to anyone before reaching Lanxi County.
Feng Biyu sought out Magistrate Fang, urgently requesting that he transfer the arrest warrant to Jin'an Prefecture. She pressed him on why Magistrate Mao had not informed him directly about the Lanxi Archives fire and the subsequent arrest warrant, despite the Jin'an magistrates being allies. She argued that such a crucial case involving two key figures warranted a personal message out of respect, rather than leaving him to shoulder the burden alone while others celebrated their perceived victory.
Magistrate Fang, acknowledging her points and reflecting on the unfairness of the situation, ultimately agreed to forward the orders to Jin'an Prefecture. Meanwhile, during their escort, Shuai Jiamo encountered an old acquaintance of his father, Shuai Duncheng. This old man, who had seen Shuai Jiamo as a child, attempted to help him recall his past. He described a famine ten years prior, a rare disaster where crops withered.
He explained Jin'an's tradition of honoring the Dragon King for good harvests and appealing to him in bad times, noting that this particular year was so dire it had come to "beating the Dragon King." The old man then proposed a deal: if Shuai Jiamo would withdraw his complaint in the Silk Poll Tax case, he would reveal the contents of a book he remembered.
Shuai Jiamo, however, immediately refused this offer, stating that the Silk Poll Tax was more important because it was wrong and must be corrected. Continuing their journey, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu were ambushed by Lu Feilong and his men, who intended to kill them in a secluded spot. Feng Baoyu then prompted an escape attempt.
However, just as Lu Feilong ordered his men to attack, officials from Jin'an Prefecture arrived, presenting a co-signed document from Prefect Huang Ningdao and Inspector Liu Jing to take custody of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu. Lu Feilong's plot was foiled, and the two were safely delivered to the Lanxi County prison. The jailers, recognizing Shuai Jiamo, reacted with alarm, recalling his previous unexpected return and calling him "the one possessed by the cat demon."
Feng Baoyu, observing their reaction, commented wryly on their shared return to the prison. Magistrate Mao, hearing that the case had been transferred to Jin'an Prefecture, expressed his frustration to Master Fan, arguing that it should be tried in Lanxi. He feared that Prefect Huang Ningdao and Inspector Liu Jing, being of higher rank, would amplify the case now that Shuai Jiamo was alive.
Master Fan dismissed Mao's fears and suggested that since the opposing side wanted an official solution, they should respond officially. When Mao tentatively mentioned Cheng Renqing, Master Fan’s official expressed reservations about Cheng Renqing's character and his reliability as a lawyer against higher authorities. Master Fan, however, believed that character was secondary and revealed his intention to host a dinner for his old friends in Jin'an that evening, inviting Magistrate Fang to join.
Meanwhile, Assistant Prefect Song, an old friend of Shuai Jiamo's father, visited Shuai Jiamo in prison. Song urged him to abandon his quest for the truth, reminding him of his precarious situation. Shuai Jiamo, however, recounted recent resurfacing memories from his childhood, specifically dreaming about a book titled "The Complete Works of the Silk Event" and recalling the number 3,530 prominently written on one page the night his parents died.
He confessed to being confused about the book's connection to the Silk Poll Tax and his father's crime, and mentioned that Assistant Magistrate Ren knew more but refused to speak. Song, interrupting Shuai Jiamo's desire to find the book, warned him that the upcoming joint trial was not a place to seek truth but for "Yin and Yang reconciliation," a compromise where everyone is partially satisfied and dissatisfied.
Song advised Shuai Jiamo to cooperate by remaining silent during the trial to save his life, implying his efforts were futile against entrenched interests. Shuai Jiamo, still grappling with his unresolved doubts, continued to question the intricate connections between "The Complete Works of the Silk Event," the Silk Poll Tax, and the Art of Gathering Projected Steps, and how they related to his father's fate. Song reiterated for him to reconsider his position and avoid his father's mistakes.
Episode 9 Recap
At a banquet, county magistrates discussed the recent Silk Poll Tax case. They planned a joint trial for the next day to deliver a verdict, aiming to demonstrate their concern for the common people. Master Fan seized the opportunity to warn that if the imperial court used this as a pretext, the situation could escalate. He pointed out the nationwide land remeasurement policy, arguing that conceding now would only embolden the court to impose harsher measures in the future.
Several magistrates resolved to grit their teeth and refuse to acknowledge the tax, hoping the court would then understand their difficulties. Magistrate Fang of Renhua County, present at the discussion, merely echoed their sentiments. After drinks were served, guests gradually departed, leaving Magistrate Mao and Magistrate Fang to discuss matters. Magistrate Mao chastised Magistrate Fang, calling him foolish for allowing Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu's arrest warrant to be transferred to Jin'an Prefecture.
Magistrate Mao explained that the matter should have been quietly handled by him in Lanxi County, but Prefect Huang Ningdao intercepted it, turning it into a joint trial between three offices. Magistrate Fang coolly retorted that the situation was complex and unfair, as none of them had informed him in advance, hiding their actions, only to blame him now.
He then pressed Magistrate Mao for the true cause of the fire at the Lanxi Archives, but Magistrate Mao evasively stated that the arrest warrant clearly indicated Shuai Jiamo and his friend were responsible for the arson. Magistrate Fang simply acknowledged his response. The following day, Prefect Huang presided over the joint trial of Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu.
The accusations were read, stating they had set fire to the Lanxi Archives and fled after failing to complete an investigation ordered by Inspector Liu. When asked to plead, both vehemently denied the charges, with Feng Baoyu loudly claiming they had been kidnapped and threatened. Prefect Huang was intrigued, noting this contradicted the official document. Magistrate Mao suggested flogging them to get the truth, but Prefect Huang urged him to calm down.
Cheng Renqing then appeared in the courtroom, eloquently presenting his arguments. He warned Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo to speak carefully, as every word would be recorded and false accusations constituted a crime. Feng Baoyu, however, retorted, "Do you think we are as shameless as you are?" Cheng Renqing promptly ordered the scribe to record Feng Baoyu's contempt of court. Inspector Liu then instructed Feng Baoyu to narrate the events truthfully without shouting.
Feng Baoyu testified that Shuai Jiamo had been tasked with checking documents in the Archives. Around 1 pm that day, Feng Baoyu was kidnapped by masked men on the streets of Lanxi County. These men then threatened Shuai Jiamo to remain in place and not disclose his investigation findings. Later that night, both Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo were tied up inside the Archives, which the masked men then set on fire, intending to burn them to death.
Cheng Renqing immediately challenged the testimony, asking why they were still alive if the Archives burned to the ground. Feng Baoyu claimed they had "knocked down the door and were lucky enough to escape." Cheng Renqing then questioned why they did not report to the authorities but instead fled to Tongyang County overnight. Feng Baoyu clarified that the masked men had brought them to Tongyang.
Cheng Renqing relentlessly highlighted the inconsistencies in Feng Baoyu's account, mockingly asking whether the masked men wanted to kill them or were just "practising doing legwork." He advised Feng Baoyu to construct a more coherent story next time. Feng Baoyu insisted his statements were true, though he could not explain the masked men's motives. When pressed by Cheng Renqing, Feng Baoyu identified the masked man as Lu Feilong.
When the court clarified that Lu Feilong was the Head Constable of Lanxi County, Cheng Renqing again pointed out the absurd contradictions: Lu Feilong kidnapped them, burned his own county's Archives, and then transported them over a hundred li to Tongyang County. Feng Baoyu corrected that Lu Feilong had intended to kill them in a temple in Tongyang, but they had managed to escape. Cheng Renqing dismissed this as "outrageous," questioning why Lu Feilong would not act in Lanxi.
He then summoned Lu Feilong to the stand. Lu Feilong provided an alibi, stating he was dining with several gentry at the time of the fire, which a witness corroborated. Cheng Renqing emphasized that Lu Feilong had "neither motive nor time" for the alleged crimes. Feng Baoyu countered that Lu Feilong "did" have time, as he had pursued them when they fell off a cliff and hid in a farmer's house, claiming someone in Tongyang County must have seen him.
Cheng Renqing dismissed this, stating that Lu Feilong's duty was to arrest criminals, and Magistrate Deng from Tongyang could confirm Lu Feilong had reported to the county office upon entering Tongyang. Feng Baoyu argued that if Lu Feilong had no motive, neither did he and Shuai Jiamo. Cheng Renqing then called another witness, an old clerk from the Lanxi Archives.
The old clerk, under implied threat, testified that on the day of the incident, Shuai Jiamo stayed behind after other scribes left, waiting for a gentleman who was Feng Baoyu. According to the clerk, Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo then closed the door, argued about "fish-scale map registers not being checked in time" and "not wanting to be implicated," lit candles, and then forced him out when he warned them about the fire.
Shuai Jiamo immediately interjected, declaring the clerk was lying. He clarified that he never argued with Feng Baoyu and his investigation progress was not delayed. Shuai Jiamo further explained that the clerk's testimony about "fish-scale map registers" was impossible, as his job was to audit tax ledgers, while fish-scale map registers pertained to land, making them entirely separate matters.
He then revealed that Inspector Liu had sent two scribes who were actually investigating the fish-scale map registers, and suggested the old clerk must have confused them with his own work. He requested Inspector Liu to summon his scribes to corroborate this. Amidst the courtroom murmurs, Inspector Liu's scribes were questioned. They confirmed that Shuai Jiamo had indeed only focused on tax and labor related documents, never touching the fish-scale map registers.
Prefect Huang then directly questioned the old clerk about his false testimony. Cheng Renqing attempted to defend the clerk, claiming he was senile and simply misheard, and therefore his testimony "doesn't count." However, Prefect Huang, enraged, lambasted the clerk for "making up lies for no reason and tricking all of us officials." He ordered the clerk to be flogged ten times and demanded to know who instructed him to lie, as the clerk was forcibly dragged away.
With the old clerk's testimony discredited, Prefect Huang declared Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu innocent of arson, as there was no evidence to support the accusation. Feng Baoyu immediately asserted that since the clerk lied, their original claim must be true: Lu Feilong was indeed their kidnapper.
Prefect Huang acknowledged that Lu Feilong had an alibi, which made the timing inconsistent for the kidnapping accusation, and stated that the instigators behind the clerk's lies and the Archives fire would be investigated at a later date. He then turned his attention to the Silk Poll Tax case, asking Shuai Jiamo if he had completed Inspector Liu's assigned task and uncovered its origins. Shuai Jiamo confirmed he had.
Magistrate Mao quickly stood up, attempting to halt the discussion, arguing that the trial was about arson and, now concluded, the court should be dismissed. Prefect Huang angrily silenced him, explaining that the arson case was inextricably linked to the Silk Poll Tax case. He stated, "If we clarify the truth of the Silk Poll Tax case, everything can be resolved."
Magistrate Mao still insisted that other county magistrates should be present for such a discussion, but Inspector Liu asserted his authority to proceed with the case, as he had established an Investigation Bureau for it. Shuai Jiamo informed Prefect Huang that despite the Archives being burned, he had devised another method to prove the origins of the Silk Poll Tax: by examining the White Books of Tax and Labor from Renhua and Lanxi counties.
Magistrate Mao attempted to discreetly speak with Inspector Liu, arguing against the public display of these "lifeblood" documents, which, though crucial for county governance, went against imperial law and whose exposure would make future work impossible. Prefect Huang, however, remained resolute and ordered both Magistrate Fang and Magistrate Mao to produce their counties' White Books of Tax and Labor for Shuai Jiamo's review.
Magistrate Mao claimed Lanxi's white book had been burned, but Prefect Huang immediately refuted this, pointing out that as informal documents, they would not have been kept in the Archives. Undeterred, Magistrate Mao doubled down on his refusal, threatening to report Prefect Huang to the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate if coerced.
Prefect Huang then turned to Magistrate Fang, who, having remained largely silent during the proceedings, suddenly found himself hailed as "Justice Fang" by the public outside the courtroom, cheering for his apparent stance for the people. Moved by the public's acclaim, Magistrate Fang declared that the Silk Poll Tax case concerned the welfare of Renhua's people.
He bravely stated that if Shuai Jiamo could uncover any errors, he would willingly sacrifice his official position to support the investigation and immediately dispatched someone to retrieve Renhua County's White Book of Tax and Labor. As the commotion subsided, Commander Ma Wencai, Assistant Surveillance Commissioner of the Jinqu Military Defense Circuit, arrived, disrupting the court.
He respectfully greeted Master Fan Yuan, acknowledging his past mentorship, and stated that he came to investigate the Silk Poll Tax case due to widespread public discussion. He insisted on sitting beside Prefect Huang. He also exchanged greetings with Cheng Renqing. Prefect Huang, after Commander Ma had taken his place, reiterated the need for the White Books of Tax and Labor. Magistrate Fang confirmed his aide was retrieving Renhua's.
Magistrate Mao, now cornered, agreed to send someone for Lanxi's book but claimed it would take a full day for the round trip. Inspector Liu, however, revealed that he had already commissioned a copy of Lanxi's White Book of Tax and Labor during his time in Lanxi, and it was currently at the Censorate, implying Magistrate Mao had something to hide.
Noting the long day and the wait for the documents, Prefect Huang declared a temporary recess, announcing the trial would resume that afternoon. Outside, Magistrate Fang was met by a jubilant crowd chanting "Justice Fang!" He accepted their gratitude, surprised by their fervent praise, and reiterated his commitment to Renhua's people. Meanwhile, Magistrate Mao confronted him, accusing him of breaking their alliance and making enemies. Magistrate Fang countered, distinguishing between official disagreements with Mao and personal conflicts with Master Fan.
Magistrate Mao scornfully predicted Fang's career would end, calling him a "cowering" dog. Fang retorted that it was better to quit than to be a sycophant, emphasizing the dignity of an imperial official. Magistrate Mao then, with palpable desperation, shared his life story: a "poor family" with "no men," his mother's immense sacrifices to make him a magistrate, and his lack of backers at court or connections in Lanxi.
He confessed that he "had" to rely on powerful figures like Master Fan to achieve anything, such as building three bridges and five granaries and funding a road. He lamented his reliance on "borrowed power" and the moral cost, feeling he had only his "conscience and dignity" left. Magistrate Fang listened, expressing understanding.
Magistrate Mao then fiercely declared he "cannot afford to lose" this case, vowing to "risk his life" to achieve his desired outcome, using the metaphor of a broadsword that, once swung, cannot be taken back, implying a ruthless resolve. He then departed. Later, Inspector Liu and Prefect Huang discussed their strategy for the afternoon session.
Inspector Liu deduced that Commander Ma Wencai had been brought by Fan Yuan, acknowledging Master Fan's vast network of connections, a "wide net" that could "engulf" anyone who dared to challenge him. Prefect Huang planned to use Shuai Jiamo's acquittal and Magistrate Fang's public defection to swiftly rule on the Silk Poll Tax, followed by Inspector Liu announcing the land remeasurement policy. Back in the jail, Shuai Jiamo's father's old friend, Brother Song, brought him a meal, including chicken soup.
Brother Song joked about eating chicken heads to cure "diseases of the mind," referencing Shuai Jiamo's father, who used to call them "arithmetic nuts." He mentioned finding an expensive physician for Shuai Jiamo's "mind disease" and offered to cover the costs. Shuai Jiamo, upon seeing the chicken, recalled his mother's similar saying about eating chicken heads. He then vividly recalled a memory: Brother Song bringing chicken to their house and taking his father and him into the Archives.
His father had explained the profound importance of the Archives, a place where "all the books, maps, household registers, and records of expenditure and revenue in the world have been collected. . . waiting for someone to read them," emphasizing that entry was only possible with his permission. Brother Song, observing Shuai Jiamo's deep recall, wondered if he remembered "a little too much." Shuai Jiamo firmly stated, "What's wrong is wrong. It must be corrected."
Brother Song remarked that Shuai Jiamo's "obsessive character is a lot like your father's," and added, "I've done my best" for him. A flashback then depicted a younger Shuai Jiamo, known as Duncheng, measuring a field with an older colleague, Ren. Ren attempted to pressure Duncheng to falsify the measurement for an "irregular field" belonging to the Fan family, by "shortening the rope" to make it appear smaller.
Ren offered money, despite it being prohibited by law, and argued that Duncheng's accurate measurements would cause tax discrepancies. He tried to convince Duncheng that no one, not even the magistrate, would question him, given his reputation and the Fan family's powerful connections in court. Duncheng refused the money and insisted on accuracy. The scene ended with villagers chanting "Abundant harvest."
The flashback concluded with Shuai Jiamo's father, observing young Duncheng about to be hit by a falling object while measuring, asking why he didn't dodge, lamenting his meager salary in the Revenue Office and the high cost of curing Duncheng's "illness."
Episode 10 Recap
Feng Baoyu returned home and eagerly ate the meal prepared by his sister, Feng Biyu, stating he needed to finish quickly to accompany Shuai Jiamo that afternoon. Feng Biyu, concerned for him after the hardships of the Silk Poll Tax case, urged him to withdraw from the complicated matter. She expressed that fame and reputation were secondary to his well-being and encouraged him to live his life as a carefree rich young master, even offering to fund his gambling habits.
However, Feng Baoyu declared his intention to stop gambling and start studying. He then recalled the name of a book, "Complete Works of Silk," which he remembered was written by his father, and an unidentified old man confirmed they had read it. Later, Master Fan and Ma Wencai hosted a celebratory banquet, jovially interacting with others while pointedly ignoring Cheng Renqing, who sat by himself, drinking silently.
Ma Wencai eventually approached Cheng Renqing, pouring him wine and insincerely offering to visit the grave of Yun Niang, Cheng Renqing's deceased wife. Cheng Renqing, visibly angered, retorted that Ma Wencai’s father had used underhanded tactics in the imperial examination, leading to Cheng Renqing's downfall.
Ma Wencai, unfazed, countered by questioning Cheng Renqing's accusations and then further humiliated him by comparing their different fates since that examination, saying he had been "reincarnated as a human" while Cheng Renqing had become a "beast." Despite his intense fury, Cheng Renqing suppressed his anger. Before leaving, Ma Wencai reminded Cheng Renqing that he would need him to be at the forefront that afternoon and advised him to eat well.
The following day, Prefect Huang announced that the Silk Poll Tax case would continue. As Shuai Jiamo came forward, Cheng Renqing once again attempted to intervene, but Prefect Huang sternly dismissed him, instructing Shuai Jiamo to proceed. Shuai Jiamo explained that while the original Jin'an Prefecture supplement of 6,000 bolts of silk, valued at 3,530 taels of silver, was initially shared equally among eight counties, the proportion had gradually shifted since the twelfth year of the Chenghua reign.
Through a subtle accounting manipulation over four years, Renhua County was made to pay an additional 3,530 taels in taxes, with the tax category subtly changed to the Silk Poll Tax. Magistrate Fang and others expressed astonishment at this clever "boiling frog" scheme, marveling at how Renhua had unknowingly borne the extra burden. Prefect Huang then declared that since the Silk Poll Tax was an altered imposition, it should be rectified to restore fairness.
Cheng Renqing again objected, suggesting the matter was too old to hastily re-evaluate, especially given the changes in Jin'an's counties over more than a century. He argued that simply reapplying the old equal split would be unfair due to changes in population and cultivated land. Censor Liu then proposed re-measuring fields and adjusting the tax split based on new statistics, which Prefect Huang agreed to.
However, Cheng Renqing once more tried to disrupt proceedings, questioning Shuai Jiamo’s motives and implying he sought personal revenge for his father’s past injustice. He warned that setting such a precedent, especially with Shuai Jiamo going unpunished, could destabilize Jin'an Prefecture, invoking the hierarchy of 'common sense, human emotion, integrity, public interest,' with common sense taking precedence and public interest ranking fourth. Prefect Huang, exasperated by Cheng Renqing's constant interjections, ordered him removed.
At this point, Censor Ma Wencai, who had been observing, interjected. He asserted his right to speak, explaining that although he oversaw the Jin-Qu Military Defense Circuit, he was still part of the Judicial Commissioner's establishment, thus making inquiry into legal cases and prohibiting malpractice part of his duty. He then recounted the story of Xiao He's wisdom in collecting vital records during the Qin dynasty, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for effective governance.
Ma Wencai expressed his strong support for re-measuring the fields and reforming the tax system, aligning with the Imperial Court's push for political reforms, but also warned that he would not hesitate to impeach anyone who acted inappropriately.
After confirming the agreement of the two county magistrates, Prefect Huang formally announced that in three days, all eight counties of Jin'an would commence re-measuring their cultivated land to prepare for the restoration of the original Silk Poll Tax system, requiring all officials to make diligent arrangements. After the session, Censor Ma Wencai suggested to Prefect Huang that Cheng Renqing should be punished for his disruptive behavior and attempts to destabilize the prefecture.
Magistrate Mao also chimed in, disowning Cheng Renqing as merely a clever lawyer. Prefect Huang then declared Cheng Renqing guilty of inciting lawsuits and deceiving the public, ordering him to be caned ten times, expelled from the county academy, detained and sent back to Lanxi for self-reflection, and banned from practicing as a lawyer in any county or prefecture office.
As Cheng Renqing was being dragged out, he realized with dawning horror that Ma Wencai and Master Fan had conspired to set him up, intentionally using him to create a scene and incur punishment. Ma Wencai approached Cheng Renqing as he was being caned, confessing that he had deliberately framed him during the imperial examination years ago, not just to steal his top spot, but to utterly destroy his career, leaving him no chance of recovery.
He callously remarked that Yun Niang would be unable to rest in peace if she knew the man she chose had become such a loser. Afterward, Cheng Renqing, still reeling from the caning, received news from his subordinate that the old clerk from the Lanxi Archives had died in prison by hanging, leaving a suicide note claiming he accidentally caused the fire and blamed Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu out of fear.
The subordinate noted that the arson case was now conveniently closed, and no one cared if it was truly suicide, but Cheng Renqing, in his pain and disillusionment, muttered that he didn't believe it. Later, Master Fan and Lu Feilong intercepted Cheng Renqing. They confronted him about leaking information to Feng Biyu, which had led to the current investigation, and also about his act of personally rescuing Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu from the Lanxi Archives fire.
Cheng Renqing realized he had been betrayed by his own people. Master Fan expressed his disappointment and instructed his men to "educate" Cheng Renqing further. The once-proud Cheng Renqing lay bruised and broken. Later, Shuai Jiamo appeared and brought him to a room, applying ointment to his wounds, which Shuai Jiamo mentioned was Feng Biyu's, also used for curing ham. Cheng Renqing noted that it was Feng Biyu's ointment.
He then provoked Shuai Jiamo by suggesting his pursuit of the Silk Poll Tax case was simply a quest for parental revenge, pointing to a calculation of "3530" written on the wall. Shuai Jiamo calmly denied it, stating it was merely about correcting a tax error, not revenge.
Cheng Renqing, bewildered as to why Shuai Jiamo had saved him after their public confrontation, was told that it was because many of his statements were incorrect, and Shuai Jiamo wanted to clarify. Cheng Renqing mused that Shuai Jiamo was truly a "dummy," an uncommon person who didn't operate by the conventional principles of reason, human emotion, integrity, and public interest.
He acknowledged, however, that Shuai Jiamo was now the only one willing to attend to him in his fallen state. Cheng Renqing then began to recount his past. His father, a military officer, had taught him an intricate field-measuring technique called the "Art of Gathering Projected Steps," though he could no longer recall the precise formula. Raised with strict discipline and martial arts training, he entered the academy with fervent ambition to reform society.
There, he met and fell in love with Yun Niang, the principal's daughter. Their life together, though modest, was beautiful. Yun Niang even spent all her savings to buy him a horse named "Cloud" to ease his travels. He had planned to win the imperial examination to give her a life of comfort, but Ma Wencai's sabotage derailed his ambitions. Despite this setback, Yun Niang remained devoted. Tragedy struck when Yun Niang fell gravely ill, draining all their savings.
Desperate for money to buy medicine, Cheng Renqing reluctantly began writing legal complaints for others, earning a generous reward. However, fate was cruel, and Yun Niang's illness proved fatal. He recited a poignant poem about floating white clouds, lamenting their ephemeral existence. Separately, Feng Baoyu urgently sought out Chief Bookkeeper Ren by a river where officials were discussing irrigation plans for Hongchuan River.
Feng Baoyu asked about the "Complete Works of Silk," but Chief Bookkeeper Ren, initially dismissive and stating his own opposing stance on the Silk Poll Tax case, urged him to have Shuai Jiamo drop the matter. He reasoned that fame and fortune were external things, and living happily was paramount. Feng Baoyu passionately countered, explaining that for Shuai Jiamo, happiness was intertwined with remembering his parents.
He revealed that Shuai Jiamo, having lost his parents at seven, endlessly calculated and solved problems as his only means to recall fragments of his parents' memory, as the archive fire had destroyed all their mementos. Chief Bookkeeper Ren, moved by this revelation, admitted he had only heard rumors about Shuai Jiamo's past. He praised Feng Baoyu's dedication to Shuai Jiamo, whom Feng Baoyu called a brother he could trust with his life.
Soon after, an urgent report from Jin'an Prefecture arrived, prompting Chief Bookkeeper Ren to realize a "good plan" had been executed, and the entire Jin'an region was now poised for chaos. An official notice was promptly posted, announcing the immediate re-measurement of all cultivated land in Jin'an's eight counties to reformulate land numbers, instructing all officials and civilians to proceed diligently without delay or error. The surrounding populace quickly gathered, discussing the implications with growing concern.
Episode 11 Recap
Early in the morning, Feng Biyu woke Cheng Renqing, asking about her brother, Feng Baoyu. Cheng Renqing confessed he didn't know where Feng Baoyu had gone, suggesting she ask Shuai Jiamo instead. Feng Biyu accused him of playing tricks, but Cheng Renqing dismissed it, stating he had no reason to cause trouble when he could easily level dozens of charges against Feng Baoyu if he wished.
He then assured her that Feng Baoyu was fine, having become a prominent figure in Renhua County, and would enjoy a bright future. He even playfully suggested it was time for Feng Biyu to find a good husband and settle down, which she quickly rejected. After Cheng Renqing got up, he thanked Shuai Jiamo, who was nearby, for saving him and for his care.
He then shared a philosophical thought, describing them both as "pitiable yearners" in this wavering world, constantly longing, craving, and yearning for things that remained out of reach, even comparing it to the pursuit of Zu's Ratio. Shuai Jiamo, not fully grasping the poetic sentiment, tried to explain that Zu's Ratio refers to the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, named after Zu Chongzhi.
Cheng Renqing, however, found the detailed explanation tedious and joked that Shuai Jiamo had ruined the poetic atmosphere. Before departing, Cheng Renqing offered Feng Biyu a final piece of advice: "The match is still going on, and you have yet to win." Feng Biyu later thanked Cheng Renqing for providing information that saved the lives of Feng Baoyu and Shuai Jiamo.
She offered him two fine hams in return, and when he jokingly questioned if only two were offered, she playfully suggested three would also be fine. Meanwhile, in Tongyang County, Xiao Zhi was arguing with government officials about the land remeasurement. She protested that their land, which they hadn't even finished cultivating, measuring only 4. 5 "mu", was now being registered as 5 "mu" of cultivated land, calling the measurement inaccurate.
The officials, unfazed, arrogantly dismissed her, challenging her knowledge of mathematics like Pythagorean's Theorem and the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter (Pi), and declared that their official measurements were final. They brazenly implied that for a "reparation fee," they could be more lenient with the measurements. Xiao Zhi's father, an old man, became enraged and attacked the officials with a hoe, leading to a scuffle.
Feng Baoyu arrived and intervened, warning the officials that he, a student from Renhua County, would sue them for malfeasance if they continued to abuse their authority. The officials, however, merely reiterated that the land would be reported as 5 "mu" and challenged them to take their complaints to the Tongyang County Government. After the officials left, Feng Baoyu told Xiao Zhi and her father that the Jin'an Prefecture was heading for turmoil.
He offered to take them to Magistrate Deng, whom he believed to be a reasonable man who would deliver justice. Xiao Zhi was skeptical, remarking that if any official had truly cared, farmers wouldn't have been driven to cultivate the wilderness. Her father, however, urged her to accompany Feng Baoyu, hoping she would see if fate could truly be changed in this world. He vowed that even if he had only 4.
5 "mu" of land, he would work tirelessly to yield 5 "mu" of grain. Days later, with the land remeasurement policy in effect for only seven days, four counties had already requested a suspension. Assistant Prefect Song found the rapid public outcry suspicious, suggesting to Prefect Huang that they send people to investigate the true public reaction. Prefect Huang agreed. At the county office, a notice was posted, suspending public petitions. Villagers gathered, expressing widespread anger.
They accused Revenue Office officials of unfairly inflating their land measurements by 30 percent, forcing them to pay hundreds of "jin" more in grain taxes, leaving them with no food. Others complained that officials demanded money for "Fish Scale Map Registers" and even seized their cattle if they couldn't pay. The officials responsible ignored their pleas and left, further enraging the crowd.
Feng Baoyu, observing the scene, tried to explain that while individual officials were corrupt, the land remeasurement policy itself was not inherently bad, as it aimed to uncover hidden lands and distribute taxes more fairly. However, Xiao Zhi, reflecting the crowd's sentiment, countered that every new government policy ultimately led to more taxes.
She pointed out that if the policy truly aimed for fairness, why weren't the vast lands of wealthy families like Master Liu's, reportedly over a hundred "mu", being measured? Members of the crowd then directly implicated Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu, revealing that the "Silk Poll Tax" issue was instigated by them, leading to the decision to apportion the tax among eight counties based on population and land, thus requiring the remeasurement.
The crowd turned on Feng Baoyu, accusing him of causing their suffering while pretending to be concerned. Realizing the depth of the public's anger, Feng Baoyu decided to take further action. He headed to Tongyang County to seek justice from Magistrate Deng. Upon being granted an audience, Feng Baoyu explained that some officials were using the remeasurement policy to exploit the people, causing widespread resentment, and recounted how even the farmer who had sheltered him suffered from manipulated land measurements.
Magistrate Deng acknowledged his concern, stating that he would help the farmer due to his past acquaintance with Shuai Jiamo but then dismissed Feng Baoyu, asserting that the administration of Tongyang County was none of his business. When Feng Baoyu persisted, Magistrate Deng revealed his helplessness as a transient official. He explained that local officials, who had served for generations, were far more experienced and found ways to "feign obedience" to his orders while secretly continuing their malpractices.
He further suggested that the consistent and severe bullying across Jin'an's eight counties indicated that these officials were acting under a higher authority's instruction, leaving Feng Baoyu to ponder who that could be. Afterwards, Xiao Zhi thanked Feng Baoyu for his help, though still hinting that he was the original cause of the trouble.
Feng Baoyu, lamenting his limited ability to help more people, told her he needed to go to his next destination as the case was not yet finished. Back at the prefecture, the report from the sent-out officials indicated that public reaction to the land remeasurement was generally calm, with only minor disputes, leading Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu to believe that the previous reports of widespread resentment were exaggerations by county magistrates.
Prefect Huang decided to draft an official document, ordering all counties to continue the policy and threatening severe punishment for non-compliance. Inspector Liu affirmed his support, declaring that he would jointly sign the order and impeach any magistrates who continued to be neglectful. Meanwhile, Lu Feilong, acting on instructions from Master Fan, was actively fanning the flames of public anger.
He spread rumors among the villagers, falsely claiming that Renhua County had bribed officials to shift the Silk Poll Tax burden onto other counties. He pointed out the injustice, asking why they should pay taxes for Renhua County when they themselves were struggling. He even spread gossip about Prefect Huang taking a concubine from Renhua County, further fueling suspicion.
He urged the villagers to unite and demand justice, asking them if they would rather be shackled by officials for non-payment or fight for their rights. The enraged villagers, chanting slogans like "Down with the corrupt officials! Give back our land!" and "Dismiss Huang! Execute Liu! Get Fang killed!" began marching towards Renhua County. Cheng Renqing and Feng Baoyu, hearing the commotion, discussed the situation.
Cheng Renqing explained to Feng Baoyu that this was all part of Ma Wencai's intricate plot. He theorized that Ma Wencai's sudden change of stance in court was a "retreating advance," allowing the Jin'an Prefecture to implement the remeasurement. Then, the colluding county officials, under orders from Master Fan, would deliberately cause havoc and public outrage. This resentment would then be skillfully redirected towards Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu, the key decision-makers.
Cheng Renqing warned Feng Baoyu that Shuai Jiamo was heading for grave danger, predicting that Ma Wencai's goal was to escalate the chaos to the largest possible scale. As the protesting villagers, chanting "Remeasurement kills me!" and "Apportionment kills me!" , approached Renhua County, Magistrate Fang nervously watched from the city wall alongside Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu. He panicked, realizing that his name was among those targeted by the rioters.
Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu were shocked by the sudden, large-scale insurrection, questioning why the situation had escalated despite previous assurances of calm. Just then, Ma Wencai and Assistant Prefect Song arrived. Ma Wencai immediately asserted his authority, chastising Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu for their "unscrupulous and ruthless ways" that led to the civil unrest, reminding them of his earlier warning that he would impeach them if their actions harmed the country.
He dismissed Prefect Huang's claims of rumors, stating that the turmoil in Jin'an since the policy's implementation was undeniable. Ma Wencai then revealed that he had read all the official warnings from Tongyang, Wancheng, and Lanxi magistrates urging caution, but Prefect Huang had "insisted on reinforcing the policy, shutting out all reason." He also implicated Inspector Liu, who had co-signed the orders, in the oversight.
Ma Wencai then used the analogy of cooking a fragile fish, implying that Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu had mishandled the delicate situation, causing it to fall apart. Prefect Huang furiously called Assistant Prefect Song a "traitor," but Song defended himself, arguing that Huang had always disdained his advice. Ma Wencai then informed them that he had already sent detailed reports of the situation to the Grand Coordinator Li in Fengxing and to the Capital, effectively signaling their impending downfall.
He reminded them that no local official in the dynasty had ever retained their position after a civil insurrection, suggesting they "depose themselves and await the Cabinet's final decision." Taking charge as the head of the Jinqu Armed Forces, Ma Wencai declared his intent to manage Jin'an Prefecture's defense. He asked Assistant Prefect Song for a solution to quell the unrest without resorting to violence. Song proposed addressing the root causes: the remeasurement policy and the Silk Poll Tax apportionment.
Ma Wencai swiftly ordered the withdrawal of the Jin'an Prefecture's land remeasurement policy and the reinstatement of the original Silk Poll Tax. However, he then suggested that simply reversing the policies might not be enough to appease the valiant people of Jin'an. Assistant Prefect Song, in agreement, proposed that "the perpetrator is also the best mender." Ma Wencai concurred, ordering his guards to arrest Shuai Jiamo.
He declared that Shuai Jiamo, being the instigator of the entire dispute, would be publicly executed to provide an explanation to the people and restore order. He then asked if anyone had any objections.
Episode 12 Recap
Ma Wencai ordered his men to apprehend Shuai Jiamo. When Feng Biyu witnessed this, she intervened, calling out to the gathered townsfolk that the officers were kidnapping Renhua County's benefactor. The people, in turn, voiced their strong disagreement, demanding Shuai Jiamo's release. Unfazed, the officers continued their attempt to take him away. Magistrate Fang swiftly arrived, halting the officers.
They reported acting under Commander Ma's orders, but Magistrate Fang chastised them for making an arrest in Renhua without informing the county office, deeming it a breach of etiquette. The officers retorted by mentioning Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu's removal from office and that Commander Ma had assumed all defense matters. Magistrate Fang, undeterred, asserted that Ma Wencai's authority was over defense, not governance, and that Shuai Jiamo, as a Renhua citizen, was under his protection.
He declared he would not bow to others' will. The townspeople rallied behind Magistrate Fang, who, despite the pressure, ordered Shuai Jiamo to be taken back to the county office. Meanwhile, the news that field remeasurements would cease immediately was announced from the city wall, prompting cheers from the crowds below, including Xiao Zhi. On the city wall, Assistant Prefect Song congratulated Ma Wencai on his surging reputation due to the cessation of land remeasurements.
Ma Wencai responded that they all got what they wanted, and the issue would be resolved once Shuai Jiamo was punished. Assistant Prefect Song then informed Ma Wencai that Magistrate Fang had taken Shuai Jiamo. Ma Wencai, exasperated that Magistrate Fang dared to intervene despite his backers being gone, decided to personally retrieve Shuai Jiamo, fearing a direct forceful arrest would spark a revolt. When Ma Wencai confronted Magistrate Fang, he demanded to know why Fang was harboring a criminal.
Magistrate Fang asked what crime Shuai Jiamo had committed, to which Ma Wencai listed trespassing, falsifying documents, slandering the government, and inciting civil unrest, stating he had decided on an immediate public execution. Magistrate Fang attempted to follow proper protocol, explaining the lengthy process of reporting to the capital for review by multiple judicial bodies, culminating in an autumn execution. Ma Wencai dismissed this, insisting Shuai Jiamo's severe crimes warranted an immediate execution.
He questioned Magistrate Fang's sudden confusion and his reasons for protecting Shuai Jiamo, implying it offered no personal benefit. Magistrate Fang clarified that he was protecting the people of Renhua. Ma Wencai mocked him with the nickname "Statue Fang," suggesting he was trying to be a hero. He reiterated his right to an immediate execution and urged Magistrate Fang not to delay.
Magistrate Fang, requesting a written proposal, initially demanded ten days to respond, but under Ma Wencai's threat of impeachment, agreed to five days. Magistrate Fang's aide was surprised by his master's resolve. Under the cover of night, Feng Baoyu and Cheng Renqing hurried to Assistant Magistrate Ren's residence to inquire about the "Complete Works of the Silk Event." Assistant Magistrate Ren initially claimed no knowledge, prompting an emotional outburst from Feng Baoyu, who stressed the life-or-death situation for Shuai Jiamo.
Cheng Renqing calmed Feng Baoyu before taking over, praising Assistant Magistrate Ren's four decades of dedicated service in Jin'an and his renowned diligence in flood control, especially his detailed plans for a dam in Wancheng. Cheng Renqing subtly highlighted the unfair tax burden on commoners compared to the tax-exempt gentry, who often concealed vast landholdings while making token donations.
He argued that Assistant Magistrate Ren's refusal to expose this corruption, which involved thousands of taels, made his conscience like an "unrealizable mud dam." Feng Baoyu then earnestly pleaded for Shuai Jiamo, his only close friend in Renhua. Moved, Assistant Magistrate Ren confessed he had written the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" himself and entrusted it to Feng Baoyu, expressing no regrets. He then collapsed and died, with his son rushing out in anguish.
Examining the book, Feng Baoyu and Cheng Renqing discovered records of gentry in Jin'an shortening land measurement ropes from over two decades ago. Feng Baoyu quickly noticed Assistant Prefect Song's name, Song Ren, linked to every transaction. Cheng Renqing explained this revealed a widespread conspiracy connecting Fan Yuan in the villages, Lu Feilong in the wilds, Mao Panfeng in the county, Ma Wencai in the circuit, and Assistant Prefect Song in Jin'an.
Realizing that the exposure of these old cases would be catastrophic, they understood why Shuai Jiamo had to be silenced. Cheng Renqing decided to take the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" to the provincial capital, instructing Feng Baoyu to return to Renhua and stall the execution, even at the execution grounds, until his return. As the five-day deadline approached, Magistrate Fang was consumed by worry, unable to eat or sleep.
His aide tried to comfort him, assuring him he had done everything possible. Magistrate Fang lamented his lack of Shuai Jiamo's single-minded determination, wishing he had resigned earlier to admire rocks. Resigned to the inevitable, he prepared a final meal to send Shuai Jiamo off. On the day of the execution, Magistrate Fang brought the food to Shuai Jiamo. Ma Wencai, facing the crowds, ordered the execution to begin. Feng Baoyu and Xiao Zhi were among the onlookers.
Feng Baoyu motioned for Xiao Zhi to instigate chaos, while Feng Biyu also joined the frenzied crowd. People hurled insults and objects at Shuai Jiamo, accusing him of instigating the Silk Poll Tax and illicitly profiting, demanding his death. As the scene descended into pandemonium, Ma Wencai initially allowed the crowd to vent, then ordered suppression.
Suddenly, Assistant Magistrate Ren's son appeared, draped in mourning clothes and carrying his father's portrait, crying out about his father's recent death and seeking justice. The news of Assistant Magistrate Ren's passing further agitated the crowd, plunging the execution ground into deeper chaos. Assistant Prefect Song, growing impatient, urged Ma Wencai to proceed with the execution. Mindful of public perception, Ma Wencai permitted Assistant Magistrate Ren's family to pay their respects.
After their ritual, Assistant Prefect Song again pressed for immediate execution, and Ma Wencai relented. Just as the execution was about to proceed, Feng Baoyu rushed forward, pretending to mourn Assistant Magistrate Ren, lamenting that the promised dam was never built. Assistant Prefect Song quickly saw through his act, accusing him of stalling and trying to find reinforcements. Feng Baoyu confronted Assistant Prefect Song, calling him an "old poisonous thing" and questioning how many more lives he would ruin.
Assistant Prefect Song, infuriated, ordered Ma Wencai to execute Feng Baoyu alongside Shuai Jiamo. Feng Baoyu defiantly declared that since he had co-filed the Silk Poll Tax case, he should also be executed. An official reminded Ma Wencai that executing Feng Baoyu would require additional paperwork and legal review, potentially exposing vulnerabilities. Ma Wencai, under pressure, agreed to prepare the necessary document for both executions and sent for his seal.
While awaiting the seal, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu calculated the travel distance and time for Cheng Renqing: 200 li from Wancheng to the provincial capital, and 330 li from the provincial capital to Renhua, totaling 530 li. They grimly realized it would take Cheng Renqing five and a half days to return by horseback, meaning he would not arrive in time. The execution order for both Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu was read aloud.
Upon hearing her brother's name, Feng Biyu fainted. As the executioners raised their blades, preparing to strike, Cheng Renqing dramatically arrived, throwing the executioner's knife aside. He confidently asked Ma Wencai how his "silver spear pitch-pot" skills now compared to before. Ma Wencai ordered his arrest, but Cheng Renqing, unfazed, announced the arrival of Li Shida, the Grand Coordinator of Fengxing and Right Censor-in-chief.
Episode 13 Recap
Grand Coordinator Li Shida arrived in Jin'an and was greeted by Commander Ma Wencai and Assistant Prefect Song. Li Shida stated that he had received Commander Ma's letter of criticism. With the tax season approaching and civil unrest erupting in Jin'an—which neither the county magistrate nor the regional inspector could control—he had to intervene personally before his scheduled report to the capital in ten days.
He clarified that his purpose was to resolve issues, not to assign blame, and inquired why the people of Renhua County had not dispersed. Commander Ma quickly blamed Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu from Renhua County, accusing them of stirring up hatred and making unwarranted remarks about taxation, thus causing the unrest.
He intended to execute them on the spot, but Grand Coordinator Li rebuked him, stating that executions required reporting to the Ministry of Justice and could not be carried out arbitrarily. Assistant Prefect Song supported Commander Ma, citing the urgency of quelling the unrest. However, Grand Coordinator Li argued that appeasing the people by killing would only set a dangerous precedent for future incidents. Meanwhile, Shuai Jiamo and Feng Baoyu were imprisoned.
Feng Baoyu was surprised by Cheng Renqing’s timely arrival and questioned how he made it. Cheng Renqing explained that he had encountered Grand Coordinator Li's retinue on his way to the provincial capital. He revealed that Commander Ma had sent an impeachment document to the provincial capital long ago to undermine Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu. To silence Shuai Jiamo and prevent interference from Prefect Huang and Inspector Liu, Commander Ma had them transported to the provincial capital overnight.
Unexpectedly, this action led Inspector Liu to meet Grand Coordinator Li, which Cheng Renqing regarded as fate. When Feng Baoyu asked if Grand Coordinator Li would uphold justice, Cheng Renqing clarified that for high-ranking officials like him, right and wrong were secondary to personal gain. He then informed Shuai Jiamo that Li Shida was one of the officials who handled his father's case years ago, a case which had remained unresolved and troubled Li Shida for years.
Cheng Renqing instructed Shuai Jiamo, particularly, not to get bogged down in the minute details of the Silk Poll Tax during the upcoming trial. Instead, he emphasized the critical importance of focusing on land remeasurement, as this issue, particularly the widespread problem of undisclosed land which represented theft from the imperial court, was of utmost concern to Grand Coordinator Li, especially with Grand Secretary Zhang's reforms on the horizon.
Grand Coordinator Li later sought out his old friend, Record Keeper Fan Yuan, noting that Jin'an Prefecture remained largely unchanged after twenty years. He recounted how, two decades prior, when he was Secretary Li of the Ministry of Personnel, he and Record Keeper Fan had jointly investigated a case in Renhua involving the Silk Poll Tax. A flashback showed Secretary Li and Record Keeper Fan interrogating Shuai Duncheng, Shuai Jiamo’s father.
Shuai Duncheng explained the process of the Silk Poll Tax: collected by Renhua County, transferred to Jin'an Prefecture, and then to the Ministry of Revenue's storehouse. He clarified that because Renhua was a supplementary governance county sharing a storehouse, the transfer to Jin'an Prefecture was a mere formality on paper, without physical movement of funds, making embezzlement easy. Secretary Li confronted Shuai Duncheng with his signature on a document for 3,530 taels of “repair expenditure,” accusing him of embezzlement.
Shuai Duncheng admitted the money was for "repairing field rulers" but was in fact "hard-earned money" from wealthy households who paid to have their land acreage reduced. When questioned if he had evidence that he only accepted bribes and did not embezzle tax silver, Shuai Duncheng affirmed he did and requested a few days to provide it. Shuai Duncheng spoke of his love for arithmetic and his desire to teach his son the importance of admitting and correcting errors.
Back in the present, Grand Coordinator Li expressed his enduring respect for Record Keeper Fan. The next day, Grand Coordinator Li presided over a public trial in Jin'an Prefectural Office, with representatives from the public and local gentry in attendance, and Cheng Renqing invited to help clarify the case. Grand Coordinator Li produced the "Complete Works of the Silk Event," a book he had acquired, authored by Shuai Duncheng twenty years ago.
He stated that the book contained alarming details about land transactions where the actual acreage differed significantly from the registered acreage, exposing extensive "shortening rope and under-reporting land ownership." Magistrate Mao questioned the relevance of revisiting a twenty-year-old case. Cheng Renqing interjected, explaining that concealing land was not a one-time offense but an ongoing theft from the imperial court, accumulating massive losses over the years, thus necessitating a re-examination. Assistant Prefect Song then challenged the book's authenticity, questioning its provenance.
Cheng Renqing revealed that it was a dying wish from Assistant Magistrate Ren, a close friend of Shuai Duncheng, who had safeguarded the book for twenty years and mandated its public release. Assistant Prefect Song scoffed, arguing that with Assistant Magistrate Ren dead, anyone could fabricate such a story. Cheng Renqing countered by pointing out that the book also contained Assistant Magistrate Ren’s annotations from the past twenty years.
Given Assistant Magistrate Ren's extensive official writings in Jin'an's Archives, his handwriting could be easily verified. Assistant Prefect Song dismissed Shuai Duncheng's reliability, claiming he had mental issues. Cheng Renqing defended Shuai Duncheng's renowned arithmetic skills, while Commander Ma likened the book's accuracy to beautiful writing that could hide "bad thoughts." Cheng Renqing then requested the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" from Record Keeper Fan.
He highlighted a specific transaction from the seventh month of the thirty-eighth year of the Jiajing reign: a land sale between the Fei and Zhao families in Tongyang. Shuai Duncheng had measured 120 mu but recorded only 110 mu in the fish-scale map register after receiving "repair expenditure." The transaction amount was 600 taels. Cheng Renqing instructed Magistrate Fang to retrieve the corresponding deed tax records and fish-scale map registers from the Archives.
Magistrate Fang confirmed he had already prepared them. The official records matched: 110 mu and 600 taels. Assistant Prefect Song attempted to discredit this by suggesting Shuai Duncheng could have seen the records beforehand and exaggerated his claims.
Cheng Renqing then revealed that the seller, the Fei family, was Commander Ma Wencai's mother's family, and the buyer, Zhao Bingxin, was the nephew of Zhao Haogu, a famous classical scholar who served as the Chief Examiner for the Fengxing provincial examinations that year—the very next month.
Cheng Renqing explicitly stated that Commander Ma's maternal family sold 120 mu of land at half price to the Chief Examiner's nephew just before the examinations, which Commander Ma passed, while Cheng Renqing himself failed due to an alleged cheating incident. Commander Ma vehemently denied the accusations, calling them slander against his family and his teacher. Cheng Renqing presented the official records, forcing Commander Ma to admit either government fraud or his own examination cheating.
Grand Coordinator Li, recognizing the gravity of the evidence, declared his intent to report the matter to the imperial court, emphasizing its impact on the reputation of Fengxing's scholars. He warned Commander Ma, a metropolitan graduate of the second category, that examination fraud was a capital offense that could lead to the implication of his entire clan. Commander Ma was then escorted away. Cheng Renqing informed Commander Ma that his actions were driven by justice, not personal animosity.
Assistant Prefect Song, undeterred, questioned Shuai Duncheng's integrity again, stating that as the original plaintiff in Shuai Duncheng's case, he knew the truth. He recounted that Shuai Duncheng, despite his arithmetic skills, was coerced into taking bribes to fund treatment for his "slow" son, and then fabricated the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" out of resentment before committing suicide.
Cheng Renqing challenged this narrative, reminding Grand Coordinator Li of Shuai Duncheng's promise to provide evidence before his death, which never happened, and questioning why loving parents would commit suicide and abandon their young child. Assistant Prefect Song dismissed this as the irrational act of a guilty criminal. Cheng Renqing then produced Assistant Magistrate Ren's coroner's record for Shuai Duncheng and Liu Yue'er.
The record stated "no ash in their mouths," indicating they were already dead before the fire, implying they were murdered. Assistant Prefect Song quickly claimed they were drunk and then burned. Cheng Renqing seized on this slip, asking how Assistant Prefect Song knew they were drinking. Assistant Prefect Song, flustered, claimed he read it in the coroner's report.
Cheng Renqing immediately exposed his lie, stating he had invented the detail about the coroner's report because Assistant Magistrate Ren would not have recorded such an irrelevant fact. He pressed Assistant Prefect Song, demanding to know how he knew they were drinking, suggesting he was present at the scene.
Cheng Renqing then connected Assistant Prefect Song's past role as the revenue office clerk, his complicity in the land fraud with Shuai Duncheng, and his knowledge of every transaction in the "Complete Works of the Silk Event," presenting him as the prime suspect for the murders. Cheng Renqing commanded Assistant Prefect Song to look into Shuai Jiamo's eyes and deny his involvement.
As Shuai Jiamo slowly approached Assistant Prefect Song, he was overwhelmed by a cascade of memories: his father, Shuai Duncheng, refusing to continue his corrupt work, feeling deep regret, and declaring he would no longer betray his conscience. He remembered his father discovering Renhua County paid 3,530 more taels in Silk Poll Tax annually, and confronting Assistant Prefect Song about how the land concealment by wealthy gentry caused immense suffering.
Assistant Prefect Song had scoffed at his concerns, reminding him that he was already implicated and threatening his "stupid son's" fate. Shuai Duncheng had defiantly stated that his son was not stupid and he would rather raise him honestly than continue to accept ill-gotten gains.
He recalled his father documenting all the evidence of land measurement discrepancies, believing it would prove his unique "Art of Gathering Projected Steps," and writing a heartfelt confession as a preface to the "Complete Works of the Silk Event," intending to expose the corruption. His father had told him to remember the number "3,530," explaining it encapsulated his life's deeds.
Shuai Jiamo also remembered a joyful moment of his parents sharing a drink, and his own childish request for some, which his father promised for when he grew up. Then, the horrific scene of the fire consumed his house and parents, with Assistant Prefect Song standing outside, calling him a "dummy" for not understanding, and urging others to save the house while ignoring the people trapped inside. Overwhelmed by these traumatic recollections, Shuai Jiamo collapsed to the ground.
Episode 14 (Ending) Recap
Magistrate Fang, witnessing Shuai Jiamo's sudden collapse in the courtroom, quickly summoned a physician. He explained that Shuai Jiamo had fainted during the previous trial, which had deeply concerned him, prompting him to have a physician on standby. The physician confirmed that Shuai Jiamo was merely suffering from repressed negative emotions and would recover with rest in a shaded area. Someone was immediately ordered to take Shuai Jiamo to a cool place.
With Shuai Jiamo taken away, Li Shida continued the proceedings. Cheng Renqing pressed his case against Assistant Prefect Song Ren, stating that his investigation revealed Assistant Prefect Song, a Recommendee who had failed to advance beyond a clerk, harbored deep resentment. Cheng Renqing accused him of turning to illicit gains, discovering that false reporting of land ownership was a lucrative scheme. He alleged that Assistant Prefect Song instigated Shuai Duncheng to tamper with land records for huge profits.
When Shuai Duncheng, a noble man, refused to collude, Assistant Prefect Song framed him for embezzling the Silk Poll Tax and then murdered him to silence him. Assistant Prefect Song, agitated, denied the accusations and inadvertently blurted out that "Shuai Duncheng was not a noble man; he threatened me first!" Li Shida, acknowledging Assistant Prefect Song's outburst, ordered him to be dragged out and flogged ten times.
Although Assistant Prefect Song tried to appeal to Fan Yuan for a guarantee, Fan Yuan offered no support, and Assistant Prefect Song was dismissed to avoid further suspicion. As Cheng Renqing left the immediate court area, he emphasized to Feng Baoyu the critical importance of relentlessly focusing the argument on Fan Yuan, stating it was their only way to gain an advantage.
Despite Feng Baoyu's self-doubt, Cheng Renqing insisted he had to proceed, reminding him of their strategy from the previous night. Soon after, Cheng Renqing himself was flogged ten times for violating Li Shida's new rule against barratry. Feng Biyu immediately attended to him, applying medicine and expressing concern for her brother, Feng Baoyu, who was now alone in the courtroom. Xiao Zhi, however, reassured Feng Biyu, affirming that Feng Baoyu, despite his seemingly foolish exterior, was formidable when serious.
Cheng Renqing echoed this, suggesting Feng Biyu had coddled her brother, forcing him to hide his true capabilities. Meanwhile, Li Shida prompted Feng Baoyu to present his views. Feng Baoyu, after a shaky start, remembered Cheng Renqing's advice and boldly called for a thorough investigation and accurate remeasurement of Renhua's land, advocating for the recovery of profits from twenty years of false land ownership disclosures and severe punishment for all involved officials and gentry.
Magistrate Mao Panfeng vehemently opposed this, citing public resentment from previous remeasurement efforts and fearing further unrest. Magistrate Fang stated he would adhere to the Governor's orders. Li Shida expressed concern about inciting public anger, but Feng Baoyu insisted the issue was rooted in widespread corruption, explaining how local gentry and officials colluded to appropriate land, tamper with records, and avoid taxation. He warned that if this continued, the nation would face ruin.
When Li Shida challenged him for proof, Feng Baoyu announced he would bring the Chen family father and daughter to testify. However, Xiao Zhi, on her way to court, was intercepted by Lu Feilong, who threatened her with a knife, preventing her from reaching the court. Feng Baoyu waited, but the Chen family did not appear. Magistrate Mao, seeing no witnesses, triumphantly urged Li Shida to close the case.
Unexpectedly, several citizens from Tongyang County stepped forward, confirming Feng Baoyu's claims about official corruption and land issues, and volunteered to sign a document with their fingerprints as witnesses. Feng Baoyu then brought forth the old official who previously managed the Archives. Magistrate Mao was visibly stunned to see him alive. Magistrate Fang then revealed that Magistrate Mao had attempted to frame him by sending the old official to Renhua's prison, hoping he would die there.
The old official then detailed how Magistrate Mao and Constable Lu Feilong had coerced him into setting fire to the Archives, staging it as an accident. Ma Wencai, in turn, hurled insults at Cheng Renqing, dredging up his past relationship with Yunniang and accusing him of choosing the "wrong man."
The old official tearfully recounted how, despite his survival, Constable Lu’s failure to keep his promise to protect his family led to his daughter and grandson starving to death at home. Enraged, Magistrate Mao lunged at the old official with a knife, but he was restrained and removed from the courtroom. Simultaneously, Ma Wencai engaged Cheng Renqing in a desperate knife fight, while Feng Biyu and Xiao Zhi bravely confronted Lu Feilong but were quickly overwhelmed.
Shuai Jiamo remained unconscious on his cot throughout the chaos. After the commotion subsided, Feng Baoyu discovered that the "Complete Works of the Silk Event" had been set ablaze during the fighting. He furiously accused Fan Yuan of orchestrating the burning, but Fan Yuan smoothly dismissed his claims as slander, emphasizing that without the physical book, Feng Baoyu had no concrete proof. As the situation seemed hopeless, Shuai Jiamo, now awake, stepped forward.
He calmly declared that he could still prove the existence of hidden land even without the book. He challenged Fan Yuan to select any piece of land under his name for remeasurement, and he would verify its true size against the official records. The public roared in support, demanding remeasurement. An aide secretly advised Fan Yuan to agree, confident that their own people could manipulate the measurements.
To project an image of innocence, Fan Yuan boldly offered his most "irregular" field, "Below Wugong Lake, number 69," daring Shuai Jiamo to measure it. Li Shida, promising impartiality and severe punishment for false accusations, agreed to the proposal. Shuai Jiamo, with a confident smile, stated that there was no need to visit the site.
He then demonstrated his father's "Art of Gathering Projected Steps," a computational method for determining land area, and precisely announced the field measured 10 mu and 6 fen. Magistrate Mao, desperate, insisted the fish-scale map registered 9 mu and 2 fen and demanded Li Shida send his own expert arithmeticians to verify the measurement. Li Shida dispatched his experts to the site. The arithmeticians returned shortly, confirming Shuai Jiamo’s measurement of 10 mu and 6 fen, exactly matching his calculation.
Facing undeniable evidence, Fan Yuan pulled Li Shida aside, appealing to their past acquaintance. He subtly reminded Li Shida of the recent civil unrest and the political pressure from Grand Secretary Zhang and the Emperor, implying that a swift resolution was paramount. Fan Yuan promised to deliver a "perfect result" by completing the remeasurement of all land in Renhua County within ten days if given leniency. Li Shida considered this offer.
Meanwhile, Feng Baoyu rallied the cheering crowd, explaining how the Land Remeasurement Policy, intended for good, had been twisted by corrupt gentry and officials who stole from the common people by hiding fields. He assured them that Shuai Jiamo, with his fast and accurate "Art of Gathering Projected Steps," would ensure fairness.
Shuai Jiamo stepped onto the platform, explaining his father’s teachings that "arithmetic is the most honest thing in the world," and how understanding its principles allowed one to calculate anything in the world—a path he now pursued. Following the successful land remeasurement and the exposé of corruption, justice was served. Commander Ma Wencai, Magistrate Mao Panfeng, and Assistant Prefect Song Ren were charged with exam fraud, corruption, inciting civil unrest, and attempted murder, their cases forwarded to the Censorate.
Lu Feilong, for his complicity and harm to villagers, was exiled to the border army 3,000 li away. Fan Yuan's vast hidden landholdings were confiscated. Renhua County's annual Silk Poll Tax was significantly reduced to 1,000 taels, with the remaining 2,530 taels covered by Fan Yuan's confiscated properties. The delighted citizens rejoiced, finally receiving their rightful land and a fair tax burden.
After recovering from his injuries, Cheng Renqing visited Feng Biyu, eager to share a new book he had written, leaving her to wonder if his visit was merely a stopover or for her. Having brought the Silk Event case to its conclusion, Shuai Jiamo, accompanied by his cat, embarked on a new, solitary journey forward.
