Chapter 5: 5

Zhang Ping Spoke in a Low Voice. “Master, the Great Yellow Immortal has Something to do With the Script Class Teacher Jin Wanted Us to Write.”

After a short while, a middle-aged woman entered the trial court-hall before kneeling down to the floor and wept bitterly with a runny nose. “I plead the heavens to be my judge – this man named Zhang Ping conspired to murder my husband, causing me to almost become a widow wu-wu-wu… Master, you have to make him pay a debt of blood with his blood wu-wu-wu…” 

Minister Tao’s voice was warm. “Wife Jin, murder isn’t a small crime. If you accuse them wrongly, these two future pillars of the court may have to fold here in this trial court-hall. Your husband, Jin Lifa, was attacked in the middle of the night. Why are you so certain Zhang Ping is the perpetrator? Was there a witness? The night was dark, so did the witness see clearly?”

Wife Jin blew her nose. “Reporting back to Master – my husband has always been kind and never offended anyone. Everyone in the troupe and neighbouring citizens can all testify. Until a few days ago, this Chen Chuo recommended Zhang Ping to write a script for our troupe; however, we couldn’t act on it, so we didn’t give him the originally-set amount of money. Hence he held this grudge and performed this evil scheme against my husband…” 

Wife Jin wrung her handkerchief, crying whilst explaining how the night before yesterday her husband, Jin Lifa, had a bad stomach from food so he had to continuously go to the latrines. After the (1) third watch of the night, Jin Lifa had to visit the latrines again; from her room, she heard a scream so she ran to the latrines and saw Jin Lifa had fallen into the pit. After he was dragged up by a few people, he was found to be unconscious; everyone thought it was due to the smell. It was only until someone fetched some water to rinse him did they find the wound on his chest. Fortunately, it was between his clavicle and shoulder, so he didn’t die. But filth had entered the wound and he’d lost excessive blood, so he was currently unconscious, half of his foot stepped in (2) Yama’s court. 

Minister Tao lamented, “it seems the culprit was hiding in an ambush in the latrines in advance and assaulted Jin Lifa after he entered. Hiding in such a filthy place for such a long time – this culprit is very forbearing.”

A constable sent up one of the troupe’s apprentices, Xiao Wu, to testify. At that time, Xiao Wu was punished by his shifu to practice the horse stance under a big tree; after hearing Jin Lifa’s scream, in his trance, he saw a figure flash by. However, he couldn’t see clearly under the moonlight – he only remembered the figure to be tall and thin. 

In the hall, the constable reported that after inspecting Jin Lifa’s wound, the murder weapon should be a sharp knife. Wife Jin said her husband currently only had grievances with scholar Zhang Ping, so the constables went to investigate Zhang Ping and found that he changed a new knife in his noodle stall. According to the noodle stall’s regulars, there was indeed a long pointed knife used for peeling fruits and vegetables. 

The constables went to search within Zhang Ping’s home and found an inner shirt and a pair of old pants that smelt vaguely unpleasant. 

Minister Tao dropped his eyelids halfway down. “In other words, the suspect Zhang Ping may have abandoned the murder weapon and blood-stained outer clothing after the assault, but the bloodless clothing – due to lying in ambush in the latrines for so long – left a smell that became a clue… Uh, Zhang Ping, there’s both a witness and physical evidence – how do you defend yourself?”

Zhang Ping raised his eyelids and slowly spoke, “Master, this student believes that none of them counts as substantial evidence. Moreover, Wife Jun’s words aren’t entirely true. It’s not that they didn’t give this student the money they originally promised, but they gave no money at all. It’s not because they couldn’t perform the play, but because Mr Jin’s theatre troupe was already in line.” 

Minister Tao narrowed his eyes. “If it’s as you just said, then isn’t that more reason to kill Jin Lifa?”

“Reporting back to Master – this student’s vegetable knife was lost two days before the incident. Someone can testify,” Zhang Ping responded. 

Chen Chuo nodded beside him. “Yes, yes, the regulars at the noodle stall should know that Zhang Ping entrusted me with buying the new knife at Blacksmith Huang’s, who can also testify. Zhang Ping pickled a jar of duck eggs and a few of them became smelly, so he and I ate a few. Deng Yue and Cao Qing, the people who live in the same courtyard as us, also ate a few, so they can testify as well. After Zhang Ping finished eating, he smashed the duck egg and pickled garlic jars, so how could his clothes not smell…? Besides, Zhang Ping had never been to Mr Jin’s home. It’s widely known that Mr Jin lives with the troupe; those who rehearse would often practice overnight. How could Zhang Ping enter the courtyard with such success, go to the latrine to harm Mr Jin, then come out without a hitch?”

Xiao Wu straightened his neck. “Because you are Zhang Ping’s accomplice! Reporting to Chief Minister – Chen Chuo would often come to our troupe and walk around; he even used to like our troupe’s Sister Xiang He. He must’ve been the one to show Zhang Ping the way!” 

Chen Chuo’s voice suddenly became louder. “This is slander-”

Xiao Wu continued shouting, “it’s you, it’s you!” In addition to Wife Jin’s crying and the constable’s loud shouts, the court-hall was in chaos. 

Lan Jue rubbed his forehead behind the screen. 

»»————-¤————-««

Yellow; everything’s yellow…

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Jin Lifa was dazedly struggling under a trance. 

The yellow faded away and his nose caught the scent of a light fragrance. In spring, when wildflowers bloomed across the mountains, the wind would carry this scent. 

He walked in the mountains, the soil under the grass soaked with dew; the soles and uppers of his shoes were covered in mud. 

He walked hurriedly because he needed to…

The sun shone into his eyes. He squinted; vaguely, he saw…

He wanted to raise his hands to block the sunlight – to see more clearly. He opened his mouth…

That’s… That’s…

He couldn’t say anything…

»»————-¤————-««

Pa! Minister Tao slammed the gavel. “Quiet. No clamour in the court-hall.” He looked down at the two youths who should’ve had unlimited prospects and shook his head regretfully. “I also want to believe your defences, but it’s far too implausible. These few items of evidence seem to be insufficient, but they all point to you, someone who has discord against Jin Lifa and his wife. I have no choice but to-”

From the sidelines, a small official hurriedly walked around from behind the screen and whispered a few words to the official beside Minister Tao. The official hurriedly stepped forwards and said, “Chief Minister, please wait; this humble servant has a new report on this case. The still-unconscious Jin Lifa just spoke in his comatose state. This may be a new clue.”

“Well? What did he say?” Minister Tao asked.

The official had a strange look in his eyes. “That Jin Lifa kept saying three words – (3) Great Yellow Immortal.”

Minister Tao frowned. “Great Yellow Immortal? The weasel who became an immortal in folklore? What does this have to do with the case?”

Below, Zhang Ping spoke in a low voice. “Master, the Great Yellow Immortal has something to do with the script Class Teacher Jin wanted us to write. Wife Jin said that ten or twenty years ago, her (4) biao-mei suddenly died. At the time, everyone believed she died because the Weasel God had sucked her soul.”

(1) Third watch of the night – between 11:00pm-1am

(2) Yama – King of Hell

(3) Great Yellow Immortal – one of the five Great Immortals (in the form of zoomorphic deities) in northeastern Chinese religion; also known as the Weasel God. 

(4) Biao-mei – female cousin

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