After everyone left, Yang Yan sat at his desk with furrowed brows, accepting the tea Wei Yuan handed him but not taking a sip for a long time.
Nangong Qianrou rolled her eyes and asked on his behalf, “Foster Father, do you want to kill that boy?”
Yang Yan immediately looked at Wei Yuan.
“Is there something wrong with my punishment?” Wei Yuan asked in return.
Nangong Qianrou and Yang Yan shook their heads simultaneously. The former smiled mischievously, “It’s correct, but is Foster Father willing to kill him?”
Wei Yuan took a sip of tea and sighed, “I’ve said before, he’s a born warrior. That spirit of his is rare.”
To severely wound a Spirit Refinement Realm silver gong with a single slash, how long has it been since he entered the Qi Refinement Realm?
Wei Yuan’s smile showed appreciation, but even more so, satisfaction.
…
At Chunfeng Hall.
Song Dingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao followed Li Yuchun back with dejected expressions. Spring Brother had been unusually silent all the way.
He had been waiting downstairs earlier for the verdict, only to receive news of Xu Qi An’s beheading in seven days.
Li Yuchun didn’t say a word and returned with his two subordinates.
“Have a drink with me. I know you two have your secret stash, drinking on duty.”
Li Yuchun’s voice was devoid of emotion, eerily calm.
Song Dingfeng opened his mouth and uttered two words: “Alright.”
Li Yuchun was a rigid and stubborn person. Familiar silver gongs said he was inflexible, while unfamiliar ones mocked him for being unable to adapt.
But regardless of familiarity, no one in the yamen truly looked down on him. On the contrary, they all held him in high regard, though they wouldn’t say it out loud.
Li Yuchun’s rigidity manifested in various aspects, such as never drinking while on duty.
Song Dingfeng retrieved his hidden alcohol from the side hall, along with three ceramic bowls, one of which originally belonged to Xu Qi An.
Li Yuchun didn’t drink quickly, but he drained one bowl after another without speaking.
Song Dingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao drank in silence.
Soon, a jar of wine was emptied. Li Yuchun, emboldened by the alcohol, said, “I know Lord Wei has his difficulties, and Xu Qi An indeed made a mistake.
“What’s wrong with humiliating a criminal official’s female relative? It’s not a capital offense. The fool almost killed someone, and it was a silver gong at that.”
Li Yuchun opened up, rambling, “I thought I was stupid enough, but this guy is even more foolish. If I had known, I wouldn’t have recruited him. What a headache.
“What can Lord Wei do? Even if his talent is… somewhat better, the matter has blown up so big, that everyone in the yamen is watching. Could he openly show favoritism? Where would Lord Wei’s authority be then? It takes years to build a reputation, but only a moment to destroy it. If he were to favor Xu Qi An now, who would respect Lord Wei in the future?
“Well, now one is dismissed, and one is to be beheaded. Impartial justice, heh, hehe.
“For a long time to come, everyone in the yamen will behave properly. Xu Qi An’s death isn’t in vain; it’s worth it.”
Li Yuchun returned the bowl to Song Dingfeng, cursing, “What a lousy bowl, the blue-and-white patterns aren’t even symmetrical.”
Song Dingfeng looked carefully and realized that the bowl he had been using for over half a year indeed had asymmetrical blue-and-white patterns.
The wine was finished, and there was no mood for further conversation. He and Zhu Guangxiao returned to the side hall in silence.
In the quiet Chunfeng Hall, Li Yuchun sat still for a long time before slowly rising. He walked to the corner, picked up a feather duster, and began wiping every place that could easily gather dust.
He repeatedly straightened books, vases, tables, and chairs, making sure they were neat and symmetrical.
Then, he took off his waistcoat and sword and removed his night watchman uniform.
Folding the uniform neatly, he placed the sword and waist token on top. Li Yuchun cradled them in his arms and walked out of Chunfeng Hall.
He made his way towards Haoqi Tower.
Along the way, he attracted the attention of many bronze gongs, who pointed and whispered about him.
Among these people, some had heard about Xu Qi An’s sword attack on Zhu Chengzhu, while others were oblivious and curious about gossip.
“What’s going on?”
“Haven’t you heard? A silver gong was almost cut down by a bronze gong. The one who did it was Xu Qi An, you know, Li Silver Gong’s subordinate.”
“What’s Li Silver Gong trying to do?”
“Don’t know, let’s follow and see.”
Three or five, seven or eight… the number of night watchmen following Li Yuchun gradually increased, forming a sizable crowd.
They arrived at Haoqi Tower.
Li Yuchun stopped at the foot of the tower, under the vigilant and warning gazes of the guards. He held his uniform, waist token, and sword in both hands, ignoring the crowd behind him.
“This lowly one, Li Yuchun, joined the yamen in the 20th year of Yuanjing. I have always been conscientious and diligent in my duties. My belief was to eradicate corrupt officials, and my goal was to serve the country,” Li Yuchun’s voice boomed:
“For sixteen years, I have been hardworking and never neglected my duties, never accepted bribes, never oppressed the innocent. I thought that with a heart full of passion, I could make the world a better place.
“However, for sixteen years, I have witnessed many colleagues oppressing the common people and extorting merchants. Every time they confiscate property, they embezzle money and goods and rape the female relatives of criminal officials. This is intolerable.
“How can one enforce the law without a righteous heart? How can one correct others if one is not upright? Today, Li Yuchun can no longer endure this. Therefore, I request to resign, or you may behead me as well.”
After saying the last sentence, under the astonished gazes of the surrounding night watchmen, he forcefully threw his uniform, sword, and waist token on the ground, discarding them like worn-out shoes.