A Gallop on the Embankment with Spring Breeze - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The older, the Wiser
Translator: Liu Yanyan
Ma Tian’en saw there came a dozen people with sticks and lanterns in their hands. In the light, Hu Chunqiu walked toward her, smirked and stopped two meters away from Ma Tian’en, looking at her as if she were a fish on the cutting board.

“These trifles shouldn’t bother you, Master Hu. On such a dark night, aren’t you afraid of something bad? No one knows if you slide into river.” Ma Tian’en looked at her surroundings and tried to figure out where to escape. As there was a gang of people, it was impossible to fight with them directly. Now that Hu Chunqiu went out, he must take master hands. ‘A wise man knows when to retreat.’ It was better for her to run.

“Ma Tian’en. You have no way to escape. Don’t you like to drug me? After I catch you, I will let you have enough drugs.” Hu Chunqiu gestured to a group of people behind him, and suddenly they all surrounded Ma Tian’en.

“I should answer for what I have done. If you Childe Hu want to play, I would like to company you. But how about letting my followers go. It’s none of their business.”

“Do you think I am a fool? Let them notify others? Today, no one can escape. When I get bored, I will throw you to feed the fish.” Hu Chunqiu said fiercely.

Watching them get closer, the uncle walked forward and blocked Ma Tian’en, “Tian’en, you go first; I will block them.”

“Now that you all come, then no one can leave. Hit them bitterly.” Hu Chunqiu seldom suffered losses during his life. Last time, he suffered such a big loss at the birthday banquet, so he was definitely unwilling to give up revenge. He spent much energy and effort in cheating her into coming here. He hired dozens of master hands and swore to punish her anyway.

Ma Tian’en knew she couldn’t run away. Fight. Thinking of this, a few men rushed up. Ma Tian’en was beaten by many master hands and bore more beats. Although she practiced some Kongfu, compared with these hired roughnecks, she was too weak. After several rounds, she was kicked out by a roughneck and fell down heavily onto the ground.

The hired roughneck swooped down on Ma Tian’en. At this time someone blocked him before Ma Tian’en. The hired roughneck hit on that man who called out in pain but still protected Ma Tian’en dearly.

“Stop.” Then there came a clear voice。

The man who protected Ma Tian’en was Ashun. He struggled to stand up when hearing the voice. Ma Tian’en also stood up.

At a sudden, thousands of torches lit up, illuminating the woods as bright as the daytime. Then there burst out shouts as birds flew away. Hundreds of unknown people surrounded Ma Tian’en and Hu Chunqiu.

In the fire light, one man who wore kerchief and scholar’s robe with a white bridle in waist, walked ahead. He showed a warm smile and a kind of gentle air. It made people think he seemed to compose poetry in the moonlight and enjoy wine with the flowers around.

“Teacher!” Ma Tian’en almost cried. He ran and jumped into Wu Zhong’s arms, holding him tightly.

“Teacher, I know, you will save me. They bully me……”

Wu Zhong was reminded of the cat in his hometown when Ma Tian’en held him. It usually jumped onto him at a sudden and messed his drawings sometimes, but he was reluctant when intending to beat it.

“Wu Zhong, what are you going to do? Are you in collusion with Ma Family and try to kill me?” Hu Chunqiu became nervous when seeing Wu Zhong lead so many people. But he soon calmed down. Either Wu Zhong or Ma family had no rights to punish him secretly. If he refused to acknowledge what he had done, they could do nothing with him even in the feudal government.

“Several days later, Mr. Hu has a stronger ability to call white black. Firstly, you hired man to pretend as ghosts and haunt the wharf; as a result, the goods of grain can’t be transported into the warehouse. Then you changed the grain with illegal salt to frame up Ma Family. Now you are intended to kill Childe Ma. Do you want to take charge of grain transporting and illegal salt?” Wu Zhong directly regarded Hu’s personal grievances as smuggling through grain transporting which was cardinal sin. Grain transporting was the foundation of the country, and once he was convicted, even his uncle would be sentenced to death.

“What is the evidence? I merely couldn’t fall asleep that night and hung out for a while. I hate Ma Tian’en. Now that I happened to come across him, so I beat him for revenge. I will apologize to him or give him some money. You framed me up without any evidence however; and I will sue you in the feudal government.”

“You needn’t, Governor Liu is here.”

“Dad!”

Ma Tian’en saw Dad and officials come over; she couldn’t help thinking: the older, the wiser!

Ma Chaosheng didn’t look at Ma Tian’en and shunned aside, Governor Liu walked ahead. Liu Ping was Governor of Shuntian Prefecture. He got along well with those patriarchs nearby Datong River. When he heard that the Childe of Ma Family was coerced and someone sold illegal salt, he hurriedly came here overnight. He had thought it was not a big deal and only needed to catch some thieves, making a small contribution. Unexpectedly, he met Hu Chunqiu! Hu Chunqiu was ostentatious normally, so Liu Ping definitely knew about him. Moreover, he also knew that his uncle was in charge of Deputy Minister of transmission in the imperial court, also called the Silver Terrace which managed internal and external memorials and sealed petitions. As no officials were free from being sued and they were all afraid of being sued, so they naturally avoided offending the Office of Transmission. If he had known that Hu Chunqiu was involved in this thing, he would be sure not to come. The issue would be quieted down after they were back to the feudal government. Now it was hard to dismiss the issue as a distraction because there were so many witnesses around.

With the attitude of reconciling differences regardless of principles, Liu Ping, being pushed ahead, spoke slowly, “Childe Hu is a scholar who knew the doctrines of sages. We all know one another. Is there any misunderstanding? How about we discuss it after we go back to the feudal government?”

Hearing Liu Ping’s words, Hu Chunqiu understood he was going to help him, so he emboldened, “There is no misunderstanding. They want to frame me up. The box is from Ma Family, not mine. They moved the box here overnight, so it is clear that they want to do something illegal. They said I planned the ghost at the wharf, but is there any evidence? They said the box was stolen from Ma Family by us, what’s the evidence? Empty words; who can’t make up some?”

“I think it is a mistake. Don’t hurt our harmony. How about you make a compromise for the sake of me?” Looking at the arrogant attitude of Hu Chunqiu and thinking Ma Family having no evidence, Liu Ping thought it was good to dismiss the issue.

“The evidence is in your hands.” Ma Tian’en pointed at the man who carried the box. Now they were standing beside Hu Chunqiu.

“Are you talking in your dream, Childe Ma? How can they give you evidence? Have you become stupid after learning from your teacher?” Hu Chunqiu and all his men burst into laughter.

“You will know the moment they raise their hands.” Ma Tian’en said in calm.

These men raised their hands in doubt and then they found their hands were covered with ink.

Ma Tian’en and Wu Zhong had figured that those man couldn’t admit the fact that they stole the box, so they smeared some ink on the box in the yard outside. When they carried the box, they didn’t notice the ink on their hands because of darkness. Of course, the box with which they intended to frame Ma Family up had no ink, so it was clear that the box was not Ma Family’s.

Hu Chunqiu didn’t think that they were so cunning. Looking at his men trying to wipe out the ink, he cursed, “Stupid!”

“I hadn’t expected that my men do such evil things. I have rewarded you much money in daily life, and how can you do illegal things? I will not connive this kind of act. Governor Liu, you can take these men and punish them according to the law. I would like to apologize to Ma Family for my neglect of discipline. But the Ghosts’ haunting is none of my business.” Hu Chunqiu said. He might as well blame these stupid men and would reward them more money in the future. It shouldn’t be sentenced to death because of stealing. In light of this, Hu Chunqiu shouldered the guilt for disciplining his men less strictly.

“What a nerve！Shame on you!” Ma Tian’en scorned at him.

Wu Zhong extended respect to Liu Ping and looked at Hu Chunqiu. Being stared at, Hu Chunqiu became diffident. Each time he competed with Wu Zhong, he was always weighed down by Wu Zhong.

“Childe Hu, look, who are they?