Chapter 17: The Game

“Wait a moment.”

Ai Yingjia spoke, “This man is outside the gate of my Ai family. If a fight breaks out here, it will surely draw unfavorable attention. Magistrate Yan, I must trouble you to lure him into the courtyard first.”

Yan Zibin’s expression was grim, but he agreed and followed the bailiffs away. As he walked out, he muttered under his breath, “A mere provincial scholar who hasn’t even passed the imperial examination dares to order me around.”

Yan Zibin was a true Metropolitan Graduate, and from the depths of his heart, he despised Ai Yingjia, who only graduated from the Imperial Academy.

The Imperial Academy was, in the Ming Dynasty, the preparatory school for the sons and daughters of high-ranking officials.

It was a bitter winter, and although the sunlight was bright, it offered no warmth. Li Yi sat at the Ai family’s gate, guarded by two of their retainers and two bailiffs, all on high alert, fearing he might suddenly lash out.

None of them believed they could stop this youth who seemed to possess the strength of a god.

Passersby paused in curiosity at this strange sight, unable to resist casting glances at the seated youth.

He was tall and handsome, still somewhat youthful, but his gaze was cold and his demeanor solemn, exuding an uncommon resolve.

Gradually, a dozen villagers gathered outside the Ai family’s gate. It was deep winter, and with little else to occupy them, they crowded around for the spectacle.

“Lad, what are you doing sitting in front of the Ai family gate?” someone asked.

The villagers perked up their ears.

Li Yi rose, clasped his hands in salute, and replied in a clear voice, “To let you know, the Ai family’s second son, Ai Wanhua, harassed my betrothed, bullied my elders at Li Village, and sent thugs to take my life. I am here today to seek justice from the magistrate.”

“That Ai Wanhua again, the one who acts less than human.”

“Why can’t the Ai family’s second son control himself?”

“How many has it been now? Before, people from Linjia Valley and Gao Village suffered at his hands—there were even deaths.”

A villager looked at Li Yi with pity, saying, “Good lad, you’d best leave—the magistrate helping you is as likely as the sun rising in the west.”

Yan Zibin, flanked by bailiffs wielding blades, strode out. He swept his gaze over the villagers before flicking his official robe with disdain and snorting coldly.

His bailiffs shouted, “Kneel before the magistrate!”

But in this official village, with the Ai family as a gentry house and frequent visits from imperial officials, the villagers were not overly cowed.

“Greetings, Magistrate,” they said, kneeling perfunctorily, voices scattered and unenthusiastic.

Li Yi refused to kneel, merely clasped his hands, and didn’t bother with formal titles.

Yan Zibin, broad-faced and corpulent, wore the full airs of an official, his face flushed with anger. He snorted, “How dare you, dog, show such disrespect before me! Seize him, beat him soundly!”

The two bailiffs drew their blades and approached Li Yi with fierce intent.

The villagers watching felt a shiver of fear.

Li Yi, however, merely smirked and sat back down, sweeping his gaze over the bailiffs whose blades gleamed only half a meter from his head.

Yet, at that distance, neither bailiff dared strike, instead exchanging uneasy glances.

“Useless lot,” Yan Zibin said, face darkening.

More villagers gathered, discussing the matter, some recounting Ai Wanhua’s misdeeds and how now the victim had come to seek justice.

Yan Zibin had ambitions to be promoted next year and serve in the southeast, so he could not afford a scandal at this time.

“A cunning troublemaker, clearly you assaulted the Ai family’s second son, and now you dare twist the truth!”

He snorted, addressing the villagers, “Do not let yourselves be deceived by this villain.”

With conflicting statements from both sides, the villagers were even more intrigued, crowding closer.

Li Yi looked at the sullen Yan Zibin and sneered, “May I ask, Magistrate, as the chief official of Mizhi County, how can you judge me guilty of violence without investigation, witnesses, or testimony?”

“Insolent commoner, how dare you speak so boldly!” Yan Zibin was furious—he was accustomed to interrogating others, never to being questioned himself.

Li Yi stood his ground, staring directly at Yan Zibin, and said in a clear voice, “I dare not, but the truth must be convincing. Even if I am guilty, I should be taken to the courthouse for judgment. Why, after Ai Wanhua’s accusation, was I brought directly to the Ai family?”

Li Yi stood tall, his posture upright, “Such conduct, sir, is not an investigation, but rather seems as if you are handing me over to the Ai family for revenge.”

The surrounding villagers erupted in surprise.

Li Yi’s words were like pointing at Yan Zibin’s nose, accusing him of corruption and being a lackey of the Ai family.

In all their years, none of the villagers had seen anyone dare such a thing.

Some who had suffered under the Ai family couldn’t help but quietly give Li Yi a thumbs-up.

This lad was truly remarkable.

Yan Zibin was so enraged that his vision blurred, anger scorching his heart, and he wished nothing more than to grind Li Yi’s bones to dust.

“Men, beat him—kill this lawless, disrespectful troublemaker!”

The bailiffs hesitated, so Yan Zibin summoned the Ai family’s retainers.

Suddenly, a dozen retainers armed with clubs and spears surged forward toward Li Yi.

Li Yi gripped his shackles, his arms bulging with veins, and with a low shout and a sudden exertion, he broke the shackles apart.

Such strength stunned the retainers, who dared not approach.

The villagers gasped, seeing the youth’s courage and composure, as if he were a god descended to earth.

Li Yi kept a wary eye on the situation, weighing whether he could escape if he fought with all his might.

He had submitted to arrest, partly to avoid implicating his fellow villagers, and partly to see if there was any chance for a turnaround.

But clearly, the Ai family and the authorities had colluded, bypassing even the process of trial and imprisonment, aiming simply to kill him.

Just as both sides were about to clash, the urgent tolling of a bell rang out.

The retainers’ faces changed—it was the warning for an attack by bandits.

A steward hurried back into the mansion to report.

Some retainers climbed the walls to defend, while others kept watch on Li Yi, but none dared make a move.

Yan Zibin was so frightened his face turned pale, and he ordered his bailiffs, “Quick, protect me, hide me!”

He rushed toward the Ai family mansion, nearly colliding with Ai Yingjia as he emerged.

“Magistrate Yan, you are the county’s official, charged with guarding the land against thieves. How can you be so panicked?”

Ai Yingjia scolded him, just as a steward came from the gatehouse.

“Master, it’s not bandits. It’s villagers from the nearby hamlets of Ganquan County, gathering to demand that we release Li Yi of Li Village.”

Ai Yingjia’s face relaxed—he had feared the likes of Gao Yingxiang or Wang Jiayi’s rebels had arrived in Mizhi.

Yan Zibin, disheveled, his official hat askew, looked utterly miserable.

Relieved it wasn’t rebels, he glared at Li Yi, cursing, “Li Yi, you dare incite the people and threaten the authorities!”

A big accusation right from the start.

Li Yi ignored him, watching as hundreds of villagers approached the gatehouse, confronting the Ai family retainers.

Among them, Li Guo and Li Zijing brandished knives, their faces fierce as they shouted, causing the retainers to retreat in fear.

These weapons had been seized from Liu Mazi’s gang.

Gao Jie and his men pushed through, shoving the retainers aside and letting more villagers pour into the gatehouse.

Grandpa Gao and Great-grandfather squeezed through the crowd, seeing Ai Yingjia and Yan Zibin on the steps. They immediately shouted, “Master Ai, have mercy! Magistrate, have mercy!”

All the villagers joined in, their voices echoing up to the sky. The whole official village came out to see, and chaos reigned.

Ai Yingjia clenched his fists in frustration—he had wanted Yan Zibin to handle the matter to avoid damaging the Ai family’s reputation.

Reputation was vital for gentry families like the Ai family. With a bad name, they would become a laughing stock among officials and nobles, and their sons would face obstacles in official careers.

Ai Yingjia glared at Yan Zibin and ordered the steward, “Let them in, but don’t let them near the mansion.”

Hundreds of able-bodied villagers, armed with farm tools, gathered before the Ai family gate.

“Release him! Release him! Release him!” they shouted in unison, their voices thunderous.

Yan Zibin hid behind the retainers, clutching Ai Yingjia’s sleeve in panic, “Master Ai, what should we do?”

Ai Yingjia disdainfully shook him off and looked at Li Yi.

At last, he took notice of the youth who had injured his son.

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, tall and sharp-gazed, Li Yi was remarkable. Faced with spears and knives, he showed no fear, a cold smile lingering on his lips.

Ai Yingjia did not know what kind of person Li Yi was, but with just one glance, he realized this youth was not to be underestimated.

Li Guo rushed up the steps, the Ai family retainers moving to block him.

“A young lad, let him come in,” Ai Yingjia said gravely.

Li Guo hurried up, anxiously looking Li Yi over, “Master, they didn’t hurt you, did they?”

Li Yi smiled and shook his head, looking at the villagers before him, “You did well.”

Li Guo grinned, whispering, “I did as you said—I took Great-grandfather to find Grandpa Gao, and he led us through the hamlets. They remembered how you killed the wild boar demon, and were grateful for all the pork you gave. So they came.”

He added, “Some villages didn’t want to come, so Grandpa Gao scolded them, told them to cough up the pork they ate, and only then did they agree.”

Li Yi smiled—such was human nature.

When he had visited Gao Village, the respected elders of the hamlets had promised that should Li Yi ever need help, they would stand by him.

Yet when the time came, people hesitated.

Ai Yingjia stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting to the villagers, and said, “Friends, though my Ai family may not claim to practice perfect virtue, we have always respected our neighbors. Today you block our gates—please, give us an explanation.”

Great-grandfather and Grandpa Gao stood at the front.

Great-grandfather, nearly sixty, was already considered long-lived in the countryside.

Leaning on his cane, he spoke gravely, “Master Ai, we humble villagers would never dare offend the Ai family. But our young lad, Li Yi, was brought here, so we ask your mercy—to let him go.”

Ai Yingjia nodded and looked to Grandpa Gao.

“Grandpa Gao, you’re from Gao Village. What does a Li Village lad have to do with you?”

Grandpa Gao tugged at his beard, smiling, “Master Ai, if I may, it’s not just Li Village folk here—Gao Village, Linjia Valley, and all the hamlets of Ganquan County are present.”

Ai Yingjia saw it too—Li Village alone could not muster so many able-bodied men.

Grandpa Gao continued, “We didn’t want to come today, but Li Yi helped us. If we stood by and watched him suffer, not daring to speak up, wouldn’t that shame our ancestors?”

Ai Yingjia was puzzled, “Li Yi helped you?”

Grandpa Gao declared, “Months ago, a wild boar demon plagued Chai Mountain, injuring many. We rely on making charcoal in winter to earn a living—how could we endure? We hired hunters, but none could kill it. Then young Li Yi stepped forward, slew the demon, and shared its meat with all the villages. Such a deed, how could we not remember?”

Ai Yingjia had heard of the boar demon, but hadn’t known Li Yi was the one who killed it.

Nor had he realized that this poor youth had distributed the meat among the villagers—clearly an act to win their loyalty.

Turning to Li Yi, Ai Yingjia’s heart sank. Such a clever move—the work of this very youth.

Inexplicably, Ai Yingjia now felt a new wariness toward him.

He pondered: punishing Li Yi would surely anger the villagers and harm the Ai family’s reputation.

But letting Li Yi off—his son’s injuries aside—would mean the Ai family had yielded, which was equally unacceptable.

He glanced at Yan Zibin, realizing the matter could still be resolved through him.

He signaled Yan Zibin to move away from the crowd and said, “Magistrate Yan, six thousand bushels of grain are not given for nothing. You must resolve this case.”

Yan Zibin cursed inwardly but forced a smile, “Master Ai, everyone knows your son is at fault. With so many villagers here, how can I proceed?”

Ai Yingjia said coldly, “As the saying goes, a ruined family needs a magistrate; I know your skill in handling cases.”

Yan Zibin looked at the angry villagers, his face bitter, “If a rebellion breaks out, what will happen to my future?”

But Ai Yingjia ignored him, watching coldly.

Yan Zibin, helpless, stepped forward and shouted, “I am the magistrate of Mizhi County! You gather here in disorder—do you mean to rebel?”

The standard threat of officials was instantly deployed.