Chapter 36: The Cruelest Act

Cai Family Village was bustling with excitement, the feast still flowing, and people from miles around had gathered. In these times, a full meal was a matter weightier than the heavens themselves. The old patriarch did not partake in the food, but he would always sit with the elders from neighboring villages, basking in their flattery.

“Did you see?” he boasted. “Those men building the residence are sent by the authorities themselves, constructing a mansion for our family’s titled lady. Old Master Chen’s estate has three spacious courtyards, quite grand, isn’t it? But compared to this mansion, his is but a tiny house. Do you know how large this new one is? Fifteen whole acres!”

He spread his hand three times to show the count, pride glowing on his face. The collective gasps of amazement from the others brought a look of deep satisfaction.

“How could my estate compare to the lady’s mansion? I’m merely a small landlord—she is a figure of official rank. Even the magistrate must bow before her!” said the plump Old Master Chen modestly. Though he owned hundreds of acres and made his fortune collecting rent and buying land, before those who held office, he was always unassuming.

“Hahaha, you’re too humble, Old Master Chen! You’re the great benefactor of our region. When Cai Cong nearly drowned last month, it was you who sent help. We haven’t even properly thanked you yet!” The patriarch knew when to stop, especially with Old Master Chen, who was always ready to lend a hand to others.

Cai Cong did not join their circle of mutual praise. Taking advantage of the magistrate of Chang'an’s visit, he quietly purchased a barren mountain—an act others thought foolish, yet inwardly he chuckled. A coal mine! In these days, few understood the value of coal. When he asked for it, the magistrate had practically given it away.

“So it’s settled then. I’ll call on you again soon—may I hope, honorable magistrate, that you won’t turn me away?” Cai Cong said with a friendly grin. Since the magistrate had shown him respect, he was determined to return it.

“You’re too polite, young master. A mere barren hill is nothing to gift you. But since it is government land, certain formalities must be observed…” The magistrate replied courteously, for in the bureaucratic world, one must look not only at rank but also at who holds true imperial favor.

“Ah, I almost forgot—on my way here, the owner of Junyue Inn asked me to deliver this deed. He wishes to present Junyue Inn as a congratulatory gift for your mother’s new title,” the magistrate suddenly remembered, drawing a deed from his sleeve and handing it to Cai Cong.

Cai Cong glanced at it; his name was already written as the owner. Without a second thought, he returned it with a smile. “I cannot accept a reward for which I have done nothing. My mother’s new rank—even if she were granted the highest title—could not possibly entitle us to someone’s livelihood as a gift.”

“Heh, the owner of Junyue Inn is surnamed Zhang, and his family boasts a marquis. They hardly rely on an inn for their living. I trust you understand? The marquis wishes to make peace,” the magistrate said with a pleasant smile. The minor conflict between Cai Cong and Zhang Liang had become common knowledge in Chang'an. Acting as mediator, he hoped to win favor from both sides.

Cai Cong had no intention of accepting. Zhang Liang’s character was poor—narrow-minded and ambitious. He would meet his downfall sooner or later; there was no need to reconcile.

“Then I must decline all the more. I hear the marquis petitioned the emperor several times to have me executed. Who knows if this is not some scheme?” Cai Cong replied, still with a smile, but his tone was cold and distant.

“Please, young master, just accept. Otherwise, the marquis will have no peace, even in his sleep,” urged the magistrate earnestly.

“What a joke! The marquis, a man so ruthless, would fear a mere youth such as myself?”

“You may not hold office, but your reputation is well known among the noble families of Chang'an. When you act, you shake the very foundations, leaving your enemies ruined beyond hope. The former village head suffered so, and even that chieftain from the grasslands. If you refuse peace, the marquis will truly lose sleep!”

Cai Cong’s expression darkened at these words, his face growing long. He had hoped to be known for his gentleness, but things had not turned out as he wished. He now had a fearsome reputation. This was by no means a good thing; no one wanted to befriend someone ruthless and without scruples, and in officialdom, to stand alone was a dangerous fate.

“In the past I had no choice. Think about it—my mother and I were alone. If I hadn’t acted harshly, how could I have deterred those with ill intent? As for Jieli, that barbarian is beneath my notice. I’ll accept the gift; tell the marquis we’re even. And for the record, I am a good man!” Cai Cong declared the last words with particular gravity.

The magistrate was left awkward. Who would dare say you weren’t a good man? To risk everything against Jieli and win back thousands of people—if word got out, many would build you a shrine. Who could claim Cai Cong wasn’t good?

“Well then, since business is settled, I’ll take my leave,” the magistrate said with a smile.

“Stay and have a meal!” Cai Cong offered, but after repeated polite refusals, he saw him to the door.

“Young master, that brute Cai Tian has been caught and is being brought to the village right now,” Meng Baolai reported as he approached. The emperor had entrusted Cai Tian’s fate to Cai Cong, so there would be no handing him over to the authorities.

“Have them wait for me at the village entrance. Don’t let them come in—grandfather has been in high spirits these days, and I won’t have that spoiled. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, I’ll see to it at once.”

“It seems you have matters to attend to, young master. I’ll return another day to consult you on calligraphy,” the magistrate said, mounting his horse and riding away.

Once the magistrate was out of sight, Cai Cong, face grim, made his way to the village entrance. He did not hurry, taking the time of a full incense stick to arrive. When he did, he found Cai Tian cursing wildly.

Five men were lined up, the other four sullen and silent, ignoring Cai Tian’s shouts, each anxious about their own fate at Cai Cong’s hands.

Seeing him approach, they began to plead loudly. “Cai Cong, let us go! We never meant to kill anyone—it was all Cai Tian’s doing. He’s drowning in debt and wanted to rob your family, made us look like murderers.”

“That’s right! He forced us. He had a knife—if we hadn’t gone with him, he’d have killed us. And it was us who captured him and brought him in!”

Cai Cong did not bother to look at them. If their hearts were not already twisted, why would they have come at Cai Tian’s urging? He strode straight to Cai Tian, who wore a mask of bitter resentment.

“I am deeply disappointed. The Zhang family are outsiders—if they sought to harm us, I’d have killed them all. But you are my kin; some of you are even within the five degrees of mourning. What should I do? My mother raised me alone. If anyone wished her harm, I would destroy their entire family. But you—you are all my kin.”

Cai Cong was truly pained. The hardships of his past life had taught him that blood should be the strongest bond in the world, but the scene before him filled him with disillusionment.

“Blame yourself,” Cai Tian retorted, chin raised defiantly. “If you hadn’t shamed me in front of everyone at Cien Monastery, I’d never have wanted to kill your mother. This is all your fault.”

“Shamed? What did you have to be shamed for? That day, I only hoped to rouse you to change your ways—to stop your drinking, gambling, and whoring. Who knew your heart was so narrow?”

“Say whatever you like now—it doesn’t matter. If you have the guts, kill me. Don’t pretend mercy. If you want my death, do it yourself. But you’ll bear the name of one who shows no respect for his elders, a stain you’ll never wash away.”

Cai Tian’s expression twisted with madness. In these times, unless a crime was truly unforgivable, one was expected to show leniency to kin, else one’s name would be forever tainted. After all, Cai Tian had not actually harmed Cai Jier. If Cai Cong killed him, his reputation would be truly ruined.

“I’m not goaded by words. I care nothing for reputation,” Cai Cong said quietly, utterly indifferent to such things. Cai Tian’s madness faded, replaced by a pallor of terror.

“But you’re right. I can’t harm you, or else, when our great-uncle passes, there will be no one to tend his funeral rites. Yet if I spare you, I’ll never sleep soundly again. What should I do?”

“Spare me! I swear I’ll behave from now on—whatever you say, I’ll do,” Cai Tian begged, writhing in terror, his fear finally plain on his face.

“Kill him! Kill that beast! If he lives, he’ll bring disaster someday. I don’t believe that if I die, no one will tend my burial!” The old clan chief’s voice, hoarse as if bleeding, rang out from afar, like the cry of a desperate old wolf. All knew his heart was breaking.

“Who told great-uncle?” Cai Cong snapped at the others. For the elderly, joy and sorrow in equal measure could be fatal.

“Grandfather, grandfather, I’m your only grandson! You can’t do this, you can’t! My father died early, you promised to look after me!” Cai Tian was now utterly desperate, screaming hysterically as the old patriarch approached. He saw his last hope slipping away.

“I am the patriarch of the Cai clan first, your grandfather second. The family has its laws. If you do not die, how can there be justice in the Cai family?” The old clan chief’s voice was cold, his priorities clear: family before all. For the clan’s sake, he was ready to die himself; anyone who threatened its future would be destroyed.

“Better to strike his name from the family register and banish him from Cai Family Village. Forbid him to use the Cai name ever again, but spare his life,” Cai Gang suggested from the side. They had grown up together—when the moment came, how could he bear to see Cai Tian die?

“I refuse! Kill me, kill me! Even if I die, I am a Cai. I’ll find my father in the next world. I want to see how you’ll answer to him after you die!” Human nature is fickle; who could fathom Cai Tian’s shifting mind? His face twisted with rage, but his lips curled in a vengeful smile.

The old patriarch felt the world spinning at these words. Even after death, to face a son’s reproach—what cruelty for an old man! Yet he steadied himself, walked slowly to Cai Tian’s side, and whispered, “Do you understand? This is the only chance for the Cai family to become truly great. Even if your father were alive, he would beat you to death himself.”