Chapter 103

施毒计金桂自焚身

昧真禅雨村空遇旧

Lady Wang and Lian agree that it is better for Zheng – he is not suited to a provincial post, and is being exploited by all his subordinates. A distressed old woman enters from the Xues – Jingui is dead. Lian is sent to investigate, and Aunt Xue explains how she appeared to die from poisoning after Moonbeam made soup for her and Caltrop; both maids blame the other, and have been locked together. Baochai arrives and they discuss the situation, deciding to bind both maids. Jingui’s mother and adopted brother San, who she was trying to seduce, arrive at the Xues while Lian goes to enlist support at the Board of Punishment. Jingui’s ill bred mother starts abusing and slandering Aunt Xue; Zhou Rui’s wife intervenes and Xia San joins in. Lian arrives, stopping the fight, and Jingui’s mother goes in to see her body. She lunges at Caltrop, but when Moonbeam reveals that Jingui had been taking her jewellery home, the Jias accuse Jingui’s mother of being a thief. She turns on Moonbeam, who in turn asks that Caltrop is released – she explains that she had switched the bowls for Caltrop and Jingui round, and that Jingui must have been planning to poison Caltrop. The story is plausible, and Caltrop is released. With the Xias under suspicion, they are forced to request for the inquest to be dispensed with.

Jia Yucun is conducting a rural tax collection, when he encounters a Daoist in a dilapidated temple; he feels a strange familiarity. The monk’s propensity for puns and references leads him Yucun to recognise him as Zhen Shiyin; however, he does not show any reciprocal recognition, and a reluctant Yucun moves on. Reaching a ferry, he turns and sees someone running towards him.