Chapter Twenty-One: Hidden Intentions

Li Zisheng smiled at everyone present, his heart remarkably calm. Most striking of all was his assertion that the letter was a forgery—a claim so outlandish it bordered on the sensational. The assembled guests gazed at him, awaiting the evidence that would prove the authenticity or falsehood of the envelope.

Zhou Fulin, in particular, looked grave. The sudden emergence of Li Zisheng made him wonder if General Deng had uncovered his machinations or something else entirely. Though a storm of thoughts raged within, his expression remained composed and betrayed nothing to the outside world.

Li Zisheng was well aware that each person in the room harbored their own intentions. He knew that even if he exposed the envelope as fake, Zhou Fulin would have his defense ready: he would claim the letter was delivered to him by someone else, that he had not closely examined its details and simply assumed it was written by Fang Zhongzheng, thus neglecting to probe further.

In such circumstances, General Deng would have no grounds for accusation, nothing to criticize. Li Zisheng had originally intended to reveal his method only when General Deng was at his wits' end, but Mr. Zhong Bai Zhong had advised him otherwise. Although Zhou Fulin was indeed detestable, this was not the opportune moment to rupture relations with him.

The Zhou family was a force to be reckoned with in Lingzhou, its influence tangled and pervasive. Any move against them would affect the entire city, and even Governor Zhang, despite his authority, could not easily dispose of the Zhou clan; a slow and careful approach was the only proper course.

Yet Deng Qing seemed to disregard all caution, tearing away the veil before the competition even began, thus all but extinguishing hopes of victory. Should Governor Zhang arrange for Li Zisheng to enter, followed by subsequent events, things might not unfold as smoothly as intended.

Thus, the question was posed to Li Zisheng: did he have a way to break the deadlock? By exposing Deng Qing’s schemes in advance, Zhou Fulin would be temporarily shielded. In this moment, Li Zisheng found himself obliged to wrong General Deng, promising to explain afterward.

Li Zisheng had no choice but to step forward, becoming the center of attention—a move that, regardless of whether one stood with Zhou Fulin or General Deng, was sure to embarrass both parties.

Such thankless tasks were contrary to Li Zisheng’s nature, yet the circumstances were extraordinary. He stood up partly at Mr. Zhong’s request, who represented Governor Zhang, and partly because his intuition suggested that Zhou Fulin was somehow connected to the mysterious forces he sought to uncover. Even if the connection was tenuous, any gain would be worthwhile; after all, Zhou Fulin was but a minor figure, and dealing with him was of little consequence.

So, trusting his instinct, Li Zisheng was reckless if reckless he must be—he believed there would be some reward.

“General Deng, I have just noticed that under the lamp, the envelope's edges cast suspicious shadows, as if the paper has been pieced together,” he said.

Outside, the rain continued to patter, casting the room in a subdued gloom. Yet the lamps burned brightly, making it almost as clear as day.

Having spoken, Li Zisheng fell silent, awaiting General Deng’s examination.

Indeed, General Deng held the letter beneath the light, and the shadows on the floor revealed clear signs of the paper having been joined. Still, this alone proved nothing; if the paper was of poor quality, such effects might be inevitable.

After General Deng finished his inspection, Zhou Fuxin—standing behind Zhou Fulin—stepped forward with a look of disdain.

“I thought this child prodigy possessed some real skill, but it seems it’s nothing but this. Are you accusing my brother on such flimsy evidence? The shadows cast by paper under the lamp could only be proof if you ignore the fact that uneven quality and distribution naturally cause such effects. Even a three-year-old knows this—oh, I forgot, you’re just eight years old, so your broad learning is impressive. Still, if this is all you have, you’d do well not to make a spectacle of yourself, lest you become the subject of ridicule.”

Zhou Fuxin seemed to hold a grudge against Li Zisheng, never missing an opportunity to mock him. Though he could not compete with Li Zisheng in poetry, he seized this chance to deride the latter’s supposedly shallow display of knowledge.

“Leave, ignoramus,” Li Zisheng replied calmly. The words stung; Zhou Fuxin nearly exploded with rage. To be called ignorant by an eight-year-old was the height of absurdity—his dignity bruised, he wished he could sew shut Li Zisheng’s mouth to stop his nonsense.

“General, I am well aware that such evidence alone cannot prove the letter is forged,” Li Zisheng continued. “Therefore, I ask you to hand it to me. But let me first declare that, once subjected to my method, the letter will be destroyed beyond recovery. That is beyond question. Will you entrust it to me?”

“Oh? You mean that once your method is applied, the letter will cease to exist?” General Deng raised his brows and questioned Li Zisheng.

Not only General Deng, but the rest of the audience furrowed their brows as well. Zhou Fulin, though uncertain of Li Zisheng’s intentions, thought that if the letter were destroyed, it would be an opportunity—without conclusive evidence, he could accuse General Deng of abusing his authority and maligning him, causing General Deng some discomfort and teaching him the consequences of crossing the Zhou family.

General Deng had come here with the sole intent of targeting Zhou Fulin, and he was determined to reclaim control of the proceedings.

Yet General Deng hesitated. If the letter were destroyed, the final proof would be gone; it could be recorded in the case files, but if questioned later, he would have no evidence to present—he’d be hoist by his own petard. Refusing Li Zisheng’s request, on the other hand, would imply a guilty conscience and deliberate slander against Zhou Fulin, and his career would be finished.

Punishing Zhou Fulin was a minor matter; the true goal was to expose the forces behind him. Zhou Fulin alone was not worth the effort—it had taken the sacrifice of Fang Zhongzheng to create this opportunity.

He was determined not to waste it. All he hoped was that Li Zisheng’s evidence would be sufficient and not disrupt his plans, lest he gain nothing for his trouble.