White Robe

Chapter One: The White-Robed Minister

My name is Baiyi (White Robe).

The white of white clothes, the clothes of white clothes.

My job is to teach classical Chinese at a university. My favorite poem to teach my students is Liu Yong's "He Chong Tian" (鹤冲天).

"On the golden list, I missed the top spot by chance. The Ming Dynasty temporarily overlooked a worthy man, what can I do? My ambitions have not been fulfilled, why not indulge in wild and unrestrained life? Why bother with gains and losses! Talented scholars and poets are naturally ministers in plain clothes."

In the alleyways of pleasure, amidst the painted screens, a beloved is found, a place to seek out. Let us then embrace the beauties, indulging in romance, enjoying life to the fullest. Youth is fleeting; why exchange fleeting fame for quiet contemplation and song?

Talented scholars and poets are naturally ministers in plain clothes.

Every time I say this sentence, I can't help but feel elated and in a great mood.

I was in a bad mood for only one day. A middle-aged man burst into the classroom, panting, and pointed at me, saying breathlessly, "You...you're the one in white?"

I was in a rare good mood, so amidst the students' laughter and chatter, I pulled up a chair for him: "Sit down and let's talk."

He shoved my well-intentioned offer aside: "You liar! You're a teacher, yet you pretend to be the most confident lawyer, making me... This building is so tall, I don't need you to handle my divorce case with that old hag!" As he spoke, he stormed out of the classroom indignantly.

I watched as the middle-aged man's bloated body squeezed out of the door, a slight smile playing on his lips, and he uttered two incredibly pleasant words: "No need to see me out."

A girl with a ponytail smiled sweetly at me and asked, "Teacher in white, is that uncle going to be in trouble?"

I gave her a sweet smile and said, "What do you think?"

A month later, newspapers in J City carried a news item: "Hu Jin, a famous investor in the city, made his worst investment ever. His divorce from his wife has cost him six figures..." Next to the article was a photo of a middle-aged man who had barged into my classroom, his face as white as a sheet of paper.

I trimmed my nails while looking at the newspaper.

My roommate and secretary, Xiao Zhenzhen, handed me a cup of coffee: "Baiyi, what did you do? You made him look so pathetic. I really feel sorry for him."

mercy?

Stop joking, okay? Her face was full of a gloating, "pity" smile.

A sly smile crept across my face.

I gracefully accepted the coffee, my voice as melodious as a silver bell: "It's nothing. He wouldn't let me defend him, so I gave up the business. It's just that..." I drawled, pleased to see Xiao Zhenzhen straining her ears, "It's just that I defended his wife."

"Hahahaha——" Xiao Zhenzhen laughed so hard she bent over, completely lacking any ladylike manners. I picked up my coffee, a slight smile playing on my lips.

I am a lawyer, and my main profession is a university teacher of ancient literature. My side job, which I call my "minor skill," is being a lawyer.

But I happen to be quite famous in the "secondary profession".

Doing your main job is for enjoyment, while taking a secondary skill is for making a living.

I wiped the milk from my mouth, tied up my waist-length hair, and knew that for the sake of my food supply next month and the month after, I had to diligently continue the lawsuit.

"This is the underwear containing the suspect's semen, provided by my victim, and it has been tested by a forensic institution appointed by the court." Attorney Huang pulled out a report and handed it to the clerk. "The semen matches the defendant's blood type perfectly; this is irrefutable evidence. It was precisely because the defendant had long coveted my client that he used his superior-subordinate relationship to lure her to his home on the afternoon of August 20th, where he forcibly raped her in his yard. Such a beastly act is utterly unforgivable!" Attorney Huang spoke passionately, filled with righteous indignation, and handed the clerk a photo of the victim—a woman in her thirties with curly hair. "These are the marks on the victim's body after the assault. This beast..."

"I object! Your Honor, I object to the opposing counsel's use of such vehement language." It was my turn to step in. I cleared my throat; my principle was that I could lose the case, but my voice had to be pleasant. Looking at Attorney Huang's face, as yellow as his surname, I smiled elegantly again.

“First, I want to tell the opposing lawyer that the final judgment on merits and demerits is still pending, and your defamatory remarks will have legal consequences. Second, I will present my evidence to the court.” Under everyone’s watchful eyes, I pulled out a dirty handkerchief, covered in mud and grass clippings. “This is a handkerchief I bought last week; it’s pure cotton.” Attorney Huang interrupted me with a cold laugh: “Attorney Bai, we all know that. You’re not advertising for the cotton mill, are you?”

“Of course not.” I smiled slightly. “I specifically bought this new cott

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