Wang Daxia lost his mother at a young age and refused to accept his stepmother's discipline. Rebellious and willful, he relied on his father being the commander of the Northern City Military Command to act arrogantly and tyrannically in the northern part of the city.
He was a notorious local troublemaker and a well-known profligate in the northern district. Having lived to fourteen years old, this was the first time he heard someone praise him as an unpolished gem, even predicting that he would astonish the world in the future. Wang Daxia instantly became elated.
Who doesn’t love hearing compliments!
Somewhat excited, Wang Daxia shifted the stool he was sitting on closer to Wei Caiwei, sitting nearer to her.
Chen Jingji was about to scold Wang Daxia for his rudeness.
But Wang Daxia restrained his frivolous gaze, straightened his back, and very seriously asked Wei Caiwei, "Doctor Wei, you just compared me to King Zhuang of Chu—what kind of hero was King Zhuang of Chu?"
Chen Jingji thought to himself: A hegemon of the Spring and Autumn period! Even I, a mere merchant agent, know the allusion of 'astonishing the world with a single feat.'' What an uneducated, good-for-nothing profligate!
Wei Caiwei was also shocked. The Wang Daxia she knew was a talented eunuch who had graduated from the Inner Study Hall of the Directorate of Ceremonial in the Forbidden City, excelling in both literary and martial arts.
The Inner Study Hall was where eunuchs were educated, with teachers from the Hanlin Academy. Only eunuchs who passed the examinations at the Inner Study Hall could enter the Directorate of Ceremonial and have the opportunity to become a Grand Eunuch, the head of the eunuchs, also known as the "inner minister," used to counterbalance the Grand Secretariat's chief minister.
When Wang Daxia studied at the Inner Study Hall, he was diligent and hardworking, coupled with his innate intelligence, achieving top grades in every examination.
This was also one of the reasons why Wei Caiwei had chosen Wang Daxia in her previous life to form a Eunuch and Maid Pairing.
However, the current Wang Daxia didn’t even know who King Zhuang of Chu was.
No wonder Chen Jingji said he was hopeless and urged her to face reality and abandon her illusions.
Doused with a bucket of cold water, Wei Caiwei took a deep breath, repeatedly reminding herself to stay calm. Although Wang Daxia was foolish now, this was also a brief period of ease and freedom in his life.
This year, the Wang family would undergo tremendous changes, with disasters following one after another. Wang Daxia would be driven to extremes, performing self-castration to become a eunuch and seek a future, enduring hardships along the way.
At least, for now, Wang Daxia was happy.
Wei Caiwei collected her thoughts and told Wang Daxia the story of King Zhuang of Chu. "He was the ruler of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period. He ascended the throne before he was twenty years old. At that time, Chu faced internal and external troubles, with a young ruler and a suspicious state. He deliberately indulged in pleasures and even erected a sign at the palace gate, saying, 'Those who remonstrate will be executed without mercy.'"
Wang Daxia slapped the table and stood up. "I really am like King Zhuang of Chu! We both enjoy pleasures and hate those who constantly urge us to improve. My ears are calloused from listening to them!"
Chen Jingji thought to himself: King Zhuang of Chu only pretended to enjoy them, but you genuinely do!
Just as Wei Caiwei was about to continue, a team of Embroidered Uniform Guards galloped over. Wang Daxia, now standing, stood out conspicuously among the seated customers eating wontons.
The leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guards spotted him immediately and rode straight toward the wonton stall.
At the sight of the Embroidered Uniform Guards carrying Embroidered Spring Blades, the customers fell silent, frozen in their seats, afraid of being mistaken for fugitives by the guards.
"Are you Wang Daxia?" The Embroidered Uniform Guard, mounted on his horse, pointed his whip at Wang Daxia and asked, "The second son of Wang Boda?"Wang Daxia frowned with displeasure. "You can address me directly by name since I hold no official rank. But my father is a titled military officer, the esteemed commander of the Northern City Military Command, a fifth-generation hereditary commander. Our ancestors followed Emperor Chengzu south to quell the rebellion and earned this title through genuine merit. You may refer to him as Commander Wang or Commanding Officer Wang, but daring to speak my father's personal name to his face—aren't you afraid your tongue might get twisted?"
Wang Daxia, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, dared to confront the Embroidered Uniform Guard head-on.
Chen Jingji trembled with fear, tugging at Wang Daxia's sleeve. "Ancestor, please say less."
The Embroidered Uniform Guard officer sneered and swung his whip toward Wang Daxia's face.
Though Wang Daxia knew nothing about King Zhuang of Chu, his reflexes were sharp. He grabbed a folding stool and hurled it at the whip. The whip sent the stool flying, which crashed into a copper basin filled with chopped cilantro with a loud clang.
Enraged by the humiliation, the guard lashed out again with his whip. Wang Daxia simply picked up the copper basin, holding it overhead as a shield, and sprinted away. He nimbly dodged through the narrow night market!
"After him! Arrest the suspect!" The Embroidered Uniform Guard officers spurred their horses in pursuit. Though horses were naturally faster than Wang Daxia's two legs, he never took conventional paths, deliberately rushing into crowded areas. He leaped over tables, scrambled onto roofs tearing off tiles, and actually managed to escape the guards' encirclement.
Wei Caiwei watched in amazement. "Young Master Wang's agility shows he's not entirely without merit."
Chen Jingji, still shaken, explained, "Ah, Doctor Wei, you've misunderstood. He learned these escape skills out of necessity. He causes trouble every other day, with victims lining up at the Northern City Military Command to complain to Commander Wang and seek compensation. He's often chased and beaten by his father as punishment. Commander Wang is a strict father who hits hard—if Wang Daxia didn't run fast enough, he'd probably be beaten to death."
So that was it!
Wei Caiwei shouldered her bag and hurried after them.
Chen Jingji paid thirty coins to the wonton stall owner and also rushed to watch the Embroidered Uniform Guard chase and beat Young Master Wang.
Chen Jingji was delighted. Having been beaten by Young Master Wang and thrown from his horse that evening, he now felt the guards were avenging his humiliation: Well struck! Hit him even harder! Young Master Wang, you've finally met your match!
As she quickened her pace, Wei Caiwei asked Chen Jingji, "What grudge does Young Master Wang have against the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Chen Jingji laughed. "Who knows? The Northern City has four pests: flies, mosquitoes, rats, and Young Master Wang. He has countless enemies and even dares to offend the Embroidered Uniform Guard. This time, he's probably kicked an iron plate."
Wei Caiwei glanced at him. "You seem quite happy?"
After feeling wronged for hours, Chen Jingji now held his head high. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is ridding the people of a scourge—of course I'm happy. And I'm not the only one; look, everyone is pleased."
Wei Caiwei scanned the surroundings. Passersby were chattering:
"Was that Young Master Wang who just ran past? Is Commander Wang disciplining his son in the streets again?"
"It's not Commander Wang—it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"Everything has its nemesis! Let's go watch!"
It seemed Chen Jingji hadn't exaggerated—Young Master Wang was indeed notorious in the Northern City.
Wei Caiwei recalled her previous life, when her dead husband had boasted about his youth: "...I was a dashing, chivalrous young gentleman! I am Wang Daxia, and in the Northern City, they respectfully called me Great Xia Wang, the dream of all young women there."
But there was no Great Xia Wang, nor any young women's dream.
There was only Young Master Wang and young women's nightmares.
Her dead husband had cared too much about face and had deceived her.Wei Caiwei clenched her fist, following the crowd of onlookers from Sweetwater Alley all the way to Drum Tower West Slant Street.
This street was one of the main thoroughfares of the capital, wide enough for ten carriages to travel side by side. With the advantage of horseback riding, the Embroidered Uniform Guards finally caught up with Wang Daxia.
However, Wang Daxia had also found his saviors—the officers and soldiers of the Northern City Military Command who were on night patrol.
"Uncle Mu! Save me!" Wang Daxia dashed into the ranks of the Northern City Military Command and clung to the leg of Officer Mu, who was leading the night patrol.
Officer Mu was a subordinate of Wang Commander and had watched Wang Daxia grow up. Seeing his superior's second son being chased by the Embroidered Uniform Guards like a stray dog, he immediately drew his sword and positioned himself to shield Wang Daxia, confronting the Embroidered Uniform Guards.
"Northern City Military Command on night patrol. What business do the Embroidered Uniform Guards have here?"
The leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guards was a Xiaoqi. In terms of official rank, a Hundred-Household Commander outranked a Xiaoqi, but the Embroidered Uniform Guards were the emperor's personal guards, tasked with handling imperial cases. The Northern City Military Command only managed security in the northern part of the city, and a mere Xiaoqi of the Embroidered Uniform Guards looked down upon a Hundred-Household Commander of the Military Command.
Zhou Xiaoqi pointed his whip at Wang Daxia, who was hiding behind Officer Mu's horse. "The eldest son of our Embroidered Uniform Guard's Thousand Household Chen was brutally murdered in the northern city today. Wang Daxia had a grudge against Young Master Chen and is a prime suspect. We are taking him in for questioning. Are you, the Northern City Military Command, harboring a criminal?"
At these words, an uproar swept through Drum Tower Slant Street.
"So the victim who had his throat slit under the willow tree was the son of an Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand Household!"
Wei Caiwei, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but cover her mouth: What's going on? I killed Chen Dalao, so why is Wang Daxia being implicated?
Wang Daxia peeked out from behind the horse's rear. "You Embroidered Uniform Guards are slandering me! I haven't seen Chen Dalao today, so how could I have killed him? It's true that I had a conflict with Chen Dalao before... But Chen Dalao was lustful and addicted to gambling, and his skills were poor. He owed a lot of debts and, relying on his father being Thousand Household Chen of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, often refused to pay. Many people disliked him. I can cooperate with you Embroidered Uniform Guards to compile a list—you can go after them instead. Stop pestering me! I'm innocent."
Zhou Xiaoqi snorted coldly. "We, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, are experts in intelligence. Do we need a clown like you to add to the chaos? The Embroidered Uniform Guards have already compiled a list of the young master's enemies and are arresting suspects everywhere. My mission is to capture you, Wang Daxia. You are a major suspect in the murder."
Wang Daxia scoffed. "Chen Dalao also owed debts to brothels. Are the Embroidered Uniform Guards going to arrest the madams too?"
Officer Mu turned to admonish him. "Second Young Master, say less. Thousand Household Chen has lost his son in middle age, a white-haired man sending off a black-haired one. In his grief and anger, it's understandable that he's casting a wide net to find the real culprit. The deceased deserves respect—don't mock them."
Only then did Wang Daxia fall silent.
Officer Mu said to Zhou Xiaoqi, "Major murder cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen. Our Northern City Military Command is only responsible for street patrols and apprehending suspicious individuals, who are then sent to the Shuntian Prefecture prison for detention. I will personally escort Second Young Master Wang to the Shuntian Prefecture to account for his whereabouts and observations today. Perhaps he can assist in solving the case."
The Shuntian Prefecture Yamen would show respect to Wang Commander, allowing Wang Daxia to give a statement before releasing him.
But the Embroidered Uniform Guards were different. Once someone entered their Imperial prison, even if they didn't die, they would be stripped of a layer of skin. Confession Under Torture was not uncommon.Officer Mu could not allow the Embroidered Uniform Guard to take Wang Daxia away.
The Northern City Military Command had its dignity to uphold, especially since Wang Daxia was unusually in the right this time—it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had gone too far.
"That's right, that's right!" Wang Daxia popped his head out from behind the horse's rear. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard handles imperial cases. Why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? I'm deeply saddened by Chen Dalao's death and hope the real culprit is found soon. I'll cooperate with the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen."
Zhou Xiaoqi declared, "What cases the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigates is none of the Northern City Military Command's business! Hand over Wang Daxia!"
Officer Mu gave a signal, and the Northern City Military Command personnel surrounded Wang Daxia. Though the Embroidered Uniform Guard was fearsome, offending one's superiors was even worse.
Zhou Xiaoqi cracked his whip. "Everyone, advance! Arrest the suspect Wang Daxia!"
To think the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Northern City Military Command would actually draw weapons and brawl right in the street!
One was the emperor's personal troops, a powerful dragon. The other was the local bully of the Northern City. A chaotic battle between dragon and serpent ensued, with no clear winner in sight.
Such a spectacle was truly rare. Only a few timid passersby fled, while most onlookers stayed to watch the famed scene of a powerful dragon battling the local serpent.
Only Wei Caiwei kept her gaze fixed on Wang Daxia. The cunning fellow took advantage of the chaos, mounting a horse left for him by Officer Mu, pressing his face close to the mane as he fled.
Just as Wei Caiwei thought Wang Daxia had escaped, bystanders began shouting, "He's running! Young Master Wang is getting away!"
"Honorable Embroidered Uniform Guards, Young Master Wang is heading toward the Drum Tower!"
Hearing this, the Embroidered Uniform Guard broke off the fight, turning their horses to pursue Wang Daxia.
The situation had reversed yet again.
Chen Jingji looked at the stunned Wei Caiwei and laughed. "Now Doctor Wei understands what the Four Pests of the North City means, right? The Northern City residents have long suffered under Young Master Wang's antics. Let's hope the Embroidered Uniform Guard teaches him a proper lesson."
Wang Daxia was like a rat scurrying across the street—everyone wanted to beat him.
Concerned for Wang Daxia, Wei Caiwei hurriedly followed the crowd toward the Drum Tower. Soon, Chen Jingji caught up driving his mule cart and invited her aboard.
As long as Wei Caiwei didn't check out, Chen Jingji could keep his five-tael commission. In business, one must serve clients well.
Wei Caiwei boarded the mule cart, and Chen Jingji drove northward. At the Drum Tower, the crowd surged eastward—the streets hadn't been this lively since New Year's.
The mule cart reached East Drum Tower Street—the Northern City of Beijing was divided by Drum Tower Street, with Wanping County to the west and Daxing County to the east. They had now entered Daxing territory.
The crowd continued racing east, though many, exhausted, stopped by the roadside gasping for breath.
Chen Jingji drove the mule cart to Shuntian Prefecture Street, where the clashing of weapons and rhythmic drumbeats echoed from afar.
Ahead stood the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, its entrance featuring a large drum for citizens to sound grievances.
The Northern City Military Command and Embroidered Uniform Guard were locked in fierce combat, while Wang Daxia wildly beat the drum with its mallet, shouting, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is killing people! Prefect, save me!"
Chen Jingji sighed regretfully. "It's over. Now that it's escalated to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, and Young Master Wang is playing the victim first, the Embroidered Uniform Guard can't touch him for now."
Wei Caiwei felt slightly relieved: Before his self-castration, his conduct was so flawed it nearly provoked universal scorn, but at least he's clever enough to turn calamities into advantages. I'll see how he extricates himself tonight.
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