Governor Wang of Shuntian Prefecture had just returned home from his yamen and sat down to dinner when his legal advisor rushed in, gasping for breath, to report, "A... a murder has occurred in the Northern City."
Exhausted after a long day, Prefect Wang waved his hand and said, "Have the coroner record the autopsy findings overnight. Send more capable constables to investigate the case. Notify the Northern City Military Command to keep an eye out for suspicious individuals during their night patrols. It’s not too late for me to go to the yamen tomorrow."
In the shadow of the imperial capital, nothing was truly unexpected.
Once the legal advisor caught his breath, he finally managed to deliver the full report: "Several passersby have identified the deceased as Chen Dalao, son of Thousand Household Chen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Commoners were like ants, but the nobility was a different matter. Prefect Wang felt his head spin. Without even changing into his official robes, he rushed to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen in his everyday clothes.
Chen Dalao’s body had been discovered by a passerby who had urgently needed to relieve himself.
The moon was hidden in the twilight of the thirteenth day of the fourth lunar month, resembling a half-eaten mooncake. The passerby ducked behind a large willow tree by the roadside, unfastened his trousers, and noticed someone lying face-down under the tree.
At first, he assumed it was a drunkard. He nudged the body with his foot and said, "Brother, move aside."
The corpse was lying on its side, but with the kick, it rolled onto its back, its neck tilting sharply to the left. In the clear moonlight, the severed trachea in the neck was clearly visible.
The passerby was so terrified that his urge to urinate vanished. He screamed, "Murder!"
Patrols from the Northern City Military Command hurried to the scene. By then, the area under the willow tree was surrounded by layers of onlookers encircling the body. Immediately, some passersby recognized the deceased:
"That looks like Young Master Chen—the one who’s always chasing after women. There isn’t a brothel in the capital he hasn’t visited."
"Truly, 'Ten years, one Yangzhou dream, leaving behind a heartless name in the pleasure quarters.'"
The Northern City Military Command quickly dispersed the crowd, placed the body on a stretcher, and carried it to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen. The Military Command was only responsible for street patrols and capturing thieves; investigating cases was beyond their jurisdiction.
Upon hearing of his son’s murder, Thousand Household Chen arrived with his Embroidered Uniform Guard. Distrusting the investigative capabilities of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, he immediately kicked aside the coroner and constables who tried to stop him and took his son’s body home!
Chen Dalao’s servant provided a list of people who had recently had conflicts with the young master. Thousand Household Chen handed the list to his subordinates, ordering them to arrest all suspects and bring them to the Imperial Guard Office that very night for rigorous interrogation. It was clear he was determined to capture the murderer before dawn.
When Prefect Wang hurriedly arrived at the yamen, he found it in a state of disarray, as if it had been ransacked. The room where the body had been stored was particularly chaotic, with shattered furniture and debris everywhere.
The bruised and battered coroner and constables gathered around their superior to complain:
"Thousand Household Chen barged in with his men, kicking anyone in their path and smashing everything in sight."
"It wasn’t us who killed his son. Why take it out on us? This is utterly outrageous!"
"The body has been taken. How are we supposed to investigate the case now? What should we do next? We await your instructions, Prefect."
As the governor of the capital, Prefect Wang was the city’s parental official. However, the capital was teeming with powerful nobles, and as a mere civil official of the third rank, what authority did he truly hold?
Only two types of people could hold such a position: those like Prefect Bao of the Kaifeng Prefecture in the Song Dynasty, who was impartial and unyielding in distinguishing loyalty from treachery—someone who would drag even an imperial son-in-law to the executioner’s block without hesitation.
Or those who were adept at maneuvering and avoiding trouble, slipping through situations unscathed. The current Prefect Wang was precisely this type, earning him the nickname—Wang Niqiu!Wang Niqiu—no, it was Wang, the Prefect, this parent-official of the capital who often had to act subservient, especially in front of the powerful.
Prefect Wang cleared his throat lightly, "Everyone has suffered tonight. The Embroidered Uniform Guard seized the corpse and are arresting people all over the streets, but this actually works to our advantage at Shuntian Prefecture Yamen."
At these words, everyone was astonished, unsure how this Wang Niqiu would wriggle out of the situation.
Prefect Wang shook his head and said:
"This case falls under the jurisdiction of Shuntian Prefecture. The Embroidered Uniform Guard may have taken the corpse, but they can’t take the case—the Embroidered Uniform Guard only handles imperial cases. Once Thousand Household Chen casts a wide net and solves the case, capturing the murderer, won’t he have to send the culprit to Shuntian Prefecture for sentencing and punishment?"
The legal advisor quickly stepped forward to echo his master: "This way, our Shuntian Prefecture solves a major murder case without lifting a finger. When there’s merit, there are rewards. You all just took a bit of a beating, but you’ve cracked the case lying down—and you’ll get bonus pay! Where else can you find such a good deal? The Prefect is brilliant!"
Upon hearing this, everyone thought Wang Niqiu made sense—earning merit while lying down and even pocketing the reward.
However, a constable surnamed Wu pointed to his own broken head and the injured, defeated troops under his command, "The advisor wasn’t beaten, so it’s easy for him to talk. My men have followed me through life and death, capturing thieves and clashing with criminals. Getting injured in those situations is one thing—after all, that’s the job we signed up for. But tonight, we were beaten by our own people, bullied by the Embroidered Uniform Guard on our own turf. The brothers just can’t swallow this injustice."
Seeing the rising anger, Wang Niqiu instructed the finance advisor, "All their medical expenses can be fully reimbursed. This month, issue compensation according to work-related injuries. Go home and rest; no night shifts tonight."
The Prefect had two advisors: the legal advisor handled cases, and the finance advisor managed the accounts.
The finance advisor also stepped up to speak for his master: "That’s enough now. The Prefect has done his best. Do you expect the Embroidered Uniform Guard to serve you tea and apologize? Everyone, disperse, go home, wash up, and sleep."
Constable Wu and the others still seethed with anger, but there was nothing they could do. They had no choice but to retreat with their injuries.
Wang Niqiu sighed to his two advisors, "This position is too hard to hold. Once I complete my three-year term, I’ll pull some strings at the Ministry of Personnel and get assigned elsewhere. Only as a real parent-official who calls the shots can I vent the frustrations of these past two years."
The legal and finance advisors exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Wherever you go, sir, we will follow you to the death!"
As the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be askew. Prefect Wang was as slippery as a loach, and his two advisors were like a pair of slick eels.
No sooner had the words been spoken than the sound of a drum pounding echoed from outside.
It was the grievance drum in front of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen.
Constable Wu and the others returned to the main hall to report, "The Northern City Military Command and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are fighting right at our yamen’s gate! The Embroidered Uniform Guard wants to arrest Young Master Wang and throw him into the Imperial prison, but Young Master Wang refuses to surrender. He beat the grievance drum to accuse the Embroidered Uniform Guard of holding illegal trials and killing virtuous officials!"
Wang Daxia was notorious, especially in the Northern City—everyone knew him. There were many Wangs in the capital, but when Constable Wu said "Young Master Wang," everyone knew he meant Wang Daxia.
Prefect Wang snorted in disbelief, "Holding illegal trials is a fact, but killing virtuous officials? How dare Young Master Wang call himself virtuous? If he’s a virtuous man, then I’m the reincarnation of Bao Zheng."Wang Niqiu sat in the main hall, with the legal advisor standing on his left and the financial advisor on his right. The two exchanged meaningful glances, making it unclear whether to follow along with a laugh or not—should they laugh or not?
The straightforward Constable Wu, lacking such cunning, was burning with anxiety. "Prefect, there's shouting and fighting outside the yamen—what should we do now?"
Wang Niqiu stroked the wisp of beard on his chin. "When a powerful dragon fights a local snake, let them battle it out. The weather is getting hotter, and everyone's temper is flaring. A good fight to vent their anger is just fine. Wait until they've worn each other out, then we'll go clean up the mess."
Once the master had spoken, the legal advisor immediately chimed in, "Exactly! Constable Wu, if you take your men out to mediate now, can you overpower them? Or will they even give you face? Both sides are trouble—better not invite scorn by getting involved."
Constable Wu fretted, "But what if someone gets killed?"
No sooner had he spoken than the drumming of the grievance drum abruptly ceased.
Wang Niqiu, also fearing casualties, urged Constable Wu, "Go check quickly—see if Young Master Wang has been beaten to death."
He hadn’t.
At that moment, Wang Daxia, who had been beating the drum, heard a sharp woman’s voice cry out from the crowd: "Watch out for arrows!"
Then he felt a whistling sound behind him, the hairs on his nape standing on end. Instinct for survival made Wang Daxia immediately crouch, clutching the drumsticks and covering his head.
Thwack! A sharp arrow struck the center of the grievance drum, splitting the drumhead and silencing its beat.
Wang Daxia looked in the direction of the woman’s voice. Under the hazy moonlight, a figure stood on a distant mule cart among the onlookers. Though he couldn’t make out the face, the pure white mourning bun on their head stood out starkly in the night.
Judging by the slender figure, it had to be that pretty young widow, Doctor Wei.
The woman who had compared him to King Zhuang of Chu, who amazed all with one brilliant feat.
Actually, Wang Daxia knew who King Zhuang of Chu was—even if he hadn’t tasted pork, he’d seen pigs run. He’d studied for several years, reading the Spring and Autumn Annals as storybooks.
Back at the wonton stall, he’d pretended ignorance on purpose, using it as an excuse to move his stool closer and chat a bit more with the pretty young widow.
Now, while all the bystanders were just watching the spectacle, her one warning had saved him.
Wang Daxia thought, Once I get out of this, I’ll make sure to thank her properly.
Even in a life-or-death crisis, Wang Daxia’s mind wandered, dwelling on the young widow. Several more arrows shot toward him, but he nimbly dodged them. Spotting the main gate of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen cracked open, with someone peering out from inside, Wang Daxia pushed over the drum stand. The grievance drum, large as a round table, rolled toward the direction of the arrows, crushing a path and briefly halting the volley.
At the same time, Wang Daxia dashed toward the yamen gate. Constable Wu hurried to shut the door and keep this troublemaker out, but Wang Daxia threw his drumsticks, wedging them perfectly into the gap. Constable Wu couldn’t close the door.
Wang Daxia slipped inside, clasped his hands with a grin, and said, "Thanks for the rescue! I’ll treat you to drinks another day, Constable Wu!"
"You can’t come in! I don’t want to get burned!" Constable Wu tried to shove Wang Daxia back outside, but just then, Zhou Xiaoqi of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, leading his men, kicked the gate open on horseback and charged right in!
If Wang Daxia hadn’t pulled Constable Wu aside, the flying horseshoes of Zhou Xiaoqi’s mount would have struck Constable Wu right in the forehead!
Constable Wu and Wang Daxia tumbled together behind the gate as Zhou Xiaoqi cracked his whip, lashing out at Wang Daxia.Old grudges ran deep, and having nearly lost their lives under the iron hooves of the Embroidered Uniform Guard just moments before, even a clay figure would have some temper. Constable Wu ignored his superior Wang Niqiu’s order to remain neutral, drew his blade to cut the whip in two, and roared, "This is the main hall of the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen! Not your Embroidered Uniform Guard’s turf! Brothers! Drag him off that horse!"
The crowd surged forward in a frenzy—some grabbing the reins, others clutching at legs—and tore Zhou Xiaoqi off his horse like peeling off a plaster.
As Zhou Xiaoqi dismounted, Wang Daxia slammed the main gate shut again and bolted it firmly.
With Young Master Wang now hidden inside the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Northern City Military Command lost their targets—one for pursuit, the other for protection—and immediately ceased fighting.
Outside, the Embroidered Uniform Guard pounded frantically on the gate, demanding that the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen "hand over Young Master Wang and Zhou Xiaoqi."
Meanwhile, the Northern City Military Command shouted in unison, "We thank Prefect Wang for speaking out for justice and upholding fairness! For clearing Wang Daxia’s name!"
The onlookers, however, stirred up more commotion:
"Why’d you stop fighting? Keep going! I haven’t had enough yet!"
"Don’t back down now! Fight!"
"Melon seeds, peanuts, and mung bean soup for sale!"
The situation had flipped back and forth, heart-stopping and intense. Seeing that Wang Daxia had escaped into the yamen’s main hall and was temporarily out of mortal danger, Wei Caiwei breathed another sigh of relief.
"Get me a bag of melon seeds!" Chen Jingji bought a pack and shared half with Wei Caiwei, cracking them open with relish. "Tsk, tsk, this is even better than an opera—all real fighting."
Just then, the ground trembled as two groups of men arrived almost simultaneously at the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen. One of the leaders wore a white cloth wrapped around his head, dressed in white hemp mourning attire, with a string of straw rope tied around his waist. This was Thousand Household Chen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, father of the deceased Chen Dalao.
At the sight of him, Wei Caiwei crushed the melon seed shells in her hand: He was the source of all the tragedies in the He family, and Chen Dalao had been his despicable accomplice.
Chen Jingji, caught up in the excitement, didn’t notice the change in her expression. Pointing at the other leader, he said, "The one in armor is Wang Commander. After all, they’re father and son—he can beat his own son half to death himself, but he won’t stand by if others threaten his son’s life. Thousand Household Chen versus Wang Commander—we’re in for another good show."
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