Wei Caiwei's First Day of Rebirth: Must prevent the man from self-castration, preserve the root, might need it later.
Wei Caiwei's Third Day of Rebirth: Hand the knife to that damned man, cut it off, hurry up.
Perhaps due to telepathic connection, Wang Daxia suddenly felt an inexplicable chill in his nether regions and shivered.
Wang Niqiu, the Shuntian Prefecture Governor, seeing the increasingly unruly laughter outside, immediately slammed the gavel, "Silence! Silence! This is a court of law, not a theater! Court adjourned! Close the main gate!"
The bailiffs outside the court dispersed the onlookers, "It's already First Watch, Four Points (approximately 8:30 PM), you should hurry back! When Second Watch (9 PM) begins with the curfew, the ward gates will close, and you won't be able to return."
In the Ming Dynasty, the night was divided into five watches. Each watch had five points, with each point equivalent to twenty-four minutes on a Western clock. First Watch started at 7 PM, and First Watch, Three Points was around 8 PM, when night watchmen began striking gongs, giving people an hour to return home.
The curfew warning started at First Watch, Three Points, with Second Watch (9 PM) marking the official beginning, lasting until Fifth Watch, Three Points (approximately 4:12 AM).
The capital's curfew was enforced by the Five Cities Patrol Battalion, responsible for patrolling the eastern, western, southern, northern, and central city districts. Anyone found wandering the streets without reason would be arrested, given forty lashes, imprisoned overnight, and fined as punishment.
The spectators who had followed the case from Wanping County to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen in Daxing County hurried home, afraid of being caught on the streets after Second Watch.
With the curfew approaching, the crowds that had packed the court inside and out scattered like birds and beasts.
After mentally cursing "damned man" and "dead eunuch" about a hundred times, Wei Caiwei now had to solve the curfew problem.
Sweetwater Lane was in Wanping County, Northern City. She had come by Chen the Agent's mule cart, but now Chen was detained as a witness. With the curfew approaching, it would be difficult to hire a cart home.
Moreover, the key to the other lock on the main gate was still with Wang Daxia. Even if she could rush back before the curfew, she wouldn't be able to open the door.
Wei Caiwei decided to stay at an inn opposite the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen for the night.
After checking in, she went upstairs, opened the window, and looked at the tightly closed yamen gate across the street.
Rows of hitching posts stood on either side of the yamen entrance, with only a few horses tied there. One fine horse had a strip of white hemp cloth tied around its neck, indicating its owner was in mourning.
It was the steed of Thousand Household Chen, the one who had betrayed his promise, framed false charges, and nearly wiped out the He family.
The court was temporarily adjourned. The yamen's constables, bailiffs, Embroidered Uniform Guards, and Northern City Military Command had dispersed on horseback to question witnesses. Only Thousand Household Chen, Wang Commander, Officer Mu, and a few others remained in the court having supper and tea, waiting for the session to resume.
The spectators had scattered due to the impending curfew, leaving only an old groom guarding the horses at the entrance. The old man, holding a gourd of wine, was slightly drunk, hugging his knees and dozing off.
In the darkness, the white hemp strip on the fine horse's neck stood out conspicuously.
Wei Caiwei in the inn realized this was a rare opportunity for revenge. Using her charms to kill Chen Dalao, who enjoyed sneaking off alone for pleasure, would be easy. But Thousand Household Chen was always surrounded by numerous subordinates when coming and going. Wei Caiwei alone stood no chance; she needed to wait for the right moment to strike.
Tonight presented an excellent opportunity. If all went smoothly, she could settle accounts with both Thousand Household Chen and his son on the same day.In her previous life, Thousand Household Chen wasn't exposed as a member of the Yan faction and beheaded by Wang Daxia until five years later, in the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, avenging Wei Caiwei.
In this life, with the opportunity presenting itself, she wouldn't have to endure five more years of torment in hatred.
This time, she would exact revenge herself. Wei Caiwei made a swift decision. She left the inn, turned a corner, and removed the conspicuous white mourning bun from her hair. Already dressed in plain blue cloth, without the mourning bun, her black hair instantly blended into the night.
Wei Caiwei quickly approached Thousand Household Chen's mount, took out a needle as fine as an ox hair and as short as a bee's stinger, and inserted it into the leather saddle. With a gentle twist of her thumb and forefinger, the needle slowly drilled into the thick leather, leaving only its tip exposed.
She embedded three such needles, then coated them with poison...
After setting the death trap, Wei Caiwei returned to the corner, put the white mourning bun back on, and deliberately visited the neighboring pastry shop that was about to close. She bought a pack of Ghee Pastry Horns for a late-night snack before returning to the inn.
Wei Caiwei asked the inn attendant to brew a pot of tea. Sitting by the window, she drank tea, ate the Ghee Pastry Horns, and observed the activity at the yamen through a crack in the window.
Inside the yamen, Wang Daxia ate and drank in a corner, appearing composed.
Officer Mu comforted Wang Commander, "Sir, don't be too angry. Although the second young master selling the fields to redeem the courtesan was wrong, it's still better than killing someone, isn't it?"
Wang Commander was truly at a loss for words. What could he do? He could only despairingly accept the fact that his son was a wastrel.
As Officer Mu said, it was still better than killing someone, right?
Embroidered Uniform Guard Zhou Xiaoqi brought a late-night snack and urged his superior, Thousand Household Chen, to eat: "Sir, we'll likely be working through the night on this case. You haven't eaten dinner—please have something. Your health might not hold up otherwise."
Grieving the loss of his son, Thousand Household Chen had no appetite and waved him off, "Leave it here. I'll eat later."
Zhou Xiaoqi persisted: "Sir—"
Thousand Household Chen glared, his authority imposing, "I won't repeat myself. Step back."
From start to finish, Thousand Household Chen didn't touch the late-night snack, only drinking a cup of tea.
Back at the inn, as Wei Caiwei finished the melt-in-your-mouth Ghee Pastry Horns and was on her third infusion of tea, she saw officers and soldiers bringing witnesses to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen one after another.
Zhang Tianshi, the feng shui master who had bought the Sanlitun estate from Wang Daxia.
The manager and clerks of the Three-Link Bank's Gulou West Diagonal Street branch.
The madam and male servants of the Red Sleeve Brothel.
And the former Top Courtesan of the Red Sleeve Brothel, Miss Yingying.
Miss Yingying was the last to arrive. Having washed off her makeup, she wore a deep purple dress that appeared black in the night. She wore no hair ornaments, only a black Fujian Headscarf, its ends hanging down to her shoulder blades.
The Fujian Headscarf was typically worn by scholars and refined gentlemen at home or literary gatherings, exuding elegance.
The Courtesan lived up to her reputation. Without any jewelry to enhance her stunning beauty, her bare face alone was dazzling.
Among these witnesses, only Zhang Tianshi, an expounder of the teachings from the Ministry of Rites' Office of Buddhist Affairs and a sixth-rank official, was permitted to sit while speaking in the court. The others, being commoners, had to kneel.
Wang Daxia, having eaten and drunk his fill, knelt on a cushion and dozed off. Seeing the young master Wang kneeling, everyone else followed suit and knelt.
Only Miss Yingying, due to her exceptional beauty, stirred Wang Niqiu's protective instincts. He cleared his throat softly and said, "As a woman, you may stand to give your testimony."All those present were officials, and Wang Niqiu could not possibly allow a woman who had just been freed from slavery to sit on equal footing with these officials.
"Thank you for your grace, sir." Miss Yingying stood beside Wang Daxia and bowed. "I'm sorry that you were mistaken for a murderer because you helped redeem me."
Wang Daxia perked up at the sight of a beautiful woman. "It's nothing. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up, and I haven't lost a single hair."
Thwack!
"Court is in session." Wang Niqiu struck the gavel and first asked Zhang Tianshi, "This morning, did Zhang Tianshi sign a contract at Sanlitun, as Wang Daxia claimed?"
Zhang Tianshi, seated, nodded and replied, "Indeed."
Wang Niqiu then asked, "Who entrusted Zhang Tianshi to purchase this land?"
Zhang Tianshi was a court official and a renowned feng shui master in the capital. He had even participated in selecting the site for the imperial mausoleum, making him a popular figure among the capital's elite for commissioning feng shui burial grounds.
Zhang Tianshi glanced around, his gaze settling on Thousand Household Chen, who was dressed in mourning attire. "I cannot disrespect the esteemed person by naming them openly in court. However, since this concerns the murder of Young Master Chen, a matter of life and death, I must speak. I will write down the name and show it to Thousand Household Chen, Wang Commander, and Magistrate Wang. After reading it, you may burn it immediately. Only we will know. How does that sound?"
With such caution from Zhang Tianshi in a city filled with dignitaries, it was clear the person in question was of great importance. All three nodded in agreement.
The legal secretary personally handed over brush, ink, and paper. Zhang Tianshi wrote the name, and the secretary presented the paper to the three men, first to the bereaved Thousand Household Chen.
Thousand Household Chen turned as pale as paper upon reading it, his eyes growing increasingly despairing.
Wang Commander’s eyes widened as if scalded by fire, and he instinctively covered his mouth.
Finally, it was shown to Wang Niqiu, who trembled with fright upon reading it and hastily burned the paper. He said to Zhang Tianshi, "My apologies for troubling you so late. I have no further questions. Do the two commanders have anything to ask?"
Wang Commander immediately replied, "No." With such a powerful figure behind Zhang Tianshi, he dared not ask anything!
Thousand Household Chen stiffly shook his head.
Wang Niqiu said, "In that case, Zhang Tianshi, you may leave."
Everyone stood to see Zhang Tianshi off.
Next, the madam of the Red Sleeve Brothel and the brothel keeper, as well as the manager and clerks of the Three-Link Bank, all corroborated Wang Daxia's testimony.
By the time the last witness, Miss Yingying, was called, the outcome was already clear: Wang Daxia was definitely not the murderer, and continuing would be a waste of time.
Thousand Household Chen abruptly stood up. Having skipped dinner and sat for a long time, he felt dizzy and swayed slightly. "I take my leave."
As Thousand Household Chen walked out, Wang Niqiu raised his hand to stop him. "Thousand Household Chen, Miss Yingying has not yet given her testimony. The case is still under review."
Thousand Household Chen, eager to return and interrogate other suspects, ignored Wang Niqiu and left.
Wang Niqiu felt somewhat embarrassed: After all, I am the magistrate of the capital! This is utterly disrespectful!
"The case is closed. Wang Daxia is innocent. Court adjourned!" Preferring to avoid further trouble, Wang Niqiu knew when to stop.
Wang Daxia rose from the cushion, stretched, and said to Miss Yingying, "It's so late, let me escort you back—mmph!"
Wang Commander covered his spendthrift son's mouth and forcibly dragged him away—he simply could not stand by and watch his son publicly fraternize with a courtesan.The woman was as bewitchingly beautiful as a seductive enchantress—no wonder she could coax the prodigal into selling his land to redeem her freedom.
If that prodigal were to escort this enchantress home and step into her den, he'd likely be devoured until not even his bones remained.
Wang Commander resolved to have the prodigal bound and confined to his home under house arrest.
Outside the yamen, Thousand Household Chen mounted his horse. The moment he settled into the saddle, he felt a faint numbness and itch on both sides of his hips, like mosquito bites, but the sensation quickly faded, so he urged his horse onward.
As he neared his residence, Thousand Household Chen found it increasingly difficult to endure. Depressed and having eaten nothing all evening, he felt dizzy and weak-legged. After the long ride, his vertigo grew more severe, and he gradually began experiencing difficulty breathing.
If this continued, he feared he might topple from his horse.
Summoning all his strength, Thousand Household Chen tugged the reins to halt, then slumped from the saddle like a wisp of cotton floss—fortunately caught by his subordinates.
"Sir! Are you alright!"
Thousand Household Chen clutched his throat with both hands, gasping, "I... I can't breathe."
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