Chapter 8

The first day of Wei Cai Wei’s rebirth: she needed to stop her man from castrating himself, leave his root, maybe she’ll need it in the future.

The third day of Wei Cai Wei’s rebirth: she gave the man a knife, cut it, hurry up.

Maybe there was some connection of the mind between them, Wang Dai Xia only felt a chill in his lower half, he shivered.

Shuntian prefecture magistrate mudfish Wang saw the crowd outside the court was laughing more and more outrageously, he hit the gavel at once, “Silence! Silence! This is a court, this isn’t a play house, court is in recess! Close the doors!” 

The bailiffs outside the court dispersed the crowd, “It’s currently the fourth part of the first night period (around 8:30pm), go back home quickly! Curfew is at second night period (9pm), the fangmen1 will be closed, you wouldn’t be able to return home even if you wanted to.”

In the Ming dynasty, the night was split into five night periods, each period had five parts, each part was fourteen minutes long, the first period started at 7pm, first period third part was around 8pm, at this time the night watchers on the streets began to strike their gongs, issuing a reminder for people that they had an hour to return home.

Night curfew warning began at first period third part, it began at the second period (9pm) until the fifth period third part (around 4:20am) when it ends.

The night curfew in the capital city was patrolled by the city’s military, the five city districts of east, west, south, north and central were individually in charge, if you unintentionally wandered around the streets, no matter what you’ll be arrested and given forty stikes, spending the night in prison, using money to atone and show you knew you were wrong.

Those who had followed the show from Wanping to Daxing county’s Shuntian prefecture yamen hurried home, afraid they would still be on their way during the second period.

With night curfew just around the corner, the impenetrable crowd outside the court scattered like birds and beasts in succession.

Wei Cai Wei cursed the dog of a man around a hundred times in her mind, damn eunuch, now I need to deal with the issue of night curfew.

Tianshui lane was in the northern city’s Wanping county, she had come on manager Chen’s mule cart, now manager Chen had become a witness and was under arrest, night curfew was about to arrive, it would be very hard for her to hire a carriage home. 

Moreover the key for the other lock on the front door was with Wang Dai Xia, even if she could hurry back before curfew, she wouldn’t be able to open the door.

Wei Cai Wei could only find a tavern opposite the yamen for the night.

Seeking refuge at the tavern, Wei Cai Wei went upstairs, she opened the window and looked at the opposite yamen’s tightly closed doors.

There were two rows of hitching posts on either side of the yamen’s gates, there were only a few horses, one of the steed’s neck had a white sackcloth around its neck, indicating its owner had a bereavement.

It was the mount of the traitor and ringLeader who made false criminal charges that led to the extermination of the entire He family.

Right now it was recess, the constable and bailiffs of the yamen, embroidered uniform guards, as well as the northern city military had dispersed on horseback to find the witnesses for questioning, only Chen Qianhu, Wang Qianhu, Mu Baihu and a small number of people remained at the court eating snacks and drinking tea, waiting for court to restart.

Due to the approaching curfew, the crowd scattered in concession, only an old man was watching over the horses, the old man was holding a wine bottle, he was already tipsy, holding his knees he was dozing off.

In the dark, that white sackcloth around the horse’s neck was very eye-grabbing.

In the tavern Wei Cai Wei became aware this was a rare opportunity for revenge, it was easy to use a honey trap to kill Chen dailang who liked to sneak out alone for pleasure, but Chen Qianhu had a lot of subordinates following him wherever he went, Wei Cai Wei was fighting alone, she had no resources, she needed to find an opportunity to make a move.

Tonight was a good opportunity, if everything went smoothly, Chen Qianhu father and son would be finished on the same night.

In her last lifetime, it was after five years, during emperor Jia Jing’s forty-fourth year did Chen Qianhu be placed in prison by Wang Dai Xia, he was beheaded, to avenge Wei Cai Wei.

This lifetime, this opportunity presented itself, there was no need to wait five years, suffering under hatred.

This lifetime, I’ll seek revenge myself, Wei Cai Wei made a prompt decision, she left the tavern, walking round the corner, she then took off the eye-catching white mourning cloth from the top of her head, she was already wearing plain and simple green cotton clothes, without the mourning bun, her hair was black, she immediately blended into the night.

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Wei Cai Wei quickly walked to the side of Chen Qianhu’s saddle, taking out a thin as ox hair, short like a bee stinger needle, piercing it into the the leather saddle, lightly twirling the needle with her index finger and thumb, the needle slowly drilled into the thick leather, only a little point was exposed.

Wei Cai Wei stuck three needles into it, then dripped poison onto the needles…having finished setting up the death trap, Wei Cai Wei again walked round the corner, putting on her white mourning cloth, and went to the pastry store next door which was about to close shop for the night, buying a bag of butter puffed conches as a midnight snack and returned to the tavern.

Wei Cai Wei had the waiter steep a pot of tea, sitting in front of the window, she drank the tea and ate the butter puffed conches, through the crack in the window she watched the movements in the yamen. 

In the yamen, Wang Dai Xia was eating and drinking in a corner, looking calm.

Mu Baihu consoled Wang Qianhu, “Lord there’s no need to be angry, it was of course wrong for the second young master to sell the farm to redeem the famous courtesan, but it’s better than being a murderer?”

Wang Qianhu really wanted to cry, what could he do? He could only give up all hope and accept the fact his son was a wastrel.

Just like Mu baimu said, it was still better than being a murderer, right?

The embroidered uniform guard Zhou xiaoqi held the midnight snacks urging his superior Chen Qianhu to eat: “Lord, I’m afraid this trial will take all night, you haven’t had dinner yet, eat something first, your body might not be able to take it.”

The pain of losing a son, Chen Qianhu had no appetite, he waved his hand, “Leave it here, I’ll see a little later.”

Zhou xiaoqi again urged: “Lord—”

Chen Qianhu glared, menacingly, “I don’t want to repeat myself, withdraw.”

From start to finish, Chen Qianhu didn’t touch the snacks, he only drank a cup of tea.

In the tavern, she had finished the butter puffed conches which melted in the mouth, when she had drank three pots of tea, Wei Cai Wei saw men come one by one with the witnesses to the yamen.

The feng shui astrologer master Zhang Tian who had bought the farm from Wang Dai Xia.

The shopkeeper and assistants of the Santong bank branch at Gulouxixie street.

Hongxiu brothel’s female brothel keeper and guinu.

As well as the former Hongxiu brothel’s famous courtesan Miss Ying Ying.

Miss Ying Ying was the last to arrive, she had removed all her makeup and was showing her natural beauty, she wore deep purple clothes, it was black under the dim night of light, there were no accessories in her hair, only a black fujin3, the edge of the cloth dangled down to her shoulder blades.

A fujin was usually worn by scholars at home or when there was a literary meeting, it was very elegant, a famous courtesan, the title was not in vain, no jewellery could support her countenance of a flower, face like the moon, her natural beauty dazzled people.

Apart from master Zhang Tian who was a chanjiao of the Ministry of Rites, from a sixth rank official upwards, they can sit in the court to speak, everyone else were commoners, they needed to kneel to speak.

Wang Dai Xia ate and drank enough, he knelt on the praying mat dozing off, everyone saw Wang Ya Nei was kneeling, they followed suit.

Only Miss Ying Ying, was too beautiful, mudfish Wang had tender, protective feelings for the fairer sex, he gently coughed twice: “You are a woman, you can stand to reply.”

Everyone sitting was an official, mudfish Wang couldn’t allow a woman who had just gotten off the low class registry be on an equal footing to those officials.

“Many thanks, magistrate.” Miss Ying Ying stood beside Wang Dai Xia, she gave a greeting, “I didn’t imagine you would have been regarded as a murderer from helping me redeem myself, I’m really sorry.”

Wang Dai Xia became more awake when he saw the beauty, “No harm, it’ll be fine if you just speak, I didn’t lose any hair.”

Pa! 

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“Court rise.” Mudfish Wang hit the gravel, asking master Zhang Tian: “This afternoon, did master Zhang Tian sign a contract at Sanlitun as Wang Dai Xia said?”

Master Zhang Tian sat as he spoke, nodding: “That’s correct.”

Mudfish Wang again asked: “Who asked master Zhang Tian to buy that piece of land?”

Master Zhang Tian was an imperial official and was a famous feng shui and astrologer in the capital, he even participated in the selection of imperial tomb sites, that’s why he was also a popular person for the high officials and noble people in the capital when they want to find a feng shui tomb plot.

Master Zhang Tian looked around, his gaze falling on Chen Qianhu wearing mourning clothes, “A noble person, it’s not good for me to mention their name in court, it’s disrespectful, but it’s about the murder of young master Chen, human life is beyond value, I can’t not say it. So I’ll write down the name for Chen Qianhu, Wang Qianhu and magistrate to see, after you have seen it burn it immediately, it’ll be sufficient for you and I to know?”

The rich and high positioned filled the capital, master Zhang Tian was this cautious so it must be a must be an important person, so the three of them nodded in agreement.

Private assistant Xing Ming personally brought over a brush and paper, master Zhang Tian wrote a name on the paper, private assistant Xing Ming carried the paper to the three people to read, first he gave it to the victim’s family Chen Qianhu.

Chen Qianhu saw it, his face turned as white as paper, his gaze full of despair.

Wang Qianhu saw it, a fire burned through his eyes, covering his mouth subconsciously.

Finally mudfish Wang was given it, mudfish Wang saw it, he trembled in fear, hurriedly setting the paper alight, saying to master Zhang Tian: “Apologise for making master Zhang Tian come all this way so late in the night, I’m already done questioning, does the two Qianhus have anything to ask?”

Wang Qianhu immediately said: “No.” Master Zhang TIan had such an important person backing him, he didn’t dare ask! 

Chen Qianhu rigidly shook his head.

Mudfish Wang said: “Since that’s the case, master Zhang Tian you can return.”

Everyone stood up to see master Zhang Tian out. 

Next was the female brothel keeper of Hongxiu and the guinu.2

The shopkeeper and assistants of Santong bank, all their testimony matched Wang Dai Xia’s alibi.

When the last witness Miss Ying Ying was to be questioned, the majority were certain, the murderer definitely wasn’t Wang Dai Xia, it would be a waste of time to continue questioning.

Chen Qianhu suddenly stood up, because he hadn’t eaten all night and had been sitting for too long, he was a little dizzy, his body swayed, “I’m taking my leave.”

Chen Qianhu walked out, mudfish Wang raised his hand to urge him to stay, “Chen Qianhu, Miss Ying Ying still hasn’t replied, this trial is still in session.”

Chen Qianhu needed to hurry back to question other suspects, he didn’t take notice of mudfish Wang and left just like that.

Mudfish Wang was a little embarrassed: I’m still a parents official of the capital! This was too condescending! 

“This trial has ended, Wang Dai Xia is innocent, court is over!” It is better to avoid unnecessary trouble, mudfish Wang quit while he was ahead.

Wang Dai Xia got up from the prayer mat, stretching his waist, he said to Miss Ying Ying: “It’s so late, I’ll send you back— wuwu!”

Wang Qianhu covered her wastrel son’s mouth, forcefully dragging him away— he really couldn’t just sit there and watch his son seduce a prostitute in public.

This woman was as pretty as a demoness, no wonder she could persuade his wastrel son to sell the farm to help her redeem herself. 

If the wastrel took the demoness home, entering the demoness’s lair he’ll be eaten alive with no bones remaining.

Wang Qianhu dragged his son home for confinement. 

Outside the yamen, Chen Qianhu hopped onto his horse, the split second he sat on the saddle, he felt his left and right thigh feel a little numb and itchy, like he had been stung by mosquitos, but the feeling also very quickly disappeared, so he continued to urge his horse on.

When he was about to reach home, Chen Qianhu couldn’t support himself, his mood had been low that night and had not eaten anything, he felt dizzy, his legs went weak, after riding on horseback for a while, the dizziness increased, and he gradually found it hard to breath.

If this continued, he would fall head first from the horse.

Chen Qianhu used all his strength to pull on the reins, he stopped, his body floated down from the saddle like cotton, fortunately he was caught by a subordinate.

“Lord! Are you alright!”

Chen Qianhu’s hands covered his neck, “I…I can’t breath.”

1 Gates at the ends of streets.↩

2 A man who did odd jobs at brothels. When prostitutes with bound feet have to go visit a customer, they would act like turtles with stone tablets on their backs, carrying the prostitute to the customer, those who carried the prostitutes on their backs were called “turtle slaves”.↩

3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujin_(headgear)↩