Reincarnation (3)

Le Wuya walked through the dark and cold prison corridor, and it felt like he was in another world.

When he closed his eyes, he was still a prisoner awaiting death.

After a long dream, when he opened his eyes again, the world was completely different.

On his way to the cell where Ming Xiucai was held, Le Wuya took the time to think about why he had been reborn in the body of a young county official who was seeking death.

If God had done this intentionally, it proved that God was truly short-sighted — unable to open his eyes and see the suffering of all living beings in this world, yet choosing to favor someone as rotten as himself.

Before Le Wuya could arrive at any conclusion, Chen Laotou, who was holding a lantern to guide the way, stopped and called out coldly: "Ming! Get up! Someone's here to see you!"

The cell was in the deepest part of the prison. The surrounding cages were all empty. There were no windows, and it was dark and impenetrable. The paper lantern carried by Prison Chief Chen could only illuminate the gray ground three feet in front of him.

A pair of pale feet in the cage were caught in the light, curling away like insects recoiling from brightness.

Le Wuya heard a hoarse voice coming from the darkness: "This villain has sinned. But please spare my mother's life..."

Chen Laotou turned around and said, "You see, he's already admitted it long ago..."

Before he could finish speaking, Le Wuya took the lantern from his hand and said, "Leave us."

Chen Laotou was startled, clearly unwilling to go, but he could not think of a reason to refuse. After hesitating a moment, he reluctantly withdrew.

Once the man was gone, Le Wuya raised the lantern, walked around the cell, knocked on the walls, and confirmed there was no monitoring room nearby. Then he knelt down and said slowly: "You have been charged with the grave crime of treason. If you confess, your mother will be exiled three thousand li away."

The raised lantern fully illuminated Ming Xiucai in his dark cell.

Ming Xiucai's hair was disheveled and he looked haggard, but the face beneath his tangled hair was more handsome than Le Wuya had imagined.

Had he not been convicted of such a serious crime, with his bearing and looks, he would have been a high-spirited young man with a bright future ahead of him.

But his spirit seemed to have suffered a grave blow. His eyes were vacant, wet with tears, and he murmured as though lost in a dream: "That's still better than having her locked up alive in here..."

He tried to turn over and kowtow, but lacked the strength to rise. He could only press his forehead to the ground awkwardly, whispering weakly: "Your son is unfilial... Mother, your son is unfilial..."

Le Wuya was accustomed to the sight of death, and he could tell the man's end was truly near.

He looked at Wenren Yue, who was standing silently beside Ming Xiucai with his arms at his sides, and gestured for him to act quickly.

He was not sure whether Wenren Yue could successfully possess someone if the man was already dead.

Wenren Yue knelt down but held back. He lightly patted Ming Xiucai on the shoulder, as if trying to comfort him.

Ming Xiucai seemed to sense something and moved his heavy eyelids, trying to see who was beside him.

Through his blurred vision, two figures of "Wenren Yue" appeared.

One stood holding the lantern, his face calm; the other crouched beside him, his expression filled with anguish.

The living cannot see ghosts — only those on the verge of death can.

Ming Xiucai closed his eyes, assuming this was a dying hallucination.

On the fading edge of his consciousness, he heard someone ask: "Ming Xiucai, are you truly innocent?"

Ming Xiucai breathed shallowly and did not answer.

Le Wuya's expression did not change.

In the lamplight, his face showed no mercy — he only laid out the facts:

"I know you are going to die, but you are young and your family's love for you lives on. Can you leave this world at ease?"

Ming Xiucai remained silent.

Le Wuya could tell from the faint movement of Ming Xiucai's eyes that he was listening.

His voice was low, almost taunting, yet utterly merciless: "Do you think confessing readily and sparing your mother from dying in prison makes you a filial son? Treason is not so simple as you think. Your mother will be exiled, and nine times out of ten she will die along the way, her soul unable to find its way home. You will be struck from the family register. Your father will also be removed from the ancestral grave. What wrong did he commit, to have his remains cast into the wilderness? What will people say? The family worked hard to put their son through his studies, and not only did all that learning go to waste, they were dragged down with him. Now that is truly a great act of filial piety."

Wen Renyue had not expected such a smooth, sharp, and cutting speech. He was taken aback for a moment and gestured repeatedly at Le Wuya, urging him to say less.

Le Wuya gave him a light wink to tell him not to worry.

With each piercing word from Le Wuya, Ming Xiucai's chest rose and fell more and more rapidly.

It was only at Le Wuya's final words that Ming Xiucai finally opened his eyes, and a faint fire flickered in his otherwise vacant gaze: "You... what is your reason for telling me all this?"

"I want you to tell the truth." Le Wuya slowly crouched down and gripped the damp wooden bars of the cell. "Did you ever harbor any treasonous intention whatsoever?"

Drawing on the last of his anger, Ming Xiucai took a labored breath and looked at Le Wuya, who held the lantern.

This was the first time he had seen the young magistrate's face clearly.

Ming Xiucai vaguely recalled that before his imprisonment, he had appeared in court several times while filing complaints on others' behalf, and had dealt with this magistrate on those occasions.

To be honest, he had looked down on this county magistrate who had purchased his post.

Those who bought their way into office were regarded as incompetent opportunists in Ming Xiucai's eyes.

And not just by him — in the eyes of many, Wen Renyue was truly without dignity, weak in temperament, and an entirely useless figurehead.

Ming Xiucai panted, crawled forward a few steps, grabbed the wooden bars, and laughed through his tears: "Master Wenren, I am already a dying man. What use is there in telling me any of this?"

Le Wuya said calmly: "If you truly did rebel, then my words are only meant to torment you. What I want is for your soul to find no peace after death."

"But if you die unjustly, I can do what you have left undone — I will see that your wrongful conviction is overturned and that your family has no worries after your death. I will do my best to provide for your mother and care for her into old age."

He pressed one hand to his chest and said sincerely: "You have my word. From this day forward, I will be her son."

Had Le Wuya said these words wearing his own imposing face, there would likely have been very few who believed him.

But Wen Renyue's naturally kind face was genuinely useful.

Le Wuya's impassioned performance was not entirely for the purpose of uncovering the truth of the case.

Le Wuya did not believe that a man's dying words were necessarily good ones.

He only trusted what he could find out for himself.

His final words of comfort served another purpose entirely.

He now knew, from experience, that there was something after death.

Ming Xiucai had reached a dead end, and on the verge of dying, what weighed most heavily on him was clearly his mother.

He needed to secure a hold over what Ming Xiucai cared about most — his mother — so that Ming Xiucai could trust and rely on "Wen Renyue," and let go with a peaceful heart.

Above all, Ming Xiucai could not be allowed to die feeling wronged and resentful.

Otherwise, Le Wuya feared the man would become a ghost after death and come to haunt Wen Renyue, who had taken over his body. That would be a serious problem.

Tears slowly traced down Ming Xiucai's face. He gripped the bars of the cage with both hands and shakily pushed his upper body upright.

Le Wuya watched him through the cell door, holding the lantern steady.

With great effort, Ming Xiucai lifted himself up, turned his head downward, and struck the ground hard.

He gave everything he had and completed a kowtow that drew blood.

A sharp wail rang out in the silent, dark cell:

"This man has been wronged——"

That anguished, blood-soaked cry startled Chen Laotou, who had been eavesdropping from a distance.

He hurried to fetch a fresh lamp and ran back over, calling out irritably: "What's all that shouting?"

The moment he turned around, his expression shifted back to one of deference: "Master, what a fright. That Ming fellow has been raving. He's been at it for days now — you haven't been struck by any of it, have you?"

Le Wuya was well acquainted with this tactic of "driving someone mad."

Once a person was declared "mad," the truth became just another lie.

"Oh." Le Wuya stood and smoothed the hem of his robe. "How many people are on duty tonight?"

Chen Laotou's eyes shifted almost imperceptibly: "Six in total, Master. Would you like me to call them for inspection?"

Le Wuya: "We're already here — of course we inspect."

Chen Laotou: "This place is filthy. Come to the front hall with me; I'll send for them at once."

"Don't send for anyone." Le Wuya extended his hand. "Bring me the duty log."

Chen Laotou's expression stiffened, though he kept it composed.

There were seven people on duty that night: one cell leader, one fireman, and five jailers.

He had just sent one of the jailers out to report to his cousin Chen Yuanwai.

To prevent the magistrate, who had arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the night, from counting heads, he had cleverly underreported by one person.

But in the duty log, it was plainly written that seven people were on duty tonight.

As a seasoned veteran, Chen Laotou knew that most officials were too lazy to get into serious matters with subordinates like him — they would simply gather everyone together, offer a few reprimands, and be done with it.

Was this new magistrate ignorant of the unspoken rules, or did he understand the games played here all too well?

Even so, Chen Laotou maintained his usual composure and bowed: "One moment, I'll fetch it right away."

After sending him off again, Le Wuya turned back and looked at Wen Renyue.

Just moments ago, Ming Xiucai had exhausted his last reserves of life force; all that remained was a body lying on the ground, barely breathing.

Wen Renyue, understanding that there was no time to lose, clasped his fists toward Ming Xiucai and bowed deeply.

Then he lowered himself and moved to merge with the dying body.

In an instant, his figure vanished into the cell.

Ming Xiucai's eyes slowly opened, and the cloudy haze that had filled them gradually cleared.

Seeing this, Le Wuya let out a quiet breath of relief.

He had been right.

As long as the possessing soul was not too weak, it could still breathe some life back into a broken body.

After all, when Le Wuya himself had arrived in this body, he had nearly hanged himself from the rafters.

And yet here he was now — able to think clearly and move freely. There seemed to be no explanation for it other than that his own soul was strong enough.

As for why he was still alive and vital after four years of being dead, he had no time to think about that now.

Le Wuya crouched down and said simply: "You must live."

Wen Renyue drew a few shallow breaths, clung to the bars, and whispered: "Master Gu, I am counting on you."

"Wrong." Le Wuya stood up, adjusted his cap with one finger, and said with a slight smile: "I am here as Wen Renyue. Mr. Wenren, do not call me by the wrong name from now on."

The sound of Chen Laotou's footsteps could be heard approaching from behind.

Le Wuya spoke quickly: "Mr. Wenren, remember — no matter who interrogates you, you do not have to say a single word. Stay silent, stay calm, and your life will hold. ...One last question: in Nanting County, if someone has no use for you, whose door do they all go to instead?"

Wen Renyue seized the final moment and spoke rapidly: "Sun Ru — County Magistrate Sun. ...He is originally from Lin County. He came to study in Nanting County as a child and entered the government as an en-ke gongshi. He has worked hard for a decade, always seeking promotion. He has deep roots and a wide network here, which is why I have been unable to touch him..."

His voice dropped to nearly nothing: "...He also has ties to the local magnate, Chen Yuanwai."

Before he could finish, Prison Leader Chen had already returned, leading the other five night watchmen behind him. He presented the duty log with both hands and said with a smile: "Master, one of the jailers fell unwell just now and asked for temporary leave. I took it upon myself to let him go rest. That is why one person is missing. Please do not be alarmed."

These were words he used to deal with officials like Le Wuya — the same kind of perfunctory brush-off he gave to all the junior officials.

If Le Wuya were to hold him in contempt, or press the matter to the end, Chen Laotou had no doubt he could arrange for the "seriously ill" jailer to be produced, making the magistrate look like a petty, unreasonable superior.

So Le Wuya had no intention of pursuing it.

Not only did he let it go, he also untied his purse and tossed it into Chen Laotou's arms, waving a sleeve magnanimously: "Then I must trouble you to look after things."

Right there in front of Wen Renyue, he spent money with perfect ease.

Prison Leader Chen's eyes lit up as he passed the silver pouch back to the jailers behind him: "Oh, Master, you are far too generous."

"Think nothing of it — this money will not be spent for nothing." He pointed at Wen Renyue behind him and said seriously: "What is the matter with him? There are clearly no visible wounds on his body, yet he is this weak. Why?"

Prison Leader Chen shook his head and lamented: "Master, this scholar is a faint-hearted coward. He has been like this for only a few days. You truly cannot blame it on me."

"This man is currently suspected of treason. It is the most serious criminal case I have taken on since assuming office. It may well be submitted to the imperial court and approved by the Emperor's own hand." Le Wuya leaned toward Chen Laotou and lowered his voice. "...There are factions at work locally, and I am afraid this could go badly for the triennial review. If he were to die suddenly in prison without explanation, Prefect Zhizhou would not only blame me for sloppy work — I might end up with a reputation as a brutal official. I still intend to advance in my career, and I will not let this matter tarnish my name. Do you take my meaning?"

Chen Laotou's eyes shifted slightly, and he replied: "Understood. I will arrange for a doctor tomorrow. Would that be suitable?"

In his own mind, he quietly calculated: Ming Xiucai was clearly a man of strong spirit. With his mother taken away and his pride stripped from him, his heart had turned to ash, and he had grown gravely ill. He had even been trying to die. That shout just now claiming injustice sounded more like a dying man's last flare than anything else. He probably would not last through tomorrow...

While Chen Laotou was running his private calculations, Le Wuya flicked his sleeves with an air of casual indifference: "That is up to you. Chen Laotou, this has been a good conversation tonight. We have only just met, and already there is no need for ceremony between us. Word of a man's reputation and standing all rests on your shoulders here. If he lives long enough to be tried, I will be in your debt; if he dies, we will have a reckoning."

Chen Laotou: "..."

Le Wuya took two steps, then turned back and beckoned to Chen Laotou.

Chen Laotou smiled uneasily and moved closer.

Le Wuya lowered his voice: "He was willing to confess largely on account of his mother. If his mother were to die and he changed his mind for no apparent reason, that would create another problem entirely, wouldn't it?"

Chen Laotou had not quite caught up, but he nodded in agreement: "When the doctor comes tomorrow, I will also have him look in on the women's ward."

Le Wuya regarded him steadily: "That reward alone is not enough for your trouble."

Chen Laotou bowed with a nod: "It is more than enough. I would not dare trouble you further, Master. This humble servant has a family to support, and doing his utmost for a great official is only right."

He wore a look of flattery on his face while inwardly feeling quite pleased:

So Master Wenren had been so hesitant lately — speaking up for Ming, wanting to overturn the verdict, putting on a display of righteousness — all because he was greedy for his reputation and did not want a rebellion case erupting under his watch.

That made things very easy to manage.

In the north of the city, at Chen Yuanwai's estate.

The red walls and red roof tiles were dusted with a thin layer of frost, making the whole compound look older and heavier.

A beggar who had slipped into the city from outside during the day sought shelter for the night in the overhang outside the gate, but was driven away by servants brandishing bamboo poles.

The beggar was struck across the forehead and the chest. He scrambled to his feet and tried to flee, but staggered in circles — he had been struck blind.

The servants found this amusing and called for their companions. Everyone grabbed a pole and played with the quarry that had stumbled into their hands like a stray chicken.

The beggar's head bled, and the blood quickly froze.

While the servants were tormenting the beggar, deep within the inner courtyards, warm wine steamed, and silver-white charcoal glowed in a copper brazier, casting a soft glow through the rattan-screen windows.

A jailer, led in by a page boy, arrived in a hurry and headed to the rear courtyard to collect his reward.

Chen Yuanwai, as though he had merely heard that a distant young relation of his was causing minor trouble outside again, spoke in a composed tone, shaking his head slowly: "Master Wenren has gone to the cells again. He truly is courting his own ruin."

County Magistrate Sun Ru stood and poured a cup of wine for Chen Yuanwai with a smile: "What can the son of a merchant know about how things work? He can find his way through the prison gate, but as for the officialdom gate and the yamen gate — he cannot find his bearings at all."

Chen Yuanwai raised his cup and said: "These young fellows from outside know nothing of propriety and follow none of the customs. In Nanting County, Master Sun will still need to work harder."

The two exchanged a knowing look, clinked cups, and drank.

Le Wuya returned to the county government office by the same route he had come.

The moment he stepped through the gate, the clerk from the execution room — the one who had disappeared earlier — came hurrying toward him with an anxious, eager look: "Master, where have you been? I have pulled the case files, readied the horses, and have been waiting."

He seemed like quite a loyal official.

Le Wuya did his part accordingly.

He stepped forward, put an arm around the man's shoulders, and said with gravity: "Shu Li, thank you for your trouble."

The clerk had not expected such warmth — not even a cold look would have surprised him more. He was momentarily stunned. He was about to say something polite in return, but in that instant of distraction, the case files in his hands were smoothly lifted by Le Wuya.

Le Wuya patted his shoulder: "Go get some sleep."

...Was that really how it worked?

Secretary Zhang hesitated, then agreed, bowed, turned around, and left.

Le Wuya tossed the key to the case archive — the one he had just palmed from the clerk — up into the air, then caught it with one hand, eyebrows raised in good spirits.

The night was long, but he had to make the most of it — bring these ugly affairs to an end quickly, and return this body to Wenren Yue.

He was already dead, and had no business lingering in the world of the living.