"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 40
Wei Cai Wei thought: It’s too hard to keep them half alive, I’m actually much better at making them dead.
However Lu Ying was talking about Ding Ru Kui, “...Yan Shi Bo wants to kill him, my father finds a way to postpone his execution every year, claiming DIng Ru Kui is ill, Yan Shi Bo however isn’t convinced, he wants to personally see him in the prison.”
As soon as she heard it was about Ding Ru Kui’s survival, Wei Cai Wei found a way at once, her brain turned quickly, her gaze fell on a pot of flamingo flowers used as decoration.
Wei Cai Wei immediately plucked a thin strip of stamen from the flamingo flower through a handkerchief, she plucked five strips in total, she said: “Take me to Ding Ru Kui.”
Ding Ru Kui’s prison was very clean and tidy, there was even a wall of books, Yan Shi Bo could definitely not see Lu Bing treat him so well.
Lu Ying immediately took Ding Ru Kui out, locking him in the room where the already blind in one eye Zhou xiaoqi was, Zhou xiaoqi was then moved to a secret room.
Zhou xiaoqi’s left eye was stuffed with gauze with his right eye he bitterly looked at Wang Da Xia and Wei Cai Wei.
To prevent him from making noise, a cloth was wrapped around his mouth, he could only make muffled sounds.
Wang Da Xia sneered: “You chased me from Wangping to Daxing, you almost turned me into a hedgehog at Shuntianfu yamen with arrows, you almost blinded doctor Wei, an eye for an eye, serves you right!”
Zhou xiaoqi was carried away, Ding Ru Kui entered, the air in this prison was filthy, it was so dirty it was impossible to know what colour the walls should be, it was like previous prisoners awaiting death had flung dung at the wall, there were also numerous bloodstains on the wall turned black with age, there were also bright red specks, it was clear it had been splattered by the single eyed prisoner.
This prison was simply suffocating!
Also in the prison there was the woman who claimed to be the adopted daughter of Wei Nan Shan and his wife from last night, she held out her handkerchief, there were five slender strips of stamen, “Chew and swallow these, your throat will begin to tighten, there’ll be stabbing pain and you will be out of breath when you speak, your mouth will dribble, it’ll look like a disease has attacked your vitals.”
“But don’t worry, if you drink a lot of water later and take the medicine I’ll make later to detox, you’ll soon recover.”
Lu Ying pointed at a torn and dirty prisoner outfit, “Hurry up and change, lie down, loosen your hair and prepare to be sick.”
Ding Ru Kui wasn’t sure what was happening.
Wei Cai Wei said: “If you still want to see the moon from last night, see Ding Wu then do as we say.” These words were actually effective.
Ding Ru Kui chewed the flamingo plant’s stamen in one go, while choking he changed clothes, after the stamen entered hs throat it began to have effect, Ding Ru Kui only felt there were a lot of blades cutting his throat, a pair of invisible hands gripped his throat, he struggled to breath, but not wanting to die he was forced to breath with his mouth and nose, his chest moved violently, the clear saliva began to flow out from the top of his lip.
He looked half way to death, Lu Ying and Wang Da Xia placed leg irons on him, Wang Da Xia moved a leg-iron over ten cattys for Ding Ru Kui to wear around his ankles.
Wei Cai Wei mixed colours, applying on his bare skin different shades of purple and reds, marks of abuse.
Yan Shi Bo drank two cups of green tea with Lu Bing before he was invited down to the prison by Lu Ying.
At the entrance, Lu Ying handed Yan Shi Bo a cloth padded with cotton, “The smell is rather unpleasant, many of the prisoners are unwell, I’m afraid uncle Yan will choke, use this to cover your nose.”
Lu Ying demonstrated how to use it, tying it on herself, she asked: “Uncle Yan do you need me to help?”
Yan Shi Bo’s arms were chubby and short, he struggled to move.
Of course his life was important, Yan Shi Bo nodded, even being in the mood to joke around with Lu Ying, “Fortunately it’s two pieces of white cloth, if it was black, we would be masked robbers.”
When an elder makes a joke, even if it isn’t funny, a youngster must smile, Lu Ying smiled: “Uncle Yan really is witty.”
Lu Ying tied the cloth around Yan Shi Bo, the entrance to the prison was a long and narrow slope, the limestone slope held signs of a broom having swept over them, it was clear this was a hasty job, a guard walked in front carrying a lamp.
The prison holding those awaiting execution was like a maze, everyone had their own prison cell, to protect against fire only those guarding would hold lanterns on patrol, lamps were not allowed in the prison, so at night, apart from sleeping, the prisoners couldn’t do anything else.
Even those who couldn’t sleep would lie down in bed with their eyes shut, even if they felt a light was nearby they were too lazy to open their eyes.
They had no opportunity to live, no energy to live, they were just walking corpses waiting for death.
Yan Shi Bo didn’t pay any attention to them, nothing succeeds like success, he and his father Yan Song stood at the top of the court for over thirty years without falling, sending each of their rivals here, it’s because the father and son were always winners.
He couldn’t lose this.
The higher you are, the harder you fall, the more you had to lose.
A step back was an extremely high cliff, that’s why when Yan Shi Bo heard the requests for Ding Ru Kui’s case to be reviewed begin to increase he had to completely bury any problems to avoid backlash.
“We're here.” The guard placed the lamp on a table in front of the prison cell.
A candle stand was placed on the table, five candles were placed on the stand.
There was also a basket under the table, a mosquito-repellent incense burnt inside.
“Uncle Yan please take a seat.” Lu Ying pointed at the only chair.
Due to Yan Shi Bos round shape, this journey had taken its toll as well as wearing a mask he couldn’t remove, he was so hot his forehead was covered in oil, he was also born pale, right now he looked like a melted snow-capped mountain.
Yan Shi Bo sat down, clutching his chest, he couldn’t breathe properly.
Wang Da Xia who had been the one to set down the table and chair, unfolded a fan, waving it with all his strength, fanning Yan Shi Bo.
That little bit of a breeze was like a cup of water on a burning cart of firewood, Yan Shi Bo only wanted to see Ding Ru Kui as soon as possible then leave.
“Ding Ru Kui, do you remember me?” Yan Shi Bo asked.
The person lying on the worn out woven mat in the prison didn’t move at all, his back was still to him.
Lu Ying walked closer, using an iron stick to fiercely hit the iron bars with a dong dong, “Ding Ru Kui, get up, lord Yan is asking you a question!”
Ding Ru Kui’s entire body suddenly shuddered, first he suddenly jolted up, then he slowly turned around, when he turned, the iron chains around his ankles clattered.
Ding Ru Kui rubbed his eyes, “You are…young lord Yan.” His voice was hoarse, it sounded like it had been polished with the roughest sandpaper.
Lu Ying said: “Don’t speak rubbish or you’ll have your tongue cut out, this is assistant minister Yan.”
It was too dark in the prison, Yan Shi Bo could hear his voice but couldn’t see him clearly, he said: “Come here, walk closer.”
Lu Ying continued to hit the iron bars, “Hurry up, don’t let assistant minister Yan wait.”
Ding Ru Kui got off the bed, clutching at his chest, dragging the over ten catty heavy leg irons, panting three times with each step, he approached the iron door, then he leaned on the iron bars.
At this moment Yan Shi Bo saw him clearly, this was indeed the former high official of ministry of war Ding Ru Kui, all prisoners awaiting death looked the same, greasy hair tied in a knot as dirty as a floor mop, convexed cheek bones, black and purple scars covered their bodies.
Ding Ru Kui was even worse off, his mouth didn't seem able to close, he took in big gulps of breathe, Yan Shi Bo was separated from him by a table but he could hear his chest sounded like a bellow pulling in air.
A glistening string of saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth onto the iron bars!
It seems Lu Bing wasn’t lying, Ding Ru Kui was ill, quite seriously ill, he seemed to struggle to breathe, his words slurred like he was talking in his sleep, “Assistant minister Yan, my son… my wife is already dead…don’t touch my son.”
Lu Ying brandished the iron rod, “You dare to threaten assistant minister Yan, do you not like to live.”
Ding Ru Kui suddenly reached a hand through a small gap in the iron bars like he was clutching at the last straw, he used all his strength to stretch out, his black fingernails actually touched the tip of Yan Shi Bo’s boots!
Yan Shi Bo watched with disgust, he hurriedly retracted his foot, he asked Lu Ying, “What is his illness?”
Lu Ying said: “I don’t know, giving a group of prisoners waiting for execution two meals a day is already adequate, if they fall ill then they endure it, if they can then they can continue to eat, if not they’ll be wrapped up in the woven mat and carried out, a case is concluded once they’ve died from illness. It’s not possible to ask for a doctor and prescribe medication, see these prisoners, almost all of them are ill, this isn’t Anletang1, we don’t have the money.”
“But…” Lu Ying raised her lamp and walked a bit closer to look, “Seeing how he’s struggling to breath, it might be tuberculosis, most prisoners die from this.”
As soon as he heard tuberculosis, Yan Shi Bo couldn’t remain seated, he immediately stood up, fleeing from the prison.
After he came out, Lu Ying helped Yan Shi Bo undo the mask, then untied her own, the braziers on either side of the path had been lit, burning inside were black atractylodes rhizome, Chinese honey locust, when Lu Ying and Yan Shi Bo had walked between them, the guards had poured white vinegar inside the braziers, just smelling it made one dizzy, when white vinegar, black atractylodes rhizome and Chinese honey locust mixed together, they formed white puffs of smoke.
This was a method written inside <Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified> by the Song dynasty coroner Song Ci, it was originally used to eliminate the bad luck after autopsy, cleaning the body and clothes, later people discovered this was also effective in getting rid of illness and plague.
Lu Ying and Yan Shi Bo looked like they were travelling on a cloud of smoke, after leaving the white mist, their hair even held the tart smell of medication.
Yan Shi Bo went to find his in-law, it was much cooler there, almost a place for a deity, heaven compared to the underground prison.
Yan Shi Bo ate a plate of light refreshments to calm down.
Lu Bing took the opportunity to take out Zhou xiaoqi’s confession, “There’s something, a trivial unpleasant matter, fortunately Dong Lou is here today so I’ll say it…”
Lu Bing showed Yan Shi Bo the sections he had circled in red, acting like he didn’t believe it, “That Zhou xiaoqi is very cunning, he deliberately dragged Dong Lou into this thinking of finding a shield so I wouldn’t do anything to him. Of course I didn’t fall for it, considering Dong Lou’s position, how could you have questioned an insignificant xiaoqi? If Dong Lou is interested in the murder of Chen qianhu and his son just ask me directly or ask Ying Er, there’s no need to ask others.”
Yan Shi Bo thought it over, his triple chin wobbled and shook in time, he didn’t seem shocked by Lu Bing’s words at all, he swallowed and drank half a cup of tea, using his handkerchief to wipe his lips, then he said: “Dong Hu understands me the most. Chen qianhu and his son are merely ants, I don’t have the time or effort to care about their deaths, that Zhou xiaoqi dared to drag my name into this, he must be sick of living, Dong Hu, fulfil his wish.”
“This kind of bed bug which jumps around, biting anyone in their reach, killing him with a slap would create tranquillity. Make it known, this bedbug had stolen money from the ants, his crime had been exposed, the bedbug became flustered killing the two ants, wrap up the case, it’s fine as long as there’s an explanation.”
No wonder Yan Shi Bo was considered a genius, he was spot on, he said: “There’s no need to spend so much effort on the death of a qianhu who no one cares about, he’s dead and there’s no one to succeed the title, what’s the point in worrying so much. The embroidered uniform guards are in charge of many important matters, this matter should have been dealt with by Shuntianfu, isn’t it just because of that Zhou xiaoqi causing trouble, fighting with the Northern city military and Shuntianfu in the streets, making this into a huge fuss and the emperor getting the embroidered uniform guards involved?”
Yan Shi Bo used his finger to touch the ice water, drawing a circle on the table, “He started this so he’ll end this, hurry up and close the case, your beloved daughter Lu Ying has lost weight over this case, my heart hurts seeing this, it’s better to be credited for dealing with the information regarding Japanese pirates. The Japanese pirates in the south, the grassland enemies in the north, these are the people the embroidered uniform guards should be focused on, don’t lose a watermelon over a sesame seed.”
Yan Shi Bo’s amazing logic to resolve matters remained the same as before, if you can’t settle the problem, deal with the person who caused the problem, as long as you can give an explanation to your superior.
Lu Bing bowed his head: “Chen qianhu and his son, Zhou xiaoqi’s death can wipe out their crimes, Dong Lou’s words are insightful.”
Yan Shi Bo didn’t come here in vain, he was certain about Ding Ru Kui’s serious illness and in passing caused the death of the biting bedbug Zhou xiaoqi, from now on no one knew he had accepted the twenty thousand silvers from Chen qianhu as a bribe to push the blame on He qianhu.
Yan Shi Bo had had his fill, he said his goodbyes, Lu Bing put on an act of getting up to see “Dong Lou” out but was rejected firmly by Dong Lou, “It’s very hot outside, rest up, it’s fine for Ying Er to see me out alone, you suffered from heatstroke, I’ll keep it a secret.”
Lu Ying only turned back after she had seen Yan Shi Bo to shuntianfu’s yamen, Lu Bing had already written up a conclusion to the case, saying Zhou xiaoqi and Chen dailang were big gamblers, they partnered up to embezzle money, the two shared the money unevenly so Zhou xiaoqi killed Chen dailang. He was then found out by Chen qianhu so he messed with Chen qianhu’s saddle, poisoning him to death.
“If not.” Lu Bing placed a stamp on the file, “We continue to investigate, there would only be two outcomes. First, you catch the escaped second young lady He, murder requires one to pay with their life, you need to enforce the law justly so you’ll push the second young lady He to the guillotine for taking revenge for her family?”
“I—” Lu Ying couldn’t speak.
“You can’t do it, you would definitely let her go.” Lu Bing said: “The second outcome is you’ll continue to cling onto assistant minister Yan’s lead, then the Yan and Lu family will fall out, your second sister will suffer in the Yan family and it will no longer be peaceful. Also, assistant minister Yan will definitely not let you find out anything, even if you rush head first into it you’ll come up empty handed, the case will become unsolved and set aside. Is this what you want to see happen?”
“I—” Lu Ying fell silent again.
Lu Bing sighed: “This is bureaucracy, the truth isn’t important, solving the problem is. Zhou xiaoqi is the solution, by ending the case here second young lady He will be safe and that person is most likely doctor Wei, you didn’t find any poison in her home, but she definitely understands poisons, you saw she just used the stamens from a flamingo flower tonight to help Ding Ru Kui pretend to be ill, such a talented person, take her in, she will become your arm, but if you force her to be your enemy, she will be formidable. Do you understand?”
The emotions in Lu Ying’s eyes fluctuated, “I understand, I’m still too weak, I can only be forced to settle the problem but I will never stop looking for the truth, if I have the chance in the future, I will ask assistant minister Yan for the truth about the twenty thousand silvers he received from Chen qianhu, what actually happened between the two of them, there has to be a reason why he gave him so much money. Also doctor Wei, one day, she will tell me the truth herself.”
Lu Bing looked at his daughter like she had grown up, “You really have grown up, hard work will pay off, even the emperor has to bear it for the moment and wait for an opportunity.”
The next day, the embroidered uniform guards posted a bulletin, announcing the case of Chen qianhu and his son’s murder had been solved, the murderer was his subordinate Zhou xiaoqi who liked to gamble, he stole from the Chen family, even killing the father and son to silence them.
Zhou xiaoqi was sentenced to execution by hanging.
The frenzy regarding the deaths of the father and son died down, the weather turned even hotter, after a few torrential rains, the catkins which had covered the capital city for over a month were all washed away, it was then almost the dragon boat festival, on each waterway in the city there were boats after boats practising, the sound of the drums shook the heavens in preparation for the dragon boat race.
Wang Da Xia was selected to be part of the embroidered uniform guard’s dragon boat team, every day he carried an oar out to the dragon boat before returning only at night.
This morning, Wang Da Xia carried out his oar when he came across two soldiers leading a tall young man with the appearance of an orchard jade tree down from a carriage, the young man was very good looking, even Wang Da Xia didn’t dare to look at him too much.
The soldier took out a piece of paper and handed it to the guard at the gate, “An embroidered uniform guard from Tieling carrying out the orders of commander Lu, I’ve brought the exiled Ding Wu to the capital.”
Ding Wu! So it was him! As soon as he heard this name, Wang Da Xia stopped moving.
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