Wang Daxia lost his mother at a young age and refused to submit to his stepmother’s discipline. Rebellious and willful, relying on his father being the Commander of the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office, he ran rampant in the Northern District, bringing disaster to the area. He was a notorious wastrel in the Northern District. Living to fourteen years old, this was the first time anyone had praised him as unpolished jade and predicted he would amaze the world with his first cry. Wang Daxia instantly became elated.
Who doesn’t love hearing good words!
Wang Daxia was somewhat excited, moving the folding stool beneath him closer to Wei Caiwei’s side, sitting nearer to her.
Chen Jingji was about to scold Wang Daxia for his impropriety.
But Wang Daxia restrained his flirtatious gaze, straightened his back, and asked Wei Caiwei very seriously, “Doctor Wei, you just compared me to King Zhuang of Chu—who was this King Zhuang of Chu?”
Chen Jingji silently grumbled: A hegemon from the Spring and Autumn period, even I, a broker merchant, know the allusion about amazing the world with one’s first cry. What an unlearned wastrel!
Wei Caiwei was also shocked. The Wang Daxia she knew was a talented civil and military grand eunuch from the Imperial Palace’s Directorate of Ceremonial Inner Study Hall.
The Inner Study Hall was where eunuchs were educated. The teachers there were all great scholars from the Hanlin Academy. Only eunuchs who graduated from the Inner Study Hall could enter the Directorate of Ceremonial and have opportunities to become Chief Eunuch, the head of all eunuchs, also called the Inner Chancellor, used to check and balance the Grand Secretary ministers of the cabinet.
When Wang Daxia studied in the Inner Study Hall, he was diligent and hardworking. Combined with his natural intelligence, he achieved first-class grades in every examination.
This was one of the reasons Wei Caiwei had chosen Wang Daxia as her “eating together” spouse in her previous life.
However, the current Wang Daxia didn’t even know who King Zhuang of Chu was.
No wonder Chen Jingji said he was hopeless and told her to recognize reality and abandon illusions.
Having cold water poured over her head, Wei Caiwei took a deep breath, repeatedly reminding herself to stay calm. The current Wang Daxia might be somewhat stupid, but this was also the brief period of relaxation and ease in his life.
This year, the Wang family would encounter great upheaval with disasters following one after another. Wang Daxia would be forced to take the extreme step of self-castration, becoming a eunuch to seek advancement—a difficult journey ahead.
At least the current Wang Daxia was happy.
Wei Caiwei collected her emotions and told Wang Daxia the story of King Zhuang of Chu. “He was the ruler of the Chu state during the Spring and Autumn period. He ascended the throne before age twenty. At that time, Chu faced internal troubles and external threats. With a young ruler, the state was in doubt. He deliberately indulged in wine, women, and pleasures, even posting a sign at the palace gate saying ‘Those who offer remonstrance shall be executed without mercy.'”
Wang Daxia slapped the table and stood up. “I’m indeed very similar to King Zhuang of Chu! We both love wine, women, and pleasures, and hate those who constantly advise us to improve ourselves. Our ears have grown calluses from listening!”
Chen Jingji thought to himself: King Zhuang of Chu was pretending to like these things—you genuinely like them!
Just as Wei Caiwei was about to continue the story, a team of Imperial Guards galloped up. Wang Daxia was standing at this moment, particularly conspicuous among the group of customers sitting and eating wontons.
The leading Imperial Guard spotted him immediately and spurred his horse straight toward the wonton stall.
Seeing the Imperial Guards with their Embroidered Spring Knives, the diners fell silent as cicadas, sitting motionless in their seats, afraid of being mistaken for fugitives by the Imperial Guards.
“Are you Wang Daxia?” The Imperial Guard asked from horseback, pointing his whip at Wang Daxia. “The second son of Wang Boda?”
Wang Daxia was displeased. “Calling me by name directly is one thing—after all, I’m just a commoner. But my father is a military officer with a title, the dignified Commander of the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office, a hereditary thousand-household rank passed down through five generations. My ancestors followed Emperor Chengzu south in the Jingnan Campaign, earning their title through real merit. You can call my father Wang Qianhu or Commander Wang—aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue calling my old man by his given name to his face!”
Wang Daxia, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, dared to confront the Imperial Guards directly.
Chen Jingji trembled with fear, tugging at Wang Daxia’s sleeve. “Ancestor, say less.”
The Imperial Guard sneered and lashed his whip toward Wang Daxia’s face.
Though ignorant of King Zhuang of Chu, Wang Daxia’s reflexes were quick. He grabbed his folding stool and threw it at the whip. The whip knocked the stool away with a clang, overturning the copper basin filled with chopped cilantro.
The Imperial Guard flew into a rage and lashed again. Wang Daxia simply picked up the copper basin, held it overhead as a shield, and ran at full speed, nimbly dodging through the narrow night market!
“Chase! Apprehend the suspect!” The Imperial Guards spurred their horses in pursuit. Horses naturally ran faster than Wang Daxia’s two legs, but he didn’t take conventional routes, specifically running toward crowded areas, sometimes jumping on tables, sometimes climbing rooftops and removing tiles. He actually escaped the Imperial Guards’ encirclement.
Wei Caiwei was amazed. “Second Young Master Wang is quite agile—not entirely worthless after all.”
Chen Jingji was still shaken. “Ah, Doctor Wei misunderstands. He learned these escape skills out of necessity. He causes trouble every few days, and victims line up at the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office to complain to Wang Qianhu and demand compensation. He’s often chased and beaten by Wang Qianhu for discipline. Wang Qianhu is a strict father with a heavy hand—if he ran slower, he’d probably be beaten to death by his father.”
So that’s how it was!
Wei Caiwei shouldered her bag and followed closely behind.
Chen Jingji paid thirty coins to the wonton shop owner and also chased after to watch the Imperial Guards pursue Wang Yanei.
Chen Jingji was quite pleased. At dusk, he’d been beaten by Wang Yanei and thrown from a horse. Now the Imperial Guards seemed to be avenging him: Beat him well! Beat him harder! Wang Yanei, you have your day of reckoning too!
As Wei Caiwei walked quickly, she asked Chen Jingji, “What grudge does Second Young Master Wang have with the Imperial Guards?”
Chen Jingji laughed. “Who knows? The Northern District has four pests: flies, mosquitoes, rats, and Wang Yanei. Wang Yanei has countless enemies—he even dares offend the Imperial Guards. This time he’s probably kicked an iron plate.”
Wei Caiwei glanced at Chen Jingji. “You seem quite happy?”
Having been frustrated for half the day, Chen Jingji finally felt vindicated. “The Imperial Guards are ridding the people of harm—of course I’m happy. Not just me—look, everyone’s happy.”
Wei Caiwei looked around. Passersby were discussing animatedly:
“That person who just ran by seemed to be Wang Yanei! Is Wang Qianhu disciplining his son in the street again?”
“It’s not Wang Qianhu—it’s the Imperial Guards.”
“One thing truly overcomes another. Come on, let’s go see!”
It seemed Chen Jingji spoke truthfully—Wang Yanei was notorious throughout the Northern District.
Wei Caiwei recalled her previous life when her dead husband boasted about his youth: “…I was a graceful gentleman, chivalrous and righteous! My name was Wang Daxia. In the Northern District, they all respectfully called me Master Wang—I was the dream of Northern District girls.”
There was no Master Wang, nor any girls’ dream.
Only Wang Yanei and girls’ nightmares.
Her dead husband was too proud and had deceived her.
Wei Caiwei clenched her fists and followed the crowd watching the excitement from Sweet Water Lane all the way to West Diagonal Street from the Drum Tower.
This street was one of the capital’s main thoroughfares, wide enough for ten carriages to travel side by side. On horseback, the advantage was clear, and the Imperial Guards finally caught up to Wang Daxia.
But Wang Daxia also found his backing—the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office troops on night patrol.
“Uncle Mu! Help me!” Wang Daxia ran into the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office formation and hugged the thigh of Mu Baihu, who was leading the night patrol.
Mu Baihu was Wang Qianhu’s subordinate who had watched Wang Daxia grow up. Seeing his superior’s second son being chased by Imperial Guards like a stray dog, he immediately drew his sword while mounted, shielding Wang Daxia behind him and raising his blade to meet the Imperial Guards.
“Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office on night patrol—what are the Imperial Guards doing?”
The lead Imperial Guard was a Minor Banner. In terms of rank, a Centurion definitely outranked a Minor Banner, but Imperial Guards were the emperor’s personal guard, specially handling imperial cases. The Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office only managed Northern District security. An Imperial Guard Minor Banner looked down on Military Commissioner’s Office Centurions.
Zhou Xiaoqi pointed his whip at Wang Daxia hiding behind Mu Baihu’s horse. “Our Imperial Guard Chen Qianhu’s eldest son was brutally murdered in the Northern District today. Wang Daxia had conflicts with Young Master Chen—he’s highly suspected. We need to take him for questioning. Are you Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office harboring a suspect?”
At these words, West Diagonal Street from the Drum Tower erupted in commotion.
“So the victim who died by throat-cutting under the willow tree was the son of Imperial Guard Chen Qianhu!”
Wei Caiwei, watching from the side, couldn’t help covering her mouth: What’s happening? I killed Chen Dalang—how did this get pinned on Wang Daxia?
Wang Daxia poked half his head out from behind the horse. “You Imperial Guards are slandering me! I didn’t even see Chen Dalang today—how could I kill him? I did have… conflicts with Chen Dalang. But Chen Dalang was lustful and loved gambling, with poor gambling skills. He owed considerable debts but often refused to pay, relying on his father being Imperial Guard Chen Qianhu. Many people found him disagreeable. I’ll cooperate with you Imperial Guards to make a list—you can find them instead of bothering me! I’m innocent.”
Zhou Xiaoqi snorted coldly. “We Imperial Guards specialize in intelligence—do we need a jumping clown like you causing trouble? The Imperial Guards have already compiled Young Master’s enemy list and are apprehending suspects everywhere. My task is to arrest you, Wang Daxia—you’re highly suspected.”
Wang Daxia was disdainful. “Chen Dalang still owes brothel bills—are the Imperial Guards going to arrest madams too?”
Mu Baihu turned to advise, “Erlang, say less. Chen Qianhu lost his son in middle age—white-haired person sending off black-haired. His momentary grief and using a wide net approach to find the real killer is understandable. The dead are paramount—don’t mock and ridicule.”
Only then did Wang Daxia shut up.
Mu Baihu said to Zhou Xiaoqi, “Murder cases fall under Shuntian Prefecture jurisdiction. Our Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office only assists with street patrols and apprehending suspicious persons, also sending them to Shuntian Prefecture prison for custody. I’ll personally escort Second Young Master Wang to Shuntian Prefecture to have him account for where he went today and what he saw—perhaps it can help solve the case.”
Shuntian Prefecture would give Wang Qianhu face, letting Wang Daxia record a statement and return home.
But Imperial Guards were different. Once entering Imperial Guard prison, even if not dead, you’d lose a layer of skin. Forced confessions weren’t uncommon.
Mu Baihu couldn’t let the Imperial Guards take Wang Daxia.
The Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office also had face to maintain. Moreover, this time Wang Daxia was rarely in the right—the Imperial Guards were being excessive.
“Yes, yes!” Wang Daxia poked his head out from behind the horse again. “Imperial Guards handle imperial cases—why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Chen Dalang’s death saddens me too. I hope the real killer is found quickly. I’ll cooperate with Shuntian Prefecture.”
Zhou Xiaoqi said, “What cases Imperial Guards investigate isn’t for the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office to interfere with! Hand over Wang Daxia!”
Mu Baihu gave a look, and Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office personnel surrounded Wang Daxia. Though Imperial Guards were fearsome, offending superiors was more frightening.
Zhou Xiaoqi cracked his whip. “Everyone attack! Apprehend suspect Wang Daxia!”
Imperial Guards and the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office actually started fighting in the street!
One was the emperor’s personal troops—a powerful dragon. The other was the Northern District’s local snake. Dragon and snake battled with no clear victor.
Such scenes were truly rare. Only a few timid passersby fled; most watched this famous confrontation between dragon and local snake.
Only Wei Caiwei’s gaze remained fixed on Wang Daxia. She saw this fellow was quite cunning, taking advantage of the chaos to mount a horse Mu Baihu had left for him, face almost pressed to the horse’s back as he escaped.
Just when Wei Caiwei thought Wang Daxia would escape, watching passersby shouted, “He’s running! Wang Yanei is running!”
“Imperial Guard sirs, Wang Yanei ran toward the Drum Tower!”
Hearing this, the Imperial Guards stopped fighting and turned their horses to chase Wang Daxia.
The situation reversed again and again.
Chen Jingji looked at the dumbfounded Wei Caiwei and laughed. “Now Doctor Wei understands what the Northern District’s four pests means, right? Northern District people have long suffered under Wang Yanei. Hope the Imperial Guards teach him a good lesson.”
Wang Daxia was like a rat crossing the street—everyone wanted to beat him.
Wei Caiwei worried about Wang Daxia and hurried to follow the crowd toward the Drum Tower. Soon Chen Jingji came with his family’s mule cart, inviting Wei Caiwei aboard.
As long as Wei Caiwei didn’t cancel the rental, Chen Jingji could keep his five taels of broker’s commission. In business, you must serve customers well.
Wei Caiwei got on the mule cart. Chen Jingji drove north in pursuit. Reaching the Drum Tower, crowds surged eastward—the streets were only this lively during New Year.
The mule cart reached Drum Tower East Street—Northern District Beijing was divided by Drum Tower Street, with Wanping County to the west and Daxing County to the east. They had entered Daxing territory.
Crowds still rushed eastward. Many couldn’t run anymore and stopped roadside gasping for breath.
Chen Jingji drove the mule cart to Shuntian Prefecture Street, hearing sounds of clashing weapons and drumbeats from afar.
Ahead was Shuntian Prefecture Office. At the office entrance stood a large drum for common people to beat when crying out injustices.
Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office and Imperial Guards fought fiercely while Wang Daxia wildly beat the drum with drumsticks, shouting loudly, “Imperial Guards are killing people! Prefect sir, save me!”
Chen Jingji was quite regretful. “It’s over. Now it’s reached Shuntian Prefecture Office, and Wang Yanei is suing first. Imperial Guards temporarily can’t do anything to Wang Yanei.”
Wei Caiwei felt slightly relieved: Before his castration, his virtue was lacking, almost reaching the point of universal condemnation. Fortunately, his mind was flexible, turning danger into safety. Let me see how he escapes tonight.