Imprisoned

"Master Xu, your family is here to see you."

Celestial Prison, Cell D-24.

Within the dim and gloomy cell, a filthy figure curled up in the corner, fast asleep atop a pile of wheat straw.

Footsteps approached from afar, growing steadily louder.

The prisoner opened his eyes.

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a sense of deep resentment.

Since transmigrating into this world, Xu Xing had felt that his previous life was mediocre and uneventful, having achieved nothing earth-shattering. However, thanks to his university education in his past life, his grasp of arithmetic was quite impressive.

Thus, he had created a simpler way to write numbers and introduced mathematical inventions like calculus...

Two years ago, after passing the Ministry of Rites examination under the Department of State Affairs, he was selected as the Director of the Imperial Stables, responsible for managing the livestock taxes submitted by the Bureau of Pasturage.

The Director of the Imperial Stables was a minor official of the Subordinate Eighth Rank in the Phoenix Creek Kingdom.

An Eighth Rank official was already quite respectable; back in Xu Xing's previous life, the likes of Young Master Zhou wouldn't even qualify as a wealthy socialite compared to him.

However, seven days ago, the Chongming Emperor had a sudden whim and personally visited the Imperial Stud Directorate. But the dynasty, having stood for nearly three hundred years, was already riddled with deep-seated problems. The Imperial Stud Directorate had a massive shortage of warhorses, and the Chongming Emperor held them accountable...

Consequently, Xu Xing, a minor official from a humble background with no power or influence, was pushed out by the head of the Imperial Stud Directorate, Han Sui, to take the fall.

The Grand Minister of the Imperial Stud is one of the Nine Ministers of the imperial court, holding immense power. Han Sui has always been close to the high officials of the Three Judicial Offices, and he has a daughter married to the Emperor as a consort. He is the Chongming Emperor's father-in-law. Even if I were to bite back at him now, I fear he would remain unscathed...

On the contrary, if I accept this crime and behave, Han Sui might consider public opinion and perhaps take better care of my family.

Xu Xing sighed, gradually resigning himself to his fate.

Born into such a feudal dynasty, trying to defy the heavens with the strength of one man was simply too difficult.

One wrong step, and it would be total destruction.

If he were alone, he might have fought for a chance, but his family in the Western Pass Circuit was still there. If he brought disaster upon his kin, it would be his own sin.

The footsteps drew closer.

The first thing to appear before Xu Xing was an elderly jailer wearing a white bamboo hat with the character "Prison" patched onto his chest.

The old jailer's surname was Li, and he was in charge of delivering meals to the Celestial Prison. No one knew his real name, so the prisoners simply called him "Old Li."

"Old Li..."

Xu Xing followed the local custom and addressed him as "Old Li."

After speaking, he carefully lifted his feet and shuffled toward the iron bars near the corridor.

The iron chains on his ankles clattered loudly.

The dozens of pounds of leg shackles were exceptionally heavy.

If he walked too quickly or wasn't careful, he would trip over them.

Xu Xing had been in the Celestial Prison for some time, and his constitution was weak; he was panting after only a few steps.

"Old Li, my family is still in the Western Pass Circuit. She isn't my relative... I expect you've mistaken her for someone else."

By the iron bars, Xu Xing saw that the visitor was a young girl, and he immediately looked disappointed, shaking his head.

The Xu family was of humble origin; his mother had died early, leaving only his widowed father. Although there were a few servants at home, none of them... were this beautiful woman before him.

"Master Xu, the Ministry of Justice has already issued the official document. The corruption case regarding the horse administration of the Imperial Stud Directorate has been settled. A total of thirteen officials have been sentenced to death, and over three hundred accomplices will be exiled to Qiongzhou..."

"And you... as the primary culprit, according to the Grand Pronouncements of the Founding Emperor, you will be skinned and stuffed with straw in a month's time..."

The young girl held a bamboo food box in her hands, her eyes lowered in a submissive manner.

Although he had long known he would face death after being made a scapegoat, hearing the words "skinned and stuffed with straw" still hit Xu Xing like a thunderbolt. He stood stunned for a long while, unable to recover his senses.

The shortage of warhorses was a major case.

In the common folk, killing a warhorse through neglect was punishable by three thousand miles of exile.

Stealing a warhorse was a capital offense.

The shortage of over three hundred warhorses at the Imperial Stud Directorate was the most serious case since the founding of the dynasty. The imperial court would undoubtedly punish the corrupt officials severely; that was beyond doubt. But the prospect of being skinned and stuffed with straw still made his skin crawl.

"Then who are you? And why have you come?"

Xu Xing sat cross-legged on the ground, sizing up the woman before him.

The girl wore a pink silk dress, a pale yellow ribbon tied around her slender waist. Her hair was styled in double buns, her face like a new moon, and a plum blossom huadian was painted between her brows. As she bowed submissively, her graceful figure was fully revealed.

Even if he had been corrupt, he could never have afforded such a delicate and beautiful maid.

"This servant was a courtesan at the Moonwatch Tower named Yunniang. Three days ago, Master Han redeemed me, and under his orders, I have come here to marry Master Xu..."

"Master Han heard that Master Xu has yet to marry or have any heirs, and out of consideration for his colleague, he has ordered me to bear a child for you."

Zhao Yunniang said softly.

Cell D-24 was now draped in red cloth.

Inside the bridal chamber.

Dressed and groomed, Xu Xing wore a large red silk flower pinned to his chest. He glanced at Zhao Yunniang, who sat opposite him, and felt a pang of reluctance. "There is no need for you to marry a dying man like me. If you are willing, I shall write a letter to Lord Han this instant to grant you your freedom."

When a man is nearing death, his words are sincere. He could not bear the thought of Zhao Yunniang being widowed for the sake of a fleeting pleasure. Besides, if he were to die and Zhao Yunniang became a widow... if she were a woman unwilling to remain chaste, he would be wearing countless green hats even from beyond the grave.

Rather than restricting Zhao Yunniang's entire life, it would be better to do a good deed before he died, accumulate some merit, and let her go.

Even if Zhao Yunniang had been forced by practical circumstances to marry him as a concubine, with these words spoken, even if he died, she would remember his kindness if she were a grateful person, and would not harbor hatred toward him or mistreat his posthumous child.

Although he was a newcomer to the officialdom, he had at least weathered some of its storms; he still possessed a measure of worldly wisdom.

Zhao Yunniang pressed her lips against a piece of rouge paper, making them appear even more vibrant and red.

In her bridal makeup, phoenix crown, and ceremonial robes, she looked all the more delicate and alluring.

"A woman follows the man she marries, be he a chicken or a dog. Even if Lord Xu has committed a crime, you still hold official status. That you do not despise my background from the pleasure quarters is already a grace; how could I ever despise you, my lord?"

"I have already placed the Musk Dragon Powder in the food box. This powder will stimulate your blood and vitality, ensuring that after a few nights of intimacy... it will be enough for me to conceive..."

She spoke with concise clarity.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xing understood everything.

Han Sui sending Zhao Yunniang to him to leave behind an heir was not merely out of kindness. The true objective was likely to leave him blood-depleted and physically drained after the act, causing him to die suddenly before his scheduled execution.

A month might seem short, but who could say if variables might arise within that time? Perhaps someone would seize the opportunity to stir up factional strife and overturn the corruption case regarding the horse administration of the Imperial Stud Directorate.

Factional strife within the Phoenix Creek Kingdom's court had been severe for more than a day or two; taking sides regardless of right or wrong was long since an open secret.

But regardless of the factional fighting, Xu Xing guessed that it would be very difficult for him to ever be released from the Celestial Prison in this lifetime.