Yingtian Prefecture and its prison stood in a corner of the southern city, only two streets from the Examination Hall.
High walls, thick masonry, iron gates, heavy locks, and a shivering autumn wind.
Two stone lions stood outside the entrance. One was missing half an ear; the other, an eye.
At least they were spared having to open their eyes and ears to the injustices of this world.
By the time Wei Nisheng was brought in after his statement had been reviewed, darkness had fallen completely.
The jailers were gathered around drinking and gambling, dice clattering merrily across a battered wooden table.
A plate of peanuts, half a jar of cheap liquor, and several men huddled beneath an oil lamp that cast a waxy yellow over their faces.
Just then, footsteps alerted them.
"Who's there?"
A jailer with a face full of brutish flesh raised his head, still holding his wine bowl, and squinted toward the entrance.
Once he saw who had arrived, he froze briefly, then set down his bowl and stood.
"Well now, another prisoner at this hour?"
He looked Wei Nisheng up and down, his gaze circling over the boy's hemp clothes.
"And one who hasn't even grown all his hair yet?"
The constable leading the escort was an old hand at Yingtian Prefecture.
He did not answer, merely drew a document from his sleeve and handed it over.
"A new prisoner for tonight. Here's the paperwork."
The jailer could barely read. He took it, made a show of looking it over, then tossed it back to the constable and asked with a grin:
"What's the charge? Stole someone's belongings, or beat someone's child?"
The constable glanced at him and lowered his voice. "Murder."
"Murder?" The jailer's voice shot up before he hastily lowered it again and