Xu Xing's heart turned cold once more.
"Fine, if you're willing, that's enough."
He nodded.
The two began eating, engaging in simple conversation during the meal.
The banquet dishes came from Sheng Yun Building, including Braised Sea Cucumber, Soy Sauce Pork Knuckle, Four Joy Meatballs, Stir-fried Kidney Flowers, and First-rate Tofu—everything one could imagine, along with a full pot of Pear Blossom Brew.
"Young Xu, since you're getting married, why bother with all these red curtains? We're all prisoners in Sky Prison; if we're not brothers, we're at least like brothers."
"Yeah, let us have some fun too."
Halfway through the meal, several officials from neighboring prison cells chimed in.
Those held in D-level Prison Cells were officials convicted of crimes, ranging from the Ninth Rank to below the Fifth Rank. Unlike other criminals, as long as they weren't sentenced to death, they could return to the Court after a year or even just a few months in prison, depending on the Emperor's wishes.
As a result, compared to other prisoners, their mental state was generally more carefree, without the pressure of life and death.
Visiting prostitutes and engaging in romantic escapades were common practices among scholar-officials.
Zhao Yunniang, whom Xu Xing married, was only a concubine.
Concubines were merely playthings among scholar-officials, and it was common for a master, if pleased, to have his concubines accompany guests.
When Zhao Yunniang heard these officials speak, her body stiffened. She looked worriedly at Xu Xing, fearing that he would actually heed their words, remove the curtains surrounding the prison cell, and leave her utterly humiliated.
Although she came from Zhang Terrace, she was still an unblemished courtesan, one who entertained with her talents rather than her body.
But in the eyes of most people, a brothel prostitute was just a prostitute—a plaything for their enjoyment.
"Scholar Su, Yunniang is my only concubine. If she truly bears me offspring, after my death, she would become my formal wife..."
Xu Xing did not immediately reprimand these shameless old men.
This was simply how things were in Fengxi Country. If he genuinely treated Zhao Yunniang as a "person," he would be the odd one out. But these words were enough to silence the nearby officials.
A concubine could be trifled with, but not a formal wife.
To harass a formal wife was to invite a feud unto death, and one would also earn the scorn of society.
Moreover, he knew that Scholar Su would soon be released and return to the Court, so he couldn't afford to offend him too much.
Furthermore, although Scholar Su was somewhat tactless, his reputation in and out of Court was decent. Their recent interactions had also been quite harmonious.
So Xu Xing's reply was carefully considered. If Scholar Su were the type to remember old friendships, perhaps he would even help take care of Xu Xing's widow and orphan out of consideration for their past fellowship as prison friends.
As soon as the empty promise of "formal wife" was made, Zhao Yunniang's gaze towards Xu Xing immediately changed. A thin layer of mist veiled her almond-shaped eyes, as if she had truly developed a flicker of affection for him.
"It's getting late, Husband..."
"Let's sleep."
As the sky outside the prison window gradually darkened, Zhao Yunniang's cheeks flushed. She lowered her Qiufu, cleared the messy plates from the table, and then shyly covered herself with the red bridal veil, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.
The two red wedding candles filled the entire room with crimson light.
Xu Xing took the wedding scale from the table and lifted the bride's red veil.
Their eyes met.
「The next day, in the early morning.」
The curtains were removed, and the beautiful woman was gone.
"Young Xu, your life is running short."
Scholar Su, from the cell to Xu Xing's left, leaned over. After examining Xu Xing for a few moments, he saw his ashen face and shallow breathing, shook his head, and spoke earnestly.
Almost every Grand Scholar with some renown had extensively studied the classics.
Medical classics were naturally among them.
As the saying goes, "If not a good prime minister, then be a good physician."
In the circles of renowned scholars, one would be embarrassed to show their face without some medical skill. Composing their own effective prescriptions was a common affair.
The Four Diagnoses of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Look, Smell, Ask, and Cut.
Scholar Su did not take Xu Xing's pulse. However, simply observing Xu Xing's current complexion told him that his kidney essence was depleted and his qi and blood were exhausted. Coupled with his recent imprisonment and lack of proper care, he would surely die if this continued.
"I know..."
"There aren't many good days left for me anyway."
Xu Xing said with self-abandonment.
It was virtually impossible to resist the violence of the state with one's own strength.
Realizing there was no hope of survival, he had indulged himself as much as possible the previous night.
Dying on a woman's belly was far better than suffering Flaying Grass.
And the Musk Dragon Powder had indeed nearly drained all his qi and blood.
"To die in pleasure is a kind of pleasure in itself."
"When I eventually take charge of the Court and become the Chief Minister, I will definitely overturn your wrongful conviction and clear your descendants' names."
Scholar Su knew Xu Xing had been wronged. After spending several days with him, compassion had welled up in his heart, leading him to make this promise.
Well, that was a bad investment... It seems he won't be getting out of Sky Prison anytime soon.
As the words fell, Xu Xing, though touched, couldn't help but roll his eyes.
A ruler who is not discreet loses his ministers; a minister who is not discreet loses his life.
The corruption case at Taipu Temple was a deep-rooted problem of the National Dynasty. To overturn his case would be tantamount to challenging more than half the Court.
Let alone whether Scholar Su had the capability to become Chief Minister; even if he did, he wouldn't overturn the case, because doing so would mean ending his own career...
"Young Xu, come here. What do you think of my new poem?"
"I had a sudden inspiration last night..."
Scholar Su reverted to his optimistic disposition, beckoning Xu Xing and pointing to a poem he had written on the ground with a wooden stick.
"A poem?" Xu Xing was curious.
Scholar Su had passed the imperial examination for scholars, placing in the Second Class. His literary talent in prose and poetry was top-notch. According to street talk, Scholar Su had been a contender for Zhuangyuan (top scholar) back then, but the chief examiner, feeling Scholar Su's literary style resembled that of his own disciple, had lowered his standing into the Second Class.
Those who passed the Jinshi examination were hailed as "White-robed Prime Ministers."
They couldn't be compared to those from minor streams like mathematics.
He leaned over to look.
Before long, his face instantly darkened.
It was a Bridal Chamber Song.
Xu Xing waved his sleeve robe, turned, and walked away, ignoring Scholar Su. He lay down on the Wheat Straw in his prison cell, silent.
"Young Xu, Young Xu..."
"I was just joking."
Scholar Su called out.
However, after calling three times and seeing Xu Xing still ignore him, he knew he was in the wrong. He muttered an apology and then wiped the poem from the ground with his sleeve.
Different people required different treatment.
Xu Xing knew Scholar Su was naturally forthright, and the social atmosphere in Fengxi Country was relatively open. So, although he felt a slight resentment, it wasn't enough to blacklist Scholar Su.
The reason he ignored Scholar Su at this moment was because something had suddenly appeared in his mind.
A Bronze Ancient World.
The Bronze Ancient World was simple and unadorned, not much different from the bronze mirrors on women's dressing tables, except for some blurred patterns and bird scripts on its back.
[Mirror Master: Xu Xing]
[Dao Fruit: None]
[World: Late Qing Country]
[Descent: Soul]
[Time flow rate: One to Five]
[Destiny: Death by Misfortune (Gray)]
[Note: The body the Mirror Master descends into is that of his other self. After the usurpation of the Heavenly Order is complete, the acquired gains will be transformed into Dao Fruit inherent to the Mirror Master, enduring for all eternity.]
After reading all this,
Xu Xing's expression turned complex. My life is destined to end in misfortune, which is why I'm so unlucky, he muttered to himself. I finally became an Eighth Rank Official, only to be made a scapegoat...
So...
Change my fate!
Enter another world, change my fate using my other self, and then feed that change back to my original self, thus avoiding this deadly tribulation.
Perhaps even... dethrone Emperor Chongming and take the Imperial Throne myself!
After long confinement in prison, under dual torment of spirit and flesh, Xu Xing's eyes regained their brilliance for the first time.
He was no pedant, blindly loyal to king and country.
If he had the capability to become the supreme Emperor, he wouldn't hypocritically refuse.
Moreover, his imprisonment and impending execution ostensibly occurred because Han Sui had framed him. However, the root cause lay in Emperor Chongming's incompetence and his favoritism towards relatives and cronies, which had led to the unjust verdict.
The shortage of warhorses was a deep-rooted problem of the National Dynasty.