"Mr. Xu, someone from your family is here to see you."
Sky Prison, Room No. D24.
In the dark and gloomy cell, a filthy figure was curled up in a corner, currently sleeping soundly on a pile of Wheat Straw.
Footsteps approached gradually from a distance.
The prisoner opened his eyes.
His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins and visible resentment.
After being reborn into this world, Xu Xing felt that he had led a mediocre and unremarkable life in his previous existence. However, he went to college, received higher education, and excelled in mathematics, which was advantageous for him.
He invented a more straightforward method of writing numbers and introduced mathematical inventions such as calculus...
Two years ago, he was selected as the Dianju Cheng of Taipu Temple after passing the examination in the Book of Documents. He was entrusted with the management of the various livestock supplies of the temple.
The Dianju Cheng was a From Eighth-rank Minor Official in Fengxi Country.
The Eighth Rank was already quite impressive. In Xu Xing's past life, even those like Young Master Zhou didn't stand out as extravagant before him.
However, seven days ago, Emperor Chongming suddenly took a fancy to inspecting Taipu Temple personally. But the Dynasty, with nearly three hundred years of history, was too deep-rooted for reform. Taipu Temple had a significant shortage of warhorses, which led to Emperor Chongming questioning...
As a result, Xu Xing, an insignificant official from a commoner family, was pushed forward by his superior, Han Sui, to take the blame.
Taipu is one of the Nine Ministers of the Court, holding great power and influence. Han Sui has close ties with the high officials of the Three Law Divisions. Having married a daughter to the Emperor, he's the Emperor's father-in-law. Even if I fought back now, he'd probably remain unscathed...
On the contrary, if I obediently accept the charges, Han Sui might, for appearances' sake, take good care of my family.
Xu Xing sighed and began to accept his fate.
It is too difficult to go against the tide in a feudal dynasty with sheer personal power.
A slight misstep could lead to a point of no return.
If he were alone, he might still be able to struggle, but his family still lived on Guanxi Road. If this incident were to bring disaster upon his family, the sin would be his to bear.
The footsteps grew closer.
The first to appear before Xu Xing was an old jailer with a White Conical Hat, a patch on his chest emblazoned with the word "Jailer."
The old jailer's last name was Li, and he was in charge of delivering food to the prisoners. Nobody knew his full name, and the prisoners all called him "Old Li."
"Old Li..."
Xu Xing followed suit and called out, "Old Li."
After calling, he carefully lifted his foot and moved, step by step, toward the iron bars near the Passageway.
Iron chains on his feet clanged as he moved.
Dozens of pounds of shackles weighed heavily on him.
If he walked too quickly without paying attention, he would trip.
Xu Xing had been in Sky Prison for quite some time, and his physical strength had weakened. It didn't take many steps to leave him panting for breath.
"Old Li, my family is still on Guanxi Road. She isn't a relative of mine... You must have brought the wrong person."
By the iron bars, Xu Xing saw the visitor was a young girl. His expression instantly turned to disappointment, and he shook his head.
The Xu family were commoners; his mother had passed away early, leaving him with a widowed father. Even though there were some servants in the family, none of them were at all similar to the beautiful girl standing in front of him now.
"Mr. Xu, the Ministry of Justice has issued a document," the young girl said, holding a bamboo-woven food box in both hands, her eyes downcast. "The corruption charges involving Taipu Temple's horse management have been settled. A total of thirteen officers will be executed, and more than three hundred accomplices will be banished to Qiongzhou..."
"And you... are the principal offender. According to the Grand Ancestor's 'Great Edict', in one month, you are to be executed by Flaying Grass..."
Although Xu Xing had long known that he would be executed after taking the blame, he still felt shocked when he heard the name 'Flaying Grass'. He was in a daze for a while before recovering his senses.
Missing warhorses was a major case.
If a common person caused the death of a warhorse, their punishment was to be exiled three thousand miles away.
Stealing a warhorse warranted the uttermost punishment.
This time, over three hundred warhorses were missing from the Taipu Temple, the gravest case since the founding of the Dynasty. The Imperial Court would undoubtedly punish the convicted officers severely. However, the thought of Flaying Grass still made one's hair stand on end.
"Who are you then? What are you here for?" Xu Xing sat cross-legged on the ground, glancing at the girl in front of him.
The young girl wore a pink silk skirt, her slender waist tied with a pale yellow silk ribbon. Her hair was combed into double flat buns, her face fresh as the new moon, her forehead adorned with a yellow plum flower pin. Bending down dutifully at the moment, she revealed her exquisite figure.
Even if he were corrupt, he couldn't afford such a beautiful and charming Maid.
"I was originally a singing girl of Wangyue Building. My name is Yunniang," Zhao Yunniang spoke softly. "Three days ago, Lord Han ransomed me. At Lord Han's command, I came here to marry Mr. Xu..."
"Lord Han heard that Mr. Xu has not yet married and has no children. Out of sympathy and concern for his colleague, he ordered me to bear offspring for Mr. Xu."
Red curtains now adorned Room No. D24. Inside the Bridal Chamber, freshened up and donning a big red flower on his chest, Xu Xing looked at Zhao Yunniang sitting opposite him, feeling a little reluctant. "It's pointless for you to marry someone like me, one who is about to die. If you're willing, I'll write a letter to Lord Han right away and set you free."
As the saying goes, the words of a dying person are always good. For a moment of pleasure, making Zhao Yunniang a widow was something he couldn't bear. Moreover, if he died, Zhao Yunniang would become a widow... and if she were not willing to remain chaste, wouldn't he be cuckolded countless times even in the netherworld?
Rather than restricting Zhao Yunniang's life, he thought it would be better to do some good deeds before his death, accumulate some blessings, and release her.
Even though she might have to marry him as a Concubine due to realistic factors, as long as he said these words, Yunniang, knowing gratitude, would remember this grace even after his death. She wouldn't be resentful or treat their unborn child poorly...
Although he was new to the world of officials, he had at least experienced the trials and tribulations of it and had some astuteness.
Zhao Yunniang pursed her lips after blotting them with rouge paper, making them even more enchantingly red.
Adorned with bridal makeup and Fengguan xiapei, she looked even more irresistible.
"Marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog," she said. "Although Mr. Xu has made a mistake, he is still an official. By not looking down on me, who comes from Zhang Terrace, he has shown great kindness. How can I hold it against him?"
"I have put Musk Dragon Powder in the food box. This powder will stimulate the vitality of Mr. Xu's body, ensuring that I will become pregnant after a few rounds of passion..." She spoke with brevity and clarity.
Hearing this, Xu Xing understood everything.
Han Sui had sent Zhao Yunniang to him to bear offspring, but not just out of kindness. The real purpose was most likely to make him die from exhaustion after consummating their marriage, ensuring his death before execution...
While one month seemed short, during that time, anything could happen. Someone might even take advantage of it to trigger a factional struggle, overturning the corruption case of the Taipu Temple's horse administration.
The factional struggle within the Fengxi Country's Imperial Court had been severe for quite some time. Taking sides regardless of right or wrong was no longer a secret.
However, regardless of the factional struggle, Xu Xing guessed that he would never be released from the Sky Prison in this lifetime.