Chapter 1: Pawns Enter the Game

Chapter 1: Pawns Enter the Game

Chapter 1: Pawns Enter the Game
In the second year of Renshou in the Sui Dynasty, a murder occurred on the canal outside Jiangdu County.

A passenger ship was quietly anchored at the shore, which was crowded with people watching the excitement. A dozen officers were maintaining order. Five corpses were lying on the shore, wrapped in mats.

Several detectives were nervously investigating the murder scene on the passenger ship. The boatman was squatting on the bow, he was soaked all over. It was a chilly spring day, he wrapped himself in a blanket and shivered.

On the shore, Jiangdu County Magistrate Wang Lan had an extremely ugly expression on his face, with an unconcealable nervousness in his eyes. The words "Princess Leping's Mansion" were found on the objects in the boat, indicating that the identity of the person killed was unusual.

At this time, the county lieutenant Ma Xun came out of the cabin, holding a few items in his hands, walked quickly ashore, and whispered to the county magistrate Wang Lan: "County Lord, it's confirmed, it's someone from the Princess's Mansion!"

A trace of panic suddenly flashed across Wang Lan's eyes. What should he do?
Ma Xun added: "A young man was found in the bottom cabin, seriously injured but not dead. The boatman said he got on board halfway. He was holding a bloody sword in his hand, and the tip of the sword matched the wound on the deceased. He should be the suspect of the assassination."

"Young man?" Wang Lan was stunned.

"Although he is a teenager, he is very tall, taller than the dead guard."

Wang Lan hesitated for a moment and asked, "You said he was seriously injured. Can he be saved?"

Mason nodded. "He was covered in blood, but he was found in time and the bleeding stopped."

At this moment, a bailiff came running over and said urgently, "Sir, the governor is here!"

Wang Lan turned around and saw two horse-drawn carriages coming up the official road. Dozens of local soldiers with swords at their sides followed. On the leading carriage was a triangular flag with black characters on a yellow background, with the three characters "Governor Wei" written in large letters.

Wang Lan was surprised that the Wei governor came so quickly!

Wang Lan had no choice but to go forward bravely.

The onlookers all moved away, and Wei Lihu, the governor of Jiangdu County, came over, escorted by a group of local soldiers, followed by several aides.

Wang Lan quickly bowed and said, "Your humble servant pays respect to the Wei envoy!"

Wei Lihu asked coldly: "I heard that there was a murder case on the canal, and it involved the princess. What's going on?"

"Reporting to the envoy, I just heard about the murder and immediately brought people to investigate. Five people were indeed killed, but the identities of the victims are still unclear."

"Humph! County Magistrate Wang is trying to shirk responsibility?"

"I dare not. If someone is killed within my jurisdiction, I will shoulder the responsibility of investigating the case."

Wei Lihu walked forward, lifted the mat with his toes, looked at it and said, "This man is Lu Mingzhong, the chief eunuch of the princess. The other four should be his guards. Yesterday, Eunuch Lu came to visit me, but he was killed today. County Magistrate Wang, you are indeed responsible for a great deal. Let's see how you explain it to the princess!"

Wei Lihu snorted heavily, turned around and left.

Wang Lan's face turned pale. He hurriedly followed and asked, "Cousin Wei, can you give me some clues to investigate the case?"

Wei Lihu stopped walking, his narrow eyes flashing coldly, "Wang County Magistrate, do you suspect that I am involved in the case?"

"I dare not, but it is better for Envoy Wei to know them than for me to know nothing about them. They were killed in Jiangdu County. I am a lowly official and I am afraid I cannot bear the wrath of the princess!"

What Wang Lan meant was that they were killed in Jiangdu County, and while I, as the county magistrate, am certainly responsible, you, as the governor, cannot escape blame either.

Wei Lihu stared at Wang Lan fiercely, his expression changing several times, and finally he said coldly: "They came to Jiangdu to take a Baibao Liuli lamp, you can investigate based on the clues of this lamp!"

After saying that, Wei Lihu turned and left.

Wang Lan watched the carriage go away, his official uniform on the back soaked with sweat.

At this time, the county lieutenant Ma Xun came running and said, "Sir, the young suspect has woken up."

Wang Lan gritted his teeth and said, "Take him to the county government office and let me interrogate him thoroughly!"

In a sheltered place at the back door of Jiangdu County Government Office, a man in gray wearing a bamboo hat handed a note to the county lieutenant Ma Xun and then left in a hurry.

After the gray-robed man walked away, Mason looked around and opened the note. There was only one line of words on it: "Kill the surviving boy on the boat immediately!"

Mason frowned, put the note into his arms, turned and left.

Just as Ma Xun's figure turned the corner and disappeared at the side of the wall, a tall young man in a brocade robe slowly appeared in the alley opposite. There was a large red mole in the middle of his forehead, followed by several men.

The young man in brocade robes looked coldly at where Mason disappeared, turned around and ordered: "Arrange for the prisoners to take synchronous actions!"

Xiao Xia could never have dreamed that after waking up from the car accident, he would be lying on the death row of Jiangdu County in the Sui Dynasty, transformed into a boy of fourteen or fifteen years old.

The joy of winning first place in the provincial examination had not yet completely faded, but the hideous-looking man in front of him completely ruined his mood.

An old death row inmate was just a few feet away from him, as if he could grab him with just one hand. His scarred face was pressed against the wooden fence, and his rat-like single eye was staring greedily at his neck.

"As promised, give me the treasure between your neck!"

There was a jade pendant hanging around Xiao Xia's neck. The rope buckle had been loosened. With a slight pull, the jade pendant fell into Xiao Xia's hand, but he did not give it to her.

"You haven't told me yet, what year of the Sui Dynasty is this year?"

"Idiot, you don't even know the second year of Renshou? Tell me, what else do you want to ask?"

The old prisoner stared at the jade pendant in Xiao Xia's hand with fiery eyes.

It turns out that it is now the second year of Renshou in the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, should die in two years, and Yang Guang will officially ascend the throne. There is still some time before the world falls into chaos.

Xiao Xia couldn't think of anything else to ask for a moment, so he turned his attention to himself.

"What crime have I committed? Why am I on death row?"

"You just came in, how would I know? Hurry up and give me the baby, and I promise to help you find out in the evening."

Xiao Xia swung his hand, and the jade pendant flew over. The old prisoner caught it and immediately retreated back into his cell. He stared at the jade pendant in his hand greedily, rubbed it vigorously, and sighed, "What a treasure!"

The old prisoner was in a good mood and started to laugh. "Boy, for the sake of the baby, I'm going to give you a piece of advice. Ask your family to find a way out! If you are in the death row, you will never get out alive without someone to protect you."

Xiao Xia sat against the damp stone wall, smiling bitterly in his heart. He didn't even know what his name was in the Sui Dynasty, nor did he know what he had done wrong, so how could he find a way out?
He looked at the mole-like old death row prisoner with a dull gaze, and was ecstatic over a worthless jade pendant.

"Do you want money?" Xiao Xia suddenly smiled.

"You still have money?" The old prisoner's eyes lit up.

"In a few days, my family will send me some money so that I can build some connections in prison."

"Oh - no problem, come to me and I'll teach you!"

The old prisoner swallowed a large mouthful of saliva with a gulp.

At this time, the jailer brought a glass of water. Xiao Xia was extremely thirsty. He quickly picked up the cup and was about to drink it, but suddenly stopped. How could there be such a new cup in the death row?

He glanced at the old prisoner.

The scar on the old prisoner's face also became friendly at this time. He laughed and said, "They usually don't poison the water, but this water cup is the first time I've seen it in ten years. It may be worth two cents. Drink the water quickly and give me the cup!"

Xiao Xia's throat felt like it was being cut by a knife. He swallowed hard and put the cup down. He was imprisoned on death row when he first arrived in the Sui Dynasty, so he was wary of everything.

At this time, footsteps were heard outside, followed by the rattling of iron chains, and the wooden gate as thick as a wrist was opened. Under the dim light, a tall and thin man walked in.

Xiao Xia knew this man who was in his thirties. He should be a doctor. He bandaged his wounds and applied medicine when he woke up.

Xiao Xia was injured in the head, hit by a heavy object, and his head was bleeding. The doctor unwrapped the bandage and took a closer look at the wound on his head. He was very surprised and asked, "What happened? It's only been half a day, but it has started to heal and form a scab. I have been treating injuries for ten years, but this is the first time I have seen this. Do you have internal energy?"

Xiao Xia didn't care about the injury. He asked quickly, "Excuse me, doctor, what crime did I commit? Why am I on death row?"

The doctor glanced at him and said calmly, "You are suspected of murder, and you have killed five people. This is a major homicide. If you don't stay on death row, where else do you want to stay?"

Xiao Xia was stunned. How could he kill five people by himself?

At this moment, the doctor glanced and saw the cup of water on the ground. He picked up the cup and looked at it, then put it to his nose and smelled it. His face changed slightly, and he immediately poured out the water in the cup.

He turned around and said sternly: "Bring a bucket of water!"

Immediately, a jailer brought a bucket of water, and the doctor handed it to Xiao Xia, "Drink it!"

Xiao Xia was extremely thirsty, so he took the water scoop and drank it all in one gulp.

"The wound hasn't healed yet, take good care of yourself, I'll come back tomorrow to change your dressing!"

The doctor stood up to leave, and Xiao Xia suddenly became anxious. He was not a fool, and he could see that there was something wrong with the glass of water.

Xiao Xia grabbed the man's wrist and said anxiously, "Doctor, can you tell me what crime I have committed?"

The doctor broke free from his hand, looked at him again, shook his head, and turned away.

Xiao Xia has realized that his life is in danger and his only hope is this doctor.

He struggled to get up, but the wooden door slammed shut, followed by the iron chain lock.

Xiao Xia grabbed the wooden fence and said anxiously: "Tell me about the case! Maybe I can remember something?"

The last sentence made the doctor hesitate for a moment, then he stopped and said to him, "It's okay to tell you. The deceased is said to be the chief eunuch of the princess, a eunuch, and his four guards. You found him in the bottom cabin, holding a sword in his hand and covered in blood. This is all I can tell you. What can you remember?"

"County Lieutenant Ma is here!" a jailer whispered at the prison door.

The doctor immediately changed his tone and said, "Feed him well, so his injury can heal faster!"

A tall and thin official with a hooked nose, triangular eyes and a cunning face walked over from the darkness. Behind him were two constables wearing black clothes with red edges. They were the county lieutenant Ma Xun.

Ma Xun asked coldly: "Can I come to the court for interrogation?"

The doctor bowed and said, "Reporting to Magistrate Ma, his injuries are quite serious and he cannot be seen for the time being. We have to wait a few more days."

Ma Xun snorted, walked forward and squatted, staring at Xiao Xia with his triangular eyes, "You'd better tell me your accomplice. Because you are young, you won't be punished severely!"

Xiao Xia is a graduate student majoring in law. After graduation, he worked in a law firm for a year. He has been involved in many cases and is good at unraveling the truth. He probably has understood the case.

Xiao Xia said bluntly: "Just because I hold a sword in my hand, you consider me a suspect? This is ridiculous. If someone wants to kill me, will I use the sword to protect myself? County Lieutenant, I should be the only survivor!"

Amazon's triangular eyes, like a venomous snake, stared at Xiao Xia, and a fierce light flashed in his eyes.

He tightened the hilt of the sword at his waist and said to several jailers: "Open the door!"

The jailer quickly unlocked the door, and Mason said coldly: "Everyone, step back!"

After everyone had left, Mason slowly drew his sword.

　A new journey begins.

　　Although it is the Sui Dynasty again, the taste is definitely different.

　　In the past it was braised pig’s trotters in red sauce, and now it is shredded pork with fish sauce.

　　The writing angle is also different. Although they are both pork, it used to be pork trotter and now it is tenderloin.

　　The difficulty is also different.

　　Come along and you will see a completely different Sui Dynasty.

　　A completely different story.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)