Chapter 38: Thrown into Jail

Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng seized Wu Wei’s arms, one on each side. At Dongfang Rui’s command, she was no longer just an ordinary citizen in their eyes. Whether Wu Wei was man or woman made no difference—they had no intention of going easy on her.

Wu Wei had built up some stamina from all her walking trips, but that paled in comparison to the brute strength of Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng. Even as she struggled with every ounce of her power, it did her no good at all. The instant they twisted her arms and pinned her shoulders, her vision went black. It felt as though they had grabbed not her arms, but her very soul.

They dragged her toward the door like that until, suddenly, Wu Wei planted her feet firmly against the threshold. Ignoring the searing pain in her shoulders and arms, she bellowed at Dongfang Rui, “I won’t submit!”

Dongfang Rui arched an eyebrow. She was curious to hear what else this suspected spy might have to say. Without needing any further orders from her, Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng got the message and halted in their tracks.

Sweat beaded on Wu Wei’s forehead from the pain, her cheeks flushed red, and the veins stood out starkly on her pale neck. She tried struggling a couple more times, only to draw in a sharp hiss of agony. Forced to go still, she could only glare at Dongfang Rui and roar, “Presumption of innocence—do you even understand that? What law have I broken? What gives you the right to arrest me? This is an abuse of power!”

Dongfang Rui paused for a moment, as if one of Wu Wei’s words had struck a chord. She regarded Wu Wei with deep, emotionless eyes and asked in a calm tone, “Are you a resident of Qinglu County?”

“No.”

“Do you have a migration permit?”

…

When Wu Wei remained silent, Dongfang Rui continued, “By the laws of our Liang Dynasty, anyone leaving the county of their registered household must first report to their village or clan head, stating their reason. If the absence exceeds one month, they must obtain a migration permit from the county yamen and return it within three days of coming home, closing the case. Those who leave without permission, stay over a month, and lack a permit are considered vagrants by law. First offense: thirty strokes on the back and escorted home. Repeat offense: up to a hundred strokes. Our last meeting was at the Hundred Flavors Building. Do the math—it’s nearly been a month. Once I verify the exact time you’ve been wandering, you’ll be sentenced accordingly. What do you have to say to that?”

Wu Wei deflated like a punctured balloon. This time, she truly had nothing to say. The woman had recited the exact statutes with airtight logic—what could she argue?

“Detain Miss Wu properly. I’ll handle the interrogation myself,” Dongfang Rui instructed. Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng hauled her out like a chick, and Wu Wei managed a wry grimace. So that was it—earlier, when she’d braced against the threshold, it hadn’t been that they couldn’t drag her away…

Outside the Charity Mortuary, Zhang Wei pulled out a bundle of hemp rope, ready to bind her. Wu Wei said to the two men, “Brothers Zhang, I won’t run. Could you please not tie me up?”

“We’d advise against making trouble for yourself, miss. We’re just following orders.”

Wu Wei quickly added, “Then could I at least say a few words to my friend? She’s a poor girl, thrown out by her family and left alone in this rundown old house. If I just vanish, she’ll search everywhere for me—in this freezing snow! What if something happens to her? She’s a good citizen of Qinglu County, all alone and helpless.”

Wu Wei knew full well she’d end up tied anyway, but she’d led with that outrageous request to pave the way for this milder one. She’d read a book once that explained from a psychological standpoint, people found it hard to refuse someone twice in a row. So you started with something excessive, got rejected, then slipped in your real ask.

“Please, brothers. You saw how timid my friend is. Besides, that Lord Dongfang just took a look at her and told you to escort her back home—doesn’t that prove she’s in the clear?”

Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng exchanged a glance. “Alright,” they said. “One stick of incense worth of time. Don’t put us in a tough spot.”

Wu Wei thanked them profusely. The pair proved reasonable enough, stationing themselves one in front and one behind to guard the courtyard of the Embroider Maiden’s home while letting Wu Wei go inside alone.

The moment Wu Wei pushed open the door, the Embroider Maiden flung herself forward, nearly tumbling into her arms. Wu Wei reacted swiftly, grabbing the woman’s arm to steady them both.

The Embroider Maiden stared at her. “Are you alright? What did they want with you?”

Wu Wei’s nose suddenly stung, but she fought it back. “It’s nothing. Remember what I told you before? It’s about… my dad being a coroner. That official came in such a rush this time, without a good one of her own. She wants to discuss the case with me.” Wu Wei felt shameless spinning the lie even as she told it, but what choice did she have? In this icy weather, what would the Embroider Maiden do if she knew the truth? Better to give her some hope.

“Really?” The Embroider Maiden perked up at once, her fear giving way to puzzlement.

Wu Wei mustered her energy. “That official’s family name is Dongfang—single name Rui. Embroider Maiden… do you know her?”

“Ah!” The Embroider Maiden let out a startled cry. “That’s her! How did I not realize? She’s the one and only Female Qingtian of our Liang Dynasty. I’ve never seen her in person, but everyone knows her name!”

Wu Wei’s heart sank with bitterness. If even the Embroider Maiden—a girl who’d never ventured far from home—had heard of Dongfang Rui’s fame, then maybe she didn’t feel so hard done by after all.

“Embroider Maiden, stick around the roadside for the next few days. I figure my Second Sister and Second Brother-in-Law will be home soon—this is the direct path from Zhang Family Village. I might be gone a while, so go stay with them once they arrive. I’ll come fetch you when I’m done, so you won’t have to worry alone.”

The Embroider Maiden frowned. “Aren’t you helping at the Charity Mortuary?”

“I… I’ve got to head to the yamen first, check the dossiers and such. There are two officers waiting for me outside.”

“Then I’ll wait for you to come back. Hurry back, okay?”

Wu Wei gave her a long look. She knew she couldn’t say more—the Embroider Maiden might be quiet by nature, but she was sharp as a tack. One extra word, and Wu Wei might give herself away.

“Alright. Lock all the doors and windows at night. If I come home, I’ll call out to you. No matter who else knocks, make sure you know who it is before opening—and nothing after dark.”

“Mm, got it.” Seeing Wu Wei’s promise eased half the worry in the Embroider Maiden’s heart.

“I’ve got to go. Brothers Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng are waiting. No need to see me out.”

Wu Wei turned to leave but paused before opening the door, as if struck by a thought. “Oh, right—this case is serious, so the yamen will look into my background. If any officers come asking you about me, don’t hide anything. Answer truthfully, just like I will. Wouldn’t want our stories not to match and cause trouble, right?”

“Mm, I’ll remember.”

“Good. I really have to go now.”

…

Wu Wei thought to herself: This might be the last thing she could do for the Embroider Maiden. After that business with catching the adulterers, Dongfang Rui could uncover Wu Wei’s background easily enough if she looked. The Embroider Maiden had a clean history and was a local, so as long as she came clean, Dongfang Rui shouldn’t make things hard for her.

Thirty strokes on the back…

With her frail body—even carrying a shoulder pole hurt these days—Wu Wei didn’t think she’d survive that.

With a creak, the door swung open.

Wu Wei stepped out, and the Embroider Maiden spotted Zhang Meng standing guard by the courtyard wall. It lent even more credence to her words.

Wu Wei turned back with a forced grin, then whipped around again, her own eyes turning red.

Without looking back, she called out, “Embroider Maiden, no need to see me off. Brothers Zhang and I are heading out!” She hurried up to Zhang Meng, gazing at him imploringly through reddened eyes. “Brother Zhang, let’s go.”

Zhang Meng seemed to understand something. He glanced at Wu Wei, then at the Embroider Maiden in the doorway, and waved cheerfully to her. “Go on inside, miss. We’ll be taking Miss Wu now.”

The officers’ smiles put the Embroider Maiden’s mind fully at ease. She nodded and pulled the door halfway shut…

“Thanks,” Wu Wei murmured softly to Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng.

They escorted her until they were out of the Embroider Maiden’s sight before following procedure and tying her up. Then they slung her across a horse like a sack of grain and galloped toward the county yamen.

Wu Wei wasn’t riding properly; bound hand and foot, she was draped stomach-down over the saddle. Halfway there, the jolting made her vomit. By the time they reached the yamen, she felt half-dead already.

Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng hoisted her up, one on each side. Wu Wei welcomed it gladly and promptly played dead, letting them drag her straight to the jail cells.

Spotting the jailer, Zhang Meng flashed his token. “By order of Bright Mirror Division Chief Envoy Lord Dongfang, we’re borrowing one of your clean private cells.”

The jailer led the pair to the deepest part of the prison and unlocked an empty cell with no one around. “My lord,” he said, “this is the cleanest cell in the whole place.”

Zhang Wei and Zhang Meng laid Wu Wei down on the pile of straw, then untied the ropes binding her and pocketed them. Though she was still conscious, her stomach churned violently, and the world spun dizzily around her. She decided to play dead.

Once the jailer had locked the cell door, the three men walked out together. Zhang Meng spoke up. “Lord Dongfang will personally interrogate this young lady, so the magistrate’s office should stay out of it. No torture, either. Give her three meals a day as usual, and don’t mistreat her.”

“Yes, sir. This official understands,” the jailer replied.

“Farewell, then.”

…

Wu Wei felt like she was dying. Tears streamed from her tightly shut eyes, while her shoulders and both arms burned with pain. The brutal jostling on horseback had left her half-dead, and she still felt like vomiting—though there was nothing left in her stomach to bring up.

It wasn’t the physical agony that crushed her spirit, though. It was everything she faced ahead…

Dongfang Rui loomed over her like an insurmountable mountain, leaving her breathless. The woman was shrewd and experienced, with a piercing gaze. She knew the laws inside and out and wielded real authority. Wu Wei hadn’t done anything blatantly illegal since arriving in this world, but the charge of vagrancy? She had no good explanation for that. How could she clarify where she’d come from or where she was headed? The little tricks that had fooled the village head would only dig her own grave with someone like Dongfang Rui.

Could she even mention transmigrating? If she did, would they brand her a spreader of wild rumors and burn her at the stake—or drag her to the public square for a beheading?

And what about Embroider Maiden? What about Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law’s whole family? Would she drag them down too?