Chapter 2

Yexiaotian, male, currently nineteen years old, lives in Xiquzi Alley, Xuanwu Street, Beijing. He is a prison guard at the Xuan No. 1 cell of the Ministry of Justice's prison. Due to his cleverness and agility, he was promoted to the head of the Xuan No. 1 cell by the prison warden, Mr. Liu, at the beginning of the eighth year of the Wanli era.

Yexiaotian's position as a prison guard was inherited from his father. The Ye family has been a hereditary prison guard since the Hongwu Emperor established the rule: sons inherit their father's profession, generation after generation.

If you are a soldier, one of your sons must also be a soldier. If your wife fails to give you a male heir, you must find one from your relatives. If there are no male heirs in your family, you can find one from anywhere, even if you have to kidnap someone from the street, as long as you fill the vacancy.

If you are a kitchen servant in a craftsman household but haven't learned how to cook before your father dies, it doesn't matter. When the government needs kitchen servants, you can still go, even if you can't cook. After all, the officials won't eat the food you make; the number of people must be correct. If you are a medical household and you don't understand medicine... we can just mourn the patients in advance.

When the prison guard position was passed down to Yexiaotian's father, Old Ye, he was the only son. However, Old Ye was very capable and had twins: the elder son, Yexiaoan, and the younger son, Yexiaotian. Yexiaotian was an unexpected twin, meaning "another son was added."

Yexiaotian really disliked his name, but since he had been called it for so long, changing it would be a big deal. After a serious protest to his father, Old Ye agreed, and Yexiaotian became Yexiaotian.

Old Ye could only pass his prison guard position to one son. Logically, it should have gone to the firstborn, Yexiaoan. However, Yexiaoan had been frightened as a child when he lifted his blanket and saw a yellow-bellied snake that had crawled in from the neighboring restaurant. Since then, he has been particularly timid and honest.

Considering that the prison was full of cunning people, Old Ye thought it was not suitable for his honest son. Therefore, he used his life savings to open a grain, flour, and oil shop for his elder son and passed the promising position of prison guard to his younger son, Yexiaotian.

Yexiaotian returned to the prison after preparing the wine and food for Minister Huang. Seeing that it was almost time to change shifts, he quickened his pace. However, as he entered the prison, he saw Warden Liu walking down the corridor. Yexiaotian immediately stopped and bowed to Warden Liu from a distance.

Warden Liu, named Liu Yong, was in his early fifties, with a ruddy face, short but sturdy build. His attire was similar to Yexiaotian's, except he wore a red vest over his blue robe.

Warden Liu was a ninth-rank official, a small but still an official, especially in the Xuan No. 1 cell of the prison, where he had the final say. His demeanor exuded a sense of superiority.

Yexiaotian bowed and said, "Warden Liu, good day."

"Hmm!"

Liu Yong grunted from his nose, glanced at the food box in Yexiaotian's hand, and knew he was making extra money. The prison guards paid him a monthly tribute, so he usually turned a blind eye to such minor infractions.

Warden Liu said, "You came just in time. The kitchen is preparing wine and meat. You will deliver it to Yang Si later."

Yexiaotian asked curiously, "Why is Yang Si getting extra food? Ah! Could it be that his case has been decided, and he is... going to the execution ground?"

Since Yexiaotian took over his father's position, he had delivered countless meals to the prison, but apart from the food bought by the officials themselves, he had only delivered five meals, each representing a life about to end.

Liu Yong did not answer, just glanced at him and walked away with his hands behind his back. Yexiaotian stood there for a moment, shook his head, and then walked towards the Xuan No. 1 cell.

Yexiaotian handed the wine and meat to Minister Huang and then went to Yang Si's cell. He saw Yang Si sitting cross-legged on the ground, throwing pebbles and muttering, probably deducing the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching.

Yexiaotian cleared his throat and said, "Sir Yang."

Yang Si looked up and immediately abandoned the pebbles, approaching the cell door with a smile. "It seems you are interested in Western astrology, young brother. Do you want me to continue reading your fortune?"

Yexiaotian smiled, "No, using Western methods to read our fate feels strange. Sir Yang, why don't you read my face instead?"

Yang Si was delighted to have a chance to show off his skills. He didn't care what method he used. He examined Yexiaotian through the wooden bars, then clapped his hands and sighed, "Young brother, you have a clear and unique bone structure, black hair, red lips, large eyes, and a fine brow. This is a sign of great wealth..."

"Oh?" Yexiaotian touched his brow, raising an eyebrow.

Yang Si continued, "The forehead represents intelligence and luck. Your forehead is high and full, so you are intelligent and will have good luck from a young age. The nose represents wealth and charm. Your nose is straight and full, connecting to your forehead, so you will have good fortune and many admirers from a young age."

"Is that true?" Yexiaotian smiled, enjoying the flattery. Even if he knew it was false, he felt good about himself, touching his straight nose.

Yang Si said seriously, "Of course. In fact... the eyes represent charm. Your eyes are not exactly 'charm eyes,' but they are close. As for the nose, it is strong and full, symbolizing... well, you know, hehe! To have charm, you also need the right... capital, don't you?"

"Um, that makes sense, very much so." Men can't admit they are inadequate, so Yexiaotian agreed with Yang Si, though he looked half-convinced, almost ready to undress and verify.

Yang Si stroked his sparse beard and continued, "Your forehead is broad and lustrous, your eyes are bright and upward, indicating success in your endeavors. Your ears are beautiful, white, and clearly defined, with thick lobes, a sign of great fortune. Your lips are red, your teeth are white, and your philtrum is deep and wide, indicating a good marriage and many children..."

Yexiaotian's expression stiffened, and he exclaimed, "A good marriage and many children?!"

Yang Si quickly corrected himself, "My mistake, my mistake. If a woman has this face, it means that, but for a man, it means great wealth and honor. Ha ha ha, young brother, you have the blessings of the three stars of fortune, longevity, and health, and your life will be smooth and prosperous."

Yexiaotian laughed, "Sir Yang, you need to flatter me appropriately. The blessings of the three stars? Well, even with the blessings of the three stars, a prison guard is still a prison guard. How much can I really achieve?"

Yang Si's few remaining hairs stood up, and he angrily retorted, "Nonsense! This is all shown by your face. I, Yang Si, am a respected official in the Ministry of Personnel. Many high-ranking officials bow and flatter me. Do you think I need to flatter a mere prison guard?"

Yexiaotian pointed into the cell, teasing, "Sir Yang, wake up. You are now a prisoner. A hero should not talk about his past glory!"

Yang Si's few white hairs drooped, and he looked like a defeated cricket, saying resentfully, "Though I am now a prisoner, I have studied the I Ching and face reading since childhood, and I am very skilled in it!"

Yexiaotian smiled, "Alright, I will believe you this time. I will buy some wine and meat for you later, as payment for your reading."

Yang Si was delighted and thanked him repeatedly. However, as Yexiaotian walked a few steps away, Yang Si suddenly realized something. He lunged forward, grabbing the bars, and shouted, "Xiaotian, stop!"

Yexiaotian slowly stopped, turned around, and smiled. Yang Si clung to the bars, looking at him intently, and said slowly, "Is this the last meal... the execution meal?"

Yexiaotian's right eyebrow lifted and then fell, and his smile faded.

Yang Si saw this and laughed bitterly. His bony hands clung to the bars, but his body seemed to be weighed down by a heavy stone, sliding down inch by inch. When he finally collapsed, he croaked, "Is this the end... for me?"

Yexiaotian slowly walked back, looked at him through the cell door, and said sympathetically, "Sir Yang, why not enjoy this last meal happily? Why be so clear-headed?"

Yang Si said sadly, "In my life, I have only done three things: deceive myself, deceive others, and be deceived. Now that I am about to die, I want to be a clear-headed person, not a confused ghost!"

Yexiaotian shook his head, turned to leave, but Yang Si suddenly leaned forward, his bony hand reaching through the bars and grabbing Yexiaotian's ankle. His gaunt face pressed against the bars, and he said sternly, "Don't go, I have a big favor to ask!"

Yexiaotian tried to pull his leg free, but Yang Si had an incredible strength, holding his ankle tightly. Yexiaotian couldn't break free.

Yexiaotian frowned, slowly squatted down, and his eyes turned cold, "Sir Yang, are we that close? We are not related, and we don't have a deep friendship. I am just a small prison guard. If I can help you within my means, I won't refuse, but I won't do anything out of line!"

Yexiaotian's voice was light and calm, but his tone was firm, "When my father passed this iron rice bowl to me, he told me four words: 'follow the rules.' Our Ye family has been prison guards since the Yuan Dynasty. After the Yuan Dynasty fell, we continued to guard the prison under the Ming Dynasty. As long as we do our job well and don't cause trouble, our family can continue to eat this government rice bowl."

Yexiaotian's lips curled into a mocking smile, "Our Ye family has a lowly position, but to be frank, even if the Ming Dynasty falls, it will be the emperor's head that rolls, not ours. Who will need us? We will still eat this government rice bowl. Sir Yang, I value this rice bowl very much, even though it is lowly in your eyes. Don't ask me to do anything that will ruin it!"

Yang Si laughed hoarsely, "You don't need to be afraid. Do you think I can ask you to break me out of prison? Even if you wanted to, you couldn't. I just... want you to deliver a message for me. If you agree, I will give you a great reward."

Yexiaotian didn't ask what the reward was and refused immediately, "Sir Yang, helping a prisoner communicate with the outside world is a capital offense. You know this rule, don't you?"

Yang Si said sadly, "I am clearly being used as a pawn. Who can I communicate with? I just want you to deliver a message to my family after I die. This... doesn't violate the rules, does it?"

Yexiaotian looked at him, "Is that all?"

Yang Si nodded vigorously, "Yes, that's all!"

Yexiaotian breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What is the great reward you mentioned?"

Yang Si was taken aback, then said, "Uh... fifty taels of silver, how about that?"

"Fifty taels?"

Yexiaotian's eyes lit up, and he agreed readily, "Sir Yang, you can say your last words now!"

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