Chapter 6

After the rain, a red sun rose, illuminating the earth.

Yang Shouwen got off the Hu bed, walked to the door, and pulled it open. A fresh breeze greeted him, instantly clearing his somewhat muddled mind.

On the porch, there were a basin, a towel, green salt, and a toothbrush.

Seeing the neatly arranged toiletries, Yang Shouwen couldn't help but smile. Every morning, he would see these things, and he knew exactly who had arranged them. The image of the little person struggling to carry the basin and place it on the porch came to his mind. Yang Shouwen felt a warm sensation in his heart, picked up the toothbrush, dipped it in the green salt, and began to brush his teeth.

"Phew, phew, phew!"

The toothbrush from the Tang Dynasty was crudely made and very uncomfortable to use.

A slight misstep could cause the pig bristles to fall off and get stuck between his teeth. Even after being reborn for seventeen years, Yang Shouwen still wasn't used to it. He would have to find a way to improve it; otherwise, brushing his teeth every day would be a real torment.

After finishing his morning routine, he felt refreshed.

Yang Shouwen walked to the main hall and saw Youniang, who looked like a little adult, coming out of the kitchen with a food tray in her hands.

"Good morning, Xizi brother."

Seeing Yang Shouwen, Youniang's face lit up with a bright smile.

Yang Shouwen quickly took the food tray and softly replied, "Youniang, you're up earlier than Xizi brother."

The food tray contained breakfast: a bowl of rice porridge with egg flowers floating on top, a dish of pickled vegetables, and two thick meat pies, each about half a pound, emitting a rich aroma.

"Have you eaten, Youniang?"

Youniang looked longingly at the food on the tray and shook her head.

The Yang family lived well, but even so, Yang Shi and Youniang usually only had two meals a day. Youzhou was cold and harsh, and food was scarce. It was not common for someone like Yang Shouwen to have three meals a day, with meat at every meal.

"Then eat with Xizi brother."

Yang Shouwen placed the food tray on the porch and sat down cross-legged.

Youniang was initially reluctant; how could a servant sit and eat with her master?

However, under Yang Shouwen's persuasion, Youniang finally gave in. She glanced at the kitchen and saw that her mother was still busy. She then opened her mouth and took a bite of the egg. The egg was very hot, making Youniang open her mouth wide and fan her hand, but her face showed a sense of happiness.

Bang!

Just as Yang Shouwen was feeding Youniang the egg, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open.

Yang Rui rushed in, almost falling, and without seeing Yang Shouwen, shouted, "Big brother, something's wrong, someone's dead..."

Yang Shouwen, upon hearing this, quickly put down his chopsticks and stood up.

"Shouting so early in the morning?"

Yang Rui, out of breath, ran to Yang Shouwen, swallowed, and said shakily, "Big brother, someone's dead, at the village entrance."

Dead?

Yang Shouwen frowned, stepped down from the porch, and put on his shoes.

"Who's dead? Speak clearly, don't be so panicked.

Yang Erlang, you are Father's assistant, the son of a county magistrate. If you can't even speak clearly when someone dies, how can you handle big things in the future? Did you say you found a body at the village entrance?"

Yang Rui's face turned pale, and he nodded rapidly.

"Exactly!"

He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said, "I was leaving for the county early this morning, but I hadn't gone far when I saw a body lying on the road. Big brother, it's the first time I've seen a dead person, so I was naturally scared."

Yang Chenglie was the county magistrate, similar to a modern police chief.

Yang Rui was only thirteen. Even though he had been an assistant for a year, he had never truly been involved in a case. He had always acted as a secretary, spending 99% of his time in the office and never been to a crime scene. Finding a body suddenly, Yang Rui naturally felt inexplicable tension and fear.

At this moment, Yang Shi also ran out.

Yang Shouwen thought for a moment and said to Yang Shi, "Aunt, take care of Youniang. I'll go with Erlang to take a look."

With that, he walked out quickly, and Yang Rui followed closely behind, and they walked out of the gate.

Following the wet path in the village, the Yang brothers soon left the village and, about two li from the village entrance, saw the body Yang Rui had mentioned.

However, the small village was already in an uproar.

The village head was maintaining order with a few young men. Seeing Yang Shouwen, he frowned and stepped forward to stop him.

"Big brother, don't go over. I've already sent someone to inform the county office. It's best to wait for the officials to arrive."

You are the big brother, and your whole family is big brother!

Yang Shouwen didn't like being called "big brother" because it made him think of some unpleasant things.

But this was a custom.

Even if Yang Shouwen disliked the word "big brother," he had no choice.

"Village head Tian, I just want to take a look, I won't interfere with you."

If it were in the past, the village head would never have let him pass. However, he knew that the former Yang Achi, after being struck by lightning, seemed to have become much clearer-headed. And yesterday, he had subdued a mad cow and saved his son. Out of respect, Tian Village Head couldn't continue to block him and said softly, "Big brother, be careful."

If you don't call me 'big brother,' I'll thank your ancestors for eight generations!

Yang Shouwen took a step forward but felt someone pulling his sleeve from behind.

"What are you doing?"

He turned his head and saw Yang Rui pulling him.

"Big brother, since the village head has reported it, let's not go over and cause trouble."

Yang Rui said in a trembling voice, his face still swollen, looking pitiful.

Yang Shouwen sighed, "Erlang, you are an official... don't forget, you are Father's assistant, and your every word and action represents Father's face. If you can't even face a dead body, how can you help Father in the future? I won't hold past events against you, but now, don't disgrace Father."

With that, he shook off Yang Rui's hand and walked toward the body.

Yang Rui stood there hesitantly for a long time, then gritted his teeth and followed.

Yang Achi... no, big brother is right. Since I am Father's assistant, I must maintain Father's face.

If Yang Achi, big brother, can go over, why should I be afraid?

Thinking this, Yang Rui felt a bit braver.

However, when he saw the body again, he couldn't help but run to the side and squat down, vomiting uncontrollably. This was the second time he had seen a body, but this time it was clearer and more terrifying.

Yang Shouwen, on the other hand, was not bothered at all. He squatted down next to the body.

After all, he had been reborn and had already died once; why would he be afraid of a body?

The morning sun was particularly bright, shining on the pale body, giving it a chilling, indescribable coldness.

He lay on the ground, face up.

His eyes, like those of a dead fish, were wide open, as if he was very unwilling... his clothes were missing, but he wore a pair of black boots. His body was covered in wounds, which, due to the rain, had deformed, and the edges of the wounds were pale.

To be honest, even though Yang Shouwen was mentally prepared, he still felt uncomfortable when he saw the body.

He squatted next to the body, suppressing the urge to vomit, and carefully examined it before slowly standing up.

"Big brother, did you find anything?"

Yang Rui, his legs weak, walked over and stood next to Yang Shouwen, asking softly.

Yang Shouwen looked at him, "Erlang, you are the only official here. Why don't you take a look and find some clues?"

"What?"

Yang Rui's eyes widened, and he felt an urge to curse.

Damn Yang Achi, I've already vomited, and you still want me to look at the body?

He wanted to refuse, but remembering how Yang Shouwen had slapped him last night, he swallowed his words.

Yang Rui walked forward, gritted his teeth, and slowly squatted down.

However, when his eyes met the dead fish-like eyes of the body, he felt an uncontrollable urge to vomit.

"Ugh!"

He quickly stood up, turned, and walked a few steps to a stone, where he vomited loudly.

Yang Shouwen looked at him, walked around the body a few times, and then, without looking back, walked up the mountain path, his eyes filled with a curious interest.

This was the third day of the eighth month in the first year of the Shengli era, and this place was Hu Valley Mountain outside Changping City.

Not far from here was Juyong Pass and the Jurchen tribes, where the people were fierce, and deaths were not uncommon.

But what was strange was why the person was lying there naked.

Where were his clothes? Where did the wounds on his body come from? The situation seemed to be getting interesting!