Chapter 13: The King of Hell

When Cheng Ruyi opened his eyes again, the first thought flooding his mind was—

How am I still alive?

He hadn’t died on the rain-soaked streets of the capital but was lying comfortably on a soft bed, back on this Lord of Death’s precious couch.

Cheng Ruyi turned his head and noticed that Yan Kuang had indeed used the new pillow.

This grim lord had not only picked up this lone wandering soul but had also changed his clothes and, no doubt, given him some miraculous medicine. The fever had broken, and the chills and sweats no longer plagued him.

Even the worthless jade double-fish pendant had been retrieved, now nestled loosely between two pillows with its tassels scattered.

Cheng Ruyi hooked the jade out and ran his fingers along the tassels.

He couldn’t understand why Yan Kuang was so invested in prolonging a life as fleeting as his.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, shattering his thoughts. He looked up and saw that although it wasn’t Yan Kuang, the visitor was a familiar face.

Liu Liu stood at the door holding a food box, his face full of disdain.

Cheng Ruyi sized him up and immediately recalled he was the young fellow who had followed Yan Kuang last night. Judging by rank, he must be a junior underling, possibly a lowly spirit official.

Cheng Ruyi plastered on an ingratiating smile. "Greetings, Your Excellency..."

“Hmph!” Liu Liu slammed the food box on the table and turned to leave.

Cheng Ruyi hurriedly called out, “Please wait, Your Excellency, Commander Yan instructed him—”

Liu Liu snapped angrily, “Still dare mention the commander! I don’t understand why he hasn’t just chopped you down with a single stroke by now!”

Chop me down with a single stroke? Cheng Ruyi thought, what a blessing that would be... But Yan Kuang seemed to enjoy tormenting his wretched life.

Not wanting to miss this opportunity to curry favor, Cheng Ruyi feigned fear. “Your Excellency, why would you say such things? What offense have I committed against you...?”

Liu Liu, filled with rage, found Cheng Ruyi’s initiative to speak irresistible. He strode forward and swung a fierce punch at him.

Cheng Ruyi had nowhere to dodge and no way to block. He closed his eyes instinctively, clutching the jade pendant tightly.

But then Liu Liu sighed heavily. “You... forget it. If I beat you to death, Brother Qin won’t survive either...”

Unexpectedly, the blow never came. Cheng Ruyi opened one eye slowly to see Liu Liu lowering his hand, his expression full of sorrow and depression.

Cheng Ruyi pressed on, “Qin who? Which hero do you mean...?”

Liu Liu snapped, “Shut up! If it weren’t for you! You! That forged... ghost prophecy! Spread everywhere! Third Prince wouldn’t have sent someone with that cursed secret letter, Miss Lan wouldn’t have stumbled upon their secret meeting, and the Prince wouldn’t have killed her or driven Brother Qin away!”

“Brother Qin was the Prince’s closest brother, but because of Miss Lan’s death, he came last night to assassinate the Prince and ended up dead at the door...”

“The Prince even coughed up blood yesterday! It’s all your fault!”

Cheng Ruyi’s hand trembled, and the jade pendant slipped onto the bed.

Brotherhood turned to enmity, assassination, coughing up blood...?

Cheng Ruyi’s thoughts raced, roughly piecing together the story, yet it was hard to associate this humiliating image of coughing blood with the stern Yan Kuang he recalled.

He always remembered Yan Kuang’s deadpan expression. Yan Kuang was tall and imposing as a stone pillar under a ceremonial archway; Cheng Ruyi had to look up just to speak to him.

Coughing up blood? In front of his men? That was utterly disgraceful.

Liu Liu was overcome with emotion now, disregarding everything in his eagerness to vent. “They were about to be married, but now… Hmph! I know the Prince has his reasons… but you’re the real harm! Why isn’t he killing you instead?”

“Liu Liu.”

Cheng Ruyi was about to kowtow and beg forgiveness when Yan Kuang’s voice cut through Liu Liu’s complaints abruptly.

Looking up, Cheng Ruyi saw that familiar deadpan face.

Liu Liu grumbled, “Commander...!”

Yan Kuang’s expression darkened. “Chatting idly with a criminal, leaking internal affairs of the bureau. Double punishment applies—twenty lashes from Wu Wu, according to regulations.”

His commanding tone left no room for argument. Liu Liu grumbled a bit more, then stormed out.

Cheng Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat. He thought if the rules of the Town Pacification Bureau were this harsh on their own people, twenty lashes... then he himself would surely be dragged out and beaten to death.

Yan Kuang seemed oblivious to Cheng Ruyi’s tangled thoughts. “The food box has been sent. If you don’t come to eat yourself, are you waiting to be fed?”

“I... you...” Cheng Ruyi, usually eloquent, found himself at a loss for words.

He found it strange—he had only a few days to live, this man had beaten him badly at their first meeting, yet now he seemed to owe him some great debt...

Yan Kuang opened the food box, setting the plain porridge and several side dishes on the table. Seeing Cheng Ruyi’s dejected look, he hesitated to speak.

Cheng Ruyi felt uneasy but finally broke the silence. “Lord Yan, my death is near, so why prolong this again and again? Both officially and personally, as that young officer just said, you should... just chop me down with one stroke.”

He inhaled and paused. “Lord Yan, I know you’re a good man...”

“But I am not.”

Yan Kuang’s expression flickered. He couldn’t help but respond, “That’s a new one. Cheng Ruyi, they say you’re cunning and ungrateful, but I don’t think that’s entirely true. After only a few days, you dare to think I am a good man. Perhaps the Town Pacification Bureau’s whip isn’t tough enough; maybe I haven’t been harsh enough.”

Cheng Ruyi quickly replied, “Lord Yan, no need to frighten me. They say you’re ruthless and heartless, but I disagree. At least compared to someone like me who clings to power, caring only about climbing higher, trampling on corpses without a second thought... you’re much better.”

Cheng Ruyi thought he was telling the truth. In his short life—no, his entire life—he had never met a truly good person. But since being imprisoned and ending up in Yan Kuang’s hands, he’d somehow caught a breath of the living.

Even if life is a play... he shouldn’t have to perform one with a dying man.

Yan Kuang’s expression was complicated. After a long silence, he said, “Those who choose this path cannot have a conscience. I, my former assassin, and you—we are all the same.”

“Many mistakes arise from the faintest stirrings of a conscience.”

He poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Cheng Ruyi.

Cheng Ruyi reached out to take it but thought: I don’t care if you’re a good man or not. As long as you can save me from this absurd torment, you’re a great man indeed—a benefactor of Cheng Ruyi...

Holding the cup, he glanced at the floating leaves on the tea’s surface and shook his head slightly. “Conscience is too hot... Lord Yan, this tea is too hot; I can’t drink your tea.”

Cheng Ruyi set the cup down and inadvertently cast his eyes over the dishes on the table, swallowing hard.

Yan Kuang noticed and teased, “What, have you resolved to starve yourself to death?”

Cheng Ruyi hesitated. His stomach growled loudly; seeing food naturally stirred his instinct to eat.

Yan Kuang continued, “Though you’re weak and frail, starving to death takes at least four to five days. During that time, your organs will devour each other painfully and endlessly—no poison can compare. Halfway through, even if you want to end it quickly, you won’t have the strength to hold a knife.”

“Lord Yan, that’s enough... please stop.”

Cheng Ruyi cursed himself for not being resolute enough, bit his lip, and grabbed a chunk of braised meat, stuffing it into his mouth, then tore off half a steamed bun and stuffed that in as well.

“Thank you... thank you, Lord Yan, for the last meal, the last tea, and the last... medicine. In my next life, if there is one, I will repay you...” Cheng Ruyi mumbled.

His ridiculous words made Yan Kuang chuckle, but Cheng Ruyi didn’t notice, too busy devouring the food. Eating too fast and with a mouth full, he had to sit and catch his breath before swallowing slowly.

After a moment, Cheng Ruyi said, “Lord Yan is right... even if I die, I should at least die a full one.”

“Hm,” Yan Kuang responded, hanging his court robe nearby and sitting down to eat casually.

Cheng Ruyi chewed while eyeing the crimson robe. “Beautiful... really beautiful. Lord Yan, do you wear this every day to court?”

Mentioning court reminded Yan Kuang of something. Swallowing his food, he said, “Today’s court session: His Majesty decreed that Yuan Shanqi’s daughter behaved poorly and docked his salary for three years. Since Yuan’s family was misled by villains, no harsher punishment was given. But Yuan Shanqi has requested to send his daughter to the Waterscent Temple outside the city to live a life of devotion, never marrying, serving the late emperor’s spirit.”

Cheng Ruyi paused, then smiled. “Three years' salary docked, lifelong celibacy... Not bad. Leaving the Yuan family might not be the worst thing. But I have to say, the old fox is crafty. Yuan Censor’s tears and protests, then so decisively giving up his daughter—even if it didn’t ensnare the wolf, it passed the blame and left a tangled knot for Minister Han... Brilliant.”

Cheng Ruyi thought Yuan Shanqi’s roots were deep and strong—so much so that even the emperor dared not act rashly—hence the light punishment.

Yan Kuang listened silently, then added, “Your accusation against Minister Han for embezzling military funds remains unresolved and is under investigation.”

“Truly poisonous...” Cheng Ruyi said, biting fiercely into the bun. “Another trial... what is there left to try?”

“Yuan Shanqi was unaware, Yuan’s daughter was misled, so they can’t be prosecuted. But I, a mere assistant magistrate... framing the Chancellor, slandering the Imperial Consort—such a big matter attributed to me alone, who would believe it?”

“You understand well,” Yan Kuang said, furrowing his brow and looking at Cheng Ruyi.

Cheng Ruyi smiled. “Lord Yan, don’t you understand?”

Yan Kuang said nothing but clearly did. The emperor wanted to use Cheng Ruyi’s life to settle this case. Though Han Shaozhen’s embezzlement charges could not be proven, the stain would never be wiped clean.

Cheng Ruyi pondered silently. Seeing his grave expression, Yan Kuang thought he was afraid and said, “Don’t be scared. I’m not interrogating you.”

Cheng Ruyi sighed, “Who says I’m scared... alright, alright, I am. My body still hurts... But Lord Yan, I’m really curious about one thing.”

Yan Kuang frowned, tapping the table with bent fingers. “Enough with the suspense. Speak plainly.”

Leaning forward, Cheng Ruyi said, “You… so capable and high-ranking, I don’t believe you’ve never been involved in any scandals...”

Yan Kuang looked at him coldly. “And?”

Cheng Ruyi, seeing no anger or attempt to silence him, dared to continue. “The court is another bloody and treacherous world... A sharp blade like you—I don’t believe you can truly remain untainted.”