07/25/2026 — 15:12

Realizing he couldn't get away from Wen Renyue, Le Wuya, even though unwilling, had no choice but to "discuss things properly" with him.

"Wouldn't it be best if we each returned to our rightful places?" Le Wuya's eyes rolled, and he came up with a lousy idea. "I'll find two ropes; we'll hang ourselves side by side. As soon as I leave, you can take my place—how about that?"

Wen Renyue thought about his proposal very seriously, then asked, "And who will cut us down?"

Le Wuya muttered, "True. If someone saw us, they'd think we were a pair of lovers who died together."

Wen Renyue blushed slightly at his blunt mention of "dying for love."

He voiced his own idea: "I think you should stay, and I should stay too. I'll be Ming Xiangzhao, and you'll be Wen Renyue—how about that?"

Le Wuya didn't believe him. "Easy for you to say. What about your official position? You'll give it to me?"

Wen Renyue: "I'll give it to you."

"And your scholarly honors?"

"I'll retake the examinations."

Le Wuya blinked.

He found that the man's attitude was serious and his expression sincere; he didn't seem to be lying.

Ming Xiangzhao's appearance was indeed good—handsome and tall, with eyelashes, like crow feathers, drooping over his jet-black eyes.

If it weren't for his annoying personality—stubborn and mean—this appearance would have made him a romantic young master admired by many.

But this romantic young master, when talking to him, kept his head lowered, looking quite obedient, which made Le Wuya unable to resist wanting to pick on him a little.

Le Wuya sat up. "And your father? You don't want him either? Giving him to me too?"

Across from him, the man fell silent.

But Wen Renyue was truly a man with a strong will.

Back then, for Ming Xiangzhao's innocence, he acted quickly and died without a second thought.

Now, having found a way to survive from the brink of death, facing the future and all its affairs, he could still stay calm and keep his footing.

He said solemnly, "With you by my side, I can always stay by his side."

Le Wuya fell silent.

"I've been alone in a strange land, and now that I finally have a friend, I don't want to just watch you leave like this." Wen Renyue's reasoning was sound, his voice gentle but firm. "Besides, after what has happened, I feel I'm not yet worthy to be a local magistrate. I still need to gain more experience. This is a good opportunity to start from scratch."

Le Wuya barely listened to that eloquent speech.

It only took one sentence to touch him.

"I've been alone in a strange land..."

Alone in a strange land.

Seeing him lost in thought, Wen Renyue said no more, just quietly waited by his side for his response.

After thinking it through, Le Wuya still didn't really want to live.

"No, what's the point of me living?" Le Wuya lay back down, rolled over right there, and pulled a pillow over his face. "Meaningless."

"Let me find something interesting for you, Brother Gu." Wen Renyue, being young himself, followed his lead and rolled over to lie on his stomach beside him on the bed, tugging at his sleeve. "Why not teach me?"

"Teach you?"

"I've taken over Ming Xiangzhao's body, and I feel deeply ashamed. Can I... honor his wishes and continue with the imperial examinations?"

Le Wuya peeked out one eye from under the pillow. "You were at least a seventh-rank county magistrate. Your family might not be filthy rich, but you were comfortable enough. After we swap back, even if you resign and retire into seclusion, you could at least become a rich squire. Why would you insist on being a poor scholar and starting all over again?"

Wen Renyue replied logically, "Scholar Ming was a good young man who shouldn't have died like this. And I have aspirations—having been given a second chance to live, I shouldn't waste it."

Le Wuya looked at him intently.

This little county magistrate seemed gentle and weak at first glance, but he had clear convictions.

Whether it was trying to use his own insignificant life to petition the emperor or decisively giving up his identity as Wen Renyue, it showed he was a responsible man.

"If you give me your body, aren't you afraid I'll ruin your reputation?"

"Why would I be?" Wen Renyue thought for a moment and added, "Even if you do ruin it, it will be your reputation from then on."

Hearing this, Le Wuya seemed stunned and repeated, "...'My reputation'?"

Le Wuya was accustomed to a bad reputation. Now that Wen Renyue was so generous as to let him take charge, he felt a bit lost.

What could he even do?

After a moment, Le Wuya let out a long sigh.

"After all that sentimental talk, don't you know that the friendship of gentlemen is as bland as water?" Le Wuya complained. "Now look at us—we're not as pure as water; we're as thick as blood."

Seeing him start to joke around, Wen Renyue felt relieved. "I'll keep you company, and you keep me company. That way, neither of us will be lonely."

Le Wuya leaned closer. "In the future, when your family has New Year's Eve dinner, can I come along?"

Wen Renyue nodded lightly. "Sure, Brother Gu."

Le Wuya sat cross-legged in place. Hearing that "Brother Gu," he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Suddenly, he recalled something he had once said to Deputy Magistrate Sun.

"Everything in this world, everything, has its origin."

Le Wuya, what about your origin?

Who are you, really?

The many memories he had deliberately ignored could no longer be suppressed. Without distinction between good and bad, they rushed into his mind like wild horses.

What broke him out of his thoughts was a gentle call: "Brother Gu."

Le Wuya, coming out of those roaring memories, stared dazedly into those clear eyes. "I..." I'm not Gu Qizhen.

I am... I should have been...

Le Wuya thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out who he was supposed to be.

He had thought enough in his past life, yet still couldn't understand why it was all happening.

At least now he only had to be Wen Ren Yue, and that was enough.

That alone made things a lot simpler.

But Wen Ren Yue's next question took him by surprise: “…Brother Gu, you are not Gu Qizhen, are you?”

Le Wuya said nothing, turning his gaze toward him.

“I know my own limits, so I always keep a copy of the Dayu Law on my desk and often consult it. I also collect subsequent revised editions and frequently compare them.”

“After the current emperor ascended the throne, he revised the volume on criminal law and prisons in the Dayu Law. The clause ‘No retrial of a case’ was Article 23 during the previous emperor's reign, not Article 25.”

“I figured, having pulled off so many big things in a single day, you probably couldn’t find time to read the entire Dayu Law from beginning to end.”

“During the court session, I thought you were going to make a mistake.”

The real Gu Qizhen was a Tanhua from the previous emperor's reign.

In his recollection, the ‘right’ Dayu Law would be a bit different from the real one.

Le Wuya let out an “Ah” and chuckled, “So that’s how it is. I was right, but also wrong.”

With his identity already blown, Le Wuya was also relaxed: “Still want to know who I am? If so, wait till I cook up another story for you.”

Wen Ren Yue couldn't help but smile, the corners of his mouth curving up, “Go ahead, Brother Gu.”

Le Wuya thought for a moment, propped himself up, and said with a defeated air, “Alright, Gu Qizhen is pretty good. The name has a nice ring to it, and the meaning is auspicious. Just accept it.”

Wen Ren Yue stared fixedly at this ‘Brother Gu’ who called himself ‘Brother Gu,’ placing a hand over his chest, puzzled by his gradually accelerating heartbeat.

After a moment, he suddenly stared at Le Wuya and made a questioning sound, “…Hmm?”

“What’s up?”

Wen Ren Yue took a closer look at the ends of his hair.

…He didn’t remember his own hair having such slightly curly ends.

“I’ve never looked at your face this closely before, have I?”

“Not a bad body.” Le Wuya, not knowing what he was looking at, joked, “Want it back? Too late, no take‑backs.”

Wen Ren Yue smiled, “I gave it to you, so it’s yours now.”

Le Wuya was about to tease this honest man a bit more when he suddenly remembered something, his expression changed, and he jumped up hurriedly: “Quick, quick, quick!”

Wen Ren Yue: “?”

Le Wuya: “Those two are coming again tomorrow. They're definitely going to assess my performance and ask about Nanting's local customs and conditions. If you don’t tell me anything, how am I supposed to answer? Just make it up?”

Wen Ren Yue: “?” Which two people?

Despite being completely confused, he was still obediently escorted by Le Wuya to the desk, where they went through question and answer, extracting every last detail about Nanting County’s population, farmland, taxes, and various other conditions.

Seeing that Wen Ren Yue could yield no more, Le Wuya relaxed, stood up, put on his clothes, and was about to go out.

Wen Ren Yue, seeing him in a hurry, followed behind him: “If there’s anything, I can help Brother Gu handle it.”

Le Wuya pointed out the window.

It was only then that Wen Ren Yue realized the east was already light, and it was time for the city gates to be unlocked.

Le Wuya tied his hat strings: “I’m hungry. The sugar cakes are hot now. I’m going to have a bite.”

Wen Ren Yue was surprised: “Aren’t you going to sleep for a while?”

Le Wuya: “Sleep? It’s already dawn. There’s so much to do. How can you sleep? A young guy like you?”

Wen Ren Yue: “No.”

Le Wuya: “…You're bossing me around?”

Wen Ren Yue thought for a moment and said firmly, “This body is mine.”

Le Wuya: “It’s mine now.”

Wen Ren Yue grabbed him: “No.”

Seeing that this man was strong and he couldn't get his way by being tough, Le Wuya immediately put on a pitiful expression: “But I’m starving. Will you take care of me or not?”

Wen Ren Yue: “?”

He was indeed young and never expected such a trick. He immediately felt a pang of pity for him: “Then I’ll buy it for you. You rest for a while.”

Le Wuya hadn't rested for a single moment during that day and two nights.

A person is not made of iron and cannot endure such hardship.

Seeing that Wen Ren Yue's grip had loosened, Le Wuya immediately seized the opportunity to dash out gleefully: “I'll buy them fresh and hot!”

Wen Ren Yue was truly helpless and had no choice but to follow.

At that time, there weren’t many people on the street. The sugar cake vendor had just set up his stall, and a fresh batch of sugar cakes had just come out of the pot, neatly arranged in a row.

The vendor quickly recognized the magistrate in plain dark attire, hastily wrapped the sugar cakes in oil paper, and handed them over, refusing to take any money.

Le Wuya didn’t argue with him either. He took a copper coin, tossed it into the vendor’s lead coin container, and while the vendor was looking down for change, he turned and slipped away.

Le Wuya actually didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but yesterday when he bought buns, he saw the sugar cakes at the neighboring stall, crispy and oily, that looked excellent, so he made a mental note to try them.

But now that he had them, he wasn’t in a hurry to eat. He nibbled on the edges absently, not eating the sugar filling inside.

Wen Ren Yue watched from the side as Le Wuya bit a sugar cake in circles until it looked like a flower. He couldn't help saying disapprovingly: “If you buy it but don’t eat it, it’s very wasteful.”

Le Wuya couldn’t be bothered with this upright gentleman: “You're such a nag.”

Out of habit, he casually handed it over: “If you think it’s wasteful, here, you eat it.”

But unexpectedly, as soon as he stretched out his hand, a sudden gust of wind came from behind.

Le Wuya turned around abruptly. A whirlwind-like black shadow lunged at him, knocking him straight down onto the snow.

Wen Ren Yue was startled.

Having grown up in Jiangnan, he was somewhat afraid of dogs, but seeing Le Wuya in danger, he disregarded his own safety, stepped forward and pulled, forcefully yanking it away from Le Wuya.

It was a slender, tall dog, completely black all over except for a lightning‑bolt‑shaped patch of white fur on its chest. It wore a collar, clearly belonging to someone.

It looked slender but was immensely strong and had been trained. With a skillful twist, it freed itself from Wen Ren Yue’s grip and, wagging its tail, pounced on Le Wuya again.

During the scuffle, Wenren Yue noticed that the large dog bore no malice toward Le Wuya, but rather seemed more affectionate.

However, he dared not risk that the dog, in its excitement from licking, might decide to take a bite out of Le Wuya, so he continued gripping the dog's collar and pulling it back.

For a moment, Wenren Yue, Le Wuya, and the dog were locked in a stalemate.

Clear, crisp hoofbeats rang out across the empty street in the early morning, approaching quickly from behind.

Several horses galloped up at speed, and the rider at the front didn't wait for his mount to stop before leaping straight down from the side.

Le Wuya struggled to look sideways from his position on the ground.

Shiny spurs gleamed beside the black leather military boots.

After landing, looking upward, there was a pair of long, straight legs, sheathed in pitch-black light armor.

Judging by his appearance, the man stood as upright and solitary as a sword, yet possessed a fiery temperament, as if refined by fire: "Er Ya, get back here!"

Startled by this shout, the large dog immediately lost its courage, reluctantly let go and retreated.

A young soldier hurried over from behind, holding half a broken dog leash in his hand, dropping to his knees in submission, not daring to offer any excuse.

Pei Mingqi said coldly, "Report for ten strokes of the military cane."

The young soldier did not dare to claim the dog had broken free on its own; kneeling on one knee, he responded loudly: "Yes!"

Pei Mingqi stepped forward, got the dog under control, and glanced at the person on the ground: "Sorry, are you hurt…"

Le Wuya got up, brushed off his clothes, and walked away without a word.

Pei Mingqi looked down and saw half of a sugar cake on the ground, with teeth marks all around it.

His heart inexplicably lurched: "You!"

Le Wuya did not stop.

Seeing that he kept walking, Pei Mingqi threw the dog aside, took a few steps forward, and reached out to grab his hand: "Stop right there!"

A hand reached out from the side and firmly gripped his wrist.

Wenren Yue said politely, "Hello, please don't touch him."