Chapter One: The Journey to the Magistrate's Office

Great Shu, the autumn sun cast its rays over the Divine Continent. Most regions were dry, yet a few remained moist and humid. South of the Divine Continent lay Sea City, nestled by the ocean—a place of unfathomable depths and mysteries, where demons roamed unchecked. Sea monsters came ashore, took on human form, and mingled among the people.

Though the world was harsh and cold, there was never a shortage of those brimming with righteousness.

Xu Xing awoke slowly, his eyes stinging with pain. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense. Dizzy, he patted his head gently, feeling a little better, and glanced around.

He lay within a traditional four-sided courtyard. The earthy aroma of herbs rose from the ground, while new red lanterns hung from the willow branches, swaying in the night breeze. The bright moon hung high as the autumn wind swept under its light, stirring yellowed leaves and carrying with it a sense of desolation and longing.

A few white doves returned, settling atop the courtyard wall, cooing and fussing. Xu Xing was lying beneath a willow tree, from which hung several damp undergarments. A drop of water dripped from the clothes, landing coldly on his dry skin.

“Have I transmigrated?” he wondered, surprised by the unfamiliar surroundings.

In his previous life, he had been a top-tier courtroom gunman, traveling far and wide to uphold justice. He never imagined he would die from drinking.

He still vaguely recalled that night—a celebration with eight women and two men, all gathered, singing and toasting. Had he really drunk himself to death?

Lost in existential confusion, Xu Xing stared blankly at the private garments above him. Suddenly, a torrent of memories crashed into his mind, overwhelming him with no time to react, filling his brain until it felt fit to burst.

Xu Xing—son of Xu Changjiang, a wealthy businessman of Great Shu who ventured to the sea. Skilled in all manner of indulgence: eating, drinking, gambling. Though rich, he never sought a proper career, but instead trained in martial arts at home with his elder brother Xu Hai.

He hadn’t yet digested all the memories, but tentatively called out, “System? System, brother…”

No system?

Any golden finger? Xu Xing quickly scanned his memories, then cursed, “Why is this my golden finger? I’m an upright gentleman! No wonder my former life was filled with endless revelry.”

Coming to his senses, Xu Xing looked at his new attire and grinned from ear to ear: a silk robe, azure shirt with cloud-like sleeves, refined yet decadent, adorned with luxurious ornaments. Such a life, he thought, had its own unique flavor.

He smiled contentedly—his previous life began in adversity, but now the tables had turned.

“Oh? I have a beautiful sister-in-law and a sworn little sister? Looks like the original owner lived quite a life,” Xu Xing mused, gazing at the lanterns.

“Delivery for Lord Xu Xing!”

A gruff voice called from outside, startling him from his reverie. But ancient times and delivery service? Driven by curiosity, he stood up and walked to the main gate. Opening it, he found a plainly dressed man with an utterly forgettable face.

“Lord Xu Xing, here is your roast chicken and two jin of rice wine.”

Instantly, a mouthwatering aroma flooded the air, setting Xu Xing’s taste buds alight. He took the food; the man hurried off, and Xu Xing thought he glimpsed a fox’s tail, but perhaps it was just his imagination. The man departed swiftly, leaving only, “Thank you for your patronage. Enjoy your meal.”

Xu Xing’s expression darkened as he looked at the roast chicken in his hands. Could it be that delivery service existed in ancient times?

But according to history books, transportation had been so slow in the past, one’s lifetime barely sufficed to love a single person.

Were the chroniclers liars after all?

Puzzled, Xu Xing quickly scanned his inherited memories.

“So that’s it—carrier pigeons weren’t just for sending letters, but for ordering takeout as well?”

He wondered, “And my sister-in-law and sworn sister? Where have they gone?”

From the memories, he recalled that his sister-in-law disliked his drinking habit, especially since he’d led his elder brother astray in his previous life; thus, she never favored him. His clever, lively sworn sister was an entirely different matter.

Taking a sip of the wine—it was mellow and sweet. A bite of chicken—tender and slippery, melting in his mouth. Xu Xing indulged heartily, raising his head to the sky in delight. With his future management skills and wit, wouldn’t he make waves in this land?

He marveled as he grew accustomed to his new memories, though some remained vague.

Now, with humans, demons, and spirits coexisting, this was surely an age of chaos. Still, with his family’s wealth, he need not fear a life of wandering on the margins.

“With my clever mind, versed in the classics, knowledgeable about everything from the heavens to the earth, well-read in criminal investigation and legal codes, I can’t wait to make a name for myself in the Great Shu Dynasty! Then, no one will despise me—not even my sister-in-law!”

Just as Xu Xing was enjoying his wine, humming a tune, and admiring the moon, another voice called out.

“Report! Lord Xu Xing!”

At the gate, Xu Xing smiled broadly, licking the chicken flavor from his fingers—this was a true free-range chicken, pure and untainted by pollution. In high spirits, he strode to open the door.

“What’s for delivery this time?” he wondered.

To his surprise, a beautiful woman stood at the gate. Xu Xing rubbed his eyes, secretly delighted—was his previous life so wild that people ordered such “fast food” too?

But Xu Xing prided himself on being an upright gentleman, never indulging in such base pursuits. Still, he could use this opportunity to learn more about Great Shu.

Clearing his throat, he said gently, “Young lady—no, elder sister—please, come in. Perhaps we can talk by candlelight, discuss matters of state, and together seek to rescue the people from their suffering—let us govern by subtlety.”

Bathed in moonlight, the mature woman’s allure was undeniable: a full figure, fragrant as flowers, an oval face, peach blossom eyes, high nose bridge, and eyebrows that spoke of experience.

“Enough with the pleasantries. I am Su Mei. Don’t you recognize me? Hurry, come with me to the magistrate’s office—your elder brother’s been arrested. You’re needed as a witness.”

Su Mei’s words were resolute, her gaze disdainful at Xu Xing’s drunken state.

“What? That’s nonsense! My elder brother was practicing martial arts—how could he be arrested? And where’s my sister-in-law?”

He glanced back at the quiet courtyard, beginning to understand.

Surveying the empty yard, Xu Xing poked his head out the gate, scanning the road for any sign of a scam. Outside stood only a carriage, two maidservants, and a few scattered passersby. Seeing the carriage made him uneasy—he’d always been prone to motion sickness and avoided riding whenever possible.

“Just come with me already! Honestly, for a grown man, you sure talk a lot. If you keep dragging your feet, the order will expire, and your brother will have no chance of overturning his case.”

Hearing this, Xu Xing said no more. He now understood why the house was so empty—all the servants had gone to the magistrate’s office.

From Su Mei’s words, his brother was still only in the midst of a court case. For someone who’d been a top lawyer in his previous life, this was no trouble at all—a perfect chance to show his skills and turn the situation around.

He climbed into Su Mei’s carriage, feeling awkward at first—three women and one man in a small space would make any man a bit shy.

The roads of this era, devoid of proper infrastructure, made for a bumpy, turbulent ride, resulting in inevitable collisions with the ladies.

“Hey, keep your hands to yourself,” Su Mei warned.

Xu Xing looked down—his hands rested on a maid’s leg. The maid blushed but said nothing, seemingly not displeased. Xu Xing struggled to explain, “I can’t help it—the road’s too rough, and I get terribly carsick.”

His head began to spin, cursing his motion sickness for crossing over with him. He instinctively covered his mouth, catching a whiff of soothing milk fragrance.

“Carsick after just a bit? You’re nothing like your father or brother.”

The jolting ride left Xu Xing too weak to argue. Soon, he was sprawled at their feet, apologizing, “Sorry, I really do get carsick. Please bear with me, or soon I won’t be the only one—my brothers will be vomiting too.”

“??”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, I tend to call everyone, young or old, brothers. I mean, you’ll get carsick and vomit too.”

Despite his carsickness, the journey was lively.

The distance from Xu Xing’s home to the magistrate wasn’t far, and they soon arrived. Clutching a maid for support, Xu Xing dry-heaved, regretting the journey was so short—he hadn’t yet figured out why his brother was imprisoned. He knew only that after training, Xu Hai left at dusk to look for his sister-in-law, but ended up arrested, accused of conspiring with demons, attacking and robbing in the city. With his inherited memories, Xu Xing was certain Xu Hai wasn’t that kind of person.

He was being framed!

Time was running out. By decree of Great Shu, the magistrate’s office closed at the hour of the Boar—if judgment was passed before then, Xu Hai would have no recourse. There were only two hours left—he had to hurry.

The magistrate’s office stood before him—not crowned with colored tiles, but built of yellow stone and mud. Twin stone lions guarded the entrance. The area was eerily quiet for several hundred meters around.

Faintly, he could hear the trial inside:

“If even the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is punished as the common man. How much less can the son of a mere merchant escape?” boomed the magistrate.

Xu Hai’s voice rang out, strong and unwavering, “Sir, I am innocent! I did not commit those acts of arson and robbery!”

“On what grounds do you deny it? The evidence is conclusive. If you persist in lying, your punishment will be doubled! The order is nearly expired—if the witness does not arrive, judgment will be passed now.”

Hearing this, Xu Xing raced inside, desperate not to waste a single moment. He refused to believe his brother was guilty—he had to clear his name.

Just then, a voice echoed through the magistrate’s hall:

“Wait! The witness, Xu Xing, is here!”