Chapter 1 Calamity in the Prison
Xu Qi'an opened his eyes to find himself in a damp, gloomy prison cell, the air thick with an acrid stench of mildew and blood. The cold stone wall pressed against his back, its rough surface digging painfully into his flesh. Heavy iron chains bound his wrists and ankles, their other ends fastened to iron rings set in the wall; the slightest struggle sent a shrill screech of metal against metal echoing through the cell.
His mind was a whirlwind of chaos, countless fragments of strange memories surging in like a tidal wave and assaulting his nerves. After a long moment, Xu Qi'an finally managed to sort through the jumble and accept an absurd yet cruel truth—he had transmigrated, crossing into an ancient world known as the Great Feng Dynasty, to become a man who shared his exact name: Xu Qi'an.
His original self had been a constable of the Great Feng Dynasty's Capital Prefecture. The day before, he had been ordered to assist in an investigation, only to be inexplicably dragged into a major case of theft from the Ministry of Revenue's Silver Treasury. Framed as a suspect, he had been thrown into the Imperial Prison, and in the end, unable to bear the humiliation, he had bashed his head against the cell wall and died. And he, a modern-day corporate drudge who had just closed his eyes after an overtime shift, had opened them again in a different world, saddled with this terrible mess.
"Twenty thousand taels of silver stolen from the Ministry of Revenue's Silver Treasury..." Xu Qi'an muttered under his breath. The original's memories held pitifully little about the case—only that after the theft, the Capital Prefecture had sealed off the scene on orders, and the original had merely been posted as an outer guard, never even setting foot near the treasury's door. Yet he had somehow become a scapegoat.
There was definitely something fishy going on here.
Xu Qi'an rubbed his throbbing temples and glanced around the dim cell. The adjacent cells held a handful of ragged prisoners, their faces either ashen with despair or clouded with dullness. Only a middle-aged man in the diagonal cell sat with his back ramrod straight; even in captivity, he exuded an unyielding sense of integrity, a stark contrast to the filth and squalor around him.
Just then, the iron prison gate creaked open, and two men dressed as yamen runners stepped in, holding law enforcement staffs, their faces cold and impassive. "Xu Qi'an—for interrogation!"
The chains scraped against the stone floor with a clattering rattle as the two runners dragged Xu Qi'an through a narrow, sunless corridor. From the cells lining both sides came the constant wails and curses of prisoners, sending a chill down one's spine.
At the end of the corridor lay the interrogation hall. Inside, candlelight flickered, casting the faces of those present in an unsteady play of light and shadow. The chief interrogator was Li Yuchun, Prefect of the Capital Prefecture, who sat upright behind the judgment desk, his expression stern, his eyes sharp as torches as he fixed his gaze on the dragged-in Xu Qi'an.
The yamen runners flanking the hall gripped their staffs and shouted in unison: "Majesty—!"
The deep, rumbling cry reverberated through the hall, carrying an intimidating aura. A commoner would have crumpled in fear by now, but Xu Qi'an had weathered the storms of modern society. Though alert in his heart, his face remained calm and composed.
"Xu Qi'an!" Li Yuchun slammed his gavel down, his voice booming. "As a constable of the Capital Prefecture, you dared to collude with bandits and steal twenty thousand taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue's Silver Treasury! Confess the truth at once!"
Xu Qi'an lifted his head, his gaze meeting Li Yuchun's directly, his tone steady. "Your Honor, I am innocent. When the treasury was robbed yesterday, I was only posted as an outer guard, never once stepping inside the treasury gates. How can you accuse me of colluding with bandits and stealing silver?"
"How dare you quibble!" Li Yuchun roared, slamming the gavel again. "A witness testified that on the night of the theft, you were seen loitering suspiciously near the treasury, acting furtively. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"A witness?" Xu Qi'an raised an eyebrow. "Might I ask who this witness is, Your Honor? Could I confront him face to face?"
Li Yuchun's eyes flickered for a moment, then he said in a deep voice: "This man is a guard of the treasury, now in custody. You need only plead guilty and submit to punishment, and I may show mercy for your first offense and sentence you lightly. But if you remain stubborn, do not blame me for resorting to torture!"
Xu Qi'an sneered inwardly. Li Yuchun did not even dare to let him confront the witness—clear proof of his guilt. This case was an obvious frame-up.
He knew that the more he argued now, the more he would incriminate himself. Better to wait and watch, biding his time for a chance to escape.
"Your Honor, I am truly innocent," Xu Qi'an insisted. "If you are determined to convict me, I beg you to produce solid evidence. I will not utter a single word of complaint."
Li Yuchun's face darkened further at Xu Qi'an's stubbornness. He let out a cold snort. "It seems you will not be honest until you taste pain. Seize him—torture him!"
The yamen runners on either side immediately stepped forward, ready to drag Xu Qi'an away for punishment.
At that exact moment, a clear, cold female voice rang out from outside the hall, soft yet carrying an unassailable authority: "Stop."
As the words fell, a slender figure stepped slowly into the hall. The woman wore a moon-white official robe, her posture straight and tall, her features exquisitely beautiful—yet a faint coldness and detachment lingered in her eyes. Her bearing was elegant and regal, weighing down the entire hall's atmosphere with a heavy gravity.
At the sight of her, Li Yuchun's face changed drastically. He hurried to his feet, clasped his fists in a bow, and spoke with profound respect: "Your subordinate greets Commissioner Wei."
The yamen runners and constables in the hall all bowed in turn, their expressions filled with awe.
Xu Qi'an stared in surprise, following everyone's gaze to the silver gong embroidered on the woman's official robe at her chest. In an instant, he recalled an identity from the original's memories—a Night Watcher of the Great Feng Dynasty.
The Night Watchers were a special agency of the Great Feng Dynasty, independent of the six ministries, answering directly to the imperial court. Tasked with investigating bizarre incidents across the land, suppressing evil spirits and monsters, they also held the authority to intervene in major court cases, enjoying an exalted status and immense power.
This Commissioner Wei was a high-ranking officer of the Night Watcher's Yamen, a subordinate of Wei Yuan, and her name was Wei Ziyuan.
Wei Ziyuan's cold gaze swept lightly across the hall, finally settling on Xu Qi'an. Her eyes were frosty, yet they seemed to see straight into one's heart, sending a faint shiver down Xu Qi'an's spine.
"Prefect Li," Wei Ziyuan spoke, her voice cool and clear. "The theft from the Ministry of Revenue's Silver Treasury is a case of great consequence. His Majesty has issued an order: the Night Watcher's Yamen shall take over the investigation. From this day forth, this case has nothing to do with the Capital Prefecture. I am taking this man with me."
Li Yuchun's face contorted with difficulty, yet he dared not defy her. He could only force a bitter smile and bow his fists. "I obey Commissioner Wei's orders."
He knew full well that with the Night Watcher's Yamen involved, there would be no more room for him to act corruptly in this case—and the one who had framed Xu Qi'an would soon be exposed.
Wei Ziyuan paid Li Yuchun no more attention, turning to two Night Watchers at her side and ordering: "Unchain him. Take him away."
"Yes, Commissioner."
Two Night Watchers dressed in black tight-fitting robes, silver gongs hanging at their waists, stepped forward and skillfully unfastened the iron chains from Xu Qi'an's body. The chains clattered to the ground with a heavy thud.
Xu Qi'an flexed his sore wrists and ankles, then lifted his head to look at Wei Ziyuan, clasping his fists in a grateful bow. "Thank you, Commissioner Wei, for saving me."
Wei Ziyuan shot him a faint glance, her tone devoid of all emotion: "I am not saving you. This case is of great importance, and the Night Watcher's Yamen must uncover the truth. You are a key witness—for now, your life is spared."
With that, she turned and walked away, her cold voice floating back: "Keep up."
Xu Qi'an froze for a moment, then hurried after her.
Stepping out of the Capital Prefecture's interrogation hall, night had already fallen. The moon hung pale and hazy in the sky, casting a faint silvery glow over the land. The streets were nearly empty, only a few street vendors left packing up their stalls. A night breeze blew, carrying a faint chill.
The two Night Watchers walked silently on either side of him, while Wei Ziyuan led the way at the front, her back straight, her steps steady. Moonlight spilled over her, outlining her graceful figure—yet she remained an aloof, untouchable presence.
Xu Qi'an followed behind, his mind racing a mile a minute.
The Night Watcher's Yamen taking over the case was both an opportunity and a crisis for him. The opportunity lay in the Night Watchers' immense power and unwavering impartiality: once the truth was uncovered, he would be cleared of all charges. The crisis was that he had become entangled in a major theft from the imperial treasury, a case that undoubtedly involved powerful court factions. One wrong move, and he would be doomed forever.
Moreover, the original's death was far from a simple suicide by head-bashing—there were surely unspeakable secrets hidden behind it.
At the thought of this, Xu Qi'an's gaze grew firmer. No matter how dangerous the road ahead, he would uncover the truth, clear his name, and live well in this strange new world.
He lifted his head to the night sky, where the moon shone bright and the stars twinkled like scattered pearls. He thought to himself: Great Feng Dynasty, Night Watchers—I, Xu Qi'an, am here.
Chapter 2 The Night Watcher's Yamen
The night wind cut across the street, stirring the hem of Xu Qi'an's tattered prison robe. He followed Wei Ziyuan down the quiet main street of the capital, the two Night Watchers in black walking a step behind him, their movements silent and alert, like cheetahs poised to pounce at any moment.
The capital of the Great Feng Dynasty was grand and imposing even in the dead of night. The bluestone streets were wide and straight, flanked by tall, dark city walls and row upon row of roof ridges curved like flying swallows. The occasional patrolling imperial guards passed by, their armor clinking softly, and when they caught sight of the silver gongs at the waists of Wei Ziyuan and the others, they all straightened their postures and saluted respectfully—such was the prestige of the Night Watchers.
Xu Qi'an kept his head down, seemingly walking in a daze, but his eyes were constantly observing his surroundings, and his mind was piecing together the fragmented memories of his original self about the Night Watchers.
The Night Watchers were a mysterious and powerful organization. No one knew exactly how many members it had, only that its influence permeated every corner of the Great Feng Dynasty. Its members were divided into different ranks, distinguished by the ornaments on their official robes: bronze gongs for the lowest rank, silver gongs for the middle, and golden gongs for the highest—each rank representing a stark difference in strength and status.
Wei Ziyuan was a Silver Gong Commissioner, a mid-level officer of the Night Watchers, and her strength was said to be unfathomable. As for the leader of the Night Watchers' Yamen in the capital, Wei Yuan, he was a legendary figure who held the title of Golden Gong and was deeply trusted by the emperor.
"Where are we going?" Xu Qi'an could not help but break the silence after walking for a quarter of an hour through the winding streets.
Wei Ziyuan walked ahead, her back straight as a pine, and her cold voice drifted back without a trace of emotion: "The Night Watchers' Yamen."
Xu Qi'an fell silent again. He had guessed as much, but his heart still sank slightly. The Night Watchers' Yamen was not a place of refuge; it was a den of tigers and wolves. Every member there was far more powerful and terrifying than the ordinary yamen runners of the Capital Prefecture. Being taken there meant he was still trapped in the whirlpool of the silver treasury theft case, with no way to extricate himself for the time being.
After another half an hour of walking, they arrived at a secluded street in the northern part of the capital. Unlike the bustling main streets, this street was pitch black, with no lanterns hanging, and the only light came from the faint moonlight filtering through the treetops. At the end of the street stood a towering black gate, carved with intricate patterns of dragons and phoenixes, and a huge plaque hung above the gate, on which three large golden characters were inscribed: Night Watchers' Yamen.
The golden characters glinted faintly in the moonlight, exuding a solemn and oppressive aura, making people dare not look directly at them.
The two Night Watchers stepped forward and pushed open the heavy black gate, which creaked slowly open with a sound like the groan of an ancient beast. Inside the gate was a spacious courtyard, paved with bluestone slabs, and on both sides stood rows of black pines and cypresses, their branches and leaves dense, adding to the cold and desolate atmosphere.
A few lanterns hung high in the courtyard, casting a dim yellow light, and several Night Watchers in black robes patrolled back and forth, their eyes sharp, scanning every corner of the courtyard. When they saw Wei Ziyuan, they all stopped and saluted: "Greetings, Commissioner Wei."
Wei Ziyuan nodded slightly, not stopping, and walked straight into the main hall of the Yamen. Xu Qi'an followed closely behind, passing through the courtyard, and he could feel the probing and curious gazes of the patrolling Night Watchers on him—after all, it was not every day that a disheveled prisoner was brought into the Night Watchers' Yamen by a Silver Gong Commissioner in person.
The main hall was even more imposing than the interrogation hall of the Capital Prefecture. The hall was empty, with only a high platform at the far end, on which a large black sandalwood table was placed, and a chair carved with a golden dragon stood behind the table—this was clearly the seat of the leader of the Night Watchers' Yamen, Wei Yuan.
On both sides of the hall stood rows of wooden chairs, and a few Night Watchers in silver and bronze gong robes were sitting there, whispering softly. When they saw Wei Ziyuan enter with a stranger, they all fell silent and cast their eyes over.
Wei Ziyuan did not pay any attention to them, and led Xu Qi'an to the middle of the hall, then turned to one of the Night Watchers and said: "Take him to the guest room, give him a change of clothes and some food. Do not let him run away."
"Yes, Commissioner." A burly Night Watcher with a bronze gong on his chest stepped forward, his voice rough, and he gestured to Xu Qi'an: "Follow me."
Xu Qi'an glanced at Wei Ziyuan, who had already turned to talk to a Silver Gong Night Watcher in a low voice, seemingly discussing the silver treasury theft case, and had no time to pay attention to him. He nodded and followed the burly bronze gong out of the main hall.
The guest room of the Night Watchers' Yamen was simple but clean, with a wooden bed, a table and two chairs, and a copper basin filled with clear water placed on the table. The burly bronze gong threw a set of gray coarse cloth clothes on the bed and said in a deep voice: "Change your clothes, the food will be brought over in a moment. Do not wander around the Yamen casually, or you will be shot on sight if you are mistaken for a spy."
After saying that, he turned and left, closing the door with a heavy thud, and Xu Qi'an could hear the sound of a bolt being locked from the outside.
He was not surprised by this—he was a key witness, but also a suspect. The Night Watchers would not treat him as a guest, and keeping him under house arrest was the most normal thing to do.
Xu Qi'an walked to the copper basin, scooped up a handful of cold water and splashed it on his face. The cold water jolted him awake, and he stared at his reflection in the water—a young man in his early twenties, with a handsome face, thick eyebrows and bright eyes, but his face was haggard and pale from the prison torture, and there were still faint bruises on his cheeks.
This was his new face in this world, the face of Xu Qi'an, the constable of the Capital Prefecture.
He dried his face with his sleeve, then sat down at the table, his fingers tapping the tabletop rhythmically, his mind replaying all the details of the silver treasury theft case that he had gleaned from the original's memories.
The Ministry of Revenue's Silver Treasury was the most heavily guarded place in the capital, with layers of imperial guards patrolling day and night, and even the treasury guards had to go through strict checks to enter and exit. How could the thieves steal twenty thousand taels of silver without a trace? And why did the Capital Prefecture frame an insignificant outer guard like the original for this major case?
There were too many doubts, and every doubt pointed to the fact that this case was not a simple theft, but a carefully planned conspiracy.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by the sound of the bolt being unlocked. The burly bronze gong pushed the door open and brought in a tray with a bowl of white rice, a plate of braised pork and a bowl of vegetable soup. The aroma of the food wafted over, making Xu Qi'an's stomach growl uncontrollably—he had not eaten anything since he transmigrated into this world.
"Eat quickly. After eating, Commissioner Wei will interrogate you." The bronze gong put the tray on the table and stood by the door, his eyes fixed on Xu Qi'an, like a tiger watching its prey.
Xu Qi'an did not care about his gaze, he picked up the chopsticks and started eating ravenously. The braised pork was tender and juicy, the rice was fragrant and soft, and even the vegetable soup was delicious. After a few mouthfuls, the empty feeling in his stomach was relieved, and his mind became clearer.
He finished the meal in a few minutes, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and looked up at the bronze gong: "Lead the way."
The bronze gong nodded, turned and walked out of the guest room, and Xu Qi'an followed him back to the main hall of the Yamen.
At this time, the main hall was much more lively than before. More than a dozen Night Watchers in silver and bronze gong robes were gathered here, and Wei Ziyuan was standing in the middle of the hall, holding a scroll in her hand, seemingly reporting something to a figure sitting on the high platform.
Xu Qi'an's eyes fell on that figure, and his heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
It was a middle-aged man in a black official robe embroidered with a golden gong, his hair tied up with a jade crown, his face handsome and elegant, with a faint smile on his lips, and a pair of eyes that were as deep as a deep pool, seemingly able to see through all the falsehoods in the world. Even though he was sitting there casually, he exuded an aura of calm and prestige that made people dare not approach him easily.
This man was undoubtedly the leader of the capital's Night Watchers' Yamen, the Golden Gong Commissioner—Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan's gaze fell on Xu Qi'an, and the faint smile on his lips deepened: "This is the little constable from the Capital Prefecture who was framed in the silver treasury theft case? He looks quite spirited, not like a man who would collude with bandits to steal silver."
His voice was warm and deep, like the sound of a cello, and it made people feel a strange sense of trust involuntarily. But Xu Qi'an did not dare to relax his guard—he knew that the more gentle and kind a powerful person was on the surface, the more unfathomable his heart was.
Wei Ziyuan closed the scroll and said in a cold voice: "Master Wei, this man is Xu Qi'an, the only outer guard at the silver treasury who was framed. He claims to be innocent, and there are many doubts about his framing. I brought him back to interrogate him for clues about the case."
Wei Yuan nodded slightly, then waved his hand at the other Night Watchers: "You all step back first. I want to talk to this little constable alone with Ziyuan."
The Night Watchers all bowed and saluted, then filed out of the main hall, and the burly bronze gong also retreated, closing the heavy hall door behind him, leaving only Xu Qi'an, Wei Yuan and Wei Ziyuan in the huge hall.
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet, so quiet that one could hear the sound of a needle dropping on the ground.
Wei Yuan stood up from the high platform, slowly walked down the stone steps, and stopped in front of Xu Qi'an. He was a head taller than Xu Qi'an, and his gaze was gentle, but it made Xu Qi'an feel an invisible pressure.
"Xu Qi'an, right?" Wei Yuan said with a smile, "Tell me everything you know about the silver treasury theft case. Don't hide anything, and don't lie. Because in front of me, lies are as transparent as window paper."
His tone was casual, but it carried an irresistible power. Xu Qi'an knew that this was his only chance to clear his name, and he did not dare to be careless. He took a deep breath and began to speak slowly, from the moment he received the order to go to the silver treasury for guard duty, to the moment he was framed and arrested, and every detail he could remember from the original's memories, he recounted them one by one without missing a single point.
He spoke for a full quarter of an hour, and during the whole process, Wei Yuan listened quietly, without interrupting him, and Wei Ziyuan stood aside, her face cold, her eyes fixed on Xu Qi'an, as if she was trying to find a trace of lying in his words and expressions.
When Xu Qi'an finished speaking, the hall fell into silence again.
Wei Yuan stroked his chin, the smile on his lips fading a little, and his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was thinking about something. After a long moment, he raised his head and glanced at Wei Ziyuan, then looked at Xu Qi'an again, and said in a deep voice: "What you said is consistent with the information we have investigated. The Capital Prefecture's framing of you is indeed full of loopholes, and Li Yuchun is obviously hiding something."
Xu Qi'an's heart skipped a beat—Wei Yuan's words meant that the Night Watchers had already investigated the case, and they had found clues that the Capital Prefecture was acting abnormally.
"Then... Your Excellency, can I be cleared of suspicion now?" Xu Qi'an asked tentatively, his voice a little hoarse from nervousness.
Wei Yuan shook his head, and the faint smile reappeared on his lips: "Not yet. You are still a key witness, and the case has not been solved yet, so you cannot leave the Night Watchers' Yamen for the time being. But don't worry, as long as you are really innocent, I will not let you be wronged."
He paused, then continued: "Moreover, the silver treasury theft case is far more complicated than it seems. The thieves who can steal twenty thousand taels of silver from the heavily guarded imperial treasury are definitely not ordinary bandits, and the forces behind Li Yuchun are also not to be underestimated. You are involved in this case, and even if we clear your name, you will be targeted by those people. Staying in the Night Watchers' Yamen is the safest place for you now."
Xu Qi'an's heart sank—he had guessed this would be the result. He was already in the whirlpool, and it was impossible to get out easily. But at the same time, he also felt a little relieved—at least the Night Watchers believed his words, and staying in the Night Watchers' Yamen was indeed far safer than being in the Capital Prefecture's prison or wandering outside.
"Thank you for your protection, Your Excellency." Xu Qi'an clasped his fists and bowed, his tone sincere.
Wei Yuan waved his hand with a smile: "I am not protecting you, I am just investigating the case. You are a key link in this case, and your safety is related to the progress of the case."
He turned to Wei Ziyuan and ordered: "Ziyuan, arrange for him to stay in the Yamen temporarily, and assign someone to watch him closely. Also, step up the investigation of the silver treasury theft case, focus on the Ministry of Revenue and the Capital Prefecture, and find out all the people involved in this case as soon as possible."
"Yes, Master Wei." Wei Ziyuan bowed and saluted, her cold face showing no emotion.
Wei Yuan nodded, then glanced at Xu Qi'an again, his eyes deep: "Xu Qi'an, I hope you can cooperate with our investigation. If you find any new clues, report them immediately. Don't try to play any tricks, otherwise, even if you are innocent, you will not be able to escape punishment."
"I will obey your orders, Your Excellency." Xu Qi'an said seriously.
Wei Yuan smiled, then turned and walked back to the high platform, sat down, and closed his eyes slightly, as if he was resting, but also as if he was thinking about the next step of the investigation.
Wei Ziyuan gave Xu Qi'an a cold look: "Follow me."
Xu Qi'an nodded and followed her out of the main hall, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He had escaped the disaster of the Capital Prefecture's torture, but he had fallen into the hands of the Night Watchers. The road ahead was still full of thorns and dangers, but he also had a glimmer of hope—hope to uncover the truth of the case, clear his name, and find a way to survive in this dangerous Great Feng Dynasty.
As he walked through the cold courtyard of the Night Watchers' Yamen, the moonlight cast his shadow long on the bluestone slab, and Xu Qi'an clenched his fists tightly.
No matter what difficulties he would face in the future, he would never give up.