The Dark Lord Ye Tian Zi 夜天子 CHAPTER 8
Ye Tian Zi
CHAPTER 8
A Witness in a Moment of Desperation
Seeing a man and a woman bound and dragged into the hall, the mourning guests gathered around curiously, whispering and murmuring among themselves. Just then, Madam Yang and her elder brother emerged from the backyard. The many mourners quickly suppressed their curiosity and stepped forward to offer condolences.
Ye Xiaotian had been leering at Yang Lin’s beautiful daughter when he sensed something amiss. Turning his head, he saw an old woman in mourning clothes speaking with a white-haired old man who leaned on a cane and cupped his ear. Clearly, these two were the focal figures among the gathered crowd.
The old man appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, his face deeply wrinkled, his hair white as snow. In his hand, he held a golden rattan cane—this was the old patriarch of the Jingzhou Yang family. After Madam Yang whispered loudly into his ear for a moment, she turned to the crowd and declared, "Friends and family, I have something to say."
With a cold glance at Ye Xiaotian and the pale, furious woman, Madam Yang addressed the hall: "My late husband’s passing has brought you all here to mourn, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Yet, during the mourning period, this wretched maid—"
She pointed at the delicate, graceful woman, her voice dripping with venom: "This vile creature has committed an unspeakable act of betrayal—engaging in an illicit affair while mourning my husband!"
Her words struck like thunder from a clear sky. The hall erupted in gasps and murmurs as all eyes turned to the accused woman, faces twisted in disgust.
The beautiful woman’s eyes widened in shock—she had never imagined Madam Yang would accuse her of such a vile crime. Tears welled up as she cried out in protest: "It’s not true! I didn’t! You’re framing me!"
Madam Yang sneered, ignoring her entirely, and instead addressed the old patriarch: "This matter is witnessed by our household steward and servants—the adulterers were caught in the act. Would I dare slander my own family’s name otherwise? Now that the culprits are seized, this is no longer just my affair but the Yang clan’s. With my husband gone, I, a mere widow, defer to your judgment, Elder."
The half-deaf old patriarch cupped his ear and boomed: "Eh? What’s that, Sixth Daughter-in-law? Something about your gate? Speak up, I can’t hear you!"
Ye Xiaotian had never expected Madam Yang to pin such a charge on him without even questioning him. In that instant, he understood her scheme—not only was she greedy, but also petty and vindictive. Resenting her husband’s favor toward his concubine, who had borne him a daughter while she remained childless, she now sought to destroy the girl out of sheer spite.
As the deaf old man continued shouting—"What’d she say? Why tie her up? Did she break your gate?"—Ye Xiaotian bellowed: "Madam Yang! These are outright lies! How dare you slander us? I’ve never even met this woman before—what affair could there be?"
Madam Yang didn’t truly believe this stranger was the girl’s lover, but she saw a chance to rid herself of a thorn in her side. Ignoring him, she coldly said, "Deny it all you want. San Shou, tell everyone where you caught him."
Yang Sanshou stepped forward and announced: "Honored guests, I am Yang Sanshou, steward of the Yang household. This man sneaked into the estate to rendezvous with that slut. They were in the midst of undressing when I arrived to deliver her monthly allowance. Catching them red-handed, I brought them to Madam for judgment."
Ye Xiaotian shouted: "True, I was in the courtyard—no, the yard!—but not for any affair! I hadn’t even exchanged names with her! I came to deliver urgent news!" Madam Yang paused, curiosity momentarily overriding her malice. "What news?"
Ye Xiaotian shot her a defiant look. "Among today’s guests, are there any officials? What I have to say must be heard by the authorities—lest someone here twists justice."
Madam Yang snapped, "If you’re innocent, why fear speaking openly?"
Ye Xiaotian retorted, "Oh, I’ll speak—but given your reputation, Madam, who’s to say you won’t silence the truth?"
His words stirred murmurs among the crowd. An elderly scholar in official robes suddenly stepped forward and said calmly, "I am Hu Kuo, Magistrate of Jingzhou. Speak your piece."
Ye Xiaotian hesitated. "You’re truly the county magistrate?"
Hu Kuo’s face darkened. "Impudent! Would I impersonate an official in broad daylight? Or are you stalling because you’ve nothing to say?"
Madam Yang sneered. "What could he say? They’re clearly guilty—drown them in a pig cage and be done with it!"
The old patriarch, still lost, cheerfully bellowed: "Piglets? Aye, my sow just birthed fifteen! All healthy too—heard about that, did you?"
The crowd ignored the senile elder. Magistrate Hu said dismissively, "If you’ve no defense, I’ll leave this to the Yang clan."
A bystander urged, "Young man, this is indeed the magistrate. Speak now or regret it!"
Realizing his peril, Ye Xiaotian cried, "Wait! Inside my boot is a letter—written by the late Master Yang himself! Read it, and all will be clear!"
"A letter from my brother-in-law?" The magistrate stiffened, eyeing Ye Xiaotian sharply. He gestured at Yang Sanshou, who grimaced as he pulled off Ye Xiaotian’s stinking boot and extracted a sweat-stained letter.
Magistrate Hu wrinkled his nose, ordering, "Open it."
As Sanshou held up the letter, Hu Kuo covered his face with a handkerchief. Madam Yang, shaken by the mention of her husband’s letter, stepped closer. "Brother, what does it say?"
"Brother?!" Ice shot through Ye Xiaotian’s veins. "The magistrate is her brother?!"
Panic set in. "She’ll never let the concubine’s daughter inherit. And with her brother’s power, killing an outsider like me would be effortless!"
His gaze darted to the tearful young woman—then inspiration struck.
Originally, he’d planned a dramatic reveal, but now, survival demanded a lie—one so bold, so flawless, it would alter his fate forever.
Ye Xiaotian had been leering at Yang Lin’s beautiful daughter when he sensed something amiss. Turning his head, he saw an old woman in mourning clothes speaking with a white-haired old man who leaned on a cane and cupped his ear. Clearly, these two were the focal figures among the gathered crowd.
The old man appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, his face deeply wrinkled, his hair white as snow. In his hand, he held a golden rattan cane—this was the old patriarch of the Jingzhou Yang family. After Madam Yang whispered loudly into his ear for a moment, she turned to the crowd and declared, "Friends and family, I have something to say."
With a cold glance at Ye Xiaotian and the pale, furious woman, Madam Yang addressed the hall: "My late husband’s passing has brought you all here to mourn, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Yet, during the mourning period, this wretched maid—"
She pointed at the delicate, graceful woman, her voice dripping with venom: "This vile creature has committed an unspeakable act of betrayal—engaging in an illicit affair while mourning my husband!"
Her words struck like thunder from a clear sky. The hall erupted in gasps and murmurs as all eyes turned to the accused woman, faces twisted in disgust.
The beautiful woman’s eyes widened in shock—she had never imagined Madam Yang would accuse her of such a vile crime. Tears welled up as she cried out in protest: "It’s not true! I didn’t! You’re framing me!"
Madam Yang sneered, ignoring her entirely, and instead addressed the old patriarch: "This matter is witnessed by our household steward and servants—the adulterers were caught in the act. Would I dare slander my own family’s name otherwise? Now that the culprits are seized, this is no longer just my affair but the Yang clan’s. With my husband gone, I, a mere widow, defer to your judgment, Elder."
The half-deaf old patriarch cupped his ear and boomed: "Eh? What’s that, Sixth Daughter-in-law? Something about your gate? Speak up, I can’t hear you!"
Ye Xiaotian had never expected Madam Yang to pin such a charge on him without even questioning him. In that instant, he understood her scheme—not only was she greedy, but also petty and vindictive. Resenting her husband’s favor toward his concubine, who had borne him a daughter while she remained childless, she now sought to destroy the girl out of sheer spite.
As the deaf old man continued shouting—"What’d she say? Why tie her up? Did she break your gate?"—Ye Xiaotian bellowed: "Madam Yang! These are outright lies! How dare you slander us? I’ve never even met this woman before—what affair could there be?"
Madam Yang didn’t truly believe this stranger was the girl’s lover, but she saw a chance to rid herself of a thorn in her side. Ignoring him, she coldly said, "Deny it all you want. San Shou, tell everyone where you caught him."
Yang Sanshou stepped forward and announced: "Honored guests, I am Yang Sanshou, steward of the Yang household. This man sneaked into the estate to rendezvous with that slut. They were in the midst of undressing when I arrived to deliver her monthly allowance. Catching them red-handed, I brought them to Madam for judgment."
Ye Xiaotian shouted: "True, I was in the courtyard—no, the yard!—but not for any affair! I hadn’t even exchanged names with her! I came to deliver urgent news!" Madam Yang paused, curiosity momentarily overriding her malice. "What news?"
Ye Xiaotian shot her a defiant look. "Among today’s guests, are there any officials? What I have to say must be heard by the authorities—lest someone here twists justice."
Madam Yang snapped, "If you’re innocent, why fear speaking openly?"
Ye Xiaotian retorted, "Oh, I’ll speak—but given your reputation, Madam, who’s to say you won’t silence the truth?"
His words stirred murmurs among the crowd. An elderly scholar in official robes suddenly stepped forward and said calmly, "I am Hu Kuo, Magistrate of Jingzhou. Speak your piece."
Ye Xiaotian hesitated. "You’re truly the county magistrate?"
Hu Kuo’s face darkened. "Impudent! Would I impersonate an official in broad daylight? Or are you stalling because you’ve nothing to say?"
Madam Yang sneered. "What could he say? They’re clearly guilty—drown them in a pig cage and be done with it!"
The old patriarch, still lost, cheerfully bellowed: "Piglets? Aye, my sow just birthed fifteen! All healthy too—heard about that, did you?"
The crowd ignored the senile elder. Magistrate Hu said dismissively, "If you’ve no defense, I’ll leave this to the Yang clan."
A bystander urged, "Young man, this is indeed the magistrate. Speak now or regret it!"
Realizing his peril, Ye Xiaotian cried, "Wait! Inside my boot is a letter—written by the late Master Yang himself! Read it, and all will be clear!"
"A letter from my brother-in-law?" The magistrate stiffened, eyeing Ye Xiaotian sharply. He gestured at Yang Sanshou, who grimaced as he pulled off Ye Xiaotian’s stinking boot and extracted a sweat-stained letter.
Magistrate Hu wrinkled his nose, ordering, "Open it."
As Sanshou held up the letter, Hu Kuo covered his face with a handkerchief. Madam Yang, shaken by the mention of her husband’s letter, stepped closer. "Brother, what does it say?"
"Brother?!" Ice shot through Ye Xiaotian’s veins. "The magistrate is her brother?!"
Panic set in. "She’ll never let the concubine’s daughter inherit. And with her brother’s power, killing an outsider like me would be effortless!"
His gaze darted to the tearful young woman—then inspiration struck.
Originally, he’d planned a dramatic reveal, but now, survival demanded a lie—one so bold, so flawless, it would alter his fate forever.
P.S. A single like would suffice. Between the last book’s end and this one’s launch, three months passed—no votes until it’s monetized.
Key Notes:
- Cultural Nuances: Terms like "浸猪笼" (drowning in a pig cage) reflect historical punishments for adultery.
- Character Voices: The old patriarch’s deafness and senility add dark humor, contrasting with the tense accusations.
- Dramatic Irony: The twist of the magistrate being Madam Yang’s brother heightens Ye Xiaotian’s desperation.
- Style: The translation balances formal dialogue (e.g., "拙夫亡故") with natural English ("my late husband").
-- Translated by Xiao Gu Shi --
Go to CHAPTER 9
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