Da Li Temple - Chapter 1

Chapter 1
Rain

Sheng City’s early spring rain was continuous and dense, like a curtain that enveloped the Capital Government Office.

On a stone step in front of the main hall, Liang Weiping, the administrator of the Capital Goverment Office, anxiously stepped back and forth, making this silent spring rain more annoying.

“Master Liang,” behind him came the sound of the servant boy. “Lord Su’s carriage is already parked at the entrance …….”

“Got it.” Liang Weiping’s heart tightened, smoothly holding up his sleeve to wipe off the fine sweat on his forehead.

Today is the day when the Da Li Temple (*) took over the serial rape and murder case a year ago. Liang Weiping knew this was a major case but never thought the Emperor even commanded his nephew, the Chief of Da Li Temple, Su Moyi, to handle the case personally.

T/N : (???)Da Li Si is an official department in ancient Chinese, equivalent to the modern Supreme Court, in charge of criminal affairs cases. The Chief is called (????) Da Li Si Qing, a third-rank officer. In ancient times, government office is called Si (?). But in modern times, (?) become ‘temple.’ So, ‘temple’ in Da Li Temple is NOT a place for religious worship, but a government office. The proper translation for (???) is the Supreme Court, but a lot of texts and movies translated it as Da Li Temple, so I just go with the flow. 

Now, this Buddha has been walking to the door, and Lin Wanqing, who has been responsible for the record of this case, actually has not yet appeared.

This level of pressure.

Even if it was an ordinary case, there was no reason to hold the records, not to mention that today, the one who was sitting inside was Su Moyi, the Dynasty’s No.1 ruthless official —

His sweaty palms rubbed against his sleeves, and he stretched his neck to look down the stone steps again.

“Master Liang!” In the misty rain, a thin figure vaguely ran in the distance. Dark and light patches of rainwater stained her light gray magistrate’s robe. There were two muddy watermarks on her knees, which made her look wretched.

“Master Liang!”

“Where have you been?!” Before Lin Wanqing could open her mouth to explain, Liang Weiping’s anger sprayed all over her face. As if she had foreseen this, she skillfully dodged to one side. She stealthily lifted her eyelids to look at Liang Weiping. She was a reasonable person.

“Something happened on the way, made me late a bit.” Only then did Liang Weiping care to look at Lin Wanqing.

Her pale little face was drenched, with a layer of water droplets on her temple, making her even paler. The long, dense eyelashes were slightly upturned, with two dangling crystalline raindrops. Under those eyelashes, that pair of black, bright almond eyes move, looking apologetic.

It makes people lose all their anger at a glance. Having lived for almost thirty years, this was the first time he had seen a man look so devilish. If not for the knot on her neck, Liang Weiping would have wanted to check her out. His thoughts were interrupted, and his anger was nowhere to be found.

“Wipe your face!” Liang Weiping unhappily pulled a hand towel from his waist and slapped it onto Lin Wanqing’s face.

Lin Wanqing knew she was in the wrong and did not get annoyed. She took the hand towel and smiled, wiping her face carelessly. Then, she bent down to wipe the muddy water on her knees.

“Hit by a horse or a carriage, ah?” Liang Weiping asked rudely.

“No,” Lin Wanqing buried her head. Her voice muffled, “I saw a little white dog fall into a drainage ditch and couldn’t climb up, so I pulled it.”

“You!!! Cough cough cough ……” Liang Weiping was shocked by this answer, so anxious that his breath didn’t come up, clogged in his throat, producing a string of coughs.

“Master Liang,” behind the two once again came the servant boy, “Lord Su is about to arrive in the consultation room.”

Liang Weiping eased his emotions, patted his forehead, and smoothly drew away the hand towel that had been turned muddy by Lin Wanqing. After leaving a cold snort behind, he walked away.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Lin Wanqing suppressed her laughter and followed along obediently.

“Is there any food?” She sidled up and asked in Liang Weiping’s ear.
??
Stunned, Liang Weiping also sidled up to ask in return. “Where are the snacks that I gave you yesterday?”
??
Lin Wanqing scrunched her neck and muttered, “Fed it to that stray dog.”
?
“Ho!!! Cough cough cough ……”
??
Seeing that Liang Weiping was about to have another attack, Lin Wanqing quickly held him up and patted his back to smooth his breath.
?
“There is a saying that one must help others to the end. I have saved this dog. I couldn’t let it starve, so I ……”
??
“You’re so nosy. Not only did you dirty the official uniform, but you almost ruined the business!” Liang Weiping’s agitated body trembling, hardly suppressing his voice, saying: “You know today the one who comes is Lord Su from Da Li Temple. If he punishes you for not being well groomed, disrupting justice, neglecting his duties, and degrading official authority ……”

“Okay, okay, okay.” Lin Wanqing skillfully snorted while patting Liang Weiping’s back and maintaining her smile: “Brother Liang, calm down. I know I’m wrong. I’ll never do it again — But — ” He paused and continued with a twist of words, “Do you have something to eat?”

“…… ” Liang Weiping side-eyed him and took two candies from his bosom. “This is what you gave me yesterday. Pad your stomach first.”
??
“Ow!” Lin Wanqing took them, quickly peeled one off, and threw it into her mouth.
??
The greenish gray eaves were drizzling with raindrops, resembling a side of crystalline beaded curtains.
??
They walked along the corridor and came to the side chamber. The government officials had taken their positions, giving a solemn and dignified scene.
??
Liang Weiping’s legs uncontrollably softened. He subconsciously swallowed his saliva and pulled Lin Wanqing: “You’re responsible for the record. Don’t talk if those Lords didn’t ask you. This situation is not like our usual discussion. Don’t show off your little wisdom.”
??
Lin Wanqing nodded without hesitation.
??
Liang Weiping calmed his breathing, patted his chest, and took a deep breath. He stepped over the threshold, huddled to the wall, smoothed his way to the small desk, and sat down.

Handing over and discussing the case was not like a trial, so naturally, there were no instruments of torture, and there was no need to summon suspects and witnesses.
??
Lin Wanqing skillfully spread the rice paper on the table. Then, she lifted the pen and dipped it into the ink.
??
Slow but steady footsteps approached from the back of the chamber from a distance, accompanied by the delicate sound of silk friction and occasionally clashing of rings and pendants. Behind the Suzhou-embroidered screen, two figures, one purple and one scarlet, marched in.
??
Lin Wanqing looked at the silhouettes behind the screen dazedly before remembering that she had heard of Su Moyi’s great name.
??
Since ancient times, all talented people are young. Lord Su was already famous when he was a teenager and wrote a good article. His uncle wanted to give him an idle position, but he was obsessed with the road of law. After he got first place on the imperial examination at sixteen years old, he became an officer in Da Li Temple. Because of his background and the Emperor’s backing, he didn’t have to look at the criminal’s status. Naturally, he made some achievements. To achieve this position, he didn’t rely on royal shade. But perhaps because of this, Su Moyi was resolute in his work, and his means were harsh. In the Nan Dynasty, officialdom gave him an ‘unfear of gods and ghosts, No. 1 ruthless official’ title.
??
Rumor has it that he often commanded to torture the death row inmates at the same time. Some people even confessed to their crimes but begged for death to escape from living.
??
As Lin Wanqing pondered, the two figures had already gone around the screen. The one walking in front must be Su Moyi from Da Li Temple.
??
Lin Wanqing’s hand holding the pen shook. Her face left a trace of anxiousness, and she lifted her eyes quietly. Into her eyes was a beautiful, handsome face. His purple official robe added a few points of coldness, a gold and jade belt in the waist lining his broad shoulders and narrow waist, with an upright posture.
??
Lin Wanqing couldn’t help but miss a beat of breath. Moving her eyes upwards, she saw a perfectly carved face with deep brows bone, a high nose, thin lips, and black-ink pupils like a bottomless cliff. This appearance and his famous fierce title seemed to be unmatched.
??
A drop of ink from the pen ‘plop’ onto the rice paper, leaving an ink spot that quickly dried. Lin Wanqing lowered her head to avoid that cold gaze, missing out on that faint frown from those sword eyebrows.
??
“Lord Su,” Official Li, who sat at the bottom, opened his mouth, “This case ……”
??
“Begin.” The man at the top withdrew his gaze and spoke indifferently.
??
Official Li smiled fawningly, took the case file handed up by Liang Weiping, and began to state the case aloud.
??
It was several rape and murder cases that happened years ago. The victims were women who were kept by officials or merchants outside the residence, all of them in their early to mid-twenties. Because these women stayed outside the residence, the gold masters who supported them did not often come over. Although the Nan Dynasty was liberal, in the end, their status was still lowly slave, so they didn’t have many people around, usually only one or two maids and grannies, which allowed the perpetrators to exploit the situation.
??
The bodies of the victims were all found in their bedrooms, lying on their backs, naked, with their eyes covered and their hands and feet bound.
Test results showed that the fatal wound was because of a sharp instrument in the chest. However, what creeped everyone out was that the female corpse not only had traces of abuse on the breasts but also from repeated stabbing with a sharp blade in the lower body. The victim’s identity was similar, and the modus operandi was the same. Hence, the Capital Government deduced the perpetrator who committed these cases was the same person.

Lin Wanqing has been responsible for the record of this case. Official Li must be afraid of facing Su Moyi’s inquiries, thus specially appointed him to do things.
??
Listening to Official Li’s explanation of the case, Lin Wanqing sped up her handwriting until a short silence. She looked up, only to see a few lines that could squeeze flies appear on Official Li’s oily face.
??
He cleared his throat, deliberately slowed down his tone, and raised his head to Su Moyi, worshipping: “This official caught the culprit of this serial rape and murder case yesterday.”
??——

Author Notes:?
P.S. The heroine dresses as a man. Just call her directly. I’m too lazy to change. First, establish a persona to cultivate feelings. Meat scenes are  about 15 chapters away.

Translator Notes:

1. First of all, I’m not translating it wrong. The author wrote it like that ?. Every time Lin Wanqing tells the story from her perspective, it will become she/her. But when from the other party, it will become he/him. Because for everyone else, Lin Wanqing is a man.
2. This novel has been published.
3. Adapted as a short-length web series aired on iqiyi, Cordial Companion.
4. Thank you for your support and enjoy!