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Chapter 37 – Wu Ying

The litany of charges were long. The clerk that read it began with the smallest of his infractions – theft of a seal and the unauthorized use of a portal – to his largest – breaking out of the Palace of Lesser Harmonies and the unauthorized contact and meddling in the Middle Kingdom. There were other charges tacked on, though at least Wu Ying had never killed any of the Guardian’s patrol sent after him. Nor were there strange charges like that of resisting arrest – why would you not expect a criminal to resist arrest, or penalize them for doing so?

Wu Ying listened carefully to the charges, and was pleasantly surprised by some charges that he had not heard. Chief among them, treason – for that charge, amongst many others – would have guaranteed his death. After all, his guilt was quite clear and manifest in this matter.

“Ascendant Long, do you have anything to say to these charges?” the Grand Minister intoned. His eyes were locked onto Wu Ying’s manacled form, his gaze interrogative.

“Are these matters not normally handled at a lower court first?” Wu Ying turned head from side-to-side in the room. “Surely Grand Minister Ding has better things to do with his time than try the case of a single Ascendant?”

“Are you protesting my involvement?” Grand Minister Ding said.

“Not at all. I am grateful for your attention and I am certain that the Grand Minister will investigate the matters fully,” Wu Ying said.

Eyes narrowed in suspicion, but Wu Ying was truthful in what he said. The job of the magistrate during a trial was not just judge, prosecutor or defendant but as a truth seeker. It was their job to cut through the self-serving lies, the various falsehoods that all parties would advance to emphasize their side of the incident and to make a judgment according to the laws of the nation[1].

They had all the power when they were brought in, which was why so many desired to avoid the attention of the magistrates. A corrupt magistrate was a terrible burden to all involved but a devout and zealous magistrate could be worst. They had the full weight and ability of the government behind them, and could order enquiries, investigations and torture of all those involved.

At least, in this case, the Grand Minister of Justice of the Heavens was less likely to be a zealot, though Wu Ying had no evidence to back that hope up.

“The initial portions of your enquiry were begun while we were fleeing, investigations and questioning of those involved in your escape attempt, your friendships and your activity while in the Palace of Lesser Harmonies until your breakout.” Grand Minister Ding leaned forward. “It seems, to my understanding, that you wished to serve the Jade Empire initially, in your own way.”

“Yes,” Wu Ying replied. “If I could have undertaken my studies and my research to aid my companion, I would have been well satisfied.”

“Many of those who were spoken to further indicated that they felt you had spurned their generous advances. You chose to follow your own impulses, rather than wait and study appropriately,” Grand Minister Ding said.

“Are we judging my fate based off the feelings of others?” Wu Ying said. He did his best to keep the sarcasm out of his voice, but replaced it with a little irritation. “The appropriate amount of time offered was said to be in centuries. My companion might not have had that time. Mortal lives do not move at the same pace as immortal existence.”

“Your companion was likely to achieve Nascent Soul, a stage in which she had centuries to live in. Was the prospect then, the fear, that she would no longer be youthful and vigorous like yourself when you did cheat her way to immortality?”

“No.” Wu Ying’s eyes narrowed. “That was not a concern.”

He felt something there, the lightest of touches in the air, on his aura and the words he had spoken. He could not discern it fully, but Wu Ying was not entirely surprised that there was a greater dao in play. One did not become the Grand Minister of Justice without some manner of ascertaining the truth.

“Then, it was fear for her safety?”

“Amongst other things.”

“What other things?”

“A promise that I had made, to see her soon. A fear that she might believe that I had abandoned her like-” Wu Ying stopped.

“Like?” When he did not immediately move to answer, he felt the dao that had been so feather light thus far press down upon him. Forcing his words out.

“-Like the heavens have abandoned the Middle Kingdom.”

“Do you truly believe that we have abandoned our charge of the mortal realm?”

“Not fully, but you certainly neglect it more than I would think wise. Outside of some notable examples, few Immortals visit the Middle Kingdom anymore. We are left to our own devices, and natural disasters sweep the lands bringing with it droughts, pestilence and famine alike.”

“So you seek to judge the Jade Emperor as well as break his laws.”

Wu Ying considered his next words carefully, knowing that too long a hesitation would have the other utilize his dao once more.

“I am not his judge. I place him on no trial. How could I? My dao is that of learning, of growth through experience and travel. I understand beyond all things, that I have much to learn. However, just because I am still learning does not mean I cannot have an opinion – though as a student, I reserve judgment to alter that opinion too.” Wu Ying raised his shackled hands. “My actions had no bearing on his greater rulings. I had a single objective, and chose to complete it.”

“Then, you have no regrets about the actions you took?”

“Would it matter if I did? Would you believe me if I said I had some?” Wu Ying sighed. “My companion is an immortal now. Her existence, barring any major incident, safeguarded from old age and disease. How could I regret that?”

“Even if your actions might have caused significant damage to the Middle Kingdom?”

“Even if.” Wu Ying sniffed. “Though I doubt a single action like mine could cause that much change.”

“Our diviners have much to say about yours and your companions recent arrival. They speak of massive disruptions in their divinations, about the fate of all three realms twisted and thrown in disarray,” Grand Minister Ding said. “The future, one that we have long plotted for greatest stability, is now in jeopardy.”

“And all this, laid at my feet?” Wu Ying shook his head. “No. I refuse to believe that. A single Ascendant cannot be that important, no matter how great the regard I have of my own importance. What chaos there might be, it was long in the germination. What seeds of chaos that might have been sown, they were spread by others long before my arrival.

“It could be said that even my own rebellion are but the results of the actions – or inactions – of the heavens.”

“Then do you intend to shift blame to us?”

“No.” Wu Ying raised his chin. “I chose to act, and that is my responsibility. However, to lay the blame of future chaos three entire realms on me, on my choices is unfair as well. To judge future consequences, of possibilities that have yet to occur – when decisions and choices by others may alter that future you divine – is irresponsible as well.”

“An interesting argument.” More detailed questioning, about the events that happened continued after that. Wu Ying answered truthfully as best he could, offering his reasoning when asked for it. In his attempts to escape the pursuing patrol, he had done his best to leave the world behind better, even if that meant sending Guardian Chu on errands throughout the first few realms.

“I did assume that the heavenly patrol would do something about the presence of demonic intrusions in the heavenly realms, yes,” Wu Ying said. “Was I not supposed to report or deal with that? I do recall being lectured on that very matter.” He shrugged. “Of course, everything must be balanced and a little demonic chi is not without its benefit, as it promotes mutation and change. The question of what the appropriate amount of little might be is more difficult, and something meant for more learned individuals.”

That little deflection got a reproving look from the Grand Minister, so he chose not to play such word games furthermore.

“Sophistry, perhaps but the gifting of immortal peaches that are not from the Jade Emperor’s gardens are not illegal. Nor are they wrong – as all things under heaven and earth are part of the Dao. If the Dao had not intended their creation, or have a reason for their presence, it would not have been created.”

“Do you think then, that the Dao is a living being? Able to think and reason?”

“Not as such, but it is all encompassing. Perhaps what our choices are drift ourselves and the world around away from harmony with the greater Dao, like discordant notes amongst a symphony or weeds left untended in the field; but the field still prospers and the world still continues. Nor are all weeds truly wasteful, just undesirable at the time for ourselves.” Wu Ying shrugged. “I admit, I struggle still to understand the Dao in its fullness. Do we all not?”

That brought forth a grunt from the Grand Minister before he continued with his questioning. So many, on his choices to act, on his decision not to act against those who had attacked his companion, or his choice not to chase after.

Even pointed questions about certain half-Immortals like Beggar Soh, though Wu Ying was able to speak truthfully that he had not seen or noticed the other. That battle had taken on the far periphery of his senses, and one that he chosen to to involve himself with.

The day ground on, natural daylight fading and spirit lamps glowing brightly in turn. Rather than rest, like what a mortal court might have chosen, the Grand Magistrate continued his interrogation. Often he would return to earlier periods, jumping back and forth in the timeline, asking the same question in different forms or lying, in his statements and questions in an attempt to trick Wu Ying into altering his answers.

Here, honesty stood well in Wu Ying’s stead, though his own beliefs, his own views were drawn forth, over and over again. Traitorous thoughts and beliefs, caustic remarks that slipped out or were dragged forth as the constant, wearying pressure of the Grand Minister’s dao surrounded him.

On, and on, till the early hours of dawn arrived. Tea was supplied, for all and sundry, with breakfast gifted to the clerks and Grand Minister, the guards rotating away – all but the steadfast Captain Mao. And still, the questioning ground on.

Till the light of the noon day sun shone bright, and finally, the Grand Minister was satisfied.

[1][1] The traditional Chinese justice system is a single party judge-jury-executioner world where there are no advocates (or advocates are heavily frowned upon). Their job was to find out the truth, and then apply the laws. Depending on the scope of the criminality, the investigation would be pushed upwards to more senior personnel.