Cloud Dream Marsh was pissing down rain like a widow at a funeral, endless and miserable.
Deep inside Yuqiu County Jail, Chen "Piggy" Chen was cradling a newborn black piglet that had just been weaned. He licked the blood off its ear with loud smacking noises.
In his heart he cursed: Motherfucker, I've licked knife wounds and women, and now I'm licking a pig. Life's fucking complete.
The iron gate was kicked open with a BANG.
The Lieutenant of the Court of Judicial Review, Wang Heng, stormed in wearing an oilskin cape, nose in the air:
"Chen Piggy! Guard this man well. If he loses a single hair, I'll mince you into pork paste and feed you to the dogs!"
Piggy didn't even lift his head: "Got it, milord. He won't die. My dogs have been too fat to run lately—been needing some meat."
Inside he added: Dogs my ass. My three nests of crows are more reliable than you.
Gate slammed shut.
Liu Rong, the former Crown Prince, was dragged in wearing twenty-catty wooden cangue, neck bleeding, soaked prisoner robes clinging to his bones like stewed offal.
Piggy squinted and clicked his tongue:
"Well, well, if it ain't His Highness the Crown Prince who used to stroll the morning court. How'd you end up looking worse than my Old Black?"