County Magistrate Zhang Panicked

Liu Xu had originally been ready to leave, but after hearing Xu Bai's words, she stopped again and looked at him in confusion.

"What else is it?"

Xu Bai held out both hands and gestured. "Next time you hide your identity, remember to wrap a strip of cloth around your chest. Otherwise, you'll be exposed very easily."

The moment he finished speaking, a page flew through the air and lodged diagonally in the corner of the wall.

Xu Bai had already vanished. Only Liu Xu remained where she stood, her teeth clenched tight.

She beckoned, and the page in the wall's corner returned to the book.

"I thought he was some gallant hero. Who knew he was a lecherous rogue!"

She spat lightly and left the street.

Before leaving, Liu Xu lowered her head and looked at the magnificent sight before her, recalling what he had just said.

"Perhaps he was right. The next time I disguise myself, I'll have to think of something..."

Once Liu Xu left, the street finally returned to its desolation. Aside from the cries of a few cats, no one else appeared.

The next day.

County Magistrate Zhang had been in a good mood lately.

Actually, he had always been in a good mood. It was simply even better lately.

Ever since leaving the academy in Nanhua Dao and earning his scholarly rank, he felt that his future had become unstoppable.

Although he had ultimately been assigned to remote Sheng County, here, he could cover the sky with one hand.

The mountains were high and the emperor far away—those words described him perfectly.

Many people were unwilling to serve as officials in remote places, but he was different.

The more remote the place, the less the one in the Capital City could keep an eye on it. Here, he could summon wind and rain. Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

When he had first arrived in Sheng County, all manner of wealthy merchants had flocked to flatter him, allowing him to rake in a substantial sum.

Study?

Study my ass.

He knew his own limits well. An eighth-rank scholar was already his ceiling; there was no hope of going any higher.

Rather than struggle bitterly, he might as well enjoy himself to the fullest.

He had thought the days ahead would surely be blessed with favorable winds and timely rains.

But some time ago, Lin Residence seemed to have become somewhat dissatisfied with him.

More accurately, it was not dissatisfaction. They simply felt that associating with him brought them no benefit.

Among Sheng County's wealthy merchants, Lin Residence stood among the very best. Every month, they came to offer him tribute.

But after enough time passed, they began to feel he could not be of any use.

In truth, County Magistrate Zhang felt quite wronged over this matter.

No one had offended Lin Residence, and Lin Residence itself had nothing to ask of him. Naturally, he had no chance to be useful.

Seeing the relationship between the two sides grow increasingly distant, County Magistrate Zhang had constantly been pondering how to smooth things over.

Then, by sheer coincidence, that murder case happened.

County Magistrate Zhang had worked his schemes through it, and he truly had smoothed things over.

"Now Lin Residence will understand everything I've done, and they'll know they can't cut off ties with me." County Magistrate Zhang thought, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

As for those three lives...

Who didn't die these days?

The common folk had short memories. In a few months, the uproar over this matter would fade away. He could simply find a prisoner to pose as the Lin family's young master, and everything would be calm and peaceful.

Could the emperor possibly investigate all the way to him? Thinking of this, County Magistrate Zhang grew even happier. Even his steps became lighter as he hummed a tune.

"My lord, something terrible has happened!"

Just then, a Yamen Runner suddenly rushed in from outside. Panic filled his eyes, impossible to conceal. As he crossed the threshold, he tripped and fell to the ground.

"Why are you so flustered? What kind of behavior is this?" County Magistrate Zhang immediately wiped the pleasure from his face, put on a stern expression, and rebuked him in a grave tone.

The Yamen Runner was startled by County Magistrate Zhang's expression. He hurriedly scrambled up from the floor, straightened his clothes, and put on a pretense of calm.

"What is it?" County Magistrate Zhang picked up the tea on the table and tilted his head back for a sip.

Excellent tea!

If he had served as an official anywhere other than Sheng County, how could he have had the chance to drink such fine tea?

"The Lin family's young master... Lin Fenghua is dead!" the Yamen Runner hurriedly said. "My lord, you said that whenever a case happened, we were to investigate it first and not disturb your sleep, so we sent the coroner over first. After examining him, we discovered that it was because..."

"Because of what?" County Magistrate Zhang lifted his eyelids slightly. He had not yet registered who it was.

"Lin Fenghua was playing with red rope with the Courtesan from Spring Rain Pavilion... He got too excited... and died..." The Yamen Runner began to stammer as he spoke.

After serving as a Yamen Runner for so many years, this was the first time he had ever seen someone die like this.

"I see..." County Magistrate Zhang took another sip of tea. Then the teacup in his hand suddenly froze in midair as it finally sank in. "Who did you say died?"

"Lin... Lin Fenghua..." The Yamen Runner lowered his head and answered haltingly.

Crack!

The teacup fell to the ground, shattering with a crisp sound.

"Come! To Lin Residence!" County Magistrate Zhang hurriedly rose and headed for Lin Residence.

This was one of his steady meal tickets. He could not let this go wrong.

Lin Residence was filled with wailing.

A richly dressed middle-aged woman knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.

A table stood nearby. Lin Fenghua's corpse lay atop it, covered with a white cloth.

Beside the table, the striking woman from Spring Rain Pavilion was bound with ropes.

"My lord, you must uphold justice for us. It was this woman who killed my child." Lin Fenghua's father pointed at the Courtesan from Spring Rain Pavilion, speaking through gritted teeth.

"My lord, he died from excessive excitement. It had nothing to do with me. He insisted on doing it himself." The Courtesan was already scared half to death. Hearing Lin Fu's accusation, she hurriedly explained.

County Magistrate Zhang's expression turned exceedingly ugly. He glanced back at the gathered townspeople and said to the Yamen Runners beside him, "Disperse them first. Don't let them watch."

The Yamen Runners immediately did as ordered, driving away the people watching nearby.

Only after the crowd had been driven off did County Magistrate Zhang wave his hand. "Throw the Courtesan into the jail. We'll deal with her another day."

Two Yamen Runners stepped forward and escorted the dazed Courtesan away.

"My lord, you said... deal with her another day?" Though Lin Fu was grief-stricken, he caught the implication behind those words.

"Your son died from excessive excitement, not at the Courtesan's hands. I'll merely lock her up for a few days." County Magistrate Zhang said blandly.

Lin Fu froze, astonishment appearing on his face.

"Spring Rain Pavilion was opened by the Ninth Princess in the Capital City, and it has branches everywhere. Surely you know that. Without conclusive evidence, I cannot convict her," County Magistrate Zhang added.

Lin Fu had gone completely blank and could only nod instinctively.

He knew of the Ninth Princess.

It was said that the Ninth Princess had little standing in the capital, which was why she had opened such a pleasure house. The emperor did not interfere either.

But... wasn't she merely a disgraced princess?

Lin Fu could not understand it. His eyes reddened as he said, "She's only a Courtesan..."

"Do not mention this matter again. I'll be leaving first." County Magistrate Zhang flicked his sleeve, cutting Lin Fu off before turning to leave.

He departed decisively, utterly unlike how he had been before coming here.

Lin Fenghua was dead. County Magistrate Zhang figured Lin Fu would no longer flatter him, and Lin Fu even wanted him to convict the Courtesan. He saw no need to maintain ties with him.

Lest he set himself on fire.

A disgraced princess?

Heh heh heh...

Only people like them understood that, on the surface, the Ninth Princess was a disgraced princess, but in secret, she was Your Majesty's capable assistant.

As for why she was such a capable assistant—

That had to begin with the Great Chu Kingdom's current situation.

I know some readers are anxious, but the county magistrate's influence in Sheng County is not small. We'll take it step by step; it will be resolved.