The willing fish takes the bait

With that, Chu Yifeng clasped his hands behind his back and walked out of the little pavilion, with Yang Qing close behind.

"Yan Prefecture City is already within sight, and I'm in no hurry to press on. Why don't you walk with me for a while?"

Chu Yifeng addressed Yang Qing.

"As Your Highness commands."

Yang Qing answered at once.

"Why are you still so stubborn? I think sending you to this bitterly cold land as some blasted acting military governor is a waste of your talents. When I return to the Capital City, why don't I petition Father to transfer you back and bring you into my household?"

At this, Yang Qing immediately stepped back and once again performed the formal salute of a subject to his sovereign. "Your Highness honors me, but I dare not claim such credit. His Majesty entrusted me with the affairs of Yan Prefecture out of faith in me. If I fail to ease his burdens, I would be too ashamed to face him again."

Chu Yifeng sighed softly. "Since you've already weighed what matters, pretend I never mentioned it. You needn't dwell on it."

Yang Qing bowed. "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."

Chu Yifeng took a few more steps forward. "I hear Dai Sheng, the magistrate of Yan Prefecture City, doesn't dare make a single decision himself. Working alongside him must be exhausting."

After all, the Prefectural Soldiers of Yan Prefecture City were entirely under the control of its duly appointed magistrate.

If Yang Qing wanted to accomplish anything in Yan Prefecture, he would have to call upon those forces.

At that thought, Chu Yifeng said, "Rest assured. I also came with Father's verbal decree, ordering Dai Sheng to obey your commands fully."

"What merit or ability do I possess to trouble Your Highness and His Majesty over duties that are already mine?"

"However, in the nearly six months since I arrived in Yan Prefecture, Magistrate Dai has become quite a different man. He has handled several major matters involving the bandits and has earned considerable support from the people of Yan Prefecture."

"I believe this is a blessing for Western Chu, and for His Majesty."

"Oh? Has Dai Sheng truly changed his ways? Then I must examine him carefully on Father's behalf and see whether he has genuinely turned over a new leaf or is merely fishing for fame."

Having said that, Chu Yifeng continued leisurely toward Yan Prefecture City.

Yan Prefecture City, County Office

The Prefectural Soldiers who had gone to the Land God Temple to search for the contact register had all returned to the County Office.

Dai Sheng looked at the little booklet. Though he knew perfectly well where it had come from, he still paced about the hall with an air of deep concern.

Their play was already halfway through. He would have to discuss with Yang Qing how to perform the rest.

But before he could sort out his thoughts, a Prefectural Soldier responsible for guarding the city gate ran in and saluted him with clasped hands. "Sir, Lord Yang and His Highness Prince Duan are almost at the city gate. Please go at once to welcome them."

Dai Sheng knew that Yang Qing had gone out of the city.

What he had not expected was that Prince Duan, who should not have arrived until tomorrow or the day after at his traveling pace, would come back with Yang Qing.

Dai Sheng had no time to ponder it. He hurriedly told the soldier who had brought the news, "Quick, have my sedan chair prepared! No, a horse! I'll go to the city gate to welcome him right away."

Once helped onto a sturdy horse, Dai Sheng urged it into a gallop toward the city gate.

From horseback, he saw Yang Qing standing beside another man at the gate in the distance. Without even waiting to catch his breath, he swung down from the horse and stumbled toward them.

"Your subject—your subject Dai Sheng pays his respects to Your Highness Prince Duan!"

Dai Sheng had rushed there with desperate haste. His official robes had been jostled about on horseback, and he had nearly tumbled to the ground when dismounting. They were now thoroughly rumpled, and even his official hat sat crooked on his head.

He knelt there, his whole body trembling like chaff in a sieve.

He truly had not expected Prince Duan to travel with so little ceremony or so few attendants, arriving on his own without a word of warning.

Fortunately, Lord Yang had sent him word. Otherwise, he probably would not have known even when Prince Duan was standing right before him.

But why had Prince Duan come to Yan Prefecture City in such a manner?

Could he have come to see how its magistrate was carrying out his duties?

The more Dai Sheng thought about it, the more frightened he became, and his body began shaking uncontrollably.

Looking at Dai Sheng kneeling at his feet, Chu Yifeng said, "I've heard quite a bit about your 'glorious achievements' along the way, Magistrate Dai."

Dai Sheng trembled even harder.

Prince Duan was plainly reproaching him for lacking ambition and clinging to the old ways!

And on top of that, Yan Prefecture's bandit problem had remained unresolved for so long...

Dai Sheng pressed his body flat against the ground. "Your subject—your subject is incompetent and has failed His Majesty's trust."

Chu Yifeng glanced at him. "At least you have a very clear understanding of your own abilities. However, Lord Yang spoke quite favorably of you along the way.

"Since Lord Yang is now working alongside you, you must give him your full support."

"Your Highness's admonition is just. I will keep it firmly in mind and govern Yan Prefecture City well."

Dai Sheng prostrated himself before Chu Yifeng once more.

Chu Yifeng waved a hand. "Rise. That is all I have to say."

"Yes!"

Dai Sheng slowly rose and respectfully guided Chu Yifeng into a cushioned sedan chair. Then he and Yang Qing followed behind it to the County Office.

Yan Prefecture County Office, inner hall

Chu Yifeng looked at the little booklet in his hands, his expression more solemn than ever.

"Yang Chengming, are you saying that the names recorded in this booklet belong to people connected to the bandits?"

Yang Qing slowly shook his head. "Your Highness, Magistrate Dai and I devised this list merely to mislead the person behind the scenes. Some have no connection whatsoever, while others are names I wrote down based on observations over the past six months."

Chu Yifeng slowly closed the Register. "So you're fishing?"

"Your Highness is perceptive. But although the bait has been cast, we still need a willing fish to take the hook."

Chu Yifeng clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Excellent! It seems I've arrived just in time. How could I miss such a splendid performance? But how confident are you that this will work?"

Yang Qing smiled faintly. "About fifty percent. But if Your Highness lends a hand, I would be eighty percent confident."

"Oh? You rascal, Yang Chengming! You've even worked me into your schemes?" Chu Yifeng feigned outrage.

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness! I originally had other arrangements, but with your assistance, the play Magistrate Dai and I are putting on will stand a much better chance of winning applause from the whole house!"

"Very well. In that case, I'll help you this once. What would you have me do?"

Yang Qing reached for a Jade Pendant that had originally been placed beside the Register and handed it to Chu Yifeng.

"Your Highness, this Jade Pendant was worn by the bandit who followed the Prefectural Soldiers to the Land God Temple today when they went to retrieve the Register."

"If your personal guards spread word inside and outside the city that you were attacked on the way to Yan Prefecture, and that the bandit lost this Jade Pendant while fleeing in panic after being ambushed..."

"To discover the thief's whereabouts, post drawings of this Jade Pendant and offer a generous reward to anyone who can identify it. If we do that, I suspect the mastermind connected to the bandits will lose all composure and reveal his own tracks!"

"Good. We'll do as you suggest!"

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