While Daoist Xue gained insight and felt he had reaped great rewards on his path of cultivation, Chief Constable Zhong also left home with his wife and child to visit the countryside.
Of course, besides the gifts for his parents-in-law, Zhong Xingwen had packed his belongings and the things Daoist Xue had given him. Once he reached his in-laws' home, he would find an opportunity to excuse himself and leave.
He had already prepared his excuse, too: as he had told his wife the previous day, he was going to visit an old master.
Meanwhile, Guan Xinrui and his party, still entirely unaware of what had happened at the Haiyu County office over the past two days, arrived at the seat of North Sea Commandery that morning.
Once the carriage and its attendants passed through the city gates, the bustle of the commandery city immediately grew more pronounced. Sitting inside the carriage with the box in his arms, Guan Xinrui lifted the curtain to admire the prosperous city, and a smile involuntarily spread across his face.
Although Haiyu County was no small county and had its own bustle and prosperity, it could not compare to the commandery city in Guan Xinrui's mind, though perhaps that was more a matter of perception.
"Sir, shall we find somewhere to eat, or go to the waystation first?"
"To Prince Xin's Residence first!"
"Yes, sir!"
Guan Xinrui was eager to reach the Prince's Residence, and his subordinates naturally dared not delay. They headed straight there.
On this visit to the commandery city, Guan Xinrui, the Haiyu County Magistrate, had never intended to first pay his respects to his immediate superior, the commandery governor.
The Great Qiu dynasty practiced a system of enfeoffment. Those granted fiefs received a share of their territories' tax revenues but