Junior brother, why don't you ask whether Cheng Lidong fears me?

The sudden voice shattered the quiet.

Zhou Ling frowned slightly, unsure what had happened.

Xu Qingxiao's brow, however, furrowed more deeply.

That fellow still isn't dead?

Xu Qingxiao muttered inwardly. He had thought Lord Cheng would die in Ping'an County, but the man was still alive.

Looks like that fugitive from Southern Yu Prefecture wasn't much after all.

Setting his thoughts aside, Xu Qingxiao went out. Zhou Ling and Chen Xinghe followed him.

He walked to the entrance.

Xu Qingxiao opened the gate.

Sure enough, eight constables from Southern Yu Prefecture stood in orderly ranks outside, wearing constable uniforms with long sabers at their waists, their gazes cold and stern. Leading them was Hooked-Nose.

His expression was just as it had been before, giving off a vicious, ruthless air. He was no one to trifle with.

"Greetings, sir."

"May I ask what Lord Cheng wishes to see me about?"

Xu Qingxiao saluted the man and asked.

"How could subordinates like us know our lord's business? Sorry for the trouble, but please come with us."

The man clearly had no intention of revealing anything and wore the air of someone strictly conducting official business.

"Could you let me go home first?"

Xu Qingxiao made his request slowly.

"Our lord is still waiting. Let's not delay."

The man's tone was icy. He gave him no face at all.

Xu Qingxiao felt a little awkward, but before he could speak again, Chen Xinghe's voice rang out.

"Which lord has summoned him? Such an imposing display of official authority."

Chen Xinghe stepped forward and stood beside Xu Qingxiao, fixing his gaze on Hooked-Nose. His expression was cool and faintly haughty, as though he thought nothing of the man.

Only upon hearing Chen Xinghe's voice did Hooked-Nose notice the two men behind Xu Qingxiao.

He glanced at Chen Xinghe. Fine scholarly robes-he was a scholar.

But he showed no particular surprise, merely replying calmly.

"Lord Cheng Lidong, Probationary Hundred-Man Commander of Southern Yu Prefecture."

Hooked-Nose revealed Cheng Lidong's position.

A Probationary Hundred-Household Officer?

That was an office of the subordinate seventh rank. Even in Southern Yu Prefecture, he counted as an important figure, and in Ping'an County, he could throw his weight around unchecked.

The county magistrate held the principal seventh rank, a slightly higher office than Cheng Lidong's. The distinction, however, was that the magistrate handled local administration, whereas someone like Cheng Lidong belonged to a specially appointed agency responsible for investigating cases and making arrests.

His rank was half a grade lower, but his authority exceeded the magistrate's somewhat. Naturally, officials sent down to investigate enjoyed special privileges.

Xu Qingxiao truly hadn't expected Lord Cheng to be a Probationary Hundred-Household Officer. He had guessed the man was a chief constable, not a Probationary Hundred-Household Officer.

"A Probationary Hundred-Household Officer?"

Chen Xinghe murmured, then turned to Xu Qingxiao. "Qingxiao, your senior brother will accompany you."

He spoke without the slightest fear of the Probationary Hundred-Household Officer. On the contrary, he volunteered to go with Xu Qingxiao and see exactly what the man wanted.

Those words warmed Xu Qingxiao's heart. Chen Xinghe was accompanying him simply to lend him backing and keep him from being bullied.

But Cheng Lidong's summons involved an unorthodox art. Xu Qingxiao still didn't want Chen Xinghe wading into these muddy waters, so he spoke tactfully.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, I can go alone. They're from the yamen. They're not easy to deal with."

Xu Qingxiao meant well. Chen Xinghe was, after all, only a scholar. Wielding brush and ink was one thing, but Xu Qingxiao feared he wouldn't be able to stomach what awaited him at the yamen.

Yet upon hearing this, Chen Xinghe replied with utter composure.

"Junior brother, do you think I'm afraid of them?"

His tone was calm as he asked.

Xu Qingxiao didn't answer. It wasn't really a question of fear. The man was a Probationary Hundred-Household Officer, a genuine subordinate seventh-rank official, and an officer of the law at that. Those men were all ruthless.

Chen Xinghe was merely a scholar without even an examination distinction. Naturally, Xu Qingxiao worried.

Seeing Xu Qingxiao remain silent, Chen Xinghe grew somewhat displeased.

"Qingxiao, let your senior brother ask you this: is Cheng Lidong human?"

Chen Xinghe asked.

At those words, Hooked-Nose and his companions' expressions soured.

What is that supposed to mean? Is he insulting him?

Yet they could hardly lose their tempers. After all, he hadn't actually said anything insulting.

"Yes."

Xu Qingxiao couldn't quite figure out what his senior brother was trying to do either.

Over these ten days together, his sole impression of Xu Qingxiao had been that he was rather aloof and proud. His heart was good, but there was no hiding that pride.

"Then isn't that enough?"

"He, Cheng Lidong, is human, and I, Chen Xinghe, am human too. He, Cheng Lidong, is an official, and I, Chen Xinghe, am a scholar. Junior brother, why don't you ask whether he, Cheng Lidong, fears me?"

Chen Xinghe's expression was cool, his brow brimming with unbridled pride.

Though he didn't know what had happened, their menacing arrival made it clear they had come with ill intent. That was why he had stepped forward to help his junior brother.

What he hadn't expected was for his junior brother to worry that he feared a mere Cheng Lidong.

It wasn't that Chen Xinghe was arrogant. As a scholar, with reason on his side, what did he have to fear?

He had said so much today not to show off, but to teach Xu Qingxiao a lesson.

At those words,

Xu Qingxiao was somewhat stunned.

Well, damn.

This senior brother of mine really does have something to him.

I, Xu Qingxiao, am impressed.

Hooked-Nose and his companions were also a little dazed after hearing that speech.

It wasn't as though they had never dealt with scholars before, but this was their first encounter with a situation like this.

He certainly has guts.

Still, surprise aside, they had a job to do.

"It's getting late. Please, neither of you delay any further."

The man spoke, though with a little more respect than before.

"Junior brother, let's go."

Chen Xinghe spoke calmly. Xu Qingxiao didn't delay either and followed them away.

But just before they left, Zhou Ling's voice rang out as well.

"Come back early. Don't take too long. I've invited Master Xu Qing over tomorrow. Don't neglect Master Xu."

Zhou Ling spoke, placing particular emphasis on the words "Master Xu Qing."

Hooked-Nose and his companions' expressions shifted slightly. Clearly, they knew who Xu Qing was.

A seventh-rank Confucian.

He had once served in the Hanlin Academy in the Imperial Capital and had now retired to his hometown. He was an important figure. Though he no longer wielded official power, his words carried considerable weight.

Zhou Ling's words were another warning: taking them in for questioning was fine, and cooperating with an investigation was fine, but no harm could come to them. If they didn't return, there would be trouble.

Hooked-Nose glanced at Xu Qingxiao, feeling both curious and surprised.

How had this nobody attached himself to scholars in just ten short days?

And since when did scholars enjoy meddling so much?

Though curious inwardly, he said nothing openly and led them away with a low command.

Three quarters of an hour later.

Ping'an County Government Office.

The county yamen had a main gate and a side gate. The main gate was usually kept shut and opened only when someone beat the drum to appeal against an injustice. Otherwise, everyone used the side gate.

Xu Qingxiao followed them through the side gate, walking toward the Inner Hall.

Past the courtroom, Cheng Lidong sat in the first seat on the left inside the Inner Hall. Naturally, County Magistrate Li occupied the seat of honor.

Their respective constables and runners stood behind them, each wearing a composed expression. The two officials, meanwhile, were drinking tea, chatting and laughing.

When Xu Qingxiao arrived, both turned their gazes upon him.

"Xu Qingxiao pays his respects to the county magistrate and Lord Cheng."

Xu Qingxiao was all smiles when greeting County Magistrate Li, but when he addressed Cheng Lidong, his smile faded considerably, leaving only a faint curve.

"This scholar, Chen Xinghe, pays his respects to County Magistrate Li and Hundred-Man Commander Cheng."

Compared with Xu Qingxiao, Chen Xinghe appeared somewhat proud. As a scholar, though he possessed neither an examination distinction nor an official post, he was, after all, a Confucian scholar on the verge of entering the ranks.

His future achievements would not necessarily fall short of these two men's. Addressing them as County Magistrate Li and Hundred-Man Commander Cheng was merely observing courtesy.

"Chen Xinghe! You're Chen Xinghe? Haha, I've heard of your accomplishments. Suicheng County's foremost talent!"

Hearing Chen Xinghe introduce himself, County Magistrate Li immediately looked surprised, then showered him with praise.

"You flatter me, Lord Li."

Chen Xinghe nodded, though he remained aloof.

Cheng Lidong, on the other hand, felt curious. He glanced at Chen Xinghe, then at Xu Qingxiao, wondering how a mere runner like Xu Qingxiao had suddenly established ties with a scholar.

Hooked-Nose approached Cheng Lidong, bowed his head slightly, and whispered a few words in his ear. Surprise flashed through Cheng Lidong's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Qingxiao, I didn't summon you today for anything important. I merely wanted to see how your injuries were healing and ask a few minor questions."

Cheng Lidong spoke while looking at Xu Qingxiao, but the longer he looked, the more something seemed off.

Xu Qingxiao gave him an indescribable feeling. They hadn't seen each other for only ten-odd days, yet Xu Qingxiao seemed like an entirely different person.

But he couldn't say exactly what had changed.

Was it an unorthodox art?

No.

Cheng Lidong immediately reached a conclusion. It wasn't an unorthodox art.

"My injuries are healing well. There's nothing serious. What would you like to ask, Lord Cheng?"

As Cheng Lidong scrutinized Xu Qingxiao, Xu Qingxiao was also stealing glances at Cheng Lidong. He wanted to see whether Cheng Lidong had been injured, but unfortunately, he couldn't tell.

"Good, so long as it's nothing serious. Qingxiao, I wanted to ask: that day in the Document Archive, did the fugitive do anything or take anything away?"

Cheng Lidong asked casually.

"Well... let me think carefully."

Xu Qingxiao didn't answer directly, instead pretending to rack his brains.

After a moment, Xu Qingxiao shook his head.

"My lord, I really don't know. When the fugitive appeared, I had already fainted. How could I know any of that?"

Xu Qingxiao could tell that Cheng Lidong hadn't come to ask about this at all. He merely wanted to check whether anything was unusual about him and had found a convenient excuse.

Precisely for that reason, Xu Qingxiao continued playing dumb. The more he said, the more mistakes he could make. Saying less served him better.

"I see."

"In that case, we'll have to wait for the Prefectural Lord to send someone. That fugitive will be caught sooner or later. It's merely a matter of whether he's taken dead or alive."

"All right, then. I won't trouble you any further, young Qingxiao."

Cheng Lidong took another sip of tea and spoke with complete composure.

"You're too kind, my lord. Cooperating with an investigation is part of my duty."

Xu Qingxiao nodded.

Just then, County Magistrate Li spoke up.

"Qingxiao, since your injuries have healed, when will you return to your post?"

As his voice rang out,

Xu Qingxiao immediately answered.

"My lord, I may be unable to return to my post. Master Zhou has accepted me as his disciple, and I'm now devoting myself to my studies. I'll be going to Southern Yu Prefecture around next month to sit the Prefectural Examination. I hope you can forgive me, my lord."

Xu Qingxiao explained that he was studying.

At that moment, the Inner Hall fell silent. Everyone looked astonished.

The runners and constables in particular wore expressions of disbelief.

Studying?

You?