Everyone in the Inner Hall was a little dumbfounded.
None of them had expected Xu Qingxiao to say he would take the Prefectural Examination.
Wasn't that absurd beyond all bounds?
"Qingxiao, are you joking?"
The first to speak was Constable Chen. He had known Xu Qingxiao for four or five years. Although Xu Qingxiao was handsome and refined in appearance, he knew exactly what sort of fellow he was.
Having him practice martial arts was one thing, but having him study? Wasn't that a joke?
And he was going straight to the Prefectural Examination?
Did he take them all for fools?
County Magistrate Li was bewildered too.
The Prefectural Examination.
What did that entail?
Ordinary scholars seeking scholarly honors had to pass the preliminary examination, the qualifying examination, and the county examination.
Only then could they take the Prefectural Examination. After that came the commandery examination, and finally the imperial examination in the capital.
As the saying went, the preliminary examination earned a name, the qualifying examination proved literary talent, the county examination secured a recommendation, the Prefectural Examination spread one's fame, the commandery examination brought a leap through the gate, and the imperial examination transformed one into a dragon.
For a yamen runner like Xu Qingxiao to say he wanted to study was reasonable enough. Even if he had said he would take the preliminary examination, no one would have reacted so strongly.
But Xu Qingxiao had said outright that he would take the Prefectural Examination.
Everyone eligible for it was a scholar of established standing and reputation.
Xu Qingxiao?
He was taking the Prefectural Examination? How could they not be shocked?
Before Xu Qingxiao could answer, however, Chen Xinghe spoke first.
"Junior Brother Qingxiao has considerable aptitude. He is a piece of uncut jade, and our teacher has praised him to me many times. Studying depends on understanding. With the right aptitude, one day of study can surpass another person's year of toil."
Chen Xinghe's calm voice answered all their questions for Xu Qingxiao and confirmed that he had not been lying.
Now everyone had no choice but to believe him.
Chen Xinghe had no reason to tell such a lie for Xu Qingxiao. Whether he was eligible for the Prefectural Examination could be verified with a simple inquiry.
County Magistrate Li spoke up.
"To think my little County Yamen has produced a scholar! Chen Xian, take twenty taels of silver from the yamen treasury as travel expenses for Qingxiao's Prefectural Examination."
"Qingxiao, don't think it too little. You should know the yamen's financial circumstances better than any of us. It isn't much, but the goodwill is there."
County Magistrate Li knew how to handle people. Once he confirmed that Xu Qingxiao really was taking the Prefectural Examination, he offered twenty taels of silver regardless of whether he could pass, both as a gesture of goodwill and as support for a scholar.
Twenty taels was no small sum.
Although he had little to spend money on at present, that did not mean silver was useless.
"Thank you, Magistrate."
Xu Qingxiao expressed his gratitude.
"Think nothing of it, Qingxiao. Study hard and do your best in the examinations. If you really pass the Prefectural Examination, you'll have scholarly honors to your name and a place in our county's literary shrine, bringing glory to your ancestors."
County Magistrate Li spoke with a cheerful smile.
These days, martial artists were everywhere, while scholars were scarce, especially local scholars. Naturally, this meant scholars with official honors; merely reading a few books counted for nothing.
County Magistrate Li did not truly believe Xu Qingxiao could pass the Prefectural Examination. He was only being polite, though if Xu Qingxiao persevered from now on, perhaps one day he might soar.
"Lord Cheng, if there's nothing else, may I leave?"
Xu Qingxiao looked at Cheng Lidong and asked calmly.
He had no desire to stay here. Every extra second made him uncomfortable.
"Mm."
Cheng Lidong gave a casual murmur of assent, still wearing a warm smile. If not for his excessively pale complexion, he would have looked quite amiable.
After bidding everyone farewell, Xu Qingxiao and Chen Xinghe took their leave.
They walked out of the yamen.
Xu Qingxiao spoke.
"Senior Brother Xinghe, I plan to go home and pack a few things, then head straight to our teacher's house. That will save me running back and forth."
Xu Qingxiao intended to return home. He had not lied about packing, but he also needed to check a few things.
"All right. I'll wait for you at our teacher's house. Be careful, though. If you haven't arrived tonight, I'll know what to do."
Chen Xinghe nodded, while also giving Xu Qingxiao a fallback. If Qingxiao had not returned by evening, he would go to the yamen to look for him.
"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother."
Xu Qingxiao bowed, then left on his own.
On his way home, Xu Qingxiao did not hurry. Instead, he walked rather slowly, taking nearly twenty-two minutes to cover a route that normally took fifteen.
Once home, Xu Qingxiao approached his door.
He picked up the brass lock and inspected the keyhole carefully. Sure enough, something was wrong.
Before leaving, Xu Qingxiao had placed two hairs inside. If no one had touched the lock, those hairs would not have disappeared.
So he really is watching me.
Xu Qingxiao pushed the door open naturally. Knowing that Cheng Lidong was watching him was enough. There was no need to say anything more; he simply had to stay alert.
He entered the room and glanced at the white paper on his desk.
The writing on it was all in simplified characters, and its contents were nothing but random scribbles.
Xu Qingxiao was not foolish enough to write his future plans on paper. Writing things down was merely a habit, but what he wrote did not necessarily reflect his thoughts.
Knowing that Cheng Lidong had already sent someone here, Xu Qingxiao was now eager to see his expression when he read those words.
Unfortunately, Cheng Lidong could not read simplified characters. Otherwise, those three sentences would probably have left him brooding for quite some time.
Still, thinking of Cheng Lidong brought one question to Xu Qingxiao's mind.
How was Cheng Lidong still alive and well?
Logically, he should not have been.
Even if he was alive, he ought to have suffered some injuries, at least. How did he still have time to come looking for him?
Could the fugitive from Southern Yu Prefecture not beat him?
Xu Qingxiao was rather curious.
Just then, a figure silently appeared in the room, pushing open the door.
At the sound of the door opening, Xu Qingxiao immediately turned.
It was the fugitive from Southern Yu Prefecture.
"Why are you here?"
Xu Qingxiao's expression changed.
Why had this fellow come in broad daylight?
If Cheng Lidong's men saw him, he could jump into the Yellow River and still never wash himself clean of suspicion.
Wasn't this setting him up for disaster?
"Don't panic. I've been following you for quite a while. No one was tailing you."
The man was unconcerned. He even sat down and took a sip of tea.
"What is it?"
"Make it quick."
After his initial surprise, Xu Qingxiao quickly regained his composure, but still urged the man to get to the point.
He did not want to invite trouble, especially now that Cheng Lidong was wary of him.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask when you're leaving Ping'an County."
The man explained why he had come to see Xu Qingxiao.
"I'll leave on the tenth of April to take the Prefectural Examination."
Xu Qingxiao answered crisply.
"The Prefectural Examination?"
The man looked surprised. Clearly, he did not believe Xu Qingxiao could take it either.
"Looking down on me?"
Xu Qingxiao looked at him, a little displeased.
"No, I'm just surprised."
"By the way, do you still have the item?"
A little embarrassed, the man asked casually.
At those words, Xu Qingxiao's heart lurched, though his outward composure remained intact.
"I've hidden it somewhere very secure. Want me to show you?"
Xu Qingxiao forced himself to say it.
"No need. As long as it's hidden safely. Remember, you must deliver it to them. If anything goes wrong, I guarantee you'll be in serious trouble."
There was a threat in his tone, but he quickly continued.
"Of course, if you deliver it into their hands, they'll give you everything you want."
"Also, if possible, you'd better set out earlier. Don't delay too long."
He offered Xu Qingxiao that reminder.
"Why? Is there some trouble?"
Xu Qingxiao was curious.
"I'm getting ready to make my move."
The man spoke.
"Make your move?"
Xu Qingxiao frowned slightly.
"With you here, it's difficult for me to act. This Cheng Lidong is a prospective company commander and an official appointed by the imperial court. If he dies here, it'll cause serious trouble, especially for you."
"Once you're gone, I can act without leaving a seam showing. No one will suspect you."
His tone was solemn, and Xu Qingxiao finally understood why he had not acted yet.
He had thought the man could not defeat Cheng Lidong. It turned out he had been overthinking it.
This fellow was decent. He had taken Xu Qingxiao into consideration. He was a good man.
"All right. I'll leave as soon as possible and try to get out of Ping'an County before the fifth of April."
After a moment's thought, Xu Qingxiao gave that answer.
It was currently the twenty-fifth of March. Leaving before the fifth of April, within ten days, seemed about right.
"Within five days. Don't delay. I don't have much time left. If I don't act and settle this matter, I won't be able to help you."
But the man shook his head, shortening the deadline to five days.
"All right, I'll try to leave within five days. But are you confident?"
Xu Qingxiao asked.
He still had doubts about this fellow's strength. After all, Cheng Lidong did not look like someone to trifle with, and he was a prospective company commander.
"Thirty to seventy."
The man answered.
"Seventy for you, thirty for him?"
Xu Qingxiao sounded uncertain.
"No. Seventy for him, thirty for me."
The man shook his head, giving an answer that left Xu Qingxiao somewhat disappointed.
"Then why go?"
"Isn't that throwing your life away?"
Xu Qingxiao could not quite understand.
"I'll die even if I don't go. In any case, rest assured that there's no way they'll capture me alive. Within five days, either I die or he does. The rest has nothing to do with you."
His voice held a note of resolve.
Xu Qingxiao nodded. He had asked so many questions because he feared the man might be captured alive. Under brutal torture, there were no true tough men.
"All right. By the way, what's your name?"
Xu Qingxiao had never asked this man's name.
"Wu Yan."
The man paused slightly, but still gave his name.
"Wu Yan?"
He repeated the name inwardly. It seemed a little odd, but by the time Xu Qingxiao looked up again, the man had already gone out the door.
He had come without a sound and left without a sound.
After the man departed, Xu Qingxiao did not linger either.
He packed up his belongings. There was not much to take, really-just two or three changes of clothes.
Once he finished packing, Xu Qingxiao left his home and headed into the county town.
At Doctor Zhao's medicine shop, Xu Qingxiao handed his house key and a fifty-tael banknote to the assistant, asking him to pass them on to Doctor Zhao.
He did not know how else to repay the kindness he had received, so he decided simply to give him silver.
He kept twenty taels for himself and gave the remaining fifty to Doctor Zhao, settling his debt of gratitude.
Meanwhile.
Inside the Ping'an County Yamen.
Cheng Lidong stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the white clouds, his eyes full of contemplation.
After a long while, resolve appeared in Cheng Lidong's gaze.
"Xu Qingxiao."
"Has definitely practiced an unorthodox art."
He squeezed his knuckles and muttered to himself.
At those words, Hooked-Nose's expression changed behind him.
Before you continue