Tuòxiào said with a smile, "There are many ways to repay a debt of gratitude, such as buying Wang Lan a good coffin with a hefty sum of money after she dies."
Tuòkāi interjected, "Or you could spend a fortune to hire a corpse-sewing artisan from Guangling Prefecture to stitch Wang Lan's head onto her neck, at least giving her a complete body."
"Yes, I know a highly skilled corpse-sewing artisan."
"His craftsmanship is exceptionally exquisite; even if the head is severed, his stitching can make it appear as if it were perfectly intact."
"Would you like me to tell you his address?"
He then burst into laughter.
His words were filled with provocation and amusement.
Chen Nan's face darkened, "Does Magistrate Tuò truly intend to kill Wang Lan?"
"Not at all, not at all!" Tuòxiào replied, "I am an official appointed by the court, who loves his people as his own children. How could I possibly kill a subject under my jurisdiction?"
"As an official appointed by the court, I cannot break the law and take another's life."
"Although I have already ordered Wang Lan to be beheaded at the marketplace in three days."
"It is the law that will kill her."
"It is the law that kills her."
"What does this have to do with me?"
He spoke with a serious demeanor, but the amusement in his eyes was evident.
Then, he changed the subject, "I've heard that Lord Chen has some knowledge of alchemy?"
"I dabble in it a bit!"
Chen Nan was not surprised that the other party knew of his alchemy skills. Anyone investigating him would notice his rapid cultivation advancement. Other than elixirs, there was no other explanation. Especially since he had produced a Transfiguration Pill today.
Tuòkāi continued, "If Lord Chen is willing to become an alchemist for my Tuò family, I will release Wang Lan!"
Chen Nan's face fell. He sensed a scheme. Wang Lan's capture was likely a trap set by Tuòxiào for him. If nothing else, he must have known Chen Nan's whereabouts. He knew Chen Nan had entered Guangling Prefecture with Wang Lan. He knew Chen Nan owed Wang Lan a favor.
"Well played, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"
"I underestimated Tuòxiào's depth of cunning!"
Compared to Song Linhui and the Imperial Tutor sending people to intercept Chen Nan, Tuòxiào's methods were far more sophisticated. He didn't want to kill Chen Nan. He knew Chen Nan's capabilities. Recruiting him would be an extremely clever move.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Magistrate Tuò!"
"My alchemy skills are quite mediocre."
"I am not suitable for the position of alchemist in the Tuò family!"
Even though he knew this was a scheme targeting him, Chen Nan absolutely refused to be held captive by Tuòxiào.
Tuòxiào wore a look of helplessness, "Then there is nothing I can do!"
"Farewell!"
Chen Nan turned and left the county yamen with Guo Yu.
"Father, do you think Chen Nan will return?" Tuòkāi asked his father curiously.
Tuòxiào smiled confidently, "I have investigated Chen Nan. This young man repays kindness with kindness; he is a person of great loyalty and righteousness."
"Although he and Wang Lan only met by chance."
"But Wang Lan must have helped him to some extent for him to have successfully entered Guangling Prefecture."
"He will definitely not stand by and watch her suffer."
"He will certainly compromise!"
"After all, Wang Lan is merely a pawn in the game between myself and Chen Nan!"
------
"Brother, what do we do now?" Guo Yu followed Chen Nan nervously.
"It's not a big problem. I'll go to the Prefectural yamen first." Chen Nan wanted to ascertain if the people of Luoyan Mountain had truly surrendered and if Tuòxiào had genuinely submitted a formal document to the Prefectural yamen for approval. If Tuòxiào's words were all lies, Wang Lan's murder charge could be overturned. With that as leverage, he could demand her release.
He immediately went to the Prefectural yamen. Yuan Zun was handling official business. Upon seeing Chen Nan's arrival, he looked up at Chen Nan and then tossed him a document, "Here!"
"This should be what you're looking for!" As the Prefect of Guangling Prefecture, he held the highest position and had naturally heard about Wang Lan's case. He had also anticipated Chen Nan's visit.
Chen Nan took the document and glanced at it, his expression immediately becoming grave, "This is not what I was looking for." This document had been written before he had dealt with Yandang Mountain. In other words, Tuòxiào had not lied. The people of Luoyan Mountain had indeed pledged allegiance to the court.
Yuan Zun sighed softly, "Even if you don't want it, it is real!" He paused, then said seriously, "You should have realized that the situation in Guangling Prefecture is very complex and chaotic."
"Especially Tuòxiào, his cunning far surpasses even Provincial Governor Song's."
"Of course."
"This is also something I only recently learned."
"Although he submitted the document to me half a month ago."
"I did not understand his intentions."
Chen Nan was filled with frustration, "Is there really no way to save Wang Lan?"
Yuan Zun shook his head slightly, "If I'm not mistaken, the Tuò family has likely taken Wang Lan's relatives hostage, forcing her to sign and confess under the threat of their lives."
"Even if I propose a retrial, do you think it will change the final outcome?"
Chen Nan was vexed, "Has the Tuò family always been so unscrupulous in achieving their goals?"
Yuan Zun replied, "Although I've only recently taken office in Guangling Prefecture, I know that all previous magistrates of Guangling County have been of the same ilk."
"There's no help for it."
"Who is it that the Great Emperor promised to let the Tuò family serve as magistrates of Guangling County for generations?"
Chen Nan, enraged, exclaimed, "The Great Emperor is too foolish! How could he make such a promise?"
Yuan Zun's expression changed dramatically, "Careful, be careful!"
"If he dared to make such a decision, would he fear criticism from the world?" Chen Nan became more indignant as he spoke. Those meritorious officials who received noble titles, while appearing to have them, possessed no actual governing power. This was to prevent them from oppressing the people. The Tuò family, although not granted noble titles, had secured a hereditary magistracy. This was indeed preposterous!
Seeing Chen Nan's anger, Yuan Zun chuckled wryly, "When the rebellion of the Anti-Heaven Sect was quelled, the new Great Emperor was just coming of age and his mind was not yet mature."
"Upon learning of the Tuò family's contributions, he impulsively promised them the hereditary magistracy."
"If I'm not mistaken, he must regret that decision now."
Chen Nan asked, "Then why not retract the order?"
Yuan Zun shook his head, "A monarch's word is his bond. Even if the Great Emperor might regret his past decision, he would not easily retract it. To do so would be to admit his mistake."
"Would you easily admit your mistakes?"
Chen Nan impatiently retorted, "Humans are not sages, how can they avoid mistakes?"
"Making mistakes is not scary."
"What's scary is not having the courage to correct them!"
"Stop, stop, stop! Let's end this topic here!" Yuan Zun said, "If you have grievances about the Great Emperor's actions, you can go and argue with him face-to-face when you reach Fengdu City!"
Chen Nan gave him a glare, "Quarrel with someone who doesn't dare admit his mistakes? What's the difference between that and seeking death?"
Yuan Zun smiled and asked seriously, "Then what do you intend to do about Wang Lan's case?"