Chapter 2 The Second Day
The next day.
Xu Changling left alone in a carriage bound for the capital, escorted by a squad of guards.
Xiao Hei, who had been brought along by Yan Tinghao yesterday, had already found its usual spot at the yamen entrance, just as it did in Changzhou County.
Seemingly feeling that the stone lions at the prefecture yamen were much more imposing than those at the county yamen, Xiao Hei paced back and forth at the entrance with its head held high and chest puffed out, like a mountain king, drawing the attention of passersby.
However, upon spotting the familiar figure, Xiao Hei immediately tucked its tail between its legs, dutifully placed its front paws in front, and sat with its tongue sticking out.
Lin Qingge, who had finally achieved her wish of becoming the prefect, was too busy to pay attention to Xiao Hei. As she walked, she instructed the two people beside her:
“Master Hua, please take some time to review the prefecture yamen's account books and files, tally the number of guards in the yamen, and also investigate the background of each of them, looking for any unsavory habits.
Constable Yan, you will accompany me to the police station and also take a look at the prison cells.”
Although Xu Changling had already conducted a clean-up of the prefecture yamen due to the previous kidnapping of Xu Siyun,
all the servants had been dismissed, except for a cook, two cleaning maids, and a gatekeeper.
However, since they would be working under her, it was better to be cautious.
Lin Qingge and the other person arrived at the police station.
All the constables of Fengtian Prefecture yamen were already waiting there.
“Your subordinate, Li Yi, Constable of Fengtian Prefecture, pays his respects to Magistrate Lin!”
“Constable Li, is it? This is Yan Tinghao, he will be temporarily assigned as your deputy. Please teach him well if there’s anything he doesn’t understand.”
“Yes, Magistrate!”
Lin Qingge subtly swept her gaze around. Although the constable named Li Yi appeared calm, the others seemed to have some reservations about Yan Tinghao, who had been appointed as a deputy constable out of the blue. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Originally, she had intended to keep Yan Tinghao by her side because he was more convenient to use.
But Yan Tinghao’s words yesterday had reminded her that if she continued to keep Yan Tinghao by her side like a flower in a greenhouse, that simpleton might actually become dependent on her.
She didn’t want to be old and grey and still be disturbed from sleeping peacefully every day, with someone constantly shouting “It’s bad, it’s bad!” in her ear.
The thought of that scene made her shudder.
And so, this was the current arrangement.
“By the way, if any of you are dissatisfied with my assignments, or with Deputy Constable Yan, you are welcome to challenge him to a one-on-one competition. Whoever can defeat him will take his place.
However—
If I find anyone resorting to underhanded tactics, do not blame me for being ruthless!”
Just in case, Lin Qingge still needed to caution everyone.
Although she had not yet inquired about the official rank of the scholar-dressed Master Yan, the martial prowess of Madam Yan was undeniable.
If Yan, the simpleton, were to lose an arm or a leg, she suspected that Madam Yan would tear down the yamen that she had only just moved into…
Leaving the police station.
Along the way, in an effort to quickly bridge the distance between herself and her subordinates, Lin Qingge made conversation:
“Constable Li, I notice dark circles under your eyes. Did you not rest well last night?”
Seemingly surprised that the new prefect would initiate a conversation with him, Li Yi was taken aback and quickly clasped his hands in greeting:
“Reporting to Magistrate, your subordinate did rest a bit late yesterday, but I guarantee it will not affect my duties during the day.”
“Mm, pay attention to your rest.”
As the two spoke idly, Yan Tinghao, walking behind them, pouted enviously.
As fellow constables, the magistrate had never treated him with such “approachable familiarity and amiable kindness.”
Let alone resting late at night, even if he stayed up all night investigating a case, the magistrate had never offered a word of concern…
Walking ahead, unaware of Yan Tinghao’s thoughts, Lin Qingge called back without turning her head:
“Constable Yan, go inform the Madam that I will be going to the Cuju stadium later and will not be having lunch at the yamen.”
“Yes, Magistrate!”
Yan Tinghao, who had been listless just moments before, immediately perked up upon hearing his magistrate’s summons.
The Madam was undoubtedly the most important person to the Magistrate.
And if the Magistrate was asking him to relay a message to the Madam, then by extension, he was also one of the Magistrate’s most important people!
Yes, it must be like this!
Otherwise, why wouldn’t the Magistrate have asked Constable Li to relay the message?
Believing he had uncovered the truth, Yan Tinghao walked away with exceptionally cheerful steps, bouncing along.
Unsure what sudden quirk had overtaken the simpleton, Lin Qingge smiled at Li Yi and explained:
“His mother mentioned that Yan Tinghao was kicked by a horse when he was a child, so his behavior might be somewhat unusual. Constable Li, please bear with him.”
“Magistrate, rest assured.”
As Li Yi was assuring her, the two had already arrived at the prison.
Unlike the idle, rat-infested empty cells in Changzhou County that had been disused for years, the prison cells in Fengtian Prefecture were not only cleaned regularly but also housed many “guests.”
In the cell with the best ventilation and lighting, Lin Qingge saw Ling Han meditating with his eyes closed.
To Ling Han’s left was Lu Mingxuan, who had adapted well, and to his right was the dejected Ye Shenxiao.
Upon seeing Lin Qingge, Ye Shenxiao, as if finally seeing a savior, jumped up from the bed plank:
“Magistrate Lin, you’ve finally arrived!
Let’s make a deal. You can order me to do anything, send me to the mountains of knives or the sea of oil, and if I so much as frown, I’ll be your grandson!
But the prerequisite is, can you find me a different place to stay?”
“No.”
Lin Qingge’s concise refusal was followed by an addition, “Furthermore, I don’t want a troublesome grandson who is a flower thief like you.”
…
As the utterly defeated Ye Shenxiao settled down, the other prisoners began to clamor in dissatisfaction:
“Magistrate, why can they come and go freely while we cannot?”
“Exactly, we are all prisoners, this is unfair!”
“Could it be that the Magistrate has a penchant for young men? Otherwise, why would you specifically pick these good-looking ones to go out for fresh air?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge’s gaze swept over them with imposing sharpness, and she said coldly:
“Because they can go out and still come back, while you cannot!
As for fairness, you are already prisoners, what kind of fairness are you still seeking?
And lastly, whether I have a penchant for young men or what I have them go out for is none of your business!
I am the esteemed prefect, by what right do you demand an explanation from me?”
Lin Qingge’s barrage of words left the group of prisoners speechless.
The jailer beside them, who had been about to voice a complaint, quickly lowered his head, swallowing back the words that had almost escaped his lips.
At the same time, he made a silent resolution that from now on, even if that stern-faced man in black were to run around naked inside the prison cell, or even escape from it, he would not say a single word!
Taking Ling Han and the other two out of the prison cells, Lin Qingge saw Hua Jinrong, whom she had assigned to handle matters, walking towards her.
“Magistrate, your student has just received two pieces of bad news. I wonder which one you would like to hear first?”
“Shouldn’t it be one good news and one bad news?”
Hearing Lin Qingge’s question, Hua Jinrong feigned serious thought and re-clasped his hands:
“Then, I report to Magistrate, your student has just received one piece of news that is only slightly better than bad news, and one piece of bad news. I wonder which one you would like to hear first?”
Lin Qingge: …