Since ancient times, people had a natural reverence for officials. Looking at the imposing yamen, the guards with swords, and the serious night watchmen coming and going, Aunt and Xu Lingyue were a little afraid.
It was Aunt's first time coming to the yamen, so she was very nervous. She held Xu Lingyin in her arms and rubbed her face hard to ease her emotions.
Little Bean's face changed into different shapes in Aunt's hands.
Xu Lingyue quietly approached Xu Qi 'an.
"Ning Yan …"
A half-familiar copper gong came over to greet them. His gaze lingered on his aunt and Xu Lingyue. It was obvious that he was attracted by the beauty of his aunt and sister.
"This is my sister." Xu Qi 'an nodded and introduced Xu Lingyue to him.
The copper gong immediately smiled and looked at Auntie, "Is this sister?"
Aunt was stunned at first, then she smiled happily, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Xu Qi 'an rolled his eyes, "Have you ever seen a 36-year-old sister?"
"Xu Ningyan!" Aunt was so angry that she was trembling.
How could she be told her age? Aunt took a deep breath and said in her heart, "Don't be angry, don't be angry … In front of outsiders, I have to maintain my image, I can't grab my nephew's face."
The gong looked at Aunt and Xu Lingyue a few more times, then reluctantly left.
Xu Qi 'an led the three women to Spring Breeze Hall. Along the way, they met many colleagues who were familiar with Xu Qi' an, and some of them mistook Aunt for Xu Qi 'an sister.
They praised her for being young and beautiful.
When they came to the side hall of Spring Breeze Hall, Aunt asked the officials to serve tea. Her nervousness was swept away, and she smiled,
"The night watchmen are all talented people, and they speak well."
"Aunt, what you said sounds weird …" Xu Qi 'an said, "I'll wait at the yamen."
He waited at the yamen for a quarter of an hour, and waited for three yamen guards and Zhao Shen and his wife.
"Your Excellency, the criminal is here." The young guard cupped his hands and said respectfully.
"Yes!"
Xu Qi'an nodded and took the rope, saying, "You guys wait here, I'll send the criminal to prison, then come out to return the rope."
Zhao Shen and his wife were so scared that their faces turned pale. Everyone in the capital knew the reputation of the night watchman. They also knew that the night watchman's prison was a place where one could only enter but not leave.
Even if they were lucky enough to escape, they would still lose a layer of skin and spend the rest of their lives in pain.
This was all Nangong Qianrou's fault. He had single-handedly created the infamous name of the night watchman's dungeon.
Zhao Shen's wife sat on the ground, crying and throwing a tantrum, "I don't want to enter the night watchman's yamen, beat me to death, beat me to death."
It was obvious that this woman was used to throwing a tantrum at home. Her nature was hard to change. Even though she had come to the night watchman yamen, she was still very shrewish and shameless.
Xu Qi'an's eyes sharpened. He snatched the guard's scabbard and slapped him.
"Pfft …" The woman spat out three teeth and her mouth was full of blood. She covered her face, seemingly stunned by the slap.
"It's easy to die, I'll grant your wish later." Xu Qi'an sneered, "Why didn't you think of this when you were bullying people?"
After saying that, he pulled the rope and dragged the couple into the yamen.
The three arresters stayed where they were. One of them suddenly said, "Does that person look familiar?"
"… Your excellency Xu? Before Arrester Lu was promoted to Chief of Detectives, I was working for her and met your excellency Xu once. You've changed so much that I couldn't recognize you at all. "
"I've seen him before too. No wonder he looks so familiar. Isn't he dead? During that time, Arrester Lu was in a bad mood and often lost her temper."
…
Along the way, Brass Gong would stare at him from time to time. He laughed and teased, "What kind of criminal is your excellency Xu escorting? Why are you crying so much?"
Xu Qi'an replied, "Two dogs that rely on their master's power. Today, I'll let them have a taste of society's cruelty."
When they arrived at the dungeon that belonged to the night watchman, "Clang …" The prison door opened and dark and damp air rushed in.
Zhao Shen's face was pale and his eyes were filled with despair and fear. This was the most regretful moment of his life.
He never thought that a small matter would cause him to suffer such a huge disaster.
The woman finally broke down and cried, "I've pawned that bracelet. I'll pay you, pay you. Don't lock me in the dungeon …"
Zhao Shen widened his eyes and looked at his wife. He finally understood the reason for the mysterious man's anger. It turned out that his son had repeatedly bullied his sister.
It turned out that stealing the bracelet was true. It turned out that his wife knew everything.
It was over. If the night watchman had something on him, even an official with a high rank would be afraid, let alone him. Would his uncle offend the night watchman for him?
He couldn't help but feel regret. Why didn't he clear up the matter first? Why didn't he deal with it properly? Why did he only think that with his uncle's power, it was nothing for him to bully some commoners and small officials?
Zhao Shen cried and muttered, "It's over, it's over …"
He suddenly became furious and kicked his wife. He scolded, "It's all your fault, all your fault …"
He kicked and scolded at the same time. He wanted to divorce his wife, but the condition was that he could go back alive.
The woman wailed loudly.
Xu Qi'an called the prison guards and put the two of them in prison. He then looked for the prison guard and ordered, "Teach the couple that was just locked up a lesson. Be careful."
"You know what to do … Do you want them to keep their lives or their legs?" The prison guard said awkwardly.
"…" Xu Qi'an said snappily, "Keep them alive, but beat them up every day. Be careful when you beat them up. Don't lose an arm or a leg. These two people are useful to me. Do you understand? "
With this, the prison guard knew that your excellency Xu was just teaching them a normal lesson. He wanted them to suffer in prison.
"That's it? This is the dungeon of the night watchman. "The prison guard thought to himself, such a small matter needs to be put in prison in the night watchman yamen?
"This is called reform through labor. As a night watchman, I protect the safety of the Imperial City. I am trusted and valued by His Majesty. I should educate the ignorant people."
"Your Excellency is wise."
After leaving the prison, he accompanied his aunt and sister in Spring Wind Hall and chatted until a black-clothed official came to report that an official who claimed to be the Director of the Civil Selection Department asked to see him.
This was within Xu Qi'an's expectations. The concept of clan in this world was much stronger than in his previous life. If it was in his previous life, it was hard to say how much effort he would put in as an uncle if his nephew encountered such a situation.
After all, Xu Qi'an was not an ordinary night watchman. He was a night watchman with a gold medal.
"Bring him to Spring Wind Hall." Xu Qi'an got up and left the side hall. He entered Li Yuchun's "office" and sat in his seat.
"After a while, I should also be a silver gong. Oh, there are ten places for bronze gongs. Who should I recruit … Of the ten places, I will give one to Second Uncle, one to Aunt, one to Erlang, one to Lingyue, and one to Lingyin. Haha, the whole family will eat without pay."
He entertained himself with this thought. The door darkened, and an official led in an official with a goatee. He was over fifty years old, wearing a blue official robe with a pattern of a silver pheasant on his chest. Under the official hat, his gray sideburns could be seen.
The moment he stepped into the threshold of Spring Wind Hall, this old official, who had been silent and had a strong official prestige, burst into a spring breeze-like smile.
"Your excellency Xu, I've heard a lot about you … Oh, I'm in a low position and haven't had the chance to meet your excellency Xu. I heard that you are a frequent visitor to the Imperial Study."
Xu Qi'an said lightly, "If you want to see me, you can go to the Musical House."
Doctor Zhao was stunned.
Xu Qi'an laughed and said, "Your Excellency Zhao is even more amusing than the girls of the Musical House … Haha, please sit down. Someone, serve tea."
Doctor Zhao praised him but secretly criticized him, implying that Xu Qi'an was a troublemaker who had made countless enemies.
Xu Qi'an compared him to a prostitute.
After a confrontation without saber light or sword shadow, the official served hot tea. Doctor Zhao took a sip and went straight to the subject.
"Your excellency Xu, I wonder what wrong my disappointing nephew has done?"
"It's a big problem!"
Xu Qi'an frowned, as if he was worried about Doctor Zhao. He said, "He instigated his child to do things by force. After the incident, he gathered his servants and deliberately tried to murder me and my family.
"Your Excellency Zhao, we are officials of the same court. We should give each other face, but … the law is merciless!"
Doctor Zhao, who had been in the officialdom for many years, did not change his expression. He even showed a trace of shame. "It's all because I didn't restrain him and let him act recklessly."
Doctor Zhao took out a banknote from his sleeve, put it on the table, and sincerely apologized, "Your excellency Xu, please be merciful."
Xu Qi'an glanced at it. The denomination was one hundred taels. He sighed and said, "My sister is a little injured."
Doctor Zhao took out another one.
Xu Qi'an sighed and said, "My aunt is a little injured."
Doctor Zhao took out another one.
Xu Qi'an sighed and said, "My sister is a little injured."
"Your excellency Xu's sister has been injured."
"Oh, I have two sisters."
Doctor Zhao took out another one.
Xu Qi'an sighed and said, "I'm also a little injured."
Doctor Zhao twitched his mouth and took out another one hundred taels.
"The lost bracelet was given by His Majesty …"
Another one.
This time, there was a total of six hundred taels on the table. Even though Doctor Zhao had been in and out of the officialdom for decades, he could not help but twitch his mouth.
Xu Qi'an did not continue to make things difficult for him. It was not that he wanted to stop while he was ahead, but that Zhao Shen had extorted five hundred taels not too long ago. Now, he was giving him a taste of his own medicine. He also asked for an additional one hundred taels.
"I'll forgive them for this matter." Xu Qi'an carefully kept the banknote and put it in his pocket.
"Then … Prince Xu, please let him go." Doctor Zhao sighed in relief.
"That won't do." Xu Qi'an shook his head.
Doctor Zhao's face suddenly darkened.
Xu Qi'an took a sip of tea and smiled. "You owe money, but you still have to collect interest. This five hundred taels is the interest. You haven't paid me back the principal."
Doctor Zhao stared at him sharply. After a while, he took a deep breath and said, "What does your excellency Xu want?"
He was a doctor with real power and was in charge of the deployment of officials. This power was not ordinary and could be said to determine the fate of the local officials in the court.
Other than the Commander, the Secretary of State, and the Inspectorate of Punishment, he could not interfere with the appointment of these three second-rank officials. The transfer and appointment of the other local officials had to go through the hands of the Civil Affairs Department of the Ministry of Personnel.
Only Xu Qi'an, he could not do anything about it.
The office of the night watchman was originally set up to supervise the hundreds of officials. Their duties naturally conflicted with each other. Moreover, the appointment of personnel did not belong to the Ministry of Personnel. There was another reason. This brat was a troublemaker.
He had Wei Yuan backing him up and was repeatedly appointed by His Majesty to handle cases. Not to mention a doctor like him, even the officials in the court were secretly jealous of this little gong, but on the surface, they could not do anything about it.
"It's not a big deal. Come, Doctor Zhao, sit, sit." Xu Qi'an motioned for him to sit and raised his teacup. When Doctor Zhao reluctantly took a sip of tea, he smiled and asked.
"I heard that the Civil Affairs Department is in charge of the deployment of officials?"
Doctor Zhao nodded.
"In a few days, it will be the Spring Examinations. I have a cousin who is talented and knowledgeable. It will be easy for him to become a Jinshi," Xu Qi'an said.
"If that's the case, your excellency Xu, why are you saying this to me? You can rest assured." Doctor Zhao understood what he meant.
"This …" Xu Qi'an laughed. "He is a disciple of the Yunlu Academy."
A disciple of the Yunlu Academy?
Doctor Zhao frowned deeply.
"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for Doctor Zhao. You only need to keep him in the capital after the Spring Examinations and treat him the same as the other Jinshi. I will be very grateful. "Xu Qi'an patiently guided.
"When the time comes, I will naturally release your nephew and niece-in-law. I will not treat them badly. I will pretend that the bracelet that His Majesty bestowed upon me is gone. "
When he heard from Mister Li that the other party's backer was the Civil Affairs Department's Doctor Zhao, Xu Qi'an had this thought in his mind.
This was a deal … Doctor Zhao pondered for a long time and slowly nodded. "Alright, I hope that your excellency Xu will keep your promise."
After sending off Doctor Zhao, Xu Qi'an let out a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, 'Erlang, among my younger siblings, big brother still dotes on you the most.'
Then, he turned around and went to the Loft of Hao Qi.
When the guard downstairs saw Xu Qi'an, he was very resentful and said in a strange tone, "Your excellency Xu Qian, you are here again. I heard that your big brother has come back to life?"
Xu Qi'an looked at him. "Who is Xu Qian? My name is Xu Xinnian. Don't talk nonsense, go up and report. "
The guard went up the stairs. After a while, he returned and said, "Duke Wei invites you upstairs."
…
On the seventh floor.
Wei Yuan was standing in front of the map in deep thought. When he heard footsteps, he did not turn around and said in a casual tone,
"Did Doctor Zhao from the Civil Affairs Department come to see you?"
It was the right decision to come to the Loft of Hao Qi … Xu Qi'an cupped his fists. "Nothing can be hidden from Duke Wei."
Wei Yuan nodded and still did not turn around. "What's the matter?"
Xu Qi'an roughly described the situation and said, "If nothing goes wrong, my Erlang will definitely be sent to a remote place. Second Uncle only has one son, how can he do this? "
Wei Yuan said with a faint smile, "Why don't you ask me for help?"
The answer was silence. Wei Yuan did not rush him.
Xu Qi'an hesitated for a long time and answered frankly, "I want to leave a path for the Xu family. He should not stand on the same side as me."
After a pause, he added, "I have received great kindness from Duke Wei. I am duty-bound to charge and break through the enemy lines."
Many times, it was the situation that pushed you forward, and after you walked, you found that there was no turning back.
Of course, Xu Qi'an did not regret it. You must pay for what you gain. He just felt that it was good for the future to have another path.
A lonely official would not have a good ending!
The crown prince's words made Xu Qi'an secretly vigilant.
A smart person would not put all his eggs in one basket. Xu Qi'an hoped that Xu Xinnian would be one of the people who could support the Xu family in the future.
Although as a cousin, Xu Xinnian would more or less be marked by him, it would be different from Wei Yuan's.
This little thought could not be hidden from Wei Yuan, so Xu Qi'an's last sentence was to express his position.
Wei Yuan nodded slowly. "It's human nature. Oh right, you have successfully ascended to the spirit-refinement realm, right? How is the strength of your primordial spirit? "
"That's hard to say …" Xu Qi'an scratched his head.
"Let's use Li Yuchun as a standard. He is a veteran spirit-refinement realm cultivator. Although he is still a distance away from having copper skin and iron bones, his combat strength is not bad." Wei Yuan continued to stare at the map.
Xu Qi'an pondered and said, "Then I can kill two of them with one slash."
Wei Yuan turned around in shock. "Huh?"
He narrowed his eyes and stared at Xu Qi'an. "What did you say?"
"Duke Wei, I have not fought anyone since I stepped into the spirit-refinement realm. I can't tell how strong my primordial spirit is in the spirit-refinement realm," Xu Qi'an said humbly.
"Don't you know the Buddhist Lion's Roar?" Wei Yuan thought for a moment and pointed at the observation tower. "Go outside and roar."
"Duke Wei, Lion's Roar does not distinguish between friend and foe." Xu Qi'an did not dare.
AoE skills did not distinguish between friend and foe.
"Don't worry about me." Wei Yuan waved his hand.
"Yes." Xu Qi'an walked past the tea room and walked to the observation tower. Facing the warm sunlight, he sank his energy into his dantian.
In his mind, he visualized the image of a golden lion roaring. Together with his unique breathing and Qi circulation method, he paused for a few seconds … then he roared at the entire yamen.
"Roar!"
This roar did not sound like a beast's roar, nor did it sound like a human's shout. It was more like a thunderclap exploding in the yamen.
Rolling sound waves wreaked havoc.
The eyes of the officials in the Building of Noble Spirit suddenly rolled back. Their ears temporarily lost their hearing and their vision went dark.
When they heard the roar from afar, their hearts surged with uncontrollable fear.
Countless auras surged out from all parts of the yamen. The Jinluo people in the yamen were all alarmed. One by one, they rushed out of the houses, gathered in the courtyard, jumped onto the roof, or rushed to the Building of Noble Spirit.
At this moment, the entire yamen was alarmed.
"Wei, Duke Wei … seems to have caused too much of a ruckus."
Wei Yuan suddenly understood. He stared at Xu Qi'an, who had an awkward expression on his face.
This was a male lion. He was slowly sharpening his claws and growing his fangs.
He had not fully matured yet, but one day, his roar would shake the nine provinces.
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