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Chapter 41: Mobilizing the Imperial Guards

Since Lu Qing said so, Zhu Yu naturally had no objection. She did not bother to be polite with the yamen runner outside. Since she was already there, she decided to make the best of it and use the materials available. She took the pen and paper on the table and made a list. She took it out and gave it to the yamen runner, asking him to buy it for her.

In addition to snacks, the things we bought also included some small gadgets like Luban locks, nine-linked rings, even a pitching pot, a handful of bamboo arrows, and a few books.

Zhu Yu sent the yamen runner away and moved these things to his room one by one. Suddenly, he remembered that out of courtesy, he should "show some courtesy" to Lu Qing. After moving half of the things, he ran to ask him if he wanted them.

Of course Lu Qing didn't want it, but he was a little curious, so he went over to take a look and found that the books she asked the yamen runners to help buy were actually books on cultivating the mind and prolonging life.

"The Chief Secretary is really a man who cherishes his life." In Li Wencai's house, Lu Qing was still quite cautious in addressing Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu couldn't tell what expression was on the man's face behind the mask, was it teasing or joking?

"That's natural. Life is hard to come by, and I'm lucky to have it. Of course I have to take good care of it to live up to God's painstaking arrangement." So she answered half-truthfully.

That night, Fu Lu arranged for the chef of Li's house to prepare two portions of food to nourish Li Wencai. He took one of them and hurriedly sent it to the side courtyard, then hurried back to look after Li Wencai.

Zhu Yu ate and drank her fill and went to bed early. The next morning, Lu Qing asked her to go with him to "visit" Li Wencai.

It can be said that Fu Lu was doing his job conscientiously. It was estimated that except for urinating and defecating, he never left the door of Li Wencai's bedroom.

Early in the morning, he was already standing there like a door god.

"Is Lord Li awake?" Lu Qing asked him.

"Sir, County Magistrate Li has gotten up a long time ago." Fu Lu stepped aside, reached out to help Lu Qing open the copper lock on the door, and pushed the door open with a bang.

As soon as the two entered, they saw a man stumbling out of the bed, falling to his knees with a thud, and bowing without saying a word.

"Sir! You are here! I know I was wrong. I am the chief official of Qingshui County. I should devote myself to the people and perform my duties loyally to Your Majesty. I did not do well before, and I am willing to make amends!

It’s just…it’s just that this humble official begs you not to let that guard ‘take care’ of me every day anymore. This humble official is not worthy of such a burden…”

The man spoke with a thick voice of tears, and Zhu Yu recognized him as Li Wencai, the county magistrate of Qingshui County.

Although logically speaking, the person locked up in this room could only be Li Wencai, she should not be surprised. At least Zhu Yu had never expected that a person's face could change so much in just a few days.

The last time I saw him in the yamen, Li Wencai was still a plump white bun. But when we met again after a few days, this "bun" had shrunk a lot. His originally bloated belly had shrunk a lot, and his originally chubby face now had sagging cheeks.

Well, it turns out that the talisman is "taking care of" me quite well!

Lu Qing ignored him and sat down at the mahogany table beside him. His bony fingers tapped lightly as if unintentionally, making a "tap tap" sound.

The sound was not loud, but it seemed as if every sound hit Li Wencai's heart, making his body tremble.

After a long while, Lu Qing finally spoke: "I haven't seen you for a few days. Lord Li looks haggard. Are my guards taking good care of you?"

Li Wencai shuddered again. The tone of the Golden-faced Censor made it impossible for him to tell whether he was happy or angry. However, due to his years of experience in officialdom, he realized that he had just spoken out of turn.

The evil star who guarded the door every day was the guard accompanying the censor. What he said just now was clearly a criticism. If the censor was a person who protected his shortcomings, then he would undoubtedly offend him again. Thinking of this, he immediately changed his words: "No, no, no, your guards have taken very good care of me these days, and I am flattered.

It’s just…it’s just that I feel ashamed. The more attentive you are, the more embarrassed I become. I have no appetite for food…”

"Master Li, what do you think you have done wrong?"

When asked this, Li Wencai's words of plea were stuck in his throat. He drooped his eyelids, not daring to answer, his heart pounding.

If the censor had a bad temper and rushed into the yamen, grabbed me and whipped me with a horsewhip, and told me what I had done wrong, even though I would suffer some physical pain, at least he would know clearly what happened and I would know how to deal with it.

However, this man's behavior made him completely confused. When they first met, he left him exposed to the scorching sun, and then he locked him up in the bedroom in the name of recuperation, not allowing him to leave. He never mentioned the crime he had committed.

Li Wencai felt uneasy in his heart. He had to speak, but he was afraid of saying something wrong if he spoke.

What if the other party catches this and you answer that, wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?

After a brief hesitation, he decided to be vague and see if he could trick the censor into telling him where he had gone wrong.

"Your Excellency is an Imperial Censor, and you have the ability to hear the voices of the emperor and understand the sentiments of the people. If you say I made a mistake, then I must have done something wrong.

It’s just that I am stupid and didn’t think of it at the time. Please punish me, sir!

Since I took up the post of magistrate of Qingshui County, I have hoped to make some achievements. Unfortunately, my talents are mediocre, and my actions are inevitably unsatisfactory. I beg you to make it clear so that I can correct my mistakes as soon as possible and better serve the court and Your Majesty!

"Lord Li, that's quite a grand statement." Lu Qing rebuked him coldly, "I wanted to give you a chance, but even now you're still determined to play dumb and get away with it.

Well, since you are stupid, I will give you more time to think it over carefully here!"

After saying that, he ignored Li Wencai who wanted to beg for mercy again and walked out with big strides.

After Lu and Zhu left, Fu Lu quickly closed the door again and locked it with a click.

Lu Qing looked around and found that there were several servants of the Li family. Although they did not dare to approach the bedroom door, they were still peeking from a distance, half trembling and half curious.

He drew the sword from his waist, secretly exerted strength in his hands, and swung the sword to chop at a strange rock next to him.

The stone looked like it was made of tofu, and the sharp point on it was completely flattened by him.

"Anyone in Li Wencai's family who dares to approach this object without my permission will be held accountable by Li Wencai and punished accordingly." He said in a voice loud enough for the servants to hear.

The servant who was hiding in the distance and peeking quickly shrank back in fear.

Lu Qing called the talisman aside, took off the token from his waist and handed it to him: "Take my token, ride quickly to the Runzhou government office, find the prefect Zhao Xin, and ask him to lend you some useful yamen runners. Then go to the Runzhou Imperial Guard camp and use the token to summon a hundred imperial guards to be dispatched."

The talisman responded, took the token and left in a hurry.

　I wish you all a happy new year, a new beginning, and all the best!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)