Zhou Chunfeng scanned the crowd and smiled. "I will report this to the Cabinet immediately. If all goes as planned, Senior Brother Yun Jing will enter the Imperial City with me for an audience with the Emperor."
"Good." Songg Yunjing nodded. "This battle is over. I’ll arrange for a night watch; the rest of you can get some sleep."
"Yes, sir!"
After the soldiers for the night watch were assigned, the Low-Grade Officials departed one by one.
Songg Yunjing added, "This was a great victory, but devastation is all around us. It’s not a time for a grand celebration, but we can’t let it pass unmarked. Everyone, follow me back to the County Magistrate’s Office. We’ll have a simple, hot meal before we rest."
The group descended the city wall and entered the County Magistrate’s Office.
Hearing her husband had returned, Madam Songg, heedless of the outsiders present, hurried over with tears in her eyes and called out, "Songg Lang, are you alright?"
Li Qingxian looked over and saw a middle-aged woman in a simple, elegant pale green-and-white dress. She appeared to be around forty, with a dignified appearance, gentle features, and a noble, graceful air, though her eyes were red-rimmed.
"I’m here, my dear," Songg Yunjing said with a smile.
"Mother..." Songg Baige started, walking toward her.
She brushed past him, and Madam Songg threw herself into Songg Yunjing’s arms.
Songg Yunjing gently patted his wife’s back, comforting her in a low voice.
Songg Baige watched his parents, the will to live draining from him.
Zhou Chunfeng smiled faintly.
After comforting his wife, Songg Yunjing led the group to the back of the office to eat.
After a simple, hot meal, Madam Songg enthusiastically took Li Qingxian by the hand, treating him like her own son. She led him to a guest room and had a maid change the bedding and pillows to a fresh set.
Leaving a bewildered Songg Baige to mutter to himself, "Mother, that was my bedding..."
Having traveled for days on end and slept little, Li Qingxian collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard someone calling his name. He felt weightless, and it took him a long while to register it. His whole body ached as he used all his strength to open his eyes.
He saw Zhou Chunfeng, Songg Yunjing, Songg Baige, and Zhou Henn sitting in the room, chatting over tea.
"Greetings, uncles." Li Qingxian sat up, his eyes half-closed and his voice hoarse.
He glanced out the window. The sun was blazing.
Zhou Chunfeng smiled. "We didn’t mean to wake you, but the Emperor has issued a decree. Yun Jing and I must return to the Divine Capital immediately to report, so it’s the perfect time to take you back."
"We can go back to the Divine Capital?" Li Qingxian’s eyes lit up.
"Of course! After our audience with the Emperor, Yun Jing and I will go to the Li Mansion to celebrate your birthday," Zhou Chunfeng said.
"Great!" Li Qingxian slowly got up and started to get dressed.
Songg Yunjing said thoughtfully, "The Emperor didn’t summon you. I fear someone from the Ritual Department erased your name. Don’t worry. When the time comes, I will detail the events for the Emperor. Your extraordinary merits won’t go unnoticed."
Li Qingxian smiled. "I understand. But my heart is true to the Emperor, my passion is for the people. I don’t seek empty fame."
Songg Baige rolled his eyes. "That’s a bit much. We’re all friends here."
"I’m serious! I suggest you two uncles mention me as little as possible. Talk more about yourselves and the soldiers of the Border Army. Mentioning me too much would be a bad thing," Li Qingxian said.
Songg Yunjing and Zhou Chunfeng exchanged a look, then smiled and nodded.
"Well said," Songg Yunjing praised.
Zhou Henn thought for a while before he understood. ’The Factory Guard must have already delivered a detailed report of the events in Beichen City to Emperor Taining’s desk. If Songg Yunjing and Zhou Chunfeng praise Li Qingxian too highly, it will only arouse suspicion.’
"You should learn from Qingxian!" Songg Yunjing said, looking at his son.
Songg Baige complained, "Uncle Zhou, you be the judge! Just a few days ago, didn’t you say Li Qingxian should be learning from me?"
"That was then, this is now," Zhou Chunfeng said.
Songg Baige sat there, stunned.
Everyone smiled.
Songg Yunjing stood up. "The Emperor’s command has been given, and we can’t delay. We’ll ride the Wooden Eagle back to the capital. Baige, take good care of your mother. If anything, and I mean anything, happens to her, I’ll have your hide."
"Yes, Father." Songg Baige looked dejected. ’My old man is normally so gentle and refined, even praised for remaining unfazed if Bai Gushan itself were to collapse on him. He only ever speaks so harshly when it involves Mother.’
"Madam Songg is a wonderful person, Brother Songg. You can’t make her angry," Li Qingxian said, blinking.
"You troublemaker! I dote on my mother the most!" Songg Baige retorted with a laugh.
Li Qingxian laughed. "When you get back to the capital, be sure to find me."
"I know you came into a windfall. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to bleed you dry!" Songg Baige said.
As they walked out, Zhou Chunfeng said, "Baige, you’ll stay here for a few more days. If all goes well, you should be able to return to the capital in half a month at most. Qingxian, when you get back, report to the Night Guard with Zhou Henn first. Don’t give anyone an opening to criticize you. Once that’s settled, you can go home and prepare for your birthday feast. If anything urgent comes up, have Zhou Henn send a message."
"Alright," Li Qingxian said.
They left the courtyard and went out into the street. Zhou Chunfeng tossed something from his right hand, and a wood-yellow, talisman-marked Wooden Eagle landed and grew, expanding to three zhang long. The four of them waved goodbye to Songg Baige and stepped into the small house on the eagle’s back.
The Wooden Eagle took flight. Inside the small house, the four of them brewed tea, and Songg Yunjing asked about the matter between Li Qingxian and Tang Enxuan.
After hearing the whole story, Songg Yunjing fell into deep thought.
Li Qingxian studied Songg Yunjing. Unlike Zhou Chunfeng’s handsome, jade-like features, Songg Yunjing had a broad forehead and a wide, proper face. His temples were dotted with frost-white hair, giving him a scholarly and mature look.
After a long moment, Songg Yunjing glanced at Li Qingxian and asked, "How confident are you?"
"Originally, sixty to seventy percent. After reading Yur Ping’s fate, at least eighty percent."
"Good. I won’t ask for details, then, to avoid any mishaps. I’ll ask again after you’ve succeeded," Songg Yunjing said.
"It’s no matter. I am in the Divine Capital. Tang Enxuan wouldn’t dare make a move," Zhou Chunfeng said calmly.
But Li Qingxian said, "Uncle Zhou, I need you to do me a favor."
"Speak."
Li Qingxian said, "Please issue a document stating that the four of us—Zheng Hui, Yur Ping, Han Anbo, and I—are pleading guilty. We confess to having embezzled some silver taels in the past. As a Senior Ninth Grade official, I will pay the maximum ten-fold fine silver."
"Alright!" Zhou Chunfeng took out a brush and paper and immediately wrote a standard sentencing document.
The document stated that Li Qingxian and the other three would be punished. In addition to the fine silver, they were to forfeit three years of salary and receive one demerit. However, considering their voluntary confession, payment of the maximum fine silver, and the fact that Li Qingxian had atoned for his crimes with meritorious service, the three-year salary forfeiture and the demerit were canceled, to be replaced by a verbal reprimand.
Both parties signed and affixed their seals.
「In the afternoon」
They arrived in the Divine Capital, and the four split into two groups.
Zhou Chunfeng and Songg Yunjing headed to the Imperial Study in the Forbidden City, while Li Qingxian and Zhou Henn went to the Night Guard headquarters to report for duty.
After completing all the procedures, he returned to Room A9, where Han Anbo rose to greet him.
"You’re really back. How did it go?" Han Anbo asked.
"I’m fine. What about the other two?"
Han Anbo said, "The day you left, I snuck into Captain Zheng’s home and laid out the stakes, and he agreed. Just as you predicted, Yur Ping was taken away after delivering the letter to the Ministry of War, and Captain Zheng was taken away shortly after. You told me the location of the Military Prison beforehand, so I secretly paid for information. They’ve only suffered some minor injuries and are being treated well inside with good food and drink. Both of them were prepared, and they’ve been Night Guards for years, so they won’t crack. Now, even I know you’re back in the capital. I’m afraid Tang Enxuan has already set up an inescapable trap."
Li Qingxian smiled faintly. "Who is the fisherman and who is the fish remains to be seen. Is Room Leader Hex at my house?"
"He knows someone is after you and was worried something might happen to your family, so he went over early this morning under the pretext of helping to arrange your birthday feast," Han Anbo said.
"Let’s go. We’re going home to celebrate my birthday!" Li Qingxian smiled.
Han Anbo opened his mouth to ask a question, but simply nodded and said, "Alright!"
Before they could leave the Government Office, a Night Guard hurried over, pulled Han Anbo aside, and whispered a few words to him.