Chapter 64

  In the midst of a bleak and desolate twilight, a handsome couple dismounted their horses in front of an inn and handed the reins to the young servant who came to greet them, before walking straight into the inn.

  The couple was none other than Zhang Shang and Lu Xiaofeng who were on their way home.

  The combination of handsome men and beautiful women is always eye-catching, people's pursuit of beauty has never been simple and intuitive.

  "Older brother."

  The shout of surprise led them to see a man - Beixiaoyang Chun.

  "Brother Ouyang." Zhan Zhao walked over and paid his respects.

  Luk Siu-fung naturally followed him and said, "Ouyang Da Xiaojian, it's been a long time."

  Ouyang Chun looked at the two of them and smiled: "Where are you going?"

  "Spread out at home."

  Ouyang Chun looked at Lu Xiaofeng and smiled, "What about that girl?"

  Lu Xiaofeng's expression was very natural as he said, "Accompany him home."

  Zhan Zhao couldn't help but smile slightly, "How did you end up here, Ouyang?"

  "Oh, me?" Ouyang Chun poured himself a cup of wine and drank it. "There have been many unmarried girls who have gone missing in this area recently, it should be the work of some scoundrels from the jianghu, I am currently searching for clues."

  Zhan Zhao's expression turned serious, "Is there anything I can help with?"

  "There's nothing better than brothers helping each other." Ouyang Chun said this while glancing at Lu Xiaofeng.

  Lu Xiaofeng said, "In such matters, one should draw their sword to help those in need. You two are great heroes and should take action when necessary. As for me, as long as I can guarantee not to hinder you or cause trouble, that's already a form of assistance, isn't it?"

  Ouyang Chun couldn't help but smile, "The young lady is still so quick-witted and sharp-tongued."

  "Thank you, Ouyang Da Xia, for the compliment. It feels great to be praised by others."

  Ouyang Chun burst out laughing.

  Lu Xiaofeng raised his teacup and said to Ouyang Chun: "Ouyang the Great Hero, I'll use tea instead of wine to toast you."

  "Good." Ouyang Chun finished the wine in her hand with a refreshing expression and showed off by clinking glasses with her.

  Lu Xiaofeng also drank up all the water in his hand.

  Zhan Zhao also accompanied him in drinking a cup of wine.

  Three old acquaintances met and chatted happily, the sharp-eyed inn servant had already quickly added cups, plates, bowls and chopsticks for them, and the boss also asked the kitchen to cook a few small dishes and sent them over.

  Zhan Shao and Ou Yang Chun were chatting and laughing, while Lu Xiao Feng occasionally chimed in with a sentence or two, but mostly sat quietly on the side eating and listening to their conversation.

  The Jianghu in their mouths was actually a novel and slightly strange existence for her, although she also knew people like Bai Yutang from the Jianghu, but what she was familiar with were still officials.

  Martial arts is a kind of sentiment, while Jianghu is a kind of artistic conception.

  "Miss Lu doesn't seem very interested in our conversation, does she?"

  "No way, I think it's quite interesting, but I just can't get a word in edgewise. However, I'll just listen with my ears, you don't need to pay attention to me."

  Zhan Zhao glanced at the sky and said to her: "You go back to your room and rest first, we'll probably be drinking for a while longer."

  "Alright," Lu Xiaofeng stood up, "Ouyang Daxia, you all continue drinking, I'll take my leave first."

  "Let Miss Lu go, we don't need to bother about her."

  Lu Xiaofeng smiled and followed the shopkeeper into the backyard guest room.

  As soon as Lu Xiaofeng's figure entered the backyard, Ouyang Chun smiled and raised his cup to ask Zhan Zhao, "Is this 'fiancée' title not already well-deserved now?"

  Zhan Zhao smiled and said, "I'll punish myself with a cup." He didn't explain that day, leading to Northern Knight's misunderstanding. Now it's time for him to admit his mistake.

  "Your eyes are good, it's just that this girl's identity is a bit more complicated."

  "That's not the problem." The biggest problem lies with herself.

  Ouyang Chun nodded, "This is good, if because of family background and missed, it's always a regretful thing."

  "Yes."

  Lu Xiaofeng did not know when Zhan Zhao returned to the room, because they did not sleep in the same guest room. When staying at the inn, it was always requested that two rooms be reserved. Before things could be clarified, it was still necessary to guard against rumors spreading into the Taishi Mansion.

  However, when she got up in the morning and saw Zhan Zhao, his spirit looked good, without any signs of a hangover.

  The wine is really good!

  "Good morning."

  "Did you sleep well?"

  "Alright," said Little Phoenix Maiden with a smile, "what's wrong with that?"

  Zhan Zhao couldn't help but laugh too. It was indeed true that she rarely had any worries on her mind, so naturally she had fewer troubles.

  "Good morning, Mr Ouyang." Lu Xiaofeng greeted him politely as he saw Ouyang Chun approaching.

  "Good morning."

  "Are you going out to look for clues today?"

  "Yes."

  "I'll stay at the inn and wait for you."

  Zhan Zhao glanced at her and said, "Be careful yourself."

  "Uh-huh." She's not a kid anymore, she can take care of herself. Xiao Mao is just too anxious sometimes.

  Xiao Feng was true to her word and did not leave the inn.

  But there are some things that can be done without leaving home.

  For example -- writing petitions on behalf of others.

  Unfortunately, Little Phoenix's luck was clearly not good. She just helped someone write a statement and ended up being summoned by an official to eat prison food.

  What's wrong with this world?

  When Zhang Shao and Ouyang Chun returned, they saw the government officer holding chains to take someone away. Without thinking, he dodged in front of her, his Longquan sword already exposed.

  "How dare you, insolent people, refuse to be arrested?"

  "Why did you arrest her?"

  "She wrote a petition accusing me of being a great villain."

  Lu Xiaofeng said disbelievingly, "If he is indeed a great kind-hearted person, even if I were to write a complaint against him, he would surely just laugh it off with a magnanimous heart, wouldn't he? Otherwise, the three words 'great kind-hearted person' would be somewhat ironic."

  Ouyang Chun smiled and nodded beside him.

  "But I'm just helping someone write a statement. There's the plaintiff, there's the defendant, so why do you gentlemen want to detain me, the one who helped write the statement? What kind of reasoning is this?"

  "What right do you have to interfere with us? In short, our master is the principle."

  "Using strong words to seize reason." Little Phoenix summarized for them.

  "You all come back with us."

  "How can you take him away too?" Lu Xiaofeng sincerely admired these several yamen runners, this is the Imperial Cat Xianzhao, their family's elders will soon understand the truth of "it's easy to invite a god but hard to send it away".

  "Take away all accomplices at once."

  "Kitty, are you really going back with them?" Little Phoenix asked with a hint of teasing.

  "Wherever you go, I'll go."

  "I don't like places like prison cells, I don't want to go."

  "Then I won't go."

  But Xiao Feng suddenly changed her tone and said: "However, I am still interested in going to the county yamen's main hall."

  "Then go." Zhan Zhao's words were light, but very firm.

  "Alright, let's go."

  Zhan Zhao cleared the way for her and then headed towards the county government office.

  The yamen runners scrambled to their feet and ran up, but they did not dare shout again. It was enough to prove the master's strength that he could finish them off with just two or three blows.

  It's better not to take humiliation upon oneself too much.

  Bei Xia Ouyang Chun carried his sword and followed along to watch the excitement.

  The county magistrate probably still doesn't know what kind of person he has invited back, but let's just say that the phoenix-like official who handles all sorts of criminal cases is a good guest to invite, but not so easy to send off.

  Arrived at the county government office, the hall was majestic and awe-inspiring.

  However, Lu Xiaofeng and Zhan Zhao did not kneel down.

  The county magistrate did not knock on the wooden board, but asked: "Why didn't the people at the foot of the mountain kneel when they saw this official?"

  Lu Xiaofeng smiled slightly and said: "Guixian, do you know the distinction between superior and inferior?"

  "This county naturally knows that it's not worth it for this small girl to kneel down and still can't be tolerated by the county?"

  "Of course." Little Phoenix said with a tone of finality.

  "Who are you? Why can't this county tolerate your presence?"

  Lu Xiaofeng turned slightly to the left, his back to the hall, and said loudly: "This official was appointed by His Majesty, and is in charge of supervising all prisons. According to rank, I am above your county, how can a superior official kowtow to an inferior one?"

  As soon as these words came out, everyone in the county government was shocked.

  The county magistrate's voice trembled slightly, also with a hint of doubt, "Miss, aren't you Lord Feng?"

  "That's right."

  Zhan Zhao revealed his waist card from Kaifeng Prefecture at this time. "I am Zhan Zhao of Kaifeng Prefecture, sir. Do you still have any doubts?"

  The county magistrate's sweat came down on the spot.

  This is unbearable! One Lord Feng is enough to suffer, and there's also the Imperial Cat of Kaifeng Prefecture, this rhythm is really unbearable for ordinary people.

  What else can be said?

  See Officer Guan.

  "Wu Bingde, the county magistrate of Siyang County, requests an audience with Your Excellency."

  The county magistrate knelt down, and except for Lu Xiaofeng's three people, everyone in the county government hall knelt on the ground.

  Lu Xiaofeng walked up to the public case with a steady gait and sat down slowly, "Get up."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "This official just doesn't understand; he only helped someone write a petition and yet became the county's wanted criminal?"

  "That's... " The county magistrate wiped the sweat from his sleeve, this judicial officer was originally a direct subordinate of the imperial court, directly under the command of the emperor, and was able to reach the heavens. He had accidentally stirred up a hornet's nest, "That Yu Ming is a local scholar and a well-known good person in the surrounding villages."

  "This remark is not quite right. Even a sage has three parts of error, how can it be that just because he has the reputation for goodness, one should ignore the fact that he may do evil?"

  "But all the people know that I am a good man..."

  "What right does the common people have to ask someone to write a complaint against him?"

  "But I have a family fortune of tens of thousands, why must I go and seize the belongings of a poor scholar?" Wu Bingde tried to defend himself.

  "It's really extreme," Lu Xiaofeng said with emotion. "This official doesn't quite understand either, why you, who are just a county magistrate, dare to send someone to arrest your own superior and bring them to the hall for trial. Perhaps Lord Wu can explain it to this official."

  Use his spear to attack his shield, don't be too effective, okay?

  "That is... That is your humble servant not knowing you were coming here..."

  "Right? That thing of the bookworm might also be something that Yu Ming has never had. How can you just rely on personal preferences and rumors to easily condemn someone? This is simply unreasonable."

  Finally, Little Phoenix Maiden slapped the alarm board with a loud bang, scaring Wu Bingde into kneeling again.

  The case is actually simple and sincere, it's just that an innocent man has been wrongly accused, and he's being blamed for something he didn't do.

  That poor scholar's family had passed down a piece of celadon jade, with a color as green as jade, clean and pure like jade, looking at it was like seeing ripples on the water, this was most tempting for those who loved calligraphy and admired elegance.

  Yu Ming tried to buy it with money, but the scholar was unwilling to sell his ancestral property, and as a result, he got into trouble, was falsely accused and thrown into prison, and his writing brush was confiscated. His family members begged for him, and then there was the matter of Xiaofeng Inn's daughter helping people write petitions.

  "This inkstone is indeed a rare treasure," Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but exclaim when she saw the real thing. Although she didn't have a special fondness for inkstones, she had been practicing calligraphy since childhood and knew a thing or two about them. "Li Mao."

  "The student is present."

  "Such a family heirloom should be treasured and kept, how can it be easily shown to people? Don't you know that precious things will inevitably attract envy, an innocent man is not guilty, but the one who holds the jade is guilty?"

  "The student has learned a lesson and will not repeat the same mistake in the future."

  "It's settled then, this object will return to its rightful owner, you can take care of it from now on."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "I understand."

  "The common people remain."

  "You have falsely accused someone of stealing a treasure. Fortunately, no irreparable damage has been done. This official sentences you to ten days in prison and a fine of one thousand strings of cash."

  "Thank you, sir."

  "You compensate him with 500 taels of silver again, and this case will be closed."

  "Ordinary people admit their mistakes, and accept punishment."

  "Li Mao, as an official, I have made this judgment; do you have any objections?"

  Li Mao saw the bright-eyed and smiling girl's gentle voice asking, his heart was a mess, he quickly lowered his head, "The student has no objection, but it depends on your decision."

  He is not a stubborn person, knowing that she made such a judgment for his own good. On the one hand, it eliminated the possible resentment of the Yu family, and on the other hand, it solved his predicament, which was a win-win situation.

  "Director Wu, what do you think?"

  Wu Bingde had nothing more to say. The case was thus settled, and it was good for everyone. He repeatedly said, "This official has no objection."

  "Thus, I withdraw from the hall."

  "Awesome——"

  Lu Xiaofeng and his two companions left the county government office, outside it was already nightfall, with lights on in every household.

  The Song Dynasty had no curfew, so although it was night, the shops on both sides of the street were still brightly lit, and the people on the street were still bustling.

  The three of them didn't linger outside for long and after eating some food at a small restaurant, they headed straight back to their lodging inn.

  Bei Xia returned to his room to rest.

  Zhan Zhao followed into Xiaofeng's room.

  "Anything wrong?" Lu Xiaofeng asked as he turned behind the screen to take off his outer garment.

  Zhan Zhao followed him without saying a word.

  Lu Xiaofeng took off his outer garment and went to untie the sash of his undergarment, seeing him standing on one side without speaking, couldn't help but smile, "Hey, what's wrong with you?"

  Zhan Zhao really couldn't say that she was a bit uncomfortable with the way he looked at her because of that book, and besides, she didn't notice anything, so saying it out loud would only give him an opportunity to tease her.

  As they spoke, she was left with only a breast wrap and shorts on her body. She took the prepared nightgown beside her and was about to put it on.

  Zhan Zhao stretched out his hand and pulled her into his arms.

  Lu Xiaofeng smiled and reached out to hook his neck, asking in a low voice: "Have you thought about it?"

  Zhan Zhao did not speak.

  "Bei Xia can stay in this inn, aren't you worried?" Little Phoenix Maiden couldn't help but tease him at this time.

  Zhan Zhao's response was to scoop her up in his arms and carry her towards the bed.

  This night will be a lingering and sentimental taste that is soul-stirring and bone-penetrating.