Chapter Seventy-Three: The County Capital

Qi Jun hurried to the county constable barracks, gathering together all the constables from the first squad, both those resting and those training, and led them out. As he stepped through the doorway, he encountered Xiao Ming, the captain of the second squad, who had just finished his shift.

Xiao Ming recalled the moment Qi Jun had beaten him, and all arrogance vanished from his demeanor. Seeing Qi Jun marching out with a group of men, their presence imposing, he quickly led his squad aside in fear.

Qi Jun passed Xiao Ming without a word, not bothering with his sort. Yet, after a few steps, something occurred to him, and he turned back towards Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming, having just relaxed as Qi Jun walked past, was about to leave when he saw Qi Jun returning straight towards him. His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively retreated as Qi Jun approached.

“Master Qi… Master Qi, I was blind today, didn't recognize you. If you’re going to hit me again, please spare me for now. I’m too thin; I don’t want your fist to get hurt on my bones…” Xiao Ming, thinking Qi Jun was about to punish him again, covered his swollen cheek and pleaded tearfully before Qi Jun even reached him.

“Where is your squad’s carriage?” Qi Jun, having no time to argue, asked a question that caught Xiao Ming off guard.

“It’s… in the barracks, Master Qi. Is there official business?” Xiao Ming paused, then realized Qi Jun wasn’t there to beat him.

“Hurry and ready the carriage, take me to the prefectural office—now! I have urgent business with Lord Feng.” The first squad’s carriage had already been sent back to the village with Qi Feng, and the county constable’s carriage was taken to the prefectural office by Ah Xin.

Qi Jun had been considering how to get to Ding’an Prefecture as quickly as possible; if he rode a horse, he wouldn't arrive until dawn. Encountering Xiao Ming and his men reminded him that the second squad had a carriage as well.

“Did you hear? Go harness the carriage, don’t keep Master Qi waiting!” Xiao Ming, eager to please Qi Jun, kicked a constable beside him to hurry him.

Watching his men rush into the barracks, Xiao Ming turned with a sycophantic smile to Qi Jun. “Master Qi, is there anything else you need? It’s my honor to serve you…”

“Is that so? Why didn’t you feel that way before?” Qi Jun glared at him, irritated by those who could change their face faster than flipping a page. He knew Xiao Ming was the type to bully the weak and curry favor with the strong, and he refused to show such people any kindness.

The more politely you treat them, the more they try to climb over your head. But if you keep a stern face, they become abjectly servile and fawning.

“It was all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! I thought you were one of those vagrants following Young Master Deng, trying to sneak into town,” Xiao Ming seized the chance to explain and apologize profusely.

Qi Jun ignored him, instead going to the constables waiting by the street and instructing their leader to hurry to Meng Manor and support Sun Jiu.

Now that the plot of Meng Wanhe and the others had been exposed, Qi Jun feared these villains might, in desperation, resort to fierce resistance. He also worried that Magistrate Song and Secretary Zhao might sense something was amiss and seize the chance to kill witnesses and destroy evidence.

The constables took their orders and set out for Meng Manor at once, while the second squad’s carriage was brought out.

“Master Qi, please get aboard!” Xiao Ming hurried to the carriage, lifting the curtain. Embarrassed, he added, “Our carriage has some issues that haven’t been fixed yet; please don’t mind…”

Qi Jun climbed aboard, entering the carriage. He thought to himself, it’s not the first time he’s ridden in a carriage, and any minor faults would surely be more comfortable than riding horseback.

He soon realized how wrong he was.

Once Qi Jun was seated, the driver whipped the horses and steered the carriage toward the north gate. The pace was slow within the city, and Qi Jun only felt slight jolting. But once they reached the official road outside the city and picked up speed, the carriage began to bounce violently.

Within less than half an hour, Qi Jun felt his bones were about to become a pile of scattered parts.

“How much longer until we reach the prefectural city?” Qi Jun, suppressing the nausea swirling in his gut, held onto the window and asked, afraid he might die from the ride.

“At this speed, we should arrive before dark. Sir, the axle’s loose and the right wheel has a chip; I dare not go faster, or the carriage might fall apart,” the driver explained, seeing Qi Jun’s pale face and discomfort.

“By dark?” Qi Jun glanced out at the sinking sun and felt a wave of despair. That meant he still had to endure this miserable ride for more than three hours.

He could only close his eyes, suffering the relentless jolts, and silently vowed to learn to ride properly as soon as possible.

As dusk fell, Qi Jun finally saw the towering walls of the prefectural city. The garrison soldiers were preparing to close the gates, and when they saw a carriage approaching at speed, they heightened their alert.

Pointed spears held by the guards halted the carriage; the driver quickly announced their identity.

“Who’s inside? Step out for inspection!” The squad leader used his sword hilt to push aside the curtain and looked in.

Qi Jun smiled at him, about to explain, when his stomach churned uncontrollably and he was forced to leap out, crouching by the roadside as he emptied his stomach completely.

The soldiers who came to inspect the carriage recoiled in disgust, their expressions showing disdain and contempt for Qi Jun.

The squad leader watched Qi Jun dry-heave, his face growing darker with every moment. He thought, “I may be ugly, but this is the first time I’ve made someone vomit just by looking at them.”

Qi Jun finally recovered from his journey’s torment, his face pale as he bowed respectfully to the squad leader and produced his badge and permit.

“From Anqiang County Constable Barracks? What brings you to the city so late?” The squad leader, verifying Qi Jun’s credentials, returned them and, recognizing him as a fellow official, softened his expression.

“Our carriage was damaged, nearly causing us to miss the hour. I have urgent business with the Anqiang County Magistrate. I hope you’ll grant us passage,” Qi Jun explained courteously.

The squad leader circled the carriage, seeing the chipped wheel and confirming Qi Jun’s story.

“As a fellow official, you should know the rules for entering the city,” he said, holding out his palm: “One coin per person, double for carriage and horses.”

By the currency of Great Liang, one coin was a hundred copper cash. Qi Jun frowned; the prefectural entry fee was much higher than that collected by the constables in Anqiang, equivalent to a constable’s entire day’s earnings.

The driver leaned in and whispered, “Sir, you haven’t been to the prefectural city before. This price is already a courtesy for fellow officials…”

Qi Jun stared in surprise; if this was the discounted rate, he could barely imagine what ordinary citizens had to pay.

“You work at the constable barracks—you’re not telling me you can’t afford this?” The squad leader grew impatient at Qi Jun’s hesitation. “If you begrudge the money, you can spend the night outside the gates.”

He glanced at Qi Jun, shook his head, and turned to close the gates. Though Qi Jun was frustrated, he knew now was not the time for anger.

He sighed, took out two coins, and hurried after the squad leader, pressing them into his hand.

The squad leader took the money, weighed it in his palm, and finally waved them through.

Passing through the dim gateway, Qi Jun was greeted by the bustling scene of Ding’an Prefecture. Despite night having fallen, the streets remained lively with pedestrians and merchants.

Colorful lanterns hung at shop entrances illuminated the city’s nightscape, adding a touch of warmth and vitality to the evening.