Miss Truth
Chapter 248 - 156: The Struggling County Magistrate

Chapter 248: Chapter 156: The Struggling County Magistrate

"I’m not sure about that," Er Dong had only passed by and asked about the situation earlier, knowing only limited details. Seeing Ran Yan seemed particularly interested in the matter, she advised, "This rain should stop before noon. It wasn’t heavy last night, just this morning it wetted the ground a little. We should be able to walk after letting it air out a bit. These matters, they are none of our concern, Wife. You shouldn’t worry and harm your own health."

Ran Yan also felt that Er Dong’s words made sense, but she was extremely bored and thus changed the subject, "Er Dong, you’re from Youzhou, right?"

"How did Wife know?" Er Dong exclaimed in surprise; she had been speaking the official language, after all.

Youzhou, now part of Beijing, though different from ancient times, still retained a hint of its local dialect.

"Just a guess," Ran Yan said with a smile.

Er Dong’s eyes curved like crescents, and a small dimple appeared at the corner of her mouth, "Seventeenth Mistress is really godly. But the official language you speak is excellent too, not a hint of the Jiangnan accent."

The official language of the Tang Dynasty was not Mandarin, thankfully the original owner knew it, otherwise Ran Yan would probably have to put in extra effort.

Er Dong knew exactly why Ran Yan had brought up this topic, and did not disappoint, "Slave and Qian Xue are both from Youzhou. Our lord was doing business in Youzhou and bought us to serve Shilang as personal maids. At that time, I was sold to a brothel, where the madam said I would have to entertain guests once I turned thirteen. I lived every day in fear, counting the days. If I couldn’t escape by thirteen, I planned to hang myself with a rope. Luckily, I was bought less than half a year after being sold, just when our lord was invited to the brothel for drinks, and he took a liking to me and purchased me."

At that time, Er Dong thought she would become Ran Pingyu’s concubine. Though somewhat reluctant, she felt it was infinitely better than being in the brothel. Moreover, Ran Pingyu was a decent man, so she followed him obediently to Chang’an, grateful in her heart. Little did she expect, Ran Pingyu would present her and Qian Xue, bought subsequently, to a youth of heavenly appearance!

In that instant, Er Dong felt as if the whole world had come to life, every frown and smile of the young man were like a dream, making her feel for a long time that she was living a daydream.

After talking for a while, Ge Lan came in and gestured to ask Ran Yan if she wanted to eat.

Without waiting for Ran Yan to respond, Er Dong tactfully took her leave, and Ran Yan did not keep her.

Ge Lan and Wan Lu then helped Ran Yan out of bed.

After grooming and dressing, Ran Yan had her breakfast and lunch together. Soon after, the rain indeed stopped.

By evening, many government officials suddenly appeared at the inn’s entrance. A carriage rushed up to the door and came to an abrupt halt. An old man in a round-collared blue official uniform, with white hair and beard, got off. He adjusted his headgear, straightened his uniform, and then hurried into the inn.

Guided by the officials, the old man went straight to Liu Qingsong’s door. Standing at the door, he straightened his uniform again, making sure there was nothing disrespectful, before he raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Doctor Liu, I am Song Jue, County Magistrate of Jushui County, here to visit," the old man’s voice was surprisingly clear and spirited.

Inside, there was silence for a long moment. Song Jue raised his hand to knock again, "Doctor Liu, I—"

Before he could finish, the door was suddenly pulled open, revealing Liu Qingsong’s disheveled and sleepy appearance, heavily wrapped in a thick quilt, looking very untidy as he yawned. He sized up Song Jue, "The County Magistrate? Oh, what brings you here?"

Song Jue’s expression was rather unpleasant. At his age, after hearing the arrest officer repeat what Liu Qingsong said that day and guessing his identity, he hastily came to visit. Even though it was somewhat abrupt, he should not have been treated with such coldness!

But upon further thought, he realized that this man’s behavior was reputed to be very strange—it was probably not just directed at him. So, he swallowed his pride and softly said, "There’s a tricky case in the county, and I heard Doctor Liu was here. Eager to catch the criminal, I came to visit rashly. Please don’t take offense, Doctor Liu!"

"Are you looking for me to perform an autopsy?" Liu Qingsong suddenly woke up, opened his not-so-large eyes, and enthusiastically said, "Come, come, come, County Magistrate Liu, seeing how you diligently fulfill your duties, how could I not help you? That would be too inhumane of me! It just so happens that I’ve been particularly interested in autopsies these past few days. Wait for me to change my clothes."

With that, he dashed behind the screen.

Song Jue was originally just making a formal visit to let the Assistant Minister of Ministry of Justice know how diligently the small County Magistrate from Lower County fulfilled his duties, never actually expecting Liu Qingsong to perform the autopsy. Liu Qingsong’s ready agreement stunned him—the rumors claimed that this famous autopsy expert only liked to help young ladies and didn’t have the kindness to care for the elderly! Moreover, what did he mean by "recently interested in autopsies"?

After holding back for a long while, Song Jue only trembled his mustache and said, "Doctor Liu, my family name is Song, not Liu."

Song Jue thought, just because you help me once doesn’t mean I should take your family name!

Liu Qingsong, who was quickly changing his clothes behind the screen, had already forgotten what he had just said and chuckled dryly, "I’m getting old and tend to forget things. Please forgive me!"

At that moment, not only was Song Jue’s mustache trembling, but his whole body was shaking. He thought, if you complain about being old at such a young age, should I just be buried already! Humiliation! He had never suffered such a great humiliation!

Song Jue suddenly stood up, and just then, Liu Qingsong also came out carrying a large box on his back. Before Song Jue could show his resolution not to fear the powerful, and turn to leave, Liu Qingsong came over with a smiling face, grabbed his hand, and said, "County Magistrate Song is indeed decisive. We’re in a rush, let’s go, let’s not delay, let’s quickly go perform the autopsy!"

It’s hard to hit a smiling face, and since Liu Qingsong seemed to have a good impression of him now, Song Jue had to suppress his anger and replied with a forced laugh, "As matters of criminal justice demand, let’s go!"

The group of people had arrived in a flurry and left in a flurry as well.

Wan Lu, carrying hot water into the room, muttered, "This Doctor Liu, never behaving properly!"

Ge Lan looked up at her and Wan Lu added, "Just now, he dragged an elderly man in blue out of the inn, running all the way. That big box swinging back and forth behind him, not caring if it might hit the old man to death!"

"Blue clothes?" Ran Yan put down the book she was holding and looked up to ask.

"It’s the official uniform," Wan Lu answered.

Although they were both county officials, the rank was different. In the Tang Dynasty, counties were divided into Upper County, Middle County, and Lower County.

This Jushui County could at best be considered a Lower County, and a blue official uniform would suggest an eighth or ninth rank official. Each county had one County Magistrate, and under the County Magistrate were the County Chief, County Magistrate, and Secretary. The position of County Magistrate was similar to that of a police department director, also typically an eighth or ninth rank, Ran Yan guessed that the elder who came to find Liu Qingsong was most likely the County Magistrate. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)