Pingnan County, inside the prison.
Being incarcerated for the first ti in their lives, especially in the land of Beining, was indeed an unprecedented experience for Xie Jue and Fang Chuning. If this news were to spread, it would surely make others burst into laughter.
If Xie Xun knew about this, he would consider it the biggest amusent of his life, bringing it up during every al and recounting it as a funny incident to his descendants ti after ti.
The prison cell was damp and cold, with gusts of chilly wind sweeping through, sending shivers down one’s spine. Even n as full of vitality as Xie Jue and Fang Chuning could hardly withstand the onslaught of the cold wind. Though it was sumr and they wore light clothing, the chill was bone-deep. The governnt officials had locked them up in the prison for an hour, yet there was no interrogation.
In the adjacent cell were Du Fang and his clansn. According to Du Fang, when County Magistrate Zhou couldn’t find them in the city, he issued notices all over. Soone from Gao Liang Village reported seeing them go to Lin Village, so the County Magistrate went with his n to search Lin Village. The hundreds of residents there, initially unaware, ntioned that they had indeed co looking for Du Fang.
Du Fang hadn’t revealed Xie Jue and Fang Chuning’s identities, perhaps aware of the trouble they had caused. The County Magistrate suspected collaboration between the Beiman and criminals, resulting in Du Fang’s arrest. The Beiman naturally wouldn’t let matters rest and clashed with the governnt officials, soon ending up in the sa prison. Du Fang apologized profusely, acknowledging the trouble brought about by his clansn encountering them at the city gate.
Xie Jue said, "Mr. Du, there’s no need to bla yourself. This trouble began because of . You were innocently dragged into it, and I haven’t even apologized to you yet."
Du Fang felt it was his family that entangled Xie Jue to this point and couldn’t bear Xie Jue’s apology. Du Fang asked, "Hasn’t the Prince revealed his identity to the County Magistrate? How dare he detain you?"
"The County Magistrate isn’t in his office; the officials locked them up straightaway after capturing them."
"What brazenness!"
Only soone with a bear’s heart and a leopard’s guts would dare imprison Beining’s sole Prince and the legitimate heir of the Grand Marshal, Fang Chuning. Even without his status as the Marshal’s heir, he was still a dignified second-grade military general.
County Magistrate Zhou was carousing with friends in the restaurant, slightly tipsy and oblivious to any danger. For two days, he had been in fear due to Zhou Bao’s warning about the importance of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning. The County Magistrate tried to hunt them down, wanting to see what kind of people they were. Their disappearance left him anxious, but after the capture of Du Fang, who only confessed knowing them as provincial nobilities, the County Magistrate dismissed the matter, especially since Du Fang ntioned Xie Jue was from the provincial gentry of Ningzhou.
The aristocrats of Ningzhou, mostly descents of military families, had long been stationed there, far from the Capital City. The County Magistrate, having alliances in court, hadn’t been promoted despite years in Ping’an County, not because of a lack of connections or rit, but even if promoted to a main city, he couldn’t qualify as a governor, and the perks in Pingnan County were more plentiful. In smaller county towns, personal ties mattered, allowing him to wield influence in Pingnan, unlike in Yun City where he would be restricted. He preferred being a small county magistrate in Pingnan.
The steward of the governnt office ca to report, saying they had captured the two noble young n, urging the County Magistrate to return to handle the matter. The steward, accustod to seeing many things, noticed the unusual background of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning and dared not decide privately. If ordinary, he would’ve discreetly settled it, but any uproar in Ping’an County involved everyone in the governnt.
"Captured them?" The County Magistrate clicked his tongue, "I thought they were impressive, but just so-so. Did they say anything?"
The steward lowered his voice, whispering in the magistrate’s ear, "They said nothing yet carry a powerful aura. Your judgnt is needed; we dare not act rashly."
With his head bowed in thought, the magistrate held his wine cup. His companions, wealthy rchants and local gentry of Pingnan, urged, "Your lordship has important matters; please go attend them. We’ll host you another day for further pleasure."
The County Magistrate, having exchanged pleasantries, left the restaurant with the steward and complained angrily, "Those two are just provincial noble young n from Ningzhou, ignorant of their limits. How dare they ddle in Pingnan’s affairs? Now that they’re caught, you should’ve handled it quietly. Why bother ? I just gathered these rchants to discuss serious matters, and you interrupted without any sense!"
The steward was troubled, explaining cheerfully, "My lord, this matter is serious, even involving the capture of so Beiman. I truly dare not make decisions on my own."
"Useless!"
Scolded, the County Magistrate boarded the carriage with the steward, returning to the governnt. He uncertainly asked, "Did they really confess nothing?"
"I inquired about their full nas; they only replied with ’Fang.’ They revealed nothing else about their identities."
The County Magistrate, rampant in Pingnan for years, with connections in court, dismissed the provincial gentry of Ningzhou. "Surna Fang? There’s no Fang among Ningzhou’s noble families, likely a small household. With so spare money, they’re now arrogant enough to call themselves young masters. If they were truly of high stature, they’d have declared it imdiately, rather than suffer the humiliation of imprisonnt. Surely so young master out to explore, robbed by bandits, now seeking official justice. Their ties with the Beiman are not unusual given their Ningzhou origin."
"What should we do about this? They’ve learned things during their days in Pingnan that they shouldn’t know," the steward reminded, "The Beiman surely told them about the land issue, which might be detrintal if they gossip about it at ho with their elders."
"What do you suggest?"
"According to precedent..." The steward mimicked a throat-cutting gesture.
The magistrate looked at him as if he were foolish. "Are they commoners? Can we kill them at will? Dealing with young nobles of ambiguous status, we must first reason with them, ensuring peace. If they’re sensible, all is well; if not, we teach them the rules."
"Yes, indeed!"
In the prison, Fang Chuning finally managed to clean a spot for Xie Jue to rest his feet. Xie Jue, unbothered, closed his eyes to rest. Du Fang, worried, said, "Your Highness, this County Magistrate is audacious. Should he an harm, do reveal your identity to avoid his machinations."
Xie Jue chuckled lightly, without replying. Fang Chuning said, "Given the County Magistrate’s audacity, revealing our identities offers a slim chance of survival. If fully aware, he might eliminate all witnesses, leaving no testimonies and covering his tracks. How could anyone challenge him then?"
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