It turned out that Zhao Chengxiao had been with Yang Qiaoer for a long time and had developed feelings for her, so he couldn't help but worry about her. Zhao Chengxiao also knew Qiu Yi's true identity and knew that this little magistrate had great abilities. If he got ruthless, even the biggest injustice could be redressed.
Fortunately, Zhao Chengxiao has been honest and simple since he followed Qiu Yizi. Even a shrewd person like Qiu Yizi did not expect that his simple words were half emotional and half provocative. He had fallen into his trap without realizing it.
Qiu Yizhi threw the half-eaten watermelon in his hand to the ground, and said angrily: "There are not many officials of Cai Min's caliber in the Han Dynasty. I think there are more of them than the watermelon seeds falling on the ground. How dare you dare to challenge me here? You really don't know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is!"
Zhao Chengxiao heard this and knew that his first attempt had succeeded, so he asked, "What is your plan, sir?"
After Qiu Yizhi finished speaking, she quickly calmed down and said, "When I left Beijing, my master told me to be careful and abide by the rules, and not to act recklessly. Now it seems that Lao Wu's face is not big enough in front of Cai Min. Well, I will go out in person to meet this Governor Cai and find out what his background is."
Zhao Chengxiao was of course happy to hear this, and said, "Since Your Excellency is personally taking action, it will surely be successful. I will follow Your Excellency and go to Yuezhou Prefecture to see how arrogant these yamen runners are."
Qiu Yizi said, "You haven't fully recovered yet. I think you should stay in Shanyin County and recuperate. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to show your skills in the future!"
This was exactly what Zhao Chengxiao wanted to do to continue to get along with Yang Qiao'er, but he tried to cover it up by saying, "My minor injury is nothing serious. I'm just afraid that I'll be lazy for a while and miss something important."
Qiu Yizi smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, you have experienced many important events with me. Although this case is serious, it is just a trivial matter. How can it be called a major event? Moreover, I am taking Yuchi Jiming and Wang Laowu with me. Do I need a lack of guards and servants?"
What Qiu Yizi said is true.
Since he followed Youyan King Zheng Rong, he has done many great things that shocked the world. Even Zheng Rong's ascension to the throne was due to the great contribution of Qiu Yizhi. If he had not insisted on becoming a county magistrate, or if he had stayed in the center of the court, Qiu Yizhi would have been able to deal with an insignificant official like Cai Min with just a wave of his sleeves and a few words.
Zhao Chengxiao was a person who knew Qiu Yi's background clearly. He knew that although what he said was big, it was not an exaggeration at all, so he was convinced and nodded in agreement.
So the people in the yard ate melons and talked at the same time, and they talked until it was time for dinner. Qiu Yizi treated them to a table at a restaurant in the county town, and everyone went home with great satisfaction.
The next day, Qiu Yizi got up early, washed up and had breakfast, then called Yuchi Jiming and Wang Laowu to go to the Yuezhou government office.
Among the three, Qiu Yizhi drove his own Ferghana horse, Yuchi Jiming rode a Bohai horse given to him by Qiu Yizhi, and Wang Laowu could not ride a horse and could only walk. However, although Wang Laowu only had two legs, he was no slower than the two horses. So these people traveled all the way and arrived at Kuaiji City, where the Yuezhou government office was located, before noon.
Although Kuaiji is not a provincial capital, it is also a famous city in the south of the Yangtze River. In terms of prosperity, it is only slightly inferior to Luoyang and Jinling, and is not inferior to Guangyang, the capital of Youyan.
However, Qiu Yizhi had important matters to attend to, so he had no interest in admiring the scenery of this famous city in the south of the Yangtze River. After entering the city, he went straight to the Yuezhou government office. This government office was built beside the river bank, surrounded by willows and cicadas, which was quite unique.
Wang Laowu saw two yamen runners standing lazily at the gate of the government office from afar, and said to Qiu Yizi: "Sir, those two runners are the most hateful!"
Qiu Yizi nodded without answering. He dismounted and led Yuchi Jiming and Wang Laowu to one of the shorter yamen runners and said, "I am the new magistrate of Shanyin County, Qiu Yizi. I have come to ask to see the prefect, Mr. Cai." As he said that, he handed over his business card.
When the short official heard that the county magistrate had come personally, he did not dare to be too arrogant. He quickly bowed and said, "It's you, Lord Qiu. I have heard of you for a long time. I am so sorry for not recognizing you and not welcoming you from afar."
This short yamen runner was obviously used to the job of opening the door and welcoming guests, and he spoke a whole set of polite words very fluently and without any mistakes.
Qiu Yizi was in no mood to listen to his small talk, so she repeated, "I'm here to ask to see Governor Cai. Is it convenient for you, Governor Cai?"
The officer was stunned, his eyes rolled, and he said, "That's really unfortunate. Lord Cai went to the countryside early in the morning to understand the people's sentiments, and he is not in the government office now." As he said that, he returned Qiu Yizi's business card.
Qiu Yizhi had already prepared this old rhetoric. While putting away the name card, he replied: "Oh! Lord Cai went to the countryside yesterday and again today. He really loves the people like his own children. I really admire him. He is a role model for us!"
The bailiff was not stupid. He could hear the sarcasm in Qiu Yizi's words. He thought for a moment before saying, "That's right! My master loves to stay with common people. Look, he went out of the city yesterday and didn't come back that night. I don't know which commoner's house he stayed in." After saying that, the bailiff subconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
The contradiction was already revealed in the few words spoken by the yamen runner - did the prefect Cai Min set out early in the morning, or did he not return last night? Qiu Yizi was a first-class man with a lot of strategies, so how could he not hear it
However, he was under a low roof and was asking for help, so he didn't want to point it out, so he asked again: "Then, I wonder when Master Cai can return home?"
The short yamen runner thought: This new magistrate is indeed difficult to deal with. He is determined to meet Cai Min. However, he could not think of any excuse for the moment, so he stood there in a daze, unable to speak.
A taller yamen runner at the side came over and said, "We are all servants. How can we tell you where Lord Cai is? Lord Qiu, please understand our difficulties. We will go back first. When Lord Cai returns, we will report to him. I believe the governor will have other arrangements by then."
These words were quite appropriate, so Qiu Yizi could not force him any further. So he changed his mind and said, "I have come a long way and it is a great pity that I cannot meet Lord Cai today. There is nothing I can do about it. In this case, I have no choice but to go back home."
When the two officers heard that Qiu Yizi wanted to leave, they immediately smiled and said, "Master Qiu, please walk slowly and be careful on the road!"
Qiu Yizi pretended to turn around and walk, but then took a step forward and said, "I set out early this morning and walked fifty miles without a break. Can I go into the government office and have some tea before I go?"
The two officers were not stupid. They knew that the young magistrate in front of them was full of tricks. If he were to enter the government office, it would be "easy to invite a god but difficult to send him away". They quickly refused and said, "Well... Mr. Cai's family is in the government office. It seems inconvenient for strangers to enter..."
Qiu Yizi smiled and said, "I am an official in the same court as Lord Cai, and I have met him before at the office of Governor Yin of Jinling. I am not a stranger, so it is not inconvenient. If Lord Cai's family tradition is really strict, then I will go to the room of the legal advisor, the chief clerk, and the clerk, drink some tea and leave. I think it will not disturb too much!"
Qiu Yizi's words were so logical and perfect that the two gatekeepers were speechless - after all, if a provincial government office didn't even allow people to drink water, it would be too disrespectful.
Seeing that they remained silent, Qiu Yizi knew that his words were powerful, so he laughed and said, "Since you two have no objection, then I will be sorry for the intrusion!" As he said that, he walked around the two of them and was about to step into the government office.
The two officers saw this and knew that the job was going to fail, so they quickly reached out to grab Qiu Yizi.
Upon seeing this, Yuchi Jiming immediately used his lightning-fast body movements to instantly flash between Qiu Yizi and the servant. He smiled and stretched out his two slender hands, and broke the wrists of the two men's outstretched hands with force.
Although Yuchi Jiming was young, his kung fu was already top-notch in the martial arts world. Although he showed mercy, the two officers were in great pain and almost burst into tears.
Seeing this, Qiu Yizi thought: After all, this little girl Yuchi Jiming has little experience in the martial arts world, and she is so impatient. Her temper and personality are somewhat similar to that of Princess Yiran of Bohai - but it is also a rare pleasure to repay kindness and enmity.
He also wanted to teach these two troublesome yamen runners a lesson, and without even saying a few words of apology or consolation, he threw down two ingots of silver and walked towards the Yuezhou government office.
The two yamen runners saw the money and put it in their arms regardless of the pain on their wrists. Then they remembered that something was wrong. They hurriedly got up and followed Qiu Yizhi into the government gate, and did not forget to report loudly: "Shanyin County Magistrate Qiu is here to pay a visit to the prefect!"
This was more of a report than a notification. How could Qiu Yizi not see through this little trick
However, in order to avoid embarrassment due to being too abrupt, and also because he was not familiar with the roads and terrain inside the government office, he deliberately slowed down his pace and walked slowly inside. The two yamen runners behind him kept persuading him, but he pretended not to hear them.
Of course, the prefect Cai Min did not leave the provincial government office.
Cai Min was a devout believer in the Book of Changes, and he would cast hexagrams every morning. Today he cast the "Tun hexagram", which meant "Pan Huan, Li Ju Zhen, Li Jian Hou". So he made up his mind not to go out of the front door or the back door, or see any guests, and was ready to spend a day playing with his five-year-old son.
But he didn't expect that the divination would be inaccurate sometimes - he didn't go out to look for trouble, but trouble came to him instead - early in the morning, this nagging and troublesome Qiu Yizi actually dared to break into the government office.
He was already filled with rage, but then he thought that Qiu Yizi was a Jinshi chosen by the emperor and had a very solid backing. Although he was his immediate superior, he might not be able to defeat him. So he had no choice but to dress up reluctantly, entrusted his young son to the care of the wet nurse, and went out to greet him in person.
Qiu Yizhi saw Cai Min coming from afar in a meticulous official uniform, so he quickly tidied his clothes, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your subordinate greets the prefect!"
Cai Min was immediately unhappy when she saw Qiu Yizi didn't bow, but then she remembered that he held the unheard-of imperial decree of "not bowing to an official", so she had to force a smile and said, "Why did Lord Qiu come here today? Why didn't you inform me so that I could prepare?"
Qiu Yizi pretended to be surprised and said, "Huh? Didn't the two servants at the government gate say that the master had gone out to inspect the people's sentiments? When did the master come back?" (To be continued)