Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Mao Chunfang's wife had just woken up and asked him in a low voice, "It's not even dawn yet, is there something you need me to do now?"

"I guess it's for entertaining Lord Feng." Mao Chunfang was unsure, but still wanted to comfort his wife, "You go back to sleep, I'm going to the prefectural government."

Madam Mao could clearly sense Mao Chunfang's unease, so she got out of bed with him and helped him get dressed, putting on her cotton-padded coat.

Seeing that she was almost dressed, Madam Mao advised, "Let's find a reason not to go."

Mao Chunfang paused for a moment while fastening her belt, but still said, "It's alright, don't worry."

Madam Mao couldn't dissuade him and watched as he strode out the door.

In fact, Mao Chunfang herself was also having doubts. After leaving the sight of his wife, his steps were not crisp and neat at all. He stood outside the stable for a long time. The horse was ready and waiting by his side. It was only when the servants said that the people from the prefecture were urging him again that he finally mounted the horse.

While riding his horse, Mao Chunfang was still wondering why Liu Dexiang had called him over.

Was it about arresting someone in Beishan County? Or did Feng Zhong'an discover something and make trouble for him, which is why he hurriedly summoned him? Or perhaps it was for something else entirely...?

Mao Chunfang ignored the urging of the Liu family servants and walked very slowly along the way.

By the time he arrived at the Liangzhou government office, it was already dawn.

The servants herded Mao Chunfang out of Liu Dexiang's room like ducks.

When he opened his mouth to announce it, he was stopped by another servant.

The two servants huddled together and whispered, "Why did you bring him here?"

"The master told me to call him over."

"You came back too late. The master waited for a long time and called in the new concubine. They made a fuss for a while and just calmed down. Now you're waking the master up. Aren't you just asking for a scolding?"

"Didn't the steward say that the concubines should stay in the manor for a while? Why were they called in again?"

"With Steward Lin not here, who dares to advise the master?"

"I've called everyone back."

"Take them to the front hall and wait. If there's any noise inside, I'll let you know for me." Although they spoke softly, Mao Chunfang was close enough to hear most of it, and her gaze toward the door revealed utter disgust.

"Lord Mao." The servant who had urged Mao Chunfang to come earlier smiled obsequiously, "Lord Mao has been working hard for days and has just rested. Please come with me to the front and wait a moment."

Mao Chunfang sneered inwardly, but still pretended to be polite on the surface. However, given this matter, he guessed that it was probably not about Feng Zhong'an's matter that he was being called.

It was another hour later when Mao Chunfang finally saw Liu Dexiang.

The guards on duty at various locations had changed shifts, and one could still faintly smell the aroma wafting from the kitchen.

Mao Chunfang was both hungry and sleepy, but she still had to pretend to be okay.

"Magistrate Mao is easy to invite," Liu Dexiang said sarcastically as he entered.

Mao Chunfang immediately stood up and apologized, "It's dark and the road is difficult to travel at night, please forgive me, sir. May I ask why you summoned me here in the middle of the night?"

Liu Dexiang looked at Mao Chunfang and sneered, "What kind of person are you, the head of a county? Several yamen runners from the prefecture passed through your county, and you didn't notice at all?"

Mao Chunfang thought to herself: As expected, it's about Beishan County. Fortunately, he had already thought of a solution.

"Please forgive me, sir. I have been busy checking accounts these past few days and have had no time to attend to anything else." Mao Chunfang apologized sincerely, and then asked, "What business do the officials from the prefectural government have passing through my Yangmen County? If you have any matters to attend to, please feel free to instruct me to handle them."

Liu Dexiang was still somewhat suspicious, "You haven't heard a single word?"

"What news? Why don't you tell me, sir?"

Liu Dexiang paced back and forth, saying, "Several of our yamen runners have passed through the gates of Yangmen County and never returned. Isn't that strange?"

"Such a thing is true." Mao Chunfang pretended to think. "After passing through the Yangmen County gate, you'll reach Beishan County. Why didn't you just ask Lord Meng to come and find out? Perhaps Lord Meng had something to ask them, which is why his return was delayed."

"To tell you the truth, there are thieves hiding in Beishan County, and our men were sent to arrest them." Liu Dexiang told Mao Chunfang everything about how the men had been dispatched over the past two days and how the constables had never returned. Finally, he questioned her again, "You knew absolutely nothing about this?"

"I truly do not know. It must be the laziness of the guards who failed to report to me in time. I will certainly reprimand them upon my return." (End of Chapter)