Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

On the third day of the ninth month, Meng Changqing was helping Xidong and Luo Yun with their homework when Cheng Guang came in to report: "Sir, there is news from Liangzhou Prefecture."

Meng Changqing returned the official documents the two children had practiced to them, saying, "Revise them according to my instructions, and show them to me tonight. Go home now."

"Yes."

After Xi Dong and Luo Yun left the study, Cheng Guang leaned close to Meng Changqing and whispered, "News has come back from the capital: Liu Dexiang committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

"Suicide out of fear of punishment?" Meng Changqing was puzzled. How could Liu Dexiang be the kind of person who would commit suicide?

But even if you don't want to die when you're caught in the vortex, someone will always be the one to strike.

Meng Changqing did not receive any letters from the capital. Since the news came from Cheng Guang's side, it was estimated that half of the people in the capital already knew about it.

"Sir, isn't this strange?" Cheng Guang didn't believe it either.

“Not surprising.” Meng Changqing relaxed his brows. “There are plenty of people in the capital with connections to the highest levels. Killing someone is not a difficult task.”

Meng Changqing had something else he didn't say: let alone a prisoner, even someone sitting on the throne, as long as they stand against certain people, will still face death.

"Any other news?" Meng Changqing asked.

“There is more, but I think it’s too fake,” Cheng Guang said. “I heard that Liu Dexiang also killed the palace servant who brought him food, which angered the emperor, who then punished Liu Dexiang’s family.”

After listening, Meng Changqing thought for a moment and said, "It is indeed false. The Emperor's punishment of the Liu family is probably for other purposes."

Cheng Guang asked curiously, "What's the intention?"

“It’s easy to guess. It’s a warning to certain people.” Meng Changqing said as he stood up, took a small gift from the shelf next to him, and said to Cheng Guang, “I’m going to see Magistrate Sun. Have someone prepare my horse.”

"Yes!"

Meng Changqing picked and chose among the items on the shelf, but in the end, the one in his hand was the most suitable.

Meng Changqing took Xi Bei and Chu Mufeng to Liangzhou Prefecture. Ba Fang wanted to follow, but Meng Changqing stopped him with a single sentence: "Have you finished reading your book?"

When the three arrived, a familiar yamen runner came forward to lead their horses. "Lord Meng, what brings you here today?" Meng Changqing dismounted. "To see Magistrate Sun. Is he alright?"

"He's in good health, just too busy," the yamen runner said. "The one in front has a lot of backlog of official business, and people everywhere are in a mess. Magistrate Sun has been so busy these days that he hasn't even had time to sleep."

Meng Changqing said, "That must have been hard on him. I came to Liangzhou to buy some things and stopped by to see him."

"Please come in first." The yamen runner led the three of them into the county government office and settled them in a familiar room to wait. The so-called familiar room was the one that Meng Changqing often came to when Fang Yun was in charge.

Along the way, many places that Liu Dexiang had changed were restored to their original state by Sun Xiang.

Meng Changqing waited in the room for about half an hour before Sun Xiang rushed in. "Lord Meng." There were still a few ink stains on his sleeve. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

“I happen to be free, so it won’t delay anything.” Knowing that he was busy, Meng Changqing stopped chatting and said directly, “When I entered the government office today, I felt that it was somewhat similar to the old one. The old scene has reappeared, but the people from the past are hard to find.”

"I wonder how Lord Zeng is doing now? Have you heard any news?"

"Dismissed from office and sent back to his hometown, fined one thousand taels of silver." Sun Xiang asked, "What do you think of this outcome?"

Meng Changqing said, "I wonder if Lord Zeng can come up with this thousand taels."

Sun Xiang smiled and said, "There shouldn't be any problem."

“The magistrate of Luojiang County hasn’t arrived yet, and another vacancy has opened up in Quping County,” Meng Changqing said. “It’s possible that both magistrates will arrive at the same time.”

Sun Xiang said, "Perhaps all three of them will arrive at the same time."

"What do you mean?" Meng Changqing knew perfectly well what he meant, but pretended not to.

“Liangzhou Prefecture is still vacant for a sub-prefect,” Sun Xiang said with a smile. “The prefect is arriving late, so the new sub-prefect must have arrived first.”

Two days ago, I received an imperial decree permitting me to return to my hometown to recuperate, but I must wait for the new prefect to take office. (End of Chapter)