Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 802 Offending Now, Trying to Please

Ren Gui'an climbed the wooden stairs, the lantern light casting dappled shadows on the steps. He frowned, glanced at the room near the entrance, then went straight through his own room and into the depths of the corridor.

The light finally stopped in front of the door at the end of the corridor. Ren Gui'an raised his hand and gently knocked three times on the door.

Beneath, bee, bee.

The door opened almost immediately. Jiang Wei stood inside, gripping the doorframe, dressed exactly as he had been during the day, except that he had taken off his long spear and placed it beside the bed.

"Inspector Ren?" Jiang Wei recognized Ren Gui'an's face by the light of the lantern.

"Hmm." Ren Guian turned his head. "Is Mr. Luo asleep?"

"Not yet!" Luo Yagu's voice drifted from the room. Jiang Wei then stepped aside.

Ren Guian stepped into the room and glanced around. The room was small, with only two wooden beds against the wall. Between the beds was a window facing the street, and under the window was a table with an oil lamp burning on it. The flickering wick illuminated the tabletop.

Luo Yagu stood by the table, a calligraphy brush in his hand, his thread-bound diary lying open on the table. The ink on the last line of the diary was not yet dry, clearly indicating that he had just finished writing. Seeing Ren Guian enter, Luo Yagu immediately put down his brush, smiled and greeted him with a cupped-fist salute: "Greetings, Inspector Ren. Have you had dinner yet?"

“Mr. Luo was concerned, so I've already eaten at a friend's house.” Ren Guian blew out the lantern and placed it by the door, then looked up at the still-burning oil lamp. “It's so late, Mr. Luo is still writing in his diary?”

“Yes. My memory has never been very good. If I don’t write down my experiences in time, I’ll forget a lot of interesting things.” Luo Yagu turned and walked to the small square table in the middle of the room, where a rough porcelain kettle and several upside-down cups were placed. He picked up the kettle and poured some cooled water into an empty ceramic cup. “Inspector Ren must have been drinking, right? I smell alcohol on your breath. Here, have some water to sober up.”

"Thank you, Mr. Luo," Ren Guian stepped forward to take the water glass and sat down on the chair next to the square table. "Thank you for your trouble."

Jiang Wei gently closed the door behind him; the hinges turned with a soft creak. He didn't approach, nor did he speak; instead, he quietly walked to his bedside and sat down against the wall.

Luo Yagu moved the oil lamp from the table by the window and placed it on the small square table in front of Ren Guian. The orange light instantly enveloped the two of them. Luo Yagu sat down in the chair opposite Ren Guian, his shadow positioned directly between Jiang Wei and the oil lamp. Half of Jiang Wei's body was shrouded in shadow, with only his fingers gripping the edge of the bed vaguely visible.

Luo Yagu poured herself a glass of warm water, drank it, and then slowly said, "Inspector Ren should have already figured out my identity, right?"

Ren Gui'an's hand holding the cup trembled almost imperceptibly in the light and shadow. However, he quickly smiled again and said with feigned composure, "Mr. Luo, what are you saying! I have never doubted you, so how could there be any talk of 'investigating'?"

Luo Yagu was taken aback at first, then chuckled softly.

Having been in the Ming Dynasty for so long, the casual, insincere, or rather, subtle, remarks made by officials still amused him. However, Luo Yagu had indeed grown accustomed to and adapted to them. He didn't confront him directly, nor did he ask where Ren Gui'an had gone that afternoon. Instead, he went along with the thanks, saying, "Then thank you very much, Inspector Ren, for your trouble in escorting me all the way."

"Mr. Luo, you're too kind." Ren Gui'an waved his hand with a smile, then asked, "May I ask what your plans are in Beitang, Mr. Luo? After delivering the letter, when do you intend to return to the capital?"

Luo Yagu's brows furrowed, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes: "Why is Inspector Ren asking that?"

“Mr. Luo, as you said before, you came to Beitang to deliver a letter.” Ren Gui’an leaned forward and said solicitously, “So if you have no other plans and are preparing to return to the capital after delivering the letter, we can wait a few days and see you off again.”

"Thank you for your kind offer, Inspector Ren," Luo Yagu politely declined. "However, I do not intend to return to the capital immediately, but rather plan to stay in Beitang for a while longer."

"I see," Ren Gui'an picked up his cup and took another sip of water. "Aren't you supposed to be helping the Imperial Astronomical Observatory with astronomical calculations and revising the calendar? Aren't you in a hurry to go back?"

“Calculating astronomical phenomena and revising the calendar are not things that can be done overnight, and you can’t rush them. Besides, I’m not the only one in the church who understands this. Mr. Deng Yuhan and Mr. Tang Ruowang are in the capital right now. With them watching over things, even if I’m not there, nothing will go wrong.” Seeing that Ren Gui’an’s cup was almost empty, Luo Yagu picked up the kettle to refill Ren Gui’an’s cup.

Ren Guian quickly waved his hand and tried to take the kettle from Luo Yagu's hand. "I can do it myself."

"Inspector Ren, there's no need to be so polite." Luo Yagu didn't hand him the kettle, but insisted on pouring water.

Ren Guian had no choice but to pick up the cup and bring the rim to the spout of the teapot: "Then thank you very much, Mr. Luo."

"It was nothing, no need for thanks." The water cup gradually filled, and the candlelight of the oil lamp reflected steadily on the water, casting shimmering light. "On the contrary, it was us who troubled you to escort us all the way, which must have delayed your business quite a bit."

"No, no. The people around Qilihai are simple and honest, and there have never been any major bandits or thieves. Our daily work is nothing more than patrolling around when the market is open, helping the neighbors catch petty thieves. It is my honor to escort such a learned gentleman as you, how can it be considered a delay?" Ren Guian realized that Luo Yagu was preparing to send him back, so he stopped beating around the bush and asked, "By the way, I wonder if Mr. Luo has any plans to visit Minister Bi at the Ministry of Revenue?"

Luo Yagu put down the kettle, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded: "I did go to the Ministry of Finance to visit Vice Minister Bi. What's wrong?"

“Perfect!” Ren Gui’an looked at Luo Ya Gu through the candlelight, smiled intently, and said, “I know someone in the Ministry of Finance who can deliver the visiting card directly to Vice Minister Bi’s desk. If you have already prepared the visiting card, I can deliver it for you first thing tomorrow morning.”

Luo Yagu stared at Ren Guian for a while, his brows furrowing slightly. "You went there today...why?" After changing his words several times, Luo Yagu finally chose a straightforward way to ask: "Do you have connections in the Ministry of Revenue?"

"It's not really a relationship, just an acquaintance. I can ask someone to help me deliver a letter," Ren Guian said with a smile without batting an eye. "As for what happens after the letter is delivered to the yamen, that's not something a lowly ninth-rank official like me can decide."

Luo Yagu looked at him for a while, a look of realization gradually appearing in her eyes, as if she understood something: "Alright. Since you're willing to help, then I'll accept your favor with my humble attitude. It's just that I haven't written a formal letter yet, and I don't know how to write one properly, so..."

"That's easy!" Ren Gui'an interjected, almost eagerly. "For things like visiting cards, all you need is a skilled clerk who can write well. It's just a matter of a few coins. Leave it to me!"

Luo Yagu hesitated for a moment: "I'll do it myself, it's not good to trouble you like this." "How can it be troublesome!" Ren Guian leaned forward, holding onto the table. "Like you just said, it's just a small favor. Besides, you've been paying for our food and lodging these past two days. We Chinese value reciprocity. Leave this to me, I'll definitely get it done for you!"

Luo Yagu was truly surprised by Ren Guian's enthusiasm. He looked at Ren Guian through the flickering candlelight for a while, and finally nodded: "Then... then I'll have to trouble Inspector Ren."

"Of course! Of course!" Ren Gui'an's smile instantly became even brighter. He picked up the cup, drank the water in it in one gulp, then stood up and walked towards the door. "You two should get some rest early today. I won't disturb you any longer."

Luo Yagu also got up.

Ren Gui'an walked to the door with a smile, feeling a little smug. Now, not only had he gotten rid of the last knot in his heart, but he had also given face to this astrologer who could speak to the emperor.

Ren Gui'an opened the door and walked out, so happy that he forgot about the lantern he had borrowed from Kong Chengdong.

Ren Gui'an forgot the lantern, but Jiang Wei remembered it for him. Jiang Wei jumped out of bed, quickly walked to the door, picked up the lantern, and chased after him: "Inspector Ren!"

Ren Guian turned around: "What's wrong, Master Jiang?"

Jiang Wei handed him the lantern: "Your lantern."

"Oops!" Ren Gui'an slapped his forehead and awkwardly accepted the gift. "Look at my memory. Thanks."

"You're welcome." Jiang Wei clasped his hands in a fist and nodded, then turned and went back into the house, gently closing the door behind him.

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Ren Gui'an, carrying the extinguished lantern, arrived at the top of the stairs and faintly heard alternating light and heavy footsteps approaching from below. Leaning against the handrail, he looked up and saw the innkeeper holding a rather dim lantern, following behind his waiter, Lao Fang. Lao Fang carried a wooden bucket, from which steam rose continuously; the steam, illuminated by the warm lamplight, resembled a piece of silk woven with black and orange hues.

"Oh, Inspector Ren!" The shopkeeper greeted him with a smile from afar. "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. Please forgive me."

“You’ve come at the right time,” Ren Gui’an said as he approached, waving the lantern in his hand. “Could I borrow a light to light this?”

The shopkeeper looked at the lantern and asked, puzzled, "Are you going out again?"

"No." Ren Guian shook his head, but didn't intend to explain anything to him.

Since Ren Gui'an didn't say anything, the shopkeeper naturally didn't dare to ask further. He quickly took out a tinder stick and transferred the fire to Ren Gui'an's lantern.

The orange flame licked the carbonized wick and quickly lit the candle. Ren Gui'an, carrying the lantern, stepped aside and said, "Take it over there, and light the oil lamp in my room while you're at it."

"Alright, alright!" the innkeeper replied, directing Lao Fang to carry the wooden bucket to the middle of the corridor. Ren Gui'an watched them enter the room before turning back to walk towards the room at the top of the stairs, where his two subordinates lived.

Ren Guian raised the lantern, and the light shone through the paper window, vaguely illuminating the shadows of people on the bed and the sounds of snoring. Ren Guian's already furrowed brows deepened, and he raised his hand to knock heavily on the door.

Bang bang bang!
The snoring didn't stop, so Ren Gui'an increased his pounding, making a loud "thump-thump" sound on the door. After a while, there was finally movement inside the room, and a groggy voice, still grumpy from being woken up, shouted, "Who the hell is it! What are you doing banging on the door in the middle of the night! Are you looking for trouble!"

"You bastard," Ren Guian said in a low voice, clearly suppressing his anger, "Open the door."

The archer who answered the door snapped out of his daze, his eyes immediately changing. He hurriedly opened the door, his back involuntarily hunching over: "Oh! It's Inspector Ren! I was confused, please forgive me!"

"You damn bastard, you're sleeping so soundly!" Ren Guian raised his foot and kicked him lightly in the shin: "I can hear your snoring from outside."

"I...I was wrong," the archer couldn't respond, and could only back away with a forced laugh.

"Damn it, even the manager knows to bring a waiter downstairs to wait for me. You two bastards, however, are sleeping like logs in your room!" Ren Gui'an pushed him into the room and continued to scold, "Is this how you two are supposed to work?"

The archer, forced to retreat by the advancing lights, suddenly turned around as if he had remembered something, pointing at his colleague: "It was him! It was his turn to stand guard at night, but he fell asleep on duty and didn't wake me!"

On another bed, another archer had just sat up, his eyes still glazed over. Ren Gui'an glanced at him, startling the archer into quickly getting off the bed, head bowed, and forcing a laugh that sounded like he was about to cry: "Inspector Ren, I've been traveling all day and I was so tired that I only managed a short nap. I didn't dare to really sleep."

"Take a nap?" Ren Guian walked over and kicked him again. "You two bastards, were you drinking while I was away?"

"No, really no!" The archer quickly shook his head and even breathed out a puff of air. "Smell it!"

"Fuck! You son of a bitch, you have bad breath!" Ren Gui'an raised his hand and slapped him, making his head tilt to the side. The archer just covered his head, looking aggrieved, but he breathed a sigh of relief. Ren Gui'an's attitude meant that Luo Yagu and the others were definitely still in the room, otherwise the slap would have hit his face instead of his head.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll rinse my mouth tomorrow!" He quickly smiled apologetically. "It's getting late, you must be tired after a long day. Please rest. I promise I won't slack off again!"

"Hmph." Ren Gui'an snorted lightly, walked to the door, and glared at the archer who answered the door. "If I catch you again, I'll whip you two good-for-nothings who eat and sleep all day like spinning tops!"

(End of this chapter)