The Prodigal Son

Qin Yu brought Qi Dachui to the Baojing Division.

This place is less like a government office and more like a small fortress.

That dark courtyard wall is almost as tall as a city wall.

It has everything: watchtowers, arrow towers, and more.

There are even powerful crossbows!

At the entrance of the Baojingsi (Precious Mirror Bureau), a golden plaque hangs, with the three large characters "Baojingsi" in the middle and ten smaller characters on both sides.

A precious mirror reflects one's true feelings and discerns loyalty from treachery for the ruler!

It is said that this plaque was personally inscribed by Emperor Xiaowu.

The initial staff of the Baojing Division consisted entirely of Emperor Xiaowu's personal guards, numbering only a few dozen.

It has gradually grown to its current size, with four departments and more than a thousand people.

Of course, these are just the people who are publicly known.

How many spies or hidden people they still have is probably unknown even to Xu Wan, the military envoy of the Fourth Division.

The Baojing Bureau is heavily guarded, and only those who are not members of the Baojing Bureau can enter by imperial decree.

However, this was no problem for Qin Yu, who held the imperial gold medal.

With the imperial gold medal clearing the way, Qin Yu successfully led Qi Dachui into the Baojing Division.

Qi Dachui looked around like a curious child, then whispered to Qin Yu, "Thirteenth Young Master, this place is truly magnificent!"

"style?"

Qin Yu was both amused and exasperated.

I guess only a simpleton like Qi Dachui would think this place is impressive.

This is clearly creepy and terrifying, okay?

At this moment, Xu Wan was reviewing case files in the Fourth Department compound.

A subordinate rushed in to report: "Commander Xu, Physician Qin has arrived."

Xu Wan looked up and blurted out, "Who called the doctor? Who's sick?"

Her question left everyone who came in completely stumped.

The visitor was stunned for a moment before saying, with a wry smile, "He's not a doctor treating illnesses, he's the newly appointed Imperial Attendant, Qin Yu, Doctor Qin!"

he?

Xu Wan suddenly realized.

Yes!

Qin Yu was appointed as the Inner Attendant Gentleman and concurrently the Gentleman of the Six Ministries.

He must be thrilled right now, right?

What are you doing at the Treasure Mirror Bureau?

Could it be that they've come looking for me?

Xu Wan felt a surge of inexplicable joy and quickly walked out of the courtyard.

She had just stepped out of the courtyard gate when she saw Qin Yu.

"Dr. Qin, what brings you to the Precious Mirror Bureau?"

Xu Wan teased Qin Yu naturally without bowing.

Qin Yu smiled and looked at Xu Wan, "Of course, it's by imperial decree to transfer prisoners!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Wan was secretly disappointed, but then stepped forward and asked, "Whom do you want to promote?"

Qin Yu: "Take me to the jail first! We can talk as we walk!"

"All right!"

Xu Wan agreed and led Qin Yu toward the prison.

Qin Yu looked around curiously and asked, "Why is your Baojing Division so empty? Why are your people hiding on your own territory?"

"What do you mean, 'hidden'!"

Xu Wan chuckled and said, "Many people have gone out to handle cases! We're just back and are still resting for now."

"No wonder!"

Qin Yu suddenly realized, "Where's your Boss Zeng?"

"Not here."

Xu Wan gave a simple and straightforward answer.

The two talked as they walked, and Qin Yu told Xu Wan the purpose of his trip.

"Wang Dou?"

Xu Wan immediately became alert. "Are you sure you're here on imperial orders to talk to them? Let me tell you, these two prisoners were personally appointed by His Majesty. Without His Majesty's order, no one is allowed to..."

"I said, why don't you trust me at all?" Qin Yu interrupted Xu Wan.

"I'm afraid you'll get carried away by those fancy gadgets they come up with and do something stupid!"

Xu Wan glared at him angrily.

She was genuinely afraid that Qin Yu, that bastard, had come for the Wang brothers' method of creating the divine bird!

If he were to conjure up a divine bird and fly into the sky, and it were to fall back down, he would be crippled if not killed!

"Don't worry! I'm not that unreliable."

Qin Yu chuckled, "This is the capital! If His Majesty doesn't give the green light, would I dare to act recklessly?"

"That's true."

Xu Wan nodded slightly, then said with a hint of sourness, "Working by His Majesty's side is really different. I managed to get His Majesty to agree on my very first day in office."

"Oh?"

Qin Yu sensed the sourness in Xu Wan's words and glanced at her with a mischievous grin. "Are you jealous?"

"You believe me if I take two punches from you?"

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Xu Wan immediately bared her fists fiercely, as if about to strike.

Qin Yu didn't take it seriously. "Alright, your fists aren't white, so don't just show them off all the time! If you're so capable, show me how white they are!"

Xu Wan was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized what was happening.

But by then, Qin Yu had already made a run for it.

"Qin Yu! I'll beat you to death, you shameless bastard!"

Xu Wan chased after him angrily.

Seeing the two chasing and playing around, the people from the Treasure Mirror Bureau couldn't help but widen their eyes, looking as if they had seen a ghost.

Although Xu Wan is beautiful, she is a notorious shrew in the Treasure Mirror Division.

At the beginning of the year, a newly recruited employee of the Baojing Division harassed her, but he was almost beaten so badly that he could no longer take care of himself.

Today, she actually brazenly chased and played around with people at the Baojing Division.

Has this shrew suddenly changed her ways?

Despite the commotion, Xu Wan eventually led Qin Yu to the prison gate where the brothers Wang Dou and Wang Su were being held.

When they arrived, the two brothers were squatting in a corner of the cell, discussing something in hushed tones.

Only after hearing a cough did the two look up at the cell door.

"Young Master Qin!"

Wang Dou shouted and rushed to the prison door, looking at Qin Yu with hopeful eyes, as if he had seen a savior.

They have been detained for more than two months.

They weren't subjected to severe torture, and they were given two meals a day without any shortage of food.

Wang Dou has even gained some weight!

Being locked up in such a place is truly torturous!

If they didn't have each other, they would probably both go crazy.

The only one who can save them is probably this young master Qin!

Qin Yu looked Wang Dou up and down, a hint of surprise on his face. "Not bad, you seem to have gained a little weight?"

"I have to thank Military Envoy Xu for this."

Wang Dou cast a grateful glance at Xu Wan.

"what?"

Qin Yu was puzzled.

Wang Dou quickly explained, "I heard from the guard that Envoy Xu instructed them to give my brother and me two extra spoonfuls of rice..."

They're locked up here all day with nothing to do, and they can eat an extra two spoonfuls of rice at each meal, so they're bound to gain weight!

Upon learning the reason, Qin Yu looked at Xu Wan with surprise.

"What are you looking at?"

Xu Wan glared at him. "I was just worried they'd starve to death because they're so skinny, like monkeys!"

"Just say it for my sake! It's not shameful!" Qin Yu smiled at Xu Wan.

"Who's giving you face?" Xu Wan scoffed. "If I really were giving you face, I'd give them a few lashes every day!"

"Stubborn to the end!"

Qin Yu shook his head and smiled, then said to Xu Wan, "Why don't you go out and talk to Da Chui first? I'll talk to them alone!"

Ok?

Why did he send them away?

Xu Wan was worried again that Qin Yu had come for the method of making the divine bird and did not want to leave.

But Qin Yu possessed an imperial gold medal, and she could not disobey him.

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Wan warned Wang Dou and his brother, "If you two dare to teach him how to make that so-called divine bird, I'll lock you in a water dungeon!"