My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Zhou Wenchang was stunned for a moment, then turned his head and saw Liu Ruyan. He looked around and realized that it was indeed his bedroom.

He touched his face, puzzled, and asked, "Ruyan? Just now... I think someone hit me?"

"Hit you?" Liu Ruyan's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.

"It's just the two of us in this room, Master. Who would have hit you? You must be having a nightmare."

As she spoke, she reached out and gently stroked Zhou Wenchang's cheek, speaking softly.

"Look, you're perfectly fine. There's no sign of being hit. You must have been beaten in your dream and got scared."

When Zhou Wenchang was touched by her, his face did not hurt anymore—the Painted Skin Goddess used a clever technique in her slap, which only woke him up and did not leave any marks.

He frowned in confusion: "Is this really a dream?"

"Definitely." Liu Ruyan said decisively.

"I was half asleep when I heard you suddenly shout, it scared me to death."

What did you dream about, sir? Is something on your mind, something you've been thinking about during the day, and it's manifesting in your dreams at night?

As she spoke, she carefully observed Zhou Wenchang's expression.

Zhou Wenchang rubbed his temples and thought carefully.

In his dream, he was counting silver, and as he was counting, the silver suddenly turned into burning coals, making him scream in pain, and then he got a burn on his face...

Thinking about it now, it really does seem like a dream.

He breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt uneasy again—the dream felt too real.

Seeing that his expression relaxed, Liu Ruyan pressed her advantage: "Master, have you been too tired lately? There's a lot going on at the yamen, and the year-end assessment is coming up soon. You're under a lot of pressure, which is why you're having these nightmares."

Why don't you get up and walk around for some fresh air? Maybe something's happening outside that's on your mind, which is why you can't sleep soundly.

Zhou Wenchang didn't want to get up—the bed was so warm.

But Liu Ruyan kept persuading him gently, and he did feel uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded.

"Alright... get up and take a look."

Liu Ruyan busied herself helping him get dressed.

Her movements were gentle and delicate, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

Just as he finished dressing, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the bedroom, followed by the butler Zhou Fu's hushed voice:

"Sir? Are you awake?"

Zhou Wenchang frowned: "What is it?"

Zhou Fu said from outside the door, "Just now, a yamen runner came to report that there seems to be a fire in Willow Flower Lane in the east of the city... and it's quite a commotion."

Zhou Wenchang's heart skipped a beat.

Willow Flower Lane?

The Moon-Viewing Boat is located in Willow Flower Lane!

Although he often went to the Moonlit Pavilion for "socializing," he knew that such a place was a mixed bag and the easiest place for trouble to happen.

If it's just a regular fire, that's fine, but if it results in a death or involves a case, then it's a real problem.

Especially now, at this crucial juncture—he has served as the magistrate of Wen'an County for three years, and the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation has just come down, which is "above average".

The prefect privately revealed that he might be transferred to the prefectural city next spring to take up a substantive post.

If something major happens in Wen'an County at this time, it will affect the performance evaluation, and the promotion will probably fall through.

Thinking of this, Zhou Wenchang was wide awake and said in a deep voice:

"What are the specific details? How large is the fire? Are there any casualties?"

"It's still unclear," Zhou Fu said.

"The messenger said that the flames were soaring into the sky and could be seen throughout the entire alley. They have already sent people to investigate, and a detailed report should be forthcoming soon."

Zhou Wenchang's face was grim.

He turned to look at Liu Ruyan and saw that she also looked worried, so he said, "Ruyan, you rest in the room. I'll go out and take a look."

Liu Ruyan nodded: "Master, please be careful when you go alone."

Her words were so considerate that Zhou Wenchang felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, saying, "Okay."

The two left the bedroom, where Zhou Fu was already waiting outside with a lantern.

As Zhou Wenchang walked, he gave instructions:

"Go and call people, bring all the people that can be mobilized from the yamen, and then notify the county lieutenant and the registrar to come to the yamen and wait there as well."

Also, have the kitchen boil some hot water in case there are any wounded...

He gave out instructions one by one, and although he was a little flustered, he was still quite organized.

To rise to the position of county magistrate in the officialdom, Zhou Wenchang was certainly not a good-for-nothing; at least he possessed the necessary adaptability.

The group hurried to the front office.

A dozen or so yamen runners were waiting there. When they saw Zhou Wenchang come out, they hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"County Magistrate."

Zhou Wenchang waved his hand: "No need for formalities. Just come with me to Willow Flower Lane!"

"yes!"

......

"The county magistrate has arrived!"

Two rows of yamen runners cleared the way, and an official sedan chair was parked at the street corner.

The sedan curtain was lifted, and Zhou Wenchang, the magistrate of Wen'an County, walked out in his official robes, wearing a black gauze hat and an official seal, his face gloomy.

He was followed by several clerks, secretaries, and a dozen or so bodyguards with swords.

As soon as Zhou Wenchang stepped out of the sedan chair, his gaze was immediately drawn to the ruins of the Lanyue Pavilion.

His eyelids twitched violently when he saw the three-story building burned down to its frame.

This building was built with his tacit approval, and he gave us a lot of money as a gift every year. And it just burned down like this?

"What happened?" Zhou Wenchang asked in a deep voice, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

The constable hurriedly stepped forward and whispered the situation, emphasizing the evil paper figures and Ye Qingfeng's arson in public.

Zhou Wenchang's face darkened further after hearing this.

He had actually heard some rumors about Lan Yue Fang, but he had always turned a blind eye to them.

After all, the filial piety shown is genuine, even if it involves real money.

But now the building has burned down, things have gotten out of hand, and it's even involved evil spirits, which is troublesome.

His gaze swept over Ye Qingfeng, and seeing that he was a young Taoist priest, he felt a little relieved.

Being young means you may not have much of a background.

Taoist priests meant they could be punished for spreading heretical doctrines.

"So you're the arsonist, that evil Taoist priest?" Zhou Wenchang spoke, his official tone brimming with authority. "You publicly set fire to the building, causing loss of life. Do you know your crime?"

Ye Qingfeng looked at the county magistrate and said calmly.

"What I burned was the lair of evil spirits. What I saved were innocent people. What crime have I committed?"

"Evil spirits?" Zhou Wenchang sneered. "I have governed Wen'an County for three years, and the weather has been favorable, and the people live in peace. Where are the evil spirits?"

"I think it's you, you sorcerer, pretending to be a ghost, using some kind of illusion to deceive everyone and take the opportunity to set fire and commit murder!"

His words sounded grand and dignified, denying the existence of evil spirits while labeling Ye Qingfeng as a heretic—killing two birds with one stone.

The surrounding guests became anxious and tried to explain, but Zhou Wenchang waved his hand, and his personal guards immediately stepped forward to separate them.

"Guards!" Zhou Wenchang ordered, "Seize this sorcerer and throw him in jail! I will thoroughly investigate this case, and if it is confirmed that he committed arson and caused injury, he will be executed without mercy!"

All he wanted now was to quickly quell the matter—find someone to take the blame and appease the escaped guests.

Then, another report was written saying, "The arsonist has been captured and the main culprit has been apprehended," and that was how the matter was considered closed.

As for paper figures and evil spirits, they must never appear in official documents!

Ye Qingfeng frowned slightly.

He originally did not want to clash with the government, but the magistrate wanted to execute him without distinguishing right from wrong, which was going too far.

When the yamen runners surrounded him with sticks, Ye Qingfeng remained standing in place, his expression as calm as a still well.

Seeing that Ye Qingfeng neither dodged nor avoided him, Zhou Wenchang assumed that the sorcerer had surrendered and couldn't help but feel a sense of smugness. He pointed at Ye Qingfeng and sneered at Sun Bantou beside him: "A mere charlatan is nothing but a coward when faced with the authority of the government—"

He hadn't finished speaking.