Click or tap inside the chapter body to show/hide the bottom settings
Posted on , Translation by Dida
Chapter 113: Informing
By the time Zhou Qing returned to the county town from Gaojia Village, it was already noon the next day.She had just entered the house and washed up when Zhou Huailin returned.
“How did it go, Third Uncle?”
Dragging himself along with a look of exhaustion, there was no longer the intense worry and anxiety in the corners of Zhou Huailin’s eyes and brows that had been there when he left.
He grinned, took the cup of hot tea Zhou Yao handed him, gulped it down, wiped his mouth, and said, “Qing girl, don’t worry. Lord Hu said that Second Brother is fine.”
Madam Zhao had already cooked noodles with minced meat sauce. After Zhou Huailin changed his clothes, everyone gathered around the dining table, eating and talking at the same time.
“As soon as I went there, before I even opened my mouth, Lord Hu already knew why I had come.
Lord Hu said that this Education Commissioner is named Song Qi, Qi as in ‘strange,’ and that he belongs to some Zhen Guo Duke faction in the capital. I couldn’t really understand all that either.
Anyway, these people were all Lord Hu’s mortal enemies before.
This time, after Lord Hu was reinstated, they were worried that Lord Hu would be promoted and transferred back to the capital, so they deliberately arranged for Song Qi to come and bring Lord Hu down.
Because Lord Hu once taught at Huai Shan Academy, he decided to start with Second Brother.
Lord Hu said that as long as we don’t do anything, Song Qi will naturally turn his attention toward him. When that happens, he’ll find a way to get Second Brother out.”
It was more or less the same as Zhou Huaishan’s analysis yesterday.
Hearing this, Zhou Qing finally let out a sigh of relief.
If that was the case, then......
She should send a few more books to the jail later.
After being thoroughly frightened yesterday, the whole family was finally able to eat properly today.
After rushing around all night, Zhou Qing went straight to sleep after lunch.
County Office.
Song Qi sat in a grand armchair, a self-satisfied look on his face. His eyes were lightly closed as his fingers repeatedly tapped on the table beside him.
“Is it done?”
Standing before Song Qi was his attendant.
“Reporting to my lord, everything has been arranged. As long as the Zhou family finds those three scholars, our people will make their move from the shadows. When the time comes, we’ll definitely make sure the Zhou family ends up being charged with murdering them in broad daylight to silence them.”
Song Qi nodded in satisfaction.
The attendant remained standing there, studying Song Qi’s expression. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “However, there’s just......”
Song Qi frowned with his eyes still closed. “What?”
“I just came from the jail. Zhou Huaishan is eating and drinking well in there, and he’s even diligently studying. He doesn’t look worried at all.”
Song Qi immediately opened his eyes with a frown and looked toward the attendant.
“My lord, this afternoon Zhou Huaishan’s family sent him some more books, and they also brought three large food boxes filled with food.”
Song Qi curled his lips into a cold sneer. “Hmph, what, is he relying on the principle that if one stands upright, one needn’t fear a crooked shadow? Then I’ll break that shadow for him!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Song Qi stood up and walked outside, and the attendant immediately followed.
When Song Qi went to find the county magistrate, the county magistrate was sitting inside his room in a state of distress.
Before the Education Commissioner arrived, he had always believed that this case was simply Zhou Yuan framing Zhou Huaishan.
But now he no longer thought so.
This was the Education Commissioner in charge of the imperial examinations for an entire province!
A scholar had only just beaten the grievance drum, and the Education Commissioner happened to be passing by.
Wasn’t that too strange?
Years of experience handling cases made the county magistrate feel that this Education Commissioner definitely had something to do with the case.
But why would the dignified Education Commissioner of an entire province target Zhou Huaishan?
It certainly wasn’t for Zhou Yuan.
He wasn’t worthy of it.
Then what was it for?
How exactly had Zhou Huaishan offended this Education Commissioner?
After thinking it over again and again, the county magistrate could only speculate along the line of Hu Weiyue. After all, Zhou Huaishan himself really didn’t have much value that would make him an eyesore.
The county magistrate’s already receding hairline seemed to be retreating even farther back from all his distress.
Rubbing his forehead, he paced back and forth when he suddenly heard that the Education Commissioner had arrived.
The county magistrate could only set his thoughts aside and hurriedly went out to greet him.
Song Qi cast a sidelong glance at the county magistrate, entered the room, and sat down in the seat of honor.
“Magistrate, you haven’t gone to sleep yet? Are you working so hard on the case?”
The county magistrate sat to the side and smiled obsequiously. “The case has to be concluded within three days, so time is tight.”
Song Qi snorted coldly. “Such an obvious case, and three days is already more than enough. If this case were in the capital, the Metropolitan Magistrate could have concluded it on the same day.”
The county magistrate cursed inwardly, “MMP,” but kept smiling without saying anything.
Song Qi continued, “I heard that Zhou Huaishan is eating and drinking well in jail and even reading books? What? The cells in Qinghe County have such good treatment? Did he come here to serve his sentence and repent, or did he come here to enjoy life!”
Song Qi spoke without any courtesy, so the county magistrate could only smile weakly and say, “According to the law, as long as a prisoner’s family is willing to send food, the prisoner is permitted to eat it in the cell. Furthermore, studying does not interfere with the other prisoners, so that is also permitted.”
Upon hearing this, Song Qi slammed his palm down on the table and glared angrily at the county magistrate.
“Don’t bring the law up to me! As the Education Commissioner of this province, I absolutely will not allow that beast who bullied scholars to enjoy life right under my nose! This is an insult to scholars throughout the world!”
County magistrate......
The corner of his eye twitched as he looked at Song Qi. “Then what does my lord intend to do?”
“It’s not what I intend to do. It’s what you need to do to give all the scholars in the world an explanation. Don’t let the scholars of Qinghe County cause a disturbance over this later and then expect me to clean up your mess!”
County magistrate......
If you don’t stir up trouble, why the hell would I need you to clean up my mess!
“The case against Zhou Huaishan has not yet been decided. We are still in the investigation stage. Once the investigation is complete and the charges are confirmed, this subordinate will certainly give the scholars of the world a satisfactory explanation.”
The county magistrate knew that Xu Feng was close to the Zhou family. Today, Xu Feng had specifically asked someone to pass along a message, asking him to treat Zhou Huaishan better in jail.
He also felt that Zhou Huaishan was pitiful. He was always being framed and wrongfully accused, and he was unwilling to mistreat him.
Seeing that the county magistrate was refusing to budge, Song Qi snorted coldly and looked at him icily.
“Magistrate, you truly are impartial and incorruptible in handling cases. I will certainly report this matter to the imperial court.”
The threat was blatantly obvious.
The county magistrate could only pretend not to understand and put on a grateful smile as he clasped his hands in salute.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Song Qi......
Is this county magistrate an idiot?
Can’t he tell that I’m threatening him?
Unable to reach an agreement, Song Qi left angrily.
The moment he stepped out of the county magistrate’s room, Song Qi immediately instructed the attendant beside him, “Tell Qinghe Academy to begin taking action first thing tomorrow morning.”
The attendant accepted the order and turned to leave.
After they left, the county magistrate let out a long sigh and collapsed limply into his chair.
Blinking as he stared at the beams overhead, he sighed, “Being a good official is so difficult!”
Just as he was feeling troubled, a servant entered from outside to report, “My lord, Xu Feng has arrived.”
Xu Feng had come to the county office four or five times today. Because Song Qi had been there, he hadn’t been able to see the county magistrate during his previous visits. Now that he finally had the opportunity, the county magistrate hurriedly said, “Quick, let him in.”
The servant turned and left. A moment later, he brought Xu Feng inside.
“Brother Xu, quickly tell the Zhou family......”
Before the county magistrate could finish speaking, Xu Feng interrupted him.
“My lord, that is precisely why I came this time.”
As he spoke, Xu Feng glanced back at the door and lowered his voice.
“Lord Hu already knows. Lord Hu’s intention is......”
Xu Feng quietly told the county magistrate what Hu Weiyue intended.
The county magistrate immediately looked at Xu Feng in astonishment. “Really?”
Xu Feng nodded. “That’s what Zhou Huailin said. He went to the prefectural city yesterday.”
The county magistrate immediately let out a long sigh of relief.
“In that case, what am I even worried about?”
If you enjoyed this of [Father Did You Study Today], do consider leaving a small tip or making a donation on Ko-fi to help keep translations going. Don’t forget to mention the series that you’re supporting!
Comments
image quote pre code