Dafeng s Night Squad - Chapter 10

A Homicide In The County

Numerous stars illuminated the cloudless night time sky.

The Observatory—also called the headquarters of the Imperial Astronomers—was the tallest constructing in Jingzhao Metropolis.

The younger lady wearing a yellow gown ascended the steps effortlessly. As she handed the seventh flooring, she heard a clamor coming from the Pink Room.

A bunch of white-robed alchemists had been engaged in a heated argument.

“One other failure? It’s alleged to be a easy step.”

“Instructed you the salt focus was incorrect.”

“No, I consider it’s the water.”

“I feel the flame is the difficulty. I noticed many burned the salt.”

“To vary salt into silver is unattainable! I can’t do it.”

Caiwei smirked and muttered underneath her breath, “These persons are nonetheless making an attempt to provide counterfeit silver.”

Two days in the past, she had come again to the Observatory with the salt and silver story and not one of the disciples believed her.

Salt may very well be transmuted into silver?

Even a three-year-old wouldn’t consider such falsehoods.

Nonetheless, when the case of the lacking tax cash was solved, the Emperor—seeing the potential of the magical pretend silver—had ordered the Imperial Astronomers to carry out the transmutation.

Thus started the neverending work for the alchemy specialists of the Imperial Astronomers.

They’d been toiling away for 2 days, but they’d nothing to point out for.

“Caiwei, it’s Caiwei!” somebody referred to as out.

One after the other, the haggard faces circled and stared at her with hopeful eyes.

“Caiwei, how did you flip salt into pretend silver?”

“Caiwei, are you able to examine if the process is appropriate? You’re the one one that has efficiently performed it.”

The disciples surrounded the younger lady.

Chu Caiwei had no selection however to enter the Pink Room and observe their transmutation makes an attempt.

“One other failure!” one of many alchemists lamented.

“The place is the error?” the group of white robes requested in a suppliant tone.

‘I carried out the identical steps…’ Chu Caiwei stated mysteriously, “It’s an arcane method handed down from historic texts, not one thing that’s simply discovered. It includes breaking down a sophisticated matter and absorbing the items to see the entire image. Let me share with you a mnemonic chant, hear intently.”

Captivated by Caiwei’s phrases, the disciples leaned ahead in anticipation.

“Hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, sodium, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, phosphorus!” In a single breath, Caiwei delivered the spectacular line.

The phrases had been gibberish to the viewers. It was clear nobody knew what to do with the mantra. “What does it imply?”

Chu Caiwei gave them an enigmatic smile. ‘I, myself, do not know.’

“Wonderful! Whoever wrote the mantra is a genius,” somebody stated.

Chu Caiwei’s smile by no means faltered. ‘Genius? Dream on!’

“Caiwei, the place did you be taught concerning the chant? Did you obtain steerage from an alchemy grasp?”

A very good query. Chu Caiwei had meant to subtly reveal the individual’s identification.

“The person is Xu Qian, the nephew of the seventh-ranked official from the Armed Guards, Xu Pingzhi. He’ll educate you the remaining.”

The point out of a martial artist upsetted the group.

“Is {that a} joke? A disciple of the Imperial Astronomers looking for an outsider’s assist?”

“A martial artist, no much less.”

“If phrase received out, we would be the laughing inventory of the town.”

The classification system gave rise to prejudices and friction amongst disciplines.

Taoism and Buddhism had been at all times at odds with one another.

Sorcerers regarded down on wizards and wizardesses who regarded down on warlocks and witches who, in flip, despised sorcerers.

Then, all of the above had a bone to select with the martial artists.

As for the Confucians, nicely, they believed everybody else was rubbish.

Nonetheless, the current generations of Confucians had considerably weakened.

“Caiwei, gained’t you educate us?”

Caiwei hummed and stated, “Subsequent time!”

She made her escape and continued her upward journey.

To be trustworthy, she knew nothing concerning the transmutation.

The one profitable try she had seen was in Jingzhao Courts. Caiwei had tried her hand on the course of however failed to provide any pretend silver.

She had replicated the steps, and but it was a failure. She didn’t perceive why.

On the very best flooring of the Observatory was an octagonal roof terrace that resembled the Eight Trigrams—therefore the title, Eight Trigrams Terrace.

On the fringe of the terrace was an outdated man wearing a white gown. He was seated earlier than a desk with a wine cup in his hand. His head rested on the opposite arm as he semi-drunkenly gazed upon Jingzhao Metropolis.

Caiwei was amused however she didn’t disturb the outdated man. Her grasp spent most of his time consuming on the Eight Trigrams Terrace and having fun with the view.

He didn’t admire interruptions.

The outdated man squinted his eyes as if he was studying from humanity.

Then, he smiled. “Caiwei?”

“Grasp.” The younger lady returned the smile as she jogged over to his facet. The winds made her skirt flutter.

“What had been the items from the Emperor?”

“Just a few hundred silver taels and some bolts of silk cloth.” After a pause, she requested, “Grasp, what’s the pretend silver fabricated from?”

“I have no idea.”

“There are issues unknown to the Grasp?”

“There are various. For instance, I don’t know the place the thieves from 19 years in the past are,” the outdated man stated with a chuckle.

“You at all times deliver them up however you by no means inform me who they’re or what they stole.”

The outdated man stood and walked to the sting of the terrace. He set free a deep sigh, “It was a priceless factor they took.”

“Then, are you aware who produced these pretend silvers?” The Imperial Astronomers had been the founders of sorcery and by extension, alchemy. All alchemic apply was associated to the Imperial Astronomers in a single kind or one other.

There was an alchemist concerned within the case of the lacking tax cash—not simply an peculiar disciple, however somebody who knew concerning the mystical metallic.

“Naturally.”

…

The moonlight shone into the room positioned within the internal courtyard. Xu Qian laid on his mattress and stared on the criss-crossed beams above him.

There was a mix of trepidation and pleasure as he thought of his future.

‘As a product of the 9-Yr Obligatory Schooling System, I ought to have a bonus right here.’

He ought to be capable to stand out among the many folks.

Nonetheless, he was nonetheless uneasy concerning the absolute energy bestowed concerning the monarch. The shortage of human rights meant a pat on the again may simply flip right into a knife.

The insecurity could be a bane to any modern-day citizen.

Such ideas adopted Xu Qian into dreamland. When morning got here, he awoke and placed on his black uniform. He tied the sash round his waist and combed his lengthy hair. The sword went on final—secured along with his waist.

Again straight and eyes centered, he regarded good in uniform.

He couldn’t deny the normal clothes did wonders for his look and presentation, although going to the john was a problem.

Xu Qian crossed the wall and grabbed a chew at his uncle’s place. Xu Pingzhi was reinstated as an official, and so the 2 males left the manor for work.

Changle County was a peripheral settlement to Jingzhao Metropolis. The Changle County Courts was positioned within the metropolis, 6 to 7 miles from the Xu manor. Xu Qian didn’t personal a horse or a carriage. On foot, it took half-hour to achieve his new office.

The constructing for Changle County was north-facing and had two human-sized lion statues guarding the doorway. Beside the reddish-brown gates was a large drum with its paint chipping off.

The make-up of the county courts was value explaining. On the high was the county Justice of the Peace, assisted by the deputy Justice of the Peace and official registrar.

These positions had been thought-about ranked officers within the courts. Within the modern-day, these positions could be roles of authority and management.

Beneath the three courtroom officers was the chief official.

It was not a ranked place, thus unpopular.

The remaining officers may very well be break up into the stealthy, the swift and the robust who fashioned the guards—sustaining peace and making arrests. They had been additionally on standby to help the six ministries of the courts.

Xu Qian labored within the swift class as a constable.

He walked into the constructing as the chief official was performing the morning roll name. Government Li noticed Xu Qian stride in with the usual difficulty sword at his waist and was bowled over.

His expression was as if he had seen a ghost.

The officers observed the change in expression on their chief’s face and adopted his gaze. Then, they too had been in shock.

“X-Xu Qian! Is that actually you? Is {that a} ghost?” somebody shouted among the many crowd.

Government Li noticed the shadow casted by Xu Qian—he took a deep breath and stated in a relaxed voice, “What sort of nonsense are you spouting within the courts? Do ghosts have shadows?”

The officers peered at Xu Qian’s ft and set free a collective sigh of reduction.

Xu Qian thought for a second, then stated, “May very well be a strolling corpse.”

The eyes of each official widened.

Earlier than panic may take root, Xu Qian put his fist to his palm and saluted. “It’s merely a joke. Salutations to the Government Official and my fellow friends. I’ve been launched from jail.”

Government Li didn’t beat across the bush. “What occurred?”

They’d heard information concerning the Xu household being locked up for the lacking silver taels.

“By the legal guidelines, a meritorious service can atone for a misconduct. The Emperor was merciful and absolved the Xu household of guilt.” Xu Qian regaled the story as soon as extra however made positive his uncle was named because the individual chargeable for their absolution. He pulled out the proof issued by the Jingzhao courts.

Though the tax cash was recovered, the sentencing had but to conclude. It might be a while earlier than the cogs of the authorized courts churn out a verdict.

The actual fact was unknown to the officers of the county courts.

After the morning name, a couple of constables came to visit to congratulate Xu Qian.

“Ningyan, it’s best to take us consuming.”

On this interval, the courtesy title was used when addressing buddies and acquaintances whereas the delivery title was used throughout self-introductions.

“That’s proper. Good luck will come after you survived a catastrophe. Drinks on you!”

“I hear the playhouse dealing with the river introduced in a brand new batch of performers. Ningyan, let’s pay them a go to tonight!”

‘Drinks are high quality however you need me to pay for girls?’ Xu Qian was about to reject their invitation and cite his poor monetary standing when he stepped on one thing onerous and bumpy. He regarded right down to discover a piece of silver fragment.

Was this the great luck that got here after a catastrophe? He stopped his tracks and pretended to be having fun with the view.

Because the group superior with out him, Xu Qian shortly bent down and picked up the fragment. He stealthily deposited the fragment into his coin purse.

He made his method by way of the lengthy hall and ended up within the western corridor. Minutes later, Government Li strode in with goal. He regarded on the head constable and stated, “Constable Wang, the County Justice of the Peace has summoned us.”

A pained expression was etched on Constable Wang’s face however he stated nothing and went with Government Li.

Xu Qian watched the retreating determine of the constable and requested, “Why’s he so grumpy?”

“Whilst you had been in jail, there’s been a homicide on Kangping Road. The useless is a rich service provider so the County Justice of the Peace has been in a foul temper. Constable Wang has to endure his harangues on a regular basis.”

Xu Qian chewed on a sunflower seed. “Why is the Justice of the Peace mad over a service provider’s dying?”

Homicide was at all times a heinous crime however as a fifth-ranked official of the Imperial Courts, the county Justice of the Peace must be unfazed.

“The service provider has kin among the many Board of Imperial Advisors. I believe they’re pressuring him. Plus, it’s the thirty seventh 12 months.”

“thirty seventh 12 months?” Xu Qian didn’t perceive the importance.

“Inspections!” the bailiff enlightened.