“Let’s hear it.”
“My lord, a friend of mine has been extremely troubled lately.”
As she said this, Hua Jinrong, fearing the other party wouldn’t believe her, emphasized, “He is truly a friend of mine, the same one who helped you spread those nursery rhymes before.
To be frank, my friend holds an official position.
His superior assigns all the work to him, and it has only gotten worse recently, to the point where he doesn’t even have time to sleep peacefully.
In his own words, he’s on the verge of developing mania.
Does my lord have any brilliant ideas on how my friend can escape from his superior’s clutches?”
“Well…”
Lin Qingge habitually raised her hand to stroke her chin:
“Since all the work can be assigned to your friend, it means your friend is capable.
And being so busy that he has no time to sleep indicates that the work is not only important but also extremely urgent.
If taking sick leave isn't an option, then take a bereavement leave.”
Although a bit wicked, ancient people valued filial piety greatly. Even the emperor wouldn’t refuse such a request.
However, Hua Jinrong shook her head, “My lord, my friend’s parents both passed away, and he has no other relatives, being all alone.”
“Then bereavement leave won’t work, but how about wedding leave?”
“My lord, my friend is famously against marriage, saying that women only affect his thinking speed.”
Lin Qingge, who unexpectedly found a kindred spirit, twitched her mouth. After a moment’s thought, she said:
“You could have your friend hire a woman to marry. The day after the wedding, announce to the public that the woman died suddenly on their wedding night.
This way, he can take wedding leave, and then another bereavement leave, while also fulfilling his wish of not marrying. It’s killing three birds with one stone.”
…
Hua Jinrong’s thumb rose uncontrollably. “My lord, you truly possess unparalleled wisdom. Such a cunning plan that harms both oneself and others is something an ordinary person would never conceive in their lifetime.”
Feeling that the other party was mocking her and having secured proof, Lin Qingge rolled her eyes towards the sky and said irritably,
“I was joking. Since your friend has been entrusted with important tasks by his superior, he simply needs to deliberately make one or two mistakes during his duty.
If he messes things up, his superior naturally won’t, nor dare to, reuse him.”
“Hearing your words, my lord, is like a sudden enlightenment!
I will contact my friend’s superior as soon as I return and urge them to keep a close eye on my friend, ensuring no opportunity for him to act maliciously or get married.”
???
Is this truly a friend, or a sworn enemy with deep-seated hatred?
Just as Lin Qingge was extending her heartfelt sympathy to the unlucky fellow who had such a wicked friend as Hua Jinrong, Lu Mingxuan finally emerged from Ruyi Fang.
Lu Mingxuan rubbed the lipstick marks on his face with the back of his hand, pouting and complaining,
“My lord, for the sake of investigating the case, I almost lost my virginity that I’ve guarded for many years!
My lord, considering how diligently I’ve been serving you, can my prison sentence be reduced by a few months?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge smiled as warmly as the spring breeze in April, “Of course… it’s impossible!”
Receiving the expected answer, Lu Mingxuan let out a heavy sigh and began to report the information he had gathered:
“Reporting to my lord, I have found the woman named Ling Lan. She also admitted to being Zhao Si’s lover.
According to Ling Lan, she and Zhao Si are from the same hometown. Although they were not engaged, they were deeply in love.
Unfortunately, Ling Lan’s family was poor. To raise money for her brother’s bride price, her family sold her, who was quite good-looking, to a place of prostitution at a high price.
Zhao Si, her lover, was helpless and gritted his teeth, following her to Fengtian Prefecture.
Initially, Zhao Si found a job delivering goods at a grain shop. Although the pay wasn’t much, it was enough to sustain him and save a little extra.
Their original plan was to save enough money to redeem Ling Lan, and then they would elope to a faraway land where no one knew them, to start anew.
But good times didn’t last. Zhao Si, in an attempt to earn more money, and instigated by others, developed a gambling addiction, and fell deeper into it.
Not only did he lose his job at the grain shop, but he also squandered all the savings he had painstakingly accumulated, and even incurred a large gambling debt.
Even so, Zhao Si remained unrepentant, always believing that the next gamble would turn his fortunes around and win back all that he had lost.
Last night, Zhao Si, having lost all his money again, went to Ruyi Fang to demand money from Ling Lan. Ling Lan, who had lost all hope, refused to give him any. Zhao Si then began to hit and curse her.
During the scuffle, Ling Lan’s fingernail scratched Zhao Si’s neck, enraging Zhao Si.
Had it not been for the pimp calling for the thugs from Ruyi Fang, Ling Lan would have been beaten to death by Zhao Si.
When I went to see Ling Lan today, I saw bruises all over her face and wrists.
As I was leaving, I specifically asked the pimp outside the door, who confirmed that Ling Lan was not lying.”
As if her throat were dry, Lu Mingxuan took a teacup and poured himself a bowl of tea to moisten his throat.
“Oh, my lord, Ling Lan also said that Zhao Si has recently become involved with someone, and his spending has become very generous.
Correspondingly, he gambles even more fiercely than before.
Yesterday, Zhao Si must have been drinking and lost all his money, which is why he went to Ruyi Fang to cause trouble for Ling Lan.”
“Did Ling Lan mention who Zhao Si became involved with?”
“Reporting to my lord, I asked. Ling Lan said she had only met Zhao Si a few times recently, but on one occasion, she inadvertently overheard Zhao Si mention it.
He said that when he was collecting a debt, he ran into an ‘acquaintance,’ whose identity seemed quite extraordinary, and Zhao Si took the opportunity to demand money from that person beyond the gambling debt.”
“Did he mention the name of that ‘acquaintance’?”
“Reporting to my lord, Ling Lan had also asked Zhao Si who that acquaintance was, and if she knew him, but Zhao Si refused to say anything.”
Hua Jinrong, fanning herself, said beside him,
“My lord’s foresight is indeed remarkable. The list of debtors is crucial, as expected~”
Ignoring the other’s flattery, Lin Qingge rose and walked outside.
Upon returning to the yamen, she found Constable Li Yi waiting by the main entrance, looking around.
“My lord, your subordinate has something to report!”
“Speak.”
“Reporting to my lord, after questioning by my subordinates, someone saw Zhao Si arguing with a man by the Willow River last night.”
“Has the identity of that man been verified?”
“Based on the descriptions of the eyewitnesses, that man should be Zhao Si’s brother, Wang Ergou.
And according to Wang Ergou’s confession, not only does he owe gambling debts to the gambling house like Zhao Si, but in his extreme anger last night, he also struck Zhao Si’s head with a brick.
Your subordinate has already sent people to apprehend Wang Ergou and bring him to the yamen to await your lord’s judgment!”
Lin Qingge listened and said in a calm tone,
“Good work, but next time, it would be best to inform me before apprehending someone.”
Li Yi hurriedly bowed his head in apology, “My lord’s reprimand is just. Your subordinate, wanting to share your lord’s worries, has overstepped. I beg my lord not to hold it against me.”
“Very well, let this not happen again.
Where is that Wang Ergou now? Take me to see him.”
“This way, my lord!”
Lin Qingge, led by Li Yi, returned to the prison.
However, upon seeing Wang Ergou, who was locked in the cell and ‘beyond recognition,’ she cast a questioning glance towards Ling Han, who was not far away.