Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 156

“My Lord, there are footprints here as well.”

Pei Che had stayed up late the night before and followed up the mountain early today. He looks a bit weary. He wipes his face and walks with the bailiff who has come to report, arriving at the spot where the footprints are found. He then instructs someone to compare the size of the footprints.

The bailiff in charge of measuring compares the straw he has used to measure the other footprints with the newly discovered ones and says, “My Lord, these match the ones we found earlier. No new ones have been found.”

Pei Che says, “So that means there are only four of them. After capturing the person in the area of Xiahe County, they head in this direction.” The reason he is so certain they have captured someone is that the footprints discovered later are deeper than the earlier ones. This clearly indicates they are carrying something heavy.

Chen Shun, the magistrate of Xiahe County, looks awkward after hearing this, appearing somewhat ashamed. When Pei Che arrives yesterday, Chen Shun is still puzzled. He never expects Pei Che to immediately ask about the missing persons case.

Confused, Chen Shun can only report everything he knows. At the time, Pei Che darkens his face and scolds him for being careless, warning him that next time, if he can’t tell the difference between urgency and importance, he will be punished. Chen Shun feels displeased, embarrassed to be reprimanded publicly by a young man in his twenties. Unfortunately, the bureaucracy doesn’t follow seniority based on age. As a subordinate, when faced with the anger of his superior, all he can do is endure.

However, when he follows Pei Che and the others up the mountain and personally witnesses the so-called scene of a beast attack, his dissatisfaction turns into unease.

“Lord Chen, do you know where this leads?” Pei Che suddenly asks.

Chen Shun is startled and looks in the direction he points to. He quickly replies, “My Lord, if you go straight ahead from here and cross two more mountains, you’ll reach the boundary of Guyang County. Cangzhou is surrounded by mountains, and the mountains between all counties are connected.”

Guyang County. Upon hearing this name, Pei Che immediately thinks of the two missing people from Tuyan Village. Tuyan Village is under the jurisdiction of Guyang County.

“How long will it take to search through these mountains?”

“Search the mountains?” Chen Shun is astonished. “These mountains are dense with vegetation, and there are many places that are desolate and uninhabited. To search the entire mountain range within Cangzhou, it will probably take ten to fifteen days. And that’s if all the personnel from the entire prefectural government assist.” In reality, the time frame is still up for discussion, as some areas aren’t easily accessible. Chen Shun hopes that after hearing this, Pei Che will abandon such an impractical idea.

Pei Che indeed begins to hesitate as Chen Shun has hoped. First, searching the mountains requires manpower, and he cannot arrange for all the bailiffs in the prefecture to spend ten or fifteen days on the search. Secondly, these mountains lead outward. If the suspects learn of the search and leave the mountains, all their previous efforts will be in vain, and it could even cause trouble for other prefectures.

Considering all the factors, Pei Che can only regretfully look at the mountain and suppress the idea of searching it for now.

After walking a bit further, no more footprints are found. Pei Che looks at the bailiffs, whose faces are tired, and announces that they will head back.

By the time they descend the mountain, it is already noon. Pei Che instructs the accompanying guards to find a restaurant, order a few tables of food, and have the bailiffs eat before returning to the yamen.

Chen Shun intends to show some goodwill. While everyone rests inside, he plans to sneak out and pay the bill. However, to his surprise, Pei Che’s guards have already left the money at the cashier’s desk. He reluctantly leaves the counter, intending to return to the private room, when suddenly a bailiff enters and shouts, “My Lord, we’ve found them.”

Fortunately, someone saw them heading this way after entering the county.

Chen Shun becomes nervous. “Is something happening at the yamen?” His heart skips a beat, fearing that another issue will arise just as this one is being settled. If Pei Che decides to return to the prefecture and another issue crops up that keeps him there, it will be troublesome.

The bailiff shakes his head. “No, My Lord. It’s the Prefect’s wife who’s come.” There’s a hidden excitement on his face, a sense of satisfaction as if saying, ‘Gossip has arrived.’

Chen Shun is momentarily stunned, then laughs. “I suppose the Prefect didn’t come home last night, and his wife became worried.” As for what she was worried about, that is up for interpretation. He hadn’t expected that the respected Prefect is afraid of his own wife, but thinking about it, the Prefect’s flirtatious appearance must make anyone uneasy about him wandering outside all day.

“Yes,” the bailiff, unaware of Chen Shun’s musings, shares his thoughts with wide eyes. “At first, I was surprised when they said the wife had arrived. I thought, ‘Why is it a man?’ Then I realized, they’re the couple the Emperor personally matched last year.”

Chen Shun is very surprised. It turns out that the one hiding in Lord Pei’s house is a tiger! I guess he’d be even more powerful when he gets jealous?

“Quickly, go ask the wife to come in. I’ll go upstairs and let the Prefect know,” Chen Shun orders the bailiff. He then enters the private room and hastily shares the news.

Pei Che, upon hearing this, changes his previously cold and stern expression, and his face becomes more animated, his eyebrows and eyes visibly softening. He calls over a waiter, orders a few dishes that Jiang Miao likes, and then stares eagerly at the door, waiting. Chen Shun is once again surprised—Madam’s arrival makes Lord Pei so happy, his expression showing a deep affection.

Before long, footsteps approach, and Chen Shun curiously looks towards the door. He wants to see what kind of man could make Lord Pei so obedient.

The first person to enter the private room is a smiling man, handsome with striking features. Though not as good-looking as Pei Che, he has a warmth about him that makes people feel immediately comfortable.

Pei Che stands up to greet him. “Ah Miao, you’re here. This is Chen Shun, the Magistrate of Xiahe County. These are the officers from Xiahe County.”

Jiang Miao cups his fists and greets them, saying, “Greetings, Magistrate Chen, and greetings to all the officers.”

Everyone quickly returns the greetings, worried that any delay might be seen as disrespectful.

After Jiang Miao sits down, Pei Che leans in and whispers, “What brings you here?”

The joy on his face makes Jiang Miao’s heart skip a beat. He quickly explains, “I didn’t come here to look for you specifically, I have something I need to tell you!”

Pei Che’s lips curl into a smile. He wants to explain to his dear wife what ‘this place has no silver’ means but hesitates, fearing Jiang Miao might be annoyed. Instead, he straightens up and asks, “What is it?”

(Translator’s Notes: ‘this place has no silver’ comes from a famous tale and is used to describe a situation where someone’s attempt to conceal something inadvertently reveals it.)

Jiang Miao then recounts what happened on the street the day before and says, “These dishonest merchants are disrupting the market, maliciously undercutting prices and playing favorites. Are there any laws in the DaLiang Code that could punish them?”

Pei Che frowns, thinking for a moment, then says, “The Code doesn’t specify a method for enforcement, but dealing with these merchants doesn’t necessarily require a specific law for punishment.”

Jiang Miao understands and can’t help but feel a bit regretful. Previously, he had treated this ancient world like a modern society with strict rule of law, thinking that the government had to follow rules and regulations when handling others. However, in an era where imperial power rules above all, there are often times when logic and reasoning don’t come into play.

Once he understands, Jiang Miao begins to ask about Pei Che’s progress. Upon learning that they have confirmed the missing person from Xiahe County has been abducted, Jiang Miao says, “At least there’s some progress now. With this, the case files should be sent back to the various government offices for further investigation. This is no longer just a missing person case.”

Pei Che nods. “That’s what I had in mind as well. Investigating this from the state capital alone is too weak. We need to unite all the counties to resolve this matter faster and uncover the truth.”

After dinner, Pei Che returns to the prefectural city with his men. It is almost evening, and the two streets are still bustling. On one side, the wealthy are frantically spending money, while on the other, the poor are desperately trying to make a living. The group is taking advantage of the wealthy, making a fortune off them, while not forgetting to squeeze every last bit from the common people—truly grasping with both hands.

“Government officials are conducting an investigation, all citizens, please leave immediately,” a bailiff shouts, banging a gong as he walks.

At present, the people, whether rich or poor, hold a great deal of respect for the government. As soon as they hear the officials are handling a case, they immediately leave, fearing that staying too long might result in being arrested as accomplices. In an instant, the two bustling streets become deserted.

The chief merchant of the merchant caravan, hearing the first sound of the gong, immediately walks out of the tavern. His face is flushed with anger as he leads his people toward the source of the noise.

“May I ask what this bailiff is doing? We run a small business and conduct our trade honestly. What case is the government handling here?” Upon seeing the gong-banging official, the chief steward’s fury quickly turns into a more polite and measured tone.

The bailiff snorts coldly. “You know full well what’s going on. What else do you need me to say?”

The chief merchant, with a helpless look on his face, replies, “I truly don’t know. Please, kind bailiff, enlighten me.” As he speaks, he discreetly slides a silver ingot weighing about two taels into the bailiff’s hand.

The bailiff, feeling the weight of the silver, softens his attitude. “You’ve offended someone. If you want to resolve this quickly, you need to go find the newly appointed Prefect.”

The bailiff emphasizes the words “newly appointed” again, and the chief steward immediately understands. He realizes why they are facing this situation today.

It turns out that the previous arrangement is no longer valid.