A Principal Fifth Class? A superior?
Song Boxue inwardly cursed the rigid hierarchy of this ancient era. She was just about to step aside and kneel when a firm hand gripped her arm. She paused, looking at Jiang Fanyin with a questioning glance.
“Magistrate Song is unwell and find it inconvenient to kneel. I hope Commander Jiang can show some magnanimity,” Jiang Fanyin said.
Song Boxue raised an eyebrow. Taking the cue, she remained standing. It seemed the female lead and this Commander were more than mere acquaintances.
Jiang Fanyin stared at Jiang Wuyi, her expression unreadable, though she already had her answer. That poisoned pill likely had everything to do with him. To seek a person’s life and then brazenly show up at their door to put on such an act was utterly shameless. Though her adoptive brother had left home early, in her memory, he had never been the type to treat human life so cheaply. Seeing him attempt to murder Song Boxue over nothing but baseless assumptions filled her with a cold disappointment.
Jiang Wuyi’s gaze dropped to where Jiang Fanyin’s hand still rested on Song Boxue’s arm. His face turned livid. “After seeing your elder brother, do you not even have a word of greeting for me?”
Since he had chosen to make their relationship public, Jiang Fanyin released Song Boxue’s arm and said coolly, “Brother.”
The two locked eyes, each looking more displeased than the other. Seeing the tension, Secretary Zhou bowed slightly, shot a quick, indecipherable look at Song Boxue, and retreated silently from the room.
Song Boxue blinked. What was that look from Zhou supposed to mean? Did he want her to leave too? She glanced at the two people in a silent standoff. So, this is the female lead’s adoptive brother? The ‘devoted’ male second lead?
Fine. In this world, rank was everything. If he was the devoted protector, maybe he’d just take the female lead away now—it would certainly save Song Boxue from worrying about her own legs. Mimicking Secretary Zhou, she bowed and prepared to make her exit.
“Stand still!” Jiang Wuyi barked, stopping her in her tracks. His voice was thick with accusation. “Is this how you treat Yin’yin? Do you think the Jiang family has no one left to protect her?”
Song Boxue stopped and turned to face him. Before she could speak, Jiang Fanyin interjected coldly, “Magistrate Song treats me very well.”
“You call it ‘treating you well’ to have you dressed in this unsightly manner, parading yourself around all day?” Jiang Wuyi’s temper flared at his sister’s defense of the official. According to the scenes from his dream, this “dog official” would soon kick Jiang Fanyin out without a penny to her name. He attributed her protection of Song Boxue to her simply not yet seeing the Magistrate’s true colors.
Song Boxue’s expression soured. ‘Dog official’ this, ‘dog official’ that. He was even offended by the female lead showing her face in public. This “big brother” was overstepping his bounds.
“What exactly do you mean by that, Commander Jiang?” She stepped instinctively to the side, positioning herself to block Jiang Wuyi’s fixated stare on Jiang Fanyin.
Jiang Wuyi let out a cold snort. “I mean exactly what I said. Yin’yin has always been gentle and pure; she’s only been deceived by your tricks. What more is there to say?”
Song Boxue frowned. Gentle and pure? Deceived? What was wrong with how she was now? She felt a surge of inexplicable irritation, and her voice dropped an octave. “Commander Jiang, if you have official business, let us discuss it. If you wish to discuss private matters, I must ask you to show some respect.”
No wonder you’re just the second lead, she thought. With this attitude, even she wouldn’t choose him if she were the protagonist. She changed her mind—today, she was going to be the obstacle.
Jiang Fanyin watched Song Boxue shielding her, a slight curve touching the corner of her lips, while her gaze toward Jiang Wuyi grew even colder.
Jiang Wuyi’s brow furrowed as he glared at Song Boxue, his fists clenching white. He turned back to Jiang Fanyin. “Yin’yin, come here.”
Before Jiang Fanyin could react, Song Boxue let out a dry laugh. “And if she doesn’t?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a prickle of regret. If the female lead didn’t give her face and went over anyway, it would be incredibly awkward. But remembering Jiang Fanyin’s icy confrontation with him just moments ago, Song Boxue felt a sudden surge of confidence.
Seeing that Jiang Fanyin remained behind Song Boxue with no intention of moving, Jiang Wuyi’s rage boiled over. “Yin’yin, do you still not trust your brother? This dog official is no good; she will ruin you sooner or later! Come with me. I am a Battalion Commander now; I can give you anything you want.”
Jiang Fanyin remained motionless. She wanted nothing from him; she only wanted to save her father. Her father’s arrangements clearly indicated a lack of trust in Jiang Wuyi, choosing Song Boxue instead. Though she hadn’t fully lowered her guard against the Magistrate, in this moment, standing behind Song Boxue felt undeniably secure.
“Magistrate Song is my fiancé,” she said steadily. “This was also my father’s wish.”
Song Boxue couldn’t help but let her lips curl upward. This “devoted” male lead was clearly unreliable. Until the real hero showed up, she decided she would do a proper job of protecting the female lead.
Fiancé.
The word made Jiang Wuyi’s blood boil. Years ago, it was because of this very engagement that his adoptive father had discovered his feelings and driven him from the house. Why? He gripped the hilt of his saber, struggling to contain his fury. “Yin’yin, when you finally see this dog official’s true face, you will realize I only wanted what was best for you.”
With a final, murderous glare at Song Boxue, he turned and stormed out.
Song Boxue watched him go, dumbfounded. “Didn’t he say he was here for official business? He’s just leaving?” This guy has to be a joke.
When she didn’t hear a response from Jiang Fanyin, she turned around. Seeing the woman looking almost dazed, she said gently, “Don’t be afraid, Sister Jiang. I will protect you.”
Jiang Fanyin looked at her, her eyes swirling with an unreadable depth. Being stared at by those shimmering, soulful eyes made Song Boxue feel self-conscious; she instinctively touched her cheek. “What is it? Is there something on my face?”
Jiang Fanyin’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Give me the keys.”
“The keys? Oh, the ones for the yamen storehouse!” Song Boxue turned and handed the ring of keys from the desk to her.
Jiang Fanyin took them. “The bailiffs’ salaries need to be paid, and the overpass on West Street needs repairs. I will go to the vault to withdraw some silver and then have those banknotes exchanged and deposited.”
Song Boxue nodded. Good. A person should do the work their position requires; none of the essential tasks should be neglected. Seeing that Jiang Fanyin didn’t leave immediately, she added, “You’re absolutely right. Just go ahead and arrange it as you see fit.”
The words carried an air of total, unquestioning trust.
Jiang Fanyin was silent for a moment. She ultimately didn’t ask Song Boxue to come along. Since this person already suspected Secretary Zhou, she shouldn’t be careless; she would be safe enough inside the yamen. If she were to go out, Jiang Fanyin would simply follow—her brother would at least hesitate to act if she were there.
“If you go out in the future, bring more bailiffs with you,” she finally couldn’t help but remind her.
“I will.”
Song Boxue agreed readily and reached out to organize the scrolls on her desk. She still didn’t know what “official business” Jiang Wuyi wanted her to cooperate with; her understanding of Pingchuan County was still too shallow. She pulled out the county records and the map of Liuping Prefecture, studying them intently.
The current dynasty was the Baiyue. Liuping Prefecture was located on the easternmost edge of the central region, bordering the sea. Pingchuan was merely a small border county of Liuping, sitting right against Jiangzhong Prefecture to the south.
Jiangzhong Prefecture.
Song Boxue picked up her brush and drew a circle around it. If she remembered correctly, the male lead of the story was from Jiangzhong and spent his time climbing the ranks of the military.
The nearest military outpost to Pingchuan County was the City Guard, stationed right between Liuping Prefecture and Jiangzhong Prefecture.
Jiang Wuyi, the supporting male lead, was a member of this City Guard and would eventually become the protagonist’s right-hand man. Song Boxue couldn’t help but speculate that the male lead himself must also be in the City Guard; she just wasn’t sure what rank he held at this point in time.
After studying the records for a while, Song Boxue reached out to pour some tea, only to find the pot empty.
She called out to the bailiff guarding the door. “Go fetch a pot of tea—actually, never mind. I’ll go myself.”
Tea was something she had to ingest; at a critical juncture like this, it was better to be cautious.
Having finished her tasks at the storehouse, Jiang Fanyin returned to the inner hall. Finding Song Boxue gone, she asked, “Where is the Magistrate?”
The bailiff replied honestly, “His Honor said he was thirsty and went back to the rear quarters.”
It’s almost time to go off duty; the Magistrate probably won’t be coming back, the bailiff guessed silently.
Thirsty?
A wave of panic surged through Jiang Fanyin. She gathered her skirts and hurried toward the rear quarters. The bailiff watched her go, puzzled. The Magistrate was only thirsty; why did Young Master Jiang look so frantic?
Jiang Fanyin went straight to Song Boxue’s courtyard. Seeing the door ajar, she didn’t stop to knock before pushing it open.
“Song Boxue!”
“Sister Jiang? You’re finished with your work? What’s wrong?”
Song Boxue set down her teacup and looked at the anxious woman before her, unable to hide her confusion. Jiang Fanyin saw that her expression was normal. Her gaze lingered on the teacup for a moment before she replied in a low, measured voice, “It is nothing.”
Nothing? From the look on her face, it certainly didn’t seem like nothing.
Song Boxue stood up and walked over to her. “If something is bothering you, Sister Jiang, you can tell me. We’ll find a way to handle it together.”