Upon reaching the inner court, Song Boxue finally turned back to look at Jiang Fanyin. “Sister Jiang, there is no need to stay here with me. I expect Young General Hua is already waiting outside.”
Advisor Zhou chimed in at the perfect moment, “Indeed. I saw the carriage at the yamen gates early this morning. Young General Hua must have been waiting for some time.”
Regardless of who eventually won the lady’s hand, Advisor Zhou knew which way the wind blew. He naturally favored Hua Jian in his speech; as for his former loyalty to Jiang Wuyi—well, compared to the Young General, the Commander was clearly less prestigious.
Jiang Fanyin’s expression shifted slightly. She gave Song Boxue a long look, a stifled feeling rising in her chest, and walked out without a word.
Song Boxue watched her go with a detached gaze. Only when the pale green figure vanished around the corner did she retract her sight. Lin Da should be back within the next two days; she hoped he would bring good news.
Outside the yamen, Hua Jian sat in the carriage. Seeing Jiang Fanyin emerge, he hopped down to greet her. “Miss Jiang, this dress is truly beautiful.”
With an ordinary woman, he might have said, “You look beautiful today.” But since it was Jiang Fanyin, he put in a bit more effort. By praising the clothes rather than her person directly, he subtly expressed his admiration without appearing overly aggressive. Good things take time, after all.
Jiang Fanyin’s expression remained unchanged. “Young General.”
Hua Jian’s lips curled. They say women are most prone to saying the opposite of what they feel, and Miss Jiang was no exception. She had refused his kindness yesterday, yet here she was this morning, dressed in a ruqun.
He thought to himself: What woman doesn’t love beauty? This “playing hard to get” was interesting and effective; it left his heart itching with anticipation.
“Miss Jiang likely hasn’t had breakfast yet. Commander Jiang is already waiting for us at the Building Above Buildings. After you.”
Jiang Fanyin boarded the carriage, and Hua Jian followed on horseback. The group made their way toward the restaurant at a leisurely pace.
Inside the yamen, Song Boxue was flipping through the county annals when the head jailer rushed in. He fell to his knees immediately.
“Sir! The assassins in the cells, they’ve all died suddenly. Not a single soul left alive. It happened, it happened around the hour of the Ox last night.”
The jailer finished speaking and dared not lift his head. As the man in charge of the cells, he was responsible for the prisoners’ safety; he could only hope this new, young Magistrate would show leniency.
Looking at the trembling jailer, Song Boxue set down her book, her brow furrowed. “How did they die? Who visited the county jail last night?”
Even as she spoke, she knew it was undoubtedly linked to that obsessed supporting lead, Jiang Wuyi. As the mastermind, he was the primary suspect, but Advisor Zhou, the jailers, and even the runners were likely involved.
Inevitably, Song Boxue thought of Hua Jian. Did the male lead of the original story—the Young General of the City Guard, know of this? Was he a participant?
Those dozen or so assassins were soldiers of the City Guard—warriors who braved life and death for the court and the people. They hadn’t died on the battlefield; instead, due to the selfishness of those in power, they had perished like weeds in a dark cell.
Even if they had intended to assassinate her, they did not deserve to die this way.
Song Boxue had never considered herself a particularly saintly person, but she held a deep reverence for life. It infuriated her that some people treated human lives—especially the lives of common soldiers as expendable tools to be discarded at will.
A surge of anger rose within her. “Someone! Every person who entered or left the jail during the time of the incident, whether they be jailers or otherwise, is to be placed under strict guard. No one is to visit them without my express command.”
She intended to investigate this thoroughly. First, to give an account for those lives lost; second, to seize the opportunity to purge the corruption within the yamen. Even if she planned to resign, she would first deal with these runners and jailers who were in cahoots with Jiang Wuyi and Advisor Zhou.
“Find out where Commander Jiang is. Gather all the constables and follow me.”
Song Boxue’s face was grim. Did they think killing the prisoners would end it? Their confessions and signed statements were still in her hands. She had intended to wait for word from Prefect Miao, but it seemed some people were becoming far too arrogant and needed to be put in their place.
Because the move was so sudden, Advisor Zhou had no time to send word out. Even if he had, a messenger would likely not outpace Song Boxue and the constables. Song Boxue spared a glance for the trailing Advisor Zhou but ignored him for now; he was still useful, but his time would come.
When she arrived and surrounded the Building Above Buildings with her men, Jiang Wuyi was still in the second-floor private room, currying favor with Jiang Fanyin alongside Hua Jian.
The door wasn’t knocked upon; it was kicked open.
“What is the meaning of this, Magistrate Song?” Hua Jian’s face darkened instantly. Regardless of the reason, this aggressive display showed a complete lack of respect for his status as Young General.
Song Boxue arched an eyebrow, ignoring him. She looked directly at Jiang Wuyi. “This official has a case involving Commander Jiang. I ask that you cooperate with the investigation and do not make things difficult for me.”
If you want to make things difficult, she thought, let’s see who breaks first.
Jiang Wuyi instinctively looked toward Hua Jian. Hua Jian said sternly, “Magistrate Song, there are rules for inviting guests. Commander Jiang outranks you; such conduct is inappropriate.”
Attempting to seize a Commander of the City Guard in his presence was a direct slap to his face as Young General. He felt Song Boxue truly didn’t know her place.
“And who might you be to manage this official? Someone! Since Commander Jiang refuses to cooperate, do not blame me for being blunt.”
Song Boxue sneered. Give them an inch and they take a mile. A man with no official rank who relied on his father to be called “Young General” in the army expected her to pay him respect? She wasn’t in the mood today.
She didn’t care if he was the male lead. Does being the protagonist mean one can harbor criminals? Does it mean one can allow subordinates to silence witnesses? This male lead might even be complicit. Today, she was perfectly willing to go against the “destined” ones.
The atmosphere grew tense as Hua Jian’s servants surrounded the room from the outside. Neither side would back down.
At that moment, Jiang Fanyin stood up. She walked toward Song Boxue. “Magistrate Song, Brother, whatever the matter is, it is better to sit down and discuss it properly.”
Song Boxue arched an eyebrow, her tone cold and unreadable. “Miss Jiang is mistaken. This official has no desire to let a criminal remain at large for even a moment longer, much less sit down for a chat with a suspect.”
Protecting him already? she thought. It seemed the female lead’s moral compass wasn’t as straight as the book described. Her mood soured even further.
“Song Boxue, this is a public restaurant. There are innocent guests present. If a fight breaks out,” Jiang Fanyin looked at the crowded room and the onlookers outside. What if innocent people were hurt?
Besides, not only was this person calling herself “this official,” but she was also addressing her as “Miss Jiang.” Jiang Fanyin knit her brows; she sensed that Song Boxue was on the verge of a volatile emotional outburst. What if her “illness” returned now?
“Clear the Building Above Buildings of all bystanders.”
Song Boxue waved her hand, giving the order to the constables before looking back at Jiang Fanyin. “Miss Jiang, you should leave as well.”
“Am I also an ‘innocent bystander’?”