kvmb Chapter 262 Magistrate Qi Zheng
Chapter 262 Magistrate Qi Zheng
Just as Zhang Jing was packing up to leave with Murong Xueyao, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.
"Open the door! The authorities are arresting a wanted criminal; they're searching house to house!"
Murong Xueyao's face paled: "Young Master Zhang..."
"Don't panic," Zhang Jing said calmly. "Go hide in the inner room and don't come out unless I tell you."
Murong Xueyao bit her lip and nodded, while Zhang Jing slowly opened the door.
“Young master,” the leading officer glanced at Zhang Jing, noticing his shabby attire, and his tone immediately became arrogant, “we received a tip that a fugitive is hiding in this area, and we need to search the area.”
"I live alone," Zhang Jing said calmly. "If I see anyone suspicious, I will naturally report it to the authorities."
"What do you mean by this?" the officer sneered. "Do you feel we've disturbed your peace and quiet?"
"I wouldn't dare," Zhang Jing replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I just feel that you gentlemen have made such a fuss, you must be looking for some important person."
"Stop playing dumb!" The officer walked straight to the table, picked up a delicate embroidered purse, and said, "Living alone? What's this?"
Zhang Jing frowned, realizing something was wrong; that was what Murong Xueyao had left on the table earlier.
"This was left by one of my patients."
"Oh? A patient?" The official examined the purse in his hand. "This is top-quality Hunan embroidery; it's clearly from a wealthy family. What kind of noble person could a poor doctor like you possibly treat?"
The constables behind him laughed.
"Exactly, aren't they colluding with someone?"
"There might actually be someone hiding there!"
Zhang Jing's eyes grew cold: "If you have nothing else, please leave. I still need to prepare the medicinal herbs for tomorrow."
"What, you want to kick us out?" The head constable threw his purse on the ground. "I want to see just who you're hiding in this room!"
As he spoke, he tried to rush into the inner room.
Zhang Jing raised his hand to stop him: "Sir, it's good to be lenient when possible."
"What do you mean by this?" the officer sneered. "Do you perhaps have some shady business to hide?"
"I am just an ordinary doctor."
"An ordinary doctor?" the officer scoffed. "Then tell me, why won't you let us in to search?"
“Because I feel,” Zhang Jing said calmly, “that some things are better left unsaid.”
"Oh, so you're trying to stick your neck out?" The officer narrowed his eyes. "Do you know who I am? How dare you stop me..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Jing had already pulled a token from his pocket. The dark red token gleamed sharply in the candlelight, with the character "Eagle" on it standing out prominently.
"This is..." The official's voice trailed off, his face turning deathly pale.
“Now,” Zhang Jing’s voice was icy, “do we still need to search?”
"It's...it's the Eagle Order!" The leading officer's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground with a thud. "I was blind and didn't know your identity, sir. Please forgive me!"
Seeing this, the other constables were also so frightened that they knelt down on the ground.
"Get out." Zhang Jing's expression was cold and stern.
Once the footsteps faded away, Murong Xueyao emerged from the inner room, her face filled with surprise: "Young Master Zhang, you...you actually..."
"I told you not to ask." Zhang Jing put away the token. "Pack your things, we need to find another place."
“But…” Murong Xueyao hesitated, “what if those officials…”
“No,” Zhang Jing interrupted her, “but we can’t stay any longer. Take me to see what you just mentioned.”
"Now?" Murong Xueyao was taken aback. "But it's so dark..."
“The darker the better,” Zhang Jing said, packing his things. “That way, no one will notice. Unless…” He gave Murong Xueyao a meaningful look. “Are you lying to me?”
"I didn't!" Murong Xueyao exclaimed urgently, "I really saw them poisoning the well! And Brother Yuxuan..."
"What happened to Murong Yuxuan?"
Murong Xueyao bit her lip: "He...he wanted to investigate this matter, but..."
"Go on."
“He went out that night and never came back,” Murong Xueyao said, her eyes reddening. “I searched for him for days but couldn’t find him. Then those people started hunting me down…”
Zhang Jing narrowed his eyes: "So you don't know where he is right now?"
Murong Xueyao shook her head: "All I know is that he ended up going to the West Market..."
“Alright,” Zhang Jing said in a deep voice, “Take me there.”
“Young Master Zhang,” Murong Xueyao suddenly asked, “why are you helping me?”
Zhang Jing paused for a moment: "Because this is my task."
Murong Xueyao looked at him thoughtfully: "Was it the Emperor who sent you?"
"Don't ask so many questions," Zhang Jing turned and walked out. "The most important thing now is to find out the truth."
As night fell on the street, the two figures gradually disappeared into the darkness. Shortly after they left, a shadowy figure silently appeared in the room, searched carefully, and then picked up a barely perceptible silver needle from the floor.
The shadowy figure looked at the silver needles and muttered to himself, "It really is him..."
Just as dawn was breaking, Zhang Jing's new residence welcomed an unexpected guest.
"My name is Qi Zheng, and I am the magistrate of this county," the middle-aged man in official robes said, bowing respectfully with a perfectly measured smile. "Having heard that Physician Zhang has arrived, I have come to pay my respects."
Zhang Jing put down the medicinal herbs in his hand, his expression calm: "Lord Qi, you are too kind. I am merely an ordinary physician, unworthy of the title of Imperial Physician."
“Young Master Zhang is too modest,” Qi Zheng said with a smile. “Last night’s incident was due to my poor discipline, which allowed my men to offend Young Master Zhang.”
Zhang Jing remained calm: "So Lord Qi already knew."
“How could I dare to conceal anything?” Qi Zheng glanced into the inner room. “It’s just that it’s truly unfair for Young Master Zhang to be staying in such a humble place. I have already prepared a superior room at the county office; please, Young Master Zhang, move there.”
At this moment, Murong Xueyao came out of the inner room, saying she was going to brew tea. Qi Zheng's gaze swept over her briefly before he casually looked away.
“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Qi,” Zhang Jing said, “but I prefer peace and quiet, so I won’t disturb you any further.”
“Young Master Zhang, what are you saying?” Qi said solemnly. “The border town is ravaged by plague, and Young Master Zhang has come from afar to save lives. If I do not treat you well, how can I explain to the court?”
Zhang Jing was about to decline when Murong Xueyao brought in the tea, and their eyes met unintentionally. Zhang Jing saw a hint of urgency in her eyes.
"Since Lord Qi has so kindly extended the invitation," Zhang Jing hesitated for a moment, "then I shall accept without hesitation."
"Excellent!" A hint of pride flashed in Qi Zheng's eyes. "This humble official will have someone pack our belongings immediately."
Murong Xueyao put down her teacup and said softly, "Young Master Zhang, I'll go help you tidy up."
Inside the room, Murong Xueyao lowered her voice: "Young Master Zhang, Qi Zheng has ill intentions."
"Go on," Zhang Jing said, packing his medicine box without looking up.
"It was him..." Murong Xueyao bit her lip, "It was him who imprisoned Brother Yuxuan. I saw with my own eyes them take Brother Yuxuan to the county dungeon."
Zhang Jing paused, his hands still moving. "Are you sure?"