Phi-Fic Chapter 234 Persuading Li Shiqi
Chapter 234 Persuading Li Shiqi
Chenliu County is a county with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Sunlight shines on the ancient streets and buildings, exuding a tranquil and rustic atmosphere.
Half a month ago, after receiving the order from Princess Jiayang, Tian Guang dared not delay and immediately set off to find Prime Minister Wang Wan, hoping to learn about the whereabouts of Li Shiqi from him. However, things did not go smoothly. Tian Guang searched for several days without success. As time passed, Tian Guang grew increasingly anxious, but helpless. In the end, he had to give up his investigation and returned to Princess Jiayang, dejected, to report the situation truthfully.
When Princess Jiayang heard Tian Guang's report, a hint of surprise appeared on her beautiful face. She frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then waved for Tian Guang to leave, indicating that she needed to calm down and think things through. Although Tian Guang was full of doubts, he had no choice but to obey and take his leave.
As he stepped out of the palace, Tian Guang couldn't help but ponder to himself, "Could the princess really know where Li Shiqi works just by thinking for a moment? And how did the princess even know that this person existed?" A series of questions swirled in his mind, leaving him extremely confused.
About an hour later, while Tian Guang was still immersed in these mysteries, a servant suddenly came to summon him, saying that the princess wanted to see him again. Tian Guang hurriedly straightened his clothes and strode into the palace. Upon seeing the princess, he bowed respectfully.
At this moment, Princess Jiayang remained calm and composed. She looked at Tian Guang and slowly said, "I have found out that Li Shiqi is currently serving as a minor official in Chenliu County, overseeing the village gates (village gates refer to the neighborhoods)."
Upon hearing this, Tian Guang was startled and deeply admired the princess for obtaining accurate information so quickly. However, he knew he shouldn't ask any more questions, so he hurriedly thanked her, accepted the order, and led his men to Chenliu County in a rush.
Along the way, the rapid clatter of hooves on the concrete road sounded like a stirring march. The biting winter wind, like sharp swords, relentlessly whipped at Tian Guang and his companions' faces, causing their cheeks to sting. Despite the biting wind, Tian Guang was focused solely on finding Li Shiqi and completing his mission as quickly as possible, so he paid no heed to the harsh weather conditions and continued to spur his horse forward at breakneck speed.
After arriving in Chenliu County in a great hurry, Tian Guang and his party went straight to the county government office.
A minor official on guard duty stood at the entrance of the county government office. When he caught sight of Tian Guang and his group, his heart skipped a beat. The group looked menacing and their faces were menacing; they didn't seem like good people at all. Terrified, the official shouted at the top of his lungs, "Help! Someone's going to attack the county government office!"
At this shout, the once peaceful county government office instantly erupted into chaos. A cacophony of footsteps and shouts filled the air, followed by a surging tide of constables wielding various weapons. These men moved swiftly and were highly trained, forming a line at the entrance of the county government office in the blink of an eye, ready for battle.
Leading the group of constables was a burly man, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. He had a fierce face, and his large, round eyes exuded an air of authority. He sized up Tian Guang and his companions, and gruffly shouted, "Who are you people? How dare you trespass on the important grounds of the county government! Don't you know the law?"
Faced with this sudden turn of events, Tian Guang was caught off guard. He frowned and replied with a gloomy expression, "It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I am not here to cause trouble. I have been entrusted by Princess Jiayang to come here specifically to discuss matters with your magistrate. I hope you will grant me this favor."
However, Tian Guang's words did not immediately dispel everyone's doubts. Especially the minor official who had first discovered them, who fanned the flames, saying, "Brother-in-law, you must be careful! This man's origins are unknown, yet he dares to impersonate a princess and swindle people. In my opinion, we should make him show something to prove his identity, just in case. If he truly harbors ill intentions and attempts to harm the magistrate, then you, brother-in-law, will be held accountable!"
These words were like adding fuel to the fire, causing even the burly leader to become cautious. After a moment's thought, he realized his brother-in-law's words made sense, so he turned his gaze to Tian Guang again and said sternly, "Since you claim to be under the princess's orders, what proof do you have to verify your identity? If you have no evidence, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Tian Guang stood there, sighing helplessly, because he truly had no proof whatsoever from the princess. Left with no other option, he pulled out the Imperial Guard badge that symbolized his identity from his pocket, handed it to the leader, and explained, "I am a member of the Imperial Guard, and this is our badge."
The leader took the plaque and examined it repeatedly. However, despite staring at it intently for a long time, he still couldn't discern anything amiss. Nevertheless, his intuition told him that the plaque was heavy and substantial, and the exquisite carvings on it indicated its extraordinary nature; it probably wasn't fake. Just as he was about to speak, his brother-in-law suddenly interjected, "Brother-in-law, this man claims to be a member of the Imperial Guard, but the problem is that the Imperial Guard only obeys the King's orders. Why would they easily obey the Princess's command? I think there's more to this than meets the eye; perhaps it's a trap deliberately set!"
Upon hearing this, the leader couldn't help but feel uneasy. While his brother-in-law's words weren't entirely unreasonable, this man before him was, after all, a member of the Imperial Guard. It seemed inappropriate to harbor suspicion or even question him without cause. Moreover, he was merely a lowly constable head; what right did he have to question someone's identity? Thinking this, he couldn't help but secretly resent his brother-in-law—this trouble today was most likely caused by him!
After a long period of hesitation and struggle, the leader finally made up his mind. He took a deep breath to calm himself, then smiled and respectfully bowed to Tian Guang, saying with a forced smile, "Sir, please don't be anxious. Please be patient for a moment. I will immediately go and consult with our county magistrate. Ultimately, the decision on how to handle this matter rests with those above!" As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and hurried towards the county office, leaving Tian Guang and the others standing there, quietly awaiting news.