Chapter 54: Clerk Qin

It was precisely because Luan Jingfu and Xiao Zongting had always been at odds that Luan Jingfu wanted to take a matter that could be big or small and blow it out of proportion, fabricating charges to try and put Duan Rong to death!

His targeting of Duan Rong was actually like Xiang Zhuang performing a sword dance, with his true intent aimed at the Duke of Pei!

Crippling Duan Rong was merely to dampen the spirit of Xiao Zongting, the Chief Instructor, while simultaneously establishing his own prestige within the Escort Agency and making those stubborn Escorts fall into line!

But Luan Jingfu had not expected that Duan Rong would possess such high talent for martial arts!

His abacus this time had completely failed to click!

And Ruan Fengshan's intentions at this moment were already plain to see!

Such a good seedling, even if he had done something out of line, should be treated primarily with tolerance and admonishment.

Given time, Duan Rong would surely become a great pillar of the Escort Agency!

However, for Luan Jingfu, this move had become a major blunder; within five years, Duan Rong would certainly grow up, and with this grudge between them, if this kid became an Escort Head, wouldn't he be challenging him every single day!

Just as Ruan Fengshan's voice fell, a handsome, hat-wearing Personal Attendant of seventeen or eighteen years old suddenly walked in slowly, stood inside the threshold, cupped his hands toward Ruan Fengshan in the hall, and said in a clear voice, "Master! Clerk Qin from the Ya Men has arrived and is waiting outside the hall!"

This Personal Attendant had an extraordinary appearance and disciplined conduct; he was Ruan Fengshan's close Personal Attendant, named Zhou An.

Whenever Ruan Fengshan had social engagements, it was almost always this person who was responsible for handling the back-and-forth responses.

Therefore, although he was of humble status, no one in the Yuanshun Escort Agency dared not show him a modicum of respect.

"Clerk Qin?" Ruan Fengshan hesitated slightly; for Clerk Qin to come over, it must be that the County Magistrate, Shen Yanliu, had something to ask of him.

This Shen Yanliu was an Outer Sect Disciple of the Taiyi Sect with cultivation at the True Qi Realm Second Layer; both in terms of authority and martial power, he was the most supreme existence in Xiangu County.

Moreover, in the few years Shen Yanliu had been in Xiangu County, he had brought all the major forces entrenched in Xiangu County to heel.

Yet he did not infringe upon the people and had done many good deeds to protect the borders and bring peace to the populace. Thus, his reputation as an official was very high!

Among the several County Magistrates Ruan Fengshan had dealt with, he could be said to both respect and fear this Shen Yanliu!

Ruan Fengshan's hesitation just now was because he was wondering whether to let Clerk Qin wait for him in the Back Courtyard; his own affairs here were basically finished, and he could move over to meet him in a moment, but Ruan Fengshan still asked, "Did Clerk Qin say what it was about?"

"He said he is looking for an Escort named Duan Rong!"

"Ah!"

Everyone in the hall was greatly shocked, and Duan Rong was even startled into a jump.

Ruan Fengshan's gaze swept over Duan Rong with a hint of gloom, and he said, "Invite Clerk Qin in!"

Since Clerk Qin was looking for Duan Rong, and Duan Rong was right here in the hall, why go to the Back Courtyard?

Moreover, everyone was puzzled: why would Clerk Qin of the County Government Office come to the Escort Agency in person to look for an Apprentice Escort?

Duan Rong felt even more uneasy; he had an ominous premonition!

What was going on today, with one thing after another!

Clerk Qin was in his early thirties, with a slender build, wearing a moon-white wide robe and a skullcap; as soon as he entered, his gaze swept over the faces of the people in the hall, and he only cupped his hands toward Ruan Fengshan, saying, "Manager Ruan, I have disturbed you!"

Ruan Fengshan sat there, cupped his hands in return, and smiled, "Not at all. For Clerk Qin to come in person, it must be an urgent matter! I should have received you in the Back Courtyard. But since Clerk Qin is looking for Duan Rong, and he is right here, I had you come straight in! Please do not take offense at the lack of hospitality!"

"Clerk Qin, please sit! Zhou An, serve tea to Clerk Qin!"

Just as Ruan Fengshan's words left his mouth, Zhou An had already walked in holding tea; by the time Clerk Qin sat down, the tea had already been placed on the tea table beside him.

Clerk Qin sat next to Luan Jingfu on the right side of the hall; when he walked over, Luan Jingfu stood up slightly to greet him, Clerk Qin cupped his hands to return the gesture slightly, and then the two sat down almost simultaneously.

"This is top-quality tea picked before the Qingming Festival; Clerk Qin, please have a taste..." Ruan Fengshan said with a polite smile.

Clerk Qin picked up the teacup, took a shallow sip, then set it down and said, "We interact often, Manager Ruan, there is no need for such formalities!"

Ruan Fengshan laughed and changed the subject, saying, "Clerk Qin, you came in person to find this kid Duan Rong! Could it be that he has done something reckless? If he truly has done something, Clerk Qin, just speak plainly; I will bind him and personally deliver him to the County Government Office!"

Although Ruan Fengshan's words seemed stern, they already carried the intent to shoulder the burden for Duan Rong.

Clerk Qin was a seasoned veteran of the world; how could he not hear that!

Clerk Qin smiled slightly and said, "Escort Duan Rong is talented in both literature and martial arts; his street sketches are being scrambled for by the young masters and misses of various families, becoming a trend for a time! Today, the daughter of my master also wished to purchase one, but unexpectedly, she got into a dispute with someone and almost caused a loss of life!"

When Duan Rong heard "daughter of my master," his brain suddenly buzzed.

Wasn't that the County Magistrate's daughter?

That sharp-tongued young lady was the County Magistrate's daughter?

It's over, it's over!

Duan Rong wished he could chop off his own left hand right there in the hall; one must not touch a tiger's backside!

Luan Jingfu, hearing this, was overjoyed; he had originally thought he had lost a round, but he had not expected the situation to take such a turn.

This matter had actually dragged in the County Magistrate's own daughter, Shen Mizhi!

The play was truly getting more and more lively!

Ruan Fengshan also had a dark face; Duan Rong was indeed a good seedling, and if it were a common reckless act, he would be willing to smooth things over for him.

But since it concerned the daughter of County Magistrate Shen Yanliu, that was a different story.

Shen Yanliu had no sons and only this one daughter, whom he regarded as the apple of his eye!

Could he really challenge Shen Yanliu for the sake of Duan Rong?

"I will break this brat's legs right now! I will bind him and personally deliver him to the Ya Men to apologize to the Magistrate and the young lady!"

When Duan Rong heard this, his heart trembled, and he cursed Ruan Fengshan for being vicious. Wasn't this kicking a man when he was down?

While Ruan Fengshan was speaking, his eyes remained fixed on Duan Rong with slight anger.

Clerk Qin now knew who Duan Rong was. When he had entered just now, he had been guessing which of the two youths standing behind Xiao Zongting and Luan Jingfu was Duan Rong.

Clerk Qin carefully scrutinized Duan Rong and said, "Manager Ruan, do not misunderstand! The County Magistrate sent this humble official to invite Escort Duan Rong to a banquet at the County Government Office tomorrow to express gratitude for his righteous intervention!"

The hall fell into a sudden silence, and everyone's gaze gathered on Duan Rong!

Duan Rong swallowed his saliva, and the sound of that swallow seemed shockingly loud to his own ears!

Seeing everyone's surprise, Clerk Qin explained, "If not for Escort Duan Rong's intervention, once the young lady caused a disaster on the street, I fear the repercussions would have been immense."

Duan Rong now roughly understood what Clerk Qin meant.

Perhaps... they didn't know what his left hand had done.

After all, this kind of thing is something a young girl would be too shy to speak of!

But, even if it is not spoken of, the matter has indeed already occurred, and the other party's status is that of the County Magistrate's daughter!

Truly, it is like bumping into a ghost! The year is off to a bad start!

"Duan Rong, Clerk Qin has come to invite you to a banquet tomorrow!" Ruan Fengshan said, reminding him after seeing Duan Rong standing there in a daze.

"A mere trifle, how could I dare accept an invitation? Besides, this commoner is unruly and unfit for such elegant company!" Duan Rong suddenly said.

Clerk Qin was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and Ruan Fengshan's expression also darkened. "Duan Rong, the County Magistrate has extended an invitation; how can you rudely refuse?"

Ruan Fengshan turned his head to look at Clerk Qin and smiled: "Clerk Qin, this child comes from a poor background and has spent his time among the common folk, so he is unversed in the etiquette of responding and receiving guests. Clerk Qin may report back to the County Magistrate that he will certainly arrive tomorrow!"

"Good, good, good! Then I shall take my leave!" Clerk Qin glanced at Duan Rong before cupping his hands and rising from his seat.

"Zhou An, take a lantern and see Clerk Qin out!" Ruan Fengshan stood up immediately and instructed Zhou An.

After watching Clerk Qin leave the Main Hall, Ruan Fengshan let out a cold snort, looked at Duan Rong, and said: "When the County Magistrate invites me, even I dare not refuse; you certainly have a high opinion of yourself!"

Duan Rong wore a miserable expression and dared not utter a sound.

"I will instruct Zhou An to prepare a gift; you are to take it with you tomorrow! And while you are at it, convey my regards to the County Magistrate!"

After Ruan Fengshan finished speaking, he stood up, turned behind the screen, walked out through the back door of the Main Hall, and headed toward the room of his concubine in the Inner Courtyard.

Watching Ruan Fengshan's retreating figure, Duan Rong felt bitter in his heart!

(End of this chapter)