18 - Follow Me

Chapter 18 – Follow me

Two more days passed and Shangguan Yan was dirty and feeling very uncomfortable in the prison. She had persuaded Di Jing to let her clean up but failed. Since that was the case, she still had a way.

She called the Prison Head named Niu Er over and asked him for a favor. She requested a basin of water, a cloth towel, and also a big curtain.

As long as the corner of the cell is covered, won’t she be able to wipe her body within?

At first, Niu Er was unwilling because he could not do it without an order from the Lord. However, after Shangguan Yan whispered some words into his ear, he became willing and could not wait to do it.

A female guard quickly reported this matter to Di Jing.

“What did she say to him?” Di Jing was very curious. He had warned Niu Er before not to agree to any of her requests without his order and that Niu Er actually did not follow his instruction.

What did she say to Niu Er?

“Constable Shangguan spoke too softly, so this humble one couldn’t hear.” The female guard told the truth.

Di Jing thought for a while and then ordered. “Call Niu Er over.”

When the female guard brought Niu Er, he immediately knelt on the ground in fear. Unexpectedly, the Lord found out about this matter but getting the truth out of Niu Er was not difficult. After Di Jing interrogated him using the authority of an officer, he got the answer very quickly.

It turned out that this Niu Er was suffering from the inconspicuous illness – impotence. This inconspicuous illness had troubled him for many years and Shangguan Yan told him that she knew a genius doctor by the name of Zhao who could cure him.

For men, impotence is a major problem in getting heirs, so it’s no wonder that Niu Er immediately agreed.

Di Jing reprimanded Niu Er then ordered for him to be taken away to receive his punishment. As a jailer, he was responsible for guarding the prisoners but could not resist the temptation. He would not appeal and would accept whatever punishment given to him.

After the dejected Niu Er was taken away, Di Jing opened the case file on the table and inside the file, all the details regarding Shangguan Yan’s business were listed.

In fact today, Di Jing had already planned to make arrangements for bath water to be given to her. He did not plan to keep her in prison for long and would not let others take the credit for this favor but let her owe him for this.

He ordered someone to take her out of the prison and when Shangguan Yan knew that Di Jing had prepared a bathtub and other essentials for her so that she could have a bath, all the complaints she had for Di Jing in her heart vanished.

She followed the female guard towards the bathroom and when she saw everything she needed was already prepared for her, she smiled involuntarily.

This Di Jing seems to have a conscience. She suddenly felt that Di Jing was not that bad.

“Is there a change of clothes?” She asked the female guard.

“Yes, everything is already prepared for Miss.”

Shangguan Yan looked through the clothes and found they were all undergarments and clothes for women and there was even a dudou . She could not help but raised her eyes to look at the female guard.

It was as if the female guard knew what she was thinking and said. “I bought all these clothes for Miss.”

“Don’t you have men’s clothes?”

She still prefers to dress up as a man as it is more convenient when handling matters.

The female guard shook her head. “This is what the Lord ordered. I’m just following orders.”

The meaning is that if you have any opinion, you can go and talk to the Lord yourself.

Shangguan Yan was thinking it did not matter and that she should have an enjoyable bath first. “I understand. I’ve troubled you, thank you.” She held up her hands in salute and picking up the clothes, she went into the bathroom.

To be able to take an enjoyable bath made her feel a lot more comfortable and she cleaned her body from head to toe.

Although she is the daughter of a wealthy family and has a maid to serve her since she was young, she often takes care of herself. Especially after taking on the job as a secret constable, she had to run around outside all the time and had to do many things on her own without the need for others to wait on her.

After bathing, she put on the clean clothes and wiped her hair until it was almost dry before combing it into a simple bun. She pinned it down with a hairpin and the rest of her hair was left to hang down her back. She felt extremely refreshed.

“I’ve let you wait for a long time.” As she stepped out of the bathroom, she said to the female guard standing outside.

The female guard looked at her from head to toe then nodded and said. “Let’s go. My Lord wants to see you.” After speaking, she turned around.

The Lord had left instructions that there was no need to strictly control this Miss Shangguan. In the future, she will be cooperating with the Lord and will join their team. Therefore, she no longer treated Shangguan Yan in the same courteous formal manner as when Shangguan Yan was a prisoner.

When Shangguan Yan was led into the study by the female guard, Di Jing was working on some official documents and writing with a brush.

“My Lord, Miss Shangguan is here.”

Di Jing raised his eyes. “There are no more orders for you, you can withdraw.”

“Yes.” After the female guard had left, ShangguanYan was still standing and Di Jing continued to write without looking at her.

“Sit at the side.” He ordered her and after speaking, he ignored her.

Shangguan Yan did not show any courtesy. Since he told her to sit, she will sit. She did not know how long he would be busy with his work and would not be so stupid to stand on her feet and let her legs suffer just as a show of respect.

She walked to the chair at the side and sat down but her eyes were not idle as they swept around the room. The furnishings in the room was very simple. There were only a few calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall and almost all the walls were covered by bookcases filled with a lot of books.

At first, she could still look around the room to occupy time but after a long time had passed and she had seen everything, she started to scrutinize Di Jing.

It had to be said that he has a very good appearance. The ‘good’ did not only mean that he is handsome but also included his bearing.

Although he showed elegance, in the elegance there was also an air of courage and righteousness. The solemn expression he had when handling official duties spread a feeling of overpowering seriousness all around him and it made others keep silent involuntarily. Even when breathing, one would not dare to rashly do it in front of him for fear of disturbing him.

Perhaps this is the prestige of an official. Although he is not wearing his official robes and is in his home robes now, he is still able to show his majesty without depending on his official robles.

She remembered the first time she saw him in the Punishment Court. He was dressed in official robes and hat and looked so awesome and domineering that until now, she still had not got over the shock.

The moment she knew that he was the Imperial Commissioner, she understood he had a purpose in approaching Yan Niang and he was on a mission just like her.

Thinking up to this point, she could not help but feel ashamed. She had robbed him of his credit and almost caused him……..

It was rare for Shangguan Yan who had always been bold and reckless to feel guilty. But he did not bring up the matter which should mean that he did not care. To deal with important issues, trivial matters should be ignored.

Since this person is broad-minded, so why should she worry? Thus her mood became relaxed again.

In the quiet room, there were only the light brush sounds of writing and a faint fragrance of ink floated in the air. All the mundane things in one’s heart slowly settled down which was reassuring.

It was not known how long time had passed when he suddenly spoke. “How did you know about Niu Er’s inconspicuous illness?”

Shangguan Yan came back to her senses and responded naturally. “By listening a lot, the information gathered will be a lot.”

Di Jing realized that since she is a secret constable, naturally, she would investigate cases secretly. It was inevitable she would gather information and she must have heard about Niu Er’s condition.

Thinking back to when she was in the Qin Mansion, she was an expert in gathering information and had good relationships with those people. She must have used the same method.

“From today onwards, you will follow me in handling cases.”

The order was given too suddenly. Shangguan Yan was stunned and did not respond to him. When Di Jing did not hear her answer, he raised his head to look at her and found that she was staring at him blankly.

“Why is there no reply?”

“My Lord, this humble one is a secret constable, so it’s not good to expose my identity.”

“Don’t worry. I have ordered someone to prepare a disguise for you. I’ll get someone to help you with the disguise.”

She was stunned again. Although she felt unhappy, she still smiled. “This humble one has some matters to attend to in the family, I’m afraid…….”

“Two options. One is to return to the prison and continued to act as bait and the other is to help this Officer deal with tasks.”

He stared straight at her with resolute and majesty in his eyes which conveyed his irreversible decision. His eyes were telling her that if she refuses, he would send her back to prison without hesitation.

Gritting her teeth secretly, she put on a smile and said. “It’s a blessing for this humble one to be able to work with my Lord.”

Di Jing noticed the insincere expression in her eyes but he was not bothered……..so long as she agrees.

“Alright. Go and prepare.” There was no room for negotiation.

Even if she is unwilling, she could not do anything. This is just like reincarnation. In the past when they were in the Qin Mansion, she could not refuse and had to serve him as his maid. Now after returning to the imperial capital, she still cannot refuse and has to be his subordinate and listen to him.

Sure enough, officials a rank higher crush people to death! He is a high-ranking official of the third rank, unlike her who is only a minor constable without any rank!

She was led to a room where a woman was waiting for her and this woman was arranged by Di Jing to help her with the disguise.

She glanced at the disguise that the woman had prepared for her and asked. “Can I disguise myself as a man?”

“The Lord ordered me to help you change your appearance to a woman. If Miss wants to disguise as a man, approval must be obtained from the Lord.”

The meaning is that if you want to disguise yourself as a man, you can ask the Lord yourself.

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Shangguan Yan knew that even if she asks Di Jing, the answer would be the same. If that was the case, she was too lazy to make a useless effort and let the woman help her with the disguise first.

After half a sichen, she had already changed her face and with the fake face, she went to look for Di Jing.

Di Jing raised his head to look at her and scrutinized the new face that was ordinary and mediocre. No one would be able to recognize her with the new face and so, he could place her beside him brazenly.

“Well done. Go and receive your reward.” Di Jing said to the woman who did the disguise.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

After the woman had left, Di Jing ordered Shangguan Yan. “You can go back now. Tomorrow morning, you will report to this Officer with this look. If you have nothing else, you can withdraw.”

“Yes. This humble one is leaving.” Shangguan Yan held up her hands in salute then turned around and left without saying more.

When she left, she failed to notice that the gaze on her back was unusually bright. He watched her retreating back and the corners of his lips curved into a smile that was warm and charming.

Shangguan Yan quietly returned to Shangguan Mansion. When Old Master Shangguan and his wife saw the strange woman, they could not recognize her at first. Later, when they knew she was their daughter, they cried with joy.

That night, the Shangguan Family held an important secret meeting. Old Master Shangguan ordered all the servants to withdraw and forbade any other people from entering, leaving only his wife, two sons, and daughter behind because the news released to the outside world was that Shangguan Yan was still in prison.

She must also cooperate with the Imperial Commissioner and follow the Lord to handle cases. The only people who knew about this were only the few of them.