Chapter 100

At the banquet, while putting on a show of appreciation, Ye Qing's mind was wandering elsewhere. Suddenly, he heard the governor say, "Ye Jieyuan, I have long heard of your poetic fame. Could you compose another poem?"

Amidst various gazes, Ye Qing stood up, smiled, and replied, "I have had some wine and my inspiration is exhausted. I can't think of a single line of poetry at the moment. Please forgive me, Governor and everyone else."

The governor sighed, and the crowd followed suit, though it was unclear whether they were truly regretful.

Ye Qing shifted the focus, sat down gracefully, and watched other candidates recite poems. Everyone was dressed in deep red, complementing the governor's dark blue official attire, creating a miniature of the bureaucratic ecosystem, isolated from the world on this hundred-foot-high building.

The seats were filled with officials in purple and red, the music and dance were in full swing, the strings and bamboo instruments played softly, and the scene was as splendid as brocade...

Though Ye Qing appreciated the view, the shadow in his eyes could not be erased, as if he were witnessing the most brilliant beauty before the flowers withered.

He sighed inwardly, "It won't be long before I no longer see this scene. The distinguished guests here today will scatter to all corners, and it's uncertain how many will have a good end..."

"The higher one goes, the clearer the truth of the world becomes. Poetry is just a minor art. It's useful for gaining fame, but now it's basically unnecessary..."

"Writing a few poems for one's own women can be a pleasure, but writing for these grand officials, a couple of poems for the occasion is enough. Writing too many will make one a mere poet!"

In this world, poets often had the connotation of being guests or retainers. Thinking this, his initial sentiment of revisiting old places gradually faded.

The banquet soon ended, and the governor personally escorted the candidates downstairs, handing each of them a gold medal for their journey to the capital, and giving them individual encouragement and farewells.

As the top candidate, Ye Qing was naturally left to the last. He took the opportunity to make a request. The governor looked at him with a strange gaze but still smiled and agreed, "It's just a small matter. However, new candidates often linger in the city's prosperity. Why don't you stay longer, Jieyuan?"

Ye Qing replied tactfully, "Though Liang Garden is beautiful, it's not a place for a long stay. I, a mere guardian, should return home as soon as possible."

The governor laughed heartily and pointed at him, "Jieyuan, you are truly cunning. Who would dare call you a mere guardian..."

Ye Qing just chuckled and said no more.

When they left the governor's residence, a dedicated carriage for distinguished guests was waiting at the door. Before getting in, he looked back at the seven-story tower that dominated a piece of the night sky, magnificent and mysterious.

"Perhaps this is the last time I'll come here as a guest..." With this rebellious thought, Ye Qing turned and got into the carriage, instructing the sturdy driver, "First, go to the Inspectorate."

The tower was located in a villa in the north of the city, not far from the government office. They arrived in a moment. The guards, seeing the carriage with the governor's mark, let them pass without inspection.

Inside, it was quiet. Only a few special departments were still operating, and the rest had only a few on-duty officials, unlike the bustling daytime scene.

Actually, the garden behind the office was quite large, with many pavilions and terraces scattered among artificial hills and winding paths, creating a picturesque landscape.

Chrysanthemums, the seasonal specialty, were everywhere, with a wide variety of species and colors, and the planting density and spacing were carefully considered.

Ye Qing marveled at the sight, but he didn't have time to linger. He went directly to the Inspectorate, where the duty room was lit, and a clerk was on duty. Seeing Ye Qing in his deep red robe, the clerk quickly stood up, "Greetings, Sir!"

"Is Inspector Zhou here?"

"Yes, yes! He's inside reviewing a case. I'll go and inform him!" The clerk was eager, offering tea, "Please wait a moment."

Ye Qing nodded and took the tea, sitting silently. The clerks in this large office, though not as openly domineering as those in the countryside, were all shrewd, slippery, and quick to hold grudges. The best strategy was to keep a distance.

A moment later, Inspector Zhou came out, surprised to see Ye Qing. He smiled and bowed, "Greetings, Jieyuan."

"Do you recognize me?" Ye Qing was somewhat surprised. This wasn't Earth, where information was readily available, and some officials might not even meet their superiors for years, let alone a top candidate like him, who didn't get the same treatment as a top scholar.

"I wouldn't dare pretend not to know," Zhou thought to himself. "At your young age, you can kill thirty soldiers and chase down the third son of the Yu family, almost killing him on the spot. How could we not know about such a person?"

In the case he was just studying, the first three volumes were about you, and even the Daoist sect added special images. The impression is deep...

Seeing his vague response, Ye Qing understood but wasn't concerned.

"Inspector Zhou is indeed diligent. No wonder you are known as a legendary detective in the entire state." He smiled and praised, then bowed respectfully, "I believe you know my situation. I have a request. I hope you can lend me some of your best men for support."

"Moreover, this has already been approved by the governor, but the decision is still yours!"

Zhou was taken aback. He had expected to be asked about a case, not this request. He was about to refuse but hesitated.

Looking at Ye Qing's deep red robe, though he himself was a ninth-rank official, he was a typical career bureaucrat, having risen from a clerk. Though he was known as a legendary detective, he was irreplaceable in the state, and received annual commendations and rewards, his rank was basically at its peak.

Now in his forties, unless he received an honorary promotion upon retirement, he had no other prospects.

This was the tragedy of a public official in the Six-Fan Gate.

But the young man standing before him was a genuine candidate, a top candidate!

A major case involving the killing of thirty people was directly sealed and archived. As long as he didn't make a mistake, his future was boundless, and his young age ensured room for advancement, even protecting his descendants. This request might be an opportunity.

"Ha, if Jieyuan has a request, how can I refuse? Just tell me what you need, and I'll do my best to find the right people for you," Zhou decided.

Ye Qing cursed inwardly, "Old fox, trying to take advantage of my youth? Whether you find them or not is up to you!"

But he smiled, "I have no special requirements. Just send two of your best disciples with me to my hometown to help train some local patrols. I'll return them in half a year."

Zhou's smile faltered, and his face showed a bit of pain. Training a core disciple was no easy task. Finding the right candidate was difficult, and the time and money invested were considerable. He had only five in his entire life, and now he was asked to give up two?

For a moment, he really wanted to use his Iron Sand Palm to kill the young man in front of him. He then put on a pained expression, "The office is busy. Half a year is a long time..."

"Oh, then never mind." Ye Qing nodded, understanding, and got up to leave.

"Wait, wait, wait—" Zhou quickly stopped him, cleared his throat, and offered, "Half a year isn't enough. How about a year?"

"A year?" Ye Qing narrowed his eyes in doubt.

"A year!" Zhou smiled brightly, inwardly cursing the young man a thousand times.

"I have two disciples, Zhou Feng and Zhou Ling, a brother and sister. Though they changed their surnames due to certain reasons, their backgrounds are clean and their characters are strong. They are skilled and can help..."

Ye Qing listened with a faint smile, feeling like he was being sold a miracle pill by a con artist.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and a man and a woman entered gracefully.

The man was tall, with a bright smile and white teeth, sharp eyes, and a slender build, a handsome man indeed.

The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, but she wore a black short coat, which was somewhat different.

They didn't look at Ye Qing much, bowing to Zhou, "Master!"

Zhou nodded in satisfaction and said sternly, "This is Ye Jieyuan. He is returning to his hometown tomorrow. You will accompany him, ensuring his safety and training some local patrols along the way."

The young man nodded calmly, while the girl glanced at Ye Qing, startled—such a handsome young man.

Surprised for a moment, she turned and asked, "Master, is this the top candidate?"

Her voice was clear, but her straightforward and unmasked doubt was evident. Unlike her brother, who had started his career early, she had only begun her internship this year but had read Ye Qing's case files, deeply remembering her master's sigh, "Only a seasoned criminal could do this. How could this young man achieve such a feat?"

But now, he was just a handsome young man, perhaps even younger than her.

Zhou was a bit annoyed and scolded, "Ling! How can you speak like that? Apologize to Ye Jieyuan immediately."

"Yes!" Zhou Ling, undeterred by the scolding, turned and bowed deeply to Ye Qing, her swift and precise movements revealing a glimpse of her white neck and a hint of a red flower.

"It's fine," Ye Qing glanced at her, noting the tight chest wrap, which was rare among women in the martial world, finding it quite interesting.

He then focused on her posture, recognizing some martial arts techniques, though he couldn't tell how much she had learned.

Ye Qing didn't plan to be overly critical. On Earth, a girl of her age would still be in high school. He nodded in satisfaction and stood up, smiling, "Thank you, Inspector, for your assistance. We should leave now."

The three of them exchanged glances, and the brother and sister bowed to Zhou one last time, "Master, take care! We're off."

Zhou nodded, "Follow Ye Jieyuan well, and stay true to your principles."

They all got into the governor's dedicated carriage.

When they entered, there was only one person, but now they were two more. The driver, though puzzled, maintained his composure and drove out of the state capital toward Ye Qing's inn.

At the inn, they didn't get out of the carriage. Zhou Ling fetched their luggage, and Zhou Feng hired another carriage to transport it. The city's trade was prosperous, and the court tacitly allowed merchants to use carriages instead of ox carts.

Estimating the journey, Ye Qing smiled at the driver, "Since this carriage can pass without hindrance, could you take me out of the city tonight?"

The driver nodded silently. That night, a side gate was quietly opened and closed, and two carriages silently traveled on the official road.

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**End of Chapter**