Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Inside the Yuding City government office.

Feng Heng looked at the person before him with nervousness. Only after the servants brought tea did he cautiously say, “Eunuch Wei, please have some tea.”

Eunuch Wei picked up the teacup, his little finger raised, and giggled, “Magistrate Feng, you don't need to be so polite.”

“Shouldn't Eunuch be at the border town? May I ask what brings you to Yuding City? Could it be that something major has happened?” Feng Heng asked cautiously.

Although Eunuch Wei before him didn't hold a high official position, his identity was truly special.

He never imagined that the garrison eunuch from the border town would travel so far to Yuding City. Could it be that he came to investigate the Prince Wu rebellion case?

Eunuch Wei had just brought the teacup to his lips when he suddenly put it down again.

Looking at Feng Heng, he said, “The matter is neither big nor small. Magistrate Feng, you must be aware of the disappearance of Magistrate Fang Zheng-yi, right?”

“I heard that urgent reports have been sent out south of Jianjiang, ordering the patrol and inspection offices in various places to search. Even many local guard posts have sent troops to search. Why is there no movement on your side?”

Feng Heng gave a dry laugh, cursing inwardly.

Damn the Zhou family! After Prince Wu exterminated their clan, news of Prince Wu's rebellion came not long after. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the Zhou family was colluding with Prince Wu!

These grandsons had been offering him tribute every year, and inexplicably, he had become an accomplice to the rebels!

Prince Wu didn't completely eradicate the roots! He still had to help him clean up the mess!

Searching by household registration, four members of the Zhou family, including a young master, had escaped. Moreover, those four were in the city at the time. How could he be in the mood to look for Fang Zheng-yi now!

If those four knew any secrets, he was afraid he would be the first to be finished.

“Of course, I know about this matter. Please rest assured, Eunuch. This official has already sent people to search privately. However... why did Eunuch Wei come here personally?”

Eunuch Wei sighed, “Alas... my godfather was worried, so he specifically ordered an urgent report to send me here with people to investigate! By now, the Eastern Depot must have turned over countless mountains and searched several villages and towns!”

“However, recently there has been news that someone left markings in the mountains near Yuding City, and there are traces of a large number of people active. Therefore, I suspect that Magistrate Fang has a high chance of being in Yuding City!”

“The higher-ups are urging us severely! His Majesty is anxious and ordered the guard posts to thoroughly investigate, and the Crown Prince has also sent people to investigate privately, so my godfather is even more anxious!”

“Who is Magistrate Fang? He is now His Majesty's personally appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a third-rank official! My godfather is on brotherly terms with him, so he is my uncle!”

“He should take the initiative to find the government. If there's no news for so long, he might have been captured as a vagrant or slave. Oh, my poor Uncle Fang, I wonder how much hardship he has suffered!” Saying this, Eunuch Wei pretended to wipe away tears.

“The Embroi... Embroidered Uniform Guard? What is that?” Feng Heng was dumbfounded, obviously having never heard of what the Embroidered Uniform Guard was.

Eunuch Wei covered his mouth and smiled, “It's normal that you don't know. I only found out not long ago! News travels fast in the Eastern Depot. I don't know how many horses have been run to death on the way here!”

“This Embroidered Uniform Guard is a newly established agency by His Majesty. To put it bluntly, it is responsible for handling cases throughout the realm and is only responsible to His Majesty alone.”

Feng Heng's pupils dilated instantly!

Handling cases throughout the realm, only responsible to His Majesty alone... With such power delegated, don't the court officials have any objections?

The imperial court is likely to change!

“I say, Magistrate Feng, from the moment I entered the city, I saw that you were wanted for exterminating criminals, and you have transferred a lot of manpower. Let's put these small matters aside for now. Finding my Uncle Fang is the most important thing!”

“Yes... yes! What Eunuch says makes sense. I will immediately increase manpower to search for Magistrate Fang in the city.” Feng Heng's expression became more rigid.

“Well, keep it low-key! My Uncle Fang is such an important figure, yet he's fallen into the common folk. It would be shameful for the imperial court to say it!” Eunuch Wei sat down again, intentionally or unintentionally saying, “Magistrate Feng, I came early this time. If there are no accidents, others may come to you to talk about this matter.”

“I was the first to look for you, and maybe my uncle just arrived in Yuding City. After resting, he will take the initiative to come to you. You must give me the news as soon as possible.”

“Think about it, my godfather is in charge of the Eastern Depot, and my Uncle Fang is in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. These are all real relatives! If you find my uncle, you will get two favors. When I report to my godfather, he will definitely say a few good words for you in front of His Majesty, and your official career will be smooth sailing in the future, won't it?”

Feng Heng repeatedly agreed, “Yes, yes, yes! This is a major matter. This official must find Uncle Fang...”

“Hmm~?”

“Ah no! Find Magistrate Fang!”

Hmph!

Eunuch Wei gave him a charming glare. That's my uncle. How dare you call him that?

“Alright, Magistrate Feng, I won't bother you any longer. Be sure to remember to notify me if you have any news. Farewell!”

“Eunuch Wei, take care!”

After seeing Eunuch Wei off, Feng Heng sat in the office, dejected.

It's over. He still hasn't found those four bastards! He can't control the affairs in the capital, but he must clean up the mess in Yuding City!

Now, unexpected problems have arisen, and the forces in the city are mixed... What should he do?

After thinking for a while, Feng Heng beckoned to Vice Magistrate Sun Tongzhi, who was not far away, and asked, “How is the investigation of those thieves from the Zhou family going! Is there any news at all?”

“Sir, there is no news at all! But don't worry, you can rest assured that we immediately closed the city gates, only allowing entry and no exit, right? They must still be in the city and can't escape our grasp!” Sun Tongzhi said.

“Bullshit! People from the capital are here now, and the Eastern Depot is secretly searching the city. If they find out anything, can we still keep our heads? Didn't you take the Zhou family's money?!” Feng Heng was furious, “Immediately! Intensify the search for me these days! Be sure to find those thieves and behead them in public!”

Sun Tongzhi belatedly realized that something was wrong at this time, and hesitated, “Then should we look for Magistrate Fang or not?”

“Just pretend to do it! Prince Wu rebelled, and he personally investigated the case. If he finds out about the Zhou family's little secrets, will we be in trouble? Now it's best to kill all the Zhou family members! Even if someone finds out that the Zhou family colluded with Prince Wu, at least we can save our lives! Damn it, where are these people hiding? We've searched every street and alley. Could they have disappeared into thin air?”

Sun Tongzhi thought for a while, “Sir, we are only searching the streets and investigating families that have good relations with the Zhou family on weekdays. What if they are hiding in someone else's house?”

Feng Heng frowned, “Someone else's house? With a city-wide wanted order, who would dare to take them in without any friendship?”

“What if... the Zhou family has a secret silver vault and uses silver as collateral? You must know that those merchants are only interested in profit. They wouldn't dare to do business that would cost them their heads for the sake of silver!”

“Hiss!” Feng Heng's spirits lifted, “You're right! This is a blind spot. How could I have forgotten this?”

“Immediately! Immediately pick out the wealthy households in the city and search them one by one! Keep it low-key and don't get noticed!”

.......

Outside the government office, Eunuch Wei looked back at it and turned to greet the censors around him: "You send a few people to follow their people, and report back to me immediately if there is any news."

“Eunuch, aren’t they going to investigate?”

“Hmph, there are many people looking for my Uncle Fang! What if he tells others? Our Eastern Depot has almost lost face these years. My godfather is anxious, otherwise, would he have allowed me to rush over from the border town without approval! This time, we must be the first to bring Uncle Fang back!”

Saying that, he carefully took out a portrait from his arms and unfolded it. It was a sketch portrait of Fang Zheng-yi, with simple colors added. It depicted Fang Zheng-yi on the mountainside of a snow mountain, wearing a brocade hat and sable coat, riding a horse and waving his hooves, pointing to the sky with one hand.

Fang Zheng-yi crossing the St. Bernard Pass in the Alps.

Eunuch Wei reached out, stroking it twice with a slightly infatuated expression, and praised, “Tsk tsk tsk, this painting is really special! It really feels different every time I look at it! My Uncle Fang is so handsome! What are the painters in the palace painting? It doesn't look like him at all!”

“Give it to the most capable people to hold. This is what my godfather specially asked for from Taoyuan County. If you damage it even a little, don't even think about living! I'm still planning to collect it!”

“Your subordinate obeys!”

......