Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Several carriages creaked and groaned along the road. The first two had passenger compartments, while the ones behind were flatbeds responsible for carrying goods.

The curtain of the second carriage was suddenly lifted, revealing a smiling face, both charming and cheerful.

Linglong happily surveyed the scenery outside the window.

This was the farthest she had ever traveled in her life. Although the journey was a bit tiring, the scenery was captivating.

After leaving Pantai City and successfully returning home, she only rested for three days before bidding farewell to her parents and setting out.

Trade caravans to the border town were common, but it so happened that her parents' employer was preparing to make a trip to the border town to exchange for tea and other goods. She took the initiative to request to accompany them, and the employer, being easy to talk to, readily agreed.

Thus, she was riding in the carriage, heading towards the border town.

She had asked yesterday, and they should arrive at the border town where the two countries traded by noon.

Linglong couldn't contain the excitement in her heart.

In the border town, she should be able to meet many Jing people, and perhaps hear many interesting things.

With such anticipation, she continued until noon, when a city gradually appeared before Linglong's eyes.

"The border town has arrived!"

The employer shouted from the carriage in front, and Linglong thanked him crisply.

Upon reaching the city gate, they began the routine inspection. After briefly asking about the luggage and paying a small toll, they were allowed to pass directly.

After bidding farewell to her employer, Linglong began to stroll around the city with a delighted expression.

Although this border town was not luxuriously built, it was extremely lively with people coming and going.

Countless merchants seeking opportunities to make a fortune, unafraid of hardship, gathered here, engaging in verbal contests with each other.

Linglong excitedly wandered around for a long time, but couldn't find anyone to ask questions.

Everyone seemed to be in a hurry, and occasionally there were a few individuals with impure intentions who tried to harass her, but she managed to avoid them in time.

After all, there were many patrolling soldiers in the border town, and a team would pass by every so often.

No traveling merchant dared to cause trouble.

Although Linglong was beautiful, everyone's purpose was clear: they had come to make a fortune, and they would absolutely avoid trouble if they could. Women could be found anywhere, so there was no need to rush!

After wandering around for nearly two hours, Linglong was finally satisfied.

After inquiring, she found the Great Jing's administrative office.

In the border town, both countries had established special administrative offices to handle the affairs and security of official and private merchants.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the office, Linglong approached the soldier guarding the gate and said, "Officer, I have an important matter to see the supervisor about."

The soldier sized Linglong up and down, amused.

It was rare to see a woman, especially a beautiful Jin woman... Could she be Lord Chen's mistress?

"What do you want to see the supervisor for? Are you also a traveling merchant?" the soldier asked.

"No, I came from Pantai City and plan to go to Great Jing. Lord Fang told me that I could find the supervisor here to help me go to Great Jing."

"Lord Fang... Which Lord Fang?" the soldier asked, puzzled.

"Fang Zheng, Lord Fang."

The soldier clicked his tongue, somewhat puzzled, and then his expression began to become strange.

Fang Zheng... Wasn't that the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? That was a top-ranking official!

"You wait inside, I'll go and report," the soldier said.

Linglong obediently followed the soldier into the administrative office, and then the soldier hurriedly ran to the inner hall.

Inside the office, Chen Kai was leisurely painting at his desk.

Suddenly, a soldier shouted loudly outside the door, "Lord Chen, there is a woman who wants to see you!"

Chen Kai's hand trembled, and a drop of ink splattered in the center of the painting, blurring into a blob.

"Who is it! Anyone can just come and want to see me. What does she look like?" Chen Kai put away the painting, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it aside irritably.

"She's extremely beautiful, and she also said..."

"Quickly, invite her in!"

How long had it been since he had seen a proper woman? And now a beauty had suddenly arrived? Could it be that a beauty was in trouble... A stroke of good fortune?

Chen Kai smiled happily, humming a little tune as he tidied up his desk.

"Seeing the sister smiling, with almond eyes and peach cheeks, a beauty. Black hair tied into a bun, a pair of autumn waves like crystal ~ ~"

"Lord, the person has arrived!"

"Ahem, good!" Chen Kai's face straightened as he looked towards the door.

He saw Linglong standing gracefully at the door, beautiful and charming, blinking her watery eyes curiously at him.

Chen Kai's heart melted instantly!

He said softly, "Please come in, miss."

Linglong took small steps into the office. Just as she was about to squat down to perform a bow,

Chen Kai hurriedly stepped forward to help Linglong up. In that instant, he only felt a fragrant breeze waft into his nose, and his movements became gentler.

"Miss, you don't need to perform such a grand ceremony. I don't like those common courtesies."

"Thank you, sir," Linglong replied in a low voice, while her heart was filled with joy... This was too polite. The men of Great Jing were really just like Lord Fang had said!

Chen Kai rubbed his hands and asked, "May I ask for the lady's name?"

"Linglong." Linglong paused, adding, "Zhao Linglong."

"A good name! Truly a good name!" Chen Kai praised repeatedly, then asked, "I see that the lady is from Jin, but I didn't expect you to be so familiar with the language of Great Jing and speak it so fluently. You are truly intelligent."

Linglong said, "Sir, you flatter me. Linglong has long admired the culture of Jing, so I have learned a little about it."

Chen Kai was overjoyed!

Admiring the culture of Great Jing? And for a long time? I was born in the Hanlin Academy, so I play with culture! Although I don't know what the beauty wants, what can't I, an investigating censor, solve in this broken border town?

This beauty coming to my door is a gift from heaven... She's even smiling at me!

Chen Kai pondered for a moment, put his hands behind his back, raised his head, and began to pace in the office, saying faintly, "The culture of our Great Jing is indeed profound. I have studied diligently since I was eight years old, without fail, year after year..."

Chen Kai turned on the old man bragging mode, like a bird in heat starting to perform wildly in front of a female.

From studying hard at the age of eight to fighting bloodily in the imperial examinations, to his local political achievements, he recounted them one by one.

Although Linglong was puzzled, she could only listen to him bragging silently.

Perhaps... the officials of Jing were like this, truly talkative.

"The process of studying is certainly bitter, but it is not without elegant things. In addition to poetry, I also like painting."

"Speaking of painting, my attainments..."

Seeing that he was about to start a new round of blabbering, Linglong couldn't bear it any longer and said softly, "Sir, the reason I came to visit you this time is actually because I have something to ask..."

Chen Kai sat back in his seat, waved his hand with a very dashing look, smiled, and spread his hands: "Of course, you must have encountered a problem to come to me."

"Miss, you don't have to worry. To be honest, in this small territory, I still have some influence. I think I can completely solve any problem you have."

I'm so talented and energetic, how can I not charm you to death?

Linglong said in surprise: "Thank you, sir, I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic. When Lord Fang told me, he said that you would need to see the waist tag before you could help me."

"Uh?" Chen Kai's expression froze, "What Lord Fang, what waist tag."

"Fang Zheng, Lord Fang," Linglong said, taking off the waist tag from her waist and handing it to Chen Kai, "He said that with this waist tag, you can arrange for me to follow a trade caravan to Jing."

Hearing Fang Zheng's name, Chen Kai's expression had already become somewhat solemn.

The moment the waist tag entered his hand, Chen Kai's face changed drastically!

He immediately slammed the table and roared, "Guards! Take her to the dungeon!"