He hesitated for a moment, then straightened his back and swaggered forward. It was just an invitation for tea or a meal, what was there to be afraid of, as if he were scared of them.
Seeing his feigned composure, Zhang Changhe chuckled, not exposing him, and slowly followed behind him.
The magistrate was most familiar with the restaurants and tea houses in this area. Seeing that the other party hadn't specified which one, he headed towards the tea house he knew best. After all, he was the local emperor here and called the shots. As soon as he entered the tea house, the waiter enthusiastically led him to his private room, while Zhang Changhe remained silent the entire time.
The waiter, with a keen eye, withdrew. The two constables who had been following the magistrate were about to leave as usual, but the magistrate stopped them. The other party was a dangerous presence, and if they faced him alone, he would truly be at a loss. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, he needed someone to shield him. Leaving these two behind might provide some buffer time.
The two constables showed no surprise at this. They had heard that two people had escaped from the prison a few days ago. As soon as they left the yamen, they heard them whispering to each other, saying that this man was one of the escapees. They were filled with curiosity about him.
Zhang Changhe acted as if they didn't exist, picked up a cup, and began pouring tea. He first poured a cup for the magistrate, who glanced at it. He was somewhat parched, but dared not drink it. Zhang Changhe then poured himself another cup.
Looking at the magistrate's demeanor, he chuckled, "Does your honor have some misunderstanding about me? Think carefully. The previous times we escaped from your clutches, it was my wife who charged ahead and protected me well, because I know no martial arts at all. I've heard that people who know martial arts and those who don't walk differently. Can't the two constables behind you tell if I know martial arts?"
The magistrate raised his eyebrows in surprise at his words, not expecting the other party to expose his weakness. He then turned to look at the two constables behind him. After thinking for a moment, they nodded firmly. It was indeed as he said; the other party's gait and movements were no different from an ordinary person's. They had also seen people who knew martial arts, who were more agile and graceful. While somewhat disappointed, they also felt relieved. It seemed there would be no trouble today, and the other party just wanted to meet the magistrate and discuss matters.
The magistrate's worried heart eased. Although he still didn't pick up the teacup, his straightened back unconsciously relaxed. He found a comfortable position, leaned back against the chair, crossed his legs, and said smugly, "Inviting me for tea today is a gesture of goodwill, which is right. In Lancheng, I am the parent official, and all matters must be handled by me. You two, despite your abilities, are merely commoners. You are still far from escaping my grasp."
Zhang Changhe smiled and didn't pick up his words. Seeing that he hadn't drunk the tea he poured for him from beginning to end, he raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously, "Why aren't you drinking, your honor? Are you afraid I'll poison you?"
The magistrate stiffened, somewhat at a loss for words. Could he say that he was indeed thinking that? Although he had relaxed, knowing that the other party posed no threat to him, his vigilance had not subsided, and he was truly afraid that the other party would harm him.
Zhang Changhe looked at his expression and knew exactly what he was thinking. He was the first to pick up his teacup and quickly drank it. After a while, he showed the bottom of the cup in all directions and said leisurely, "This tea was prepared by the tea house. I just poured you a cup and then poured myself one. I've finished drinking it now, so your honor can drink it with peace of mind. Besides, you have two officers by your side. I couldn't possibly kill you in front of them. Although we are confident we can escape Lancheng, we don't want to become wanted criminals by the court, living incognito."
Seeing the other party's challenging gaze, the magistrate hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up the teacup and took a cautious sip. He found that the tea was no different from what he usually drank. Only then did he put down the teacup. Didn't the other party say he didn't dare to drink it? Taking a sip was enough as a gesture.
"Alright, you asked me to come with you, and I came. You asked me to drink tea, and I drank it. Tell me, what is your purpose in seeking me out today?" Having been forced to drink a mouthful of tea, the magistrate felt somewhat displeased, but the person opposite him posed a danger, and he couldn't offend him easily. He asked impatiently, wanting to leave quickly. Only when he returned to his own territory would he feel at ease.
"I'm looking for you today to tell you that you've seen our strength. Even if you've shown all your cards, we're still alive and well, and that's our capability. When we left the prison, we also emphasized that you should reinvestigate the cases in the prison. As long as you do as we say, we'll mind our own business in the future." After such a long time, the other party hadn't taken any action, and Zhang Changhe knew what he was thinking. He wouldn't think that the couple had forgotten, would he?
Wu Caiwei and Zhang Changhe hadn't forgotten, but the magistrate truly didn't remember. When they left the prison, he had intended to muddle through. He originally thought that after such a long time, they wouldn't mention it again. It was a whim when he said that. The people in the prison had no connection to them, so he never expected them to seek him out specifically for this matter. If he had known, he would never have come.
"If I remember correctly, the people in the prison have no dealings with you, and even Li Zixin, whom you took away, was someone you met for the first time. Being locked in adjacent cells might have forged that friendship. You took him away, and I didn't seek trouble with him, which was already going above and beyond.
However, we have our own mission to accomplish here in Lancheng, and we cannot completely do as you say. I'm not afraid to tell you, the reason I have such power is because I have an unexpected powerful backer behind me. You must consider their influence."
The magistrate watched him quietly. The thought of his backer made him feel proud. This backer was someone he had found by chance. No one would have thought that a seemingly insignificant county magistrate like himself could be connected to a prince, and moreover, a strong contender for the throne. The thought of his family prospering under his leadership made him feel that all the hardships he had endured were worthwhile.
"I naturally know, your honor's family lost something very precious, which has made you restless. I'm not afraid to tell you, those things are in our hands, and we've already placed them in a safe location. I know who your backer is, but I want to say that since we've encountered this, we must ensure that the people in this city live and work in peace and contentment," Zhang Changhe said, looking at him with a half-smile.
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