Linghu Ni was being watched by Zhao Hanzhang and the others. His face instantly flushed red. He shouted a reprimand, “This shopkeeper has been running a shop in Jinyang for at least twenty years. He didn’t flee even when Jinyang was overgrown with weeds. What crime could such a person have committed?”

The customers queuing to buy sweet cakes all chimed in agreement. Everyone was a regular—this shop’s owner was a good person, and they all spoke up for him.

The dragged-out shopkeeper hurriedly begged for mercy. “I beg the official to report to the Jinyang Magistrate that we truly cannot make what he wants. The entire city has been sealed for over a month. How am I supposed to find fresh yams at this time of year?”

“Shut up!” The bailiff’s eyes were full of malice as he said viciously, “If you don’t obey the County Magistrate’s orders, you should be arrested and charged. Those yam cakes are for the Governor’s use. How dare you refuse to make them?”

The shopkeeper couldn’t help but wail loudly. “I want to make them, but I have no way to do so! Making yam cakes requires yams! Look at my shop now—I can only make rice cakes, red bean cakes, and mung bean cakes. I have no way to make any other pastries. Jinyang City has been sealed for so long.”

The bailiffs didn’t listen at all and directly moved to arrest and shackle the shopkeeper.

Zhang Bin quickly glanced at Zhao Hanzhang. Seeing that her expression hadn’t changed but that all the smile had disappeared from her eyes, which now flashed with a cold light, he had an idea. He stepped forward and said earnestly to the shopkeeper, “This is where the proprietor is at fault. Since you cannot make them, you should have shown some gesture. Perhaps you could offer a sum of money and ask the Jinyang Magistrate to find other capable people to make them?”

This was suggesting the shopkeeper bribe the Jinyang Magistrate and the bailiffs.

The shopkeeper’s face turned deathly pale as he stammered, “I, I have already paid respects to the Jinyang Magistrate…”

So he had taken the money but wasn’t doing the work, or perhaps thought the money was too little and wanted to fleece one person thoroughly?

Zhang Bin silently apologized to the unseen Jinyang Magistrate in his heart, then smiled at Zhao Hanzhang. “This Jinyang Magistrate certainly has quite the temperament.”

The bailiff heard Zhang Bin criticizing the Jinyang Magistrate and immediately drew his large sword, glaring at him viciously. “Who are you to dare criticize the County Magistrate in the street!”

Zhang Bin’s foot slipped as he immediately hid behind Zhao Hanzhang.

Ming Yu: …

Seeing the bailiff walking toward her and about to push her aside to grab Zhang Bin, Zhao Hanzhang reached out and slapped his hand away, then pushed the half-drawn sword back into its scabbard. She smiled at him habitually. “Let’s talk this over nicely. These yam cakes aren’t that special. Although they’re difficult to make now, surely everyone has eaten them before. Why must Governor Liu insist on eating yam cakes at this particular time? I think red bean cakes and mung bean cakes are quite good too.”

The bailiff’s expression changed slightly. He tried to draw his sword again, but after two attempts couldn’t pull it out—Zhao Hanzhang’s hand remained firmly pressed on the scabbard.

He looked up and met Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes. His spine went cold, and his anger subsided. He didn’t dare lose his temper.

Jinyang was a special city.

Perhaps because its city lord was a romantic and carefree musician and scholar, this city was also very free and casual.

How free was it? Refugees could enter at will. Anyone who entered Jinyang could obtain residency registration without any entry restrictions. Although Zhao Hanzhang also extensively took in refugees, she still investigated their household registration and backgrounds.

The people of Jinyang who wanted to leave could also pack their belongings and just go.

Jinyang had records of several thousand refugees coming to seek shelter in a single day while simultaneously several thousand residents decided to leave.

This was also one of the important reasons why, despite Jinyang taking in large numbers of refugees over the years, its population hadn’t increased but had instead slowly decreased.

This city couldn’t retain people.

The people in this city were all very free—so free that even ordinary citizens could carry swords and weapons. The result of unregulated weapons was that occasionally people would kill officials and then leave.

So… when the bailiff met Zhao Hanzhang’s cold gaze, he didn’t dare act presumptuously. Instead, he even explained, “This is for His Excellency to entertain distinguished guests. The Commissioner Zhao from the Central Plains likes to eat yam cakes. The County Magistrate is looking for pastries for Commissioner Zhao.”

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile, which she had been maintaining, crashed down with a thud. She asked, “Who is the current Jinyang Magistrate?”

“Naturally, it’s the great favorite before our Governor, Young Master Xu.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Xu Run?”

“How dare you!” The bailiff shouted without much confidence, then said, “How dare you address the County Magistrate by name?”

Zhao Hanzhang released his scabbard, her expression blank. “I understand. Go back and tell the Jinyang Magistrate that I don’t like eating yam cakes, so there’s no need to trouble this shopkeeper.”

She paused, then grinned at the bailiff. “I like listening to people play music. Have him come to the Governor’s Mansion to play a piece for me.”

The bailiff was filled with suspicion and uncertainty upon hearing this.

Linghu Ni stepped forward and pulled him aside, snorting at him. “Stop listening to that scoundrel Xu Run. Commissioner Zhao never said she wanted to eat yam cakes. If anyone else dares to use Commissioner Zhao’s name to extort money, they will be executed!”

The bailiff’s expression changed drastically as he retreated, not daring to say another word.

Zhao Hanzhang turned to leave, but from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the shopkeeper still kneeling on the ground. She went forward to help him up and patted the dirt off his knees, smiling warmly. “Go back. This matter has nothing to do with you anymore.”

The shopkeeper’s knees went weak and he nearly collapsed again, but Zhao Hanzhang reached out to steady him.

Once he was standing firmly, Zhao Hanzhang released her hand, turned, and walked away.

Linghu Ni and the others quickly followed.

The onlooking citizens made way, watching them leave together with the shopkeeper. Only after they had gone far did they turn back to look at the bailiffs.

The bailiffs no longer dared to arrest anyone and quickly fled with their men.

They ran back to the county office to report to Xu Run.

Zhao Hanzhang, however, acted as if nothing had happened and continued touring with Linghu Ni. She asked, “How are Jinyang’s cultivated fields?”

“The soil is fertile, but there are few people willing to settle down and farm,” Linghu Ni said. “In the past, the Xiongnu would periodically invade Jinyang to plunder our grain. The people suffered unbearably and simply didn’t want to farm.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Do the Xianbei often come to help?”

“Yes,” Linghu Ni said. “The Xianbei warriors are brave and ruthless in battle. Every time they win a battle, they slaughter the enemy camp without exception. Whenever Jinyang faces danger, we rely on their support.”

Seeing Linghu Ni’s troubled expression, she asked, “What’s wrong? Isn’t it good that the Xianbei come to help?”

Linghu Ni quickly replied, “It’s not that it’s not good, but my father says, how can we entrust our lives and fortunes entirely to outsiders? Moreover, the Xianbei are a foreign tribe. We should train our own troops and defend our own city.”

“Otherwise, if the Xianbei develop ulterior motives, we’ll be like meat on a chopping block.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded. “Your father has foresight. Has he spoken to Governor Liu about this?”

Linghu Ni said dejectedly, “He has, but the Governor relies heavily on the Xianbei and can no longer extricate himself. The Governor and Tuoba Yilu have even sworn brotherhood. Every time my father brings this up, it seems like he’s trying to sow discord, so he doesn’t dare say much anymore.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to show she understood.

—