You've already caught the embroidered ball, and you still say it's not my husband?

Li Du felt dizzy and as if he were dreaming.

He pinched his thigh hard, the pain bringing tears to his eyes, but he still didn't wake up from the "dream".

"It's all really true!"

He found it hard to believe, as did the other constables.

Zhao Guang led the way in arresting Magistrate Lou's father-in-law, Manager Pei, and bringing him back to the county office. Magistrate Lou's concubine also followed them into the main hall, crying and accusing them...

Unexpectedly, Magistrate Lou not only did not blame Zhao Guang, but also severely punished Manager Pei and his concubine with an iron fist. Afterwards, he praised Zhao Guang for his good work and rewarded him with twenty taels of silver.

Zhao Guang took three taels, and the other constables each received one tael.

So...they actually benefited from the misfortune?

It's so absurd it's like a dream.

and also.

At this moment, they followed Magistrate Lou's carriage and hurriedly returned to East Street...

Could it be that Magistrate Lou, a high-ranking official of the county, would personally go to the noodle shop to comfort and console the "victims"?

That's unlikely, and there's not much need for it either!

Or perhaps Magistrate Lou simply had a sudden urge to eat a bowl of noodles?

Li Du scratched his head. His wife's cooking skills were good, but they shouldn't be enough to make Magistrate Lou rush over to eat noodles, right?

……

A bowl of fragrant noodles restaurant.

Lu Qingqing sat on the steps in front of the door for a long time.

She was heartbroken, filled with regret and self-blame, sighing repeatedly, "Oh, I should never have opened a noodle shop..."

She was just an ordinary citizen who wanted to start a small business to earn some money, but she never expected to have a falling out with Manager Pei, a wealthy man who was also the father-in-law of Magistrate Lou, on the very first day of business...

It's obvious that the noodle shop is doomed, and she can forget about doing business on this street anymore.

"Alas, I only hope that Magistrate Lou will be magnanimous and not blame Constable Zhao and my husband..."

She dared not ask for anything now, and prayed that Zhao Guang and Li Du could keep their jobs, which would be a blessing!

"Don't worry, Sister Lu, everything will be alright," Shen Jinglian said softly, sitting beside Lu Qingqing.

Her face showed little emotion...

Thump, thump thump~

Suddenly, the sound of gongs and drums came from the street, and pedestrians quickly retreated to both sides of the street.

Lu Qingqing stood up and looked around.

Then they saw yamen runners beating gongs and drums, holding signs that read "Silence" and "Avoidance," with a blue cloth sedan chair carried by four men in the center, flanked by constables with swords at their sides, and followed by the yamen's clerks and bailiffs...

The procession was led by gongs and drums, with yamen runners lined up in formation.

This procession is clearly that of a county magistrate on a trip!

"No way?"

Lu Qingqing was stunned, her face turned pale instantly, and her heart was pounding wildly.

Magistrate Lou himself came!

This huge commotion is terrifying. They're probably here to arrest the "perpetrator" Shen Jinglian and shut down the noodle shop!

"It's over, completely over!"

Just as Lu Qingqing was feeling utterly hopeless and thought everything was over, the blue cloth sedan chair stopped in front of the noodle shop.

"Manager Lu!"

The curtain of the sedan chair was lifted from the inside, and Magistrate Lou smiled broadly. The white hair at his temples made his smile even more kind and benevolent, much like a smiling fat white cat.

He stepped down from the sedan chair, strode forward to Lu Qingqing, bowed, and said, "I am late, and I apologize for startling Manager Lu!"

Ah? ?

Lu Qingqing was stunned on the spot.

Li Du and the other constables, as well as the surrounding onlookers, were all stunned in place, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets!

Magistrate Lou made a grand entrance and rushed to Yiwanxiang Noodle Shop, not to arrest Shen Jinglian, nor to shut down the noodle shop, but to express his apology to Lu Qingqing.

This is completely different from what they expected!

Magistrate Lou sighed, then said with deep remorse, "That old man Pei, relying on his kinship with me, instigated a group of local thugs to cause trouble... I feel deeply ashamed and cannot shirk my responsibility!"

"But please rest assured, Manager Lu, I have severely punished them. They will surely learn their lesson and dare not act recklessly again in the future. Manager Lu, please focus on your business."

Lu Qingqing was so shocked that she couldn't speak; it felt like a hundred thousand bees were buzzing in her head.

Between emotion and reason, Magistrate Lou chose reason, upholding righteousness by severely punishing Manager Pei and others, and even came to explain the situation and apologize to her.

This...this is unbelievable!

Immediately, Magistrate Lou had his attendant bring out a heavy red cloth bag containing thirty taels of silver.

"I have fined that old man Pei quite a bit of silver, part of which will be used to compensate Manager Lu for his losses. Please accept it, Manager Lu, and don't think it's too little, haha." He smiled and personally handed the bag to Lu Qingqing.

Lu Qingqing held the heavy red cloth bag, her eyes glazed over, her mind completely blank.

Magistrate Lou personally visited her, not only apologizing but also compensating her with thirty taels of silver.

The thugs caused trouble at the noodle shop, but in reality, they only wasted a small half bottle of soy sauce. Since there was no compensation for emotional distress in ancient times, she actually received thirty taels of silver in compensation.

Thirty taels!

This is undoubtedly a huge sum of money for an ordinary family. Even in the bustling East Street, it can cover two years' rent for a shop!

"This..." Lu Qingqing was flattered and dared not accept it. "M-My lord, you mustn't..."

"Oh! It's just a few taels of silver, Manager Lu, please accept it without worry."

Magistrate Lou waved his hand, feigning anger, and said, "If Manager Lu refuses again, he will be disrespecting me, and I will really get angry!"

Lu Qingqing was stunned again, swallowed hard, and had no choice but to accept the compensation.

"...Thank you, sir. This humble woman thanks you."

and so.

The noodle shop not only didn't go out of business, but actually benefited from the misfortune and had to pay thirty taels of silver in compensation? It's like a dream!

The entourage behind Magistrate Lou were also astonished and bewildered!

Just now in the yamen court, Magistrate Lou was furious and even turned against his own family, which terrified them; but now, here in the noodle shop, the magistrate is so amiable and gentle...

All I can say is that the county magistrate truly loves the people like his own children and is incredibly magnanimous!

Shen Jinglian stood aside and watched quietly.

She wasn't surprised at all; she had expected this outcome.

The reason is simple—Lu Xuan is a demon-suppressing captain.

Although the position of Captain is slightly inferior to that of County Magistrate, the Demon Suppression Division is not directly controlled by the imperial court. It is under the full jurisdiction of the Princess. The Demon Suppression Guards are only concerned with slaying demons and eliminating evil spirits. They do not need to deal with imperial officials or have to be mindful of their feelings.

On the contrary, some local officials of the imperial court would seek help from the Demon Suppression Division when they encountered problems they could not solve.

For example, the suppression of bandits in Huangshi Mountain a few days ago.

When Ling Yunting and his men came down, wouldn't Magistrate Lou have to address them politely and respectfully as "Commander"?

Moreover, Lingyunting is far inferior to Lu Xuan!

Lu Xuan was a demon-suppressing captain personally recruited by Nangong Yourong. In order to recruit the "genius" Lu Xuan, Nangong Yourong did not hesitate to offer many generous benefits...

With Lu Xuan being so young, it's almost a certainty that he will advance to the Refining Spirit Realm in the future, and it won't be too difficult for him to be promoted from Captain to Commandant... He is clearly a rising star in the Great Yan Dynasty!

Lu Xuan is a rising star, shining brightly!

Magistrate Lou was merely a minor county official, over fifty years old, with graying temples... he was already quite old!

Would he be so foolish as to make enemies of Lu Xuan for the sake of a dispensable father-in-law and a spoiled concubine?

What a fuss!

They're too busy trying to curry favor with them!

Even if I can't get on Lu Xuan's "high branch", I just hope I won't offend him!

He still wants to enjoy his retirement and live out the rest of his life in comfort!

"Hahaha."

Magistrate Lou laughed and continued to exchange pleasantries with Lu Qingqing.

"Manager Lu is beautiful and virtuous. Officer Li is so lucky to have married such a wife!"

"Oh, Constable Li is highly skilled in martial arts, a capable officer among the constables, and has made countless contributions to the yamen. He is now an indispensable pillar of our county government!"

Lu Qingqing was stunned, her lips twitching.

Does her husband have such great abilities?

How could she not know!

Li Du, who was following behind, was also completely bewildered: I am highly skilled in martial arts? I have made countless contributions to the government? I am a pillar of the government?

How come I didn't know!

I'm just a nobody trying to make a living...

Magistrate Lou then inquired with concern, "Is Commander Lu... is Young Master Lu not home?"

"Lu Xuan went out this morning..."

"oops!"

Magistrate Lou slapped his thigh repeatedly, lamenting the situation. He then expressed his understanding, saying, "Young Master Lu is a doctor, a compassionate physician who cares for the common people and relieves suffering. He is a truly good doctor..."

"It is truly a great fortune for Qingyang to have such an outstanding person as Doctor Lu!"

Magistrate Lou sincerely praised Lu Xuan repeatedly.

Lu Qingqing was stunned.

Is Xiao Xuanzi really that outstanding?

Even the county magistrate praised it highly.

Shen Jinglian couldn't help but roll her eyes, looking down on Magistrate Lou, who was as fat as a white cat and a master of flattery.

Huh?

Magistrate Lou looked at Shen Jinglian, feigning surprise: "This young lady looks very unfamiliar!"

He knew Shen Jinglian's identity and instinctively moved closer to Zhao Guang for protection, but pretended not to know her.

They're pretending to be ignorant when they know the truth, and lying through their teeth!

Shen Jinglian sneered inwardly, dismissing the idea with disdain.

"This young lady is as beautiful as an angel, gentle and virtuous... she must be Doctor Lu's wife, right?"

Swish! !

Shen Jinglian was immediately stunned, and the contempt in her heart vanished in an instant.

But then again...

You're a real genius!