Chapter 471 - A Signal
"I will go to the market. You shall stay behind," Huo Jin took the bag from the hand of Nianzu.
"I have to go to the Police Bureau for an extension of leave and then also need to converse in the bookshop. Stay with Chuntao. She is still sleeping because of the pill effect. I will be back soon," Nianzu humbly said and took the bag from the hand of Huo Jin. "Don't go outside and don't let Chun go outside," Nianzu told Huo Jin.
"Do not worry. I will guard the house. You shall finish your work." Nianzu thanked him and left for his workplace.
In the Police Bureau, the grade officers asked Nianzu about his wife, who outrageously said, "I do not want to be rude to any of the officers here. But, I did expect from you all that you will maintain law and order in the village. I know that I am at a rank lower than you all. However, as a husband, I want to say this. You all acted cowardly when my wife needed you the most." The grade officers lowered their heads.
The newly appointed Royal Inspector, Ah- Lian Hong, came forward. Nianzu recognized him as he was in the Han Army. "Forgive them this time. It will never happen again with any woman. I assure you," Lian Hong stated. Nianzu trusted his words as he was one of the greatest second-line-commander in the Han Army. So, General Xiao left Lian Hong to protect Nianzu. He was grateful for this but at the same time, Nianzu felt that he was incapable of doing anything even with this state.
"Thank you, Royal Inspector," Nianzu replied and passed him a smile. "I will come to work for the next two days. Thank you for granting the leave to me," Nianzu bowed. Lian Hong did not feel right seeing this. However, he could not even stop him from acting that way.
Nianzu took his leave and went to the bookshop.
"Ahh, I did not feel this bad ever in my life. But it was not our fault. We are bound to follow the orders of the Royal Inspector. We could not risk our lives to save his wife," affirmed Grade Three officer Zhuan Jun.
"You could have reported about the previous Royal Inspector. Don't you know that the complaint section is always open? The Governor and the Crown Prince keep a check on the complaints," Lian Hong proclaimed.
"Royal Inspector, pardon me, but I do not think that complaints even reach the capital. Nianzu's luck was good that General Xiao came at the right time," affirmed Zhuan Jun.
"You are given this position to be responsible towards it. This way, no one will believe in the laws of the Han Empire," Lian Hong corrected him.
Nianzu, oppositely, reached outside the bookshop. The shop owner, Ru Gaoying, stopped conversing with the customer he had and came towards Nianzu. "How is your wife?" Ru Gaoying concernedly asked.
"She is a little better than the previous day, Master Ru. I am here to return the work that was assigned to me. Hope I have not delayed your order," Nianzu asserted.
"You did not. Ahh, my wife has sent a special food for your wife," Ru Gaoying went towards the counter and told the worker to hand him the lunchbox. It was wrapped in a blue cloth. Ru Gaoying handed the lunchbox to Nianzu, who refused to take it.
"Aye, take it! It is healthy food. Mostly Royals eat it," Ru Gaoying stated. Nianzu thanked him as he took the heavy lunchbox from the shop owner.
"I heard you are an exceptional copyist," suddenly Nianzu heard a voice. He looked towards the source of the voice, and so did Ru Gaoying.
"Young Master Fei," Ru Gaoying murmured and ran towards Fei Jing. Nianzu found that the person was from an Upper-classman family.
"Yes, Nianzu is an exceptional copyist," answered Ru Gaoying and looked at Xuan Ye, the young worker in the shop.
"Go bring a chair for the young master," Ru Gaoying ordered the young boy, who ran towards the small library to bring the chair.
Fei Jing did not blink even for a second and kept gazing into the eyes of Nianzu, who felt a little intimidated. He averted his gaze and looked at Ru Gaoying. "Master, I will see you after two days. Thank you for this," Nianzu said, looking towards the lunchbox in his hand. He stepped ahead and walked past Fei Jing when he stopped Nianzu.
"Your name is similar to the banished Prince," Fei Jing remarked. Nianzu kept himself calm when Fei Jing tilted his head. "The Fourth Prince's name is similar to yours. How come a commoner's name is similar to the Fourth Prince?" Fei Jing looked at Nianzu with skepticism, who finally turned to him.
The people in the bookshop started to whisper among each other. "Young Master, the Prince has not stopped anyone from choosing the same name as his," Nianzu replied and lowered his eyes.
"Can you throw some light on your family?" Fei Jing asked Nianzu.
"I am not aware of my origins. My music master gave me this name, Young Master," Nianzu replied.
Fei Jing sat on the chair and raised his brow. "Music? Who taught you music?" Fei Jing queried.
"Forgive me, young master. I cannot pronounce the name of my music teacher as it will be disrespectful," Nianzu cleverly escaped the question of Fei Jing. "It is getting late. My wife must be waiting for me," Nianzu affirmed.
"Nianzu, you shall not waste your talent. You shall try for the civil services exam this year." Fei Jing suddenly gave him a suggestion, and it confused Nianzu.
"I have failed the Civil services exam many times. I do not intend to give the exam anymore," Nianzu pronounced.
"Don't you think if you were a civil servant in the Han Empire, then you could have handled yesterday's situation in a better way?" The strange question Fei Jing made Nianzu contemplate. "Though it was the fault of our officers too. But, no one would ever risk his and his family's life for an unknown person," Fei Jing asserted.
Nianzu lifted his head and peered into the eyes of Fei Jing. "It seems the young master heard my conversation," Nianzu stated. Fei Jing did not respond to that and passed a smile to Nianzu.
"Get into the government and see yourself how tough it is to get involved in another person's matters," Fei Jing stated. "After three days there is the first phase of the Civil Services Exam. I would like to see you on the examination ground. Hopefully, you pass it this time and then work for the betterment of Han," Fei Jing advised Nianzu.
"Beg your pardon, Young Master, but it is odd to see that you are advising a commoner like me to give the examination," Nianzu wanted to know what was going on in the head of Fei Jing.
"A signal is enough for an intelligent person," Fei Jing affirmed. Nianzu smiled and bowed his head.
"Thank you for the advice, Young Master," Nianzu replied and left the bookshop.. Fei Jing chuckled and asked Ru Gaoying for the book on Accounts.