Since the firm's liaisons had to go out to the suburbs to distribute business cards, the store was seriously short-staffed, so Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian came to the law firm to work from nine to five these days.

Zhang Fei finished the work at hand, stretched his body, and thought to himself, it feels like being a younger brother in the company before, doing trivial things, it's really boring. He turned his head and looked at Xu Zhiqian who was sitting next to him, writing the petition briskly, with a smile on his lips, and whispered: "Zhiqian."

"Um?"

Xu Zhiqian didn't even raise her head and just responded softly.

She has already gotten used to this title.

Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "You seem to be very happy these days."

Xu Zhiqian then looked up at him and pursed her lips, "No!"

"Really?"

Zhang Fei picked up the chair under his butt and sat next to Xu Zhiqian.

“There wasn’t one.”

...

...

Xu Zhiqian glanced at him warily, "Why are you sitting here?"

Zhang Fei held his chin with one hand, leaned sideways on the eucalyptus, and said with a smile: "Don't you think being my wife is so happy? You can do what you like without any burden."

Xu Zhiqian seemed to be touched by what he said, her cheeks flushed, and she spat, "Who is your wife? Don't talk nonsense."

Zhang Fei chuckled, "If you dare to talk to your husband like that, be careful or I'll divorce you."

“You dare!”

As soon as the words came out, Xu Zhiqian reacted immediately, "Do you have a marriage contract?"

Zhang Fei said: "According to the laws of our dynasty, the betrothal gift can be used as evidence."

He glanced at the jade hairpin on Xu Zhiqian's head.

Xu Zhiqian looked at him shyly, then suddenly her eyes turned and she said, "But according to the etiquette of our dynasty, marriage is a major event that requires the words of a matchmaker and the consent of the parents. The betrothal gift must be accepted by the parents to serve as a witness. If the children accept it, it will not count."

"Is this true?" Zhang Fei asked doubtfully, "I'm not married yet, don't lie to me."

"Of course it's true, but I..." Xu Zhiqian glared at him, "I've never been married, but this is the folk etiquette and law."

"Etiquette and law?" Zhang Fei snorted, "We are the spies, so we should put the law first."

Xu Zhiqian smiled and said, "Do you still remember why you helped Fang Yun win the lawsuit?"

“Filial piety!”

As soon as the words came out, Zhang Fei reacted.

Xu Zhiqian smiled and said, "You can't win this lawsuit."

Zhang Fei snorted, "Do we need to go to court for this? My benefactor will definitely not refuse my betrothal gift. All right, this jade hairpin will be our token of love, and we will pay the betrothal gift separately."

Thinking of Xu Zun, Xu Zhiqian suddenly lost her confidence, "I won't talk to you anymore, just sit over there and don't disturb me while I'm working."

“Don’t!”

Zhang Fei said: "Those trivial matters really bore me to death."

Xu Zhiqian smiled and said, "Who told you to send them all out?" At this point, she suddenly seemed to remember something, "Oh, right! Last time you said you would recruit a group of talented people to help the firm, but you didn't pay them. Who are they?"

Zhang Fei thought for a moment and said, "I think if he is not an official, he must be a Jinshi."

Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm asking you a serious question."

Zhang Fei said with a wronged look on his face: "Am I not serious? But I haven't even touched your little hand."

"You...go away!"

Xu Zhiqian was so anxious that she reached out to push.

Zhang Fei grabbed her hand and said with a chuckle, "Alright! You have the evidence of my impropriety in your hands, so you must hold on tight."

"Bah! You scoundrel, let me go!" Xu Zhiqian said shyly.

Suddenly, Fan Li was heard outside the door saying, "Sima Daxueshi, please come in, please come in."

The two turned their heads and saw Fan Li leading Sima Guang in.

Sima Guang looked at them holding hands and was stunned. "What are you two doing?"

Xu Zhiqian was startled and quickly retracted her hand.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand, Grand Secretary Sima, Zhiqian and I are already engaged."

Xu Zhiqian blushed and could not say a word.

Sima Guang had thought so before, and said, "In public, even husband and wife should be careful."

"Ah?" Zhang Fei looked around subconsciously, "This... is this considered in public?"

Sima Guang also looked around and said, "If this is not considered public, then how can it be considered a leaky roof in a dark room?"

Xu Zhiqian wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into. Seeing Zhang Fei still arguing with Sima Guang, she was so angry that she whispered angrily, "You're still talking."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and said, "Junior Xu Zhiqian greets Uncle Sima."

Sima Guang said: "Qian'er, you come from a scholarly family, so you must take good care of him."

"Yes." Xu Zhiqian nodded subconsciously, and suddenly felt that this was an admission. She lowered her head and said, "Uncle Sima, please sit down. I'll go and ask someone to pour tea."

Having said that, he slipped away and wished good luck.

Zhang Fei quickly stood up and asked Sima Guang to sit down. Fan Li also left tactfully.

"When will you get married?" Sima Guang asked with a smile.

Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I just gave the betrothal gift, but the date hasn't been set yet."

"No wonder I've never heard Xu Zhongtu mention it before." Sima Guang laughed.

Zhang Fei asked, "Sima Dashi is here, what advice do you have for me?"

Sima Guang said sternly: "Do you still remember that I once told you to cultivate talents in law?"

How could I not remember? I have been thinking about it for a long time. Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I remember! I remember."

Sima Guang said, "I have petitioned the government to expand the number of students studying law at the Imperial Academy. I plan to invite you to be their teacher."

Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "Grand Secretary Sima thinks highly of me!"

Sima Guang laughed and said, "Who dares to look down on you?"

"No! No!" Zhang Fei asked modestly, "By the way, who are those students?"

Sima Guang said: "Some young officials and some Jinshi."

Zhang Fei said: "To be honest with you, Grand Secretary Sima, I don't mind this, but the question is, can they obey me? I am just an ear writer, I have no achievements."

Sima Guang laughed and asked, "Can't you convince them with your words?"

Before they could finish chatting for a few words, Fan Li, who had just left, stumbled in again. He glanced at Sima Guang and seemed a little at a loss.

After Zhang Fei saw him, he said to Sima Guang, "Master Sima, I'm sorry to leave you for a moment."

Sima Guang nodded.

Zhang Fei stood up and walked over, asking in a low voice: "What's the matter?"

"Sanlang, something terrible has happened!"

Fan Li was trembling all over, and his lips were trembling. "Just now, news came from the southern suburbs. This morning, Kaifeng County suddenly sent out yamen runners to arrest all our people."

"What?"

Zhang Fei exclaimed.

This made Sima Guang unable to help but look back.

Zhang Fei also noticed Sima Guang's gaze, so he asked in a low voice: "What's going on? Did they arrest people for a reason?"

Fan Li said: "They just said that our people were hindering the government from collecting taxes."

"That's it?"

"Um."

Fan Li nodded, "That's what the person who delivered the message said."

Zhang Fei gritted his teeth and said, "They are simply lawless. Let's go to the county government office and take a look."

"Wait a moment, Grand Secretary Sima is still here." Fan Li hurriedly stopped him.

Zhang Fei tilted his head to glance at Sima Guang, pondered for a moment, and then said to Fan Li, "You go to the county government office first."

Fan Li's heart trembled, and he said anxiously: "What if I am caught too?"

Zhang Fei said angrily: "The government wants to arrest you, can you hide? We haven't violated any law in this matter, what are you afraid of? If you are afraid, take the imperial plaque."

"That... that's not necessary." Fan Li suddenly remembered that we have the imperial plaque, nodded and said, "Okay. Then... I'll go take a look first."

"Go!"

After Fan Li left, Zhang Fei returned to the hall.

Sima Guang saw his expression and asked, "It seems you are in trouble again."

Zhang Fei nodded and asked, "Does the Grand Secretary Sima know about the taxable transactions of my firm?"

Sima Guang nodded and said, "Of course I know."

Zhang Fei said, "The imperial court is urging us to pay taxes, so I sent people to the suburbs to promote this tax-based business. But I just got the news that Kaifeng County has arrested all my people."

Sima Guang was surprised and asked, "How is this possible?"

Zhang Fei said: "This shouldn't be fake."

Sima Guang stroked his beard and said, "Tell me about it in detail."

Zhang Fei quickly took out a small business card and handed it to Sima Guang. "It's actually very simple. I just asked them to hand out these small business cards. If you need to calculate taxes, you can come to us."

Sima Guang glanced at the small business card, shook his head and said, "If that were all, Kaifeng County would not arrest anyone!"

Zhang Fei said: "Master Sima, this tax-based transaction is something that many people do not want to see."

Sima Guang glanced at him and said, "Don't I know that Kaifeng County would not arrest anyone just based on this? Something unknown must have happened."

Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "Absolutely impossible. Those people are as cowardly as mice. What can they do? The key is that they have reported back in the past few days, and I haven't heard of any special situation."

"Really? That's strange." Sima Guang stroked his beard and suddenly opened his eyes, "Could it be..."

Zhang Fei asked: "What?"

Sima Guang glanced at Zhang Fei and said, "Hurry up and go to Kaifeng County. Maybe they will suffer physical pain."

Zhang Fei said in shock: "This is impossible! They didn't break any law."

Sima Guang said: "Many things are not as simple as you think. Go quickly."

Since he said so, how could Zhang Fei not believe it? He stood up immediately.

"Wait a minute!" Sima Guang called him again, "Take the imperial plaque given to you by the government with you. It will be safer this way."

Zhang Fei was frightened by this and asked, "Grand Secretary Sima, you are sitting here while doing something so lawless?"

Sima Guang seemed to have something to hide, and sighed: "Don't worry, they will only suffer a little physical pain at most."

"no...."

"It's not a big deal, but I may not be able to help you." Sima Guang interrupted him.

You can't help, isn't this a big deal?

"Fuck!" Zhang Fei cursed in a way Sima Guang couldn't understand, then quickly walked out.

As soon as he left the hall, Xu Zhiqian walked in: "How could this happen?"

Zhang Fei said, "You stay here to look after the store. I'll go to the county government office." Then he said to Li Si, "Li Si, help me take down the imperial plaque."

"Why!"

Xu Zhiqian became even more worried when she heard this, and said, "No, I want to go with you."

Zhang Fei had no idea what was going on and didn't want her to take any risks, so he said, "Go find your father."

Yes! I can't help much even if I go, I can only ask my father for help. Xu Zhiqian nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go find him now."

After Li Si took down the imperial plaque, Zhang Fei immediately took a carriage to Kaifeng County Government.