Jian Ning originally wanted to ask Qin Yifan what Ding Youtian had been doing since he came back, but seeing Fan Zhaoxue's expression, it seemed that she had something important to report to Qin Yifan and it was not convenient for her to sit in. Just as she was about to leave, Qin Yifan stopped her.
"Are you exhausted? Sit down and take a rest." Qin Yifan finished speaking, and a yamen runner had already brought a chair over. Qin Yifan lay on the bed on his side. He nodded his chin towards Jian Ning and looked at Fan Zhaoxue and said, "This is Madam Jian, Brother Ding's wife. I didn't have time to introduce her to you when I came here. She is a female doctor with superb medical skills. She is not an outsider, so it's okay. Go on."
Fan Zhaoxue bowed to Jian Ning before continuing, "Well, in my opinion, during these extraordinary times, we shouldn't be careless. After all, he's a re-elected candidate, and a local, so he has close ties with local grain merchants. We should take precautions before anything happens."
Jian Ning guessed he was referring to the County Magistrate, Cai Sibei. He looked like a local, with thick lips, sunken eyes, and a dark complexion. He gave the impression of being difficult to approach and get along with. This lawyer had a good appearance, though. During their casual chat on the boat, she'd heard Ding Youtian say that the main leadership team in the county government, besides the County Magistrate, also included the County Magistrate and the Chief Clerk.
The County Magistrate, equivalent to the Deputy County Magistrate, held the eighth rank. Their responsibilities included managing documents and warehouses, overseeing grain and horses, and overseeing patrols. While they could independently handle minor matters, they lacked the power to make decisions on major ones. This position served as a check and balance on the County Magistrate, and included the ability to impeach him.
Legal advisors were not considered officials of official rank, meaning they were outside the official system. They were recruited by the county magistrate from the public, recommended by others, or self-recommended. Their duties primarily included assisting the county magistrate with daily work and providing logistical support, including recording documents and handling case disputes.
His most important job is to check and balance the county magistrate, so it is understandable that he reported Cai Sibei to Qin Yifan, as it is his duty.
But in Jane Ning's opinion, this was nothing more than gossiping behind someone's back, and her impression of him was greatly reduced. Regardless of Cai Sibei's character, in her opinion, those who gossip about others are usually gossipers.
Instead, she felt that there was something wrong with Fan Zhaoxue.
Seeing that he was silent for the moment, Jian Ning asked, "I wonder what errands the Lord has assigned my husband and the county magistrate. I saw them rush out again after returning. What's the urgent matter? If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know."
"You're too polite, sister-in-law. Brother Ding and I are classmates since childhood, not strangers. If you don't mind me being too arrogant, you can just call me Big Brother."
Qin Yifan paused for a moment, then continued, "It's nothing serious. I have a long-time attendant named Yuechan, who hasn't returned since this morning. She knows a bit of martial arts, though, so I wasn't worried. When they came over earlier, I mentioned it casually, and Brother Ding said they were distributing medicine to various households and vaguely heard someone mention the name Yuechan. He said he remembered hearing it somewhere and wanted to go and ask around, so the county magistrate accompanied him."
Jian Ning knew that Ding Youtian had a good memory, but she was unfamiliar with the place and it was dark outside, so she was still a little worried.
"I'll go out and take a look. Maybe I can run into them."
She stood up to leave, and Qin Yifan said, "The county town isn't big, but it's not small either. You're going there without a destination, so where are you going to find it? Why don't you just wait here peacefully? Maybe they'll be back soon."
Jian Ning forced a smile and said, "It's okay. I just went out for a walk and saw if they had distributed all the herbal samples."
Because the county government was short of staff, the doctors in the city had all gone with the uninfected constables and runners to distribute medicinal herbs. Even if she didn't meet Ding Youtian and the others when she went out, it wouldn't be difficult for her to find out the way back to the county government. Maybe she could even meet Doctor Gan and the others.
Jian Ning went out to the street on the left. Although her impression of Fan Zhaoxue had been reduced, since he had told Qin Yifan to be wary of Cai Sibei, she still felt a little worried about Ding Youtian following him out.
Primarily through the soybean verification method, it has been confirmed that this Gu-induced illness was caused by a secret poison. Doctor Gan had previously mentioned that local grain merchants held a deep grudge against Qin Yifan. Officials and businessmen have always colluded with each other, and both the county magistrate and the legal advisor were targets of their efforts.
What worried Jian Ning the most was that the trick Qin Yifan used to deal with the grain merchants last time was the trick Ding Youtian gave him. What if Qin Yifan told his subordinates about it? If the person who colluded with the grain merchants was the county magistrate Cai Sibei, then Ding Youtian would definitely be in danger on this trip.
Thinking of this, she began to feel anxious and secretly regretted not bringing Guoguo or Maoqiu. She didn't have anything belonging to Ding Youtian on her, otherwise she could have used a scent tracker to locate Ding Youtian's whereabouts.
At this moment, she could only rely on luck and look for it along the street on the left. Fortunately, her luck was not bad. When she reached the street corner in front and didn't know whether to turn left or right, Ding Youtian and the county magistrate came over.
"Madam, why are you here? Are you looking for me?" Ding Youtian saw her eyes full of worry in the light of the lanterns under the eaves of the houses on both sides of the street, and guessed that she was looking for him. A smile appeared on the corner of his lips.
"Who's looking for you?" Jian Ning glanced at him sideways, "Did you find the person you were looking for?"
He even said he wasn't out looking for him. Otherwise, how would they know he was out looking for someone? Ding Youtian didn't say anything, feeling happy in his heart. He touched his nose and said, "I found him. The man saw Yuechan in 'Huajianxiang' this morning. He heard that the county magistrate was also ill. He usually stayed with the county magistrate, but now that the county magistrate is ill, he ran away to relax. The man felt that his loyalty in the past was all fake, so he said a few more words, and I heard it."
Huajianxiang, as soon as you hear it, is a place of entertainment. Although Jian Ning has never seen Yuechan, who would go to a place of entertainment so early in the morning to seek pleasure?
She paused, "Have you looked in Huajian Alley?"
Before Ding Youtian could speak, County Magistrate Cai Sibei spoke first, "Huajian Lane is a popular place for entertainment, with few residents. We've been there to inquire, and someone did see him, saying he seemed to be waiting for someone. But Yuechan has no friends or relatives in the city, and she never goes out alone. Something's wrong, and I'm afraid he's in grave danger. We'll go back and get a warrant from the county magistrate, and then we'll search house by house."
If they want to search a place where fireworks are being taken place, they need a warrant from the county magistrate, otherwise they have no right to enter without permission.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go. I'll go find him with you later." Jian Ning has a scent tracker. He just needs to go back and get an item that Yuechan uses close to him. Locking onto the target can save a lot of time.
"Okay, it would be great if you could go with me, but there's one thing." Ding Youtian instructed her, "When you see Brother Yifan later, you don't have to say anything. Just take the hand order and we'll go find someone."
What's going on? Jian Ning glanced at the county magistrate calmly. It seemed that Ding Youtian trusted this man. He came out with him safely. The danger index of this man in her mind was temporarily reduced a little.
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