In the prison cell.
Master Kongjing and his disciples had been imprisoned for half a day when they finally saw Magistrate Xu. They immediately surrounded him and said, "Magistrate Xu, you've finally come! Can't you release us now?"
Given the relationship and friendship between the two, as well as the incense money that Peach Blossom Temple had given to Prefect Xu over the years, Master Kongjing felt it was a simple matter.
"This matter... is somewhat tricky..."
Magistrate Xu thought for a moment and said, "You've all heard that the person who ordered your arrest is Chief Jing, who holds the rank of a second-grade official. Of all people to extort, you had to extort him!"
"Prefect Xu, I didn't know it was him!"
The thin monk looked regretful, thinking to himself that he hadn't written "I am President Jing" on his face.
"If I had known it was him, I would never have dared to extort money from him, even if you killed me!"
"Enough with the nonsense. Now that things have come to this, let's listen to Prefect Xu's arrangements!"
Master Kongjing glared at the thin monk, feeling a bit angry and displeased. It wasn't because of the thin monk, but because of Prefect Xu's attitude. You see, over the years they had given Prefect Xu more gifts than Peach Blossom Temple had kept for itself, but now that something had happened, Prefect Xu hadn't done his best to help them!
"Well... we'll have to wait a while. Let me discuss it with my mentor again."
"..."
Master Kongjing and the others naturally knew that Prefect Xu's mentor was Grand Tutor Bai of Jingzhou. The fact that this matter had even alarmed Grand Tutor Bai showed just how difficult the matter was.
"Then I'll have to trouble Prefect Xu!"
Master Kongjing cupped his hands and said, "However, could Prefect Xu please change our cells? At least we could each have our own."
Master Kongjing was no fool. He had heard that the Jiangling prison was divided into different grades, and the cell they were currently in, which was like a pigsty, was definitely the worst. Because of this, he had a great deal of resentment towards Prefect Xu, but he did not say it out loud.
"Well... you don't know, but the prison is short-staffed lately. Putting the three of you in a separate room has already put me in a very difficult position. It's simply impossible to have a separate room for each of you!"
Prefect Xu was puzzled, as if Master Kongjing and the others should be grateful to have been able to stay in this room.
Master Kongjing sneered inwardly, for when he entered, he had already seen many prison cells that were far better in condition and also empty. Prefect Xu's blatant lies chilled him to the bone.
However, he did not lash out, because he knew that when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head, and this was not the time to offend Magistrate Xu.
"Then thank you very much, Prefect Xu, for your trouble."
"Hehe, of course, of course."
Magistrate Xu said with a smile, while narrowing his eyes, preparing to get to the point: "Chief Jing is young and impetuous, and often does not play by the rules. Therefore, he may come to the prison to question you again. When that happens, just repeat what you said on the mountain today, and do not cause any trouble."
The reason Xu, the prefect, came here was to give some instructions, fearing that if Jing Zhe suddenly came, Master Kongjing might say something he shouldn't have.
"Prefect Xu, rest assured, I know all of this."
Master Kongjing said calmly.
Prefect Xu nodded in satisfaction. "I am at ease with Master Kongjing. As for the rest, I will take care of it as soon as possible and try to get you out of prison as soon as possible. The earliest I can do this is when President Jing leaves Jiangling!"
"Thank you, Prefect Xu!"
While saying thank you aloud, Master Kongjing was cursing inwardly, because he knew that at most they would be imprisoned until Jing Zhe left Jiangling, but they ended up with Prefect Xu and became the fastest.
Moreover, he mentioned finding Grand Tutor Bai and bribing him, which is no different from not finding anyone at all.
"Hehe, given our relationship, Master, there's no need to be so polite."
After saying this with a smile, Magistrate Xu suddenly added, "As for whether the temple is called Peach Blossom Temple or Peach Blossom Nunnery, it doesn't really matter."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Master Kongjing knew that Peach Blossom Temple would never exist again; only Peach Blossom Nunnery would remain.
"The important thing is that Master Kongjing can still enter the temple in the future."
"Thank you, Prefect Xu!"
"Master Kongjing, there's no rush to thank me. I'm about to give you a lecture. I can't let this bribe money go to waste, can I?"
"..."
Master Kongjing sneered inwardly, "Is this another attempt to extort money?"
He said earnestly, "Prefect Xu, I understand. I will repay you double whatever amount you have given me!"
"Hehe, Master Kongjing's words are enough. Also, it's not easy to arrange for Master Kongjing to enter Peach Blossom Nunnery again, so the proportion of incense money should be changed from now on..."
"..."
Master Kongjing was stunned when he heard this.
Good heavens, this guy is insatiable!
First, he fabricated a baseless bribe fee, then demanded double the amount from them. Next, he wanted to change the profit-sharing ratio of the incense money. Although he didn't know the exact amount, he was certain it would be a large sum! Because originally, Magistrate Xu already took the lion's share of the incense money!
After that, Master Kongjing would basically be reduced to a servant who looked after the temple for Magistrate Xu, and he wouldn't have much money left!
Compared to Jing Zhe, Magistrate Xu was even more ruthless. Master Kongjing hated him, but there was nothing he could do.
Just as he was about to agree, a voice rang out from outside the cell.
"President Jing has arrived!"
The voice was clear and loud, echoing throughout the prison cell. Magistrate Xu was startled and immediately stood up: He really came!
So he immediately went to see Master Kongjing and the others: "Don't forget what I just told you, you must not say it carelessly!"
"..."
...
"You fucking did this on purpose, didn't you?"
After learning that Magistrate Xu was in the prison, Jing Zhe was even more determined to go and see him. The constable asked if he should go and call Magistrate Xu over, but he refused. Then the constable asked if he should inform Magistrate Xu, but he refused again.
According to Jing Zhe, he planned to give Prefect Xu a surprise, but whether it turned out to be a surprise or a shock was not his concern.
To everyone's surprise, the constable agreed, but when he got to the prison cell door, he suddenly shouted loudly. The shout startled not only Jing Zhe and the constable, but also Magistrate Xu and the others in the cell, who knew that Jing Zhe had arrived.
Enraged, Jing Zhe kicked the constable hard, sending him flying several meters away.
“Um…President Jing…”
The constable scrambled to his feet, a fawning smile on his face, and said, "I'm used to it, I completely forgot..."
Jing Zhe was a little helpless. Although he knew that the man was doing it on purpose, there was nothing he could do. He had originally planned to eavesdrop on what Prefect Xu and Master Kongjing were saying, but a constable ruined the conversation.
Fueled by anger, he walked over to the constable and, before the constable could react, kicked him again.
"Sigh, I'm used to it."
"..."
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