After the start of autumn, Fengjing City is like a pot of soup that is gradually cooling down.
The sun was still bright, but it had lost some of its scorching intensity, lazily warming the dense foliage of the locust trees lining both sides of Zhuque Street.
A peculiar weariness floated in the air, mixed with the lingering heat of summer and the first hints of coolness.
In the small courtyard of the Qinde Chamber of Commerce in the East Market, the old manager was dozing off in the dim afternoon light.
Don't let the small size of this place fool you; it has everything: general stores, restaurants, taverns, cloth shops, pawnshops...
On the wooden racks in front of the cloth shop, several bolts of light silk and brocade had just been laid out to dry, shimmering with a beeswax-like luster under the autumn sun.
The newly opened wine vat in the restaurant next door, sealed halfway with mud, exudes a clear, fruity aroma of freshly brewed wine.
The abacus beads occasionally made a soft, clattering sound in the accounting room, like the whispers of weary birds before returning to their nests, adding to the profound tranquility.
At that moment, the tranquility was suddenly shattered.
The hurried footsteps suddenly rolled over the low threshold of the Chamber of Commerce entrance and rudely barged into the small courtyard.
Leading the group was the magistrate of the East Market Office, dressed in a light blue official robe, his face as rigid as a stone statue.
Behind him were several clerks dressed in black robes, and Wu Hou, who was holding the hilt of a sword at his waist and scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.
Everyone in the courtyard was so shocked that they dared not move, but a quick-witted servant patted the shopkeeper's shoulder.
The old shopkeeper slowly woke up and was about to reprimand someone when he bumped into the official opposite him.
"Ouch!"
He hurriedly stood up and almost strained his back, but fortunately the servant next to him helped him up in time, and he was able to stand up.
"Lord Wu...Lord Wu, what is this...?"
Don't underestimate him just because he's a minor city magistrate in the Eastern Market. He's a sixth-rank official, insignificant in Fengjing City.
Anyone who makes a living in this area would feel intimidated by this man.
The city magistrate's gaze slowly swept over every face in the courtyard, finally settling on the old shopkeeper.
"Upon investigation, it was found that the Qinde Chamber of Commerce's city registration was incorrect and its commercial tax payments were unclear."
"Seal off the shop and lock up the people!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's heart clearly.
The clerk, Wu Hou, responded loudly and immediately stepped forward to arrest the man.
"My lord! My lord, please have mercy!"
The old shopkeeper was struck dumb. He staggered, his withered hand instinctively reaching for the magistrate's robe, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
“My family has been merchants for generations, and our city registration is checked every year. As for taxes… the taxes were just paid to the treasury last month!”
Your Excellency is wise; there must be some mistake somewhere…
"A mistake?" The magistrate's lips curled into a cold smile, his gaze sharp as a knife. "The accounts are in black and white; how can you evade the question?"
He swung his hand sharply, like a merciless guillotine, and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Take him down!"
Despite the loud voices and intimidating movements of the clerks and military commanders in the first episode, they were actually not very fast.
They were summoned in haste, and no one knew what the city magistrate was planning.
Normally, they would just issue a warning and then try to gain some benefits; they rarely actually took advantage of anyone.
But now, after receiving two orders in quick succession, delivered with such resolute tone, they immediately abandoned their probing intentions and strode forward.
Little did they know that despite the magistrate's stern expression, he was actually trembling inside.
Who would understand? He was diligently carrying out his duties at the yamen when he suddenly received a secret order from the Xuanji Guard, which nearly scared him to death.
Officials below the third rank in Fengjing don't need to request permission at all. If he, a mere sixth-rank official, were to fall into the hands of the Xuanji Guard, he probably wouldn't even know how he died.
Wu, the city magistrate, did not dare to delay for a moment and quickly gathered his men and rushed to the scene.
As for what kind of shady dealings the Qinde Chamber of Commerce might have, or what merits it possessed to be targeted by the Xuanji Guard, he didn't care at all, nor would he ask.
Just pray in your heart that he won't be implicated.
Once the clerks and officers learned of the magistrate's attitude, they pounced on him like wolves and tigers.
The half-person-high wine jar at the entrance of the restaurant was violently pushed over with a loud crash, and the wine mixed with broken pottery shards spilled out in all directions.
In the grocery store, a basket of half-dried red dates was overturned, and the fruit rolled all over the ground.
Cries, pleas, shattering sounds, and shouts instantly shattered the afternoon's languidness.
From the old manager down to the weaver and the servant, no one in the chamber of commerce dared to resist, and they were all arrested.
"Grandfather!" A young embroiderer in an apricot-red half-sleeved garment suddenly rushed out of the cloth shop; she was the old shopkeeper's granddaughter.
At this moment, all color drained from her face, and she desperately tried to help her grandfather, who had collapsed to the ground.
A tall clerk was grabbing the old shopkeeper's arm, trying to drag him up. The embroiderer rushed over to stop him, and in her haste, she pushed the clerk away.
"You've gone too far!" The clerk roared in anger, slapping the embroiderer hard across the face.
The crisp sound drowned out the noise in the courtyard.
The embroiderer was so stunned by the beating that her hair was disheveled and a thin stream of bright red blood trickled down from the corner of her mouth.
She staggered backward, crashing into the overturned wooden frame, tearing off the last half of the light silk gauze that remained on the frame.
After making an example of someone, everything went very smoothly, and they quickly took down all twenty-odd people.
Two military officers were left to guard the guild, and a seal was affixed to the gate.
Led by the city magistrate, he led his men toward the East City Government Office with their heads held high.
Langyinfang, with its headman jogging ahead to lead the way.
The back of his worn-out light green uniform was stained with dark sweat, and glistening beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but he didn't bother to wipe them away.
He was followed by a troop of imperial guards, as well as officials from the Imperial Works Bureau.
Pedestrians, unaware of what had happened, could tell from the imposing manner that it was no small matter and quickly made way for them.
Fangzheng finally stopped in front of a shop.
The shop has a small storefront with an ebony signboard bearing three gilded characters: "Baoguang Pavilion".
Above the lintel is an exquisite bronze crane lamp stand, with a glass lotus lamp in the crane's beak.
"My lords, this is...this is the place."
The leading Imperial Guard captain looked around and spoke loudly:
"A fire broke out at Chengyuan last night. After inspection by the Tiangongsi (the Bureau of Works), it was determined that the source of the fire may have originated from a shop in this area."
He suddenly raised his hand, his voice like the scraping of iron: "We are ordered to arrest criminals and seize properties! Break down the door!"
"boom!"
With a loud bang, the door of the ebony shop was kicked open, the sound of the bolt breaking was deafening.
"Not a single one is allowed to escape," the captain shouted sternly.
"yes!"
The Imperial Guards rushed in.
Soon, an old shopkeeper with gray hair, wearing a brown linen shirt, was dragged out of the inner hall by the Imperial Guards, who tied his arms behind his back.
"Injustice! Injustice!" His face was covered in ash, tears streaming down his face, as he struggled and screamed.
“This old man has lived a law-abiding life and went to bed early last night. How could I dare to burn down Chengyuan?”
That…that’s a place for important people, I wouldn’t dare even if I had the guts of a bear and the courage of a leopard!
One of the Imperial Guards pointed a finger at the back of his neck, and the screams immediately stopped.
The shopkeeper's mouth kept opening and closing, but no sound came out.
"Take them away and seal the shop."
"yes!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
